NOTE: The portion of the story after the 3rd line break is RATED ADULT for sexual content.

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

Pt 2: "A Need to Know"

Gregory sits alone in his office. The desk light is off and the sun was setting, casting in beams of fading sunlight through the window. He brings a small crystal glass of scotch to his lips and swallows the remaining amber colored liquid.

He leans back in his leather chair and sighs. Glancing down at his watch, he sees that he promised Olivia he'd be home an hour ago.

I can't face her, Gregory thinks to himself. She'll take one look at my face and know that something is wrong. And…I can't lie to her. Not when things have been going so well. But what choice do I have?

He frowns as he recalls the bombshell Alex dropped in his lap. Believe what you want, Gregory, she'd said. But know this: Casey is YOUR son.

Could it be true, Gregory wonders. What do I know about Alex's son? He thinks back to the recent cocktail party he and Olivia hosted. Alex was there and her son escorted her. Did he and I talk?…Not really. He looks just like Alex, all blonde hair and blue eyes. He can't be my son! But Caitlin has those same features...

Gregory sighs with disgust and sets the glass down hard on his desk. He stands up and rubs his eyes tiredly. He walks around his desk, puts his suit jacket on, and picks up his leather briefcase.

As he walks out of his office and down the hall, he comments to himself that it was a good thing Olivia didn't stop by for lunch today. If she had heard, he thinks, I don't know what would have happened.

Olivia stands on the patio and watches the sun dip behind the horizon. The wind blows and stirs the hem of her black palazzo pants. She tightens the belt on her long sweater and wraps her arms around herself.

Gregory should've been home by now, she muses.

She had the whole afternoon to think about what she heard in Gregory's office. I'm not going to mention anything until he does. I need to trust that he'll come to me and that we'll work this out….together.

She reaches down for her teacup and gingerly takes a sip of the piping hot drink. She puts the cup down and sighs as she looks anxiously down at her small watch.

Olivia closes her eyes and listens to the sound of the waves breaking on the beach. Even after all these years, I still love to listen to the waves. They're so soothing…The waves in England pale in comparison.

After a few minutes, she gets the feeling that someone is watching her. As she opens her eyes, a pair of arms wrap around her waist and she feels lips on the back of her neck.

"Mmmm," she sighs.

"I'm sorry I'm late," Gregory whispers as he kisses her neck. "I had an overseas call to make."

"That's alright," Olivia says as she turns around to face Gregory and wraps her arms around his neck. "I had Rose keep dinner warm." She leans in and kisses Gregory on the mouth.

Olivia pulls away after a moment and wraps her arms around him, hugging tightly. She smiles up at Gregory and asks, "How was your day?" She watches his face closely to see if his expression changes, but it doesn't.

"Same as usual. Evans is dragging his feet on a contract that will secure millions of dollars in payoff for Liberty. But enough talk about business." He kisses her cheek and quickly walks back into the house. "What's for dinner?" he asks over his shoulder.

Olivia blinks her eyes in surprise and remains in her spot. "What?" she chokes out.

Gregory returns to the doorway. His jacket is off and he is loosening his tie. "What did Rose make for dinner?" he asks again. He looks at Olivia still over by the railing, just standing there. "Are you alright?" he asks.

"What? Oh yes…well actually, no. I wasn't feeling well this afternoon," Olivia admits.

Gregory walks over to her, takes her face in his hands, and kisses her forehead. "You don't feel warm," he says.

"I'm fine now," Olivia says as she takes Gregory's hands in hers. "Don't worry about it."

"But I do," Gregory counters. He wraps his arms around Olivia and says softly, "I almost lost you once, Liv…I'm not going to chance that again."

Olivia smiles tenderly and whispers, "I'm right here darling. You aren't going to lose me." Gregory pulls Olivia into a strong embrace and rubs her back. He pulls back and gently strokes her cheek with the back of his hand.

Olivia kisses his knuckles and says, "Let's eat. You must be famished."

Gregory walks back into the house with his arm around Olivia's shoulder. You've got to tell her, his conscience whispers. No! Now isn't the time to tell Olivia that I might have another son.

Dinner is a quiet affair with just Olivia and Gregory.

Olivia isn't eating much, Gregory notes. I hope she isn't holding anything back about her health.

Looking down at his own plate, Gregory realizes he hasn't eaten much either. He has barely touched the roasted chicken with lemon-herb sauce and sautéed mushrooms that Rose put before him.

Olivia puts her fork down on the china plate with a loud clink and pushes the meal away. She meets Gregory's questioning eyes and confesses, "I never said that I was famished…I said you must be."

Gregory puts his fork down and says, "I'm not very hungry either." He looks at Olivia, who looks at him expectantly.

"Olivia, there's someth," Gregory starts to say.

"Excuse me, Mr. Richards," Rose says from the doorway of the kitchen. "You have a phone call."

Gregory sighs in frustration. "Thank you Rose." He reaches over and squeezes Olivia's hand. "I'll take the call in my office."

Olivia watches him walk out of the dining room. She rests her elbows on the table and lowers her head into her hands.

"Damn," she sighs.

Rose clears her throat.

Olivia looks up and says, "Oh, I'm sorry Rose. We're finished. Neither of us was very hungry."

"That's alright ma'am. I'll wrap up the left over food," Rose says as she begins clearing the china from the table.

Olivia helps Rose pick up the plates and carries them into the kitchen. "You can go home for the night, Rose."

"Are you sure Mrs. Richards? There are still the dishes to put away."

Olivia glances around the kitchen and responds, "They can wait until tomorrow. I'll see you then."

Rose looks unsure but nods and says, "Alright. Good night Mrs. Richards." The housekeeper gathers her bag and sweater from the counter and leaves.

Olivia turns off the lights in the kitchen and walks back out through the dining room to the living room. She hears Gregory in his office barking orders into the telephone. Sounds like it is going to be a long call, she notes unhappily. She walks up the stairs and enters her bedroom, closing the door partially behind her.

Leaving the lights off, she takes off her clothes and slips into a maroon colored satin nightgown. Though it is just past nine, she turns down the duvet and sinks into the inviting comfort of her bed. She exhales deeply and rolls over to Gregory's side of the bed. She presses his pillows to her body and allows sleep to claim her.

Gregory trudges up the stairs after ending what turned into a four-hour business call. He rolls his shoulders and notices that all the lights are off. Olivia's probably already asleep, he thinks.

He silently enters the room and looks at the bed. There is a full moon out and the bed is bathed in silver light. She looks so peaceful, Gregory thinks as he watches Olivia sigh in her sleep and shift her body slightly. Not wanting to disturb her, he slips into their adjoining bathroom and prepares for bed.

A few minutes later, he leaves the bathroom and walks the few feet to the bed. He pulls back the covers and lies down next to Olivia. She is on her side with her back to him. He reaches over and gently traces the spinal curve down her back. She rolls over and curls up against him.

"I love you," she says sleepily.

Gregory rubs her arm and whispers, "I love you too, Liv. Go back to sleep."

Olivia climbs on top of Gregory and stares down at him. "I don't want to sleep," she whispers. She trails her finger seductively over Gregory's lips. "Do you know how much I love you?" she asks.

Damn, Gregory thinks as he looks up at the sleep-rumpled Olivia. Her voice is throaty and low; her eyes are glazed over with sleepiness. He shifts uncomfortably as his body responds to her. He continues to watch his wife as she gently pushes herself up into a sitting position and removes her nightgown.

Olivia leans back down on top of Gregory and says softly, "You didn't answer the question." She begins to place feather kisses on his jawbone and down to his chest. When Gregory doesn't respond again, she stops kissing him and looks up.

Gregory quickly reaches up, grabs Olivia's upper arms, and rolls out from under her. He flips her onto her back and leans on her. He pins her wrists above her head with his hands. As he lowers his mouth to her breast, Olivia tugs off his pajama bottoms with her feet.

"Gregory…" she moans.

He glances up at her and sees that her eyes are dark with passion. He releases her hands and she rolls over back on top of him.

She smiles down at him and says, "Back where we started."

Gregory places his hand behind her head and pushes her head down. Their lips fuse together in a kiss of hungry passion. Their bodies mold together and begin to move as one…

…Afterwards, a spent Olivia lies on top of Gregory. Her head is tucked under his chin. His hand rests on the small of her back; his other arm is stretched out onto Olivia's side of the bed. Her hand wearily reaches out and she intertwines her fingers tightly with Gregory's.

I needed to know…I needed to be sure, she thinks to herself. I needed to know that I consume his being the way that he consumes mine.

"Yes," Gregory murmurs.

"Hmm?"

"The answer to your question is 'yes'."

Olivia smiles and allows sleep to claim her for the second time that night.