In the stillness of the theatre, it would have been impossible for Eli not to hear Fiona approach. The day of their interview had rolled around and at this point, Eli couldn't wait for it to be finally over. He was glad to see that Fiona was so enthusiastic about it but if he had to endure one more prep session- as she took to calling it- Eli wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to keep his sanity in check.

It was a constant whirlwind of giving him cues, telling him what key points he should mention. Fiona even went as far as to pick out his clothing for the day, insisting that color coordination between director and producer would come across quaint and project the image that they were in sync. It was far too much for him to care to remember but for Fiona, he was willing to make the effort. Ordinarily he would take to skinny jeans and a band tee of his choosing but today he was prompted to wear a dark blue button down he'd forgotten he even owned and a cardigan, now neatly rolled up to his elbows. He felt odd but sucked it up, knowing he could slip back into his normal attire once the reporter was gone.

As he sat on the edge of the stage, Eli tugged uncomfortably at his collar. The only time he dressed up was for opening night of his plays, when he'd be forced to take a bow at the end. Then he figured it couldn't hurt to be presentable but for an interview that would be in all text, Eli failed to see the point.

Nonetheless, his opposition was no match for Fiona, the one person who could turn any basic conversation into a debate on the importance of fashion and its vitality in everyday life. It was impressive at best and as Eli learned over the years, it was best not to resist her demands and simply go with it.

"No, no. You're going to wrinkle your shirt if you keep pulling on it like that. Honestly, Eli. What am I going to do with you?" Fiona chided as she made her way down one of the aisles and took a seat beside him.

"Fi, you do know this is for a magazine, right? If my shirt gets wrinkled it wouldn't be the end of the world."

An audible gasp emitted from her lips as she flinched back, almost as if he'd smacked her across the face. "Okay, you did not just say that. Eli, they will have a photographer. HD these days is ridiculously clear and everyone would be able to see each and every crinkle. You have to look your best at all times, especially for your first major interview. After all this time, I must say I'm very disappointed I haven't been able to turn you into a fashionista but I won't give up. I like a good challenge," she said as she smoothed out his shirt, running her hand over his chest until she was content.

"Jesus, I cannot wait for this day to be over and done with. I don't think it should matter what I dress like. They should be judging the play, not my clothes." He laughed at her mission, shaking his head. "It'll be a very cold day in hell when I see the light and turn over to the dark side. You'll just have to embrace the dark colors and graphic tees, Miss Coyne."

"They will judge both. It's human nature. If you look good, they'll be more inclined to find out more about the play. You are a good looking guy though so I'm already betting the girls, and even some of the guys," she said with a wink, "will flock to this feature. You're young, hot and talented. What's not to like?" Fussing with his hair a bit, she pushed back a few stray locks until it was just right. "You underestimate my skills, Mr. Goldsworthy. I will make you see reason."

"Then I guess it's a good thing I don't care what they think. The play speaks for itself and I know it's our finest work yet. This isn't a feature for Toronto's most eligible bachelors. It's about our production." Swatting at her hand to no avail, he frowned while she fixed his hair. "I feel like it's school picture day back in grade two. You already picked out my clothes. That's good enough, no?"

"Yes, it is all about this amazing play but getting a leading lady offstage couldn't be a bad thing, right? Just think about it." To this Eli simply sighed. If he wasn't getting pressure from Adam at home, Fiona was right there at work to continue the onslaught of obvious hinting. "It was enough…for now," she warned, admittedly making Eli a bit hesitant.

"I don't need a leading lady. I'm fine all on my own but I appreciate the thought," he said simply, wanting nothing more than to drop the matter. "Oh joy. I can't wait for what's in store next time."

Fiona smiled softly as he dropped his gaze, toying with the ornate gothic styled ring on his finger. Placing a hand on his back, she gently rubbed the surface before giving him a one armed hug. "You know you're like a brother to me, right?" she asked quietly. It took Eli by surprise how suddenly she shifted gears but he couldn't help but smile.

"The annoying little brother you never wanted but got stuck with, I'm guessing," he mused, looking back at her.

"Very accurate description actually." Resting her cheek against his shoulder, she sighed softly. "I know I've said it a million times over the last week but I'm so proud of everything you've accomplished so far. Writing and directing your own plays is no easy feat but you make it look so easy. You're brilliant, Eli. And I'm glad the rest of the city will get a chance to see what I've known all along."

Eli could feel his heart swelling in his chest. Sentimental moments like this between them weren't necessarily rare but each time they came about, Eli always took a moment to appreciate the warmth and sincerity in her words. Fiona had been there for Eli since he started university. Being in another country without a single friend had been a culture shock for him but he couldn't pass up acceptance to his dream school, NYU. Those four years were spent learning the ins and outs of the theatre world. The knowledge he was able to acquire was incomparable and the connections he made were long-lasting, namely with Fiona.

In all honesty, he never would have guessed he'd befriend her. On the outside, they were as different as two people could be. Fiona was born to stand out, always the center of attention no matter where she went. Her ability to command a room couldn't be beat. He was skeptical when they had been paired up on an assignment but the creative chemistry between them was undeniable. With his vision and her gift of bringing things to life, they managed to put on one of the most revered shows NYU had ever seen.

It was apparent to the both of them that they had created an interesting duo within themselves and ever since then, they had been inseparable. For each step of this journey, Fiona had been right by his side and Eli never once had to wonder if that would ever change. They were partners through and through and in all honesty, he had to agree with her. Their connection felt more like family.

"This is such a Kodak moment," he said softly, propping his chin against the top of her head. "We both put a lot of time and effort into this and it's paying off larger than I thought it would. You're just as brilliant, I swear. I've never been good with planning things out and yet you always manage to pick the best dates and get these seats filled every night. Goldcoyne Productions is going to take over the world someday but for now, we can settle for Toronto."

As he kissed the top of her head, his attention snapped upon hearing the theatre's doors open. Fiona unfurled herself from him, her smile widening more as she realized the reporter from The Edge had arrived. He was a few years older than Eli and it was a strange comfort to him to see they were all on the same wavelength more or less. Fiona stood up, Eli following suit and shaking hands.

"Eli Goldsworthy and Fiona Coyne, it's a pleasure to meet you both," he greeted them. "I'm Ian Davis. My photographer…he should be here soon. I guess he got caught up down at the office but he'll get here in a bit."

"It's great to meet you too. It's fine. I bet you guys are plenty busy down there," Eli said, ushering Ian to take a seat on the stage where he and Fiona were moments before. The trio took their respected spots, Eli and Fiona flanking Ian on both sides.

"We're really looking forward to this interview. The Edge is one of my favorite magazines so this is pretty exciting," Fiona gushed as Ian took out a tape recorder along with a notepad and pen.

Ian opened his mouth to speak but before he could get a word out, the doors opened up again. A tall guy came through the threshold, six feet and a few inches as far as Eli could tell. If it weren't for the camera strung around his neck, anyone could have guessed he'd be in front of the lens and not behind it.

"Ah, Jake's here," Ian said, waving the guy over.

Jake took his time heading over to them and for some reason, this annoyed Eli but he kept quiet as Jake approached.

"Sorry I'm late. You know how things can be," he said, nodding to Eli and Fiona.

Eli tried to smile though it came across more like a grimace whereas Fiona did a better job of masking her uncertainty over the newest arrival to the group.

Jake extended his hand to Fiona first who reciprocated and introduced herself before he turned to Eli.

"Jake Martin, nice to meet you."

"Likewise, I'm Eli Goldsworthy."

With pleasantries out of the way, Ian brought everyone's attention back to the interview as Jake set his camera bag down on the other side of the stage and began switching lenses. Ian began asking basic questions to start them off: how the two met, how many productions had they done together, the overall premise of the play. It was an easy talk and the longer it went on for, the more Eli relaxed into the situation. Fiona was ready right off the bat as he knew she would be, personable and witty, all the makings for a great interviewee.

The interview itself lasted for close to an hour, by which time Eli and Fiona had seemingly exhausted all areas of the play. Ian seemed more than content with all the information he'd gotten from them. He assured them the feature would be a great one, highlighting the nature of the play as well as telling the readers all about them too.

"Would you like a quick tour of the theatre?" Fiona asked as she stood up, the guys following her lead.

"Of course, that'd be great, thank you," Ian said, smiling politely. "Lead the way."

Walking after them, Eli could hear Jake let out a sigh as he got up with his camera. In all honesty, Eli forgot Jake was even there, the guy taking up more like a piece of furniture during the interview. All the same, Eli couldn't find it within himself to care. The negative energy coming off of Jake was palpable and it was apparent he didn't mind if it showed.

Fiona showed Ian backstage and introduced him to some of the cast and crew that had showed up for rehearsals that were set to start soon. Jake took a few shots of the areas and them naturally as well as they walked along. The interview had gone by without a hitch, much to his relief. In hindsight he wasn't even sure what he was expecting but having Fiona there made it into a breeze.

"That was a great tour, thanks guys. We have everything but I do need a shot of you two," Ian said as they walked back to the stage.

Moving to the center, Eli wrapped his arm around Fiona's waist as Jake took a few steps back and aimed his Canon at them, firing away a couple of shots. They alternated some single ones of Eli, a few of Fiona here and there until there was enough variety to work with.

Jake looked over his the pictures he'd taken, focused intently on the small window as he scrolled through and showed them to Ian who nodded his head in approval before looking up at Eli and Fiona who were speaking quietly to one another. Ian smiled at them, clapping his hands together once and the pair hopped off the stage to join the other two.

"I can't say it enough, you all were wonderful to work with. We have some really great material to work with and Jake here has given us plenty of options for shots that will make it to print. If either of you have any questions or additional comments, feel free to call or email at any time and I'll get back to you quickly. We'll do the follow up the week after opening night so we'll be in touch soon."

"Thank you for your time Ian and Jake, of course. We'll see you soon," Fiona said with a smile, her tone friendly as ever as she shook their hands one last time.

"I'll walk you guys out," he said, leading the other two up the aisle and through the double doors.

Out in the main lobby, the sunlight was pouring through the wall length windows, warming the entire expanse. Eli checked the time on his watch, taken aback by how long they'd all been there but he hardly noticed that two hours had passed so easily.

"I didn't realize we kept you guys so long," Eli joked, shaking his head.

"Who knew there was so much to say about a little play?" Jake chimed in under his breath. It was dry sarcasm and unappreciated by Eli who gave him a strong look before turning his attention to Ian who was stuffing his pen back into his messenger bag and seemingly missed the exchange.

"Oh, don't worry about that at all. If anything, that's a great thing that the interview lasted for a while. You all gave some terrific quotes and background as well. Honestly, you two are a reporter's dream," he mused sincerely. "Well, I'd better get started on this while the ideas are still fresh. We'll talk later this week if anything, alright? It was nice meeting with you, Eli. Take care."

Jake didn't offer a glance back, seemingly eager to put as much space as he could between himself and the theatre. Eli wasn't sure what his problem was but he was glad to be rid of him. Clenching his jaw, Eli rolled his shoulders back to clear away the tension he was feeling.

That was the last time he'd have to deal with Jake Martin and that fact alone was all the reassurance he needed before turning on his heels and heading back to start up rehearsals.

The slight tremble in her hands as she held onto the steering wheel was all Clare could focus on. It wasn't until an impatient horn sounded that she realized the light had changed to green and she was holding up the small line of cars behind her. Hitting the gas pedal, Clare snapped out of her reverie as she turned down Bridgman Avenue. It would have been impossible to miss the theatre with its large steel letters spelling out the name against the brick wall. It was quaint and unassuming enough, far cozier than what she had been expecting and it helped to put her mind at ease.

Parking her car, Clare looked at her reflection in the rearview mirror, rolling her eyes at herself. It shouldn't have mattered what she looked like. This casual drop by as Alli was so quick to label it as was purely on impulse. One minute she was heading back to her apartment and suddenly she found herself doing a U-turn, taking a new path that would lead her to the Tarragon Theatre. A part of her felt foolish but the idea of never seeing Eli again didn't sit well with her. Perhaps Alli was right and the two could be just friends. He had already proven himself to be someone worth trusting and knowing. With how much Janis had been talking about him, it did make Clare curious to find out more about the play.

That was the reason she was sticking to, holding onto it firmly instead of buying into the notion that maybe she could actually grow to like him. It was hero syndrome at best, taking a liking to the guy that came along and rescued her more or less. Clare refused to let that happen, instead going above and beyond to ensure she wouldn't develop a crush on him.

Ruffling her curls, Clare opened her door, placing her purse on her arm as she exited the car and locked back. Her eyes took in the building as she approached, smiling at the friendly atmosphere it seemed to embody. Pulling back the door handle, Clare took a tentative step inside. All around the lobby were posters for past productions, some dating back to a decade or more ago. Already she was intrigued but seeing all the posters made her all the more curious about Eli's play.

As she arrived at the double doors to what she could only assume was the main stage, Clare froze. Glancing over her shoulder she didn't see anyone, figuring that if there was a person around, they would be inside just past the doors. Tentatively Clare pushed the gold bar, poking her head inside. Her entrance didn't go notice by anyone. The stage was lit, music playing and the voices of those onstage echoing throughout the venue. In the front row she could see two people but it was hard to make out. Quietly she closed back the door, her footsteps silent as she dared to walk further inside.

"Cut," a voice called, easily recognizable as Eli's. Clare watched as he rose from his seat and got on stage. He began speaking to the actors, his voice too low for her to hear at such a distance but even from the back of the theatre, she could see how expressive he was. He spoke with his hands for emphasis, repositioning the actors and showing them how they could move. It was obvious just how hands on he was and it was admirable to see.

Being a fly on the wall to the rehearsal now was like being granted to see Eli in a whole new light. He wasn't the sarcastic guy with a slick comment or two up his sleeve. Now he was driven and focused, impassioned about the production he was overseeing. It was clear just how much he was in his element, as if he were born to do this.

"Alright, one more time, from the top," he instructed as he got off the stage and stood nearby, a brunette female coming to stand beside him. She rested her arm against his shoulder, the two clearly comfortable with one another.

Shifting her weight on the balls of her feet, she kept her eyes on Eli's figure as he called action, the scene coming to life. She turned her gaze to the stage then, seeing how much the scene had improved thanks to Eli's instructions. The act ended after a few minutes, the lights onstage dimming before the houselights flickered on. Eli applauded the actors, praising them on a job well done and sat on the edge of the stage with the curly haired brunette. Now that she was facing forward, Clare could see just how pretty she was and tastefully dressed as well, her clothing complementing Eli's perfectly.

Looking down at her own outfit, she felt extremely plain looking in her pencil skirt and floral top. There wasn't anything too special about it, not like the girl seated beside him. She whispered something into Eli's ear, earning a hearty laugh from him. It was odd how jealous she found herself becoming but it couldn't be helped. Suddenly she regretted her decision to come to the theatre, cursing herself mentally for doing something so out of character for herself.

But before she could leave, she saw Eli squinting his eyes in her direction.

"Oh god," she said under her breath as he excused himself from the girl and headed towards her. Clare could see his infamous smirk spreading across his lips with each step he took.

"Doth my eyes deceive me? Clare Edwards on my turf? To what do I owe this pleasure?" he asked, his tone teasing as always.

Clare smiled in spite of herself, clearing her throat awkwardly before shrugging her shoulders. "It's me, in the flesh. Um, I was in the neighborhood so I thought I should stop by. You don't mind, do you? I see you all are busy. I hope I'm not intruding or anything," she said, taking a step towards the door.

She was stopped short as his hand rested on her arm to keep her in place. "In the neighborhood, huh? That's…convenient." Clare bit the inside of her cheek at this, her excuse clearly not fooling him. "You just got here. Stay for a bit, it's okay. I'm glad you decided to visit though. Now you can see for yourself why that magazine of yours is bothering to give a damn about me," he laughed. "Come on. You can't stand around here all day. There's someone I want you to meet."

Dropping his hand from her arm, Eli turned back towards the stage, glancing over his shoulder once to make sure Clare was actually following behind.

"Fi, meet Clare. Clare, meet Fiona," he introduced the two.

Fiona stretched out her hand to Clare who accepted and shook it, shooting a curious glance at Eli before she spoke. "It's nice to meet you, Clare. So, how do you know my Eli?" she asked.

The use of possession didn't escape Clare's notice at all but she didn't show it, instead offering up her brightest smile. "It's great to meet you too." As for the question itself, Clare grew hesitant. She didn't want to touch base on how they'd first met but Eli seemed to be of the same mind, coming to her rescue.

"Clare works down at The Edge, actually. She's an advice columnist," he answered, glancing to her.

"Clare Edwards? Oh my god, I absolutely love your column! How did I miss that? Your picture's there and everything. Ugh, my brain is not here today. I swear I'm on auto-pilot," she said dramatically, touching a hand to her forehead.

"It happens to the best of us, Fi. Don't worry," Eli mused, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"I'm glad you enjoy the column so much. A lot of time goes into it so it's nice to know it really pays off."

"I bet! If I had the whole city coming to me and asking for help, I'd lose my mind. You always know the right things to say, like that one time-"

"Fiona? There's a call for you in the office from the sponsor," someone said aloud, cutting Fiona off from speaking.

"Duty calls, I'm afraid. Anyway, we'll have to chat some time, yes? It was really great meeting you!" Fiona said brightly before dashing off, her heels clacking across the floor the entire time.

Clare watched her go before looking to Eli who had been looking after Fiona with an amused smile on his face as he shook his head.

"Never a dull moment around here as you can see," he said, focusing back on her.

"She seemed nice…Fiona. How long have you guys been together?" She thought the question was unassuming enough as she tried to play it coy.

Eli fought the urge to laugh, deciding to have a little bit of fun with her inquiry.

"We've been together since college. We met in an intro class and got along. Ever since then, we've been two peas in a pod," he replied smoothly, crossing his arms over his chest.

Clare's brows rose as she nodded to herself, swaying a bit on her heels. "That's a long time. You all must be really happy together." Walking over to the stage, she took a seat as the actors milled about, others going backstage and continuing their conversations.

"I couldn't ask for a better partner than Fi. We've been through a lot together and I think we make for a great team."

Biting back on her lower lip, Clare fell silent, clicking her heels together as her legs dangled haphazardly from the short ledge. "I'm happy for you both. It's rare these days to find someone you can be in a relationship with for such a long time," she said knowingly, upset with herself for thinking of Jake. He was the last person she wanted to focus on; doing her best to take the advice Eli had given her the other day and leave it all behind.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she was startled when Eli started to laugh beside her, his shoulders moving up and down as he coughed once. "Oh man, excuse me. That was a good one. I was just pulling your leg, Clare. Fi is my producer and we're just friends. Unless I suddenly became a chick, she and I would never date," he said, a few chuckles still leaving him.

"Oh? You mean she's…"

"A lesbian? Yes, one hundred percent into girls. You have a better shot of getting with her than I do…not that I'd want to anyway. Fiona is like a sister to me. Besides, relationships aren't my thing."

"Ha, I'll keep that in mind. Kidding." Clare turned to look at him, her expression curious. "What do you mean they aren't your thing? You've given up on love, Goldsworthy?"

"If you want, I could always put in a good word for you, just saying," he continued to joke. He looked her directly in the eyes and shrugged indifferently. "I guess you could say that. I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. Relationships are trouble, at least for me they have been. I've been fine on my own ever since my last breakup. Once you get your heart broken one too many times, you learn how to distance yourself."

"But that's just out of fear, isn't it? I know it's not easy putting yourself out there and I don't know what you've gone through but you can't hold other people to the mistakes of those in your past. You're scared to try again so you shut down. It's understandable but I think you'll end up doing more harm than good in the long run." Clare fell silent then, wondering if she might have been overstepping boundaries but it needed to be said.

Looking away, Eli played back her words. He had heard this all before from Adam and Fiona over the years but he'd always assumed they were saying so because they were his friends. But Clare wasn't bias nor did she have any preexisting knowledge on his relationship history. He would never want to say it aloud but she was absolutely correct. Just the thought of being letdown again was enough to hold him back from even pursuing another relationship. Instead he invested that time and dedication into his work.

After a moment, he got his thoughts together enough to offer a response. "Maybe so but it doesn't matter. It might not be in the cards and that's alright with me."

"You're putting a lot of stock into a maybe when it could be a definite. You're sabotaging yourself, Eli. It's not my place to say any of this so feel free to ignore it but I just hope you find someone that's deserving of your trust and wouldn't betray it like other girls have before."

"I'm a realist. I'll save all that romanticism and idealistic ways of thinking for storybooks. Until I find someone who can change my mind, I don't see that happening," he countered.

Unsure of what to say, Clare looked back at her feet, her small legs swaying. "Stranger things have happened. You could wake up tomorrow and meet the girl of your dreams. But I doubt you'd even open your heart to it. It seems like your mind is already made up. It's your life. You have to be the one willing to put your heart out there. The ball's in your court, Eli. It's really up to you how things go from here."