Well apparently this is the last time I will be able to do this anymore since it's now against the law (in fan fiction land). But we do have this nifty button, which will allow me to email you directly with my thanks. Which when you think about it is pretty cool. I get all excited when I open my email and find reviews. Now you'll get to open your email and find a review reply.

Insane Zula—Ari's like a little mini John and it's going to drive him crazy.

Sour apple—I love having people addicted to my stories since I have been addicted to so many myself. Thanks for staying up all night to read them.

Cenassoldier, latisha, Rko's wife—Very glad to hear from you. Please keep reviewing. Thank you.

Myth—I hate that you had a bad week. I'm right there with you. John went through enough in the last story to make him grow up. And Randy will forever act like a child. I have no idea what he's going to do to Dave—Wait an idea just popped into my head…might just work….laughs evilly.

Wed afternoon

Parking his car in the loading bay of the mailbox place, Dave climbed out and began walking down the block, paying scant attention on his surroundings. Knowing he should keep his mind on the task at hand he continued to remember parts of the night before.

Grinning he shook his head at himself. He hadn't been this besotted with a girl since high school when he had met his first wife Alana. His smile flattened as bittersweet memories overwhelmed him.

The junior prom, their first official date. He had barrowed his fathers mustang. Sweating, a nervous wreak, he had driven under the speed limit to her house. As he pulled up she had walked out of the house and taken his breath away.

June 4th, their wedding date. He had stood at the end of the aisle speechless as she walked toward them. They both had considered it the happiest day of their life.

Ten years later they were screaming at each other over divorce papers. So much for happiness, he thought as he crossed the street and started on another block. Maybe this was all a big mistake. I'm no good at relationships. Hell I've only had one and it went down the drain.

Sighing he took out his phone and stared at the screen. I need to call her and end this before it even starts. I don't want to get her hopes up for this big relationship and then end up breaking her heart. Which I'm bound to do.

Looking up he paused in the act of dialing her number. He realized that he had come to a stop in the front of the florist shop. In the front window was a display of red lilies. He smiled as he realized they reminded him of Jayden. Before he knew what he was doing he had walked into the shop and ordered the arrangement to be sent to her apartment.

So I am an idiot who doesn't know what's good for me. He argued with himself. But I can't let bad memories control my life. Jayden is interesting and kind and she makes me happy.

Waving away his unsettling thoughts he looked around. Okay lets try this again. Walking slowly he retraced his steps back to the mailbox place, paying close attention to the buildings on either side of the street.

Coming to his destination he paused and thought back to what he had seen. That's interesting. Wanting to be sure he retraced his steps once again, stopping to stare at the sight that had caught his attention.

Pulling out his phone he dialed a familiar number. He cursed when he got a voicemail. "Mark. I think I've found a connection. Call me back when you get this message."

Jayden's apartment

Journey rushed up the stairs, burdened by her schoolbooks and the laptop she was lugging around. Reaching the door she raised her fist and pounded, wincing at how loud it sounded.

"Hi," She said when the door was answered. "I'm so sorry I'm late. I got held up by my professor, and then there was a traffic jam and everything." She threw up her hands.

"It's okay. I was just doing some work." Jayden answered inviting the other girl in. "Would you like something to drink?" She asked leading her into the kitchen.

"That would be great." Journey breathed a sign of relief as she unloaded her bags into a chair. "So what kind of work do you do?"

"I'm a reporter." She answered as she handed the younger girl a bottle of water.

"Really? What kind of stuff do you write?" Journey asked interested.

"Right now I'm writing rubbish for a magazine but before I used to write life changing stories for the New York Times." Jayden answered.

Journey cocked her head in silent question, causing her hair to topple out of its messy bun and swing across the bar. Immediately a big orange cat jumped up and began clawing at the new toy.

"Princess, get down." Jayden scolded, grunting as she lifted the feline off the counter.

"Princess?" The younger girl questioned in amazement, looking at the monster cat.

Jayden shrugged. "My daughter named him. She was going through her princess stage." She answered before freezing, her eyes wide in suppressed memories.

"You have a daughter?" Journey asked interested, her attention still on the cat.

"Had." Jayden answered in a hard cold voice, causing the other girl to look up. She opened her mouth to make a comment but quickly changed her mind at the look on her hostess's face.

After a minute of tense silence Journey looked back down at the cat. "What do you feed him? He must weigh 30 pounds."

Taking a deep breath Jayden gave a little laugh. "More I think. He's bigger than some dogs." Rolling her shoulders to relieve tension she motioned toward the school bag. "Why don't you let me read what you have so far so I can see what you need?"

"Sure" Journey answered pulling out her laptop and cueing up the document.

For the next half our there was silence as Jayden wrote down comments and notes on the paper she was reading. Sighing in frustration she rubbed her eyes as her mind wandered once again.

"So," She asked carefully, breaking the silence. "You've known Dave for a long time."

"I guess." Journey answered absentmindedly from where she was playing with the cat.

"So, um, what was his marriage like?" She asked fiddling with her pencil.

Journey looked up confused. "What?" She asked. "Do you know Dave?"

Jayden shrugged. "We've gone out, sort of." She answered vaguely. "Steph mentioned that you're like a daughter to him and I was wandering about some things."

Journey stared at her in dawning comprehension. "You're the mystery date from last night."

"Mystery date?" She asked looking up for the first time.

Grinning journey came over to the bar. "He had this big date last night and wouldn't tell me anything about it, probably because I wanted to know so badly. Course I was mad at him at the time." She explained.

"What were you mad at him about?" Jayden asked interested.

"He is so bossy sometimes. He acts like nobody can do anything without him telling them to do it." The younger girl complained.

Jayden nodded. "I had noticed that. I think it's cute."

Journey stared at her in open mouth amazement. "Man have you got it bad." She said laughing.

Jayden opened her mouth to respond when a knock came from the door. "Saved by the bell." She muttered. Ignoring the other girl's laugher she walked out of the kitchen to answer the door.

Five minutes later she came back carrying a large arrangement of red flowers. Setting them down she stared at them in amazement.

"Well, who are they from?" Journey asked impatiently when the other girl continued to stare at them.

Smiling slightly Jayden reached for the card. "Red lilies for a beautiful red head." She read. "Its signed Dave." She finished as her grin widened.

"You've both got it bad." Journey muttered shaking her head.

Setting the flowers aside Jayden turned to her new friend. "Okay lets get this show on the road. I have a date to get ready for."

"A second date?" Journey teased following the older girl down the hall. Walking through the door Jayden had just opened her mouth dropped open in amazement. "What in the world." She breathed.

"Welcome to the informal headquarters of MASA." Jayden announced gazing around proudly.

"MASA?" Journey asked her gaze fixated on the wall of photos.

"Mothers Against Sexual Abuse." Jayden supplied. She walked over to the wall. "These children are victims of the monsters who prey on children." Her voice hardened. "They kidnap, rape, and murder. Then they dump the bodies and frantic mothers are left wondering what happened to their babies."

She turned to find Journey studying her intently. "I got very involved in this organization when I was with the Times. To the point where I became obsessed." She shrugged. "The lady who was doing the organizing got sick recently so I have sort of taken over."

"No wonder Steph though you could help me." Journey said, picking up a pamphlet on child safety.

"More kids are taken everyday than anybody knows." Jayden answered as she studied the wall in front of her. "Pull up a seat, let me educate you on the horrors of our society."

Randy's house

Lounging on the couch Randy mulled over the conversation he and John had had. It upset him that the friends he worked with, people he looked up to where becoming disappointed in him because of some jokes he had played.

He admitted to himself that he had gone overboard with the masterpiece thing. Shelton had even been wary of showing that video. Randy sighed. I just wanted to be able to rub Dave's face in it. He muttered aloud to himself. Restless he got up from the couch and began pacing. Why do I care so much about what Dave thinks of me?

Unwilling to answer that question Randy picked up his phone and punched in a well-used number.

"Hey little girl." Randy said once she had answered the phone.

"Hey Randy what's going on?" Nikki answered yawning.

"Are you just getting up?" He asked envious remembering the call that had gotten him up at the crack of dawn.

"Yea, I was up all night writing." She replied, stretching. Getting up she sat down at her computer to check her email. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know. Maybe nothing. Maybe everything." He sighed.

"What?" She asked confused.

"I've been hanging out with Shelton." He started.

"The practical joker. I know him." She informed him warily.

"Oh, well I've been joining him on a couple of the jokes and some of them have gotten out of hand." Randy responded. "I don't think I feel real good about that."

"You shouldn't. I don't know about anyone else but I can tell you how I felt when Shelton played a joke on me the first time I met him. It was two years ago and I was so embarrassed that I didn't come back until the day I met you. How is that supposed to be fun?" She demanded.

"You have a point." Randy said, feeling ashamed.

"Promise me you won't pull anymore pranks that involve people." Nikki requested

"I promise." Randy said thinking about the prank he was planning to execute on Saturday.

Jayden's apartment

"So," Journey started, rifling through the other girls closet. "Where are you going tonight?"

"To the movies?" Jayden called from the bathroom where she was curling her hair.

"What are you going to see? Some war action movie? That's about all Dave watches anymore." She asked laying out an outfit.

"We're going to see Derailed. The one with Jennifer Aniston in it." Jayden shrugged as she came out of the bathroom. "It doesn't really matter to me. The last movie I saw was a Disney movie three years ago." She stopped, shocked that the words had slipped from her mouth so easily. Meanwhile her eyes fell on the outfit on the bed. "I am not wearing that to the movies." She declared pointing to the leather pants and red tank.

"Sure you are." Journey persuaded. "Add this little sprakely sweater and some dangly jewelry."

"I'll wear the shirt, but with jeans." Jayden declared grabbing the clothes and heading back into the bathroom.

"Spoilsport." Journey called after her from where she was sprawled in a chair. "Ump" She grunted as the monster cat jumped in her lap. "Uh Jayden I think I need some help." She called out weakly, trying to catch her breath.

The older girl stuck her head out of the bathroom. "Oh I don't know, I might get cat hair on my outfit." She teased. She laughed as Journey gave a little scream. "Princess, get off." She instructed in a firm voice. "Now get," She said to the younger girl. "He'll be here any moment."

"Good luck." Journey called over her shoulder as she gathered her school supplies. "Hope you get lucky." She yelled before ducking out the door.