A/N - To make the dates and such run a bit smoother, I've de-aged all of the children to the age that they should be in real time. So Little Ethan is three, not nine; Marty is two, not three-ish; etc.

CHAPTER ONE

Gwen Winthrop smiled as she walked outside to find her husband blowing raspberries on his daughter's tummy. Ethan lifted Jane high in the air before quickly lowering her and dunking her little bottom in the pool water. The rushing air and cool water on her tender baby skin made Jane squeal, and Gwen couldn't help but laugh. They looked so perfect together.

With a pang, Gwen imagined Sarah in Ethan's arms, squealing and giggling as he played with her. It was the moments like this that hurt the most, imagining what Sarah would be doing if she were still alive.

But Sarah was dead, and as much as Gwen missed her baby, nothing could ever bring her back. Jane was alive and well, however, and though she was not Gwen's biological daughter, Gwen was quite sure that she couldn't love Jane any more than if she really were biologically her own child.

"Don't you two make a lovely picture?" Gwen asked, approaching her husband and stepdaughter.

Ethan grinned at her. "Hey," he said. "Jane and I were just enjoying a little father-daughter bonding time. Weren't we, Jane?" he asked the baby. Jane just grinned in response.

Looking around, Ethan suddenly noticed that someone was missing. "Where's Little Ethan? I thought you were helping him get dressed?"

"His nanny's looking for his wingies. She said she'd bring him down once she found them," Gwen replied, easing herself into the chilly water. She shivered as the water engulfed her bare flesh, and jumped up and down a few times to get warmer. Once she'd gotten used to the water temperature, she held out her arms and took Jane from Ethan. The little girl beamed when she saw who was holding her.

"Were you having fun with your daddy, Jane? Were you?" Gwen asked in an animated voice. Jane just grinned broadly and kicked her legs a little bit. "Do you want to go in the water? Do you?" Gwen lowered the little girl into the water, and she squealed loudly. Gwen was so caught up in the baby's antics that she didn't notice Lars, one of the Crane guards, until he his shadow fell over her. Lars was staring down at her, a neutral expression on his face.

"Pardon the interruption, Mrs. Winthrop, but Mr. Crane has requested your presence in his office." Addressing Ethan, he added, "Alone."

Startled, Gwen looked back at Ethan, who wore a puzzled look on his face. Gwen turned back to Lars before replying, "Thank you, Lars. Please let Alistair know that I'll be in his office shortly." Lars nodded and went back into the mansion. Gwen turned back to Ethan. "What do you think he wants?"

"I don't know," Ethan said slowly. "And I don't know if I like the idea of you going to see Alistair in his office alone."

Gwen snorted.

"Seriously, Gwen. I don't trust Alistair. God only knows what he wants from you."

"Please, Ethan. I'm a big girl. And I work out. Alistair's what, eighty? And I've never seen him work out, either." Gwen could see that Ethan was still unsure, so she leaned in kissed him on the lips. "Don't worry, Ethan. I'll be fine."

"I hope you're right," Ethan replied.

Gwen kissed Jane on the forehead before handing her back over to Ethan. She kissed Ethan once more before saying, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go and get showered and changed. Best to get this over with sooner than later."

Thirty minutes later, Gwen was showered, clothed, and telling Alistair's assistant, Bambi, that Mr. Crane had wanted to see her. After Bambi had confirmed this, she waved Gwen over to Alistair's door.

Alistair's door was thick, wooden, and incredibly imposing. Gwen paused before it, taking a deep breath. She would need all the courage she could muster up if she was going to meet with Alistair alone. Though she'd put on a brave face for Ethan, the truth was that Alistair creeped her out like nothing else. She got the heebie-jeebies from just being in the same room as him.

Taking another deep breath, Gwen opened the door and stepped into the study. Alistair looked up at her from behind his desk and gave her a smile that made Gwen feel like she was naked.

"Gwen," Alistair said, voice so smarmy that Gwen wanted to take another shower. "I've been expecting you. Please, sit down."

He motioned to the chair in front of his desk, but Gwen shook her head. "I think I'll stand, thank you," she responded, voice like ice.

"Suit yourself," Alistair said, unfazed. "So, how is your husband, Ethan? And your daughter – I'm sorry, stepdaughter, Jane? I trust they're both well?"

"They're both fine, just as they were when you saw them in the living room earlier today. Now, could you please just cut the small-talk and tell me why you wanted to see me?" Gwen tried to look impatient, but she was afraid that Alistair could see right through her act to the fear that she was trying to suppress. The man could smell fear like a shark could smell blood.

"Very well, very well." Alistair paused for a moment, shufflingaroundsome papers on his desk, before meeting Gwen's gaze. "I want you to divorce Ethan."

Gwen laughed harshly. "And what the hell makes you think that I'd do that?"

Alistair just smiled. It was his sinister, I-know-something-you-don't-know smile, and it made Gwen beyond nervous. "Because I know where your son is," Alistair said. "You know, baby Nathan? The child that you sacrificed for Jane? He's alive. And I can tell you where he is."