Again thanks to my awesome beta readers, Eff, Rae and Linda. I think after a while they will get sick of me but for now I have them in my clutches. Muhahahahahah. cough Ur yes, Thanks guys!

Interesting factoid that I found. Funny how it fits with the middle of the story. Just an interesting tid bit on the meaning of the Giada: Simply means "jade" from the name of the precious stone that is often used in carvings. It is probably derived from the Spanish (piedra de la) ijada meaning "(stone of the) colic", relating to the belief that jade could cure colic.

Sorry POV switches a bit for this chapter.

updated 6/18/06.

It was about two weeks since the whole accident. The cuts on Charlie face had healed and he was back to his old self.

Charlie had guests at his house for pizza and a movie. They already watched "The Ring" and now they were going to watch "Serenity".

Alan stepped into the living room to see his youngest son laughing with his friends. He swelled with pride on at the thought of how well his younger son turned out."

Charlie turned around and saw his dad in the foyer, watching him and his friends.

"Dad your home early. How was your dinner with Art?"

"Fine, fine Charlie." He looked around for Don. "I thought you were going to invite your brother over."

Charlie walked over to where his dad was standing, "I did. He must have forgotten and just went home."

Johnny walked up to Alan and Charlie "Dad you remember Dr. Conti?"

Johnny looked to Alan and said, "Good to see you under different circumstances Mr. Eppes. I was going to refill our drinks. Do you want a refill Charlie?"

"Same here. Thanks again for taking care of my son Dr. Conti." Alan greeted the young man.

Charlie smiled at his friend. "Nah Johnny, I'm good, but thanks."

Alan said to Johnny, "Let me help you rustle up those drinks."

"Thanks, Mr. Eppes."

"Call me Alan."

"Call me Johnny"

Charlie looked at his father and said, "We're going to watch another movie if you want to join us."

"Yeah? What movie?"

Johnny answered before Charlie could and said, "Some movie my sister keeps talking about. It based on some cancelled show………."

Alan and Johnny walked off to the kitchen. Charlie heard the front door open. He looked down the hallway and saw his brother come in.

"Hey, Buddy. You feeling ok? I'm not too late am I?"

"Hi, Don. Never better. No not to late, we were just going to watch a second movie. You hungry? We have some pizza."

"Yeah sure."

"Go sit down I'll grab you a slice and a beer. Tell Gia not to start the film yet."

Don walked into the family room where to join the group were sitting and talking.

Larry saw him first and said, "Greetings Don."

"Hey Larry. Hey Amita."

Giada was next to the DVD player. She turned around to see her hearts desire and cleared her throat. "Good to see you again."

"SamehereThanks again for that information you shared with us.

Her face filled with relief. "No problem. I'm glad I could help," Giada said with a smile. Giada's cell phone rang, interrupting the conversation. "Hello?" she said to the caller. "Hey Celeste. What's wrong? Uh, huh. Yeah sure give me a second. Hold on. " Turning back to everyone she said, "Excuse me, I'm going to step outside for a second to talk to my sister-in-law. You can start the movie without me. I've seen it already."

Along the way to the back porch she saw Alan, Charlie, and her brother.

"Everything alright G?"

Giada smiled at her brother for using the familiar nickname. "Yeah, everything is fine. Its just Celeste."

The three of them headed back into the family room The group put the movie on.

Don got up to get another slice of pizza. He walked by the back porch and heard singing. He looked out the back door and saw Giada quietly singing into her cell phone. He became transfixed by her sweet voice.

"…Starry, starry night, portraits hung in empty halls
Frameless heads on nameless walls with eyes that watch the world and can't forget.
Like the stranger that you've met, the ragged man in ragged clothes
The silver thorn of bloody rose, lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow

Now I think I know what you tried to say to me
How you suffered for you sanity How you tried to set them free
They would not listen they're not listening still
Perhaps they never will."

Her voice heldsuch depth of emotion that it was almost heartbreaking to listen too. He realized that he should not have been eavesdropping on his brother's friend and started to move back in to the house.

Giada whispered, "Is she asleep? Good. Why she likes that song I have no idea. Sure thing. No not at all. Call me anytime. Okay I'll talk to you later. Give my love to Paul. Okay night."

Giada ended her phone call and turned to head back in the house. She saw Don standing in the doorway watching her. She was quite embarrassed, but decided to play it off. "Hi."

He looked at Giada and said, "I didn't mean to intrude, but I heard singing and I went to check it out. You have a beautiful voice."

Gia rambled, "Thanks. That was my sister-in-law. Um, my niece is colicky and sometimes my sister-in-law asks if I could sing to the baby it seems to calm her down and she usually falls asleep." Giada felt uncomfortable under Don's gaze, but she couldn't pull her eyes from his.

Don eyes were locked with Giada's.

Giada cleared her throat. "Um, I should get back, I'm sure they're wondering where I am."

She started to walk back into the house when she tripped and started to fall. Don stepped forward and caught her in his armsbefore she fell to the ground.

Her breath got caught in her throat as she realized she was in his arms. She looked up at him. She made up her mind to do the crazy thing she was thinking. She wrapped her arms around him ever so slightly and whispered, "Forgive me for what I am about to do." She pressed her lips to his ever so gently.

Don stood there stunned that she was kissing him. At first he just stood there . He was bit shocked that she was kissing him but then he smelled her floral perfume and felt her smooth hands on his face. Before he could think clearly, something came over him and he kissed her back. Their lips touched gently like butterfly wings and then the kiss became a bit more urgent. He pulled her a little closer, savoring what it felt like to have a woman in his arms again. He thought it had been too long since he had last kissed a beautiful woman. She tightened her arms around him. He could feel her warm body against his and he was powerless to stop his body from radiating that warmth back. His mind registered that the woman kissing him touch and kissed him with strong passion that made him feel overwelmed."

A few moments had passed and Don came to his senses. He pulled out of the embrace, harsher than he had intended on. Giada's eyes went wide with embarrassment. She pulled away, her face flushed with humiliation, and dashed back into the house.

She composed herself before she entered the family room. She sat down next to her brother who took one look at his sister and said, "G, what was taking so long?"

"Oh it was the baby. She wasn't sleeping again. I see you started the movie. Oh, I like this part." She settled down into the couch next to her twin brother. She thought, 'Oh god, what a freaken idiot I am. I can't believe I just did that.'

Charlie looked around the room and didn't see his brother. He heard his brother in the hallway "We started the movie. Come and join us."

"Yeah sure, buddy." Don walked into the family room and sat as far away from Giada as possible.

The two of them spent the remainder of the evening avoiding each other.

Little did they know that Alan had watched the whole scene play out. He had notived before that Gia was attracted to his other son. Much to Alan's chagrin, he had watched as his son pulled out of the embrace with the young woman. He had seen the sting in her eyes at the abrupt ending of their kiss. He had watched the two of them avoid each other for the rest of the evening. He felt bad for Gia and thought that maybe he needed to have a little talk with his son about what he should do when a woman falls for him and initiates contact. He shook his head in disappointment and tried to watch the movie.
Author's note: If you like this story. Please continue on to Art Now Becoming love. It is the continuation of this story but made a seperate one for increased rating. Thanks so much for reading my little old story. I hope you liked it and if you didn't thanks for at least giving me a try.