Episode 50

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Episode 50

Scene 1:

"I have some bad news for you," Ryan said taking the seat Jamie offered him at the conference table. He pulled out a file of papers and slid them across the desk to Jamie. "Your son's mother has petitioned the court for a hearing to lift the restraining order."

"What?!" Jamie snapped grabbing at the papers, rifling through them. He scanned them catching his name on several pages. "Can she do that?"

"Apparently, she's found a lawyer who knows a judge," Ryan shrugged.

"Well, can you block it?" Jamie asked stunned at the turn of events. Kerri was going too far this time.

"I've already submitted a response. It appears that Miss House is serious, Jamie. Are you prepared to go back into court?"

"No and I don't want this to go that far. Whatever resources you need to end this, they're yours," Jamie said shoving the file back at him. "Kerri has caused enough pain for my son, I won't allow her to create more."

"That is admirable, however it might be a bit short sighted on your part," Ryan commented taking the file and replacing it in his briefcase. "If what you've told me about her is true, she doesn't sound like someone who will let just anyone push her around. You and your wife have quite a legal battle ahead of you. I suggest we all meet and map out worst case scenarios."

Jamie shook his head furiously. "Absolutely not! My wife does not know about Kerri's recent infringements on the restraining order and nor will she find out until it's taken care of." He stood and walked to the door, opening it for Ryan. "She will not know, do we understand each other?"

"Have it your way," Ryan muttered. "But tell her before it gets out of hand, Jamie. You don't want it to come back and bite you in the ass do you?"

"I'll take that into consideration," Jamie replied darkly watching Ryan leave the room. He wouldn't tell Michaela though. She was trying to make a life for herself here and finding an old enemy had cropped up would only hinder what progress she was making. Not to mention hinder the progress Chris was making in getting over the trauma Kerri had inflicted on him. No, this was Jamie's battle alone. He wouldn't tell unless he had to.

Scene 2:

"Cynthia?" Jude said in disbelief at the figure that stood before him. "What are you doing here? Why didn't you call?"

"Do I have to call ahead now?" She asked smiling gently.

"No...I guess not, but Cynthia what are you doing in Conlan's Glen? Isn't this a bit out of your territory?" He moved to the door and closed it behind her keeping their conversation quiet.

"Well, that's what I came to your office to tell you. I live here now." He gazed down at her, shocked by her announcement but not entirely surprised.

"Here. Why? What was wrong with DC?"

"You aren't there," she replied pouting just a little. "Jude, I'm so sorry I reacted the way I did when you left me after the funeral. I just needed you so. And since you won't come to me, I decided to come to you. I'm part of your legal team here. In fact, I'm supposed to be in a meeting but I snuck away to come see you."

Jude shook his head trying to think of an answer. Cynthia was here now? This made no sense. He was moving on with his life. Cynthia was a part of the past and Maura was a part of the future. Even if he hadn't seen her in a few days.

"Cyn, did you think this decision to move through?" He asked after a moment.

"Yes, Jude, I did. I moved here to be close to you. The man I love. Yes, I still love you. Is that so hard to believe? Derek killed a lot of emotions in me but he never killed that one. Don't you still love me?"

"I don't know," he answered truthfully. "When Derek found out about our affair, I expected you to leave him. But you didn't. You turned me away for his status and his money. Now that he's gone...why should I believe you're telling me the truth? Why after all that's happened?"

"You of all people know why I stood by Derek! He made me who I am. I couldn't turn away from him just because ..."

"Because you loved another man?" Jude said quietly. "Cynthia, I'm glad you're here. I could use a friend. But that is all we'll ever be," he told a stunned Cynthia. "You'd better go back to your meeting before they start missing you." He opened the door for her and steered her back into the hallway, shutting the door behind her. His heart beat wildly in his chest as the realization of what he had done set in. She had broken his heart more than once and he had just repaid her a small debt.

Scene 3:

"You're going to be good for Nana today, right Jesse?" Michaela asked as she turned down the road that would take them up to Four Winds. Jesse bounced in his booster seat in back, nodding his little blond head.

"Yeah... but why does Chris get to go with you and I can't?" he whined, glancing over at Lily, who was also in the back seat, but not seeming to care whether she went either place.

"I told you, Jess. This is a special day for Chris and Mommy. You and me will do something special next weekend, I promise. You just have fun today with Nana. Maybe Jude will be over for you to play with."

"Ooooh, okay!" Jesse said, turning his attention back to the Pokemon he was playing with, bouncing more at the prospect of playing with the man he regarded as his uncle. He had a whole backpack full of toys with him, and it was all Michaela could do to keep him from pulling them all out while they were in the car.

They arrived shortly at Four Winds, pulling around the horseshoe drive and stopping in front of the door. "Everyone out who's getting out," she said, going around to the back to pull out Lily's carrier and her diaper bag. "You too, Chris. You can at least come inside and say hello."

"Okay," Chris sighed, more than anxious to just get underway. He knocked on the door to the house, grinning at the butler and running in to find Gwen. Michaela followed shortly behind, lugging Lily and all of her things, plus trying to keep Jesse focused. He already wanted to go into the back yard, float his boats in the fountain, swim in the pool, and play with the kittens.

Luckily her conversation with Gwen was short, not because she didn't like her mother-in-law, but because she had a tight schedule to keep, and with three young children it was inevitable that they were going to run behind. She left Lily, the diaper bag, and an incredibly hyper Jesse there, ushering Chris out and avoiding telling Gwen where it was they were going.

"I honestly don't see the necessity for all the secrecy," Gwen said with a small frown, walking Michaela and Chris back out to the car.

"I just want it to be a surprise for Chris," Michaela half-lied, closing the passenger side door after Chris got in. I have my cell phone if you need to reach me. I'll be back to get Jess and Lily tonight, probably around nine.

"But I still..." Gwen sputtered, frowning as Michaela climbed into the SUV and started it up without another word.

"Wave to Nana, Chris," Michaela said, turning on some Backstreet Boys for them to sing along to as she pulled out and onto the road, almost squealing the tires.

"Why wouldn't you tell Nana where we're going?" Chris asked, furrowing his brow slightly.

Michaela sighed, leaning over and turning the stereo down. "It's hard to explain, Chris. I just don't think Nana would like me taking you where we're going. It's not her sort of thing."

"How do you know I'll like it then?" Chris asked.

"Well, do you remember that one night we were playing in the back yard, and Cade and Spencer came over?" Michaela asked.

"Yeah," Chris said, nodding in remembrance of the night he'd first met the neighbors. "They said they had his bike fixed."

"They'd been working on it all week, remember?"

"Yeah, I remember," Chris laughed a little, "They were always making noise with it when we were outside playing. It's loud."

Michaela nodded, laughing herself. "Those bikes are kind of loud, aren't they? Do you remember what else he said? Why they were trying so hard to get the bike fixed?"

Chris thought about it for a moment. "He said he was going to be in a race."

"That's right. And you remember that Spencer invited us to come and watch it?" Michaela paused, waiting for the reaction, hoping she'd made the correct assessment of Chris's curiosity and enthusiasm from that night.

Chris's eyes lit up at. "We're going to go see Spencer race his dirt bike?"

"We sure are," she said, glad that this idea seemed to delight Chris.

"Cool!" Chris bounced a little in his seat, then frowned a bit. "Is it going to be loud? Just Spencer's bike was loud, but there's going to be lots of bikes there."

Michaela nodded. "Yeah, it's pretty loud, from what Cade said. But don't worry, he said he's going to bring some earplugs for you, so it won't hurt your ears."

"Oh cool," Chris said, staring out the window. Michaela could faintly see his reflection in the glass, and he was smiling broadly. That was all she needed to see. Regardless of anything her family would say about her spending time with Cade, or even bringing her son to spend time with him and his brothers, that smile told her that she was doing the right thing, no matter what.

Scene 4:

Rick pushed a lock of hair out of his eyes. Time for a haircut, he thought letting his thoughts wander from the editorial he had been struggling with for over an hour. His eyes shifted to the clock on his desk. 9:15. It was late and he should go home, he thought. But to what? An empty apartment? He didn't even have a pet to keep him company. "I have to get a dog," he muttered to himself. Clicking save on his computer, he drained the last of his coffee and waited for his computer to shut off. There was a soft shuffling from outside his door. Probably Phoebe, he decided picking up his jacket. Standing, he went to the door and pulled it open. "Hello?" He said into the darkness of the hallway.

"Burning the midnight oil?" a soft voice replied from the shadows before the solitary figure stepped forth, blue eyes dancing. Jillie smiled slightly, arching a brow as she took in his weary appearance. "You know, you could give a girl the wrong idea, staying cooped up in this room for hours on end...."

"Jillie!" Rick said, the delight dancing off his voice. "Here I thought you were Phoebe and I was about to chastise you for being here yet again." He smiled gently at her. "And what ideas would I be giving a girl?"

"A lesser woman *might* think you were trying to avoid her. But I'm sure I know differently. That's why I've come to save you from yourself," she grinned. "You only live once, and you're far too intriguing to let rot away in a dark room that smells of stale coffee."

"Save me from myself? Well, maybe I do need to be saved. What did you have in mind?" He asked closing the door behind him. "Whatever it is, I hope it involves food somehow, I'm starved."

"Food...definitely had a part in what I was thinking," Jillie smiled innocently. "Tell you what," she said, seemingly changing the topic, "at the risk of seeming overbearing and intrusive - and the hope of coming off as surprisingly talented and domestically sexy - I'm inviting myself to your place tonight. Where...I hope you have a fairly stocked kitchen because...." That gaze washed over him again. "It looks like it's been a while since you've had an actual home cooked meal."

Rick gave her a curious gaze before nodding in assent. "I think I've got all the necessary items for a decent meal. Spices and lots of dried goods," he said with a lazy grin. "A home cooked meal would be fantastic. Do you have a car or would you rather just come along with me? I can bring you back when we're...done." He felt his skin begin a slow burn at his own words. What was he thinking?

"Done? If you think you'll be up to it...." She shrugged lightly and turned, her long blond hair swaying gently back and forth as she moved.

Rick followed her, leaving the rest unsaid. He nodded to the security guard at the door as they exited the building. He would likely have a story to tell whoever would listen the next morning. At Rick's car, he opened the passenger door and waited for Jillie to be settled before going around to his side and climbing in as well. He turned the stereo on, thankful that it was a jazz cd he'd been listening to and not some embarrassing cd from his childhood.

Jillie twisted around in her seat, curling her legs under her and watching as he drove, her gaze steady on his profile. There was something beyond masculine about Rick. Something that warmed her skin, turned her blood to pure molten honey. She'd wanted him since the moment she'd laid eyes on him. And tonight...tonight she was going to have him. One way or another. Her thoughts turned to the letter she'd found in Maura's room. Her mind was still trying to wrap itself around that one. Maura...pregnant. By whom? Jillie had the all too sinking suspicion she knew the answer to that question. And the sickest part? It only made her want him more. She shrugged again, mentally. At least she could recognize her flaws, even if she made no move to do anything about them.

The drive to his apartment in the Outskirts was thankfully short and relatively quiet, though an air of expectation hung between them. He parked his car in the underground parking of the Swan Lake apartments. He went to her side and opened the door for her, helping her out. "I hope you don't mind elevators," he said with a smile. "I'm in the penthouse apartment."

"Nice," she laughed, taking his arm as he led the way. "Careful, or I might just start to think you're trying to impress me."

"I don't think I need to do that," he replied as the elevator doors closed. He hit the button for the penthouse and turned to her as the elevator made it's ascent. "Now, tell me, Jillie. What kind of culinary experience do you have?"

"Do you forget so easily? It's in my blood," Jillie told him, leaning back against one of the elevator walls, eyeing him across the way. "I can't say I haven't served my own sentence behind the counter at Connie's. Actually, my mother made sure all of her children were self-sufficient." She grinned again. "But is it really my cooking skills you're interested in?"

"If I'm going to eat your cooking, you bet it's your cooking I'm interested in!" He joked. "And I never knew that about your mother. If you're so proficient, why is Maura running Connie's and not you?"

"Contrary to popular belief, I'm not interested in serving my delicacies to every Tom, Dick and Harry who walks through the door," Jillie told him. "But if you want the short story, Maura and I...we're only doing what's expected of us, respectively." Exactly. Maura was expected to be the dutiful, obedient daughter and she, well, of course Jillie was expected to be the one to completely disregard her familial responsibilities.

"I see. Well, as long as we've got that straight," Rick answered. The doors slid open into a broad hallway. Rick's door was on the left. "Here we are, Casa Upton...such as it is." He opened the door and turned on the hall light. His apartment was exactly the kind of home he had always imagined himself in, plenty of wood and leather. He liked it even if it wasn't very female friendly. "The kitchen is this way."

She followed him, though her attention was on his home...such as it was. Her photographer's eye took mental snapshots of the dark interior, her journalistic senses only kicking in belatedly as she scanned the titles of a few books that lay strewn around. There was much she didn't know about this man. Who was he? And why hadn't she been more curious before now?

Those things didn't matter. All in due time. Of course, it didn't sit well to know that her *beloved* sister was privy to the answers. But soon enough. Maura had given up on Rick. Had given up on their future. And wouldn't he just be delighted to know the extent to which her older sister had gone to cover up the truth? To hide it from him?

Again. Something that didn't matter at the moment. "So tell me," Jillie started, hopping up onto the counter next to the stove, her legs swinging idly. "Do your tastes run to the traditional...or do you like to take a few risks?"

"Well, if you're talking about food," he replied opening cupboards and taking different items out, "I'm a good old meat and potatoes kind of guy. But every now and then, I like something hot and spicy to shake things up a bit."

She reached over, stilling his hand. "And if I'm not talking about food?"

"Then I would say that I'm a man who likes a lot of different things. Whatever strikes my fancy as my mother used to say," he replied gazing at her. "What about you? Dull and boring or dark and mysterious?"

"Do you really have to ask?" Her voice lowered, eyes darkening to a translucent indigo. She tugged on his arm, guiding him closer...closer...until he stood right before her. Legs still swinging, she dropped her hands to the counter and lifted her gaze to his, having to tilt her head back in order to look up at him. "I did, however, forget to tell you something...that, all things considered, might be of some importance."

"Oh?" He said his voice husky with anticipation. "And what would that be?"

"Breakfast is really my forte," Jillie whispered, leaning forward until her lips briefly grazed his. "It's the most important meal of the day, after all."

He felt the touch of her lips on his and pulled back just a little to smile. "That's good, breakfast is my favorite meal of the day." He leaned back into Jillie, his hands stealing around her hips to pull her closer to him, and shook his head with an amused smile. Whatever they were going to be, whatever they were going to do, it all started here. He brushed a gentle kiss across her forehead before lowering his lips to meet hers.

Scene 5:

She was going to bed early tonight. Nothing could keep her from her bed tonight. Connie's had been monstrous all day. Short handed and too busy, she couldn't reach anyone to come in. Not even Jillie answered her phone. Figures, Maura thought, climbing the stairs to her room, Jillie was never available when Maura really needed help. Her bedroom door was slightly ajar which was strange. She was almost certain it had been closed when she left earlier.

Stepping inside her room, she flipped the light on and surveyed the room, suddenly very worried about who had been in the room. Her eyes fell to her bed where the frame with her mother's picture lay. Her heart skipped a beat. Could someone have found her letter? She reached for the frame, picking it up gingerly and turning it over. She released the back and breathed a sigh of relief as the letter slid out from its hiding place.

Maura held the letter close to her heart for a moment before replacing the backing on the frame. The letter would have to be moved of course. She looked around the room for a moment, feeling like a teenager again hiding her diary from Luke. Her eyes settled on the window seat. There was a loose board there that held the few mementos of Tristen that she had. It seemed only fitting that her mother's letter join them.

Kneeling, she lifted the board and placed the letter next to Tristen's baby picture. She smiled at the sight of her daughter's smiling blue eyes. It did hurt to see them. Ached to see them. But she had done the right thing. She was in no position to raise a daughter alone and Rick...well Rick had made it abundantly clear how he felt about children.

With a sigh, she replaced the board and went to her bed, shrugging out of the jeans she wore and climbing under the covers in just her t-shirt. She lay back on her pillows staring at the ceiling. Whatever life she had thought she would have at twenty-two, this certainly wasn't it. She was an old maid who was going to sleep at nine o'clock at night without even a boyfriend to call and say goodnight to. Jude was a sweetheart but he was pretty nonexistent and as far as him being a boyfriend...well, it just wasn't like that.

She rolled over onto her back, feeling completely miserable. She knew the real reason Jude was never going to be more than a friend. It was obvious but she had been hiding from it for years. Rick Upton. No matter how angry she was with him, no matter that he was probably dating Jillie, no matter that he seemed to think her cold and miserable, no matter what she told herself, she still loved the man. Still. And he was with her sister. Life was completely unfair, she told herself. Totally and completely.

Scene 6:

Galen Gennaro stared at the picture of his ex-wife sitting on the mantle. He hated the picture but Mia insisted that it be left right where it was. "Maybe Momma will come back," she would say, "and when she does, she'll want to see her picture right where we left it." Galen had left it mostly because it was hard to argue with a six year old who was as stubborn as they came. He had tried to do his best to forget his wife who had run out on him only three short years ago but Kelly's face never left his sight, thanks to his daughter.

His daughter needed her mother though as much as he didn't want her. She needed a woman anyway. Galen's life now was about his daughter. As much as he wanted to think about himself all decisions and thoughts came back to Mia. When his sister had called and told him about her problems, he had only one thought and yes that was Mia. Liza Gennaro's problems were pretty bad and yes, he could help her. He would help her. And she could help him. She needed a place to live and he would give it freely because Liza was his little sister.

"So when is your sister coming?" Dinah asked coming out of Mia's bedroom. Galen turned to his sister-in-law seeing a face so similar to Kelly's that it hurt at times to look at her for too long.

"Any time," he replied crossing his arms over his chest as if to warm himself. "She wants to be here when Mia wakes up. Thanks for watching Mia today Dinah. I know you're busy with school."

"Least I could do after the stunts I've pulled with you," she grinned.

"You're not a bad kid, Dinah. I'm too hard on you sometimes, that's all," Galen reassured her. "You're good to my daughter and I'm rotten to you. Not much of a payback is it?"

"It's okay. We're family," Dinah said. "Besides, I deserve your grief sometimes."

"No, not really. But it doesn't really matter. Do you want to stop by tomorrow and meet Liza? She's interested in meeting you."

"I can't. Got a date," Dinah replied picking up her sweater. "But stop by Connie's if you can. Okay? See you later Galen!" He watched her hurry down the front steps to her car, seeing Kelly in every move she made. He really had to move on, he scolded himself. If for no other reason than his daughter. As her car pulled away another took it's place in the drive. Liza climbed out and waved to him. He waved in return and went to her car, helping her with her luggage.

"Hi, I can't tell you how glad I am to be here at last!" Liza Gennaro said with a bubbly relief. She lifted a sleeping toddler from the car seat and carried him into Galen's house. "Matty slept the entire way. And I think I will sleep the night away myself. Is Mia asleep have I missed saying good night?" Galen dropped her luggage in the hall, grinning at his baby sister.

"You have, but it's okay. She'll be here in the morning. Liza...I'm so glad you're here," he told her.

"I know, me too," she answered giving him a loving smile. "Maybe now that we're together again, we can help each other get our lives straightened out." Galen nodded. Lord knew they could both use it.

Scene 7:

"Did you see that crash, Mom?"

"Yes, sweetie, I saw it," Michaela laughed, after hearing Chris ask this question for the seemingly tenth time that night.

"And I can't believe Spencer came second! That sucked."

"Chris, what did I tell you about that word?" It was all Michaela could do to keep from using it around her son -- it was a pretty accurate way to describe her feelings on it. "But it was pretty disappointing."

"I can't wait to tell Dad that I got to ride on Spencer's bike!" Chris was literally bouncing in his seat, his hair and face streaked liberally with dirt kicked up by all the motocross bikes, his clothes also a mess from all the crawling around in the dirt he'd done with Connor and Cade.

"I bet he'll be thrilled," Michaela said, knowing that she was. Although Chris had improved by leaps and bounds, he was still very shy about new places and experiences, something this race had most certainly been. But he'd adjusted to it very quickly, much to her delight, and had spent a wonderful afternoon being a boy. That thought in itself, along with the vision of her son's slightly tanned, dirty self, made Michaela's heart sing as they pulled into the driveway. "Okay, Chris, you go in and wash up and change your clothes, and then we'll go to get your brother and sister, okay?"

"Okay!" Chris yelled, running into the house after Michaela found the door unlocked. She was a bit surprised, not expecting Jamie home quite yet.

"Hon?" She called, setting her keys down on the table in the foyer.

Jamie threw back the rest of his drink and set the empty glass on his desk, looking up at Michaela's voice. So she was home at last. His conversation with Ryan had wiped him out and he felt the need to be reassured that all was well with his hard won family. Smoothing his ruffled hair down, he called back, "In here," and leaned against the fireplace that adorned the small room he used as his office. It was his sanctuary in the house and was left alone by the boys. Even Michaela stayed away from it when he was in busy mode.

The door pushed open and Michaela's eyes peeked into the room at him. He gave her a bright but brittle smile that felt as hard as he was sure it looked. "Hi. Chris is back with you?" He asked, knowing he shouldn't be in the first place. Of course he was home. He'd heard him tearing through the house hadn't he? "I'm sorry, I know he is. How was it?"

Michaela blinked at his odd line of questioning. "Yeah, Chris is with me, where else would he be, silly? And we had a great time." Michaela knew she was probably just as filthy as Chris -- at least, she felt as such.

Jamie nodded and looked her over. There was a smudge of dirt across her nose and her hair was windswept. Not unlike Michaela to let the wind muss her hair, but the dirt? "Where did you go?"

"Over to Carrollton," Michaela said non-chalantly. "To the motocross races they had today. We watched the races with Cade and his brothers."

"Cade? The neighbor?" Jamie blurted out. "You took my son to a bike race with people you barely know? You said you were going out but I had no idea there would be other people along for the ride," he added, the disapproval clear in his voice. "How well do you know Cade anyway?"

Michaela stared at him in disbelief. "Yes, Cade, the neighbor! I'm not allowed to have friends, or to allow our son to have friends? I trust Cade well enough... and anyhow, I was there!" She avoided the exact question of how well she knew him, afraid Jamie was going to try to make more of that issue than was warranted.

"Let me see if I understand this. You took our son, a boy whose own mother tortured him until a year ago making him fear pretty much any person who came near him, and you went to a very public, very crowded place with an almost complete stranger? Am I right so far?" He asked, his voice turning cold as ice.

"Let me make one thing perfectly clear. I did not take Chris anywhere he didn't want to go. He's met all three of the guys, and when they asked him if he wanted to come, he wanted to. What kind of mother do you think I am, James Mason?!" Michaela's voice was a soft, vicious hiss.

"That is exactly what I am trying to figure out," he replied, feeling the heat rise in his face. "I'm wondering if you aren't torturing him as much as Kerri ever did. What would you have done if you had lost him, God forbid. Or if someone took him? Would you think you were a good mother then?"

"Jamie!" Michaela exclaimed, almost horrified. "What do you want me to do, lock him up in a gilded cage for his entire childhood? Or maybe even into adulthood? The entire world is not out to hurt him, Jamie, and you're only hurting him by trying to shelter him like that. I wasn't going to let anything happen to him! I can't believe you don't trust me!"

"I didn't say that I didn't trust you. I don't trust the world. I don't know your friend Cade from Adam. How am I supposed to know he's okay? I happen to worry about Chris. I don't want anything else to happen to him. He's had enough, don't you think?"

"Yes, I think he's had more than enough, which is why he deserves to live a normal life, to be a normal boy! I think it's our job as his parents to give him that! And I do know Cade. Isn't that enough for you?"

He closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose to ward off the screaming headache that was forcing it's way into his head. With the threat of Kerri looming over him, he was beginning to think that no one could be trusted. When he opened his eyes, he met Michaela's steely gaze.

"I'm sorry, Michaela. But it just isn't enough right now."

Michaela stared at him in disbelief. "What the hell has gotten into you?"

"I'm sorry if you think this is coming from left field. I assure you, it is not."

"Then talk to me, Jamie! You think I'm doing unreasonable things, but look at you! You're acting like a paranoid dictator! I'm your wife, and I'm Chris's mother. I have a right to know what's going on!" Michaela felt a headache coming on as well, and only prayed Chris was still upstairs.

Jamie bit back the words that Kerri had only recently said to him. She wasn't Chris' real mother. And Chris' real mother was none too happy about being replaced. "Do you realize how close we are to Kerri?" He asked, his face going still at the mention of her name.

Michaela sighed, rolling her eyes at the mention of that woman's name. "Do you realize we could move to Moscow and she could just as easily follow us? Do you want us to live in a bomb shelter? Hire bodyguards? What's it going to take, Jamie? Chris deserves a life. And I sure as hell plan on giving it to him. I never let him out of my sight, and he was with people I trust. He's in more danger on the fucking school bus than he was with us!" Michaela was shocked at her own use of profanity, since she had carefully schooled herself out of that habit when Jesse got old enough to understand it. But she was seething -- furious didn't begin to describe how she felt, and wounded didn't do it justice either.

"You have no idea," Jamie said shaking his head sadly. Of course she didn't recognize how dangerous Kerri was turning out to be. Because it wasn't only Chris she was after now. "I'm not just thinking about Chris. I'm thinking about you too. Do you think I want you just anywhere she can get at you? I'm concerned for all of our safety!"

Michaela sighed mournfully. "Jamie... I can't live my life in fear of her. That's not living."

"I agree it's not. But can't you just be more careful where you take Chris? Just until I feel comfortable with the idea of giving him more freedom?" He sighed and turned away from his wife. He sounded as if he were the one torturing Chris after all. "I'm sorry. Take him wherever you feel comfortable. I can't keep Chris down. That would be torture like you said."

Michaela sighed, having a feeling there was much more to this than Jamie was telling her, feeling incredibly betrayed that he wouldn't tell her the whole story. "Look, I don't want this to tear us apart. But if we hold Chris back, then that's telling him something is wrong. And he doesn't need that stress. Jamie, I'd never put your son... our son... in any sort of danger. Not on purpose. But every minute of our lives, we're in danger."

"I know. I said I'm sorry. Let's just forget the whole thing okay?" He turned back to her and gave her a smile. "In fact, why don't we have your friend over to dinner soon? I'd like to get to know him and I'm sure Chris would enjoy it as well." Telling Michaela about Kerri's recent threats would do him no good right now, he decided. He would tell her later...once he had everything worked out.

Michaela nodded slowly. "Sure. That sounds fun," she said, her words slow and measured. It didn't sound like fun at all, actually. Cade's idea of dinner was eating mac and cheese while sitting in a tree, dreaming up new poems. She wasn't sure what he'd do sitting at a table with someone the likes of Jamie. She heard Chris come thundering back downstairs and sighed resignedly, still disturbed by Jamie's attitude, and now by the thought of Cade and Jamie actually meeting. She wasn't sure what would happen when that took place. But there was only one way to find out.

Scene 8:

Hallie knocked hesitantly on Stephen's front door. She hadn't been here in years but the house had changed little from the outside. It was still a neat lawn cared for by someone else with the hedges perfectly trimmed. She stood on his porch waiting for him to answer noting the changes he'd made. There was now a swing with a dark blue cushion off to the side and a table next to it. A book lay on the table, open to where its reader had set it down. It was a quaint and homey picture. Completely unlike Stephen.

Stephen opened the door and smiled easily at the sight of her. He wore a pair of loose fitting jeans and a t-shirt. She hadn't seen him this casual since...well since the last time she had been at his house. Tilting her head, she smiled back at him, eager to have this go her way. She wanted that house and if Stephen meant to give it to her, she would do nothing to stand in his way.

"Hi," she said after a moment. "I came about the house?"

"Come in," he replied stepping aside. She squeezed past him, catching the scent of his cologne as she did so. Her knees threatened to give out underneath her as the memories his scent evoked flooded her mind. He closed the door and led her towards his office in the back of the first floor. Nothing in the house had changed all that much, she realized as she settled down on the leather couch that filled one wall of his office.

"So, Luke gave in did he? And he doesn't mind that it's a gift from me?" Stephen asked showing no sign of concern even if Luke did care.

"The truth is, Stephen, I didn't tell him. You know I want that house. You've known for years. But I won't accept it as a gift from you. I'll buy it though."

"It's not for sale Hallie. I told you I would give it to you and I meant that. Don't insult me by offering to buy it," he added softly. He sat on the edge of the desk and gazed at her, his arms crossed in front of him. "What are you doing Hallie?"

"What are you talking about?" She replied finding herself confused by the situation. She had vowed never to return to his home or even be civil to him and here she was, entertaining the notion that maybe he really was sorry over the end of their affair.

"You know what I'm talking about. Why are you here? Why are you marrying Luke Conlan of all people? Why are you still trying to best Gwen? Why?"

"I don't have to answer any of your questions," she replied sulkily, turning her chin up in defiance. But hadn't she asked herself those same questions? Stephen stood and moved slowly towards her. She should get up and leave, she thought as he knelt in front of her. She should get up right now and storm out that door, but her feet felt like lead. He watched her silently waiting for her to continue. "I-I love Luke. That's why I'm marrying him," she stammered at last.

"Would you like to know what I think?" Stephen asked, his hand circling her own. Hallie almost jumped at the contact. How could it be that after all this time, he could still make her feel so intense with excitement? "I think you are marrying him out of spite. Admit it, you're still angry with me over Maggie. I'm sorry, Hallie. I've said it a million times but I'll say it everyday for the rest of my life if you'll just forgive me."

His fingers played with the engagement ring on her hand, twisting and tugging at it until it slipped off her finger. She should tell him to stop, she thought vaguely, as he pulled her closer to him until she was kneeling with him on the floor. Staring into his eyes, she realized without a doubt that she wouldn't stop him. Whatever his intentions were at this moment in time, she wouldn't and couldn't walk away. There was a brief moment when they only gazed into each others eyes before Hallie found herself falling into his embrace, mad desire running through her body. Her arms encircled Stephen's neck as she sought his lips in a rush of passion that she remembered only too well.

If she had ever thought of fighting her desire before, it disappeared under the crush of his body as he lowered her to the floor and rained soft, gentle kisses across her face and neck. Turning her head to let him kiss the ivory of her neck, she caught sight of the ring that Luke had given her as a promise of the marriage. No, not now. She would think about Luke later. Right now, there was only Stephen.