A/N- I am finally back and committed to finishing this story.(it's been so long I had to go back and re-read everything.)

By "finishing this story" I also mean that there will be a few more chapters. One final chapter will not do the ending justice, and will make it all very rushed.

I am currently finishing the next few chapters, so expect an update within the next few days. (:

So, here we go. (:


Josh sat in the sitting room, his leg twitching nervously on the cold tile beneath him.

His thoughts were running wild. What if they said no? What if he imagined their slight trepidation? It was not unlike them to give him hope only to crush him with what they deemed "what was best for him."

It seemed like hours before the maid Silvia, (or was it Susan?, his mother went through maids like Cam went through hair gel) entered the room and informed him that his parents wished to see him outside

Her face gave no sign of how it went, it was simply dutiful informants.

He again walked the path of judgement, of enforcement and apathy, all lined with gold leaf banisters.

He entered into the rose scented patio where his Greek god-like parents sat stiff as statues, both probably uncomfortable with the situation and their proximity to each other. (his parents were never really the "hands holdy" type)

He stood their expectantly, preparing himself for the worst until his father beckoned to the chair in front of them.

"Please, take a seat Josh."

He sat down and waited for them to begin.

"Joshua, your father and i have taken into account all you have said", his Spanish mother began.

"We know that we may have been a bit strict with you throughout your youth, but-" his father said

His mother cut him off, "but, it was only because we thought it best."

Josh jumped out of his seat in indignation, "you thought it Best! You thought that by ignoring your one and only child was the best way to go! Oh, no, not completely, you both stuck around long enough to put insane rules in place and arrange a marriage, but you never once thought-"

Josh was cut off by his angry father "don't you dare speak to us that way! Who were the ones to put you through all your schooling? Who bailed you out countless times when you were doing all those stints with Cameron Fisher? Who-"

Josh cut him off,"no, father. Don't pretend that you were doing that for my benefit. No, all you cared about was how it would make you look to all you and mom's wealthy friends and neighbors. It wasn't because you were expressing feelings of concern and parental responsibility."

The tears were forming in his own eyes, "God, don't you realize why I pulled all those stunts as a teenager?"

He paused before continuing, "Because it was the only time I would get to see my parents and have them actually look at me. The looks of annoyance were better than none at all."

His parents had slipped into utter silence, he did not know what they were thinking or feeling, but he decided to continue.

"Now, listen. I love Massie Block. She makes me feel better than I have ever felt in my entire life. When I am around her, I feel like I am finally in the right place, that no matter what happens, it will be okay as long as I am with her. Regardless of what you feel, I am going to marry her."

He continued, "I know that you are going to hate me, maybe even pretend like you do not know me for awhile, but quite frankly, our relationship could not get any worse than it is now."

He stood up again, and said "Really, the choice is yours. Continue with your facade of what "is best" and continue to ignore your sons happiness, or meet the woman who will, no matter what you say, be my wife, and maybe begin to get to know me, the right way."

He waited for them to answer, but they did not do anything, they simply sat there in a stony silence.

He sighed and walked back through his previous home and continued until he shut the door on his previous life and all the expectations that came along with it.

All he had to do now was tell Alicia, and he would do it as honorably as he could.


He, after driving back and entering the humongous building that contained Alicia's apartment, walked up to the hallway and knocked on her door, ready to end this ordeal once and for all.

He waited, (and waited) until she finally opened the door, dressed in what he recognized as a long man's silk shirt (Ralph Lauren, she always had a taste for price)

"Joshie, wha-, what are you doing here?" she said, stumbling over her words as she attempted to pull a robe over herself to cover the evidence.

"Don't bother, Alicia" he said coolly, as he pushed past her to enter the apartment.

"So, I assume that if I was to enter your room, I would find some half naked guy awaiting your return, yes?" he said.

"Now, joshie, don't be that way. You know it was never that way for us" she said.

This took him by surprise.

"What do you mean?" he said, curious to hear her answer.

She sighed, "Josh, I am not as stupid as I may come across. Self-centered, yes, I admit, but not entirely as naive as I may seem."

He sat down on her sofa and she took the chair opposite it.

"So, all this time, you knew?" he said, taken aback.

"I've seen the way you look at her Josh, and the way she looks at you. It was a little obvious."

She continued. "You've never looked at me that way, and to be honest, I've never felt that way about you."

"So, all this time, why did you pretend not to notice? Why did you act
so-"

She cut him off, "ditsy? Well, Josh. I thought that if you continued to pay no attention to me, then you wouldn't notice that I too, was having an affair."

He felt shock and a bit of relief wash over him, "So, the guy in the bedroom-"

"- Is the guy whom I love and who loves me back, Marcus. We met about two years ago when I went to Spain."

Everything was making sense to Josh now.

"So your parents?"

"They wanted our relationship as well, but not in the same way as your parents do, they were convinced that it was what I wanted."

"Was it Alicia? Did you really enjoy being with someone who didn't love you?" It was a bit harsh, but the truth all the same.

"All I wanted at first was wealth and position in society that marrying you would provide, but," she looked to the door of her bedroom, "now I am not so sure."

"We would have never been happy, Alicia. We would have spent every waking moment in regret and hating each other for it. We would have had to raise children in a loveless marriage, and trust me, it is the worst environment as a child."

She gave him a knowing look, she knew of his parents relationship.

"So, Alicia, go and be happy with the man you love. Don't waste your time believing wealth will make you happy, because in the end" he paused, thinking of his parents, "it will only make things worse."

She smiled, and tears formed in her eyes as she said, "She's a lucky girl, you know."

He smiled back, "And so is he." He said, gesturing to the bedroom.

She beamed at him and they both stood up.

He came over to her and gave her a final hug.

"I am sorry Josh, sorry that I put you through all of that, " She said, a few tears rolling down her cheeks.

He pulled back and said, "Me too." and he actually meant it.

He left the room and the one thing on his mind was,

What is Massie going to tell him when she returns from her parents?

He could only hope that she would reach the same closure as he.


A\N- I thought Alicia and Josh needed some closure, and hope that you
guys liked the "improved Alicia."

I feel bad about Josh's parents, but they will play a role later.

Please review, and you will see the inevitable confrontation between
Josh and Massie, and the trials that still lie ahead.