Dana sat in the airport between Bryce and Lizzy.  They were in the padded softness of the first class lounge waiting for their flight.

It had only been two days since Quinn had left and she missed seeing him.  He had left before she had made it downstairs on Saturday, and she hadn't had the chance to say goodbye. In fact, most of the Stevenses had left without saying goodbye.  Lizzy had assured her that this was normal for them.  They were always coming and going, so leave-taking was pretty casual, and on Friday morning Cassie and Mason had left and by Friday night Elizabeth, Doug, and Rainer had gone. 

Davis had left with Quinn, so by Saturday morning so only Caleb, Bryce and Lizzy remained.  Dana had worked like a mad woman, welcoming the distraction, and finished Quinn's database.  She had even written formal instructions on how to use the damn thing since she didn't get the chance to finish it as she had wanted.

Bryce rose to move to the other side of the lounge to take a phone call.

He was an enigma to her.  He seemed so cold and formal, yet he was going out of his way to help her, a stranger.  He claimed it was because he disliked her husband, but she doubted that was the only reason. 

She might doubt his reasons for helping her, but she didn't doubt his ability.  He had explained it all to her over the weekend. He had served Marcus with papers for a no-fault divorce. The alimony he was requesting was not outrageous but fair.  Bryce did not want to give Marcus a chance to drag out the case, and he had made it very clear in a personal letter to Marcus, that if he contested the divorce Bryce would file again with the reason being cruel and inhumane treatment. He had also assured him that he had more than enough proof to win the case, and that the case would damage his image as a family-oriented businessman.

Bryce had also pulled some strings and their court date was Friday. Dana smiled as she watched Bryce.  She would be free on Friday. Suddenly, excited by the thought of her freedom she started to think of colleges and the future.

"Dana... about Bryce," Lizzy followed her gaze. Dana hadn't realized that, even though she had been dreaming about her future, she was still looking at Bryce.

She turned to look at Lizzy. "What about Bryce?"

"He is not the long-term relationship type.  I don't want you to get the wrong idea."

Dana opened her mouth to stop her, but Lizzy kept going.

"He's my brother, and I love him, and he's one of my heroes. A man of action, if he wants it done it gets done."

"You make him sound like a superhero." Dana laughed.

"That's just it; he's not." Lizzy took her hand in hers. "I don't want you to get hurt, Dana."

Too late, Dana wanted to scream. He left without even saying goodbye.

Dana met Lizzy's eyes. "Don't worry Lizzy there's no chance of Bryce hurting me."

"Dana he will, I know he will."

"I have the highest regard for Bryce, and I still don't know why he is helping me, but I do not think of Bryce in a romantic way."

"Dana it's obvious-"

"I love Quinn." She cut her off mid-sentence. There she had said it.

"Quinn?"

Lizzy looked back at Bryce, confused, and Dana watched as clarity dawned. Lizzy smiled to herself and nodded. "Good."

That was, is it? That was all she was going to say as she settled back into her seat with a satisfied smile. "Lizzy!" Dana all but shouted.

"Bryce is helping you for the simple reason that Quinn asked, and Quinn never asks for anything so it must be important to him." Lizzy revisited her earlier question.

Dana looked at her wanting more, but Lizzy just buried herself behind a magazine, leaving her more confused than ever.

Bryce rejoined them looking at his watch.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Lizzy insisted.

"Tell you what?" Bryce gave his sister a resigned look.

Lizzy looked meaningfully at Dana then back at Bryce.

Bryce obviously got the question because he shrugged looking bored.  "Because sister, it's self-evident to anyone with a brain in their head."

"You're telling me that everyone knows?"

"Knows what!" Dana interrupted.

"About you and Quinn," Lizzy said offhandedly, looking hard at Bryce, barely paying Dana any attention.

"Yes," Bryce answered Lizzy.

"How did I miss it?" Lizzy asked.

"Because you were thinking along the wrong track."

"You mean you and Dana?"

Dana felt her face turning red.

"Yes." Bryce, as usual, was a man of few words.

"You don't miss much do you?" Lizzy sat back in her chair with a huff.

Bryce met Lizzy's eyes.  "No, I don't miss much."

Dana watched as their eyes met and some secret meaning passed between them. She watched as Lizzy turned a deep shade of scarlet then went very pale.

"I think I'll use the ladies room before we board. Are you coming, Dana?"

Dana jumped up; she felt it was not a request as much as an order.  Something had deeply upset Lizzy.

"Lizzy?" Dana forgot about herself as she saw tears on her cheeks.

"I hate him sometimes. He thinks he knows it all, and he does." She leaned against the wall by an empty terminal and started crying.

Dana just wrapped her arms around her and held her while she cried.

"He was wrong though," Lizzy insisted.

Dana recognized the pain in Lizzy.  She didn't have to ask about it.  It was love pure and simple.  She was in love and by the look of things Bryce didn't approve and had just let her know it.

"Dana hang in there with Quinn, please.  Don't give up.  Giving-up hurts worse than waiting," Lizzy pleaded her eyes full of pain.

"How long has it been since you've seen him?"

"It's been six years." Her voice cracked.

"Six years...it's only been two days for me, and I feel just as bad as you do."

Lizzy looked at her and stopped crying, and then she busted out laughing as she stood up wiping away her tears.  "I will hope for you and Quinn.  That is so much more fun to think of than my sorry state of affairs. Just remember one thing, if it is the real thing with you and Quinn, nothing will ever come close to it again."

After a bathroom break, they returned to the lounge where Bryce was on the phone once again.  He looked closely at Lizzy, and if he had noticed she had been crying, he didn't say a word.

*******

Dana was checked into one of the most expensive hotels in New York. When she wasn't at the hotel, she was at Lizzy's little loft in SoHo, experiencing her first taste of what it was like to have a sister. Lizzy said it was the same for her.  They shared clothes and gossiped, and Dana enjoyed watching Lizzy prepare for her dates.

Lizzy put on a good show.  She went out a lot but never more than a few times with the same man.

The man that had won Lizzy's heart must be something because some of her dates were fantastic. She even went out with a few friends of Mason's, and Mason had fantastic friends.

The Stevenses, who were in New York, kept her well occupied so that the week flew by, and she didn't have a chance to worry about the proceedings.  She knew she would have to see Marcus in court and she was dreading it.

She researched colleges and was leaning towards a school in Texas with a good Social Work degree.  Dana had fallen in love with Texas, and with or without Quinn it was where she wanted to be since New York had too many bad memories.

Friday dawned overcast and sleeting. It was the perfect stage for divorce.

She dressed with care choosing a simple navy wool dress and flats.  She pulled her hair back into a bun and wore no make-up.

As she and Bryce, who was dressed in his court attire, entered the courtroom she was astounded to see many of the Stevenses there.  Elizabeth, Doug, Davis, and Lizzy were sitting at the back.

"Mason, Cassie, and Rainer wanted to be here, but I promised Marcus this would be low key and they don't do low key very well," Bryce whispered in her ear.

"Quinn?"

Bryce just shook his head.

Dana inhaled deeply forcing the hurt away.  Now was not the time, she would worry about it later.

They had just taken their seats when Marcus and his lawyer entered the courtroom. Marcus looked so presentable; Dana noted as she honestly looked at her husband for the first time. Hopefully, it would be the last time she ever saw him. He was not a tall man. He stood at 5'10" just one inch taller than Dana. He had a full head of dark hair that at forty-seven had just started to grey.  He was a handsome man, with a strong jaw and what appeared to be warm brown eyes.

During their five year marriage he had had at least three girlfriends that she had known about, and it was not hard to see why, when you added his money to the equation, women were drawn to him.

Both Marcus and Dana were silent as their lawyers handled everything.  It took no time at all and when it was over Bryce turned to her with a smile. "That's it, Dana. You're free."

Dana looked at him with shock.  It had been painless and quick.  Marcus was walking out of the courtroom before it had even sunk in with her. Bryce took her arm and escorted her to the back of the room where his family was waiting, and they all passed her around for hugs.

"Is that really it?"

"Yes, you cannot get married for six months, but otherwise you're free."

"Let's go to lunch and celebrate," Lizzy insisted.

"You all go ahead.  I have something to take care of, let me know where you go, and if I can, I'll join you later." Bryce looked at his watch then looked up and scanned the lobby of the courthouse.

He must have had a sixth sense because just as he looked up, Marcus started walking towards them."Dana may I talk to you for a moment please." He seemed deceptively polite.

"No." Dana didn't have to talk to him ever again.

"Dana." She saw a flash of his temper and Bryce must have seen it too because he stepped forward.

"Mr. Rowland, Dana does not wish to speak with you, but I do." With the utmost politeness, Bryce extended his arm asking Marcus to walk with him, and Marcus followed him. Dana turned and looked at Lizzy with her mouth hanging open.

"Bryce has a way. If he wants it done it gets done." Lizzy gave a sad smile that lasted just an instant then she took Dana's arm.  "Now where shall we go for lunch?"

In the end, they decided on Pizza, and it was delicious.  They all discussed her future and thought her idea of college was excellent, offering to help if it was needed.

Dana as happy as she was, was not content.  Quinn was the only one who could make everything complete.

*******

Dana was staying in New York for a few weeks before she headed back to Texas, and Bryce was helping her tie up some loose ends. Christmas was in the air, and she was enjoying the festive feel of New York. Lizzy was set to leave in two days for a short trip to London with her best friend Trisha for some last minute shopping, but she had wanted to take Dana out on the town before she left.

Lizzy had the following evening all planned. They were going to catch the closing night of Mason and Cassie's show, and then have dinner with friends.  When Lizzy had asked who the friends were, Lizzy had been vague, telling her not to worry that they would all have a good time.

Dana was enjoying the experience of being a single girl in New York, doing whatever she wanted to do whenever she wanted to do it, but despite all of the fun Dana had Quinn was always there in the back of her mind, and she took him wherever she went.

Looking forward to the following night out on the town with Lizzy, Dana had just settled in for an evening of watching an old movie.  She was wearing her pajamas and had just dug into the dinner that room service had delivered when there was a knock on the door.

Dana walked to the door and anxiously peeked out the peephole. Elation filled her when saw a blond head that was very familiar. She threw open the door her heart pounding and her hands shaking. "Quinn?"

He looked at her silent for a moment, his gaze traveled from the tips of her bare toes to the top of her head. Eventually, his eyes met hers.

"Is it final?"

Dana nodded. "Two weeks ago."

He pushed past her dropping his duffle bag on the floor. She barely had time to close the door behind him before he had swept her up, his lips crushing hers in a bone-melting kiss.

She had finally got her kiss.

Her heart stopped and then jumped back into rhythm.  Oh, Quinn was good.  She lost all awareness of everything but Quinn. She buried her hands in his hair and gave a little sigh as he picked her up and carried her over to the bed. This was it; this was about which all those books and songs were written. Her hands were all over him.  She could touch him; she wanted to feel him. Her hands ran over the warm skin of his chest as his shirt came off, then traced the muscles in his back and arms.

He was beautiful.

"You're beautiful Dana," He said mimicking her thoughts as his hands ran over her body.

She gave a husky laugh.  "I was just thinking the same thing about you."

They had fought touching each other for so long it was as if they were afraid they were only going to get this one chance and they were memorizing each other's bodies.

"Are you sure Dana?" Quinn asked, stopping and burying his head in her neck.

"Don't you dare stop now Quinn.  I've been waiting and dreaming of this since the first moment I truly saw you."

"Yes ma'am," He said pushing her back onto the bed.

When Dana woke the next morning, it was to feel Quinn beside her.  She couldn't help the grin that spread across her face.  He was truly there beside her.  She had thought it was a dream, but it wasn't.

She watched him as he slept. He was so handsome awake, but asleep he looked like a boy.

Last night had been a revelation to her. As a lover, Quinn had been patient and kind and had taught her what all of the fuss was about. She looked at him and wondered where he had learned his technique. Dana started to think of him with other women, and she didn't like it.  She was jealous, and it was a new feeling for her too.

"What is that dark look for on such a sunny morning?"

Dana jumped not realizing that he was awake. "I was just wondering where you learned your technique and how many girlfriends you've had."

"Jealous?"

"Yes."

"Good," he said, not answering her questions.

When she couldn't take it any longer, she hit him with a pillow.

"A gentleman never kisses and tells. I will have to be a man of mystery." He gave a slow, sexy grin.

"There's no one right now is there?" Dana had a sudden flashback to her husband.  He had tried to hurt her by using other women, not that he had ever succeeded, but Quinn could crush her.

"No Dana," he took her hand with one of his and pushed her hair over her shoulder with the other. "There has been no one for a long time."

"Really?"

"Really." He laughed again.

"So you were desperate." Dana moved away from him.

"Woman, I have never been desperate." Quinn grabbed her pulling her close. "Let me remind you why."

Later as they were sitting on the balcony, eating, Quinn looked at her. "What did you mean when you said 'the first time you truly saw me?'"

Dana smiled at the memory, "Well, I saw you first in the back of a horse trailer.  It was pouring rain and here came this great big cowboy with his hat pulled low, so his face was in the shadows. I had no clue if you were friend or foe."

Quinn nodded his head remembering as he sipped his coffee. He looked magnificent with the sun shining off of his messy blond hair. His chin was coated with golden stubble, and he was wearing only a pair of blue jeans, leaving his beautiful chest available for her viewing pleasure.

Pushing her indecent thoughts aside she continued, "but the first time I truly saw you, Quinn, was when you came to bandage my ankle.  You looked like a golden god."

"Hardly." Quinn frowned, thoughtful.

"Well you looked like you were the quarterback for the football team at the very least."

Quinn gave an absentminded smile. "I am guilty of that one."

"I knew it." Dana grinned, happy beyond reason that he was sitting across from her having breakfast.  She had him all to herself.

Quinn was silent for a while, and Dana in her happy stupor didn't realize that it was a tense silence.

"So what are your plans now?" Quinn asked, leaning back in his chair, his massive frame filling the small space.

"Don't look at me like that Dana." He growled.

"Like what?" she asked innocently.

He silently returned her look.  It made her toes curl.

"Oh my." She was suddenly breathless at the hunger she saw in his gaze.

"Exactly."

They were silent for a moment then Dana jumped up and ran towards the door.  "The last one in the bed has to buy lunch."

When Dana woke later that afternoon, Quinn was gone, but he had left a note that he would see her that evening. That meant that he was going to the theater too. She hugged herself with pleasure as she imagined all sorts of wonderful scenarios where he was waiting for her at the theater, and they fell into each other's arms just as they had last night.