Disclaimer: I don't own the Revenge plot, but the new characters at the moment belongs to me

A/N: Chapter 9 dropped a few bombshells, Riley and Leo got back together, Shannon revealed she was gay, Riley and Scott hatched a plan before going for a late night swim and then those weird surveillance photos turned up…

Note for all chapters: I watched the finale multiple times, pausing it to get some form of a transcript of the article that Nolan was shown in the last few minutes, trust me, it wasn't easy so perhaps a cheeky little review for the effort I put in there?

Chapter 10

Someone was watching me. Someone was out to get me… This was a warning, and it was terrifying- my spine started to tingle as a cold chill rippled down it.

"You're home late, or should I say early?"

I turned to see Nolan standing beside the fireplace that stood as a free standing wall. Keeping myself together, I slowly showed him the pictures, trying to avoid showing him the one of me and Scott in the water.

Nolan said nothing as he walked towards the table to get a closer look at the photos. "Where did you get these?"

"They came with the mail- it's the first thing that I've ever gotten delivered since I was here. Nolan, I don't think I'm safe here anymore…"

His hands rifled through the photos until he unearthed the one of me and Scott in the water. "Oh Riley," he sighed.

"I know!" I snapped aggressively. "Nolan, don't judge me like that. You know it's exactly like Amanda- okay, when I say that, it's strangely similar… I just hope the guys don't end up the same way…"

"They'll be fine, it's probably just nothing."

"Nolan…" My phone started to ring and it was a message from Scott. "Scott wants to come around- he has a way of bringing down Shannon Fisher for Hydra Revenge after information I gave him."

"Are you sure you're ready to start losing things like you are about to?" Nolan asked. "Because once it happens, it means that you can't really go back. You'll completely lose Shannon as a friend. You'll be alienated by her and her family, plus her mother might not be so easy to forgive seeing as you are one of her daughter's few friends."

"I can get around that."

"You're going to get burnt if you play with too much fire you know."

"So can Scott come in?" I asked, heaving a deep sigh. "He's outside, which I don't like – he should have waited."

Nolan pulled all the photos together into one pile before going over to the fridge. "I can make sure that Arnie can be called away to work, so ask Scott waits outside… Then you can tell him to come in."

"Please don't draw attention to me and Scott- stop talking to me like I'm in the wrong. It was him who initiated it, not me."

He let out a chuckle. "Oh Riley, you don't even realise what you're doing so wrong. Scott's about to have a child, he's about to get married – you can't go around finding yourself in these compromising situations, Riley… What if your father comes after him? You wouldn't just be putting Scott in danger, but Bella too."

"You get toy boy out the house, I'll tell Scott to wait."

Ignoring Nolan, I wandered out the patio door to stand beside the pool. It was windy and it tugged at my hair, pulling at the loose locks. I looked out over the horizon as I told Scott to wait whilst Arnie leaves in case he spotted my friend. The waves lapped up against the rocks below as I sat on the marble bench that was a pitiful excuse for a wall along the cliffside. Nolan didn't like me sitting on it, but that didn't stop me.

"Arnie's gone now, you can call Scott in now!" Nolan called out from the house. "Haven't I told you not to do that!"

I let Scott know and waited for him at the kitchen island with my laptop ready on Shannon's blog that she had set up. It had no link to the identity of the writer, so it was the perfect set up for bringing her down after what she had tweaked with the investigation. The part she had played in taking Mrs Patterson down.

"What are you going to do, Scott?" I asked.

"We'll write a post where she confesses to who she is and what she did. It's the only way I can think of destroying her and what she did." Scott then noticed my facial expression. "I know that you won't like the fact that you're bringing down the one friendship you've build in the Hamptons. But that is what it takes to bring the Hydra Corporation down."

"Scott, what did she do wrong? She was only an intern at the time, what could she have possibly done to bring your mother down?"

Nolan and Scott exchanged a peculiar look, a look which I instantly noticed. I had to question it.

"Tell me."

"Riley…" Scott started, debating whether to tell me or not. "Shannon Fisher made a statement in the trail, a statement which gave a negative character reference of my mother, even after she agreed that she would give a positive one to my mum. Shannon was watched by my mother and she made sure that nothing bad happened to your new best friend because of my mum. And then Shannon does that! Listen to this."

Scott picked up the laptop, plugging a USB stick into it and pulling up a video file.

I watched a news report which showed Shannon making a statement in the courthouse. She was sat in the stand, wearing a white shirt buttoned to the neck and a black blazer with a silver trim.

"Trinity Patterson was rude, and ruthless – she alienated so many of the workforce around her. I never felt comfortable whenever she was nearby. At the office, she would make herself her own number one priority. As long as the finances of the Hydra Corporation were sorted at the end of the day, she was satisfied. No matter who it was that did the job. It is of no surprise to me that the finances were tweaked and that the rumours of embezzlement are true."

The questions aimed at Shannon were short and simple, but it was clear that it was a shock to Scott's mother.

"There must be more to it than that. What if they blackmailed her? What if Leonard Myers found out that she was Susie's daughter and forced his wife to get Shannon to lie? It might not have been her fault." I tried to show Scott another side of the coin, but he was having none of it. "Come on Scott…"

"No- as Amanda taught me, I have to carry things all the way through if I am to bring justice to my mother. What Leonard Myers and the whole of the Hydra Corporation did to her was unforgivable. They killed my father, and framed her for his death – they went on to accuse her of embezzlement. How can I sit back and watch one of those people just get away with what they did?"

Opening up my mind a little, I started to understand what he meant, but at the same time, Shannon was still my friend. I decided to hit back.

"What about Arnie?" I looked back and forth between Scott and Nolan and saw something I didn't expect to see. "You two better start talking now."

Scott broke the silence eventually. "Well that would be for Nolan to answer." He folded his arms and sat down beside me, his knee gently grazed my own.

Nolan frowned at us both. "Arnie is off limits… He didn't do anything." The way he spoke sounded so certain, but I couldn't resist challenging it.

"No- it doesn't work like that, Nolan. If you can put Arnie off limits, then I can put Shannon off limits in just the same way…"

"But do you love her?" Nolan asked, resting his elbows on the kitchen island and leaning forwards.

Was this his way of telling us?

"Well no, no I don't. She's a lesbian, and I'm not… She's just the first friend I've made around here." I caught Scott's eyes for a moment. "And I don't think I have many around here. But you're breaking part of your own rules now, Nolan… Don't look at me like that. You know what I mean." A quick glance in Scott's direction, then back to Nolan was enough for him to see. "I was always worried that this would happen. You told me not to get involved with- well, and I told you not to get too caught up in your relationship with Arnie. I knew you would never listen!"

"You don't know what you're talking about, Riley!" Nolan retaliated, shaking his hand at me in anger. "You know nothing… All you do is just play the field and keep all the fish biting. You should pick a side, and stick to it."

My mouth fell open, agape at the comment my uncle had just made. "That is low, Nolan. Neither of us knows what the other is experiencing, but you have to let Scott take on Arnie." I glowered at my uncle. "Alright – I'll be the bigger person – alright Scott, you can initiate your attack on Shannon, but you have to do it at the Labour Day celebration. You keep me out of this – if she finds out that I had anything to do with it, you will be dead to me." I widened my eyes and lowered my brows.

The Labour Day party was happening at the hotel on the other side of the Hamptons and had been organised by the hotel owner. Most of the residents in the neighbouring areas had been invited, which would make it incredibly easy for Scott and Nolan to add a few more invites to the list. Just to make sure that they were in attendance.

"It'll have to be the Labour Day celebration- but if it is, then we have to work fast. We have two days." Scott glared at Nolan across the table. "Can we do it?"

"We certainly can." Nolan smiled, moving my laptop to face him.

Typing away on the keyboard, he brought up one of his secret little software systems that allowed him to get into other people's computers, PDAs and mobile phones. It was only a matter of time before Leonard Myers, Shannon Fisher and other additional people were added to the invites that were to be dispatched that day.

"Can I take Leo with me?" I asked, looking at Nolan who frowned. "What? You're going to take Arnie, and he's going to take his pregnant fiancé. Why can't I take my boyfriend?"

"Don't look at me like that, Riley… Next you'll want to have Brody over to stay in your room. Which won't be happening either." Nolan was set on making jibes at me that it was no longer funny. "He told me Mel was in Manhattan last week. She's waiting for you... but I still don't want you to go see her. In case anything happens."

"Nolan- don't make me feel so awkward…" I mumbled. "Hey Stella!" I squatted down and picked Stella up off the floor, letting her smother my face in wet kisses. "I love you too. I really need to take you to have a haircut, missy!"

As I started to laugh, my little pup struggled in my arms and insisted on having a cuddle with Scott. Once he picked her up, Stella put her paws on his chest and smothered him in wet licks.

"Oh I see how it is," I said, holding my hand over my mouth and giggling like a little girl as Scott struggled to remain presentable as Stella to attack his face even more. "You'll never love me like you love him, will you?"

"Well Scott was the one who picked her out and kept her with him for the first few months," Nolan admitted, taking an apple from the bowl. "The woman who raises them was an old friend of mine who offered her assistance with bringing Trinity Patterson to justice so we have her help if we need it."

"Do you want to talk now?" I asked Scott, jerking my head over to my room. He nodded. "Okay Nolan, I'm leaving Stella with you – can you watch her for me?"

"Sure…"

I lead Scott into my room and when I closed the door behind me, he was watching me and then his head turned towards the bed.

"No! I just want to talk, okay?" I sat down at the foot of the bed and pointed for him to sit down at the desk. "About us- I mean, I know there isn't an 'us' like boyfriend and girlfriend 'us', but us. You and me. The people that we are. Last night, then the hospital, and just how we are with one another."

"What? It's brill-"

"No. Scott. I need for you to focus all you love and affection on Bella. Not me. She's your fiancé, and I'm just your friend. You made that decision, so I think I have to say what Nolan's thinking. You're with Bella, and I'm with Leo now. I think we both need to move on and not put ourselves in compromising situations where we end up betraying Bella or Leo."

Scott almost recoiled at the sound of Leo's name. "Are you seriously back together with him?"

"Yes – and can you stop acting like he's the devil or something?"

"Well he practically is the spawn of the devil… You said you didn't want Nolan getting hurt by Arnie and what the Hydra Revenge may do. I don't want you to get hurt when I bring down Leonard Myers and Hydra because Leo might just have to be collateral damage." His hand brushed my cheek, but I moved away, pushing him back.

"You leave him out of this, Scott. Seriously. I mean it. You can hurt Shannon, but I won't let you do anything to Leo." I frowned at him. "But, I wanted to ask you another favour."

"Of course Riley- I'd do anything I could if it helps you out." Scott moved forwards, kneeling beside the bed and looking up at me with his huge dark brown eyes.

"Will you take me to Manhattan to see my mum?" I asked.

Scott looked away, out of the window whilst he contemplated his answer. "You know, I kind of agree with Nolan… But you're my friend and I would rather go with you than let you go alone and have something happen to you."

"Thank you Scott." I stretched my arms out to him for a hug and as we embraced, I never wanted to let go. "I wish I'd gotten to you before Bella…" I mumbled inadvertently as my mind and brain disconnected for a moment. "Oh."

"Riley. You got to stop playing around with me. And I got to do the same…"

"We're just as bad as the other."

We spoke a little more, and discussed our plans about Manhattan – as well as minor details that would go in the blog post that would be projected at the Labour Day party.

The next day, Scott and I made our way to Manhattan in the early morning hours of the day. The journey was nice and peaceful- Scott wasn't as nervous as he used to appear. When we first met, he wouldn't go anywhere in case Leonard Myers had people looking for him, but when he realised that they were, it was fine. Plus, there were no issues over Shannon Fisher's violent attack as the police were never looking for Scott in the first place. Which I still needed to bring up this issue with Nolan.

As Scott and I stepped off the train in the centre of New York, I glanced at the address that was written on a napkin from Brody. It was a room at the Plaza Hotel – a luxury five star hotel, simply the best. That's all my mum would want – being trapped inside the Campbell Compound meant that all she wanted to have the best.

"She knows how to live her live…" Scott mumbled, crossing over the street ahead of me.

We walked towards Central Park and when we finally reached it, I couldn't bring myself to go inside. I stood opposite the Hotel from across the street and it was daunting standing in front of something so massive. Scott was sweet and refrained from pushing me. He leant back against the stone wall with his hands tucked in his jean pockets.

"She's inside there…" I mumbled. "I'm going in." I started to walk away, but instantly realised that Scott didn't walk with me. "Aren't you coming in with me?"

"Do you really want me there?" Scott avoided eye contact with me. "Because I didn't think that you would want me to."

A lump smacked itself in my throat. "Please…" I replied, holding out my hand to him.

"For you."

We walked inside and immediately, I realised that it was the elite of the elite who stayed here. The white marble floor shone and not a squeak could be heard as Scott and I walked towards the reception. The man on reception seemed to acknowledge the name Brody had given me. He pointed us in the right direction and the lift attendant took the lift up to the penthouse suite.

"Mum!" I called out, rushing into the penthouse suite "Mum?"

I squeaked when I saw her sitting in the luxurious white chair with golden trims facing the wide windows. From a side profile, she looked so weak and she barely moved. Her thin lips trembled as she spoke to me.

"Is that you?"

"Yeah Mum, it's me, Riley…" I said, kneeling beside her and seeing her eyes light up when she saw me. "You look-"

"Never mind me-" she paused to inhale a mouthful of air through an oxygen mask connected to a metal cylinder that sat beside her. "You've brought company- let's meet him…" Mum had seen straight through me and lifted a hand to usher Scott over. "Don't be shy – you can't be worse than some of my daughter's old boyfriends."

"Mum!" I squeaked, nearly breaking down on the arm of the chair. Ignoring the fact that Mum had referred to Scott as a boyfriend, I ushered him over. "Come on Scott…" I waited for him to come over and introduced him to my mum. "Scott, this is my mum, Melanie, and Mum, this is Scott…"

"Nice to meet you Scott. I'm so pleased that Riley isn't alone living with my brother." Mum reached out and clasped Scott's hand. "How are you?" Another gulp of air.

"I'm good thank you, glad I could help Riley find you. Even if you look to young to have her as your daughter."

"Oh I had children before I had her..,"

There was a moment where I felt the need to go to the bathroom and freshen up my face. Tears and not waterproof makeup were not a mix.

"I'll be right back Mum. Just going to the bathroom."

In the bathroom, I was in awe at the magnificent bathroom. Splashing water in my face, I removed the slight remnants of what had been smudged down my face. Looking slightly better than I was before.

Then I heard laughter. Scott laughing – it was so lovely, I don't think I could remember him properly laughing like that. Him and my mum were laughing together. I wanted to know what about, but I didn't want to come out. Standing by the door, I listened out for their conversation.

"Nolan told me a little about you and my daughter. She's very special to me, Scott. The most important thing in the world to me is that she's happy. Is she happy?"

"I think so, she seems that way around me – I hope so…"

"To be honest, you seem much better than what that Leo boy sounded like. I wasn't so sure about him. Out of all of the guys, I like you the best. You could make her the happiest she's ever been."

"Oh I don't know about that Melanie. Sometimes, I feel like I'm falling deeper and deeper for her, but I can't take things any further…"

"Promise me one thing?"

"Yeah?"

"Promise you you'll make her happy. Promise me that even if you aren't together, that she'll always be happy. Promise me that if you get married to her, that you get married because you love each other, not because you have to."

"That's a lot of promises, but you have my word."

Hearing stuff like that, I wished that Bella and Scott weren't together, I wished that they weren't having a baby and I wished that Scott and I could be together. I waited a moment longer before going back into the penthouse suite.

"Melanie?" I heard Scott's voice sounding panicked and caught off guard after they were laughing again.

"Mum?" I called out, running into the room.

Her arm was hanging limp over the side of the chair. She had gone, she had just died.

"What did you do?" I gasped. "Scott…" Overreaction and confusion riddled my mind. "Oh my- I think I'm going to be sick."

"Woah, woah…" Scott lunged forwards and caught me in his arms, just as I was about to faint.

"Catch," I said, gripping his arm, before bursting into tears. "Mum…"

Scott dropped to the floor slowly and cradled me as I cried into his arm, dampening his sleeve a little. He kissed the top of my head multiple times, sending a warmth across my whole body. "I'm so sorry- but she was happy… Happy in her last moments…"

"I didn't even get to say goodbye," I whispered solemnly, sniffing vigorously. "We should go back home, I need to tell Nolan what's happened. And it's the Labour Day party too… There's so much going on and I can't even tell Leo any of it which is so hard because he can't know about my family."

"O-kay… It's going to be alright. You go back home, I will make sure that everything is done right here…" Scott lifted me to my feet before guiding me back to the lift. "I'll see you at the Labour Day Party."

Nolan couldn't contend with the fact that he had just lost his sister and I had lost my mother. We sat in silence alone. Stella climbed up on the sofa between us and sat down, slowly panting as I knotted my fingers around her curled fur. A ball of warmth that I held onto so tightly that she could have been mistaken for my safety blanket.

"I'm so sorry I didn't let you see her sooner." Nolan looked at me before putting his hand on my cheek. "That was so, so wrong of me…"

"No, no, no. You were right to do that. Seeing as my dad set out to erase me, you had to put your foot down and stop me from getting hurt. Nolan, you really have nothing to be sorry for."

"You really are her daughter. Ah…" He leant forwards and started to rub his eyes. "At least we know that she passed away happy, seeing her daughter."

"I didn't get to say goodbye- she was talking to Scott whilst I was in the bathroom. Although I'm not proud of it, I listened in on them. He said he was always going to make sure that I was happy."

"He knows how to play everyone so please watch yourself."

"Nolan, why are you so sceptical of Scott?"

He refrained from saying anything, until he gave in. "Just ask Scott about 'Club Cat's Eye' and see what he tells you."

"Club Cat's Eye – what is that?" I asked slowly.

Thoughts from AspiringWriterGirl = Cat's Eye- what's with that? So it was a chapter full of twists and turns but we are certainly on our way to bringing down someone in the Hydra Corporation – what is ahead for the Labour Day Party?