Disclaimers: Characters belong to Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent, Gary Tomlin, NBC, et al and are used here strictly for non-profit entertainment purposes. "Life in Mono" belongs to Mono (composed by Martin Virgo) and can be found on "Great Expectations: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack"; it is also used for non-profit entertainment purposes.
Spoilers: Specifically, the first week of Sunset Beach and minor spoilers for the history of Gregory and Olivia. But to be safe, I am going to say the entire series.
Category: AU
Summary: What if Del convinced Olivia to leave with him?

Chapter 1
Knocking….the persistent knocking at the door….Gregory asking where he should meet Del.

"You set me up…Why?" Olivia pleaded.

"Because darlin'…,"Olivia glared at Del and listened to his explanation. She knew in her heart that he was right. There was nothing for her in Sunset Beach anymore. Her daughter avoided her and belonged to Gregory, her son was away at school, and her husband….Gregory hadn't looked at her lovingly since before Sean was born. While she may have been drunk throughout the majority of their marriage, she knew about the other women. She wasn't the only one with other lovers.

She looked at Del and saw the lust in his eyes. While it may not be true love like she has…had…with Gregory, at least she wouldn't doubt that she was wanted and appreciated. Olivia raises her hand to Del's cheek and touches it tentatively.

"All right. I'll leave with you. But you need to give me a day or two to get my belongings together and, I need to let my children know."

"Fine. Olivia darlin', you aren't going to be sorry. You, me, the Deschanel jewels; there is nothing stoppin' us now," Del said as he pulled Olivia into a passionate kiss. "But now, I need to meet that husband of yours for a business meeting. You'd better…." he trailed off as Olivia dashed into the bathroom clutching her clothes, hat, and anything else that would signal her presence.

Del chuckled to himself as he went to greet Gregory.

You ain't seen nothing yet…friend.

Chapter 2
Olivia walked into the spacious beachfront mansion that had been her home for her entire married life.

"If only these walls could talk," she said aloud.

"You should be careful what you say. Dad might think that you are delusional and try to have you committed again."

Olivia gasped and turned around, but was instantly relieved at the sight of her son-the one bright spot left in her life.

"Oh, sweetie. You're home," Olivia sighed with relief as she pulled her youngest child in for an embrace, silently noting how tall he has gotten since his last visit. "I'm so glad to see you!"

"I'm glad too, although you won't be so happy to hear why," Sean began.

"Sean, it doesn't matter. It's just…." Olivia stopped speaking as her eyes filled with tears.

Sean immediately felt his blood boil and simultaneously turn to ice. "Did Dad do something to you? I swear Mom, I don't know why you don't leave him."

Olivia flinched inwardly, recalling her earlier conversation with Del and the promise she made to him. "No darling, he hasn't done anything to me….at all. Why don't you and I go down to the Java Web for an iced coffee? There is something that I want to discuss with you…"

Chapter 3
Del and Gregory sat at a secluded corner table at Grenadine's.

"So, Ben and I both agree that this deal would be an excellent venture for the Liberty Corporation. What do you say? Do we have your support at the board meeting next week?"

Del grinned slyly, knowing that he and Olivia would be far away from Sunset Beach by the next board meeting. "Well, Greg the deal sounds like a real money maker and you would normally have my support but, I have to tell you know that I am pulling out of Liberty."

Gregory smacked the leather folder shut and leaned in towards Del. "Pulling out? You can't pull out; you're one of the three major shareholders. Do you realize what kind of set back this puts Liberty in?

Del leans in towards Gregory, "Last thing I want to do is shove the company that I helped build down the crapper. What makes you think that I'm not going to allow you to make me a generous offer?" Del pauses to let Gregory consider this. "You know that with my shares and yours, you would be the shareholder with controlling interest."

"I'm well aware of that," Gregory snaps. Gregory considers Del for a moment more and writes a dollar amount on a piece of paper.

Del glances down at the offer and chuckles. "Greg, you telling me that this is all controlling interest in Liberty is worth to you? Ben Evans might think it's worth a little more."

Gregory glares and writes down another offer. Del looks down and grins.

"That my friend is a generous offer and I am happy to accept. How quickly can we get the paperwork signed?"

Gregory puts his pen back in his inner jacket pocket and asks, "What's the hurry Del? You in some sort of trouble?"

"No, no. Nothing like that," Del responds. "I'm just looking to start a new chapter. I should probably tell you now that I am leaving Sunset Beach in a few days."

"Who is she?"

Del nervously laughed, "She? Greg, uh…I'm not sure what you mean. There isn't any woman."

"Right," Gregory said knowingly. "What about your daughter?"

"Annie? Hell, she's a big girl," Del replied ruefully. "She doesn't need me. She does need my money and as long as she stays in law school, she'll have it." He glanced down at his watch, "Look at the time. I have to be going; there are some travel arrangements I need to make. Can we have the papers signed by tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? That's so soon and it would be highly unorthodox. But then again, when have I done anything that was orthodox?"

Del chuckled and said, "That's what I like to hear."

The men stood and shook hands.

"I'll send all the necessary papers and payment to you by 5 p.m. tomorrow. Pleasure doing business with you, Del."

"You too Greg. You too. You've got no idea how much you've given me."

Chapter 4
Olivia and Sean are chatting idly among the bustle of the Java Web, Sunset Beach's trendy internet café and coffee bar. "Life in Mono" by Mono plays on the hidden speaker system.

"Mom, you know I love you right?"

Olivia smiled tenderly at her son. "Yes darling, I do. That has been one of the few things I have been sure of these last few years."

"Ok then. We have talked about the weather, my school, and Caitlin. It's great spending time with you, but this is small talk." Olivia glanced down and examined her wedding rings. "What did you want to talk to me about Mom?"

Olivia slowly raised to her sons. "Darling," she stalls.

"Mom! Just tell me! What's going on? Are you sick?" Sean demands.

"No!" she replies quickly. "My health is not the issue."

"Then what is the issue?"

Olivia takes a deep breath and begins, "You were always such a caring person. Even as a little boy." She stops to gather her composure but continues in a moment, "Our roles have always been a bit reversed. You've always taken care of me when I was…ill…and you've always defended me to your father. I never wanted our lives to end up this way."

"Mom…"

"Sean, let me finish," Olivia states. "I never had a real family when I was growing up and I was determined that my children never experience that kind of pain. But I failed. What we have is not a family. I recognize that and I am to blame."

"You! You're kidding right? Mom, this is all Dad's fault! He treats us like possessions. He controls Cait; she can't make a single decision for herself. He treats you like dirt and drives you to drink. As for me, I learned a long time ago that I was not the son he wanted and have accepted being ignored," Sean says.

"That's my point darling. It was never supposed to be this way!" Olivia replies. "Your father and I had such wonderful plans for our family when we got married." She smiles wistfully. "Somewhere along the road we lost them…and each other. Darling, I'm leaving your father."

Sean stares at his mother, dumbfounded. "You're what?"

"I'm leaving your father. You haven't been here but you know that we haven't had a real marriage in years. It should have been ended years ago but…" Olivia gives up trying to speak and raises her hands to her eyes as she starts to sob into them.

Sean quickly reaches into his wallet and tosses some money onto the table as some of the other patrons begin to glance over. He touches his mother on the shoulder and whispers,

"Let's go."

Olivia nods and reaches into her bag for her sunglasses as she lets Sean lead her out of the restaurant. They walk down Beach Boulevard in the direction Olivia's Jaguar sedan.

"What made you decide to leave now?" Sean asks.

Olivia links arms with Sean and begins to explain about Del and his offer of freedom.

"Does Dad know about you and Del? Does he know you are leaving with him?"

She shakes her head, "No and no. You can't tell him sweetie."

Sean laughs bitterly, "You're kidding. Dad and I don't talk." He grows serious again, "When are you leaving?"

"Within the next few days. Del wanted to leave right away but I need to get some things together. I also wanted to explain to Cait why I was leaving…I didn't know you would be home as well," Olivia says.

They walk in silence for a few moments. As they reach the car, Sean stops and turns to his mother, "Is this what you want?"

Olivia removes her sunglasses and looks deep into Sean's eyes. "No."

Chapter 5
Del is in his hotel room, throwing clothes into his luggage while balancing the phone on his shoulder.

"That's right…I need two one-wayplane tickets from Sunset Beach, California to the Dominican Republic….One way…A lady friend is going to take care of some legal matters; we aren't sure where we are going after….Sure thing darlin', I'll use your airline for future travel arrangements…Names? Del Douglas and Olivia Richards…"

Chapter 6
"What do you mean 'no'?"

Olivia sighs and pulls Sean over to the bench overlooking the beach. "In a perfect world, your father and I would be happily married. You and Cait would have two parents that loved each other and respected one and other, rather then seeing who could inflict more pain on the other. I still love your father, but if I stay…Sean, it's killing me but I can't live like this anymore," Olivia starts sobbing again.

"Mom," Sean whispers as he gathers his mother in his arms and rubs her back comfortingly. "I don't know why you stayed as long as you did."

Olivia pulls back and looks at Sean with sad eyes, "I still love him...and I probably always will. I was hoping that things would get better."

Sean kisses his mother's cheek. "I'm sorry for everything he has ever done to you. You have my full support; you always have and you always will. Just promise to stay in touch."

"Darling," Olivia laughs softly, "wild horses couldn't keep me away from you. Let's go back to the house for dinner. Does your father know you are back?"

"No," Sean answers as he thinks to himself, This should be interesting.

Chapter 7
"You heard me. Del Douglas is selling me his shares in the Liberty Corporation. I want contracts drawn up and ready for me to sign tomorrow, otherwise you are going to wish that you never heard the name 'Gregory Richards'. Are we clear?…Good."

Gregory slams the phone down and smiles to himself. By 5 p.m. tomorrow, he would have controlling interest in Liberty Corporation.

His smile fades as he hears the front door open and close and Olivia's accented laughter. Gregory strides into the living room where he finds his wife and only son laughing together, the afternoon sunlight coming in through the patio doors.

"Well, isn't this the perfect picture of family life. How many drinks have you had today darling?" Gregory sneers.

"What does it matter to you?" Sean growls.

Gregory turns his attention to the teenager. "Ah…the prodigal son returns. What did you do to get kicked out of boarding school now? Get caught with the headmaster's daughter?"

Sean jumps up and immediately charges his father. Olivia rises and stands between them.

"Sean! No more!" she quickly interjects. Turning to her husband, "Please Gregory. Not tonight."

"No way Mom," Sean interrupts, "why should tonight be any different?" Looking at his father, "For the record, I didn't get kicked out. The school closed to repair a water main burst; everyone was sent home. But that doesn't matter because you are going to think of me whatever you want." Sean pushes his mother to the side and dashes up the stairs to his bedroom.

Olivia follows him with her eyes and the sits down again. "He hasn't even been home a full day," she acknowledges sadly.

"What do you expect Olivia? The boy takes after you, he has no respect."

Olivia looks Gregory straight in the eye and says with more confidence than she has had in years, "That shows how little you know about Sean. His mother may be an alcoholic but he at least shows more respect and kindness to other people than his father does!" She starts to walk away but is quickly pulled around to face Gregory and his grip around her upper arm tightens.

"You are never this confrontational…How much did you drink today?" Gregory repeats his earlier question.

Olivia smiles slyly, "Not as much as usual. Perhaps I'm starting a new chapter in my life." She tears away from Gregory's iron grip and leaves the room.

Gregory watched Olivia leave. He wasn't able to put his finger on it, but something wasn't right with her. Something wasn't right…

Chapter 8
Olivia knocked on Sean's bedroom door and found him angrily shoving clothes into his duffel.

"Where are you going?"

Sean looks at Olivia quickly but continues packing, "Anywhere but here. I'll probably catch a plane back to school and stay at a hotel in town. I don't feel so bad about leaving this time, because I know that you'll be ok. You're leaving."

Olivia worriedly looks at the door as if expecting to find Gregory. "Darling, please…don't…He might hear…"

"Don't worry Mom," Sean states as he zips up his duffel, "Can you drive me to the airport?"

"Of course. Do you need anything from the house before we go?"

"Nah. Hey, can we go to Grenadine's for dinner?"

"Absolutely."

At the bottom of the stairs, Gregory meets them on the way back to his office.

"Leaving so soon?" Gregory asks, without a trace of concern.

"What do you think?" Sean retorts.

"Please…." Olivia pleads. She looks to Gregory, "Sean and I are going to Grenadine's for dinner and then I am taking him to the airport. I'll be back in a few hours."

"Well, I'll certainly wait with bated breath until you return, love," Gregory answers sarcastically.

Chapter 9
After a gourmet meal at Grenadine's with Sean, Olivia tearfully bids her son goodbye at the airport with promises that she will contact him once she and Del have settled somewhere.

After a gourmet meal at with Sean, Olivia tearfully bids her son goodbye at the airport with promises that she will contact him once she and Del have settled somewhere.

She walks back into a dark and quiet house. Gregory must be with his new whore, Olivia thinks to herself.

As she had so many nights before, Olivia enters her bedroom and looks around. There are few things she really wants to take. She makes a mental list to pack clothes, jewelry, and…Olivia stops suddenly. Where is it?, she thinks.

She goes to her closet and roots around in it until she finds a dusty book on one of the side shelves. Olivia wipes the dust off the front cover and sits down on the armchair with the book in her lap.

It wasn't as thick as she would've liked it to be. She suspects that her alcoholic binges had something to do with the lack of history pasted into the photo album.

Olivia reluctantly opens the front cover to see a picture of her and Gregory almost 25 years ago. The next few pages tell the story of their courtship and culminate in the romantic wedding that they had. Olivia smiles as she remembers how nervous she was that day…The next page illustrates the month they spent in southern France on their honeymoon. She believes that Caitlin was conceived on their last night before they returned home to Sunset Beach.

Cait was the beginning of the family Gregory and I never had growing up, Olivia recalls sadly. For three years, it was perfect and we were so happy when the doctor confirmed I was pregnant again!

Gregory's whispered plea comes back to her, as clear as it was all those years ago, Maybe it'll be a boy this time.

Olivia closes her eyes and thinks back on the day that their dreams died….I woke up around 9 a.m. and could hear Gregory and Caity downstairs laughing. Caity was an active three year old, she loved to climb up the stairs and slide down again on her bottom. I tightened my robe around and started walking down the stairs…By the time,I saw the toy Caity accidentally left on the floor, it was too late. She quickly tumbled down the stairs and landed in a heap at the bottom. She mercifully passed out after the first sharp pain struck her abdomen…

When she woke up again, Olivia was told that the child she carried in her for seven months was gone. I thought you would want to know that it was a boy, in case you would like to name him, the doctor offered thinking he was being helpful. She quickly looked to Gregory and saw the sheer disappointment in his eyes.

A year later, she and Gregory were barely speaking and he focused all of his attention on Caitlin. Somehow, I was pregnant again….Olivia slammed the photo album shut. Why go down memory lane when you know how it ends?, she thought.

Olivia stood up, leaving the photo album on the armchair. She stripped down to her bra and panties, then slid into bed. Her head was pounding and she wanted a drink. One more night, she thought to herself, one more night and then you can put all of these painful memories behind you.

Chapter 10
While Sunset Beach may be known for her sunsets, her sunrises were just as impressive. The day dawned bright and early; by noon, the temperature was a balmy 76 degrees.

Del stood on his hotel balcony, looking down at the papers Gregory sent over via messenger. He quickly scrawled his name on the bottom contract and initialed in all the appropriate places.

He walked back into his hotel room and pocketed the cashier's check made out for a sizeable piece of Gregory Richards' personal fortune.

With this money, Del thinks, Olivia won't even need a divorce settlement.

He walks over to the phone and waits for the concierge to pick up. "Yeah, this is Del Douglas in room 1069. I need a bellboy to get my luggage, a car waiting downstairs in ten minutes, and a messenger sent up." He hangs up with the concierge's assurance that everything will be taken care of.

Del then calls Olivia. "Darlin'? You ready to blow this town?"

Chapter 11
Olivia hangs up the phone and glances around the bedroom one last time. She removed her wedding and engagement rings and enclosed them in a letter addressed to Gregory.

She left a letter for Caitlin with Rose, for fear that Gregory would destroy it before their daughter read it.

She picked up two suitcases, walked down the stairs and out the front door of the place she called home for most of her adult life.

She is thankful that Del arranged for a car; she is lost in thought on the short drive to the Resort. Upon their arrival, the driver informs her that Mr. Douglas will be down in a moment.

Olivia doesn't respond. She puts on her sunglasses so that Del will not see the tears that threaten to escape.

Chapter 12
Gregory slams the bedroom door open, not caring if Olivia is still asleep. He had a disappointing morning in court.

He is rather surprised to find the bed empty and Olivia's dresser cleared off. He instinctively goes to her walk-in closet and finds it empty, with the exception of a few formal evening gowns.

Gregory pales; he can't explain it but he suddenly finds it difficult to breathe. As he turns back to the bed, he sees an envelope on the bed. He sits down and opens it, not prepared for what he reads inside…

Dear Gregory,

I hope that you will read this letter completely before tearing it to pieces.

I never imagined on our wedding day that I would ever need to write this sort of letter to you. But, here it is.

As you have already guessed, I have left you. We don't have a marriage anymore and neither of us have been happy in a long time.

I feel the need to explain myself further, but I am sure nothing I can say will surprise you. You are an intelligent man; you know its been over for years.

I am sorry that you and I couldn't be happy. I blame myself just as you blame me for the death of our son all those years ago. I wanted so much to have the family in adulthood that I never had in childhood. I suppose I am just one of those people that are incapable of finding happiness.

As you can see, I left you my wedding and engagement rings. They belonged to your mother; it is only right that you have them back.

I will not ask for any divorce settlement or alimony for myself. What I do ask you for is that you not punish our son for my leaving. Sean is a good man and should not be punished for anything I have done. Gregory, I am asking you to think of our early years and how happy we were….In honor of that, please leave Sean's trust funds in place.

Goodbye and Be Happy,
Olivia

Gregory is shocked…then sad…and then angry. After all these years, he never thought that she would actually leave. How dare she!, he screams internally

He folds the letter up and shoves it into his pocket, along with the rings. Gregory charges downstairs and into the kitchen where he finds Rose, their housekeeper/cook.

"Rose," he asks, "where is Mrs. Richards?"

The woman swallows and whispers, "Mrs. Richards left 15 minutes ago. A car came and picked her up."

Gregory takes a step closer to the woman, who backs up in fear. "Where did she go Rose?"

"I don't know, sir," the scared woman stammers. "The only thing she asked me was to keep a letter for Miss Caitlin and give it to her when I next see her."

"Give it to me," Gregory demands, his tone clear that he will no accept any protests. Rose quickly hands over the letter. Gregory tears open the letter and skims it quickly. His heart nearly stops when he reads:

As I told your brother yesterday, I am leaving town with Del Douglas. We are not sure where we will travel to but I will let you know as soon as we are settled. I love you very much angel and….

"That son-of-a-bitch!" Gregory thunders. Rose quickly scurries out of the kitchen, hoping Mr. Richards does not notice. Secretly, she does not blame Mrs. Richards for leaving.

"Del…you bastard." Gregory snarls. He storms out to his car and peals out of the driveway.