Well, hello again!! Here is another chapter! It's a long one and a bit angsty.

**Now, this scene takes place right before Chapter 1 (The Note).**

Remember I don't own anything -- damn!

Please, please, please review!!

Enjoy!


Gillian walked out of the building as fast as she could. She didn't even look back to see if Cal was following her. Suddenly she stopped and looked around. "Great I'm lost."

Cal came up behind her and said, "You are never lost with me, Luv." He grinned. "Hey that was a fantastic performance in there. For a second I believed you."

Gillian looked stern, "I meant every word I said." She waited until Cal had a guilty look on his face. She smiled and said, "Oh, Cal, I am kidding. What a great performance from you. My favorite part was part was when you wiped that tear away." They both laughed and started walking towards St. James Park.

Cal getting his breath back, said, "You are getting better at slapping me. It still tingles where you hit me. Who do you practice on?"

Gillian laughed and said, "I only practice on you. Maybe I should do it more often."

Cal looked at her and said, "By all means, please do, but not on the face. I was thinking around the buttocks region." He gave her a sly smile.

She reciprocated by smacking him on the arm and sarcastically laughing, "Ha ha, you are just so funny." Then she became serious, "So what happened on the terrace? We could hear Garry screaming from inside."

Cal laughed and told her what happened. "To tell you the truth, I don't think he did it. Yes he is angry but he is too vocal about it. He focuses a lot of attention on himself." He looked down and said, "I don't know who it is. No one showed guiltiness. What about your group?"

Gillian stopped him and said, "Cal, don't lie to me. You saw something. What did you see?" He tried to move around her but she blocked him.

Cal sighed and said, "I thought," putting emphasis on the word 'thought', "I saw Charles' shoulder twitch up after saying that they didn't commit the murders. But, I think I was imagining it. He would never do such a thing. He is not capable." Cal sounded desperate towards the end.

Gillian shook her head and said, "Cal, I am going to give you your own piece of advice. We are looking for a murderer, not a friend. Don't let your emotions get in the way of this investigation. Did he do anything else?" Cal shook his head and they resumed walking.

After a couple minutes of silent walking, Cal turned to her and asked, "So how did it go inside?"

Gillian looked down, "Oh, it was alright. They were bitching me out for embarrassing you in front of everyone. They said," she scrunched up her face and said in an annoying voice, "'Every woman should treat her husband like a king. That means no talking back to him and discussing his personal life while others are present.'" Gillian laughed. Cal just smiled. She turned to him and said, "Oh come on Cal, it was pretty damn funny. Did you see their faces when I slapped you? I think Serena might kill me!" She laughed but Cal did not. "Fine, suit yourself, be a fuddy duddy!" She looked at him and he cracked a smile. "That's more like! I have to say, I sometimes miss that silly grin. Anyways, what should we do now?"

Cal shrugged his shoulders and said, "We can call Ben, but that can wait till tomorrow. He told me earlier that he has a date tonight." He wiggled his eyebrows.

Gillian laughed again and said, "Best not to disturb him." They kept on walking until Gillian stopped. "Cal, why are we walking back to the hotel? Can't we just take a taxi?"

Cal whined, "It's a gorgeous night, plus we are about to walk through the park. It's less than a mile back." He looked at his watch.

Gillian stared at him, "Cal are you expecting something? Look at me! I am in a Channel dress! Does it look like I should be walking? If I was wearing my regular clothes, I wouldn't mind." Then she stared to whine, "Cal, its Channel!"

He gave in and called a taxi. They drove back to the hotel. They got out and went straight to the elevator. They saw Gerald once the doors opened. Gillian exclaimed, "Gerald! It is so good to see you! How have you been?"

Gerald laughed and said, "Doing good, it looks like you had a great time. If you don't mind Steven, I think Jules looks amazing."

Cal grabbed Gillian around the waist and drew her closer to him. "Well she does look exquisite. I helped pick out the dress though." The elevator stopped and Gillian was the first to get off. Cal walked after her, but not before giving Gerald a high-five.

She smugly looked at Cal and then opened the door. Once she turned on the lights, she squealed with delight. "Oh my goodness! Cal did you get these strawberries and wine?" She hugged him before he answered her question.

He was caught off guard and said, "Whoa, they said that they owed us for something, I don't remember what. I didn't know that they were going to send these up. What a great hotel!" When Gillian turned to grab one of the chocolate covered strawberries, he beamed.

Gillian took one bite and moaned. She looked at Cal and got embarrassed. "These are my favorite." She took another bite, this time softly moaning. After eating it, she turned to Cal and said, "That was delicious! I am going to change into my pajamas." She walked towards the bedroom door but turned back to him to say, "Now don't laugh at my pajamas, okay! My nephew got them for me. They are absolutely adorable." She paused for a moment and concluded, "My nephew and my pajamas." She smiled and went into the bedroom.

Cal uncorked the wine bottle and poured it into the glasses. Gillian then came out in flannel pants that has cupcakes all over it and a tank top that said 'Yummy Cupcakes!'. Cal laughed real hard. He would try to say something but he just ended up laughing some more. Gillian looked annoyed and sarcastically said, "Haha. I warned you, yet here you are laughing. Very mature, Cal." Then she started to giggle herself.

Once Cal got a hold of his breath he stammered, "It's just so perfect for you, Luv. Do you know that Emily and I have been dashing around the malls looking for something like that for your birthday? Emily will be disappointed but now she gets to spend my money at the mall for her." He laughed again. He gave her a glass of wine. She gulped it down and went to refill it. She also took another chocolate covered strawberry. Cal looked down before saying, "Gillian, I have a question to ask and you are the only person to ask." She mumbled something not really paying attention. He took a deep breath and said, "I think I need to be honest with someone."

Gillian turned around and said, "Of course you need to be honest. You are an honest person. I wouldn't expect anything different from you." Then she turned back around to get another strawberry.

"So you think I should be completely honest with a woman I am in love with?" Gillian turned around with a strawberry in her mouth but not biting down on it. Cal smiled, "Got your attention, Luv?"

She put down the strawberry and nodded, before saying, "Well of course you should be honest with this woman. If you love her," she took a deep breath, "then she deserves complete honesty."

Cal shrugged his shoulders and said, "Well, you see, I don't think she is ready for me to declare my love. I mean, she just broke up with this other bloke. They were together for a long time. He was a complete asshole to her. Nah, I don't think she is ready." He sadly shook his head.

Gillian thought for a moment, "Well how do you know she is not ready? Have you asked her? Is she dating?" He shrugged his shoulders. She smiled, "There you go. She could be ready. Why are you so afraid? Has she hurt your feelings before?"

Cal shook his head. "No, not really. I guess I don't want to be the make-up guy." Gillian looked confused. "You know, she has to make-up so many men that she missed out from dating that loser. I don't want her to just look at me as a 'use'em and lose'em' kind of guy. She is a pistol! I can give her that much credit. Plus she is sexy as hell. It wouldn't surprise me."

Gillian grabbed his arm and said, "Believe me, you are not a 'use'em and lose'em' kind of guy. You should at least tell her how you feel. Then the ball is in her court. Yes, it may hurt for her not to reciprocate the feelings back immediately but she will in due time. Especially if she feels the same for you."

Cal shook his head again and said, "Come on, Foster. There is a big chance that she could say 'fuck you' and leave. I don't think I could handle that."

Gillian looked at him with astonished eyes. "Come on, Cal. Get a grip on yourself. Who would do that to you? All you have to do is use that pick up line and you are 'in like Flynn'!" She wiggled her eyebrows and smiled.

He rewarded her with a big grin. "Well, let's just say, she is not an open person. She doesn't let her guard down for one second. It's like she has a 24/7 wall around her body, not to mention, her heart."

Gillian exclaimed, "Well she sounds like a closed minded bitch, if you ask me. She would be lucky to have your love." She started to choke up a little. She looked down to compose herself and then asked, "Who are you talking about?"

Cal looked confused and said hesitantly, "Well I don't know if I should tell you--"

Gillian interrupted him, "Oh, come on Cal. We are not children. Is it Zoe?" She looked at him. He just looked down. She got up from the sofa and went towards the bedroom. "I mean if it is, it is none of my business, right. Obviously, I am happy for you but Emily is not going to be happy about it."

He got up and walked after Gillian. He grabbed her arm and he pushed her slightly against the door. He took a deep breath. She closed her eyes as he simply said, "No, Gillian, I love you."

She opened her eyes to find Cal's face open and full of emotion. She started to shake her head. "No, no, no, no! You can't love me, you just can't! This is unbelievable!" She walked around him still shaking her head. She turned to him and said, "I'm sorry Cal, but you don't love me. I think it is just the place we are at and the roles we have become."

Cal looked down in hurt, "Gillian, I love you. If you want me to, I will scream it on top of the Empire State building." He walked up to her and grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him. He whispered, "I love you, Gillian. It is me, the real Cal. I am not faking anything. This is it. I bloody love you!"

She shook her head and started to tear up. "Why do you love me? I am a wreck! I am not good enough for you. We don't even complement each other. You are more of a risk taker. I am the fuddy duddy! Please don't say you love me. You will just break my heart."

Cal smiled, "Darling, please don't deflect. Oh, the reasons that I do love you. I love the way you look. I love those tight dresses you wear, especially when you are dancing. I love your big heart. I love the way you care about people. I love the fact that you care for Emily and Emily cares for you. You even care about the person standing in front of you professing his love. I am more of a fuddy duddy than you think. Yes, I like to take risks but only with the job I am so passionately involved in. Plus, saying 'I love you' to you is a big risk for me. But it is also one that I am sure of." He looked deeply into her deep blue eyes. "You love me too, Gillian. I can see it, I can feel it. It radiates from every pore in your body. It's what keeps me going when I want to throw in the towel." He cupped her face in his hands. "I will not stop telling you that I love you. The flood gate is open and it will not be shut. I will make damn sure of it." He was about to kiss her when she backed away.

She wiped the tears away and said, "Well I don't love you. You have made a big mistake. You thought that I was caring for you but really I was saving my own ass with all of the crazy shit you have done. Cal, get this through your head, I don't love you. I never have and I never will." She crossed her arms and turned her back to him.

He looked down and whispered, "Gillian, you don't really believe what you are saying." She didn't move. He went up to her and twirled her around. He stared into her angry eyes. He laughed, "Nah, you don't even believe what your saying is true. You are scared. You just don't want to cross that stupid line."

Gillian looked down and barely whispered, "Just leave me alone, Cal. I don't want you around me." She had a look of determination in her eyes.

He sighed and said, "Alright, I will give you your space. But I know, deep down, you love me. The ball is in your court, Gillian. And I will not leave the court until I die." He looked into her eyes. "Believe me." He turned towards the front door and walked to it. Before opening it he quietly said, "That pick-up line I told you last night, was only for you. I have never used it on anyone else except for you. And I never will." With that, he opened the door and left.

When the door was shut, Gillian collapsed into a ball of tears.


Good?? Bad?? I am trying to figure out if I should extend the story further than I anticipated. Maybe back to the States. I want to know if people are still interested with the story even if I take it to a different level. What do you think? Let me know! Thanks!!!!