Rhea had cleaned up the dinner dishes then wandered back into the living room. Everyone was still there but instead of working with a purpose they were all laughing and telling jokes. There were a few rim-shots at just the right moment by Paxton that made everyone laugh even harder before they started talking about some of their favorite songs. Which of course meant that they played them and, as usual, it amazed her how they could manage to make such an awesome sound together without even practicing.

Eli was attempting to remember the lyrics to an old Chuck Berry song that was a suggestive play on words and had them all laughing and joining in as they got the hang of it, he had them all wrapped around his finger as he did everyone he performed for, even his own band.

"Hey Rhea, what was that old song that you had us play once for you?" Red asked as he frowned in thought.

Eli patted the seat next to him on the piano bench, inviting her to sit next to him and she joined him, crossing the room with everyone watching. As she sat, he pressed up against her side, sitting closer to her then was really necessary, and she didn't move away. She was enjoying the way it felt to be so close to him once again.

He ran through a few cords of the song and Cassie jumped up with a yelp! "I love this one, it's so romantic."

Rhea nodded with a smile. "Yes, the lyrics are fun to sing too," Rhea agreed.

"Why is it so romantic?" Red asked. "It's just an old song that's a little corny."

"Because," Cassie looked over at Red, who sat with a guitar on his lap shaking his head in amusement, "it is about a man with overwhelming success who can accomplish anything and has everything his heart desires but the woman he loves."

There was an heavy and awkward silence that was only broken by Eli's fingers as they caressed the keys in the first few notes of the song.

Cassie nodded to him and as he started to play she started to sing. The song was indeed about a man in love who had been given everything but still couldn't catch the girl of his dreams and he was broken hearted.

Rhea felt sure that Eli would join in but he didn't, he let Cassie sing the song solo and Rhea was enchanted. When he finished they trailed right into another one and then another but Rhea realized, that as much as she was enjoying the show, she had a house of people to take care of and she had to go prep the food for the following morning's breakfast.

She smiled at Eli and Cassie as she rose and left them, neither one attempted to stop her and she wandered down the hall towards the kitchen with Lola following her.

"Do you ever get used to it?" she asked as she sat at the island in the center of the kitchen and watched Rhea pull out the vegetables and fruit for the following morning's breakfast.

"What?" she asked absentmindedly as she popped a grape in her mouth, thinking of how wonderful it had been to lean against Eli while he played.

"Watching them play their jam sessions?"

Rhea shrugged, for her it had never taken getting used to, she had always enjoyed listening and she envied them their talent, but she had seen them all have their differences with each other, and it had always seemed like hard work to get everything just right.

"It is very rarely like what you just saw, generally they're all strapped for time and their rehearsals are focused and quick, they very seldom just sit around and play random songs like that. I think it helps that no one has to rush off and that they're trying to write something new. Goofing off a little helps their creativity.

"I still don't know how you know Eli and Mason?" Lola asked, joining her at the counter, grabbing another knife, finally asking the question that Rhea knew was coming.

"I worked for Eli and his ex-wife, Victoria Hewitt for the year I was in L.A."

Lola stopped, turning to look at her. "You had an affair with Eli when he was married!" she squeaked.

"No!" Rhea looked at her, shocked that she would think such a thing. "I would never, Eli would never, no!"

"Then I'm confused, you like him, he likes you, but you haven't had an affair?"

Rea nodded. One night did not an affair make, and she wasn't going to share that night with anyone, ever. "I left because Mom was so sick, we lost touch after that, and now he's here," she said in an attempt to keep it simple.

Lola looked at her knowing that she wasn't telling the whole truth but she also knew not to push her friend. "I heard Mason's family was coming and that there were a lot of them, do you need help for the week, I can stay if you need me to," she offered.

"No, Phoebe will help and Cassie said that they are all pretty self-reliable and won't expect any special treatment."

Lola nodded and they diced vegetables and fruit in silence.

"Hey beautiful, you wanna go for a moonlit walk on the beach?" Paxton asked, sticking his head through the door to the kitchen.

Lola grinned and nodded as she laid down her knife and grabbed a jacket off of the peg by the door. After they had left Rhea finished what she was doing and was putting the last of the prepped food back in the fridge when Onyx joined her, looking around the room curiously.

"Did you need something?" Rhea asked with a polite smile, looking over her shoulder.

Her eyes narrowed as her attention turned to Rhea. "Actually, I wanted to help you." Her smile was not at all friendly.

"I've just finished, so..."

Onyx rolled her eyes, her impatience evident. "Not with food, I wanted to give you the lay of the land with Eli." She stepped further into the room, watching Rhea carefully.

"Sure," Rhea agreed, wondering what she was talking about.

"Eli has carried a torch for another woman for a long time, he has his little flirtations but it never really goes anywhere because he's waiting for her."

Rhea swallowed hard, was she talking about her? Had Eli really waited for her all this time?

"If that's the case, why are you taking the time to warn me off of him? I wouldn't think it would matter, but I have to admit that I got the impression that you were interested in him for yourself." Rhea watched her, trying to understand why this woman was warning her off on another woman's behalf.

Onyx gave her a condescending smile, a smile one might give a small child that wasn't getting the gist of the conversation, then she turned her back towards Rhea and started to examine a piece of china on counter.

"Because I doubt that she's ever going to come back and one day he's going to have to give up on her-"

"And when he does you'll be there to pick up the pieces." Rhea finished as she leaned against the counter.

If she really was the mythical lady that Eli was waiting on she had mixed feelings, the thought of Eli waiting for her elated her but the idea of him giving up on her was devastating, not that she didn't deserve to be given up on, especially after the way she had left him without an explanation. Fighting back tears, she looked up to tell Onyx that she got her point when she noted Eli standing in the shadows, watching them. He must have read the desperation in her eyes because he took a step forward as if to comfort her, but she quickly stood up straight and masked her hurt as Onyx turned to look at her once more.

"Do you know who the woman is?" Rhea asked, wanting to know if it was really her or if she was delusional in thinking that it was. She forced herself to keep her eyes on Onyx and not Eli.

"No, all I know is that her name is Sunny."

Rhea opened her mouth to speak, unsure of what she was going to say, but she didn't get the chance to say anything because Eli stepped into the kitchen, ending the conversation.

"Onyx, may I have a moment with Rhea?" he asked, giving her his most charming smile.

Onyx smiled, nodding before shooting Rhea a look of warning over her shoulder as she left.

"What in the world-" Rhea began after she was gone but before she could finish Eli was grabbing her arm and pushing her into one of the servant's rooms of off the kitchen.

"I've learned my lesson about trying to have a private conversation in this house," he said, closing the door behind him, effectively trapping Rhea in the room with him.

"I've waited all day to have you to myself, do you know that?" he asked as he approached her.

Rhea took a step back, knowing he was trying to distract her. "What was she talking about Eli, what does she mean, you've been waiting for me?" It suddenly dawned on her that Red hadn't referred to her as Sunny earlier and that she hadn't heard Eli or Mason call her Sunny all night, no one had. "You don't want her to know that I'm Sunny, do you?"

"No, when I found out she was coming I told the band that you were not to be referred to as Sunny, that you would be Rhea."

"Why? Are you ashamed of me?" Her eyes grew wide as she had another thought, was he trying to keep two lovers apart?"

"You realize every thought you think is reflected in your face, right?" He asked, reaching for her and pulling her close before she could get away.

"You're mine Sunny." He rested his forehead on hers. "I have been waiting for you, I was too scared to find you, but fate was on my side and delivered you to me once more, I'm not going to let you go this time."

Rhea swallowed hard at his statement, he still hadn't answered her question.

"Do you trust me Sunny?"

She nodded, her breathing becoming as erratic as her heartbeat as he started to back her towards the bed.

"And I trust you." He kissed her hard. "You are the only one for me, there is nothing between me and any other woman, give me a few more weeks and you'll know everything there is to know."

She looked up at him worried, it wasn't that easy.

"It is that easy my love," he answered as if she had spoken aloud.

"Eli..."

He shook his head. "No more talking, now, I'm going to seduce you like any good rock star would do." He spun her around and pulled her down on the bed after him. "You do want me to seduce you, right?"

Rhea only looked at him, her eyes wide with confusion. It wouldn't change anything. She still couldn't keep him, when he found out the truth he would think she was using him like all of the others.

He pulled them both down so that they were lying on the bed and pulled her close, holding her tightly. "It's alright Sunny, I'll prove to you that I love you and that I want only you."

She turned to face him. "I do believe that you love me Eli, I feel it."

"Then what's wrong."

"I don't want you to hate me." She started to cry and he pulled her close, kissing her closed eyes, cheeks, forehead, he smothered her with little kisses.

He knew he couldn't force it from her and it frustrated him.

"Do you love me Sunny, tell me you at least love me."

She looked up at him a grabbed his face in both of her hands. "I love you Eli, I have loved you from the moment I met you, I love you, not an image, or your fame, or your money, but you."

He crushed her in his arms. He held her so close that she couldn't breathe.

That was all he needed to hear, he would have her as his if it took him the rest of his life.