Blake Carrington was nervous.

This was only the second day of the rest of his life after all, well of his new life, since he had awoken on Christmas morning after the most bizarre of nights and resolved to make amends and start his life anew.

Yet if he was nervous he could only imagine how the lady next to him was feeling.

The closer they came to Denver the quieter Alexis had become. When they had been in her London home packing she had been quite chatty, in fact full of excitement and good humour. Blake could only imagine it had been the prospect of seeing Fallon and Steven again after so long that put that shine in her eyes and the broad smile on her lips.

That smile had only dimmed once when just before they left for the airport Alexis had remembered to phone her cousin Rosalind and cancel her plans to visit them for boxing day. Still Blake had fond memories of Alexis's cousin, she had struck him as a warm forgiving woman and he doubted she would hold a grudge and he had told Alexis so. Still Alexis's answering smile had only been half beam and Blake could only assume she had begun to doubt the sanity of what they were attempting.

Alexis hadn't mentioned his roundabout declaration of love, or of still loving…Blake supposed loving someone and being in love with them were two different things and right now he couldn't help but feel a little fuzzy over which category he fell into. Being with Alexis and seeing her smile instead of frown at him made him feel lighter, and yet Blake wasn't sure whether this was still a side effect of the high of feeling good about himself and the way his life was heading or whether her presence was the intoxicant.

Only time would tell it seemed, and fortunately time was one thing they would have now Alexis had agreed to return to Denver with him.

"Are you alright?" Blake asked Alexis as she tapped her nails nervously against the seat of the limousine, giving into the urge to reach out and catch her trembling hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"I'm scared out of my wits actually." Alexis confessed with a half smile, swallowing nervously as she car swept up a familiar drive and the home she had once loved so dearly came into sight. "Oh god Blake I don't know if I can do this…what if they hate me…it's been six years…what if they don't even recognise me?"

"Alexis I won't lie and pretend this is going to be easy, I imagine there will be a lot of anger and hurt feelings but if we stick at this, if we back each other up, then I cannot see us failing."

Nodding Alexis seemed to accept his words, squeezing his hand back just as tightly as they car came to a stop in front of the mansion double doors, which opened as if by magic. Joseph's timing was impeccable as always and on seeing his mojodomo Blake could have kicked himself…he had been so preoccupied with convincing Alexis he had forgotten to phone ahead and inform his staff. So the surprise for Fallon and Steven would now be a surprise for everyone else as well.

Then bounding on Joseph's heels her chestnut curls bouncing in excitement was Fallon…following a few paces behind was Steven who seemed to glance at the stationary limousine with a mixture of fear and longing in his face.

"Daddy!" Fallon's excited voice was the first to greet Blake as the driver opened the door to the car and Blake barely had time to step out of it before he had his arms full of an excited teenager.

"Welcome home Mr Carrington." Joseph greeted his employer warmly. "I know you have had a long trip so I have had Mrs Gunnerson prepare a light meal and have had the housemaids air your sheets just in case you require a brief repose?"

"Thank you Joseph, if you could instruct the house staff to prepare another room…the blue room I think…we have an important guest." Blake replied hugging Fallon before pushing her gently away and reaching down inside the car.

Alexis's hand was literally shaking as Blake helped her out of the car, and no one could hide their reactions…Joseph's eyebrows literally hit his hairline…Fallon stepped back in horror shaking her head as her mouth dropped open…Yet it was Steven's reaction that caught Blake's attention and warmed him from the tips of his toes to the top of his head.

"Mum…Mum is it really you?"

Fallon wouldn't even look at either of them and Blake could tell from one glance at Alexis's face that it was breaking her heart.

Steven by contrast couldn't keep his eyes off of his mother. From the moment Alexis had emerged from the car Steven's gaze had been locked on her and her alone. Blake could only suppose it was out of some childish fear that if he took his eyes off of his mother for a second then she might vanish just as a completely as she had six years before.

"Well…" Blake awkwardly broke the tense silence as the family gathered around the dining table, a late breakfast for the children and a light supper for both him and Alexis, the extra plate being expertly constructed by Mrs Gunnerson with so little a wait anyone else might almost be unaware of it.

"Have you both been having a nice break?" Blake asked prompting his children to do more than simply push their food around their plates.

"It was alright…until now." Fallon grumbled shooting a dark look down the table at her mother as she stabbed at her scrambled eggs.

"And you Steven? I am sorry that I didn't make it home yesterday but as you can see I was picking up a special present for you both." Blake added with a nervous smile as he turned his attention to his son who seemed to shrink slightly unaccustomed as he was to his father's full focus.

"It was alright." Steven all but stuttered, echoing his sister's early statement without the accompanying sulkiness. "Thanks for new bike and the football Dad…"

"Steven there is no need to pretend I know you already have several signed footballs, but I know you enjoy playing the game…Perhaps later if it stays fine we can wrap up warm and take it out for a bit of a throw about?"

The bright way his son's face lit up was enough to convince Blake that at least had been the right thing to say.

"Sure…I mean great…unless you're too busy." Steven answered excitedly yet the reservation in his tone broke Blake's heart to hear it. His son truly expected his father to cancel on him…which led Blake to wonder just how many other times he had promised Steven something only to cancel on him because he was too busy. Well this time he would keep his promises.

"Can I play too?" Fallon piped up suddenly cheerful as she avoided so much as glancing in her mother's direction, as if resolved to ignore Alexis in the hope she would simply vanish like a bad dream. "It will be fun just the three of us."

"Of course if you want to." Blake answered unable to say anything else even as he shot an apologetic look at Alexis. Somehow he couldn't see his ex-wife taking part in football as a bonding exercise and it was going to take more than simply extending an olive branch to get Fallon to accept her mother back as easily as Steven appeared to be able to forgive him.

"Well its official Fallon does hate me."

Hovering by the door Blake watched uncomfortably as a deflated Alexis began tugging at the hairpins keeping her hat in place, before removing the hat entirely and running her hand across her hair, checking it was smooth and neat…a nervous gesture Blake suddenly remembered.

"She doesn't hate you." Blake replied softly nodding at Gerard who had been charged with delivering Mrs Carrington's luggage up to her room.

Once they were alone Blake made sure the door was shut firmly before crossing to join Alexis as she leant against her bed. Taking a seat beside her Blake reached out and took her hand…each time the gesture took less thought and seemed more and more natural and easy between them.

"Fallon is angry and confused and she is taking it all out on you, I will talk to her, I will explain that I didn't exactly give you a choice about staying in contact with them. That if she should be angry with anyone then it should be me."

Lifting her large emerald eyes to meet his gaze Blake forced himself to allow her scrutiny without flinching. "She should be." Alexis replied her tone brittle.

"Alexis we can fix this I promise, I will do whatever it takes." Blake promised sighing as he rubbed his forehead with his free hand before continuing.

"And I know it is going to take time for you to be able to really forgive me but we can't let the children see us fighting, or even let them think we are divided. Otherwise they will take sides and I think that in order to be loyal to one of us it means shunning the other. I want to rebuild my relationships with both my children, to be a family, not start a civil war in my own home."

"Alright…" Alexis conceded rolling her eyes at Blake's dramatics. Leaning back on the bed she took a deep breath and stared up at the ceiling, a small frown pulling at her brow as she caught sight of a cobweb. "You are right we do need to support each other. I won't bad mouth you to the children."

"Thank you." Blake answered squinting as he joined Alexis in lying back and staring up at the ceiling, exhaustion finally catching up with him along with the last forty-eight hours as he allowed his eyes to drift shut.

"You really should nap on your own bed Blake…"

"Why when this one is so very comfortable?" Blake teased, relieved when he could hear the warmth and humour in Alexis's voice.

"People will get the wrong idea."

"If by people you mean Joseph then why are you worried?" Blake retorted, his eyes flickering open, as he was anxious to see that half smile bloom into a full one and see if his stomach did that flip thing it used to. "I thought you loved nothing more than seeing that vein pulse in his forehead."

"Only because I thought one day I might be able to taunt him into a heart attack." Alexis replied turning on to her side and tucking one hand under her cheek as she gazed across at Blake her expression thoughtful.

"If him being here is going to make things difficult…" Blake began.

"Why are you finally going to fire him?" Alexis retorted outwardly scoffing. "He spied on me for years and reported my every move and I am sure he was rewarded accordingly. There were times I felt like a employee and not the employer, whenever I gave him a command he thought was beneath him Joseph would come scurrying to you to complain and then you undermined me."

"I was a different man then Alexis and my eyes are finally open when it comes to Joseph…" Blake paused until the questioning gaze in Alexis's eyes prompted him to continue. "He has exceeded his bounds and I won't permit that continue. I intend to have more than a few stern words with him…"

"Words Blake…"

"I have no intention of allowing him to make you feel uncomfortable here." Blake continued cutting Alexis's protest off before she could really get started. "And to prove that I mean it I am giving you permission to dismiss him should he break that order."

"You're serious?" Alexis spluttered sitting up suddenly.

"I am." Blake answered solemnly watching as Alexis gaped inelegantly like a fish for a moment. "However I trust you not to misuse this power and I would rather Joseph doesn't know about it. I don't want you taunting him with this. It is a last resort Alexis, I am giving you this so you know you could do it if necessary and in the hope that you never need to."

"Alright…I…Thank you Blake." Alexis managed her emerald eyes large and soft.

Sighing Blake forced himself up off of the bed. He really was tired and he had promised to play a game of catch with the children in the afternoon. So he really had better get a couple of hours sleep and Alexis was right in one thing he really couldn't nap here.

Not because Blake was at all worried about what people would say, but because he didn't trust himself to stay here…napping would definitely be the last thing on his mind.

"Steven go long…." Blake called out laughing as his son all but stumbled over his feet as he rushed to catch his father's pass.

"Good catch son." Blake added when much to his surprise Steven not only caught the ball but managed to stay on his feet at the same time and turn around the pass and throw it back to Blake in a few seconds. A throw with surprising strength and accuracy and if his son didn't have brains to match his talent with a ball Blake would undoubtedly be encouraging the boy to pursue a professional career.

"Daddy don't forget me." Fallon called out pouting slightly as her father paid more attention to her brother than usual and it unsettled her.

"Coming your way Fallon." Blake called out laughing as his plucky daughter scrambled for the ball and ended up knee deep in snow.

"Well that will be one for the album." A familiar voice cut in and Blake was surprised to glance up towards the veranda where Alexis was standing camera in hand. Huddled in her fur Alexis hardly looked prepared to play football but that she had decided to come out fighting after the fallout from the last attempt was a good sign.

"Glad you could join us." Blake called out and meant it. His brief nap had restored much of his determination and Blake could only believe it had done the same for Alexis. Sharing a smile Blake could see the resolution in her emerald eyes.

In fact he was so distracted by Alexis that he didn't notice the football until it was practically smacking him in the face, the force of the blow knocking him off his feet.

"God Blake are you alright?" Alexis gasped gingerly making her way down the steps in her boots even as the children rushed to his side.

"Dad…"

"Daddy…" Fallon gushed her blue eyes wide. "Oh Daddy I'm sorry I didn't mean to…"

"Of course you didn't sweetheart." Blake tried to reassure her. "If you had planned that shot then I'd be recruiting you for the Denver Bronco's." He tried to joke rubbing his jaw as he heaved himself up into a sitting position. Waggling his jaw Blake rubbed the spot where the football had connected.

"Well you'll probably have quite the bruise but the only thing dented is your ego." Alexis teased as she squatted down and cast her eye over Blake's face. "Still you'd better sit out for a bit just in case Fallon found a brain to damage."

"Your concern for my well-being is overwhelming Alexis." Blake drawled sarcastically watching as ex-wife's lips twitched in a smile.

"Here Daddy let me help you…" Fallon insisted her pout only growing when Blake waved aside her concern.

"Sweetheart I'm fine, see I can get up by myself." Blake joked heaving his snow-covered form to his feet and brushing off the residue. Groaning slightly as his body ached from the unaccustomed exertion.

"You're getting old old man." Alexis teased as she knocked snow off of his back, looking up to meet the blazing blue eyes of her daughter.

"My Daddy is not old you are, you're old and ugly and you ruin everything, we were playing just fine until you came out…"

"And you decided to use your father's head for target practice." Alexis quipped shutting her daughter's rant off. "I know you don't want me here Fallon but I am not going to be frightened away just because you decide to throw a tantrum, those didn't work on me when you were three and they certainly won't work now."

"I hate you!" Fallon hissed back her eyes wild as she stamped her foot, looking very like the wilful child Alexis had mentioned and not the elegant teenager she liked to think herself. "I wish you'd just die and live us alone…"

"Fallon apologise to your mother." Blake insisted his dark eyes watched as his daughter's expression turned from petulant anger to betrayal. "You have every right to feel angry both with your mother but most especially with me since I was the one who sent her away. However I will not tolerant you being blatantly rude and insulting towards her or anyone. Your Mother is still your mother and when it comes to showing respect you will show her the same respect you show me."

"But Daddy…" Fallon pleaded turning her blue eyes on her father, those puppy dog eyes and expression that usually had him caving the moment they teared up.

"I mean this Fallon." Blake insisted remaining firm. "Either you apologise now or you can go to your room until supper, then if you still won't apologise you can take your meal in your room."

Screwing up her face in defiance Fallon turned and stomped away, not even pausing to shake the snow off of her boots before she entered the house.

"Well that went well?" Alexis gasped and Blake could hear the break in her voice. "From ignoring me to screaming that she hates me and wishes I will die, I hardly think that was an improvement."

"She doesn't mean it, not really." Blake tried to reassure Alexis. "And if it helps any I am glad you're alive and here."

Half laughing half choking Alexis looked up at him, smiling despite her tears. "Funnily enough it does."

"I'm glad too." A small voice echoed and both parents turned around in surprise. How had they forgotten Steven?

"Are you really Steven?" Alexis asked hesitantly. "You can be angry with me too if you want, I understand really I do."

"I'm not angry…I was sad that you weren't here and I missed you." Steven answered glancing nervously up at his father, yet Blake smiled at him encouragingly and that seemed to lend him courage.

"All I ever wanted was for you to come home. Every year I wrote that on my letters to Santa, and even though I know he isn't really real anymore I still wrote one just in case…and now here you are."

"Here I am." Alexis echoed. "Do you think I could have a hug?…I really do need one."

Steven it seemed little encouragement as a moment later he was buried in his mother's arms, his face pressed into her neck as Alexis crouched down and held him tightly too her. For a moment Blake could only watch his own emotions choking him up as part of him shifted uncomfortable by the overt display of emotion and another part feeling the pull towards them. Yet Blake had resolved to be more open with his feelings especially when it came to his children and if that meant facing his discomfort then he would need to start some time.

"You can join in too if you want?" Alexis's trembling voice surprised him, as did the look of understanding and compassion on her face. "Hugs aren't a limited resource."

Crouching down awkwardly Blake reached out and rubbed his hand across his son's mop of blonde hair, sliding his other arm around Alexis as she burrowed against him, Blake all but gasped out loud as Steven turned from clutching at his mother to wrapping an arm around Blake's neck. And for a long moment the three of them stayed like that and it was perfect.

"Dad?" Steven's muffled voice questioned softly.

"Yes Steven."

"Thanks for bringing Mum home, it really was the best Christmas present ever."

Clutching his son tighter too him Blake swallowed down his own tears as he answered softly. "Oh Steven it was the very least I could do."

"Fallon." Blake called out rapping gently on his daughter's bedroom door.

Part of him was angry at the way his daughter had behaved earlier and yet another part of him could understand her outburst. Fallon had been that little bit older when Alexis left and although Steven had been the child emotionally closer to his mother Fallon had been the one most affected at the time.

It had been over six months after Alexis's departure that Fallon could be convinced to actually spend the whole night in her own bed. Instead she would creep out and get in with her brother, often Blake would find them curled up together after a late night working in the library and it was always Fallon who had a death like grip on Steven, as if afraid he would suddenly up and vanish as well.

Yet on the surface Fallon hadn't shed any tears she had buried her fear and pain away until it mutated into anger and hatred and that had been Blake's fault. He hadn't wanted to talk about Alexis and Fallon had taken her lead from him, burying all mention of her mother.

"Fallon please let me in we need to talk." Blake tried again, relieved when this time the door was opened and a rather red faced Fallon opened it.

"Oh Daddy I'm sorry." Fallon spluttered on seeing her father and Blake was only too relieved to pull her close in a hug.

"It's alright you're still my good girl." Blake soothed her gently relieved that Fallon hadn't decided to hate him after he stood up and sided with Alexis.

"I just got so mad…"

"It's alright Fallon I understand this has all been a terrible shock for you." Blake added and his daughter smiled up at him through her tears.

"You're not angry with me?"

"I wasn't pleased with the way you behaved but I am not angry with you no." Blake reassured her.

"I just lost my temper…I let her get to me and…"

"That outburst wasn't your mother's fault Fallon, you were the one who lost your temper remember? And although I accept your apology you still need to offer one to your mother she was the one you insulted." Blake chided her gently his concern growing when Fallon pulled out of his arms and wiped her eyes before staring up at him stubbornly.

"But if she wasn't here then I wouldn't have had any reason to get mad and we could have kept having fun just the three of us like it should be." Fallon persisted stubbornly. "If you sent her away then I wouldn't lose my temper."

"I am not going to send your mother away." Blake replied calmly watching as his daughter stepped further away and crossed her arms across her chest. "I was the reason she left before Fallon, me, not her. I gave her no choice but to leave, your mother didn't abandon you, I forced her to leave."

"But…"

"I am the one you should be angry at Fallon not your mother." Blake repeated and it pained him to see his daughter's eyes cloud with anger and loathing towards him.

"You may have made her leave but she could have called or wrote or even tried to see us." Fallon stubbornly insisted. "How do you she didn't want to go? That she wasn't happy to leave us behind?"

"How do you know she didn't?" Blake questioned back his dark eyes boring into his daughter's own blue eyes. "Your mother tried Fallon, she even sent you Christmas presents every year but they were sent back to her with you none the wiser."

Shaking her head in disbelief the look of betrayal and disillusionment in Fallon's eyes broke Blake's heart a little more. "No…"

"It's true ask her yourself." Blake added softly. "One day I will ask your forgiveness, yours and Steven's for what I put us all through; all because I couldn't bear having to see your Mother again. Yet I won't deny the truth anymore, the only person Alexis betrayed back then was me, but in trying to punish her for it I ended up punishing all of us and I am so sorry sweetheart." Blake tried to reach out for his daughter but she pushed him away, wild like an alley cat.

"No…No stop lying…its not true, you love us, she left us, she never loved us she only loved herself." Fallon repeated to herself covering her ears so she couldn't hear her father tear down any more of the truths she depended on. "She's making you say this."

"The only one making me do anything is my own conscience Fallon." Blake replied. "In time you will understand and accept what I am telling you now is the truth."

Shaking her head Fallon curled up in her bedside chair clutching at one of the bears that only a few months ago she had declared herself far too old for.

"I understand this has been a terrible shock so if you want to you can stay up here for supper, if you want to come downstairs and eat with the rest of us then you will be very welcome…after you have said sorry to your mother." Blake added his voice breaking slightly but he forced himself to remain firm even as his daughter sobbed into her bear.

Walking back over to the door Blake paused with his hand on the door handle his voice trembling tellingly as he paused to say. "I love you Fallon, so very much, more than anything in the world bar your brother and so does your mother. Please don't think I am saying any of this to hurt you or punish you. I want you to be happy more than anything in the world. I just think you will eventually be happier having your mother in your life, I just wish you could find it in yourself to give her a chance."