"The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Hutchins," David replied.

Rachel stared at David. There was something eerily familiar about this man. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, so she shrugged it off.

"Amanda, I need to talk to you!" Cameron insisted, suddenly appearing in the living room. That's when the trouble began and Rachel noticed a slight change in David's appearance. It was almost as if his face has shifted somehow. Rachel quickly shook those thoughts out of her head and chalked it up to lack of sleep.

"Cameron, what are you doing here?" Amanda asked, obviously taken off guard by Cameron's tone.

"When were you gonna tell me, huh?" Cameron ranted.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Like hell you don't. I have a right to know these kind of things, Amanda!"

"Mr. Sinclair, you're obviously upsetting her. I think it's time for you to leave," David said stepping in between the two.

"I think you should get out of my way, Mr. Halliday. This is between Amanda and I," Cameron replied and gave David a shove before refocusing on Amanda. "Let's go somewhere and talk, just me and you," Cameron begged.

"We have nothing to talk about, Cameron," she replied nervously fiddling with the talisman that David had given her.

"Yes, we do. I know, Amanda…I know."

"Know what??"

"Do you want me to just say it? In front of your mother and David?"

"Go ahead, Cameron. I have nothing to hide. Tell me what you think you know."
"O.K. Fine. You're pregnant, aren't you?"

Rachel's face dropped in shock and she was now positive that David's face has distorted again. Amanda grabbed Cameron's arm and dragged him outside, "What are you talking about?"

"The fainting, the chocolate," Cameron motioned to the candy bar wrapper laying on the lawn chair, "You're pregnant."

Amanda nervously fidgeted with her necklace again, searching for the words to say.

"Would you stop playing with that thing?" Cameron asked disgustedly, pulling at Amanda's hands. In doing so, the necklace broke from her neck and fell to the ground. Amanda teetered a little before finally falling into Cameron's arms.

Cameron caught Amanda, laid her in the lawn chair, and knelt beside her, cradling her body. "Amanda, Amanda, wake up." Cameron gently slapped at Amanda's face.

Amanda's eyes fluttered open, "Where am I? Cameron, what are you doing here?"

"You're outside. I came to talk to you. Are you OK? You just fainted again."

"I feel…good, better than I have in months."
"What did you do to her?" David demanded storming out the door.

"Nothing. She fainted again. She's fine now," Cameron answered still holding Amanda in his arms.

David picked the talisman off the ground, "Amanda, you dropped this," he held it up to her. Amanda smelled the distinct fragrance of the talisman and pushed Cameron from her.

"You're right, Cameron. I'm fine. You can leave now," Amanda reached up towards David.

"Give me that thing," Cameron grabbed the talisman from David and threw it to the ground, stomping it until nothing remained but small pieced. He then turned back to Amanda; "I'm not leaving until you answer my question, Amanda."

While Amanda shook her head trying to clear the cobwebs, David stood in shock. He couldn't believe that this "peasant" had just ruined his plans.

"What question, Cameron?" Amanda asked.

"Are you pregnant?"
Amanda nodded her head, smiling, "Yes. Yes, I am."

Cameron grinned as tears came to his eyes. He gathered Amanda into a hug, "How long have you known?"

"I'm about 3 and a half months along. I've known for about 2 months," Amanda answered. Neither her nor Cameron noticed David's growing rage.

"Why didn't you tell me, Amanda?" Cameron asked.

"I don't know. I don't know," Amanda said, apologetic tears of guilt rolling down her face.

David had slowly transformed into Jordan and Rachel had witnessed the whole thing, "Oh my God," she whispered, running to the door to warn an oblivious Cameron and Amanda.

"NNNNNOOOOOO!!" Jordan growled, grabbing Amanda and ripping her from Cameron's embrace. Amanda screamed, terrified, as she realized that "David" was the distorted face from her nightmare at the cabin.

Cameron jumped to his feet as Jordan began shaking Amanda, "You betrayed me, Amalie. You betrayed me again!"

"Mr. Stark, let go of my daughter," Rachel insisted from the doorway.

"Stark?!" Cameron and Amanda gasped in unison.

Jordan loosed his grip on Amanda and she backed away as Rachel spoke, "Who is Amalie?"

"Amalie is my wife. She lives in Amanda."

Cameron's face twisted in confusion, "I don't know what kind of sick charade you've been playing, or what ridiculous thoughts you've planted in Amanda's head, but the game's over now, Stark. We've got you figured out."

"You know nothing!"

"I know you want Amanda."
"I want nothing to do with your precious Amanda. I want my Amalie, and the only way to release her spirit from Amanda's body is to kill Amanda. And since I have nothing more to lose…" Jordan reached for Amanda.

Cameron stepped in front of him; "You'll have to get through me."

"You're nothing! I could make you disappear as easily as I did Zak."
"Give it your best shot. I dare you."

"You asked for it," Jordan replied and with an evil grin he summoned the storm.

"Amanda!" Cameron yelled over the thunder and wind that had begun to build up, "Whatever happens, I love you."

"I love you, too, Cameron," Amanda yelled back, tears streaming down her face.

And with that admission of true love, lightning struck and all went quiet.

Part 2

Amanda hesitantly opened her eyes. Rachel was standing right next to her, her hands covering her face. Cameron was standing only inches from her. His eyes were still closed and his whole body tensed and crinkled. A pile of soot now occupied the place where Jordan once stood.

Cameron was terrified to open his eyes. He was afraid he might open them to catch his first glance at heaven…or maybe worse. He jumped when he felt someone tapping on his shoulder. Cameron opened his eyes and turned. He quickly decided that he was, in fact, in heaven when he saw Amanda standing before him. He was sure that he'd never seen her looking more beautiful.

"Cameron," she whispered desperately pulling him towards her. She let herself collapse into his arms as she cried tears of relief.

"Mom!" Alli yelled running to Amanda.

"Alli, I--" Amanda began turning towards her daughter.

"You don't have to explain," Alli interrupted. " I saw everything from the balcony." Alli turned towards Cameron and took a deep breath. "Thank you."

Cameron smiled reassuringly, then turned back to Amanda, "Are you OK?"

"Yeah, and you?

"I'm alright."

"What happened?" Amanda wondered out loud.

"I don't know," Cameron answered shaking his head.

"I saw…" Alli began, but then drifted off, not quite sure of what she had seen.

"Tell us, Alli," Amanda urged.

"Well, mom, when you told Cameron that you love him, David…or whoever that was, started looking around, all confused. And next thing I knew there was this bolt of lightning coming from the sky and when I opened my eyes, he was nothing but a pile of dust."

"I always knew David was a pile of something…but 'dust' isn't the first 4 letter word to come to mind," Cameron muttered under his breath.

"He must have lost his concentration," Rachel guessed, "just like he did before his appearance changed.

"So, what do we do now?" Amanda asked.

"Well, I guess we should call Joe," Rachel answered.

A few minutes later, Joe showed up. Rachel, Amanda, Cameron and Alli recalled the night's events to him. He started at them in disbelief, "So, let me get this straight…David Halliday, the man that Amanda's been working with, was here tonight. But he wasn't really David Halliday, he was Jordan Stark?"

"Yes," Amanda confirmed.

Joe continued, "And he somehow altered his appearance?"

"Yes, Joe. Jordan's face was distorted, David's face was not," Rachel answered.

"But they were the same person?" Joe asked

"Yes, I saw him transform," Rachel nodded.

"And then, and I quote, 'he summoned a lightning bolt from the sky'?"

Cameron nodded and Joe continued, "This lightning bolt was meant for Cameron, but stark got distracted and fried himself instead. And this is what's left of him?" Joe motioned towards the ashes. Cameron nodded again and Joe kept talking, "And the reason he wanted Amanda is because, and I'm quoting again, 'his wife's spirit lives inside her'?"

"Yes, Joe," Rachel answered. She was beginning to get annoyed at Joe's questioning.

"I'm sorry, Rachel. I just want to make sure I get all of this," Joe apologized. "I don't exactly get cases like this everyday."

"What are we supposed to do, Joe?" Amanda asked.

"I don't know. I don't think there's any set procedures for when a 200 year old psychopath strikes himself down with a bolt of lightning."

"What? That's not covered in the police manual?" Cameron asked sarcastically. Amanda nudged him in the ribs with her elbow. "What?" he responded.

Amanda smiled and shook her head, then turned to Joe, "Atleast this is all over with now."

"Finally," Cameron agreed.

"Well, I think that's all I need for now," Joe turned to leave. "If I have more questions--when I have more questions, I'll call."

"Bye, Joe," Rachel waved. "Alli, I think we should go inside and give your mom and Cameron some time alone."

"OK," Alli agreed. She walked inside, then turned and walked back out, "Cameron, I'm sorry-"

"Don't worry about it," Cameron interrupted.

"Would you let me finish? I'm sorry for treating you like scum these past few months. My mom obviously knew what she was talking about when you said that you're a good man, and I'm sorry I didn't believe you when you thought that David was a creep. Once again, I was wrong. I hope that maybe someday we could be friends."

Cameron smiles, "I hope so, too." Alli smiled back and walked away. "I knew there was something I liked about that kid," Cameron told Amanda.

"Oh? And what's that?"

"She's so much like you."

"Cameron, I don't know what to say. You saved my life again. 'Thank you' doesn't seem like it's enough."

"It was enough to hear you say that you love me. That's all I really want."

"Cameron…"

"Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?" Cameron asked leaning down to kiss Amanda.

The closer and closer Cameron got to her, the more and more Amanda's head spun. This man…this man could turn her on by simply walking into the room. But being so close to him was almost too much. Just as their lips were about to touch, they were interrupted by a noise.

"What was that?" Cameron asked.

"I don't care," Amanda whispered grabbing the front of his shirt and holding him in place.

"Ssshhhh…listen." They hear the noise again…a rustle of leaves, a moan. "Did you hear that?"

"Yeah, I did," Amanda pulled away from Cameron.

"Stay here," Cameron sensed that there was something…someone just around the side of the house, just out of sight. His jaw dropped at the sight of the body on the ground, "David?"

Part 3

"David?!" Amanda yelled in shock, running over to where Cameron was standing.

"I thought I told you to stay put!" Cameron turned towards her.

"I don't take orders from anyone, Cameron!"

Cameron smiled and sighed, "Fine. Just stay back then. Please." Cameron bent down and picked up a half-conscious David up by the shirt collar. "What the hell are you still doing here?"

"I…I…I don't know, " David stammered.

"I thought you were gone."

"Who are you? Where am I? My head is so fuzzy. I can't remember anything. Do you mind if I sit?

Cameron threw David into the lawn chair, "Fine, but you're gonna answer some questions."

"Can you give me a minute?"

"Amanda? Cameron? Sorry to interrupt, but Joe just called--" Rachel stopped when she noticed David. "David? This night just keeps getting weirder and weirder."

"You said that Joe called?" Cameron asked.

"Yes. Apparently someone at the station came up with a newspaper article from a while ago. I don't know why they didn't find it sooner."

"What article?" David asked.

"Well, Mr. Halliday, you are a missing person."

"What?"

"Yes. You've been "missing" for about a year now."

"No, just yesterday, I was at home."

"What is the date today, David?"

"May 13^th, maybe the 14^th."

"And the year?"
"1998."

"It's 1999."

"Ha!" David squealed. "Oh, my, you're serious, aren't you?"

Rachel nodded, "What do you remember?"

"I was at home. Then I was waking up here and there was this man standing beside me."

"That was me." Cameron replied.

"No."

"But, David; you and me and Cameron were the only ones out here," Amanda insisted.

"No. There was someone else. He was standing right next to me. His face was all deformed. Then there was a flash of light and I was waking up again…and this man…" he pointed at Cameron, "was yelling at me. That's all I know."

*Ring. Ring*

"Hold on, that's my phone." Cameron reached into his pocket and retrieved his cell phone. After talking for awhile he closed the phone up and turned to Rachel and Amanda, "Joe's people just got done raiding Stark's office. He said we should come down to the station right away."

"Well, come on." Amanda said.

"Alright." Cameron looked over at David; "You're coming, too. I'll explain everything on the way."

Joe was sitting at the station looking through Jordan's book when Rachel, David, Cameron and Amanda walked through the doors.

"Hey Joe, "Cameron walked up to him. "What's that?"

"Jordan's little book of secrets," Joe answered looking up and noticing David. Joe picked up the newspaper clipping of David that he had found. He looked at it, then back at David, "What the hell are you still doing here?" Joe looked at Amanda and Cameron. " I thought you said he was a pile of dust. Care to explain?"

"Apparently the lightning only struck Jordan." Cameron answered.

"Oh, thanks, Cameron. That explains everything," Joe replied sarcastically. "Seriously though, I've been reading this book and nothing surprises me anymore. Take a look."

Cameron took the book and started flipping through the pages. He stopped at the page with the picture on it, "Oh my God, it's you, Amanda."

"What?" Amanda took the book from Cameron, "No, look," the color drained from Amanda's face, "it says Amalie Stark."

"Oh yeah, and it just gets weirder. Keep reading," Joe replied.

Amanda turned the page, "Wow, it's almost like a journal." She began to read out loud,

Amanda looked up from the book; "This is too weird. All of you can read the rest of this part later, but I'll just skip to the end for now. OK?"

Cameron, Joe, David and Rachel all nodded their heads in agreement. Amanda flipped to the back of the book and began reading the final entry,

"I have been able to draw Amalie out of Amanda a few times, but only for a short time."

Amanda looked at Cameron, "The blackouts," Cameron whispered. Amanda continued,

"I must get rid of Cameron Sinclair. Amanda's love for him makes her too strong…stronger than Amalie. And once Cameron is gone, Amanda will be able to join her precious Cameron in oblivion and Amalie will be freed. Then I will free myself from this body and Amalie and I can finally be together again."

"Well, I sure am thanking my lucky stars that Jordan got a little over confidant." David sighed.

"What do you mean?" Cameron asked.

"Well, the way it sounds, Jordan wasn't supposed to separate himself from me until Cameron was dead. And he obviously didn't wait that long. He acted just a little prematurely and the lightning got just him, and not me."

"Yeah," Cameron agreed, " he must've just assumed that his plan was finalized. I don't think that Jordan figured that he'd get distracted and fry himself."

"When will I get to go home?" David asked.

"Well, since we can't really hold you accountable, it shouldn't be long," Joe answered, "but you can't leave the city just yet, just in case we need to question you." Joe and David began talking and Amanda pulled Cameron off to the side.

"You could've been killed tonight, Cameron."

"I know. But I couldn't just let Jordan get away with everything he'd been doing."

"You saved my life…again."

"No, not this time, Amanda. This time, you saved me.

"Let's just call it even, OK?" Amanda smiled and stuck her hand out.

Cameron grasped her hand and shook it, "Even."

Amanda smiled again, then her expression changed as she put her hand on her stomach.

"Is something wrong?" Cameron asked.

"I know it's too early," Amanda replied, "but I could've sworn that the baby just kicked."

Cameron placed his hand on Amanda stomach, "Our baby," a tear ran down his cheek. Amanda reached up and wiped it away. "Amanda," Cameron continued, "I'm so sorry about everything. Things have been so confused lately…"

Amanda cut him off, "I don't remember much of the past few months, Cameron. I don't really know what I said or did. But I know that I still love you. And our love saved our lives…in more than one way. And after tonight…after seeing how close we both came to death… I figured out that I can't hold a grudge anymore. Life is too short for that. You and Josie--that's done with. But me and you, Cameron, we're just getting started. And, if the offers still open, and you still want to marry me…"

"Oh, God, yes. Yes, I still want to marry you."

Part 4

CONTINUE