Light came in through the blinds. A new day began. The brightness of the day woke Bruce. He smiled a very satisfied smile. He kissed the top of Amy's head, but she did not respond. He decided to let her sleep and carefully rolled her off of him.

He stared at her. He was completely mesmerized by her beauty. Bruce reflected as he gazed at her. Just yesterday at this time, he was sick to his stomach that Amy was going to marry Stu. Not since the anguish Mia had put him through when Rebecca was a baby, had he been in such turmoil.

Bruce admired the ringlets of hair that laid around Amy's face, neck and shoulders. The rain last night brought out all of her natural curls. She slept soundly, obviously drained from the events of the day before. He noticed a calmness in her now, unlike when she first arrived. Bruce hoped some of the peace could be attributed to him. How he wanted to make her happy. Amy made him feel so alive and right with the world. She couldn't be closer to perfection.

So many wrong choices he'd made in women. His ideals restricted him to strong willed, intelligent black women...

Bruce did respect an independent woman, but that character trait sometimes left him feeling unneeded, even inferior at times. Some women thought independence and self-centeredness went hand in hand. Some thought to get ahead in the world, it was necessary to sacrifice character. Amy was none of these women. He loved her so much for it.

Most of all, Bruce loved how Amy related to others. Her status didn't make her superior to anyone. She opened her heart to all people. Amy saw the value in character and not in superficial traits. She had the ability of finding value in everyone around her. She gave respect where it was earned. The cleaning lady sometimes received more courtesy than the administrative judge.

Race and intelligence narrowed down the already limited selection. With Amy, he felt needed and valued; something that made him begin to overlook race. She was extremely intelligent, though she looked for validation from others often. Bruce wondered if that need was what prompted her to marry Stu. He couldn't find another answer to why Amy ever thought to do such a thing. Thoughts of yesterday seeped in his mind...

Sure he was in turmoil, but what kind of day did Amy have? A ball of nerves in the morning, trying to make sense of the doubt she was feeling. How distraught was Amy when she realized she was making a mistake? A woman who always needed approval made a choice that was going to be looked poorly upon. Bruce smiled at Amy and looked at her with new eyes. This fragile creature in front of him showed courage that he didn't even possess.

He had fantasized about going to the wedding... He imagined himself speaking up when the minister asked if anyone objected marriage, but he didn't. A lesser woman would've just gone through with the wedding. Not Amy! She wasn't making the same mistake twice no matter how late the realization was. Bruce was still slightly guilt ridden, not being there for her. He recognized that Amy needed to make that decision on her own accord. Besides, he couldn't have any regrets or last night might never have happened.

What a night it was. Not since high school had he had desired a woman as much as he did Amy. Not since college did he have a night like had with Amy. Never in his life did it mean as much to him as it did with Amy. He leaned toward her and gently kissed her lips. Images of their time together flooded his brain.

Bruce became aroused again; however, he didn't wake Amy. Instead, he decided to clean up and make breakfast. Amy needed her clothes washed and a nice breakfast. They could make love again after that, if she chose. It was difficult to leave her side: he was truly under a spell. No, it wasn't a spell. It was love. Bruce placed one last soft kiss upon her lips before he rose out of bed.

He went to the kitchen to retrieve his underwear and pants. Bruce stared at the counter briefly. Flashes from last night ran through his mind. A warm feeling rushed his body. He shook like a wet dog and snapped out of the daydream. Bruce grabbed the rest of the clothes and started a load of laundry.

Back to the kitchen to clean up their dinner dishes before starting breakfast. He put on a pot of coffee as he scrambled a few eggs and toasted a couple of bagels. It had been so long since he had a woman in the house to do this for. Well he did it for Rebecca daily, but there was a different feeling when he provided for Amy... Was he really providing for her?

It always crossed his mind when he thought of pursuing a relationship with her; could he make Amy happy solely on love? She made more money than him. His job wasn't as prestigious. But he knew Amy –she didn't care. Amy wasn't hung up on material things. She lived at home with her mother and drove a station wagon. But now she was in criminal court; moving up in the world. Would it change her? He hoped not. In his heart, he couldn't imagine Amy changing. His mind must be playing tricks on him.

Breakfast in bed sounded nice, so Bruce fixed up a tray and headed back to the bedroom. His heart beat a little faster in anticipation of getting into bed again with the love of his life. –Even if it was just to eat breakfast.

It was tricky holding on to the tray and quietly entering the room. Amy hadn't moved. She must have been in a deep sleep. Bruce placed the tray gently down on a nightstand. He crawled next to Amy on the bed slowly and kissed her neck.

"Good morning Judge Gray," he whispered playfully.

Amy didn't even flinch.

"Good morning Beautiful," he coaxed a little louder.

Amy furrowed her brows before opening her eyes. She was slightly disoriented. It was heaven to realize that the evening's events were not just another one of her dreams. She focused on Bruce's tender gaze and returned a great big grin.

"Morning," she replied with her voice raspy from slumber.

She threw her arms around his neck and greeted him with a soft kiss.

"I made a small breakfast. Are you hungry?"

"Enough for a small breakfast. I need to brush my teeth. Do you have an extra tooth brush?"

"Doubt it, but let me check. I can run to the store if you need me to."

"Or I can just use my finger."

Bruce gave her a slightly disgusted look.

"Oh c'mon, don't tell me you've never done that before?" she laughed.

"I'll be back in 15 minutes with a toothbrush."

"I don't want you to leave me," Amy suddenly exclaimed. Her demeanor changed.

Now he understood her initial zany response. He saw a slight pain in her eyes. It was more like the fear a child has of the dark. Amy didn't have to think about the nightmare of her wedding with him around. She wasn't ready for those thoughts to come rushing back. Bruce knew she needed reassurance though he didn't know why. It didn't matter, he really didn't want to leave her side either.

"I'll look for one in the house. I'll even sterilize mine to let you use it. I won't leave you Amy..."

He kissed her softly in effort to give weight to his words.

"... Breakfast is getting cold. Let me go find you a toothbrush."

Amy smiled and her eyes showed Bruce that she was in agreement. He got up and began the search. Amy wasn't fond of just sitting around in the buff so she decided to get some clothes on. She noticed the room was picked up.

"Bruce... where are the clothes I was wearing?" she yelled.

"In the laundry. In case you wanted to go home, I thought it might be a good idea to go in your own clothes."

Amy agreed, but she didn't like the thought of going home. It meant she would have to go without Bruce. Or if she went with Bruce, everyone would think she's insane. It would be impossible to go home with him and pretend to be just friends again. Well it would for her. Amy grabbed another one of Bruce's shirts. And a glorious thought struck her.

She went to find Bruce. He was under the sink in the bathroom obviously searching for a toothbrush. He rose quickly with a toothbrush in hand.

"Viola. Here you go, thanks to Dr. Theodore Brown DDS," he smiled and handed the toothbrush to Amy.

"Can you get this week off of work?" Amy asked hurriedly with a strange look on her face.

"Huh? I didn't put in for it. Why? What's up?"

"Well I have two tickets to Maui and the time off. Please go with me." Amy had the biggest puppy dog look. It wasn't new to Bruce; she used it on him all the time.

"Amy I don't know if I can get the time off. I know I have some days, but I really have to run it by the courthouse. I'd have to make arrangements for Rebecca too. I don't think I can," he answered her in an apologetic voice.

"Bruce you never ask for time off. I know you'd feel better giving them notice, but there won't be any repercussions. There are always temps -you could even ask Donna to fill in since I won't be around either. And can't Mia watch Rebecca just for a week? Please. I'm telling you that I have 2 tickets to Maui. It should be just as beautiful as Spain."

She got him. He couldn't tell her no. Bruce knew it was crazy; she was asking him to go with her on what was supposed to be her honeymoon with Stu. He didn't deny that it made him really happy that she asked him. He remembered that time she asked him about Spain and he remembered his answer. Regardless, it was insane. Yet it didn't surprise him coming from Amy: she was all heart and very little logic. The pace she was going in was starting to scare him.

"I think we need to talk," he said with a fretful look on his face as he leaned against the sink.

Amy felt she sensed what was coming and disappointment set in. She backed down and tried to change the subject hoping to prevent what she thought was coming. She knew Bruce was a realist; he was going to say that they needed to take a realistic view of the everything that's happened between them. And that would mean slowing down or ending their budding romance. Changing her subject was her only hope.

"Ok. Maybe I'm asking too much. I know how responsible you are. I'm sorry for pressing the issue."

She turned away and started opening the packaging of the toothbrush, not making further eye contact with Bruce. He gently lifted her chin up and turned her toward him. He looked at her with concern as he began to speak. Amy held her breath.

"I'd love to runaway with you for the week. Now that we're together, I want to spend every second with you. But I'm getting worried that we're together for the wrong reasons. I'm wondering if I took advantage of the situation. You were vulnerable and came looking for a friend. I don't think you came looking for a new man. I don't want you to have any regrets. I care about you. All I want is your happiness."

His words were unexpected. How could he question her feelings for him? Amy always thought Bruce could read her like an open book. If anyone had a chance of making her happy, he could without question. She searched for an answer. How could she make Bruce understand that she loved him and make him understand all the promise she had of being with him? He stared intently in her eyes, his hand still holding her chin up. Amy put down the toothbrush. She grabbed his hand from her chin and held it in hers.

"What I came looking for was you. I could've gone anywhere for a friend. Trust me, I didn't have friend in mind at the time. I was here to confront you for bailing on my wedding. I considered you to be my best friend because you know me better than anyone else in my life. Hell, you know me better than I know myself. You see my mistakes before I do more than half the time and you're always there for me. I've grown used to having you as my rock. It hurt like hell when I found out you weren't coming. Thinking you were going to be with me was the only thing letting me go through with the wedding. I already had so much doubt. But with you by my side, I knew it would all be alright. I feel secure when you're by my side. I feel safe, understood and appreciated for who I am. Even when you don't agree with me, you're still there for me in the end. I always have you to turn to. That's what you've always given me that no one else has; unconditional love and understanding. Isn't that what every one is looking for? I've been looking for you all my life. I can't imagine my life without you..."

She pulled his hand and brought him close to her. Amy stayed locked with his eyes, her eyes welled with tears. Bruce expression softened as though he was fighting his emotions too.

"... I wont ever regret being in love with you. Come what may, I'll always love you."

Bruce couldn't contain himself any longer. He grabbed Amy and kissed her passionately. She let her emotions run and cried as they kissed. He held her face with his hands.

"Don't cry baby," he tried to console her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause you pain."

He began kissing her again as he wrapped her in his arms. She broke away from the kiss but held him tight. He softly brushed her hair back from her face with his hand and tilted her head to look in her eyes again. Bruce wiped the tears from Amy's eyes as he continued to speak.

"I know how you get so wrapped up in the moment some times and don't think things through. It would really hurt me if you thought this was all a mistake down the line. I can't imagine my life without you either. But after having all of you, I know I couldn't just go back to being friends. I had to ask you Amy. I've been in love with you and have fought it for so long. I'm a pragmatist. –I spent more time thinking of all the reasons that it would never work between us than I did thinking about it if it did. Be patient with me, I'm working on it now," he ended with a smile.

"So you know how much I want this and you want it too?" Amy asked meekly.

"Yeah."

Bruce lowered his head and was lip-to-lip with Amy.

"I love you Amy Gray."

"I love you Bruce Van Exel."

They concluded with a brief soft kiss, but gazed into each others eyes when they broke from the kiss. Bruce could feel the fire inside him start to blaze. Amy ran her fingers back and forth from the small of his back to his abs and repeated the motion continuously. Lust began to trickled in again. Amy quickly decided to take advantage of the situation. She slowly started to unbutton his pants as she asked him again, never losing eye contact.

"So will you come with me to Maui?" she asked in a very coy manner. She slowly lowered his zipper.

"I'll come where ever you want me to," he replied unaware of the connotation until after he said it.

"Why don't you come join me in the shower then?..." Amy asked as she lowered his pants.

"... I sometimes brush my teeth in the shower and I don't remember the last time I did that with a man," she chided Bruce knowing how blatant her innuendo was.

"Mmm-hmm" is all he could muster. Sure he wanted to make some witty remark about dental hygiene but watching Amy act so aggressive made him insane with desire. He didn't know how they would ever get to Maui, it didn't seem like they were ever leaving his apartment. He opened the shower curtain and ran the water.

Bruce slid off her shirt once more. Amy slid off his boxers once more. Oddly they had removed the others clothing and just stood standing in front of each other, staring. Each took in the glorious sight of the other for a moment. Neither was shy, they craved each other too much to be bashful.

He reached for her hand and led Amy into the shower. She wouldn't get to brush her teeth until some time later. However, Bruce tended to every other element of her body. He made sure each part was intricately cleaned as well as caressed. Amy returned the favor. It's great how some apartments seem to have an infinite capacity for hot water, but Bruce's didn't have that luxury. It was still quite steamy in the bathroom.