Dragging himself reluctantly from bed, Isaac stared around the master bathroom with sleep-blurry eyes. His lips quirked with the sweet memory of last night day's before turning into a fierce frown when he thought of the new house guest.
   "The short visiting house guest." He muttered dryly to himself before he put himself through his morning ablutions.
   He stopped at his daughters' door, and knocked lightly. If his brothers wanted to live past today, his daughters would be inside this room, he thought with a vengeance.
   Randy was the one who opened the door for him, and smiled brightly before stepping back in a wild flourish of movement. Instantly producing his kids behind her, on the floor, coloring and drawing with fervor. It was Charm's docile manner that worried him for the moment.
   Sitting beside her while she occupied a spot on Angel's bed, he bent and kissed her fore head before producing a small present to her. "It's for you and Angel, really." He announced gently, getting the attention of Angel and Zoë as well.
   Taking the offering with feigned diffidence, Charm took it into her hands before gently, and slowly, removing the newspaper wrapped gift.
   The wrapping fell away to reveal a silver frame turned upside down. Looking up at Isaac with questioning eyes, she slowly turned it over. Half expecting it to be empty, she jolted up when she saw her mother/sister staring back at her with laughing grey eyes and a beautiful smile.
   "You and your sister have her smile." Isaac admitted softly. "And sometimes I catch you tossing your head a certain way, or getting a certain look in your eyes, or even when you just say some saying's I feel as if D was here again."
   He kissed both of their foreheads, and held Zoë at his side. "I don't ever want you to forget D. Because I can never, and will never forget her."
   Making sure he caught Charm's eye to be sure she understood him, Isaac smiled. "She's a major part of all our lives, girls. And I'll never replace her or her memory."
   Angel and Charm slowly nodded, accepting the decree. Charm, finally easing herself and letting her shoulders relax, smiled brightly and hugged the picture to her before looking back down at it.
   Getting up to leave, Isaac hugged Randy and pecked her cheek. "Keep an eye on them." He whispered softly, before looking back on the girls. He smiled when they pointed out specific traits they shared with D.
   "Syrus is waiting downstairs. Tay, Zac, and Mackie, I'm sure, are keeping him well entertained."
   Smiling at her dry prediction, Isaac left the room quietly.
   "I'm sure you're really wondering why it is that I'm here."
   The comment greeted him before he could even step inside the breakfast nook.
   Stealing himself, Isaac nodded silently as he moved to his seat and smiled gratefully at his brothers. "I must admit, I am more than mildly curious about this visit." He glanced up; his eyes sharp and narrowed. "But I'll also concede that I could care less if you weren't here."
   Syrus nodded grudgingly, accepting the thinly veiled hostility. "Arie is having problems."
   Isaac nodded, "I know. He spoke to me about it a few days ago."
   He nodded once again, sharply. "I want to take control of the firm and fix what he has allowed to happen."
   Taylor sat up straighter in his seat, as well as Zac and Mackenzie. Isaac glanced at Taylor for a moment, "Why are you here telling me this, then?"
   Syrus smiled wolfishly, "Didn't you know, Isaac. Dahven had a certain percentage of my wife's firm before it was given to Arie. That's why you have to do those annoying proxies now and again."    Isaac shrugged, "Ex-wife, and I'm still not seeing the connection as to why you're in my house."
   "This used to be mine!" Syrus responded tightly, his fight pounding on the tabletop in aggravation.
   Mackenzie and Zac leaned forward expectantly, anticipating another outburst while Taylor and Isaac leaned back in their seats.
   They watched as Syrus struggled to gain control of himself once more. "I want to buy out your shares. I will give you top dollar, maybe even sweeten the deal some more if you like."
   Isaac shook his head automatically. "No. Now if that is all," he started to stand when Syrus rushed to his feet as well.
   "You should reconsider, Isaac. You have no use for the shares. They belong to Christian's, not Hanson's!"
   Pushing his chair back, Isaac stood firmly at the head of the table. "This is my house. Those are my shares." He nodded towards the door. "And that is the exit. Goodbye, Syrus. I do not want you here again. I will not sell anything to you even if I was in desperate need of money. Which I assure you, I am not."
   It took long tense moments before Syrus used the door, and returned upstairs before coming back down with his bag and leaving. He cast one last annoyed look at Isaac before slamming the door behind him.
   "You want to call Arie now?" Taylor asked curiously from behind Isaac.
   Nodding, Isaac went towards the library. "Let the girls know they can come out now, will you?"
   "Ike?" Taylor asked quietly.
   He looked up, "Yeah?"
   "Is everything going to be okay?"
   Isaac thought a moment, "Yes. It will be."
   Nodding, Taylor accepted the answer as law and left Isaac to make his call.