The last time we saw Quint and Nola, Quint had asked Nola if she would like to go upstairs and she answered, "Yes, I would." Now what exactly did she mean by that?

"Sometimes You Get a Second Chance" Episode 41, "In Praise of Becoming One."

Nola follows Quinton upstairs to her old bedroom, and once there, is shocked to see that room too, restored to its previous glory.

"Oh, Quinton, this is amazing. Everything is exactly the same as I remember it. The same bed, the same dresser, the same roll top desk. Hey, wait a minute. I don't remember having a roll top desk in my room."

"Go ahead. Open it up, and see what's in it."

Nola cautiously pulls open the top of the desk, and is filled with delight when sees the brand new computer sitting inside it. "How did you know that I needed a computer?"

"Well, I did a bit of snooping at the college, and I found out that you've been taking Creative Writing classes, and that you are also well on your way to a career as a novelist. I thought this might come in handy. The man at the computer store said it was 'the' top of the line."

"Thank you. Thank you so much," Nola says giving Quinton a hug, that while quick, is still enough to send shivers down all the way to his toes.

Quinton composes himself, and says, "Nola, while we're on the subject of my snooping, I want to tell you that I'm sorry that I had Zachary investigated. I was just worried about you."

"I know that. But Quinton, you have to realize that I can take care of myself. I'm a grown woman, or haven't you noticed?"

"Believe me, I've noticed."

"Oh, you. And anyway, you never had to worry about Zachary and me. He was never anything more than a friend."

"I do realize that now. But Nola, you're the one that introduced him to me as your boyfriend. Or have you forgotten about that horrible night at the country club?"

I only did that because Bridget had told you that I had a young boyfriend."

But Nola, I think you're leaving out an important detail. That afternoon that I came to the boarding house, and found you crying, you said that it was because you had a fight with your boyfriend."

"No, you said that. I just went along with you."

"Then why were you crying?"

"I guess you wouldn't believe me, if I told you that I had just found out that 'Full House' had been canceled?"

"The truth, Nola."

"I can't tell you the truth. Because I promised my friend, well, she's not really my friend, she's more like a sister, well, not a real sister . . . "

"Nola, is this about Vanessa?"

"How did you know that?"

"It was something Zachary said about Vanessa being okay now. Nola, was Vanessa ill?"

"Yes, Quinton. Yes, she was. But if Zachary says she's going to be okay, then she will be."

"I don't understand. What is Zachary? Some kind of lighthouse-remodeling physician?"

"No. Zachary is . . . He's . . . He's . . . Quinton, do you remember our honeymoon in Ireland?"

"How could I ever forget that?"

"Do you remember John and Nora, the ghost lovers that we helped reunite?"

"How could I ever forget them? I don't know how many times I had to stop you from calling that 1-800 number on 'Sightings'."

"It would make a terrific episode."

"Be that as it may, it still doesn't explain what Zachary has to do with John and Nora?"

"Uh . . . Uh . . . He's Irish too."

Nola, why do I get the feeling that there's something you're not telling me?"

"Let's just say that if Zachary said that Vanessa will be okay, then she will, and leave it at that."

"Well, if you say so. And speaking of John and Nora, and our honeymoon, when we were out in the Gazebo tonight, and you told me that you loved me, I could have sworn that I heard . . ."

"Church bells ringing?"

"Yes. That is exactly what I thought I heard. But I didn't say anything because . . ."

"Why would church bells be ringing on a Saturday night? And on top of that, the closest church is St. Mary's, and those bells haven't rung since . . . since I came back to town alone."

"Are you okay, Nola?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I was just thinking that we didn't even reunite Catherine and Zachary and the church bells still rang."

"Who's Catherine?"

"Uh . . . an old friend of Zachary's. But I don't really feel like talking about her now."

"Yes, my dear, we do have much more important things to talk about," Quinton says, as he tenderly runs his fingers through Nola's hair.

"Yes, we do," Nola says, as she playfully retreats from his touch, and diverts her attention to her new computer. "Like how much memory, how large a hard drive, and how fast a modem do I have?"

"That's not what I was talking about."

"I know. I know. But seriously, Quinton, it does make me feel good that you care about my work too. What can I ever do to thank you?"

"Dedicate your next book to me."

"I was thinking of something a little more personal, but okay. You know, when I do become a rich and famous novelist, I bet I'll have to get used to all sorts of young, handsome gigolos trying to come between me and my millions," Nola says with a smile.

"Nola, if a man was pursuing you, only for your money, then I would have to say, that he was definitely confused, and definitely had his priorities in the wrong order. You are after all, the most beautiful woman in Springfield. Well, almost, that is."

"Ah, that's so sweet. Wait a minute. What do you mean by 'almost'?"

"You do have that one little flaw."

"Little flaw?" Nola asks self-consciously.

"Sorry, but you're just not the best at picking out the right accessories."

"Since when did you become Mr. Blackwell?'

"I'm just trying to give you some helpful advice. Take that dress, you're wearing, for instance."

"Don't you like it?"

"I love it, but you should have worn more jewelry with it."

"I'm wearing a bracelet, a necklace, and earrings. What else do I need?"

"A ring," Quinton says producing a small, jewelry box.

"Is that what I think it is? Is that your mother's emerald ring?"

"No, Nola. It's yours," Quinton says, placing the ring on her finger.

"Ah, look, you had it polished and had the missing stone replaced. It's as beautiful as the first time I saw it."

"That's exactly how I feel about you."

"Oh, Quinton."

"And now that it's back on your finger, I don't ever want you to take if off again."

"Not even while I'm washing dishes or scrubbing the bathroom tile?"

"We'll get you a housekeeper."

"Quinton, this ring . . . and what it symbolizes . . . I guess this means that you don't want to go through with the divorce?"

"Nola, I would rather be stripped naked, covered with honey, and tied to an ant hill."

"I don't know about the ant hill part, but the naked covered with honey stuff sounds kind of . . . interesting. But seriously, about the divorce . . . I do have something to tell you."

"Darling, you don't know how sorry I am that I ever sent you those damn divorce papers. I only did it because I thought that was what you wanted. Your . . ."

"Freedom?"

"Yes."

Quinton, freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose."

"Is that Shakespeare?"

"No, silly. It's Janis Joplin. Listen, what I'm trying to tell you, is that I never responded to the divorce papers. I never filed myself. I was going to. You had just made me so mad. I was even going to get the best attorney in town, Ross Marler. But then I remembered that he had been there on the cliff, the night that you proposed to me. And it didn't seem right for him to be there at the beginning and at the end of our marriage. So, then I decided I would do it myself."

"Excuse me?"

"Quinton, with an uncontested divorce, you really don't need an attorney. You can just get a paralegal to help you file the papers. I was going to go down to that legal clinic near the college. You know the one that's a legal clinic and frozen yogurt shop. But . . . I . . . just never got around to it. I was so busy with school, and my writing, and helping Bridget around Company, and . . ."

"You didn't file for divorce because you were too busy?"

"Okay, Okay, I didn't get around to it, because I didn't want to. I never wanted a divorce. I never wanted our love story to come to an end."

"Oh, Nola. If I have my way, it never will," Quinton says embracing her with all the joy and relief of condemned man receiving a surprise pardon.

With her head snuggled closely to his chest, Nola says, "Oh, Quinton, I feel like everything is coming back to me now."

"Everything?"

"The man that I love. The house that I love."

"The house? I didn't know you loved this house. If you did, then why did you ever agree to move into Henry's?"

"Because I thought, that's what you wanted to do."

"No, I never wanted to. My God, we had just been married. I wanted to be alone with you, in our own home. But I agreed to move into Henry's because I thought it would make you happy."

"Oh, Quinton, we've been doing this for quite awhile, haven't we?"

"Doing what?"

"Trying to read each other's mind. Trying to guess what's best for each other, without ever discussing it. This has got to stop. And it's got to stop now. A happy marriage is not achieved by trying to become one. A truly happy marriage comes from loving and accepting each other while remaining two."

"I take it, that's from 'The Gospel According to Zachary'?"

"Well, yes it is. But that still doesn't change the fact that's it's right. We've got to start talking about what we're feeling and thinking. We've got to talk about everything. Even the tough stuff. Will you promise me, we will do that from now on, Quinton?"

"I'll try my best. I would do anything to make sure that we never have to go through the torture of the last two years, ever again."

Grasping his hands in hers, Nola says, "Do you know how much I love you, Mr. Chamberlain?"

"I would be happy if it was merely half as much as I love you, Mrs. Chamberlain. And even though I do know that you put a lot of faith in everything Zachary says, I think he was incorrect about one little point."

"What's that?"

"Nola, there is much to be said in praise of 'becoming one', Quinton says, eyeing the bed.

to be continued

"Sometimes You Get a Second Chance" Episode 42, "A Little Over-Dressed for the Occasion."

Quinton sits down on the bed and gently pulls Nola to him.

"Oh, Quinton, this is all so wonderful. You're so wonderful."

"Then I take it, you approve of the room?"

"Yes, I always loved this room, it always had such an air of romance about it. And oh, look you even have heather on the dresser, right next to the. . . scratching post? I don't remember having a scratching post in my room.

"Well, Nola I have to be honest with you. I haven't spent every night of the last two years by myself."

"I think you had better explain that last comment."

As if in response to her question, a soft bundle of dark fur arrives in the room and begins rubbing itself on Nola's ankle. She picks up the small black kitten and exclaims, "Oh, Quinton, when did you get a cat?"

"I was on my way to the store to pick up some staples, when I saw a sign that read 'free kittens'. And I remembered how much you loved Cat, and how much it bothered you when we had to get rid of him because Vanessa was allergic. And needless to say, I never made it to the store."

"I did love Cat, but Mrs. Renfield had grown attached to him, and he did have a nice home in Scotland, for many,many years. What's this little (Nola takes a quick glance at the kitten's undersides) boy's name?"

"Cat-two."

"That does just about say it all, doesn't it? And speaking of names, Quinton, we need a new one."

"What's wrong with 'Quinton and Nola'?"

"No, not us, this place. We can't keep calling it 'The Old House on Thornway Road'. It sounds so...so Gothic."

"Why do we need to name our house?"

"Don't be silly, all great houses in movies had names. In 'Jane Eyre' they had Thornfield Hall. In 'Rebecca' they had Manderlay, and of course, in 'Gone With The Wind' they had Tara. We have to have a name. Let's see...."

"How about 'The Land of Wishes, Hopes and Dreams'?"

"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that. Now, ssshhh. I'm trying to think. The Chamberlain Estate. No, too formal. Nola and Quint's Place. No, too informal. Quinton and Nola Land. Too long. Quinton and Nola....Quint and Nola. Quola. Quola Land. That's it. Quola Land. So what do you think?"

"I think it doesn't matter what I think; if that's what you want, then that's what you'll get. You know you could persuade me into it. I think you could persuade me into almost anything."

"Good, So Quola Land it is. You know, this place is going to really feel like a home again. I just know it. We've already got Cat-two, and maybe we could even get some more dogs. I know how much you loved Damian and Lucifer."

"Yes, I would like to have dogs again."

"I know. We could have Poodles. That way when the grandchildren come to visit, they could have fun playing with them."

"Grandchildren? Aren't you jumping ahead a little bit."

"Well, J is growing up. And Anastasia is seeing someone she's pretty serious about."

"Don't you mean Stacy?"

"No. But I'll explain that to you later."

"Okay, But we have to talk about this Poodle thing. I was thinking more along the lines of Dobermans. Can you imagine if all those years ago, when we had to worry about that bastard Silas Crocker breaking in, if I had yelled out, "Gunther, unleash the Poodles!"

"You know that's the first time I heard you say that name in years, Gunther, I mean. I know he was a good friend to you. And I know you missed him a lot. But you never talked about him after his death."

"I guess I didn't want to bother you with my problems."

"Now why does that sound so familiar?"

"I know. That was one of the mistakes I made too. Not sharing everything, including the dark side of things with you. I guess I didn't want you to be reminded of the melancholy, brooding man that I was when I first met you."

"But Quinton, we all have our dark moments. I know I did when I first came back to Springfield . .. without you. I was so depressed that I didn't want to go anywhere, or to see anyone. It was even worse than those months in California, after....after Maureen first died. I just felt so...."

"Lost? Like a part of you was missing? Like a piece of your soul had been ripped away?"

"Yes, that's exactly how I felt," Nola says with the hint of an all too familiar sadness returning to her eyes.

Quinton seeing her distress, takes her hands into his, and says, "Nola I felt that way too, when I was in California without you. But I didn't have the luxury of staying at home, I had 'that' staying at my house. So I took to taking long walks at night, sometimes for hours at a time. And Nola, one night while I was out walking in one of the more seedier sides of town, I came upon this establishment..."

"Quinton, maybe you shouldn't tell me any more."

"No, No let me finish. As I was saying I came upon this establishment It was a...a bowling alley. I went in, and actually bowled a few games."

"Quinton Chamberlain in rented shoes? I don't believe it."

"It's true, and actually I enjoyed it, and was really quite good at it. I even joined a league." You don't believe me, do you? I have the trophies to prove it."

Nola smiles, and then the smile turns into a bubbling laugh.

"Nola, It's so good to see you smile and to hear you laugh again. It's so good to see you happy again."

"It's been a long time since I've been really happy. But I feel like I have everything now. If I saw a shooting star right now, I wouldn't be able to think of anything to wish for."

"Are you sure about that ? What about the one thing that I couldn't give you?"

"You mean a baby?"

"Yes, a baby. I know how disappointed you were when the doctor said it would be a miracle if we ever had another one."

"Yes, I was disappointed. I even had names picked out already. Eliza Maureen for a girl, and Henry Gunther for a boy. Well, H.G. for short."

"Nola, you know we could have adopted a child."

"I know that. But . . . well, this might sound very selfish, but if we adopted a child, it wouldn't really be our child, it wouldn't be a Nola/Quint original. Gosh, that's not very politically correct, is it?"

"We never have been a particularly politically correct couple. I mean, we started a relationship while you were working for me. What would they call that now?"

"Sexual harassment on the job. And don't forget the fur you gave me?"

"Very anti-animal rights."

"Yeah, and I used to fantasize that we were Betty Davis and Paul Henreid in 'Now Voyager'. Remember the scene where he lights her cigarette with his own?"

"Yes, Tobacco. Very taboo now. I don't know, Nola. Maybe we are a little old-fashioned and outdated."

"I don't know if I would say that. We were celibate for almost two years. Before it was the safe thing, the Nineties thing to do. I guess we were ahead of our time, but just didn't know it. Uh, Quinton you were celibate for two years, weren't you?"

"Yes. I even had the water bills to prove it."

"Huh?"

"Plenty of cold showers, my dear."

"Oh."

"Then Nola, you are really okay with the fact that our parenting days are far behind us."

"Well, I was thinking about that, and maybe it was all just a silly dream. Now that I have my writing career to think about, how would I manage a baby too? I can just see myself up in this room, typing on the keyboard with one hand, and shaking that rattle over there to quiet the baby with the other."

"What rattle?"

"The one over there on the dresser. Isn't that the one you made for J all those years ago?"

"Yes, it is. But I left that at the tent. I distinctively remember seeing it there tonight."

"Maybe Bridget brought it here."

"I don't know why she would have done that. I didn't tell her to. You know Nola, so many strange things have happened tonight. That rattle being here; Bridget suddenly doing a three-sixty, and telling the truth; and you showing up in the Gazebo right at the moment I believe I had lost you forever."

"Quinton, dear, if I learned nothing else from watching old movies, I did learned this much. Never analyze a happy ending. Just enjoy it."

"Then I think it's high time we started enjoying this one."

"And I think I'm a little over-dressed for the occasion."

to be continued

Okay, I know they would never be able to get away with doing and saying a lot of this stuff on the real show, but hey, this is virtual. And what's the use of virtual if you can't get away with a few naughty bits.

"Sometimes You Get A Second Chance" Episode 43, "Answered Prayers"

Nola stands up and with the glee of a child showing off a cherished toy at Show and Tell, she pulls her dress over her head. Revealing underneath, a shimmering white bra and panty set, that sets off perfectly her glowing, taut skin turned a perpetual golden brown by years of working outside at archaeological sites.

Pulling Quinton to a standing position next to her, and wrapping her arms securely around his neck, she says, looking up with an adoring smile, "Did I ever tell you that you have the bluest eyes I've ever seen?"

"Tell me Nola, would you have fallen in love with me, if my eyes weren't so blue?"

"I think I would have. I just wouldn't have let you get by with so much crap."

Quinton smiles a definitely charmed and definitely crooked smile, and then begins to let his hands explore a little. Nola can't help but close her eyes and relish the feel of his firm, but tender hands softly caressing her cheeks, her neck, and her shoulders.

She lets out an audible gasp, when those same hands made awkward by anticipation, reach behind her in order to unhook her bra. "Nola, I'm having a little trouble here." Quinton says, sounding almost embarrassed.

"That's because it unhooks in the front," she says releasing the clasp.

Quinton steps back slightly in order to admire the view, when Nola suddenly realizes that he is the only person besides Bridget that has seen her like this in almost two years.

Sensing her self-consciousness, he says with a loving admiration in his voice, "Nola, you're so beautiful. If possible more beautiful now than when I first met you."

"Oh, Quinton, you don't have to say things like that. You don't have to flatter me."

"It's not flattery; it's the truth."

"You've always made me feel like I was beautiful."

"Nola, you are. And you will always be beautiful to me."

"Hold me."

Quinton pulls her to him, and they once again embrace. An embrace that is at first more about comfort; healing old wounds; and being home again, than it is about passion. But then the passion quickly begins to surface.

This time, Nola pulls slightly away, in order to begin to undress Quinton. Looking at the discarded clothing beginning to pile up, she says, "Quinton, you have on an ascot, a jacket, a vest, a shirt, and an undershirt. With all these layers, people might begin to think you were getting a little chubby. But if they only knew the truth," she says rubbing a hand over the firm, rippling muscles made hard by years of the laborious work involved in removing the earth's buried treasures.

With a suddenness and a fierceness that almost frightens him, she pulls her to him, and says in a voice filled with equal parts love and desire, "I would ask you, if you want me to be here, as much as I want to be here, but I think that's quite obvious, that you do. Those pants you're wearing look like they're starting to get a tad bit uncomfortable."

With Nola's help, Quinton removes his pants, revealing some very unusual silk boxers underneath. "Oh, my God, 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' boxer shorts. Where on earth did you get those?" Nola asks very amused.

"They were a Christmas present from ...."

"Let me guess; J right? He's always talking about that movie."

"I know."

"I think you remind him of Sean Connery."

"Do I remind you of him?"

"Nah, You're much sexier."

They embrace again, and begin to kiss tentatively at first, and then hungrily. But suddenly Quinton pushes Nola away.

"Is there something wrong?"

"No. No. But before we go much further, I think we need to take some precautions."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"I for one, do not want Bridget or anyone else to come back and interrupt us, I'm going to do something I should have done years ago. I'm going to lock every damn door in the house."

"But Quinton..."

"And while I'm gone, here you can read this, it's your letter. I took the liberty of bringing it with me upstairs."

As Quinton runs quickly downstairs, Nola picks up the letter and begins to read these words:

************************************************************************ "My Dearest Nola, there is so much I want to say to you, so much I need to say to you, but whenever we are together, I can never manage to get the right words out. The words I pray, could tear down the barrier that separates up now. That's why I am attempting to somehow, someway, put down all that I am feeling on paper.

Nola, when I think of you and me and our love story, I can't help but be reminded of that line from those old, childhood fairy tales, "And they lived happily ever after". But life is not a fairy tale. And sooner or later reality can cause the fantasy to fade away. But you and I, Nola, we almost made it, didn't we?

Being married to you Nola, was like living an enchanted dream. I don't know how you could have ever once believed that I had actually grown tired of you.

Grown tired of my Nola; it wouldn't be possible. Seeing the world through your eyes made everything seem fresh and new and exciting every day of my life.

And as our years together passed, you never lost one bit of your charm, of your magic, of your beauty. Of course, I don't think the same can be said of me. But when this world began to see me as what I had become, an aging adventurer now

settling into a life of "used-to-be's", you Nola, you still always looked at me as if I was a brave knight charging up on a white steed. I loved you for that; I will always love you for that.

And I know that all that I am and all that I have accomplished is because of you. You taught me how to accept the past, live in the present, and hope for the future. And of all the things I have accomplished in my life, the thing I am the most proud of is that I was able to share so much of it with a woman like you.

Nola, it would appear now that we have come to the final line of our love story and it is not, "And they lived happily ever after". I could not protect you from sadness forever. I could not bring Maureen back, and I could not give you anything to take her place.

Do I then regret every thing that happened between us because of the way it has ended? No, Nola, I know that the memories I have of the moments that we did share together will sustain me through the rest of my life.

Remember that movie that you loved, "The French Lieutenant's Woman"? Do you remember what Sarah said to Charles? "Now that I know that there was one day on which you truly loved me, I can bear anything." That is how I feel about our love, Nola. The knowledge that you did once actually love me, should be enough to sustain me forever. But still . .

To be honest, I know this is the part where I should wish you well, and tell you goodbye, but I can't bring myself to do that, not yet, at least. If I could just see you one more time, alone, just the two of us.

Nola, if you think there is even the slightest glimmer of hope for us, then please come to me, tomorrow night at our old house.

And we can be together one more time, even if it is to be for the last time.

But if you choose not to come, I will go on without you, but I will never stop loving you. I no sooner could stop that than I could stop breathing,

My precious Nola, I have loved you since the moment you walked into the Gazebo, since the moment I saw your beautiful face, and heard your angelic voice. And if our love is only to be a memory now, it will be a memory that I will always cherish.

With all the love I have to give Quinton

*********************************************************************

When Quinton returns to the room, Nola is completely in tears, but they are tears of joy,

"Nola, you've been crying."

"It's okay, It's just your letter. It was so beautiful. Only a man that loved a woman very much could have written something like this."

"I do love you, Nola."

"I know that. I've always know that, deep down inside, but I've been so mean to you for so long. I did want so much to tell you that I still loved you. That day at the boardinghouse; that night at the country club; that time at the tent. But I don't know. I guess what I'm trying to say is that my foolish pride always got in the way. But if you give me another chance, I swear I'll never let that happen again."

"Give you another chance? Give you another chance?" Quinton asks incredulously. My only prayer since I've come back to Springfield has been that you would give me a second chance."

"Then I guess your prayers has come true."

to be continued