Disclaimer: Still the same – not mine, not getting any money, just the glory!!!

Thanks to SouthernChickie and onlyGodcanjudgeme for reading and reviewing very quickly.

And now back to our show…

The first two months of the semester had flown by. Gwen had settled into a routine around her classes and office hours. She usually started her day at 5:30 with a run in the park. She was on campus by 8:15. Her day was filled with one large lecture and two smaller, more specialized classes, advising and mentoring a few of her students and grading papers. By 4:30 she was heading downtown toward the dojo.

Richie was an excellent instructor. They warmed up with some technical moves and as her technique improved had started sparring. It was taking longer for him to disarm her each day. She still insisted that they get in the ring and kick box so that she could beat him at something.

Duncan watched her progress with interest. He also watched the relationship between the two of them. So far he had not seen any signs of anything romantic. When he questioned Richie about it, the younger man looked at him in surprise. "Mac, I know you think that I am nothing but a walking bundle of hormones, but I am capable of having just a friendship with a woman. I mean, I really like Gwen. We have a great time together. I just don't get that kind of vibe from her and that's cool with me."

Duncan shook his head, "Wow, Richie. That almost sounded like an adult sentiment."

"You know, Mac, just because I don't age doesn't mean I can't grow up."

________________________________________________________________________

A few nights a week, they went to Joe's. Richie had been right about the house band – they were good, especially when Joe played with them. The blues were really in his soul.

Richie had told Joe about the guitars in Gwen's apartment. She kept protesting that she really wasn't a musician, but they managed to get it out of her that she had played with a band during her undergraduate days. "We just played fraternity parties and a couple of small bars in the area. I was really no big deal."

"Do you still play?" Joe wanted to know.

"Just for myself. I haven't had a lot of time lately, but I enjoy it," she replied. "Sometimes it's a better stress reliever than the punching bag."

"Even better than punching me?" Richie teased.

"Nothing is better than that!" Gwen swatted at him as he ducked away.

Joe was still interested in music. "What kind of stuff do you play, when you have time?"

Gwen turned her attention back to Joe. "I just play… whatever. I play by ear, so I just kind of pick it out. When I played in college, we did a lot of covers of popular and rock music, so I listened to it and played along until I got it down. But I like most kinds of music."

"You ought to see her CD collection!" Richie exclaimed. "She has some of just about everything."

"Except opera!!" he and Gwen said together, laughing.

"And just what is wrong with opera?" Duncan said indignantly.

"Sorry, Duncan, no offense intended." Gwen answered, still laughing. "I enjoy other classical music. I just can't get into opera."

Richie added, "Yeah, and the last one you dragged me to didn't do much for me except give me a good nap."

"Okay. So, no more opera for you." Duncan rolled his eyes at Richie. Turning back to Gwen, he asked, "When are you going to let us hear you play?"

Gwen shook her head, "Really guys, I just play for my own enjoyment. I'm not much of a performer."

Joe slowly got to his feet and said, "Well, I'm a performer and I have another set. Excuse me."

Duncan ordered another round of drinks for the table as they listened to the last set.

The next day was Saturday. After her morning run, Gwen had cleaned her apartment and gone to the Laundromat. She finished putting her clothes away and looked down at the cases by the dresser. Shrugging, she grabbed one of them and headed for the living room.

 The acoustic guitar had not been played since she moved to Seacouver. She adjusted the stings and strummed a few chords. Soon a melody took shape and for the next hour songs poured out of her hands. She sang to some and just played others. She had just started Green Day's "Good Riddance" when her front door eased open.

Richie and Duncan had stopped by to invite Gwen over to Duncan's for dinner since they happened to be in her neighborhood. They heard the music as they stepped on to the porch. Motioning for Richie to be quiet, Duncan leaned on the door to hear a little better. To his surprise, it swung open.

Neither man made a sound as they tiptoed inside. Gwen sat on the coffee table with her back to the front door. She sang the song with so much emotion it was as if her life depended on it. Richie had figured that music was more to her than she let on, but Duncan was transfixed. While she didn't have the most beautiful voice, it was well-suited piece she sang.

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life
So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time

Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth, it was worth all the while
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life.

As she played the last few notes, Richie coughed. Gwen spun around at the sound. Her face was wet with the tears she had been shedding as she sang. She quickly wiped them away. "What are you guys doing here?" she sniffed.

"We… uh… Well," Richie stammered, looking at Duncan.

Duncan took a step forward, "That was beautiful," he said softly. Gwen stood and set the guitar down. She just shook her head and looked at the floor.

Clearing his throat, Richie finally found his voice. "We just came by to ask you over to Duncan's for dinner. He's cooking lasagna."    

Gwen looked from one man to the other. Both returned her stare expectantly. "Um…sure, I guess. What time?"

"I can have it ready by eight o'clock, but you can come over any time," Duncan replied.

"Okay. Can I bring anything?" she asked.

"Yeah," Richie chimed in. "Bring your guitar." Duncan elbowed him in the ribs and shook his head. "Or not. Whatever."

"I think I've had enough of this today." Gwen put the instrument back in its case. "Maybe some other time. Anything else?"

The older man thought for a moment, "No, I think we have everything. Just bring yourself."

"Okay, I'll be over later." She waved at her friends as they left. Sighing, she picked up the case and put it back in the bedroom then went to take a shower.