My sincerest apologies for the HUGE delay in updating. I hope some remember this little fic and will stay interested as I finish it. Vini

He reached out and took her hand as she approached. "Everything okay?" he asked softly. He made sure she knew he wasn't prying, just that he cared about her.

She smiled, although it was a watery one, and nodded. "Yes, but I feel like a worm," she told him.

He laughed slightly, but kindly. "Teresa, you could never be a worm."

"I hurt him," she said, growing more serious. "He really loved me. I just feel – like – like –"

"A worm," he nodded. "But Teresa, you didn't set out to hurt him. And it's trite, but true, that it would have been worse to let things go on," he told her. "He would have been even more hurt if you moved to DC and it didn't work out."

"I know," she nodded, "but I still feel terrible."

"It's hard, breaking up with someone," he told her, "And I'm sure he does love you because – well, how could he not," he said seriously, "but you haven't known one another that long. I'm not saying it won't be hard for him for a while, but he will get over it. He's a nice guy and he'll find someone who loves him just as much as he deserves."

"You think so?" she asked, uncertain.

"Of course, I do," he said sincerely. "Although he'll never find anyone as great as Teresa Lisbon – but I'm sure there are some really nice, average women out there."

"Jane!" she hit him on the arm. "He deserves more than "average". Although I don't love him, he really is a good person."

"Didn't I say that?" he told her. "And he deserves someone wonderful – as long as it's not you."

She laughed softly and then took his arm and began to walk towards the lounge area. "You're crazy, you know that!"

"And you like me for it?" he asked, teasing although with an underlying vein of seriousness and uncertainty.

"Of course, I do," she said, repeating his own words back to him. A second later she grew serious. "Would you have gotten over me – I mean, if I had gone to DC."

He was quiet for a moment, and then led her to some chairs in the lobby. They both sat there quietly, until Jane took a sudden breath. "No," he said plainly. "I always thought that I would never find love again, after Angela. I didn't deserve her – she was such a – a good person. I believed I would never find someone like her who would – care – for me. But then – I found you. And for the 2nd time in my life, I found a truly good woman – and woman who I didn't deserve. I knew that if you left that I wouldn't have had a third chance."

"Oh Jane," she said softly, taking his hand in hers. "You undervalue yourself so much. Any woman would be lucky to have you."

"But could any woman stand me?" he asked, semi-seriously.

She laughed, but then sobered after a couple of seconds. She regarded him intently. "I think you're a very special man, and no – very few women could appreciate you like I do."

"Appreciate me, eh? That's a nice way of putting it, So – do you appreciate me?" he grinned, falling out of his introspective mood.

"Yes, although don't let it go to your head, because you also drive me crazy!"

He chuckled and stood up. "That's my Teresa. You know you wouldn't have it – or me – any other way! Now – did you call your landlord?"

"Yes, right after my call to Marcus. He hasn't rented my place yet, and I think was relieved that he didn't have to find another tenant. I also called the moving company and cancelled them. Now the problem is that everything is in boxes," she sighed. "I'm going to have to go back to Austin and unpack everything, just after I packed it all up," she told him, glaring as if it were his fault.

"Hey, I didn't tell you to go to DC!" he defended himself.

"No, but you could have stopped me!"

"I didn't think you wanted me to," he confessed. "For once I was trying to be unselfish."

"And see what that got you," she scoffed. "The one time I wanted you to interfere, and you decided to go and be chivalrous! Aaargh! Men!"

"I'll do better next time," he assured her, humbly.

"There better not be a next time. Now – where are you going to take me?" she asked him. "I'm on vacation and you owe me a good time!"

He grinned. "Your wish is my command, oh Saint Teresa, although maybe I shouldn't call you that if you're looking for a "good time," he winked at her. "Let's to grab some lunch and then we can go into the village and walk around," he told her. "If you're good I'll buy you a seashell necklace!"

"Are you sure you should be walking? You did sprain your ankle. Maybe you should just sit down. We can order something from the hotel."

"I'm fine Teresa. We'll just take it easy. I want to get out of here. I spent way too much time in that ridiculous room at the airport. I need some fresh air. I

"Okay, as long as you promise not to overdo it! And I'll hold you to that necklace, Jane," she informed him. "And I want an ice cream cone!"

"They're never satisfied," he muttered, as he pulled her arm through his and headed towards the door of the hotel, with only a slight limp to show his ankle was still sore.

As they walked, Jane didn't pay any attention to his sore ankle. His entire focus was on the woman beside him, and the happiness that was growing inside him as each second with her went by. The world was looking brighter than it had in a long, long time.

"Come on, my dear," he said, as they left the hotel. "Ice cream awaits!"

Teresa nodded and leaned into him slightly as they walked. She then glanced at Jane and grinned. "I knew there was a reason I got off that plane!"