For Brent, the week before the Holiday was spent finalizing plans for his wedding in the Virgin Islands. The travel agent found him places for the six of them to stay, private little homes on the beach. Craig, Mandie, Andrea, and Brent would stay in one and Curt and Terri the other. He filled out the marriage license and tucked it away in his suitcase. He would wait until the actual wedding before he had Andrea sign it. He was going to great pains to ensure that the whole wedding part of the vacation was a surprise to her. After Andrea went to work on Tuesday, Curt and Brent drove over to the jeweler where he bought her engagement ring and bought matching wedding bands for Andrea and himself. Satisfied, he and Curt drove to the mall and wandered around there a while. Both of them needed a few pairs of shorts and a swimsuit. As they strolled through the mall, Curt spied a store called "Two Sisters." He looked over at Brent who was peeking into the window of the leather store that Taylor wouldn't let him look in.

"Hey, I'm gonna go in there." Brent said pointing to the door and then disappearing through it. Curt followed. He strolled casually up to Brent while he was flipping through a rack of bomber jackets.

"What ever happened to Andrea's sister, Brent? You used to talk about her everytime I talked to you and then suddenly I never hear her name anymore." Curt asked leaning on an adjacent rack of vests. Brent felt a sudden jolt at the question. His eyes snapped open and he turned to Curt.

"Nothing, why?" He asked quickly, suspiciously.

"I told you why, evidently you weren't listening." Brent shook his head and stared at the coats, not really seeing them.

"You know, I wasn't." He said and drifted over to row after row of leather gloves. Curt followed. He had been suspicious of the fact that Brent chatted non-stop about Taylor and then one day he just stopped. He'd meant to ask him before but had been distracted and wouldn't ask in front of either Terri or Andrea. "What's she up to lately? Weren't you going to ask her to design the new cover for the CD?" Brent fumbled through the gloves as he felt the room growing warmer and closing in on him. He wanted to let it out, to tell Curt the whole thing and be done with it. Confession was good for the soul, was it not? He turned to Curt and licked his lips.

"You know, I was going to ask her but ..." He bit his lip. "she just hasn't called lately and I haven't had time to call her." Curt chuckled.

"You haven't had the time? Brent, that's all you have is time!" Brent sighed and put his hand on one hip.

"I know, I know. C'mon, lets get out of here." He said heading for the door. Once they were back out into the openness of the huge mall, even though it was crammed with last minute shoppers, Brent felt like he could breathe. Curt wasn't going to let it go. He knew something had happened from the way that Brent acted and he wanted to hear it.

"Well? What's up with Andrea's sister?" He said. Brent stared straight ahead. "Something happened, didn't it Brent? You chased her off ..." Brent turned to Curt, his jaw tight, muscles in his face flexing as he clenched his teeth.

"I did chase her off. She was after me and ..." He thought carefully about what to say. "I just didn't think that it was right." Curt instantly knew there was more to it than that. Brent loved attention, especially female attention.

"And?" Curt said leaning against the railing that overlooked the food court. Brent leaned back against it and faced the walkway.

"And what?" Curt looked at him. Brent glanced at Curt and Curt held his gaze.

"What happened Brent, I know something happened." Brent felt a stab in his abdomen. How did he know? Brent's face revealed he was keeping a secret.

"She came on to me really strong, Curt. I was ..." He sighed and shook his head slowly. "I was sucked in. She was all over me and before I knew it ..." Curt sighed heavily. He knew what was coming and he was disgusted by it. Brent bit his lower lip and looked at Curt who stared at the immensely high ceiling of the mall. Through the skylight Curt saw snowflakes falling and landing on the window. The snow landed and melted into little, tiny droplets of water. Brent looked down at the floor and sighed. He knew Curt was disappointed in him and yet it felt almost relieving to be getting it off his chest.

"Brent, what the hell is the matter with you?" Brent felt guilt wash over him and he blushed. "Do you know where you would be if Andrea found out about it?" He nodded slowly.

"I know. I want you to know that I stopped it before it got too far."

"How far?"

"We sorta had sex." Curt looked angrily at Brent who glanced at Curt quickly and then looked away like a son to a punishing father.

"Sorta? There is no sorta, you either did or you didn't."

"Does it count if you don't .... finish?" Curt shook his head.

"Yeah, Brent, it counts."

"Fuck!" Brent spat. Curt grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled Brent closer to him. They stood eye to eye.

"You know, I oughta take you outside right now and beat the everlovin' shit outta you, Brent." Brent narrowed his eyes angrily. After all that time and all the guilt he felt; he'd beat himself up many times over the whole situation with Taylor, he wasn't about to stand there and take lightly the fact that Curt was disappointed in him and wanted to fight. He shoved Curt backwards angrily and glared at him.

"Well, let's go big man! You want to fight? Believe me, as bad as I have been feeling about this these last few weeks I could use a good fight! I have eaten my insides out about that situation and if you wanna go outside and box a few rounds I'm sure it would do me some good." Curt stared at Brent. Maybe he did need to take a pounding to get him to realize what he would have lost. He was like an addict, Curt surmised. He craved attention and sex and he would get it any way he could, good or bad. But, like an addict, he would lose all that he loved, all that was important to him in his life to get there. Curt didn't want to see that happen. He liked Brent as he would a brother and he adored Andrea. She certainly didn't deserve to be hurt by Brent's incapability of being monogamous.

"Let's go, Brent. We should finish this outside." Curt said turning and heading for the mall door. Brent followed him angrily.

Once outside they headed towards Brent's car. They tossed their bags and coats inside and Curt assumed a fighting stance, fists raised.

"I am not going to stand around with my mouth shut while you hurt that beautiful woman who loves you. You don't deserve her. I've said it before, and I'm sure before this is all through, I'll say it again." Brent raised his fists at Curt, turned his head and spit on the ground.

"That to you and your fatherly shit." Curt lunged at Brent, swung and missed. "I guess it pays to be younger and scrawnier." Brent said sarcastically. Curt swung and his fist landed in Brent's gut. Brent let out an "ooooph" and doubled over.

"I guess it pays to pay attention you little fuck! Now, grow up and act like a man!" Brent came after Curt and before long they were swinging and pummeling each other. Before long they were being pulled apart by three very large security guards. One held Brent's arms behind his back while another did the same thing to Craig. Two police cruisers pulled up, parked and cops got out. Brent and Curt looked at each other, sweat dripped down their faces, Brent's hair was matted from sweat and blood dripped from his nose. Curt was panting and with each breath a large cloud of smoke puffed out in front of his face. He licked a bloody lip.

"What the hell is going on here?" A fat cop asked standing between the two planting his hands on his hips.

"Nothing, officer, we were just resolving a situation." Curt offered breathlessly. The officer turned to Brent.

"Is that so?" He asked him. Brent nodded and snuffled. "Well, that is what the gym is for! You got problems you need resolved, take it to the gym and box or something. We don't allow that here in a public place. People might get hurt." Brent nodded again. "I ought to take you two in." Curt glanced over at Brent and Brent at Curt. Wouldn't that be something? Andrea and Terri having to pick them up at the police station! How would they explain it? The policemen released Brent's and Curt's arms and they shook them to get the blood flowing again. The fat officer asked to see their ID and they both pulled out their wallets and handed the officer their driver's licenses. He scrutinized them carefully. "You're from Pennsylvania. What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I live here, I just haven't had my license changed. I'm getting married in a week and then I'll change it." Brent said with a growl. He pointed to Curt. "He's just visiting and sticking his nose where it don't belong!" Curt scowled at Brent. One officer tapped Brent's chest.

"In about one more minute you're going to the station, buddy." Brent exhaled heavily. The fat officer handed them back their ID.

"Are you two together?" He asked.

"Yeah." Curt said indicating Brent's Corvette.

"Well, let me see you two get in it and get the hell out of here. And if we get one more call about you two tonight, expect to spend the night in a private room at the station!!" Brent and Curt got into the Corvette. Brent started it and pulled away slowly. He drove, silent, staring ahead. He wiped his nose and mouth with his sleeve, blood smearing his shirt.

"You feel better?" Curt asked him, finally. Brent nodded and glanced at Curt who was smiling.

"A little, but this isn't finished ... by a long shot!" Curt laughed.

"You'll never get the best of me Brent! I'm stronger than you." Brent chuckled.

"Yeah, well, odor isn't everything!" Brent said and they both laughed.

The afternoon was dragging for Andrea at the hospital. There were a few new surgery patients but all in all, there weren't many and the it was dragging. She glanced at the clock, nearly 4:00. Kelly would be in at six to cover for her. She had been taking off a few nights early to shop for Brent. She couldn't do it during the day, he was always hovering around. She sat at the nurse's desk, chart in front of her, resting chin on her hand and staring off into nothing. She was picturing the Virgin Islands, the warm sun, white sand beach, the waves, and Brent, his blue eyes sparkling as he smiled that handsome, boyish smile of his. Someone clearing their throat brought her out of it. She blinked and looked up to see Dom standing there.

"Am I interrupting something?" He teased. She sat up and closed the chart.

"Oh, no, not at all. I'm just bored." She said with a sigh. He came around the counter and sat down on a chair next to her.

"Yeah, me too." He said. She laughed. He smiled at her. "This night's gonna drag!" She nodded.

"That it is, except I'm leaving!" He glanced at her quickly.

"Are you? Where are you going?"

"I have to finalize my Christmas shopping. I bought a gold necklace for Brent and had it engraved and I'm going to pick it up tonight." He forced a smile.

"Wow! Very nice. I'm sure he will appreciate it."

"I hope so." She said with a sigh. "He doesn't usually wear gold." Dom pictured the tattered, poorly dressed man who'd come to see Andrea not to long ago and clicked his tongue.

"I'm sure he'll wear it. He loves you, right?"

She turned to him and said with a smile, "Yeah, he loves me." Dom cleared his throat and sat up straight in his chair. "OH! How was your party?" Andrea asked excitedly.

"It was good. I had some people from the hospital show up. It helped to break the ice, you know?" She nodded.

"I can imagine. I'm sorry I couldn't be there. We did end up going to the zoo this weekend. That was very nice." He smiled and nodded. He thought to ask if they were visiting Brent's relatives but was sure that she wouldn't appreciate his humor being directed at Brent.

"You didn't happen to visit the Pellegrini section there, did you?" She giggled out loud and then covered her mouth with her hand. He laughed with her. "They might not have let you in. Next time you go, tell me beforehand and I'll get you a pass!" She giggled again.

"Ha ha ha ha, you are silly!" She said. He felt good about having made her laugh. A light lit on the wall over a patient room and she jumped up. "Be right back." She said heading down the hall. He watched her go and his eyes grazed her slim form. He looked down at the table in front of him and sighed. She would be a prized possession if only she were his. He would put her up on a pedestal and worship her like the goddess she was. He took his Palm Pilot out of his pocket and checked his schedule. He had a few more patients to see and then he was off. Andrea came back not too much later and sat back down by him.

"What time are you leaving tonight?" He asked her. She opened a chart and began writing in it.

"Whenever Kelly decides to relieve me, or around 6, whichever comes first." She said with a chuckle. He thought for a moment.

He went out on a limb and asked, "Would you like to grab something to eat before you finish your shopping?" She thought for a second and then looked at him.

"If it was quick I could, I just don't want to miss getting to the jeweler." He smiled, butterflies flitting in his stomach.

"Okay, quick, I promise." He said getting up and stuffing his portable computer back into the pocket of his suitcoat. "Around 6?" He asked. She nodded. "I'll be waiting in the lobby." He said and walked off down the hall. Andrea went back to her charting.

Brent dropped off Curt at Terri's then he went home and cleaned himself up. He had crusted blood inside his nose and around his mouth. He tossed the bloody shirt into the laundry hamper and threw a new one on. He called Andrea at the hospital and left a message for her with another nurse that he was meeting Curt and Terri at the brew pub and would be home before she was then he left again. Curt and Terri met him in the bar shortly after and they ordered dinner. The three talked about the impending wedding in the Islands. Terri exuded excitement in everything she said, she congratulated Brent on a well thought out surprise. He beamed. At least he could get this right ... Curt talked to him cordially and it would seem that the argument they had and the fight that ensued had not effected him. Brent was relieved. He felt a renewed sense of self, he thought perhaps he needed to get it out of his system. Beating on Curt helped to relieve the guilt he felt and the anger he harbored toward himself. Anger he'd turned inward on himself hadn't helped to abate the frustration he felt at his own inadequacies and weakness and there, in that parking lot, fists flying and making contact he was healing. He held up his glass of beer to Curt and smiled.

"To my good friend and his girl!" Both Terri and Curt raised their glasses. "I wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!" They touched glasses and then drank. Curt glanced at Brent and thought to himself, if he ever catches Brent cheating on Andrea ever again, he will beat him to death; and then he smiled at Brent purposefully.

Curt and Terri left Brent at the bar around 8 and went home. Brent was going to have one more beer and then head home himself. He moved from the table in which they sat to eat dinner up to the bar and pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. He stuffed one into his mouth and lit it with a book of Founder's Hill matches that lay in front of him. He took a long drag and blew out the smoke. He thought about the day and what had happened between him and Curt and chuckled. He wished he could have been someone else watching the two wrestling and punching! The cops getting involved was pretty comical as well. He held his cigarette between two fingers and picked up his glass and took a swig. He sighed and leaned down onto the bar on his elbows. He sat quietly and mulled over the weeks ahead. He was anxious about getting married. It was a mixture of excitement and fright. He was nervous about recording the next CD. Being away from Andrea that long was going to be a challenge physically and mentally. He took another long drag off the cigarette and sipped his beer. He blew the smoke out his nose. The physical part was bothering him the most. It may be a good thing that they get away from each other for a while but before long he knew his body was going to crave satisfaction and where would he find it? He sighed heavily. He envisioned Andrea, pregnant, working, and him in New York, horny as hell and women all around. He shook his head.
"Fuck me." He whispered and drank the rest of his beer. He set the glass down and took another drag off his cigarette. As he was tamping it out in an ashtray he glanced around the bar. Sitting at the opposite end of the bar was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. He stood stock still and stared at her. Andrea was expressionless as she watched Brent putting out the cigarette in the ashtray. So, he was smoking again, evidently he'd lied about it. He caught her gaze and held her there, a smile slowly spread across his face. She knew he'd been smoking but she thought it was once in a while. Sitting there, watching him she knew it wasn't. It gave her a sick feeling in her stomach. If he lied about something simple like that, what else was he lying about? She watched him solemnly as he came toward her, grabbing his coat off the back of the barstool on his way. He sat down next to her.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" He asked, playing a game.

"Not at all." She said, going along with it.

"Can I buy you a drink?" He asked with a coy smile. She looked at his face and saw he was bruised in a few places, his nose looked a bit swollen. She frowned.

"I don't think so. Maybe we should just go home." She said seriously. He chuckled, forgetting about his wrestling match with Curt earlier. He touched his face lightly.

"Awww, this is nothing, babe. Curt and I just had a bit of a fight, that's all." She sighed heavily, obviously disgusted. "C'mon, let me buy you a drink. Maybe I can get you drunk and wisk you over to my place and then take full advantage of you." He reached out and took her hand in his. When she'd arrived there at the bar, she was frightened of what she might find. Seeing him sitting there smoking was a blow in and of itself and now he was beaten up. She was growing angry and tearful. She pulled her hand away from him. He frowned and looked down at the bar.

"What the hell is going on Brent? I'm getting awfully suspicious here." She said quietly. He sighed.

"It's nothing, Annie. It's just what I told you, Curt and I had a bit of a disagreement." He pulled his cellphone off the hook on his belt and held it out to her. "Call him and ask. He'll tell ya." His palms were beginning to sweat at the thought that she might actually do it and Curt would tell her why he punched him. She turned away from him.

"What's with the smoking?" She asked. He shrugged.

"Once a smoker, always a smoker I guess." She turned to him.

"No, that isn't true! I wish you wouldn't smoke. I was happy when you didn't." He sighed and looked away.

"All right, I guess I'll quit -- again!" He said trying desperately to please her. He would have said anything to make her smile. Seeing her there at the other end of the bar moments ago made his heart skip a beat and his head dizzy. Now, sitting here, next to her and being berated was frustrating. The fantasy of picking her up and taking her home was over. He got off the bar stool and slipped his arm around her shoulder. She turned to him, he saw her eyes were tearful. He hooked a finger under her chin and tilted her head up to his. She still wouldn't look at him. He leaned down and kissed her lips lightly. "Annie, I will quit. Will you help me?" He said softly. It worked, for she looked up into his eyes. He smiled and softly stared at her. She smiled back at him.

"If you want me to, I will." He kissed her again, this time with much more feeling, released her and sat back down on the stool.

"Only if you let me buy you a drink." He said and then turned to Bill, the man behind the bar. "Bartender ..."

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