“Much better,” Kevin settled onto the couch with Ria wrapped up snugly in his arms. They were wrapped in a blanket with one another, an empty plate on the table in front of them covered in strawberry syrup after they’d more than had their fill of pancakes and each other. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

“As a matter of fact,” Ria sighed snuggling in closer to him, “I would. This was a very good idea.”

“I’m glad that I thought of it,” Kevin teased feeling her nudge him in the ribs before she glared up at him.

“You thought of it?” she repeated with a small frown.

“Okay, so maybe it was your idea, but hey in a few minutes I might’ve come to thinking about it,” he offered up leaning down to steal a quick kiss from her swelled lips.

“Fair enough,” she nodded resting in over his chest, “although I do have to say I’m kind of glad that we were able to go through this given that it made making up a whole hell of a lot better.”

“That it did,” he paused thinking about the situation that had landed him in trouble in the first place, “although I have to admit I’m not exactly thrilled about what’s going on with Angie.”

Ria’s dark eyes met his once again and he frowned.

“Sorry, I know that now probably isn’t the time to bring it up,” he paused realizing that he may have put his foot in his mouth again.

“No,” she shook her head finally, “it’s okay to be worried about your best friend. I mean if I was worried about Seth, you wouldn’t be telling me to shut up, right?”

“That’s a little bit different given that he’s my cousin,” Kevin couldn’t help but state the obvious.

“Even so I know that you’re still worried and it’s not going to help to hold it in, so go ahead. Talk,” she suggested watching him hesitate before finally nodding.

“I guess what bothers me about this is just that I’m not sure how to take this situation she’s gotten herself into,” Kevin sighed heavily, “I mean first she meets Brant on the island, then they have this crazy affair and now, well now I just don’t know if she’s being smart about diving into things with him so fast.”

“Well, I suppose she thinks she knows what she’s doing right,” Ria couldn’t help but add, “He is the father of the twins, yes?”

“Surprisingly so,” Kevin added with a small sigh, “but I mean they know absolutely nothing about one another.”

“They have to know a little something or else they wouldn’t be having two children,” Ria stated the obvious catching a small glare from him, “Okay I’m just saying. I mean I know that we don’t like to think that things happen for a reason, but maybe there is a reason why those two wound up with one another. I mean maybe it’s something that was supposed to happen for both of them.”

“Even so, I’m not sure about Brant,” Kevin admitted with an ironic laugh, “Strangely enough I really believe he cares about Angie. He doesn’t know much of anything about her, yet when he told me he loved her, I found myself believing that, which proves I’m obviously slipping here.”

“Or maybe you’re seeing things that you wouldn’t have picked up on before you were in love yourself,” she offered up in suggestion, “I mean Brant and I have never really been close and I don’t know a whole lot about him, but I have seen that he’s really loyal to his family. He’s an incredible brother and I can see he values those in his life…”

“Yeah, but is Angie going to be one of those he values,” Kevin thought aloud, “and this whole wife thing…”

“Brant was married to Avery,” Ria pointed out as realization dawned in Kevin’s eyes.

“That’s right. I remember talking to Blake about that and…” Kevin’s dark eyes widened again, “Oh my God. I don’t believe this.”

“What?” Ria couldn’t help but ask seeing the surprise on his face.

“What is it with this town? I mean is it something in the water?” he couldn’t help but get out with a confused expression. “I mean let me get this all clear. Avery was married to Russell Denton, yet she thought he died…”

“Right,” Ria nodded.

“And then she married Brant, but she wasn’t really with Brant until she thought Russ was really gone, but Russ wasn’t gone at all because he was on the island with Angela and…” Kevin deduced aloud.

“Now Brant is with Angela, who was also with Russ on the island,” Ria’s eyes widened in surprise drawing the same conclusion that Kevin was.

Kevin nodded, “Russ was thinking he was with Avery then when he found Angela. He just couldn’t tell the difference and as much as I hate to admit it, given a few of the close encounters I have had, I wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference either and I didn’t have amnesia.”

“Well given the extreme circumstances I’m sure it was possible for Russ to believe she was Avery. He’s been in love with her for a long time from what I heard,” Ria added thinking about all of the gossip, “and with Brant and Avery, I don’t think she ever loved him.”

“I would believe that. When I saw the way she looked at Russ, I’m sure that he means a lot to her. Their daughter means a lot to them and with Brant,” Kevin paused for a long moment, “Well I have to wonder if Brant sees Angie as his consolation prize. I mean he lost Avery, so why not hook up with her instead?”

“I don’t think that’s the case. I mean sure it would be easy to draw that conclusion from what we’ve talked about, but there’s something about Brant…something that makes me wonder if maybe this isn’t about Avery at all,” Ria decided tipping her head up to look at Kevin. “I mean okay if the guy was trying to replace Avery, well don’t you think that he might’ve backed down when you beat him up? Most guys aren’t going to take a beating like the one you told me you gave him.”

“True,” Kevin nodded, “and there was something about the way he talked about Angie. I can’t explain it but…”

“But maybe this is something that they will need to work out,” Ria thought at long last shifting in his lap to straddle him. She touched his cheek lightly, “I’m sure they will you know. Sooner or later they will talk about the babies and they’ll figure it all out.”

“You’re right,” Kevin nodded his dark eyes fixed on Ria’s once again, “Just like we’re working it out, right?”

“Oh honey, we’re more than working it out,” Ria promised leaning in to kiss him in the hopes of offering Kevin something else to ponder for a while. Feeling his arms around her, she realized that the thought had been successful because after a few more minutes of kissing like this, she was sure Brant and Angela’s dysfunctional relationship would be the furthest from his mind--at least for a little while.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Brant pulled Angela into his chest enjoying the quiet that enveloped them after they’d finished making love to one another. While the office hadn’t provided them with perhaps the most comfortable of surroundings, it had proven to be the setting for a memorable time that neither one would be able to forget. Now however as he lay on the sofa with her in his arms, he realized that this was perhaps a tad bit more comfortable than the desk had been for the both of them.

“So,” Angela whispered the warmth of her breath striking in over his chest as he held her, “what now?”

“Well, I figured I’d give you a moment to revel in the afterglow a bit before we started getting serious,” Brant spoke up in a teasing tone knowing that there would be no joking matter at hand between the both of them now that the floor was open for a conversation between them.

She tipped her head up, her dark eyes filled with a worry and nervousness before she lay her head down on his chest again. She closed her eyes feeling his arm squeeze her closer to him and she knew that it would be too good to last. Once they started talking, she was certain that they would wind up doing or saying something to upset the other one and that was the last thing she was looking forward to especially after the magic they’d just shared with one another.

“So Angela,” Brant ran the tips of his fingers over her spine in a leisurely fashion, “have I ever told you that you are by far the most beautiful woman I have ever met?”

“I’m sure you say that to all the girls,” she shook her head fighting to suppress the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. Finally she gave into it and met his eyes again with an amusement behind them.

“No, not all of them. Just to the special ones,” he winked at her catching the way her nose seemed to wrinkle up at the comment.

“So there’s a list of them, huh?” she shook her head at him making a small sound. “I knew that there would be trouble involved with my getting to bond with you like this.”

“Oh I wouldn’t call it trouble,” Brant dropped his hand down over the curve of her waist, massaging her warm skin gently, “Of course I‘m pretty sure we did break only a few dozen laws there in a few states a little while ago with what we were doing.”

“And you were loving every second of it, weren’t you?” she patted at his chest in a playful fashion.

“Do you even have to ask?” Brant teased further curling his arm around her. “Though we’re pretty lucky that this place is empty otherwise we would’ve drawn a lot of unnecessary attention to ourselves with the way you were being oh so vocal about things.”

“And I’m sure that would’ve thrilled you too,” she added feeling a warmth flood over her cheeks, no doubt giving him the reaction that he was hoping for from her.

“Only because I would have the privilege of knowing that I was the lucky one to have you in my arms, which was something that no one else could boast about right now,” he revealed with a sexy smirk, his hold on her a bit more possessive than it had been seconds earlier. Carefully, he shifted her in his arms so that they lay with one another face to face on the sofa, “In fact, I’d have to say that right now I happen to feel like the luckiest guy in the world.”

“That’s because you just got laid. Most men feel that way after an orgasm,” she shook her head at him, a tiny bubble of laughter sweeping over her.

“Perhaps, but there hasn’t been an experience like you in my life ever,” he revealed touching the side of her face gently, “and the truth to the matter is that I don’t want there to be any other one like this ever again unless it’s with you.”

“Brant,” she paused feeling her stomach tied in knots, “You hardly know me.”

“I know that you love my cooking,” he pointed out with a knowing expression, “That you used to be married to Kellen’s brother, that Kevin is not only your ex-boyfriend, but your best friend, that you have this way about you that seems to light up a room when you’re in it and that you have the sexiest look on your face right before you’re about to lose yourself to the moment especially when I…”

Angela leaned forward to silence him with a kiss before he could finish his sentence. As their lips parted she shook her head at him and let out a small laugh, “Just stop before you start. I get the point.”

“No, I don’t think you do,” he eased his fingers through her soft, brown hair opening up a more intimate connection between them. He felt her look away, refusing to allow him inside even though the moment had began between them.

“Brant, I don’t think that now…” she tried to get up off of the couch, to slide out of his arms before they said something that turned this around for the both of them.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he shook his head pulling her back down beside him, “You promised me that you would hear me out and I’m taking you up on that now Angela.”

“Brant, I don’t want to do something that we’re both going to regret later,” she sighed heavily anxiety sweeping over her. “I mean yes we have a lot of fun together, but…”

“But what?” he searched her eyes, “You can’t tell me that you aren’t even the least bit curious about what it is we have between us? That you don’t find yourself wondering what it would be like for us to actually have something beyond sex.”

“Sex is pretty good right now,” she blurted out in a half-hearted attempt at humor before seeing how suddenly serious his eyes were. “Brant, I’m not going to lie to you. The idea of having this conversation scares the hell out of me.”

“And the idea of letting you slip away again scares the hell out of me,” Brant revealed in an altogether different tone than the one he was using when they were playing around with one another. Now it wasn’t about the physical thrills that they were bringing to one another, but rather it was about the possibility of what came next between them.

“Brant, you don’t know much about me,” she watched him open his mouth to object, “Other than the obvious given what we’ve been doing with one another.”

“I know that you’re pregnant with my children,” Brant kept his hand at the side of her face savoring the warmth of her skin beneath his touch, “I know that for a long time I wanted to find clarity and peace of mind in my life and that I feel it when we’re together.”

“What you’re feeling is a sex-induced high that…” she began to try to lighten things again only to feel his fingers over her lips.

“Baby this has nothing to do with sex. I mean yeah it’s fantastic--beyond fantastic actually, but what I’m talking about is something that’s been nothing more than a dream for me up until now,” his words trailed off as his hand dropped down to her abdomen. His fingers gently pressed over her body holding her in an altogether different fashion than he’d been when they were playing around with passion. “For a long time I’ve wanted a family--I’ve wanted the whole package and something tells me that you’re it.”

“You keep saying that, but…” she stopped herself her breath catching in her throat.

“Are you telling me that you haven’t thought about us together? About what it would be like if we actually had a relationship going here? Do you honestly expect me to believe that the thought hasn’t crossed your mind about what happens with us once our children are born?” he challenged her.

She lay in silence for a long period of time before finally sighing, “Brant I’ve thought about it and I won’t deny that, but I never actually anticipated us being together again. I was convinced that you and I would never cross paths again.”

“Well then it’s a good thing that you didn’t put money on that prediction there because it wouldn’t have paid off,” he urged her to meet his gaze once again, “for either one of us.”

“So what?” she couldn’t help but ask. “What do you think we should do? Just kind of hop into this whole traditional relationship thing and pretend that we’re not as screwed up as we are with each other?”

“Oh we’re screwed up with one another,” he couldn’t help but laugh, “but I think it’s in a good way. I mean if you think about how good we are when we’re going at it, well imagine how good we could be together on other things.”

“I don’t know,” she paused giving him a sideways glance, “I can be pretty damned stubborn when I want to be.”

“So can I,” he confessed leaning forward to kiss her again, “which means we’re going to be in for one hell of an adventure with those two little ones.”

“I can’t even begin to imagine what hell they are going to put me through,” she admitted with a small laugh thinking about her earlier worries.

“Put us through, but hey look on the bright side, we have each other to kind of even it out. I’m pretty sure that between the both of us, we’ve probably pulled just about everything, right?” he saw agreement behind her dark eyes and he let out a laugh. “See, we’re already more aware of each other than you want to admit.”

“Oh I’ll admit to it, but it’s just a bit overwhelming considering that we’re virtually strangers, yet…” she trailed off curling her arm around his torso.

“This is something new and different for the both of us and I’ll be the first to admit we have a lot to talk about,” he confessed with a small smile, “but I’m pretty sure if we both work at giving it a try, we might be able to find something that is mutually beneficial for the both of us.”

“Maybe you’re right,” she nodded finally, “I mean hey stranger things have happened.”

“Anyone who knows about us would agree to that in a heartbeat. Hell I would, but you know maybe it’s time we take strange and give it a new twist,” he leaned forward to kiss her in a soft, subtle sweep before speaking up in a low whisper, “say tonight…over dinner.”

“Dinner?” she repeated with curious eyes.

“Well yeah, I mean you have to eat, right? You can’t tell me that you aren’t the slightest bit hungry after everything we’ve been working with here,” he issued her the first hints of a sly grin. “I know I could use something good tonight to maybe help set the mood.”

“You mean like a date?” she wanted to clarify.

“Yeah like a date,” he nodded his grin widening, “So what do think say Angela? How would you like to go out on a date with me tonight? What do you say?”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“I can’t believe the nerve of him,” Hart shook his head frowning at the thought of what his father had been up to lately. As if returning town wasn’t bad enough, Walt had to add insult to injury by continuing to make Hart’s life a living hell. Now that he paced around the living room he couldn’t help but think about what it was like to see Walt with Beth, no doubt plotting something to ruin Hart’s life, “That man has nothing better to do than cause a mess of everything for me.”

“I really don’t think he was trying to hurt you last night,” Jenna offered up seeing tension crease in over Hart’s brow, “Hart, why don’t you try to relax and ignore what it is you have going on inside of your head right about now?”

“Walt would like nothing more but for me to ignore it, but I won’t. I know he’s ready to pull something and…” he started to rant to her watching the way her worried eyes followed his movement.

“Honey, you’re going to make yourself sick worrying about this,” she patted the couch cushion beside her, “Just sit down and we’ll try to talk about something else--like maybe those plans we were just starting to get into with the whole nursery discussion we’d had earlier.”

“Ah yes,” Hart nodded in response moving in to take a seat beside her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders before offering up a small squeeze and a smile, “the nursery plans.”

“We don’t seem to get very far on them and we’ve got some things to work on before the baby arrives,” Jenna explained shaking her head and letting out a laugh, “I know it seems like we have all the time in the world, but we really don’t.”

“No, we don’t do we,” Hart mused thinking about how sooner than they realized they would have an infant with them changing everything as they knew it. “Of course I’m sure we’ll do just fine.”

“I wasn’t doubting that, but still…” she started seeing a faraway expression on his face. “Hart, are you still with me or are you back dwelling on Walt?”

“I’m sorry,” he shook the thought straining to remain focused, “It’s just when I saw him with Beth last night, I started to think that…”

The doorbell rang before he could finish his thought.

“Keep that for one more second,” Jenna held up her finger indicating he should pause before she glanced over at him again, “On second thought let’s focus on something new once I answer the door.”

“Are we expecting anyone?” Hart asked watching her move across the room.

“Sam and Wayne,” Jenna reminded him with a frown, “They called earlier and you said they could come over.”

“Oh right,” Hart gasped realizing that he’d forgotten all about his daughter calling to ask if she could stop on by now that she was home. In his fretting about Walt it had completely slipped his mind.

“I’ll answer it. You just collect yourself,” Jenna waved again before answering the door to see her brother and Sam there.

“Hey Jenna,” Sam waved excitedly before moving in to embrace Jenna.

“Hey Sam,” Jenna hugged her in response and looked over to her brother. “Come here you.”

“Hey sis,” Wayne reached out to embrace Jenna as well before stepping back, “You’re starting to look fat.”

“I am not,” Jenna swatted at his arm and glared at him, “Although you look like you’re getting a bit wider in the mid-section.”

“It’s been all the great food I’ve had lately,” Wayne didn’t even bother to deny it as he spotted Hart in the room, “Hey Hart.”

“Wayne,” Hart nodded before standing up to greet Sam with a hug, “Hey honey, how are you?”

“I’m great. Never been better actually,” she confessed with a bright smile before tipping her head up to see Hart’s eyes, “Though I did miss you dad.”

“I missed you too sweetheart,” he gave her another hug before motioning to the couch, “Sit down. Jenna and I were just getting into color schemes for our impending nursery and we would love the input.”

“That sounds like fun,” Sam mouthed with a bright grin, “though before we get into that there’s something that I would love to talk to you about.”

“Sam,” Wayne spoke her name in a warning tone before catching her frown.

“Oh Wayne. It’s totally cool. I’m sure my dad won’t care what I have to say,” Sam turned to face Hart again before Wayne cleared his throat uneasily.

“Sam we just got back. I don’t really think that now is the time to…” Wayne started a bit uneasy as Jenna glanced over at him.

“What kind of trouble are you two in with one another?” Jenna asked with a worried expression almost afraid to know the answer.

“We’re not in any trouble,” Wayne replied catching Jenna’s look of disbelief, “Honestly, we’re not.”

“Far from it,” Sam added brightly before turning to Hart again, “You see we had the time of our lives out in London--so much so that I started thinking about what it would be like to spend more time there.”

“As in you are already ready to take another trip out there,” Hart couldn’t help but laugh shaking his head at her, “You so take after me. I did some overseas studies there and an internship and it was great. I could see why someone would love to vacation out there.”

“I’m not talking about vacationing exactly,” Sam cleared her throat before speaking up again, “You see while we were out there, I really took to everything around me. It was so beautiful and different and, well I started thinking about life--about the way things have been up until now and I realized that there is still so much out there that I haven’t done yet.”

“You’ll have plenty of time for that,” Hart patted her shoulder gently, “You’re still very young.”

“Yes, but not too young to know what I want,” Sam shifted her eyes between Hart and Wayne. Finally she settled in on her father again, “While we were out there we took a tour of this school and it was beyond beautiful. They have this program that only the best of the best get into, but when I started talking to the woman in admissions, she said it sounds like I’m more than qualified for the program and…”

“Well what kind of program is it?” Hart questioned wearily seeing something behind her eyes, “Sam? Is it like a summer program or something?”

“More like a four year program, but it has perks,” she explained excitedly unable to get the words out fast enough, “Granted I have a bit of a late start since I took most of this past semester off, but with my credits I already have, I think I’ll be able to start on a solid foundation. They are only accepting so many people and with a good letter of recommendation, well…”

“Well what? You’re thinking about going to London?” Hart’s eyes widened in astonishment at the suggestion.

Sam nodded, “Well yeah. I mean it’s amazing and with Wayne doing his graduate work out there…”

“This was your idea?” Hart practically gulped in response his eyes immediately focused on Jenna’s brother.

“I said it was an option,” Wayne corrected fearing the way Hart had looked over at him, “We were still talking about it.”

“But I love it,” Sam blurted out again, “I think it’s the most incredible place on Earth and if you could find someone to help write me a letter of recommendation, I would love it even more. I know that it sounds like I’m a shoe in for the program, but I know if you had someone who could put in a good word for me. I know you have a lot of clout around town and I’m worth it.”

“Wait,” Hart blinked back at her, “Are you saying that you want me to help you move away to London for the next four years?”

“It’s not as long as it sounds, but yeah,” Sam confessed bubbling over enthusiastically, “It’s my way of starting a whole new life without having the past hold me back. So many things have happened here between my being sick and my mother that…”

“With your being sick it gives you plenty of reason not to go,” Hart warned in a parental tone, “I don’t know if leaving the country is a good idea.”

“Honestly it’s the best idea for me. I’ll have places to go to if something happens and besides, I think it’s a whole new adventure that is waiting for me to make happen,” she continued to inform him, “The truth to the matter is that up until now I’ve done living but it was for what everyone else wanted. What this is--well, it’s for me and I want to be able to say that I did something with my life that is worthwhile. Surely, you of all people would understand that.”

“I do, but…” Hart paused thinking about what he’d witnessed with Walt and Beth at the party. While he hated the idea of Sam going away, he hated the thought of his father finding a way to hurt Sam like Walt had continued to eat away at Hart over the years. Still what kind of gamble would it be should Hart agree to Sam leaving? Would he be really helping her or hurting himself in missing out on time with his daughter after he’d lost so much already? “I mean are you sure…”

Sam nodded, “This is everything I want and I guess I’m telling you first because I know you of all people would understand. You know what it’s like to live life and I knew you would support whatever decision I’ve made.”

“Of course I will honey, but I just want you to be safe,” Hart started to explain feeling her reach out to embrace him tightly.

“Oh daddy, I know this is the best thing for me. It’s absolutely everything I ever could've wanted and I’m so glad you understand,” Sam mouthed squeezing him tighter as Hart tossed out a pained expression in Jenna’s direction as he found himself wondering just what in the world he was going to do about the news his daughter just popped in on him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“You are such a liar,” Sarah blurted out seeing the way that Kyle was staring out at Cori, his confused hazel eyes looking between Cori and Sarah. “First you lie about Diego hurting you and now you are trying to lie to Kyle. You actually think he would believe something like that coming from you?”

“I might believe her,” Kyle answered feeling Sarah wrap hers arms around his waist only for him to detangle himself from her hold. “I want to hear Cori’s story. I want to hear this--what do you have to say Cori? Go ahead.”

“Oh, Houston is interested,” Cori wiggled her eyebrows in the direction of Sarah seeing the panic pool out over Sarah’s face. Sarah had taken a step forward to try and say something, but Kyle placed his arm in front of her from doing so. “As I said, your so called perfect fiancée over there is screwing your so called friend. They have been doing it for quite some time now.”

“Is that right?” Kyle questioned with a small nod of his head seeing Cori nod before fluttering her long eyelashes up at him. A small hiss escaped Sarah’s lips as Kyle looked down at her for a moment. “What makes you think you know about this Cori?”

“Easy, I’ve walked in on it before Kyle. You deserve someone better than this piece of trash right here,” Cori pointed over in Sarah’s direction as Kyle gulped down and rubbed his chin slowly. “Heck, I would even be wondering if that baby inside of her is truly yours.”

“Come on Kyle,” Sarah spoke up touching Kyle’s shoulder seeing him look back at her with his hazel eyes as she squeezed his shoulder. “Would you seriously believe someone in her frame of mind?”

“That all depends,” Kyle answered turning to face Sarah, placing his hand against her cheek to make sure she looked only at him. “Tell me now Sarah--did you sleep with Diego?”

“Of course I didn’t,” Sarah blurted out pulling away from Kyle and looking over at Cori seeing Cori roll her eyes in response. “This right here is a woman that is a total slut and just because one of the thousand men she has gone for rejected her, she is just ready to ruin everyone’s life in her path.”

“You bitch,” Cori hissed bringing her fist back and hitting Sarah right across the jaw making her fly back to the ground and Cori didn’t give her anytime to get up before Cori got in over her. “You think you’re funny don’t you.”

“What the…” Dave came in seeing the shocked look on Kyle’s face as Kyle grabbed Cori in his arms and pulled her away slowly feeling her struggling in his arms. Dave saw Sarah get up from the ground and hit Cori while she was in Kyle’s arms, making Dave grab her by the arms to pull her back. “You two need to calm down.”

“Screw you Dave, now let me go Kyle,” Cori ordered feeling Kyle’s strength holding onto her tightly as she struggled against him before letting out a small hiss. Cori brought her foot back nailing Kyle in the groin feeling him let go of her and she looked back seeing him laid out on the floor. “I told you to let go of me.”

“You guys really need to calm down now,” Dave ordered stepping between the both of them only to feel Sarah deck him in right in the jaw to get him out of the way, making him lose his balance and fall on the ground next to Kyle. Kyle lifted his head off the floor for a minute before letting out a small whimper. “You’re fiancée hits hard.”

“You’re sister kicks hard, was she on the soccer team?” Kyle whispered in a high pitched voice seeing Dave nod slowly before getting to his knees as Kyle rolled his eyes. “I always get stuck with the soccer players. Don’t they understand that when they do that, it hurts so damn much?”

“It’s okay,” Dave hushed helping Kyle up from the ground hearing him let out a small groan as they looked out to see Cori and Sarah still fighting. Kyle walked over towards the scene as Dave pulled him back quickly. “No, you don’t want to do that--we need someone who can tame it.”

“I have it under control,” Kyle assured him reaching out to grab Sarah from behind only to feel her foot come back and hit him just like Cori had done. Kyle fell to the ground letting out a small groan as Sarah turned back to look at him. “Maybe I was wrong, I don’t have this under control.”

“Oh my god, Kyle,” Sarah bent down to Kyle’s side pressing her hand against his shoulder only to feel Cori pulling at her hair. “Would you just give it up you bitch?”

“Stop it the both of you,” Rob yelled stepping between the both of them as he glared over at Cori seeing her look up at him before taking a few steps back. “We aren’t even paying attention to the real things that are happening here.”

“Kyle,” Sarah bent down trying to help Kyle up as let out a small breath feeling like his head was going to explode from the pain. “Are you hurt honey? Do you want me to make it feel better?”

“No,” Kyle shook his head quickly limping over to the chair to sit down slowly letting out a small hiss as he came down. Dave handed Kyle a cold water bottle and Kyle thanked him with a small nod setting it over the front of his pants. “I’m perfectly fine.”

“While you are perfectly fine,” Cori blurted out seeing Kyle’s hazel eyes looking up into hers as she threw her hands up in the air. “Diego is still in there and I still can’t believe that all of you don’t believe me. Diego needs to pay for what he has done.”

“Come on sis,” Dave grabbed a hold of his sister, pulling her back towards his office as Rob followed them close behind.

“Are you okay Sarah?” Kyle watched Sarah sit down in the seat next to him as he reached out to caress her cheek gently from where she had been hit by Cori. He slid his hand in over her stomach before caressing it gently. “Is the baby okay? Everything alright?”

“Everything is okay Kyle,” Sarah assured him grabbing her hand in his and lacing her fingers with his. A small sigh escaped her lips as she saw Kyle’s worried eyes looking into hers and she leaned forward to hug him tightly. “I’m just upset--I want to prove Diego is innocent. He needs help Kyle.”

“He will Sarah,” Kyle hushed her leaning back and letting out a small wince as he let go of her, adjusting the very cold water bottle carefully. “I promise I will help him out no matter what it takes.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Alicia sat on the sofa trying to focus on the work she’d brought home with her for the weekend, yet she couldn’t help but return to thoughts of her husband. He’d left her a strange message indicating that he would be busy at the police station. Something about Cori and her boyfriend attacking her and now as she sat at home thinking about his helping Cori, she couldn’t help but feel worry sweep over her.

“This is crazy,” Alicia announced tossing her work aside in the name of going to the kitchen and getting herself a drink instead of dwelling on the worries in her head. She knew full well that her marriage was secure. It had been for years, yet with Cori always around, she couldn’t help but wonder what Rob’s new employee was up to.

“You wouldn’t be dwelling on it now if you hadn’t listened to what Dorothy was saying. She just didn’t know,” Alicia tried to tell herself feeling a startled moment overtake her when her cell phone rang. Rushing over to it she answered quickly hoping it was Rob. “Hello.”

“Hey mom,” Lindsay spoke up brightly, “I was just checking in.”

“Oh you were, huh,” Alicia smiled thinking about her daughter’s day out with her friends, “How is the mall?”

“The same as it always is,” Lindsay explained with a tiny laugh, “Though I promise I’m not spending too much money here. Jackie and I have been busy at the arcade most of the day since John is really into this new video game that just came out.”

“Well okay, I suppose that means that you’re going to be running behind and you want a little more time than you asked for,” Alicia noted by her daughter’s tone.

“Something like that,” Lindsay added brightly, “Do you think it’s okay if I’m in a little bit later? Jackie just got her parents to let her finally take out the car and she was hoping we could go out for pizza for a while.”

“Well, as much as you know it makes me nervous with you being out at night with Jackie driving given she hasn’t had her license too long, if her father is okay with her driving, then I suppose it won’t hurt me to extend your curfew for tonight by an hour, but I want you in earlier if it gets dark.”

“Mom I’m not a little girl anymore. I don’t have to be in before the sun goes down,” Lindsay started to protest, “I’m not Matt’s age.”

“Even so, I don’t want you out too late since I’m sure Jackie isn’t used to driving in the dark just yet. Besides if you don’t want the night to end, you can always just hang out here for a while,” Alicia suggested hearing her daughter’s hesitation, “Lindsay?”

“Okay mom,” Lindsay finally agreed. “I won’t be late.”

“That’s my girl,” Alicia smiled saying her goodbyes to her daughter before hanging up the phone.

She let out a small breath of relief thankful that Lindsay was nothing like Don had been as a teen. Don was a rebel in every sense of the word, yet Lindsay wouldn’t push the envelope too often with things. Of course Lindsay still had a ways to go in the teen years, but hopefully she wouldn’t follow in her brother’s footsteps--at least during that point in his life.

Laughing lightly Alicia returned to making her tea when she heard the doorbell ring. Shifting directions once again she made her way through the living room to the front door opening it to see Walt standing before her with a bright smile.

“Alicia, just the woman I wanted to see,” he replied with a warm, welcoming smile, “Can I come in?”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“See,” Zane let out a small laugh as Grady and Deana walked out of the zoo, holding his hands tightly while they walked over towards the car. “I told you it really stunk when the elephants pooped. I almost passed out it was that bad.”

“It wasn’t that bad--actually, yeah it was,” Grady nodded slowly and let out a small laugh grabbing his keys from his pocket with his left hand. “Other than that, everything else was pretty much alright.”

“Alright?” Deana offered up a small laugh before shaking her head slowly and eyeing Grady over carefully. The look in his green eyes told her she was exactly right in her thoughts as a smirk appeared over the corners of her lips. “So Grady, how long have you been afraid of birds?”

“I don’t know what you mean by that,” Grady frowned seeing Deana’s dark eyes looking into his as he simply shrugged his shoulders. A sigh escaped his lips while he thought of something else to say. “I don’t know what you are talking about. I’m not afraid of birds.”

“Then why did you run away from the peacocks when they came a couple of inches away from you?” Zane questioned with a small laugh looking up at Grady and arching his eyebrow in question. “Were you just trying to do a race with them or something?”

“Those aren’t birds, those things are vicious animals,” Grady shuddered at the thought before looking over at Deana hearing her laugh at his response. “I’m not kidding, those things could have rabies or something.”

“I doubt it,” Zane opened his door as soon as Grady unlocked the doors and let him in. Watching carefully Zane let out a small sigh seeing Grady help his mother into the car after Grady had helped him out. Before Grady got in on the other side Zane looked over to his mother. “He was so scared.”

“I know he was scared honey,” Deana spoke up as soon as Grady opened the door and got in turning the car on. “He was very afraid of the peacocks, but it’s not nice to make fun of someone no matter how funny it was.”

“Hey now,” Grady frowned looking back at Zane before shaking his head slowly. “I can’t believe you two actually think this was funny, you saw that thing chasing me and…”

Before Grady could finish his sentence the ring of his cell phone cut him off as he shot Deana a apologetic expression while reaching for the phone and turning it on.

“Grady Denton,” Grady took in a deep breath looking back at Zane who was already playing his video game in the backseat. “How can I help you?”

“Wow, you sound like an operator I talked to once,” Kyle’s voice responded on the other side of the phone making Grady let out a small chuckle before Kyle went on. “Well, I could most definitely use your help right now.”

“What can I do for you Kyle?” Grady questioned with a small laugh thinking back to the party when he had helped Kyle out with Heather. “Don’t tell me you want me to nurse a puking Heather again.”

“Funny,” Kyle offered up a hesitant laugh before thinking about the real situation at hand. “It’s not really me that needs your help, it’s Diego. You see he is in jail for something he didn’t do and I really need you right now.”

“Alright, anything for you man,” Grady pulled his seatbelt on quickly and then looked down at his watch to see how long it would take him to get to Kyle. “I will be there in a little bit.”

“Thanks man,” Kyle took in a deep breath realizing he didn’t know who else he could go to other than Grady right now. “I really appreciate this.”

“No problem, see you soon,” Grady hung up his phone seeing Deana eye him over carefully while a frown pulled at the corners of his lips. “Do you think it’s possible that we can reschedule. I have a friend…”

“No need to explain,” Deana hushed him placing her hand over his, shaking her head slowly. “I know you friend needs your help so go to him. I understand.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“This is just wonderful,” Don grumbled to himself tapping his pencil against his desk before letting out a small breath. The though of Michelle and Zack had been running through his mind all day long. “I wonder what that little snake Zack is going to be doing to shut me down now.”

“Sounds like you met Zack Vaughn alright,” Shannon shut Don’s office door and set Matt down on the ground carefully. “It sounds like the snake I have been hearing about for months. What did he do to you?”

“Nothing really, he’s just trying to get my job,” Don got up from his seat and walked over to his son, picking Matt up in his arms. A smile appeared over his handsome features as he gave his son a small squeeze. “How is my son doing today?”

“Better now that I am with the best dad in the world,” Matt replied wrapping his arms around Don’s neck, giving him a tight squeeze before pulling back from him. “I brought you something to eat. You know what it is?”

“You did?” Don questioned setting a struggling Matt back down on the ground before he walked over to Shannon and grabbed the lunch bag she handed him. Matt ran back over to Don before offering up a wide smile. “You made this just for me?”

“Yeah, look at it,” Matt urged his father seeing him look into the bag before pulling out the sandwich Matt had made for him. “It’s Cajun turkey--your favorite. I also put strawberries and carrot sticks in there too because I put the mayonnaise on the sandwich and that’s a lot of fat, so I thought the strawberries could even it out. I don’t want you getting fat now.”

“Gee thanks,” Don chuckled reaching out to hug his son tightly before offering up a small laugh. “I really appreciate this kiddo, do you know how much this means to me?”

“I hope a lot,” Matt laughed feeling Don give him a small kiss on the cheek before squeezing him in his arms again. “Because I worked really hard on that.”

“You want some paper?” Don questioned giving Matt some paper and pencil knowing that his son loved to draw every time he came into his office. “You can go sit down on the couch if you’d like.”

“I take it you had a hard day,” Shannon pointed out seeing Matt sit down on the black leather couch in the corner of the room before she turned her attention back to Don. “Who is it now?”

“You will never guess who I saw today,” Don began in a tight breath seeing Shannon’s dark eyes focused on him before she shrugged her shoulders and shook her head slowly. “Michelle was here to see Zack.”

“What was that bitch doing here?” Shannon questioned with a small scowl seeing Don’s blue eyes widen almost in shock as Shannon covered her mouth quickly and she looked back at Matt who seemed to be still drawing. “Sorry kiddo.”

“Don’t worry about it, I hear stuff like that all the time,” Matt’s blue eyes looked up at Shannon before he shrugged his shoulders and went back to work. “You don’t have to worry about me talking like that because I think it’s so immature.”

“Good, I think,” Shannon looked back towards Don before shrugging her shoulders and motioning him to go on. “So, go ahead tell me about the rest.”

“It’s not worth it,” Don shook his head slowly before looking down at the papers before him and lifting his hands up in the air. “What about you? How has your day been so far?”

“My brother is pouting like a puppy dog,” Shannon rolled her eyes thinking back to how she and Matt had left him earlier. “He is all depressed because one girl wouldn’t go out with him.”

“Only one?” Don questioned with a deep laugh hearing Matt laugh in the background too. “I didn’t think anyone would accept your brother with the attitude he has.”

“I know,” Shannon frowned thinking about all the people around her and everything that had been going on. “Though, the girl he is upset about kind of sounded like a bi…jerk. Seemed kind of like Michelle and Zack. All of them seem to want to hurt people and get into trouble. It seems everyone is trying to be like that lately.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Sam sure seemed happy, didn’t she,” Jenna noted thinking about their visit with Sam and Wayne. She looked over to Hart while he finished drying the dishes they’d just washed. “She sure got swept up in the spell of London.”

“It’s a very romantic place and when you’re young that’s very important I suppose,” Hart mouthed setting the plate in his hand down before doing the same with the towel, “But I don’t know if she would like it so much if she lived there day in and day out.”

“Well, you said you did an internship out there. How was it?” Jenna couldn’t help but ask reaching out to the plate he’d finished with and putting it away.

“It was alright,” Hart shrugged his shoulders before letting out an ironic laugh, “Better than alright actually, but Sam and I aren’t the same person.”

“Oh I don’t know about that. You both have a lot of the same tendencies sometimes,” Jenna noted leaning up against the counter to eye him closely.

“How so?” he arched a curious brow turning his attention to her once again.

“Well for starters you’re both very stubborn and determined to get what you want,” she confessed with a small laugh, “All the time she was here she was trying to butter you up to the idea and I could see you dragging your heels about it.”

“What parent wouldn’t,” he replied honestly stepping in closer to her, “I mean the way I see it she thinks she knows what she’s doing, but she’s eighteen. How much does anyone know at that age?”

“I’m sure you thought you knew it all,” she mouthed reaching out to tease her index finger over the center of his chest.

“Yeah and look how much trouble I got into,” he couldn’t help but laugh sliding his arm around her waist to pull her in closer to him, “I mean seriously at eighteen you don’t really know what you want out of life.”

“I did,” Jenna admitted with a small laugh, “I always imagined that I would be up to my eyeballs in the kind of things that most people wouldn’t want to be near and look here I am working in the morgue.”

“I’m sure that wasn’t your dream at eighteen,” Hart searched her eyes for a long moment, “Was it?”

“Honestly I had thought about going into law enforcement, but then the idea of me carrying a gun and chasing bad guys scared the hell out of my mother,” Jenna divulged with a shake of her head, “She practically begged me to come home when I went to the academy.”

“Wait, you were in the police academy,” Hart’s eyes widened in response, “I never knew that.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” she grinned back at him, “but I’m sure if you play your cards right you could learn a lot in being with me.”

“I already have,” he mused with a slow building grin leaning down to steal a kiss from her lips. He squeezed her in closer to him, feeling the warmth of her soft curves pressing in against him. His lips descended to her neck before he whispered warmly against her skin, “Although I do have to admit the idea of having you and handcuffs mixed together is highly erotic.”

“Now why did I know you were going to say that,” she teased with a playful laugh inching back just enough to see his mischievous eyes.

“Because you’re learning all too well what it takes to turn me on to an idea,” Hart moved in for another kiss only to feel her press her hand over his shoulder again.

“Kind of like how Sam knows how to work her charm to turn you onto an idea she’s got,” she wiggled her brow up at him, “I could see that you were at least listening to what she said about London.”

“Listening yes, but not necessarily agreeing with it,” he sighed heavily shaking his head before leaning back against the counter and releasing her, “The truth to the matter is that as much as I would love for her to experience life to the fullest, there is so much that she and I haven’t shared with one another. I missed out on eighteen years of her life and I’ll never get that back. Who is to say if she moves to London I’ll ever see her again? I mean will it be another eighteen years before I get the chance to know her?”

“Hart, it’s not like she’d be going to another planet. We both could go to London,” Jenna gave him a sideways glance.

“It’s not like it’s down the street Jen. London is a long ways away especially after we have the baby. We’re not going to be wanting to tote our son or daughter halfway across the country to see his or her sister that they will only know for about two days a month,” Hart shook his head firmly, “I don’t like the idea at all Jen.”

“I understand that Hart, but you can’t hold her back from trying something that she wants,” Jenna paused before stepping back, “I know it’s not my place, but after seeing her so excited…”

“Believe me there is nothing I would want more than to give my daughter the world and hell, I would love to get her away from town so that she couldn’t be bothered by Walt, but the truth to the matter is that if I took a step towards doing that I could lose her forever,” Hart sighed tension creasing in over his brow, “and I’m just not sure I’m ready to deal with that.”

“Honey I understand that,” she reached out to embrace him again, “I really do.”

“It’s just that I have to wonder if my dad wasn’t here and being such an ass, then would I even be considering it?” he thought aloud more so to himself than anything. “I mean you have no idea what it’s like to have someone so miserable as a father.”

“I think I have a pretty good idea,” Jenna added with a matching frown of her own, “Douglas isn’t exactly father of the year. You can see how screwed up my brothers are because of him.”

“I know and I’m not trying to imply that you don’t have a father who could learn a thing or two about fathering, but with me, well I can’t help but wonder if I would say yes to Sam only because I wouldn’t’ want Walt to terrorize her life like he did mine,” Hart divulged his thoughts lingering to his estranged father. “He had me so worked up that I couldn’t wait to get as far away from him as possible by the time I was eighteen.”

“And look what happened when you did. You experienced some good things and life gave you other options,” Jenna informed him brightly, “I’m sure the same could happen to Sam if she goes.”

“It could, but selfishly I don’t want to lose her. I’m only recently experiencing what it’s like to be her dad and I don’t want to see that go away because I’m afraid of the father I have. My daughter deserves better than that and so do I really. I don’t want her to go,” Hart blurted out with a stubbornness in his tone. “I can’t say it’s okay with me.”

“It might not be an option with her. If she’s made up her mind,” Jenna started knowing full well how serious Sam sounded after she’d admitted to starting the application process overseas.

“Then I’ll have to change it because I don’t want her to go,” Hart explained with a determined tone before looking to Jenna again, “She’ll understand that sooner or later.”

“I don’t know Hart. If you go in there ready to crush her dreams without thinking them over,” Jenna paused taking a step back, “Never mind this isn’t my place. Just use caution in whatever it is your instincts are telling you to do.”

“I will,” Hart promised meeting her dark eyes again, “but right now I don’t want to think about it. I don’t want to ponder London or my father.”

“Okay, then let’s find something else to focus on,” she suggested looking around the kitchen, “We could always pull out the boxed set of Star Wars you gave me.”

“Or we could dig up those handcuffs that I’m sure you have around here somewhere and you could show me a thing or two about what you learned in the police academy,” he wiggled his brow at her suggestively. “What do you say?”

“I think I’ve created a monster, but since you asked for it,” she couldn’t help but grin back at him, “You’ll be happy to know that I remember full well where I put them.”

“Then what are we waiting for,” he reached for her hand taking it in his and guiding her out of the kitchen. “I believe we have a search and seizure on our hands here.”

“That we do,” she laughed lightly hoping to enjoy a lighter side of the man she loved for a little while now that it seemed the weight of the world around him was pressing down on his shoulders in ways that could only be hurtful in the long run. Right now they needed a good distraction and something by the enthusiasm in Hart’s pulling her out of the kitchen told her they were about to get a very good one!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“I say you’re completely out of your mind,” Angela blurted out unable to resist saying the first thing that popped into her mind after Brant had asked her out. She shook her head unable to repress the laugh that built up in the back of her throat, “Generally most people get to know each other, go out on a date and then think about having sex.”

“Yeah, well we sort of did it backwards there,” Brant offered up with a confident grin. “I mean if you think about it, most people dance around the issue with dating and friendship, then they go into being intimate with one another and sleeping together and it’s a let down. The way I see it, we’ve already reached that milestone with one another and know that it’s not going to be disappointing there, so what do we have to lose?”

“Well what if we go out tonight and we don’t have anything to say to one another,” she couldn’t help but ask thinking that there was a possibility that could happen between them.

“Then we can always fall back into this,” he winked at her feeling her nudge him in the ribs.

“You’d like that far too much. I can see that now,” she wrinkled her nose in response before growing serious, “I mean if we went on a real date we’d actually have to talk about things and spend time getting to know one another.”

“And you see a problem with this, why exactly?” Brant couldn’t help but ask. “Are you afraid you’re going to learn something about me that you don’t like?”

“Is there something about you that you think I won’t like?” she replied with a curious expression.

“Well truthfully I do have this one small issue that you might have to really learn to deal with,” he confessed growing suddenly serious. “It’s pretty big I’m afraid.”

“Oh?” her eyes widened. “What’s that?”

“Well, if the date goes good and dinner happens to prove to be a success, should you feel compelled to spend the night with me, I have to tell you that I have this horrible snoring habit that…” he began with a small laugh feeling her poke him in the ribs again.

She let out a groan rolling her eyes, “I already knew that. I found that out at the beach house.”

“So there you go. You’re not in for any unexpected surprises with me in that aspect of the situation,” he laughed heartily feeling the air lighten between them. “What about you? Any dark and sinister secrets I should know before we go for the gusto and have dinner with one another?”

“Well I tend to be a bit of a blanket hog in bed, but that doesn’t really apply to dinner,” she paused for a moment pondering the thought. “Although I have to tell you if you had Chinese in mind for dinner tonight, I think I’d have to decline. Ever since I found out I was pregnant, just the idea of Chinese food gets me queasy.”

“Hmm, well Chinese food is out then,” he paused taking a moment to memorize her face as she seemed to be more at ease in the situation, “What about Italian? How do you feel about that?”

“Hmm, well that sounds alright,” she pondered it for a moment, “though I have to tell you lately I’ve been having this craving and it’s going to sound really stupid.”

“No craving is ever stupid with me. You will learn that early on starting tonight,” he waved his hand in the air for a moment, “Whatever you desire it will be yours.”

“Truthfully I haven’t had a good cheeseburger in like forever, yet I find myself wanting it like mad,” she revealed feeling a warmth fill her face with embarrassment. “That sounds stupid doesn’t it?”

“Well it’s not exactly the five star establishment that I had in mind, but I could certainly go for a burger and fries. Perhaps you might feel compelled for ice-cream afterwards,” he wiggled his brow at her.

“Oh God you are trying to get a yes out of me, aren’t you?” she grinned up at him.

“Well I did get a few of them out of you again and again before we even brought up the subject of a date,” he winked playfully, speaking to her in a flirty tone, “but right now one more yes would be a chart topper for the day here.”

“Hmm, then maybe I shouldn’t make it so easy for you,” she mouthed in response, “especially since you’re convinced that I’m a sure thing.”

“Did I say that?” he feigned innocence, “Because I don’t recall saying such a thing…”

“Yes, you did,” she nodded emphatically, “which makes me wonder just what you and Kevin talked about last night with one another.”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” he replied with an air of mystery surrounding him.

“Actually yes,” she confessed with a small nod.

“Hmm, well I might feel compelled to tell you…say over dinner tonight when you give me a yes,” he shrugged his shoulders in a casual display.

“Oh you’re horrible,” she swatted at him once again, a giggle building up over her.

“That’s not what you were saying a little while ago. In fact if I remember correctly you were saying ‘Oh Brant you’re the best. You’re amazing. You’re…’” he began teasingly.

“A raving egomaniac but since you’ve sparked my interest about what happened last night with you and Kevin, I guess I really have no choice, but to accept your dinner proposal,” she sighed heavily watching his face light up with surprise.

“Really?” he questioned blinking back at her.

“Yes really,” she nodded in confession. “I mean if a dinner date is really what you’re looking for.”

“A dinner date is just the beginning,” he boasted proudly leaning in to kiss her once more, “Trust me tonight you’re going to be amazed with how well it goes.”

“We’ll just have to see about that, now won’t we,” Angela replied with a warm smile wondering if maybe just maybe things would find a way to work themselves out after all with her and Brant. After all stranger things had happened, right?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Have I ever told you how much I love you,” Kevin questioned lacing his fingers with Ria as they lay with one another in the middle of her living room lost in one another’s arms.

“Maybe once or twice,” she shrugged her shoulders feeling his fingertip trace over the engagement ring she was wearing. Tipping her head up once more, she flashed him a sexy, flirty smile, “but hey if you want to keep saying it, I’m all open to hearing it.”

“In that case,” Kevin leaned forward kissing her tenderly, “I love you.”

“I love you,” she replied moving in closer to him. Her fingers tangled through his dark hair weaving their magical spell over him.

“I love you more,” he mouthed nibbling on her lower lip and bringing her up into his lap.

“Prove it,” she dared a dark look of temptation behind her eyes as she moved over him.

“I fully intend to,” he promised in a low moan diving in for another sensual kiss when the door to Ria’s apartment opened and in walked Trisha.

“Damn, don’t you two ever have any down time?” Trisha shook her head upon seeing Kevin and Ria lost in one another’s arms, “I mean most people rest and relax before pawing at one another all the time.”

“And most people generally knock and wait for someone to answer the door before they barge in,” Ria glared over at her sister, while quickly covering up with the throw blanket she had wrapped around her and Kevin.

“I suppose, but what’s the point when I have a key,” Trisha held up the key in the air before depositing it in her purse, “Besides, it’s good that I arrived when I did because you need to get ready.”

“Ready for what?” Kevin asked blankly tipping his head back to look at Trisha.

“Ria promised our friend Rebecca that she would come to her bachelorette party tonight and I’m here to make sure that happens,” Trisha explained tapping her foot on the floor, “Which means Ria needs to get dressed and get moving or else we’re going to be late.”

“That’s tonight?” Ria frowned and let out a small groan.

“That’s right sis and I’m not going alone, so your making out with Kevin is going to have to wait. We have to get ready and you don‘t have time for fun right now.” Trisha explained waving her hand wildly in the air, “So get off of Kevin and let’s get moving.”

“Um, now wait a second,” Kevin held his finger up in the air, “While I can respect the fact that Ria made plans for tonight, I really don’t think that right now is a good time for you to be ordering her off of me.”

Kevin motioned to where he lay beneath Ria with only a blanket over them. “In fact why don’t you give us a little privacy here for a few minutes?”

“Fine, but you have five minutes to get dressed before I come back in here and get her into gear even if you’re still naked,” Trisha warned walking out of the living room and into the kitchen area to give them a few minutes of privacy before her return.

“She’s a brute,” Kevin shook his head at Trisha.

“She’s annoying is what she is,” Ria frowned slightly, “and I completely forgot about the party.”

“That’s okay,” Kevin smiled up at her, “I mean sure I can’t say that I’m not disappointed that you’ll be gone because I am, but I guess that would give me an opportunity to check in with Seth. I haven’t seen him in a while and he could probably use the company.”

“I’d rather have your company,” Ria leaned forward to embrace him.

“You have three minutes,” Trisha announced from inside the kitchen causing Ria to groan.

“I swear I’m going to kill her,” Ria replied realizing that while she’d made plans to go out with her sister, all she could focus on was wanting to spend the night with Kevin. However, she knew full well now that Trisha was around that was about to change. So much for a quiet evening, she thought to herself dreading the night ahead of her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“So what brings you over here today Walt?” Alicia questioned taking a seat at her kitchen table after offering him a mug of tea.

“I just thought I’d catch up with someone who wasn’t upset by my return to town,” he smiled up at her warmly, “especially considering that I think my son wishes that I hadn’t returned.”

“Hart’s just being stubborn. I’m sure he’s going to warm up to your being here,” Alicia offered with a small smile, “It just takes a little while longer with him.”

“Maybe, but I don’t know how much longer I have left,” Walt revealed with a heavy sigh, “I mean part of me doesn’t blame him for not wanting me around, but the other part…”

“Have you told him yet?” she couldn’t help but ask. “Does he know that you’re…”

“Dying?” he finished seeing the difficulty she had with saying it. He shook his head, “No, I haven’t told him and I’m not sure that I will. Granted I had intended to when I came to town in the hopes of our finding a way to mend fences with one another, but now I’m starting to wonder if that was ever truly a possibility for the two of us.”

“I’m sure if you both try,” she reached out to squeeze his hand gently.

“If I would’ve tried years ago I’m sure the situation would’ve turned out differently,” he squeezed her hand in response before eyeing her intently, “So enough about me. What about you? How is life treating you?”

“There you go,” she wiggled her hand in the air in front of his face, “You’re turning this into a conversation where I’m not supposed to expect any answers from you while you want to know all about me so you don’t have to reveal anything about yourself.”

“I’m really just curious to hear how you are holding up,” he offered with a small smile, “Is that so wrong of me?”

“It is when you’re avoiding the real issue at hand,” she warned him before giving up on trying to get answers out of him. “As for me, well I’m fine.”

“Why don’t I buy that?” he asked after a long contemplative moment. “Something told me from the expression on your face when you answered the door that all is not fine.”

“Well that something would be wrong,” she informed him with a simple shake of her head, “I’ve just been busy lately.”

“And Rob?” he arched a speculative brow, “What about him?”

“He’s had a lot going on with work and…” she fell to silence thinking about where her husband was at the moment.

“And perhaps that pretty young woman he was dancing with the other night?” Walt tossed out suspiciously before prompting further into the subject, “Is that the thing that’s bothering you?”

“Of course not,” she waved her hand dismissively, “Rob is just helping her through some tough times and…”

“And you’re not so convinced that it ends there, are you?” Walt inquired seeing the doubt burning behind her eyes. “Do you think that he and she are…?”

“Absolutely not,” she blurted out refusing to let him finish asking his question. “Rob and I have had a great many years of a wonderful marriage between us and I don’t think for a second he’d be interested in throwing that away for anything. He’s an amazing father and a wonderful husband…”

“Who has taken to a pretty young thing and left the most beautiful woman in the world off on her own,” Walt reached across the table to take her hand in his once more. “That’s the real crime here Alicia because it just reaffirms my belief that Rob never truly deserved you in the first place.”

“Don’t say that,” she tore her hand away from his, “Rob is the most incredible man in the world.”

“I know you’d like to believe that, but he was never all that you deserved,” he watched her get up from the table and walk around the kitchen a bit. Instinctively he replied, “In fact, the way I see it you would’ve been much better off if you would have married me instead. I know I never would’ve left you second guessing anything in our relationship.”

“Walt,” she spun around to face him seeing his dark gaze fixed upon hers. She felt his hand reach out to her, touching the side of her face in an intimate caress.

“You’ve always been the most beautiful woman in the world in my eyes and the way I see it, you‘ll always be,” he leaned in towards her, his intentions clear as she took a step back.

“I think you should leave now,” she replied stiffly, making a step towards the back door and opening it. “I’m sorry to be rude, but I have things I need to be doing.”

“I understand,” Walt adjusted his tie before standing up taller. He brushed past her pausing momentarily to give her one last longing look, “I don’t regret being honest with you Alicia. That much I figured I owed you.”

“Your honesty is hardly appropriate Walt especially given the circumstances,” she explained with a pained expression, “If you need me as a friend, you know I will always be there, but…”

“Rob Leveski just happened to beat me to you by a mere fraction of a moment, but if I could change that, I would in a heartbeat,” Walt tossed out at her in an impassioned tone.

“We can’t change the past. We just have to find a way to cherish what we do have. I love my life and my family,” Alicia explained to him pointedly, “and with you well all I can say is it’s not too late to mend fences with Hart. If you really want to find a way to have a relationship with him, then don’t give up. Don’t waste the last chance to start anew. It isn’t worth letting the past get in the way of what you could have with your son.”

“The circumstances aren’t exactly set up for what you’re suggesting,” Walt replied with a heavy sigh.

“They are what you make of them and if you make nothing, then you have nothing,” she explained clearing her throat again, “Good-bye Walt.”

“Good-bye Alicia,” he replied meeting her gaze for another moment before walking out of her house and giving her enough space to think about what it was exactly that had bothered her so much about Rob being with Cori. There was no way that she would lose her husband in all of this, or would she?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Hey man,” Grady sat down next to Kyle seeing Kyle take a sip of his water before putting the cap back on and resting the water against the front of his pants. “What’s wrong with you, you look really pale right now Kyle.”

“Let’s just say I learned Sarah and Cori could kick really hard,” Kyle informed Grady seeing Grady’s green eyes widen as Kyle nodded slowly and let out a small laugh. “I’ll survive though.”

“Well hey, I know you will,” Grady patted Kyle on the back gently before offering up a wide smile. “I mean hey, it can’t be that Kyle. I mean, you had to do it so many times for the movie I made in college. For film class you had to redo that scene over and over again.”

“Please don’t remind me of that movie,” Kyle shuddered in disgust as he shook his head slowly and wrinkled his nose at the thought. “I still don’t understand why you picked me as your main character for that.”

“Come on Kyle, you have all the right parts,” Grady patted Kyle on the leg in a teasing way seeing Kyle glare over at him with his hazel eyes. “I’m just saying and you know you did great in the part at the end where the freak is chasing after the girl. It was the high point in the movie, we just had to redo the part where she kicked you in the groin over a couple of times.”

“A couple of times? You made her do it like a hundred, I’m surprised it was because the camera wasn’t working--I thought you might have done that because you thought it was funny,” Kyle pointed out seeing Grady look up towards the ceiling trying not to laugh. Kyle punched Grady in the shoulder before shaking his head slowly. “You jerk, though--in the movie it probably wouldn’t make my character hurt. He was a freak.”

“Oh come on,” Grady frowned shaking his head slowly before patting his best friend on the shoulders gently. “Hunter wasn’t that big of a freak. He just really liked sleeping with…”

“Dead women?” Kyle looked over at Grady before rolling his eyes and shaking his head slowly. “I swear if I wasn’t your best friend, I wouldn’t have ever done that. You are the weirdest movie writer in the world. I still don’t understand why you put me of all people in that movie for Hunter. I don’t look anything like a Hunter.”

“Sure you do,” Grady chuckled before a serious face developed over his tired features. “Though, getting back on subject, I talked to Diego.”

“Good, does it sound like he did it?” Kyle questioned seeing Grady shake his head slowly as Kyle nodded and slowly stood up feeling Grady place his hand on his back. “I’m okay, I just think I should go talk to Diego myself.”

“You need some crutches or something? Maybe a cane?” Grady offered up with a deep laugh seeing Kyle brush him off before limping off towards the back hallway. Grady looked around the room and saw Rob in the corner of the room. “Mr. Leveski, can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Sure,” Rob nodded quickly getting out of his seat as Grady walked over to him. “What can I help you with this whole situation?”

“I just need to hear what happened with you and Diego,” Grady sat down on one of the chairs before motioning Rob to do the same. “I need the full story and don’t skip the details.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Diego paced back and forth in the jail room running his hands through his hair worriedly. What if everyone believed Cori out there? What if he was going to go to jail for something he didn’t do? Everything he had done was turning out to come back and hit him right in the butt and this wasn’t right at all.

“Don’t move,” Diego felt a pair of large hands on his shoulders as Diego froze where he was standing worried with who was behind him. “I know what you did.”

“Kyle?” Diego gasped turning around to see Kyle behind him as he stumbled backwards and fell back onto the ground letting out a small hiss. “Listen, I’m sorry. It wasn’t me, it was all her.”

“I know man,” Kyle reached down to help Diego up slowly before letting out a small laugh and patting Diego on the back gently. “I know you didn’t do this to Cori is what I meant. Cori did do all of this and don’t worry, I know she is lying.”

“Oh, that,” Diego cleared his throat uneasily before fixing the collar of the shirt he was wearing. “I thought you were talking about something else.”

“Nope, nothing else. Unless,” Kyle leaned back against the wall letting out a small hiss as he looked out at Diego. “Well, unless you have something else you want to admit to Diego.”

“I didn’t do anything to Cori,” Diego quickly got out turning away from Kyle so he couldn’t look him in the eyes. “I know she is mad at me and this is why she is doing this. Did you even talk to her yet?”

“Yeah, I talked to her, but I can promise you I am going to help you get out of here,” Kyle whispered moving forward, slightly limping as he walked and he placed his hand on Diego’s shoulder. “It’s kind of obvious she went off the deep end though.”

“How so?” Diego questioned worriedly seeing Kyle shrug his shoulders and walk over towards one of the chairs, taking a seat and placing his feet up on the metal table. “Kyle? What did she do?”

“She just started talking all crazy,” Kyle laughed to himself before shaking his head slowly and thinking about everything that had happened with Cori. “She started telling everyone that you were sleeping with my fiancée and that my baby might not even mine at all.”

“That’s crazy,” Diego blurted out seeing Kyle’s eyebrows arch up as Diego threw his hands up in the air and shook his head over and over again. “I can’t believe she would say something like that. Sarah loves you and only you.”

“Right,” Kyle eyed Diego over curiously before shrugging his shoulders and setting his feet back down on the ground. “Though, I know that isn’t the truth because your not that kind of guy Diego. I know you’re a sweet person that would never have an affair with someone.”

“Of course I wouldn’t,” Diego gulped down seeing Kyle stand up and walk over to him, wrapping his arm around Diego’s shoulder gently. “You know me Kyle, I just sit back and do what I do.”

“The question is, what have you been doing. Or maybe who?” Kyle questioned seeing Diego’s dark eyes staring into his as Kyle patted on Diego’s back gently before he moved away from Diego. “Anyways, you have nothing to worry about because I promise you that I am going to get you out of here no matter what I have to do. It’s the least I can do for you.”

“Thanks,” Diego watched Kyle smile and nod slowly as Diego felt a big ball of guilt build up inside of him as he shook his head slowly and thought about all the things he had done with Sarah. Here Kyle was being a great friend when he went off and did that with Sarah. “What have I done?”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sarah paced around the lobby of the police department fearing what was going on inside the room between Kyle and Diego especially after the close call they’d had earlier with Cori. She knew full well that she’d almost been caught in that moment, yet when Kyle had thrown Cori’s words back at her not believing Cori, Sarah had felt a moment of relief. Of course that had all faded away when Kyle had decided he wanted to speak with Diego.

Sarah had wanted to tell him not to go speak with Diego--to just let things play out as they were, but how could she explain that one? How could Sarah urge him to stay away from Diego when she was the one who had asked Kyle to help in the first place? Something wouldn’t look right if she tried to keep him out of that room, yet now as she walked around the lobby with worries mounting she wished that she had.

“I can’t let you learn the truth from Diego,” she mouthed to herself knowing full well that this was too close for her comfort. If Kyle discovered what had taken place with her and Diego--if he had any idea of what was still taking place it would ruin everything that Kyle had planned out for the two of them.

“He’s not going to say anything,” Sarah tried to reason with herself hoping that she could trust Diego to stay quiet about what they had shared with one another. “He wouldn’t tell Kyle. He couldn’t tell Kyle. I mean that would be totally against the man he is.”

“Or would it,” she thought to herself remembering Diego’s declarations of love. Sure the two of them had a lot against them in this fling that they were having, yet something kept pulling them back to one another--something that Sarah herself couldn’t quite explain. It was as if fate had pulled her into this place where she knew she couldn’t be, yet she wasn’t able to resist the lure of it.

“Diego isn’t going to say anything,” she ran her sweaty palms out over the sides of her slacks saying a silent prayer that things would keep from becoming explosive.

“Kyle’s just talking to him about Cori. He’s never going to find out about what happened. Diego won’t tell him about us. He won’t let Kyle know about what happened between us,” Sarah reminded herself aloud her worries mounting. “Kyle will never know.”

“Know what?” she heard a voice question as she spun around to see Grady staring at her with a curious expression. When she said nothing, Grady spoke up again, “What is it that Kyle will never know Sarah?”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

...to be continued...