"Maxie….Maxie!" Lulu shrieks, finally grabbing her friend's arm.

"What?" Maxie asks, slowly moving her eyes to meet Lulu's, then quickly to the burning sensation on her hand. "Oh, geez, I'm so sorry," Maxie apologizes, finally sitting down the coffee pot and hurriedly grabbing some paper towels.

Lulu turns on cool water in the kitchen sink, pulling Maxie over to put her hand in the gentle stream. "It's fine Maxie, I'm not worried about the spill. I'm worried about you."

Maxie furrows her brows and opens her mouth to beg explanation, but, looking at Lulu's face, knows none is needed. She closes her mouth and lowers her eyes to the ground.

Lulu takes Maxie's chin in her hand, and raises it until they are eye-to-eye. "Maxie, it's been weeks. I know you're sad about Nathan, but this is how it has to be right now. You heard the judge…and you heard what Diane said."

"I know…it's just…Hearing those things and knowing this is the way it has to be right now doesn't make it any easier. It doesn't make me miss him less."

Lulu gets a sympathetic half-smile, "You really like him, don't you?"

Maxie allows herself to smile, if only for a moment, as she thinks about how her feelings have developed for Nathan. First, as a roommate, then as a friend, and now with the potential of much more. "I really really do, Lulu.

Maxie dries her hands on the kitchen towel and assesses the damage, "It doesn't look too red. Thank you, for saving me from my own daydreaming, Lulu. I would probably have burnt my hand even worse…or drowned in coffee in your kitchen before I snapped out of it."

"Daydreaming, really?" Lulu, asks, sounding intrigued. "What about?"

Maxie smiles, blushes and looks away.

"Maxie! Details!" Lulu yells, tapping her friend on the arm.

"Oh, Lulu! Nothing like THAT!" Maxie says, defensively. She shifts her gaze to the floor, a smile creeping over her face. She quickly mumbles, "Well…I mean, not that the thought hasn't crossed my mind…you know, a few…hundred…times."

The women laugh, then Maxie's face goes serious once again. Lulu sighs, wishing she could do something to help.

"Look, there's a masquerade ball at Wyndemere tonight…why don't you go with me?"

Maxie shifts in her seat, "I'm not really in the mood for a party, Lulu, but thanks, I appreciate you trying to take my mind off of…the situation."

"Come on, Maxie. We haven't done anything together in forever!"

Maxie tilts her head and widens her eyes.

"Okay…okay…let's not talk about the last 'quality time' we spent together at Crichton-Clark. I mean something fun, Maxie. Let's just go have fun, and forget about everything else. Just for tonight."

Maxie shakes her head, "I don't know Lulu, I still don't think I would be very good company."

"We get to dress up…really glam it up…wear masks…shoot, pretend to be someone else for the night! Let's go! Please!"

"Geez, if you're going to beg me…"

"Yes!" Lulu screams, jumping up.

Maxie smiles, then laughs heartily at Lulu.

"I can't believe you talked me into extensions again!"

"What?! They look great on you!"

"I like them, I do…It just reminds me of a time when I was…I don't know…more superficial. When I didn't have my priorities in check. Not at all. When stuff like this was all I cared about in life."

"Maxie, I know this is the last thing you want to hear right now, but, I do think that being with L—the unmentionable one…changed you. But it wasn't him that changed you. It was you. You chose what you wanted to change about yourself…and those are the things that you have let take hold. The other junk he fed you to be his follower, you let fall by the wayside. You don't give yourself enough credit. You changed yourself, Maxie…you. You should be proud of yourself."

Maxie purses her lips and a tear escapes her eye. "Darn it, Lulu, you're messing up my make up," she says, pulling Lulu in for a hug.

"Some things never change," Lulu says with a chuckle.

Rocco's cry interrupts their moment, and Lulu excuses herself to go check on him.

She is gone for so long that Maxie is completely ready and begins pacing the floor. Lulu returns, only now in sweats and a t-shirt.

"Wha—"

"I'm so sorry, Maxie. Rocco woke up all sweaty and crying. I think he has a fever. There's no way I could leave him like this."

"Oh, Lulu," Maxie says, a mix of disappointment and relief on her face, "It's fine," she drops her purse on the couch, flops down, and kicks off her shoes. "I'll stay here and help you with him."

"No!" Lulu yells.

Maxie quickly sits up, shocked. "Oh, oh…okay…I mean, I realize I don't have my own child right now because of my own…yeah…so" She puts on her shoes and stands, trying to hide her feeling of rejection.

"No…no," Lulu says, grabbing Maxie's shoulders. "It isn't that at all, Maxie! That isn't what I mean! I meant no…I don't want you to stay here…I want you to go."

"Oh, thanks Lulu that clears it right up!" Maxie says, grabbing her purse.

"To the party! I want you to go to the party! Have a good time!"

"I don't know, Lulu. I didn't really even want to go. I only agreed because you were going."

"Maxie," Lulu says, taking Maxie's hands, "Go! Believe me, I will want to hear all about it when you get back!"

Maxie sighs a deep sigh, "Okay, fine…for you."

Lulu gives Maxie one last hug. "Don't forget your mask," Lulu says, slipping it on over Maxie's perfectly coiffed hair.

"I don't need to put it on yet, Lulu. I still have to catch the launch."

"Oh, yes you do."

Maxie scrunches her face, confused by Lulu's statement.

"It's a masquerade ball. You can't catch the launch with other people that are on their way to the party with them knowing who you are. That just takes all of the fun out of it."

"Okay, whatever you say."

"Trust me."

Maxie walks up to the front of the castle, nervously glancing around the area. Wyndemere has a history of being the site of many a horrible night. She hopes this night will not be added to that list. She is sure that she must be running more than fashionably late, having been the only one on the launch. She knocks, wondering if they will even be able to hear her over all of the festivities. But, come to think of it, she doesn't hear anything. What is she thinking? Of course, a palace such as this is surely sound proofed. She reaches up to knock once more, when the door swings open.

Maxie stands, frozen. Finally, allowing her eyes to trace up the finely chiseled body before her, she meets Nathan's eyes.