"Your right," Ana replied "and I'm sorry. I have missed you so much it's just seeing you and Derek, it reminds me of everything I want yet don't know how to get." She confessed.

"What, you have Anthony?" her friend replied. "Has he done something, has something happened; because if he did I'll let him have it." She ranted. "Or better yet I'll tell Derek and he'll go all Dark Lord on him."

Ana laughed "it's not like that. I love Anthony but ever since we stopped working together and went public with our relationship; whenever we go out it's as if he goes to the extreme to show his feelings for me." Karen raised her eyebrow and smirked. "I know what you're thinking," her friend commented "me, Ana Vargas, uncomfortable with PDA."

"I didn't say a word."

"But I know you well enough," The red head informed. "Normally I'd love PDA but with Anthony it almost seems as though he uses it to deflect the stares and comments we get because of our age. Instead of gentle sweet kisses I get sloppy wet ones and a tongue that almost makes me choke it's so far down my throat."

"Ewe, TMI," Karen crinkled her nose. "Have you tried talking to him?"

"I don't know how too. I don't want him to think I'm uncomfortable because of our age because I'm not. Somehow though I get the feeling Anthony is."

Karen gave her friend a hug "Everything will be alright. We'll think of a way to approach it but for now we should probably get back to the table, we've been gone for a while now." she stated. "I'm sure together we can think of the best way for you to get your point across and to make him feel secure." She assured releasing her friend.

"Thanks," Ana answered. "God I've missed you," she said as the two women existed the ladies room and made their way to back.

"You aren't the least bit concerned?" Anthony inquired of the man sitting across from him. He couldn't understand how the Brit was so calm when it was clear to him something was happening in that ladies room. The two girls to be gone so long. Unable to take his calmness any longer he asked.

Derek who was tying a bib around his daughter's neck looked at the older man in confusion. "Should I be? They just went to the loo to talk and as far as I know I haven't done anything yet to make my wife irate." The other man was about to respond when he noticed the waitress approach carrying a basket of chips along with a platter of oysters and another tray of fried mushrooms.

"Here are your appetizers," she smiled. Derek grinned at his daughter whose eyes widened at the sight of chips.

"Daw-ee ships!" she squealed pointing to the basket.

"Do you want a chip?" He asked already knowing the answer.

"Pees," the little girl nodded enthusiastically. Her father carefully pulled a chip from the basket and after dipping it in cheese handed it to her.

"I see someone is enjoying herself," commented a familiar voice. Instantly Lizzie turned around. "Hey baby girl, daddy got you some chips?" Karen cooed at her extremely happy daughter

"Ships," Lizzie confirmed extending her hand to show proof. "Some?" She asked.

Karen smiled "Umm, thank you." She replied after taking a small bite of the offered chip. Making herself comfortable next to Derek she offered an apology "sorry we took so long, we had a lot to catch up on."

"No worries Love I was just telling Anthony I figured as much." He remarked. "I was fairly certain I hadn't done anything yet for you to rant about." He laughed joined by Ana. Karen nudged him and playful stuck out her tongue.

"Yet being the operative word, buddy." She retorted. Turning her attention to the food she excitedly exclaimed "ooh you got our favorites mushrooms and oysters, I'm famished."

"I'm impressed you remembered Mr. Wills," Ana teased.

"How could I forget such an exquisite delicacy like fried mushrooms darling," he sarcastically answered.

Ana noticed Anthony flinched at the use of darling and reached under the table to squeeze his hand. She had forgotten to mention Derek's natural use of the endearment "He doesn't mean anything, you know." She whispered.

"I don't like it," he whispered back. "I also don't appreciate being left alone for so long but we'll talk about that later." Ana could feel her anger start to rise but not wanting to ruin dinner counted to ten. She could understand his offense to the use of darling but the rest of his complaint was uncalled for.

"Ana, hello is everything alright?" Karen inquired. She had been asking her friend what she wanted to drink as the waitress had returned.

"Sorry I was just remembering the last time we ate fried mushrooms together." She lied. "I'll take cranberry vodka please." The two women laughed as they reminisced. The waitress returned to take their entre orders and soon the two couples found themselves (despite the rocky start) in good conversation. Anthony had noticeably relaxed which Ana hoped meant he was beginning to warm up to the British director.

"So what do you have planned tomorrow?" She asked her friends.

"We met this wonderful older woman on the plane and she is going to show us a few estates that might work for Gatsby." Karen answered. "I must admit I was a little jealous, I think Derek had a slight crush on her." She teased.

Without missing a beat her husband responded "didn't I tell you love, I have a secrete fetish for women in their seventies. I can't wait until your skin wrinkles; it will make you even more irresistible." He grinned while placing a chaste kiss on her lips.

"That is so not funny; I'm getting a mental picture ewe!" She commented. Ana and Anthony laughed at the banter. The actress never tired of seeing her best friend completely change persona when she was with Derek. Karen was always friendly but when amongst friends, Derek brought out a playful almost uninhibited side to her.

"If the two of you aren't busy, I would love to get your perspective on shots," Derek looked directly at Anthony. "We could pick you up or you could meet us at our house. We'd even treat for breakfast and possibly lunch depending on how long it takes," Ana looked at her boyfriend for a reaction to the invitation.

"That would be great. I've always been interested to see scenes from a director's perspective." Anthony responded.

"Great, around 9 o'clock?" He asked.

"Sounds good," Ana answered this time. "We'll meet you; I want to see what kind of house a big time director get put up in."

"Great, now that we have that settled," Karen interjected "we better get going, this little one is falling asleep," she motioned to her daughter who was cradled against her husband's chest. The little girl's eyes were slowly dropping. "Can you say bye to Aunt Ana and her friend Anthony?" She asked her daughter.

"Bye my precious," Ana smiled at her goddaughter who was raising her head.

"Byee," Lizzie waved before blowing a kiss. "Aw seep." She informed. "Daw-ee seep." She nuzzled closer into Derek's neck with her soft blanket serving as a pillow.

"Go to sleep Angel," he cooed as he slowly swayed and patted her bottom.

Drinks were finished, the tab paid and finally the two couples made their way out of the restaurant. After a few minutes of waiting for their car, they exchanged good nights until the morning. Derek placed a sleeping Elizabeth in the car seat and then opened the driver side door. Once situated and on the road he asked his wife the question that had been on his mind all night.

"Why didn't Ana mention her movie?"

"The test group screening didn't go well at all so the executives are not interested on spending any more money on it. Ana isn't even sure if it will be released to DVD." Karen answered her husband. "I feel really bad for her because here we are getting ready to start our project."

Derek squeezed his wife's hand. "It will be alright Love. What is wrong with it?"

"She was told it had nothing to do with the acting but rather the viewer's thought the movie was disjointed. They couldn't follow the story. The director refused to change it though so Universal was at a loss."

"It doesn't sound that hard to fix," Derek answered. "Maybe when we are finished with Gatsby I can talk to someone about it. I wouldn't tell her just yet, it's a long shot." Karen squealed at her husband's offer. The thought of being able to help Ana meant everything to her, even if it was a long shot. Ana had always been her biggest supporter when it came to Derek and her career. She owed her.

"Thank you." Her husband smiled at her response. "What do you think about Anthony?" Karen changed the subject.

"He is an interesting character." He replied. His wife laughed.

"That was a very British answer." She remarked. "Would you care to expand?"

"He seems to care about Ana a great deal but at the same time comes across very insecure. I swear I thought he might implode if the two of you hadn't returned to the table when you did." He sneaked a quick glance at his wife.

"Really?"

"Really," He continued. "He asked if I was concerned over the two of you being gone so long. Then what was up when he kissed Ana. I thought I might be sick." Karen busted out laughing.

"That's what Ana was complaining about in the restroom. She doesn't appreciate his over dramatic displays of PDA. She thinks it's his way of showing people they really care about each other because he is insecure about their age difference."

"Well it certainly is a way to almost make someone what to lose the content of their stomach." He made a face. "I'm all for showing people you are mine Love, but shoving my tongue down your throat is a bit extreme. There is an art to kissing after all and the right amount of tongue is like a perfect brush stroke."

"Wow, since when did you become Picasso?" Karen teased.

"Oh come come now Mrs. Wills. I think your soft moans when we kiss prove my point. Of course I could always remind you of my master piece when we get home."

The brunette turned a deep red; even now Derek could still manage to make her heart race. "A refresher would be very nice."

Across town Ana asked her boyfriend "So what did you think?"

"I like Karen but I'm not so sure about Derek. I mean does he seriously think just because he's British he can get away with calling women darling? I let it go for now but if he does it again I'm going tell him what I think."

Ana rolled her eyes "I can't believe that riled you up. For Derek darling means nothing. He wasn't saying it to flirt. In case you haven't noticed he is very much in love with his wife, my best friend." She seethed. "Is that why you felt the need to stick your tongue down my throat?"

"What do you mean?" Anthony asked. "I kissed you, am I not allowed to do that?"

The younger woman sighed. "Look, I don't want to fight. I thought after a while you actually enjoyed yourself. I mean you agreed to spend the day with them tomorrow." She looked to him.

"I agreed because I'd like to possibly find work?" He answered. "Mr. charming is after all, as you gushed, a big time director."

"Forget it," Ana responded. "If the only reason you want to spend time with my friends is so that you can use them; then I'd rather not have you with us."

Anthony was taken aback "So you're choosing your friends over me?"

"No, I want you with me. I care about you Anthony, more than I've ever cared about a man; but, you can't keep doing this."

"What exactly is it you think I'm doing?"

"I have no problem with our age but I get the strong sense after tonight that you do. When you kiss me in private it's soft and gentle but the moment we get out in public, you become very possessive. Everything suddenly become more forceful and you watch any little thing I do." She informed. "Do you not trust me?"

Anthony signed "I'm sorry, I honestly didn't realize I did that. I do trust you but I worry sometimes. I look at your friends and they are gorgeous just like you. I mean the three of them look like they could have walked out of a magazine. Even though he is older than she is, women sitting around us looked at him. I admit it bother me to see how that he knew things I didn't. Like how you like fried mushrooms."

"Karen is my best friend and Derek is like an older brother. We have been through a lot together and of course they are going to know things about me that you don't yet. But that's only because you and I haven't known each other as long. And as for being handsome, Derek is good looking but I happen to think you are just a dashing. I want to be with you."

"I'm sorry," he offered. "I will try to be better about how I act and treat you in public. I want to be with you and I want to get to know your friends."

Ana leaned over and kissed her boyfriend's cheek. "Thank you. I love you Mr. Maxsfield." Internally the red head could not have been happier, maybe having her Broadway family her was just what she needed to get back on track.