Hi, nice to hear from everybody!

Rangerapprentice: Hi...I am glad you understand. Concerts? What do you do? And just so you know, this chapter was done express fast to fulfill your wish :) I hope you find this one nice too. Thanks!

Kiray Himawari: Hola! I missed you so much. My Spanish is still stuck where it was. I will try my best to learn more Spanish. I love the fact that you are such a great supporter of Kai/Diana. Cuidate!

erikamakino: Hallo...I am happy you are back. Yeah, the costume party just happened somehow. Yup, the story is racing. Hope you don't mind :) Just for you I'll say Robert dressed as Ray!

Fiora-Mieko: Thanks...How are you? Do you have holidays nowadays?

Susan sewell: Thanks for the reviews. Its ok...yes, as you pointed out some major weddings to write but fear not we'll manage it. I know you'll like this chapter...and I know why ;)

Hope I didn't miss anyone

It's late at night, and I can't sleep...Missing you just runs too deep...Oh I can't breathe, thinking of your smile-Adam Lambert, Time for Miracles.

Chapter 25

"Hello, Diana? Where are you? I know, I know but Kai has been worried sick about you. What? I should tell him that you already have a mother!" Ray turned to smile at a worried Kai. "Ya, I'll tell him. But, I must say" Ray lowered his voice, "that was a good punch. Is Max with you? Get back now. Drag him, gag him, bind him. Do whatever it takes to bring him here. Uhh, thanks."

Fifteen minutes later, Diana and Max were walking into the flat where the situation needed describing. I'll do justice, don't worry. Ray and Mariah were sitting on the carpet at the far end of the living room. Mariah had her laptop open and both of them were talking with the folks back home. John was sprawled on the sofa with a plaster across his nose and Mariam was holding his hand with a most angry look. Hilary was sitting on the arm rest of Mariam's chair motherly stroking her hair and giving deathly scowls to Tyson who was eating Pizza on the floor while playing checkers with Dizzy. Kenny was talking on the phone with Emily.

As the door opened and Mariah, the door opener, stood aghast seeing a dishevelled Max while Diana smiled and walked in. A few seconds ago Max had said, "Diana, you are so lucky. I mean, even you beat John but look how happy you are. I wish I was as happy as you were. How do you do it?"

"Not all is happy with my life as it seems," Diana laughed. "But I am happy as I, unlike you, am going to apologise as soon as the door opens."

And that's exactly what she did. Running towards Mariam and John she kneeled down and clasped her hands. "Forgive me, both of you. I don't know what came over me."

Mariam's left eye twitched dangerously but John smiled crookedly, "Its ok. Little accidents keep happening."

Diana practically jumped with happiness, "Takes a load of my chest."

Hilary decided to intervene before another drama took place, "Its quite late. How about we go to sleep now."

Everybody seemed to agree and the guys and girls went to Tyson's and Kai's side of the apartment they shared. Ray and Mariah, of course went to their very own room. John got a room of his own as niether Max nor Tyson was willing to share with him.

Ray watched as Kai got up and went to his room. He couldn't believe it. Kai had left without a word to Diana or rather without a word at all. "Mariah, we need to do something for those two."

"I know, honey. Don't worry," Mariah said thoughtfully as if turning a plan in her head.

As Hilary settled on her bed she watched the door of her shared bedroom with a fixed eye and as soon as Diana entered she screamed, "How dare you?"

Diana jumped and then looked at Hilary in a mixture of shock and puzzlement.

Hilary continued, "Don't act as if you don't know. I saw what you have done to my pretty dress. I didn't give it to you to have mud stains on the back and blood on the front."

Dian sighed in relaxation, "Is that what you are talking about? Well. Not my fault. That blood is John's. I had to wipe my hand somewhere. And that mud stain? Do you expect me to stand all the time while I drilled sense into Max's head?"

A soft voice announced the arrival of Mariam, "And did he listen?"

"I told him you loved him as well and he listened it. Now, can I ask you one thing? Why are you doing this to him...and yourself?" Diana asked outright.

As Mariam sobbed over her bed, Hilary said, "Mariam, I think we should tell her. Maybe she can help us solve this Max problem."

"Hello? I am here. Stop talking as if I am not here," Diana said but her eyes were now looking worriedly at Mariam.

"Fine but first you must understand that Mariam does not love Max." Diana looked at Mariam in surprise as Hilary continued, "If even a shred of doubt was present on this angle none of us would have supported the John angle. See, the thing is Mariam lost her parents when she was thirteeen and from that time her aunt and uncle have taken care of her. Her education, her job, her life-she feels indebted for everything to them. Now last year Uncle J asked Mariam to marry his son."

"John?"

"Yes, and Mariam had to act like a saint and agree," Hilary face showed clear disapproval of this deed.

Diana was stunned, "Just because some one is forcing you doesn't mean that you had to agree, Mariam."

Mariam's eyes flashed with anger and frustration, "You don't understand. Nobody's forcing me. In fact, Aunt and Uncle are so nice that if I disagree they won't even mention the matter again and this why I don't want to say 'I don't love your son'. How ungrateful it sounds! After all they have done for me, this is one chance of paying their endless debt. I want to do this."

"Goodnight," yawned Hilary suddenly bringing about a feeling of normality in room.

Diana turned on her side and dragged the blanket over head. In the darkness, she heard the click of the light being switched off. The insomniac's mind was far from sleep. Something had to be done and once Diana set her mind to something she knew that thinking about something else was impossible. Operation Max/Mariam was on. It included kidnapping, ransom and a bank heist. Originality...you see?

A few feet away, Mariah was busy plotting Operation Kai/Diana.

I hope nobody has a problem with how anyone is portrayed or how any idea is shown. Remember this is fiction and We Are Awesome...

Need I say this? Of course I will...Please REVIEW coz REVIEW=HAPPY ZAK!