“You’re kidding, right,” Scotty asked in disbelief as he stared down at the folder. This had to be a joke; it had to be Scotty thought otherwise his partner was betraying him and Luke had infiltrated their lives again.

“No,” Alexis stated softly hating that she could very well be ruining her friendship with the Baldwins. It wasn’t supposed to be like this, Alexis thought. She never meant to get this close to them, never meant to care about them it just happened.

Alexis is helping Luke, thought Scotty. The man who almost destroyed my wife, my family and my life. Alexis is helping him, that thought could not settle in his mind. It was impossible. He trusted her. Brought her into his practice, into his family his mind raged.

God, she was friendly with Laura and the kids adored her. Scotty tore the folder open and scanned the pages. Words jumped up at him. Attorney Alexis Davis. Plaintiff Luke Spencer. Order for DNA tests. It was true. His partner and friend was betraying him. “How long,” he finally spat out angrily. “How long have you’ve been planning this with him? Have long have you’ve been deceiving me,” he yelled flinging the papers down in front of her.

“Scott I never meant…”

“Never meant what Alexis? To tear my family apart?”

Agitated Alexis ran a hand through her shoulder-length hair. “This is so complicated Scott. I don’t want to hurt you. Or betray you.” Silence filled the room as Scott eyed Alexis. They were friends. He trusted her with his work but more importantly with his family. This shook him to the core. He could never trust her completely again, but…there was a possibility of salvaging some semblance of their relationship. “Drop him.”

“Excuse me,” Alexis asked off kilter. She had expected angry words and harsh looks. Not this quiet demand.

“Drop Luke Spencer as your client.”

“Scotty…”

“Drop him or its over. Our friendship, any relationships you have with my family and our partnership.”

Alexis closed her eyes. Sadness washed over her. She had known that this could happen, heck had she prepared herself for it. But nothing could really prepare her for hearing those words. Luke or Scotty? It was a choice she did not want to make, one she had hidden from. But it came down to that question. Luke or Scotty? To lose either would break her heart.

A long ago promise. She had given her word fifteen years ago, long before she met Scott, Laura and the children. Alexis had never gone back on her word before and she would not do it now. “I’m sorry Scott, I just can’t.”

“Get out.”

“Scott please let me explain…”

“Get out,” Scotty roared. Alexis nodded and quietly slipped out of the house. For the third time in the past few days Scott’s world threatened to collapse under him. First Luke. Then telling Nickolas. And now this. Still in shock, he leaned down and picked up the papers, he’d wait till tomorrow to tell Laura. There was no reason to kick her while she was down.

The Quartermaine Mansion

“Hello,” Emily called out as she entered the living room through the patio entrance. “Mom? Dad?” Emily sighed when she got no response and sank down to the couch. This was the second worst day of her life. She had been torn in so many different directions. Frankly, Emily was not sure of anything any more; expect Tanner.

Tanner would always be there. Would always love her.

“Emily,” Reginald greeted as he entered the room.

“Hey Reggie,” she said smiling up at the thin man. She was the only person who could get away with calling him that.

“Did you need something?”

“My parents.”

“Well Monica is still at the hospital but Alan is home. He’s been resting in his room.”

“Is he all right?” Emily asked jumping up, worry evident on face.

“I believe he said he was just tired,” Reginald informed her.

“Thanks Reggie,” she said hurrying out of the room and heading to find her father.

Bobbie snuggled close to Alan whose big barrel chest swelled as he took at hit off the joint they were sharing. This what she needed, sex and drugs to erase the past and guilt. Tomorrow she would face it head on when she saw Luke again for the first time outside of prison, until then she would bury it. She would shield herself from one ugliness by falling into another.

Adultery. Bobbie normally stayed away from married men, but Alan was charming, had money and access to drugs. It made him perfect.

“What are you thinking about,” Alan asked as he handed her the joint.

“You,” Bobbie lied. She took the joint with one hand and rubbed his chest with the other. Alan was a rather good lover when he was not high. Alan slid his hands down her body and kissed her neck as she took a hit. Bobbie moaned as his kisses trailed lower.

“Dad,” Emily called as she entered his room. She froze at the sight that greeted her. Clothes thrown all over the room, joints and empty wine bottles on Monica’s dressing table as well as beside the bed. And God the bed…Alan making love to another woman. Smoking and drinking with her. Emily felt bile rise in her throat.

Disgusted, she wanted to look away but the entire room was filled with smoke and the perfume of another woman. What sickened her more was the fact that she knew the woman. Bobbie Spencer who ran Kelly’s, who was always so nice; who her Mother talked about from time to time, telling stories about when Bobbie used to be in nursing school.

“Emily,” Alan cried in distress as he pulled away from Bobbie.

She stood there stricken, she did not know what to say or do. So she just stood there and watched her father struggled to put on his robe. Bobbie just sat in the bed, taking another hit. God it was some bad dream, a nightmare. It had to be Emily thought. But then Alan came towards her, reached out too her. “Don’t,” she screamed finally breaking the eerie silence of the moment. “How could you,” she cried as tears filled her eyes.

“It not what you think Em.”

Emily laughed hysterically, what the hell else could it be? “I’m not stupid Dad. God you really are pathetic”

Without thinking, Alan slapped her. The sharp sound of flesh against flesh seemed to echo in the room. “I…I…why didn’t you knock,” Alan accused. His intoxicated mind could not grasp what was going on. He walked over to the bedside table and grabbed a bottle of wine and took a chug.

The tears welling in her eyes dried the second his hand made contact. A mixture of anger and disappointment flooded her. The events of the day came crashing down on her. Reality sucked. Everything was wrong. She wanted to escape. Emily noted the glazed look on Bobbie’s face, as if nothing mattered. She wanted that.

“Don’t tell your mother,” Alan begged.

Emily shook her head heartbroken. She hated him or maybe she hated herself. She was not enough and neither was Monica. They were not enough to make him happy. To keep him from drugs and other women. She could not let Monica find out, she had to protect her. “I won’t.”

“Thank you Em,” Alan said moving towards her.

“Stay away from me. I don’t want you near me. Ever,” she yelled at him.

Alan stopped in mid-step. He had lost Emily but he could not register this. Her anger was something he was sure would fade away and she’d be his little girl again. “I knew I could count on you,” he said proudly.

Emily turned away from him in shame. She was a liar now. First to Tanner and now to Monica. She’d become what she hated most. She turned to take it back and saw Alan climbing back into bed and her last bit of hope died. He was really lost to her. Escape…she need to escape. Looking down at the joints on the dressing table Emily saw a chance of escape. Wanting it more than anything, Emily pocketed one of the joints and fled.

The Next Day
Baldwin Residence

MacKenzie knew sneaking into her father’s office was wrong. And if she got caught she would be in a lot of trouble. But she knew that if there was any place to find answers about what was going with Nick the office was the best place.

Checking the hallway, she slipped the door open and entered. Once inside she shut the door and headed for her Dad’s desk.

There were legal briefs; folders and law books piled high on the old oak monster. At the very back stood family pictures.

Knowing that she did not have a lot of time, MacKenzie scanned the documents. She discarded the red folder with Alexis name on it, it was probably case she needed help on and looked through the rest. It took her ten minutes and she knew she was pushing it.

The red folder glared up at her. What the heck, MacKenzie thought and grabbed the folder. The words she read stunned her. It was a court order for DNA testing. Some guy named Luke Spencer was trying to claim that Nick was his son.

MacKenzie knew that was impossible. Her mother would never cheat on her father.

Hearing footsteps outside, she dropped the folder back where she found it and tiptoed to the door. She heard her mother’s voice, but couldn’t make out was she was saying. MacKenzie waited until everything was quiet. Sneaking back out of the room, MacKenzie formed her plan. She had to find out everything on Luke Spencer and she knew just the way to do it.

Quartermaine Boathouse

Stretching, Nick looked around the dusty boathouse. He did not know what led him here. Perhaps it was the thought of being close to Emily and he berated himself for the thought.

Emily was with Tanner. His brother. He could not hurt Tanner like that. He would not, he promised.

Emily flung the door open; she desperately needed to get away from the family. The loud breakfast had gotten on her last nerve. Sunlight crept into the darkness of the boathouse revealing Nick. “Oh,” Emily gasped.

“Emily,” Nick uttered as he jumped up. She looked like an angel surrounded by sunlight.

“What are doing here?”

“I couldn’t go home…sorry…I’ll leave,” he stuttered.

“And go where,” Emily asked as the shock wore off.

“Um…I don’t know,” Nick admitted.

“Will you go home?”

“No,” Nick stated emphatically.

“Gesh it was just a suggestion.”

Nick sighed, “I can’t go home.”

“Than stay here,” Emily offered.

“I can’t…”

“I can bring you food. And the grounds are safe.”

“Emily…”

“In fact I’ll grab you some food. Don’t go anywhere,” she ordered.

PC Bus Station

Bobbie rubbed her temples again. Her head ached, her body was sore and her eyes were red. The gifts of a hangover.

She did not want to meet Luke like this. He had given his life so she could have one and all she seemed to do was screw up.

Bobbie owed it to him to become something, instead she wasted her life moving from one bum to another and never getting farther than the counter at Kelly’s.

Luke spent twenty years in jail. Away from his son. Not really living to protect her. Bobbie knew she didn’t deserve it.

She should have been the one behind bars. But she had been pregnant with Caroline and Luke wouldn’t risk the baby being taken away so he took the fall.

Hugging herself, Bobbie sank into a chair. She was not sure how long she sat there, but at the sound of his voice she tensed. “Barbara Jean,” Luke’s deep voice seemed to wrap around and trap her.

“Luke,” she whispered softly and looked up at him. Tears stung her eyes. He looked so good. Tall, wiry; his smile did not reach his blue eyes which held a distant look. She wanted to jump up and hug him, but something held her back.

Luke said nothing. Just being out was enough for now. Everything else could wait. He reached out his hand and Bobbie clasped it tightly and smiled uneasily at him.

The Quartermaine Boathouse

Nick could feel the awkwardness between them as he ate the food she brought. He wanted to say something. To erase yesterday some how, but he could not think of the words. He did not know how to take it back. Sitting Indian style on the floor Emily let her eyes drift around the room. Whenever her eyes rested on Nick to long she felt guilty. And guilt was something she could not deal with now. She had to help Tanner and Nick. She had to protect Monica from the truth. She had to contend with the latest rumblings in the family. Her own personal meltdown had to wait. “How is it?”

Nick finished the last bite of the blueberry muffin, “It was great. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Emily bit her lip and looked down at her feet. She just did not know what to say anymore.

“If I agree to stay I don’t want anyone to know.”

“Not even Tanner,” Emily asked her head shooting up. Her dark eyes meeting his.

“No one.”

“You can’t do that to him. To your family. Nick do you have any idea how worried they’ll be?”

“I know. I hate to put them through that but…I can’t…I can barely think straight…I don’t know what I’m doing…I won’t risk hurting them again.”

Another lie, Emily thought bitterly. “Fine,” she yelled flinging herself up. “Cut yourself off from everyone who loves you. Hide from them. See if I care,” she said storming out.

Nick sat in stunned silence. He had never seen Emily like that before. She always had a smile and a supportive shoulder. Setting his plate down he notice something white on the floor. Picking it up he was surprised when he realized what it was. What was Emily doing with a joint? The scene played over in his mind, for just a moment he saw the look of complete distress as it played over her face. Something bad was going on, Nick could feel it, but she hadn’t told him what. And she probably wouldn’t tell Tanner, not now.

Nick crushed the joint. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to Emily.

The Law Firm of Baldwin and Davis

Scotty heard Alexis muttering through her open door as he entered the office. He headed towards her office expecting to find her packing, seeing her sitting at her desk working caught him off guard. “What are you doing?”

Alexis’ head snapped up. She could see the exhaustion in Scotty’s eyes.

“Working on the Andersen case,” she stated.

“I ended our partnership remember? You should be packing.” Alexis sighed; this was not going to be pleasant. She knew she could walk away now, but she didn’t want too. Scott was her friend and partner and she wasn’t going to give up on that without a fight. “Did you forget clause 23 in our partnership agreement?”

Scotty frowned; mentally he listed the clauses…23. They each had the right to take on a case without the okay of the other. If they didn’t like it to bad. The case could not be grounds for ending the partnership. Scotty wanted to fling accusations, but he was the on who insisted on that particular article. “I still want you gone.”

“Do you really want to deal with two lawsuits?”

Scotty laughed bitterly, “You’re a piece of work you know that?”

“Maybe, but I’m also your partner. Scotty if you would just let me explain…”

“Forget it. You wanna be here that’s fine. But I could care less about anything you have to say,” Scott told her and walked away.

Later that Afternoon

Stone pulled his motorcycle into the parking lot of Kelly’s. Being a car lover he noticed the sweet yellow one glistening in the sun. He also noticed the legs of the girl leaning in checking under the hood. They were nice, but not nearly as shapely as Caroline’s.

“Ouch,” Robin cried as she burned her hand.

Taking pity on a novice Stone headed towards the car. “Can I help,” he offered.

Robin ducked out from under the hood and smiled hesitantly at him. She recognized the guy, she had seen him with Nick but she could not remember his name. “You don’t have to…”

“And if I wanted to,” Stone asked placing a hand on the roof.

“I would really appreciate it, but I don’t want to be a incon…”

“Don’t worry about it,” Stone replied and slid under the hood.

Caroline stepped out of Kelly’s, Stone was going to be picking her up and they were going to go for a ride. She took a deep breath of the fresh air and scanned the parking lot. She saw his bike and then him sliding under the hood of a yellow car. The fresh, perky Robin followed him and Caroline felt a pang of jealously.

“Thanks,” Robin said joining him. “I don’t know a lot about cars. Um…not to sound rude but I forget your name.”

Stone smiled at her shyness. “Stone.”

“Robin.”

“I know,” he replied as he looked over the engine. Robin winced some, she felt bad that she could not remember his name. “The fan belt is busted you need a new one. And without a tow this car isn’t going anywhere,” he told her and stood up straight.

“Fan belt,” Robin noted. “Anything else?”

“Nope and don’t let them talk you into anything else.”

“Thanks so much for you help,” Robin said holding out her hand.

“It was a pleasure,” Stone replied shaking it.

“Isn’t that move a bit tired,” Caroline asked approaching them.

“Huh,” Robin asked confused by the girl’s cold tone.

Stone just smiled, he moved to kiss her but she pulled back. “Now Caroline…”

“Don’t! You’re late.”

“Just helping a lady in distress.”

“Please, she probably pulled a battery cable so she could get your attention.”

“Quite an imagination you got there,” Stone commented.

“She just wants to try slumming and you give her the perfect…”

“Enough,” Stone yelled. Caroline shut up but he saw the flash of pain before she masked it. Stone hated raising his voice around her but sometimes…she knew which buttons to push. “I wouldn’t want any girl to lower herself for me,” he turning from her.

“Stone,” they both called out. He did not reply to either, instead he hopped on his bike and rode away.

“Way to go,” Caroline snarled.

“Me? You’re the one who chased him away,” Robin said defending herself.

“Why you little…”

“Whoa cuz,” Sly said pulling him behind her. “Sorry about that.”

“Don’t apologize for me,” Caroline yelled.

Sly rolled his eyes and Robin bit back a laugh, “You look like you could use a ride.”

“If its not an inconvenience.”

“For you never,” Sly replied.

“Please,” Caroline muttered. She eyed Robin angrily as Sly led her to his worn down truck. Like she would ever actually consider dating him. Sly was living in a dream world. Flopping herself to the sidewalk Caroline sighed. She just messed up royally and she knew it.

Scorpio Residence

“Mac,” Maxie greeted her friend surprised. She had not expected to see her today. “Is everything okay,” she asked moving aside to let her in.

“No,” MacKenzie answered bluntly. She didn’t have time to beat round the bush.

Maxie could read the conflicting emotions on her friends face; something was definitely up. “Does this have to do with yesterday?”

“Yeah. Maxie I need your help. I need to get into your uncle’s computer.”

“What? Why?” Maxie couldn’t think why MacKenzie would need a PI’s computer.

“I’ll explain later just know that its imperative.”

“I can’t Uncle Mac will kill me.”

“Please,” MacKenzie begged.

“Only if you tell me what’s goin’ on.” MacKenzie bit her lip. Maxie was her best friend, if she couldn’t trust than who could she? “Promise not to tell anyone.”

“On my life,” Maxie swore.

“Some guy is trying to claim that Nick is his son, not my Dad’s.”

Kelly’s

Caroline was about to pick herself up off the ground when a silver Lamborghini, if she was right a 1989 Countach Anniversary, pulled in. God the car was hot, she thought, and it spelled money the price on the car had shot up over the years. She watched intently as the door opened and a tall, blonde haired guy around her age stepped out. Young, wealthy and hot who could ask for more?

Jumping up she brushed herself off and put her brightest smile on her face. “Hello.”

Jason turned at the sound of the soft feminine voice. A smile spread across his face as he took in the girl before her. She wore tight jeans that showed off her shapely legs, a blue blouse and leather jacket. Her long, blonde hair was lose and her hazel eyes danced with interest. “Hello.”

“You’ve a great car,” Caroline commented hoping for an in. “89 Countach?”

Jason laughed, surprised that she really knew about cars and wasn’t using it as a line. “Anniversary edition, but I bet you knew that.” “But of course. And since you want to test my knowledge here it goes…The Anniversario, as the Italians call it, was given new 2 piece forged alloy OZ rims. These were shod with Pirelli's new P Zero tires with asymmetrical design. Also, the engine bay was tidied up by rearranging hoses and wires for improved appearance and easier servicing.”

“I’m impressed.”

“And I’m Caroline Spencer,” she said offering her hand.

“Jason Quartermaine,” he replied taking her and shaking it firmly.

The Park

Tanner placed another loving kiss on Emily’s lips. It was so wonderful to be able to lose himself in her with everything that was going on. “How did you know this is exactly what I needed,” he asked running a hand through her soft brown hair.

“Because I know you better than anyone,” Emily replied. She had went to find Tanner to tell him everything what happened with Nick, finding Alan and Bobbie, the joint she took and about Nick staying in the boathouse. When she found him he was so down. Misery was written all over on his face, but when he looked up at her a smile touched his lips and the sadness left his eyes. She couldn’t take that away, she wouldn’t.

“Because I love you.”

“I love you too with everything I am,” Tanner promised taking her hand and kissing it. Emily blushed. “I want to show you,” he said unexpectedly.

“What,” Emily asked suddenly nervous.

“We love each other Em,” Tanner said brushing some hair out of her face. “I want to be with you.”

“You are with me.”

“Em…”

“I know…its just…Tanner there is so much going on now. I love you and I want to be with you but…call me stupid I want it to be perfect.”

“So do I. Maybe your right, my timing does suck. I don’t want you to think that…that I was trying to pressure you.”

“Never.”

“Good,” Tanner sighed relieved.

“I love you Tanner. When the time is right we’ll know. Until then,” she said pulling him closer, “I expect lots of kisses.”

“I think that can be arranged,” he replied before claiming her lips again.