Mercedes wrapped her arms tighter around Brian as they sat on the couch in the living room. Coreene and Howie walked through the door and down into the living room. Coreene held her arm out and stopped Howie as they approached the back of the couch.
"Shh," Coreene said to Howie quietly and pointed to the back of Mercedes' and Brian's heads.
"Shh, baby, calm down," Mercedes whispered to Brian.
His tears continued to flow as he buried his head deeper into her neck. "She was my best friend. We could talk about anything, especially about that husband of hers. She was always there for me. Just hearing you talk to Chase about her funeral...and actually having Chase here...it's just so much."
"I know. Cassie was my best friend, too." She felt tears start to form in her own eyes.
"And Nick. Oh God, Nick. I knew him when he was ten years old. He was so good to me. My little brother-" Tears overtook his speech and Mercedes began to cry, too.
Coreene grabbed Howie's hand and walked to the front of the couch to face Mercedes and Brian. Tears streamed down her face and Brian and Mercedes looked up to face her. "Guys-"
"Oh, God, Coreene," Brian said, wiping his face quickly. "I'm so sorry. We shouldn't have been talking-"
"No, don't be," Coreene said.
Brian stood up and looked at Coreene. They looked at each other for a moment and then Brian grabbed her in a tight hug.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Isabella said, holding her hands up. "Slow down you guys."
Cassandra and Nick sighed loudly and Cassandra crossed her arms. "What?"
"Say all of that one more time, just a little bit slower."
"Fine," Nick said. "We...need...to...know...if-"
"Shut up wise guy," Isabella interrupted. "You know what I meant."
"I'll finish for him," Cassandra said dryly, giving Nick a look. "Okay, Nick's little sister is sitting in his room with Linden right now and she looks like she's seven when she should really be fifteen and we need to know why she looks like that. We also need to know if it's still possible for us to have a family."
"Well, let me field the easy one, first. Of course it's still possible to have a family. You two are together, aren't you?"
A.J. jumped in. "Dear, I don't think that's what they mean."
"Exactly," Nick said. "What we wanted to know is if it's still possible for us to have children."
"Oh!" Isabella sucked in a deep breath. "Well, I don't see why not. You know that I was pregnant before I died, but when Lucy killed me, I had our baby girl. So I don't see why not."
Cassandra and Nick exchanged glances. They both realized that they hadn't told Isabella or A.J. about what Bobby had shown them. "Izzy, that's another thing that we have to talk to you about-"
"But first, I'll tell you about...what's her name again?"
"Katie," Nick said a little shaky. Cassandra put her arm around his waist to steady him.
"Okay. You see, here, things are a little different. She is only the way that she looks and acts because it's the way she wants it to be. Maybe she wants to be a little kid, who knows. I guess you just have to accept it. I mean look at A.J.'s hair. I've learned to accept his new baby blue color!"
"Oh I can," Nick said. "Her age is no problem whatsoever, I just wanted to know why. I'm just so happy that she's home!"
"Can I...meet her?"
"Of course." Nick and Cassandra led Isabella and A.J. into Nick's room.
"Oh my God!" Isabella screeched. "Linden!"
"Oh my God, Isabella!" Linden mocked.
Isabella ran up to Linden and gave her a tight hug. "I thought you weren't coming back."
"Like I told Cassandra, it's a special occasion."
"Katie?" Nick said.
Katie stood up and walked over to Nick. She grabbed onto his leg and looked up at him. "Sweetie, there are some people I want you to meet. This is Isabella, Cassie's sister."
"It's nice...to meet you," Katie said and Isabella smiled. She looked up at Nick. "She's pretty just like Cassie."
Isabella blushed.
"And Katie," Nick said, "this is A.J. He's Isabella's husband. Just like I'm Cassie's husband."
Katie looked up at Nick with a sour face. "He's weird looking."
Cassandra and Isabella laughed.
"That's not very nice, Katie!" Nick said, trying not to laugh.
"I'm sorry, Nicky. I didn't mean it in a bad way, but he's got blue hair."
A.J. laughed and kneeled down to meet her face. "Katie, I just have to be different."
"Don't I know it," Isabella mumbled to Cassandra.
Later on that evening, Nicole, Jonathan, Kevin, Emalia, Coreene, Howie, Mercedes, Brian and Chase were all sitting in the living room getting more acquainted while Nick, Cassandra, Isabella and A.J. sat at the kitchen table. Just then, Linden walked downstairs holding Katie's hand.
"She wanted to come back down," Linden said.
"Oh, getting bored with Linden already?" Nick said and laughed.
Linden laughed, too. "Ha ha," she said and smacked him in the head. "Not funny."
Isabella burst out laughing. "Oh Nick, we love ya, it's just...well, you're so fun to hit!"
Nick only gave them all a look. He held out his arms to Katie, but she shook her head.
"Actually," Katie said, "I wanna sit with Cassie, if it's okay."
Cassandra gave Nick and weird look and then laughed. "Sure. It's okay." Katie went over to her and Cassandra lifted her up in to her lap. "Now, Isabella, where were we?"
"You and Nick were saying something about Lucy not killing me?"
"Oh yes," Cassandra said. "I know who-"
"Wait," Nick interrupted.
"What, Honey?"
"Um, Linden could you please take Katie upstairs," he said softly. "We'll fill you in later."
"Sure thing," Linden said and smiled. She held her hands out to Katie and she took them, jumping off of Cassandra's lap.
"Bye bye, Cassie," Katie said. "Bye Nicky. Bye Isabella. Bye...A.J."
"Bye," they all said.
As soon as they were out of the room, Cassandra continued. "Like I was saying, I know who your killers are."
"You do?" Isabella spoke up.
"Yes, I do. Do you remember your little fiancé Austin?"
"How could I forget?"
"Well, his mother and Bobby are responsible."
"What are you talking about?"
"He showed me. In his dreams, he showed me everything."
"Damn it Cass," A.J. said. "You have the worst taste in men!"
"Hey!" Nick protested.
"Okay Nick, maybe you're an exception."
"Gee, thanks."
"Well," Cassandra interrupted, "Isabella doesn't have the best taste either. I mean, Austin? You?"
"All right, all right!" A.J. said laughing. "I see your point. Sorry Nick."
Nick snickered. "I guess I can forgive you-"
Cassandra cleared her throat. "Anyway, like I was saying, Bobby and Carol were the one there that night. They were there when you were fighting with Lucy. Carol thought you were Lucy and when you turned around, that's how you got shot in the back."
"Oh my God," Isabella gasped. She paused. "Jeez, Cass! I mean, jeez. I'm gonna kill Bobby! I am going to literally kill Bobby!" Isabella stood up.
"No!" Cassandra yelled. All eyes fell on Cassandra.
"Why not?" Nick asked.
"Come on!" A.J. agreed.
"Yeah!" Isabella said. "Why are you sticking up for him? He tortured you, killed Nick, killed me which made A.J. kill himself-"
"I get the point!" Cassandra interrupted. "All right, shut up!"
"Honey," Nick said, resting his hand on her shoulder, "we're just telling you the truth."
She shook his hand off. "Well, knock it off! I know the truth! How do you expect to kill him."
"I don't know. I didn't say that I would actually do it, he just deserves it and so do Nathan and Richard."
"What about Eric?"
"He helped Brian get Chase. I think that's almost noble of him."
"Guys," Nick said, "Cassie found out the truth for you. Give her a break!"
Isabella paused. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
"Thank you, Nick!" Cassandra said. "At least someone is on my side."
"I have to be," Nick said.
Cassandra turned around and looked at him. "What does that mean?"
"Well, I am your husband, I guess I have an obligation to be on your side."
Cassandra gaped at him and threw her hands up. "Fine! You don't support me once again. Just like the time that I told you that Andrew wasn't the real Andrew. Whatever you want to think Nick, just go ahead." With that, Cassandra walked out of the room.
"What did I do now?" Nick asked, throwing his hands in the air.
Isabella and A.J. only shrugged.
"Well, I better go after her, again." Nick sighed and got up and headed after Cassandra.
"That boy is always in trouble," Isabella said.
"Probably because Cassie is so damn touchy," A.J. said.
Isabella nodded.
"It must run in the family," A.J. said and grinned as Isabella gave him a look.
Nick walked into his room. "Damn it Cassie, what did I do now?" He stopped when he saw Cassandra, Linden and Katie sitting on the floor.
Katie tugged on Cassandra's arm. "Did he just say a bad word?"
Cassandra glared at Nick then turned to Katie. "Yes Sweetie he did and don't you ever say it." Katie nodded and then sealed her lips with her hand. "Good girl."
"Cassandra, can I talk to you for a second?" Nick asked and held out his hand.
"Sure," she said and he helped her up. They walked outside of his room and walked over to Kevin's room.
"Cassie, why are you mad at me this time?" Nick asked and watched her as she sat down on Kevin's bed.
"Well you feel like you have an obligation to believe me? To believe in me? That's cold Nick."
"That's not true!"
"If it isn't true, it's just the way you said it. That you're my husband and that you have an obligation, no less, to be on my side."
Nick sat down next to her. "I'm not going to try to sweet talk you into believing that what I said and what I meant were two completely different things. Yes I said that I am your husband and that I have an obligation to be on your side, but what I meant was that I'm on your side and I believe you and I trust you and...oh it's not coming out right."
Cassandra couldn't help but smile. "I...I know what you're trying to say."
"Good," he said and smiled.
Cassandra walked into Nick's room that night. When Nick heard the door open, he turned around and held a finger up to his lips. Cassandra nodded her head and quietly closed the door and walked over to him. She saw him sitting on the edge of the bed next to Katie who was asleep and bundled in Nick's blankets.
Cassandra smiled and took his hand. "Let's go back to my room."
"No. I don't want to be that far away from her."
"Okay. Then we can stay in Kevin's room, right next door."
"But-"
"Emalia and Kevin are over at the other house for tonight. Katie will be fine and we'll be up before her. She's not going anywhere, Nick. She'll be right there tomorrow. I promise."
Nick smiled and gently kissed Katie's forehead. He took Cassandra's hand and walked over to Kevin's room. Suddenly, Nick wrapped his arms around Cassandra and squeezed her tightly but he lost his balance and they fell onto the bed.
"Nick, you're squishing me!"
"Oh thank you for being so supportive. Oh I love you."
"Great, I love you too...now get off of me!"
Nick laughed and rolled off of her.
"Uh huh, very funny," Cassandra said.
Nick laughed even harder and said, "I guess I kinda lost my balance there."
Cassandra nodded. "I guess so!" She paused and looked at Nick seriously. She propped herself up on her elbow. "Can we talk seriously?"
"Sure Honey."
"Is it decided? About us having kids?"
Nick stared at the ceiling for a second then looked at her. "Only if you agree to one thing."
Cassandra held her breath, hoping that it wasn't anything bad.
Howie walked into the girls' living room and saw Coreene and Mercedes sitting on the couch. "Hey, you two look depressed."
"Thanks," Mercedes said. "I think that we have good reason to be depressed."
"Yeah, the day is coming up soon. The funeral," Howie said. He didn't want to ask Coreene now about the date that she chose for the funeral. He'd wait until later. "Hey, how about I take you ladies out for dinner and maybe a movie?"
Mercedes looked at Coreene and they nodded their heads slightly. "Sure Howie," Coreene said. "That would be wonderful!"
Howie smiled. "Great. Why don't you ladies go and get your purses or change or whatever you girls do and then we'll leave."
"Great." Coreene stood up and kissed Howie quickly on the cheek and she and Mercedes walked out of the room. Howie stood there in thought as he watched Coreene and Mercedes leave. The way that Coreene's eyes had lit up and the way she had quickly kissed him, made him think of Angel. He felt his eyes well up with tears but he fought them back as hard as he could. They all just had to get through this next week and after Cassandra's funeral, things would calm down and then they could all get on with their lives. Howie intended to get on with his life, with Coreene.
"Anything, Nick," Cassandra said, sincerely. "What is it?"
"You have to promise me that we can raise Katie like our own."
Cassandra let out a breath. "Oh is that all?"
"So you will?"
She put her hand on his face and smiled. "You didn't even have to ask me! I really like Katie."
"And she really likes you, too. She told me so. I'm really glad you like her." Nick paused then added nonchalantly, "Not that I even thought that you couldn't like her. She is my sister and all-"
Cassandra playfully slapped him on his arm.
He laughed and rolled back over on her. "I really love you." He paused. "So then it's settled?"
"Yeah," she said. "I guess. So then...when do we begin?"
He grinned. "How about now?" He leaned down and kissed her. She giggled and wrapped her arms around him.