Yeehaw! I'm finally back. (I don't know why I just typed "yeehaw." I've never used that word before in my life.) Thank you so much for being patient. So much has been happening in my life lately. I started and new job and moved 2 hrs away into a new home. I've had reunions with old friends and visits with family. I even spent a whole weekend wedding dress shopping (Not for me, for my sister ) Not only have I not had internet access at my new place for 2 ½ weeks, but I haven't had time to sit down and do anything with the internet even if I had it. I've been writing this in short bursts over the last three weeks and it's finally ready for reading. I hope you like it!

MARCH 7, 2011, NEW YORK CITY

Ironically, the very day that Gracie was born was also the day that Wild Dog-Ups was born. Shawn, now quite accustomed to being called Luke, stood alone behind his shiny new hot dog stand only a few blocks from NYU, shivering in the late winter chill. At least the beard he had grown was serving to keep his face warm.

Being a new business, he wasn't able to snag one of the most visible locations on one of the main routes for foot travel, but he did feel lucky to be close enough to the University to serve the hordes of hungry college students who were looking for something quick to shove down their throats as they rushed from one class to the next.

He'd surprisingly sold a good 50 or so dogs during the lunch rush, which was just winding down when a young dark-haired girl clad in several warm layers approached the cart, looking just slightly disheveled. "Rough day?" Shawn questioned, while the girl removed her mittens with her teeth so she could fumble through her purse for her wallet.

"The worst!" she said. "I left my mid-term paper on the train this morning…just had to talk my prof into giving me an extension...now all I really want is some food. My stomach is beginning to digest itself."

"Well we can't have that now, can we?" said Shawn. "You've come to the right place. I've got dogs of all kinds here…dogs with all of the toppings you've always wanted to put on your dogs, but your mother would never let you. Dogs with -"

Shawn was cut off when the girl yelled, "Hey!' as a man ran by her, snatching her purse in the process.

"Hey, give that back!" Shawn yelled and attempted to grab the man. He had a hold of his collar for a brief second before the man slipped free and disappeared into the crowd.

Mandy stood with her jaw slackened in shock before breaking out into a loud bawl. "Could this day possibly get any worse?!"

"I'm willing to bet that it can only get better from here," said Shawn. The girl scoffed and rolled her eyes. "…and it's about to," he continued while he handed the girl a Hawaiian Pineapple Dog-Up. "This one's on me." He speedily whipped up a second dog for himself and then locked up the cart, tossing his head towards the Starbucks across the street. "Come on. You might as well eat your dog with a warm cup of coffee. Then you can use my phone to cancel all your credit cards and stuff."

"Uh…hot dogs and coffee…?" the 19-year-old girl hesitated, finding it a little unsettling to be suddenly joining a thirty-something street vendor for coffee.

"It never hurts to try something new," said Shawn. …whether it's a food combo or letting a complete stranger help you out."

She looked around unsurely, realizing she wasn't going to get very far on her own without her phone, subway pass, or money.

"Come on, I don't bite…unless it's into a juicy hot dog," Shawn encouraged. The girl shrugged and followed.

"My name's Luke, by the way," said Shawn pointing to the sign on the cart that said Luke Jones's Wild Dog-Ups. "You are?"

"Mandy," said the girl. "Mandy Hess."

Once sitting within the warmth of the Starbucks, bellies full of pineapple, hot dog, and Caramel Macchiato, Mandy finally asked. "Luke, why are you helping me?"

"Just being a good Sumerian, I guess."

"You mean a Samaritan?" questioned Mandy.

"I've heard it both ways," said Shawn, to which Mandy appeared ready to tell him that he probably hadn't before he explained further. "Actually, I sensed that you are fairly new to this city." Shawn put his finger to his temple instinctively. When he realized what he was doing, he coughed and dropped his hand to the table. "…I know it can be a rough place for a newbie… I just didn't want to leave a young pretty girl hanging."

"Pretty girl?" Mandy gulped and blushed. "Is…are you…hitting on me?"

"Oh no!" said Shawn, wanting to squelch any possible misunderstanding he could have caused. "I promise you this, here, is totally platonic. Just one good soul helping another. I'm a little old for you anyway, don't you think?" Mandy relaxed and nodded. "Besides, I have a girl…had…sort of. Let's just say, my heart is holding out for a special someone…provided I actually get to see her again."

Mandy frowned sympathetically. Who knew that a NYC hot dog vendor could be such a hopeless romantic? "She back home?" Mandy asked.

"B…back home? What do you mean?"

"You know, wherever it is you came from before you ended up here…I am pretty good at sensing things too. I know you haven't been here too long either. Where was it you came from? It has to be someplace warm with the way you were shivering outside. You're not used to the cold."

Shawn gaped for a few moments. Mandy was more observant than he realized. He couldn't tell her the truth….what was the backstory that Ewan had made up for him? "Uh…you're right…down south. Miami to be exact. She's back in Miami."

"Why did you leave Miami?" Mandy asked curiously. "You taking classes here too?"

"No…no. Nothing like that. To be honest, it's complicated. I can't really talk about it. But…I've been here about nine months so far, and…can I confess something to you?"

"Yeah…"

"I'm new to this whole hot dog thing too. Today's actually my first day on the job."

"I sensed that too," smiled Mandy. "Though I have to say, I think you really have something here. This hot dog was delicious. Seriously, pineapple on a hot dog is genius! You deserve props!"

"Thanks, though actually the idea was originally Gu -, uh…Gunter's."

"Who's Gunter?"

"Oh, who's Gu..Gunter? He was my friend back home. Gunter…uh…Brownose, my white best friend."

"White?" asked Mandy squinting at Shawn as if she was supposed to be seeing a different man sitting in front of her.

"Yeah, white. He's albino. He was so white, I was his black best friend. Ironically, doesn't have a brown nose at all, literally or figuratively…well maybe a little bit figuratively."

Mandy laughed. "Sounds like you had a good life back home. I hope you get worked out whatever you need to get worked out so you can go back."

"Me too," said Shawn. "And I hope your day gets better."

"Thanks. You've already helped with that quite a bit. Is there anything I can do to repay you?"

"No…" Shawn thought carefully. "Unless…well, I could use some help at Wild Dog-Ups. Do you know anyone who needs a job?"

"Yes. Me!" Mandy responded eagerly.

"Well then, the job is yours if you want it!"

"When do I start?"

Over the next few years, Luke had become like an older brother to her. He took her under his wing, made sure she wasn't stressing too much over school, gave her advice, and much to her dismay checked out her potential dates as a father would do for his daughter. He even threatened one or two of the suspicious ones. He always made sure she was safe, and she trusted him with her life.

She knew that his past was somewhat of a mystery. He never did talk about Gunter or the woman that he claimed to be saving his heart for since the day they met. She got the gist that it was a sensitive subject and she didn't pry. It didn't matter to her where Luke came from or why he left. She knew who he was now and cared for him like family. That's why, when a very angry man held a gun to her back while she was alone at the Wild Dog-Up cart and demanded to know where Shawn was, which she had gathered was Luke's former name, she didn't let on that she might know anything.

The man wanted to know where Shawn lived, but instead of leading him to Luke's apartment she led him to hers. Luke had always been her safe-guardian while living in the dangerous city of New York, she wasn't about to betray him by turning him over to someone who wanted him dead. She now had some inkling of why Luke had left Miami and understood even more why he never talked about it. The man tied her to a chair, and tortured her, but she didn't say a thing. She maintained her tight lips until finally the angry man determined that she knew nothing and ended her life.

Shaken from her emotional meeting with Shawn, Juliet wiped a few remaining tears from her cheek and took a deep breath, intent on net letting her emotion show. She stuffed Senor Cuddles into her purse – she'd give it to Gracie later – stepped into the hotel suite and was immediately bombarded by her 4-year-old.

"Momma!" shouted the little girl.

"Hey sweetheart!" said Juliet lifting her daughter, kissing the top of her head, and squeezing her tight. Suddenly she could see Shawn more than ever in her little girl, threatening to make tears well up in her eyes again.

"Where did you go?" asked Declan sternly from across the room. He was angry.

Juliet put Gracie down and softly told her to play in the bedroom, stroking her soft cheek lovingly. Gracie grabbed Mr. Pineapple from the couch and skipped into the next room.

"I…uh…didn't you get my note? I just went for a walk," she lied with as much fake innocence as she could muster. She should have learned by now the Declan was near impossible to successfully lie to.

"Would you like to explain this?" said Declan, holding up the receipt with the cryptic message on the back.

"Um…it's a receipt," Juliet answered. "You know, those little pieces of paper you get when you buy something." She giggled, trying to calm Declan's mood, but to no avail.

"No. This!" Declan nearly yelled while pointing to the handwriting on the back.

"I…uh…I don't…" Juliet stammered, knowing she was not going to get anywhere with lying and also knowing that she couldn't tell him the truth.

"Why didn't you tell me he was alive?" Declan asked harshly.

"He? Who?" she stuttered, shocked at the fact that he could possibly know who she had just been meeting. She was fairly certain she hadn't told him much, if anything, about her involvement in the roller derby case. He couldn't have figured out their code names…could he?

"Damn it, Juliet! Enough with the lies. Why didn't you tell me that Shawn was alive?"

"I…I didn't know," she whimpered honestly. "I didn't know until this morning. I honestly believed he was dead until this morning when suddenly…he was there. I had to go see him…to find out where he's been all of this time. He's Gracie's father, Declan. I had to know." Her tone pleaded with him to understand. He only paced anxiously. She didn't understand why he was allowing this to get him so worked up. "How did you know I was going to see him, anyway?" she asked.

ONE HOUR EARLIER

"I think I have an idea where your mommy went," said Declan to Gracie as he looked at the receipt in his hand. "Put on your shoes. We are going to go find her."

Declan walked briskly across 5th avenue and into Central Park in the direction of the hot dog stand where they had been that morning. He dragged Gracie along with him. She struggled to keep up with her tiny strides and occasionally Declan picked her up and carried her when she wasn't moving fast enough for him.

He wasn't sure how long Juliet had been gone, but he figured if he moved fast enough he might just find Juliet at her destination. To his dismay, she wasn't at the cart. The only person there was the young woman who had been working that morning. The bearded man was no longer there.

"What can I get for you?" asked Mandy as Declan approached her, carrying the little girl in his arms.

"I want another hot dog!" Gracie exclaimed.

"Not now," said Declan harshly to her, before addressing Mandy. "Actually we're looking for someone. Have you seen an attractive blonde woman here recently…essentially an adult version of this little one." He bounced Gracie lightly on his arm."

"My momma went for a walk," Gracie added.

"No…" Mandy began, Declan getting frustrated even before she could finish her statement. "Not for at least a few hours. At least I think I know who you are talking about."

He perked up. "So you did see her…?"

"Well…there was a woman here this morning. My boss got all weird when he saw her…said she was just an old girlfriend…but then he told me he had to take an extra-long lunch. He's never done that before. I suspect he went to find her, but I can't be sure. He's been gone more than an hour."

"Do you have any idea where he might be?" Declan urged, desperately.

"I'm sorry, I really don't know. I'd offer to call him, except I've been trying to get ahold of him and he's not answering."

Declan groaned a little. "Can you at least tell me what your boss's name is?"

"Luke Jones," said Mandy pointing to the sign.

"Oh," he responded disappointedly, sighing and looking at the ground. The name didn't mean anything to him. He looked up interestedly though when she continued.

"But…the woman called him something different, though. I don't know if I should say…"

"I'm just trying to find my girlfriend, here," explained Declan desperately. "Any information you can give me would help." He hoped she'd be willing to talk if he played the sympathy card. Of course it only helped when Gracie frowned and said, "I want my momma."

"O…ok," Mandy gave in. "Shawn. She called him Shawn."

Declan gaped. Could it really be…? Shawn? THE Shawn? "Really? She called him Shawn?!"

"Shawn is my daddy's name!" announced Gracie excitedly.

Mandy's eyebrows lifted, as she studied the little girl in front of her. Now that she was thinking about it, she could see the resemblance. Could she really be Luke's…or Shawn's, if that was his real name…child. That might explain why he reacted so funny when he saw her mother. "Uh…yeah, that's what she called him." Apparently the name meant something to the man in front of her. "Um…that's all I know, though. I hope that helps you find her."

"Thanks, I think it will," said Declan with a grin as he started to walk away. He soon realized he still didn't know where he was going. "One more question," he said, returning to the cart.

"Yes?"

"Do you know what Wollman is?"

"Of course I do. It's the skating rink right over there," Mandy pointed.

"Thanks," said Declan nodding appreciatively. As he headed in the direction of Wollman, he slipped his phone out of his back pocket and dialed. After a few rings he spoke to a gruff voice on the other end. "Yeah…he's alive," he said.

PRESENT TIME

"I paid a visit to the hot dog cart," Declan explained. "The young girl there directed me to the skating rink. I saw him take you into that room. You were in there a long time," he said accusingly.

"We were only talking," said Juliet. It wasn't 100% the truth, but she figured the little physical contact she and Shawn did have was understandable and excusable. "I had to find out what happened to him. I had to tell him about Gracie. We needed time to talk about it."

Declan counted to ten and took a deep breath, lightening his tone. "Ok. I understand," he said. "But you have no idea how much this complicates things. I was so sure he was dead. I didn't expect that it would have to come to this."

"Come to what?" Juliet was confused. "Look, I'm not going to lie and say I don't still have feelings for him, but if you're worried about us getting back together…if you're worried that he is suddenly going to be around and pushing you out of the picture, you have nothing to worry about. Mine and Shawn's lives are separate now, and we've decided to keep it that way. We have to keep it that way..."

"That's not what I'm worried about," Declan cut in, but Juliet didn't hear him as she continued speaking.

"…In fact, you have to promise me that you will not repeat to anyone that you know Shawn is alive."

"I'm afraid it's too late for that," said Declan unnervingly, which struck Juliet with a sudden feeling that she had no idea who Declan was anymore.

"What…what are you talking about?" she stammered.

Before Declan could answer, Juliet's attention was stolen by a pounding knock on the door. Without a word or a glance at Juliet, Declan bounded towards the door and let in a very angry looking man. He was short but husky and wore a black suit, and she could tell from a bulge on his hip that he carried a weapon. It was clear that Declan knew who he was, but Juliet had never seen him before. Something about him made her feel like he might be dangerous and she slowly and carefully inched toward her purse where she would be able to grab her firearm if the need arose.

"Did you locate him?" Declan asked nervously.

"No luck!" the man grunted in a gruff voice. "The girl didn't know a thing. It's time to implement Plan B."

Declan gulped. "What's Plan B?"

The man did not answer, but simply gestured to someone outside of the open door and two larger men burst in, openly carrying their large pistols. Before Juliet could even process what was happening, one of them grabbed her tightly and held her arms behind her back. The other took hold of Declan.

"No. Come on, guys," said Declan desperately. "He said he wouldn't do this."

"He? Who was he?" Juliet wondered while Gracie ran from the bedroom, having been watching the scene from afar and now worried for her mother.

"Momma!" was all the little girl got out before, the short stalky man grabbed her.

Her motherly instincts kicked in on full blast and Juliet struggled free of the much stronger man's grasp momentarily before being reined in with even more force. "Do not touch her! I will kill you!" she screamed. "Declan! What is happening? What did you do?!"

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," he said sadly apologetic. "He promised he wouldn't hurt you." He turned toward the short, suited man. "I only agreed to this because he promised he wouldn't hurt them!"

The man chuckled derisively. "What can I say? He lied."

Thanks for being patient with me. I hope you enjoyed this update, and I'm hoping to conclude the story in the next chapter.

For the record, I've never actually tried pineapple on a hot dog, but I imagine it might taste good. If you've ever tried it, let me know.