Author's Note: Thanks as always for reviewing. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, so I hope you have a lot of fun reading it! Enjoy!

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Chapter 25: Exes and Friends

Elena smiled walking up to Brad in the lobby at Lincoln Center and kissed him.

"Hey," he said. "How was your day with my mother? And again, I apologize."

"Your mother was fine," she said. "But I did miss you."

"I missed you too," he said softly. "Look, um there's something I should tell you before we go in."

"OK," she said, "what is it?"

"Guess who's dancing lead?" He bit his lower lip.

"I don't know who?" She said. "I'm not really that into ballet Brad, I don't know the people of the stage that well." He looked at her. "Oh," she said softly, realizing. "Oh, she's," she closed her eyes. "Do you want to do something else? I'm sure Tammy could use her name and get us into some really trendy restaurant." She pulled out her cell phone.

"No," he said. "No, I mean, unless you want to do something else." She sighed. She sort of did. The last time she'd seen Gabrielle Santoro, she shuddered to think about it.

"No," she said. "Let's go, I was looking forward to this, and so what? I mean that was all so long ago right?"

"Right," he nodded. "Plus she got married." Elena raised an eyebrow.

"How on earth do you know all of this?" She asked.

"I ran into her earlier," he said. "She offered to meet us for a drink after the dancing."

"I'm sure she did." Elena grated her teeth.

"Lena, she's married," he said. "Don't get jealous."

"I am not jealous of Gabrielle," she snorted. He looked at her. "I'm not, but I do think that if she is married she shouldn't be meeting her ex boyfriend for a drink."

"Even if Guy's coming too and she invited that ex boyfriend's fiancée?" He said.

"She married Guy?" She said. "I thought that was just like a lose your virginity and then move to France and become a big whore thing."

"Glad to see you think so well of my choice in women there Lena," he rolled his eyes.

"Well," she sighed, "I mean, between Gabrielle and Kyla, your taste isn't exactly spectacular, you know, except for me."

"You're out of your mind." He laughed and kissed her. "Do you want to go or not?"

"Sure, let's go," she nodded. "Let's get to our seats baby." He frowned, he didn't like the look in her eyes.

After the ballet Elena, Guy, Brad and Gabrielle sat at a table in a quiet bar, all four feeling extremely awkward.

"So," Guy said breaking the tension, "when are you two getting married?"

"February," Elena said, "the anniversary of when we got together."

"That's so sweet," Gabrielle said. Elena smiled at her taking a sip of her martini.

"It's going to be beautiful," she said. "All of our friends and family and Tammy's designing me this gorgeous gown. I'm looking forward to it." Brad looked at her, just waiting for her to say something, anything. "You really are a beautiful dancer Gabrielle."

"Thanks," the other girl said. "What do you do, now that you're not in school anymore?"

"Oh," Elena said, "um, well, actually,"

"Elena took over my mother's charity work up north," Brad said, taking her hand.

"Cool," Guy said. "I'm killing time too," he smirked and Elena laughed. She immediately felt comfortable. She'd always felt comfortable around the Ducks.

"Right you always wanted to um teach right?" She said.

"Yeah, history," he said. "Lena, why don't we get the next round." She nodded and they walked away. Gabrielle smiled at Brad.

"You two seem happy," Brad said.

"We are," she said. "He's amazing, and so supportive, the way he put everything off until I'm done dancing."

"That is great," he said. She smiled.

"So is Elena waiting until you're out of law school or something," she asked.

"Lena is sure what she wants," he admitted. "She's kind of lost." Gabrielle nodded. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that." She shrugged. "Why did you want to do this?"

"I think it would be nice if we could be friends," she said softly.

"OK," he laughed. "But why?"

"I see the kind of relationship that Guy has with Connie and, I think why don't I have that with Brad?" She said. "I mean, he's going to be the godfather of her baby, I haven't talked to you in years."

"Connie had another baby?" Brad said.

"Oh that's right!" She said. "Your brother adopted their daughter. Yeah, a little boy, Gordon." She took out a picture and handed it to him. "You should give that to your brother. For when she's old enough."

"Right," he said. "So we're friends?"

"Yeah," she smiled. "Friends."

Julie smiled sitting down in her seat right along the runway at the fashion show. She glanced over to the crowd where Steve and Casey were monitoring Emma and the boy they'd found Langdon chatting with reporters. If Steve had his way every tabloid next week would at least have a blurb about the pairs budding romance, even though they were all relatively sure that Langdon's sexual preferences did not include Emma, and he was almost ten years older than her. She glanced across and saw Jimmy.

"Hi," he mouthed. She smiled.

"Hi," she mouthed back.

"Oh my God!" Emma giggled and sat down. "This is such a rush." Julie smiled at her. "Do you get to do stuff like this all the time?"

"Um, not all the time," Julie said. "But often enough. Tammy keeps me pretty hooked up during fashion week. We're doing this every night this week."

"This is amazing," she sighed, "three weeks ago I was worried about a chem test and tonight I'm wearing a custom gown that Tammy Duncan made for me."

"I'm glad you're having fun," Julie said.

"So where's your boyfriend?" Emma said. Julie looked at her. "That cute surfer looking guy who always brings 'files' by during table reads and then you two sneak off and make out."

"Peter," she said.

"Right, Peter," Emma nodded. "Why isn't he here?"

"We're trying not to rush things." Julie shrugged. "Plus my ex boyfriend is here." Emma nodded.

"Who's your ex boyfriend?" Emma asked. Julie laughed and pointed to Jimmy. "Super cute!"

"Yeah," Julie smiled, "he's a great guy too."

"So why'd you break up?" Emma asked.

"I'm not even sure anymore," Julie whispered.

After the show Tammy giggled schmoozing with the crowd and sipping champagne. She'd been warned against anything stronger.

"Hey beautiful," Steve whispered coming behind her and kissing her neck. "Great job, as always."

"Thanks," she said. "How goes pushing the kids?"

"They are naturals," he said. "Note the quiet whispering in the dark booth. My job is cake."

"Julie and I are so lucky to have you," she kissed him. "I love you."

"I love you too," he whispered. "I'm really proud of you."

"Thanks," she said softly. "Look, um, are we staying in the hotel tonight, or are we going home?"

"I thought the hotel might be fun," he said. She giggled and took another sip of champagne. "How much of that have you had?"

"Don't go into protective publicist mode," she frowned. "I've had a few glasses, it's my big night. Be in fun boyfriend mode and celebrate with me." They kissed again. She pressed against him.

"Mm," he whispered. "I think I can get very on board with being in fun boyfriend mode." She giggled.

"Good," she said, "come dance with me." He laughed.

"Hey," Jimmy walked over to Julie and Casey.

"Oh look, male Vogue writers," Casey said. "I'm going to go see if they can get past my shoes and do dirty things to me."

"Casey," Julie looked at him.

"Good to see you Jim," Casey clapped him on the shoulder. Jimmy laughed.

"He doesn't change does he?" He said.

"Nope," Julie said with a smile. "Hi."

"Hi," he said. "Can I buy you a drink?"

"It's an open bar, but sure," she laughed. He smiled and they walked over and sat down at the bar. "Where's Bonnie tonight?"

"Um, Bonnie and I broke up," he said softly.

"Oh God," she said. "I'm sorry."

"It's OK," he said. "I'm OK with it. I love her, but she wasn't the one." She nodded. "So how's California?"

"It's good," she nodded. "The movie's really coming together."

"Seems so," he nodded. "That girl, jeez, it's like you cloned Kelly!"

"I know right," she laughed. "You look good."

"So do you," he said. They smiled quietly. "How's your mom?"

"She's um, my mom," she said softly. "I love her, I do," she shook her head. "I'm just having trouble with the divorce. I just can't understand what happened between them. He loves her so much."

"Yeah," he nodded. They sat quietly. "I'm sorry." She looked at him.

"For what?" She said softly.

"For the way I handled everything," he said. "Us, ending us, I guess. You deserved better."

"No," she shook her head. "You made yourself really clear. If I went, we were done. I went anyway." He nodded.

"What was it like?" He said. She looked at him. "Japan?"

"Amazing," she said. "But lonely. I missed you, Paulo came sometimes, but usually I was on my own." He nodded. "How's school?"

"Good," he said. "I um, have an interview with Johns Hopkins next week, for residency, so,"

"Wow," she said. "That's great!" He nodded. "Your dad must be thrilled."

"He's happy," he laughed. "How are the restaurant plans coming?"

"Mmm," she groaned. "Have you been talking to my dad?" He laughed. "Julia's is still a few years off I think." She stirred her drink. "I have the money, it's just, Jaime." He nodded. "Plus, I don't know, I mean, the restaurant scene in California sucks compared to here."

"So move back here," he shrugged. She laughed. "I known your dad would like that."

"Since when is Cal's agenda lined up with yours?" She shook her head. He laughed. They heard someone say last call and sighed. "I should try to get a cab."

"Want to share one?" He said. She looked at him. "I'm going in the same direction."

"Yeah," she said softly, "sure, OK." They got up and walked out together. Jimmy hailed a cab. They sat quietly and then when it got to the hotel she went to get out. "It was good to talk to you tonight."

"You too," he said leaning slowly across the space between them to kiss her. She kissed him back for a second and then remembered herself and pulled away.

"No," she shook her head, "no, no!" She got out of the cab.

"Shit," Jimmy sighed, paid the cab and got out. "Julie, wait!" He called after her. She turned around and looked at him. "I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?" She said. "God, that just makes it all better doesn't it?"

"Look, I couldn't help it," he said. "All I could think about tonight was,"

"You had your chance!" She said. "At the wedding, and you walked away!"

"I shouldn't have," he said. "I was scared, Jules, I love you, I always have." She closed her eyes and pressed her hands against her forehead. "Come on, tell me you didn't think about it tonight," he said softly, putting his arms around her. "Talking like we did, it felt right. We've always just felt right."

"I'm with someone," she sighed. He nodded. "You just broke up with someone, this isn't the way it should happen." He kissed her again.

"Just ask me to come up," he said. "We can talk about this." She swallowed. "Please, Jules," he said. "I'm sorry I walked away at the wedding, I shouldn't have."

"I think you should go home, Jimmy," she said.

"You're saying no?" He whispered and kissed her softly.

"I'm saying I need to sleep on it." She whispered. "I'll call you tomorrow. We'll get breakfast or something."

"OK," he said and kissed her.

"OK," she said. "Good night."

"Good night," he said. "I love you." She nodded and he walked away and hailed a cab.

"I love you too," she whispered.

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