Author's Note: I want to offer another thank you to those that have reviewed. I dedicate this chapter to Mentally-Unstable who is without a doubt my inspiration for writing. :) Ok dude, no more chic flick moments

Autumn wandered into the kitchen to find Dave and Molly trying to light candles on an enormous cake. "Hey guys, need some help?"

"Sure." Dave held out a lighter, and Molly placed her hand on his stopping him.

"Melony has looked everywhere for you. We finally decided that you must have left with Doug. Where have you been?"

"Outside on the front porch sulking like a baby."

"Don't be too hard on yourself." Molly smiled. "Go find her. We'll finish up here."

--- --- ---

In the backyard Autumn saw Shannon sitting at a table with Benoit, Eddie and Booker but no sign of Mel. So she decided to join Jericho at the bar. "Hey Goldie have you seen Mel?"

"Yeah she went to get me something." His words only slightly slurred but she could tell he was in need of something to eat and a few cups of coffee couldn't hurt either.

Autumn frowned. "Something?"

"Yeah for my head."

She shook her head. "I'm not even going to make that joke. It's too easy. Fix me a drink Goldie."

Jericho leaned across the bar. "Only if you fix me a plate. I'm starving!"

"How much have you had?"

He started counting on his fingers and rambling incoherently to her about fruity drinks, too much alcohol and not being wasteful. She just laughed and came to the terms that he must have made one of his new designer drinks and added too much alcohol. And genius that he was decided that it was better to waste not, want not. "Come on Goldilocks and have a seat. I'll be right back."

She fixed a huge plate of barbeque, cole slaw, rolls and some sort of macaroni dish and grabbed a coke.

"Wow, looks like someone is really hungry." Shannon took the plate from her hands and walked with her.

"Oh no, it's for Jericho. He had one too many cocktails." She stopped mid-stride for a moment and looked at him. "I owe you a thanks."

"For what?"

"What you said on the porch." She smiled. "It amazes me how well you know me."

"It's no problem. After all you and Mel are two of my closest friends."

"Well, it's a big deal to me, so thank you." She kissed his cheek and continued on to take Jericho his plate. Shannon stood in his tracks and watched her. It was no big surprise that he liked her, he had liked her for some time now but had never said anything for fear of ruining their friendship. But in their almost ten years of knowing each other she had never kissed him, not even on the cheek. His hand absently rubbed the spot her lips had marked and he smiled. Maybe, just maybe there was a chance for him.

--- --- ----

Dave walked outside and motioned for Chris. "Hey, where's Mel? The cake is ready."

"That seems to be the question of the moment." Chris frowned and walked inside. "Last time I saw her was about fifteen minutes ago and she was going upstairs to get some aspirin for Jericho." I'm going to check upstairs.

"Hurry up man. These candles are burning out."

Chris bounded down the stairs. "She's not upstairs. Where's Jericho?"

The men went outside where Jericho was sitting with Shannon, Autumn and Eddie. Chris tried to control his voice but he was beginning to worry. Mel wouldn't leave without saying something and Dave already said both Chris and Mel's cars were in the drive way. "Have you seen Mel?"

Jericho raised his hand signaling he had something to say but at the moment his mouth was full.

"I think Jericho is trying to say Mel went to get a brain for his head." Autumn laughed and stopped when she suddenly noticed the look of fear on Chris's face.

"Yeah holmes. This fool needs a new brain and a bath." Eddie turned to Jericho. "Man you smell like a Tequila factory."

"What's wrong Chris?" Autumn asked and shot Eddie and Chris a look.

Chris shook his head. "Nothing really." He paused to regain his composure that was slowly starting to slip away. "I was just upstairs and she wasn't there. Both cars are here and she's no where to be found."

Autumn grabbed her cell phone and dialed her sister's number and got directed to voice mail where she left a message. "I got her voice mail. This is silly. She's around here somewhere. She didn't just disappear."

"Yeah, Autumn's right. Maybe she went on a walk to get some air or something." Shannon offered.

"No worry's bro, I'll go drive down the street and look for her." Eddie got up and grabbed his keys off the nearby table.

--- --- ---

Molly came outside and noticed the entire group was settled around one table and looked more than a little somber. "What's up guys? I have cake without candles waiting to be served."

"Have you heard from Mel?" Chris asked as he paced around the table with a beer in hand.

"No, I thought she was out here." Molly frowned and handed Chris a box.

"What's this? He sat his beer down and noticed it hadn't been mailed yet his name was scrawled across it in black ink.

Molly shrugged and took a seat. "I don't know. The doorbell rang and I went to see who it was and that box was just sitting there."

Everyone around the table grew silent, an uneasy feeling overcame them all as he opened the box. Nothing could have prepared him for this moment. He pulled a cell phone from the box and his hand trembled.

"What is it Chris?" Dave stood over his shoulder and took the phone from him.

Benoit stared into the box as if it held a great mystery and in many ways it did. He fell back into an empty chair with the box settling on his lap. He reached into the box and pulled out a note. One of his worst fears just came true.