The Bands Break Up

Part 4

That Day + That Moment

By Nick Maro

Looking in the mirror, David straightened the sash on his ceremonial kimono for the tenth time. He was trying to get it perfect for Roxy's parent's party that was to be held later that evening. He untied the sash and tossed it on the bed behind him. David tried on the alternate belt that he had brought. It didn't go with the kimono, but it would be easier to take on and off when needed. He put it on and smiled satisfied that it did look good. He then tied his swords on his left side completing the look.

Roxy entered the room and wrapped her arms around him from behind. She looked at him in the mirror. "You look great. But are the swords really needed? Are you expecting trouble or something?"

David shook his head. "Nope, I'm wearing them with a peace knot and to show my respect to your parents. I'm letting them know that I'm here to protect them and their guests if there's any trouble. This is how I was trained by Hiroshi in Japan. I already asked your parents and they don't mind." He gave her a sideways smile.

"You always think of everything, don't you?" She kissed his cheek and grinned. "Now get changed. Sheila and I are going out for lunch. So naturally you're invited to come with." She turned to leave the room when David lightly grabbed her upper arm and stopped her. She looked at him curiously. "What's wrong?"

"Hold still and trust me." David pulled his wakizashi out of its scabbard after undoing the peace knot. He stared at Roxy's head a moment. "Did you just get your hair cut?" Roxy nodded slightly. David grunted and swiped the sword up along the left side of her head. Roxy closed her eyes tight and kept still. "The left side was a bit uneven. It looks better now."

Roxy opened her eyes and immediately felt her hair then looked in the mirror. She brushed the cut hairs from her shoulders and smirked at David. "Next time tell me when you're going to do something like that. I was expecting you to yell 'There can only be one!' and take my head off." She glanced at the sword as David put it back in the scabbard. "Get changed and I'll meet you downstairs." Roxy shut the door behind her when she left the room.

David removed the swords from his side and put them gently on the bed. He then changed into a t-shirt and a pair of jeans and met Roxy in the kitchen. "So, what are we meeting up with Sheila for? Planning a surprise or something?" He followed her out to the car.

Pulling out of the drive way Roxy turned on the radio. "Yeah, we plan on having an improvised wrestling match after dinner. I was thinking that it could look like a real fight between the two of us with you getting involved and trying to break us up. It's stupid and silly, but sounds like fun." She gave him a slight shrug. "You don't have to do it if you don't want to."

"What? No. It sounds like a lot of fun."

"Good. We can talk about the details over lunch." Roxy grabbed David's leg and lightly tapped it. "This is gonna be so much fun!" She giggled and stopped at the red light. David looked at her and laughed to himself at how much fun she was having.

The rage that dwelled in Jerrica began to show as she jogged. Her adopted sister Aja ran beside her. It was her idea that they start going on morning jogs together to clear their minds. However they didn't start until late that morning. Not a good way to start a routine Aja thought to herself. Aja turned off her music player and nudged Jerrica lightly. She dodged the elbow that Jerrica swung at her. Aja stopped jogging and yelled. "Hey! What the hell was that for?"

Jerrica slowed to a stop and turned to the young Asian woman with a look of apology on her face. "I'm sorry. I'm still upset over the other day with Phyllis. We both said some stupid shit and now I'm letting it eat at my gut. She and I are so much alike in so many ways that it's not funny. I just miss her." She wiped the sweat from her brow and took a sip from her water bottle.

"Well, for what it's worth she does too." Aja squirted a bit of water on her face and wiped it off. "I saw her last night when I met up with Jeff. We talked for awhile and I think one of you is going to have to give in and call the other. Because there's no way in hell I'm playing mediator between you two again. The last time I did, I almost got a black eye. I may be cute but I'm not cute enough to pull a black eye off." Aja gave Jerrica a playful smirk.

"I want to call her, but it seems that I always cave in first. I just feel—" Jerrica was cut off by her cell phone ringing. "Oh hang on a second, always a fucking interruption." She answered the phone with a very curt tone. "Yes. What is it? Oh, hi Rio. No I'm not angry with you. I'm just on a jog with Aja and it brought out my temper. No, this won't be a regular thing. We were talking about Phyllis. Okay, I'll see you tonight then. Love you too." Jerrica turned off the phone and slouched.

Aja and Jerrica began to jog again this time without putting on their headphones. Aja pushed her sunglasses up on her nose. "So, when are the Holograms going to finish the album? It's almost finished right now. So what's the delay? Are we waiting for Kimber to wrap up summer school?"

Jerrica jumped over a small pot hole on the road. "Nope, Kim is finished with summer school actually. She finished last week. I just figured that we'd finish the album when everything started to slow down a bit. You have your," Jerrica waved her hand in the air, as if to catch the intangible word, "whatever the hell it is. Stalker, killer," she paused and smirked at Aja, "secret admirer. And Shana has been working some very funky hours at the station."

"Good point. I guess what we should do is just set a time and just finish the album." Aja moved to the right of Jerrica as a car drove past. "It seems like forever since we did the Battle of the Bands. I'm craving that rush that the music gave me again." Jerrica smiled and nodded as the two friends made their way back to their home.

The police department's shooting range was nearly empty except for Shana and Carmen. Shana fired at the paper target that was across from her emptying her pistol. She set her gun down and pressed the button to retrieve her target sheet. "Looks like I need more work on my grouping as usual. But, it's better than yesterday."

"This is the one thing about being a cop I don't like," Carmen held up her sheet and showed it to Shana. "We're being judged on how we do against a stationary object. This isn't like against a real person. We don't get the randomness of a moving, thinking target. It's just not realistic." She crumbled up the paper target and threw it into the garbage in frustration.

"I have to agree with you on that. But it does serve a purpose. We need to first hit a stationary object before we can hit a moving one." Shana set up another target and sent it back to the shooting gallery wall. "But if you really want to practice with a moving target, I think I have an idea. You ever play paint ball?" Carmen shook her head no. "Oh man, it's great. My sisters and I have gone out and played a few times. We'll set up a game for this weekend. It'll be fun." Shana took aim and emptied her pistol again into the target.

Carmen set up another target and was reloading her weapon when a tap on her shoulder stopped her. She turned around and an officer stood behind her. "Cadets Alonzo and Elmsford, Chief Anderson wants to see you in his office ASAP. I'll escort you both. Please leave your weapons here." The officer turned and stood by the door.

Shana and Carmen unloaded their handguns and set them down. They followed the officer out of the shooting range and down the hall. They exchanged concerned looks as they followed him. The officer stopped at the station chief's door and opened it for them. The two young cadets entered the office and saluted their chief. The chief stood and saluted back. He cleared his throat and the officer who led them in, shut the door.

"I just saw some disturbing and upsetting footage on some security tape. It seems that two of my brightest cadets have seen to bend the rules a bit." Chief Anderson stood and turned on a monitor that was in his office. He replayed footage of Shana letting Aja into the evidence room to look at the remote devices. He shut it off after a few minutes. "Now I can understand that you were just helping your sister out, Shana. But that was tampering with evidence."

The Chief sat on the edge of his desk and smiled at Shana. He spoke softly to her. "Shana darling, your father was a close friend of mine and a damn good cop. I'm happy to see you follow in his footsteps but this isn't the way to do it. I understand that you wanted to help your friend and all." He went to behind his desk. "Out of respect to your father and the friendship he and I shared, I'm just suspending the two of you for a month without pay. I should by all rights fire the both of you. Please hand over your badges. Your side arms have already been confiscated."

Carmen and Shana handed over their badges and set them gently on the desk. Carmen stepped forward. "Sir, I just want to say thank you for doing this for us. I know that we were in the wrong and I admit that it was stupid for us to do what we did. I apologize, sir."

Chief Anderson smiled warmly at Carmen. "Thank you. I appreciate your honesty."

"Ronald, thank you for looking out for me, however, I've been weighing the decision this for some time now." Shana pulled out a sealed envelope from her pocket. "I've had this for a few weeks now. It's my resignation from the force. I just don't feel like that I'm cop like my father. My calling is with my music and I only recently realized this. I'm proud of my father and who he was, but I want to make my own footsteps for my own children to follow."

Ronald took the envelope and set it down on the desk. "Listen, I'll keep this here and if you still feel the same way you do now in a month. I'll honor it. The important thing is that you tried. I'll miss seeing you around the station, Shana. You as well, Carmen. I hope to see you both in a month." He escorted them to the door and said good bye to them each. Shana and Carmen walked out of the station and talked in the car about what they were going to do.

The sounds and sights of reality came flooding back to her almost in an instant. Stormer sat up quickly and grabbed her head moaning in slight pain. She looked around quickly trying to minimize the movement of her head. She was still in the kitchen of Gabor Estate. There were people around her talking. All she heard were their words as a buzzing in her ears. Stormer looked around somewhat confused. "What? One at a time, please."

Vanessa bent down and rubbed her daughter's back softly. "Easy now, Mary, you tripped and banged your head pretty hard. It doesn't look like a concussion, but I want to take you to the hospital to make sure."

"No Mom, I'm fine." Stormer was helped up by Pizzazz to sit on a chair. "Thanks." She looked back at her mother. "Really, I'm okay now. I mean it." She turned her gaze to Craig who was standing in the doorway looking nervous and uncertain at what to do. "Craig, come here. I-I just want to make sure it's really you." Craig slowly walked over to his younger sister. Stormer reached up and stroked his cheek gently. She then leaped out of her seat and hugged him tightly.

Craig stood there in shock for a moment and then hugged her back. He whispered softly in her ear, "I'm home, Mary. I'm home and I need you to help me remember who I am." Stormer and Craig let go of each other. "Maybe we should go to the living room. I have so many questions for both Mary and Mom. And I'm sure they have many questions for me as well." He led the three women into the spacious living room. It suddenly felt smaller than it did before.

Vanessa sat on one side of Craig and Stormer sat on the other. Pizzazz sat across from them. She then felt a twinge of loneliness of not being with Jerrica and the Starlight Girls. Her eyes drifted to the pictures on the end tables of her with her adopted family. "I'll leave you alone to catch up. I just remembered I have some work I brought home from the office to do. I'll be in my study if you need me." Pizzazz smiled and stood up.

"Phyllis, sit down. You're not an outsider here," Vanessa told her softly. "You're practically family so sit and join us. I insist."

"That's fine, Nessie. But I really do have work to do. I'll join you later." Pizzazz left the room and headed to the front door. Her mind was filled with things she wanted to say to Jerrica. She opened the front door and walked into the person standing there. "I'm so sorry. I was thinking so much that I didn't," her sentence slowly trailed off when she saw who she had walked into, "see you there. At least I know you didn't send a hologram here."

"Nope it's me in the flesh, Phyllis." Jerrica smirked at the green haired woman. "Listen, I came here to say I'm sorry. I know you're a great sister and not a bad influence like I said you were." She leaned in with a whisper. "You're just unorthodox."

Pizzazz let out a soft giggle. "It's funny because I was just about to call you after I got my briefcase out of the van." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry also. With everything going on I just lost my temper. But we're sisters. We fight. We forgive. Or we'll be haunted by Dad's voice yelling at us for being twits." The two women laughed and hugged each other tightly, both crying softly.

Jerrica looked at Pizzazz with a sideways smile. "So were you really just gonna apologize to me over the phone?" Pizzazz nodded embarrassed which made Jerrica laugh loudly. "I knew I scared you." She winked and wrapped her arm around her sister's shoulders. "C'mon, let's go inside, get changed and go swimming. We can talk in the pool. It'll be nice to finally swim in a pool that doesn't have a half million inflatable toys in it."

Letting out a soft giggle Pizzazz walked beside Jerrica. "I can imagine. Oh, before we go swimming. I have someone you'll want to meet. Again. For the first time." She held back a giggle when Jerrica gave her a confused look. "Just trust me, willya?" She stopped at the entrance to the living room and smiled to herself. "Jerrica Benton meet the long lost Craig Phillips. Mary's brother."

Unknowing of what to say Jerrica stood in place with no words coming to mind. She finally smiled and spoke. "You gotta be shittin' me," was all she said. The room erupted in laughter at Jerrica's reaction. Jerrica and Pizzazz sat down and talked with the newly reunited Phillips family. Pizzazz and Jerrica both felt themselves grow closer to them.

Relaxing in the sun by the pool Aja laid out on the chair with her headphones on. She let Kimber watch the older girls while she sunbathed. Every so often a stray splash would hit her arm. After a couple of times of that happening she just ignored it. Aja found her thoughts jumping from everything that was going on recently. Her mind raced to the person or persons who were behind the attacks against her.

Aja cleared her mind and just let herself concentrate on her music. She just wanted to relax. Slowly, she drifted to sleep. Aja's dreams were unclear and non-coherent. But deep down she knew they were troubled. She awoke with a slight yelp when Kimber shook her. Aja giggled and smiled at the young redhead. She turned off her music player. "Sorry. You startled me." She looked around she noticed the Starlight Girls had gone inside. "How long was I out?"

Kimber gave a slight shrug. "Not long, ten minutes maybe. The girls got hungry and bored. I was hoping that maybe I could take off now. I need to talk to Phyllis. The hell with what Jerrica says. I'm almost eighteen and not a little girl anymore. I trust you'll tell her that I went to Astral's, right?" She gave her older sister a sly smile.

"Hate to break it to you, kiddo," Aja said with a giggle in her voice, "But Jerrica is over there right now. She decided that she might as well apologize to her. So that takes care of lying. But go ahead. I'll watch the girls until Shana gets back or something. Now scoot." Aja wrapped a towel around her lower half as she watched as Kimber ran happily to her car. She went inside the house and told the girls she would be in her room changing.

The doorbell rang as Aja was coming down the stairs after changing out of the swimsuit. She yelled that she would answer it. Aja opened the door to find Jeff standing there. He looked concerned but not tried not to look too concerned. "Jeff, what's wrong?"

Jeff grabbed Aja by her hand and shut the front door. "Listen, I think I know what's going on here. If I'm right I'm the whole reason you're being attacked. Meet me by dock forty-two on Maple Street in a half hour." He put a piece of paper in her hand. "Look at it when you're on the road. It's important." Jeff kissed her on the cheek and gave her a somber smile. He then got in his car and drove off.

Aja went back in the house and grabbed her keys. She told Mrs. Bailey that she was going out for awhile. Aja got into her car and drove through the Starlight House's gates. She then read the note that Jeff had given her. She read it twice. The second time with a frown, but followed the directions on the note. A half hour later she pulled up to the dock. Jeff was no where to be seen. Aja got out of the car and scanned the area.

"This is such bullshit," she mumbled under her breath.

"Yet you still came," Jeff said walking out of a small building. "Come on inside. I think we need to talk." He put his hand on her upper back and guided Aja inside. "I'm not too sure where to start." Jeff locked the door and then sat down on an old couch. "I guess I should tell you first that I'm not a real street racer. It's a hobby. That's all. I needed a hobby that I could just forget what I do and be myself."

"Okay," Aja said slowly, "what do you really do then?"

Jeff stood up and started pacing. "My profession isn't widely accepted. But I want you to like me for me and see past what I do." He stopped and saw her arch an eyebrow. "I might as well just say it. I'm a professional hitman. I work for the CIA even though I am technically a freelancer. I think there's a group who's after me because of a hit I made. They're trying to get to me through you. I just don't know who it is." He sat back down on the couch. "I'm working on it."

Aja sat in silence for a while. She studied the room she was in and how Jeff acting. She finally slapped her palms on her legs and stood up. "What I just don't get is why the hell I have to fall for all of the crackpots and wackos? I just want to meet one normal guy who doesn't think he's a secret agent or a super hero or the second Emperor of the United States." She unlocked the door and opened it. She stepped out into the afternoon sun and began to walk back to her car. "I really like you, Jeff. I do. But I'm not gonna let myself get sucked into your bullshit." She looked at her car then back at Jeff. "Call me when you have gotten some help. Okay?"

Out of the corner of Jeff's eye he spotted a glint on a roof across from where Aja was standing. Without saying a word he ran forward and tackled her roughly to the ground. At the same instant a streak of smoke went over their heads and the building they were in exploded. Jeff covered Aja with his body. He looked up at the building where the glint of metal came from. Whoever was there was gone now. He helped Aja to her feet. "Well, believe me now?"

The party for the anniversary of Roxy's parents wedding was in full swing when David was hit by a wave of hiccups. He gave a surprised look when the first one hit while he talked with one of Roxy's uncles. He rubbed his solar plexus with hopes of calming it down. "I'm sorry. I must've," David hiccuped, "eaten or drank too fast. Sheila is motioning," another interrupted him, "to me. It was great meeting you." He shook the older man's hand and made his way to Jetta.

Jetta laughed when she heard David's hiccups. "Great way to make a first impression, love." She put her hand on David's back and guided him to a couple a few years older than Roxy's parents. "David Gabor I'd like to introduce you to me Mum and Dad, Robert and Florence Burns. Mum, Dad this is Davey Gabor. His sis is the lead singer of our band, the Misfits."

"Call me Bertie, son." Jetta's father shook David's hand enthusiastically. David smiled and tried to supress his hiccups. "The lad seems to be speechless, Flo. Either that or he's turnin' into a froggy." Bertie let out a loud laugh at his own joke.

"Knock it off, Bert." Florence gently shook David's hand and gave him a gracious grin. "Don't mind Bert. He gets like this after a coupla pints. It's very nice to meet you, David. Sheila speaks very highly of you and your sister. I'm also glad that Roxy has met a nice young man like yourself. And please, call me Flo."

David felt himself blush at the compliment, for a moment he forgot his hiccups. "Thank you," he let out an audible hiccup and growled to himself, "both. I'm sorry about you had to meet me with these damned," another hiccup escaped, "hiccups." Over Bertie's shoulder he saw Roxy leaning against the wall. From her stance and posture she looked angry about something. "But will you excuse me? I just spotted Roxy and I haven't really seen her all night."

Jetta and her parents nodded and David made his way through the crowd to his girlfriend. By the time he made it to Roxy he had forgotten about his condition. Roxy looked up and smiled widely at David. "There you are," she said trying to sound happy. "You just did a ninja vanish when the whole party began." She looked him up and down. "Everyone is impressed with the kimono." She gave him a tight hug while David hiccuped and Roxy giggled against his chest.

"Sorry," David mumbled. He lowered his voice. "What's wrong, hon? I was talking to Sheila's parents and I could tell something was bothering you." Roxy looked up and gave him a sad smile. She then pushed him through the door they were standing next to. She kissed him deeply and savagely, hugging him tight. David tasted tears as they kissed.

Roxy broke the kiss and laughed. "Looks like I got rid of your hiccups." She wiped the tears from her eyes and David let out a small hiccup. Roxy chuckled. "Or not." She looked deep into David's eyes as she felt herself begin to cry again. "Don't ever leave me. Never. I love you with all my heart, David. And I never want to be alone again." She hugged him again and cried into David's chest. She let out a rush of emotion as she cried.

Holding her close, David let her cry against him. He had never seen her like this before. After a few minutes he pushed head back and gave her a warm smile. "You have my word that I won't. Now, what's wrong?"

Wiping her tears away again Roxy looked in the small mirror in the coat room they were in. "He's here. That bastard actually showed up and had the nerve to tell me it was my fault. That I was flirting with him constantly and that I deserved what I got." Anger burned deep in her eyes. "I just walked away. I didn't want to cause a scene."

David chewed the inside of his cheek his own anger rising in his gut. "Show me who he is. It's time he left." Roxy led David out of the coat room after checking to see if anyone was looking. David followed her around the banquet hall as she searched for her attacker. He stopped when Roxy did. She pointed at a young Japanese man about David's age. "Son of a bitch."

"What?" Roxy gave him a startled and confused look. "You know him?"

"Know him? I trained with that bastard. Daisuke Matsuura," David said with and icy edge to his voice that scared Roxy. "He attempted to murder my adopted father. I thought he was dead." David looked at Roxy and spoke in a serious tone. "Do not follow us."

David left Roxy behind and walked up to Daisuke. He slapped the Japanese man on the back in a friendly manner. "Daisuke, it's been so long! How have you been? It's a beautiful night out let's go outside and catch up." David leaned in close and whispered in Daisuke's ear. "[I can kill you in seven different ways if you don't agree, assassin.]"

"Well this certainly is a big surprise, David." Daisuke sipped his drink with a wide grin. "Mister and Missus Hulme, if you'll excuse me, I haven't seen my old friend here in years." He walked out of the banquet hall with David at his side. He spoke low in Japanese, "[What the fuck are you doing here, Ikari?]"

"[You seem to know the same people I do. It's quite a circle we run in.]"

Daisuke smirked and glanced at David's swords. "[I see you came prepared for trouble. Plan on protecting the honor of that little slut Roxanne?]" He chuckled amused to himself.

David didn't answer until they were outside and away from other people. He quickly grabbed Daisuke by the shirt and slammed him against the building wall while lifting him off his feet. "[We finish it tonight. What you started when you were hired to murder my father in his sleep. The man who trained you like you were his son. You have your swords with you as well. This time you fight for what's left of your honor.]"

Pushing David away Daisuke straightened his shirt out. "[You're crazy. I'm not going to fight you for honor or anything. You're a fool living in the archaic past that was force fed into that mushy gaijin brain of yours. You're an idiot, Ikari. Just like that father of yours. You're no saint either.]" He turned to go back into the building when he saw out of the corner of his eye, David pull his sword out. Daisuke countered David's blade with his own.

"[I never said I was a saint, Matsuura. I just never did anything dishonorable.]" David took a step backwards and held his sword at the ready. Daisuke turned around and swung his sword at David's midsection. David easily blocked the swipe. Overhead thunder clouds began to gather. David blocked another swing by Daisuke that was aimed at his throat. He finally began his own attack on his nemesis. Daisuke casually blocked each of David's attacks. Neither man let up on the other.

Lightning and thunder flashed and rumbled around them as they fought. Sparks jumped from the blades as they struck to together. The tall grass around the lake edge was cut down as they danced around the area they were in. David ducked and blocked an attack with his wakizashi and attempted to take advantage with his katana against Daisuke. He blocked David's sword with his own wakizashi.

The two men were evenly matched against each other until David knocked the swords from Daisuke's hands. Daisuke looked up, jumped and grabbed the tree branch that was over his head. He swung feet first at David, who ducked and dropped his katana and wakizashi along with their scabbards. He quickly followed Daisuke up the tree. The other man had already made it to the roof of the building. David hurried to catch up to him.

Carefully leaping from the tree branch David landed on the building roof. Rain began to fall as he rose up. David instinctually dodged Daisuke's punch. He responded with a snap kick to Daisuke's midsection. He could tell that Daisuke was out of shape and practice. Daisuke stumbled back towards a skylight that was behind him. He straightened up and stood ready for David's next attack.

David came at Daisuke and was blinded for a moment by a flash of lightning when he threw a punch. Daisuke grabbed his arm and twisted David so his back was facing the skylight. Daisuke's footing slipped on the wet rooftop. Both men looked at each other in surprise as David's weight and momentum caused them both to fall through the glass of the skylight. The silk canopy that was over the dance floor helped cushion their fall as they hit with a sickening thud.

Roxy and Jetta ran to David's side. He looked up at them dazed and turned his head to see where Daisuke landed. To his mild surprise the man was gone. David laid on the floor of the banquet hall as people ran up to him to check how he was. Jetta yelled for them to get back while David told Roxy to gather the two pairs of swords that were outside. Ten minutes later the cops and an ambulance had arrived.

David explained to the cops that he and Daisuke were on the roof talking and catching up when he lost his footing. Daisuke tried to help him but the roof was too slick. The police wrote down what he said and then asked where Daisuke was. David didn't have an answer for them.

A half hour later the police and paramedics left. The party was broken up, David and Roxy got into her car and headed back to Roxy's home. David knew deep down that he would see Daisuke again.

Pulling out of the drive-thru David turned on the highway that led out of Las Vegas straight to Los Angeles. He and Roxy had spent the past two weeks on the road together. They left Philadelphia a couple of days after Roxy's parent's anniversary party. Jetta flew back to L.A. by herself while her parents stayed a little longer to catch up with the Pelligrini's. Roxy had suggested that she and David make a road trip back in her car. They decided to make it a mini-tour of the United States while stopping to see a few landmarks on their way home.

Roxy spotted a young couple walking along the strip. She leaned over her door edge and threw a bouquet of flowers to the woman. "Catch!" Roxy yelled as the flowers went flying. She turned as they drove past the couple to see the startled woman catch the flowers. Roxy sat back in her seat with a giggle. She kissed David on the cheek and leaned her head on his shoulder as he drove.

Together they pulled through the Gabor Estate gates a few hours later. David parked Roxy's car next to Stormer's. He opened the trunk and pulled out their luggage. "Just leave the rest, Rox. We can get that later. Right now I just want to get some sleep." David pulled out his own set of keys to open the front door. He went to slide his key into the lock when Pizzazz opened it and hugged her twin tightly. David dropped his suitcase and hugged her back. "Oh look, hon," David said over his shoulder, "A surprise welcome home party. I'm still going to bed."

"Well, aren't we the wet blanket, David." Pizzazz gave him a wink. "You both look like hell ran over you twice. I think the party can be rescheduled till tomorrow." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Welcome back." Pizzazz gave Roxy a hug, but not as tight. "It's good to have you both back."

Roxy and David began climbing the stairs to the second floor when Stormer started following them. "Welcome home you two. Roxy, are you ready to finish the album?" She smiled when Roxy gave a tired nod. Stormer waited in the doorway of David's room. "Did Phyllis tell what happened while you were away?" The couple looked at her with a curious look. "That therapy worked. I'm now complete. The psychiatrist I went to said that Frenzy was a part of me that had fractured off when Craig left. I just kept it hidden. But now that part is a part of me along with other stuff I still don't fully understand. Anyway, I'll let you two get some sleep. I'm happy you're back."

Stormer turned away but hesitated slightly when she saw a white dress in Roxy's suitcase. She shook her head to dismiss it and shut David's room door. David set his suitcase and Roxy's on the floor, then changed out of his clothes and slipped under the covers. Roxy followed him and rested her head on his chest. Together they fell fast asleep, dreaming of a future together.

TO BE CONTINUED IN LIMELIGHT PART 1