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

Pt 9: "A New Understanding"

A cool breeze flows in through the open bedroom window, teasing Olivia's bare feet. She sits up slowly and through tired eyes, watches the setting sun sink behind the horizon. She looks at the crystal clock on her bedside table and shakes her head when she sees that Gregory let her sleep through dinner. Shivering, she crosses the bedroom to where her robe is draped on the cushioned lounge.

Covering silk pajama pants and a camisole with a silk robe really isn't going to keep me warm, Olivia notes to herself as she shrugs it on. As she does, her eyes fall on Gregory's pillow and the piece of paper resting on top of it.

Liv,

Took Caitlin and Sean to Grenadine's for dinner. Don't be mad that we didn't wake you, but you needed to rest. I'll bring you back something.

-Gregory

Downstairs, the living room is cozy and aglow with warm light from the lamps.

How different this room felt several days ago when I was here by myself, she thinks. Her eyes fall on a family picture that sits on the partition wall. She picks it up and runs her fingers loving over the surface. My family…They're all I ever wanted. A husband and children to love and be loved by, she reflects. Her thoughts are interrupted as she hears a car engine purr to a stop in the driveway and a moment later, a car door slam shut.

Olivia puts down the picture and goes to open the door, expecting Gregory and the children. She freezes when she sees that it is Alex Mitchum standing on the other side of the doorway.

"May I speak with you, please?" Alex asks softly.

"Me? Not Gregory?"

"You."

Olivia opens the door wider after a moment and gestures Alex in. What could she possibly want?, Olivia wonders to herself. She also can't help but notice the relative calm that surrounded her just a few moments ago was slowly seeping away. A new, more disturbing feeling sets in: panic.

"Casey and I had a long talk this afternoon. He mentioned that he came by the house this morning and that he spoke to you and Gregory."

Olivia leans against the partition wall. "He did."

Alex shifts on the sofa. "I've never seen my son in so much pain." She looks up at Olivia and says softly, "It's a painful reality to know that your child is hurting and that you are to blame."

Olivia flinches in recognition when she hears Alex's declaration. She sits down on the opposite end of the couch. "It is the worst feeling in the world," she agrees. "We don't mean to hurt them, but we do just the same."

"I never wanted to hurt Casey…or anyone else," Alex insists. "I just…did what I thought was best, under the circumstances."

Olivia nods. "Why didn't you tell Gregory? When you first found out, I mean?"

Alex sighs and brushes her bangs out of her eyes. "Because I didn't want his pity." After seeing confusion flash across Olivia's face, Alex explains, "He didn't love me. We had no plans to continue a relat-…"

"You knew he would've asked you to marry him," Olivia interrupts.

Alex looks down at her hands. "Gregory was nothing, if not honorable, when it came to the women in his life. I-, I didn't want that. If he wanted to marry me, I wanted it to be because he wanted to. Not because he felt forced into it." Alex sighs. "I knew that wasn't going to happen, so I left."

Olivia finds it difficult to breathe, but she manages to exhale shakily. A chill sweeps through her body and she wishes she had chosen a warmer robe. Gregory though always had a weakness for silk, especially if it was wine red. 'The color of passion', he once called it, she thinks as she rubs her hands together furiously for warmth.

"You still could've told Gregory you were pregnant, even if that meant he would've proposed. You still could've said no. Gregory still could've been a part of his son's life!"

"I know that now! But back then, when I was alone and pregnant, I didn't!" Alex half-sighs, half-sobs. "Everything was thrown in jeopardy. My life, my career, my move to Europe! And not just me," she exclaims as Olivia opens her mouth to interrupt, "but Gregory too! I did the best that I could!"

"I know you did," Olivia says softly.

Alex looks up in surprise. "What?"

Olivia wraps her arms around herself and walks over to the patio door. The sun dipped behind the horizon and the fading light is slowly swallowed by the advancing darkness. It snakes up from the ground and blankets everything, transforming it into something frightening, she notes to herself as she takes in the view from the glass door.

"You aren't a malicious person, Alex. It just isn't in you. I don't condone what you've done but…" she trails off without turning around.

"But what?"

"I understand." Olivia turns around to face Alex. "I understand."

Alex swallows past the thick lump of emotion in her throat and nods. "You know, I never intended to tell Casey, or anyone else, the truth."

Olivia sits back down on the sofa. Instead of sitting at the opposite end, she sits next to Alex and takes her hand. "What happened that made you change your mind?"

Alex sighs. "A cancer diagnosis really changes a person's outlook and priorities." She grips Olivia's hand tightly. "I'm not afraid of dying. What terrifies me and keeps me up at night is what this will do to Casey. When I die, my pain and suffering will be over. His though will just be beginning," she chokes out as her eyes fill up with emotion and a solitary tear rolls down her cheek. "He'll be alone, Olivia. He'll be going through it alone. That is what I can't bear." She wipes the tear tracks off her cheeks and lets out a shuddering sigh. "I just thought that maybe-…well-, I wanted him to know that he would still have a family after I'm gone."

Olivia brushes her own tears out of her eyes. "Oh, Alex," she sighs as she pulls Alex into an embrace. "Let it out," she says softly as Alex grips her tightly and begins to openly sob. Tears stream down Olivia's face as she rubs Alex's back.

After several minutes, Alex quiets down and gently pulls away from Olivia. "I'm so sorry," she says hoarsely as she wipes her eyes and sees Olivia doing the same. "I never meant-"

Olivia hushes Alex as she reaches for a box of tissues on the coffee table, takes some, and passes the box to Alex.

"I'm asking you and Gregory to look after him when I'm gone," Alex says softly as she dabs her eyes.

Olivia looks up quickly at Alex in surprise. "Alex…"

"Olivia, please!" Alex pleads. "I'm asking you as a mother…Please, take care of my son for me. You and Gregory and your children…Don't let him be alone. You'll-, you'll be all he has left."

Olivia nods and bites her lip to keep from losing the small amount of control she regained over her emotions. "We will," she whispers. She extends her hand to Alex and closes her eyes when she takes it. "We will."

Gregory opens the front door and ushers Caitlin and Sean in. "Let's not tell your mother about the wonderful dessert she missed out on."

Sean grins. "She won't hear it from me."

"Or me," Caitlin adds with a small laugh.

Gregory tosses his car keys on the partition wall and straightens the family photo. "Do you two have plans for the rest of the night?" he asks as he heads for the stairs.

Sean plops down in the middle the sofa with a sigh and props his feet on the coffee table. "Nope."

Caitlin lies down next to him, swinging her legs to rest on Sean's lap, and lays her head on the arm of the sofa. "The only plan for tonight that I have is to make it up the stairs and to bed later without throwing up. I'm stuffed!"

"Me too," Sean says as he lets his head fall back and closes his eyes. He turns his head and opens his eyes after a brief moment, looking at Gregory. "Thanks for dinner, Dad. It was great."

"Thanks, Daddy."

"You're welcome," he says softly as he imprints the sight of his two children lounging comfortably on the couch together in his memory. "I'm going to go give your mother her dinner." With one more glance at Caitlin and Sean, he turns and walks up the stairs.

In their bedroom, Gregory is surprised to find the small light on the bedside table on and Olivia lying on the bed, several photo albums scattered across the bed and one open in her lap.

"What's all this?" he asks as he closes the door quietly behind him.

Olivia looks up in surprise and smiles. "When did you get back?"

"Just now," Gregory responds as he crosses the room and joins Olivia on the bed, pushing a photo album out of his way. "Stroll down memory lane?" he asks as he kisses her tenderly.

"Sort of." Olivia looks at Gregory and offers a quick smile. "Where are the children?"

Gregory chuckles and traces the crook of Olivia's ear with his finger. "They both are currently sprawled across the sofa, bemoaning the large dinner we had. You should see them."

Olivia laughs softly. "I can imagine," she says as she scoots closer and folds herself into his embrace. "What did you bring me?"

"Oh," he says in a low tone as he wraps his arm around her shoulder, "your dinner is very special." He opens the box slowly with one hand, allowing steam and fragrant scents to waft out. "Broiled salmon in a Beurre Blanc sauce, sans the wine. Sautéed wild mushrooms and fresh spinach. And, grilled asparagus with roasted red peppers and a balsamic vinegar." He smiles as Olivia's eyes widen and he asks, "What would you like to try first?"

"The salmon, please." Olivia watches as Gregory reaches into the box and removes a small morsel of the fish with his fingers. "What are you doing? Where are the utensils? You're going to burn your fingers!" she exclaims.

"Well then, you'd better eat quickly." He holds the food closer to her lips and smirks as she quickly takes his fingers in her mouth. "Good?" he asks as she chews slowly.

"Heavenly." She reaches out and grabs Gregory's hand as he reaches back into the box and brings them back to her mouth. With ease, she licks the remaining Beurre Blanc sauce off the tips of his fingers. She grins as he draws in his breath quickly. "Couldn't let that go to waste."

"We'll talk about that later," he growls playfully as he brings more of the salmon to her lips. "You're wearing my favorite pajama's too." He reaches out and lightly runs his finger over the wine colored silk.

"I know," Olivia says with a smile. She leans up and kisses Gregory on the mouth. "I love you, darling."

He smiles softly at her. "I love you too."