Thank you to EVERYONE who has reviewed this story thus far. I truly appreciate you three (Soccer, sparky, and demolished!) for reviewing and reading it. The chapter that you are about to read is a two-parter. Apart from that, there really isn't a whole lot to say about this chapter. Hopefully you enjoy it, and hey, if you like the story but are lurking around, come out of the shadows and let me know! I always appreciate reviews! I hope you all enjoy this next chapter of 'Falling Up'. :)

Disclaimer: Yeah, I don't own anything related to CSI:NY. Because if I did, you'd see more of Flack, Hawkes, and Hammerback on screen. I do, however, own Dr. Leda Barnes and all of the other characters that you don't recognize. Take them and I will send rabid plot bunnies after you.

And for reference in this chapter:

1) Pitt: University of Pittsburgh

2) Information about Munchausen Syndrome is taken from The Cleveland Clinic Health Information Center

3) This chapter takes place directly where the last one left off.

4) Leda's ringtone is a song called "A Little More You". I owe it to sugah for introducing me to the song, because I love it!

5) The prince conversation between Delia and Leda derives from an episode of Providence

Chapter Seven: Forget-Me-Not (Part One)

Heart, we will forget him!

You and I, to-night!

You may forget the warmth he gave,

I will forget the light.

When you have done, pray tell me,

That I my thoughts may dim;

Haste! lest while you're lagging,

I may remember him!

-- Emily Dickinson

Leda paused from where she was typing at her computer and frowned at the phone on the coffee table. He still hadn't called back, and it was making her antsy. She returned her focus to her computer for a few minutes, and then her eyes darted back towards her cell phone.

Finally, Leda groaned and tossed the cell phone into her purse where it would remain out of her sight until she finished her research. She had gotten a call from a friend of hers, Dr. Laura Anderson, regarding a patient. Leda stared at the computer screen and chewed on her nails. She sighed and scanned the webpage before cocking her head to the side slightly. "Ah," she replied, reaching for her office telephone. Dialing, she cradled the receiver between her ear and crook of her shoulder and continued to read the screen in front of her.

"Hello, Dr. Anderson's office. How may I help you?" asked a perky secretary.

"Hi, this is Dr. Leda Barnes – I'm a friend of Dr. Anderson's. Is she available?"

The rustling of papers was heard in the background. "Yes, Dr. Anderson is available. I'll put you through to her."

Leda was put on hold momentarily and she took the opportunity to twirl a strand of hair around her finger.

"Hi Leda. I'm glad that you called."

Leda smiled. She could almost picture her blonde psychologist friend on the other line. "Hey Laura. Listen, I was just calling back because I received your call."

Leda heard Laura's sigh. "I've been reviewing Cassidy's file all day, and nothing seems irregular. It's odd – I've met with her a few times, and she claims to be having medical symptoms, but her file is showing nothing out of the ordinary. Her doctors have told me that she complains of pains and comes in frequently for treatment and medicine, but they can't find anything visibly wrong with her."

Leda nodded. "I think I might know what's wrong with her," she replied.

Laura seemed to perk up on the other end. "Really?"

Leda nodded and leaned back in her chair. "I've been researching some psychological diseases on the Internet this afternoon and stumbled across one that seems to fit your patient." Leda paused for dramatic effect. "Munchausen Syndrome," she stated simply.

Laura frowned. "What?"

"Munchausen Syndrome is a type of mental disorder where patients, in order to receive attention or sympathy, feign symptoms. I've researched it, and it's an actual disorder. Think of it almost as an extreme end of compulsion – a person has a compulsive desire to feign their symptoms and pretty soon they actually believe that they are suffering from an illness."

"So how do you treat this disorder? It seems like it would be hard to diagnose and cure."

Leda sighed. "See, that's the thing. While people with Munchausen actually believe that they have the illnesses that they feign, they won't admit that they have the Munchausen Syndrome. So, what you have to do is treat this patient – Cassidy – like you would a substance abuse patient, first. Then, once you convince her to not rely on medical resources and those sort of things, you can try and use the behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy. People with Munchausen often have low self-esteem and self-worth, so convincing them to have a more positive outlook on their life could help diminish how they rely on their 'medical illnesses' to gain sympathy and attention."

Laura smiled, blue eyes twinkling, and she shook her head. "You are something else, Leda. This would have taken me years to try and figure out."

Leda laughed. "The joys of the Internet, right?"

Laura continued to smile. "So, how are things with you? Your practice still up and running?"

Leda surveyed her office and smiled. "Yeah, I'm still doing alright here. I've still got Jamie. She's the most help. Ellen and Holly come in when Jamie's not working."

Laura nodded on the other end. "Well, you remember what I told you before. The offer still stands for California, babe. We could blow this joint and work together out west."

Leda let out a chuckle. She had known Laura for years. The blonde psychologist had recently decided to trade a tiny practice in the heart of New York for a much larger and nicer one in Los Angeles. And she had tried to convince Leda to open the practice with her. But after a lot of consideration, Leda had declined. Despite its size, Leda loved her little practice. She knew her patients and they knew her. She felt…at home, and as much as she would have loved to move across the country and open a practice with one of her closest friends, she knew – in her heart of hearts – that New York City was where she belonged.

"You've known me a long time, Laura. You know that I don't change my mind easily."

Laura sighed. "Yeah, but LA won't be the same without you."

"And NYC won't be the same without you," Leda insisted.

A laugh escaped Laura's crimson lips. "Oh, I'm sure you'll be alright here without me. You've got Robert, after all. Who knows – soon you may become Mrs. Frost."

Leda laughed dryly and muttered: "Yeah, sure." The office door creaked open and Jamie stepped inside, wearing her running clothes. Leda held up a finger and finished her phone conversation. "Hey, Laura, it was great talking to you, but I have to go now."

"Sure, no problem. And thank you so much for your help, Leda."

Leda beamed. "Anytime you need anything, feel free to call me." Upon hanging up the phone, Leda looked curiously over at her visitor and then to the clock. "Jamie, it's your day off. What are you doing here?"

Jamie held up a Panera bag and beamed. "Figured you could use a bagel."

Leda shook her head and laughed. "You, my friend, know me too well." She rose from her desk chair and walked towards the woman, smiling. "Thanks, Jamie."

Jamie smiled uncomfortably and fiddled with the bag in her hands. Leda stopped dead in her tracks. "Oh…no, you want something, don't you Jamie?"

Jamie played with a dark curl. "Well…Dominick and I were planning on going out to dinner and dancing tonight, but our regular babysitter canceled on us because she has the flu. And Delia loves spending time with you…so…"

Leda shook her head and held up a hand to silence her friend. "It's no problem. I really don't have anything to do tonight. And since it appears that Robert won't answer my calls, I will just talk to him some other time this week."

Jamie's face lit up. "Really? You'd be willing to babysit?"

Leda laughed and grabbed the bag out of Jamie's hand. "Yes, my dear. I love Delia. And you need a night out with your husband. Go do something fun and romantic for a change and let someone else worry about your daughter."

Jamie beamed and hugged her friend. "Oh, you have no idea how much this means." The secretary surveyed her companion. "But trust me, when you have kids, you will fully appreciate a night out with your husband."

Leda laughed and took a bit of her cinnamon crunch bagel. "Yeah, well that probably won't happen for a long time." The psychologist moved towards her couch and made herself comfortable. Jamie merely frowned.

"Why not? You don't think you'll get married and have kids?"

Leda sighed and waved her free hand dismissively in the air as Jamie sat down opposite of her. "It's not that I don't want kids. It's just…with the job that I have, being a parent, or even a wife would be really difficult. I mean, you have to separate your home life from your working life, and being a psychologist kind of involves both."

Jamie continued to frown and opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by music coming from the general location of Leda's purse.

I'm here fallin' for you,

My heart's callin' for you,

I know I never can get enough,

Don't hold back one bit of your love,

Strong and steady for you…

Leda looked at the caller ID and raised an eyebrow. "Speak of the devil…" she muttered before answering in a cheery voice: "Hi babe."

Jamie studied Leda's reaction while she was on the phone with Robert with interest. While Leda was a beautiful young woman with stunning blue-green eyes that led straight to her soul and gentle facial features, this beauty was never apparent when she was with Robert. That is, Jamie thought, probably because she never shone while she was with Robert. She wasn't in love with Robert, that much Jamie knew. But why she stayed with him even though she didn't love him was a mystery. Knowing her friend, it was probably because she was too afraid to be alone. Jamie mentally sighed. Leda was such a young and vibrant girl. She could make a lot of men happy…but only if she, herself, was happy first and foremost.

Leda snapped her cell phone shut with not so much as a word to Jamie. The secretary looked expectantly over at her companion, who – at the present moment – was stuffing a piece of bagel into her mouth to avoid conversation.

Jamie raised her eyebrow and shook her head with attitude. "Uh-uh. You're gonna tell Jamie what's goin' on here."

Leda rolled her eyes and swallowed. "He's at Pitt until Wednesday night giving lectures."

Jamie groaned and Leda continued. "Yeah, I feel the exact same way. So, when he asked me what it was that we needed to talk about, I just cracked and said that it could wait until he came home." Jamie raised an eyebrow again and Leda let out a cry of frustration. "Well, I couldn't break up with him on the phone!"

Lifting a shoulder, Jamie offered her input. "You know, this may be better for you. It'll give you some time to think about what you want to say and – more importantly – how you want to say it."

Leda nodded. "I guess you're right."

Suddenly, Leda's cell phone burst into loud song once more and this time both Leda and Jamie frowned. Digging through her purse, Leda retrieved the buzzing phone and continued to frown. "It's Danny."

Jamie didn't say anything, but listened to Leda's conversation. "Hey, Dan, what's up?...Really?...No, sure, if it's really important I could probably be there in…" Leda looked up at the clock to confirm a time, "…15 or 20 minutes, depending on the traffic…alright, sure…yes, I remember how to get to the lab…no, I am not an idiot Daniel Messer…sure, I'll see you soon."

Leda hung up the phone and stuffed her files into her briefcase. Jamie waved her arms in the air, attempting to draw the psychologist's attention. Leda jumped. "Oh! I'm sorry, Jamie!" she apologized. "Danny needs me to run down to the lab…he says that their lab's psychologist, Dr. Tyler is assigned to help them on a case. There's a suspect and Dr. Tyler isn't sure exactly what form of illness he suffers from, but considering the fact that he's exhibiting abnormal behavior, Danny asked me to come down and help them out."

Jamie nodded and Leda threw her short-sleeved pinstripe blazer over her soft green camisole. She swiped her keys off of the desk and grabbed her purse and briefcase on her trek towards the office door. Jamie held out the Panera bag as Leda walked by, and the latter smiled appreciatively, and then apologetically.

"Jamie, I am so sorry that I have to run…"

Jamie swatted a hand in the air. "You go and do what you do best, girl. I'll see you at 7 tonight."

Leda nodded and walked through the office door into the waiting room, where her other two secretaries were typing. "Hey, Ellen, make sure that you forward any urgent calls to my cell phone. And Holly, if you could reschedule all of my sessions for the remainder of the afternoon, I would love you forever."

The two women nodded and Leda beamed as she trotted out of her practice. Jamie walked out of Leda's office to meet the faces of the two frazzled secretaries. The three shook their heads.

"You know," Holly replied, shaking her dark hair, "I just don't think that woman ever slows down."

Jamie chuckled. "No, she doesn't."

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Leda opened the doors to the crime lab and strode inside, heels clicking against the floor as she went. She drummed her fingers against the desk where a young woman was studying her appearance. "May I help you?" the secretary asked.

Leda smiled pleasantly. "I'm here to visit Detective Danny Messer," she replied, still smiling. The secretary's eyes trailed over the young woman curiously and she focused on her computer screen.

"Name, please."

"Dr. Leda Barnes," the woman replied.

The secretary nodded her head and slid a visitor's badge across the desk, where Leda hastily grabbed it and clipped it to her blazer. "Thank you," the psychologist replied.

"You're welcome," the secretary returned, before focusing once more on her work. Once Leda was out of earshot, the young woman turned to the other secretary.

"I wonder if Detective Monroe knows about Messer's visitor," she hissed. The second secretary shrugged her shoulders in response.

Leda stared impatiently at the elevator, waiting for it to open. She jabbed the 'up' button repeatedly. Danny's call had been 'urgent' and she was already later than she said she would be due to the horrendous New York City traffic. If there was one thing that she missed about spending her college years in Texas was that there was no traffic there.

"Someone's a little edgy," came a voice from behind her. Leda spun around, and was prepared to shoot back a response (consisting of a few choice four-letter words), but gaped instead.

It was the cute Detective.

Flack looked equally stunned to see Leda. "…oh," was all he could muster before the elevator's ping led both him and the psychologist inside. Leda coughed uncomfortably and stared at her shoes.

"So…I'm really…sorry about what happened at Sullivan's…leaving and…"

Flack shook his head. "No, it's…it's alright."

Leda stared at him and replied quietly. "No, it's not alright. I had no right to just leave you sitting there without any explanation of why…"

Flack shrugged his shoulders. "It's okay, really. I'm not mad at you. Promise."

Leda smiled slightly. "I just feel bad, that's all. I felt like I just…owe you an explanation, that's all. Because I…"

But Leda never finished her sentence, because at that moment, the elevator let out another ping, and the pair walked out into the lab's busy hallway. Flack studied his companion for a moment. "…so, what exactly are you doing here?" he asked, puzzled.

Leda laughed. "I'm sorry…I guess you were probably wondering that. Danny called me and said that there was a suspect in for a murder and that Dr. Tyler was stumped as to what kind of mental condition he might have."

Flack nodded his head. "Yeah, I'm workin' the case with Danny…but what makes Dr. Tyler think that there's something wrong with the suspect?..."

Leda shrugged before answering. "That's what I'm here to find out."

Flack raised an eyebrow as he noticed the bag that Leda was carrying. Or, he noted more specifically, the stack of books protruding out from it. "Ya got enough books in there?" he asked with a smile. Leda frowned for a moment, looked to the bag, and then her lips curved into a smile.

"Oh, yeah, well they're just some reference material," she said with a faint blush. Flack took notice of this and continued to smile. They continued to walk in silence for another minute, winding around hallways and up a few stairs before Flack pointed to a door.

"Danny said he'd meet me here, so I'm guessing this is where you'll be as well," he said, opening the door for them. Leda's smile was gracious, and she remembered all too well the night at Sullivan's. She didn't, however, let her mind fixate on the attractive Detective walking behind her into the room. This time was strictly for business. She noticed a layout table in the center of the room where Danny and a man she didn't recognize were standing, pouring over file folders. Danny looked up at the sound of the door opening and smiled.

"There's my favorite doctor," he replied with a smirk. Leda merely rolled her eyes in response and set her bag down at the edge of the table.

"What? No greeting for me Messer?" Flack asked, smirking. Leda looked up at him and laughed in a bubbly manner, which was not at all lost on Danny. Oh, he'd be good for her, Danny thought with an inward grin. She even laughs at all of his lame attempts at jokes.

As Leda and Flack moved toward where Danny was standing, the CSI motioned to his companion. "Leda, this is Dr. Michael Tyler. He's the one who examined Aaron McLauren – our suspect."

Dr. Tyler looked up from where he was examining the contents of a folder and did a double-take upon seeing Leda. "Wow," he replied, extending his hand, "I wish there had been more Psychology majors as stunning as you when I was in college."

Leda blushed, and Flack visibly stiffened beside her. Danny had to clear his throat to keep from laughing, but was spared because Leda spoke. "Thank you, Dr. Tyler. That's quite flattering."

Flack studied the two psychologists and noticed that Leda seemed to be genuinely enjoying all of the extra attention. He felt…odd. He didn't want Michael to be flirting with Leda. But, he reasoned, there was no reason why he should be feeling that way. He barely knew Leda. They had conversed briefly, and apart from that…he hardly knew her. He didn't know what her favorite color was, he didn't know where she grew up or if she had always worn glasses, or even what her middle name was. But what he knew was simple – he didn't like that Dr. Tyler guy flirting with her.

Leda smiled and noticed that Michael Tyler was a subtly handsome guy. He had chestnut colored hair that was curly. And he had a nice smile, a face that wasn't entirely shaven, but she enjoyed the slight stubble. And he had beautiful greenish hazel eyes that were bright and lively. And she enjoyed the attention, that was certain. But she felt…odd. She knew that on her other side was the cute Detective, and she almost felt like she was betraying him…but that was absurd – she barely knew Flack. She had talked to Flack briefly, and she realized that she couldn't logically feel so…attached to someone who she barely knew. She didn't know what his middle name was, or if he had always wanted to be a Detective or even if he preferred the Yankees or the Mets. But she knew that she cared about what he thought. And that was odd to her. It didn't seem possible that she could actually be having feelings for someone…especially not when she wasn't single.

"So, Dr. Tyler…" Leda began, attempting to draw the focus back towards the case, where it belonged.

"Call me Michael," the man insisted.

Leda nodded. "Alright, Michael," she replied edging over to where he was leafing through a stack of folders, "what have we got here?"

Michael ran a hand through his short hair and sighed. "I've got nothing abnormal in his psych files, save the fact that our suspect apparently had a short fuse."

Leda frowned and bit her lip, reaching over to study the file that Michael was holding. "If there is nothing unusual or inconsistent in his files, then what makes you think that there's something psychologically wrong with him?"

Michael rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I know that it's more than just anger…it seems almost as if he has these episodes where he can't control his actions. Here, Leda, take a look at this…" Michael reached across the table for a file, while Danny and Flack looked on.

Handing the file to Leda, Michael leaned in close enough to be flirtatious. Danny, who was on the other side of Michael, shot a look at Leda, who intercepted and batted her eyelashes innocently. Danny knew that look. I like being flirted at, she claimed. Unbeknownst to Leda, Flack shifted himself closer to her. He peered over her shoulder, reading Aaron's file.

Leda flipped through the pages, her frown deepening. "His crimes escalate. We have witnesses saying that he seemed to just snap. He seemed to be triggered by nothing at all…it's odd."

"…almost as if he has no filtering system," Michael finished slowly. Leda nodded and removed her glasses before rubbing her temple.

Danny propped open a folder in his hands and skimmed it. "Well, according to our witness, Drew Dobson, Aaron was standing in the store. He said, and I quote 'He seemed to be tense, and then when the store clerk asked him if he could please be careful while touching the glass silverware, the guy just flipped and took a utensil from the shelf and stabbed him repeatedly with it.' That's…just weird that he wasn't provoked."

Michael exhaled through pursed lips and frowned. "It just doesn't make sense."

Flack nodded in affirmation, while Leda shook her head beside him. "No, you know what? There is an explanation for everything, and I'll bet that there is more to Aaron than meets the eye…"

"Well, if you can think of anything, I'd love to hear your suggestions," Michael replied, rubbing his own temple and picking up yet another folder.

"Alright," Leda said, gripping the table to brace herself. She studied the littered layout table, and then looked over at Danny. He raised his eyebrows at her and she licked her lips before continuing. "let's look over our options, here…" Leda looked over at Michael before she plunged on. "…do you think it could be bi-polar disorder?"

Michael seemed to wrestle with the idea before shaking his head. "No, it doesn't seem like it could be bi-polar disorder. He doesn't seem to suffer from extreme highs and extreme depression…"

"…could it be that he just suffers from an anger issue?"

Michael sighed and shrugged. "It's possible, but it seems that there's more to it than just that…"

"You thinking antisocial personality disorder?" Leda asked.

Michael shook his head again. "No, I don't think he's a psychopath. He shows remorse for his actions. When I spoke with him in interrogation, he seemed genuinely apologetic for the crime he had committed."

It was Danny's turn to frown now. "Then I don't get it. Maybe there's nothin' wrong with the kid after all. Maybe he's just trying to buy his way out of a lifetime in prison."

Leda bit her lip and shook her head, scanning the file that was in front of her. "No, Dan, I don't think that's it. From what Michael has said, it seems that there is something deeper that is triggering these outbursts of anger."

"Then what is it?" Flack asked. Leda turned and looked up at him, before replying honestly.

"I don't know," she admitted, throwing her hands up in the air slightly. All four of the adults in the room sighed simultaneously, but Leda's wheels continued to turn in her head. There was something to pinpoint, if only she could determine what…she had read about behavior and personality disorders and had studied them endlessly. He didn't have borderline personality disorder, he was not diagnosed with ADD or ADHD…then what was wrong with him?

"He shows remorse, he acts aggressively without provocation, the anger is completely random and sporadic and ends quickly, and…he seems to not have a filter," Leda listed, hopeful that speaking aloud would help spark an idea. She frowned and suddenly a light bulb went off. "No filter…no filter…that's it!"

Leda spun on her heels and jogged to where her bag with books was resting. She selected one and bounded back towards the group of men. She settled herself once more between Flack and Michael and dropped the book onto the table with a loud thud. Opening to the index, she skimmed it and flipped to a page. "There!" she exclaimed, pointing a finger at a line on page 435. "Intermittent explosive disorder – it's actually a behavior disorder that's linked more to impulse control disorders. That's why it stuck me that Aaron seems to have no filter to him…almost as if he can't control his outbursts of anger. Here…read it." Leda shoved the book in Michael's direction.

Michael frowned and pulled a pair of glasses from his pocket, then leaned down and read. His frown turned into a smile as he nodded. "I think you might be onto something there, Leda," he said, white teeth forming a perfect smile. Michael continued to stare at Leda before Flack decided that he couldn't handle the irritating flirting anymore. He muttered an "Excuse me," and began to move towards Danny. However, he casually placed a hand on the small of Leda's back as he moved behind her. Leda blinked and tensed, a tingle running through her as Flack's hand touched her. She felt him move behind her and drew in a breath.

What's wrong with you, Leda? the voice inside of her head asked. You can't have feelings for him…or for anyone before you break up with Robert. He may have cheated on you, but if you play around just to get back at him, then you are no better.

Leda locked eyes with Flack once more before she abruptly began to pack away her belongings. "Look at the time. I have to be somewhere…"

Michael nodded, as did Danny. "Flack, you and Michael can go down to interrogation and finish up with Aaron. I'm gonna show Leda back to her car," Danny said. Both Detective and psychologist nodded at Danny and left the room. Leda watched them go and continued to gather up her books.

Danny leaned against the layout table. "So…"

Leda threw Danny a glare. "I don't want to talk about it right now, alright?" she snapped.

Danny looked taken back. "Sure," he said, holding up his hands defensively. "Where are you headed off to in a rush?" he asked.

Leda slung the bag of reference books over her shoulder and spun around, bag swinging dangerously close to Danny. "I'm babysitting Delia. And I still have to go home and change before I go over there, so if you don't mind, I will talk to you some other time, Messer."

As Leda trotted out of the interrogation room, Danny was right on her heels. "Hey, Leda, listen, I'm sorry…"

"For what?" she asked, spinning around so suddenly that Danny nearly collided with her. "Because I feel the way I feel? Because I'm pitiful? Or are you just sorry that you ever ran into me that night at Sullivan's?"

Danny's mouth hung open. "First of all," he said, taking her elbow and steering her towards the wall so they were not in the center of the hallway for all the gossipy lab techs to hear, "I do not regret anything that happened between us. Nothing, you understand?"

Leda's eyes widened and she nodded mutely. "Second of all," Danny continued, squeezing her elbow, "you are not pitiful. A bit confused, yeah, but not pitiful. And I'm here for ya, remember? Thick and thin, Leda…you've helped me out so much that I owe it to you as a friend to be there."

Leda smiled slightly. "Really?"

Danny nodded his head, blue eyes shining. "I mean it."

Leda smiled back once more and checked her watch. "Dan, I have to go…we'll do lunch sometime, I promise."

Danny nodded. "We should."

Leda walked down the hall, and Danny sighed. She was such a beautiful and vibrant young woman. And it made him sick to think that she had stayed with Robert for all of this time. He wanted to kick the wall just thinking about it. Danny felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around to see Lindsay standing behind him, a sad smile on her face.

"Hey."

"Hey," he replied.

"Mac wanted us to update him on the case, so I'm headed to his office right now," she said.

Danny nodded and walked with Lindsay down the hallway, but not before looking once more in the direction where Leda had walked.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………...

"And they all lived happily ever after," Leda said with a smile. She closed the book, and the little girl in her lap craned her neck to look at her.

"That's the end, right Aunt Leda?"

Leda's heart melted every time she heard Delia use the affectionate nickname, and the psychologist nodded in affirmation. "Yep, that's the end of the book." Leda glanced at the clock on the table next to Delia's bed. "And by the looks of it, we finished just in the nick of time, because you have to go to bed."

Delia whined. "But…can't you read me just one more story?"

Leda rolled her eyes and wiggled the little girl out of her lap. "Nope. Time for bed, Delia. You know what your Mommy said."

Delia sighed dramatically and shimmied next to Leda. "Alright," the little girl said, dark eyes twinkling, "but only if you tuck me into bed."

Leda smirked and rose. "It's a deal," she said, as Delia climbed underneath her pink and purple sheets. Leda fluffed up the young girl's pillow and Delia clutched her Build-A-Bear, Maddie, tightly.

Leda planted a kiss on Delia's forehead, and brushed back a dark curl. Delia took the opportunity to ask her babysitter a question that had been nagging her since the bedtime story. "Leda," she began. The psychologist stared at the young girl attentively. "where's your Prince?"

Leda was taken back by the young girl's innocent question, and she floundered momentarily for an answer. "Well…Aunt Leda doesn't really have a Prince," she explained.

Delia seemed troubled by this news. "Why?"

Leda licked her lips and thought. Why? "I just haven't found my Prince yet," she answered, heart aching.

Delia thought for a moment and then an idea seemed to hit her. "I'll help you find your Prince, Aunt Leda. And then you can be like the Princess in my story and live happily ever after."

Leda chuckled and nodded. "Alright, Delia."

Delia paused for another moment before speaking. "But you'll find him, right, Aunt Leda?"

Leda swallowed hard and continued to play with a lock of Delia's hair before answering sadly: "I sure hope so, sweetheart. I sure hope so."

And that is where I shall end this chapter. Next chapter will bring the break-up of Robert and Leda. How will Robert take it? Will Leda ever find her 'Prince'? And what in the world is going to happen to Danny and Lindsay's relationship? Stay tuned to find out! But first, review this chapter, please:)