One Love to Give Episode 10:
AN: This episode is written by Angelsinstead; Sharon; and Melissa (T&MFan)
Brody leaned over and kissed Natalie. She looked so beautiful and he wanted to feel the touch of her skin against his. When she didn't wake up to his kisses he began to nibble on the sensitive spot on her neck.
"Good morning Brody," Natalie stated as she kissed his lips.
"It is a good morning because I'm waking up next to you," he said as he nuzzled her neck and kissed her cheek. "Do you know how bad I want you?"
"No, I think you're going to have to show me," Natalie stated.
"Your wish is my command," Brody said as he grazed her stomach.
They spent the next several hours making love and delighting in the afterglow until they could hear Liam's faint cries coming from the next room.
"I better go grab him," Natalie said as she slipped on a robe and headed into the nursery.
Natalie brought Liam downstairs where Brody had begun making pancakes. They were just about to start eating when there was a knock on their door.
"Vimal? What are you doing here so early?" Natalie asked as she opened the front door.
"I had to come here. There's something that I need to tell you. It's the only way that I can restore the Karmic balance and make things right with Buddha."
"Vimal, what do you need to tell me?" Natalie asked.
"I knew that your little Liam was not really Brody's son. I found out a couple of months ago and I never told you because I needed the money from Victor…that's no excuse. I should have told you. You also need to know that Brody found out the truth about Liam months ago as well."
"That can't be. He would have told me," Natalie stated.
"I'm sorry, but I had to clear my conscience. I'm very sorry that I kept your son's paternity from you," Vimal stuttered nervously.
"What is going on here?" Brody asked as he walked into the living room carrying Liam.
"Thank you for your honesty Vimal, but would you mind leaving?" Natalie asked.
"No, I'll be on my way. Once again, I am very sorry," Vimal stated as he left.
"Did you know?"
"Know what?" Brody asked.
"Vimal told me that you knew that Liam wasn't yours. Is that true?"
Brody set Liam down on the floor so that he could play. He thought about lying to her, but he couldn't. He was tired of all the lies and all the cover up he had to do these past few months. He needed to tell Natalie the truth. He walked over to Natalie. "I love you; I never meant to hurt you." Brody stated.
"It's true? You lied to me for months about my son. Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell John?"
"You and Liam were my entire family and when I heard the tape of Marty's confession I was terrified that I would lose you and Liam to John. I've lost so many people that I've cared about. I couldn't lose you and Liam…I wouldn't have anything left."
"If Marty hadn't of interrupted our wedding, would you have ever told me?"
"I tried to tell you so many times, but I couldn't. I couldn't take the chance of losing you."
"You should have trusted in my love for you."
"How could I, when we both know that you still love John," Brody stated.
"You're the one who messed up and lied to my face for months. Don't make this about John or me…John and I have been over for months…and yeah I still love John, but I love you more…or at least I did until I knew what a coward and liar you were."
"Natalie, just give me a chance to explain."
"Get out. I can't have this conversation right now. You make me sick and I can't stand to look at you any longer," Natalie said as she grabbed Liam and headed up the stairs. She locked herself in their bedroom and cried as she clutched Liam to her chest. How could Brody betray her? How could he betray Liam like that?
Brody grabbed his coat and headed out into the cold. He knew that he had lost Liam and Natalie…he had lost everything that had given his life reason.
Starr sat in the prison waiting room waiting to see Cole. The guards finally brought him out, he had another black eye and Starr couldn't help but worry about him.
"Did you get in another fight?" Starr asked as soon as he sat down across from her.
"I don't want to talk about that. I'd rather talk about you and Hope."
"Hope's doing great. Cole, there's something that I need to tell you about your mom."
"My mom? What about her?" Cole asked.
"I was at Brody and Natalie's wedding and your mom…she interrupted their wedding."
"Why…why would she do that?"
"She told Natalie that she changed Liam's paternity test. John arrested her once Jessica confirmed that she was telling the truth."
"John arrested her, after everything that he's put her through," Cole said as he clenched his fists together. "John and Natalie are responsible for my mom's breakdown in the first place."
"Cole, we don't know that."
"How did my mom look? Was she acting crazy?"
"Your mom looked great, she actually looked better then she has in months and don't worry she made it out of the explosion just fine."
"Explosion? What explosion?"
"My grandma Irene set off a bomb in the church and shot Jessica, but your mom's fine. Cole, I know that you were close to Nora. I heard that she was injured in the explosion."
"Was it bad?"
"All I know is that she's in Intensive Care at Llanview Hospital."
"Oh god…I'll have to call Bo and see how she's doing," Cole stated.
"How's Jessica?"
"My aunt Vicky said that she should make a full recovery."
"How are you doing? You weren't hurt at all…were you?"
"No, but I was so scared Cole. The building collapsed and I thought that I was going to die."
"I wish that I could have been there for you," Cole said as he placed his hand on the glass partition that separated them. "You shouldn't have had to go through that alone."
Starr placed her hand on the glass against Cole's. It was as close as they could get to human contact and she really needed him right now. "I wasn't alone… I brought James to the wedding….he died and he blamed me. If I wouldn't have gone to the wedding, he would still be alive."
"You can't blame yourself Starr. You didn't do anything wrong. I'm sorry that James is dead, but I don't want you to blame yourself."
"Thanks Cole. Why does talking to you always make me feel better?"
"I don't know, but I'm glad that I could help," Cole stated. "Give our daughter a kiss from me," he said as he stood up and went back to his cell.
Todd stood in the courtroom facing the judge as he entered a plea of guilty in exchange for community service. Moments later, Marty was brought forward for her own arraignment. A look passed between Marty and Todd as she was lead up to the front of courtroom by a guard to stand next to Tea. Todd took a seat in the row of seats directly behind Marty and Tea, ready to intervene if necessary on Marty's behalf. As the court proceeded with Marty's arraignment, the assistant D.A. insisted that Marty be held without bail, considering the violent nature of her crimes.
"I disagree, your honor," Tea spoke up. "Dr. Saybrooke is an upstanding citizen with very brief, minor run-ins with the law."
"Dr. Saybrooke stabbed Kelly Cramer and threw Natalie Buchanan off of a roof. She's a danger to society and should be held in custody until such time she goes to trial," the assistant D.A. argued.
"Your honor, those allegations have not been proven in a court of law. They cannot be used to unlawfully detain my client without cause. I ask that you release Dr. Saybrooke on bail until her trial," Tea spoke to the judge.
"I'm afraid I must agree with you, Ms. DelGado," agreed the judge. "But considering the nature of the crimes your client is accused of committing, the bail must be set very high. I propose that Dr. Saybrooke's bail be set at one million dollars," spoke the judge. The entire courtroom gasped when they heard the price the judge was setting the bail. Most citizens would not be able to come up with such an outrageous amount.
Fortunately for Marty, Todd stood, announcing he would post the bail. He'd do anything to help Marty, and money meant nothing to him when compared to her freedom. The judge slapped his gavel against the bench and announced, "Court dismissed."
After thanking Tea and leaving the courtroom, Todd drove Marty to her place at the Palace Hotel. Both were rather quiet, just thankful to be free from their incarceration at the Llanview jail. Marty was incredibly grateful that Todd had posted her bail, but couldn't find the words at that moment to express her gratitude.
After they arrived at her suite at the hotel, Marty hesitantly asked him to stay for lunch. A small smile came to his face at her offer as she invited him inside.
Marty walked over to the kitchenette and began preparing sandwiches for both herself and Todd. She brought the sandwiches over to the table along with a chilled glasses of iced tea. "Thanks," Todd said with a grin as he began to devour his delicious sandwich. "This so beats that nasty crap they served us in jail."
Marty nodded in agreement as she took a bite of her own sandwich. She watched Todd eat, fascinated. He still ate like a savage. Some things never changed.
"I want to thank you, Todd..." Marty finally spoke. "... For helping me. If it weren't for you and Tea, I'd still be locked up in that cell."
"It's the least I could do for you, after all I have put you through in the past," Todd said to her sincerely. "I said I am going to take care of you, Marty, and clear your name; I promise. You aren't going to spend a single day in prison, not if I have anything to say about it."
Marty looked at him with tears in her eyes, because she knew he meant it. He was going to protect her. She wanted to throw her arms around him in a hug, but she hesitated. Their eyes locked together as the urge to embrace him was a fierce ache deep inside her soul. Before she could act on her feelings, the phone rang. Marty nearly jumped out of her seat.
"Aren't you going to get that?" Todd questioned.
Marty broke out of her trance to answer the phone. "Hello?" she said as she raised it to her ear.
"Marty Saybrooke?" a voice asked on the other end of the line. It was a man's voice and one she did not recognize.
"Yes, who is this?" Marty asked suspiciously. There was something odd about this call. Marty was overcome with a strange, haunting feeling of foreboding.
"I'm calling about Victor Lord Junior. He's still alive," claimed the mysterious person who spoke to her on the phone.
"What?" Marty said in a gasp, but suddenly then, the line had gone dead.
Marty nearly dropped the phone. "Who was that?" Todd demanded, seeing that Marty's face had gone completely white.
"It- it was no one... a wrong number," Marty quickly lied.
As Matthew and Destiny sat together on his hospital bed bonding over baby Jacob, a sad look crept over Matthew's face. When Destiny saw the sadness lurking in his eyes, she was concerned. "What is it, Matthew?" she asked him softly as she tenderly brushed the dark hair away from his brow.
"I feel like I've been apart from you a really long time, Destiny," Matthew explained softly.
"I missed all of your pregnancy with Jacob... and I missed his birth, too," he stated as he held their adorable baby boy in his arms.
"No, you didn't..." she reassured him as she gazed into his eyes." I was here with you a great deal while you were in the coma. I came here to share every important moment with you throughout my pregnancy, even though you were unconscious. I didn't want you to miss anything, so I started keeping a scrapbook. It gave me something worthwhile to do while I was here at your bedside. I just knew you'd wake up... and then I could share everything about my pregnancy with you. It was something I really wanted us to share together."
She got up carefully and went to retrieve the scrapbook from a drawer where she had placed it inside Matthew's bedside table. "Here it is," she said as she opened the book to show him the very first page. "Here's a picture of my first ultrasound," Destiny said with a smile as she pointed out the little form on the picture. "There's Jacob Drew, showing off for the camera."
A smile came to Matthew's face. "Thanks, Des," he said sincerely. "You thought of everything."
"I am so lucky to have you and this little guy," Matthew said as he placed a loving kiss on his son's tiny head.
"I'm glad you are back. You'll never know how much I missed you," Destiny told him.
"Matthew, there's something I need to tell you," Destiny said gently.
"What is it?" Matthew asked, seeing the serious expression on her face.
"It's about your mom..." Destiny spoke as she once again caressed his dark hair.
"Ohhh no," Matthew said quietly as he had sensed from the very beginning when he had awakened from his coma that something wasn't right with his mom. Since his parents weren't there at his side, Matthew had feared the worst. When he had asked Rachel about their mother, she really hadn't told him much. He didn't like the thought that everyone was just trying to protect him when he really needed to hear the truth. He needed to know why his mother couldn't be there at his side right now.
"Tell it to me straight, Des," Matthew encouraged.
"Natalie and Brody were getting married, and there was some sort of an explosion in the church. Irene Manning had a bomb, but that's beside the point. Mrs. B was hurt in the explosion," Destiny went on to explain. "She's in the hospital. She had surgery, but she's gonna be okay. She was hurt very badly, Matthew, and at first we didn't know if she was gonna make it. And she's - she's pregnant."
"What?" Matthew said with surprise. "My mom's pregnant?"
"Yes," Destiny responded with a little smile. "It's a miracle. You're going to be a big brother."
"Wow, I really can't believe this..." spoke Matthew as Destiny took his hand into hers.
"Let's say a little prayer for your mom... and for your little sibling," Destiny suggested. "I prayed for you to wake up with all my heart... and look at you now. I just know that God will hear our prayer and your mom will get better."
"Okay, Des. Let's pray together for my mom," Matthew agreed.
Holding hands and bowing their heads, Destiny began to pray. "Dear Heavenly Father, please look out for Mrs. B. Keep her and the baby safe. Protect her and comfort her. Stay by her side and let her feel your healing presence during this difficult time. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."
Matthew smiled at Destiny. "That was a beautiful prayer," he told her as he raised her hand to his lips and gently kissed it. Destiny smiled as well as happiness filled up her heart now that Matthew was awake again. Having him back with her was like a dream come true.
"Thanks Destiny. I'm going to call my dad. I really want to hear his voice right now," Matthew stated as he grabbed the hospital phone.
He was holding Nora in his arms when he could feel the vibration of his phone in his pocket. He wasn't going to answer it but something inside him caused him to check the caller ID. He was surprised when he noticed that it was coming from Matthew's hospital room. Thinking it was Rachel calling with an update, he spoke without waiting to hear the voice on the other end of the line.
"Rachel?"
"No dad, it's me."
The smile that spread across his face could have lit up the world but neither his wife nor his son could see it.
"Matthew? Matthew, is that really you?"
Now it was Nora's turn to smile. Bo hadn't even noticed he was so focused on his son's voice. The voice he hadn't heard in far too long.
"It's okay dad. It's not a trick. I'm awake. Rachel and Kevin were with me when I woke up and Destiny is with me now. She told me about mom. Is she going to be okay dad? I was really worried."
"How about I let you decide that for yourself? You want to speak to her?"
She somehow managed to grab the phone from Bo and he smiled when her excitement matched his own.
"Matthew…Matthew, baby is that you?"
"Mom... You've got to stop calling me that."
"Never…You'll always be my little man…I can't believe I'm really speaking to you. I've missed you so much."
"I missed you too mom. I heard what you did for my son. Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me for that Matthew. He's my family too."
"I'm sorry that you were hurt. If anything had happened to you…"
"Your father seems to think that I'll be just fine."
"And you don't believe that?"
"It's not that I don't believe it…It's just…Matthew I'm blind."
"And that must be driving you crazy. But you have to think of the up side mom. I got my miracle. You will too. "
"You really believe that? "
"I do. I'm willing to bet that you will get your eyesight back just in time to see your new baby. Just promise me one thing mom? Don't go picking out any weird names. You don't want her to be scarred for life do you…well more then she already will be."
"How do you know I'm having a girl?"
"Because you and dad always wanted a girl and you always get what you want," he said as he blew a kiss into the phone. "I can't wait to meet my little sister. I'll see you soon. I love you. "
"I love you too Matthew. I'm so glad you're back."
-
She hung up the phone and Bo put it back in his pocket as he pulled her closer to him.
"I can't believe he's awake. This all feels like a dream."
"It's not a dream baby. Our son has come back to us."
"I'm so grateful Bo. I always believed that he would somewhere deep down but it was getting harder and harder to keep believing. Now it just feels like these last six months have been nothing but a nightmare."
"Maybe it's a sign Red. Maybe this means that things are finally looking up for us."
"I think they already are. We're having a baby. I was almost afraid to hope. We've been let down so many times."
"It just took us a little longer to conceive then it did with Matthew. But I sure liked 'practicing.'
He leaned in and kissed her passionately. She might not have been able to see but she could feel. And every sensation told her what he was thinking.
"Bo Buchanan…not in a hospital bed…I'm still recuperating remember?"
"Can I make a request then?"
She laughed when she could feel his breath on her neck. His lips trailed across her collarbone just slightly and he whispered in her ear.
"When you get out of here…when you are physically capable…I want to show you how much I want you…how happy I am that we're having another baby…"
"You do realize that I can't see you don't you?"
"Nora, honey, you don't need eyes to make love…and if you need a demonstration then I'd be happy to show you."
"I'll just bet you would…but not here…There's something else we need to be discussing."
"Like what?"
"The nursery… Bo, I think we're going to have to get a bigger house. It was barely big enough for you and me and Matthew and now Matthew has a son and we're having a baby of our own…Now granted we still don't know what's going to happen with Matthew and Destiny but I certainly would like to have room for the baby and I don't want our daughter to grow up in a place where she can't run around. We need a bigger house Bo."
"I'll start looking right away. Maybe you could tell me what kind of look you're looking at for the nursery."
"Pink."
"You are really ready to bank everything on a girl this soon?"
"Call it a mother's intuition. We're never wrong."
"That doesn't give me a lot of ideas Red. Can you be more specific? "
"Can we get one of those Mobil's that hangs over the crib? One that plays music. And you're going to have to start thinking about cribs."
"Are you going to want a pink blanket Red?"
"You know me. What do you think?"
"Why do I even ask? I already know the answer."
"When we figure out the name, we should put up one of those building block name plates…"
"I've seen those. I guess you want one in pink."
They both laughed as he kissed her once more and she snuggled into his arms.
"I'm so happy Red. I'm so happy I get to be a part of this from the beginning. Thank you for making me a father again.
When he heard nothing, he looked down and saw her sleeping soundly in his arms…She hadn't even heard what he said. He smiled and kissed her head.
"I love you Red. We'll talk about this more later."
Rachel was crying when he walked into the room. She thought she had herself together but what should have made her happy only made her think of what her mother was now missing out on. She was grateful she survived but she could only think of what she would now be struggling with. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that people could walk into a room and hurt people and never have to pay the consequences. Matthew almost died…her mother almost died…and their lives would never be the same now. How was any of this right?
"What if she never sees us again? I'm…I am really grateful that she survived but what if this is as good as it gets? What if she can't do her job anymore? Being a lawyer is who my mother has always been…if she can't do that…if she can't do what she loves…what…what's going to happen to her? What's going to happen to the people that love her?"
He pulled her into his arms as she came apart and he just held her as she cried. It had been a lot of years since he had held her this close but the feeling of wanting to take all her pain away and make things better had never changed. He wanted to make her feel better more then anything on earth.
"Maybe we should go get something to eat. I know you're worried about your mother but she has Uncle Bo there with her. Your brother just came out of a coma. Don't you think we should celebrate that? I don't want to be insensitive but…"
She stopped his train of thoughts by placing her hand on his.
"You're not being insensitive. You happen to be completely right. And I would love to go to dinner with you."
"Let's keep it close. That way if there's news then it won't take us long to get there. How about we go to the palace?"
"That sounds perfect."
The minute they arrived at the palace, things seemed to fall into place. They sat at a table with candle light since it was the only one available on such short notice. At least that was what Renee had said. Both of them figured she was trying to play matchmaker.
"I remember when we went here for the first time," Rachel said.
"So do I…You were so nervous."
"That's because you were my first really serious boyfriend."
"You were my first too Rachel."
"You put up with a lot for me. I know my father didn't make it easy."
"You put up with a lot for me too Rachel. It wasn't easy being an interracial couple was it? There was so much opposition."
"You were worth it."
"So were you."
They laughed as they continued to talk about old times and all they went through. Kevin stopped mid sentence when he heard the song on the radio. Rachel smiled when he held out his hand.
"I believe they're playing our song."
"I can't believe you remember."
"I remember everything about you. What do you say Ms. Gannon…Will you dance with me?"
"Well I'm not as good as my mother but I suppose I could struggle. I would love to dance with you Mr. Buchanan."
Rachel and Kevin danced in the moonlight as they held each other close. When the song ended, there was a moment when they just stayed there without moving at all…savoring the moment that was passing between them. When they pulled away, Rachel's eyes were once again filling with tears.
"I'm sorry. You must think I'm a total basket case."
"I would never think that about you. You've had it kind of rough lately. You're entitled to a few tears."
"That's not what this is about. It's about you. I just…I miss you so much."
"I'm right here."
"No, I mean I miss us…Do you ever think about what we could have been if I hadn't messed things up?"
"I think about you all the time. And I don't blame you Rachel. We were both so young. We made a lot of mistakes."
"I broke your heart. I'm so sorry."
"You did…but you know what? As time went on, I got over it. You were happy and that was all I ever wanted for you."
"So you got over me?"
"I never said that. I said I got over the hurt. I never really got over you. You were the love of my life Rachel Gannon. And sometimes I wonder if maybe things could be different now."
"I wonder that too. We're older and wiser aren't we?"
"So I've heard. What do you say? You want to give love another shot? It just so happens that there is no one in my life at the moment."
"There isn't anyone in mine either. And just so it's clear…you were the love of my life too Kevin Buchanan. I've always loved you. I'm just sorry it took me so long to realize it."
"No Regrets Rachel. We had to go down that road to become the people we are today. And just maybe…maybe we can finally get it right. "
"Yeah, maybe we can."
He lifted her chin until she was looking in his eyes. He brushed the stray hair back from her face. And then he leaned in and kissed her.