A/N: Takes place just before and after Guy Talk chapter 10, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.

Having made up his mind to apologize to Sandrina, Josef didn't know if he was relieved or not to reach her voicemail. "It's Josef. I've been thinking about us and how it ended. My behavior was inexcusable. I'm sorry I hurt you. I wanted you to know that." Pause. "I miss you, Sandy."

He ended the call, wondering when he would hear from her. He was pretty sure she would call if only to acknowledge his message, maybe wish him a nice life. But it might be a day or two.

Two hours later Sandrina heard the first part of the message and thought Josef was calling only because he regretted how it ended, not that it did end. Then the long pause and "I miss you, Sandy" and she started to smile. Maybe it wasn't over after all. She didn't want to wait or make him wait. This was too important to play games. She called him back.

"I miss you, too."

Josef closed his eyes with relief. "I'd like to see you again."

"Will you talk to me? Can you tell me what happened?"

"Yes." Josef had already decided he would have to. It was time.

"My house at midnight?"

Josef agreed. That night he told Sandrina about Sarah and how it had affected him. It was an explanation not an excuse.

"I'm so sorry, Josef. You must know logically, if not emotionally, that it wasn't your fault."

Josef nodded. "I guess emotional trumps logical."

"Yes, it would. But I'm impressed with how you worked it out. You have a fine analytical mind. You use it for financial risk and corporate strategy. This time you used it for an emotional issue. I think the hard part is done. You may not believe it yet because you've been living with it so long."

"So I'm going to be mentally healthy any time now?"

"I hope you'll be happier."

"I will be if we're together."

"I would like that very much. But we aren't going to sleep together right away."

"Of course not." Pause. "Why not?"

"I don't regret that our relationship was physical so soon. We both wanted and needed it. But this time we should go slower."

"How slow?"

"We'll know when it's time."

"I may not be a reliable judge."

"I was using the royal 'We.' I meant I'll know."

"And you'll let me know as soon as you know? Immediately?"

Sandrina was biting her lip to keep from laughing. "I'm glad to hear you sound like yourself again."

"The room freezer is finished."

"You are almost cute enough to change my mind."

"That 'almost' stings a little."

But Josef didn't really mind the moratorium on sex. He figured it would only be a few weeks and he didn't feel like Sandrina was punishing him. It was a good idea. He was easily distracted when sex was on the table. Or in bed. Or against the wall. He had just made the case against himself. Okay, rephrase: He was easily distracted if sex was a possibility. If it wasn't going to happen he could concentrate on other aspects of the relationship.

So Josef and Sandrina dated platonically. And secretly. He didn't tell Mick and Sandrina didn't tell Beth. This interlude was just for them. After the initial break-up and commiseration, Mick and Beth were giving them some space to let things settle. Sandrina and Josef talked. They had talked before but nothing too deep. Josef even helped Sandrina with her gardening. She was landscaping her yard and she knew a lot about trees and shrubs, bushes and plants. Josef got a little interested.

When they weren't talking, he thought about Sandrina and how suited they were to each other. Josef loved the modern world and had adapted to each new age extraordinarily well but he related to Sandrina and she to him. The world had changed far more in the past century than in the 300 years before that, which made Josef and Sandrina practically the same generation. They shared customs and culture that no one else understood. And languages. They spoke two dozen between them, 15 in common. A few were dead languages or an old dialect few people knew anymore. It was an effective way to communicate privately. At first Josef had regretted not meeting Sandrina sooner but he knew now that he wouldn't have appreciated her qualities earlier, and his younger self wouldn't have appealed to Sandrina.

Their personalities complemented each other. Josef was a control freak and he had the power to control almost everything around him. But his self-control was sometimes shaky. He was impulsive and fond of flamboyant gestures. Sandrina had a great deal of self-control but much less power to exert that control externally.

Inevitably Josef began to worry about their future. He wanted this to last but forever was a long time. Was it possible they would drift apart; would he take her for granted? He didn't want it to end like him and Lola, paths crossing occasionally, with lust but no real feeling. He couldn't let that happen.

Then came the day when Mick saw Sandrina leaving Josef's building and found out they were back together. When Sandrina called, Josef told her about Mick. That night at his house, Sandrina arrived wearing jeans and his shirt. A shirt he left at her place weeks ago. It was too big, of course. She had left the bottom buttons undone and tied the tails at the waist. The collar was slipping down her shoulder, revealing a delicate collarbone. He could tell it was time. The room freezer was waiting.

Sandrina had worn some of his clothes before and he liked seeing her in them. Once she had pulled on his silk boxers. They were in danger of sliding down her hips so she unhooked the suspenders from his pants and clipped them on. Then she sat on a mat in the lotus position and meditated. He lay on the bed watching the silk against her thighs. Her nipples were peeking out from the suspenders. Five minutes later he couldn't stand it any longer. He jumped out of bed and picked her up. "I was almost on a higher plane of consciousness," she protested. "I'll get you there faster," Josef promised. And he had.

This time – their first time in three weeks – was more intense, more fun, more everything. But there was one more thing on Josef's mind. Afterward he said, "I've been wondering if I should tell you about something I did. If it will make me feel better to confess but make you feel worse to know."

"I'm always trying to get you to talk. You can tell me anything."

"The night after we broke up I picked up a human for a one-night stand."

"Fucking to forget. That sounds like you. Apparently it didn't work."

"I called her Sandy when I came."

"Ouch. How did she take that?"

"She introduced herself when we met but I wasn't paying attention. Turns out her name was Cindy and she thought I misheard her in the noisy club."

"You lucky bastard."

"I'll never do it again."

"I don't blame you. How much humiliation can you take?"

"You have a very snide side."

"I'm entitled. I'm not the one who slept around."

"It was one time with one girl and it was the worst sex of my life."

"That's why I can forgive you so easily. I know you didn't have a good time."

The next day at work Beth went to Josef's office before leaving for the day. "I'm glad you and Sandrina are together. Your relationship isn't my business but I'm concerned anyway. I don't want Sandrina to be hurt again. It's your turn."

She tossed something at Josef that he caught instinctively. And dropped immediately. "Son of a bitch!" He looked at the welt on his hand then at the silver necklace on his desk. "I already apologized to Sandrina, you know."

"Just a reminder that the sisterhood looks out for each other."

Josef used a pen to pick up the necklace and hand it to Beth. "Point taken."

"Mick and I are going to that jazz club he likes on Saturday night. Do you and Sandrina want to come along?"

"Probably."

"You want to meet us there or stop by our place first?"

"We'll stop by at nine."

"See you then." She patted his hand. "Sorry about that."

Later at Sandrina's house Josef said "Your friend - also known as my director of corporate relations - came to my office and threw a silver necklace at me."

"Did she miss?"

Josef held up his hand. "I caught it."

"I don't see anything."

"It's still red. And my hand is numb."

"Sandrina kissed the very faint pink mark then slowly licked it. "Is that better?"

"My hand isn't. But there's some feeling lower down."

Sandrina glanced at his groin. "I'm sure there is. Do you want some blood to make sure you're ready for anything that comes up?" She poured him a glass.

Josef sipped it, looking out at the back yard. "Would that viburnum do better in the other corner? I could transplant it this weekend." He stopped as if he suddenly heard himself. He turned around and saw Sandrina smiling. "Oh god, what have I become?"

"My yard boy, apparently."

"That's demeaning."

"No, it's not. Think of Lady Chatterley's lover."

"He was a gamekeeper not a yard boy."

"I hereby promote you to chief gardener and keeper of the grounds."

Josef bowed with the courtly grace of a bygone century. "I feel worthy of you, my lady. Let's get naked."

They did. And they had a very good time. Afterward Josef asked seriously, "So, the viburnum. Move it or not?"