All comments are welcome, I can be reached at tklein@iname.com

Chapter 3

One clear blue eye popped open and took in the unfamiliar surroundings. The pre-dawn haze was streaming through the wooden blinds that covered the foreign wall of windows and a light but steady rain could be heard. As Amos' other eye opened the events of the previous night came flooding back. A tiny smile found its way onto her lips, she couldn't believe that she had opened herself up to Emma like that, but she was extremely glad that she had. Now came the truly hard part, seeing if Emma would stick by her when she learned of all her horrible crimes, and to see if Amos could convince herself that she could have a friend without hurting them in some way.

Amos soon became aware of a slight warm pressure resting on her stomach and a constant yet soft rumble. She looked down her body to be greeted with the sight of a comfortably snoozing Argo curled up on her belly in a tight fluffy ball. She couldn't help but chuckle which woke Argo from her content slumber. She made a disgusted little meow and climbed down and headed for the kitchen to await breakfast, tail twitching regally in the air. Amos had always loved animals, and the almost human-like quality of Argo's expressions and attitude was very amusing. Amos sat up and quietly pulled her flannel shirt back on. She looked at the watch that Sal had given her and watched it tick by two minutes bringing the time to ten till five. As quietly as possible Amos crept over to Emma's desk and picked up the cordless phone that was laying in amidst the organized chaos and dialed the number to see if work would be canceled due to the weather. On the third ring the answering service picked up and informed her that work would not be stopped, they would work through the rain in a effort to keep the project on time. This was very disappointing, Amos had so hoped that she could have the day free to spend with Emma. She made her way back over to the couch and folded up the afghan placing it back on the chair Emma had taken it from and sat down finding the TV remote laying on the end table next to the sofa. Amos flipped on the TV and quickly pressed the mute button drowning out the sound not wanting to wake the beautiful blond sleeping up in the loft. She began flipping through Emma's 150 channels finally settling on an early morning movie on AMC.

As she stared at the black and white picture of 'The Great Kate' and Spencer Tracy, Amos wondered if she should wake Emma and tell her she had to get to work or just leave a note or just leave. She figured it would probably be a bad idea to just up and leave so she had to debate between waking her new friend or writing a little note. As Amos debated this out in her head something in a corner under the stairs caught her eye. Leaning there was an old dusty acoustic guitar. Amos strode over and picked it up softly tuning the badly out of tune strings on her way over to look out the windows. She began lightly strumming out a tune as soon as she had the strings tuned right. Her amazingly beautiful voice began mixing with the slow, sad tune.

There was something tugging at the corner of Emma's brain telling her to wake up. Finally her eyes grudgingly slid open and her ears fully understood that there was soft music coming from somewhere in her apartment. As soon as she heard a voice mix with the chords she sat bolt upright in bed, got up and walked to the top of her stairs amazed to see Amos standing by her windows strumming the old guitar she had bought at a flea market and singing. Then the words captured her attention and she sat down on the top step to listen unobserved.

Emma sat there with her mouth wide open as the last of the chords faded. She had never heard such a beautiful song or such a exquisite voice. She could not remember hearing the song on the radio at any time. By the way it just flowed out of Amos mouth it was a sure bet that she had written it. Watching the ex-con's expressions reflected in the rain splattered window Emma knew this simple yet complex set of lyrics had a heavy meaning for Amos.

Amos stood there staring out the window for a few moments after she had finished her song. She had written that song shortly after her imprisonment before the warden saw fit to take away the inmates access to musical instruments. Music had been such a wonderful escape for Amos, and Desdemona had quickly realized that and taken away every instrument that the prison had been given. She heaved a heavy sigh as she realized that the words she had written as a twenty-two year old kid still held so much meaning for her at twenty-nine. Eight years ago she had started running from the monster that slept inside her and she was still running to this day. She was becoming exhausted. Only difference today was that she had learned that running towards and actually catching that innocent kid she had been before her downward spiral was impossible. She started playing another little tune that she had written so long ago, it was just instrumental, no words. About halfway! into the ditty, no longer caught up in lyrics, Amos felt as if she was being watched. She slowly turned around never stopping her playing and was immediately caught up in a sea of emerald that looked down upon her from the top of the loft stairs. Her hands stopped and the music faded away, Amos wondered how long Emma had been sitting there listening. Had she heard that song, would she even understand what it meant if she had? She would get her answer soon enough as Emma stood and started walking down the stairs.

Emma smiled an open and reassuring smile as she approached Amos. She could see the doubt and apprehension in those pools of liquid blue. When she was close enough she cautiously reached out a hand a placed it on Amos' forearm. She could feel the tight muscles trembling under the bronze skin. There was also something more in the touch, a wonderful tingling sensation, almost like electricity passing between them. Emma figured she had better be honest with Amos and let her know that she had heard her singing. "You have a lovely voice Amos. Did you write that song yourself?" Emma hoped with all her heart that the tentative ex-con would not completely withdraw at her intrusion. She was now kicking herself for not making her presence known sooner.

"Um...." Amos looked down at her boots trying to gain her trademark emotionless mask, but she found it extremely hard to accomplish with Emma present. "yeah, I wrote it sometime during my second year in prison....before the warden took all instruments away." When she looked up she had achieved a partial mask, hiding the more powerful feelings that were rolling through her. This woman's touch alone put Amos at peace while at the same time ignited a fire in her that had never been equaled. "I wrote a lot that year...."

Emma was jumping for joy inside. Amos wasn't closing off and that was enough to send waves of delight through the small author. She could still see the storms raging in the ex-con's pure blue eyes, but this was a start. She squeezed Amos' forearm where her hand was still resting and headed into the kitchen and was immediately bombarded with insistent meows form Argo. "Okay, okay, give me a minute, guests first Argo you know that. Can I interest you in some breakfast Amos?"

"Actually I should probably be headed off to work........" She was cut of by Emma's outraged voice.

Emma felt a streak of protection for this woman arise in her when she heard Amos mention going to work. "Are you nuts, they can't possibly expect you to work out in the rain. That's outrageous, you could catch a cold out in that rain. It's no doubt cold with the way this wacky weather has been lately. Sweltering one day with cold rain the next. Not to mention there's probably a great risk of someone losing control and plowing their car right into your work area. That's just plain dangerous! You could be seriously hurt."

Amos was both amused and touched by Emma's concern. She looked so cute standing there in her PJ's, disheveled hair and all, ranting and raving. No one had ever shown such caring for her after knowing her for such a short time. In fact, no one who knew her well ever really showed much interest in her well-being. "They don't want the project falling behind anymore than it already is. I called and checked our answering service, I have to go in." Amos shrugged her shoulders, there was no way around her having to work today, no matter how much she wanted to stay right where she was and get to know Emma better. She didn't know why but she was quickly developing a need to be around this woman.

"Well then the least you can do is let me fix you a big breakfast and send you off with a thermos of steaming coffee." Emma put a big smile on her face. She got a real kick out of cooking for others. She had taken the time to learn the craft from their family cook during her pampered upbringing. To say that her mother was mortified that her eldest wanted to learn to do a servants task was putting it mildly. "Now...what do you like in your omelets?"

Amos couldn't help but mirror Emma's smile as she took a seat at one of the bar stools that sat at the kitchen's island. She kept close tabs on the clock as she watched Emma prepare the food and while they were eating. Silence prevailed, but it was once again that comfortable silence that they had developed between them last evening. When six o'clock rolled around Amos knew she had to get going and she reluctantly told Emma good bye leaving her with the phone number and address of her little apartment over Sal's shop.

After Amos had left Emma took a quick shower, got dressed and sat down at her computers as ideas for her novel overflowed from her mind. Somehow being around the enigmatic ex-con had gotten her creative streak rolling again. Even though her mind kept slipping to thoughts of Amos, and she was planning to surprise her by showing up at the site with lunch, her ideas had never been clearer. She spent half the morning in a typing frenzy until a loud knock at her door startled her. She looked down at Argo who was sleeping at her feet and cocked an eyebrow. She wasn't expecting any company. She quickly saved her work and stood with a disgruntled sigh and headed for the door. She stood on her tip toes and peered through the peep hole unable to stifle the curse that left her mouth. "Shit, what's he doing here.........?" Emma put a fake smile of tolerance on her face and opened the door as the manners that had practically been beaten into her dictated! .

Standing there with a smug smile on his face was George. Dressed in a blue three piece suit with a different monogrammed tie. "Morning Emma, I was just on my way to the office and thought I'd drop by to say 'hi'" He rudely pushed passed her and received a massive growl and hiss from Argo who was crouched in a defensive position every hair on end. "Really Emma, you should train that animal."

Morning, hardly Em thought, it was nearly 11:30. Emma knew that George would never just stop by to say 'hi.' He hadn't stopped in to just say 'hi' in years. He was up to something and she didn't like the feeling she was getting in the pit of her stomach. "George, she is a cat, they don't train well. Anyway, she likes me and that's all that really matters." In the back of Emma's mind though she relished the thought that Argo also liked Amos, and that was starting to matter a great deal. "Did you want something George? I'm kind of in the middle of some work.........."

"Oh Emma, can't I just pop in to see you." Seeing the doubting look on her face he decided it was best to get to the real reason of why he'd dropped by. "Okay....I see that you see right through me so I'll cut to the chase. Your sister called me." A impudent grin appeared on his lips and Emma knew that that meant George thought he had some great bomb of information to lay on her or an 'order' he expected her to follow. "She told me about your little dinner date last night with that degenerate of society. I forbid you to see her Emma, ex-convicts are dangerous. Especially one's who were convicted of murder, thirty-seven counts of it no less."

Emma was outraged that George would come in here, to her home, and try and tell her who to be friends with. "WHO are you to judge her! You don't even know her!" She just let it go, no sense in trying to hide her anger, it was about time someone got to be on the receiving end of all the frustration and anger that she had festering inside. "GET OUT......get out of my apartment now!!!"

George steeped back a few paces put off by Emma's uncharacteristic outburst of anger. He soon regained his cocky attitude though. "Why Emma dear if I didn't know better I'd think you were developing 'feelings' for this woman. And as for me not knowing her, neither do you Emma. You've had dinner with her once, how could you possibly know a person after one dinner date."

Emma knew exactly what George meant by feelings and didn't like the direction this conversation was going. As luck would have it though, her neighbor from across the hall, Fergus Haley, had heard her yelling and opened his door. He strode across to her door and peered in. "Emma? Is everything all right?" Fergus was a large man, a professional body builder who was a state champion five times over. He was also a very sweet and caring guy who looked out for Emma whenever possible. He knew how shy she could be and that her cat and the people in the building seemed to be her only friends. He eyed the well dressed and all to audacious George with apprehension and just the right amount of menace.

Emma smiled gratefully up at Fergus glad that he was home and heard her outburst. He really was the sweetest guy, but if you didn't know him he was very intimidating. Standing a towering six foot four and all muscle he dwarfed the very average looking George. "Yes Fergus, everything is fine, I was just asking George here to 'please' leave." Seeing Emma's welcoming smile Fergus steeped into her dwelling intimidating George further.

The rich playboy made for the door but before leaving sent his final searing comment towards Emma. "This isn't over Em, I will not have you hanging around a depraved person such as Amos Duncan." With that he left her home the door slamming loudly after his retreating form.

Fergus walked over to Emma and placed a strong hand on her shoulder. "Are you sure you're okay Emma? Who was that guy and what was he talking about?" The body builder had noticed that Emma had had a guest the previous night and was extremely happy for her. He knew she felt like she really didn't fit in anywhere and couldn't relate to most people so seeing her with a new friend was a wonderful site.

Em looked gratefully up at Fergus, having to crain her neck being that he was an entire foot taller than her. "I'm fine Fergus, really, but thank you for showing up." She motioned for him to follower her to the kitchen and poured two cups of coffee. "That presumptuous bastard whom you just scared away..." Em couldn't help but giggle at the sincerely innocent look Fergus gave her at that statement. "....is George Nolan, my former High School beau. He still seems to think that he has some claim on me, even though I broke it off with him our senior year." Emma sighed as she sipped her coffee, swishing it around to get the cream move evenly distributed. "We used to be really good friends, but...." She shrugged her shoulders at an uncharacteristic loss for words.

"Um...I'm assuming the person he was referring to, the one he doesn't want you to see, is the woman who left here this morning?" Fergus loved talking to the petite author but couldn't help but feel he was prying a little when a light blush colored her cheeks. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry. Don't answer that if you don't want to."

Emma smiled at Fergus and reached across the counter they were sitting at to pat his hand. "Oh no...you're not prying Fergus, I'm just....well I guess it's just a new experience for me to be getting to know someone out side the building." As Em began telling her neighbor about Amos she was practically beaming. "Oh Fergus, Amos is such a wonderful person. She's so gentle yet troubled, I can just tell she's a really good person deep down. I don't know why but I feel this deep connection with her, a pulling want...no NEED...to get to know her and help her, and make her part of my life." She looked up to see Fergus smiling down at her. "What?"

"Emma, you should see yourself, you're practically beaming. I haven't seen you this happy since you finished your last novel." It was true, Fergus and Emma often ran into each other being that they lived across the hall form one another. The body builder had noticed that she had seemed to fall into a slight 'funk', for lack of a better word, over the last few weeks since ending one novel and beginning another. After a few short conversations with her during this time he had logically deduced that it was a lack of a close companion that was causing her down mood. "Have you found your 'one' Em?" He couldn't help but bring this up. He leaned back with a subtle smirk plastered across his lips.

"You remember that conversation?" Emma looked at her hands and grinned sheepishly while searching for the words she needed. "I....I don't know, but I think I have." It took her friend mentioning it for Emma place the giddy feelings she had around Amos with her quest for a 'best friend.' "You know I never really had any friends in school not counting my sister and George, and I certainly didn't have a best friend. I really don't have anything to gauge this by." The prospect of Amos being her 'one' put her need to know the ex-con on a whole new level. "I just know that when I'm around her I....I feel happy, and safe and protected. Almost like we belong together. There's even...um....it's almost like electricity passing between us when I touch her. Does that make any sense, or am I just completely loosing it?" She look almost desperately up at Fergus for some confirmation that she wasn't loosing her mind.

He smiled at her and reached out to pat her cheek. "No Emma, your not loosing your mind. It sounds to me like......" He gentled his tone not wanting to totally knock her over with this. "you're falling in love." At her wide eyed look he went on to explain. "Everything you have just said reminds me of when I first met my Daria." Daria, Fergus' wife, had been killed a few years before Emma had even met the kind hearted 'giant.' Daria, and their three kids were cold heatedly rundown in a hit and run car accident. It was confirmed that the other driver had been drunk when she was captured a few blocks away after wrapping her car around a tree. "When I was with her I felt all those things you just described, and as we grew to know each other we felt so much more. Emma...trust me on this one, hang on to this Amos, I have a feeling she's going to become very special to you." He walked around the kitchen island that s! eparated them and wrapped her in a huge bear hug then rinsed out his coffee cup. Fergus thought of Emma as the little sister he never had and only wanted to see her happy. "Well now, I see you've got some lunch fixings laying out here, care for a hand."

Emma gave Fergus one of her biggest and brightest smiles as she walked up to him and gave him another hug. You wouldn't know it to look at him, but her really was great at helping people to work through what was troubling them. "Thanks again Fergus, I do so love getting your sane and sound advice. Now as for whether I could use a helping hand, sure. I...." She looked down at her feet bashfully. "I thought I'd surprise Amos at work with some lunch, that's why I have all this out." When she looked back up there was a huge knowing smile on her neighbor's face and she couldn't help the hot blush that rose to her cheeks.

"See, what did I tell you, it's love. You always feed the one's you love. Daria was practically my career downfall, stuffing me with all her wonderful cooking during our courtship." They both stood at the counter and made three of the biggest subs ever known to man. Emma packed the subs as well as some chips and two cans of soda into a cooler which she set in the fridge until she was ready to head up to the financial district. It had been very easy for her to find out when Amos' lunch time was. All she had to do was hit redial on her phone and she was connected with 'construction central.' After a little quick talk with the foreman, a nice man named Abe, she knew exactly what time Amos would be let off for her forty-five minute lunch period. When she was ready to go Fergus walked down to her car with her just in case slimy boy George had stuck around. By this time the rain had stopped and sun was streaming down making it extremely sizzling ou! t. As she watched the body builder waving goodbye in her rear view mirror she couldn't help but run the previous conversation between them through her mind. A tiny smile edged its way onto her face as she hit the main drag on her way to surprise her wonderful new friend. Someone she hoped would soon become much more.

Amos arrived on site ten minutes early, and spent that time enjoying the last of the coffee from the thermos that Emma had insisted she take. Abe walked up to where she was sitting under one of the many office building overhangs and plopped down next to her. He noticed right away that she seemed more at ease today than she had since he first met her. "Mornin' Amos, have a nice evenin'?" He caught a glimpse of a quickly hidden smile that quirked onto Amos' lips.

Amos jumped a bit, she didn't even notice that Abe had sat down next to her. "Um....yeah, had a good evening." They both sat there in silence watching the dreary drizzle. It was going to be a miserable day working, even if the weather cleared. The area where they would be clearing was already partially flooded and the area that they had cleared the day before was completely flooded. Amos and her fellow diggers would be standing in water that would come practically up to their knees most of the day. It was rather unfair that the diggers had to work today. All the guys and gals who worked the tar and paint trucks got a free day, it was impossible for their jobs to be done in the rain, or even if it was a little bit wet out.

As the rest of the crew scraggled in Abe stood up slapping his thighs. He turned to Amos and noticed she seemed to be off in her own little world again. He shrugged his shoulders not knowing what had put the woman in such a state but glad that she didn't have those awful waves of tension and anger washing off of her today. He moved over to the main truck and jumped up on the bumper. "All right everyone, lets get this show on the road!" He hopped down with a splash, listening to all the grumbling coming from his workers. He had spent most of the morning arguing with Mr. Gunnar, trying to make him see that working in the rain would not necessarily keep the project on time. If anything it could make things worse. Due to the miserable conditions employees could get sloppy and they might end up with a lot of work that would have to be redone. But, as usual, Gunnar didn't listen and here they all were.

Amos quickly stowed her thermos in one of the trucks and grabbed up a shovel. Heaving a large sigh she stepped out into the rain and raised her face skyward for a few moments, the cool rain stinging her warm skin. No matter what the weather it could not take away the small feeling of peace that had edged its way into her heart. Without her even realizing it Amos had let the beguiling little author start to tear down some of her eleven year old and carefully constructed walls. She somehow knew that this one small feeling of peace was the first crack that would lead to the complete shattering of those walls. She couldn't help but wonder if she would be able to survive the tearing down. And if she did survive, would she be able to function. These were all contemplations that would have to wait for another time and another place, she had work to do right now. For the first time since starting this job Amos couldn't wait for her daily work to be done so she ! could return to her lonely one room apartment and just think.

Finally she stepped over to their work area for the day and cringed as she looked at the mud puddle she would spend most of the day standing in. She stepped down into the water and a shiver rose through her body as it settled over her feet. It came to just below her knees and soaked through her jeans, boots, and socks very quickly. Amos just couldn't help her self, she let out a loud yell spread her arms out and jumped into the air. When she landed she sent a huge splash in all directions soaking her grumbling co-workers. At first everyone was shouting and grumbling, until that is they looked upon the huge smile that broke across Amos' face as she started her work. None of them had seen her smile even once in the whole week that she had been working with them. Something obviously had put this strange dark woman in a good mood. What they didn't realize was that it wasn't a something but a someone.

As the day wore on Amos' mood amazingly stayed pretty much the same. This was the longest 'good mood' that she had ever experienced. By the time the rain had stopped everyone was soaked. They would stay that way too because the instant the storm cleared the sun began to blaze down upon them. In record time it was a scorching ninety-eight degrees out. Amos was a little miffed that she was getting her best pair of jeans soaked through with nasty rain water and sweat, but she was still in a good mood. Amos wiped her sweat ridden bangs out of her eyes as she looked up at the burning ball of flames in the sky. Even it's oppressive heat hadn't dampened how she was feeling. It was roughly twenty minutes before the 'whistle' for lunch would be blown. When Amos looked back down and started back in chipping away at the stubborn asphalt a car going by caught her eye. She could have swore she had seen it parked at Emma's building. In fact she was sure she had, h! ow could one miss a bright silver Corvette. Shaking off the giddy feeling that built in her stomach Amos threw herself back into her work. Abe had been walking by her all day astonished at the amount of area she was clearing. He hoped her good mood kept up, if she worked like this all day she would single handedly get the project back on schedule. As he made his way by her once more he almost ran smack into a petite blond making her way along the construction barriers. As they nearly collided she gave him a quick apology and a great big grin then continued on her way to a shaded bench parallel to the work area.

Emma had parked her car in the convient four story parking complex across form the construction site. It was a damned expensive place to park but she didn't want to chance not being able to find a street spot before Amos went to lunch. She had made her way across the street doing her best to avoid Amos' line of site, she still wanted her being there to be a surprise. As she took a seat on one of the many shaded benches near the site she couldn't help but stare at Amos. She had a perfect view of the ex-con as she chipped away at the old blacktop. Amos was still dressed in her jeans and black tank top with her flannel tied around her waist. Emma just then realized that her insistence that Amos have breakfast had kept the ex-con form getting home to change. She felt a little bad about this, Amos would have no doubt been cooler if she weren't dressed half in black. She noticed that her hair was plastered to her face and all but the very ends soaked. Her cl! othes were soaked through and Emma could see the small pieces of asphalt and dust sticking to her exposed skin. Emma also noticed that everyone, not just Amos, was standing in water up to their knees. By looks alone Amos should have been miserable, but Emma saw and was intrigued by the small smile that quirked across the ex-con's lips. She wondered if she had put that smile there. She was sure she'd find out soon enough.

As she sat there watching Amos work Emma thought back on the conversation that she had had with Fergus earlier. Could it be that she was actually falling in love? On the drive over here she couldn't help the growing excitement at the prospect of seeing Amos and noticed how her heart rate picked up when she caught site of the ex-con while driving by. Even as these wonderful thoughts were running through her mind a dark little depressing notion just had to push its way through. Would Amos reciprocate these feelings if Emma expressed herself, and if she didn't would admitting them ruin the budding friendship. This brought a frown to Emma's face. Maybe she needed to think this through a little more and get their friendship on solid grown before she went off professing undying love.

Emma looked down at her watch and began tapping her feet, she was becoming impatient. Watching Amos was not only stirring feelings of love, but something Emma couldn't ever remember feeling before. She wondered if this was what desire felt like. Finally she noticed the man she nearly ran into climb up onto one of the trucks and shout out for lunch. Emma gleefully stood and quickly made her way over to the barriers so she could get Amos' attention.

"Amos!! Hey Amos." It was practically a repeat of the day before. Emma standing at the barrier waving her arms and yelling. The only difference this time was that there was no hesitation as Amos spotted her and walked over. She smoothly vaulted over the barrier when she reached Emma and blew the young author away by presenting her with a dazzling smile.

Amos looked Emma up and down very pleased to see the little author. She couldn't hide the multitude of feelings she knew were swimming through her eyes. Some she could identify and others she couldn't. Finally she was going to have something to talk to her counselor about other than her 'criminal' self. The grin never left her face as she began to speak. "Hi there....um, didn't expect to see you again so soon." In fact Amos hadn't expected to see Emma again till she got her thoughts sorted through and decided exactly what it was she was feeling for Emma. When she finally was able to look Emma in the eyes her nerves kicked in and she started shuffling from foot to foot until Emma began speaking.

"I....I hope you don't mind, but um......I though it'd be nice if I surprised you with a little lunch." She bashfully held up the cooler that held the subs and sodas. "I got so much work done this morning that I could afford a little trip up here this afternoon. I...I also wanted....I, um, really wanted to see you again too. I hope you don't mind. If I'm out of line here you just tell me and I'll go." Because Amos wasn't talking Emma had started to wonder if she was perhaps being a little to forward by just showing up here today. As she started to turn to go she felt a gentle touch on her elbow. When she turned back she was greeted to the most beautiful eyes of smiling blue she had ever seen. Within those eyes she saw all she could ever want or ever need. Within those cobalt depths she saw love, compassion, and gentleness. The deeper she looked the more she could see. The love, compassion, and gentleness that she seemed to bring ! out where surrounded by a rage and uncertainty that made Emma's heart ache with the need to be with Amos and help her with the demos she knew tormented her on a daily basis.

As Amos looked deeply into Emma's emerald eyes she truly understood the saying of 'the eyes are the window to the soul.' She saw within those eyes a love so deep neither one of them could escape its power. She saw a compassion and forgiveness that she never thought she was worthy of and to this day had yet to receive. At that moment Amos felt herself falling hard, it took her only a moment to realize that she was in deep. She was, without a doubt, in love. The spell that seemed to have descended upon the pair was broken as Abe came up and slapped Amos on the shoulder. She looked over at him and she must have had a very odd expression on her face by the look he gave her. She barely heard his words of praise for her work so far that day as she turned back to Emma and re-established that mind shattering eye contact. She was barely able to utter her wish for Emma to stay as she kept staring into the lovely author's emotion filled eyes. "You're not out! of line at all...I'm....I'm very glad you're here."

Finally breaking away from each others gazes they made their way over to the bench that Emma had been on earlier. Emma couldn't get the giddy smile that was on her lips to ease a little as she sat down and opened up the cooler. "I hope you like subs, I brought three just in case you are really hungry." She looked over as Amos sat down and a deep blush colored her cheeks when she saw the small chuckles shaking the woman's body. "What?"

Amos shook her head and shrugged at Emma. "If dinner with you last night was any indication, you'll be the one eating that third sub." Amos had been amazed with Emma's appetite the previous night. The woman had consumed everything placed in front of her with vigor and between the two of them they had no trouble finishing off a meal meant for four.

At this comment Emma did not blush, years of defending her appetite had prepared her for just such a remark. "I'll have you know that I've eaten like that since I was a very young child. And just look at me now...a perfectly healthy young woman." She struck a very bad body builder's pose which received the first real laugh that she had heard come out of Amos. That brought a whole new reeling grin to her face.

Amos watched as Emma spread napkins out in front of each of them placing two amazingly large subs on them. Then she dug out two sodas popping each one, as she placed a can in front of Amos she smiled up at the ex-con. "Emma......" Amos wanted to tell Emma how much she had come to mean to her in the short two days they'd known each other. She wanted to tell this little author that she was falling hopelessly in love with her. She wanted to tell her that she had never felt as at ease with anyone before in her life, either before or after her killing spree. But the only thing she could utter was... "thank you." Well that wasn't very eloquent but it would have to do for now.

Emma's smile softened. For some reason she could tell that Amos was not simply thanking her for lunch. "For what Amos? This is no big deal, I enjoy cooking for people, granted cold cuts aren't exactly cooking, but...." She was cut off as Amos placed two callused fingers over her lips. The sensation of those fingers was astounding, the simple touch sent shivers down her spine.

She sighed and took a deep breath. "No...that's not what I meant, I mean...yes thank you for lunch, but also thank you for just being you." At the slightly confused look on Emma's face Amos continued, fighting for the words she needed. "In a mear two days you've done wonders for my battered soul Emma. Never before have I met a person who is willing to try and overlook my past. Everyone has always seem me as 'The Monster,' not a human being at all. To the world I am nothing more than a cold hearted killer. Thank you for...um...taking a chance on me, for being a friend. I would surely have lost myself if I hadn't met you." Amos looked down at her hands, watching them tremble with nervousness. She just hoped that little tirade of words hadn't scared Emma.

Emma could not help the small tear that escaped from the corner of her eye. "Oh Amos..." She reached over and turned Amos' head up so she could look her in the eyes. "That is the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me." She smiled softly at the small quirky grin that came to the ex-con's face. "And your welcome, I....I've never known anyone who I have felt this at ease with." Now it was Emma's turn to look nervously at her hands, but she quickly looked back up into Amos' eyes. "So you see I should also be thanking you. I was quickly spiraling into a depression till I met you Amos, so we're even." She reached across the lunch placed out in front of them and gingerly embraced Amos. At first the ex-con was tense and didn't now how to react, but soon she practically melted into Emma's embrace. At that moment the exact same thought ran through both their minds....this just felt so RIGHT. The both pulled ou! t of the akward hug and Emma smiled sheepishly up at Amos. "Um...so, shall we dig in?"

With that they both started in on the wonderful subs that Emma and Fergus had made. Neither woman noticed the shady figure of Scott Masters watching them from across the street. He had been sent down to the site by his uncle to spend the day watching Amos and then follow her after she left work. The crime lord wanted to know her daily schedule. He needed to know this so that he could put his plan to frame then blackmail her into working for him in motion. Scott hated this work but knew if he wanted to stay in his uncle's good graces he needed to do as he was told. So, here he sat watching the two women eat lunch and enjoy each other's company. They're constant gazing and tentative touches were making him sick. Not to mention the oppressive heat, how these people could work out in it all day was beyond him. As he looked closer it finally hit him that the woman Amos was sitting with was none other than Emma Riordan. She was that little author that his u! ncle's 'business partner' George Nolan was constantly chasing after. This was going to turn into a very interesting chain of events, Scott could feel it.

Also watching the pair, and having an extremely hard time enjoying his lunch while eating outside was none other than George Nolan. Why people liked to eat outside with all the bugs and dirt was beyond his comprehension. After Emma had kicked him out of her apartment he had hung around and followed her just barely escaping the watchful eye of Fergus who stood outside long after Emma had pulled away. When he saw her heading to the construction site his heart sank. This Amos individual was putting a real wrench in his plans to marry Emma and show her that she loved him as much as he loved her, even if she didn't know it just yet. When he saw them embrace it was all he could do to keep himself from storming over and dragging Emma away from the vial woman.

Quitting time finally arrived and Amos was never more glad to see the setting sun. She turned awkwardly in her bus seat to watch it sink into the horizon. The ball of flames that had sent waves of oppressive heat onto her all day had never looked more beautiful. She jumped off the bus at her stop with a spring in her step that she hadn't had since she was a doe eyed child running rampant through her mother's restaurant. Once again, after having spent her lunch time in the presence of Emma, good instead of bad memories filled her head. Instead of blood and terrified screams there was Kool-Aid and childish squeals to be remembered. It was like the demons ran scared from the mear thought of the blond woman. No one had ever had that power over Amos' demons before, it was both terrifying and comforting. Terrifying because Amos had lived with the demons for so long more often than not she did not know what to do without them running through her tortured soul ! and mind. Comforting because for the first time in eleven years she felt safe around someone. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she could never intentionally harm Emma.

In the short half mile walk from the bus stop to her apartment Amos got the distinct feeling she was being followed. The hairs on the back of her neck were tingling and she could 'feel' someone's eyes following her every move. She didn't let on that she knew anyone was there till she reached the front of Sal's shop. Here she stopped and discretely surveyed the street around her looking for someone who didn't quite fit in. Among the milling gang members and prostitues getting an early start Amos caught site of a well dressed business man, actually more like a boy. She noticed how he quickly looked away as soon as her eyes landed on him. This was certainly interesting, and not what she had expected. Amos would have expected any number of unsavory gang members and petty crime lords following her about, not some rich playboy. Maybe it was some college student studying crime that wanted to get a first hand look at a real live mass murderer. Or perhaps some ! wet behind the ears journalist. Either way, he didn't look threatening to Amos so she continued on behind the store to the stairs that led up to her home.

When she reached her door she turned around and glared at the boy who had had the audacity to keep following her. Her turn was lightning quick and she pinned him with the coldest stare he had ever seen. His foot had just landed on the first step and Amos could tell by his reaction that he had not expected her to turn around, he looked like a deer caught in headlights. Her voice dropped close to its lowest register and came out as almost a growl. "Why are you following me?" He didn't move from his spot so she started back down the stairs and stopped two steps above him. His mouth moved a few times but no sound came out. This annoyed Amos to no end. Her voice, if possible dropped even lower. "I asked you once, you only get one more chance. Why are you following me?" She punctuated this by poking him lightly in the chest.

George had never seen eyes more cold than the sky blue ones he was getting a close view of now. Not even Keith Gunnar could send chills of fear down his spine like this woman was. "I....I, um....I'm a close personal friend of Emma's." As Amos came down one more step George staggered back two. He was completely terrified of this woman, but felt he had to confront her at least once. It was only fair that she be given due warning. If she chose to ignore his warning that was her problem. "I'm here to tell you that you are to stay away from her, Emma does not need the likes of you around." As she came down the final step George stood his ground, but couldn't help the audible swallow he made when he realized just how tall and powerful Amos was.

Amos looked him up and down the cool, emotionless mask never leaving her face. Emma had told her of this boy, this had to be George Nolan. The childhood friend and 'high school sweetheart' who never stopped pining for her love. Emma had told her that she still considered George a close friend, but his constant romantic advances were hindering what was once a strong friendship. She decided to be civil for Emma's sake. "I am under the impression, Mr. Nolan," at the surprised look on his face a smile that did not reach her eyes quirked onto Amos' lips. "Yes....I know who you are, and as I was saying I am under the impression that Emma makes her own decisions." Her voice was as smooth as silk now, the drastic change in tone throwing the hapless playboy off balance. As she moved closer to him George would have bet his family fortune that she was half cat. Her movements were so fluid and graceful, not what he had expected at all.

"Yes....well, I'm here to inform you that there are many people looking out for Emma's best interests, even if she isn't aware of what they may be." As Amos kept coming toward him George kept making steps back towards the street. He had just now realized that he was alone with one of the nations most feared serial killers. "I'm here to give you fair warning Miss Duncan, stay away from Emma or suffer the consequences." George cringed at his own statement realizing how cheesy it sounded even to his own ears.

Amos couldn't help the humorless laugh that escaped her lips when George uttered his last sentence. It sounded like some cliché line from a really bad gangster film. "I will keep your...warning in mind Mr. Nolan." She smiled a mirthless smile and turned to head back up to her apartment never once looking back. As far as she was concerned George Nolan posed no threat what so ever to her.

George expelled a large shaking breath as soon as Amos disappeared through her door way. George had never come so close to wetting himself before in his life. Quickly he turned unable to stand being in this depraved part of town any longer. He ran the two miles to his car and headed straight home to prepare for the his upcoming meeting with Keith Gunnar the next day. With any luck his business partner would make sure that this problem was taken care of quickly and cleanly.

Amos entered her apartment still chuckling. Her first encounter with the infamous 'high school sweetheart' had not been as she had expected. She assumed she would meet him someday, but with Emma introducing them, not George making petty threats. At least Amos hoped they were petty threats. Little playboys like George were always the ones you had to look out for. They may look clean cut, but more often than not they had their hands into something they shouldn't have and in the end couldn't handle. Amos thought maybe she should bring that theory to Emma's attention but decided against it. As far as she was concerned, if George didn't bug her too much let him be.

Just then Amos' stomach made itself known. Emma may have stuffed her with the most delicious sub she could ever remember eating, but after lunch she had six more hours of breakless work and it had a way of building an appetite. She quickly surveyed her cupboards and pulled out a sauce pan emptying a can of tomato soup into it. While that was heating up Amos took a quick cold shower. When she exited the bathroom ten minutes later dressed in just underwear and a T-shirt that came to just below her buttocks she quickly stirred the soup and began a fruitless search for a clean bowl. Sighing Amos realized her lack of domesticity was going to cause her to eat out of the pot this evening.

Just as she turned the burner down to keep the soup warm while she buttered bread a knock at her door startled her. Thinking it was probably Sal she didn't bother finding any pants. Might as well give her old friend and landlord a thrill. She was surprised to open the door and find Emma staring up at her. Emma hid her startlement well behind a bright smile. "Um...hi, me again. Sorry to bug you Amos but I got to thinking, which is at times dangerous, and just wanted to bring you this." She held up the guitar that Amos had played earlier in the day. "It's not doing me much good collecting dust so I thought since you play that maybe you'd like to have it."

Amos smiled at Emma and steeped back into her apartment allowing the small author entry. "Thank you Emma, but I wouldn't want to take your guitar from you...." She was cut off by the low chuckle coming from the woman following he into her living area.

"Amos, I don't even play. You saw the layer of dust on it when you picked up this morning I'm sure. Please take it." She held the guitar out as Amos motioned for her to take a seat either on the couch or in one of her chairs. "I had always planned on learning how to play but just never got around to it. I got to caught up in my writing." She seated herself taking in the small yet efficient dwelling. It suited what she knew of Amos' personality perfectly. No personal possessions sitting out, furniture laid out in the least space consuming way, and an earth tone color scheme leaning towards browns and greens.

As Emma sat down Amos came back form putting on a pair of shorts and took the guitar and looked at it with an expression that was half happiness and half terror. Music had been and escape for her, but it had also brought her in tune with her emotions, something she found rather terrifying. "Well...um, thank you." She leaned the instrument against the wall. "I would like to ask you to stay for dinner but I'm afraid all I'm having is tomato soup and bread." Amos grimaced as she realized just what an unlikely pair she and Emma were. A rich author hanging around a poor ex-convict was very odd indeed.

"Mmmmm, thought I smelled one of my favorites in the air." She grinned broadly at Amos completely comfortable in her new friends home. She hoped Amos would realize that she didn't care about their differences, she just wanted to spend time with her.

Amos couldn't help but grin back at Emma but then she remembered her bowl dilemma. "Oh, but I do have one problem." At the author's confused look she stood and walked into the kitchen and opened the cupboard that normally contained her bowls. "I'm not a great housekeeper, I'm seriously lacking in clean plates and bowls today."

Emma chuckled and joined Amos in her kitchen area. "So I see. I'll tell you what..." Emma began rolling up the sleeves on her shirt. "how about you finish getting that soup warm and I'll wash us up some bowls?" She looked hopefully over at Amos and was pleased to see a smile and a nod. By the time Emma had finished washing all of Amos' dinnerware the soup was done and Amos had found some cheese in her refrigerator that she quickly whipped into grilled cheese sandwiches. They sat down at the table and enjoyed the small yet satisfying dinner. Conversation was limited to Emma and her life due to Amos' constant dodging of herself as a topic. This only frustrated Emma slightly, she knew that their friendship just needed time to become a little stronger before the ex-con would feel comfortable 'bearing her soul.'

As they resettled in the living area again for coffee Emma was delighted when she noted Amos tentatively trying to begin a conversation about herself. Emma could tell that this was probably going to be something about Amos' criminal past so she just sat back and let her work it out in her mind. Just as she had before Amos organized her thoughts quickly and efficiently before broaching the delicate subject.

"Emma.....um, I'd like to tell you a little more about myself, but I need to know if you think you can handle it?" She looked down at her fidgeting hands for a moment before gazing back up directly into the author's emerald pools, pinning her with the most serious look Emma had ever seen. "My life has not been pretty, and I haven't been a 'nice' person for a very long time. But...Emma for some reason I feel I can talk to you. Does that make any sense."

Emma smiled gently at Amos, only slightly unnerved by the intense eye contact that they were sharing. "Yes Amos, it makes perfect sense to me because I feel the same way around you. All these stories about myself and my childhood that I've told you I've never told anyone else." At Amos somewhat startled look Emma couldn't help the small chuckle that left her lips. "Yes I do babble quite often, but it's not often that I share such....personal things with people." She reached over and gently took Amos' hand in her own giving it a slight squeeze. "Amos, I must admit that I have read about you through the media. I understand when you say that your life hasn't been pretty, but I'd like to hear your side of things. I've never placed much stock in the media myself, and they can't tell me how you were feeling or what was going through your mind. To me, that makes all the difference." When she saw the relieved look on the ex-con's! face she squeezed her hand again and sat back to listen.

Amos took a deep calming breath and tried to smile at the beautiful blond, but failed miserably. "Um....when.....no, after I....after my brother died and I had killed his killer I left town." Amos couldn't look at Emma, she abruptly got up and paced a few moments finally taking a seat on the floor her back against the wall. "I spent three weeks just wondering about.....searching." Amos picked up the guitar that was beside her and began running her long fingers across its smooth surfaces and flowing curves. A heartwrenchingly sad smile came to her lips. "I had Aaron's car, he loved that car so much."

Emma got up from the couch and squatted down in front of the troubled woman. She could clearly see Amos' frustration with talking about events from her past because of her fidgeting hands and clenching jaw. Emma decided a little prompting couldn't hurt, she was no expert counselor but she had always been good a talking to people. "Um, Amos, what were you searching for?" She had found the ex-con's statement about 'searching' interesting and decided to draw on it.

Without looking up Amos mulled the question over trying to find the answer, it was an answer she had never really looked for before. "I....I guess I was searching for an answer to why my life had gone so wrong." Her left hand slowly began forming chords on the frets of the guitar but she did not strum the strings. Emma could tell that this was a nervous habit. "I wanted answers, wanted to know why my father died, why my brother had just been killed before my eyes, and why I had found killing so.....so enjoyable." Amos finally looked up into Emma's emerald eyes and found exactly what she had expected. There was fear swimming through the liquid green, fear at the thought of someone finding killing refreshing.

Emma swallowed hard at the coldness she saw staring back at her from the blue eyes that she had spent the afternoon seeing laughter in. She wondered if Amos was just trying to rattle her. If she was it wasn't going to work. Then again Amos didn't seem the type to try and unnecessarily rattle someone. She carefully sat down next to the ex-con never looking away from her intense stare. "Did you find your answers Amos?" Emma was bound and determined to 'know' this woman and if it meant hearing about every last one of the murders she had committed in her troubled past then so be it.

Amos saw the determined look in Emma's eyes and sent up a brief prayer to whomever had sent this beautiful young woman into her life. Her face seemed to glow like a heaven sent angle as she sat there waiting for an answer and Amos knew she could only tell the truth. The set of Emma's soft jaw and the unwavering of her gaze gave off a clear 'don't give me any BS' warning.

"No....I found nothing, my wondering brought about the loss of my heart and soul, nothing more." There was pure defeat in her voice and an almost violent flinch went through her body when Emma laid her hand gently on Amos' forearm.

Emma looked at Amos, completely confused. "What....what do you mean by that." She refused to remove her diminutive hand from Amos' arm, she wanted her to know that she was there and not going anywhere. "How did you.....Amos, what do you mean?"

"I committed my second murder, killed and man and his wife in front of their teenage daughter. That's when I lost myself completely to a darkness and rage that rested in my heart." Amos roughly slammed her head into the wall behind her as images came unbidden into her mind. She could still see the terrified brown eyes of a then seventeen year old Desdemona Tempest. She could feel the warm blood seeping from Dean Tempest's throat and soaking the gloves and shirt she wore. She could clearly remember his wife begging for her life as the long knife was plunged into her abdomen. She remembered the pure joy she felt as she walked over to the youthful Desdemona and wiped the blood from the knife onto the girls silk pajamas. She could still remember cracking a smile and laughing as she left the house, sirens screaming in the distance as young Desdemona called the cops.

Amos continued to bang her head into the wall. When Emma could take it no longer she roughly cupped Amos' cheeks and pulled her head sideways getting a look into the most disturbed pair of blue eyes she had ever seen, she couldn't help but flinch. "Amos....." she lightly began patting the ex-con's face. "Amos, come back to me, come on." Finally she had to slap the troubled woman as hard as she dared to break her out of the painful memories.

Amos felt the stinging slap and 'surfaced' from her memories very disoriented. The first thing her swift mind told her to do was seek out the source responsible for the sharp strike and do something about it. She instantly had a vice grip on Emma's upper arms and pulled both of them to their feet, the guitar falling from her lap and clattering to the floor. She slammed Emma up against the wall with a animalistic growl, the author's feet dangling inches above the floor. The instant she looked in to terrified emerald eyes and felt the fearful shaking of the small woman all the tension drained from her face and her expression transformed into one of pure self hatred. She immediately let Emma go and began agitatedly pacing around the apartment like a caged animal.

Emma sank back down to the floor and attempted to get her breathing back under control. She had never been more terrified in her life. She pulled her knees up to her chest wrapping her arms around them placing her forehead down and just rocked. Amos' eyes had been ice cold and filled with a red hot rage that Emma could only describe as all consuming. She realized she had just learned a very valuable lesson, never ever, under any circumstances slap this woman when she isn't expecting it. It took her a good five minutes to get her nerves back, but she finally rose to her feet and looked for Amos. She was pacing back and forth across the apartment her lips moving only punctuated whispers coming out of them. All Emma needed to do was look at Amos' expression and posture to see the self-loathing the woman was inflicting upon herself. She let Amos be fore a few more moments catching a few of the mumbled 'stupid stupid stupids' sputtering out of the ex-con's mouth.

Emma finally understood just what she had gotten herself into by befriending this woman. Yes, she felt remorse and guilt for the murders she had committed. Yes, she had been done a great dis-service by being put in New Alcatraz. And yes, she was trying her best to make amends. But she was still extremely unstable and still had a snapping point. She had killed before and, Emma realized, was still capable of it. Hearing Amos nachalantly talk about enjoying her second killing and then seeing her fall into and abruptly snap out of haunting memories was horrifying to the young author. It was going to be hard to accept all Amos had done, she didn't know if she ever could, but she would try. It was her nature to try, there was no getting around it. Emma also felt such and emotional and even physical pull towards this dangerous woman, she had to see it through.

Amos finally stopped her pacing and stood in the center of the apartment with her eyes closed. Emma watched enraptured as the woman struck what the author assumed was some sort of martial art's position. She also heard 'focus' being harshly whispered over and over again.

After about another minute of deep breathing and focusing Amos opened her eyes and looked sadly into Emma's eyes. "Emma...I'm so sorry." She ran a shaking hand through her ink black hair and slowly walked toward the author. Amos was not at all surprised to see Emma try and hide her urge to step back. "I'm sorry, I...I still have a lot of um, trouble with..." She shrugged her shoulders looking for the right word. "control I guess."

Emma took a deep breath and forced herself to step forward bringing her within a foot of Amos. She cautiously reached up and patted the ex-con on the forearm. "I won't lie to you Amos, you just scared the shit out of me." Her breathing was still somewhat erratic. "But..." She took another deep breath before continuing on. "but, you won't be getting rid of me just yet. Um, give me time to process all this. Okay?"

The genuine smile Amos received from Emma calmed her even more and she nodded. With both of them at a loss for words Amos picked up the guitar and began strumming out a haunting melody. It was a very familiar tune to the ex-con. She had written it even before prison. She had written it the night she killed Mr. and Mrs. Dean Tempest. The night the monster inside stole her heart. Soon her voice joined the slow rhythm and sang out the words with a sadness to envy all sadness.

Amos walked over to the window and looked down to the street wishing to hide her silent tears from Emma. The author followed her closely, but kept a good distance not wanting to interrupt. Emma could feel the waves of sadness and dispair that the song created rolling off of Amos. It saddened her to hear of such a painful loss of innocence and 'self.' Even though the song was being sung in third person Emma knew that Amos had written it about herself.

The abrupt ending of both voice and melody startled Emma. She stood there staring agape at Amos' back. Never before had she felt words hold so much power. Her whispered voice was barely audible and she knew Amos had to strain to hear it. "Wow, that was....... amazing."

With one simple song Amos had explained a lot to the young author. It gave Emma a somewhat confusing understanding of just what was going on inside of Amos' heart and mind. She had lost her heart and her mind had taken over. At that point, having just lost her brother and having her life, that was finally looking up, torn to shreds, her mind was bitter and filled with nothing but rage and anger.

"It's not amazing." Amos still refused to turn around, even as Emma came around to stand beside her to try and get a look at her face. "It's what happened inside me. It is a pitiful excuse for three years of cold blooded killing." Amos sighed and turned tearful and anger filled blue eyes upon the author. "There is no excuse in this world that will ever redeem me, and nothing can change me." She sighed and walked into the kitchen to get herself a glass of water.

Emma quickly followed the ex-con into the kitchen and carefully swung her around so they were face to face. "Don't think like that Amos." Emma was back to her old self now, wanting nothing more than to help this woman. "There is one thing that redeems all and that's love, but you have to be willing to believe that." She hoped she wasn't over stepping her bounds here, but she just had to get through Amos' thick skull.

Amos brushed off Emma comment and wandered back into the living area. She picked up the guitar once again and tried to smile for Emma. "Thank you again..." She hefted the instrument up. 'for the guitar..." She was cut off by Emma walking up to her and placing two fingers over her lips.

"Amos...thank me with another song." She smiled her best smile not discouraged in the least by Amos' frown. "You don't have to sing, just play for me, please. I love listening to you play."

Now Amos couldn't help but smile back. How could this woman know she enjoyed hearing her play, she only heard a total of three songs out of her. But with that smile and those pleading green eyes she couldn't help but nod and begin to strum out some songs she had written and some old favorites.

Emma spent three more hours at Amos' listening to composition after composition. Finally Amos had to stop playing because her fingers were hurting. It was also getting late and both women knew they needed to be getting to bed. Amos walked Emma down to her car and was stunned to see the bright shinny Corvette still in one piece. She warned Emma about parking out in the open in this neighborhood but her warnings were shrugged off, Emma had great insurance.

"I had a lovely evening Amos, I hope my just dropping by didn't put a wrench in your plans tonight."

Amos' eyebrow lifted into her hairline. "You had a lovely time? Are you sure?" How could anyone have had a lovely time after being slammed against the wall by a madwoman?

Emma couldn't resist, she leaned up and lightly kissed Amos on the cheek. "Yes, I'm sure. Trust me Amos, I never say anything I don't truly mean." When the tell tale sign of a security system being disengaged was heard Amos reached down and opened Emma's door for her. "I'll see you tomorrow Amos.....for lunch? Okay?" Satisfied with the positive nod Emma searched for and found her keys.

The little author climbed in and started the engine. As the car purred to life Amos stepped back up onto the sidewalk in front of Sal's shop and waved as Emma pulled away from the curb. She looked after Emma's car for a few moments before returning to her apartment. Upon entering she went straight to the closet that held the bag of things Vance had given her. She rummaged through the few trinkets that were left in it and triumphantly found what she was looking for. After only a few moments of searching Amos pulled out a leather bound book of her songs. She quickly found a clean page, grabbed up the guitar and sat on her bed to begin composing the new song that had instantly popped into her mind the moment Emma's lips had touched her cheek.

After five hours of slaving away over the song she laid the instrument and book aside and curled up into the covers to sleep. Amos' normally disturbed sleep was once again filled with visions of Emma Riordan.

As Emma pulled away from the curb she kept Amos in sight through her rear view mirror. When she finally had to turn right and the woman disappeared from her sight she let out a huge sigh. It had certainly been and interesting evening. She had learned a lot and been scared half to death, but was still going to stick beside this woman.

Emma was so caught up in her thoughts that she did not notice the black Buick following her. Driving the Buick was another ex-con, one that shouldn't have been out, even on a technicality. Kalinda Doyle had a mission, a mission that the warden had given her. Find Amos and find a way to get to her without raising suspicion. If this mission was completed to Desdemona's complete satisfaction, Kalinda knew she would be rewarded handsomely, probably let out no questions asked.

Kalinda believed she may have just found what she was looking for. Desdemona wanted Amos to suffer, what better way to make her suffer than to take away her new found friend. Every inmate and ex-convict knew how rare it was to make friends once out. For some, especially ones like Amos, it would be a devastating thing to lose.

George sat nervously in the large outer office. He was on his lunch break and he hated taking time out of his two hours for business but this was the only time he could meet with Mr. Gunnar. Gunnar had been a long time investor and now stout business partner in Gerorge's family's business. Even though the Nolan family knew of his somewhat questionable affairs they still valued Mr. Gunnar as a business partner knowing he kept his legitimate business dealings separate. There was no one in the investing industry more shrude and successful than Keith Gunnar. George, however, was the first member of his family that had ever asked for a personal favors. George was also the first member of his family to ever get involved in Keith Gunnar's questionable affairs. He had been doing drug trafficking for three years now, his 'establishment' was one of Gunnar's most successful operations. George really wanted this Amos character out of Emma's life. Not only did she ! pose a threat to his hope at marrying his childhood sweetheart, her simple presence was making George feel like he was loosing the best friend he had ever had. That, even over marrying Emma, had become his real reason for wanting Amos gone. He felt Gunnar owed him something for all the successful trafficking he had been doing. In his 'establishment's' three years they had never been caught and deliveries had always been on time and more often than not early.

"Mr. Nolan?" George jumped, startled out of his thoughts as the tall receptionist called his name. "Mr. Gunnar will see you know, just go right in."

George stood and headed for the huge oak double doors. As he steeped through he was struck by how much cooler it was in the main office. The AC had to be set on fifty-five degrees, maybe even lower. The room itself was huge it easily took up one fifth of the floor it was on. It even had it's own private bathroom and bar area. The carpet was a rich hunter green and accented the charcoal gray walls nicely. Hanging all the walls were all sorts of weapons. Everything from swords to breast plates adorned the room and added to its chilling feel. Centered in the back off the room, by the windows was a huge oak desk with only a computer sitting on it, a screen saver of sharks chasing guppies flicking across the screen. The plush leather chair behind the desk was empty causing George to turn in a slow circle till he found Keith Gunnar seated at the twenty seat conference table that was to the right of the desk. The table was constructed of oak, matching the de! sk, with a top of shiny black. Gunnar sat at the head of the table with numerous files scattered around him. He was a menacing sight in an all black suit with no tie that set off his cold eyes in a most unsettling way. Just looking at the impressive man sent a chill of fear down George's back. When he spoke he didn't bother to look up from his file.

"How can I be of assistance Mr. Nolan? I am a very busy man so please make this either quick or worth my time." He finally looked up from his papers and pined George with one of his coldest gazes. He was very pleased to see the shudder of fear run through this 'boy.'

George, having three years of practice, pushed his fear down and took a seat. He knew Keith would only hurt you if you gave him cause to. "I have a problem." He took the offered cigar, and bit the end off. Keith's secretary had appeared out of nowhere to lite the cigars. He watched the crime lord gazing at the woman with a lust of hate. The gaze caused George to take a sharp inhale, but Keith didn't even notice. The secretary seemed to carry features similar to those of the killer who Emma was befriending. A small smile spread across the playboy's face when he realized his favor might be a pleasurable one for his dear 'friend' here. Gunnar obviously knew of Amos Duncan. Keith finally snapped back to attention as his assistant headed back out of the office.

"Problem? Something wrong with the last shipment?" Keith kept flipping through his files. A set of pictures that the crime lord began arranging caught George's eye. One was a mug shot of Amos. How could his sweet and wonderful Emma like being around this degenerate woman? The smile on George's face grew when he realized that Gunnar already seemed to have some sort of plan brewing that centered around this dark killer.

"No....no, that was all done fine. This is a...shall we say a.....pest control problem," He took in a long drag. "with my 'key investment.'" George always felt silly about talking about Emma as an investment, but Keith had strict rules about talking at his place of work about 'the family.' So they finally came up with a code for problems, and Emma.

"Ahhhhhhhh yes, I see." Gunnar ominously cracked his knuckles finally looking at George for more than just a few seconds. "need a competent bug executioner I take it?" The boy was really sensitive about this girl. This though, sounded like a legitimate problem that might actually turn out to be a little fun. Not like in the past when George had requested assistance with problems that all turned out to be fools' quests.

"Yes, I don't see the investment running very sound if this bug obstacle maintains it's hold. I have a chance of relinquishing something I desire."

Keith nodded, shifting his eyes to gaze out the window. "Can't have that transpire now can we. I can give you some names if you like." Keith started to rise to head to his computer and look through files of the freelancers he trusted.

George saw this as an excellent time to inform his dear advocate the enlightenment of his bug quandary. When Keith was halfway to his desk George picked up the mug shot and held it up. "Actually....." The crime lord turned back around. "this difficulty is something we share in common." He wiggled the picture in his fingers and Gunnar's eyebrows rose as Keith walked back over to his chair and sat back down giving a derisive grin.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh I see......" The grin went even wider. A familiar spark of loathing went through Keith's body, and George could feel it fill the large office. Feeling delighted with himself, the playboy settled back into the chair with a peacefulness and sense that triumph was on the way. "Well, a valuable friend like yourself, I would have no problem assisting you. I already have a small plan in the works that deals with this particularly stubborn breed of bug. Believe me, no investment can ever be happy with something of that nature prowling about."

George returned the smile agreeably. "Nope, no investment in their right mind can ever have peace of mind with that kind of unfavorable evil lurking around." George stood and shook Keith's hand confident that his problem would be taken care of. "Thank you very much for your help Mr. Gunnar." With that he headed out of the office, a huge grin plastered across his lips.

As the door clicked behind the presumptuous playboy an evil laugh erupted from Keith Gunnar's lips. Now he could kill, funny choice of words, two birds with one stone. The crime lord didn't care one bit about George's 'investment' and had grown increasingly tired of the playboy's 'obsession' with the petite author. He didn't care how successful George's 'establishment' was, the boy was just to interested in being respectful to stay in the 'family.'

Just then an inner door opened and his nephew walked in. "Uncle...we have an interesting development...." As he sat down at the table Keith waved him quiet.

"Yes I know Scott, it seems young Mr. Nolan's 'investment' is messing around, so to speak, with the thorn in my side." No more accurate words had ever been spoken. Even when she was in prison Amos was a constant pain to Keith. The failure to garner her as part of 'the family' had weighted heavily on his own self confidence, not to mention his image within 'the family.' "There is going to be a small change in our plans due to this." The evil grin re-plastered itself onto his chiseled face and a cool flame could be seen dancing about in his eyes. "Young Mr. Nolan will be making and exit from our organization curtiosy of Miss Duncan." Two knowing grins were exchanged as laughter once again filled the office.

It was later in the evening when George pulled up outside Emma's apartment building. He'd been mulling over his visit with Keith Gunnar for most of the day. Doubts about whether or not it was the smartest move he'd ever made had quickly asserted themselves. Especially after his encounter with Amos. What she had said had hit home with him. She was right, Emma did make her own decisions and if she wanted to be friends with Amos nothing and nobody would stop her. He had decided to see how this evening went before he even considered withdrawing his request.

He quickly went to the door and was surprised to find himself being buzzed up no questions asked. When he got to the door he could hear a lot of cursing going on and three distinct voices. One he knew to be Emma's, the other sounded like Adena's, and the third was a man's that he didn't recognize at all.

He knocked once and the door was flung open even before he his hand connected a second time. George was greeted with the site of a short blond man with murky blue eyes. He couldn't have been more than two inches taller than Emma and George could see a well built upper body even through the tux the man had on. Just then it registered in his mind that the man was wearing a tux, he didn't like that one bit because this was not Adena's husband Carl.

The man stuck his hand out to George and the playboy took it hesitantly surprised by the strength in the shake. "Hi there, you must be George. I'm Wyatt, Wyatt Chase, Em's neighbor..." he pointed across the hall. "nice to meet you."

Just then raised voices came filtering down from Emma's loft. The little author was yelling loudly at her sister and the obvious topic of the ranting were the two men looking each other over. "I told you on the phone earlier Ady that I asked Wyatt two weeks ago to escort me to this thing!"

Adena's equally angry voice then chimed in, quickly ending the discussion. "Fine, fine, fine Em....I give up, let mom fight her own battles from now on." Two sets of heels were heard coming down the stairs and both men turned to see the Riordan sisters descending decked out in their fund raiser finest. Adena was dressed in a smashing ankle length, satin blue Donna Karen strapless dress with matching heels and shoulder wrap. Her hair was piled up on top of her head and she was dripping with so many diamonds that it was a wonder she was still standing. Emma was dressed in an equally stunning Donna Karen number, her hair left loose. It was a mid-thigh length, spagetti stringed black number highlighted with a simple strand of pearls.

Emma sighed when she saw George standing at the door with Wyatt. "George, I'm so sorry you drove all this way but I asked Wyatt weeks ago if he'd go this this fund raiser of mom and dad's with me tonight. I hope you understand." She flashed him her best apologetic smile and hoped he wouldn't make a big scene. She'd had enough of a big scene already with Adena.

"Oh no, I don't mind at all Em." He turned his attention to Adena. "Ady dear.." he leaned down and gave her a light peck on the cheek. "where is Carl or are you in need of an escort?"

"No Gorege, sorry my dear husband is out in the car." She gave him her best 'I really tried' look and patted him on the shoulder as she skirted out the door leaving her sister all alone to do damage control on the mess that she had made.

Wyatt watched as Emma fished for something to say to her childhood friend. He didn't dare intervene, his feisty little friend had already told him that he was to keep his mouth shut no matter what. "I really am sorry George, but Adena should have known better." She shrugged as she walked up to him actually allowing him to give her a peck on the cheek. "Would you like to ride with us, we can take Wyatt's truck instead of my car if you'd....." She was cut of by George waving his hand through the air dismissively.

"No dear, that's all right I'll drive myself, but save a dance or two for me." He smiled at her. It was then that George finally realized something. Something that had been hindering his relationship with the woman he considered his best friend. All his romantic advances and jealousies were straining the long standing friendship they had. The smile on her face and twinkle in her eyes at the mention of dances made this hit home.

"You betcha bud." Emma couldn't help the crooked grin that came to her face as she drug out the old nickname she had always called George when they were kids. They all exited her apartment and went down to their respective cars together. They found Adena and Carl still waiting so everyone hurried and climbed in. Emma decided to let Wyatt drive her car so she could settle down from her argument with Adena. Finally they were on their way, a three car caravan of expensive sports cars headed to Nobe Hill for the Riordan family's Annual Cancer Research Fund Raiser.

As Emma settled into the soft supple leather of the passengers seat of her car Wyatt started the engine and began following George's Viper. He looked over at his passenger and watched as she closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Wyatt knew Emma really didn't enjoy these fund raisers her parents threw, but knew it was her daughterly duty to attend, and she also wanted to do all she could to help the cause. He knew he should probably keep his mouth shut, but wondered if perhaps a little talking would make Emma feel better. He sure knew what a talker she could be. "Um, Emma... ya want to talk about it?"

Emma turned her head and opened her eyes smiling up at Wyatt. He was Fergus' roommate, best friend since grade school, and just as great a guy as Fergus was. For Emma having them as neighbors was like having two over protective big brothers. "You know, I think I actually would like to get a little bit of this off my chest. Thanks Wyatt." She turned her head back straight to and watched the oncoming traffic.

"Well Em, I know you. You always seem to feel better after you've talked about whatever it is bugging you so, fire away."

Emma chuckled a bit and then started explaining the argument that Wyatt had walked in on. "My whole family holds the opinion that I should marry George." She saw Wyatt out of the corner of her eye shaking his head in understanding. "Only problem is, I don't love him in that way. They just can't see that no matter how much he loves me if I don't love him back like....like," Emma made quotation marks in the air. "'that' it'll never work." She shrugged her shoulders and sighed a heavy sigh. "But I can't help but miss the great friendship we had throughout most of our school years."

An understanding smile came to Wyatt's face. "Yeah, I can identify with that. When Fergus lost Daria he became a whole different person. Treated me, and everyone else differently. He thought that's what the world expected from him." Wyatt looked at Emma as much as he could while navigating the car through the somewhat busy streets. "I'm guessing that because everyone expects or wants you and George to get married that he treats you differently, right?" Wyatt saw the positive shake of Emma's head and decided that perhaps giving a little advice wouldn't be a bad thing. "Maybe you should try talking calmly and logically with him Em."

Emma looked down at her hands. "Yeah....tonight he seems 'different.' Almost like he's finally realized that he's been hurting our friendship." Emma sighed, she could only hope that Gorege had finally decided to give up on marrying her. "Anyway, I think I've found someone else, if I can just get through to her and get myself over her past."

"Her you say?" Wyatt looked over at Emma for a few moments as they stopped at a red light. "Can I assume that this is the woman Fergus mentioned to me earlier?" At the positive shake of her head Wyatt continued on. "You know Em, I know quite a bit about Amos Duncan. She was even in the facility I'm warden at for a short time before being shipped out to New Alcatraz. We were the only prison with a medical facility that could care for her before her trial."

As they started moving again Emma reached over a gripped Wyatt's right forearm. "Wyatt, can you tell me about her?"

Wyatt saw the pleading in her eyes and realized that Fergus was right. Little Emma Riordan was falling in love. "Well......when she was in she was never in the general population, she was in the medical wing." He began searching back through his memory recalling just what an intriguing inmate Amos had been. "When they brought her in she was really messed up. Guess she wanted to go down with a bang and had a blazing shootout with the police." He heard Emma's sharp intake of breath but continued knowing the author would want to know all he could recall. "When she finally regained consciousness she was a very good inmate. Never acted against the guards authority, did as she was told. She never had any visitors though, I found that heartbreaking. She was such a youngster, to not have your family visit had to be a shattering experience for her."

"She seems to get along with her brother okay now. Not her mother though" Emma was still urging Wyatt to continue with any information that would give her a little more insight to the ex-convict.

"She was with us for a total of three months. One to get her fit enough for trial and two during the trial." Wyatt unknowingly tapped his finger against his chin in thought as he kept trying to remember more about the enigmatic woman. "I don't think she spoke more than four words in her entire time in my facility."

Finally they pulled into the drive of the Riordan mansion effectively ending their conversation. "Thanks for listening to me Wyatt and for the information." She stepped out of the car and waited for her escort as he gave the keys to the valet.

Wyatt walked around the car and offered his arm to Emma. "It was my pleasure to lend an ear my dear. Now, will you heed some advice?" Emma shook her head yes and prepared to hear something that she knew was coming. "Be careful with Amos Duncan..." He cut off her protest by a wave of his hand. "Em, I have no doubt that she has changed and feels remorse. If you can see it then it must be so, but she is still going to be a very unstable individual. Alcatraz is not a prison for reform, it is a prison for punishment, nothing more. So...just be careful okay?"

"Okay Wyatt, I will. Thanks for your concern." She took the offered arm and they started up the huge marble staircase that lead to the front door of Emma's childhood home. "Now, are you ready to have your fill of stuffy socialites?" They both laughed as they entered and were announced by the doorman.

Desdemona entered the large over done house and was announced by the doorman. She naturally had been invited to this party, she was a huge supporter of cancer research and made yearly donations. Warden Tempest had other plans this evening though. Upon arriving she had scanned the parked cars finding the Corvette that Kalinda had described on the phone. She quickly checked it, and upon finding the hood cool she knew that Miss Riordan had been at the party for a little while. She was looking forward to meeting the young author. She quickly mingled in with the huge throng of people and began her search.

Emma had been at the party for nearly an hour now and was on her second round of dancing with Wyatt when George came up and cut in. "Em dear, am I actually privy to a smile on your face? I thought you loathed these functions?" He smiled as he twirled the author as the band kicked into a hopping version of 'King of Swing.'

She chuckled at the giddiness she was feeling and the genuine smile George had on his face. "Well George, I took Wyatt's advice and decided to dance my usual boredom away. He surprised me, I didn't know that he is a trained ballroom dancer." Emma had been delighted to hear that Wyatt loved dancing so much and that he didn't mind dancing for the majority of the evening. It seemed taking to the dance floor was the only way she could ever survive these stuffy functions.

"Well I'm glad Em, you're practically glowing. I haven't seen you this happy in weeks."

"Oh well are you sure it's not just perspiration?" They both laughed at the bad joke, and continued to twirl around the floor. "But no...actually George, and let me finish before you interrupt, Amos is the reason behind all this 'glowing' that you and everyone else is seeing."

George scowled at the mention of the ex-con's name but decided that perhaps hearing Emma out wouldn't be such a bad idea. She had always been such a good talker in school and you could bet if she said it she meant it. "All right Em, I'll hear you out on this Amos character, but don't expect me to like it. We need to get off this dance floor and away from the music first though." He began leading her off the dance floor heading toward the huge French doors that lead to the mansion's extensive garden.

After silently walking through the garden for a few moments Emma and George found an ornate stone bench and sat down. "George, first of all you have to understand that no matter what you tell me you can't make me not be friends with Amos." She was relieved to see her childhood friend grudgingly shake his head in agreement. "Second of all you have to understand that we will never get married, no matter how much you or anyone else wants it. I know it would never work and I think you do to you're just not admitting it to yourself."

George sighed heavily looking Emma right in the eyes. He saw that she was right and finally, for once in his life decided to agree with her. "I think I've finally realized that Em. I'm just sorry it's taken me so long. I've put undue strain on our friendship." He took her hands in his squeezing them lightly. "Believe me Emma when I say that I am truly sorry."

Emma squeezed his hands back and smiled. "I forgive you George, now lets just concentrate on being friends. We always used to have such good times back in school." The stood and began walking back towards the party.

"Emma, can I ask you what do you find so intriguing about this ex-convict?" He saw the small scowl she gave him. "I'm sorry, I mean Amos. It just seems so strange to me for some reason that you've become such fast friends with her." George didn't have a clue what that question had just gotten him into. He was now in for the official shock of his life.

"Honestly bud," She patted him lightly on the forearm she had a hold of. "I think I'm in love." George stopped abruptly and swung Emma around to face him.

"Are you serious!? Tell me you're not serious!" He couldn't' believe his ears. This was not what he had expected. Pity or sympathy for the woman yes, but not this.

Emma looked up at George and smiled at him. "Yes George I'm serious. Don't worry I'm not jumping blindly into anything, give me a little credit. Do you have a problem with this?"

"I....I sincerely don't know what to say. You've never said anything before about being gay Em. Hell we even dated in high school." She took his arm again and started them walking back toward the doors into the house.

"Well, I think if I'm honest with myself I've always know that I was living a lie. You know doing just what mom and dad expected of me, dating who they wanted me to. No offense to you George, but you know both our parents had a big hand in our two years together."

George took a deep breath as they headed back into the noise of the still swinging party. "Okay Em, just....just give me a little time to let all this sink in." He took another deep breath and started walking them back out onto the dance floor. "Shall we?" He was rewarded with a huge grin and they picked up jumping and jiving smack in the middle of a lively rendition of 'Jump, Jive, and Wail.'

As soon as the song finished Emma decided that she better find Wyatt so she and George parted ways for a little while. George took off searching through the crowd looking for one specific person. After his little chat with Emma he had decided that he needed to find one certain guest. He finally spotted the man, impeccably dressed in white tie and tails at the bar. As he approached Keith Gunnar he couldn't help but feel underscored by the crime lord. He carried off the tie and tails better than anyone else in the room. As he approached the tall man George couldn't help but feel the power he carried crackling in the air.

When he was close enough George cleared his throat and prepared to do something no one had ever tried and lived through before. Asking Keith Gunnar to forget a request. "Um...excuse me Mr. Gunnar? Could I have a word with you please." Slowly Keith turned and the look on his face froze George where he stood.

"Mr. Nolan, this is no place for business. I'm disappointed in you." Contrary to his words Gunnar grabbed George's arm and started leading him towards the stairs. Once they were on the empty balcony overlooking the entire ballroom Keith began speaking again. "Are you stupid boy, us speaking in public is not a smart idea, even if I do conduct, shall we say, legitimate business with your family."

"Yes I know, but this is urgent." George could not look the crime lord in the eyes, they were sparkling with danger and if he kept eye contact he knew he would lose his nerve. "The favor I asked for yesterday?" Gunnar shook his head 'yes' as an indication for George to continue. "I need to revoke it, I acted hastily."

George was completely surprised by the crime lord's answer. "Very well." With that he headed back down the grand stair case and back to the bar to continue his conversation with some striking blond that George did not recognize. He stood there stunned for a few moments before returning to the throng of party goers to find Emma and Wyatt.

Warden Tempest finally spotted her prey on the dance floor with some blond man she did not recognize. She was mad that her conversation with crime boss Keith Gunnar had been cut short by some insistent boy, but it did give her a chance to scan the crowd once again. Now all she had to do was wait. Wait for them to get tired and leave the floor Then she would get the chance to meet the woman who seemed to be the object of Amos Duncan's affection.

To Be Continued…

Extra Disclaimer: Songs - "Run" by Collective Soul and "Remember the Tinman" By Tracy Chapman. No copyright infringement intended.

Now I must apologize for this chapter taking so long. Halfway through the chapter my muse decided to take an unscheduled holiday. I do believe that she took off to Key West without me because she came back with a tan. But she is back now and yelling at me to hurry up and start the next chapter. Unfortunately I must tell everyone that real life is intruding so updates will be unpredictable. I apologize ahead of time and hope everyone reading this story will stick with me, I'm having a blast writing it.

And finally I need to give a huge amount of thanks to my 'editor in chief' and substitute muse Renee. Without her this chapter would have taken even longer to complete. Her advice and ideas wrangled my muse back in from her tropical vacation and locked her back in my mind where she belongs. Thanks Renee, you are the best!