Stefan is in the GH Library when Alexis comes in.

" Have you found Barbara?"

" No. Our people have been doing continuous computer searches. Wherever Bobbie is, she has been using cash, because nothing has showed up on credit card receipts."

" I see."

" Stefan. Have you given any thought to giving Bobbie a settlement? I think that might be our best option."

" I have told you Alexis. I will not settle with Barbara."

" Fine. But, we will be going into court with nothing. And Bobbie and Alicia know it."

" Well, then, you better find something Alexis. "

" I am an attorney, Stefan. Not a miracle worker. But, I will look into things. Tell me, have you spoken to Nikolas?"

" No. Not since the outing at the Quartermaines."

" So, there has been no attempt on your part to get Nikolas to return to Wyndermere."

" Alexis, Nikolas must return of his own free will. Nikolas is MY concern. Yours is finding Barbara and making sure that I win this case. I have a meeting that I must attend. Goodbye, Alexis."

" Goodbye, Stefan."

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

AJ is in between shifts at the Gym when he decides to call Keesha.

" Ward House?"

" Hello, stranger."

" AJ? Sorry, but I can't talk right now."

" Why?"

" Well, one of the new recruits here, Molly, she was given the task of planning a birthday party for a little boy here, Malcolm. The doctors say that he might not make it to his next one, so, we planned it all out. We were going the whole nine yards: clown, horse, all the decorations that you could get with a Power Rangers theme."

" Sounds good. What happened?"

" Well, instead of coming to me when the money ran out, she went and found what she thought was a bargain."

" Uh-oh."

" Yes. This guy is a major scam artist. So, there's nothing. She's here crying her eyes out, and I am scrambling trying to pull this together. So, I can't talk now, OK, AJ?"

" Yeah, sure Keesha, bye."

AJ hangs up on Keesha and makes another phone call.

" Grandmother, how would you like to help me?"

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

Bobbie and A.E. are on a boat that A.E. has chartered for them. They've spent the morning scuba diving. And now, they're sailing around the island and just soaking up rays. A.E. catches Bobbie looking at her.

" L.D. Is there something wrong?"

" No. Nothing's wrong. I was just curious about something."

" OK, I'll bite. What has piqued your interest?"

" You and your father. Why, when it's obvious in the little that you spoken about him, don't you try and get in contact with him."

" I suppose it is because I don't see myself as part of his life anymore. He's moved on."

" Moved on?"

" He got married. Building a new life and thus and such."

" Ahhh....the new wicked stepmother is scaring you away."

" New, yes. Wicked? I wanted to believe it, but I don't anymore."

" Why? "

" Because of all that my younger brother has written about her. He is as tough a judge of character as I am, and my new stepmother seems to have impressed him well. But, I do admit that I feel a twinge of jealousy towards the woman. All my life, until recently, I had been the only woman in both their lives. The thought of sharing them, with anyone, isn't something that I thought I would have to do."

" Aren't you happy that your father has found someone that he cares for?"

" I know that I sound like an overpossessive woman with a Phaedra Complex, and maybe that is exactly who I am. I suppose I never thought that there would be any woman good enough, or bold enough to handle my father. And would, of her own volition, decide to do it on a permanent basis."

" Is your father THAT much of a handful?"

" More. I only went to one psychology class during college, but I learned enough about fathers and daughters to know that my choices in men do go back to him."

" Are you saying that your father's a snake?"

" A MAJOR one. Not that I don't completely adore him, but I know his faults. That is why I am so curious about his wife. But not enough to go and visit."

" You know, I am sure that your father misses you."

" How can you be so sure?"

" Because I am a parent. You may not speak to your father, but I doubt that you are far from his thoughts ever. That is the way between parents and children. And especially if he is the only parent that you know. I would bet everything that he misses you something fierce."

" In your last marriage, were there children?"

" I brought a son to the marriage, and so did my husband. You know, I take back what has been the worst thing about the ending of my marriage. The worst part isn't knowing whether he was lying, it's been the loss of the relationship between my stepson and myself."

" You loved him?"

" Deeply. There was a connection between us, almost from the beginning. When things went wrong, he came to me, almost pleading with me to tell him that what his father had said about me wasn't true."
 

" But it was."

" Yes. I looked into his face, and I realized that I had failed him, deeply. And that kills me. It's the thing that keeps me up nights, seeing his face. He thinks that I never loved him. That it was all a lie."

" No, he couldn't."

" Yes, he does. Which makes it so much worse. You see, he has had nothing but repeat abandonment in his life. And I vowed when I married his father that I wasn't going to do that to him. But, I wound up not thinking straight, and doing it anyway. What he didn't know, is that I needed him, more than he ever needed me. It was as if I lost another child. The pain was that deep."

" Another child?"

" I've lost two children. My daughters."

" I'm so sorry. How does one survive that?"

" I don't know. You just do, I suppose."

" This may sound like platitudes, but I think that you are a remarkable woman. You seem to be able to pick yourself up from some difficult times. And I am glad that I met you."

" You are very kind. You've been kind this entire trip. So, when are you leaving?"

" Day after tommorrow."

" So am I. I must say that I have gotten more out of this vacation that I ever thought I would, and that is thanks to you."

" I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. Wanna take a swim?"

" Sure."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keesha is sitting at Ward House blowing up balloons when Reginald comes in.

" Reginald, what are you doing here?"

" Hi, Miss Ward. Where should the gentlemen put these things?"

Keesha looked up and saw several Quartermaine servants coming her way.

" What do they have?"

" Uh, food and snacks. The cake. And boxes of decorations."

" Well, the party is to be outside. But, I suppose you can put the food in the kitchen. It's around the corner there."

" Ok. (motions to the outside ) Come on, fellas."

The servants come in and are dispatched to the proper places. Keesha is about to go into the kitchen to supervise, when another guy comes to the door.

" Uh, Miss. Can you tell me where Rocket is supposed to go?"

" What's a 'Rocket'?"

" A Rocket is a horse. One of the oldest in the Quartermaine stables. And one mild enough for a group of pre-schoolers." Keesha is standing there with he mouth open as AJ walks in.

" You did this?"

" Yep." (to the horse man) " Take Rocket out back. Put him in the far corner of the yard. And keep him fed and content."

" AJ. What are you doing?"

" Hopefully, making a kid's birthday something special."

" You did all this?"

" Actually, Grandmother and I did this. I told her your predicament, and she completely agreed that the situation was intolerable."

" AJ. I don't know what to say."

" Keesha, after all you've done for me, this party doesn't even begin to repay you."

" You don't have to repay me for anything."

" Oh, yes I do. In a way, you saved my life, Keesha Ward. And I won't forget it. Keesha?"

" Yes, AJ."

" Can we go somewhere and talk after the party?"

" I'd like that."

" Good. Well, I gotta go prepare."

" For what?"

" You said, you promised a clown. Now, I didn't go to Bozo school, but the man at the novelty shop did give me great stuff. See you at the party, Ms. Ward."

AJ leaves Keesha, who is very happy as to how the day has turned out.

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

Dara is waiting in her apartment. Justus was to have picked her up a half hour ago. The phone rings.

"Hello?"

" Baby, it's me."

" Well, you. You are supposed to be here, not there, wherever there is."

" I know. I am actually sneaking this phone call. I have meetings and I cant get away."

" Justus. I have an entire picnic packed and sitting here."

" I know. I'm sorry. I have to go. I'll make it up to you. Bye."

Dara is bummed. She cleared her schedule so that she and Justus could spend time together. On a lark, she calls Jax.

" Jasper Jacks."

" Mr. Jacks. Could I possibly interest you in a picnic."

" Dara? Hi. I would love to go on a picnic, but..."

" Oh, no. Not the BUT...."

" You know what? I am hungry, but can't leave my Penthouse. Would you mind having the picnic here?"

" A picnic in an apartment. What's wrong with this picture?"

" You give me a few minutes, and I'll make it believable. So, are you coming, Ms. Jensen?"

" Sure. I'll be right over."

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

Emily is sitting in the park with Raoul, when some kids come over to her.

" Well, if it isn't Emily. What's up Em?"

" Hello Bart. Nothing's up."

" Not even, you, Em? You always used to be UP."

" I don't do that stuff anymore."

" Oh...Miss Priss doesn't do that stuff anymore. Hate yo burst your bubble, baby, but once a junkie, always one."

" That's not true. I've been clean for a while."

" Well, you don't know what you're missing. I got some good stuff. You and I could have a really good time."

" I don't want those kinds of good times."

" Aw, come on Emily. You know, you turned really fun and loose when you were high. You're pretty hot you know.."(the guy starts playing with Emily's hair and Emily is visibly creeped out by the guy)

" Leave me alone.."

" Aw, come on Em...:"

" I think that the young lady told you to leave her alone." Bart turns around and standing there is Nikolas.

" And who the hell are you? Her brother?"

" No. Her friend. And one that doesn't like to see how you're treating Emily."

" Well, it's none of your damn business. So why don't you leave us alone."

" I don't think so. It is YOU, who will leave. Now."

" Ok..ok....I can take a hint. But, I'll be seeing you later, Emily."

Bart leaves, but not before giving a very menacing look to Nikolas. Nikolas goes over to Emily.

"Emily, are you OK?"

" Yes, Nikolas. "

" WHo was that guy?"

" Uh...he was one of the kids that I did drugs with. He wanted me to do some with him, but I turned him down."

" Good for you. Emily, you don't need drugs. You have much more going for you than that guy ever will."

" I'm beginning to believe that. But, it's always good to hear."

" Well, why don't you get Raoul, and we can go to my car, and I'll take you home."

" I'd like that. I think that I can even get Cook to fix us something to eat, I mean, if you want to stay and eat."

" There isn't anyone else that I'd like to be with right now."

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

Dara arrives at Jax's. He opens the door, dressed in this very loud shirt, and sunglasses.

" Hello, Dara."

" Hi, Jax. What are you up to."

" Since we couldn't go to a proper picnic setting, I brought it to us."

Dara enters the room. Save for a desk, fax machine and phone, the entire room is bare. There is a mound of sand, and on top of the sand, there is a huge blanket. Jax also has beach umbrellas standing in the sand. And there is also a pail and shovel. On the stereo, Dara hears the Beach Boys blasting.

" You did all of this?"

" Guilty. Now, I can't promise that we won't be interrupted with business, but until we are, you have my undivided attention. "

" Well, I guess I better take off these shoes. It just won't do to get sand in them."

" No, it won't."

Dara and Jax proceed to have a great picnic. They eat, talk, dance.

" Jax, I have had such a good time."

" Even, if it wasn't the real thing?"

" This has been better than the real thing. Thanks."

" No problem, buddy. You know.." The phone rings, and Jax goes to pick it up. He motions to Dara that this is the call that he has been expecting. Dara gathers her shoes, and tells him to send over the picnic basket to her apartment, and then leaves.

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

AJ and Keesha are at the Quartermaine Boathouse.

" AJ, this is a strange place for us to be, don't you think?"

" Actually, Keesha, I think that it's the best place for us. After all, this was the place where we, I mean I, broke down the walls of lies, and told you the truth."

" About the night of Jason's accident."

" You mean the night I killed Jason Quartermaine."

" AJ..."

" No, Keesha, let's be honest. I killed my brother. I know it, and I accept it. But, God help me, the one great thing that came out of that, was that we got to be together. As I fell deeper in love with you, my heart sank, because I knew that the foundation of it was all built on a lie. Keesha, you're the best thing that I could ever have dreamt to come into my life. You're beautiful, good, decent, honest, sexy, intelligent and fun. And I like who I am when I'm with you. I guess I want to say, that I love you, and that I want another chance."

" AJ, I..."

" But, this time, we have to have complete honesty between us."

" I agree. Oh, AJ.."

" Wait. Let me get this out first. You wanted to know why I would protect Carly. Why, after all she's done to me, I would not blow her out of the water."

" Yes, to say that I am more than a bit curious about this, would be an understatement."

" Ok, the truth. One night, after you turned me away, I met Carly in a bar, and we slept together. That's why she drugged me, to get me out of town."

" WHY?"

" Because of the baby."

" AJ, is that baby.."

" No. I forced Carly to go get a sonogram. And there's no way that I am the father. But, you see, the reason why I have so many problems with my father, is because , for a time, he didn't know if I was his child. And I don't want that to happen to Carly's baby. I think Carly's a mess, but I think that Tony would be great for the baby. And a kid is more important than my family's respect. I have the respect of the people who count: Grandmother, Emily, Mom and you....Keesha?"

( crying) " I want to say that it doesn't matter that you slept with Carly. But, I would be lying. But, your actions FINALLY make sense. I can't believe that witch. AJ, I love you, and I am glad that you told me all the truth now, but I need some time to compute this, OK?"

" OK."

" Well, I'm gonna go for a walk. I promise that we'll talk. AJ, don't worry. I'm not saying goodbye. Actually, I think today, we both just said hello."

Keesha kisses him and leaves.

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