Hallie's laughter filled the house as she watched TV with Star and Daniels. Stef and Cheri were in kitchen making a big feast for the group, and she was sitting on the porch thinking. She took a deep breath and leaned her head against the porch pillar. Everything was so mixed up and she was starting to lose herself to the mess. When she had gotten out of that cab, she felt like it had been a mistake to come back.

Stef smiled at Hallie and Cheri picked the girl up with a smile on her face. Star walked over to her and gave her a hug while he eyed Daniels, who stood off to the side watching everything. She sighed and pulled away from the present comfort.S he pushed some hair back behind her ear and looked at Daniels. He was still rather ticked from the event in the airport and Star's hug must have increased it.

With a deep breath she said "You look good, Star."

He smirked and said "I wish I could say the same for you. I didn't think taking care of one kid would do this to you, Shadow!"

She relaxed and said "Well, she's a handful."

Stef embraced her and whispered "What happened when you got in?"

She shrugged and said "I'll tell you later. I need to get Hallie settled in."�

She had told Stef later and the reaction she got wasn't the one she had hoped for. Instead of wanting to kill the man, she wanted her to go talk to him with some opened mind on her shoulders. Stef had told her that it would do her some good to get away from Hallie and to talk things out with him. When she finally agreed to do so, she was allowed some time alone and she came onto the porch. Now that Stef knew, she didn't know if she could face him whenever he decided for them to meet.

She sighed with frustration and covered her eyes with one hand while she let the air become utterly silent. When the sound of an engine reached her ear, she sighed and looked down the road. The car pulled into the drive and stopped ten feet away from the porch. The door opened and when the driver got out, she remained still. He closed his car door and he walked up to the porch with some mysterious look.

When he stood in front of her she asked "Come to tell me the death date?"

He remained quiet and she asked "What?"

His hand found hers and he pulled her up onto her feet to where she now stood eye to eye with him. She could already feel her pulse racing and she tried to calm down. He looked into her eyes and she wished he didn't have those eyes that trapped her everytime. He lifted her chin just enough that their gaze locked and smirked.

When she shoved his magic off he said "Tomorrow night. I'll be waiting at the restaurant by the beach. Reservations are for seven."

She nodded and he continued "Come alone and leave that blasted cell home. There will be no interruptions."

He looked at the door and when she chanced a glance, she saw Daniels watching from the doorway. His eyes weren't too pretty to look at and she looked ahead of her. When she noticed him watching her, she tried not to go weak, but she failed. The storm was raging close to break point and she needed to separate herself from the man in front of her. She was about to leave the porch when he pulled her to him.

Her hands separated them by pressing against his chest and she felt them start to warm. She kept her gaze halfway free from his and heard Daniel's low growl. Then she was looking into his eyes completely and he smirked just to enrage the man behind them. When she almost crumbled to the steps, he brushed his lips over her cheek and whispered into her ear. Her eyes widened at his words and when he looked back at her, she sent him a warning look.

He chuckled and said "See you tomorrow."

She felt him step back and her breath finally began to regulate as she watched him leave. When he reached his car door, he looked at her and she shook her head in self-disgust. He smirked at her wit and then he got in and drove off. Once he was gone, she let out a deep sigh and her legs gave out. Before she could collapse Daniels caught her and she recovered.

She pulled free from him and leaned back against the pillar on the porch. She ran a hand through her hair and slid down onto the steps while she looked down the drive.

Daniels sighed and asked "Who the hell is that man?"

She closed her eyes and said "Someone from my past, that's all."

He snorted and said "For him being just someone, you seem awfully tense around him but willing to let him touch you."

Her stomach started revolting and she said "I'm not going to discuss this with you."

She stood up and he asked "Are you going to see him again while you're here?"

She walked to the door and said "Yes. Tomorrow night I'm to meet him for dinner so we can talk."

She opened the door and slipped into the house and away from him. Her feet took her through the living room and she opened the door to her wreck room. When she found her old room the same as it was the last time she was there, she relaxed and collapsed down onto the couch. She slumped down into the cushions and leaned her head back onto the top of the couch cushions. Her pulse was finally back to its normal rate and she was so exhausted just from seeing him.

When she heard the door open at the top of the stairs, she looked to the stairwell and saw Hallie walking down to her. She relaxed again and the little one sat on the couch next to her. The child rested her head on her arm and fell into a light sleep. Kat smiled at the child's attachment to her and she let her eyes fall closed. A yawn escaped her before she could stifle it and she fell into a light sleep as well.

PGS