Late September, Boston...

Mentally swearing that she would never get into this position again, Skye plastered a polite smile on her face and nodded at the woman across from her, trying desperately to look at least somewhat interested. These were Jeffrey's friends, colleagues, and fellow students, and while they were very nice, she had nothing in common with them.

"And your husband is just the most talented man I have ever met! He's quite the catch! I've been trying to persuade him to give me some lessons, but well, you know how busy he is." Skye nodded, not really believing that she was having this conversation with a tipsy young redhead, sitting on a piano. "And he's just so dreamy! I still remember the first time I saw him. He was playing the piano and looked absolutely in entranced. It was so beautiful! And then his clarinet! What do you like better? His piano or his clarinet?"

Skye shrugged her shoulders noncommittally.

"I couldn't really say..."

"Oh, I know. They're both so wonderful. You are so lucky to be married to such a gifted man. He must be such a wonderful teacher. What do you play?"

Skye winced. She had been asked that question at least twenty times already that evening. Forcing a smile, she shrugged again.

"You know, I actually don't play anything. I'm not a musician."

"Oh..."

Looking rather uncomfortable, the girl smiled at her and walked away.

"So, Mrs Penderwick, what instruments do you play?"

The swarthy dark-haired man seated next to her flashed her a smile. Sighing, she shook her head.

"I don't. I have no musical talent, whatsoever."

"Pity..."

Shaking his head, he stood up and walked over to a group of his friends, soon disappearing in the masses.

"And I bet you and Jeffrey play the most riveting duets together, don't you?"

"Actually, I don't play."

"Oh, dear. What do you do, then?"

Skye smiled. At least this one didn't just get up and leave.

"I'm actually in my final year of my Astrophysics Doctorate at MIT."

The older lady sighed and clicked her tongue against her teeth.

"You poor thing. Oh, well, someone has to do the dirty jobs. You're good not to feel too poorly about yourself, dear. After all, not everyone is intended to live the perfect life."

This time, it was Skye that stood up and walked away.

Later...

Swish, swish, swish, swish. Back, forth, back, forth went the windshield wipers as the two drove home through the pouring rain. Skye stared resolutely out the window, watching the drops race each other down. She heard her husband sigh, but she paid no attention.

"Skye... Will you please tell me what the matter is?"

She ignored him.

"Skye? What's wrong? Did I do something?" More silence. "Skye! Talk to me!"

"Why?"

"Because!"

"Because why? You didn't talk to me all night!"

He winced slightly.

"Now we're getting somewhere. But you can hardly blame me for that, Skye! You didn't come try and talk to me, either, and so I just assumed you were having a fine time!"

"How could I have come and talked to you? You were seated at that stupid piano all night, surrounded by a swarm of people so thick that I couldn't have reached you if I had a chance!"

"I had to be seated at that 'stupid piano' all night, Skye! You know how that works! We all take turns playing the music for these get-togethers, and tonight was my turn! Besides, if you hadn't been so introverted and closed-up, you might have had a good time talking to other people besides me!"

At this remark, she whirled on him, eyes flashing in the dark car.

"Jeffrey Tifton!" He winced at her use of his 'maiden' name. "How dare you say that to me? Do you have any idea what I went through tonight? I had twenty-three people ask me what instrument I play, and twenty-two of them walked away without another word when they learned I didn't play anything! The last one, I walked away from, because she was so insulting. I swear, Jeffrey, I have never been so humiliated in my entire life! These people may be your closest friends, but that's the last time I ever have anything to do with them!"

As he pulled into the garage, she leaped out, and slammed the car door, storming into the house. Jeffery was right behind her.

"And I suppose you think that I enjoy spending time with your esteemed colleagues! Do you honestly think that I don't know how it feels to be humiliated? How do you suppose your fellow scientists treat a 'mere musician'?"

She glared at him.

"Don't you dare try and change the subject, Jeffery! This is about you and your friends treatment of me tonight, not about how you may have felt slighted in the past!"

"I'm not changing the subject, Skye, but I think we both need to face the facts! Music and astrophysics just don't mix!"

"Then maybe we need to keep our careers separate, Jeffery! I don't think that the problem is music and astrophysics not mixing, but marriage, music, and astrophysics not mixing!"

Jeffrey was reeling. Suddenly, he had been taken back to a morning ten years ago, laying on the wet grass of a golf course next the girl he who was now yelling at him. He clearly remember saying telling her about the previous night, and how sad it had been.

"Anyway, Alec and Turron ended up talking about how difficult it is to mix family with music, because of all the travel and uncertainty. ... That's sad, don't you think? I hope I never get divorced."

And he remembered her response as if it was yesterday.

"You can't even get married for years and years. Why worry about getting divorced? Besides, I'm sure there are plenty of musicians who manage to stay married."

She might have been sure then, but, as he stared at her flashing eyes and disheveled hair, he would no longer be willing to bet that she was now. The thought nearly broke his heart.

When he finally came back to the present, Skye was looking at him worriedly.

"Jeffrey? Are you alright?"

Staring at her he nodded slightly.

"Skye... Do you mean that?"

"Do I mean what?"

"What you said; about marriage and our careers not mixing."

She sighed and looked at him, no longer angry.

"I don't know, Jeffrey. I don't think it marriage so much that doesn't mix in... I think it's just me and your career and you and my career, if that makes any sense. And it's not even really that. We're okay. I respect what you do, and I wouldn't want you to do anything else, and I think you feel the same way. The problem is more about our colleagues. They're the ones who don't seem to get it." Here she stopped, and sighed again. "I guess that's what I meant when I said that. I know people haven't always been the most excepting of you, Jeffrey, and I guess it was about time that I got a taste of my own medicine. I do think, though, that, in the future, maybe we should go separately to work functions. It might be better for both of us that way."

He smiled in relief, and pulled her to him, resting her forehead on hers.

"Oh, Skye... I'm sorry about tonight. I just didn't think." He pulled back and grinned at her. "Did you really have twenty-three people ask you what instrument you played?"

She nodded and laughed.

"Yep. If there had been a number 24 I would have punched him in the nose."

He chuckled, knowing full well, that his wife was more than capable of living up to that threat.

"Incidentally, honey, what instrument do you play?"

He grinned wickedly at the ferocious gleam in her eye, as she glared at him.

"Why you little -"

Here she broke off, and launched at him, tackling him to the floor and peppering his face with kisses as she tickled the very life out of him. He would have to keep that question in mind...

Well, apparently you aren't believers in preventative medicine... :-) PLEASE REVIEW!

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