John and Marc are still sitting inside the movie trailer when they hear a knock on the door. John got up to open the door and there stood Sui-Lon with a big old smile on her face. Marc immediately jumped up almost knocking John down. He gavesher a big hug and kiss. John gives her a hug and kisses her on her forehead.

“Okay what are you guys up to?” She asked sounding all curious.

Smiling Marc said. “We were making out of course.”

“Well it’s about time that you two guys hooked up. Gosh, finally – get it out of your system and move on.”

“Yeah well we’re all ready registered at Tiffany’s darling!” John said winking at Marc.

The three of them looked at each other and burst out laughing. Sui-Lon took a seat and looked around the trailer admiring how well decorated it was. It had a big flat screen television and it even had a well stocked bar. Before she could comment on it. Marc said. “Listen sexy I am glad that you got here on time. Stay here and chat with John. I’ve got to go out and get the crew set up for this next scene that we are shooting which includes you and all the other extras.” He walked over to her and gaves her a kiss on her forehead, turns around to John winks at him and exits the trailer.

Sui-Lon walked over to John who is now looking out the window, still watching Hunter and Cole. She looks out the window with him. “They’ll be fine you know. We are all here for them and you. So don’t feel like you have to bear the whole weight of the world on your shoulders like you normally do.” She said reassuring him.

John shrugged his shoulders and with a half smile on his face says. “Yeah like you’d let me.”

“Exactly! As long as we all stick together on this and we will. There is no need for you to feel alone. Got it?”

John heard her but didn’t feel like he had to really respond. He knew that she of all people knew him. “Look at them out there with Marc and the camera guy. You would never know that they just lost their mother.” He sighed -“Children are so resilient like we used to be right?”

“Like you still are John. You have always been strong-willed.  John – able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. But please continue to lean on me on all of us. Stick to the plan and we will see the children through this and find out exactly what happened to Rebecca.” She clasped her hand in his and they continued to stare out the window watching the boys until Sui-Lon was able to slowly move him away from the window.

“So spill. Tell me what I am really doing here? Marc asked me to come down to be an extra but I know that he has something up his sleeve.” She said sounding very curious.

Playing with her John says. “Sui-Lon what makes you think that?”

Looking deep into her friends eyes Sui-Lon says to him. “Well number two is your response and number one, you know how many times I have asked Marc to let me be an extra? More times than Ricky Ricardo told Lucy that she could not be in his show.”

They both laugh.

“Really I can’t tell you and stop looking at me. You know that we can read each others thoughts and you better act surprised.”

With a big jolt of enthusiasm and surprise  she yells out. “Oh God he’s going to ask me to marry him!”

John had a big smile on his face finding it hard for even him to keep his cool and the surprise to himself. “Yes!!! Now I know that he’s talked to me about it a few times but this time he is definitely going to ask you. He’s really going to ask you!”

“Are you sure? Sui-Lon ask him.

John nodded his head like a giddy school boy with a secret which had already been let out of the bag.

“I love the guy but I know what happened to him the last time that he went down the isle. He was really hurt. Marriage scares him. It’s why I’ve never pressed the issue. Oh my God he’s really going to ask me.” She just couldn’t believe it.

Still with a big smile on his face John says. “Yes! What are you going to say?”

She shakes her head back and forth. “John I don’t know. I guess I’ll say yes.” She stands up. “I’ll say YES!”

John stands up and they hug. Then she playfully pushes him away from her. “Damn you John! Why did you tell  me? Now I have to go out there and act all surprised.”

“Hello didn’t I say that earlier! Now you go out there and act as if.”

Sui-Lon gave him a strange look not knowing what he meant by that.”Act as if what?”

“As if you’re going to accept the academy award Lucy.” He said still smiling all happy.

Sui-Lon shook herself off like she was trying to get into character trying to reassure herself. “Yeah I can do that.”

John started rubbing her shoulders like she was a fighter about to go into the ring. “Yes you can girl. It’s just a marriage proposal. Just fake it.”

“Right – fake it to make it. When and how’s he going to do it?”

John shook his head no. “That’s it. I am not telling you any more!”

There was a knock on the door. It was Marc telling her to come out for the shoot. John and Sui-Lon walk outside and follow Marc to the set.

————————————————————————————————————————————-

Simone is sitting in the doctor’s office waiting for him after being prodded and poked with needles by his nurse. The doctor walks in sits down at his desk and opens her chart and starts to read it.

“Dr. Hoody no matter how many times I come in for my blood results I am always freaked out and what for? I know that I take good care of myself. I take my meds and still the moment that I walk into your office I start to fall apart.”

Dr. Hoody closed her chart and smiled at her. “Well as usual you can relax Simone. Your T-Cells have not fallen since your last visit, still over 700. That’s very good and your viral load is still very, very low. Once again your status is almost undetectable.” He put her chart down on his desk and sat back in his chair.

Breathing a sigh of relief Simone says. “Thank you Dr. Hoody – Thank you.”

“Well Simone thank the meds. and thank yourself. I have been treating you for the HIV virus for 18yrs now and you’re still strong and the fact that you don’t take that for granted , I’m sure it’s the reason why you’re doing so well.”

“Doc you can say that again. I don’t take anything for granted anymore especially my health.” She says matter of fact to him.

He shakes his head yes. “Well that’s good. So if there is nothing else on your mind we can go up front and have my receptionist schedule you for your regular blood test next month.”

Simone stands up but Dr. Hoody stays seated in anticipation of her next question. She smiled at him. “You’re still sitting?”

“I know that you have something on your mind.”

Simone let out a breath. “Doc you know me too well.”

“It’s why I am your doctor. Now tell me what’s on your mind?”

“Well you know I was on vacation recently.”

“Yes I know. Israel right? How was it?” He asked very interested.

“Oh Doc it was wonderful, just beautiful and the people very warm and inviting.” She hesitated.

“But?” Dr. Hoody said helping push her along.

“I met this American gentleman my first night out at a club. He was beautiful. We became inseparable during my entire visit. On my next to the last night there we were about to become intimate and right in the middle of everything, I pulled a condom out of the night-stand. He told me that he didn’t like using them and besides he was “clean.” I told him that I preferred that he used a condom. Then he asked me if I was “clean” I told him about my HIV status and how long that I have been living with the disease and that I was very healthy and Doc he still wanted to have sex without a condom. I refused and he got up very upset and left!”

Dr. Hoody shook his head and in his very doctor like  way  and in his consoling but caring voice said to her. I am so sorry, but you know that you did the right thing for both him and most definitely for yourself.”

“But Doc it just amazed me that he still wanted to have sex without a condom with me. It also pissed the hell out of me too. Because I didn’t want to take a chance and possibly re-infect myself and there he was all angry and leaving me all by myself – the bastard!”

Doctor Hoody pulled his chair into his desk and leaned in closer to her. “Simone the more education that you have about HIV and AIDS, the more you can protect yourself and others, whether they want the protection or not.”

Simone stood up and folded her arms. “I know Doc and in as much as that statement should make me feel good it still hurts. I lose a lot of dates because of my status. Men look at me and see a healthy, vibrant, strong and independent business woman but the moment I tell them my HIV status they bolt. You’d think I would be used to it by now but Doc, it hurts like hell every time.”

“I’m not going to pretend to know how you feel. I am just going to tell you what you already know. Any time that you are feeling this way you know that I am always hear to listen.”

She smiles at him. “I know and thank you Doc.”

Simone reaches out her hand to thank him. Doctor Hoody got up and walked her out of his office and up to the front desk where so she could make her next appointment. When she is done she walks into the waiting room area and as she is about to walk out the door she hears someone calling her name. Simone turned around thinking that it was someone from the office staff and is floored to see that it’s someone sitting in the waiting room. She does a double take that feels like a triple take.

“Josh is that you?” She said knowing it but not believing her eyes.

Josh stood up to embrace her. Simone pulled away from his embrace and shakes his hand instead.

“Hello Simone. Yes and it’s me, fancy meeting you here.”

Simone very puzzled and still a little shock and really without caring says. “Yeah – I know why I’m here. My doctor specializes in HIV and AIDS treatment.”

Josh nodded agreeing with her that he knew this. “Well I’m here to get tested. It’s my first time and to tell you the truth I’m scared to death!”

“Hmm isn’t that interesting. That night in Israel, what was it you said to me? “I’m Clean” She said very sarcastically to him as she made the sign for quotation marks in the air.

Josh says very nervously and appearing to be embarrassed, she wasn’t sure said.”Ahhh yeah! “You know that I don’t have any right to ask you this and if you say no I will understand. There is a quaint coffee-house across the street from here  do you know it?”

“If it’s in New York, trust me – I know it!” She says to him in a matter of fact way. “You’re referring to Savpasich. They know me there.”

“Yes that’s it. I should be done here in about 15 to 20 minutes tops. Could you please wait for me there? He says   more begging her than asking.

Simone is very hesitant to respond to his plea. “I don’t know Josh. I do have…..

Josh reached out to hold her hand and stops her before she can finish her  sentence and sounding even more humble than he already was. “Please I need an ear. PLEASE!”

Simone slowly removed her hand from his and looked him straight in the eyes. “you’ve got 20 minutes and then I am gone.”