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It was well after 10 pm by the time that Frank actually got over to Alex's. Things had come up at the office and he couldn't pull himself away. Shaking his head, he knocked on the door and waited for her to answer. After 5 minutes of waiting, Frank began to get worried. Sasche hadn't said anything about taking her out and Monica was involved with other plans. Despite his better judgement, Frank left the front door and snuck around the back of the townhouse.

There was one light shining in the darkness. How prophetic... Cautiously he inched towards the window and peeked in. There, naked as the day she was born, was Amanda Marie Singer sitting near the bathtub. Her honey colored blonde spiral curls were pinned up on top of her head and white airy bubbles were rising slowly in the tub. On the vanity near the sink was a small boombox with a blinking red light. For the love of God she was singing...

"Horace, Horace vandergelder, Mrs. Horace vandergelder,
just leave everything to me...'

Mandy reached over and turned off the water and tested the temperature. Slowly she stretched and stepped into the tub, completely unaware that Frank was watching her. This was one of her favorite songs and she loved singing it. As she inched down into the steaming soapy water, she felt the tenseness from the day ebb out of her.

"no it won't be like the first time.
how can it be like the first time?
but, why does it have to be?"

Frank watched her as she slid into the water. What he wouldn't have given to be in there with her and washing every inch of her with a warm and soft cloth. As the thoughts of bathing her flashed through his mind, Frank felt his body tighten and begin to ache. Damn it...

"Don't look for shooting stars,
for love is only love.
You touch and still you touch the ground.
Don't listen for those bells,
for love is only love.
And if it's love you'll find your heart won't hear a sound..."

The bath room was a great echo chamber, reflecting her voice back to her. Mandy listened as her voice warmed with the steam from the bubbles and filled the small room with the mellow tones of the notes. She closed her eyes and smiled, seeing her and Frank from a year ago in St. Croix as they walked along the beach at sunset. She knew she loved him shortly after she met him. Some things were just meant to be...

"And when you hold his hand,
you only hold his hand.
The violins are all a bluff
But if you're really wise,
the silence of his eyes will tell you
love is only love"

Frank turned and peeked in again as her voice hit a powerful crescendo. He could hear her just as clear as day from the volume of her voice and how close he was to her. She looked blissful, like she had touched heaven, seen it's face and was forever changed by it. He'd seen heaven once, it was her face as she slept the night he left her.

"and it's wonderful enough
without the shooting stars,
without the sound of bells,
without the violins,
love is wonderful enough"

Mandy sat up with a start in the tub. She'd heard something outside the window. Slowly she stood up in the tub, the bubble dripping slowly down her wet body. Frank groaned at the sight, completely forgetting to hide. He watched as Mandy stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around her. She peeked carefully out of the window.

"Who... Who's out there?"

Frank blinked, then knocked on the window. "Starlet..."

"Frank? Jesus Frank!" She ran out of the bathroom to the back door.

Frank knew where she was going and hobbled his way over. He was met on the porch by Mandy in a towel with soap bubbles still clinging to her in spots. Without even thinking, Frank grasped her by her shoulders and hauled her roughly up against him. Mandy squeaked, one hand clenching the towel around her between them. When she finally could breath, she gasped "Frank..."

"I need you. You were bathing and I couldn't help but watch... God you're beautiful!" he moaned as he pushed her back inside the house. Mandy's towel caught in the door as he closed it and was ripped from her grasp. In a matter of moments Mandy found herself on the floor pinned under Frank and melting under his caress. They both fumbled with his clothing and the pent up needs and desires of a year's worth of denial. But when Frank finally thrust into her, all was right with the world and Mandy found herself purring his name in savage pleasure...
--

- song titled "Love Is Only Love" from the Motion Picture Soundtrack "Hello Dolly!"

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