Standard Disclaimers Apply as always, I'm broke as always, please don't sue.

**Author's Notes: Let's all give a big thanks to Jcool who sent in 7 reviews to get this chapter posted. But after this the multi-review will no longer work, it'll have to be from 10 DIFFERENT people. But I didn't want to disappoint Jcool, so here's chapter 8!

Chapter 8~Shoot the Moon~

"SHE is here!"

"Who Faye?"

"HER!!"

"Oh my God, Julia?"

"YES!"

"I thought she was dead?"

"Well not anymore"

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I think so, she hasn't really talked to me. She just ordered."

"Faye, table five order up."

"Okay I have to go"

"Good luck Faye. Don't let her take him from you."

"Huh?"

"You deserve Spike, don't let her take him from you in the in end"

"...right"

"Changes, Faye"

"Turn and face the strange"

"Call me later."

"Faye this oolong tea for table 5 is getting cold! Let's go girl!"

"Sorry"

I grabbed Julia's order and walked over to her table. She smiled at me as I walked up, almost as if she knew she had gotten to me. 'Not that easy bitch.'

"Here ya go"

"I heard you sing"

"Hmm?"

"Sing, you do don't you?"

"Yeah in a bit here."

"I'm gonna cut the small talk Faye, and get right to the point, I need a favor."

I glared at her suspiciously, not sure if I should take her up or not.

"Sure"

"Can you give this to Spike?"

She handed me a simple envelope with Spike's name beautifully scrolled on the front.

"No problem"

I tucked it in the back pocket of my jeans.

"Faye! Let's hit it!"

That was my cue from the manager to begin singing. I took off my apron and headed towards the stage. For the first time I was scared, she stared at me intently with those blue eyes of hers. She was setting this all up, it was a game to her. Julia versus Faye for the affections of a fuzzy headed lunkhead of a man. I got a good round of claps as I stood on the stage, giving me some confidence against my rival.

"Hello everyone, my name is Faye Valentine and I'll be singing for you during your lunch. Hope you don't mind."

I gave a broad smile and nodded at my accompanist.

"She's got it all figured out

She knows what everything's about

and well

Anybody doubts her or sing songs without her

She's just so mmm

She knows the world is just her stage

and so she'll never misbehave

She gives thanks for what they gave her

and man they practically made her

into a mmm

She's the one that stumbles when she talks about

the seven foreign films that she's checked out

She's such a fortunate fool

She's just too good to be true

She's such a fortunate fool

She's just so mmm

She's got it all figured out

She knows what everything's about

and well

Anybody doubts her or sings songs about her

She's just so mmm

She's the one that stumbles when she talks about it

so maybe we shouldn't talk about

such a fortunate fool

She's too good to be true

She's such a fortunate fool

She's just so mmm"

I looked over at her table to see she had already left, 'Eat it bitch.' Meghan walked over to me.

"The bitch at table five didn't leave you a tip."

"Really? Hm, whore."

"Exactly, by the way table seven would like to hear 'If I were a Bell,' they said it's really old. Have you heard it?"

"Can do."

"Good there's a big tip along with it."

I stood back a the mic, with another out of character grin on my face.

"This next song is by request."

I gave my standard nod to the table and started up. Singing with and uncommon amount of zeal.

"Ask me how do I feel now that were cosey and clinging

well sir, all I can say if I were a bell I'd be ringing"

I returned late again that night with one question on my mind 'Should I open it?' I sat on the yellow couch, no one was up, I could just put it in a new envelope and give it to him tomorrow. 'Good idea, Faye. All's fair in love and war.' I carefully pulled open the envelope to see a beautifully written letter.

'Dearest Spike,

I've been looking for you for quite some time. I heard your old friend had started singing at One World. I gave her this note to give to you, I hope it reaches you. I am still waiting Spike, I'll go with you anywhere, at anytime, just say the word. I need you and miss you Spike. We need each other. Meet me at One World coffee house on Friday of this week at eight. I heard your friend has a lovely voice. Why you bother spending your time with a brash woman like her is beyond me.

With Love, Julia'

I fought off every urge to tear the letter to shreds and throw it in his face. I started to read it again when someone entered the room.

"Late night at work."

Shit! I'm screwed, end of the line...

"Yep"

"Whatcha reading?"

"Nothing"

I tried to hide it behind my back, but I knew he would get it. He darted towards me and after a great deal of struggle, tore the letter from my hands. I backed away from him and turned around, I knew what was coming. I couldn't hide from it now.

"Why were you reading this Faye?"

I looked down at my feet. Searching for an explanation.

"I dunno"

"Yes you do! Why did you read my letter? Why did you come into my room last night?"

I stood there fully aware that this was it. In this moment I could either lose him to her, or claim him as my own. To lose him was easy, I could stand here like I am now and ignore the situation. The latter was much more difficult, I had more practice lying and hiding my feelings than showing them. If I were to open up to him now, no lies, he'd see right through me and he'd go to her. I was afraid, so very afraid of this, 'Turn and face the strange, Faye.' I turned to see him walking away. I ran to him and threw my arms around him and buried my head in his chest. I cried, I believe for the first time in front of him, I stood there crying my eyes out. I waited for him to push away.

"...Faye. Why?"

"I was afraid, that's why I read the letter. I didn't want you to leave again. She says she needs you, but I need you too."

He wrapped his arms around me waist and rested his chin on my head"

"Why did you come into my room last night"

"How did you know?"

"I woke up as you were leaving"

"You were having a nightmare."

"I always have them"

"It was terrible"

"They always are"

"I never noticed"

"And you did last night?"

"Yeah, you scared me."

"What did you do to calm me down?"

"I combed through your hair and sang to you. Like my mother did."

He pulled back a bit and looked down at me, with a surprised look on his face.

"You remember something?"

"Just a little bit."

"Tell me Faye"

"She used to lay my head in her lap and sing a song to me. I can remember the song, but not what she looked like. And I can remember looking up at my ceiling and seeing stars."

"Stars?"

"Stars, on my ceiling. It sounds crazy I know."

"No it doesn't, do you know the song Faye?"

"Yes."

"Can you sing it for me?"

'There is a young cowboy he lives on the range

His horse and his cattle are his only companions

He works in the saddle and he sleeps in the canyons

Waiting for summer his pastures to change

And as the moon rises he sits by his fire

Thinking about women and glasses of beer

Closing his eyes as the doggies retire

He sings out a song that is soft but its clear

as if maybe someone could hear

Goodnight moonlight ladies

Rock-a-bye sweet baby James

Deep greens and blues are the colors I'd choose

Won't you let me go down in my dreams

and rock-a-bye sweet baby James

Now the first of december was covered with snow

so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston

Though the birches seemed dream like on account of that frostin'

with ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go

There's a song that they sing when they take to the highway

a song that they sing when they take to the sea

a song that they sing of their home in the sky

Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep

but singing works just fine for me

Goodnight moonlight ladies

Rock-a-bye sweet baby James

Deep greens and blues are the colors I'd choose

Won't you let me go down in my dreams

and rock-a-bye sweet baby James"

I could feel water drops onto my head, he was crying too. Why did it take us so long to get here?

"That....that was...beautiful Faye, absolutely beautiful."

We pulled away and looked at each other with tear stained eyes. I leaned in and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

"Goodnight Spike"

"Goodnight Faye"

"Sweet Dreams"

**Wrap-up Notes: Okay that was a long chapter (well for me anyway) I want hmm, 15 reviews for the next one (if you want it before Christmas break). If I get 10 good ones from 10 different people I might reconsider. If I don't get it well, that means you won't get it much before the 19th of December. So its in YOUR hands!!! Oh oh songs, there were alot, the first was Fortunate Fool by Jack Johnson, If I were a Bell is from Guys and Dolls (I like the Harry Conick Jr. version), and the last is Sweet Baby James by James Taylor. Okay I'm outie!!