Sorry guys, but I'm time warping things a little. I wanted to speed up, I couldn't take anymore the scenes in the same places. It's about a day and a half later. Brenda and Tom are in London with Julia. Sonny is on his way there with Jason in tow. They convinced Sara to stay behind (she was very reluctant), but don't expect her to sit and do nothing for long. On to the story...

Tom opens the door to his and Julia's flat in London.
T: Steps inside and calls out, "Julia, we're home!" Brenda walks in behind him.
J: She suddenly appears in the doorway and envelops Brenda into a hug. "Bren, Oh my God. I've been so worried about you. How are you?"
B: Hugs her back instinctively, then pulls back. "I'm fine, Jules, considering the circumstances," she says as she glares at Tom.
J: "I know things have been rough on you, but you've survived."
B: "Yeah, but what has it all been worth? I can't be with my husband, and who knows where my daughter is? She'll probably never know who I am." She turns away from them. Tom has gone to Julia and wrapped an arm around her.
T: Whispering in to Julia. "Leave her alone for now. When she's like this it's best to not talk to her, she might start throwing things at you" Gives her a knowingly glance.
J: Raises an eyebrow. "Still stubborn as ever?"
T: "If she was stubborn before I met her, she probably about ten times worse now."
B: Turns around. "You two know I'm still in the same room with you, stop talking like I'm not here."
J: "Sorry, Bren. You want to put your things in your room?"
B: Picks up her bags. "Yeah, I think that would be a good idea. Then we need to talk business."
J: "Sure thing."
Brenda follow Julia to the guest room.
Once they are out of sight, Tom pulls out his cell phone and dials a number.
T: "She's in London now."
P: "Good, does she have it?"
T: "Yes."
P: "You've done good. We'll meet tomorrow as planned."
T: "We'll be there."
They hang up their phones. Tom smiled. The pieces were falling into place now. The threat would be removed soon and everything would be back to normal, or as normal as things could be since he stole the last nineteen years of his sister in law's life.

***

The next morning Brenda got up early, as usual, and walked into the kitchen to pour a cup of coffee. She didn't sleep much anymore. Her dreams were haunted by the loving memories of her husband, and the last few moments she had with her baby daughter before she said good-bye forever. Her thoughts were drifting around in a sea of what ifs, could have beens, and should have beens, if her life had gone differently. If hadn't of listened to Tom for so many years, and let Sonny help her. If she could have kept her daughter. If she hadn't been born as Harlan Barret's daughter. If her mother had lived long enough to be a mother to her. If her father hadn't died and left her and Julia to clean up the mess. If only. She had to get out of the past and move to the future. Her only hope now was that she would be out soon. Tom had assured them last night that the he'd set the plan in action. That damn painting. Who would have ever thought it would cause so much trouble? Her thoughts were interupted when Julia and Tom came into the kitchen hand in hand.
T: "Good morning, hon."
B: Looked up and glared at Tom. "I'm warning you Tom."
J: "Bren, he's just trying to be nice."
B: "Then tell him to stop calling me hon and start calling me Brenda."
T: "Don't worry about it Jules. She doesn't like me, so don't push it."
J: "I just don't understand, after you have kept her from so much trouble and she hates you. I just don't understand."
B: "He kept me out of trouble!? He started my trouble! He kidnapped me from my home!! I didn't have a choice if I wanted his help or not, he just took me!"
J: Turns to Tom. "You just took her? I asked you to convince her to leave, not kidnap her. No Wonder she hates you."
T: "Julia I was just trying to help."
J: "But you just took her."
B: "Know what, this isn't the issue right now. We need to go over what's going to go down at that meeting again today."
T: "Julia, she's right."
J: "Fine, but I'm not through with you."
Tom sits down at the kitchen table across from Brenda and mouths the words "thank you" as Julia turns her back to pour herself a cup of coffee.
There's a loud knock on the door. All three of them look at each other.
B: "Jules, you expecting someone this early?"
J: "No."
The knock comes again, this time louder. And a voice accompanies it.
V: "Julia!? Tom!? I need to speak to you right now.
All three of their eyes go wide. This was not happening now. It couldn't be. Not when they were so close to ending things.