AN: Wow, reviews are lovely, hope some more will trickle in. Thank you Frogboy Lives and o.O, my first and only two reviewers. I haven't been able to see this movie yet this year, but it's such a great movie. Very sweet and sappy. I hope that you all appreciated my twist on the rescue scene. This chapter is a little longer, and there's another bit of a twist on the original plot of It's a Wonderful Life. And, with that, on we go to chapter three!

Chapter Three:

The image of the beach faded out, and a new one took its place--a busy street corner in Washington D.C., where a group of three men marched down the sidewalk, whistling and talking loudly and boisterously. As they arrived at a small shop, the men stopped and the tallest man, who had deep brown eyes and a cluster of errant curls falling across his forehead, extracted himself and stood in the doorway.

So long, he called to his friends.

Go to work, you grunt! teased one man, while the other shouted,
Don't let those pathetic chicks drool on you this time!

The man turned around and glared, he started to say menacingly.

Relax, Jack; I'm only kidding, said the second man, a soothing element in his voice.

Who's that? asked Milo, He seems like someone I've seen before.

That's Arvin Sloane. He's quite the fan of yours, said Joseph, his lips pressed tightly together, disgust plainly showing on his face.

Ahh, he is attempting to realize my genius then. Has he found my prophecy yet? I'm afraid I may have spilt some wine on it when I was writing it. I wonder if he will gather my creations. I did have a lot of fun leaving them around the world; see, if you look at the pattern it makes from our point of view, you can see that it makes a really cool connect-the-dots picture of a cow... he babbled until Joseph flicked him in the shoulder, and they both turned their attention back to the scene before them.

Turning, Jack rolled his eyes and pushed open the door to the shop. The café was crowded with mismatched tables and chairs, a variety of people sitting with books and sipping at coffee. Jack walked to the front of the shop, shrugged his bag off of his shoulders and left it at an empty table nearby.

Is that the same little boy? asked Milo.

sighed Joseph, that's Jack. He's around 20, and he's working two jobs; one to help pay for his tuition at Georgetown, and the other, well, we'll get to that a little later.

Jack rolled up the sleeves of his collared white shirt, and slipped on his green apron. He walked behind the counter and picked up the Magic 8 Ball that sat next to the register. Shaking it, he closes his eyes, whispering, Will I find a girlfriend? Opening his eyes, he turned over the ball, and read,

he shouted, immediately turning pink for drawing extra attention to himself.

He crossed over to the counter, where a woman was sitting, watching him. Laura Brown, a tall young woman with long chestnut hair and mocha-colored eyes, sat with an ancient, heavy book, discretely watching him.

Calling towards the back room, Jack said, It's me, Mr. Fischer. Jack Bristow.

Mr. Fischer, the manager, looked out from the door, and took a long puff on a cigarette that Jack didn't think contained tobacco.

You're late man, said his employer.

Yes, sir, responded Jack, ever formal and polite.

Judy Barnett entered the café, and flaunted up to the counter, tossing her long, blonde hair and sitting next to Laura.

Hello Jack, she said in a warm and friendly voice. Glancing at the other woman, she added, 'Lo Laura.

Laura said with a nod of acknowledgment.

Jack stared at the two women, his puzzlement apparent on his face. The two women had exchanged greetings and were friendly, yet it appeared as though they hated one another. Oblivious to the fact that both women were striving for the same goal, he turned to Judy, and said, Coffee of the day with cream and sugar?

She was here first, said Judy, attempting to stay longer in Jack's presence.

I'm still thinking, said Laura, You go ahead.

he asked.

Please Jackie, said Judy, in what she thought was a seductive voice. As Jack went out of earshot, she turned to Laura and whispered, I like him.
Laura pursed her lips, How lovely for you.

You're just jealous, Judy smirked, because he likes me better.

Here you are, said Jack, returning to the two women, now glaring at one another, handing a styrofoam cup to Judy. She paid him.

Open the door for me? asked Judy, with a look of feigned helplessness on her face.

Open the door?! said Jack, unbelievingly.

Judy let out a sigh, pretending to be long-suffering. As she exited, however, she missed Laura sticking out her tongue at her as she walked by.

asked Jack, have you made up your mind yet?

Yes, thank you. I'd like to have a café au lait, please.

With sugar?

I don't like sugar in my coffee, said Laura.

You don't like sugar in your coffee? I think you may be the first girl that I've ever met who doesn't put sugar in her coffee. That's pretty impressive, Jack said, as he set to preparing her drink.

she said, there's always a first time for everything.

Jack turned on the coffee grinder, focusing on his task, as Laura leaned over and spoke softly into his ear, Guess you can't hear me, Jack, can you? Well, Mr. Bristow, I think we've got our roles reversed; you're doing my job; you've seduced me. She leaned back, and continued to watch him.

I don't think I caught your name, he said, I'm Jack Bristow.

Laura smiled, her grin spreading across her entire face, I'm Laura Brown.

The two of them looked at each other, until Jack tore his eyes away, his face turning a flushed pink.

TBC