She stood stiffly, blinking quickly.

"How are you"? I whispered taking a steady step toward her.

"Fine". She answered softly, throwing her shoulders back weakly. "And you"?

I shrugged, cautiously moving to stand beside her against the railing. I dropped my hand down on the rail, noticing hers was just inches away. "Why are you out here alone"? I said finally as she smiled softly.

"Oh.." She turned away, facing the dark greens in the distance. "I just needed some air.. Sometimes it can get a little.. Overwhelming". She looked up at me as I nodded.

"I've been to a few things like this in D.C. sometimes it's better to just sneak away". I said as she grazed her fingers up her neck.

"Yeah". She said looking away. Silence fell between us, lasting for several minutes. "I'm sorry that I didn't greet you properly Leon.. I was just.. In shock". She said with a chuckle as I smiled.

"Yeah I figured". She looked up at me, her eyes brightening under her lashes. "He's..." I thought on it for a minute as she stared at me. "Nice". I arrived on finally as she nodded.

"Yes he is.. Everyone is in love with him". She muttered glancing away.

"How long have you- how long have the two of you been.. Seeing each other"? I muttered as she looked back at me sharply.

She seemed to be caught off gaurd, and bit down on her lip softly.

I was reminded of our first and last kiss ever that had happened so long ago. We were outside of her house, and our lips had brushed against one another's accidentally as we both went to open the door. Neither of us pulled away, and soon our eyes both fell shut and the kiss deepened. It lasted for quite sometime until she drew away, biting down on her lip as she did now.

"Nine months". She said finally, looking up at me sadly. Wait.. Why would she be sad? She was talking about her fiancee after all, the man she was intent on marrying.. Why would she suddenly become so quiet and sullen all of a sudden?

"Wow". I said as she nodded weakly.

Nine months.. That had been as long as I'd been away.. Don't tell me she hooked up with him right after I left, that would surely be an ego killer. I was too quiet, better say something quick. "That's great." I whispered as she ran her fingers up her arm hesitantly.

"Thank you Leon". She muttered biting her lip again.. She shifted back and forth from one foot to another as she looked away. "I'm sure Chris told you about the retreat". She said looking back up at me.

"Jill actually". I said as she smiled.

"Yeah.. Well if you want.. You can come too."

I nodded slowly, watching as her smile brightened.

"Good.. I better be getting back". She stepped back and then stopped, seeming to evaluate something in her head. Suddenly she came toward me, wrapped her arms around my neck as she pulled me into a hug. "Thank you for coming to find me Leon". She whispered, her lips brushing across my ear as my hands fell against her lower back.

"Course Claire." I said back, pulling her tighter against me. Surprisingly she relented, allowing me to almost crush her against my chest.

Several minutes passed, and I could feel her arms go slack against my shoulders. Carefully I released her, watching as she stepped backward quickly.

"Bye Leon." She whispered as she walked away, stopping at the door. She looked over me for a moment, smiling softly before pulling the door open and disappearing into the hall.

I'll hold you 'till the hurt is gone

I didn't really know what to do after that, so I just stood there.

What had just happened? Had she actually invited me to the retreat herself?? To her fiancee's estate? No.. I must have heard wrong.. But I didn't. She had said that.. But why? Why would someone who is getting married want to invite someone who is in love with her, to something so intimate as that..

This is stupid.. Claire saw me as a friend. That was all.. Nothing to get all worked up over.. But then.

The way she was acting.. The way she looked at me, and hugged me, why would she do that? Why would she take me back into her life so quickly? Even after I had been so stupid?

She was Claire that's why.. She'd seen all my flaws before and accepted them without question. She brought me into her life once before and never really allowed me to leave.. Not intentionally of course.. Just.. She kept me thinking about her always, and dreaming of a day when the two of us could be together.. I guess that was long gone now..

I pulled myself together, adopting a blank expression as I walked back through the doors and out to the banquet hall.

Chris and Jill stared up at me curiously as I arrived back at the table. Neither of them spoke as Mark rose up to make an announcement, which was greeted with a great amount of applause.

I looked up at Claire as she sat at his side, her hands folded together under the table. Her eyes were turned up at him admiringly and it seemed almost as if everything that had happened on the balcony was just a dream.. That is until she looked at me, and the confusion and doubt returned to my mind..

And now as long as I can, I'm holding on with both hands..

Great Kennedy.. Just great.. What are you going to do now?

I phased out for the rest of the dinner, trying desperately to find a solution in my mind. Once again I came up empty handed.

The party was over quickly, as Chris and Jill wanted to get out of there as quick as humanly possible. And on the drive home, Chris barely spoke, with the exception of a few comments about the retreat.

I listened to him silently, but the more I heard the more nervous I became.

What a disaster this thing would turn out to be. What with Chris trying to plan ways for me to break Claire and Mark up, and my own confusion about the entire situation.. God this was going to explode in all our faces.

What was he expecting to happen? That Claire would rush into my arms and forget about the charming senator all together? Ruin the entire production by choosing the man who wasn't even supposed to show up? Oh that would be great.. I could see the headlines now.

'Senator's young fiancee flees with recently discharged agent Leon Kennedy.. An executive order has been made by the president to have his ass on a plate for the stunt'. Yeah.. That'd be beautiful.

We got home and Chris and I both disappeared to our respective bedrooms. Later Jill arrived with her things and we packed into her small sedan.

The entire way up to the mountain top estate, I sat in the back seat in near hysteria.. I wanted to throw myself out and disappear into the trees encrouching on the road, but knew that wouldn't be an option.

I turned to look up at the large brick house in the middle of a seven acre compound. Vines weaved up the side of the house, making it look more etherial than it really was. I took in the scenery silently, finally gaining a little bit of my sanity back, until my eyes fell on the black Jaguar parked in the driveway.

Out of the back glided Claire, looking just as lovely as ever, with Mark on her arm. She turned away slowly, her eyes searching around her slowly as they walked up the small steps.

'Cause forever I believe, that there's nothing I could need but you.

What if for once I let myself believe that something good could come out of a situation so disasterous? That maybe, if I were lucky enough.. Things might actually turn out right?

I watched as she looked around again, turning in our direction.. Her eyes flashed over our car as she smiled graciously.

So if I haven't yet, I've gotta let you know..You're never gonna be alone

Well.. There was only way to find out how this would end.

I placed my hand on the door as Chris and Jill climbed out of their seats. Carefully I glided out, leaning on the door as Claire looked at me. She grinned brightly, waving at us briefly before following Donahue into the house.