Thank you for reading this far! Chapter 11 is really a pivotal point for this story. It's a long one, but I know you'll enjoy it! Josh does a great job in it.

"Okay, I've got the meat marinating, the ice cream in the freezer – where did I put that plastic grocery bag? I should chop the veggies now for the kabobs. Oh, here's the bag. Skewers, check. Tongs, check. Now –" Josh's narrative ended at the sound of the doorbell.

"Hi! It's me!" Idina was standing on the front steps, holding a little box with a bow on it. She looked chipper.

"Hey, guess who! Come in."

"Thanks. It's so nice out today! After the rain we had yesterday the air feels so fresh to the lungs!"

"Yeah, it's pretty nice. So, where's Taye?" Josh leaned against the wall.

"Oh, he had some business tonight. He told me to tell you he said hi and that he's sorry he couldn't make it. But it kind of works out fine this way because we can spend more time working on music together."

"True! I wrote a song yesterday we might be able to work with. But for now: I'm hungry!"

They both walked into the kitchen. "I was thinking we could have kabob with our meat, and then I bought some ice cream for dessert." Josh tempted.

"Mmm, you're making me hungry!"

"I know; I'm good at that."

"Well, here's a little gift I bought for Sweeney. Where is he?" Idina looked around, searching for Sweeney. Maybe he would be licking something off the floor.

"He's in the back yard." Josh yelled out the French doors for Sweeney to come in. The dog gladly came: there was a new person to sniff!

"Hey, Sweeney! Remember me? Idina? I have a gift for you." She pulled on the ribbon and opened the box. Inside was a fancy bling-bling for his collar! A big "S" made of diamonds. She also got him a can of dog food. "So we can all feast together." Josh put the "S" on his collar, and they all agreed that Sweeney was very handsome in it.

"Thanks, Idina. He loves it."

"No problem. Do you need any help with dinner? You said you were hungry."

He grabbed a skewer and the bowl of chopped veggies and sat down on a bar stool. "Care to help me do some skewering?"

She grinned, "Sure!"

Onions, peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, and capers – perfect for kabobs.

They talked and laughed throughout the preparations. Josh lit the grill and started cooking the meat. He put on a pot of water for couscous. Josh's cell phone rang.

"Yeah?"

"Hey, kid!" It was Foster, "What's up? I haven't heard from you in a while. How's the CD going?"

"Oh, it's going, if that's what you mean. Idina Menzel is over right now. We're having dinner and then are going to get some work done in the studio."

"Cool. I wish I had been invited. What are you grilling?"

"Steak for me, pork for her."

"Did you buy a pre-made pasta salad from Price-Chopper?"

"No, I'm cooking everything tonight for myself. Though I'll admit," he whispered, "I'm a little nervous. I haven't done this in a long time. I'm making couscous and kabobs."

"I'm so hungry. Barbara left me all alone tonight, so I thought I might get a drink and burger or something. If you're company starts to bore you, give me a call."

"Sure, I'll remember that. Well, I should go; the grills sending out a lot of smoke."

"Okay, see ya."

"Bye."

"It's nice to be comfortable enough at a friend's house that you can make a clown face out of all the food on your plate." Idina grinned. Josh was leading her into his studio.

"Yeah, I hate being all stiff and well-mannered. I like the stage, but I'm not a big fan of day-to-day acting." Josh turned on the lights in his studio and motioned for Idina to sit on the red leather couch. He sat down next to her.

Idina glanced at Josh. "It's sad because I'm often alone. Taye is a wonderful man – great actor, great singer, great friend – but he's always at work."

"That stinks! I would hate to be married and never be home."

Idina shrugged. "Sometimes I feel like I'm not even married to him."

Josh didn't know what to say. "Why don't we play around with some music?"

"Sure." She forced a smiled.

Josh went to the piano and played a couple notes. Idina pulled a piece of paper out of her jeans pocket. "I was thinking that maybe we should do a cover. Like, if we take typically and one person song and make it a duet."

He nodded. "That could be cool. Do you have any songs in mind?"

"'If I Fell', by the Beatles. It's a passionate ballad that deserves more recognition. I've been thinking of some harmonies for it, if you want to try it out."

"Is that the lyrics for it?" Josh pointed to the crinkled paper in Idina's hand.

"Yes, should I read it to you?"

"Why don't you just play it for me?" Josh got up from the piano bench and let Idina sit down. She started playing and singing:

"If I fell in love with you

Would you promise to be true?

And help me understand

'Cause I've been in love before

And I've found that love was more

Than just holding hands

If I give my heart to you

I must be sure from the very start

That you would love me more than her

If I trust in you, oh please

Don't run and hide,

If I love you too, oh please

Don't hurt my pride like her

'Cause I couldn't stand the pain

And I would be sad

If our new love was in vain

So I hope you see that I

Would love to love you

If I fell in love with you."

Josh was captivated by her voice, the way she sang and played. He stared, not able to speak.

"Do you think it's good enough to record?" She asked.

"Yes, I love it."

Idina is no fool. "Josh, do you love me?" She moved back to the couch. "I have always loved working with you, but maybe we should be more?"

"More?" He awoke from his reverie.

"Do you love me, Josh Groban?"

Millions of thoughts spun around his head. Idina is making a move on me? But she's married!

"I don't think so. Why are you asking me this? You have a husband."

"But he's never there for me! I can divorce him. Just think of what a team we would be! I feel it, don't you?"

"No, Idina. This is crazy. I'm not going to be your adulterer. I owe it to myself and my fans to do the right thing."

"Josh, since when have you cared about your fans." She sounded so corrupt.

"Don't you judge me! I haven't always been there for my fans, but I never stopped caring about them. Have you ever stopped to think that maybe there is a reason New Line didn't want you as Elphaba? Maybe it's because you're not a good role model." He snapped back. Inside he was very proud.

"What?" She leapt to her feet. "How insulting! I thought we were friends!"

"Me, too! But I'll be no friend with benefits."

"Humph!" Idina crumpled the piece of paper into a ball and threw it at the piano. "I've been insulted enough. I have to go."

"Yes, go home to your husband."

Josh saw her car lights disappear through the studio window.

G