"Will we see you tonight?" the fourth person of the day asked.

Lia was at a loss as to what was going on, but she guessed that it was taken for granted that she knew what it was all about after the first person talked about how lucky she was and that she had to be so proud. The only thing she could think of was that it had something to do with Ben, but if it did, Ben had forgotten to tell her about it.

Lia was exiting a patient's room and headed back towards the nurse's station when Silas stopped her.

"Are you going this evening, do you need a ride? I'm taking Chloe and Faye."

Lia closed her eyes and took a deep breath, she knew she could trust him, so he was the one to ask. "What's is going on tonight, everyone keeps asking me about it, but I'm clueless." She smiled at one of the nurses across the floor who was watching them closely then turned her attention back towards Silas.

He was looking at her without expression, he had his bad news doctor face on, the one that you knew you could trust. "Ben didn't tell you?" he summarized.

"He doesn't tell me much lately," Lia admitted, mostly out of frustration. Even Chloe and Faye didn't know how bad it had gotten.

"He has a book signing tonight." Silas watched her as she lost all color.

"Here, in Savannah?" she asked, managing to keep her voice steady. Why hadn't Ben told her?

"Yes, he's having it at E. Shaver," he said the name of one of the last remaining privately owned bookstores left in the city. It was in the heart of the downtown district and was next to one of the squares. "It's a private event and tickets are required, they sold out in under an hour."

"Well, that's me out then, I don't have a ticket, do I?" she tried to joke. "Thanks for letting me know." She squeezed his arm to let him know that all was fine and then moved towards the stretcher that the paramedics were unloading. She needed to keep busy, it was the only way that she would keep from breaking down.

Somehow, she managed to get through the shift, and she was ready for the next person who asked if she was going to the event. Her response was that Ben had requested that she skip it and wait for him at home. That he would be worried about her getting bored waiting for him to finish. It was a thin excuse, but everyone seemed to buy it.

She managed to keep the smile in place and make it to her car. She even managed to get all the way home, but as soon as she closed her door to the world, she fell against it and slunk to the floor as sobs escaped her throat.

Huck padded over and sniffed Lia before he settled down next to her.

This was it, she would cry, get it all out, and then get on with it. She had her answer. Ben could not have been any clearer about not wanting her if he had slapped her in the face as he said the words. After what felt like forever, she pulled herself up, forced herself to eat, and then took a shower. The motions had saved her when Chance had left, maybe they would save her this time too.

Lia hooked her leash onto Huck's collar, put on a warm pullover, and started on her walk. She knew where she was going, and she couldn't have stopped herself if she had wanted to, she needed to see the truth with her own eyes, hoping it offered her some sort of closure.

The church bells chimed seven and it was well past dark. The city was lit up and since it was a Friday night there were still plenty of people out on the streets. She only had a few squares to navigate before she could hear the buzz of conversation which meant that the event was an outdoor one. When she rounded the corner, the square was tented and lit up, champagne was being served, and everyone was laughing.

In the middle of all of it was Ben with Kimberly's arm tucked into his.

That would have everyone talking tomorrow. A sad smile touched her face as she stood in the shadow of a building watching the scene. She had already cried, she wouldn't do it again. She took a deep shaky breath and closed her eyes for a moment. Huck sniffed the air and gave a little whimper as he caught Ben's scent, but for once he didn't chase the scent, he sat next to Lia leaning against her leg in support. She started to have a crazy vision of herself and Huck barging into the party, Huck knocking things over to get to Ben, and Lia walking right up to him and telling him off for not telling her that he was in town. It was what she would have done once upon a time. It would have taken a lot of false bravado though, and she couldn't manage to find it in her.

As she watched the crowd, she started to notice people she knew, Chloe, Faye and Silas had found him. Chloe and Faye were all smiles and hugs, unaware that there was anything wrong. They probably thought she already knew about it. Silas shook his hand, but he wasn't smiling, and that was something at least. He leaned in and said something to Ben that made him frown, but then Kimberly caught his attention and he was pulled away.

She saw his parents talking with the owner of the store, lots of hospital staff, a few of Chance's friends and Chance himself. He was milling about with a glass of champagne in his hand with a pretty girl on his arm. Lia took a minute to feel sorry for the girl before she redirected her attention to Ben.

They were leading him up to a microphone to make a speech. Lia looked around once more and caught Chance's eye. He grinned and lifted his glass to her before turning to talk to his guest. Lia thought it was odd. It was almost as if he had been watching for her.

Lia didn't linger on the thought for long as she turned her attention to where Ben stood at the microphone. He looked as handsome as ever, but maybe a little tired. She listened to his voice as he talked about being home even if only for a few hours. He also claimed that he was happy that so many of his friends and family had turned out of the occasion. Huck gave a whimper at the deep sound but didn't move from her side.

Ben didn't speak long, and after he was done, he moved to a table in the middle of the tent, sat down, and started to autograph books. Lia watched as person after person spent a moment with him and he charmed them all. Until it was Chance's turn.

Lia watched as they gave each other polite smiles. Chance said something that made Ben's eyes narrow, then Chance gave an evil smile as he turned and walked away, heading straight for Lia. She ducked further into the shadows waiting for Chance to reach her.

"I knew you would hear about it and come." Chance laughed. "Here, this was with the ticket, although I can't imagine why." He handed her an envelope, then turned to look back at Ben. "I don't think he'll forgive you for not being here." He gave a dramatically sad frown. "But you didn't know, did you? And you're not exactly dressed for it, are you? You can't embarrass him, can you? His parents would never forgive you."

He laughed once more before turning and heading back towards the party as Lia's mind raced to figure out what was going on, there was no doubt that Chance had tried to hurt her and Ben by keeping her from being here.

Lia looked at the envelope, opening it slowly. Inside there was a photo of the man and woman from her dreams. She saw the ring on her finger, and they were wearing the same clothes that they had the first time she had dreamed about them on the porch. She flipped over the photo and read the back, 'True Love, Ben and Leigh, 1959'.

Lia flipped it back over and looked at the image. Chance had said that it was with the ticket, a ticket that she guessed was meant for her. Her heart started to race as she thought about what it meant. Why had Ben included it, was he trying to tell her that he loved her too, just like the couple in the photo? He knew she had dreamed about them, had he dreamed about them as well?

Huck stood, starting to dance as if he sensed the excitement in her, and it was excitement that she felt. Gone was the aching heart and loneliness. Chance had misjudged both her and Ben. He could only relate to someone who thought like he did. If Chance had hoped to cause a rift between her and Ben, he had gravely miscalculated by giving her the photo. He should have kept that, because right now it was saying all she needed to know, she only hoped she was reading it right.

Lia walked across the street and to the edge of the square then leaned down and kissed Huck's head, before dropping his leash. "Go get him boy!" she whispered. Huck needed no further encouragement as he barked and dove into the crowd. There were little screams of surprise, a few muttered oaths as Huck knocked into people, and shocked voices as Huck hurled himself up and over the table, scattering books and pens everywhere. Totally cutting the line and landing right in Ben's lap.

Ben smiled and rubbed his ears, said something that made his tail wag, then he reached over Huck to finish signing the book he had in front of him.

As the next person approached Ben scanned the crowd, finding Lia at the edge. He didn't smile as his gaze touched every square inch of her, as if making sure she was real and whole. What she read in his eyes was anything but subtle, and if she had to guess, she would guess that he had dealt with whatever had been messing with his head.

He held up a finger excusing himself as he walked across the square towards Lia. The crowd didn't lapse into silence, but they did lower their volume as they watched him approach her with Huck in tow.

"You do like to make an entrance, don't you?" he said as he scooped her up in his arms captured her lips with his in a heart-stopping kiss. She sighed and leaned against him, feeling as if she had finally come home.

"I can't stay, we can't talk, I have a plane to catch. I wasn't even supposed to be here, we squeezed it in at my insistence. I needed to at least lay eyes on you."

"That almost didn't happen," Lia said softly.

"So I gathered. Did you get the photo?" he asked.

She nodded.

"Hold it close, and wait for me?" He looked as if he was holding his breath.

She nodded again, too afraid to speak.

"I'll be home at the end of next week. I need to explain things, but I want to do it face to face, and I need time. After this week I'm done, and I won't need to leave anytime soon. I'd rather push and get it all done so I don't have to."

Lia laughed with joy, he was over explaining himself, something she never thought he would do, it was almost as if he was nervous.

Huck cried and sat on Ben's foot, upset at being left out of the conversation.

"We'll both be here, waiting for you. I promise," Lia whispered.

Ben kissed her long and hard once more. "Good, now take Huck home before he causes any more trouble," he patted Huck who gave a little bark of joy, "and before I'm unable to finish what I'm doing here or get on the plane in a few hours."

Lia nodded and took the leash from Ben's hand, but before she could pull away, he took her hand and held it fast, looking into her eyes. "I love you Lia," he said.

"I love you, Ben." She smiled.

Now that he had said the words she could wait forever if she had to.