Note: Also, this won't go much farther. I don't have much to say. *G* It's already gone beyond what I thought. Anyway. One more chapter tops, unless I get sudden inspiration for what happens next. Thanks for reviewing, dudes! :)

No Island Paradise
A Dimera? It CAN'T Be!

Over the next few days nothing amiss happened. Jennifer wondered why. She noticed that Peter was unusually distant, no longer going out of his way to be with her twenty four hours a day, but she wasn't sure if this was a good thing or not – Peter had always been a dangerous man, willing to do whatever it took to get what he wanted – would he go so far as to harm her and Abby? She had to admit the possibility, though it terrified her.

Back on the evening of their beachside stroll under the stars, they had returned to the resort – for that was what it was, far beyond the scale of even the most extravagant house Jennifer had seen back home – and he had gone with the maid Cassandra to put Abby to bed. Jennifer, of course, had followed hot on his heels, after all these years still unwilling to leave him alone with her daughter, even though she knew he would never hurt her.

That night, as on most nights, Abby was disturbingly receptive to Peter's kindness, and Jennifer despaired. No doubt the girl had been too young at the time of the kidnapping to realise what was happening. Perhaps she had even forgotten the role Peter had played in separating her from her real father. Jennifer did try at all times to keep the memories – the ones of Jack and Laura and Alice – fresh in the girl's mind, but maybe her efforts were not enough anymore. How could Abby stay wary of Peter when her memories of her earlier childhood were fast fading?

Jennifer realised on that night that she was helpless to prevent the inevitable. It scared her tremendously, but it also fuelled her anger. She said nothing to Peter, though.

In the days after the beachside stroll Peter spent a lot of time with Abby, playing games with her in the massive den, spoiling her more than he ever had before. He looked sad all the time, though he disguised it quite well whenever he caught Abby looking at her.

Jennifer usually hovered in the background, keeping a close eye on proceedings even though she would've liked to be as far Peter as she could manage. She was disturbed by the way Peter was acting – as if a departure was nigh and he was getting in all the quality time he could before it arrived. What on earth was he planning? Should Jennifer take Abby and hide out in the surrounding jungle? It might be safer than being here with Peter, if he was finally cracking. What if he was planning to murder the two of them? Would even Peter Blake be capable of that?

In the back of her mind Jennifer prepared a plan of escape, even though she knew that once out in the jungle she'd have no resources whatsoever. She and Abby would be completely alone. At least we'll still be breathing, she thought as she watched Abby giggling over Peter's silly antics.

* * *

"Do you like your pie?" Peter asked Abby, leaning forward to peer more closely at the little girl.

Abby nodded vigorously and murmured, "Yes." She smiled shyly at Peter. Peter smiled lovingly back, and Jennifer's skin crawled.

"I thought we'd watch two of your favourite movies after dessert," Peter said, "and have popcorn and sodas and other special treats."

Jennifer's apprehension peaked – Peter was really going all-out on spoiling Abby tonight. Did that mean this was the last night he was giving her?

Abby exclaimed excitedly over Peter's suggestion, and in her eyes shone real happiness. Jennifer was appalled on the one hand, and overjoyed on the other. At least her daughter could find moments of happiness in this nightmare. Jennifer wouldn't let herself believe that Abby was happy most of the time. Even if she was, she didn't know how much happier she could've been if left in Salem. Jennifer reached out and touched her daughter's silken blonde hair, pressing her lips together against imminent tears. Tonight, we'll get out of here, she decided. When Peter leaves the room, we'll slip out. I won't let him hurt you worse than he already has.

Dinner and dessert were consumed, and then the trio moved into the enormous lounge room where they settled down for the first movie. Cassandra and another young maid were back in the kitchens, seeing to the food preparation. Unusually, Peter wasn't his usual enthusiastic self. This strange new mood of his seemed to be dragging on and on. Jennifer saw no reason why this might be – unless what she had said to him before on the beach had actually sunk in. It was a thought that was too amazing to contemplate.

She waited for an opportunity to slip out with Abby, but none came. Peter stayed right where he was. The food was delivered to them, smelling so good but bringing Jennifer no comfort. Abby liked it well enough, but even Peter didn't get his usual amount of enjoyment out of seeing Abby happy. That was a sure sign that something was very wrong – more so than usual.

The credits began to roll on the first film and even now Jennifer had had no time alone with Abby, in which to make her hasty exit. Her apprehension was growing, goose bumps breaking out frequently on her skin in spite of the fact that it was hardly cold at this time of year, and she shivered on and off. She edged closer to Abby and tucked the girl into her protectively. She glanced more frequently at Peter, but still he seemed distracted.

"Can we watch the next one now, Daddy?" Abby asked in her high voice, and despair stabbed at Jennifer's heart. Since when had her little girl been calling this monster daddy? It was just not right!

Peter didn't answer. Jennifer stared at him in shock. He wasn't ignoring the girl, surely – it seemed like he just didn't hear her.

"Peter, Abby is talking to you," Jennifer said coldly. After a moment the man twitched, and finally seemed to come back to earth.

"I'm sorry," he said, slightly foggily. "What was it? What'd you say, sweetheart?"

He was talking to Abby, not Jennifer.

"I want to watch the next movie."

"Oh. Of course," Peter said, shifting forward on the couch and rubbing his forehead. "Of course. In a moment. But first I have to tell you something. It's something…something very important. I think you will be happy eventually." He didn't sound like he thought it was a happy thing at all, and that gave Jennifer cause for concern. Then again, things that caused Peter happiness usually caused others' pain, so maybe his current misery was a good sign.

Jennifer waited with baited breath, knowing this was the moment. She prepared to launch herself off the couch and take Abby with her.

"You're going on a trip tomorrow," Peter said softly, looking sadly at Abby as Jennifer got to her feet. She went to pull Abby up with her when she heard Peter's next words, and paused. "You're going to go on a plane for a holiday."

Abby looked excited, even as Jennifer began to stare in disbelief. Peter finally raised his eyes to meet Jennifer's gaze, and in those eyes she saw resignation, sadness, and love. She saw none of the Dimera madness she was used to seeing. In fact, she realised, she hadn't seen any of it for the last few days, when he'd been acting so strangely. It made no sense, since madness didn't just dissipate like that. But no matter what logic told her, she knew what she was seeing. She wasn't quite as sure about what she was hearing, though.

Peter asked Abby to go and put the next movie on, telling her he'd explain more about her holiday later on, and the little girl did so with a bounce in her step. She sang all the way to the video player.

Jennifer hastily moved closer to Peter, though she couldn't bring herself to move too close, and leaned down to speak with him in whispers.

"What is going on?" she asked.

He hesitated, before saying softly, "I'm granting you your fondest wish." And he turned away from her, indicating clearly that the conversation was over for the moment.

Jennifer sat back down in a daze, and watched numbly as Abby returned to sit beside her. She was almost oblivious to the little girl snuggling in beside her; she was too busy struggling to understand what had just happened. Was Peter really going to send she and Abby back home?