Note: Hey everyone, I'm so sorry I've double posted the last chapter! Please check out chapter 48 (Palm Springs XI) again for Aj's shattering reveals on his plans to get back at Gregory and Olivia.

Also, thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoy the next chapter.


Gregory walked out of Olivia's hospital room to find the waiting room empty. He sighed with relief because he wasn't sure of his reaction if he'd see AJ again. It was because of him and AJ that Olivia felt like she had been cursed. To see her so devastated and lost made him go all over board again. He could literally feel his fingers squeezing AJ's last breath out of his throat. No. He couldn't do that, Olivia was right, he would be put behind bars again and this time he wouldn't get away with it, he had to acknowledge.

Gregory shook his head and wanted to take a seat when Sean barged in the waiting room looking hatefully.

"Where is mom?" Was all he asked.

"Sean. Thank goodness you're alright." Gregory was relieved to see his son.

"Spare me the fake concern! What did you do to her? Where is she?"

"Sean, you mother is sleeping she's fine. I didn't..."

"Liar!" Sean shouted pointing a finger at Gregory while passing him by. He entered Olivia's room angrily but his anger disappeared like a puff of smoke in the wind the moment he eyed his mother sleeping. He felt his stomach turning, she looked awful. Pale, yellow even, tired, sick.

"Mom..." He said soft but there was no answer.

"She is going to be fine son." Gregory promised as he followed Sean inside.

"Shut up and get out!" Sean whispered firmly.

"Son, you should really reconsider your behavior! I'm not taking any of this from you!" Gregory replied angry as Sean eyed him broodingly.

"Just give me a few minutes with her alone dammit!"

Gregory subjected himself to his sons wish knowing they couldn't go on arguing when Olivia could wake up any minute. Not if seeing them fighting would cause her another breakdown. Not if that would mean he couldn't take her away from here.

"This is not over yet Sean." He promised and turned away.


"Mom..." Sean turned his attention to his mother, "god what happened to you, hm?" His eyes filled with tears. "Who did this to you? No - wait, why am I even asking? It was dad wasn't it? You should have stayed in San Francisco mom, you should have started a new life with Trey while you had the chance... but instead you came back to claim your "life" again, you moved back in with us, you even helped dad get out of prison...you then moved out again, in our old house...how can you even live there with all the memories. Don't they haunt you?" He asked well aware of the fact she wasn't hearing him. "dad is constantly up your back ... what the hell are you doing mom? Why are you putting up with him? What does he have to do to you so that you finally understand he's going to kill you. He ..." He paused crying. "He is going to kill us all if we don't run away mom." Sean sat down and lowered his head on her bed sobbing tiredly at her side. After a few moments he felt tender fingers brushing trough his hair. For a second he felt like he was a little child again, his mothers comforting touch a bless whenever he was tormented.

"Mom!"

"Sean, sweetheart. Why are you crying?" She managed asking with a smile.

"Mom..." was all he could say.

"You're worried." She knew him.

"How...I thought.." he stuttered.

"I am fine darling. I am, really. I'll get out of here tomorrow," she smiled, "your father promised me we will all go home."

"Mom?! Ah..you actually want to go home, with him, after what he did to you?" Sean couldn't understand as Olivia looked confused at Sean's statement. "He's the reason you're here in the first place! How can you be so ... what is it with you when it comes to dad?!"

"Sean.."

"It's like he's pushing a button and you're having some sort of brain shutdown or something...What does he have to do to you so that you see that you're better off alone? Mom I don't want to relive all the things I had to witness last year. I don't want Trey to have to go trough this!" He was manic.

"Darling you don't know what you're talking about...do you even know what happened today?!" She was getting worked up again.

"Mom...I don't have to know. I see you, in here...it's all I need to know." He said soft.

"No! You - you don't understand. It's not your fathers fault. Please Sean, he is the only father you have, the only family we have. You can't blame him for everything that goes wrong...this time, I swear to God he was trying to protect me, he was trying to protect us!" She cried.

Sean sighed not knowing how to make his mother see what he thought was the truth: "Alright mom, then tell me. Who did this to you?"

Olivia gulped knowing he would probably not believe her and asked him to sit down again.

"Listen to me. Before you jump to any conclusions, I need you to understand that a lot of things happened, a lot of people are trying to interfere with us, to stand in the way of our happiness. Your father and I are both to blame. This time, I am even more to blame than your father...no Sean listen to me!" She raised her voice noticing that Sean was about to interrupt her again, "this would have never happened if I..."

"What are you talking about?"

"Sean, darling...there are so many things you need to understand before you can allow yourself an opinion." She sighed exhausted. "I'm afraid I don't have the answers to all these questions myself but...I swear we will find out how this all happened Sean and we will make everything all right again!" She tried.

"Sometimes you sound just like dad - and that's not a compliment!" He rolled his eyes. "Would you tell me who did this to you already?"

Olivia's lips trembled and her eyes filled with tears as she whispered her daughters name.

"What?!" Sean stood up quickly from the chair.

"Sean, calm down please."

"You're lying! You and dad are both liars! Caitlin would never do something like this! Wha -" He was looking for composure throwing his arms around his neck. "Why would she do something like this?"

"But Sean, listen to me. The bullet wasn't meant for me! Your sister would never harm me and I know that!" Olivia shouted.

Gregory was standing behind the door eavesdropping into their conversation and wondered if he should interfere for Olivia's sake.

"She threatened AJ sweetheart. But she didn't mean to go trough with it. She got scared, she pulled the trigger by accident. You have got to believe this!"

"AJ? Why? How did you even get in the way?" He was trying to understand.

"Elaine was standing in front of AJ, she - we all convinced Caitlin that she had to let this crazy idea go. But then Cole barged outside and scared her so badly that she pulled the trigger and ... I wanted to help Elaine, prevent Caitlin from hurting her...I tried to prevent Caitlin from hurting herself on the long run...and then I don't remember anything anymore. Just that I woke up here. Your father didn't leave my side for a second darling, he didn't do this to me, he is afraid himself...he would never admit it but he is!" She plead.

"God mom!" He realized she survived thanks to a miracle and sat down again. "But - but this just doesn't make any sense! Why the hell would Caitlin do something like this? What would she have to gain from killing AJ?!"

"I'm afraid that everything that happened since we found out that your father is still alive got at her worse than we expected. And in addition to that...your sister is..." she wondered how Sean would take the news.

"She's what?"

"Sean, your sister is pregnant."


„I am so ashamed of myself..." AJ whispered between the rhythmical beeps of the machines.

"I - I didn't want this to happen - after all these years...everything I did, every plan I concocted to get back at Gregory and Olivia...those things were not meant to hurt you!" He caressed Elaine's arm. "The moment I set eyes on you, when you and Bette came to pick Olivia up from the park that day...I knew right then, that you and me will be bound for eternity...well," he let a laugh out, "I didn't know what kind of bond that would be or how it would even happen but I swear I knew it!"

"It's rather cold for the end of May don't you think? AJ? AJ are you listening to me?"

"I'm sorry Olivia. What were you saying?"

"Oh - never mind. Look, Bette and Elaine are already here. Over here!"

"Heheeey toots! Molto suave!"

"Bette, Elaine! Elaine I want you to meet AJ Deschanel. AJ this is my best friend Elaine."

"What about moi?!"

"You too Bette! Both of them are my best friends!"

"That's more like it!"

"Enchantee, Elaine."

"Hi. I've heard a lot about you, AJ. I feel like I already know you."

"Only good things I hope."

"Oh yes. And now I know Olivia was right in every possible way."

"I knew immediately that you were the one to match my lost soul...you were kind and so, so carefree. You touched my heart. I just constantly had to worry about my father and his plans against the Richards. I had to keep up with his competition, each day being a new chapter in our battle. I was tired of it - and - I thought I was finally finding some peace of mind, comfort even, in Olivia. She had so many dreams, so many wishes. She made me believe in a world filled with joy, excitement and love and true feelings." He paused to contemplate on Elaine. "She was everything a man could want, everything I thought I wanted and needed. Until you came along Elaine. I saw it in your eyes, you were at peace with yourself and your life. You were exactly what my heart was secretly aching for, you were the serenity in troubled times, the soothing touch my heart yearned for..." He shook his head taking it to her hand and kiss it. "But what a fool I have been...I truly didn't understand all the ways I went wrong until I had lost everything. I loved you and her. I know how this must sound, and I'm sorry...I'm so sorry!"

"What the hell is wrong with you AJ? Why did you do this to me?"

"I don't understand. What? What did I do?"

"You left Olivia because of me and that alone almost cost us our friendship! She suffered because of you! And what, now that she seems to be doing just fine without you, you feel the need to run after her again, not thinking of what this is doing to me?!"

"Elaine, I just wanted to make sure that she's alright. Bette won't tell me anything about her, you are totally changing every time I bring her up...I feel bad for what I did to her! God, I'm not insensitive! But I can't help wanting to be with you!"

"AJ...you are hurting us both right now. Just leave her be. She came to terms with the fact that we're together now so just drop it."

"Alright, I believe you. Olivia is doing fine. There is one thing I don't really understand tough..."

"What's that?"

"Why do I get the feeling that she's avoiding all of us at the moment? I mean, if it's not because of you and I, then why is she doing this?"

"Ah - look, AJ she... she needed some time to herself, is that so surprising? Besides, she's doing even better than you think."

"What exactly do you mean?"

"Well, I'm not sure I'm supposed to tell you but - I think she's been struck by Cupid's bow again."

"Really? Well, that sounds good. Then she should be able to get over us."

"There is only one problem tough..."

"Problem?"

"Yes, you see, the guy she's fallen for...or the one Bette and I assume she's fallen for, he is, well, somewhat out of her league or so she believes. Bette is sure that's the reason why she's avoiding us, especially Bette. Because wherever Bette is, there is her brother and wherever her brother is, there is this smashing young man. Oh but they would make such a terribly cute couple!"

"Wait. Who are you talking about? Who is he?"

"You know Bettes brother, don't you? Well, we think it's his best friend. We saw them a couple of weeks ago on the beach. You should have seen the sparks flying."

"Best friend?"

"Yes, you know they're always hanging around together."

"Elaine, you're not taking about Gregory Richards are you?!"

"God I thought this couldn't be happening to me. But then it hit me: I finally had the one thing I could get Gregory to leave my fathers Liberty co. be. The key to breaking Gregory Richards and Del Douglas altogether.

I thought that if I would keep him from getting involved with Olivia, that if I was to make her be mine again, he'll suffer so much that he'd back off. I would have made my father proud, the Liberty would have been entirely mine and well...the rest - I hadn't thought about that... so I had to go along with it, let you believe that I wanted Olivia back. It was the hardest thing I had to do, believe me! After I found out that you and I have a son, I hated myself even more for doing this to you! God you tried to tell me you were pregnant so many times and all I did was running from you to her and back..."

"AJ this is over!"

"But Elaine, please listen to me!"

"Listen to what? Goddamnit AJ, you couldn't help it could you? What do you want to do, kill us both? God what kind of sick twisted bastard are you?"

"Please don't say that. I love you!"

"You love me? Ahah aha you love me! Okay, you know what, I don't have the time to do this anymore! I need to take responsibility from now on and so should you! Stop this nonsense and be true to yourself and your feelings for once!"

"You wanted to take responsibility for our son. And I didn't even ask you back then what you were talking about...I didn't know..." he stood up to look out the window. "All I knew was that i had to keep Gregory and Olivia from being together. But Gregory was never the type to back off, was he. He sensed my intentions and he gladly took the opportunity as a challenge to torture me. Back then, I was sure he didn't really love her. I was sure that the moment he found out she and I had been together, he made it his primary target to get her. Back then, I didn't want to believe that what they actually felt for each other was true love. That Gregory was even capable of feeling anything. He had his fair share of liaisons and escapades. What were the odds that he actually felt anything special for any woman, let alone for my ex? I was blind and foolish and somewhere along the way, I forgot about my own true love...I forgot about you...I will never forget how I felt the day I left sunset Beach. It was for the first time in those entire months that I actually realized what and who I had to leave behind..."

"Father, I don't understand how this even happened!"

"I'll tell you how! You pushed that good for nothing Richards brat so far that he even pressed assault charges against you!"

"What? But what for?"

"For pushing that twat down the stairs, that's what for! For a damned twisted ankle! You deceive me Armando! Everything I have done for this family, all my hard work could be gone in an instant and for what?! For a twisted ankle! Your mother is considering to leave me because that son of a bitch is determined to take all his information to the police. You are a shame for this family! A shame! Get out of my sight!"

"But father!"

"I said get out!"

"My family hated me, Gregory hated me but worst of all, you hated me. I had to leave without being able to tell you the truth. To tell you that you were my true love. I should have asked you to leave with me! I should have stayed and I should have fought for us Elaine, I am so sorry!" He turned back to her and grabbed her arm. "You can't leave me here alone now. You can't! You need to wake up and let me explain, tell you the story myself, let me correct the wrongs I have done! Let me make things right again. I can't make them right without you...please, please wake up..."

Bette listened to AJ's cries from the door and couldn't help but cry herself having to witness the broken man in front of her.

Life has been cruel to each and all of them, she figured.

"We all did so many despicable things to each other...how are we ever going to make anything right again?"


"What do you mean his name is not Leo Foster? Are you serious?" Ricardo was struck.

"I'm positive. My contact person called me a few times during the day and informed me with everything he could find out about him..." Samuel replied.

"Well who the hell is he and what does he want?" Ricardo barked impatient.

"I - I don't even dare to say this, I don't know if it's for sure...maybe it's just rumors."

"Sam, cut the crap and tell me! What did your contact person find out?"

"Ricardo!" Paula barged in the counseling room angry, "What the hell is going on here?"


"Annie! Hey, how did things go at the hospital?"

"Hey Jude. Don't ask." Annie said rolling her eyes. "Jude, things got out of control...Elaine and Olivia got shot.".

"What?! How?!"

"Caitlin shot both of them..."

"What!?"

"Long story short: after the riot, Gregory lost it and wanted to throw AJ off the rooftop of the hospital. Olivia ran after him and managed to talk him out of it. Aunt Bette, Elaine, Maria, Ben and I made it upstairs and thought it was all finally over, then Caitlin came to look for aj... she lost it and wanted to shoot him."

"Whow whow whow, slow down. What are you talking about?" Jude interrupted confused.

"Just let me finish. So she wanted to shoot AJ but we all somehow managed to talk her out of it. Elaine was standing in front of her, between AJ and her and then...Cole barged out and Caitlin got scared so she accidentally pulled the trigger." Annie went on. "Olivia jumped to push Elaine away and the bullet ended up wounding both of them..."

"But - but - how are they?" He stuttered.

"Olivia is fine, we don't know anything about Elaine yet and Caitlin, well she passed out and lost every memory about what happened."

"Lost her memory?"

"Yes, she must have been so shocked to see herself pulling the trigger on her own mother that she couldn't handle it..." Annie explained further. "That and - probably her subconscious is trying to protect her from further harm for the sake of her baby." She completed.

"Her what?!" Jude couldn't believe his ears.


"Mom, Caitlin can't be pregnant did you forget?"

"But she is sweetheart, she is!" Olivia was overwhelmed, trying to make Sean understand.

"No, she can't, she - I mean she told me about some treatment she was going to get but, but Cole and her never talked things out. She didn't take it."

"She didn't need to. She was already pregnant. Sean, darling your sister was so overwhelmed with this news, with everything that happened that she -"

"She lost it." Sean started to understand. "Because she thought this stupid feud will never end and being daddy's girl, she couldn't kill our father so she went after AJ."

"God Sean you sound so..." Olivia couldn't believe how he managed to talk about it.

"What, so like dad?" He left her speechless. "But...Caitlin would never come up with something like this on her own! She's not like this! I can't and don't want to believe it."

"I don't believe it either. Someone must have planted this idea in her head..."

"Yeah, let me guess. Who would be the one person in this world who would have anything to gain if AJ was out of the picture?"

"Sean! It was not your father!" Olivia was horrified.

"How do you know?"

"Ah, because I know! He would never do that!"

"Wouldn't he? Mom, he has done worse!"

"Look, your father and I were together this whole time here. I am positive he didn't do it! He -"

"Okay, mom come on. Calm down. Look, I'm sorry, you're supposed to rest..." he tried. "You need to calm down and sleep some more."

"Yes. I am so tired...tired but happy that you know the truth and please, please Sean stop blaming your father!" She thought he finally understood.

Like hell I will! "Alright. Alright mom, just rest now, it's late and you need to get some sleep." He said leaving her room. You might believe him but I know what a sick and twisted bastard he is!


"Sean!" Gregory wanted to continue talking to him outside in the waiting room.

"You despicable son of a-!" But Sean couldn't finish his sentence being interrupted by Gregory's firm hand slapping him. "Oh I get it. You can't take any of this coming from me right? Why? Because I can see right trough you? Because I can see what a liar and a manipulative bastard you are? You are not taking mom anywhere, do you hear me? You're not taking her home, I will be here first thing tomorrow morning and make sure you don't get anywhere near her!"

"That's enough Sean!" Bens voice echoed in the room as Sean turned around to see him and Maria.


„You heard right, her baby. Believe me, everybody was just as shocked, Well except those who knew. Apparently Gregory and Olivia knew all along. And Ben." Annie told Jude who was still in shock.

„Wait a minute, she said she couldn't have any more children because of the accident and her miscarriage. How?"

„I don't know, it seems Mother Nature knows what she's doing. Those convent nuns surely didn't...Gosh imagine being treated after a miscarriage from some people with basic knowledge of medicine."

„Holy crap..." Jude let out.

„Jude? You seem...really upset. Is everything alright?"

„Alright? Nothing is alright!" he went completely pale.

„Why? What are you worried about? It's a good thing I guess, I mean, this way Caitlin will start her own family and she'll be able to let go of her little brother. Olivia and Gregory as Trey's rightful parents will be spared the pain of having to watch Caitlin being constantly depressed because of Trey, actually it's wonderful news! Finally when things get to calm down, they are all going to accept me in their lives again. Can't you see Jude, everything can get back to normal again. The way it was before..." Annie raised her hopes up but Jude only eyed her lost. „Jude? Come on, what aren't you telling me? Why is this surprising you this much? I would have assumed you already know by now anyway, since Gregory knew, Ben knew about it too.."

„I - I thought they were - that Ben was - I thought they made it up to keep Cole from ruining the meeting. I know Ben told Gregory who played surprised but then I saw them later that evening, laughing and conspiring something and I assumed...it was all a fake."

"Just like Cole did. He didn't believe it either. You two are more alike than you think." she paused looking concerned ". Anyway it's nothing bad, so why aren't you happy about it?"

„What? Oh nothing, just thinking about how much has changed in such a short time...it's a lot to process." he tried avoiding the subject. „I mean, that family went trough a lot."

„Wich makes it even better news. Look, I know you are worried because of Gregory and me, we still haven't had the chance to set some things straight. But when things go back to normal, maybe he'll be able to finally forgive me and we'll all just, move on with our lives. This pregnancy is heaven sent."

„How - how far along is she?" Jude dared asking.

„Must be nine or ten weeks now. It's too early to say if she'll manage to carry the pregnancy to term but, we have to believe she will."

„Ten weeks huh. That's, indeed early. Well, I guess it's great then. She and Cole can start fresh and get over everything easier, this baby might save their marriage."

„Who knows. I don't know if Caitlin is really ever going to be able to let go of the fact that he and her mother had an affair. No matter how much she loves both, no matter that they didn't know who they were at that time...having shared a man with your own mother just can't be forgiven and forgotten just like that."

„Yeah, it makes it very hard. But a baby might solve that problem. Now, come on let's get something to eat."

„Yes. It's been a very long day."

„Endless." Jude agreed and grabbed Annie's shoulder to walk her to the restaurant.


„Paula I'm sort of in the middle of something here." Ricardo turned around annoyed to see who interrupted him.

"This nonsense is over now Ricardo! I have a feeling something is really wrong around here and I need to know what's going on!" Paula was determined.

Samuel and Ricardo eyed each other worried. They knew they couldn't keep the awful news from Paula since she was Elaine's daughter and should have been with her at the hospital. But telling her about what happened would only make things worse, she would take the case on so called Leo Foster in her own hands and mingle with Ricardo's work.

"Listen Paula. If you would just let me finish my conversation, I'd appreciate it -"

"No! You've put me on hold long enough. I want to see those files and I want to know what happened. Now!" She wasn't ready to back off.

"Paula -" Samuel tried. "Let me finish my conversation with the detective please. I swear we'll tell you everything you need to know. This is all very complicated, I'm afraid I don't fully understand the situation myself... please."

"If the situation is that complicated, you need all the help you can get. Let me help you, Ricardo..." she turned to him, "I am not trying to compete with you here. I'm just worried because of my mom. Whatever happened today - I need to understand it so that I can protect her."

Ricardo sighed and went with his hands trough his hair: "Paula...I'm afraid you can't protect your mother anymore..."

"What the hell are you talking about?!"


Sean was speechless to Maria's and Ben's story and was painfully reminded of a time when he used to worship his father. He looked up to him and wanted to be just like him, only to find it was almost an impossible thing to achieve as the years passed. Now, he was grown up and further apart from his father than he ever thought possible.

He looked around and saw the four expecting faces looking back at him. Ben and Maria seemed to understand something about his parents that he didn't. After gulping and swallowing down the hurtful words he intended to speak out, he addressed his mother one last time before turning around and leaving.

„I'll be here at 8 am sharp. You should be lying down if you want to be released tomorrow tough mom, you still look awful."

„He's right you know." Gregory turned to her as she wanted to call Sean's name. "Let him go and think about everything. He needs time."

"He's so confused poor heart." Olivia said slowly lowering her head.

"Olivia, I'll be with you in a minute if that's okay. Let me help you pack so that there is nothing keeping you from being released tomorrow." Maria offered wanting to talk to her.

"Go ahead. You need to lie down and rest. If the doctor sees you out of bed again he'll throw me out of the hospital." Gregory smiled at her kissing her forehead. "I'll be right here with Ben. I'll come to see you before I get back to the hotel."

"Alright." She agreed out of fatigue more than anything else.

"Listen, thank you for trying to talk some sense into my son..." Gregory addressed Ben and Maria.

"No need to thank us. We don't intend to let things get any worse around here. Besides, we go a long way back, that's what friends are for." Ben gave back friendly.

"Friends..." Gregory said under his breath.

"You, you don't consider us your friends?" Maria asked somewhat concerned.

"No, Maria please don't get me wrong. It's just that, it seems there was a time when Ben and I doubted each other quite a lot. And I haven't been quite a "friend" in the past now was I?"

"Gregory, what happened in the past should stay in the past. We both did and said things ...I would love to take back. But we can't so we have to live with it. Dels death drove us apart and we had trouble going back to where things were before." Ben tried to assure his mentor.

"The more I feel in depth towards you, since what you did for me and my family since my inprisonment was more than anyone could ask of a friend. I know Olivia thinks I made you watch her like some kind of guardian dog, but you did it by yourself, keeping it all together somehow, for the business' sake. And you Maria, lm sure you opened a window of hope in Olivia in the past few months."

"I don't think I did." She said blunt. "If I did anything, I encouraged her to her listen to her heart. The heart always knows best. If you'll excuse me, I need to take care of something and then go help Olivia pack." She said and took a seat leaving Ben and Gregory to talk.

"You should listen to her," Ben smirked. "What she just said, it was actually meant for you."

"I had a feeling it was. It's not Olivia who forgot to listen to her heart. Her heart adjusted to the chaos I've created. And I created chaos because I stoped listening to my heart." He understood. "But no more Ben. No more."

Ben patted Gregory's shoulder and smiled. "I'll go and grab a coffee. Be right back."


"Paula sit down." Ricardo grabbed a chair and indicated Paula to follow his request. She looked at him concerned starting to understand that something bad must have happened.

"Look, im going to make this quick but you have to promise not to go overboard."

"Tell me already dammit!" She ranted as both Ricardo and Samuel sighed.