Chapter 1- No Such Thing as Closer Part: 2

Point of View: Cody Caldwell

I couldn't believe that the perfect opportunity just fell from the sky everything was falling into place. If after all of this Cheynne and I's efforts worked, I would believe in fate. I get up and walk into Ian's office.

"How you feeling?"

"Better than earlier just busing myself."

"Will you take off the rest of the day till at least Saturday?"

"Two and a half days won't hurt why though?"

"That big London party you got invited to, you're going."

"I'm not really in the partying mood."

"C'mon a vacation is exactly what you need so you aren't looking at the same stuff that reminds you of Tiara."

"Fine don't we have to leave now?"

"Yup let's go bro we got shopping to do when we get there," I say walking out.

I wake up early Friday before Ian to go see Cheynne. After a twenty-minute drive, I knock on the door. I hear moving around then the door opens.

"Hey babe!" Cheynne wraps her arms around me and I do the same as I kiss her.

I walk in and sit on the white couch, "How did you sleep?"

"Pretty good I'm not use to sleeping without you."

"Don't get used to it either." I pull her onto my lap and kiss her. "Ready for tonight?"

"Yup we are going there separately. Did you tell Ian that I was going to be there?"

"Yeah I said that you were flying over and that you would meet us there."

"Tiara knows that you are coming it was actually her idea but she doesn't know about Ian and don't say his name in front of her. I slipped up and did that yesterday and she broke down crying. Honestly just avoid the subject of him unless she brings him up."

"Got it. I love you gorgeous."

"I love you too handsome."

We exchange one last kiss before Tiara walks out. "Good morning love birds."

"There's my other favorite girl." I get up and pick Tiara up in my arms hugging her tight. "You've lost weight but in all the right places so you just have more of an hourglass shape."

She smiles, "Of course the first thing you mention is my body and thank you. I thought you were mad at me."

"A little bit but it's fine now I'm just glad you're okay. I miss you a lot everyone misses you."

"I know and I'm sorry for leaving I tried to make it right just a little bit by telling you where I was."

"The one that needs to know you're okay the most doesn't know."

Tiara looked down at her hands eyes watering, "I know…."

I hugged her and kissed her forehead, "Everything will be okay I promise. It will all fall into place."

In my black suit, top hat, and blue bandit mask with Ian in his black suit and black and silver mask with rope like patterns, walk into the Hilton on Park Lane. The room has lights everywhere with splashes of blue, purple, and pink. The white covered tables and chairs sit on the edges of the room leaving the middle open for a giant dance floor.

"I cannot believe that you brought a cane."

"You know I got to be looking good for the ladies. You do know they are suckers for a good southern accent up here." I say.

Ian shakes his head walking in a little deeper to the room. "I'm going to go explore a little I'm sure Cheynne is looking for you."

I pat him on the back and walk out and up the staircase. Cheynne stands there waiting for me, "You look so beautiful."

"Thank you and you look very handsome."

I put my arms around her from behind and looked down at the party, "This is going to be a fairy tell ending."

Point of View: Tiara Green

I sit at a big round table after being ditched by Cheynne. I look up and there is Liam, "You look quite snazzy."

"Thanks gorgeous. Would you care to dance with me?"

I chuckled and took his hand gladly. "I hope you know how to waltz," he whispers as he leads me to the dance floor.

Even when a song would change, the dancing would continue but just adjust to the beat. Taylor Swift's voice hung in the air, "There I was again tonight forcing laughter, faking smiles same old tired lonely place. Walls of insincerity, shifting eyes and vacancy vanished when I saw your face. All I can say is it was enchanting to meet you."

Before I knew it, I was in another man's arms swaying and swinging. He wasn't bad on his feet but I could tell he felt awkward.

"Last partner change." Someone announced as I turned to another man.

I didn't look up at him since I had no desire to. As I looked around thinking about whom I would rather be dancing with I felt a tingle run through my body, must be a breeze that came by. I kept dancing ignoring my weird body reactions. It was almost easy to do since my partner seemed like a professional. Luckily, I was good at following so I could keep up.

"The lingering question kept me up 2 AM, who do you love? I wonder 'til I'm wide-awake. And now I'm pacing back and forth wishing you were at my door I'd open up and you would say, 'Hey, it was enchanting to meet you, all I know is I was enchanted to meet you.'"

I just couldn't shake the feeling as if there was some type of intensity I was missing. I hadn't had this feeling since… no he can't be here.

"This is me praying that this was the very first page not where the story line ends. My thoughts will echo your name until I see you again. These are the words I held back as I was leaving too soon I was enchanted to meet you. Please don't be in love with someone else. Please don't have somebody waiting on you. Please don't be in love with someone else. Please don't have somebody waiting on you."

I turned my head looking all around but saw no one that came close to him. My dance partner's thumb slid onto the skin of my back making me twinge as the electrical current ran through my body. My heartbeat sped up and my breathing quickened slightly when I realized that there was only one person that could make my body go crazy… one man… and that was Ian Joseph Somerhalder. A tear inched down my cheek, I was too afraid of being wrong when I looked up and being let down. I couldn't help but get my hopes up just a little that the man I left behind that I was still madly in love with was right here, in my arms and I in his.

I looked up just as the man looked down and my heart stopped but the tears kept flowing. His gorgeous blue eyes widened when they met mine, "It's you…." He mumbled.

"It's you," I mumbled back in my shaky voice trying to gain control of the floodgates. I pulled his mask off as he did the same to me. It's him… it's my Ian.

He skimmed his thumb over my cheek wiping away the tears then held my face up to his, "I can't believe it's you you're really here standing in front of me… my sweet Tiara Alexandria Green." I could see Ian's pain showing through as he said my last name and not his.

"Mhm."

"What did I do to hurt you so bad that you had to run away?"

The dreaded question I thought about was hanging in the air, "I can't Ian I can't do this." I walked off as fast as I could manage heading to my car but was stopped in the lobby.

"Tiara don't do this to me please. I can't let you walk out another door and disappear I love you. That never changed and it never will baby please just stay the night with me don't walk away from me. It has felt like years without you and the day I found you would be the day that I never slept without you again. Spend the rest of the night and tomorrow with me I know you still love me you said it yourself."

I felt so bad for causing him so much heartbreak so to give into his demands was the least I could do. "Fine but not here."

Ian looked shocked, "Okay that makes sense lets go."

I turned and walked out straight to the black Audi leave it up to Ian to bring his car with him. The ride was so dead silent but somehow exploding with emotion at the same time. I studied every mark and line on my hands I didn't want to look up at Ian and see all the heartbreak because I wouldn't be able to control the tears. I could feel him glancing at me as the familiar electricity tugged in between us.

We pulled into the Milestone Hotel and walked into the lobby. I sat down on one of the couches as Ian checked us in. He walked over to me with grace, "Ready?"

"Mhm."

I got up and walked behind him into the elevator. The doors closed and I felt the pull again.

"I feel it too." Ian said reading my mind.

I looked up at him being engulfed by his eyes. Luckily, the doors opened and we walked out awkwardly to the room. Ian opens the door and lets me walk in first. An already burning fireplace awaits us with a couch and coffee table among the extravagant decoration and curtains. The room gives a classic royalty feel that is modernized with a flat screen. Instead of walking down the staircase, I turn to my left and discover a dark maple wood kitchen. I then took my exploration downstairs to what I had discovered was the bedroom. Ian was sitting on the couch in front of the bed with his head in his hands.

I looked at him feeling even guiltier then sat down next to him, "Are you okay? …Sorry that was a really dumb question."

Heartbroken baby blues pierced through my heart and soul. "It's okay. Um do you feel like talking? I understand it's been an exhausting night."

"You've waited seventy days for an answer as much as I don't want to talk about it I have to so feel free to ask me anything."

"Why did you leave?"

"When I saw Luke there was just something about his eyes and then when Ashley started talking about what happened between you and her it had all clicked. His eyes were so familiar and intense just like yours. She told me not to leave but I just couldn't stay I couldn't look at Luke because all I saw was you. I went to the bank and pulled out all the money I had in my accounts, got on a flight to Chesapeake that also went to London. I thought I was doing the right thing because you belonged to Ashley and Luke they deserved the chance to be with you. I didn't belong there; I felt as if I intruded because everything I had with you and experienced with you should've been with Ashley."

"Tiara you said, 'My sick insecurities are to blame.' Elaborate please."

"I…" Saying what I felt ever since I had saw Ian's picture online was more difficult than I imagined. I looked down at my hands unable to look into his eyes that pled for an answer.

He lifted my chin up making me look at him, "Please tell me Tiara."

"Well I've always felt that I wasn't deserving of you even when I didn't know you personally. All my life I've struggled to see the good in myself and me being scared on top of being intimidated by you just overwhelmed me. My stupidity and you having your own little family pushed me over the edge."

"Did you not love me anymore or not love me at all?" Ian's head sunk as he realized that his question could crush his world and everyone in it.

"In some way love made it worse for me because I just couldn't understand why you loved me of all people in the world you chose the most imperfect one. Love wasn't enough to get over that hurdle we couldn't deal with it and be done that was a hurdle that would always have your blood running through them. I was jealous and sad that I wasn't the one to give you your first child. I've cried every day since I left, I've dreamed that I could go back in time and it was just us again, I hoped that one day I would see you again and just be able to kiss you. I needed you so much that just getting that tingle all over my body when you were near would completely satisfy me. Ian if I didn't love you back then I wouldn't have said yes to marry you and if I didn't love you now I wouldn't be here explaining myself."

Ian placed his hand on my thigh, "I love you because you're courageous. You don't care who or what you will face them head on. I love you because you're talented in almost everything. Any woman who can bake, play videogames, sing, and dance at the same time is a jewel. I love you because you're compassionate. The first question you ask almost anyone that comes to you is what do you need or are you okay. I love you because you're beautiful on the inside and out. Every inch of your skin is so perfect. You're personality and sense of humor is outrageous because everything just comes so naturally for you. I love you because you love me. I know I'm a piece of work I can be completely overbearing sometimes I overprotect those near me and I have one of the hardest heads but you handle me. I have so many imperfections that I loose count. When I first saw you, I honestly thought I would never have a chance with you especially when you rejected me when you had brought me home. If it wasn't for Cody and Paul pushing me to go after you I have no clue where I would be right now."

There was an awkward moment of silence as the familiar redness returned to my cheeks. "Oh and Tiara he's not my son."

"Why didn't you tell me that before?"

"I wanted to see if you would love me no matter what and you do. Ashley and Luke stayed with me for about a week while we waited for the results to come back. After we found out that I wasn't the father, I helped her track down her ex-boyfriend. I have no clue what happened after that though. You were long gone so there was no way that I could tell you but that wouldn't have changed anything since you had other problems."

"Oh and if I haven't said it yet I'm sorry for leaving you I really did think that I was doing the right thing."

"I didn't understand before but I do now."

There was an awkward silence again. It took all the strength I had to not hold him tight and kiss him like my life depended on it when it really did. I wanted to lose myself in him forget the grueling past couple of months. Looking at Ian and being able to touch him, hear him, and see every little thing he did that he doesn't even notice overwhelmed me. I knew if I held him close there was a possibility of coming to the sick realization that this would change anything he would go back to Louisiana and I would find something to do here. Was it too much to ask for the days when Ian and I would do the simplest things and be happy just with each other's company that's all I wanted... all I needed.

Pulling me out of my thoughts, "Aren't you tired of wearing those heels I know you hate them."

"Yeah and this dress but I do not have any pajamas so I'm screwed."

Ian pulled my legs onto his lap and took off my shoes, "Do you need me to unzip your dress?"

"Um yes if you don't mind,"

I got up and turned around in front of him. He swept my hair over my right shoulder gently then skimmed his hands down to my lower back. Slowly he inches the zipper down then slid the straps off my shoulders making the red dress ripple down my body to the floor. I felt so exposed only wearing a thong since that was the only article of underclothing I could wear. Ian's hands lightly graze over the sides of my torso making my body writhe slightly as my nipples elongate.

"You've lost weight but haven't lost any of your beauty." He murmurs next to my ear making every little spot on me ultrasensitive.

I turn around as Ian is unbuttoning his shirt. Good lord he has been working out. I look up and down at his bare torso and chest. Every muscle is so beautifully defined on his body. He hands me his shirt, "I can just sleep in my boxers and you can sleep in my shirt… just like before."

We stand there looking at each other never being apart while being this exposed before. Somehow, I knew that we were in harmony with our fantasies. I being in the place he wanted me in and he in the place I wanted him two perfect puzzle pieces. I take his shirt and slip it on then while I button it up, "Thank you."

We got into the blue and green-sheeted four-poster bed and turned off the lights. I laid there awake so did Ian but we didn't say anything. The familiar feeling of sharing the same bed was so unfamiliar. Being so close that I could feel his body heat but not touching him tortured me and I didn't understand why. It's not as if we said for each other to not touch the other because if we did neither of us would survive. As I turned on my side facing the wall reality set in, we are two single people just lying in the same bed.

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