Emily was sitting in a chair looking out the window of Damian's hotel room. "Once again, a great night of love ruined by a morning of talk," she said sadly.

Damian was at the other end of the room, standing with his hands on his hips, his irritation/frustration level at its peak. "Emily, the only way he's coming near you is if I'm dead. And then I'll haunt him."

"I'm not losing all of that work, Damian," she said, still with her back to him. "I have this last session and he's setting up a meeting with a videographer. This is important."

Damian began pacing. "No. I can't know that you're going to be with someone who has hit you. If I'd known in the first place, you wouldn't have had all of this work to worry about losing. I have to make sure you're not going to be hurt."

"That's not your job," she said in an emotionless monotone, still maintaining the distance.

He stopped pacing and stood close behind her. "The hell it isn't," he said. "If you're not going to protect yourself, I'll have to do something to make sure it doesn't happen. I don't know what yet but I'll figure out something and apologize for it later."

Emily turned her swivel chair. "If you do that, you won't have to worry about apologizing, because you'll never see me again."

He flopped down on the couch situated across from her chair and just stared at her.

"Something like that would make you just as controlling as he is, maybe not violent, but you'd be saying you know what's good for me and manipulating things against my wishes."

Damian still stared in disbelief.

Emily ran her hands through her hair. "It's all I have, Damian—just another chance. And it's good work," she said intensely. "I don't have a TV role on my resume or a band that would sell its soul to have me back," she continued. "I can't lose this."

Feeling that she'd revealed too much, Emily turned the chair with her back to him again.

Damian saw her head drop and shoulders shake. The words from last night's song, which he'd downloaded earlier that morning, came to him…

You got to give her some faith, hold her tight
A little tenderness, gotta treat her right

He didn't want confrontation with her; he loved her. He walked over to the chair and turned it around then dropped to his knees so they were closer to eye level. He used a finger to wipe away a tear rolling down her cheek.

"I don't want to control you," he said softly. "Come sit with me so we can figure this out."

They sat on the couch with their arms around each other.

"I understand how much your work means to you and you understand how much you mean to me," he said diplomatically. "So I'll go with you."

Emily shook her head. "You can't do that. It would be like the two of you fighting over me. That tension would ruin the session and maybe enrage him."

He said "I won't be alone. You'll have an adoring entourage. We'll get Matheus and Bryce. You love them, right?"

She nodded. "You don't have to do things alone, Emily," he said. "A lot of people love you—me most of all."

Something occurred to him that made him squeeze her tighter. "Alex can come too," he offered.

"Alex?"

Damian nodded. "He'll be staying at our house this week," he said. And a second, even better thought came to him. "You're coming to my house," he added with a big smile.

"But I have reservations," she said.

He looked adamant. "I'm not compromising on this, Emily. I want see you in a little bikini by my pool and at my dinner table and in my big new bed. I want you to be comfortable there. It's your California place."

He kissed her. "So, I'm going to pack then we're going to your apartment to get you packed, then I'm taking you home."

Emily loved Damian's enthusiasm but there was something else that needed to be addressed.

He was busy throwing things in his suitcase and whistling. She hated to bring him down but…

"Damian, I have to explain things to Julian," she said.

He sighed. There were just so many men in her life, all who wanted her to some degree. "He'll figure it out," he said shortly.

She sat on the bed and looked up at him. "I want to make sure he hears the truth, especially since I'll be staying at your house…"

"…your California place," he corrected her.

"I don't want him to find out from someone else," she said. "A big part of our problem was hearing things from other people. He's a good person; he deserves better," she finished standing and putting her arms around Damian's neck.

His arms circled her waist. Do you want to stop to see him on our way to your apartment?"

"Yes," she said. "You're so sweet for understanding."

He looked at her intently. "Tell me the magic words," he said.

Emily pretended not to understand. "Expelliarmus? Please and thank you," she asked.

Damian held up his fingers. "Three words," he prompted.

She looked as though she had suddenly got it. "Oh…you mean I love you," she teased.

He nodded slowly. She kissed him softly on the side of his face two or three times, moving to his lips. "I love you, Damian," she said. "Now are you going to be okay with me seeing my old squeeze?"

He rolled his eyes. "You mean old—like two days ago."

She smiled widely. "Everything's changed. You know that."

Damian looked down resignedly but still delightedly. She was going to drive him bonkers and keep him coming back for more.