�Mark, I can�t do this!� Chelsie fell to the floor with a thump.

�Sure you can, Chels, you�re doing fine.�

�I�m not a hip hop dancer. I�m totally not getting this.�

�I�m not either. A hip hop dancer, I mean.�

�What kind of dancer are you, anyway?�

�I dunno.� Mark shrugged. �I�m a Mark dancer, I guess. I move the way I feel to the music. You just have to let it grab you.� He pulled her up from the floor and pushed her gently into position. �Now just remember, you love me, I mean, your character loves me, and doesn�t want me to go, so just grab me like I�m leaving you.�

Mark cued the music and Chelsie flung her arms around his neck clinging to him with all her might.

�That�s it!� Mark encouraged her. �You don�t want me to leave. You love me, show everyone how much you love me.�

When he pushed her away, she felt it to her core and all of a sudden the movements made sense. When he placed his hand on her chest to �steal� her heart she could feel it tear out of her. She finished the dance without stopping for the first time since they started rehearsals. As Mark picked up the briefcase and walked away from her, she watched him in a daze. She was falling in love with him and she never wanted him to leave her.

The sound of clapping interrupted her memories and Chelsie shook her head as she realized that she�d been doing the dance steps in a daze as she recalled Mark�s encouraging words.

�That was really moving, Chelsie. It was almost like Mark was right there with you.�

�Thank�thank you.� Chelsie paused to catch her breath. �I don�t know what came over me.�

�You�re dancing, that�s the main thing.� Gev reached out and touched her shoulder. �So can you go out for dinner tonight?�

Chelsie shyly looked down at the floor. She had Sylvia coming over to watch Lani while she and Gev rehearsed, but she wanted to know what Gev was thinking.

�Gev, what�s going on here? Why are you asking me out all of a sudden?�

�Chelsie�I�I don�t mean to be rude, or pushy, I just��

�It�s okay, tell me.�

�I�ve always liked you Chelsie. We had so much fun when we danced together. Remember when we came home and we did all those shows here? I loved being with you and I wanted to go out with you so much. But you were with Mark.�

�Oh Gev.� Chelsie moved closer to him and put her arm around his neck. �I thought you were in love with Courtney?�

�Well, I was, but that was going anywhere.�

�So you fell in love with me?�

�I couldn�t help it! Chelsie, you�re so beautiful, charming, and talented. But I knew you and Mark were together and you would never leave him for me.�

�Have you fallen in love with any other unavailable women since then?� Chelsie smiled.

�Actually, I had a really nice relationship with a lady for a couple of years, but she moved away. I didn�t love her enough to want to move too, I guess.� he explained.

�So what made you ask me out now?� Chelsie wondered. �Mark�s been gone five years, why did you wait so long?�

�Well, I wasn�t here at first. I don�t think I bought the studio until a couple years after he was gone. Then I was with Kaley, and now�� Gev shrugged. �It�s kind of weird.�

�Weird how?�

�Honestly, Chelsie? I don�t think you�re the only one Mark�s been visiting.�

�Mommy!� Chelsie heard her daughter yelp before she actually saw her. Leilani launched herself towards her mother and leaped into her arms. �Hi mommy!�

�Hi baby! How was class?�

�It was fun! We learned hip hop, we got to jump a lot!�

�You do like to jump!� Chelsie laughed. �What do you say we get you home and get some supper ready, okay?�

�I thought Uncle Gevvy was taking you for supper?� Leilani questioned.

Gev tickled Leilani�s chin. �I am, but you need to eat, little one. I�ll make sure your mommy brings you home a big dessert, okay?�

�Yum!� Leilani pronounced. �Don�t forget!�

�I won�t.� Gev promised. �I�ll see you in a couple of hours, Chelsie?�

�Yes, we need to talk.�

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

�Who else do you like?�

Chelsie gazed across the bus at Mark, who was sprawled on his bed drawing doodles in his journal.

�What do you mean, who else do I like?�

�Like, if you were to date anybody else, who do you like?�

Chelsie pushed his legs over and squeezed into his bunk. �Why would I want to date anybody else? Are you planning on leaving me?�

�No�no. I�m not planning, I�m just curious.�

�I don�t know, I�ve never really thought about it. What a strange question.� Chelsie tugged his journal out of his hands; smiling as she noticed the hearts and flowers he�d drawn surrounding her name. �What about you?�

�Katee.� he said simply. �We�re friends.�

�Oh.� Chelsie pondered for a minute, stunned at Mark�s quick reply. �I guess Gev. We get along really well, he�s nice and he�s funny.�

�Gev, huh? That�s funny.�

�Why? All the others have girlfriends or are gay.�

�No it�s not that. He�s who I saw you with too.�

�So spill.� Chelsie waited until their waiter had turned his back before she questioned Gev. �What did you mean about Mark?�

�For the past few months, I�ve been having dreams, like visions, you know. Sometimes, I see you and me together, sometimes it�s just Mark and we�re just talking, you know, like we used to, only we�re talking about you.�

�About me?� Chelsie gasped.

�It�s really weird, Chelsie. It�s like Mark wants me with you. Didn�t you wonder why I never doubted you when you told me about Mark visiting you?�

�I just thought you were humouring me. I didn�t tell you about Mark�s last letter to me, did I?�

Gev nodded his head no.

�He said he wanted me to find someone to love me and take care of me, and he only hoped they would love me half as much as he did.�

�When did he write this letter?�

�I guess�on�on the�plane.� Chelsie managed to stutter the words out. �He said something felt wrong, but it was his fate. He told me�he came to me, Gev�and told me the only reason he got on the plane was because he missed me so much.�

�It seems very real, when I talk to him too, Chelsie. It�s like; I wake up and expect to see him there, sitting across from me. It�s very strange.�

�He must be trying to look after me, Gev. He wants to make sure Leilani and I are okay.� Chelsie mused. �You don�t have to��

�I don�t mind.� Gev protested softly. �I told you that I�ve always liked you. I just don�t think I will ever measure up to Mark in your eyes.�

�Mark was pretty special, Gev. There are several reasons whey no one can measure up to him. He's my daughter's father, he was my...�

�Can I try?�

Chelsie took a deep breath. She wanted someone to love her, but she didn�t want to move too fast and find someone for all the wrong reasons.

�Let�s take it slow, Gev. Dinners are nice. I�m enjoying myself. I don�t want to move too fast. And I have��

�Leilani to think about.� Gev finished for her.

�Leilani. I mean, she adores you, but her father�� Chelsie�s voice trailed off.

�Leilani loves her daddy, I know.� Gev took Chelsie�s hand tenderly in his. �I�m fine with dinners, I�m having fun too. But don�t forget you owe me a dance!�