Part 31 - Chapter 1 - Together or Apart?

Silas sat alone in the cold bare room waiting patiently for the door to open. The prison guard had escorted him from his cell to the interrogation room several minutes ago. He was sure they were deliberately having him wait to make him sweat, but it wasn't any good. He could take anything the police tried to throw at him.

He looked up, slightly amused as Logan entered the room and waited calmly for him to speak first.

"So you're Silas Rochester? Also known as Sebastian Barrett?"

"That's right."

"You have quite a colorful past."

"What of it?"

"It might be of use to me."

Silas looked up and raised an eyebrow with interest. "How's that?"

"Years ago, when you were thought dead, it was a local crime organization that was behind it, wasn't it?" When Silas shrugged noncommittally, "What can you tell me about them?"

"What makes you think I know anything about any crime organization and if I did, why would I want to talk about it with you?"

"I can't make any specific guarantees, but if you help me out, I promise I'll speak up on your behalf and there's more than a good chance that the judge will go easier on you if he knows you've been cooperating with the police.

"If you can't make any guarantees, neither can I, but grant me a few little favors first and I'll see what I can do."

"What sort of favors?"

"First of all, there's someone I want to see."

"Thanks for inviting me out today," Cassie said as she and Eileen waited in line at the local coffee shop. "I really needed to get out for awhile."

"No problem," Eileen replied. "After what happened I'm sure you could use a distraction. And I know I needed some company too."

"You know about what happened?" Cassie asked, surprised.

"Yeah, the police told us all about it. My house was one of those that your dad broke into. I'm so sorry about your dad. I can't imagine what it must be like for you. How are you doing?"

"Oh . . .my dad," Cassie said, realizing they were thinking of two different things. "Yeah, it's been a shock that he came back again and that he tried to do such terrible things, but I'm doing ok. How about you? I'm so sorry he went after you too."

"I was really scared," Eileen admitted. "But I'm alright . . . What did you think I was talking about? Did something else happen?"

"Sort of. My mind has been on Blaine. I thought he and I were getting closer, but he's decided to go back to Reese and see if they can patch things up."

"I'm sorry." Eileen offered her sympathy.

"Me too. But he's willing to give up having children for her. I don't know what I can do to compete with that."

"Probably nothing. Besides love isn't something you have to win. It just is."

"I know it is. I just wish he could see what I see. That's always been the hardest thing about my life. Other people not seeing what I see."

Reese walked slowly through the house in a daze. Lack of sleep and overwhelming fear had left her barely able to function. She laid a hand over her stomach, unable to believe she was really going to have a baby. She turned sideways, caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, and nearly started to cry. She didn't want this.

She lived her whole life without a family, without anyone to love or even feel close to . . .until she met Blaine that is. She thought she wanted to know about her family, but when she learned the awful story about her past she was devastated. Blaine had been there for her then, as always, and though she cared for him deeply and even loved him in a way, she wasn't sure that it was enough, even now. She wondered if she was just meant to be alone, if she wasn't able to love anyone the way they deserved to be loved, including the unborn child.

"I can't do this," she thought. "I don't want to do this, especially not on my own." She prayed that the doctors had made a mistake, that it would all just go away and things would be back to the way they were.

Reese jumped, abruptly startled out of her thoughts as someone knocked on the door. She didn't know who would be dropping by to see her, there wasn't anyone she particularly wanted to see, but she took a moment to look herself over in the mirror and make sure she was composed before going to the door.

Before opening the door, she peeked outside to see who was there. She drew back, feeling sick to her stomach when she saw Blaine waiting anxiously on the porch. She stood frozen. Not wanting to see him, she wondered if she should just ignore him and wait for him to go away, but when he knocked again, she hesitantly opened the door.

"Hey," Blaine greeted her shyly. "Can we talk?"

Part 31 - Chapter 2 - Together or Apart?

"Hello," Vanessa said as she peeked her head into the hospital room. "I heard I had a new nephew and I just couldn't wait to meet him." Before anyone could react to her presence, Vanessa headed straight for the baby to get her first look at the new addition to the family. "Oh Alma, Edward, he's so precious. What's his name?"

"Jeremy," Alma replied. "Jeremy Edward Wilton."

"Ooh," Vanessa cooed. "Hello Jeremy. I'm your Auntie Vanessa. Yes, I am."

"We're glad to see you, Vanessa," Edward said. "Very glad, considering all that's happened recently. How are you doing?"

"I certainly can't complain. After what I've been through I can't take anything for granted. It's just so good to have my freedom back."

"What happened?" Amanda asked. "One minute you were going out to your car for a minute, the next I saw your car speeding away."

"Amanda thought you were running out on the bill," Andrew said with a laugh, which earned him a dirty look from his wife, but Vanessa was understanding.

"I can see why you'd think that. I did just go out for a minute. I was leaning into the backseat looking for my date planner when someone shoved me onto the floor of the car. I barely had a moment to realize what had happened when I felt someone on top of me, shoving a cloth into my mouth. I must have been drugged, because I blacked out and the next thing I knew I was locked up in this dank warehouse behind bars and then there was Sebastian . . . I'd hoped I'd never see that man again." She tried to shake the memories out of her head.

"That must have been an ordeal," Edward said.

"Yes. Yes it was. Honestly I'd prefer not to talk about it. I'd like to put it all behind me," Vanessa said, leaving the room silent for a moment. "Let's focus on the present and the good things. You look good, Alma. How are you feeling?"

"Not too bad."

"She did so well," Edward said with an affectionate smile. "I'm so proud of her."

"Well, you look fantastic and the baby is absolutely precious. You've truly been blessed."

As the others beamed at the new baby, Amanda fought back the tears and slipped out of the room before anyone could notice her emotions were getting the better of her.

"Mr. Arrendale, thank you for coming down here. We really appreciate you taking the time out of your day."

"Sure. What can I do for you?" Lawrence asked. The officer on the phone had been vague when he called and asked him to come to the station. He was curious about what the police wanted with him.

"I asked you to come down here because of your uncle," Logan explained as he led Lawrence through the police station towards the interrogation room. "He wants to see you."

Lawrence stopped in his tracks. "I have no interest in seeing him. I have nothing to say to him and I don't need to hear anything he has to say."

"I can understand why you want nothing to do with him, but it would be a great help to us if you would just meet with him for a few minutes. I believe your uncle might have some information that could help us with one of our ongoing investigations. He agreed to cooperate with us, if we agreed to a few conditions. One of those was that he wanted to talk to you."

"Why would he want to talk to me? We may be related by blood, but we're practically strangers."

"I don't know why, but I do know it would be a huge help to us. You are free to end the meeting at anytime if you feel uncomfortable."

Lawrence thought it over for a moment. Silas was one of the last people he wanted to see, but if it would help the police, sitting across from his uncle for a few minutes wouldn't be too much to ask. "Ok, I'll do what I can."

"He's waiting for us," Logan said as he stood in front of the door to the interrogation room. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," Lawrence answered without hesitation, but when Logan opened the door and was face to face with his uncle for the first time since their confrontation at the hotel, his confidence started to waiver. He thought about their rocky past, all Silas had taken away from him and was still trying to take from him, and it was all he could do to keep his rage from boiling up from under the surface.

"Hello nephew. How good of you to come."

Part 31 - Chapter 3 - Together or Apart?

"Hey, I heard about what happened," Blaine said, breaking the ice as he and Reese said awkwardly in her living room. "Are you alright?"

"You heard?" Reese said nervously. His words had startled her. "How did you find out?"

"I was there when the police took Silas away and I overheard them talking about the gas leak."

"Oh," she simply said, as she breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know that she was pregnant.

Her change in expression went unnoticed as Blaine continued. "I wanted to stop by and see if you were ok."

"I'm fine," she answered quickly. "Just fine."

"Good, good. I've been wanting to talk to you."

"About what?"

"I've missed you a lot since we've broken up and I think maybe we were too hasty when we decided to end things. There's got to be some way that we can compromise. I think we deserve a second chance."

Speechless, Reese averted her eyes to the floor. She didn't know what to say.

"I'd never expect you to be a stay at home mom if that's not what you want. If we had a baby I could take off work and if we adopted you wouldn't even have to take maternity leave. If you never want kids at all, I could accept that too. Maybe doing volunteer work with kids would be enough. We can make this work if we try. What do you say? Will you give us another chance?"

"Are you sure you don't have any information at all? No forwarding address. No hint about where he might have gone?" Lucy asked. When the voice on the other end of the line answered in the negative, she let out a disappointed sigh. "Ok, thanks anyway. If you hear anything, please give me a call."

As Lucy hung up the phone she was surprised to hear the front door open. Who would just walk in without knocking first?

"Hello?" she called out as she turned to see who was there.

"Hi," Craig said softly as he stepped into the living room. "Sorry if I scared you."

"What are you doing back?" Lucy asked coldly. "I told you to get out and I meant it."

Craig shrugged. "I was hoping you'd have a change of heart after you had a chance to cool down."

"I absolutely have not. When I said it's over, I meant it. I'm through with you, Craig."

Craig looked away, but was unable to hide the sadness in his expression. "So I should get my stuff?"

"I'll have it sent to you."

"Fine," Craig said sharply, his sadness turning to anger and frustration. "So it's not going to work between us. I can accept if it's really over between us, but that doesn't change that we have a child together. If you don't want to see me anymore, I won't try to force myself on you, but you can't keep me from my son. I won't let you deny me time with my son."

"I know," Lucy said sadly. She hated how things had turned out and how complicated it was going to be for them. It tore at her heart thinking how this break up was going to affect little Stuart.

"Can I at least go upstairs and spend some time with him?"

When Lucy nodded silently, Craig turned and left the room.

Part 31 - Chapter 4 - Together or Apart?

"So you came," Silas said to Lawrence, his tone of voice, taunting. "I'm impressed. I didn't think you would be man enough to sit here face to face with me after blowing my cover. I didn't think you had the guts."

"What do I have to hide?" Lawrence replied coldly. "I have nothing to be afraid of and I had nothing to do with your identity being revealed. I thought you were dead. You'd already taken everything that was mine before you disappeared, letting everyone think you were dead, so why would I even give a second thought to you?"

Silas nodded slowly, seeming to gain respect for his nephew. "I didn't entirely have a choice about that."

"Oh, yes, you did."

"Ok, so taking your money was my choice, but letting everyone believe I was dead, wasn't. It was the only chance I had to survive. I did what I had to do and I don't regret it. There's only one thing in my life that I'm sorry about and that is that my sister lost her life because of me."

"What do you mean?" Lawrence asked. Silas' words had shocked him and his pulse was racing. "My mother died because of you? What did you have to do with it?"

"That's why I wanted to see you. I've had a lot of time to do some thinking about the past. I felt I owed you the truth on this one thing. You deserve to know the truth about your parents at least."

"What is the truth?" Lawrence asked, doubtful that Silas knew the meaning of the word.

"You know how I was when I was younger, don't you? I was the typical spoiled rich kid, plenty of money to spend and no responsibilities of any kind."

"And then you gambled it all away."

"I was young. I didn't think the money would end. There was always more. But then my parents died and my money ran out. My sister was good to me though. I knew I could always go to her when I needed some cash, that is until your father talked her into cutting me off. Without her help I couldn't pay back the debts from my gambling losses and my debtors came after me. Or they thought they were coming after me . . ."

"Lorna had lent me their car a couple times without her husband knowing and, well, the guys I owed money too must have seen me out in it and assumed it was mine. They'd threatened me before, but I was young and thought I was invincible. I didn't take them seriously. I thought nothing could happen to me . . . and it didn't, it happened to your parents.

"When the police investigated the car crash that killed them, they found the car had been tampered with. As soon as I heard that, I knew that accident had been meant for me. There was nothing I could do, but I did feel bad for Lorna. She was just trying to help me and that's the reason she died."

Lawrence sat in silence for a moment, trying to take it all in. "But that didn't make you change your ways, did it? Your only sister died because of you, but still you didn't try to change one bit."

"I tried at first, but I admit, I didn't try that hard. I still thought I was invincible. As cruel as it sounds the accident actually worked out for me. I got a lot of money when they died and paid off my debts, which got the mob off my back for awhile."

"You're disgusting and pathetic. I've heard enough," Lawrence said as he scooted back his chair.

"It's the truth. I thought you deserved to know."

"If you want to do me any favors, then don't contact me ever again. You've done enough to me to last a lifetime."

As Lawrence moved towards the door, Logan was torn. He felt like Silas was just getting to the most interesting part of his story. He didn't want Lawrence to end the meeting now, but he had promised Lawrence that he could end it at anytime and he was obviously ready to leave now. He turned to Silas. "I'd like to talk more about this with you."

Silas shrugged. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Mr. Arrendale," Logan called after Lawrence as they left the interrogation room. "Thanks for coming down here today and helping us out. I know that couldn't have been easy for you, but I think it has been a big help. Hopefully Silas will be more willing to cooperate now."

"Do you think that made a difference?"

"I really do."

"And what if he does cooperate? I hope he doesn't get off easy after all he's done."

"I can't promise you that he won't. But think of it this way, if it means stopping the people who did kill your parents from hurting anyone else, wouldn't it be worth it?"

Lawrence frowned. "I'm not sure it would be." He turned and left the police station. He had a lot to think about.

Lucy paced back and forth across the living room, trying to think of who else she could call. She didn't know anyone else who knew Justin at all, except for Mrs. Burgess, who was out of town staying with relatives and who was not someone Lucy wanted to talk with anyway. His apartment manager said he left no forwarding address, no hints about where he'd gone, and no word as to when he'd be back. It was like he'd disappeared without a trace. She desperately needed to talk with him right away.

She knew there had to be something else she could do, but she couldn't think. She'd already had too much on her mind before Craig came back. Now not only did she need to think about how to find Justin, she had to start thinking about divorce and custody battles. She didn't need this, not now. She just wanted to collapse on the couch and cry.

Before she had the chance to do anything, she heard Craig coming down the steps. She took the moment before he entered the room to compose herself. She didn't want him to see the emotion in her eyes.

"Lucy. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?" she asked, but when she saw what was in his hand she knew. "What are you doing with that?"

"I saw it when I went in the bathroom," he said holding up the positive test. "You're pregnant?"

Part 31 - Chapter 5 - Together or Apart?

Vanessa turned down the hospital cooridor to find Amanda staring longingly at the babies in the nursery.

"There you are. We'd wondered where you'd disappeared to," Vanessa said softly as she stood next to Amanda and looked through the window. "They're precious, aren't they?"

"They are."

"How are you doing, hun? How are you coping with all the baby excitement, really?"

"I'm trying to stay positive, I really am, but it's not easy. I want to be happy for Alma and Ed, but all I can think about is how much I wish it was me."

"I know. I'm sorry it's not you too, hun."

"I'm tired of just feeling sorry for myself all the time, so I made an appointment with a fertility specialist. If all else fails, I guess there's always adoption, but I really want the experience of having my own child."

"I know what you mean. I'd love to have that experience someday too, but at this point I doubt I ever will. If you find you can't get pregnant for whatever reason, adoption might be better than you think. I'm not so close to my adoptive parents now, but growing up with them was good. I never felt like I was adopted. We were just a family and it never mattered that we weren't related by blood." Vanessa grew quiet a moment, regretting how much their relationship had changed.

"Maybe it wouldn't be so bad."

"I think I'm going to take one more look at our nephew before I head out. Want to come with me?"

"Ok," Amanda agreed and took one last longing look at the babies before following Vanessa down the hall.

"Let's change the subject," Cassandra suggested as she and Eileen sat down to enjoy their drinks. She was tired of talking and thinking about all the drama in her own life. "How have you been, Eileen? What have you been up to lately?"

"Not much," she replied. "I've been looking for a job, but I'm really not sure what I want to do. I'm thinking about starting my own business or something."

"What kind of business?"

"I'm not sure. I think it might be neat to have a little shop downtown, like a little clothing boutique."

"Sounds like fun. If you do, maybe I could come work for you. It's got to be better than working at the diner. It's good you're dating Lawrence, he should know all about business and how to get started."

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking too."

When Eileen fell silent, Cassandra sensed something she hadn't noticed earlier. Being so wrapped up in her own thoughts about Blaine, she hadn't noticed that something seemed to be weighing on her friend's mind as well. "Is everything alright with you and Lawrence?"

"Yeah, we're fine."

"Are you sure? It seems like something's off."

"It's nothing . . . I just thought things were about to get more serious between us, but it's fine, really. I'm sure it's better to take things slow anyway."

Cassie looked thoughtful for a second then her face suddenly brightened and she could hardly contain a smile. "Don't worry about it. You are going to get exactly what you hope for and sooner than you think," she said before adding silently, "I just wish I could say the same for myself."

"What do you say? Will you give us another chance?"

Reese swallowed hard, her throat suddenly felt completely dry. The words were at her throat. All she had to do was tell him. It was what he wanted. She knew he would be happy and that he would do everything he promised. He could take care of the baby and she could continue her career. The news would completely solve their problem. But would it really?

Instead of telling him the truth, she just shook her head. "No, I can't. I think breaking up was the right thing for us to do. How could we ever make each other happy when we both want different things? I'm sorry. I don't want to get back together."

"Are you serious?" Blaine asked, feeling like his heart had fallen into the pit of his stomach. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He'd felt so hopeful when he came here. He thought she'd at least give him a chance and talk it out, but she just turned him down flat. "Isn't there anything I can do or say to change your mind?"

"No. I'm sorry, Blaine."

He stood slowly from his chair and turned towards the door without looking at Reese. "Then I guess I should go. I guess this is goodbye." He hesitated a moment, giving her one last chance to change her mind. When she didn't say anything, he walked out the door.

As Reese stood in the doorway, watching him walk away, she wondered what she was going to do.

Part 31 - Chapter 6 - Together or Apart?

"How long have you known?" Craig asked. "How far along are you?"

"Not long," Lucy answered evasively.

Craig looked at her critically. He could tell she was keeping something from him. "Couldn't be too long, you aren't showing yet." He paused a second doing a quick mental calculation. "But it's been awhile since we've been together in that way . . . Is this baby even mine?"

"Does it matter?" Lucy asked. "We're over, regardless."

"Of course it matters!" Craig replied sharply. "I'm not letting you keep me out of Stuart's life and I have a right to be a father to this baby too. Unless you're telling me it's not mine."

Lucy looked away and didn't answer immediately.

"Is it? I have a right to know."

"It might be."

"What do you mean, 'might'? Is it or isn't it?"

"I don't know, yet. I just found out myself that I'm pregnant. I don't even know for sure how far along I am or when it happened exactly."

"Then there is a chance that it might not be mine," Craig exclaimed. "You have been sleeping around while I was away. I knew it! I knew I had a right not to trust you. I knew there was stuff going on behind my back. For how long? Have you been making a fool of me the entire time we were married, sneaking around behind my back all along?"

"No, it's not like that at all!" Lucy defended herself. "It was just a one time thing. You left me when I needed you, right before my father's trial, without a word to me! You abandoned me and I was feeling vulnerable. But now that I see you for who you are, I'm not sorry that it happened. Not sorry at all."

"Unbelievable. You cheat on me and make my fault? You try to pass yourself as so high class, but you're nothing but a common slut. I'm out of here!"

"Good riddance!"

"Oh, but don't think I won't be back. I'll be back for the rest of my stuff and more importantly I'll be back for my son. There's no way in hell I'm leaving him here to be raised by a lying slut like you."

As Craig started towards the door Lucy followed after him. "You're not taking our son."

"We'll see about that."

"Lawrence. What are you doing here?" Eileen greeted him warmly by wrapping her arms around him. When he lingered a little longer in the embrace and didn't answer right away, she leaned back to look at him. "Is everything alright?"

"It's fine." He paused a second, deciding whether or not to say more. "I went to the police station today. My uncle wanted to see me."

"Really? What happened?"

"He told me some things about the past and my parents' deaths. He told me the accident that took their lives was meant for him instead."

"Oh my gosh. That's . . ." she was at a loss for words to describe what it was. "How are you taking the news?"

"It's made me think a lot about things. My parents were young when they died. Not much older than I am now. Life is short and you never know what might happen."

"I know. Things like that really make you think," Eileen said leaning closer to comfort him.

"I wanted to wait for the right opportunity to say this. I wanted to be sure I was financially stable and well established first, but maybe I have been overly cautious. I don't want to wait and maybe miss the opportunity to let you know that you are the single best thing to come into my life. Just meeting you, seeing you for the first time turned my life around and knowing you has brought me more joy than I'd ever felt before. Before you came along I had no joy. I had no life."

Eileen's heart was racing, she wanted to chime in and tell him that she felt the same way about him, but she didn't want to interrupt where he was going with this.

"I should have done this a long time ago." He got down on one knee and presented Eileen with a ring. "Will you marry me?"

Eileen could hardly contain herself. She leapt into his arms and answered, "Yes."