Hellfire and Chaos

by

Ceniana
(ceniana@gmail.com)

"I want you to say that again, but this time more slowly." Gram narrowed her eyes holding onto her cane.

Nick woke up in a cold sweat causing Tish to wake up with him. They had always cuddled together. Even after decades of marriage it pained him to be even a few inches apart. He gasped for air and reached for his head cradling it in his hands while searching for the bump from Lucy’s cane.

"Nicholas?" Tish frowned touching his cheek, and forcing him to look her in the eyes. "What is it?"

"I don’t want to loose you again…." Nick felt tears swell in his eyes. "It nearly killed me as a young man to loose you… It WOULD kill me now."

"We have suffered less storms….Your not going to loose me." Tish held out her arms and Nick responded by letting out a soft whimper.

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"Caca!" Niles glared as C.C. let out a playful giggle. "You’re faking it!"

She crawled up straddling his body. "Nillllllllllllless… You have a few more hours, and I’m still sick!"

"In the head maybe." Niles let out a sigh, his hands exploring her naked flesh. "We have to get up… or at least I have to!"

"Noel’s in the other room having nightmares right about now." C.C. giggled as Niles sat up kissing her neck. "Niles… do you really have to make breakfast?"

"Yes…the ... Children…" Niles eyes rolled in the back of his head as C.C. pushed her body against him. "Babcock!" He groaned and felt C.C. become ridged in his arms. "C.C.?" He tilted backwards looking into her eyes.

She glanced into his eyes letting out a soft whimper. "What am I, Niles?"

"A pill!" Niles let out a gasp of pain as C.C. pulled the back of his hair. "You’re hurting me! Trollop! Let go!" Niles let out a whimper as C.C. jumped off his body.

C.C. pulled on the silk robe with a huge sigh and felt his hands around her waist.

"You’re still… Chastity Claire Babcock Butler." He held her tightly not allowing her to escape. "You’re the Bitch of both Hollywood and Broadway."

"I’m going to talk with daddy today." C.C. felt his hands turn her around. "I have got to know."

"Then let me help you." He smiled touching her cheek.

"You know the worse part… I can’t call on my ‘Babcock’ armor."

"It wasn’t ‘Babcock’ armor that you surrounded yourself in. You made that armor all your own. It had nothing to do with Gram, Stuart, B.B. or Noel. "He lifted her chin up. "You…. Not them."

She glanced up into his blue eyes feeling her heart skip a beat. "I… ..I…"

"You’re a spitfire hell cat all on your own. What does a name matter? Hell, one could say you made the name Babcock famous anyway."

"DAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDY!" Morgan’s demanding voice rang out in the house. "TIME TO GET UPPPPPPPPPPPP!"

"There is our alarm clock now." Niles quickly got his robe on and let out a sigh glancing at C.C. The three little girls all came running into the room and piled onto the huge bed.

"Breakfast! Dress!" Casey giggled holding out her arms to C.C.

"Mummy I got a question." Morgan’s face twisted in pain as C.C. reached for her.

"What is it?"

"Why is it Buba is so much older den us?"

C.C. let out a sigh and eyed Niles. "That’s because your father couldn’t look past a stain glass window."

Niles let out a roaring laugh.

"Wha?" Morgan glanced up and Niles and then back at C.C. "What does that mean?"

"I’ll tell you the whole story when you’re older." C.C. let out a sigh walking inside her closet.

"I’ll just ask buba." Morgan grumbled and waved towards her sisters. "Let’s go wake up Uncle Noel!"

The three girls all let out a yelp of delight running into the guest room. Niles let out a chuckle hearing Noel yelp from being tickled. "You know…I could get used to having your brother around."

"Could you get used to the fact we are going to visit him come Christmas?" C.C. came out of her closet dressed in a dark blue suit.

"I could…"Niles let out a sigh. "He is your brother after all."

"Is he?" C.C. let out another whimper and Niles reached out for her.

"He is..." Niles held her tight. "I have to go get breakfast started can you make sure the girls dress in something matching?"

"Why, you didn’t like Claudia’s choice of lime green and pink?" C.C. let out a laugh watching Niles’s face twist. "Alright… alright…"

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Tish Morgan glanced out at the sunrise letting out a huge sigh. She had started working for the Morgan’s at age fourteen along with her three sisters. Her father had been one of the many horse trainers at the huge estate. She recalled the first time Nicholas Evans looked at her. He was the son of the cook, or at least that is what she and everyone else thought at the time. With his golden hair, and muscled frame he made all the girls gush over him. "Thank you." She took the cup that her only surviving son offered. She watched as Nick joined Thomas’s four sons out in the field to pick grapes.

"Mom... Is he going to be okay?"

"Your father bought this place with the hope we would retire here." Tish leaned over and allowed her long gray hair to blow in the wind. "Then Lucas got sent away."

"We still have that house all ready for you." Thomas let out a sigh. "Mother…"

"And here comes the questions." Tish tossed her head to the side.

"What happened when you found out? How did you find out about…?"

"Your sisters? I could give you one answer. Your father doesn‘t wear guilt well."

"Yes…" he reached out touching her shoulder.

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"Why is it our boys are the only children who are allowed to play with them?" Tish turned towards her husband. "Mrs. Babcock comes here treats them like pawns and yells if they go near anyone else’s children… You show up… and then she shuts her mouth."

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"Stuart Babcock and dad really hate one another don’t they?" Thomas let out a groan and watched her mother nod quietly. "What would you have done if dad tried to claim them?"

"Anything… Anything to help your father’s wounded soul. I think the wound has torn wide open since he’s had to work with Stuart. The doctor says his blood pressure has sky rocketed. "

"I got a call from Lucas this morning." Thomas watched as Tish let out a groan. "He was wondering when you two might come and see him."

"Your father wants to stay a few more days. I’ll have him call Lucas and Rachael tonight."

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"This was a nice surprise." Stuart held Claudia tight as the girl giggled at his attention. "It’s too bad you sister is still in bed for the next couple of days."

"Well sis did try to kill her!" Noel let out a chuckle as C.C.’s face blushed.

"Sweetie, why don’t you go and join the others?" C.C. reached out helping the little girl off Stuart’s lap. She watched as all three children started to play on the swing set Niles and Maxwell had built.

"I think Diane is just avoiding me again. My children have a strange habit of doing that."

"Now daddy why would we avoid you?" C.C. fluttered her eyelashes towards her father. "Daddy do you have any idea what D.D. told me while we were in the middle of that storm?"

Stuart shifted in his seat. "Your sister has some wild ideas sometimes. I think B.B. should have never sent her to that boarding school in France away from you two. I would have loved to seen the three of you closer. She is more her mother‘s child than mine anyway."

Noel narrowed his eyes. " Those are rather cold words about Diane. I’m going to come out and ask this was it really exile?"

"You sister…Isn‘t exactly stable." Stuart shook his head.

Niles couldn’t help but let out a small cough at the ‘stable’ part. He received a small glared from C.C. and shook his head.

"I thought at least she settled down some since Sam’s birth, but I guess not."

"She told me I’m not a Babcock… and either is she." C.C. couldn’t avoid it much longer she left the knife twist in her stomach looking up into her father’s face. "Daddy?"

"Your mother is to blame for this whole damn mess." Stuart let out a grumble. "She should have NEVER sent Diane away. Is this the reason she’s avoided me all this week?"

Noel nodded slowly as his father stood up. "Where are you going?"

"To talk to your sister! I’ll bang down Mac’s door if he won’t let me in." Stuart let out a yelp of pain feeling the rough spot on his glass. "Damn it!"

"I’m sorry sir." Niles took the glass putting down another one. "C.C. has been begging me to get a new set of dishes since the girls.

"Daddy?" C.C. glanced as Stuart made his quick get away.

"Well that didn’t take long." Noel let out a grumble and C.C. glanced at Niles.

"No... but hopefully this will be enough." Niles flashed the glass and the small trail of blood. "Shall I give Jasmine a call?"

"I…." C.C. felt her lower lip tremble. "Why couldn’t he just stay?"

"He’s scared." Noel let out a sigh. "Do you blame him? He’s acting like this has been a long time in coming."

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Lucas let out a groan watching his mother pace up and down his hospital room. "Mother if I wanted to watch someone marching… I could look outside." He shifted and noticed her pained expression.

"You don’t understand…"

"Yes mother, I have no idea what it’s like." Lucas rolled his eyes in the back of his head for just a moment. "Will you stop and listen to me for just a moment." He picked up a cane from his bed poking her with it.

"Oh my God, where in the hell did you get that?" C.C. gasped at the finely carved cane.

"Jasmine brought it by." Lucas chuckled lifting it up. "It will be a while before I’m fully on my feet but… I have this strange urge to hit Nick over the head with it a few times."

"The man has enough knots on his head from that cane."

"Mother…. I have something for you." Lucas pointed towards an envelope on the counter. C.C. touched the brail wondering if it was something to do with Rachael but opened it up. She felt her eyes start to water seeing Gram’s hand writing.

"It’s something Gram left me." Lucas watched his mother read it for the third time. "I set it aside because we had enough problems…You growling at me for getting married to young… Then growling at me for making you a grandmother."

"The list was longer than that..." C.C. let out a whimper looking back towards a frowning Lucas. "Any ideas?"

"Now... This is the part where I start to sound like Gram and say… You have a brain, use it!" Lucas smiled as his mother let out a husky chuckle.

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Mac glared at Niles letting out a soft growl. "He just left then? What a freaking coward." He folded his arms letting out a sigh.

"The quicker you do this Jasmine, the less likely it is that I’ll faint." D.D. hissed as all three Babcock children held out their arms. Jasmine went over and poked her mother quickly.

"Jasmine, are you enjoying this?" Noel groaned as she stopped in front of her uncle.

"What weak vampires they are!" Niles let out a chuckle as Noel, C.C. and D.D. all glared at him.

"Well it is daylight!" Mac mumbled loud enough where everyone could hear.

"MAC! You are not helping!" D.D. let out a sigh rolling down her sleeve. "Is daddy’s blood going to be enough? Jas? JASMINE MARY!" D.D. reached over poking her daughter in the shoulder.

"I don’t know yet" Jasmine let out a groan. "S.J. is the real expert and he’s not coming in until tonight. I can’t believe my teacher is giving me extra credit for doing this." Jasmine let out a giggle labeling the samples.

"How long is it going to take?" C.C. glanced over at the forms Jasmine was filling out. "When will we know?"

"Well…" Jasmine blushed watching them all glare at her. "With S.J. helping me it might take three weeks…"

"Three weeks? Are you kidding me?" C.C. stood up letting out a snarl.

"C.C….." Niles walked over putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Aunt C.C. would you like me to call someone who is an expert in the field? It might take a week, and by the way, he might spill this over to the media." Jasmine put her hands on her hips waiting for C.C. to get under control.

"It’s not like you have to wait decades or anything." D.D. let out a bitter sigh.

"How do you know?" Noel turned to face D.D. "When did you know."

"They aren’t really Babcock’s anyway! We should come out and tell them that. I think C.C. and D.D. have the right to know the truth! You can‘t burry the truth forever it‘s like trying to bury water." D.D. leaned in closer. She had a riding lesson in only five minutes but those words. *We… aren’t Babcock’s?*

"I went to mother that night." D.D. let out a groan shaking her head. "Course she let out a laugh and told me it was just the servants telling stories."

"Servants also have a nasty habit of telling the truth." Niles snickered as D.D. shook her head for a moment.

"They didn’t sound like servants. They sounded … young…" D.D. frowned rubbing her head.

"Are you alright?" Mac walked up to her placing a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe I should take you home."

"I’m fine…" D.D. hissed and let out a sigh. "Do what you can Jas." She stood up letting out a sigh and walking away from her siblings.

"Now wait just a damn moment." C.C. was growing more annoyed at her sister’s distance towards her. "You’re not alone in this anymore."

D.D. turned around slowly letting out a sigh. "I should have kept my mouth shut."

"Speaking of keeping your mouth shut, when was the last time either one of you had a drink?" C.C. moved in closer pulling out a video tape.

"Pardon me?" Mac glanced at a smiling C.C.

"Aunt C.C. I don’t think it’s a good time for…." Jasmine was quickly silenced with a glare.

"You know I have it up to here! What the hell are you talking about C.C.?…" Mac shook his head annoyed. "Are you playing games again woman?"

"Maybe…" C.C. waved the tape in front of her sister. "Ever ask yourself why my son and your daughter tricked you two? Mac… does D.D.’s kiss seem so… I don‘t know the word.. Familiar to you? Maybe the way she touches you? " She glanced from D.D. and back towards a grumbling Mac.

"I think your wife is off her meds."

"Shut up, Niles!" C.C. let out a hiss before he could add to Mac’s comment.

"I think you should pop this in the tape player when you get home. After all, we all agree that Gram knew everything. Guess what she found out before she died!"

D.D. glanced from C.C. towards Jas. "Play it later when you both get home…"

"I…" She turned around to find C.C. and Niles both gone.

"I swear to god… you two..." Noel let out a groan walking about the door. "Chastity… C.C.!"

"Was that really …" Niles let out a sharp gasp as C.C. cut him off with a heated kiss. "Caca…"

"First time all week I have felt like myself." C.C. mumbled in his mouth as Niles kissed her again.

"Can you two at least wait until you get home to do that?!" Noel let out a groan looking at his watch. "I so need call my wife…What the hell did you give Diane?"

"Some truth... the same thing she dumped on me, brother dear."

"You could have put it more gently, Caca."

"I could do a lot of things ‘gently’, but I won’t." C.C. let out a sigh turning towards Noel. "Sam is Mac’s son."

"How in the hell do you know that? They just met one another!" Noel let out a gasp looking towards the sky. "What a moment, do I really want to know?"

"Big sister was boozing it up in Europe of course, and Mac was doing the same. Jasmine got the tape after Gram‘s death… She had no idea who Mac was... course one day she showed it to Lucas."

"Is there something in the water? I need to know." Noel narrowed his eyes watching C.C. chuckle and Niles shake his head.

"What’s worse, the people who can settle all of this for us... are still out of town! We wouldn’t need the damn test if they would only just talk!" C.C. let out a growl as Niles opened the car door.

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Nicholas let out a sigh looking into the mirror. "Is your mother coming?" He turned around and shifted in his tux.

"Grandpa looks silly!" William, one of Thomas’s children, called out in a giggle.

"I’m trying to impress your grandmother… Now out of here you rug rats." Nick let out a sigh watching them leave.

"Wouldn’t it be nice … if Lucas, Jasmine, Samuel, Morgan and the girls called you grandfather too?"

"Thomas…" Nick placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Dad… I think… I know how D.D. found out." Thomas narrowed his eyes glazing into his father’s blue depths.

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"Did you hear what she said to them?!" The little boy started to bang on his helmet. "Did you hear it?"

Nick let out a huge sigh pulling him close. "None of this is your fault son." He mumbled quietly. "I have to give your mother just one night to relax." Images of D.D. and C.C. Babcock being brought inside the E.R. had haunted his dreams. He couldn’t sleep feeling a sense of guilt over C.C.’s words.

"Everything is set up for you." He smiled letting go of his father.

"Thanks son." Nick watched as Thomas Morgan walked long walkway passing his mother and taking the hand of his wife.

Tish jumped up on the deck noticing the candle light dinner and Nick dressed up in the black tux. "Now... What have you done with my husband?"

Nick lifted up one long stem red rose. "Mrs. Morgan will you give me the honor of a dance?"

Tish let out a sigh closing her eyes as Nick’s arms came circling around her.

You’re beautiful that’s for sure

Niles let out a soft sigh leading C.C. into the twins room as they both watched the girls playing with their older sister.

I’m like a bird, I’ll only fly away

Lucas let out a sigh carefully cuddling Rachael while Lucy played with her mother’s hair. He couldn’t wait until he was allowed out of the hospital.

Your faith in me brings me to tears

Jasmine let out a sigh turning around to face a blonde headed young man who walked through door. "S.J.!" She reached out hugging his neck. "Thank god, we have a mess going on here."

D.D. stopped the tape glancing from Mac’s flustered face and then back at the blank television screen. She reached out to touch him and he turned to cradle her face in his hands. He reached out holding her whimpering body against his own. "Shhhhhh."

It’s not that I wanna say goodbye

"We are going back tomorrow, aren’t we?" Tish brushed her cheek against his whispering softly in his ear.

"I wouldn’t be much of a Morgan if I didn’t face the coming storm." Nick smiled brushing his lips against hers. "No more talk about storms… At least not for tonight, my love." He managed his brightest smile and dipped her as another song played out over the CD player.

I’m like a bird, I’ll only fly away

C.C. let out a sigh handing Niles a doll and he smiled as he watched her play house with his girls. She reached out kissing Casey’s head, but felt her heart pound with doubt.

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C.C. let out a sigh pulling the band-aid off her arm. "Can you get the phone for me?" She glanced towards Niles who picked up the ringing telephone.

"Hello?" Niles could tell who it was after the long period of silence. "Hello, Mrs. Babcock."

"Why didn’t you call? Why didn’t SOMEONE CALL ME!" B.B. let out a roar as Niles glanced up towards C.C.

"It’s for you!" Niles tossed the phone towards C.C. who let it drop to the floor. "Caca…." He narrowed his eyes and C.C. let out a hiss picking up the phone.

"Hello Mother."

"Is there a reason you didn’t have Niles call me?" B.B. let out a hiss and C.C. rolled her eyes. "Your father received a call, but I didn’t?"

"I’m sorry mother. I was busy sort of busy at the time." C.C. let out a sigh sitting on the bed taking off a shoe.

"Your sister won’t return my calls, and your father is having a fit!"

"Daddy seemed fine today." C.C. let out a sigh holding the phone away from her ear. "Mother... If you want to come back then you’re more than welcome." Niles quickly entered the room waving his hands wildly.

"What trouble is Diane causing?"

"Define trouble." C.C. let out a giggle as Niles did his best to take the phone away from her.

"She should have stayed in Europe!"

"She should have stayed in exile you mean?" C.C. let out a giggle feeling his hand starting to tease her back.

"Your sister was better off in Europe. All my friends bought jewelry from her, and have been asking me when her Paris store is going to reopen."

"I don’t know mother." C.C. let out a sharp intake of breath as Niles reach out to peal her out of her shirt. She glanced as Niles letting out a soft giggle.

"Are you laughing about this?" B.B. snapped as C.C. dropped the phone.

"Nillllllllles..." She let out a hiss as his lips found hers.

Niles reached down picking up the phone and placing it on the hook then off again. "No more Babcock’s for tonight." He mumbled as his hand found the right spot to tease her.

C.C. felt her body shiver as Niles pushed her onto the bed. "Nil…" He let out a groan of disproval as C.C. mumbled his name. His body used his force against hers leaving her powerless to fight against his desires.

Niles let out a hiss as he felt C.C. jerk his pants downward. They had to remain quiet enough for Noel to sleep. He recalled how C.C. wanted to sound proof their room a few months ago, but he laughed at the idea. He wanted to drive all thoughts and unhappiness from her mind. She was his goddess here, and nothing else mattered. She was wanted, and desired beyond all reason.

C.C. arched up as Niles’s tongue worked its way downward. She let out a whimper as Niles removed each article of clothing that remained on her body. His tongue hitting just the right spot as she let out a soundless cry of pleasure jerking his head back up towards her lips.

Niles moved quickly entering her and pounding all logic out of her brain. He watched as C.C.’s eyes darkened and she wiggled in his arms. "You’re still mine no matter what… remember that…" He mumbled in her ears as he rewarded them both with another half inch.

"Never…" C.C. mumbled doing her best to wiggle out of his grip but he held firm displaying a playful smile. She soon relaxed as she and Niles poured out their souls.

"Witch…" He smiled and rolled onto his back bring her with him.

"Don’t you ever forget it either." C.C. let out a gasp of air and giggled. "You made me hang up on my mother."

"I’ll make you do more than that if you don’t behave." Niles let out a hiss and pinched her rear.

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Lucas let out a growl tossing the magazine across the room. "I need out of HERE!" He turned his head to see his smiling cousin staring back.

"Well well how is the black sheep?!" S.J. reached out taking Lucas’s hand. "Ouch…" He glanced at Lucas’s scar and his leg. "How long are you going to be like this?"

"They promise to get me into a real cast in a few days so I can go home." Lucas folded his arms. "Well... Well look at you."

S.J. looked like his father did at the same age. He flashed a bright smile shaking his head. "I stopped by to help Jas… and Luke, let me tell you something... It’s really strange."

"In this family? Strange is the norm." Lucas let out a chuckle and watched his cousin’s painful expression. "You guys don’t have the results do you? This soon?"

S.J. sat down and took a huge gulp of air. "Okay... We haven’t ruled out anything."

"This doesn’t sound good." Lucas narrowed his eyes. "What is it, man?"

"Grandpa Stuart is related to Aunt C.C. and Aunt D.D."

"So he’s their father, and this was all about….." Lucas stopped himself. "What do you mean they are related?"

"They are related but ... Both C.C. and D.D. are missing the genes that would make Grandpa Stuart their father."

Lucas felt his chest start to tighten. "Jas told mom and D.D. she wouldn’t have these results for weeks!"

"Well she knows this guy who is helping us out, and don’t worry he’ll keep his mouth shut... Hell she was wrapped around him like a… never mind..."

"Ooo so Jasy has a boy friend." Lucas let out a chuckle and glanced at S.J.’s face. "Wait a moment…." Lucas let out a groan his mind racing down his family tree. "Could your results be wrong?"

"I don’t know. I have to get a control study going, and of course this is going to help." S.J. pulled out an old baby book smiling. "I got this from Gram’s estate."

Lucas reached out taking the blue and pink baby books. "How in the hell did you find Gram and Uncle Lucas’s baby books?"

"Luck I guess." S.J. flashed a sly grin. "I have great grandpa John’s book too, and they all have something rather important in them." He opened Lucas Morgan’s book to one of the back pages. "DNA." He tapped at the pieces of baby hair.

"Thank you, Gram." Lucas felt his heart pound. "Is this why Jas said it would take weeks?"

"Yup. It will take time to get the DNA from a hair sample. It might not be enough, that is why I grabbed Lucas’s book as well."

"I don’t know… I got a bad feeling no matter what happens someone is going to be rather unhappy." Lucas’s face twisted in pain. "Have you heard from Nick yet?"

"I’ve been trying to call him. Dad said he was visiting his son for a few days."

"He should be back tonight…. DNA was close, huh? Well I think it’s time someone asks the keeper of Gram’s secrets what the hell is going on." Lucas felt his mind race.

"I doubt he’ll talk to us. You know my dad keeps on telling me that servants have a code of honor about keeping secrets."

"Luckily I happen to know a servant who might get him to open up."

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Niles eyed the aging man with a careful eye. He remembered all to well his son’s funeral and how Nick hadn’t uttered a word for three months to anyone but his wife and little Lucy. "You understand that world better than anyone dad, and if you can drive any information from him… It’s going to help mom and Aunt Diane." He let out a sigh hearing Lucas’s words.

"Nick…?" Niles walked up smiling. "How do you like the rent house?" He had driven the man here to show off the house C.C. and Rachael had found. The wheel chair ramps made the six bedroom house cozy.

"It’s Lucas’s style." Nick nodded looking at the wood panels. "I can already see one of the rooms for storing Rachael’s instruments."

"You aren’t sure your staying out here yet?" Niles knew he was on the board with Stuart, but also hears from C.C… Nick was showing up less often.

"No... not yet.. Maybe long enough for Rachael and Lucas to get settled in with Lucy and have the baby. What is the real reason you brought me out here, Niles?" Nick raised his eyebrow turning towards the butler.

"You can tell?" Niles let out a small chuckle. "You know Mac wanted to come with me, but the man is just too damn direct and to…"

"The point?" Nick smirked as Niles let out another deep chuckle.

"Yes…I need your help… C.C. needs your help."

"She has only to ask for it, as always." Nick lead them both outside onto the deck over looking the ocean. He leaned against the railing looking out at the waves.

"Did Tish tell you what C.C. said?" Niles eyed the man carefully, but noticed Nick’s rock solid face. The man had indeed trained himself not to give anything away.

"She did."

Niles let out a grumble C.C. had told him of Nick’s habit of only answering with two or three words at a time when he felt cornered. "Do you know anything? Did Gram know anything? C.C. and D.D. are haunted by the fight they had! D.D. told her that they aren’t Stuart’s daughters! She’s been holding that in for decades. I know I could never betray Mister Sheffield’s secrets, but this is important."

"I know." Nick locked his eyes with Niles and gave him a small sad smile.

Niles let out a grumble wondering if he should have taken the cane Lucas was trying to force into his hands. "Nicholas, you’re not being helpful here!"

Nick watched as Niles’ face darkened. "No."

"No what?"

"No, I can’t tell you." Nick let out a sigh as he tried his best to allow the words to form in his mouth. He wanted to tell Niles the truth, but getting him to open up about his sins was like getting a Babcock away from a bottle of fine gin. He was told his father had the same habit, and it cost Lucas Morgan his life.

Niles watched as Nick’s face twisted and turned into jelly. He could tell the man was haunted by something. "What is it?"

"One sin….or many sins can echo down through the years, and the damage it can cost…" Nick let out a groan of pain. "Just think about Lucas." He glanced at Niles.

Niles felt his stomach jump and recalled the way he had treated C.C. "You had to bring that up didn’t you?"

"Yes." Nick watched as Niles’ face started to grow flush with renewed shame.

"You didn’t have to bring that up." Niles let out a sigh wondering if his face made that ‘puppy’ look that C.C. would always tease him about.

Nick let out a sigh pulling off his wedding ring for just a moment handing it to Niles. "Life is like a ring. Gram kept telling me that." He glanced at Niles who shrugged handing Nick back the silver band. "The mistakes our parents made have a habit of showing up in us."

"I don’t get what you’re saying. What does this have to do with C.C. and D.D.?"

"Everything." Nick reached out padding Niles on the back and walking away leaving Niles shaking his head.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Nick smiled tapping on the door. "Can I come in and see you two?" He popped his head inside the small room.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Nick smirked as Niles walked up beside him. "You don’t give up do you Butler?"

"Only when C.C. orders me to." He smiled and let out a sigh. "They both seem so lost, and now you’re wearing the same expression I’ve seen on my wife’s face these past two weeks."

"I was just thinking about Lucas. I think you need to talk to him and not me." Nick let out a sigh waving towards the car. "I have a lunch date with my wife."

"Lucas???" Niles shook his head. He had seen the poem that Gram had left him, but beyond that what more would Lucas know?

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

C.C. let out a groan walking into the small place D.D. called an office. "Now... Now are you going to hide out all day? You realize your husband was pouting in my office this morning? D.D.?… DIANE!"

D.D. still didn’t move, looking out her window rather than looking at her younger sister.

"I have cheesecake!"

"Niles’ cheesecake?" D.D. slowly turned around in her chair as C.C. put the box down.

"He made it fresh this morning." C.C. sat down letting out a sigh as D.D. pulled out two plates.

"You know what havoc you created the other night?" D.D. narrowed her eyes handing C.C. a fork.

"As Niles would say… DITTO!" C.C. hissed causing D.D. to let out a groan.

"You know my daughter didn’t come by last night. I think she figures it was safer to spend it at the lab with S.J. than near me or Mac."

"He loves you… are you two still…?" C.C. waited as D.D. let out a groan.

"Sleeping apart? As if it’s any of your business!" D.D. hissed putting her fork down for just a moment. "We are for now…"

"God Damn it, do you have to avoid any chance of happiness?"

D.D. let out a sigh shaking her head. "I watched as he placed his head down on Sam’s chest listening to his heart. I wondered why Jasmine borrowed her little brother one day for a class outing. She ran tests on him without my permission."

"I have a question." C.C. narrowed her eyes. "Why do you have to copy everything I do?"

"Pardon?"

"Any dummy can see the similarities between Lucas and Sam." C.C. waved her finger. "No you’re not off the hook! So don’t even ask that question yet. I want to know why you feel the need to copy me?!"

"Maybe I’m not copying you. Maybe we are just following a basic pattern here. Do you have any idea who our real daddy is? No? Then maybe we are just copying HIM!" D.D. glanced back down at the sheet of paper. "Interesting poem Gram left Lucas."

"It’s like she knew we would have our little disagreement." C.C. grumbled digging into the cheesecake.

"Well it was past time someone kicked your ass!" D.D. smirked and C.C. let out a laugh.

"You kicked my ass? The best line you could come up with was… We aren’t Babcock’s!" C.C. waved the fork around.

D.D. let out a sharp hiss and laughed for a moment. "The truth is like burying water… It will not let you win." D.D. felt her body shiver and closed her eyes for a moment. "I’ve heard that somewhere else besides Gram’s poem, and that night."

"Funny thing you should say that." C.C. put down her fork. "So have I but it’s not a saying that Gram used."

C.C. closed her eyes for just a moment. "Nick… Nick has used that saying before."

"For what?" D.D. watched as C.C.’s face became pale. "Chastity?"

"When he was presented to the stock holders meeting as Nicholas Morgan. A reporter asked him how the Babcock and Morgan families kept his identity buried for so long."

"The truth is like burying water, and I’m able to prove my claim." D.D. put aside the cheesecake for a moment. "This could have used some grape jelly."

"I suddenly don’t like where this is going." C.C. leaned back.

"He would never sleep with mother. He and Tish have been married for decades!" D.D. pushed the thought out of her mind for just a moment. "Still … he’s always been there."

"Lucas’s games… Morgan’s first dance…Daddy didn’t even come to those."

"Jasmine’s first birthday. He and Tish showed up with Gram out of the blue." D.D. let out a sigh. "He would NEVER cheat on her."

"How well do we know the man?" C.C. glanced at the clock for a moment. "I’ll call you later, and find that daughter of yours and speed up those results!"

"Where are you going?" D.D. let out a sigh and watched as C.C. opened the door to see Mac standing there.

"Out, and looks like you have a date." C.C. winked pushing Mac inside and closing it shut.

D.D. felt her insides tighten as she glanced up into his wounded eyes. "Hello…"

"We need to talk Diane…" Mac let out a grumble watching D.D.’s eyes drift away from him. "I wish you wouldn’t do that!"

"What…" D.D. stood up and Mac turned her around.

"You’re my wife damn it!"

"We could change that." Diane hissed and Mac reached out kissing her hard not allowing her to say another word. She fought him at first but Mac was strong and determined to get her to surrender to his will. He waited long enough, and when she became putty in his arms he released her.

"You’re mine… "

"Funny that is what my first husband said." D.D. let out a snicker but felt his hands pick her up. "Mac….."

"I know you didn’t know about Sam, and Jasmine came by this morning after you left. She was able to fill me in on other details. You’re not a disgrace Diane, and none of this is your fault. Do NOT push me away now. I’m staying in OUR room tonight."

"Which room would that be?" D.D. smirked as Mac’s eyes glazed over for a moment.

"We could decide that… later…. Tonight." He let out a hiss and nibbled her neck. "I’m not allowing you to escape. I know who you are! I know what I want from you."

"You mean besides my trust fund?" D.D. let out a laugh feeling Mac place her on her desk.

"I have an hour… not another word from you woman!" Mac smiled lowering his lips down upon hers. "Mine…"

"Yeah... Right…" Her eyes glazed cover in a quiet challenge to him.

"We will see…" Mac smiled watching D.D. arch up as he teased her body.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

C.C. glanced towards Lucas and then back into Lucy’s eyes. "What?" She smiled as the little girl giggled.

"Gram! Silly!" Lucy reached out pulling the rubber clown nose from C.C.’s face.

C.C. let out a sigh as the girl hopped down off the bed. "The girls are all playing in the children’s room would you like to come Miss Lucy?" Tish knelt down and picked up the nodding girl.

"Thanks Tish." C.C. smiled and watched as the woman closed the door.

"Have you seen Nick?" Lucas whispered as C.C. shook her head slowly.

"Your father took him out to the house, and he’s been moving your things from New York." C.C. wrapped her arms around her body letting out a sigh. "What am I Lucas?"

"ahhh the question I asked myself every day before Niles Butler finally walked into my life."

"Lucas…"

"I know I’m not helping. Mother I listened to your theory about Nick before Tish showed up here with Lucy, but do you really think he would cheat on her?"

"We all make mistakes." C.C. smiled and let out a sigh.

"We all make mistakes indeed, but could you ever cheat on dad?" Lucas watched as C.C.’s face started to twist in pain. "I remember what you said when Chandler left ..."

"I felt like I was cheating on your father." C.C. mumbled shaking her head. "This is insane."

"I don’t think he could do it." Lucas let out a groan thinking about Jas and S.J.’s first round of DNA testing. "He couldn’t." Lucas mind started to race. *It would indeed explain why they couldn’t rule Stuart out... Because he and Nick are related.*

"She could." C.C. let out a snarl thinking about her mother’s long list of lovers. "The only question is how."

"How much do you... really know about them anyway?" Lucas felt fingers twist and his body ache. "I mean it… Do you know anything about their early marriage?" Lucas frowned looking at his mother’s pale face. "Mother?"

"I feel like hell." C.C. sat down letting out a sigh.

"Why?"

"We might be destroying his marriage thinking this way." C.C. glanced outside and glared back at her son. "Think about it Tate!"

"Think about this mother… if something happened… Tish sooo knows."

C.C. let out a sigh closing her eyes for a moment.

"Sarah’s not going to like this. Do I really need to use the name Morgan for my own protection?" C.C. blinked taking the passport Nick was offering her.

C.C. mouthed the words glancing at Lucas and letting out a soft sharp sob. "I can’t take this!"

Lucas looked around letting out a growl. "Mother… MOTHER!" He reached out with the cane Jas had left poking her with it. "Stop that! It’s no time for you to break down on me!"

"I can’t push this… if it ruins his marriage." C.C. let out a whimper.

"Yeah… but you can let it go, and maybe Aunt Diane will lose it again? What about yourself? Mother... Trust me… You have got to know the truth! I been there remember?"

"Is this the part where you say… I told you so?"

"No this is the part where I say… stand up and fight back!" Lucas let out a growl. "You need information! So… what are you standing around my bed for? Go! DO!" He gave her another poke with the cane. "You must be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause!" Lucas flashed a playful smile watching his mother.

"I…"

"Mother…you can let this drop now, and I can tell Jasmine to stop the tests!"

"NO!" C.C. snarled and narrowed her eyes.

"Now then... I would start searching for some of the old servants… and guess who was a good friend of Nick and Tish…" Lucas couldn’t hide his growing smile.

"Don’t say it…" C.C. rolled her eyes.

"Katherine!"

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

C.C. let out a snarl eyeing D.D. "Your not coming with me! I’m going to London on business."

"Right, and I’m going to Paris to reopen my store." She stood on the runway eyeing her little sister. "I now your ‘reasons’ for going, but you need me!"

"I don’t need you." C.C. turned towards the private plane and heard D.D. letting out a soft laugh.

"You think Katherine is going to see you?" D.D. smiled as C.C. turned around. "I know what you told Niles about going to see a local play. I know what I told Mac… Lucas told me you were going to London for answers so… you need me."

"Ugh! I’m going to kill my son." C.C. waved her onward. "No doubt she’ll avoid both of us."

"Now baby sister…" D.D. smiled but C.C. lifted up her hand.

"This woman annoys me more than YOU do."

"Then you must really like her." D.D. laughed watching C.C. climb into the plane. "I need a manager for my Paris store and she has experience."

"You won’t…"

"I might." D.D. smiled sitting down and buckling her seat. "Would you lighten up?!" She watched as C.C. let out a yelp.

"I hate this woman. She nearly married Niles! I want to grind her into the dirt. I want to twist her into a million pieces."

"Still bitter? You had your flings before Niles."

"I never nearly married them." C.C. closed her eyes fighting a strange wave of dizziness.

"You to?" D.D reached over handing C.C. a Tums. "We could put this off a few days."

"How long have you been waiting for answers?" C.C. tilted her head up and D.D. frowned.

"Decades…"

"Then shut up." She rolled her eyes letting out a sigh. She felt her soul reach out for her armor preparing for battle, but felt her insides shake. "I promised Niles I would go see his parents and …"

"The rest of his family? Geeze they really loved me the last time I saw them." D.D. let out a sigh remember the glances that the Butlers gave her after she admitted to being the one on the table making love to Lord Charles.

"Yeah… Maybe they won’t remember you unless you’re laid out on a wooden table."

"Stop it…" D.D. glared and C.C. rolled her eyes.

"Geeze your no fun." C.C. let out a sigh. "What the hell are we going to talk about being locked together for twelve hours?"

"If Nick is our father… why … why didn’t he tell us?" D.D. glanced down at her wedding ring and then back up into C.C.’s eyes. "Why didn’t he stop all of it?"

C.C. felt teeth grind glancing into D.D.’s eyes. "I don’t know, but once we have hard and solid proof I’m going to be tempted to stuff it down his throat."

"What are you going to do with Katherine?"

"Guns and chains come to mind with that witch." C.C. turned her head as the plane started to take off. "I’ll hold my temper until AFTER she gives us the information… and then big sister... I’m going to grind her into the dust."

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"This was a bad idea Butler." Mac glanced at his foe. "You aren’t going to win against me."

"You started this war." Niles glared back.

"God are they nearly sixty? Or four?" S.J. let out a groan shaking his head at a laughing Jasmine. Niles and Mac where both dressed in the laser tag outfits D.D. had bought for both Justin and Sam running around Lucas and Rachael’s new home.

"It’s too bad that C.C. had to go away on business, and D.D. had to reopen her store." Tish let out a sigh handing Jasmine a drink.

"Well at least we know they won’t kill one another on an airplane." S.J. shook his head. "I should have gone with dad. It’s not often I get to see my little sister."

"It’s been ages since Noel’s brought his family around."

"Dad can hardly keep up with them." S.J. smiled. "You and Nick should drive out with me one week! Dad would love to have us all!"

"We will have to take you up on that offer." Tish winked walking away to join her husband on the floor playing games with Lucy and Morgan.

Lucas wheeled up and down one ramp holding onto a laughing Casey. "Luke!" S.J. waved him over as Jasmine reached out taking her younger cousin from Lucas lap.

"What’s the word?"

"The word is… holy hell…" S.J. mumbled as Lucas waved them into one of the back rooms.

"We tested Grandpa John’s DNA last night." Jasmine rubbed her eyes. She was suffering from lack of sleep after spending days inside a lab and nights studying for tests.

"Well?"

"No connection to either Aunt C.C. or Aunt D.D" S.J. watched as Lucas’s face twisted in pain. "I know that look, I had to stop Jasy here from drinking a bottle of wine last night."

"Mother and Aunt C.C. have only been gone a day." Jasmine let out a sigh. "We need something from you Lucas."

"Anything." Lucas glanced from S.J back towards Jasmine. "Well SPIT IT OUT!"

"We want to run a full DNA scan on C.C…. D.D…. and Nick. It’s the only way we will know for sure." Jasmine let out a sigh. "We are going to need something… blood…or hair from him... you live with the man, at least for now."

"With Nick and Stuart being related are you going to be able to single out…" Lucas opened his mouth and noticed both of his cousins nodding.

"A full scan… Nick might be Lucas Morgan’s son but…"

"The genes he gained from his mother will only show up in Nick, C.C. and mother." Jasmine let out a sigh watching Lucas’s face twist in pain. "It’s the only way we will be one hundred percent sure."

"I’ll get you a comb sometime tonight." Lucas let out a sigh. "It would be a hell of a lot easier if he would just TELL us."

Tish watched joining her husband on the floor. "Those three are plotting again." She waved towards S.J., Jasmine and Lucas coming out of one of the rooms and into the hall.

Nick narrowed his eyes glancing at Lucas. "He had that same look when he narrowed in on Niles…" He mumbled shaking his head.

"BUTLER!" Mac managed to jump over the gaming board and head to the outside.

"Should we allow them to kill one another?" Tish let out a laugh and noticed that Niles had traded in his laser tag weapon for one of the super soakers.

"Muahahah!" Niles let out an evil laugh hitting the man square in the chest with a steady stream of water.

"Mm… dad and Mac trying to out do one another." Lucas wheeled over to get a better look outside. "I got twenty bucks on dad."

"I’m not making a bet with you." Nick glared at Lucas. "You always seem to win."

"That is because… my dear, dear Nicholas... Sooner or later… I always win…I get that from my… Mother..." Lucas smirked and held out a bowl full of candy.

Nick glanced towards his wife who let out a groan. "No thanks."

"Come on Lucy... Let’s go keep uncle Mac and Grandpa from killing themselves." Lucas reached out and Tish helped the little girl onto her father’s lap.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Robert Butler had been expecting his sister in-law to stop by but was shocked to see D.D. Babcock Forest "C.C." He smiled putting down a bowl of soup. "Shall I get one for your lovely sister?"

C.C. nodded and watched as Robert walked away. "Dear God he looks bloody awful." C.C. let out a sigh glancing down at the soup. It still tasted like tear drops from heaven as she swirled her spoon around recalling earlier times.

"Niles said his brother had a heart attack last year." D.D. frowned watching C.C.’s worried expression. "Hey… Katherine? Remember?"

"Yeah… Robert!" C.C. stood up walking over towards the corner. "I need some help."

"Anna will be here in an hour. I’m sure she’s more useful than I am." Robert winked but felt C.C.’s hand touch his. "What’s wrong?" He glanced into her eyes and saw her soul twisting pain.

"I need to find, Katherine."

"God lord what are you going to do to the woman?" Robert let out a chuckle and C.C. rolled her eyes. "I know what’s going on… C.C…. I talked with Niles last night."

"Where is she, Robert?" C.C. let out a sigh watching his face. "I’m not going to kill her or anything."

"Yeah baby sister only tries to kill family members." D.D. let out a soft laugh and C.C. glared at her.

"She runs a shop downtown." Robert let out a sigh pulling out a pencil. "Anna runs into her quite often."

C.C. flashed the address to D.D. who nodded. "Yup that’s the shop."

"C.C…. Her husband died last year so go easy on her."

"Easy… mmmmm…" C.C. nodded her head as Robert walked away grumbling. C.C. stared, then shook her head, and then felt D.D.’s foot kick her leg. "WHAT was that for?"

"That’s for lying to him." D.D. snickered taking in another spoon full of soup.

"Well... I didn’t LIE to him... They just wouldn’t allow me to bring my gun on the plane like I planed." C.C. glanced down at the soup letting out a sigh. She heard the echoes of the past hover in her mind.

"You could stay with Maxwell and I rather than Oxford." Sara felt a rush of guilt over take her. She knew B.B. Babcock had kept C.C. on a short leash but feared what the summer of ‘freedom’ might do.

"Are you alright?" D.D. poked her sister. "You were a million miles away for a moment."

"I was just remembering something I once told Sarah." C.C. glanced down into the bowl. "I wanted to walk in different shoes…" C.C. let out a laugh glancing out the window into the crowded London street. "I wonder what Sarah would say about all this now?"

"Get over yourself?" D.D. smiled and C.C. let out another laugh.

"It’s a new start. If all of it’s true." C.C. let out another sigh and dipped her spoon back inside the bowl. "Eat up… Niles doesn’t make soup this good."

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

C.C. glanced around the shop letting out a snarl at all the fabrics she came across. It was clear that Katherine was at last trying to make something out of herself beside being a common servant. "The woman has taste." D.D. commented glancing around the floor. "I’ll give her that much."

"Where is my gun when I need it?" C.C. groaned as a sales person came up to greet the pair.

"Can I help you ladies?" The woman walked up smiling and glancing from C.C. and then to D.D.

"We are here for your boss." C.C. couldn’t hide the snarl from her voice.

"Pardon?"

"Do I have to spell it out for you? K-A-T-H-E…" C.C. didn’t get a chance to finish as the woman quickly escaped into a back room.

"I think that was something less that civil." D.D. smirked and turned as the sales woman came back waving them onward.

"She’ll be here in a moment….Mrs.???" She turned towards D.D. who smiled.

"Forest, and that’s my sister." D.D. watched as the woman disappeared into a room.

"Smooth…." C.C. mumbled eyeing D.D.

"Well if I used the word ‘Babcock’ …" D.D. shut up as the woman returned with …. HER… Katherine stood before them with long graying hair. She still had enough red in her hair to make her look young but they could both clearly see the signs of ageing.

"We will talk about this later Janet." Katherine glared at the woman who quickly backed out of the room shutting the door.

"Well ... well the little maid has started making a name for herself." C.C. couldn’t control herself. "Does it take away the pain of loosing Niles?"

D.D. let out a groan as Katherine narrowed her eyes for just a moment. "To what do I owe this pleasure of the whoring Babcock sisters?"

"Well… whore isn’t exactly the word I would use." D.D. managed her best smile.

"What word would you use? You’re as famous as your mother." Katherine put her hands on her hips.

"I would use something like… well traveled…." D.D. smiled keeping C.C. back away with one hand.

"What do you two want? I have a business to run."

"A business I could ..." C.C. let out a hiss as D.D. glared at her.

"Remember dirt after information." D.D. glanced at her and then back towards Katherine. "We need information about Nick and Tish."

"Despite what Nicholas did to me… I’m still friends with them. Tish writes me a lovely letter every month. She has enough common sense to keep your names out of them." Katherine glared towards a grumbling C.C. "I’m not betraying my friends."

"Nicholas told me a few years ago what he did." C.C. finally stepped forward whispering in Katherine’s ear. "He dragged you to that bar so you could see something rather interesting."

"Shut up…" Katherine groaned shaking her head.

"So how’s that family you and Niles started? Wait a moment! That’s right! It’s MY FAMILY…!" C.C. felt the push against her shoulders as Katherine let out a roar.

"Go LEAVE…!"

"Wait a moment…" D.D. glared back towards C.C. "I didn’t spend years tearing myself apart to have you blow this for us now. I know you HATE this woman and maybe even with good reason but…"

"Diane!" C.C. growled softly.

"Control YOURSELF…." D.D. let out a snarl turning back around. "There is something they wouldn’t tell us, but they might tell a good friend…. We need to know about Tish and Nicholas’s marriage."

"Why would I betray them?"

"Turn about is fair play? Nick stabbed you in the back showing you that bar." D.D. was making this all up as she went along. She had no idea what Nick showed her, but could see it was a sore point for Katherine. "Do you know anything… about their marriage?"

"What are you looking for?" Katherine let out a sigh shaking her head. "The only thing I know they had only two rough patches."

"Those were?" D.D. waited as Katherine rolled her eyes.

"Tish left him early in their marriage, and then when their sons died." Katherine watched and was shocked to see the pain on C.C.’s face.

"When?"

"I don’t know... I didn’t push Tish!" Katherine glanced at her watch. "Is there anything else? I have a meeting in a few moments."

"Yeah... This…" C.C. reached out and her fist connected with Katherine’s jaw. D.D. watched as the woman tumbled over mountains of fabric and she let out a sigh.

"Are you done?" D.D. groaned looking at her own watch.

"I’m done… for now…" She hissed towards Katherine and followed her sister outside. "I broke a NAIL!" She stopped eyeing her nail letting out a sigh.

D.D. felt her cell phone ring and pulled it out. "Forest…"

"Tina Jameson… She was one of the cooks who worked for John Babcock." Thomas Morgan’s voice was soft.

D.D. stood still and C.C. glanced at her. "Diane?"

"Who is this? Where do I find this person?" D.D. waved C.C.’s hand away.

"She lives in a small cabin… In Maine, it was a gift from Gram… I’ll give you the address if you have a pen." Thomas let out a sigh feeling his heart pound.

"Tommy?" D.D. had last spoken with Thomas Morgan at the funeral for his brothers. She quickly wrote down the address and felt C.C. trying to jerk the cell phone away from her. "Tommy! You can…" She blinked eyeing the phone. "He hung up…."

"Great… off to Maine…" C.C. let out a hiss shaking her head.

"Do you feel better at least?" D.D. smirked as C.C. let out a whimper.

"Honestly? No… I should have brought my gun."

"… Tish left Nick…." D.D. closed her eyes as the limo pulled away. "I’m going to need a drink..."

"Oh no! Not until we have all our answers… D.D.?" C.C. blinked noticing her sister slumping over in her seat. "Diane? DIANE?"

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"She’ll be fine." Robert let out a groan as C.C. was pacing up and down. "Shouldn’t you call her husband or Niles?" Robert glanced towards his wife who let out a sigh.

"C.C.?"

"D.D. begged me not to when she came to." C.C. let out a sigh shaking her head. She felt her head pound and the earth twist under her.

"Maybe you should see a doctor while you’re here? You’ve been under a great deal of stress!" Robert let out a sigh watching as C.C. waved him away.

C.C. glanced at the doctors and let out a sigh. "Well? WELL?"

"Mrs. Butler, your sister is going to be fine, but she should watch her blood pressure a woman with her condition..."

"What condition?" C.C. rolled her eyes wondering what other detail D.D. had kept from her.

"She’s at a high risk at her age with the baby."

Robert overhearing let out a chuckle and C.C. blinked. "Baby?"

"Yes... You can see her, and I’ll get the release forms. Try your best to keep her clam over the next few days." The man smiled walking away.

"Robert…" C.C. tilted her head. "Not a word."

Robert shook his head eyeing his wife. "I have twenty pounds saying C.C. is pregnant as well."

"Why?" His wife let out a soft laugh.

"Look at her!" Robert pointed towards where C.C. once stood. "Both of them have been ghostly white since walking in our place."

C.C. opened the door to find her sister with a head over her pillow. She quietly sneaked up pushing down on it. "SIS! Are you crazy?"

C.C. let out a chuckle and removed the pillow. "Have you been crying?"

"No… yes…." D.D. whimpered letting out a sob. "I can’t be pregnant… I’ll be… in my sixties then they leave for college."

"Like that is any different than Sam." C.C. rolled her eyes. "What’s really wrong?"

"I don’t know what I am, and …"

"Diane… It will be alright." C.C. reached out touching her forehead. "Strangely enough you still have me."

"Does that mean you forgive me?" D.D. let out a whimper and C.C. grumbled.

"Hell no! It does mean that I have to wait to kick your ass for another, what... Eight months? Are you up to getting on a plane tomorrow?"

"Scared that Katherine called the police for your assault?" D.D. managed a soft slow smile.

"That and I’m dieing for a Maine lobster."

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Lucas let out a sigh watching the waves. "It sounds peaceful here." He always had a habit of keeping his eyes closed. It was his way of bonding with Rachael.

"I have never seen your mother so torn." Niles leaned over the side glancing out at the blue waves. "I look at her and she’s struggling to come to terms with it. Her world has been nothing but chaos since D.D. told her."

"I rather like the chaos…" Lucas let out a chuckle and Niles glanced at him. "Don’t get me wrong I like knowing, but it can empower you! Mother loves yelling at actors and directors... That’s just another form of chaos."

Niles shook his head letting out a chuckle. "Did you like not knowing?"

"No." Lucas smiled shifting in his wheel chair. "I did let it empower me though. I was carrying on willing to risk anything just to know who you were."

"Your mother already has a good idea that it’s Nick."

"I have known him my whole life, and this puzzles me." Lucas let out a sigh. "He has to know this is going on around him, and yet he is just letting it happen without saying a word. This can’t be what Gram talked about… when she used to tell me sometimes you should just ‘Let events happen’ I don‘t think she had this in mind."

"He’s struggling as well. Think of all the years he spent watching your mother and aunt grow up under B.B. and Stuart’s guidance. Think about what that would be like if Lucy was being raised by someone else." Niles let out a sigh trying to picture the girls being raised by another couple. "Then they frame their adulthood with the phrase ’No one messes with a Babcock!’"

"Grandpa Stuart… How long has he known? He has to know as well." Lucas shook his head. "This is going to get messy before it gets any better."

"Out of fire and chaos comes…"

"Hell?" Lucas let out a laugh watching his father smile. "Come on…" He waved his father onward and started to move his chair towards the house.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"I’m the one who is pregnant here but you keep on getting sick." D.D. let out a hiss as C.C. returned from the bushes.

"I didn’t think she lived out in the woods! Geeze!" C.C. and D.D. had been walking a mile along a dirt walkway. "It would have freaking helped if we could have driven the car here!"

"It reminds me of the forests Paul used to sneak me away to." D.D. let out a sigh breathing in deeply.

C.C. blinked looking into her sister’s eyes. "You never talked about your little race car driver before."

"He’s the only one who kept me from going over the edge back then. I told him everything." D.D. waved towards the distance. "We are close!"

C.C. narrowed her eyes seeing the small old woman waving towards them. "Dear God she’s four hundred!"

"AH! That’s nearly one hundred to you! I might be old deary but my hearing is fine!" The woman slowly walked down the stairs waving her hand. "Let me look at you!" She reached out eyeing D.D. and then C.C. "Yes I see it! Come on in! I have soup on the stove, and both of you will be spending the night."

"We can’t…" C.C. let out a groan as D.D. shot her a look.

"Course you can!" The woman hissed opening the door. "Tommy said you wanted answers and it’s going to take more than a few hours to tell you everything I know."

They both walked into the cabin to the smells of home cooking and a strange protective warmth. "We are in the freaking stone age." C.C. looked around and heard the woman laugh.

"Your Gram loved this place!" The woman waved towards the table. "Come on girls! Help me set up the table! I can’t talk on an empty stomach."

C.C. let out a sigh glancing towards D.D. "Guess we have no choice."

They both let out a sigh helping the woman with a series of mix and match plates. C.C. let out a groan as the woman came out with freshly baked bread and a few pots of some type of hot liquid that she called ‘stone soup.’ Shockingly enough, the dinner was wonderful and she even had a few honey cakes and something that passed for coffee. "Now… You have questions! Thomas says you need help."

*Jasmine let out a sigh watching the computer run the matches yet again with her cousin S.J hovering over her.*

"How do you know Tommy?" D.D. narrowed her eyes.

"Blah! They been coming here for years! I can always expect Nicholas or Tish… or one of the boys here." The woman let out a sigh. "So sad about the car wreck… When young people die and I’m still here makes me wonder about God’s plan!" The woman shook her head pulling out a huge pipe.

"We want to know who we are."

"Why are you asking questions you already know the answers to?" Tina winked blowing out a smoke ring.

*Jasmine held her breath watching as the genes started to match up. "You can breathe cous." S.J. put a hand on her back.*

"MY dear God you sound like Gram." C.C. rolled her eyes holding her head.

"You have her look." Tina reached out touching C.C.’s chin. "I see the light in your eyes that Lucas so loved."

"Who?" D.D. blinked.

"Jasmine." The woman let out a soft laugh. "She had captured Lucas’s heart the moment she walked into the household. She was a woman men chased after!" Tina tapped her pipe. "I see it in both of you! How that man loved her, and how she loved him. Jasmine didn’t die in childbirth, that girl died of a broken heart."

"How do you know... That?"

"I know what I know because I caught your mother and Nicholas together. I didn’t say anything, and I’ll spare you the details. A servant didn’t betray his or hers masters. I did turn to Miss Lucy trying to help her find Tish… That boy was so messed up! Master John not only called him a bastard, but accused Lucas of raping his mother. What’s worse, his wife started to think HE was having an affair with Lucy." The woman let out a laugh. "A lie planted by B.B. Babcock herself!"

*S.J watched pointing out the results as the screen singled a match.*

"How do you know?" C.C. felt her lips tighten into a thin line.

"Master Stuart was always off, and every woman wanted Nicholas. He was a Greek god back in his day!" The woman stood up reaching for a book. "He was every bit Lucas Morgan’s son." She opened the bag to a black and white photo of Nicholas and Tish. "Your mother was nothing more than a hunter waiting her chance. It annoyed her that Nick and Stuart had been childhood friends."

"Friends?" D.D. let out a groan unable to picture it.

"Ha! You didn’t think they always hated one another? Nick was always under foot and by Lucy’s side. Stuart was always by Nick’s side. While Stuart got the best of everything.. Nicholas had to fight for every scrape of affection."

"You caught them?" C.C. narrowed her eyes. "When?"

*"Are you okay?" S.J. watched as Jasmine’s lip started to tremble.*

"Nicholas started drinking heavily, and well.. She was always around him! She really had no shame. Nicholas was determined to destroy himself. " Tina shook her head.

"Why… why... didn’t he...?" D.D. let out a whimper.

"Claim either of you? How could he? He had no real proof but a gut feeling. Your blood test would have come back showing ya could have been either Stuart’s or Nicholas’ daughters."

"But he knew…" C.C. pushed a fork into the cake.

"He knew… A soul can feel the pull. Don’t tell me you two didn’t know all this time? What kind of servant runs to baseball games? What kind of servant flies across the ocean to attend a child’s first birthday?" The woman let out a sigh.

"He… he... helped me choose Jasmine’s name." D.D. let out a whimper.

"Then came the odd things. The fact that B.B. would always allow him near each of you. She could do the math! She was no where near Stuart when she made both of you."

*"We better call Lucas… or tell him in person… The results are final Nick is our grandfather." Jasmine put her head on the desk letting out a quiet sob wondering how her mother was going to take the news.*

"If you talk about my mother and sex... I’m going to get sick again." C.C. put her head on the table.

"It was three years before Tish came back. The boy had to fight to regain her trust. I think the last time he slept with B.B. he made you." Tina winked towards a white C.C.

"Does Tish know?"

"Course a wife knows!" Tina shook her head. "You think that he could hide you away?" Tina let out a sigh. "Come on children… I will show you a warm and cozy bed. Sleep is needed... You both look rather pale."

C.C. wrapped herself in the huge blanket reaching over towards the spot Niles normally filled. She couldn’t sleep without him. Always when she had been forced away on business she would have restless nights. She sat up wandering into the huge front room. "Diane?" She turned noticing her sister in front a cozy fire. "Are you okay?"

"Mother said it wouldn’t matter. She demanded my silence and my loyalty. All I wanted to know was the truth." D.D. glanced out into the fire watching it twist and turn. "All I ever wanted was his name."

C.C. sat down on the floor frowning.

"I slept with men... I embraced anything to take away the stain of my exile… I did drugs." She narrowed her eyes looking into her sister’s "Yes... Sweet baby sister... I wanted to die."

"When?"

"Two months after my affair with Lord Charles I needed up on the wrong side of things in France... then a man came out of no where… he didn’t care what my last name was… so I used the name Morgan... God he loved me and I loved him... Paul gave me... happiness but it was all over too soon, and yet again mother had her way when she found out I was pregnant."

"Diane… I…"

"Daddy knew... Daddy told me to leave mother alone and to be happy. He wanted me to stop asking questions. He said I should forget everything I heard. Then he allowed mother to send me away." D.D.’s lower lip started to tremble.

C.C. reached out touching her sister’s cheek. D.D. was mumbling madly letting out the pain of years spent away.

"He didn’t even come get me for Christmas… He came for you and Noel but told me that the ice storms were too bad in New York. I was left alone crying in my room. I wanted my family. Then I saw you and Noel again… you had such a tie to him, but I was left on my own… I was the lone wolf... The pack went on without me, and I was left with no armor and no idea who I was."

"Nick has a lot to answer for."

"What about daddy? He knew and didn’t tell me. I begged him Chastity, and all he could say is that I was his. Then I was sent away."

"We will figure it out." C.C. hated tender moments, and the fact she was watching D.D. break down was crippling her. "Remember... no one messes with us."

"No one messes with a Babcock, but what are we?"

"Two pissed off women? Come on… we will find a way." C.C. reached out hugging her tightly. "This doesn’t mean I like you."

"Hate you too baby sister." D.D. let out a whimper, and C.C. found herself crying.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"There isn’t enough liquor in this place to make me happy." Jasmine held up the beer taking another gulp. She sat back on her cousin’s couch and watched as Lucas held onto Rachael.

"Where are Nick and Tish?"

"They went to a birthday party for one of their grandchildren... or should I say my cousin." Lucas took another drink and Rachael reach out taking a gulp from the same bottle.

"Getting the baby drunk are we?" Jasmine smiled teasing Rach.

"One sip won’t hurt, and besides I was just thinking about Nick and Tish."

"It’s strange how ... well I’m just going to say this... Grandpa Nick isn’t around while we explode." Lucas let out a groan shaking his head.

"How are we going to tell mother and C.C.?" Jasmine reached out taking another beer.

"From behind bullet proof glass?" S.J. smiled as Lucas let out a roaring laugh.

"Well said…"

"You know I made a joke with Gram before she died. I said in this family I wondered what truth serum could do if we all came together for a family reunion." S.J. let out a laugh. "The woman left me some!"

"Did not!" Jasmine sat up.

"Would it harm anyone?" Lucas sat up still holding onto his wife.

"Tate you’re not considering it?" Rach let out a laugh placing a tender hand on her husband’s growing smile.

"Hell yes I am! Is it near here? Can you get a hold of it in the next few days?"

"Lucas... it would take time, and well God knows where Grandma B.B. is and Grandpa is back in New York." S.J. let out a groan. "Dad is back home in Boston."

"Mother and Aunt C.C. are still away for another two days." Jasmine watched as Lucas started wiggle in his chair shifting Rachael around.

"What can we use to bring everyone together?" S.J. narrowed his eyes in on Rach’s belly. "Your not going to pop any moment are you?"

"Nooo I Still have another month." Rach’s face twisted in pain.

"Damn! Your kid needs to have your timing." S.J. leaned back in his chair letting out a sigh.

"Wait a moment." Jasmine smiled leaning up. "Baby shower."

"Baby shower?" Lucas let out a sigh eyeing the sky. "That is such a chick thing!"

"A lot of people now throw baby showers, and they aren’t just for women!" Jasmine rolled her eyes. "It would be a way to gather the family under one roof."

"It’s evil…" Rachael let out a laugh.

"It’s twisted." Lucas narrowed his eyes.

"It’s perfect." S.J. let out a laugh watching Jasmine lower her head. "How much have you had?"

"Seven!" Jasmine let out a giggle leaning on her cousin. "I need to go find Bret!"

"Bret? Is that his name?" Lucas let out a laugh as S.J. stood up.

"Yes! I soooo need to find him!" Jasmine stood up letting out a giggle and falling onto S.J.

"No you don’t." Lucas let out a laugh and whispered something in Rach’s ear.

"I’ll talk to Mac and fix it all, but tonight... I’m going to get laid!" Jasmine left the room towards the front door.

"Is she going to be alright?" Rachael said softly in Lucas’s ear.

"Lawrence is waiting outside. Something in the way Jasmine gave him a look tonight I think gave her away." S.J. shook his head. "I’ll make sure she gets home in one piece."

"I’ll give you a call tomorrow, man." Lucas smiled as S.J. followed Jasmine out the door.

"Is she going to be alright?" Rachael asked again.

"No and yes." Lucas let out a sigh.

"What about you?" Rachael’s hand traced his scarred chin. "Are you going to be alright?"

Lucas narrowed his eyes smiling. "It’s a good thing Nick and Tish wanted to take Lucy to this party." His hand snaked around teasing her.

"Lucas!"

His lips brushed against hers. "I haven’t hand the chance to attack my wife, and Jasmine isn’t the only one who’s getting laid tonight." He let out a chuckle wheeling her towards the back room.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"Your color is better this morning." Tina stood out on her patio smiling. Her hands brushing C.C.’s cheeks. "You should really take one of those silly tests!"

C.C. let out a mumble. "How can you tell?"

"Back in my day we just had our gut feeling! Anyway your sister still seems haunted and distant." Tina shook her head.

"D.D.? DIANE?" C.C. called out inside the small cabin letting out a sigh.

"Give me a minute!" D.D. roared back.

"Is there anything else you want to know before you leave this for the storm?" The woman smiled and C.C. twisted her hands.

"How did Gram ruin her knee?"

"Do you know how Lucas died?" Tina raised her eye brow and noticed C.C. shaking her head. "Peter Morgan hated Jasmine, but could not stop Lucas from wanting to marry her… So he set out an impossible challenge for his son… He had brought a wild mare to the estate and told Lucas if he dared to tame her... then he could have Jasmine." Tina let out a sigh looking out into the woods. "So Lucas tried, and failed.. He received a kick to the head and died a few days later."

"I…" C.C. opened her mouth but Tina quieted her.

"Then Jasmine told Lucy about the child she was expecting. Lucy walked out when her father was going to kill the horse out of grief. She managed to jump on its back and held on for dear life. Master Peter was in terror… The mare rolled and tossed crushing Lucy’s knee." Tina dug in her pockets pulling out her pipe. "It was then Lucy declared that Jasmine’s child would have the Morgan name." The woman lit her pipe letting out a sigh. "Peter, having lost his son and seen his daughter crippled blamed Jasmine and her unborn. He allowed in his will for the baby to claim his name once the last Morgan was put the rest. When Lucy died… Nicholas and his family were able to claim the name because of Peter’s will."

C.C. held onto the rail glancing out into the woods.

"Do you hate him?"

"I’m not sure what I feel." C.C. lowered her eyes. "Rage, depression, anger, and then I remember how he helped me a hundred different times." C.C. glanced down at her hands. "He remained silent… never saying a word! When should I say something to him?"

"You will know soon enough. Lucy loved you!" Tina reached out touching C.C.’s shoulder. "She saw a spark of herself in your eyes…. so... you will know when the time comes to drag him into the light of day!"

D.D. came out holding her cell phone to her ear. "We are leaving now, why?"

"We are holding a baby shower for Lucas and Rach as soon as you come back." Jasmine’s voice sounded soft and wounded. "Tomorrow… Grandpa Stuart is already on his way."

D.D. glared at C.C. letting out a laugh. "Grandpa Stuart is on his way to a baby shower for your son and daughter in-law."

"Great… what we really need." C.C. let out a sigh reaching out shaking the woman’s hand. "Thank you!"

"Tell Tommy that I’ll send his cakes soon enough." The woman winked walking back inside.

"Mother’s coming?" D.D. let out a hiss shaking her head as they both started to walk down the road.

"It wouldn’t be a party without the whole family." Jasmine let out a small laugh.

C.C. reached over pulling the phone out of D.D.’s ear. "What the hell are you up to?"

"Hello Aunt C.C… I need a promise from you two..."

"I’m not making any promises right now." C.C. snarled glancing down the road.

"Auntie….."

"Alright I promise to leave my gun at home. Will that cover it?" C.C. let out a mumble watching D.D. walk a little faster.

"That will do!"

"Jas? Jas?" C.C. grumbled shutting the phone. She raced to keep up with D.D. "Are you alright?" She handed back the cell phone.

"No…"

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Mac walked down the stairs letting out a huge sigh to find his step daughter downstairs sitting alone at the table. "Jas?" He walked into the kitchen. "Lawrence has left to get everything you need, but why that long face?"

Jasmine Babcock closed her eyes trying to drive images from her brain. Her head pounded trying to remind her of her hangover this morning. "Mac… tomorrow is going to be bad… I just got off the phone with Uncle Niles… "

Mac let out a sigh sitting down and noticing the little birds she was folding out of paper. "What’s on the paper?" He started to unfolded it and let out a sharp hiss.

"Bad…" Jasmine took another sip of her beer shaking her head.

"Your mother is going to be here in an hour. Are you going to be done with your party favors before then?"

"Are you inviting Bret to this?" Mac smiled and Jasmine let out a groan.

"Lucas hired some clown to keep the kids busy when we … never mind… you don’t want to know what we have planed."

"Knowing Lucas it will be highly entertaining." Mac let out a laugh.

"I better go sober up." Jasmine stumbled picking up the little birds she had been folding. She let out one muffled cry as her feelings started to pour forth.

"Shhh." Mac reached out taking the young woman into his arms.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"My mouth kinda tastes like truth." S.J. playfully took another sip of the ‘adult’s only’ punch.

Jasmine let out a giggle and glanced out at the room. "It seems that everyone has gone to their separate corners."

"They see the storm that is about to happen." Lucas took another sip letting out a groan watching Rachael open another gift from B.B. "Yet like moths to the flame they can’t help but stick around for the dinner show."

"You mean we get dinner and a SHOW?" S.J. let out a chuckle taking another sip.

"Grandmother has yet to drink any." Jasmine let out a hiss reaching out to get an empty cup and fill it.

"Jas?" Lucas reached out touching his younger cousin’s hand.

"I’m going in…" She winked walking away from them.

"Your mother looks ready to attack." S.J. let out a sigh and turned his head to watch Noel play with his little girl.

"Your step-mother had enough common sense to stay away." Lucas followed his cousin’s gaze.

"She has one rule, never be in the same room with Grandmother." S.J. let out a laugh taking another sip. "Is she drinking it yet?"

Lucas glanced and noticed that B.B. had indeed started to sip and drink from the glass. "Yes…"

S.J. blew a whistle as two clowns entered the room with Lawrence close behind. They watched as the children all started to leave the room. "Daddy?" Lucy walked up kissing Lucas’s hand. "I go see clowns! You take care of Gram..!"

"Always…" Lucas put a hand on his daughter and watched as she followed Morgan. He glanced at the clock watching the minutes tick by before Jasmine and S.J.’s speech.

"Why didn’t you two invite more people?" B.B. walked up to the smiling trio.

"Surely Maxwell and Fran at least!" Stuart chimed in hearing his ex-wife’s comment.

"Sit down and enjoy the show." Jasmine smiled leading B.B. and Stuart back to a chair.

C.C. let out a sigh holding Niles’ hand. "Are you alright?" He had noticed that pained expression on her face since she had come home last night.

"I will be…" She whispered so softly Niles barely heard her as Thomas Morgan sat down beside them. "Tommy…"

"I hope you found everything alright in Maine?" Thomas watched as C.C. nodded slowly.

"Thank you…"

"I’m….Sorry…"

"Maine?" Niles blinked. "You went to Maine?"

"I’ll tell you later." C.C. shifted as S.J. stood up on the table pounding on a glass.

"I would like for us to toast. Here is to …" S.J. smiled as Jasmine let out a laugh.

"Truth!" She let out a howl. She picked up the paper birds that were all over the table unfolding it. "If you notice I have party favors for you."

It took a few moments for the guests to read the DNA results. For a moment you could drop a needle in the room.

"This is… IS!" B.B. stood up letting out a scream of injustice she couldn’t quite spit out.

"Sit down mother." D.D. lifted up her head feeling Mac’s arm around her shoulder.

Nick stood up unable to move since the room was glaring at him. His face started to flush with shame and he felt powerless to move. C.C. finally stood up coming towards the man.

"Everyone... Together! Baa Baa black sheep…" C.C. couldn’t hide her hurt tone glancing into the man’s eyes. C.C. glanced around the room at the quiet gathering. "Nothing?" She glanced towards Nick who remained quiet.

Nick felt his wife’s hand reach for his but he did nothing, remaining frozen in place.

"The silent son... there you stand…you remained quiet as B.B. used us... used D.D. and me." C.C. felt her eyes starting to water and forced back the tears. "Nothing?" She walked around him now.

"C.C.!" Stuart stood up now letting out a yelp. "I don’t know what …"

"You know! YOU KNOW! Diane came to you begging for answers... begging for understanding and what did you do? What... WHAT DID YOU DO…?" C.C. felt her insides jump and twist.

"Kitten…." Stuart lowered his eyes glancing at his feet.

C.C. heard sudden movement and glanced around to see Nick was lowering himself to his chair. "I’m not done with you, Nicholas." She quickly turned to face her father once more. "What… did you…do?"

Stuart reached out touching her shoulders and C.C. brushed him away. "You sent her away. We all got sent away…" C.C. turned around to glance at Nick. "Nothing?" She walked up towards him. "When I became pregnant with Lucas was that a good time? No? What about when D.D. wrote back to the family that… what were your words Diane?" C.C. glanced up at the ceiling and then over towards Mac and D.D.

"Babcock family be damned." D.D. couldn’t raise her head feeling Mac’s arms around her.

"Nothing?" C.C. walked around him. "Gram once told me a half truth might as well be a lie…What about when I ended up at the hospital? You and Gram along with Lucas were the only family who showed up the first week… Not then? When your sons passed away... my brothers…. Was that a good time? No?" C.C. paced around Nick feeling like a cat teasing with their prey.

Lucas reached out for a popcorn bowl chewing on a few pieces and passing it between Jas, S.J. and Rachael.

"C.C…" Tish stood up and C.C. glared at the woman for a moment.

"You knew all this time." C.C. looked into Tish’s eyes. "You knew from the moment you walked back into his life didn’t you?"

"I…" Tish felt cornered watching C.C.’s terrible gaze.

"DIDN’T YOU!"

"Yes! I knew, but it wasn’t up to me to tell you." Tish let out a soft whimper and felt Nick guide her down gently to her seat.

"Don’t yell at her." Nicholas glanced towards C.C. with narrowed eyes.

"Gram rode a horse so that one day you might have your name. What did you do for us?" C.C. watched as Nick lowered his gaze again.

"You should have kept your mouth shut Diane!" B.B. hissed and C.C. quickly turned towards her mother.

"Yes... Let’s keep our mouth shut in this family. Who am I to judge? I mean... what would my mother have done if I have told her some truths?" C.C. walked over forcing B.B. to her feet. "Did you want to destroy a marriage just to stick it to daddy?"

"He was always away…"

"So… that was a good reason to sleep with someone else? Course it was just the first in a long line of…" C.C. felt B.B.’s hand rise backwards and braced for the impact. She blinked shocked to see Thomas Morgan’s hand holding B.B.’s

"No…" Thomas hissed and B.B. dropped her hand.

"This party is over." Mac stood up letting out a hiss. "Get the hell out of my house." He glared at Stuart, Nick, Tish and B.B.

"Woah… we should have that stuff at every family party." S.J. let out a gasp. "Luke?" He watched as Lucas waved Rachael quickly and placed her on his lap as Mac started to throw the people out. "What is he doing?"

"Trying to save us from chaos." Jasmine let out a sigh.

C.C. felt the world tumble around her as Niles wrapped his arms around her. Noel came up beside her mumbling something. The energy drained from her body as she closed her eyes and was lowered to a seat.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Lucas had to race to beat them home. He wasn’t even supposed to driving his car! He had left Rachael and Lucy at Mac’s home letting out a gasp he felt this broken leg pound in pain as he heard the movement in their room and waited in the doorway. He let out a sigh hearing the song that was playing on the radio someone had left on.

Come to me now

He remained in the doorway as Nick walked out with his bags packed and Tish’s hand in his. He stood there frozen to see Lucas in the doorway.

I’m broken in two

"Escaping?" Lucas raised his eyebrow letting out a sigh pushing away his pain.

"Tate... I…" Nick felt his throat tighten glancing into the young man’s eyes. "I shouldn’t stay."

That not everything is gonna be the way

Niles let out a sigh touching C.C.’s forehead with the damp cloth, trying to get her to awaken. "Caca?" He mumbled quietly in her ear and Noel leaned over him reaching out to touch her hair.

Please say honestly you won’t give up on me

"I don’t want either of you to run." Lucas pulled out the cane using it as a handy tool. "You think I … could turn my back on the people who have been my grandparents all these years?" He smiled at them as tears started forming in his eyes.

Nick knelt down letting out a whimper. "It’s my fault... All of this."

"Lucas…" Tish reached out touching his shoulder.

"Now... Fix it…" Lucas narrowed his eyes forcing Nick’s chin up.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Niles walked down the stairs letting out a sigh. "That could have gone better." He sat down next to a grumbling Mac. "Is D.D. alright?"

"No…" Mac buried his head in his hands. "I have no idea where Jasmine went off to."

"She went to take Miss Rachael and Miss Lucy home. Will you be staying the night Niles?" Lawrence walked up offering Niles a glass.

"Might as well Butler, the kids are in the other room thinking this is one big party." Mac let out a groan. "This family… and now I’m stuck with this mess."

Niles closed his eyes letting out a sigh. "Stuart looked like he was going to kill Nicholas."

"Well do you blame him? The man slept with his wife!" Mac felt his gut twist. "His cousin, of all people, slept with his wife."

Niles blinked hearing a faint whimper and noticing Casey standing in the hallway. "Baby?" He waved her onto his lap holding her tight. "Are you tired?"

"Yes!" She nodded holding his neck. "See Mommy."

Niles picked up the little girl walking up the stairs towards the room he had placed C.C. He found her no longer in bed but sitting in a chair looking out the window. "C.C.?" He walked in slowly holding the little girl tightly.

C.C. turned around in the chair holding out her arms. Casey ran into them hugging her mother’s neck.

Niles walked into the room shutting the door. "You should sleep." He narrowed his eyes and noticed C.C. shaking her head. "Woman…. WOMAN say something to me."

C.C. opened her mouth and then shut it.

"Mummy tired?" Casey brushed her mother’s hair behind her ears smiling. C.C. nodded standing up, holding the little girl tight. She laid down with the girl and waved Niles towards her.

Niles narrowed his eyes and came walked forward whimpering like a new born puppy. He reached out and felt C.C. take his hand. She slowly worked it down towards her stomach leaving it there. "What?"

Casey giggled watching the exchange.

C.C. pressed his hand against her belly and nodded as Niles shook his head.

"What?" He let out a gasp and then a laugh. "Dear God woman not again!" He quickly felt the force of C.C.’s hand on his head and let out a yelp in pain. "I was kidding!" He let out a laugh reaching out to touch her cheek.

"Baby?" Casey watched her parents and Niles smiled.

"Baby…are you sure?" He whispered softly looking into her deep blue eyes. Those eyes filled with pain and doubt. "C.C.?"

She nodded slowly and felt the power of his arms around her.

They both turned to smile at Casey who was determined to break them up. "Hug me!" The little girl giggled and C.C. placed the child between them.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Jasmine walked in slowly hoping for something other than a war zone. "Hello?" She turned her head towards Rachael who was holding Lucy’s hand. "Are they here?"

"Nick!" Lucy ran up towards the Nick who was seated on the couch talking with Lucas and Tish.

"It’s past your bedtime young lady." Nick smiled putting the girl back down on the floor after a long hug. Lucy then reached out to kiss Tish on the cheek running towards her room.

"Mommy story!"

"Duty calls." Rachael smiled and followed the girl.

"Jasmine... I…" Nick watched as Jasmine quickly closed in the distant hugging Nick’s huge form and then somehow reaching out to touch Tish’s hand.

"Thank God… I was afraid you would have left."

"We tried." Tish blushed and Lucas shook his head.

"How can you or your mother ever forgive me?" Nick let out a soft sob holding Jasmine’s face in his hands.

"One step at a time? A measure of a man isn’t how far he can rise, but how he rises when he falls." Jasmine whimpered against his chest.

"Okay… enough..." Lucas poked Jasmine’s back smiling. "So you two are staying? I know Thomas wants you, but I NEED you." Lucas winked shifting in his wheel chair. "It will still be a year before I’m fully on my feet again."

"We’ll stay but…" Tish turned towards a smiling Jasmine and Lucas. "You know your mother will have a fit."

"Are you sure about that? " Lucas shook his head. "If dad properly feeds her then you’ll be fine in time." Lucas let out a chuckle as Jasmine laughed.

"What the hell does that mean Lucas?" Jasmine let out another laugh.

"You know what they say about wild animals... they are less dangerous if they are fed once in a while." Lucas winked and let out a sigh.

"Lucas…" Nick narrowed his eyes.

"Come on, you know I love her." Lucas winked and then let out a sigh. "She knows you love her as well…"

"So what shall we call them now?" Jasmine let out a giggle sitting down next to Lucas.

"Annoying?" Lucas let out a laugh watching Nick’s face. "Aww come on and lighten up man!" Lucas poked him softly in the chest with the cane causing Nick to groan.

"How in the hell did you get that damn cane! You realize that thing still gives me nightmares."

"Gram left four of them around." Jasmine smiled. "I gathered them up before they could get tossed into the fire."

"I’m going to teach Lucy how to knock her Grandpa Nick over the head with one." Lucas winked and Tish broke out into a fit of giggles hearing Nick’s groan.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Niles had to drag his wife home the next morning. All his girls were in shock because of C.C.'s silence. Niles was growing more concerned when Morgan made her normal smart comment about Lucas's age, but this time C.C. didn't have snappy come back. She was eyeing her father as he made breakfast for his family. The Sheffield’s had traveled to New York for the week yesterday attending something for Nadine's children. "Daddy…"

"Yes sweetheart?" Niles helped her up smiling as he handed her something to break into small pieces. "You feel like an omelet this morning?"

"Daddy... Is mama going to be alright?"

"She will." Niles reached out touching her nose.

"If not... I'll always take care of you two." Morgan winked and her father let out a soft laugh.

"Is that right?" He smiled at the little girl. "Just make sure you can keep up with us."

"They are rather tricky, Morgan." Stuart's voice entered the kitchen and Niles felt his insides twist as the little girl hopped down into his arms.

"Grandpa!" Morgan let out a giggle as the man tickled her cheek.

"Leave me alone with your father please?" He smiled and put Morgan down.

"You going to fix mommy?" She glanced up at the adults who nodded. "Goodie! I go play with babies, you tell me when breakfast is done."

Niles narrowed his eyes as soon as Morgan was out of ear shot. "Stuart…"

"Will she talk to me?"

"She hasn't even spoken to me yet." Niles started to beat the egg letting out a sigh.

"Is she dressed?"

"No I keep her tied down to the bed at moments like this." Niles snickered and waved him towards the hallway. "She's in her garden."

Stuart walked down the long hall and opened the back door into a small walled off area. C.C. Had no talent for building such a garden herself. They had someone each week come by and build on C.C.'s little paradise. "Kitten?" He noticed a chair that seemed to be floating in the air thanks to some carefully hidden ropes. C.C. Turned slowly, her arms folded.

She raised an eyebrow. She wasn't expecting him to show up, at least not today.

"Well at least this way I get to have my say." Stuart couldn't hide his biter smile kneeling down before her. "Your right I could do the math, and I was wrong." He reached out touching her hand.

C.C. narrowed her eyes.

"I thought I could protect you from the truth. I thought I could push it away. The fact that I could simply will such a thing was the real untruth. I knew... I loved you and your sister, but I knew." Stuart held her hand even tighter. "Yes I lied... To myself... To you... Diane... and my mother."

C.C. reached out touching his cheek.

"Forgive me... You of all people should understand."

C.C. Let out a soundless sigh nodding slowly.

"Are you going to say anything?" Stuart’s eyes started to water, he was worried about her.

C.C. shook her head and kissed his forehead.

"Can I call you next week?" Stuart stood up on unsure feet and watched as C.C. nodded slowly.

Niles walked his father in-law out to his waiting limo as the man shared his worry about C.C. being so quiet. "It's not like her." He grumbled running his hands in his hair. "She should be yelling and throwing a fit right now... neither one of them seems up to it."

"She'll talk soon enough." Niles reached out for the man's hand.

"Call me if she doesn't." Stuart slipped inside the limo and Niles watched it pull away. He let out a soft slow grumble as Morgan waved towards him.

"I need to attend to your mother. How about I put in a movie for you and the twins?" Niles picked up a giggling Morgan.

"Are you going to tickle her again?" Morgan narrowed her eyes.

"Tickle her?"

"That's what Lucas says the whimpers and laughing means! When they come in the middle of the night!" Morgan giggled and watched Niles's face turn bright red.

"I'll see what I can do." Niles winked and let out a groan thinking about what jokes and comments Lucas must have made to the twins and his sisters. Niles served the twins and Morgan in her room turning on their favorite movie. He figured he had about ninety minutes to get C.C. to talk.

"Can we make a mess?" Morgan let out a chuckle as her father groaned.

"If you stay here... yes... You can make a mess, but not a big one." Niles smiled leaning over to kiss each of their heads.

C.C. closed her eyes again trying to hear Gram’s words again. She opened up her eyes to come face to face with her husband. She smirked feeling his hands on her curvy body.

"Still not talking are we?" Niles watched as C.C. glared at him. "I’ll take that as a no." He played with her spring dress going under it to touch her thigh.

C.C. glanced at the door then blinked, he was gone, but she felt the soft lips teasing her knees.

"You’ll talk woman… you’ll beg when I’m done with you." Niles’s voice was deep and husky.

C.C. felt the emotions of the past twenty-four hours being pushed aside as his hands reached up pulling down the thin strap of silk off her body. She closed her eyes tight fighting back a moan. He was challenging her, and she always hated to loose!

Niles moved upward until he was there. He felt the power of her legs wrap around his shoulders, and he knew. He sucked in with all his might and was rewarded.

"Niiiiiiiiiiles!" C.C. let out a slow soft moan unable to help herself and felt Niles become ever more ruthless. She found her hands wrapping around his head holding him there. He remained there as she shivered and shook in his grasp. She let out another yelp of sound and Niles now released the hold he had on her lifting them both up and forcing her against the wall.

His hands held her tight as he used the wall. "Was that so hard?"

"It’s hard alright." C.C. let out a hiss and sucked on his lower lip. She lowered her glaze to see Niles had dropped his pants. Then the pounding started as she felt him fill her soul.

Niles closed his eyes putting his best effort behind every thrust. His lips making a small trail down from her neck to her curves. He moved one of his hands from her waist and teased a nipple.

"Better than therapy." C.C. managed to mumble as Niles let out a soft moan.

"Beg…" Niles leaned in closer whispering in her ear. He gently pulled on her earlobe and let out another moan.

"No!" C.C. hissed like an alley cat but felt him pull away. "Niles, please!" She let out a whimper and Niles rewarded her with another thrust.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

D.D. could always understand working gold, silver and other metals into jewelry. It was the one part of her life she had total control over. She glanced out into her workshop watching the ten craftsmen work on her designs.

"You always had a gift." Nick’s voice was barely a whisper.

D.D. turned around in her chair.

"Diane?" Nick’s voice was tender as he sat down.

*"What do you want Nicholas?"* D.D. slipped back into French.

*"Just to talk."*

"Then talk." She stood up and let out a groan.

"I have made mistakes, and I should have told you. I should have told C.C. I couldn’t take you both away from Stuart."

"Daddy lost me a long time ago." D.D. watched him for a moment. "Strange thing every time I got into trouble… you showed up."

"I did my best. I failed hundreds of times, but I did my best to help."

"I can’t say this is going to be easy, but you know Stuart Babcock will forever be my father." D.D. didn’t mean to sound harsh.

"I just wanted to be there if you had need."

"Always in the shadows." D.D. reached out touching his hand.

"No more shadows." He sat back smiling. "I thought you would be the hard one to deal with. What happened to you?"

"The angry girl gave way to a woman." D.D. smiled reaching out into a fridge and pulling out a coke. "Something Paul said before he died."

"What was that?"

"All of your anger will poison you yet… unless you can just let go." D.D. glanced into his eyes. "I have every reason to be angry and bitter… I have every reason to scream at the world. If you had done things differently then maybe my life would have been better, but if you had done things differently then…. I wouldn’t have Jasmine… Maybe even Sam. I also remember the man who got me clean… who forced a picture of my daughter in front of my face and gave me a reason to go on."

Nick lowered his head.

"Baby sister will remember everything you have done for her. I have had years to deal with doubt and anger. She has only had a few hours."

"I better go face her. Lucas is right, I can’t hide myself away."

"Ahh Lucas with his habit of making things better." D.D. let out a chuckle.

"Are you really okay?"

"I will be… as long as you don’t run away." She reached out feeling his arms wrap around her.

"I… I promise." Nick felt his cheeks grow flush and let out a happy sigh.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"YOU are twisted." C.C. let out a snarl buttoning her dress back up. "I don’t even know where my underwear is."

"Well at least you’re talking again, and besides it will give the gardener something to talk about." Niles let out an evil chuckle as three little eyes glanced out the screen door.

"Mommy?" Casey ran out hearing her mother’s voice, and into C.C.’s arms.

"What’s this?" She reached out touching the girl’s hair.

"Morgan!" Niles groaned seeing Casey’s hair was thick with syrup. "I didn’t say you could make a mess on your sister did I?"

"Well she was IN the area." Morgan walked out giggling holding Claudia’s hand.

C.C. rolled her eyes picking Morgan up.

"I’ll bath the twins. You got Morgan." Niles winked and led the giggling twins inside.

"Why is daddy’s shirt open? Were yall tickling?"

‘Ermm... Yeah..." C.C. let out a laugh walking inside.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"Danny?"

"Michael?" Lucas let out snort listening to Rachael’s stomach.

"Still nothing." Rachael let out a giggle as Lucas whispered something into her belly. "Wait a moment! What was that name?"

"Nicholas." Lucas let out a laugh as Rachael’s belly wiggled. "You see he likes it!" He reached out placing a hand over it.

"I likes it too, daddy!" Lucy displayed a wicked grin and Lucas let out a laugh. "Cane?" She lifted it up playfully touching it to her mother’s belly.

"God! You are going to cause havoc naming him that." Rachael let out a laugh as Lucas purred playfully.

"Well for every Lucy there must be a Nick! Isn’t that right little girl?" Lucas reached over touching his daughter’s face.

"I get to hit him with cane?" Lucy let out a giggle as Lucas glared at her.

"See it’s already started." Rachael shifted and let out a laugh.

Lucas heard the front door opening up and let out a sigh. "I better ask him how things went. Okay young lady don’t tell anyone the name!" Lucas leaned over kissing Lucy’s head.

"Okee, daddy." She smiled and reached out to play with her mother’s hair again.

Nick let out a sigh closing the front door. "Lucas?" He grumbled walking towards the couch. "Tish asleep?"

"She crashed about an hour ago." Lucas walked into his small kitchen and came out with two beers. He had placed one in his mouth and the other inside his pocket while moving slowly on the crutches. "How did things go with Aunt Diane?"

"Well! Do you think it will stay that way?" Nick smirked glancing towards the young man’s smiling face.

"She’ll hold this over you for the rest of your life. I think at least you’ll be invited to family parties." Lucas playfully pushed on his shoulder. "Did you go see mother yet?" He narrowed his eyes and noticed Nick’s face twist in pain.

"Your mother is a harder case." Nick lowered his head.

"Why is D.D. so easy?"

"I think it’s because your aunt spent all of her youth rebelling against the fact she wasn’t a Babcock. Your mother just found out."

"Mom loves you." Lucas narrowed his eyes. "Even if you weren’t her father. She loves you just because…."

Nick raised up his hand. "The one thing that worries me… Morgan’s don’t have long lives… Lucy felt like the family was cursed from my father’s death."

"You seem to be ageless." Lucas let out a laugh but frowned.

"I am just as reckless as my father was." Nick glanced down inside the bottle. "Your mother is … or might ask me hard questions."

"Then give her the truth…. you face up to the fact you are indeed her father. Hell, even if you didn’t have that blood tie… you were her father anyway! Look what you did for me. Look what you did for her!" Lucas smiled recalling the small little baby inside Rachael’s stomach. "We chose a baby name tonight, or… he chose it for us."

"Going to give me a hint?"

"You are going to have to wait… one month." Lucas stood up letting out a roaring sound. He moved around shifting pass Nick. "Talk to mom…"

"I will." Nick let out a sigh shaking his head.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"You forgave him?" Mac watched as D.D. was brushing her teeth. "I… I…expected you would…" Mac groaned as D.D. ran up to straddle him.

"Destroy him?" She let out a laugh pulling him into a tender kiss. "Do you think I’m too old?"

"For what?" Mac reached up behind her playing with the ties on her blue silk night gown. His eyes glazed over feeling her hands tease and taunt him.

"I haven’t told you yet." D.D. giggled as she placed his hands on her belly. "Daddy…"

"Daddy? Blargh, you can call me that if you like, it’s a little too kinky for our bed woman!" Mac laughed reaching out to nibble her neck. He quickly felt the force of her hands on his chest.

"Do you understand?" She smiled now cradling his face.

"What?"

"A baby…" She blushed and watched as Mac’s eyes became wide with fear and joy.

"When... How? "He gasped and felt her attack his mouth, quieting him.

"I’ll show you…" She leaned over whispering in his ear.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

C.C. let out a sigh playing with the phone cord. "If he doesn’t agree, Mac, then we don’t have a deal. Tell him to work it out then! Yes… Talk to you later." C.C. hung up the phone and rubbed her temples.

"In the middle of chaos we can find rebirth." Nick’s voice broke the silence in the room.

C.C. turned around to face his soft blue eyes.

"You said a lot of things during the party, and now it’s my turn." Nick raised his hand quieting her before she could speak. "Did I even once doubt your reasons for not telling Niles about Lucas?"

C.C. narrowed her eyes opening her mouth and closed it again.

"I knew your reasons. I never doubted for a moment that you loved your son. I ask you… Chastity, never doubt the fact I loved you and your sister." Nick reached out touching her hand and let out a sigh as C.C. pulled it away.

C.C. backed away looking into his eyes letting out a soft hiss.

"I’m not giving up on you."

"I didn’t think you would." C.C. shook her head. "This is going to take time, and… some work."

"Can we have a clean slate?"

"No." C.C. put away some paper work. "

"No?" Nick’s face twisted into a frown.

"Too much time and history has passed between us." C.C. pushed a lock of blonde hair behind her ear.

"So what then? I’m not leaving your life Chastity."

"I hope not. Chaos follows you anywhere you go, Morgan." C.C. tapped a pen against the table.

"Gram once said that to me."

"I think it follows me as well." C.C. shook her head. "I’m still pissed off. I’ll work past my anger."

"Then I will deal with it." Nick stood up offering his hand, and was shocked to feel her pull him into a bear hug. "I could get used to this."

"Don’t." C.C. let out a chuckle letting him go. "I have an appointment in an hour. Niles is going to take Morgan and the twins to the zoo. Would you like to come?"

"Me?" Nick blinked letting out a sigh. "Why? Is everything alright?" He felt C.C. place something in his hand. He glanced down at the stick with a small plus sign. "When? Where?"

"Come on…" C.C. let out a laugh glancing at her watch. "I think my staff will have a fit with my mood swings."

"Your staff?" Nick let out a teasing tone.

"What?"

"Do you recall what you did to Lucas’s bike while pregnant with the twins?" Nick let out a laugh and C.C. blushed.

"He still doesn’t know about that? Does he?"

"No... It will be our little secret." Nick smiled opening her office door. "Are you coming?"

"Coming daddy." C.C. whispered quietly, hoping he couldn’t hear.

"HEY! … What the hell are you doing here, Butler?" Mac hissed eyeing Niles.

"Let me think... my wife is in LABOR!" Niles hissed back and heard a faint whimper.

"I got my wife pregnant first. My wife will also deliver first, she’s been in labor for six hours." Mac let out a growl and Niles hissed back. "Just remember that Butler!"

"Oh my God! This is not the time to do this Niles!" C.C. let out a hiss. "GET OVER HERE NOW BELL BOY!"

"Trollop!" Niles walked over and felt C.C. reached up, pulling on ear. She jerked it letting out a hiss. "C.C…. CHASITY! That’s hurting me!"

C.C. rolled her eyes up letting out a groan. "Give me drugs!"

"You past the time where you can have drugs." A doctor came in letting out a sigh. C.C. glared at the woman who managed a small smile. "I’m Doctor Janson, intern. The doctor feels like it’s more important to stay with your sister."

C.C. felt her eyes roll in the back of her head glancing at Niles.

"We understand." Niles felt C.C. pull on him yet again.

"Niles…" C.C. let go of him. "D.D.?"

"She’ll be fine." Niles reached out touching her forehead.

"Her baby…" C.C. let out a whimper and felt the rush of pain as another contraction hit her.

"She’s just trying to win all the attention. Just like any hellcat." Niles glanced as the doctor and nurses, ready to move C.C. into delivery. "We haven’t talked about names."

"James." C.C. blinked letting out a yelp.

"My grandfather’s name." Niles gushed with pleasure and touched her face. "You really hurt me woman!"

"Think of what I’m going though now!" C.C. groaned and the doctor smiled.

"You two coming?" The doctor jumped as Niles and C.C. both glared at him.

"No we thought we would phone this in." C.C. let out a groan and hissed as they moved her forward. "My sister?"

"They’ll be delivering her any moment." The doctor held onto the bed pushing them forward.

Nick reached out touching Mac’s shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"I should be in there with her." Mac shook his head and closed his eyes. "The baby…"

"Will be fine!" Sam reached his father’s side letting out a small laugh. "We bend but never break."

"Lucas!" Mac turned around towards his smiling young friend. He was still on crutches, but the plaster cast had been replaced months ago with a removable one. "Why aren’t you home? You didn’t have to come here! I know little Nicholas isn’t letting you or Rach sleep much."

"With my cousin and my little brother being born today, Rachael and Tish are doing their best to handle the kids! Where is mom, and why aren’t you with Aunt Diane?"

"Jasmine is with her now... They have to perform a c-section." Mac gazed towards a door.

The room grew quiet as all three men stood there. The soft cries of a newborn echoed in the room as Jasmine walked out holding a little bundle wrapped in a pink blanket. "Mac?" She smiled watching his jaw drop and placed the little girl in his arms.

"Ha!" Nick hit Mac’s shoulder lightly as the man was brought to tears.

"Diane?"

"She’ prefect. You’ll be able to see her in a moment." Jasmine reached out touching the little girl’s small hand.

Mac felt his lower lip tremble at the exchange. "Her… heart?"

"Strong and healthy…" Jasmine blinked and they all glanced up hearing a woman’s scream.

"NIiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiles!"

"Uh oh… do you think she’ll punch him out like she did with the twins?" Nick let out a laugh watching Lucas nod.

"I got twenty that says she’ll do more than that." Mac glanced down at his little girl and watched her blue eyes. "What do you think Angel?"

The baby only responded with a hint of a smile. The sound of a thud hitting the floor answered their question. Lucas closed his eyes hearing another baby’s cry. "Hello James, welcome to the chaotic show."

"Come on…" Jasmine smiled reaching out for Lucas’s hand. "I’ll sneak you inside to see them."

"It doesn’t get any better than this." Lucas laughed shifting a crutch and slowly entering the delivery room.

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