This city

"Two souls with but a single thought,

Two hearts that beat as one!"

John Keats

(America, New York, February 1934)

Although America, like the rest of the world was still living the period of the economical recession and it was a few years before a second great war; New York had rightfully deserved the title of the city that never slept. Clubs, theaters, premieres, parties that kept from one night to the next.

That night, after the premiere at Radio City * of New York, followed a big party in one of the most popular clubs for the era. A club, that it had hosted, from wealthy entrepreneurs to celebrities and politicians, or even nobles. A club, that kept busy the reporters in writing news and scandals for the social columns of newspapers, with its grand parties. The Stork Club. **

- '' Oh! It's truly wonderful! Just as I've read about this place!'' Annieenthused over looking here and there the place, the moment they entered the club with Candy and Archie.

Candy was also stunned, but she was more shocked by the luxury of the club and the outrageous extravagance for the era.

- ''Annie ... there are people that have been left on the streets ... hungry ... without jobs and poor… and we... and we are coming here, without a shame only to have fun ... ?!'' Candy asked Annie in frustration.

- '' Candy! It's not that we've done this, a habit! Tonight is ...'' she went to say Annie, but a male voice caught her off.

- ''... Tonight, is a special night!'' He said with his dazzling smile Clark. Candy looked at him astonished. Probably the American actor wasn't willing to leave aside his flirting. Inside her Candy could not to wonder, how Terry would be reacting, if that man was keeping like this all night…

- ''And in order, to be more easy with yourself dear Candy; I must inform you that the proceeds from the invitations, will go to charity!'' she heard Karen's voice.

- ''This is exactly as Karen said, Candy sweetie!'' Eleanor added, ''Now, what would you say, you three to join us on our table?!'' suggested the actress cheerful.

- ''What a great honor Mrs. Baker! Thank you so much!'' popped Archie delighted.

- '' Its, Eleanor, Archie...'' she replied smiling and started advancing towards the table, leaving an enchanted bright red Archie.

Candy smiled faintly and followed the rest of the gang. With frustration she noticed that Terry wasn't with his mother. Her inner voice cried with yearning ... ''... Terry, where are you?!''

- '' I'm right here…my Freckles!'' Terry answered in a whisper close to her ear, as if he had heard her thought, so suddenly that Candy almost jumped.

- '' Terry ... how?! ...'' she said softly.

- ''... Ssh…'' Was all that he said; He took her hand and before she knows it, he was leading them to the opposite direction of the rest.

- '' Terry ... where are you taking me?!...''

- ''... I'm stealing you!'' he shouted, but his voice was lost within the music and the people's takings, who had filled the entire nightclub.

Very soon, they were lost from the sight of the others, and mingled with people. All this time, Terry was going ahead holding tightly Candy's hand with his. At some point they reached at a door; they entered and hurriedly they climbed up a staircase. They had come to a patio.

It was filled with beautiful flowers and big plants. The place was enlightened by many lanterns that were throwing warm light all over the patio. The sounds of water from small fountains were mixing up with the music that was coming weakly from the interior of the club. At some spots there were wooden benches and a huge glass roof on top, was allowing the stars to reflecting the night sky of New York. It was truly magical.

Surprisingly Candy noticed that the place was empty. No one, except them. She wondered how it was possible, and no one was there, on such a night. As if he heard once again her thoughts, Terry replied softly.

- ''... They only open it, during the summer season...''

She turned around and looked at him.

- ''... And then... how...you managed…to…'' She went to ask, but Terry startled her again. He was found standing just a breath away from her.

- ''... This is, a secret ... '' said and he winked at her, smiling sweetly.

Candy felt breathless. She hadn't been able to see this kind of Terry's smile for so many years; that she had started to believe that now existed only in her imagination. This smile was illuminating his eyes and his soul. The most beautiful, pure smile she had ever seen in her life. His smile was shouting her name. This smile was... her home.

His eyes were locked on hers. At his crystal clear blue gaze, Candy saw that Terry had simply understood. He understood and he also knew everything about her, without her saying a word to him. About her pain… her fear… her love for him. Everything Terry knew, every single thing he understood about her; had been told only by this sweet smile of his and his eyes… His dark blue eyes were a calming, crystal clear sea of stars. Candy felt the need to dive into them. To be lost in them, forever. To leave behind her… everything… and just stay there...

And then the lock of her ice castle broke, with a loud sound. So loud that made her ears ache and her heart to fly. Left aside her fear... Left aside any hesitation... Let herself ...

- '' Terryyyy !'' she cried with all her being and fell into his arms, leaving there her sobs and her tears to run without fear.

Terry locked her in his arms. He knew that minute, that everything was starting from the beginning. There was no gap to cover; there was nothing apart from these two. There was nothing left to keep them away from each other. And perhaps for the first time in their lives, they would do what they really wanted. Even if, it would be needed, not to tell anyone. Even if, they had to keep it for them… for a lifetime. The one would belong to the other forever. Because, it was beyond them. It was higher than them. It was something so deeply rooted and written; that only giving them life. The one, to the other.

A tear of endless happiness rolled down his warm cheek and Terry started whispering words… words...

Over and over again. Where the half-listened, the other half was lost in between her sobs and the other half was lost between his kisses. An unstoppable torrent of words. An unstoppable torrent of tender kisses.

Words he had in his heart, so many years ... I'm sorry ... I love you ... forever ... I missed you ... I am afraid too... do not go ... I love you ... my Candy… a fool ... only you... I'm afraid ... sorry ... never again ... I love you ... only ... you forever ... my life ... sorry ... My love…only you ... my freckles…. my Candy ... I was a fool ... forgive me ... always ... you ... My Juliet…

The tears stopped. The sobs calmed down. The words silenced.

The silence broke Candy's peaceful voice.

- ''I think that we need to go in… they probably ... looking for ...us''

Terry sighed.

- ''... just let them …looking ...''

- '' Terry ...''she said almost pleading.

- ''... I would like to show you, first ... something'' he replied slowly, '' then we're going inside ...''

He caught her hand tenderly with his own and led her in front of a huge window. He stood behind her and hugged her from the back.

- ''Look ...'' said to her very gently.

There in front of Candy's eyes, was spreading the city of New York. Illuminated, magical, seductress. With the snow, to be covering the windowsills and the trees branches. This city, which once, it had deprived her love… now it was like, apologizing to Candy.

- '' Once, I loved this city'', started Terry saying, '' …it was my dream, to live here with you... acting at the theater... to spend all my life here with you ... But the city , life, fate, I ... punished me ... and I lost you in this city ... and then I hated it .. I hated it more than anything ... '', he made a short pause and shut his eyes,'' ... and today this same ... city ... is returning to me... my ... Candy''

- ''... Terry…'' Was all, she whispered.

- '' Candy… I cannot change the past ... I am so sorry, that I cannot change it ... I cannot change my mistakes ... I couldn't change my feelings for you ... and neither I will be able to change them ever ... I cannot change the turn that took our lives ... but I can do everything ... everything ... for you ...''

She turned slowly toward him.

Her cheeks were red and wet from her tears. Her freckles were sparkling in front of his eyes. He bent down and gently kissed her freckles, drying her tears with his lips.

- ''... Withstood many years ... without these freckles ...'' told her softly,'' ... I will do anything not to lose them ever again ...''

- '' I thought you ... that ... you disliked them...'' she said hoarse with a little smile.

- '' I ?! Never!'' he replied a little more vivid.

- ''You liar! You always mocked me, about my freckles!'' Candy said stubbornly, but with so much joy in her voice that they had found again their own unique game.

- '' I guess, you don't know very well how things are, Lady Freckles!'' He said and entrapped her within his arms,''…me and your freckles… we have a love affair, you know!''

- '' Here! You, just now teased me!'' answered him blushing with his comment.

- '' Listen, to what we are going to do… let's ask the freckles their opinion!"

- ''Do you think that they are going to answer that?!''

- ''You Mrs. Tarzan, do not mess up with our relationship!''

Candy couldn't resist and she started laughing. Terry however, he continued undeterred.

- ''... Well, My ladies ... '' he said and bowed theatrically, supposedly talking to Candy's freckles,''…will you do me the honor…'', Terry suddenly serious, knelt before her astonished eyes, ''... To be mine…?''

Candy was prettified. Did Terry mean… what she understood...?

Terry noticed her surprise; he didn't want to scare her more.

- ''... Maybe they need some time, to think about, right? ... '' he asked her smiling.

- ''... Yes ... '' stammered Candy.

- '' I will wait for them as long as it takes…''

- ''No ... well ... yes ...'' she didn't know herself how to respond.

Terry though knew her. He stood up, grabbed Candy in his arms and whispered in her ear.

- ''... This will be…our little secret, darling!''

*wiki Radio City Music Hall

**wiki Stork Club

to be continued...