I truly hope you guys have enjoyed reading this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it! Blake/Andie was a couple I could absolutely not ignore, right from the beginning. So, you readers who have a talent for writing, get out there and do your best! We can always use more stories in the world, just remember, the worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt! That's some Silvia Plath for you guys…

Enjoy!

Grenade

Epilogue

For a second, all was quiet, then the doors to the reception area blew open and talking filled the hall.

A young woman, maybe in her mid-twenties, with long chocolate hair stepped quietly through the double doors, hoping to avoid most attention. However, her objective was in vain.

"Andie Collins? The Andie Collins? No way, I'm such a huge fan! I enjoyed the show tonight," a lady said excitedly.

The brunette only looked upset for a moment, then immediately turned on her a hundred-watt smile. "Yes, I'm Andie. I'm glad you enjoyed the show."

"You went to school at Juilliard, did you not?" a man asked her.

"Actually, I went to Maryland School of the Arts in Baltimore. They taught me practically everything I know," she replied, trying to gain brownie points for MSA.

"Andie!"

The girl turned to face her brother-in-law, who was pushing through the crowd in order to get to her. "Chase," she called, "Where's Blake?"

"Your husband, Blake Collins?" a woman spoke up eagerly behind her. "The director of MSA and the famous ballet dancer?"

"The same," Andie retorted disdainfully. She was really getting sick of the questioning.

By then, Chase had reached her, pulling her along behind him. Seeming to realize she wanted to get out of there, he grinned. "There's one person you have to meet, then we can catch the plane out of LaGuardia to Baltimore at ten-thirty."

"Sounds good; now who am I meeting and why are they here?"

Shortly after Andie graduated from MSA, a small dance contest had put her in high demand. No one had the right mix of modern and ballet dancing down as she did, and everyone seemed to want her for that reason. Overwhelmed by the prestigious offers, Blake and she had left the school in Chase's capable hands for a year while they studied at a high end dance school in Russia.

Coming back refreshed and newly engaged, Blake and Andie had instantly become the power couple of the dance community. After a wonderful honeymoon in Chartres, France, Blake had gone back to teaching and Andie had accepted an invitation to dance on Broadway. She had done so for seven years, and Chase had become something of an agent and a bodyguard to her, courtesy of Blake. Her husband had insisted she travel with someone they could trust implicitly, and Chase was the right man for the job.

There had, of course, been some talk about Blake and Andie being involved in the young woman's school years, but there was no proof and everyone close to them always instantly denied it.

"All I know is it's a French Countess, but she looked important."

Andie gave her brother-in-law a dubious look, then proceeded to glance around. "Well? Where is she?"

Chase nodded towards an elder lady in the corner, pushing Andie in her direction. The brunette gave her best friend a glare, then walked up to the woman. She looked up, gazing at Andie in what could only be described as fascination. The young dancer cringed.

"Mrs. Collins, I presume?" the woman acknowledged in a thick French accent.

"Yes, that's right," Andie replied hesitantly.

The woman grinned. "I am sorry, I wouldn't dare to keep you long. I know you want to get back to your husband," she began. "I just wanted to ask you a question."

"What is it?"

"Are you happy?" the Countess asked.

The dancer took a step back. "Who are you?" she shot back suspiciously.

"I am Countess Olivia Ginevra Cavalier," the lady replied. "I used to be a ballerina, until I permanently injured my foot. I ask this of all young dancers, for I was forced to dance against my will. Now, are you happy?"

"How come I've never heard of you?" Andie questioned.

"Ask your husband, he'll tell you," the lady retorted. Then her tone softened. "Please, answer my question?"

Andie smiled. "If you must know, yes, I'm incredibly happy. So happy. And I love dancing, more than anything."

"Except for the husband," the Countess stated.

"Except for Blake," Andie repeated.

There was a short silence, then the older lady seemed to snap to attention. "Well," she began brusquely, "that is all. Thank you for your time, Mrs. Collins."

Andie could only nod, and the woman spun on her heel and disappeared into the crowd. Seconds later, Chase came up to her and asked what the woman wanted. Andie replied with nothing; she still didn't know what the Countess wanted out of their little encounter.

"Let's go home, Chase," she whispered. Her brother-in-law gave her a funny look, but acquiesced to her request.

Two hours later, it was midnight and they pulled up in front of the house. Even though Andie offered to let Chase sleep over, in since it was so late, the dancer declined.

"No way!" He exclaimed. "Last time I stayed over, I couldn't get any sleep." With a wink, he had pulled out and was well on his way to his apartment nearby.

Rubbing her eyes and yawning, Andie made her way across the lawn. When she was about halfway, the door swung open and her husband stood there, in all his sleepy glory. Her fatigue was suddenly gone.

"Blake!" She called, dropping her bag and racing across the grass. He barely had time to open his arms before she flung herself into them. "I love you."

She got a funny look from a second Collins family member that night, before he simply lifted her into his arms, carried her up two flights of stairs and into their bedroom, unceremoniously and unromantically dumping her into the bed and falling in it beside her.

Andie, always stubborn, rolled over and began trailing a hand down his remarkably hairless chest. He caught it in his own before it went any further. "Blake…" she groaned.

"Tomorrow morning," he promised, before promptly falling asleep. She wanted to scream in frustration, but she settled for huffing and lying on the opposite side of the bed.

However, even if her husband was dead asleep, she couldn't find it in her heart to stay angry with him. Especially when she hadn't seen him in a month, and especially when he had a special way of seeking her out on their large, king-size bed. Soon enough, her legs were entwined with his and his head was buried in her thick hair.

The next morning, she immediately rolled over and attacked him with kisses. "Love you too," he murmured, wrapping his strong arms tightly around her.

"I'm happy," she whispered. "Are you happy?"

"No." Her face fell. "I'm way beyond that." Andie smiled, falling into his embrace.

Suffice to say, he more than made up for the night before.

Finis (for real, this time)

SUSUSU

Thanks so much for reading! And a special thanks to those who reviewed: especially JenniCDS, wounded-deer, Eclaire Stones, Sajna18, and Megara1, who really kept me writing during tough times. Thanks guys!

Hope you enjoyed this story, and I hope to read and write more Blake/Andie fics soon!

Love,

-lalala777