Creepin' up on you is the wrong thing to do
I found your address got your phone number too
Visit all the stores where you buy all your clothes
Been to secret places you think nobody knows

If I have to breathe without you
Nobody should......
I need to be around you
Watchin' you

No one else can love you like I do
Feel it when I'm creepin' up on you
I know that it wouldn't be right
If I stayed all night
Just to peek in on you
Creepin' up on you..

Chris Ramsey made his way through the nearly deserted streets of Bermuda as he felt a wind rush through him. He’d taken Jack up on his offer to leave town with him, but all it wound up being for the two Ramsey brothers was one moment of misery followed by another. They’d found themselves up to their eyeballs in tequila and poorly spoken Spanish, yet after Jack had passed out, Chris found himself more clearheaded than ever in his quest for self discovery. As if there was ever such a thing, he laughed to himself as he noted a small figure up ahead.
 
Chris felt the tropical winds whip up around him as a small child had stepped out onto the street, lazily kicking around a dented silver can beneath the golden iridescence of the moon. A small smile tugged on Chris’ lips as he observed the child so at ease with his meager surroundings. The night wasn’t so much of a threatening one as it was lonely, but as this child played among the darkness, nothing but sheer delight vibrated in his eyes as he kicked along his broken can. Chris watched the dark eyed child squeal with sheer bliss as he sent the can flying in the air towards Chris’ direction. The boy looked up at Chris, his eyes a mixture of wonderment and confusion as he cautiously moved towards Chris.
 
“It looks like you’re having a good time,” Chris offered in a welcoming tone as the child moved forward saying nothing, “would you like this back?” Chris patted the small can with his foot as the boy nodded, “alright then,” Chris replied kicking the can gently in the child’s direction.
 
The boy laughed upon receiving the can and before Chris knew it there was another gentle flood of laughter filling the air, one that Chris hardly recognized as his own, but in these simple moments with the child, he found himself at ease. He was no longer spokesperson for Frank as the Avatar, no more the cynical surgeon at Port Charles General Hospital, but he was merely a man lost in the simple pleasure of spending a few brief moments entertaining a child. The boy’s eyes seemed to light up with each pass they made with one another and yet in those moments with this completely foreign experience lingering over him, Chris found himself at perfect ease.
 
“Esteban,” the boy’s mother called out to him from the shop entrance Chris had witnessed the boy slip out into the night from, “Esteban aqui!”
 
The boy heard his mother’s callings and urgings for him to return home, but he looked to his new playmate in Chris as if asking his permission to end the challenge between them. Chris saw the curiosity behind the boy’s eyes before he offered up a nod.
 
“Another time perhaps,” Chris smiled at the boy before kicking the can in the child’s direction once more. The child bent down to scoop it up, a smile washing over his perfectly tanned features as Chris watched him disappear into the small shop the boy’s mother closing door behind him as Chris was once again met by the darkness surrounding him.
      
Darkness was a bit much considering the stars were shining brighter than they’d ever been in Port Charles, but now Chris was alone again lost in his thoughts as he walked along. He’d contemplated making his way back to the tiny pueblo Jack had rented out, but watching his brother sleep off a hangover just wasn’t his idea of a good time. Maybe Jack would need someone to listen to his woes of being unlucky in love, but Chris was betting that Jack wouldn’t need him around for another couple of hours. 
 
Sighing, Chris strolled along thinking of how his brother had fallen into a similar fate as Chris had not too long ago. The sad truth was that both Ramsey brothers had fallen in love women they could never truly be with, both women near and dear to their hearts as they’d both fallen hard for their best friends. Jack had fallen head over heels for Alison while Chris had never truly gotten over the one woman who’d really touched his heart, even now after her tragic death. Even as time had passed on, no one could ever fill that void that surrounded him as he thought back to what life had been like with Eve in it, with her by his side while loving her from afar. Chris had tried to busy himself with thoughts of anything but her absense, but as he witnessed his brother’s fall into darkness over losing any hope of a future with Alison, Chris was reminded yet again of his own emptiness. 
 
To love and to have lost is better than not to have loved at all, Chris was once told, but in losing Eve, he’d lost all hope of finding love. She was his heart, his true destiny and with that came the heavy price of having found his one true soulmate only to lose her too soon to let her know they were meant to be. He’d known in his heart from the moment he first encountered her that she was the one, but pride and foolishness had kept him from following his heart straight to her, to the love that could’ve been between them. Even now as he thought back to the day she’d left this world, he felt as though a part of him had drifted off with her, going to some other place where love knew no limits. He only hoped that one day they would find one another again, but until then Chris would go on losing himself to whatever venture came his way in the hopes that something would keep his mind off of Eve, off of what it was like to have held her so close only to lose her a moment before the words I love you were whispered upon his lips. If only....
 
“Chris, who are you fooling?” he spoke to himself through the darkness as his eyes cast up towards the moon, now suddenly hidden by the clouds above. It looked like a storm was brewing as the cold realization that miracles didn’t happen for men like him set in. He’d played the hand he was given, waiting for the perfect moment to release his ace only to wind up on the losing end of things. Time had played a very cruel joke on him and now he was left with the emptiness that filled his soul.
 
“Wherever you are Eve,” Chris spoke to the moonlight, “know I haven’t forgotten you. I’ll never forget you,” he promised in a whisper as he heard a sound from behind him. He turned towards the noise hearing another crash in the distance as his eyes searched through the darkened street, “hello. Is anyone there?”
 
Chris thought he heard another faint sound as his eyes darted towards the alleyway. He slowly stepped towards the noise, hearing nothing but the soft winds rising above the darkness as his heart pounded in his chest. He glanced towards the store entrance where Esteban had come from, but it was still locked up tight from his mother’s attempt to bring him in for the evening. Chris heard another rustling sound from the alley as he turned his eyes towards the darkness.
 
“Hello?” he questioned unsure if his imagination was playing tricks on him as he thought of his alliance with Frank in Port Charles. Could it be that Frank had come all this way to Bermuda to find him? Was his leaving town not part of the deal they’d arranged?         Chris stepped further into the blackness unsure of what he was going to find as he heard a soft mewing sound before him. Looking down Chris found himself met by the jade colored eyes of a black tabby cat who’d been rummaging through the trash aside the small restaurant.
 
“Hey you,” Chris smiled bending down to reach out to the cat as it moved in against his leg rubbing up against him with a light purr, “you sure do make a lot of noise for a little one, don’t you?” The cat pressed against him enjoying the moment as Chris stroked her soft fur. The cat seemed content for a moment or so before taking a step back and fleeing into the darkness.
 
“And who says I don’t have a way with women,” he shook his head before deciding to return to his brother who most certainly would need some kind of support when he woke up wondering why he’d taken that last tequila shot.
 
“Jack, maybe it’s not too late for you,” Chris thought back to his brother wondering if perhaps there would be a way to help Jack get his happily ever after before it was too late like it had been for him. As Chris headed back towards the pueblo, he failed to notice the shadow waiting in the darkness, watching him closely waiting to make the next move in the step towards getting closer to him, to finding their way to Chris Ramsey.

I been hanging round all the places you haunt
Spying on your friends to find out what you want
Drinking from the glass that you left on the bar
Follow you around driving home in your car...

Do I have to breathe without you?
Coz nobody could
I need to be around you
Watching you

No one else can love you like I do
Feel it when I'm creepin' up on you
I know that it wouldn't be right
If I stayed all night
Just to peek in on you
Creepin' up on you..

Chris entered the room finding his brother barely conscious sprawled out on the sofa in the middle of the room. Closing the door behind him, Chris made his way across the room ready to get some aspirin for Jack. Perhaps that would help him get over what the night had brought on, but then again getting over loving someone like Alison wasn’t going to be an easy task, so Chris opted for another bottle of beer instead. He made his way towards his brother extending the glass bottle towards him with a half smile.
 
“Here’s to another night of misery,” Chris urged as Jack raised his head to the side reluctantly accepting the bottle.
 
“Is this how it is going to be from now on?” Jack groaned tipping his head back as he downed the cold, harsh alcohol and let out a groan.
 
“And how is that exactly?” Chris plopped himself down into the chair across from Jack before popping open a bottle himself and taking a long swig.
 
“You and I out in the middle of paradise getting drunk with one another because life sucks for us both,” Jack groaned, “what is it about us?”
 
“We’re Ramsey men,” Chris explained with obvious distaste as he shook his head, “it means life especially ours is bound to suck.”
 
“Suck is putting it mildly,” Jack shook his head, “you know I really thought Alison was different. She and I connected on this level and there was something, really something and I thought that she and I would be together that....”
 
“That what?” Chris asked as his brother trailed off.
 
“That maybe she and I could have something,” Jack sighed, “but I guess I was just fooling myself into believing. What an idiot that makes me.”
 
“No Jack, you weren’t an idiot,” Chris offered up painfully, “you were just a man in love. It happens to the best of us.”
 
“Yeah I see you stumbling upon it all the time,” Jack groaned, “See you don’t need to worry about that stuff.”
 
“Not anymore,” Chris sighed closing his eyes as a silence fell between them.
 
“Chris, I didn’t mean that....I mean I know what Eve meant to you,” Jack started again.
 
“You were one of the only people who ever truly knew just how much she meant to me, Jack,” Chris admitted honestly as another sigh fell from his lips, “that time during December when that truth bug hit me, I was so afraid what I’d say if I was face to face with her feeling how I felt, but now part of me wishes that we’d have five minutes alone together, that somehow I would’ve told her.”
 
“You wanted to do the right thing,” Jack watched his brother closely seeing his own pain mirrored in Chris, “you thought it was best to let Eve be happy.”
 
“But if I’d stepped in, maybe she’d be alive. Maybe she and I....” Chris shook his head, “it doesn’t matter now, does it? She’s gone.”
 
“She’ll always be in your heart,” Jack offered up with a lighthearted smile.
 
“It’s not the same. Even you know that,” Chris finished off his drink before making his way back towards the bar, “but for what it’s worth, I think a traditional martini is in order here to remember her.”
 
“Here here that,” Jack agreed staggering up from the sofa as he tried to make a bee line to the bar, “a martini sounds good.”
 
“You can barely walk,” Chris noted his brother’s sluggishness, “maybe you should sit this one out.”
 
“For Eve’s memory no way,” Jack shook his head, “we owe her this.”
 
“I can’t argue that,” Chris nodded mixing up the martinis before filling up two glasses that were behind the bar. He handed one to his brother before raising it for a toast, “To Eve Lambert.”
 
“To Eve,” Jack raised his glass as well.
 
“The best friend a man ever had,” Chris downed his drink as Jack followed the action finishing off his martini, “if only she was here now. I’d give anything for that,” Chris confessed with a sigh as there was a soft tapping at the door. The two brothers exchanged confused glances.
 
“You don’t think,” Jack eyed Chris closely.
 
“No, it can’t be,” Chris shook his head thinking about the words behind his wish as he headed towards the door wondering if maybe perhaps he was on to something. Maybe just maybe Chris had found a key that unlocked the door to his deepest desires. He made his way to the door taking in a breath as one last hope filled through him. Opening the door, he found himself met by concerned eyes.
 
“Chris?” she questioned in confusion as her eyes peered into him, “what are you doing here?”
 
“Alison,” Chris’ eyes widened as he opened the door further, “I could ask you the same question.”
 
“I came to see Jack. I thought he was alone, but....” she looked past Chris into the room where Jack stood by the bar, “may I come in?”
 
“Of course,” Chris nodded as he stepped aside letting Alison into the room, “Jack, it looks like destiny was knocking on the door for one of us tonight, but not the one we were thinking.”
 
“Alison, what are you doing here?” Jack blinked back in confusion wondering if he was too drunk to be thinking clearly as if his head was making this up.
 
“I needed to talk to you. When you left....” she began as she looked over at Chris, “Can we have a minute?”
 
“Of course,” Chris nodded his head before heading towards the door. He looked back at his brother, “remember don’t fight destiny. Be honest here Jack.”
 
“I’ll do my best,” Jack answered as Chris left the pueblo and Alison glanced over at him.
 
“What’s going on Jack?”
 
“It’s a long story Alison. Why is it you’re here?” he questioned in frustration.
 
“I needed to see you Jack,” she explained simply as her eyes showed full of concern, “we need to talk to one another and this can’t wait.”

This must be wrong
It can't go on
This kind of thing
It's taking all my sanity and making a mockery
This must be wrong
It can’t go on
So Won't somebody free me from this misery
Bring my baby closer to me

No one else can love you like I do
Feel it when I'm creepin' up on you
I know that it wouldn't be right
If I stayed all night
Just to peek in on you
Creepin'

Chris stepped out into the night leaving his brother to talk with Alison as he hoped that someone would have the happily ever after that he’d hoped for himself so long ago. Now as he was alone again, he wondered if there was truly any kind of miracle waiting for him on the other end of all of this. He hoped that one day he’d find happiness again, but now it seemed as though it may be too late. Chris settled into a chair outside the porch closing his eyes and losing himself to the tropical winds when a noise captured his attention. His eyes perked open as he noted a shadow moving among the night.
 
“Who’s there?” he asked his voice more cautious than he’d planned on it being as he watched the shadow move once again, “who’s out there?”
 
Getting up from his chair, Chris stepped in the direction of the dark figure as his pulse quickened. Perhaps it was no one, he though to himself as he wondered if he was losing his touch in taking his martinis, but as he blinked he noticed it again. It was there behind the faint glow of the moonlight as he looked out towards the water seeing movement on the beach. He took in a breath wondering if insanity had set in as he made his way towards the rolling tide hoping to catch a look at whatever was before him. The figure seemed to speed up as Chris approached. Seeing the movement, he quickened his pace rushing after it into the night as he hoped it wouldn’t slip away.
 
“Wait,” he called out to the figure as he found himself stepping into the water, feeling the fierce pounding beneath his feet. He was up to calf length screaming out to the night as he noted the movement had stopped up ahead, “please don’t go. Don‘t run away!” he pleaded as the silence surrounded him. Even the ocean seemed to still as the figure approached him. He felt something inside of him, some warmth that had been gone for so very long, but now as he felt the moon rise above him, he realized he wasn’t ready for what lay ahead of him.
 
“Chris,” she called out as her pale arm extended towards him. She stepped into the water as her darkened auburn tinted hair surrounded her soft, delicate face. A breath caught in his throat as he took note of the soft white gown that was now immersed in the water surrounding them. He blinked once, twice trying to make sense of what he was seeing as her fingers eased over his cheek and he spoke her name in a soft whisper.
 
“Eve?” he questioned reaching out to her expecting to fall flat into the ocean as her warm form stood before him.
 
“I’m here,” she nodded as his arms slipped around her and he drew her close to him feeling the warmth of her very much alive in his arms as they embraced, “I’m right here.”
 
“But how?” he asked as he looked to her dark eyes finding himself lost in the questions before he pulled her into his arms around determined not to let her go as suddenly it seemed that miracles were around him after all.

No one else can love you like I do
Feel it when I'm creepin' up on you
I know that it wouldn't be right
If I stayed all night
Just to peek in on you
Creepin' up on you...

*Song sung by Darren Hayes*

I'm afraid I'm starting to feel
What I said I would not do
The last time really hurt me

[BRIDGE:]
I'm scared to fall in love
Afraid to love so fast
Cuz every time I fall in love
It seems to never last

[CHORUS:]
But every time your love is near
And every time I'm filled with fear
Cuz every time I see your face
My heart does begin to race every time

“What are you doing here Alison?” Jack questioned in a slurred tone as he tried to stand up straighter, anything to keep her from seeing just how lost he was in his self destruction. He pressed his weight against the bar trying to steady himself, but he failed miserably as he nearly landed himself on the floor.
 
Alison stepped forward her eyes widening as she watched him pull himself up by holding on to a bar stool. Shaking her head in disapproval, she approached him extending her arm to help him up, “Come on Jack.”
 
“No,” he shook his head stammering a bit, “no I can do it on my own. I don’t need you or your help.”
 
“It doesn’t look that way to me,” Alison frowned harshly as she reached out to him, “come on Jack Let me help you.”
 
“Alison,” he began meeting her eyes before sighing and accepting her arm, “fine. I’ll let you help, but don’t think it’s because I want you to.”
 
“No heaven be it for Jack Ramsey to want anything from me, right?” she asked an air of frustration in her tone, “I mean it’s not like we’re friends or anything.”
 
“Not anymore,” he shook his head feeling the swell of the alcohol taking over him as he looked at her, “speaking of us not being friends, why are you here?”
 
“Because you stupid, stubborn man despite the fact that you were rude, very rude in fact to me, I couldn’t just let you leave town without explaining things to you so that you’d see what was going on and....”
 
“Save it,” he cut her off dismissively as he raised his hand in the air, “I know all I need to know. You are in love with Rafe despite the fact the man treats you like his own personal doormat and you just continue to take it. I know the drill. You don’t have to remind me over and over again. I get it by now.”
 
“I don’t think you do, Jack, but then again I don’t think you’re going to get it when you’re like this,” Alison shook her head disapproving, “I mean look at you. You’re a complete mess and how much have you been drinking?” she reached for an empty bottle that had fallen on the floor. She shook it in her hand before frowning, “what’s this all about?”
 
“It’s about party time on the island,” Jack offered up in a lazy tone as his head was swimming with the buzz of the alcohol, “it’s about living it up here with my brother while you’re chasing after Rafe Kovich in Port Charles.”
 
“There are things about Rafe that you don’t understand,” Alison reminded him again.
 
“One of them being why in the world you want to be with him after all he’s done to you. For god’s sake Alison, he’s married to Livvie,” Jack shook his head as he regained enough of his balance to cross the room, “what more proof do you need that the man isn’t worth your time?”
 
“Rafe doesn’t realize what’s really happening,” Alison objected watching her friend turn away from her, “Jack, there’s a lot you don’t know.”
 
“Then enlighten me,” He urged plopping down on the sofa as he patted the seat beside him, “tell me all about the wonderful Rafe.”
 
“Well first of all I can hear that sarcasm in your voice and there’s no way to carry on a conversation with you when you’re drunk and grumpy. You aren’t a fun drunk Jack Ramsey.”
 
“And you aren’t a fun date when you’re whining about Rafe,” Jack sighed leaning his head back on the top of the sofa with a sigh, “you’re not nearly the woman I enjoy spending so much time with when you’re worried about him.”
 
“Well let’s just forget about Rafe right now,” Alison urged finally taking the moment to walk up to him taking a seat beside him, “clearly you’re not going to move an inch on this subject.”
 
“Why should I?” Jack challenged meeting her gaze.
 
“Because there are things that you....” she began.
 
“Don’t know,” Jack rolled his eyes, “yeah Ali I get it. I don’t know all about the virtues of Rafe Kovich, but here’s a news flash for you, I don’t want to know either.”
 
“Jack, listen to me. I know that you’re upset with me, but forget about Rafe for a moment and let’s discuss what you said to me back in the Recovery Room the other day.”
 
“I don’t quite recall what that was,” he shrugged, “but I’m sure it wasn’t nearly important enough for you to leave Rafe behind and come to Bermuda. Come to think of it, what are you doing in Bermuda anyways? You never did answer that question.”
 
“I came to see you,” Alison blurted out in frustration.
 
“Why?”
 
“What do you mean why?”
 
“It’s exactly what I asked. Why did you come here to see me Ali?”
 
“Because despite the fact you’re a jerk, you’re my friend, Jack Ramsey.”
 
“That’s a purely subjective word,” Jack rolled his eyes, “I thought we already established that our friendship isn’t nearly as important as Rafe.”
 
“Jack, you don’t understand what’s going on and I wouldn’t expect you to either. As for Rafe, well that’s something in itself that I need to deal with.”
 
“Something you’d rather not have me discuss with you,” Jack eyed her intently.
 
“For the moment yes, but like I said right now isn’t about talking about Rafe,” she tried to stay on the point as she spoke with him, “it’s about you and me.”
 
“There is no you and me, or have you forgotten that Alison?”
 
“Jack, of course there is a you and me,” Alison argued with him, “you are my best friend in this world. I love you for that and you can’t just shut me out.”
 
“I wasn’t the one who started shutting people out,” He pointed out smugly, “you did it when you chose to dump on me about Rafe.”
 
“That’s what friends do, Jack,” Alison reminded him with a sigh, “they talk to one another, share what’s going on in their lives and try to help one another.”
 
“So I hear,” Jack groaned as his vision seemed to blur a bit due to the alcohol’s lingering effects.
 
“Jack, please look at me when I speak to you,” Alison reached out to touch his face turning him to meet her gaze, “you are my best friend and I don’t want to lose you. I came here to Bermuda to prove that to you, but all I find is you drunk and impossible to be with.”
 
“Chris didn’t mind it much,” Jack shrugged again.
 
“Chris is probably as toasted as you are right now. Chris probably wouldn’t mind it much if I went around doing a strip tease for him right now. He’d probably be oblivious to what was going on.”
 
“I wouldn’t,” Jack offered with a hint of a smile.
 
“Yes you would,” Alison shook her head at him, “you would be so drunk it wouldn’t even hit you.”
 
“See now there’s where you’re wrong,” he sat up straighter, “that might be just the thing to sober me up here.”
 
“You wish,” Alison laughed lightly as she noted the playful air behind his eyes.
 
“What if I said I did?” He questioned all teasing leaving his tone.
 
“I’d say you’re pulling my leg and you’re quite good at it,” She answered keeping her eyes fixed upon his.
 
“Alison, what if I told you that I was very serious?” he asked leaning in towards her.
 
“About the strip tease, well you’re out of luck because I’m so not doing it,” Alison shook her head firmly, “it was just a figure of speaking if you will.”
 
“I’m not talking about the strip tease, though it brings images to mind,” he shook the thought, “I’m talking about us Alison.”
 
“What about us?” She questioned noting the intensity behind his eyes as he leaned in towards her and she took in a breath feeling her pulse quicken at the nearness of him.
 
“What if I told you I don’t want us to be friends?” He questioned in a whisper as he moved in towards her.
 
“I’d ask you why you wanted to give that all up,” Alison confessed her voice a mere breath above her lips as he reached out to her cupping her cheek in his hand.
 
“What if I told you we wouldn’t be giving it up? What if we would be adding to what we already have?” he asked bridging the distance between them as Alison felt his breath upon her face.
 
“I’d ask you how that would be possible,” Alison answered not sure of what to do or say as she felt the seriousness in his voice. She felt his gentle touch against her skin and she closed her eyes leaning into his welcoming embrace.
 
“Alison, it could be very possible if you just open yourself up to the signs around us.”
 
“Jack, I’m not good with signs. You should know that by now,” she confessed opening her eyes once again to find him inches away from her as she drew in a breath feeling the warmth of him mingle with her.
 
“Then let me make this simple for you Alison,” Jack urged as his fingers slipped into her hair drawing her closer to him, his lips a mere breath away from hers, “this sign will be easy to follow I hope. I was thinking instead of friendship we could move on to something like this,” he confessed bridging the distance between them as his lips caressed hers in a soft, tender motion giving her a hint of the gentle kiss he’d been waiting to share with her since the moment she’d arrived at the pueblo. Now as he held her, he felt her give herself into the kiss as he thought of the love he’d shared for this beautiful woman, his best friend who meant more to him than life itself.

One half wants me to go
One half wants me to stay
I just get so all confused

I'm scared to fall in love
Afraid to love so fast
Cuz every time I fall in love
It seems to never last

I'm scared to fall in love
Afraid to love so fast
Cuz every time I fall in love
It seems to never last

But every time your love is near
And every time I'm filled with fear
Cuz every time I see your face
My heart does begin to race every time

“Eve, is it really you?” Chris questioned blinking once more as he held her beneath the moonlight, “are you really here?”
 
“I’m here. I’m alive, Ramsey,” Eve explained squeezing him closer to her, “I shouldn’t be here with you, but when I saw you earlier...”
 
“Wait a second. You saw me earlier?” Chris questioned looking into her deep brown eyes, “how is that possible?”
 
“Chris, there is a lot you don’t know about me. Things that I wish you didn’t have to find out like this, but I think maybe it’s time you and I talked.”
 
“I think that would be a good idea,” Chris nodded as he felt the tide move in around them. He felt her lose her balance a bit as she fell forward into his arms. He felt the warmth of her breath upon the exposed part of his chest that had crept out of the darkened fabric of his button down shirt. Her chin lifted slightly as their eyes fixed on one another once again, “maybe we should start with how it is that you’re alive here in my arms right now.”
 
“Chris, I had no choice, but to do this,” Eve answered painfully as she attempted to regain her balance once more only to stumble further into his arms.
 
“Whoa wait a second,” Chris urged feeling the lightheadedness the alcohol brought on in him as he too stammered a bit finding himself knee deep in the blackened ocean, “Eve, we’re not going to stay above water if you don’t stand sti.....” his words were for not as another wave crashed inward and he lost his balance falling back into the cool ocean with Eve in his arms as he went under.
 
The salt water began to surround Chris sweeping over his senses as Eve’s warmth beside him vanished in the blink of an eye. He surfaced again searching the night for her before he realized she hadn’t come up yet. He dove under again feeling a deep undercurrent tugging at him as he felt his body being thrust towards the shore. Chris found himself with a mouthful of saltwater as he crashed onto the beach coughing while wondering what twisted games his mind was playing with him. He let out a harsh cough hating that he’d slipped into a world of being delusional as he felt a hand pressed over his back gently.
 
“Chris, can you hear me? Chris, are you alright,” he heard her speak out to him as he rolled onto his back seeing Eve above him, the moonlight surrounding her beautiful features gently as her damp hair pressed over her soft, pale skin. He reached out to her feeling the warmth of her skin to his touch as she placed her fingers over his cheek gently caressing him as a smile crept over her beautiful features, “You should’ve warned me you wanted to go for a swim.”
 
“I had a few martinis along with a couple other things,” Chris confessed sheepishly as he saw the amusement build behind her eyes.
 
“It wasn’t long ago you’d bragged about how you could hold your alcohol you know,” Eve shot him a pointed glance.
 
“Well a lot has changed since the last time I spent drinking with you,” Chris admitted painfully as her soft white gown seemed to cling to her body offering up a hint of her curves beneath the fabric.
 
“So it has indeed,” Eve nodded a sadness creeping over her features before she spoke up again, “there’s a lot we need to discuss.”
 
“I’d say so, but just seeing you here, feeling you like this,” Chris placed his arms around her slender waist, “it makes me think I’ve completely lost my mind because there is no logical way this should be happening.”
 
“Forget logic for five minutes Ramsey because in this situation, it won’t do you any good,” Eve admitted with a soft sigh as another wave crashed in causing her to topple forward onto him with a harsh movement.
 
Chris felt her fall upon him and as the water crashed over them, he shifted positions so that he was over her as the wave hit again striking harder than before. As the water made it’s way back into the ocean, he looked down at her seeing the surprise in her eyes as he lay over her, his body reacting to the nearness of her in this instant as his heart pounded wildly, threatening to burst out of control as he held her.
 
“Chris, there is so much you need to know,” Eve started again as his finger tips trailed over her full lips gently.
 
“Shh,” he instructed in a soft whisper as he feared this would be a dream ending sooner than he’d ever imagined as he held her, “you don’t have to explain right yet.”
 
“But I do. You see....” she started as yet another sound roared from behind them.
 
“When I thought you’d died, when I thought I’d never see you again, it made me realize so many things Lambert,” Chris confessed finding the weight of the moment hanging over him as his fingers brushed over her soft skin feeling the goose bumps forming on her otherwise flawless skin as a chill overcame her.
 
“I know,” She began sensing his emotion as she eased her palm flat over his chest moving up over his shoulder to draw him nearer, “I was there at the memorial. I heard everything you said.”
 
“Everything?” his eyes widened at the sudden revelation, “then you know?”
 
“Deep down I think I always knew, but I was a fool not to do or say anything about it,” Eve admitted in a soft whisper as the water began to rush in over them. Seeing the surprise behind Chris’ eyes she pulled him to her seizing his mouth in a desperate kiss full of longing and desire as the water rolled over them washing away the past as the night somehow brought to life the promise of something that not long ago felt as though it would never be.

I'm scared to fall in love
Afraid to love so fast
Cuz every time I fall in love
It seems to never last

But every time your love is near
And every time I'm filled with fear
Cuz every time I see your face
My heart does begin to race every time

It's every time
It's every time
Cuz. . .

Every time your love is near
And every time I'm filled with fear
Cuz every time I see your face

“Jack,” Alison whispered his name drawing back from the kiss as she found herself breathless, “Jack, you can’t mean that,” she offered up turning away from him as if to shield herself from the way he’d made her feel. Just being this near to him did something to her, swirled her emotions up inside and she began to think of what had possessed her to come out to Bermuda to find him.
 
“Why can’t I?” Jack questioned defensively as he felt her pull away from him. He watched her move off of the couch heading towards the window, “why can’t I mean it Alison?”
 
“Because you’re drunk. You don’t know what you’re saying right now and I can’t trust that you mean any of this,” Alison shook her head disbelieving.
 
“Alison, I mean every word I’m saying to you,” Jack defended as her rose from the sofa bridging the distance between them, “I’ve been wanting to say it to you for so long, but because of your obsession with Rafe I haven’t been able to do it.”
 
“Jack,” She spun around to face him finding him standing behind her so close she could reach out and embrace him if she’d wanted. She wrapped her arms around her body realizing just how much she wanted to as she met his desperate eyes, “just don’t say it. Don’t say something you don’t mean.”
“But I do,” Jack insisted firmly, “I know I’m going to get burned, but with all that I am, I can‘t help but feel it. Drunk or not, I know I can’t hide from how I feel I love you Alison Barrington and if you look deep within your heart you‘ll realize that you love me too.” 

Could it be that this will be the one that lasts?
The fear does start to erase every time
Oh could it be that this will be the one that lasts
For all my times
Ooh yeah
For all my times