A/N: Thank you all so much for the feedback. This is kinda fun, yes?

Driving back to her home, you are looking forward to relaxing the rest of the evening. It has been an emotional day and yet there are some things that are not settled. How are we proceeding forward? There is a part of you that just wants to ask what and when step two is going to begin. Step two, in your mind, is ending the current relationship she is in with Robert and then go from there. You are torn with wanting to know the future or just enjoying the rest of the evening.

Pulling up to her house once again, you attempt to keep it light and say "Here we are!" She looks your way and you can see the mixture of wine, relief and stress showing on her face. The best part of her, well, she actually has many best parts, but this one is how her emotions play on her face. You want to reach out, cup her face and reassure your best friend that it is going to be ok, and you will wait as long as necessary to be with her. The end goal, of course, is to have one another for the rest of your lives. At least that is yours, and you hope hers as well.

She hands the keys to the door to you as she says "Can we just relax on the couch for a while before going to bed?" That sounds like music to your ears and you respond with "Yes, I am sure there is a fabulous documentary about something on some channel somewhere." To this, she laughs like she always does with her best friend - that is you. "Why don't you go upstairs and put on comfy clothes while I open a bottle of wine for us". You do not mean this as a way of settling the romantic mood, but as one who has also had a long day. She whispers a thank you and heads upstairs to her shared bedroom with him.

It has been a long day, as you reach for two wine glasses and a bottle of something red. You read the name on the label and laugh at yourself, all you know that it is red and she likes it; therefore, it works for you. And it must be good because it is not a screw top. Well, it could be worse, you could be drinking out of a Pringles container at Walmart as that would be a bad thing. Maybe then you would be famous, who knows. There's always tomorrow.

She descends down the staircase in a long sleeved dark blue shirt with a matching set of lounge pants. It amazes you how simple and yet breathtaking she can look with no effort. Just looking at her warms your heart. "Your turn, go change and meet me on the couch." Well, there is an offer not to be refused.

Upstairs in your room, there is evidence of dirty laundry and a few pieces that are clean. This is a reminder that your time alone with her is almost up and the sands of time are still traveling in a downward direction. Oh, and what a time it has been. You have been able to admit so much to each other and finally get your feelings out into the open. In turn, she has confessed to you her feelings and difficulty in forgetting you. Well, at least you are memorable and that is a good thing. As you exit the room and head for the staircase, you pass by their room. Unfortunately, it is not past tense.

Downstairs, you find her on the couch with the throw blanket and the two glasses filled. It is a sight you want to see every night for the rest of your life. There is a warmth and yet a feeling of insecurity inside of you, always the internal struggle to allow yourself to believe that this is real and permanent. She is yours, at least for now as the best friend you are in love with and she knows it. She feels the same, she said. It makes you smile, but it would make you smile a lot more if you knew the future or at least the path forward to obtain the future. Who said the future is now? Someone impatient probably.

You sit beside her and she hands you a glass. The lights are low and some animal documentary is on. For once, you are fine with the topic on television and wonder if she would be caught dead watching a sports version. That is ok with you for now, you got her. You are sitting very close to her, so much so that your thighs are touching. Maybe it is the wine or maybe it is the blanket, but you are indeed most snuggly warm and happy to just sit here. She looks at peace and will glance at you from time to time while smiling. It is almost like she is happy to see you are still with her after all this time. Every once in a while, she will comment on some aspect of the featured segment's animal and is surprised that you do not know these facts. She likes to teach you things, and oh what you would like her to learn from you.

She nudges you to lay down on the couch and moves in front of you so that you are spooning. She may be a few inches shorter than you are, but it just seems to fit so naturally. You place your right arm over her waist and she grabs your hand to hold it close to her chest. Ah, this position is quite fine with you, thank you very much. As a matter of fact, in no time, you are fast asleep as is she.

The morning comes quickly, too quickly in fact for the both of you. You would like to lay there just a little while longer, but she seems determined to get up and start the day. Fine, you think, and kiss her on the neck. Her neck feels so good against your lips, and you could kick yourself for tempting you both. One day and hopefully that day will be soon, there will be no interruptions. "Good morning. Let me start the coffee and take a shower" she says. You look at your cell phone while she heads upstairs to bathe.

This morning, you unfortunately have an early morning meeting and have to get to work at a decent time. After a quick shower and last minute packing, you are drying your hair and trying not to let the feeling of doubts and insecurity creep into your mind. You spent a wonderful evening watching television and then sleeping with your girl in your arms. What more could you ask for, other than forever?

She has beat you downstairs and is in the kitchen pouring the coffee. She is wearing a light gray spaghetti strapped blouse along with dark gray slacks, the pink colored sweater is staged over by her purse for the final piece of her ensemble. You cannot help but study the way her hair falls over her shoulders and down her arms. The sun is shining through the window and you could have sworn you are in the presence of an angel. Your eyes focus on the left strap of her shirt as you wonder what it would feel like to slip it down her arm and slowly kiss your way along her shoulder until you reach her neck. Your right arm would press her backside firmly into you, while your hand reaches up to her left breast. The feeling of her nipple between your fingers is so achingly real that you forgot to move towards your awaiting cup of coffee. "Hey, you are going to be late for your meeting if you do not hurry" she says and breaks you from your fantasy of her. Good thing she is not a mind reader, or is it? What would she think if she knew moments ago where your thought was.

The door knob turns and in walks Robert. "Hey babe, I missed you!" he says as he walks towards your wife. His wife, not yours, his. He kisses her on the lips, a little too long for your taste. "Hey, how are you?" he greets you.

"Robert, you are home early. I was not expecting you until later" she says.

"I took an earlier flight so that I could come home to my gorgeous wife who I missed".

As this is enough to turn your stomach, it is a good time to make your way into the office. It is a good thing you were already packed and had your suitcase downstairs ready to go. You look at your best friend and can see the torn look on her face. She is happy to see her husband and yet sad to see you go. To make matters worse, Robert leans over and kisses her on the shoulder that you were just thinking about kissing yourself. That felt like a punch in the stomach.

Clenching your teeth, you tell her you will see her later in the day at work. She says to make time to go to lunch together, and that helps ease your thoughts. You look into each other's eyes, and with unspoken words, turn to go to work.

Later that day, she arrives at the office. You have been at your desk at least 3 hours taking care of odds and ends, hoping the time would pass quickly until you saw her again. You look up and immediately notice that she has switched clothes and is now wearing a maroon shirt with dark slacks and heels. She is still a vision of beauty and tenderness, but there is something in her eyes that are sad. You want to ask, but on second thought you already know the answer. "Do you still want to go out to lunch today?" she asks. He eyes are searching yours for an answer, and for multiple questions.

In this moment, you wonder how a beautiful morning of waking up together on the couch could go from that to somewhat the walk of shame in different clothes in just a few short hours. It is almost like a truth slap, a reality of ice water thrown on your back that is jarring and yet not without being foretold.

She enters your personal space and asks almost in a whisper "what are we going to do?" Tears have welled up in her eyes, as the tears have welled up within yours. You want to grab her hand and run away towards the door and never look back. Damn it, she is yours but when the hell is she going to be only yours? The lump in your throat makes it difficult to speak, however, you say "how about we make it another day? I've got more paperwork to complete and I want to leave early".

"Oh" she disappointingly says. You are disappointed as well. She turns to leave and you ask her to wait. "Can we go tomorrow, please?" you ask. This makes her smile, the smile the lights up the room and your heart. "Of course, I look forward to it" and then she walks towards her office.

As the day has taken quite the toll on your body and emotions, you head home early. You enter your condo and open the suitcase on your bed to begin unpacking. You hold up last night's shirt and it smells of her. You cannot help but cling it close to your chest, and wonder if it is silly to not wash it immediately so that you can have her nearby. This, for the moment, is as close as you are going to get.

There is a knock at the door, and your heart cannot help but beat quicker. As you walk quickly towards the door and open it, you are shocked but glad to see her.

"Hi Amy". You had forgotten, but she had not. You have a date tonight.

"I brought you a little Hiney" she says as she places a six pack of Heineken on the counter. Oh, it must be time to go Dutch.