THREE YEARs LATER...

The clock said it was half past seven, a full two hours since her store closed. She sighed and put her hands on her hips, adoring the arrangement of stargazer lilies, red roses and white larkspur surrounded by green foliage and baby breath. It was the perfect combination of pinks, whites and reds with a natural green accent that pulled all the colours together. The different heights gave the arrangement depths...

"An artist admiring their work?"

Kim turned around and smiled at his appearance. "Don't we all?" She pushed a strand of stray hair behind her ear and reached for her chilled water behind her. "I've been going at it for three hours straight with no break. Monica closed down the store at 5:30."

"And here you are," he leaned against the doorway taking in her work space. It wasn't his first time coming in here. He could still remember entering the room for the first time three years ago. He was amazed at all the flowers hidden in the tiny room, the explosion of colours - blues, lavender, greens, deep reds, scarlet red, pinks, oranges, yellows, whites and every colour in between. It was overwhelming that it made him wonder how she could stand in the clutter and still work.

"Here I am," she said, letting her hair fall from its pins. "Is everyone there already?" She asked putting her newly made flowers into the cooler and then taking off her apron and washing her hands.

"Mel decided to open my place up for dinner, but yeah, everyone should be there. Erich called and asked me to check in on you, if you needed a ride."

"I have a car," she said pulling a hoodie over her head and pulling her hair out from underneath.

"Is that you call it?" He joked with her. "It seems like something you've kept hostage for the past ten years. I can no longer count how many times that thing has broken down with my hands. It exceeds all my ten fingers and ten toes!"

She hooked her bag over her shoulder and pushed him out the door of her work room. "Okay, that's enough about my car! You are exactly like the rest of them."

"Does that mean you'll get a ride from me?"

Kim turned the key and shut off the lights. "Just shut up and open the door for me."

He did as she asked and helped her inside.

Gerald moved into his two-storey house a few weeks after his initiation into the group. He'd been eye-balling this property ever since Enchong picked him up from the airport. It had everything he wanted in a house, large windows, big open space and no clutter. It was modern, yet didn't feel cold and robotic and had just enough of character - his character.

Being an architect made it easy for him to make adjustments to the things he hated in the house. For instance, he gutted the old kitchen with its antique-looking cabinets and drawers and created himself a chef's paradise. He put in not one island, but two islands; one for cooking, one for eating at. He bought a stove fit for a King and 8 pots and the ugly cabinets were replaced with sliding chrome doors.

When they walked in, they could already hear all the laughter and running around. Gerald helped Kim take off her jacket and hang it in the closet. "Nobody better be in my bedroom!" He called out stretching out his arms and the children emcompassing him.

Kim kissed everyone hello and just like they for those one hundred and fifty-six weeks Gerald entered the group, they ate dinner and spent the night watching the stars aurround them from above.

It was Kim who was the last one inside and helped him tuck all the kids in the guest bedroom. She shut the door and found Gerald in his master kitchen throwing out the last of the wine bottles they finished. "That's the last of them," she smiled. "I better head home, I have a date tomorrow."

"Date," he took a seat at one of his islands and clasped his hands on both his cheeks, acting feminine. "So who's it with?"

She threw a used paper towel at him, "You don't have to be such a jerk about it. It's with this guy named Mark. He came by the boutique last week and asked me out."

He chuckled, "Where's he taking you?"

"Out to brunch, and then I need to head back to work. There's an upcoming wedding where I need to make ten bouquets, twenty-three centrepieces, ten boutennieres, and three halo crowns for the flower girls by Wednesday."

"Mark must be excited...for his lack of a date," he commented.

She shot him an evil glanced, bent down to give him a light peck on the lips and waved her hand. "Here's some healthy criticism - I hate you," she sang.

It was one of the busiest Sundays Kim has ever experienced in her entire career since she started four years ago. It was nine o'clock at night and all she was looking forward to was heading home, relax in bed, maybe eat some chocolate, catch up with a good book or fall asleep watching a movie. She deserved it after slaving for more than six hours on three bouquets, two centrepieces, seven boutennieres and the plan for the halo crowns.

Kim looked down at her nicked fingers and stretched them, groaning in the process. Her back was arched, her eyes burned with the contacts still in them, and most of all, her hands, they ached with the splinters. Yes, she couldn't wait to go home, maybe soak up in a relaxing bubble bath.

But someone had a different plan for her. Her cell phone rang from inside her purse. She picked it up stifling a yawn. "Hello?"

"Hello Beautiful. Please tell me you're free tonight. It's not Friday or Saturday."

She recognized the voice immediately and smiled. "Mark, tonight's not good. I just worked six hours straight and my body is in pain."

"Come on, sweetheart, you need to play sometime. Come play with me. Elizabeth and Kevin are having a party. You need to go, you're the one who introduced them in the first place. You're not going to leave me alone with a bunch of piranhas, are you? Especially with that lack of a date we had this morning."

She took off her apron and put him on speaker as she changed into a pair of spare clothes she kept in the back. This week, a black dress. "I enjoyed brunch, Mark."

"Honey, I did too. I started the day with you, and I thought I'd end the day with you," she could picture him smiling as he said this. "I won't take no for an answer. I'll pick you up in twenty minutes."

"Actually," she paused as she struggled to do up the zipper in the back. "I'm just about to leave, so I'll meet you there," she gave in. She loved parties. And how were you supposed to find you one and only if you didn't go looking.

When she arrived at the designated house, she spotted Mark in an instance. He was wearing a pinstriped suit holding a glass of cab. Was he attractive? Of course he was attractive, there isn't a point in denying it, she went out for him for that entrie reason. But was there a spark? On the Kim-verse spark-o-meter, he would've rated a 6/10, barely making it to the red zone which symbolized heat, danger, and iness.

Mark made his way over to her and gave her an enthusiastic kiss. "I'm glad you could make it. Would you like a drink?" He looped his arm around her waist.

She smiled her charming smile but lifted a hand between her and the alcohol. "I'm driving tonight. And I really can't stay long, my heels are killing me."

"Kimberly, you made it! Mark promised he'd get you here. Come with me to the kitchen." She linked an arm around Kim and pulled her towards the kitchen. "I'm stealing your date."

Kim was only thankful that Elizabeth got her away. "I can't believe you're dating Mark."

"Well, after a few years of being a regular at my shop I finally gave in. He asked me everyday for three years, and one date was supposed to be enough."

"So you're not dating Mark:?"

"No. It was fun, but there's nothing there. No chemistry." Elizabeth had the sympathy face going on. "Speaking od chemistry," she smiled. "Where is your lucky fiance?"

Elizabeth couldn't help but smile at the sound of her fiance's name. "Probably outside with Gerald."

"Gerald? As in Gerald Anderson?"

"Yeah," Liz nodded. "We're adding a adding another room to the end house with a bathroom. Gerald's an architect and knows some contractors therefore boom!"

"Here's my future bride!" Kevin waltzed in, Gerald trailing not far behind. Kevin planted a big one on Elizabeth. "And the woman who made it all possible!" He hugged Kim. "Baby, come on, I have people I want you to meet before we close this party down and head it into the bedroom."

Kim laughed as they walked away. "Oh, the honeymoon stage."

Gerald smiled at her. "I didnt know you'd be here tonight. Lizzy keeps on talking about her favourite florist who introduced them, but never has it crossed my mind that it'd be you."

"Well, you're in New York now. Somehow we all know everybody here. So who are you here with?" She asked heading to the Sweets table.

"Riding solo tonight. You should try the cheesesticks," Gerald suggested holding one up for her to taste.

"Mmmmm!" Kim moaned. "That is good."

"He stole my move," Mark moved up from behind Kim, and slipped a possessive hand around her waist. "Gerald? I think I came across your business card around here somewhere." He joked.

Gerald stretched his hand out, "Yeah. And Mark, Kimmy's brunch date."

Kim shifted in his embrace, nudging him back a little further.

"I'm sorry, I must've interrupted a continuation of the date," he leaned in and kissed Kim on her cheek. "I'll see you at dinner next week, sweetheart."

Kim could see envy glimmer in his eyes, but couldn't help but snicker at Gerald who walked away smugly.

An hour into the party, she found herself yawning out of sheer exhaustion. "Kimmy?"

Kim turned around and saw her cousin. "Oh my gosh, Jess. You're here. What are you doing here?"

"I met Liz a year ago. It's so good to see you," the two hugged. And in that embrace, she found a brilliant idea.

"Jess, you're not dating that old buffoon are you? The one I saw you with two weeks ago?" Kim asked somewhat casually.

"No, thank goodness. I dumped his day later. Why?"

Kim steered her cousin in the direction of a lonely Mark refilling his glass. "Mark, I'd like you to meet my cousin Jessica. Jessica, this is Mark."

In the opposite corner, there was Gerald watching one of his best friends. He watched her steer a gorgeous redhead - not natural he could tell, but still gorgeous - towards her supposed date directly in front of each other so she could back away.

He got it then, by the way she sidled back, then waved a hand in the air before giving Mark a friendly pat on his arm. She wanted to sitch him, and knew the redhead would distract him. He laughed and took a swig of beer.

Well played, Kimberly, he thought. Well played.

The clock twelve before Gerald headed out. The walk to his car in the driveway was blurred by the oncoming flurry that preceded an hour before. There was already a blanket of snow on the ground. He immediately regretted his fourth martini when he got into the driver seat and he needed to put on his glasses.

Glasses. Kim was wearing glasses at the party, he realized. Not that it mattered, she unbelievably amazing in anything she wore. And it wasn't just the way the dress fit her snuggly with her curves, or the way her hips swayed side to side as she walked. Nor was it the way she smiled despite the long hours he knew she put into work. It was all of it. She was perfection. She was one hell of a package.

He put his car into drive and groaned. He needed to remind himself of that warning from Erich and the look on Enchong's face when she said the warning. He had that killer instinct look, like a protectiveness came over him. Kim was his best friend's honorary sister.

Still, it never hurt to look. He was a man who appreciated lines and curves.

He pulled out of the driveway and began driving. Good the roads were prety much clear, and clean from the falling snow.

Snow, he thought. He needed to get his mind off of Kim and onto something else. Snow, he decided. He always wondered about snow. The white fluffy substance always fascinated him. Being an architect, he had to build things that could accomodate snow, both fluffy and hard. Had to stand the wind the snow brought with it, and make sure blizzards wouldn't destroy any of it.

And what about cars? He thought. There was a car stuck on the side of the road with it's owner peering down into the hood. The builder of that car obviously didn't think well enough. Now who would want a beautiful lady stuck on the side of the road when it was barely snowing. That was not a strong car, he concluded. A beautiful young lady who looked like Kim.

Damn it, he swore under his breath. Of course the minute he moved onto a different subject, his mind would make a complete three-sixty and make it back to Kim.

Gerald slowed down in his car and squinted his eyes to look closer and was surprised when he realized it was really Kim.

She was standing in front of the hood of her car, her hands fisted on her hips.

He pulled over, slid his hands into his pockets and walked to her. "We just keep running into each other, don't we."

Kim turned and rolled her eyes. "It just died," she sighed. "Stopped." In one hand, she held a flashlight to her hood. "And I don't even see anything wrong. And it's snowing! I'm stuck in the middle of the road, car not working, past midnight on a deserted road. This is where urban legends come from."

"Did you check your gas gauge," edging closer to get a good look.

"I'm not an idiot. I didn't run out of gas. It's the battery...or the carbureter...or one of those hose-looking things."

He chuckled, "Well, that narrows it down. Give that to me," he took the flashlight from her.

Kim blew out her breath, "I'm not a mechanic, Ge. I'm a florist. I deal with flowers. Why can't they make what's in here simple and obvious for people who drive cars?"

That got a laugh out of him. "Why do flowers have strange and latin names no one can pronounce?" He turned to look at her. "Kim, you shaking."

She smiled, "I would've worn something warmer if I knew I'd be stuck in a blizzard."

He shimmied out of his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "How many time have I told you to get this car serviced?" He lectured.

"You know, Ge. I would've but I had three weddings in the last month, a communion, a graduation and a funeral. I've had to go to four consultations in the past week and then I needed to pay cheques, schedules and audits. So really, if you could see the time that I could've brought my car in for service, feel free to say something."

He laughed and then stuck his head in the hood. "Your battery cables are corroded."

"You want talk in Kim language?" She stepped closer to him and stuck her head beside his. "Can you fix it?"

He turned his head and she turned her head. She wasn't wearing her glasses anymore, he saw. All he could see were her big brown, velvet eyes. His eyes drifted down to her heart-shaped lips, those full lips, and for a moment he lost the power of speech.

"Did you hear me?" She asked, her breath whispering across his cheeks and lips.

"What?"

Kim sighed and moved back an inch. "Is there a way I can get gome." Her eyes widened and then she looked back to the car.

"I can," he cleared his throat. "Uhm, I can give you a jump which will get you home, but you need to promise you'll get it serviced soon."

"Promise," her voice came out in a squeak.

Kim stood by him as he did his manyly duty. "I knew I shouldn't have gone out for the night."

"So why did you," he said standing by her.

"Mark called me and I was weak. But what I really wanted was to just go home, get in a hot bubble bath and relax my way to paradise by eleven o'clock."

"I think your goal time is severely deterred. But I have to say kudos to you."

She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. "For what?"

"That little play you did with the redhead. You palmed him off to her."

"I did not. I just...Mark isn't my type."

He laughed, "He has a . Of course he's your type."

She pushed him and scoffed. "You make me sound easy and promiscuous." She smiled though. "I go out with guys just because," she admitted. "You've known me for three years now."

"And not once have I seen you go solo."

"I like company. But I can be alone too. Mark wasn't the one, so I keep looking. And it's not easy being the last single one in a group of friends who are either engaged, married or pregnant."

He nudged her with his shoulder, "You're not the only one anymore." Gerald smiled at her. Before his mind would go back to that single moment they had underneath the car hood, he looked away and smiled. "Okay, well, it's finished. I'll follow you home so I know your car didn't break down once I left."

Kim nodded, "Thanks Ge. I owe you."

Gerald followed her home just like he promised and watched her walk into the house and turn on the staircase light. He stayed in place when the staircase light turned off and the bedroom light replaced its luminous brilliance before heading back home.

What was he thinking? he thought. Right, he was thinking about that moment they shared. He saw it in her eyes too, they were just too friendly to have said anything about it. What would've happened if either of them closed in on that distance between them?

Kim changed into her night gown and slipped into her bed, pulling the covers over her body. She let out a sigh, but didn't know whether it was a nervous sigh or a relief sigh. One thing she did know, she smelled like Gerald because of his jacket which  hung over her chair.

Tonight was going to be a tough one, especially since he didn't just reach the red zone on Kim's spark-o-meter. He hit the red zone, tapped the bell and blew the top off, and he didn't even kiss her yet!