Two months later...

Michelle looked up from behind the counter at the sea of coeds before her. She never dreamed that taking this job in the college bookstore would have been so much work. It seemed like for the last month she never left this building.

In a way that had been good for her. It had brought some structure to her floundering life. Up until the time that she had met Mr. Rodgers, the manger of the store, Michelle had spent endless days and nights rambling around her apartment. There was only so many times she could rearrange the furniture and clean an already spotless apartment. The help wanted sign that starred back at her from the window the day she registered for her classes was welcoming.

Mr. Rodgers was a gentle soul who Michelle had taken to immediately. She found a comfort that she had lost since leaving Springfield. His kindly manner and calming way he spoke reminded her in many ways of Aunt Meta. As hard as she had tried to push thoughts of her family from her mind she found the effort fruitless. Everywhere she turned she could see them in those around her. She saw Ross in her many professors faces and actions, Rick in all the doctors she passed as they made their rounds at the hospital, Abby in the woman at the corner grocery and now Aunt Meta in the man who had taken her under his wing.

Agent Lucas had done his best to keep her mind off of the obvious with trips about town. He took his job quite seriously. He had every intention of making sure that she was settled into her new life. At first Michelle had been thankful but lately nothing seemed to make much difference. Thanksgiving was drawing near and she was lonely for all things familiar. She missed the sounds and smells of the Bauer kitchen this time of year. If she closed her eyes tight enough she was able to see Abby and Meta scurrying around the kitchen with Rick under foot. She couldn't help but smile at the vision. This would the first time that she wouldn't be part of the annual festivities. That realization further chipped away at her resolve on her new life. Mr. Rodgers had been kind enough to invite her to his home, but she felt uneasy about intruding on him and his family. Agent Lucas too offered to join her for the holiday, again she had begged off. She was getting tired of being his charity case. But now with Thanksgiving less then two days away she was beginning to feel sorry for herself.

"Melanie?????" the familiar voice said to Michelle's bent head.

"Yes?" she said surprised that someone knew her name.

"Melanie, remember me?" the dark hair girl asked.

"Sarah?!?!?" Michelle's voice filled with shock. She hadn't seen her since the day she had left her to fend for herself at the airport. The picture of Sarah crying was still one that Michelle hadn't been able to shake. She tried to no avail to locate her. Up until moments ago Michelle had given up hope of ever finding her.

"Yes......."

"How have you been?" Michelle questioned her head filling with thousands of things she wanted to know.

"Hanging in there." Sarah's expression was less then convincing.

"And your dad? How was he?" It was hard for Michelle to forget the anxiety that Sarah felt over meeting the man who had sired her and nothing more.

"He's trying. But he's not around much he works a lot. The business he manages is expanding..................."

"Excuse me?" a gruff voice came from behind Sarah, "Do you think I could get waited on in this century?" he ask sarcastically.

"Over here," Mr. Rodgers directed the young man towards the register resting on the other side of the bookstore. This was the first time that he had seen Michelle smile in her time working there and he wasn't about to put a stop to it.

"I am so glad to see you," Michelle said taking Sarah's hand in hers, "I wanted to get in touch with you but I couldn't find your father's number in the phone book. He must be unlisted. Thought it was funny though there wasn't one Wainwright in the entire Galveston area," she commented.

"Oh....Wainwright was my mother's name. My father's name is Carl Beck. My parents were never married so I have always used her maiden name as my own."

"I see," Sarah's beautiful blue eyes met Michelle's brown ones. She looked into their depths and saw the same sadness that she had that day on the plane. As much as Sarah was trying to hide it, Michelle was certain that her father had let her down all over again.

"It's okay really. I like being Sarah Wainwright. My mom always said that the Wainwright woman were strong and independent....looks like I'm getting a big dose of that now," she sighed.

"How so?"

"Well she may have made arrangements for my continued education but that's about it."

"Sarah?" Michelle was confused.

"I was a fool. I know that I let my guard down. I wanted to believe that I would find the father that I have spent my entire life dreaming about. Well that didn't happen. I have barely seen the man since I got here. And now it's my first Thanksgiving without my mother and I'm supposed to go live it up at some big grand reopening of my father's associates."

"This is my first holiday away from my family too. It really sucks!" Michelle stated solemnly.

"I used to love this time of year with my mom. We would cook and bake for days on end. Mom was really active with our church. She said that she was giving back to all those who had helped her when I was younger. I miss that. I miss the feeling of being part of something," Sarah cried, "I didn't think I could feel anymore alone then when my mom died but I was wrong. It's far worse being here!!!"

"I know I'm not your mom, Sarah....but I would love to share my Thanksgiving with you. I have to say that I have some great recipes that are much better when made for more then one."

"I wish that I could. But I have to attend this party thing......'daddy dearest' doesn't have time for me on a day to day basis but he expects to parade me around this party like some prize pony," she spat.

"I'm sorry," Michelle returned knowing that did little to ease Sarah rage with how little her father truly cared for her.

"It's not your fault my dad is an ass!"

"I know but......."

"Hey I have a great idea."

"What?"

"How about you come to this little wing ding with me? I mean I would love to have a friendly face there with me. I mean that is if you don't have any other plans."

Michelle thought of her prospects. Sitting at home alone watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade pass by her on the television and a cold turkey sandwich from the fridge didn't seem all that enticing. Besides she felt drawn to Sarah. Like in some way they were meant to be friends. She wasn't about to let the only person she could share her loneliness with get away.

"I think that would be great. Are you sure that it will be okay though? I mean I don't want your dad to get mad at you."

"Don't worry about that. Once I make my rounds for him I doubt he'll even notice that I'm there."

"Okay then it's a date," Michelle concurred.

"Great! Here's my phone number. Call me Thanksgiving morning and I will give you directions to the place. And Melanie, it was great to meet up with you again," Sarah said paying for her things and exiting the bookstore.

For the first time since she had arrived in Texas, Michelle felt like she was finally making her way there.

Danny looked over the list of things that still needed to be taken care of. He had jumped into this with both feet. It was nice to have a goal to focus on again. It was also nice to have a man like Uncle Albert willing to listen to his ideas without shooting them down at every turn in the way Carmen had always done.

There they were again, the thoughts of his mother that he couldn't shake. He didn't know if it was just the holidays that were getting to him or if there was more to it then that.

It wasn't like there was much holiday cheer at Casa Santos. Somehow everything that ever took place there was so sterile. Even when cousin Angelina had gotten married in the courtyard, it felt somber rather then the joyous occasion that it was meant to be. Carmen bred those kinds of feelings. She was one to hang a dark cloud over everything that she touched. Even after the time he had spent in Texas he hadn't been able to shake the haze that she had encircled him in.

It hadn't helped any that Aunt Jenny was still holding back. As much as she had said she had wanted to try to heal, little had been done on her part. On more then one occasion, Danny had caught her starring intently at him. Her eyes burning holes in his body. He didn't have a clue how to get passed the wall that she had built around herself. And now he was beginning to wonder if he even wanted to. Yes she had lost her son to the violence of the life he represented but he had lost loved ones as well and it was time for them to move forward.

He had been with them for over two months now and there hadn't been as much as peep to indicate that Carmen even cared that he had left or was looking for him.

Danny's intuition about him mother had been right on the money. She was far too fearful of losing her powers if Danny followed through with his threats then was she worried about losing the son she professed to love so much.

Jenny may still have been filled with the pain and anger of Richard's death but Danny thought that his presence was doing a great deal to ease his uncle's broken spirit. Having Danny there was like giving Albert a second chance. This was his time to make amends for the role he had ultimately played in his son's death. Danny was glad for that because he too drew a sense of closure from his uncle. Albert was playing the part that his father should have gotten to play. Danny even absently wondered now and again if this father figure was the one he really had needed.

As much as Danny had loved his father, he always wondered if his lack of drive for the life his father led would have eventually cost him his father's love. Much in the same way that it had cost him his mother's. He wanted to believe that wasn't the case. That had Miguel been alive things would have played out very differently. That Mick wouldn't have been dead and maybe just maybe his father could have kept his wife's need for power in check. In reality Danny would never know but he kept that idea tucked neatly in the back of his mind.

"I just don't understand why we have to do this over the holiday," Danny heard Jenny say again to her husband. He had grown tired of her resistance to every idea that he had brought to the table.

"It will be good for business," Albert retorted with obvious annoyance in his tone.

"Business has always been fine. We have never had to grand stand to get customers," Jenny shot a look of anger at her nephew.

"Jenny, please.....enough already. This is a go. You know that we have worked too hard to just drop it now."

"We have never asked our employees to work on a holiday before. We will end up paying out more in overtime then we will make!"

"NOT TRUE!!!!!!" Danny spoke up angered by her words.

"So you say!"

"Jenny," Albert sighed. It was quite obvious to all those around that if Danny said black Jenny would say white. She was content on taking the opposite side of every argument they had, even if she didn't believe it to be so. She wasn't about to let her guard down.

"I assure you that we will make more money in one evening then you could imagine."

"That's what you keep saying....but I doubt it!!!!!!!!!!"

"With all the colleges and universities in the area letting out for holiday break this place will be packed. I have booked a well known band that have played the college circuit in this area. They are working for peanuts................"

"What did you threaten them????" she quipped the Santos Family image still stuck in her mind.

"JENNY, THAT'S ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Albert shouted. He had had just about all he could take of his wife.

"I won't even dignify that question with an answer. I told you my reasons for coming here. So you can choose to believe me or believe the warped vision you have of me. I am tired of trying to make you see past my name! I know it's easy for you to forget that you are as much a Santos as I am.....even if you did change your name!!!" Danny seethed as he threw the clipboard against the bar.

"How dare you?!?!?!" Albert said in a controlled whisper, "I have indulged your attitude towards Danny far too long. I told you that Danny is family and family is everything to me! You keep this up Jenny and it will be you and not Danny who puts our way of life at risk!" Albert walked away without giving her the opportunity to return fire.

Jenny watched as her husband ran after his nephew. His words resounded in her ears and stung her heart. The bizarre thing was she already knew that, but kept right on pushing and pushing. It was as if she was trying to push Albert far enough away as to steel herself for the inevitable. That being his return to the mob life or far worse his death.

"Daniel.....are you out here son?" Albert called into the darkness of the night. The blood coursed through his veins. Jenny's absurd behavior was more then he knew how to handle. He loved his wife more then life itself but he couldn't let her bulldoze her way over Danny out of some unfounded fear. He wasn't about to let that happen. He had meant it when he said he wanted them to heal.....all of them. But he couldn't force Jenny to come around but he wasn't about to stand idly by and let her rip apart piece by piece his own flesh and blood.

He found Danny leaning against the concrete wall hands covering his face, "Son?"

"I have tried and tried with her! I'm sorry that Richard is dead..............." he cried, "But for god sakes I didn't kill him!"

"I know."

"Do you? I mean do you know what it's like to have her look right through me or worse yet constantly make pointed remarks about the man she thinks that I am! I have never even order a hit Uncle Albert. I could never do it. Lord knows that Carmen did her best to make it happen too. I found one way or another to get out of it. That woman in there that you call wife sees me as some god damned animal who takes pleasure from other people's misery!"

"That's not true," Albert found the need to defend his wife.

"Oh really?!?!?" Danny returned with disbelief.

"Yes, really. I will admit that she's been more then out of line with you. That will chance from now on. But she's afraid. She afraid of all the things that you represent. Try to understand that will you? Unlike your mother, Jenny never knew much about the business, that was until Richard died. Then she got it with both barrels. She lost her son that day Danny. The only child that she was to ever have. See when Richard was born, Jenny developed an infection that left her unable to have any other children. Richard was her heart and her very soul. So when he died a big part of her died along with him."

"I didn't know that."

"You wouldn't have. You were far too young when all this happened. Can you try to understand that when she looks at you she sees Richard? I have to admit that I do it too. You look so much like him that there are times when I lull myself into thinking that you are him."

"What am I supposed to do? I can't take much more of this."

"I don't have a good answer for you. All I can say is that time will bring her around. She has to be sure of you. All the things about you."

"But.....she can't see past her own ideas much less let her guard down to even get to know me," Danny countered.

"Let's just take it one day at a time, shall we? You are a strong man with a generous heart. Please try for me Daniel."

Danny found himself nodding that he would all the while wondering just how he was going to be able to manage the daunting task his uncle asked of him.

The shrill sound of the phone ringing on the night table startled Michelle from her peaceful slumber, "Hello?" she said her voice thick with sleep.

"Melanie, it's Sarah.....I didn't wake you did I?" Sarah rattled off her questions so quick that in her dazed state Michelle could barely make sense of them.

"Huh?" was all she was able to muster as she sat up wiping the sleep from her eyes.

"I did wake you didn't I? I'm sorry."

"No it's okay I had to get up in a couple of hours anyway," she teased looking at the clock that read half past six sitting on the table beside her.

"I was just calling to make sure we were still on for today."

"I thought I was supposed to call you?" Michelle questioned gaining most of her senses in the wee morning hours.

"You were.....but......." she hesitated.

"But what?" Michelle prodded.

"I don't know really. I just wanted to be sure that you weren't going to bail on me or something." Michelle knew all too well the feelings that Sarah was having at the moment. For she had had them as well. It was tough not to think that everyone in the world would let you down when some many already had.

"Not a chance."

"Thank you."

"For what?" Michelle asked as she pulled on her terry robe over her silk boxers and tank.

"For being my friend. I mean you don't even know me and here you are saving me from a fate worse then death today."

"Worse then death huh? Don't make it sound like so much fun now," Michelle laughed easily. That was the first time in months she could recall actually hearing herself laugh. The sound was so foreign to her.

"You know what I mean," Sarah countered.

"So what do I wear to this shindig?"

"Well it's kinda like a club I guess.....there's a restaurant too......I don't know really I guess dressy causal."

"Dressy casual?" Michelle parroted trying to suppress the giggles. "That must be a style native to the state of Texas I guess," she joked.

"What the hell do I know?" Sarah remarked, "I mean it's not an evening gown kind of event but I doubt that jeans and cowboy boots would do either. And stop right now......" Sarah cut Michelle off before she could make the remark that was obvious to them both.

"You were a lot of help, NOT!" Michelle laughed again with her new found friend, "What time should I meet you?"

"Well the doors open at four-thirty. I'm pretty sure that's what my dad said."

"FOUR-THIRTY?!?!?"

"Yeah, is there something wrong with that?"

"Sarah for heaven sakes it's just a little past seven o'clock now. That's like nine or more hours from now."

"Yeah?" she questioned.

"Go back to bed girl and I will call you when it's a closer to show time okay?" Michelle said throwing her body back down on her disheveled bed.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't even look at the clock before I called you. I was just so worried that you wouldn't come after all that I couldn't help myself. Please don't be mad."

"I'm not mad....I'm tired," Michelle laughed again easing the tension she heard on the other end of the phone, "Besides didn't your mom ever tell you that every beautiful woman needs at least twelve hours of beauty sleep? Get back to bed. I will call you before one o'clock and we can make the arrangements then."

"Deal.....and Melanie thanks again."

"No thanks necessary. Talk to you later."

Before the phone was even back in it's cradle, Michelle buried herself deep beneath the covers again and thought about the new friendship that she was forming and how nice it was to feel as if she had purpose again.

Danny rolled over and eyed the clock hanging on the wall in the room that he now called his own. It was only five minutes later then the last time he had looked. He hadn't had this much trouble sleeping since he had been a young boy waiting for Santa Claus to bring his Christmas presents. It had been a long time since he had believed in the jolly man in the red suit but last night he had gone to bed with more anticipation then he had ever remembered feeling before. All his work was finally coming together. The expansion of Uncle Albert's restaurant would be phenomenal. Not only would they have great food and drink but live entertainment as well.

As hard as it had been for him, Danny tried to keep his dreams in check. The last thing he wanted to do was over extend their reserves. He certainly didn't need to stoke his aunt's fire anymore then he had already done.

Danny had wanted so badly to understand his uncle's words from the day before. Wanted to give the woman that Albert loved the benefit of the doubt, but Danny found that difficult since he wasn't being afforded the same. Having the mother that Danny had he had trouble comprehending the depth of Jenny's feelings for her son. Carmen had never shown those feelings not publicly or privately for that matter. Mick, Danny and Pilar weren't really children to her not in the true sense of the word. The were more like soldiers in her army. And as Danny now well knew that in a war soldiers were expendable just like the Santos children had been.

Danny tossed away the sheet and blanket sleep was the last thing on his mind. So many details were volleying through his mind. The liquor order needed to be checked on, he wanted to check with the chef to be sure that the menu was the way they had discussed. He also needed to check with the band to be sure that everything was a go with them. It wasn't like he hadn't done all these things at least a dozen times prior to this moment but his adrenaline was running so high right now that he had to do something to burn it off.

He made is way to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. The house was quiet at this early hour. The silence was nice. It had been a long time for him where silence wasn't a bad thing. Silences before had always led to the other shoe being dropped on him or worse the silence was always broken by the shrill whistle of the bullets flying threw the air.

Danny filled his mug and stood in front of the expansive wall of windows that opened up onto the grounds. The fireball that had just rose was amazing. The sun was alive with the vibrant hues of red, orange and yellow. Danny couldn't remember there being enough time for him to actually stand there and watch the sun rise. It was a gorgeous sight to behold. The perfect synonymy for his life. The sun dawned anew everyday and now so had he. It was as if the heaviness he once carried with him was slowly getting lighter with each day that passed for him there. Now if only he and his aunt could be in the same room together without wanted to kill each other everything would have been perfect.

As if on cue Jenny entered the kitchen. It wasn't hard to miss the change in her posture when she saw Danny standing by the windows. "Good morning, Aunt Jenny. Happy Thanksgiving. Can I get you a cup of coffee?" he asked moving towards the counter.

"No thank you I can get it myself," she returned. It looked as though Albert had had little luck getting his wife to see the error of her ways.

"Do you think that we could talk?" Danny asked hesitantly.

"I don't think we have all that much to say to one another."

"Jenny....please." She relented by pouring herself a cup of coffee and sat across the kitchen table from him. "I have said it time and time again I'm not the enemy. The last thing I want to do is come between you and Uncle Albert."

"Like you could," she quipped knowing full well that Danny had the ability to do just that.

"What are you afraid of?" Danny asked not really expecting to get an answer.

"CERTAINLY NOT YOU!!!!!!!!!!" she spat.

"Then what? Why can't you cut me a break and at least try to get to know me?"

"I know all I need to know about you, Daniel."

"Well I think you are wrong about that."

"According to you and Albert, I am wrong about everything. Well I know what I know. I know that my son is dead. I know that no matter what you do you can never be free of the mob..................."

"But you are free Jenny. You have been free from that way of life for fifteen years now. My father made sure of that."

"Danny your father is dead or have you forgotten? I'm sorry," Jenny whispered as she saw the astonished way that Danny looked back at her. His black eyes filled with anguish, "I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry. But you don't know what it has been like for me. I have been waiting for this day to come for some time now."

"What day to come?" Danny was confused.

"The day when Albert realizes that he made a mistake leaving 'la familia' for me.........."

"That won't happen," Jenny looked up to see her husband standing in the doorway.

"I see the way you look at him. I can read the unspoken words between the two of you. You share a closeness that I could never achieve with you," she cried.

"You're wrong.....so wrong Jenny. What you see between Daniel and I is not my missing the mob. It's my missing my family. Longing for a relationship with my brother that I will never have. Longing to see my son a grown man with children of his own. Daniel is all I have left now. I want to do whatever I can to help him make something of himself that he can be proud of. It's nothing more then that. Jenny if I wanted to go back to the mob I could have done that when Miguel was killed. Danny wasn't a man yet. He couldn't take his place at the head of the table. The others confronted me......they wanted me to stand in my brother's place. I told them no Jenny. Ten years ago I had my chance and I didn't take it. So please know that this is where I want to be."

That had been the first time that Albert had truly spoken to his wife. Actually told her the things she needed to hear. All Jenny was able to do was look on at him. His words ringing in her ears. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"Because it was done and over with. Carmen stepped up and took control when I wouldn't. At the time she said she was protecting the interests of her children......."

"Yes, but now we all know the truth," Danny cut in, "She was looking out for herself." The realization that Albert's answer could have changed the course of Danny's life left feeling a little numb. As badly as he wanted to blame Albert for the way his mother turned out in all reality he couldn't. Danny knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Carmen would have found a way to claw herself to the top anyway she could. But it was still unnerving to hear what Albert said.

"Danny, I'm sorry," Albert remarked.

"For what?" he said gruffly.

"For not being there for you and Mick after Miguel was killed. I should have done something."

"Like what? Whisk us away from her. Like she would have let that happen," Danny half laughed.

"I don't know something."

"Don't sweat it Uncle Albert. There was nothing you could have done," Danny said that knowing it in his head but his heart had other thoughts, "Well I better go get ready. I have a lot to do before the party this afternoon."

"Danny, wait," Jenny called.

"Yeah."

"I want to apologize. I mean for real this time. I was taking out my fears on you. That was wrong. Do you think that we can start over?" Jenny's eyes pleaded with the young man standing before her.

"That was pretty quick U turn don't you think?" Danny heard the irritation in his voice but couldn't stop himself.

"Well....yes and no," she faltered, "Yes I have my reservations about you. I can't lie to you, Danny. You scare the hell out of me," she said honestly.

"Jenny," Albert shot.

"No let her finish," Danny asserted.

"I know how you mother is Danny. She's not one to lose gracefully."

"That's the point you aren't getting Aunt Jenny" Carmen isn't losing. She's winning in every sense of the word."

"How can that be she has lost both of her sons?" Jenny wasn't understanding this at all. No matter what she thought about Carmen she couldn't believe that she sit by and watch he son walk away from her.

"That may be true but she still has what means the most to her...........HER POWER! And Jenny if so much as a hair on my hair is harmed Carmen and everyone in the business won't know what hit them."

"What are you talking about?" Albert now chimed in.

"Let's just say that when I told you that I could take care of my mom.....that's exactly what I did and leave it at that. Not Carmen or anyone else from your old life will be descending on you because of my presence here. So if you want to starting see the real me then I'm all for that."

Danny walked away without giving either of them a chance to say anymore, but left them with a great deal to think about.

Michelle looked at the address that Sarah had given her. "This is the place," she said as she emerged from her car. She was already able to hear the music that was pulsing inside the building. It was hard to believe how nervous she actually was. You would have thought that she was about to go on her first date or something. It had taken her hours to pick the right outfit. Finally Michelle had decided on a simple black cocktail dress. She absently wondered if this would fit Sarah's description of dressy casual.

She let the weight of her body rest against the door. She hesitated for a moment, just long enough for it to be pulled in the opposite direction sending her falling into the arms of the most handsome man she ever remembered seeing.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize that anyone was against the door. Are you all right?"

For the moment it was as though the world had stood still. All Michelle was able to focus her attention on were the black eyes looking back at her. She let herself get completely lost in their depths.

"Hey, are you okay?" the man asked again.

"Ah.....yeah...yes I'm fine," the words caught in her throat.

"Like I said I'm really sorry. I didn't expect there to be anyone on the other side of the door."

"No really it's my fault," Michelle countered finally bringing herself back to ground zero, "I am supposed to meet a friend of mine here. I was just rechecking the address."

He couldn't help but wonder if the friend she spoke of was of the male or female gender. He was secretly hoping for the ladder. Her skin was petal soft under the touch of his fingers and her scent was intoxicating.

"If it's a party you are looking for I think you have come to the right place," he said never averting his eyes from her face.

"I would have to say you are right about that."

The silence that fell between them was awkward yet it wasn't. Michelle would have remained in his grasp for as long as he would let her. Something about his touch was electric.

"Albert needs you," a voice came from behind them.

"If you'll excuse me," and with that he was gone as quick as he came.

Michelle was still attempting to catch her breath as she made her way around the overly crowded room. She was supposed to be searching for Sarah but at that very moment the only person she was hunting was the handsome man in the dark suit. The man who in an instant had jump started her heart.

"Melanie, over here!!" Sarah tried shout over the driving base line of the band she stood beside. Michelle pushed her way through the crowd and came to stand along side her friend. "I didn't think you were coming after all."

"I wouldn't have missed this for the world," Michelle said more meaning behind her words then Sarah would have understood. "This is a great party. So where's your dad? Are you going to at least introduce me?"

"Are you sure you really want to?" Sarah returned astonished that her friend would care to given all she had said about the man claiming to be her father.

"Of course."

"I hope you won't be disappointed."

The pair made their way across the room. Michelle couldn't help but think how much this place reminded her of Millennium back home. The music, the people it was all the same. Thinking of Millennium again forced her to think about Drew and Jesse. Made her remember that what they had done had started the chain of events that had brought her here in the first place.

"Melanie Branson, this is my father Carl Beck. Daddy," Michelle noticed the pained way that Sarah used that term, "this is my friend Melanie. We met on the plane."

"Nice to meet you Melanie. It's nice to now that my daughter has someone to keep her company seeing as how I have been so busy lately."

"It's been my pleasure," Michelle returned with immediate dislike for the man before her.

"Albert have I introduced you to my daughter Sarah?"

"No actually you haven't Carl. Nice to meet you Sarah. You as well Melanie," Albert put his hand forth.

"This is a great party," Michelle found herself saying.

"It's the brain child of my nephew. He's around here somewhere. Let me see if I can find him. Ah Daniel....over here son," Albert called. Michelle held her breath as she watched the handsome man who had caught her in his arms earlier that evening walk towards them. "Melanie and Sarah I'd like you to meet the man responsible for this event, my nephew Danny Sant................"

"Sampson," Danny smiled not knowing why suddenly he felt the need to be anything but a Santos. All he did know was that tonight he didn't want any of the baggage that went along with his name.

Danny heard the noise of the club swirling around him but he wasn't able to concentrate on anything but the beautiful creature before him. Everything about her presence held him captive in the moment. He let his eyes travel the length of her body. The silky black material of her dress hugged her most feminine curves. Danny felt his pulse quicken with thoughts of touching the skin of her thigh that the dress's high slit revealed.

"Danny," Albert's voice snapped him back from the fantasy that his mind was letting him entertain. "Cat got your tongue?" he laughed knowing from the look on his nephew's face what he must be thinking. Albert had to agree with him. She was a beauty. And it was nice to see Danny having a normal reaction in his not so normal life.

The one thing he had found strange was Danny's use of the Sampson name. That troubled him due to the fact that he had been so adamant about not doing so when he had arrived. Albert wanted to take it as a sign that Danny was making an attempt to move forward and reclaim his life, but there was an underlying sense that he was hiding instead.

"No," Danny stumbled over his words, "Just checking to be sure that all is running smoothly," he lied hoping that no one around would notice how nervous he suddenly was. Danny couldn't remember a time in his life when he had felt this inept. The life Carmen had scripted him left little time for a social life. The only girl who had really been allowed to play a role in his existence had been Theresa Sandavol. Carmen figured her the perfect match. She had dreams of grandeur at their union. Unfortunately Danny had other plans. Theresa hadn't brought forth any emotion in him. She was merely just another pawn in his mother's elaborate chess game.

"Every thing is running like clock work son. This night is the success that you planned it to be," Albert said reassuring him.

"Ssshhh.....you'll jinx us for sure," Danny found himself laughing trying so hard not to look in her direction again. He feared just the sight of her would send him careening over the edge.

"NONSENSE!!!! Besides you were completely right about the live entertainment. It's a big draw with the college crowd, obviously," Albert gestured towards Michelle and Sarah.

"The band is really great," Michelle piped in giving her reason to speak to Danny.

"I scouted them for a while," Sarah's father piped in not wanting to be left at the side of the road.

"That's true," Danny began not wanting to ruffle Carl's feathers in front of his daughter. In this whole expansion if he hadn't been getting guff from his aunt he was getting it from Carl Beck. Apparently he hadn't liked the fact that Albert had given him free reign, "Carl did turn me on to them. They were perfect for our grand reopening." Danny smiled.

A smile that made Michelle weak in the knees. She stood there listening while the others talked around her. She had been glad that no one had pulled her into the conversation because she doubted that she could have made heads or tails of what was going on around her. All her energy was focused on trying not to look as though Danny Sampson was the only thought in her head. Yet that was the very case. There was something commanding about him. His presence was larger then life. Her eyes wandered from the top of his head to the tip of his toes. Michelle was drinking in every detail of him. She loved the way his chocolate curls flipped at the nape of his neck and how his eyes reflected the lights that bounced about the room. She wanted so desperately to reach out and touch his jawbone. Let her fingers run along the stubble that anyone but her could barely notice. There wasn't a thing about him that she missed.

"Melanie," Sarah's voice called to her, "Hey Melanie, you want to grab a bite to eat?"

"Sure," her voice was but a whisper.

"Please eat, drink and enjoy yourself," Danny said to the pair.

"Thank you," Sarah returned while all Michelle was able to do was stare.

Michelle glanced back at the men as Sarah guided her to the buffet table. She watched as Danny and his uncle continued speaking. Maybe just maybe Texas wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Excuse us, Carl. I'd like to speak to Danny alone."

"Sure whatever," he said with an edge to his voice, "I'll go check with the band to be sure that things are going smoothly."

"I better check with the chef too," Danny said trying to avoid what he was certain Albert was about to ask.

"That can wait," he put his arm out to stop him, "Don't get me wrong I am glad that you decided to use my name.....but why?"

"To be honest I don't know."

"I don't believe that. You have never been one to do anything without reason for it."

"It just came out," Danny said not believing the answer himself.

"Oh really?" Albert ran his hand along his chin doing his best to hold back a grin.

"What???????"

"I think there's a lot more to it then that. And the beautiful blonde in the tiny black dress it at the heart of it," Albert laughed.

Danny felt his cheeks flush at being caught. "Don't be embarrassed, son. I have to say if I was thirty years or so younger I would be thinking the very same things you were the minute you laid eyes on her. She's a hell of a looker."

"Please tell me I wasn't that obvious," Danny sighed imagining the fool he must have made of himself.

"Not too......but you were getting there. Why do you think that I snapped you out of that trance? I thought for a minute there you might actually start drooling," Albert playfully slapped Danny's shoulder.

"Oh get outta here. I know I wasn't that obvious!!!!" Danny shot back

"Pretty damn close."

"She is attractive," Danny commented nonchalantly.

"Attractive? What is that the politically correct term? I mean Danny she's a knock out. Am I showing my age now? Isn't that the way you young men talk now a days?" Albert was so much enjoying razzing an already flustered Danny.

"Come on Albert, what would she see in a guy like me?"

"WHAT!?!?!?" Albert raised his voice over the booming music, "You are joking right? I mean it's more like what wouldn't she see? You have so much going for you son. You are extremely good looking, an up and coming business man, you have a great ear for talent........"

"And a Santos," Danny said the name as if it had been a dirty word.

"That's why you said your name was Sampson. You didn't want her to know you were a Santos. Why?"

"Cause maybe I didn't want to watch her go running screaming in the opposite direction. You know I have been known to have that effect on people," Danny said in all seriousness.

"Have you forgotten you aren't in Springfield anymore. Being a Santos in Texas isn't such a bad thing you know."

"You'd be surprised how far our reign of ternary extends."

"Danny, I don't care that you want to use our name. I told you before to do what you felt the most comfortable with. I just hope that you aren't running away from a past that you can't escape."

"You did it."

"Not really. Underneath I will always be Albert Santos. I can't change the way that I was raised. Yes I have learned to live without the violence. But when all is said and done you can't change the way you were brought up.

"So what are you saying that I'm doomed?"

"Not doomed. I just want you to understand that the things fundamental to your life don't change because you take a different name. The things like family, loyalty and the honor that you grew up believing in will be there no matter what name you sign."

"I just didn't want to take that chance. I didn't want her to hear my name and flinch. Or look at me with fear in her eyes. That has been the way both woman and man have looked at me for so long I just didn't want to see it in her."

"Well I don't think you will have that to worry about. All she saw was a stud standing before her," Albert laughed again slapping him once more.

"Get outta here! You are imagining things again. You sure you don't need glasses or something?" Danny jabbed.

"I can see perfectly thank you sir. I see that if you pull your head out of your ass that girl hasn't taken her eyes off of you since she walked away."

Danny turned his head towards the buffet table where Sarah and Michelle were still standing. Instantly their eyes met and locked.

"Melanie......hey......you who are you in there?" Sarah asked snapping her fingers in front of Michelle's face.

"I'm sorry what were you saying again?" No matter how hard she tried she couldn't keep from looking over at the two men standing near the bandstand. Even from a distance you couldn't miss how handsome Danny was. She remembered the static electricity she felt when he touched her earlier. The mere thought of it again sent chills through her body.

"I was asking you if you tried the hot wings? What's going on with you? You have this shit eaten grin on your face."

"Nothing," she said all the while still looking in Danny's direction.

"Nothing my ass! I saw you checking him out before. He's pretty hot huh?"

"What???? I wasn't doing any such thing," Michelle gasped not doing a great job of covering her feelings. Hell she never could. She was one to wear every emotion she had on her face. Why she thought now would be any different she hadn't a clue.

"Don't give me that. I saw you watching him. I can't blame you. I mean if he had been looking at me the way he was at you.....I'd be all hot and bothered too."

"What are you talking about?"

"Come on....you mean to tell me you didn't notice the way he was eyeing you up and down? Girl, he couldn't get enough."

"I think you are exaggerating just a bit don't you?'

"NEVER!!!!"

"I definitely think the man liked what he saw."

"He was just being polite. I mean he wants his party to do well. The only reason he even talked to me was because your father introduced us...well introduced you really."

"Don't give my father too much credit. He's certainly not responsible for Danny Sampson's eyes being stuck to you like glue."

"Sarah, I think you are seeing things that aren't there. And besides I'm sure he must have a girlfriend....hell maybe even a wife."

"Don't think so. My dad said he just came to town not to long ago and he came alone. Daddy has never mentioned him having either a girlfriend or a wife."

"That's hard to believe."

"According to daddy, Danny came out here to help Albert expand the business."

"Looks like it's working," Michelle commented glancing around at the hoards of people eating, drinking and dancing."

"Yes it does. And let's just say that my dad isn't all that happy about having to share the spot light with some yuppie."

"What?"

"I heard him talking the one night when he thought I had gone to bed. I mean he was pissed about having to take orders from some kid. I would venture a guess that Carl Beck thought he was the next best thing to GOD until Danny showed up."

"I guess that it would be kinda tough on him. I mean one minute are in charge and the next you aren't," Michelle said trying to give Sarah's father the benefit of the doubt.

"You don't have to stick up for him you know. Believe me I know who and what my father is. And having his nineteen year old daughter come to live with him wasn't anywhere in his version of reality anymore then having Albert's nephew come in and take over the reigns of Albert's business. He thought that right belonged to him and him alone."

"Looks likes he's going to be awfully disappointed then."

"I'd say it's about time that the world come crashing in on him," Sarah said with the straightest of faces. "Enough about my goofy father. What about you and Danny? I know that you think he's a hottie. So what are we going to be doing about that?" Sarah asked.

"NOTHING!" Michelle said with her heart in her throat. Given her track record with men, she wasn't about to take that leap again no matter what her heart was saying.

"Nothing? You are kidding right? How can you even think about not going for it. I mean he practically sent you a written invitation."

"Sarah!!!!!" Michelle gasped.

"Well he did. I mean he hasn't taken his eyes off you yet and might I remind you.......you haven't taken yours off him either. So I think I am missing the problem here."

"The problem is he hasn't made a move to come to me and I'm not one to chase after someone.........."

"Well it looks like you are about to eat those words cause here he comes."