Roger made his way outside the house, determined to find Holly and to let her know that he and Susan had definitely parted ways the night before. Before he could spot her, however, he was accosted by Ed, wearing a bloody apron and holding a sharp knife.

"Hi, there! Enjoying yourself I hope?" Ed said, shaking Roger's hand.

"I am; thank you for inviting me. You sure know how to celebrate our nation's birthday!"

"We're happy to have you and Jessica with us, and Blake too. Jessica introduced us a few minutes ago. I have to say that her resemblance to her mother threw me for a loop for a minute. It was like standing in front of the Holly of my youth…" He looked at Roger and his voice trailed off. He cleared his throat before resuming. "Well, you know what I mean." He looked around, as if searching for someone. "Is your wife here with you? I heard she was in town."

Roger cocked his head on the side, trying to decide if he should disclose the news to Holly's ex-husband. He decided that it couldn't hurt. "Actually, Susan and I are no longer an item since last night."

Ed raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"It was a long time coming, so it didn't come as a shock to either of us, or to Jessica. Blake and she are the only ones I've told for now, so I'd appreciate if you could keep it under wraps until…" Roger stammered, afraid he had said too much already.

"Until what?" Ed asked, suspecting the answer.

Roger sighed. "Until I tell Holly."

Ed gazed at him for a few seconds, and then beckoned him to the kitchen so that they could continue their conversation in private. "Listen, the last thing I mean to do is to meddle in your affairs, but I'd like to know, as Holly's friend, what your intentions are when it comes to her?"

Roger frowned, feeling annoyed by what he perceived as interference from an ex-husband rather than concern from a friend. "I'm sorry but this is indeed private. No offense, but I don't see why I should discuss my love life with you."

"So you do love her?" Ed replied, ignoring Roger's rebuff.

Roger looked back at Ed defiantly and said: "Yes, I love her. I don't think I've ever stopped loving her, as a matter of fact."

"And I've often wondered if she ever stopped loving you, so don't hurt her okay? She was devastated enough the first time around. I should know; I'm the one that got her back on her feet."

Something flashed in Ed's eyes. Was it regret? The vision was gone before Roger could put a name on it.

"I don't think that I've ever had a fair chance at being really happy with her, and I suspect that this is your doing. In the end, it all turned out for the best in my case, because I ended up meeting Maureen. I just hope that Holly will have her happy ending too; she deserves it."

Roger's expression softened, as he finally became convinced that Ed only had Holly's happiness at heart. "Nothing would make me happier than to be able to give it to her."

Suddenly remembering Jessica plea that he shouldn't antagonize her father-in-law, Roger added for good measure before he went back outside: "Thanks for the advice Ed, I appreciate it."

Meanwhile, in the backward, Blake was fixing a cheeseburger to her brother, who was finally off BBQ-duty. "What would you like in it?"

"Everything that you can pack in there. I'm famished."

Blake laughed and dumped a bit of everything she could find over the meatball. "So, are you going to introduce me to some of your friends?"

Ethan shrugged and took a humongous bite out of his burger. "What's the point, you're leaving in four days," he answered after he finally managed to swallow it down.

"Exactly, I'm not leaving TONIGHT, am I? So why don't you finish this monster and show me around a little. Aren't you proud of your brand new sister?"

"Oh, alright! It won't be said that the Bauer's can't show their guests a good time," he declared, cramming the last half of the burger into his mouth and getting up. He looked around him musingly and his eyes rested on Alan-Michael Spaulding and Dylan Lewis, who were chatting by the kitchen door. "Alright, these two will do I guess. Come with me," he said to Blake.

"Hey, Ethan, how's med school going for you?" Alan-Michael said as he saw his relative approach him. They shook hands before Ethan pushed his sister forward, right between Dylan and Alan-Michael. "I love it, thanks. So guys, I'd like to introduce you to Blake. As you probably have heard, it turns out that I have a big sister!"

The two young men stared at the red-head with undisguised interest. Blake beamed at both of them, aware that her smile was one of her best features and not afraid to use it.

"Yes, we heard about that, but nobody said how pretty she was," Dylan said, smiling at Blake.

"Would you like something to drink?" Alan-Michael added, determined not to be left out of the conversation.

"I'd love to," Blake replied with a subtle wink. I bet we'll have some fireworks before the night is over, she thought to herself, and not the literal kind. Before she could get too comfortable, however, she spotted her father coming out of the kitchen. He nodded at her, warning her that he was now ready to set the plan in motion.

"Holly, over here!"

Holly turned to find Vanessa, Reva and Maureen sitting a few feet away from her, on the steps leading up to the pool.

"Listen," the dark-haired Vanessa begun, "I want to apologize again for before. I really thought that Ross and I were alone."

Holly sat beside the three women and grinned. "Don't mention it; I'm not that easily shocked."

"Good! By the way, who was that dashing man you were talking with when we came in the kitchen?"

"Oh, that's Roger. Roger Thorpe," Holly answered in what she hoped was an even voice.

They all looked at her with renewed interest.

"So that's Roger Thorpe! I wondered what he looked like," Maureen said, taking a sip of her beer.

"You mean the one with the graying hair and the black shirt?" Reva asked. When Holly nodded, she added: "Very handsome. You could do a lot worse."

Holly blushed. She knew that the disclosure of the existence of her daughter had created quite a stir in Springfield, but she hadn't realized that her relationship with Roger would also be an object of scrutiny.

"We're not together, Roger and I. He's married, actually."

Vanessa frowned. "He is? I know it's silly, but I'm feeling a bit disappointed! The whole story was so romantic, bumping into your first love again, and getting your child back into your life." She tapped her feet on the ground. "Are you SURE that he's married?"

They all laughed, even Holly, grateful that Vanessa would try to cheer her up. "Very sure."

"That's too bad," Maureen said.

"Here, have a beer," Reva added, getting her a cold one from the cooler. "Who knows how things might turn up, though? Marriages don't last forever." She caught Maureen staring at her, looking slightly offended. "What? When they're not meant to be, they don't. Bud and I will stay together always, but that's another matter," she concluded with her signature husky laugh.

Maureen was about to add something before she was interrupted by Jessica, Ethan and Blake, who gathered around Holly.

"We're thinking of going to Monroe's Cliff to watch the fireworks. Do you want to come with us?" Ethan asked his mother.

"Leaving already?" Maureen inquired, looking disappointed.

"We'll be back in no time. We can see them so much better from there, and we want Blake to enjoy them as much as possible," Jessica explained.

"What about your father? Is he going too?" Reva asked, knowing that Holly probably didn't dare ask the question and not being bothered by such scruples.

"The last time I saw him, he was wooing Philip Spaulding in the kitchen. I think he's in business development mode, better not disturb him. Besides, we'll be back before he even has a chance to miss us," Blake said, grabbing her mother by the hand and helping her up.

Fifteen minutes later, with Ethan at the wheel, the four of them were well on their way to Monroe's cliff. Holly glanced at her daughter in the rear view mirror and said: "Did you make any friends tonight?"

"I talked to a few people, yes. I'll guess I'll have more of a chance to know people better when I get back to the party," Blake answered while Ethan snickered.

"Why are you laughing?" Holly said, turning to her son.

"I don' think that Blake will ever have problems making friends. I think that she might end up with too many, if you ask me."

"No one is asking you. Just drive." Blake replied punching him lightly in the shoulder.

Holly looked by the window and suddenly tapped Ethan on the arm. "Honey, you missed the turn to go to Monroe's Cliff. Go make a U-Turn somewhere."

Jessica, who had been silent until then, said in her most innocent voice. "We thought it might be nice to show Laurel Falls to Blake as well, since it's just a short drive away. We're just in time to watch the sunset."

Holly paled. She hadn't set foot in Laurel Falls since the night when she and Roger had made love for the first and only time, and she wondered if she would be able to handle returning to the place.

"We'll park by the lake down the river, and then it's just a five-minute walk to the falls," Ethan added. "Here we are."

"I'll stay in the car, you guys go ahead," Holly said, not trusting her legs to carry her.

The three young people glanced at each other. "Come on, Mom, you have to be there when Blake sees this place!" Ethan finally said nervously. Holly glanced at her daughter who also looked at her expectantly, having no idea that they were heading to the very place where she had been conceived.

"Yes, Holly. Please come."

Holly saw that they wouldn't let it rest until she joined them, so she go out of the car and fell in line behind them, closing the march. The rumble of the falls could be heard faintly from where they were, and they all walked through the woods in silence for a couple of minutes, watching their steps. They finally came up to the clearing by the lake, and when Holly lifted her head, feeling a fresh breeze on her face, she gasped in shock.

By the lake stood a huge weeping willow, whose branches had been adorned by strings of fairy white lights. Underneath were a thick blanket, a picnic basket, and Roger, who stood up as he saw them come near.

"What's this?" Holly said, unsure if she was dreaming or not.

"It's a surprise!" Blake said. She looked at Jessica and Ethan, and the three of them rapidly started to backtrack to the car. "Wait, where do you think you're going?" Holly cried, starting to panic.

The three broke into a jog, Ethan turning his head briefly to shout over his shoulder: "Sorry Mom, they made me do it!" They all dove back into the car where Holly could actually see them high-fiving, before they drove away.

She stared at the disappearing car, her chest rising unevenly. Then when she couldn't ignore him any longer, she turned to face Roger.

"Alone at last," he simply said.