It took all the willpower she could muster not to look at Daniel and gauge his reaction to the impromptu guest at their game. Instead she let her gaze linger on the two people she least wanted to see together and feigned a smile of pleasant surprise when they both looked her way. Robbie smiled sweetly at her and took off her sunglasses, Wilhelmina could see the emotion behind her eyes was anything but sweet. Willie tilted her head and let her eyes and smile widen in order to appear genuinely shocked but pleased to see her dear old friend looking so well.

From the corner of her eye she could see Arnaud regarding them each in turn. His eyes where scrunched in confusion and he straightened up and fastened the button on his suit jacket. Wilhelmina fought the urge to swallow the lump which was steadily rising in her throat as she recognised the gesture as an unconscious one he employed in meetings, usually before giving someone hell.

She stood from her position on the bench and noted that all was quiet behind her, she could not hear the sound of wood hitting animal hide, of the crowds cheering as people ran to base. Turning, she saw the stadium had fallen silent, Joe Zee's eyes fixed squarely on Robbie, drawing everyone else's gaze to her. She heard the squeal of the speaker system invade the silence and the voice that always seemed to be there whenever something went wrong in her life rang across the stadium.

'Ladies and Gentlemen, it appears we may have found our halftime show. Our much loved Co-Editor In Chief is all dried out and looking fabulous. Is she here to support her team, or to finish what she so publicly started in Los Angeles. Grease 'em up boys, it's Myers Vs Slater, round 2!'

The crowd laughed as Suzuki broke the tension, Wilhelmina directed her attention to where the flamboyant man sat and shouted over the crowd, still smiling widely. 'Water under the bridge darling! Play ball!' The crowd cheered as Joe Zee regained his stance and pitched the first hit.

The spectators attention now back on the game, she stepped over the bench and made her way to the stands. As she got to the first stair leading up to where Arnaud sat with Robbie she halted as the pair stood up and started edging towards her. Arnaud began walking down the stairs, Robbie at his heels. 'We need to talk.' Arnaud stated as he passed, not looking at her. Robbie paused next to her, smiling. 'I hope you brought your shovel Willie, you're gonna need it to dig your way out of this shit.' She stuck her glasses back on and followed Arnaud to the dressing rooms.

Wilhelmina took a moment to ensure her breathing remained steady, she was sure the whole stadium could hear the hammering of her heart. Wanting nothing more than to seek out Daniel and find reassurance in his eyes, she instead fixed her stare straight ahead and forced herself to march after Robbie.

With as much subtlety as possible; Amanda and Betty made their way over to the Mode bench and sat next to Daniel.

'Should we be worried?' Betty asked.

'If anyone can talk their way out of this it's Wilhelmina.' Daniel answered, sounding more sure than he felt.

xXx

Arnaud held the door open for Robbie and Wilhelmina, they filed past him into the vacant room and he closed the door behind him. Robbie perched against the edge of a table smirking and Arnaud leaned against the closed door, his arms folded.

'Robbie darling, why ever didn't you tell me you were getting released?' Wilhelmina exclaimed, feigning interest.

'Probably because I knew you would do everything in your power to keep me inside.'

'Robbie, you need to stop this, you clearly are still unwell.'

Robbie pushed herself from the table behind her. 'Stop it, you're not fooling anyone Willie. It's your fault I was there to begin with.'

Willie rolled her eyes, exasperated. 'Are you still singing that old tune? Robbie, I can see why you would be embarrassed over your predicament, especially as it was displayed so publically, but you can't push your problems on to everyone else. That's no way to kill your demons.'

'Not everyone, just you!'

Wilhelmina threw her arms in the air, and turned to appeal to Arnaud. 'Are you listening to this? Clearly she should still be under observation. I will not have her out here sullying my good name.'

Robbie laughed. 'Good name? Are you kidding me?'

Arnaud moved from the door and walked slowly to Wilhelmina. 'Roberta here has been given a clean bill of mental health, there are no signs of toxins in her system; I spoke to her doctor myself.'

'Well it's a long way from LA to New York, more than enough time to take enough pills to make her rattle.'

Arnaud tilted his head, seeing the truth in Wilhelmina's words. Robbie leaned forward, seeing Arnaud's loyalty slip. 'Arnaud no, come on you know me. I have NEVER had anything remotely like this happen in my life until she came to the magazine.'

He nodded. 'That's true; Wilhelmina, Robbie and I have been discussing your visit to the rehab facility and your regrettable attack. Her story seems to differ somewhat from yours, she says you intimated that there would be no Elle for her to return to.'

Willie snorted and folded her arms. 'That's preposterous.'

'Is it? What does she have to gain by lying?'

Wilhelmina shook her head slowly, trying to appear indignant to the accusations, all the while buying time. 'I don't know...to push me out? To get her precious Elle back to herself once again? Because she's jealous of the work I've been doing there?'

'She's lying! Arnaud, listen to me, she is a liar! She's trying to ruin me...ruin Elle!'

'Ruin Elle? Do you hear what she's suggesting? What could I possibly have to garner from doing that? I'm at a magazine where at last I am appreciated the way I should be. If I were to damage my position there in any way, what would I get from it, where exactly would I go from there?'

Arnaud looked at her and inhaled deeply. 'Oh I don't know, back to Mode perhaps?'

She felt the bile rise in her chest as he hit the nail right on the head, her exterior, however, did not fail her as she huffed out a laugh of disbelief. 'Mode? Oh yes I'm trying to discredit the publication which has given me my dues, ruin my hard earned reputation in the process, to go back to a magazine that under values me and work alongside a man I abhor!'

When she said it that way, Robbie's accusations appeared ludicrous, however Arnaud persisted, although the conviction seemed to leaving his voice, replaced by doubt. 'Abhor? See I don't know about that. I was fortunate enough to be privy to Mr Meades reaction when you entered the field.'

'And what? He peed in his pants?' She cocked her brow, certain she was bringing Arnaud back round to her side.

'He smiled. Now why would he smile at the sight of you?'

'Hell I don't know, maybe he was happy that he might have a chance at winning because I'm not up against him, maybe he was smiling because his Mommy promised him smiley faced pancakes if he hit a home run, maybe he was just squinting because the goddamn sun was in his eyes! I can tell you one thing though, he was most definitely NOT smiling at me! This is nothing more than the supposition of a fool!'

'Wait a minute...' Robbie whispered and both Arnaud and Willie turned to face her. 'The man.'

'Try to form coherent thoughts before you speak.' Willie snapped.

Robbie walked further towards her, eyes widening with every step. 'In your apartment...it wasn't Arnaud at all...it was him.'

She squinted her eyes, inwardly congratulating herself as she managed to hold it together as every aspect of the plan unravelled before her eyes. 'Excuse me?'

Robbie looked straight at Arnaud. 'He's helping her...she's sleeping with Daniel Meade!'

Wilhelmina kept her stare on Robbie, waiting for Arnaud's reaction, terrified of what the outcome would be. She felt her body unclench as she heard a deep laugh from behind her. 'Robbie, I don't think...'

'It makes perfect sense!' Robbie exclaimed.

Wilhelmina set her lips in a line and nodded sarcastically. 'You're right, me sleeping with the man I have publically hated for five years and conspiring to bring down a magazine I have brought nothing but increasing revenue to, makes a whole lot more sense than a highly strung out, drug addicted Editor on the verge of a breakdown.' She stepped back and looked at Arnaud, he wearily ran a hand down his face.

'You're right.'

'Arnaud no!' Robbie yelled.

'Roberta enough! I have a great deal of respect and affection for you, but you are going too far.'

Robbie snatched her purse up and marched to stand directly in front of Arnaud. 'You'll see, you'll see soon that I'm right. I hope for your sake it's not too late.' She threw the door open and strode from the room.

Willie stood with her arms still folded, looking to Arnaud for vindication. 'I'm sorry Wilhelmina. I believed she was doing better.'

'It's not your fault, addicts are convincing.'

He nodded slowly, Willie moved to leave the room, as she passed him he grabbed her arm tightly, startling her. 'I pray I'm believing the right person here. I've known Robbie for many years and have always found her to be a rational person. Now I will see to it that she continues to get the help she needs...but I'm watching you.' He dropped her arm and left the room without comment.

As the door closed behind him she clutched her stomach, feeling sick as it churned at how close that had been. Breathing deeply and trying to control the shaking that seemed to start the minute Arnaud had left, she was startled when the door swung open again. Afraid she didn't have it in her to go another round with Arnaud or Robbie, she heaved a sigh of relief as Joe Zee walked in.

'What are you doing here? You should be out there!'

'It's the end of the quarter.' He answered her as he closed the door.

'What do you want?'

'I'm here to help you with damage control...I'm guessing you managed to keep Arnaud and Robbie in the dark for now?'

'What the hell are you talking about?!'

He smiled. 'Sweetie, I may not know exactly what you're up to, but I know you're up to something, and I know it involves that big bar of man candy, Meade.'

She opened her mouth to protest but he stopped her. 'Deny it all you want hun, but I know you. I spent all my years under Robbie making sure I knew exactly what my competition was up to. I can tell when something is going on with Wilhelmina Slater. Don't worry I'm not going to tell anyone, that bitch made my life hell, if you're trying to bring her down then think of me as your official cheerleader.'

'You mentioned damage control?' She knew it was pointless to continue denying it, the two of them had spent years studying each other, learning each others tells in order to out-do each other as Creative Directors for their respective magazines.

'The rumour mill out there is going car-ray-zay! Girl they have you in here in a pool of blood after Robbie beat you with her Choos, they have you in here doing the nasty with Mr Bigshot, and of course the fact that Daniel is sitting there looking like a lost puppy since you came in here isn't helping matters.'

'Damn it Daniel!' She shouted at no one.

Joe smirked. 'I knew it. I totally called it.'

'Yes, yes you're so wise, now shut up and let me think of a way to shut up the gossiping masses.'

'Oh I know how, you're going to play.'

'No I'm not.'

'Oh yes you are Willie dear, and you're going to run him into the ground.'

xXx

Daniel sat on the bench, preparing for his team to go and pitch, he was unable to concentrate on the pointers he was supposed to be giving. He saw Robbie storm out of the stadium and Arnaud follow, forlornly, shortly after. There was still no sign of Wilhelmina and he was growing anxious about what was said. Had she convinced him? Or had the shit, well and truly, hit the fan?'

He heard the voice of Suzuki calling them back to the game. He tried to focus and made his way to the mound, gearing up to pitch. He tried not to smile as he saw Marc line up to bat, sulking like the last girl asked to dance at prom. The young man had voiced his very loud protests about not wanting to play and preferring instead to be a cheer leader as he had been for Mode. Wilhelmina had forced him to, however, afraid if he was a cheerleader he would spend the game frolicking with Amanda.

He stood on the mound, throwing the ball from hand to hand, waiting for the first batter to take to the box. The crowd began to get rowdy again, waiting on the game to restart, Suzuki's voice carried over the din. 'And we have a replacement batter for Elle. Joe Zee is unable to continue; batting for Elle is Co-Editor In Chief, Wilhelmina Slater. Pitching for Mode magazine; Daniel Meade, get your cameras ready people, this is the showdown we've been waiting for.'

Daniel watched as the crowd parted and Wilhelmina walked to the batters box. She stood facing him, her weight on one hip, leaning on the bat and smirked at him. He fought every instinct inside him that told him to smile at her as she winked. To anyone who had seen it would appear as nothing more than a cocky, arrogant gesture. To him it meant they were safe for another day.

For appearances sake he made sure he stared her down for as long as possible until she swung the bat on her shoulder, her hands twisting around the base. Leaning back, he arched his arm and rotated his shoulder pitching a hard ball straight to her. The ball zoomed past her into the catchers mitt behind her and he smiled cockily.

'Strike One.'

'At last, Daniel Meade manages to get something past Wilhelmina Slater.' Suzuki's catty comment elicited laughter from Elle's supporters.

The ball was tossed back to him and again he leaned back, this time taking two fast steps forward as he pitched over his shoulder. This time she made contact with the ball, she did not hit upwards, did not hit to the side, she deliberately sent the ball hurtling back to where it came and Daniel yelled as he felt the splitting pain explode on his hip as the ball made contact. The crowd gasped at the blatant attack between the Editors. Daniel straightened and limped back to the mound and glared at her.

'Foul Ball, Strike two.'

Willie looked at Daniel and smiled innocently, 'Oops.'

Handling the ball for a third time, he put all his weight behind the pitch as he threw her a curveball. She swung the bat swiftly and the loud thud as the bat connected with the ball echoed around the stadium. All eyes followed the ball as it soared high in the air and carried right on out the park. The crowd cheered, the rest of the Elle team jumping wildly. He looked at her and yet again found himself fighting the urge to smile as she dangled the bat in her fingertips before dropping it to the ground. With no sign of the ball returning she casually walked from base to base, smirking as the crowd cheered and booed in equal measure.

As she made it back to the home base she walked past the rest of her screaming team, Marc had his hand raised for a high five, she walked right past him; making Daniel laugh. She rejoined Joe Zee on the bench. He leaned into her. 'Is there anything you can't do?'

'Frown.' The man beside her laughed.

xXx

'Ow!'

'Stop being a baby.' She snapped at him as he winced. He was lying propped up on her couch and she had pulled the tight white pants he wore down to his ankles and was examining the blossoming bruise on his hip; a vivid purple ball the size of a fist with a ring of oddly coloured skin around it where the swelling had spread.

'That was a cheap shot out there today you know.'

'I do.' She smiled.

'You enjoyed it!'

'I did.' Her smile widened.

He pouted and crossed his arms. She smirked at his churlishness and rolled her eyes. She shifted herself on the couch, moving to straddle him, careful to avoid the damaged tissue, and crossed her arms over herself, gripping the bottom of the Elle top she still wore. 'How can I make it up to you?' She asked suggestively, his eyebrow quirked and his head turned back slightly in time to see her lift the garment over her head and throw it on the floor.

'Well I guess that's a start.' He smiled as she leaned down to capture his lips. She cupped his face and held him to her, deepening the kiss with fervour; her body already grinding against his. She pulled back and he inhaled deeply. 'You're eager tonight.' He had a glint in his eye as he spoke, his eyes taking in the sight of her on him, the flush already creeping on her skin, the sheer hunger in her eyes.

She smiled, 'I managed to keep Arnaud on side, I managed to keep Robbie looking like the crazy one, this time tomorrow it will all be over...' she offered, by way of explanation for the current state she was in. He slid his hands up her back, under the strap of her bra. '...and I beat your ass at softball.' She laughed, he gave her a mock angry look and pulled the strap of her bra, letting it go so it slapped against her skin painfully. 'Ow!' She flicked her finger on his forehead. 'Jerk.'

He laughed at her before moving for her lips again, his hands moving to the fastenings of her bra as her hands slipped under the fabric of the Mode shirt he wore, tracing nails over the muscles underneath. She groaned in annoyance as there was a knock at her door. He slumped back against the couch. 'Who the hell is that?'

'Well things were just starting to get interesting so I'm guessing your mother.' He laughed at her. 'It's probably Marc, go in the bedroom I'll be there in a minute. I wouldn't put it past Robbie to show up now that she's decided we're sleeping together.'

'What!?' He spluttered.

'Oh relax, I convinced Arnaud she was rambling nonsense, anyway it'll be out in the open soon enough.' She gave him a quick peck before swinging her leg over him and removing herself from his lap. She picked up the discarded Elle shirt and pulled it over her head. She turned round and laughed loudly as she saw Daniel walk towards her bedroom, the trousers still at his ankles, making him waddle. 'I've never wanted you more.' She deadpanned. He didn't turn to her, but shook his ass, making her stifle another laugh as he walked through her bedroom door.

Shaking her head and still smiling, she swung the door open and ceased smiling when she came face to face with a man she didn't recognise.

'Can I help you?' She asked, closing the door again slightly to shield herself from the imposing stranger.

'Evening Ms Slater; I'm your friendly neighbourhood messenger service.'

'What?' She screwed her face up in confusion at the smirking man.

'I have a message from Hector. You have less than 24 hours.' He whispered, trying to be menacing.

The demeanour of the man, and the sheer audacity that he would attempt to intimidate her, irked her. She straightened her stance and placed a hand on her hip, opening the door wider. 'I am perfectly aware of when the deadline is, tell him not to worry, he'll get his goddamn money.'

The man smiled and spoke to her in a soft voice, 'He's not worried, it's you who should be worried if you don't deliver.'

She opened the door fully now and took a step towards the threshold. 'Tell your boss, I don't take too kindly to being threatened. Now I made a deal and I will honour it, he might want to think again before sending his hired thugs to scare me. I don't scare easy and he should also know he's not the only one with people. I could make his stay inside very uncomfortable.'

The man had a look of incredulity on his face as he leaned in close to her. 'I don't think you understand just who you're dealing with sweetheart.'

She brought her face close to his, staring in his eyes. 'Neither do you.' She growled at him and slammed the door in his face.

Fuming from the arrival of the visitor, she stormed into her bedroom and made a show of slamming the door behind her, awakening Daniel, who had began to doze on the bed. He jumped at the sound and sat further up on the bed, the softball uniform now discarded on her floor, he wore only his boxers. He took in her stance, the shallowness of her breathing, the flaring of her nostrils, the anger in her eyes. 'If you say we have a problem I may cry.' He warned her.

'That fucking asshole!' She raged.

'And what fucking asshole are we talking about?'

'Mills! He just sent one of his lacky's to "remind us" about the deadline.'

He jumped from the bed, instantly by her side and gripped the top of her arms. 'What!' He was in a panic. 'What did he say, did he threaten you, are you ok?'

She shrugged his arms off, still annoyed by the encounter. 'I'm fine.'

'For God sake Willie; why didn't you call on me?!' He snapped at her.

'And why would I do that?'

'Oh I don't know, maybe because I'm in this as deep as you are, because I'm your boyfriend, because I should be there to protect you.'

She tilted her head at him. 'You just called yourself my boyfriend.'

'DO NOT change the subject Wilhelmina!'

She shook her head and closed her eyes, sighing. 'Daniel, what would you have done exactly, chased the scary man away in your boxers? I don't need you to protect me.'

'It's not a case of you needing me to. It's just...what I should do.'

She pouted and stepped towards him, bringing her arms around his neck. 'Okay, okay, I get it. You need to assert your masculinity. The next time in threatened I'll call you straight away.' She joked.

'This isn't funny, what was said?'

She dropped her arms and shrugged. 'We'll be sorry if we don't pay up blah blah.'

'And you said?' He urged her.

'I just reminded him that I'm not one to mess around either.'

His eyes widened and he grabbed her wrist, roughly. 'Are you stupid!? Jesus Christ Willie, these people know where you live, they're dangerous and you try to antagonize them!'

'I wasn't trying to antagonize him!'

'Oh no, that's just your natural charm.' He quipped, putting his hands on his hips.

She narrowed her eyes at him. 'You know you're going the right way about not being allowed to sleep here tonight.' She crossed her arms across her chest.

He walked to her closet and pulled out a small bag, started throwing some clothes into it. 'No need to worry about that, neither of us are sleeping here tonight.'

'What?'

He moved quickly around the room, throwing garments at the bag on her bed. 'They came to your house Willie, you pissed them off. What if this guy contacts Mills right now? I'm guessing he won't take kindly at being spoken to like that by the woman he's blackmailing. He could send him back, make him make more of an impression.'

'Daniel, you're being ridiculous.'

'No I'm being cautious. Between Connor and Robbie we've had our fair share of beatings, forgive me from wanting to spare my girlfriend from another one.' He was still angry, wouldn't look at her as he packed.

'You just...'

'I know what I said, now get dressed!'

xXx

'I am not staying here!' She hissed at him.

'We can't stay in a hotel, we still can't be seen together until this is all over.'

'Why can't we stay at yours?' She whined.

He turned to her and held her hands, speaking as if to a child. 'Willie, if they checked out where you live it's a pretty safe bet they checked out where I live.'

She snatched her hands from his grasp and crossed her arms, petulantly. Daniel chuckled at her and knocked the door. After a minute the door opened and Marc stood back, ushering them inside, an uneasy expression on his face. Daniel had called ahead to tell him they were coming and the younger man had been positively jumping with nerves since he hung up. Closing the door behind him he took a deep breath for courage and walked into his living room.

Daniel was dumping the bag he brought on the couch and handed Marc a garment bag with a dress inside. Wilhelmina had practically twisted Daniels arm from the socket when he had tried to stuff the Cavalli inside his bag. Willie marched back in from Marc's kitchen, hands on hips and expression that told him she was as thrilled about being there as he was to have them. 'Don't you have any alcohol except that apple crap!?'

Marc knew not to answer her, given the mood she was in. Instead he just walked past her into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of wine. He brought a glass back threw to her and she gulped at it deeply just as the door went again. The trio looked at it, Marc moved to answer the door but Willie put out a hand to stop him.

'What?'

She looked at Daniel, still holding Marc's arm. 'What if it's them?' The thought hadn't occurred to her that they might go after her young friend.

'I'll go.' Daniel answered.

Willie was about to protest but remembered his earlier words, if he wanted to act out his big macho protector fantasy, she would let him. Marc and Willie remained in the living room, holding their breath until Daniel came back in the room, smiling wearily and shaking his head. 'False alarm.' He moved out the way to reveal a grinning Amanda behind him, overnight bag slung over her shoulder.

'You think I was gonna miss out on what could be our final sleepover!'

Wilhelmina drained the last of her glass, refilling it again, knowing she would need alcohol to get through this evening. 'Why don't we call Betty, complete the set?' Willie asked sarcastically.

'Oh I did, she can't make it.' Amanda answered, clearly missing Wilhelmina's inflection.

Daniel came to stand beside Wilhelmina and rubbed a hand down her back. 'What are we going to do about this whole Mills situation?'

'I thought that's why you dragged me here.'

'Yes for tonight, but what about when he doesn't get the money? Willie he could come after you, I can't be at your side every minute and he knows where you live.'

She leaned into the hand massaging her back. 'I'll speak to the Senator; if anything happens to me...to any of us, my father will have him moved to a prison in the other end of the country, we'll blow the whistle on his drug trafficking and have all visiting rights revoked. He won't risk it.'

Daniel nodded, 'I'm still not convinced, I don't like that this guy just walked straight into your building. I think...'

'What?'

'Nothing. We can discuss it later.'

'No, what?! Spit it out.'

He sighed, rolling his eyes. 'I think, once this is over, we should get a new place.'

She choked on the sip of wine she had just taken. Marc and Amanda let out a collective gasp. Daniel ignored the reactions and continued. 'Oh calm down, it's not like I'm proposing. Anyway, I'm at your place every night, don't you think it makes sense to...'

'You were right before, we can discuss it later.' Willie cut him off.

The silence in the room was suffocating, Willie cleared her throat. So...tomorrow, Daniel and I have set up the meeting with all the relevant advertisers. We will meet at the studio on 28th street.' There was no need for her to reiterate the plan they had already discussed so many times they could recite it easier than the alphabet. They all knew she was speaking only to cover up the awkwardness.

'Marc, Amanda, you two will stay away; Betty too, make sure she knows. You have all helped exceptionally, but it's all Daniel and I now.' Marc and Amanda nodded.

She nodded in return and stood up. 'Good, now where is this ridiculously small, closet of a room I am expected to spend the night in?'

Marc and Amanda looked at each other. 'I...um...I only have one room.' Wilhelmina cocked her brow at him and he hastily added. 'B..but the sofa folds out.'

Willie smiled and nodded. 'I'm sure you and Amanda will be very comfortable on it.' She made her way from the room, pausing at the door. 'Daniel.' She beckoned him before disappearing into Marc's bedroom.

Daniel smiled and picked up the bag, grinning wider at Marc's crestfallen face. 'Sorry.' He held his arms out to the side, in apology. 'Where she goes, I follow.' He laughed and made his way after her, into the bedroom and closing the door.

Marc slumped on his sofa. 'Oh God.' He whined.

Amanda sat down next to him and rubbed his shoulder. 'What puppy?'

He started massaging his temples. 'They're going to have sex in my bed aren't they?'

Amanda grinned. 'Only if you're really lucky.'