Empress Alia of Iley-You understand this deed?

Mr. Corda'Lie-I do. Just don't consider me a willing participant in this scheme of yours.

Alia-Get out!

Mr. Corda'Lie-For how long?

Alia-Forever. You and your family are hereby barred from setting foot on this planet. Especially this neighborhood. Guards will be by later to make sure all of your stuff is moved the Hell out of here. Good day, sir. I hope you find what you're looking for, just do it out of my sight.

Mr. Corda'Lie-People will rebel against you. I will lead a revolution so big you won't know what hit you.

Alia-You might, but just realize that whoever is with you will be found out and kicked out of C'ila for their efforts to support your phony cause.

As she walks to her car she can barely make out the last few words that Mr. Corda'Lie speaks to her.

Mr. Corda'Lie-I said, I hope The Father liked being handcuffed to a stairwell!

Alia-Go back to your birth place, Mr. Corda'Lie, the depths of Hell.

The main door of the new Iley base on C'ila opens at the crack of dawn. Flowers are delivered to Dan, who is resting upstairs in his new bedroom. The delivery driver realises that it is very early so just sets them inside the door on an endtable.

First to wake is the countess Dashia. She hears the front door open and close again. She wonders who it is this time and just how many of these new people who reside on C'ila have a ready made keys to their secret base.

She decides to investigate the door opening and closing by putting on a sleepshirt and making her way down the stairs. What she sees startles her. A man and a woman, holding hands. Exhausted.

Countess Dashia-Can I get you some water, or a blanket? You look terrible.

The Father-I feel terrible.

Dashia-We heard you were trapped inside Heaven. How did You escape?

The Father-The person who had me that way realised that I didn't have anything of value in Heaven for her to try to rip off. She found some footage of herself growing up and her parents divorcing and stuff about her own faults, so she got mad and left. I sent a last signal to Sheah and she was able to notify this woman. Crayonnah meet the countess Dashia.

Crayonnah-Nice meeting you.

Dashia-Your voice sounds familiar. Do you hang out next door? On Friday nights?

Crayonnah-Sometimes, when I am able. I have bad athsma, I can't dance for too long without having to stop to cool off and to catch my breath.

Alia returns home. They all hear her car pull up, having just completed her mission on East C'ila, the removal of Mr. Corda'Li and his family from their newly acquired planet.

Alia-You?

Crayonnah-I was in Heaven rescuing this nice man. I got a call in the middle of the night to help Him, so I did. The call came from someone named Noah.

Alia-If you walk upstairs you will find a room for you in our home. Let's just say it was a way to get you to come and stay.

Dan walks slowly down the main staircase hearing familiar voices echoing through the hallway.

He notices her first, but doesn't say anything at first, worrying about waking himself up first before he decides to believe that someone like her would be let in to his secret home.

The Father-Dan, do you know this woman?

Dan-It's going to be hard to answer that.

The Father-Why?

He walks away having just fallen into tears.

Alia looks at Crayonnah with a cautious expression on her face. As if to say 'Go ahead and talk to him.'

She finds him choke sobbing at the kitchen table. Going against her usualy carefree and flirtatious image that she portrays to friends, she breaks her assumed character and pulls up a chair next to him and puts her arms around him, for dear life this time.

Crayonnah-I'm not a bad person. I just rescued The Father for you. I know how much He means to you and I wanted to do something nice, so when He called me I knew what I had to do. I put on some make up and perfume and a new outfit, one that I was going to wear on our next date and I got in my shuttle and I found Him very easily. Almost too easily.

Dan-I had a bad week. You know what I mean about that. I'm so sorry about what happened to us. I guess that I noticed that I was falling for you and I lost control and fell instead flat on my face. But then I realized to myself, sitting on the curb that night that since I don't really have a temper that this is how I deal with things. You can't control when you find true love, or when you lose it. I thought I found it with you. I really did. You see me, my face is beard free. You didn't know me a short while back when I was stuffing my face with fast food and making a fool out of myself at work, by not being myself. Yeah, I've been through some shit, too. I'm glad you brought The Father back, though. We have been walking on eggshells here on C'ila since He was captured and taken to Centre Heaven in the last 'Alia and the Boy' novel. I'm glad that in that time away from the story and brainstorming about ideas for this one, someone was able to find him.

Crayonnah-I barely know you, my dear.

Dan-I know that. I kind of screwed things up, where that is conscerned. But is it too late to just regard that week as a mistake and to move on away from it. I think it would be a waste if we never talked to each other again.

Crayonnah-It would.

He walks to the main dining room to find his C'ila friends taking his cue by leaving him and Crayonnah alone while they begin a meaningful breakfast with The Father.

Dan-They're busy with The Father, so listen I kept walking around this place wondering how you became so special to me in such a short time and how upset I was that you couldn't figure it out either.

Crayonnah-I'm not a mind reader.

Dan-Sometimes when we cry it means we are letting go of something deep inside our heart. I guess I'm the same way. It probably looked like I was raving mad and wanted to break some shit up on our date, but listen I didn't raise my voice. I just had a feeling. That it's time for me to start over. I mean only about two weeks ago I was a complete mess in my heart and my body, I didn't know what the Hell was going on with me. Something was triggered when we went out, something that I just had to sit and think about for myself, and unfortunatly these things happen at the worst times, but I'm glad it did. Hell, now I know how to follow a lit pen with my eyes at three in the morning. I honestly don't know how I managed to get out of that one. A lot has happened to me since I wrote 'Crash Through Split Fragments,' more than I thought would. I met you.

Crayonnah-Is that a good thing? Meeting me?

Dan-No one has had an effect on me as you do, my dear. I don't know what you do to me, but I had thought about you all day during that week. I guess for a while when I was hanging out with the bad crowd and overeating and trying to destroy myself in front of everyone I cared about I never realized that I would soon after be sneaking out to my hometown and tearing up the dancefloor with a few of my Kaesa friends, and that I would walk to the bar to get a bottle of water and notice you out of the corner of my eye. But, I'm glad I did. Then to see you again a few months later was awesome. That was when I was really starting to feel better about myself. Whatever you've been through, I think I've dealt with worse. Sometimes that gets in the way, my apparent lack of any self esteem at the right times. It sucks, but whoever is with me has to know that it's how I am.

Crayonnah-Think more positive and you won't have things creeping up on your shoulder when your on a perfectly normal first date. I know what you mean now about things just slithering up to haunt you at the most awful times. It just sort of takes over and if you don't just sit there and think about what's bothering you it will eat your flesh alive if you let it sit there and dwell and build houses in your wounded heart. Should we join the others at breakfast?

Dan-Maybe we should.

A familiar face walks into the room and looks puzzled at Crayonnah.

JoaBeth-Did you tell her?

Dan-What?

JoaBeth-That she has a room here so she can assume now that she is part of our team.

Dan-Only if she wants to be.

JoaBeth-Hi, I'm JoaBeth. I have been named Co-Commander of the 'C'ila Project.'

Crayonnah-Who's the other Co-Captain?

JoaBeth-Dan.

Crayonnah-You're a commander?

Dan-I told you we didn't know each other that well yet.

Crayonnah-Most flight commanders cannot dance for three hours straight.

Dan-They just don't have the right girl to do it with.

JoaBeth-Crayonnah, can I talk to you in private?

Crayonnah-I'm not in trouble, am I?

JoaBeth-No. There's just something I want to ask you.

Following their signal, Dan walks into the kitchen to meet The Father with a hug.

Dan-I'm really glad you're back and are alright. I have a lot of good ideas for this story that I can run by You later.

The Father-I'm sure you do. Without Crayonnah I don't know how I would have gotten out of the place where Pathri'Jen had been holding me captive. Crayonnah was able to slip between the door and the doorway, since there was only a loose padlock on it. She is fortunatly thin as a sheet of paper if you know what I mean. She walked up to the doorway and just slipped right through. Amazing, isn't she?

Dan-I kind of messed things up with her though.

The Father and everyone at the breakfast table are becoming interested in knowing how Dan knew Crayonnah.

Dan-Well, since I have an audience I might as well announce that I screwed up my chances with that beautiful woman in the other room.

Alia-Why do you say that?

Dan-Because I made the same fucking mistake as I did with JoaBeth! I'm sorry my friend for using that kind of language, but the night we did go out it was a dreaded nightmare that I hope she never remembers.

Alia-You're learning, my student.

Dan-Learning how to screw things up. My body might have been saved, and part of my heart has been rescued but I realize more and more how fragile I am. I get crushed by the slightest thing and I never have any fun. Well, except when I come to C'ila in the middle of the night, or when I go to Bible Study. And I'm sick of hearing from people 'Well, you've been through a lot,' because at what point do I hit 'reset' and start over?

Meanwhile in the kitchen unknowing to anyone else JoaBeth and Crayonnah have had quite a conversation. JoaBeth looks to be crying herself.

Crayonnah-I almost regret telling you, but I had to tell someone that knows him to know if it is normal for him to just withdrawl like that. I mean I begged him to join me and my friends, but it was like he was in another world and couldn't be brought back. It broke my heart because we came out just to have fun and for me to introduce him to my friends, but he just seemed distracted. Why?

JoaBeth-I'm crying because I ruined your date. I'm so sorry. Writing the last book must have relit some of the feelings he had for me. He was just trying to extiguish them temporarily because in real life he doesn't have a clue where I am, but thought of me enough to include me in this story and the last one, why I don't know, maybe it's the fact that he sneaks up here on the weekends to dance and sing karaoke, but how could he not, he wanted to marry me all those years ago, and now look, all the pieces are falling into place and yes, we have met back up and talked about this in book form. But, I assume he was thinking about me when he needed to just be by himself. I think he just let it get to him. He probably felt as crippled with disease as he did when he heard all these things about me that I was telling you about. He probably felt it was happening all over again, and didn't take the intiative and march onto the dancefloor and take you in his arms and stayed with you the whole night.

Crayonnah-Instead he completely withdrew from everything and wouldn't talk to any of us. We just don't know him, that well at least. I guess I have a room here in this place.

JoaBeth-Anytime you need to talk, just call me, okay.

They both share a hug.

A key is placed inside the lock of the base, and is turned. Daniel Sr. makes his way into the kitchen to find his friends listening to his son recounting the last couple of weeks since he wrote the previous 'Alia and the Boy' story.

Daniel Sr.-I don't mean to interrupt but your grandmother called me and said you 'lost your smile.' Are you okay?

Dan-I left her that message. That's a long story.

Daniel Sr.-For God's sake tell me! That's what I drove 15 hours for just now.

The Father-If you two need to spend some time together, we'll get out of your way. Anyway I hear the phone ringing.

They walk upstairs into the guest room and shut the door.

Daniel Sr.-Now, what's wrong. You have a habit of bottling this stuff up inside you until you crack open and let the blood rush out of your fractured skull. You have to talk to someone when this stuff bothers you.

Dan-That's easy to say, but when it creeps up on my shoulder when I least expect it, I get a little worried. I can't say to someone 'this is our first date' but if I pannic and need to spend most of it crying to myself that I got married and it screwed up my brain functions and expect her to just say 'okay, go off on your own and come find me when you're done being depressed? How do I expect to find anyone that way? I've completely had it. Now the girl is here and is going to be living with me and I don't want to waste my time or hers by sitting her down and telling her my life story since it's not the happiest fucking thing in the world to tell someone.

Daniel Sr.-Do you think you're the only with problems in the world? Do you think you're the only person alive who's been through a bad marraige? So that means everyone who's ever been divorced should stay home and when they do go out let stuff like common depression and heartbreak plague any relationship they will ever have in the future? Is that normal? Do you want to get back together with your ex wife?

Dan-No.

Daniel Sr.-Then why are you so Hell bent on hanging your head around someone new who obviously likes you. Is it fair to her to see you this broken up. She didn't do anything but invite you out with her friends, and look how you showed you that you were happy with her.

Dan-I know and I did it with JoaBeth. I believed something someone said and I let it screw with my head and suddenly it was 1996 all over again. And here I am hearing all this stuff about JoaBeth going through my head and listening to my heart tell me not to hold it against Crayonnah, but I couldn't listen. I lost that batttle and went home thinking that she was out to hurt me, when in fact it was the complete opposite.

To no ones knowledge, Crayonnah has been listening at the door the entire time, crying herself.

Daniel Sr.-Shh.

Dan-Yeah, I heart it, too.

They open the door to find Crayonnah sitting near the doorway with her head down, completely broken down.

Crayonnah-I'm sorry I was so mean to you.

He holds her dearly in his arms.

Dan-You're a keeper. You know that, right? I would do anything for you. Alia probably thought the same when she asked you to move in here.

Crayonnah-You don't mind if I'm just down the hall?

Dan-We'll work on our friendship first.

Crayonnah-That sounds nice.

The telephone rings again.

Dan-Hello?

Rayik Norda-Is JoaBeth there?

Dan-Yeah, who's this?

Rayik-I'm the guy she met at Dan's birthday party in Heaven.

Dan-It was my party, sort of, but I'll get her for you, hold on.

He walks down the stairs and finds JoaBeth sitting alone on the couch in the TV room with a dish of vanilla ice cream to help calm her down from her conversation with Crayonnah.

Dan-Didn't you hear the phone ring?

JoaBeth-I did. I was just sitting here thinking about my talk with your girlfriend.

Dan-She's not my girlfriend, and you hae a call. Some guy you met at my party in Heaven.

JoaBeth-His name is Rayik. It sucks that he's dead.

Dan-Dead?

JoaBeth-Yeah, he can't leave Heaven. He saw me at your little party that turned out to be a trap for The Father and he followed me to my shuttle and told me I was beautiful. I don't remember giving him the number here though, he must have traced my shuttle. Should I talk to him?

He hands her the cordless phone and makes his way back upstairs to Crayonnah.

Rayik-JoaBeth, how are you?

JoaBeth-I'm good. Listen I didn't give you the number here, it's unlisted. How are you calling me.

Rayik-I'm not using the phone. I'm talking to your heart.

JoaBeth-But my friend just handed me the phone.

Rayik-It's turned off. Look.

She realizes that she has dozed off to sleep after setting her dish of ice cream on the coffee table. He used an image of Dan to help her return his signal from Heaven.

JoaBeth-Where are we?

Rayik-My house. I got hurt, bad.

JoaBeth-I'm seeing your wife murder you.

Rayik-It's hard for me to watch. I really like you, JoaBeth. I just wanted you to see the reason I can't come to C'ila with you.

She holds him in her arms.

Rayik-I'm just as wounded as your friend.

JoaBeth-He's going to be fine.

Rayik-I feel like my death just replays over and over in my train of thoughts. I feel sometimes like I cannot move past it. Leaving my body in a pool of my own blood. I was called up to Heaven since my death was not my fault. But I fought with myself and had to be talked down by The Father himself because I was so out of control. I wouldn't sleep for days and He got really worried for me so I slept on the couch at the apartment where Jesus and Brittany live in now so they could watch over me. I heard Dan's story before I decided to go to that party they were planning for him because deep down I saw a little bit of his situation in me and I wanted to at least be there for him in that way. Then I saw you and I had to find you and tell you how precious you looked to my hurt eyes.

JoaBeth-No one leads a magical life with roses lining their hallway at night protecting them from bad things happening to them. I'm not scared away from you after seeing this in our dreams. I respect you more for telling mme about this than not telling me at all. Dan just needs to get over...

She pauses before finishing her thought and almost breaks down and cries herself.

Rayik-You? Maybe the two of you should sit down and talk about this. He obviously has unresolved feelings for you. I know that I wish my wife would have spared murdering my body in cold blood, but eventually I will have to live properly in Heaven witout it bothering me. It's that feeling you get when you break up with someone and you automatically feel that you need all this time to get over the one you broke up with, so much so that it may cause you to miss out on the one you're supposed to be with. I guess Dan and I just need to move on from our awful experiences and start over.

JoaBeth-Let's get one thing straight, I am not an awful experience! I'm going to wake up now, and I don't want you to contact me. You hear!

Rayik-Wait! I'm sorry. It came out wrong. Unless you do have feelings for him.

JoaBeth-I don't know if I do or not, are you happy now?

Rayik-So you could possibly want to be with him?

JoaBeth-I don't know. How else do you want me to tell you! I don't know if I want him in my life or not, but I'm going to make sure he doesn't go back over the edge again like I found him.

Rayik-So after he feels better, are you just going to leave him again?

JoaBeth-Why do you care?

Rayik-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

He puts his arms around her to cry softly on her shoulder, but feels her pulls herself away from him.

JoaBeth-Why are you crying?

Rayik-I know we just met but I feel like we're meant to be together and I brought you here to tell you that, but for some reason all I can think of is how badly I was killed by my wife, when I should be thinking about how cool it is to have you here with me at this moment, I guess I'm feeling for those questions about Dan, it's just that I don't think I can deal with getting hurt again, and not just physically but emotionally, too. I just don't know how to move on. If you still have feelings for Dan then I understand and I'll stop thinking about you in an instant.

JoaBeth-Don't start a relationship by showing the new girl a brutal image of your wife stabbing you in the chest with a knife, you might scare her away. Forget about the past. Move on, my dear. Now you obviously like me since you brought me down here in our dreams so take me someplace nice and slow dance with me. Don't worry about how I feel about Dan, it's probably nothing at this point and if it will ever develop in the future, I couldn't tell you. I just wish he, like you, wouldn't drag baggage like this into a new relationship. Quit thinking you have to pull me over on a date and tell me about the worst thing that ever happened to you, try telling me that I'm the best thing that's ever happened to you. That's a lot easier on the ears than detailing in explicit language how you almost got mutilated in a firey car crash, you know?

He sees Daniel Sr. unpacking a few days worth of outfits for his stay on C'ila with the team.

The Father-Did you make it here alright?

Daniel Sr.-The drive sucks, with nothing to do, but I made it here. I'm going to lay down for a rest though.

The Father-How long do you want to stay?

Daniel Sr.-Until my son feels better.

Jesus knocks on the guest room door.

The Father-Son, is there sonthing you need to talk to me about?

Jesus of Nazareth-I'm just happy that you're alive. I guess I should thank Your helper, whoever she is.

The Father-Her name is Crayonnah, she should be downstairs. I needed someone thin enough to slip through the padlocked door. She came to mind, since she knows Dan.

He sees that she is still sleeping on the couch and notices the melted ice cream and takes the bowl to the kitchen and washes it for her. When he walks back to the TV room he can't help but shed a tear for her, instead of keeping it to himself this time, he lays next to her on the couch and holds her in his arms, falling asleep himself.

Dan(Whispering)-Whatever you're dreaming about, let me join you my love.

His eyes open in the dream.

'So,' he thinks 'she's found someone.' He wonders how it makes him feel deep down in his heart. In the spot forever reserved for her in his heart, she appears to be moving out and having someone else help her pack up her things and assure a safe exit from his thoughts.

He stays completely out of view. This new man seems alright and he only wants the best for her, so in a way he is okay with seeing them together, just as long as she doesn't notice him wanting to get a glimpse of who's apparently taking the place he had in her heart.

There's a tap on his shoulder.

Daniel Sr.-I was tired so I fell asleep. Where are we?

Dan-I think I'm watching JoaBeth find the love of her life.

Daniel Sr.-She's going to need you. He's not at the base is he?

Dan-No, but I think I saw him at the party they had for me in Heaven. I didn't talk to him, though.

Daniel Sr.-That means he has to stay in Heaven. Damn. That's going to be hard on her. She's going to need your support if she gets too attached to him. That's the only way for her to not get hurt eventually. Just be there for her, okay?

Dan-I will. I know about not getting too attached to someone for fear of getting hurt. Only I wish I wouldn't have listened. I'm afraid since we have the same blood, that she won't want to listen to anyone's warnings. Will you stay and help me with this if she gets in too deep?

Daniel Sr.-That depends. I don't know if I want to see you keep me here if it's only to make sure that someone you still have feelings for doesn't get hurt by someone else. I don't know how I could help. We should wake up before she notices that we are in her dream.

He takes a deep breath, and opens his eyes, not realizing that she is in his arms, fast asleep. Dreaming of someone else. Someone she cannot have. The breath he took must have make sent a signal to her than someone was resting beside her since he can feel her body move closer to his.

Dan(Whispering)-I saw you sleeping, and I wanted to keep you company. It's been a bad couple of weeks. I guess I just needed to feel myself pressed up softly against a beautiful woman. You just happened to be here, how are you, my dear?

JoaBeth(Whispering)-I don't mind. Just hope Crayonnah doesn't come in here.

With that she pulls him closer.

JoaBeth(Whispering)-I will always love you.

Dan-What did you say?

JoaBeth-Shh. And do care about me. I might need you.

Dan-Going into a relationship where you can clearly see a lot of work and the possibility of getting your heart broken is bad enough, I'm not going to leave you to this on your own. If you need me I'll be there.

JoaBeth-It means a lot. I did talk to Crayonnah.

Dan-You did?

JoaBeth-I understand why you feel that you screwed things up with her. Because of me, right? Look, I know you'll make something up to other people about it being about the witch you married, but how can you deny it when you're basically a few minutes from me every weekend. How can you not think of someone you so desperatly wanted to rescue all those years ago. It must make you ask people if they've seen me?

Dan-I have. Nobody has seen you. I'm glad you're here now. If only in a story.

JoaBeth-How would you feel if you did see me. In person. Up close. Would you treat me this way?

Dan-I have no reason to lie to you. Sittiing on the curb at that club the night I went out with her I thought about you. There I said it. I put two and two together and wanted to see you. I didn't want to fuck up my date, which I managed to do anyway without thinking about you.

JoaBeth-She doesn't hold it against you, does she?

Dan-I hope not. I'm awfully sorry about it.

JoaBeth-What specifically were you thinking about? She said you just gave up and withdrew into whatever was bothering you?

Dan-It sucks that she doesn't know that sometimes I'm like that. I wish...I wish I could redo it. Do you think I'm a bore to be around? I left a message for Eleanor saying that I've lost my smile and I needed some time away from everyone to regroup and unwind and to get my liscence back. I hate that I had to do it that way but I thought I was about to crack after my performance that night with Crayonnah. I came home and said 'What the fuck is wrong with me?' and 'Why can't I do anything right?'

JoaBeth-You've got a long way to go still, you can't fix this stuff in one night. You can try but you just get into something that you're not ready for, you know? Now I'm sure if you sit her down and explain it to her she would understand. Do it some night where it's just you and her and knock on her room door and say 'Look, this is how I feel.' I'm sure she will respect you for it, than the next time you guys go out she sees you walk outside and replay certian things from your life that bother you and she will then understand that your not being a stick in the mud, but rather thinking something through and getting over hurt and dealing with in your own way. It's better that someone knows because its easy to just pass it off as you being pissed off and wanting to leave a date 60 miles from home without an explaination. That might not sit too well if you're trying for a second date. But for God's sake everyone knows how it is to be broken down inside. Some people just have more bad things happen to them than others. You can't just throw in the towel and give up if you guys have one arguement. It's not fair to your chances at being together with someone if at the first sign of weakness the other person splits witout even so much as a goodbye.

Dan-I really like her.

JoaBeth-And she really likes you a lot. She just feels that maybe you just got off on the wrong foot, if you know what I mean. Like you need to start over and take it slow. Don't hold onto her with such expectations. She is only human. And let her see the real you. If you've listened to all the CD's Jesus made for you and remember more about the real you. That's what will win her over. She's probably been hurt, too so show her, somehow, that you're not like that and she'll open up to you.

He gets up from the couch and walks away from her.

JoaBeth-What's wrong?

Dan-Maybe I'm torn.

JoaBeth-I knew this was going to happen.

Dan-How?

JoaBeth-Because why else would you lay next to me while I was sleeping?

Dan-I wanted to keep you company in case you were having a nightmare, that's all.

JoaBeth-I saw you. In my dream. Trying to stay out of view. Why?

Dan-I sensed someone was trying to contact you. A security measure. The phone didn't ring. But I felt something. It told me that someone might want to take you out of my heart, I thought I would come down and tell you. And I guess I was right. There was someone at my party.

JoaBeth-Well, he likes me!

Dan-Yeah, well why did you say you loved me a few minutes ago then?

JoaBeth-I don't know!

Their voices begin to get louder.

Dan-All I did was love you!

JoaBeth-How do you know I don't love you back?

A lamp that had been bought for the Iley base has just been smashed by JoaBeth.

JoaBeth-How do you know that I don't love you! Instead of asking me you and your father talk about me in my dream, about how hard it's going to be with Rayik. I could slap you across the face right now for...

Dan-For what? For caring about you? Listen he was in Heaven at the same time as Pathri'Jen was taking The Father hostage! We can't take any chances where he is conscerned! I'm sorry to sneak into your dream, but we have to be careful.

She walks into the room and notices the broken glass on the floor from the lamp.

Crayonnah-Is everything alright?

He takes a deep breath.

Dan-It is.

Crayonnah-I heard glass break. I'm sure everyone else did, too. What's going on here? Does it involve me?

Dan-I need to leave. I'll be next door for a few hours. This is too much for me right now.

JoaBeth says her goodbye to him and sits down to have a long talk with Crayonnah as Dan makes his way out of the secluded base and heads for a night of dancing and to try to put the last few hours out of his head.

Crayonnah-Well, I'll join him later, but only as long as I can keep my athsma under control.

JoaBeth-Tell him I'm sorry for upsetting him and yelling at him. I'll clean up the glass, just be careful not to step on it.

Meanwhile The Father has made His way back to Heaven and has taken the controls back from Noah who stood in as Director of Operations during His absence.

The Father-Pull the footage of our friend Rayik's murder. There's something about it that doesn't add up. I want to know what he was doing at Dan's mysterious birthday party.

Noah-I didn't see him in any of the footage that I pulled up. We were looking at the replay of the party when I was able to spot that someone was holding a weapon to your back the whole time you were there, but I didn't see a male, especially someone that resembled Rayik anywhere near the party. Unless...

The Father-He was the lookout.

He uses his comlink to call JoaBeth.

The Father-When did you meet up with Rayik?

JoaBeth-After the party, when I was heading to my shuttle, why?

The Father-What did he say?

JoaBeth-That I looked beautiful. I lowered the window of my shuttle for him to talk to me.

The Father-Did you see him at the party at all?

JoaBeth-No. Not until I was about to leave. It was outside.

The Father-Was he armed with a weapon of any type?

JoaBeth-None that I saw.

The Father-Pathri'Jen needed a lookout. Rayik was charming enough. He used you! If he contacts you again, trace it. This isn't about a birthday party at all.

A rundown apartment on La'Kya serves as an unholy meeting place at 2am. He arrives when he is supposed to. This time carrying several rounds of ammunition. He is let in the apartment.

Mr. Corda'Lie-Is everything ready?

Rayik-She is in love with me.

Mr. Corda'Lie-Will it be hard for you?

Rayik-I'll be fine, considering the money you are paying me.

Mr. Corda'Lie-Just get into that base. No one evicts me from my own planet. Crayonna must be brought to me. Do not stop until I see her face again.

Rayik-Understood.

She walks in and stays out of view until he sees her. Trying to ignore her, he finds a girl and starts dancing. She wonders why he doesn't walk up and ask her to dance. She wonders what she missed. Why would JoaBeth destroy a lamp in a rage over him. What kind of people is she dealing with.

Well, she thinks, she has to know. She has to confront him. Why does he feel so much for her. And why now does she feel for him. She could've knocked out all of JoaBeth's teeth from the loud voices she was hearing from the TV room before she walked in.

He looks to be seriously dancing with some other girl. Well, she wonders, what happend to 'us' being together. She can't hardly walk up and pull the two of them apart, or can she? Crayonna and Dan are from two different upbringings. They have every reason to not be together. But is that what she needs? Someone nice this time. Yeah, well, everyone appears nice at first, she remembers. Then takes one more look at her drink and decides to head over.

At first glance he separates himself from the girl and is totally attracted to her beautiful face and body. Then why, he wonders, did I fuck up so badly and waste 8 months of my life on someone who isn't half of what Crayonnah is? Why am I so damned stupid?

Crayonnah-Aren't you going to give me a hug?

Dan-Well, yeah.

Crayonnah-It just looks like you need one considering your fight with JoaBeth.

Dan-I have a problem.

Crayonnah-What is it?

Dan-I don't have a rose to give you.

Crayonnah-I'll settle for a kiss.

Dan-Are you sure?

Crayonnah-Don't hesitate.

Dan-Hold me.

Crayonnah-For how long?

Dan-As long as you'll have me in your arms.

Crayonnah-I won't put a time limit on that. I could hold you forever if you mean what you say to me.

Suddenly time stops for them. On the dancefloor. Everyone can see it. True love developing right before their eyes. The music stops. The DJ turns off the sound system and everyone in attendance takes their seats and watches Dan and Crayonnah for the next few minutes.

Dan-I don't know what brought you into my life, but whatever it is I am in great debt to it. I'm nothing like you. We barely share anything in common except these special moments that just seem to happen when the two of us are together in the same room. Look, everyone can see it that's why we are alone here on the dancefloor and not trying to shout things back and forth. What do I say to you, knowing that an entire danceclub is listening expecting me to say the right thing.

Crayonnah-Be yourself. That will impress me more than anything else right now. How can I believe you, my dear. You appear alright on the surface, but so does everyone after a couple of weeks. How do I know that you're not going to run off and go home and screw some chick from here in the blink of an eye if I don't get around to returning one of your sweet phonecalls? Others have come and gone, and where are they now? But then I think, who is holding me in his arms right now? Who likes me so much right now? Should I hold every guy who's ever torn my heart out of my chest against you and sit there and assume that you're going to do the same thing to me?

Dan-There's no way to predict what it will be like if we make it official and walk around holding hands claiming that we are together. I don't know. I'm just going by what happens when I'm with you. I'm done listening to other people about my heart and what I do with it. That's up to me and the girl I'm with. I've learned from you. Being around someone so precious that I just want to hand you every bit of my heart to keep in a safe place, but I can't rush into something as I'm sure you don't want to either. All I know, angel, is that something happens to me when I see you. It's like nothing I've ever felt before, and I'm sorry if sometimes it seems like I hold onto you for dear life, but I guess in some ways I'm beating myself up for trusting someone that I was in a long term relationship with that turned out to eventually butcher my self esteem to the point where the slightest thing makes me cry, and I hate to have you see me that way, but I would be lying to you and myself if I were to hold anyhting back when I'm around the most beautiful woman I have ever met.

The DJ slowly walks back to his booth, and softly turns the music back on noticing many in the audience with tears falling from their eyes.

DJ-I'm sorry, but that was something I will never forget as long as I live. How about a slow song for these two.

He looks for only a minute and finds one.

Dan-Will you dance with me?

Crayonnah-I will.

Dan-We need to start over, okay.

Crayonnah-We do.

Dan-Just do something for me.

Crayonnah-Yes?

Dan-Don't hold it against me if I break down and cry my heart out right now on your shoulder. I guess I never realized a lot of this stuff was inside me until I met you, you've done more for me in this short time that I believe anyone has ever been able to. I will forever be in your debt for that and if it never works and you end up with someone and I end up with someone and we never see or talk to each other and you go home tonight and move your stuff out of our base I will always remember you as the woman that came along and gave me hope of finding true love. I won't rush you, or pressure you or anything like that, and I guess it goes with being dragged through Hell itself for several months to make me how I unfortunatly am right now. Very hurt and very broken down, but slowly and one step at a time I will feel better. I promise.

Crayonnah-Change my last name, when you have a chance.

Dan-To what?

Crayonnah-Yours.

Dan-I will.

Crayonnah-It makes me cry, honey. It's just hard to believe. So many guys will tototally fuck you over and walk away and not even have the nerve to say their sorry. What is wrong with you? Why don't you drink or smoke or steal from people or shoot people up with guns and why don't you terrorize people and make fun of others and why aren't you possesive and controlling, and why do you know how to dance so well and to be such a good listener and why the Hell do you care about me so much when we haven't known each other for very long. Why? I have to know. Can I trust you? Can I make love to you without something coming inbetween us? Can I trust you around other girls? Can I trust that your past or mine won't invade our new relationship and force us to spend nights going over and over the same old wounds over and over and over again until our eyeballs pop out of our skulls. I can't do that.

Dan-Then I will change your last name, when the time is right so we can put all the bullshit behind us and move on. I have a pretty good idea who I want to be with I just wish to The Father that I had met you and it was you that I had agreed to a life with instead of spending it in Hell. But I realize that you symbolize the kind of future I can have if I want it or I could rent some awful videos and sit there and pretend the girls can reach out from the TV and hold me in their arms when we make love, but that's not going to amount to much, or I could go home with the first girl that asked me to and sure I could be brought to climax by her and probably enjoy it but what have I gained there? Someone I won't or cannot possibly care about and someone who won't remember it anyway? Is that any way to live?

Crayonnah-Start over with me.

She pulls him closer to her.

Crayonnah-Break my streak of bad luck. Wait one second I'll be right back.

A man walks in. And then he takes her away. Forcefully. Dan walks over thinking everything is alright and that she really will be right back, he sees someone he thinks he knows from C'ila and starts up a conversation. About who the other knows and the history of C'ila. He wants to fit in this time. This return to C'ila means a lot to him. He doesn't notice it, but it's been almost an hour.

Quickly he finds someone else to dance with so he can keep a lookout for his beauiful Crayonnah. He doesn't see her though.

When closing time arrives he walks home, turns the key in the main door and is a little alarmed not to find her. Well, maybe more than a little.

Dan-Crayonnah!!

His father wakes from hearing him scream. He races down the stairs along with Jesus.

Dan-Jesus, get your Dad!

Jesus-He's in Heaven. But, He can be here shortly. If I call Him.

Dan-Well, call him!

He walks into the kitchen to contact His Father.

The Father-Yes?

Jesus-Dan is freaking out. Someone abducted Crayonnah!

The Father-Someone better not have. Listen JoaBeth must not receive any contact form Rayik. He's trouble. I'll be right there.

She is driven out of the main C'ila territory and into a neighborhood covered in darkeness.

Crayonnah-He's going to rescue me!

Rayik-Keep her quiet!

A loaded gun is pointed at her head. Which makes her cry.

Rayik-She won't be crying wolf anytime soon.

Pathri'Jen-What does the brave woman who saved The Father have to say for herself now? Mr. Corda'Lie will enjoy meeting you, again.

Crayonnah-I don't want to see him!

Rayik-You're a little late with your plea for help. We'll be there shortly.

The Father has joined Jesus and Daniel Sr. in a vehicle and have parked in front of the club next door to the base where she was last seen.

Kelly Sam-They were dancing together and all of the sudden she was just taken away!

Daniel Sr.-Didn't anyone try to stop him?

Kelly-My bouncers tried. He was more powerful. We couldn't easily pick Dan out of the crowd. We didn't want to cause a scene.

Daniel Sr.-My future daughter in law was just abducted! Do you have any leads, any at all?

Kelly-They're getting married?

Daniel Sr.-Soon. Not now. When the time is right. It would crush him to death if anything happened to her.

Kelly-There are weapons in the back storage room. No one knows about them, though so you can't tell a soul.

The Father-I don't need one.

Jesus-Neither do I.

Kelly-You may have to look for her someplace dangerous.

Daniel Sr.-Do you have a bed I can lay on. If you're right, Father, and Rayik is involved in all this, then the tracker I left in his dream should lead us to Crayonnah.

Jesus-A Dream Tracker? Good work. So we sleep and battle him through his dreams for the rescue of Crayonnah. I'm game if you are Father.

The Father-You two know that Crayonnah is Dan's soul mate, don't you? The one Alia was waiting to present to him. Nothing can happen to her. You only get one soul mate. It would be a waste if we had to introduce him to someone else, you know. I have to find her. I have to. It's just that I owe her for rescuing me as well.

Jesus-I didn't know about her, until now.

Daniel Sr.-I did. Eleanor told me.

Jesus-She did? How did she know?

Daniel Sr.-I'm not sure, but she says all the signs point to it.

The Father-She's good then.

Just as they lay down to try to locate Rayik and hopefully Crayonnah, The Father's comlink begins flashing at a record speed.

Noah-I've found her. It's bad. Real bad.

The Father-Let me walk over to the main door to get a better reception.

Tears are beginning to fall from his eyes.

The Father-Now tell me.

Noah-She's laying on a street. I was able to focus in on her face. She's been badly beaten and apparently judging from the image I have dowloaded, she may be hurt too much to be brought out it. Or if they do, she will never be the same. I'm sorry.

The Father-Find me the directions and keep me posted.

Noah-I will.

The other two walk up close with Kelly.

Daniel Sr.-Did you find her?

The Father-Noah did. I'm waiting for his call.

Daniel Sr.-And?

The Father-It's too early to tell if she will die.

Kelly-Can't you do anything?

The Father-Listen, we have to leave. If Dan comes tell him we're going to find her and attempt to save her life.

Too late. He walks through the door, crying himself, since how it is almost five in the morning and still no word.

Dan-I'm coming with you!

Daniel Sr.-Son, this is going to be hard for you to see.

Dan-Why? Where is my Crayonnah?

The Father-She's hurt.

Jesus-We don't think it would benefit you any seeing her loaded into an ambulance. Remember not to far back when you had to be. When you blacked out on the park bench? We just think it's too hard of a scene to have to revisit. Stay here with Kelly.

Kelly-Dan, listen to him. I can even come to the base and at least be there for you through this.

Dan-Tell me where she is?

The Father-I'm going to say something to you but I do not need you to take this the wrong way, alright. Crayonnah is the one Alia has been waiting to introduce you to. Okay. She's been beat really bad by whoever it was the took her from here. She's barely alive right now, but what she doesn't need is to see you broken down when she wakes up in the hospital this morning. Here. I have something for you to give to her if she doesn't come to.

Handed to Dan is a beautiful engagement ring.

Dan-I can't help it! I want to cry, but I know I have to be strong. Please keep us posted, alright?

Daniel Sr.-We will.

As soon as Daniel Sr. finishes his sentence The Father recieves the call from Noah. The directions are written down and the medical facility is called.

When they arrive they find the lifeless body of Crayonnah. There are red marks on her face from being punched. Hard.

The Father-Who on Earth could do something like this?

Daniel Sr.-I see skid marks. There must have been a struggle. From the way her body is just laying here she must have been thrown from the vehicle. Onto the pavement, sadly.

Jesus-Dad, you're face is turning red. Hey, there's the ambulance.

Within a couple of minutes the lights are flashing from the medical vehicle and she is carefully loaded onto a stretcher with a neckbrace and constant oxygen.

Nurse Colby-Hi Daniel Sr. and hello again, Jesus.

Jesus-This woman need immediate attention.

Colby-How bad is it?

Jesus-She's a heartbeat away from death.

A police car races to the scene, just when they needed it to.

Detective Karr-What do we have here?

Daniel Sr.-Attempted murder. This woman from thrown from the backseat of a four door vehicle. The marks on her face indicate she was beaten before being ejected from the car.

Karr-Can I know who you are so I can include it in the report.

Daniel Sr.-I am her soon to be father in law. She's an orphan. All I know is that she has pretty bad athsma. She knows my son, though.

Karr-Was he anywhere around her during all of this.

Daniel Sr.-He was at home with the rest of us waiting for her to come home. I'm not sure if she was drinking or not but someone forced their way into the nightclub next to our house and abducted her at around 1:30am this morning. That's when my son noticed something was up, he couldn't see it happen, she said she would be right back and never came back. Then my 'friend' over here got a call that a woman fitting Crayonnah's description was laying half dead in the middle of the street. We called the ambulance as soon as we found out her exact location.

Karr-Good work. So the lady nurse Colby and her staff are familiar to you?

Daniel Sr.-She is friends with my son, so everything should be fine.

Karr-I wish I knew what kind of car I was looking for or anything really to help you.

Daniel Sr.-I'm going with the ambulance to sign papers and things. Jesus, do you want her affiliation to read C'ila or North Iley?

Jesus-Since you guys aren't actually registered under any kind of C'ila government forms you better put North Iley if they ask. Just say change of residence papers are in the process of being filled out.

Daniel Sr.-What last name should I give her?

Jesus-Sherrill.

The ambulance takes off down the street as the doctor and Daniel Sr. desperatly look for a pulse that can tell them is Crayonnah is able to be brought to life.

Daniel Sr.-My son must really like you. Otherwise we probably wouldn't be here. I've never heard him talk about someone like he talks about you. He was so scared for you, we're lucky we found you. I know you can't hear me right now, but just try to hold on. You have a nice guy that will be waiting for you with flowers and his heart. He's going to give you something when he sees you and I don't want you to take it the wrong way right now. Just wear it as a symbol of his new found love for you and when you think of him you will think of someone who would call down all of Heaven to save you if anything happened to you, which sadly right now, has to be. I wish you could hear me, Crayonnah.

Dr. Wayne-I think she can. If it's God's will.

The car is quiet. The ride to the hospital seems like an eternity. His rescuer is laying almost dead in an ambulance and He can't do anything but try to steer his vehicle in the right directions while trying to hold back His own tears for her. Being able to slip through a barely opened door to save Him more than warrants Him leaving Noah in charge of Heaven for the time being while He attends to this beautiful woman.

Once they arrive at the hospital she is placed on another bed with wheels and brought to the emergency room. Doctors use whatever tools necessary in near fatal situations like this. The sun is starting to come out for the day as 6am is just a few minutes away.

Needles are pressed into her delicate arms to draw the needed blood samples. At one point her heart even stops causing The Father to let oceans of tears fall from His eyes.

She checks on him by opening his bedroom door and resting her body next to his.

JoaBeth-This must slaughter you inside, my dear.

He rolls over to see her next to him on his bed.

JoaBeth-I'm here for you.

Dan-I know you are. Just hold me.

The pillow becomes damp from his tears as he can no longer hold back his feelings.

Dan-What is wrong with me? I've known her a few weeks. Why do I feel love like this for someone.

JoaBeth-Maybe seeing her in danger has brought it out of you. Maybe this one is worth your love.

Dan-What do you think of her?

JoaBeth-She's nothing like you and you're out of your mind for trying to be with someone like her. I don't know. Eleanor would try to caution you as we all would since only a few months ago you got divorced and it's a little tough to sit someone down and have to go through the whole story with them.

Dan-So do I fucking live under that shadow for the rest of my pale life? Do I let it curse my every breath to someone new? I notice that Crayonnah is nothing like me. We're from totally different ends of the universe. Something keeps telling me that she's the one and I can't leave her to find someone new and get her precious heart broken again. I don't know what to believe anymore. To believe that I should take 9 years to get over a nightmare of a marraige or to start over fresh with someone new and just kick in the doors of the dance club and find someone that makes me happy and start over with them and whatever else, but then I think to myself that I've found that person in Crayonnah. I honeslty would just miss her if I went home with someone else. Is that right? Should I be feeling that way for someone I barely know? And why am I so scared for her right now knowing that she could be dead on the side of a road right now at the hands of someone that doesn't deserve lungs in his chest to breathe. Maybe I've fallen in love with her.

JoaBeth-What do you think you should do? Are you ready for someone new? She might need every bit of your heart. Are you too damamged to give it to her to keep? You've been through a lot, my dear. My hope is that there is enough of your heart left to be able to offer it to someone as sweet as Crayonnah. Seeing that you crumbled into a puddle of tears at the first sign that you might lose her, I don't know if you seem ready to be with her in a serious way yet until you appear stronger than to let a tiny bit of gossip ruin a perfectly good date that you two could have had a couple of weeks ago. Remember that.

Dan-I do. I've replayed it over and over to the point of exhaustion and all I keep thinking about is how disappointed she was in me and I swore that I'd never want to see her again after that. Then I went out last night and there she was actually wanting to see me, I felt like the luckiest guy there. Because I sure as Hell had the prettiest girl in my arms. I felt like all the shit that has ever happened to me was suddenly made right at that moment when I held her in my arms, but then I think I don't want to burden her with my problems I should just savor the time I do spend with her and forget about all of my baggage from this person or that one and just move on and I think who better to do that with than Crayonnah?

JoaBeth-What do you want? Are you still torn?

Dan-Torn?

JoaBeth-Between her and I.

Dan-Do I have feelings for you? Did I develop them under false information. Did I do the same for her. Do I only feel this way because she's fighting for her life in a hospital or that The Father, before they left, gave me an engagement ring to give to Crayonnah? Do I feel like I've made my choice and will throw everything I have and am into being with her and breaking her losing streak and actually showing her that unlike some fucker that comes along and breaks her fragile heart I am going to race through a rainy night just to hold her for three seconds in my arms until she stops crying. I will do that for her. I could look you up in real life and sit you down and explain all the shit I heard about you to your face and ask you 'was it true' and tell you that I fucked up and believed that shit that people said, but by doing so I might lose you again for believeing it from someone else and not you. Isn't that how I almost destroyed what I could've had the night I went out with Crayonnah. What is my problem with listening to other people? I probably should have just brushed it off my shoulder like the flakes I used to have but I didn't, I took it as being the truth and I paid for it dearly. I believed that you were really as evil as those people made you out to be and then that night I believed what someone said about Crayonnah and I let it rule my world for the rest of the night. That was all I could think about as I put my head in my hands and was watching the clock countdown to when my heart would be sliced open by a razor blade and I wanted to cry in front of everyone. There I said it. I was going through everything I felt for you and why I ever did and I was thinking about Crayonnah and how perfect she is and for God's sake I didn't want to fuck that up too! Like I seem to do everytime I meet someone nice. What's the Hell is wrong with me?

JoaBeth-Nothing. You're human. These things happen. I hope you don't think you're the only one who's ever been in this frame of mind. You're mistaken if you do. I thought it was strange that all the sudden you had these feelings for me, probably since I know you, Dan. I really do. I mean your letters to me were really nice and all, but there just didn't seem to be any reason that you would come back after just seeing me to make sure I was okay. It didn't add up. Then I'd read these letters from you and the things you would say in a protective tone of voice didn't make any sense to me. Why is he doing this? Does he think something is wrong with me? Little did I know you were tricked. The people who did that to you should never be forgiven for it. We could've been married, my dear. I guess I'm the one who is torn. I'm sorry I missed out on being the one you ended up marrying. I would've cherished you from day one until we were ninety years old. We have the same blood in us, we're from the same planet, C'ila. It's nice that you've partially moved back, but I wonder again why you don't look me up in real life. Why is it easieer for you to write about me like this? Are you waiting for the right time to come to me and tell me all this stuff or have me read the last two books? Then what? Here you have this ring and will probably marry this girl and be happy and have kids and have a house on C'ila or Iley or wherever and will you just forget about me? Will you forget that I told you I loved you yesterday? Will you? I have to know if I was wasting my breath on you.

Dan-She may be my soul mate. I should be praying for her safety. Even though I know The Father is with her right now, I still think He should know that we support Him right now, and Crayonnah.

JoaBeth-Then I will call the others up and we can lay hands on you while we pray for her safety. We'll finish this later. And just so you know, I'm worried about her, too. She seems nice. I just wish that...

She walks to the door without finishing her thought and surprises him by slamming the door shut behind her. What is she thinking right now, he thinks. His thoughts remain on Crayonnah, though, laying in the hospital bed fighting for her very existance.

After a thoughtful prayer, JoaBeth insists that she and Dan ride together to the hospital to check on Crayonnah. She prepares him for the worst as they are let into her hospital room.

Not knowing weather or not she can feel his presence, Dan quietly slips the engagement ring onto Crayonnah's finger.

Now she can feel him standing at her bedside.

Crayonnah-What are you doing here?

Dan-There's something I need to ask you?

She looks over to see JoaBeth sitting in a chair beside the bed also. Watching closely.

Crayonnah-Hi JoaBeth.

JoaBeth-Hello, my friend.

Crayonnah-Dan, listen to me. I have been laying here in this bed thinking about you. I don't have much else to do here, except when Jesus comes in to visit and The Father is still here.

He reaches out to hold her hand.

Dan-What is it you need to tell me?

Crayonnah-It is true. You are my soul mate. The one Empress Alia had picked for me to be with. Is this an engagement ring that you have just put on my finger?

Dan-Yes.

Crayonnah-Why?

Dan-For you to have, for now, while your thinking about all of this. For so long I had my heart smashed into hundreds of pieces over this girl or that girl, or someone with a kid or two kids or whatever, it's time that we finally met. I sensed it all along though, that you were the one I would finally end up with, but I'm sad that much of my heart has been destroyed during my search for you. I think both of us can probably say that. So much so that we put up a guard against finding true love due to things we could not have controlled. Every relationship you get into is like starting over. I want that with you. I don't want to just kiss you and sleep with you and take advantage of your heart and then leave you after two weeks, you know. I can't do that.

Crayonnah-Then don't, but what makes you think you're any different that any other guy who comes along and gives me flowers and cards and things to make me smile, then turns around and lies to me. How can I trust you?

Dan-That's up to you.

JoaBeth-All he's saying is that he feels he's ready for this right now.

Dan-JoaBeth, there's something I want to tell Crayonnah that might be hard for you to hear.

JoaBeth-I will wait outside the room then and good luck.

Once the room door is closed, he reaches for her hand to hold, but this time she doesn't seem to want it held, which bothers him.

Dan-What's wrong?

Crayonnah-Nothing. I'm just not very romantic. We are very different. Can you deal with that? I'm not much into art or poetry or writing or really any of the things you are. How would we get along? I would think you would want to be with someone you actually share things in common with like your writing or singing or things like that. Why give your heart to someone you share very little in common with. I'm fast paced, I live for the moment, I drink a little, Hell I swear sometimes, I'm far from a perfect angel that you probably thought you were getting. I'm nothing like you were expecting me to me. Doesn't that bother you? So why come here with an engagement ring for me when all I seem to do is keep you walking on eggshels when we talk or that it's out of your way to even come see me. Would you be able to house me and buy me the things I need? Do you even have enough love in your heart for me because sometimes I will be jealous and want all of your love for myself. Will you betray me to my face? WIll you come inbetween me and my friends? Or who I dance with? Now that you have me, Dan, what are you planning to do with me?

Dan-I haven't decided that yet. We probably had high expectations for each other. For so long I went though this horrible mess to another one not realizing that I kept looking for and finding the romantic girl who cuddles and watched girly movies and holds hands with me and wants to snuggle up at night and whatever, but look where that's gotten me? Miserable. I end up trying to pull off rescue missions with women who have kids, meddling husbands or just plain heartbreakers. I have no energy for that anymore. Maybe what I need is someone who is the opposite of me. Because once we would be done with talking about poetry, and wrestling and video games, and going to the movies, what's left to talk about? If you find someone who is just like you, it sucks. You and I always manage to have these adventures and these moments together that I never thought possible. Like dancing for three hours straight, or when we got pulled over, or when we met up the first time, or when you helped me escape that crazy girl on the dancefloor. Your fun to be around and I would have to adjust my life for you, but that must mean I really like you beacuse I will do that. So what, it takes 20 min to get to you from where I work, it's alright, I can handle that. By May I hope that we have a better understanding of each other so I can find someplace for us. That's not impossible. I just want to be the one to keep you from having a broken heart again.

Crayonnah-Can I do the same for you? Will you let me?

A doctor walks into the room.

Dr. Kline-How are you feeling?

Crayonnah-Better. I am engaged now.

Dr. Kline-You've lost a lot of blood. Being thrown out of a moving vehicle isn't the most exciting thing in the world to have happen to you. Listen, we found someone with your same blood type. The only thing is she only had enough for what you needed.

Dan-You mean she gave her life to save Crayonnah? We'll who is this person so I can thank her family and invite then to our announcement of engagement.

He hands Crayonnah the chart from the blood donor.

Crayonnah-Wait a second, you said this woman gave her life for me, right? Dan look at this.

Examining the chart brings a tear to his eye. The name on the donor file is a surprise.

Crayonnah-She'll be fine once she gets to Heaven.

Dan-She must have known that it was you the whole time.

Jesus walks into the room as well.

Dan-Jesus, did you know about this?

He hands Him the clipboard.

Jesus-I did.

Dan-It must have been Eleanor's wish after getting my phone call to do something to bring me and Crayonnah together.

Jesus-Has it?

Dan-It seems that way.

Jesus-Crayonnah, how long have you known Pathri'Jen?

Crayonnah-A few months.

Jesus-And Mr. Corda'Lie?

Crayonnah-Several years. I worked for them.

Dan-Excuse me?

Jesus-She has something to tell you.

Dan-I'm not sure I want to hear this.

The door of Crayonnah's room is slammed shut, apparently forever. Walking down the hallway of the hospital he throwns a steel folding chair at a waiting room wall, breaking the window and scaring a few of the visitors.

The Father hears this and races to Dan's side.

Dan-Get out of my way!

The Father-Dan, listen!

Dan-No, you listen! You guys bring me here to Iley and have me write about the Ileys and Alia and everyone else only to keep telling me I will find my soul mate soon then I go through shit with someone with a kid, someone with two kids, someone pregnant and end up marrying her and getting my heart broken, then you have me move back home to C'ila where I love, keep me going to this danceclub and dangeling my true soul mate in front of me only for Jesus to walk in the door of her hospital room for whatever reason and in two questions shatter my whole world! Get out of my way!

The Father-Noah found the files on her. She's no angel. There's some scary stuff in there. In that woman. She's murdered two people in cold blood. Doesn't that bother you that she never told you that?

Dan-I wasn't going to tell her I was married until her friend noticed the dent in my car and the broken mirror. But why would she be dishonest?

The Father-I recieved the officers report of the accident she was in. The other two men pushed her out of the car with reason.

Dan-What do you mean?

The Father-She's not hurt as badly as you may think.

Dan-Then what of Eleanor, my great grandmother giving her life to save Crayonnah? Why?

The Father-A copy of Crayonnah's file is sitting on Eleanor's kitchen table. She must have seen it before making the decision to give her life so that you two could continue yours.

Dan-So who is that woman that saved you from Pathri'Jen in Heaven and who has made me smile everyday for the last three months. Is she a fake? Someone to distract me from my search for my one true love? Is she false hope?

The Father-She is...

Before he can finish, Dan walks back to Crayonnah's room and while she is asleep removes the engagement ring from her finger and tosses it into the wastebasket, hoping never to see it or her again. JoaBeth, who has fallen asleep in the chair by the bed, notices nothing of the last few minutes.

The Father walks in as Crayonnah begins to wake up from her nap.

Crayonnah-Wait a second, where is my ring?

The Father-He's gone.

Crayonnah-Why?

Jesus returns after asking the nuse several questions about Crayonnah's athsma, and finding out that it too was a lie.

Jesus-You worked for Pathri'Jen and Rayik and Mr. Corda'Lie. This athsma is a fake. I don't know what to say, other than you owe the two of us and Dan an explanation.

Three police officers make their way into Crayonnah's room.

Officer Zora-Miss Crayonnah Corda'Lie?

Crayonnah-Yes?

Zora-You are under arrest for deceptive practice and identity fraud.

Crayonnah-Who's identity did I assume?

Zora-That of Dan Sherrill's soul mate.

Crayonnah-I didn't know that was considered breaking the law.

Zora-Empress Alia has the keys to the city. She is his mentor and guardian.

Officer Gage signals for back up usuing his comlink. As Crayonnah reaches for her own communicator, but as she turns it on and dials a number she finds that it doesnt respond to her.

Zora-It doesn't work, Miss Corda'Lie.

Crayonnah-I had him believing that he loved me and wanted to be with me forever.

Zora-He cut off your communication to him and his team and then notified us of your evil. You're going to have to come with us.

The Father-Wait, she's hooked up to these monitors, won't it kill her.

Zora-If you go to Eleanor's, she has the file on Crayonnah. Everything's there. This is not the first time someone fell for her and believed they were falling for her, and then once they were under that belief they found out the truth. That they were dating a liar. We have sent men into town to try to round up Mr. Corda'Lie and Pathri'Jen, since someone saw all three of them leaving the club together the night she was abducted. I believe and I think the rest of my staff can agree with this is that in order to make Dan feel something for her she staged the whole thing with make up and faked injuries in attempt to rid him and the Ileys who moved here from being on C'ila.

The Father-Then why would Eleanor give her life so that a convicted killer could live?

Officer Gage-It's simple. If Crayonnah had died, Dan would have been crushed, at least now that she has the needed blood in her body, we can question her about her motives behind leading him on for four months. Eleanor must have known something was up when she made the decision to give her own life so that Crayonnah could be tried in a court as a deceptive and fraudulant woman. She did it for Dan. So he didn't put another engagement ring on someone who as it turns out, was trying to kill him, too.

Officer Zora is having no trouble at all unhooking Crayonnah from the monitoring devices that she is being kept on, since there was never any real injuries to her and since the athsma she claims to have was false as well they easily are able to restrain her enough to handcuff her and to lead her down the hall and outside where six squad cars are now parked outside the hospital. One of them also contains Pathri'Jen. Dan is also seen talking with the lead detective on the case.

Detective Robin-You're great grandmother has done a noble thing.

Dan-She has. I would've lived the rest of my life inside a lie like I seemed to whenever I was around her. I would've married her in a second if she could just be honest with me once. I halted her communication with me or the Iley and C'ila population. I feel sorry that she's going to jail for a long time, but I just can't be hurt like that again. If I try to go and let her out of my car and drop the charges I have filed against her, I would only be hurting myself in the process. It pains me since I felt so much for her.

He walks closer.

The Father-I know you did.

Dan-I'm sorry for the way I was acting with you earlier.

The Father-That's alright you were probably at a point where you didn't know what to believe.

There is a flash of light and a woman walks from the light. An Iley time door had been activated. She walks up to Dan.

Eleanor-I'm sorry that it had to come to this.

Dan-Why are you here?

Eleanor-Something about your description of her made me curious so I did something. Here feel my wrist. There's no pulse.

Dan-I know. The doctor said that you gave your life on Earth to make sure I knew the truth about Crayonnah.

Eleanor-Have you been to my house. I have her file right on my dining room table. I was reading it shortly before my heart went out of control and I had one of the women bring it to me after they put the thing in my chest to help my heart out.

Dan-You're awesome.

Eleanor-She's dangerous. I made a few calls to C'ila. She was trying to kill you. Why do you think Alia evicted Mr. Corda'Lie from C'ila as soon as you guys moved in?

Dan-Did Alia know that Crayonnah was not my soul mate?

Eleanor-No. I did though. Mr Corda'Lie is the Iley who trained Alia for the role of Empress, years and years ago.

He walks closer to the conversation.

Daniel Sr.-Eleanor, you're alright.

Eleanor-I have to get used to my new home in Heaven, and that I don't have to worry about my heart rate or pulse I can live however long I want. Besides my strength on Earth was limiting. I'm much more than that to a lot of people, especially the two of you.

Daniel Sr.-The doctor told me about Crayonnah. I read her charts. There was never anything wrong with her. That's not cool. Son, why are you crying?

Dan-I know that, Eleanor, eventually since you gave your life for this on Earth that I will have to get used to Crayoinnah and now you not being in my life except in my storybooks.

Eleanor-I know and it's going to be rough going to my funeral and my visitation and getting used to doing something else on Mondays, but just remember why all of this is happening. Add me to your list of characters and I will live forever. Earth is only temporary.

Dan-But I grew to care about Crayonnah, and now I have been informed that her affection for me was all a lie. I don't understand.

Daniel Sr.-These are all lessons we have to learn, my son. It's not anything we can see coming.

Dan-Maybe it's that I'm a nice guy and I want to rescue everyone that I see who's having problems. Then I get in over my head with someone who doesn't want to be rescued at all and all I do is get hurt in the end. Is that my destiny?

Eleanor-Of course not. I left you that file on her as homework to you. A friend of mine uptown is an investigater. His card is in the file also and on my desk in the dining room. I look out for you. Pulling a background check on someone you were dating is not too big of a production for me. I did it because I care about you, I'm just sorry you had to find out about all of this the way you did. The Father signaled to me as I was leaving my body on Earth for this new one that it was a courageous thing I was doing for not only you but the mission here.

Dan-Then why is it homework?

Eleanor-Read all of it. You'll understand. There is plenty of good inside her.

Daniel Sr.-Son, what is a soul mate?

Dan-The one I'm meant for, isn't it?

Daniel Sr.-If you believe that. Why would there only be one person out there for you? It doesn't seem right to think about it that way. Maybe this girl was right for you, but just not at this time in her life. Wait until she gets cleaned up and is a little older. She may regret lying to you, if that's what you think she did, and find her in a couple of years then marry her right under the nose of these fuckers who tried to separate you. Or on the other hand maybe it's JoaBeth. Or maybe it's the girl with the blonde hair who read your other story. You know the one you think is so beautiful, you know the girl you went to lunch with and talked to about Crayonnah. Or maybe it's the one you based Coreen on. You don't know. It could be the girl you started Wooden Box Theater with. But you don't know. You just are suppsed to go through these adventures to really see who or what you're looking for. It's not someones place to tell you that there's only one person out there for you. That's ridiculous.

Officer Zora-Dan, are you sure you still want to press charges and have this woman booked down at the station.

Dan-Yes I do.

The officer signals to the driver of the cars Pathri'Jen and Crayonnah to lead the way to the C'ila police station.

Dan-Is there still good in her?

As his father is thinking of something to say to his quesiton, huge tears fall from Dan's eye over a woman he cares for so much.

Dan-At least I have three months of happiness to thank her for. She cheered me up after my divorce, whoever she was. Maybe her name is something else and not Crayonnah. I don't know what to call her except someone I grew to love and obviously feel something for even though what I knew of her was a lie.

It is midnight, JoaBeth has made her way home after missing much of the excitement due to her sleeping in the chair in Crayonnah's room. Rayik was trying to contact her again. She has defeated him.

The jail is cold and awful smelling. She has barely a bed and a sink and a few things to eat.

She does recieve a visitor at 2am. He walks bravely into the cell corridoor and stops at her cell with a leter he had thought to write for her. Just in case he never saw her again.

She reads to herself.

Crayonnah,

I just want you to know that I am not sure how it happened but I have fallen deeply in love with you. I know it's been a short time but it has been filled with precious adventures and beautiful moments with you and I love every split second I am around you.

If I never see you again and today is the last time we will ever see each other i have three very cool months with you to keep to myself and to always remember you as the sweetest most beautiful girl in the world.

Im not used to seeing you drunk. I didnt know what to believe. Its hard when I don't drink and I see someone I care about so much acting like you did. I went to your house like you told me to and waited..till 7am for you. Because i was so scared for you and worried that you were drunk and worried that something bad might happen to you.

I heard and read some things that i am not ready to believe about you. Thats what made me turn off our communicator, but i also realize that they dont know about a lot of our conversations and a lot of the incredible moments we have shared together.

Even if you were dishonest with me like everyone said and even if you lied to me about everything like they said, it doesnt matter to me because the only one i want to believe is you.

I don't understand why you would be upset when I kept coming over to the table and wanting to know if you were okay it just shows that I love you. Maybe the next guy wont care about you so much and just let you get in trouble or in an accident or worse, but i do care about you. I always have.

Do you remember me telling you that I loved you on saturday? well i did. it just slipped out. But after I said I was glad I did.

I dont want a relationship that is based on gossip or meddling friends trying to ruin it. I just want to be with you and have what we say stay between us and not 9 or ten other people.

I will always love and care about you, either call me or email me even if you dont ever want to see me again. I have to know either way.

Dan

She looks up from the letter wondering why he would include it almost in it's entirety in his storybook.

Dan-So that someday when I'm famous and you pick up a copy of this, you will remember how deeply I felt for you. I know including this doesn't really go with the story because those things really actually happened to us and to anyone reading this who may not know what I'm talking about by saying I waited for you or that someone at the club thought he would impress me by getting in my face about meeting you. I am pressing serious criminal charges against you for betraying me and lying to me, but down deep I could drop the charges at any moment if you would just break down and tell me the truth. Is it too scary for me to hear? Do you have a boyfriend right now as I sit here. Did you always have one as long as we have known each other? Did you make up everything you told me? Then why? What the Hell did I ever do to deserve being treated like a punching bag that you could just bring to life then beat to a bloody pulp at will. Every part of me wants to see you hung for what you've done to me so I can live knowing that no other guy is going to go through the shit I went through for you only to have his heart ripped to sheds at the end of the day for caring about what the Hell happens to you. I don't wish that on anyone.

Crayonnah-Are we still engaged?

It comes over him again. A table and chair set is overturned and a glass of water is smashed into a nearby wall. The guard notices the violence and walks to check on Dan.

Dan-What the Hell do you think? And don't try to give me a hug or talk to me right now, but I don't want to leave. I'd rather cry in front of your face so you can see how hurt I am right now and how much I want to tell the guard to drop the charges and for me to just whisk you away from here so we can be together forever like I wanted to from day one. When I rescued you from your ex. Remember that? Huh? Didn't that mean shit to you? Why me? Why the Hell pick me to save you then you go out of your way to be nice to me and all the while you were plotting to butcher my heart right out of my chest. I don't understand. Is it because I listened to what your friend had to say when she has twice now tried to separate us? Is it because I don't drive around and rattle off hip hop slang or drive a souped up $100,000 car, is it because I don't wear sports jerseys or is it because I won't beat a woman with a baseball bat and make her eyes bleed? Well then I'm sorry I must not fit what your looking for. I'm a nice person who cares about the woman I have fallen in love with. I come from a strong willed family. And no having someone get in my face whose drunk and telling me to stay away from you does not impress me. They obviously didn't realize that I knew all the waitresses, the bouncers and the owners like family. And that I'm a writer. But that's not as important as seeing you here now. I love you, Crayonnah.

Crayonnah-What do you think of me now?

Dan-I'm trying not to.

And he walks away to ask the guard to let him out of the jail. As she hears the door slam shut she begins to cry. Loud. She tries to use her communicator but remembers that because of her lies, it has been turned off. Then she remembers the angel statue he had bought for her and the CD he made for her and the copy of 'Crash Through Split Fragments' he made for her. And the fact that at least one person in her family thought he was nice, even if she didn't.

Another visitor is present, but this time the guard doesn't have to open the door for her. She appears to have come from out of nowhere.

Eleanor-Listen, I'm his great grandmother.

Crayonnah-He said you passed away in your sleep.

Eleanor-I did.

Crayonnah-How are you here?

Eleanor-I have powerful friends.

Crayonnah-Why are you here?

Eleanor-I've seen your files. Wow. Murder charges. For stotyboook's sake I'll say murder charges because it goes with the plot line, but you know what I mean. Well, it's not glamourous. My great grandson wouldn't hold it against you, I know that much. I won't either. We all screw up sometimes. Why don't your friends like him? Probably because you two are from two differen't backgrounds and ways of thinking. Would you rather have someone slap you across the face or someone to sit there and adore you with every drop of love in his heart? That one is up to you. The times you spent together was he mean to you? Was he pissed off at your precious face? How was it?

Crayonnah-He treated me like a princess. I've never had that. I guess I couldn't get used to it. It's hard to go from one extreme to another so quickly. I've been hurt, too you know. If you read my files you know what I've been through.

Eleanor-If I knew that you loved Dan I would have all of it erased and you would be rid of whatever trouble you were in. There are ways of doing that. Dan is no saint either, he's been through a lot. If you didn't like him you wouldn't want him around you. Do you want him around you?

Crayonnah-I don't know. He threw a glass of water a few minutes ago and broke it when I tried to reason with him. They said he smashed a windown with a chair at the hospital after Jesus asked me about my affiliation with Mr. Corda'Lie. Maybe he and I just need time to cool off.

Eleanor-He has to be alert for my visitation tomorrow afternoon. He asked you to go, didn't he?

Crayonnah-He did. What have I done to him?

Eleanor-That's something you have to come to a conclusion about on your own. But he did tell me he was falling in love with you. Take that however you choose but as long as I can remember that usually is a good thing when you find someone who is genuine enough to say something like that.

Crayonnah-So should I stay here in jail and wait for him to come around and forgive me?

Eleanor-He's not going to do that. Overnight I mean. Give it a couple of weeks. He never stays mad for that long. Keep the phone close to you and he'll call you when you least expect it and see if you still want to see each other. The thing about lying to someone is that you never know if that person was truthfully meant for you or if they are one of the bad ones who want to screw you and then leave you crying. Dan just happened to be one of the ones tthat was truthfully out to cherish your beautiful heart. When he called me a month ago he said he screwed up and when he told me about you guys going to a club and him being depressed about something he was so worried that he had lost you for good even back then beacuse he claimed to have found the girl of his dreams. I wonder then how you could continue to be dishonest with him? It doesn't make sense to me, but then again I haven't been a resident of Heaven long enough to figure out the projector so I can look over the footage of your dates together, when it was just you and Dan. Focus on that for a minute. Did you have fun together. That was the night that I passed away in my sleep. It must have been beautiful. I will watch the footage of it later tonight before bed to see eactly why he fell for you.

Crayonnah-It was nice, except for someone fighting at the club we went to. Then we got lost and he bought me something to eat and paid for my way in and my drink, and we danced a little bit. He told some girl that was dancing with him that he and I were engaged, which I think must have been shortly after he wrote that part for me in this story. Even when we got pulled over for his liscene plate light being burned out he still never lost his temper or anything, we just kind of kept driving. He took such good care of me. When it's just him and I he tells me things like how beautiful I am and that wherever we go I am always the most beautiful girl. He makes me feel special. I don't know what it is, maybe opposites attract.

Eleanor-I'm anxious to see the look on his face in the footage from when you fell asleep in his car while you guys were coming home. I want to study the moment he looked over and realized that you were sleeping.

Crayonnah-Why?

Eleanor-Because, it will tell me if you're worth the love in his heart. You know he went through a divorce. What a fucking nightmare that was. Then he finds you and he's happy again. For whatever reason I owe you a great debt that under whatever circumstances it happened you saved his life just like you saved The Father's life in Heaven earlier in the story. He must have thought the world of you and listen to me he said something that made everything better to me. He said that after the trouble at the 70's dance club and the DUI he almost got that night and all that, one night after he was out next door to the C'ila and Iley base and you walked up and gave him a hug and he said he didn't know if you wanted to see or talk to him again, he was trying to put you out of his heart even then, but what surprised me and what set you apart from his ex wife is that you actually, with no help, walked up to him and gave him a hug and wanted to start over fresh. That's not something a best friend or someone else hoping to meddle in your plans with him can understand. It's like sitting Dan down and saying 'tell me everything you know about Crayonnah in five minutes' it can't be done. He could say your name and read off your adventures and the songs you grind danced to at the club, but the things he will remember most are the moments like him looking over at you in his car and seeing you with the seat down sleeping like a baby right next to him, with your eyes closed and dreaming knowing that when she woke up you two, no matter how lost you were, would be at her house and he would want to hold you in his arms for even just a few short seconds and cherish even that much from you. Beacause he does truly love you.

Crayonnah-And I love him dearly.

Dan is asleep when a knock is heard on his bedroom door.

Daniel Sr.-I couldn't sleep. The visitation will be hard tomorrow, or today as I should say. I came up here since someone sent you flowers they must have been sitting there for a as long as this story has been being written.

Dan-There's a card, let's see.

Danny,

Use these for my casket, just remember that in your stories and in your thoughts I am going to keep on living forever, like you all tell me I am going to do. I'm sending these to you early as I know that they will make you feel better and maybe make you feel like Crayonnah sent them to you. I am about to do something for you that will make you glad I am your great grandmother. I am going to open your eyes about something you probably don't want to know about yet, but just be patient with her and do not under any circumstances close the door on her forever. There is still a lot of good inside her heart for you to discover but do not let on to anyone of the precious moments that the two of you have shared, it may be held against you by people who claim to be her friend, when in reality you are all she has right now. If you leave her, she will have no one. There is a file on my dining room table. Read it carefully and don't hold it agianst her in the future. Just be glad you found someone who makes you happy.

Eleanor

Daniel Sr.-So she knew all along.

Dan-I am starting to think so.

The next night at the visitation for Eleanor on Earth, people come and go as Dan and his father attempt ro keep their continued contact with her a secret, for now. Making sure that the flowers she had sent him be included and placed on her casket puts a smile on Dan's face as now she becomes more powerful in the afterlife within the pages of his stories and thoughts.

Pastor Kyle-You have a phone call, Danny.

He walks to a secluded office and answers the call.

Warden Palla-Dan Sherrill?

Dan-Yes?

Warden-She's been up all night.

Dan-Crayonnah Corda'Lie.

Warden-Here, I'm giving her the phone.

Crayonnah-Dan? I'm sorry I couldn't be there like I promised you I would. Do you have anyone to talk to?

Dan-My aunt was here. My father is here. Did Eleanor visit you?

Crayonnah-She did. She was tired but long winded. She had a lot to say about you. And me. Now I know what kind of a family I'd be getting myself into if I had accepted your ring. Why did you take it off me? When we had such a good time at the club that thursday and the thursday before and the saturday with the band at the other club. Why? That broke my heart. The way you threw that chair into the window of the hospital waiting room. That broke my heart. The way you broke the glass and caused a scene here. That broke my heart. I'm not used to anyone caring about me like you have gone out of your way to do.

Pastor Kyle-Sir, I need to get everyone together to say a prayer before you guys go to dinner. Are you okay, Danny, you look like your going to cry at any minute.

Dan-It's okay, a member of the family is in jail tonight.

Hearing him say that, she completely breaks down and cries. Even after lying to him and making herself look better than she was and admitting love for him to his now eternal great grandmother, she can't help but cry at this most emotional moment.

Pastor Kyle-I can hold off for a few minutes, just make it quick okay?

Dan-I will.

Crayonnah(Crying)-Why did you call me 'a member of your family'?

Dan-Beacuse I love you.

Crayonnah-After everything me and my friends have done to you. You still love me. What's it going to be like the next time I see you though. Will you pretend that I'm not there and dance with someone else?

Dan-It's up to you. I'll wait on you to come up and talk to me. And if you want to dance, I'll dance with you. If you want to talk, then I'll talk. If you want a husband, I'll marry you. I told you I was writing you a letter to give to you, and this is it. This whole damned story has been about you because you are all I can think about right now, when I should be cursing your name for what you have done to me, I can't seem to do that to you beacuse of what we've been through together and how much I want to be with you forever, Crayonnah. You make me so happy.

Crayonnah-But you won't drop the charges against me. They're going to keep me here for a long time, Dan.

Dan-I can't let you out. I'm sorry. I have my heart to protect here.

Crayonnah-I'm probably the last person you feel like you can trust right now, and I know that. Well, wait till you see the 'real' me the next time and see if you still want me in jail for the theft I committed on you.

He hangs the phone up and walks back into the group of people surrounding Eleanor's open casket. The next woman who walks with him to the sight of her resting body causes him to break down and cry in her arms. For not only the loss of his great grandmother on Earth but also the temporary loss of the woman who held onto his heart for dear life, and has left a great scar on it then even the one he had married and divorced months before meeting her.

He walks back toward his father as his friend leaves and meets back up with her own boyfriend.

Daniel Sr.-You miss Crayonnah, don't you?

At a few minutes before 8pm JoaBeth herself visits Crayonnah in jail.

JoaBeth-Someone gave him my number that night. I didn't have any idea about it. Only it was an old number and shortly after he tried to call you from the payphone near your house at like 8am he tried the one he was given but it didn't work either. I'm sorry. He would've confided with me and made me his sweetest for Sweetest Day instead of you. Damn you. Or damn the woman who gave him the worng number. Or damn me for changing my number and not telling her. A waitress at the club, if it means anything to you, said he was a complete scared mess when you and your friends left. She was the one who told him to worry about you. She told him to drive by your house to make sure you got home okay. And I bet he waited for you?

Crayonnah-From what I understand, all night long.

JoaBeth-Damn you.

Crayonnah-What have I done?

JoaBeth-Since he still hasn't dropped the identity theft charges, it seems that you have cracked open his heart and poured all the blood out of it onto the pavement. It's up to you weather or not you want to mend his heart or wipe the blood up with paper towels and throw it away. When I hear things like this I tend to think your goal has been to murder him the whole time.

Crayonnah-Then don't listen to my friends. Listen to me. Why does everyone think I'm helpless? When you drink you get stiupid, it's a fact of life. Then the booze starts talking for me.

JoaBeth-Did you tell him to meet you after the club when you were sober then? How would he ever know what to believe?

Crayonnah-I don't know. I don't know anymore. I wish he was here so I could talk to him but I already called him and he's still with his family at Eleanors visitation, and I wish he would drop the charges against me so I can get out of jail. Do you think he loves me? Even after all of this?

JoaBeth-The waitress said he was so scared for you. Why else would he be if he didn't love you? He was mad for a little bit about the person who thought he could impress Dan by acting a fool, but then he got worried. Worried that he was the only one in the world you truly understands you, and hoping the parasites that were trying to get to you were unsuccessful and that you'd look at him in whatever shape you were in and smile at him when he told you he loved you on the dancefloor. She said he had her stay after work even thought she, too, was drinking, because he was almost in tears to see if this kind of behavior is normal for someone who drinks and they talked about this. And he said you were worth it. So he drove to your house and you were nowhere to be found. Damn you. At least you can't go anywhere and break anyone elses heart from where you are at. I hope you are as great as he says you are though. I'd like to see my soul mate happy for a change.

Crayonnah-Wait a second. What did you just say?

JoaBeth-I might be single. In real life. You never know. You got to wonder why just after you hung up on him on the payphone that he was so quick to try to call me, correct number or not, you have to wonder.

Crayonnah-Damn you, this time.

JoaBeth-You won't be going anywhere for a while. And neither is Mr. Corda'Lie. Or Pathri'Jen.

With that JoaBeth spits on the bars of Crayonnah's cell, laughing to herself as the guard lets her out of the cellblock.

Just then the guard closes the door after JoaBeth leaves, walks back toward Crayonnah and removes a mask.

Alia-Just keep this up for a little longer. He'll come along sooner or later. It could be when you're 25 or 30 or whatever, but sooner or later you and Dan will be together. I would say give the middle finger to anyone disagreeing with that theory. Only having one planned specific soul mate would be ridiculous just as Daniel Sr. said earlier in the story. He'll come around, I promise.

Crayonnah-We just need some time to cool off. A lot has happened. When we were apart before after what happened with him being pulled over and us arguing those two days, and I saw him, I really truly wanted to make things better. I just need to analyze why exactly it was that I took the angel he bought me and put it on my computer desk. Then I'll know who I belong with. Forever.

The End.

Black Eyed Peas - Shut Up

In Memory of Eleanor Gerloff

Continue to 'Mission to Glory Book 3-Do you like to slow dance?

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