anothertimeanotherplace3

� Well, good��.at least you two are still smiling�..��Katie said when she returned�..she�d been watching them from across the room�and she was more and more certain every minute that she was doing the right thing�.the way those two were looking at each other�..it was as if no one else was even in the room��Billy tore his eyes off Mac�s long enough to smile at her�. � yup�.do you want another soda?��..he asked�taking her empty glass �..She shook her head�.. � No..thanks�..I really should be getting home�.that Tuna Surprise should be just about gone by now�thank heaven�.��Mac smiled to herself�she sounded just like she did when she complained about Esther and her health food�.she slid off the stool�..reaching into her purse�� Me too��wait for me, Katie�will you?�.��..Katie nodded�� Mac pulled out a dollar bill��handing it to Billy�� thanks for the sodas�..they were great��he held up his hands��shaking his head��. � put that away�.they�re on me��to thank you both for all your help�..and to make up for leaving you flat the other day�� he leveled his gaze at Mac..�.. � Bill�..you don�t have to do that�.��Katie protested��.shaking her head��. � Let me act like a big shot for once�okay?�.��.he asked�..putting his hands on his hips�his eyes dancing�it felt funny to be able to tease Katherine Chancellor�especially when she took it so well��.she smiled��wagging her finger at him�� fine�.just don�t start standing on your head or anything�..or I�ll have to belt you��I�d love to be able to belt James�but he�s too tall for me to reach�..��.Billy laughed��then realized maybe he shouldn�t have�..James was Maddie�s boyfriend�he was delighted when she joined in their laughter��maybe she was ready for a change�.

� I�ll see you tomorrow, then?��..she asked after she put her money away��.He nodded�. � I�ll be here��..he said�smiling�he couldn�t help but feel excited�..happy�anxious�.she smiled and nodded�.. � I just need my dress�..��.she said��pointing towards the box�.. � Oh�the dress�.��he said�.grabbing the box and handing it to her��.. � thanks��good night, Bill��..she said softly��.. � Good night, Maddie��.you too, Katie�.��he glanced over at Katie�who was grinning from ear to ear�� good night yourself, Bill�.��.she winked at him��linking her arm through Mac�s as they left the shop�.Billy watched the two girls leave��for the first time that day�he didn�t feel quite so alone�..he didn�t miss home quite so much�.in fact�.he felt comfortable�.and happy�.. � She�s a real nice girl, that Maddie�..��.his thoughts were broken by a male voice behind him�.Mr. Barrett was smiling at him��. � I�m glad to see you�re taking my advice about that Betty��.he shook his head�� A walking case of the clap if you ask me�..and don�t worry about that James character�.I�ll take care of him��.he slapped Billy on the shoulder��. � Why don�t you head on home?��I can finish up here�..��..Billy put the soda glasses in the sink�.. � You sure?��.Mr. Barrett nodded�.. � Yes�.I�m sure�.just as long as you go straight home�..no stops along the way��I heard what you said to Maddie about not drinking anymore��.and I intend to hold you to that, kid�..now scoot�your Dad is probably home by now�.��.Billy nodded�..his Dad�that man who looked so much like his own father�he hadn�t thought about that all day�..what would he say to him?�he untied the apron he wore around his waist�he�d worry about that when he got there�he still had to find his way home�thank goodness the address was written in his textbook�.. �Thanks, Mr. Barrett��.and I promise�no stops�.straight home�..��he grabbed his books from underneath the counter�.. � I�ll see you tomorrow��good night�.�� Night, Bucky�..��Mr. Barrett grinned��Billy shook his head and grinned as he left the shop��he pulled out his wallet once he was safely on board the bus��maybe there was something inside it�something that could give him some more clues about Bill Mackenzie��nothing much there��a dollar fifty��a driver�s license�..a picture of some woman with red hair��he thought it might be Rita Hayworth��pretty nice�..and something else�..a registration card��it said �UNITED STATES DRAFT BOARD��.. �.it had a number on it�..as well as the name�William B. Mackenzie��not much else��he closed the wallet�.shoving it back into his pocket��he�d nearly missed his stop�..he took a deep breath as the bus pulled away��Time to get accquainted with your Dad, Bucky��he walked up the front steps of the small, run down house��.his father was sitting at the kitchen table��he turned around and smiled when Billy opened the door�.. �Well�you�re home early��.everything okay?��..he asked��Billy nodded�forcing a smile�� sure��Mr. Barrett said he could take care of things��.��..pod Dad nodded�� I know�.Sam called me�just to let me know you were coming home ��I was hoping we could have a little time together�to talk�..sit��..he gestured to the chair across from his�..and Billy took off his coat before he sat down��.his stomach queasy again��

I.hope this isn�t too sappy�this song always makes me cry�

� Don�t look at me like that�..I�m not going to lecture you�.I just wanted to tell you that I�m very proud of you��Sam told me about what happened today�..about that James�.and that girl Betty�..I think you did the right thing, son�..girls like that are nothing but trouble�.��Boy�news traveled fast around here�..Billy merely nodded�..this man�s voice sounded exactly like his Dad�s�.it was comforting�.almost like a little bit of home� � He also told me about you helping out Madeline��.that�s nice of you, son��she�s a lovely girl��Billy smiled��.nodding�.. � yes�she is��even if she has rotten taste in boyfriends�..��..he hadn�t meant to say that last part�it just sort of slipped out�he was surprised when his Dad�er �the man who looked like his Dad�.whatever��laughed�nodding his head�.. � Yes�.I agree��and she�s helped you out so much�it�s nice of you to help her�..just be careful, son��.��.his face turned serious�� Careful?�..��he asked��The man nodded�. � yes�.I�ve heard a lot of stories�.about that boyfriend of hers�..you know her family situation�..and her mother is very happy with the idea of James as a future son in law��.Family situation?��son in law?�what was he stepping into ?��.Billy sighed�.he couldn�t seem to escape a mess�even in his dreams��. � family situation?�.son in law?�Dad�.��he said the word without thinking�.it seemed perfectly natural��.the man sounded so much like his own father�he nodded�. � yes�.since her father died�..and with her brother away�..I suppose her mother would like to see Maddie happy�and settled�.and James will step right into his father�s business� Maddie will be taken care of�..��...So�.Maddie�s family had her life all planned out for her�..just like his Mom�..well�maybe not�.. � I just don�t want you to get hurt, son�..wishing for something you can never have��that�s all�..��.Billy smiled��. � thanks�.but I think I�ll be okay��..the man nodded�.smiling again�� Of course you will��he reached over and touched Billy�s shoulder before rising to his feet�� I think I�ll head upstairs��.I�m tired�..��.he rubbed his eyes�..Billy nodded�..unsure of what to say next�the man smiled gently��. � I know that you wish things were different, Bill��.with Maddie, I mean��I�ve suspected how you feel about her for awhile now��all I�m saying is be careful��..��so�.Bill felt the same way about Maddie as he did�..he felt weird�a surge of jealousy�.wait a second�you�re jealous of yourself?�..he felt queasy again��when was he going to wake up already?��.. � enough lectures��.good night, Bill�..make sure you shut the lights, all right?�.��Billy looked up and nodded��.watching as the man headed out of the kitchen towards the stairs��He waited until he was upstairs before shutting off the lights and heading up himself�..he was exhausted�he�d never worked quite so hard in his entire life��

He closed the door behind him..tossing the books on top of the dresser��he looked in the mirror�.he looked exactly the same as always�.except for the dumb sweater��what did people do with themselves around here?..no tv�.no cd player�..he looked around the room�..just a bed..the poster on the wall�..a few old books on top of the dresser�..he pulled open the top drawer�..nothing much�.a couple of baseball cards�..a beat up old watch�and a piece of newspaper�..he pulled it out�.. the headline read� � STUDENT FOOD DRIVE FOR EUROPE��..that food drive again��why was this here?�..there was a picture�.fuzzy black and white��he smiled�.it was Maddie�..wearing a white sweater and dark skirt�.holding up a can of something�.smiling at the camera�..she looked so pretty�..even in the fuzzy picture�.Bill had cut it out and saved it�..so his father was right�.he did feel something for her�..nobody kept stuff like this unless they felt something�.he sighed�.folding it back up and putting it away�.closing the drawer�.finding that picture had only made things more confusing�..he flicked the knob on the radio�.maybe that would put him to sleep�..then he�d wake up in his own room�..in his own time�when at least he sometimes knew what to expect��

� and while heavy losses were suffered all through the day��.President Roosevelt issued a statement stating that the next draft lottery would be held within the week��.now, back to our music program��..Billy was listening with half an ear��pulling back the worn bedspread to climb inside the narrow bed�wincing slightly when he heard the sentimental sounding music begin�..That should put him to sleep fast�

I�ll be seeing you..in all the old, familiar places..
That this heart of mine embraces�all day through�.
In that small caf�.the park across the way..
The children�s carousel�the chestnut tree�the wishing well�..

He listened to the words as he lay there in the darkness�..and realized that they were true�..there was a time when he did see one face�everywhere he went�..and when he closed his eyes�.he saw another face�..one with dark eyes�..and lovely skin�a smile that lit up the room��

I�ll be seeing you�in every lovely summer�s day..
In everything that�s light and gay..
I�ll always think of you that way�

Mac looked up at the sound of those words coming out of the radio�.she remembered feeling that way�.seeing a certain face everywhere you went�.even when it was the last thing you wanted to see�.and even though that face was gone now�.she closed her eyes�..and saw another face�.one with deep blue eyes�that crinkled at the corners when he smiled�..and sandy hair that fell across his forehead�..

I�ll find you in the morning sun..
And when the night is new�.
I�ll be looking at the moon�
But I�ll be seeing you��

Billy closed his eyes�..wondering if he wanted to fall asleep�..if he woke up and was back home�.he�d never see Maddie again��.Mac yawned broadly�.fighting sleep��if she woke up in her room again�.she might never see those deep blue eyes again��..they both fell asleep�.the soft music lulling them both�in spite of themselves�.

Author�s note: Guys�I can�t guarantee anything about the rest of this story�Those spoilers..the less said, the better..�..but I did promise myself and others that I would continue, and in spite of everything..I find that I really need to..�so here goes�

� But Doctor�.��..Kay�s voice had a pleading tone�.. � there must be something you can do�..she�s been this way for nearly two days now�.� The Doctor shook his head�.. � I�m sorry, Mrs. Chancellor�.but there is very little we can do�except monitor her carefully�.and wait�.��..Kay nodded�glancing over at Mac�who was lying peacefully in the huge hospital bed��it was ironic��both she and Billy�..lying in the same room�.. � But perhaps a specialist�.��John added�.. � Someone who knows more about situations like this�.��..The Doctor smiled patiently�.. � If that�s what you wish�..I can give you some names�.but I have already consulted with several top doctors�neurologists�and they�ve all told me the same thing��we�re playing a waiting game here�..that�s all�.��..John nodded�.glancing over at Billy �.his bed was across the room�..and he looked as if he were merely asleep��as did Mac�..

As they were standing there�..a strange thing happened��rapid activity�..on both heart monitors�..at the very same time�.The nurses heard the beeping��and quickly moved Kay and John outside the room�� What was that?�.��.Kay demanded��. � Is something happening?��.��..

�It�s simple, really�.once you remember the formula�..��..Billy was saying��trying to keep his racing heart steady�Mac nodded�..not paying the slightest bit of attention to what he was saying�.her heart was pounding�.he was sitting very close�.close enough to feel the scratchy wool of his sweater against her arm��they were in the tiny back room of the sweet shop�.but it could have been just about anywhere�..for all the attention they paid to the surroundings�.. � I think I understand it now��.��she said softly�..looking up at him�.he smiled��and that did nothing to stop her racing heart�..in fact�it began to pound even harder�.. � you make it seem easy�..thanks�.��..she said quietly�..he shrugged�.. � It�s no big deal��.and it�s the least I can do�..��.he looked at her face�..and drew in a little closer��she was wearing red lipstick�.and the prettiest fuzzy sweater�.her hair waving around her face�.. and she was practically engaged to someone else��.he drew back a little��removing his hand from the back of her chair��. � want a soda or something?�..��.he asked suddenly��moving to get up from his chair�..she shook her head��placing her hand on his arm�� no��thanks�..I�d�um�..I�d like it�..if we could just talk�..for a little while�.if that�s okay with you?�.��he looked down at her hand on his arm��and smiled��she pulled it away quickly�.as if she were embarrassed at having been caught�.. � sure�..I�d like that, too�..��he said�.sitting back in his chair�.. � what would you like to talk about?�.��he asked�..she shrugged her shoulders�smiling a little�� I don�t know�.I guess �.maybe it was just an excuse��.she couldn�t believe she�d just said that��it came out before she could stop herself�.. � I�um�I didn�t mean that�..I�.��..He put his hand on her arm��stopping her before she could say more�.. � No�..I know exactly what you meant��.he said quietly�.looking into her eyes�

The nurses moved frantically around both beds��there was no physical change in either one�.both lay still in their beds�..and yet, the heart monitors of both young people continued to race�.

Note: Another song that always makes me cry�.I thought it was very appropriate�.the Billy and Mac we dreamed about seem long ago and far away�at least to me�now that I�m depressed�on with the story, lol..

She smiled�.. � I was just wondering�..how things are going with you��how you�re managing�..with work�and going to school��it must be so hard for you�.��.she looked up into his eyes�..they were deep blue�.almost green�.filled with emotion�he smiled back at her�.. � it�s not so bad��.makes the days go by pretty fast��.he�d been wishing ever since this nightmare began that the days would speed by�but sitting there�so close to her�looking into her eyes�..he suddenly wished that time would stop�..she nodded�� I guess�.but still�..you must find it hard�..when do you have any fun?�.��..maybe she shouldn�t have said that�..the poor guy seemed to have enough to deal with already�.. he saw the concern in her eyes and continued to smile��shrugging his shoulders lightly�. � Oh�I guess I manage�.now and then�..don�t forget�there�s that big dance to look forward to�right?��.Mac nodded�grateful he hadn�t taken offense to her remark�. � except�..for one thing�..��.he said suddenly��taking a chance�what the heck?�this was a dream�and she was so beautiful��.she raised her eyebrows�.. � what?�..you are going to be there, aren�t you?�..��suddenly�the idea of facing that dance and not seeing him there was absolutely unthinkable��he grinned� � sure I am�..but I�ve been thinking��if you were really serious�.about saving me a dance that night?��she smiled with relief�nodding her head�� absolutely��..she said��

� Well, then�.��he said�..standing up and pushing his chair aside�.. � I have a confession to make�..��his face was serious��. � I don�t know how to dance��she looked up at him��raising her eyebrows�� really?�..��she asked�.he nodded�. � yup�afraid so�..even though I must have seen all of those Fred Astaire movies�none of it ever rubbed off�..��..he threw that in for good measure�..he had seen Fred Astaire before�.and he really sucked at dancing�..his face lit up when she laughed�.. � so�.you think you could teach me a few steps?�..��he asked�� I wouldn�t want to embarrass you or anything�..��she paused for a minute�..she wasn�t the best dancer herself�.except for those few times with Billy�..or did she imagine those times too?�..maybe�.she looked up at him again�his eyes all shining and full of joy��.she smiled�.rising to her feet�.. � sure�.but don�t blame me if I step on your feet�.okay?��..he nodded excitedly��holding up one finger�� hold on a sec��..he walked across the room and snapped on the radio�fiddling around with the dial ��.until he found some music��it was soft and sentimental�.just like the stuff from last night�.it wasn�t so bad�in fact�it was starting to grow on him��

Mac smiled�that music�it reminded her of the song she�d heard last night�when she was wondering if she�d ever see his face again if she went to sleep�..she stepped away from the table�towards the center of the room��Billy followed her�..standing before her��.she held out her left hand�..and he took it within his�..both pulses racing again�. She moved closer�..placing her hand on his shoulder�..he moved his arm around her waist�holding her other hand against his�.. � start with your right foot�..��she said softly�the words coming out a little garbled�she could barely catch her breath�..they moved awkwardly at first�Billy stepped on her foot�and then apologized profusely�until they both relaxed�the soft, soothing rhythm of the music setting them both at ease�

Long ago and far away, I dreamed a dream one day
And now that dream is here beside me
Long the skies were overcast but now the clouds have passed
You're here at last

Billy felt his heart slow down�that sense of peace washing over him again�a peace he remembered feeling before..although he couldn�t remember exactly when�.he held her a little closer�it didn�t feel strange at all�.dancing around the small room in the middle of the afternoon�in fact, it felt as if he were exactly where he belonged�for the first time since this whole nightmare began�.

Chills run up and down my spine, Aladdin's lamp is mine
The dream I dreamed was not denied me
Just one look and then I knew
That all I longed for long ago was you

Mac closed her eyes�..leaning her head against his shoulder�the scratchy wool of his sweater against her cheek made her smile�she could feel her heart slow down�.his arms around her strong and safe�.and if she didn�t know better�she could swear that this was exactly where she was supposed to be�..

Just one look..and then I knew�.
That all I longed for long ago�..was you�

� It�s all right�.��.Doctor Cheney said as he held open the door�..Kay and John rushed inside��the monitors were no longer beeping��the two young people still lying peacefully in their beds�.. � what happened?�.��.John asked��the Doctor shook his head�.. � I�m not sure��but whatever it was�..it�s over��the heart rates are back to normal��still no sign of consciousness�.��..he wrote something in each of their charts�.and gave Kay and John a brief smile of encouragement before leaving the room�.

The music stopped�..another song began to play�..a faster one this time�.. � I can�t help you with this one�.��..Mac said softly�..pulling away��.she smiled up at him�� I never did learn how to Lindy��.she remembered her grandmother trying in vain to teach her�..and she kept tripping over her own feet��.He laughed�� That�s okay��I think I�ll stick to the slow stuff��..thanks�.you dance really well�..��She shrugged�� it�s easy�..if you have the right partner�..so now�you have no excuses��I expect to have that dance with you�.okay?��..he smiled�.nodding his head�. � sure�.��..he watched as she moved to sit down again�.waiting until she did to sit beside her�..They sat in awkward silence for a few moments�.until Billy spoke again� � Maddie��he said softly�..and Mac picked up her head to look at him�� Can I ask you something?�..��..she nodded�.her heart pounding again�� His eyes were serious�� when we were dancing�just now�.did you?�I mean�I could swore I felt�.��she realized what he was trying to say�..and slipped her hand inside his suddenly�. � Yes��.she looked into his eyes�..he wrapped her small hand inside his tightly�holding onto her hand as if it were a lifeline�she nodded�looking down at their joined hands�.. � so�what do we do about it?�.��.he asked softly�� I mean�.I know that you and James�..I mean�.I don�t want to cause any trouble�.��Mac sighed�.. �I suppose we shouldn�t do anything about it�.��she said softly�..after all�.what good would it do to try and change destiny?�.James was her Uncle Bucky��and wasn�t that what was supposed to happen?��.so what�..while she was here�..she could at least get to know Bill�.couldn�t she?..what harm could come from it?�.she felt his hand loosen around hers�.and tightened her fingers before he could slip it away�.. � but that�s not what I want��.she said quietly��her lips curling up into a slight smile� she reached up to touch his cheek briefly before letting her hand drop to her lap�� I can come here after school��she said�. � we don�t have to study or anything��..I think I�ve got the hang of this math now, anyway��.we wouldn�t have to tell anybody�..��.Billy shook his head�. � I couldn�t ask you to do that�..sneak around like that��..he released his grip on her hand and rose to his feet�� turning away from her�..

Mac got to her feet�� I don�t care about that��I�m beginning to wonder what I ever saw in James in the first place��.��she looked down at her hands as Billy turned around�� but your mother?��she likes James, doesn�t she?��he asked�..Mac nodded��her mother�Maddie�s mother�.she had peppered her with questions all through dinner last night�.about James�and the dance�and how happy she was that she�d found a boy as wonderful as James�..right kind of family�.secure future�..she hadn�t said a word�..but it made things a lot more clear�.maybe that was why Maddie married James�to secure her family�s future�..she�d found out a lot last night�..about how difficult it had been since her father died�.and since her brother went off to war�..but that didn�t mean she couldn�t see Bill�.did it?�what difference would it make?�� she does�.she told me so�..��..she answered�..looking up�.Bill had dropped his eyes down to the floor��and it made her more determined than ever to explore what was happening between them�� but that doesn�t matter��.��.she said softly�..smiling at him when he raised his eyes�. � I�ll be eighteen next month��old enough to do what I want..�.��..she�d found that out last night as well�.Maddie had the date circled on her calendar� � and what is it that you want, Maddie?�.��.he asked quietly�she smiled again��. � I�m not really sure�.except for one thing��I�d like to get to know you better�.that�s all��could I?�.��.his face broke into a wide grin��.. � I�d like that, too�..if you�re sure?��..she nodded��. � Yes�I�m sure��

And that�s how it began�..the two meeting every day in the tiny back room of the sweet shop�..every day that week before Valentine�s Day�.Mac felt herself falling hard�.and fast�..she recognized the signs�.thinking about him all day in school�..rushing through the day just to get to see him again��she told Katie about it�..and she�d promised to help keep her secret�..until it was Friday�.the night of the dance�..James� birthday��he�d only reminded her of it that very morning��winking at her in the hallway near her locker..promising her she wouldn�t be disappointed when he picked her up later�....she sighed as she waited to cross the street �.

� Hi, Mr. Barrett�.is Bill around?��..she asked when she spotted him behind the counter�..Mr. Barrett lifted his head at the sound of her voice��.. � Um�sure�..just hold on one minute��.I think he�s here somewhere�..��.he gestured towards one of the stools��and Mac sat down�..a puzzled look on her face�.was something wrong?�..

�She�s here�..��Billy looked up at the sound of Mr. Barrett�s voice�..he smiled��. � thanks��well�whaddya think?�.��he gestured around the room��and Mr. Barrett smiled��.nodding his head�.. � Not bad�.not bad at all��you all set?��..Billy nodded�.. � all set�..��Mr. Barrett nodded�� Okay then��I�ll send her back��.Billy smiled�.letting out his breath when he closed the door��.this was crazy�.insane��he�d only known this girl for five days��five of the best days he�d ever spent�.even if this whole thing only existed in his imagination�..it felt real�.as real as anything he�d ever felt before�.and after what he�d heard James talking about today�..he had to do this��this might be the last time they would ever spend together�..

� Is everything all right?�..��.she asked as she came through the door�..she stopped in her tracks�..looking around the room in amazement�..pink and red and white hearts��.plastered all over the walls��and red crepe paper�hanging from the ceiling�..her mouth formed a silent o��.. � surprise�..Happy Valentine�s Day��.he said quietly��.. � I know I�m a day early�..but I just thought�..oh�.��.he saw the tears rolling down her cheeks��..and quickly walked over to where she stood�� I didn�t mean to upset you��I just thought it would be nice�..��he stopped when she shook her head�smiling through her tears�� no�..it�s just beautiful��she took his hands in hers�..grasping them tightly��.knowing right then and there that even if this wasn�t real�..what she felt was��it had only taken five days�.probably not even that long�..and even if she couldn�t be sure of anything else�.she was sure of one thing��.she was in love�..deeply in love�.with this boy she barely knew�� he smiled again��clasping her hands�� that�s a relief��I thought you might think I was crazy or something�..��he realized that he was crazy right after he said those words�.crazy about this girl standing before him�.this girl he�d only known for five days�Mac shook her head�. � No�.I don�t think you�re crazy�..if you are�then so am I��she released her hands from his and stood on tiptoe�..barely thinking before she kissed him gently�on the cheek��. � Maddie�.��he said softly when she pulled away��she shook her head and smiled�.. � don�t say anything��I know this whole thing is crazy�..we�ve only really gotten to know each other these last few days��but��she paused�.. � but what?�.tell me��..he said quickly�.. � I think�..Bill��I think that I�m in love with you�..��..she said quietly�.lowering her eyes�..

He sighed�.a sense of relief washing over him�.he thought for a second she was going to say that they couldn�t see each other anymore��.he moved closer�..placing his hand underneath her chin to lift her eyes to his�� that�s not crazy��.in fact�..I was just about to tell you the very same thing��.I love you, Maddie�..��his voice was soft�.and slightly ragged�.he could feel the tears forming in his eyes�.and saw that there were tears in hers as well�� but how can this be?�..��.she asked�her voice trembling��.he smiled�.shrugging his shoulders�� I don�t know��but it is�isn�t it?�..you did just say you loved me, didn�t you?�..��she nodded��.. � well, then��.that�s all that matters��he pulled her into his arms��closing his eyes against her hair�.. � but�.Bill��I�.it can�t��there�s James�..and my mother�.and��she wished she could tell him the rest�..about how she wasn�t really Maddie�she was Mac�even though Mac�s life seemed more like a dream every day��..and she was born 60 years too late��he shook his head��. � No��no��right now�none of those things matter��..he whispered��.he wished it were true�he wished he could tell her the truth��he wasn�t Bill�he was Billy�..and he probably could be her grandson�.but that life he�d left behind seemed like a dream�.and she was here�.and so real�..she was real�.he was holding her�.and she smelled like lilacs�and what he�d heard James saying today�.after tonight�none of this would matter�..the only thing that mattered was this moment�.and they both silently wished they could freeze time�.

�The only thing that matters is right here�.right now�.��..he murmured against her hair�� How we feel at this moment�.that�s all�.��.he pulled back to look at her�.brushing the tears off her cheeks�. He smiled at her�holding her face in his hands�.. �how about we dance again?�.I�d like to practice�just one more time�before the dance tonight�.��.he touched her face gently�.. � James was right, you know��you are going to be the prettiest girl there��.no doubt about it�.��.he knew then that there was no way he could go to that dance�.he couldn�t even stand to think about watching her dance with James all night�.but she didn�t have to know that this would have to be their last dance together�.it would have to be�. She smiled�nodding her head silently�..she twisted her hands together as she watched him walk over to the radio�.he was smiling when he turned around and held out his hand�but his eyes�they were so sad�.wistful�..

If you are but a dream
I hope I never waken,
It's more than I could bear
To find that I'm forsaken.

She took his hand and let him lead her towards the empty space in the center of the room�.the room he�d worked so hard to make festive�.and she closed her eyes against his shoulder�.simply letting the music surround them�.

If you're a fantasy
Then I'm content to be
In love with lovely you,
And pray my dream comes true.

� Maddie�.��..he said quietly as they were circling the floor��she raised her head to look up at him�..and he smiled�� I just wanted to say it again�..I do love you�..��she closed her eyes and placed her head against his shoulder again�.. � I love you, too�.��.she murmured�..

I long to kiss you
But I do not dare,
I'm so afraid that
You may vanish in the air,

� Then everything will be all right�..��.he said quietly�.pulling her a little closer�� yes�..��.she said�..knowing deep down that things might never ever be right again�..

So darling,
If our romance would break up,
I hope I never wake up,
If you are but a dream.

The music stopped and they stood still in the center of the room�not wanting the moment to end��they remained that way until the sound of a throat clearing made them break apart��

� Sorry�..��.Mr. Barrett said quietly��. � I hate to interrupt�.but there was a phone call�for you, Bill�from your Dad��.he looked at the two young people standing in front of him�sadly realizing that both their lives would never be the same�. � he said you need to come home�.right away��.��..

Billy noticed the look on Mr. Barrett�s face right away�something was wrong�.. � what is it?�.��he asked�.Mr. Barrett shook his head��. � It�s not my place to tell you, Bill�.I just think you should go��right away�.��.He smiled�.reaching up to touch his shoulder�� Don�t worry about anything�.especially not this place�.I can handle things around here�..��..He smiled again before closing the door�..

� What could it be?�..��Billy asked out loud��..Mac shook her head��. � I don�t know�..but Mr. Barrett�s face�.��.she grabbed his hands and clenched them tightly within hers�� Can I go with you?�..��she asked suddenly��.He paused for a moment�.whatever it was�he had no right to drag her into it��after tonight�.he�d have no right to do anything concerning her �..He smiled�shaking his head back and forth�� I don�t think so�..you have the dance to get ready for�.remember?�.��..He reached out to touch her cheek with his fingertips��. � I�ll be thinking about you�..practicing my steps for tonight�okay?�.��his voice was soft�..and he fought hard to keep it from breaking�.every word was like a bullet�piercing his heart��she nodded�� I�ll make sure we have that dance��I swear it�..no matter what James does�or thinks�..��..she picked up her books�� will you let me know what happens?��.he nodded�.another lie�..whatever was waiting for him at home wasn�t her concern�he couldn�t let it be anymore�� sure�..now go get ready��.I can�t wait to see you in that dress�..��she nodded absently��wondering if he was telling the truth��..this might be your last time, Mac�.the last time��she paused before the door��.then turned to give a final glance��

She dropped the books to the floor�..racing into his arms�..holding him so tightly that it was difficult to breathe�� I do love you�..��she whispered�..fighting back tears�� I know��.he said quietly against her cheek�� I love you, too�..��.she pulled back�.just long enough to pull his mouth down against hers��not caring about James�.or who she really was�..or even if this might all disappear at any moment�..his lips against hers felt more real than anything she could remember feeling before�.he pulled her closer�.kissing her with everything he felt inside�not caring if it was the right thing to do or not�.it had to be�it felt too perfect to be anything else�..they separated only to breathe�. � Bill�.I�.��.she whispered�..he smiled�pressing his finger to her lips�.. � I know��me too�..now go�please�..��..he walked over and picked up her books�.. � I�ll see you tonight��..he smiled�..brushing a tear off her cheek�.she nodded�..clasping the books against her chest�..she gave him a final smile before walking out the door�.and Billy finally let the smile leave his face��he closed his eyes�trying to freeze the memory of her face inside his mind��the time they spent here together��he would have to let that be enough��.He grabbed his jacket and headed for the bus stop��his stomach queasy again�..

� Dad?�.��.Billy called out as he slammed the door behind him��.no answer�the house was dark��.what was wrong?�.. �DAD?��..he called louder��.. � In here, son��.a voice called out from the front room��Billy moved through the kitchen towards the sound�.the room was completely dark�..and he moved towards a standing lamp�next to the sofa�.he pulled the chain to flick it on��and saw the man�his father�..funny�..there wasn�t much of a flicker there anymore when he said the word�..this man was beginning to feel like his Dad�..sitting on the worn sofa�..holding his head in his hand�.rubbing his fingers against his tired eyes��a piece of paper in his hands�.

Billy sat down� � Dad�what is it?�Is someone sick?��is it John?�..��John�the brother he�d never met�.his picture in uniform right next to the sofa�..he was the very image of his own brother Jack��and his stomach clenched tightly�.like a fist�.His father raised his eyes�.. � No�..son�it�s not John��it�s this�..��..he handed Billy the paper��the first line read�.. �GREETINGS��and Billy knew immediately what it meant��.he remembered his own father�telling him the story of the day he�d received a letter�.just like this one�..He scanned it quickly�� DUE TO REPORT FOR INSTALLATION: FEBRUARY 16TH, 1942�.��..He tore his eyes away from the page�..looking over at his father�.. � Bill�.��.he began�� it�s all right�really��we knew this could happen�..once you had to register��.��Billy was speechless��drafted�..sent off to God knows where�..possibly never to return�..but it couldn�t be�..this was a dream�or an hallucination�or something��but what about Maddie?�and the way he felt about her?�.the way she kissed him?�that was real��.he was sure of that�so this had to be real as well�� he shook his head�.. � but Dad��how?�..you need me here�..my job�.and school�.Dad��..His father shook his head��.. � Bill��there is no saying no�..or how�..I�ll manage��and as for school�..you only had another few weeks before graduation��I�m sure they�ll let you complete the rest by correspondence��.you have no choice, son��and I�m sorry�..��..Billy put the paper down on the sofa��his thoughts racing a mile a second��his father smiled�..even though his eyes were still so sad and tired��. � this could be your chance son�..to be even more of the man I know you are��.��Billy shook his head�� I don�t know��.��..he turned to face him�� Dad�..I�m scared��I�m really scared�..��His father nodded�� I know you are, son��and I know that you�re even more of man for admitting it to me��.he smiled��and Billy let out a deep breath�wondering if he went upstairs right away�and forced himself to fall asleep�..if this thing might finally be over�..

But then�he�d never see Maddie again�.for sure�and the pain of that realization cut even deeper than those words printed on that page next to him��The back doorbell rang��interrupting his thoughts�� he suddenly remember Katie�..she was supposed to show up here tonight�.to bring him her father's old tux�..for the dance�.he�d forgotten to call her�� I�ll get it son��..his father rose from the sofa�..and Billy wondered if he still had time to open the window�..climb out and hit the ground running��.but to where?�.he barely knew his way around here�and this was Genoa City�.where would he go?��

� Hello, Mr. Mackenzie�..I hate to interrupt�.but Bill is expecting me�.��.he heard Katie�s voice at the door�. � I�m sorry, Katherine�.but I don�t think��Billy stood up��.walking over to the door�..he put his hand on his father�s shoulder��. � It�s all right, Dad�Katie�s right��I was expecting her�..��he smiled�..and his father nodded��. � all right, then��come in �..��..Katie stepped inside�holding the garment bag over her arm�� Is everything all right?�..��.she whispered to Billy�..he nodded�� yes�everything�s fine�..we..um�.we just got a little surprise today�that�s all�.�� Surprise?��..she said�raising her eyebrows��he nodded�. � Yes��I�I got my draft notice�..today��I�m supposed to report for duty�..next Monday��.Katie put her hand over her mouth�..Mr. Mackenzie shook his head�.. � You can�t really be surprised by this Bill��we have talked about this before�you remember, don�t you?��Billy forced a smile and nodded�.. � sure�I remember�..it�s just different when you actually see it in front of you�.I�ll be okay�.��.he turned to Katie�.. � but I guess this does change my plans�..I don�t think I�ll be able to help you out with the dance�I really think I should be here tonight�with my Dad�..you understand, don�t you?�.� .Mr. Mackenzie shook his head in protest�.. � no�Bill�..I told you�I�ll be fine�.you should go to that dance�..have a little fun�.�..Billy shook his head�..he couldn�t even think about that now�

.Katie glanced over at Mr. Mackenzie�.. � Mr. Mackenzie�..would you mind very much if I spoke with Bill alone for a minute?�I don�t mean to intrude or anything�.��..He looked at Billy�.who smiled�. � it�s okay, Dad�really�..��The man nodded�.. � certainly�..I�ll go up and finish that letter to your brother�..try and convince him, will you Katherine?�.��..Katie smiled and nodded�.. � I will�thank you�.��..she waited until he was safely up the stairs before speaking again�..She put her hands on her hips and glared at Billy�. � Don�t tell me that you�re serious about not going to that dance tonight�..you have to go now�more than ever�.��.Billy sighed�.shaking his head�.. � No�..this just means that I shouldn�t go�.more than ever�..what difference will it make?�.I�ll be gone by Monday�..and Maddie�.��..his voice trailed off��Maddie would be gone by then as well�. � that�s exactly why you have to go��this could be your last chance�..yours and Maddie�s�..��..her voice was soft and understanding as she put her hand on his arm�.Billy shook his head�. � No�..we already had our last chance�.this afternoon�.it has to be this way��Katie sighed�� why?�.because you�re going away?�.Bill�that doesn�t have to stop you�.it hasn�t stopped me�.��.Billy smiled�.she was lucky�.she knew exactly who she was and what she wanted�and she refused to let anyone stand in her way� � that�s part of it�..but there�s something else�..in case you forgot�.she already has a boyfriend��and he�s about to become more than that, Katie�.��

Katie paused�.. � More than that?�..Bill�what are you saying?�do you know something?�about James?..��Billy turned away from her�.shaking his head�.. � No�.��he lied�.. � I don�t�..all I know is that her mother is happy�..and I suppose that�s what�s important�..her future is all set�..and there�s nothing I can do about it�.��..he sat down on the sofa�afraid he�d already said too much�.Katie folded her arms again�.. � You know something, Bill Mackenzie�and whatever it is�I�m not leaving here until you tell me�..��.she plopped down on the sofa next to him�..He shook his head�. � It doesn�t make any difference�.I have no right to interfere with her life�.especially not now�.��.Katie sighed loudly�.throwing her hands in the air�..the same way she still did�.. � You have every right !�she loves you�.and you love her�..that gives you the right!�..now�tell me what you know this second�or so help me God�.��Billy couldn�t help but laugh�.Katherine had changed very little�. � fine�if you must know�..I heard James talking this afternoon��he was all over the shop�.showing off�.��..Katie raised her eyebrows�� this is news?�James is always showing off��big deal�.��..Billy shook his head�� No, Katie�this is a big deal��he was showing off a ring, Katie�..an engagement ring�.��his voice trailed off �� he said he was going to give it to her tonight�..so that�s that�.��Katie sat back against the sofa��.so�James was ready to make his move�..well�..we�ll just see about that�.she wasn�t about to let her friend make the biggest mistake of her life�no matter what anyone said�� He hasn�t given it to her yet�.has he?�..��.she asked softly�.

Billy looked at her with surprise�..Mac�s grandmother�.not exactly his biggest supporter�.hatching a plot to break up Maddie and her boyfriend�..to help him��that�s because you�re Bill�.not Billy�.or at least that�s what she thinks�.and that�s who he felt like now��his own life becoming more and more like a distant memory with each passing moment�.the only thing he felt sure of was Maddie�.and the way he felt about her� � Well.?�he hasn�t�..and stop looking at me like that�..Maddie�s mother will get over it�..besides�.she doesn�t love James�she loves you�she told me so�..so there��Katie pressed her finger to her cheek�� you have to go to that dance��stop her from making the biggest mistake of her life�..and I�m just the person to help you�.��she smiled�..getting up from the sofa and picking up the garment bag�..she handed it to him�. � Now�go upstairs and put this on��she checked her watch�� we don�t have much time�the dance starts in an hour��.��..she saw him staring at her�his mouth hanging open�. � don�t just stand there�and close your mouth��move�.��she pointed towards the stairs��Billy smiled�..shaking his head back and forth�. � I don�t know about this, Katie�..��..she sighed loudly��. � I do��now march�..you�d better get used to taking orders�..you�re going to be taking lots of orders�for the foreseeable future��she pointed again towards the stairs�..and Billy knew when he was licked��he smiled to himself as he sprinted upstairs��one more night with Maddie��that was more than he�d expected�no matter what happened�..