"And for you to do this to John? Nick, how could you?"

"Don't ask, I keep asking myself those questions all the time."

"But why would you bring it up now? Out of the blue?"

"Why? Because when I was in the process of breaking up with Madeleine, I started looking through the personals in the Times and coming across just some of desperate, bizarre advertisements in the personals. Then I thought back on my life, of all the women I had been with, and of all the women I had once *dreamed* of being with. And naturally, I thought of you, and realized I had lost my chance. Two decades had passed and I had never once raised this bit of knowledge. I wrote that song, 'Mars Meets Venus' about lost chances." He took a deep breath. "About you." He sighed deeply, picking up his teacup with both hands, then putting it back down again.

"Oh, Nick..."

"I've always wanted the kind of relationship I'd dreamed of. You know the song we did back in the Medazzaland days? 'Out of My Mind' - remember that one?"

"'course I do. It's one of my favorites," I replied, looking at him intently. "What of it?"

"Those lyrics were always so close to me. 'Got to get you out of my mind, but I can't escape from the feeling. As I try to leave the memory behind without you, what's left to believe in...'" He looked as if it was painful to say the words.

Teardrops pricked my eyes. "Nick..." I thought of all the times I regarded him as only a friend. Like a brother. Nothing more, never realizing that he had always thought of me as something more.

"Wot?" His normally happy, beautiful eyes were clouded with sadness.

"Nick, look at me," I pleaded.

"I *am* looking at you," he replied, rather unconvincingly.

"I want to know some things. Like...tell me, how have you been thinking of me all these years? I can't imagine me being so special in *anyone's* mind," I said.

Nick thought for a moment. "Well, in my mind, I always put you on this great, tall pedestal. You were my ideal. And I *hated* seeing John treat you so badly. He had his good moments but when he was downright awful to you - I *hated* that. Remember that time we went to the 7Up in New York? After that concert?"

The horrible memories flooded back. "Yes..." I remember being shocked in seeing John, pumped full with drugs and drink, acting completely uncharacteristically. Snapping at me and becoming the life of the party, surrounded by girls who only had one thing - a certain three letter word - on their minds.

I gasped. And there I went...sobbing into Nick's chest.

I could only imagine what he had felt at that very moment. I was sure of one thing, he probably wanted to tell me then, and many times later, that he had a thing for me. But he couldn't say anything. Anything would have spelled the end of Duran Duran.

Remembering Nick calling after me, to make sure I didn't do anything stupid after I locked the door of my hotel room. It was never anyone else except him who was there to listen when I'd suffered one too many indignity from my almost-never-present boyfriend.

And all that time he was carrying a torch...for me...why hadn't I seen the signs? Now I had to be mad at myself.

"I'd been watching, for years, for what seemed like an eternity - watched how John treated you like a princess one minute and like dirt the next. But I felt like my hands were tied behind my back. I knew I couldn't even *seem* like I was making a move on you, I always loved John too much to do that."

"I don't know what to say, Nick," I said.

"You don't have to say anything, Grace," he replied quickly. "I just couldn't do *nothing* anymore. I miss having someone I can count on. For many years I thought that person was Julie-Anne. Then for a long while afterward I thought that person was to be Madeleine. But then after they'd left my life, I knew there was only one person for me." He gulped. "You." "And now it's my turn."

"I was hoping you'd *think* that."

My heart was confused. "You know how they say that time heals all wounds?" I asked him, looking into his beautiful green eyes. I'd never noticed that they were so lovely until that very moment. I'd wasted so much time wondering where my soulmate was, when he'd waiting for the right moment to say something.

Now I was so glad that Nick *had* said something or else I would have gone through the rest of my life without the benefit of knowing that someone *had* truly loved me. Someone had cared for my feelings.

"You haven't had lost your chances, Nick Rhodes."

"What do you mean?" He looked intrigued. "When one loses an opportunity, one door closes..."

"...and one door opens," I finished for him.

He smiled with the recognition that I'd understood. "When Mars meets Venus, you'll know. I knew it was you." Nick took my hands in his and kissed them. "It's not too late, is it?"

I shook my head resolutely, looking at him lovingly. "No. Someone is perfect for you, that's part of destiny. I was always looking for my soulmate. I just never knew my soulmate had been looking for me. Just answer me about one thing, Nick."

Nick's eyebrows raised. "Sure. Wot is it?"

"What does 'forever' mean to you?"

"That's easy. Until the last day on Earth. That's when I'll stop loving you."