Ally sauntered down Newbury Street, eyeing the shop windows carefully. She needed a clothing fix. After all, she had a boyfriend now and it was getting to that stage where it really mattered to her how she looked when she was with Brian. He was such a sweet, loving, thoughtful man and to top it all off he was handsome and a successful attorney. Suddenly, she saw it...a peach knit suit. "Just the ticket...she thought; sexy, but dignified.

Dodging traffic as she crossed the narrow street, she nearly missed running into a motorcyclist. "Hey, go practice in a parking lot some more, you jerk"...she hollered, as she raced up the steps to the boutique.

Inside, she started to push the dresses on the rack back and forth rather roughly, as she searched for her size. "Bingo"...there it was.

"May I help you miss"...the saleslady asked with a haughty tone.

"I'd like to try this one, please."

"Certainly, but might I suggest you take a couple more choices in with you. Is it a cocktail dress you're looking for?

"Well yes, I suppose. Actually, just something smashing that my boyfriend hasn't seen yet."

"Here, bring these two into the dressing room too. They're perfect for your skin tone"...she said, turning and rolling her eyes to the other saleswoman.

She handed Ally a navy crepe with some strategic slits in the upper back of the dress and a green number that had only one shoulder strap. Ally knew the moment she saw the green dress that it was a perfect for her. The skirt had a sarong look and was slit quite high. It was sort of an emerald green, but some of the folds had different tones of green.

Back on the street, she was proud of herself. She'd only bought two of the dresses. Somehow the one in the window made her look washed out, but the other two...hot stuff. Arriving home, she called out to Renee..."Come see what I bought"...but she soon realized Renee was probably still at work. It was tough starting a new law firm. Renee, Georgia and Whipper were working their butts off. They'd offered her the chance to come in with them, but that wasn't for Ally. She was a big fan of that Cindy Lauper song..."Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", except Ally would have added "And Then Hook Mr. Right".

Pressing the 'new message' button on the answering machine, she heard..."Renee, I'm sorry...let me explain"...poor Renee that guy wasn't giving up easily; then, "Ally, it's your Mother, please call me when you get a chance"...pretend you didn't hear that one; and finally, "Hi Ally, it's Helena Fisher, We've finally settled into our new apartment and we're having a party next Friday, sort of a 'reentry into the Boston social scene' event. I've invited some of our old school chums too. It's been so long. I'd really love to see you. Oh, and please feel free to bring a date. Call me at (888) 888-8888 to let me know...we can chat more then."

"What nerve"...Ally thought. "She's assuming that I'm unattached and need to scare up a date." Helena Fisher was a gorgeous, curvy blond, who always seemed to get first pick of the best guys, except for Billy...Ally'd gotten him, which had bugged Helena to no end. They'd gone to high school and the first two years of college together and then Helena wanted more excitement, so she decided to finish college at New York University. She'd gotten married a few years back for the second time, supposedly to a hunky lawyer and they'd moved back to Boston recently. "I suppose she wants to show him off"...Ally thought, realizing she was being overly sensitive and catty. She actually liked Helena and considered her a friend. The last time they'd gotten together was a little over a year ago in New York City. Ally was there for a conference and they'd had lunch. She never even mentioned her husband the whole time. All she could talk about was her boss and how great he was. Typical Helena, always with some man on her radar screen.

"Well, it was sure to be a classy affair"...she thought..."and it would be nice to see Helena again." She'd call and accept and bring her man along. And now, she had a smashing dress to wear too.

...the next Friday...

"Ally, you look...well, you look simply gorgeous"...Brian gushed, kissing her on the cheek.

"Do you really like it? Do you?"

"I like it so much, I'd like to rip it off and stay here. That sexy thigh peeking out from your skirt is definitely tempting me."

"Hold that thought until later tonight?"...Ally said, feeling very flattered.

"It's a deal my dear. By the way, where to"...Brian asked, as they walked to his car.

"Charles River Park Apartments, you know down off Storrow Drive near Beacon Hill. Helena said it was the top floor penthouse. Pretty fancy digs in that neighborhood and she's loaded with money. I can assure you it won't be burgers and potato salad. Helena's a classy lady, a little over the top, but you'll like her."

"Ally, could you do a little better with the directions. Remember, I'm relatively new in this town"...Brian said in his charming, refined British accent.

"Sorry Honey"...Ally cooed..."I forgot." God she loved that accent of his. Wait until her friends got a load of him.

"Even the elevator is impressive"... Brian said, as he pushed the penthouse button and stared up at its ornate ceiling.

"Like I said before, Helena's family is very wealthy, and she probably married rich too."

Brian rang the bell and they were greeted by a maid, who took Ally's wrap and ushered them into the great room.

Helena spotted Ally immediately and came right over to greet them. "Ally, I'm sooooo glad you came"...I've really missed you. But, we're living in the same city now. Wont it be fun picking up our friendship again? My husband wanted to move to Detroit, but I insisted on coming back here. I was really starting to miss Boston."

Ally and Helena hugged. Helena could be a bit pretentious and know-it-all sometimes, but she did like her...she was so outgoing and friendly. And, they'd definitely had a lot of good times together.

"Well, who is this that you've been keeping a secret?"

"This is Brian Selig. Brian, this is Helena....I'm not sure I remember your married name."

"Oh I kept my maiden name. It's still 'Helena Fisher'."

"I'm so glad to meet you, Brian"...she said, leaning past Ally to place her hand in his.

"Delighted as well"...Brian said, reaching for her hand and covering it with his.

"Ally, where did you find him. He's adorable"...she said, causing Brian to blush slightly.

"We met in court"...he responded in his best upper class British accent. I'm a lawyer too and we were on opposing sides."

"What a cute story. Say, why don't you both come and meet a few people. And, there's my husband. Oh Larry, darling"...she called out. "Come over here, I want you to meet my friend, Ally McBeal and her boyfriend, Brian Selig. Ally and I went to high school together and part of college before I ran away to the Big Apple. Ally and Brian are lawyers too."

"Hi, I'm Larry Paul"...he said, shaking hands with Brian and looking over at Ally with a warm smile. It was so nice of you to come. I told Helena it was kind of short notice for a party, but we got a pretty good turn out...don't you think?"

"Y..Y..Yesssss"...Ally stuttered, totally aghast at this gorgeous man. It almost seemed as if he'd shot a glowing ball of energy into her as he smiled. My God, what little Helena had said about him in the past, painted him as okay looking, but not very sexy or exciting...boring, in fact. And, in New York, Helena had clearly intimated she was having an affair with her boss, although she didn't come right out and say it.

"Can I get you guys a drink?"...he said, walking towards the wet bar without waiting for an answer.

Helena grabbed Brian by the arm and announced..."I'll bring him right back, Ally. There's a couple here from England that I want him to meet." Brian looked back at her and shrugged his shoulders, implying he had no choice but not looking like he wanted to be saved.

Ally followed Larry towards the bar. "What'll you have, beautiful lady in green"...he said looking directly into her eyes. Knowing Helena, I'm sure Brian wont be back for a while. Let me rescue you."

Ally just stood looking into the most amazing liquid brown eyes she'd ever seen. For a moment she felt as if she was the only person on the planet.

"Ally, is it? Earth to Ally!!!"

"I'm sorry, I just had a case on my mind"...she said, thinking what a dumb and boring thing that was to say.

"Well, let me get you a drink and we'll try to get that case off your mind. Like martinis?"

"Ummmm...oh yes, my favorite...I'd like it up with an olive and a twist, please."

"Hey, that's my favorite drink too and I take it the same way. Ahhhh, the joy of new discovery between two people."

He was clearly flirting with her and she liked it. She wanted to flirt back, but this was Helena's husband and then there was Brian. Looking over towards the conservatory, however, she saw Helena happily dancing with Brian and Brian clearly seemed to be enjoying himself. Seeing this, she quietly posed..."and I wonder what joy will be next?"...trying to play the flirting game a bit herself.

"Here's your drink. Maybe we'll find something to delight us with joy out on the terrace. Looks like Helena has Brian locked up for the time being, so why don't I show you the view. Without waiting for an answer, he took her arm gently and ushered her through the crowd. As they walked, little streams of electricity started flowing into her body from the place where he was touching her. A few people called out "Hi Ally", as they crossed the room, but she simply smiled and waved and let him lead her to the terrace.

"This view is to die for"...she said..."You can see all of Cambridge, the Charles River and the Harbor. I really do love Boston."

"Yes, this penthouse is the sort of place people dream of I suppose"...he said sounding a bit serious and wistful.

He turn to look at her and they dove into each other's eyes again. "Something unexplainable was happening here. It wasn't the circumstances or the words, everything was pretty harmless. But, it was something in the energy between them. It had a kind of familiarity that was difficult to describe.

Larry put his drink down..."I love this song. Do you know it? Johnny Mathas..."Chances Are�"...he said referring to the music that was floating out from great room. "Dance with me Ally?"

"Okay"...she said, starting to head back in to the dance floor.

"The setting is nicer out here. Let's just dance here." And, without waiting for her response, he took her in his arms and started to move with the music. He was such a good dancer. She just followed as he pulled her closer. Then she started to feel that electricity she'd felt before, only it was stronger and less electric. She was starting to get scared.

"I'm getting chilly, Larry. Let's go in. I should try and find Brian, he'll be wondering what's happened to me.

"Ah yes, Brian. I guess my moment in heaven is over. Are you in love with him? God, you're beautiful."

"Now listen, Larry. I'm..."

"Not that kind of girl? Spoken for? Disgusted with you? or Wishing you would kiss me, but it's not right?"...Larry interrupted, posing some possible endings for the sentence she'd begun.

She turn away from him, aware that he knew exactly what she was thinking. She wanted to do more than kiss him. She wanted to drag him off to the nearest bedroom and totally get it on.

As she walked back into the great room, he didn't follow, but he said something in parting that rang in her head..."Ally, who's to know what's right."

She scanned the room and located Brian. He was chatting up a very intellectual looking couple and Helena was still with him, listening intently to the conversation with her arm draped around his waist.

As soon as she saw Ally, she gushed..."Oh Ally, there you are. I hope Larry didn't bore you too much. He can be such an old stick in the mud. Everyone's been asking for you. You've got to make the rounds. Just be prepared for the onslaught of kid pictures. It's definitely not my thing. I have a step son, but, luckily, he lives in Detroit with his mother, so I don't have to deal with him very often.

Ally picked up a second martini before embarking on the dreaded trip down memory lane. She could hear it already..."So, how many kids do you have, Ally?"

Having worked her way through the crowd with Helena doing the introductions, Ally finally made it back to Brian. He was still talking to that couple. Spotting her, he put his arm around her waist and drew her into the conversation. "Meet my girlfriend, Ally McBeal. Ally, this is Grace and Bob Ide. They come from a town in England, very close to where I was brought up. We've found a lot of people we know in common."

"Hi, nice to meet you"...Ally said, trying to camouflaging her complete boredom. Then, in a moment's time, all that changed. She was drawn back to life again by music coming from the grand piano in the corner of the room. Larry had put down his drink and was playing something wonderful she'd never heard before. It was mostly a jazz piece, but it also had rock and classical overtones. He had a very creative and intelligent way of playing, and for her it just built on what had passed between them on the terrace. After a while, he began to sing. It was a song about two people trying to keep their love pure and protected in a world filled with temptation and biting snakes in the grass. His voice was rich and a bit haunting, but most of all he knew how to infuse every word with emotion.

As he played, his eyes seemed to be searching the room for someone. When his gaze fell on her, she knew what he'd been looking for. It only took a couple of moments, but he easily let her know that he felt a longing and connection equal to hers. This was ludicrous. She had to get out of here, right now. "Brian, Honey, can I talk to you for a minute"...she said, interrupting him.

"Ally pulled him aside...I don't know what it is, perhaps the combination of two martinis and the rich finger foods, but I'm not feeling well. I'm starting to get a bad migraine."

Brian looked disappointed, he was having a good time and it was only 11:30, but, of course, he was concerned and understood.

"Let me get your wrap. I'll be right back."

Ally, spotted Helena near the dining room, and she walked over to say good night. "Helena, I hate to leave so early, but I'm just not feeling well. And please say 'good night' to Larry for us. We so enjoyed meeting him."

"I hope his performing didn't drive you away. I try to discourage him from the music, but he really loves writing and performing for informal gatherings."

"I thought he was very good."

"Well, that's a relief. Look I'm glad you came. And, I thought Brian was charming. I'd love to have you two over for dinner soon so we could get to know him better. And vice versa with Larry. Are you guys a thing?"

"Pretty much"...Ally answered.

"I hope you feel better. Take care Ally"...Helena said, giving her a brief hug.

Just then Brian arrived with her wrap. He leaned over to give Helena a quick kiss on the cheek, and she mentioned dinner to him also.

"We'd be delighted he said, just let us know when and where."

"Oh, and Brian"...Helena said..."are you in the book? I have a friend who needs some legal help and Larry's tied up right now."

"Here's my card, Helena. Have them give me a call, and I'll see if I can help."

While the two of them were talking, Ally looked across the room. Larry was leaning against a wall and staring intently at her. When their eyes met, he smiled ever so slightly and toasted her with the champagne glass he held in his hand.