Josh squealed in JC's arms and jumped out of them. People had already began to get up and disperse, but he was worried when Josh ran out of there. "Josh!" he called, quickly jumping up from the armchair to run after him. But JC stopped as he saw Halle, standing outside the window. She was who Josh had run to and he saw a picture of them, the four corners of the window framing them. They were mother and son, no mistaking it and Halle smiled and closed her eyes as she picked Josh up and he buried his head in her shoulder. It was such a touching scene that he was hesitant to go outside and ruin the moment. The pure joy that Halle displayed was what he longed for.

Slowly, he picked up his legs and moved to the door, pushing it open. The small bell on it announced that he had left. He waited by the window until they saw him, but he wasn't waiting for long. "Blue!" shouted Josh as he recognized JC. "I told Mommy about the frog and how the princess kissed him and turned the frog into a prince!" He was talking about the story they had just heard in Story Oratory. "Can frogs really turn into princes?" he asked.

JC chuckled. "No, they can't."

Little Josh pouted. "But Aunt Kel says all the time that I'm a frog! I wanna be a prince!"

"You are already a prince." said Halle.

"I am? Then how come Aunt Kel says I'm a frog?"

"Well, you've been kissed by a princess," pronounced JC.

"Who?" asked Josh.

"Your Mommy," said JC.

"Mommy is a princess?" asked Josh with wide eyes.

"You better believe it," replied JC.

"Well how come I can't see her crown?" Josh asked suspiciously.

"Well, not all princesses wear crowns. You see, she used to wear a crown, but she put it away."

"She did? Why?"

"Cause she wanted to be your Mommy." He was glancing at Halle, a light grin on his face.

"Is she still a princess?" he asked JC.

"Yup! Once you're a princess, you can't ever stop being one," JC answered easily, looking pointedly at Halle now. Halle herself was a becoming shade of red. Neither of them were looking at Josh anymore. They were looking into each other's eyes...and getting lost.

Josh turned to Halle with bright eyes. "Mommy, you're a princess!"

Halle tore her eyes away from JC's and looked at Josh. JC prayed she wouldn't deny it, it would be a silent barb to him. "I am, I am," said Halle gleefully for Josh. "And that makes you a prince." She leaned down to hug him. She felt half awkward. JC had made her cheeks burn.

Inside and out, JC was smiling. She really was a princess. He was cracking in whether she liked it or not. In the back of his mind, his brain screamed at him: the band, his commitment, management. But odd things happen to people that follow their hearts, and odder things yet, when the heart overpowers the mind. It was happening. Both were scared.

-*-*-*-

Halle was dreaming sweet dreams, her arm clutched loosely around the pillow. Her hair spilled over the white sheets like a dark waterfall and the blankets rose gently with every breath. Little did she know, someone was watching her. And a song began, right in her ear, but not too loud.

Well I think that I've been true to everybody else but me

Hold on to the nights

She woke up to these lasts notes and his voice tickled her ear. "Morning, sleeping beauty," he said, still close to her ear.

She gasped. "JC!" She recognized him immediately. "What are you doing here?"

He smiled at her. "You overslept. I was waking you up."

She would have said thank you, but now her mind caught up to here. "Oh geez! How late am I?" She practically pulled the alarm clock from the wall.

"It's 7:30, you're not late. You don't have to be at work until eight o' clock."

"How'd you get in?" she asked. She was half-disoriented, but she ran to the bathroom to brush her teeth.

"You gave me a key, remember?" he called to her.

"Oh, yeah, sorry. Hey, wait a minute, when did you come in?"

"Seven o' clock. I knocked, but no one answered. So I used my key. I hope that's alright with you."

"It's fine... No, wait, it isn't. You didn't think to wake me?"

"I was standing outside for a good fifteen minutes before I had the genius idea to use my key. Then I came in and had my cereal. I thought maybe you were just getting ready or something. I only came in here ten minutes ago."

Instantly she was sorry for snapping at him. All he did was try to wake her up. "I'm sorry. I'm just not a morning person," she apologized.

His face lost it's troubled look and smiled at her. "I know what you mean. I'm not a morning person either. I'm such a crab."

She had to giggle. "Yet you get here faithfully at seven am every single day."

"Well, I don't mind that."

She wanted to ask him why, but she stopped herself before it ever reached her throat. It was time for a subject change. "Ugh! What am I going to wear today?!" She knew how much she hated to pick things to wear, especially when she had overslept. That was the least of her worries, though it had to be one of them.

But JC's reply surprised her even more. "May I pick something?" he called from the other room.

She didn't respond right away, but when she realized she had yet to answer him, she forced her vocal chords to work. "Umm, yeah," she answered, feeling a bit dumb. She didn't know what else to answer!

JC walked to her double closets to the left of her bed and pulled on door open. It revealed a neat closet, with shelves moderately with her garments. Suits, dresses and pants were hung up on their own hangers. He began to paw through them, looking at a variety of outfits. Pants today, he thought. He wanted her to look elegant. He choose a pair of fitted black pants and a crisp white sleeveless camisole and walked to the bathroom, clothes hanging over his arm.

Halle heard him by the door. "Ok, I've got your clothes, I'll just lay them by the door, ok?" He sounded nervous just being right there.

She laughed. "It's ok for you to come in. I'm decent." She was feeling better now, more awake, now that she had washed her face.

The bathroom door was pushed open and JC entered, hesitantly walking in. Halle eyed his choices. Well, he certainly could match. Not bad. I might have picked it for myself, Halle thought. "You've got good taste," she said, taking the clothes from him.

JC grinned and then feigned surprise. "What, is Ms. Halle Lin paying me a compliment?" he asked in a tone that implied amazement.

"I only give where it is deserved," she replied. JC's smile became even wider. She laughed. "Ok, now I'm kicking you out. Gotta get dressed!" She shoved him out the door and locked it behind her, a smile on her face. If she let herself, she could have fun with JC. But somewhere inside, she was afraid of letting go.

-*-*-*-

JC had breakfast with Halle before she rushed out the door to work. Workaholic, he had thought to himself before she scuttled away. He had her breakfast ready for her when she got out of the bathroom so that she wouldn't go to work on an empty stomach. Granted, it was only a bowl of cereal, but the look of surprise on her face when he led her to the kitchen made him feel like he had cooked her a feast. She had smiled brightly and thanked him more than once. He liked his time with her, he wished she didn't have to leave. But then, he thought, I'd be out of a job. That would mean no more breakfasts period, so he let her go.

Josh woke up about an hour later, and JC gave him some cereal. Afterwards, they watched a Winnie the Pooh video in the living room. JC smiled as Josh got into it. He wanted to be Tigger. "Blue, can we please go to the park?" Josh pleaded suddenly, tugging at JC's pant leg as he rewound the video for Josh. "You promised yesterday."

JC grimaced. He didn't like breaking promises, much less breaking one that he made to Josh. His green eyes cut into JC, stabbing him with knives of guilt.

JC quickly decided and turned to Josh. "Ok, sure we can," JC said, kneeling in front of the young boy. "Go get ready."

Josh grinned from ear to ear and ran off to his room. Amused, JC watched the boy run off. He straightened himself up and headed to the kitchen to prepare some lunch for them to take along. As he was doing so, the phone rang. JC walked over and picked up the receiver. "Hello, Lin residence?" JC answered.

"Hey Josh," Halle's voice chirped through the phone. A smile spread across JC's face. He enjoyed his time talking to Halle. "How's everything going?"

"Great," JC replied, putting some sodas and juice boxes into a diaper bag. "Josh and I were just getting ready to go to the park for lunch."

"Which park?" Halle inquired. Her lunch break was coming up, and she had been thinking about going home to join the two boys for lunch.

"Central Park, duh," JC teased. "It's right by the apartment. You gonna join us?"

"Sure thing," Halle returned. "Don't bring anything. I'll stop by the deli on my way over."

"Alright. Where should we meet you?" JC questioned as Josh bounded into the kitchen.

"How about by the sandbox?" Halle suggested knowingly. "I know it's Josh's favorite place."

"JC, can you tie my shoes please?" Josh asked, interrupting JC and Halle's conversation.

"Sounds good," JC said to Halle quickly. Then he turned to Josh, "Here, you talk to Mommy." While Josh conversed happily with Halle, JC bent down and tied his shoelaces for him.

"Hi Mommy!" Josh called out happily to Halle. "Blue is taking me to the park... Yay! You're coming?.. OK, Mommy... yes, Mommy... I love you."

The little boy's last three words warmed JC's heart. Halle and Josh loved each other unconditionally, and nothing could come between them. Josh and Halle seemed to be happy, and JC longed to be part of something like that. Why would anyone rightfully take a child from a mother like Halle? She was everything a mother should be: warm, loving, and affectionate mixed with a good conscience and spirit. But inside he wondered, couldn't she be something else too? Those qualities could not be just for one thing, there were part of her.

Josh handed the phone back to JC. "I should be there in fifteen minutes," Halle reconfirmed. "See ya later."

"'Bye Halle" JC hung up the phone, a small clank. He turned to Josh with a smile and a teasing look, "Come on, buddy. We've got some playing to do."

-*-*-*-

"Hey guys!" a voice called. JC and Josh looked up from where they playing in the sandbox. They were having fun building their version of a sand castle. They had dragged bucket after bucket of water from the lake to make a tiny reservoir in which they moistened the sand.

"Mommy!" Josh called, stretching his arms out to her but never leaving the sandbox.

"Hi baby," Halle murmured, kissing his dark head.

"Hey, Hal," JC greeted her, putting down his shovel.

Halle smiled in return. "Lunch is ready," she then said. "I've got hoagies, pickles, potato salad, sodas..."

"You're making me hungry," JC stood up. His tummy had started to rumble a few minutes ago and he wondered when she would arrive.

"You bring a blanket?" Halle asked, taking Josh's hand and pulling his out of the sandbox. JC nodded and the three walked over to a maple tree for shade. JC spread out the red and white checkered blanket, then Halle spread out the lunch. The three enjoyed a nice, quiet lunch under the young maple's red-tinged leaves. JC questioned Halle casually "How was your day?"

"Same old, same old," she shrugged as she chewed her turkey hoagie.

"Mommy, can I go play now?" Josh asked.

"Ok, but stay close by, honey," Halle allowed. Josh ran off to the playground as both Halle and JC watched his retreated figure. Both kept an eye out to make sure they would not have a repeat of his 'running' episode. Apparently though, it had turned out for the better. She was having lunch with Josh's rescuer.

"So how was your morning with Josh?" Halle turned to JC.

"Fine. Normal," JC answered. "He's really a great kid. I love him already."

"No, you like him," Halle corrected casually, not even thinking. "You can't really love him; he's not your son."

"I still love him as if he were my son," JC argued back, with a bit of intensity. He didn't want to go overboard, however. "Or even my brother." He shrugged his shoulders, glancing quickly out of the side of his eyes at a laughing Josh.

Halle glanced over to the playground at Josh too where he was now talking and playing with a little girl about his age. Halle, not wanting to argue with JC, walked over to where Josh was seated in the sandbox.

"My Mommy and daddy let me play by myself," the blond-haired little girl bragged. "They're over there, far away." She outstretched her chubby little arm and pointed to where two middle-aged adults sat on a park bench, conversing with each other. "That's my daddy," she said proudly, her chest swelling. "He says I'm the most beautiful little girl he has ever seen."

"So?" Josh replied, focusing on his sand pile in front of him.

"Where's your daddy?" the little girl asked.

Halle was in an earshot, getting closer by the second. She had never told Josh about Raul; she never felt she the need to. To Josh, Halle was both his mother and father. Now he was realizing otherwise. Halle was about to say something to the little girl, but Josh's actions silenced her.

"There," Josh pointed under the tree to where JC sat, still bewildered by Halle's attitude.

Halle felt like she was going to have a heart attack. Out of all the things Josh could've ever done in response, Halle least expected, or wanted, that reaction. "Josh, let's go, honey," Halle said quickly to her son, acting on her first impulse to remove him. She extended her hand to him.

"But Mommy - " he protested. He was having a good time.

"Josh," Halle cut him off, shooting him a warning look. Reluctantly, Josh followed. He knew that look by now.

"What happened?" JC asked when he saw Halle storm over to him with Josh in tow.

"Nothing. We're leaving," Halle snapped at JC. He bent to gather up the remains of their lunch, letting go of Josh's hand.

"Mommy, what's wrong?" Josh asked, looking about ready to cry.

"Mommy's just tired, Josh," JC defended swiftly, taking the little boy's hand. Although JC knew he was lying for Halle, he didn't want to subject Josh to Halle's unpleasant mood swing. He was confused himself as to what brought about the sudden change in attitude. What could have possibly happened?

"I'm going back to work. I will see you again at five thirty," Halle said firmly. She gave Josh a quick kiss on the head before saying, "I love you." Halle then walked across the green, depositing the trash in the garbage can, and disappeared down the street.

"Is Mommy really OK, Blue?" Josh asked in a small voice.

"If she's not, she will be," JC answered, still watching after Halle. "You know you're Mom," he said absentmindedly to Josh. Really, he was more thinking aloud to himself. "She's strong. She can take care of herself. She doesn't need anyone."

-*-*-*-

Halle sighed at the pile of utter confusion of her desk. Memos, pen, tapes, cassettes, stickers, stamps and just about anything else one could find in an office supply store were heaped in there. Halle wondered wryly when Office Depot had taken over her office.

The phone on her desk ranging. This mess, her mind screamed as she frantically tried to find the phone beneath the heaps of papers. It wasn't where she had left it, to the left of her desk. "Ugh," she grumbled aloud, and reached farther across her desk as she tried to follow the ringing.

Soon, her ear revealed that the phone had been placed on the floor. She lunged for it and prayed that the caller hadn't already got fed up and put the phone back on its hook. "Hello?" she said quickly as she put the phone to her ear. What she had said just a moment ago was followed by a girlish giggle. "Oh, it's only you," she sighed as she recognized Kel's laugh.

"What?! Only me? Man, I ought to reconsider that title of best friend. What am I, chopped liver?"

Halle giggled. "Hey, you said it, I didn't, so don't look at me!"

Sweetly, Kel replied. "Insane already? This is a phone. If I could look at you I wouldn't be calling. Anyway, it took you long enough! What were you doing? Meeting? Client? JC under the desk?"

Halle's mouth dropped at Kel's last, audacious remark. "Kelly Treyton, where did that come from?" she demanded.

"Aw, come on Hal! Gimme me and yourself some credit. You know you want him!"

"I do not 'want' him," said Halle indignantly.

"Sure, you don't Hal. That's why he single, cute, and baby-sitting your kid when you are the epitome of Ms. Worry Wart herself. You don't trust just anybody!"

"Well, obviously, JC's not just 'anybody'!" she retorted, getting a little fused, not even comprehending what she was saying.

You could literally hear Kel's I-told-you-so attitude over the phone lines. "Exactly was I was saying." Halle knew Kel was self-satisfied, yet she knew Kel was also right. She had to admit to herself, it wasn't often that Kel was wrong. She had some sort of sixth sense and a feelings radar to boot.

Halle sighed, too weary right now to argue with Kel. "So what did you call for?"

"What, a best friend can't just call her best friend anymore?"

"Of course you can, Kel," Halle replied, letting her weariness seep through into her voice.

"Aww, is Halle tired after a hard day's work?" she cooed.

"Well, I didn't think I was, but this fatigue just suddenly hit me." She ruefully added, "It was when you called."

"Great, you're getting tired of me after five years." Kel laughed, knowing that it wasn't true. "Well, are you up to attending an art show tonight? You're right, I did have an ulterior motive for calling. I miss you!"

Halle smiled, though she inwardly groaned when she thought of all the work she would be putting off. But either way, she knew she would not refuse, should not, nor had the will to. She missed Kel too. It seemed as though she had been her one week and gone the next. She laughed to herself as she remembered that was exactly how it was. "Alright, Kel. I miss you too. Time?"

"Six sharp. The show doesn't start until six-thirty, but I have to stand beside my paintings and sort of 'mingle', but 'around my area' they say. I want to have a chance to talk to you before!"

Halle laughed. "That unscrambled means: RUSH!" She got home at five-thirty and the place was twenty minutes away speed-walking. She couldn't rely on cab because there was always anticipated traffic and she didn't have a car of her own seeing that she walked everywhere. She'd have to make sure to speed walk it with Josh, carrying him if she had to. "Ok, I'll be there," she promised. "Josh is allowed, right?"

"Well, if we keep him quiet and out of the way, he'll be fine. Don't worry, I don't think he'll be a problem, though kids don't usually come to these things. It doesn't say anywhere they they're not allowed."

"Oh, ok, well, see you there. I have a meeting in five minutes then a rush home."

"Ummhmm. Oh, and Halle?"

"Yes?" she asked.

"Bring JC if you can." She laughed through the phone.

Halle was about to reply to Kel's saucy remark, but just like Kel, she had hung before Halle could say a word.

-*-*-*-

"Josh? I wasn't expecting your call so early," Karen Chasez exclaimed when her son called later that afternoon. She could tell that something was bothering JC, her maternal instincts told her that as well as common sense. "Are you all right?"

"I don't know, Mom," JC moaned, his head cradled in his hands. Little Josh had finally gotten to sleep around three thirty. The little boy could sense his mom's changed behavior, and it bother him to the point where he was restless and couldn't fall asleep.

"What's wrong, Honey?" Karen asked, concerned.

"Do you remember me telling you about Halle?" JC questioned.

How could Karen not? Ever since the previous week, JC had mentioned to his mother something about Halle or her son Josh in every single conversation. The comments were usually positive and she knew he liked Josh immensely, he had even said so.

Early on, she had wondered if that attitude extended to the mother, but Karen didn't wonder anymore. Karen knew positively that her son felt something for this young woman, but since JC hadn't said it, she didn't press the issue. It seemed to Karen that she was a special young woman, but also that JC wasn't ready to settle down yet.

"Yes, I do, Josh," Karen replied, her memory fresh.

"Well, we've been arguing, and I don't like it." He hesitated before his next words. "Even Josh could tell."

"The little boy?"

"Yea. He's a sweet kid."

There was silence on the phone as Karen tried to think of what to advise her son. "Why have you been arguing?" she asked him, trying to get to the root of the problem.

"It was just little things, and I don't even remember," Josh admitted. "I dunno. I guess I'll just apologize when she gets home." JC ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He didn't know why Halle flipped out earlier, and he wasn't sure how to get back on her good side.

"Josh, may I ask you a question, darling?" Karen asked her oldest son. "Why do you care so much about this young lady?" She was looking for him to say something that would lead her to believe that JC's efforts weren't being wasted on a simple friendship and that he was doing it for some reason.

Silence.

"Josh, do you like her?" she inquired quietly.

Finally JC answered after what seemed like an eternity. Karen wondered if he was still even listening to what she said. He breathed a long drawn breath. "It took me a while to admit it, but I think do."

"I see," Karen replied, mentally letting out a sigh of relief. "Well, I suggest you tell her, but JC," her tone became warning, "you be careful. And remember that if you ever want to quit, we'll be there for you."

"I'm not quitting, Mom!" JC said quickly. "But I do like her. You got it all wrong though. Being famous isn't the problem here."

"Oh?" She had just assumed that that was what was bothering this Halle girl.

"No, she just doesn't need a guy in her life, and she's made that quite clear to me."

Karen paused, trying to put herself in his place. If she were him, what would be the best thing to tell him? It wasn't working, she was his mother and she would continue to be. To imagine being him... That was hardly possible. Being his mother, there was nothing else to do. JC had never been a quitter. If he really wanted it, he had pursued it to no end. "Well, son, if you think she's worth it, then change her mind."

"Oh, she's more than worth it, they both are." The JC quickly added. "But how do I change her mind?"

"This is where your creativity pays off," Karen reminded. "But I trust you'll come up with something good."

"Thanks, Mom," JC said sincerely. "I'm really glad we talked. I love you."

"I love you, too, Josh," Karen smiled. Even though her son was always away, she loved how he still called every day. She was so glad that Josh could turn to her for advice.

"Tell TJ, Heath, and Dad I said hi," JC said. "Bye."

As soon as JC hung up his cell phone, he heard the phone in Halle's kitchen ring. Quickly shoving the cell phone in his jacket, he went to answer that.

-*-*-*-

Halle knew what she had to do when she dialed home. "Lin residence," said a voice on the other side.

"Hi, Josh?" she asked as she recognized JC's voice.

"Oh, hi Halle," he said, his voice calm and pleasant. "Come to check up on your son?"

"No," she breathed. "Actually you."

"Me?" That sparked his interest.

"What are you doing tonight?" Her heart was pounding inside and it fluttered at the oddest moments.

"Tonight? Hmm, I actually don't have to be anywhere tonight. No recording for tonight, though I have tomorrow to worry about. Otherwise, it's done."

Her voice lightened. "Great, so do you want to go to an art show tonight?"

He was confused for a minute. "What about Josh?"

Halle laughed. "My son is coming with us. It's a favor to Kel that we're going. Remember? She's in an art show?"

"Oh right!" he exclaimed. "Need a date?" he asked playfully.

"You're already coming, Mr. Big Shot," she pointed out. "Besides, Kel wants you to come."

He frowned. "But do you want me to come?"

She wasn't smiling either. She shifted the phone in her hand. She sighed. For once, maybe she would give it up. But just for tonight. "Yes, I want you to come."

He mistaken her sigh for one she had made out of duty. "Halle, I don't think you really want me to..."

"No, Josh, I mean yes, I really want you to come with me."

"Halle, it's ok. I won't go if you don't want me to."

"Josh! Listen to me, please. I want you to go, for me, not because Kel asked."

"But..."

"Just shut up, Josh. You're right, I need a date. Would you like to be him?"

It was then he smiled. "My pleasure then, if you insist."

She laughed. "Well, I wasn't insisting, but now that you mention it, I am. Anyway, I got out of a meeting because I pleaded bathroom rights, but I have to be getting back before they think I fell in. I need you to do me a favor."

"Anything for you, Halle," he replied.

"Right," she said, accepting and smiling. "Get Josh dressed in some nice clothes, ok? No stains."

"Gee, Halle, yes, I was planning to put him in that white polo shirt with the grape juice stain on it."

"See? That is exactly why I told you 'no stains'. Men," she giggled.

He had to laugh. "Ok, will do. You coming home at five thirty?"

"Well, I'll try to be there a little sooner, but yes. So that means we had to hurry. Can't count on cabs because of traffic."

He nodded. "Ok, I and your son will be ready and waiting and spic and span."

"Thanks Josh," she intoned. "Oh, and Josh?"

"Hmm?" he asked.

"Sorry about this afternoon."

"No problem, I was a little confused."

"I never thought I'd say this, but blame it on PMS, like all men."

He chuckled. "Yes, ma'am!" he saluted.

She was all smiles now. "Look, I really gotta go, but I'll see ya in a few, alright?"

He nodded. As they hung up, both walked away to finish what they had to, Halle to her meeting, and JC to get Josh ready. But their minds really weren't on their work. They were on each other.

-*-*-*-