Jessica Buchanan-Brennan sauntered into Rodi's and quickly spotted her Uncle Jared at a table.

"Where is Sarah?" Jared asked as she pulled out a chair and sat down.

"She had some coughing fit so she can't come."

"How convenient and let me guess Joey was there to rescue her of course," Jared said.

"Well, now that you mention it, yes."

"I suspected as much. Do you think she still has feelings for him?"

Jessica feigned shock and surprise. "You mean like romantic feelings?"

"Well, Natalie said she kissed him once."

"Well, yes, but Joey didn't know she was his cousin then. Sarah claims, she was so afraid that mom would send her back to Tina and Cain, that she kissed him to not blow her cover, but it didn't really mean anything."

"Do you believe that?"

"I don't know. I want to, seriously, Jared, this family can't afford any more scandal!"

"So then maybe we should encourage her relationship with this Cooper guy. Maybe if she actually likes him, she will not drag the family down further by being caught sleeping with her cousin."

"Oh, Joey wouldn't let things get that far. But why can't we just make her stay with Cristian?"

"Because Cristian probably bores her. Listen, Jess, I'm just thinking about the family image."

Jessica knew he was and that was one of the things she liked about her newest uncle. It also pretty much ensured that he wouldn't share her secrets, so it was convenient. He was wrong about Cristian being boring though. Cristian was nothing like his brother in that respect. "I don't think it's that Cristian is boring. I think she's just insecure that Cris will always still have feelings for me. Natalie claimed she divorced him because she couldn't forgive the deceit, or he had changed too much, but that wasn't really it."

"So, she sold her husband out for John McBain?" Jared asked.

"It wasn't really that either, although I'm sure John's ego did enjoy that. Natalie couldn't reconcile with Cristian because it bugged her that he still cared about me. Sarah is just going to have to accept that I am always going to be Cris' first real love and I'm always going to matter in his life."

"What if Sarah is Cooper's?" Jared asked.

"First real love? I don't really think Sarah is the type that could be someone's first real love. She's a little too rough around the edges. She is so much more like Natalie that way."

XXXXXX

At Buchanan Enterprises, a knock interrupted Cord's thoughts and he looked up to see Natalie standing in the doorway. "Natalie," he said.

Natalie shifted her weight from foot to foot and looked down at the floor. "Do you have a minute?" she asked.

"Sure, what can I help you with?" Cord asked.

"Do you really mean that?" Natalie asked as she started across the room.

Cord knew it was a fair question. He and Natalie really had never been close. Perhaps they should have been, after all they were they were Clint Buchanan's only two biological children. Yet, if Natalie's anger and fury reminded him of anyone it was his ex-wife Tina. Whether that was a dominant Lord trait, or whether it came from being denied the upper crust childhood you had longed for, he didn't know.

Cord took a deep breath as Natalie sat down in the chair across from his desk. "I guess it depends on what it is. What do you need?"

"I guess Acme does a lot with commodities right?"

"Not for much longer. The commodities and venture capital division are being phased out and liquidated."

"Why?"

"It's not really my area. While I think there are a lot of things that you can take a business skills set and run with, if you're playing the futures game you have to have a little vision," Cord explained.

"So why not just hire someone to develop that part?"

"Because it's hard to oversee that if you can't see it yourself."

"That's an area Jared wants to go with BE," Natalie said.

"I wouldn't recommend that or vote in favor of it on the board. The problem with commodities is that you really have to ride on the edge and it's easy to fall. Maybe Jared can do that, but I would be doubtful of that."

"Because you doubt Jared?"

"I think he's in over his head and I don't think BE can weather a risky investment. The other thing is, with BE, getting into commodities would probably require hiring a full-time attorney just to do all the SEC disclosures."

"He said ELQ does commodities."

"Edward Quartermaine seems to have good vision in that direction. Also, ELQ has Ned Ashton as their in-house attorney. What they are doing with them is on the up and up."

"So, if Jared brought this before the board you would vote against it?"

"I would right now."

"Ok, thanks, I guess," Natalie said getting up hurriedly from the chair and starting towards the door.

"Natalie?"

She stopped in the doorway and turned back to face him. "What?"

"Are you thanking me for the conversation or for voting against Jared?"

"Maybe both," Natalie said and then she turned and walked out the door.

Cord attempted to turn his attention back to the budget on his desk but his conversation with Natalie had pushed his thoughts back to Julia. Honestly, it didn't take much for him to go there.

January 3, 2007

Cord Roberts stood at one of the international gates in Heathrow Airport, awaiting Julia's return, when everything went black as hands encased his eyes.

"Guess who?" a seductive and familiar voice whispered in his ear.

"I know who I want it to be, but your flight isn't due for another fifteen minutes," Cord said reaching to remove her hands and pull her into his arms.

"Well flying commercial has it's advantages. You and Ned should try it some time," Julia said.

"Ned? I've spent over a week without you and the first words out of your mouth are Ned?"

"The first words out of my mouth were guess who? I think someone is a little jealous."

"I have no reason to be jealous of Ned."

"You're right, you don't. Where is Sarah?"

"Joey showed up unexpectedly on New Year's Eve. He's helping her rewrite her essay for LU."

"LU?"

"Llanview University," Cord said

"Right because Cooper has shown her that one must attend the alma mater of their favorite aunt."

"Actually, I think Viki went to Bryn Mawr, that's very much not Sarah's style at all though. I get that, and I wasn't in favor of the LU application anyway."

"Why? You went there, right?"

"For my MBA. But LU doesn't have the major that Sarah wants and she's only applying because Viki has been reinstated as university president after that whole embezzlement scandal. So, Sarah thinks that pretty much guarantees she will get in there."

"She's probably right."

"I guess I would rather see her have some confidence that she could get into USC, or DePaul, or even PCU."

"Yes, and since you thought it was such a great school when Cooper decided to go there, I think that would be quite fitting. I'll even loan you my PCU sweatshirt."

"Hey, if you promise to come with me to parents' weekend, I'll take it."

"She will be ok, Cord. She's come so far already."

Julia had died before Sarah officially was accepted to PCU. He had gone to Sarah's Parents' weekend, and they had hung out with Cooper who had been apparently still searching for his father. Cord recalled the last conversation he and Julia had about the man of mystery.

January 12, 2007

"Are you alright?" Cord asked with concern as they lay by the fireplace in Julia's loft.

"It's just been a long week," Julia said.

"Long weeks are your life. What is really bothering you?"

"I set something in motion and now I'm not sure it was really the right thing even if it felt right at the time."

Cord wrapped his arms around her more securely. "What did you do?"

"I realized that Cooper deserves to know the truth."

"About his paternity."

"He does have a father, Cord. Or he could have if I hadn't denied him that."

"You made a choice you thought was best. You don't have to defend that to me."

"Unfortunately, I certainly cannot begin to defend it to my son."

"Cooper doesn't expect you to. I think he just wants to know but it doesn't change who he is."

"He isn't Clint's son," Julia said.

"I know. You've told me that before and I believe you. I've always believed you."

"You have, and I didn't deserve it in the beginning."

"Sure, you did," Cord whispered.

Julia's hair brushed across his chest as she shook her head.

"We all make mistakes, Julia. Some of us make the same ones repeatedly."

"Fortunately, Cooper takes after his father I suppose in that direction. He grasps that actions have consequences and learns from his mistakes," Julia said.

"Yes, Cooper definitely does, or did you mean his father?" Cord asked.

"I guess both. I generally wouldn't advocate a second marriage to the same person but it appears to have worked out for him so who am I to judge," Julia said.

"Yeah, that definitely knocks Clint out of the running right there," Cord said.

"Yes," Julia said.

Cord could hear new pain in her voice. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that in a way to hurt you."

"I know, it isn't your fault my past is so shameful."

"Your past isn't shameful. Your son loves you; nothing is going to change that."

"You really have no idea who his father is do you?"

"No, and when you're ready you will tell me. Does Cooper's father know he has a son?"

"No, he has no idea."

"Are you afraid he won't accept him?"

"I think he will. They may both hate me once the truth comes out though."

"Cooper could never hate you."

"What about you?"

"I couldn't either."

"You might when you learn who Cooper's father was."

She hadn't said more; he had never pushed. After her death Cord had replayed the conversation in his mind sure that there was a clue somewhere. He suspected he also knew Cooper's father from what Julia had said but when he thought back to 1986, he couldn't think of anyone.

Almost a year later he still wasn't sure what Julia had thought she set in motion. As far as he knew Cooper was no closer to knowing the truth, Clint was no closer to accepting the truth, and he was left alone grieving the woman he loved. Cord supposed it was possible that Julia had notified Cooper's father and he had been unwilling, unable, or afraid to reach out to his son after his mother's death. Maybe that was exactly what had happened.

XXXXXX

Across town, Natalie Buchanan opened the door to Rodi's and quickly spotted Jared and Jessica laughing at a table in the center of the room. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised by Jessica and Jared's close relationship; after all Jessica was everyone's favorite niece. Plus, to an extent, Jared and Jessica almost deserved each other. After another cleansing deep breath, Natalie approached their table.

"I thought you had a lunch meeting with JR Chandler?" Natalie asked when she reached them.

Jared glanced down at his watch. "Not until twelve-thirty I've still got a few minutes. Anyway, giving JR a little extra time to chill in the bar at the Palace beforehand might make negotiations smoother," he said with a smirk.

Jessica laughed. "I guess Babe was overly optimistic that he's no longer drinking."

"You know Babe Chandler?" Jared asked.

"She and Kelly are friends. Her son Adam was the baby Kevin thought was his for awhile," Natalie said.

"So, Kelly was really on her side, not just not on Kevin's side? That is interesting. Well, I guess I better jet. Nattie don't forget about those contracts on your desk," Jared said getting up from the table.

Natalie dropped into the seat Jared had vacated. "I had figured you and Nash would be doing something with Bree today if you didn't have to be at The Sun."

"Nash is at the vineyard they're installing some new equipment or something and mom has Bree. I have to get back to The Sun soon or I would join you," Jessica said.

"Yes, I figured as much," Natalie said.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, I know you've been really busy there. Nash mentioned Todd had another of his middle of the night crises."

"When were you talking to Nash?"

"I had breakfast with Marcie this morning and Nash stopped in to get coffee. Jamie and one of her little friends took our order. She has gotten so big. I guess Cris is still out of town, but I don't think Carlotta knows he and Sarah broke up."

"Even Sarah didn't actually say they broke up. She said they were taking a break."

"That is the same thing, Jess."

"No, it isn't, it means there is still hope."

"Why are you so invested in Sarah and Cristian staying together? I hate to say it but some of the stuff she said the other day made sense."

"Just because you couldn't get past your own insecurity doesn't mean you should convince Sarah she is as weak," Jessica said.

"What are you talking about?"

"Listen, Natalie, I know why your marriage to Cristian never worked out and I am sorry, but I am not taking the blame for your own failings as a human."

"What? When did I ever blame you for the breakup of my marriage to Cris?" Natalie asked. Sometimes she wondered if Jessica just tossed things out to see how she reacted.

"You just couldn't stand it that someone else had loved me first. Cristian was like mom in that respect, and you just couldn't handle it. I truly am sorry, Natalie, but sweetie, you are going to have to figure out how to work through your emotions and I won't let you dump on Sarah and Cris just because your own issues got in the way. Now I must get back to The Sun. But call me later if you need anything," Jessica said getting up from the table.

Natalie watched Jessica walk away from the table in a state of stun. She wondered if Jessica actually had a point. She didn't want to believe she did, but there was a lot about how she had ended things with Cristian that felt anything but right.