The final part of this Valentine's Day story is up. Hope you like it and thanks for reading, your patience with my updating and the comments!

C.J. thought about what Julia had said while driving home, shaking her head at the implausibility of her words. Seriously, she hadn't given what had happened to the three of them towards the end of her first year at Harvard School of Law any second thought. She had put it out of her mind and had moved on with her life and her plans for her legal career. She had studied hard to graduate at the top of her class and she had forged a relationship with Jonathan despite the challenges that their dreams placed on the time they had to spend together. She turned into the parking garage of her apartment complex and after getting out of her car, walked to her apartment, she thought about calling Jonathan. As soon as she turned the key to unlock her door, she nixed that idea, remembering that he had been flown out to some island to engage in some survival training. Sighing, she went to listen to her phone messages and discovered that she had received one from Matt saying that he would pick her up the night of the party.

She knew he had decided to go to the party to make her feel better, a little less lonely for not having been able to spend the weekend with her boyfriend. During the entire time she had known him, she knew that Matt felt more comfortable in jeans and a chambray shirt rather than a tuxedo, though truth be told he flattered both looks. She smiled as she imagined that he would be pulling at his bow tie and looking for the nearest exit and then trying to hide it from her. Not that like most native Texans he didn't know how to have a good time when he felt like it. It's just that backyard barbecues and poker nights were more his thing than gaiety events where he mingled with upper society. She grabbed some leftovers from the refrigerator and went to review some case files on her sofa.

The phone rang and she picked it up, discovering it was Matt.

"I got your message," she said, "the party starts at eight so maybe you could drop by about seven in case there's traffic."

"I'll be leaving the office early that day so I'll have plenty of time."

She hesitated.

"Are you sure you want to go through this," she said, "I know how you feel about galas."

He chuckled.

"I know how you feel about them too," he said, "So between the two of us, we'll find a way to have a good time."

"We don't have to spend every moment there together…"

"I know that C.J.," he said, "But you can't expect me to pretend that we didn't arrive together."

"It's not that," she said, "It's…"

She could sense him frowning through the phone line.

"This isn't about Jonathan is it? Because if he's…"

"No, Houston, don't worry," she said, "He'll understand. He knows we've been close friends most of our lives."

"I never got the impression he was comfortable with that."

C.J. closed her eyes realizing that he had noticed what had been one of the few bones of contention between her and her boyfriend.

"Why would you say that," she said, "He knows there's never been anything between us…"

"I can't say I'd be thinking any differently if I were in his shoes," Matt said, "After all, you're a very attractive lady."

She smiled at that but then became serious.

"You're not in his shoes," she said, "and really, he's okay with our friendship."

She felt him pause as if he were going to say something but all he did say was good night.

C.J. entered into her apartment and tossed her briefcase on the sofa. She had laid out the dress she had planned to wear to the gala on her bed and she took her work clothes off and jumped in the shower. Her work day had ended later than she had expected so she knew she was cutting it close to get ready before Matt would pick her up for the gala. Her muscles loosened up under the warm water as she thought about the weekend ahead. She felt a pang of disappointment that Jonathan would not be flying in to see her but she pushed that thought out of her mind and tried to look forward to the party.

Later, she finished putting the touch ups on her makeup and looked in the mirror at her elegantly styled hair which rested on her shoulders. Her royal blue dress had been purchased off the sales rack at a tony department store but accentuated her curves. She found her favorite pair of dress shoes and sat down to slip them on her feet. Suddenly, she heard the doorbell ring and she knew Matt had arrived. When she saw him standing there in his tuxedo, with his bow tie slightly askew, she suppressed a grin.

"Here let me take care of that," she said, fidgeting with his tie.

He stood there patiently as she fussed over him, taking in the sight of her in her dress and the smell of lilacs from her hair. She looked up at him and he smiled.

"I can never quite get it right," he said, sheepishly.

She doubted that and sometimes she wondered if he did it on purpose.

"There, much better," she said, stepping back.

"You look…beautiful."

She raised her brow at him.

"You sound surprised."

He shook his head.

"Come on," C.J. said, a twinkle in her eye, "You look shocked to see me in a party dress but I have been known to wear them."

Matt knew that but he also knew she looked somehow different tonight.

"We'd better get going," she said, reaching for her coat.

The party appeared to be in full swing by the time they arrived there. Refreshment tables lined the walls of the ballroom and an orchestra played lively music in the corner where some couples danced on the floor.

C.J. looked up and saw Alex with a very tall man who looked a bit older, with salt and pepper sprinkled in his hair. She knew he worked as a supervising prosecutor in the D.A.'s office. Alex smiled in what looked like relief when she saw her. She said a few words to her date who nodded and walked towards the bar.

"C.J., you got here."

C.J. looked over but Matt had already worked his way towards a small group of young women wearing cocktail dresses near the bar.

"I see I already lost my date."

Alex laughed.

"I know it's not nice to say this but I wish I could lose mine."

C.J. looked at the bar.

"I've seen him in court a time or two," she said, "usually chewing out one of the 'baby' prosecutors."

Alex grimaced.

"He puts the fear of God into every junior prosecutor coming into the office," she said, "We've lost a couple good ones that way but he always says if they can't take his heat, they'll never make it."

"I told Houston to have a good time and not worry about me," C.J. said, "not that I had to do that."

"Is he really that much of a ladies' man," Alex asked, "or is it all an act?"

C.J. shrugged.

"He fell in love hard a couple of times and got his heart broken," she said, "so I think he's more into casual relationships now."

"With a body like that…," Alex said, "Not that I'm paying any attention."

C.J. laughed.

"Are you sure you're not interested in him," she said, "Underneath it all, he's a really great guy. The best friend I could ever have. I should have introduced you…"

Alex put her hand up.

"No, it's fine, I'll meet him later I'm sure," she said, "at the refreshment table.

"Have you seen him?"

Alex looked puzzled.

"Seen who?"

"Cordell Walker," C.J. said, "I heard he was supposed to be here."

Alex's face flushed though she tried to hide it.

"No I haven't seen him," she said, "Not that I'm looking. I'm trying to have a good time tonight."

C.J. grinned.

"Oh come on," she said, "You know you really like him."

Alex shook her head.

"We always argue and not about the most sensible things."

"Jonathan and I argue sometimes," C.J. said, "though we haven't seen each other enough lately. You shouldn't let that stop you if you like him."

"It's not the same thing," Alex said, "Even when our respective jobs put us on the same side, we still argue."

"We've broken up twice," C.J. said, "including last year because I spent Labor Day with Houston."

Alex eyes widened.

"But you said that the two of you regularly spent holidays together," she said, "and nothing ever happened between the two of you."

C.J. nodded.

"And that's true," she said, "but it took Jonathan time to realize that and realize that Houston's no threat to him or our relationship."

Matt nursed his first drink of the night with two women, Amber and Tiffani who both seemed eager to find out more about him and kept peppering him with questions once they found out he was a corporate executive for a multi-million dollar empire.

"So how many sports cars do you have," Amber said, sipping her daiquiri.

"Ladies, excuse me," he said, leaving them.

C.J. smiled as he approached her.

"I didn't expect to see you so soon," she said.

"Just checking out the party," he said, looking at Alex.

"You must be Matt Houston," Alex said, smiling and extending her hand.

Matt took it.

"That's the name I go under," he said, "And you must be…"

"Alex Cahill," she said, "I go up against C.J. in the courtroom on occasion."

"You like losing?"

Alex laughed.

"You seem so sure of that."

"She's the best," he said, simply.

"You wear your heart on your sleeve, don't you?"

Matt put his arm around C.J.

"This lady here's the top attorney in Texas," he said, "I wish she'd work with me but she's doing what she loves."

"She's really tough in the courtroom," Alex said, "I wish we were on the same side."

"Well nice to meet you," Matt said, and then looked at C.J.," Why don't we go take a turn on the dance floor?"

She looked up at him in surprise.

"Houston, we don't have to do this…"

"But I want to," he said, putting out his arm which she slipped in her own and they walked off.

Alex just looked at them, shaking her head. But after, she looked across the room and saw Walker standing there talking to one of the judges. He wore his tuxedo much easier than she thought and seemed to be enjoying himself as she watched him. Then he looked up suddenly and saw her from across the room.

Matt and C.J. hit the dance floor and fell easily enough into dancing.

"So what happened to you and those women I saw you with earlier?"

"They were more interested in my Porsche collection than in me," he said.

"Porsches are built strong, sleek and fast but they've got nothing on you."

He raised his brows at her.

"Excuse me," he said, "Are you saying that you find me attractive?"

She rolled her eyes.

"Oh Houston, any woman would say that," she said, "I mean look at you."

"But you're not any woman."

She sighed.

"It's just an observation," she said, "Many women would find you attractive and…sexy."

His hold on her body tensed.

"They would, huh," he said, "Are you then speaking for them or for yourself?"

She shrugged in his embrace.

"Just forget I said it," she said, then winced, "Be careful of my toes."

"Sorry, but after what you said…"

"I can't believe we're having this conversation," she said, "I just made an observation."

He hid a smile.

"That I was like a Porsche."

"That's not what I said," C.J. said, chuckling despite herself, "I was simply making a comparison."

The music stopped and they left the dance floor, him taking her hand and walking back to the bar. C.J. ordered a drink from the bar and sipped it slowly while Alex came up to her. Another woman came over to talk to Matt and they walked off to the buffet.

"You two looked like you were having fun out there," Alex said.

C.J. smiled.

"Houston's a good dancer," she said, "He's had plenty of practice."

"What about you?"

"I love to dance," C.J. said, "I've been trying to get Jonathan to enjoy it more."

Alex lifted her brow.

"He doesn't like it?"

C.J. shrugged.

"He likes it all right," she said, "He just doesn't have the time with all the training at Quantico to relax much."

"That will pass," Alex said, "He'll be getting his first permanent assignment soon enough and hopefully it will be somewhere closer."

"Yeah," C.J. said, "That will be nice."

Alex paused.

"He seems like a nice guy when I met him," she said, "You're lucky."

C.J. nodded.

"I know," she said, "I met him at just the right time."

"When you were in law school right?"

"First year," C.J. said, "I worked in this restaurant and he was hired as a bartender."

"I worked my way through law school as a waitress," Alex said, "I had a great time, but the tips were lousy."

C.J. laughed.

"I wore tacky costumes but the people were great, especially Jonathan."

Roger walked up to them.

"Alex my dear, would you like to take a spin on the dance floor," he asked.

She tried to smile.

"Why not?"

C.J. watched them walk out to the dance floor as soon as the next song started playing. Then she looked up and saw Chad walking toward her.

"What are you doing here by yourself," he asked.

"Just enjoying my drink," C.J. said.

"Want to dance?"

She looked at him and could tell he probably started drinking before he arrived at the gala.

"Not really."

"Oh come on," he said, reaching for her arm, "just a friendly little dance among colleagues."

"I think I'll pass."

She started to walk away and he pulled her arm. She flinched and he spilled some of his drink on his jacket but didn't seem to notice.

"Let go of me," she said, "Where's your date?"

He frowned.

"She took off when we first arrived here," he said, "Come on, are you sure you don't want to dance?"

She pulled her arm away.

"I'm sure," she said, "I think you need to just sit this one out."

He reached for her shoulder.

"Hey, it's just a dance…"

Another hand grabbed his shoulder.

"And the lady told you to leave her alone."

C.J. heard anger in Matt's voice as he grabbed Chad and pulled him to the side.

"Hey man, I just asked her for a dance," Chad said.

"And she told you no thanks," Matt said, "And when a lady tells a man she's not interested, he just walks away."

Chad scrutinized him.

"You're not her boyfriend."

"No I'm not," Matt agreed, "but I am her friend."

Chad sneered.

"I'll bet," he said, "But if she wants to have a little something on the side, that's none of my business."

C.J. looked at both of them, standing toe to toe. Matt wanting to take Chad outside and teach him some manners and Chad having had too much to drink and coming on to her.

"Look let's just continue with the party," she said, taking Matt's arm, "Bye Chad."

They started to walk away and then suddenly Chad grabbed Matt's shoulder and tried to throw a punch at him. Matt ducked and then grabbed Chad from behind and then pushed him against the wall, nearly upsetting a refreshment table. Chad struggled a bit but then realized it was futile.

"Are you going to apologize to the lady," Matt asked.

Chad turned around and did that, before skulking off. C.J. turned to face Matt.

"Thanks, but I can take care of myself," she said, walking off.

Matt blinked his eyes and then had the bartender pour him another drink. Alex walked up to him about then.

"Hey that was some pretty impressive footwork you just showed," she said, "and I don't mean your dancing."

"I'll buy you a drink," he said in response and she nodded, ordering another Scotch on the rocks.

"She never likes it when I do that," Matt said, after a pause.

Alex chuckled.

"C.J. wants people to know she's her own woman," she said, "In our line of work, we have to act tough and capable of looking after ourselves or we wouldn't be effective arguing our positions in court."

"I know it's tough…"he started.

"No, you don't," Alex said, "The judges hate female attorneys. They sit there on their benches like a bunch of good old boys and automatically believe that female attorneys are weak and we're stupid. Some of them even say it."

"C.J.'s not either," he said, "She's the smartest and toughest woman I know and as you can see, the most stubborn."

He sipped his drink.

"And then they think we sleep with our bosses to move up through the rank," Alex said, with a sigh, "So after dealing with that all the time, I think she just wants you to understand she can fight her own battles."

"So how do you do it?"

She shrugged.

"I get through all that crap because I love my job and I believe in what I'm doing," she said, "I know that C.J. feels that way about it too even though we're on opposite teams."

He smiled.

"I've been trying to get her to come work with me," he said, "But she's turned me down every time."

Alex sipped her drink.

"She doesn't seem to be the corporate type to me," she said, "I'm a diehard public servant and we tend to recognize each other and I believe that's the way she's wired just like me."

C.J. walked to the other side of the large room to cool off. Not that she had been angry with Matt for stepping in when Chad had hassled her but it bristled her when he felt that he needed to do that. She wished he realized she could handle herself well in any situation.

"Excuse me Miss," a man's soft voice said, "you look like you could use a drink."

She turned and looked in surprise at Walker, who looked handsome if a bit ill at ease in a tuxedo.

"I'm fine thanks," she said, "I just thought I'd take a breather from this party."

He smiled.

"I know what you mean," he said, "This isn't my kind of place to be either but the judge is a good friend of mine."

She nodded.

"I never appeared before him," she said, "but he seems like a nice man."

"The best," Walker said, "He helped mentor me when I was thinking about going into law enforcement."

"That's right, you're a Ranger right?"

"Yes I am," Walker said, "and at first I thought I wasn't going to make it but I gained more confidence in my own abilities and now I can't see myself doing anything else."

C.J. sighed.

"I know," she said, "I felt that way when I finished law school and started working at the public defenders' office."

He nodded.

"I know," he said, "I remember when I ran into you and Alex."

C.J. remembered that too and how taken he had seemed with the young prosecutor.

"She's been a really great friend," she said, "Even though we fight it out in court, we can have fun afterward."

He sighed.

"Alex and I still haven't gotten that far," he said, "We argue on our own time."

C.J. felt confused.

"But wait, you both are on the same side so what do you have to fight about anyway?"

He smiled.

"Oh we find something."

C.J. hesitated.

"I think underneath it all, she really does like and respect you."

She couldn't tell but he looked pleased when she said that.

"She seems nice enough…when we're not fighting."

"She's very nice," C.J. said, "and so are you so I'm not sure what the problem is."

He laughed.

"I see that your date has been busy," he noted.

She scowled.

"He should know I can handle myself with anyone," she said, "He's not around most of the time anyway."

"I think men just feel protective about the women they care about," he said, "That Chad has generated complaints in my office from female employees."

"His girlfriend just dumped him."

"I don't wonder why," Walker said.

Matt and C.J. ran into each other near the lobby of the hotel.

"I was looking for you," both of them said at the same time and then they smiled.

She smiled at him.

"I'm sorry about how I acted," she said, "I know you were just trying to help."

"You've got nothing to be sorry about," he said, "I should have let you handle him."

"I could have," she said, "I have to deal with him in court most days anyway."

She began to walk back to the party.

"C.J…"

She turned around to face him.

"I didn't mean…"

She sighed.

"I know."

He looked around.

"Do you really want to go back there?"

She smiled.

"Not really," she said, "I don't think they'd miss us if we left."

He showed her his arm and she took it, as they walked outside of the hotel to his car.

"Do you want me to take you home," Matt asked.

She shook her head as he pulled out of the parking lot.

"I'd like a bite to eat actually."

He looked over at her.

"You didn't try the food there?"

She looked outside the window at the lights and scenery flashing by.

"Not as good as the diner," she said.

Matt turned down a street, heading to their favorite restaurant where they had been eating for years.

"Maybe if you ask nicely, they'll even let you in the kitchen to cook one of your famous omelets," she said laughing.

That was a private joke between them dating back to when Matt had grown up on a ranch with a father who spent much of his time traveling away on business. This left Matt spending much of his growing up years with the employees hired by his father to look after the house and the sprawling ranchland around it. Matt had developed his cooking skills through spending time in the kitchen with an accomplished chef. His specialty while growing up had been omelets, his favorite that the shape of the Lone Star State. Both of them knew the owners of the diner and they had allowed Matt to use their kitchen on occasion to fine tune his favorite menu item.

When they arrived, the place was nearly empty and they grabbed their favorite booth and ordered off the breakfast menu.

"Have you heard from him," Matt asked to break the silence.

"He's been busy all day," C.J. said, "but he sent me something. It's waiting at home."

Matt sipped his juice, picking his words.

"I'm glad you have someone."

She stroked his arm.

"He's a great guy," she said, "When you get to know him."

"I'm sure," he said, "He'd better be."

C.J. smiled at the resolve in his voice.

"He's been good to me Houston," she said, "I just wish we could spend more time together."

Matt fidgeted with his glass.

"When does he find out his assignment," he asked.

"We're not sure," she said, "Hopefully in the next couple of months."

He studied her face, and saw the determination there along with her beauty.

"I'm happy for you," he said as their food arrived.

She pushed her hair off of her shoulders and reached for her fork.

"That means a lot to me," she said, "I didn't think he and I would ever get back together."

He started in on his omelet.

"Look C.J.," he started.

She closed her eyes and put her fork down.

"I know what you're going to say," she said, "We had broken up for reasons that didn't have anything to do with…Labor Day weekend."

Matt looked at her when she said that about the weekend when they had been in L.A. and had taken off on his motorcycle to rent a bungalow in Santa Barbara just off the beach. They often took vacations when both of them felt the need to get away from the stress of their lives or a broken relationship. She and Jonathan had been arguing long distance of course and between that and applying for jobs after passing the state bar in Texas, she had felt the pressure get to her. He hadn't even asked questions when she had flown out to meet him for a couple of days of rest and recreation. Which of course was what they had done, with sailing, attending a music festival and spending hours of course, talking.

Until their final night before heading back to L.A.

"We didn't do anything," she said, "It was just one kiss."

He raised a brow. She rubbed her forehead.

"Okay more than that," she said, "but we didn't…"

No they hadn't, Matt thought because while he had been working his way through the buttons on her blouse, she had put the brakes on what they had been doing. He hadn't wanted to stop but he respected her wishes and they had both pulled themselves together. They so rarely had stepped outside the bounds of their close friendship but it had been a beautiful late summer night and they had been at a party on the beach before coming home. They had stayed up for a nightcap while watching an old movie on a couch and one thing had led to another.

"No we didn't," he said, "but you were right. I had no business…"

She sighed, putting up her hand.

"I was there too," she said, "and I think I made the first move. I was the one in a relationship with someone else and I went home to him and never told him."

Matt had suspected that the blowup that had happened between C.J. and Jonathan that followed that weekend had been because she had told him what had happened. So what she said now surprised him.

"He didn't know?"

She shook her head.

"He's not always comfortable with our…friendship," she said, "Sometimes he suspects that we're involved and he's wrong but no matter what I said to him, he had trouble believing it or me."

"He should trust you."

She sighed in exasperation.

"But he was right that one time," she said, "Well, almost."

"You had nothing to feel guilty about," Matt said, "You put a stop to it because I sure wasn't going to and I knew you had a boyfriend."

She shook her head.

"I didn't want you to stop," she said, "I loved the way you kiss, the way you touched me. Part of me wonders…"

She shut herself at that point, a trace of pink in her cheeks.

"But I'm back with Jonathan and things are working well between us," she said, "Besides, I wouldn't want to do anything to ruin what we have between us."

He had never been entirely convinced that a sexual relationship would ruin the deep bond that had existed between them since childhood. But she believed it and he respected her feelings. Besides, he didn't want a relationship at this stage in his life having returned from the strict regimen of military life feeling his oats. And C.J. could never be just a passing fancy for him, in fact the intensity of the feelings and sensations which had rushed through him before she had stopped him had unnerved him more than he could admit even to himself. He loved women, he loved being with them and at this point, he loved variety.

"That could never happen C.J.," he said, "We've been through too much together. When I came back from that last assignment in Sudan, you helped keep me grounded."

What he had seen there while on an intelligence gathering assignment had nearly broken him, even though he had spent most of his army stint able to separate himself emotionally from his missions. But the sheer horror of it had shaken him to his core and had caused him to question everything he thought he knew about the world and himself.

"I wouldn't have been anywhere else," she said, "Sometimes life throws us challenges to see if it can break us."

A hint of sadness betrayed itself in her voice. He tried to find the words that he needed to say but he had always been a man of action and few words.

"What happened with you," he said, "and I'm not talking about Labor Day."

She looked at her hands.

"Nothing…," she said, trying to cover everything with a smile as she often did when he tried to prod into a chapter of her life she wanted to keep closed because with each day, it had become closer to being ancient history anyway.

But Matt pushed forward anyway.

"It has something to do with Jonathan," he said, "When you first met him doesn't it?"

Her eyes clouded over and she became still for a moment, then her eyes flashed.

"It has nothing to do with him or you or anything else," she said.

"Then what is it C.J.," he said, "Why does just bringing It up cause the light inside you to go away?"

She sighed.

"You're imagining things."

She didn't want to tell him about the man who still frightened her, the one who had haunted her dreams. Anytime she saw anyone on the street, the elevator or inside the courtroom who reminded her…

"Am I?"

She blinked her eyes and he let it go…for now.

"I heard from Scott the other day."

Hints of irritation knitted her brows.

"What's he done now?"

"He's off traveling again," Matt said, "He got in a fight with his old man."

"What else is new," she said, "He needs to grow up."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Are you still upset with him for not being there for Julia when she got sick?"

She looked at him for a moment that seemed longer than it actually was, taking in the concern in his eyes and his voice. She hesitated as she often did when he did this but as she usually had done, she shook her head to dismiss the subject.

"Did he do or say anything that I need to know about?"

She had already put the past out of her mind again and Matt sighed inwardly knowing that again, subject closed.

"She's doing fine without him," she said, "And I'm doing just fine."

They spent the rest of the night into the early hours of the morning, talking about everything and nothing before calling it a night.

C.J. poured herself some tea before heading to bed. She reached into her box where she kept Jonathan's letter for the latest envelope. She opened it up in anticipation and inside of it, was a card with a curious creature on it, a combination of different animals. A…the word slipped her mind. She knit her brow as she opened it up to see what was written inside. Short and simple.

"We will be together soon picking up where we left off…"

She looked at it and closed it, with a smile on her face knowing that Jonathan had been thinking of her and the next time they would be together when writing in it and sealing it inside the envelope.

Just as she returned it into the envelope, the phone rang and she answered it.

"C.J. is it too late for me to call?"

She smiled at the sound of the voice of her boyfriend.

"No, no it's not at all," she said, "I couldn't sleep and am on the sofa with some tea before turning in."

"I'm wiped out from some extreme conditioning we did the past two day," he said, "but it's back into the classroom tomorrow."

"It sounds intense," she said, "but I know how important it is to your career."

He hesitated from several thousand miles away.

"You're more important," he said, "I don't think I always tell you that."

"You don't need to Jonathan," she said, "I know."

"About your Valentine's Day gift," he said, "I…"

She interrupted him.

"No it's fine," she said, "It was sweet of you to send a card that we'd be reunited soon."

There was a pause on the other end.

"I just mailed your gift off," he said, "I apologize that it's so late but I haven't been near the post office the past week."

She looked back at the envelope in confusion.

"Then who…," she said, "Oh never mind. I just can't wait to see you again."

"It won't be long, I promise."

With that, they said their goodbyes and she finished her tea and headed off to bed, thinking back to the past days. Her relationship with Jonathan. Her friendship with Matt. Her job as a public defender. Everything seemed to be in its right place, she thought with a smile as she slipped beneath the covers and turned off the light.

Her thoughts slipped back to the now mysterious envelope as she drifted off to sleep but that had claimed her before she could give it much thought as to who had sent it. All questions had answers to them and this one would too.