Chapter 9 - The Host

Stewie, Olivia, Janet and Jonathan slept all the way to Rocky Point Manor. It was a three-hour drive through the city, through the country. Like before, the sun began to set when the manor started to come into view.

"Oh, God," Sheridan said in awe. "Rocky Point Manor looks so beautiful."

"It sure does, doesn't it?" Vinny agreed.

As the Taurus pulled in, Vinny got everyone's attention.

"Stews, Livs, Janet, Jonathan, time to wake up. We're here."

"Oh," Olivia stirred. "I just had a wonderful dream."

Everyone got out of the car and went inside the manor, where James Woods, alive and well, was to greet everyone.

"Hello."

"James Woods?" Vinny asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Sheridan growled in anger, while Stewie shuddered in fear.

"I take it you two know him?" Vinny asked them.

"Yeah," Sheridan replied in an unforgiving mood. "He's the person who took me, my sisters and my father away from my mother!"

"He's supposed to be dead!" Stewie shouted.

"I dunno," Vinny disagreed. "He doesn't look like a jerk to me, and he's pretty much alive."

"Looks to me like you've both had bad experiences with him," Olivia wondered.

"Yeah," Stewie replied seriously. "He stole my father's identity, botched up Brian's show and has a bad reputation in Quahog."

Janet and Jonathan cuddled each other, whimpering in fear at the sight of James Woods.

"Yes, it's true," James agreed. "I have been killed, and would have stayed dead if those scientists haven't resurrected me due to my being a celebrity."

Author's Note: This is a callback to Season 10's "Tom Tucker, The Man and His Dream".

"What happened since?" Vinny shrugged.

"I don't want to talk about it," James replied.

At the dining room, everyone sat at the table. Stewie, Olivia, Janet and Jonathan were given cups of juice while Vinny and Sheridan were handed wine glasses.

"I still don't trust you for putting me, my father and sisters in wooden crates and making us fight those horrible dog fights," Sheridan growled at James.

"Sheridan, I'm aware about what I did to the four of you in the past," James replied, "but I've become a born-again Christian since then. So, I've decided to repent, and make amends for all the wrong things I've done."

"I don't mind, Mr. Woods," Vinny said. "You've done no wrong to me, or to my niece and nephew over there."

James chuckled. "Yeah, they think I'm scary. I mean, heck, I have played a Greek god."

"Yeah," Vinny agreed.

"Well, you still won't fool me, you claiming-to-be-a-born-again-Christian bastard!" Stewie yelled.

"Easy there, Stewie," Olivia calmed. "Just give him a chance."

"No way," Stewie disagreed. "That son of a bitch should have stayed dead, just like Brian and Barbara, and their first litter!"

James gasped. "Brian and Barbara are dead?"

"It's a long story, Mr. Woods," Vinny answered sadly. "Brian was my big brother, and he got run over. Barbara, heart attack after she fought me."

"Oh, shit," James moaned. "Well, at least there's still some healing to be done, but not all of it right now. I'm going to check and see if dinner is ready. After all," he sniffled, "it's what my girlfriend Priscilla would want."

As he started on his way to the kitchen, James placed a folded napkin on Stewie's plate. Stewie glared at him before uncovering the napkin, finding a blue pill inside, and a message written in it:

Take this pill with your juice, Stewie.

You're going to need it.

Mr. Woods

P.S.: Don't mention my giving it to you.

Even though he didn't trust him, he took the pill anyway.