Chapter Nine

Bo drove like a maniac so they could get Melanie to the hospital. When they arrived, Lawrence carried Melanie inside the Emergency Room with Carly close behind. "Someone please help!" Carly called out. "My daughter has been given some sort of drug... and she's paralyzed."

A nurse took them into a trauma room. Billie and Bo lingered in the hallway. "I suppose we better go talk to Child services... about that kid," Bo said to Billie.

"I still feel awful about us locking the poor little thing in the closet..."

"Billie, he was a DEMON!"

"Well, you can't really blame the kid. He was raised by that horrible Vivian and that asshat Stefano DiMera. What if... what if we adopted him?"

"WHAT?" Bo gasped. "You want to adopt the spawn of Satan?!"

"Bo, now that we're back together, I want to have a family."

"But Billie! He was attacking your mother!"

"We have to give the little kid a chance. He just needs love. I have a lot of love to give and I know you do, too," Billie stated.

XooooXoooo

John, Marlena, Kate, and Carrie arrived at the police station. They told the strange story of what had happened at DiMera and Vivian's horrific party. "My son Austin is dead!" Kate sobbed. "You have to go over there and arrest Stefano and lock him up forever!"

"While you're at it, you'll probably have to call a doctor to surgically remove a dildo from his big, fat ass," John said without an ounce of remorse.

"Let me get this straight," said Abe as he was taking notes about what had occurred at the diabolical party. "Vivian and Stefano sent out invitations to a masquerade ball..."

"Yes and I drank the wine and it made me incredibly horny," John replied. "I took Marlena upstairs into an empty bedroom and we fucked like dogs."

"Austin's wine caused him to fall to the floor and die," Carrie said with a sob.

"I guess I better send some officers over to the mansion at once," Abe said.

"Yes, make sure that the guards, Ivan Marais and Stefano are all arrested," Marlena urged. "He tried to tie me up to a BDSM device and then he tried to penetrate me with his..."

Abe was writing it all down as fast as he could. "Is there anything else I should know?"

"Yes, we locked an evil child in the closet. He tried to kill me!" Kate cried out.

"An evil child..." Abe said as he jotted that down as well.

"Ohhh and you can find Bo, Billie, Lawrence and Carly at the hospital," John added. "Unfortunately, Daniel was killed... and whatever was in Melanie's wine caused some strange sort of paralysis."

"Thanks for all the information. I will send some police officers over to apprehend Stefano, Ivan and all the guards."

"What about the kid?" Kate said as she looked at Marlena. "Do you think you could provide some psychiatric help for the horrible, little devil?"

"I could try," Marlena replied.

"I will send someone from child services to the residence as well," Abe stated.

XooooXoooo

At the hospital, a toxicology test was done on Melanie's blood sample. Thankfully, an antidote was found that could reverse Melanie's paralysis. Once Melanie was feeling better and had regained her motility, she was reunited with her mother. "Mom, what happened?" Melanie asked as Carly stroked her daughter's hair.

"That party we attended was a horrible nightmare, baby. You almost died, but thank God you're going to be alright," Carly said.

"What about dad?" Melanie asked as Lawrence peeked into the room, seeing the tender scene between Carly and Melanie.

"I am sorry, but he didn't make it."

"What? You mean...?" Melanie gasped as she started to cry.

"I am afraid he's gone," Carly said sadly. "He died saving your life. He loved you sooo much."

"It isn't fair, Mom," Melanie said as she cried on Carly's shoulder.

.XooooXoooo

Police officers arrived at the mansion where the party had been held. Ivan Marais gave himself up without a fight. He just didn't care anymore now that his Madame was dead. "Please properly dispose of Madame's body. I can't bear to think of her- all dead like that... She can't yell at me anymore or command that I put new batteries into her king-sized vibrator," Ivan said pathetically.

As for Stefano, he begged and pleaded for help. He was suffering from severe, tormenting rectal pain. He had to be carried out face-down on a stretcher. "Someone please pull it out!" he whined.

The EMTs couldn't help but laugh at him. He was such a loser.

The child in the closet was found. He bit the social workers, spit in their faces, and called them every cuss word known to man. He eventually had to be put in a straight jacket and ended up in a padded cell in the psych ward. Marlena Evans was called in to give him a mental health evaluation.

"I am afraid the child is incredibly spoiled. He's in need of a good old-fashioned ass whipping," she told Bo and Billie as they inquired about the child.

"Bo and I would like to adopt him, since his evil mom is dead and his weirdo dad is going to end up in prison," Billie said to Marlena's shock and surprise.

"Is that true, Bo? You want to adopt little Stefan O.?" Marlena asked as Bo didn't look too keen on the idea.

Bo shrugged. "My other kids grew up, so why not. What's another kid? Billie wants him so I think we can handle the cute little demonic cherub."

"Alright, I will talk with the social workers and we can get the adoption process started," Marlena replied.

.XooooXoooo

After talking to the social workers about little Stefano O.'s fate, Marlena needed permission from Lawrence who was the only living relative of the little boy so that Bo and Billie could adopt the child. Lawrence quickly signed the paperwork. "I wish them luck trying to raise any kid spawned from my aunt's loins," Lawrence said.

"Thanks, Lawrence. You're going to make Billie and Bo very happy," Marlena said.

Lawrence silently thought, *Good! If Brady's happy with Billie, then he'll stay far, FAR away from Carly."

Carly approached Lawrence who was standing in the hallway near Melanie's hospital room. Marlena had just left with her paperwork. "How's Melanie?" Lawrence asked Carly with concern.

"She's devastated by Daniel's death. She loved him so much... and he risked everything to save her. He was a hero, Lawrence... and so were you. Because of what you said to Vivian, you got the upperhand, and you saved Melanie's life. I don't know how I'll ever thank you..."

"No thanks are necessary. I am just glad that Melanie is safe... and she's going to recover. I think it's time for a family reunion. We should call Nicholas. He needs to know his father is alive."

"Wait. Lawrence, you still haven't answered my question yet. What you said to Vivian..."

"Does it really matter?" he asked. "She loved Daniel. She never knew me."

"Yes, but she could get to know you now," she said as she took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. She looked into his greenish hazel eyes, searching them for answers. "Please Lawrence. Is it true? Is Melanie our daughter?"

Lawrence took a deep breath and then he said, "After I escaped Vivian, I did some detective work of my own. I discovered that Melanie was not conceived from your one night with Daniel. She's ours. She's MY daughter."

"Ohhh Lawrence," she said as tears filled up her eyes. "Are you sure?"

"I would never lie to you again," he said as he pulled her into his embrace. "I love you, Katerina."

"I never stopped loving you," she said as she clung to him.

.XooooXoooo

A few days after the funerals of Daniel and Austin, Bo and Billie were called by a social worker. "Your new son is ready for you," said the woman. "You can come pick him up at any time."

"Wonderful!" Billie said with excitement. She ended the call and told Bo the good news.

"We can bring our new son home today!" Billie said eagerly.

"It's a good thing I got all that padding super-glued to the walls," Bo joked.

"Bo, all that little boy needs is love and affection and we're going to give it to him. We'll be the BEST parents ever."

"Okay, Lady, if you say so," Bo said as he and Billie hurried out the door.

.XooooXoooo

Nicholas Alamain arrived in Salem to be reunited with his dad whom he had thought had been killed by his own mother. Lawrence and Carly were bonding with their son and for the first time ever, Nicholas got to meet Melanie. "Nice to meet you," he said as he pulled his sibling close in an affectionate hug. "I am your big brother, so I hear."

"I've always wanted a big brother," Melanie said as she kissed Nicholas on the cheek. "What should I call you, Nicholas or Nicky?"

"To tell you the truth, I still go by both," he said with a laugh.

Lawrence and Carly watched their two children with pride. It was great to become the family they had always dreamed of being. As much as they loved Nicholas, Lawrence and Carly had always longed for a daughter to complete their family.

Carly still hadn't told Melanie yet that Lawrence was her biological father. It was all going to take time. They had the rest of their lives to figure it out.

"I am so glad you came to that party," Carly said as she gave Lawrence a little wink. "Uninvited.'

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world," he said as he held her close.

.XooooXoooo

Bo and Billie arrived back at the boat with their new little demonic son. "I hate you and I want you to die!" the child said venomously to his new parents.

"We love you, too," Billie said as she hugged Stefan O. and kissed his little cheek.

"I am afraid this kid is gonna kill us in our sleep," Bo whispered to Billie as the child was running around the boat, searching for some sort of weapon.

"I think he's adorable!" Billie said as she was thrilled with their decision to adopt. "I was thinking... maybe we could get a little girl next. What do you think?"

"One adopted kid is enough," he said to Billie's disappointment, but when he saw her sad expression, he added. "We could always try for one... you know, in the bedroom."

"Ohhh yeah, I'd love to try ... and try some more," she said as she gave him a sexy look.

"Never a dull moment with you, Billie Holiday Reed... that's for sure," Bo said with a smile.

THE END