"Astera, really…I'm fine. I can walk!" Mike protested, from his spot on the wheelchair. Astera smiled slightly. She secretly enjoyed torturing him like this. It was fun to watch, and plus he made it way too easy.

"I know, I just enjoy making you look like an idiot…" she replied.

Once they reached the hospital doors, Mike stood up. "This is great, now I can finally get back to work…" Mike said, stretching.

Astera pushed the wheelchair to the side. "Yea, lucky you… meanwhile, I have a date tonight…" Astera said, with a wink.

Mike raised an eyebrow. "Who on earth would want to date you?" he joked. Astera stuck her tongue out at him in reply. Mike laughed as they walked towards her car. "So…do I know him?" Mike asked.

………………

Mike opened the door at the sound of the doorbell to see Dave Williams standing there. Dave was clean shaven and was smiling. Somebody was in a much better mood than they were a few days ago.

"Hey Dave, how's it going?" Mike asked. "Oh, I was just seeing how you were coming along. Wanted to know if you wanted to come over and have a few beers…" Dave stated.

"Oh, well that's really nice of you Dave…thanks. Maybe I will stop by later, but first I want to talk to Astera's date. I guess I am too much of a protective cousin," Mike said, with a laugh.

Dave felt his smile fade slightly. "Astera has a date?" he questioned.

Mike nodded. "Yea, with my doctor from the hospital. Apparently he couldn't ask her out on a date until after I was discharged. Stephen Fields is his name, and he's a great guy. Just graduated from Medical School three years ago…" Mike said.

He motioned for Dave to come inside.

Dave walked in and saw Astera sitting on the steps that led upstairs. She was wearing a short red dress, and her blonde hair was in loose waves.

"Wow," Dave commented. Astera stood up. "I guess that was supposed to be a compliment so…thanks…" Astera said, with a small smile. She did those smiles a lot.

There was the sound of the doorbell ringing, and Mike walked away to answer it. Dave continued to stare at her for a minute, trying to keep his eyes on her face.

"So, I hear you have a date with Mike's doctor…" Dave said.

"Yea, well…we had a few cups of coffee. This is the first real date," Astera responded.

There was the sound of approaching footsteps and Dave turned to see Mike and Stephen. Stephen was a pretty built doctor. He had blue and blonde hair, just like Dave. Dave watched as Stephen greeted Astera with a peck on the cheek. Astera gave Mike a hug goodbye, before walking away with Stephen.

Dave bit his lip slightly in anger. He was getting jealous, and he knew it. He knew that he had no reason to be. He was married, which was a big disadvantage at winning Astera's heart.

Also, why would he need to be jealous anyway? Her whole purpose was so that he could get closer to Mike, not so he would share a relationship with her.

Mike turned to face Dave. "You know what Dave, you're already here. I've got some beers in the basement…just have a seat and I'll be back…" Mike said, walking away.

Dave slowly sat down in the chair at the table. He squared his jaw, and stared hard at the door. This might have been more complicated than he percepted.

………………………

Ria stood in the kitchen with Bree. She was perfectly cutting bread, into little shapes.

Bree looked over to see various shapes, such as hearts and stars.

"Ria, that's a very cute idea for the Children's Sunday Picnic…." Bree said, with a nod of approval. Ria continued to stare at her hands, while she slowly cut the bread.

"I'm used to…cutting things in all kinds of shapes," Ria stated. Bree raised her eyebrows. There were times when Ria was alittle odd, but all Bree really cared about was her cooking, which was spectacular.

She didn't want to chase Ria away just because Ria was different. She had to keep Ria to help support her business. Orson was not really much of a help anymore, and Bree didn't want him near the food with a broken nose anyway.

It may have been bandaged up, but it could still makes this messy. If he snored loud enough with a broken nose, he sure as hell would annoy her while talking with a broken nose in the kitchen constantly 24/7.

"Oh…you carve things as a child?" Bree inquired. Ria's eyes were still focused on the knife. "I've been around carving all my life. It all started with my brothers murder when I was seven. My brother was fifteen and had gotten in trouble with the local gang. It was a mess, and I saw almost the whole thing happen…" Ria stated.

Bree felt a shiver go up her spine. Maybe that's why Ria was always so calm around violence. She had pretty much seen the worst of the worst. She couldn't even imagine what it must have been like for Ria.

"Oh Ria…I'm terribly sorry," Bree stated. Ria shrugged. "I was five so…I don't really remember much…." She said.

Bree turned back to icing her cake.

"But I have the feeling that living on this street and…taking care of all these people will make things all better. I will surely be at peace again…" Ria said.

Bree smiled over at her. "And by taking care of people you mean helping out the older folks?" she asked.

Ria finally turned her gaze so it met Bree's. "Taking care of a good handful of the people," Ria replied. Bree pressed her lips into a tight line, before finishing off her cake.

Yea, Ria was in deed different.

……………………………………

Dave sat in his living room, reading a magazine. Edie was sitting in a chair across from him, turned so she could watch the TV. Dave heard the sound of brakes, and he looked up. He leaned back slightly, and peered through the blinds.

Dave saw the doctor walk Astera up to the door, and they talked for a few seconds. Dave saw them share a soft kiss on the porch, before Astera went inside.

Dave felt as if his insides were on fire. He was loosing it, again. He knew he should take his pills to settle the matter, but he wanted to handle it another way. He stood up.

"Hun, I'm going to run to the auto store…I need to get more... tools…" Dave stated. "But its eight at night," Edie stated. Dave smiled at her, before kissing the top of her head.

"I'll be back soon," he said. He walked outside, just in time to see the doctor getting in his car.

Dave scoffed, before climbing inside his car. He waited until the doctors car began to drive away, before he backed out of the driveway.

For about ten minutes, he maintained a safe distance. He made sure he was wearing his black protective gloves. He was going to handle this his way. He waited until they started to cross the bridge, and Dave smiled.

He sped up, and went into the other lane. He drove up so he passed the doctor, before cutting back infront of him. He waited, and a few seconds later he felt the impact of the doctors car rearing his.

Dave smiled, before putting on his flashers and climbing out of the car. He saw Stephen climb out, and throw his arms in the air. "What do you think you were doing man? Hey wait…weren't you over at Astera and Mike's?" Stephen questioned.

Dave stopped right infront of the doctor. "Oh yes, that was me…" he stated.

"So what's your problem man?" Stephen asked, folding his arms.

"You," Dave replied. He stepped forward, and seized Stephen at the neck. He began to choke him, and Stephen began to gasp for breath.

"Everything was going fine until you came along. Now if Astera finds interest in you…there is no way she will pay attention to me. You can't just expect to come onto the street and steal what other men want," Dave spat.

He could see the color draining from Stephen's face, as he struggled to speak.

"I may be married…but there is one thing I want more than anything…and you are standing in my way of getting it…." Dave hissed.

"I didn't sleep with her," Stephen croaked. Dave slammed Stephen against the wall of the bridge.

"I wasn't asking if you did! I was…." Dave paused in thought.

He continued to keep his strong hold on the doctor's throat, while he stared into space. Maybe that was it. Yes, it hit him now. The way to get closer to a woman was through her heart.

If he got close to Astera's heart, he could get close to her herself. Getting closer to her meant she would tell him anything he wanted to hear about Mike including his weakness. Then he could always be acting like buddies with Mike, before striking him at the point where Mike was most vulnerable.

Dave chuckled. He knew now what he had to do.

"I'm going to make Astera want me. I'm going to make her want me so bad that it tears her up inside…I'm going to make her love me," Dave said.

He noticed Stephen wasn't struggling anymore, and he looked down. He slapped Stephen across the face, to see if he moved. When he didn't, Dave took a good hold of his arm, before breaking it.

When Stephen didn't respond, Dave knew he had to be dead. With one swift sweep, Stephen's body fell off of the bridge and into the racing water.

Dave closed his eyes and inhaled his victory.

Who knew that the path to a victorious revenge would feel so wonderful…