Hi everyone, here's chapter 10, sorry about the slight delay but because the fanfiction site when down for a few days I wasn't able to upload as quickly as I wanted to. Anyway I hope you enjoyed some slight romance in this chapter. Thankyou to all my reviewers who compliment my writing so frequently which is something I really value, and those who give me occasional advice. Thankyou please read and review! Enjoy! x

Sitting with a martini glass in hand at the bar he used to visit occasionally, Brian was clearly lost in thought, something which he hated. Thinking too much prompted so many emotions in Brian due to what he was going through, so as a voice spoke out behind him, Brian wasn't prepared for who he turned to see. Clio stood wearing black trousers and a deep violet backless top, her emerald eyes glittering in the small spotlights scattered across the ceiling. 'Hey, I didn't expect to see you here,' she smiled sitting beside him.

'Hi, I didn't expect to see you either,' he replied, 'are you here alone?'

'Yeah I just felt like getting out for a while,' she said thoughtfully, 'how come you're here alone?'

'I just came out,' he sighed, 'I needed a little bit of a break from things,'

'I can understand that,' she replied sympathetically,

'You have no idea…' he muttered, Clio not catching it over the music that started to play on stage.

'I love jazz,' she grinned looking to watch the saxophone players in envy,

'Really?' Brian replied looking up a little, trying his best now to focus on the conversation, his interest sparking from the mentioning.

'Yes I've always loved jazz, there's something about it…' she began when she looked at Brian, 'so whats the matter?'

'How do you mean?'

'You don't seem…yourself…whats wrong?' she repeated, her eyes watching him with a gaze that he felt could see right through him when another person joined them.

'Well if it isn't Brian Griffin, how long has it been?' both bringing their attention to an elderly man behind them dressed up in a tuxedo that he knew only too well.

'Frank Sinatra Jr.?'

'Yeah it's me, I'm back in town for a week or two, but it's good to see you. How is the other member of our old trio?'

'He's fine thanks Frank,' Brian replied still surprised by the return,

'So who's your little lady friend?' Frank asked looking at Clio with a warm smile,

'Oh this is Clio, Clio this is Frank an old friend I guess you could say…'

'Nice to meet you,' she responded politely.

'So Brian, since you are here, we could do a possible one night only? What do you reckon?'

'Erm, I dunno…things have changed a little since then…I don't know if I'd still…'

'Don't be ridiculous, have you forgotten what I taught you? Live life while you can and live it hard.' Not replying to this, Brian took his drink in hand and sipped at it, Frank taking the hint, 'well if you feel like a reunion, you just let me know.'

'Bye Frank,' Brian said dismissively, not looking as he left when he found Clio's eyes watching him again.

For the rest of the evening, Brian and Clio chatted as they had done at the café; though the change in Brian was inevitable, and he wished above all else that Clio wouldn't have seen him like this. It was a time when he was sorting himself out of the mess that was his affair…something that was…no…he couldn't bring himself to think about it, for tonight he had to be okay, not just to get himself through it, but to be convincing to Clio. 'So do you have some transport?' Brian asked as they went out into the cold evening air,

'No,' she admitted, 'I'll probably walk…or get a taxi…' her eyes falling on a gang by the street corner.

'Don't worry, I'll give you a lift to the hotel,' he said, Clio not turning it down, feeling wary of those lingering on the streets at night. 'Its alright, I wouldn't worry,' he smiled reassuringly as Clio got into the passenger seat.

'I'm not now,' she grinned as they set off, 'I write too many scenes where a character requires assistance in a bad situation, like the hero,' she said be means of example, Brian chuckling. 'What?' she asked, tilting her head slightly

'So you picture me as a hero to that situation do you?' he remarked raising an eyebrow before laughing,

'You never know,' she smirked, 'you have potential,'

'Then you don't know me at all, I'm by no means innocent…'

'In what way?' she queried still smiling, Brian trying to keep his tone light,

'Come on, in reality who is? Books open up every possibility, reality isn't so varied'

'Good point.'

'Well actually…' he mused, 'no I'm wrong,' he smiled decisively.

'Oh...?' she said looking at Brian's expression as he pulled up outside her hotel.

'So in what way were you wrong?'

'I'll leave you to work it out,' he grinned, Clio smiling brightly,

'I will, goodnight Brian, thanks for the ride,'

'Goodnight Clio,' he said watching her into the hotel before turning his car round and setting off home, with a very different view on things than the one he had left with…

The following morning however things proved to be heated as Brian went into the kitchen. 'Oh yeah Lois I think you need to empty the bin you've been keeping in the closet upstairs, its full got a load of old used condoms, any idea why that is?'

'Oh…um…well Chris is becoming a man now you know…he's probably just experimenting or something,' Lois said the excuse poor, but by Peter's intelligence passable. 'Anyway shouldn't you be apologising for your attitude yesterday?' she added testily,

'Oh sorry Lois for my unaccepted behaviour,' he said with heavy sarcasm, Lois glaring at him with narrowed eyes. 'So you're saying it was uncalled for?'

'I never phone called you…don't change the subject Lois…'

'No…Oh forget it, you wouldn't understand anyway. Sometimes I dunno how I do this…'

'Do what Lois…Oh look at me I'm Lois I spend all day in the house while my big mean husband Peter does all the work…'

'Peter knock it off, now your just being childish,'

'Oh I'm being childish?' he said catching sight of Meg, 'hey Meg your grounded tonight.'

'What? Why?'

'Because I can,' he said folding his arms.

'You know what Dad; no you can't okay? You're not the boss of me, I'm seventeen going on eighteen.'

'Why does all your blaming have to go on Meg?' Brian queried in a hard tone, walking past Meg as she glared at her father before going upstairs.

'Hey don't start having a go at me Brian, I have an anger management program and it's doing me wonders.'

'Anger management? This I'd like to see,' he replied sarcastically, taking the sheet of paper Peter offered him and reading the scrawled writing.

Peter's Anger Management Therapy

Step 1. Annoy Meg

Step 2. Make fun of Meg

Step 3. Hit Meg.

Ultimate Step – If all else fails, trash the place.

'Peter that is the most pathetic excuse for anger management I've ever read…'

'Well it works and that's what counts. By the way do you know when the film blue harvest is on tonight? It's meant to be a really stupid yet funny family who do a parody of the star wars film "a new hope."'

'Its not, they cancelled it due to a dirty dancing special tonight…'

'WHAT HOW CAN THEY DO THAT?!' he demanded punching the wall in anger,

'Yeah the anger management is doing wonders, it taught you how to break the wall,' he snapped, when his phone went off distracting him. 'Excuse me,' he said coldly, leaving the room again, none of the family aware Joe Swanson was spying on them through the window with his binoculars. Taking his mobile out he quickly dialled Quagmire's number.

'Yeah?'

'Quagmire it's Joe, I'm gonna up the stakes on Lois cheating…you busy?'

'Just having sex with twins, but I'll be good to go in five minutes.'

'Identical?'

'Oh yeah,' Quagmire replied casually, 'best make it ten minutes then.'

'Why?'

'Twins…' he muttered, before a moan came through the receiver and Quagmire hung up, Joe shuddering slightly in the bushes.

Meanwhile going out to the back of the house, Brian picked up the call which turned out to be Jillian, 'Hey Brian, I haven't heard from you for a couple of days…'

'I know sorry Jill, I've been meaning to get in contact,'

'You feeling any better?'

'Sort of, listen I'm gonna have to give you a call back, speak later?'

'Sure,' she agreed, Brian thinking it would be easier to have a lengthy conversation with her in the evening. However walking around to the front, Brian was surprised to see Clio coming down the street 'So I'll call you later,' he said closing his phone once Jillian said goodbye and greeting Clio.

'Hey, I wondered if you wanted to go for a walk?' she offered, Brian about to respond when he saw Joe emerging down the path,

'Joe what are you…?'

'Long story,' Joe replied shaking his head.

'Right, oh this is Clio, she's Quagmire's second cousin,'

'Really? Well that's a surprise,' he smiled shaking hands with the pretty young lady stood beside Brian. 'Well I'd better leave you to it,' he said with a smirk directed at Brian as he wheeled down the path and towards Quagmire's.

'Hectic morning?'

'You could say that…'

'Come on then, you look like you could do with a bit of a break,' she said Brian unable to resist as they set off in the opposite direction to Joe. 'So where do you want to go?' she asked,

'Anywhere peaceful,' he remarked in slight exasperation, Clio laughing lightly as they enjoyed a simplistic morning.

Upon heading back a couple of hours later, Brian felt he had unwound a lot, his time with Clio so relaxing and calming, that it left Brian feeling something like himself…a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time. But there was something more…something he couldn't put his paw on… 'Brian…I wanted to ask you something,' she said as they arrived at the four star hotel she was staying at.

'Yeah?' he said glancing at her,

'You're probably the sanest I've met since I've come to Quahog, and you've become quite a good friend in the short time I've known you…so I was wondering if you'd like to join me for dinner tonight?' Though her question took Brian by surprise, he couldn't deny the sudden rush he felt at her suggestion.

'I'd love too,' he smiled, 'I'll pick you up at…'

'Seven?' the two said in unison, both then laughing as she walked up the steps into the hotel, 'see you tonight then,' she smiled,

'Here's my mobile number…' he said writing it down on a scrap of paper and handing it to her, 'if I'm late or anything I'll have the hotel pass on a message, but if you're going to be delayed you can contact me on that,' he informed her, Clio taking it and going in, looking back for a moment as she walked through the glass doors. Brian watched after her for a moment, an absent-minded smile on his face when he walked back home. 'Well Brian, you look cheerful, despite the fact you left me in a bloody minefield!'

'Sorry, have Lois and Peter still been arguing?' Brian asked, Stewie's furious expression enough to tell him before he answered a little more calmly

'What do you think? Well the fat man followed shortly after you, but Lois has been complaining non-stop, it was worse than the time when she left me to go on that bloody cruise alone. I mean why Brian? Why would she do that?'

'I dunno it was only two tickets if you remember,' he shrugged, his smile making Stewie suspicious.

'Alright, what aren't you telling me? Have I got juice around my mouth again?'

'No, it's not that…' he said not answering Stewie's original question as he went upstairs.

'Brian!' he yelled, the dog not noticing as he went up to the bedroom, Stewie feeling self-conscious and checking his appearance in the mirror. 'I didn't have any juice around my mouth! What is Brian's problem?' he complained aloud, receiving no immediate answer till later that evening.

'Brian, do you know when Meg's supposed to get home tonight?'

'She's round Michael's for dinner,' Brian called down, coming out onto the landing, and seeing Peter come in he descended the stairs, 'and on that note, I won't be in for dinner either.'

'Why's that?'

'I have plans tonight; I was invited out to dinner by a friend. Speaking of which I need to get ready,' he said taking the moment to go back upstairs, glancing back to see Peter looking awkwardly at his wife. Going into the bedroom and pulling on a tuxedo. Brian was adjusting his tie in the mirror when he saw a figure behind him.

'Oh hey Stewie,'

'So who are you going out with tonight, as I presume that's why you were so unusually happy earlier.'

'A girl I met a couple of weeks ago,' he admitted with a smile,

'Well if she makes you this happy then go and have some fun, seriously, have a good time. I think you need it,' the last part being said in an undertone though Brian picked it up.

'Yeah…thanks…' he said gratefully, leaving the door to go with a slight spring in his step as he went to pick up Clio…

So how will the date go? It will be coming up in the next chapter. I had to mention Blue Harvest, I love that film lol, I hope you all enjoyed, please review for me so appreciated! I will update soon, thankyou and goodnight!

~x-xMasqueradeAngelx-x