For just a moment she relaxed, and allowed him to dance with her, to skate with her. It couldn't hurt could it? She thought as he pushed her away then drew her closer to him and she knew it could hurt. She stiffened and he stopped slowly then looked at her with those blue eyes. "Is something wrong?" he asked not understanding the sudden change in her attitude.

"I'm tired" she said, it wasn't a lie the day had been a very emotional one on her and she was exhausted.

He studied her face and she gave him a smile that didn't reach her eyes, but he didn't object he let her go and she slowly skated to where his uncle was watching them.

"Mrs. Smith that was very lovely, you should skate more often" he said and smiled at her.

"I don't think so, I'm scared of falling on my butt." She said with a smile and turned to watch her daughters who were helping a boy who had fallen to his feet. She smiled with motherly pride, maybe she didn't do all that bad she thought. She felt a tiny twinge of guilt as she looked on at them talking.

"Mrs. Smith" she heard Andre's gentle reprimand and forced a smile. "I know it hard to you have to let him go. It's time and it wasn't your fault you have to know that" he said and placed an arm around her shoulder. "It's okay"

Olivia nodded, knowing Andre was right it was time to move on after six years it was really time to move on. But no one said it was going to be easy, but she was ready to try.

"I'm ready" she whispered more to herself than to him.

"I'm glad to hear it" he said and searched for his phone that was ringing.

"Hello" he spoke greeting to the unknown caller. Olivia moved away to give him privacy.

"Good Evening is this Mr. Johnson?" A man asked with authority.

"Yes" he said the one word wondering what did this stuff shirt want.

"I'm Detective Bennett and I'm here with Fire department…" he said and paused waiting for the man to say something.

"Yes go ahead" Andre said.

"There has been a fire at your residence, is it possible for you to come down here?" he asked. Andre face went white. His house was on fire the words sunk in and he felt he was sinking to the ground. He felt a hand hold him firmly and looked up to see Olivia looking at him with such concern.

"My home it caught fire" he said slowly as she helped him to the bench. Now it was her time to be shocked.

Elliot saw the scene and came over in time to hear his uncle say the house was on fire.

They got to scene and watched in horror as the firefighter battle the bright red orange blaze. "Go on inside girls this smoke is not good for you" Olivia said as they all stood before the heat. She watched as Andre's face showed signs of such pain.

"My beautiful Cindy" he whispered. And Elliot ushered him back. A man came over and introduced himself as Detective Bennett. Slowly he explained the procedure and took his statement and as about enemies, even though the cause was unknown.

It was all too much to bear so when Olivia invited him to stage he hadn't objected he just went to the spare room he always slept in whenever he was too ill to make it to his own home or when Olivia was out of town. A tear rolled down his face as he stared at the ceiling. Everything was gone every picture, the home his wife had picked for him everything was gone up in smoke.

Elliot was in the sitting room when she returned. He stood not know why all of a sudden he felt so aware of her. "I'm so sorry" she said stopping about a feet away from him as though he had the plague. "I have two guest rooms left would you like to choose?" she said indicating that he follow her. Elliot felt out of place but he followed her and she showed him the room. "If you take this one you will be close to your uncle." She said and opened the door to show a very spacious room that spoke of luxury and lots of money. Elliot walked around and felt even more out of place, this wasn't his way of life he wasn't used to such luxury except when he stayed in hotels. This was too much how could he accept?

"This other one-" she voice trailed off, she sucked in a deep breath then opened the door. Elliot saw the struggle in her eyes and wondered what was so special about this room but placed her out of her misery.

"I want to be close to my uncle" he said and turned away from her eyes that held too much pain. She smiled a faint smile.

"Would you like a tour of the house, Or would you rather retire?" she enquired.

"My feet feel weak, but may I have that tour in the morning?" he replied with a smile on his lips.

"No problem. Just let me know if you need anything." Olivia said and looked down at his clothes. "Would you like a change of clothes, I still have some of my husbands' clothes." She said.

Elliot didn't know why the mention of her husband was making him upset, but he was!

She misread his silence and knowing him and his pride she began. "He never wore them, we were planning a trip, so we had gone shopping for clothes that would be good for a tropical island in the summer" she spoke, her voice taking on a tone of being far away.

Elliot swallowed hard forced a smile. "I would like to get out of the smoked clothes he joked and she smiled up at him.

Something about his presence was making her stupid! She wanted to stay with him. She wanted to be in his company. 'Remember what happened' a voice said. And she did. The pain, the humiliation, she remembered it all to well!

Elliot looked at her and he saw fire blazing in her eyes mixed with the same pain he had seen only minutes ago.

"Well then have a lovely night, I will send up the clothes and please feel free to enjoy yourself. Oh and make a list of this you would like, the girls are going into town tomorrow" she said and was turning away when he caught her hand.

"Mrs. Smith, thank you so very much for your hospitality and for taking care of my uncle" he said his hands itching to touch her face. There gaze met and again he saw the pain and fire right there in her eyes.

She swallowed and nodded and he released her. "Goodnight, sleep well" she said and walked off.

Elliot checked in on his uncle and found he was sleeping somewhat peacefully, if only he had the same luck but instead he was seeing her eyes filled with pain and fire!

Thanks for the reviews please let me know what you think.

-Ali