A/N: I know, you hate me. I'm sorry, I really am. It's the middle of finals week right now and I have one left, so the updates should be rolling in at a much faster pace than this one, I will do my best. I decided to fix this one which I caught a hitch in a couple of weeks ago and for my Caught in the Crossfire people, I haven't started that update yet, but I'll get on it after my last final! I hope you guys like this chapter and the way that I wrote some of these scenes. Please review, it makes me happy. Thanks to the reviewers past and on with the show...

Rhys walked out of the elevator at 11:45 ready to meet up with Lacey and talk to her boss about the traveling arrangements for their trip to Brecon

Rhys walked out of the elevator at 11:45 ready to meet up with Lacey and talk to her boss about the traveling arrangements for their trip to Brecon. He walked over to the secretary and waited for him to finish his call.

John smiled at Rhys once he put the phone on the hook. "I'm supposed to meet Ms. McNevin, we're supposed to be meeting up with Mr. Jones in 15 minutes."

John nodded. "She told me to just send you in when you arrived." Rhys smiled.

"Thank you." Rhys replied walking around the desk.

"No problem, sir." John replied as Rhys walked up to the office and tapped lightly to get Lacey's attention. Today her hair was tied up and she was wearing a blouse and navy skirt. She was as beautiful as ever. She shoved her glasses up higher on her face and looked up. A dazzling smile lit her face.

"Hi Rhys, give me a minute I just want to get this paragraph done."

Rhys moved into the office and took a seat across from her. "No worries." Rhys looked over her shoulder and saw the outline of the buildings outside as the sunshine reflected off of them. They may not have been high up, but the view was sill beautiful. He loved the hustle and bustle of the city, growing up in a fairly small town he was amazed to see everyone in a hurry like they were in L.A.

Lacey was typing quickly while Rhys looked outside and after a couple of minutes she sat back. She plastered a smile that reeked of accomplishment onto her face and Rhys couldn't help but be captivated by her personality. "Done. Mr. Jones is expecting us, I emailed him when I got in this morning."

"That's great. Are you ready to head on up?"

"Yep." Lacey rose from her seat and Rhys followed suit. She grabbed her jacket off of the back of the chair and slipped it on walking towards the door. She and Rhys stepped out and walked out of the office. Lacey closed the door and moved towards the elevators.

She stopped to tell John where she was going and smiled at Rhys when he pushed the call button. The elevator dinged in front of them and opened. They both stepped in and Lacey pressed the top floor button. She rested her head back on the wall and Rhys couldn't help but notice the curve of her neck.

"The summer home should be ready when we arrive and I kind of told my mom we'd visit when I called, that's not a problem is it?"

Lacey opened her eyes and smiled, "No problem at all."

"I could even show you around my home town and take to all of the tourist places if you like, considering it's your first time visiting and all."

"I would love that, Rhys, thank you."

"It would be my pleasure." Rhys smiled at her but he couldn't help but notice the tenseness of her shoulders.

The elevator shook slightly and Lacey gave a small squeak. Rhys began to move towards her when the elevator made a grinding noise and stopped all together. The lights flickered, but they luckily stayed on. Rhys moved toward Lacey to calm her down as she started to shake.

"Lacey." He moved towards her and pulled her into a hug he rocked her slowly. "I'm here, okay? That door is the way out and when they fix the elevator that is how we're going to get out." He was whispering soothingly into her ear.

She was still shaking and her chest was moving rapidly Rhys could feel her heart going crazy. Lacey kept shaking her head fiercely and Rhys could feel her tears soaking his shirt.

"Lacey, just listen to my voice and breathe. We're going to get out of here okay. Just breathe slowly in and out. We're in here together. You're not alone, okay?"

Lacey was still shaking but slowly her breathing became normal. He could hear her sniffling and figured her tears were slowing. "Let's sit down okay?" Lacey nodded weakly and Rhys slid them both to the ground and she was in his lap and their legs were in front of them. He still gently rocked her shaking body. He needed to get her mind off of the elevator or else she was going to have a panic attack. A story. Yes, tell her a story.

"You want to here a story?" He plowed on without waiting for an answer, "When I was about thirteen me and my mates played football all of the time on this field by school. I had tackled my friend Owen when someone tossed him the ball and somehow I broke his nose. Needless to say the game ended and I felt totally horrible about his nose. I went home with blood all over my shorts and mud on my trainers. As soon as I walked into the house and my mom spotted me, she asked me if I had finally started my period."

Rhys felt Lacey's giggles before he heard them and he laughed with her. "Alright then, time for your embarrassing story." Rhys said squeezing her with his legs slightly.

"When I was younger, maybe ten or eleven they used to have this slip and slide during summer vacation." Lacey voice was weak but got stronger as she continued to relive her memory, "It was my turn and I had on bathing suit bottoms and a shirt and when I slid everyone got the perfect view of my ass. I pulled up my bottoms but the damage was done. All of the older kids kept asking me how my ass was doing, it was so horrible." Lacey covered her mouth as a giggle escaped and Rhys felt the laughter rising in his chest and before he realized it he was laughing loudly along with Lacey's giggles.

"When I was seventeen my mom walked in on me and my then girlfriends heated snogging session in my room and she asked us of we needed a condom. We immediately jumped apart and my mom closed the door, but I could her laughing in the kitchen." Lacey laughed lightly.

"I can do you one better, when my brother discovered that I had a boyfriend his age when I was sixteen he stormed in on us making out and flipped. He told the guy he was going to cut off his balls for being such a pedophile and that if he ever saw me again he was going to slit his throat, right in assuming I haven't seen Victor since." Rhys laughed happy that Lacey had stopped shaking and that she was actually laughing.

"I was sleeping on a plane a couple of years ago and the plane hit a patch of rough turbulence. I jumped up and grabbed for the armrest, but I missed and grabbed the crotch of the guy next to me." Rhys said shaking his head as Lacey leaned and put the back of her head onto his shoulder and laughed loudly.

"When I finally got the nerve to ask out my crush in high school, it turns out he was gay and everyone knew it but me." Lacey's voice was heavy with laughter. Rhys snorted.

"When I was younger, maybe grade three or four, I had this crush on a girl and she accidentally broke the top of her perfume bottle so I got one of the forbidden kitchen knives to open the bottle and I stabbed the top to get it off. Well, I was a bloody horrible shot and I ended up stabbing the shit out of my finger. Me, the girl, and my mates all started yelling at all the blood gushing out of my finger." Lacey giggled loudly. "I started screaming bloody murder at the top of my lungs telling them to call Emergency Services because I was dying." Lacey's laughter grew louder as she tried to calm it down. "My mum came into the kitchen as we were screaming and even as I was bleeding all over the place she scolded me for being such a little moron and that I deserved to bleed all over the floor. As it turns out, the cut wasn't deep enough to need stitches and my mother banned me from the kitchen until I turned eighteen."

Lacey shook her head as she laughed at Rhys. "I was in sixth grade and I felt like total crap but I was forced to go to school by my mom. I ended up throwing up on one of the most popular guys in school, and that's not even the worst part. The throw up got on my eye, it was stuck shut. I couldn't see and everyone around me laughed and embarrassed me. I was the school joke for that entire year and I was never even close to becoming popular." Rhys laughed at the image of a vomit covered Lacey while Lacey continued to get blush from embarrassment and the continued laughter.

"My mates bet me something and I lost. As a result I had to shave my head and my eyebrows. They called me a naked mole rat for months afterwards. It was so embarrassing, I never made any bets with them after that, those months were mortifying." Lacey laughed as a picture of Rufus from Kim Possible popped into her head.

."When I was thirteen my cat killed a rat in the backyard. My brother picked it up, against my squealing protests and he chased me around the house with it. I was screaming at the top of my lungs and I almost peed on myself while everyone else laughed until they cried."

"I walked in on my mom having sex when I was eighteen and she was singing 'God Save the Queen'."

"Oh my God! You so win!" Lacey squealed as she exclaimed into a huge bout of laughter as Rhys shook his head.

"I think she scarred me for life." Rhys laughed loudly. "I get flashbacks of it every time I hear that song and it makes me want to take fireplace pokers and gouge out my eyeballs."

Lacey leaned her head back so she could meet his eyes. "It's a good thing you didn't, I like your eyes." Rhys looked down at her face and saw they were clear of tears and as beautiful and captivating as ever. Her stare pulled his face closer to hers and she turned her body so they were face to face. Rhys couldn't help but want to feel her mouth against his. She leaned in closer and he could feel her breath mingling with his. Her eyes became hooded and the elevator gave a violent shrug throwing her forehead against his.

"Ow." Rhys and Lacey said simultaneously as they both rubbed their foreheads. The elevator doors opened on the top floor. Mr. Jones was standing at the doors along with what Rhys assumed was his secretary.

"Mr. Wickliffe, Lacey, are you guys okay, you were stuck for an hour. I do sincerely apologize, that has never happened before."

"We're fine, Mr. Jones." Rhys said grunting as he pushed himself off of the floor. He held his hand out and Lacey took it with a nod as he helped her stand.

"We're fine, sir, it wasn't your fault, don't worry about it." Lacey said dusting off her skirt.

Mr. Jones nodded, "On with the meeting, then?"

Lacey nodded, "Yes, sir."

Ǻ

Thirty minutes later Rhys and Lacey walked out of the office and into the lobby. Mr. Jones had agreed on paying the traveling fare for their trip and even agreed to give them money to go sight seeing and pay for the other various expenses they would come upon on their trip.

Lacey looked at Rhys who craned his neck towards the staircase, "Fancy a walk?"

Lacey laughed, "I thought you would never ask." Rhys opened the door and motioned for Lacey to move into the stairway.

Lacey couldn't help but feel weak and stupid about the way she reacted in the elevator. But she could still remember the way that Rhys held her and calmed her down. He was her rock and she couldn't help but feel like she should have kissed him when she was in the elevator. The way that his eyes showed concern for her, no one had ever held her when she cried before.

Lacey turned mid-step and looked at Rhys who was walking behind her. "Thank you for what you did in the elevator. I really appreciated it."

Rhys shook his head, "No thanks necessary, Lacey. I'm sure you would the same thing for me if some clown walked up to me on the street." Lacey chuckled and gently shook her head.

"Well, thank you anyway," she paused, "You tell anyone about my ass and I'll kick yours."

"As long as you keep quiet about my period, I think we'll be even." Lacey nodded and started whistling "My Country 'Tis of Thee," which is coincidently the same melody as "God Save the Queen". Rhys moaned loudly and Lacey laughed devilishly and smiled at Rhys as he covered his ears and squeezed his eyes shut. Lacey removed her heels and bound down the stairs laughing, shoes in hand.

"That's not bloody funny, Lacey." Rhys shouted running after her. It took him five laughter filled floors to catch her and when he did he pinned her to the wall and started tickling her. Lacey was in crying laughter screaming bouts of Uncle, but Rhys showed no mercy. That was until an employee opened the staircase door, wondering what the racket was. Rhys pulled away guiltily muttering something that sounded like, "She started it. . ." The business man just looked between them and shook his head and returned to his floor.

Rhys looked over at Lacey who was hiding a smile as she picked up her heals and continued the task of 5 more flights until she got to her office. "You so started it Rhys." She whispered so her voice wouldn't carry and echo all the way like her laughter had.

"Yeah right, you hummed the song knowing what would happen."

"You chased me."

"You ran." Lacey turned and gave him a fake scowl that Rhys laughed at.

"You caught me and refused to let me go after I surrendered." She shot back reaching the seventh level.

"Okay, I admit you cried uncle, but you deserved it." Rhys countered.

"Bite me, I can hum whatever song I like. . ." Lacey mumbled under her breath.

"Yeah you can, but do expect the consequences to be uncomfortable and very well executed." Lacey turned and looked at him. He winked. 'Oh my God is he flirting with me?!' Lacey exclaimed in her head, but she couldn't help but slide in another sly comment.

"I can take anything you dish out Period Boy!" Lacey exclaimed loud enough that it echoed in the staircase.

Rhys' face showed shock as Lacey turned to look at him. She saw his eye twitch and took off down the stairs. Rhys was hot on her trail and right before he could grab her she burst out of the staircase and onto the third floor. She smiled mischievously as she heard Rhys swear from the staircase.

John came from standing by the desk and walked over to her and eyed Rhys as he stepped out of the door looking slightly winded, as did she.

"What are you guys ten, the entire building heard you guys in there." He quickly chastised and Lacey immediately felt guilty for her professionalism momentarily leaving her. "I may have thought it was funny and you guys deserved a laugh after the whole elevator thing, but the stairway echoes, people." He paused. "Did I hear you call him period boy?"

Lacey's eyes widened as she looked over at Rhys who was glaring at her, "Dude, you are so dead." Was all that he said and Lacey couldn't contain her laughter any longer, she broke into a fit of giggles that turned into a sidesplitting laugh as Rhys and an obviously lost John were staring at her.

"I'm sorry just the question and the way that you sounded so surfer dude when you said that that I couldn't help myself." She said holding her stomach and using the other hand to wipe her tearing eyes.

John just shook his head and turned to return to his desk. He stopped and turned. "Someone named Victoria called about you blowing off her phone calls. She said to tell you that your mother is pretty upset about Sunday dinner and upon hearing that I was answering your phone she wanted me to tell you that you should have called her when you got a promotion and she said she's telling."

Lacey smacked her hand to her head. "Shit."

Rhys looked at a still confused John and offered him a reprieve on his confusion, "Her sister." John had a knowing look and nodded.

"I completely forgot about the dinner for my sister. My mom is probably pissed. Crap! If she figures out I got promoted and didn't tell her she is going to flip." She paused and looked up at Rhys with a sly smile. "Unless, I bring home someone famous to dinner with me tonight."

Rhys looked horrified, "No way, I'm not a little puppy you bring to class for show and tell."

"Please, Rhys. I promise we won't stay longer than we have to, but she'll be liable to kill me. Please, please, please." Lacey said walking closer and sticking out her lip. Rhys laughed at her desperation and John smiled watching the two interact. "I'll do all the cooking while we're in Brecon." Rhys raised an eyebrow. "I'll clean up the house." Both of Rhys' eyebrows shot up. "I'll do your laundry. Please!! Rhys, I'm begging you."

"Alright, I'll do it. But you owe me." Rhys said shaking his head.

"If John hadn't just chastised me about being unprofessional I would kiss you."

John's mouth dropped open and he stared at her and Rhys was suppressing a grin unsuccessfully.

Rhys cleared his throat, "I'll be back to pick you up a little later, then. If I am positive your mother won't eat me, that is."

Lacey scowled at him, "It won't be that horrible. I promise if she goes crazy I'll protect you."

Rhys gave her a look, "Oh joy." His voice dripped with sarcasm. Lacey furrowed her brows and John looked highly amused that they had forgotten that he was there. Lacey moved closer to Rhys and looked him in the eye.

"Don't push me, period boy."

"Tell me Lacey, how is your ass doing?"

Lacey growled at Rhys as he smirked down at her. John stepped up to them and contained his laughter from the antics of the two.

"Umm. . . I hate to break up this love fest but you two are worse than my parents."

Lacey looked at John and blushed, she had indeed forgotten that he was there, let alone that she was at work. She shot another glare at Rhys and backed away. Why did he keep riling her up? Better question how did he continue to get under her skin?

"You frustrate me to no end."

Rhys smiled at her and winked, "You're too easy. What time do I need to pick you up?"

Lacey rolled her eyes, "Five should be good. Are you sure you want to do this, I could just dodge her for the rest of my life."

Rhys laughed, "No, I'll go, I just wanted to give you a hard time."

Lacey stuck her tongue out at him and he just laughed and walked back towards the staircase and threw his hand behind him in farewell. Lacey walked back to her office, closely followed by John. As soon as her butt hit the chair John spoke.

"So you and Mr. Hot-accent hooked up?"

Lacey looked at him in horror, "One: What did you call him, and two: is it that obvious that I like him?"

John sat on the loveseat and patted next to him. Lacey got up and moved next to him. "I said he's hot and the sparks definitely fly both ways, darling."

Lacey's eyes widened. "I can't like him, what about the novel?"

"You can write it before and after the sex, duh." Lacey blushed and John laughed. "Just think about it Lacey." John got up and walked out of her office. Leaving her mind a flurry of activity centering on what had happened for the past couple of hours.

Ǻ

Rhys walked up to Lacey's apartment door and knocked. Lacey again yelled for him to let himself. Rhys moved and sat down on her couch.

"You really shouldn't just leave your apartment door open, Lacey." Rhys said loudly so she could hear it wherever she was.

"I only leave it unlocked if I know your coming, I promise. But if it makes you feel better I'll open it for you when you come."

Rhys nodded to no one but himself and as afterthought he yelled, "Thanks."

Lacey came from her bedroom and Rhys couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was wearing a red cocktail dress and matching heels. The dress was simple and it clung to her curves. She had her hair tied up with chopsticks and Rhys had a sudden desire to pull them out and run his hands through her red hair. He shook the thoughts off and stood. He was torn between complimenting her and making a snide comment.

"You look great." His mouth formed the sentence before he could stop it.

"Thanks. You look good as well." Lacey said, taking in his casual slacks and dark blue shirt. Lacey grabbed her glasses off of the coffee table and put them on. She slung her purse over her shoulder and smiled. "Ready."

"Okay. Let's go." Rhys moved out the door as Lacey turned off the light and locked the door. She smiled at Rhys. All of the sudden Three Days Grace began to play as they walked to the car. Lacey pulled her cell phone out of her purse and frowned. She pressed the side and put it back in her purse.

They got into the car and Rhys was upset that whoever just called her ruined her mood. He looked around and pulled he car onto the street.

"So, do I play Rhys the author in this deal or do I play Rhys the loving boyfriend?" Rhys flashed a smile and took a quick look in Lacey's direction.

"You play Rhys the author. My Dad adores your books as well, so if he's happy my mom won't have the heart to try to skin me alive." Rhys nodded at Lacey's reasoning.

"So it's safe to assume I'll be doing some autographing?"

Lacey chuckled, "Yeah, it is," she paused, "Rhys, thank you for coming with me, you really didn't have to.

"It's no problem Lacey, your doing the same for me so it's only fair." Lacey smiled genuinely and Rhys flashed one right back.

Lacey's phone rang again and she muttered a curse. She pulled it out and pressed the send to voicemail button. Then she started pressing the numbers quickly. Rhys smirked she's a texter. She closed her phone and looked out the window. Rhys wanted to ask who kept calling her, but he decided that it wasn't really his business to know. The rest of the ride was silent, except for the directions Lacey gave him to her parent's house.

They came to a blue house and Lacey told him this was it. He parked and got out. Lacey moved towards the house and Rhys grabbed her arm lightly.

"Are you okay, Lacey?" Lacey gave a smile that didn't reach her eyes and nodded.

"Are you sure?" Lacey nodded again.

"I'm fine Rhys, really." Rhys nodded and moved his arm to hold her hand and squeezed it reassuringly as they headed towards the front door walking up the river rock driveway. The grass was green and it was surrounded by flowerbeds. The front door had a flowerbed of lilies and he saw Lacey eye them.

She opened the door and led him in. The inside of the house was painted light green and the house felt warm and inviting. Rhys couldn't help but admire the smell coming from the kitchen. He looked at Lacy who smiled and looked right back.

"Papa! I see you didn't kill my lilies!"

They heard the sound of footsteps coming around a corner and a man with red hair and blues eyes came around the corner wearing jeans and a suit jacket. He was a little taller than Lacey.

"A ghrá mo chroí, why would I ever do that?" He asked in a light accent with his eyebrow raised. Lacey threw herself at him and they embraced.

"Hi daddy!! I missed you, sorry for Sunday. I totally spaced." Lacey said pulling back.

"Don't worry about it love, although your mother may have some choice words for you." Lacey rolled her eyes. She stared at his hair and gasped.

"Is that a gray hair?" Her father's mouth fell in horror.

"Where?" He patted his hair until Lacey burst into a fit of laughter. He scowled at her and muttered. "Malevolent child."

"Is everyone else outside? I want to introduce my friend once." She said glancing at Rhys.

"Yeah. Let's go out there." Lacey nodded and unconsciously took Rhys' hand. Rhys smiled as he walked through the spacious house and into the backyard. There was light R&B music playing and everyone was standing around and talking.

Lacey squeezed Rhys' hand. "Hey everybody! I want to introduce you to my friend." Everyone turned to look at Rhys and Lacey. "Everyone this is Rhys Wickliffe." Everyone started talking at once, "Hey, I'm not done. So impatient…" She muttered shaking her head. "That's my mom." Lacey pointed to a short woman by the grill. "My sister and her husband, Gregg, and my niece, Daphne." She pointed to a woman holding a baby with her head on the guys shoulder. "That's my brother and I don't know her." She pointed to the guy that glared at her and everyone laughed. The girl looked embarrassed. "And that's my aunt Silvia standing by my dad." She said nodding in the corner.

"Yes, Rhys is an author. No, we are not a couple. Yes, I got a promotion. Yes, Rhys and I are writing together. Any other questions I didn't cover?" Everyone looked at each other. "Good. Daddy you can come fawn over Rhys if you would like, I need to go speak with Victoria." She turned to Rhys, "I'll be back to save you in a bit, I need to talk to my sister." Rhys nodded as Lacey walked over and picked up Daphne and dragged Victoria out of her seat. He smiled now that she was back to her usual self.

Lacey's father walked over to him with a huge smile across his face. "Hello, Rhys, it is an honor to meet you."

"Really sir, the pleasure is all mine. You have an incredibly gifted daughter." Rhys told him.

"Call me Frank and that she is. Would you like to come to my office so we can speak a little more freely. It's a little loud out here with the music and all."

Rhys nodded. "Sure."

Frank led Rhys back through the patio doors and through the hallway he had come through by the front door. He took the first door on the right and held the door open for Rhys. Rhys walked in and was surprised at how lavishly decorated the office was. He had pictures of his family along the wall and a huge black desk in the middle of the room. Frank took a seat in one of the seats and waved his hand to the seat across from him. Rhys nodded and sat down.

Frank smiled at him. "You do know that she likes you, don't you?"

Rhys looked at Frank and resisted the urge to raise and eyebrow. "Who?"

Frank laughed, "My daughter, you do know that she fancies you right?"

"I don't think so. . ." Rhys said slowly.

"She does and you like her as well. But if I know my daughter, she'll fight to keep her professionalism. Work always comes first for her, you know, but I hope for both your sakes that you'll put professionalism aside."

"Is it that obvious that I like her?"

"I just saw the way that your face lit up when she took your hand," he paused, "Don't worry, I won't say anything. If she asks I'll say I sat gushing over you and your novels and I made you sign one of them."

Rhys exhaled. Frank moved from his seat and walked over to his bookshelf and pulled out "Unnamed Triviality" from its place and put it down on the desk. Rhys grabbed it and took a pen off of the desk to sign it.

"Just make sure that you don't hurt her when you do finally admit your feelings to each other. I know you aren't the type, I just want you to know." Rhys nodded and handed him the book so he could see the signature and message that he wrote.

Ǻ

Lacey was walking through her house towards her father's office. When she came back to the backyard she noticed their absence and she already knew where they were. She knocked on the door and her father called for her to come in. She opened the door and saw Rhys and her father sitting at the desk and talking. She smiled at them.

"Daddy, I hope you aren't making Rhys feel uncomfortable." Lacey put a hand on her hip and moved to stand behind him. She started messing up his hair.

"He did no such thing, Lacey. I signed his book." Rhys said pointing to the desk where his book was. Lacey reached for it but Rhys grabbed it before she could reach it.

Lacey narrowed her eyes. "Why can't I see it?"

"It's your father's book and his signed copy, not yours." Rhys pulled his arm back when she grabbed for it again.

"Papa, tell him to give it." Lacey whined and stuck her lip out.

Rhys looked at her and laughed while her father put his arms in the air. "It's his decision, princess not mine."

Rhys smiled at her frustration. "You really do abuse being the youngest don't you?"

Lacey glared at him, "Hey, I take offense to that period boy."

"The truth does hurt sometimes, doesn't it, princess?" Rhys made sure he emphasized princess. Lacey felt a surge of anger.

"You know what Rhys you can kiss my –"

"I'm pretty sure dinner is almost ready, why don't we go into the dining room." Frank cut into the conversation, his eyes twinkling with suppressed laughter. He took the book from Rhys' hand and put it back in its place.

"Come on lets go to the table." Frank said pushing them out of the office and into the hallway.

"Great now we must entertain Jack's new flavor of the month, oh joy." Lacey's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Lacey, please keep it civil. I really don't want you two to argue tonight." Frank said as they turned the corner and moved into the dinning room. The table was set up like it always is a whit linen cloth and the plates and glasses at each setting ready to be used. The food sat in the middle of the table where it would be passed around the table. Frank sat at the head of the table and there were two empty seats left between Lacey's mother and Victoria. Lacey sat beside her sister and Rhys next to Lacey's mother.

"It's great to see everyone tonight, especially since someone missed Victoria's congratulatory dinner on Sunday." Lacey and her mother locked eyes and then she continued to speak. "Does anybody have anything new this month that they would like to announce?"

Lacey cleared her throat. "Next month I'm going to be going to the U.K. with Rhys so we can write our novel. I'll be there a couple of months, but I promise to call and –" Jack let out a snort which Lacey politely ignored but met with a glare across the table. Victoria's husband elbowed him to get him to be quiet and Jack's date looked confused by his behavior. ". . .so I'll be gone in two weeks." Victoria patted Lacey's thigh in comfort.

"Well, that's a surprise. I hope you'll be back before you leave." Lacey nodded. "Anyone else?" She paused, "No, well let's eat." Everyone began piling up their plates with food. Mashed potatoes, collard greens, macaroni, and roast beef were passed around the table along with grilled ears of corn. All that was heard was the clanking of plates and various versions of "Thanks" were heard as the food was passed around.

Jack took it upon himself to break the silence, "So sis, how long are you going to be gone for? 9 months?"

Rhys' hand immediately squeezed her thigh in a silent plea to ignore her brother's comment, but Lacey couldn't hold her tongue. "You know Jack, as many sluts as you fuck on a daily basis, I wouldn't be surprised if you have every STD in the world, not to mention how many bastard children you have fathered that are running around."

"Hmm. . . speaking of pregnancy, how many abortions are you up to now?" A collective gasp was heard around the room and Lacey dropped her fork.

She glared at him and everyone froze speechless at the two siblings at each others throats in front of them. Lacey stood up and threw her napkin on her half eaten food. She walked towards her father's office and flattened her back against the wall breathing deeply to contain the anger that was strongly coursing through her body. She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the wall.

She heard Rhys as he walked into the office and shut the door. He didn't speak, he though it was best to just stay quiet and leave her amidst her thoughts. Lacey exhaled again. "It's not true, you know?" She stated flatly as she leaned back, her eyes still closed. "It was a rumor that got so out of control that I had to switch High School's." She exhaled again and opened her eyes to see a worried look across Rhys' handsome features. Rhys opened his mouth to speak, but Lacey cut him off. "I'm fine, I just needed a breather before I said something I didn't mean." Rhys nodded.

"Did you want to leave, I'm sure your parents won't mind." Rhys asked as he moved closer to her wall.

"Yeah, I need to apologize first, though." Lacey said while pushing off the wall. Rhys nodded and led the way out of the office. Lacey and Rhys entered the quiet dinning room and were welcomed by the stares of everyone in the room.

Lacey looked at her brother's date and gave a polite smile.

"I didn't mean to offend you, I'm sorry that I called you a slut, I don't even know you. I shouldn't have let my anger get the better of me and I apologize." The girl nodded and gave her a small smile back, Lacey couldn't help but think that it was out of pity.

There was a long stretch of silence and both Jack and Lacey were avoiding one another's eyes, basically trying to pretend the other wasn't in the room.

Silvia stood up and threw her dark hair over here shoulder. She glared at Jack and hugged Lacey tightly and turned back to the table. "Jack, what you said was completely uncalled for. This petty bullshit between you two needs to end. It's been three years. All you two do is fight. Everyone is getting tired of you attitude Jack and tonight was the final straw. You just painted her a slut in front of two strangers and if you don't apologize right now, I'll go through your father's will and disinherit you so fast it'll make your head spin." Everyone watched as he glared at Lacey.

Lacey looked back at him, but didn't glare. "Silvia, he doesn't have to do anything that he doesn't want to. Let him be a petulant, spoiled child. I'm not going to indulge him anymore. As far as I'm concerned he means nothing to me." The room became extremely still and everyone's eyes were trained on Jack. Lacey moved to the table, where desserts had been placed and grabbed two cookies, handing one to Rhys who took it slowly.

"Now I have clothes to pack and according to someone in this room, an obstetrician appointment to attend, so you'll excuse me if I cut this dinner short. Thanks for showing Rhys how dysfunctional my family can be, I really appreciate the laughter and the pregnancy accusations, but I gotta go." Lacey walked over to her father and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Bye papa, I'll call you." She then walked over and gave her sleeping niece a peck on the forehead and whispered, "See you next time, sweetie." She stood up patting her sister's shoulder and walked over to a still slightly stunned Rhys who still held the cookie in his hand.

"The food was delicious Mrs. McNevin. I'll do exactly as I said I would Frank." Her father nodded and her mother made a poor attempt at a smile as Lacey's fingers laced through Rhys' and she practically bolted out of the house with him trailing behind.

Ǻ

The car was quiet and had been for the last half hour. Rhys wanted to ask if she was okay, but he thought it was a stupid question, so he opted for silence.

Lacey had her head pushed against the glass window of the car door and she was staring out at the cars as they passed on the freeway. She spoke all of the sudden. "Silvia is my dad's attorney. She's married to his accountant, my uncle Willy." Rhys nodded and another bout of silence resumed until Lacey broke the silence again. This time she turned to look at Rhys. He watched her from the corner of his eye as she took a deep breath.

"He wasn't always an asshole, Rhys. I remember that he used to watch Barney with me, because no one else would. He made me grilled cheese sandwiches in the summer. He even taught me how to play a couple of songs on his guitar. He was an amazing big brother, you have to believe that, but time passed and he changed. He was more distant and he just stopped caring. He moved out and on and I hadn't talked to him for a year. It wasn't from my lack of trying, he just never picked up." Rhys pulled the car over in front of her building, but she was so sucked into her story that she hadn't noticed.

"Then I just gave up. Two years ago I go to my best friend's house so we can carpool to work, I walk in and I see her and my brother naked on the couch. The catch of this little diatribe is that my best friend had been married for five years. Her husband walked in five minutes after me. Long story short, I haven't talked to her since and her divorce was finalized three months later. A friendship of fifteen years ruined with one night of drunken sex that I didn't even take part in. Needless to say my brother stressed to everyone that he did nothing wrong and we have been pissed at each other since." Lacey looked around and her eyes revealed her shock of being parked in front of house.

Rhys opened his mouth to respond to her story when she held up her hand. "I'm sorry for the way that everything happened tonight, Rhys. It was a stupid idea to go and I'm sorry you got sucked into my family problems. Thank you for signing that book for my dad. I am really grateful for that. I guess I'll see you bright and early tomorrow."

Rhys accepted her desperate move to get off of the subject of her family and smiled at her. "It was really no problem and I will pick you up tomorrow so we can pull together what we have written so far for the prologue and iron out character backgrounds. Yeah?"

Rhys saw her forced smile and he felt a strong urge to fix her pain. "Yeah, that will work fine, thanks Rhys."

He nodded and gave her hand a squeeze as she got out of the car and moved to the security door once she had it open, she waved to Rhys and crossed the threshold and moved into the building to get to her condo.

Rhys started the car and made a promise to himself. He never wanted to see her fake smile again. He looked at the door she went through once more before he pulled off and drove towards his hotel.