Whitney Russell was hugging her favorite stuffed animal when she heard a knock on the door.

" Go away.", Whitney said.

But, they didn't listen. The door slowly opened. The room was dark. There were no lights on, and the shades had been drawn. Yet, this person made their way over to Whitney's bed and sat on the edge, and even though Whitney didn't open her eyes, she knew who it was, because she had always known her smell.

" Grandmere."

" Yes Darling. It's me."

" I'm no in the mood to talk."

" Good, then be in the mood to listen. I could tell, Whitney. I could tell that you were furious. That you have condemned your mother."

" She doesn't deserve it?"

" No. She doesn't."

" She lied and lied and lied."

" Yes. To protect herself and you."

" Her lies have cost SO much."

" What have they cost, except for your broken heart."

" MY broken heart? Oh, I think you're wrong Grandmere. What about Daddy's broken heart."

" Your father's heart is bruised. Not broken. He hasn't given up on your mother."

" Maybe he should.", Whitney said bitterly.

" You don't mean that, Whitney."

" Yes, I do, Grandmere."

" Don't Whitney. Don't let this destroy the terrific relationship that you have with your mother."

" HAD!", Whitney replied back fiercely.

" You know…even though you look like your mother, you have you father and grandfather's temperments. You have their judgemental streak, and may I say Whitney, it looks every bit as ugly on you as it did them. "

" I can't believe that you're saying this to me. I find out that my mother has lied to me MY ENTIRE LIFE. That she set herself up as some paragon of virtue."

" No, Whitney. Your father, and then YOU set your mother up as a paragon. Anyone with 'sense' would know that your mother was human. You and your father never wanted to see it, thus you trapped Eve even deeper in the lies."

" But, if Daddy had known the truth.."

" Your parents very well may have never been married. Is that what you want? If your parents had never married, then you and Simone would have never been born. Is THAT what you want? Whitney, your mother has devoted herself to her family for so many years. Tell me..before today, did you have ANY reason to doubt her?"

" No, but.."

" But, what? Now, she's forever tainted by something that happened LONG before you were born? She is to be condemned for THAT?"

" To be blunt, Grandmere, Yes!"

Madelaine looked at her granddaughter. " You should never have children then, Whitney. Because God help you if you ever had a child as unforgiving as you. It's a heartache all its own."

Madelaine got up and left out of the room. Whitney began to cry all over again.
 

Eve entered the house. It was all dark. She tried to turn on the lights, but, nothing came on when the switch was flicked.

" TC? Whitney? Simone?", she called out. When there was no response, she began to panic.

They left me, Eve thought.
They couldn't take my lies.
They want nothing else to do with me.
They 've cut me out of their lives.

Eve barely made it to the desk in the living room when the tears began to flow, thinking that her family was now gone, and that she was living through her worst nightmare.

Just then the lights came on, and people came out from the kitchen yelling,

" SURPRISE!"

Eve looked at all of them in shock and confusion.

TC. Whitney. Simone. Chad. Madelaine. Sam and Grace. Maggie and George.

TC walked up to Eve. " Baby, did you forget?"

" Forget?"

" Today's your birthday. We just thought we'd give you a surprise party."

" Surprise party?" Eve looked at everyone and burst into tears. She sat back down at the desk. TC kneeled next to her.

" Baby? What's wrong?"

" When nobody replied, I thought…I thought..", and she burst into tears again.

TC cupped her hands with his face. " You thought that we had left you. Baby, nothing could be further from the truth. We took vows. For better or for worse. We've had both, and I choose better. How can I blame you for something that happened before we met, Eve. Maybe, if 'I' had been a better man, you wouldn't have felt that you had to lie to me. But, whatever it is, I think we've BOTH made mistakes, and need to get through them. You are my family. THIS is the life that we have built together. Chad takes away nothing from our family. He only adds to it. You don't have to worry about me going anywhere.

I told you this long ago, and I meant it…

' Always, Dr. Russell.'"

Eve looked at TC, who was crying. She nodded. " Always."

TC hugged Eve and kissed her. " Well, you have a party to enjoy." TC leads Eve to the couch.

" Open your gifts, Mom!", Simone enthused.

" Simone, we should wait.", Whitney said.

" No. I'd love to open my gifts." Eve looked at the table. " Which one should I pick first?"
Eve studied the table, and then a hand lifted one to her. She looked up and saw that it was attached to Chad.

" This is our first birthday together of any kind. "

Eve had tears in her eyes, and opened the present. It was a picture of her and Chad. She couldn't remember when it was taken. Across the top, on the border, it said, 'Mother & Son'.

" Happy Birthday, Mom."

Eve hugged Chad as she cried. Everyone else was crying too, but, they were such happy tears. This was going to be the best birthday she ever had.

Eve opened her eyes. Instead of being in the living room, surrounded by family and friends, she was in her bedroom. Sleeping next to her was Simone. The joy she had felt was in a dream. But, it was a dream that Eve prayed would become reality some day.
 

Madelaine had checked on her family before telling TC that she was going to the market for groceries. Instead, she found her way to the pier. She parked the car, and took out her cellphone. She dialed the number.

" Tell him it's Madelaine Russell……You never mind if he's expecting my call…..Tell him."

After a few moments, the person in question got on the phone.

"In case you don't know, the truth is out; Chad being Julian and Eve's son. I'm sure your twisted mind is probably thinking of some sort of a response. How you can 'work' this to your advantage and hurt my grandson. Don't. Put it out of your mind. Or you will be sorry. Very sorry."

Madelaine hangs up the phone before there is a reply. When the cellphone rings again, she doesn't answer it. She leaves it in the car as she goes to pick up the groceries that she said she would.

Julian was drinking his brandy and thinking about the events of the  day. He had another son. He thought about everyone's reaction. It was as he expected. He expects more barbs from Ivy sooner than later, but, it was the loss of innocence of Ethan that had hurt the most. When Julian told him that he thought Alistair was very capable of killing a child, he knew that cut Ethan to the core. He was still away with Gwen. He would give Ethan his 'space'. Sheridan had been no surprise. Her heart was still as generous as it's always been. Having her support meant a lot to him.

Julian was looking out of his window, onto the Crane Estate when the phone rang. He turned around in his chair and just stared at it. He didn't know what to do. Rage overtook him and he pressed down the speakerphone.

" Julian Crane."

" Julian, I hear that we have a new member of the family."

" Not a new one, 'Father', one that should have been all along."

" Really?"

" Yes. Mr. Perkins was quite forthright in his dissemination of information. It was a very enlightening day."

Alistair chuckled. " So, he finally told you. Just another incompetent."

" Oh, so he's an incompetent because he couldn't MURDER AN INNOCENT BABY?"

" Spare me your righteous indignation, Julian. I did as I always do- whatever's best for this family."

" BEST FOR THE FAMILY! YOU WANTED TO KILL MY SON. MY SON, ALISTAIR!"

" But, it didn't happen. And now you and that whore can have the 'reunion' with your bastard. This changes NOTHING, Julian! He'll not get a dime of Crane money!"

" He might not get any of YOUR money, Father. But, I have a nice fortune. And, MY SON will get what he's entitled to. "

" Julian…"

" No. I have listened to you long enough. Don't do it, Father. If you're thinking about hurting Chad. Don't. Don't because I WILL come after you. I know that you think I'm bluffing. That I don't have the guts. You would be wrong. I have the guts, and if you were sitting here in this room with me, I probably would be arrested for your murder. If you touch one hair on Chad's head, I will hunt you down and dispose of you."

" Well, well. Julian finally grows a spine. Will wonders ever cease? Don't worry, Julian. I won't touch your bastard. I have more important things to do."

Then the phone clicked off.