Hello all! Another installment in the journey is here.. This is going to be long road for the girls. I hope you can stay with me for the entire trip! I know that this is a little slow, but… Thanks in advance for your patience!

Flashbacks in italics

If You Ever Come Back (The Script)

Her eyes had blinked a few more times, not wanting to believe this was actually happening. She didn't want to believe that Simone was right here, right in front of her, soothing her tears with her words and her thumb. She wanted to do nothing more than look her in the eye, hoping to find her home again, her soul, her heart. This was all too much at once, she began to raise her eyes to catch a glimpse of those deep blue pools that used to greet her each morning and softly lull her to sleep each night. She locked on blue for a few fleeting moments, seeing a pained expression reflected back into her own. Not being able to form words at this moment, all she could do was breathe. Her mind was in the process of driving her back, quickly, moving moments, touches, and discussions to the forefront, not allowing her to form any coherent thought, not allowing her to bring the only thing that has been tormenting her all this time, forward, with questions, both vocalized and through expressions. Annabelle, was at a loss, captive in her own thoughts at that moment when she was brought out of those memories when she heard a voice echoing through the bathroom.

"Annabelle, are you okay"? Julianne questioned as she came all the way through the massive door and hadn't seen or heard anyone yet.

Annabelle gave Simone one last look, put her head down and turned to leave that cold marble room. She made quick eye contact and grabbed Julianne's hand in a gentle squeeze as she continued her way out the door.

Julianne continued her movements into the bathroom only to notice Simone looking down at her hands and shaking her head, with a defeated look washing over her face.

"I am sorry Simone, I wish there was something I could tell you to make you feel better. I wish I knew what I could do to change all of this" Julianne said with a quiet tone, trying to not disturb the weighted moment that just occurred.

"I wish I did too" Simone replied, her voice trembling just a little, trying her best to just swallow the bittersweet taste still left in her mouth after her brief contact with Annabelle.

"I just wanted to say congratulations again you two. You better be on your best behavior mister, or you will have to answer to me. I don't care where I am, I will come find you" Annabelle said sternly leaning into Austin's person space.

"Yes ma'am, is that a threat or a promise"? Austin replied with as much sarcasm as he could muster.

"Don't think I won't do it" Annabelle chirped as she moved closer to her best friend and wrapped her arms around her shoulders as she leaned in and continued by saying, "I forgot to tell you how beautiful you look today and that I am so happy for you, and of course, that Austin is the luckiest guy on earth".

"Thank you, you are such a sweet talker, but I couldn't ask for a better best friend" Collins' replied as she squeezed Annabelle's forearms and let out a small sigh, just happy that this day had gone perfectly and that Annabelle was able to be there.

"I think I am going to sneak out of here. I only have the rest of the night and part of the day tomorrow to get reorganized before I have to head back out to the east coast. I will call you when you get back from your honeymoon" Annabelle whispered, giving Collins a final squeeze and then released Collins to move toward the groom and embrace him in a heartfelt hug, letting him know, that she was really happy for him, and continued by saying, "Take good care of her. I will check up on you in a couple of months".

"I will, always. You have fun out there and I will see you back in the studio" Austin responded as he lifted Annabelle a little off the ground when hugging her.

Annabelle gave one last squeeze and as she released herself from his hold, she scanned the room for all the other people she wanted to say goodbye to. She followed her eyes as they led her toward Cheyenne, her parents and Collins' parents. She said her heartfelt goodbyes and "see you soons" as she made her way around the table. She continued on her excursion around the room when she saw Jason and Julianne deep in conversation. She approached the couple and noticed they had solemn looks on their faces rather than the jovial expressions found at this type of event.

"Hey" Annabelle stated with a hint of hesitation in her voice.

"Hey Annabelle, you ditching out already"? Jason replied trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, I need to take care of somethings before tomorrow night so I am saying my goodbyes" Annabelle responded as she sheepishly looked toward Julianne knowing that she had probably talked to Simone a little while ago.

"Well I am glad you graced us with your presence, you really need to come home more often" Jason chided as he went in for his normal bear hug where Annabelle was concerned.

"I will think about it" Annabelle responded as she held onto Jason longer than she normally would have.

"Well, I know your tour is winding down in a couple of months, so if you are nice, I will let you have a little break before we start working on your next project" Jason stated with a chuckle as he set her down so she could finish saying her goodbyes.

Annabelle just rolled her eyes at Jason's comment and headed toward Julianne and wrapped her in a hug and said "I am glad I got to see you. Keep him out of trouble okay"?

"I am glad you were able to be here. Of course I will keep him in line, someone has to right? As they released each other, Julianne continued by saying, "I know you are still hurting, I can see it in your eyes, please, just think about it, you two should at least talk".

"I just can't, not now, not here" Annabelle replied in a hushed tone, not wanting to continue this conversation.

"Okay, I get that, just, just think about it" Julianne reiterated, in a frustrated tone.

"I will" Annabelle stated simply, as she let out a sigh, internally wishing that she could just remove the image of Simone's expression as she left her standing in the bathroom. She was struggling with the thought of going to look for Simone, but she couldn't give in, or rather, allow her pride to be set aside and just say what is on her mind, let out what is in her heart. But, that would be for another time she thought, another place.

"Are you not going to at least consider it" Collins asked as she pointed to the key now resting on the kitchen table"

"Of course I have considered it. I just can't believe she actually picked up and left. There is just so much going on, I really don't want to just get up and leave, leave all this behind. She could have stayed here, she could have gotten a promotion here, just maybe took a little bit longer" Annabelle replied in a harsh tone, letting her emotions get the better of her, feeling the frustration building more and more that they talked about it.

"I know Annabelle. Sometimes things just happen. You just need to go with it. She just went with it. I don't think she ever thought for one second that her taking that job would have you reacting like this. If she did, I really don't think she would have done it" Collins reasoned as she sat back down at the table after refilling their coffee cups.

"I think she would have. We had talked about it and I could already tell she had made up her mind. I am just so confused and upset by all of this, I just didn't expect any of this to happen, not now, not like this, I, I just".. Annabelle was interrupted by Collins saying, "Annabelle, just take awhile to think about it, you can't just give up that easily".

"That's the problem, that's what I feel that she did" Annabelle replied, not willing to listen to reason, and just letting her feelings overpower any rational thought at this moment.

"Hi, I just wanted to see how the new CD was coming along. I know you have been busy, I just hope everything is going okay. I hope to hear from you soon. I love you" Simone breathed out the last statement as she pressed the end button on her phone after getting Annabelle's voice mail for the tenth time in the last month. The band went back into the studio right after the tour. Annabelle had only called Simone once to let her know they were recording and to have a safe trip as she traveled to Australia to cover the Perth International Arts Festival. Simone was beside herself trying to have some kind of contact with Annabelle. She wrongly assumed that she would walk into her new house in Los Angeles and find Annabelle inside, strumming quietly on her guitar, waiting for her return. That had not come to fruition. She had waited and waited. As the weeks had come and gone, Simone's resolve began to waiver. She thought that by giving Annabelle a little time and space to think about things, everything would just fall into place. She began to let that shred of doubt fill her mind and heart. She was beginning to think that her decision, as much as she thought they had made it together, wasn't as promising as she once thought. She mulled over in her mind what she could do to get Annabelle to see that this was only temporary, just another step into furthering her career, another step toward making her own schedule, making her own rules. She never thought Annabelle would shut down so quickly, knowing all they had gone through, just to exist in each others lives.

"Just promise you will keep in touch" Collins plead as she placed her napkin down on the table and leaned forward for emphasis when Simone stated she was going to start breaking down her equipment for the night.

"I promise" Simone replied as she reached for Collins' hand for reassurance of her newly made oath.

"Good. I know I will be talking to you soon anyway when the pictures are ready" Collins stated with a smile, knowing that this day was not only the start of her life together with Austin, but also a chance to see her best friend and her former professor to reconnect, even for a brief moment, just enough to ignite some kind of spark, some kind of realization that they both need to let go of the past and find their way back to each other.

"You have a safe trip and I will call you when everything is ready" Simone replied as she pulled Collins into a hug, smiling briefly, only to be hindered by the form of the blue eyed beauty making her way to the exit. As she pulled back from Collins, she unwittingly fixed her gaze toward the woman who held every last part of her heart in her hands. Her breath hitched unexpectedly when Annabelle paused and turned around one last time before heading out that door. She met her stare as she fixated her eyes on the face that she had touched just a little while ago, for the first time in a couple of years, wanting to be close enough at that moment to let her fingers trace each curve, each line of her face, as she told her that she loved her. She was soon being met with the realization of this moment passing her by as she saw Annabelle disappear through the doorway.

I hope you all enjoy your week!

Peace!