Eleanor Carter's funeral was a somber, 'professional' occasion, much like Millicent Carter's 9 years earlier.

The Carter mansion was bursting with people. John and Abby spent many hours greeting old friends and colleagues of Eleanor's. Abby joined John in the study when the crowds began to thin.

"Hey," she said, knocking softly on the doorframe.

"Hey," John replied, turning to look at her.

Walking towards him slowly, almost reserved, she asked, "How're you holding up?"

"I'm okay," he said, nodding. Quickly looking down, then straight ahead, he continued. "I loved her, she was my mother, but let's face it... she never was a mother figure or role model in my life. It's like the roles of my real mother and of Gamma were reversed somehow. Interesting, really," he said, nervously laughing and moving his hand up and down the arm of the leather chair.

Abby stood there silently, listening to him. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and Susan appeared. "Sorry," she apologized. "But the caterer has a question for you, Abby. Something about the..." Susan searched for the word, but, coming up blank, simply said, "Just... when you get a minute..."

Abby nodded her thanks to Susan. Turning to John, she softly said, "Are you sure you're all right?"

"Yeah," he said. "Go... see what the problem is. Please," he added quickly.

Abby followed Susan out of the room, leaving John alone. Now alone with his thoughts, John decided to take his mind off things. Switching on the TV, he mindlessly channel surfed and flipped through magazines, unable to keep his mind on anything - except his mother and family.

An hour went by without any visitors, much to John's appreciation. Suddenly he heard the click of high heels across the marble floor. Assuming it was Abby, John turned around, saying "Hey baby..." John's voice trailed off as he realized it wasn't Abby, but Lynne Gurtz, the woman from the coffeehouse the other morning.

"Hey," she said, not missing a beat. Perching herself on the edge of the black leather couch, she smiled sadly down at John. "I'm sorry about your mom."

"Thanks..." John muttered. He was a little taken aback by Lynne's presence - okay, very taken aback. Scratching his head nervously, he asked, "Wha... what are you doing here?"

"Eleanor was a friend of my mother's," she explained. "I came to pay my respects."

John nodded. "Well, thank you."

"No problem," she said, moving from her position on the edge of the couch and sitting next to John. "So, why are you hiding out in here? All by yourself..."

John scooted as far away from her as he could. "Did you... need something?" he asked, irritated.

"That depends," she said, moving closer to him so that John was cornered at the end of the couch. "What are you offering?"

John jumped up from his seat, trying his best to escape her, but to no avail. Lynne quickly grabbed his arm, forcing him back on the couch. Suddenly she was practically on top of him, her hands on the back of the couch, trapping John to his seat. "Lynne...!"

"Shhh..." Lynne silenced him, quickly taking his mouth with hers and kissing him deeply.

John forced Lynne off the couch with all his strength. "What the hell are you doing!"

In a split second, Lynne's facial experssions and body language changed. "What are you talking about?" she asked with mock innocence.

"What?" John stared at her in disbelief. This woman was crazy. He noticed that Lynne was staring at something behind him. With his tie loose around his neck and disheavled clothes, John turned around, looking straight into Abby's eyes.

"Abby..." John started, putting his hands up, almost in defense. "It's not what you think, I swear."

Abby ignored Carter. Instead, she slowly advanced toward Lynne. "If you EVER come anywhere NEAR me, my husband or my family EVER again, I will make sure the rest of your life is HELL, you little bitch!" she hissed.

"Abby," Lynne laughed, nervously. "This was all John's doing. I think you two have some things to work out," she lied.

At this comment, Abby grabbed Lynne by the loop hanging from her necklace. "Don't you lie to me, you little slut! I saw the whole thing. I WATCHED you walk into the room, I WATCHED you sit on the end of the couch, I WATCHED you corner my husband and I WATCHED you try to take advantage of him in the state he's in! And even if I DIDN'T see it with my own eyes, this place is crawling with security cameras." Finishing her statement, Abby roughly let go of Lynne. "Get out," she whispered.

Abby stared Lynne down until she was out of sight. Wordlessly, John wrapped his arms around Abby and kissed her passionately. "Thank you," he whispered. Cracking a small smile, he asked, "What the hell was that?"