A/N: I am sorry this is so late; it was plotted out but never typed up. I will try my hardest not to let it go this long again. I hope everyone is still enjoying this little project! :)
Friday, October 8, 2010
The sun is shining high over Snyder Pond and Luke is sitting alone on the bank staring out over the water. He doesn't see Faith coming up behind him until she flops down beside him and bumps his shoulder. He jumps and then laughs while bumping her shoulder back. Faith asks him what he's doing out here and Luke points out towards the water. He starts rambling on about how he saw the last swan of the season and asks if she knew that they mate for life. Luke says that he saw it by itself which means that its mate either died or was killed and how it's not fair that the other swan was left behind all alone. He starts getting more and more upset, and doesn't realize he has started to use the word "partners", obviously now talking about humans. He suddenly stops, surprising Faith, and abruptly asks if she knows whether ducks mate for life too. Faith stares at him with wide eyes and a worried frown but then leans forwards to sniff his breath now that he has finally paused in his tirade. She looks around to the other side of him and sees a dark brown beer bottle lying on its side in the grass next to him. She pulls back, looking frightened and almost in tears she asks him how much beer he has had to drink.
At the Lakeview bar, Rosanna is sitting on a stool sipping a martini and skimming through her BlackBerry. When the bartender asks if she would like another drink she says no and glances at the clock, obviously waiting for someone. The bartender comments on how that person is a lucky guy and Rosanna laughs before correcting him. She tells him that she is waiting on her sister because they promised to have lunch together at least once a week since she got back in town. They are interrupted by a loud frustrated yell at the end of the bar and look down to see a college aged boy in a business suit slam his hand down on the bar. The bartender tells him to take it easy and the young man apologizes. Rosanna asks what's wrong and after a slight hesitation he explains that he is a new intern and his boss asked him to find a solution to a dilemma at work. The man goes on to say that he knows that it's a test as to whether he has the potential to stay at the company but he just can't figure out a good way out of the problem. Rosanna offers her help and the young guy seems skeptical. Rosanna asks him what could it hurt and when the young man agrees she waves him over to go over the problem step by step.
The living room at Fairwinds looks like a toy store exploded and when Emily walks in she nearly trips over a teddy bear lying in front of the door. She bends down to pick it up and examines it before shaking her head with a smile. That smile grows when she hears a baby shriek with laughter and Eliza comes running in with Paul right behind her growling like a bear. Eliza runs up to Emily and tried to hide behind her legs but Paul goes around and sweeps his daughter up into the air making her laugh harder. Emily laughs too and then points out that they were trying to get Eliza to wind down after their visit to the park that morning, not to get her all excited. She mentions having to write an article for work but Paul disagrees, saying that it's not going to happen. He puts Eliza down and she toddles off to play with a group of blocks in the corner and Paul wraps his arms around Emily's waist. Shuffling backwards he practically drags her to the couch where he falls and pulls her down onto his lap. Paul says that he is trying to wear Eliza out so that she can take a nap and that they can do other things. Emily teases him by asking what those things might be and Paul responds by kissing her. They are just getting into their make out session when Eliza starts fussing causing them to break away.
Back at Snyder Pond Faith is freaking out because of the smell of alcohol on Luke's breath. She is almost crying when she asks him how he can even think about drinking again when he knows how messed up it has made him in the past. Luke finally gets through to her and calms her down, telling her that he only had a half of a beer before he felt sick to his stomach. She asks him to pinky swear to her because he never lied to her when doing their special promise. He does and she finally believes him. Trying to lighten the mood, she jokingly says that while she's glad he didn't drink it looks like he can't handle his alcohol anymore since it only took a half a beer to make him sick. Luke quietly corrects her and tells her that it was shame that made him feel nauseous not the beer. When he was about to take another sip, he thought of how disappointed Noah would have been in him and then he felt guilty for thinking of Noah when he was still grieving for Reid.
At the Lakeview the young man is staring at Rosanna in awe. He tells her that her solution is brilliant and he didn't know why he didn't think of it before. Rosanna laughs and says that it was because he was nervous about failing and that the solution was something she had done several times when she ran her own business. The young man, whose name is Kyle, asks her if she still owns it and says he would love to work with someone like her who actually helps him learn about things instead of the jerk boss he has now who just wants him to get his coffee. Rosanna thanks him but says that she lost her company and then corrects herself by saying several companies because she placed her trust in the wrong man. Kyle replies by calling that man a dumbass and Rosanna laughs. She says that he has his moments but for the most part, she agrees that he can be a dumbass. Kyle becomes serious and tells her it really is a shame that she doesn't run her own business anymore because it's obviously something that she is good at and loves to do. Rosanna smiles but then frowns, glancing down at her drink with a thoughtful look on her face.
Eliza is still fussing badly and Emily says that's her cue for being ready to take a nap. She offers to put her down but Paul says he'll do it because she spoils Eliza by spending an hour in the rocking chair just holding her instead of letting her fall asleep in the crib. Emily playfully sticks her tongue out at him but doesn't deny it. Picking up Eliza, Paul stops by the couch so Emily can give her a kiss and when they leave, Emily starts to pick up some of the baby toys strewn about the room. A maid knocks on the large wooden door and Emily asks her if something is wrong. The maid says no but hands her a large manila envelope that just got hand delivered with a stamp that says urgent. Dismissing the maid with a thank you, Emily takes the envelope and looks at the return address. She gasps and drops the toys that she was holding in her other hand, ignoring the crash they make when they hit the floor.
Faith is silent a moment and then softly tells Luke again how sorry she is that Reid died. She tells him that even though he treated her like a little kid most of the time, he made her laugh and more importantly she saw that he made her big brother happy. Luke thanks her, wiping away a lone tear but then quickly says he doesn't want to talk about it anymore. He quickly changes the subject and asks her if she and Parker are a couple now that Liberty is out of the picture. Faith blushes and looks out over the water. She admits that even though it's complicated they are definitely getting closer. Luke tells her that she is she's lucky to have found someone and that he hopes she doesn't mess things up like him. Faith gets mad and yells at him to shut up. She tells him that she is over listening to him have a pity party for himself while Luke just stares at her in shock.
Rosanna turns down another drink from Kyle and says that her sister will be there any moment. He says that he has to go anyway but thanks her for coming to his rescue. He pays for her tab and leaves just as Carly walks into the bar. She watches Kyle go and then turns to hug her sister hello. She points to the doorway and jokingly asks if Rosanna has turned into a cougar when Carly wasn't paying attention. Rosanna tells her no but if all the young businessmen out there looked like Kyle, she would consider it. Carly gives her a glance and they both laugh before Rosanna asks her if she would mind getting the table. Carly says it isn't a problem but teasingly asks if she is being ditched because she is twenty minutes late. Rosanna says that she'll be right there but that she has a quick phone call to make before lunch. Carly shrugs and says that she'll meet Rosanna in the dining room and when she leaves Rosanna looks at her cell phone before dialing a number. When the other person picks up Rosanna hurriedly tells them not to hang up and that she has a lunch date proposition for them.
Paul comes back into the living room and says that Eliza went right to sleep without him having to sit in the rocking chair at all. He notices that Emily isn't paying attention to him and that she is sitting on the couch staring at the manila envelope. Paul sits down next to her and asks her what's wrong. Emily hands him the envelope and tells him that it's from an adoption agency near Chicago that she had looked into about a year before the whole Mick Dante disaster happened. She excitedly pulls out the papers and a small photograph and tells him that they have a baby boy who is going to be up for adoption and that they were first on the list of prospective parents. She starts talking about if they should have a new nursery and whether or not they should ask about meeting the birth parents but in mid-rant notices Paul is completely silent. Emily takes Paul's hand and asks what's wrong. She says it is almost like he doesn't want the baby. Paul looks at her and frowns before saying that she's right; he doesn't. Emily pulls away from him looking appalled.
At the pond, Luke stares at Faith and then demands that she explain why she would say something like that. Faith apologizes if it came out harsh but tells him to face the facts. She says that with their parent's screwed up relationship as their role model, the chance of them finding a one true love was slim to none. She points out that he was lucky to have found two great guys who loved him and that he loved back. Faith asks him if he regrets having known either Reid or Noah and Luke doesn't hesitate to say no. He tells her that Noah was his first love, the guy who helped him realize that he was proud of being gay. He says that when they broke up he thought he wouldn't ever get over it but then he met Reid. He says that Reid showed him that you have to take life as it comes and that sometimes dreams rise out of ashes. Luke quietly says that he grew up a lot in the past year and that it was Reid who helped him get there. Luke looks at Faith and tells her that some of the happiest times in his life had been with Noah or Reid and that no matter what happened he could never regret them.
Carly is sitting at a table in the dining room when Rosanna finally joins her. She tells her sister that she invited an additional lunch guest but won't say who it is. Carly tries to guess who it is but Rosanna easily deflects by telling her that she'll just have to wait and see and then she asks how the plans to bring J.J. home are going. Carly is suspicious but lets Rosanna have her way. She tells her that even though J.J. wanted to come home right away they were able to get everything squared away so that he can come back on Saturday. Rosanna exclaims that means he's only three days away from coming home and Carly can't contain her excitement when she tells her sister that she has the date circled in bright green on every calendar in the house. Rosanna says that she must be thrilled at having her whole family under one roof again and Carly admits that she is beyond happy. Rosanna says that's good because that means her new little niece or nephew is happy too. Carly laughs and says that she caught her invitation to lunch in a moment she wasn't hugging the toilet. Rosanna looks worried and asks if everything is okay.
Emily asks why Paul doesn't want this perfectly beautiful baby to come into their lives and Paul admits that he likes the way things are at the moment. He starts going over a long detailed list of what has gone on in the past year alone before Emily finally tells him to stop. She asks him what his point is and he says that while he would love more children with her one day, their lives just got settled into something resembling normal. Eliza is happy and well adjusted, their marriage has never been better, and he hasn't had a fight with his mom in weeks. Okay, he admits, we've fought but not a real knock down drag out fight where people are taking bets on who'll come out looking like the piece of meat Rocky boxed with. Emily cracks a smile at this and sighs, before she admits that he might be right. She was just so excited to think that they would have the baby they had talked about that she didn't realize it might rock the boat more than they could handle right now. Paul promises her that there will be other babies but encourages her to let this baby go to a family that can give him everything he deserves right now. The steward comes to the door and knocks loudly. He apologizes for interrupting but says that Barbara is on the phone for him and won't accept the answer that he is busy at the moment. Paul excuses himself to go deal with his mother but kisses Emily before he leaves. He asks her if she is okay and she swears that she is fine with the decision. But when Paul leaves, Emily picks up the picture of the newborn baby and traces it lovingly, the disappointment plain to see on her face. After a moment she sits up straight and puts the picture down on the couch next to her. She glances at the adoption papers and then at the door before pulling out her cell phone and starting to dial the number listed on the top of the papers.
Faith tells him that if that is true then he should stop moping around and do something that would make both men proud of him. Luke interjects by saying the word is grieving but that she has a point. He wonders what he could do and Faith continues to point out that the one thing that all three guys had in common was their experience of being targeted because they were gay. She says that it is something that is happening a lot right now, to kids her own age who don't know how to deal with it, and that it scares her to know that her brother went through the same thing. Luke says that it was a scary time for him and that, truth be told, some days are still just that scary but he couldn't deny what he was and how he wanted to love. Faith tells him that he has a way with words and that maybe he could write something that would give other kids like him hope. Luke stares out at the pond and then looks at her, before nudging her shoulder again. He asks how she got so smart and she says that she has no idea but it definitely wasn't from their parents. Luke laughs and then finally seems to realize that it's the middle of the day and asks her why she isn't in school. Faith shrugs and says that her trigonometry class was boring and left. She was actually coming to find him to see if he would give her a ride to the mall. Luke tells her that he'll give her a ride back to class and puts her in a headlock, while she laughingly complains and tries to get away.
Carly reassures Rosanna that everything is fine with the baby and tells her that she even has her next doctor's appointment next week to double check. Rosanna says that if Jack can't get off work to go that she knows that she can always call her. Carly thanks her but says that Jack told her that he intends to make that appointment even if he has to arrest the doctor and do it in an interview room at the precinct. Before Rosanna can say anything back Henry shows up by their table and practically demands Rosanna tell him why she invited him to lunch before he sits down. Carly looks at her curiously and also demands to know what's going on. Rosanna raises her martini glass with a mischievous smile and announces that she has decided to restart Monte Carlo and they, along with Henry's new wife Barbara, are going to help her do it.
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COMING NEXT WEEK:
Margo responds to a 911 call from Craig's house
Parker is caught between a rock and a hard place
Chris and Bob don't see eye to eye about his future
Janet wants to make a change in her life