The morning had been hectic for Halle, more than hectic. She had overslept, yet again, and had only awakened to someone knocking on her door. She had thought it was just a dream until the knocking didn't stop. It was like an alarm clock and after five minutes of the constant knocking, she awoke with a start. She was too frazzled as she slumped to the door, still tired and rubbing her eyes roughly to wake them up. "Hello?" she asked as she pulled open the door. She sharply intook her breath as she saw JC standing there carrying a sleeping Josh.

"You know," he said with a smile, entering the room as Halle silently let them. "You have a bad habit of never expecting me at your door."

She raised a tired eyebrow at him. "And looking like crap? Uh, huh, I'd say something, smartie, but it's way too early in the morning to beat you."

He laughed again. "It's ten o'clock, Hal!"

"Uh huh, yeah. Tell my internal clock that. It's stuck at five am."

JC laughed once more as Halle sighed. Apparently he found quite a lot funny this morning as he smiled, watching Halle, presently Halle the zombie, stumble about, trying to get ready to meet the day with open arms. It just wasn't happening.

Finally, Halle made it to the bathroom to finish getting ready: wash her face and brush her teeth. The door finally swung open again and there stood a refreshed- looking Halle, still wearing her pajamas, but no longer a zombie. She walked over to JC and Josh, whom he still had sleeping in his arms. JC pretended to make a surprised faced, over-doing the expression. "Whoa!" he said in surfer boy lingo. "Who are you and what did you do with Halle?"

She laughed and was flashed back to his MMC days. Yes, she had seen those too. Emerald Cove she remembered where he had played Wipeout, the surfer dude, port underneath. She had laughed hard at that when she remembered his hair, so goofy looking. She was used to him with shorter hair and a much more mature look, though she still saw the sparkle in his blue eyes.

"Did Josh behave ok?" she asked worriedly, staring at her little boy in his arms.

"Funny, I asked Josh the same question about Justin." As he said it, he kept a completely serious look on his face, but Halle knew better and she was cracking up.

"Don't be so hard on the boy!" she said to JC been giggles.

"What? I just asked him if Justin had acted his age!"

"I meant Justin, idiot!"

But by this time JC was laughing too. "Nah, Hal, he's one of my best friends, although he is getting a little too tall to pick on now!"

She giggled. "Oh, like you would have stood a chance anyway! You're too skinny!" Apparently they were a little loud as they heard the bed creak in the other, room, Mr. and Mrs. Chasez.

"Hal, I'm going to go check on them, alright?"

She nodded as he gave the little boy to Halle and went to check on his own parents. She walked him over to the bed and was about to place him in it when pressure was put on her arm. She looked at Josh, to find him awake and rubbing the sleep out his eyes. Halle smiled as she watched him. "Morning, baby," she said when he looked at her.

"Mommy!" he exclaimed. "I missed you last night!" She marveled at how she didn't even need to ask him.

"Aww, baby. Were you alright last night with out me?"

"Well, Justy was real nice about it. He read me a story like he says he reads to his little brother Jonathan! But I wanted you to come."

"Ohh, I'm sorry baby!"

"You were sleeping over at Blue's cause I needed to find someone to watch you."

"Blue watched me."

"No, Josh, he was with me..."

"No, Mommy!" he insisted. "When he came home!"

"You were still awake?" she screeched. "Justin let you stay up that late?!" She was already mentally making a note to hurt the boy.

He shook his head. "No, Mommy. I couldn't sleep so when Blue came he sang to me."

"Oh," she said more knowingly. "That was nice of him."

"Yeah," said Josh. "He sang to me about Cinderella! 'They rave you...'" Before her eyes the little boy started singing the song they had danced to last night. Of course she remembered it. She was speechless and he went on. "He sang it over and over. He was even singing it when I woke up, but I went back to sleep 'cause I was tired."

Halle's throat was dry. "So you mean..." she asked when she realized Josh had fallen asleep with JC.

"Hey, Mommy," the little boy confided. "JC told me we were going to Disney today. Are we?"

She relaxed a little or at least tried to as the quickest thing to get her mind off JC came into her head. Her fingers snapped involuntarily. "Why don't we get you dressed?" she asked brightly.

When the Chasezes walked into the hotel room, she was frantically trying to get the little boy's shirt on. Meanwhile, Halle herself was still in her pajamas.

"I'm so sorry," she apologized as Josh ran over to greet JC, one of his arms hanging out of the shirt.

JC scooped the little boy up into his arms and gave him a hug and ask yet again, "Are we really going to Disney?"

JC just laughed at his question and nodded. "But we have to get you dressed now, don't we? You can't go to Disney unless you're dressed, right?"

The little boy nodded quickly to JC and quickly held out his arm so JC could get it in his shirt.

"I'll finish getting him ready, Hal," JC offered, noting that she looked good even in her sleepwear. "You can get dressed."

"Thanks," she sighed, heading off to the bathroom, swiping some clothes from her suitcases. It was warm today she observed as the sun shone through the window pane so she dressed lightly.

A few minutes later, they were heading out the door, everything in order. Halle grabbed Josh's bag and followed everyone else out to JC's Jeep. They piled in. Karen and Roy decided to be sly and hopped straight way into the backseat with Josh. Halle sighed. There was no where to sit but the front.

-*-*-*-

Disney turned out to be a maze of roads, though JC seemed to know where they were going. She saw colorful sign posted along the ground commemorating this or that and also directing traffic. JC took a left and they drove up to a big toll booth, as on the highway, only this one was pink, purple and blue and wonderfully decorated. Josh squealed.

"Are we almost there?" he asked eagerly.

JC smiled back at him as he waited in a line of cars to reach one of the booths. "We're almost there," he confirmed. Josh clapped his hands again and Halle couldn't help but feel a little excited. She had a good feeling about this day, she hoped it would come true.

It was just a matter of minutes before they arrived at the Magic Kingdom.

"Look! Look!" Josh cried, pointing a tiny finger at the castle's tower that loomed well above the other buildings and trees.

Halle knew what he was experiencing. She felt just as excited, having never been to the "happiest place on Earth" herself.

"That's Cinderella's Castle, Josh," JC called from the front.

"Can we go there, Blue?" Josh asked in a tiny voice, his tone full of awe.

"Anything you want, buddy. Anything you want."

"Have you ever been here before, Halle?" Roy asked her.

"I'm afraid I haven't," she replied. "This will be both our first times."

"Do you like rollercoasters, Hal?" JC inquired.

"Yes, of course I do," Halle smiled.

JC followed the line of cars to a huge parking. Halle balked at how big it was. In a neat, orderly fashion, they parked, side by side, first come, first serve. "I can't believe the parking lot is this big, but to hold to hold the number of visitors to Disney everyday, I guess it needs to be.

JC smiled as they unloaded the Jeep. Josh was in JC's arms and he was clapping his little hands up and down, excited. Halle too could feel the excitement pouring through her veins. It was part of the air in Orlando, this excitement. It wafted through and inspired everyone.

They started walking towards the entrance, a long walk which they had trams for because the walk was so long. The group boarded, taking a whole section for themselves. JC slipped on his sunglasses and hat, his weak disguise against fans. He hoped it worked. The ride was filled with the chatter of Josh who asked so many questions that Halle left others to answer them.

They arrived at a ticket booth then. She took Josh from JC and stood behind him and his parents as they paid their way through. She opened her purse and fumbled for some cash, making a note of the cost. She grumbled when she couldn't find it and it was here turn to pay. She looked up apologetically at the woman situated behind the plastic of the ticket booth. "I'm sorry," she conveyed. "Just a minute..."

"Go right through, ma'am," she said.

"What?" asked Halle, confused as to why she would say that.

"The gentleman already paid for you, unless you would like to purchase extra tickets."

It was his generosity that infuriated Halle. He had done too much already, how was she ever going to repay him for all of this? She wasn't one for charity. But Josh was tugging on her hand, motioning for them to go where JC stood smiling, waiting for them looking like some gallant knight, or someone's best friend. She sighed. What else could she do but go?

Halle was surprised to see that she wasn't in the park. She didn't see any rides nor attractions like she saw in the postcards. "JC?" she asked in confusion. Josh too looked disappointed to not see any of the wonderful things he was expecting. Maybe they just had to walk a little further.

JC laughed at their expression. "Have no fear Josh," he reassured before turning to Halle. "You have two choices: ferry or monorail, your choice."

She shook her head. "What are you talking about?" she asked, still gazing around.

"To get to the park, we either use monorail, or ferry boat. We await your decision," he said simply.

Her head whirred about. "Umm..." She spied crowds of people wait near a port and a few hundred other going up railings to wait for a train it seemed. Chug! Chug! That caught Halle's eye and ear as a ferry came into view, just a few feet away from the port. Halle smiled weakly. "I think we have found our mode of transportation."

-*-*-*-

They finally caught sight of the real thing on the ferry. Josh was appeased by the sight and was happy again. They had one more gate to enter, a line to hand in the tickets in exchange for entrance. As she walked in, she stared up and around, taking it all in. Off to the side a band was playing marching band music. Horses pulled trolleys and vendors carried multicolored balloons. People roamed the streets, do everything. So were shopping in the small stores that lined the streets. Others were sitting down and taking a breather. Still others laughed and talked and ate every viable snack under the sun. It was amazing, it trying was.

But she was yanked out of her thoughts as JC yanked her forward. "First things first!" he said. "You up for it?" he asked, a twinkle in his eye. Halle wasn't sure what to make out it and stared at him suspiciously.

"And if I said no?" she teased.

He laughed. "I'd force you to go anyway. C'mon!" he pleaded. "It's tradition."

"For whom? I've never been here before!"

"Oh, stop arguing," he said, affection in his voice. "Josh," he asked. "You wanna go don't you?"

Josh nodded eagerly. Halle sighed. Trust JC to know exactly how to get to me. "Fine, then you go with Josh," she said.

"But Mommy!" Josh argued. "You have to come along too! Please?"

She stared into his pleading face.

"Please?" asked JC, joining in. Apparently, they had Mr. and Mrs. Chasez almost in tears.

"Oh, just say yes, Halle," exclaimed Karen in jest. "He always wins! Believe me. I know. I had to deal with his pleas for over twenty years!"

Halle chuckled at Mrs. Chasez's words. "Fine," she said to JC, smiling at him. "Only if you shut up though."

His smile was wide. "Your wish is my command," he said silkily and pulled her along.

A few minutes later, Halle found herself in line for Space Mountain. The amusement part was hardly crowded, it being a weekday in February. The lines were short, according to JC.

She couldn't get over her excitement. There were bright, vivid colors jumping out at her. Smells of popcorn, cotton candy, hot dogs, and other savory scents made her salivate. It was hard not to stop at any of the shops that displayed all sorts of beautiful trinkets, but JC was determined to go on Space Mountain.

"Are you sure Josh is tall enough to get on?" Halle asked worriedly.

"We'll find out soon enough," Karen answered.

The ride attendant, hardly older than seventeen, took one look at Josh and said, "Too small. Sorry." She snapped her gum and looked past them to the next couple. Halle stood with her mouth open, not given a chance to protest.

"You two go," Karen said, picking up Josh before Halle could react. "We'll wait for you outside."

"But - "

"Go on," Karen shoved them over. Halle obeyed, scooting into the seat next to JC. Her body tensed before it relaxed at JC's closeness.

"Are you sure you can handle it?" JC smirked.

"Why wouldn't I?" She shot him a poisonous look, thinking that he was talking about something else, namely, what she had been thinking about just a moment ago.

"Ever been on a rollercoaster that was almost entirely in the dark?" he said, challenging her.

Her relief was short lived. "What?!" she yelped. "In the dark!"

But it was too late for Halle to back out again. The cars launched forward, hurling them into the dark abyss. Soft lights representing stars whizzed by her head, but she still couldn't tell which way they were going. The rollercoaster suddenly jerked to the right, whipping Halle's body into the same direction.

"I can't seeeeeeeee!" she screamed. Not thinking about what she was doing, she grabbed JC's arm and buried her face into his shoulder.

JC laughed and put his arm around her, as if to protect her. Halle suddenly felt secure, shielded. She began to think more clearly now that her mind wasn't stuck on fear. It was strange. It was almost as if the rollercoaster was a metaphor for her life. It was twisting, turning, even dropping in ways and directions with which she was unfamiliar, but JC was there to guide and protect her.

Suddenly the ride came to a grinding halt. Carefully she opened an eye she had been squeezing shut, and came face to face with his grin. "I thought you liked rollercoasters," he teased, his arm remaining around her, warming her whole system.

"I do," she replied indignantly, sitting up and straightening herself out. "I just didn't like the dark."

"Sure," he retorted, unconvinced.

"Really!" she protested. "You know I don't like not having control. And when I can't see, I have no control."

"OK, I believe you." He gave in to her just so she would stop talking. He knew all too well that she wanted to be in control at all times. He helped Halle out of the car and they proceeded out.

"Did you have fun, Mommy?" Josh asked when he saw his mommy walk out. Karen and Roy had taken Josh to the arcade that one entered when they exited the ride, He had just come back from playing a pinball game where they had helped him win. His little body was enthused.

Halle smiled warmly. "Yes, I did, Sweetie."

"We took the liberty of getting a stroller for Josh so he wouldn't have to walk," Karen explained, pushing forward the low stroller.

"Oh, thank you," Halle replied gratefully. "I was going to rent one when we were walking in, but this one over here - " She shot a look in JC's direction. " - way too eager to get me on that - that thing."

"You know you enjoyed it," JC poked at her.

Ignoring him, she went on, "Let's make sure we can go on rides that Josh can go on from now on. This vacation was largely for him, so I want him to enjoy it and not sit out all the time."

"Well if at any time at all you want to go on something that Josh can't, we'll take him on something he can," Karen offered graciously.

"Thank you," the young mother accepted, looking at Mrs. Chasez gratefully.

"Where are we off to now?" Roy asked as he gathered Josh into the stroller and stood stationary, waiting for them.

"The Haunted Mansion," JC clarified with another grin.

"Where is that?" Halle asked.

"Oh, near Frontierland I think," he said innocently.

Halle tried to remember the map she had grabbed as she came in. "Wait," she protested. "Isn't that on the other side of the park?

"Yup," he grinned, taking the stroller from his dad and pushing Josh along.

"Of course you have to make it difficult," she grumbled to no one in particular.

"Of course," Mrs. Chasez replied. "He's male." The two women shared a hearty laugh.

"What?" JC turned around and looked at them.

"Nothing," Mrs. Chasez grinned at her son. "Just a little girl talk." She patted Halle on the back like an old chum and off they went to Frontierland.

-*-*-*-

"Wow!" Josh exclaimed as JC picked him up out of the stroller. His little green eyes were wide with awe as he took in the sight of the mansion. It was tall and dark, looming overhead of them and look slightly ghastly, giving Halle the creeps. A large awning led into the house where she could see tour guides come for group of people as they entered.

"C'mon, buddy," JC said, carrying the little one into the line.

The group was lead into a hexagonal shaped room. The doors closed behind them, leaving no means of escape. She leaned against the wall, awaiting their next instruction. The room began to stretch, her eyes being duped into believing the walls were actually moving up.

The pictures that had been above them now moved up, revealing parts that hadn't been there before. She straightened up on the wall to get a better view of the frames revealing gory photos of the supposed family that had lived here.

"I wonder how we're supposed to get out of this room," she murmured, thinking aloud to herself. "But maybe this is the attraction."

Suddenly she let out a scream. The wall she had been leaning against disappeared. It was now a doorway leading to a dark corridor.

"Relax, Hal," JC squeezed her shoulder. "It's part of the ride." He walked by her into the hall, the rest of the crowd following.

He's really getting a kick out of laughing at me, she thought to herself. Amazingly, she didn't care. She should've joined him, too. For most of her life she had been so goal- oriented and focused. Having fun was a treat to her, and she was ever grateful to JC for bringing that out in her.

She sat with Josh and JC in the cart that would take them though the Haunted Mansion. Ghosts and ghoulish screams awaited them in every room. But they weren't just white sheets like most people used to represent a ghost at Halloween, they were actual holograms. The spiderwebs looked real and doors opened and slammed shut around them. Evil cackling could be heard in the background and hands with no limbs danced across walls. The pianos played themselves, lights blinked on and off, perfectly timed, and the air was cool almost chilly. So much effort had been put into it, to make at all seem as real as possible. While Halle sat amazed staring at the wonderful effects, Josh was screaming and hiding his face in JC's shirt.

"It's ok, Josh," JC tried to reassure him as he held on to him. Josh wouldn't be comforted though and his eyes remained shut. He turned to Halle. "Do you all like the way I smell or something? This is the second ride in a row that a Lin has stuck their face in my chest."

"You only wish," Halle scoffed, teasing him and blushing at the same time. If he only knew that she did like his scent.

JC just gave Halle a menacing look, vowing revenge for later. "Hey Josh, c'mon bud. Look," he set to work on talking Josh out of his fright. "It's not real."

"No," Josh said firmly. "They're gonna hurt me." He spoke of them like the monsters he used to think were under his bed.

"But - "

"NO."

JC sighed, realizing that he couldn't win and just held Josh, giving in. Even when they got outside into broad daylight, Josh remained clinging to JC, but JC really didn't mind his clinging. He just minded that Josh was scared. The group moved on, and somewhere along the way Josh felt it was safe to look out again.

"I don't like that ride," Josh pouted. "I don't want to go on it again."

"Well, we're gonna go to Pirates of the Caribbean now Josh," JC explained to him. "It looks a little scary at first, but I promise you won't get scared."

Josh frowned. "You promise?"

"I promise," JC repeated.

"Ok." Halle was so amazed to see that the little boy could trust JC so quickly and so fully. Then again, Josh had every reason to trust him. JC had never let the little boy down, not once. Not even what he left, he always kept his promises. She couldn't help but think the negative, though, that one day JC would disappoint Josh, and Josh wouldn't be able to handle it.

Josh, JC, and Halle sat in the front of the boat, Mr. and Mrs. Chasez in the back like they had in the previous ride. Josh held both Halle and JC's hands tightly at first, but as soon as he realized that JC had been telling the truth, he began to relax. The boy gleefully pointed out the different scenes, watching it all in complete awe as the pirates ran around a burning city.

The boat passed by the restaurant, the scrumptious smells wafting onto the water. "Mommy, I'm hungry," Josh said tugging at Halle's sleeve with wide eyes.

She turned to JC, looking for an answer. He had been the one taking them to all the rides and he knew the part best so she left the decision up to him. "After this ride, we'll go have some lunch," JC said to Josh, pacifying him as the boy stared up at him, catching his mother's own stare.

The little boy smiled and nodded, turning back to the ride. She loved every minute of it; not the ride, but Josh. Although he was never a problem child, Halle had to admit that Josh was a lot easier to manage when JC was around. Stealing a sly glance at JC, she suddenly began to wish that he could be around all the time. He met her gaze and they exchanged a smile above the little boy's head, though neither knew what was going through the other's mind.

I wonder what she's thinking, JC thought to himself. The day had gone smoothly so far, no conflicts between them. And let's just hope it stays that way. Lord knew he liked it much better when the world was at peace. He had to admit that he and Halle had their occasional spats, but he was praying that they didn't get into another one later. Not now, not in the happiest place on Earth.

-*-*-*-

Lunch was now a fleeting memory as they headed over to Grand Prix. They had eaten cheeseburgers, fries, and hot dogs to their hearts' delight at a nearby restaurant. She was surprised by how thirsty she was. JC watched her gulp down the cool liquid. "Halle, that's your third glass of water!" he said.

"And who made me walk across the park?" She looked pointedly at him as she said that.

He held up his hands in defeat. "Ok, ok, guilty as charged." He cracked a smile, causing her to as well. She had been smiling ever since. They had then wandered over to the Grand Prix, gleefully full.

"I'll race you," JC challenged Halle as they stood eyeing the attraction.

"We just ate, JC," said Halle, being the one with common sense.

"So? Is your stomach weak?" he teased.

She narrowed her eyes at him. Two can play at this game. "No, but why did you ask me anyway? Isn't defeat humiliating?" she answered cockily, ready for the challenge JC presented.

"Yeah, right," JC scoffed. "Women can't drive," he stated as if everyone knew the same thing and knew it to be a fact, not a stereotype.

Halle planted her hands on her hips. "Is that so?" she demanded.

"Yup," he smiled broadly at her, confident and pleased that she was stepping up to the challenge.

"Fine then," she crossed her arms. "I'll be waiting for you at the finish line."

"I wanna race, too, Mommy," Josh tugged at her hand. They had gotten a little carried away and forgotten that Josh was standing right there with them.

"We'll take him with us," Roy reassured them. "Just - don't hurt your egos," he chuckled.

"We won't," JC and Halle chirped like two little kids, blushing and then walking up to the ride. The line was a bit shorter now that it seemed to but the universal lunch time for everyone and they made it to the very front in no time. Once the attendant opened the gate, Halle and JC took off towards the cars.

"You're goin' down, boy!" Halle shouted to JC, revving her motor.

"Not in your life!" he retorted, revving his in respite.

Finally the light turned green, and Halle pressed the accelerator to the floor with her foot as fast as she could. Her red Jeep took off, racing across the track. She maneuvered expertly through the traffic of vehicles, looking back only once to see where JC was.

Halle began laughing... hard despite herself. JC was ten feet out the gate, his face red. Apparently something was wrong with his Jeep, and he was moving along at about five miles an hour. She was still laughing when JC finally crossed the finish line, the last Jeep in the gate.

"Looks like I won this time, Chasez," Halle said smoothly and grinned at him as she tried to stifling her laughter unsuccessfully

"Shh!" he hushed her, looking about nervously. "You'll blow my cover." With that, he replaced the hat and sunglasses he had been wearing all afternoon. He had had to take them off for the ride.

"You're not worried about that! Don't try to change the subject," she said, poking his stomach. "I still beat you."

"Only because my car wasn't working!" he protested, knowing full well that he had tried to change the subject to avoid the recap and gloating of his defeat.

"Figures you'd pick the broken one," Halle teased him good naturedly, elbowing him in jest.

He sighed and stared at her seriously, his face slightly grimacing at the sight of her laughing at him. "I'm never gonna live this down, am I?"

"Not in your life, Mr. Last Place." She smiled mischievously at him. Let the good times roll.

"Did I ever tell you I love your laugh?" JC asked, smiling softly at her. He really did love hearing her laugh; it turned his senses on and made everything seem alright. Something about it made everything seem better, as if nothing wrong had ever happened or would happen. It made his heart light, his spirit happy.

The mood had abruptly changed just at that moment, when JC had said one little thing. He had the power to do that and now, her cheeks were red.

She blushed. "Yes, you have," she nodded.

"Well I'm telling you again," he said, relishing the red of her cheeks and her shy smile.

"Thanks," she answered softly. She cleared her throat, trying to get out of the awkward situation. "So where to next?"

"Well, I figure we get to Splash Mountain while it's still warm," JC answered easily. "Bad idea to go at night. It's freezing."

"Splash?" Halle echoed uneasily. "As in water?"

"Yeah," JC nodded. "What? Allergic to water or something?" he teased as he put his arm around her shoulders.

"Oh ha ha ha," she said sarcastically, pouting. "You're not funny. I just didn't bring extra clothes."

"Well if you sit in the front, I don't think you'd get as wet as if you sat in the back," JC suggested.

"Ok then," she agreed hesitantly. It was not as if she felt she had much defense against him because once he had put his arm around her...

"You kids go on," Mrs. Chasez said as she and her husband sat on a bench by the ride. "I don't feel like getting wet right now. We'll be waiting right here when you get off," Karen insisted.

Halle was about to protest, but JC pulled her along, walking with Josh, before she could even get a chance to open her mouth.

They got in line, leaving the stroller with Mr. and Mrs. Chasez. JC leaned against the railing, and Josh mimicked him. "Are you having fun today, Josh?" JC asked the little boy, peering through his sunglasses with a smile.

"Yes!" the little boy replied enthusiastically. "I saw Pluto!" JC laughter rang out as the little boy described the orange-yellow dog. He turned his little face up to his mother's, serious. "Mommy, do we have to go home?"

"Yeah, Mommy," JC echoed, looking at Halle. "Do you?" He had said it in a joking way, imitating Josh, but he was every bit as serious as Josh as he waited for her answer.

"You know we do, Josh," she sighed.

"But I don't want to leave Blue," Josh pouted.

Halle sighed. She didn't want to get into that topic right then, especially not in public. "We'll talk about it later, okay Josh?"

JC had to admire how Halle treated Josh as if he was older than he was, an equal respect. Even though he would've liked to know the outcome then, he had to admit that it wasn't the time or place to discuss something like that.

Instead, they climbed into the boat, shaped like two logs, Josh sitting between Halle and JC. The little log twisted and turned through its watery path. There were a few little drops at the beginning, nothing that would get them wet. Josh squealed in delight as he saw the animated characters, talking bears and running wolves stealing pies and hiding in briar patches. He got caught up in singing 'Zippide Do Da" along with the rest of the characters. So far, the ride was looking peaceful. It was beyond her why they had all the warning signs at the entrance.

Then Halle saw the conveyor that was to take them up to the top of the drop. "Uh, you never told me about this part," she said, swallowing hard and turning to JC as the conveyor puled the log car up.

"Oh, come on," JC teased. "If I can do it, so can you. Didn't I tell you it was a log flume?" he asked innocently.

"You just said we'd get wet," she retorted tartly.

"We are," he confirmed with a grin, knowing that it wasn't the answer she was looking for.

"Well, you never said we get wet this way!" she protested.

"Too late now!" he yelled. "Brace yourself!"

Just as they reached the top of the slope, JC shouted out, "SMILE!"

"What? There's a cameraaaaaaaaa!" Halle screamed as they took the final plunge. A flash went off somewhere, blinding her for an instant. Suddenly she saw the water spray up around the sides of the boat, soaking part of her. It was all within the blink of an eye. And then it was done.

"Oh my God," she gasped, the cold water cooling her body.

"I'm wet," Josh wiped his face in vain. Meanwhile, the bigger Josh was laughing hysterically.

"Now that that's over," Halle helped the little one out of the boat.

"Well I'm officially wet," JC declared.

"You're awfully quick," Halle smirked, but smiled at him through her sarcastic tone.

JC smiled back at her smart mouth. "So how wet did the two of you get?" he asked, surveying the damage.

"Well, apparently not as wet as you," Halle observed, noticing how soaked he really was. "Maybe we should buy you a new shirt," she said, her forehead wrinkling in thought.

JC looked down at himself and shook his head. "Nah, that's ok. I've got one on underneath. It should dry quicker once its off me," JC said, pulling off the shirt he had on top without hesitation.

Halle's mouth hung open on its hinges, her jaw slack and numb. She could not close it and stood there, speechless as an idiot. It was hardly a shirt; it was a wifebeater. What a derogatory term for something that made JC look even better than he already did. She couldn't help but stare at his chest and arms in shock. His abdominal muscles showed as he pulled the top shirt off, and Halle decided that she had never seen a more cut body. She had to take it into account that it had been a long time since she had seen anyone's body, save hers and Josh's.

"Are you OK?" JC asked slyly, noticing that she was staring at him. "What? Don't like the shirt?"

"No, no, it's fine," she said quickly, turning away from him in order to hide her blushing cheeks.

"What is it then?" he continued to tease her. "Don't like what you see?" Oh, I'm evil. He knew very well what he was doing to her, but went on anyway.

"JC!" she sighed.

"What?" He tried playing innocent, pretending he didn't know what she had been looking at.

"Nevermind," she shook her head, quickly turning around so she wouldn't have a chance to embarrass herself again and picked up Josh who had become uninterested in his wet shirt.

Halle though, wanted to get him out of it. "I wish I had brought a shirt along for you," she said to Josh, as she tried to wring out the one he had on. "I don't remember putting one when you went to sleep over at Justin's and I didn't pack it this morning." She was talking to herself as much as she was talking to Josh.

"Oh, wait. Hold on," said JC as he ran to his parents and the stroller. He knelt down beside, unzipping the side and brought out a small light yellow jersey, hurrying back to Halle with it in his hands.

Halle was confused. "Where did that come from?" she asked as JC approached them.

"Oh. Remember when we were shopping for your dress?"

How could she forget? She had had fun that day. It was a good memory. "Of course," she answered.

"Well, this is what I bought at the sporting goods store."

"That's what you bought at the sporting goods store?" she exclaimed in surprise, eyeing the small shirt suspiciously as if she expected into to magically morph into something else before her very eyes.

"Yeah. I was planning on giving it to Josh later, but I think he could use it now. What did you think I would buy?" he asked, smiling.

"Well... sporting goods," she stated, common logic.

He laughed. "Yeah, well, they have clothes there too, you know. I bought this there too." He was being evil again. Her attention jerked back to the wifebeater he was referring to and she swallowed thickly. She turned away quickly before she could blush again and embarrass herself once more. He just laughed and they made their way back to where JC's parents were sitting, waiting for them, and watching with separate grins on their faces.

"So... do you work out often?" she asked him the first question that popped into her head because she was trying to ease the situation by making a little small talk. Now she fault like slapping herself. Oh, real smooth, Halle, she scolded herself. So much for not embarrassing herself.

"Whenever I get a chance," he answered casually. "The dancing and basketball really keep me in shape."

And what a great shape, too, she thought to herself.

"Mommy, I need to go potty," Josh said timidly.

"OK, let's go find the nearest bathroom," Halle nodded "I can put on your shirt too," Halle said aloud, pleased and satisfied. They all walked around the park for a bit, looking for the closest bathroom, for that was one thing JC hadn't memorized the location to. Finally, they found one, and Halle took Josh's hand.

He jerked it right out.

"I thought you had to go to the bathroom," Halle said, confused by his actions.

He shook his head. "No, Mommy. I want Blue to take me to the big boys' bathroom," Josh looked up at JC. "Please?"

He laughed and smiled; he was pleased. JC would've never expected this, but he was more than willing to take the little boy. He turned to Halle reassuringly, "Don't worry, I'll take him. Here, let me have the shirt so I can change him too." He held out his hand.

Halle just nodded jerkily in shocked silence and handed JC the shirt. "C'mon, bud," he said as he took Josh's hand in his and headed for the bathroom.

"I never fails to amaze me at how Josh trusts JC completely," Halle spoke aloud, her voice one of awe.

"Oh? Josh isn't usually this trusting?" Karen asked, thinking differently from the way Josh had treated her and her husband.

Halle shook her head, still trailing their figures. She turned to Mr. and Mrs. Chasez. "He's got like a sixth sense," Halle explained. That was what she had concluded, and she was glad her son had it, even when she didn't. "There are just some people he takes a liking to right away. It seems that way with your family."

"He is a wonderful little boy," Roy added.

Halle went on, staring after the pair until they disappeared into the men's room. "Josh never took a liking to his father, you know. Josh ran off to play right after saying hello to his father."

Karen shot Roy a surprised look. This was the first time that Halle had spoken about Josh's father to them. JC had told them a little bit about Josh's father, how he had run away when Halle had become pregnant. Every time he talked about it, she could hear and sense the anger in his voice, almost even seeing the maddening blue her son's eyes turned when he was angry. "What happened?" she inquired softly into the silence that Halle had made, trying not to sound nosy.

Halle just sighed deeply. "Raul wanted to see his son, and I let him for a minute," Halle explained as briefly as she could. "But Josh ran off to play. He didn't really warm up to Raul. When he met JC, they hit it off immediately. JC was just a stranger then."

Karen nodded, attesting to the fact that she was listening. Halle was about to go on, but the two Joshes returned. "So where to now?" she asked changing her tone purposefully, brightening up for their sake.

"I'm spent," JC shook his head. "I think I need a little nap right about now."

"A nap?!" Halle exclaimed. "You're worse than Josh."

"But I wanna go on Dumbo," Josh whined.

"Hmm," Roy started, staring the conflicting sides of the problem in the face. "Why don't Karen and I take Josh on the kiddie rides while you two go shop or something?"

"Well, it's not as good as a nap, but ok," JC agreed quickly. "What time should we meet you?"

"Wait a second, I'll come with you guys," Halle protested quickly, this time before JC could stop her and pull her along. "I mean, I should be looking after him. He is my son after all."

"You," Karen pointed a finger at Halle, "take a break. All three of you have been having too much fun today. The little one has the energy to run around, but I'm not sure you two big kids can handle it. So take a breather and go shop."

She said it with such finality that Halle had no choice but to agree reluctantly or be pounced on again. She hadn't expected that from Karen.

"We'll meet in front of Cinderella's Castle around nine," Roy set the time. "That way we can watch the fireworks together."

"Behave, sweetie," she said, giving Josh a kiss on the forehead.

"I will Mommy," the little one promised and then JC stepped down for his own good-byes.

"Fireworks?" Halle echoed once Mr. and Mrs. Chasez where gone, off with Josh in his stroller waving like mad at them. "I didn't know there were going to be any."

"There are fireworks every night here," JC explained.

"I love watching the fireworks," Halle smiled faintly. "From my apartment you can see them on New Year's, all the way from Times Square."

"Well these are better," JC said firmly, starting to walk away.

"Oh, and how so?"

He turned and grinned at her, looking down. "I'm here."

Halle didn't know what to say, but she couldn't argue with his logic; she couldn't let him win, either. They walked down Main Street USA, window shopping as they went in the same general direction JC's parents had gone: to the rides and attractions. "So you used to work for Disney, huh?" Halle commented.

JC nodded. "If you call the Mickey Mouse Club that."

"Was it fun?"

"Of course," he answered her, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "This is Disney, remember? The 'happiest place on Earth'."

-*-*-*-

Before their eyes, day had turned into evening and evening had turned into the night; the sun had crept into its niche and the moon had come out; the air had stilled and gotten cooler to their skin. It had gotten dark around 7:30, the sky losing light rapidly. Halle and JC were alone now. She felt at ease with him, as he often made her feel. The easiness was something she hadn't let herself slip into for a long time. She hadn't seen the sense then, she was so busy with work and Josh.... They were excuses she knew.

It was like an old worn shoe now, this easiness, though it seemed brand-new; she had tried it on just yesterday. Strangely, she had found it fit, or rather, still fit, but the question was, was she going to keep it?

Halle and JC had been walking aimlessly along, staying close together because they did not want to be pulled apart in the crowd. They had done everything, went on big rides and small, fast rides and slow. Though the lines weren't long for Disney, as JC had assured her, they were still no walk in the park. But Halle wasn't bored, waiting and waiting. JC filled their time with jokes, smiles, laughs, and stories. She loved the way his eyes crinkled at the side as he laughed. She felt so close to him that day as if they were the only two people in the world that mattered... maybe they were for that day.

They had just exited Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in Fantasyland. It was a children's attraction, but she and JC had gone on it anyway. She laughed at how the children must gasp at the sight. She had been smiles all day as JC had thoroughly charmed her through and through.

"Ok, slow down, JC," she ordered as they came out, breathless from laughter.

"What's wrong?" he asked in concern as he saw she had stopped him. He tenderly put his arm around her shoulders like a good friend, but she felt it as more. She froze before she relaxed at his touch. Their pace had been quick all day, but now Halle found it stifling where she was.

"I'm so tired!" she exclaimed, though smiling gleefully at him as they stood near the exit of the ride.

"I think the body heat is getting to me."

"Mine?" he asked incredulously, thinking she was being sarcastic.

She laughed and blushed at the same time. "Well, you are a little close, but I meant in general. I need to cool off for a minute."

He checked his watch. "Ok, we have time. Come on," he tugged.

Once again, she was pulled forward. "Whoa, JC where are we going?"

"To cool off," he answered simply.

"Where?" she asked, confused.

"Surprise," he asked. "It's my favorite place in Disney."

"Well, that tells me a lot..."

He laughed as he pushed her in one direction, following closely behind her, his hands on her shoulders so they wouldn't get lost in what now seemed to be a swarm. Strangely, she felt a tingle where his hands rested and briefly wondered if he felt it too.

Though it was dark, JC still hadn't taken of his sunglasses, thin gray ones with thin steel frames, the ones he had worn the first time she met him. He kept them on now for fear of being recognized. He didn't want anything to spoil his day with Halle. This day... this day was special and he would never forget it.

"Oof!" said Halle as someone side-swiped her. It was the third time in only a few minutes that she had been run into. She had been bumped, stepped on and pushed.

"Are you ok?" JC asked. He'd asked that every time and now he stood right beside her, his arm around her shoulders. It was giving her chills and thrills, but she didn't complain. Hesitantly, she had put her arm around his waist too. They now walked together.

"I will be," she said as she rubbed her smarting side. "JC, is it just me or does it seem the whole crowd in Magic Kingdom going the same way we are?"

He laughed. "It's not just you."

"So, where are we going?"

He laughed at her again. "Didn't I say it was a surprise? Do you want to ruin it?"

"Oof," she said again as someone bumped into her. "If it'll keep me from getting black and blue, or at least, tell me why I am getting black and blue, then yes."

"Wanna switch sides?" he asked playfully. "I've got no bruises to speak of!"

But before she could answer, they were stopped. In front of them jumped a maniac with a Polaroid camera and mouse ears on, wearing a red shirt that said 'Disney Staff' on it. "Hey!" she said. "I have the perfect picture for you. Hold it right there. Smile!"

They were dazed as the flash went off and so surprised all they could do was smile like idiots.

"Uh huh!" said the girl brightly. "Here's your picture! Have a nice day!" she called as she ran off, Halle presumed, to scare more people. She wondered what Disney World was coming to.

Together, they slowly looked at the Polaroid as it developed. But something caught their eyes, surprising them beyond belief. Along the bottom of the Polaroid, emblazoned in big red Mickey mouse letters was the word, "Newlyweds".

-*-*-*-

Halle found her voice before JC when, "Oof!" someone bumped into her yet again, this time shoving her from behind. "Ok, we'd better get moving," she told JC as she almost had to pull him forward to get him moving.

"Right," he said, but her voice was much more shaky than his. Both were still in shock and JC quickly put the picture in his shirt pocket so she wouldn't have to look at it. Though they still stood together, arms still locked around each other, they were more conscious of themselves now.

Silence laid the scene, neither knew how to react. Some things are best left unsaid.

-*-*-*-

They sat licking the ice creams cones she had bought for them, the one thing that she had finally been able to pay for. He hadn't wanted to let her, but she had silenced him with a glare and her quick which grabbed her wallet and stopped his arm. It was a weak form of repayment, but that was all he had let her do. They had found a place to sit and rest their tired feet on a bench by ice cream shop. It had turned out to be an old fashioned ice cream parlor and she was delighted at the way the illusion was kept up. The employees wore old-fashioned outfits and the store itself was painted a soft yellow. She herself had chosen the old-fashioned vanilla scoop that she had to admit was the best vanilla she had ever had before.

"Are you having fun?" JC asked, pausing from his ice cream to look at her. People were lining the street, it was quite crowded by now, people cramming where ever they could find space. Halle had been wondering what all the commotion was about, but she let JC have his surprise.

"This is the best vacation I've had, ever," Halle exclaimed. "I'm so tired, but I think this is the happiest I've been in a while."

He could tell. Her smile was radiant, her eyes large and sparkling, her body glowing. Just seeing her happy lifted his heart, and his own smile spread across his lips.

"Thank you for convincing me to stay," Halle said shyly.

"I must admit, my intentions were purely selfish," JC stared ahead.

"Oh?" Halle raised an eyebrow.

"I just wanted more time with you."

JC was so blunt, so straight-forward, that Halle was taken aback. Her heart skipped a beat, though, as he spoke. Was he being honest?

"Well, you've got us," she finally replied, unsure of a response.

"How long are staying?" He knew she really hadn't wanted to talk about it at Splash Mountain, but now was as good a time as any, now that it was just her and him. Besides, he wanted to know.

"I don't know. A day or two more I suppose. I can't miss too much work."

This was not the JC she knew, Halle was sure of it. He was never so blunt like this. She was used to the boy in New York, the somewhat shy one who left her guessing his thoughts. Maybe the fact that he was home now, in his element, changed him. She wasn't so sure if she liked the change or not.

It wasn't as though he were any more insincere, he was sincere alright, but no longer did he try to hide his feelings, drown them out in other things, find other words for things he longed to say. He said it, right there and then. She wondered what had brought about this change, but she dared not ask. It was having an effect or her too. JC was making himself know, his stance clear. It wasn't as though it was making it any easier on her though, for she found it had been easier when she had only speculated on his feelings for her. Now that she knew... she couldn't deny them. And now it seemed she had one less reason to resist.

"Oh, shoot, JC, we'd better go. It's almost nine," she said, glancing at her watch face once more.

He smiled at her now, brought to reality also. "No rush. We'll get there."

She nodded and the two lagged behind the others, strolling along carefree. They walked side-by-side, close together, but Halle was too fascinated by all that was going on to notice.

"I love this place," she murmured, gazing around. "It's just so... happy."

"That's why they call it the happiest place on earth," JC stated the obvious, noting the dazed expression on her face. She is so beautiful, he thought. Impulsively, he placed his arm on Halle's shoulders.

A chill ran down her spine as JC's skin touched hers. But as much as she was shocked, she enjoyed the warmth. Subconsciously, he pulled her closer, and Halle went with the natural flow.

They finally made it to Cinderella's castle with a lot of traffic. People stopped everywhere, went on last minute rides, and wandered about. Halle and JC weaved their way through the crowd undaunted though. They knew their destination and what awaited them there... or did they?

-*-*-*-

It was Tinkerbell that halted their search. The crowd had swallowed them, loitering about and thickening by the moment. Their eyes had searched the grounds for Josh and JC's parents, but they were nowhere to be found. Cinderella's Castle wasn't that small, especially now that a few hundred people had gathered at the base along with them. They were no more than faces in the crowd and no matter how they searched, they couldn't find them.

Halle gazed admiringly at Cinderella's Castle. "Isn't it impressive?" she asked JC, still gazing up at it's tall frame that loomed above her. "I wonder what it's like to live in a castle."

"A real castle?" asked JC, a grin coming to his face. "Probably cold and drafty."

"No, it'd be perfect," she said shaking her head.

He leaned closer to her. "Then I'll build you one just like it."

She shivered involuntarily at his words. "I can't live in a castle," she said weakly.

"Why not? You'll be Cinderella and live the magic."

She was trying her best to ignore his words. "Where is her Prince Charming?" she asked, not looking at JC, though she knew his eyes were on her.

"I'm waiting for you." His voice was low, so only she could hear. She could no longer ignore him, or his words. She wanted to laugh, she wanted to cry at all the emotions that were coursing through her know. She had to turn and meet his eyes. He now held her hand in both of his. It was the look in his eyes that pulled her away from the parade. As spectacular as it was, she beheld something more spectacular.

Halle didn't know what to do or say, as if she could have anyway. Her voice was lost, misplaced somewhere deep within her throat, her breath gone and her mouth dry.

This was what she had been afraid of, she now knew it as fear. She did not presume it to be of the unknown, she knew better. She was scared of the pain, she was scared of the longing, she was scared of the love. She had never imagined such a powerful influence as Raul's, she had never thought, never know, that he had such a lasting effect. It was an effect that had made her reject any type of romantic love and truly, anyone she could love too.

And now she realized just what he had done, the power he still wielded even though he was gone. She had fought to regain the control she had seemed to lose when she let someone in. Only she didn't understand that she had fought over the wrong thing. Her good intentions had been laid to rest when she had unwittingly crept down the wrong path. Was she too deep to find her way back? It was the very thing she had feared to do. She had run away from it. She feared to wander back and find that all that waited for her was a heap of pain.

But JC was beckoning her back and slowly she was turning and walking the other way, almost rushing. She had tried to resist, but with no avail. He was reaching his hand out to her, waiting for her to come. And all at once, she knew she was
falling.

JC saw that in her eyes, saw something break, the wall she had built up. He knew she was scared. He put his arm around her. Very strangely she came and put both her arms around him. He didn't hesitate to pull her into the embrace, never wanting to let her go. She inhaled his scent and smiled through her tears. They had come not a second ago and she wiped them away before they could touch his shirt, or he sensed she was crying. "You know," she said quietly. "This changes everything."

"Does it?" he asked questioningly. "Not for me." And all at once he realized he was in love. He had been for a long time, but he had only now owned up to it. Only a few months back he had been asking himself the same question that she had asked him. Why did he pursue her? He admitted freely there was initial attraction the day he met her, though he hadn't believed any romantic spell would follow. And then she had thrown him the party where they had had so much fun together that day. He had liked her even more. And when she had shown him her devotion to Josh... Family had always been very important to JC. She had shown him another side to her, a side JC longed for too.

Suddenly, JC and Halle were the only ones there. The music, the people, the lights all drowned out at in the beating of her heart and the blueness of his eyes. Her pulse began to quicken as it seemed to have a tendency to do when she was around him. He made no move, but continued to hold her. Halle was caught up in the moment, afraid to move, afraid to even for fear it might all go away.

Her world seemed to be going haywire in his arms. She no longer knew what to do as her heart raced. She pulled up from his shoulder and looked at him, as if asking for guidance, but he remained stationary where he was. He would not be the one to make the move this time. If everything really was changed for her, it would be her, not him who made the move.

"Everything's changed right?" he asked lowly, the only step he would forge to tell her that he would not be the one to make the first move. She bit her lips as she stared falteringly into his eyes, searching them, reading them, trying to find an answer. But then she realized: it was up to her. She finally understood what he was asking, that she change it by making her own move. Now she had a question for herself: did she have the courage?

She took a hesitant step forward and tightened her arms around him. "JC," she asked quickly.

"Yeah," he replied in a low, moving his gaze only a minute from her eyes to stare at her.

She chose that moment to stand on her tip toes and lean in towards him, her breath on his cheek. Her lips claimed his in an explosion, the first one to go off followed in quick succession by another and another. It was sweet at first, the kiss, her lips light on his. But as he groaned the kiss intensified to a new level they hadn't experienced before and she surprised even herself by its intensity, for she had initiated it. She surprised herself by how she never wanted to let go. They were under a canopy of lights, a shower of yellow, red, white, and violet. Yet they didn't seem to need the display, it was only a manifestation of what was in their hearts and the fireworks that exploded there.

-*-*-*-