She has been seeing John Cage for 6 months now. It has been long enough for Ally to realise how much she loved all his little quirks, the way his face wrinkled like a fraying cloth when he smiled at her, a smile that only Ally received. They would often spend a warm and cosy night together snuggled up on the small sofa in front of the blazing open fire, orange and yellow dancing across their faces as they looked into each other's eyes. Of Course there had been Larry, Larry…even now when she says his name is still makes Ally shudder. Whether it is with excitement or hatred no one knows. After all he left with a note. That day when the yellow piece of cold, un-loving paper found its way to Ally's hands, that is the day she just couldn't get away from no matter how hard she tried. They say you should 'Forgive and forget' but to Ally her feelings were very much the opposite. She knew she would forget Larry when old age caught up with her but she could never forgive him. He shattered her heart into a million tiny pieces most of which she couldn't find to pick up again through her tear-filled eyes.

The only certainty in her life at this very moment was that John Cage loved Ally and that she loved him equally in return. She was sure that he was not going to run away or die and she was right, he stayed with her.

"Hey Ally" Said Richard "I just thought that I would warn you, you old flame is back in town…yea that's right"

"Richard, what are you talking about"?

Even though Ally felt a slight twinge of excitement rush through her body at the prospect that it could be Larry.

"Larry, Ally. Larry is here. You have a case against him"

Richard shoved a huge case file into Ally's fragile arms.

"You and John are on it together to try and get some real…I don't know … passion in the court room. It will be kind of like the two men fighting for the damsel in distress. You ever read those books? Bygones ----"

"Richard, I can't take the case"

"Money, Ally. Do it for the money. Think of the money"

Even though Ally was strangely excited at the thought that she would be facing Larry in the court room where they had once fought against each other when they were dating, there was still something inside her that told her she was going to regret ever taking this case. It was nothing new that Larry was in town. Ally had heard many a story from Elaine, otherwise known as the 'gossip' about how some of her friends had seen him. When Ally was told of these sightings she often wondered why she hadn't bumped into Larry in the street…like they always used to on a cold winters day when the cotton wool snow was falling from the bright white candy-floss clouds.

Whilst Ally sat in her big comfy office chair she thought about how Larry and herself would react when the met. She presumed that it would be awkward for her and even more so for Larry. 'The pig never apologised' thought Ally. I go from a £5000 wedding ring to a 10p post it note that has a message on it saying ----. Ally's thoughts stalled as she opened her desk draw and started rummaging through it.

" I cant believe I still have it" She said to no-one but herself and the bowl of rainbow coloured jelly beans that Ally yearned to eat.

Ally lifted up the note so that it was inched from her face. It still smelt of Larry's Burberry coat after 7 months of being trapped in a dark draw.A sweet intoxicating lingered in her nose for minutes rather than seconds. Ally inhaled deeply, her whole chest rising in one smooth motion…and then out again in the same smooth motion with which it had risen. She could hardly resist his smell let alone him, so for her own good she scrumpled up the piece of yellow paper that had brought so much sadness, and threw it in the bin. The smell still lingered. Minutes after Elaine cam knocking.

" Ally, someone is here to see you"

Elaine had that mischievous smirk on her face, the kind you posses when you hid something of your parents when you were little, and when they came to ask you where it was you would just smirk and lie to them.

"Ok Elaine. What is that look for?"

Elaine stood back and let the door swing open showing someone into Ally's office with her gesturing arm. Ally followed Elaine's arm from the elbow down to the fingertips and then to the chest… a chest that looked strangely familiar. She followed the red woollen jumper up to a moist, red pair of lips then to the mocha deep brown eyes. Larry. Ally just gave him a look of contempt and turned to look elsewhere. She heard footsteps in her office but decided she was going to be stubborn and not look.

"Ally. You still have it"

"What? What are you talking -----"

Larry, in his perfect hands, was holding the screwed up piece of yellow paper that Ally despised. She could feel herself getting hotter and beaming red from her cheeks.

"I can't believe…" Whispered Larry. "You know, I can remember writing this"

They both just stopped for a moment to take a hold of what was going on.

"Oh well now you have found it you can re-use it on someone else and hurt them too" Ally said spitefully

Larry took off his glasses. Ally wished it was hurting him more that it was hurting her right now.

"How are you?" Larry asked politely

"Great"

"Erm. Richard told me that you and John Cage are together"

"Yes, we are. Do you have anyone?"

"No, I couldn't find anyone that even compares to - "

Larry gradually reduced his voice until it was inaudible. He realised he couldn't tell Ally hoe he felt, not now, not ever. Ally had not realised what Larry had almost said, so she just carried on their her 'So, what have you been doing over the past 6 months' session.

Larry took his glasses off and wiped them with his tie. Ally smiled, Larry still had the same habits, he was still the Larry she loved so dearly.

"Are you happy?" He asked slightly apprehensive

"Yes, Larry. I am happy with John."

"Do you…"

Larry tried to swallow the jealousy that formed in a big lump in his throat. He looked down, closed his eyes, and looked back up.

"Do you love him?"

"Yes. I do and I am not ashamed of it" Ally said without a doubt

'I've lost her', thought Larry. 'and to John Cage of all people'

"Ok, well. I just thought that I would drop by and see how you were" Said Larry

"And just to see if there was any other way that you could come and destroy me again" Added Ally

"You know that isn't true. You know me. Bye Ally, see you around sometime"

Ally replaced herself in her leather chair and began working on her case again, until there was another knock. John entered. Ally noticed how John's stature was not as monumental as Larry's but John had that knowing face and Ally knew that John would never even dream of treating Ally the way Larry had in the past.

"Is everything OK?" enquired John

"Yes John, you have nothing to be worried about"

That was all the confirmation John needed. He trusted Ally's judgement and if there was ever anything wrong John knew that Ally would tell him.

For the best part of the evening Ally remained fixated on the issue that Larry was back. When Larry had left Ally, her love for him receded into a small dark corner in her mind and had only surfaced on rare occasions. Now Larry was back, the infatuation she once felt about Larry washed over her like a wave. Visions of her mother came into her head. Ally remembered promising her mum that she would never ever let a man treat her badly whomever that man may be. She intended to hold that promise. A Knock came, this time from Richard.

"Hey Ally. Are you trying to choose? Just one phrase of advise. Don't mangle John's heart if you do pick Larry"

"I know and I don't intend to pick Larry. He had his chances and he wasted them, both of them" Said Ally her hands gesturing in the air, her eyebrows raised.

"Good. Are you coming to the bar tonight? With John?"

"Yea, I'll be there at around eight"

Richard departed. Ally remembered Richard's words which were so true. John had always been second best to Larry and maybe he still was, Ally couldn't tell. She was having trouble trying to decipher what her heart was telling her to do. Ally continued to work on her case but her mind was only half on the movement of the pen she was writing with. The other half was in a fantasy land imagining what she would have done in she were living in medieval times and Richard and Larry were battling for her love. He decided that Larry would win. She supposed that John's 'pokips' and nose whistles would get him no-where and he would probably end up running from the vast gold kingdom to go and live in the forest with a frog for company. When her vision had finished she found her page riddled with puddles of drying tip-ex so she decided to work on it tonight instead. Now, however, she would make her way down to the bar.

"Hey John" Ally smiled "How was your day?"

"Perfect" Replied John.

About half and hour passed and at about 9 Ally heard someone speak on stage. To he shock and amazement it was Larry.

He tapped the microphone " Hey everyone. Just to confirm rumours I am back and I intend to stay here for a long time"

Everyone in the audience looked slightly confused as they had no idea who this man was. Larry started to sing. He introduced it as his own song that he had written. A rush of disbelief rushed through Ally's head as she remembered their song and began praying that he wasn't going to sing it, and to Ally's relief he didn't. Instead he began on a different note and carried on from there:

If the world was on fire no one could save me but you,
Strangeful desire makes foolish people of you.
I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you,
I never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you.

I wanna fall in love,
No I wanna fall in love … with you.

What a wicked game we play,
To make me feel this way.
What a wicked thing to do,
To let me dream of you.

His voice became intoxicating as sorrowful, melodic song captivated everyone in the audience. Ally took stolen, lasting glances at Larry whilst John looked from Larry's eyes which gazed into Ally's. John was powerless to do anything. Ally watched as the crystal blue lights reflected off Larry's hair and made it turn to a strange yet attractive shade of grey. She watched as Larry's mouth opened and closed whilst blissful notes emerged from his magnificent body. She felt drawn to his deep brown eyes that seemed to sparkle with bright white light. Ally's workmates just looked in awe at Larry, then John, Ally and back to Larry again. She couldn't take it much longer. She knew that John was looking at her looking at Larry but as hard as she tried Ally just couldn't rip her gaze away from Larry. The best idea, she decided, was to just get up and leave. This she did, closely followed by John. As soon as she stepped outside the cold air hit her face and she could feel her nose freezing but she couldn't stop the steam from her breath obscuring her vision. She let her eyes adjust to the yellowish light of the street lamp which towered above and began to think about all the questions that were rushing through her mind. Most of these questions she did not have answers to but for a rare few she came up with a solution.

"Ally" John said monotonously ,"I understand that it is hard for you. I know you still have buried feelings for him and that is fine, I still have buried feelings for Melanie, but what he is doing in there is meant to affect you. You know you can talk to me, I just want you to know that"

"I'm…m Sorry. I can't at the moment, just sit there whilst……."

Ally felt too saturated with confusion to answer fully, so John decided to walk her home and leave her alone to think about things. Meanwhile at the bar Ally's colleagues had been discussing Larry and Ally:

"Why does Larry always have to spoil anything to do with Ally?" Can't he see he should just leave them alone? I hate the way that he is hurting John through Ally". Richard questioned.

"Richard, he's the biscuit. He is always going to get hurt no matter who he is seeing, it is just a matter of time" Said Ling. Nelle nodded.

"This wasn't what we dreamed of when we were little. Seems like happiness is just too much to ask for".

The next day Ally awoke only to recall the previous night's events. She resented herself for letting Larry just swagger back into her life and take control of her feelings. She resented herself for letting Larry sweep aside all the feelings she had for John and replace them with Larry. As much as she didn't want to go to work she knew she had to to show the others that she had not been affected. First of course she had to collect herself and apply an imaginary mask that would hide her true feelings, whatever they may be.

As Ally walked the streets of Boston she observed the other people. She wondered whether their lives were as complex as hers was. She looked at their pondering faces which did not seem to acknowledge where they were walking, but rather what path they were being dragged along by fate. She noticed that no-one seemed to look where they were walking, almost as if they all had inter-connecting thoughts that told them all where each of them were. Ally didn't want to think, but everything single thing that she tried to think about no matter how diverse or off the point they would be, she still managed to link that subject to her current situation.

As she entered the familiar foyer everything she looked at seemed to mould itself into either Larry's or John's face. She couldn't hold it anymore, so Ally just ran into her office and buried her head in her hands.

"Ally"

Ally heard Larry's voice and thought out loud.

"Oh, great now I am hearing voices. Just GO AWAY PLEASE!"

"Just to talk Ally, please"

Ally, realising her imagination wasn't that good, looked up to see the real Larry standing in front of her. 'Wow' She was astounded at how good he looked. She could not have noticed it the first time, but now he was wearing that tight, muscle-hugging top she just couldn't resist in looking. What harm would it do anyway?

"I don't really want to talk to you at the moment. I am having some problems that I cannot find the solution to and god knows you are not helping at all" Said Ally, her gesturing hands flailing aimlessly in the air.

"Hang on"

Larry turned to open the door and as he did so numerous bodies fell through. Among them he saw the familiar faces of Elaine and Richard. When the other embarrassed and excusing faces has left Richard decided he had something to say.

"Larry. You are back I see, well I mean I know I saw you last night as did Ally. I don't appreciate what you are doing to get between Ally and John but as I have heard you seem to be good at messing things up so it should come like second nature to screw up another relationship right?"

Once again Larry's glasses came off and the comfort of rubbing them clean reassured him.

"Erm…Richard I don't think that this is any of your business ---"

"Larry, I think something that concerns John is my business ---"

John entered. Trying to make himself look big and worthy of Ally's love he walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek.

"Richard" He said calmly "I can defend myself. I understand, Larry that you may still love Ally but back off. She is mine and there is nothing you can do about it"

John's words echoed through Larry' head a thousand times over. They didn't cease until he had walked out and away from the building which had so many memories, until he had walked far enough away from Ally that her glorious being no longer had control of his thoughts and feelings. Larry walked on through the night, down streets he didn't know, past people he didn't recognise. He walked under the spotlight of the street lamps which revealed the raw emotion on his face. Tonight Larry felt like neither a respected lawyer who had been employed by numerous famous people, nor a loving father who cared so much for his son. Rock bottom had hit him hard in the face. He eventually returned to his flat recounting all the marriages that had failed, all his attempts to be a good father which he had screwed up. That night Larry didn't turn to drink or drugs which would have been so easy to do. Instead he decided to just fall asleep and dream.

Larry was awoken by a weak knock at the door. He looked at the digital clock that displayed 04:00 in illustrious red numerals. With a clear head he got up to answer the door, behind which he found Ally and John. Larry greeted them with tired, worn-out eyes. It appeared as though John had been drinking but Larry couldn't be sure as he had never seen John in a drunken state. Neither, on the other hand had Ally. She had been told that John became quite violent the last time he had drunk too much.

"Hello Larry" John said, emphasising the 'L'

"Hey John, hey Ally" Larry looked at the worry growing in Ally's eyes.

"Could I, please, I have a quick word outside for a minute if it isn't too much trouble"

John seemed more sure of himself. Ally just sat on the doorstep and watched as the two current men in her life talked. One in a suit and the other in pyjamas.

"What do you want? I mean from me, is there something that you need?"

"No," Said Larry, "There isn't anything that I need form you but there is something that I want from you, and I think you know what I would like"

"Well, please could you specify what you d..desire Larry" Once again John over-pronounced the 'L'

"I want Ally" Said Larry whilst he was looking at the floor.

"What the hell? What are you looking at down there? You think you are going to get Ally? You left her and shattered her dreams along with her heart, as a matter of… of a fact Larry, I believe you did it twice. You had your chance and basically to put it in simple terms for you to understand, YOU FUCKED UP"

John then laughed, a wry smile crept over his face. He thought for a minute and then shared his thoughts with his enemy.

"I am a better man for her than you ever were. She admitted it to me. You want her, you have to fight for her" John smiled an erratic, eerie smile.

Larry turned to look at Ally and he couldn't help but feel he was the once who had caused this predicament. Larry removed his glasses and wiped them on his pyjamas. He was very cold and he realised that he could no longer feel his toes.

"I can't and I won't fight you for Ally. She has to make the decision for herself a.."

"Oh, so now you're Mr. Noble I see. I am a better man for her than you ever were. Well Larry tough", Spitting at Larry with his pronunciation.

John pushed Larry's left shoulder, which caused Larry to temporarily loose balance. Larry didn't like where this was going at all. John seemed to be gaining confidence with every minute that passed. Larry could smell the various putrid smells of miscellaneous spirits and cocktails that had obviously been mixed to make John helplessly drunk.

"Oh yea" added John, his eyes not really looking at anything in particular, "and your son…your son and his mother no actually your son is going to become a prostitute just like his mother" John laughed again, throwing his head back in joy.

Ally had overheard this comment and started to walk over to the drunken John and the evermore attractive Larry.

"What did you say?"

But Larry knew very well what John had said. Larry pushed John on his right shoulder but John didn't move. Suddenly John brought his arm back, clenched his fists and hit Larry on the nose with an unexpectedly hared blow causing think red blood to ooze from Larry's nostrils. John then reached into his coat pocket and revealed a green object that Larry couldn't make out. Everything then went dark. He could hear Ally screaming loud enough for him to hear bit not too loud.

Larry wasn't entirely sure what had happened, all he could see was Ally's face above his. He tried to open his eyes but the bright lights were too much for his fragile eyes and so he decided to close them again. He could recall the harsh words John had fling in Larry's face but after that his feelings and thoughts were a mystery. He presumed that he had been hit, but by John? John was so weak and frail there was no way that he could knock Larry out and render him hospitalised was there? Surely not.

That night both Ally and John went to the hospital in the ambulance. John felt as if he was going to explode into a mixture of overwhelming guilt, anger and passion. Ally gave John an unforgiving stare that he swore he would never forget.

"I…..I don't know….." Stuttered John

"Why, John… You didn't have to knock him out." Shouted Ally.

"Stupid bastard" Ally whispered under her breath.

"OK, Ally I am not going to lie to you. I have wanted to do that to him ever since he kissed his ex-wife and then, to make it worse he decides to leave you in misery to go and live with her for a number of weeks. You didn't even know whether he was going to come back or not. Now, I know that isn't going to earn me many brownie points in your books but he had it coming Ally. I'm sorry."

John buried his head in his hands, looked up at Larry on the stretcher, closed his eyes and buried his face in his hands again. John tried to explain further, he felt he needed and had to explain.

"I know I will not be able to redeem myself. I don't know what came over me, it was like a wave of energy, violence and anger just overpowered me. I suppose I had bottled my feeling up so long that they just rushed out of me".

"You know what John? Just save it. It is nice that you disliked Larry for what he did to me, but this (she pointed at Larry on the stretched) this I do not condone"

Ally and John decided to stay with Larry, after all they were sure that he would be glad of an explanation when he woke up. John, after hours of waiting, became numb with guilt.

When Larry was conscious, which took about 3 hours after the incident, John tried to explain to Larry.

"I'm sorry, Larry. Truly I am. If there was anything I could do to turn the clock back I would". Said John, guilt in his eyes.

"You hospitalised me John. You HIT me over the head with a bottle." Said Larry

"I know, if there is anything I can do to help…"

"Just go John. I cant believe …"

Larry drifted off mid sentence as Ally cam back into his cubicle with a cup of hot, fresh coffee. He looked at her, he admired her beauty for a second as she glided over to his bedside. Larry grunted and held his head suddenly.

"Are you OK? Do you want me to fetch a nurse or something? I'll be right …."

"NO!, no, I will be ok. Don't worry" Said Larry looking deep into Ally's eyes.

"Good" she smiled back and took a sip of her coffee.

"You want some? Its decaffeinated" asked Ally

"Erm" Ally looked at Larry with sympathy "Sure why not"

Larry took a sip. He could faintly smell Ally's perfume on the cup, he then gave the cup back. Briefly their hands touched, and they both felt it. They could feel vibrations in their fingertips. 'Wow' thought Larry.

Larry decided that he would 'inadvertently' drop his complimentary chocolate bar on the floor. To his plan, Ally bent down to pick it up. To Larry this would either be the moment where the rest of his life began or his world crumbled apart. If they were to fall in love again he swore to himself that he would never leave her, ever.

As Ally bend down Larry reached out and caressed her face. Her skin felt so smooth and peach-like. Ally's mind became a void. She couldn't think to either stop or encourage Larry's advances. In slow motion he put his hand round the side of her face and brought her lips closer to his, she closed her eyes and prepared herself for what was to come.

As their lips met at first the passion and tenderness overwhelmed Ally, but then she realised something. In a way it made her happy in that she now knew whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. She couldn't distinguish the reason for this choice but for once her heart and her head where telling her the same thing. She wanted John.

Ally pulled away.

"I'm sorry. I can't do this…. The truth is Larry that you used up your chances. I did love you, and I will always love you but….. I want to be with John." Ally said seriously.

"Ally" Larry said matter-of-factly "The guy is a freak. He whistles out of his nose and makes funny sounds"

"I know, and that is why I love him" Ally said, he nose held high.

He collected her coat and put it on over her slender figure.

"Bye Larry"

"Yea"

That was it. Ally was freed from all the confusion and frustration. Everything now seemed clearer than it had ever been. Meanwhile Larry lay there in bed all alone with no-one and even though Ally felt sorry for him she felt it was in the bigger part his fault. John had always been there as a friend from the start to the finish.

"I love you Ally McBeal" Larry whispered after her.

He lowered himself down onto the mattress and laid his head against the soft pillow, tears staining the blue cotton.