Eve and TC were playing cards when the doorbell rang.

“ Whitney or Simone will get it, Baby.”, TC told Eve.

Before they knew it, there was a knock on the door, and they looked up.

” Sheridan!”, Eve exclaimed.

“ Hi Eve. TC. I heard that you were housebound, and I thought I’d come by and visit. With gifts, of course.” They looked in Sheridan’s arms, and she had a basket.

TC got up off the bed. “ Sheridan, let me take that for you. It’s a great basket.”

” Not just fruits, but all sorts of goodies.”

” TC, will you unpack it for me? And, honey..”

TC shook his head. “ Another craving?”

“ Mrs. Chow’s noodles with chicken. Extra spicy.”

“ Eve….”

” We can do the love noodle together.”

TC laughed. “ How can I turn down my Angel.” TC went over to Eve and kissed her. “ I’ll be back.”

” No need to hurry since Sheridan is here visiting.”

” Ok. See you later, Sheridan.”

” Bye, TC.”

Eve waited for TC to leave, and motioned for Sheridan to close the door. Sheridan went over to Eve and hugged her.

” How are you?”

” Really? I love TC, but he was overprotective on a BAD day. Now with this pregnancy, he’s kicked it up a knotch. Or twenty.”

They both laughed. “ He loves you.”

” I know. “

“ I guess you’ve realized that I’m not here to give gift baskets.”

” I didn’t think so. I know that you are the reason I have my son. Thank you.”, Eve said, her voice trembling as she reached out to hug Sheridan.

” You are so welcome. It was definitely a shock.”

” Which part? Chad, Julian, me, all three.”

” Definitely all three, and Alistair’s hand in all of this.”

” Alistair.”, Eve said, a dark cloud showing in her face.

Sheridan took Eve’s hand. “ Don’t worry about Father. Julian is doing everything he can to protect Chad.”

” But, Alistair..”

” Has to live with it. Going public was the only way to protect Chad.”

” I believe that. I understand that, Sheridan. But, we all know what Alistair is capable of. What he’s thinking of as revenge.”

“ We will stand together against him and be fine.”

“ I wish I could be so sure.”

” You can be. I don’t want you to worry about Chad. He has a family looking out for him.”

Eve shook her head. “ I never thought I’d see the day when the Cranes could be considered a loving and protective family.”

Sheridan laughed. “ Definitely goes against our image. That’s why I’m here. Julian wanted me to come and see you.”

“ About Chad?”

” Yes.”

” How much are you aware of recent events?”

” If you’re asking about Chad’s stunt to break Whitney’s heart – I’m well aware of it.”

“ I..um..”

” Nothing to explain. Chad needed to break her heart. In a way that would end things with them, and give Whitney no hope for a future. I know that it was hard on both my children.”

” Eve, he didn’t want to hurt her.”

” I know that. I know they are both in agony, but it’s an necessary evil. “

“ Well, Chad went to Julian. He was very disturbed about it. He was afraid that it was…um…well..”

” His CRANE-NESS coming out?”

” Exactly.”

“ Did Julian help him?”

” I think so. I don’t know if you know the extent of Chad’s relationship with Theresa.”

“ I know that he’s involved enough with her to sleep with her. That was the other part of how he hurt Whitney. “

” Yes, I’m sure Theresa is ‘all broken up’ about Whitney.”

Eve sighed. “ I know how you feel about Theresa. That she hurt Ethan.”

” She did!”, Sheridan said defensively.

” Be that as it may, I’ve known the girl practically since the day she was born. Whatever mistakes she made with Ethan, she’s paid for them. Everyone in this town knows that Theresa has been blackballed by the Cranes, cutting her off from even college scholarships.”

” After what she did..”

Eve held up her hand. “ Whatever, Sheridan. Bottom line is, when Chad didn’t have ANYTHING, Theresa has been his friend. He sees her from a different point of view. And, there’s nothing you or Julian, or even if I didn’t like her, could say to make Chad change his mind. She’s in his life, and that’s that.”

“ You know your son.”, Sheridan deadpanned.

“ Yes, I do. And, his loyalty is one of the traits I admire most in him. I want him to find some happiness, and if it’s with Theresa, I don’t care.”

“ I understand. Julian told me that Chad told him just that – Theresa’s in, no matter what we say.”

Eve shrugged her shoulders.

” Well, enough about Theresa. I was sent as an Ambassador, from the land of Crane to you. To tell you that Chad is moving in.”

” To the Crane MANSION?!”, Eve said shocked.

“ No. To a guest house.”

” I know your Cottage is nice, Sheridan, but isn’t it small for the two of you?”

” Yes, my Cottage is small. But, he’s not moving into the Cottage. There is another house on the Crane Estate. It was my mother’s retreat.”

” Really?”

” Yes. Very well hidden, but it’s there. Chad will have his privacy – from the family as well as intrusive reporters.”

” And, Chad accepted this?”

” Well, Julian pointed out to him how disrespectful it was to Pilar to have a relationship with Theresa while still living, in essence, under Pilar’s roof.”

“ I see.”

” Julian’s overjoyed by the possibility.”

” I guess he would be. And you?”

” I’m thrilled. This is the first time I’m definitely getting a family feeling. I can’t wait.”

” And, Chad is ok with living so close to the Mansion?”

” As long as he has his own space, yes.”

Eve thought about it. “ I’m glad for him and Julian. Since I can’t be vocal in my support of him, it’s good that he has his father.”

“ DO you want to be vocal one day, Eve?”

” Sheridan. Make no mistake. Though I know it will bring untold pain to my family, I WILL one day claim my son. “

Sheridan smiled. “ Chad is so lucky. He has two parents who totally love him.”

Eve’s eyes filled with tears. “ Yes, he does.”

Chad sat on the windowseat in his new bedroom. Theresa had gone on a tear through the furniture store, and like a blur, had ordered the upstairs furniture in a flash. She was also right about them delivering to the Cranes immediately. Theresa went home after they had arranged everything right, and had dinner delivered by the Mansion cooking staff. Chad had to admit – livin’ large had its advantages.

He had stared at the diaries for awhile. Didn’t know what he would do. Theresa told him he should read them. He debated and believed that Theresa was right. He wanted to read them.

He opened the first one.

“ Here I go.”, he said to no one but himself.