Chelsie yawned and stretched, entwining her legs around the longer, stronger ones that belonged to the person lying beside her.

�I wish this didn�t have to end.� Mark sighed. �I want to be right here with you forever.�

�Right here, in some random hotel, far away from home?� Chelsie teased.

Mark tugged her hair playfully. �You know what I mean!�

�Yes, I do.� Chelsie replied, as she kissed him tenderly. � But you are going to come home with me?�

�Eventually, yes.�

�I hate that.� Chelsie rested her head on his chest. �The tour is over, after tonight, why do they need you for promo stuff?�

�The winner has to promote the next season, dear.� Mark smoothed his hand over the blonde hair fanning across his shoulder. �It�s part of the job.�

�I guess so, but I want you with me.� Chelsie wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him closer to her. �I love you.�

�I love you too.� Mark kissed her lips; his arms holding her so tight Chelsie could barely breathe.

Chelsie sat up and yawned as she searched the room for some sign that Mark was still with her. Sensing nothing, she sighed and tossed the blankets aside. What had made her dream about the day of their final tour performance? One of the saddest days of her young life, aside from the day Mark died, of course. In the grand scheme of things one couldn�t even begin to measure up to the other. But in some way, she had lost Mark both days, one day just set the other, far more sad day, in motion. Quietly, she peeked in on Leilani and found her still fast asleep. Chelsie made a pot of coffee and pulled out her photo album that contained photos from the final show. The last day she and Mark danced together.

Chelsie had been in tears right from the beginning of the final show of the tour. When she was left on stage after the introduction, with only Will, Twitch and Courtney surrounding her, both her and Courtney had tears running down their faces and could barely speak. Mark gathered her in his arms as she ran offstage, kissing the tears away and promising to make her smile. True to his word, he made her not only smile, but laugh out loud, forgetting her sadness for a few brief moments.

�So, is there something you need to tell me Mr. Kanemura?� Chelsie cornered Mark with her arms crossed in front of her chest.

�It was Thayne�s idea!� Mark protested. �But it did make you laugh.� He grinned at her as she broke into a smile.

�I�m just concerned, you seem to have a great affection for Katee�s clothes.� Chelsie giggled as Mark swished the skirt of Katee�s samba costume around his thighs.

�You don�t like it?� he pouted.

�Oh no, you look fabulous!� Chelsie ran her hands over his broad shoulders, as she looked him up and down admiringly. �I�m not too sure that I�m happy you were showing so much skin out there though.�

Chelsie got her chance to turn the tables on Mark when all the girls took over the boys routine. Mark could barely finish his footwork he was laughing so hard. He grabbed Chelsie around the waist and pulled her into line beside him as the group took their bows. Playfully he pretended to bite her nose just as the lights went down.

Chelsie found herself thankful that she wasn�t on stage very often. She cried whenever she watched Mark dance, mainly because she could see that his eyes were filled with tears as well. He made her laugh too though when he performed his solo wearing Katee's blue monkey onsie.

The group routines were easier for her because they were all out there together. She didn�t quite know what life would be like without those other 12 people around her constantly. Thank God one of them loved her and was going to be with her forever. Forever seemed so long back then. She knew now how quickly forever could be over.

�You look like a beautiful princess.�

�I seem to recall someone saying that to me before.� Chelsie smiled and spun around before him, her white dress billowing out around her.

�I�m so glad they are letting us do this one.� Mark admitted.

�This is my favourite dance.� Chelsie told him, as she took his hands in hers.

�Why?�

�Because you make me feel so beautiful when we perform it.�

Mark pulled Chelsie to him and held her close to his chest. �I don�t need to make you feel beautiful, you just are.� He kissed the top of her head. �Love you.�

The dance had extra passion that night. Mark�s kisses burned on her skin, his hugs were tighter, every move had more meaning then it ever had before. He whispered in her ear that he loved her forever and Chelsie�s smile grew wide. As she dipped and twirled around him, she dropped unplanned kisses in his hair and caressed his cheek. When they hit their final pose, Mark held character for a moment and then, probably because he saw the tears dancing in her eyes, grinned as he touched his fingertip to her nose.

�This is the last time we�ll do this number.� Mark knocked on the door then peeked his head into the girls� quick-change room. �Are you ready?�

�No.� Chelsie sobbed as she struggled with the closures on her top. �I don�t want this to end. It�s too soon.�

Mark gently pushed her hands away and snapped the buttons that Chelsie had been having such a hard time with. Sweeping her hair to the side, he kissed her bare neck. �I know. I don�t want it to end either.�

�I can�t go out there like this.� She ran her hands roughly over her cheeks, spreading the tears that fell freely down her face.

Mark gathered up some tissues and dabbed at her eyes. �You�ll be fine. Just don�t cry anymore or you�ll get me going, then we�ll both be a mess!�

Chelsie smiled gratefully at him, willing herself not to start crying again.

They could hear the audience begin to cheer as Kherington and Thayne returned to the stage carrying the briefcase.

�Time to go.� Mark held his hand out to her. �Let�s do this, princess.�

Their final dance together, the very last time they danced together as a couple, ever. Chelsie teared up over it even now. She was relieved for the moments she had to turn away from Mark because he was clearly very emotional over the event. Whenever their eyes met, his jaw became rigid and his eyes darted away. Her tears started as soon as he gazed into her eyes after she hugged him and begged him not to leave - a choreographed move that meant more now then the choreographer had ever thought. She tried to hold her emotions in check, but when he placed his hand over her heart, she lost it.

�Please don�t, we�re almost done.� Mark pleaded.

�Don�t leave me this time.� Chelsie begged. �Stay with me.�

Mark nodded his head firmly and whispered. �I have to, but I never will again.�

When he turned to look back at her, tears were streaming down her face. He walked resolutely down the stairs and around, returning to the stage, but remaining at the back to compose himself before he rejoined her. Chelsie stayed bent over, her chest heaving with sobs until Mark grabbed her hand, gave it a kiss and clutched it to his chest. Tenderly, he held her close, both of them sobbing as they accepted the cheers of the audience.

�Ready?�

Chelsie waited patiently in the hall until all the guys had exited but Mark.

�No.� Mark answered miserably. �If we go out there, that means it�s over.�

�Over for now.�

�Over forever. Nothing will ever be the same after this.�

�That�s good though, right?�

�I hope so baby.� Mark kissed her forehead. �Let�s get going before they come looking for us.�

As the dance ended they crashed into each other�s arms and hugged for what seemed like an eternity.

�It�s really over.�

�Yeah.�

�I don�t want it to be over.�

�But now we can be together, no chaperones, no sneaking time alone, no��

�Just hold me, I don�t want this moment to end.�

So they held each other, while everyone else took pictures and video or acknowledged the audience, they held each other tightly, neither wanting to be the first to let go.

They sat next to each other for the video presentation the producers of the show had put together. Mark had told Chelsie he wouldn�t be able to watch it. Not right now. They were getting a dvd of the video, they could watch it later and laugh together. But it was all still too fresh for him.

�Mark, look.�

Chelsie touched his knee and tried to make him look at the screen. Mark simply nodded and turned his head away.

�Are you okay?�

He nodded again and turned away. Chelsie patted his hair, letting her arm rest on his shoulders briefly.

�Mark, check it out.�

Chelsie tapped him on the knee again. He had turned to look at her, when everyone in the audience started screaming. When he saw what Chelsie was pointing at, he fell over backwards, laughing.

�Why did they have to show the Halloween pictures?� he chuckled.

�Are those Katee�s clothes too?� Chelsie asked, leaning close to him.

Mark, still laughing, tried to catch his breath. �Everyone�s going to think I�m a cross dresser after this!�

Chelsie rested her head on his shoulder, happy to see him smiling again. �Well, you do look pretty good in a dress.� she teased.

They watched the remainder of the video together, with Mark softly reciting the lyrics of the song in her ear.

"When you're close to tears remember Some day it'll all be over One day 'we're gonna get so high And though it's darker than December What's ahead is a different colour One day 'we're gonna get so high

And at The end of the day We'll remember the days We were close to the edge And we'll wonder how we made it through And at The end of the day We'll remember the way We stayed so close to till the end We'll remember it was me and you

'Cause we are gonna be forever you and me You'll always keep me flying high in the sky of love

Don't you think it's time you started Doing what we always wanted One day 'we're gonna get so high 'Cause even the impossible is easy When we got each other One day 'we're gonna get so high

And at The end of the day We'll remember the days We were close to the edge And we'll wonder how we made it through And at The end of the day We'll remember the way We stayed so close to till the end We'll remember it was me and you

'Cause we are gonna be forever you and me You will always keep me flying high in the sky of love

High, high, high, high..."

High - Lighthouse Family

�We are, aren�t we?� she asked.

�Forever you and me.� Mark took her hand in his. �Forever.�