Sam opened the door to his home with a heavy sigh. The warmth of it was very, very refreshing. As he closed the front door and stepped into the main living room, he instantly felt like his conscious had set him up. His eyes fell quickly upon a picture of himself, Grace and their children, excluding Ethan, and the non John. He felt his heart break as his eyes fell on Kay. His beautiful, fragile, insecure daughter. If only she’d known how many times that beautiful smile was the only happiness he felt some days.

“Sam,” Grace said in a relieved breath as she entered into the living room from the kitchen. “I’m so glad that you are alright. I was so afraid for you last night being alone at the gym.” Sam tensed some as she hugged him.

.” Grace,” He said in a sad voice. “We...we need to talk.” He said pulling away from her.

Grace nodded her head. “I know about the other night.” She stated taking his hand. “Look I'm so sorry Sam. I don’t ever want us to fight like that again.”

Sam sighed some. “It’s not that simple Grace.” He stated.

Grace nodded her head. “Yes it is Sam.” She stated. “It is really simple. We’ve argued before, much worse than last night and have come out of it too.”

Sam shook his head. “Not this time.” He stated. “Grace I’m sorry, but I can’t do this anymore. Too much has happen.”

Grace looked at him confused with tears coming from her eyes. “Sam....what are you saying?” She asked. “I mean, we’ve been married for over 20 years and we have had three.....two children together.”

“You see Grace, that’s what I’m talking about too.” Sam stated releasing her hand. “I still love and think of Kay as my daughter, and I always will.”

Grace tensed which was obvious to Sam. “Well Kay was very obvious about how she felt about me.” Se said her teeth some what gritted.

“And so what?” Sam asked. “You just dump her. Grace two wrongs do not make a right.” He stated. “I thought you believed in that. But now I can see that that I was wrong. You’ve changed Grace. Form a loving, and caring woman to.....I can’t even say who you are any more.”

“Well maybe it’s because you weren’t the one who lost three children Sam!” Grace screamed angrily. “I have!”

“Grace we have both lost many things!” Sam stated. “I lost an unborn child too! I lost Kay too, and I......” He took a heavy sigh. “I let the love of my life go thinking you could take her place.”

Grace stood stunned by her husbands words as they escaped his lips. She brought her hand to her mouth in shock. “Ivy.” She said in a breath. “That is who this is all about isn’t it? About that lying bitch!”

Sam narrowed his eyes. “Don’t you dare speak of her like that again!” He yelled. “You don’t know her!”

“But I know damn well what she is capable of!” Grace screamed angrily. “How could you do this to me Sam?”! She screamed angrily. “How could you leave me....for Ivy!”

“What?” Both of them turned to see Jessica standing in the door way.

“Jessica?” Sam said in a shocked breath.

Jessica looked at her father with tears streaking down her face. “Is it true?” She asked. “Are you really leaving Mom for that...that woman?” She asked. “If she can even be called that?”

Sam lowered his head. “Jessica I am sorry.” He stated. “You have to believe that the last thing I ever meant to do was hurt you or your brother or sisters.”

“So that’s why your tearing our home apart!” She screamed angrily at her father. Sam tried to step closer to her. “Get away!” She screamed running past him and up the stairs.

Sam turned back around and faced Grace and only saw hate in her eyes. “Get out.” She ordered. “Get the hell out of this house.”

Realizing that arguing was not going to help a thing, Sam sighed heavily, and walked out of the door, and Grace collapsed on the floor in sobs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eve knocked slightly on the door of the mansion, her bags in hand. Seconds later, Pilar stood on the other side with a shocked look on her face. “Eve?” She questioned. “What are you doing here?” She asked.

Eve smiled nervously. “I was.....well Julian......”

Pilar shook her head. “Say no more.” She stated. “I suppose I should not be surprised with every thing that goes on in this house.”

Eve quickly shook her head. “No Pilar it isn’t like that I just.....I have no place to go. Julian gave me an offer and....well I excepted.”

Pilar nodded her head. “Come in.” She stated stepping aside and letting Eve in the house.

As Eve entered the mansion, Julian was exiting the library. When their eyes met, Pilar instantly excused herself and went about her chores. “You came.” Julian stated walking up to her.

Eve shrugged. “Where else would I go?” She asked.

Julian smiled some. “Please,” He stated taking her bags from her. “Let me show you to your room up stairs.” He stated.

Eve nodded her head. “Thank you.” She stated walking with Julian up stairs. As they reached the main hall, Ivy walked from her bedroom and when the women met eyes, Julian felt the tension quickly rise.

“I didn’t think you would still be here.” Eve stated.

Ivy shrugged. “This is my last day.” She stated. “I guess that you will be taking my place as lady of the manor.”

Eve tensed. “Julian and I are not that serious.” She stated. “Far from it. I’m here as a friend, unlike some women I can actually be in the same house with a man in not feel the need to lift my dress.”

Ivy snickered. “Well then I guess a lot his changed since your earlier years as a whore. You’ve moved up as a mistress. Good for you Eve.”

As Eve was about to comment, Nicholas walked up to them. He smirked. “Well look at this.” He said smiling cockily. “My father with his wanna be wife, and his mistress. Way to go father.”

Ivy smiled back at Eve. “Told you.” She stated.

Eve’s eyes clouded over some. “I’m sorry Julian I can’t do this!” She stated running back down the stairs.

Julian rolled his eyes and the glared at Ivy and Nicholas. “Way to go you too.” He snapped. “Eve wait!” He called running after her.

Nicholas turned to Ivy. “What’s his deal?” He asked.

Ivy smiled some. “You know your father.” She stated. “He can’t stand going without a new lady every few months.”

Nicholas smirked some. “I suppose.” He stated.

Ivy then changed the subject. “Darling have you seen your brother of late?” he asked. “I haven’t heard much from him.”

Nicholas rolled his eyes. “Sorry mother I am not Ethan’s keeper.” He stated.

“I never said that you were.” Ivy stated. “I just asked if you knew were he was I needed to talk to him.”

Nicholas shook his head. “I knew that it would not last.” He stated.

“Excuse me?” Ivy asked confused.

“Oh please, Mother,” He stated. “The whole 'as long as you are engaged to Theresa I won’t talk to you.'”

Ivy folded her arms over her chest. “Nicholas, things have changed now.” She stated.

“No they haven’t.” Nicholas stated in disgust. “You just could not stand the fact that Ethan was willing to love some one else more than you because Lord knows if you don’t have your precious bastard son you have nothing.”

Ivy looked at Nicholas in shock. “Nicholas what is wrong with you?” She asked. “I didn’t mean that at all, I love all of my children.”

Nicholas nodded his head. “Right.” He said sarcastically. “That’s why all of us who were not Sam Bennett’s kids were shipped away.” He rolled his eyes. “Please mother,” He said in disgust. “The only person you give a damn about is Ethan. You could care less about me.”

Ivy shook her head. “Nicholas that is not true.” She stated. “I ....I sent you away because......there were many reasons, reasons I just can’t explain now, but you have to know that I only did it out of my love for you because I DO love you.”

Nicholas nodded his head. “Well you have a funny way of showing it.” He stated. Before she could respond he shook his head. “Just forget. Like you manage to forget me. That shouldn’t be hard.” With that said he walked away from his mother leaving her shocked and heart broken.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Nicholas entered his room he closed the door angrily. “God that woman is just......Damn her!” He cursed.

“Problem?” Nicholas quickly turned and saw Miguel.

“Miguel?” He questioned. “I.......I thought you were going to see your girl friend.”

Miguel nodded his head. “I did.” He stated. “It was a brief meeting. I told her that we could not be together any more.”

Nicholas smirked. “I bet she took that really well.” He stated falling to his bed. Miguel joined him.

“You want to tell me what happened?” He asked. “Who pissed you off like that?”

Nicholas shook his head. “It’s nothing,” He lied. “It was just.....my mother. We....we have a different out look on things.”

Miguel rested his hand in his. “I see.” He stated. “What happened.”

Nicholas looked in Miguel’s eyes and was surprised to find out that he saw real sincerity in them. “You care?” He asked.

Miguel nodded his head. “Of course I do.” He stated. “Tell me.”

Nicholas shook his head. “It’s not important.” He stated. “At least not now.” He said as he brought his hand behind Miguel’s neck and pulled him into a kiss. Although it started out innocent, it deepened, and Nicholas slowly laid Miguel onto his bed. “God, you are so gorgeous.” He said looking in Miguel’s eyes as he began to unbutton his shirt.

Miguel smiled up at him. “Is this another lesson?” He asked. “Flattery?”

Nicholas shook his head. “No.” He answered. “This is just me.” He stated as he pulled Miguel back into a kiss.

Suddenly is door opened. “Hey Nicholas I.....WHOA!” Kay screamed causing both boys to jump apart. “What the hell!” Kay cursed in shock.

Nicholas quickly ran to his door and shut it. “It’s called knocking Kay.” He stated. “You should try it.”

Kay only looked from him, to Miguel in shock. “You....you were.......you...you....I.....did you......Miguel?” She said looking to him for an answer.

Miguel looked to Nicholas and blushed some. “Kay, I think there is some thing that we need to tell you.”

Kay nodded her head. “Yea, well I think I pretty much figured it out.” Kay said clutching her stomach some.

Miguel smiled some as he walked to Nicholas and wrapped an arm around him. “So?” He asked. “You are me best friend and I was going to tell you eventually before any one else knew, but now that you know.....what do you think?” The only answer they got was Kay falling lifelessly to the floor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Theresa stood out side Gwen’s hotel room door feeling terribly insecure. She shook her head some. “What is wrong with me?” She asked out loud. “There is no way in hell Ethan would still be here? But if not where is he.” She sighed heavily, and against her better judgment knocked on the door. She heard scuffling, and then Gwen’s, ’just a minute.’ Seconds later the door opened.

“Well, well, well.” Gwen said smiling as she locked eyes with her enemy. “Look who decided to drop by.”

“Hello Gwen.” Theresa said holding her posture. “I was just wondering have you seen Ethan?” She asked.

Gwen only smiled with a devilish look in her eyes. “Ethan?” She echoed.

“Yes.” Theresa stated. “I know he was here the night of the storm but I haven’t seen him since.”

Gwen nodded her head. “May be he realized exactly what you were and decided to get out while he still could.” She suggested.

Theresa rolled her eyes some. “I don’t even know why I bothered coming here.” She said in a disgusted voice. “It was a waist of time.” She turned around.

“Oh Theresa.” Gwen called causing Theresa to turn around.

“What.” Theresa asked some what annoyed.

Gwen smiled evilly. “I think I have something for you.” She stated. Then she pushed the door completely.

Theresa gasped in horror when she saw lying on Gwen’s sofa completely naked, was the love of her life. Ethan.