October 15, 2001
Detroit, Michigan

Ally glanced impatiently around the crowded airport terminal. It was unusually hot for mid-October and she'd been traveling all night. Richard had interrupted a much needed Hawaiian vacation and summoned her back to Boston for a trial that was scheduled to begin in only 'two' days. (Bet, I'd be a hellava lawyer if I ever had a chance to 'prepare' for trial, she thought.) To add insult to injury, he'd booked her on a midnight flight with a connection that was already three hours late and she was stuck in, of all places, DETROIT.

A little boy, no more than two, had spent the last 20 minutes stomping all over Ally's feet and, although cute, he was fast becoming a real pain in the ass. Ally eyed the telephones lining the wall opposite where she was sitting and she wondered if she would find "his" number if she looked in the directory. A song "he" wrote for her began to dance through her mind ..

"Chances are you'll find me somewhere on your road tonight.."

She shook her head furiously trying to clear her thoughts. She'd dated one of the new lawyers in her office a couple of times trying really hard to move on with her life. But, "he" was always in her heart, and her head, and she still had her weak days. (Damn it, Ally, what's with you today? You were doing better, remember? It's been almost an hour since you thought about him. Yeah, but, here I am in Detroit, the last place on earth I want to be!)

"Oh, sure, I'm doing DAMN good, huh," she said out loud to absolutely no one, "he left me six months ago, and I can now go one whole hour without thinking of him. At this rapid rate, I shouldn't be thinking of him at all in about 20 or 30 years!" She glanced at the lady next to her and raised her eyebrows as if to say, "Right?" The lady shifted in her chair to move farther away. Ally glared at her.

"Ouuuch!!" Ally yelled as the little boy ground his heel into her toe. She said to him under her breath, "You're a little brat, you know that?" then smiled, "but, someday, some way, I'm gonna have one just like you!" She grabbed her purse and travel bag and made her way to the ticket counter. "How much longer before our connection to Boston?" she asked. The ticket agent sweetly told her that a storm center throughout the central states had grounded a lot of planes and it could be another 2-3 hours. "Oh, GREAT!" Ally moaned, "where's the bar?" It was only 9:30 in the morning but, after being awake all night, a Martini sounded a lot better than coffee. The agent pointed the way.

With head down and her bad mood increasing by leaps and bounds, Ally was headed toward the bar when someone bumped into her, almost knocking her to the floor. "Hey, watch it!" she yelled as she picked herself up. A voice said, "Still mowing people down ‘til you've had that first cup of coffee?" Ally froze at the sound of that familiar voice - like a recording that had played repeatedly in her mind and heart, night and day for six months. She turned and found herself face to face with LARRY.

Ally felt like she'd been kicked in the stomach and she gasped for air. Larry was standing with his head slightly cocked, his expression a mixture of amusement and surprise.

"I recall your laughter and your smile...."

Their eyes locked and Ally was trembling so badly she could hardly stand. She knew that Larry must be able to hear the sound of her heart because it was pounding in her ears like a jackhammer. They held a look, unable to break away, while time and distance disappeared. Ally could feel Larry's hot breath on her neck, his lips caressing her breast, his hands exploring every part of her body, just like it was yesterday.

Larry was gazing deeply into her eyes, as though he were reading her thoughts. It was more than she could bear, but her eyes couldn't move - and his didn't. Seeing him again, as hard as she'd tried to forget, she found herself wanting to kiss him, kill him, make love to him. (She thought, God, I love him. I'll never stop loving him. I'm lost forever.) Larry reached out and touched her hair, then gently traced her face with his finger. His touch sent an electrical charge down to Ally's toes. He reached in and tenderly caressed her earlobe and Ally fought to hold back a sob. Larry's eyes started to explore her face, eventually focusing on her mouth.

"Long to hold you in the night, be with you till mornin' light..."

Ally was finally able to pull away from the magnet that had connected them and she reached up to pull his hand away. She wondered whether he felt the shock as their hands joined and she hoped he hadn't noticed how hers was trembling.

Neither of them was sure what had just happened. Both were clearly shaken and each was unaware that the other was questioning whether their chance encounter was ... an omen.

The happiness, fear and hope in Larry's eyes caught Ally off guard. "You okay?" he asked.

"Why wouldn't I be okay," she tried to shout but couldn't because her voice was quivering and would barely rise above a above a whisper.

"Well," he said, looking around the airport, "I did almost send you flying ... uh ... (he decided not to make a joke after all), what are you doing in Detroit?"

"I'm not here to see you, if that's what you think!" Ally spat at him.

Larry flinched as though she'd hit him. He lowered his head and looked up questioningly. "Well, then," he added softly, his eyes searching hers, "why are you here?"

As Ally peered up at him, memories flooded her from all directions, and she thought about the love they'd shared - those passionate nights. She'd memorized every detail of his incredibly handsome face and knew every inch of him by heart. (Ally thought, he's even sexier and more attractive than when he left. There's absolutely no denying that he's just so .. so .. yummy.)

Suddenly, she wanted to pull him to the floor and make love to him right then and there, but, instead, she somehow managed to say, "Well, Larry, not that it's any of your business, but Richard interrupted my first vacation in years to call me back for a trial. I was routed through Detroit and I've been waiting for three hours for my connecting flight - which appears is not coming!! ....I'm hot, tired, and I really need some SEX .. uh .. a drink. I really .. need .. a drink."

"Ally...."

"Larry, I have to go. Please let me by?"

He moved slightly to one side, but took hold of her arm as she started past him. She was more beautiful than the memory he held of her in his heart every minute of every day. The pain in her eyes told him how badly he'd hurt her. He wanted to hold her and tell her he loved her, that he'd never stopped loving her, and that everything would be all right. But, he knew it wasn't and maybe never could be again.

Larry's touch set Ally's skin on fire (her only thought was, damn you, Larry Paul!!)

It was obvious by the anguish on Larry's face that he was having a serious emotional conflict, "Ally," he said, "can we talk. I want .. need to explain ..."

"No .. uh .. uh .. no, you don't, Larry. You don't need to explain anything. You walked away in the middle of the night, leaving me with just a note, and you haven't called, written, or said 'Kiss my Ass' in more than six months. Whatever you have to say, it's nothing I want to hear. Now, please let go of my arm."

"Okay," he said, but his hand didn't move. Ally refused to look at him and, finally, he let her go and sadly lowered his head.

Ally's heart broke. She didn't know what she'd expected him to do. She wanted to hit him and hurt him for not screaming at the top of his lungs that he'd missed her, that he loved her as much as she would always love him, that he wanted her more than anything in the world. But, she knew he wouldn't - and besides, she didn't even know how he felt about her after all this time. She started to leave but, after several steps, found the courage to turn and face him. Her voice was raspy, but softly she said, "You can let me go just like that? Was it that easy for you to walk away from me, Larry?"

Larry looked defeated. "Ally ... I can't .. it .. never .. wasn't .. I .. wanted to .. tell you .. so many things. But, now, seeing you, and sensing how you feel, maybe you're right." He sighed deeply, "Maybe it's best that it all be left unsaid."

"Oh. Sure. Sure. Lets just pile them onto that never ending list of the 'Great Unspokens.' I forgot, the easy way is your way. Right, Larry? Well, you know what? You know what?"

He lifted his chin defensively and looked at her inquisitively.

"You can just go to HELL!"

Larry's head dropped to his chest. He couldn't speak. (He could only think, "Oh, my sweet, wonderful Ally, if you only knew that walking away from you was the biggest mistake I ever made - and it was far from easy.") Until recently, he'd been able to will himself to live without her, but he knew now that that was no longer possible. And, he'd seized an opportunity to return to Boston so he could finish what he'd started before he left.

Ally's eyes started to sting with angry tears. As she turned, she asked, "Why?"

"What?"

(She couldn't believe she was about to ask why he'd left, why he hadn't loved her enough to want her for a lifetime.) "Why? Ah, um .. um .. w-why are you here? Are you coming, going? What are you doing here?"

"Actually, I'm on my way to Boston, I've got a trial there," he smiled ever so slightly.

(God, she thought, you can't be this cruel, can you?) "Um .. um .. what kind of case is it?"

"Believe it or not I've been hired to represent a sperm bank. They're being sued by a woman whose husband donated, without her knowledge, then suddenly died. Apparently, she just found out and now wants to have her dead husband's babies. And," he shrugged his shoulders, "trial starts in two days."

"Well," Ally groaned, "I guess we'll be seeing each other in court then,'cause I'm on the other side." (OH, GOD, NOT AGAIN! she thought.)

Larry looked at her softly, and also, Ally thought, lovingly. (Where the hell did that come from, Larry Paul?) He half grinned and said, "Like old times, huh?" adding seductively, "being up against each other?"

She flushed remembering his touch and also the fact that she had never won a case when he had been opposing counsel. "Hmm. Mm. No .. no .. Larry. This time you're not going to charm me or the jury - this time I'm gonna win." And he watched, dejectedly, as she headed off toward the bar and a much needed Martini.

Ally was settling into her seat next to the window when Larry sat down and said sheepishly, "Mind if an insignificant little gnat sits down? Sorry," he grinned sweetly .. "looks like we're seat mates."

She stared at him, mouth open, wide eyed, "How are we even plane mates?!" she demanded.

"Well," Larry shrugged, " I don't know if playmates is the rig..."

"Don't get cute with me, Larry." Ally said. "You couldn't take a different flight?"

Larry leaned his head back and peered down at her, "Ally, I may be wrong, but didn't you just spend 5-1/2 hours in this airport because there was a shortage of planes?"

"You did this on purpose," she said.

"Yeah, you're right. I bribed the airline, the pilot, and the flight attendant."

"I wouldn't put it past you."

"Actually, I told them I was your 'therapist' and that I was escorting you back to the hospital. And, that you were erratic and a little nuts, and unless they rearranged their entire passenger seating assignments so that I could sit next to you, you might.. start .. ripping your clothes off." Larry quipped.

"Oh, that's funny," she countered and hit him hard across the arm. (She hated that he could joke when she was having a nervous breakdown. But, she also knew that that was how he covered up his feelings and his pain.) She gave him a disgusted sideways glance and said, "If you must sit here, just don't talk to me."

Larry made a face and rolled his eyes upward in frustration.

After a few minutes, Ally ventured, "Larry?"

He raised his eyebrows and looked at her innocently, not saying anything.

"Larry!?"

"You're the one ... who just told me not to talk. Am I wrong?" he asked.

"Don't make fun of me, Larry."

"I wasn't, actually. Just trying to figure out where I stand." He was studying her very intently.

Ally let his comment pass, not wanting to know whether it conveyed more than it said. "It's only that I forgot to ask - how's Sam?"

"Well, if I'm really allowed to talk," he said, giving her another wide-eyed look of innocence, "he's doing great. Really good."

"..And .. uh .. J-Jamie?" Larry's ex-girlfriend was also the mother of his 8 year old son, Sam, whom Larry adored. Ally had known all the time they were together that Larry anguished about being so far away from his son. That his absence from Sam's life made him feel like he'd failed as a father. Her thoughts traveled back ...

(Sam, then only 7, had come to Boston *alone* in search of his father - to bring him home. Larry was clearly in agony about what to do. Ally's new found strength surprised her when she told him, "Larry, you need to go to Detroit. Be it for a month, a year, your son needs you." Larry's eyes had searched hers, begged her, "And, would you come with me?" She didn't. Instead, she'd sent him and Sam off together with the hopes that Larry would one day return. He'd come back to her after six weeks (promising that it would be forever). But, he left again after she'd told him that she no longer trusted him and broke up with him. He'd never done anything to make her distrust him, it was only her insecurity, and she'd just been too happy to believe it could last. (She thought, I'm sorry, Larry, for me, for you, for us. I didn't trust it and I made you not trust yourself. Why didn't I go with you, when you and I, and Sam, had the chance to be a family?) )

She held her breath waiting for his reply, fearing she'd hear that he and Jamie were back together.

Larry, raising and tilting his head to one side, looked long and deep into Ally's eyes before answering, hoping her curiosity about Jamie was because she still loved him. "Ally, Jamie and I are not together."

"Did I ask you that?!" Ally challenged. " I .. haha .. um .." she stammered, giggling and pulling at her eyebrow nervously. Her relief was so visible, she quickly turned her head. (Oh, my God, she thought, he knows, he knows that I still love him.) "I was just curious, that's all."

Ally's reaction elated Larry. He knew her better than she knew herself, and she'd just told him what he wanted to know - that she still loved him. But, he also knew that he had a lot of fence mending to do.

"Uh, how about you?" he asked cautiously, "Seeing anybody?"

"Oh, the usual .. you know."

He nodded rapidly several times, then lowered his head and looked up at her over his glasses, "... fathers ... sons ... triplets?"

"Whatever!!" Ally hissed and turned away from him. After several seconds, she said, smugly, "Actually, I've been dating a new lawyer that joined the firm several months ago, his name is Clay."

"Clay. Hmm." Larry leaned his head back against the seat and looked at her curiously out of the corner of his eye, "And, how are things with ... ?"

"Well ... I don't .. it could be .. maybe .. something ... I think ...," she lied.

Larry noticed that she couldn't look him in the eye and he knew what she was trying to do. She's so damn cute, he thought. He bared his teeth through a mock sneer, "Hmm, that good, huh?"

She shot him a dirty look. "I have to pee!"

Ally had to climb over Larry to get to the aisle and she lost her balance, falling into his lap. Instinctively, his arms went around her waist and held her tightly. He gave her a silly grin and said lightly, "Hi."

She snarled at him as she loosened his grip and continued on toward the bathroom. When Ally returned, she carefully navigated her way back into her seat. They each became lost in their own thoughts and conversation ceased between them.

An hour into the flight Ally was asleep and Larry was in heaven. Her head was resting on his shoulder and he was enraptured by the smell of her. She was heartbreakingly beautiful and he loved her more than he'd ever loved anyone. He'd missed her during every waking moment since he'd gone back to Detroit and he ached wanting to wrap his arms around her and bury himself in her. But, instead, he kissed her hair softly, not wanting to wake her, knowing that this one, tender moment might have to last him a very long time.

Ally stirred and, still half asleep, smiled sweetly. (She'd dreamed that she and Larry were on their honeymoon!)

"Good dream?" Larry asked lightly.

"Hmm," she nodded, before opening her eyes and realizing where she was. Flustered, remembering her dream and Larry's uncanny perceptiveness, she quickly disengaged herself from him and sat upright in her seat.

"About me?" he joked.

"What?"

"Your dream," he said, "about me?"

She blushed (I knew it, I just knew it, she thought) and rolled her eyes upward in feigned disgust, "It was a dream .. not a nightmare!"

Larry screwed up his face as he smiled up at the flight attendant standing next to them with coffee. "She's crazy about me," he said.

They spent the next hour before their plane landed in relative silence. After picking up their baggage, Larry said, "Ally, whether you like it or not, we'll be seeing quite a bit of each other this next week. So, can we put our personal feelings aside and behave like professionals?"

"Oh, now you're implying that I'm not professional?"

He threw up his hands in exasperation, "Ally, I didn't .."

"Don't worry about MY personal feelings getting in the way, Larry - you're the last thing on my mind!" (...before I go to sleep ... and the first thing when I wake up ... and every minute in between.) "You just worry about yourself, big boy. I'll see you in court - you're not going to win this time!" And, with that, Ally turned and left him standing at the curb.

"You saw LARRY??!!" Renee shrieked. "What happened?"

"It's no big deal, Renee, really," Ally lied.

Renee looked sadly at the unhappiness in her best friend's face. She had watched for months after Larry left as Ally, heartbroken, had tried to go on with her life. But, it was evident that, without him, Ally didn't find much joy in anything anymore, even though she'd really tried to talk herself into liking Clay. "Are you all right?" she asked softly.

"No. Yes. No. Oh, damn it, Renee, I don't know what I feel anymore. I feel euphoric and nauseous. I want to hold him and throw him out the window. I love him and I want to kill him." Ally couldn't hold back her tears any longer and began sobbing. "Even with all the pain he carries around, he's still the most amazing man I've ever known. Clay's sweet, but after seeing Larry again, I know I'll never stop loving him ... that I can never love anyone but him."

Renee held her while she cried. "Shhh, honey, it's gonna be all right. You're strong, Ally. You'll get past this."

"Yep," Ally wept, "that's what everyone keeps telling me. Billy told me that I had a happy future ahead of me. And, I have to believe that. But, it's so damn hard, Renee. If only I hadn't seen him again. You know what it felt like, Renee? It felt like he'd never been gone, like I'd come home and find him waiting for me."

"I know, I know." Renee comforted her.

"Why the hell did he have to come back?"

"Ally, maybe there's a reason for ..." Renee said.

"Oh, yeah, right!" Ally uttered dismally, "he already took the best of me, Renee - probably just couldn't rest ‘til he finished me off."

Renee ventured, "Did he say ... anything? About ... why he hasn't ...?"

"No," Ally admitted dismally. "I really didn't expect him to. He has to face his own demons and I have to face him in court until this trial is over. But, I don't know if I'm that strong, Renee. I don't know if I can do this."

"You'll find the strength, Ally, you always have. .. um, do you know where Larry's staying while he's in town?" Renee asked.

"Yep," she whispered, poking at her chest, "right here in Heartbreak Hotel ... and he's not even paying the damn rent."

"Richard," Ally began, "why me? Anyone else in this firm could've handled this case." Since the departure of Mark and Jackson, the firm had hired three new attorneys, Clay Richards, Michael Barrett, and Jeanette O'Connor.

"Look around you, Ally. Mark's gone to Chicago, Jackson's with another firm, and Ling's off somewhere getting in touch with herself - or touching herself - I'm not quite sure about that - oh, well. Clay lacks trial experience, and Michael and Jeanette are in the middle of the James Larson arbitration. John would be useless in a case like this. And, Nelle, well, she hates children. Am I right, Nelle?"

"Yeechh!" Nelle said in reply.

"See?" Richard continued, "And, me? Well, I'm sure I don't have to expand on my disqualifications. So, it's you or no one, Ally. You're the one who's always wanted one of those little things running around, so you'll be able to emotionally bond with this woman. Let's face it, Ally, you're the only one pathetic enough to handle this case (bygones)." Clay glanced up curiously.

"Gee, Richard," Ally responded, "your confidence overwhelms me. But, you know the court doesn't deal in emotions. The husband donated sperm without telling his wife. Now, why would he do that unless there was a good reason he didn't want her to know? Plus, this case involves a binding contractual agreement which, I might add, is also privileged, and that's what the court will look at. Our client is merely trying to circumvent the system and obtain through the back door what she can't get through the front and, quite frankly, isn't entitled to. We're not gonna win, Richard. It's that simple."

"Ally, did I forget to mention that the client Emily Morton is filthy rich? She's willing to pay us six figures just to have her day in court. As senior partner, you know I have a fiduciary duty to make us all rich .. uh .. not necessarily equally, of course. So, c'mon, Ally," he pleaded, "let her have her day. Then you'll be done with it. She'll be on her way and we'll have her money. What could be better than that. I mean, what does it all come down to but ...."

"Yes, Richard," John piped in, "we all know it comes down to...." He lifted his arms several times in a motioning gesture for everyone at the conference table to join in as they said in unison, "MONEY."

"But, there's something else you don't know," Ally began....

"Well, when added to all the other things I don't know, it's hardly relevant," Richard replied.

"Larry's opposing counsel," Ally declared.

Richard looked up surprised, "Larry Paul's here, in town? On the other side? Whoa! There's a bonus! All the more reason for you to take this case. How better to exact revenge than by kicking him where it hurts. Beating him to a pulp. Exterminating him. Embarrassing him in court. Ultimate legal orgasm (Fishism). Oh, Ally, it doesn't get much better than this."

Clay looked suspiciously at Ally, wondering what the hell was going on.

Ally had to admit that Richard was making it look more tempting every minute. But, reality ultimately took over, "Richard, I have never won a case against Larry. And, this one is unwinnable!"

"Hmm, you have a point." Richard buzzed Jane and when she appeared he said, "Make a note to get Mrs. Morton's full retainer up front."

Elaine interrupted looking like she'd seen a ghost. "Ally, uh, Larry Paul's here to see you. He's waiting in your office."

"L-Larry's h-h-here?" Ally sputtered. She went weak in the knees (she couldn't handle this.)

Becoming more and more agitated, Clay asked, "Richard, what's going on here? Is there something I should know?"

"Trust me, Clay. Ya don't wanna know!" Richard answered.

All heads in the office turned to look as an incredibly good looking man stepped out of the elevator. Nelle turned. Her face immediately lit up and she broke into a huge smile. She ran to him and they kissed and embraced. Excitedly, they rushed back into the elevator, leaving everyone to stare after them. "Elaine, who was that?" Richard asked. "I don't know, but I hope he has a twin," purring as she broke into a cold sweat. Richard glanced at John, then at Jeanette and Michael, "Does anyone have any idea what just happened here?" Michael and Jeanette both nodded no. "I'm confounded," John said. Then, he looked at Ally's closed door (.. and ‘Lord knows what's going on in there,' he thought). "This could turn out to be a very interesting day."