Dixie readjusted her bag on her shoulder, glancing around the Valley Inn. She hoped they showed. Her eyes searched the room, not yet crowded because it wasn't yet dinner time, when she finally connected with a pair of brown eyes and a grin. She walked quickly towards the table, skirting smaller, empty tables on her way. He stood, gave her a kiss hello on the cheek, chaste, and somewhat forced- god knows she knew the difference between his kisses- before he pushed her chair in for her. She dropped the bag, and glanced around.

"Hey," she greeted them, in her signature drawl. Tad smiled back, but it quickly faded, Jamie enthusiastically responded, and JR sat somewhat mute, but every speck in his eyes appeared to be etching her presence into his memory with painstaking accuracy.

"It's about time you got here," Jamie joked, trying to break the tension. "I don't eat at the Valley Inn for just anyone you know."

"Sorry," Dixie apologized. "My meeting ran late."

"What meeting?" JR asked, his voice still a little stiff. "About Kate?"

"No it was with Mr. Franklin at the high school," Dixie explained, grimacing at the slight accusation in his tone when he said the word Kate. "I'm still certified, and I refuse to live off Uncle Palmer for the rest of my life. So I'll be substituting."

"What about Kate?" Jamie asked.

"Well we're still looking, "Dixie answered, glancing at Tad, both unconsciously grabbing for the other's hand. "Which is why subbing is perfect. They'll call in the morning, and if I have a lead on Kate, I'll say no. I've spent four years searching for her, with no result. We'll find her, but putting my life on hold hasn't helped so maybe if I… But I don't want to.. I don't,.. I want to know how you boys are. That's why I scheduled this dinner, right?" Dixie knew her smile was strained, but she was recovering from her flustered response. All three of them had said they forgave her, but it was obvious Tad was still bitter and JR was still unsure if she'd be there the next day. Tad and JR didn't fight anymore, but JR still didn't trust him, and Tad's hatred of Adam still got in the way. And then there was Jamie and JR. She hated what had happened to them in her absence, and she saw both trying to make amends, but Jamie was too proud, too stubborn like his father. He knew he had done wrong and he didn't want to deal with it. And JR… her little boy was being too forgiving, too conciliatory. Sometimes, very rarely and it always went away quickly, but sometimes she wished he was more like his father.

"I'm fine," JR answered. "Little Adam likes preschool. Babe and I figured it'd be good to get him used to other kids."

"Where is Babe anyway?" Tad asked. JR glanced quickly from Tad to Dixie, before looking down.

"She wasn't invited," he replied.

"I just thought it would be best to be the four of us," Dixie explained. "That's all. It's nothing against Babe." Jamie couldn't help but smirk at that. It was clear from the way the word Babe dripped with disdain off Dixie's tongue, that it had everything to do with Babe.

"How is Babe doing these days?" Tad asked.

"The murders hurt obviously," JR replied. "But she's doing okay I think. Amanda really helps."

"Amanda?" Dixie asked warmly. "How is she? I've barely seen her the past few weeks."

"She's terrible," Jamie spat. Tad and Dixie looked at him curiously, but JR interrupted before he could speak again.

"It's true. She's resorted to hanging out with Jonathan Lavery," he told them. 'She had another date with him last night. Probably tonight too." Tad's face visibly tightened and Dixie leaned back.

"The man who killed Edmund?" she asked softly. "That's… she can do better."

"Tell me about it," Jamie muttered again, wearing the same dark face as JR, something Dixie didn't fail to notice. The four fell into silence, staring at their menus. The waitress arrived, took their orders and left. Still, no one spoke. Dixie couldn't believe it. Family dinners used to be fun. When the hell did it get so hard? She mentally smacked herself. She knew exactly when and she knew exactly why.

"How's Julia?" Tad asked, seemingly out of the blue.

"Oh great," Dixie interrupted, looking towards the entrance. "Look who just showed up," she muttered. "If they come over here, let me handle them, okay JR?" Dixie saw JR's lips twitch, and she recognized the look in his eye. JR might just start something if only to see his mother and Erica Kane duke it out. They watched as Erica, Jack, Kendall, Zach, Bianca, Josh, Ryan, and Spike seated themselves at a table in viewing distance.

"Alright boys, who wants what?" Tad asked. Jamie and JR quickly took out their wallets.

"I'll put fifty on Erica chucking a wine bottle at Zach's head," JR said.

"Suckers bet," Tad replied, taking his money. "No way will Bianca allow alcohol on that table. It'd compromise Erica's recovery."

"Thirty bucks Zach orders wine just to antagonize Erica then," Jamie put in.

"I'll put forty bucks and my farrah fawcett wig on Greenlee showing up and throwing a snit she wasn't invited to family dinner," Tad announced.

"I'll go in on that," Dixie put in, taking out her purse, "and throw in twenty on a hair pulling fight between Greenlee and Kendall." The boys stared at her. 'What? I'm not allowed to play?"

"Sure," JR said slowly. "Of course. Besides, it'll be fun to take your money. My source at Fusion tells me they've drawn a truce of sorts. More likely she'll fight with Lavery." He threw another ten down.

"Why is Ryan there anyway?" Jamie asked. 'Shouldn't he be keeping watch over his psycho brother?"

"But he has so many," JR snarked. Dixie looked instinctively at Tad. Their boys knew about Kit Fisher- everyone did- but she had never allowed the boys to know what almost happened the last time she saw Braden.

"Five bucks on a long lost sibling showing up," Tad joked, lightening the mood.

"Twelve on it being an aborted fetus," JR said.

"I still maintain that can't be medically possible," Jamie told them.

"Someone owes me forty bucks," Tad interrupted, keeping Jamie from going on yet another rant about Josh. The other three looked up. Greenlee Du Pres was standing in the doorway to the Valley Inn, hands on her hips. Leo and Trey stood to one side of her, David and Maggie on the other.

David and Trey were the first to move, heading to the table in the corner, with Maggie scurrying after them sneaking a hopeful glance at Bianca. Greenlee eyed her family, then her father, clearly wondering where she should head. She settled on taking an alternative route to her table, stopping at the Kane table.

"Nice inviting me, dad, " she retorted in greeting. Jackson looked up at her.

"Greenlee, you, Leo and Bridget are coming to the house tomorrow for dinner," he reasoned. "And I left a message on your machine about tonight."

"Well-"

"Hello Jackson," Leo greeted, sidling up to his wife. Whatever was going to come out of her mouth was going to be nasty, and she would've made things worse, so interrupting her was really the best idea. "Looking forward to dinner tomorrow. We have to be going now though."

"We just got here," Greenlee snapped.

"Yes and Brother Trey and Maggie are looking at the wine list," Leo replied cheerily. Greenlee's face went white.

"We have to be going," she told the table, and turned towards her own table. Leo gave a wave to the rest of the Kanes, before following her. Bianca laughed.

"What's so funny?" Kendall asked.

"In Paris, whenever Maggie, Greenlee and I went out, Greenlee used to scold Maggie on her wine choices. She said that since she was pregnant, she was living vicariously though Maggie, and wouldn't accept anything less than the best."

"Did you guys go out a lot?" Kendall asked. Bianca didn't like something in her tone.

"Yeah I guess," Bianca replied. "None of us are great at cooking."

"So Jack," Erica asked, taking a stab at changing the subject, "where are Sean and Lily tonight?"

"Lily's at her Uncle Michael's," Jack explained. "It's Brad's birthday, so they're having a cake, presents. Lily made a banner. And Sean decided he'd rather hang out with Colby Chandler than with us."

"Hormones," Kendall commented. "Gotta love them." She glanced at her sister, hoping to get a smile to make up for her brattiness earlier, but Bianca was too busy staring at Maggie.

"She keeps looking at me," Maggie whispered to Greenlee. 'That's good right?"

"Depends," Greenlee whispered back. "Does she look murderous?"

"No," Maggie replied.

"Definitely good."

"Would you two stop?" Trey asked. Maggie stuck her tongue out at him. Leo watched as David glanced off preoccupied. He followed his gaze.

"Please tell me you're not staring at Dixie Martin," he groaned.

"No," David retorted. "Her miscreant son."

"That's even worse," Leo snarked. David gave him a withering look.

"I'm wondering where Babe is," he informed his brother.

"Out stealing babies?" Maggie offered.

"Watch it," David told her. Leo and Greenlee glanced at each other, both trying not to roll their eyes. "There's a murderer on the loose and she's a target."

"Speaking of, David, did you get those files from Mother's doctors?" Leo asked.

"Yes and they confirmed what I already knew. Vanessa isn't behind this. Tad and his gang of nitwits have been on the wrong track. Surprise, surprise."

"That's good," Trey deduced. The others looked at him. "Well if they're on the wrong track, they won't get in the way of our investigation. It'll save us time."

"I appreciate you putting up with them Leo," David confided. "I don't know how you do it."

"Are you kidding?" Greenlee asked, leaning into the table conspiratorially. "Leo lives for quietly mocking others. I'm sure he has a fabulous time." She sipped her wine.

"That's your favorite hobby, Greens," Leo reminded his wife. "Not mine."

"Oh please, Leo. Our predilections are the same and you know it."

"What the hell did the Martins order?" Trey asked.

"Dinner?" Maggie retorted.

"They must have a few hundred dollars sitting in the middle of that table," Trey continued, ignoring Maggie's playful barb.

"Ta-ad!" Dixie whined. "You owe me five bucks and you know it!"

"No I don't," he replied matter of factly. "You said Ryan would spill something on himself feeding that baby. He merely put his arm in the butter."

"That's the same thing."

"No it's not," Tad replied. "Judges?" He turned to Jamie and JR.

"Definitely not the same," Jamie said.

"I've got a plate of oatmeal cookies at home that say otherwise," Dixie whispered conspiratorially. Jamie turned to his father.

"What d'you got?"

"Leftover Chinese in the fridge and some gum," he grumbled.

"Dixie wins," Jamie said automatically.

"You can't just change your vote," Tad exclaimed. "That's cheating."

"I was merely deliberating with my fellow judge before," Jamie explained. "That wasn't final. Right JR?"

'Absolutely," he replied, grinning at his brother.

"Fine," Tad groused. "I see I'm sitting with a bunch of cheaters. That's fine. I don't mind taking the moral high ground."

"Says the man who had six downs in the Labor Day Football game of 99," JR retorted.

"Our team won fair and square," Tad replied. "Just because you picked Adrian before me doesn't mean you can be mad about losing."

"Oh please Tad, you fudged the yardage and you know it," Dixie interjected. "You were as innocent that day as a pup in a pig pen."

"What does that even mean?" Tad asked, accenting every word.

"It means you're a cheat," she told him. "And now you owe me another five bucks."

"Why?" Tad asked, turning to look at Erica's table.

Erica tossed her hair. "All I'm saying is that Bianca can do much better than Maggie Stone," she announced in a matter of fact way. "My daughter Bianca is beautiful and smart and a Kane, and deserves much better than some cheating relative of Vanessa Bennett."

"Leo's a relative of Vanessa Bennett," Bianca pointed out, pissed at her mother, even though she knew she shouldn't be. Maggie cheated on her. Of course she deserved better.

"But Leo's different," Erica told her. "You know that. Are you honestly defending that woman?"

"No," Bianca replied sullenly. "I just don't see why we have to talk about it at the dinner table."

"Bianca," Erica stated again, but Kendall cut her off.

"Not now mother," she said in a dictatorial voice. "So Josh, what do you think you want to do next?" Bianca threw her a grateful look, which pleased Kendall, but Josh looked confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Well you've been a doctor and a TV producer and everything else known to man," she said. "So what's next?" Everyone was silent for a moment, and Kendall worried the subject change wouldn't take. Lord knows she didn't want to hear her mother go off on Maggie again.

"Maybe he'll be a fireman," Zach interjected. Kendall looked at him gratefully.

"A pilot!" she argued.

"No, I see him more as a cowboy," Zach told her.

"A space cowboy," she said emphatically.

"Ghostbuster."

"Ballerina."

"Well now you're being ridiculous," Josh exclaimed.

"You mean you've never taken a dance class Joshua?" Kendall asked innocently. Bianca grinned, Josh saw her grin, as well as the look the sisters shared, and his mouth dropped.

"You told!?" he practically yelped. Bianca started giggling.

"I had too," she protested. "It was just too good!"

"Really Josh, Swan Lake?" Kendall asked. Her phone started to ring, and in the mad dash for it, she missed his retort. "Hello?" she asked.

Bianca twirled her pasta on her fork, half paying attention to Kendall's conversation, until she heard her sister's tone change. Her head shot up, and she saw the whole table was watching Kendall carefully. Her sister hung up, and turned to them all.

"That was Del," she informed them. "Amanda hasn't shown up for work. He called home, and no one there has seen her in awhile. She's not picking up her phone; they don't know where she is. Amanda's missing." Kendall sat there in shock, but Zach stood quickly, and walked over to Tad's table. Bianca watched the two talk quietly. Dixie looked concerned but both Jamie and JR looked increasingly angrier. Finally, Jamie jumped up and ran out of the Valley Inn. JR looked between his mother and Jamie, before standing, and walking over to the Kane table, pointing his finger at Ryan.

"Your brother's dead, Lavery." Ryan blinked as JR ran out as well, before giving chase. Bianca looked to her mother, who looked just as flabbergasted. Greenlee, ever looking out for gossip, walked over.

"Bianca, what's going on?"

"Amanda Dillon is missing," she replied. Greenlee's smile disappeared and she ran back to her own table, who was watching Tad's table with interest.

Tad glanced around in bewilderment, his eyes settling on Dixie. "Okay," he said. "Okay. I'll go after our sons, and see what Jonathan knows." He paused, and looked again at Dixie. She pointed to the door with her eyes, before giving him a confirming look.

"I'll go see Di and Julia," she told him, and he nodded before leaving.

"Kendall and I will go to Confusion," Zach informed her.

"And me," Greenlee butted in. Zach looked at her, weighing whether a fight was worth it.

"And Greenlee," he agreed.

"Are you coming?" Greenlee asked Leo, as he walked up to her.

"David wants to go to Babe's," he told her in a low voice. "Check on her. Trey and I figure we should see what Jamie and JR are planning."

"Okay, I'll see you at home?" Greenlee asked. Leo nodded, kissing her goodbye.

"Stick with Zach and Kendall, okay?" Greenlee nodded, and the trio left, followed soon after by David, Trey, Leo, and Maggie.

"Well," Erica exclaimed, "I'm sure she's fine."

"I'm going to call Derek," Jackson told her, standing up. "No one in this town ever thinks to call the police."

"Hey, you okay?" Josh asked Bianca, whose face looked whiter than usual.

"Yeah," she replied. "Will you come with me to get Miranda from Myrtles?"

"Yeah," Josh replied, touching her arm. "What are brothers for?" They said goodbye to their mother, Josh picked up Spike, and the two walked out. One thing was for sure- Josh was very glad he wasn't Jonathan Lavery just then.