Kevin looked at the front door of Llanfair and sighed. This had been his home for so long, so many good memories. Nowadays, he felt like a stranger here. For a second he started to knock. Realizing his error, that this was HIS family's home, he opened the door.

"Kevin," Viki said, surprised. "Honey, I am so glad you're here." Kevin looked down. He hadn't expected to see his mother. He didn't think he had the energy to talk with her now.

"Yeah I just came by because Natalie asked me too," he told her. She called me, left a message, said she wanted to talk."

"I see," Viki said. "Well come on darling, come inside. I'd like to talk to you. We haven't talked in so long."

"No, we haven't," Kevin replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm, as he followed his mother into the living room.

"How are you?" Viki asked, sitting on the couch.

"Just peachy Mom," Kevin replied bitingly.

"Honey, I know you're hurting," Viki started, but was cut off by her son.

"Do you? Do you? Have you ever had any clue how I've ever felt, mom?" Kevin exploded.

"Darling, of course I have," Viki exclaimed. "I'm your mother! I feel everything you feel! Honey, you're hurting, but if you just lean on me and Jessie and Natalie and Kelly- you'll get through this! I promise you!"

Kevin laughed bitterly. "Kelly. You still can't give up this idea that she is a liar? She stole a baby mom! She took a child that wasn't hers. But then, I guess this is what I should expect, right? You've never once sided with me. Never once supported me. Why should I ask you to start now?"

"Kevin, that's just not true," Viki told him, standing to face him. "I have always been on your side."

"Like you were on my side when I wanted custody of Duke? Like you were on my side when I wanted custody of Ace? Like you were on my side when your rapist brother tried to destroy my life again and again?" Kevin shouted at her. "But I guess I shouldn't blame you. I mean, you weren't even there half the time, right?"

"Now that's not fair," Viki declared. "You're hurt and I understand that, but you have no right to blame me for my alters. I worked and fought them my whole life for you and your sisters and your brother."

"You're right," Kevin sighed. "On that. But the rest of it Mom? How do you explain it?"

"I've never chosen anyone over you, Kevin," Viki insisted. "Yes, I helped Kelly and Lee Ann with their custody suits. But that is because I think a child should know both his parents. I wanted both of you to raise Duke and Ace. Both parents. This is why you have to give Ace back."

"No. No way," Kevin declared. Ace is my son. Always."

"He's not your biological son," Viki said emphatically.

"Since when, in this family has that mattered? Clint's not my biological father- does that mean he's not my dad? He's not Joey's? Are you going to go tell Jess that Mitch Laurence is her real daddy and nothing will ever change that? No! Of course not. Clint is our father no matter what, just like I am Ace's father."

"Kevin, there's a difference! Your father was dead! Jessie's father was a monster!"

"Jessie's father was a rapist, mom," Kevin replied. "Rapists don't really seem to bother you then, don't they?"

"I am NOT discussing Todd with you," Viki declared. "But do NOT compare my brother to Mitch Laurence. And stop changing the subject. You have to give Ace back. You have to, because it's the right thing to do."

"Oh, yes," Kevin replied. "The right thing to do. Why is it mom, that you hold me to a higher moral code than anyone else? Why is it I have to always do the right thing? Your brother can rape women, fake did, kill people, fake his death, tell his wife that her son is dead- do all these despicable things, and you just say 'well that's Todd'. But my only crime is loving my son, and for that I have to be chastised." Oh crap, he thought. Tears, He didn't want to cry. He had promised himself he wouldn't.

"Oh, Kevin," Viki murmured, "I-"

"No mom. He laughed and smiled and told me my son was dead. And you defend him- always. Well I'm sick of it. You can be my mom, or you can be Todd's sister, but you can't be both. For once in your life, choose me."

"I'm not going to choose between my son and my brother. I love you both. I'm sorry if you feel I haven't been there for you, but you are a grown man. You should have come to me."

"When? When you were trashing me with Kelly? When you were comforting Todd for how evil I am?"

"Um, guys?" a voice said meekly. They turned. Jessica. She looked extremely nervous standing there.

"Jessie, what is it?" Viki asked.

"Blair just called," she replied. "They found Todd. I thought you'd want to know. I was going to go over there… did you want to come?"

Kevin and Jessica looked at Viki.

"Yeah mom, do you want to go?" Kevin asked pointedly. His eyes narrowed, but she could tell they were pleading with her to stay.

"Uh no, Jessie, I'm going to stay here," Viki decided. "Send Todd my love."

Jessica nodded, and left.

"Thank you," Kevin said.

"This doesn't mean that I'm disowning Todd," Viki told him. "But you and I obviously have some things to discuss, and you are my son. There's nothing I won't do for you." She walked purposefully over to Kevin, and wrapped him in a hug. They stood there for a couple of minutes.

"Mind if I join?"

Viki and Kevin looked up.

"Dad?" Kevin said amazed, a statement more than a question.

"Joey," Viki cried, a smile breaking all over her face. "You're home."

"Where else would we be?" Clint replied. "Kevin needs us. And Buchanans stick together. No matter what."