(See first part for disclaimer, notes, spoilers, etc.)

Chapter 54
"Del, we need to talk."

Del circles the table and stands face to face with Olivia. " 'Bout what darlin'?" He reaches out to stroke her cheek but she pulls away from him.

"Be serious." Olivia sits down and motions for Del to do the same. He sits across from her. "Del, I'm going back to Sunset Beach."

His mouth dips into a frown. "Why?" he asks flatly.

Olivia looks down at her hands and rubs the spot where her wedding rings used to be. "Because I love Gregory," she says softly.

Del chuckles softly and within moments, it changes into a bitter laugh. "You love Gregory?" he mocks. "Well hell, darlin'…I know that! It's his name you moan at night!" Del angrily stands up and pushes his chair forcefully into the table.

Olivia pales at Del's outburst and looks warily behind her at the door that opens out onto the lobby. The lobby where Gregory is waiting for her. "Del, I-…"

"No," he interrupts. "Don't 'Del' me!" He grabs her chin strongly and forces her to look at him. "You look at me and tell me you don't love me."

"Del, you're hurting me," she stammers.

He ignores her pleas and tightens his grip on her. "Tell me you don't love me."

"I, I don't love you Del."

Del pushes Olivia's chin away from him and releases his grip on her. She gently massages her chin and can still feel his fingers digging into her skin.

"You never loved me either," she says bitterly as she stands up and pushes the chair between them. "You used me just as much as I used you. You wanted to hurt Gregory because he had more money and more business sense than you ever had! So what's the best way to hurt the man who has everything? You sleep with his wife!" Olivia pauses to catch her breath. "You never loved me," she repeats.

"Oh and Gregory does?"

Olivia meets Del's eyes and states confidently, "Yes."

Del sighs and shakes his head with disgust. "You think he'll change! I've known Greg a hell of a lot longer than you…The man will never change. He's like Jekyll and Hyde…He is still going to be the sadistic bastard you knew for most of your married life. Think about that!" he booms before turning and storming out of the dining room.

"Think about that?" Olivia repeats softly as her memory flashes back…

July, 1987

A pounding headache forcefully roused Olivia out of her bed. The drapes were pulled back all the way and strong sunlight flooded into the room.

"Ugh," she sighs with disgust as she shields her eyes with her hand. She quickly becomes aware of the other sounds in the house.

"Sean! Goddamnit! Turn down the volume on that video game!"

Rock music blares from Caitlin's room down the hallway.

She kicks off the sheets and quickly sits up. The room spins and she curses the early morning hour. A quick glance at the clock on her nightstand informs her though that it is now past noon. As she sits there massaging her temples, the door creaks open slowly.

"Mommy?" a small voice asks.

Olivia looks up and sees the face of her seven-year-old son peaking in. She smiles sadly and holds out her arms for him. "Come here darling."

Sean grins, revealing the absence of his two front teeth. He races into the room and jumps onto the bed. Olivia moans and braces herself against the headboard as dizziness plagues her again. Taking no note of his mother's discomfort, Sean curls up in her lap. She wraps her arms around him and breathes in the smell of her youngest child.

"Did Daddy yell at you?"

Sean sighs and nods. "Super Mario was too loud. But I had to turn it up Mommy! I couldn't hear it because of Caity's music."

Olivia tenderly runs her hand through Sean's thick hair. "Shh…It's alright."

After a moment, Sean sniffs loudly and says, "Mommy, you smell funny!"

"Do I?" Olivia tilts Sean's chin up so that he faces her. "I spilled a drink on myself last night…I guess I didn't get it all up before I fell asleep."

Sean giggles. "Mommy, you're wearing Daddy's pj's!"

Olivia looks down at her attire. Sure enough, she is wearing a pair of Gregory's navy blue silk pajamas. A pair that was several sizes too big for her. "Well, what do you know? I am." She kisses Sean's head. "Up we go. Mommy needs some coffee." They leave the bedroom hand-in-hand. As they pass Caitlin's room, they hear a frustrated sigh and the sound of something hitting the wall.

"Sweetie, you go downstairs. I'm going to check on your sister. And Sean, stay out of your Daddy's way."

Sean nods before trotting downstairs. Olivia goes into Caitlin's room and sees her glaring at her reflection in the mirror above her bureau.

"What's wrong Cait?"

"I can't get my hair right!" the ten year old sighs. "Rose usually does it but she isn't coming in today and I'm going to a birthday party later this afternoon." She gestures angrily at her hair and then turns around to peer at her mother. "Mommy? Can you do my hair?"

Olivia walks slowly over to Caitlin. She stands behind her and puts her hands on the little girls shoulders. "Me?" she asks while taking in her own reflection for the first time today.

Caitlin bends her head back to look up at Olivia. "Please Mommy?" She smiles broadly as Olivia tentatively picks up the brush and runs it gently through Caitlin's silky blond hair.

"How shall I do it?" Olivia asks.

"Surprise me since you never do my hair," Caitlin says.

Despite the headache and sporadic dizziness, tears spring to Olivia's eyes. She swallows past the sudden lump of emotion in her throat and says shakily, "I'm sorry Cait." She removes her hands from Caitlin's hair and lets the brush fall to the ground.

"What's the matter? Did you mess up?" Caitlin turns her head to the side and attempts to view the back of her head.

"No angel," she says as she turns Caitlin around to her. "I'm sorry that I never do your hair." She runs her hand across the young girls forehead and lets it rest on her cheek. "I'm sorry."

Caitlin puts her hand on top of Olivia's. "It's okay Mommy. Daddy says it's because you can't help yourself, let alone me or Sean in the morning and that's why we have Rose."

Olivia closes her eyes. "He does? What else does Daddy say?"

Caitlin shrugs and bends down to retrieve the fallen brush. "I don't know. Just stuff." She hands Olivia the brush and turns back around to the mirror. "Do you think we have time to crimp my hair?"

Olivia's eyes open and she looks at her daughter. "I don't think so, angel. How about a braid?"

"Ok. Here," she says, "braid this pink ribbon in with my hair. It matches my dress."

Both are silent as Olivia carefully weaves Caitlin's hair and the ribbon together.

"There," Olivia says after a few minutes. She holds up a hand mirror. "Now, let's see if we can get this to line up….There! Can you see it?"

"I can see it Mommy! It looks great. Good job." Caitlin smiles and turns around to hug Olivia. "Thanks Mommy."

Olivia bends down and wraps her arms around Caitlin. "You're welcome angel."

Olivia leaves Caitlin in her room and goes downstairs in search of coffee. She walks into the kitchen and sees Gregory and Sean both sitting at the table.

"Pleased to see you survived last night's bender dear," Gregory says as he turns the page in the newspaper.

"Good afternoon to you too, Gregory," Olivia mutters as she pours herself coffee. Rather than add the usual milk and sugar, she drinks the coffee black. She sits down in the chair across from Gregory and smiles at Sean. He puts down his chocolate milk and grins back. "Seanie, come here. You've got a milk moustache."

The small child climbs into Olivia's lap and allows her to wipe away the stain with her thumb.

"Better Mommy?"

"Much better sweetie," Olivia says as she kisses his nose.

"We're going out tonight, Olivia. Lay out the sleeveless white gown and your diamonds."

Olivia looks up in surprise. "Where are we going?"

"Be ready to leave at eight," he responds without looking at her.

"Gregory, where are we going?" she asks again as Sean lays his head on her shoulder.

"Dinner party for some out of town business associates." Gregory stands up and folds the newspaper closed. "Try to lay off the booze until then." He turns on his heel and leaves the room, tossing the newspaper on the counter.

Olivia sighs and glances over at the clock. As she does, her eyes fall on the calendar hanging on the door of the refrigerator. "Happy anniversary," she says ruefully.

"What's a anniversary?"

Olivia looks down at Sean. "Nothing special, sweetie. It's just another day," she says as she rubs his back. "Just another day."

…Olivia jumps as a hand clamps down on her shoulder.

"Sorry Liv. I didn't mean to scare you. I saw Del leave but not you." Gregory sits down in the chair next to Olivia and looks at her. "What the hell happened to your face!"

Olivia stares at Gregory with a look of confusion until he reaches out and gently touches her chin.

"The bruising isn't that bad, Liv," Gregory says as he cups her chin in his hand. "I'll deal with Del later. Let's get you up to the room and we'll put some ice on your chin." He stands up and extends his hand to her. "Come on."

Olivia stares at his hand and makes no effort to budge.