I know this has taken forever to be posted, but I have the next few chapters already written.

I have the turning points of the story mapped out. However, I could use a few more "in-betweens" so it doesn't seem like they are acquaintances one day and completely together a week or so later. If you have any suggestions, let me know!

"What would you like for lunch?" Starr walked from the kitchenette into the living area, "I'm about to call room service."

"Sounds good. Do you think they have pies as good as the Buenos Dios?"

"No one has pies that good."

"True. What sounds good?"

"Um, shepard's pie, Irish stew, corned beef & cabbage?" Starr wrinkled her nose at Brody.

"Let me see. Oh, here - pizza! How much could they change it?" Brody smirked back.

"I guess we will see," Starr picked up the phone and placed the order.

The meal was delivered promptly, and they all dug in. After one piece, Starr and Brody turned to each other, "Eeewww!"

"It's not as horrible as an MRE, but I'd rather have any pizza in Philly," as each reached for another piece. Brody had learned in the Navy that chow was chow, especially when you didn't know where the day would lead. Starr knew that if she refused to eat Hope would as well, and she just didn't feel up to an argument with a toddler at the moment.

"I'll take your word for it. What is there to do this afternoon?" Starr asked after throwing the last couple pieces away.

"You could use my phone and call home," Brody offered.

"I don't want to worry anyone in Llanview."

"I can see that. Didn't you have a friend in California - maybe you could swear her to secrecy?" Brody tried to be helpful.

"I can't deal with her right now!" Starr fell back against the sofa.

"Why not?" Brody was confused the last time he remembered seeing Langston she and Starr were inseparable.

"She's just going to encourage me to be patient because Cole and I love each other."

"Even if you tell her that he held you hostage?"

"Langston wrote a musical called "Starr-crossed Lovers" while Cole was hanging on Hannah's every word. She's the world's biggest Cole and Starr fan."

"A musical? Oh wait, that was the school play Matthew was in? Um, that's a cheerleader."

"I know. I just can't deal with it right now. I'll wait until Cole is behind bars, and I'm back in Llanview."

"Are you going to look up James when you get back to Llanview?"

"I doubt it. He had a good reason to dump me. He heard me tell what I thought was Cole's dead body that I would never love anyone like I did him."

"Ouch"

"It may have also been when he was coming to tell me that Robert had died."

"Wow, that's not good."

"Tell me about it. I think it's time for a fresh start. Enough about me - you said you weren't with Natalie or Jessica, what happened?" Starr was ready for a change of subject and some news from home.

"Let's see, Natalie and John got back together when they found out that he was Liam's father. He's followed some case out of town, something about a Sam Morgan. I try not to ask; the man got everything he wanted and he runs away?" Brody couldn't figure out his former friend's thinking.

"John seems to bounce from woman to woman - heck he was my stepfather at one point. What about Jessica? You two seemed so happy together."

"You heard about Natalie killing Mitch Laurence, right?"

"Um, I think that was the night of the prison break?" Starr continued after Brody's nod, "I do remember hearing about it."

"Evidently, he believed that the only man Jessica should "be with" was her father."

"Gross! That's insane! And my Father has done some intense things!"

"It gets more twisted. Mitch was holding a very much alive Nash Brennan hostage. He appeared in Llanview two or three weeks afterwards."

"Oh my gosh!" Starr's mouth dropped open.

"Yeah, wow!" Brody slight sarcasm revealed that he really did have hope that he and Jessica would find their way back to each other, "Clint came to me and asked if I could check out the guy's story. It checked out. I went with Jessica and the kids to meet him. You should have seen the look on Nash's face when I handed him Bree," Brody stopped and shook his head. Starr reached out to put a hand on his shoulder, "I don't think I've ever seen a man look that joyful. I won't say it made it easy, but I knew they belonged together. A few days later, Bo and Clint offered me the job as head of security at BE in London."

"So now that you are in London, I'm sure the British women are making you feel better."

"I don't think so. Why would an ex-sailor, glorified security guard impress them?"

"Come on! I saw you in your uniform at Prom."

"So?"

" Everyone thought you looked hot in the dress whites."

"What?"

"There was a bet in the girls' room to see who could convince you to dance with her."

"Oh, come on. Wait, we danced together."

"I know. I was trying to protect you. You don't want to know some of the plans the girls were making. I was trying to protect you, and if made $300 bucks, well, all the better." Starr buffed her nails on her shirt looking quite pleased with herself.

"So, let's see: I made you $300, and I'm rescuing you from Ireland. I think you must owe me something."

"Probably, but I did rescue you from crazy teenage girls."

"I think I have to consider my options." Brody wiggled his eyebrows and smiled at Starr.

"Do you want me to get an airmail pie from the Buenos Dios?"

"We'll see" Brody leaned back against the couch and smiled Starr in a way that gave her butterflies in her stomache.