Disclaimer: Characters are property of NBC.

Chapter 10

Julian and Sheridan have a heart to heart. Celeste meets T.C..

Three days later, Pilar hurried down the steps of the Harmony FBI sub-basement. She had read the DiMera file thoroughly.

She tried to remind herself, as she headed towards the door that housed Liz Sanbourne, that her son, Antonio, was once in love with this woman. And Pilar was relatively sure that Liz had returned his feelings. That is why she would never understand why Liz did what she did to her sister. It gave her the creeps to think of a woman like that marrying one of her sons.

Spence Lowell was already outside of the door waiting. Pilar stopped in front of him.

'She's waiting?' Pilar asked.

'Yes, and I have to say, her mood gets worse with each week.'

'Well too bad,' Pilar said, her voice hard, 'because I want to get moving on this right away.'

'Well, you may get your wish.'

Pilar tilted her head.

'Has something else happened?' she asked.

Spence lowered his voice.

'One of our informants told us that Celeste Perrault is here in Harmony.'

Pilar said nothing, as she digested the news. Why in the world would Liz's step-mother be here? To see Liz? Pilar highly doubted that.

Pilar put her hand on the knob.

'I'm going in, wish me luck.' she said.

Spence nodded.

'You just make her realize that she doesn't have any other choice but to help us. Otherwise, we'll charge her with conspiracy to commit murder.'

Pilar eyed him.

'Do you really think Alistair Crane is dead?'

'Do you think he could've made it out of that swamp?' Spence asked her.

Pilar shrugged, then opened the door. Liz was sitting at a table, dressed in regular clothes. She looked very puzzled when she saw Pilar. Pilar closed the door and walked up to the table.

'Hello,Liz.'

Liz stood up and looked her up and down. Pilar was dressed in a suit by Prada and her hair was swept up.

'Pilar...what are you doing here? Have you come to get me out of here?'

Pilar crossed her arms.

'I'm with the FBI.'

Liz smiled.

'You're kidding, right?'

Pilar rolled her tongue around in her mouth.

'Sit down, Liz. I'm going to tell you what we need from you.'

But Liz continued to stand. Her tone became belligerent.

'What you need from me? Were you a part of this the whole time? Did you know I was being kept here and not tell anyone?'

Pilar rolled her eyes and rubbed her forehead.

'Who would I have told, Liz? No one cares about you.'

Liz's bottom lip trembled.

'That's not true. Antonio cares.'

Pilar didn't answer. She knew her son was a loving and caring man. She had not doubt that Antonio, while not in love with Liz, would still care about her welfare.

'Pilar, I've been here over a month now.'

'Have you been mistreated in any way?' Pilar asked.

'Well, no. I was allowed to bring my clothes and some other things. They told me that they were taking me to some safehouse...because of Alistair Crane. But the longer I stay here, the more I don't believe that. And then there's you. Does your family know that you work for the FBI?'

'We're not here to discuss me.' Pilar said shortly.

'So, they don't. I know Antonio and Luis would be worried sick if they knew...'

'Sit down, Liz.' Pilar repeated impatiently. Liz did what she was told, her eyes sweeping over the woman she thought had been nothing better than a housekeeper.

'We want you to get in touch with your ex-step-mother, Celeste Perrault.'

Liz sniffed.

'Uh, no. I don't think so.' she answered.

'You want to get out of here, don't you Liz?'

Liz blinked.

'Of course I do! But what the hell would that heifer have to do with what happened to Alistair?! I told that man...Spence?'

Pilar nodded.

'I told him everything that I know! And what I know has nothing to do with Celeste Perrault!' Pilar sat down.

'Tell me what you think you know.'

'Julian Crane blackmailed me into setting his father up. When I got to the Harmony Swamp, Alistair's car was there, along with another one. I then jumped in my car and left, I swear!'

'Julian Crane blackmailed you with what?' Pilar asked sharply.

Liz sighed.

'I was working for Alistair Crane. He hated Eve. He said he wanted to make sure that my sister's secrets came out, even if that meant T.C. would kill Julian.'

Pilar rubbed her hands together.

'I have a question: from what I read of your background, you were in boarding school during the years that you claim your father molested you. That was a lie, wasn't it?'

Liz nodded reluctantly. Pilar stood up.

'You are loathsome! I can just imagine how Eve suffered!'

Liz jumped up!

'You let me out of here now, Pilar! I don't know what kind of game you people are playing, but I want nothing to do with Celeste! God! Why am I not surprised that she's in trouble?! I knew she was trash from the moment I set eyes on her!'

Pilar smiled thinly.

'Celeste is here in Harmony. We want you to re-establish contact with your former step-mother. We think Stefano DiMera will be contacting her.'

Liz shook her head wildly.

'Stefano DiMera? Good God! She knows him?! You can't force me to do this! I won't! Now you let me out of here!'

'No we can't force you, Liz. But I will tell Antonio what a liar you are. Whatever feelings he has left for you, would disappear. That and we can still charge you as an accessory to Alistair's kidnapping.'

Liz snorted!

'You people don't care about Alistair Crane! I'm sure Julian is running around scot-free!' But she did ponder Pilar's threat. Antonio was the last person that believed in her. And he hated the Cranes. If he ever found out she had taken money from them, to hurt Eve, he would never forgive her. The thought hurt her.

Liz took a deep breath.

'Alright. What do you want me to do?'

****

Liz was taken away by another FBI agent to get her things. Pilar walked over to Spence, who was still standing nearby.

'That's done. Now I want to know who you've got watching DiMera's son, Tony?'

'We're still working on that.' Spence admitted.

'Well I do believe I've found a way: Tony DiMera is throwing some kind of barbecue in a couple of days. I checked into it and found that they are looking for help. I'm going to Salem to get myself hired on.'

Spence squinted down at her.

'What do you mean they're hiring help? For a barbecue?'

Pilar sniffed.

'You know how those type of people are! Tony DiMera is not going to be navigating the grill wearing a 'kiss the cook' hat! That would be like Alistair or Julian Crane flipping burgers if they threw a barbecue!'

'Okay, Pilar. But this barbecue is a temporary thing. If you want to do this, you'll need to find a way to get yourself hired into that house permanently.'

Pilar nodded.

'I'll find a way. If it will bring Martin back to me, I'll find a way.'

****

Sheridan Lopez-Fitzgerald, left her doctor's office after getting a clean bill of health. One of the tests she had to take, required her not to eat anything for 24 hours. She headed straight for the cafeteria. She didn't care if they usually had rotten food, she was starved!

As Sheridan walked in and picked up a tray, her eyes fell upon Julian,who was sitting by a window and staring out. The expression on his face was pensive, thoughtful, and a bit sad. Sheridan grabbed a milk, jello and some sort of sandwich, paid for them, then joined her brother at his table, carrying her tray.

'Julian?'

Julian looked up and saw his baby sister, looking very much like their late mother. He stood up.

'Sheridan? What are you doing here? Are you ill?'

Sheridan was taken aback by the genuine concern she saw in his eyes. She shook her head.

'No, just a check-up. May I join you?'

'By all means, yes, of course!'

He pulled out her chair and she sat down. Julian then sat back down in his own chair.

Sheridan smiled at him.

'We haven't had much of a chance to see one another, since you got married. Luis and I have been meaning to have Rebecca and you over.'

Julian smiled, giving her a knowing look. Sheridan smiled as well.

'Alright, I have been meaning to have you both over. How is Rebecca?'

Julian looked down.

'She's gone.'

Sheridan shook her head slightly.

'Gone? Gone where?'

'She left me...I believe temporarily.'

Sheridan's mouth dropped open!

'Julian...I don't know what to say...what happened?'

Julian took a deep breath.

'Your remember what happened at our wedding reception, don't you?'

Sheridan nodded.

'You mean the stuff concerning Eve and yourself? Yes, how could I forget. I know Eve tried so hard to set things right with T.C..'

'Yes, she did.' Julian answered numbly.

'So, Rebecca somehow blames you for all of this?'

'What Rebecca blames me for is having more feeling for a dead woman than her.'

Sheridan didn't say anything at first. She looked puzzled.

'Okay, Julian. Are you telling me that what Eve and you had, was not just some fling from long ago?'

Julian looked his sister in the eye.

'I was in love with Eve on my wedding day to Ivy.'

Sheridan gasped.

'Good God, Julian! Then why ever did you marry Ivy?'

'Father wanted a merger with Ivy's father's company. In many ways, Ivy was just as much a victim. She loved Sam Bennett the whole time as well.'

Sheridan shook her head slowly.

'I can't imagine...I can't imagine being forced to marry someone I had no feelings for whatsoever! My God! What the hell was our father thinking?'

'He was thinking about himself.' Julian answered curtly, thinking about what had happened to the old man in the swamp. But his father was the least of his worries these days. He looked at his sister.

'You should be glad that Father didn't find some cretinous, young man to marry you off to.' he said.

Sheridan nodded in agreement, still shocked by what she had learned. She knew her brother and Ivy didn't have an ideal marriage, but to live so long without love...she shuddered, then looked at her brother.

'But, Eve didn't feel the same way about you, did she Julian? I mean, from what I could see, her and T.C. were very much in love and happy.'

Julian gave her a dismissive wave.

'Eve loved me, I know it. Sheridan, you remember how adversarial our relationship was, with our disagreements about the hospital, and other things...she confided in me, told me that her sister was blackmailing her. We became close again...in almost every way. We could both see it happening, and I confronted her, the night before my wedding to Rebecca.'

Sheridan's eyes widened. She focused intently on Julian, waiting to hear more.

'When I asked her to give us a chance, she did what she always did, retreated into the 'I love T.C. mode'. And she did it because she was scared. I hurt her so badly all those years ago...abandoning her when she needed me...'

'When she was pregnant, right?' Sheridan asked softly.

Julian just nodded.

'I'm here at the hospital today, because I asked the board to erect some kind of memorial to Eve, for all of her service here at the hospital. They agreed to.'

Sheridan covered her brother's hand with her own. She had never seen him like this. He was hurting badly, almost as if he were the widower. She squeezed his hand.

'Come over to dinner tonight. I'll make Luis behave. You shouldn't be alone.' Sheridan said.

Julian reluctantly pulled his hand away.

'Let's make it another night. I have things to take care of...you know, with father's absence.'

Sheridan blinked.

'Absence?'

'Oh yes, you probably wouldn't know, he told me he was going off to do whatever. I've been running things at Crane Industries.'

'Oh. That's so unlike him.'

Julian raised a brow.

'What? To give me a little more responsibility?'

'Actually, what I was going to say was, it's unlike our father to relinquish power, even if it is temporary.'

'Who says it's temporary?' Julian asked, somewhat slyly. He then stood up, walked over to her side of the table and kissed her cheek.

'I have to run. I will take you up on your invitation one of these days.'

Sheridan nodded, then watched him walk away. Her mind, oddly enough, settled on Alistair. What was going on with him?

****

Celeste stepped off of the elevator of Harmony Memorial and looked around. She then asked a nurse what room T.C. Russell was in. She told her she was family. The nurse pointed her down a hallway and then walked off. He was in room 603.

Celeste had used some of her contacts, from back when she was knee-deep in Stefano DiMera's world, to find out where the Russell's were. And she had hated doing it. It made her feel as if she had never distanced herself from that type of sordid life.

Apparently, T.C. had been attacked by Julian Crane, and was here in the hospital. Celeste's mind went back to the day she had met Julian in the Brady Pub. He didn't really look like the violent type. One daughter, Simone, still lived with him, while the other one, Whitney, was living with Fox Crane. What that was all about, Celeste could only guess.

When she reached 603, the door was already open. Celeste stood in the doorway. T.C. was lying in bed wearing an eye patch. His daughter, the one Celeste recognized from the photographs she had obtained, as Simone, was standing by his bedside. There was another young man there, about Simone's age. They all looked at her as she stood in the doorway.

'Can we help you?' the young man asked politely. Simone stared at the woman's hair color. It looked good. She wondered if her own hair would look good that shade.

Celeste smiled nervously and stepped into the room.

'My name is Celeste Perrault. I was your wife's step-mother.'

No one said a word for the longest while. Celeste fumbled with the collar on her blouse.

T.C. cleared his throat.

'I'm sorry Ms....'

'It's Perrault. But please call me Celeste.'

T.C. smiled. 'Celeste. I'm sorry if we all seem stunned, but until recently, before my wife died, we never knew that she had any family.'

'Oh.' Celeste said, thinking. Warren and his late wife had cut Eve out of their lives. If she told her husband that her parents wanted nothing to do with her, then she would also have to explain why. She exhaled.

'I married her father...shortly after her mother died.'

T.C. stared at her for a moment, then looked at Simone.

'Honey, would John and you give me a moment with Celeste?'

Simone looked unsure, but John put a hand on her shoulder.

'Come on. Let's go to the cafeteria.'

Simone nodded, and the two of them left the room. Celeste watched them leave.

'Is that young man her boyfriend?' she asked.

T.C. shrugged.

'Not that I know of. But believe it or not, I wouldn't mind if he was. He's a nice young man, the nicest either of my daughters have been associated with yet.'

Celeste heard the bitterness in his voice, and knew there was a story to be heard. Now was probably not the time.

'So, pull up a chair.'

Celeste did so.

'You said you were married to Eve's father...so you knew he was molesting Liz?'

Celeste rolled her eyes and stood up!

'I actually heard those accusations for the first time a few days ago...'

'From Liz?' T.C. asked. 'I haven't seen her in quite awhile. How is she?'

Celeste eyed him.

'I don't know or care, Mr. Russell.'

'T.C.'

'Okay. T.C.. No, I did not hear those lies from her big mouth! Liz was sent to boarding school shortly after we were married. And that is where she stayed. After Warren died, she was sent to other relatives. Maybe one of them did something to her!'

T.C. was a bit taken aback by the hatred she heard in this woman's voice. But his mind was spinning. Was it possible that Liz had lied about her father's molestation of her? From what he knew of the woman, yes, it was possible, but seemingly unlikely. Her disdain for Eve stemmed from something horrible. It almost had to be true.

'Look, Celeste, I have my problems with Liz too, but, if you could see her now...something has scarred her life.'

'Yes, well if you see her, remind her of how she could've scarred her father and myself, when she set fire to our home, while we were sleeping during the night!'

T.C. sat up in bed!

'What???'

At that moment, Liz appeared in T.C.'s doorway. His eyes moved from Celeste to Liz. Celeste turned around and saw her. She took a very deep breath and shook her head.

'Nice to see you too, Celeste. What brings you to Harmony?' Liz asked in a falsetto sounding tone. She didn't think she would be able to pull this thing off! Looking at Celeste now, brought back all of the hatred and resentment she had felt for this woman, when she seduced her way into their household, and literally made her into an orphan!

Celeste's cellphone rang. She glared at Liz, then looked at T.C..

'I have to take this, excuse me.'

Celeste then shoved by Liz, who raised a hand half-way as if to hit her, as she moved past her. T.C. looked at Liz.

'We need to have a talk.'

Liz turned from glaring after Celeste, to staring at T.C.. She smiled.

'Yes, T.C.?'

****

Celeste had moved out into the hallway and sat in a chair. She had recognized the number as Lexie's.

'Yes, Alexandra?'

'No, hello, no how are you doing?' Lexie asked.

'Alexandra, you know why I'm here. And I was right in the middle of speaking with Eve's husband. He's been in some sort of accident and is wearing an eye patch!'

'Good Lord! That does not sound so good.'

'No it doesn't. It sounds like something Eve may need to know.'

'Mom...'

'Why have you called, Alexandra?'

****

Julian walked to the elevator and punched the 1 button. His thoughts were now on Fox. He hoped he was making progress with Whitney in Bermuda.

Bermuda. He and Eve had spent glorious weeks down there, making love, talking, making love, shopping...the memory caused him to emit a sigh.

It was as the elevator doors opened, that Julian looked down a hallway, and saw a familiar woman talking on a cellphone. The doors to the elevator closed, without him getting on.

Julian then began to walk down the hallway. The woman was Celeste Perrault. Why in God's name would she be in Harmony?!

Celeste did not see him, as she was busy looking down at her fingernails. But Julian overheard enough to arouse his suspicions.

'I'm going to tell you this for the last time: if I find out that her family needs her, then Tony will just have to tell her the truth....I haven't decided yet....I don't think I'll make it back for the barbecue so don't tell him anything. I'm counting on you, Alexandra.'

Celeste then clicked off her phone and stood up. It was then, that she came face to face with Julian Crane.

'Mr. Crane... I did not see you there.'

'Obviously.' Julian said dryly. 'What brings you to Harmony, Ms. Perrault?'

Celeste looked around, then focused on him.

'I wanted to meet Eve's family...you know, to tell them how sorry I was about her. I really have to get back to T.C.'s room. I'm assuming you'll be coming as well? After all, I heard it was you that put him here.'

Julian looked her over.

'It wasn't exactly like that, but no one would believe my side anyway. No, I will not be joining you. So, this is just a condolence call?'

Celeste's lips tightened.

'Actually, I needed for T.C. to know that Liz was lying about her past with her father. She's in there now with him, so I'm sure she's been calling me quite the liar.'

Julian raised a brow.

'Liz is back?'

Celeste shook her head slightly.

'I didn't know she had went anywhere.'

Julian nodded. He would have to be careful.

'What I meant to say was, no one has seen the woman in over a month. It was everyone's hope that she had left town permanently.'

'I can certainly see why,' Celeste said, 'but unfortunately, that is not the case. I have to get back now.'

Celeste then turned and walked back down the hallway. She stopped at room 603 and went in. The door closed.

Julian smoothed his tie. What the hell was that conversation all about that Celeste was having with...Alexandra? That would be her daughter by DiMera. Who was Celeste referring to when she said that part about 'if her family needs her, then Tony will have to tell her the truth'? Tony, as in DiMera?

Julian's mind went back to that day in the pub, when Tony had come upon him and Celeste talking. The look DiMera gave Celeste, as if the woman had told him government secrets or something! That look was burned into Julian's brain.

Julian stared down the hallway where T.C.'s room was. He hated the man. And Simone was every bit her father's daughter. But, Eve had loved them. And Celeste's association with Stefano DiMera unnerved him. Everything in him told Julian that Celeste was lying about why she was in Harmony. And that could mean that T.C., Simone and even Whitney, could be in danger. He decided to have someone keep an eye on the enigmatic Ms. Perrault.

****

SALEM

Lexie hung up her cellphone, just as Eve walked into the drawing room. Lexie had decided to help Tony with his barbecue plans. She just hoped she could keep a straight face when he asked why Celeste would not be attending.

Then again, her mother didn't say she wouldn't be coming for sure. But, after speaking with Celeste, Lexie felt that Tony's time to woo Eve was running out.

Lexie stood up from the couch and smiled at Eve, who was carrying Theo.

'Hey! Pretty exciting around here?'

Eve smiled, rubbing on Theo's back.

'It is. I'm kind of embarrassed that Tony would go through all of this trouble and expense for me.'

Lexie reached out for Theo, Eve handed him to her. She felt a pang, as she watched Theo settle in Lexie's arms. She had apparently never had a child. Why? Why did she come from such an empty life? Eve was beginning to wonder if her dull existence in Minnesota was even worth remembering.

'My brother cares for you deeply, Eve. This is no trouble at all. Besides, people are starting to ask about you.'

Eve smiled with surprise.

'Really? I mean, Tony and I don't go out much...I haven't met that many people. How do they know about me?'

Lexie laughed.

'This is a small town. A servant talks, that sort of thing.'

Eve nodded. Tony did have plenty of servants.

Lexie's nanny walked into the room. Lexie handed over Theo, and the two left the room. Eve stared after Theo longingly. Lexie smiled.

'Maybe my brother can help you get one of those.' she suggested. Eve turned from Theo and the nanny, back to Lexie. She looked embarrassed. Lexie felt ashamed.

'I'm sorry, Eve. I didn't mean to suggest...'

'No, really, it's fine. I guess looking at your baby, just reminds me of how empty my own life is. I'm beginning to wonder if I have a life worth remembering.'

Lexie was a bit surprised to hear that. She decided to tread carefully.

'Has something happened? Something to make you start thinking like that?'

Eve walked over to the couch and sat down. Lexie joined her.

'Tony and I had a talk of sorts a couple of nights ago. I asked him for the file, the one that had all of my personal history in it. Tony agreed to let me see it...he also as much as told me that he hopes I don't return to Minnesota.'

'Oh. He really laid on the pressure?' Lexie asked, trying not to think about what Celeste had told her about Eve's husband's eye.

'Your brother has been treating me as if I'm the lady of this house, Lexie.'

'My brother is in love with you.' Lexie said.

Eve nodded.

'I sensed that. And I do have feelings for him, believe me! But, I just feel as if I have to know for sure that I have no life to return to, before I decide anything else. And I don't think that sits well with Tony.'

Before Lexie could answer, Tony walked into the room. He rubbed his hands together and smiled down at the two women.

'Alexandra dear, how are the plans coming along?'

Lexie stood up.

'Everything is going according to plan. I just need to hire a few extra servers, and we're all set.'

'Good, good. Oh, by the way, I've been trying to reach Celeste for a couple of days. Has she went on a trip?'

Lexie gave Tony a thin smile.

'Yes.'

Eve looked from Tony to Lexie. Eve suddenly got the oddest sensation. It was as if Lexie did not want Tony to know where Celeste was. She shook it off. It was probably nothing.

'Eve darling,' Tony purred. 'Could you do me the biggest favor and make sure that those men delivering the liquor, aren't sampling it?'

Eve burst out laughing!

'That sounds like a fun job! Sure, I'd be happy to.' Eve answered, sensing that she'd been sent from the room on this particular errand, so that Tony and Lexie could talk in private. Eve stood up and left the room. Tony's eyes followed her until he could see she had actually went down a hallway. He then turned to face Lexie.

'What's going on with Celeste?'

Lexie shrugged, not liking his tone.

'She's out of town, Tony. She'll be back for the barbecue.'

'Out of town where?' he asked.

'What's with your interest in Celeste, Tony?'

Tony walked up to her.

'Because I've been increasingly unnerved by her very bad attitude. She does not support Eve and I, and that makes her trouble.'

Lexie really didn't like the sound of this!

'She's just on a little trip, Tony! And no, I don't know where she is. So, if you'll excuse me, I have to see about hiring those servers!'

Lexie tried to move past him, but his hand snaked out and grabbed her arm.

'I'm sorry, Alexandra. I'm sorry if I sounded disrespectful towards Celeste. I just wish she would realize that no harm is going to come to Eve, if, or when, I make her a member of this family. It hurts that she doesn't believe in me.'

Lexie hugged him.

'She does. She just has to be sure that Eve's family doesn't need her, that's all. She will be back.'

Lexie then let go of her brother, touched his face, then walked out of the room, completely unaware of the words she had just uttered. Tony stared after her for awhile, before getting on the phone.

'Yes, Celeste is in Harmony. Have her picked up. After that, you know what to do.'