This Love…

Season 2 Episode 11: The Crossroads

During the rest of his work day, Aiden was in a foul mood. He had thought Hope had gotten past the whole Chase thing. He certainly wasn't condoning what Chase had done, but he was dead. Did Hope really need to keep tearing him down? Though, he supposed deep down he could see Hope's point about the whole "rape turning Ciara off from men" thing. It made more sense than Skylar brainwashing Ciara into being gay at least. Even so, Ciara had loved Theo since the rape had happened. Had Chase's raping her affected her, wouldn't have made her gay right away? Maybe it was different because she trusted Theo. He didn't know. All he knew was that he hated fighting with Hope.

He took out his cell phone and brought up Hope's name. He ran his thumb over her picture. It was his favorite picture of her. She was holding a bouquet of yellow and pink tulips, and smiling the most beautiful smile.

He sighed, this thumb hovering over the call button. He set his phone down; unable to get himself to talk to her just yet.

Suddenly, his office phone rang. He picked up "Aiden Jennings's office," he answered.

"Mr. Jennings you have a visitor," Tiffany's voice came on the other end of the line.

"Is it Hope?" he asked hopefully.

"So, it's your sister," she responded.

Aiden sighed. As if he needed something else to make his mood foul today. "Send her in," he grumbled. He put the phone back on the hook just as Carol opened the door.

"Are you done being a jerk?" she asked as she shut the door behind her.

Aiden rubbed his forehead. "Could we not do this today? I'm already having a bad day."

Carol sat down in the chair in front of his desk. "I'm not the one who always picks fights." She took an Andes Candies from the candy dish he had on his desk and unwrapped it. "What's wrong?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but Hope and I got into a fight," Aiden said, moving around some paperwork just to appear like he had better things to do than talk to his sister.

"Why?" Carol popped the candy into her mouth.

Aiden sighed. He didn't really feel like confessing something to his sister that was really none of her business, but at the same time, it wasn't like he was crawling with friends to talk to. He needed to unload. "She just found out her daughter is in a gay relationship, and she's not too happy about it. At first she tried to say that Skylar, Ciara's girlfriend, brainwashed Ciara into being gay. Now she's trying to say that it was because Chase raped her. She thinks Chase scared her off of men."

Carol shrugged. "Sounds about right." She reached for another candy, but Aiden smacked her hand. "Those are for my clients!" he scolded.

Carol rolled her eyes and took one anyway.

Aiden glared at her. "Ciara's liked her friend Theo since the rape. If Chase had really turned her off from men, don't you think it would have taken effect right away?"

"Oh, I don't know. Girls are different than boys. They are more emotional. Their emotions can make them act oddly. You said Theo is her friend. She probably felt safe with him because she trusted him. When things didn't work out between them, she had no other guy she could trust, and therefore went to girls." Carol shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not a psychiatrist. It's just my two cents. Who knows? Maybe she's just bisexual? It's not unheard of nowadays to love both sexes. Heck, some are married with kids, and nothing traumatic happens, yet they just end up developing feelings for the opposite sex later in life. Or she could simply be experimenting. It could be a number of things."

"She seems to really love Skylar. I don't think she's just experimenting," Aiden reasoned.

Again, Carol shrugged. "Like I said, I'm not a psychiatrist. It was just a few ideas I thought it could possibly be."

"I just hate fighting with Hope. I never thought I'd get her back once she left me for Rafe. Now that I have her back, it is killing me to fight with her," Aiden confessed.

"Then don't fight with her; simple as that," Carol said. "Just one more, I promise. These are addicting!" She grabbed another Andes candies.

Aiden shot her a death glare.

"Relax! I'll buy you a whole crate if it makes you feel better," Carol said with an eye roll.

Aiden sighed. "I feel like I'm betraying Chase if I just let her talk badly about him."

"Well, in all fairness, you have to look at things from Hope's side. I mean, he not only raped her daughter but he in the process took her daughter's virginity, which is something that should have been saved for someone special. Not that Chase wasn't special, but she wasn't in love with him. Wouldn't you feel the same way if Ciara were your daughter and Chase was Hope's son?"

Aiden hesitated, but then slowly nodded. "I guess I would."

"There you go. Just talk to Hope in a calm manner. You both need to communicate. That is the key to a successful relationship," Carol said, standing up.

Aiden raised an eyebrow. "And what would you know about a successful relationship?"

Carol smirked. "Ouch! I learn from my mistakes. I've made plenty of mistakes, so I've learned plenty in return."

"So, why did you come here?" Aiden asked her. "I know it wasn't to hear me wallow in self-pity over Hope."

Carol placed her hand on the back of the chair she had just gotten up from. "I just wanted to make sure the answer is truly no from you about that kidney. Time is ticking, and I'm going to have to start looking for other alternatives if you don't want to give me your kidney."

Aiden sighed. Seeing as she had given him some good advice on Hope, he was feeling generous. "I'll tell you what. I'll agree to at least get the test at the hospital to see if I'm a perfect match."

Carol cried out in happiness and clapped her hands.

"I didn't say I'd give it to you! I'm just checking for now," Aiden reminded her.

Carol surprised him by walking behind the desk and hugging him from behind. She kissed his cheek. "It's a start. I'm grateful you're even thinking about it. Thank you. I love you."

Aiden was a little taken aback. It had been a long time since Carol had said that to him. "You're just saying that because you want my kidney." He was so used to her having a motive, it was automatic for him to be defensive around her.

"I love you with or without your kidney," she said simply as she headed to the door.

Aiden hesitated for just a moment, then called out her name. "Carol…"

She turned around. "Yes?"

He took out another Andes Candies and tossed it to her.

She caught it.

"I love you too," he said.

She actually got tears in her eyes. She blew him a kiss, then left his office, shutting the door behind her.

Aiden looked at the closed door and sighed. Despite being angry with the way his sister had treated him in the past, he realized, he really did love her. So help him.

~*came back to me*~

Aiden headed home from work, just ready for the day to be over. He was still angry with Hope and though he loved her always, he wasn't quite ready to talk to her yet. Even so, he wasn't much of a drinker, so a bar was out of the question. He really had nowhere else to go. He had called the hospital to set up the test, but they couldn't get him into until the next day. So, back home it was.

He entered the house and closed the door behind him. He didn't see Hope anywhere downstairs. He contemplated staying downstairs, but he felt like lying down. It had been that kind of day. So, he headed up the stairs to lie down on the spare bedroom's bed. He knew Hope was probably in their bedroom.

However, a moment later, Hope appeared in the spare bedroom wearing a bathrobe.

"I came in here to be away from you," he grumbled.

She pouted. "You're still mad?" She began walking toward him.

"You insulted my son. I know what he did was so very wrong, but you need to have more respect for him when talking to me. He is my son," Aiden snapped. "And you don't know for sure that Ciara being gay is because of what he did. I—"

She cut him off with a finger to his lips. "Sh… You're right. I'm sorry. I had no right to talk badly about him to you." She began kissing him passionately on the lips.

Aiden was still angry with her, but couldn't get himself to not kiss her back. He kissed her for a moment, then gently pushed her away. "I'm still angry with you. We're going to have to talk about this whole Chase thing."

She bit her bottom lip. "Please don't be angry." She kissed down the side of his neck. "I love you. Don't you love me?"

He sighed. "You know, I do, but…"

"No buts." Hope said breathily as she dropped her robe.

"Woah," Aiden said, suddenly not remembering why he was angry with her. She was wearing a very small green see-thru mesh bra and matching underwear. There were very small green sequined shamrocks over the middle of her breasts and frontal region, but nothing else was left to the imagination.

She took him in her arms and kissed him again. "You want me, don't you, Mr. Jennings?" She kissed down the side of his neck while slipping off his jacket and letting it drop to the floor.

"Hope, what part of I'm mad at you don't you understand?" he asked, though he couldn't get his tone to show any anger.

"I said I'm sorry. You forgive me, don't you, my love?" She began to undo his belt. "I love you so much. I also really need you to make love to me." She moved unto unbuttoning his shirt, and kissing his bare skin as she exposed it. "Please?" She looked up at him with pleading eyes and bit her bottom lip.

Aiden could resist her no longer. "We're still going to have to talk later…" He said.

Hope nodded. "Of course!" She then purred into his ear as she yanked off his pants, but now I want to play."

He moaned, all his anger suddenly being taken over by his desire for her. He picked her up and carried her to their bedroom. He wanted her on their own bed.

~*came back to me.*~

Hope and Aiden lay in bed post lovemaking, Aiden kissing her neck, and Hope tangling her fingers in his hair.

Their lips met again and they kissed until they needed to break for air.

Hope smiled at him, and gently finger-combed his hair. "It's just like old times," she said.

Aiden grinned. "What is?"

"I say something that makes you angry. You storm off. Then I find a way to seduce you into forgiving me." Hope grinned, her tone carrying a hint of seduction. "Then we end up making love and it's incredible."

"What can I say? You're irresistible! His eyes filled with desire for her. "Especially in that lingerie." He moaned at the memory. "And out of it." He began kissing up the side of her neck again.

She closed her eyes and smiled. "I got it especially for St. Patrick's Day. When I saw it in the store window, I had a feeling you'd like it."

"Mm, I did. Very much!" Aiden's expression then turned more serious as he looked her in the eyes. "But we still need to talk. Are you still having issues with my son and what he did to your daughter? I thought you were able to forgive him. I know he's dead and gone and it shouldn't matter anymore, but Hope, I loved him and always will. He's still my son. I understand you being angry with him. I totally get it. But he was so remorseful. Don't you think someone who is remorseful should have a second chance?"

Hope sighed. She then turned on her side to face him, and gently stroked his cheek. "I'm sorry, Aiden. I should have been more sensitive, seeing as he is your son. This whole thing with Ciara being gay is just stressing me out so much!"

"I know it's hard, but, Baby, you know what Kayla said about keeping your stress levels down," Aiden reminded her. "You need to take care of our babies." He placed a hand over her stomach for emphasis.

Hope nodded. "I know, and I'm trying. It's just so hard to not worry—especially about my daughter. It's easier said than done."

Aiden nodded too. "I understand. "You never had a problem with Will and Sonny. Why do you have such a problem with Ciara being gay?"

Hope sighed. "I guess it's just because I really don't think Ciara is gay. It wasn't until now that she ever showed interest in the same sex."

"Well, Wil dated girls before he started dating Sonny, right?" Aiden asked.

Hope nodded. "Yes, but still… I really think it's something that is causing her to 'switch teams' as they say."

"So you do blame Chase," Aiden stated.

"Aiden, I don't know. I'm just trying to look at this from all angles. I know Chase wasn't in his right mind when he did that to her. It's just that Ciara is my baby. I don't care who it is, I'm going to be angry with the person who raped her. I don't hate him, and I guess I've even forgiven him, or at the very least I'm starting to forgive him. Even so, I think Chase raping Ciara really could be partly, if not all the reason she's switched to women. I'm not blaming you, and I don't even hate Chase for it. I'm just saying that it's a consequence for an action," Hope explained.

"I get it. I do. I guess we'll just have to compromise. We don't talk about Chase with each other," Aiden said simply.

Hope's expression softened, and she gently stroked his cheek. "Oh my love, you can talk about him anytime you want! I know how much you miss him. I know he wasn't a monster. I'm sorry I said anything. Let's just not talk about him and Ciara, but anything else about Chase is fine to talk about. All right?" She grinned at him.

Aiden grinned too. "It's a deal. There is something we need to talk about though."

Hope raised an eyebrow. "About Chase?"

Aiden shook his head. "About Carol. Time is running out. She needs a kidney. I told her I'd at least go and see if I was a match, but that I wasn't saying I'd give it to her just yet."

"Why the sudden change of heart?" Hope asked.

"She kind of helped me see that there was nothing worth fighting with you over; that my love for you means more than anything we could ever fight about," Aiden confessed.

Hope ran her finger lazily up and down Aiden's chest. "I like your sister. I know you have your issues with her, but aside from not taking Chase in, and the things you mentioned, she does seem like a nice woman."

Aiden nodded. "She is. She just acts reckless and impulsive sometimes. She's not reliable at all."

Hope smiled knowingly. "But she's your sister and like her or not, you love her."

Aiden nodded. "Exactly! I have to at least try. I figure being checked to see if I'm a perfect match is a good first step."

Hope raised an eyebrow. "And if you are a perfect match?"

Aiden sighed. "I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Would you be okay if I gave her a kidney?"

Hope nodded. "I wouldn't be thrilled about it, but she's family. I'd understand. I just hate the thought of you having one less kidney. What if you need it one day?"

Aiden grinned. "Maybe one day she can give it back after she dies."

Hope gasped and playfully swatted him. "You're so bad! Anyway, I'm not sure it even works that way."

"Well, we'd know I'd be a perfect match for it!" Aiden joked.

Hope laughed. "Stop it!"

"You know what else I'm a perfect match for?" Aiden asked her, his tone more serious now, and his mouth closer to hers.

Hope raised an eyebrow. "Me?"

"You know it!" Aiden said.

Hope smiled, then moaned as he got on top of her.

They then kissed and made love again, so happy to have made up after their earlier argument.

~*came back to me*~

It was a week later, and Aiden was at the hospital with Hope and Carol. Kayla had the results of Aiden's tests in. It had taken a week to get the results of all the tests. Finally, after four blood tests, a physical, a CT scan, a urine analysis, and electrocardiogram, and a chest X-ray, they finally knew for sure if he was a perfect match and able to donate if he chose to.

"Had I known it took this much work just to test me, I might not have volunteered to be tested!" Aiden grumbled while Carol was up getting some coffee.

Hope gently rubbed his thigh. "Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do—especially when family is involved."

Aiden nodded. "I know," he said quietly.

"I have your results now," Kayla said, coming into the waiting room. "You can follow me."

Carol came back over, coffee in hand, and they all headed into the private exam room.

Carol sat on the bed, and Aiden and Hope both took a seat.

"Okay, Doctor. Please give it to me straight. Is my brother a match, or do I need to start looking elsewhere?" Carol asked.

Kayla smiled brightly. "It's good news!" She looked at Aiden. "Your brother is a perfect match!"

She then looked at Carol, who let out a whoop of happiness and clapped her hands in relief.

Hope looked at Aiden.

Aiden smiled weakly. He had been hoping he wouldn't be a match. Then he wouldn't have had to feel so guilty if he said no. He didn't want to donate his kidney. But Carol was his sister and like her or not, he loved her. Did he really have a choice?

"So, what do you say, Gator-Aid? Will you give me your kidney?" Carol asked, clasping her hands together in a pleading manner, and batting her eyelashes I an equally as pleading manner.

Aiden looked from Carol to Kayla, to Hope. They were all looking at him, waiting for an answer.

Aiden didn't know what to do or say, so instead, he stood up, left the room, then got on the elevator and pressed up. He didn't know where he was going, or what he was going to do. All he knew was that he needed to be alone for a while.