Disclaimer: Characters belong to Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent, Gary Tomlin, NBC, et al and are used here strictly for non-profit entertainment purposes.
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Spoilers: Everything through Olivia on the cruise, then it's alternate universe. (See the author's note.)
Summary: It would be the first Christmas he's ever spent with both of his parents. His real ones.

A/N: This is a companion to my AU stories, Stardust and Falling Stars. Also, much thanks to Deschanel Jewels for the spark that ignited this story's existence.

Chapter 1: "Nothing Sadder"

November 8, 2014

Olivia's lips slowly parted when she saw the notification on her iPhone. It was an email, but that wasn't unusual. The sender was Gregory...and that was less than usual. The subject line was two words, urgent in their simplicity. Call me.

Her first thought was that something was wrong. There was an emergency, someone was hurt. But, no, that couldn't be right. He would've just called her outright if there was something seriously wrong. Her brow furrowed as she stared down at her phone, even though the screen had already dimmed and faded to black.

"Nana, what's wrong?"

Her head flew up as she met the inquisitive gaze of her granddaughter, Helena. "N-nothing, dear. Nothing at all."

"Your face is splotchy."

Call me.

She nodded as she stood, clutching the mobile phone. "Is it?" she murmured as she turned away from the teenager. She wandered over to the window and squinted into the distance.

"They're not back yet," she heard the seventeen-year-old say from behind her and she sighed.

"Granddad always enjoys the hunt," she said quietly, her fingers itching against the phone's screen. She turned abruptly and forced a smile to her face. "Why don't you ask Mrs. Welling to send up tea and some of those little cakes from last night?" Olivia knew her granddaughter's sweet tooth. She wouldn't refuse them. As she nodded and turned for the bell, she said, "Why don't we take them in the salon?"

"Why not here?" she asked, glancing around the morning room.

Call me.

She bit back a sigh and reached for Helena's shoulders, turning her towards the door. "We'll be able to see Granddad and the rest of the party from the window as they return." She smile and kissed her cheek. "I'll be there in a moment."

Helena's brown eyes narrowed, but she said nothing else as she slowly nodded and left the room. Olivia stood still, listening as her footsteps faded away. Then, she unlocked her phone and opened up her contacts. She scrolled through the list until she came to Gregory's entry. With a sigh of trepidation, she touched the call icon and held the phone to her ear.

The floor creaked beneath her feet as she walked backed to the windows. The sky was overcast, screaming that winter was almost upon them. Her fingers grazed the glass pane and she flinched at the bone-chilling cold she felt. It had been over fifteen years since she moved back to England and she still couldn't tolerate the cold weather. Colin teased it was because she spent too much time in southern California, but there was probably a drop of truth in that statement.

"Nothing's wrong," he said by way of a greeting.

A small smile came to her face and she nodded. "I know," she said softly.

"You know I would've called you myself if there was."

"I do." She heard the crash of the waves in the background and she suddenly pictured him on his patio. She wondered if he wanted to take the call in private as insistently as she banished her granddaughter from the room. It wasn't as if they were doing anything wrong. Still, the need for privacy was something she couldn't ignore whenever Gregory came to her mind. "But, something did happen?"

There was a long moment of silence before she heard him sigh. "In a way," he murmured. "But, first...have you noticed anything odd about Trey?"

Olivia's lips pressed into a line as she considered his question. The more frequent phone calls. Daily emails. The feeling that he desperately needed something from her. "You have noticed something," she heard him say and she cleared her throat.

"Yes," she replied quietly. "H-he doesn't call me Nana anymore."

He sighed and her eyes fluttered shut as he said, "He calls me Pop now."

Gregory rested his elbows on the top of the chaise. Her voice was crystal through the earpiece as she suggested, "He'll be seventeen in a few months. Maybe he thinks it's childish. Maybe he thinks Nan and Pop sounds more...grownup." He frowned. He remembered being Trey's age and being so desperate for the rest of his life to finally start. But, the sinking feeling in his stomach made him think there was more going on with their grandson than they realized.

"Perhaps," he finally said, rubbing his eyes. He stood tall, the sun-warmed stone beneath his bare feet. "But, he's changed these last few months or so." Since he's gotten back from his annual summer visit to England. He didn't say it, but he knew she knew what he meant.

"The last few weeks of his stay, he was quiet. Too quiet." Gregory wondered if she noticed Trey staring at her with an odd look on his face as he said nothing. If she noticed he was asking more questions about the past. If she was afraid to allow herself to wonder if...maybe, just maybe, he knew.

"Gregory," he heard her begin, "do you think- could he-"

He closed his eyes as her question trailed off into strained silence. She couldn't even speak her thought into existence. "How could he?" he murmured and he heard the way she inhaled. He thought back to her letters in the first year or so after they let Trey go. She had been so worried about saying or doing something that would reveal the truth. It had taken years for her to trust herself. Now, this. "Liv, he doesn't know. He couldn't."

She exhaled deeply and he imagined her nodding in agreement. "You said something happened."

"Last night," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "He came over after dinner. He asked me about you."

Silence.

But, he felt the change in her just as clearly as if she was standing next to him. "Did he?" Her tone sharpened and he winced at the pain in her question. "What about?"

"He asked why no one ever spoke about you being an alcoholic." He saw the way she flinched, the way her spine stiffened. It was the same reaction he himself had when he first heard the question. When he saw the way Trey's eyes swelled with curiosity as he waited for him to respond. When he couldn't ignore the tingling sensation that pulsed through him.

"What did you say?" she asked in a hush.

"The truth," he said quietly. "That it was in the past. You haven't had a drink in years." Her only reply was silence. He sat on the edge of the lounger, the cushion flat beneath him. "Then, he said he was proud of you." He closed his eyes as she gasped and he listened to the sound of her breathing. But, it was true. Trey always held Olivia up on a very high pedestal. Everyone else thought it was the distance between them that made her so special to the boy. He knew otherwise. "But, that's not why I asked you to call me," he whispered.

She murmured something barely intelligible and he opened his eyes. As he did, he saw Alex open the patio door. He smiled at her and held up his hand, pointing at the phone. She nodded and smiled back before she disappeared into the house. "Olivia? Are you still there?"

"I-I'm here," she said hoarsely.

"He's going to call you later today."

"What? Why?"

He gazed down at the ground, watching a blade of grass that defiantly pushed up between the stones. "He's going to ask you to come to Sunset Beach for Christmas. You and Colin."

"How do you know this?" she asked, her voice low.

Gregory sighed. "Because he asked me last night if I thought it would be a good idea."

"Why?" she asked and he heard the perplexity in her voice. "Did he say why?"

He nodded. "He said something about wanting his family here for his last Christmas before he goes off to college."

Her next question was so immediate, so demanding, that he marveled at the speed with which she asked it. "Do you believe him?"

He did. Trey wasn't a liar. Even as a child, he wasn't anything but overwhelmingly truthful. That didn't mean he was oblivious to the other unspoken reasons that caused the teenager to make this request. He just hadn't figured out what they were...yet. "He wouldn't lie."

"God, I know." She sighed. "What did you say?"

He didn't say anything.

She looked up and turned away from the dreary landscape beyond the window. "Gregory? What did you say to him?"

"Nothing," he sighed. "At least not right away." He fell quiet again and she leaned against the back of the sofa, waiting. "The first thing I thought of was the last Christmas you and I spent together." She closed her eyes, remembering. She was pregnant with Trey then. Caitlin had just come back. Sean hated the both of them equally. And, they were living apart. She shivered, remembering the way he pursued her on Christmas Day. Her fingers flew to her throat, remembering the way the heavy locket hung around it. "It's been seventeen years since we shared a Christmas."

She slowly opened her eyes. She knew what he told Trey. She didn't need to hear him say it now. "Did you tell Alex?"

"Not yet. Not until I spoke to you first."

"Will you come?" he asked quietly. He knew she would though. She couldn't say no to Trey. Neither of them could. He's sure she's been accused of spoiling him over the years just as much as he has. But, for all the attention and love they lavished on him, he was a refreshingly humble child. No, he wasn't a child anymore. He was practically a grown man.

Where had the time gone?

"I-I need to speak with Colin," he heard her say. That was to be expected. He still needed to talk to Alex. "This was their year to come here." He nodded. Caitlin and Sean began alternating Christmas between them from the first year she moved back to England. The tradition continued after all these years.

"It," he began, speaking carefully, "would be nice to have you." Silence crackled between them and he could feel her anticipation as she waited for him to continue. "Both of you."

She looked up slowly, her hand resting over her heart. "Not just for Trey, but for Tommy too," he said softly and she smiled. Sean's son was four now. She always believed that Caitlin, Sean, and Trey never truly appreciated Christmas until they were that age. She wanted to see little Thomas experience the holiday season...and she wanted Gregory to as well.

"Yes," she said as she pushed herself up. Why hadn't they thought to do a joint Christmas before now? Sean's wedding was the first big occasion when they were all together. It had gone well back then, hadn't it? Surely by now, enough time had gone by that everyone was at peace with the mixed family. After all, she and Gregory were closer now than they had ever been. "Maybe it's something we should've done years ago," she suggested quietly.

He sighed deeply. "It would've been nice, wouldn't it?"

She brushed her hair back and cleared her throat. "It will be nice this year."

He closed his eyes and smiled. "So, you're coming?"

"Yes." So decisive. "I'll discuss it with Colin tonight – after Trey has called."

He remembered being married to her. He remembered how persuasive she could be when she really wanted something. It was impossible to say no to her. Her husband didn't stand a chance. But, he also suspected that Colin wouldn't want to deny her. He remembered how good it felt to give her everything she asked for. How happy it made him.

"I'll make sure the resort has a suite reserved for you," he said after he cleared his throat.

She looked up, seeing Helena waiting expectantly in the doorway. With a smile, she nodded to her as she heard Gregory say, "When Trey calls, don't tell him I already spoke to you."

"I won't," she said softly, following her granddaughter out of the morning room. "I promise I'll be surprised."

He was quiet for a long moment. "If I hadn't called you, if I hadn't told you what Trey was going to do, would you still have agreed to come?"

She stopped abruptly in the hallway, letting the distance between her and Helena grow. "I think so," she murmured as her throat constricted. "We-we've never spent a Christmas together with all of our children." Her fingers danced anxiously against her neck as she confessed, "At the moment, I can't think of anything sadder than that."

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were avoiding me!"

Gregory stopped mid-lap and turned. Alex stood at the edge of the pool, watching him closely. He sucked air into his starving lungs as he swam to the stairs. "Why would I be avoiding you?" he asked, slicking back his hair before he reached for his towel. His skin immediately dried in the warm morning sunshine.

"Well, I was teasing before. Now, I wonder if you really are avoiding me," she said.

He draped the towel around his neck as he slid into the terrycloth robe. "Of course I'm not," he said, reaching for her. He kissed her for a long moment, feeling the way she pressed against him. "Careful," he murmured against her lips, "I'm wet."

She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "That's ok. I've just come from yoga."

"Wonderful," he sighed, nibbling his way across her jaw. "We're disgustingly even."

She leaned back and forced him to look at her. "How are you feeling this morning?" she asked quietly.

"Fine. Why?" He wrapped his arm around her as they walked back up to the house.

"You didn't sleep well last night. You were tossing and turning."

He glanced at her, her face awash with concern. "Did I keep you up?"

"Gregory! Of course not. That's not why I asked." She turned to him and her hand brushed the patch of chest between the lapels of his robe. "Does it have something to do with Trey?"

He sighed. "It does, in a way."

She nodded and reached for his hand as she led him to the patio table. "I thought as much," she mused as she sat next to him. "Not many teenage boys choose to spend every Friday night with their grandfather instead of going out and doing whatever teenagers today are doing."

He nodded. Trey had all but practically moved into their home. Since returning from England, the teenager spent almost every weekend with them, often glued to his side. Not that he complained. He glanced up to the windows of the second floor spare room. "Is he still asleep?"

"Yes," she smiled as he squeezed her hand. "I could hear him snoring through the door."

"Sean was the same way," he murmured as he leaned back. "He always slept long and hard." The chair creaked as he gazed out at the horizon. They sat quietly for a long moment and he found comfort in the way Alex let him sit and gather his thoughts until he was ready. He doubted that he had ever been that patient himself. He was extremely guilty of never giving as generously as he received. "He wants Olivia to come for Christmas," he finally said. "Olivia and Colin."

He felt her turn, her eyes poring into him. But, he kept his eyes on the ocean as he sighed. "That's who you were on the phone with this morning," she said quietly.

"I didn't want her to be caught off-guard when he called to invite her," he replied as she stood. She leaned against his chair and wrapped her arm around him. He looked up, feeling her fingers combing through his wet hair.

"That was sweet of you," she whispered. He took her hand, watching the way their fingers locked together. "I'm sure she appreciated it." He shrugged, causing her to insist, "You know she did." She knew what they had gone through in their decision not to claim Trey as their son. He couldn't help but relive every painful detail of their reactions when he finally told her the truth. "Is she going to come?" he heard her ask.

"I think so," he said as he nodded. "She said she needed to speak with Colin, but I think she'll come."

"That will make Trey happy."

She sighed and he reached out, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Do you mind?" he asked quietly, hugging her to him.

She shook her head, a serene expression on her face. "I've liked Olivia from the moment you introduced me to her more than forty years ago." A half-smile danced on his lips as he remembered the introduction. The way Alex turned to him, her eyebrow arched approvingly. "Besides," she continued, "she's the mother of your children. There's no way we would have made it if I resented her place or her presence in your life." He nodded, unable to say anything in the face of her selfless wisdom. She looked down, confused at the silence. Her fingers grazed his cheek as she kissed his forehead. "Few people could give up what you and she did," she said softly, watching him closely. "I couldn't."

He closed his eyes as she hugged him. "Thank you," he finally murmured.

"You don't have to thank me," she whispered. "Besides, think how happy Caitlin, Sean, and Trey will be to see you and Olivia for the same holiday. They've been switching between you both for so long."

He cleared his throat and nodded his agreement. Olivia was right. There was nothing sadder than the fact they had never spent a Christmas with their three children.

Olivia tightened the belt of her robe and turned. Colin was already in bed, engrossed in a thick book. The fire in the hearth cracked and popped as she walked to the bed. But, instead of walking around to her side, she went to his. With the memory of the way Trey's voice sounded when he asked her to Christmas, she touched her husband's leg. He looked up and smiled, closing his book soundly. "Today was a success, my darling," he said, pulling off his reading glasses.

She nodded and reached out, cupping his cheek. "I'm glad you had a good day," she murmured, leaning up to kiss his lips. She rested her palms on his chest as she looked up at him. He was seventy, but didn't look it. With his lightly silver streaked hair and healthy complexion, he was the epitome of a country peer. They still kept the London house, but it was the sprawling estate in Suffolk that was slowly becoming their full-time residence. She didn't mind. Lavenham Hall's peace and quiet appealed to her now in a way that it never had before.

"The hunt was a brilliant idea. You were right to suggest it."

She curled up next to him, settling in the nook of his shoulder. "It's been awhile since we hosted one," she said as their fingers threaded together. "I had almost forgotten how much work went into arranging everything."

"You were perfection," he said softly and she felt his lips on her head. She smiled and squeezed his hand, feeling the vibrations in his chest as he continued, "You'll have to join me on the next one."

"Oh, no," she said, sitting up. "I haven't stood behind a gun since we were married."

"But, you were so fetching in breeches," he said softly.

She laughed aloud and tilted her head as he smirked. "As I recall, you were more preoccupied with getting me out of them." He shrugged unashamedly, watching quietly as she slipped off her robe and crawled back into the bed next to him. As she settled against the pillows, she turned to him and smiled. "Darling, how set are you on having Christmas here?"

He frowned. "I thought you wanted to have Christmas here instead of London?"

She nodded slowly. "Well...I did."

"You did?"

"Yes." She watched him carefully as she asked, "How would you feel if you and I went to California for Christmas this year?" He was quiet for a long moment and she could see the unasked question dancing in his eyes. "Trey's invited us."

"Trey?"

She nodded and pressed closer to him. "He called earlier. He wants us to be there for his last Christmas at home before he leaves for university."

"I see," he said slowly and she was relieved to see the smile on his face. Her own smile wavered when she heard him say, "I imagine you've already spoken to Gregory about it."

With a sigh, she nodded and reached for his face. "Yes, we spoke. He wanted to tell me about what Trey wanted to ask so I wasn't blindsided." He nodded, but said nothing else. They've never spoken about her correspondence with Gregory. She wondered now if maybe that was a mistake. "Colin," she began, her voice low and serious, "I-"

He reached out, his hand gentle on her chin. "It would make you very happy if we went, wouldn't it?" She nodded and she felt a lump come to her throat when he said quietly, "Then, we shall."

"Oh, darling, do you mean that?" He nodded and she threw her arms around him. "Thank you, darling! Thank you!" She looked up and kissed him, feeling nothing but love and appreciation for the man who never denied her, even at the expense of his own pride. She pulled back, whispering against his lips, "If you hadn't wanted to go, then I would've said no."

He cupped her face and she felt an enormous rush in her chest when he replied, "Olivia, I wouldn't have kept you from your children at Christmas." She nodded slowly, tears burning at her eyes as he added, "Any of them."