"Dad! Dad are you here?" Cole made his way trough the construction site heading for one of the containers where they usually had their meetings.
"Son, go away!" AJ ordered.
"Dad! What the hell is wrong with you?" Cole made his way to find his father.
"I told you to go away! I don't want you to get in the middle of this!"
"I already am in the middle of all this, remember? Now what the hell were you thinking?"
"I wasn't ok?! I just...I can't believe Gregory Richards is getting away with everything!" He sat down on a piece of concrete while sighing.
Cole sat beside him and was quiet.
"I can't believe he gets away with everything..."
"Dad, is it true that your family and you...that you were embezzling money? Is that what the legend of Sunset Beach is build on?" Cole was wondering.
"Look, it was that time...it was the way it was back in the day. We did what we had to do. My father, he offered people help in exchange for goods, one hand washes the other..." he said.
"But you know it's against the law. You continued with that tradition..."
"Of course I did! It was what my father expected me to do! I was young and trying to live up to my fathers expectations. Until Gregory came along..." AJ explained. "Gregory found out about it and I had the choice to either go to prison and compromise my family or to leave town...so that he can have his precious Olivia." He said disgusted.
"But you and Olivia weren't a thing anymore. I thought you loved my mother, Elaine!" Cole was confused.
"As I said son, I was young...I thought I could have it all. I am not proud of the games I played with your mother. But Olivia was...I got so hooked with her back then. It was alright as long as I knew she was alone but when Gregory came into the picture..."
"You felt you had to get her back..."
"Exactly. I couldn't stand to see him putting her on a throne, the way they worshiped each other...it was I who she used to look up to before."
"But, what about Elaine?"
"Elaine was sweet. And innocent. I couldn't not love her, nobody could. But...you see the Richards were always competing. My father and Gregory's father, my grandfather and his grandfather..." he paused, "my father told me I should never let a Richards get what's mine." AJ was tormented.
"But that was not your battle! You didn't have to do this...besides, if you would admit it, your so called love for Olivia was never love but much more the feeling of rivalry between you and Gregory." Cole tried to explain.
"Oh it was love in the beginning alright, I never thought a woman could make me feel the things that she made me feel, she had a way to sweep me off my feet, I didn't even know what's gotten into me..." he admitted and took a glance at Cole..."you know, son...I don't blame you for sleeping with her. I don't know one man, not one who didn't fall for her charms."
"That was different. I did it to get to the jewels." Cole was appalled.
"Yeah..." AJ said and looked at the sky.
"Dad...what are you going to do now?"
"I don't know. I just gave Gregory the best opportunity to get back at me. I didn't know what I was doing, I just had to, make him go away..." AJ was a haunted, tormented soul...
"Dad, maybe I can talk to him, keep him from pressing charges."
"Hahaha, don't bother. I can imagine the cops already looking for me. I have to leave."
"Dad! You can't leave town again!"
"It's my curse Cole. I can't let him get at me. He got everything I ever wanted. I can't let him get me as well." AJ stood up and attempted to leave.
"Dad!"
"I'm sorry Cole!" AJ walked away in the moonlight and let Cole behind, wondering about everything.
Every Richards member of the family was sitting at the dining table, all except one: Tobias.
They all munched tiredly on the food that Rose had prepared, but they were quiet, even Bette was out of words it seemed. After a few minutes of awkwardness she hit the silence:
"Anyone notice that uncle Toby is missing?"
"I was just asking myself where he is..." Olivia said.
"I'll go and look in his room, maybe he's there." Sean offered while Tobias walked in.
"No need to look for me, I'm here loves!"
"Tobias, where were you? We started to worry! If this is about what we talked earlier..." he interrupted Olivia.
"Nonsense, I just finished some work." He said taking a seat. "Well my isn't this lovely? Everybody is home. You know what they say, no matter what happens, the heart always finds its way home..." he said giving Sean a look.
"Wait a minute. You keep talking about things to take care of, work...what are you up to?" Bette couldn't help asking.
"Aaah but my dear, curiosity killed the cat. You will know soon enough..." he replied and started to chew on the chicken breast. "I was never fond of broccoli," he said completely out of context as Olivia had to laugh at him.
"Aaah see, this is what this family needs. Laughs. And happiness." He said while smiling at Olivia.
"Well, you certainly have a way to make us happy uncle Tobias." She replied still laughing.
"Uncle Tobias, why did you leave to England actually?" Caitlin was interested.
"Well...I-I..." he hesitated.
"Darling, maybe Tobias doesn't want to speak about that." Olivia interfered.
"Oh but I would love to hear that story!" Bette giggled.
"Well...loves, I am going to be honest with you. I was always the black sheep of the Richards family. A bit like you Sean..." he paused as Sean looked interested. "My father, your great grandfather," he said looking at Caitlin and Sean, putting his "storytelling" voice on, "he was a very successful man. But his success was only as big as the Deschanel family would allow it...there was no room for two dynasties in this town. I...Me and my brother, we grew up with this rivalry. ...but I wasn't interested in a battle that wasn't mine." He paused to take another bite.
"Oh Tobias, so the whole trial today...it must have brought up memories!" Olivia understood the old man had his own demons to fight today.
"It certainly did love. You see, I wanted to learn, play, enjoy life, I always loved history...You could lock me in a room full of books and I couldn't care less..." he laughed. " but it was always about the business. Always about outdoing the Deschanel family. My brother saw it as a game, a challenge he was glad to take. I didn't want to. That's why I felt I couldn't stay. I wanted to study abroad and that's how I left..." he explained.
"But you and dad, you have spent a lot of time together, didn't you?." Sean asked confused.
"Oh we did. You see, I came back after the studies. I wanted to start new and I, I thought that things might have changed. Your grandfather became a father and I really was hoping he wouldn't do what our father did. But he has taken the same road...he was determined to raise Gregory just the same way our father had raised us. Hating the Deschanel family." He stated while Bette was speechless.
"Oh but loves, it was the same with the Deschanel's. This AJ person...he was raised to be like this by his father. The hate towards Gregory was put in his crib from day one. I cannot blame him." Tobias was understanding.
"But they all had a choice, like you did. You chosed to stay away from all this." Sean said convinced.
"Well, that's why I wasn't left with anything...when my nephew was a kid, that was the last time he and I enjoyed some time together. My brother was so angry with me because I wouldn't stay here in Sunset Beach and help him fight the Deschanels, that he has convinced our father to take me out of the will. And he did... I left back to England and started my life there, with nothing. But I always had little Gregory in my heart. I hoped and prayed for him to find a way to live differently, to find a fine young woman he would love deeply" he eyed Olivia as she blushed, "I even invited him to study law here in Europe, stay with me. But his father wouldn't allow it...I feared he would become as bitter as his father. He almost did but you, Olivia...you changed him a lot. You were all the emotion he couldn't show. His father has killed that trait right from the start. But you, you took him back to that place where he could live emotion, feel emotion." He paused again as Olivia herself remembered her long talks with Gregory about that. "You were the one person in this whole world who allowed and encouraged him to just... feel. And that's probably why he could never imagine a life without you, why he most definitely still can't."
"Aaaw now that's precious." Bette was fully emotional as Emily, Sean and Caitlin were like little kids listening to a bed time story.
"But you didn't even attend our wedding, Gregory would have loved to have you there..." Olivia said confused.
"I couldn't. So much has happened between me and my family...I-I knew they would all be there, I didn't want your wedding to become an ugly scene between me and my family." He said sad. "But I was thinking about him and you all the way. We were writing a lot, Gregory and I. I kept my bond to him alive trough those letters. Every one showed me that he was a fine man, thanks to you Olivia. He adored you and you," he turned to Caitlin and Sean, "and I was as in love with all of you, just knowing you trough his letters." He smiled.
Sean gulped thinking about all the things revealed about his father, and about the stupid maniac hatred of the two families.
"I just feel sorry that he and this... AJ, that they weren't able to break the vicious circle. They are just like our parents.." Tobias said regretful.
"Well I certainly don't plan to continue that with Cole!" Sean made it clear.
"Oh son, I'm afraid sometimes of the day that you will revise your opinion..." Tobias said.
"But I have nothing against him."
"There will always be something, hidden or not...after all, Caitlin and Cole are the first to bind these two families. And Olivia, you still are a thorn in this...Bush of roses..." He said nonchalant.
"Me?" She wondered.
"You were a love interest to both AJ and Gregory. And your..." he kept shut knowing this wasn't a good conversation topic in front of Caitlin.
"You can say it Tobias. My mother has a child with my husband!" She said cold while everybody froze.
"Yes...well...what I'm saying is, there will always be a reason for you to take sides, Sean. Either your family's side or Coles. And I fear that day." Tobias said and continued eating while everyone was struck and unable to say anything else.
Cole made his way into the house watching Caitlin who was alone in the living room, looking at old photos of her family.
"Hey sweetheart." He started.
"Cole! Where have you been? I was so worried about you!"
"I was...looking for AJ."
"Did you find him?"
"No.." he lied. "How are you keeping up?"
"I'm fine. I just wish this wouldn't have happened..."
"I know...me too. I just can't believe he lost it like that." Cole agreed.
"When will this whole feud end?" She wondered.
"I don't know...I want to try to convince you father to drop charges."
"How do you plan to do that?"
"With your mothers help." He said while she had a flashback of the discussion at the dinner table.
"But how?"
"Well, I guess Gregory would do about anything for her. And that's where I hope that I can get her to convince him not to press any charges." He said.
"What, you would do that? Work with my mom to help your dad?"
"Why not?"
"I don't think she will do anything to help AJ. After the things revealed today..."
"I don't think Olivia hates AJ. I just think she wishes this would have never happened."
"Cole, this whole thing goes way back. It not about today. It's about a time since the beginning of the century!" She was nervous.
"I know. It's frightening. But maybe we can put an end to this..." he tried.
"You think so?"
"We made a start the day we got married. We broke the vicious circle that day by bringing our families together if they liked it or not. Now all we have to try is to make them stop for our sake."
"For our sake..." she repeated turning away from him.
And for the sake of this new baby. A Deschanel born from a Richards...
"What are you looking at?" He asked curious picking the album up.
"Oh just...old photos. Here, look uncle Tobias in his twenties and my dad as a kid." She smiled.
"Man, your father could laugh?" He joked around.
"Yeah, he used to be a happy kid. At least Tobias says so." She laughed.
"Here is mom with dad at a cocktail party. They looked so gorgeous together..." she was amazed.
"Yeah...I have to admit they made a beautiful couple." Cole sighed thinking of what AJ had told him regarding Olivia and Gregory, how they worshiped each other.
"They still do, Cole. You know, after today's talk with uncle Tobias, I am so sure that all this can end if mom and dad get back together."
"How so?"
"Because mom is the missing piece to dads happy and emotional self. And he is her missing piece of strength. They cannot be fulfilled without each other. They build up on so many memories, so many happenings. They can't be without each other."
"But do you think that's possible, after everything that has happened? I mean, they were a couple before and still had the feud going on..." Cole was unsure.
"But that was different, AJ was no threat to my dad as long as he had mom. It was just when they broke up that my father became so impossible to everyone. Annie has brought the worst out of him, while mom, even tough they had their problems, always brought the best out of him. He was happy, he was loving, imagine if your father came back to Sunset Beach when they were together, my father wouldn't have felt threatened. The situation with mom tough, made them go back right where they started 27 years ago...I hope they'll find a way back to each other, otherwise we will never find any peace. Ever." She hugged Cole as Olivia watched from the base of the staircase crying.
I can't go back there Caitlin...I just can't..."
The next morning was tumultuous in the Richards house. It was so full of people, Olivia wondered the last time she was surrounded by so many. She couldn't help thinking of her time in San Francisco and how happy she thought she was alone when actually it was having her loved ones by her side that made her feel fulfilled and truly happy.
"Hey mom, Ems and I are going for a run. Wanna join us?" Sean was rushing trough the living room.
"Sean don't be silly! When was the last time you saw me running?" She laughed.
"When Trey was about to swallow that little car.. oh and on the last Black Friday when everything you love was on sale" he laughed with Emily as they ran out the patio.
"Oh aren't they just gorgeous?" Bette laughed from the sofa.
"Yes, it's nice to see they can still be so easy going with everything going on." Olivia answered.
"Hey mom," Caitlin rushed to the dining room, "I'm starving what's for breakfast?"
"Hey..." Cole said somewhat uncomfortable.
"Good morning. Breakfast is on the table...are you taking Trey today?"
"Yes, Cole and I we want to go to the park with him, if that's okay."
"Sure honey, whatever you like." Olivia tried to make everyone comfortable. "Just don't let him have to much sweets." She laughed.
"I know mom, he turns into a little Tasmanian devil when he does." Caitlin laughed back.
Everything seemed so normal, if there wasn't for Gregory who messed up with their lives, even if involuntarily.
"So toots, what are you up to today?"
"I have no clue Bette. I don't even know what to do first and what last..." she lamented.
"I have an idea. Why don't I grab a free day and you and I go and hit those shops in Beverly Hills?"
"I don't know if I'm in the mood for..."
"Come on! When was the last time you and I spent a day together? Besides, you sure need some distraction from all this! I am sure it will work wonders. A little manicure, a little silk lingerie, come on!" Bette was tempting her.
"Oh I don't know..."
"Little sparkly shoes, some va va voom dress..." Bette made it sound so great.
"Oooh, alright! I'm in." Olivia said laughing as she let Bette get her carried away.
"I knew you couldn't resist! Come on!" Bette jumped right out.
"You are unbelievable!"
"Well, unbelievable is my middle name toots!" They both laughed running out the door.
"Ooh wait, is the yummy limo driver still working for you?"
"Yes he is but please don't make him uncomfortable again..."
"Oh I wouldn't dream of it! You know, I love staying at your place. It has some...perks you know." She was fooling around.
"Would you stop it!" Olivia laughed and pushed Bette out of the door.
Cole was looking at Olivia and Bette who left the house. He couldn't help thinking what his father told him yesterday, that he would understand why he slept with her.
And I can't believe she still thinks she gave me a child... if she only knew...
"Cole! Hey, you look far away. Want a bite?" Caitlin came from the kitchen with some things to eat.
"No, I'll grab something on the way. I will have to go to work after that sweetheart, I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I can hardly wait for you to get that vacation so that we can be alone." She smiled.
Cole couldn't help noticing the appetite she was having and that somehow she has changed, she radiated so much. But he figured it was all this stress with Gregory that made her change, and now that she knew he was safe, she could finally be herself again.
I cannot let anyone find out...least of all you Caitlin. You won't be able to give me another child...Trey is all I have. All I will ever have. I'm sorry that you have to live thinking your mother and I created this wonderful little life... he sighed pulling her close to him.
"What's the matter Cole?" She was surprised.
"Nothing. Come on, let's go to the park."
"So, now that we're all prepped and fresh, wanna go see Greggy?" Bette asked as they jumped in the limo with tons of bags.
"Well I said I would visit him...but..."
"Hey Steve cutie! To South Bay please." Bette took the decision for Olivia as she was still open mouthed. " na na toots, I know you want it. We need to see how his hearing went today. Maybe he already knows." Bette encouraged.
"I suppose we should..." she was still unsure.
As they arrived to the hospital and made their way trough the hallways, Bette was flirting with every man she could eye in there.
"Ah, the doctors are all so cute around here!" She laughed and radiated. "Except him!" She pointed at an older doctor, "I know him, he was my ex-husbands colleague!"
"Which ex-husband do you mean?" Olivia asked and they both giggled.
"Oh, now I would recognize those giggles blind folded!" Gregory said while in a wheel chair.
"Gregory! What are you doing up?" Olivia asked worried.
"I'm fine! I just need some fresh air and nurse Angela is so nice to take me for a walk. But I guess you and I could go instead..." he was looking happy.
"Sure, anything for Greggy pooh!" Bette exclaimed.
It wasn't quite what Gregory had in mind but it was doing him good to hear them laugh and giggle the way they always used to. Bette pushed his wheel chair on the way to the hospitals garden and she was babbling on an on about the beautiful day she had spent with Olivia.
"I'm telling you Greggy, that credit card was lit today!" She laughed as he looked up to Olivia.
"Well, if there would be a competition for shopping, I know who'd get the first prize." He joked around.
"Oh please, you have no idea how other women can be like! You were actually quite lucky with me." Olivia joked around.
"I still am damn lucky..." he replied.
"So," Bette interrupted to skip the commentary that made Olivia sigh, "do you know anything about the hearing today?" She asked while they were sitting on a bench, Gregory facing them in his wheel chair.
"Well that's one of the reasons I'm in a good mood today. I was charged with 160h of charity work."
"Oh that's wonderful!" Bette was happy.
"What kind of work is that going to be?" Olivia was wondering.
"Well, they committed me to give lectures. on law. to college students. Can you even imagine me doing that?" He joked.
"No, to be honest you don't have professor material." The three of them laughed at the thought of Gregory giving lectures.
"So what's the other reason for your good mood?" Bette asked curious.
"Well, I asked to be released today. I'm coming home this evening. I'm still under house arrest but...home nonetheless." He explained.
"Oh.." Bette let out.
"Oh? What's that supposed to mean?" Gregory directed his attention to Bette.
"No, well that's great but..." Bette tried to explain.
"What Bette means is that..." Olivia tried to help.
"Well, I'm kinda staying in your room..." Bette finally said in a rush.
"What?" He didn't understand.
"I invited Bette to live with us. With everything that happened, she needs me, she needs to be with Emily..." she smiled at Bette holding her hand.
"That's okay with me, honestly, but why are you staying in my room?" He was wondering.
"Well the other rooms are occupied. Sean and Emily came back, Cole and Caitlin are there too, Tobias ..." Olivia enumerated.
"A full house, isn't it?" He was thinking about the picture of everybody being around.
"Gregory, I can share a room with Bette and you can stay in yours then." Olivia offered.
"Oh I'm sure we'll find something." Gregory replied as he had something else in mind. "Now I still have to wait for Tyus to give me my medication and for Ricardo to escort me home. This time he said that one officer will be around the house but that's going to be it, since I can't get very far." He said looking at his wound.
"Well, this is going to be pretty awkward..." Olivia thought out loud.
"How so?" Gregory was amused.
"Oh, I just... I was thinking of everybody suddenly filling the house. This is so ... overwhelming."
"Look, Livvy I can take a room somewhere." Bette offered.
"Nonsense! I didn't invite you to stay with me to then put you on the streets two days later! That's not going to happen!"
"Well, I guess we're roomies then!" Bette was exhaling happiness as she squeezed Olivia.
"You know, the more I look at you two, the more I know I don't want to miss another moment watching you! You two have a gift of making people happy!" Gregory said happy as Bette put a frown on her face.
"Honey, don't get me wrong here but...you have to get trough your trial first. There is no saying what will happen. Don't, just please don't get your hopes up high. You were allowed to come home due to your condition. And that's it. You're being charged for murder. Just...don't forget that..." Bette brought him back to reality. He looked down and tried to steer the wheel chair but his wound hurt him. Olivia jumped to help him.
"What's the matter? Where do you want to go?"
"I need to sign those release papers right now. I can make it on my own thank you!" He was upset.
"Oh boy, look at him. Say determined and you say Gregory Richards. I can't believe the ferocity he possesses. That wound must hurt so bad and yet look at him. He doesn't sketch a sign of pain..." Bette was amazed.
"He will fight until the bitter end to get what he wants..." Olivia analyzed.
"Shall I spell it out for you? What he wants?" Bette was making fun again.
"Oh, Bette stop it. Come on, I have to get home."
"Yay for Steve! I think I'm going to drive around after that." Bette laughed.
"Bette!"
"What?"
"I know what you're doing!" Olivia said angry and the paused to continue softer "I know that all this flirting and the jokes you make, they are all just to keep your mind off AJ."
"Thaaa!" Bette wasn't able to speak.
"No, I know you have feelings for him. You wouldn't have been with him otherwise..."
"Livvy...I thought he loved me." Bette gave up the act.
"But he did. He loves in his own way...his feud with Gregory has nothing to do with you!"
"Are you kidding me? He knows you are my best friend for gods sake! He knows Greggy is your husband, was, well...you know! The moment he does anything to hurt you two, he automatically hurts me and I can't live with that!" She said strong but with tears in her eyes.
"Oh darling! Come here!" Olivia took Bette in her arms. "I'm here for you. Everything will be alright, you'll see." She encouraged as Bette nodded trying not to cry.