Disclaimer: I am not the owner of the characters in this story. All rights go to Crown Media, Hallmark, Brian Bird, Michael Landon, Jr., the actors, creators, and writers of the show "When Calls the Heart." Any names or locations are simply for storyline purposes.

Chapter 7- No Place Like You

As he watched her disappear into the house, he was never so thankful to be home. He needed her every bit as much as he could see that she needed him, even if she was hesitant to admit it. However, as much as he knew they were meant to be together, he couldn't help but to be concerned about what would happen if the paparazzi began to swarm. Oh who am I kidding…when they start to swarm? Although he was hopeful that he had time to make amends with Elizabeth before the camera flashes began.

He watched as boats continued in and out of the canal, seemingly normal people who were able to live normal lives and he thought back, finding it difficult to remember when his life was normal.

Jack thought about everything he gave up for success, and now he'd do anything to have his normal life back again, to have Elizabeth back again. But would his celebrity status and his popularity end up chasing her away?

Jack sat outside in the moonlight; the quiet allowed him the opportunity to do some much needed soul searching. As had always happened in the past, when inspiration struck, he would sequester himself in a room and write, often for hours at a time. This occasion was no different.

Jack rushed inside and slipped into his music room. He pulled the door behind him as to not disturb Elizabeth and Tristan. However, it remained slightly ajar as he took a seat at his piano bench. He picked up a pad of paper and pencil as the lyrics seemed to flow onto the lined canvas, much like he assumed her journal entries had done in the past.

Hearing the piano, Elizabeth followed the melodious sounds to Jack's music room behind the staircase. Standing in his white dress shirt just outside the slightly open door, she listened as he worked.

There was no doubt that he was talented; as she quietly listened, the words escaped her, but the music was beyond beautiful. Feeling as though she was listening to something private, Elizabeth turned around and headed for the staircase.

As she reached the second step she felt as though someone was watching her, touching her with their eyes. She spun around and looked out the window on the staircase. Seeing nothing but darkness and hearing only Jack's piano playing from the music room, she assumed that her fears were simply getting the better of her, and she walked back upstairs. With each few steps, she turned around, certain that she heard noises outside and still having an eerie feeling that she was being watched.

She sat on the side of the bed wondering if Jack would ever truly be allowed to live a normal life. He'd been in town for a little while, but to her knowledge the only people who had recognized him was that group that converged upon them while on their date. Maybe she was worrying about nothing. Maybe he wouldn't be followed and photographed constantly, and maybe, just maybe even with his talent, he could still call Fort Lauderdale "home."

She sat with her back against the headboard of the bed, her knees bent to her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs. With her eyes closed, images flashed in her mind of Princess Diana racing through Paris streets as paparazzi fought for the perfect picture, ultimately causing her death. She envisioned photographers chasing stars, snooping in windows, blocking people's paths, and worst of all, scaring their unsuspecting children.

She stretched out beside Tristan, who looked much like an angel; her respiration was slow and calm, and there was a gentle smile upon her face. Elizabeth's head rested in her hand as her bent elbow on her pillow held her up. Her other hand brushed loose locks of Tristan's curly auburn hair away from her eyes.

"I know you love Jack; I do too, but will you feel safe should the insanity of the paparazzi find him, find us?" she whispered.

She laid her head on the pillow as her arm, resting around Tristan's body pulled her close, "Maybe I'm worrying for nothing."

Hours later Jack walked into the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee. Writing songs always seemed to come easy to him, and they were usually therapeutic in nature as well. However, this one, this one was special as well as cathartic.

As he waited on his coffee, he stood at his back door when something in his yard caught his eye. Flipping on the back light, he stepped out onto his patio and found one of his deck chairs in the pool, and several others knocked over and scattered about. He pulled the chair from his pool and righted the remaining furniture before stepping back inside.

Jack fixed himself a cup of coffee, and feeling somewhat perplexed, took a seat at the kitchen table. Consuming his first cup of coffee of the day, he perused each page of music and watched a cycle of the news. Hearing about a fast moving storm which struck the area over night with winds and light rain, he assumed that to be the reason for his backyard disarray. Putting the thought of paparazzi out of his mind, he took a deep breath and allowed his body to relax.

He went back to his paperwork and the song he wrote in little more than two hours. The lyrics said exactly what he wanted to say, and although he had no intention of recording it, he knew in his heart that it was Grammy worthy. He slipped it into his briefcase, hoping to at some point play it for his inspiration…Elizabeth.

A few hours later, Elizabeth slowly walked downstairs still wearing Jack's dress shirt. Surprised to find him in the kitchen cooking breakfast, she tried to sneak into the den unseen to grab her dress clothes which she'd left on the sofa.

"Good morning," he called out, surprised, but pleased to see her in his shirt.

"I didn't know you cooked," she commented while holding her clothes in front of her body.

"What do you mean, I cooked yesterday."

"That was on the grill; most men do that. I mean in a pan on the stove, but it smells wonderful." She started to back out of the room, "I'm sorry; I left my clothes down here last night."

He couldn't take his eyes off of her. There was something overly sexy about a woman wearing a man's shirt, and when the woman was Elizabeth; his emotions were even more heightened.

Jack watched as she walked back up the stairs, feeling somewhat jealous of his shirt as it draped gently over her body, somehow seductively touching her skin, teasing him as she walked away.

Ten minutes later, Elizabeth came downstairs, dressed and ready for work. Although he felt that Elizabeth looked beautiful in her dress with the solid black bodice and orange sunflower print from the fitted waist down, he had to admit that he preferred her look in his dress shirt better.

"Did you get any sleep?" Elizabeth asked Jack.

"Some," he replied.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, but already knew where he'd spent most of the night.

"I had something, or should I say someone inspire me last night, so I wrote some music."

"Oh I see…"

"No I don't think you do. Elizabeth, I will always write music, it centers me, but I write for my own enjoyment and for the enjoyment of those around me. I truly have no desire to go back out on the road, and whether you believe me or not, I'm home."

"Will you play it for me some time?" she asked.

"I'd love for you to hear it. It says exactly how I feel…"

Tristan rushed down the stairs, ran over and hugged him, "Good morning, Mr. Jack."

"Good morning, are you hungry?" he asked.

"I sure am," she stated as she took a seat at the table.

"I must say that you look beautiful this morning," he stated as she stood up and twirled around in her blue print pinafore dress with a white t-shirt.

She smiled as she took her seat once again, "Thank you. Doesn't mommy look beautiful too?"

"She sure does," Jack's eyes met Elizabeth's as he placed plates containing bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast on the table.

"Jack, this is sweet, but you didn't have to go to so much trouble."

"Mommy, it's no trouble because he loves us, right Mr. Jack."

"I sure do sweetheart," he replied, but quickly observed a nervous smile that covered Elizabeth's face.

During breakfast, Jack and Elizabeth remained quiet as Tristan did most of the talking. Once they finished, Elizabeth sent Tristan upstairs for her backpack.

"Did I say something wrong earlier?" he asked.

"Not wrong; I just don't want her building her hopes up and things not working out with us. I've been there Jack. Seeing a child devastated is not something I want to live through again."

"I wish you could have faith in us like I do," his heartfelt comment had her thinking as Tristan ran down the stairs.

"Mommy, my backpack is at home."

"Oh that's right. Did you have anything important in it?"

"No ma'am."

"Okay, let's get going."

Jack walked them out to the driveway. He buckled Tristan into her booster seat while Elizabeth loaded their bag into the car. Although she heard and saw nothing, she glanced around, still slightly unnerved over feeling as though someone was watching her the night before.

"Is something wrong?" he asked as he closed Tristan's door.

"I thought I heard noises outside last night," she replied.

"You may have; apparently there was a wind storm that passed through. It knocked the patio furniture around and dumped one of the chairs in the pool."

Feeling slightly relieved, she stated, "Oh, that must have been it."

Jack walked with her around to the driver's side of the car opening the door and standing nearby as she slipped inside.

"Thank you again for a wonderful time, Jack. I had a lot of fun and I know Tristan…"

"Oh yes, thank you Mr. Jack. I love your pool and the s'mores were good," Tristan announced from the back seat.

He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "In case you don't know it, both of you are very special to me," he smiled, doing his best to let her know that everything was going to be okay. "I'm sorry if I overstepped earlier; I didn't mean to."

"You didn't do anything wrong, Jack. I'm just being cautious," she replied. "If it was just me, I'm okay; but… I'm sorry; I just can't explain it. Anyway, I'm the one who should apologize."

"For what?"

"For giving you mixed signals. I do want to see where this goes with us, but then I get scared. I'm sorry; I move forward, and then I back away. I don't intend to do it, but fear sometimes puts you in a dark place."

"Are you afraid of me?" he asked, "Because you don't need to be."

"Sometimes feelings scare me; I just don't want to lose myself in them like I have in the past. So I guess you do scare me a little. But if I'm honest, I'm still afraid of Tommy."

"What can he do, Elizabeth? Apparently he's made no attempt to see Tristan, so why would he push the issue now?"

"I don't know; we have a deal, but I just don't trust him."

"Deal…what kind of deal would you have with him?"

"Nothing…it's just that I don't ask for support, and he leaves us alone, that's all."

"Elizabeth, I promise you; I won't hurt you; I won't hurt her…" Jack stated as he glanced into the back seat, observing Tristan reading a book she'd found.

"I know you won't mean to, but Jack, it doesn't mean it won't happen," she stated before slipping in behind the wheel. "I'm sorry; I have to go," she stated.

With her window down, he put his hand on the door, "Can we talk later?"

"Mommy, you were supposed to invite Mr. Jack to dinner…I'm cooking," Tristan yelled from the back seat.

"She's cooking?" he softly laughed.

"I'm helping her make Lasagna; would you like to come for dinner?"

"What time?"

"Is 6:30 okay?"

"I'll be there; do I need to bring anything?"

"I'm making cupcakes for dessert too, Mr. Jack."

"Well, I love cupcakes," he leaned his head in Elizabeth's window to respond to Tristan.

As he pulled his head out of the window, she turned her head to face him and his lips brushed across hers. "We're going to work all of this out, Elizabeth; I promise you," he whispered.

"Jack, this…we just may be more than what you're looking for, and I understand if it is," she responded.

He put his hand on hers, "Stop trying to find reasons why this won't work."

"Jack, there's just so much that you don't know."

"Are you in love with someone else?"

A look of shock covered her face, "No…"

"Then we'll get through anything if we do it together."

She smiled, "I remember us saying that when we were in college; if we'd only paid attention back then."

"I'll see you tonight..." he stated as he stood back up and patted her door before she backed out of his driveway and headed for work.

Jack spent the day at his home, swimming, watching TV and dreaming about how much more he was enjoying his life since returning to the area and reconnecting with Elizabeth. However, her comment about there being so much more that he didn't know was nagging at him

That evening, Tristan sat on the kitchen counter as she laid the Lasagna noodles flat in the pan while Elizabeth layered them with beef, marinara sauce and cheeses before helping her mom place the pan in the oven.

While the Lasagna cooked, Elizabeth and Tristan decorated cupcakes with Tristan's favorite rainbow icing.

"Mommy, Mr. Jack is a boy…"

"Uh, yes I know that," Elizabeth replied hoping that the jewel sack holder was not entering the conversation again.

"He won't want rainbow icing."

"Honey, Mr. Jack will like anything we make."

"Can you make him one that looks like something boys like…?"

Elizabeth laughed softly as the first thing that came to her mind was a woman's breast. "Uh, oh I've got it, what about a baseball?"

"Okay that's good."

A short while later the doorbell rang, and Tristan and Elizabeth invited Jack inside. Tristan grabbed Jack's hand, "Mr. Jack, will you help me with my schoolwork?"

"Absolutely, what are you working on?" Jack asked as he sat at the kitchen table looking over her information on butterflies.

Tristan was in awe of how caterpillars turned into such beautiful creatures, commenting on how some of them even seemed to sparkle.

"You're right, some of them do look like they're wearing jewels," Jack mentioned.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and felt herself choke on the oxygen she inhaled. She expected the conversation to be started by Tristan, but poor unsuspecting Jack had no idea what he'd walked into.

Elizabeth held her breath as she knew for certain that Tristan's next question was going to be…

"Mr. Jack, do you have jewels?" her child asked.

Elizabeth began choking, assuming that her saliva had gone down the wrong way. That would have been the case had she had any saliva, but the inside of her mouth went from normal, to desert like once Tristan began talking.

Elizabeth hoped that before Jack even realized the question, she could direct the conversation away from jewels and on to something more appropriate, "Dinner's ready," Elizabeth called out as she pulled the lasagna from the oven, hoping that it was in fact ready, but at this particular point not caring if it wasn't.

"Oh goody, I love Lasagna," Tristan enthusiastically announced as she rushed to clear her completed butterfly project from the table so they could eat.

"What would you like to drink?" Elizabeth asked both Jack and Tristan.

"May I have Sprite?" Tristan asked.

"May I have wine?" Jack replied.

"You are both in luck; I have Sprite and wine," she stated as she placed their drinks on the table.

As they sat down to dinner, Jack stated, "Are you doing anything on Saturday?" he asked as Elizabeth brought the salad and buttered bread over to the table.

"No, why…?"

"Well, I'd like to take you and Tristan on a field trip; are you game?"

"Please mommy; I love field trips."

"Okay, but you know I don't care for surprises," she reminded him.

"Trust me, both of you will love it."

"Okay," she stated with a smile, "We'd love to go on a field trip with you.

Following dinner, Tristan rushed to the counter to bring Jack his baseball decorated cupcake.

"Oh my, you decorated this for me?" he asked.

"Well, mommy did it, but I gave her the suggestion." Tristan remarked as she stood beside him waiting on him to eat it.

"Honey, give him time to let his dinner settle first, okay?"

"Sorry Mr. Jack…" Tristan grabbed her butterfly project and started for the hallway. "May I go back to my room?"

"You don't want your cupcake?" she asked.

"I'll eat mine with Mr. Jack is ready…"

"Okay," Elizabeth replied as she began to clear the table.

Jack brought plates into the kitchen, scraping the leftover food into the trash can. "Do you want to wash or dry?"

"Well, I do have a dishwasher," she stated as he rinsed off the plates, handed them to her and she loaded the dishes in the machine.

Jack and Elizabeth sat on the sofa watching TV when Tristan came back into the den, taking a seat between them. "Mr. Jack, are you popular?"

Assuming she meant with his music, Elizabeth wasn't concerned, so she sat back and allowed him to converse with Tristan without interference.

"What do you mean popular?" he asked.

"Like do you have a lot of money and jewels that you need to protect. Cause mommy and I found a jewel holder…"

"WHOA, WHOA… why don't we sit down and enjoy our cupcakes…" Elizabeth blurted out as Jack glanced in her directed, clearly confused.

"I'll get Mr. Jack's…" Tristan called out as she ran for the kitchen.

Elizabeth stood up to follow her as Jack took hold of her arm, "What's the deal about jewels and a jewel holder; that's the second reference she's made to it?"

"It's nothing…" Elizabeth stated as she started to walk away.

"Don't tell me it's nothing; you practically hack up a lung each time she's brought it up," he responded.

"It's a girl's joke."

He stood up and followed her into the kitchen, "After she goes to bed, will you tell me?"

"Maybe…!"

Tristan handed Jack his cupcake. He took it from her hands and leaned down to kiss her on the top of her head. "This is exactly what I wanted, thank you so much."

While Jack consumed his baseball cupcake, making sounds of pleasure throughout, Elizabeth and Tristan ate their rainbow frosted ones. Once Tristan was finished, Elizabeth asked her to brush her teeth and change into her pajamas.

Ten minutes later, Tristan ran back into the den wearing her butterfly pajamas and piled up in Elizabeth's lap.

"Those are beautiful pajamas, and quite appropriate since you were working on your butterfly project tonight," Jack commented.

"Thank you; my Nana and Pop-Pop got them for me," she stated as she slipped from Elizabeth's lap, and stood in front of Jack to model her outfit.

Elizabeth could see how much Tristan cared for him. She seemed to light up whenever he was around; he built her up emotionally and always seemed willing to be there for her. Jack gave her the attention she craved but never received from her own father, and for that, Elizabeth was grateful.

Elizabeth had to admit that seeing Tristan smile was a wonderful sight. However, Jack was a public figure, and once the media learned of his location and began to swarm, would he still have the time for her, and would she still feel safe around him?

As the evening came to an end for Tristan, she hugged Elizabeth and Jack as they tucked her into bed and kissed her good night. Walking out of her room, Jack reached over and took Elizabeth's hand, much to Tristan's delight as her eyes finally closed.

"It's late, so I'd better go; I'll call you tomorrow, okay?" he promised as they headed toward the front door.

As they walked outside, Jack reminded her, "I haven't forgotten about the jewel holder explanation."

As long as he'd known her, he had found her laugh to be adorable and this time was no different. As she giggled, he stopped and turned her around to face him, "Okay, now I have to know…what is a jewel holder?"

While still laughing, which caused him to join in, they walked toward his SUV.

"Just so you know the department store over on Warren Street sells men's thong bathing suits…"

"What?" now the image was becoming clearer to him.

"Tristan wanted to get you a blue one."

"Does she know what it is?"

"No, the sign said something about colorful jewel holders. She thinks you may have rings or money and she also suggested that car keys could be held in it too."

"I'm not thinking that's the kind of jewels they are referring to," he stated as he closed his eyes while the smile caused deep dimples in his cheeks. Jack's smile continued as he commented, "You know it's precious how a kid's thought goes to something so normal. Can she stay that way?"

"I wish, but I wouldn't count on it."

As they walked out into the open area of her driveway, Elizabeth observed several cars parked in the street which was unusual for her neighborhood. Generally a very quiet area, she didn't recall cars ever being parked in the street, except a year ago when the Munson's, who live three houses down, had a party for their son who graduated from high school.

Assuming that someone in the area was having a small get together, she thought nothing more of it.

As they stood by his SUV, Jack backed her up against the rear door, "Do you have any idea how much I want to kiss you right now?"

Elizabeth laughed softly as she glanced around, "I don't see anyone stopping yo…"

Before she could finish, his lips met hers. She felt his body pressed hard against hers as his hand slipped behind her neck, pulling her closer, deepening their connection.

As they separated slightly, Jack rested his forehead on hers, "I know we still need to talk, and I know you still have reservations…"

"I don't have reservations about you, Jack; its Tristan and her security; it's your life and what comes along with it that concerns me."

Jack kissed her cheek, "You and Tristan mean the world to me. Please believe me when I say that we can work this out."

"I want to believe you Jack. I know how I feel about you, and I can see how attached she is to you; I just hope you're right."

His hands framed her face as he leaned in and gently pressed his lips to hers. "I am…I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay," Elizabeth stated as she stood in the driveway with her arms crossed and watched Jack slip into his expensive SUV and carefully maneuvered around vehicles parked on the street.

As Elizabeth walked back to her front door, feeling her nerve endings seemingly on high alert, she again felt as though someone was watching her. Her pace quickened as she rushed inside the house, locked the door and carefully looked out the front window. She wondered, does Tommy have another private eye following me?

Seeing nothing, she wondered why Tommy would have someone following her again. She gave him everything he wanted…well everything except Tristan's trust fund, and she'd fight him to protect that.

Elizabeth took a seat on the sofa. Gulping down the remainder of wine from her glass, she wondered if Jack really knew what he was getting himself into. Although she had no doubt that Jack's feelings were honest and true, she also knew that Tristan was craving his attention and was it fair to expect him to be comfortable in the role of "Daddy" for another man's child? And if he truly could accept her, was he prepared for a readymade family? Would the responsibility of being a "daddy" prove to be more than what he expected? And now she had to add in the concern of Tommy possibly finding out that they were dating again. Maybe it wouldn't matter to him? But then again, why is he having me followed?

Elizabeth walked back toward her bedroom, stopping to check on Tristan as she made her way down the hall. Still asleep, Elizabeth kissed her forehead and walked to her room.

She pulled out her favorite pair of pink plaid flannel pants and her Calvin Klein t-shirt, slipped them on, and crawled into bed. With her eyes wide open and thoughts swirling around in her head, she pulled her journal from her bedside table.

Flipping to the next blank page, Elizabeth prayed that the thoughts in her head would be expressed adequately in the words on the paper. She clicked her pen open, took a deep breath and did her best to write from her heart…

"I walked away. Not as quickly as was needed, with fear keeping me held in the dark. You dragged us down; yes, I said us, not just me. As her protector, I allowed you to control me, knowing that I could deflect any harm, but I had to be present to do so.

You claimed to love me, but I…we were simply pawns in your plan for success. You clipped my wings with fear, flooding me with your toxic bantering until we were no longer needed.

I will never allow another person to control my thoughts, my actions, or to fill me with fear. The person I became with you was a hollow shell unable to walk away, unable to protect the most precious gift that God could have bestowed upon me. Not anymore; never again.

It is during the toughest times in your life that you see the true colors of those who claim to love you. You see who sticks around, or who casts you aside. Be grateful for those who have released you for they give you the room to grow in the space that they have abandoned; they give you the awareness to appreciate those who truly love you even when you didn't feel lovable, and they allow you to mend your broken wings, soaring higher than you ever thought possible."

Elizabeth closed her journal and sat it on her bedside table. Still feeling a bit unsettled that someone was watching her, she grabbed her blanket and pillow and slept on the couch.

So, on Saturday, Jack was at Elizabeth's townhouse at 7:30 am to pick her and Tristan up for a trip to the Butterfly World Gardens, a lush Tropical Rain Forest with over twenty thousand exotic butterflies, birds from all over the world as well as an insect museum.

While they surprisingly sat in early morning traffic, Jack answered Tristan's questions advising that you walk through gardens with butterflies flying overhead, stopping only to feed on the nectar blossoms covering the paths in the natural paradise. "There are also birds and an insect museum."

"Oh good, I love insects, oh and birds and butterflies too," Tristan squealed.

Elizabeth glanced over at Jack, "I don't know where she gets that from, but as for the insect museum, that can be something that you two share together. I'll stay outside with the beautiful butterflies."

They pulled into the parking lot and Jack got out, immediately opening the door for Tristan and unsnapping her booster seat restraint. As Elizabeth walked around the SUV, she approached Jack, surprising him with a tender kiss on the lips, "Thank you for doing this. It means a lot to her…well, to me too."

"Mommy kissed Mr. Jack…"

"Yes I did; now let's go see some butterflies…"

Jack, Elizabeth and Tristan walked the trails, each one pointing out the various butterflies they saw as they fluttered on the multitude of flowers. There was a black and white butterfly resting on a red flower while a parrot stood watch. There were orange, brown and white ones perched on beautiful fall colored flowers; a large black, teal, and yellow one with a red dot at its head, a black one with blue dots, blue and black ones, blue and white ombre colored ones with black piping around the edge of the wings, and ones that when their wings were extended looked as though they had multiple eyes. Also prevalent were parrots, parakeets and canaries flying freely about several netted enclosures.

Just before taking their seats for lunch, Billy Wilson, a college friend of Jack's, who was at the Butterfly World Gardens with his family, pulled Jack aside.

"WOW man; long time no see; what are you doing here?" Billy asked as he was quickly joined by his son and daughter, both of whom recognized Jack and were ecstatic.

Hoping to keep things quiet and not draw attention to them, Jack stepped off to the side, followed closely by Billy and his family.

"I saw your band broke up; why man? You had it made; you got to travel, the women had to have been phenomenal; I don't get it," Billy commented.

"Dad," Billy's son Tyler blurted out, "I didn't know that you knew Jack Thornton. That's so cool," as both of his kids smiled broadly.

"Jack and I went to school together. We were roommates for part of our college years," he gladly informed his son, suddenly feeling quite important in his children's eyes.

Billy's wife, Sara, called the children back to the table so the men could talk.

"So, you and Sara got married?" Jack asked.

"Yes; I also teach history and coach the varsity football team at Fort Lauderdale High."

"WOW, it sounds like you have everything you've ever wanted," Jack mentioned as he turned back and smiled at Elizabeth.

"Don't get me wrong, Jack…I love Sara and my kids are my world, but how on earth did you just walk away from that life you had? I mean; the parties, the women, the traveling, and the women."

Jack laughed, "You said women twice."

"That's because that was the most important thing. How did you give that up?"

"Do you see that woman sitting over there with that beautiful little girl beside her?"

"Of course, I know Elizabeth and Tristan," he replied.

Jack took a deep breath before responding, "If I could do it all over again, I don't know that I would have done it."

"Why?"

Jack looked one table over and observed Billy's wife and kids talking and attempting to stare at him with no one knowing. "When something wonderful happens, who's the first person you call?"

"Sara, of course."

"Okay, but when something bad happens, who's the first person you call?" Jack asked doing his best to make a point.

"Of course, it's Sara. It's always Sara."

"My point exactly; when I left, Elizabeth and I weren't together; I didn't have that connection with her. I didn't have that connection with anyone. When I won awards, I wanted to share that success with her, but she wasn't there."

"But Jack, what about the women and the wild parties; I'll bet you've have some crazy experiences? I mean, I saw pictures and videos of you at the Grammys with beautiful women. Are you telling me that you didn't date?"

"Most of the time when you saw pictures or videos at awards shows, we were put together because neither of us was dating anyone. They'd put us together, and then the media would go crazy with the speculation of an upcoming engagement. The fact is we'd rarely see each other after that night."

Jack looked back and smiled at Elizabeth who quickly reciprocated, "The truth is, just like with you and Sara, that woman over there has always had my heart."

"So no partying?" Billy sounded quite disappointed.

"Maybe when I first left; I did some partying to try to forget what I left behind. I was angry, and hurt when Elizabeth and I broke up so I tried to cover up the pain by having fun with my band mates."

"And women?"

"Man, you've got it bad, don't you?"

"No, I'd never give up what I have here, but I'm sorry, I'm just envious of your experiences."

"Well, don't be too envious; it's not at all like what you may think. All I had on my mind was the one that got away…"

"A-Ha…so that's where the name of the band came from," Billy blurted out.

Jack said nothing but simply shook his head up and down. "I'm trying to correct those mistakes now."

"Well, are you going to keep writing music?" Billy asked. "You know, Fort Lauderdale is lucky to call you a hometown guy."

"I'm still writing, but it's more just for me; I'm not looking to record anymore."

"Well, since you're here for good, let's get together, you know double date like we used to years ago."

Again, Jack looked back at Elizabeth, and not wanting to share his private time he had with her with anyone, he simply said, "Call me and we'll see what we can do." Jack wrote his number on Billy's lunch receipt which he immediately placed in his pocket.

Billy's kids and Sara approached as the number for their food order was called. Billy left the group to go up and fetch their tray.

As Tristan watched Jack talking with Sara and her son and daughter, she turned to Elizabeth, "Do you think Mr. Jack will always like us?"

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked as her own question was met by Tristan's silence.

Elizabeth looked over and watched as Jack, Sara and the two kids laughed at jokes, or simply times gone by. Turning back to Tristan she observed a yearning in her that she recognized, one that she herself had felt many years ago when Jack left town. "What's wrong honey?"

"I know you said he wouldn't…"

"He wouldn't what, honey?"

"Are you sure that when Mr. Jack has his own family that he won't forget about me?" Tristan asked as the look of jealousy could be seen in her beautiful blue eyes.

"Honey, you're very special to Mr. Jack. He won't ever forget you," Elizabeth assured her.

"But I'm not his kid. Won't he love his kid more?" she asked as tender tears slipped down her cheeks causing Elizabeth to shed a few of her own.

Elizabeth pulled Tristan close but could see that the child was still concerned by Jack's happiness over seeing another woman and kids. "Do you remember when mommy talked with you about the love in your heart, and how it grows when you add more people?"

Tristan said nothing; she simply shook her head up and down.

"Mr. Jack is just a very nice man. Do you see the woman standing with him?"

"Yes ma'am…"

"That's his friend Billy's wife and they are old friends too," Elizabeth tried to explain. "Honey, we have to have faith that everything will work out as it should. If Jack is meant to stay in our lives, he will. Okay?"

"I love him, mommy. I don't want him to go away."

"I don't want him to leave either," Elizabeth whispered as Jack continued talking with Sara and her two children.

"So, I see you're with Elizabeth…are you two back together?" Sara asked.

"Well, I just came home, but I'd like to think so…"

With Billy and their food at the table, Sara and her kids took a selfie with Jack before Billy rushed over to join them. They said their goodbyes and Jack returned to his dates for the day.

"Jack, isn't it odd that the media hasn't found you yet?" Elizabeth asked.

"Well, I did let it slip that I was going to vacation in Europe for a while, so maybe they're looking for me there," he smiled as he took Elizabeth's hand, and kissed Tristan's cheek.

The attention he quickly showed them upon his return stopped Tristan's tears and her smile immediately returned.

After lunch, and Tristan loading up on a hot dog, fries, cotton candy, a caramel apple and a doughnut, they headed for Elizabeth's worst nightmare, the insect exhibit. Elizabeth assured Jack and Tristan that she would be fine, but had no desire to see bugs. Tristan on the other hand was so excited, asking Jack to take picture after picture so that she could remember this day.

As they exited the building, Jack observed a young man, presumably a park employee, holding Elizabeth's hand as she fed a butterfly from her finger. He didn't like to consider himself a jealous person, but had to admit to himself that the green- eyed monster was rearing its ugly head.

Jack and Tristan walked over to Elizabeth who quickly pulled her hand away, "Thank you for helping me feed the butterflies. That was fun."

"You're very welcome. I hope you enjoy the rest of your visit here," he stated as he gathered his bucket of supplies and walked away.

"Did you have fun?" Elizabeth asked.

"Show mommy the picture, Mr. Jack," Tristan begged.

Realizing that Elizabeth would not appreciate the picture of a tarantula spider, he reminded Tristan that the insect exhibit would be between the two of them. "We don't need to scare your mom."

At the end of the day, Jack carried a sleeping Tristan to the front of the park. He slipped into the gift shop and purchased her a pink stuffed animal holding a butterfly as a remembrance of their excursion.

They walked out to the parking lot and Jack buckled Tristan into the safety of her booster seat, sitting her gift beside her before pulling out of their parking space and heading home. They had barely reached the highway by the time Elizabeth glanced in the backseat of Jack's SUV and observed that Tristan had already pulled her new doll into the seat with her, hugging her tightly.

"I want to thank you for today. Tristan and I had…" she began but was unable to finish her thought.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Jack, doesn't this seem just too good to be true; almost as if we have just jumped in where we left off all those years ago?"

"It feels right because it is right," he confidently replied.

"I look at Tristan and she is so taken by you, by the man you are, and her need for a daddy in her own life; that I'm so afraid that this is going to end up hurting her."

They pulled into the driveway with Jack quickly stepping out of the SUV. Jack approached Elizabeth, "Let's get her inside in bed, and then we can talk, okay?"

"Okay," she stated as Jack carried Tristan inside and back to her bedroom. He slipped out of the room as Elizabeth changed Tristan into her pajamas without the child's eyes opening once.

Elizabeth walked out into the kitchen, and pulled a bottle of wine from the refrigerator; she carried it and two glasses into the den where she took a seat on the sofa beside Jack.

Jack poured the wine and handed her a glass, "Thank you for today. Each moment I spend with you seems better than the one before."

She took a sip of wine before placing her glass on the coffee table, "Jack…"

"You've needed to talk for awhile; let's get it out in the open, okay?" he asked.

"I know we've only been back together…" she stopped before starting again, "Well, maybe not together together, I don't know how to consider this, but you know what I mean."

"I do, but just so you know, I consider us back together. So what's wrong?"

She swallowed hard, "Jack, I have to admit that your proposal was bizarre, and surprising, and…"

"Weird…" he added.

"I was going to say, exciting."

"Oh, well that's better than weird," he responded; trusting that her main concern rested with her daughter, his heart pounded.

"Jack, I'm not going to deny that I'm happy to see you, and the way you are with Tristan touches my heart. You know, any other man I'd wonder if you were trying to get to my daughter in order to impress me, but that's not like you."

She reached over, picked up her glass of wine, and took a sip of courage, "I can't sit here and tell you that I don't love you; that I haven't always had feelings for you, or that I'm not scared to death that my heart is going to be broken…again, because I do, I have, and I am. But, my main concern is Tristan. She is getting so attached to you, and although I greatly appreciate the smile you regularly put on her face, if you have any reservations about her being a part of this…us, please tell me now."

Not always being good saying face to face what he felt in his heart, Jack's silence may have been misinterpreted…

Feeling somewhat unnerved by his silence she continued, "Jack, I know we're just trying this relationship out, seeing where we stand in six months, but the truth is," she placed her glass back on the table and leaned forward with her elbows resting on her thighs.

Jack placed his hand on her back. Moving it back and forth, hoping to soothe her. Little did he know that his hand on her only jumbled her thoughts, and added the fluttering butterflies in her abdomen to the mix of growing emotions?

Elizabeth turned her head and caught his hazel eyes, warm and expressive. "What I'm trying to say is that Tristan and I are a package deal, and adding a child to the mix, especially one that isn't yours…" she looked away, unable to continue the eye contact.

"Elizabeth, she's a part of you; how could I not have feelings for her? I mean, it's not like I didn't know about her. Thanks to Rosie, I've known about her since the day she was born."

Elizabeth sat back, but her eyes were cast downward.

"Look at me," he whispered.

"Jack, in case you don't see it, she is craving your attention; she's getting attached to you very quickly, and she's so afraid that you're going to leave. It just worries me that if things don't turn out between us that…"

"Elizabeth, I'm here, and I don't intend to leave. But if you think that you won't find the feelings we shared before, I'll walk away now. I don't want to cause Tristan any more heartache than she's already experienced."

They were close, and like magnets the pull was undeniable, "Jack…I don't want you to leave, but just like before, I can't hold you back. So please, if the pull to what you had before is stronger than what you have now, let's end it before it get any more messy."

"Would you excuse me for just a second?"

"Are you leaving?" she asked.

"I'll be right back; I need to get something out of my car," he responded as he raced out to his car and returned with his guitar and sheet music.

What's that for?"

"Elizabeth, you asked if I have reservations about Tristan."

"Yes, but what does that have to do with your guitar?"

"It's for the song I wrote…"

"And I have a confession to make…"

"What is it?"

"I was outside the room while you were working on your song. I know music still tugs at your heart. I heard you, Jack. I heard the joy in your voice as you were singing. I don't want you to hate me for holding you back."

"Why didn't you come in?" he asked.

"Because it seemed like something private, as if I was eavesdropping, so I went back upstairs."

"Elizabeth, did you hear the song?"

"The melody was beautiful, but I couldn't hear the words clear enough."

"I wrote it for you; would you like to hear it?"

She shook her head up and down as he pulled the guitar into his lap.

(This song was recorded by the Backstreet Boys, but for purposes of this story, Jack wrote it.)

"It's called 'No Place…'" Jack mentioned as he began the introduction to the song…

I've been to Paris, made my way down to Rome
Seen the sun setting on the beach in Mexico
But I could care less, 'cause I was all alone
And there ain't no way to touch your body over the phone

I've been all around the world, done all there is to do
But you'll always be the home I wanna come home to
You're a wild night with a hell of a view
There ain't no place, ain't no place like you
There ain't no place, ain't no place like you

You're my daybreak, you're my California sun
You're my Memphis, New York, New Orleans all rolled into one
In the city, the country, the mountains or sea
Wherever you are, baby, that's where I wanna be

I've been all around the world, done all there is to do
But you'll always be the home I wanna come home to
You're a wild night with a hell of a view
There ain't no place, ain't no place like you
There ain't no place, ain't no place like you, no

There ain't no place (No place, no place)
Ooh, yeah, ain't no place

Wherever you are, baby, that's where I wanna be

I've been all around the world, done all there is to do
But you'll always be the home I wanna come home to
You're a wild night with a hell of a view
There ain't no place, ain't no place like you
There ain't no place, ain't no place like you
Said there ain't no place, ain't no place like you, yeah

As he finished, he leaned the guitar against the sofa.

"Jack, that was beautiful, but do you really mean it?"

"Elizabeth, you know that sometimes I have a hard time finding the words, but in my music, the words come easily, and honestly."

"Are you sure?"

His finger on her mouth immediately silenced her as his lips pressed gently against hers. Her lips were soft as his hands; on either side of her face held her and his thumbs tenderly stroked her cheeks.

Her eyes momentarily remained closed, opening again as she seemed to be begging to be close with him again. He did not disappoint, as his lips met hers once more, the feelings that each had shared in the recent and distant past flooded them.

"I'm sorry; I think I overstepped my bounds again," he whispered.

"Shh," she snuggled into his chest as his arm around her shoulders held her close. "I do love you, Jack; I've always loved you. I'm sorry that my emotions seem to be all over the place, but I never expected this to happen. I'm just so glad that you came home."

To be continued…

Those of you who follow the facebook fan fiction pages, there will be pictures posted in the comments section shortly! Also, I have had requests to stick with this story, but if you have a particular story that you'd like an update on, please let me know!