Again, this chapter is definitely rated T!

CHAPTER TEN

"Dinner is served!" Eloise announced with a flourish, setting a delicious smelling pasta dish on the table.

"Mmm, looks great," Nancy said, walking into the room and taking a seat at the table, followed by a rather sheepish looking Ned.

"I'm glad. So what's this Bess tells me about the four of you going to lunch with Sasha and Tommy tomorrow?" Eloise asked.

Nancy shrugged. "Just what it sounds like. Bess and I ran in to Sasha, and he invited us to lunch tomorrow. Did you speak to Tommy, Bess?"

"Yep," Bess said with a grin. "I called Sasha before and got his number. I can't wait to see him. We're gonna go out just the two of us later in the afternoon- is that okay with you guys? When are we leaving New York?"

"We can leave whenever we're all ready," Nancy answered after they all nodded in response to Bess' first question. "I was thinking maybe the day after tomorrow?"

"So where to next, then?" George asked.

"We'll figure it out," Nancy said with a shrug.

The rest of the meal passed pleasantly, Bess conducted most of the conversation, which revolved largely around Tommy.

"She's got it bad," George muttered as she and Nancy washed the dishes later on.

Nancy laughed. "When does she not?"

"This place looks nice," Ned observed reluctantly when the four friends piled out of a cab at the restaurant where they were to meet Sasha and Tommy.

Nancy bit back a smile and took his hand gently in hers as they made their way inside.

"Tommy!" Bess screamed upon spotting him and Sasha at a booth in the back.

"Bess- hey! Long time, no see," Tommy swept her up into his arms and spun her round.

"Well, someone's excited," Sasha said with a grin, "Or should I say they are both excited?" he added, catching sight of Bess and Tommy, who were now locked in a passionate kiss. Despite having not seen each other in quite sometime, they looked very comfortable together.

"Ned, good to see you again," Sasha said politely, offering his hand.

Ned shook it with a small smile and nodded.

"And George," Sasha quickly added, moving on to kiss her on both cheeks before leading them to the table to sit down.

"Earth to Tommy and Bess!" Sasha said with a laugh at the two who were still locked together.

"Oh, right, lunch" Bess said with a grin at Tommy.

"I've never seen Bess so un-enthusiastic about food," Ned whispered to Nancy and George as they sat down.

Although lunch passed peacefully with no fist fights between Ned and Sasha, conversation was a bit strained, and Nancy was glad when it was time to leave.

"Thanks for lunch," Nancy said with a smile.

"No problem," Sasha replied. "It was very nice seeing you all again."

"Hey, guys, Tommy and I are going out for the afternoon, I'll see you later, okay?"

Nancy nodded, "Sure."

"Where the hell is Bess?" Nancy exclaimed around ten that night.

"Relax, Nan," Ned said, pulling her down into his lap on the couch where he, Nancy, George and Eloise were watching a movie. "You know Bess. She's probably just caught up with Tommy and forgot to call."

"Yeah, stop acting like a concerned parent," George put in. "Why don't you call her if you're worried?"

"Good idea!" Nancy jumped up, first dialing Bess' cell phone number, then Tommy's home number when all she got was the voicemail on the cell phone. No one answered Tommy's phone, either, so Nancy called Bess back and left her a message telling her to either call and say she was okay, or get her ass home right now.

Finally midnight rolled around and Nancy knew it was time to get some sleep.

"Hey, Nan, I've got a text from Bess," Ned said, as they climbed into bed.

"What? What does it say? I wonder why she texted you," she said, puzzled.

"Uh, it says, 'Hey Ned, can you please tell the others I'm staying with Tommy tonight. I thought I'd text you, cause you probably wont worry so much and Nan sounded mad in her message. I'll see you all in the morning.'"

"Oh," Nancy replied. "Well, at least she's safe," she said, snuggling down next to Ned, resting her head on his bare chest.

"Night, Ned. I love you."

"Love you, too, Nan," he replied, kissing her hair gently.

"Wow, Tommy, your apartment's great!" Bess exclaimed glancing around the in fact rather dingy little apartment in Queens.

"Thanks," he replied with a grin, "I know it's not exactly Buckingham Palace, but hey, real estate's expensive in this city."

"Where's you room mate?" Bess asked, gesturing to the two lived-in looking bedrooms.

"Oh, he's probably at his girlfriend's. Jack spends more time there than here. Which is great for me, especially when I want a little privacy," he said wiggling his eyebrows.

Bess laughed, pulling his face down to hers for about their hundredth kiss that day.

"Mmm," Tommy murmured against her lips, "You taste amazing."

"Strawberry lip gloss," Bess said with a grin

"I love it." Tommy kissed his way up her neck and back down again, his fingers tugging her shirt up and over her head.

"You okay with this, Bess?"

She nodded and pulled him against her. "You wanna take this to the bedroom?" she asked seductively, slowly undoing the top button of his jeans.

Tommy caught his breath and nodded. "Do I ever."

Sooo, that's chapter ten. A bit choppy, I know, sorry but I kind of just wanted to get the whole Sasha thing over, and I have a new idea of where this thing with Bess and Tommy is going to go, and I will say in advance that some people may not like it, but hey, if you don't like, don't read, lol. Please let me know what you think- thoughts, suggestions, anything! Thanks : )