Kay smiled some as John rolled his eyes as she exited the dressing room. “So how about this one?” She asked.

John sighed heavily. “For the last time it’s fine.” He stated. “Just like the last thirty thousand other dresses you tried.”

Kay rolled her eyes. “Now your being a drama queen.” She stated as she looked into the mirror at the dress. It was a black strapless floor length dress. At the top it had the little sparkles, and rhinestones and actually jewels on it. “I think I might have to where my hair up for it.” She frowned some. “I was nevera fan of wearing my hair up.”

“Oh crap.” John said suddenly.

“Alright, alright I’m hurrying.” Kay stated turning back to him.

John shook his head. “No, no it’s not that.” He stated. “I just remembered I had an appointment to cut my hair in like 15 minutes.”

Kay smiled. “Well I have to say it’s about time.” She stated. “Not to be rude by that sixties or seventies or whatever hair you are rocking, really out of style.”

John rolled his eyes. “Whatever, look lucky for you the hair shop is in the mall, so I’ll probably be like half and hour or so.” He stated.

Kay nodded her head. “Well here,” She stated taking a paper out of her purse and jotting a number down on it. “This is my cell phone number, call me if I am not in here.” She stated.

John took it and nodded his head. “Alright I’ll catch you later.” He stated rushing out of the store.

Kay smirked some and went back to looking in the mirror. “Okay Kay, let’s see what else you got.” She stated looking at other gowns.

“Personally I’m feeling that one,” A familiar voice rang out. “Although I doubt I could ever work it.”

Kay turned around quickly, and her entire face lit up when she saw who it was. “Simone,” She squealed happily rushing to her best friend who she had barely seen of late. “Oh my God, where have you been?” She asked as the they embraced.

Simone hugged Kay tightly as tears began to brim in her eyes. “I have been trying to pull it together.” She stated. They separated, both of them had glossy eyes. “I went to my grand parents for a while, just wanting to try and see if I could get my life back.”

Kay touched her arm sadly. “Honey I am so sorry that I could not be here for you while all of this has been going on.”

Simone shook her head and smiled some. “It’s okay.” She stated. “You had your own issues to work out.” She said, her face brightened up almost a second later. “So hey, tell me about life as a Crane heir.” She said taking her to sit on a bench. “I mean I want to know every thing are The Cranes as sophisticated as the world makes them out to be or what?” She asked.

Kay smiled. “To tell you the truth they are all really normal.” She stated. “Well, I don’t know about Alistair, I haven’t had much contact with him since this all happened, but My patents and brothers and sisters are all pretty cool.” She shrugged some. “Most people make them out to be things they are not. I mean granted they are ruthless, and they do have their secrets.” She said Nicholas, and Elizabeth both coming to mind. “But then again who doesn’t?” She asked.

Simone nodded her head sadly. “Aint that the truth.” She stated.

Kay was silent for a moment seeing Simone must have been thinking about her mother. She then changed the subject. “So, I hear every one in the land has been invited to the Crane party tonight are you coming.”

Simone nodded her head. “Against my dad’s best wishes I am going.” She stated. “I wanted to see my mom.”

Kay nodded her head. “I guess she would be there.” She stated.

Simone smiled again. “And in other news, how is that baby of yours?” She asked. “Is it active and all?”

Kay shrugged. “I have another appointment tomorrow.” She stated. “I had one yesterday too. I don’t think it’s really hit me yet though.”

Simone smiled. “Well I am sure that you and Miguel will be terrific parents.” She stated.

Kay smirked. “Well I don’t know about perfect.” She stated. “I mean lets face it I had a mother who pretty much hated me and then my real mother is a first class, grade a society bitch. No offense to Ivy, I think she is really cool and all but it’s true.”

Simone sighed heavily as she looked at her watch. “Listen I have a few errands to run before this God forsaken party,” She stated. “I'll see you later.” She standing with her and embracing her once more before they parted.

Kay smiled as Simone left. “Yes indeed,” She said to herself. “Things are looking up.”

Kay was so busy in the mirror that she was oblivious to the suspicious older man behind her snapping pictures and smirking evilly. “Well if it isn’t my beautiful little sister.” He said in a sinister voice. “My do I have plans for you. You thought your life was hell as a Bennett, well believe me as a Crane you’ll be begging for hell after what I put you through.”

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

Julian stepped inside the hospital cubical where before his eyes lay Ivy, who was lying in bed, Sam who was standing above her holding one of her hands and Eve who had been called in to duty before she went to Grace Bennett’s home.

Clearing his throat Julian made his presence known. “Well,” He stated nervously. “What have we here?”

Ivy was barely able to move because of the amount of blood she lost, and from wearing herself out by crying all afternoon managed to look up at her ex-husband, however, no words came from her mouth, her eyes revealed to Julian who afraid she was.

“Is there a problem Ivy?” Julian asked his nerves getting worse by the minute.

Sam looked to Julian. “Yes there is a very big problem.” He stated. “I found Ivy in her hotel room with her wrist slashed. Now it looked like she was about to try and kill herself for the second time, but once again she is absolutely sure that she was attacked.”

Julian frowned some. “Well, you can’t possibly think that it was me, I have been at the Mansion all day....”

“We know that it wasn’t you Julian.” Sam stated, looking down at Ivy. “Or at least, she is sure of it.”

Julian sighed heavily, then once again frowned. “Then why do you want me hear?” He asked. “Given her condition I am sure that I ma the last person Ivy wants to see, so why.......”

“Isn’t it obvious Julian.” Another, all to familiar, evil voice filled the room and no one really had to turn to see who it was.

“Alistair.” Eve said in disgust. “What in God’s name are you doing here?” She asked.

Alistair smirked. “Come now Eve,” He stated pulling out one of his cigars. “I have a some what earthly resemblance to God, I’m every where.”

Ivy felt Sam’s hand tense and could see he was about to say some thing but she quickly grabbed his hand tighter. “No it’s alright Sam.” Ivy finally spoke up. “Alistair is as big a part in this is Julian and I are.”

Alistair nodded his head. “Yes indeed we are.” He stated his eyes falling on Ivy. “I am well aware of what has been going on,” He stated. “More so I happened to be afraid for every Crane and Ex-Crane on earth at the moment.”

Julian looked from his father to Ivy in confusion. “What is this all about father?” He asked his suspicion mixed with fear obvious to every one else. “What do you know of Ivy’s condition.”

“He’s in Harmony Julian.” Alistair stated.

“Who is?” Julian asked, and then, a few moments later, the answer hit him like a ton of bricks. “Oh dear God,” He said his face clouding with fear.

Eve and Sam exchanged looks, then looked at the others. “Julian,” Eve said walking towards him. “What’s this about?” She asked. “What has the three of you so afraid.”

Julian looked to his father, and then to Ivy. “You might as well tell her.” Ivy stated. “I have already told Sam.”

“What?” Julian asked in shock.

“He thought I had done this to myself.” Ivy stated. “And besides that I knew that if ........he thought I was dead he would move on to the rest of you. I had to say some thing Julian or children’s lives are at stake.”

Julian nodded his head. “I understand.” He stated. “You did the right thing.”

Sam looked to Julian in shock. “So it’s true?” He asked. “You and Ivy have another son?”

“What?” Eve asked in complete confusion. “Wait a minute are trying to suggest your own son would try and kill you.”

“Oh he would Eve.” Julian stated. “Believe me he would.”

Eve and Sam were still in the dark, the others could see that, and they knew that they would now have to tell the truth. Reveal the darkest secret that they all held, and that could destroy them all.

Sighing heavily, Julian began. “About 6 months or so after Ivy had Ethan and I thought he was mine, Ivy had gotten pregnant again.” He informed. “It was another boy. At the time after Ivy delivered every thing seemed to be fine. He was healthy, and the doctors said he was completely normal. So we took him home. Ethan was still a baby at the time and never really got the chance to know his brother.” He paused for a minute as his eyes took on a far away look. “Their had been an accident.”

“Accident?” Eve questioned.

Julian nodded his head. “Yes.” He stated. “Two months after the baby was born, and his nanny had begin to take care of him, just as Pilar did to Ethan, one night his nanny had taken him out for Ivy and I who had a meeting at the house. Ethan was of course Ivy’s pride and joy so she was not letting him leave the house but for our other son, who had been name Eli, it was alright. Any how, on their way returning to the mansion, a drunk driver hit them head on, it was raining terribly and their car went off the road. It must have fallen into a river. The nanny was killed instantly........but the baby.......he was never found.......until weeks later.”

“Oh my God.” Eve stated. “Oh that’s terrible.”

“When they found him,” Julian went on. “He was at the bottom of a well. Cold not moving, but still alive. God knows that it is a mystery to any of us how a three month old child could have survived it. He had to have been taken care of by some one.....by some thing. We just did not understand.” He paused once more, but went on to continue. “When Ivy and I had gotten word that he was found we rushed off to the hospital to see him, what we were greeted with was terrible.”

“What was it?” Sam asked he and Eve completely pulled into the story.

“His face.” Ivy answered this time, still some what weak, but managed to sit up and continue. “His face was marked with......burns and gashes.......and part of it looked like it may have been eaten at. It was terrible, and we were horrified. We told the doctors that there was no way he could have been alive, it was impossible, but the doctors took us to see him and....he was breathing. He just wasn’t moving.” She tightened her hand around Sam’s some as she continued. “Any how, it had soon become an entire year that he just sat there and would grow. Ethan was kept in the dark about the entire thing. The fact is that when Eli was supposed to have died in the car accident Ethan was so young, he was still a baby, so he could not understand, he did not even know he had a sibling. Like all babies it was beyond his comprehension so, we just never told him any thing and he was made to believe that he was our eldest child and Nicholas was right after him, but that wasn’t the case at all.” Ivy sighed some as a tear came to her eyes.

“Wait a minute Ivy.” Sam spoke up. “Now surly some thing as big as the death of a Crane baby, or one missing for that matter would have been all over the place.”

Ivy smirked. “Well that was kept under wraps. All thanks to Alistair.” She said narrowing her eyes at him. He only puffed on his cigar. “Of course many people knew of his birth, but when he went missing in that accident Alistair wanted every thing on the hush side in case by some miracle he was found. Well when he was found, Alistair was so disgusted with what he saw that he wanted no one to know that this child....this poor, innocent baby was a Crane, so he made up a story about Eli being sent away to live with distant relatives and the press bought it. The baby in the hospital was to be kept as a John Doe.”

Eve looked at Alistair in disgust. “On you horrid bastard. You did that to your own Grandchild.”

Alistair ignored her and looked to Ivy. “Please dear go on with your story, I am sure they are waiting on pens and needles.”

Ivy rolled her eyes, but continued. “Well, Julian and I having no other choice but to do as Alistair said made things even worse in our marriage. Alistair wanted us to see the child once every four months so it did not raise suspicion. To make it even worse he had him sent away to a hospital in Germany, I guess it had to be far away to allude even more suspicion. I was furious with Alistair for that a I begged Julian to make his father stop this but he was as afraid of Alistair as I was, and me still longing for Sam and trapped in a marriage became even more bitter towards them both. I got so wrapped up in myself that after a while I just stopped going to see Eli all together. The doctor’s kept telling me there was no change and they would be surprised if their ever would be. So Ethan once again became my comfort. By this time Ethan was five and ready for boarding schools and Alistair had gone and sent him away to London. My heart broke and at that time I think I pretty much became numb and unfeeling to any thing. Until I got pregnant again with Nicholas. Around a month into my pregnancy with him we got a call....from Germany, Eli had awoken.”

“He had?” Eve asked.

Ivy nodded her head. “Yes, he had.” She stated. “I was over joyed and with Julian and Alistair rushed down to Germany to see him. Of course after every thing he had been through he barely new us, and he barely talked. The doctor said it was normal, and that he could be taken home now to recover there. Still Alistair would not hear of it, simply because the child was deformed. He ended up keeping him in Germany and giving him to another family. My heart broke all over again.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “It was not until another year passed that we had been contacted by his doctor and when we got the call, and what it was about, I .......Julian and I were completely and utterly terrified.”

“What happened?” Sam asked.

“Eli happened.” Ivy stated. “He......he killed them. The family that had taken him in for a year. He.....he burned the house down.”

Eve looked at Ivy in disbelief. “Are you serious?” She asked.

Ivy nodded her head. “It was in the middle of the night and every one was asleep except him. They said that he very rarely slept. He would just sit up, day and night, night and day and stare out his window silently and when some tried to get close to him, or touch him, he became violent and angry. No one could figure out why.” She took another short pause, but continued. “When he got to Germany, I myself still didn’t believe it. I mean this was just a baby. How could he willingly set fire to a house and know what he was doing. I needed proof. Well I got it.”

“How?” Sam asked.

“During the next week Eli had been given to a doctor. A special doctor who handled situations like this. With children who had problems and had been through trauma. He took in Eli and Julian and sat with him during the secessions. He asked him questions. Most of them he would not answer. The one day, he asked him the question we had all been dying to know. You see, Eli was accused of starting the fire because the night they found him he had a gas can and matched with him. The doctor had gone around the question for weeks and finally asked him, ‘Eli did you intentionally start the fire?’ and he looked up at him, and I gasped. I don’t know if it was some thing I had or never seen but his eyes. When he was born they were greener than mine. But this child’s eyes were blacker than any thing I had ever seen in my whole life. Any way, he answered. He said ‘yes.’ He started the fire. I was in utter shock. The doctor then asked him ‘Did he know that his family was in there.’ and he looked at him, with those burning black eyes and said. ‘yes.’ He then proceeded to ask him why he did it, and Eli looked at myself, and Julian and he said ’he thought they were us.”

Eve looked to Julian for conformation and he nodded his head. “It’s true.” He stated. “ The gospel truth. The boy hated us with a passion, he admitted that to all of us. He would never say why, and all we could do was guess.”

Alistair finally spoke. “Indeed that was the only sign I had of the boy that he was a Crane.” H stated. “He hated his family and was out to make them pay. So me fearing for all of us immediately had the boy locked in an asylum away from the family. It was the only thing at the time, that I could think of to keep us safe. We had only seen him one time after that, and that was when he was 15, and he had tried to escape and in doing so he killed a doctor and four nurses. He was caught exactly two hours outside of Harmony. He was coming for us.”

Sam and Eve looked at each other in shock. “I......I can’t believe it.” He stated. “It’s so unreal.”

Alistair nodded his head. “Well it is very real.” He stated. “And I have decided there is only one way to stop it.”

Julian looked at his father suspiciously. “What do you mean?” He asked.

“I have trusted security and officers all over the place looking for him, and I have them assigned to protect your children as well as you and Ivy.” He stated. “This time, when they boy is found, there will be no excuses made for him. Death, is the only answer.”

“What?!” Julian said in shock.

“No!” Ivy screamed at him. “Alistair you can not do this it’s cruel!”

Alistair shrugged. “Do you think I care?” He asked. “This boy has been a thorn in my side for 24 years, well no more. Eli will be caught, and when he is he will be executed, and it’d done.” With that he turned away from them, and exited the hospital room.