He dropped her off and when she stepped out of the car, he let her know that Eve would be in touch with her. Julian returned to the mansion, pleased that he had made it through the conversation with no real bumps and bruises. Whitney had apologized as well for calling her a mom a tramp and he was glad of that, the Whitney he saw then, was not the one Eve had raised, she was a good girl. The next day, he got in touch with Eve and let her know he accidentally slipped it out about the baby. Eve wasn’t too happy, but knew it was going to come out anyway. He also let her know about Whitney and she agreed it was best to meet up with her so they planned it for the next day. T.C. and Liz had gone away overnight, not something Eve wanted to know personally, but Whitney told her to come over to the house. When Eve arrived, she looked at her daughter, feeling kind of awkward as she noticed that Liz had been doing some of her own redecorating. Eve was reminded though of the many good times she had had with her daughter, but the place she would always call home was no longer the same.
“Hello mom.”

“Hello sweetheart.” Eve said smiling.

“Wow, I can really tell now.”

“The baby?” Eve asked.

“Yeah.”

“Listen Whitney, there is so much I want to say, I..”

“Mom, it’s okay, I know what you are going to say and I pretty much leveled Julian in anger already, I told him everything I wanted to, what I thought about him, the whole situation. But I don’t want to go through it all again, I just have one question?”

“Yes Whitney?”

“Why couldn’t you tell me about you and Julian? Why did I have to find out from daddy, I was quite hurt mom.”

“I know Whitney, I am sorry, I made many mistakes with this whole thing, not telling the truth about it years ago to spare hurt feelings and now by not telling you. I am not perfect Whitney, but I am very sorry that I didn’t let you know. This has been such an intense situation and I should have been honest myself as I have always said honesty is the best policy.”

“You really love Julian that much don’t you? But don’t you love daddy?”

“I always will love your father, I really will Whitney, but I am in love with Julian, I can’t change that, I can’t change that he is the man I want to be with.”

“I guess I can understand that.” Whitney said.

“Well I can’t!”

Eve turned around to see Simone standing there.

“Simone!”

“What the hell are you doing here? You are no longer welcome in this house.” She said sounding like her father.

“Honey, I…”

“Save it mom, Liz was right, you are nothing but a lying bitch, I hate you and I hate Julian. Dad is so much better off without you and as far as I’m concerned I don’t have a mother anymore, Liz has been more of a mom to me than you ever could. I should have known it would end up like this. It started when you took Whitney’s side about Chad.”

“Simone, stop it.” Whitney said.

“You would take her side, I thought you were angry as well.”

“I was, but she is still our mom.”

“She is your mom Whitney, not mine.” Simone said angrily.

“Honey, please, let’s talk about this.” Eve said.

“Talk about what, the fact that you left daddy and am having a baby by Julian? That’s pretty sleazy even for you mom.”

“Simone, stop it, give mom a break.”

“Your are softening Whitney, you trader, I will never forgive her.” Simone said.

“Mom, I’m sorry.”

“No Whitney, Simone wants to be angry with me, let her be.”

“I am going to be, you know, I can’t even look at you. My God, Aunt Liz is the only mom I have now, she has been so supportive since the incident.”

“Yeah, she would be.” Eve said dryly.

“What was that?”

“Nothing Simone, when you are ready to talk to me, then you give me a call. Eve said.

“Why would I want to do that? I have nothing to say to you and if Julian answers, I will just hang up, I am not talking to that loser.” She said angrily.

“You will have to accept that he is a part of my life Simone.”

“Never, that Pez dispenser? My God mom, he might have kids in every part of the continent and you have just helped populate this world with another Crane kid, like Julian needs anymore, please.” She said putting up her hand.

“Simone, don’t be so insensitive.” Whitney said.

“I don’t care if you are pregnant mom, I will not acknowledge that kid as a half sibling, after all it won’t be daddy’s.”

“Simone, you hate me and I am your sister.”

“That’s different, you stole my man away from me.”

Whitney just rolled her eyes.

“I am out of here.” Simone said.

“Look mom, I feel guilty enough that I acted like that towards Julian, but Simone.”

“I know honey, she is angry and you had every right to be angry with Julian and I, you were hurt.”

“Yeah but I said some pretty nasty things to him and about you, so I should know better, but I lost control.” Whitney said.

“Oh well, I guess we move on now, anyway, Whitney, I really don’t want to lose you, even with the way things have turned out.”

“It’s going to be difficult for everyone mom, but as hard as it will be, you are going to need help with this baby, oh and I have to ask, have you been still searching for our brother?”

“We are trying, but at the same time, we are focusing on this baby as well.” Eve said.

“I wonder who our brother is.”

“I am sorry we didn’t tell you about him either, I know we should have, after all, this is my second child with Julian.”

“You were pretty young when he was born weren’t you?”

“Yes and I was so bitter when Julian left me and the baby, but he has changed, he really has honey, he regrets that decision every day.”

“Are you and Julian going to get married?”

“I am not even thinking about that Whitney, my main focus is my family, you and Simone and your new baby brother or sister and eventually finding your brother. Whatever I can do to make this easier please let me know. I will understand if you want to keep your distance, after all you are living with your dad and Liz now, but know, that even though you are an adult and can make your own decisions, I will always be here for you. I am just so sorry that it turned out this way Whitney. I feel very guilty in a lot of ways because I am the first one to say that marriage is for life, that it’s important to be faithful, and I know I went back on that. What I want you to take from my mistakes and experiences is that marriage is important and being faithful is important, but Whitney, whatever you do, if you have a true love, a first love, follow your heart. I do love your father and I thought it was enough, but unfortunately for me, I had to learn the hard way that I was destined to be with Julian, even after more than two decades.”

“I do believe in true love mom, I think I always will, it’s just that Chad wasn’t it I guess.”

“You will know.”

“But you thought you knew with daddy didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did think he was the one, of course I came out of a bitter breakup with Julian as well. I have to admit that when Julian and I became closer this past while, I did want to stay with your father, make it work, and Julian was willing to let me go completely if I wanted to stay faithful to your father. But as much as I tried Whitney, the more I saw him, the harder it became to deny those feelings for Julian that I blocked out, they just kept coming back.” Eve said.

“And he didn’t try to pursue you? I mean he didn’t take advantage of you?”

“There were times when we kissed and I would push him away, I mean Julian was sure of his feelings for me, but I wasn’t. But really he never tried to manipulate me Whitney, he didn’t use tactics to win me, no blackmail, nothing that would have been the old Julian Crane. He just cared and tried to be a good support system for me, he just loved me. I know you don’t want to hear this, but it is the truth honey.”

“Okay mom.”

“Do you feel any better now that we have talked?”

“Yes I do, it’s just going to be hard balancing my time between you and daddy, and I don’t know who to choose.”

“You don’t have to choose at all, I mean where you live is up to you Whitney, and I won’t be upset if you stay at your father’s. He loves you very much and Liz is there, and then I love you so much and you have Julian’s support if you need it as well. I don’t want to fight over anything like that, I want you to feel comfortable to come to Julian and I or your dad and Liz. Now if you can convince Simone that I am not the enemy, perhaps I could spend some time with her, but for now, maybe I can at least have you to visit with.”

“Mom, are you living at the mansion?” She asked.

“Sort of, but Julian and I are going to be looking for a place of our own.”

“Oh okay.”

“Well, I better get going, but call me if you need me Whitney please.”

“I will mom.”

Eve put on her coat and was just about to walk out the door, when Whitney touched her arm.

“Mom, before you go, although I am still in shock over everything, I do love you.”

“I love you too Whitney, I always will.” She said hugging her.

Eve felt like a weight had been lifted off of her, being able to make peace with Whitney. She knew it would take time to patch things up with Simone, but maybe one day, they would be able to sit down and have a normal chat. The next day, Julian stopped by to see her just as she was about to go out the door.

“Oh I’m sorry did I catch you at a bad time?”

“Julian, I am going back to work, I called yesterday, so I am leaving for my shift.”

“Is everything okay then, how did it go with Whitney and Simone?”

“Whitney and I are okay, Simone doesn’t even know I exist, but it’s a start. And everything seems to be fine at work, well they sounded okay on the phone anyway, we will soon see.”

“Honey, how long are you going to stay in this hotel? I mean, I hate to see you staying here, I have the mansion and…”

“Julian, I told you I don’t want to live in the mansion, you know that.”

“I know, I have been looking at real estate sites on the internet, perhaps when you are free, we can look together?” he said sounding hopeful.

“Wait a minute, has Alistair taken away yours and Fox’s finances? I mean if are you broke Julian, we will have to take that into consideration when we are looking at houses then.”

“Oh no Eve, I am not broke, not at all.” He said laughing.

“Are you sure?”

“My father may take away what I have, but I have been the smart one, I have been putting money away for years, just to be safe in case anything happened.” Julian said.

“Yeah, but will it last forever?”

“Love, we will be okay, I promise you, but I am more than willing to go out and get a job if you want me to, it won’t be in Harmony of course, but I will find something, we will be just fine. You and the baby will be well taken care of financially and I can help Whitney and Simone if they need it as well.” Julian said hugging her.

“What about Fox?”

“He will be fine too, I have even told Tabitha that I will help out with Endora and I want Little Ethan to have everything he needs. I want all of my kids to be taken care of.”

“You Julian Crane, a working man, now that I would have to see.” She said laughing.

“I really will get a job, I mean we would be okay if I didn’t, but I should get one, you will be on maternity leave and I want to be able to help out. I think I would feel much better doing my part. Sure I work now in the business, but father will take that away, but I will find something to do.”

“Well I have to go to work, why don’t you stop by the office, say about five? I will be on my break then, well, unless I have to see a patient, otherwise it will be my dinner.”

“Okay Eve.”

When Eve arrived back at work, it was a little strange as people were staring at her; everyone knew that T.C. and her had split up.

“Dr. Russell, oh I’m sorry that is not your name anymore right?” a nurse said.

“It’s okay, just call me Dr. Johnson for now.” She said smiling.

“Right, so how have you been?”

“Oh just fine Nurse Smith, it’s good to be back actually, I was a bit concerned, but I think everything will be fine.”

“Yes I am sure of it, I wouldn’t judge you, you are a very good friend and coworker, I say if you love Julian Crane, then so be it.” She said smiling.

“Thanks for your support.”

“No problem, here is the chart you wanted.”

“I really appreciate your friendship Nancy.”

“Like I said if you love Julian, then go for it Eve, besides I have to say Julian is much sexier anyway.” She said laughing.

“Nancy!”

“It’s true, I am not going to lie to you Eve, but in all seriousness, are your kids okay?”

“The one is, but we will see what happens.” Eve said.

“Well I will let you get back to work.”

“Thanks.”

Eve started her rounds, and her day was going rather well, until she came face to face with T.C.

“Eve.”

“T.C.”

“So, it’s true then?”

“What is?”

“You are pregnant with Julian’s baby I see.”

“Yes I am.”

“I would say congratulations, but somehow it doesn’t seem right.” He said dryly.

“That’s fine T.C., how’s Liz?”

“She is great, we just went away for the night, you never know, perhaps I could be having my own little bundle of joy one of these days, with the woman I love.” He said dryly.

“You love her now?”

“Of course I do, we are living together aren’t we?”

Eve could see that T.C.’s nose was a bit out of joint and was trying to make himself sound good. But she didn’t really care; her love with Julian was much stronger than his and it was real. What he had with Liz couldn’t compare with hers.

“You do know that Simone is staying with me permanently, unless you want to argue with me about it, she told me there is no place she would rather be than with Liz and I. Whitney, I don’t know yet, maybe she will come and live with you and Julian, oh perish the thought though.” He said.

“Now T.C. let’s not be childish about this, our daughters can choose who they want to be with, it’s up to them. They will have a home with you and Liz, but also with Julian and I when they want to. My home will always be open for my girls.” Eve said.

“Perhaps you will only want them so they can be an instant babysitter, but hey you made your bed, now you have to lie in it.”

“No T.C., Julian and I are going to raise this baby, our child will have everything it needs in life.”

“Julian doesn’t have a clue what fatherhood is about, he has kids and never took care of them, at least I took care of my girls.”

“Yes T.C., you are a good father, there is no denying that, but Julian will be a good one as well.”

“Anyway, I have to go, Liz is cooking me a nice dinner, you know that is the one thing I love about her, she is always home, she is always there for me. She has a job, yet she always makes time for me, I never have to worry where she is or what she is up to. I am very pleased that we are together.”

“Well good for you T.C., I hope you will be very happy together, I know I am.” Eve said not stooping to his level.

“Yeah sure whatever, see you around.”

Eve headed back to the office, noticing it was time for her break and there waiting outside the door was Julian.

“Sorry, I am a bit early I know.”

“That’s okay Julian, I am glad you are here, I just ran into T.C.”

“Oh honey, are you okay, did he say nasty things to you?”

“He was just being T.C., doesn’t want to show he is hurt, so he acts all macho, but hey I am not worried about him, let’s go and eat.”

“Alright.”