NOTE: Chapter 55 is RATED ADULT for sexual content.

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

Chapter 55
"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. "He said that you would never change," she whispers.

Gregory sighs with frustration. "What did he say to you?" I am going to kill that son-of-a-bitch one of these days, he thinks angrily.

"That you would still be the same sadistic bastard I knew for most of my married life. Oh please, Gregory," she pleads as she takes his face in her hands, "tell me that he's wrong. Please!"

Gregory gently pulls Olivia's hands down. He intertwines his fingers with hers. "I don't know how I can convince you that things are going to be different. I love you, Olivia. And I am going to try with everything in my being to show you how much. You and I…together…we're unstoppable."

You, me, the Deschanel jewels; there is nothing stoppin' us now, Del once said. He was wrong, Olivia thinks. Gregory stopped us. "I love you. And I want to believe that things are going to be better."

He pulls her to him and kisses her on the mouth. His kisses are tender as he pulls her into his lap. Gregory smiles at her tenderly. "I love you too. And things are going to be better. They will be, Liv. I promise."

Olivia looks into Gregory's eyes and sees the love and tenderness exude that he would have kept hidden if it were anyone else. She smiles back and absentmindedly strokes her thumb across his lips.

"Come on," he says as he kisses her thumb and urges her up. "I want to put ice on your chin. Does it hurt?"

She shakes her head. "No."

Gregory squeezes Olivia's hand as they walk through the lobby to the elevator. "I mean it, Liv. Things are going to be better this time around. It'll be a whole new phase in our relationship."

"It has to be," Olivia says softly as the elevator doors close. "We aren't married anymore. Remember?" She moves closer to Gregory as he wraps his arms around her. "We'll be living in sin, you know," she whispers in his ear as he nuzzles her throat.

"But what a wonderful place sin is," he mumbles as he places soft kisses on her throat and along her jawbone. His hand slides down her back and he gently squeezes her backside.

Olivia jumps and laughs softly. "That, my dear, was positively sinful." She wraps her arms around his neck and blows lightly in Gregory's ear. "Positively sinful."

Gregory's arm reaches out and pulls the emergency stop lever. He smiles as Olivia tightens her grip around his neck when the elevator jerks to a stop.

"What are you doing?" she breathlessly asks.

"Exploring sin a bit…to see if it's a place I want to continue living in."

"What about putting ice on my chin?" Olivia questions playfully as she kisses Gregory's lips.

"Oh, I'll take care of that. Don't you worry," Gregory says as he turns around so that Olivia's back is to the wall of the elevator. He gently eases up her skirt and he picks her up into his arms. "Trust me."

She reaches down and unzips his zipper before wrapping her legs around his waist and drawing him in closer to her. "You know I do."

Chapter 56
Caitlin and Sean sit on the couch in the sitting room of Gregory's suite, staring blankly at the TV.

Sean takes a long sip out of his soda can. "So, uh, does this mean they're back together?"

Caitlin twirls a lock of hair around her finger. "I think so." She watches Sean out of the corner of her eye. "How do you feel about that?"

He sighs deeply before crunching the aluminum can in his fist. "Apprehensive."

"But Sean," Caitlin exclaims as she angles herself to face him, "you didn't see what Daddy was like when Mom wasn't there! He was moody and angry. He was always locked away in his office."

"And how is that any different from when Mom was there?" Sean mutters.

"It just was," Caitlin sighs. "It just was."

"Whatever, Cait."

"You can't deny that Mom still loves Daddy the same way he still loves her."

"No, I don't deny it." Sean turns to face Caitlin. "Our parents have some weird and twisted love affair. They hurt each other as much as they love each other."

"Maybe they'll finally get it right this time," Caitlin says hopefully.

"I wouldn't hold my breath."

Caitlin and Sean turn back to the TV in silence. After a few moments, Caitlin asks softly, "Why are you so anti them being happy?"

"Cause our family is the antithesis of 'happy'. Dad will hurt Mom. She'll start drinking again. They'll both screw around with other people. End of story. They don't know how to be happy." Sean turns his head in Caitlin's direction. "They can't be happy together."

Caitlin shakes her head. "You don't know that. You don't remember what Mom and Dad used to be like."

"Oh, and you do?"

Caitlin scoots over on the couch closer to her brother. "There's one thing I remember clearly. Mom and I were sitting on the floor in my bedroom. We were playing with my blocks." The young girl smiles reminiscently. "I had on this fuzzy sweater. It made my arms and neck itch. Anyway, we were stacking the blocks up when Daddy came in. He picked me up and kissed my nose. Then he sat down on the floor next to Mom and kissed her. And I just remember that I continued to stack the blocks. I looked over and Mom was kind of curled up against Dad. His arm was around her shoulder. And they were both smiling at me. "Sean," she says softly as she takes his hand, "they were happy. And they can be again."

Sean sighs deeply. "That's a nice story, Cait. A real nice story. Want to know what I remember? I remember being six years old and watching Mom and Dad duke it out in the living room. He called her a drunk and she threw a bottle of liquor at him. It missed Dad but smashed into a million pieces when it hit the wall behind him. You know what else I remember? Coming home from school and finding Mom passed out on the patio, an empty bottle of Stoli lying next to her. Hearing Dad yell at Mom that she was an alcoholic, a terrible mother, and an even worse wife. Nice memories, huh?"

Caitlin turns away from Sean and folds her arms across her chest. "No one is denying that there were bad years. But if Mom and Dad can find a way to work past them and start fresh, who are we to judge them?"

The door to the suite slams shut and both Caitlin and Sean turn around. Olivia has a hurt expression on her face and Gregory glares at both of them.

"Daddy," Caitlin starts.

Gregory holds up his hand. "Quiet," he snaps. He turns to Olivia and takes her hand. "Your mother and I need to talk to you both." He gestures for Olivia to sit in the winged armchair and he stands behind her, with his hands on her shoulders. "This has…well, this has been a weekend of change to say the least."

"The very least," Sean mutters.

"Something you wanted to say Sean? No?" Gregory asks when Sean does not reply, "Good. Then listen up…both of you." He looks down at Olivia and squeezes her shoulders gently. "Your mother is coming back to Sunset Beach with us. And she'll be moving back into the house, where we will all live…together. This family is getting back on track, starting now."

Olivia raises her hand and rests it on top of Gregory's hand. "How do you two feel about that?"

"Oh Mom!" Caitlin exclaims. "I'm thrilled you're coming home."

Olivia looks at Sean, who sits on the couch with a sullen expression about his face. "Sean?" she asks.

"Answer your mother Sean," Gregory barks.

"You don't want to hear what I feel."

"Yes we do," Olivia says softly. "You don't agree with any of this, do you?"

Sean looks at Olivia and then up at his father. "No," he states flatly. "I think that this is the worst mistake you could possibly make."

Olivia nods and smiles sadly. "You told me once that I would always have your full support. I, I'm asking for it now, darling. Please?"

"Mom-."

"You're going to let your mother down, Sean?"

Sean glares at Gregory. "I learned from the best, didn't I? It'd be a shame to let all that knowledge of ways to hurt Mom go down the drain, right? I am the last person here who's let Mom down." He gets up and repeats, "The last person." He stalks out of the suite in a huff, slamming the door behind him.

Caitlin looks at her parents and takes note of her mother's crestfallen face. "It'll be alright, Mom," she says softly. "Sean will come around."

"No, Cait. I don't think he will." Olivia anxiously tugs at her necklace. "I don't think he will."

Gregory squeezes Olivia's shoulders in support and sighs with disappointment at his son's behavior. "He will, Liv. He'll see how happy we all are. Sean will come around." He comes around the side of the chair and crouches down in front of Olivia. "He'll realize he was wrong."

Olivia smiles down at Gregory and she cups his cheek in her hand. "I hope so."

Caitlin comes over from the couch and asks, "Mom?" Olivia looks up at her. "I'm happy you're coming home."

"Oh Cait," Olivia swoons as she stands up and pulls her daughter into an embrace. "So am I."

Gregory rises from the floor and places a hand on the back of each woman. I know I don't deserve any of this. But thank you, he thinks. Thank you.