Dawn's early rays streamed through the lilac curtains with a bright cheerful and unwarranted persistence. Jason McGuire groaned, seeking solace under a rather fluffy pillow and it's warm darkness. But of course, some sort of canary or songbird had to plop itself near the window and begin an irritating tune. The morning was here and he could no longer pretend it wasn't.

With an irritated huff, Jason threw the pillow off his face, and stared up at the ceiling, squinting in the light. He sat up, aggressively rubbing the sleep out of his eyes with the palms of his hands. Looking down at himself he saw he was still dressed in his wedding best, though far more disheveled and wrinkled. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd done that; drink himself silly. Maybe when he was a young lad, wild and uncaring but that was quite some time ago. Though after the night he had, who could blame him?

What a start to married life. Oh he wasn't stupid or naive; Liz was never going to be completely agreeable, but this was bordering on ridiculous. He ran his fingers through his hair, messy and oddly stiff from what remained of his pomade and sighed. He needed a good shower, if the lady of the bathroom would permit him entry.

Jason turned towards the en suite's open door and-

-open door?

He fumbled his way out of bed, legs tangling in the bed-sheets in an ungraceful way and nearly smacking his body against the bedside table. "Liz?" he croaked, squinting into the bathroom for any hint of her. No luggage, no clothes, only the pillow she had grabbed before. And there was, in bright pink lipstick on the mirror, in her very distinctive shorthand the words: 'Enjoy the room.'

Several four letter words escaped Jason's throat, as he stormed his way back into the bedroom. He tucked in his shirt with a rough shove, threw open the door and down the hall he went. It was mostly empty, save a confused looking maid. His mind stewed as he got in the elevator. She left. She LEFT. Did she take the car? He didn't look for the keys. Damn. Was she even in Massachusetts anymore, or was she off back in Maine? What was he going to do then? Well, she wouldn't divorce him. She wasn't stupid. She wouldn't risk Carolyn being pinned with attempted murder charges. A million more thoughts clouded his brain as down the little lift car went.

Ding went the elevator. Opening to a rather busy lobby. He marched through the meandering couples and groups and straight up to the counter.

The receptionist, the same girl from the night before, narrowed her eyes. "Sir, there's a line-"

He cut her off. "Have you seen my wife?"

She blinked. "Your wife?"

Jason's jaw clenched. "Yes. My wife. Mrs. McGuire. We checked in last night."

The girl's eyes lit up in recognition then. "Oh. Yes, she was down here a few hours ago."

"And where did she go?" He was starting to lose his patience, but forced his smile to stay plastered on his face. "I'm quite worried about her."

The girl's head tilted slightly. "Well, after we set her up with her new room, I believe she headed towards our swimming facilities."

"New room?" Jason placed his hands on the counter, leaning in just a little, causing the girl to shuffle back a little.

"Yes, she said you snored and requested her own room," the receptionist said with a sickly sweet smile. "And the swimming pool is down that way," she pointed past him and down a previously unseen hallway by the elevator doors.

Jason scrunched up his face into a tighter smile. "Thank you, Miss. You've been very helpful."

He found Liz lounging on a beach chair. It was a garish blue color that made anyone's eyes hurt. Sunglasses with pointed frames dipped in chrome, her hair up in a bow, pulled back as was her usual style. Heaven knows how she kept it so neat. And a bathing suit. A one piece, of course, white with a black bow around her waist. "Well now," he muttered. "Just what are you doing, Mrs. McGuire?" he asked, hands clasped behind his back leaning forwards so that his shadows fell right over her face.

She didn't even look up at him. "Relaxing, Mr. McGuire. Isn't that what you do at a resort?" Her arms rested on the chair.

Jason bit back a scowl. "A husband and wife are supposed to be together during their honeymoon."

Liz stared up at him. "A typical couple perhaps. We are anything but."

Jason didn't try to hide his disdain, as he leaned down, grabbed hold of the blue plastic arms and stared at Elizabeth. "That may be, but I highly suspect you don't have a repeat performance of last night."

Liz smiled almost sweetly. "Of course I won't. That's why I took the liberty of getting my own room."

The sailor stared back, but Liz's gaze was just as unyielding. Unbreaking. "Enjoy your honeymoon, Jason." And she shoved his left arm away and slid out of her chair and abandoned Jason to stare into the space she left behind.

And the next few days were much the same. Liz ignoring Jason and Jason refusing to be ignored. Sitting down to join her for dinners at the restaurants only to pretend he wasn't there. Attempting to talk his way into her room only to have the door slam in his face. Liz even jumped into the pool when he tried to talk to her. But mercifully, the honeymoon ended. And thus the long long drive back to Collinsport began. Somehow, even quieter than the last. And god knows what they had to look forward to back in the Hallowed Halls.

He glanced over at her a few times. She was staring at the passenger window with surprisingly wide eyes. Eyebrows raising every so often, lips parting in near-silent gasps as the Northeast passed by the Oldsmobile.

She caught his gaze half way through New York. "Shouldn't you be watching the road?"

He cleared his throat, eyes now locked forward, fighting tooth and nail to keep himself in check. "See anything interesting out there?"

Liz rolled her eyes, but her shoulders slumped slightly, head coming to rest against the glass pane. "It's all interesting."

"It's trees. And cars. And traffic."

She sighed heavily. "I'd rather we didn't speak."

"Can't a man be curious?" his eyebrows raised, risking another side glance.

But she didn't answer. Not for about ten minutes or so before the very soft and gentle reply came from his right. "I just forgot what the world looked like."

She wasn't sure why she said that to him. She regretted it the moment it left her mouth because the car jerked slightly. Jason quickly covered his movements up with a cough. "Sorry," he said. "Tickle in my throat."

Liar. Liz leaned her head back against the seat. And stayed silent the rest of the way home. Once again, it was going to be a long ride.

It was April 18th and that meant Elizabeth was coming home. Unfortunately that meant Jason was coming with her. But at least Liz would be home safe, thank god. Roger couldn't sleep a wink and had been up since 3 am. Waiting to see headlights even though he knew it would still be hours more. He almost wanted to get a drink but that's all he had been doing for the past five days. And Liz was going to need him to be sober and in her corner.

The liquor would come later, when McGuire opened his big yap. How Liz managed for nearly a week-best not think about it. Till death did he shut up, and even then he wasn't sure the scum's ghost wouldn't still hold court to all those unfortunate enough to be near by.

And Mrs. Johnson was probably sick and tired of cleaning up after his drunk escapades. Bottles empty, sick on the bathroom tile. At some point he climbed in the bath, fully dressed. He couldn't even remember a time he pulled a stunt like that.

Eventually a pair of lights slowly made their way up the drive at an ungodly hour even more ungodly than the usual Collins fare. Liz, mistress of Collinwood, home again. From his slouch in the drawing room, Roger rose, ungracefully with a clatter. He threw open the drawing room doors and stood there hands still on the handles. Waiting.

Waiting to be Elizabeth's lieutenant once more.

Joe Haskell woke to his house phone ringing practically off the hook. He practically gasped awake, fumbling up and out of his bed. He rushed down the hall, wincing when he slammed into his door-frame trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes. He managed to get to the phone, face full of apologies when he saw a blurry eyed and irritated looking Carolyn sitting up on the sofa. He took the phone off it's receiver and pressed it against his ear. " Mhm?" he yawned. "Haskell."

"Joe? Oh Joe I'm sorry it's so late," the muffled voice of Vicki Winters filled his head and brought him back to land of the living.

"No, no. Don't worry, Vicki it's fine. Is it, Mrs. Stoddard? Is she back?" he asked, eyes locked onto Carolyn's now.

"She is. And I'm sure she's going to ask where Carolyn is." Vicki sounded so nervous. "Please tell me she's still there?"

"Yeah, yeah. She's here." Sure he had to talk her out of taking the next bus to Bangor about three days ago and they fought when he took her to Woodards to get her cast off, but she was still here. "Do you want to talk to her?"

"No, it's alright. Just.." Vicki trailed off, silence lingering.

"Just what?" Joe asked, worriedly now.

"I don't know. I still don't understand this." her voice wobbled. "We just have to be careful for a while."

Joe rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I know what you mean."

Carolyn rose off the sofa, and stood next to Joe, leaning up to try and hear Vicki too. "Is it my mother? Is she okay?"

Joe nodded at the blonde but quickly looked away. "We'll be around tomorrow morning."

Carolyn glared hard but it quickly softened into a sad, tired stare. "Tell Vicki to leave the back door to the kitchen open. I'll sneak in. I don't want any grand reunion with Jason McGuire yet."

"Vicki, Carolyn said-"

The governess cut him off. "I heard. Don't worry, it will be. I suppose we should all try and get some sleep."

Good luck with that, Joe thought. "Will do, g'night Vicki. And thanks for calling."

"Goodnight, Joe." And click went the line.

Joe placed the phone back down and slummed a little but against the wall. "Well, at least she's home. And she's okay." There was an added 'we hope' that stayed unspoken.

"She's home," Carolyn echoed. "Oh Joe, what am I going to say to her? I said horrible things before all this and I couldn't even stop-"

"Hey," Joe quickly reached out and placed his hands on her slender shoulders. "It's going to be okay. You'll see."

Carolyn just bobbed her head in a little nod, blinking back tears.

"Try and sleep Carolyn. Please?" Joe squeezed her forearm, giving her a weak smile, before trudging back to his room.

But both of them knew they weren't going to sleep a wink.