Howie opened his front door. It had been a long time since he'd been home.

Traveling does that, Howie reminded himself.

"Is that my baby?" his girlfriend, Rena asked, jogging down the hall.

"Hi, Rena," he said, giving her an affectionate hug and a quick kiss. "Whatchya been up to?"

She shrugged. "You know how it is. 'Rena, get me this' or 'Get me that' or 'Can you make sure that David is as far up my ass as possible?'"

Howie laughed. Rena was secretary for a big firm. David was a worker who figured it was easier to burrow in the depths of big shots than to actually work. He yawned and picked up his bags. "Is it all right if I go take a nap? I'm so beat."

"Knock yourself out," she said, "figuratively speaking, of course." She blew a brownish piece of hair away from her face.

Howie trudged upstairs and flopped in the large bed he and his girlfriend shared.

Howie's dreams mainly reflected on old memories. One particular recollection was his favorite. The excitement of being on-stage. The be singing in front of thousands of fans with his friend. That, of most things, he did not lament keeping in his memories.

Howie woke up with a jolt. He felt bad. He ran downstairs and just hugged Rena.

"What's wrong?" she cajoled gently.

"I feel bad. I caused the break-up, didn't I?"

"No way. It wasn't anybody's fault. Don't blame yourself," she told him.

"Nick, you were great in there, man," Tracee smiled at him as they walked through the parking lot.

"Thanks, I'm excited," he stated in a less-than-said tone.

He was, truthfully. His album would be written mostly by himself. He'd even had different genres of music on it, rather than the bubblegum pop tunes he sang most often. Everything was going smoothly. Except - there was no name for the CD yet. Which made him kind of unnerved.

Nick wanted the title to be meaningful, expressive. But none of the ideas fit that standard.

"We still haven't selected a title of the record yet," Tracee declared, as if she picked up his thoughts.

Nick wasn't surprised by her actions. The two often swore they could know what the other was thinking. Nick and Tracee were close.

"Yeah, we'll figure it out," he assured her. He gave her a hug. "See ya."

"'Bye, Nick-ay! Stay fresh." Tracee always has these bizarre phrases.

Sophia looked into AJ's eyes for the ump-teenth time that night. They were dark brown, which implied intimacy and compassion. They watched her move and worshipped every curve. They observed as her lips curled up neatly into a small smile and how she threw her back to laugh. His eyes, covered by transparent glasses, took in how she bit her lip simply.

Another slow song. Automatically, couples grouped together.

AJ smiled, almost in a shy tone. Not a McLean trait. "Would you care to dance again?" He placed out a hand.

She accepted it and he pulled her against himself. She looped her aroms around his neck in a casual sense. She placed her head on his chest. He inhaled her perfume. It was alight flower scent. Something...something he loved. Lilly of the Valley.

Sophia heard his heart thump rhythmically. She played with his hair, childishly. AJ smirked and delicately puller her off him. He twirled her around and she giggled. He grinned.

That girl had stolen his heart.

Brian finally woke up. The baby was crying again.

Next to him, Chelsea was getting up, mumbling, "I'll - I'll go get her."

"No, I'll do it, go back to sleep."

Brian walked out of his room and down the shadowy hall. He felt a little twang of fear, all the small creaks and noises. He scolded himself for acting like a child. He entered Natalie's room. For the first time since he'd arrived just days before, he had noticed the room's decor. It was powder pink in celebration of a sweet little girl. The frills and laces were excessively around the room. Not that he was complaining. In the far corner, close to an oak rocking chair, was the crib.

Brian looked into the crib and saw Natalie, still proceeding to cry. He picked her up and hushed her. That didn't work. He tried rocking her, but still no luck.

"The words to say,
The road to take,
To find my way back to your heart,
What can I do,
To get to you and
Find a way
Back to your heart."

Brian cradled his daughter tenderly. The wisps of hair or her head were in a brownish nature. Her eyes were a clear blue like his own. He sat down in the rocking chair and rocked them both to sleep.