AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey guys! Well tomorrow I'm leaving for Washington, I thought I'd post another chapter before I went so maybe I wouldn't have to fool with updating for the first few days. Well, I must say I'm a little disappointed with the feedback from last chapter (four reviews on Fanfiction.net and two on FanFic Haven). It makes me wonder if people are still interested in my story or if last chapter just wasn't all that great. If you like my story and want me to continue please review, otherwise I won't continue (don't get me wrong, four reviews isn't bad, but on Fanfiction.net I've gotten used to 7 or 8 reviews a chapter -maybe I just got a little conceited, I dunno). As I said I won't continue if I'm only getting a slow trickle of reviews. Well on with this chapter.....

"Bonjour, ceci est parler de Marie," a young woman by the name of Marie said as she answered her phone line at Madam Beauchamp's Academy for Young Girls and Boys. "Comment peux-j'ĂȘtre de service?"

"Bonjour," Skye returned to the young woman and continued on in impeccable French. "I'm calling in regards to my daughter, Dawne Chandler- Quartermaine. She's visiting me in the states for spring break and something's come up, I don't believe she'll make it back before school resumes on Monday."

"I'm sorry ma'am," Marie replied. "We cannot accept any children back any later than 6 PM this evening."

"You don't understand," Skye began again, "Tomorrow is Dawne's custody trial."

"Hold on a moment and I'll transfer you to Madam Beauchamp," Marie answered after a moment.

Skye frowned. She lifted her shades and glanced over at Dawne doing a cannonball into the water and smiled as Dawne came up for air, grinning proudly at her mother. Collin jumped in behind Dawne, and as he came up he lifted Dawne into the air throwing her across the pool.

Skye laughed at the two as Dawne came up for air again, giggling. She'd bailed Collin out of jail the morning before after she'd returned from Jax's mansion. He didn't seem at all effected by the time he'd spent locked up in the cell, in fact he was his normal self. He'd even cracked a joke or two about how he'd end up going to prison for defending her one of these days. She thought it was sweet the way he protected her, but hoped it wouldn't have to come to that.

She turned her attention back to the phone as Madam Beauchamp's voice sounded. "Skye?" Madam Beauchamp asked as she answered. With Madam Beauchamp it was perfectly fine for her to be on a first name basis with you, but you could ::never:: call her Victoria in her presence.

"Yes I'm here," Skye answered continuing in French.

"Good. Now what seems to be the problem?" she asked cheerily. Madam Beauchamp was the kind of woman whom everyone liked. She was very well respected throughout all of Europe and was a very kind and understanding woman all around. She was very involved with what went on at the school, she even taught a few classes herself and made it a point to get to know her students and their parents. Skye was secretly relieved that she was on the woman's good side, for anyone who wasn't was on everyone else's bad side as well.

Skye began to explain what the problem was once more to the headmistress and could hear the woman's sighs of sympathy on the other end of the line.

"That's simply terrible," Madam Beauchamp exclaimed, true compassion in her words.

"It's awful," Skye agreed. "Can you help me? Is it all right if Dawne stays here for a few extra days?"

Madam Beauchamp heaved a heavy sigh on the other end of the line. "I'm terribly sorry Skye dear, but I simply couldn't allow Dawne a late entrance. If I did it may upset some of the other families whose children attend here. Next thing you know everyone would be returning late."

"I understand," Skye sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Thank you for the help."

"Of course darling," Madam Beauchamp replied. "But there is something else I can do for you."

"Yes?" Skye asked.

"I'll allow Dawne to return a bit later this evening," she said. "She's visiting you in New York, is that correct?"

"Yes ma'am," Skye answered.

"I know how long it takes to book a last minute flight, so I'll allow little Dawne to return no later than 9 PM," she explained. "That's three hours more than the rest of the students."

"Oh that would be wonderful," Skye beamed. "Thank you."

"Skye?" she called before Skye could hang up.

"Yes?"

"I'll send someone to pick her up at the airport. Good luck dear," Madam Beauchamp returned. "Au revoir."

"Au revoir," Skye answered with a smile as she hung up the phone. She glanced across the pool to find Dawne and Collin, but instead the most handsome man she'd ever seen caught her gaze. "Jax," she smiled at him and he smiled in return.

* * * * *

Skye sniffled as she pulled her daughter into a tight hug for the eighth time in a ten-minute period. "I'm gonna miss you so much baby," she told her.

"I'll miss you too," Dawne answered, returning her mother's tight hug.

"You know I love you, right?" Skye asked pushing her daughter to arms link and looking her in the eyes.

"I know," Dawne answered.

"No matter what happens, I'll always love you," she repeated, her eyes tearing up once again. "Don't forget that."

"I won't," Dawne nodded. "I promise."

Skye looked her daughter over one last time then stood up. "Are you sure you have everything?"

"I packed for her," Collin answered. "She's got everything."

"Good, 'cause I wouldn't want you to forget anything," Skye nodded as she wrung her hands together to keep from grabbing her daughter once more.

"Why don't you three stand together for a moment," Collin motioned to Jax, Skye and Dawne as he pulled out a camera. "Lemme' get a picture."

Skye sniffled again and nodded as Jax came over to stand beside her and put his arm lightly around her waist. Dawne stood in front of them clutching the little teddy bear Collin had given to her when she was first born in her hands.

"Smile," he told them. They all did as he commanded; yet none of their smiles reached their eyes. Satisfied that it was the most he could get out of them, he took the picture.

Skye bent down next to her daughter again and pulled her into a hug once more. She held her for what seemed like an eternity, and yet it still wasn't enough. She pulled away and kissed her left cheek, then her right, and then the tip of her nose.

Dawne giggled and did the same to her mother as Jax bent down next to the two. "I'll see you soon princess," he told her. "There might even be a surprise waiting for you when you get back." He added with a wink.

Dawne smiled brighter and threw her arms around Jax. He held on tightly, feeling a bit like a piece of him would be leaving along with Dawne. ::She's gonna be a heart breaker:: he thought. ::If she can wrap me around her finger this quick, imagine what she'll do to all the boys when she's older::

"All right, we've ::really:: got to go if you want to catch that plane," Collin said standing by the door with Dawne's suitcase in hand.

Dawne hugged her mother once more and turned to follow Collin out of the room. "Bye Jax, bye Mommy," she waved.

"No," Skye shook her head. "Not good bye. I'll see you soon."

Dawne smiled. "I'll see you soon," she repeated and disappeared out the door.

"I'll be back in a couple hours," Collin told the two and gave them a knowing look before he closed the door.

Skye felt as if the door closing signaled the last time she'd ever see her daughter again. She put a hand to her brow and let out a strangled sob of despair.

"Shhh," Jax cooed pulling Skye into an enveloping hug. "Don't cry."

"I'll probably never see her again," Skye choked out as tears began to flow freely down her cheeks.

"Of course you will," he corrected. "She'll get out of school in June, you'll see her then."

Skye continued to cry softly into his shoulder, knowing he was simply trying to help her. Slowly she managed to stop her sobs and she sniffled, feeling like a fool for crying her eyes out in front of Jax. "I'm sorry," she sniffled again.

"For what?" he asked and kept his arms around her protectively because he knew she wasn't ready to be let go.

"For loosing it in front of you," she replied and sniffled again.

He smiled softly. "You can't be strong all the time Skye," he said. "It's healthy to show a little weakness every once in a while, so people know you're still human."

He earned a little laugh from her and he smiled again. Even with her hair disheveled her eyes glassy and tear streaks running down her face, she still managed to look beautiful.

His gaze landed on her mouth and he wondered if she still tasted the same. True he'd kissed her a few days ago, but that had been out of impulse and he'd startled the hell out of her.

It wasn't an impulse now, he decided as he leaned forward at captured her mouth with his in a gentle kiss. Just a little taste, he told himself, but even as he thought it he felt Skye's arms snake up his back and fist in his hair, pulling him closer to deepen the kiss.

He heard her moan softly as he probed her mouth open with his tongue. He basked in the glory of kissing her -really kissing her- again. If he were left with choosing one activity to do for the rest of his life, it would be -hands down- kissing Skye. Of course sex between them had always been more than amazing, but kissing her.... He could even find the words to describe how it felt when they kissed.

Though he would've enjoyed to continue kissing her, there was a driving need deep inside of him to do more. He could feel the passion building between them as she let her hands wander artfully over his back and chest.

She slowly un-tucked his shirt and dragged it over his head, gazing with pleasure at the wide expanse of muscle that was he. Placing her hands on either side of his chest to feel his muscle beneath her palms, she leaned up and nipped playfully at his lower lip before kissing him fully.

He heard someone groan -he wasn't sure whom- as he lifted Skye up off the floor and she wrapped her legs around him. He carried her up the three steps to the raised area that was the single bedroom, and set her down at the foot of the bed.

Carefully he lifted her shirt above her head, keeping his eyes locked with hers, loosing contact only when her head disappeared beneath the shirt. Her arms encircled him once again and she brought his mouth down on hers for another searing kiss as he unhooked her slacks and let them pool at her feet.

He stepped back a bit to look at her in nothing but a blue lace bra and matching panties. Her body had always been a complete wonder to him, she was perfect in every way. She was just tall enough that he didn't have to bend down overly much, her breasts fit perfectly into his hands, and she curved in all the right places. He couldn't help but think that God had made her especially for him, the way they fit together as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

As his gaze roamed over her body, a little hint of green hidden beneath her blue lace bra caught his attention. She followed his gaze down and looked back up at him, smiling slyly as he reached into her bra and pulled out a hundred dollar bill.

"Is this-?" he began looking at the hundred in amusement.

"Your money means so much to me Jax," she answered in a fake southern drawl. "How could I not keep it close to my heart?"

Jax laughed at her as he pulled her into his arms once more. "You really are somethin'," he told her and kissed her before she could come up with another sassy retort.

::Clothes are such a nuisance:: Skye thought as she un-buttoned Jax's pants hastily. She wanted to feel his flesh on hers, and fast. It had been at least six months since they'd been together, and yet she still found herself reaching for him at night. She hoped that would change soon, and forced herself not to think of what would happen if it didn't. She was living life moment to moment now, and in that moment Jax was loving her. It was one of the best moments of her life.

* * * * *

Jax watched as Skye stretched lazily next to him, and smiled slightly. He been watching her sleep for at least half an hour as he thought of what had just happened between them. He wasn't exactly sure what to make of it. ::What did it mean?:: He wondered as her eyes fluttered open.

"Hey," he said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Hey," she returned. She'd noticed the smile and wasn't too sure she wanted to know why it was there. "What's wrong?"

Jax took a deep breath and Skye knew it couldn't be good. Nothing was ever good when he had that look on his face. "We should talk about what happened Skye," he began. "It was a mistake. I took advantage of your state, I'm sorry."

Skye could feel her heart drop like a dead weight. ::So he thinks sleeping with me was a mistake, does he?:: she thought to herself as she quickly masked the sudden heart ache she was experiencing with a rush of anger. "You're right it was a mistake," she answered and got out of the bed, wrapping the sheet around her. "But it was my mistake."

"Your mistake?" he repeated as he sat up to watch her.

"Yes my mistake!" she exclaimed, suddenly very short tempered. "I can't believe I thought this might mean something to you," she motioned angrily at the bed they'd just shared. "I must've forgotten that you pay for your sex now! What's the matter Jax? Has your sex life fund run out of money or something? Did you suddenly decided that since your ex-wife still has a thing for you that you'd use it to your advantage and get a little somethin' free?"

"Skye, you know that's not true," Jax began. He'd seen Skye angry several times before, but this was somehow different. She wasn't just angry, she was upset.

"Oh it isn't?" she yelled. "Well if it isn't true then why were you so quick to call it a mistake? I know your type and I'm surprised you even stayed!" She marched over to the bedroom door and threw it open. "Now get out!"

"What?" he asked.

"I said get out!" she repeated. "I have an interview with my lawyer in an hour." She walked into the bathroom and turned around in the doorway. "You'd better be gone by time I come out of here Jasper Jacks, or else I ::will:: call the police."

She slammed the door closed, satisfied at Jax's startled expression. The satisfaction didn't last long though as she turned to the mirror and got a glimpse of her tear streaked face. She hadn't even noticed the tears when she'd been yelling at him. ::That's great:: she thought as she stared at herself. ::Now everything I said has no meaning whatsoever to him::

She took a deep breath to calm herself, but now that the anger had faded she felt the heart ache once more. ::I'm such a fool:: she thought as more tears squeezed past the barrier she'd struggled to create. ::To think that sleeping with Jax would erase the past.... That we could start over again with a clean slate::

She could hear Jax moving around in the other room. Instinctively she flipped the lock on the door seconds before it twisted. She watched the doorknob as it twisted again in the other direction, and felt a new flow of tears begin.

Stubbornly she wiped them away and turned on the shower. She waited a moment or two, thinking it over before she unlocked the door and threw it open. "Jax-" she said as she rushed out into the room.

She paused when she found the bedroom empty, then she quickly went into the other room. It was empty as well. She sighed to herself and turned around walking back into her bedroom and then into the bathroom and into the steamy shower. ::Why am I so stupid:: she asked herself silently as the warm water cascaded over her body.

* * * * *

Monday Morning:

Trystan Bryant studied himself in the full-length mirror with a grin of satisfaction. His new tailored suit fit him perfectly, and with a maroon button up shirt underneath the black suit, it gave him an air of class and power.

::Skye doesn't stand a chance:: he thought, practicing his most charming smile for the judge in the mirror. ::One way or another, that little girl is going to be mine by the end of the day:: His charming smile transformed into a malicious sneer. ::It doesn't matter what the judge rules, Dawne ::will:: be mine::

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well there's chapter 9 you guys. I hope it's too your satisfaction. I'll be posting again sometime near the end of the week, but that all depends on the feedback. If you guys don't like it anymore, just tell me and I won't continue. Well I'm leaving it up to you guys, until next time.... PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!