Disclaimer: This story is mine, but the characters do not belong to me. I make no money from this, but I did have a ton of fun writing it.

A/N: This is a "Big Man on Mulberry Street" fill-in-the-gap story. David has skipped out on his ex-brother-in-law's funeral and Maddie has gone to see Tess. This story takes place later that evening at their hotel in New York City.

David smacked the elevator button with the back of his right hand. The way he hit it... perhaps a little harder than he should have... struck a fragile nerve that shot a sharp pain straight through his hand like a punishment. He tried to shake it off, but then he thought, maybe he deserved a little pain after the day he'd had. Skipping out on Jimmy's funeral the minute he spotted Tess. Not giving her the chance to talk to him, let alone see him. Blowing off the post-funeral gathering, even though his friends had all said they'd see him there. But David knew better. He would've bet his bottom dollar that not a one of 'em actually showed up. Not Michael. Not Rick. Not Fish. They were all the same in one way or another, and they each would've found a reason not to be there. The way David saw it... if not showing up made him a jerk, well... hey, wouldn't be the first time.

And then there was Maddie. Maddie, Maddie, Maddie. He still couldn't believe she was here. That she'd flown all the way out to New York. But he knew why she did it. He knew that his last-minute news flash about having been married before did more than just tickle her curiosity. It ignited a flame within her... a deep burning desire to know more. He knew this was how she felt. He knew it because he would've felt the exact same way had the situation been reversed. He felt bad about lying to her. Scratch that… he felt bad about his omission, but he just couldn't tell her. And it made him feel even worse that she was so angry with him, but taking her with him today would not have been a good idea. He had a hard enough time getting her to forgive him after crawling around on the floor at his own father's engagement party. She certainly wouldn't have given him any points for his behavior today.

When the elevator finally reached the fifth floor, David stepped out and walked down the hallway to his room. He unlocked the door and went inside. The room was dark, so he switched on the light. He looked down at his wristwatch. The time was 9:40pm. He chuckled. Knowing full well what he was going to find, he ever-so-carefully turned the doorknob to her room and peeked inside. There she was... lying in bed. He couldn't help but feel relieved when he saw that she was fast asleep. Wearing white and tangled up in white sheets, she looked like an angel. If she'd gone to bed angry, you wouldn't know it. He could only hope that a good night's sleep might be enough to put him back in her favor by morning. So, he blew her a kiss and pulled the door shut.

For the first time that evening David felt hungry. He hadn't eaten a thing since that hot dog he crammed into his mouth when he was running late on his way to the church earlier that morning. He crossed the room, picked the phone up from the nightstand by the bed and dialed.

'Yeah, is this the pizzeria cross the street from the Grand Hotel on 46th? I'd like four slices. Sicilian. Yes, pepperoni. You guys deliver? That's great. Room 503.'

The man on the phone told him fifteen minutes. So, he took off his coat, kicked off his shoes, unzipped and dropped his pants to the floor... all on his way to the shower. He couldn't wait to feel the piping hot water on his skin. He couldn't wait to rinse this day away. And, oh, did it feel good! Good enough to lighten his mood. Good enough for an oldie, but goodie - Pretty little thing, let me light your candle, 'cause Mama, I'm sure hard to handle now, yessir'am - sung into a soap microphone. After a few minutes, he turned off the water and stepped out. He thought he heard something. The exhaust fan was on high, so it was difficult to tell, but it sounded like knocking. He grabbed a towel and ran to the door. 'Shit,' he worried. He didn't want the pizza guy to wake Maddie up.

Standing in the doorway, still dripping wet, David took the box from the young man and handed him a ten-dollar bill. 'Go on... keep the change,' he muttered. He tried to be quiet, but as soon as he closed the door and turned around, Maddie's door swung wide open. She stood there, looking startled out of a sound sleep. 'You're back!' She said, looking happy and surprised to see him. 'I heard the knocking...'

'You're awake,' was his response. His apprehension about seeing her somewhat evident on his face and in his tone.

She couldn't help but gaze at him. He was surely a sight to see. His wet hair slicked back. That bad boy look. Water glistening on his face and on his shoulders. Those toned chest muscles. The white towel... wrapped low and snug around his hips. He was a very sexy man. Seeing him like this did things to her. If she only knew she was staring...

He looked at her. She wore no make-up. Her hair was a mess. Yet still, she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes upon. The white pajamas that covered every inch of her body... left everything up to his imagination. And, boy, did his imagination run wild when it came to her. If he only knew he was licking his lips...

Then, as if Cupid himself plucked the arrow from his nearly naked behind, David snapped out of the amorous haze he was in and suddenly became very aware of his state of undress. 'Maddie, wait right there. Let me go put some clothes on.'

David put the pizza box down and disappeared into the bathroom. A minute later he returned wearing a black t-shirt and grey boxers. He saw that Maddie had taken it upon herself to sit down on the plush chair opposite his bed. She looked up at him, like she was expecting him to say something... to tell her about his day. But he just stopped moving and shoved his hands in his pockets. His mood turned serious, the way he creased his brows and spoke firmly. 'I don't wanna talk about it.' And then, as if he wasn't clear enough the first time. 'I don't want you to ask me to talk about it.' His green eyes looked deep into her blue eyes, imploring her to grant him this one solemn request.

Maddie stared at him for a moment, and then she stood up. 'Okay. We won't talk about it.' Her voice was soft and agreeable. The corners of her mouth turned upwards into a sweet smile, letting him know that she was willing to do this his way.

David smiled back at her, and then he remembered the pizza sitting on the side table. 'Can I tell ya, I am starving. Like a bear in spring.'

Maddie watched as David sat down on the edge of his bed, pulled a big slice of pizza out of the box and started eating it. It did not sit well with her at all that he had no napkins, so she went to retrieve a cloth dinner napkin from the tray room service had left her. 'Here,' she said, as she handed him the fancy cream-colored napkin.

He used it to wipe red tomato sauce from his chin. 'Sorry, you must think I'm a caveman or something.'

'Well, the outfit does give off a certain Fred Flintstone vibe,' she said with a smart-ass smirk.

She made him laugh causing some food to go down the wrong pipe. He coughed several times to clear his throat.

'You have nothing to drink here, David. No soda, no water. Do you want a glass of wine? I have a bottle in my room.'

He had just taken another bite of pizza and could only shake his head, yes.

She went and poured two glasses of chilled white wine, but before she handed one to him, she asked, 'If I can have a half a slice?'

He chuckled. 'Are you kidding? Didn't you already eat?'

She felt put off, but still handed him the wine. 'Well, yes, but that was hours ago...'

'I'm only kidding. Yes, you can have a slice.'

'Only a half.' She took a slice and as neatly as she could, she split it in two. 'Thank you.'

'Thank you.'

'For what?'

'For keeping me company in the Big Apple. I thought I wanted to be alone tonight, but this is nice. I'm glad you're here.'

His were the kindest and sincerest of words, but she felt she did not deserve them. She had shown him no respect by going behind his back and uncovering his deepest secret. She felt horrible, but it was clear to her that the only thing she could do now to make up for overstepping was to let him hold onto every ounce of dignity that he had. She could never, ever let on to him that she knew. Not ever.

'I'm glad I'm here, too,' she told him, as she sat back down in the chair.

'Feels kinda like a slumber party, doesn't it?' David asked in between bites. Then he made himself more comfortable by stretching out across the bed and propping himself up on his elbow.

'Slumber parties, gosh, I remember those...'

'Yeah, me, too.' David looked upwards towards the ceiling, like he was in the midst of a daydream. 'Those were the days... back in high school, my friends and I... if we knew one of the girls we liked was havin' a slumber party, we'd borrow Richie's ol' beat up Volkswagen and set up surveillance across the street.' Maddie's eyes widened, and David smiled at her. 'No luck... never saw anything...'

'Must be where you fine-tuned your detective skills...'

'That... and watching Scooby Doo cartoons after school. I think you make a better partner than a Great Dane, though.'

'Thanks...'

'Hey, speaking of detective skills, you didn't tell me last night how you managed to find me in this big ol' haystack of 7.3 million. And how you managed to get into my room?'

'Find you?'

'Yeah, do tell.'

'Well... Agnes did happen to mention the name of the hotel while I was in earshot. I mean, it's not like where you were staying was a secret or anything.'

'Right. And...'

'And... I flirted with the guy at the front desk...'

'Really turned on the charm, huh? I know. He didn't stand a chance.'

David had finished the pizza and so he got up to go throw away the box. When he returned, he lay down on the right side of the bed, leaning his head against a pile of fluffy white pillows. As he reached for the remote control, he looked over at Maddie, who was still seated in the chair by the door to her adjoining room. 'Feel like watching TV? You can choose. Carson? Letterman? QVC?'

'Oh, I have a television set in my room,' she stated matter-of-factly.

He broke out that lop-sided grin of his. 'What I meant to say was, do you want to watch TV with me?' He moved his hand out across the bedspread. 'There's plenty of room here.'

Maddie lowered her head, but then she looked back up at him. 'I don't know, David...'

'Yes, you do.'

Hearing him say those words took on a double meaning for her, given everything she now knew about his past. The air in the room started to feel warm and heavy. She stood up and moved to sit on the opposite side of the bed, facing him. She went to say something, but the words… they weren't there. She flew across the entire country to get to him. All 2,445 miles just to satisfy a curiosity. But the distance between them right in that moment seemed impassable, like there was more between them than she could even begin to wrap her head around. She felt a tug on her heart, but she didn't know what to make of it. She wasn't sure of anything. She only knew that right now she needed to walk away.

She inhaled deeply and stood up from the bed. She didn't turn around, but took one step back and then another. She found it almost impossible to look him in the eye. 'You know... I just remembered something... there's this store across town… I think it's across town. And I'd really like to go there in the morning... early… before we leave for the airport. I read they're having a big sale… or something… and I think I'd really like to go to that. You're welcome to come with me if you want...' She laughed nervously. 'Only I don't think you like shopping, not really anyway. But you are welcome to come, if you'd like.' She had made it across the room and was now standing at her door. She paused there, waiting for David to say something, which he did not. 'Well... wow, you know I just realized how late it is... makes sense… I'm quite tired. I should go to bed. I have to get up early… you know.'

'I know. You should go to bed.' David was disappointed. He really was enjoying her company, but he understood what was happening here. Three steps forward, two steps back. Sometimes it felt like a dance. Stimulating... titillating... frustrating. All of the above. A slow dance, but he loved dancing with her. 'You'll let me know if you need anything.'

She smiled and nodded her head. With her hand on the doorknob, she whispered, 'Goodnight, David.'

'Goodnight, Maddie.' He blew her a kiss. The distance it had to travel was short. He hoped she got it.

A/N: As always, I'd love to hear what you thought of my story. Please leave a review. Thank you.