Ivy felt her entire body tingle as Sam’s lips were pressed hotly against hers. It seemed like time had suddenly taken her back. Back to when she was young, and at least partially innocent. When she would spend so much time with Sam, pledging her love to him, and he to her. And them promising to always be together. That’s what this felt like. Like she had been brought back to the happiest time in her life.

Suddenly the lights flickered once or twice and the entire gym became surrounded with darkness. Ivy quickly pushed off of Sam as soon as the emergency lights clicked on. For a second they both stood their, stunned at what just happened. That kiss. Some how both of them knew that it changed every thing.

The next move was made by Ivy and though it shocked Sam, he did not fight it. Ivy pulled Sam back towards her and ravished his lips in a hungry, lustful kiss. Every inch of Sam knew that this was wrong. Knew that this was not supposed to be. race was his wife. No matter how much things had changed between them, she was the woman that he vowed to stay faithful too. Suddenly Sam’s mind went back. Back to every time he caught Grace in David’s arms. Every time they kissed, or she showed affection towards him and John, and at that moment it seemed like all of his since evaporated in to lust for Ivy.

Breaking away from her lips Some, Sam trailed hot kisses down Ivy’s neck causing her to moan in ecstasy. “Oh Sam please,” She said in a pleasured whisper. “I need you.” Her voice was pleading. “I need you to make love to me.”

Sam knew that he should be a better man and do what was right and quickly pull away, but he did not want to. For the first time in his life, he did not want to be responsible. He was tired of being the good man every one looked up to, for once he just wanted not to care.

Slowly, ignoring his conscious Sam let his hands fall to where Ivy’s dress was and he began to hike it up. He could feel her pressing tightly to his body, clinging to him. After hiking her dress as far up as it could go, he began to touch the inside of her thy, and massage like he used to when they were young. That always made her extremely hot. Just as he remembered, Ivy gasped in pure pleasure as he worked her sensitive spot.

Continuing to work and please her, Sam brought his lips back to Ivy’s and they began to smother each other with tender, and still passionate kisses. He slowly, and carefully backed her against the wall that they were closest to and continued to kiss her.

Ivy, seeing it was her time to fulfill Sam reached for the string on his work out pants and pulled it allowing them to loosen. She then slipped her hands into the pants and began to let her hands work his erected man hood. She smiled seductively as his groans of pleasure and desire filled her ears. As much anger as she felt for him, she could not deny that she missed their love. Their making love. This moment was what she had been dreaming about for over 25 years and it was here.

Some how, eventually, all of their clothes managed to find their way off of their bodies and to the floor, and they began to explore each other like they did when they were young, blocking out the rest of their shattered worlds.

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

Julian rushed out of his office after Eve begging to get in another word. “Eve please wait lets talk about this.” He begged.

Eve turned back to Julian. “There is nothing to talk about.” She stated. “Listen Julian although I said I would never ever openly admit this I truly am sorry for the ways things have worked out for you.” She said shocking him.

“You are?” Julian asked clinging to some hope.

Eve nodded her head. “Yes.” She stated. “I mean I know being forced to live in a loveless marriage with that......that woman,” She said referring to Ivy. “could not have been easy. Then when you found out that you had lost Ethan as your son. I saw the raw pain in your eyes that night. The disbelief. The anger and the hurt.”

Julian nodded his head. “It felt like part of me had died that night.” He said in a some what far away tone.

“And I saw the same look last night when I told you about Katherine and Kay.” Eve stated. “Julian I know you think that every one has always made light of your pain, but believe me it is not true. Maybe I never really expressed it, or showed or told you. But I have never, ever wished you hurt. At least not this much.” Her own face began to cloud over some. “In fact, I know that part of you will always have pieces of my heart because.......” She sighed some.

“Because what Eve?” Julian asked clinging to his last bit of hope. “Because what, tell me?”

“Because you were my first love.” Eve admitted. “You were the first man I had ever loved. You were the man who taught me how to love. And for that I am forever thankful.”

Julian felt his heart leap into his throat. She said it. She loved him. There was still hope. “Oh Eve,” He stated in a taken away breath. “Eve I.....”

Before Julian could begin to finish, a loud crash of thunder sang across the sky and every thing seemed to get dark. Eve looked around the building confused. “What happened?” She asked.

Julian looked around for a moment, then his eyes fell out side. “Oh dear God,” He said in a horrid breath.

Eve looked out side too and her heart quickly fell into her stomach. “My God,” She said in utter fear. Both she and Julian looking outside could see the very forming of what appeared to be a fierce hurricane and it was headed their way.

Suddenly, one of the assistance in the building ran towards them. “Mr. Crane,” She stated. “Every one was be instructed to get to the basement their is a ....” She looked out side and quickly lost her breath. “Holy mother of God.” She said clutching her chest.

Julian with out thinking took Eve’s hand. “Come on we have got to get to shelter!” He ordered pulling her with him and the assistant to where the basement would be.

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

Gwen straightened her gown some as there was a knock on the hotel room door. “That must be Ethan.” She said to herself. Touching her stomach, she walked to the door, and placed on a big smile. “Oh Ethan, you made it.” She said moving aside allowing him to come in.

“Are you kidding I couldn’t stay away.” Ethan said smiling as Gwen closed the door and looked back at him. After a short moment of silence, Ethan broke out into a huge smile. “A GIRL!” He yelled causing Gwen to laugh with him. He took her in his arms and spun her around a few times before placing her down. “I can not believe this I am so excited. I mean, I am going to be the father of a beautiful daughter.”

“Oh Ethan I can not tell you how happy I am.” Gwen stated smiling brightly. “I mean, at first I was terribly nervous about being a mother. I mean no disrespect to mine, but my mothers values are not the type I wanted to past down to my child. But then I realized with a wonderful father like you in her life, and me trying my best there is no way that this baby can go wrong.”

“Oh Gwen you are going to make a wonderful mother.” Ethan stated. A cash of thunder caused her to jump some, and they both looked out side. “Man it is really coming down out there.” He stated.

Gwen nodded her head in agreement as she and Ethan went take a seat on the couch. “I was so worried about you driving out there by yourself.” She stated. “I almost cried. It must be the hormones.”

Ethan smiled some. “Look at you.” He stated. “Your already talking lie a mother.” He studied her for a little while. “You even have the glow.” He added.

Gwen smiled some. “Oh Ethan please,” She said tapping his hand. “I do think that I am getting fat though.” She added with a frown causing Ethan to laugh some. “What?” She asked. “Does my weight amuse you?” Se asked hitting him playfully.

Ethan shook his head. “Oh come on Gwen your pregnant.” He stated. “Of course your going to gain a few pounds.”

Gwen shrugged some. “I guess that I am just feeling a little self conscious.” She stated.

“Well don’t.” Ethan said resting his hand on hers. “You are beautiful. You always have been. And you always will be.”

Gwen smiled appreciatively. “Thank you.” She stated. “I can see you are still very much the gentleman.”

Ethan only smiled, but he said nothing. With Gwen not saying anything, there was a long moment of silence between them, both of them just starring at each other.

Ethan, who remembered he still had his hand on Gwen’s kind of pulled closer and Gwen graciously came. “You are so beautiful.” He stated.

“Oh Ethan,” Gwen said in a loving breath.

Suddenly, Ethan pulled himself so close to her that their faces were only inches away and their bodies were pressed directly against each other. “God help me Gwen,” He stated. “But I want you so much.” And before Gwen could deny, as if she would, he covered her lips in a passionate kiss, and as he did began laying her on the sofa all the while he could not see the devilish smile lit up on her phrase which said every thing her mouth would not. ‘I’ve got him.’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nicholas smiled as he entered the living room of the mansion and found Theresa lighting candles. It wasn’t for any thing fancy. The lights had just went out a few minutes ago, and although there were emergency lights the house was still some what dim.

“Candles,” He said making Theresa look up and notice that he had entered into the house. “Good idea. I don’t believe this bad boy storm is preparing to leave Harmony any time soon.”

Theresa smiled some. “No harm done in being prepared.” She stated. “If the weather is right we are going to be riding this thing out for a few more hours, and then some tomorrow.” She bit her lip some.

“Problem?” Nicholas asked.

“Well it’s just.....,” Theresa sighed some. “It’s Ethan.” She stated. “I was hoping he’d give me a call, I mean he should be to Gwen’s already, if not getting there.”

Nicholas smirked. “I’m sure he’s getting some thing from Gwen,” He said in a whisper.

“Excuse me?” Theresa said thinking she had heard him say some thing.

Nicholas shook his head. “Oh nothing, just me thinking out loud.” He stated plopping down on the couch. He looked top Theresa and the patted the couch some. “Join me.” He stated.

Theresa hesitated a moment. She knew that there was not much love loss between Ethan and his brother and she wondered how he would feel about them having a conversation. After another moments hesitation, Theresa spoke up. “I think maybe I’ll go check on the baby.”

Nicholas smirked some. “Fair enough,” He stated. “I am used to people in this house abandoning me any way.” He stated.

Theresa quickly shook her head. “Oh no it’s nothing like that I just....”

“You just don’t want to upset golden boy I get it.” Nicholas stated. “Most people never do.”

Theresa sighed some, realizing she had hurt his feelings and then she went to the couch and sat down besides him. She was quiet for a moment, which gave Nicholas a chance to “admire.” her beauty.

“So, there’s some tension between you and your brother huh?” Theresa asked.

Nicholas shook his head. “Not so much tension as there is a mutual hate.” He stated with a cocky smirk.

Theresa smiled nervously. “So....why is that?” She asked. “Are you just jealous?”

Nicholas glared at her some. “Why should I be jealous?” He asked. “He’s the one that lost every thing, I am a true Crane unlike that bastard.”

“He is not a bastard!” Theresa said defensively.

“Oh great,” Nicholas stated. “Just what the world needs another Ivy Crane jumping to Ethan’s defense. You and my mother are more alike than you’d like to admit.”

Theresa rolled her eyes some. “Please,” She said in a disgusted tone. “I am nothing like Ivy.”

“Right.” Nicholas smirked. “Keep telling yourself that.”

“You know you have a real attitude.” Theresa snapped. “I only joined you because you asked.”

“Well I am beginning to see my mistake.” Nicholas shot back. “I don’t even know why I bothered to get to know you, your just like her when it comes to Ethan?”

“Her who?” Theresa asked some what irritated she let him get to her.

Nicholas hesitated for a moment, but responded. “Mother.” He stated. “You believe he can do no wrong.”

“Ethan is a good man.” Theresa stated. “He would not intentionally hurt any one.”

“As I said, just like mother.” Nicholas stated. “But I have to give you some credit, at least when you talked to me it wasn’t to tell me how much I was not like Ethan, or how you wish I could be more like Ethan.”

Theresa watched him some, and if she was not mistaken, she could have sworn she saw a flicker of pain behind his blue eyes. “She does that a lot?” She asked.

Nicholas smirked. “You can’t even imagine.” He stated. “Some times I get the feeling that to her I am one of her biggest mistakes.”

“How do you mean?” Theresa asked.

Nicholas sighed some. “Well, my parents are any thing but normal.” He stated. “I mean sure, recently they have started having sex again, but the truth is they are only with each other because they can’t have who they really want and I know that they both hate the fact they married, and they hate every thing to do with that marriage, including me. Especially mother.”

Theresa felt her heart break some as she watched him stand and go over to the window and look out at the storm. “Some times I wish they had never married.” He stated his tone dropping to an even more miserable one. “I would be better off not being in existence.”

Theresa shook her head as she stood. “Don’t say that.” She stated. “Nicholas I can’t really relate to your pain mainly because I only grew up with one parent, and also because my mother loved us unconditionally. But I know that all parents care for their children. I mean, look how your mother reacted to the situation with Katherine and Kay.”

Nicholas smirked. “That’s because it’s not them she hates.” He stated. “It’s me.”

“Nicholas......”

“Just leave me alone.” He said suddenly. “I really don’t want to talk about this.”

Theresa thought about pushing the subject, but realized that may be it would be best if she did as he asked. It was after all serious. So with a heavy sigh, she nodded her head and went to check on her son. Suddenly she felt like telling him how much she loved him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

Sam breathed heavily upon Ivy, who was wrapped around him pressed on the wall. It was over. And suddenly Sam was hit with a strong sense of sickness. “Oh my God.” He whispered to himself. “Oh my God what did I do?” He asked pushing off of Ivy, and grabbing his clothes.

Ivy looked at him confused. “Sam?” She questioned standing not bothering to hide her naked body. “What are you doing?” She asked.

“God, I can’t be here.” Sam stated. “How could I do this? How could I do this to Grace.”

At the mention of that name, Ivy felt her insecurities grow and grabbed her clothes. “I guess it figures you’d want to talk about her.” She said in an angry voice.

Sam looked at her in disbelief after buckling his pants. “My God Ivy I am a married man.” He stated. “I love my wife and family.”

“Well that’s not what you were saying a little while ago!” Ivy snapped beginning to dress herself. “In fact if I recall it was me you were saying you loved.”

Sam shook his head. “No, no that was not real.” He said as he slipped on hi shirt. “That was a lie.”

Ivy looked at him, her anger growing. “A lie?” She echoed. “You just told me that you could never live another day with out me and THAT was a lie!” She screamed at him. “You bastard.”

Sam looked at her angrily. “Look I am sorry your hurt but may be now you know what it feels like!” He snapped back at her.

“Excuse me?” Ivy questioned.

“Maybe now you know how I felt when you dumped me and ran to Julian right after we made love!” Sam stated angrily.

Ivy shook her head. “My God do you always have to throw that in my face I made a mistake!” She stated after being fully dressed.

“Yea well so did I!” Sam stated. “What happened Just now was an awful, unforgivable mistake. On My part.”

Ivy shook her head. “No.” She stated, her eyes beginning to brim with tears. “No that isn’t true.” He stated. “It can’t be true.”

“Well it is.” Sam said his tone dropping some. “I’m sorry, but it is.”

Ivy shook her head. “No your not.” She stated as tears trickled down her face. “Your not sorry. You did this on purpose didn’t you!” She said in a mixture on anger and hurt.

“What?” Sam asked.

“You might as well admit!” She stated. “You did this just to get back at me for what happened all those years ago!”

Sam looked at her in complete shock. “Ivy that is not it at all!” He stated. “You know me better than that!”

“Do I?” Ivy questioned. “A few months ago when you came to question me about Theresa’s supposed death, you said you could not believe it was me because I had changed into a Crane, and I wasn’t the same person I was all those years ago. Well I guess you’ve changed too Sam because the Sam Bennett I knew would never, EVER think to cheat on his wife!” Sam remained silent. “And as for what happened all those years ago, I am so sick and tired of apologizing when all I was trying to do was save your ass!”

At that comment Sam quickly looked to her confused. “What is that supposed to mean?” He asked.

Ivy cursed silently for letting that slip. “Nothing.” She quickly lied. “Nothing just forget.” She said trying to walk away.

Sam grabbed her arm and made her force him. “No I won’t forget it.” He stated. “You brought it up, now I demand to know what you meant!”

Ivy pulled back from Sam and looked at him, then took a deep breath. “Fine.” She stated. “If you really want to know.”

“Well I do.” Sam stated.

Ivy hesitated a moment before beginning. “There is a part of the story no one knows.” She stated. “The part where my.....my father actually found out I was pregnant, and knew that it was by you.”

“He found out?” Sam asked shocked.

Ivy nodded her head. “Yes.” She stated. “And he was livid, but at the same time, he had found his victory.” She said in a bitter tone.

“What do you mean?” Sam asked.

Ivy sighed heavily, as tears formed in her eyes. “My father knew that I was willing to do any thing for two people. My baby, and you.” She stated. “You see Sam when I found out I was pregnant I told father I was going to tell Alistair and Julian and knew that Alistair would make Julian divorce me and then I would be free to find and marry you.” Tears began to trickle down her face as she continued. “But my father would not hear of it and almost immediately he agreed, but told me if I did he could not guarantee the safety of you, your family, and my baby.” Sam listened in utter shock. “At first I did not believe him, and told him he was lying and he would never do that.” She let more tears fall. “Then he produced pictures.”

“Pictures?” Sam questioned.

Ivy nodded her head as her tears soaked her face. “Of you, your mother, and father and brother.” She stated. “And of my sonogram. Sam they were pictures that had all been taken that week, and he told me that the next time he would not be shooting with a camera, but with a gun.”

Sam gasped in shock. “Oh my God.” He stated.

Ivy nodded her head as her tears began to fall to the floor. “Yea, that’s what I said too.” She stated. “Sam I realized at that moment what I had to do. For all of us. To keep us safe.” She dried some at her tears, but it did not stop them. “I realized I had to stay married to Julian, are take the risk of losing you...or of some thing worse happening to your family and you, and our child.”

Sam looked at her, his own eyes tearing up. “My God Ivy.” He stated. “You.....you gave up your happiness......every thing you ever.......”

“Yes I did.” Ivy said the strength finding it’s way back to her voice. “So please Sam, don’t judge me, when all I was trying to do was save your life.”

Sam nodded his head as tears slipped from his eyes. “I’m sorry.” He said looking at her his eyes revealing the truth. “I am so sorry.” He said pulling her into a loving hug, and allowing her to cry on his shoulder, and he did the same thing to her.