JACK'S gay ruse has been exposed, and it has had devastating consequences. Though GRETA eventually forgave him, JENNIFER, reeling from JACK'S deceit, turned to COLIN, who was all too willing to offer her comfort. It is now six months after JACK'S lie was uncovered. JENNIFER has gotten engaged to COLIN, deciding that moving ahead with her relationship with him will help her get JACK out of her heart once and for all. Though COLIN has had his suspicions that he is not the one JENNIFER loves, he has made no effort to break off the engagement.

SCENE 1

INT. TUSCANY - NIGHT

COLIN and JENNIFER have just held an engagement party, which is just now winding down. Unbeknownst to JENNIFER, JACK had snuck in just a few moments ago, and is standing unnoticed in a corner, watching in pain as JENNIFER is saying good-bye to the guests, carrying a sleeping ABBY in her arms.

HOPE: (gives JENNIFER a kiss on the cheek) Bye, sweetie. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?

JENNIFER: Okay. Thanks so much for coming.

COLIN: Yes, I'm glad you both could make it.

BO: Anything for Jen.

COLIN: (feeling the hidden hostility from BO) Yes, anything for this beautiful fiancee of mine.

He gives her a kiss on the cheek, which causes JACK to look away, and not see the look of discomfort on JENNIFER'S face.

COLIN: I can't wait to marry her- (his beeper goes off) What the... (looks at it and sighs)

JENNIFER: What is it?

COLIN: It's the hospital. There's been an emergency and they're short-handed, so they need me to come in.

JENNIFER: Oh no...

COLIN: (to BO and HOPE) Uh... could I trouble you two to give Jennifer and Abby a ride home? I'm afraid I have to leave now.

HOPE: No, of course not, we'll be happy to.

COLIN: Thank you, I owe you. (kisses JENNIFER on the cheek again) I'll see you tomorrow. (leaves)

BO: You guys ready to go?

HOPE: You know what, we'll meet you in the car. I want to do some girl talk with my cousin.

BO: (gives HOPE a knowing smile) All right. I'll see you both in a little bit.

HOPE: (gesturing towards ABBY) She's out like a light, huh?

JENNIFER: Yeah. It's been a long night for her.

HOPE: And how about you?

JENNIFER: Me?

HOPE: Yeah, you. How are you holding up?

JENNIFER: (laughs) What kind of a question is that? That's something you ask someone who's upset. Do I look upset?

HOPE: I didn't say that.

JENNIFER: But that's what you were thinking, right?

HOPE doesn't say anything.

OUT on JENNIFER who knows what HOPE is trying to tell her.

SCENE 2

IN PROGRESS

JENNIFER thinks HOPE is trying to tell her she's making a mistake marrying COLIN.

HOPE: You know what? Forget I opened my big mouth. This is supposed to be a happy night for you, and the last thing I want to do is be a downer-

JENNIFER: Do you think I'm doing the right thing, Hope?

HOPE: What?

JENNIFER: I need you to be honest with me. Do you think I'm doing the right thing?

HOPE: Oh, honey, I can't answer that question. You have to ask yourself that.

They walk over to a table and sit.

JENNIFER: Abby... Abby doesn't want me to marry Colin.

HOPE: She told you that?

JENNIFER: No. She's been so sweet about the whole engagement, but I just... I see the disappointment in her eyes, every time I talk about this. (beat) I think she would still love nothing more than to see me and Jack get married again.

HOPE: But that's not going to happen now, is it?

JENNIFER can't say anything.

HOPE: Look, Jen, you told me that you just couldn't take Jack back anymore after this latest scheme. Are you... starting to have second thoughts about that?

JENNIFER: (pulling herself together) You know what, Hope? Nothing's changed. I still don't trust Jack, especially after this. And I can't be with someone I don't trust, period. Jack and I had something wonderful once, but it is over and he has to accept that. I know I have.

HOPE: You have to do what's best for you.

JENNIFER: That's right. That's absolutely right. I have to do what's best for me, and what's best for Abby. And Jack... he means well, but at the end of the day, he just ends up hurting us, and I don't want that for my daughter. I don't want that for myself. It's time for me to move on, and-

She suddenly notices JACK standing in a darkened corner.

HOPE: Jen? What is it? (turns around, sees JACK)

JACK walks over to their table.

JACK: (with great pain) I heard congratulations are in order.

No one can say anything. JACK and JENNIFER just look at each other, both of them hurting.

HOPE: Uh... Jen, why don't I take Abby, and Bo and I can take her home. You, um... you two need to talk.

JACK: Thank you, but that's not really necessary-

JENNIFER: No, she's right, Jack. We need to talk. Hope, we'll be by to pick her up later, okay?

HOPE: Sure thing.

She takes ABBY from JENNIFER and leaves. JACK and JENNIFER are left alone, each one wanting to reach out to the other but not knowing how to. In the background, music is still playing.

JENNIFER: (softly) Why did you come here, Jack?

OUT on JACK as he looks away.

SCENE 3

IN PROGRESS

JENNIFER has just asked JACK why he came here.

JENNIFER: You knew what this party was for, didn't you?

JACK nods.

JENNIFER: And you still came? Why?

JACK: I told you, I came here to offer my congratulations. (looks at her again) The mother of my child is getting remarried. I thought it was the least I could do.

Tears begin to well up in JENNIFER'S eyes.

JENNIFER: (barely audible) Why do you do this, Jack?

JACK: Why do I do what?

JENNIFER: Make things so hard.

JACK: I don't know what you're talking about.

JENNIFER: You do this! You do this all the time! You make things so hard when they're so simple... They should be so simple...

JACK doesn't know what to say. It is killing him to know he messed things up for them again. JENNIFER turns her back to him and begins to cry.

JENNIFER: I promised myself I would never cry over you again...

JACK places his hands on her shoulders. JENNIFER does not shrug them off.

JENNIFER: I've let you break my heart over and over again, Jack Deveraux... I can't do this anymore, do you understand me? I want to be happy again. I can't keep hurting over you, I just can't...

JACK slowly turns JENNFER around to face him.

JACK: I don't want you to hurt anymore, Jennifer. That's... why I came here tonight. I came here to let you go.

JENNIFER: (not expecting him to say that) What?

JACK: (trying to keep his voice from cracking) I couldn't let Kayla go until it was too late. And I destroyed both her and myself in the process. I don't want that to happen here, Jennifer. I know I have to walk away while we can still salvage some kind of a friendship here.

JENNIFER: Are you saying... you're going to accept that I'm marrying Colin?

JACK: (nodding) All I've ever wanted was to see you happy. I just want you and Abigail to be happy. (swallows hard) I can't give that to you. God knows I've tried, but I've failed over and over. I can't expect you to keep paying for my mistakes.

JENNIFER can not say anything and is crying. In the background, Billy Vera's, "At This Moment" begins to play. JACK kisses JENNIFER on the forehead and starts to walk away, but JENNIFER stops him by touching his arm.

JENNIFER: Wait...

JACK looks back at her.

JENNIFER: (smiles through her tears) How about one last dance with your... ex-employee?

JACK smiles.

JENNIFER: For old time's sake?

JACK slowly takes her in her arms and they begin to dance. JENNIFER closes her eyes and lays her head on his chest.

What did you think
I would do at this moment
When you're standing before me
With tears in your eyes
Trying to tell me that you
Have found you another
And you just don't love me no more

What did you think
I would say at this moment
When I'm faced with the knowledge
That you just don't love me
Did you think I would curse you
Or say things to hurt you
Cause you just don't love me no more

Did you think I could hate you
Or raise my hands to you
Now, come on, you know me too well
How could I hurt you
When Darlin' I love you
And you know, I'd never, never hurt you

What do you think
I would give at this moment
If you'd stay, I'd subtract
Twenty years from my life
I'd fall down on my knees
Kiss the ground that you walk on
If I could just hold you again

JACK can't bear to hold her anymore, knowing he will have to let her go eventually, so he stops abruptly when the song ends and starts to walk away.

JENNIFER: Jack, wait a minute...

JACK: I can't... I can't do this anymore...

JENNIFER: So that's it, you're just going to walk away? You're just going to give up?

JACK: (emotional) What do you want? I got the message loud and clear, Jennifer. You don't want me in your life. You want a new start, with a new man, and you can't be with me anymore-

JENNIFER: Damn it, Jack, that is not what I want! (crying hard) I want... (barely gets the words out) I want you...

JACK: What?

JENNIFER: I want you, Jack. (beat) You're the one I want...

JACK: I've told you before, Jennifer. I don't come with a warranty. If you want some kind of an iron-clad guarantee that I won't mess up again-

JENNIFER walks over to him and interrupts him with a kiss. JACK responds and takes her face in his hands as he kisses her back.

JACK: (when they break apart) Are you sure?

JENNIFER: (softly) Yes. (beat) I love you, Jack. I never stopped loving you.

JACK gently wipes her tears away and kisses her.