"Megan, there you are. Just the woman I wanted to see."

She didn't even try to smile. What did she have to smile about? She had barely made it through Thanksgiving and the fact that her in laws, family and friends were still in and out of her home, roaming around freely as they pleased, even almost a month after the accident.

She wanted peace. She wanted to be alone. She wanted them all to go away. She wanted her normal, happy little life back, a life she could barely remember. So much had changed since then. She had changed.

"Dan", she acknowledged.

"Would you care to join me in the study?"

"Actually, I was just about to grab something for breakfast…"

"Of course. Breakfast, the most important meal of the day. And who am I to deny the essential nourishment of my grandchild but this will only take a minute."

"Dan…"

"Please."

She sighed.

"Okay."

Megan followed him into the large study, gasping as the door opened. Inside were various strangers wandering about. There were video cameras and still cameras. In the midst of it all was one of the most popular correspondents for ABC News.

Dan grinned proudly.

"Let's get you into hair and make up."

"Hair and make up? What? What are you talking about? Dan, what is going on? Who are all these people? What's with all the cameras? And why is Pamela Harris in my house?"

"Ms. Harris is here to interview you and Nathan."

"Are you kidding me?"

He gave her a sly wink.

"Of course not, dear. Now let's hurry. You go on in ten."

"No", she pulled away from his embrace. "Dan, I'm not doing an interview. Why should I? Are you crazy? The press has been like vultures. They camp out on our private property. They knock on the door and harass us, calling at all hours of the night, with no respect for our family or our privacy and when we refuse to talk them, they print hurtful, vicious lies."

"You're exactly right, Meg, which is why I arranged for all this today. As you know, Ms. Harris has an impeccable reputation as a serious and fair broadcast journalist and she is here to tell our side of the story."

"Dan, no. I…I can't."

"Megan…"

"Dan!"

"Don't you think this is a brilliant idea?"

"No…I don't know. You can't just spring something like this. For Heaven's sake! We need more time…"

"Nonsense. Besides, there's no time like the present, wouldn't you agree?"

Megan was certainly not in agreement. The ideas and schemes and acts seemed to get more ridiculous and more sordid by the day.

"Where is Nathan? Have you told him about all this? Dan, he's going to be furious! He'd never agree to such a thing."

"Oh really?" he smirked, pointing her in the direction of the room that has been designated for hair and make up.

Sitting sheepishly and nervously in the chair was a sullen Nathan who twiddled his thumbs as some woman fussed over his Widow's Peak.

"Oh my God…"

She couldn't believe it.

"Now, let's not be a diva and hold up production. They are waiting for you."

Tears filled her eyes.

"No", she practically begged. "I can't do this. Dan, please don't make me do this."

"You'll be fine", he ignored her pleas.

She didn't want to give a stupid interview. She didn't want the media in her personal life anymore. All she wanted was to be away from Dan and Nathan and her parents.

"I…I don't know what to say. Dan, what the hell am I supposed to say?"

"We'll discuss that in a bit. For now, let the nice ladies doll you up. You're looking a little pale."

She was walked over to a chair where two ladies brushed her locks straight and applied make up to her face. She felt dead. Megan looked over at her husband, her eyes beseeching him for help. He was the man who was supposed to protect her. But he wouldn't even meet her gaze.

"Mrs. Scott, take your place on the couch next to your husband and be sure to look into Camera 2."

Dan walked over joined by his father, Royal.

"Looks better", he examined her new look.

"Alright, darling", Royal barked. "Look alive. Smile, be pleasant and polite. Sit close to Nathan and when she asks you about the state of your marriage, you say it's glorious."

Megan couldn't help but laugh out loud. That was certainly the funniest thing she had heard in a while.

"So in other words, you want me to lie?"

Royal frowned as Dan stepped in. He was steadfastly losing his patience with the young girl. The interview was too important to botch. Nathan's entire future depended on it. If Megan wasn't up to the task, maybe it was a mistake to have her participate. The protective father was having serious second thoughts.

"Dad, I don't know if this was such a good idea. Maybe we should have had Nathan just do it by himself."

"No", the patriarch shook his head. "It'll look better image wise if his wife is next to him."

"But look at her. She's like a deer in headlights. What if she cracks under the pressure?"

"She'll be fine."

Megan rolled her eyes. She was tired of everyone else making decisions for her like she was a helpless child.

"Hel-lo! Over here, excuse me. I'm standing right in front of you", she waved her tiny hands.

"Of course you are", Royal nodded. "Now you can imagine how important this is. It's the first step in restoring your husband's public image. The good names of both the Scott's and Powell's are on the line, here."

"Megan, you need to be up to this. I don't care if you have to put on the performance of your life", Dan warned her.

"Lay off, Danny boy. The girl will be fine, won't you, Megan? When Ms. Harris asks how you feel about the Sanchez family, you appear concerned and sympathetic. When she asks you about your marriage, seem happy and supportive. Got it?"

Megan nodded. What else could she do or say?

"Yes, Mr. Scott. I got it."

"Good", he grinned. "Good girl."

Dan still seemed unsure, not quite trusting that his daughter in law could handle the pressure. Gone was the strong, confident, independent, articulate, expressive, sophisticated young lady Nathan had introduced him to just a few years ago. As of late she had been replaced with a quiet, timid, nervous, unhappy shell of her former self.

"I don't know…"

"Look, I can do it, alright", she finally conceded. "Dan, you're the one that set this up and dragged me into it. You started it, now let me finish it."

"Fine", he huffed. "But maybe it's best of you let Nathan do all the talking."

Megan rolled her eyes. She'd just about had it with them and all. And was Dan blind? Ever since the accident, Nathan had walked around like a solemn, mentally impaired mute.

"Yeah right. And I'm just so sure Mr. Articulate will eloquently and coherently express himself. Please. Give me a break, Dan. Really."

"She's right, son", Royal said. "Just relax. I think this little girl is on to something. They'll be fine. She will handle herself like the Scott she is, won't you, Megan? You'll make us proud."

"And what happens if Harris asks about the details of the accident or Nathan's drinking or God forbid, Haley James?" Dan grinded his teeth.

Finally it was Megan's turn to smirk for once.

"Then I'll let your son answer those", she said walking away. "After all, those are his fuck ups…not mine."