Chapter 6
Julian runs into Lexie at the hospital. Alicia begs Celeste for help.
T.C. and Lexie stepped off of the elevator of Harmony Memorial. They saw Dr. Parks and walked right up to her.
'How is my daughter and her husband?' T.C. asked. Lexie rubbed his arm.
'Oh, Mr. Russell...they're down that hall. Fox took a very bad fall. He's still unconscious. Whitney is fine. She's in with him now.'
'Thank you, Dr. Parks.' T.C. said, as Dr. Parks walked off. He turned to look at Lexie.
'I wonder how Eve is? I have to wonder...'
'Wonder what?' Lexie asked.
'Wonder if Eve is the one that set that fire! I knew a marriage to Julian Crane would make her miserable!'
'T.C.! Why would you automatically blame Eve for this?'
'Oh come on, honey! She was responsible for two other bad fires around here. And I don't believe in coincidences! Julian will probably just cover up for her again...look, I don't want to waste anytime talking about Julian Crane! Let's just find Whitney, okay?'
Lexie nodded and put her arm around him. She tried to push what T.C. had just said, out of her mind. Because if it was true, then 'Eve' wasn't the one that burned down the Crane mansion, Alicia was!
Lexie had known that that woman wouldn't be able to fool anybody, much less Julian Crane! If there was any truth to this, and Alicia was responsible for the fire, Lexie knew that she would now have to cover her own ass!
Things had been going so well for her and T.C.. They had made love the first night she got back. Simone had been out with John, and an overjoyed Celeste, kept Theo with her at her apartment.
The only thing that marred her homecoming, was the guilt that kept creeping into her senses, over Eve. Lexie was terrified of this plan going awry, and she knew that if it did, Alicia would not hesitate to out everyone involved. She was just that mean spirited and bitter.
Lexie had called Marlena the other day, to find out how things were with her and John. She had been shocked to learn that Marlena had put John out of the penthouse! Marlena then confided that she caught John and Rebecca Hotchkiss, having sex on the living room floor! Lexie knew that Marlena had always suspected, that Rebecca had had a hand in her kidnapping. Apparently, when confronted, Rebecca denied any knowledge of what had happened to Marlena, and John had taken Rebecca's side!
When T.C. and Lexie reached Fox's room, they found Whitney and Julian already there. Julian had his arm around Whitney. Lexie tugged on T.C.'s arm.
'Now is not the time,' she said warningly, 'you are here for Whitney.'
T.C. nodded, choking back the anger that always welled up, whenever he had to look at Julian's face! He opened the door. Whitney and Julian turned around. Julian let go of Whitney. Whitney ran into her father's arms.
'Oh, Daddy! It was so horrible!'
T.C. hugged her tight.
'I know, sweetheart. Why don't we go and get some air?'
Whitney let go of him and began shaking her head wildly.
'No! I mean, I have to be here when he wakes up! Daddy, he tried to save the twins and Julian...why did this have to happen?!'
Whitney began to cry again. T.C. looked around as he held her.
'Where is Eve?'
Julian cleared his throat. He then gave Lexie a pointed look.
'She's been kidnapped.'
'What?!' T.C. yelled. He let go of Whitney. Lexie backed up a bit.
Whitney walked back over to Julian.
'That's right, Daddy! Some other woman, that looks like Mom, has been living with us for two days!'
Lexie eyed T.C., who looked back at her, smirking. He then looked back at Julian and Whitney.
'Yeah right! Look, if Eve set this fire because you did something to her, Julian, and you're covering for her...'
Julian was about to respond, but Whitney put a hand on his arm.
'That woman that was living with us, was not Mom! Because the Mom I know, would never have quit her job here, or ignored her babies or not spoken a word to me, when I was in the same room with her!'
Lexie closed her eyes briefly. Goddamnit! Yes, Alicia was supposed to quit working here. There had been no time to give her any real medical training, in such a short amount of time. But not interacting with her babies and treating family members like dirt?! That woman had blown it big time!
When she opened her eyes again, she saw Julian staring straight at her...again! Damnit! He knew something! And this was the last thing she was in the mood for, fending off a lot of questions from the likes of Julian Crane!
'Honey, let's get some air, okay?'
Julian tore his gaze from Lexie to T.C. and Whitney.
'Yes, Whitney, why don't you go with your father. I'll stay here with Fox.'
T.C. rolled his eyes, something Whitney did not see. They both left the room, closing the door behind him. Lexie turned and sat down in a chair. Julian was staring at her again.
'What, Julian? What are you looking at?'
Julian pulled up a chair and sat down beside her.
'My son is fighting for his life over there. I almost lost my life tonight, as did my twin babies, so I'm not going to beat around the bush here. I know you had something to do with Eve being kidnapped. I want to know where my wife is right now, this instant!'
'I'm sure T.C. and my mother wanted to know my whereabouts as well. Did you ever tell them? They didn't know if Theo and I were alive or dead either!'
Julian slowly stood up.
'Then I'm right? You are responsible for this madness?!'
Lexie stood up as well.
'What does it matter? Eve is gone. I might tell you where she is, oh, in let's say, A YEAR!'
'How dare you!' Julian seethed. 'I didn't have any choice, Lexie! It was the only way to...'
'To what? Weasle out of the trouble Eve and you had gotten into?! Trouble that was of your own making?! And why saddle us with Liz?'
Julian calmed down a bit at the mention of that beastly woman's name.
'Yes, where is Liz? Why wasn't she returned?'
Lexie shrugged.
'She didn't want to come back.'
'What the hell does that mean? And let me ask you another question, since you're confessing so nicely here. What did that crazy woman mean when she kept talking about my killing her son? I don't even know her! And you can tell your demented father, that his double was piss poor! How long was she supposed to fool me?'
Lexie smirked.
'I'm telling you nothing. That's what you told everyone that was looking for me, right?'
Julian was itching to throttle her! He rubbed his hand to restrain himself. That was when Ivy peeked in.
'Julian? Oh, hello Lexie. Julian, how is Fox?'
Julian turned from Lexie to eyeball his ex-wife. He was startled at how thin Ivy looked. Julian turned back to Lexie.
'If you'll excuse me, I have to speak to my ex-wife about our son. But we will talk later.'
'Not if T.C. has anything to say about it.' she quipped. Lexie then picked up her purse, nodded at Ivy, then left. Ivy watched Lexie for a bit, knowing she had walked in on something. She then looked over at an unconscious Fox.
'Where is Whitney?' she asked, walking all the way into the room.
'With her father.' Julian asked, appraising her. Ivy couldn't be on a diet! He couldn't help but stare at her. She almost looked unwell.
Ivy pulled up a chair and sat next to Fox.
'How did you find out?' he asked.
'Oh, Ethan called. He and Gwen are on their way.'
'Oh.'
Ivy looked at Julian.
'I was sorry to hear about Eve.'
Julian blinked hard.
'I do believe you actually mean that.'
Ivy just nodded, then looked at Fox again. She reached out and touched Fox's hair.
The door opened, and Sam Bennett walked in. His eyes went to Ivy's. She smiled weakly at him, before returning her attention to Fox.
Julian watched Sam, watching Ivy. He could see it too, Julian thought. Ivy's wan appearance. And he was clearly concerned. Julian cleared his throat.
'I'm going to go check on the twins...they were given a clean bill of health, but they must be so frightened, you know, with all that's happened.'
Ivy just nodded, without looking at him. Sam just nodded, looking at Julian briefly, before returning his focus on Ivy. Julian quietly left the room. Once he had found Eve, maybe, he could extend some support to his ex-wife. From the looks of her, it looked as if she would need it.
Julian stood out in the hallway. He then looked over to his right. T.C., Lexie and Whitney were hugging one another. An idea came to him.
Whitney would believe him, if he told her the truth about Lexie...meaning he would have to reveal the fact that he was responsible for selling her out to Stefano, in the first place. He would keep Fox's name out of it, to protect their relationship.
Whitney would be angry and disappointed in him, yes, but Julian knew she would believe him about Lexie knowing where her mother was. And if Whitney made it clear to T.C. that his ladylove was a liar, then hopefully, maybe, Eve could be found, before the DiMera's did God knows what to her!
'Hold on, Eve!' he whispered urgently, 'I'm coming.'
****
Celeste had been watching the local news, when she saw a story on the fire at the Crane mansion. She flicked off the TV, before she could hear that Eve had been kidnapped. Otherwise, she would've never opened her door to 'Eve'.
She heard the buzzer, and was annoyed that someone would be ringing her so late. She hit the intercom.
'Yes?' she asked sharply.
'Celeste! It's Eve! Please, I have to talk to you!'
Eve? Celeste thought. Eve was here after having survived a fire? Why wasn't she at the hospital? Where were Julian and the twins?
Celeste buzzed her up, throwing her purse aside. She then began to pace. Something was not right, but only Eve could tell her what was wrong. God! Was it possible that she had set, yet another fire? Was that why she had come to see her?
There was a knock on the door. Celeste looked through the peephole. Good God! Eve looked terrible! And she was in some kind of torn nightgown! What the hell was going on?!
Celeste unlocked the door, and pulled Eve in. She closed it behind her.
'I just heard about the fire! Where are Julian and the twins? Why aren't you with them?'
'Eve' rolled her eyes!
'It's me, Celeste!'
Celeste shook her head slightly.
'I know that, dear. Why don't I get you some tea, then I'll drive you to the hospital, okay?'
Celeste tried to move past her towards the kitchen, but Eve's arm snaked out and grabbed her, hard!
'Eve! Stop it! What is the matter with you?!'
'I'm not Eve, Celeste. It's ME, Alicia.' Alicia said, in her normal sounding voice.
Celeste yanked her arm away, then backed up a bit.
'Holy God! What...what...did Stefano do this to you?'
'You know he did!' Alicia snapped. 'Now, I don't have time for lectures! I need help in getting away from here and Stefano! When he finds out I've failed...'
Celeste suddenly slapped the woman hard!
'You let that man talk you into this?! Where is Eve?! Where is she?!'
Alicia slapped her back even harder! Celeste flew back against the door. Alicia then walked up to her.
'I came here because you and I are the same, Celeste. We both gave away our babies...babies we had by Stefano DiMera, so that they would have a better life. Lexie got her chance...my Chad didn't.'
Celeste recovered from the slap, rubbing her cheek. Alicia Sheffield was just one of the many women Stefano had used and discarded over the years. Celeste was not surprised that she had had a baby with that maniac. But that baby had been Chad Harris? This whole thing just got worse and worse as time marched on!
'Alicia, darling, I know how you must feel.' she said quietly.
'Oh, right! You know now that you realize I mean business! You are going to help me get out of here!'
'Tell me what you've done first? I mean I'm curious as to...'
'Oh cut the ^%$#$#! Look, I'll tell you everything anyway, since I have nothing to lose! Years ago, Stefano and I had a great love affair. At least, I thought it was great. He didn't. Because even back then, he was obsessed with that Marlena Evans heifer!'
'Her last name is Black now.' Celeste reminded her.
'Whatever! I saw her ass in the Himalayas too! And she didn't put out the other times he kidnapped her, and she wasn't about to now! If he hadn't married that damned Liz, Stefano would've never gotten any relief!'
Celeste suddenly felt nauseous!
'Did you say that Stefano married Liz?'
'Oh yeah! And she even dyed her hair like yours, only it doesn't look so good, but all of that is beside the point! I gave my baby away, knowing that if I kept him with me, or if Stefano ever found out about him, Chad would end up just as messed up as Tony, or like his other kids! I couldn't let that happen!'
Celeste eased towards her.
'I understand, Alicia, really I do. That is why I let my sister and her husband raise my Alexandra.'
Alicia said nothing to this. Celeste's mind was working overtime. Alexandra had said that she really didn't know where she was, when she was living with Stefano. But Alicia had said she saw Marlena in the Himalayas. Was that possibly where Eve was?
'I take it Julian wasn't fooled by you.' Celeste noted.
'I hate his guts!' Alicia hissed. 'I woke up and found him licking on one of my breasts! I think he may have even bit it!'
Celeste put her hands up.
'Okay, Alicia, calm down!'
'No, I won't calm down! That pig killed Chad! I was supposed to just divorce him and take the babies to Eve and Tony, but I couldn't stand him touching me! Now Stefano is going to kill me! Help me get out of town!'
Celeste knew she had to get to Julian. Why she owed him anything, considering what she suspected about his role in Alexandra's kidnapping, Celeste would never know. But Alicia was out of control. Then again, she always had been.
'Alright, alright. Let me just get my purse, and we'll go. I'll drive you somewhere...'
'No! Give me your car...and some clothes. I'll take care of the rest.' Alicia ordered.
Celeste nodded, walking past Alicia to get her car keys out of her purse. She them turned quickly and punched Alicia in the face! Alicia crumbled to the ground, then fell out, unconscious.
Celeste rubbed her fist. She hadn't punched anyone in years! She then opened her purse and pulled out her car keys. Julian was probably at the hospital. She would go there and tell him what she suspected about Eve's whereabouts. She glanced down at the unconscious woman. Somewhere along the line, Alistair Crane, and Stefano, found out Chad Harris's true origins. She found herself thinking, that if that Harris boy had known where he really came from, he might have killed himself anyway.
****
HIMALAYAS
Eve sat at a table with Tony, as he lifted platters off of plates, and eyed their meals. He then rubbed his hands together.
This was the third dinner she had been forced to endure in Tony's company. She never said much, and only answered when spoken to, or sometimes not at all.
She found herself staring out of the window at the mountains, wondering if Julian was making love to a woman that looked like her, but was not her. This 'Alicia' person did not love Julian the way she did. She didn't love him at all. She hated him. And Eve was scared to death for not only Julian, but for Erin and Evan.
She would cry at night, her heart aching to hold her babies, wondering if there was anything new she had missed at all, in their young lives. She longed for the nights she would spend with Julian in the library, just watching the twins play on the floor, or in their play pens. She missed the nights alone with him in their bedroom. Sometimes, if she did not get off too late, Julian would already be asleep. Eve would creep into the room, get undressed and go to sleep. He would always reach over and put his arms around her. No words were spoken, none needed to be.
Then there were the nights when she got off of work at a semi decent hour. As the twins slept, she would try on different nightgowns that he had had flown in from Paris. There were so many, that she still, to this day, had not tried them all on for him. Eve wondered if this bitch, Alicia, was wearing her things now.
'Eve?'
Eve rolled her eyes and looked at Tony. Even though she had had amnesia when she had first met Tony DiMera, she now wondered what the hell could she have ever seen in this man?! He was crazy!
Eve didn't say anything, but turned and looked out the window at the mountains again. Tony cleared his throat.
'I know you think I'm insane.'
Eve turned to look at him. Was he mind reader now? Yeah! She had just been thinking that he was crazy!
'I do.' was all Eve said, before turning away from him to look out the window again.
'I'm sorry that you don't think more kindly of me, dear.'
Eve rolled her eyes again.
'If you really cared what I thought about you, then you'd let Abe and I go. If Lexie ever finds out what Stefano and you have done...'
'She won't.' Tony said briskly. He continued to stare at her, before speaking again.
'You know, Eve, I was very hurt by your deception last year...'
Eve jumped up!
'And I could really give a damn! What is the matter with you? Why do you want a woman that clearly does not want you?! I love my husband, and my children! We have no future together!'
Tony stood up as well.
'Eve, you would be my wife today, if Julian had not interfered back in Salem, when you were living with me. We were in love and happy, and you know why? Because there were no outside forces telling you what a rotten human being I am, around to poison you against me! Here, alone, we can get back to what was.'
Eve began shaking her head.
'Tony, I didn't know who I was! What is the matter with you? I didn't know there were any 'outside forces'! We don't work, Tony! We will never work!'
'I don't believe that, Eve. I refuse to believe that.'
The doors slid back. Stefano, dressed in a tuxedo, walked in with Liz on his arm. She was wearing a slinky, light blue evening dress. Her hair was a garish blonde.
'Oh my God!' Eve whispered, shaking her head. Liz had truly lost her mind!
But Tony grinned at the two of them.
'Good evening, Father. Liz, how is my beautiful step-mother?'
Eve put a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing! Stefano eyed her. Tony ignored her.
But Liz would have none of it!
'Eve? You have something to say?'
Eve shrugged, then looked away. Liz smiled at her.
'That's okay, Evie dear. I know you're just nervous about your upcoming nuptials.'
Eve stopped laughing. She looked around at the three of them.
'What the hell are you all talking about?' she hissed.
Tony turned to look at her. He smiled.
'Oh, didn't I tell you. We are to be married, tomorrow afternoon.'
Eve began shaking her head wildly.
'I'm already married!'
Liz grinned, loving her sister's distress.
'Well, actually, Alicia is married to Julian. That makes you free to be with the man of your dreams. I knew you always really wanted Tony, sister, dear!'
Eve rushed over to her and backhanded her! Stefano tried to step in and Tony pulled Eve back. He whispered in her ear.
'Eve, darling, I love you too much to shame you. I didn't want you living here with me, outside the bounds of marriage. Your dress was put in your room, while we were here at dinner. You're going to love it. It's white.'
Eve jerked away from him! She then looked at Liz and Stefano, then back at Tony. Eve then fainted dead away!
Julian runs into Lexie at the hospital. Alicia begs Celeste for help.
T.C. and Lexie stepped off of the elevator of Harmony Memorial. They saw Dr. Parks and walked right up to her.
'How is my daughter and her husband?' T.C. asked. Lexie rubbed his arm.
'Oh, Mr. Russell...they're down that hall. Fox took a very bad fall. He's still unconscious. Whitney is fine. She's in with him now.'
'Thank you, Dr. Parks.' T.C. said, as Dr. Parks walked off. He turned to look at Lexie.
'I wonder how Eve is? I have to wonder...'
'Wonder what?' Lexie asked.
'Wonder if Eve is the one that set that fire! I knew a marriage to Julian Crane would make her miserable!'
'T.C.! Why would you automatically blame Eve for this?'
'Oh come on, honey! She was responsible for two other bad fires around here. And I don't believe in coincidences! Julian will probably just cover up for her again...look, I don't want to waste anytime talking about Julian Crane! Let's just find Whitney, okay?'
Lexie nodded and put her arm around him. She tried to push what T.C. had just said, out of her mind. Because if it was true, then 'Eve' wasn't the one that burned down the Crane mansion, Alicia was!
Lexie had known that that woman wouldn't be able to fool anybody, much less Julian Crane! If there was any truth to this, and Alicia was responsible for the fire, Lexie knew that she would now have to cover her own ass!
Things had been going so well for her and T.C.. They had made love the first night she got back. Simone had been out with John, and an overjoyed Celeste, kept Theo with her at her apartment.
The only thing that marred her homecoming, was the guilt that kept creeping into her senses, over Eve. Lexie was terrified of this plan going awry, and she knew that if it did, Alicia would not hesitate to out everyone involved. She was just that mean spirited and bitter.
Lexie had called Marlena the other day, to find out how things were with her and John. She had been shocked to learn that Marlena had put John out of the penthouse! Marlena then confided that she caught John and Rebecca Hotchkiss, having sex on the living room floor! Lexie knew that Marlena had always suspected, that Rebecca had had a hand in her kidnapping. Apparently, when confronted, Rebecca denied any knowledge of what had happened to Marlena, and John had taken Rebecca's side!
When T.C. and Lexie reached Fox's room, they found Whitney and Julian already there. Julian had his arm around Whitney. Lexie tugged on T.C.'s arm.
'Now is not the time,' she said warningly, 'you are here for Whitney.'
T.C. nodded, choking back the anger that always welled up, whenever he had to look at Julian's face! He opened the door. Whitney and Julian turned around. Julian let go of Whitney. Whitney ran into her father's arms.
'Oh, Daddy! It was so horrible!'
T.C. hugged her tight.
'I know, sweetheart. Why don't we go and get some air?'
Whitney let go of him and began shaking her head wildly.
'No! I mean, I have to be here when he wakes up! Daddy, he tried to save the twins and Julian...why did this have to happen?!'
Whitney began to cry again. T.C. looked around as he held her.
'Where is Eve?'
Julian cleared his throat. He then gave Lexie a pointed look.
'She's been kidnapped.'
'What?!' T.C. yelled. He let go of Whitney. Lexie backed up a bit.
Whitney walked back over to Julian.
'That's right, Daddy! Some other woman, that looks like Mom, has been living with us for two days!'
Lexie eyed T.C., who looked back at her, smirking. He then looked back at Julian and Whitney.
'Yeah right! Look, if Eve set this fire because you did something to her, Julian, and you're covering for her...'
Julian was about to respond, but Whitney put a hand on his arm.
'That woman that was living with us, was not Mom! Because the Mom I know, would never have quit her job here, or ignored her babies or not spoken a word to me, when I was in the same room with her!'
Lexie closed her eyes briefly. Goddamnit! Yes, Alicia was supposed to quit working here. There had been no time to give her any real medical training, in such a short amount of time. But not interacting with her babies and treating family members like dirt?! That woman had blown it big time!
When she opened her eyes again, she saw Julian staring straight at her...again! Damnit! He knew something! And this was the last thing she was in the mood for, fending off a lot of questions from the likes of Julian Crane!
'Honey, let's get some air, okay?'
Julian tore his gaze from Lexie to T.C. and Whitney.
'Yes, Whitney, why don't you go with your father. I'll stay here with Fox.'
T.C. rolled his eyes, something Whitney did not see. They both left the room, closing the door behind him. Lexie turned and sat down in a chair. Julian was staring at her again.
'What, Julian? What are you looking at?'
Julian pulled up a chair and sat down beside her.
'My son is fighting for his life over there. I almost lost my life tonight, as did my twin babies, so I'm not going to beat around the bush here. I know you had something to do with Eve being kidnapped. I want to know where my wife is right now, this instant!'
'I'm sure T.C. and my mother wanted to know my whereabouts as well. Did you ever tell them? They didn't know if Theo and I were alive or dead either!'
Julian slowly stood up.
'Then I'm right? You are responsible for this madness?!'
Lexie stood up as well.
'What does it matter? Eve is gone. I might tell you where she is, oh, in let's say, A YEAR!'
'How dare you!' Julian seethed. 'I didn't have any choice, Lexie! It was the only way to...'
'To what? Weasle out of the trouble Eve and you had gotten into?! Trouble that was of your own making?! And why saddle us with Liz?'
Julian calmed down a bit at the mention of that beastly woman's name.
'Yes, where is Liz? Why wasn't she returned?'
Lexie shrugged.
'She didn't want to come back.'
'What the hell does that mean? And let me ask you another question, since you're confessing so nicely here. What did that crazy woman mean when she kept talking about my killing her son? I don't even know her! And you can tell your demented father, that his double was piss poor! How long was she supposed to fool me?'
Lexie smirked.
'I'm telling you nothing. That's what you told everyone that was looking for me, right?'
Julian was itching to throttle her! He rubbed his hand to restrain himself. That was when Ivy peeked in.
'Julian? Oh, hello Lexie. Julian, how is Fox?'
Julian turned from Lexie to eyeball his ex-wife. He was startled at how thin Ivy looked. Julian turned back to Lexie.
'If you'll excuse me, I have to speak to my ex-wife about our son. But we will talk later.'
'Not if T.C. has anything to say about it.' she quipped. Lexie then picked up her purse, nodded at Ivy, then left. Ivy watched Lexie for a bit, knowing she had walked in on something. She then looked over at an unconscious Fox.
'Where is Whitney?' she asked, walking all the way into the room.
'With her father.' Julian asked, appraising her. Ivy couldn't be on a diet! He couldn't help but stare at her. She almost looked unwell.
Ivy pulled up a chair and sat next to Fox.
'How did you find out?' he asked.
'Oh, Ethan called. He and Gwen are on their way.'
'Oh.'
Ivy looked at Julian.
'I was sorry to hear about Eve.'
Julian blinked hard.
'I do believe you actually mean that.'
Ivy just nodded, then looked at Fox again. She reached out and touched Fox's hair.
The door opened, and Sam Bennett walked in. His eyes went to Ivy's. She smiled weakly at him, before returning her attention to Fox.
Julian watched Sam, watching Ivy. He could see it too, Julian thought. Ivy's wan appearance. And he was clearly concerned. Julian cleared his throat.
'I'm going to go check on the twins...they were given a clean bill of health, but they must be so frightened, you know, with all that's happened.'
Ivy just nodded, without looking at him. Sam just nodded, looking at Julian briefly, before returning his focus on Ivy. Julian quietly left the room. Once he had found Eve, maybe, he could extend some support to his ex-wife. From the looks of her, it looked as if she would need it.
Julian stood out in the hallway. He then looked over to his right. T.C., Lexie and Whitney were hugging one another. An idea came to him.
Whitney would believe him, if he told her the truth about Lexie...meaning he would have to reveal the fact that he was responsible for selling her out to Stefano, in the first place. He would keep Fox's name out of it, to protect their relationship.
Whitney would be angry and disappointed in him, yes, but Julian knew she would believe him about Lexie knowing where her mother was. And if Whitney made it clear to T.C. that his ladylove was a liar, then hopefully, maybe, Eve could be found, before the DiMera's did God knows what to her!
'Hold on, Eve!' he whispered urgently, 'I'm coming.'
****
Celeste had been watching the local news, when she saw a story on the fire at the Crane mansion. She flicked off the TV, before she could hear that Eve had been kidnapped. Otherwise, she would've never opened her door to 'Eve'.
She heard the buzzer, and was annoyed that someone would be ringing her so late. She hit the intercom.
'Yes?' she asked sharply.
'Celeste! It's Eve! Please, I have to talk to you!'
Eve? Celeste thought. Eve was here after having survived a fire? Why wasn't she at the hospital? Where were Julian and the twins?
Celeste buzzed her up, throwing her purse aside. She then began to pace. Something was not right, but only Eve could tell her what was wrong. God! Was it possible that she had set, yet another fire? Was that why she had come to see her?
There was a knock on the door. Celeste looked through the peephole. Good God! Eve looked terrible! And she was in some kind of torn nightgown! What the hell was going on?!
Celeste unlocked the door, and pulled Eve in. She closed it behind her.
'I just heard about the fire! Where are Julian and the twins? Why aren't you with them?'
'Eve' rolled her eyes!
'It's me, Celeste!'
Celeste shook her head slightly.
'I know that, dear. Why don't I get you some tea, then I'll drive you to the hospital, okay?'
Celeste tried to move past her towards the kitchen, but Eve's arm snaked out and grabbed her, hard!
'Eve! Stop it! What is the matter with you?!'
'I'm not Eve, Celeste. It's ME, Alicia.' Alicia said, in her normal sounding voice.
Celeste yanked her arm away, then backed up a bit.
'Holy God! What...what...did Stefano do this to you?'
'You know he did!' Alicia snapped. 'Now, I don't have time for lectures! I need help in getting away from here and Stefano! When he finds out I've failed...'
Celeste suddenly slapped the woman hard!
'You let that man talk you into this?! Where is Eve?! Where is she?!'
Alicia slapped her back even harder! Celeste flew back against the door. Alicia then walked up to her.
'I came here because you and I are the same, Celeste. We both gave away our babies...babies we had by Stefano DiMera, so that they would have a better life. Lexie got her chance...my Chad didn't.'
Celeste recovered from the slap, rubbing her cheek. Alicia Sheffield was just one of the many women Stefano had used and discarded over the years. Celeste was not surprised that she had had a baby with that maniac. But that baby had been Chad Harris? This whole thing just got worse and worse as time marched on!
'Alicia, darling, I know how you must feel.' she said quietly.
'Oh, right! You know now that you realize I mean business! You are going to help me get out of here!'
'Tell me what you've done first? I mean I'm curious as to...'
'Oh cut the ^%$#$#! Look, I'll tell you everything anyway, since I have nothing to lose! Years ago, Stefano and I had a great love affair. At least, I thought it was great. He didn't. Because even back then, he was obsessed with that Marlena Evans heifer!'
'Her last name is Black now.' Celeste reminded her.
'Whatever! I saw her ass in the Himalayas too! And she didn't put out the other times he kidnapped her, and she wasn't about to now! If he hadn't married that damned Liz, Stefano would've never gotten any relief!'
Celeste suddenly felt nauseous!
'Did you say that Stefano married Liz?'
'Oh yeah! And she even dyed her hair like yours, only it doesn't look so good, but all of that is beside the point! I gave my baby away, knowing that if I kept him with me, or if Stefano ever found out about him, Chad would end up just as messed up as Tony, or like his other kids! I couldn't let that happen!'
Celeste eased towards her.
'I understand, Alicia, really I do. That is why I let my sister and her husband raise my Alexandra.'
Alicia said nothing to this. Celeste's mind was working overtime. Alexandra had said that she really didn't know where she was, when she was living with Stefano. But Alicia had said she saw Marlena in the Himalayas. Was that possibly where Eve was?
'I take it Julian wasn't fooled by you.' Celeste noted.
'I hate his guts!' Alicia hissed. 'I woke up and found him licking on one of my breasts! I think he may have even bit it!'
Celeste put her hands up.
'Okay, Alicia, calm down!'
'No, I won't calm down! That pig killed Chad! I was supposed to just divorce him and take the babies to Eve and Tony, but I couldn't stand him touching me! Now Stefano is going to kill me! Help me get out of town!'
Celeste knew she had to get to Julian. Why she owed him anything, considering what she suspected about his role in Alexandra's kidnapping, Celeste would never know. But Alicia was out of control. Then again, she always had been.
'Alright, alright. Let me just get my purse, and we'll go. I'll drive you somewhere...'
'No! Give me your car...and some clothes. I'll take care of the rest.' Alicia ordered.
Celeste nodded, walking past Alicia to get her car keys out of her purse. She them turned quickly and punched Alicia in the face! Alicia crumbled to the ground, then fell out, unconscious.
Celeste rubbed her fist. She hadn't punched anyone in years! She then opened her purse and pulled out her car keys. Julian was probably at the hospital. She would go there and tell him what she suspected about Eve's whereabouts. She glanced down at the unconscious woman. Somewhere along the line, Alistair Crane, and Stefano, found out Chad Harris's true origins. She found herself thinking, that if that Harris boy had known where he really came from, he might have killed himself anyway.
****
HIMALAYAS
Eve sat at a table with Tony, as he lifted platters off of plates, and eyed their meals. He then rubbed his hands together.
This was the third dinner she had been forced to endure in Tony's company. She never said much, and only answered when spoken to, or sometimes not at all.
She found herself staring out of the window at the mountains, wondering if Julian was making love to a woman that looked like her, but was not her. This 'Alicia' person did not love Julian the way she did. She didn't love him at all. She hated him. And Eve was scared to death for not only Julian, but for Erin and Evan.
She would cry at night, her heart aching to hold her babies, wondering if there was anything new she had missed at all, in their young lives. She longed for the nights she would spend with Julian in the library, just watching the twins play on the floor, or in their play pens. She missed the nights alone with him in their bedroom. Sometimes, if she did not get off too late, Julian would already be asleep. Eve would creep into the room, get undressed and go to sleep. He would always reach over and put his arms around her. No words were spoken, none needed to be.
Then there were the nights when she got off of work at a semi decent hour. As the twins slept, she would try on different nightgowns that he had had flown in from Paris. There were so many, that she still, to this day, had not tried them all on for him. Eve wondered if this bitch, Alicia, was wearing her things now.
'Eve?'
Eve rolled her eyes and looked at Tony. Even though she had had amnesia when she had first met Tony DiMera, she now wondered what the hell could she have ever seen in this man?! He was crazy!
Eve didn't say anything, but turned and looked out the window at the mountains again. Tony cleared his throat.
'I know you think I'm insane.'
Eve turned to look at him. Was he mind reader now? Yeah! She had just been thinking that he was crazy!
'I do.' was all Eve said, before turning away from him to look out the window again.
'I'm sorry that you don't think more kindly of me, dear.'
Eve rolled her eyes again.
'If you really cared what I thought about you, then you'd let Abe and I go. If Lexie ever finds out what Stefano and you have done...'
'She won't.' Tony said briskly. He continued to stare at her, before speaking again.
'You know, Eve, I was very hurt by your deception last year...'
Eve jumped up!
'And I could really give a damn! What is the matter with you? Why do you want a woman that clearly does not want you?! I love my husband, and my children! We have no future together!'
Tony stood up as well.
'Eve, you would be my wife today, if Julian had not interfered back in Salem, when you were living with me. We were in love and happy, and you know why? Because there were no outside forces telling you what a rotten human being I am, around to poison you against me! Here, alone, we can get back to what was.'
Eve began shaking her head.
'Tony, I didn't know who I was! What is the matter with you? I didn't know there were any 'outside forces'! We don't work, Tony! We will never work!'
'I don't believe that, Eve. I refuse to believe that.'
The doors slid back. Stefano, dressed in a tuxedo, walked in with Liz on his arm. She was wearing a slinky, light blue evening dress. Her hair was a garish blonde.
'Oh my God!' Eve whispered, shaking her head. Liz had truly lost her mind!
But Tony grinned at the two of them.
'Good evening, Father. Liz, how is my beautiful step-mother?'
Eve put a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing! Stefano eyed her. Tony ignored her.
But Liz would have none of it!
'Eve? You have something to say?'
Eve shrugged, then looked away. Liz smiled at her.
'That's okay, Evie dear. I know you're just nervous about your upcoming nuptials.'
Eve stopped laughing. She looked around at the three of them.
'What the hell are you all talking about?' she hissed.
Tony turned to look at her. He smiled.
'Oh, didn't I tell you. We are to be married, tomorrow afternoon.'
Eve began shaking her head wildly.
'I'm already married!'
Liz grinned, loving her sister's distress.
'Well, actually, Alicia is married to Julian. That makes you free to be with the man of your dreams. I knew you always really wanted Tony, sister, dear!'
Eve rushed over to her and backhanded her! Stefano tried to step in and Tony pulled Eve back. He whispered in her ear.
'Eve, darling, I love you too much to shame you. I didn't want you living here with me, outside the bounds of marriage. Your dress was put in your room, while we were here at dinner. You're going to love it. It's white.'
Eve jerked away from him! She then looked at Liz and Stefano, then back at Tony. Eve then fainted dead away!