"Would you consent to have dinner with me?" Annah asked Rivers over the phone, gathering her work number out of the phone book, once Rhett recalled the firm she worked for.

"Why, feel like breaking my heart some more?"

Every bone in Annah's body told her to hang up, to let Rivers get on with her life, to be independent from a woman who had obviously taken some of that from her. Instead she stayed on the line, and took a deep breath before asking the question once more.

"Where do you want to go?" Rivers asked, and Annah felt her heart speed at the thought that the other woman was considering it.

"How does Denny's sound to you?"

"You're kidding, right?"

"I have never been more serious in my life. Let's go to Denny's. Will you pick me up?"

Rivers was so quiet that Annah thought she might have hung up. Finally, she heard the woman's answer, and it was exactly what she wanted to hear.



"So, did you have a particular Denny's in mind, or should we just find a random one?" Rivers asked, as she navigated her way out of the studio lot and onto the congested Hollywood freeway.

"Get off on Hollywood. It's the one across from the TV station."

"How do you know? I cannot believe that Jordan Allen would ever eat at Denny's."

"Oh come on Rivers. Am I that bad?"

Rivers looked sideways at her, "Do you really want me to answer that?"

Annah laughed, "No, don't. But really, I wasn't always a celebrity you know, and eating whatever I could get my hands on suited me just fine once upon a time."

Rivers turned to look at the other woman after that comment, trying to gauge if she was being serious or not. It occured to her that Jordan never failed to surprise her, and while the surprises were not usually very good surprises, the past few days had offered a few pleasant ones. Rivers decided that she rather liked this humble side of Jordan, and she immediately chastised herself for even thinking it, and reminded herself that she was supposed to be getting over this woman. She was determined to stay angry.

Despite the early evening, both Annah and Rivers ordered breakfast. After their meal they decided to share a banana split, though Annah thought that maybe she should have ordered her own, as she watched Rivers devour all of the strawberry ice cream.

Rivers caught Annah watching her more than a few times, and she eventually asked her why she kept staring.

"You just seem different, and I was wondering how you've been feeling. I worry about you sometimes," Annah said.

She noticed that Rivers eyes seemed lighter, so that there were almost blue, and that she didn't look as tired as she had the previous few days.

"Only sometimes?" Rivers asked, a weary smile firmly in place.

Annah reached across the table and took Rivers' much smaller hand in hers, "You shouldn't even have to ask that."

Rivers closed her eyes for a moment, seeming to savor what Annah had just said to her. When she opened them again, Annah knew that the moment had passed, and so she withdrew her hand and continued to eat.

"What time do you finish filming tomorrow?"

"Johnson says he only needs me there half day at the most, why?"

"Feel like having dinner with the Osbournes?"

Annah looked at her in confusion, thinking that surely Jordan knew whom these Osbourne people were. It was only a matter of faking it until she could find out for sure.

Rivers wasn't letting her off the hook however, and laughed before asking, "My parents, you wiener. Do you want to have dinner with my parents?"

***************************************************************


Rivers' parents lived near Point Fermin, overlooking the beach, in a comfortable home that they had moved to when Rivers was only 5. Compared to some of the bigger and more extravagant houses in the area, theirs was the perfect mix of solace and style. Upon seeing it for the first time, Annah was taken in by the perfectly manicured lawn, three car garage, and fine lawn ornaments, and thought that she had never seen a finer example of good living. It made her wish for a place of her own; where she could rest her head at night and know that she was going to be paying a mortgage until she was dead. Where she could maybe have a dog, not a yappy Chihuahua, but more like a big dog, like Rin Tin Tin, and where she could raise a couple of kids and have a nice little wife to kiss before going to sleep. She dared to wish that it would happen, after all, she had just come through the strangest week and a half of her life. At this point, anything was possible.


Rivers' parents met them at the driveway; two chubby, short and smiling individuals with smiles to match their girth. Rivers' mother wore what could only be described as a muumuu, its loud pink pattern in contrast to her tan skin, her long brown hair parted perfectly down the center, her green eyes twinkling with delight. Annah immediately thought of the great Mama Cass, and almost broke out in a few bars of "California Dreamin," but stopped herself with a mental shake. Rivers' father was shorter than Mama, and he wore a yellow Hawaiian print shirt with khaki shorts that were almost like pants on his very small legs, his balding head catching the glare of the southern California sun perfectly. Annah couldn't help it; she knew she liked these people.

"Mom, Dad, you remember Jordan?" Rivers said, squinting, at what Annah thought was the harshness of the colors on display before her.

Rivers' mom outstretched her large and comforting arms in Annah's direction and she stepped into the embrace willingly, "Hello, mama," she said, though it was somewhat muffled.

"Jordan, it's been a helluva long time, girlie. Where the hell you been hiding out?"

"Oh, here and there," Annah smiled, finally upright again.

"Well, let's go on in, I made enchilada loaf for you girls. I hope you're hungry."

Dinner was a loud and boisterous affair with Mama dominating the conversation, and Annah laughing more than she remembered having done in quite some time. After baklava that rivaled her grandmother's in Greece, though she was probably rolling in her grave with Annah thinking such a thing, and coffee, the foursome retired into the living room.

They watched television, and she found herself so comfortable, so relaxed, that she fell asleep there on the couch, her snores rivaling those of Rivers' dad.


When she woke, she noticed that a small quilt covered her, and that Mama and Rivers were in the kitchen talking. She tried to pick out any part of the conversation, but it was all muffled.

"It's no use, Jordan. They're in there talking about the both of us." Rivers father was still in his recliner, feet propped up, hands folded over his round belly.

She smiled, and stretched a bit before settling back into the couch.

"Rivers tells us that you two aren't living together anymore."

Jordan cleared her throat, and looked everywhere but at the man speaking to her.

" Yes sir, that is true."

"Don't be so nervous girl, I'm not going to bring out my shotgun or anything. I am just glad to see that you two are still around each other. She really loves you, you know."

"I don't deserve her love."

"Don't play the martyr with me kiddo, I know better. It was hard for me too. For a few years after me and the missus got married, I wanted to go out and have fun with the boys, and look at other women. I spent a lot of time pretending I was still single."

"Then what happened?" Annah asked, as she looked at Rivers' dad.

"We had been married almost three years, and as much as we had been trying to have kids, nothing was happening. We had been to doctor after doctor, testing this and that, and they couldn't figure it out. Finally, we both just accepted that it was going to be the two of us, and maybe we ought to adopt. Sure enough, we start the paperwork, and boom, we're pregnant."

Annah couldn't figure out where Rivers' dad was going with his story so she let him continue.

"Once I held my baby girl, I knew that being a father and a husband was much more important to me than some other broad, or going out for a beer. Now mind you, I didn't say I turned into a saint, but I chose my family."

"Sir, I can't get Rivers pregnant," Annah said, though the thought of Rivers and her having a child together was incredibly appealing. She then mentally pinched herself for even thinking such a thing.

'She loves Jordan, not you, you fool.'

"Dammit Jordan, I know that. All I'm saying is that I understand your temptation, and that there is going to come a time when you have to choose. Do you want Rivers and a family life? Or do you want that loneliness that comes with partying all of the time?"

"I care for Rivers very much, and I want her to be happy."

"So do we, kiddo, so do we."



" So?" Rivers asked, as she drove Annah back to the hotel.

"So, what?"

"Did you have fun?"

"You know what Rivers? I had a great time. I didn't know how much I missed being around a family until I was around yours. Thanks for inviting me." Annah tried hard to keep the catch out of her voice, to no avail. As much as she had enjoyed the evening, a huge part of her still hurt from the death of her mom and dad, and being with Rivers parents reminded her of that pain.

"Hey," Rivers soothed, as she wiped a tear from Annah's cheek, " Don't cry, honey."

Annah took Rivers hand in hers, and held it until they arrived. After a quick goodnight, and a quick peck on the cheek to Rivers, Annah went inside and went straight to bed.
***************************************************************

With the morning came more responsibility, as Annah was called in to the studio for more filming on what was supposed to be a few days off. She had become more comfortable in playing Jordan, and hoped that wherever her look-alike was, she was all right. Rivers had commented on receiving a few vague calls from the missing woman, and then questioning Annah about it, and so she knew that the other woman was at least alive.

Annah found that she was no longer as concerned for when the other woman would be coming back.

Annah arrived at the set nearly an hour before she was due, much to Johnson's surprise. The Texan found that he could not praise his star any more than he already had. The effort she was putting into the film made him and the other cast and crew work just as hard, and he knew that they were creating something special.

Lance Lunceford, the movies' male lead, was also due on the set, to film some of the scenes that he and Annah had together. Annah had instantly disliked him, his rude and brisk manner turning her off, and it didn't seem to be getting any better. What made it worse was that rumors were going around the set and in the tabloids that the two of them were having an affair. Some of the reports had Lance setting the woman "straight". Annah was almost sure that the slimy bastard had started them himself.

"Good morning Jordan, how are you and your lovely girlfriend doing?"

"Just fine, Lance," Annah answered, and sat in her chair waiting for the shot to be set up.

"That's wondeful. Say, do you think you'd like to have lunch in my trailer? We could go over some of our scenes together?"

Annah noticed that Lance reeked of pot, which even she had tried before, but she was pissed that he was doing it on the job.

"We can do that now."

"I meant in a more..private setting," Lance moved his chair closer and Annah resisited the urge to gag.

"Look Lance, I'm here to work. When I finish, I go home, and that is that. I am not interested in going to your trailer, or going out with you after work, or wherever else it is you'll ask me next. I'm not trying to be rude, but since you haven't taken no for an answer any of the other times, I feel like I have to be."

"Hey Jordan, this is my movie. I'm the star here, honey. All we need you here for is to look good in the skimpy clothes. All you have to do is shake that pretty little ass of yours and make sure Johnson is happy. That is what you signed on for. I was just trying to be friendly, so don't think that what you've got between your legs is lined in gold, baby. There are plenty of women out there who will give it up for me," the actor said.

Annah stood, and willed herself not to punch the smirking actor. She remembered the last time she had lost her temper, and it had been what led her to her life on the streets.


Lana had been everything that Annah could have wanted in a woman. She was smart, had just finished law school and passed the bar, and was stunningly gorgeous. They made a striking couple.

With the money that Annah had collected at 21 from her parent's life insurance, she had opened her own restaurant and specialized in the wonderful Greek cuisine that she had feasted on all of her life. She had done well enough to open two more places in different cities, and her success suited her.

She and Lana had moved into a sprawling two story, 6 bedroom Colonial style home, decorated in a fashion that would have made Martha Stewart wet.

Then, just like that, it was over. Annah had trusted Lana to draw up most of her business papers. She had never read them, thinking that she had no reason not to sign whatever her brunette companion shoved in her face. She came home one afternoon to find Lana packing her things and telling her to get out. It was then that life as she knew it changed again.

When Annah heard all of this, something inside of her jerked out of balance, and in an instant, she destroyed anything and everything in her path. Lana was lucky that she had run out of the house. Annah was blinded by what she saw as the ultimate betrayal and she didn't care what she demolished. Be it clothes, televisions, walls, or windows. With bleeding hands she tore through it all, wanting nothing more than to wake up from the nightmare that her life had instantly become.

When the police arrived, it took 5 men to subdue the seemingly crazed woman, and she was put in the back of a squad car and led off.

Destruction of private property and tax evasion were the charges that she eventually faced, after the police confiscated the falsified business records that Lana had created. Lana had really pulled one over on her. She coldly informed Annah that she loved someone else, and that the money that Annah had been making was "gone". She had no doubt that it had been sitting in Lana's new love's bank account. The happy couple ended up selling all of the restaurants, which had been changed to Lana's name during the relationship, and made millions.

Annah spent almost a year and a half in lock up, before the state saw fit to release her. Problem was, Annah had very little money, no friends, and no one to help her. She was on the streets in no time, and survived as well as she could without selling herself, which is the one thing she swore she'd rather die than do.


Now here she was, with a slimy, smelly pick-up artist all over her ass, debating on whether or not she should slug him. Instead she turned around and walked away, breathing calmly as she headed back to her trailer. She figured Johnson would call her when he was ready.

Meanwhile, Lance punched in the number to his tabloid connection, and filled her in on the latest happenings on the set between himself and Jordan Allen. He'd make that bitch sorry for turning him down.



"I found a place," Rivers said, as she picked Annah up from the studio.

Annah tried to look pleased, and hoped that the other woman did not notice the sadness on her face.

"That's great, when are you moving?"

"Ready to have me gone, are you?" Rivers teased, but Annah knew the blonde was waiting to hear what she had to say.

"I won't go back to that house, not if you aren't there," she answered seriously, and smiled when Rivers turned to look at her.

"Let's go away together," Rivers said, blurting out the first thing that came to her mind. She didn't know what possessed her to ask, knowing that she was supposed to be in the process of breaking up with Jordan. Something about the taller woman's attitude seemed different to her, and she found that she actually enjoyed the time they had been spending together. Maybe they could salvage some kind of friendship out of the whole thing.

"And where are we going to go?"

"How about Vegas? Me and you, a few days of fun. What do you say?"

Annah pretended to be mulling it over, but she was thinking about what she was going to tell Johnson to get off for three days.

****************************************************


The oppressiveness of the Nevada heat made itself known as soon as Rivers' car passed the state line. Even in the early evening hours, the temperature was well into the 90's, and despite a fully functional air conditioner, it could still be felt. Annah had made the mistake of opening the window for a moment, and after the dryness assaulted her tender throat, she immediately rolled it back up and prayed for the artificial coldness of the Vegas casinos.

It had been a nice drive up; Rivers taking her time, when the majority of the cars were zooming past them. Annah had dozed on and off during the drive, waking to find her blonde companion softly humming to a CD on the radio.

After driving down the Las Vegas strip, Rivers waited at the light to turn into the driveway of the place where they would be staying. The Bellagio Hotel was opulent by anyone's standards, an exquisite example of the finest that Las Vegas had to offer to those who could afford it. There were Ferrari's and Porche's waiting in the valet line. Annah refused to even step foot into the lobby.

"Where do you want to stay?" Rivers asked, wondering when Jordan had taken such a dislike to the finer things in life. If Rivers had tried to book them anywhere else, she was sure Jordan would have had a fit.

"What's wrong with the Motel 6?" Annah asked.

Rivers would have run the car into a few pedestrians, had Annah not told her to "Look out."

"You're kidding, right?" Rivers looked at her companion, and began to wonder what had caused such a change in the other woman, and whether or not she was being serious.

" Rivers, I appreciate the sentiment, really I do. There is no need for us to stay at this hotel for hundreds of dollars a night, when we can stay somewhere else for a heck of a lot cheaper. It's just a bed for Chris sakes, we aren't sleeping on gold pillows. Think of all of the people in this town that live here, who probably sleep on the cold street every night."

"I didn't think it would matter to you, to be honest. You've always wanted to stay here, so I thought we'd give it a try," Rivers said as she stopped at a red light.

"Well, it does matter to me. I just can't imagine spending that kind of money on a room. It blows my mind, Rivers. I'm not trying to be a bad date, really, but I just can't see us staying here."

"So, then you want me to find us somewhere else to go?"

"Please," Annah asked as she looked out of the window.

Rivers used the OnStar feature in her car, and was able to secure them a reasonable room in minutes. Annah leaned over and gave the other woman a kiss on the cheek, and the smile on Rivers face was enough to make her glad she was being such a pain in the ass.

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino was not a dump, by any means, but it still boasted a rate of almost three hundred dollars a night cheaper than the Bellagio. Annah was one happy girl, especially when she set foot in the lobby and was met by display upon display of rock and roll memorabilia.

One of the things her father had passed on to her was a love of rock and roll, in all of its conceptions. From Elvis to the Supremes, Led Zepplin to The Captain and Tennile, Blondie to the Sex Pistols, Siouxsie and the Banshees to the Cure, Madonna to Britney Spears, Annah loved music and its stars. She tried to look at every display while Rivers checked in, and realized that she was going to need more than the spare minutes afforded to her. She hoped that Rivers would not mind indulging her, her mind already working on what she wanted to do first in the famous city.

"Oh my God, it's really you."

A voice of a teenager broke Annah's concentration, and she looked around to see who the girl was talking to. Pointing at her chest, she mouthed "Me?"
To which the excited blonde loudly proclaimed, "Mom, it's Jordan Allen!"

Annah fought the urge to panic, taking deep calming breaths as she sought Rivers in the small crowd that was forming quickly around her. The girl that had initially recognized her, now approached her shyly, family in tow, and asked for an autograph. Annah smiled, and did what she hoped was a pretty good interpretation of Jordan's signature, and then posed for a quick picture with the teen and her family.

"Are you ok?" Rivers asked as she came and stood next to Annah, noting that she had never seen the actress seem so nervous when approached by fans.

"Fine, I think," Annah replied, as she began to accommodate the other requests from the people that had gathered. It didn't take long for the hotel manager to come over and apologize to the couple for the crowd. Within a few minutes the last autograph and picture were done, so he offered to personally escort them to their room.

By the time they reached the fourth floor, where they would be staying, he had already offered them comps for food and gaming, and even free tickets for a band that would be playing the next evening in the famous Lounge area of the casino. Annah thanked him, then walked straight to the bed and laid down, leaving Rivers to listen to the rest of his offers.

She woke sometime later, not sure if it was a matter of minutes or hours, and felt the comforting warmth of Rivers next to her. She noted that there were two king beds, and didn't know why Rivers had chosen to lay with her, but was happy she had even if it could only be like this for awhile. It was obvious that Rivers was tired, and so Annah closed her eyes again, and fell back to sleep.

*************************************************************

"You know its true what Elvis sang," Rivers began, as she stretched her body and began to move away from Annah, who was also beginning to wake.

"What's that?"

"About Vegas turning day into nighttime and night into daytime. It's already 10, and I am ready to go out and see what kind of trouble we can get into. What do you want to do?"

"I don't care. Whatever you want to do is fine by me."

Rivers offered a sly smile, and gathered her things to take a shower, the look on her face making Annah wonder what she was getting herself into.
***************************************************************

Olympia was one of the biggest, and many considered it to be one of the best, strip clubs that Las Vegas had to offer. Located in the downtown area, it was one of the popular hotspots in the city, offering male and female strippers for its clientele.

Annah and Rivers took a cab, and upon arrival they were waved in by bouncers. The cashier recognized Annah to be Jordan and alerted her bosses that someone famous was in the establishment. The manager immediately came over and began fawning over the duo. The last thing Annah wanted was more attention, but she thought it was cool when she and Rivers were immediately seated at a booth that had been reserved, when they would have had to stand otherwise in the crowded business.

The girls began walking by, giving the two women looks to see if they were interested in a dance, or even just conversation. Annah quickly zoomed in on a woman she thought was attractive, her caramel skin covered in glitter that the little amount of light in the club reflected, her green eyes locked on the brunette as she danced for a table nearby. She reminded Annah of a younger Vanessa Williams, and the woman knew that she had Annah's attention and used the motion of her body to keep it.

"She wants you," Rivers said playfully, and Annah actually felt her face blush at getting caught.

"Relax stud, we aren't together anymore. It's ok if you drool over her."

Annah noted the sadness in Rivers voice, and grabbed her hand. "She's a stripper honey, its her job to make us drool."

"She is gorgeous. You want a dance?"

"No way, I'd die!" Annah protested.

"You refusing a lap dance? What's going on here?"

Annah buried her face in Rivers shoulder, as the younger woman began to laugh at her.

Annah felt another presence, and then she smelled the oil that the dancer rubbed all over her body. Rivers was nodding her head at the woman, who was now straddling Annah's lap.

She used her body to rub against the taller woman, seeing the familiar look of lust that most of the customers had on their faces as the nearly naked women paraded in front of them, but this one was different. As gorgeous as she thought Annah was, it was actually a turn on for her to dance for someone who was so good looking, and who wasn't trying to paw at her ass while she moved.

She began to run her tongue over Annah's ear, making the taller woman shudder, and noted that the seated womans nipples became hard through her shirt. She could feel them against her chest, and meeting the dark green orbs of the woman sitting next to them, she lowered her head and began nibbling at Annah's chest, making her squirm in the process.

Rivers smiled as she watched the scene unfold in front of her, noting how Jordan was not reacting at all how she had remembered.

In the first few months they had been together, Jordan had convinced her to go to a strip club on Sunset. She knew something was up when the bouncer greeted Jordan as if they were best friends, and many of the dancers came over and did the same. 'Ok, so she's been here before,' Rivers thought, and while that initially hadn't really bothered her, as the evening wore on it only got worse.

Jordan pretty much ignored her for the rest of the night, as woman after woman gyrated on her lap and in front of her face, and she handed them hundred dollar bills one after the other. Rivers watched with the eye of an attorney and estimated that Jordan tipped out close to $10,000. What should have been the last straw was when Jordan had handed her the keys and told her to drive home, that she had some business to talk to the club owner about, and that she'd be home as soon as she could.

Rivers had simply taken the keys and done as she was told. She was too shocked and saddened to do anything but obey. She would later realize that it was that complacency that had shown Jordan that she could do that sort of thing to her, and she wouldn't put up a fight. Jordan came home two days later and acted as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

Back in the present, the stripper was looking expectantly at Rivers and she realized that she had to pay her. Taking out a hundred dollar bill, she placed it into the g-string that the woman had pulled away from her mocha colored skin, and then gave her a playful tap on the thigh. The woman leaned down and kissed her on the cheek and then whispered in her ear, "I get off in two hours. If you two want to have some fun, wait for me."

Rivers only smiled, giving no indication to the woman what her answer might be, and after kissing Annah on the cheek as well, she moved on and looked into the crowd for her next dance.

Annah sat back and then took a long pull from the bottled water in front of her. She was feeling a thrumming in her blood that was quickly making her feel almost high in its intensity. She turned and looked at Rivers and saw that the blonde was probably feeling the same thing. She couldn't deny that she found the stripper attractive, even sexy, but it was nothing compared to how she felt around Rivers. They could laugh together, and talk, and Annah knew that she was slowly but surely falling for this woman who still sort of belonged to someone else. It was confusing, and as their gazes locked, Annah did the only thing she could think to do in such a situation; she leaned forward and kissed her.

Rivers could still smell the oil that the dancer lubed herself up with clinging to Annah's shirt. It made her move closer, to remove the smell of another woman and make her own claim on the woman beside her. She felt long arms wrapping around her, and then she was pulled onto the taller womans lap, a knee on each side of Annah's thighs, as they moved their mouths against one another.

Rivers moved her tongue into the taller woman's mouth, shyly at first and then with a confidence that made Annah's heart pound hard inside her chest. Rivers tasted of cinnamon, and to Annah it was perfect; their kiss, the way their lips felt against one another, the way their tongues slowly slid against each other, neither trying to control.

Only when it was necessary to catch her breath did Annah pull away, and she panted against Rivers chest as the smaller woman pulled her closer to her. Annah finally took note of where her hands were, and she quickly removed them from Rivers perfect ass, and moved them to her waist.

Annah began to feel what could only be described as a panic attack; her palms were sweaty, her breathing hitched, the pounding of her heart made her feel faint. She knew she had crossed that very fine line that she had tried to set between her and Rivers, because the last thing she wanted to do was hurt her, and at the rate they were going, it was the only thing that was going to come of this very screwed up situation.

She looked up at Rivers and said, "Let's go."


The cab ride back to the hotel offered both women a chance to settle down, and what was all intensity and lust back at the club, had tapered down to quiet reflection. Neither of them spoke, yet neither relinquished the hold of the others hand as the driver took them down the Las Vegas strip.

Annah knew that her time was up. She couldn't continue to mask who she was and pretend anymore that she was Jordan. It was getting more complicated, and she knew that the only one that was going to be hurt was Rivers.

She turned and looked at the woman next to her and could not deny that what she felt was bordering on love. As crazy and as stupid as it seemed, Rivers was the epitome of the perfect woman. She was smart as hell, funny, not to mention good looking, and Annah had never felt as comfortable in anyone else's presence. As strong as the feeling was, Annah knew that the gig was up, and she had nothing left to do but to tell the truth.

By the time they reached their hotel, there was still a good sized crowd gambling and at the bar. Rivers asked if Annah wanted to hang out and gamble for a while, but with her stomach in knots, she declined and said that she wanted to go back to the room so that they could talk.

Rivers agreed and noted the discomfort on Annah's face. She didn't know what it was that they were going to talk about, but something told her that it was not going to be anything good.

***************************************************


Los Angeles, 1:05 p.m.

Hours later, Annah looked out of the window of the airplane as it made its descent in Los Angeles. After her conversation with Rivers, she had headed straight for McCarren airport and waited 2 hours until she could catch a flight home. Rivers had insisted on paying for the ticket and had told her that Annah could pay her back whenever they saw one another again. As she buckled her seatbelt, their conversation seemed to be on continuous loop in Annah's mind.

"Stop screwing around, Jordan."

"I wish I was, Rivers. This isn't a joke."

As Annah related her unbelievable story, Rivers stayed silent. Then as Annah told of her growing feelings for the other woman, she began to cry.

"Please don't cry, Rivers. The last thing that I ever wanted to happen was to see you hurt. I wanted so much to tell you, but it never seemed the right time."

"So why now?"

"Because, my feelings for you are too much to allow me to do this anymore," Annah said, and noted that this only made Rivers cry harder. She moved closer to the blonde woman and put an arm around her. Annah took comfort in the fact the Rivers was allowing her touch, and while it was a small victory, it was a victory none-the-less.

"I'm so confused," Rivers finally said, blowing her nose, "If you aren't Jordan, then where in the hell is she?"

"I have no idea. I know you've gotten calls from her, but other than that…" Annah let her thoughts trail off. A part of her wished that Jordan Allen was never coming back, and that she and Rivers could be together. However, Annah realized that Rivers probably wasn't going to want to have a whole lot to do with her after the night was over.

"Another one of her fuck ups that she thinks I'm going to sit back and accept," Rivers said, with an air of bitterness.

"You don't have to do that anymore, Rivers. If it is one thing that I always wanted you to know, it was how special you are, and how much better you made me feel about myself. You are such a kind and loving person, and you have so much going for you, any woman would be stupid to let you go."

Rivers had smiled, and offered her thanks for the sentiment, but Annah was still convinced that it would take more than that for Rivers to truly realize her worth. As much as she did not want their time together to end, she knew that the only person who could make Rivers understand how special she was, was Rivers herself.

Every truth was exposed, including that of Annah's past and what she had been through. When she had related how she had ended up in jail and on the streets, Rivers had listened to her story and had passed no judgment. She told Annah that a lesser person would not have survived, and that she admired her will.

In regards to their relationship, neither woman had said a whole lot as far as what would happen now that the truth was out. Rivers had been more concerned about making sure that Annah had a place to stay once she returned home and not about facing any feelings she may have had.

Still, to Annah things felt unresolved. She had opted to go back to Los Angeles, and so after packing her things she and Rivers headed to the airport.

Rivers left after Annah had her ticket in hand. She was tired, but she knew that sleep was going to elude her. She made a decision, and headed out.
*********************************************************

Annah was one of the last passengers to get off of the plane. She was so lost in thought over what she was going to do now that she was back in LA, that she failed to notice Rivers as she walked right by her.

Rivers had driven back from Vegas as soon as she bought Annah's plane ticket, and it had been a long and thoughtful ride home.

Now that she knew the truth, she began to think of all the little things that had happened over the past month. She felt that in a sense, Annah had never really lied to her. All of the things that she said were the truth, especially about her feelings. There was no denying that when Annah looked at her, it was with nothing but respect and caring.

It was a truly crazy story, and one that had taken her the almost 5 hour drive home to wrap her mind around. When Annah had told her the story, she knew that the other woman was not looking for any kind of pity, and Rivers saw that strong sense of pride that Annah's parents had obviously instilled in her.

Jordan was still gone and this made things so much more difficult to put closure on. She knew without a doubt that her relationship with the actress was over, but what was truly on her mind was Annah.

Annah.

Now that she knew her name, it seemed like she couldn't stop thinking about her. The truth was, she had been so much more attentive than Jordan had ever been. She had shown her so much more kindness than any other woman she had been with; and most importantly, she knew that Annah respected her. It was strange to have feelings for someone who looked almost exactly like her now ex-girlfriend, but Rivers could not deny that she too felt something with the other woman, and it was something that had been building since the first day they had met.

Rivers recalled so many conversations, looks and touches that had placated her because she thought that finally, finally Jordan was coming around and ready to settle down. Now, she was filled with a sense of so much more, something that bordered on hope. It was that hope that had led her to the airport to find Annah.

"Annah."

Annah turned toward the sound of her name and was momentarily stunned to see Rivers standing there.

"Hi," Rivers offered, as she pushed her sunglasses onto the top of head.

"Hi, Rivers. What are you doing here?" Annah didn't want to be rude, but it seemed the most logical question.

"I wanted to talk to you, again."

"Well, then, let's talk."

Rivers and Annah walked through the crowded airport and found a place to sit where they could talk and not be overheard. Already they were getting a few stares from curious onlookers who couldn't believe who they were seeing, but no one bothered the women.

"I thought about everything on the way home, and there was something that I realized," Rivers began, her green eyes intent.

"What is that?"

" Things are over between Jordan and I. They have been for a long time. I guess I just wanted to hang on to something that was constant for me, something safe. And then when you told me the truth, I remembered some of the little things, things you said, how you looked at me, the day we had dinner with my parents. I can't say that if I were in your position I would have done anything different. It makes sense to me, and I needed you to know that."

Annah smiled, and her posture relaxed a bit after these words from Rivers.

"Rivers, I never meant for all of this to happen. I thought I'd be lucky to have a few meals and then be on my way again. Next thing I know I'm making a movie, moving in with you, and I can't help that part of me wished it were all true, that this really was my life. Especially you," Annah grabbed Rivers' hand, and held onto it tightly.

"You are a wonderful woman, and I know that the circumstances of all of this must have been hard for you to deal with. What I do know is that you only get so many chances in life. I'm not a fool, Annah. I may have been for a long time, but not anymore. I can't just let you walk out of my life."

Annah's eyes met Rivers, and she saw an incredible amount of caring in them. It made her feel hopeful too, and that was something she hadn't felt in quite some time.
***************************************************************

Leaving LAX together, Rivers lowered the top to her car, and they rode back to the Beverly Hotel in comfortable silence, the warmth of the Southern California sun tanning their faces.

The room that Annah had been staying in was still paid for a few more days, and Rivers encouraged her to continue using it until the situation was resolved.

"You should call Johnson, and tell him that you're back," Rivers said, as she sat on the cushioned white couch in the living room.

" Why on earth should I do that?" Annah asked, taking a drink from her newly opened can of Coke.

"Well, until Jordan comes back, you're still her, Annah."

"I thought I was done with that, Rivers. I have no interest in playing the part of Jordan any longer than I have to, and I don't see that I still should."

Rivers looked at her and smiled. She knew that Annah was not interested in Jordan or her money, and her attitude really cemented Rivers' belief that Annah was something special.

"Look, Johnson is a good guy, and I would hate for his movie to go bust because you don't show up to finish it. Who knows when in the hell Jordan will decide to make an appearance. If you're doing the work, you'll be entitled to be paid. Don't worry about that part. Let me take care of it," Rivers said, and it seemed to Annah that she was not going to be argued with.

"The last time I trusted a lawyer it didn't turn out so well," Annah said, her eyes misting.

Rivers saw the emotions on the other womans face and patted the couch so that Annah would sit next to her.

"Have I ever given you reason not to trust me?"

" No," Annah admitted, the answer coming to her quickly and without any doubts.

"Good," Rivers made sure that Annah made eye contact with her," Because it's important to me that you do have trust in me. No relationship can survive without it."

"Is that what we have," Annah asked quietly.

"Is that what you want?"

"I have nothing to offer you, Rivers. You could do so much better than me."

"I had a millionaire, one of the biggest movie stars in the world, Annah. Some might say I did have the best, and it just wasn't enough. You still haven't answered my question."

"You haven't answered mine," Annah said as she tweaked Rivers nose in order to lighten the mood.

" I think that you and I should spend time together to see if what we feel is something that we want to pursue. I know that I enjoy spending time with you, and I would like to think that the feeling is mutual. For me, that is enough, for now."

"For now," Annah repeated, leaning her body into Rivers', her lips slightly parted as she moved closer.

Their kiss was soft, and was neither hurried nor with passion. It was a kiss that spoke of things to come, and neither thought any more about the most pressing issue of all: The return of Jordan Allen.


*************************************************************


Rivers moved all of her things from the home that she and Jordan had shared for close to a year. It seemed that her possessions were sparse, only clothing and a few pictures, and she thought to herself that she never seemed to have really moved in.

Jordan and her work had been enough to keep her busy; there were always premieres to go to, and other events that Jordan wanted her to attend. Rivers would ask why Jordan insisted she go with her, and why not one of the tarts that she was always flaunting in her face. Jordan liked to say that she and Rivers looked better together than apart, and it was a statement that kept coming back to haunt her. How had she allowed herself to be treated like that?

She sat on their bed, Jordan's bed, and thought about all of the stupid comments like that one, and had to laugh. She couldn't understand why she had wasted so much time with someone who was never going to love her the way that she needed to be loved- the way that she deserved to be loved. Someone that liked to drink and drug and who didn't give a damn who knew about it, even though Rivers had told her lover numerous times how much she hated the way Jordan would act when she was coked out of her mind.

She remembered what her mother had said the first time Rivers had brought Jordan to the house.

" Little girl, that woman will never belong to anyone but herself."

" Oh Mama, stop it. You just met her, how can you say that?"

" Because I can see right through her, even if you can't. As much as I want to see you happy, I don't think that will happen with her, kiddo."

" How are you going to jinx me like that?"

" Oh honey," she grabbed Rivers' hand and held it tightly, " She isn't the one for you. Any mother would tell her child what she sees even if it isn't what their child wants to hear. It's in our nature, and you'll find out one day when you have kids of your own. But that one out there, she's going to hurt you, and when she does, I want you to know that me and your daddy are going to be here for you."

Rivers had changed the subject and ended that conversation as quickly as it had begun. She and Jordan had spent the day with her parents, and had a really good time. Rivers was relieved when her mom and Jordan had got on well, and she thought that maybe her mom would change her mind about her lover. She had told her later that while she liked Jordan, she knew their relationship was not going to last.

'I just had to prove her wrong,' Rivers thought. She remembered so many times when she knew that their relationship was going nowhere, but she had stayed because she thought she could make Jordan into someone else. She had spent months trying to change things that had been going on long before she came into the relationship, and no matter what she did, it was still going to end sooner or later.

Now with Annah in the picture, there was so much more at stake. There was definitely attraction, she couldn't deny that. Where Jordan's eyes were always bloodshot and listless, Annah's eyes were such a bright blue that she should have seen the difference right off. Jordan had a tendency to look a little bloated, especially with all of the drinking. Annah had a lean, muscled look, and it suited her well.

Hell, it suits me well come to think of it.

Rivers had no doubt that she wanted to pursue a relationship with Annah. She didn't think it would be smart to jump head first into something, but they had built a friendship, and that was the first step.

However, she was unsure of what was going to happen with them once the situation with Jordan was settled. She would not allow Annah to go back to living on the streets, that much was clear to her. It was a question of how much help Annah would be willing to accept, and it was Rivers hope that she would accept all that she had to give.

*************************************************************


"How was movie making today?" Rivers asked, as she drove away from the studio where she had just picked up one very tired Annah.

" I don't know why I'm so damn tired. All I did was sit in that stupid chair while Rhett did my hair and makeup while we waited for the scenes to be set up. Then the lighting was all wrong, so we waited for it to be fixed. Then hair and makeup for the other actors had to be redone because we were sweating like pigs, so there went more time. We shot one scene in six hours Rivers, and I feel like I've been dragged through the mud. Freakin' 7 a.m. call, and I feel like we didn't do anything."

" I'm sorry," Rivers began.

"Why are you sorry, it wasn't your fault."

" I know, but it seemed a polite thing to say."

Annah laughed, and said, " Maybe you don't always have to be polite Rivers."

"Stop it, smart ass. Speaking of which, how is Rhett?"

" He's actually doing really well. Still busting my balls about putting the moves on you."

" Rhett?"

" Yup. He keeps saying that you're too good for Jordan, which we are in agreement about, I might add, and that I should go for it."

" And what did you say?"

" I said I'd have to think about it, you know, see what my options are."

Rivers backhanded Annah in the belly, and then turned her attention back to the road.

" You know, Rhett really is a good looking guy, I wonder why he never went into acting."

Rivers turned and looked at the other woman, trying to gauge whether or not she was being serious.

" You mean he didn't tell you?"

" Tell me what," Annah asked.

" About his other career?"

" No, he didn't tell me. Now just spill it, because I know you're dying to tell me."

" Well, no, not really. I'm surprised he didn't say anything, though. He told me the second time he met me."

" Would you just tell me already!" Annah shouted playfully.

" Rhett was a gay porn actor, or more precisely, he was a gay porn superstar."

" Shut the hell up," Annah said, as she looked at Rivers with wide blue eyes.

" I'm serious. He was huge, I mean in the star sense. He even went so far as to start writing and directing, and not only gay porn mind you. He even won some awards for both. "

Annah sat back in her seat and attempted to digest this new information. Rhett was a porn star. Not just any porn star, but he had to be an award winning porn star and director?

In Hollywood, Annah would believe anything, and after what had happened to her in the past month, she knew anything was possible.

It made sense, what with Rhett being as good-looking as he was. Annah made a mental note to tease Rhett about his double life as soon as she saw him again.


" So what do you want to do tonite?" Rivers asked, as she noted that Annah still looked as though she were trying to make sense of what she had just been told.

" Uhm, I don't care. It's up to you."

" What time is your call tomorrow?"

" 9 in the morning."

" Feel like-" Before Rivers could finish her thought, her cell phone started chirping from its perch on her dash. She pushed a button to answer, and the sound of Johnson's voice boomed through the car.

"Where is Jordan?"

" I'm right here, what's going on?"

" You have to be at the MTV Awards tonite."

" What?"

" The studio just called me and asked if you'd go and be a presenter. Somebody cancelled out at the last minute. It would be great publicity."

" Do I have a choice?" Annah asked.

" Not really," Johnson said, and Annah noted that he chuckled, which was rare for the big man. " The car will be at the house at 5."

" Wait," Annah said before he hung up, " I'm staying at the Beverly Hotel."

" Uhm, ok then, I'll tell them to send it there," he said, and then disconnected.

" He didn't know you weren't staying at the house anymore?" Rivers asked.

"It never really came up, but I guess he knows now."

" Well, he'll just think that I threw you out or something," Rivers said, as she turned to Annah and grinned.

" What am I supposed to wear to this thing?" Annah asked, as she realized that she didn't have access to Jordan's closet anymore.

" Shit," Rivers said as she made a quick move into the next lane. "Looks like we're going shopping."

Annah groaned, as Rivers turned onto Santa Monica Boulevard, towards Rodeo Drive.

*************************************************************

" She's so small in person," Annah whispered as she and Rivers walked down the red carpet towards the auditorium where the awards were being held.

" I know, I always thought she was a lot taller. Jordan and I went to the premiere of Evita, and I swear I almost passed out when I met her. You can't not be affected by that woman. Even Jordan stuttered when they were introduced, and she never gets nervous around people."

Annah laughed, and she and Rivers posed for a few photographers before taking their seats for the show.

Hours later, a very stiff Annah ran her hands over her back and ass, trying to restore feeling to the areas affected most by sitting for so long. Besides the very short time it had taken to present the award for the best rap video, with her co-star Lance Lunceford (who Johnson had conveniently forgotten to mention in his earlier call), Annah had been in her seat for way too long.

Annah begged off invitations to many of the Hollywood after parties, no doubt making plenty of people suspicious, as Jordan Allen was not one to turn down any party. Plenty of times once those parties were over, the celebration moved to Jordan's house and continued until the sun was up.

Rivers often found herself alone in the bedroom, trying to sleep while music and laughter played throughout the house. She never dared to actually leave the bedroom in search of Jordan to let her know that she needed to sleep, that she actually had a job that required she be there every day at a certain time. Deep in her heart she knew that if she sought Jordan out, she might find her in a position that would require that Rivers do something about it, and that thought had become more and more painful.

As the limo drove them closer to the Beverly hotel, Rivers gazed at her sleeping companion and wondered what she had ever done to deserve someone as kind and gentle as Annah.

Part of the reason she had wasted so much time with Jordan instead of leaving was the thought that she would be alone. At 34, she had only had a few relationships, always putting school and her career first. She thought that with Jordan they could perhaps build on something, have a family even, which was something that Rivers hadn't considered before. It seemed the right time, only as Rivers was to discover, not the right person.

She hated that she had allowed herself to become so desperate, that she had been clinging to something that was clearly wrong for her. It had all come back to that fear of being alone, and the fact that she wanted so much to have the kind of love that her parents had that she was willing to sacrifice so much of herself to get it.

Annah had given Rivers the impression that once she had lost her own family, she had placed an incredible amount of importance on honoring their memory. Rivers knew that Annah would want the same things out of life, would want to settle down and maybe have a few kids. It just seemed that they were on the same page, and in the same direction at the same time in their lives, and it made Rivers hopeful that they would be able to turn their friendship into something more.

Rivers shook herself out of her memories as she heard her cell phone ring. She placed it next to her ear and said quietly, " Hello," so as not to wake up Annah.

"Rivers, it's Jordan."

Rivers brought her hand to her mouth, cursing that she had let out a gasp loud enough to make Annah stir in her sleep. Rivers ran her hands through Annah's hair, attempting to settle her back down.

"Rivers?"

" Yes, I..uhm, I'm here. Where are you?"

"At the house, I just got in a few minutes ago and I saw that all of your stuff was gone."

"You almost sound hurt," Rivers said, unable to resist getting in a jab at her former lover.

Jordan sighed. "I suppose I deserved that. Can you come over? I'd really love to talk to you."

"I'm not coming back to you, Jordan." Rivers spoke a little louder than she had meant, and upon hearing Jordan's name, Annah sat upright, her blue eyes widened.

"No, Rivers. It isn't like that. I understand that you needed more from me than I was willing to give, and for that I'm sorry." Jordan paused and then let out a shaky breath before continuing.

"You know, they told me I had to make amends with people that I had hurt, but I didn't realize it was going to be this hard."

" I'm not so sure it's a good idea for me to go over there right now Jordan," Rivers said as she looked at Annah, the taller womans' expression was still that of shock.

"You're with someone, aren't you?" Jordan asked, sounding hurt.

"I hardly think that you are in any position to question me about that."

"This is so not going the way I was meaning it to," Jordan said, "Do you think at some point you would be willing to talk to me?"

"Just to talk?" Rivers added quickly.

"Yes, just to talk."

"Hold on," Rivers said as she put the phone down and turned to Annah. "She wants me to meet with her and talk."

"We can't wait, Rivers. What if someone calls the house about the movie? She is going to find out the wrong way. We have to tell her."

" Do you want to go there right now?"

" What choice do we have?" Annah asked, and Rivers had to concede that she was right. They had to tell Jordan what had been going on the past month that she had been gone.

Rivers put the phone back to her ear, "Jordan, we'll be right there."

"We?" Jordan questioned.

"Jordan, this is something that you are going to have to see to believe."

***************************************************************

Rivers and Annah sat in silence after Rivers instructed the driver to take them back to Jordan's house. Neither one of them could express the many thoughts that were going through their heads.

Annah was mostly thinking that her time with Rivers was going to be over soon. She didn't care much about leaving the limos and the most comfortable bed that she had ever slept in. Her stomach was tied in knots as she contemplated what her next move was going to be, provided Jordan didn't try to kick her ass first. She had never been much of a fighter.

Rivers absently bit at her nails, even though there wasn't much left to bite off. She was busy trying to wrap her mind around the fact that Jordan was not the only one who was going to have to explain her actions. Rivers knew that she was going to have to reveal everything that had been happening, which included her own part in passing Annah off as the actress. She knew that Jordan could sometimes have a temper, though it had never really been directed at her, she had seen it first hand plenty of times to know that she did not want herself or Annah to be the recipient of it.

The limo came to a stop and the driver let them out. Annah waited for Rivers as she opened her clutch purse to tip the driver, who smiled gratefully at what Rivers had given him. Without thought, they grasped hands and walked to the door. Rivers considered using her key, but opted to ring the doorbell instead.

When Jordan opened the door she could not believe how wonderful Rivers looked. She didn't look as thin as she had the last time they had seen one another, and Jordan guessed that Rivers had stopped worrying so much about her and started taking care of herself for once. She didn't even seem to notice Annah, instead reaching out and putting her arms around her former lover.

Rivers could not believe the obvious change in Jordan. She had put on some weight, and it suited her. She had her black hair pulled back in a braid, and it made her look years younger than when she left. Gone were the dark circles from lack of sleep, and her eyes were no longer bloodshot, but looked a lot more livened. Rivers held on to the other woman, surprised at the onslaught of emotion that came with being face to face. She had spent so much time being pissed off, that looking at Jordan again, and having her look so healthy, made Rivers happy.

"You look good," Rivers said, stepping out of the hug.

"And you...you look better than I've ever seen you look."

" Should I be happy or offended?" Rivers asked, a bit of a smile on her face.

Before Jordan could answer, she seemed to remember that Rivers was not alone. She glanced at the tall woman standing next to Rivers, and was visably taken aback.

"You...you..," she pointed at Annah, unable to get any other words out of her mouth.

"I think we need to go inside Jordan. There is a lot you need to know."
***************************************************************

A little over an hour later, Jordan sat back on the black leather couch and let out a long breath.

"Who knows about this?" she asked.

" Us three, and Rhett," Annah answered.

"You told Rhett?" Jordan asked.

" He figured it out the first time he met me. He was the only one though."

" So you mean to tell me that I've been gone for a month and no one seemed to notice that someone was impersonating me?"

" That's pretty much it," Rivers answered, "And you still haven't told me where you've been."

"For crissakes Rivers, where in the hell do you think I've been?"

"Knowing you Jordan, you've shacked up with one of your conquests."

Jordan stood and began pacing, "How many times can I apologize for that-"

"Try once, Jordan. Maybe once you might apologize for flaunting all of your bitches in front of me," Rivers said as she wiped away angry tears.

Annah slowly stood from where she was sitting and began to walk towards the front door. She had never been very good with angry scenes, and she wanted to avoid this one at all costs. Just as she was about to reach for the handle, two angry voices cried out, "You're not leaving!"

She slowly walked back to her seat and put her head down.

"Rivers, I've been in rehab for the past month. I went to a center out in the desert. I'm trying to kick the drugs, the booze, and even the sex. I know I should have let you in on what I was doing, but I was driving down Santa Monica and everything just hit me," Jordan said, as she sat down again.

"I was so tired of living the way I was. I hated the things that I was doing, especially the way that I was treating you. I guess I just realized how much I hated me. You deserved so much better than the shit I saddled you with. All of this money, the movies, I guess I just stopped being happy a long time ago. I was just too stoned to realize it. So that day, I drove to the rehab that I had tried a long time ago, when I hadn't been ready to quit, and I checked myself in."
"Why didn't you call? I would have left you alone," Rivers said.

"I asked that they take my phone privilages for those first two weeks. I knew that if I talked to anyone, I would want to leave. I just can't live this life anymore. I've been doing it for over ten years, and I just don't want to do it any longer."

Rivers nodded, absorbing all that she had been told. Jordan had finally cleaned up, something that she had always tried to help her with, but had never been able to. While part of her resented that it was something that Jordan had once again left her out of, the rest of her knew that this was all for the best, and she couldn't help being happy.

It seemed that at the same time that Annah looked up at Rivers and Jordan now that there didn't seem to be any more sparks flying, both women turned to look at her.

"Now," Jordan said as she grinned, "What shall we do with you?"

***************************************************************

Epilogue

"Are you ready?" Rivers asked, as the door to their limo was opened.

The bulbs from the paparazzi cameras began to flash as the women exited the limo hand in hand.

The actress smiled and waved to the crowd, and the duo made their way down the red carpet for the premiere of the movie that had been filmed just one year prior. It was one year ago that three lives had changed dramatically, and it all began with an accident.

That night at Jordan's Hollywood home, the three women came to an agreement that meant that they all would have a role to step into, and a plan was set into motion. A plan that was the stuff that fairy tales were made of, in the land of stars, where nothing was ever as it seemed.

"I don't want to do this anymore. I want to retire," Jordan had said.

"But, you've got a movie to finish," Rivers reminded the actress.

Jordan looked to Annah, and the Greek woman knew then that her time as Jordan Allen was far from being over.

"My wanna-be twin here has done a fantastic job from what I understand. Only one other person knows, and Rhett has never been much of a gossip, damn him."

"This will never work," Annah said, her stomach in knots over the prospect of continuing to live the life of a Hollywood actress.

"It's been working so far, and obviously, you've got enough talent to fool the world. I have faith in you," Jordan grinned.

"Is that enough?" Annah asked.

"It's going to have to be," Jordan replied.

The next day, Jordan Allen transferred all of the money from her bank into an overseas account, minus the money that she had been paid for the filming of her latest project. That was left for the woman she felt had earned it.

She also had Rhett come to the house that day, and when he walked in and saw Annah and Jordan together, he almost passed out. It was truly a shock to him how much two people, who were not related in any way, could look as though they were twins. Things in Hollywood never ceased to amaze him.

Jordan's long black hair was cut just above her shoulders, and dyed a light blondish brown, which had once been her natural color. She looked nothing like the Jordan Allen that the world knew, and she relished the chance to fade into anonymity. Rhett had told her she and Annah were his greatest project, and he wished all of them well as he left the house, swearing that he would never tell a soul what he knew.

Jordan and Annah then switched their ID's, as well as all other information that would be needed to ensure that both of them would now be living the other's life. Jordan wanted to 'see the world,' she had said, before she would decide where she would end up. All she knew was that she no longer wanted a life in the spotlight, and was content to give that up to someone else.

"This is an opportunity that is too good to pass up," she had told Annah, and the other woman could not believe what was taking place.

"You'll be fine," Jordan said, as she said her goodbyes. She had hugged Rivers, holding the woman for quite some time before letting her go.

"I'll be in touch," she said, getting into the cab that would be taking her to LAX, and into a whole new life.

After that day, when Jordan had walked out, Rivers and Annah had heard from her a few times. She had been travelling, first through Europe, and the last they had heard she was on her way to Egypt. She was doing all of the things she wanted to be doing, and had no regrets about the decision that she had made. Her sobriety remained on track and she hoped that one day she would meet the woman that would make the picture complete. Of course, Annah had always told her, "Whenever you're ready to come back..," but Jordan always said she was much happier with her life as it was. She would only harp on her to make sure she was taking care of Rivers.

Annah and Rivers had progressed into a romantic relationship within weeks of Jordan's departure. Annah swore she had never been happier and everyday spent with Rivers only brought her more joy than she had ever thought possible. They had both sworn to take things slowly, but it wasn't long before they both knew that they were truly in love.

After talking with various reporters, Annah and Rivers walked into the movie theater to view the film. It was, by all the projected hype, going to be a blockbuster. As Annah caught her first glimpse of herself on screen, she could not believe that not so long ago she had been sleeping under bridges, and taking her meals from trash cans. It was one of those things that she still shook her head about. She couldn't help but wonder, with some sadness, about what her parents would think if they could see her now.

Trying to shake such thoughts from her mind, she turned to Rivers, and whispered, "Let's blow this joint."

"We can't leave, how would it look?" Rivers asked, though having the Greek woman whisper in her ear affected her in such a way that she would do whatever was being asked of her.

"Let them talk. There's a really big, nice comfy bed just waiting for us."

"What if I can't wait," Rivers whispered back.

"Then there's a really big leather seat in the limo, come on."

The two women got up from their seats and made their way out into the night, somewhere in Hollywood, where anything and everything is possible.

***************************************************************



Thanks so much for taking the time to read! I appreciate each and every one of you that wrote to let me know what you think. I'd love to hear what you thought of the whole product.

I must thank Ali, for setting me up with an awesome beta in Lenore! Lenore, thanks so much for helping me make some sense of this story that just wouldn't leave me alone. Same goes out to Extra and Jordan, who was quite upset to share the namesake and thought my Jordan was beyond redemption. What do you think??

Another special thanks and good vibes sent to my favorite Greek, Athathanasia, aka Annah. She is convinced and told me often that we should all stay home and "make beautiful love," thus creating a wonderful world in the process. Who am I to argue with that??

Please seen Feedback to: j_rose75@yahoo.com