The limo ride to their location was strangely tense between the ex-lovers. Both were trying to relax, to continue their easy conversation from earlier. However it fell flat and quickly died as they both fought the urge to stare at the other's appearance. It took just under a half hour to get there, and once the limo rolled to a stop and their driver got out, both sighed in relief.

After helping Raleigh out of the backseat of the limo, Josh watched as she took in her surroundings, a growing sense of excitement filling her eyes. "We're in the West End?"  He wasn't sure if it was a statement or a question, but he answered affirmatively anyway. She was so excited at seeing a London production that it didn't seem to matter what it was he was taking her to see. He knew that would change soon.

Josh quickly maneuvered her through the doors, careful not to let her see the poster hanging to her left. Telling her to wait by the stairs, he went off somewhere, presumably to get their tickets. When he returned, Raleigh noticed a bag in his hand that hadn't been there before, but shrugged it off as the curiosity of what they were seeing was beginning to take its toll on her. What were they seeing?

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they made it to their seats, front and center balcony of course, Josh relented and told her what they were seeing.

"Love Never Dies, the story continues..." Raleigh read off the cover of the playbill. Josh had assumed she knew the story already, however at her confused look, he had to think back. They'd watched the original back in her home in LA and she'd never uttered a word of this continuation. Could it be true that she really didn't know? Smiling to himself, he suddenly felt untouchable, this surprise being the best one he'd ever managed to pull off.

When she'd finally opened to the cast listing, he heard her gasp in surprise. "There's a sequel?" She squealed in delight. "How did I not know this! Why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought you'd already know about it, knowing your obsession with Phantom and all."

"I had no idea." She said in wonder as she continued looking over the playbill. "Oh my God. Oh my God!" she exclaimed excitedly. "Ramin is the phantom? And Sierra is Christine? This could possibly be the best thing I have ever seen or listened to." He knew she was only thinking aloud so he didn't bother to respond, he just sat there silently, taking in her excited appearance, gaining intense pleasure knowing he'd put that there. It was only a few more minutes before the lights began to dim and the beginning chords to the opening number began. The excitement radiating off Raleigh's body was enough to make Josh want to hold her.

At first, Josh hadn't really been interested in the musical. He found his eyes wandering more to the woman sitting beside him and her reactions to the music and the words spoken or sung. However, at about the seventh number, when the audience finally saw the phantom for the first time, he felt himself getting lost in the music and the story of their tragic love. He couldn't help but to compare Erik's predicament to his own. He loved this woman, completely, passionately, and yet she denied him. When she finally did submit to him and her feelings, he left her, afraid she would leave him again when the sun rose. Now, ten years later he's trying to win her back, desperately needing her in his life to tear him away from the darkness his life has become.

It was in the final song of the act though, that the story truly hit home and Josh began feeling tears well in his eyes. He wondered if Raleigh had the same reaction to the scene, but he couldn't dare to look at her to find out for fear of losing the little composure he managed.

"Do you have something to confess? I want the truth right now if so." The phantom's anguished and angry words bellowed throughout the theater, an echo of a distant memory Josh was never quite able to forget.

"Once upon another time, you loved me, yet left me alone. But that's not all you did. You left me with a son." Came Christine's reply, nearly as anguished as Erik's voice had been.

When intermission came, neither Raleigh nor Josh could bring themselves to speak. Eventually, Raleigh muttered she was going to use the restroom, but Josh stayed seated, barely acknowledging her words as the past echoed through his mind. He could hear the anger in his voice as he yelled at Raleigh, just barely masking the pain he felt at her betrayal.

"Why didn't you tell me? Did you want me to find out from someone else? Was that your plan?"

"I thought it would be better if you didn't know."

Josh was mentally punching himself in the face for not researching what this show was about more. He'd merely seen that the sequel to Raleigh's favorite Broadway production had opened two months prior and he knew she would love to see it. Nothing else had mattered at the time.

Ironically enough, Raleigh came back just before the lights dimmed, allowing act II to begin. Although the show had managed to trudge up memories better left buried, Josh was immediately drawn in, dying to know how their story would end this time around. Would she remain with Raoul, or would she finally follow her heart and sing for the phantom?

It was during the final scene; when Erik and Christine were begging Meg to spare their child, that Raleigh's hand suddenly found its way into Josh's. He could feel the tension rolling off her in waves and he quickly glanced over, noticing how she gripped the rail in front of her in anticipation for what could happen. When the shot finally rang out, the hand in his grasp clenched tighter, her free hand releasing the rail and flying to her mouth in shock. It wasn't long before tears began rolling down her cheeks and Josh had to fight the urge to wipe them away.

Forcing himself to turn away from Raleigh's tormented face, Josh turned his attention back to the saddest ending Andrew Lloyd Weber could have ever come up with.

When it was over and they found themselves back in the limo, the silence was almost deafening. "Thank you." The quiet words shattered the silence that grew between them, and Josh looked her fully in the eyes.

"You're welcome."

"I had no idea he made a sequel. It was so beautiful...so tragic." Wanting to wipe the sadness from her face, Josh reached for the bag he'd had with him throughout the entire performance and handed it to her.

"I bought this for you. I was going to wait to give it to you until we got back to LA, but why not give it to you now?"

Taking the bag from him, Raleigh slowing looked inside. Seeing a black box, she took it out and opened it, gasping as what she saw inside. "I've always wanted one of these." Inside the box was a Phantom of the Opera themed charm bracelet.

"I know. I should have gotten it for you the first time we saw it in New York."

"That's ok. You got it for me now." She moved to the seat beside him and gave him a tight hug. "Thank you for a wonderful day." She whispered in his ear before pulling away. "Too bad it's going to be ruined now." She laughed, going back to her original seat and reaching for the dress she needed to change into.

"Don't let one person ruin the fun we could have tonight. LG holds serious potential." He winked at her, eliciting a laugh from between her lips. The mood seemed to lift significantly and he was glad for that. He closed his eyes as she changed her outfit in the limo and they listened to some local radio station. After putting on her dress, she managed to touch up her make-up despite the many bumps and potholes on the street. Before they knew it, they were in front of the club, the driver helping them out of the back.

"Deep breaths, Ray. It'll be fine."

"I hope you're right."

"Of course I am." He smiled smugly at her as she looped her arm through his and together they entered the nightclub.

Upon their entry, Raleigh immediately found herself scanning the crowd for that familiar face, hoping she could put off the obligatory birthday wishes a little longer. When Raleigh didn't spot Genny or Jaqlyn, she breathed a sigh of relief and motioned to the bar. "Drink?"

"Please."

It was there at the bar, sipping her rum and coke that Jaqlyn found her. "There you are! I was beginning to think you wouldn't show."

"I told you we would." Raleigh returned her kiss on the cheek with hidden annoyance. There was no hiding from the brat now.

"You look positively fabulous." Josh raised an eyebrow in amusement, acknowledging the woman's favorite word once again. "And you as well, JC."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

"Have you seen Genny yet? She will be so happy you're here!" The older woman gushed.

I sincerely doubt that. Raleigh thought. "No, I wasn't able to find her when we got here."

"She's up in VIP at the bar. Come, I'll show you." Without giving Raleigh time to protest, she grabbed her hand and began dragging her toward the stairs that led to the VIP lounge. Without thinking twice, Raleigh immediately grabbed Josh's hand and pulled him along with her. If she had to suffer through this, so would he.

"Genny!" Raleigh swallowed back the bile that began rising in her throat as the girl came into view. How did she let Jaqlyn talk her into this? "Look who I found!"

Raleigh watched as the girl turned with a sincere smile on her face that quickly turned to forced as she laid eyes on her. "Raleigh." Her surprise was evident in her voice. "I can't say I expected to see you tonight."

"I ran into your mother earlier today and she suggested I come. Happy eighteenth."

"I see. Thank you. Are you here with Daniel?" Raleigh didn't miss the small note of hope in her voice and felt herself begin to glare at her.

"No, he's working in New York. I'm here with a friend." Raleigh turned and grabbed Josh's arm who very nondiscreetly was trying to stay hidden from the girl. "Genny, this is my friend...."

"JC." Genny cut her off, purring Josh's ridiculous nickname. She could tell the girl was very happy to see this new guest.

"Hello, Genny is it? Wow, eighteen. Congratulations." The harsh steel tone of his voice was obvious, however Raleigh was very confused as to the cause. She could tell they obviously knew one another, however she had a feeling she didn't want to know how.

"Well, happy birthday Genny, hope you have a fabulous night. I am going to get drunk." She quickly turned away from Josh's glare and Genny's sickeningly sweet smile and batty eyelashes and found the nearest opening to the bar. She ordered two shots, which she quickly threw back, followed by another rum and coke. Curious to know just how Josh knew the little brat, Raleigh watched as they argued with each other. Unfortunately, she couldn't hear a thing they yelled back and forth over the loud beat of the music. It wasn't until she was downing her third drink that Josh finally made his way back to her, very obviously agitated. He ordered himself another beer and kept his gaze away from Raleigh.

Looking down into her glass, Raleigh allowed the lazy smile passage on her lips as she said, "I don't know the law here, but sleeping with a minor in the states is a crime you could go to jail for." Out of the corner of her eye Raleigh noticed every muscle in Josh's body tighten at her words. Glancing over, she found the pulsing in the vein at his throat that always became pronounced when he was angry.

"I didn't fucking know she was seventeen, Raleigh. Do you think I would have touched her if I did?" The cold in his blue eyes was enough to wipe the smile from her face. He was in no mood for teasing. "She didn't even tell me her real name." He let out a humorless laugh and ran a hand through his unruly hair. Raleigh motioned to the bartender and he brought over two more shots of tequila.

"You know what? It doesn't matter. We're here to have fun, and I don't know about you but I fully intend to take your advice and not let one little bitch ruin my entire night. It's been a fantastic dream of a day and it's not about to end." She handed one of the shots to Josh then held hers up. "To an amazing man who knows how to show a girl one hell of a time." Josh's lips twitched with a hint of a smile just before he took the given shot.

"You're right. I think it's time to get drunk and dance. Although you seem to be halfway there already." He cocked an eyebrow at her empty glass.

"You better catch up then."

"Gladly."

It wasn't long before both were pretty well inebriated and were burning up the dance floor. Once Genny had even challenged them to a dance-off. Even completely intoxicated, Raleigh wasn't one to be out danced. It was about two in the morning when they finally stumbled their way through the hotel and into their suite, laughing and singing the whole way.

"Oh God, that's heaven." Raleigh moaned when she finally took her heels off and threw them on her floor. Josh stood at the foot of her bed, watching her after helping her get there. He was drunk, there was no denying it, but she was completely obliterated. Opening her eyes, Raleigh looked up at Josh, slowly raking her eyes from feet to head, a lazy smile turning up her lips. "You're so sexy, standing there with your messy hair, dressed all in black. I always loved you in black."

"You look sexy in anything, even the sweaty hot mess you are right now." His voice was husky as he stared down at her, the want clear in his eyes. But he refused to make any sort of move toward her when they were both so drunk. He wanted her, but not like this. Clearing his throat, he forced himself to look away. "Do you need help changing?" At that Raleigh burst into a fit of uncontrolled laughter. He reveled in the sound, yet was confused at the cause. Had he said something funny?

"You are just trying to get me out of my clothes, Mr. Chasez. Your games are not unknown to me." She said through her giggles. He knew he probably should have been offended, but he couldn't help but to reciprocate her infectious giggling.

Shaking his head he went to her dresser and took out an oversized t-shirt he knew she loved sleeping in. "It's late. I just want to get you to sleep." Slowly, Raleigh raised herself so she was on her knees. Gracefully she raised her arms above her head and waited. She cocked an eyebrow at him in a silent dare.

"Come on, Mr. Chasez. You've seen me naked plenty of times." Her voice was pitched low, seductively ringing in his ears.

Not wanting to show his weakness for her, Josh quickly removed her dress and replaced it with the worn shirt, fighting to keep his eyes away from her naked chest. When her head came through the hole, their faces were close, merely inches apart. He watched as her eyes slowly left his gaze and trailed down his nose, stopping at his lips. He watched as her tongue darted out, licking away the dryness on her own lips. The urge to kiss her was so strong he nearly gave in. But he didn't. He swallowed the lump in his throat and turned away, reminding himself this wasn't how he wanted her. She was drunk and wasn't in her right mind. Hell, how often had he done some stupid shit when he was wasted off his ass? Guinevere Taylor was a perfect example of that.

"Where are you going?" Her voice was low and breathless, and disappointed.

"To bed. You should do the same. Goodnight, Raleigh." With that he left her room, shutting the door quietly behind him as he quickly moved to the other side of the suite, shutting himself safely in his own room. Trying to get a hold of his breath, he collapsed onto his bed and ran a shaky hand through his hair. Where the hell had that come from? Once he had the strength, Josh stripped down to his boxers and climbed into bed beneath the covers. He quickly sank into a Raleigh dream filled sleep.

Startling awake, Josh glanced around the room. What time was is? He was incased in pitch blackness so he knew it was much earlier than he'd like to be awake. He felt disoriented and couldn't understand what had woken him. He'd been dreaming, but it had been pleasant, nothing to make him sit up so quickly in fear. So what happened? A light sweat had broken out on his forehead and his heart was pounding in his chest. Suddenly, a piercing scream broke the silence of the night and he knew that's what had woken him moments before.

Scrambling out of bed, Josh flew across the suite, ripped open Raleigh's door, and ran inside. What he saw on the bed nearly froze him in his tracks. She was tangled in the sheets, visibly struggling to get free. Her hair was matted with sweat, lines creasing her forehead, her lips parted as another heart wrenching scream tore from her throat. Jumping onto the bed, Josh grabbed her arms so she wouldn't hit him in her flailing as he tried to wake her from her nightmare. Is this what she'd been enduring for the last five years?

"Ray, wake up. Ray, it's just a nightmare, wake up!" He called to her, fighting to get through the alcohol coma he knew she was in. Finally, she started awake and flew up into a sitting position. Her breathing was harsh, her chest rising and falling quicker than it should have been. Her face was contorted into a look of helpless fear and agony and he felt his heart break a thousand times over for this woman. He knew he could never understand what she'd gone through. "Ray?" He asked gently, afraid to touch her, and she finally looked at him.

She sat there unmoving, trying to catch her breath, just staring at Josh. Finally after a few moments, a loud sob escaped her throat and she completely broke down, her body heaving with her cries. Going to her side, Josh protectively wrapped his arms around her, cradling her like a scared child as she cried. He ran his fingers through her hair as he gently rocked her in his lap. "Shh, it's ok, it's ok. He's not here, you're safe." He told her over and over again, until finally she began to calm down. He didn't know if it had been minutes or hours, but finally she spoke in a small broken voice.

"Will you stay with me?"

"Yes, of course I will." He lay down on his back and Raleigh curled up on his chest, just as she used to when they were teenagers and she and her mother had a particularly bad fight. He didn't know how long it took, but eventually the tremors stopped wracking her body and her breathing evened out, and he knew she'd finally fallen back asleep. It was with this knowledge that he finally felt himself relax and fall into a comfortable sleep as well.

He wasn't sure what time it was when he woke up, but he knew it was rather early with the way the sun shone through the window to his right. He was also very aware of the fact that Raleigh was no longer on the bed beside him. Getting out of the bed, he made his way into the main room of the suite, inhaling the heavenly scent of pancakes, bacon, and eggs. He found Raleigh curled up on the couch with a plate of food, munching on a piece of bacon. At his entry she turned at looked at him, a slight blush creeping over her face.

"Good morning, Josh."

"Good morning, Ray. How long have you been up?"

"Just a half hour or so." She shrugged and turned back to the TV. "I ordered us breakfast and they sent us a lot, so I hope you're hungry."

"Starving." He muttered, making himself a plate. He sat down on the couch beside Raleigh and began eating, not paying attention to whatever horror film she was entertaining herself with.

It was quiet for a while, both eating their food and watching the horrible movie on the TV. Finally, when Raleigh was finished with her food, she set the empty plate on the coffee table and turned to look at Josh. "Thank you." She said, her words soft and almost scared.

"For?"

"Last night. For taking care of me and helping me change when I obviously couldn't do it myself. But mostly for calming me down and staying with me." He watched as she gazed down at her hands which seemed to be trying to strangle one another. "I haven't had a nightmare that bad in a long time."

"You don't need to thank me, Ray. Any of your friends would have done it." He watched as she nodded in agreement. "The sound of your scream...I can't remember a time I've ever been so scared. I can't even begin to understand what you went through, what you're still going through. But please know that if you need to talk about it, or you just need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here. I'm always going to be here."

"I know." She finally looked up at met his eyes, a single tear rolling down her cheek. "I know. And that's why I'm thanking you." Josh set down his plate and quickly pulled her into his arms, hugging her close to his chest. He hated seeing her in so much pain, so sad and desolate.

Releasing her from his hold, Josh patted her back. "Come on, we should get our things together and shower. We have to be at the airport at ten."

"Ok." She sniffled and stood, taking her plate back over to the room service table. She deposited it there before going into her bathroom and starting the shower. Josh quickly finished his breakfast and did the same.

It was when they were finally on the airplane heading back to the states that Josh let himself think about everything that had happened while they'd been in London. It was there in his seat, as he watched Raleigh who was watching her window, that Josh realized something had changed between them. What that was, he couldn't be sure, but he knew things were a lot different leaving than when they'd come. And he felt it in his gut that this change was for the better.