A/N: This is rated "R"-ish. Basically, there's a sexual scene that, while not described in detail, requires a mature person to read.

Summary: After nearly ten years of seperation, a chance meeting reunites TJ and Spinelli. Is this a second chance at love for them, or not?

For those of you reading Where the Skeletons Lie, don't worry, I'm working on it, okay. I just needed to get this off my chest.

One Night Stand

The dress in the window was beautiful to say the least. A long white gown, flowing down well past the ground gathering in pools of silk white fabric. People pushed their ways past on the sidewalk outside the window, overlooking the beautiful young woman standing before the glass pane, staring up at the dress. She was short, with black hair gathered in curls along her back. Her lips were painted red and she wore a short dress revealing just enough of her well-tanned skin to appear beautiful and sexy while not crossing to the tacky side. She stared wide-eyed at the dress through the window, touching a light hand gently to the pane. She was not the same Ashley Spinelli that had attended Third Street more than a decade ago.

"Your dress is so much prettier," a cheerful voice said behind Spinelli, who turned to face her good friend, Julie. Julie was a tall blonde woman, needless to say quite beautiful, that Spinelli had met in college. Spinelli had begun to think that everyone in California was beautiful. Julie was carrying two ice-cream cones, handing one over to her friend.

"You think?" Spinelli asked, staring uncertainly up at the lovely gown in the window.

"Of course, I helped you pick it out. And let's not forget that you look gorgeous in it," Julie laughed, slipping an arm over Spinelli's shoulders and leading her away from the window down the crowded sidewalk. Both girls had lived in the California city for a long time, they were used to navigating through the labyrinth of people that occupied the Boardwalk.

"Is it alright that I'm nervous?" Spinelli wondered, "I've known Jack for a long time...he loves me, right?"

"It's alright that you're nervous. The honeymoon is going to be nerve wracking," Julie told her.

"That's not what I mean...I hadn't even thought of that..."

"Well, if I were you, I'd start thinking about that. You're still a virgin, right? I can't believe you kept your vow. You actually stayed a virgin all through high school and college. I am amazed," Julie said, looking respectfully at her shorter friend. It was no doubt difficult for the attractive young woman to keep the men out of her room through college.

"It wasn't that hard..." Spinelli chuckled nervously.

"Wasn't that hard? Hell, I lost my virginity to the first cute boy who took me out on a date! You know, sophomore year?" Spinelli was ready to reply to that but was interrupted when a young man seemed to stumble into her, knocking her ice cream to the ground. He was pushed forward, away from her.

"Hey, why don't you..." Spinelli began, but caught herself, though still receiving a shocked look from her friend. Spinelli was a lot more soft-spoken than the bully she had been in grade school and middle school. When she'd moved to California, she'd learned that people didn't want the girl to be tough and she attempted to act differently. She needed to make friends, and it seemed the only way. Not to mention, Jack, her fiancé, hated loud, obnoxious girls.

The young man turned to offer an apologetic look. He was handsome slightly taller than Spinelli, somewhat on the thin side but still a bit soft, dressed in casual dress pants and a button down white shirt with messy brown hair, sweet eyes, and soft freckles dabbled across his face. A face that Spinelli knew. A face that Spinelli still dreamed about from time to time. Say something, she willed herself, call out to him...say something.

"Teej..." she whispered softly, and then finding her voice shouted, "Dettwieler...TJ Dettwieler!" The young man, slowed down, turning back to look at her, his face filled with puzzlement. Spinelli broke into a run, shoving her way through the crowd. "TJ!" she cried, finally stopping in front of him, out of breath. She'd kicked off her shoes in the sprint; high heels that she thought were useless except Jack liked how she looked when she wore them.

"Do I know you?" the young man asked, looking the stunning woman standing in front of him up and down. He almost thought he recognized her, but it couldn't be...she was wearing a lovely dress, nylons, make-up, her hair was done up. But still..."No one's called me TJ since...since...hell, I don't know when."

"Since you were fourteen, Teej," Spinelli laughed, smiling up at him, "When I moved away."

"It couldn't be..." TJ mumbled, studying the young woman, trying to compare her to the little girl he'd once known. "Spinelli?" She nodded. He threw his arms about her, catching her by surprise and dropping the briefcase he'd been carrying. "Spinelli," TJ breathed against her ear, "I never thought I'd ever see you again. I missed you so much."

"I missed you too, Teej..." she whispered in reply.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend, Ashley?" Julie's voice called them back to reality, people in the crowd staring at them oddly. Julie had come up behind Spinelli slowly, unsure, carrying the shoes that Spinelli had discarded. Julie had never seen Spinelli run, unless you counted on the treadmill at the gym. Julie was giving TJ a wary look. The two broke apart, blushing slightly, which Julie took note of.

"Julie...this is an old friend of mine from back home...I mean...from grade school, TJ," Spinelli told her, "TJ, this is Julie. My friend from college." TJ put forth a hand to shake, which Julie didn't.

"Her best friend," she clarified.

"It's nice to meet you," TJ said, stuffing his hand in his pocket and picking up his briefcase with the other. He glanced at Spinelli from the corner of his eye, shaking his head in disbelief.

"What?" she asked.

"I just can't believe it's really you. I mean...what did you do to your hair?" TJ chuckled, reaching a hand over and lifting one of the jet-black locks. He let it fall, wiping his hand on his jeans, "What'd you put it in?"

"Hairspray," Spinelli replied, giving him a skeptical, what-are-you-an-idiot look.

"And what's with the skirt? The Spinelli I knew wouldn't be caught dead in a dress like that," TJ laughed. Spinelli grinned at him, placing a hand on her hip.

"You better watch it, Teej," Spinelli threatened, "I'm a little out of practice, but I don't doubt I could still kick your ass." Julie raised an eyebrow at that statement. She'd never heard her friend threaten anyone before.

"You sure, you might break a nail," he joked. She wagged a fist in his face and he gulped. "You know I'm just joking, Spinelli..." She slipped an arm over his shoulder.

"I'll forgive you this once if you tell me what the hell you're doing here in California. I never thought I'd ever see you again," Spinelli said, "I never even had the chance to tell you where I was moving."

"I'm here on business," TJ explained, looking pointedly at his briefcase, "You really were one hell of a shock..." he looked her up and down again and muttered, "One hell of a shock."

"Yeah...well..." she shrugged.

"Ashley," Julie said, attempting to call the attention back to her. Both the old friends glanced at her oddly.

"Uh..." TJ started, rubbing the back of his head, "I was thinking of getting some lunch, you want to come?"

"We have things to do," Julie snapped, taking Spinelli's arm and trying to drag her away. But Spinelli stood her ground, her childhood stubborn-ness resurfacing. TJ seemed a bit downcast at Julie's answer.

"We're not in any rush," Spinelli replied, "We don't have that much to do. Come on, Julie. You said you have things to take care of that I'm not allowed to know about. If you don't want to come, I'll go have lunch with TJ and you can go take care of those things. It'll give us time to catch up." Julie looked between the two. TJ had brightened, slipping an arm over Spinelli's shoulders and both smiling pleadingly at the blonde.

"Fine," Julie sighed. She hugged Spinelli, handing over the shoes and whispered for only Spinelli to hear "Don't forget about Jack though." Spinelli nodded, but her cheeks flustered. If only for a moment, she had forgot about Jack.

TJ and Spinelli chose a small diner, sitting down at a booth across from each other. They ordered burgers and cokes and sat waiting, flicking a balled up straw wrapper back and forth.

"Gretchen graduated valedictorian. Vince finally got up the nerve to ask her out. They went to prom together," TJ was saying, filling Spinelli in on everything she'd missed.

"Gretchen and Vince are dating?" she asked, stunned.

"Oh, that's right. Vince didn't even tell me about his crush on Gretchen until freshman year. He thought she wouldn't date him because he wasn't as smart as the guys she hung out with in science club. So he joined all the same classes she was in, as well as, chess club, science club, math club, you know, all the geek clubs. He juggled between all of that and his sports, Football, basketball, baseball...all to impress her. You know what she told him when he finally asked her out? She told him she liked him before but now he just seemed to be trying so hard to be the best at everything," TJ explained. Spinelli smiled as TJ continued, "But I explained everything to her and she understood."

"What about Mikey and Gus?" Spinelli prodded, thinking of her old friends, picturing them in her mind and trying to imagine what they looked like now.

"Mikey got married right out of high school. You'll never guess to who."

"Try me."

"Ashley A." Spinelli's jaw dropped which cracked TJ up.

"You're kidding me, right?" she demanded. TJ shook his head, trying to compose himself.

"I was his best man," TJ told her between fits of laughter, "It was a small wedding. They're really in love. They're attending college now and talking about children."

"If you ask me, those Ashleys shouldn't be allowed to reproduce, no matter how great the father is. And who'd Gus marry? Kurst?"

"No, Gus isn't married. He went out for the army, but didn't make it because of his eyes," TJ told her, "He's taking classes at the community college while working part time at the grocery mart." The waitress interrupted them then, placing their glasses and food-filled plates in front of them. They were silent. Spinelli put a straw in her drink, stirring it. She glanced up at him as he took the ketchup bottle and was attempting to put some on his plate.

"What about you?" she asked, focusing her attention back on the cup in front of her.

"I finished college up as soon as possible. I'm working for a law-firm right now...studying to be a lawyer," TJ said, shrugging as he bit into a large French fry, "I'm not married," he chuckled, "Haven't really had time for girls, none of them were right for me. I was beginning to think that I'd never find the perfect girl. What about you?" Spinelli met his eyes, not sure what to say. She'd fallen for him a long time ago when they were kids, but excused it as nothing more than puppy love when she'd moved away. But now, sitting across from him, those feelings were returning stronger than ever.

"I...um...I'm out of college. I'm working as a...well...I'm a personal assistant to a huge fashion designer, but that's nothing more than a glorified secretary. I know what you're going to say about my look, but I swear, I'm still the same Spinelli on the inside. I've just adapted to the California atmosphere," Spinelli shrugged. She considered telling TJ about Jack. It was on the tip of her tongue. But it never came out.

"Hey...Spin..." TJ mumbled.

"Yeah, Teej."

"Do you...I mean...do you really need to meet up with that Julie girl again? I mean, I do need someone to show me the sights," TJ stuttered, folding his napkin nervously. Spinelli grinned.

"Julie who?" He looked up, catching her gaze and smiling broadly.

-0-0-0-0-

They spent the rest of the day together, heading to the beach and collecting shells, browsing the stores on the Boardwalk, hitting a club and Spinelli dragging the reluctant TJ on the dance floor. They had dinner at a nice restaurant and a few drinks, catching a cab back to TJ's hotel. They stumbled up to the room, TJ letting her in. She fell on the bed in a fit of giggles. TJ smiled down at her. It felt like old times.

"When do you think they'll figure out at that club that we switched one of their DJ's dance mix CDs with an Opera compilation?" she laughed, short of breath.

"Oh...I'm guessing, right about now," TJ joined her on the bed, "It wasn't that far down in the pile. You weren't bad at distracting the guy. I didn't know you could flirt so well."

"I had a lot of practice in high school," she laughed, "Guys didn't really notice me before I learned how to flirt properly."

"I can't imagine anyone not noticing you," TJ said softly. Spinelli stopped laughing, breathing heavily and looking up at him with a crooked smile. "I have to tell you something, Spin," he said, his tone taking a serious note. He pulled himself off the bed, pacing while Spinelli lifted herself into a sitting position watching him with concern. He turned to face her, boring into her eyes with his own deep blue ones. "I dreamed about seeing you again," he told her, "About all the things I would say to you. Everything I needed to tell you."

"Teej don't..."

"No, I have to get this off my chest," he sat back down on the bed beside her, never breaking his hold on her eyes, "I didn't date any girls back home. I mean, I went on dates, but I never had any girlfriend, anyone I wanted to be with. I thought there was something wrong with me. How could I keep thinking about someone who wasn't here anymore? How could I completely overlook these girls who are lovely and sweet and want to be with me? How could I keep thinking about an old friend who moved away long ago? It was simple; it was because they weren't that old friend. Spinelli, they weren't you. No one could replace you." Spinelli looked down to her hands, to her feet, to the floor, searching for something, anything to say. It was what she wanted to hear. It was what she couldn't hear. "I might be a little tipsy from the drinks, but I know that I love you, Spinelli. I always have," TJ told her.

"I love you too, Teej," she whispered in response. For a moment they just stared at one another. Finally, TJ leaned forward, brushing his lips against hers. She responded slowly, accepting his kiss. She'd pictured kissing him, imagined it, dreamed and fantasized about it, but you can't feel in dreams. She'd never imagined how soft and gentle his touch would be, how sweet he would taste. She returned the kiss again and again, fumbling with the buttons of his shirt, undoing them. The truth was, she had vowed to wait before she slept with someone. But not to wait until she was married like everyone assumed. She had waited for him. She slipped his shirt off, kissing his collarbone and meeting his eyes. She didn't need him to speak an answer to the question she couldn't ask. She could already read his eyes and know what the answer was.

TJ placed his hands gently on her waist, laying her on her back down on the bed, letting her head touch the pillow softly and brushing the black hair from her face. She'd washed the hairspray and curls out at the beach in the ocean. It was nothing more than knoted tangles now smelling of salt and her own scent. She looked the way she was supposed to look. He loved her like that. He traced a finger along her cheek, kissing her neck and letting a gentle hand run along her shoulder, catching the strap of her dress and slowly, carefully slipping it down her shoulder. She ran her fingers through his hair, studying his face.

"What happened to your hat?" she whispered.

"It's back home," he answered, kissing her shoulder, "Do you miss it?"

"I miss you wearing it," she said softly, "But I missed you more." He kissed her lips gently, her hands laid lightly against his back. "I'm a virgin," she whispered, as though it explained something. TJ said nothing, focusing on her shoulder, wondering what she meant. She touched his cheek, turning his face to look into her own. "I figured that you had dibs," she said.

"I'm not...a virgin I mean," he shrugged, lifting himself up. She closed her eyes. It wasn't as though she'd expected him to wait...it was just that...who could he have been with?

"What was her name?"

"I don't know," TJ replied, "I was at a party junior year. Everyone had someone and it was around the time when you'd moved away. I was depressed. I got drunk and...I don't even remember what she looked like or if she had a good time. She might have been drunk too, I don't know. I woke up alone the next morning with a serious hangover. I think a huge part of me wished she was you, and a small really drunk part of me thought she was you." Spinelli smiled, lifting herself up and kissing his shoulder blade.

"It is me now," she whispered. He turned to meet her eyes. "I'm tired of waiting." Their lips met again, no longer gentle, soft and tentative, but now confident and passionate. They let the night carry on, leaving behind the last remaining remnants of their innocence and exploring one another's body. The pain was unbearable for Spinelli, but she trusted TJ. He was the only one she could trust with this.

Spinelli lay beneath the covers resting against TJ's chest, listening to his heartbeat and watching his chest rise and fall with his soft and steady breathing. She glanced at the clock. It was five. She buried her face in that small, comforting nook between his shoulder and neck. She'd done the same many times before; it was the perfect size for her to cry in, as TJ would hold her gently in his arms. He'd always been there for her. No matter what. No matter how she screamed at him, how she fought him, how she would hit and kick and yell. He loved her. She pulled herself up, the cold chill of the room attacking her bare skin. She ignored it, touching gentle shaking fingers to TJ's familiar face. She knew every freckle, every imperfection in his eyes, every misplaced strand of hair, which she brushed gently from his forehead with her careful fingers. She felt so comfortable around him, always had. She felt like she could be herself, because he already knew everything about her. He already loved everything about her. She kissed each of his eyelids, his forehead, his cheeks, his lips. Then slipped out of the bed.

Spinelli redressed herself silently, glancing cautiously back at TJ, sleeping soundlessly on the bed, every so often. She searched the room for a pen and paper and quickly scribbled a message before taking her shoes and quietly tiptoeing out the door. When she hit the bottom floor of the hotel and exited the lobby she began running. And she ran. Even as her throat dried and her lungs burst for lack of air, she ran. Even as her legs were sore and her feet were cut from the harsh gravel and any discarded glass, she ran. Even as her heart cried, she ran.

"Where is she?" Florence Spinelli yelled, looking about frantically for her daughter and turning on Julie. "Where is she?" They stood in the front lobby of the church, having already searched Spinelli's apartment, her parents' home, and any other place she would go.

"I don't know," Julie shrugged, "She was supposed to meet me yesterday at three at the bakery so we could okay the cake. She never showed up."

"She's going to be late," Flo cried, ringing her hands and glancing at the clock. It was nearly nine now and the wedding started at ten. Spinelli still needed to get dressed in her wedding gown.

"We should tell Jack..." Julie began but Flo grabbed her.

"No! She'll be here. She wouldn't miss her own wedding," Flo snapped. Just as she said that, the door to the church flung open and Spinelli stood there. Her hair was a mess, her shoes were in her hands, she was drenched in sweat, still wearing the dress from the night before, and gasping for breath. Julie and Flo pounced on her at once.

"Where the hell have you been?" Julie demanded.

"Are you alright? What happened? Oh, pookie, are you okay?" Flo questioned.

"I'm fine," Spinelli finally managed, "Where's my dress?" The two women grabbed her, dragging her down the hallway to a backroom set aside for her to get dressed in. The white gown was hung up, a beautiful full-length skirt with a silk bodice, with lace sleeves that would come well past her wrists to cover her hands.

"What happened to...that guy?" Julie asked when Flo disappeared to find some soap and a sponge so that Spinelli could clean herself.

"Nothing," Spinelli whispered, slipping into the adjoining bathroom to fill the small tub, "How do nuns manage with these tiny things?" Julie grabbed Spinelli by her shoulders.

"Jack's a good friend of mine. I don't want to see him get hurt," Julie said.

"Jack's going to be my husband," Spinelli told her, "You don't have to worry." Flo reentered the room, making her way to the bathroom with a bar of soap and a washrag.

"You should have showered before you came here," Flo told her before steering Julie out of the bathroom to give Spinelli some privacy. She turned to her daughter before leaving, "Hurry...are you using a different skin care product?"

"No, why?" Spinelli asked.

"You're practically glowing. Must be because it's your wedding day," Flo laughed, "Brides are always beautiful on their wedding day."

-0-0-0-0-

TJ opened his eyes, awakened by the lack of warmth. Something was missing. He sat up in the bed. Spinelli was gone. He searched the floor for his pants, finding them and pulling them on; wondering where she was.

"Spinelli?" he called. No answer. He lifted himself up. Noticing a folded piece of paper with his name on it.

-0-0-0-0-

Spinelli stepped onto the aisle, the music starting, her father beside her, holding her arm and smiling at her every now and then. Her mother sat in the audience panting, and Julie stood up front, Spinelli's maid of honor. They'd had an hour to get Spinelli ready and they'd done a great job. Down the aisle stood Jack, the tall well-built young man smiled at her. His best man, a friend of his from childhood, Richard, stood beside him. They were wearing their black suits watching her make her way down the aisle towards them. She was smiling, sadly.

"I'm ready for the honeymoon," Jack whispered to Richard. "Can you believe she saved herself all this time for the wedding night?" He was half right.

"You look beautiful, pookie," Robert Spinelli said gently to his daughter. "I never thought this day would come. My little girl is all grown up."

-0-0-0-0-

TJ lifted the letter, with trembling fingers, unfolded it. He dropped it on the table top, slumping back down on the bed and staring at the message written in spidery handwriting.

-0-0-0-0-

Spinelli's father let Jack take her arm, leaving to sit beside his family and wife in the front row. When Jack met Spinelli's face tears streamed down her cheeks. He'd never seen his fiancé cry.

"You must be so happy," he commented. She said nothing, lowering her eyes, trying to force her thoughts to this day, away from the night before. Trying to concentrate on her obligations, on her future husband who she loved. She loved him, right? She looked to her parents, who beamed up at her. Her mother overcome with joyous sobs, her father holding back the obvious tears. Her brothers, Vitto and Joey, dressed in nice suits for the occasion, straight-faced. Her family all filed around them. She thought of her youth. Her childhood at Third Street Elementary, playing kickball, four square, dodgeball, battle tag, and playing out pranks planned by a mischievous young boy with a red baseball cap always turned backwards. No, she told herself, don't think of him. She thought of Gretchen, her best friend back then, and the only other girl on the playground that would hang around with her and chat. Vince, who never could beat Spinelli at arm wrestling even though he won at everything else. Mikey, the poet that Spinelli had fondly called lummox and had been her first dance partner. Gus who was kind to her despite how he feared her. TJ...who she was in love with. TJ, who was in love with her. Spinelli shook her head and turned to Jack. She loved Jack. She would stay by Jack's side. She'd already decided. No more thinking. Last night was her last thought of TJ, that was all. She had waited for TJ. He had had dibs. But she wasn't going to marry him, or run away with him. She couldn't explain last night. She wouldn't. You don't marry your first love. You marry the one you're supposed to be with. Jack was who she was supposed to be with.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered her today..." the priest began.

-0-0-0-0-

TJ sat on the bed, his eyes closed and his head resting against his hands. The letter on the table glaring up at him, black letters reading only two words. "I'm sorry."

END A/N: Aw...so sad...sniffles. I can't believe I did that. Okay, I'm not very fond of this story. I thought it went too quick. But it's a one-shot, what did I expect? Okay, if enough people like this story and review, I may be persuaded to write a sequel. Maybe give some closure. And yes, for those of you who didn't understand the ending, she chose her fiance.

Thanks for reading and please excuse any grammatical and typing errors. But don't excuse the crappy writing, review the story and tell me what sucks and why.