Disclaimer: Of course I don't own anything or anyone etc.

Chapter 3

The sun was now up illuminating the once dark room.

Hearing his cell phone ringing the former Marine opened his eyes slowly trying hard to adjust to the bright light.

"Danny McCoy" he answered not checking the caller's ID.

"Danny, it's Ed. I heard what happened. I'm really sorry about your father kid." Ed always looked at Danny as the son he never had. He took him under his wings and whenever he had problem, he was there to help him. He may have been harsh on him many times but he only did it for his own good.

"Thank you Ed".

"This is probably not a good time but I want you to know that I talked to the new owner and she wants everybody back in the Montecito"

"I don't know if I can come back to work now Ed"

"Take as much time as you need. Just so you know, your job will be waiting for you until you're ready. Oh, and Danny?"

"Yeah?"

"If you need anything, anything at all, let me know."

"Thanks a lot Ed. I appreciate it."

As he closed his phone he noticed the empty space next to him. He remembered how good and comfortable it felt to have her in his arms last night. It's been so long since the last time he did it and he missed it. He remembered how beautiful and peaceful she looked while she was sleeping and how tight they were holding each other through the whole night, like they were trying to memorize each other for one last time before someone break them apart. But then he thought that she was doing that with someone other than him too and that made his heart sink. She appeared to be happy with Jake and he didn't want to be selfish and ruin it for her. The thing was though that he didn't know how much more he could hold… Say the hell with everything and get her back… He wanted to do it so badly but he was afraid it was too late.

He finally managed to get out of his bed searching for her. He tried the living room but she wasn't there. Instead a fully prepared breakfast was waiting on the table. Fresh juice, coffee, pancakes and bread rolls were only some of the delicious things served.

'Some things never change' he thought. She loved taking care of him. When she was living with him and his father she would always cook for them and made sure they were never hungry. She even visited them to the construction site and brought everyone sweets she made on her own. Everybody adored her. She was the girl next door and that's only one of the things that made him love her so much.

A smile was spread across his face when through the glass door he faced the most amazing view. There she was sitting by the pool, her legs splashing the water, the sun warming and lightening her beautiful features.

He grabbed a bite and a cup of coffee and went outside to join her.

"Good morning"

Hearing his voice, she turned around and smiled "Hey sleepyhead"

He took a sit right next to her "Thanks for the breakfast but you didn't have to get into so much trouble. The coffee was enough"

"Yeah, I highly doubt that. I know what you can eat McCoy"

"Hey, what's that suppose to mean?" he asked acting offended.

She raised an eyebrow and looked straight at him.

"Ok, ok I got. I eat a lot!" he admitted as they both laughed. "So... Did you sleep well?"

"Um… Yeah, yeah… Good… You?" she answered looking everywhere but him trying to hide how much she actually enjoyed her sleep.

"Me too". To break the awkward silence he continued "Ed called. He told me that the new owner wants everybody back. You don't have to worry anymore."

"Really? That's good." Seeing a sad expression written on his face she added "What about you?"

"I don't know… I have a lot of things to take care of before I can go back"

"It's gonna be ok. I'll help you with everything". She caressed his hair reassuringly. "Listen I have to go home for a while. You know take a shower, change clothes. I'll only be gone for a couple of hours"

"Mary it's ok. You don't have to come right back here. I'll be fine. Besides I have to arrange everything for the funeral…"

"I told you I'll help you and I will. I don't want you to do it alone. So you'll wait for me"

"Ok. Thank you" "Come on, I'll take you home" Seeing that she was about to protest, he continued "…and don't even try to argue with me"

"All right" she sighed defeated.

"Thanks for bringing me home Danny"

"You're welcome. What time do you want me to come and get you?"

"How about in two hours?"

"Two hours it is". She kissed him on his cheek and got out of the car, with him waiting until she got in the house.

She took her shoes and clothes off and went straight to the shower. After she finished and dried her hair she headed for the kitchen to make some tea when she heard a knock on the door. She opened the door only to face a more than upset Jake staring at her. She stepped aside and motioned for him to come in.

"Finally I found you. Why is your phone turned off?" he asked his voice full of anger.

"Hello to you, too... My phone is closed because it is out of battery Jake. You knew where I was going to be, so what's wrong?". She tried hard to stay calm.

"I'll tell you what's wrong. First, you cancel our trip to run to poor little Danny, then you tell me that you're going to spend the night there alone with him and your phone is off! Can't you see that he's just trying to get you into his pants Mary?"

"I can't believe I'm hearing this" she said shaking her head. "Can you calm down a –"

"It's either him or me Mary. You have to choose."

"What? You are not serious, are you? How can you even ask me that?" she couldn't believe in her ears.

"Just answer the question. Him or me?"

She couldn't help but get frustrated "Jake, Danny and I are best friends since we were two years old. He was, is and always be a huge part of my life whether you like it or not. If you can't deal with it then I'm sorry"

"Is that your final choice?" he asked hoping that she will change her mind.

"There is no choice to be made" she answered coldly.

Not saying anything he run out of the house hitting hard the door behind him.

She sighed as she couldn't imagine that Jake could get so out of hand. He always seemed jealous of Danny but he never before acted like that.

She took a glance at the clock and went back to make herself a tea and get prepared, trying to get her thoughts out of what has just happened.

Danny was there just in time to pick her up. She climbed into the car and greeted him doing the best she could to hide from him. But he knew her all too well. "Is everything ok Mare?" he asked concerned.

"Yeah, everything's fine". She hated lying to him but he had more important things to think about right now than her personal problems. Plus she didn't want him to feel like everything that happened was his fault.

He looked at her certain that something was wrong but he decided not to push it. At least not yet…