This latest Cross FF story is up! Hope you enjoy it, thanks for reading and the feedback!

C.J. watched as Matt left the bed and headed to the shower. She had woken up early that morning realizing that Ed had needed to talk to her about the music composition that Chris would be providing to serve as part of the soundtrack for the film. She would stop by Chris' radio station and then meet Ed at the Brick. Maurice had mercifully backed off of pressuring them over the content of the film but wouldn't budge on his assistance of having some say in the final cut. C.J. figured that she and Ed would cross that bridge when they came to it.

But in the meantime, Matt had just left the shower and toweled himself off before getting dressed. She loved watching him of course. Always had, as she had surreptitiously done just that on different occasions when he had been getting dressed in the penthouse suite while holding a conversation with her usually about a business decision involving the company or a case they were investigating through his firm. Oh how cruel could he be keeping their discussions purely on business topics while he got dressed while her back had been turned. Not knowing that her mind had been working a mile a minute on its own volition imagining what he looked like…she kept her peeking minimal as she did respect his privacy.

"You do look fine," she said now miles away from that suite.

He buttoned up his shirt.

"Why thank you," he said, "Though that's the pot calling the kettle black."

She chuckled.

"Not quite," she said, "Your looks don't change from one day to the next."

She felt self conscious about her changing body, which each day seemed to grow just a little bit..wider. Not that she didn't enjoy what came up top but it was getting harder and harder for her to fit even in her borrowed wardrobe. Unless she resorted to the…maternity outfits which just looked too cutesy for her. Why did maternity wear make pregnant women look like cute little dress up dolls when it's pretty clear that you had to get a little down and dirty just to get in this condition. She sighed as she wondered if she could still squeeze in the jeans she wore yesterday and delay resorting to the matronly looking outfit with the bow one more day. The ones that were about three sizes larger than she had ever seen.

"You look gorgeous this morning," he said, clearly reading her mind.

She blinked, how did he do that?

"I feel…different."

He walked over and kissed her for a long moment. She felt herself relax as he stroked her face afterward, looking at her.

"You look even prettier than you did yesterday," he said, "That's why."

She smiled despite herself.

"You always look so great looking…and incredibly sexy."

He smiled back and sat down to put on his boots.

"It looks like the sun is coming out today," he said, "Maybe a warming trend?"

His face looked hopeful and his voice sounded even more so. She knew that he felt no small amount of trepidation at the thought of the running of the bulls, Cicely style.

"You still worried about the run?"

"Just about freezing out there," Matt said, "I mean frostbite doesn't usually kill you but I'd hate to lose any of my parts."

"Well, we can always warm them up before and afterward," she said, pulling him closer to her.

"That will work," he said, thoughtfully, "Reminds me of those polar swims that we used to hold every winter."

"Houston, that's in Malibu," she said, "It's never that cold in Southern California."

"This is going to be really cold," he said, "I don't know if the brandy before hand's going to be much help."

She kissed him again, and he wrapped his arms around her.

"Now this is even better…"

C.J. had dropped Matt off at Ruth Ann's to pick up his morning faxes and she had headed off to Chris to pick up the music for Ed's soundtrack. Chris sat in his office, his hair wrapped by a bandana and sipping chi tea. He offered her some hot water with lemon and she eagerly accepted it as she studied the décor in his office including many photos of different residents in Cicely including many she recognized from her work spent on Ed's film. She also saw photos of Chris' brother Bernard when he had journeyed to Africa.

"Bernard went all over the continent," Chris said, pointing to different photos, "There's him on Kilimanjaro with his guide and…in South Africa…the pyramids of Egypt…he saw it all."

C.J. had traveled to several countries in Africa on business trips for Houston Enterprises and had made friends there. She had always wanted to go back but life had thrown her some curves curbing her wanderlust for a while.

"Here it is," Chris said, handing her a CD.

"Thanks," she said, tucking it in her purse, "You have a really nice setup here."

Chris nodded.

"I owe Maurice a lot for providing me with this opportunity," he said, "People give him a hard time but he's got a good heart."

"I wish he would have more faith in Ed and his artistic vision," she said.

Chris paused.

"I think he does," he said, "He's just testing his resolve in his work. Maurice likes to do that."

Oh C.J. had figured that out shortly after she arrived in Cicely and had been looking for a job to keep her mind off of her tragic losses.

"How are things with you and Matt?"

She looked up at him, and then sipped her water.

"Everything's fine," she said, "He's a bit nervous about the running of the bulls."

Chris smiled.

"He shouldn't be," he said, "It's a lot of fun and there's festivities afterward…after we all warm up again."

"That sounds great," C.J. said, "I was asked to help out with the food."

"The women don't do the run but they are in charge of the celebration."

C.J. looked at the DJ thoughtfully.

"Do you have anyone to come home to ever," she asked.

He looked at her startled and she wished she could withdraw her question but he smiled at her that it had been okay to ask.

"I have had relationships if that's what you're asking," Chris said, "but right now, I'm more content to focus on the development of my more spiritual side."

"Really…"

He nodded.

"I've been doing a lot of reading…"

She understood that but thought it would be a shame considering how easy he was on the eyes if he kept more time with his book collection then with a woman.

"That's why this running of the bulls is so important to our town," he said, "it helps us get back in touch with nature after a harsh winter. It's a way of welcoming spring."

Okay, C.J. could see how they might view it that way. But did the men like Chris really believe that's how the women viewed the sight of the male town folk whose bodies had been buried in warm clothing all winter baring it all while running in the streets. She would have to run through that with the other women in her Scrabble tournament club but somehow she thought it was the appeal of the eye candy rather than any spiritual reconnection with the town's roots that brought them out to view the event in droves. No, she didn't buy Chris' explanation at all but it sounded nice.

Matt paid his tab for the faxes and Ruth Ann ran his card through the machine.

"You looking forward to the run?"

He looked at her, thinking this annual event certainly had entered into the minds of many of the town's residents lately.

"It's on the calendar," he said, "Though my corporate president is eager for me to get back to L.A."

She smiled.

"Why don't you invite him here and he can relieve some of that stress?"

Murray strip off his three-piece suit and run naked in the streets with the others in the bitter cold? The idea had some appeal only because Matt enjoyed seeing Murray loosen up but the only thing that seemed to do that was the odd times that the accountant imbibed from Matt's liquor cabinet. But if Matt didn't lighten up and learn how to have fun, get a hobby then he probably wouldn't make it to 40 without a heart attack.

"Maybe I'll do that," he said, as she handed his card back to him.

"You'll do just fine..," Ruth Ann said, "We'll be cheering you on and welcoming you back when you're finished."

Matt looked a bit uncertain.

"Okay…"

"Not that any of us have any trouble in realizing what she saw in you," Ruth Ann said, "You are a fine looking young man."

Matt narrowed his brows. Was the storekeeper coming onto him? She noticed his expression and patted his hand in a maternal way.

"Don't worry," she said, "Everyone knows who holds your heart."

He smiled then.

"See you later Ruth Ann."

He left the store and headed on over to the Brick to get a bite to eat and to go over his faxes. When Hollings saw him enter the establishment, he waved him on over and handed him a beer.

"Haven't you heard the news?"

Matt looked at him confused.

"You've been elected the bull leader…"

"The what," Matt asked, holding his beer mug.

"You'll be leading the running of the bulls…"

Matt sat down in the nearest chair, digesting the news. He glanced over at where C.J. sat with Shelli, Maggie, Marilyn and others. She gave him a wink and his face flushed.

What had he gotten himself into?