The front door bell went, alerting the whole party, wondering who it could be. They were all there weren’t they? Ally, Renée, Ling, Nelle, Elaine, Coretta and Maddie. The party. Because it was Ally’s birthday and they were all dressing up for a party they’d organised for Ally. So who was at the door? Ally went and answered it, in her pyjamas, because it was a surprise party and she’d thought it was just a normal night. She’d put her pyjamas on early and went downstairs to get a HotChocolate for Maddie and herself when everyone had jumped out. So she was wondering who was at the door at this time, when the guys were at the bar getting the party sorted there, and the girls were all here!

‘Larry?’

‘Surprise!’ He said it shyly, and sounded a bit embarrassed.

‘Whatthe… whatthe?’ Ally just couldn’t believe it. She’d been waiting for him to come back for ages, and here he was and she just wanted to punch him.

‘Mum? Who is it, hurry up the party’s starting soon!’ A little voice screamed from the living room, and then ran out though with the body attached, obviously. ‘Mum, what’re you waiting for, who is it?’

‘Mum? You are a mum?’ Larry was looking at Ally in disbelief and Ally was looking at him the same way. She suddenly got jerked back to life, and remembered they’d never seen each other before.

‘Uh, yes, Larry this is Maddie, my daughter and Maddie this is Larry, an ex-boyfriend.’ Larry flinched inside at the ‘ex’ part, he didn’t like that word associated with Ally.

‘Do I know you from somewhere? You look really familiar!’ Maddie was looking at him oddly.Then suddenly, her face lit up. ‘Oh god, I remember, you’re Sam’s dad right?’

‘How’d you know that Maddie?’ Ally had told Maddie about her ex-boyfriend, but nothing about Sam.

‘Sam goes to my school!’

‘He, he does?’ Ally looked at Larry questioningly.

‘Well…’ Larry was about to answer when Renée burst into the corridor, telling Ally to get inthe living room now, but she stopped at the sight of Larry.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’

‘I’ve moved to Boston again.’

‘With Sam?’ Renée asked.

‘With Sam.’

‘But what about Jamie?’ Renée demanded.

‘She uh, she died.’

All the girls gasped, as if it was the latest creepy plot line to their favourite TV show.

‘Oh my god, how? How’s Sam taking it?’ Ally remembered the pain on that little boy’s facewhen he talked of his parent’s divorce; god knows how he coped with this.

‘He’s doing good, y’know considering! I thought that he, and I, we needed a fresh start and I though Boston would be perfect.’

‘Uhuh.’ Renée remained sceptical. She wasn’t going to let him get away with leaving Ally likehe did that easily. ‘So, why’d you come over then? We’re kind of busy you see, its Ally’s…’

‘Birthday, yeah I know, I came round to wish her happy birthday and really say hi! Just in case we meet in court, y’know I don’t suppose it would be nice to just say hi just before a case, it might make it unfair. I certainly don’t need any more footrubs.’ He tried to make a joke, but no one really wanted one.

‘Yeah, absolutely.’ Ally was kind of blocked off from any emotion other than shock andit showed on her face all the time. There was an awkward silence, which got broken by the other girls storming down the corridor wondering what was going on by the door. They all stopped when they saw Larry.

‘Oh my god, the traveller who stole and broke Ally’s pathetic heart’s back? What are you doing here you little creep?’ Ling was far from polite but to the point nonetheless.

‘Nice to see you too Ling…’ Larry said avoiding the murderous eyes Ling had.

‘So Larry, you came back for me, I knew you couldn’t resist, but Larry, I’m so sorry, it would never work!’ Nelle had always believed Larry had never gotten over her.

‘What the…?’ Larry was finding it hard to believe this.

‘Larry?’ Coretta pushed her way past Nelle and Ling, and struggled to understand what was going on.

‘Coretta? What are you doing here?’

‘I got a job at Cage and Fish - uh, Fish and McBeal I should say!’

‘What, you made partner, Ally?’

‘Uhuh!’ Ally beamed.

‘That’s such great news!’ Larry beamed back at her.

‘Hey what are you doing tonight Larry?’ Coretta asked.

‘Nothing really, Sam and I were on our way to get a pizza actually!’

‘What, Sam’s in the car? Can I say hi?’ Maddie’s cheeks flushed bright pink, making Larry and Ally raise their eyebrows to each other.

‘Uh, sweetie, isn’t he a bit young for you?’ Renée said. She loved Maddie like a daughter ofher own, and Maddie adored her.

‘I know but he’s really sweet, I wouldn’t be his girlfriend or anything!’

‘I know, why don’t Sam and Larry come with us to the bar?’ Coretta suggested.

‘Aww, I’m sure we’d love to! Shall we meet you guys there?’

‘Yeah, see you there!’ And then Ally shut the door on him- but not the door to her heart.

* * *At the bar* * * As Ally walked in to the blacked out bar, she quickly tugged at her dress and composed herself, as the lights switched on, the balloons went flying, confetti flew around the room and the music started up again.

‘Happy Birthday Ally!’ All the guys just stood their grinning, but none of their smiles was bigger than the one on Ally’s face.

‘Aw, thanks guys, this is great!’

‘No, no, this is just the beginning of the night. You just keep your grin on, and we’ll keep surprising you!’ Richard was finding this a lot of fun as Ally had been having a toughtime lately, perhaps this would lighten her permanent black cloud.

Ally couldn’t decide on her favourite part! Richard got up and started doing his Tom Jones thing, then Johnthought this was unfair as it was his thing having a separate persona, so he went up and did Barry White and it resulted in a little bawl on stage that Ally broke up, again. They all ate a great meal, there was loads left even with Larry and Sam eating! Elaine gave Ally one of her finest inventions, the Vi-bra this time with Gloria Gaynor and Al Green sound bytes to match. Renée gave Ally some new pyjamas and made her a huge cake with the words; ‘Best friendsforever’ written over it. Taking advice from John, she went upstairs to her office and started to reflect on the day, she stared out of the window watchingthe snow gently fall. Her mind naturally fell to Larry. A year ago he had probably just sang with Sting to her. This year’s birthday, it had been great,but … she hadn’t realised until then just how much she missed Larry, and howmuch she loved him. Had she been fooling herself when she said she was overhim? But then she remembered that he felt he was a failure, and didn’t want tofail to her, so wouldn’t want to get back with her. And she started to cry.

‘Ally? Ally, what’s wrong, whyare you crying?’ Sam came in to her office, his eyes round and curious. ‘Ally, it’s your birthday, why are you crying? I’ve never cried on my birthday.’

‘Oh, Sam, wait until you get a bit bigger then!’ Ally put on a brave face and hastily dried her eyes. She was doing this when a small torpedo pushed her into her chair, though it wasn’t atorpedo, just a big Sam hug. She pulled him in close, and hugged him tight, and then he looked at her right in the eye and said:

‘Where’d you go Ally?’

‘Me? I’ve been no where, just there in this office…’

‘I mean, why’d you go away from my Dad.’

‘Oh. Well, Sam, as people get older they change a little I guess and they drift apart.’

‘My Dad hasn’t changed, and you haven’t changed so why are you not with him anymore?’ Sam was confused but this made him adorable.

‘Ah, well, your Dad has got it into his head that he, he isn’t good enough for anyone.’ Ally thought for asecond. ‘At least that’s what I think he got into his head.’

‘Not good enough for anyone?’

‘Well, yes I think.’

‘Not good enough for me?’

‘Ah, well that’s where this little rule changes. Your dad loves you so much he couldn’t even think of giving you up. You see Sam, god, you are so like him in so many ways! Your humour, your face, your…’ Ally hesitated. ‘It’d really be like giving up the biggest piece of himself if he left you. So really, your bond is so strong, he couldn’t even dream of life without you.’ She did smile, though inside she was breaking. Larry had once said she was the biggest part of him, but now it was clear that was wrong – Sam was and would always be.

‘Is Maddie the biggest part of you?’

‘Yes,’ though she hesitatedagain. Was Maddie the biggest part of her? And if she wasn’t was Sam really the biggest part of Larry? She decided to carry on playing this card with Sam though. ‘I love her ever so much Sam, as much as your Dad loves you.’

‘I don’t think you’re telling the truth.’ Sam smiled.

‘Oh don’t you now?’ Ally smiled right back at him.

‘I think Dad loves you as much as me.’

Ally was thrown back.

‘Huh?’ Ally said puzzled.

‘So, you are kind of like half of him, and I’m the other half. And if this is right then Maddie is like half of you and my Dad’s the other half. Right?’

‘Well…’ Ally didn’t know what to say.

‘Look Ally, just because you have a kid, doesn’t mean the rest of your life is gone. It doesn’t mean that they must always come first. My Dad didn’t always put me first did he?’

‘No, he always did…’

‘No he didn’t! He could have stayed in Detroit with me but he went back to Boston, to be with you. So I think I’m right. You’re one half of him, and I’m the other half.’ He seemed pleased with his analysis.

‘Ah, Sam there’s more to love than just being half of a person.’

Sam yawned and laid his head onAlly’s shoulder.

‘Oh, buddy, you’re tired!’

‘Yeah, I guess I am. Can you sing to me?’

‘Sing?’

‘Please! My Dad sings this song to me every night now so could you sing to me?’

‘Oh, sure ok, now let’s see…

(Sung)
Chances are you’ll find me,
Somewhere on your road tonight…’Ally sang softly.

‘(Sung) Seems I always end up driving by…’ Sam sang breathing in deeply.

‘How’d you know that?’ Ally was astounded.

‘My dad, he sings it to me every night. Carry on, please!’ He yawned loudly.

‘Oh, sure.’ Ally was a little shaken up but carried on. ‘(Sung) Ever since I’ve known you,
It just seems you’re on my way.
All the rules of logic don’t apply…’

* * * Meanwhile downstairs…. ** *

‘Wow.’ Larry was kind of amazed.

‘What?’ Maddie was not impressed with this guy. She’d been expecting a lot more from her Mum’s accounts.

‘I can not believe Ally McBeal was a Mum all along!’

‘Yeah, well start believing,‘cause I’m the proof.’ Maddie was bored with this guy.

‘Gee, I’m sorry, it’s just been one of those days.’

‘What, so you often appear on an ex-…’ A flinch from Larry. ‘Girlfriend’s door stop, meet their daughter you’d never met and get invited to the ex’s…’ Another flinch. ‘ Birthday party?’

‘Gee, you’re clever.’ Larry liked this girl, she had attitude.

‘And so were you leaving my mother like that! What, were you in a competition to break the heart of your girlfriend and run off in a matter of days?’

‘It wasn’t like that.’ He said softly.

‘Oh no? So what was it like, tell me, Larry, the man who hurt my mum like no one had before? Did you get an award in the end?’

‘Can you imagine what it is like to fail at everything? Everything? Your son…’

‘You didn’t fail Sam, look at him, he’s a great kid so you can scrap that one.’

Larry’s rhythm got broken, that hadn’t happened in a long time, but he didn’t mind it being broken by this girl, she was cool. ‘Okay then! I failed as a husband…’

‘Yeah, you and the other 50% of men in this country, so I’d like you to scrap that one as well.’ Maddie was gradually getting more impressed with this guy, he was neurotic, just like her Mum.

‘Okay and uh…’ Larry thought hard. What else? Were those the reasons he left Ally a year ago? Reasons a 10 year old can justify.

‘Was that it?’ Maddie was surprised; he was even more neurotic than her mum.

‘Yeah!’ Larry couldn’t believe what he had done. He’d given up on the love of his life for those reasons. He started to cry.

‘Hey, don’t cry! It’s not the end of the world!’

‘It is, believe me!’

‘You’ve got Sam, isn’t he the biggest part of you?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, then, you can live without mum, I’m sure of it, you’ve done it for a year.’

‘Yes, but for that year, I’ve been thinking it was for her own good I left, right? And now I know it’s not, I can’t give up on her! And there is a difference between Father-Son love and Girlfriend-boyfriend love. When I was with your mum, I liked to think Sam was half of me, and your mum was the other half.’

‘Well then, you’ve got to go fight for her!’

‘Why would she want me, though? How unreliable am I? I ran off the moment things got too serious really, I bailed and we both felt pain. Why didn’t I listen to Coretta and just propose again?’

Maddie yawned, she was very tired. ‘You were going to propose to her?’

‘Yeah, didn’t she ever tell you that?’ Larry was surprised.

‘No… look do you think you can tell my Mum I need to get home, because I’m really …’ She then fell asleep with her head on Larry’s shoulder.

‘Tired?’ Larry finished for her and smiled. He slowly lifted her up and started to carry her to find her Mum.

He walked up to the lift and got off and went in the direction of Ally’s office. The last time he was up here, he was giving Elaine that ridiculous note; he blushed red at the thought of it. He was about to call out Ally’s name, when he heard soft singing coming fromher office; he crept forward and heard;

‘(Sang) Chances are I’ll see yousomewhere in my dreams tonight,
You’ll be smiling like the nightwe met…’ She stopped, checked Sam was asleep and went to stand up with him in her arms, Larry stepped back to the lift so he wasn’t seen and started to re-trace the steps to her office.

‘Ally?’ He softly whispered, Maddie still asleep in his arms.

‘Larry?’ She softly whispered back, Sam in her arms.

‘Maddie wanted to go home!’

‘Sam did too!’

‘Do you want me to give you girls a lift home?’

‘Yes please, I came with Renée so I don’t have my car.’

Just then Maddie started waking up properly and said;

‘Where am I?’

‘Shh, shh!’ Larry and Ally didn’t want her waking up Sam who was sleeping like an angel on Ally’s shoulder.

‘You’re going home,’ Ally said and Maddie slid off Larry and stood lazily, nearly fell backwards but got caught by Larry, who carefully took her by the arm.

‘Okay, if you give me Sam, Ally, I can put these 2 in the car and you can go get your things, and say goodbye.’ Larry suggested.

‘Good idea,’ and Ally gently lifted Sam into Larry’s arms, and said; ‘You go down I won’t be long just have to get some things from the office.’

‘Okay.’

* * * Later on that evening, Ally’s just getting in the car * * *

‘All set?’ Larry asked whispering.

‘Let’s go.’ Ally buckled herself in, and turned into the backseat to see Maddie and Sam sleeping with their heads leaning on to their seatbelt.

The journey passed in silence.Larry and Ally both felt a bit uncomfortable at having just a few centimetres between them, and both didn’t want to wake Sam and Maddie.

‘Here we are then.’ Larry said pulling up outside her house. ‘I’ll take Maddie in shall I?’

‘Thanks,’ Ally collected all her things together and then got out of the car and to the front door where she hurriedly opened it. Larry came through with Maddie and rested her on the sofa, after Ally plumped up a cushion and rested Maddie’s head on it. She then lovingly covered her in a duvet, and then kissed her on the cheek.

Larry was intrigued. When he last saw Ally she was a self-centred woman who didn’t really have much responsibility. He had loved her with the faults for it was what made Ally –Ally! … The way she was looking at Maddie, with such love and devotedness. It made him melt. He shook from his thoughts when Ally indicated him to come into the Kitchen. She flicked on a light, and went to sit on a stool by thebreakfast bar.

‘Thanks for dropping us off.’

‘That’s ok.’

‘Where are you staying?’

‘I was booked into a hotel for the night the other side of town …’

‘The other side of town?’

‘The other side of town.’

‘But that’ll take you ages to get there, has Sam got school tomorrow?’

‘Uh, yes.’

‘Well then that’s that, you are both staying here tonight.’

‘We are?’

‘Yes. Sam needs a good night’s sleep and by the looks of it so do you. So, go get him.’

Larry looked at her in amazement, since when did she become such a great parent? Because she was, the way she now cared for Sam also…

‘Mum?’ Maddie came through.

‘Maddie! Since when have you been awake?’

‘Since just now!’ She noticed Ally was making Coffee. ‘Can I have one?’

‘No, you may certainly not; you will never get to sleep! Now go upstairs to your bed, school tomorrow!’ Ally loved acting the mother, but smiled whilst she said this.

‘Okay, night Mum,’ Maddie kissed her on the cheek. ‘Night Larry, hey, where’s Sam?’

‘Yeah, I should go get him,’ Larry went out to the car.

‘They’re staying the night?’ Maddie said amazed.

‘Yes.’ Ally said. ‘A problem?’

‘Uh, yeah! Oh, man, I’m too tired to think this through right now, I’ll talk about it in morning. I’m going to my bed. Night!’ And she went upstairs to her bed, leaving Ally muddled again.

‘He’s asleep on the sofa, I hope that’s okay?’ Larry walked through.

‘Of course, now do you mind the other sofa?’

‘No, that’s great, can you give me the duvet and pillows?’

She got him his pillows and duvet, and took them to him.

‘Here you are…’ She gave them to him. ‘Good night…’ and she hurried off.

‘Ally?’ Larry urgently whispered,and she flicked around;

‘Yes?’

‘It’s uh, it’s great to see you again.’

‘You too.’

And they both went to sleep.

* * * In the morning * * *

Ally woke up, to hear her alarm clock hurling abuse at her again. She tried turning it off, banging it repeatedly until…

‘Here.’ The abuse stopped, and Larry sat on the edge of her bed.

Ally yawned. ‘What is the time?’ She pushed herself upright.

‘7.30.’

‘7.30?’ Ally sprang up and started getting clothes together. ‘Why didn’t you wake me earlier? I’ve got toget to work, are Maddie and Sam awake? Has Maddie done her homework now?’

‘Ally! Relax! We’ve got an hour and a half to get the kids ready and us ready and them to school and us towork. That’s plenty of time.’

‘Yeah, you’re right. Ooh.’ Ally rested again and Larry sat next to her flicking with the buttons on the alarm clock.

‘You kept it.’

‘Huh?’ Ally wondered.

‘The alarm clock. You kept it even though you hated it.’ Larry enquired, enjoying seeing her blush.

‘Well, it’s silly to get a new one when I’ve got a perfectly working one that wakes me up and y’know…’ She didn’t want to say the next reason – it reminded her of him.

He nodded. ‘It reminds you of me.’ He said it sadly.

‘Hey, it’s not like you’ve never done anything to remind yourself of me!’ Uh oh, old protective Ally was kicking in… ‘Singing the song you wrote me to Sam? Huh, now what’s that about?’

‘Well. I did write it…’

‘And it reminds you of me.’

‘Well…’

‘Admit it!’

‘It …’

‘Why are you so stubborn for gods sake?’

‘Did you 2 fight this much when you were together?’ Maddie was standing by the door in her dressing gown with her arms crossed and her eyebrows raised. Larry and Ally looked at each other for the answer, and then Ally said;

‘We had little playful fights, I guess! Don’t you think?’

‘Yeah, I suppose, like when you gave John advice on beating me!’ Larry laughed. ‘Didn’t work though!’ He loved winding Ally up; she took it all so seriously!

‘Cloning though? Who would really WANT their client to be given the right to clone their DEAD wife?’ Ally said. ‘It was an unfair case.’

‘Unfair?’

‘Unfair. Oh, look you’re making me repeat myself now, like you do and you know that makes me angry so what I’m going to do is go into the bathroom and I’ll see you when I get out.’ She got out of bed and slowly padded to the bathroom, and Larry stared after her withlove. A clever kid, Maddie saw it.

‘Larry!’ She was telling him off, she didn’t want him hurting her mum again.

‘What?’ He snapped back to reality.

‘You’re falling in love with heragain!’ She plopped herself on Ally’s bed next to him. ‘No I’m not!’ Larry said.

‘Oh?’ Maddie asked.

Larry hesitated he was going to say – No – but then he said; ‘I never stopped loving her.’

Maddie was starting to like the guy. He had issues, sure, but who doesn’t?

‘What’re you going to do?’ Maddie asked.

‘I don’t know, should I tell her?’

‘Woah! No, not yet. Find out how she feels first, y’know, discreetly then if she’s not going to get hurt by you telling her then tell her.’

‘Do you think?’

‘Well…’ But Sam running up the stairs screaming his head off going interrupted her:

‘Dad! Dad! Your mobile’s ringing! Dad!’ He burst into the room and gave it to Larry, who instantly answered it:

‘Hello? … Oh, hello Mr Stevens! …I’m fine, how about you? … What? … But I need that job to get myself set up! …Oh, I see … Yes, good luck to yourself. … Bye.’ Larry hung up and put his head into his hands. Sam went and sat the other side of him.

‘What’s wrong Dad?’

‘My job just fell through!’ He was annoyed; he needed that job to get himself known again before setting up his private business again. ‘Okay, re-plan.’ He grabbed some paper and a pen from Ally’s bedside table. ‘Today’s To Do List: 1. Find new job. 2. Find a new place. 3. Draw up a list of reachable things to do. There, could I manage it?’ He laughed, and Maddie and Sam joined in, and then in walked Ally.

‘What’s so funny?’ She asked.

‘We’re just laughing at my list!’ He handed it to Ally, and her face creased into worry and thought. ‘Okay, one step at a time; number one. Is this just a temporary job until you can build up a new business?’ She was talking seriously, and Larry, Maddie and Sam went along with it.

‘Yes, so a job for about a month, maybe?’

‘Well, easy, you can come and work at Fish & McBeal, you can share my office if you like, Richard won’t mind, you’re a good lawyer, so he should get some money in from you. Okay?’

‘Yes, great, thanks!’ Larry was speechless.

‘Number Two; Find a new place. Okay, you can stay here until you find a suitable place, this suitable place must be; a) big enough for the both of you, b) close to Sam’s school, c) close to wherever you will work and d) have the necessary requirements. Is that it?’

‘Uh, yes.’

‘Okay then, easy, we can look for that later on, but for now, we all have to get ready for work and school. Maddie? Have you done your music homework?’

‘I just can’t compose songs Mum!’

‘Hey, I’ll help, how long does it have to be?’ Larry eagerly asked.

‘An eight-bar tune using major notes.’

‘That’s easy, don’t worry I’ll help you with that.’ Larry said.

‘Okay then, we’ve got an hour and fifteen minutes to get to work and school so off you go!’

Everyone rushed around; everyone was dressed and washed by 8.15, and Larry was quickly making up toast and breakfast.

‘Breakfast everyone!’ Larry yelled, and Maddie and Sam came in, putting books in their bags, and sat at the table as Larry tossed them toast and cereal. He was rushing around making more toast and setting up the table, and Ally came in but just leant against thedoor frame watching everyone. She was only noticed when Larry sat down andstarted to eat his toast.

‘What?’ He asked, a cute smile on his face.

‘Oh nothing.’ Ally smiled and satdown at the table and started eating.

It felt strange. She was actually sitting opposite Larry, the man she had been pining over for nearly a year, and she didn’t want to hit him like she had before, and she didn’t want to kiss him like mad like she had when she first met him. It was like they’d gone straight back to how they were when he left. An ordinary couple. But they weren’t a couple, just Friends.

‘So Sam, who’s your teacher at school?’ Ally asked.

‘Miss West.’

Ally’s jaw dropped.

‘What?’ Larry asked curiously.

‘Miss West, does she write stories?’ Ally asked Sam.

‘Yes.’

‘Does she twitch and make noises sometimes?’

‘Yes.’

‘Have you met her yet, Larry?’

Larry looked at her and suddenly remembered it was John’s ex-girlfriend, Melanie.

‘No, Sam only got en-rolled yesterday; I only met the head teacher.’

‘Why?’ Maddie was as curious as Sam was to know what was making Larry and Ally look at each other, as though having a private conversation.

‘Oh, well, Miss West was a friend of ours.’

‘She was? Why not any more?’ Sam asked.

‘Oh, well, John, the Barry White man at the party last night, she is his ex-girlfriend!’

‘Oh!’

‘What, so don’t they talk anymore?’ Sam asked.

‘Not really.’

‘I thought you always kept friendly with your ex-girlfriend or boyfriend!’ Sam was again, confused.

‘What makes you say that?’ Ally asked.

‘My dad has, I mean, my Mum, his ex-wife and you. He’s kept in touch with people who meant most to him.’ Sam said, and didn’t notice the friction that caused between Larry and Ally.

‘Well, Sam, your Dad didn’t actually keep in touch with me, he just said hi last night because he was living in Boston.’ Ally said trying to be cheerful.

‘Oh.’ Sam was disappointed. ‘Why didn’t you keep in touch with Ally, Dad? Didn’t she mean as much to you as my Mum and Helena did?’

‘Oh, gee, Sam, no it’s not like that…’ Larry said embarrassed.

‘Oh really, what was it like?’ Allywas getting mad again.

‘Well, when someone means… um…things change and…’ Larry was stuttering, hiding something, obviously.

‘What?’ Ally was mad. ‘I’m taking you in my home, you might as well be straight with me!’

‘Ally, not here…’ he urgently asked her.

‘Come on Larry tell me!’

‘Ally…’

‘What’s up? Just tell me what made me so un-special I couldn’t be kept in touch with?’

‘Ally!’

‘Stop bleating my name like that and answer the question! Why didn’t you keep in touch with me?’ She was screaming, across the table, tears in her eyes, hurt written all over her face.And Larry melted. He had to be honest with her, and he pushed away her tears and slowly said;

‘It was precisely that you wereso special I couldn’t bear to keep in touch with you. Surely you can see that? I walked away from this amazing woman who I loved to my core for a few selfish reasons that a 10 year old justify in barely any time! I couldn’t keep in touch with you because I was so ashamed. I’d thought I’d fail you, so I walked away, not realising I would only fail if I allowed myself to. Only fail if I did walk away from you, which I did. I am a coward, and you, Ally, you deserve better.’ He sat down tears running down his face, though not as many as the still as a statue Ally had. Maddie and Sam just sat there; watching their parent’s lives either being violently pushed together or forced apart.

Ally slowly came back to earth and said;

‘Then haven’t you learnt anything over this past year? Didn’t that teach you not to walk away from me again?’ She gasped.

Larry sat, amazed. Was Ally allowing him back in her life?

‘Ally, I never even dreamed you’d think of accepting me back after leaving you like I did, like the coward I am, so why would I waste my time on pipe dreams? You deserve better.’ He sighed,and Ally walked out of the room, tears streaming down her face. Maddie sighed herself, gave Larry a true ‘evil’ and followed Ally.

There was a cold silence, broken by Sam’s wise words:

‘Can I just say, you are totally over-dramatising this situation. Dad, give love a try! Don’t just give up on it, how cowardly is that! Do you want to prove to yourself that you are a loser? If Ally is willing to be with you, if she is willing to take that risk,can’t you?’

‘I wish I could, I just, I just don’t want to hurt her like I did before, seeing how fragile she is, it’s like kicking a puppy, I just couldn’t!’

‘Just try! She still thinks you’re half of her, just give it a chance!’

Something clicked, and Larry agreed. He would get Ally back.

* * * Meanwhile in Ally’s bedroom. * * * Ally was dabbing her eyes. She had thought earlier that Larry might have wanted her back, but he hadn’t changed his mind, he still thought of himself as a failure, so nothing had changed. She wanted him back, but she couldn’t force him to do anything. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea if they shared an office…

‘Mum?’ Maddie came to the door.

‘Yes, sweetheart?’ Ally put on a brave face.

‘Are you okay?’

‘I’m fine, and man, it’s 8.30, we really should get a move on, come on, you’re music’s done right?’

‘Yes but Mum, you’re avoiding the topic of discussion here…’

‘What would that be?’

‘Mum! I …’

‘Look Maddie, can we just leave?’

‘Sure, I’ll go tell Sam and Larry we’re walking, alright?’

‘Yeah great.’

* * * At school * * *

‘I’ll pick you up at 4.00 okay; I’ll meet both of you here, okay? Have a good day!’ Ally said briskly, and watched them both bound of into the playground. ‘So, Larry, to work?’

‘Ally, aren’t we avoiding the topic we need to discuss?’Larry said warily.

‘There is nothing to discuss, you think you’re a failure, nothing’s changed can’t we just be acquaintances?’

‘Fine.’ Larry couldn’t be bothered to sort this out with Ally when she was in one of these moods, so they walked in silence, and were both so deep in though, neither noticed when the entire office building turned their heads when they stepped out of the elevator and walked into the conference room. They sat down in seats side by side and were greeted by some odd stares, which Larry noticed and just smiled back at and Ally just sat in adaze. Larry nudging her and whispering suddenly waked her up, and she said:

‘Oh, sorry, I’ve hired Larry.’

‘Since when?’ Nelle said.

‘This morning.’ ‘Why?’ Ling said.

‘Because he needs a temporary job for a month.’

‘Fine, just don’t cost me too much, and get some good, i.e. money making, cases, okay?’ Richard’s mind was always concentrating on money.

‘Okay then!’ Larry said.

* * * About 3.30 in the afternoon * * *

Ally had been avoiding the topic of conversation all day. Though, they’d barely seen each other, Ally was at Renée’s work-place alot of the day, and when Larry started to talk to her she either started phoning someone, or ran out of the room saying she was late. So he wasn’t getting anywhere. She wasn’t, wouldn’t and didn’t want to listen to him, so had shut herself off. But they had to talk when Larry said;

‘So, are we going to pick up Sam and Maddie together, or what?’

‘I don’t mind. Whatever. Ooh, yes, on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school, Maddie comes back here, and does homework or something because I can’t get a baby sitter on those days, y’know how it is, I don’t like to think of her at home alone, so she comes and sees everyone here on those days, so you can either go out with Sam or he can hang out with Maddie here, it’s up to you, I mean, I’m sure we can spare you for 2 hours at the end of theday or something but…’ Larry was staring at her. ‘What?’

‘You still talk in run on sentences.’ He smiled, and so did she.

‘Something I cant seem to grow out of! So what do you want to do?’

‘I’m really busy on this case Richard put me on, do you think you could pick them up? Sam will be fine here I think.’

‘Sure!’ She went to put on her scarf, hat and coat and walked out saying ‘Bye’ as she left. As soon as she left, everyone who mattered gathered into Ally’s office and turned Larry’s chair around so they were facing him. They were all looking at him with murderous eyes. The silence was broken by Renée saying;

‘Who the hell do you think you are? Firstly, you come back to Boston, secondly, you actually have the nerve to come to Ally’s party-’

‘I was invited!’

‘Thirdly, you obviously upset her as she was silent all through out lunch! So Larry, what the hell is going on?’

‘I never meant to upset her-’

‘What, did you never mean to leave her?’

‘Renée! Please, can you all sit down; I want to explain something to you.’ He got up and they all sat down on the sofa and chairs; Renée, Elaine, Richard, John, Coretta, Nelle, Raymond, even Ling had got there and Georgia who had come along for the ride as she and Renée were really on their way to court, but they had a half an hour to spare. Larry paced around a bit at first.

‘I know I’m a coward. I know I’m a fool. And I also know, I am the stupidest person I know! I mean, how many people meet the love of their life and then leave her for some silly reasons, it’s like 1 in a million. But I was so stupid when I left Ally that I had convinced myself that it was for her benefit that I leave her. Something seemed to be telling me that I wasn’t good enough, that I wasn’t worth her. I seem to bring destruction into everyone’s lives I enter, Sam’s, Jamie’s, Helena. I thought I had failed with them all. But then I started thinking. I hadn’t really failed. I still kept in touch with all of them, Sam was now living with me, even though Jamie is dead, we did have a good friendship in the end, and Helena is still one of my good friends. I’d put hell through all of them, but we were still friends. I then realised that my life has been incomplete without Ally. It always hurt living without her. Y’know those mornings you get when you just can’t get out of bed because your head hurts so much, I had that everyday but it was a weight on my heart. The only thing that kept me going was that she might still love me. As much as I love her? I doubt it. But if she loved me, then there was always that chance we could be together again. And so now I realise I love her so much, I cant walk away from her again! I would rather be her great friend and feel the pain of not being able to kiss her, than live without seeing her every day. So, I want to know if you think if I made it up to her, she would still want to be with me?’ Larry sat down on the desk, tears in his eyes, so he took off his glasses, and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

‘Wow.’ Renée was stunned; he had grown up. ‘If you made it up to her Larry, I think she could forgive you. But, this would have to be a major grovelling time for you. She’s not going to let you in that easily, you do know that, don’t you?’

‘Of course. So, do I have your support?’ He smiled hopefully.

‘Yeah you do,’ and Richard came and clapped him on the back in a ‘manly, un-touchy-feely way.’

‘Oh, that is so great, thank you all so much.’ Larry was very pleased, but a bit wary of the task ahead of him. He suddenly had an idea.‘I’m going to sing for her.’

‘Oh yes, good idea, though, it might have to be quite a few songs to let her forgive you!’ Coretta warned him.

‘I know, and I’ve got the perfect idea.’ He sat thinking deeply and everyone just stared at him.

* * * At the bar that night * * *

‘Hey Ally!’ Elaine was very cheerful tonight, Ally thought. Weird.

‘Hello Elaine!’ Ally said tiredly.

‘How are Maddie and Sam?’ Elaine asked.

‘Fine, Larry’s looking after them both, yeah, why am I here actually? I don’t know, Renée insists I come to the bar again and then deserts me!’ Ally was fed up. She loved Larry but he didn’t want to go back into their relationship so she had to respect that. Why was respecting so hard then?! Ally moaned inside her head. Renée came back over, smiling all over.

‘Why are you so happy?’ Ally asked Renée curiously.

‘No reason!’ She sipped her drink. ‘Look, Ally, we decided to carry on your birthday celebrations onto today. The thing is, only John and Richard got to go on stage last night, and you could hardly call that a performance, so we’ve decided to do them all today.’ She smiled at Ally’s face;it was shocked. ‘So you just sit there and be patient and some of us are going to entertain you!’ Renée then left an astounded Ally with a giggling Elaine and went backstage.

* * * Backstage* * *

‘Okay, Sammy, are you ready?’ Larry asked again.

‘Dad, you’ve sung this song to me about a million times, I think I know the words and the tune by now!’

‘Okay, okay! And Maddie, do you know your lines?’ Larry said.

‘Yeah, yeah, so what are you doing for her?’

‘Err, a song called ‘Your Song’.’

‘Your song? Whose song?’ Sam giggled.

‘Her song. It’s your song, his song, Sam’s song. Your song!’ Maddie giggled.

‘Okay, oh gosh, Renée’s up, you two are next! Ready?’

‘Yes!’ Sam and Maddie screamed.

Renée was singing her heart out to Ally;

‘I want you back!
Yeah yeah yeah yeah,
Oh, baby I was blind to let you go,
Won’t you please let me,
Back in you arms?’

* * * Meanwhile * * *

Ally was sitting there, smiling, Renée was such a good singer, she loved it when she sang!

‘It’s a shame Larry, Maddie and Sam couldn’t be here.’ Ally said.

‘What do you mean Ally, of course they’re-’ Elaine said but was silenced by a look from John. ‘Oh yes, it’s a shame.’

Ally was getting suspicious, but just decided to enjoy the singing.

* * * Meanwhile * * *

‘Vonda! Vonda!’ Larry yelled.

‘Larry!’ Vonda said in greeting.

‘Is he here?’ Larry gasped.

‘Who?’ Vonda said pretending to be confused.

‘Elton?’

‘Elton?’ Vonda said still pretending to not know what he meant.

‘Elton John, Nelle and Ling said that you three managed to track him down and told him to get here! Because you said you were friends, and you said he was in Massachusetts last night and I thought they’d told you, and he’s not coming now is he and she wont come back to me.’ Larry slumped down on to the chair, and looked up at Vonda who was smirking.

‘What? Is my pathetic life funny to you Vonda?’

‘A little, and I love the way you’re slowly turning into Ally with her run-on sentences.’ She smiled, stood him up, turned him around and showed him Elton standing behind him.

‘Elton John!’ He stood forward and shook his hand. Nelle and Ling followed him, looking like secret agent police.

‘How can I thank you all?’ Larry said, meaning Nelle, Ling, Elton and Vonda.

‘I wouldn’t worry too much, we can do anything!’ Ling said flicking her hair.

‘It’s not a problem, honestly, Iwas coming here to sing with Vonda anyway, so it’s no problem. By the way, what are we singing?’

‘Your song, if that’s alright?’Larry asked.

‘That’s my favourite. Wow, who has that voice?’ Elton John said hearing Renée ending her song.

‘Ally’s best friend, did Ling and Nelle fill you in on the story?’ Larry said.

‘They did, and I hope you don’t mind me saying that you are an idiot.’ Elton said smiling.

‘Not at all, you may call me an idiot whenever you like.’ Larry said grinning.

‘Who’s up now?’ Vonda asked.

‘My kid- Sam- and Ally’s kid – Maddie.’ Larry’s heart swelled with pride at Sam’s name.

‘What are they singing?’ Elton asked.

‘A song called Chances Are. I wrote it for Ally,’ Larry added. ‘I’m playing the piano so I’d better get onstage.’

* * * Meanwhile * * *

The Bar turned black and when it lit up Sam and Maddie were on stage, looking completely adorable. They took their microphones, and the pianist started playing. It was still black there except for the keyboard where lights were lit up so the pianist could see wherehe was going. Sammy started singing:

‘Chances are you'll find me
Somewhere on your road tonight
Seems I always end up driving by
Ever since I've known you
It just seems you're on my way
All the rules of logic don't apply
I long to see you in the night
Be with you 'till the morning light....’

Maddie stood up and sang:

‘I remember clearly
How you looked the night we met
I recall your laughter and your smile
I remember how you made me feel so at ease
I remember all your grace and style
And now you're all I long to see
You've come to mean so much to me...’

And all throughout Ally was crying. She couldn’t tell for sure if they were tears of happiness or sadness, but she did know she was hurting a little. They then carried on singing together:

‘Chances are I'll see you
Somewhere in my dreams tonight
You'll be smiling like the night we met
Chances are I'll hold you
An’ I'll offer all I have
You're the only one I can't forget
Baby you're the best I've ever met.’

And they ended it there. Everyone stood up and cheered, and then the stage lights dimmed again. Ally’s heart began thumping, as two figures stood on the stage, to the microphones, another one went to the piano and started playing, the lights came up and one of the two figures were visible. And Ally’s heart melted. Her eyes brimmed with new, fresh tears and he began singing. It was Larry.

‘It’s a little bit funny,
This feeling inside,
I’m not one of those -
Who can easily hide.
I don’t have much money,
But, oh, if I did,
I’d buy a big house,
Where we both could live.’

As he sang, he looked right at Ally, his eyes searching hers, her eyes forgiving him, their hearts becoming one again. Then the lights came up, and the other figure was visible. It was Elton John, and the bar went mad. There were screams, people were in shock, and people were amazed. And then he sang, but Larry and Ally stood oblivious to it all, and became only aware of their once again found love. Elton sang;

‘If I was a sculptor,
But then again no,
Or a man who makespotions,
And travels on show,
I know it’s not much,
But it’s the best I cando,
My gift is my soul,
And this one’s for you.’

And then they sang together;

‘And you can tell everybody,
That this is your song,
It may be quite simplebut,
Now that it’s done,
I hope you don’t mind,
I hope you don’t mind,
That I’ve put down in words,
How wonderful life is now you’re in the world.’

And then Larry couldn’tcontrol himself. He ran off the stage, and Ally ran down from the table, and they flung themselves at each other and they kissed, and cuddled each other, as people around them clapped, they whooped, they cheered, they wolf-whistled.They had discovered their planet again, the Ally and Larry planet where they can’t think of anything except of each other. Elton finished the song, joined in with the clapping because he knew it was for Larry and Ally. Then Vonda came on the stage applauding, whispered something in the pianist’s ear, then in Elton’s, and sat down on the 2 stools that had appeared for her and Elton. He started:

‘For once in my life I have someone who needs me
Someone I've needed so long
For once unafraid I can go where life leads me
And somehow I know I'll be strong.’

Ally and Larry slowly moved into a dance, and just danced whilst Vonda and Elton John sang their song, Maddie and Sam danced nearby and all of Fish and McBeal, sat by in amazement that Ally and Larry had finally got their relationship back on track.

P.S. Feedback is very much appreciated, spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes, any mistakes, how you think it would be better, favourite bit etc. Please let me know!

Rainbowjig@aol.com