{Author's note: LONG chapter, but there was no place to really split it up at. The song featured is "Why Don't You and I" by Santana and Chad Kroeger of Nickleback fame. There is a version out there by Santana and the dude from the Calling (I don't know his name off-hand), but I like the album version better. Anyway...enjoy!}
"Don't the decorations just look gorgeous?" Mia Saunders asked, as her and Edmund Grey walked into the dining room of the Pine Valley Inn.
"They're not the only thing." Edmund commented, as he stared at Mia. The brown haired woman stared intimately back him with a smile. The two were disrupted by the sounds of footsteps, as a crowd began to enter the room. Greenlee, who was clad in a dark blue dress, walked over to Mia and Edmund.
"Hey Mia," Greenlee greeted, "Hey Edmund."
"Greenlee," Edmund greeted back, "you're looking simply beautiful this evening."
"Thanks." Greenlee replied.
"So, where is he?" Mia asked, looking around.
"Leo?" Greenlee inquired as Mia nodded, "He had to find a parking spot."
"It's the most incredible feeling, isn't it?" Edmund commented, "Having someone you care about so deeply come back to you like that?"
Greenlee nodded quietly. Edmund spoke from personal experience, as his own wife, Maria, had recently returned after a 5-year absence. Greenlee didn't know how he had been able to last 5 years if their love was anything like her and Leo's. The 8 months had been plenty.
"Ah," Mia said with a smile as Leo entered the room, "here he comes now."
"Hey." Leo greeted, walking over. He was wearing a black suit, white shirt, and a blue vest that matched the color of Greenlee's dress, "Sorry, I took so long."
"It's all right." Greenlee assured.
"Good to see you, Edmund." Leo said, shaking Edmund's hand, "Mia."
"Especially good to see you." Edmund replied, shaking Leo's hand, "You've been missed a lot around here, my friend. If for no other reason than the fact you usually keep that older brother of yours in line."
Leo chuckled at Edmund's comment as it was common knowledge that David wasn't high on the list of Pine Valley's favorite people.
"Well, you two have fun tonight." Mia said, as she noticed someone else waving her and Edmund over. As the two left, Greenlee simply looked at Leo.
"What?" Leo asked casually.
"Just trying to decide if you've ever looked so good." Greenlee replied with a smile, "But then again, this still fails in comparison to the day you came back to me."
"And I'm still nowhere near as good as my lovely wife looks everyday." Leo added, returning her smile.
"Hmm. Is that the old, charmer Leo coming out for a moment?" Greenlee teased.
"That depends on whether or not the mark likes what she hears, my dear." Leo replied back with a wink.
"Greenlee! Leo!" Bianca greeted as she walked over to the two, "You two are looking amazing tonight."
"Thanks." Leo said, "You're looking pretty fine yourself, Bianca. Sorry about running out on you and Maggie the other day."
"Oh, that's all right." Bianca assured, "Michael has that effect on people. By the way, I heard about Vanessa attacking you. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine." Leo reassured, "And I don't think my mother's going to be bothering anyone else for quite awhile."
"Hmm…" Bianca smiled, "I'll catch up with you later. Bye Greenlee."
"Bye." Greenlee said, looking to Leo, "You spoke with Michael Cambias?"
"Briefly." Leo answered, "I promised Trey that I would keep an eye on Kendall while he's in prison, and…"
"You promised Trey what?" Kendall asked from behind Leo.
"Eavesdropping isn't exactly polite, Kendall." Leo said, turning around.
"Neither is talking about someone behind their back, Mr. Morality." Kendall countered, "You told Trey that you would keep an eye on me?"
"One eye's not going to be enough." Greenlee commented quietly.
"Oh shut it, Greenlee!" Kendall snapped, walking past Leo to Greenlee.
"You want to make me?" Greenlee retorted.
"All right, ladies." Leo eased, stepping in between Kendall and Greenlee, "This is not the time nor the place to get into this!"
"She started it." Greenlee muttered, folding her arms.
"Greens." Leo warned, before turning to Kendall, "Yes, I promised Trey I'd keep an eye on you for him. Only because he's my brother and I owe him that much. And I think that sometimes, people deserve a second chance."
"Wow." Kendall said, looking amazed, "What in the world did a guy like you do to deserve someone like her?"
"I heard that, Kendall." Greenlee commented.
"I know you did." Kendall assured, "Bye Leo. See you at work tomorrow, Greenlee."
"Yeah." Greenlee replied as Kendall walked off, "Say what you want, but there's no way Kendall Hart and I are ever going to stop arguing."
"I know that, Greens." Leo nodded, holding Greenlee, "Stopping you two from arguing would be like trying to stop the Titanic from hitting that iceberg. It can't be done!"
"Ugh," Greenlee sighed, putting her head against Leo's chest, "can we make it a rule not to mention tragedies involving water for the rest of our lives?"
"I guess we can make that one of the few rules we do live by." Leo agreed, smoothing her hair.
The room grew quiet as Edmund and Mia made their way to the stage area, where the DJ had been playing. Edmund took the house microphone.
"On behalf of its staff led by Dr. Joe Martin, I would just like to thank everyone for coming out tonight, and raising money for our beloved hospital. It's because of events like these that we continue to have such a wonderful facility."
"There has also been a special request and dedication put into the DJ." Mia announced, "We at Fusion Cosmetics would like to dedicate this next song to Mr. And Mrs. Leo du Pres for reminding us all that there is such a thing as true love."
"I think that's our cue to hit the dance floor." Leo whispered, as all eyes turned to look at them.
"Can you still dance?" Greenlee asked.
"You want to find out?" Leo said, leading her to the middle of the room.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Since the moment I spotted you
Like walking round with little wings on my shoes
My stomach's filled with butterflies
Ooh and it's alright
Bouncing around from cloud to cloud
Got the feeling like I'm never gonna come down
If I said I didn't like it then you'd know I'd lied ooooh
And everytime I try to talk to you
I get tongue tied
Turns out everything I say to you
Comes out wrong and never comes out right
So I'll say
Why Don't You and I get together
We'll take on the world and be together forever
Heads we will, Tails we'll try again
And I'll say
Why Don't You and I get together
And fly to the moon and straight on to Heaven
'Cause without you they're never gonna let me in
When's this fever gonna break
I think I've handled more than any man can take
I'm like a love sick puppy chasing you around
Oooh and it's alright
Bouncing around from cloud to cloud
I got the feeling like I'm never gonna down
And if I said I didn't like it then you'd know I'd lied
Oooh
And everytime I'd try to talk to you
I'd get tongue tied.
Turns out everything I say to you
comes out wrong and never comes out right
So I'll say
Why don't you and I get together
Let's take on the world and be together forever
Heads we will and Tails we'll try again
And I'll say
Why Don't You and I hold each other.
We'll fly to the moon and straight on to Heaven
'Cause without you they're never gonna let me in
Slowly I begin to realize
that this is never gonna end
Right about the same time you walk by,
And I say oh here we go again.
Oh.
So I'll say
Why Don't you and I get together
We'll take on the world and be together forever
Heads we will and tails we'll try again
And I'll say
Why Don't You and I hold each other.
And fly to the moon and straight on to Heaven
'Cause without you they're never gonna let me in
-------------------------------------------------------------------
"I forgot what an incredible dancer you are." Greenlee admitted, as she and Leo made their way to the sidelines. The crowd that had gathered around them was now applauding.
"Oh, I'm not that good." Leo replied sheepishly, "I just have a good partner."
"That's another way you've changed." Greenlee noted, with a teasing smile, "Modesty is good."
"Do you even want me to go there?" Leo kidded back, as Carlos and Simone walked over to the two, "Hey Reyes!"
"Man, du Pres!" Carlos greeted, giving the other man five, "Those were some awesome moves out there."
"Thanks, man." Leo replied.
"Greenlee," Simone added, "you two were just amazing."
"Thanks." Greenlee said, "You two are looking rather sharp tonight."
"Yeah." Carlos sighed, "I'll admit that it's all Simone's doing."
"Greenlee darling!" a voice called from in back of the group. It was Mary Smythe, Greenlee's mother and one of Leo's least favorite people in the world. The black-haired woman ran up to the pair, as Carlos and Simone departed without words. Neither one of them was exactly friends with Mary.
"Hi Mom." Greenlee greeted with a cheerful smile.
"So," Mary said, looking disdainfully at Leo, "the rumors were true."
"Yeah." Leo assured with a smile, "I'm so sorry to disappoint you by not dying properly, Mary. Guess that's one more thing I can't do right."
"Well," Mary sighed, looking to Greenlee, "at least, he's slightly better than that Carlos any day of the week. Oh, Dr. Hayward! Good evening."
As Greenlee and Leo turned around, a frantic looking David ran up to them. An equally worried Anna was following right behind.
"David?" Leo asked, looking worried, "What's up?"
"She's got her…" David stammered.
"Who's got who?" Greenlee asked as Anna joined them.
"Vanessa…" Anna said slowly, "Vanessa has taken Leora."
To be Continued......
"Don't the decorations just look gorgeous?" Mia Saunders asked, as her and Edmund Grey walked into the dining room of the Pine Valley Inn.
"They're not the only thing." Edmund commented, as he stared at Mia. The brown haired woman stared intimately back him with a smile. The two were disrupted by the sounds of footsteps, as a crowd began to enter the room. Greenlee, who was clad in a dark blue dress, walked over to Mia and Edmund.
"Hey Mia," Greenlee greeted, "Hey Edmund."
"Greenlee," Edmund greeted back, "you're looking simply beautiful this evening."
"Thanks." Greenlee replied.
"So, where is he?" Mia asked, looking around.
"Leo?" Greenlee inquired as Mia nodded, "He had to find a parking spot."
"It's the most incredible feeling, isn't it?" Edmund commented, "Having someone you care about so deeply come back to you like that?"
Greenlee nodded quietly. Edmund spoke from personal experience, as his own wife, Maria, had recently returned after a 5-year absence. Greenlee didn't know how he had been able to last 5 years if their love was anything like her and Leo's. The 8 months had been plenty.
"Ah," Mia said with a smile as Leo entered the room, "here he comes now."
"Hey." Leo greeted, walking over. He was wearing a black suit, white shirt, and a blue vest that matched the color of Greenlee's dress, "Sorry, I took so long."
"It's all right." Greenlee assured.
"Good to see you, Edmund." Leo said, shaking Edmund's hand, "Mia."
"Especially good to see you." Edmund replied, shaking Leo's hand, "You've been missed a lot around here, my friend. If for no other reason than the fact you usually keep that older brother of yours in line."
Leo chuckled at Edmund's comment as it was common knowledge that David wasn't high on the list of Pine Valley's favorite people.
"Well, you two have fun tonight." Mia said, as she noticed someone else waving her and Edmund over. As the two left, Greenlee simply looked at Leo.
"What?" Leo asked casually.
"Just trying to decide if you've ever looked so good." Greenlee replied with a smile, "But then again, this still fails in comparison to the day you came back to me."
"And I'm still nowhere near as good as my lovely wife looks everyday." Leo added, returning her smile.
"Hmm. Is that the old, charmer Leo coming out for a moment?" Greenlee teased.
"That depends on whether or not the mark likes what she hears, my dear." Leo replied back with a wink.
"Greenlee! Leo!" Bianca greeted as she walked over to the two, "You two are looking amazing tonight."
"Thanks." Leo said, "You're looking pretty fine yourself, Bianca. Sorry about running out on you and Maggie the other day."
"Oh, that's all right." Bianca assured, "Michael has that effect on people. By the way, I heard about Vanessa attacking you. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine." Leo reassured, "And I don't think my mother's going to be bothering anyone else for quite awhile."
"Hmm…" Bianca smiled, "I'll catch up with you later. Bye Greenlee."
"Bye." Greenlee said, looking to Leo, "You spoke with Michael Cambias?"
"Briefly." Leo answered, "I promised Trey that I would keep an eye on Kendall while he's in prison, and…"
"You promised Trey what?" Kendall asked from behind Leo.
"Eavesdropping isn't exactly polite, Kendall." Leo said, turning around.
"Neither is talking about someone behind their back, Mr. Morality." Kendall countered, "You told Trey that you would keep an eye on me?"
"One eye's not going to be enough." Greenlee commented quietly.
"Oh shut it, Greenlee!" Kendall snapped, walking past Leo to Greenlee.
"You want to make me?" Greenlee retorted.
"All right, ladies." Leo eased, stepping in between Kendall and Greenlee, "This is not the time nor the place to get into this!"
"She started it." Greenlee muttered, folding her arms.
"Greens." Leo warned, before turning to Kendall, "Yes, I promised Trey I'd keep an eye on you for him. Only because he's my brother and I owe him that much. And I think that sometimes, people deserve a second chance."
"Wow." Kendall said, looking amazed, "What in the world did a guy like you do to deserve someone like her?"
"I heard that, Kendall." Greenlee commented.
"I know you did." Kendall assured, "Bye Leo. See you at work tomorrow, Greenlee."
"Yeah." Greenlee replied as Kendall walked off, "Say what you want, but there's no way Kendall Hart and I are ever going to stop arguing."
"I know that, Greens." Leo nodded, holding Greenlee, "Stopping you two from arguing would be like trying to stop the Titanic from hitting that iceberg. It can't be done!"
"Ugh," Greenlee sighed, putting her head against Leo's chest, "can we make it a rule not to mention tragedies involving water for the rest of our lives?"
"I guess we can make that one of the few rules we do live by." Leo agreed, smoothing her hair.
The room grew quiet as Edmund and Mia made their way to the stage area, where the DJ had been playing. Edmund took the house microphone.
"On behalf of its staff led by Dr. Joe Martin, I would just like to thank everyone for coming out tonight, and raising money for our beloved hospital. It's because of events like these that we continue to have such a wonderful facility."
"There has also been a special request and dedication put into the DJ." Mia announced, "We at Fusion Cosmetics would like to dedicate this next song to Mr. And Mrs. Leo du Pres for reminding us all that there is such a thing as true love."
"I think that's our cue to hit the dance floor." Leo whispered, as all eyes turned to look at them.
"Can you still dance?" Greenlee asked.
"You want to find out?" Leo said, leading her to the middle of the room.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Since the moment I spotted you
Like walking round with little wings on my shoes
My stomach's filled with butterflies
Ooh and it's alright
Bouncing around from cloud to cloud
Got the feeling like I'm never gonna come down
If I said I didn't like it then you'd know I'd lied ooooh
And everytime I try to talk to you
I get tongue tied
Turns out everything I say to you
Comes out wrong and never comes out right
So I'll say
Why Don't You and I get together
We'll take on the world and be together forever
Heads we will, Tails we'll try again
And I'll say
Why Don't You and I get together
And fly to the moon and straight on to Heaven
'Cause without you they're never gonna let me in
When's this fever gonna break
I think I've handled more than any man can take
I'm like a love sick puppy chasing you around
Oooh and it's alright
Bouncing around from cloud to cloud
I got the feeling like I'm never gonna down
And if I said I didn't like it then you'd know I'd lied
Oooh
And everytime I'd try to talk to you
I'd get tongue tied.
Turns out everything I say to you
comes out wrong and never comes out right
So I'll say
Why don't you and I get together
Let's take on the world and be together forever
Heads we will and Tails we'll try again
And I'll say
Why Don't You and I hold each other.
We'll fly to the moon and straight on to Heaven
'Cause without you they're never gonna let me in
Slowly I begin to realize
that this is never gonna end
Right about the same time you walk by,
And I say oh here we go again.
Oh.
So I'll say
Why Don't you and I get together
We'll take on the world and be together forever
Heads we will and tails we'll try again
And I'll say
Why Don't You and I hold each other.
And fly to the moon and straight on to Heaven
'Cause without you they're never gonna let me in
-------------------------------------------------------------------
"I forgot what an incredible dancer you are." Greenlee admitted, as she and Leo made their way to the sidelines. The crowd that had gathered around them was now applauding.
"Oh, I'm not that good." Leo replied sheepishly, "I just have a good partner."
"That's another way you've changed." Greenlee noted, with a teasing smile, "Modesty is good."
"Do you even want me to go there?" Leo kidded back, as Carlos and Simone walked over to the two, "Hey Reyes!"
"Man, du Pres!" Carlos greeted, giving the other man five, "Those were some awesome moves out there."
"Thanks, man." Leo replied.
"Greenlee," Simone added, "you two were just amazing."
"Thanks." Greenlee said, "You two are looking rather sharp tonight."
"Yeah." Carlos sighed, "I'll admit that it's all Simone's doing."
"Greenlee darling!" a voice called from in back of the group. It was Mary Smythe, Greenlee's mother and one of Leo's least favorite people in the world. The black-haired woman ran up to the pair, as Carlos and Simone departed without words. Neither one of them was exactly friends with Mary.
"Hi Mom." Greenlee greeted with a cheerful smile.
"So," Mary said, looking disdainfully at Leo, "the rumors were true."
"Yeah." Leo assured with a smile, "I'm so sorry to disappoint you by not dying properly, Mary. Guess that's one more thing I can't do right."
"Well," Mary sighed, looking to Greenlee, "at least, he's slightly better than that Carlos any day of the week. Oh, Dr. Hayward! Good evening."
As Greenlee and Leo turned around, a frantic looking David ran up to them. An equally worried Anna was following right behind.
"David?" Leo asked, looking worried, "What's up?"
"She's got her…" David stammered.
"Who's got who?" Greenlee asked as Anna joined them.
"Vanessa…" Anna said slowly, "Vanessa has taken Leora."
To be Continued......