8 comments/  13102 views/  12 favorites

Brownwood: I Dreamed Ch. 01

By: DFWBeast



Author's Note: This is a 7-part Romance that is the cornerstone to the Brownwood series. There are multiple cross-over characters, so lots of cameos. Brownwood: Welcome To Brownwood is a flash, non-story, description for those readers who want a more detailed setting description. 

Warning: This is a dark romance. If you're looking for a happy, feel-good romance, you might want to skip this one. It has those aspects but they're wrapped up in the pain, anger, and turmoil of two people fighting to rebuild their lives. It contains two scenes that are more sexually explicit than my normal bad romance level descriptions. It also deals with date rape and contains one scene that's not overly graphic, but some might be offended. That chapter is clearly marked. 

All chapters are completed and will be submitted every few days after the first chapter is posted. Some characters and plot points in this story were inspired by Second Chances by S-Des, one of my Favs. 

My thanks to LadyVer and others for their valuable feedback as beta readers. A special thank you to findingmyvoice for her hours of extensive editing and input. Thank you Lady K. 

**** 

There was a time when love was blind 
And the world was a song and the song was exciting 
There was a time, 
Then it all went wrong. 
- I Dreamed a Dream, Les Misérables 

**** 

Summer 2003 - Brownwood 

Zach Morgan stared and groaned. 

There'd only been three females in his life that he'd given his heart to besides his mother. Two of them he'd asked to marry, both had accepted and both ended up leaving him. Now he stared into a pair of deep blue eyes that seemed to brighten even the darkest parts of his world. 

Oh Lord, he groaned again to himself. This one's going to hurt me someday. 

Shannon's curly blonde hair fell gently over her shoulders as she sat on the bathroom counter, staring at him. She smiled warmly as she watched his every move as though she was trying to memorize every contour on his face. Trying his best not to be distracted, he carefully finished shaving. 

He turned so he could look straight into her angelic face and was met with a dazzling smile that melted him. She peered straight into his soul with an unreserved love that had brought him back from the pain of his past. 

"Daddy goin' out?" she chirped. 

Zach smiled at his little three-year-old daughter and dabbed some shaving cream on her nose. She squealed and giggled, her laughter drawing a chuckle from him. 

"Yeah, Cupcake, Daddy's got to go out for a while and to have... fun." 

"I go too?" 

"No, sweetheart, not this time. Besides, Gamma is coming over to watch you tonight." 

"Gamma?" 

Zach grinned and nodded. 

"Ice ceam!" she squealed raising her arms up to him. 

He lifted her down and watched her stomp down the hall singing, "Ice ceam! Ice ceam! I love ice ceam!" 

Zach chuckled. At least she's more loyal than the last two loves of my life. Of course if I wanted loyalty I probably should've stuck with having a dog. 

"Shannon?" he called after her. "Why don't you get Big Bear and go wait for Gamma on the couch?" 

"Oh tay Daddy!" came her sing-song reply. 

Zach sighed. Lord, she already looks like her momma. 

She had the same curly blonde hair and big blue eyes like Susan. He wondered how much she'd be like her mother when she got older. Not too much I hope, he thought to himself, remembering Susan's well-endowed and curvy frame matched with her wild child attitude. He groaned knowing she'd be a father's worst nightmare! 

He'd known it was a mistake, even from the beginning. He'd been out of college for a year before he'd started dating Susan Hollingsford. At 5'4, a brilliant smile, a long mane of curly golden hair, and curves that balanced her well-endowed assets, the twenty-two year-old party girl certainly wasn't unaccustomed to having plenty of male attention. But it was the laughter and life that poured out of those deep blue eyes that first drew him. 

Soon they were an item and heavily into the club scene. Not surprisingly, she'd gotten pregnant during one night of drunken sex. He knew he cared for her but she wasn't ready to get married. However when she told him she was going to get an abortion, he panicked and proposed. Zach didn't know if it was because he'd loved her or if he was still holding on to some dream of a wife, kids, and a happy home. He suspected the latter since that dream had cost him his first love back in college. Now that same dream had caused him to rush into a toxic marriage. 

Susan finally agreed to marry him after he'd pleaded and begged. They both tried to make it work at the beginning, but the pregnancy and change in lifestyle took a hard toll on her. A month after Shannon was born, she was back to partying.  

With Susan clubbing and Zach staying home watching Shannon, it didn't take long before the marriage started crumbling. The fights got uglier and more frequent while whatever love they'd once had was being starved out. Soon he'd suspected she was cheating on him and the writing was on the wall. A few weeks later he'd confirmed her infidelity and the marriage was done. 

The divorce was quick and uncontested. It was finalized only a few weeks after Shannon's first birthday. Zach got joint custody of Shannon. He'd been surprised Susan hadn't given him full custody since motherhood had put such a bite on her lifestyle. Perhaps she'd discovered a stronger love for Shannon or maybe it was guilt. Zach didn't know and he doubted if Susan did either. 

As with most things in life, it was irrelevant in the end. Seven months after the divorce, he received a call telling him Susan and her boyfriend had been killed in a drunk-driving accident. Shannon was now solely his, but it was a responsibility he relished. 

The sound of his front door opening startled him from his little jaunt down memory lane. A second later, his guest was announced. 

"GAMMA!" 

"CUPCAKE!" his mother's cheery voice replied. 

He smiled broadly as he heard his little girl squeal with delight, and envisioned the sight of his mother embracing her with one of her patented bear hugs. Shannon's giggles and his mother's laughter filled the apartment. 

Zach smiled as he walked into the living room. Before him stood his mother, a tall, striking blonde in her mid-40's, who could've easily passed for a woman in her early thirties. Her slender build still filled out her blouse and jeans in a way that got her noticed by most men. 

He felt a deep pride when he looked at his mother. Allison Morgan was one of a kind. Even after a nightmare childhood, a divorce, and then being widowed six years ago, his mother was still full of life. 

Though she rarely talked about it, he'd heard enough stories about his grandfather to know he was an abusive alcoholic and womanizer. Zach had put together how his abuse and cheating had finally driven his grandmother to run out on her family, leaving his mother and his two uncles behind. Even with her childhood from hell, his mother had still been there for his grandfather when he developed Alzheimer's. She'd even put him in a rest home here in town so she could check up on him. 

"Well, if my two favorite ladies are going to have such a good time, maybe I should stay home and join you!" Zach announced in a loud voice. 

His mother's radiant smile disappeared as she gave him a stern stare with a raised eyebrow. Her smile might've been gone but the delight, dancing in her eyes, couldn't be hidden. 

"Huh-uh, young man," she said, trying to keep the laughter out of her voice. "You're going to your ten year reunion and have fun, while Cupcake and I have a girls' night out!" 

Zach burst out laughing when he saw Shannon trying to mimic her grandmother's stare at him. 

"All right," he said, raising his hands in defeat. "I'll go, but I'd rather be getting a root canal!" 

His mother snorted. 

"It won't be that bad, sweetheart." 

Now it was Zach's turn to look at his mother in disbelief. She looked at him innocently. 

"What?" she said as the smile returned to her face. 

"Mom, we both know Bree will be there tonight, right?" 

"Honey," she said in a motherly tone, "I own a local diner; of course I hear all the local gossip. I know things only a day later than the beauty parlors or those old gossiping biddies down at Miss Vivian's Tea Room. I knew she was in town less than 48 hours after she got here." 

Zach thought about the diner his dad had bought for his mother shortly after they were married. It was right across from the Mid-State Battery plant, where she'd been working. He'd renamed it after her, the Allie Cat Diner. His mother had loved it. It didn't take long before she had the old diner thriving again, catering to the plant workers, and to the rural community. 

He turned his attention back to his mother's words. 

"Funny, you didn't mention it to me." 

"Why, so you could find a reason to not go tonight?" 

Allie sighed. "Sweetheart, you need to face some of those old demons and move on. You don't want to end up like your grandfather, do you? Just go and show her what she missed out on and then get on with your life!" 

Zach cringed at the thought of his grandfather. Over the past year all he did was sit in his wheelchair by his bedroom window, call out for Zach's grandmother, and cry. He didn't even recognize anyone any more. I guess karma really is a bitch, isn't it Grandpa? 

"She's not the only one who'll be there," he said, conceding the argument. He was thinking of Kristen, an old classmate who he'd dated over the summer last year. She'd been the only woman he'd dated more than a few times over the last year-and-a-half. 

Allie snorted again. "You mean Kristen James? Not to burst your bubble, Son, but after you broke up with her, she ended up dating Bree's older brother, Tommy. Last I heard she was very happy with the way things turned out." 

They were interrupted by a tiny snort that sounded very much little a child blowing her nose. They both looked down at a smiling face, which was famed by a mane of yellow curls, with a giant snot bubble coming out of her nose. 

"Oh my," his mother said, fighting back a grin. "We'll go get a tissue while you get out of... oh no, no baby, not on your sleeve! 

"All right then, we'll need to get you cleaned up," she said, smiling at Shannon. 

Her smile faded as she looked at Zach. 

"And you, young man, GO!" 

The drive over to Brownwood High School took longer than expected, of course the fact that Zach drove past it twice didn't help. He couldn't help thinking back. Where his time with Kristen would've been considered a commercial and his marriage to Susan a music video, his time with Brianna Olsen resembled watching the complete Lord of the Rings trilogy... extended versions. 

The fact was he'd grown up with Bree. 

Zach, along with his mother and his two-year-old sister, Ginny, had moved to Brownwood when he was five. His father had run out on them a year earlier, and his mother had found work at the battery plant. 

Two years later, the most influential individuals, other than his mother, entered his young life. His mother married a man named Phil Morgan and Zach met Brianna Olsen. Phil became his new father and Bree became his best friend. 

Almost immediately, Bree and he became inseparable. Their classmates quickly nicknamed them 'Bozo' and the 'Brain'. Zach's academic aptitude, his sandy blond hair, and pop-bottle glasses made him look like a nerd. Bree, on the other hand, was always loud and out-going. She had a face full of red freckles to go along with bright orange-red hair that rarely had a brush run through it. It resembled, on more than one occasion, Bozo the Clown. 

All through grade school they carried those monikers but it'd bound them tighter as friends. The teasing got even worse when they were in junior high. He was thin and somewhat uncoordinated. Bree however had hit her growth spurt and shot up to her five feet ten inches, seemingly overnight. She soon towered over him, and with her braces they looked quite the pair. Of course that didn't matter to them and soon they were a couple. 

Zach smiled, remembering those days. By the time high school had come around, the jeers he'd received about being 'Bozo's Boyfriend' began to disappear. Bree had started becoming a woman, a very beautiful woman. 

He'd finally hit his growth spurt and had caught up to her. Still thin and somewhat awkward, he'd never been considered muscular but in time he did begin to fill out his frame. When they started their senior year, Zach had gotten contacts and had somehow made both the varsity football and basketball teams. Bree, on the other hand, had become one of the prettiest girls in the school and was even a Prom Queen runner-up. 

**** 

Summer 1991 - Brownwood 

"Mom!" Ginny yelled. 

She stood with her hands on her slim, thirteen year-old hips. She was wearing her first bikini and was modeling it for Zach and Bree. Their mother answered from the kitchen. 

"What, sweetheart?" 

"Zach's looking at my butt again!" 

"Honey?" Allie said in a calm, motherly voice. "Stop looking at your sister's butt. It's just not right!" 

Zach choked and turned bright red as Bree rolled with laughter. 

"I wasn't... but she ..." he stammered. 

"Well technically you were!" Bree said between fits of laughter. 

"Dammit, she asked us to look at her!" he retorted. 

"Besides the point!" Ginny said in a mocking sing-song voice as she skipped out of the living room and into the kitchen. 

"Cookies!" she squealed. 

"Zach, watch your language," Allie laughingly chastised him. "And the two of you better get in here before your sister eats all my freshly baked cookies!" 

The pair jumped off the couch and raced for the kitchen. Allie set a plate of chocolate chip cookies down on the table and Ginny grabbed a handful. She looked at Zach with a smirk that let everyone know she relished her role as the annoying little sister. With her bounty in tow, she skipped off to her room, smiling. 

"Why do you do that, Mom?" Zach asked. 

"What's that, honey?" 

"Embarrass me like that. I mean, I'm sixteen." 

"Oh sweetheart," Allie cooed as she looked at her son with an intense love. "It's never to be mean. At least with me it isn't, Ginny I'm not so sure. 

"It's just that you're always so serious. I want you to loosen up a bit and enjoy life. Of course," she said, smiling sweetly, "there's also the fact that you're just so much fun to tease!" 

"Gee, thanks Mom," he said, trying to hide his grin. 

"Besides, sweetheart," she continued, "we all know that it's not your sister's butt you can't seem to take your eyes off of!" 

This time both Zach and Bree turned bright red. Allie laughed as she started to leave. 

"Be sure to leave a few cookies for your father," she called out behind her. "If you don't, I'll have to think of another treat to give him when he gets home tonight. Come to think of it, there's no reason he shouldn't get two treats tonight!" 

Zach shook his head as he looked at Bree. 

"Just don't say anything and perhaps they'll go away," he said, grinning. 

The couple sat quietly for a few minutes, enjoying the cookies, before Bree couldn't take it any longer. 

"So," she started, "you like my butt?" 

Defeated, Zach groaned again. 

"You do, don't you!" she said, smiling evilly. 

Then in a soft taunting voice she started. 

"Brain likes Bozo's butt! Brain likes Bozo's butt!" 

"Et tu, Brute?" he said, laughing. 

**** 

They'd shared everything back then. They shared each other's first kiss, first date, and even lost their virginities to each other. 

With a sigh, Zach remembered when he discovered the red curls that adorned her head were matched only by those hidden within her panties. The first time he'd seen her naked, it'd taken his breath away. He'd seen Bree in her bathing suit many times before, but to see her laid out before him, in the back seat of his car, was an image he'd remember for the rest of his life. He never got tired of thinking about the curves of her long body, how deep those freckles ran down her chest, and how they accented her small breasts. 

They'd started making plans together for their future. They'd decided to go to State University down in the City instead of staying in Brownwood, and attending St. Catherine's College. When they started talking marriage, a month before graduation, Bree's parents intervened. They'd asked the young couple to give it a year before they talked marriage again. They were concerned because they hadn't ever dated anyone else but each other. 

A bitter smirk came across Zach's face as he remembered. If they'd been engaged before they went to State University would things have turned out differently? Of course, he reasoned, but would it have been for the better or for the worse? He sighed realizing he would never know. 

By the time they'd left for college, Zach and Bree had agreed to continue to date but not exclusively. Zach knew it would be hard, but he didn't realize just how difficult it would be. That first semester he'd dated several different girls. Bree however seemed to be with a different guy every week. She'd joined a sorority and relished her status as a social butterfly. 

Each time Zach saw her with a different guy, he felt a piece of himself die. At the end of that semester it was obvious to both that things couldn't continue the way they were. With a grimace, Zach replayed their conversation in his head. 

**** 

Winter 1993 - State University, the City 

"Bree, I can't do this," he'd said, trying to hide the pain. 

She'd looked at him with tears in her eyes. "I know," she whispered. 

"I... I know what I want," he said gently, "and what I want is you. I don't want to date any other girls, Bree. I love you, just you." 

Tears began falling from her powder blue eyes as he watched her in silence. 

"I'm sorry, Zach," she said softly and began to sob. 

He tried to steel himself, to remain strong in front of her. 

"Are you in love with someone else?" he asked, his voice breaking and betraying him. 

Bree shook her head violently. "No. There's no one else. Zach, you know for sure what you want in life, but I don't. I know I love you, but not enough to get married. I don't know if I ever will but right now I don't want to settle down. I want, no, what I need is to experience life before I get serious about who I want to spend my future with. I know it isn't fair, but that's what I feel." 

Zach nodded slowly. She was being honest with him, something he valued highly. They'd always been able to tell each other what they felt in their hearts, now just because it wasn't what he wanted to hear, he couldn't punish her for that. 

The break-up was painful but civil. 

Over the next several months, they tried to avoid running into each other on campus. He dated occasionally but tended to focus hard on his studies, while she continued with her active sorority lifestyle. For the most part they were successful, and the times they did run into each other that semester weren't too awkward or tense. 

Things changed that summer back in Brownwood. 

Zach was working at the Allie Cat Diner, like he did most school breaks and summers, when Bree came into the diner. It wasn't unexpected since her family owned several farms on that side of town. Also, her older sister, Donna, had married a guy whose family owned Collins Feed Mill, located not a thousand feet down the road from the diner. No, seeing someone related to the Olsen clan on a daily basis wasn't the exception but rather the norm. 


Brownwood: I Dreamed Ch. 01



He tried to ignore her without being rude but each time he glanced at her, she was staring wistfully at him. Then when his attention was on another customer, he'd turned and there she was. Her light red curls fell across her shoulders and seemed to frame her cute freckled face. Her jeans and t-shirt looked good on her trim figure and although she wasn't well endowed, Zach stared briefly as the swellings seemed to grow as she began breathing deeper. When his gaze finally returned to her face, she smiled knowingly and peered into his soul with her baby blue eyes. He was momentarily stunned. 

If truth be told, he couldn't remember their entire conversation then. After she'd said 'I miss you' things got somewhat fuzzy. They began dating again that summer. 

They were inseparable that next year at State. They were together at every study session and college event. The frat parties were the most difficult for Zach. Being around a lot of the guys Bree had dated that last year made him uncomfortable and jealous. She did her best to ease his concerns by rarely leaving his side at those parties. She would wrap his arm around her waist and press into him, making sure everyone knew who she was with. 

In time he began to relax and enjoy himself. There was really only one group of guys he had a hard time being around, a small group of frat brothers led by Ty Whitmore. 

Damn! Zach thought. Who the hell names their kid Ty? They must've known he was going to be an arrogant prick even then! 

Ty was a six foot three inch, two-hundred ten pound, good-looking, rich boy from Boston. While Zach always thought he was a pompous ass, he could easily see why Bree had dated him. With his wavy brown hair, natural good looks, and muscular build Ty Whitmore was quite the ladies' man. It also didn't hurt he was rumored to be hung like a horse and an energizer bunny in bed. 

Although they had a few run-ins at the beginning, Ty and his friends soon left Bree alone. At one party, she let them and any other would-be suitors know, very vocally, she was with Zach and only Zach. After that, Zach and Bree were treated as a couple even when apart. 

He smiled as he remembered Bree's passion that night. She'd seemed to be on fire when they got to his dorm room. No sooner had he closed the door than she attacked him. The heat of her lips as they kissed only seemed to intensify as he clumsily tried to undo her jeans. With an impatient huff she undid them herself and let them fall to the floor as she quickly undid his belt. 

Within seconds their naked bodies were entwined as they lay on his bed. They danced together, two young lovers trying to match the other's rhythm. Her softness, the taste of her skin, and the incredible warmth of her body quickly overwhelmed him. Bree's moans filled the small room and Zach smiled, knowing he'd receive several comments tomorrow from others on his dorm floor. 

They ended up making love twice more that night much to their neighbors' delight or distraction. Completely spent, they enveloped themselves in each other and finally slept. 

It didn't surprise anyone when Zach proposed and Bree accepted that next summer. What did startle some was when they got an apartment together. To say that Bree's parents, devout Catholics, weren't pleased was an understatement. However they loved Zach so there wasn't too much said. 

The next nine months were like a fairytale for them. They studied, worked, partied, and loved like a married couple. Every night found them snuggled together and each morning they woke in each other's arms. 

One highlight during that time was when Zach had taken Bree to go see a touring production of the Broadway musical, Les Miserables. She'd always loved the theatre and music, but Les Miserables was her all-time favorite. 

For a short time, reality bordered upon fantasy for the couple. 

Zach first noticed the cracks in their relationship that spring. Bree had become hesitant when discussing the wedding and was reluctant to make plans. He'd at first dismissed it as her getting cold feet. 

What an idiot I was, he chided himself. The more she pulled away, the more I tried to hold her close. Like I had enough love for both of us to make a marriage work. 

Things began to unravel when Bree postponed the wedding three months before its scheduled date. Zach was ashamed at how he'd reacted; he'd verbally attacked her out of his own fear and pain. 

Still reeling from their fight, the couple suffered another blow just two weeks later. Zach received word his dad was very ill. Phil Morgan had been diagnosed as having an advanced stage of pancreatic cancer and the prognosis was very bleak. 

Zach had spent most of that summer back in Brownwood, helping his mother at the diner. She'd hired a man, Hector Chavez, to help out as well. This had allowed her to spend more time with his dad but also provided some space for Bree and himself. With Bree staying in the City and Zach living at home, the couple had a chance to cool off. 

Of course with Ginny there as well, Zach had little time to sit and stew about his current problems. 

**** 

Summer 1996 - Brownwood 

"Isn't that right, Zach?" his sister ask, breaking his concentration on the latest customer's order. 

With an exasperated sigh he replied, "What?" 

"My tits are too small aren't they?" 

"What?!" 

"Honey," his mother interjected, "they're not too small. Besides you're only eighteen and just starting college in the fall." 

"Yes they are!" Ginny said, looking down at her own chest. "I think I need a boob job before I go to college." 

"Don't worry, sweetheart, once you have a kid or two, then you'll be griping about how they sag because they're too big!" 

Ginny snorted. "Kids? Only if I can find a husband who likes his wife flat as a board! Isn't that right, Zach?" 

"Ginny, I'm not going to talk about your... Hector... help me out here?" Zach pleaded, looking over at the nice-looking, young, Hispanic man who was busily cooking on the grill. 

"No hablo ingles," he said, not even looking up. 

"Bullshit! I've heard you before. Now, help a brother out?" 

Hector looked at Zach and then over at the two smirking women. He slowly shook his head. 

"No hablo ingles." 

"Coward." 

Hector grinned as he focused his attention back to his grill. 

"Well?" he heard his sister ask. 

"Well what?" 

"Do you think I need a boob job?" 

"Dammit Sis, I'm not looking at your tits, all right? So keep me out of this!" 

Allie and Ginny grinned and he could see the mischief dancing in their eyes. Then both women burst out laughing. 

Embarrassed, Zach stormed out of the kitchen and back into the diner only to be met by several smiling faces at the counter. He recognized them as regulars from the battery plant. 

"You know, Zach," one said, laughing, "if you don't want to look at your sister's tits, we're willing to step in for you!" 

"Gee thanks," he responded sarcastically. 

"Sorry, sirs," came Ginny's voice from behind him, "but they're not on the menu." 

She stared at them, daring them to make some comment. 

"Now, of course," she began in a sultry voice, "if that dreamy Donnie Hill you all work with was to order..." 

She stared at them innocently and batted her eyes. There was no doubt Ginny Morgan was a younger version of her mother. Zach tried to imagine an entire summer with the both of them and groaned. 

**** 

Zach and Bree had spent the weekends that summer together, struggling to fix their damaged relationship. Bree having second thoughts about getting married was something neither one of them knew how to deal with. Slowly it began tearing their relationship apart. 

By the time school began, Zach was back in their apartment and their lives resembled an emotional rollercoaster. Instead of a great last year of college, they spent most of their time bickering. The battle lines had been drawn with Bree trying to convince him to go to yet another party and Zach trying to guilt her into staying home. 

The fights grew more intense and soon the accusations began. Bree accused him of trying to manipulate and control her while Zach accused her of wanting a playtime boyfriend with no designs on the future. As the tensions between them escalated, she started spending more time with her sorority while he withdrew and became more sarcastic. 

The intimacy between them rapidly faded, along with the frequency of sex. In the bedroom, it resembled more of a competition than an act of love and passion. She seemed to desire mostly physical sex, hot and erotic, while he pushed for more romantic love making. 

Then one Saturday night in November, things came crashing down. Zach winced as he began to relive the death throes of his relationship with Brianna Olsen. 

It'd begun with another argument over going to a party. This one, as luck would have it, was hosted by both Bree's sorority and Ty's fraternity. Ty and several others had held their distance from Bree but Zach had noticed they'd been taking interest in the couple's problems. He had no desire to go another party and put on a good front to keep the wolves at bay. 

**** 

"What do you mean we shouldn't go tonight?" Bree yelled. 

"Dammit, Zach," she said, trying to control herself, "why do we have to do this every week? You know my sorority is co-hosting this party. Besides it's been planned for two months now!" 

"Oh wait, another party? What a surprise!" he spat back at her. 

"Don't get shitty with me, Zach. I'm so tired of it. Every time I suggest we go out, you want to stay home. It's like you don't want to have fun anymore." 

"Bullshit, I just want to have fun with you and not a hundred of your Greek friends. Why do we always have to go out to have fun? What happened to just the two of us having fun?" 

"That's not fair! I know things between us haven't been good for the last several months, but that doesn't give you the right to throw that in my face every time I want to go somewhere! Listen, if you still want to, I could make it up to you after we get home from the party." 

"That's great! Bribe me with sex so I'll do what you want. What am I, Bree, your pet? If I'm a good boy you'll give me a treat? 

"Even if I took you up on it, who's to say you'd even remember? Let's face it, sweetheart, you've been getting wasted at these parties." 

"Well dear, why the hell shouldn't I? You've been moping around at them like a little boy pouting because he didn't get his way." 

"I'm tired of always trying to put on a facade so nobody will know just how damaged our relationship is. I've seen the sharks at the parties watching, looking to see if we're as happy as we pretend. They're out there, waiting to see if there's blood in the water before they move on you." 

"That's not true and you know it, Zach." 

"Are you that stupid, Bree? You're beautiful and the only thing holding them back is the way you shot down Ty and the others in the past. But don't fool yourself, the first time one of them hits on you and you don't shoot him down, they'll be all over you." 

"I haven't given them any reason to think I'm available and you're a bastard to even suggest I have!" 

"I know you haven't, at least not yet!" 

"Now you're sounding jealous and paranoid." 

"Paranoid? No. Am I jealous? Yeah. I'm sick of fighting for this relationship alone! When are you going to fight for it?" 

Bree was stunned. Her cheeks flushed dark red as her anger boiled over. 

"You asshole! You act like you're the only one sacrificing. I've turned down plenty of things I wanted to do just so I could be here and listen to you bitch and moan about how little time we spend together." 

"Well excuse the hell out of me! I'm sorry I wanted to spend more time with the person I love!" 

"And I suppose I don't? Just because I don't want to stay at home every night and act like an old married couple? Dammit, Zach, we're twenty-two not forty-two!" 

"I'm sorry this relationship is dragging you down so much." 

"I didn't say that." 

"Bullshit, you make it sound like being with me is like being in prison. Like I am trying to tie you down and steal your freedom." 

Bree was silent. 

Zach's face flushed as his voice grew cold. 

"I'm sorry my love is such a damn drag to you." 

"I didn't say that!" she screamed. "I'm so sick of this! I'm sick of you trying to make me the bad guy all the time. I'm tired of the guilt trips and I'm tired of this!" 

She removed her engagement ring and slammed it on the table in front of Zach. Bree quickly grabbed her coat and went to the front door. 

"Bree?" Zach shouted. 

"To hell with all this drama," she screamed at him. "Don't wait up, I may or may not be back!" 

She slammed the door behind her; neither one of them realizing that the dominos that'd begun falling would change their lives forever. 

**** 

Zach hadn't slept much that night but the following morning was seared into his mind. He'd been sitting at the kitchen table, staring at Bree's ring when they entered the apartment. 

Bree and one of her sorority sisters, Trisha, had come to get Bree's things. He'd noticed Bree looked like she was sick. He'd tried to talk to her a few times but she refused to even look at him. All she did was cry and mumble, "I can't ... I can't." He could tell Trisha was crying as well. 

It took everything he had left inside him just to sit there and watch them pack. As they were getting ready to leave, he tried to speak to Bree one last time. 

"Bree?" he said, his voice breaking. "I don't want this." 

She turned away and sobbed. Then she picked up the last box, full of her things, and started for the door. 

"So I guess it's over?" he said weakly. 

Bree nodded her head and walked out the door. 

He'd tried to contact her over the next several days until he began to hear about the party. Slowly he put together what had happened after she'd left their apartment. He knew she'd gone to the party and had gotten drunk. He also knew she'd ended up having sex with Ty in his room, since Bree was never quiet. After that the rumors varied, the worst being that she'd been gangbanged by Ty and about a dozen of his frat brothers. Zach was crushed regardless of what the truth actually was. At the very least, she'd thrown their engagement away and run into the arms of another man. 

Zach never knew he could hurt so badly. 

He staggered through the end of the semester, his grades slipping as he tried to regain some kind of foothold on his life. He saw Bree a few times on campus but she was clearly avoiding him. Ginny had tried to comfort him but with school finals and their father's failing health, it was hard for her to be there for him. 

Mercifully, the semester ended and Zach headed back to Brownwood for Christmas break. 

When he arrived back home, he found Allie supportive but distracted. Although her heart broke when she saw the pain her son was in, her first concern was Phil. He was deteriorating rapidly. 

Zach and Ginny took over the diner for their mother so she could spend as much time with their dad as possible. Christmas Day, although warm and full of laughter, had a melancholy feel to it as everyone realized this would be the last one they would share as a family. 

After New Year's Day, Zach decided he needed to talk to Bree, to understand what had happened. He felt his face flush with anger as he drove out to her family's farm. Slowly he began to gather himself so that by the time he drove up to the main house, he'd regained some of his composure. 

As he got out of the car he noticed Bree was already on the porch, waiting for him. The cold night air seemed to set the stage as he walked up to the porch. 

"What do you want, Zach?" Bree said, her voice catching with a tear already streaming down her cheek. 

"What do you think I want? I want to know why?" 

"It doesn't matter anymore. Please just go away." 

Undaunted, he barked at her, "How could you just throw away what we had? And then go screw another guy that same night?" 

She sobbed quietly then whispered, "It doesn't matter." 

"Doesn't matter?" Zach exploded. "Years of us being best friends and in love and now it doesn't matter? So, how many guys did you sleep with that night?" 

"Why? You want to know why?" Bree screamed at him through her tears. "Because I don't love you anymore, that's why!" 

Her parents walked out the door as she turned to go back inside. 

"I hope you rot in hell, you whore!" he yelled after her. 

She pushed past her parents and ran into the house crying. Gerald and Priscilla Olsen stood on the porch looking down at the young man they'd always considered one of their own. Their pained expressions showed they were struggling with the situation as well. 

"Zach, even though there's nobody out here within shouting distance," Gerald said in his baritone voice, "it's time to go home." 

Zach saw the agony in Priscilla's face as she clung to her husband. 

"We're sorry, Son," he continued, "but it's done." 

The young man fought back his emotions as he staggered back to his car and drove away. Tears of frustration and loss began to flood his eyes as he realized he'd lost not only Bree, but all of the Olsen family. 

**** 

That'd been the last time he'd spoken to Bree, his last conversation with his best friend and first true love. He wasn't sure if it was because he was needed at home or the likelihood of seeing Bree with someone else on campus, but Zach decided to stay in Brownwood that next semester. 

Six weeks later, Phil Morgan died. The loss of the man he'd called 'Dad' for the past 15 years left Zach devastated. It only made matters worse that the only other father figure in his life had been Bree's father, and now that relationship was dead as well. There was no question, this was the lowest point in Zach's young life. He'd never felt so alone. 

Zach heard all the local gossip as he worked that spring at the diner and soon learned Bree was dating Ty again. Ginny had brought more news when she returned home that summer. Bree was engaged to Ty. Zach knew then he needed to move on with his life. He decided to go back to school to finish his degree. 

**** 

He took a deep breath as he noticed his death grip on the steering wheel. It'd been over six years since the death of his father and the breakup with Bree and still the emotions were raw. Now he sat in the Brownwood High School parking lot, staring at the front entrance. Draped over the entrance was a banner. 

"WELCOME CLASS OF 1993!" 

Slowly he began working up the nerve to go in and see people he hadn't seen in years. Taking a deep breath, he got out of his car and began walking towards the glass doors. 

This is such a bad idea, Zach thought to himself. 

****



Brownwood: I Dreamed Ch. 02



I dreamed a dream in time gone by 
When hope was high and life worth living 
I dreamed that love would never die 
I dreamed that God would be forgiving 
- I Dreamed a Dream, Les Misérables 

**** 

This is such a bad idea, Zach thought to himself again. 

He was only a few yards away from the entrance when he made his final decision, turned, and began walking back to his car. Suddenly he heard a sweet, childlike voice calling out to him in the dark parking lot. 

"Zach, is that you?" 

He groaned softly as he recognized her voice. It was Kristen James, his ex-girlfriend from last summer. Of course most anyone would've recognized her. She was what was referred to as a JCP, a Johnson County Princess, and those are hard to forget. 

Zach chuckled, remembering his favorite description of a JCP. What if one of Santa's elves got a Barbie Doll pregnant? Voila! A JCP! He smiled as he looked at Kristen and realized how close that description actually was. 

"It is you!" she squealed as she dragged her date towards him. On her arm was the tall, muscular, redhead Tommy Olsen, Bree's older brother, who was once a good friend of his. 

"Sweetie, you're going the wrong direction. The fun is the other way!" She giggled. 

"Depends on what your definition of fun is, Kristen," Zach retorted. 

"That's what I said!" Tommy said, grinning. 

"O-M-G, you're both horrible!" Kristen said before laughing. 

"Come on, you two," she commanded as she snaked her petite arms around both men's forearms and began dragging them towards the building. 

It had been a long time since Zach had graced the old building's halls but the memories were still thick. Rich vivid flashes from the past swept over him. Mostly they were good memories simply because they were shared with Bree. Even the horrors of high school were cushioned when shared with your best friend and first love. 

The place even smells the same. 

He looked over at Kristen. She was back in her element. He remembered how she'd ruled these halls. She'd been homecoming queen, prom queen, and had been the most popular girl in school. Her only competition had been Bree and Kristen's best friends, Marsha Thompson and Stephanie Black. 

Now she floated through the halls as they approach the gymnasium. He could hear the mingled voices of the crowd and a band playing. 

They separated after checking in and Zach scanned the crowd but saw no sign of Bree. He spent the next hour talking to old schoolmates and meeting their spouses. Soon he was ready to take a break and sit down. He noticed Kristen waving him over to her table. 

He fought back another smile. 

Queen Kristen was holding court. Tommy sat on her right as she huddled with Marsha and Stephanie, no doubt reliving the glory days. 

As he approached, he noted time had been very kind to Kristen and Marsha, not so much to Stephanie. She'd gained a substantial amount of weight. He knew from when he was dating Kristen that both women were in bad marriages, so he wasn't surprised to see them there without their husbands. 

"Brain!" they chimed together. Both women got up and hugged him and made the seat next to Kristen available. Soon the table was laughing and reminiscing about the past and where people were now. Zach had taken his electrical engineering degree from State and joined the small but rapidly growing Brothers Grymm Engineering Solutions. 

He couldn't help noticing the snickering at the table when he told them where he was now working. He understood it; his bosses were more than a little unusual. Two short, paunchy, forty-year-old men with receding hairlines who should've just blended into the crowd, but that would never happen with the Grymm brothers. 

He grinned as he thought of his first impressions of Roland and Victor, the brothers Grymm. 

Roland was younger but was certainly the alpha dog. He was a combination of PT Barnum and Donald Trump. Always dressed like he was going to appear on camera, he was aggressive, charming, funny, fearless, and dangerously intelligent when it came to business. Of course his image was richly enhanced by his third wife, Renee. 

Victor, the oldest, was an MIT grad and was scary brilliant! Like many genius type individuals, his social skills were lacking. Maria, his wife of over nine years, was extremely intelligent in her own right, and over the years had trained him to be somewhat presentable in public. His thick, black rimmed glasses were a vivid reminder he still had a ways to go. 

Zach knew he'd been lucky to have joined BGES when he did. The company was exploding with Roland as CEO, Victor as the president, and Maria as the VP of Engineering. Even more fortunate was both Roland and Victor had taken a liking to him and were grooming him for bigger things in the future. 

He was pulled from his thoughts by Marsha's small gasp. 

"Oh, wow," she whispered. "Look at Bozo." 

A hush came over the table as they all turned and stared at the entrance. There was Bree. She'd barely gotten 20 feet inside the door before she was surrounded by several men. 

No one could blame them, she looked stunning. She wore a white, green and purple sundress that beautifully showed off her figure. Her hair was pulled up into tiny red ringlets that cascaded down her back. 

"Wow, she looks good but what happened to her face?" Stephanie wondered aloud. 

Zach had noticed it too. There was a small droop to her right eye and a large bump on the bridge of her nose. 

Marsha spoke up as if she were answering a question on a game show. 

"Oh, I heard she was in an accident and that ..." 

Tommy cleared his throat and she froze like a deer caught in the headlights. 

"I mean ..." she stammered. 

Good old Marsha, beautiful but with as much common sense as a rock. No wonder you married the same cheating loser twice! 

"Yeah it's true," Tommy said calmly. "But it's not something she likes to talk about. So don't ruin her night by asking her questions about it, okay?" 

Everyone nodded in agreement. 

Eventually, Bree began walking over to join them. Kristen and the other women all jumped up to welcome her. After the initial welcome and love fest, everyone began to be seated. Bree stared at Zach as she sat down. 

"Hi, Zach," she said with a smile. "You look good." 

"Brianna, you look as beautiful as ever." 

Subconsciously, she raised her hand towards her eye but then quickly tried to recover by brushing away a strand of hair. 

"I'll say," Marsha interjected, "damn girl, you look smokin' hot! Just look at how many guys were in your Welcoming Committee." 

The table laughed as Bree blushed. 

The next couple of hours found Zach dancing with each of the women at his table except for Bree. He even danced a slow song with Marsha and several with Stephanie since most of the single guys, along with several married ones, were monopolizing Bree's and Marsha's dance cards. 

"You know you don't have to dance with me all the time, Zach," Stephanie said quietly as they swayed to the music. 

He chuckled. "But I always enjoy slow dancing with a beautiful brunette." 

Stephanie sighed. "That's kind, but you don't have to lie." 

Zach stopped and looked into her eyes. "Stephanie, you are still a very attractive woman." 

She blushed and he saw tears in her eyes as she wrapped her arms around him. 

"Thank you," she whispered. "That's the nicest thing I've heard in a long time. Damn, how did Bozo let you get away?" 

They danced quietly for few moments before she spoke again. 

"I think Marsha would like to make a play for you. You know she's divorcing that asshole husband of hers... again?" 

"So I've heard." 

Stephanie giggled. "She just can't figure out how to get away from all those guys so you can dance with her again." 

"Story of my life," he said with a slight laugh. 

A few seconds later she continued. 

"You know, she still loves you." 

"Who? Marsha?" 

Stephanie choked. 

"No dumbass... Bozo. Hell, she's been staring at you like a lost puppy all night." 

"Those days are long gone," he said. 

"Whatever happened to the two of you? Everyone thought you would be married and have three kids by now." 

"I guess we found out we wanted different things in life. It ended up tearing us apart." 

"I'm really sorry, Zach. I guess life didn't turn out the way any of us wanted, huh?" 

He didn't respond, only pulled her closer, and held her tightly as they continued to sway. 

Soon they were back at the table and listening to the latest gossip. 

"Zach?" Marsha asked, "I hear you have a little girl?" 

"Oh yeah," he said, beaming with pride, "my little bundle of curls. Shannon is three and she's going to be a heartbreaker!" 

"Oh I bet she's got her daddy's heart on a string," Marsha teased. 

He nodded and laughed. 

"Yeah, but with my luck with women, I'm just hoping to get as many years as I can before it's my heart she breaks!" 

"Hey," Kristen said with a fake pout. "You dumped me, remember?" 

Then she looked up into Tommy's eyes and smiled. 

"Thank God!" she cooed. 

Everyone laughed but Bree. 

Kristen sprang to her feet as the band began playing Extreme's 'More Than Words'. It was a slow love song that Zach and Bree had once claimed as being their song. 

"Oh, I haven't heard this one in years!" she squealed. "Come on, Zach, dance with me." 

Grabbing his hand, she pulled him out onto the dance floor. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled his head down onto her shoulder, and pressed her large, soft breasts into his stomach. 

"What's up, big boy?" she teased and giggled. "Has it been so long you don't know how to hold me when we dance?" 

"Kristen," Zach began cautiously. "What are you doing?" 

He could feel her laugh. 

"Whatever do you mean?" 

"Why are you dancing with me and not Tommy?" 

She looked up at Zach, smiled, and winked. 

"Oh, Tommy likes to claim me. And I do love being claimed!" 

Almost on cue, Zach felt someone tapping his shoulder. 

"I believe I'm cutting in," Tommy said in a stern voice. 

"Sure, no problem," Zach said and then realized Tommy had been dancing with Bree. 

"Switching partners?" Kristen asked coyly. "Ooh, sounds kinky!" 

Zach saw the hope in Bree's eyes. 

"I think I'll sit this one out," he stated coldly and walked back to their table. 

A few minutes later Tommy joined him at the table. 

"Damn, Zach, you're such an asshole." 

"Yeah, tends to happen after you've had your heart torn out and thrown away like garbage." 

"Figures," Tommy said, shaking his head. 

Zach looked at him questioningly. 

"Kristen said you were holding on to some deep dark pain while you two were dating. She always thought it was from your ex-wife." 

Tommy smiled sadly. 

"Figures it was from my dumbass sister." 

He sat back in his chair and stared at Zach. 

"You two really need to sit down and talk, because even if you can't see or admit it, you're both carrying around a lot of baggage! You've got to get rid of that shit or it'll kill you." 

"Thank you, Dr. Phil," Zach spat. "Any more words of wisdom?" 

"Yeah," Tommy said, grinning. "How's that working for you?" 

"I'm surviving," Zach mumbled as he stood up to leave. 

"This was a mistake coming here tonight. I need to get back to my daughter. Tell Kristen and your sister we should do this again in about ten years." 

Tommy looked at him and shook his head. 

"You know, whatever happened between the two of you really tore her up." 

Zach glared at him. Tommy raised his hand before he could say anything. 

"I know, I know, she probably caused most of it. If it had been your fault we would've never heard the end of it!" he said chuckling. 

"Anyway, I know her pain back then wasn't as bad as yours, Zach. It must've been hell for you with what happened between you and Bree and then your father dying. It about tore my family apart since my folks thought of you as one of their own. Them seeing you hurting, and not being able to help, about killed them. 

"Of course, when Bree came home for Christmas that year she was totally messed up. Then she went back to State and hooked up with Ty Whitmore. For some reason she followed the jerk to Boston and married the asshole. 

"Whatever happened in Boston was bad, Zach. So bad she doesn't talk about it, even to the family. Mom and Dad know more about it and I'm sure Donna does too, but they aren't talking." 

Zach nodded as he thought of Bree's oldest sister, Donna. Bree had always looked up to her and always confided in her. 

"When things finally fell apart out there, Bree had her accident that left her eye and nose like that. She also spent some time in jail and last I heard, Ty was still in prison." 

"I guess life sucks and then you die," Zach said coldly. 

"Yeah, seems that way sometimes doesn't it? It probably doesn't matter or help much, but I thought you might want to know your fairytale ending wasn't the only one that turned to shit." 

Tommy smiled, "I'm just saying." 

Zach tried to make a quick exit but was intercepted by a few old classmates who delayed his departure. Finally, he made it out to the parking lot and as he was about to open the car door he heard her running up behind him. 

"Zach? Please, Zach!" 

He paused, fighting the urge to get in his car and drive away. If he had, the chain of events that followed might never have happened. However for better or worse, he paused and turned towards her. 

"What?" 

She stood there with tears running down her face. At a different time, he would've fought through heaven and hell to take away her pain. Now, all he could do was stand frozen and clench his fists. 

"I know you don't want to talk to me," she said, wiping away her tears, "you've made that clear. But I need to say some things to you and I don't have a lot of time to do it. I'm leaving this weekend and I doubt I'll be back again. Please meet with me one night this week?" 

"No," he replied flatly. "Why would you even think I'd want to meet with you?" 

Bree studied him for a moment before answering. 

"Because I've something you might find useful. I've information that could help you make better decisions for you and your little girl. 

"I know you, Zach, or at least I did. You always wanted to have as much information as possible before you made your plans. It's what makes you good at your job. It's also why you'll meet with me even though you hate me." 

"Let it go, Brianna." 

"No!" Bree blurted out then regained her composure. "I... you... we both need this." 

"Since when do you know what I need?" Zach spat. 

"You're right. I gave up the right to tell you what you need. This is different, because it's something I caused. I can't take back what I did or even try to justify it, but I can tell you some things you never knew. Things that could help you heal and give you and your daughter a better life." 

"And what's in it for you, Brianna?" 

She paused, looking uncomfortable. 

"It might help me heal some too. Look, Zach, I'm trying to get my life in order. I'm trying to set some things right before I leave." 

She paused, waiting for a reaction. He stood there emotionless, his eyes lacking any compassion. She blinked hard several times, trying to fight back her tears. 

"I know nothing I say will make you forgive me. In fact, some of the things I need to tell you will make you hate me even more than you already do. Still, you deserve to know." 

"I need to get home to my daughter." 

"Please, Zach. Meet with me at O'Malley's for a couple drinks? Think of it as a last request from an old childhood friend. I'm staying out at my mom and dad's farm till Friday. Please call me." 

"I'll think about it," he mumbled as he got into his car. 

**** 

"It's Wednesday," Allie said in a distinctly motherly voice. 

Zach looked up at her from the floor where he was playing Candyland with Shannon. Well more like playing Candyland with no rules, he chuckled to himself since Shannon would soon start giggling and all the rules would be forgotten. 

"So?" he asked confused. 

"It's been four days, so are you going to call Bree or not?" 

"How do you know about that?" 

"Really?" his mother looked offended. "The Olsen farm is only a few miles past the diner and the battery plant. You don't think I see at least one of the Olsens every day?" 

Zach saw through his mother's bluff immediately. "So when did Bree talk to you?" 

Allie sighed. "Yesterday, but don't get your panties in a bunch, Son, you weren't the main topic. We had a few things we needed to get straightened out. She was like a daughter to me, if you remember, and what happened hurt me too." 

"DADDY! You owe me ten, five, seven dollars!" 

Zach looked back down at his little girl and was met by her radiant smile and her tiny outstretched palm. She stared at him and held out her hand, waiting for something. 

"What, sweetheart?" 

"You landed on cupcake houses. Now you owe me monies!" 

"Cupcake houses?" 

Shannon nodded and pointed at the Candyland game board. 

"See? Cupcake houses and I'm Cupcake!" 

"Oh great, my daughter is a slum lord!" he said, laughing. "Money, huh? How about I give you a great... big... BEAR HUG?" 

He growled as he leaned over and grabbed her. She squealed and screamed and then began laughing as her daddy squished her. Allie looked on and smiled. 

"Is this a family group hug?" 

Zach paused and looked up at her. 

"Only if I can get my panties unbunched," he said coldly. 

Her smile faded. 

"Of course, it would be easier," he continued, "if I didn't have people trying to manipulate me like a puppet on a string. I've got an ex-fiancée trying to lure me into meeting with her and a mother who can't stop pushing me to go fix that part of my life. That about right, mother?" 

She sighed as she stared at him. 

"I was only trying to help. You get so angry when it comes to her." 

Zach whispered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. 

"I know what you are trying to do, Mom. You want to push me into meeting with her because you feel it would be the best for me, regardless of what I think. How close is that?" 

He saw the pained look on his mother's face. 

"All right Zach, you've made your point." 

"I doubt it," he said, shaking his head, "but we'll see." 

Zach sighed softly. He knew what he was going to end up doing; he just wasn't looking forward to it. 

**** 

The summer night air was warm as Zach walked out of his office and across the Business Plaza parking lot to the southeast edge of the Town Square. The Brownwood Town Square was the old heart of the city with restaurants and shops surrounding the large park at the center. As Zach walked to the opposite side of the square, he questioned his intelligence for agreeing to meet Bree. 

Unlike the reunion, he knew this was the right thing to do, at least for his own peace of mind. Logically it made sense to meet with her, to satisfy any doubts or questions, so he could move on with his life. However, "the best laid schemes o' mice an' men ..." 

O'Malley's was a historic Irish pub that was a popular hangout with the over-thirty crowd. As he entered the bar, he almost expected the entire bar to stop and yell, 'Zach!' It was that kind of bar. 

"Hi, Zach!" came a girl's lyrical voice from out of the crowd. 

Not quite 'Norm' but it'll do, he smiled to himself. 

A cute, young waitress came over to him smiling. Her long, blonde hair was tied in a ponytail and she had the biggest green eyes Zach had ever seen. She was somewhat chubby but had a very pretty face and was dressed to make full use of her curves. 




Brownwood: I Dreamed Ch. 02



"Evening, Rose," Zach said, smiling. 

"Hey, sweet thing, you meeting someone or are you just going to sit alone and pine away for me all night?" 

With a coquettish smile, she batted her dark lashes. 

"You know me too well." 

"Yeah right! Now don't you go teasing me, Zach Morgan, cause this rose has thorns!" she said, laughing. 

He smiled. 

"All right now, sir," she grinned as she faked a professional tone, "how many at your table?" 

"Just two tonight. I'm meeting someone, Brianna Olsen. Is she here already?" 

"Just the two of you?" Rose smiled. "Like on a date?" 

His smile disappeared. 

"No," he responded flatly. 

"Zach, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to rain on your parade. Yeah, she's here I think. It's been forever since I've seen her last, but there's a pretty, orange-haired woman sitting back by the dance floor. She's been alone for the last twenty minutes looking all nervous, so I bet that's her." 

"Thanks, Rose." 

The busty waitress smiled again. 

"All right, so do you want me to bring you a Harp Lager?" 

"Yeah, and a Bushmill 10 year." 

"Ah, a little liquid courage?" She smiled sweetly. 

"Yeah," Zach smirked, "better make it a double. I need whatever help I can get tonight." 

Rose grinned and nodded towards the large hulking bartender. "I'll get Big Mike on it, right away." 

Zach made his way through the bar. It was only about a third full but he knew it would fill up more as the night went along. 

As he approached her table, he took a deep breath. He'd forgotten how easily she could change her look from classically stunning to simple, girl next door beautiful. With her hair pulled back and a modest outfit of jeans and a teal blouse, she had a natural beauty that still made Zach's heart race. Steeling himself, he greeted her. 

"Bree," he said flatly. 

"Zach, I'm glad you could make it," she responded with a slight smile. 

"You knew I would," he smirked. "You lured me with the right bait, so I'm here. Though I seem to remember one of our last fights revolved around who was manipulating whom." 

Her smile faded. 

"I know, Zach," she sighed. "But I didn't know of another way to get you here. Don't worry this will probably be the last time you see me. Please sit down." 

To his surprise, Zach noticed Bree was only drinking what looked like a cappuccino. 

"What, no daiquiris?" 

Bree shook her head and stared at the few couples on the dance floor. A sad smile flickered across her face. 

"No," she said calmly, locking her gaze on his dark, green eyes. "I don't drink near as much as I used to. For that matter, I rarely go out anymore." 

Rose brought Zach his drinks. 

"Can I interest you two in some O'Malley's Shepard's Pie? It's been voted best in the state for five years running!" Rose said, smiling. 

Bree looked over at Zach. He shook his head. 

"No, I don't plan on being here that long. Bree, you said drinks and I've got my two. Once they're gone, I'll be the same... gone." 

Rose's eyes widened slightly at his tone. Bree looked at him as if he'd slapped her, and nodded. 

"No thank you," Bree said to Rose. "But please bring me both mine and Mr. Morgan's check." 

He started to object but Bree cut him off. 

"Zach, you said this was my show, so I'll pay," she said sternly. "Don't worry you won't owe me anything other than the simple courtesy of hearing me out." 

Bree stared at him until Rose cleared her throat. 

"Zach?" Rose said sheepishly. 

He broke his staring contest with Bree and nodded. 

After Rose left, Bree took a long drink and began. 

"I'm not sure where to begin other than to tell you how sorry I am for screwing up our dreams. And yes, Zach, they were our dreams, regardless of how I acted towards the end. I'm sorry for the way things ended between us. I'm also ashamed about what happened later that night, I can't even begin to ask for your forgiveness." 

Bree paused and looked away before discretely wiping away a tear. 

"As you know, things between us had turned bad after I postponed the wedding. I know I'd said that I just wasn't ready but I didn't tell you why. It was simple really. I was young and stupid and scared. 

"I knew a month after we'd gotten engaged I wasn't ready to be married. I loved you and wanted to be your wife but was terrified of getting married that summer." 

"Why didn't you say something?" Zach growled. 

Bree stared into his eyes, challenging him. 

"And say what? Oh honey, I love you but I don't want to get married and might never want to? How do you tell the man you love that the thought of walking down the aisle made you want to scream and run away? 

"There wasn't any way I could've explained it to you back then without destroying us. I'm having a hard time just trying to explain it now. Looking back, all I can say is, I was selfish. I didn't want to get married but I didn't want to lose you either. 

"Zach, I was scared I'd find myself ten years older, sitting in a house with a white picket fence and three kids, wondering if I'd missed out on life. I know how that sounds but that's how I felt. And the more you tried to pull that dream close, the more I resisted, and the more I resented you! 

"It was a huge relief when we postponed the wedding, but I could see the hurt it caused you. Then we got the horrible news about your dad and there was such a gap between us... I wasn't able to be there for you. 

"I'm sorry, Zach. Those following months I didn't know what to do, I just watched us fall apart. I didn't know how to fix it without one of us giving up our dream. I should've tried talking to you more, but you were so angry. That gave me an excuse, and that's all it was, an excuse, not to force the issue with you. Finally we had that awful fight." 

Bree fought back her tears. 

"I suppose there's more?" he said indifferently. "Because that wasn't worth all the effort you put into getting me here." 

Bree shook her head and smiled weakly. 

"Believe it or not, that was the easy part. The rest of this is hard." 

She looked at him as tears began to roll down her cheeks. 

"Zach, I'm totally embarrassed by what I did later that night. I'm sorry for destroying any chance of you still loving or trusting me. If I could change it I would. However, you should know what I was thinking at that time. It's not an excuse, but maybe it'll help you understand how I let it happen. 

"When I took off my engagement ring and put it on the table, I thought we were through. Not just the engagement but as a couple. In my mind, I couldn't see any way we could've stayed together. I know I didn't say that and let you know we weren't a couple anymore, but in my mind we weren't. 

"And that makes it okay?" Zach snapped. 

"No," Bree said, frowning. "There's no justification for me to completely turn my back on you and end up in bed with someone else that night. But that's exactly what I did. I cheated on you Zach, maybe not as your fiancée but definitely as your girlfriend and best friend. I didn't go there looking to do that but I didn't stop it from happening either. As I'm sure you heard, I ended up getting drunk and ended up in Ty's room. 

"I was smashed as hell but was still functioning when I had sex with him, so there was no excuse. It was afterwards, when we had a couple more drinks, that things got fuzzy. I found out years later he'd drugged me. 

"When I woke up the next morning, I remembered having sex with Ty but knew I'd been with at least one other guy. I was a basket case, Zach. It finally dawned on me what I'd done and how it would look to you. I'd destroyed any chance of you and me ever getting back together. If I'd been able to think clearly, I might've realized I'd been date raped but that wasn't confirmed until years later. The fact I'd ended up with Ty the very night I'd broken off our engagement was enough to make me feel like a slut. 

"That morning I couldn't face you. Thankfully, I talked Tricia into letting me move in with her and helping me get my stuff out of our apartment. Zach, I'm so sorry. I never knew what to say to you after that. Everything I wanted to say was so pathetic. 

"When you visited me after New Year's, you asked me why and I told you that it didn't matter. I also told you that I didn't love you. That was bullshit. It did matter, more than you'll ever know, but I didn't know how to explain it to you without you hating me. I still don't. 

"You see, while you got the Christmas present of finding out your ex-fiancée was a cheating slut, I also got a surprise gift-I was pregnant!" 

Zach's mouth contorted slightly. Bree recognized it and answered him before he could ask. 

"No, it wasn't yours," she said, wiping the tears from her face. "Remember? I'd gone off the pill a couple of months earlier because of my headaches. Although we didn't do it as often those last few months, the times we did, we were careful. 

"When I told you it didn't matter anymore, I thought it really didn't. You already believed I was a slut and I knew you wouldn't take me back. So what chance was there if I was carrying another man's baby! 

"At the time, I believed it was Ty's and when I told him he must've thought so too. His family sure did. I guess they thought I might be some gold-digger, looking for a free ride so they were thrilled to pay for my abortion. 

"I had a very hard time after the abortion. I've got to give Ty credit, he was there for me. We started dating and by that summer I believed I'd found a silver lining to my sad situation. I'd always wanted to travel and now I had someone who wanted to take me places and show me off! Then he asked me to marry him—" 

"And you jumped at the chance, right Bree?" Zach sneered. "All that crap about being terrified of marriage was just bullshit, right? What you really meant was you didn't want to marry me. But when some rich, good-looking party boy comes around not only will you jump into bed with him, you'll marry him in a second. That's about right, isn't it, Bree?" 

"No!" Bree cried, loud enough so that the people at the surrounding tables all turned and stared. "No, Zach! It might've looked that way but it wasn't. I swear it wasn't!" 

"And your word means shit, why?" 

"I know I've withheld things from you in the past, but I've only ever lied to your face once," she said as she gathered herself. "That was when I told you I didn't love you and you already know why I did that. So look at me, Zach. Look me straight in the eyes." 

She peered intently at him as he glared back at her. 

"Zach Morgan, I swear to God it may've looked like I did that, but that wasn't the way it happened." 

Bree stared fiercely at Zach, refusing to turn away. She knew if he didn't believe her about this, he wouldn't believe the rest of the things she needed to tell him. Mercifully, he relaxed and she continued. 

"After the abortion, I was devastated. I'd done something I never thought I could've ever done. 

I'd killed a child because I was ashamed of who the father wasn't. I also wasn't ready to be an unwed mother. That was something I knew even my own parents couldn't have forgiven. 

"I felt so alone. I couldn't run to my parents for support and I'd lost you. You'd always been there for me, Zach. In school, I always knew I'd never have to face anything alone because you would always be there beside me. It was then I began to see what I'd thrown away. I'd lost my best friend, the man I'd loved most of my life." 

"Bree, I don't need to hear this," Zach said. 

"I know, but please hear me out. I heard what happened to you after we broke up. I'm sorry about your divorce and for the loss of you ex-wife. However, I hear your little girl is precious. What's her name again?" 

"Shannon." 

"Shannon. What a beautiful name. I'm happy for you, Zach, I really am. After my abortion, I was very depressed whenever I saw a child. I still had those dreams of having a family. When I lost you I thought those dreams might never happen, so when Ty asked me to marry him, I did jump at it. At the time I thought I loved him, although now I'm not so sure. 

"I followed him back to Boston and we got married several months later. I had no idea what I was getting into. 

"At first it was like a dream, we went to exotic places and did exciting things. We had a huge, beautiful home and Ty was making a lot of money working for his family. We hosted and attended big parties and mingled with the beautiful people. 

"About nine months into the marriage things began to change. The parties got more outrageous. There was more alcohol, drugs, and sex and then Ty began to change. Well that's not exactly true. I guess the real Ty began to come out. 

"I'd known he'd been wild in high school and even in college, but I never knew how extreme. I found out most of what he'd done or been accused of doing had been covered up by his family. He apparently had violent, emotional issues in his past, which came to the surface after we got married. 

"The more drugs he did, the more abusive he got. The first time he slapped me was two weeks before our first anniversary. 

"Why didn't I leave him right then?" Bree sneered. "I wish I had a good answer. Fear maybe. Shame, of how stupid I'd been? Guilt from what I'd done to you and the abortion? I don't really know. I was already pretty heavy into the drug scene by then, so I'm sure that played some part. In the end, I guess I just felt like I deserved it. 

"It got worse over the next year. My marriage kept spiraling downward until one morning, after a party with a couple of Ty's old frat brothers, I found out I'd been drugged that night back in college. I was crushed and mad as hell! 

"I left him and moved into a hotel. Ty called me repeatedly and a couple of days later we began to talk. It was a rough few of weeks but I finally ended up moving back. 

"Things seemed to be getting better until I found out I was pregnant. I was a mess because I'd given up the drugs and alcohol for the baby but Ty surprised me again. He was there for me. I should've known it wouldn't last. Two months later, everything exploded and he attacked me. 

"He hurt me, Zach, he hurt me really bad." 

Bree began to cry. 

"I was in the hospital for almost a month. I'm lucky the housekeeper called the police or he might've killed me. He crushed my nose and shattered my eye socket but even worse, I lost my baby." 

She was now sobbing quietly. Zach watched, torn by what he felt. He wanted to comfort her, to tell her how sorry he was for her loss. But he also wanted yell at her that she'd gotten what she deserved! Conflicted, he sat there silently. 

"They tried to put me back together. They reconstructed my eye socket but I'll always have this droop, a reminder every time I look in the mirror of what my choice cost me. At least with my nose one more surgery should return it to normal. My insides are another matter." 

He watched as she visibly shuddered. 

"The doctors told me they'd been forced to do a lot of work on me to stop the internal bleeding. Not only did I lose my baby but I won't ever be able to have any more children. I guess maybe God is telling me I'd make a crappy mother since I'd had two shots and messed both of them up. 

"When the police came that night, they arrested Ty but they also found all the drugs in our house. I was finally through with the marriage and wanted out so I filed for divorce. I've never understood exactly why but Ty fought the divorce. 

"When I filed, Ty's family got in the middle of it. Those assets the ADA hadn't frozen, his family did. I barely had enough to hire an attorney. Thankfully, Mom and Dad arrived to help me out. I had a girlfriend get my jewelry and half the cash I knew we had in our home safe before Ty's family had the locks on our house changed. 

"I won't bore you with the details of my divorce. It was horrible. In the end, I agreed to testify against Ty so they'd drop the drug charges against me. I got another surprise when I underestimated the influence the Whitmore family had. 

"I ended up getting six months in County Jail on misdemeanor drug charges after they released me from the hospital. Ty got four to seven years in a medium security prison for felony drug and assault charges. 

"My divorce was granted, but the pre-nup I'd signed left me with pretty much nothing after the lawyers got their fees. When I was released from jail, I tried to start again in Boston but Ty's family made sure that wasn't going to happen. I ended up pawning all my jewelry, taking what cash I had, and heading out of state." 

Bree grew silent for a moment and stared at him. 

"Zach," she said, hesitating slightly, "before I left the state, I visited Ty in prison. It was a mistake that turned very ugly. He told me he blamed me for everything! He said he'd be looking for me when he got out. 

"That was over two years ago. Since then I've finished my nursing degree and even found a state that would let me work with my record." 

"So why did you come back?" Zach asked calmly. 

"Guess who got an early release for good behavior or some other such bullshit?" Bree snorted with disgust. 

She shook her head slowly and looked down at her cup. 

"He's scheduled to be released at the end of this month." 

"And you think he'll come here looking for you?" 

"I'm sure of it. Prison, even that medium security one, changed him for the worse. I think he's crazy, Zach, and I'm terrified of him." 

"So you're tying up loose ends before you run away?" 

She nodded. 

"I guess I'm one of those loose ends?" 

Bree nodded again. "You're the last one." 

"Well then, consider me taken care of." 

"No," she said softly as she looked down. 

Puzzled, he looked at her and was surprised by the slight blush on her face as she stared into her coffee. 

He sighed. "What more do you want, Bree?" 

She looked up at him, her beautiful baby blue eyes already red from crying. 

"Other than turning back time to get a second chance?" she said with a small anxious smile. "I'd like one last dance." 

"You must be joking." 

Zach sat back in his chair and looked at her. 

"You can consider it a goodbye gift or a—" 

"All right," he said cutting her off. 

Bree smiled sadly as she got up and walked over to the jukebox. After making a selection, she returned to the table and sat down. Soon her song finally started. 

"Figures," Zach smirked when he heard the familiar beginning of More Than Words. 

"Come on," Bree said, stretching out her hand with a fragile smile. "I know you can still dance to the slow songs. I saw you with Stephanie and Marsha." 

They walked out onto the dance floor, and joined several other couples slowly swaying to the music. Bree wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. Zach flinched, his body stiffening at her contact, but she clung to him even tighter. Slowly he relaxed and they began to gently move to the music. 

The softness of her touch, the scent of her hair, and the feel of her breasts as she pressed into him, brought a wave of memories and emotions to Zach's mind. He fought the urge to pull her to him. His soul cried out to hold her tightly, to kiss her and protect her from her world. 

But that would've given her the wrong impression wouldn't it? He warred within himself. And besides, that's what I did all those years ago and it caused her to run. 

Silently, he held her as he felt the moisture from her tears on his shoulder. 

"Thank you, Zach," she whispered into his shoulder. "I'm so sorry I messed things up so badly. I've missed this more than you'll ever know. I hope someday you'll be able to forgive me because I'm not sure I ever will. Goodbye, Zach." 

Bree kissed him quickly on the cheek and ran back over to their table. She gathered her purse and fled. 




Brownwood: I Dreamed Ch. 02



Zach stood alone on the dance floor, struggling with the raw emotions that were threatening to consume him. Bree had walked out of his life... again. 

****



Brownwood: I Dreamed Ch. 03



But the tigers come at night 
With their voices soft as thunder 
As they tear your hope apart 
And they turn your dream to shame 
- I Dreamed a Dream, Les Misérables 

**** 

A week and a half later, Zach found himself sitting in O'Malley's again. This time he was the one waiting to meet someone. 

He'd received a request from a local private investigator, Matt Wylde. Wylde had said he was working a case and needed to ask him a few questions. He'd offered to buy him dinner and a few drinks to pay him for his time. He'd also said it was urgent they meet because it involved the safety of others. Zach felt the hair on the back of his neck stand as he warily scanned the bar. 

When he saw the man walk into the bar, Zach knew his suspicions were correct. Ty looked leaner and was sporting several new tattoos. He strolled over and sat down at the table. 

"Zeek," he said with a sly grin. "Long time no see." 

Zach flinched at Ty's thick Boston accent. 

"Not long enough." 

"Ouch, that almost hurt." 

"I doubt it." 

"Damn man, why so hostile?" 

"You slept with my fiancée, got her pregnant, and then beat the hell out of her till she lost her baby. So no, I can't understand why I wouldn't want to see you." 

"Same old Zeek, gets right to the point. Whateva, we can do it your way. 

"First off, I didn't sleep your fiancée. You and I weren't real close in college, but I stayed away from her while you two were still a couple. But that night she showed up at the party with no ring and telling everybody she was free and unattached. Come on, Zach, if wasn't me it would've of been one of a dozen other guys. Hell, you know how wicked hot she was." 

"So then why did you have to drug her?" 

"Drug her? Is that would she told you?" Ty sneered in disgust. "Damn, she sold you a whole load of shit didn't she?" 

"She said you drugged her and let a couple of your frat brothers rape her!" 

"She—" Ty choked and his face turned bright red. "That fucking bitch! Listen, if I'd have done those things then I'd hate me too! Yeah, there were drugs and alcohol but she wasn't raped like she's selling. She was acting like such a damn slut that night that she let those two join in!" 

"She would've never done that," Zach said coldly. 

Ty snorted and smirked. 

"She may not have done those things with you, but that night she was acting like a stupid freshman at her first frat party. She was partying hard and showing the world what a real woman she was! 

"Let me give you a little heads up on my little slampig of an ex-wife. She was so intent on living life to the fullest, her words not mine, that she did things you'd only find on a porn site!" 

"Like I'm going to believe that bullshit," Zach sneered. 

Ty smiled evilly at him. 

"Thought you'd say that," he sneered back at Zach and tossed a DVD across the table. 

"For your porn collection. After you're done watching it, you tell me how pure that slut is! 

"And as for that beating, it was once and the bitch had it coming. I'd just had a little scare with some little slampig I had on the side. I'd gone to a clinic to get checked out and got a nasty surprise. Doctor's report said I've been sterile since childhood, seems I had a bad case of the mumps as a kid. So yeah, I lost it and paid for it with two-and-a- half years of my life! 

"And, Zeek? If you're keeping score that means the one she aborted in college wasn't mine either. It must've been yours. OUCH! Bree Olsen scores again!" 

Zach felt light headed. The possibility of Bree's aborted child having been his, made his heart race and tore at his soul. 

"What do you want, Ty?" he finally stammered. 

"Oh that's simple," he said calmly. "I need to know where the bitch went." 

"I don't know and I wouldn't tell you even if I did," Zach growled, regaining his composure. "Because I honestly hope I never see either one of you ever again." 

"Feelings mutual," Ty retorted. "However, you could be lying. I hope you aren't that retahdid, since I heard you two were getting real close a couple of weeks ago. 

"So you see, Zeek, even if you don't know where she is, you're in a better position than I am to find her. The whore's family won't even talk to me, so I need you to find out for me." 

Zach looked at him in astonishment. 

"You've got to be joking. Why would I do that?" 

Ty's smile turned dark and cruel. His voice changed from arrogant to a menacing growl and Zach saw a wild look in his eyes. 

"Because playtime is over, asshole. You've got a beautiful little girl, a wicked hot mom, and a sister that looks like she'll be dropping a half-breed brat into this world within the next few months. There's three reasons right there!" 

Zach thought about his little sister. She and Hector had gotten married a year ago and now helped his mother run the diner. 

"You son-of-a-bitch, are you threatening my family?" 

Ty's laugh made Zach's skin crawl. 

"Damn, you can be taught! Sorry it has to go this way, but it was that orange-haired whore who dragged you into this. I'm actually doing you a favor. 

"When she had one of her little slut girlfriends clean out my safe, she took something that didn't belong to me. The people I was holding it for want their money back, and they aren't the kind you fuck around with. 

"All it would take is one call from me to let these people know you're the next link in finding their money and they'd be here in a heartbeat. That would be bad for you and your family. At least with me you know I'll go away after I get my information because I don't give a shit about you. But with those people... let's just say they don't like loose ends." 

"So, why don't you just call them?" 

"I do that and I might look like a loose end." 

Zach thought for a minute. 

"Your family's rich, why don't you ask them for the money?" 

Ty grimaced. 

"Right now I'm on a short leash with the family. Asking them for 700k would put them over the edge." 

"Seven hundred thousand?" Zach exclaimed. 

"Yeah, we aren't talking chump change. So what's it going to be, your family or the slut that screwed you over?" 

Zach silently glared at him before Ty smirked. 

"As you can guess, we're under a time crunch. I'll give you till the end of the weekend to get me her hiding place. After Sunday, I turn it over to my associates and make sure I cover my own ass. 

"Oh and, Zeek? I shouldn't have to say this," he sneered, "but just so we're clear. I better not sniff a d-tech. You hear me, asshole? No cops. I smell the Boys and I make the call that ruins your life." 

**** 

The last 24 hours had been stressful. He'd met with his family after he'd left O'Malley's that night. An hour of talking had produced a lot of yelling and tears, but little else. They'd gone home leaving Zach and Shannon alone. 

It'd taken longer than normal for Shannon to go to sleep. His usually happy little girl was whining and crying. It was obvious she could tell things weren't right. Zach sat on his couch and began contemplating his options after she'd finally fallen asleep. Frustrated, he decided to view the DVD Ty had given him. 

He questioned his decision almost immediately. 

The DVD began with Bree doing a sizzling striptease in front of the camera. Zach felt his desire and anger churning inside. His intense need for her was tainted by the rage from her betrayal. The memories of their past began to flood his mind. Images of the girl he'd loved washed over him and reminded him of his loss. 

As she gracefully gyrated, he felt his body respond, betraying him. His desire for her turned painful when he watched her sit on a chair facing the camera and pull out a vibrator. Mesmerized, he watched her lose herself in the moment. He thought back to the way she felt, tasted, and sounded when she was still his. Her cries as she climaxed stabbed at his heart. Each one was an excruciating reminder of what had been stolen from him. 

If Bree's solo act had reopened the wounds in his heart, then the following scenes seared those wounds back shut. The first was one of Bree and Ty as they wildly attempted to break their bed. When he took her from behind, Zach cringed. She'd denied all of his attempts at anal sex but it looked like she was giving it to Ty freely. 

Next was a scene where Bree was tied to the bed as Ty teased and then took her roughly. Zach felt like a voyeur while he watched Bree engage in a world he'd only fantasized about. 

The final scene destroyed any last delusions Zach had about his ex-fiancée. It showed Bree and Ty with two other men. He recognized them as Derek and Reggie, two of Ty's fraternity brothers from State. 

Derek was a short, stocky blond with muscles on top of muscles. Zach remembered him as being only slightly less obnoxious than Ty back in school. 

Reggie was a thin black guy who came from a very rich, Middle Eastern family. He'd been sent to the U.S. to attend college. It appeared he was still milking his Student Visa for all it was worth. 

Zach watched in disbelief as Bree gave herself to each man. She was obviously high or intoxicated but was a very willing participant to the gangbang. Once they'd each had their turn, she then took all of them on at the same time. The images left Zach nauseous. He realized the girl he'd once loved was gone. All that remained was the woman on the DVD. 

His fury grew as he realized he was being played by both Ty and Bree. He was even more incensed that he still had such strong feelings for her. 

The next evening he'd met with the Olsens. 

The confrontation had been ugly. It'd gotten so bad that Bree's sister, Donna, had barely uttered a word. That was a minor miracle since Donna was always Bree's champion. 

Zach replayed the last part of the conversation. 

"We're sorry, Zach, but we won't tell you where she's gone," Gerald Olsen had said sternly. 

"That's great," he snapped. "She ruins my life by leaving, then comes back and dumps her problems back on me. Now it's my family that could be ruined and you won't help? Is that what you're telling me?" 

"We're so sorry you and your family got dragged into this," Priscilla said, crying. "But she's our daughter ..." 

"And that means what?" Zach exploded. "That my daughter should be in danger so yours won't have to be? Try selling that hypocritical bullshit somewhere else. Maybe someday you'll be able to justify to yourselves why my family should have to suffer because of that bitch's actions!" 

He'd stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him. As he'd struggled with his rage, he'd barely heard Mr. Olsen ask him to give them a couple of days to talk about it. 

Zach had considered leaving them a copy of Bree's DVD and making sure they knew all about her abortion and the questionable fathers of both pregnancies, but decided against it. He didn't care if it hurt Bree, but it would've destroyed Priscilla. He was angry with the Olsens but he wasn't going to be cruel. 

Besides, he sighed to himself, it wouldn't have changed anything. Bree could've been the biggest whore in Las Vegas and her family still wouldn't turn their backs on her. That was something he'd always been envious of and why losing them after the break-up had hurt so badly. 

Frustrated and angry, he drove back into Brownwood. He knew he needed to find a solution and needed to find one quickly. 

**** 

"We have an idea that should work," said the tall red-headed man, "though it's not without risks... very serious risks." 

The Johnson County sheriff let his words sink into to his audience. Zach's family sat in his living room. A very pregnant Ginny Chavez sat in the middle of his couch, sandwiched between her husband, Hector, and Allie. Protectively, they each held one of her hands. Zach stood beside them, watching. Gerald Olsen stood next to his brother, Sheriff Henry Olsen. 

"You mean riskier than having my family stalked by some psycho ex-con?" Zach said sarcastically. 

"Actually, yes," Sheriff Olsen replied. "It could be much more dangerous than that." 

"How obvious would this wire be?" Zach asked calmly. "Ty may be crazy but he isn't blind." 

"They're much easier to conceal than they once were," the sheriff replied. 

Sheriff Olsen took out a small crucifix on a silver necklace and a thin ear piece that looked like a Bluetooth earbud. 

"The wireless microphone is in the cross and the battery pack hangs behind the ear," he explained. 

"I don't like this," Allie said, her voice cracking with emotion. 

"Can't you just arrest him?" Ginny cried. 

The sheriff looked uncomfortable as he slowly shook his head. 

"I'm sorry, Ginny," Sheriff Olsen sighed. "We could take him in and hassle him but he'd be back. Although I don't believe he has the drug connections he's implied, we still need to be very cautious. Whether you believe her or not, most of Bree's claims have been verified, which makes Ty Whitmore a very dangerous man. Bottom line, we need more than a parole violation in order to remove him from our lives. If we can get him to incriminate himself, that'll give us something to work with." 

"And what if this doesn't work? What if he doesn't take the bait and instead comes after us?" Allie said, struggling to mask her fear. 

"Allie," the sheriff sighed, "I've had one of my deputies on him since he got to town. I know he'd followed Zach out to Gerald and Priscilla's place last night just like I know he's at the Icehouse as we're speaking. I promise you that if this doesn't work, I'll personally look after the safety of your family." 

"If Ty or anybody else comes after my family, sheriff," Zach growled. "I'll take care of it myself." 

"My brother," Hector spoke in a cold, hushed voice that made everyone in the room pause, "he won't be alone. If this man threatens my wife and son, I will kill him." 

Sheriff Olsen grimaced. "Hector, Zach, don't go there yet. It could lead to something we can't control." 

"Zach, please son, let the authorities handle this," Gerald Olsen added. 

Zach's face turned dark. 

"Mr. Olsen," he snarled, "you've made it very clear. I'm sure as hell not your son." 

Gerald Olsen's typically stoic face clouded. A look of deep sorrow and dejection seemed to weigh on the older man's broad shoulders. 

"Zach, Allie," Sheriff Olsen interrupted. "We've done a good job of keeping this little operation under the radar. Whether Ty has the backing of some kind of organized crime or if it's just the support of a rich and influential family, we don't want to draw any attention that could tip our hand. I have two of my most trusted deputies and a couple of Brownwood undercover police officers working with us. The judge will sign off on the necessary paperwork Saturday morning, so no one will get wind of it before it goes down." 

"I've worked with these two undercover officers in the past and trust them with my life. With them joining us, we'll ensure there won't be any possible problem with jurisdiction. The Icehouse is on the edge of town and is under the Brownwood PD. But if our plan works then the arrest will happen outside of town, under the county's jurisdiction. Whatever happens, we don't want Whitmore to slip through on any technicality." 

"Henry?" Allie asked quietly. "I know you said you'd trust these men with your life, but would you trust them with the lives of your children?" 

Sheriff Olsen nodded slowly. 

"I would, Allie," he replied softly. "I honestly would." 

Zach looked into the faces of his family. 

"I don't see any other options, at least any legal ones. Do you?" 

Allie, Ginny, and Hector sat silently on the couch. Hector nodded his approval as Ginny softly cried. Zach noticed a tear began to fall across his mother's cheek as she stared at him. Zach turned and nodded to the sheriff. 

"Zach," Gerald Olsen said in a firm, baritone voice, "whether you wish to hear it or not, I would've been proud to have called you my son." 

The two men stared at each other for a few awkward moments before Zach looked over at Sheriff Olsen. 

"All right, what do I need to do to get this piece of shit out of my family's lives?" 

**** 

One step into the Icehouse and Zach knew he'd entered a different world. The music, the look, and smells all screamed that this was what it claimed to be, a biker bar. He felt like Alice in the wrong Wonderland as he moved cautiously through the crowd. 

He found a seat at the bar and he ordered a MGD. The bartender set the amber colored beer bottle in front of him and stared. 

"The pussy is across the road," he said, nodding towards the door. 

Zach knew he meant the Kandy Kane, Brownwood's premier strip club. 

"Just killing time before I go meet some friends over there," Zach replied as he put a ten down on the bar. 

The bartender stared at him with no expression. Zach quickly exchanged the ten for a twenty. 

"Don't sit too long. The scenery is better over there," he said, slipping the twenty into his pocket. 

Zach looked around until he saw Ty sitting at a table with a guy and a couple of women. The two men were in an intense discussion, while the women were obviously looking around to make sure no one interrupted. Then the man slid a small package over to Ty. Once the discussion was over, the man left, leaving Ty with the two women. 

Zach nursed his beer and waited until he was sure Ty had spotted him. Then he got up and walked out to the parking lot. A few minutes later, Ty joined him outside. 

"You got it?" he said, already agitated. 

Zach nodded, realizing Ty was high on something. 

Ty walked over to him and did a haphazard pat down checking him for weapons or wires. He noticed Zach's necklace and snorted. 

"Getting religion, Zeek?" he sneered. 

"Well I need something with all this shit that's happening to me." 

Ty snorted again and glared. 

"We need to talk, but not here," Zach said flatly. 

"Don't be retahdid, asshole," Ty replied. He opened his jacket enough to reveal a gun. 

"I'm trying not to be, which is why we aren't going to have this discussion in a damn bar parking lot." 

"Whateva," Ty sneered. "All right, where?" 

"About 3 miles west of town on the state highway, there's an old truckers' rest stop." 

Ty nodded and smiled. "I know the place." 

Zach got into his car and watched as Ty did the same. As he pulled out of the parking lot, he thought of their destination. He wasn't surprised Ty already knew about the place. Besides the truckers that used it, the rest stop had a reputation as a place where people went to be unnoticed. At times, it was frequented by cheating couples, prostitutes, and drug dealers. The local law would close it down every so often but the place would soon revert back to its old self within a couple of weeks. Even if there were people around, they'd mind their own business. 

When he pulled into the rest stop, he selected a space that was isolated. There were only a few rigs near where they would meet. Ty pulled in beside him. They got out and met at the back of their vehicles. 

"Wicked good place," Ty said with a sick smile. "Not too private that there can't be witnesses if something were to happen and not too public that we won't be overheard. Maybe you're not as stupid as I thought." 

Ty took out his gun and placed it on the trunk of his car with his hand resting next to it. 

"Now," he sneered, "where in the hell is that bitch?" 

"If I tell you, you'll leave my family alone?" 

"Sure," Ty said with a smirk. 

"And if I don't?" 

"I doubt you'd be retahdid. That decision would get your mother and sister hurt and your little girl might come up missing. You understand me, jackoff?" 

Zach nodded. 

"Birmingham. She's staying with some distant relatives." 




Brownwood: I Dreamed Ch. 03



"Figures it'd be Alabama. I had someone look into all her relatives. I'd have suspected it would've been California though." 

He glared at Zach. 

"Listen, asshole, you'd better not be lying to me. I go and she's not there, my first call will be to people you don't want to meet." 

Zach looked at him and said calmly, "I don't buy the big drug connection bullshit, Ty." 

A dark mocking smile spread across Ty's face. 

"She always said your nickname was 'Brain' maybe there's something to it. Nah, asshole, you're not dealing with some drug cartel. But you are dealing with me and some friends who are crazy enough to do whatever it takes to get our money back. 

"If you doubt me, you could ask that slut, Autumn. Of course she isn't talking much now. Seems we changed her outlook on life." Ty laughed. "Now that she's lost her looks, she'll have to wear a mask just to get laid." 

"The 700k was bullshit too?" Zach asked, grimacing. 

"Well..." Ty grinned. "It was a bit exaggerated. It was a couple hundred thousand, but we found most of it with Autumn, but that doesn't give my whore of an ex-wife a free pass. And, Zeke?" 

Ty glared. 

"The bitch better be there or I'll make good on my promises. You understand?" 

Zach leaned back as he saw a man, who had to be one of the undercover cops, move into position. Sheriff Olsen must've had enough to put Ty away now. 

Ty cursed to himself as he stared more closely at the crucifix around Zach's neck. He glared at Zach as he slowly reached for his gun. 

"Damn, I must be losing it," he growled. "That thing around your neck is a Catholic crucifix. And, asshole, I doubt that you're Catholic. That better not be what I think it is or your ass is dead." 

There was a pause then Zach heard the bullhorn. 

"Freeze! Johnson County Sheriff ..." 

Zach dove behind his car as he heard the summer night explode with gunfire. His back and chest felt like they were being seared as two white hot pokers burrowed into his back. The intense pain began to wash over him as he fell to the ground. 

Shannon! He wordlessly screamed, unable to find his voice. Mercifully, the darkness overtook him. 

*****



Brownwood: I Dreamed Ch. 04



Chapter 4: Old Wounds, Fresh Blood

WARNING: This chapter contains a reluctance/nonconsensual sex scene. Although not overly graphic, some readers may be offended.

****

As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dreams to shame

– I Dreamed a Dream, Les Misérables 

****

"Daddy!" Shannon screamed. The terror in her voice tore at Zach's soul. She was alone and scared as he tried to claw and fight his way to her.

"Daddy, please," she begged. "Save me! Daddy!"

His frustration and shame increased, he couldn't reach her. A vague outline of a woman began to form as his rage ripped at his heart and ransacked his mind. He couldn't recognize her face but her orange hair left no doubt who it was. 

Out of his pain he lashed out. You fucking bitch! He screamed in his mind. Why did you have to come back? Why didn't you just kill us instead? 

Mercifully, the pain washed over him as the nightmares that tormented him began to fade. Soon everything went dark.

****

The early morning sun left shadows that greeted Zach as he opened his eyes. Slowly he scanned the room and realized he was in a hospital. He started to raise his hand to rub his eyes but a sharp pain in his chest prevented it. He let out a groan and heard a soft rustling to his left. Turning his head, he found his mother's tear-streaked face smiling back at him.

"Welcome back, honey," she whispered. 

His throat burned but he tried to speak. 

"Shannon?" he croaked. 

"She's safe at home. I'll bring her up here later."

Zach sighed and looked questioningly at his mother.

"Hospital?"

Allie smiled sadly and nodded. She got up and left the room for a few minutes. When she returned, she sat beside him and held his hand.

"The doctor will be here in a minute. He was just making his rounds. Zach, honey? How much of what happened do you remember?"

He closed his eyes and thought back. 

"Everything," he whispered in a raspy voice, "up until the gunshots."

"Well, good morning," interrupted a cheerful voice with a distinctive Indian accent. 

"Welcome to Sacred Heart Hospital, Mr. Morgan. My name is Dr. Kalidasa Parmar. You can call me Dr. Kali."

His smile was disarming. The short, trim, nice looking man appeared to be in his late forties with a touch of silver highlighting his dark hair and complexion. 

"I'm pleased to see you doing better. You gave us a little scare. To bring you up to date, you were shot twice in the back. One bullet was a clean through and through that entered and exited through your collarbone area. The other bullet punctured your left lung and collapsed it. Unfortunately, it also struck and shattered part of a rib.

"The surgery wasn't as simple as most because we needed to account for all of the splintered rib. You've drifted in and out of consciousness for about 36 hours. During that time you became delusional and quite agitated. We ended up having to sedate you."

"Nightmares," Zach whispered.

"Yes, we know," Dr. Kali said, smiling. "You were very vocal, very... descriptive."

"Throat hurts."

"That's from that damn tube they stuck down your throat," Allie blurted out. 

The doctor's smile grew even larger as he looked first at Allie and then back at Zach. 

"Well, we know where you get your shyness don't we? Your mother is correct though. We inserted the tube when your lung collapsed. I know they're uncomfortable and make your throat raw but it should pass."

The doctor went through the post-surgery check quickly before letting both mother and son know he was doing very well. Although still groggy, Zach remembered watching the doctor leave the room. 

"Shannon?" Zach asked again, trying to clear the cobwebs. 

"She's fine, honey. I'll try to bring her up here tomorrow."

"Who's watching her?"

Zach wasn't aware enough to notice his mother's discomfort. 

"Well, several people are right now. That way I can be up here."

He squeezed her hand as he drifted back off to sleep.

****

Zach sat up in his hospital bed. The last 24 hours, since he'd regained consciousness, had allowed him to fully regain his mental faculties. He knew something wasn't right. He'd gotten to see Shannon last night but the Morphine had made the visit very blurry. One thing he was sure of though, his mother wasn't telling him something. Before he could begin to analyze his thoughts he was drawn back to his visitors. 

Surrounding his hospital bed were his bosses from BGES. Maria and Victor Grymm stood on one side and Roland and Renee Grymm on the other. Zach grinned as he watched them. Even with Roland wearing his high fashioned attire and Victor donning a polo shirt and khakis, it was obvious they were related.

Victor's wife, Maria, was Zach's immediate boss and looked like the stereotypical bookworm. Her thin wireframe glasses and small, petite frame matched her generally mousy appearance, but her logic driven, no nonsense personality was tempered by her warm smile and generous heart.

Renee was Roland's third bride and had no problem being a trophy wife. Over ten years his junior and only a couple years older than Zach, her ditzy personality, revealing wardrobe, and big hair were eclipsed only by her huge, fake breasts. Zach tended to avoid her since it was a monumental struggle not to stare, although he was sure she didn't mind if every man mentally undressed her and feasted upon her. 

"You take your time, my boy," Roland's voice thundered. "You just rest and make sure you're doing better before you try to come back to work."

"Thank you, sir, but I'm already bored just laying here."

"We could rig him up right here," Victor said flatly. "He could be operational by this afternoon."

"Victor," Maria spoke gently, "we need to let him rest so he can get well faster."

"Okay, sweetheart. I was only providing possible options."

She watched him with a bemused smile, and Zach could see the love she had for her odd but brilliant husband. 

"Well, it's certainly a viable option when he's released and at home," she added. "However, it would probably be wise to hold off until then. The faster Zach heals the more productive he'll be in the long run."

Victor nodded as he followed her reasoning.

A nurse entered the room and whispered something to Roland. He nodded and turned back to the group.

"All right everyone, we need to get back to the office. Besides, Zach here has other visitors waiting to speak to him and they've got guns!"

He smiled. 

"The local law enforcement is here to speak with you, Zach. Remember, my boy, deny, deny, deny and if all else fails ... plead the Fifth!"

Roland smiled at his own joke. Maria and Victor said their goodbyes as Renee came over and gave Zach a huge goodbye hug. There was nothing motherly about the hug as she buried his face within her purchased breasts. His response was what one would expect from a healthy male, much to his embarrassment. 

His obvious excitement was not missed by the group. Renee giggled while Maria blushed. Victor observed the situation like he was gathering data and Roland grinned from ear to ear. 

"It seems, my boy, that you are well on the road to recovery," Roland said with a smile. 

Zach covered himself with the thin excuse for a pillow. His bosses left only to be replaced with Sheriff Olsen and a Brownwood officer. 

Sheriff Olsen looked at the pillow and then Zach. A faint smile appeared briefly on his usually stern face. 

"Attractive woman, wouldn't you agree, Officer Jones?" the sheriff asked coolly, his eyes never leaving Zach. 

"Yes," the young officer responded, obviously clueless to the situation. "Very."

"Well, Mr. Morgan," the sheriff said, "it's good to see you recovering. I can't tell you how worried the family was. They'll be relieved to hear you're doing better. 

"We need to get your statement about that night, Zach. Afterwards, I can fill you in on what's happened since the shootings."

Zach spent the next hour going over what he knew with Officer Jones. When he was done he was exhausted. Sherriff Olsen noticed and asked him if they needed to come back another time. 

"No, I can listen as long as I don't have to answer a lot of questions."

The sheriff nodded. 

"All right, I'll try to make it brief. First off, Whitmore shot you twice before we shot him. He died at the scene. His family isn't handling it well but with the evidence we have there isn't much they can do. The shooting was clean but I'm sure the lawyers will get involved and stretch this out for some time. 

"Zach, please accept my apologies. We didn't expect Whitmore to react violently so quickly."

Zach nodded.

"He was high on something," Zach interjected.

"That's what I suspect, but the blood work isn't back from the lab yet.

"On a personal note, what you did was very brave and I thank God you weren't killed. If there's anything I, or my family can do, please let us know. We're indebted to you and we Olsens always repay our debts."

The sheriff and the officer left and soon Zach was asleep. His thoughts and dreams continuously turned towards Shannon. She'd visited him briefly last night so she could see he was all right. However, the pain medication had made it hard to talk for very long and soon he'd fallen back asleep. When he woke, his mother was sitting beside him reading. 

"Who's watching Shannon, Mom?" Zach asked sternly. 

He noticed her stiffen before she inhaled deeply. 

"What?" she replied, obviously stalling.

"I asked, who's watching Shannon?"

"Well, Ginny and Hector have been watching her mostly."

"Mom," Zach said flatly, his voice growing stronger. "Ginny is six months pregnant and already looks like she's about to pop. She couldn't chase after Shannon even if she wanted to. And with Ginny in that condition that means Hector is running the diner when you're gone. So Mother, I'll ask again. Who's watching Shannon?"

"Honey," Allie said with a grimace that made her forehead wrinkle. "We've had several people offer to sit with her but..." she sighed deeply and continued. "Bree has been watching her most of the time." 

He felt his face flush as the anger started to build. 

"Please, honey," his mother begged. "Please hear me out. I know you blame Bree for what happened but, Zach, she couldn't have known Ty would come after you. The girl is beside herself with guilt and doing everything she can to help. Honey, not only has she been a huge help so far, but we'll need her even more when you're released to go home."

He glared at her as he struggled with his feelings. His mother knew how he felt about Bree but still allowed her to become an even bigger part of their lives. As usual, Allie Morgan did want she thought was best. 

Allie took a deep breath and continued. 

"Zach, Dr. Kali said he'd release you several days sooner if we had a qualified health care professional to take care of you, so I agreed. Bree's a registered nurse. If you want me to find someone else I will but it'll mean you won't get released for a while. It'll take some time if we have to go through the insurance to find someone to look after you and that's more days of you being away from Shannon."

"Doesn't seem like I've got much of a choice, does it?" Zach said sarcastically. "At least not until I get healthier."

"Honey," Allie said in her most motherly voice. "Now don't think of it like that—"

"What?" Zach snapped at her. "Are you trying to tell me what to think too, Mother? What, it's not enough that you set this up behind my back but now I can't even think for myself?"

"That's not what I meant—"

"I know exactly what you meant, Mother," Zach snarled.

Allie's face paled. She'd rarely seen her son this angry and never had it been aimed at her like this before. 

A tall, black nurse named Doris came in and looked at the pair with obvious concern. 

"Mr. Morgan, are you all right?" she asked with an unusual British/African lilt. "Your vital signs rose dramatically."

He nodded as he continued to glare at his mother. 

"Yeah, just got some upsetting news."

"Well, we need to keep that to a minimum if we're going to get you released," Doris said with a cautious smile. 

Zach sighed and nodded. 

"Yes ma'am, we'll try to avoid that."

"If you need, I can tell your other visitors to come back, Mr. Morgan," she said as she ran a hand through her short spiked hair. 

"Visitors?" Zach said, finally taking his eyes off his mother and looking at the young nurse. 

Doris grinned. Her bright white teeth contrasting with her pretty, ebony face.

"Seems there's a little girl with lots of curls who's waiting to see her daddy." 

Zach's face visibly relaxed and a small grin began to appear.

"Please," he said softly. 

She smiled warmly and nodded. 

"I'll go get her."

Within a minute, Shannon announced her presence as she squealed. Zach briefly noticed Bree as she peeked around the door, but focused on his little girl as she ran over to his bed. 

"Daddy!"

"Cupcake!"

Shannon lifted her arms for him to pick her up. 

"Uh huh, sweetheart," his mother said to her. "Remember, Daddy's still sick and he can't lift you. Here let me help."

Allie picked the little girl up and carefully placed her on Zach's bed. 

"Daddy, you gonna get better?"

"Yeah, Cupcake, Daddy's going to get better real soon."

"Good! You talked funny last night, Daddy! Gamma said it was the dugs."

"Yeah well, Daddy's feeling a lot better, honey," Zach said softly. 

"When you comin' home?"

"Soon, Cupcake, maybe even tomorrow."

"Yea! We can play Candyland!"

Zach smiled. 

"Well, maybe Gamma can play with you till I get home."

"That's okay, I gots to play with a new friend."

Shannon froze wide-eyed and put both hands over her mouth. 

"I told a secret!" she said in a hushed voice. 

"It's okay, sweetheart, your daddy already knows the secret," Allie interrupted. 

Like flipping a switch, Shannon turned from concerned to happy again. 

"Daddy, wanna meet my new friend? Bee! Bee, come meet Daddy!"

"Sweetheart, I've already met your daddy, we were friends a long time ago," said Bree softly as she leaned against the doorframe. 

She stared at Zach with tears in her eyes before she cleared her throat. 

"How are you doing today?" she said tentatively. 

"I've been better."

"Zach, I want you to know how sorry I am—"

"Not now. Not in front of Shannon," he growled. 

A few moments later Doris knocked and entered the room. 

"Mr. Morgan, your vital signs are still extremely elevated. If we can't get them down, I'll have to ask everyone to leave."

Zach nodded. "I understand. Would it be all right if I took a short walk? I'm sure it'll help."

Doris looked puzzled for a moment and then nodded. 

"All right, Mr. Morgan, although getting up and walking wouldn't usually help reduce your vital signs, I can understand how it might in this case. It'll need to be a short walk, very much like the one you took earlier today."

"Thank you," he said, frowning. It seems everyone knows my business now. Shaking that thought he looked at his daughter. 

"Cupcake, would you like to help Daddy take a walk?"

Shannon beamed and nodded her head, throwing her curls up and down. 

"Then let Gamma get you down and ask Doris to help me up."

Allie picked up Shannon. 

"Here son, I can help you..."

"No," Zach said coldly. "Doris can do it and besides, I trust her."

Allie stepped back as if he'd slapped her. 

The nurse strained to help Zach to his feet. Soon father and daughter began to slowly walk down the hospital hallway. 

Even though it was only a short distance, it took several minutes before Zach and Shannon returned to the room. As they approached, Zach could hear Bree and his mother talking. 

"I don't know, Mrs. Morgan. He's so angry. I know what he thinks of me, I heard him when he was delusional. I think my being here will hurt him more than help him. 

"I know, honey. I don't envy you, considering what the next week probably holds. But you asked me for a way you could help him and this is the best way. Yes, Bree, he is angry. He's so angry that it's starting to affect both him and Shannon. I know he'll be mad at me but I can't just sit back and watch as I lose my son and granddaughter. 

"I'll try, Mrs. Morgan. But I won't shove this down his throat any more than we already have."

"Come on, Daddy. Go faster!" Shannon chirped, announcing his presence. The women's conversation ended quickly. 

Zach spent the rest of the day sulking as he tried to find a better solution to his current situation. Much to his chagrin, he wasn't able to come up with something that would bypass his need for someone to watch over him and Shannon. Bree was the most logical choice. 

Frustrated, he finally conceded the battle, but not the war. 

When he was released, he tried to push his anger and resentment to the back of his mind. The fact Victor already had him setup so he could work from home helped distract him. Bree also made it easier by giving him space, and he had to admit it was difficult to stay angry at someone who was trying her hardest to be helpful. Still, the memories of the past continued to haunt him. 

The most awkward moments, those first few days, were when Zach needed help going to the bathroom. After two embarrassing episodes, he found he could wrap his chest with Saran Wrap and use the shower to clean himself. While that solved one problem it set the stage for an even more embarrassing one. 

It began when Zach momentarily lost his balance while in the shower. He felt a deep stabbing pain as he tried to catch himself. A moment later he was sprawled out on the bathroom floor. Bree was beside him in an instant as he closed his eyes in embarrassment. He didn't know which was worse, the realization he couldn't fully take care of himself or the humiliation of lying there naked, exposed to the world, and worse, completely defenseless in front of Bree. 

He'd demanded she leave him alone but she simply ignored him. She checked his wounds, covered him, and then helped him to his feet. Over his objections, she dried him off, dressed him, and helped him get back into bed. She even tried to make light of the situation in an effort to alleviate his embarrassment. 

"You know, Zach," she said softly as she smiled, "it's not like I haven't seen it before."

"Back then it was yours, now it's not," he snapped. "You threw it away a long time ago."

Zach leaned back and propped himself up on his pillow before simply glaring at her until she left his room. 

Over the next two days they avoided one another until fate stepped in again. It was Friday night and Allie had another date. His mother had dated frequently over the years since his dad had died, but never seriously. She'd never found anyone special enough to be called 'her man,' as she liked to say.

Although Zach was doing much better, he still couldn't take care of both himself and Shannon. Bree agreed to spend the night and sleep on the couch. 

That night, after Shannon had been put to bed, Zach was in bed, working on his laptop. As he was finishing a report, he heard it, the sound of someone snoring. He quickly identified the source as Bree but it wasn't the light, gentle snore of a young woman. Instead it was the loud, furniture vibrating, wallpaper peeling snore of a walrus. Zach couldn't help but laugh quietly to himself. 

A few minutes later he felt a presence in his room. Looking up, he saw the face of his little girl, grinning from ear to ear. 

"Cupcake, what are you doing up?"

"Bee's loud isn't she, Daddy?" she whispered as she giggled. 

"Yes she is, sweetheart," Zach whispered back. 

"She's not as loud when she sleeps in my bed with me."

"Well that may be, Cupcake, but your bed is too small for the both of you."




Brownwood: I Dreamed Ch. 04



"What bout your bed? You gots a big bed, Daddy!"

"Well, maybe we'll have to move her in here so we can get some sleep," Zach said, smirking. 

"Bee gonna sleep with you? Can I sleep in here too?"

"What? Oh no, Cupcake," he replied flustered. "No, Daddy will sleep on the couch."

"Okay," she chirped smiling up at him innocently. 

Breathe, he told himself. Okay man, why is your heart pounding at the thought of her in your bed? Well duh, you moron! She's still beautiful.

Zach tucked Shannon back into her bed and went over to the couch. Gently, he touched Bree's shoulder. She rolled over and he gazed down on the woman he'd once loved. 

He felt his body respond as he watched her sleeping in only her t-shirt and panties. He knew he'd probably always desire her, regardless of their past. Bree groaned and opened her eyes, just barely, as she attempted to stand. Zach wrapped his arm around her to steady her. The warmth and softness of her body made him hesitate, but Bree leaned deeply into him for balance. Slowly they made their way to the bedroom and Zach tucked her in. 

Bree mumbled something that vaguely resembled "goodnight" and for a brief moment, Zach considered crawling into his bed with her. Shaking that off as a very bad idea, he went back to the living room and made himself comfortable on the couch. He could still hear Bree snoring but it wasn't the foghorn it'd been earlier. Still, sleep didn't come easily, her scent was all around him and his thoughts kept returning to how good she felt in his arms. 

In the morning, he woke to the smell of breakfast and the giggling of his little girl. 

"Sleep well?" Zach asked as he staggered into the kitchen.

"Other than waking up in some strange guy's bed? Yeah, pretty well," Bree answered with a small smile. 

"Do you want to explain to me how I ended up in your bed last night?"

"Well... you kind of made it difficult for anyone to sleep with your snoring," he teased. 

"You was loud, Bee!" Shannon chirped. 

Bree's face turned bright red. 

"Oh my God!" she moaned. "I'm so sorry."

Zach smiled. "Relax, it's wasn't a problem. You were much quieter when you were sleeping in a real bed."

The trio finished their breakfast in relative peace. Shannon was content as she crudely dissected her pancake, causing both adults to chuckle. Soon they were cleaning up and Bree stepped beside him. 

"Well, if you would've wanted me in your bed," Bree said softly, "all you would've had to do was ask."

Zach froze.

There it is, he contemplated. She's bared her throat to you. Are you going to rip it out for her past sins or are you going to move on with your life.

His calm face belied the war that raged inside him. His desire for her battled against his bitterness and fury all the while an overwhelming weariness plagued him. He realized he still needed time. 

"That would've been a very bad idea," he responded without looking at her.

Bree grimaced as she turned to finish wiping down the table. 

Over the next several days, she made sure to gently touch or brush against him. There was an urgency in her actions since Zach was getting stronger and both knew he wouldn't need her help for much longer. 

Zach felt the sexual tension building between them. That and a problem at work had his mind completely occupied. A client in Florida was having issues and was becoming increasingly frustrated. Consequently, Zach was spending more and more time at the office. 

One Thursday night, he was coming home after spending the afternoon and early evening at GBES. As he entered his apartment, he was met with an unmistakable silence. Shannon was either asleep or not there. He checked her empty bedroom and could hear the shower running in his bathroom. Suspicious, he went to the door and knocked.

"Come in," Bree called out. 

Zach opened the door and stuck his head in. 

"Bree, where's Shannon?"

"Oh, your mom took her for the night."

He could feel his heart begin to race as he made out the outline of her body through the shower curtain. Clearing his throat, he asked the obvious question. 

"Then why are you here?"

"Well," she said as she poked her head out and smiled at him. "First off, I took Shannon to the park this afternoon and while chasing after a three year old isn't strenuous it did leave me a little sweaty. 

"Your mom offered to take Shannon for the night and I was hoping I could convince you to go out and get a quick bite to eat. I didn't know when you'd be home so I jumped in the shower to freshen up. I really wanted to take advantage of this situation and just talk with you. Please, Zach, is it okay if we talk?"

He sighed knowing this was long overdue. 

"All right, Bree, we can talk. I'll wait out on the couch while you get ready."

To his shock, she stepped out of the shower before he could leave. Zach stared at her wet body and took a deep breath. Her breasts were fuller than when they'd been in college. Not large, in fact they'd still be considered small just... fuller. 

He couldn't take his eyes off of her. Water dripped from her hair and created thin streams that wound down her long, slender body. His breath caught in his chest as he watched the tiny droplets fall from the tuff of orange hair between her thighs. 

"Uh," he managed to say with as much intelligence as a rock. 

"I'm evening up the score since you seemed so embarrassed when I got to see you in all your glory. Now it's my turn!"

She turned and picked up a towel and dried herself. Gently folding it and placing it back on the counter, she turned and faced a still stunned Zach. 

"Sorry, but what you see is what you get."

"Bree, it'll be difficult to talk to you if you're not wearing anything," he finally stammered. 

She smiled sweetly and laughed. 

"I know, but some of the things I want to say... no, that I need to say, are nonverbal."

She stepped over to him and opened the rest of the door. Standing in front of him, she draped her arms around his neck and peered into his eyes. 

She could read the confusion in his eyes, the constant war of his emotions. Her eyes told him a similar story, a mixture of sadness, frustration, and desire. With a single move, she plunged them over the edge of the unknown. Bree kissed him. 

Zach tasted the sweetness of her lips and felt the hunger they hid. He reached for her and pulled her tightly to him. He began to lose himself in her kisses and the way her skin felt to his touch. Slowly, he ran his fingers across her back, feeling her soft, moist skin. As he gently traced her body downward, he cupped her wonderful butt with both hands. In a brief moment of clarity, he pulled back. 

"Bree, I'm not sure..." he said softly. 

"Shhh," she whispered back, "I am and I need to do this for both of us."

She kissed him again and they each felt their passion begin to erupt. Their wants and needs washed over any fears and concerns as their tongues danced together, reminding both of a much happier time. 

Bree stepped back and grinned as she looked down at Zach's now wet shirt and pants. 

"Seems I didn't get dry enough," she said chuckling. "Come on, let's get you out of those damp clothes."

She led him by the hand into his bedroom. Stopping beside his bed, she began to undress him. She discarded his clothes by simply tossing them onto the floor as she continued to stare at him with hunger in her eyes. 

When all he had left on were his boxers, she paused, smiling from ear-to-ear. He wondered how she was going to overcome this challenge, his rock hard erection was now poking through the boxers, making their easy removal impossible. 

Bree kneeled in front of him and gave him a warm, lingering kiss. Zach gasped. He was quickly reminded that it'd been months before the reunion since he'd had sex with anyone else but himself. When he felt her warm mouth engulf him, all thoughts were lost. 

Moments later, he didn't know how but his boxers were being flung across the room. Bree had gently pushed him onto the bed and was continuing her attack on his manhood. He felt himself groan with pleasure as she caressed and stroked him while continuing her oral assault.

"Bree, I can't last much longer," he whispered. 

She stared up at him with her beautiful blue eyes that were full of resolve and passion. When she totally engulfed him again he felt himself explode. 

As he lay there, trying to catch his breath, Bree slid up his body and kissed him deeply. He felt the passion seeming to radiate from her as she pressed her body against his. 

"Oh my," he sighed as she giggled softly. 

"Take it you enjoyed it?" she asked playfully already knowing his answer. 

"I thought we were going to just talk."

"I wanted to make a strong opening statement." She smiled. "Did I succeed?"

"Oh yeah," he groaned. "But I also thought we were going to go out and get something to eat."

"I decided room service was all I needed tonight. Besides that was only the appetizer. You ready for the next course?"

Bree stared at him with an animal like desire. There was never any doubt in Zach's mind what she was doing. She was offering him everything she had in an attempt to bridge the gap between them. Tonight she would deny him nothing. 

He fought back the anger at the thought. He felt the shadow that danced around the edges of his mind. It was full of bitterness and the need for revenge. Looking back into Bree's eyes, he was able to push it away. 

"My turn," he said softly as he pushed her onto her back. 

He kissed her again, reigniting his passion for her and then softly began to trail kisses down her body. Positioning himself between her legs, he watched her eyes widen as he began to explore. 

As he began to gently kiss her, he had to fight back the thought that this had once been his, before it'd been taken from him and given to another. He quickly intensified his efforts, pushing back those dark thoughts. Apparently, he succeeded as he heard her familiar sharp cry as she climaxed. 

"Oh wow, I missed that," she whispered. "Oh God, how I missed you."

Zach couldn't make out the last part of what she'd said but he began to slowly kiss his way back up her body. Reaching her lips, he sought their sweetness again. Kissing and caressing, they began devouring each other. 

As he slowly entered her, her tightness surprised him. He knew she'd told him the truth when she'd said it had been awhile since she'd had sex. He felt her familiar grip on him that let him know she wasn't going to let him go without a fight. As she whimpered and moaned, an added excitement rushed down Zach's body, causing an erection that was as hard as he'd ever remembered having. 

Over the next couple of hours, they lost themselves in each other. While he'd achieved climax only twice that night, he'd been able to help Bree to multiple ones. But with each orgasm, the shadows in Zach's mind crept closer and closer. 

Increasingly, each moan began to bring the images of Bree's DVD into his mind. The darkness couldn't diminish the desire he had for her, but it was destroying any emotional bond the two might've hoped for.

It was while she was on all fours and he was behind her that the battle in Zach's mind turned. From his position, he couldn't easily see her face, and more importantly, he couldn't see her eyes. It was her eyes and her look that begged him to forgive her that had helped him brush away any dark thoughts.

Now, gazing at her from behind, all he had was his hunger and lust for her. As he slowly buried himself within her, the images from the DVD began to flood his mind. Like a leaking dam, he knew the inevitable was coming. His anger and bitterness were swelling.

The tides had changed.

He felt her tense when her poured lube down the valley of her cheeks. Slowly he pressed his thumb on her rosebud. She looked back at him warily, with obvious concern written across her face. As he slowly inserted his thumb he heard her gasp and she buried her face into the pillow. 

He proceeded to thrust into her with a slow rhythmic motion as the images of her and Ty tormented him. When he felt her begin to near another orgasm, he pulled out. 

"What?" Bree said, breathing heavily. "Oh, baby, not yet, I'm almost there."

He sneered at her intimate name for him, recognizing it from the DVD. He then realized that this was just sex and nothing more. He realigned himself behind her and aimed slightly higher. 

"Zach, please, no," she pleaded. "Not like this."

He pressed against her and felt his manhood enter. She gasped and buried her face in the pillow again. The shadow in his mind hadn't completely overwhelmed him as he began to press, slowly allowing her to adjust to his invasion. He gently began to rock back and forth as her body began to respond. 

When she let out her first moan of pleasure, he increased his speed. She looked back at him with fear in her eyes but he continued his onslaught. 

With each thrust, any tenderness was torn away and soon it was evident they were no longer making love but only having sex. As the images of Bree and her past lovers washed over him, he pounded into her harder and harder. Her moans gave way to yelps as he showed less and less concern for her. 

Mercifully, he finally poured whatever he had left inside her with a final pig-like grunt. He felt her tense as her body betrayed her as she climaxed again. 

Exhausted, they lay together, spooning but not talking. As he felt the anger begin to subside, he could hear her crying softly. His first thought was to hold her but his anger was still intense. He couldn't bear to look at her face, so he got up and went to take a shower. 

As the hot water poured over him, his tears began to flow. They were tears of anger and shame, bitterness and confusion. Frustrated, he growled to himself. Swearing he'd been justified in doing what he'd done, but having a difficult time accepting that. 

When he returned to the bed, he saw that she'd moved to the couch. He stripped the bed and piled it in a corner. As he lay on his mattress he heard her start the shower. Slowly he rolled over and clutched his pillow, knowing sleep was going to be difficult tonight. 

He woke once in the middle of the night and heard Bree taking another shower. When she went back to the couch, he got up and looked in on her. When he heard her softly sobbing he knew the morning was going to be hell. 

It was the smell of breakfast that woke him, that and the surprise Bree was still there. He got up and dressed before he walked into the living room. He saw her standing in the kitchen, staring blankly down at whatever was cooking. 

Slowly she looked up at him with both hurt and anger written across her face. He noticed her eyes were red and puffy from crying all night and her hair was pulled back into some kind of ponytail. 

"Do you want breakfast?" she croaked. 

He shook his head. 

"'No, I'm not hungry." 

She took whatever she was cooking and put it down the disposal. 

"Good!" she barked, "Neither am I!"

She turned her back to him as he saw her body shake with a sob. He stepped over to her and gently touched her shoulder."

"Bree, I..."

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" she screamed. "Don't you ever touch me!"

Zach stepped back, slightly stunned, even though he understood the reason for her reaction. 

"You bastard, how could you do that to me?" she said, allowing her anger to overtake her tears. 

"Do that to you?" he said, feeling the rage start to build again. 

"How the hell could you do that to me!" he shouted back at her. "First you tear out my heart. Then you come back and bring a psycho ex-husband with you who threatens my little girl! Next you plot and scheme with my mother to force me to deal with you and dance me around like a damn puppet. And then, when you throw yourself at me and offer yourself completely, you're surprised I treat you like a slut? Damn you've got balls!"

By that time Bree was in tears. 

"No, no, it wasn't like that!" she cried. "I was trying to make it up to you. Dammit, Zach, I'm not a slut!"

"Really?" he retorted with a vengeance. 

He walked over to the TV and grabbed the remotes. He turned the big screen TV on and then found the list of bookmarks he'd created. 

He turned and glared at her. 

"Not a slut? Let's just see..." he snarled at her. 

Bree gasped when she saw a darkness in him she'd never seen before. Cautiously, she stepped into the living room and stood behind the couch. 

He pressed the button and the image of her having sex with Ty and his two frat brothers exploded onto the big screen. 

"Oh no," Bree whispered. "Please God, no!"

Her legs begin to give as she braced herself on the back of the couch. Through her tears, she stared at the screen, watching the image of herself as it begged for sex. When Zach froze the image of all three men inside her, she forced back a gag and held her hand over her mouth. 

"Not a slut?" he hissed. "There's a scene of you doing one hell of a striptease and several other scenes of you and Ty doing the nasty. A couple of them show you two doing anal and there's even one with you blindfolded and tied to the bed."

Her face was frozen, horrified, with tears streaming down her cheeks, as she stared at the screen. 

"Not a slut, Bree?" Zach sneered. "Get real. You're a damn porn star!"

Sobbing uncontrollably, Bree grabbed her purse and ran out of the apartment, slamming the door behind her. 

As the silence engulfed him, he sat down and turned off the TV. He still knew Bree well enough to know he'd hurt her, hurt her deeply. He leaned back and sighed. He was now sated in the fact his revenge was complete. He'd wanted her to feel his pain and now, he knew she did. But instead of a sense of relief or even a self-righteous satisfaction that he'd hoped to feel, all he felt was... empty. 

****



Brownwood: I Dreamed Ch. 05



But there are dreams that cannot be 
And there are storms we cannot weather 
- I Dreamed a Dream, Les Misérables 

**** 

Zach had just gotten out of the shower when he heard the pounding on his front door. It wasn't unexpected. Allie had returned Shannon back home late yesterday morning. The look on his face had told her things hadn't gone as she'd hoped. She'd tried to talk to him but he'd shut her down quickly. 

But that was yesterday, today he prepared for the proverbial shit to hit the fan. 

Quickly he dressed and went to the door. Looking out the window, he saw both his mother and sister standing there, waiting impatiently. It was obvious they were upset. Zach looked over at Shannon playing on the floor as he opened the door. He was met by two angry women who verbally assaulted him at the same time. 

"What the hell have you done?" Allie yelled. "I can't believe you'd be that cruel!" 

"Damn you, Zach!" Ginny screamed. "Do you know what you did to that poor girl? She looked like a zombie when I saw her." 

"Daddy? Gamma?" Shannon's scared voice froze both women. 

Zach forced a smile for his little girl and he spoke to her in a funny cartoon voice. 

"It's okay, Cupcake, Gamma and Aunt Gin were teasing your daddy." 

Shannon smiled at him. 

"Daddy, you're silly!" 

She giggled and went back to playing on the floor. 

"Zach, I—" Allie began. 

He put his finger to his lips as he stepped out onto the landing, making sure to close the door behind him. His face was dark with anger when he turned and faced the two women. 

"Who the fuck do you two think you are?" he hissed, making sure that his voice didn't carry past the front door. His language and intense rage caused both Allie and Ginny to step back. 

"Where in the hell do you get off coming to my home and yelling at me in front of my daughter? I told you that I'd take care of this once I got stronger, and I did. If you don't like the way I handled it then that's too damn bad. Didn't you see this coming or were you so full of yourselves that you thought I'd just take it? 

"You knew how I felt about Bree but it didn't matter, did it?" Zach seethed as he glared at his mother. "The only thing that mattered was what you thought was best! Well here's a little news flash, Mom, right now what you think doesn't mean shit. From now on, I'm going to do what I think is best for Shannon and me. 

"If you want to keep us in your lives, you'll honor my decision and back off," Zach said coldly. Then he walked back into his apartment and closed the door, leaving the two stunned women. 

**** 

"Are you sure, Zach?" Maria Grymm said later that afternoon in her flat no-nonsense voice. 

"Yeah, Maria, I need to get away for a while and figure out where I want to go from here. The project down in Florida would give me some time to think." 

"Are you sure this is the best decision?" 

Zach smiled to himself. He could see her mind processing, as she worked through the multiple scenarios of his request. He was certain she would come to the same conclusion; this was good for both him and the company. 

Their client in Florida was struggling and growing increasingly frustrated with their project. That was souring their business relationship with GBES. Zach's presence would help the situation and possibly encourage them to continue past this initial project. This first project was supposed to take a couple of months to complete but if successful, it would lead to many projects that would span several years. 

"All right," his boss stated. "It appears your reasoning is solid and this trip will be beneficial to both the company and you. I'll go ahead and approve it. When do you want to make it effective?" 

"I can be there by the end of the week. That should give them enough time to get ready for me." 

"Agreed," she said and then flashed Zach a thin smile. 

"You know, Victor and Roland will be very disappointed if you decide to stay there and not come back to Brownwood. I would too but I think both of them might actually pout!" 

They both chuckled at the thought. 

"I don't know what I'm going to do, Maria, there are too many distractions around here." 

"Well then," she replied softly, "the best of luck to you. Go to Florida and get things sorted out, or at least make an action plan on how to begin doing that." 

**** 

Zach walked back into his living room after putting Shannon to bed. The tension in the room was intense as he sat down and faced his mother and sister again. He almost smiled as he looked at the two women. Their faces and appearances were very similar, as were the stern looks that each had as they stared at him. Ginny really was a younger clone of her mother. 

"Zach, about yesterday-" Allie began. 

"No," he interrupted, much to the surprise of both women. "No Mother, whatever damage was done yesterday is done. This is my home and my meeting. Tonight is about moving forward. I asked you both here so that I wouldn't have to repeat myself." 

Allie was alarmed at her son's coldness. 

"Mother, have I ever been a bad father to Shannon?" 

"No, you've always been a good father, probably even a wonderful father to her. But what-" 

"Please, just humor me for a moment. I also believe that I'm doing very well at GBES. So, I haven't heard any complaints about me as a parent or employee. 

"During my divorce and even with Susan's cheating, I don't believe I acted overly destructive did I?" 

"No, but you were so angry and sad," Allie stated cautiously. 

"Yes, me and a million other poor souls who've had to go through a divorce. I was hurt and frustrated by the failure of my marriage, but I don't remember anyone telling me I was bitter after the divorce." 

"Then my ex-fiancée came back to town and my mother pushed me into going to the reunion to see her. After that, my mother just knew it was in my best interest to go talk to her, even though I got my 'panties in a bunch.' But she'd said I'd made my point, right Mom?" 

Allie's face blanched. 

"But apparently that wasn't the case though, because after my ex-fiancée's psycho ex-husband shot me in the back, my mother must've had an epiphany. She, in her infinite wisdom, decided it was best for me to be trapped in my own home with the same bitch that'd brought all this joy into my life! 

"But even with as bad as you must've thought I'd handled my break up with Bree, I doubt that it could've compared with how you dealt with Ginny's and my sperm donor, Jerry, abandoning us. I wonder how you would've handled some well-meaning individual forcing you to spend that summer in the same house with Jerry and Belinda Big Tits. Just so you could get over any anger or abandonment issues you might've had. 

"You see, Mother, I remember a little of what you were like when we first came to Brownwood. I also remember all the tears and screaming when you first started dating Dad. At least he allowed you to work out your issues at your own pace. 

"I also remember that you didn't find it necessary to intervene when Ginny was trying her best to destroy her engagement with Hector. Why was that Mother? Why didn't you get in the middle of her relationship but had no trouble interfering in mine?" 

Allie and Ginny were silent since all three already knew the answer. Mother and daughter were so much alike that what few fights they'd had over the years were monumental meltdowns. 

"I've got to think it's because Ginny would've told you to go to hell, while I... well that's not something I'd ever do, right? With me, you must've felt free to try to manipulate me to do whatever you thought was best. However, last time I checked I wasn't twelve anymore. So tell me, who the hell gave you the right to make those kinds of decisions for me and my family?" 

"Well," Allie responded cautiously, "I am your mother and right now you are acting like a child." 

"And you're acting like a manipulative bitch." 

Both women gasped 

"I don't-" Ginny started. 

"I would shut the hell up, little sister," Zach snarled. "You're one sarcastic comment away from losing both a brother and a niece." 

Allie reached over and touched Ginny's arm. Ginny saw the concerned look on Allie's face and remained silent. 

"You asked me yesterday what I was doing," Zach said coldly. "What I'm doing is cleaning house. To start with, Shannon and I will be going away for a while." 

"Zach," Allie said, her voice trembling. "Don't take my little girl from me." 

"You still don't get it do you, Mom? She's not your little girl, she's mine! And I'll be damned if I end up having to fight you for her. I'm her father and you're not her mother. 

"Now, as I was saying, we'll be gone for at least a month, maybe longer. I have an onsite project down in Florida." 

"But who's going to watch her?" Allie asked quietly. "If you need she could stay—" 

"Are you even listening to yourself?" he said, cutting her off. "What part of stay the hell out of our lives aren't you getting?" 

His mother's face paled as tears ran down her cheeks. 

"The place we're going has a company condo they use for guests. They also have a daycare onsite so I'll be close to Shannon all day. Like I said, the project should last at least a month, maybe two. By that time, I should've made some decisions about our future. It's possible I may choose to stay down there but whatever I decide, I'll be taking back control of my life. I'll be making choices for us and I won't be fighting my mother or sister over every little decision they don't agree with. Now, I'm sure you both have questions or comments?" 

"What, now you'll let us speak?" Ginny spat sarcastically. 

"Sure, as long as what you have to say is constructive. I'm not going to sit and argue with you though. If you're just going to bitch, then this meeting is over. I'll give you a piece of advice. The first thing that should've come out of your mouths during all this was 'I'm sorry.' Of course that phrase isn't one the women in our family seem to be familiar with. I would, however, encourage you to learn it before you destroy any more of your relationships." 

Both women spent the next thirty minutes expressing their concerns and fears with his announcement. Surprisingly, it was done without too much drama. In the end it was Allie who looked at her son with tears in her eyes and asked the question that ended the evening. 

"There isn't anything we can say to change your mind is there?" 

His response was flat and detached. 

"Not a damn thing." 

**** 

The trip to St. Petersburg was smooth and Zach and Shannon settled into their guest condo quickly. The late summer weather and the beautiful surroundings helped ease any homesickness Zach had. 

Within a week, he'd received three emails. The first was from his mother, apologizing and begging him to sit down and talk to her. The second was from Ginny, a short contrite apology. He didn't respond to either of these initially. 

The third was from Bree. 

Dear Zach, 

I'm so very sorry all this happened. I know it seems like I keep saying that again and again but it's true. This isn't what I planned or even considered happening when I came back to Brownwood. Things just seemed to go to shit quickly didn't they? 

You told me that I didn't have any idea how badly I'd hurt you and you were right. I know that now. The Zach I knew could never have done what you did to me. What breaks my heart is that I know I'm the one who helped make you that way. 

Zach, you hurt me in a way I didn't think was possible anymore. I know I'll be able to someday forgive you but like they say, forgetting may never happen. I hope in time I'll be able to forgive myself for all those foolish things I've done that helped ruin a man I once loved. 

I really do wish the best for you. I hope one day that you heal that hole in your heart. You've so much to give and I pray you find it again someday. 

Before I close, I need to say one more thing. I know this request won't mean anything but I have to try because it's too important. For both you and Shannon, I would ask that you reconsider your relationship with your mother. 

She took a chance on some things she believed were worth taking the risk for and now she's paying the price. She gambled and lost, although I'm sure she never realized how much she could lose. I can speak from experience about that. Unfortunately, her loss affects both you and Shannon. 

I ask you to look at the reasons behind the things she did. I'm not trying to justify her actions, but I believe her heart, for doing those things, wasn't selfish or evil. I'm asking you to consider it, please. 

I'm headed back to California to start my life over. I'd like to say I'll miss you but right now I can't say that. I really can't wait to put as much of this nightmare behind me as possible. I will however miss Shannon. Please tell her goodbye for me? I hope one day that I'll be able to find someone that precious to call me 'Mom.' 

Bree 

Bree's letter brought up issues he knew he'd soon have to address, not only for himself but for Shannon as well. During the next two months, those issues became evident with two instances, one at Disneyland and the other on St. Pete's Beach. 

When Zach had first arrived, he'd met with Howard Peterson, the project manager he'd been sent to work with. Howard and Zach had dealt with each other in the past via the phone but really gelled as a team when working face-to-face. By Zach's third week there, the project was flying again and the atmosphere around the office was much more relaxed. 

That weekend, Howard and his wife Sheila had convinced Zach to let them watch Shannon for the day to allow him to see the local sights. Their daughter, Kayla, had offered to give him a tour of the city. It helped that Kayla was a pretty little brunette who had started her senior year at the University of Central Florida. 

Kayla and Zach had a wonderful time exploring the city, so much so they ended up sampling the local nightlife. A night of dancing and drinks led to the couple having a serious make-out session. 

The next weekend, he and Shannon had gone to Disneyland with the Peterson family. The day was full of fun and laughter but Zach felt his attention had been continuously torn between Shannon and Kayla. 

A perfect example was when they entered the park. Shannon had gotten a glimpse of Ariel, the Little Mermaid. "Bee!" she'd squealed. Zach had told the others that Bee had been her babysitter. He was surprised at the number of times Shannon spotted the Little Mermaid. He'd noticed however that every time Shannon shouted out that name, Kayla pulled him closer. 

A week later, Zach found himself walking hand-in-hand with Kayla along St. Pete's Beach. The mixture of the beautiful tranquil Gulf Shore and the party atmosphere of the bars and live music led to a magical evening. 

Zach realized two things that night. The first was sex on the beach with a young, pretty coed, while exciting, has one major drawback... sand. It had the ability to get everywhere! 

The other was that the nightlife scene, while fun on occasion, held no real draw for him. It was obvious he desired a woman with more maturity than was normally found in that lifestyle. He knew there wasn't a future with Kayla and she must've realized it as well since she stopped coming home on the weekends to see him. 

Come on man, he chuckled to himself, she's only 22. What did you expect, for her to be ready to be a wife and a mother of a three-year-old? 

He knew the type of woman he was looking for. What he wanted was someone like Bree. While that was obvious to most everyone who knew him, for Zach it was an epiphany. He knew Shannon missed Bree and he admitted to himself that he did too. He needed to decide on how to handle his confusing, and often frustrating relationship with her. 

He also needed to figure out what to do about his mother. Shannon needed a good female influence in her life and Allie, even with her faults, was one of the best role models he knew. 

A couple of weeks later, Kayla's mother cornered him. 

"I heard Kayla has started dating a young man at college," she started, fishing for a response. 

"Good, I'm truly happy for her. I hope he realizes what a lucky guy he is." 

Sheila smiled. 

"You don't seem too broken up about it." 

"Sheila," he said cautiously, "Kayla is a wonderful girl—" 

"But she's still just a girl, right?" she interjected. 

Zach smiled and nodded. 

"A very special girl, just at a very wrong time," he said gently. 

She stared at him for a moment and then grinned. 

"It wouldn't have anything to do with Bee, the babysitter, would it?" 

He looked uncomfortable. 

"Relax, Mr. Morgan. Your secret is safe with me." 

She looked at him and couldn't contain her laugh. 

"Well, me and Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck and the other several thousand Disneyland visitors that day! Every time your little girl yelled out that name it was written all over your face. It was so obvious that even my sweet but self-obsessed daughter could see it!" 

Zach flinched and his body tensed. He watched as her smile faded. 

"She must've hurt you very badly," she said softly. 

He nodded. 

"And then I returned the favor," he said in a voice as pained as the look on his face. 

"I'm so sorry, Zach," she said. 

"Me too." 

**** 

Zach heard her before he even saw her. He recognized Susan's moans and the sound of her panting as she neared her climax. Opening his eyes, he watched her blonde curls bounce in rhythm with her big, beautiful breasts as she rode herself to another orgasm. Slowly she came down from her sexual high, looked deep into his eyes and began to giggle. Soon her giggling turned into laughter. Slowly that laughter began to turn ugly. 

"What?" she sneered. "Did you really think someone like you would ever end up happily married to someone like me? Get real, Zach, you're just a stepping stone! You're just a warm body to hold us until we find a real man who's worthy of us!" 

Zach was frozen as his surroundings came into focus. He stood at the foot of his bed, staring at his wife as she straddled some unrecognizable man. Her mocking brought him out of his stupor. 

"Bree was right to leave you for someone better, someone who could fulfill her. Did you really believe someone like me or Bree could ever truly love someone like you?" 

Susan laughed. 

"Like some average Joe could ever keep us satisfied? You pathetic wimp! You couldn't satisfy her in college and you had to get me pregnant so I'd marry you. How big of a loser does that make you?" 

Zach struck without thinking. He backhanded Susan across her face, knocking her naked form to the floor. She looked up at him with pure hatred in her eyes and began to taunt him. He pushed her onto her back and straddled her. 

"What, are you going to rape me too? Is that the only way you can get a beautiful woman? What are you, too cheap to go buy one?" 

Her laughter turned maniacal as he slapped her again and again. 

"You pathetic piece of shit!" she screamed. "Your dad must've died in shame knowing what a poor excuse for a man he'd raised. Didn't your mother teach you how to satisfy a woman? Maybe she should've pulled out her strap-on and showed you what a little bitch you really are!" 

Zach's fury overwhelmed him as his slaps turned into punches. Susan helplessly covered her face against his onslaught. Her hysterical laughter turned into incoherent weeping as her yellow curls were splattered with drops of blood. Through her muffled sobs, Zach began to make out her words. 




Brownwood: I Dreamed Ch. 05



"Please... stop," she begged, hiding behind her hands. "Please, Daddy! Please stop, I promise to be a good girl!" 

Zach froze in horror. Pulling her hands apart, he stared down at the adult face of his daughter. Tears were falling from her now swollen shut eyes and blood poured from her nose and lips. 

"Please, Daddy, don't hit me anymore!" 

Zach bolted straight up in bed, covered with sweat. His heart thundered, attempting to burst through his chest as the bile in his stomach boiled upwards, filling his throat. 

Shit, I can't keep doing this! His mind screamed. 

"Daddy, you okay?" whispered a scared, little voice from his bedroom door. 

Fighting back the vomit, he tried to respond. 

"Daddy's okay, Cupcake," he croaked, racing to the bathroom, and barely making it before losing the contents of last night's supper. 

"I'm just a little sick, sweetheart." 

"You have nightmares, Daddy?" Shannon asked weakly, now standing next to the bathroom door. He could tell she was crying. 

"Yeah, Cupcake, but Daddy's doing better now." 

"I make you better!" 

She threw herself into his arms as he tried to balance himself on his knees. She hugged him as hard as her little arms could, trying to force him to feel better. He knew what he'd told her was a lie. The nightmares were getting more violent and more frequent as the project neared its end. He'd have to make some hard decisions and soon. 

His little daughter hugged him as she cried. After a few moments she stopped and looked up at him, hoping that her hugs had worked. He wiped away her tears and kissed her cheek. 

"Thank you, Cupcake, you made Daddy all better." 

Even in the moonlight, he could see her smile. 

"Now back to bed, baby. Daddy needs to take a shower before he goes back to his bed." 

He listened to her little footsteps as she ran and jumped back into her bed. Closing the bathroom door, he turned on the light and started the shower. Soon a stream of hot water poured over his neck and shoulders, chasing away the tension. As his muscles began to relax, exhaustion slowly began to overtake him. 

The first thing Zach saw when he re-entered his bedroom was the neon 2:06 on his clock. Groaning, he crawled back into bed only to find Shannon's Big Bear tucked in next to his pillow. Taking the stuffed bear under one arm, he quietly snuck into Shannon's room and returned the teddy bear to its rightful owner. 

As he looked at his precious little girl, he felt the warm tears stream down his face. He and Shannon needed to go back to Brownwood. 

**** 

"Well," Maria said, contemplating Zach's question. She looked carefully at her project manager, her friend, her husband and brother's protégé. The project had been a success but Zach looked like he'd paid a high price for it. He looked tormented since he'd returned from Florida a few days earlier. "The only counselor I'm familiar with is Sarah Richards. She comes highly recommended." 

She paused and he could see her struggling with a decision. She sighed deeply before she spoke. 

"She helped me work through some things several years ago, Zach. It was before you came to work here. She's pretty no-nonsense but fair." 

"Thank you, Maria," he said softly, realizing the trust she'd shown him. His boss rarely discussed her personal life with anyone. 

Maria had given him Sarah's phone number and Zach set up his first session. It was the first of many. 

Over the next several weeks, Zach worked with Sarah to begin controlling his demons. They weren't exorcised but they were on their way towards being contained and soon posed no current danger. Now he had a clear vision of what he wanted and what needed to be done in order to work towards those goals. It would take time and work but it was doable. 

The only loose ends were Bree and the Olsens. 

***** 

With Thanksgiving only a week away, Zach stood on the Olsen's front porch. He steeled himself and clutched the letter he carried in his hand and rang the doorbell. Bree's sister Donna answered the door. 

"Zach?" she said. "What do you want?" 

Her icy welcome was expected. Donna was nothing if not protective. 

"I'd like to talk to your parents, Donna." 

"Why?" 

"Well," he said. "Obviously there are some things I need to say to them. You're welcome to listen in if you want." 

She looked at him suspiciously then closed the door. A minute later she re-opened it and let him in. She then escorted him into the living room. Seated, there was Gerald and Priscilla along with Tommy and Donna's husband, Robert Collins. 

"Why are you here, Zach?" Mr. Olsen said sternly. 

"Well, sir," Zach replied. "I wanted to talk to you and your wife about what I did to Bree." 

"You've got some nerve—" Donna started. 

"If you're here to try and justify your actions..." Gerald growled, cutting off his daughter. He stood up with his fists clenched. 

"No, sir, I'm actually here to apologize for the way I treated Bree." 

"Don't you think you should be apologizing to Bree first?" Donna snapped. 

Zach nodded. 

"I would if she was here, but since she isn't, I'll start here." 

"Well—" Gerald started but Priscilla gently touched his arm and pulled him back into his chair. He glanced at her before turning his attention back to Zach. 

"All right," he finally said, "go on." 

"Mr. and Mrs. Olsen, I don't know what Brianna's told you about that night but I assure you it was much worse than what she said. The simple fact is I took advantage of your daughter while she was vulnerable. In my anger, I sexually used and abused her and treated her like a piece of meat," Zach's voice caught, betraying the emotions he was fighting to hide. "I said and did things to humiliate and hurt her. I was intentionally cruel, trying to inflict as much pain as possible." 

Gerald Olsen's anger was evident as a red flush began to spread from his neck. 

"I can't imagine what you are thinking and feeling right now. After talking this through with my counselor, the best I can do is try to imagine how I'd feel if a man came up to me and admitted he'd intentionally hurt my daughter. I'm afraid I'd be hard pressed to not physically harm him. 

"But Mr. Olsen, your brother said that after all that happened with Ty, your family owed me. He also said you Olsens always repay your debts. If you'll just hear me out and allow me to apologize, that debt will be repaid. After that you and the rest of your family can hate me without feeling any guilt." 

Gerald glared at Zach. 

"How about it, Pa?" Tommy spoke in a bad cowboy accent trying to break the tension. "We gonna hear him out or just hang him?" 

Mr. Olsen shot a dirty look at his smirking son before glancing over at his wife. Priscilla nodded her approval. 

"Go on, say what you have to say," he growled. 

"Like I said before, I don't know how much of this nightmare you know but it's been building for several years. This isn't an excuse, only some of the things that contributed to my failure. 

"As you know, when Bree broke up with me back in college, we didn't split on the best of terms. That break-up also caused me to lose your family as well. When my father died my feelings of being alone were overwhelming. But like everyone else in this world that's had something bad happen, I tried to move on. Did I resolve all my issues surrounding that time in my life? Of course not, but I did move on. 

"However, when Bree came back, she brought back with her someone who threatened my family. When I came here for help you made it clear that Bree was your first priority. However Mr. Olsen, Shannon is my first priority! The fact that she'd been put at risk because of Bree just rubbed salt in some old wounds. 

"After I was shot, my mother and Bree determined it was best for me to become dependent upon Bree so I couldn't run. I was cornered in my own home. I was hurt, angry, and trapped. In the end, I lost control and lashed out. 

"Regardless of those circumstances, there's no excuse for what I did to Bree. I'm ashamed of how I reacted. That's not the kind of man my father would've been proud of and it's not the type of man I want around my daughter." 

Gerald sighed deeply as the color of his face began to return to normal. 

"As I mentioned before, I've been getting help dealing with the guilt, hurt, and anger. It's starting to help but I still struggle with several things that happened. Mr. and Mrs. Olsen, I hope Bree is getting help as well. If she isn't, I pray someone in her family will suggest it to her." 

"Not that I don't agree with you, but why would you say that?" Donna said warily. 

"Because I believe it would help her. Donna, we all know she feels guilty and blames herself for everything that's happened. She was so overwhelmed by it that she either tried to be a martyr by sacrificing herself to me or was seeking absolution by trying to restore some kind of relationship with me. Either way, it was doomed because I wasn't capable of giving her what she needed. 

"It would've been like a desperate mother in a third story window of a burning building, screaming for someone to save her baby, and then throwing her child down to a man with two broken arms. To nobody's surprise, he would have dropped the child but everyone would still be angry and sad. 

"From what my counselor has told me, Bree acts like many victims of abuse. To my shame, I contributed to that. But someone has to get through to her that she didn't deserve all the bad things that've happened to her. 

"She didn't deserve to be sexually abused by me. She didn't deserve to marry an abusive asshole like Ty. She doesn't deserve to not be able to have any more children after a miscarriage and an abortion." 

Donna gasped and looked fearfully at her parents. Zach realized he'd said something wrong and began to backtrack. 

"I mean..." 

"We're aware of her lifestyle choices," Gerald said calmly, "and the dangers that came with it. We're not as clueless as our children would like to believe." 

"Was the baby yours, Zach?" Priscilla asked tentatively. 

"Bree said it wasn't but then Ty said he was sterile. So to be honest, I don't know. I didn't even know about it until she told me last June." 

"But Ty was such a liar," Donna stated. "Why would you believe anything he'd say?" 

"Well," Zach said carefully. "First, that's a condition most guys won't admit to, let alone lie about and say they have. Second, your little sister wasn't exactly honest with me after she left me." 

"So you're sure the child was aborted?" Priscilla asked. Her pain was evident. 

"I believe so," Zach said quietly 

Gerald and Priscilla looked over at Donna. She dropped her head and nodded. 

"Well, that explains a great deal," Gerald said calmly. "We'd suspected it was something like that." 

An uncomfortable silence shrouded the room. 

"There's something else, isn't there, Zach?" Priscilla said softly as she wiped a tear from her face. "Does it have something to do with what's in your hand?" 

He nodded. 

"Ma'am, I don't know if you'll be seeing Bree during the holidays. But if you do, I was hoping you might pass this letter on to her." 

"We know that you've been hurt," Mr. Olsen said warily, "but so has Brianna. Her mother and I won't do anything to bring her more pain." 

"I understand, sir. However, I don't think this letter will cause her more pain." 

"Can we read it?" Donna interjected. 

Zach nodded. 

"I suspected that you might need to so I left the envelope unsealed," he said as he handed it to Mrs. Olsen. 

Priscilla opened the letter and Donna moved next to her. Soon both women were wiping tears from their eyes. The men looked questioningly at Zach. 

"It's my apology for how I treated her and states that I hope someday she'll be able to forgive me. I also owned up to my part in our breakup. It goes on to thank her for the positive influence she had on Shannon and tells her I don't hate or blame her for the shooting. It also tells her she didn't deserve all of the things that've happened to her. 

"Finally it ends with me basically forgiving her for the things that she did or didn't do in our past. I told her that I hope she finds a man worthy of her, someone who'll treat her well and help her find the peace and happiness she deserves. Of course, I said it in a much more flowery way, but that's it in a nutshell." 

"Is it true?" Donna said as she wiped her nose. 

"What?" Zach replied. 

"I asked if what you wrote in this letter is truly how you feel. After what you did to her, I have my doubts." 

Zach stood, looking very uncomfortable. 

"Does it really matter?" he said in soft voice. "It'll help Bree start her new life." 

"Zach, please," Priscilla said gently. "It matters." 

He sighed. "I don't know what to say, Mrs. Olsen. Do I tell you when I hear her name I want to hold her and tell her how much I miss my friend, the girl I once loved with all my heart? Or do you want to hear in that very same breath I want to shake and yell at her for throwing away what we had, like it was trash. I know that I still care for her but at the same time I want her to feel the loss and pain that I felt. The pain I still feel. 

"The rage is gone, but I still deal with the anger. So, Mrs. Olsen, do I mean it? Yes and no. I wish I could be clearer, but right now I feel like I'm in some kind of bipolar nightmare!" 

"Damn, man," Tommy said, shaking his head. "You still got it bad for my sister." 

"Well?" Priscilla stated, turning her attention back to Zach. 

"Ma'am?" He said clearly confused. 

"You need to tell her," Priscilla said sternly. "You still love my Bree, so what are you going to do about it?" 

He sighed. 

"I'm going to give her the only gift I can right now and that's to try and give her a chance to start over. This letter is meant to help her, Mrs. Olsen. If I told her how I felt it would only cause more confusion." 

"I still think you should tell her, Zach," Priscilla said softly. "She deserves to know." 

"Maybe," Zach said calmly, "but not right now. I'm still messed up and have a lot of work to do to try and get on with my own life. The monster that did that to your daughter has to be destroyed. It can never be allowed to see the light of day again, for my Shannon's sake." 

The room grew silent and Zach took that as his cue to end the visit. 

"Thank you for allowing me to do this, I know it was very difficult for you all. Mr. Olsen, we're even, thank you." 

Donna got up and started towards him. 

"I can let myself out, Donna. I still remember the way. I wish you and the rest of your family a Happy Thanksgiving. Good bye." 

Zach turned and left. When they heard the front door close they all looked over at the stairs. 

Bree sat on the bottom steps in her big fuzzy robe with a tear-streaked face. She had a large, white piece of gauze across the bridge of her nose and her eyes were blackened, giving notice that she'd had surgery. 

Priscilla and Donna got up and went over to the stairs. Priscilla handed her Zach's letter and both women sat down beside her. 

Bree began reading and the tears started flowing again. When she'd finished, Priscilla put her arms around her daughter and held her as she cried. 

"Oh, Momma, how can things get so messed up?" 

"Child," Priscilla softly cooed. "Those are some of the things we'll need to discuss later." 

Bree nodded as she clung to her mother and sobbed. 

****



Brownwood: I Dreamed Ch. 06



I had a dream my life would be 
So different from this hell I'm living 
- I Dreamed a Dream, Les Misérables 

**** 

Spring 2004 - Brownwood 

Zach stared at his mother with an odd sense of déjà vu. 

The previous months had found his life returning back to normal. Shannon had turned four and Ginny and Hector had their baby, a little boy named Phillip Miguel Chavez. Mother and baby were doing well. Zach and Allie were working on restoring their relationship and setting boundaries they could both live with. 

He'd even started dating again although there was no one he was serious about. He knew what he was searching for and was struggling to find it. 

Things with the Olsens had cooled after his visit, so Zach was surprised when he received a wedding invitation from Bree's cousin, Michelle. 

He was even more surprised when his mother asked him about it later that night. 

"So are you going?" she asked, giving him an obviously fake, sweet smile. 

"No," he said mimicking her smile. 

"Michelle will be hurt if you don't go. She's always had a crush on you, you know." 

"Yeah," Zach laughed, "but that was when she was still a kid. She's what now, twenty-one?" 

"Twenty," Allie replied. "She's crazy about the Barnes boy but I know she'd still love for you to come to her wedding." 

"Mom, Bree will be there and it would be awkward for everyone. I don't want to cause any problems. Besides it's Michelle's special day." 

Allie smiled. 

"That's what we thought you'd say." 

"Who's we?" 

"Sherriff Olsen stopped by the diner to make sure you knew you'd be welcomed at his daughter's wedding. Priscilla and Gerald would like to meet with you again too. I think they want to personally invite you to come." 

"A simple phone call would do." 

"I'm sure there's more to it than just that. Please give them a call, Zach." 

He looked suspiciously at his mother. 

"I'm trying," Allie said softly. 

"All right, Mom, I'll call them." 

**** 

Zach smiled as he sat in the Olsens' living room. He was facing Gerald and Priscilla along with both Tommy and Donna. The similarity to his last visit was obvious and the irony wasn't lost on him. 

"Thank you for coming over, Zach," Gerald said. "We felt we needed to tell you in person that we'd be honored if you attended Michelle's wedding." 

"Zach," Priscilla added softly. "We'd love to have you there." 

"Thank you," Zach replied. "But I don't want to be the cause of anything that would take away from Michelle's wedding. I won't do that to her." 

"Well, there's no one here that would have a problem with you being there," Gerald stated. 

Zach noticed even Donna nodded. 

"Thank you, but I'm sure Bree will be there. I wouldn't want to make her feel uncomfortable." 

"Well then," came a voice behind him. "You should probably talk to her and ask her how she feels about it." 

Turning around, he saw Bree standing there in an old t-shirt and jeans. He noticed her nose had been fixed, which added to her already distracting beauty. 

"So how long have you been standing there?" Zach asked warily, as a strained look flashed across his face. 

"Not long," Bree answered, noticing his expression. "Are you all right?" 

Zach smirked. 

"Other than feeling like I've been tricked into coming out here? Yeah, I'm all right. I'll get over it." 

Bree smiled sadly and went to get her coat out of the closet. 

"Take a walk with me? We've got a lot to talk about." 

He nodded and followed her out into the cool March air. 

They walked silently for several minutes across a recently plowed field. There was so much to say but neither knew where to begin. 

"I'm surprised to see you here," Zach said, breaking the awkward silence. "Are you back or just visiting?" 

"No, actually I got a nursing position at Sacred Heart. I start next week." 

"So you're back in Brownwood?" 

She nodded. "Is that a problem?" 

He shook his head. 

"No, we're both learning to move on with our lives. I'll be honest though, it would be easier if you weren't here. The likelihood we'll run into each other on occasion is high. Brownwood isn't that big. 

"You may or may not be dating someone already but you'll soon be. You're too attractive to not have lots of guys offering to take you out. Seeing you on the arm of another guy will be uncomfortable at first but I'll get over it." 

"That's not fair, Zach. You act like seeing some woman hanging on you will be easy for me to deal with. Well it won't be! I know you're dating. I've even heard you rarely date the same woman more than a couple times." 

"Guilty as charged," he said softly. "Guess I have commitment issues." 

Bree looked as if he'd slapped her and he noticed her lips begin to tremble. 

"Zach... I'm sorry... for everything," she said softly, her voice breaking. 

"Bree stop," he interrupted. "It's done and now we're both trying to work through it." 

He could see the tears starting to run down her cheeks. 

"How could you, Zach? How could you do that to me?" 

She shook her head as she wiped her eyes. 

"No," she stated, "you don't have to answer. I already know. I knew I'd hurt you but I never dreamed it was so deep. Do you still hate me?" 

Zach stopped and reached for her. When he touched her arm she pulled away. 

"Don't," she stated softly and stepped away from him. 

"Please, I'm not..." she said, trembling, "I'm not ready for that." 

Zach looked into her eyes and saw the full aftermath of his revenge. The girl that'd been his best friend and first real love was now a scared, broken woman. He felt the tears well in his eyes. 

"Bree," he said softly, as a tear streaked down his face. "I'm so sorry. 

"Yeah, I did hate you. Everything I had, every plan, every hope was wrapped up in you and when you left, you destroyed me. You took the future I'd always dreamed of with you. What you left behind was an angry, bitter man. I ended up building barriers around parts of my life so I could move on. 

"Then you came back and my world was threatened again. I did everything I could to protect myself. However, when we started making love all those barriers began collapsing. I was cornered and... and I lost it. All the pain and anger erupted. I'm sorry, you didn't deserve that." 

"But I deserved some of it, didn't I?" 

He looked deep into her eyes and recognized the need for brutal honesty at that moment. Slowly he shook his head. 

"No. You deserved some kind of bad karma or revenge but not that. No one deserves that. Bree, I can't tell you how ashamed I am of what I did. That isn't who I am and it's sure not the type of man I want around my daughter. 

"But Bree? You can't keep blaming yourself for everything. It's killing you." 

"And you still care?" she said quietly. 

"You know I do." 

Bree smiled. 

"Yeah, I do. I read your letter but I was also hiding on the stairs and heard what you told my family last Thanksgiving." 

Zach looked confused. 

"But then why didn't you—" 

"Because I wasn't ready to face you yet," she stated, interrupting him. "You aren't the only one who struggles with how they feel." 

They walked silently together for a few minutes. 

"You were right though," she said gently. 

He looked at her questioningly. 

"About a lot of things. I started meeting with a therapist who deals with abuse victims when I got back to Brownwood. You might know her, Sarah Richards?" 

He smirked. 

"You know I do. I hope she helps you like she's helping me." 

"Me too," Bree said with a small smile. "Zach, you were right about other things as well. I wasn't completely honest with you. 

"I didn't lie to you but I didn't tell you everything. Part of that was because I was ashamed and the other reason was because you simply didn't want to hear it. There wasn't any reason to bear my soul to you anymore than I already had. 

"I never took all the money Ty thought I had. Autumn brought me my half of the $50,000 I knew was in the safe. 

"I went back to Boston and tried to find her after Ty was shot. When I finally did find her, I wished I hadn't. It was so sad. Ty had messed up her face so badly that it is scarred for life. She admitted to me she'd kept the other $175,000 she'd found in the safe. She'd given most of it back to Ty but he'd beaten her anyway." 

"Bree, I don't need to know—" 

"Shut up! Yes, you do need to know this," she snapped. "If I'm going to be completely honest then you need to know the whole story. Afterwards, you can decide what to do with it, but you do need to hear this... all of it." 

He slowly nodded. 

"Okay, Bree. I'm listening." 

She took a deep breath and steadied herself. 

"About a year into our marriage, Ty wanted to start swinging but I wasn't interested. He got more and more aggressive about it. There were several parties where he tried to pass me around like some party favor. By the time I became pregnant again, I was sure he was cheating on me but I never got the chance to prove it. 

"The one time I was with anyone other than my husband was what you saw in that video. That night we had a party and some of his old college friends attended. Why I gave in that particular night, I'm not sure. I guess I just quit fighting. I was drunk and high and seeing Derek and Reggie brought back some messed up memories from my old sorority days. 

"The next morning I overheard them laughing and talking. I learned I'd been drugged back in college and those were the two assholes I'd had sex with along with Ty. The rest of those bastards who claimed to have had me that night were full of shit. I was pissed, Zach, no I was livid! 

"I made an ugly scene. I'm sure Ty would've hit me if his frat brothers weren't there. I screamed at him and ended up telling him I wanted a divorce as I stormed out. I told you why I went back to him but not why he attacked me. I heard you tell my folks he'd told you the reason." 

He nodded. 

"He wasn't lying," she said, tears filling her eyes. "It wasn't his. He'd gone to the doctor for some reason and discovered he was sterile. When he got home he went berserk! 

"Zach, I can honestly tell you that my first child wasn't yours. The timing wasn't right. Both children had to have been either Derek's or Reggie's, since I'd never been with anyone but Ty until then. 

"I know what you think of me, Zach. But—" 

"Bree, I was wrong," he interjected. "I don't believe you're a slut." 

She looked at the ground and steeled herself. 

"But I was. I was a slut! Not because of what I did with Ty, but because of the things I did with all three of them. There's no other way to put it." 

Zach shook his head and turned away. 

"What?" Bree asked, alarmed. "What are you thinking?" 

"Nothing," he said softly, still refusing to look at her. 

"Bullshit," she said sternly. "Today we're clearing the air so don't hold back on me, Zach Morgan!" 

"Please," she begged. 

"It's just..." he stammered, trying to phrase his question as gently as possible. "Look, I saw you when you were with those three guys. You were in heaven. How can you ever look at a guy from now on and tell him you'd be satisfied with only him?" 

She was silent for a moment. 

"You're wrong, it wasn't heaven," she said in a steady, unfaltering voice. "It was a high just like any other drug. Even though I was pretty out of it, I remember that night. I remember enjoying it and begging for more. I was lonely and in a bad marriage and had let my guard down. 

"But what wasn't on that DVD was what that night did to me. It didn't show the shame and regret I've felt for years, knowing I allowed it to happen. I know some women wouldn't feel that way, but I do. That's not me and I've had to deal with the guilt ever since. 

"As for how I can promise it'll never happen again? Well, that's like someone doing heroin for the first time. The high may be incredible but the aftermath can be so devastating they'll never go near it again. If I ever have the desire to do something like that again, my husband will have to purchase several sex toys because there will never be anyone in my bed again but my husband. 

"Zach, you need to know I'm not that girl in the DVD anymore. No man will ever use me like that again. When I fall in love again, and I know I will someday, I'll give that man every part of me. I'll give him everything I have but he'll be the kind of man who won't mistreat me. He won't feel pleasure from seeing me humiliated or being treated like a piece of meat." 

"Then that man will be very lucky," Zach added quietly. 

"You mean it?" she said, unable to keep the pleading out of her voice. "I mean you're not just saying that to try and be nice to an old, messed up friend?" 

Zach stared at her intently. He knew he was at a crossroads. He could either crush her spirit or help her heal. He smiled to himself, realizing how easy that choice was for him now. 

"No, I'm not just saying that to make you feel better. I may've done something like that in the past, but not now. 

"You said we're clearing the air today, so I guess it's my turn..." 

He took a deep breath. 

"The reason I said the guy you choose to love would be lucky is because it's true. That man will be damn lucky! Bree, you are something incredibly special and I'm not talking about how hot you are." 

She instinctively reached for her eye. 

"You know you're beautiful. Even with that tiny droop, you're still one of the most beautiful women in this city! 

"No, I'm talking about how incredible you are inside. Even when we were kids, I knew you were special. You were loud and funny and you brought life to any room you walked into. You were friendly to almost everyone and were rarely ever cruel. You never put anyone down, other than a couple of mean girls in school. 

"At the same time, growing up, there was never anyone you were intimidated by, including most adults. You seemed to have no fear and you brought out the best in those who were shy, like me. 

"Bree, you were special as a kid and you're still something special. Yeah, you've made some bad decisions over the years, who hasn't? But inside you're still the same incredible girl. Any guy, and I mean any guy, would be damn lucky to have you beside him." 

Zach stopped to catch his breath and saw the tears streaming down her face. 

"Dammit, Bree," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "There's nobody like you and never will be. That's why when you left me, you devastated me. I knew I could never replace you. I hoped Susan might've but all it got me was a precious baby girl, a horrible marriage, and a quick, painful divorce." 

They stopped and stared at each other. Zach brushed a stray tear away from his eye, while Bree wiped her eyes with the sleeves of her coat. He watched her as she gave him a small, warm smile. 

"So," she whispered. "Does this mean you'll come to the wedding and dance with me at the reception?" 

Zach chuckled. 

"Sure." 

"Promise?" 

"I promise." 

**** 

The Barnes/Olsen wedding was held that June at All Saints Catholic Church. The reception was held across the street in the St. Catherine's College banquet hall. 

Joel Barnes was the oldest son of Brownwood Assistant District Attorney, Hank Barnes, while Michelle Olsen was the youngest child of Sheriff Henry Olsen. To say there were a large number of individuals representing law enforcement would've been a gross understatement. Zach couldn't help but wonder if he had any outstanding tickets as he stood in the reception line. 

"Zach, you made it!" Michelle squealed and gave him a huge hug. 

"Of course," he laughed. "How could I miss Strawberry Shortcake's wedding!" 

Zach stood frozen as the hug lingered on, becoming precariously close to being inappropriate. As soon as he could, he carefully peeled the young, strawberry blonde bride off of him. Turning, he quickly shook the groom's hand. 

"Congratulations," he hurriedly stated, "you guys make a great couple." 

"So, you're Zach," Joel said calmly with a guarded smile. "The one she had a crush on?" 

Zach continued smiling politely as his tried to read the groom's expression. The young man had the same poker face as his father and Zach wasn't sure if he saw a hint of humor or something more sinister. 

"Well, she might've had one when she was a little girl," Zach said, forcing a laugh. "But now she's all grown-up and she's found her true love. Again, you're both very lucky." 

Joel smiled warmly as any perceived tension quickly vanished. 

Mercifully, Zach reached the end of the reception line and began quickly working his way towards the exit. Her laugh stopped him. He turned and saw Bree immediately. It took a moment before he could breathe again. She had dressed to make an impression and had succeeded. She looked stunning. 

"So are you already trying to sneak out?" Bree said, unable to hide her laugh. 

"Umm... yeah. I thought it would be smart to leave before someone felt the need to talk to me about that hug." 

Bree giggled. 

"I thought you handled it pretty well. Although it was a little—" 

"Awkward." 

Bree laughed and then snorted. It was an apparent side effect from her surgery. 

"Yeah, but you don't have to worry about it. Michelle's crazy about her new husband and he knows it. Besides it's been a long day for her, lots of stress. She's allowed a little forgiveness when it comes to her emotions today. 

"Besides," she said, smiling at him. "You still owe me a dance." 

"Well, I wouldn't want to leave without honoring my debts." 

"Good!" she said, smiling. "Let's go." 

As they walked towards the dance floor, Bree gently slid her hand into his. Zach looked at her with uncertainty. 

"I figure unless we only dance fast dances, we're going to end up touching." 

"Besides," she said shyly. "Weddings bring out the romantic in me." 

Zach smiled and followed her out onto the floor. Soon he was holding her close as they danced. It felt so natural, her softness pressed against him. He was so focused on the sensation he almost missed her sniffle. 

"Do you ever wonder what our wedding would've been like?" she said softly. 

He pulled her even closer. 

"More than I care to admit," he whispered. 

She rested her head on his shoulder. 

"Me too." 

After dancing for a few songs, the couple found an empty table. 

Bree broke the silence by addressing the elephant in the room. 

"So where does that leave us, Zach?" 

He chuckled. 

"Dazed and confused?" 

She smiled and nodded. 

"Bree? I know I'm still messed up, but if you don't have plans one night this week, I'd like to take you out." 

"Like on a date?" Bree replied, trying to hide her grin. 

"Yeah, like on a date. That is if you're available." 

Bree laughed then snorted again. Instinctively, she put her hand over her nose. Zach grinned. 

"Stop it," she said, stifling a laugh. "It's not funny." 

"Oh, the price of beauty," he said, smiling. "I will say it is worth it though. There's no one here that can hold a candle to you, Bree." 

She looked at him and beamed. 

"Well," she began, the smile never leaving her face. "To answer your poorly veiled question, I've been out on a few dates since I've been back but none are worth mentioning. The first was a real nice guy from Radiology who took me out a few times before we both accepted there wasn't enough chemistry between us to continue. The second was a very handsome older man who I dated a few times before I found out the asshole was married. The third was an octopus posing as a doctor. I almost had to Taser him before I could crawl out of his BMW. That date lasted less than two hours and I ended up calling a cab to take me home." 

Zach smirked. 




Brownwood: I Dreamed Ch. 06



"Well, you could bring your Taser with you but you won't need it. We'll have to take it really slow but I'd like to see if we could rebuild our friendship." 

He paused. 

"After that, I'd like to see if we can be more than just friends." 

Bree sat quietly and Zach could see the wheels turning in her head. 

"Well, I'm pretty dressed up right now." 

"Yes," Zach said, smiling. "Yes, you most certainly are. I would expect there are several people here that will be glad to see you leave." 

She looked puzzled and alarmed. 

"Bree, you look beautiful. You look so incredible that you're outshining the bride." 

"Yeah, right!" she snorted and covered her mouth again. 

Zach grinned. He did however notice the looks they got as they left the reception. They confirmed what he'd told her wasn't too far from the truth. 

Walking together, Bree gently took his hand again. Zach smiled, for the first time in several years he felt at peace. 

**** 

October 2004 - Brownwood 

He could feel her soft breath as she rested her head upon his chest. Unconsciously, she clung to him and he felt her tremble. 

"We're not going to make it, are we?" she whispered in the dark. 

He paused, searching for an answer. 

"I don't know," he said softly, running his fingers through her hair. "I don't know if our love is enough to get us through this." 

He sighed deeply as he replayed the last several months in his head, searching for answers. They'd gone slowly that first month, dating frequently but allowing their friendship to heal. They'd even combined their individual meetings with Sarah Richards and began meeting with her as a couple. 

A month later, they'd become intimate. Even though it'd been nearly a year, their coupling had been awkward and tense with both struggling to overcome the memories of their last time together. Slowly, with Sarah's help, they'd been able to begin working through the wounds of their past. The passion they'd shared as they continued growing as a couple seemed to almost overwhelm them at times. 

Zach's relationship with the Olsens continued to improve as well. The fact Shannon and Priscilla absolutely adored each other certainly helped. 

He knew they'd reached another milestone when Gerald cornered him alone one evening. His warning still rang in Zach's ear. 

"Son?" he said in a low, rumbling whisper. "If you ever hurt my daughter like that again, there aren't enough angels in heaven to keep me from hunting you down." 

Zach stared into the eyes of a man whose love and passion to protect his daughter, equaled his own. 

"Sir, I'd expect nothing less." 

After that conversation, nothing was ever mentioned again. 

It was when Bree had moved in with Zach and Shannon that things changed. Something was wrong, something they couldn't quite identify or discuss but was very real. Soon, whatever it was began tearing at their relationship. 

The issue finally reared its ugly head one day. Zach had gone to the hospital to surprise Bree during her break. When he got there, he found her and a couple of the younger nurses being thoroughly entertained by one of the doctors. Even in their scrubs, he'd easily recognized Bree's orange hair and Doris' tall, ebony form. 

He knew instantly the doctor was Dr. Kyle Blayloch, a new surgeon who'd arrived at Sacred Heart only a month earlier. Bree's description of him was accurate; early thirties, tall, jet black hair, deep green eyes, muscular, and very handsome. The nurses referred to him as Dr. Dream. The guy looked like he belonged on the cover of GQ magazine instead of a hospital. 

Zach also noted the good doctor had wasted little time targeting Bree. As he approached them, he saw something that froze him in his tracks. Blayloch said something to Bree, making her laugh and then he reached over and brushed a hair from her face. Zach felt his heart stop beating the moment he saw her almost swoon! 

Startled, Bree quickly brushed aside the doctor's hand as her brow furrowed. Zach could see her concern at his forwardness. At that moment, she spotted Zach. Her face showed her surprise and then her guilt as she read his reaction. He clenched his fists and strode towards the group, his face was like stone but his eyes blazed with the rage building inside. 

Everyone in the group turned towards him as Bree quickly moved to intercept him. The other nurses recognized him but Blayloch stared at him with blank confusion. 

"Zach! Honey, you surprised me!" Bree exclaimed as she stopped him and then turned to the group. 

"Doris, Susie, you remember Zach?" she said nervously. "Kyle? This is my boyfriend, Zach Morgan. Zach, this is Dr. Kyle Blayloch." 

Zach's eyes never left the doctor as he watched the bigger man's face lose some of its color. 

"Hello, Zach," Doris said in her distinctive accent. "I haven't seen you since you were my patient last summer! How are you doing?" 

Zach didn't respond. 

Doris' eyes darted between the two men, recognizing the rise in testosterone. Blayloch cleared his throat and extended his hand. 

"Zach, very nice to meet you," he said in a calm but guarded voice. 

Zach looked at the doctor's hand briefly. "Careful Doc, don't think it would be good for a surgeon to get his hand hurt, might make operating a bitch." 

Dr. Blayloch's calm expression never left his face as he jerked his hand back. Bree attempted to lead Zach away from the group but he wouldn't move. 

"Zach, did you come over just to join me for my break?" Bree said, trying to relieve the tension. 

He turned his attention towards her and she almost gasped when she saw the look of anger and betrayal in his eyes. 

"Yeah," he said in a low voice. "But something's come up and I'll need to work late. If you want, we can talk later tonight at my apartment." 

He turned and left but his reference to his apartment wasn't lost on Bree. She understood the crossroads they'd somehow found themselves at. 

Zach went back to work. His mind raced as he began working through possible scenarios involving Bree and himself. He'd turned off his cell because he hadn't wanted to talk to her. The sound of her voice would've caused his emotions to sweep over him and cloud his thinking. It was because of his self-imposed isolation that he was surprised when Dr. Blayloch visited him later that afternoon. 

Their conversation was short and to the point. Blayloch apologized and said he hadn't realized Bree was in a committed relationship. He told Zach that she'd read him the riot act after Zach had left. She'd told him in no uncertain terms she was in an exclusive relationship. Blayloch promised he would never do anything to come between them. By the end of their talk, Zach hated to admit it, but he was actually beginning to like the guy. 

Zach called his mother and asked her to watch Shannon that evening. Their relationship had been improving since he'd returned from Florida but it still wasn't as strong as it had been. 

He spent the rest of the afternoon and a few extra hours at O'Malley's going over the problem again and again. Each time things became clearer. He looked at his cell and saw multiple calls from Bree. He listened to her voicemails and sighed. It was time to go home. 

When he walked into the apartment, Bree met him at the door. She was crying as she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him so hard he found it hard to breathe. 

"Bree, we need to talk," he finally managed to whisper. 

"I know," she said, finally releasing him and wiping her eyes. "I knew as soon as it happened. Then when I got home this evening and found out Shannon was spending the night with your mother, I knew we were going to have a serious talk." 

They went over and sat together on the couch. Zach noticed an opened bottle of wine and two glasses on the coffee table. He looked at Bree and she shrugged. 

"I thought it might help when you came home." 

"And if I hadn't come home tonight?" 

"Then I figured I might need it to help me sleep alone in our empty bed." 

"Bree, I'm not really sure where to begin..." 

"Zach, please let me start?" 

He nodded. 

"Baby, I'm sorry. Nothing ever happened between Kyle and me but—" 

"Bree," Zach interrupted. "I saw him flirting with you and I watched you enjoy it!" 

Bree nodded and wiped a stray tear away. 

"That's why I'm apologizing, Zach. Nothing happened but I let it go too far." 

"Why?" Zach asked calmly. 

"Why? That's easy, because it felt nice and up till that point it was innocent. Having a young, handsome doctor show interest in you would make any girl feel good. It made me feel the same way you'd feel if some little, wet-dream of a co-ed flirted with you. It would've stroked your ego, just like Kyle's attention stroked mine." 

Zach fought back the images of Kayla as Bree continued. 

"Not that I would've let it go any further but I should've stopped it when it first started. I am so sorry, honey." 

She stared at him with tears still in her eyes. 

"What you saw today was the first time he ever crossed a line. I talked with him after you left and told him he was never to flirt or touch me again! Of course he agreed." 

Bree was silent for a moment and then looked into his eyes. 

"Zach? He really is a good guy. I just didn't give him the right signals." 

"I know, Bree. He came to my office today and apologized. We'll see if he keeps his distance but I suspect he will." 

"Then why didn't you take any of my calls?" 

"I needed to think. I'm sorry, Bree, but just the sound of your voice can make it hard to think sometimes. I needed to get a handle on what our problem really is and see if I could come up with some possible solutions." 

"My engineer," she said with a weak smile. Zach returned her smile. 

"And what did you figure out? 

His smile quickly disappeared. 

"I believe I've identified the core problem but I'm not sure it can be fixed." 

Bree smiled at him optimistically. "Baby, I'm serious about this relationship. So let's get it out in the open. I know we'll be able to figure out something." 

**** 

"Well?" Sarah Richards said, smiling. "What have you deduced, Mr. Holmes." 

"Other than I struggle with a ton of male insecurities?" Zach replied, grinning sheepishly. 

"Male and female insecurities keep me in business!" Sarah chuckled. "Now, Zach, what did yesterday's drama make clearer for you?" 

He looked at the two women who were staring intently at him. He saw the hope and confusion in Bree's eyes. He'd tried to explain it to her last night but knew he'd done a poor job of it. Thankfully, they'd already scheduled a session today with Sarah. Zach hoped that, combined with a good night's sleep, would help him put his thoughts into words more clearly. 

He glanced over at their counselor and smiled, remembering his first thoughts about her. Sarah Richards was in her early forties and had a long but attractive face with shoulder length brown curly hair. Her huge brown eyes were dwarfed by her even larger glasses. But it was her long face, narrow shoulders, smallish bust and wider hips that gave him the impression he was talking to a human bowling pin. 

It had been her quick wit and obvious intelligence, matched with her compassion and no nonsense attitude that won Zach over. Simply stated, she genuinely cared and it was readily apparent. 

"I'm not sure where to start, so bear with me. Hopefully, I'll do a better job of explaining it than I did last night. 

"Look," he said, gathering himself, "I know what I am. I'm a decent looking, somewhat geeky guy who's pretty average by most people's standards." 

"There's nothing average about you, honey!" Bree blurted out. "And I think you're damn handsome!" 

He grimaced as Sarah interjected. 

"Please, Brianna," she said softly. "Let him talk." 

"By the world's standards, I am just an average guy. Like most guys, I've had to come to terms with it but it's all right, I've got lots of company. 

"I know women go through something similar but if you want to understand where the problem is you need to hear me out. Every average guy has had to face the fact there will always be a handful of guys all women dream of. It might be the star jock, or the bad boy or that rich and handsome doctor... whatever. 

"Whoever it is will be bigger, stronger, more attractive, have more money, be a bigger bad-ass or be hung like a damn mule. And most likely the girls we love will be infatuated with him. Most of the time, the guy will be an ass and use her and move on to the next girl. Yeah, I know there are always those few who are really good guys. If most men were honest though, we'd tell you we wished secretly those perfect men would get hit by a bus! It's those guys who give women enough hope to keep digging through the pile of jerks, trying to find their dream man. 

"I don't understand why women think the bad boy they're sleeping with will someday love them enough to change their ways, and be a loving, faithful husband and father. It almost never happens. What does happen is he'll treat her like dirt, break her heart, and in the end she'll be damaged goods. She'll think every guy out there is only after one thing, and she'll find enough horny guys out there to prove her right. 

"So who ends up picking up those pieces? The poor fool who falls in love with her, that's who. He'll have to fight through all her hurts and fears, let alone his own baggage, just to make her believe they can somehow be happy together. Maybe, just maybe, they'll end up sharing a life together. But in the back of his mind he'll always know, if Mr. Perfect were to ever walk into her life, she'd leave him or at least she'd want to in her heart." 

"Zach," Bree said softly, "I didn't leave you for Ty." 

"I know," he sighed, "But you left me just the same. You left me to go look for that dream man. You needed someone you could share your travels and adventures with. Someone with the resources to take you to London or Paris, and who dreamed of seeing a musical on Broadway or basking on a beach in the Caribbean. We both know that wasn't me. Bree, so it had to be someone else. 

"So that's the problem, trust and fear. Bree, you're beautiful and beautiful women get hit on all the time. I know you turn down those advances, at least for now, but will you still do that a year from now? Five years? Twenty years? 

"And what if you finally do decide to leave me? I'm not sure I could survive that again. What you want... what we both want, is for me to be able to love you like before. But it'll never happen, Bree. What died was my innocence, my ability to love completely without fear or cynicism. I don't know if the love I have left will ever be enough. So you see? I don't know how this can be fixed." 

Bree stared at him, her eyes pleading. 

"Well, Zach," Sarah started in a calm voice. "That was certainly well thought out. However, I'd like to interject another possibility if you don't mind." 

Zach nodded. 

"I would put it to you, the death of your innocence isn't the issue," she continued calmly. "Zach, everybody's innocence dies, some even have it taken from them at a very young age. I don't believe the answer to your problem lies in you becoming naive again. I do think you'll find some answers as you continue to deal with your trust issues. 

"From what you've both told me, your relationship is becoming increasingly more intimate. I'd suggest that when Bree moved in with you and Shannon the reality of your situation became evident, at least subconsciously. So, it really isn't surprising some of these issues are now being forced to the top. What I recommend..." 

She froze and looked at the couple staring back at her. 

"Oh shoot!" she said, grimacing. "I did it again, didn't I? I got to sounding all self-important and spewing some psycho-babble. I'm sorry, sometimes the training gets in the way of actually helping people." 

She gathered herself and sighed deeply. 

"Listen, Zach, we all have trust issues. What you have to decide is what level of trust you need to have before you'll try to make this relationship work. If you don't determine that, then it'll become a self-fulfilling prophecy. To put it bluntly, do you have enough trust in Bree, and yourself, to try again?" 

**** 

The couple snuggled together sitting on their couch, watching Shannon as she played on the floor with her dolls. The last 24 hours had been difficult, so much so Zach had asked Bree to give him time to process what Sarah had said before they talked about it. She'd honored his wish. 

Shannon came over and kissed him goodnight and Bree carried her to her room and tucked her in. A short bedtime story later, Bree was back, standing in the living room, quietly watching Zach. He noticed she looked ready for bed and was wearing her fuzzy robe. 

Gracefully, she walked over to him and crawled onto his lap. She placed a hand gently on his face and kissed him deeply. Silently, she rose and stood before him. He stifled a gasp when she dropped her robe to reveal her naked form. 

"Bree?" he stammered. 

"Shhh," she whispered as she took his hand and led him to their bedroom. 

Once there, she pushed him onto the bed and began to undress him. He gazed at her as she smiled sadly. 

"I don't know what our future holds either," she said softly, "but for now you're still mine. And tonight, I want to show you how much you mean to me, Zach." 

What followed wasn't sex. It was gentle and slow, passionate but tender. It was a melding of two hearts, of two lovers. What they did that night was make love. 

They were like two desperate souls clinging to each other, praying they could find happiness together before they had to face the stark morning light. Fiercely, they sought to memorize each touch, every smell, and each kiss. The fear of their unknown future gave their coupling an intensity of its very own. 

Spent, they lay intertwined with each other. Both breathing heavily but refusing to let go of the other. As sleep began to take them, he felt her quiet sobs as she rested on his chest, her tears slowly running down his side. 

He woke several hours later to a gentle whisper. 

"Zach? Baby, wake up. I need to talk to you." 

He forced his eyes open only to be met by the darkness that still filled most of the room. It was obvious it was sometime before sunrise. Only the bathroom light spilled over into their bedroom. He breathed deeply and could smell her freshly washed hair. 

"Huh?" he managed to mumble. "What time is it?" 

"About 4:30." 

Zach groaned. 

"Sweetheart, I need to talk to you before I leave for work. I've got an early morning shift today and tomorrow I'm pulling a double. Then on Sunday I'm covering for Doris, so that doesn't leave much of an opportunity to talk to you this weekend. That's probably a good thing because of what I need to say..." 

Her words and tone of voice flushed any residue of sleep from his mind. Sitting up, he turned on the lamp next to the bed and stared into her beautiful face. He could see her eyes were red and puffy, a testament she'd been crying. 

"You bared your heart to me and Sarah, now I need to share mine with you." 

She sat next to him and sighed deeply. 

"I want to start with... I love you. There've been times in our past when I wasn't sure that was enough but I know now it is. And that makes what I have to say much harder. 

"Bree, I—" 

"Baby, please," she said softly. 

"I love you, Zach Morgan, but I can't do this alone. I can't fight for us by myself. You tried to do that when we were engaged and it almost killed you. It still breaks my heart to know I'm the one who gave up on us back then. It's something I'll regret for the rest of my life. 

"Sarah was right when she said you need to decide if you trust me, trust our love enough to try again. I know you, Zach. If you get a thought stuck in your head, you're like a pit bull. You can't let go of it. If you don't believe there's any hope for us then there won't be. 




Brownwood: I Dreamed Ch. 06



"I know I've given you plenty of reasons not to trust me. I wish to God I hadn't, but I ran out on us back in college. Now you have to decide if it's worth trying to pick up the pieces and try to rebuild what we had. I'm sure it would be easier to start fresh with someone new but I hope you consider giving me a chance. 

"For my part, you need to know I want to try again. I'm not looking for guarantees. No promise we'll marry someday. But I need to know you believe there's a chance we can have a future together. Because if you do... then I'll fight with everything I have, for us. 

"But until you decide..." 

She gathered herself as her eyes began to water again. 

"Until you decide what you want, I need to leave—" 

"Bree," Zach interrupted, "that's not what—" 

"Please let me finish," she said, the tears now streaming down her face. 

"I'm going to stay with Mom and Dad for a while. I'll pick up my stuff after my shift while you're still at work today. I'm not running away from you, Zach. Not like before. As you said, sometimes just being together makes it hard to think things through. What I'm doing is giving you some space, some time to decide if I'm worth the effort to try again. I hope and pray you feel I am. 

"Zach, even though I'm stepping away, I want you to know my heart. You've asked me to marry you twice. Both times you've been hurt. The first time we weren't ready, the second I wasn't. Now it's my turn..." 

Bree moved closer to him and took his face gently in her hands and stared deep into his eyes. She whispered her next words. 

"Zach Morgan, I love you with all my heart, would you please consider marrying me someday?" 

Before he could speak she kissed him and then placed her finger on his lips. 

"Sweetheart, it's taken me a long time, maybe too long, but I know what I want now. I want to be Brianna Morgan, Mrs. Zach Morgan. I want to be the reason you can't wait to get home from work. I want to be the reason why your heart races, and why your mind gets distracted when I get out of the shower. I want to be the ear you tell how your day went or whisper your heart's dreams and desires. 

"I also want the chance to be called Shannon's 'Mommy.' I dream of being there as she grows into that wonderful woman I know she'll be. I want to be there when she reaches puberty and has questions, to tell her she can't date until she's sixteen, to be sitting on the front pew holding your hand and crying my eyes out as she promises herself to the man of her dreams. 

"Baby, I dream of spending the rest of my life making sure you never regret sharing your life with me." 

Zach stared at her, stunned by her intense passion. 

"Finally... in ten years," she whispered. "I want to look out over that white picket fence with you and Shannon and know I didn't miss out on the important things in life, my family. Zach, I know I'm being dramatic..." 

Her face changed as she looked at the clock. "Oh shit, I'm going to be late!" she yelped as she jumped up off the bed and grabbed her purse. As she started to walk out the door she paused. 

"Baby, I love you but you have to do what is best for both you and Shannon. If that doesn't include me, I won't like it but I'll try to understand. Please... please don't take a long time to decide. This is killing both of us." 

She rushed out of the apartment. He knew it was time to make a decision. Whether to take a chance on Bree and let her completely into his and Shannon's lives, or to end this damaged relationship and seek a fresh start. 

He closed his eyes and sighed. 

**** 

Shannon squealed and jumped over a crack in the Lakewood Mall's sidewalk. Giggling, she turned back to make sure Zach and Allie had seen her. 

"Careful, Cupcake," her daddy warned. "You're dripping!" 

Shannon giggled as she raised her hand holding the small ice cream cone. With one quick move she licked both her hand and the ice cream cone. Then turning, she gave them a big chocolate mustache grin. 

Both Zach and Allie laughed. 

"Giving chocolate to a four-year-old is probably not considered wise," Allie said with a smile. Then she froze realizing what she had just said. "Oh, Zach, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it the way it sounded. You're a wonderful parent." 

"Mom, it's all right," he said calmly and smiled weakly. 

She had a pained expression on her faced 

"Honey, I am so sorry. I'm trying, I'm really am!" 

"I know, Mom, and that makes it easier. Also, I asked you to come with us this morning, but it wasn't just to go shopping for a Halloween costume for Shannon. Besides finding a princess outfit for her, I need your advice, too." 

He relayed the events of the past few days, the confrontation at the hospital, their session with Sarah, and Bree's proposal. His mother hadn't made any comments other than to ask a few clarifying questions. 

"Honey, I know my granddaughter is a good kid and that you don't spoil her... well not too much. She always seems so happy now." 

"She is, Mom. She's been happier more this last month than I've ever seen her. These last few months have been hard on her as well. With everything that's happened, it's got to be confusing for her. I know it's confusing to me! 

"I know Shannon is falling in love with Bree. I don't know, Mom, maybe it's better to try to make this work with Bree. It makes good sense. It'll be good for Shannon and maybe someday..." 

"You stop right there," Allie growled, glaring at him. "I don't want to hear any more of that bullshit. There are times in all marriages when you have to suck it up and do what's best for your family. Marrying someone you can't or won't love is foolish and just asking for everyone to get hurt. 

"Honey," she said, her voice softening, "Bree is right though, you need to decide what's best for both you and Shannon. What's best for your little girl is to see her daddy being true to himself." 

They walked in silence, or at least as much silence as can be expected when walking with a four-year-old wearing a tiara and devouring an ice cream cone. 

"I'm glad she had the courage to tell you how she felt. It would've been hard for her to leave, given what she's asking for." 

He nodded. 

"I know, she said she wasn't asking for a commitment immediately, but her proposal sure didn't feel like it." 

"I know it might not seem like it, but I don't think she was asking you for a commitment." 

Zach looked at her confused. Allie smiled sadly. 

"What I think she's wanting," she said gently, "is hope." 

Allie paused for a moment and stared off into the distance. 

"It's something I searched for many years ago and was blessed to find. I know you remember some of the things that happened when we first came to Brownwood. It was a hard time for us. Your father had left the three of us for that big-titted secretary of his and had screwed me in the divorce so we got very little in the settlement. 

"I don't know what to say, between the loss of the man I'd hoped to grow old with and the financial straits he put us in, I was destroyed. I didn't know where to turn. When an old girlfriend of mine told me she could get me a job at the battery plant here in Brownwood, I took it. 

"We moved here and started a new life but I couldn't see any happiness in my future. Your father had stolen it. I was like a ship lost at sea. I couldn't find the shore. All I could see was a hopeless fog. 

"Then I met your dad and the haze started to clear. Oh, Zach, he was a godsend. He gave me hope again. I began to imagine a future where I was actually happy. One where I was loved and protected and could see myself growing old with him. I still thank God for him every day. 

"Of course I didn't see it that way when I first met him. I was such a mess when we started dating. I was scared and bitter and so angry, I tried my damnedest to run him off. But he wouldn't go away." 

"In the end, Phil broke through my defenses. He showed me how to live again. Because of him I can dream again and even though he's gone, I know I'll love again, someday. 

"That's what I want for you, Zach. I don't know what you should do about Bree. I love her but it's more important you have a chance for happiness. I want you to search for that happiness. Whether it's with Bree or not, I'll stand behind you. 

"Honey, there's nothing worse for a parent than to look into her child's eyes and see hopelessness. I want you to dream again. 

"And as for me, I know there's another man out there that I'll someday give my heart to. I just haven't found him yet. Besides, I'm still a pretty good catch. Too good to be hiding behind a counter every day, don't you think?" 

His mother smiled sweetly and winked as Zach chuckled. 

The rest of the afternoon went smoothly. Soon Zach was carrying a sleepy Shannon in his arms as they began to make their way out of the mall. As they passed a jewelry store window, Shannon perked up. 

"Just like mine!" she squealed and pointed. 

Zach and Allie looked at what she was pointing at and laughed. There in the window was a beauty pageant tiara. 

"Yeah, Cupcake, just like yours," Allie said, smiling. 

"Accept for the price tag," she said softly for only Zach to hear. 

Unfortunately, he wasn't listening. His eyes were fixed on some other jewelry on display. 

"Mom," he said, "we might need to hit one more store." 

**** 

Zach got out of car and looked up at the Olsens' front porch. 

It's déjà vu all over again! He chuckled to himself. 

Slowly he made his way towards the porch. Sitting there were Gerald and Tommy. As he approached it was obvious they were watching him, trying to determine if this was going to be a good or bad visit. 

Before he even stepped up on the porch, three of the Olsen women came out of the house to meet him. Priscilla and Donna joined their family off to the side as Bree stood at the top of the steps. 

She stood there in her white fuzzy robe with her hair still wet. Her eyes were red and puffy and he noticed her shiver in the cool, autumn air. 

"Are you all right?" Zach asked, obviously concerned. 

"I don't know, am I?" she responded softly. 

He could see the fear and uncertainty in her face and his heart broke. 

"Bree, I'm sorry..." 

She gasped and her eyes began to tear. 

"No!" Zach said quickly. "No, sweetheart please let me finish." 

She wiped her eyes with the sleeve and stared at him. 

"Bree, I'm sorry," he started again. "I'm sorry it's taken me this long to pull my head out of my butt and accept the fact that I love you. I always have and I always will. I know I've still got some things to work through but if you're willing to walk beside me..." 

Zach pulled out a small box and kneeled. Bree's hands flew to her mouth and the tears began to fall. 

"I realize you've already asked this but I wanted to make it official, in front of witnesses. Bree Olsen, will you—" 

"Yes!" she shrieked as she launched herself at him. Zach barely managed to keep his balance as he caught her. She began smothering him with kisses before she buried her head into his shoulder. 

"Marry me?" he whispered in her ear. 

He could feel her nod as he heard her begin to sob. He heard her muffled voice whispering into his chest. "Thank you God, oh thank you." 

He looked up at his futures. They were all smiling, with Priscilla and Donna fighting back their own tears. Donna stepped forward and spoke for them all. 

"About time," she said as she wiped away a stray tear. 

****



Brownwood: I Dreamed Ch. 07



****
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.
– I Dreamed a Dream, Les Misérables 

****

Summer 2015 – Somewhere in the Caribbean 

The redheaded, forty year-old lay on her stomach basking in the Caribbean sun. The smell of coconut suntan lotion wafted off of her as small beads of sweat slowly dripped down her sides. The sounds of the harbor filled the air as Bree floated in her dream-like state. 

She stretched and smiled to herself as she softly groaned. Finally, she thought, I finally made it here. Sighing deeply, she sank back into the lounge chair as she continued to sunbathe on their cabin's balcony. 

The last ten years had been both good and bad. Shannon had grown from a cheerful little bundle of curls into a beautiful, fifteen-year-old drama queen, typical for that age. Who am I kidding? Bree chuckled to herself, she's still a great kid and the fact she calls me 'Mom' is more than I'd ever hoped for. 

Her marriage, like most, had its ups and downs. The beginning years were full of passion and joy as the three of them were woven into a family. Then the scandal at GBES turned their lives upside down. It'd been devastating to Zach. He had to watch those he cared about be torn apart as loyalties had been tested and broken. He'd spent countless extra hours working overtime with the remaining management, trying to stabilize the company. 

She grimaced as she remembered the resentment she'd felt about the amount of overtime Zach put in during that time. Financially it had worked out well for them. Zach was now the VP of Engineering at the renamed Grymm Engineering Solutions, GES. His benefits package and increase in salary plus her promotion to Head Floor Nurse at the hospital had allowed them to take this tenth anniversary cruise. 

They'd survived that crisis and to those looking from the outside, their marriage appeared to get even stronger. Appearances can be deceiving sometimes. This cruise was supposed to help them strengthen their marriage.

So why do this? She thought absently to herself.  Is the thrill worth the risk? Does my life really need this little boost of excitement? Is it because I just turned forty or was it something else?

Perhaps revenge? Yes, I need to get even for that raven-haired bitch! 

They'd recently befriended David and Sarah Jennings. While the families became close, there was always an unseen barrier between her and Sarah, especially when they revealed some of their past. Zach now had a hot brunette working with him, under him, for him... every day. 

Yes, revenge. 

A soft knocking brought her out of her dark thoughts. She felt her body start to tingle with anticipation and with a deep, sultry voice she replied. 

"Come in."

She heard the cabin door open and a man called out in a heavy Spanish accent. 

"Senorita Morgan?"

"Yes?" she called out, giggling nervously. 

"Ship's steward. You had a complaint about room service?"

"Out here on the balcony, Ricardo."

He stepped out onto the balcony and gazed at the beautiful middle-aged woman stretched out before him. 

"Ah, I see the senorita is... umm... resting. And how can I best serve you?"

"I believe I need help putting on some more suntan lotion. Would you be a dear and help me?"

"Si, senorita. I'm here to make your time on this ship most enjoyable."

"Well, you seem somewhat overdressed for that." She giggled. "But if you would be willing to do my front perhaps we could work something out."

"And where is your husband? Where is the one who should be here taking care of his beautiful wife?" 

She snorted. 

"He went on some on-shore, sight-seeing excursion. He'll be gone all afternoon."

"Stupid man," he said softly as he quickly removed his clothing. 

Gently he began to work the suntan oil into the warm skin on her back. Bree groaned in pleasure at his touch. He noticed her freckles covered her shoulders but began to lessen as they ran down her back. He continued to massage the oil into her soft skin as he untied the string of her bikini top. Soon he traced the freckles down her lower back until they disappeared beneath her bikini bottoms. 

Gingerly, he placed both thumbs on either side of her hips and hooked them underneath the silky, swimsuit material. She lifted her hips and allowed him to peel the bottoms off of her, revealing her pale white skin. He discarded the unwanted clothing as he peered at her beauty. His heavy breathing signaled his desire as he slowly caressed her exquisite rear end. He took extra care to make sure every crevice of white skin was coated with oil. 

"Mustn't let this get sunburned," he chuckled. "It would be difficult to explain to Mr. Morgan, would it not?"

Bree groaned and rolled over exposing herself to his lustful gaze. 

"I believe you missed a spot," she said huskily. Her rising passion reminded him of a lioness about to pounce, and the want in her voice caused him to hesitate. 

"Is Mrs. Morgan sure, we are now at the point of no return?"

"Oh yes," she cooed. "I need to get even. The bastard had an affair with a woman who works for him. She's some kind of hot shot designer with long, black hair down to her ass."

"So this is for revenge?" he asked warily. 

She peered into his eyes and nodded. 

"Are you okay with that?" she whispered seductively. 

His eyes widened as a smile spread across his face. 

"Si, I can live with that. Oh yes, I can most definitely live with that!"

"Good, then come here and help me to get even."

Ricardo soon felt the taste of her passionate kisses as their tongues began to battle, both seeking the warmth inside the other's mouth. He felt her tremble with anticipation as he began leaving a trail of soft kisses down her neck that ended at her breasts. 

Slowly, he began massaging and worshiping each porcelain globe and the small strawberry, sitting proudly atop each one. Her breasts were smallish but still very firm and extremely sensitive. 

Bree moaned with pleasure as the excitement from her illicit coupling began to mix with Ricardo's expert kisses and touches. It was as if he knew exactly where and how to kiss and stroke her. When she felt his hand slide down her still taut stomach and cup her now sopping mound, she knew he was playing her like an instrument. 

His fingers began to explore her as he continued to suckle at her breast. Her body told him everything he needed to know, where to touch, how hard to press, and how fast to begin rubbing. Soon he could feel her tensing as her climax was nearing. To his pleasure and her obvious disappointment, he removed his hand. 

Bree let out a slow moan. 

"You bastard," she moaned. 

Ricardo chuckled and then began to trail gentle kisses from the small valley between her breasts, down her long body until he reached the Valley of El Dorado. With an evil smile he began searching for gold as she wrapped her legs around his head. 

Bree moaned loudly and arched her back even more as she lost herself in the exquisite throws of passion. His oral attack was relentless as she quickly found herself barreling towards her release. The end was intense when it came and Bree left little doubt to those passengers on their side of the ship that she'd reached her orgasm. 

Ricardo let her gently come down from her high as he felt her body quake with aftershocks. His ears burned and his head had felt like it'd been caught in a vise, but the result had been what he'd hoped for. Mrs. Morgan would never forget him. 

To his surprise, he felt her hand slowly run down his abdomen. He flinched when she firmly grasped her intended target. 

"I know where this belongs," she said huskily as she pulled him up her body. She guided him until with a single thrust, he was buried deep inside her. Her legs wrapped around him tightly. 

"Oh, God, yes! Oh yes!" she moaned as he slowly began to stroke himself deeper and deeper inside like a piston. Any plans she had for talking dirty to him were lost as she now had difficulty forming even the most basic words. 

The couple pressed hard into each other, trying to fuse themselves together. The rhythmic sound of their bodies slapping against one another was accompanied by her increasingly loud moaning. It was an ancient dance. It was the dance of lovers. 

Soon Bree was singing out her pleasure to the clear blue Caribbean and to those passengers who happened to be out on their balconies near Aloha Deck. As her song reached its crescendo, Ricardo joined in to make it a duet. Within moments, the two lovers climaxed and the sound of it seemed to hang in the air like the last note of a song. The two barely noticed the faint smattering of applause, coming from some unseen audience. 

Completely spent, they lay there clinging to each other in silence. 

"Oh my," she sighed breathlessly. "That was intense."

Ricardo whispered in her ear. 

"Is there anything else I can do for you, senorita?"

Bree groaned and smiled. 

"Yes, you can switch positions with me. I think you're about to crush me."

He grinned and the couple switched places. Soon she'd straddled him and was stretching atop him like a cat preparing its bed. Snuggling into him, she giggled. 

"Ricardo?" she sighed. 

"Si?"

"You could also work on that accent."

"Si, senorita," Zach snorted and chuckled. "I hope it wasn't too distracting for you."

Her loving husband gently traced her spine from the base of her neck to the soft crevice of her perfect rear end. She moaned her contentment. 

"Oh no, not distracting at all, lover," Bree whispered. "Not distracting at all."

Zach smiled as he continued to caress her back with his fingertips. His wife almost began to purr as she burrowed even deeper into his chest. 

Quietly they rested, entwined in each other's arms. 

"Bree," Zach said softly. "You know I'd never cheat on you right? And after everything that's happened at GES, there's no way I'd ever let something happen between Sarah and I."

She lifted her head, took his face in her hands, and stared into his eyes. Smiling, she kissed him gently. 

"I know, baby, it was just part of the role playing. I thought it added a little realism. And after what they shared with us, it was too easy.

"Besides, if you ever had an affair, I'd never get revenge by having sex with a bunch of guys. I don't see how turning myself into a slut gets revenge on you."

They lay there quietly for a few seconds before she chuckled softly. 

"No, sweetheart," she cooed. "More than likely you'd wake up without your balls one morning!"

She giggled and Zach groaned as they both recognized the truth in her statement. 

"And you know that there's no way I'd ever cheat on you. You know that, right, baby?" she asked with a hint of uncertainty. 

"Yeah, I know," Zach said, smiling as he gently kissed her. "But I like hearing you tell me from time to time."

Bree giggled. 

"You're all I need, stud."

She reached down between his legs and gave his manhood a good squeeze. They both felt him begin to come back to life.

"Ooh, someone is waking up. Mr. Morgan," she said in her best little girl voice. "Can Little Zee come out and play?"

She gently gave him another squeeze. 

He laughed. 

"Bree, you know it's yours. Everything I have is yours."

"Good answer," she beamed. 

She laid her head down on his chest and sighed. Zach felt her breathing deepen as she began to doze. 

"Umm, Bree?"

"Uh huh?"

"Sweetheart... you've got to let go of Little Zee."

"Mine," she giggled softly. 

"Never any doubt but if you don't let go, you won't get to rest."

"Hmmm, decisions, decisions," she said playfully. "I suppose I'll let him rest until later tonight. But don't worry, I'll be sure to make up for neglecting him earlier. We'll kiss and make up!"

She laughed as she felt Little Zee jump with anticipation. 

Tenderly, she placed her head back on his chest. Just as Zach thought she was going to rest again, she lifted herself, placed her elbows on his chest, and rested her chin on her hands. 

"So, Ricardo the ship steward, I picked this one, so the next one is yours. Any ideas yet?"

"How do you feel about men in kilts?"

"Ooh," she purred. "Depends on what he's wearing underneath. If he's a real man and isn't wearing anything, then it could be very interesting."

She grinned as she laid her head back down on his chest again. Soon she was quiet and snuggled into him. They began to doze as the sun warmed them. 

Bree thought back to Brownwood and the many changes over the past ten years. Tommy and Kristen had eventually gotten married after years of dating and Donna, much to her sister's horror, had become a grandma last year. Allie had found her special man and they were having the time of their lives, running the diner with Ginny and Hector. Ginny had ended up giving Hector two more sons before finally having a daughter. Of course that little girl already was the apple of her daddy's eye.

Bree thought about her wedding. It'd been a few weeks after Shannon's fifth birthday. After Zach and she returned from their honeymoon, Shannon had crawled into their bed, much to the surprise of her new, barely dressed mother.

She'd cuddled up with Bree and then rolled over so they were nose to nose. Then her five year old daughter melted her heart with one statement.

"Know the best birthday present I ever gots?" she cooed, giggling.

"No, Cupcake, what?"

"It's YOU, Mommy!" her little girl squealed.

The memory washed over Bree like a warm bath. It soothed every inch of her soul as it soaked into her heart. Her body shuttered with a stifled sob as Zach felt a new dampness on his chest. 

"Bree?" he asked quietly with concern. 

She looked at him with tears in her eyes. 

"I'm just so happy."

He smiled and kissed her tenderly. 

"Sweetheart, I know the Caribbean was one of your dreams. I wish it hadn't taken so long for us to get here."

She shook her head and wiped her eyes. 

"It's not that, baby. This trip is wonderful but you gave me something so much better. You gave me the chance to dream again. Oh, Zach, thank you, now if I look out over that white picket fence I'll know I didn't miss anything. 

"I have a wonderful daughter who loves me and the most incredible husband. He's my lover, my very best friend, and is everything I'll ever want or need. 

"Zach..." she softly whispered, "I dreamed a dream and woke to something better."

****

Thank you for taking the time to read this story. Hey what can I say, beneath this thick hide is the heart of a hopeless romantic. At least that's what DFWBeauty tells me. 

It's my hope that you enjoyed it even if it was a bit dark. I tried to create an emotional rollercoaster ride with this story, whether you prefer dips, sharp banks, loops, or barrel rolls probably determined whether you enjoyed the ride or not. LOL. 

My final opportunity to thank findingmyvoice. Lady K, your encouragement and gentle nudging for me to get off my ass and think definitely made this entire story so much better than it originally started out as.