~ Only Time ~ Ch. 15
by rockstar

Eve turned on the light as Simone stood up and stretched. "I loved that movie." She said. "It such a happy ending. I wish real life like that."
Eve emerged from the kitchen and walked up to Simone, "I know things look bad right now, but they will get better. I promise." Eve smiled and pulled Simone into a hug.

"I'm going to go get my bag from the bedroom," Simone said, walking to the back of the penthouse, just as there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it." Eve said. She walked to the door and opened it. "What the hell do you want?"

"Ah, now don't be so rude." Felicity said, "You and I are practically family," she said, walking through the doorway.

"Get out! Who do you think you are?"

"The daughter of the man you had an affair with, which ultimately ended with that-"

"Watch what you say next, Felicity. You might not like the response." Felicity threw her long blonde hair over her shoulder, showing no fear.

"Oh, wait. I know why you're here." Eve realized, "You thought you could come over here and intimidate me. Try and have me get to Julian or Chad -- or both."

"Now why would I want that?"

"To maybe get Julian to forget about Chad. So there's no chance that Chad could become the money-hungry savage you think he is. And take his place as the Crane heir."

"That's not his place! It's mine!"

"So that is what your little visit is all about. Well, then, listen to me, Felicity. And listen good. I am not going to stop Julian from trying to connect with Chad or if Chad decides he does want to be a part of the Crane Empire."

"That's not his right to be heir."

"He has every right. You think Julian will offer Chad Crane Industries, don't you? That's why you came over here. You're scared that if Chad wants to become the heir, Julian will give it to him." Eve smiled as Felicity's anger rose. "Face it, Felicity. Chad is the first born Crane. Not you. It's his birth right to be heir if he wants it. Now get out."

"You will regret speaking to me this way." Felicity said, walking out the door.

"You know, there's about as much chance of that happening as there is of you getting control of Crane Industries." Eve slammed the door as Simone came out from the back room.

"Wow." Simone said.

"I'm sorry you had to hear that."

"I'm not. You were awesome!" Simone said, hugging Eve." You really put that bitch in her place."

"Simone-"

"Hey, do you really think there's a chance of Chad wanting to become Julian's heir?"

"I don't know. The way things seem to be going between those two now, Chad might never even step inside a building owned by the Cranes."

"But then how would he get into his own club? Oh that reminds me," Simone stood up grabbing her coat and walking toward the door, "I'm going over to Kay's. We're going to Chad's opening tomorrow night." Simone opened the door and hugged Eve.

"All right, well, have fun. I'm glad you and Kay have each other."

"Yeah, me too. Love you." Simone said as she walked down the stairs as Eve closed the door. Felicity walked around the corner and smiled devilishly.

"Well, I wonder what TC Russell would think if he knew his daughter was sneaking off to see her slut mother. And this club opening might not be something to miss."
 

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The pool stick hit the triangle shape of balls, sending them flying all over the board and one against the side, just inches away from Julian.

"Hey! You watch it." Julian said, angrily.

"Jeez, sorry Jules." Roxy said, "It's your hit."

"Now, I let you drag me to this place, surely you don't think I'll play this useless game, do you?"

"If I didn't, I wouldn't have asked you. Oh, I get it, you don't know how to play. Well, I can get one of my buddies to come help you. Hey Max!" Julian turned around to see a large, tattooed and metal covered biker stand up at the bar.

"So it's my turn you say?" Julian chuckled nervously. He picked up the pool stick and aimed at the first ball in sight.

"Whoa, whoa," Roxy stopped him, "you hit all the other balls with the white one."

"Of course." Julian moved and aimed for the white ball.

"It's a shame Sheridan couldn't join us, but I guess a pool hall like Jack's isn't exactly a healthy place for a pregnant woman."

"No, I suppose not." Julian said, getting more and more into the pool game.

"So what was that line Chad used at the Book Cafe. 'You're going to wish I had been killed.' Was he in a life threatening situation, or something?" Roxy asked curiously.

"Yeah, you could say that." Julian leaned down to hit at another ball. "He was born."

"Someone tried to have him killed just because he's your son." Roxy realized.

"Not just anyone. My father." Julian said, looking up to see Roxy's shocked face, "He paid someone to kill Chad when he was born, so there wouldn't be any disgrace to the family name or business. But the man he hired had half a heart and didn't want to kill a harmless baby on Christmas."

"Chad's a Christmas baby? That's so cool." Roxy smiled, "So what happened?"

"Another baby had died that night, so he just switched them. And Eve thought that our son was dead when in reality he was being shipped off to some Godforsaken orphanage."

"Did you ever go see him? When he was born?"

Julian turned away and sat down the pool stick, "I was really, really stupid back then and I didn't realize how I really felt about everything. I only did things that was best for the family name and the business. I wish I had though. Gone to see him when he was born. I'll never know what he looked like then. Or when he was a few years old or just old enough to be able to look over that bar-"

"I'm so sorry you had to go through all that. And even now. If Chad knew you talked like this, he'd come around a lot faster. I bet he would." Rosy said, walking over and standing next to Julian.

"It's quite ironic. I lost Ethan as a son only to gain Chad. My real son and someone I don't know at all."
 

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Nelly ran through the Lighthouse Park and sighed in relief, "Chad."

Chad didn't budge. He kept sitting on the ground against a large rock, looking up at the star filled sky. Finally he sighed, "How did you know to find me here?"

"I don't know." Nelly said, bluntly, as she walked closer to Chad. "Can I sit down?"

"It's a free country. You can sit wherever you want, pretend to be whoever you want."

"I am so sorry, Chad. I swear, I didn't know you were Julian's son," Nelly pleaded. She had only known Chad for a short while, but now, she felt like she was losing the most important person in her life.

Chad looked away from the sky and at Nelly, "I, I wasn't really even thinking about what you'd done."

"Then, who's been pretending?"

"Everyone. Julian, my mother, Sheridan, even me." Chad said, shamefully.

"You? You seem like a pretty real person to me."

"My whole life, I've been looking for my parents. Dreaming about what they were like or if they thought about me. I always told everyone -- and myself -- that I was just looking for a couple of names when deep down, I kind of wanted more. I wanted someplace to come from, a heritage, someplace where I could be known as someone, where my parents were actually proud of me and loved me, but all of that changed the day I found out Julian Crane was my father. Now, all those dreams before, mean nothing."

"No, they don't. Please, don't get mad at me, but I think Julian really care's about you," Nelly said, as Chad stood up.

"You should've stopped at 'don't get mad at me' or better yet, while you were ahead."

"Listen, you've never heard the way he talks about you. The other night in front of my parents and his other children, he spoke of you with the most pride and honor and love any man could speak of their son."

"He's a coward. He left my mother when he found out she was pregnant with my just so he could keep all of the money and power he has right now." Chad turned around to face Nelly, who was now sitting on the large rock, "He's just acting this way to make himself feel better. He doesn't give a damn about me. He never has."

Chad sighed and leaned against the lighthouse, letting out a small chuckle, "You know, it's pretty ironic. Julian lost Ethan, the one he'd raised as his son only to gain me, his real son and someone he doesn't know at all."

"Have you talked to Julian? I mean really talk to him and let him know exactly how you feel."

"Why should I? It'd be a waste of time."

"It couldn't make things any worse with him than they are right now, could they?"

Chad looked over at Nelly sitting Indian style on the rock in her jeans and zip-up sweatshirt. He walked back and bent down in front of her.

"So is this why you came looking for me? To tell me I should connect with Julian?"

"I'm not telling you what to do, I'm telling you to follow your heart." Nelly put her hand on Chad's chest, just over where his heart was beating, "What does it say you should do?"

With that, Chad leaned forward and placed his lips over Nelly's.
 

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Kay opened the door and pulled Simone inside, "Where have you been?"

"At my mom's," Simone whispered, "did my dad call or something?" she asked nervously.

"No, no, but I have something major to tell you. Come on!" Kay said, grabbing a hold of Simone's arm and pulling her upstairs to her room where clothes were thrown everywhere.

"Whoa, it's a good thing you and Jessica have your own rooms now. If not, you would have to go on a search for her under you clothes."

"Ha ha, very funny. Now tell me," Kay started, picking up a skirt and a tank top, "What do you think?"

"Sultry. What's it for?" Simone said, picking up a pile of clothes and sitting on the bed.

"The club tomorrow night."

"You don't need to get all fancy for me, Kay."

"I'm not. I have so much to tell you." Kay said, excitedly.

"Oh, Kay. I'm so sorry I haven't been around that much. It's just, I'm wanting to spend as much time with my Mom as possible."

"Don't worry about that. I want you to spend time with your Mom, besides, according to everyone else, you and I have been spending practically every second together."

"Well, I'm all ears now. So tell me this news."

"Well, you remember that guy -- Nikolas -- from the Book Cafe? I have a date with him tomorrow at Chad's." Kay said, glowing.

"Oh, that's great Kay!" Simone said, giving her friend a hug.

"Are you sure it's great, Simone?" Kay pulled out of the hug, "You and I were supposed to go together."

"No, you forget about that! You have been through so much, letting go of Miguel, you and this guy go and have a great time. Besides, I'm still going. That way I can see if this Nikolas Bird is good enough for you." Simone smiled.

"Umm, about that." Kay stood up and picked up a shirt, "His last name is Bird. It's Crane." Kay turned around to see Simone's jaw practically on the floor.

"Crane? As in THE Cranes. Alistiar, Julian, Felicity Crane? As in the most powerful and wealthiest family in the world?" Simone said.

"All of the above."

"I'm going to take a wild guess and say your parents don't have a clue about this."

"No way. And neither does Noah. Man, if he found out, I would be in such trouble. He hates the Cranes just as much as my Dad does. Hell, everyone else in this town for that matter."
 

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Whitney walked into her and Noah's bedroom wearing a pair of pajama pants and a tank top. She climbed into bed and ran her hand through Noah's sandy blonde hair, making him stir and his eyes open.

"Sorry." Whitney whispered.

"No, it's all right." Noah said, looking up at his wife, "Did you need something?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I did." Whitney leaned forward and kissed Noah softly. She pulled back just as slowly as she'd moved in, "Do you want me?" she asked. Whitney moved in and kissed Noah from his cheek to his ear. Noah closed his eyes, as she whispered again, "Do you want ME?" her voice seem to be changing more and more.

"Yes," Noah finally replied as he pulled her in for another kiss. Expecting a handful of long, curls, he was surprised to find short, straight locks in his grasp. He ignored what he felt in his hands when her lips found his once again.

She pulled away for the second time while Noah's eyes opened in shock, staring at the woman in front of him. "I knew you wanted me."

"Livvie." Noah's eyes opened and he sat up in bed, expecting to find Livvie, but she wasn't there. The dream was so real. It felt so real. He looked next to him to see Whitney looking right back at him. "Who's Livvie?"