077:

The next two weeks of filming were grueling, but the best of her life. Kell and Steve were hilarious, working harder than she'd ever worked, laughing and joking, sharing ideas like they'd never done before. They included her constantly, and Steve was the one to diffuse her, even telling Ryan politely that he could go back to the states and work on his own projects as he had Melia covered. They didn't talk to Ryan about it as she'd feared; in fact neither of them ever brought it up again, not in her face like they both had on the houseboat. But it was there, in the underlying dynamic, and it was also clear to her that things had changed.

The reunion was over the weekend. She and Megan had made plans to travel together, the guys were traveling separately, as they had stop over's in California to finish up business. It was nice to have someone to help her on the plane with the girls. It was very nice to have someone to talk to on the ten hour flight. It was even nicer to have her sister back full force and be able to have a little girl talk now that they had both experienced marriage.

On their layover in Denver, Megan took Hannah walking and Melia stayed with the baby in their designated area when Robert called her.

He called her fairly regularly, but was very careful to only talk about work and work related subjects. He never broached the what if subject with her again after that time at the airport, and she didn't bring it up either, preferring to wait until Ryan announced the annulment publicly.

No matter what went on in their private lives-- and Ryan's not so private life, as he lived it up with Alicia now-- on set and off; she wasn't going to change anything by publicly freaking out about it. It was better to do as her dad had always said, keep family business private. Never talk about it in public, ever. No matter who else did, even if someone else in the family did. Never comment on it at all.

It was nobody's business but her own.

"Hello Robert." She said his name with a French accent, naming him Ro-bear and sometimes adding an oh at the end.

And he called her, "Hello there my Tia Melia." His voice was happy, as it always was. He tried very hard to be positive when speaking to her. She knew he still grieved, he told her so, but he also managed to keep it upbeat between the two of them.

"Where are you?" she asked, feeling the calm that pervaded her whenever Robert called.

"I'm in the Atlantic Ocean, on my boat, near The Cayman islands."

"Oh! You didn't tell me you were going on another trip."

"I thought I did. Well, no matter, you wouldn't have come with me anyway. So I brought a couple of guys I work with and my dog."

"Your dog? You didn't tell me you have a dog. Robert, what's all this about? I thought we were better friends than this!" She was teasing him and he knew it.

"There is so much you don't know about me!" He used his Spanish accent to perfection and she laughed again. "I wish you were here. It is absolutely breathtaking. I know why half the world wants to party in Cartagena. It's got to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Have you been here?"

"I think when I was really little my mom took us on a cruise, me and Danny and Megs. There are pictures of us there... somewhere... Jamaica... Port Au Prince.... Something like that. Aruba... is that a place?"

"I would like to take you to Aruba, darling." He said in a very sexy voice and she knew she was blushing so she busied herself looking through the diaper bag for something.

"You... me... the kids... the dog.... How romantic." She teased.

"Well, it's not really my dog. It's Rory's dog. Hey, Rory, you want me to throw this damn mutt overboard for the sharks? Get him off me!" Robert yelled good-naturedly. "The flick is a wrap. Will you go to the festival with me? It'll be in about two months. Think we can handle that? Will Ryan make his announcement by then? Have all the threats wrapped up too?"

"I think so. This weekend is a real selling point for both of us. If nothing happens, then I'll call his bluff and be done. I don't mind making a public statement anymore. He has made his intentions extremely clear." She said with as little anger as possible.

She was still hurt at Ryan's callous and immature behavior . But with Kell and Steve's help, she was mastering her own self-condemnation. Neither of them blamed her for what had happened. Steve from an ecclesiastical point of view believed in repentance and forgiveness and he was systematically drilling that into her head. And Kell from the absolute other spectrum. He didn't blame her at all, he said it had been cute and silly to believe that they'd found true love on their maiden voyage, she and Ryan, and that perspectives change and others come along, and she needed to experience the things she did, that there were reasons she may not even be aware of for the things she had been through.

"Well, then we'll just have to take that same cruise again and refresh your childhood memories." Robert said.

"How long will you be out this time?"

"Till I come back." He quipped.

"Maybe all those beautiful island girls will tempt you."

"Maybe they will." He teased. "And maybe a little redheaded temptress has already stolen my heart."

Melia drew in her breath sharply, and of course, found herself unable to speak. "Surprise you?" He asked with a hint of flirtatiousness.

"Yes."

"You're a little prude, aren't you, my love?" He laughed. "I think I like that about you. I always catch you off guard. I hope it stays that way. Do you think you would come with me back to the islands? Bring the girls, of course."

"We're a package deal these days." She breathed, with a chuckle at the end.

"I'm welcoming that idea." He answered promptly. "I miss you guys. It's been a month..."

"We miss you too." She said. "You owe me a desert sunrise."

His laugh was brimming with flirty tension. "I'll make it the most beautiful desert sunrise you ever saw."

"You're really coming on to me this time." She said softly as Megan and Hannah approached. "I'm going to have to go, Megan is coming."

"And we are still a secret from her? I am looking forward to the day when we are free to pursue this conversation."

"Sorry. Me too. It will be nice to not feel so secretive."

"There's really no need now, you know. I could come there tonight and bust some royal Ryan ass, and kick the threaten-ers out of your life for good."

"That's because you just finished playing a super hero and you have that character's powers at your disposal. You're feeling indestructible." She gave Hannah her Sippy cup and a toy.

"So, is it a date, Tia Melia? Will you come with me on my boat after your reunion?" His voice had turned serious, and she wished she could say yes, but she was scared to commit. She didn't know how she'd feel in two weeks or a month....

"Is there a rec room on your boat?" She decided to keep it light.

"There is." He admitted. "And you can use it to your heart's content. I will be happy to show you how it all works." That one had a possible double meaning too. How it all works... how what all works?

She smiled. "I would like to come." She said softly, and she sensed his interest perk up.

"Good. We'll plan on it. I'll put my other project on hold a month and we'll cruise." He sounded very excited about it and she was pleased that he was pleased, but she still felt a moment's hesitation.

"You have no idea what you're getting into, Robere... two screaming kids on your boat all day and all night... it will make a man out of you for sure." She gave her sister the thumbs up when they announced the boarding arrangements over the loud speaker. "Gotta run."

"Who was that?" Megan asked as they rounded up the kids and their endless stuff and made their way to the gate.

"Robert DeMarco. You met him last year I think. He lost his wife recently." Melia admitted, striving for nonchalance, and her sister's eyes rose dramatically.

"Why are you talking to him?" Megan hissed.

They lumbered down the small tunnel to their plane and left the stroller at the door before boarding, feeling ill equipped to be holding the two infants all the way to New York.

"He's my friend."

"Since when? Didn't he come to the Catalina house the night you had Abby?"

"Since then. We started being friends because of our mutual losses. It helps to have someone who can relate to you."

"Mommy can relate to you." Megan said irritably as she pushed their luggage into the overhead cargo holder and then shoved another piece under the seat in front of her and retrieved Hannah from following people down the aisle.

"And we've talked." She agreed. "Mommy is a great listener." They both sat down and pulled the babies close for hugs and play time while waiting for the plane to take off.

"But you like this guy? How old is he? He's been around a lot." Megan said.

Melia's brows rose. "I honestly don't know. He was married eight years. So, he's probably in his thirties."

"And you're barely in your twenties? I think he's a little old for you."

"And who are you, my mother? Don't go here, Megs, you don't know anything. I didn't say we are anything more than friends. We talk on the phone, that's about it." She was defensive and wondered why. She had no need to be. Robert was her friend, he'd barely started making conversation about progressing from friendship into something more, but even she had no clue how that would work out. She couldn't even think about it right now, and Robert knew that. Better than Megan did apparently.

They avoided that conversation on the rest of the trip and were met at the airport by Danny and Julie and their kids no less and all other thoughts were forgotten in the excitement of Grandma Mann's reunion.

*****