Ch 36-Quiet Before The Storm

Late May 1970

It was just as Dr. Arden began his road trip across the country with his dog Asta, that Timothy and Jude embarked on their anniversary trip.

"Let's pretend." Timothy proposed as he drove, reaching over to grab his wife's hand. "That we're having a fling."

"What?!" She laughed, immediately finding the idea silly. Timothy, however, saw merit in it. "We're married we don't have ta ha…"

"But don't you see that's the fun of it Jude! Lets let go of our responsibilities and have the kind of fun we've never gotten to have…especially on our anniversary."

Jude sighed, recalling that they'd had a new baby on their first anniversary and no one ta care far her on their second. On their third, they got Mary and Alex back from Briarcliff and couldn't even celebrate because they were all fighting and having a hard time adjusting, and last year, on their fourth anniversary, she'd been stuck in the hospital, on bed rest while pregnant with Lyla.

"I suppose." She admitted. "That we haven't really ever gotten ta really celebrate have we?"

"No. And it's high time." Timothy paused, looking over at her. He desperately wanted some time to have his wife to himself. "This is our first real anniversary where we can celebrate Jude and we need to take advantage of it. Remember the night of the Halloween party?" He asked; remembering it merely as a very fun, romantic, even sexually charged evening.

"When we conceived the twins?" She asked, putting her head down.

"Yes." He said after a moment of silence, almost forgetting about their daughter's lost twin for a moment. "Remember how much fun that night was?"

"When we got ta go dancing?" She smiled at the recollection.

"Yes." He was glad she'd brought this up. "When we got to go dancing. I was thinking we could do a lot more of that Jude."

"So is that where we're goin' yar takin' me dancing?" Jude thought for a moment and settled into the idea.

"Yes. In fact I think you'll love dancing in Paris…I know I always have."

"P-Paris?" She asked, seeming to panic suddenly. "W-what…"

"We're going to Paris." He informed.

"No, no Timothy! Turn around! Ya're going back far my baby, please I'm not leaving the country without my baby girl!"

"But Jude…" He protested.

"No! Timothy she's a baby! I'm not leavin' the country without her! I'm nursing!"

"Mary can bottle feed her for a few days, you left milk behind…this changes nothing Jude."

Jude's heart ached when she realized he would not turn back for Lyla. This changed everything. If something happened and they needed her, it might take her days to get home to her little girls. The mere thought of this dashed all her hopes and expectations for this trip and churned her stomach; making her just want to go home.

"Besides, how can we have a fling with a baby in tow?" He continued, not noticing a little tear in her eye. "And Jude you promised me a fling." He said, she paused, looking back at him doubtfully.

…

Jude was overwhelmed with Timothy's surprise and nervous beyond belief as the plane began to ascend. She'd flown before, but never overseas and never in such a small plane. Instead of flying commercially, Timothy had chartered the foundation's plane to take them to Paris…just for the weekend. It was a small aircraft and something about it made Jude feel, very apprehensive: almost claustrophobic. Little did she know that he had an ulterior motive in taking her to Paris. It would be a while before she found out they'd also have a stop over in London after their romantic getaway to discuss the status of his heirs with the people who ran his late Father's company.

"T-Timothy are ya sure this isn't a bit much?" She asked, feeling that this was all far too extravagant for her. She'd imagined they'd be going to New York for the weekend…at most.

"No. No. It's perfect. This was my plan for our first anniversary…before you became pregnant with Emma, of course."

"Oh…" She said. He noticed she was clutching the armrests of her seat and he reached over to grab her hand.

"There's no reason to be afraid Jude." He squeezed her hand before he got up, making his way to the bar.

"Timothy I…" She protested as he began to pour her a drink. She was about to protest about leaving the girls again.

"Shu…Relax. There's nothing wrong with a little red wine…its good for you. That's what this weekend is for: rest and relaxation and fun." He hated lying to her…even partially.

Jude didn't protest, as she usually would've, when Timothy handed her the glass of wine. Instead she took a sip, hoping it would work quickly to calm her nerves. If she knew what was coming in London she would have willingly chosen to drink.

"Timothy if ya keep giving me this I'm gonna get really drunk." She warned.

"That's alright love." He smiled, running his fingers through her hair. "Have some fun, you have earned it. I will take care of you."

"Umm yar so sweet Timothy Howard. I love ya."

"I love you more." He laughed, leaning in to kiss her.

….

"You seem so overwhelmed." Mother Claudia sighed.

Claudia had phoned the house only minutes after Jude had left, asking if she could come up for the weekend. Feeling overwhelmed by the children and her newfound situation with Kit, Mary had gladly accepted and had in fact begged her to come despite Jude's absence.

"That's because I am." She confided.

Ten-month-old Lyla smiled at her Aunt Mary Eunice from her place in her bouncy chair. The baby was oblivious to her Aunt's problems and sat there, staring at her and chewing on a teething ring.

"Oh Lyla you're so sweet." Mary mused, smiling brightly, causing the baby to giggle.

"And she's grown so much…I can't believe Jude left her, are you sure she left willingly?" Claudia raised an eyebrow.

"Yes." Mary laughed. "She needed a vacation."

"Well then what is the matter with you?" Mother Claudia questioned, running her fingers through Lyla's sparse brown hair.

"Oh…" Mary sighed; scratching the back of her ear.

"You've always been able to talk to me Mary Eunice…from the moment you came to the convent and then again from the moment I saw you and your infant son in Briarcliff."

Mary smiled and put her head down. "You helped us so much Mother I-I don't know how I could ever thank you."

"No thanks are needed my child." She squeezed Mary's hand. "Now. What is it that's troubling you?"

"I-I didn't even tell Jude….you see Kit my-my boyfriend, he um…he kinda asked me to marry him."

Mother Claudia paused, thinking about a beau she had had, many, many

years ago before becoming a Nun. He has asked her to marry him and then she'd discovered that he was already married and had a little girl.

"Kit…" Mother Claudia paused, the name sounding familiar. "Do you mean that lovely young man who was framed for Dr. Thredson's crimes?!"

Mother Claudia had met Kit in Briarcliff and had, from her first contact with him never been able to believe that he might actually be bloodyface.

"Y-yes. We've um…we've been seeing each other, Mother."

"Congratulations! When's the…"

"I said no."

"What?!"

"I said no. Because of my son."

"Mary Eunice…." Mother Claudia gave an exasperated sigh.

"I'm not ready but…but I didn't say no forever just…just for now." She defended. "Mother I-I'm overwhelmed. I didn't think this would ever happen for me. It's part of the reason I became a sister in the first place. And then I had my son and he was good enough for me…I just, I can't imagine myself married and…and not living here with Timothy, Jude and the girls… I-I want it but…I'm not ready t- to even think about it Mother."

Mother Claudia paused, staring back at the young former nun. She knew the family's dynamic and thought it was the reason why she didn't want to leave.

"This is about Timothy; isn't it?" She questioned.

"What?" Mary was shocked.

"He doesn't approve." Mother Claudia suggested simply.

"Well no but…"

"Ah…"

"This isn't about Timothy but it is about a little boy whose part me and part him." Mary stated and gave a small nod toward her son who was on the other side of the room playing with his sister. "I know what I want but it's not right for me to break up my son's life to do it; to fracture his stability and break up his family…not yet…not until he's older."

"But Mary…"

"Deep down, Timothy and I are only thinking of Alex and so is Kit. My son's not ready to share me, Mother."

Mother Claudia opened her mouth, preparing to protest when Emma ran up excitedly with a drawing she'd made.

"Grandma, Grandma, look!" Emma cried. No one noticed that Lyla looked on interested.

"What is it Emma Belle?" Mother Claudia asked, turning her full attention to the girl who she considered to be her grandchild and taking her on her lap.

Mary's eyes filled with tears as she got up and wrapped her arms around herself in a tight hug. Leaving the girls with Mother Claudia, she went to go see her son.

"Whatchya doin' honey?" She asked, getting on her knees next to him." He sat on the floor coloring just as his sister had been moments earlier.

"I'm drawing my family." He said, smiling up at his Mother even as he fastidiously colored in a section of his drawing.

"Oh?"

"See, there's you Mommy she's the pretty one!" Alex grinned up at her adoringly when he said this and she couldn't help but beam down at him, her heart melting at his words. "And there's Daddy, and Auntie, and Em, and me and Grandma Claudia, and baby!" He giggled, looking up proudly at her.

Mary studied him carefully, noting he was so gleefully happy about the family she'd been about to break up. Something about this made Mary Eunice feel all the more crushed and she finally admitted to herself that in some ways, she was less happy about being there than she was simply resigned to it.

"Mommy I love you very much." Alex stated and she looked back at him suddenly, having been lost in thought for a moment or two. "That's why I made you the prettiest because you're my faborite!"

"Oh Alex, honey. You're my faborite too."

…

Jude was practically still dancing as she and Timothy walked along the Seine, making their way back to their hotel after a long night. He was right about the trip; she'd had the time of her life, everything just seemed perfect. She felt like she was floating along as she walked, and like the evening with her husband was a little slice of heaven its self.

Timothy held her, his arm around her waist as they walked, he'd lean over periodically and kiss her, his lips lingering there on hers for the longest time. They'd done this in Boston once a little over a year before and everyone had looked at them like they were insane. But there; in Paris, they were free to loiter and kiss and just be romantic as much as they wanted: everyone else around them was. Jude liked it especially that their walk, although leading back to the hotel, wasn't purposeful. It was a long, drawn out, impulsive walk.

"Here." Timothy smiled, stopping at a small flower stand on the sidewalk overlooking the river. He took a single long stemmed red rose and held it up to where the petals met her face. She blushed taking it in her hands and beginning to smell it. "A rose for my rose."

"Oh Timothy." She blushed, putting her head down and leaning her face into the flower. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, kissing her neck as they began to walk.

"Timothy!" She giggled; still surprised that he made no attempt to hide his amorous advances even though they were out on the street.

"What?" He asked playfully.

Truthfully Timothy and Jude had two different things on their minds. He would have loved to be solely focused on his desire for her, as she thought he was. Instead, he was preoccupied with having to tell her they were going to London when she was under the impression they would be going home in the morning. He fought with himself over the issue, unsure of what to do. If he remained silent about the second leg of the trip, he'd get his peaceful, amorous evening. If he came out and told her; he figured it would start a fight. Either way he felt guilty, he didn't want to be untruthful to her.

It was before Timothy could come to a decision hat Jude swept in and started kissing him more aggressively than she had before. He tilted his head, leaning down slightly to meet her lips, quickly falling in with the flow of her embrace. It was that, more than anything that made his decision for him. It was a wonderful night and he would savor it, not destroy it.

"I don't think I'm ready to stop dancing." She said quietly, rubbing her nose against his.

He smiled brightly and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her in close. The Eiffel Tower shone brightly in the distance and gentle jostling of the river water could be heard in the background. He took a moment to study her irresistible smile, taking special note of how beautiful it was illuminated by all the lights of Paris. A gentle wind came up suddenly off the river behind them, brushing delicately through Jude's blonde hair.

"Neither am I." He smiled; leaning his forehead against hers. "I love you Jude, I love you so tremendously…and I'm so thankful, more and more everyday to be with you, to be one with you." She smiled up gleefully at him. "And to dance with you, not just in times like this but everyday, in everything we do."

"I think yar the best of dance partners too." She giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Happy five years, my Timothy."

"Happy five years my sweetheart." He said, kissing her forehead and holding her tight as they began to walk again, both of them feeling more like they were dancing.

…..

"I can't believe ya didn't tell me about this."

Timothy watched his wife anxiously; thankful she wasn't as angry as he had assumed she would be. They were in a taxi, on their way from their London hotel to his Mother's home.

"Jude I…this has to be done, for our children."

"I know, I know but I coulda prepared…"

"I don't know how to prepare exactly but I know what I plan on saying."

Jude didn't bother to ask. She was nervous enough about this visit to his Mother's without thinking about the predicament the children were in.

"You've met my Mother, she loves you there's no need to be so nervous." He reassured. "She told me you're everything she ever wanted in a daughter-in-law."

Jude blushed. "Yes she does love me Timothy. But…its yar sisters…"

The black cab's breaks squeaked as it came to a gentle stop in front of Mrs. Howard's Holland Park townhouse. The pace of Jude's heart quickened as she opened the door and stepped onto the pavement.

Jude knew Penelope well now but was nervous about going to her house the first time and meeting Timothy's older sisters. She just couldn't imagine that it would go well after meeting his younger sister had been such a strange experience. Jude would also not have expected that it would all go very fast. Penelope answered the door, welcoming each of them into the house with a kiss.

"Mother when did you start answering the door?" Timothy asked, shutting it behind him.

Penelope turned on her heals and announced their arrival to the rest of the house. Jude jumped when the butler came up behind her and took her coat as she started to remove it.

"Don't be so nervous sweetheart." Timothy soothed, squeezing her hand.

Just as she had a chance to catch her breath they were ushered into the parlor. It was all very odd for Timothy, who had not seen his older sisters in many years, and since he was a priest.

"Everyone; this is your brother's lovely wife, Jude."

"Hello." She choked, finding the need to try to hide her strong Boston accent.

"Hello, I'm Mary!" One of the sisters replied cheerily.

The other, who Jude assumed to be Margaret, stared back coldly, raising her wine glass to Jude in greeting instead of saying a word.

"Where's Stavros…" Timothy asked, looking around the room in search for his Mother's much younger boyfriend.

"Oh darling, he's in Switzerland, dealing with his son."

"His son?"

"Yes."

"He has a son?"

Penelope laughed. "He's older than he looks Timothy. Yes he has a fifteen-year-old son who's gotten himself into quite a bit of trouble at school."

Timothy paused. Stavros' son was fifteen…still closer in age to his own nearly five-year-old son than to his own age…

Over the next couple of hours, Timothy and his Mother began to talk shop and his sister, Mary started to talk Jude's ear off. Jude quickly ascertained that Mary was a snobby but sweet woman. The second oldest of the Howard siblings, she was a London socialite, known among those like herself, for her garden parties in the spring, and her dinner parties throughout the rest of the year. She told Jude she wanted to come to America and meet Mary Eunice and the children, quietly adding that she thought she was brave enough to 'rough it' as her Mother had several months before, and live in the woods with them for a week or two.

"But how do you live like that?" She asked after a moment paused in thought.

Jude didn't know whether to take this as an insult or a totally ignorant statement and chose to treat it as the latter, deciding she didn't want to start any conflict. She could tell Mary was very sheltered and didn't mean any offense.

Margaret, however, was quiet, too quiet. Jude watched her carefully out of the corner of her eye. The oldest Howard sibling had barely uttered a word since they'd arrived and Jude did not like the way her eyes roamed around the room as if to judge or even pry. Jude thought it was almost as if she were listening very carefully for something particular, or maybe that she thought she was too good to speak to her. After a while, Jude came to believe it was a combination of both things.

She noticed Margaret roll her eyes as her younger sister spoke. She never bothered to look over at them, keeping her focus on a large magazine she was looking through, and so Jude found it curious that she looked up with a hint of anticipation in her eyes when Timothy came back in the room.

"Excuse me ladies. Jude, I need you to come and talk with Mother and I…" He said, taking his wife's hand and helping her to her feet.

"Timothy don't you think I should be part of this, I mean I work at the company for heavens…" Margaret protested, her tone quickly turning hostile. Jude could tell she thought she was being short-changed somehow.

"No, Margaret it's fine." He reassured, smiling at his oldest sister.

"Well what about Duncan and…" She continued, getting up as she spoke of her own sons. Timothy assumed knew what her argument was going to be.

"No. Thank you, Margaret." He said, ignoring his oldest sister as he took his wife down the hall.

"You always have your clutches on something, don't you?" Mary inquired, pouring herself a cup of tea as Margaret merely rolled her eyes again.

"Timothy what's this about?" Jude asked as he ushered her into Penelope's private office, shutting the door behind him.

"It's about the board meeting Jude." Penelope informed.

"Oh?"

"Yes."

Jude was nervous as she sat down in front of Penelope's desk, her husband seated beside her. She was afraid they were going to tell her she had to go speak at the board meeting, but then she saw her children's pictures on the desk and all worry left her mind. It had only been a few days but she missed her baby's faces. All three of them.

"Jude I'm afraid they've moved it to next week." Timothy did not know how she would react and held her hand tightly, rubbing his thumb gently over the top of her hand.

"Next week?!" She asked, a hint of panic in her voice.

"Yes." Penelope sighed. She'd hoped to get this over with sooner rather than later.

"Timothy I-I have a baby ta get home ta…and ta nurse." She said this part quietly, not really wanting to discuss her breastfeeding habits with her Mother-in-law. "I can't stay till next week!"

"I know Jude. I-I think you should go home without me sweetheart."

"Well no I…"

"I know, I don't want to leave you either." He said, kissing her softly. "But I think its best, for Lyla."

"Yar right."

"I'm sorry Jude." Penelope sighed as she got up and began to stack some papers on her desk. "I wanted to get this over with myself. And of course, I would love to have you stay, even if Lyla does need you…I'm glad you're here its just…it's a shame its for such a foolish reason…Timothy you know your Father believed in equality for his own little girls…" She laughed. "He'd feel the same way about your three children and I don't appreciate the board not honoring his wishes. They wouldn't be a board in the first place if it weren't for him! Of course…when the board has been hijacked what is one to do?"

"H-hijacked?" Timothy inquired. "By who?"

"Yes. Timothy don't you know people will stop at nothing when they want things to go their way?"

Penelope almost seemed annoyed to have to tell him this. Her tone and the message hit a funny nerve for Jude and reminded her of how Timothy had acted at Briarcliff when he'd thrown her under the bus just so he could get closer to his goal of becoming Pope. Jude paused, lost in thought now.

"But Mother, who…" He asked as she kissed his cheek and headed for the door.

"If you'll both excuse me I'm going to change for dinner, it should be ready and then we'll talk some more after."

"But Mother…" She cut him off, shutting the door behind her. "Hijacked?" He questioned, turning to Jude, who was still staring off into space.

"Timothy?"

"Yes."

"Timothy, I think I know what she's talkin' about…hijacked. But. Yar not going ta believe me."

"What do you mean I…"

"It's a lot like when ya said I was obsessed with Dr. Arden."

He sighed. "Oh Jude don't bring that back into…."

"Timothy. I think she means Margaret."

.….

Timothy was surprised at Jude's suggestion about his oldest sister, but thought carefully about it before answering. Had it been what his Mother was trying to insinuate as well? In a way he couldn't even suspect this of his sister, but in another, it made sense. She was the one who held a position high up in the company and sat on the board. She was the one who made it a point, and always had, to remind people that her sons were the only heirs to the family fortune…but technically; according to the conditions of their late Father's will, Alex should now be the main inheritor of said fortune…

Timothy didn't care about international business, or running the company or even the money to a point…but it was the principle of the thing. Why shouldn't his children be deserving of what their grandfather had allocated to them? Alex couldn't help that he was illegitimate and the girls could not help that they were girls. Timothy didn't understand how it was that his sister was a girl, and she was on the board, and that several women in the family had inherited a lot of money and had a sizable amount of power in the company, and yet, his own children were being denied the same rights expressly BECAUSE they were girls…

"Are ya alright?" Jude asked, taking his hand in her own as they rode in the back of the taxi.

"Yes. Just thinking." He smiled.

She was on the way to the airport and he was in route to his Mother's home where he'd be staying for the rest of his visit.

"Ya know ya didn't have ta take me all the way ta the airport."

"Oh yes I did Mrs. Howard." He said, inching closer to her and taking her in his arms. "I will miss you so." He admitted, placing his forehead against hers. She smiled as she looked up, tilting her head so she could kiss him. "And I don't want you to think I'm getting rid of you."

"Never Timothy, never." She whispered.

"I love you Jude, go home and see our kids and give them each a kiss from me because I can't stand being away from them; just like I can't stand being away from you."

"Oh how much can ya not stand bein' away from me?" She teased, rubbing her nose against his.

"It makes me heartsick." He whispered.

"Oh sweetie." She giggled, nuzzling him. "Yar a good husband and a wonderful Fathah. Just remember yar doin' this far them."

Timothy kissed Jude almost passionately when they arrived at the airport and it was difficult for the two to go their separate ways; especially given that half the trip had been their special anniversary trip.

Timothy felt sick and lonely when he climbed back into the taxi and he resumed the journey to his Mother's home. He was truly confused now, and perhaps even a little frightened about what was going to happen: he had no idea how he was going to unweave the tangled web of lies and depict he'd come to realize his sister had spun.

….

Jude was ecstatic to get home and was practically run over by Mary Eunice and the older kids. Jude felt absolute joy fill her heart though, when Mary brought her her baby and she finally got to hold her after days and days of missing her desperately. Lyla was especially ecstatic to see her and wouldn't stop squealing and giggling.

Mary Eunice, on the other hand, had had a long four days with the kids and left to go and see Kit early on the morning after Jude returned. Alex was upset about this and spent the morning sulking. But by lunch, Jude had convinced him to go play outside with Emma and promised that she would make him his favorite dinner that night.

Emma was enthralled in the game she'd insisted they play together; but Alex could only feign interest. Truthfully he was crushed by his Mother's actions and now felt sick to his stomach. He'd been so sweet to his Mother lately: telling her that she was pretty, that she was his favorite, that he loved her. He'd done so in the hope that his love for her would make her see how much she was adored. His soon to be five-year-old mind figured that if she knew how much he loved her, she might not want to see Kit anymore, and that she might not take him away from his Dad and his sisters.

After a while, Alex couldn't focus on his sister's game anymore and left her on the porch where she was feeding her bunny. The aroma of his favorite dish drifted to his tiny nose when he retreated inside the house. He felt bad that Jude was making this dinner for him that he didn't think he could eat. He paused for a moment, watching her as she cooked. Sometimes, because she was his Father's wife and the Mother of his sisters, but not his Mother, he did not know what to think of her.

"Auntie Jude?" Alex asked as he came into the kitchen.

"Oh Alexander, hello sweetheart." She seemed startled. "I thought you were outside with Emma, what's going on honey?"

"Auntie Jude do you love me?" He asked as she got on her knees to address him.

"Oh yes, yes I do." She smiled, placing her palm over his cheek gently.

"Why?"

"Well because yar my husband's son and sometimes ya look so much like him." Jude giggled. "Yar my daughter's big brother and a wonderful one at that. And besides all that yar such a wonderful little boy, who couldn't love ya? Ya know, when we got ya back from the orphanage ya were afraid of yar Fathah and yar sistah." Jude smiled at the memory. "But you loved me and I held ya all the way home and rocked ya ta sleep."

Alex beamed at this; he had had no idea. He knew he'd been taken from his Mother at one time and placed in an orphanage, and that his Father and Jude had saved him and reunited the whole family. He didn't know why any of this had taken place, however and was confused by it.

"Auntie Jude?"

"Hum?" She asked, beginning to wash some of the dirt off his face. Jude started to wonder how dirty Emma had gotten playing outside and hoped she hadn't ruined the dress she put her in.

"Are you my Stepmom?" Jude paused, suddenly curious about all these questions that he was asking.

"Yes, yes honey I am." Jude blinked.

"Auntie Jude…can I call you Mama?"

Jude was surprised and looked him right in the eyes when he asked this.

"Oh honey I don't think yar Mommy would like that very much. Why do you wanna call me Mama?"

Alex shrugged, looking away. He felt embarrassment flood him immediately and wished he'd never have asked. Jude grabbed his chin and moved it back up so he had to look at her.

"Is this about yar Mommy and Kit?"

Alex nodded, trying to look away again.

"She likes Kit a lot and I'm afraid she'll forget me." He mumbled, tears flooding his eyes. It was the reason he'd been telling his Mother how much he loved her lately; because he didn't want her to forget him.

"Oh sweetheart." Jude wiped his tears. "Ya are yar Mommy's very heart." Alex smiled when she said this.

"I'm her heart?"

"Yes that's right, yar her heart. Yar Mommy loves ya so much, that yar part of her, she could never ever forget ya…"

"Do you love my sisters like that?"

"I love yar sisters more than I love myself." Jude smiled and Alex gasped, amazed at the thought of that kind of love. "And I promise ya yar Mommy loves you like that too and so does yar Daddy."

"She does?"

"She does. But, yar Father and I love ya too, very much Alex. You are our little boy. The only one we have."

"Because my brother's up there on the hill?" He asked innocently, pointing to the direction of his brother, Max's grave. No one knew that Alex thought a lot about his brother and planned on going up on the hill to see him one day when he was old enough to wander about on his own.

"Y-yes. You are our only son." She smiled, trying to dismiss thoughts of the baby she'd lost. "And so, in some way, I'm yar Mama too and I love ya and I'll continue ta love ya as my son until the day ya die." Alex threw his arms around her and she responded in kind, hugging him tightly.

"I love you sweet boy. Yar my baby too." She pat his back. "Yar a lucky boy who gets ta have a two Moms and a Daddy who love ya very much. And I know ya might feel a little confused or scared sometimes; but none of us will ever, ever forget ya. We love ya ta pieces." Jude kissed his cheek. "I promise."

Alex jumped into Jude's arms and she cradled him, kissing his cheek.

"I love you too."

"I know ya do sweetheart." She said; holding him tightly.

Alex, who'd felt so unsure of himself for a time now, relished Jude's hug as well as her love and wouldn't let her go. It was then that the boy started to see Jude as his Mother too.

…

It was around this time that the District Attorney down in Boston began to seriously consider a case against the Roman Catholic Church in the matter of Briarcliff Manor. It was Dr. Arden who first discovered this, upon his return to Massachusetts in early June. Arden, knowing he was still very much a wanted man, was very careful about what he said and where he went but was nonetheless, doing his best to find out more about what had happened to Alex and Mary Eunice.

Truthfully, Arthur was desperate. He went about his investigation dutifully but could barely stand to think about what may've happened to them. His first day back in town, he'd returned to Briarcliff and found it ramshackle and abandoned. Because he lived a solitary life and didn't watch any television; Arthur had not heard about Lana's expose and the subsequent shutdown of the asylum. But that didn't mean he was surprised by any means, he and Mary had known it was coming for a very long time.

Arthur swallowed nervously as he looked up at the broken down old place, everything seeming to hit him all at once. If the asylum had been shut down, it met that Mary was either dead or just simply out there somewhere…a million questions ran through his mind. Had she gotten Alex back? Where were they now? Had either of them even survived? ... Would they forgive him if they had? Arden could feel a tear trickle down his cheek, his heart swelling not only with guilt but also with unbearable sorrow.

"How am I going to fix this?" He whispered, putting his head down. He looked around the place, the sound of gravel shuffling under his feet as he turned to face the woods that had once housed all his creatures.

Truthfully Arthur felt hopeless, like there was nothing left in life for him: his family was gone, his life's work had been destroyed, partially by his own hand and partially because of this…godforsaken place. … Arden quickly shook his head, doing his best to shut off his emotions: he was not one for tears, and certainly not for pity.

Arthur sighed and grabbed the evening paper out of the back of his convertible. "Well Asta." He said to his faithful companion. "Let's find a place to stay tonight, shall we?"

Arthur opened the paper, intending to look for a place to spend the night but stopped when one of the headlines caught his eye: District Attorney Considers Charges in Briarcliff-Church Scandal. Dr. Arden held his breath for a moment then chuckled.

"Those blithering fools." He laughed, reaching out to pat his dog on the head before climbing back into the car and turning the key.

Arthur was alarmed about the headline momentarily; knowing that a case against the church met he and his life's work would be on trial too. But of course, he wouldn't be the only one to take the fall: there was also Timothy Howard to consider, and even better: Father McKennon. Father McKennon, now there was a man who he would love to see fall. Hell, if he had the chance, Arden would likely do the pushing.

Arden couldn't help but continue to grin as he drove into town. He knew he wouldn't be able to hide forever, as he'd once planned to. But if he could bring McKennon down with him, it would all be worth it: whatever the cost. Arden hated Timothy Howard, just as he always had. But he'd found an enemy far, far greater in Father McKennon because of how he'd conspired against him, and what he'd done to Mary Eunice and how he had gotten rid of hisson….it ate him inside that the boy was really Timothy's son…and whether or not he knew about him, Arthur had to wonder if McKennon's treatment of the boy would anger Timothy.

Arthur considered his options carefully as he drove around, trying to decide what to do. He felt lost and lonely in a way he'd never thought possible and wouldn't admit to anyone in the world that he longed for company. Being a wanted man and a murderer, he briefly considered finding McKennon and simply finishing him off. But he knew he could not do that: the man needed to go to trial for the world to see that he was a far bigger monster than he could've ever hoped to be.

Arthur stopped in front of the little town's Catholic Church when the stoplight turned red, watching as several priests and nuns walked across the street together, chattering a mile a minute.

"Hmmm…." He thought.

Priests and Nuns together made him think of Timothy and Jude expressly and upon considering them, he began to carefully analyze his old alliance with the former Monsignor. It was a partnership of convenience between two men who had not liked each other at all. Both had sought to help each other reach an end goal, assuring the other that in exchange for safeguarding their particular wrong-doings, they would make sure that the other was never blamed legally.

Arden wondered if he could still trust this deal he'd made, given that Timothy, wherever he was, was no longer a priest. Priest or not, they would be on trial together, the two of them….them and McKennon with them.

"Asta." He said to his dog. "I'm not sure I like the idea."

The dog of course, tilted her head, having no idea what he was talking about.

"I mean…him…to ally myself with him…again, of all people…"

Dr. Arden sighed, speeding off a little bit too quickly once the light flashed green. In fact, he didn't like the idea. But what choice did he have? He couldn't very well let McKennon get away with his crimes. Arthur saw many things as they were and he saw many things backwards. From his view, McKennon had intended to ruthlessly destroy everyone else around him, not only in pursuit of power, but also just for fun. Lana Winters saw this about him too, and both of them were right. On that same note, Arthur did not really see what he had done wrong at Briarcliff: his experiments were simply the work of a visionary, and their destruction had met that his chance to help mankind was over…but he could get justice for his Alex and his Mary and maybe that would be enough.

"Just keep reminding me." He said to Asta as he pulled into the church parking lot. "This is the only way to do it."

Arthur took a deep breath as he went into the church in search of Father Malachi, the only man he could think of who might know where Timothy was. Arden decided that it was urgent he see him, not only to ensure that their old deal was still intact, but to make a new one in the hopes that Timothy might help him push Father McKennon over the edge.