It seemed the Stevens family gathered in Texas for the holidays, so Alice had some down time to work on her dissertation. She re-read all of Steven Douglas's books again, and then dove right into Rainer's interview, but there was something that was disturbing her. She couldn't put her finger on it, so she decided to re-read her paper from the beginning, but she found no clues there.

She spent a few days away from it, doing a deep cleaning of her apartment, and she was in the middle of scrubbing her wood floors when she had a thought.  It was something that Rainer had written for the ghost towns articles. He had been describing the way an old abandoned building had looked and felt, comparing it to what it must have been when it was new.

She jumped up and pulled out one of Douglas's books. There was a similar part in the latest one where he compared a main character's active past to the hollowness of his present.

Alice dropped the book. It couldn't be.

She raced to her laptop and started to hunt for everything she could on Rainer.

She spent the next two days reading all she could, researching his life and reading his news articles.  It was all there.  Grace, Cassie, Bryce, Mason. She saw a picture of his sister Lizzy, she had been the one in the restaurant, and she was married to Brian Alexander.  Then there was his brother, Davis, who was a well know photographer, and he was married to a beautiful model Laura Wren. But it all started with his parents, Elizabeth, a famous actress, and Douglas Stevens, a British Earl, after whom Rainer Douglas Stevens was named.

Her first thought was that Grace was a Lady and no one was better suited for it, and her second was that Rainer was Steven Douglas.

The memories from their first meeting came flooding back, his insistence that Steven Douglas wouldn't give an interview. He must have thought for a brief minute that she had found out who he was when she said she wanted to interview the famous author. He really took a chance giving her his notes. Even if he didn't admit it to himself, he had to have known deep down that there was a chance she would solve the mystery. Suddenly, it made sense to her.  She loved Steven Douglas's work and she loved Rainer.  She had loved him before she'd even met him. The thought made her a bit giddy.

She now knew what must be his deepest secret, and she held that thought close because it made her feel close to him. She felt as if she was the only one that knew all of his secrets, she knew about Yvonne, about his books, and about his scars.

Just then the phone rang, startling her.

"You sound weird Alice. Is everything O.K.?" Grace asked from the other end.

"No, I just found out you're a Lady." Among other things, Alice thought silently.

"Oh is that all." Grace laughed. "Well, now I will expect you to curtsy next time you see me."

"I wouldn't hold your breath," Alice warned her jokingly.

"I was calling to invite you to our New Year's Eve party.  We have it every year.  The whole family comes, and I want you to meet everyone."

Alice hesitated, she wanted to go and meet the rest of Rainer's family, to be near them would be like being near him, but she had promised that she wouldn't give their relationship away, and to go would do that because I f the whole family was going to be there that meant Caleb, Quinn, and Dana as well, and they had met her in Texas.

"No, I couldn't, I would feel like I was intruding."

"It's a party, how can you intrude?" Grace wouldn't take no for an answer. "We start around nine, but get here whenever. Do you have something that you can take down the address with?"

"Grace, I can't really, but thank you for the offer."

"Alice...why can't you come? I know you don't have plans."

"Gee thanks," Alice said, pretending like her feelings were hurt.  Maybe that would get Grace to change the subject.

"Look Alice, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, and there's no reason that you shouldn't be going out, but the fact that I called you at eight o'clock on New Year's Eve, and your still at home, tells me that you don't have any plans, so get dressed and come over here." Grace sound very exasperated.

"No Grace, please just leave it."

"Fine!" Grace said and the phone was slammed down in her ear.

She wanted to go, but there was no way she could without breaking a promise.

Alice had just made her a fresh mug of tea when there was a knock at the door. Hesitant to answer it, in case it was her brother-in-law, she looked through the peephole to see Bryce standing there, so, she opened the door, looking around to see who else had come with him.

"Grace sent me to get you," he said by way of greeting.

"You know I can't go. I've met Caleb and Quinn, and they'll remember me, and Grace will know I lied about knowing Rainer. Besides, I promised Rainer that I wouldn't mention our relationship."

"So don't mention your relationship, and when exactly did you promise Rainer? The last time I saw the two of you together it looked as if the relationship was irrevocably damaged." He looked at her, his stance and look commanding her to answer.

"We talk now, we're friends."

"Friends?" He looked skeptical, but he didn't contradict her. "Fine then, that's what you'll say at the party.  I am overruling my brother. I will not have Grace upset because he's to..." He obviously thought better about what he was about to say "Go get your coat, I'll deal with Rainer."

By the look on Bryce's face she would be sorry if she said no again, so she gathered her things and left for the silent journey to his and Grace's home, a home that just so happened to be a penthouse overlooking Times Square.  There was no need to watch the ball drop on T.V when you could watch it from your balcony.

When Alice and Bryce got off the elevator she saw Grace waiting for them at the end of the hallway.

"Alice, I missed you," she called, moving to give her a hug in greeting, acting as if their earlier conversation hadn't happened.  She turned to Bryce giving him her happy smile and kissed him.

Then Alice was swept into the world of the Stevens family. They were everywhere, and they were not a quiet bunch. Alice had been unsure how to dress, and Bryce hadn't given her much time, so she wore her little red dress and the red cowboy boots that Rainer had generously purchased for her.

"I love your boots," Lizzy said after they were introduced. Her husband Brian was almost as handsome as Rainer, with his broad shoulders and silver hair.

"Alice? Is that you?" Dana asked, shocked when she saw her, and there was a sudden silence as all eyes turned to Alice. Everyone wore a look of confusion except for Bryce. His face was cautiously watchful. He knew, like Alice did, that this moment could go really good or really bad, despite what he had said about dealing with his brother.

"Dana, it's good to see you again," Alice called across the room.

"Quinn look, its Alice, Rainer's friend."

"Hey Alice," Caleb said picking her up in a bear hug. "What are you doing here?" Caleb seemed oblivious to the tension Dana's exclamation had created.

"Grace invited me." Alice hugged him back since she really didn't have a choice, and Caleb just nodded as if that explained it all.

"I'm confused," Grace looked at Bryce who gave her a reassuring smile. "You didn't seem to be friends with Rainer when I introduced you to him at the concert."

Caleb grinned. "Well last time we saw Alice and Rainer they were definitely friendly." He wiggled his eyebrows.

Cassie and Grace's mouth dropped open.

Alice just blushed. "Well yes, you see there was this cobra python and..."

"It was a garden snake." Quinn said, coming out of the back of the apartment carrying Fiona.  He gave Alice a kiss on the cheek. "You look very nice."

"Thank you."

"I'm still confused," Mason said from the couch where he was sitting next to a very beautiful older woman with snow white hair and sky blue eyes who was watching her intently.

"I worked for Rainer this summer as a research assistant ..."

"That was you!" Lizzy exclaimed

"And then when I started teaching at the university this fall I met Dr. Grace Winston, who I thought was married to Bryce Winston, and then I met Cassie whose last name I never caught." Alice continued talking right over Lizzy in her rush to tell the story.

"How did you not know who Cassie was?" Davis asked confused.

"Yes Grace, you really must be better about formally introducing people," Rainer said from the doorway behind them.

Everyone spun around with similar shocked expressions at his appearance.

"I know, I wasn't supposed to be here, but the strike ended in time for everyone to get home to celebrate the New Year with their families. It turns out that even the head of unions have their limits. I came straight here from the airport," He said, shooting Alice a questioning look.  He didn't seem angry which was a least something.

However, it wasn't just Rainer and her exchanging meaningful looks, there were a lot of questioning looks shooting around the room. Bryce and Rainer, Rainer and Grace, Mason and Cassie, Cassie and Bryce, it was all making Alice dizzy. "This is like a really bad who done it movie, the only thing missing is the really bad music as you all exchange meaningful looks." Alice had never seen anything like it.  This family was very close to be able to say so much without ever speaking a word.

"We are just friends," Alice assured everyone as she looked at Rainer, who grinned. He walked over to her and gave her a squeeze just as there was a flash of a camera.

"Well, let me finish introducing you to everyone," Grace said a little winded.

After Alice had met everyone she asked to speak to Grace alone, and took her back to a bedroom where she sat on the edge of the bed patting the spot next to her for Alice to sit.

"Tell me?"

"I was shocked when I saw Rainer that night at the concert. I actually got physically ill and had to leave early."

"You love him then?"

"For sure," Alice said, finally admitting it aloud.

Grace was silent, absorbing it all. She finally put her arm around Alice's shoulder. "We will give it time. You're in the family now, despite him. Does he know you love him? Does he love you?"

"I have never told him that I love him, but he must know it. I never tried to hide it, but Rainer..."

"Yvonne," Grace said, shocking Alice.

"Yes."

"So he told you about her?"

"Yes, but how do you know about her," Alice was astounded.

"I'm the only one besides you who does, and I don't know the details. I met Rainer and Yvonne on a dig in South America.  They were crazy about each other." Grace gave Alice an apologetic look. "The next time I saw Rainer she wasn't with him which shocked me, and all he would say was that she had died."

"What was she like?" Alice asked against her better judgement.

"She was beautiful, tall, dark hair, eyes, and skin.  She was exotic and sexy, but she was strangely cold. I didn't know Bryce then so I didn't care for Rainer like I do now.  We were friends, but that was all. He wasn't family, and I had no clue that he would be one day." Grace gave a giggle.

"What?" Alice wanted in on the joke.

"It is funny how the good Lord decided to take Rainer out of your life, but give you me and Cassie in exchange, so that Rainer could find his way back to you."

"I never looked at it that way," Alice said in awe.

"The Lord gave me Rainer and then Rainer helped me get Bryce.  I'll have to tell you that story one day," she said, risin as she noticed her feet. "Those are super cute boots".

"Thanks, Rainer bought them for me." Alice gave an evil little smile.

Alice had just finished telling Grace the story as they entered the living room, and they were both laughing.

"What's so funny?" Davis asked, taking their picture.

"I was just admiring Alice's boots." Grace joined Bryce. Alice watched as they spoke with just their eyes once again. She couldn't help but be a little jealous.

"They are nice aren't they?" Lizzy agreed

"How is that funny?" Davis shot off another round of pictures.

"Rainer bought them for her," explained Grace.

"No, I didn't." Rainer had a mouth full of food, but it didn't keep him from denying the purchase.

"Yes, you did." Alice nodded. "Remember, you left me your credit card? Well, I felt that I had done such a great job researching your project, and you had left me to finish the notes all on my own, that I deserved a little bonus, and what better way to remember Texas then with a pair of cowboy boots."

Rainer walked over to her and studied the boots. "Nice boots. Were they terribly expensive?"

"Terribly." Alice smiled sweetly then took his plate of food. "This looks good." She sat down next to Mason on the sofa and offered him some food.

"Don't mind if I do," he said, looking at his empty plate and then at her plate. "Look at what he chose, it's no wonder he's getting fat."

"I notice you're not saying no to second helpings," Rainer said to Mason as he started to fix another plate.

The next hour sped by as every member of the Stevens family sat next to her and took time getting to know her. If Alice wasn't careful she could fall in love with the family.  It amazed her that there was so much wealth, power, and fame in one room, and they were actually more normal than she would have thought.  They gave each other a hard time and seemed to keep each other grounded in the reality of being normal.

Bryce sat down at the piano and started to play at Cassie's request.  "A party wasn't a party without music," she claimed. They had all launched into a medley of T.V. theme songs when Alice pulled Rainer aside.

"Can I talk to you?"

"Sure." He led her onto the balcony that over looked all of the New Year's Eve activity on Time Square below.

They were quiet for a minute, each with their own thoughts.

"I know I promised not to let your family know about us. I did pass on the party this evening, but Grace wouldn't take no for an answer, so she sent Bryce to my house to get me, and Bryce wouldn't take no for an answer."

"Bryce explained," Rainer said with gentle smile.

Alice reached into her pocket and pulled out the memory stick he had given her.

"Here are all of your notes on Steven Douglas.  I wasn't sure if I would see you this evening, so I brought it just in case. I didn't make any copies, and I also included my dissertation. I thought you would like to read it. I have a couple of weeks to make changes, so let me know if you see any glaring mistakes."

He took it and slid it into his pocket. "Thanks, I look forward to reading it."

She took a deep breath, she had to tell him that she knew. "You know, a writers style it a lot like a person's voice.  Once it becomes familiar to a person, it is easy to recognize." Alice didn't dare look at him, but she felt him tense.

"Is that so?" He turned to look at her.

She nodded, focusing on the crowd below.

He too, looked back down at the crowd.             

She had no clue what he was thinking, but his tension was evident, so she didn't doubt that he had gotten her subtle point. "So you know all of my secrets now?" He laughed, shaking his head as if he wasn't quite sure how that had happened.

Alice turned her back to the crowds below and saw that all three doors of the balcony were filled with the Stevens family watching them.

"You would think that they would have had only one person watching and reporting back on everything."

Rainer didn't ask her what she was talking about.  He just looked over his shoulder at all of the faces peering out at them. They didn't attempt hide themselves or look away, they were glued to the doors as if she and Rainer were their evening's entertainment. "There are very few secrets in this family."

"But you hold the majority of them?" Alice concluded.

"Something like that, but now you do too."

Alice was guessing he was trying to figure out how to deal with that.

"I'm good at keeping secrets." She looked into his eyes, willing him to believe her.

After a moment of consideration he threw his arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him. "I guess that must make you my best friend."

Alice heart gave a little leap, not only at his touch but at his words as well. Rainer's best friend, it was a start. She put her arm around his waist and squeezed him. "I'll take it. Besides you're an ideal dinner partner, you don't mind when I steal food off of your plate."

He laughed at that. "No, I don't mind, but I reserve the right to tell you no every now and then, especially at dessert time." He walked towards the door.

"And I reserve the right not to listen." But she knew he would never deny her anything he had, except what she wanted most, his heart.

Rainer laughed again as he opened the door.

"Sorry to disappoint you all," he said, leading Alice back into the living room, "we're just friends." And he gave Alice a quick kiss on the top of her head. "Al and I were just wondering where dessert is?"

After that they rejoined the party, and she would steal a glance at Rainer every now and then, but he seemed to be enjoying himself just as much as she was.

She had a long talk with Rainer's parents, who were welcoming and even a little parental towards her.  They wanted to know all about her work, if she was dating any nice young men, and all about her family. His mother expressed concern that she wasn't dressed warm enough when they went outside to watch the New Year's celebration, even though she was wearing her jacket.

When the ball dropped and the roar went up from the crowd, Alice was content. She may not have all of Rainer but she had his friendship and his family's friendship as well. It was the first New Year she hadn't spent on her own in many years.

Everybody kissed everyone Happy New Year, but when Alice got to Rainer her heart melted a little as he smiled warmly down into her eyes and gave her a warm kiss. "Are you happy?" he asked

"Right this minute, yes, how about you?"

"Right this minute, yes." He echoed her words then moved on to Lizzy.

"Well, I must say that was a disappointment. We were all waiting for you to fall into Rainer's arms while he declared his undying love for you at the stroke of midnight," Mason said, giving her a brief kiss.

"This isn't the movies, and we really are just friends." Alice laughed then moved on to Caleb.

Caleb gave her a kiss. "We should really have dinner sometime. Who knows, it might knock some sense into my brother." She noted that he was saying and doing all of the right things, but his eyes looked very sad. Perhaps Rainer didn't hold all of the family secrets.

"How are you holding up?" Bryce asked, giving her a kiss on the cheek. He was definitely the reserved one in the family. He was also the only one who really knew what had happened between her and Rainer.

"I'm actually doing good Bryce." She gave him a kiss back.

He gave her a warm smile that transformed his face making him devastating. Alice had wondered why a warm woman like Grace had chosen Bryce, and now she knew. He was the one who truly held his family together, and it was obvious that his feelings ran deeper than most people knew. "You really do carry the weight of this family don't you?" Alice gave him a hug. "Thank you for accepting me, it means a lot. More than you could know. I love your brother very much."

Bryce looked thunderstruck.

Rainer came up behind him and clapped him on the back. "I see by the look on your face that Al just made one of her uncomfortably honest statements. Just be glad you weren't drinking anything, otherwise we would all be wearing it right now.