LORNA'S HOUSE/DAY

FELICIA and JENNA have returned from their outing with GABRIELLE. The three of them sit on the floor playing with Gabrielle's toys. LORNA is seated at her work desk, working on her laptop and ignoring everything around her.

FELICIA
Look at how smart you are, Gabbie! You put every single one of those puzzle pieces back without our help!

GABRIELLE
(grinning and tapping the puzzle)
I smart girl!

JENNA
(laughing)
Yes, you are. You're the smartest girl I've ever seen.

GABRIELLE
I show Mommy how smart I am!

She picks up the puzzle and runs over to Lorna before Felicia or Jenna can grab her.

FELICIA
Gabbie, honey, don't bother Mommy. She's trying to work.

Lorna sets aside her laptop as Gabrielle pushes the puzzle into her lap. She lifts Gabrielle up to look at the puzzle.

LORNA
No, it's okay. I haven't been spending much time with her…I don't want her to think that I don't want to play with her.

FELICIA
You've had a lot on your mind.

LORNA
That doesn't excuse me from being a parent.

GABRIELLE
(resting her head on Lorna's chest)
Mommy, are you sad?

LORNA
(stroking her daughter's hair)
I'm a little sad, baby…but I'm always happy when you're with me. Is this the puzzle you did?

GABRIELLE
(proudly)
Yep! All by myself!

As Gabrielle shows the puzzle to Lorna, the front door opens and HAYLEY walks in, followed by SERGEI. She glances around, as if to discover what the mood is in the house.

FELICIA
Hi, you two.

HAYLEY
(smiling at her)
Hi…just came home to see how things are going.

JENNA
(standing up)
Oh, just peachy. Did you get registered?

Hayley doesn't seem to be able to discern whether or not Jenna is really interested.

HAYLEY
Yeah…all set. Classes start on Wednesday.

JENNA
Great.

FELICIA
Get everything you wanted?

HAYLEY
More or less. We changed a few classes around so that Tito and KC and I could be in the same section, but I still got a decent schedule. I hope you don't think I'm rude or anything, but I'm going to go change my clothes. I'm going over to some friends' apartment tonight…we met them in the Lucky Lady and thought we'd go hang out.

FELICIA
Actually, I'd like to talk to you before you go anywhere. You and Jenna.

Jenna and Hayley exchange a dubious glance.

FELICIA(cont'd)
And don't get those looks on your faces…come on, let's go into the kitchen.

She stands up, flashing a quick glance at Lorna before moving into the kitchen. Hayley and Jenna follow her, leaving Sergei alone with Lorna and Gabrielle. Gabrielle struggles to get out of Lorna's lap when she sees Sergei, running over to him.

GABRIELLE
Sergey!

He swings her up into his arms, and she giggles.

LORNA
(wistfully)
She loves you so much, Sergei.

SERGEI
I love her, too. She is fun little girl.

LORNA
(standing up and walking over to them)
Can we talk for a minute, Sergei?

SERGEI
If that is what you want to do, Lorna.

She takes Gabrielle from him, and sets her on the floor next to the toys.

LORNA
(To Gabrielle)
Play with your toys for a few minutes, and then Mommy will play with you, okay?

Gabrielle nods, and picks up a toy car.

LORNA(cont'd)
I can't go on like this, Sergei. Everything…everything's in turmoil and I don't know how to fix it.

SERGEI
(holding up a hand to her)
I will help fix it. I will not kiss you again. That was wrong for me to do and I am sorry.

LORNA
Oh, Sergei, you weren't the only one who wanted those kisses. I did, too. If I hadn't wanted you to kiss me, I never would have let you.

SERGEI
So…so we are okay?

LORNA
That's the problem. I don't know. I do like you, Sergei…I do have feelings for you…but I have feelings for Matt, too-

SERGEI
And you have known Matt long time…you should be with him.

LORNA
No…that's not what I'm saying. But I don't want to lead you on. I don't want you to continue thinking we have a future together when…when I don't know what my future is.

SERGEI
You are confused.

LORNA
Right…I'm confused…I'm lost…I'm uncertain…I'm everything I hate being. And the last thing I want to do is have you be the same thing.

SERGEI
I am not confused. I know how I feel. I love you.

Lorna stares at him.

SERGEI (cont'd)
(simply)
I am not meaning to upset you. But I will tell you my feelings and you will never have to speak to me again if you don't want to. I love you, and I love Gabrielle. And if I had my wish, we would be a family. And now, you can make your decision. If you love Matt, I will accept it, and I will not bother you again. But if you love me, I will be happy. I can not lie about that.

He leans forward and kisses her gently on the cheek.

SERGEI (cont'd)
I will leave. And I will not come back until you decide, no matter how long it takes. We can stay away from each other as long as you want.

Picking up his coat, he leaves with a last glance at her. She watches him leave silently.

CUT TO:

LORNA'S KITCHEN/SAME DAY

HAYLEY has sat at the table, her head resting on her arms as she looks up at FELICIA. JENNA stands against the refrigerator, watching them both.

FELICIA
I thought we could get some things out in the open.

HAYLEY
We really don't have to do this tonight…

FELICIA
(forcefully)
Yes, we do. It's already gone on too long. I want some sort of resolution.

JENNA
It was my fault, Mom…I should be the one apologizing to Hayley. Hayley, I'm sorry. I've been having a rough time lately, and I took it out on you. I didn't mean to make you feel unwelcome.

HAYLEY
And I'm sorry I said…what I said to you. It was really uncalled for, and I should never have even thought it, much less said it.

JENNA
Whether we would have chosen it or not, we ARE sisters, and I've realized that. I know that Lucas would have loved you if you'd been with us.

HAYLEY
(touched)
Thanks…that means a lot to me. I don't want you to think that I've come in here to just take over your family…that's not what I'm trying to do, I swear. I just…well, with everything that's happened, it's nice to have the support…

JENNA
You should have that support. And I really think you and I should get to know each other better…let's face it, most of our discussions have been pretty superficial conversations. We don't know much about each other.

HAYLEY
That's true…

JENNA
How about Saturday? You and I can go shopping, and do lunch…go see a movie? Just so we can have time to get to know each other.

HAYLEY
(relieved)
That sounds great. I really do want to get to know you, Jenna.

FELICIA
And I think the two of you will find that you have more in common than you think…lunch is on me Saturday.

HAYLEY
(smiling)
You don't have to do that, Felicia.

FELICIA
I want to treat two of my girls. Because even if you don't know it, Hayley, you've become one of my girls just as much as Lorna and Jenna. I care what happens to you, and the last thing I want is to see any kind of strife between the two of you.

She doesn't notice the look that's come across Jenna's face as Felicia calls Hayley her 'girl'.

HAYLEY
And the last thing I want is to disappoint ANY of you…you've helped me more…more than you know with the baby, and the adoption…(her voice breaks)…and if it hadn't been for you, I don't know where I'd be right now.

Felicia hugs her.

FELICIA
None of that matters. What matters is that you're right where Lucas would want you to be.

JENNA
And you'll be able to get an education, which he'd have wanted.

Felicia gives her a curious glance.

JENNA (cont'd)
He wanted that for all of us, I think. He'd be glad to see you getting it.

FELICIA
And with that, you're headed out, Hayley?

HAYLEY
(nodding)
Yeah…just to hang out with some kids we met at the Lucky Lady. Nothing big…

FELICIA
(smiling)
Well, I'm glad you're getting out and having some fun. You deserve to do that.

HAYLEY
Thanks. (She hugs Felicia impulsively, then leaves the room)

Felicia glances at Jenna.

FELICIA
You sure you're okay with this?

JENNA
(nodding)
Fine…really. But I think I'm going to head back to your place, if you don't care. I've got a headache…and it's just been a really bad day.

FELICIA
Go on home if you're feeling bad, honey. I'll ride back with Sergei.

Jenna nods, then leaves. Felicia watches her go.

CUT TO:

CORY MANSION/SAME DAY

CARL is rifling through the same papers that RACHEL was going through earlier. Picking up the phone, he begins to dial.

CARL
Yes, William Charles, if you please. Tell him it's Carl Hutchins.

He waits for a moment.

CARL (cont'd)
William. Carl Hutchins….yes, everything's doing quite well on the publishing front, which is why I've called you. I've been told that you've sold your share in Cory?…no, I'm not angry, I'm just curious as to why…someone made you an offer you couldn't refuse…all right, I can understand that…any chance you'd let me know who they are?…yes, I understand…thank you anyway, William, and good luck to you in your other endeavors.

He hangs up the phone, eyeing the papers. RACHEL walks into the room, ELIZABETH and CORY toddling behind her, both in pajamas

ELIZABETH
(running to Carl)
Da!

CARL
(scooping her up)
Hello there, my little grub. Have you had a nice bath?

ELIZABETH
(proudly)
I got Cory all wet!

RACHEL
As well as me, the floor, the mirror…all of it. She's managed to turn the bathroom into a bit of a lake.

CARL
She was just enjoying herself, weren't you, Beth?

ELIZABETH
Read us a story, Da?

CARL
Da will come read you a story in just a few minutes, all right? Why don't you and Cory go upstairs and have Maura get you tucked in so that you're all ready for Da, okay?

CORY
Okay…come on, Beth!

The twins make their way towards the stairs, racing each other up.

RACHEL
(calling to them)
Slow down, you two! (turning back to Carl) Can you believe they're almost three years old?

CARL
(shaking his head)
Hardly…it seems like just yesterday we were holding them in our arms.

RACHEL
We've got to plan a party for them.

CARL
We'll do that…in the meantime, I just spoke with William Charles.

RACHEL
(surprised)
You did?

CARL
(nodding)
I did. And it seems that someone made him an offer he couldn't pass up-

RACHEL
Did he tell you who made this offer to him?

CARL
He wouldn't say. And since we've been unable to discover who is behind this, I'd say we're a bit stuck.

RACHEL
Carl…do you think we need to be bracing ourselves for a takeover attempt?

CARL
I'd rather not think that…but it could very well be possible, Rachel. At this point, we do still have the main controlling interest in Cory. So we're still safe. But we'll need to be careful…very careful.

RACHEL
I'll make sure we're doing just that. In the meantime, let's go read that story to Cory and Beth.

They make their way, arm-in-arm, up the stairs to the twins.

CUT TO:

JAKE AND VICKY'S HOUSE/SAME DAY

A feast has been set up on the dining room table, mostly Chinese take-out boxes. MARLEY is setting paper plates next to the food, as TYRONE pulls out plastic silverware and puts it next to the plates. JAKE is on the couch, holding baby BRIDGET, while VICKY feeds JOURNEY in the rocking chair.

MARLEY
Should I go call the boys? We're about ready here.

VICKY
(nodding)
Sure…they're out there with the Geller kids somewhere…if you don't see them out front, check around back. Just follow the yelling. They like to torment the girls in the neighborhood by climbing into their treehouse and pulling up the ladder.

TYRONE
(laughing)
It must be a guy thing. My friends and I used to torment the girls in the neighborhood by running into the apartment of whoever's parents were at work, and locking the door so that they couldn't come in.

MARLEY
(teasingly)
And to think you grew into the sensitive guy I love…

She and Tyrone go to the door, opening it. CASS and LILA stand there, CHARLIE behind them.

MARLEY
Lila! Cass! Glad you came!

LILA
Thank you, Marley…we weren't quite sure this was such a good idea…

JAKE
(standing up)
It's a great idea! Hope you like Chinese. Moo shu pork, fried wontons, sweet and sour chicken…we've got a spread.

CHARLIE
Are Steven and Kirkland here?

MARLEY
Tyrone and I were just going out to find them. Want to help us look for them?

Charlie nods, and follows Marley and Tyrone out. Cass and Lila walk into the house, standing by the sofa, uncertainly. Jake stands up.

JAKE
Where's Jasmine tonight?

LILA
Matt picked her up a few minutes ago. It seems that he and Lorna had a bit of an argument, and he asked if he could spend some time with her…it always makes him feel a bit better to spend time with his daughter.

JAKE
(glancing down at Bridget)
I can already understand where he's coming from.

VICKY
Donna will be here in a few minutes. She had to run a quick errand. By the way, have you heard anything more on Reginald?

CASS
I managed to get a few details from Dana. He's already pleaded guilty to kidnapping…but they don't have enough evidence to link him to Cameron and Toni's deaths…yet. The police are working to get that evidence.

VICKY
Even with Carl's and Amanda's testimony?

CASS
Even then. If they can't prove that, he'll most likely take some sort of plea-bargain. Two years maximum. With time off for good behavior, he'll be out in a year, maybe eight months.

VICKY
Oh, no…I don't understand it…he's killed two people and everyone knows it! He may be my grandfather, but even I can't defend him this time!

LILA
You've defended him before?

VICKY
He took me under his wing when I first came to Bay City. It wasn't as if I knew what kind of man he was at that point…but I should have known.

LILA
How could you know? You were a teenager, weren't you?

VICKY
I might have been a teenager, but I knew when something wasn't quite kosher…but I let him pull me into his schemes anyway.

LILA
(with a grin)
So you WEREN'T exactly the puritan you've made yourself out to be today…

VICKY
(laughing)
Lila Winthrop, I could easily take you on any day.

LILA
Well, looks like we've both reached for the better now. And you know, I'm dying to get my hands on one of those babies…can I steal one?

JAKE
Here…take little Bridget. Journey's still eating.

VICKY
(buttoning her blouse, then taking the blanket from over top of her shoulder)
She's done eating, she just needs to be burped.

Jake hands Bridget to Lila.

VICKY (cont'd)
There's your aunt Lila, Bridget…

JAKE
(with a mischevious grin)
Your GREAT-aunt Lila, Bridget.

LILA
Jake McKinnon, if you dare tell this child I am her great-aunt, I will hurt you in your sleep…

CASS
We'll just make sure they know 'great' means 'wonderful'.

He grins at Lila, who smirks back at him. As Lila sits down with the baby, the front door opens and a madhouse ensues. The boys rush in, calling hellos to everyone, Marley and Tyrone follow, along with Charlie,Donna and Nick. Hellos are all exchanged, as the boys grab for plates. The sound of laughter hangs in the air as the family begins to eat.

END EPISODE FOURTEEN