" * * * * * * * * * * * * * Ian checked his watch as he left the Ross-Shimura building. It was already gone eight. He'd been working hard...with Susan all day and tomorrow would be just as hectic. That was the problem with being the junior in the office. You tended to end up with all the boring, time-consuming jobs. He got on his motorbike and started to head home. Ian had barely got on the road when he saw something that made him pull over again. Wasn't that his boss's car parked. The door opened again and a couple in their mid-fifties emerged with two trays and the lady called, ‘Miranda, did you find us a place?’ The Goddess in black turned and without saying a word pointed to me. The lady put down the tray with sandwiches that she was carrying at the seat to my left. The man crossed to my right and placed his tray with coffee there. Miranda looked at me, walked straight to the seat opposite me without any open expression, and took her seat. The couple were obviously. . There were tears in both of our eyes when we finished our last romp ,sniffling as we kissed and held each other tight. Even when she walked out the door I vowed we would find time to be alone again . I sat watching her walk naked away, I listened for her to start singing like she used to do to announce her happiness , but there was none. For the next two days I would come home from work purposely driving by Beth's house hoping to see her . I would sit at the picnic table in the evening. He rounded the corner just in time to see Argent and Talon locked in combat. Maggie was trying to help Claw back to his feet, and Delilah was huddled in a corner with tears in her eyes. He launched himself at the two combatants and succeeded in seperating them for a moment. Talon raised his hand and fired an energy blast towards Argent, but he dodged out of the way and shot back with one of his own that seemed to burn with a greater intensity than Talon's. Derek barely had time to move aside.