Kim was sitting at her vanity, putting the finishing touches on her makeup when she heard Shane's voice downstairs. Listening, Kim could hear Jeannie and Shane talking, even laughing. Maybe Jeannie was going to try harder, as she said she would. Still that comment of hers about forgiving Shane really perplexed Kim. She had been thinking about it ever since their day of shopping.

What exactly did Jeannie mean about forgiving? Kim had always tried to keep her children free of any bitterness or acrimony towards Shane and their divorce. She remembered back to the night in L.A. right after Shane returned to Salem with Kayla. Andrew had awakened and found her crying in the front room of the hotel suite.

"Mommy, what's wrong?"

"Nothing Andrew. I'm just a little sad," she said pulling him onto her lap.

"About Daddy leaving?"

"Yeah, about Daddy leaving."

"Did he hurt you?" Andrew asked, stunning Kim with an intuitiveness that was so much like Shane.

"Oh, no Andrew, your daddy's a wonderful man." Then looking off almost dreamlike, she repeated, more to herself than to Andrew, "… a wonderful man."

Kim shook her head, clearing the memory from her mind. For the time being, Kim pushed questions about forgiveness out of her thoughts. Tonight was about celebrating, dancing and partying. Even though Kim had initially been reluctant to attend the benefit, she now found herself looking forward to the evening. Maybe it was the dress, definitely worth all the visits to the different shops. She eagerly grabbed her evening bag and headed downstairs.

Coming down the staircase, Kim paused when she caught sight of Shane in his tuxedo. Oh, how she loved him in a tuxedo. Looking up, Shane's jaw dropped as he took in the vision before him. "Oh Kimberly, you look absolutely breathtaking." She stood before him in a cream chiffon strapless gown gathered at the bodice, just snug enough to show off her gorgeous figure, with her hair swept up to reveal her lovely shoulders. Kim posed for just a moment while she and Shane smiled at each other.

Jeannie stood watching with interest, glancing back and forth between her parents. Feeling like an intruder in the room, she cleared her throat in an attempt to break their unspoken exchange. Shane allowed his eyes to linger on Kim's for just one second more and then, as if breaking a trance between them, Shane turned his attention to Jeannie. "Both my ladies are lovely tonight. Shall we go?"

Shane walked proudly into the ballroom with Kim and Jeannie on both arms. Jeannie immediately headed to her friends and was instantly surrounded by a swarm of boys. Kim and Shane smiled knowingly at each other and then to Kim's surprise, Shane brought her hand to his lips and lightly placed a kiss upon her fingertips. Kim demurely looked down, as Shane gently placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her to John and Marlena's table.

Kim was starting to have second thoughts about coming, concerned that maybe Shane had gotten the wrong message when she came down the stairs. She had to admit she got swept up in the moment, seeing him so dashing in his tuxedo, feeling his eyes look longingly at her. It was as if the clock had turned back for them and that feeling now scared her. She was so nervous that when they reached the table, Kim immediately latched onto Roman. "Hey, will my big brother give me this dance?"

"Sure," Roman reluctantly agreed looking back at a surprised Shane as Kim led him onto the dance floor. After a second and third dance with Roman, Kim turned her attention to her father and coaxed him out onto the dance floor.

Shane sat at the table with his eyes on Kim, feeling slighted and hurt. He certainly wasn't going to spend all evening watching Kim dance with everyone but him. Gathering his resolve, he headed onto the dance floor, first stopping to whisper something to the orchestra leader.

Shane reached Kim just as the song was ending and interrupted before she had a chance to ask her father to dance again. "Can I cut in?" he asked in his very British voice. Shawn was more than happy to oblige and stepped aside just as the opening notes to "Friends & Lovers" started.

Kim couldn't help but smile. "Did you request this song?"

"I highly doubt this old number is part of their repertoire," Shane said as he drew her into his arms. "But I'm an old guy and it's part of mine."

Shane pulled Kim close to him, much closer than he needed, but he reveled in the feeling of her in his arms. Swaying to the music, Kim realized how much she craved his touch and how right it felt to hold each other that way. She leaned in closer, looked up and they held each other's gaze.

"Wow, look at your parents," Chelsea gasped to Jeannie, nudging her chin towards the dance floor. "They are hot!"

Jeannie glanced over and for the first time saw her parents, really saw them. She had never before looked at them as a couple and was struck by how right they looked together. He, tall and dark; she, slender and petite; both gazing intently at each other. That was what struck her the most, how they looked at one another, as if no one else was in the room, lost in their embrace. Jeannie stood mesmerized at the sight.

The song ended and Shane and Kim walked over to Jeannie who still stood staring at them. "Hey, having a good time?" Shane asked waving his hand in front of Jeannie's eyes.

"Uh yes," Jeannie stammered, "I'm having a great time."

Kim reached out and squeezed Jeannie's arm. "I am too. I'm glad you both twisted my arm to come."

Jeannie gave her mother a weak smile and excused herself to rejoin her friends.

"Would you like some champagne?" Shane put out his arm and Kim gladly accepted as he led her back to their table, now conveniently empty. He poured them each a flute, then held up his glass and asked, "What shall we toast to?"

"Old friends," Kim suggested.

Smiling, Shane offered, "How about to new friends?"

Kim gently touched her glass to his and repeated, "To new friends." For a moment they enjoyed the silence between them, both feeling a wave of nostalgia and neither wanting to spoil it with words.

"Look who's here … the Donovan's." An older gentleman with a familiar face came up and greeted them. Embarrassingly, neither Kim nor Shane could recall his name. "Haven't seen you two in years. Where are you living now?"

"Uh, lots of different places. England, L.A. We get around." Shane answered with a smirk, eyeing a smiling Kim.

"Well it's good seeing you. I always said to my wife, you were the best couple ever."

Shane and Kim held their laughter until the anonymous gentlemen walked away. "I guess he didn't get the town memo on our divorce," Kim ventured with a silly grin.

"No, I highly doubt he did," Shane concurred. "So would the ex-Mrs. Donovan care to honor me with another dance?"

"I'd love to." Shane whisked Kim out on the dance floor and for the rest of the evening, they were inseparable, dancing and chatting the night away. Occasionally, Kim could feel her old fears and painful memories surface but she pushed them aside, refusing to allow them to spoil what was turning into a joyous evening. Kim would face her demons later but for tonight, all she wanted was to enjoy the pleasure of Shane's company without any walls between them.

The orchestra was playing their last song and not surprisingly, Shane and Kim were on the dance floor swaying in each other's arms. Jeannie waited at the side, getting their attention as the song ended. "Mom, everyone is sleeping over at Stephanie's. Can I go?"

Kim hesitated, more at the prospect of driving home alone with Shane than letting Jeannie go. But she saw the pleading look in her daughter's eyes and acquiesced. "Fine, just be home in time to take me to the airport."

"Thanks Mom," Jeannie hugged Kim before dashing off to join her friends.

"Shall we go?" Shane asked and Kim agreed, unsure what the rest of the night would bring.