“ Julian, I’m not sure you should have told Chad about me coming home.”

” Eve, if you’re going to begin your new life, WITHOUT ME, then you should see our son. He’s missed you, Eve. Plus, I didn’t want him to hold it against me. Him thinking that I lied to him.”

Julian looked at Eve with his eyebrow raised.

“ Ok, I get your point. Julian, are you going to have an attitude with me once we get back to Harmony?”

” Oh Eve, I don’t know why I’d be upset. After all, what did you do but give me hope and squash dreams I thought had died years ago?”, Julian replied with sarcasm.

“ Julian, don’t be that way with me. Come on. We’re both adults. I couldn’t handle another relationship anyway. I have too much going on. Julian, please tell me we can be friends once I get back to Harmony. I don’t have too many of those.”

Julian looked at Eve, and his scowl softened. “ I never really could deny you. I’m glad that I can fight with you, Eve. I missed that.” Julian took Eve’s hand and kissed it.

” I’m glad too. Part of me is very nervous, but I’m excited. This is such a new experience. The first time in over 20 years that I’m not living part of my life with lies. I almost don’t remember how to do it.”

“ Well, don’t look at me. I’ve never done it!”

They both laughed hard at Julian’s comment.

“ Mr. Crane, we’ll be landing in 5 minutes. You should buckle up.”, the pilot said over the intercom.

Julian and Eve got ready for landing. Once they touched ground and the plane was safely at the hanger, Julian looked over to Eve, who hadn't moved.

" Eve?"

" I'm scared, Julian."

Julian looked at Eve. While he was upset at her about what wasn't going to happen between them, he understood. He tenderly took her hand, and helped her up.

" It's going to be fine. I promise."

Eve smiled. " I so want to believe you."

" Then do."

They left the plane and got into the waiting limo. Once inside Julian picks up the phone,

" Alexis Davis, please."

" Alexis Davis."

" Alexis, Eve would like to see you tomorrow morning."

" Eve Russell?"

" You have more than one client named Eve?"

" Julian, are you sure she's ready?"

" I wouldn't be calling you if she wasn't. Check your email. The address is there. "

" I'll be there at 9 a.m. Let's make it a breakfast meeting."

" Done."

Julian hung up the phone and turned to Eve. " Your lawyer will have a breakfast meeting with you tomorrow at 9. Do you want me to be there?"

Eve shook her head. " No, Julian. She's my attorney. I have to get to know her on my own."

" She's as smart as they come. You just tell her what you want. Everything will be fine."

" Julian…"

" Don't worry about anything. Everything will work out as it should be. I promise."

Eve wondered. Julian rarely promised anything. She had to have faith.
 

" Chad, should I put these flowers here?", Simone asked, trying to decide where to put the last of the bouquets they had bought for Eve.

" Simone, wherever you put them, it'll be fine.  I'm sure of it."

Simone picked a final spot and placed them there. She looked around the  apartment. She and Chad had spent time working on it for Eve. Putting little touches, here and there. Her fridge was fully stocked, and Simone made sure that all of Eve's favorite 'little things' were in the bedroom and bathroom. The flowers were to brighten up the place.

Simone sat on the sofa, thumbing through the magazines. After a few minutes, she looked up at a pacing Chad.

" Are you sure Mr. Crane said tonight?"

" Yeah, that's what he said. She was coming back tonight."

" Why tonight? She hasn't so much as responded to any of the messages I left for her at the hotel. Why come tonight?"

" Simone, I don't know. I only know she's coming tonight. I'm glad she's coming."

" You are? Why? Didn't she destroy your life, the way she destroyed everyone else's?"

" She made mistakes, Simone. She's human. We all have to learn from them."

" You mean, we all have to suffer because of them."

" No. She never wanted us to suffer, Simone. She loves us too much."

" How do you know that?"

" I just do."

There is more silence between them, and Simone spoke up once again.

" Chad?"

" Yes, Simone."

" Do you think that Mom would let me come and live with her?"

Chad stared at his sister. That was a question he never thought he would hear.

" Um, why do you ask?"

" Well, she has the room, right? We counted three bedrooms, right?"

" Yeah."

" So, I could live in one, right? She would want me, right?"

" Simone, of course, she'd want you. She loves you. I've been trying to tell you that."

" Ok, then that's what I want. To live with Mom."

" Simone, I think the two of you should talk about it when she gets here."

" I will. Chad?…."

" Yeah, Simone."

" Do you think Whitney will ever forgive Mom?"

Chad looked at his younger sister. He was silent for a few moments." Truth be told, Simone. I have no idea what Whitney will do. I think it will take awhile. A LONG while."

" I do too. "

" But, the Doc will have both of us, and that is what's important - right?"

" Right.", Simone nodded.

Just then, there was a key turning in the door, and it opened. It was Julian and Eve. Simone stood up, and Chad was frozen in his spot.

Eve saw her children standing there, and she just smiled. Tears formed in her eyes.

" See, I told you they would be here.", Julian whispered in her ear. She moved away from Julian and went into the apartment. She went over to her children. Eve reached out and touched Chad's face. As if almost outside of his body, Chad pulled Eve into a deep hug. He held her tightly, squeezing her. Once they pulled apart, they could see the tears in each other's eyes.

" Welcome home, Doc."

" Thank you, Chad. I'm so happy to see you."

Eve kissed Chad on his cheek, and then went over to Simone. Eve couldn't read Simone. Her eyes were blank. She pulled Simone into a hug, but there was no response. In fact, Simone pulled away from her mother and stood with her arms folded, daring Eve to touch her. Both Julian and Chad looked at Simone in shock. Simone then turned her back to her mother. Chad was furious, and went over to Simone.

" Girl, what the hell is wrong with you? The Doc is HOME, and you're dissing her like this. You know you….."
 

" Chad, it's ok. I understand. ", Eve said in a smooth, calm voice. " Simone is upset with me. I…..I broke a bond with her, and I know that I'm going to have to work to rebuild it. The one thing that a child should be able to depend upon is that their parents will always be there for them when things go bad. Simone didn't cause this situation, but she's had to deal with the fallout of it, and I can't imagine that it's been easy, has it Baby? You needed me, if only to tell you that some semblance of your world would remain, and I wasn't anywhere to be found. I bet you thought I had abandoned you. That I didn't love you. That I cut my losses. Oh, Sweetheart, that is so not true. Every moment, of everyday that I was gone, all I could think about was the three of you. Especially you. My Baby. I love you Simone. And, what I did wasn't right. I've asked for a lot of forgiveness, and I'm going to have to ask for it one more time. Please forgive me, Baby. Please give Mama another chance. I promise I won't leave you again."
 

" You NEVER called me! I went EVERYDAY TO THE HOTEL!", Simone screamed.

Eve walked in front of her daughter to face her.

" I know. And, with every message, I bet you got more scared. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I was in a very very bad place, and I had to fight to come back to you. And, I won. I'm back to you. I love you so much, Simone. Can't you tell?"

Simone looked into her mother's eyes, full of tears, and layers of her anger began to fade. The tears she had held in began to burst forth, and she rushed into her mother's arms.

" Mommy, I'm so glad you're back."

Eve held onto her daughter for dear life, while Julian and Chad gave one another a nod.