A/N: I decided to to a what if style story because I wondered what would have happened if Will had taken his motorbike instead of trying to get a cab. Please review and I hope you like it.

Chapter One

Central London - 2007

Walking out of the bathroom, Will Traynor rubbed his hair with a towel when he looked over at Alicia Dewar and smiled. She was still asleep as he carefully walked to the bed, leaned down and gently kissed her cheek. She made a soft hum when she opened her eyes and looked at him.

"Good morning," he said then walked to the walk-in closet. She sat up as she looked at the doorway to the walk-in closet and placed the pillows behind her back.

"Are we still going on holiday this weekend?" she asked and he peeked out at her.

"It depends on the New York deal. We're at a crucial point and it could go either way."

"I just wish we were going someplace nice."

"We are going to some place nice."

"We are going somewhere which entails us hiking up a mountain to some little tiny village up in the Scottish Highlands."

"No, it's a small fishing village in the Scottish Highlands. The hiking part comes later."

"Why can't we just go to some beach somewhere?"

"You know that isn't my thing."

"Oh yes. Your thing is climbing mountains, surfing, jumping off cliffs or out of planes or doing something dangerous."

"I never do anything too dangerous," he said then paused for a few seconds. "Tell you what. Let's go out for dinner on Thursday. Your choice."

"Shall I make a reservation for you, me and Mister Blackberry?" she asked while he walked out for the walk-in closet and he picked up his phone.

"No need to get snarky," he said, checking his texts and hissed. "I have to go."

"Of course, you do," she said with a pout and he removed his leathers off the hook on the back of the door.

"Have Vicki make you some breakfast if you're hungry," he said then blew her a kiss and left the room.

The lift doors opened as Will walked across the underground garage when his phone rang and he removed the phone from his trousers pocket. He pushed the button when he placed the phone against his right ear and walked by some of the cars.

"Hey, Rupe," Will said.

"Where the hell have you been? I've been calling you for hours," Rupert Freshwell said.

"Sorry. I was…busy."

"I bet. Look. Jeff called. He said something's up with the New York deal and he really needs your help."

"Do you know if he's still awake?"

"I think so. You better get this sorted before Martin comes in or your ass is toast."

"Have Cally put all the paper work on my desk and I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Right," Rupert said then ended the call and Will placed the phone back in his trousers pocket. He walked to his motorbike when he looked over at the security station and saw Mick sitting at his station. Will wondered how he stood watching after all the expensive cars in the garage every day and Mick smiled when he saw him.

"Morning, Mister Traynor," Mick said.

"Morning, Mick. How's the weather?" Will asked, placing the helmet on the seat of the motorbike.

"It's raining cats and dogs out there," he said and Will looked at the motorbike.

"So, it wouldn't be a good idea to ride the bike?"

"Not if you have a death wish."

Will knew he liked to take risks, but not unnecessary ones as he removed the keys from his pocket and looked at them.

"Want me to get you a cab?"

"No need the both of us getting wet," Will said, folding his fingers over the keys and thumped his fist against the palm of his other hand. "I'm taking the bike."

"Be careful," Mick said and Will nodded. Will got onto the motorbike when he placed the key in the ignition and started the motorbike. He placed the helmet on then gave Mick a thumb's up and Mick pushed the button to raise the safety barrier. Will carefully drove the motorbike out of the garage as cold Central London rain fell on him and he wondered why there were so many people out at such an early hour. He was about to enter traffic when a motorbike soared by at a speed which was too fast for such weather and he sighed.

"Idiot," Will said and carefully moved the motorbike into the early morning traffic.

The lift doors opened as Will walked out into the hallway and removed the helmet. His leathers were soaking wet and he turned to look at the puddle he had left on the carpet. Sighing, he smoothed down his hair then walked down the hallway and stopped when he saw his secretary, Cally, standing there with a towel folded over her arms.

"I take it that's for me?" he teased and she smiled, nodding her head as she handed him the towel.

"Everything's on your desk," she said as he walked into the outer office and nodded. He handed her the helmet as she went to place the helmet on the towel near her desk and he walked to the outer office door. "Guess it was a good idea that I picked up some of your dry cleaning yesterday."

"You're an angel," he said then went into the inner office and closed the door behind him. A few minutes later the door opened as he handed out the soaking wet leathers, the wrinkled trousers, tie, shirt and suit jacket then the slightly damp black leather belt, socks, underpants and the soaking wet boots and she softly laughed, taking them into the office bathroom to hang everything up to dry.

"Morning, Jeff," Will said as he wiggled his toes in the carpet and looked at the screen. He had changed into a white shirt, a dark blue tie, a dark blue suit jacket and trousers and a black leather belt and the black leather shoes sat on the top of his desk.

"Did Rupert tell you I called?" Jeff said over the speaker.

"Yes, he did. Sorry that I didn't get back to you sooner. Now, what seems to be the trouble?"

"I just found out there were several signatures missing and the client wants to renegotiate two parts of the deal."

"Damn," Will said as he sat back in the chair and sighed.

"I really need you here."

"When?"

"Now would be nice!"

"Can you stall until I can see if I can get a flight out? It's raining like crazy here."

"I can try, but I really need you here, Will!"

"Calm down! I'll be there!"

"This might take until Monday or Tuesday to work things out."

"Fine," Will sighed as Jeff ended the call and Will looked at the framed photo of him and Alicia. "Damn."

Manhattan, New York

"You have to what!?" was what Alicia had asked while he packed and she folded her arms under her breasts, pouting.

"I have to go to New York."

"Now?!"

"Yes. Now."

"When will you be back?"

"I think Monday or Tuesday."

"What about our holiday?"

"We'll go the following weekend."

"I take it dinner is cancelled as well?"

"I'm afraid so."

Will could still see the angry look in her eyes as he looked at the city lights and sipped on the brandy he had in the glass in his hand.

He hated it when she got angry at him, but she knew his job came first.

Jeff was excited to see him when he had arrived at JFK and nearly hugged him.

"You have no idea how much this means to me," Jeff has said while they sat in downtown traffic and Will looked out the window.

He had always loved coming to New York.

He loved the people.

He loved the food.

Most of all, he loved the city itself.

"I still can't believe they had tried to pull a fast one on us," Will said and Jeff nodded.

"I can't either. Just be glad I decided to do some overtime to check things over."

"I am," he said and Jeff glanced at him.

"You ok?"

"It's just the usual."

"Which translates into Alicia getting on your ass," Jeff said and Will nodded. "Dude, if you don't mind me saying this, you need a new girlfriend."

"There is nothing wrong with the one I have."

"I get it. Just saying," Jeff said as he held up his hand and Will sighed, looking at the scenery.

He finished the last of the brandy then headed for the kitchen, rinsed out the glass and placed the glass in the dishwasher. He started to walk out of the room when his phone rang and he removed the phone from his jeans pocket. He looked at the screen as he frowned and pushed the button, holding the phone to his left ear.

"Hello, Mother," he said as he walked to the couch, sat down and stretched out over the cushions, crossing one ankle over the other.

"Hello," Camilla Traynor said.

"Is this a social chat or do you need something?"

"Please refrain from using sarcasm, William. It doesn't suit you."

"Sorry," he sighed and could just see the concerned look on her face.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, the usual," he said, closing his eyes and rubbed them with his finger and thumb.

"Where are you?"

"I'm in New York."

"Is Alicia with you?"

"No."

"Well, I'm sure you will figure things out. You always do," she said and he could just see her smiling.

"Yeah," he sighed then clenched his jaw to stop him from yawning.

"Are you still there?"

"Yes. Now, why are you calling me?"

"I just wanted to remind you about your father's birthday dinner next Friday."

"I have the reminder on my computer."

"Then you will be coming?"

"Yes," he said, but couldn't stop himself from yawning.

"Go to bed."

"Pardon?"

"You sound exhausted. Go! To! Bed!"

Will made a small laugh as he got up and scratched the back of his head.

"Can I have a snack first?" he asked in a child-like voice and she laughed.

"Yes, but just a little one."

"Why are you still up? It's, what, midnight over there?"

"More like one fifteen. I'm going over a case."

"Then you go to bed as well," he said and she laughed.

"I will. Good night."

"Good night," he said then ended the call. He walked to the kitchen then to the refrigerator when he looked at the things which were connected to the refrigerator door by plastic fruit magnets. He noticed an old photograph of him when he was sixteen, his sister, Georgina, was fourteen and two other girls. He had his left hand on the older girl's shoulder she had her hand on top of his. Smiling, he slid the photo out from under the plastic banana magnet then turned the photograph over and saw William, Georgina, Katrina and Louisa – Traynor Manor - 1992. He turned the photograph around when he looked at the older girl and blinked. "Wonder whatever happened to her."

Placing the photograph back under the plastic banana magnet, he opened the door when he removed a plastic container of yogurt then closed the door. He got a spoon out of the drawer when he left the kitchen and turned the light off. The light went off in the living room as the photograph came loose from the banana magnet and the photograph floated gently to the floor.

Louisa Clark know how many steps it took to get from her parents' home to the Buttered Bun as she walked down the pavement and sighed. She glanced over at Stortfold Castle as she thought about the rumors of the castle getting its own coffee shop and that sent a cold shiver up and down her spine. The thought of the Buttered Bun closing would be a big change for her, but it would also be a big change for the regulars. She knew Kev and Angelo, the plumbers, would be fine, as well as Nina and Cherie, the hairdressers, but where would the Dandelion Lady go?

Sighing, she opened the door when she walked inside and smiled at Frank, her boss and the owner of the Buttered Bun.

"Morning, Lou," he said.

"Morning, Frank," she said as she walked to the coatrack and hung up her coat then took the apron off the peg, tying the apron around her waist. She went to make the coffee when the door opened and the Dandelion Lady came in. "Morning."

"Is the tea ready?" the Dandelion Lady asked in the curt tone.

"Just about to put the kettle on," she said and the Dandelion Lady sighed, sitting at her usual table. A few minutes later, Louisa brought her over a mug of tea and a scone and the Dandelion Lady smiled at her.

"Thank you, Dearie," she said and Louisa nodded, walking back to the counter. She watched the Dandelion Lady enjoying her tea when the thought about the shop closing moved through her mind and Louisa sighed, wiping off the counter.

Louisa chatted with Kev and Angelo then topped off their tea and went to see if Nina and Cherie needed anything. She then placed another plate with a scone on it in front of the Dandelion Lady and the Dandelion Lady smiled at her. After they were gone, Louisa took the apron off as she placed the apron on the peg and placed her coat on.

"Lou?" Frank asked and she looked at him.

"Yeah?" she asked. She swore he wanted to tell her something, but he shook his head then smiled.

"See you tomorrow."

"Night," she said when she left and walked down the pavement. She glanced at Stortfold Castle when she sighed and walked a little faster.

"Hello, Love," Josie Clark said as Louisa came into the kitchen and Josie kissed her cheek.

"Hello," Louisa said as she sat down at the kitchen table and Josie looked at her.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Louisa said with a nod. "I'm just tired."

"Frank needs to hire a new waitress," she said, wagging a finger at her and Louisa frowned.

"He can't afford it."

"If you want my opinion, you should go down to the job center and see if there's something else you could do."

"Mom, the Buttered Bun's been the only job I've had since…"

"Since you decided not to go to university," Josie said with a nod of her head.

"Yeah," Louisa sighed when they heard the sound of a baby crying and looked up at the ceiling. "Looks like Tommy's up."

"Will you go fetch him while I finish dinner?"

"Sure," Louisa said as she moved the chair back, got up and left the room. She heard music coming from the room to her left when she stood in the doorway and saw her grandfather sitting on the chair near the window. Having had a stroke the year before, he had to move in with them so Josie could take care of him and Louisa felt guilty about missing the energetic man he once was. "Hey, Granddad."

He looked at her when he gave her a crooked smile and wiggled two of his fingers for her to come closer. She walked over to him when she gave his cheek a quick kiss and he titled his head to one side. She noticed the silent question in his eyes as she sighed and knelt down next to the chair.

"I'm fine," she said, but he didn't seem to believe her. "Ok, not fine, but there's nothing I can do about it. See, there is this rumor that Stortfold Castle might be opening a coffee shop and that means bad business for the Buttered Bun."

"Hmmmm….," Granddad hummed with a small nod and she placed her hand on top of his.

"I don't know if I should go to the job center and see if I can get something else or I should wait and see if the rumor is true or not."

Granddad turned his hand around to hold her hand as they wrapped their fingers together and she gave him a little smile.

"Lou?! Tommy isn't going to get himself up!" Josie shouted as Louisa stood up and Granddad nodded. Louisa left the room when she went upstairs and down the hallway.

Having a younger sister who was smarter and prettier than she was never really bothered her that much, but Louisa thought she would know better than to go and get pregnant. Her sister's boyfriend, Josh, left her the moment he found out about her being pregnant and, the last they heard, he had moved to Canada.

The one thing she did know was she loved her nephew more than anything.

What did annoy her was giving up her bedroom so her sister could have it for her things as well as the crib.

Louisa walked to the doorway to her former bedroom when she looked at her four months old nephew lying on his back and fat tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Hey, Tommo," she said as she walked closer and he made soft whimpering noises. She picked him up when she gave him a hug and kissed the side of his head. She walked to the changing table when she changed Thomas' nappy as she made silly noises to make him laugh then redressed him. He giggled while kicking his chubby little legs when she tickled his tummy and she gently picked him up. She left the room then headed down the stairs when the front door opened and Katrina Clark walked in, closing the door behind her. "Look, Tommo, Mummy's home!"

"Hi," Treena sighed when she walked closer and kissed Thomas' cheek.

"How's work?"

"It was busy!" she sighed as she took her shoe off and rubbed her heel. "I was on my feet all day."

"I know the feeling," Louisa said and Treena frowned.

"You ok?"

"Yeah," Louisa said with a nod and adjusted her hold on Thomas.

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I need a shower!" Treena said when she headed up the stairs and Louisa looked at Thomas. He looked up at the ceiling then looked at her and Louisa smiled, turned and headed down the hallway.

The sounds from the television downstairs drifted up to her little bedroom while Louisa rested on the bed and looked at the ceiling. The thought of Frank closing the Buttered Bun was still on her mind as she placed her hands behind her head and sighed.

"Maybe I should go down to the job center and ask if I should start looking for something. Better safe than sorry," she thought then looked at the corkboard on the wall. There were photos of her life pinned to the cork as she looked at the photos and blinked. Her eyes came to an old photo of her, Treena, another girl and the boy standing behind her. He was older than she was and she noticed the dimples.

"What are you doing?"

"Just hanging around."

She wasn't sure where that came from as she looked at the ceiling and placed her hands behind her head.

"Wonder what happened to him," she said softly then jumped when her phone buzzed. She looked over at the phone sitting on the small night table and half sat up on the bed. Picking up the phone, she looked at the screen and smiled. The photo of her boyfriend, Patrick, smiled at her as she lightly moved her thumb over the screen then pushed the button to read the text.

Hey.

Hello.

Sorry I haven't been around. Work's been a bitch.

That's alright.

No, it's not. How about dinner on Friday?

Are we going out or do you want me to cook?

I wouldn't mind going out. Maybe we can see a film afterwards. Your choice.

Sounds like a plan.

You ok?

Louisa looked at the screen when she frowned and looked at the wall. She knew she shouldn't burden Patrick with her problems as she looked at the screen and sighed.

Yeah, I'm fine.

Ok. Well, I got to get to bed.

Night.

Night.

Love you. XX

Love you, too. XX

Louisa looked at the screen then turned the phone off and placed the phone back on the night table. She turned the lamp off as she looked at the wall, sighed, closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.