~Only Time~ Ch. 10 (Chad/Nelly/Livvie/Nik/Noah/TC)
 by rockstar
 
 

Nelly practically ran down to the docks, positive she had seen Chad come this direction. She couldn't had really thought he'd be so angry at her, "Well, of course he'd be angry at you, you dimwit!" she yelled to herself giving a slight smile to the couple walking by with a baby in a stroller, trying to show she was harmless, but failed.
Nelly sighed in frustration and looked down each side of the docks and whispered, "Where do he go?"

"You looking for me?" Chad said, walking out from the shadow of a building directly behind Nelly making her jump.

"Chad! How long have you been there?"

"A few minutes before you scared the hell out of that man and woman."

Nelly sighed, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lied to you."

"No, you shouldn't have."

"And with such a silly excuse. I guess I just wanted to prove to my parents I'm not the perfect little angel they make me out to be." Nelly said looking down at her feet.

"Oh, you are definitely no angel."

Nelly looked up at him, "You don't think so?" she smiled like Chad had answered her prayers with just a few words he meant as an insult.

Chad let a smile and small laugh break through, "Who are you?"

"Nelly Watson," she said, extending her hand. Chad placed his hand in hers, "I'm sorry."

"For what?" she asked.

"I shouldn't have gotten so ticked. I overreacted."

"No, no. You had every right to be mad at me. I lied to you."

"No, I was just comparing your lie to others I've been told and actual believed."

"Your family?"

"Kind of. How'd you know?" Chad asked sitting down on a bench.

"I saw the way you reacted when I mention the 'f' word earlier." Nelly said, sitting down next to him. "They hurt you?"

"More than I ever thought possible."

"I'm sorry."

Chad looked at Nelly and into her dark eyes, "You are an angel compared to them. But then again, so is Satan."

"They don't sound to great."

"I met them for the first time about 2 years ago when I moved to Harmony and I found out they were my real parents 3 months ago."

"Wow, that's why you came to Harmony? To find your parents? And you didn't know they were your parents that entire time?"

"No, neither did they." Chad looked at Nelly, her eyes staring at him with so much compassion and warmth. Two things he needed more than anything at that moment.

"Well, at least you know who they are now. Things are still rough with them though, huh?"

"I came to Harmony to find out who my parents were, you know. I just wanted a couple of names. I never wanted anything from them. I've been on my own my entire life. I didn't need them. And still don't."

"You're telling me that not once, you dreamed about have a relationship with your parents?"

Chad sat in silence. They both knew the answer. Chad could never see him, Eve and Julian doing any "family thing". "That doesn't matter. It would never happen even if I wanted it to."

"Okay. I won't push." Nelly said, smiling warmly.

Chad sighed. "I should get going. Can I give you a ride to your hotel?" he asked, standing up, followed by Nelly.

"Nah, I have my car around the block. Listen, I'm sorry again, about what I did. It was stupid and ridiculous-"

"It's all right. How much longer will you be in Harmony?"

"I don't know. So I guess I'll see ya when I see ya, then."

"Yeah."

"Good night." Nelly said, going to her car leaving Chad alone on the docks.

Chad sighed and wiped his hands across his face. He looked at his watch. 12:39am. He had to get home. There were things he had to do the next morning that were going to take a lot of strength.
 

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Livvie scooped the fruit into her bowl and sat on the couch. "Good morning." Nikolas's voice came from the staircase unusually cheerful.

"Well, you're in a good mood. Did you sneak off and have sex last night?" Livvie asked eating her breakfast.

"No." Nikolas said heading for the orange juice.

"Are you planning on having sex?"

"No." Nikolas said before taking a drink.

"Did you dream about sex?"

"What is with all the questions about sex? Did you have a sex dream last night?" Nikolas asked jokingly.

"No." Livvie said trying to sound convincing. She was immediately taken back to her dream of making mad, passionate love to Noah, but ignored it just as quickly to hear Nikolas's voice.

"Uh uh. Well, you know, you're my sister and I love you, so for just that first reason I will not be asking about any images you've been having in your sleep."

"Good idea," she said pouring herself a cup of coffee. "So have you talked to Kay?"

"Yeah, I was actually out with her last night before I was summoned home for that viewing of 'Runaway Dinner Guest'." Nikolas chuckled recalling the previous nights events.

"Oh Julia's got nothing on Nelly." Livvie laughed.

"I still can't believe she escaped through our bathroom window." Nikolas said.

"I can't believe I've never thought of it. Oh wait, I forgot, I haven't been in this house since I was 8. I didn't get a chance to make an escape route." Livvie chuckled, "So what happened with your lady love?"

"I got her phone number."

"And do you think her family's going to cause any trouble for you two?"

"I would be shocked if they didn't."

"Especially her brother?" Livvie asked avoiding eye contact.

"Noah." Nikolas said, remember his conversation with Kay. Noah was married with a pregnant wife.

"Yeah him. If he bothers you, you know, just send him to see me."

"Livvie-"

"I mean I know he will be hard to deal with, but I will suffer through seeing him just to keep you safe, little brother."

"I need to tell you something-" The doorbell rang and with no maids or butlers in sight, Livvie walked to the front door taking a sip of her coffee on the way. She opened the door before the bell rung through the house again, and was immediately shocked, but smiled cocking her head.

"Well, hello, Mr. Bennett," she said leaning against the door, "miss me?"

Noah stared at Livvie wearing a red blouse and beige knee-length skirt with beige boots meeting halfway up her calves. "Hardly." 'Even though your gorgeous.' It took all of Noah's strength not to tell the thought from the back of his head to shut up. "I came here to get my briefcase. You know, the one you picked up that doesn't belong to you."

"That's only because you ran into me and spilled-" Livvie immediately hid her coffee cup behind her back, "-your coffee on me - And you're not doing it again!"

"Oh, I have better things to do then spill coffee on you."

"Like what? Defend clumsy caffeine kicked psycho lawyers?!"

"Will you just get me my briefcase?!" Noah said, walking into the entryway.

"Well, it's about time you reacted upon that welcomed greeting." Livvie said, full of sarcasm as she closed the door.

"What's with all the noise?" Nikolas asked coming into the room and seeing the guest. "Noah, what brings you here?" Nikolas knew he had to play nice. That way he had a better chance working things out with Kay without much interference.

"I came by to get my briefcase." Noah said staring at Livvie who was trying to look as innocent as possible.

"Livvie-" Nikolas started.

"Oh all right, it's in my bedroom. I'll go get it," she said, staring at Noah for a moment before going to get Noah's briefcase.

"You know what, I'll come with you." Nikolas said, following Livvie up the stairs.

Walking down the hall on the second floor, Nikolas spoke. "There's something I need to tell you, Liv."

"I know what you're going to say."

"You do?" he asked shocked.

"It's about Noah," she said as they walked into her bedroom and she picked up the briefcase.

"Yeah, how did you find out?" he asked as they started walking down the hallway again.

"Oh, it's only completely obvious, Nik!" she said with mixed emotions.

"I'm really sorry, Livvie."

"Why are you sorry? He's hot, he has gorgeous eyes, his own business, and he hates our family!" she said with a smile, "Of course I'd fall for him."

"What?"

"I know he's not really to fond of me right now, but that can change. They always do."

"Livvie-"

"There's Romeo and Juliet. Oh wait, they killed themselves."

"Livvie-"

"And there's West Side Story. No. Oh, who cares? We don't need a fairy tale."

"Livvie!" Nikolas said grabbing Livvie by the arm right before they started going down the staircase.

"What?"

"Listen, you are not like most women-"

"I'm unique."

"I thought most women check out a guys accessories before she gets involved with him."

"Oh, Nikkie, I haven't actually seen his ass-cessories yet, but from what I can tell, everything is all up and accounted for."

"Oh, Livvie, that's NOT what I meant." Nikolas said, wiping his hands across his face. "The accessories I'm talking about are on his finger."

"What are talking about?" she asked confused.

"You know, I don't have all day." Noah said, looking up at the siblings from the bottom of the stairs.

"All right, all right." Livvie said coming down the stairs and handing Noah his briefcase.

"Thank you," he said walking over the table and opening it up.

"What, you don't trust me?" Livvie laughed walking in front of Noah, getting a look from him. "Yeah, didn't think so."

Nikolas came down the stairs and stood behind Noah trying to get Livvie's attention as Noah went through his papers. Livvie stared at Nikolas in confusion as he kept holding up his hand and pointing at his fingers and then at Noah. 'What is doing?' Livvie asked herself.

"Well, it looks like everything's here," Noah said, when a file of papers spilled out over the floor. He and Livvie both bent down to pick up the papers. "I can get it, thanks," he said.

"I'm just helping." Livvie said, picking up some of the papers and trying to ignore Nikolas, who was still doing his hand motions. She handed Noah the papers she had gathered, but when he tried to take them, her hand was frozen as she stared at his hand.

"What are you doing?" Noah asked, trying to get Livvie to let go of his papers.

"You're married?" she asked, continuing to stare at his hand.

He followed her eyes to the gold band on his finger, "Surprised a woman can actually put up with me?"

"No, um, yes. I-" Livvie stuttered. Finally giving up on speaking, she let go of the papers and sighed, standing up. "You said you didn't have all day."

"I don't," he said, putting the papers in his briefcase and turning around to Nikolas. "Listen, I talked to Kay on the phone this morning. And I agreed not to tell our parents."

"There's really nothing to tell." Nikolas said.

"Don't even lie with me. I know there's something forming with you two. And I just want to tell you to back off and leave my sister alone."

"Noah, this really isn't-"

"Now, hear me out, Nikolas. Kay's no fool. She can spot a guy that's up to no good a mile away and she has enough good sense to stay away from him, so you must not be one of those guys. The truth is, this doesn't have a thing to do with you or Kay. It's-"

"I know, I know. The war between the Crane's and the Bennett's that's goes back for hundreds of years. I know all about how my family stole land from your family, but I can't help that or what my father or grandfather do."

"Exactly, you can't. Look at what Alistair did to Eve Russell. He caused her more pain than she could ever fear about having. In case you didn't know, she's the woman your father had an affair with all those years ago. She's your half-brother, Chad's mother. Your grandfather even had someone hired to kill him. And if they were half as cruel as Alistair, they would've actually it too. What I'm trying to say is, your family could and would hurt my sister if they felt she was a threat or they didn't think the youngest Crane should be involved with a Bennett. So if you want to keep her safe, just stay away from her." Noah picked up his briefcase and left the house. Nikolas rolled his eyes and turned to Livvie who had probably missed everything that Noah had said.

"I'm sorry, Livvie," he sighed.

"That's what you were trying to tell me. That Noah's married." Nikolas nodded his head, "How long?"

"I got the impression from Kay, it hadn't been too long."

"Well, if him and this woman haven't been married that long, he'll change his mind or he'll realize he's not really in love with her-"

"Livvie, Livvie. His wife, she's pregnant. They're going to have a kid."

"I'm just being silly, aren't I? I mean, I've known the guy for what, 48 hours? And I'm acting like I've lost the love of my life."

"Livvie-"

"You know what, it's fine. I'm fine. I'm just going to go on a walk in the garden."

"Okay, you're going to be all right?"

"Yeah. I'm a strong, independent woman. I probably would've gotten bored with him in a week anyways. Or he probably has smelly feet. You know that's just something I can't stand." Livvie laughed, trying unsuccessfully to hide her hurt, "I'll see you later."

"All right, bye." Nikolas said, hoping his sister could make it through this hurt in her life. And the sooner the better.
 

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"Oh, Eve you just couldn't be the woman I needed you to be, could you?" TC said, as he watched the picture of his soon-to-be ex-wife burn in the trash can. "I thought you were the one woman to give me that. And you, Julian Crane," he said, looking at the newspaper cut out of his enemy hanging on the wall. "You have taken something from me for the last time. I won't give you the chance to do this to me again."

TC walked out of his shed and locked the door. He turned around and started walking toward his house only to be stopped by a noise behind him.

"Hello, Coach."

TC turned around and his anger rose again to see the sight of his wife's son with Julian. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"We need to talk."

"We don't have a damn thing to talk about, Crane."

"Yeah, we do, Russell." Chad said, intimidatingly.

"You have 2 seconds to get off my property before I call the police and-"

"And what? File a restraining order against me? You're getting pretty popular for those."

"You and your slut of mother have been speaking." TC said cruelly.

"All right, first off, no, I haven't talked to Eve. I have a way of finding out things. And second, don't ever speak about her like that again."

"Are you threatening me, Crane?"

"I don't need to. But what you need to do is call up your lawyer and stop this embarrassment of a custody suit and restraining order you've filed."

"I don't know what your way of finding out things are, but you should double check that because that restraining order was filed by Simone because she doesn't want to see her mother ever again. And I don't blame her."

"She doesn't even know it exist, does she?"

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about."

"I do know. I know everything. And I'm giving you a chance right now to tell your lawyer you changed your mind and to tear up that restraining order. Simone doesn't even have to know that you forged her signature."

"You don't have any proof."

"I can get it."

"No, you can't. Because there's no proof to get. Everything that's coming out of your mouth is a lie, just like the rest of the Cranes and that whore."

Chad walked forcefully up to TC face, "What did I tell you about that?" Chad could hardly believe that this was the man that he use to look up to. Even once looked at as a mentor. He thought this was the ideal father for him, but looking at him now, he couldn't believe what he had been thinking.

Chad got his anger in check and stepped back, "This was your warning."

"I'm doing what's right for my daughters."

"Of course you are, but it's going to cost you." Chad said, turning around and walking out of the backyard.

"I was just going to pretend like you didn't exist, Chad, but now, looks like you're going to have to go down with your bastard father."
 

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