After a really restful and serene sleep, it was Sid who woke up first as was usual. He carefully got out of bed so as not to wake Cassie, went into the kitchen, still naked, made two cups of coffee and returned to the bedroom. He placed them on the bedside table. He regarded the beauty of the sleeping Cassie with wonder and overwhelming love, then carefully got back into bed and kissed her on the forehead. Her eyes opened. He kissed her again.

"Oh morning Sid." said Cassie. "Am I still dreaming? Last night was so perfect. Heavenly music and a night of love."

"followed by the wonderful sight of those beautiful brown eyes opening to greet a new day." said Sid. "No, you're not dreaming. This is real, I'm in love with you and you're breathtaking. Have some coffee."

"Oh Sid!" said Cassie. "You're amazing. You must have got up and got back into bed without waking me. Then you give me kisses and coffee."

"That's because I love seeing you waking up." said Sid. "You're my sleeping beauty, my fairy tale princess – to be awakened with a loving kiss."

"Oh wow Sid!" said Cassie. "That's a little over the top, but you must love me a lot to feel that way."

"I do, Cass. I really do." said Sid. "More than I can say."

Sid and Cassie enjoyed their coffee before getting out of bed. Cassie showered first and emerged from the bathroom wearing a t-shirt and a printed skirt.

"Wow Cass." said Sid. "You've changed into your normal day clothes. Where were they?"

"I can carry a lot in my shoulder bag." said Cassie. "Anyway, when you're ready, we can go for breakfast. Then, if you don't mind, I'd like to do some shopping. Don't worry. I'm quite decisive when I buy things, because I know what I want. I still remember Jal telling me about her trip with you to get a dress for her music competition a couple of years ago."

"Yes, Cass." said Sid. "That was a nightmare. It didn't help that she was colour blind."

"You were really stressed." said Cassie. "Shopping with me won't be anything like that. You might even enjoy it."

"I really hope so." said Sid. "Anyway, you mentioned breakfast. Where would you like to go for that?"

"I think we should go to the one where I had pancakes on Tuesday morning." said Cassie. "There's a good selection there and I know a cooked breakfast seems to put you into a good mood."

"You seem to know what makes me happy." said Sid.

"That's because I love you, Sid." said Cassie.

Sid showered and dressed. Then they went to the Landmark Omelette and pancake house for breakfast. Cassie ordered eggs, over easy with a Virginia ham steak while Sid had pancakes with bacon.

After breakfast, they went to Canal Street subway station and boarded a northbound train.

"Don't look so worried, Sid." said Cassie. "I shop quickly and won't stress you out. It should be finished before lunchtime."

They got out of the subway train at Penn Central Station and toured the shops in the area round 34th street and Herald Square. Cassie spent some time looking round Macy's before visiting some of the smaller shops. As she had promised, she decided quite quickly what she wanted. She mainly bought skirts, trousers and underwear. She also bought a couple of quite glamorous tops, a halter neck party dress and some accessories for her hair.

Finally, after finding a luggage store and buying two suitcases, Sid took Cassie to the Old Navy store where he had bought his top and trousers on Thursday.

"That wasn't too bad was it?" said Cassie.

"No." said Sid. "You don't waste any time choosing things. You seem to know what you want when you walk in through the shop door. Shopping with you isn't stressful at all, although it did take longer than you said."

"You weren't stressed because you like spending your time with me, whatever I'm doing." said Cassie. "In any case, you bought a few extra things as well. That took time."

When they had finished their shopping at about three o'clock, they returned to Grand Street so that they would not have to carry the bags round for the rest of the afternoon.

After leaving their shopping at the Grand Street apartment, Sid and Cassie went back to the Landmark Omelette and Pancake House for a very late snack lunch. Cassie had a vegetarian omelette, while Sid chose a Bacon Mushroom and Spinach omelette.

Since there was not enough time to go back to mid-town Manhattan, Sid and Cassie went down to Battery Park and spent the remainder of the afternoon in the park. They found a bench near the World Trade Center globe, sat down, embraced and kissed each other.

"This is a nice place to rest for a while." said Cassie. "We can sit and enjoy the moment."

"Cass." said Sid after a few minutes. "I don't think I've ever seen you happier. It's marvellous to see and what pleases me is that you don't appear to be taking any pills."

"I'm happy because you've found me." said Cassie. "and I'm even happier now that I know we still love each other so much. Your love is the only drug I need."

"Thank you, Cass." said Sid. "The other nice thing is that you're even more beautiful when you're happy. That smile really lights up the whole of you. It makes me want to love you even more."

"Wow! That's so lovely." said Cassie. "I've noticed a change in you as well. You're more serious about things. You seem to think more about problems and end up doing the right thing."

"I certainly feel more confident when I'm with you." said Sid. "You inspire me to try to be a better person."

"Well," said Cassie. "you're certainly more self assured, and you've come out of Tony's shadow. You're more independent."

"That's because I love you and I'm assured that you love me, Cass." said Sid. "In the past, I've lost you three times and each time, the feelings of desolation when we couldn't be together were more intense. The worst time was when you had come over here after we had enjoyed such bliss together. It really, really hurt. I don't ever want to lose you again."

"I'm so sorry," said Cassie. "As I mentioned before, I didn't think about the effect my absence would have on you. I just wanted to escape from the shock of having Chris die in my arms."

"In the past, you've always seemed to try to solve your problems by running away from them." said Sid. "I know I love you just as you are, but please promise me that you won't run away again, or at least if you do, please let me know where you've gone. Heartbreak is so hard to bear."

"I won't run away again." said Cassie. "This time has really shaken me, especially when Adam had gone away and I realised that I was so totally alone. It was so horrible. It really hit me what it was to be really lonely. I truly needed you, Sid."

"Your card told me you were very lonely." said Sid. "I really wanted to help you, but felt so powerless until Tony stepped in to help. Why didn't you put any clues on it that would have helped me to find you."

"I suppose I mistakenly thought that I wanted more time to think about things, but all my thoughts kept coming back to you." said Cassie. "I should have put something on it. It would have saved you wasting so much of your time in mid-town Manhattan – although the zip code for the Lower East Side, 10002, would have been on the postmark."

"Anyway, we're together now and that's all that matters." said Sid.

"and loving it." said Cassie, smiling.

They embraced each other and kissed before getting up and returning to the Clinton Street apartment. Cassie changed into her uniform and prepared to pack the gold dress.

"Don't put that away just yet." said Sid. "I'm thinking of taking you to one of the Broadway shows. I know 'Mamma Mia' is playing at the moment. I know it's not your usual kind of music, but I know we'll both enjoy it. So, unless you have another of your prettier dresses, you could wear that one."

"I've heard about that show." said Cassie. "I'd love to see it. I'm told it's one of the happiest shows in town. Perhaps we should have seen it last Monday after our visit to Ground Zero. Regarding clothes, I have got another dress, but I was thinking of a pretty top with a white skirt."

"I'll leave that to you then." said Sid. "You have the knack of looking beautiful whatever you wear. I'll get the tickets this evening."

Cassie did a bit more packing then went to the Diner with Sid.

"Where shall we spend the night?" asked Sid.

"I don't finish till half past eleven tonight." said Cassie. "So I suggest you come into the diner at about eleven, then we can stay here. In the morning you can help me finish packing. See you at eleven. Bring one of the suitcases. Bye. Love you."

Cassie blew a kiss to Sid.

"Bye beautiful." said Sid. "See you at eleven. Love you too!"

Sid went to the Times Square area and obtained two discounted tickets for 'Mamma Mia'. He returned to Grand Street before going back to Clinton Street with the suitcase at about eleven o'clock.

Sid ordered a coffee and waited for Cassie to finish her shift. They met outside the diner and climbed the stairs to the apartment. Sid settled down on the couch, while Cassie once again made hot chocolate.

"We've been together for exactly a week since you found me." said Cassie. "It's been lovely for me. Have you enjoyed it."

"Of course I have." said Sid. "Finding you was wonderful. Spending time with you is delightful. We've had some marvellous experiences."

"Last night's concert was the best." said Cassie. "I hadn't heard any music by Mahler before, but I really lived through that piece. I related it to us."

"Cass." said Sid. "When you were listening to the third movement, I noticed you wiping away a tear at one point. You must have felt so sad at that time. What were you thinking about?"

"Actually, I was thinking of you." said Cassie. "I was recalling the time when I was over here, Adam had gone away and I suddenly came to my senses and remembered you. That off-stage post horn solo really affected me. I imagined you calling my name in your sleep. You seemed to be calling to me from the other side of the ocean. I realised then that you needed me and that I had run away, leaving you all on your own. Those thoughts still make me want to cry even though we're together. It was so sweet of you to notice my sadness and comfort me."

"Wow, sweet Cassie!" said Sid. "We must have a psychic connection. Tony tells me I did call out your name when I was sleeping. That's what made him realise just how much you meant to me."

"I couldn't forget you either, Sid." said Cassie. "Whatever I did, whatever diversions I created, thoughts of you still kept coming to the surface. When Adam disappeared, it was even harder to ignore those thoughts. I don't know whether I called out for you in my sleep, but I really did miss you. While I listened to that symphony, I felt the loneliness and heartbreak of those times and then the sheer joy of you finding me. I was able to work out my emotions through that music. By the time the finale began, I was completely calm. During the last movement, all I felt was total love. It was so wonderful. The way you held me through that movement, means that you must have felt the same way."

"I did. You were all that mattered to me during that movement." said Sid. "I just felt overwhelming love for you, Cass."

"Changing the subject." said Cassie. "My shift doesn't begin until eleven o'clock tomorrow morning. Would you like to go out for Breakfast before it starts?"

"Well," said Sid. "We will be going for a meal before the show, but I do like a hot breakfast. As you say, it puts me in a good mood."

"That's breakfast sorted." said Cassie. "We won't have to go out tonight to get milk. We've got enough for coffee, but not if you wanted some cereal here. Anyway, it's after midnight. Let's go to bed."

Sid and Cassie stripped to their underwear and again lay together with Sid behind Cassie gently holding and caressing her. They spent their last night in Adam's Clinton Street apartment in peaceful slumber.