A/N Thanks so much for your reviews! You guys put a smile on my face - and I need smiles now the holidays are coming to a close. Keep reviewing! And thanks to The Salad Is Dressing for the geographical help.

Summary:

After long-term romances with both Jesse and Paul, Suze shocks them both by embarking on a whirlwind romance with a complete stranger, and is gone one morning from Carmel without trace. Can Jesse fight for the girl he wants, or will Paul get there first?

Chapter Three: Lily

"Nombre de Dios!" I gasped, clutching at my heart. "As Susannah would say, you scared the pants off of me."

The girl standing before me was pale in complexion, and her pale blue eyes stared earnestly at me. Her shiny-looking hair was in braids, one either side of her face, which had a pointy chin and dimpled cheeks. She had a certain glow about her, which implied of course, that she was a ghost.

Yes, I can see ghosts. Cope with that information please, for I am far too busy telling this story to explain...

Her face twisted in confusion. "But you are wearing trousers," she replied, in an oddly English accent.

"Never mind," I muttered, irritably, knowing I had better things to do than explain American culture to a tiresome British ghost. "What is a British ghost doing in California? Why aren't you haunting your own country?"

The girl smiled sadly. "I've always wanted to see America," she said. "California, in particular. And when I came across this apartment, I was intrigued by your lives."

"Well I'm glad somebody finds my life amusing at the moment," I said, disgustedly.

The girl looked shocked. "Of course not!" she replied angrily. "I was saddened by Susannah's departure, just like you. I was drawn to this dwelling because of the energy of two mediators, not to spy on you as if your lives were part of some soap opera!"

"Is that why you are here?" I demanded. "Do you require the services of a mediator?"

"I do not know why I am still wandering the Earth," she said sadly. "My dearest siblings and parents have long since died, after the pleasurable lives I watched them lead. I do not care for my younger relatives - nieces and nephews and so forth... I have ne'er know them."

I felt myself softening towards her. God only knew how long I'd spent as a ghost. "What's your name?"

The girl turned her head, and her braids were thrust behind her shoulders. "I am Lily Thomas."

"How did you die?" I asked. Well, I had to make some sort of conversation.

"Typhoid fever," she said sadly. "The same year our Queen's consort died of the same illness."

"I'm sorry," I said sympathetically. I laced up my shoes. "I wish I could listen for longer, but I have to go."

"To chase Susannah?" Lily asked earnestly.

"Yes," I replied, walking into the kitchen, but Lily was hot on my heels.

"You won't catch her," she said firmly. "Her plane has already left the airport."

I sighed, distraught, and dropped my duffel bag. Was I too late?

"Where did she catch a plane to?" I asked, dropping my eyes to meet Lily's own, surprised gaze. "You did follow her, didn't you?"

"Of course," replied Lily, sticking out her chin. "I was mighty interested. But why should I tell you?"

I sighed again, and placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "I love Susannah," I said. "Don't you want this soap opera to have a happy ending?"

She clapped her hands excitedly. "Yes!" she cried. "Alright then, they caught a plane to Cairns, on the Queensland coast. So go get in your motor-object!"

"You mean my car?" I asked amusedly. Lily smiled. "I am not used to these new inventions," she said, blushing.

She followed me out to the parking lot and waited beside the car. "Have a nice trip," she said, sadly. "Good luck with getting Susannah back."

I raised an eyebrow. "You don't want to come along?" I asked. Lily's grin lighted up her whole face.

"Really?" she replied, climbing in. "I can come?"

"Of course," I said, throwing my bags into the boot and stting beside her. "I'll need you to be my official geographer and spy. And don't you want to see how this story-line turns out?"

A/N What I want to know from you is... What do you think of Lily? Do you:

a) Like her, she seems OK

b) Hate her, she should mind her own business,

c) Love her to pieces (in the platonic sense, please...)