"So what do you say wife, ya wanna stay and eat dinner with me??" Sonny asked his wife as he flashed his dimples at her.

"I'd love too." she told him as she leaned over and planted a small kiss on his lips.

As much as Carly loved her husband, his insensitivity some times hurt very much. "Oh and just so you know Tamia funded this little shopping spree NOT you"

Sonny was taken back by the slight anger in her voice and felt bad for ever doubting the intentions of her friend. But it was too late now the men had already been sent out. "So how long is Tamia staying in town??"

"She says for awhile" he couldn't help but notice the way her eyes shone when she talked about Tamia. It was obvious that these two loved and needed each other way more than they admitted. "I just wish she would move up here, I'm sure No Limit would survive without her."

"No Limit???" Sonny looked at her confused.

Carly couldn't help but chuckle at the confused look on his face. "you know that "annoying" cd i was listening to this morning, well Tamia owns part of that company. They do more than music, they have a clothing line, retail stores, and own property."

"Well its good they don't rely on that music, that was awful this morning"" he said shaking his head.

"Yea well while you might not like it, there are thousands of people out there that do" she smiled at her husband. "Anyway how was your day at work??"

"Carly, you know I can't....." Sonny was quickly getting tired of having this conversation everday.

"Oh no you don't" she defended herself "I didn't ask you what you did today, I asked how in the general sense was your day. Which is a question you can answer in one of three ways...."

She held up one finger for each way "One..good, Two..okay or Three..Bad. Which will make my answer One of two different ways..One...that's good or Two..anything you want to talk about. Which you can then answer either yes or no. And in doing that no where in that conversation have you said anything top secret."

Sonny was shocked once again by the anger in her voice, and a little concerned that maybe his doubt in Tamia was well deserved. This was the second time in one conversation that Carly had snapped at him. Just as he was going to say something a waiter appeared.

"I hope you don't mind but Ms. Tidwell has ordered the meal for you" she said as she placed Ceaser salads in front of them and then poured a glass of wine.

As the waiter left, Carly and Sonny both realzed for the first time that the restaurant was quiet.

Carly looked up to see that they were the only ones there just as classical music filtered thourgh the air. She smiled when she realized Tamia had done this for them.

"I love you" she turned and told her husband.

"I love you too" he told her right before capturing her lips in a kiss.

"May I have this dance??" he asked her as he stood up and held his hand out.

Carly smiled at him so this is what love feels like she thought to herself.

"Yes, you may" she told him coyly as she placed her hand in his.

The couple walked to the middle of the room hand in hand and when they reached the dance floor the song changed as Sonny pulled his wife into his arms.

  For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true

For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through through it all

Meanwhile up in the Penthouse

Tamia neatly placed her bags by the side of the door as she entered the penthouse. It was true that she was tired, but more than anything she wanted to know how things went today on the Sorel front.

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me

"Sy, Keith, Percy...where are you??" she called out as she flopped herself down on the couch.

"In the kitchen" Percy called out to her "How was your day?? Did you and Carly have fun shopping??"

She smiled as she heard him ask about her day. In the begining it used to bother her because she thought they were trying to take her husband's place, but now it brought a smile to her face. This was her family now and as soon as David woke up he'd join them.

"It was okay...I was worried about you guys though. And yeah we had lots of fun, I forgot what it was like to shop like that. How was ya'lls day??"

"It was eventful" Syrus told her as he walked out of the kitchen with two plates. "We were able to move everything up just like you asked"

"Come on lazy, get up and come sit at the table" Andre told her as he walked out of the kitchen.

"ANDRE" she screamed as she ran towards him. He picked her and twirled her in the air.

She smiled and laughed like she had done before "the accident". Her guards always thought she was beautiful the way her brown eyes sparkled when she smiled and that contagious laugh of hers was enough to make even the grumpiest man smile. They were glad to see that smile return even if just for a brief time.

"Hey Mia, I hear you were giving these guys a hard time." he told her as he pulled her chair out for her.

"Who, Me??" she asked innocently, but as soon as Andre returned into the kitchen she looked at the other men sitting at the table and threw them a glance that was mean enough to kill.

Even though Tamia was the one in charge, she hated to make Andre mad. He was like an older brother/father type to her. She respected him and trusted his judgement. He was the one that introduced her to David.

Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

Andre and Tamia were in an Advanced Statistics class together and he convinced her to tutor one of his lost cause friends. She agreed and it was love at first sight for both of them. She smiles as she thinks of that first time they met in the library, her attention though is quickly reverted back to the present when she smelt the food.

"I figured by now you must be missing some down home cooking up here in the North" he told her as he scooped some Jambalya on her plate "so I decided to come up here and make ya some"

Tamia greedily took a huge bite, it was true she had missed his cooking. "hmmmmm, this is so much better than I remember. Thank you Dre!!"

The group was silent as they all feasted on Andre's cooking, but they knew that this little break from reality was just that a break. They were on a mission and that mission involved revenge.

You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all

Back down at the Grille

Sonny held his wife close enjoying the feel of her warm breath on his neck. This is what he lived life for. This is why he did the things he did. For moments like this when nothing in the world mattered just him and his wife. "His wife" he thought to himself, How did I get so lucky.

I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you

Carly looked up to see her husband smiling "What are you smiling at??" she asked him curious.

"You" he told her simply almost as if that was the most obvious answer in the world.

"Me??" she asked confused.

"Yeah You" he assured her and before she could say anything else his lips came crashing down on hers.

After kissing her breathless, he finally let go of her lips "lets go home" she whispered

"okay" he didn't need to be asked twice.

The couple hurried out of the restaurant, not worried about dinner, or they would look to others. They were only worried with each other, and how much they needed each other.

Which was a good thing because Tamia had only ordered a salad and had dismissed the waiting staff for the night.

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

Back Upstairs

The guys quickly fill Tamia in on thier progress after dinner.

"He's buying it Tam" Syrus told her "Hook, line and sinker"

She smiled. The guys couldn't help but notice that this one didn't reach her eyes. The eyes that once used to sparkle were dull know. They felt bad for her, wanted to console her. But knew better.

Tamia wasn't one to be coddled and the last thing they wanted to do was piss off Tamia. Especially now with them trying to exact revenge on Sorel.

You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you

Tamia was pleasantly pleased with the progress her guys had made in just a short 24 hours. She knew this would all be over in a matter of days.

Sorel was stupider than she thought, which was to her advantage. She wondered though how long before Sonny caught on and what was she going to do once this was over.

The time and energy it cost to plan her revenge took up all the time she would have otherwise used to mourn her son and husband. She didn't think she had it in her to handle mourning her loss. Killing Sorel..Yes. Mourning and letting go of her family..she didn't think anyone was strong enough to do that, especially not her.

Hours had passed since dinner and the guys were getting sleepy. One by one they asked if she wanted them to stay and one by one she told them no.

"You guys go, go get your rest, go get a drink, go do whatever. I'll be fine." she told them.

Percy began to argue with her but she cut him off "Really Perc I just want to be alone" she pleaded with them.

The look in her eyes broke thier hearts. But they left just as she requested, even though it was against everything they stood for.

After they left Tamia stood around and looked at the Penthouse. It seemed so empty now that guys had left. That was her life now...emptiness, quiet and pain.

Or is it??

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed

Tamia stood on the balcony, her arms wrapped around her trying to shield some of the cold away. Her eyes fill up as she remembers when she and David had visited Hawaii. Every night they stood on thier balcony, David with his arms wrapped around Tamia and listened to the ocean.

David told her on thier last night on the island that whenever she felt alone, no matter where she was. All she had to was to stand on the balcony and he would be there for her. Maybe not physically but he would be there. They would be together listening to the symphony played out just for them by the Paific Ocean.

And now as she stood on the balcony alone, she needed to believe in that more than he would have ever realized. She needed him there for her, she wanted him there for her.

I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

At Harborview

Sonny and Carly lay in each others arms wrapped in blue satin sheets feeling very exhausted and hungry. But neither caring, only hoping that things would always be like this for them.

That they would always be enough for each other.

I'm everything I am
Because you loved me