A/N: See previous chapter

Staring at the bright screen of his laptop, Dan believed that it was truly mocking him; the blank white page was a testament to his current writer's block. He felt like slamming his hands down on the keyboard, just for the font to appear on the screen.

Instead, he ran his fingers through his short dark hair and reached for the packet of cigarettes that was sitting next to the stupid piece of technology. He didn't smoke often; it was something that had started only in the last year or two and only when he was stressed.

He had told Emily he would quit, she had been horrified when she found the packet during one of her weekends with him, and he did…for a while. Letting the smoke settle in the room, he took another shot at typing something, anything.

The shrill sound of his landline phone startled him out of the reverie he was finally settling into. He snuffed the cigarette immediately, feeling like he had been caught out, and reached for the receiver that was sitting next to the computer.

"Hello?" He swung away from the desk, glad for another computer break.

"Daniel Humphrey?" The voice that answered was professional, no nonsense and they used his full first name. Only those who knew him purely as an author called him by his publishing name.

"This is Jessica Winters. I'm an assistant to Brian Goldberg." The woman continued when Dan confirmed his name. The name of the talented movie producer caught his attention. Why on Earth was the assistant to Brian Goldberg calling him at eleven o'clock on a Saturday morning?

"He optioned the rights to your book six months ago; he's incredibly interested in turning A Life to Love into a movie. He'd like to meet with you as soon as possible."

"S…Sure." Dan, for the first time in almost eight years stuttered, unable to comprehend what he had just heard.

"How does one o'clock this afternoon sound to you?"

~G~G~

He threw his keys down on the small side table in the living room as he loosened the tie he rarely wore, but had put on for the occasion. He tried to make sense of the last hour, sitting in a large office with the legendary movie producer responsible for creating some of the biggest blockbusters in recent years. He wanted to turn his first book, his first bestseller, into a movie.

Continuing through the penthouse into his office, he pulled his copy of A Life to Love off the shelf, where it was located next to his four other best sellers. Opening up to a random page, he read silently to himself.

To say that she was perfect would be a lie, for she was severely flawed. But to him, it didn't matter. Her blue eyes still sparkled like they held the secret to life, her infectious smile could still light up a room and her laugh could always change his mood…

He slammed the paperback closed again, and closed his eyes deep in thought. He had told the other man that he needed to consider his offer. Goldberg had given him a fortnight to do so; they had other the rights to other bestselling books.

Did he really want his story turned into a movie, to be up there on the big screen for everyone to see? It had been such an autobiographical novel, even though technically it had been fictionalised. Eight years ago, when the book was first published, he would have jumped at this offer, not even hesitating before he agreed; but now he wasn't so sure if he wanted to bring everything up again.

Moving back into the living room, the worn paperback still in his hand, he collapsed onto the couch and gazed down at the photos that littered the coffee table in front of him. One in particular caught his attention.

It was of Emily, like they all were, and it had been taken only months after her first birthday. They had been in Paris, where Serena had been modelling a fashion show, and while the small family of three had snuck away from everything to go do some sightseeing, Serena had snapped the photo of father and daughter while they were playing with each other on the grassed area shadowed by the Eiffel Tower.

Serena. He sighed again, already regretting his thoughts on what needed to be done. He needed to get Serena to agree to this. He had to talk to the woman he hadn't spoken a word to in seven years.

"Emily Elizabeth, your grandmother's going to be here soon." Serena called up to her daughter from the base of the stairs. Lily had called, wanting to take her daughter and granddaughter out for a late afternoon tea, and the woman didn't like to be kept waiting.

"You need to hurry up baby girl." She checked the time on her platinum Tiffany watch; they were thankfully not running late. Yet.

When the doorbell did ring, only five minutes later; Emily still had not emerged from her room. "I can't stall for long Em." She called up the stairs once more. How long did it take a nine year old to get ready? She'd been up there for a while now.

"We're almost ready. I promise." She said as she opened the door. "I know you have reservations."

"What are you talking about?" The voice she was expecting was not the feminine, controlling the voice of her mother. No. It was the voice of her first ex-husband.

"D…Dan?" Serena's sapphire eyes widened. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Can I talk to you?" The author didn't wait for an invitation inside, but at least the blonde moved out of his way as he crossed the threshold; too shocked to do anything else.

"Daddy." Now Emily emerged from her room, squealing excitedly and racing down the stairs as she spotted her father from the top. "You're here." Dan caught her in a hug, before she could do any damage.

"Why are you here?" She asked as an afterthought. "Am I going out with you today?"

Dan shook his head remorsefully; he wished he could take his daughter though. "Not today." He frowned. "I'm actually here to talk to your mother."

"We're about to go out." Serena interrupted one hand on her hip as she glared at her ex. Who did he think he was, bursting into her home like this?

"It'll be quick." He promised, straightening back up to meet the occasional model's height, grabbing Em's hand as a form of comfort. Serena glanced at her watch.

"You have one minute."

"I met with Brian Goldberg an hour ago. He wants to turn A Life to Love into a movie."

His speech had only taken him ten seconds, but it was more than enough to get Serena's full attention.

"What?" Her voice hadn't meant to come out only as a whisper, but she was unable to produce a sound any louder. "What did you say?"

"I said I had to think about it. He gave me two weeks."

Serena sat down on the couch opposite Dan; trying to comprehend the information he had just hit her with. While she thought about it, Dan was able to get a good look at the woman he hadn't seen up close in almost a decade. She still looked like the old Serena, time hadn't affected her.

"Serena, Emily are you ready?" The silence in the room was interrupted when Lily entered without so much as knocking at the door.

"Daniel." She said in surprise and Dan took back his earlier sentiment that only those who didn't know him called him Daniel. His ex-mother-in-law had always called him Daniel. She turned back to Serena and smiled tightly.

"Are you ready?" She repeated, as if the extra person in the room was only a mild inconvenience. "I have reservations."

Serena looked up at Dan's waiting face. 'I…I have to think about it." She really needed to consider this; the decision was harder than she thought. "Em, go with Nana Lil." She picked up her handbag.

Emily pouted for a split second, but regained composure before she could be scolded.

"I'll show you my room next time." She whispered into Dan's ear as she hugged him goodbye. He kissed her cheek, and stood up as well following the three women out of the door.

No matter how long or short it may be; everyone will experience a relationship like no other. They'll love stronger than they ever will in the future; they'll fight harder, they'll love longer.

It doesn't matter how old you'll be when you first meet this person, it doesn't matter how long it takes to get them to even glance back at you. In the end you'll know it all be worth it.

October 8, 2005 that's when this story truly began

Casey xXx

[Edited: March 11 2010]