" Hello Chad. May I come in?" Julian Crane stood at Chad's door. Chad looked from the door, back to Theresa, and then back to Julian.

" Sure.", Chad said, moving out of the way to let Julian in.

Julian looked around the apartment. It wasn't bigger than the one at the Russells. " Well, I thought I should come over and talk to you, if you don't mind. Hello Theresa."

" Mr. Crane." Theresa looked at father and son and spoke up, " Well, I think I'll go help Mama with some chores." Theresa started on her way out, and Chad grabbed her by the hand. She looked into his eyes, and saw the plea there: please don't go.

" On second thought, my chores can wait. " Theresa stood by Chad's side and held onto his hand.

Julian looked at the two of them. He saw their closeness. How he depended upon her. It made him feel good that his son had someone that he could count on during difficult times. Julian smiled and then thrust the box in Chad's face, in a move that was both awkwaerd, and reeked of nervous desperation. " This is for you. A housewarming gift."

Chad accepted the gift. " Thank you." He put the gift down on his desk - unopened.

Seeing that he wasn't going to move towards the gift, Julian began his thoughts." I suppose you're wondering what happened today. With the open declaration and all."

" You could say that."

" Well Chad, it was a preemptive strike. Once my father knew that I knew your true identity, I knew that he would make a play against you. Possibly even physically harming you. The only way that I knew how to protect you was to expose you - to the world. If everyone knows who you are, then people will be watching you. And, it would make my father's desire to hurt you seem counterproductive, since if anything happened to you, the press and everyone else would land on my doorstep. So, I tried to protect you."

Chad was silent for a few moments, and then spoke up, " That's what Sheridan said."

" It's the truth."

" I don't know if I can believe anything that comes out of your mouth."

" Well know that everything I said in those interviews was the truth. I'm so pleased that you are my son, and it is my deepest wish that we forge a relationship."

" Why? Why now? You didn't give a fuck about me when my mother was pregnant."

" That's not true!"

" Did you or did you not abandon my mother when you found out that she was pregnant."

" It was complicated.."

" Nope. Pretty simple to me. You see, I saw the same shit all the time when I was growing up. Girl gets pregnant. Guy who couldn't wait to get in her pants 5 minutes before the announcement, suddenly acts like the woman has the plague. The only difference between those assholes and you is that you had a whole lot more money. That's all. The abandonment is the same."

" You are right. The abandonment is the same. I was a coward. A complete coward. I had a chance to listen to my heart, or to my greed, and my greed won out. I was a weak man. I had never gone against my father. EVER. In ANYTHING. I had no courage. I didn't even know that I WANTED a life outside of the one I had been trained for until I met your mother, and she opened my eyes to what I COULD be. She opened my heart , and I didn't even know it existed. I felt things that I didn't were possible, and it scared me. Scared the hell out of me. Because if I listened to those feelings and to my heart and what she stirred in me, then I would be turning my back on the only life I had ever known. Changing your whole life is a scary prospect, and it's one thing if your parents aren't supportive. It's another deal if your parent is Alistair Crane. I had nobody. I wasn't brave, like your mother. She was fearless. She believed in us and my abandonment, combined with your 'death' damn near destroyed her."

Julian looked down at the floor, and Chad could feel his eyes tear up. He had read what Julian said in the letter about his mother, but to hear it from Julian's voice. To hear the obvious emotion that came to him as he spoke about his mother, Chad was stunned.

" Does my mother know about me?", Chad asked quietly.

" I haven't been able to get in touch with her. But, I am trying. Chad, please give me a chance. I spoke with Pilar, and she said that if I was sincere in my intentions towards you then she thought we had a chance. "

" I don't know if any level of intentions would make a difference to me."

" Chad, please don't say that. I really want for us to have a relationship."

" Why? WHen my mother was pregnant with me you didn't care."

" That's not true! I wanted to know you. I was young. Confused."

" I could NEVER be young enough to abandon a girl I got pregnant."

" Which makes you a better man than I could ever be. That's something you get from your mother. Her bravery. Her courage. Did I tell you that your mother fought everyone for you? That she told me to go to hell, and anyone else who thought that her life would be better off without you."

" She...she wanted me?"

" More than anything. She was young, but determined. I was young and foolish."

" What am I supposed to say to you? The other day you told me to take my time. We could go at MY pace, and see how things went. I was still wobbly on my knees when suddenly, you announce to the world that I'm your long lost son. Do you have ANY idea how much you've turned my life upside down?"

" I think I have a clue."

" Do you?"

" Yes. But, I didn't think I had any other choice. "

" Yeah, yeah, your father."

" Yes, your grandfather. A lot of things have been written about Alistair Crane, and if they're negative, it's true. But, only the tip of the iceberg. My only point was to protect you. I had let you down so many other ways, I couldn't do it this time. I couldn't let him hurt you. I couldn't let you be harmed. Not only would I have been devastated, but it would have hurt your mother horribly."

" My mother.....does she have a nice life?"

" I think objectively I would have to say yes. She survived what I did to her, and she persevered. That's how you were able to survive on the streets."

" What do you know about surviving on the streets?"

" Nothing. Only that someone who does is very strong and very smart. Chad, I know that life has been unkind, and cruel to you. I can't change that. I can only change today and the future. Your future is whatever you want it to be, Chad. Whatever your dreams are, I can help you."

" Do you think I want your damn money?"

" No. And, it's not a bribe. Money isn't evil, Chad. It's the people who do bad things with it that make it horrible."

" And in return, I have to kiss your ring and ass? I don't think so. I've made it this far without being beholden to anyone. I'm not ABOUT to start NOW."

" It's not about being beholden!" Julian said heatedly. " It's about that you're a Crane, and as such, you are entitled to certain things."

" The only thing I want from you is a meeting with my mother. I don't need you OR your money."

Julian nodded. " Ok. You don't need my money. We'll do things your way. But, I want to get to know you, Chad. Your thoughts and feelings. Your dreams. Please give an inch to me. I'll do all the rest of the work. "

Chad looked at Julian and then to Theresa who nodded to him. " What do you want?"

" I thought, maybe, you and I and Sheridan could have lunch once a week. Just for an hour- ninety minutes. Once a week. Please?"

Chad thought about it for awhile, and then nodded in agreement. " Once a week. Nothing more."

Julian smiled. " It's a start.", Julian said, extending his hand. Chad accepted the handshake. " Well, I'll be going."

Chad nodded and Julian left. Theresa went over to Chad and hugged him. " See. That wasn't so hard. It's a beginning."

" Theresa, I don't know why I said yes."

" Because, he's your father and he's reaching out to you."

" How can I trust that man?"

" By going slowly and watching him earn your trust."

Chad hugged Theresa and held onto her. " I don't know how I'd get through this without you."

" You'll never have to find out.", Theresa said, returning the hug and smiling slightly. Julian's words had been music to her ears. He WANTED Chad in the family. It would happen eventually, and she would be right there by Chad's side.