A/N: "Borg" - If you want to read a fic where everything's like in the show… well gee, go watch the show then! Why are there fics if everything is supposed to be like it is in the show? Er, hello? Anyway, I think the thing with me is that I want to explore these characters and their other sides… they can't be just what meets the eye in the show, can they? Time changes people, or so they say. To better and to worse.

If you want to read a fic where everything's like in the show… well gee, go watch the show then! Why are there fics if everything is supposed to be like it is in the show? Er, hello? Anyway, I think the thing with me is that I want to explore these characters and their other sides… they can't be just what meets the eye in the show, can they? Time changes people, or so they say. To better and to worse.

Warning: Read above. Things. Are. Different. Deal with it or don't read, simple as that. Flamed saying Delia and Bright are out of character will probably be just laughed at, cause I don't think any of us can know for sure what they'll be like in ten years. I'm just stubborn that way.But, after that said, others, thanks for reviewing! Keep reviewing, it usually helps me write, mwuahah. And, oh, I don't see the age difference as a problem, maybe cause Delia is 20 years old here and old enough to take care of herself. Well, should be anyway. )

On we go. Finally.

Chapter 1

Nicki Sterling was nothing but a bad memory. Andhe rather kept her that way; as a memory that didn't need to be remembered.

Bright only wished she would've understood that, too. It'd been whole three days since his mother had called him telling him to come over; three days since Nicki's uninvited and highly amusing, but unpleasant visit. Now, he had thought that he had been more than clear when announcing he wanted nothing to do with the woman in the future. Then how was it, that immediately after stepping out of the airplane and opening his cell phone he was greeted by 7 voice messages left by none other than Nicki Sterling. For a smart girl it was ridiculous how low she could go to get what she wanted. Honestly, was it worth anything anymore when she go what she wanted by begging? Begging for heaven's sake. Hadn't she embarrassed herself enough as it was? Guess not. He didn't feel sorry for her though… amusement was the right word to describe his feelings. He knew it had nothing to do with Nicki loving him, because she didn't. She just wasn't ready to give up on her secret lover only a week before she was supposed to get wed with some other man. Boy, what a beautiful marriage those two would have, she and her catch of the month.

Still despite her being disloyal to her fiancé, it wasn't that he didn't like her, of course he did. I mean, he had had a very… intense relationship with the woman at least for two months or so, which was a lot by his scale and if he hadn't liked her, it would've never had happened. Well, maybe once, but just once. The problem Bright had encountered with the ladies lately, was a very simple one but difficult to solve. No matter how beautiful they were, no matter how intelligent and educated or rich they were… he just didn't find what he was looking for. Probably, because he didn't even know what it exactly was that he was looking for. Something different, for sure. Something new. Something exciting… refreshing.

Screwing married women; being their private toy had lost its shine months ago and even fooling around with the young and rich ones wasn't that fun anymore. Against general beliefs, he didn't date these rich girls because he'd needed their money… but because they didn't need his. He had learnt his lesson the hard way and wasn't about to repeat that mistake ever again.

The shadows of his past were forgotten the minute he heard his name. "Bright! Over here!" Even in the middle of Denver's busy airport, he recognized his mother's voice easily. Hearing it felt great every time. He turned around smiling and was greeted by the sight of both of his parents making their way through the crowd towards him. As expected, it was Rose who closed him into a tight hug before he could even say anything.

"I've missed you so, so, so, so much!" She said half crying, half laughing and kissing his cheeks. For a moment there he felt like a teenage-boy all over again. But unlike then, her behavior didn't bother him now, nor did it embarrass him anymore. It was actually great to know he had been missed, after all.

"Son, good to have you back", his father, Harold, said petting his shoulder after Rose finally released her son. The hug seemed to last for over 10 minutes though. "Good to be back, dad." Against his own expectations, he actually meant it.

Only after they had dragged his luggage into the car, Bright acknowledged the fact someone was missing. "So where's my little sister? Sulking in her room? Grounded?"

"Oh stop teasing her, honey", Rose laughed at first fastening her seatbelt, but her tone got serious when she continued, "Seriously, she's a big girl and been through a lot, so don't you dare to tease her."

Harold started the car without taking part of the conversation. "I won't, I won't. I'll behave, promise." Telling her the thought had never really even crossed his mind would have probably been useless, so didn't even bother. Once a teasing brother, always a teasing brother. At least it was how his parents saw him most of the time. Suddenly all the reasons why he hadn't visited his birth-home for such a long time came rushing back to him. He sighed having to accept the fact he could never completely change the way his parents saw him.

"Good", Rose glanced at her son through the mirror, "Tiffany got sick so she's at home with her."

"Ouch, doesn't sound good." That definitely, nicely put; sucked.

As if Amy hadn't suffered enough as it was. Her life sure wasn't what he had always pictured it to be… it was sad more than anything to realise how wrong things can go. Being her brother he had always wanted nothing but her happiness, but Amy's life hadn't really turned out as she had planned it to. Who would've known that in the end, it was the Abbott's first-born that managed to do something with his life, when the youngest child of whom they had had high expectations turned out to fail on that department? He wasn't malicious about it though, just surprised. Perhaps a bit proud of himself, too, but mostly worried about her.

Her future had looked so bright when she was young… up till Colin's, her boyfriend's death of course. After that it had been nothing but downfall ever since, with few occasional high points giving her false hope. First there was the depression his death caused, then there came Tommy; the drug-addict and after him came all the other unspeakable problems… For a moment they had all thought things would change; get better somehow. Maybe because they had been dating with Ephram, when all the sudden Madison's friend called Ephram telling there was something he needed to know… that he had a baby boy in New York. Amy had thought she was the love of his life but realised soon enough that the title was already taken. Madison was the love of his life and there was no point in fighting for him when in the end, she didn't want to win that fight. The child needed his father and Amy had let him go… they all knew it had been the right decision to make, but it didn't prevent it from hurting. Neither did it prevent Amy from sinking deeper into the darkness.

Of course, something good had come out of it too. At the age of 21 Amy gave birth to her only daughter, Tiffany and the incident forced her to rethink the way she lived her life. Alcohol, random flings and all the other insane stuff she did to ease the pain had to go and in the end, Tiffany turned out to be the only painkiller she ever needed. They were still living at the Abbotts, Amy and Tiffany that is but it had worked out swell. Tiffany had gotten Amy's old room, who in turn had taken over her older brother's old room. He hadn't mind, in fact, he had thought it was a great idea. That way it was easier for Harold to keep his eyes on his daughter which was exactly what Bright wanted too. It felt good to know Tiffany was in safe hands… just in case Amy couldn't resist the temptation. Of course, Amy enjoyed his full trust but there was always the 'what if' lingering around.

"You don't mind if I close my eyes for a moment, do you? It was a tiring flight and all…" Or was it just a way to hide his feelings from his parents?

Why did people always confuse a tattoo drawer with a tattoo maker? Delia didn't know. Yesterday she had as usual been forced to explain the difference to some kids that had been curious about her job due some silly school project. In a way she maybe should've been flattered by that.

A tattoo maker made a tattoo. A tattoo drawer simply designed one. Being a tattoo drawer; designer was the easiest job she'd ever had. She'd been talented drawer ever since she was young and she knew it. Putting herself down wasn't something Delia Brown did. Sadly, it was also the most unprofitable job she'd ever had. Which was why she had been forced to go find other jobs; more prosperous ones. And with her ambition, she had found a couple. 4 nights a week she served tables in the local cafe and it wasn't that bad. Rest of her week went by working in a place called "Golden Velvet" which was a club in Detroit. That was a job she didn't want her father finding about.

Of course, it probably would've had been the best idea to give up on tattoo drawing, but she had never been able to do even consider it. For one, she loved her working hours and she absolutely loved her work. Whenever a customer wanted something new that had never been done before she was summoned. Whenever the owner of the shop decided that it was time to redo their offerings, they gave her a call. Usually she drew at the shop because it was the only place that gave her the needed peace and the right mood… there was something magical about that place, but occasionally she settled with a lot less and drew at home. Now however, it'd been two weeks since her skills had been last needed and it was both worrying and boring… worrying, because she didn't know if they'd ever need her again (although she did suspect Sheila would've have called her if that was the case) and boring, because she had nothing with what to challenge her own drawing skills. Sketching flowers and such into napkins, newspapers, notebooks and alike wasn't really all that challenging or fun. Besides, reading his morning paper with little green men drawn to stare at him was driving her father absolutely insane.

5 weeks ago Delia had finally found the kind of job that was just what she needed to solve her money issues, or part of it anyway. Her best friend, Ariel, had worked there for over a couple of months before getting pregnant… well, actually, before it had started to really show. After her tummy had gotten a bit too round, she'd been fired of course. Knowing Delia was in need of money, she had told her about the spot being open and Delia hadn't hesitated. Much.

The only reason to hesitate was her father. He'd have killed her if he knew.

Naturally, she wouldn't have called herself a stripper per se… Exotic dancer was more like it. More classier somehow. She had seen dirty strip-clubs before and "Golden Velvet" was nothing like them. It was almost funny in a way, in a pathetic kind of way. Delia had seen so many movies with young girls being forced to do the same kind of work to get a roof over their heads or to feed their kids… and not once had she thought of the possibility that it'd once be her doing it. After all, Delia Brown was indeed Andy Brown's daughter of whom everyone around her thought highly… a daddy's girl she was and therefore she could never have gotten involved with the underworld. Well.

You never know how wrong you are till you experience it. Being a cliche wasn't as fun as it sounded, but she had learnt to live with it. Things could've been worse, after all.

Letting her body slide down the cold steel bar, she gave a seducing smile to her drooling and mostly drunken audience. It was almost over anyway; all she had to do was one final dance move, bend down to let the young, blonde guy stuff some money into her panties (which he undoubtedly was going to do – it was so easy to tell when it was someone's first time in a club like that) and retreat to the safety of the back-stage.

When she finally got off the stage she felt mainly relieved. She had given up on being shy during her first week there and the disgust, caused by strangers' fingers touching her skin, stuffing money inside her clothes making her feel despicable, was slowly starting to fade away, too. Besides, she had already got a few regulars that were more than happy to pay some extra which always made her feel a bit better. She didn't mind anymore. If a guy was stupid enough to waste his money on a dancer; on an illusion he'd never be able to touch, well, then it was his problem, not hers.

She entered the changing room yawning with nothing but a hot bath on her mind. Dancing in high heels for longer than half an hour was a lot harder than it looked, that was for sure.

"Hey hunny, ya looked good up there. You've really learnt the moves", Katherine, one of her fellow-workers' called out from her seat while finishing her make-up. She was already way over 30 years old, but looked more like 20 something. "Heh, thanks Katie. You aren't looking that bad either." No, not bad, but definitely weird. She was wearing this funny looking outfit with a tight corset and everything that reminded Delia of renaissance… was she actually going to dance with that on or was it just part of some sort of new act she didn't know of?

"Oh please, I look horrible. But what Mac wants, Mac gets."

Ah of course, now she remembered. Mac, the club owner had talked about wanting to bring something 'new' to the club… something that had never been seen before to get new visitors. Naturally, being a guy he hadn't wasted another thought on just how well those dresses fitted with dancing. All he cared about was the looks. And well, they weren't even that beautiful. Just some big, fluffy and colorful dresses with an opening so big, that it was practically a miracle if your breasts stayed unrevealed. Thank God Delia had been hired few weeks after they had designed those dresses... and thank God, again, that making them all had taken almost two months.

"You heading back home hunny?"

Delia nodded sitting down onto her usual spot few tables from Katherine. Raking her fingers through recently cut fringe she let the air out of her lungs, exhausted. "Yeah", she said pulling on her own T-shirt while unhooking the nasty-feeling bra, "All I wanna do is take a bath and go to bed." After she was done with the bra, she changed her panties feeling nothing but pleasure when she finally got to pull her own comfy jeans on.

"I hear ya, doll." She glanced over and added, "Hell, seriously, go get some sleep sugar."

"That's the plan", the girl replied picking up her backpack from the floor. Hell yeah it was her plan… hopefully dad wasn't at home yet, because she was going to spend few hours lying in the bathtub and he would've only nagged. Even the thought of bath made Delia's body relax momentarily. "See you later Katie", she threw over her shoulder before she exited the room, "be good."

Katherine smiled, amused. She always said that. And yet, she never was.