Julian is reading some papers and enjoying a brandy in the living room when the doorbell rings. He sees a maid going to answer the door. The next thing Julian knows, he sees Chad in the living room.

" Chad?"

" Hi."

" What can I do for you, Son?"

Chad is put in shock at hearing Julian call him ' Son.' He soon recovers.

" I talked with my mother."

Julian nodded and told him. " I think we should retreat to the Library. More privacy."

Chad shrugged his shoulders and followed Julian. Ivy, who had been observing the two of them followed them. She went to the other entrance of the Library, where she had  found herself a hearing spot.

Julian closed the door behind Chad and sat down on the couch, where he motioned for Chad to join him, which he did.

" You spoke to your mother?"

" Yeah. She told me she was my mother."

" So…how does that make you feel?"

" I dunno. There's nobody I respect more than Doctor Russell. Hearing that she was my mother still has me stunned."

" But, it's a good thing, right? More positive than me?"

" Anything is more positive than you.", Chad blurted out without thinking. " Sorry."

" No. You're being honest, which we will need in order to have a relationship. I know that I wouldn't be anyone's choice for a father, but I'm yours, Chad. And, I will try to be a father to you."

" I don't know if I need a father. I'm a grown man. "

" True enough. Then, maybe I can be a mentor and friend."

" We'll see."

" So, when is Eve telling TC and her daughters about you."

" She's not."

" She's not?" Julian and Ivy asked, though Ivy wasn't heard. She leaned in more. THIS had to be good.

" No. She's not going to tell them because I asked her not to."

" Why not?"

" She's pregnant." Chad looked at Julian, " You're not surprised."

" No. I spoke with your mother. She informed me of her pregnancy."

'" Well then, you understand why I can't let her tell."

" No. I don't see it."

" All my life, I've had no family. Now, I have a mother, father, and siblings. But, everything is gonna be complicated. I don't know your kids, but, something tells me that they're not like Sheridan."

" That's not true. One of your sisters - Serena -  already has your address and can't wait to write to you."

Chad was surprised by that admission. He hadn't even thought any of the Crane kids would want anything to do with him. " Ok, one. You have THREE with Ivy, right?"

" Yes. "

" So, what about the other two?"

" Your brother Winston is a little surprised, but I think he'll come around. He's fair above all else. Now, your other sister, Marina…sad to say, but don't expect anything. "

" OK, so one out of three. Things on the Doc's side are just as complicated. Whitney and I have..had feelings for one another."

Julian looked at Chad and then realized what he was saying. " Oh."

" Yeah, Oh."

Ivy listening, shivered, thinking about the disaster that had been averted. " I warned Eve, but she didn't listen to me."

" So, needless to say, things are sticky with the Russell daughters. But, the baby. The baby is my shot."

" Your shot at what?"

" At being a brother. At having family that doesn't look at me as if I've taken something away from them. I want a sibling who will love me as much as I already love him or her. I ain't had no family. I want some!", Chad said excitedly.

Julian nodded. " It makes sense now. I see your point."

" The truth has to come out eventually. I'm only saying that it doesn't have to come out until after the baby is born."

" You're willing to wait?"

" I've waited over 20 years. What is a few more months, especially since I can get a family out of things. If Coach Russell dumps my mother, she'll have the baby and me. We'll help her through it."

Julian looked at his son. He could see that he had thought about this in his mind. He had it all worked out. He already had visions in his mind about how things could be for all of them.

" Things will be difficult. I can see that you are a very open and honest person, Chad. I want you to understand that being around your mother won't be easy, for either one of you. She has all this love for you that she's been holding since she was told you were dead. It is at her very core. Do you think the two of you can hide your feelings for one another?"

" I just found out she was my mother. I don't have any feelings for her."

" You will. You will begin to bathe yourself in her open love for you. You won't be able to help it. You've never had a mother's love. And, if you have the right kind of mother, once you get a taste of it, you can't let it go. Only death will make you."

Chad looked at his father. " Why do I think you're not talking about me now. That you're talking about yourself."

Julian smiled softly. " I am."

" Your Moms….she was a good person?"

" She was a wonderful person. She was like Sheridan. They have the same personality."

Chad shook his head. " Wow. I don't mean to be harsh, but how the hell could someone with Sheridan's personality be married to your Pops? I've never met the man, but even before I found out we were related, I thought he was one mean sonuvabitch."

" Well, it was an arranged marriage, and my mother deserved so much more."

" Was your marriage arranged? Is that why you dumped my mother? She didn't measure up?"

Julian was taken aback by his son's directness but knew if they were going to have a relationship, many of the niceties that he took for granted would have to be forfeit. There was no room for lies.

" Yes. My father wanted Ivy's family's shipping line and docks around the world, so he brokered a deal."

" How? How could you do it? Dump my mother for some boats?"

Julian swallowed and answered, " Because I was a coward. Not many people take the road untraveled, Chad. Surely not rich cowards like me."

Chad wanted to say more, but there isn't much more. If he was running away from things, Chad could nail him. What do you do with someone who admits that they are a coward? Who is trying to own up to his mistakes? Chad was confused. He had long painted his father as the 'bad guy' in this situation. Made him out to be this cartoon villain. But, the man sitting across from him wasn't a cartoon. He was human. Trying to reach out to Chad and make amends. How could he forgive the unforgiveable?

" Look, this is too much right now. I agreed to take it slow. That's what we will do. I basically came by to give you the 4-1-1 on me and Doctor Russell so that you don't make a mistake. Now that I've done that, I'm outta here."

Julian nodded. " Fine." Chad got up to leave the Library. Julian put his hand on Chad's arm. " Remember, we have lunch coming up this week."

" Um…yeah, I remember. I'll call ya."

Chad left the Library and Julian went to make himself a brandy. He took a gulp and smiled. Things were going well. He was in the middle of another gulp when he heard a door close. He turned around..

" Ivy."

" Well, hello Julian dear. I thought it was time we talked."

" About what?"

" How you're going to stop our divorce AND give me a nice fat settlement."

Ivy spread her mouth into a deep Cheshire grin and Julian shuddered. He knew this was trouble.