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

Pt 6: "Lavender, Bergamot, and Cedarwood"

"Do you think they've been here all night?"

"I don't know!"

"Shhh! Be quiet, Sean…You'll wake them up!"

"Why did they sleep on the sofa?"

"I can't believe it. Wasn't Daddy supposed to come home tonight?"

"He came home a day early," Gregory says quietly with eyes remaining shut. He hears Caitlin and Sean jerk away from the couch and he laughs softly. "You kids really aren't very quiet around people who are sleeping."

"Sorry," they mumble.

Gregory looks down at the tangled mess of limbs he and Olivia became during the few hours of sleep they had. "Sweetheart?" he whispers. He gently strokes her cheek and continues to quietly coax Olivia awake.

Caitlin and Sean stare in awe at the sight before them. Both have a difficult time equating the couple before them with the couple they grew up with.

Olivia groans and mumbles, "Let me sleep darling…Please?"

Gregory glances up at the children, who look slightly embarrassed. "We have an audience."

Olivia's eyes fly open and she blinks rapidly as her eyes adjust to the room's morning brightness. She eyes her children standing behind the sofa and smiles up at them. "Morning." She yawns and gently untangles her legs from Gregory's. Gregory pushes her up into a sitting position and rubs her back soothingly. She massages her temples and sighs, "I have a headache."

"I'll go get some aspirin for you," Sean says as he walks into the kitchen.

Caitlin watches Sean leave and waits until he is out of the room before asking, "Is everything ok?"

Gregory gets up and stretches his arms. "It's fine Cait."

Caitlin sits down next to Olivia and places her hand on her shoulder. "Mom?"

Olivia smiles tiredly at Caitlin and whispers, "Listen to your father. Everything's fine."

Caitlin smiles back. "Ok. Well, I'm going to Elaine's for breakfast with my friend, Marah. Then we're going shopping so I'll be back later. Bye Mom," she says as she leans over and kisses her cheek. "Bye Dad."

After the door closes behind Caitlin, Olivia sighs deeply and rolls her head around in an attempt to loosen the stiff muscles in her neck. "My neck hurts," she complains. Gregory sits down next to her and turns her around so that her back faces him as he gently starts to massage her neck. She sighs and leans back into his chest.

"Better?" he asks after a few minutes.

"Much."

"Here's the aspirin, Mom," Sean announces as he walks back into the room with the pills and a glass of water.

Olivia takes the pills and tosses her head back as she swallows the water. "Thank you sweetie."

"I'm going upstairs to shower," Gregory says as he stands up. He bends down to kiss the top of Olivia's head. "Come up later so you can nap comfortably in our bed." He nods at Sean before walking up the stairs.

Sean waits until Olivia finishes the water before asking, "So, uh, what's the deal with you two sleeping on the couch?"

"Nothing really…Your father came home early and we were up late discussing some things. I don't even remember falling asleep, to be honest."

"So then, everything's ok? That's what you're saying?"

Olivia reaches out and takes Sean's hand. "Darling, your father and I just have some things to work out. But we're taking care of it. Don't worry about it."

"Mom," he says as he climbs over the back of the couch to sit across from her, "I want to help you. Especially if this is some mess of Dad's that he dragged you into. I don't want to see you hurt."

Olivia pulls Sean into her arms and hugs him tight. "I promise you that everything is going to be fine. I promise."

"Alright," he sighs after a few minutes. He lets go of Olivia and stands up. "I'm going to go upstairs. There's some stuff I need to check online. You should rest later."

"I will," she says as Sean heads up the stairs to his room. But I need coffee first, she thinks to herself as she walks through the dining room to the kitchen. She is immediately greeted with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and she blesses whichever one of the children made it. As she fixes herself a cup, she notices that something is different. She feels different. That pressure that has been weighing down on my chest and shoulders is gone, she realizes. It's gone.

She takes her steaming mug with her as she slides open the patio door and walks outside. The beach is surprisingly still, with few people out. Even the ocean is quiet as baby waves roll in and out slowly. The nine a.m. sun hits the white sand causing it to glitter.

Olivia walks down the short flight of shallow wooden stairs and sits on the last step. She sets her mug down next to her and she rolls up her pants a bit before wiggling her toes into the warm sand. Tilting her face up to the sun, Olivia sighs as the warm sunbeams cascade down. Somewhere down the beach, she hears the delighted shrieks of two children playing in the gentle surf. A seagull crows overhead and a soft breeze stirs the sporadic patches of long grass on the dunes.

The relative tranquility is shattered by the sound of a person clearing their throat. Olivia opens her eyes expecting to see Gregory or Sean. Instead, she is face to face with the person who has caused her so much anxiety over the past three days.

Alex Mitchum.

After a quick shower, Gregory puts on a pair of khaki pants and a navy blue polo shirt. As he is towel drying his hair, there is a knock at the bedroom door. "Come in," he calls out. "Liv?"

"No, it's me. Can we talk?" Sean asks from the doorway.

Gregory sighs and drapes the towel around his shoulders. "What about?"

"D-Dad," Sean chokes out, "what's wrong with Mom? Is she ok?"

Gregory looks up in surprise. "She's fine. Why? Did she say she wasn't feeling well?"

"No," Sean sighs. "She said that two had something to take care of but that everything would be alright. But did you get a good look at her? She's pale. There are dark circles under her eyes. She looks and sounds…like she's got no energy left."

"You're mother just needs to rest, Sean. We've been under some stress these last few days, but she just needs to relax."

"What happened that's so stressful?"

"Like your mother said," Gregory says vaguely, "everything will be alright. We're handling it."

Sean comes into the bedroom and slams the door shut. "Damnit Dad! I don't want to see Mom hurt! I've seen her cry more times that I care to count." He pauses to catch his breath and says more calmly, "I never want to see that again." He crosses his arms in front of him. "I, I want to trust you to make sure that never happens again…Can I?"

Gregory sighs deeply and pulls the towel off his shoulders. On some level, Sean's plea for Olivia's well-being and his devotion to her appeals to Gregory. "I appreciate your concerns," he says as he walks over to the window. "Sean, I know I've never given you any reason to trust me, but believe me when I say I would rather die than hurt your mother again. That goes for you and Cait as well."

Sean looks skeptical but he nods slowly after a moment. "I just-…I just want her to be happy. I just want us to be normal."

"Sean, your mother and I are working on rebuild-…" Gregory trails off when he sees Alex Mitchum approaching the house from the beach. He looks further over and sees Olivia sitting on the beach access stairs with her face turned upwards.

"Dad?"

Gregory ignores Sean as he continues to watch the scene unfolding on the beach below. He sees Olivia looks over at Alex. Initial panic gives way to anger at the thought of what Alex might say to Olivia.

"Dad?" Sean asks again, with a sudden urgency in his voice.

"Not now Sean," Gregory mumbles as he rushes from the room.

"Hello Olivia."

"Alex."

The two women continue to simply stare at each other.

Alex takes in Olivia's appearance. Wrinkled clothing…Hair hastily pinned up…Dark circles under her eyes that only further exaggerate her deathly pale complexion. She watches as Olivia extends a shaky hand and grasps the coffee mug tightly before she sips. As Olivia returns the mug to the step, her engagement ring catches the sun and it sparkles intensely, causing Alex to shade her eyes and step to the side.

Olivia, meanwhile, examines the woman standing before her. Her eyes graze over Alex's strawberry blond hair and bright blue eyes. She stands before Olivia looking awake and alert in a pair of lightweight cotton crop pants and a white t-shirt. And it is at this instant that Olivia realizes that Alex is the polar opposite of her in every way. Was what appealed to Gregory? That I in no way resembled Alex?, she wonders.

"What are you doing here, Alex?"

"Well, I actually came by to talk to Gregory. Is he in?"

"Why?" Olivia fires back, sidestepping Alex's question. "Why do you need to talk to Gregory?"

Alex laughs awkwardly. "Olivia, we are partners in Liberty. We need to discuss business."

"That's not the only thing you're partners in," Olivia mutters.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Are you here to discuss Liberty business? Or business about your son's paternity?"

"Liv."

Olivia turns around to see Gregory standing at the top of the stairs. He starts to slowly walk down the stairs, his eyebrows bent into a glare. When he reaches the step she is sitting on, he extends his hand down to her. She grabs it and he pulls her up, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close.

"Alex, is there a reason you're here?" he asks through gritted teeth.

"I, well-…Does she know everything?"

"Yes, she knows everything. And she has a name," Olivia snaps.

Gregory tightens his grasp around Olivia's waist. "Unlike you Alex, I was not able to keep this to myself for very long." He sighs. "It doesn't matter anymore. I know the truth, Olivia knows the truth. So, I ask again: why are you here?"

"What are we going to do? How are we going to tell Casey?" Alex sputters.

Gregory laughs sarcastically. "Oh no," he says through chuckles. "There is no 'we' in this. You made the decision to keep this a secret from your son and me. You made the decision to tell me now, after all these years. You will be the one to tell your son."

Alex's eyes widen in shock. "Gregory…You don't…"

"I do," he interrupts. "Tell your son. Don't tell your son. It's entirely up to you." He looks over at Olivia. "We're struggling to deal with this. It's time you struggled as well." He turns around and walks back up the stairs, his arm still around Olivia's waist.

Olivia walks into her bedroom followed closely by Gregory. He closes the bedroom door and leans against it with his arms folded across his chest.

"I'm sorry about that," he says softly.

Olivia shrugs her shoulders in response. Gregory sighs and walks into their adjoining bathroom. She hears the water faucet of the large sunken marble bathtub running and she rolls over and closes her eyes. After a few minutes, she hears Gregory walk back into the bedroom.

"Come here Olivia," she hears him say.

She rolls back over to face him and opens her eyes.

Gregory is kneeling before her. "Come with me." He stands up and beckons her to the bathroom. She sighs and follows him.

In the bathroom, she is greeted with the sweet scents of lavender, bergamot, and cedarwood. Tea light candles are placed strategically on the marble counter surrounding the bathtub and sink.

"What's all this?"

"Well," Gregory says, "Sean has entrusted me with the task of ensuring that you stay happy. The first step to achieving happiness is to relax. So, raise your arms please."

Olivia turns around to face Gregory, one eyebrow arched in surprise. "My arms?"

"Please." Gregory smirks as Olivia slowly raises her arms. He steps over to her and pulls her shirt over her head. He then reaches down and slowly lowers the zipper on the hip of her pants. "Kick off those pants please. And the panties too." Without breaking eye contact with Gregory, Olivia obliges his request. "Thank you." He reaches around behind her and unhooks her bra. As it falls to the floor, he turns Olivia around to face the tub. "In you go." He gently pushes her over to the tub and helps her in.

"I don't think this is what Sean had in mind, darling," Olivia says as she sinks into the inviting warmth of the tub.

"We'll just keep this little tidbit to ourselves then. Deal?" Gregory watches Olivia lean back into the inflatable pillow and close her eyes again. He kneels down and rests his elbows on the rim of the tub.

"Aren't you going to join me?" Olivia questions softly.

He skims the tips of his fingers across the surface of the water. "I thought about it but decided you needed to rest and have some time to yourself."

Her eyes open. "Gregory, I've had the past two days to myself. Get in here…please?"

"Since you asked so nicely…" Gregory trails off as he stands up and strips off the clothes he put on not more than fifteen minutes ago. Olivia sits forward when Gregory climbs in and leans back against his chest. He wraps his arms around her and rests his chin on the top of her head.

After a few minutes in silence, Olivia asks, "Gregory?"

"Hmm?"

"What was it that attracted you to Alex?"

"I really don't want to talk about Alex right now, Liv."

"I do. Was it her blond hair? Her laugh? What was it?"

Gregory sighs and admits, "Her sense of humor. She always made people laugh."

"Did you love her?"

"No."

"No?"

"No, Olivia. It was…It was just a summer thing. We dated for all of two or three months. I went East for law school and she went to Europe. And that was it."

"Well, not really," Olivia sighs. "What would you have done if Alex came to you all those years ago and told you she was pregnant?"

"Oh, Liv….I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"I can't answer that. I don't know what I would've done. I really don't want to talk about her anymore right now. This isn't helping you to relax."

Olivia sits up and turns around to face Gregory. "I can't relax. Seeing her…Hearing her talk about your son. It just made it so real."

"I know." Gregory closes his eyes and listens to the sound of Olivia's breathing as she settles back against his chest. "Liv?"

"Yes darling?"

"This doesn't change anything. This changes nothing at all. You know that, don't you?" He waits for a response, but nothing comes. "Olivia? Look at me." She tilts her head up and he looks down into her eyes. "Nothing. This changes nothing. You are the woman I fell in love with. You are the woman I married. You are the woman I make love to and wake up next to in the mornings. You are the only one I want." Gregory swallows past the lump in his throat. "Only you." He bends his head down and places a slightly awkward, upside down kiss on her lips.

"I love you too," she whispers.