Author's Note: Thanks as always to Mali, who reviewed. As for the rest of you, boo!

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 22: Moving On

Tommy woke up in the morning and smiled when he saw Diane hadn't taken off. He didn't like that what it took was her being afraid to die.

"Mm," she squirmed and woke up. "Hi," she said and kissed him.

"Hi," he said. "So are we feeling less doom and gloom today?"

"A little," she said, "you've always helped keep the demons at bay though." He laughed. "Tommy, are you still going to love me when I'm too skinny, and covered in bruises and my hair falls out."

"Probably not," he teased, "I mean, I'm really just into your looks, so," she laughed. "We should call Jimmy. I'm sure,"

"No," she said. "I don't want,"

"He can get you into a really good treatment program," he said. "He knows people in New York."

"He's a med student," she shook her head. "I mean, we'll call him, fine, but I don't think we should count on it." She curled herself into him. "I can't count on anything but you." He kissed her.

"I love you," he whispered. "I'm not going anywhere."

"If I don't," she swallowed, "I mean if in a year or two, or however long,"

"Di, don't talk like that," he said.

"No, listen," she said. "I know you love me, but I'm not the only one you love, and I like being first, or most important or whatever, and if I'm gone, I know she could make you happy." He kissed her softly.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he shook his head.

"Angela," she said. "I know you've always loved her," he smiled.

"You probably should get more sleep if you're talking like that," he kissed her neck. "I'll go get us some food."

"OK," she said. "But I mean it."

"You're not going to die," he said, "and even if you do, I'm not going to call Angela and tell her that because my dead girlfriend said so we should get back together."

"I missed being your girlfriend." She cooed. He laughed.

Jimmy walked to his mailbox and unlocked it, he'd spent the night at Bonnie's, still worried about what condition he would find Ellie in when he got in. He saw a small box sitting and took it out. He opened it and sighed. Julie's promise ring, and with it a note:

Sorry about everything. See you around.

He rolled the simple ring around his finger. For jewelry picked out by a fifteen year old it really wasn't bad. He walked in.

"Ellie?" He called. "Honey, are you here?" He walked into his room and saw her in his bedroom. She collapsed on the bed. "Hey," he shook her awake gently. "I said you could stay over, not sleep in my bed."

"Hm," she said. "Sorry, your bed is more comfortable, and it's not like you were here." He nodded. "I take it all is well in Bonnie-land."

"It's getting there," he said. "Julie sent me this," he tossed her the box.

"Ouch," Ellie said. "So it's really over."

"Something like that," he nodded. "I think it's just that she's moving on with her life too. That's good, maybe someday we can be friends."

"I somehow doubt that you and Julie Gaffney will ever be friends." She laughed.

"I don't know," he said lying down with her. "We're friends."

"We were always friends though," she pointed out, "you and Julie never were." He sighed. "I'm just saying, I mean, I know that you two have to be around each other because of RDC and Tammy and everything, which means if you both move on, then that'll be good for that occasional running into each other thing. But I wouldn't count on being real friends." Jimmy nodded.

"Did you talk to Brad?" He asked.

"I left him a message," she sighed. "He didn't call back. He's probably working on a paper or something."

"Elle," he said. "Every time you come down here, is that because he's,"

"Working on a paper," she said with a nod, "or doing something for Logan, or doing anything but being with me."

"You have to tell Brad this stuff, honey," he whispered. She nodded.

"I know," she said. "And I will. But it should be in person."

"Sure," he said. "Or you could just always chicken out and stop taking his calls and start dating someone else." She laughed.

"I don't think Claire has any editors for me," she sighed. Jimmy laughed. "I don't know what to do. It's just every time he leaves me alone for a weekend I become more and more afraid that I'm going to turn into my mother." He nodded.

"I can see that," he said softly.

"Hey," Dave knocked and walked into Tammy's studio.

"Hey," she said. "What are you doing here?"

"We have to talk," he said. She nodded.

"I know, I've been meaning to call you," she said. "I'm painting again. Do you think that there's a teeny tiny corner of the gallery for me?"

"Always," he said. "That's great," he hugged her. "But that's not what I'm here about." He pulled out a portfolio.

"What's this?" She asked.

"The new shoot I did with Janet," he sighed. "Look it over." She nodded and opened it and looked through it. "What do you think?"

"I think she looks beautiful," she said. "Elegant, dignified," she closed it.

"Totally wrong for RDC," Dave said. She nodded. "We need a new girl, Tammy. I hate saying it as much as you hate hearing it. I love Janet, she's my wife, and she's still got a long career ahead of her, but she'd too old for what you want for the brand."

"So what do you suggest we do about it?" She said. "I could talk to her if you want, it might be easier coming from me."

"We have to tell Kelly," he said. Tammy groaned. "What's wrong?"

"Sometimes I think we made the wrong choice selling," she sighed. "I miss RDC being our little family business."

"RDC was a little family business the way Logan took over my dad's hardware store," Dave smirked. She laughed. "Maybe Kelly can tell her?"

"Kelly never will," Tammy shook her head. "It's going to take a lot of talking her around to this." Dave nodded. "Are you guys OK? You and Janet? I mean, I've never asked a lot of questions about your relationship, because it's always been um, unconventional, but you mean a lot to me Dave, without you I probably wouldn't have all of this."

"Janet and I," he shook his head. "I don't know. I love her, and I know she loves me, and we try, really hard, but we don't always measure up." She nodded. "So you're painting again? It's been years."

"I know," she said. "It was Steve's idea. Just landscapes, nothing up to my old stuff, but I'd love it if you just took a look when they were done."

"Absolutely," he said. "I'd be happy to."

"Thanks," she said. "Worst case I'll tell Janet that the board finally out muscled us to make the decision." Dave nodded. "In the meantime, we can keep an eye out for a new girl, and maybe the fragrance that the board wants to do, Janet could be the face for that."

"Sounds good," he nodded. "Call me when the paintings are ready." She nodded. "I'm proud of you Tammy, incredibly proud." She hugged him.

"Thank you," she said. "I'll see you soon." He nodded.

Julie sighed happily as she walked into the room, where she and Casey were sitting for auditions. Casey stared at her.

"What?" She said.

"You had sex, didn't you?" He said.

"Jesus Christ!" She said quietly. "How do you and Tammy do that?" He laughed.

"I just know you really well," he said. "With Peter?" She nodded. "Good?"

"Great," she smiled. "I like him, we're having a good time together." She bit her thumb nail.

"What?" He said.

"He's a lot more experienced than I am," she sighed.

"Most people are," he shrugged. "You've had one boyfriend."

"Two," she said defensively.

"Steve doesn't count," he shook his head. She rolled her eyes.

"I sent Jimmy back his ring," she mumbled.

"When did he give you a ring?" Casey asked. She looked at him. "Oh you mean that stupid promise ring he gave you when you were fifteen? You still had that thing?" She nodded. "I'm proud of you for letting him go."

"I had to didn't I?" She whispered. "He didn't give me much of a choice, at the wedding." Casey took her hand. "I am going to build a life without him Casey. It just might take a little while, I mean for ten years, Jimmy was my future."

Dean took a deep breath and knocked on Tanya and Fulton's door. Tanya opened it.

"Dean?" She said quietly. "What are you doing here?"

"Is Fulton home?" He said.

"No," she shook her head. "He has an overnight patrol, why?" He walked in and kissed her. "Dean," she pushed him away.

"I have to get through this," he said. "OK?" She nodded. "I feel like there's this part of me that never got to see what we would be. I love you, T, I always have, you know that."

"Dean," she said quietly. "Have you been drinking?"

"No," he shook his head. She looked at him. "A little, but I'm not drunk!"

"I think you should go," she said and sat down on the couch.

"Tanya," he said. "Honey, I'm sorry, I know the timing's off."

"Off?" She said. "Dean, I'm engaged, to your best friend, the timing isn't off, it's ridiculous. You don't love me!"

"How do you know?" He demanded.

"Because three years ago, when I asked you how you felt about me," she said, "when Fulton and I took a break, remember that? You said that you didn't feel that way about me anymore!" He shrank away. "So I put that behind us, and I moved on."

"T," he said softly and kissed her palms, "I know, but just lately,"

"Lately," she said, "you went to the woman you had a huge crush on's wedding, and saw the last serious girl friend you had. You know you can't have Elena, so as usual you come to me." He sighed. She stood up and walked to the door. "I think you should go."

"Tanya," he said. She opened it. "I just thought."

"Well think again," she said. "Leave, and don't come back for a while." He sighed and walked out. She closed the door and leaned against it. She fiddled with her engagement ring and then sat down. This wasn't a good development. He walked back in quietly. "Dean," she whispered and he kissed her again.

"Do you really think that he'll ever love you the way he loved her?" He whispered.

"That's the part you've never understood," she shook her head. "I've never asked him to."

Please Review!