Even before they'd turned round the corner that led to the trailers, Orlando and Jen's voices were clear to their ears.

They were fighting again, apparently.

Sean gave Ally a worried glance, squeezing her hand into his, and shook his head as he lowered his eyes to the ground.

While they were getting along always better, day by day, things just didn't seem to work between the other two. Orlando would often confide in him, giving vent now to rage and then to despair everytime he and Jen bickered, and he always felt powerless and useless because of that, for his advices never seemed to work the right way.

"Why can't you just try and understand me?" Jen was shouting at him, hands clenched in fists and her whole body tense and trembling.

It was all miserably crumbling down. Everything was going the wrong way, and all the times they bickered she found a little less secure, a little less loved.

"I love you, why don't you want to believe it? I would never look at anyone else but you!"

"Yet you do!" a quite fuming Orlando shouted back. "And that.. that..." he stopped, searching for the word, shaking his head in both offence and rage before to continue, "that damn lights technician or whatever the fuck he is keeps on stalking you! You do nothing to deny him! Damn it!"

"In four months you've understand nothing about me!" she yelled, now offended and hurt by his stubborness.

Why was he so jealous and blind?

"I'm just being polite, but you don't trust me! And I've never given you reasons not to do it! You kept in offending me, treating me as if I were a whore ready to jump on the first man on my way when you turn your back!"

"Well, then I'm not the only one who has understood nothing of the other!" he snapped, giving her another furious glance before to take a couple of steps backwards. "This just won't work." he added then, his voice a little more controlled now, though he was still shaking slightly, and clenching his fists. "I don't think there is actually anything we can do. It just doesn't work, it never will."

Said that he turned around, stalking to the cafeteria without turning back.

A coffee, he thought, must get myself a coffee. And a cigarette. And--damn. Screwed up. It's all fucking screwed up.

Ally's eyes followed him for a while, then went back to the trailer for she heard the door shut. Jen needed her.

Turning to look at Sean with sorrowful expression, she sighed deeply, shaking her head.

"How do you think we should help them?"

"I wish I knew.." he muttered, slightly pursing his lips. He took a deep breath then, winding his arms around her shoulders, and leaned to kiss the tip of her nose affectionately, forcing himself to smile at least a little bit.

"I'll try to talk some sense into him" he said softly then, before to nod towards Jen's trailer. "See if she can use some company, she seemed quite shattered.."

"You bet she is..." Ally sighed, turning her head enough to be able to kiss his chin, looking intensely at him with sadness in her eyes.

She was lucky, indeed. Lucky to have him at her side. Lucky to be cherished and pampered by a man so tender and sweet, that could be even strong and decise eventually.

They had almost never bickered, probably beacuse they were seeing all the time how trifling were Orly and Jen's fights, so they tried not to be excessively jealous of one another as they were.

By the time Ally was pretty sure to be in love with Sean, but they had never talked about that, and she was simply concealing her real feelings. He was still scared by love. To tell him would have meant to fuck everything.

"She loves him, Sean. I know it, she loves him. And she suffers a lot because it seem they aren't able to have a civil relationship. I'd like to help them, I even feel guilty for we're happy..."

"Nonsense" Sean whispered, without averting his eyes. "Our misery wouldn't make them happy anyway.. we can try and offer them our support, even if it isn't much and it won't probably settle things between them.. but it's worth a try."

When a few minutes later Sean entered the refectory and saw Orlando, sitting at the table all alone and staring blankly at nothing, he mentally repeated it to himself.

It's worth a try. Yes.

"Orli.."

The younger man merely gave him a glance in response, saying nothing.

Oh, so difficult. What was he supposed to say now? Hey, I'm sorry about you and Jen, but you know you can lean on me.

So very consolatory.

He chose to say nothing else as he sat in front of Orlando. Instead of shallow and useless words he pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and offered him one with a faint smile. The other stared at it for some moments, and eventually returned the feeble smile before to accept it, along with Sean's lighter.

"It's all screwed up." he muttered then, shaking his head lightly. "What would you do? If you were me, Beanie, what would you do?"

"I would try to trust her."

Clearly taken aback by such a straightforward answer, Orlando raised his eyes to look at him. And arched an eyebrow.

"Yes." Sean confirmed quietly, "I think you're wrong."

"Then what are you here for? To make me feel even guiltier, or because she's asked you to have a word with me?" the other retorted in a spiteful tone, grimacing, without looking at him. Sean, though, wasn't at all impressed.

"I'm here because I care" he answered, "I'm here because I think that you are the one who's screwing anything up, Orli, and the sooner you'll realize it, the better."

"You just can't understand the way I feel."

"Three marriages miserably failed and I can't understand? Are you sure of what you're saying?"

"Then what should I do?" Orlando spat out, his voice not so low anymore, as he glared at the man in front of him. "I can't bear it, Sean. I can't bear the way that pig stares at her, it just drives me insane. I'd--"

"You can't kick the arse of everyone who's so daring to look at her" Sean interrupted, "Just learn to live with it. There'll always be someone else interested in her, or in you. The trick is not to give 'em too much importance, unless they actually try something. You can't live like that, worrying that she could jump on anyone who set their eyes on her.."

Orlando shook his head wordlessly, obviously not convinced yet. So easy to say that he shouldn't give a damn. And he knew that the other was right, but he couldn't help it. He couldn't help but feeling betrayed and set aside everytime someone else stared at Jen too much, or tried to talk her into something with the sole purpose of seducing her. It was quite blatant, most times.

"Give her a chance" the older man urged, "Start over and try again."

"I don't know, Sean. I just don't know anymore if that's actually what I want.."

In the meanwhile a quite sorrowful Ally was tenderly hugging her friend Jen. They were both sitting on the edge of the bed, and the younger one was trembling like a leaf, her lithe body shaking with every sob. Shattering. The effect of that fight, probably the last one of a long series, had been shattering. Jen was crying uncontrollably, unable to focus on anything else aside Orlando's words, her tears soaking Ally's shirt.

Said woman actually didn't know what to say, and had just decided to stay with her, soothingly stroking her back all the time and caressing her blonde hair.

"There's nothing else left..." Jen whispered after a while, her voice still raspy and unsure. "I've lost him and he don't even want me to explain..."

"Don't worry, everything will be ok, Sean will surely make him understand that he's wrong a--"

She was cut off by the other one in the middle of the phrase, much to her surprise. Jen had desentangled herself from her embrace, and was now bitterly shaking her head.

"Don't give me that shit, Al. I know it's over. I've seen it in his eyes that he doesn't want me anymore" she said, unintentionally clenching her fists in a rageful outburst."He's just searching for an excuse to break it..."

"It's not true... "she murmured, taking her hand and gently caressing it. "He's just jealous because you're beautiful and you've got many admirers..."

"He's never loved me, Ally. It's no use in deluding myself..."

Sean was indeed satisfied with their apartment, even if their belongings were still scattered everywhere, and they still had to settle properly in the new location. They'd arrived in Mexico only the day before, and the production had had quite a good idea, he had to admit, by booking the entire residence. The apartments weren't too big, in theirs there were only kitchen, bathroom and a small lounge, with the stairs that led to the gallery and thus to the bedroom on the upper floor.

But it was lovely. Even more so because he was sharing it with Ally.

Their relationship was still improving, much to his delight. Every passing day they got closer, and would often spend even hours together, hugging each other tightly and saying or doing nothing, content just with the other's presence. Then one would reach to kiss the other, and soon their clothes would be scattered all around the place. There was no better way to end the day, in his opinion.

On the other hand, Orlando and Jen were barely talking to each other. He was still avoiding her in any possible way, even if it was obvious that he wasn't fine at all with the whole situation. But he had decided, he had decided for both, that it was better that way, no matter how many times Sean had tried to talk some sense into him. Inflexible. And sad, patently and thoroughly sad, only the shadow of the light-hearted young man he used to be.

"Where are you going tonight?" Ally asked to her friend, feigning indifference, even if she was quite curious about the matter.

From the day Orlando had left her, the girl had barely eaten, losing some weight, much to Ally's concern. She spent her evenings in her apartment, avoiding everyone just as she was avoiding her ex boyfriend, grimacing everytime she remembered something about their time together.

It was gleaming that she was suffering and she felt alone, but Jen always denied, pretending to be absolutely fine and content not to have to deal with that jerk of Orlando.

That day, instead than random jeans and shirt, Jen was wearing a short, sexy dress and high heels.

"One of the trainers has asked me out, and I've thought it was fine to go" she answered, putting on her leather jacket, avoiding to say that she had accepted just because she had seen Orlando talking to some local girls and had been particularly hurt. She had to distract herself. "What are you and Sean going to do, instead?"

"I'll cook something and we'll eat it onto the carpet watching some tv" was Ally's reply, followed by a bright smile. She just couldn't help it. Her face was enlightened by a smile everytime she thought about him. "I'm feeling too sluggish to go out, anyway".

Just then Sean peered into the room, smirking, while still buttoning his jacket.

"Ready to go home, my dear?" he asked Ally, restraining himself from kissing her only with great effort. They usually avoided to get too affectionate towards each other whenever with Orlando or Jen, just not to boast openly about how awfully happy they were together. And they indeed were.

"Going somewhere special tonight, Jen?" he asked while hugging his Ally from behind, noticing that the younger woman was apparently set and ready to go out.

"She has a date..." Ally grinned, apparently teasing her friend in an attempt to made her smile. And it worked, somehow.

"It's not a proper date!" she complained, turning to look at the couple. Actually grinning.

"Do not think about all the gossip she would do about me, Sean. I'm just having a beer with one of the trainers, nothing more. I'd be perfectly happy to spend a lovely evening at home as you're going to do..."

"Us oldsters will probably go to bed quite early, you see" Sean pointed out with a small shrug, doing his best not to grin openly. "You youngsters do well to go out and revel once in a while.."

"It would be beautiful if I could just...have fun" she said, smiling bitterly and walking to the door. "But it seem that nothing could help me to forget... Have a good night, oldsters. See you tomorrow".

Ally looked at her friend with a sad expression in her eyes, then she sighed and turned to look at him.

"I don't know what to do..."

Sean sighed as well, placing both hands on her shoulders and squeezing gently. He was sorry for Jen and Orlando, too. But he just couldn't bear to see that downhearted expression on his Ally's face.

"You could kiss me, for a start" he said softly, hinting a tender smile as his hands slid up her neck and reached to cup her face, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs and staring straight in her eyes all the while.

A bright smile appeared then on Ally's face, and she reached his face with her hands, stroking him back and looking intensely at him.

The concept was quite clear to her, it was not a matter of lack of sentiments. She was scared to lose him, and so she kept it quiet. But she was happy with him. Awfully, shamefully happy.

"My pleasure..." she whispered then, before to catch his lips with hers, eyes half closed and a thoroughly relaxed expression on her face.

But a moment later Sean's eyes fluttered close, and his hands left her face. Then she was crushed into a tight embrace, the kiss deepening, their breathing almost synchronous. When he drew back, moments later, his eyes opened only halfway, to meet hers and then shift to her mouth as he ran the tip of his tongue enticingly on her lower lip.

"I've been craving to hold you like this all day long" he whispered, "Let's go home.."

"C'mon..." she just whispered, actually grinning and taking hold of his hand to guide him to his car.

Once at the apartment, Ally kicked away her shoes, padding to the bedroom where she retrieved an old, short dress, made in green cotton. The one she used to prefer at home for she felt comfortable.

Still fastening her her hair in a ponytail, she climbed down the stairs, relishing the marble's coldness under her bare feet.

In the kitchen she decided to prepare some mashed potatoes and sausages, so she opened drawers and other furniture's doors, rummaging to find all the necessary to cook at least something quick and appetizing.

"Sean?" she called, while still busy putting the pan onto the fire. "I'm cooking some potatoes and sausages, do you like the idea?"

Some moments later he appeared on the threshold, barefoot and wearing only black boxer shorts, obviously freshly out of the shower for he was still rubbing his hair with a towel, and tiny droplets were glistening here and there on his chest.

He eyed her attentively for quite some moments, still wiping his hair and leaning against the doorframe, until a crooked grin appeared on his face and his eyes shifted to meet hers.

"I like the idea" he said in a purposefully low, seductive tone, "but not as much as I like that quite enticing dress of yours.. and primarily what's underneath it."

"Enticing?" she repeated in an amused tone, clearly not waiting for such a passionate outburst of his.

Sean was surely a man of great stamina, able to cuddle and fondle you for hours and then shag you senseless if the mere idea crossed his mind. But he was usually quiet when he came back from his work, too tired to even think about it. In fact he put it right after dinner. And sometimes even for the whole night, much to the director's exasperation, for he wasn't very awake the following day.

"But it's shabby and... ordinary..."

"Is it?" Sean murmured in the same suggestive tone, the mischievous grin still in place. The damp towel was abandoned on the table when he walked to near Ally, his arms wrapping around her waist when he embraced her from behind, his bare chest clinging to her back. He sighed softly at the feel of the fabric rubbing against his skin, realizing only then how very aroused he already was. And he was sure, too, that Ally was in fact well aware of the oh so prominent bulge pressed firmly against her rather enticing backside.

"What if I'll rip it off you then?" he whispered in her ear, sharpening the meaning of the sentence by swirling his tongue lasciviously in the delicate auricle.

"It would not be the first time you rip my clothes off me..." she murmured in response, letting go of the fork she was gripping at, and pressing back against him, closing her eyes and sighing contentedly.

Leaning to his touch, she softly hummed, resting her head on his shoulder, now actually rubbing her backside against his hard groin, revealling at the feeling of the soft cotton brushing on her bare skin. She was in fact wearing a quite sexy thong, which left uncovered her buttocks.

"I might decide to spare this one, though" he replied in a whisper, reaching for her waist in order to lift said dress further, "I can always lift it like this.." he continued, his hands now trailing caresses on her stomach and belly, moving down to reach in between her legs. "Then move aside your tiny thong like this.. "

Her underwear was actually pushed aside the next moment, uncovering her most private areas in an almost brazen way, as the tip of his index finger started to circle her clit with lazy motions and mild pressure, with the sole purpose to tease. His voice was even lower and slightly trembling when he spoke again, his hot breath fanning the skin of her neck. "And now I could just tease you like this for a good while, or drop my own underwear and rub myself ever so lewdly in between those shapely legs of yours, without actually giving it to you.. what do you prefer, my love?"

Her hands gripped the counter, her knuckles white for the iron grip she was having. She felt on fire, and every coherent thought had been swept away the moment in which his hands had begun to touch her in such lascivious fashion.

Unable to think clearly, she just moaned softly, turning her head to nibble at his chin.

"Take your underwear off, if you don't want me to rip it away... and do it now..."

"Impatient, are we?" he demanded playfully, even if by then he was in fact barely restraining himself, and panting softly. Ally didn't have to wait, though, for he was already lowering his boxers and letting the garment pool at his feet, kicking it away carelessly at once.

He had more urgent things to care about. Like the trembling woman in his arms, or the sweet torture he was inflicting her, his finger still teasing and fondling the quivering knot with utter dedication and even slower strokes.

"I want you so badly.."

"And what are you waiting for?" she then said, pushing back against him in a quite rough fashion, now unable to wait further.

Time of talking was finished from a while. It was time to shag her.

One of her hands then left the counter, slipping under the thong and accompanying it down, until it fell on the cold marble floor, leaving no barriers between their naked bodies.

Sean's response was a low growl, her boldness only managing to turn him on even more than he already was. He spun Ally around abruptly, facing her, yearning clearly written all over his features, his breathing erratic and shallow.

The same instant he caught her lips in a fiery kiss both his hands cupped her buttocks, squeezing and kneading shamelessly, and he was already dragging her towards the table. Table on which Ally was unceremoniously laid but a moment later, her legs spread apart enough to expose her thoroughly to Sean's eager gaze, and for him to settle easily in between.

"No more words, then?" he panted, licking his lips alluringly, and staring straight in her eyes.

"Should I tell you how much I want you?" she murmured in a hushed tone, without averting her gaze, propping on her heels to be able to balance herself.

She was sure he could easily see how much she wanted him.

"Should I tell you that I'm craving to have you here inside of me?"

One of her hands then reached her breast, caressing and pinching the nipple until it was hard and erect, a single, tiny moan escaping her slightly parted and moist lips.

"Should I tell you that I want you shagging me as hard and fast you're able to?"

The stray hand then moved in between her legs, stroking, probing and making her shiver.

"And I'll be there begging for more...and more..."

"Beg then" Sean urged, now actually shivering with anticipation, without averting his eyes. "Beg me.. and don't stop touching yourself."

Just then one of his hands reached to grasp his straining erection, a helpless groan slipping past his lips when his fingers closed around the over sensitized flesh. He drove it to her entrance then, pushing the tip inside and then pulling back, all the while fighting the urge to shove all of his length into her at once and just let go.

He didn't move instead, raising an eyebrow wickedly in between ragged pants. Waiting.

"I want you..." she panted, her eyes expressing love, lust and desire.

Following his instructions, Ally didn't stop her hand, but she plunged two fingers inside, while stroking the oversensitive and slippery knot with her thumb, moaning helplessly.

"Fuck me... and do it now, or I'll just fuck myself with my fingers..."

Actually groaning out loud at her words, Sean instantly grasped her hips in a quite impatient fashion. Ally barely had the time to pull out her probing fingers before he entered her quite roughly, helped by the fact that by then she was almost dripping wet, invading her thoroughly in one go.

"Touch yourself." he required in a heated whisper then, before to pull back and slam in again with quite some impact, a strangled moan choked in his throat at the overwhelming sensation.

Whimpering softly due to the almost unbearable pleasure, Ally brought her soaked fingers to her clit, franctically stroking it, gripping at the edge of the table to push back against Sean's strong shoves.

It was intense. Wild and intense as it had never been before, but surely she wasn't going to complain. By that time her brain had melt into mush.

Sean's gaze was roaming all over the body laid so lasciviously right in front of him, as the already fast pace he'd set gradually increased. His eyes would linger on Ally's flushed face now and then, descend to her breast and further down to her stomach, then linger again to stare at her hand, to witness the way she was pleasuring helself while he thrust mercilessly into that wonderful, slippery warmth. Over and over again, getting harder and faster, the only sounds he was still able to utter being uncurbed groans and ragged pants.

A strangled cry erupted from her throat mere moments later, making her shiver helplessly, wriggling and trembling in the throes of her shattering orgasm, riding it until the last spasm, her hand suddenly retreating and gripping at the table to be able to twart Sean's thrusts, making him penetrate deeper and deeper, eyes closed and a tiny veil of perspiration covering her body.

The fast pace unwavering, Sean suddenly let go of her hips. His hands were then grasping the back of her thighs, lifting them, and urging Ally to wrap her legs around his waist. Sean's hands were then settling firmly at Ally's waist again, in order to prevent her from being shoved back with every plunge in, too mindless to be able to restrain himself anymore.

It was only after a few more moments of relentless thrusting that he cried out, shivering fiercely. Not just moaned or whimpered or wailed but actually cried out, biting hard on his lower lip the next moment, in order to stifle further proofs of his enjoyment. Letting the whole cast and crew know what they were up to wouldn't have probably been the most brilliant of ideas.

Ally had not even the time to recover properly from her recent climax and the amazing sight of Sean crying out for the first time, for a smell caught her attention.

Then there was the smoke coming from the pan.

Shit.

"The sausages! Sean let me go! " she actually yelled, jumping from the table and running to the kitchen, trying to solve the situation before the smoke could start the fire alarm.

The bar was quite trendy, with white leather couches here and there to create an intimate atmosphere, green and dark blue lights meant to conceal and soften.

Jen was walking hand in hand with the trainer who had revealed to be a boring hunk, and was hoping to return home as soon as possible and get rid of him, looking around curiously to see if there was someone she knew.

The same instant he spotted Jen across the room, a quite drunk Orlando found himself holding his breath.

Frozen. Frozen in place and suddenly sobered up, his eyes wide, unable to move and let alone think. All he was still able to do was staring at her like an idiot, while the guys of the crew and random birds picked for the occasion chattered and joked and laughed around him. But he couldn't hear them, he didn't care, it was like everything around him had vanished, except Jen.

Only when he managed to regain a barest hint of control over himself, but a few moments later, he noticed that she wasn't alone. She was with a man and what was even worse was that they were hand in hand. That alone was enough to make him wish to be a thousand miles away from the blasted place at once.

And he could remember that guy, for he was one of the trainers. A brainless, tanned and ever-smiling git, he remembered him all right.

Not even the time to shoot his rival a withering look, and he was suddenly snapped back to reality by arms looping around his neck, pulling him back onto the couch.

"Where are you, Orli?" she giggled, her face now way too close to his for comfort, one of her legs settling over his. Most probably exposing too much, for he could remember that she was wearing an almost indecent miniskirt, but he didn't dare to lower his gaze. And all he was able to say in response was a lame "Why, I'm fine".

"Tell me where you are.." she pressed on, giving him what was probably meant to be a seductive smile, "so that I can follow you."

Orlando said nothing this time, but merely hinted a silly smile. And couldn't help but glance again in Jen's direction, even if only to see if she was still there, if the annoying git was still holding her hand, if they were already sitting together.

Said girl was staring at him, an insulted expression on her face.

There he was, the boy she thought loved her. He had found another girl, forgetting everything about their relationship.

The worse thing was probably that she had always believed in their love, fighting against the sluts who threatened to take him away from her, not even bothering to look at the hunks who tryed something on her. Why should she have done it? She loved Orlando, there was no need to search for someone else.

What a stupid she had been, hoping that he could return her love with such intensity, when the only thing he wanted was another nice bimbo to hang around with. Nothing more.

Not able to take anymore of that disgusting scene, with the lascivious blonde clinging to him, Jen stood up, making some excuses to her companion and stalking to the lady's bathroom, angrily wiping the tears spilling from her eyes.

When she exited the ladies' room, quite some minutes later, Orlando was there. Waiting for her no doubt, propped against the doorframe with a bottle of beer in his hand and a bitter smile curving his lips. A drunken smile, but bitter still.

"Havin' a good time with your friend, love, are ya?"

Jen needed some moments to find her voice, too shaken to even think clearly. He hadn't spoken to her for weeks, and now he was there. Drunk.

How dared he? After all he had be the one who fucked everything, so what does he wanted?

"I bet you're having fun, too" she replied, trying to keep her tone under control. "Anyway I'm not your love anymore, so stop calling me that".

Orlando frowned slightly, and took a swig of beer before to near her. His face was mere inches away from hers when he halted, his gaze steady. He seemed suddenly sobered up, or maybe just hurt, and was utterly serious when he spoke again.

"I know you haven't forgotten me, either" he whispered, "It's no use. No use, Jen."

"How dare you... Coming here and...screwing up everything again!" she hissed, backing away, her hands clenched in fists. Remembering. She was remembering all the nights she had spent crying in her pillow, trying to understand. She had been dumped without even an explanation, looking at him as he just continued his life as if she had never existed.

"You dumped me months ago, remember? You! Without ever turning back, without giving me time to explain, to understand... You've shattered my heart in a million of pieces as if it was...fuckin' funny! It doesn't matter if I haven't forgotten. It was an illusion, all a lie, Bloom. You were having fun, and I've been the fuckin' sheep who believed in your words!"

"It's not like that!" he retorted heatedly, the bottle he was holding in his hand shattering in many pieces and a golden pool at their feet when he suddenly let go of it and grabbed both of Jen's arms, pulling her roughly against his chest after a good shake.

Raged. And hurt, even in his alcoholic daze the pain was still sharp. He had never been able to forgive himself for the way he'd pushed her away, deliberately, no matter how many times he had tried to convince himself that it was just how it was meant to be.

He missed her. He loved her. And he had screwed up everything, just to destroy something good and worthy.

"How can you not see that?" he shouted, tears blurring his view. No more coherent thoughts. "I love you, damn it!"

"You're just drunk" she breathed, sobbing helplessly, cursing her weakness and feeling as if her very heart had been ripped away from her chest. Devastating. This was the only word she could think about which was right to describe the effect his revelation had had on her.

She loved him, too. But she was much too scared to be deluded and hurt again, scared to ruin it all fighting relentlessly every single day, unable to convince him of her faithfulness.

"Tomorrow you'll regret what you're saying, treating me coldly again as you were doing. Pushing me aside, without turning back to see if I was fine with your decision. I can't trust you, Orli. I just...can't. I'm not saying I don't love you but... now let me go and go back to your slut, she's waiting for you...I want to go home..."

Despite her words, Orlando's grip was still tight and firm. And as much as steady was his gaze.

"I won't let you go." he said in a low voice, "Shout and waggle if you ought to, but I won't let you go. Not again.."

"Well then we'll stay there for the whole night!" she retorted angrily, stubbornly looking at him, a pout making his way on her face.

"But I can't see the point. Really, I can't see it..."

"I do."

Said that he let go of one of Jen's arms, while the grasp on the other didn't loosen in the slightest, but rather tightened. A moment later he was already dragging her to the table were the hunky git was sitting, the usual dumb expression painted on the annoyingly tanned face, and Orlando had indeed to fight the urge to pin him onto the ground and punch him senseless, the very moment their eyes met.

"Say goodbye to your friend, Jen, we're goin' home."

Now clearly mad at him and even somewhat scared by his behaviour, Jen franctically tried to free herself.

"Let me go, Orli. You're not yourself... let me go..."

"You'd better let her go, Bloom. Or else you could be too hurt to film until next week, at least..." the hunk now menaced, standing up and looking steadily in his eyes.

Jen's arm was actually released, and a half smile slowly curved Orlando's lips as he leaned towards his rival, hands propped on the table, staring challengingly at him all the while.

"Come on" he spurred, "Hit me. It would make you feel better, wouldn't it?"

As the other man was grinning, now amused by that meaningless little boy, Jen took hold of Orlando's arm. Scared again, but not for her safety.

"No!" she urged, tugging at his arm and forcing him to look at her. "Don't do it, please...let's go home, do you want? we have so much to discuss..."

The mocking expression on Orlando's face faded at once, and was promptly replaced by a quite bewildered one.

Had she just said that for real?

He hadn't actually expected her to agree when he'd said that they were about to go home. Nor he had expected her to worry about his safety, not after all she'd been through because of him.

Wordlessly, he searched briefly into a pocket of his jeans before to hand her the keys of his car. Yes, she had been right to say that he was drunk. And he was suddenly well aware not to be able to drive.

Flashing a warning glance at her friend, Jen took hold of the keys and of her purse, guiding Orlando outside, wordlessly.

What followed was an awkward silence, but she really didn't feel like talking. She had been scared for him, it had been pretty clear that he would have been humiliated and beaten, and it was the last thing she wanted. She loved him, despite all.

Yet it was soon. Too soon to start it all over again.

The ride was pretty quiet, Orlando curled up on the passenger seat and gazing at the darkness outside while Jen drove both back home, never turning to look at him.

And he still wasn't looking at her when he eventually spoke: "Did you mean it?" he muttered, his voice barely audible as if he was talking to himself. "You still love me?"

"It was not my lack of love which has caused our split" she said bitterly, her eyes never leaving the road in front of her, not wanting to meet his gaze.

She was driving to the residence, but still she didn't knew what to do once there.

"And, yes. I still love you, but it's not so easy. We are never been easy..."

"I know it's been my fault." was his reply, followed by a deep sigh. There, he'd actually said it.

Who cares, he thought with a shrug. There is nothing else to lose.

"I've had plenty of time to think about it.. and to regret it a thousand times. I'd happily turn back time and settle things down, but I can't."

"No. You can't..." she agreed, sighing deeply, and glancing at him before to bring her attention back to the road.

Something like ten minutes later, Jen was helping him to climb down the car, wrapping one arm around his waist and settiling the other one around her shoulders, supporting him to his room.

Once there, she opened the door, heading to the bedroom and helping him on his bed, slightly backing to have a better view of his face.

"Do you think you'll be fine tonight? I can stay there, just to check. You know you can't drink too much for afterwards you would feel even worse. Why..."

"I've been drinking every night since then." Orlando replied plainly, staring back at her, his face showing no emotion at all. "And it's even helped me, somehow. Hard to think too much about your own mistakes and regrets when you're barely able to work out any coherent thought at all.."

Sitting on the bed at his side, Jen had to close her eyes for a moment, in order to gather her thoughts.

She hadn't imagined her reunion like that. It was different, probably because dreams were always better than reality.

"What should we do now?" she finally asked, staring back at him, bringing one hand to his face just to caress his chin with her thumb, while a thousand of emotions were threatening to overwhelm her.

"Just forgive me" Orlando whispered, unmoving, even if the urge to hug and kiss his Jen was almost unbearable by then. And it wasn't mere alcoholic exhilaration.

"Just.. let's start over again.. give me the chance to prove you how much I care.."

"I don't know Orli..." she breathed, now on the verge of tears, her eyes stung and her view was already blurring.

Hard to listen to your inner voice when the wound is still bleeding.

"I'm still...hurt.. and I'm...scared... I'm scared to be with you but I'm much too scared to lose you. Does it makes any sense?"

"It does" he replied softly, reaching to stroke her cheek. "That's the way I feel, too. But I swear, Jen, I swear to you that I'll do my best this time.. I don't want to lose you again, please.. try me"

This time he didn't even try to restrain himself, but leaned over and wrapped his arms around her waist, his face buried in her hair. Inhaling deeply, breathing in her scent, he found himself fighting to hold back the tears. Alive, at last. Alive again.

He just couldn't be without her.

"Please."

" We both need time..." she whispered, closing her eyes while her arms slowly wrapped around his waist, her face buried into those chocolate curls of his, deeply inhaling his scent. Cigarette. Some faint trace of cologne. Soap. That was her Orlando. Hers, again.

"I...need some time to...get used to this, again... but...I don't know if you'll actually be willing to wait for me..."

"Yes" was Orlando's slightly muffled reply, his embrace tightening as he spoke. Then he drew back in order to meet her eyes, his hand reaching to caress her cheek.

"I'll be here" he whispered, "No matter how long it'll take, I'll wait for you."

"Would you?" she asked, her voice husky for the emotions she was feeling were threatening to overwhelm her. It was all she had ever dreamed of. They were togeter, despite all.

"I love you..." was her whisper, before her lips closed on his, just caressing him as if trying to relearn each and every inch of his skin.

Orlando responded to the kiss at once, tenderly, without trying to deepen it in any way.

That alone was almost too much for him, having her back was all he needed and all he'd asked for. The way he was almost clinging to her, crushing her within his arms and kissing her back was enough to prove it.

"I love you" she repeated, looking intensely in his eyes before to near his lips once more and kiss him again, now somewhat relieved, the tears slowly running on her cheeks while her tongue gently slipped in his mouth.

Matching perfectly her tenderness, Orlando cupped her face while they were still kissing, brushing away the tears with his thumbs.