I Know How He Feels Chapter 6: The Song Remembers When, a days of our lives fanfic

Title: I Know How He Feels
Category: TV Shows » Days Of Our Lives
Author: And The Moment's Gone
Language: English, Rating: Rated: T
Chapter: 6, Words: 10,358

Warnings/Spoilers: AU after Chloe's return to Salem after faking her death.

Summary: I know how he feels, how strong his touch can be, when he believes it's real. I've been there. And I know how he feels

Official Disclaimer: All Days of Our Lives characters and plots belong to Corday and the NBC. I do not hold stock either the man or the company. Chloe Lane, Brady Black, and any other character featured are NOT mine. The title, summary, and lyrics come from the Reba McEntire song I Know How He Feels and I don't own that either.

The Penthouse Grille was packed to capacity when Patrick helped Chloe step out of their car. Duke Lexington, one of John's body men, met the couple halfway down the press line. He helped them wade through reporters past the lobby and into the waiting elevator. As he hit the 'closed' button, he turned and took a breath. "Good evening, Ms. Lane." He nodded to her date.

"Patrick Lockhart." She said carefully. "This is Duke. He works for John."

"I work for you, as well." He reminded her, reaching out his arm to take her cloak.

Chloe sidestepped the body man and raised her hands, as the elevator door opened again. "Thank you but no thank you." She said sweetly. "Tonight I make an impression." When the older man smiled, Chloe peered into the room. "Can you point me to the table?"

Duke took Patrick's overcoat and pointed to the back of the room. "It's the round one in the corner, Ma'am." He told her simply. "Mrs. Black had place cards set out."

"And – "

He had served John Black for too many years before Chloe had come along. "Up front, left corner. Next to the stage," Duke told her before she could finish the sentence. "Ms. Walker and the young Mr. Black will be seated with them this evening."

Without thinking Chloe's eyes shot up to the ceiling. "God and small favors," she muttered. "Thank you Duke. Have Thomas find me later?" Wrapping an arm around her dates, Chloe allowed herself to be pulled through the crowd to their table. "Well doesn't this look like the Last Blast reject table?" Chloe hadn't let go of her date as she set her clutch next to her place card. "And look at Deputy Dougie." Shawn frowned. "Cute little police officer."

"Stripper," Jan corrected, pointedly trying to stand up straighter. Ever since she had returned from her trip with Nicole, Jan seemed to be even more agitated with the young executive. "The pants tear away."

Chloe turned from Shawn, trying not to laugh. As she caught Jan's pointed smile, her eyes widened. "Jan!" She gushed; her practiced smile so wide Shawn knew it couldn't be real. "You are gorgeous!"

Immediately the older woman's smile softened. "Belle did an excellent job, didn't she?" She asked carefully. It was obvious that she was looking for a compliment.

Thankfully, no one wanted to disappoint. "Fantastic!" She raved again, turning carefully to the chair to Jan's left, "And Mimi!"

Patrick cut her off, leaning down to kiss his angelic sister on the cheek. "You look adorable." He told her seriously. The whole table paused before he realized that might have been the wrong word for him to use.

"That's great." Mimi snapped, readjusting the crown on her head that looked like a halo. She swatted at her brother and glared in Chloe's direction for reinforcement. "Adorable?"

"You couldn't have picked a less insulting adjective?" Chloe snapped, her hands clutching her cloak closed. She and Patrick had talked about her reasoning for the heavy material, and she was honestly surprised no one had mentioned her wearing it yet.

"Sorry Meems." Patrick kissed her cheek again. "I just can't think of you as angelic or sexy." He finally admitted, hoping it would somehow erase his word fumble. From across the table, Chloe nodded discretely, telling him that no matter how upset Mimi was, she actually understood 'adorable.'

Mimi's smile changed drastically as she stood and moved around the table. "Well?" She asked expectantly.

Honestly Chloe was confused. "Well what?"

"The only thing I've heard from my best friend since Wednesday is how your gown was the best thing to come out of the Shop in months." Everyone at the table eyed her. "I -for one- want to see what all the fuss's about."

From his place in the corner, Shawn watched the flicker of doubt cross the face of his date. He had seen the gown, notably not on Chloe personally, but he knew that Belle was not lying about her talent or the outcome of the costume. "You can't stay in that cloak all night." He told her as he saw the gears in her head turning, looking for an out.

Doubt flashed again and Patrick moved up in front of her, turning her body to where her back was to her captivethe audience. "Allow me." He insisted, taking his cue from the fact that she was standing ramrod straight. He hadn't known Chloe personally for that long, but Patrick realized that Chloe couldn't hold the rock hard president façade for much longer.

"Thank you."

Chloe unsnapped the clasp and ran her hand over the Celtic knot before dropping them down to her sides, smoothing the material at her waist. Patrick lifted the heavy material off her shoulders and Chloe readjusted her hair before turning back to the rest of the group.

With the old-fashioned romantic ball gown style, the costumegown was by far the most unique thing to ever come out of Bellle's Shop. The delicately simple smooth lines and romantic details made it look like the perfect wedding gown for any time period. The gown itself started with a ribbed bodice and skirt hand dyed in a simple midnight. The bodice was doubly lined and boned for a smoother shape coming to a rounded point below her hipline. It laced up the front, bottom to top, with sheer satin ribbon doubled over a thick cord. It had a rounded neckline, showing just enough cleavage to be alluring, but not enough for her to be considered tacky. The skirt was floor length flecked with Spanish lace overtop of a silk duponi underskirt. Over top of it was a sheer overly of chiffon that added a short train to the gown. To top it all, Belle had added draped chiffon as the sleeves, creating a nice off the shoulder look to the entire ensemble while concealing most of Chloe's arms.

As Patrick folded her cloak over his arm, he smiled at the way Chloe just seemed to beam in her gown. Belle Kiriakis had certainly outdone herself with her latest creation. Chloe looked like a dark princess.

"You are stunning." Mimi squealed, almost tripping over the edge of her own gown as she launched herself closer to take in the masterpiece. The intricate designs cut across the bodice, and the hand stitching on the skirt made Mimi wonder if Belle had done it herself. "I can't believe Belle came up with this in less than a week!" She turned Chloe around again.

Chloe allowed herself to be pulled every which way. "Two days." She clarified, running her hands down the front and smoothing it over her hips. "And she didn't even let me see it." She pouted.

"She did yours in two days too?" Jan asked as she stood and looked back over the costume.

Again, Chloe looked confused. "I thought your costume was just a modified runway gown?" Chloe asked with a raised eyebrow.

Jan frowned and moved away, Shawn moving up to take her spot. "You are beautiful." He told her. "And no, ours were practically done before she showed us the design." He turned his head and nodded to the elevator. "His took two days."

Chloe didn't turn around.

She knew who she would be looking at.

Instead she smiled and wrapped her arm around her date, placing the palm of her hand on his bicep.

"Does anyone know where Belle is?" Her attention was focused on playing with Patrick's cufflinks. She didn't even acknowledge it when Mimi shook her head. "She said she would be here before me." Chloe complained.

Shawn shook his head and bit his lip. "John's here though." He told her. "You might want to go say 'hi.'"

A pointed look passed between them and Chloe nodded, still holding on to her date firmly. "You want to come with?" She asked Patrick sweetly.

Without knowing what he was doing, he wrapped his arm around her and took her inside hand with his outside. "Of course," he said. "I haven't seen Agent Black in months." When Chloe threw him a pointed look, he flushed. "John?" He amended, "Mr. Black?"

"John." Chloe told him. "You call him Mr. Black and he'll start up about being old." Halfway to the table, and she saw what Shawn was trying to warn her about.

He was standing next to the table, his wide brimmed hat resting on top of the expensive centerpiece, joking with his stepmother. Chloe took a quick step back, almost taking Patrick with her, and when he threw her a look of concern, she bit the inside of her cheek and smiled weakly. The closer they had gotten to the table, the more she decided she was going to murder her best friend. His shirt was long sleeved; although he had it rolled up past his elbows in classic Brady style, with an open collar to show off just a hint of his chest. They were tucked carefully into the waistband of his pants. The breeches fit his form perfectly, no doubt Belle had taken many calculations, and the harsh dark color of both pieces accentuated his tan. The boots were careful leather, cut mid-calf, with harshcallous leather soles and heels. They were folded over with two buckles on the outside of each leg and he perched one over the other as he leaned against a pillar.

She wanted to turn back. There was no doubt that Belle had done this to both of them on purpose. But as she rounded one table with Patrick half a step ahead of her, Kate turned and caught her eye.

So instead of running, Chloe took a deep breath, blowing it out of her nose and came right up to the older woman. "The place looks wonderful." She told Kate sweetly, leaning in to give her a hug. "And you are divine."

"I'm a little too old to be playing dress-up." Kate admitted, looking over her Armani gown and then to her tux clad husband. "We're secret agents tonight." She explained as her eye caught the man standing to Chloe's right. "And you seemed to have brought one of your own."

"Patrick Lockhart." She introduced, knowing that Kate and Patrick had seen each other before. "And you remember Kate Roberts."

Kate hit Chloe on the shoulder lightly. "It's Black now and you damn well know it." She scolded without venom, "Now go say hello to your 'father' or he's going to get testy."

The older Black turned at the sound of the word father and when he saw Chloe in her gown his smile only widened. "Whatever was my child thinking dressing you in that?" He asked as he pulled her into a hug. "You look amazing." Kissing her cheek, he held out his hand for Patrick. "The Cassmens aren't here yet, but I assume they're just trying to be fashionably late."

"Most likely," Chloe agreed, finally turning to the masked man. "You put a mask over his face, John? What a cleaver idea." When none of the men around her jumped to respond, Chloe leaned closer to her date. "He won't scare the children so much when they see him. It's a good look for you, Black."

"And the Diva has her crown." Brady mocked from in front of her. "However did Belle find it, shoved that far up your – "

John stepped between them. "That's enough children." He scolded. "Call a ceasefire and shake hands. I don't want you two getting in to it when Vince and Marguerite get here."

The master had spoken, so both children dutifully shook hands and decided upon neutral corners.

"You do look nice." Brady said after a moment. "I always thought that look suited you."

Chloe frowned and looked him up and down. With the exception of the room they were in and the fact they were surrounded by people, Chloe had suddenly come down with a strange case of déjà vu. "Right back at you, Zorro," she said with a smile. There was another pause, a little less awkward and then she noticed the woman coming up behind Brady. Nicole was now standing to Brady's left in what seemed to be her answer to the little black dress, and Chloe tried her hardest to smile politely. "Nicole." She nodded as sweetly as she could, wishing that Brady could have draped a bag over his fiancée before he left the mansion. It seemed that only Nicole Kiriakis -soon to be Black- thought that a thigh length Y-Yigal backless halter dress was considered an appropriate costume to wear to a charity fundraiser. "What are you tonight?"

"Sorry I'm late." The blonde frowned in mock apology, seeming to miss Chloe's question completely. "I was-" She bit her lip before running a hand over the nape of Brady's neck. "Let's just say I needed a few extra minutes." She laughed.

"And here I thought you'd just run out of body paint to finish your costume." Chloe bit back, not bothering to throw a glance at Brady. "Good God Nicole, all that money and you couldn't afford a whole dress?" Without another thought, she grabbed Patrick's arm and turned away, walking as swiftly as Patrick would allow. Finally she dropped herself onto her seat in front of her purse, and huffed. "Does that woman own an ounce of decency?" She growled as she took a small sip of champagne and closed her eyes.

Shawn smiled at the new arrival and patted Chloe's hand. His wife may be best friends with the woman, but there were times that he didn't understand it. "I think it's in a safety deposit box somewhere." He deadpanned as his wife popped his hand and he went back to glaring at his cousin. Everyone at the table understood that there was really no reasoning with Shawn when he was plotting the death of Brady Black, and as often as he did it, the girls frequently joked that there was just no reasoning with Shawn.

"So where is Joy tonight?" Jan smiled, taking a sip of her drink.

"Abby Deveraux is taking her and Zack trick-or-treating and then keeping them at her parent's home." Chloe allowed herself to smile when she thought of her sister playing Monopoly and watching Disney movies for most of the night at the Deveraux house while she was playing dress up at a corporate fundraiser. Somehow the thought of greasy pizza and cheesy G-rated one-liners seemed to be a little more exciting than where she was currently sitting. "I'm supposed to be picking both of them up tomorrow morning."

It never occurred to Chloe exactly how much she truly was a single soccer mom until that very moment. She threw a blush over in Patrick's direction and he smiled back sweetly, apparently he didn't mind the parent routine. Rex however flashed his usual smile and nodded. "Which reminds me; Mimi wanted me to remind you that she wanted to take Joy again tomorrow." Shawn finally looked away from the other side of the room and watched Chloe smile.

"She can have her after I take her to get her hair cut." She decided. For the last three weeks, Joy had managed to get away with not going with Chloe into Salem to get her hair trimmed, and somehow Chloe thought that Mimi had just been in the right place at the right time to help Joy out of this week's chance. She turned her head to the table where her boss sat and the frown on her face reappeared. "And exactly how many glasses of wine has she had since she showed up?" She asked before she could stop herself.

"I stopped counting after she took Brady's glass." Belle's voice came up from behind her and instantly Chloe was on her feet to hug her friend and inspect what the fashion police had decided to wear for the evening.

With her husband out of town, Belle had arrived via her father's limo without an escort, but you wouldn't have been able to tell it just by looking at the blonde's perfectly made up face. She had let her hair down for the event, only pulling up the front half to keep it out of her face and spiral curling everything else. She was dressed simply in a strapless dress bordered with antiqued crystal droplets that Chloe didn't have to ask whether or not they were real. It was a stunning A-line skirt that Phillip had messengered over from Milan earlier that day. Although it had taken the small girl half an hour to locate someone who could zip it up for her, she still marveled at how thoughtful her husband had been. With a delicate crown very much like Chloe's, it was obvious that she was going for an old world royalty motif. And as a Kiriakis she was able to pull it all flawlessly.

"How are the Kiriakis women doing tonight?" She asked gracefully, ignoring the previous comment about Nicole.

Belle slid into the seat next to Chloe and smiled carefully at Shawn and Jan. "Unenergetic and lazy." She decided after a moment, smiling at the grin that spread across Chloe's face. "I think we should have taken a nap after the shopping trip." Chloe bit back an 'I told you so' as Shawn laughed.

Jan almost bolted from the table as Belle threw a warm smile at her husband, and Shawn turned all of his attention at his ex. "The royal 'we?'" He asked with a laugh, snorting when Belle threw a place card across the table at him. "Sorry I asked."

Patrick had been quiet up until now, but the band had started up and he smiled at the way Chloe still managed to remain rigid in front of her friends. He stood slowly, scooting his chair back in and walked the six steps to where Chloe was seated. "May I have this dance?" He asked politely, bowing at the waist like a gentleman.

She smiled a genuine smile as she took his hand. "I've got to warn you I'm not very good at it." She joked, allowing him to pull her to her feet. Patrick expertly spun her once, just to test her, and then he led her out to the floor.

"Somehow I think you'll do just fine." Patrick pulled her closer and placed one hand on the small of her back. After a minute he laughed. "I know what your problem is." He told her.

"Enlighten me please?"

Patrick spun her again, playfully making it hard for her not to smile and then pulled her close again. "You're too damn stiff." He brought his hand down and to the left, lightly tickling the side of her body. "Maybe Brady was right and – "

"If you have any hopes of anything happening I would suggest you not start another sentence off with the words maybe Brady was right." Chloe pulled away from his body to where they were barely touching now, and she glared at him. She didn't mean to get testy. And as she stood there, Chloe realized that Patrick was not aware of what this night was to her, and why she was on edge.

"Dually noted," he held his hands up in mock surrender. "What if I agreed just no more Brady?" He asked, placing one hand back on Chloe's side. She seemed to relax a bit now, but the tension was still in her arms. "Come on." He tried to coax, but there was no letting up. "What did Joy go as this Halloween?"

Patrick said the magic word, and he hadn't even realized it. A smile brightened Chloe's face and she looked up at him from behind hooded lashes. "Cinderella," she told him evenly. "In a one thousand dollar, custom made Bella Black original." Chloe laughed. "She's just lucky that Belle loves her God-daughter." There was another short laugh, and Patrick watched the maternal pride seep into Chloe. He understood now what his sister met when she told him that he wasn't getting anywhere with Chloe without Joy. "And Mimi bought her glitter and I put my make-up on her."

"Sounds like she was a princess all right," He commented lightly.

"She's a spoiled monster." She admitted. "But she's my spoiled monster, and I wouldn't have her any other way."

He couldn't believe this was happening. He was seated with his father, pretending to listen to his advice on how to handle the Cassmens and Chloe was out of the dance floor with Agent Lockhart. If he hadn't had his sister and cousin staring at him, Brady didn't know what he would have done. They were waiting for a reaction, and he wasn't planning on giving them one. He felt a hand squeeze his, and looked up into the eyes of his stepmother. As he nodded, a small group joined the table.

"Brady." His father snapped him away from his glaring match with the back of Patrick Lockhart's head and looked up at the group that joined them.

None of them wore costumes, just very expensive suits and gowns, with equally expensive accessories. Had she not been well on her way to being drunk, Brady had no doubt that Nicole would have gushed about the number of carats on the Cassmen's youngest daughter alone. Brady stood with the elegance that being a Black had taught him, and hastily removed his mask.

"Vincent." Brady stuck his hand out and smiled at the older gentleman. "It's great of you to be here." He was turned in the direction of Vince's wife and he bowed appropriately. "Marguerite." He said smoothly, forcing Chloe and the dance floor to the back of his mind. Business had always been the perfect diversion for nights like this. "Who are these two? Don't tell me a woman as young as you had children?"

Marguerite Cassmen laughed and hugged Brady. "Your father's charm is genetic." She decided as she motioned for a girl who looked no older than Jennifer and Jack's daughter Abby. "This is Kristine." Marguerite said sweetly. "She's my youngest."

"You adopted." Brady laughed, holding his hand out. "It's wonderful to meet you Kristine." He told her as he raised her hand up to his lips and bowed as he kissed her hand.

"And this is Nikolas." A man stepped out from behind his mother and Brady smiled. He had met the oldest of the Cassmen siblings once before, although at the moment he couldn't remember when.

Brady shook his hand and smiled brightly. "Taking over the company?" He asked carefully, making sure that everyone in front of him knew he was joking.

"I dabble." Nikolas decided spotting Nicole. "Is that your date?"

"This is my fiancée, Nicole." Brady said pointedly.

For a moment the eldest Cassmen seemed confused. "I thought her name was Chloe?" He asked as he turned to his mother.

John couldn't help but to smile. "Chloe is his business partner. She is the president of the Black Label." He clapped his son on the shoulder and tried to ease the tension. "Everyone gets confused." Brady shot his father a look as John stepped back. "Please have a seat. I'll track down a waiter for the drinks."

Brady turned to return to his seat and his heart stopped. How he wished that this was any other night.

Patrick brought Chloe up from the dip and she laughed playfully. This was her first date in almost five years, and somehow she wondered why she had given this up. "Have I told you how beautiful you are tonight?" Patrick whispered into her ear before he spun her.

"Once or twice," Chloe admitted, trying not to notice that she had an audience. Mimi and Belle were probably spending more time watching her than the band. Which was a shame, Brady knew how to choose a house band.

The thought came to her mind and as she looked up at her date she banished it immediately. Yes, she knew that Brady was watching her. She could feel the heat of his gaze on her back, but she wouldn't let him rule her tonight. Tonight she was merely a woman out with a man. Brady Black didn't exist.

"Good." Patrick smiled down at her and brushed an errant strand of hair out of her eyes. It amazed him how a woman could be so unaware of what she did to people. How had no one had claimed Chloe Lane before now?. "I'm not a total idiot," he decided. The music stopped and he pulled her close. "When are you going to have to go do your thing?"

"My thing?" Chloe asked as she was led back to the table and then handed a champagne glass. She took a tentative sip and smiled. "There's no telling when Thomas is going to pull out the public humiliation portion of tonight's program."

"You're going to be fine." Belle chirped from her seat, her eyes on the table up at the front. Nicole was standing, talking to the table loudly as her stepmother looked on. "Although I don't think I can say the same for my father."

Chloe followed her look and John sighed in relief when he realized that the girls were watching him. He waved carefully, trying not to draw too much attention to himself. "I do believe we are being summoned." Chloe said sweetly, kissing Patrick lightly on the cheek and helping Belle rise from her seat. "I'm sorry, but duty calls." She whispered to her date before leaving the table.

"Here we come to save the day." Belle sang to herself as she let go of her hold on Chloe's arm and tried to mentally assess the damage the Nicole was doing before she and Chloe sat down.

Seated at the table, John was tapping his foot angrily at his soon-to-be daughter-in-law as she took a sip out of her fiancé's glass and laughed at herself for the second time. "I had thought that joke was funnier." She said by way of mock apology, and John and Kate exchanged glances before Chloe and Belle stepped up to the table.

He stood, motioning to the newcomers to take the attention off Nicole. "Vincent Cassmen." John allowed his hand to remain in the air for a second longer than he should have and smiled at the two women that joined his table. Chloe allowed Belle to take the only chair between Marguerite and her daughter as she positioned herself to the right of the gentleman. Ironically enough, she had also just put her bodice at Brady's eye level. "Allow me to introduce to you my daughter, Isabella Kiriakis and the President of Operations at the Black Label, Chloe Lane." Belle nodded as Chloe shook hands with the balding man in front of her.

"Mr. Black has been full of nothing but glowing reviews. I'm sorry that this is the first time you and I have come face to face." Cassmen said as he eyed Chloe. "I look forward to working with you." He smiled over at his son and nodded. "This is my son Nikolas and my daughter Kristine. You have met my wife."

With a gentle hand and a sweet smile, Chloe greeted everyone and then turned to Marguerite. "It's a pleasure seeing you again." She said with a genuine smile. Marguerite leaned over, whispered something to her husband, and nodded in Nicole's direction.

Chloe didn't even have to look at Belle before the smaller girl snapped into action. Belle sat up straighter and forced herself to closely examine what Mrs. Cassmen was wearing that evening. "Is this Vera Wang?" She asked expertly, knowing full well that it was, diverting attention away from Nicole, who had now taken the entire bottle away from the waiter and was serving herself. Mrs. Cassmen and her daughter were now fully engrossed in talking about the latest fashions and Chloe slid into the empty seat that had been brought to her, pulling the chair closer to John and smiling.

"I heard you got Austin Tyler to agree to a full contract." She maneuvered herself so she was practically sitting in Brady's lap, but she was fully blocking the view of Kate escorting Nicole from the table. "We'd been in negotiations with him for weeks, how in the world did you get him to agree to sign?"

Brady shifted uncomfortably to accommodate how close Chloe had come to him and when he placed a hand on the small of her back, she sent him as much of an apologetic smile as she could manage. Her head bobbed in the direction of the elevator where Nicole was arguing with Kate. Brady silently excused himself and practically ran to help his stepmother deal with his fiancée. There was a sigh as Chloe turned her attention once more to Vince Cassmen and his son. Barely a moment later, Thomas tapped her shoulder and apologized to the table.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to borrow Chloe." He told them as she stood. "Please enjoy the show."

He led her backstage and continued without her when Chloe was stopped by one of Belle's assistants who touched up her make-up and checked the hold on her hair. "Are you all right?" The young woman asked, and when Chloe just managed to smile, she laughed. "Break a leg, Ms. Lane."

Chloe shifted from one foot to the other before someone else caught up with her, placing a hand on the small of her back and kissing her cheek. "You're nervous?"

She jumped and turned, half expecting Brady to be standing there despite the voice. When Shawn handed her a drink she frowned. "Is it that obvious?" She asked when she choked down a sip, not even bothering to ask what it was that she had just drunk. Shawn probably would have labeled it 'Liquid Courage' anyway. "I always get nervous before shows."

"You're nervous because Brady's out there, probably fifteen feet from the stage." He offered, watching her turn a glare over on him.

Had she thought about it, Chloe would have slapped him. "I'm nervous because this is the first time I've performed before an audience larger than seven people since my parent's funeral." She bit back, trying to force herself to believe that was the only reason. "I just need to focus."

He took in her face, somehow reading all of the thoughts that were tangled in her brain. Chloe managed to be able to hide from everyone else, she could lie to everyone else, but Shawn had seen her armor crack the night before. He knew the difference. "What are you singing?" He asked softly, wiping the tears that brimmed her eyes and leaning back against the wall.

Chloe shook her head. "Everything Burns." She stated simply. "And an old remake that didn't make the cut on Lourdes' album. "

"And what's Brady singing?" Shawn asked, the infliction in his voice not budging. It was the same tone that he took with the first question.

"Not sure." Chloe answered honestly. "Don't really care."

There were applause coming from the other side of the curtain and Shawn bent to kiss her forehead. "Have fun." He whispered into her ear as she turned to the rest of the band. "Break a leg!"

Chloe nodded before stepping up onto the stage, she moved gracefully around the drum set and stepped up to the curtain opening.

"Ladies and Gentlemen: Welcome to the stage Black Label Records President and international sensation, Chloe Lane."

Chloe forced a deep breath out of her lungs as she stepped out from behind the curtain. The center spotlight was on her, and she had to catch herself before she blinked. She could feel the butterflies in her stomach calm to a dull ache, and her eyes calmly tried to scan the audience. "Thank you." Her voice steadied out almost instantly, the Diva in her reacting to the applause.

Turning to the right, Chloe smiled as Thomas strapped an acoustic guitar to himself. She had decided on an older song, and Thomas was the only one to have heard the words. One hand gripped the microphone stand gently. "I was told not to sing this one tonight," a short glance was thrown to Shawn and the back table before Chloe laughed. "It has a lot of history." She looked to Thomas and he nodded.

Thomas turned to the band, hidden in the shadows and struck his first chord. "Ready?" He whispered, starting out what was a bittersweet melody.

"She sits in her corner
Singing herself to sleep.
Wrapped in all of the promises
that no one seems to keep.
She no longer cries to herself
No tears left to wash away.
Just diaries of empty pages,
Feelings gone astray."

As her voice echoed fromor the walls, Chloe remembered vividly the night she started this particular song. Two weeks, almost to the night after Brady had left, Chloe had curled herself up in front of the first floor fireplace with photo albums and old journals. She nursed a healthy sized bottle of ancient merlot, as she dug through the entries and the letters. At the bottom of one pile she had come upon and old album of her and Brady holding an infant Joy in their joined arms. She still couldn't place what had snapped that night. Before she knew it, the picture was in the hearth along with the one behind it of Joy and Brady asleep on her hospital bed.

She took another deep sip of warm wine.

Chloe cried as her dream for the future engulfed in the flames.

" But she will sing."g

Brady stared in wonder as once again Chloe held the room with her voice. She stood straight and tall, one hand cupping the microphone in its stand while the other patted out rhythm on her hip. It had felt like forever since he had seen her perform. Sound check hadn't counted; she wasn't nervous, not as raw. Her voice was still tinted with the edge from her accident, no longer sweet and angelic, mixed with something rougher, something sexier. There was a hint of pain clouding her eyes, and a soft smile on her lips that threatened tears.

She hadn't wanted to sing. Brady got that message loud and clear when he had saved Nicole's personal assistant from a sound verbal lashing. But he had to hand it to her, she pulled it together better than he had hoped she would. Brady had watched the inner Diva reemerge when she ordered the entire third floor of the studio building everyone from entry-level interns to senior production assistants for an entire afternoon so she could practice.

He had understood Chloe's determination.

Chloe Lane strove for the best.

And from the strength in her voice, she had definitely achieved it.

With every soft breath she took, Brady watched the emotion almost become tangible. He could feel the warmth of her breath; almost taste the salt of her tears that had yet to fall. If he hadn't known better, he would have thought she was singing directly to him.

"Till everything burns,
While everyone screams
burning their lies
burning my dreams.
All of this hate
and all of this pain
I'll burn it all down,
as my anger reigns
till everything burns."

Thomas's voice joined hers for the chorus, scratchy from the alcohol and worn down from the fun of the night. It fit against Chloe's as the words lifted through the room. This was only the second time he had had the chance to sing with Chloe, the first being in the studio earlier that week. And although he didn't understand the story behind the song, he certainly heard the anguish in Chloe's voice.

She hummed gently into the microphone before releasing it completely and stepping away, allowing Thomas full use. Chloe knew she held the undivided attention of everyone in the audience and smiled bitterly.

"Walking through life unnoticed.
Knowing that no one cares.
Too consumed with their masquerade
No one see her there."

Eyes darted to Chloe again, concern evident. Thomas watched her wipe a stray tear from her eye as she gracefully maintained her smile.

"But she still sings."

Shawn watched Chloe return to the microphone. Her hand resumed its position regardless of the fact that she was now sharing the stand, and somehow her body turned to accommodate Thomas and his guitar.

She still held her body rigid; the only real movement was the left hand on her hip and the way her head nodded now and then. Her emotion was evident through her eyes, and the small tears that glittered in the spotlight.

" Till everything burns.
While everyone screams
burning their lies,
burning my dreams.
All of this hate
and all of this pain
I'll burn it all down,
as my anger reigns
till everything -

Everything Burns!"

Chloe's eyes came to life, as did the rest of the stage, when the backlights flashed on, flooding the room. Behind Chloe was now a full band, the drummer picking up the beat with a crash. The audience erupted in applause and Chloe's body relaxesd greatly. Her smile was bright now, tears and heartache visibly gone.

"Everything Burns
Everything Burns."

"Watching it all fade away."

And Thomas wasn't the only one surprised by the change in his partner. It took Shawn a full moment to focus before he whistled at the stage as Chloe kicked her foot out and took the microphone off the stand. Her hips rocked and her smiled just seemed brighter. All Thomas could do was switch stands.

This was the Diva that Shawn remembered.

Thisi was the woman they had lost.

"All fade away
everyone screams
everyone screams[/i]."

Chloe didn't just command attention, she took it whether the audience chose to give or not. Her voice peaked, half an octave aboveut her registered range, and the audience cheered again. Chloe hadn't realized she missed this so much. It had definitely been too long since she had gotten on stage. Regardless of the circumstance, the music offered her more therapy than any psychiatrist could.

" Till everything burns,
While everyone screams
burning their lies
burning my dreams.
All of this hate
and all of this pain
I'll burn it all down,
as my anger reigns
till everything burns."

He laughed at her. Sitting just off to her right, elbows on the table in front of him, Brady laughed at the vision his Diva cast. Her gown flowed around her, hair tumbling in complete disorder down her back. Chloe was more than a beauty. She was a goddess. Voice aside, she was a vision with her bright smile and sweet laugh.

Brady knew it was a gift she was giving the audience, to him; a gift that he shouldn't have thrown away so easily the first time.

She slowly came back to the stand and nodded to the drummer to slow the beat.

"Watching it all fade away.
Everything burns
watching it all fade away."

Thomas hit the final chord and Chloe popped the microphone back into the stand.

She bit her bottom lip, as she turned to Thomas, still unable to hide the smile. She had done it. One song down, and one left, but Chloe was over the hurdle and still running. As the room erupted in applause, Chloe threw a glance to the back table.

She couldn't believe what she saw on the faces of her friends.

Shawn and Patrick looked amazed, proud but shocked at the way Chloe had handled the first song. Both men stood with the rest of the crowd grinning like two idiots and clapping wildly. She even thought she had seen the words 'that's my date' run across Patrick's lips.

But the look on Belle's face as she and Mimi exchanged words, crashed into Chloe like a freight train. There was a smile, tight with the middle of her brow furrowed gently. The youngest Black felt sorry for her. The thought baffled Chloe. And as she cast her eyes to the rest of the table, she realized that almost everyone shared Belle's look. Shawn and Patrick were the only two at the seven-person table to be genuinely smiling at her.

Did they all really think that one little song was going to kill her? Did they honestly believe that Chloe was that weak?

She kept her smile bright; almost ready to signal the band for the next song.

And stopped.

With her smile still firmly in place, Chloe turned to the guitar player on her right. "Ever heard The Storm?" She asked softly, one hand covering the microphone. She kept her face light, as if just asking for a chord change. After a second, the man nodded and she smiled. "Reggie?" Brady's keyboardist smiled right back at her and nodded as well. "Okay." Chloe stepped back up. "On three."

"One, two..."

The piano started gently with a soft melody and gentle sweet strokes. After a moment, the guitarist perked up, hitting the strings unsteadily until he found a solid sound. The rest of the band held off taking their cues from Chloe. And when Chloe finally opened her mouth to sing, her strong voice was stilted, defeated. She scanned the crowd for recognition before frowning.

"She sits among the pieces
of broken glass and photographs.
Reluctantly releasing the last
of what was her past."

She dipped her voice slowly, deliberately; allowing the weaker edge Brady had trained her to find to resurface. He had taught her to sing with emotion all those years ago on the pier and by God she was going to do it now. With both arms at her sides, she turned her head to the left; to make sure Reggie and the guitarist were still with her. Then she steadily reached up and placed a hand on the microphone. The coolness shocked her and her breath caught in her throat giving her just the sound she was looking for. Two years with Madame Marin had taught her well.

"It struck without a warning
or did she just ignore the signs
in those clouds forming
behind her silver lines?"

Belle blanched. This was not the song that Chloe had approved at sound check. Her second song was supposed to be an older upbeat tune. Her eyes searched Shawn's out in the crowd and he seemed to hold the same question. It was clear that this was a last minute decision on Chloe's part, but what Belle wanted to know was why?

But as Shawn turned to study Chloe, he allowed himself to relax. There were no tears in her eyes, not like for the first song. No matter what her voice suggested, she held a steady gaze around the entire room. In short, Chloe was playing with them. This song, on this night of all nights, the woman was playing them.

Well almost all of them.

Her eyes drank in the sea of blue at the front table. She was forcing him to hear her. For once she didn't shell up every single emotion. She wasn't telling anyone what they wanted to hear that night. Chloe was singing this song for her. And somehow that only made Brady more proud of her.

Just like her dance with Patrick, or even her date, to Brady it looked as if Chloe was fighting for what little independence she could get. She was trying for a shot at whatever it was that she seemed to think she was missing, rather, what everyone around her kept telling her she was missing. Brady sighed when he realized that whatever she was trying to do with this song was about to backfire. As strong as she was, as strong as she pretended to be, Brady knew that she was going to hit a patch in the lyrics and realize just what she was saying.

After all Tthis song wasn't about power. It was about doubt.

But as she looked into his eyes again, Brady swore she knew that.

"The door it slammed like thunder,
and the tears they fell like rain.
And the warnings from her family
Whirl like a hurricane.
She's drowning in emotions
and she cannot reach the shore.
She's alive! But can she survive
The Storm?"

She had steadied her voice now, and for that at least Shawn was grateful. Belle was still blinking wildly. It wasn't like the woman on stage to make rash decision. Chloe just didn't do that. The last time she made a split second decision, Chloe's life -as she knew- it had ended abruptly. Shawn patted her hand and tried to smile.

Belle just frowned.

"What the hell does she think she's doing?" The blonde glared at Shawn as if he was supposed to have an immediate answer.

But Patrick was quicker on the draw. "From where I'm sitting, I would say singing." He replied sarcastically, knowing all too well what Belle was talking about. Granted, he didn't know the full story; he had only picked up bits and pieces about how Belle guarded Chloe too closely.

Belle turned on him. "So very funny."

"I'm not the one having the coronary over a song." He shot back, standing and moving himself to his mother's table. He would find Chloe after her performance. If he had to endure another glare from his sister's best friend, he would throw himself off the balcony willingly. Bonnie just kissed his cheek and turned back to the stage.

Chloe turned to the band, slowing them by half a beat before moving back to the microphone. She was starting to think that she should have stuck to her original song choice. This one was starting to hit a little too close to home.

"Broken jewel box dancer
Lies in pieces down the hall.
She's finding out the answers
don't change nothing at all."

It had taken months for her to realize that. Her voice faltered slightly as her concentration shifted from the force behind her lyrics to the words themselves. Chloe had gone through the motions of her life for six months before she realized that it didn't matter anymore. She didn't have answers; she didn't even have the questions. But no matter how she felt, she realized that she wasn't the only one to be thought about in the situation. She had her sister, and Joy needed to be her focus.

Chloe had thrown herself into work and friends and playing the perfect mother, and for four years it had worked. She and Brady worked together, tag teaming acts and playing the general good cop, bad cop and there were days when she would even go as far as to pretend they could be friends again. Then there would follow the days where she understood that it just wasn't possible. She would see Nicole in the hall, or be at a family event for the Blacks and although she watched Brady and Joy run around like banshees and she could feel the love from his own family, there was just no coming back from what they had been. Chloe wasn't an idiot; she knew the problems and the risks. And regardless of the feelings she was getting from Brady about their lives and his wedding, Brady Black may bewas just too big of a risk. Friend or Lover, Chloe didn't think they would be able to survive being either. So she had done the only thing she thought she could do.

"It's time that she stop searching
For who's the blame and what went wrong
The only thing for certain is he's gone
She's got to move on."

For his credit, Brady understood her indifference to him when he had first signed on as Vice President and the head of the Contracts department. He honestly hadn't wanted the job. Originally he had told his father so, and John had entertained the notion of searching through applicants and finding someone else. And then Kate had bought Titan Publishing from underneath Nicole's nose and offered the blonde a job in the Public Relations department. With Chloe and Nicole working almost side-by-side every single day, Brady felt the need to take his father up on his offer. After all, him not being there would have most likely resulted in Nicole meeting the sidewalk from the window of what he knew now was a plush corner office, and he couldn't have that now could he?

He watched her from his seat, cautious to the fact that his father was most likely watching his face as calmly as he was pretending to watch Chloe. When had he started paying attention to the words of the song just as she was? The depth of her voice drew him in and the words seemed to reverberate in his head.

Brady had left her. She didn't throw him out. Chloe didn't tell him that he had to leave until he made the decision that Nicole was more important. Brady put his grandfather's widow in front of his -

With a sigh and a tip of his drink, Brady forced himself not to think of the end of that sentence. There were secrets that were meant to be kept; secrets that only he, Chloe and Shawn were alive to keep, and that Nancy and Craig Wesley had taken to their grave. And regardless of a song, he wasn't going to drudge up that particular fact at a table full of almost strangers, not while he had only been drinking water the whole night, and most definitely y not while his fianceefiancée was downing champagne bottles.

"Then a door will slam like thunder
and the tears they fell like rain.
And the warnings from her family
Whirl like a hurricane.
She's drowning in emotions
and she cannot reach the shore.
She's alive! But can she survive
The Storm?"

The chorus led into a heavy piano solo, and Chloe closed her eyes, blocking out what she thought to be tears from the audience. There was no telling who was watching her now, or plainly who wasn't as she forced a smile and turned her nod her head to the band. With a heavy crash she faced the stand again sh.

The back table watched the thumb of her left hand rub instinctively on the second to last finger and her eyes clouded. Shawn forced a curse to the back of his throat and looked across the room at Brady. The older man didn't move as Chloe took a deep breath, preparing herself for what was coming next. Belle on the other hand still seethed to the fact that Chloe had brought this upon herself. There was nothing but sympathy for the woman who had unwisely chosen to bare her soul. Mimi and Rex just watched in awkward fascination as the Diva pulled one hand to her chest, and the other pulled the microphone off the stand for the second time in her performance.

Patrick didn't know what to think. The table he was at wasn't speaking, his stepfather not even breathing as Chloe stood on shaky feet. The poor woman looked like all it would take was the air conditioning to topple her. Her voice never wavered though. Somehow it was the stroongest part of her.

"Someday days just roll on by
Without a gray cloud in the sky,
She keeps telling herself
"I will make it on my own""

Her hand still clutched to her chest, thumb caught closely to her pinky and ring fingers, she relaxed them slightly, her knuckles not so white and her nails not quite digging in to her palm. The delicate white gold Celtic knotted chain hung loosely halfway down her forearm, and for a second she touched the matching necklace with the garnet pendant that hung just above her breasts.

""And her friends
they've all gone back to their lives
thinking she will be all right
and she races through the night
to make it home."

Again the inflection of her voice rose, only this time the audience held their applause. Her voice trembled and instead of looking to Brady, her eyes sought Shawn. He was the comfort that she needed, and when he nodded understandingly, she allowed a small smile to cross her lips. Shawn believed that she could do this, she could make it through these songs, and as long as she had him in her corner, she knew she could do it as well.

Belle could have kicked herself. That was why she had chosen this song. Those eight nine lines were what she was trying to tell them. As she looked as Mimi, she realized that maybe they were wrong to try to hurry Chloe along, especially tonight. Maybe she was stupid for trying to force it.

All that was heard on stage was the piano, threading together a lilting melody. The room was so quiet that she could hear the people at the table in front of her breathing just a decibel below the tune. With her head bowed she replaced the microphone and took a step back.

"She sits among the pieces
of broken glass and photographs.
Reluctantly releases the last
of what was her past..."

The applause was deafening.

Her head still low, Chloe smiled and looked back up over the crowd. "Thank you." She whispered into the microphone and curtseyed gently.

Then she walked off the stage.

Brady walked out on stage to a fresh round of applause. Taking the microphone off the stand, he laughed. "How am I supposed to top that?" He asked, his arm indicating the stage exit to his left. "Chloe Lane! Let's give her another round of applause!" The audience erupted again and his grin widened. "Oh boy," He blew out a breath and laughed. "On behalf of Basic Black and the Black Label, I would like to thank all of you for coming out tonight. This is one of the best charities that I've had the pleasure of working with as a board member of the Tuscano Foundation." Brady smiled and turned, pacing the stage very much in the way a tiger would his cage. "And in the spirit of charity I would like to challenge each and every one of you in this room tonight. Basic Black Corporation will not only double, but triple the highest donation made to the Hospital Children's Fund." Again he had to stop for applause, casting his father a sidelong look. John nodded his approval and Brady smiled. "This is for children." He told them. "Break out those checkbooks."

With his back to the audience, Brady smiled at Reggie as he pulled the black silk bandana from his head and shook out his hair. "My Confession." He told the keyboardist with a nod. "One, two..."

The music started slowly as the house lights dimmed. Spotlights flicked on again and Brady turned quickly to make sure the rest of the band was showcased as well. Then he set to acclimate himself on stage, locating his father's table in the darkened room. His fianceefiancée was by the bar, sister at her table with Lockhart, and Chloe-

"I have been blind
Unwilling
to see the true love
you're giving.
I have ignored every blessing
I'm on my knees
confessing!"

Every woman in the room from age sixteen to sixty screamed and cheered when Brady actually dropped to his knees on the stage. No one could believe that he had actually done it, and the two that did were amazed he did it in the outfit he was wearing. One hand stretched out from his side and the other held the microphone lightly. His sister and Mimi were in hysterics as he switched hands.

Up front, as close to center stage as they were bound to get, the entire table was laughing. John whistled at his son before attempting to take a long sip of his water, while his wife clapped between fits of giggles. The Cassmen's were eating the show up, Chloe's theatrics and now Brady's antics. He was just glad that he didn't have to get up there to perform. The more his son hammed it up the more he realized that when Kate had called them entertainment at the start of the night, that she had used the proper adjective.

The instant Brady hit his knees, Chloe gasped, the corners of her mouth turning up in a smile. She hadn't stayed at the sound check long enough that afternoon to hear what Brady had been planning on singing. Now that she heard him, she doubted she would have wanted to. She and Thomas had chosen to stand just off to the side of the stage, closer to the bar and as far away from a table that contained any member of the Black family as she could get while remaining in the building. She watched him with a dull interest plastered on her face, and her heart thumping in her chest.

"That I feel myself surrender
each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty
you're unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart is turning,
falling into place.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession."

He had picked himself off the floor by now, amazed that no dust from the stage had made it onto the breeches. Somehow, he knew that he had his sister to thank for that. Only Belle would know that he would end up on the floor sometime that night. Well, not only Belle.

As if mby their own volition, Brady's eyes drifted to Chloe, thankful that she was standing just in front and slightly to the left of Nicole. If asked, he could always blame bad lighting and swear that he was looking at the blonde. She was drunk enough to believe him if he lied to her anyway. Nicole knocked back another drink and Brady caught the confusion on Chloe's face when he smiled.

It felt odd to her, as she thought Brady was looking straight over her shoulder when he winked. Surely he didn't condone how intoxicated the woman behind her was becoming. Even Chloe couldn't help but shutter when she realized that soon the desperate woman would try wandering back to the table. She didn't want to think of how much butt kissing it would take to cover up Nicole's 'accident' this time around. But Brady was winking at her.

Brady was winking at her.

Chloe felt a blush across her exposed cleavage and spread to her neck. Her head shook as she frowned.

"I have been wrong about you.
Thought I was stronger without you.
For so long
nothing could move me
for so long
nothing could change me"

Brady hadn't even gotten to the second chorus and Shawn knew. He couldn't believe that he hadn't noticed sooner that his head was turned, and not tilted. He wasn't gazing lovingly at his fiancée. Brady was watching Chloe. Although he knew Belle would most likely murder him for trying to foil her plans, Shawn stood and held his hand out to his wife. "Can I have this dance?" he asked sweetly, taking her hand in his own and leading her to the dance floor by way of the Horton table. Without missing a beat, he nudged Patrick's shoulder and nodded to Chloe. Then he followed his wife onto the hard wood.

Patrick, to his credit, caught on quickly. Standing and moving around the perimeter of the room, he came upon Chloe and Thomas quickly. He didn't speak, just held his hand out in a silent invitation.

"Now I feel myself surrender
each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty
you're unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart is turning,
falling into place.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession."

His throat tightened as the beat sped up and his heart followed along as Patrick led Chloe in a waltz. They both moved beautifully, one out of practice and the other natural grace. Chloe's feet barely touched the floor as she readjusted one of her hands on Patrick's shoulder and the other in the firm grip of his hand.

"Why didn't you tell me you were professionally trained?" Patrick spun her easily and slowed the pace.

With a wide smile, she tried to push the man behind her out of her mind. "I'm not." Chloe admitted. "I picked up the basics in Milan while I was on tour."

Flicking his wrist, Patrick brought Chloe closer to him and spun them both slowly, settling with his back to the stage and not releasing his date, "Could have fooled me."

She felt his eyes on her.

And all Chloe was capable of was a smile.

Then through the dim he managed to lock eyes and she bit her lip to keep from echoing his gaze. They had a connection. She wouldn't, she couldn't deny that. Halloween night was as special to them as a birthday to a child. But he was extorting it to get to her. And then he was going home to his fiancée.

As she began to look away, his lips turned down into a determined frown.

"You are the air that I breathe.
You're the ground beneath my feet.
When did I stop believing?"

Everyone looked to the stage as the tempo sped, the guitarist suddenly joined by two violinists. Half of the audience cheered while the other just gaped dumbly.

Chloe did neither.

Brady's extravagance on stage was nothing new to her. He spared no expense and pulled out all of the stops in almost everything he did. A charity event was definitely no different. Not if it meant that he was able to show off. It annoyed her that even Patrick seemed to be amazed.

She held his gaze, unable to turn. Brady had her full attention.

"Cause I feel myself surrender,
each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty
you're unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart,
falling into place.
I can't hide
Now hear my confession

I can't hide

Now hear my confession."

The first song over, Brady worked through the applause as one of the handlers helped him into his guitar. He didn't stop to announce anything; he didn't even break eye contact with Chloe as he strung together the first few chords and grinned.

"One day too long
I've been missing you
Two days have gone
since I've heard your voice
I've lost track of time
since I've seen your smile
and tasted your kiss."

His sister cheered from her table, recognizing the song almost immediately. It was written right after the report of Chloe and some baritone on tour. Brady hadn't wanted to think about it, and she had accompanied him to the studio one afternoon just to hang out. He had played around with the guitar enough to where he had a sound he had liked, and before she knew it, he was asking her what she thought about the song. She watched his face, his gaze, everything as she realized that he was playing this one for a reason.

Maybe her plan was working after all.

One quick look to the dance floor and she cursed.

Then again, maybe not.

"One step one mile
I count in my mind.
Dust settles down baby
Probably so will I
I've lost track of time
since I've seen your smile
and tasted your kiss."

An arm wrapped around her waist and Chloe was pulled closer to Patrick as he turned her to face him again. Instinctively her arms wrapped around his neck, and he took a deep breath to inhale her clean flowery sent before dropping a kiss to her hairline.

"She's a big girl, honey."

Shawn frowned when Chloe shuttered and then he looked at his wife. "I know that." He told her simply. He watched Chloe shift in Patrick's arms again and had to force himself not to abandon his wife to check on her. He had meant what he had told Chloe earlier, he loved his wife, but there were more important things in life than everything she strove for. Popularity and clothes were not things that should worry an adult. Shawn pulled his wife closer and allowed her a moment of just them. "You didn't see what he did to her."

"By he I hope you're referring to Brady." Jan spun her husband and laughed at the expression that spread on his face. "Once again, baby. I'm only sure that Chloe is more than capable of taking care of herself."

Shawn only nodded, far too smart to try to argue with her any further. His wife decided she was getting time with him, and of course Jan Brady always got what she wanted. Shawn would just have to remember to talk to Chloe before they left later that night.

Prior to contrary belief, Chloe wasn't as broken by the song as everyone thought she would be. Yes, she seemed to understand that the song was for her, just like the one before. Brady was trying to tell her that he was thinking of her tonight. It wasn't that big of a deal. Just like the anonymous orchids she had gotten the year before. Or the package that she had received on Thanksgiving.

It wasn't that big of a deal.

What Phillip had told her the Sunday before stuck with her as she tried to relax in Patrick's arms. She was repeating things again. And someone never gets over the kind of love that she had shared. Chloe shook herself again and forced the tension from her muscles. She was here to have fun. And that was what she was going to do.

"Smoke on the horizon
Late in the afternoon
Sunlight in my eyes
and I wake up too soon
I fall down inside
When I realize
that morning has come
and we're still undone."

From her place by the bar, Nicole just ordered another drink. Four years. Four years together with Brady and this day still got to him. No matter where they were what they were doing or who they were with. On Halloween, Nicole just ceased to exist. She downed the contents of her glass and threw her head back to try to alleviate the tension between her temples.

It didn't matter to her though. The end result was that she had Brady Black and Chloe didn't. Who cared if he spent two nights a year pining for the one that got away? Everyone had something they regretted. After all, hadn't she been partially responsible for keeping Chloe from Brady those years ago? Didn't she marry Lucas Roberts for money and try to bump Greta out of Eric Brady's life? Everything was a small price to pay for the fact that in a few short months, she was going to be the new Mrs. Brady Black.

Nicole smiled at the dance floor where Patrick was clutching Chloe a little too tight. Fate had its little ironies. Tonight was just one of hers.

"The shape of your shadow
Dances on the wall.
We're two broken leaves
drifting in the fall.
I've lost track of time
since I've seen your smile
and tasted your kiss."

She made her way across the dance floor slowly, and when she slid up to the table, Belle dropped into the chair next to her father and smiled sweetly. "I need a favor." She told the older man simply, standing and pulling him to his feet. Belle drug John out to the dance floor and away from prying ears.

Rex had cut in a second before, Jan falling into his arms with a sigh and a faux faint. Shawn made his way around to Patrick and Chloe smiling at the fact that regardless of the black mail and threats, Jan and Mimi had managed to make friends. But Mimi was talking to her mother-in-law, which left Rex without a dance partner. Shawn gladly gave up his in favor of another.

"May I cut in?" He asked softly, patting Patrick on the shoulder and then taking Chloe's hand when the older man backed away. "How are you?"

"You got rid of her?" Chloe tilted her head to the other side of the floor where Rex was telling Jan a joke.

Shawn just laughed. "He madegave me an offer I couldn't refuse." He decided. "I have to take her home though." For the briefest of seconds, he looked bummed. "I guess we can't all get what we want - "

"Shawn Douglas." Chloe popped him on the shoulder and he twirled her gently. They glided like they belonged together and Shawn felt an absence of something he never knew he could have. Unfortunately he and Jan didn't fit together that way. They complimented each other sure, but Jan was Chardonnay and he was Budweiser. She was designer and he was 'if it's clean I'll take it.' Chloe was a dress down to dress up kind of girl. Unless Belle was involved, it took the woman half an hour to get dressed for any occasion, no matter if it was an opera gala or a child's soccer game. Jan was a model socialite. Chloe was just Chloe. "I cannot believe you said that."

"And I can't believe you're falling for this song." He shot back.

Chloe closed her eyes and sighed. "You don't understand."

"Smoke on the horizon
Late in the afternoon
Sunlight in my eyes
and I wake up too soon
I fall down inside
When I realize
that morning has come
and we're still undone."

Brady watched Shawn lead her across the floor, the dips and turns that reminded him that they fit together like two best friends should. They were just as close as he and Chloe used to be.

No. They couldn't be that close.

But the position of Shawn's hand on her back made him shutter, and the way she held Shawn's gaze as she laughed haunted him more than he would like to admit. There was something there that Brady didn't know. And he wasn't sure if anyone else noticed. Without missing a beat he stepped back up to the microphone and took a breath.

"I woke up wondering
what I'm doing
Living, breathing without you.
I can't go on
Living, breathing
Just believing
Dreams do come true."

His solo was next, and his nimble fingers rifted through the strings effortlessly. Brady made it up as he went along, not even thinking about his fingers. He could feel Shawn's glare when he realized as he went to finish. From somewhere deep inside, Brady wondered who else noticed.

"Smoke on the horizon
Late in the afternoon
Sunlight in my eyes
and I wake up too soon
I fall down inside
When I realize

"Smoke on the horizon
Late in the afternoon
Sunlight in my eyes
and I wake up too soon
I fall down inside
When I realize
that morning has come
and we're still undone."

He frowned when she looked away to wipe a tear before she was lead back to the table.