DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters listed!

The day after hearing about Stephanie's death, the entire family gathered together at the Forrester's mansion.

'She really is gone?' Dayzee said

'Yeah babe, but I'm here for you. And the rest of the fam too.' Marcus said.

She sighed. 'I know. I just wished we had more time. Our friendship was getting better again, and I..'

She though she heard something upstairs. That sounded like someone was -

'Baby - you alright? asked Marcus.

'I thought I heard someone crying' she replied.

With a soft chuckle, Marcus looked at her to say, ' Well yeah babe - that's expected today.'

The sobs she heard for some reason made her heart ache even more. She felt drawn to seek whomever it was crying out.

To comfort them if she could. 'You're just still in shock by the news. Let me go see Pops and bring you something to drink, okay?' was all Marcus could think to offer her. The minute he left, she heard the sobbing again.

'No one should have to experience the pain of losing a loved one alone. Where are they?' Dayzee wondered.

And without another thought she went looking for whoever was behind those aching cries. After heading up the spiral stairs and not seeing anyone in the hallway, she was just about to turn around - when she saw the first door to the right was ajar. Before she reached up to touch the door handle she thought to herself, 'Maybe I should leave whoever is in here be. They just may not be ready to see anyone yet. I'll just close the door and give them their privacy.'

As she began to close the door - something caught her attention. There was a man in a royal blue shirt, hunched over in a big leather chair, shaking. From first glance she thought it was Ridge - until she saw the man run his left hand through his shiny jet black hair.

'Thomas?'

Before she could stop herself, she was by his side in seconds. Slowly she reached out to rub his back with her hand, but he caught it instead and held on tightly with bot of his.

'How did you know that I was up here in Stephanie's study?' Thomas asked.

As he looked up at her with those piercing clear blue eyes, Dayzee started to forget what she was going to say.

'I...I, um, thought I heard someone crying earlier and wanted to help.'

Thomas nodded, then shook his head.

'Of course. You always were good at comforting me, but this time I don't think even you can really do anything Dayzee.'

They both continued to stare at one another, until Dayzee thought she heard Marcus yell for her downstairs.

'He can wait.' She thought, 'Thomas really shouldn't be alone right now.'

So she placed her other hand on top of his, looked him in the eyes and said, ' I can just be here. With you. We both loved Stephanie, and I really don't want to leave you here by yourself. Not today.' He looked up again at Dayzee's soft and sincere brown eyes, and she could only hope that he knew she was serious and wouldn't leave him. She watched him slowly close his eyes and then briefly kiss the top of her hand that was resting on his. When he said thank you, Dayzee released a breathe that she didn't even realize that she was holding. From there, Thomas stood up next to Dayzee with their hands still joined together, and they both stared out into window - looking up into the sky.