"Mr. Brown I really think that you should at least consider returning to New York."

"That just isn't possible." Ephram said.

"Honestly the chances of you getting any better are much higher if we can treat you here in New York. You need to come in, I've spoken to specialist around the world about your case and they are willing to fly in and head your case."

"Unless they can come here to Everwood you can thank them for their time because my future plans don't include New York at the moment."

"Ephram when I gave you this news I never meant to send you off to some no name town in Colorado. I just wanted you to make sure you didn't have any regrets about anything."

"I did. You asked me what was it that made me happy and I got my answer. I came back here for Madison. I don't and obviously you don't know how long I'm going to be healthy so I had to act. She's here so I'm here, it's that simple."

"If this woman is so important to you I don't see the reason in why she wouldn't be willing to come with you."

"She doesn't know."

"Mr. Brown she deserves to know. She deserves to know what she's getting herself into, what's to come. By keeping her in the dark your just deceiving her and that's not the right thing to do. Who have you told?"

"No one and that's the way I have to keep it."

"They need to know, your family, your girlfriend or whoever she is they need to know. What if you suddenly pass out right in front of them or worse? What happens then Ephram? They won't know what to do to help you."

"Listen all I want from you is a plan. A plan of medicine or treatment's whatever it is that's going to make me better."

"I can't-"

"I don't care what you have to do, just do it! I don't pay you all this money to sit around in New York and call and call to tell me how to live my life and lecture me. This isn't happening to you its happening to me. So send all of the god d medicine in New York if you have to! I don't want another phone call from you until you've sent the meds. If you can't handle this I'll find someone who can!" Ephram hung up his cell phone and was full of anger. His face was red as he tried to calm himself he knew it wasn't good for him to get so upset. He had just screamed at and fused out one of the only men who knew anything about helping him. He knew it wasn't the wisest decision but he was just so frustrating.

Suddenly the phone he had slammed down on his kitchen table began to ring again, which set him over the edge as he picked it up believing it to be his doctor calling back to give more of his so called "help."

Yelling angrily into the phone, "What do you want from me?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

"Huh? What no answer. Can't you just let things be? I already have so much to deal with without your added stress. I wish I was normal and fine like everybody else okay. But I'm not and I probably won't ever be again and this is just the way I'm trying to deal with it. That's why I came back here and am doing what I'm doing."

Still there was no response.

"That's fine but I swear to god if you call me one more time that's it, I'll find somebody else who'll be a lot better for me than you've ever been."

"Ephram. What-I… I don't understand"

Realizing who it was and regretting every word he had just screamed into his phone, "Oh god, Madison."

"I'm-I'm gonna go." She said sounding devastated and ready to hang up the phone.

"Madison, no! Please I'm so sorry; I thought you were somebody else."

There was no answer from her.

Ephram tried to fix the mess he had made, "I had no idea it was you, I swear. Not a word of that had anything to do with you or us."

Not really reassured yet, "Then your really mad at somebody." Madison thought to herself how it had been a long time since she'd heard him that way.

"Yea I really am. I just haven't had such a great last thirty minutes or so."

"So who exactly was all that meant for?" She asked as she was becoming very interested in his little outburst.

"It's not important." He answered quickly in a way dodging the question.

"Oh."

Sensing she wasn't satisfied with his answer and she wanted and actually really deserved a lot more, "It was just a guy back in New York who was well let's just say straying from the duties of his job. He was trying to tell me to do things I didn't really think were any of his business."

"I see"

"Yea, but I'm truly sorry I just thought it was him. I didn't even check the caller id; I didn't know it was you."

"It's okay I understand you're upset."

"Well not anymore. I've got you to talk to."

"Uh huh."

"So what up? I mean you did call me."

"Never mind don't worry about it. I think I better go."

"Madison come on, talk to me."

"I was just calling to see how you were and what you were doing."

"Nothing at all do you need something?"

"I do have a little problem with work and I haven't been able to think of a way to fix it. I was hoping maybe a free mind would be able to help."

"I'm all ears."

"Do you mind if we talk about it like face to face I think it'd be better that way, for me and you too." Madison was really just making up any excuse she could to see him. She knew that they very well could have just talked about it over the phone.

Caught off guard and growing more interested now, "Sure, where at?"

"Mama Joy's, thirty-minutes."

"Of course, I'll be there."

"Bye" Madison said before hanging up the phone. She had actually been really excited about calling Ephram, happy to see how he was doing. But right now she didn't really feel excited but she was consumed with this weird feeling that wouldn't go away. She didn't really believe the story Ephram had told her about why he'd said what he had. His explanation and some of the things he had said just didn't match up. There were emotions and important things involved here she could just tell but didn't know what it could be. The suspicion and concern she had had the other night with his fortune cookie, which had subsided as she'd almost forgotten about it, was now back with a greater intensity. But nevertheless she decided to continue on with the original thing she had called Ephram about, she did need his help. Being with him would help her try and figure out what was going on and why she was beginning to think and feel like there was something that he was maybe hiding from her. She thought there's a time and a place for everything.

"So what's this problem that you need my help with?" Ephram asked Madison as they sat across from each other in a booth inside Mama Joy's.

"Well I need a model."

"A model?"

"Yup."

"For?"

"For my line I need for someone to wear my clothes for me so I can see how they would look. Plus I have to photograph them and send the pictures to my boss to either get his approval of the line or see what I need to fix."

"That shouldn't really be that difficult to do." He says confidently.

"Easy for you to say, you don't have to find a model."

"Madison, come on I'm sure there are probably lots of young girls willing to do that. In Everwood there probably dying to do anything out of the norm. I'm sure if the girls here knew what you needed they'd be hunting you down. It shouldn't be that hard."

Madison laughs and says, "Oh I know that but I need a male model."

"A male model." Surprised, "I uh I just assumed it was a line for girls or women or something."

"You haven't learned yet have you Ephram Brown."

"Learned what?"

"Not to jump to conclusions when it comes to me and not to assume things either."

"Your right you'd think after everything we've been through I'd of learned." Knowing that she was referring to some of the problems that had had in there relationship and how they had broken up.

"Well you're just hard headed. It takes you a little longer then everybody else to catch on." Trying to lighten the mood slightly and not go down the path of the past.

"Maybe it has something to do with me being a prodigy; ya know they tend to be a little sure of themselves. I mean at least I've been called that once before by ah can't think of who but I think she looked a little like you." He says smiling knowing that she had long ago called him that. Deciding to go back to the past.

"Prodigy really?"

"Yup"

"Well that implies youth right?"

"Uh huh"

"Well then that doesn't quite fit you. I'd have to say you're an old soul." She smiles widely she stares at him for a moment, then breaks the stare and runs her hands through her hair.

Ephram notices she's a little teary eyed from reminiscing in the past and goes back to the subject, "So a male model."

"That's right yea." She says as she shakes her head then nods and sniffles once.

"What are Everwood's men to afraid that being a model might make them seem unmanly."

"Guess so"

"The thing is their not confident or comfortable enough with themselves to do it."

Madison's eyes brighten as she gets an idea, "Oh and you are?" she asks him.

Without hesitation, "Of course I am."

"Doubt it." She says knowing he'd take the bait. Anything to prove himself she thinks to herself.

"You don't believe me, that's fine. I'll prove you wrong, I'm volunteering myself to be your model, look no further, worry no more. Here I am." He tells her with a big grin on his face as he points to himself using his hands while speaking for an added affect.

"Well that's if I'll have you, do you have any experience any references?"

"Ha ha very funny."

"I have very high standards."

Laughing and raising his eyebrows, "I know all about your high standards."

"Alright Ephram it's settled then the whole day tomorrow your mine." Not realizing what she was saying.

Ephram was intrigued by her use of words, "I'm yours?" he asks while raising his eyebrows giving her a surprised face while pointing to himself.

Swallowing hard, "You know what I mean."

"I do?"

"Ephram…come on." She smiles a nervous smile.

"I used to be." He says softly while looking down into his lap.

"Used to be what?" She asks slightly laughing as he seems to look like a little boy who's done something wrong as he's looking into his lap, which she finds to be rather adorable.

Looking up and directly into her eyes and inching closer to her across the table he whispers, "Yours."

Madison has no response to what he had said. For some reason her brain wouldn't work she had no comment to give back no smart remark only a slightly hurt looking face. Unable to say anything she just bit down on her lip and then forced a smile and sighed.

Ephram didn't like the silence and was trying to decide if he should be the one to break it.

Madison just stared into his eyes for a moment before blinking and shaking her head and then looking down at her hands which she had placed in her lap. She couldn't help but do anything but rub her left hand slowly turning it a little red.

"I said I used to be yours." Ephram said delicately to her.

Bringing her right hand to her face and rubbing her eyes then lifting her head to once again look him in the eyes she left her fingers over her lips for a moment and then spoke gently, "That was a long time ago Ephram."

"Your right it was. But I still think about it, about you, how we were." He paused for a moment and was about to add more when he was surprised by Madison speaking.

"We were happy. Weren't we?"

"Yea, we were." He whispered and then could only offer her one of his melting smiles.

"So, um I better be going. Just come by my house at about eight tomorrow and uh we'll see how it goes. Honestly I don't think you'll be able to last ten minutes but it should be interesting."

"You'll see, I'll prove you wrong but since I'm kind of helping you out you've got to do something for me."

"Like what?" She asked as she stood from the booth.

"Um…let's just say you owe me a favor."

Walking towards the door, "Sounds like you're up to something." She continues to walk to the door.

Ephram calls out to her, "Who me?"

She turns her head around toward him, "Yes you." She opens the door about to leave.

"We got a deal?"

"Sure why not. I'll see you tomorrow Ephram." Madison gives him a last smile and walks out the door.

"Bye" Ephram follows her with his eyes until she's out of his sight then lets out a loud sigh and sinks down into his seat and looks up at the ceiling thinking about her.