AN: Hello to all my readers and welcome to the latest instalment of this tale. Thanks as always go to all who have read and, especially, those who have reviewed my work; your input is always appreciated.

I sat back on the couch and closed my eyes, just taking a few moments to reflect on recent events. Freddie couldn't stay over every night (especially with his college exams going on at the moment) and I missed his strong presence by my side but things had been a little better since my talk with Jade. I was able to sleep a bit easier; no longer was I being awakened by my own screams – though I did still sleep lighter than I had before that fateful night; I kept waking up, glaring at the clock, dozing off, waking up again. Lack of sleep was making school a little more difficult but I was determined not to let my grades slip so I threw myself into homework and enlisted my friends to help me when I felt I was struggling. They had responded to the challenge with voracious enthusiasm and their assistance was proving invaluable to me as I attempted to avoid drowning in a sea of work.

Like my boy I had end-of-unit tests and exams to survive; though unlike him I was steadily building up my credits as High School neared its conclusion. Joining Freddie at UCLA was my logical next step; I was quietly confident that I'd get in given my ever-expanding resume (which included my infamous stint as a stunt double), decent grades and the fact that the interview involved something of an audition. If I nailed it then, provided I kept up with my classes, there should be no problems getting on to the course I wanted. The 'audition' would involve them e-mailing me a song and I had to learn the words and sing it, putting "my own, unique stamp" on it and then hoping that they liked what they heard; the interview was a month or so away yet and they would e-mail me the song a week beforehand.

That was for the future though; back in the here and now I needed to get through the next few weeks, the next big performance and the next showcase. I was driving myself endlessly, remorselessly forwards (we all were). All the while schoolwork was piling up, classes were getting more difficult, rehearsals were getting more and more frequent, singing classes were becoming a daily hour of torture (I had to ace these classes if I was serious about getting on my college course) and on top of all of them I was helping André out by singing another of his songs for his song-writing class (he was also working on his first album for the record label he signed with). By the middle of the week it was becoming exhausting and my lack of sleep was getting ever more pronounced; it was all I could do to survive one day to the next, wishing every night that tonight would be the night that my brain finally switched off and allowed me to sleep.

My wishes would not come true; night after night was ticking by in the same vein. I had seen Lane about it without any noticeable benefit; he observed that it was almost certainly down to anxiety and something of a vicious circle that I was stuck in (I couldn't sleep because I was anxious about the goons being out there, then I was becoming anxious about not sleeping, which caused me to have more trouble in trying to sleep). All I could do was hope that one day soon the other thugs would be caught and put away, and that that would provide the relief I was seeking and lead to me rediscovering a functional sleeping pattern.

Teachers, too, were noticing my troubles; Sikowitz commented on my unusually dishevelled and distracted look during his acting class and my singing teacher noted that my voice seemed devoid of its usual power (though he disputed Robbie's allegation that I sounded flat or off-key). I just continued struggling and muddling along, working as best as I could and holding everything together throughout the week.

Finally Friday afternoon arrived and the school week ended; Freddie came over for the weekend (apart from his shift at work; as usual I'd drive him there and back, via somewhere for us to go for dinner). I was looking forward to my Freddie time more than ever before; at the moment on a night we spent together he was more than just my boyfriend, he was my security blanket and he gave me the safe feeling I needed to temporarily tame my night devils and sleep through. I collected him after we'd finished our respective school days, first giving him a couple of hours to spend with his friend Andy working on their latest assignment and a little revision (I spent the extra time with Jade and Beck in the library getting some of our homework done), and we went back to my house. Mom was cooking rather than us going out for dinner tonight and this Friday night was to ultimately prove memorable, starting as it did with dad coming home bearing the best news imaginable to me.

"We got them!" Dad's words were delivered with delight and they elated me. A look to Freddie showed the relief on his face as he embraced me tightly and with a huge smile. I felt my eyes welling up with tears of relief and spent a few hugely enjoyable moments buried against his burly chest as I attempted to rediscover some semblance of my composure.

We pressed my dad for details and he explained how the cops had seen two guys matching the description I gave a few blocks from the scene of the ambush; the cop I'd found while Freddie was being beaten had been on duty at the time and, from what he'd seen of them, he had recognised them. That they attempted to flee when they saw the LAPD boys also implied wrong-doing on their part.

Once arrested they had eventually confessed to their part in the attack; this meant, thankfully, that neither Freddie nor I would have to ID them. It also meant that we shouldn't have to worry about them again for a long time.

"This calls for a celebration" mom declared jovially before turning to us. "Kids, pick a restaurant; we're going there tomorrow night."

Freddie and I looked at one another. "Can we let you know in the morning?" I asked "We're gonna have to think over some of our favourites – or any that we still want to try."

Mom nodded and smiled before returning to the task of preparing tonight's meal. It would, predictably, become a celebration for us; every moment that went by I could feel the tension and anxiety draining from my body. I made quick calls to Jade and André to share the good news; they were, naturally, delighted to hear it. Freddie, too, seemed more relaxed during dinner; he was just about healed now, though still tender around his ribs.

Nobody seemed surprised when the two of us headed to my room for a more private and intimate celebration.

Later that night, after we'd made love, Freddie and I lay in each other's arms; our thoughts inevitably turned to the goons.

"I'm so glad it's over" I whispered. He pulled me closer and I turned to meet his gaze.

"I'll sleep easier knowing they're locked away" he confessed. He sounded tired; I hadn't realised it had affected him that way too.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I pried, beginning to feel a little hurt that he had kept it from me.

"You had your own troubles to deal with" he explained. "You weren't sleeping, you were having nightmares, waking up screaming. I didn't want you to worry about me as well."

"I'm your girlfriend; that's what I'm HERE for!" I emphasised. On the one hand I loved his thoughtfulness, on the other I wanted to chide him for suffering alone. "I don't want to think that you don't think you can tell me stuff" I cupped his cheek and looked into his eyes as I spoke.

"There's nothing I don't think I can tell you" he assured me. "But you were dealing with YOUR response to what happened; I didn't want to dump mine on you as well."

"I dumped mine on you" I countered.

"I'm your boyfriend; that's what I'm here for" he flashed his boyish smile at me. I laughed and brought my lips to his. I grinned happily as my leg slid between his.

"You ready to go again?" I asked seductively.

"With you here? Always."