The party erupted into applause as Olivia lowered her glass and took a sip of champagne to finish her toast. Gregory smiled at her sheepishly from the back of the crowd as he came in from the patio with Bette and Alex. They were herding him up to her, giggling as they went. What secrets were they whispering about? Alex winked at her as the party broke up into little groups.

Olivia took Gregory's arm and steered him aside. In the corner by the study she backed him into the wall. Olivia dropped her hands to his waist. "You look amazing darling."

"It's your body." Gregory shrugged but the blush that spread over his face gave away how pleased he was that she thought so.

Olivia kissed her way down his temple. Running a hand up to just beneath his breast. "How much longer before we can politely retire for the evening?"

Gregory tried not to laugh. Usually he was the one who wanted to kick their guests out and move on to something more interesting. His watch read ten-thirty. Midnight would be polite. Perhaps a tad earlier if that if the guest of honor wanted to retire back to her lover. She did look rather involved in kissing that young lifeguard, Michael Bourne, Vanessa was seeing.

"An hour and a half..." He sighed dramatically as Olivia's fingers insisted against his lower back that it was far too long.

"Maybe you'd dance with me?" Olivia kissed his forehead, trying not to find it strange that the smell filling her nose was her own perfume.

"I'm not supposed to like dancing." Gregory teased as he found the little button holding her jacket shut over her chest. Sneakily undoing it, he made Olivia chuckle as he pulled her all the closer. "But, maybe you'd consider it for your darling wife."

"She is rather beautiful tonight isn't she?" Olivia flirted back as she toyed with the curls Bette had coaxed out of Gregory's hair. "The most beautiful woman here." Lifting his hand to her mouth, she imitated the look that melted her knees when he used it.

It had a similar effect. Gregory shivered and smiled shyly at her. "I believe that wholeheartedly when I say it. When you say it I feel like I'm going to blush my way out of your skin."

"I'd settle for out of this dress..." Olivia purred as her thumb slipped beneath the glistening strap of his cream-color dress. "I'm fairly fond of the skin you're in at the moment." She brushed his ear with his lips as she whispered to him, "Although I feel differently about it when I'm on the outside. If I found myself this attractive when I was, myself-" She nibbled her way across to the corner of his mouth. "I'd probably never get out of bed."

He had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. His hands were all the way into her jacket when Caitlin stormed over and ripped Olivia away.

Olivia regained her composure in record time as she straightened her jacket and titled her head in mock confusion towards Caitlin. "Something the matter sweetheart?"

"You got rid of Cole!" Hissing like an angry cobra, Caitlin's lovely blue eyes flashed viciously. "God Dad, how could you!"

Gregory moved to intervene, to keep Olivia from giving them away, but Alex caught his arm. "She can handle it Esquire." He was the only one who could hear her when she pulled him back to the clear center of the room. "Just come dance with me for awhile."

"Let me help her." Gregory complained as Alex pulled him away from the tempest that was beginning between Olivia and their daughter.

"No honey-" Alex admonished quickly as she pulled him farther into the living room. "You get in there and you'll give everything away. Just how to you intend to explain yourself when Caitlin thinks both of you are entirely insane?"

Gregory bit his lip, still straining to hear what Caitlin was saying to Olivia. "Caitlin might understand."

Shaking her head sadly, Alex eyed her son on the other side of the room. "I don't know if even Casey would understand if I was suddenly someone else. Caitlin's already upset, the last thing you want is to destroy her world." She patted his shoulder sympathetically. "Come on, dance with me."

Gregory raised an eyebrow. "That's a bit of a break from tradition, isn't it?"

"Olivia loves to dance." Alex emphasized with an evil grin. "I might be convinced to let you lead..."

Gregory held out his hands without much enthusiasm. Alex insinuated herself into his embrace and smiled. "Nothing too complicated, we can start with waltz. You do remember how to waltz?"

Rolling his eyes made Alex start to laugh. Gregory relaxed ever so slightly. "I think I just might remember."

"Good!" Alex responded brightly as she followed his slow lead. She let the first time he stumbled go by without notice, but the sharp pain in her foot when he fumbled again made her stop.

"You do an excellent impression of a donkey." She teased dryly as she dropped her hands and waited for an explaination.

"It's these damn shoes." Gregory complained under his breath as he pointed down at his heels in disgust. "I can't move in them at all. It's like I'm being tortured."

Alex glanced down at his feet and nodded as she took in the delicate straps and high arch of the shoes he was trapped in. Shrugging easily, she pointed to her own feet and winked. "That's why I cheat. Flats and pants are the way to go."

"Olivia picked them out." Gregory was careful to keep his voice below the conversations around them.

"Olivia's a beautiful, sophisticated woman." Alex explained as she continued to smile comfortably. "Sophisticated women, unfortunately, wear torture instruments to parties."

"I'd be beautiful without the damn things." Gregory put his hands on her shoulders. "Maybe you should lead. Just until I get the hang of being 'sophisticated'."

Alex wound her fingers around his hand and started to lead slowly, half the tempo of the music in the background. "She's just compensating. You are, rather, you used to be, rather tall."

"So-" He baited, concentrating on following her movements was more difficult than he thought it would be.

"It's harder to kiss someone who towers over you." She watched as his eyes wandered over the heated discussion between Olivia and Caitlin. When he sighed softly and returned his attention to her, Alex knew the look in his eyes.

"Pretty damn handsome, isn't she?"

Gregory laughed, nearly falling out of rhythm as he tried to wrap his head around the idea. "I never thought I'd look at myself quite the way I want to at the moment."

"You're a lucky woman, that's for sure." Alex winked at him playfully. He raised his eyebrows, trying not to think about how odd it was. Gregory suddenly wondered when it had gotten so hot in the living room. He lost his step for a moment and Alex brought them quickly to a stop. "Tripping over your shoes again?"

He blinked, hoping that would bring the living room back into focus. When he failed, Gregory shook his head slowly and his hands fell into Alex's waiting grasp. "We'll get you some air, okay sweetheart?" She led him out to the patio, keeping her hands strongly on his as she pulled him though the crowd. "Keep your eyes on me okay? You're going to be fine."

Gregory sank down against the wall of the house and propped his head up in his hands. "What is this?"

Alex knelt down next to him, stroking his head. "I'm sure it'll pass."

"What if it doesn't?" Gregory clutched at her hands, grateful for her presence. "What if something's wrong with her- me- I couldn't handle that."

"Shhh..." Alex sat down next to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "You're pregnant. That's not a wrong."

"But it's hell."

"Pregnancy is hell for Olivia. Esquire, you should be the first to know that." Alex turned to flag down one of the tuxedoed waiters for a glass of water. "Who knows? Maybe third time's the charm. You'll finally know what it's like to be knocked up."

Gregory swallowed, pushing the glass of water away as Alex tried to calm him down. "I can't drink that."

Insisting it would help, Alex held it up towards him. "It might help your head."

Gregory's eyes were screwed shut. Even the soft light on the patio wasn't helping his head. "I'm a bit more concerned about my stomach."

Alex covered her mouth quickly to keep her laughter in check.

"I'm sorry I ever made love." Gregory vowed bitterly as he dropped his head to his knees. "Ever. I'll take it all back. I should have been celibate."

She gave up on pretending not to be deeply amused. Her eyes glinted in the moonlight. "You didn't seem to mind it when you were a man."

"Stomach wasn't dancing around in my throat when I was a man." He groaned and bit his knuckle against the slowly spinning lights in the bushes of the patio. "I could dance when I was a man. Dammit, Alex, I could stand up."

"I hate you." Caitlin began without preamble. "I'm never going to forgive you. I hate you. I'll hate you forever!"

Olivia grabbed her hands and held her fast at the bottom of the stairs. "You're drunk." It was obvious in Caitlin's face. In the blush in her cheeks, the sleepy response of her eyes and the way she swayed slightly in Olivia's grasp. "Caitlin you should go to bed."

"I'm not going to bed." She ripped her hands free and planted them defiantly on her hips "At least not anymore. You've ruined that for me. Congratulations daddy you've taken away the only man I've made love to."

Olivia gulped, suddenly grateful Gregory wasn't in his own body. Pushing Caitlin up the stairs to keep her from making a scene, she realize her daughter reeked of champagne. Caitlin wasn't aware enough to fight going upstairs, but she continued her tirade.

"Did it bother you daddy? Knowing someone loved me?" Caitlin stumbled back towards her wrapping her arms around her neck, "Knowing someone was kissing me- touching me- making me scream his name."

Olivia felt her body tighten in disgust. "Don't be crude."

"Why not?" Caitlin laughed as she tumbled away from her. "At least someone in this house was happy for once." She held onto the wall, staring at the floor as she started to laugh uncontrollably. "Maybe- maybe- " Taking a deep breath, she clung to the door of her room. "You're just jealous, because I was getting something you aren't getting from mom. Maybe you just can't get it up anymore."

Olivia didn't mean to push her. She didn't realize how strong Gregory was until Caitlin was sitting on the bed, nearly in tears. "Don't talk about your mother that way." She wasn't even sure who she was protecting, Gregory or Gregory in her body.

"Why not?" Caitlin flopped down to the bed giggling towards the ceiling. "Because you'd rather not be reminded that thanks to you, she's a whore and a drunk." She rolled up, kicking at Olivia as she removed her shoes. "Maybe that's it. No one's allowed to be in love in this family."

Sitting up suddenly fueled by her epiphany, Caitlin grabbed her father's neck and whispered. "She used to tell me she loved you. I never used to believe her, she was always cheating on you and lying to you. I-" She narrowed her eyes. "I hated her."

Olivia set Caitlin's shoes aside and fetched a glass of water to leave on her nightstand. "And now?"

"Now I just hate you." Desperate loneliness was icy in her voice. "Mom supported Cole."

Olivia stopped and folded her arms across her chest, guilt rising up to chase away her anger. "You're not going to understand this-" She took Caitlin's hands and held them tightly. "In fact, I hope you never, ever do- but Cole was wrong for you."

Caitlin tried to slap her but Olivia held her hands fast. "He didn't love you the way you loved him. And he would have been unfaithful to you."

"No!" Caitlin's resolve started to crumble into hysterical tears. "No, he loved me."

"But he wanted things he couldn't get from you. He might have settled down with you, played house for awhile-" Olivia sighed and forced her guilt to the back of her heart. "But in the end he would have left you. Just like AJ left your mother. It's just better that he left you now. Before you had a family to worry about it because once you have that, nothing else matters." She touched her daughter's shoulder gently as Caitlin turned away from her to sob into her pillow.

"Someday, you'll know what it's like to do anything to keep your family together."

Olivia shut the door and sighed heavily as she leaned against it. "I'm sorry Caitlin." She whispered to the empty hallway. The music from the party downstairs echoed up in a quiet mockery of the guilt she had to hold inside. "I couldn't let Cole destroy our family. You'll fall in love again. You're young and beautiful and you're whole life is ahead of you."

"Your father is all I have and I have to hold on to him." Olivia straightened her suit and prepared to head back down into the party. "I need him."

Sean searched the room for his parents after Casey asked him where they were. He caught his father dragging Caitlin upstairs. His sister was worse than he'd ever seen her. As soon as the champagne was opened, she'd started to drink it as if it was going out of style. It reminded him of mom during the bad years. Mom when dad used to drag her upstairs and lock her in the bathroom.

He headed out to the patio, wondering if his mother had ended up out there again. Sean turned the corner and stopped dead in his tracks. Alex and his mother were curled up together against the far wall. Alex's arms were around his mother's shoulders and Olivia's head was on her chest. It was weird.

He couldn't find another word for it. If Alex had been his dad instead it would have made sense, but there was his mother, clinging to her as if she wouldn't know what to do if she let go.

Sean retreated. He couldn't say anything. They hadn't seen him. He nearly crashed into Bette on his way back to the party. His mom and Alex? Alex was dad's best friend. That was all she was. Wasn't she?

Bette knelt down on the stone patio next to Gregory and Alex and tapped his shoulder with a slim plastic object from her purse. "I brought you a present."

As Gregory took it and stared at it in helpless confusion, Bette produced the directions from her purse. "It's a bit complicated, but you're a lawyer, you'll understand all the jargon."

Alex turned the pregnancy test over in Gregory's hands and pointed out the window at the top. "if this turns blue, we'll take you to the doctor tomorrow. That's really all you need to know."

"What are you three conspiring about?" Olivia's voice was cheerful from the doorway. Only Gregory picked up the strained note. The way she was forcing herself to smile. He wanted to ask her what was wrong but he had to hide the pregnancy test in the sleeve of his jacket. He couldn't let her know. Not yet.

"We were just talking." Alex winked at Olivia. "You know, girl talk."

Giving Alex her best quizzical look, Olivia slipped past her to Gregory. "You really look lovely darling."

"I hate your shoes." Gregory offered as he stared down at his feet. "I really hate them."

"But they look beautiful." She teased cheerfully as she kissed his lips this time. She held on a little longer, whispering in his ear, "And I love you for putting up with them."

"You'd better make it up to me." Gregory complained as he concentrated on keeping his balance as Olivia released him. He would have had to grab at her to stay upright, but Alex stepped in quickly.

Bette pounced on Olivia. "Can you dance?"

Olivia's eyes widened in surprise. "With you?"

"Gregory hasn't danced with me since my last wedding." Bette pouted as she dragged Olivia back towards the house. "And I'm dying to see if you can lead."

"I don't usually-" Olivia realized with a sheepish grin. "Gregory always-."

"I know!" Bette chortled playfully as she wrapped her arm around Olivia's waist. "That's why it's going to be so much fun."

Bette peered over her shoulder and winked at Alex. For her part, Alex steadied Gregory between her and the wall of the mansion. "I think we could sneak you upstairs, so you can take the test in peace."

Swallowing nervously, Gregory looked around to make sure Olivia was out of earshot. "What if I am-" He couldn't say the word.

"Pregnant." Alex interjected gently as she patted his shoulder again. "It's okay."

"What am I going to do? Olivia's going to-" Stopping suddenly, Gregory dropped his hand thoughtfully to his stomach. "I don't know what she's going to say."

"She's going to feel awful." Alex led him slowly around the periphery of the crowd. Olivia was leading Bette through the waltz admirably. It seemed she was far better and switching sides of the dance than Gregory had been. "Can you imagine how guilty she'll feel when she realizes what you're going through?"

"It's not her fault." Stopping them again, Gregory shook his head for a second as they contemplated the staircase. "She didn't do anything."

"That's the problem." Alex quipped, but smiled gently when Gregory didn't get the joke. "Olivia's the one who forgot."

"Forgot...?" Gregory trailed off before hitting Alex's shoulder. "I didn't know you were interested in the details of my sex life."

"You're my best friend." Alex began as she started him slowly up the stairs. "I'm interested in everything about you."

Gregory couldn't help smiling. He'd never really appreciated what it was to be taken care of before. He never needed someone to hold his hand as he walked up the stairs.

He kept up his conversation through the bathroom door with Alex as he tried not to think about what the pregnancy test meant to him and Olivia. Somehow talking to her made the whole thing a little less surreal. "I think it was the sofa. We had a big fight, I thought she was the one who shot Del. We were ready to kill each other and then..."

"Then you started tearing her clothes off." Alex looked down at her watch. "The wonders of love. Amazing that you can still be that spontaneous after all the time you've been together."

"Spontaneity is overrated if it leads to this." Gregory complained as he joined Alex in starting down at her watch.

"Five minutes," She offered as she pulled him down on the love seat in front of the bed. "That's not so long..."

"It's eternity." Gregory argued as he stared down at the way she took his hand. "I never really appreciated things like this." He lifted their hands and shook his head slowly. "I never realized how comforting it is to have someone hold my hand. Or hold me when I'm sleeping."

"You're on the other side now, aren't you?" Looking deep into his eyes, Alex tried to find the man she knew. Gregory was there, somewhere behind the mascara in his eyelashes. "I think you're doing very well."

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Olivia's the one doing very well. She went to the office for me, talked to the kids and dealt with Cole. I can't believe how wonderful she is."

Cooing softly, Alex started to laugh when he blushed. "Just what your marriage needed, a little change of scenery."

Staring down at his chest, Gregory looked at the swell of his breasts under his dress and sighed. "Or a big change." With his free hand, he touched his chest experimentally, still completely unnerved by what he found there. "I have to admit I rather like it."

"Oh?" Alex wondered with that teasing lilt in her voice he loved so much.

"There's something fun about breasts. Something different..." He winked at her lewdly. "Making love with them is special."

Alex collapsed into a fit of giggles. "I'll bet it is."

"Sean, would you be so good to fetch your mother and Alex from upstairs? They've been up there awhile and i'd like to know what they're up too." Twirling her champagne glass she realized all the fun of being able to indulge in Gregory's body had been sucked out of the night. Caitlin had seen to that. Her drunken despair reminded her too much of herself when she thought Gregory was lost to her forever.

It didn't matter that her position was stronger now, even though in Gregory's body she had everything, control of his money, the respect of the community, all of it didn't matter. She just wanted to see him smile at her and tell her it was all right. That Caitlin really was better off without Cole.

Sean paused outside his parent's bedroom door. He was about to knock when something made him stop and listen.

"-A little change of scenery." Alex joked with his mother.

"Of a big change." Olivia replied playfully. "I have to admit I rather like it."

"Oh?" What was that in Alex's voice? Was she flirting?

"There's something fun about breasts. Something different..." Olivia was flirting back. His mother was flirting with Alex? He didn't believe it. "Making love with them is special."

Then they both started to laugh. Sean couldn't believe it. He'd known his parent's marriage was in trouble, when wasn't it? But now his mother was turning to Alex? Dad's best friend?

He couldn't bring himself to knock. He just stood there in front of the door until it got quiet in the bedroom. Were they kissing? He didn't think he could handle opening the door and finding that. His mother and Del was one thing. Alex was...

Sean forced himself to knock. He coughed to warn them. His mother sounded happy. Who was he to ruin that?

"Mom? Alex? Are you in there? Dad's looking for you."

Gregory dropped the pregnancy test in shock. "Sean!" He mouthed to Alex as he dropped to his knees to pick it up from the carpet.

Alex made sure he had it before she opened the door. "Hello sport. Sorry it took so long. Your mom and I just got caught up talking about old times."

Both of them looked guilty. Desperately guilty and his mother was definitely trying to hide something with her smile. "I'll come down with you darling." Gregory turned to Alex and pressed the test into her hand before Sean could see it. "Wouldn't want your father to worry."

Alex stuffed the pregnancy test in her pocket and followed them down with a smile. Poor Gregory was so flustered by everything. She hadn't seen him this nervous since before he asked Olivia to marry him. Her watch said it would be another two minutes. She caught his eye and gave him a quick thumbs up, then a thumbs down. He'd know as soon as she did, she promised with her eyes.

Gregory's nausea must have turned to butterflies by now, but he was putting on a brave front for his son. It was nice to see them getting along even as terror flashed through his eyes at the thought of being pregnant. Gregory and Sean hadn't gotten along since Sean came into the world, but as Olivia, he could be kind. He could be honest even.

"There you are." Olivia took Gregory from Sean's arm and kissed his cheek possessively. "I've been looking for you darling."

"Oh I'm sorry." Gregory slipped into her arm and whispered. "I wasn't feeling well."

"Oh darling." Olivia squeezed him sympathetically. "I'm sorry we couldn't cancel the party." She took her glass of champagne and tapped it with a silver fork from the catering table. "I apologize for demanding your attention once again, but I just couldn't assemble a crowd in my home without taking advantage of it."

The crowd laughed gently. The Richards parties were the best on the beach. Alex checked her watch. Less than a minute now. Gregory met her eyes with the kind of look she saw in frightened animals in Africa. She smiled and turned her attention to Olivia's toast. She was playing Gregory to the hilt.

"I've already asked you to raise your glass to the lovely and talented Miss Hart, to whom this party is dedicated. Now I have a more personal request." Olivia smiled graciously and took Gregory's hand.

"This party would have been impossible without the tireless support of my lovely wife." Olivia looked into his eyes and watched him melt under her gaze. "We've had our problems over the years, but when I look at you now Olivia, I can't help thinking that now we're finally starting to see through each other's eyes."

Gregory put his hand over his mouth and the blush ran rampant up his face. Were there tears in his eyes as he let Olivia kiss his cheek.

"To the light of my life. I can only hope all of you can find someone to light your way as brilliantly." Gregory grabbed her arm, either for support or affection Alex couldn't tell. He fell easily into Olivia's arms as the toast went around the room. Their kiss had a decidedly theatrical air, but it fit with the atmosphere of the party.

Bette sighed as if she were watching the end of a romantic film. Alex raised her glass and caught her watch on the way down. Drawing Bette's attention with a quick gesture of her hand, they looked at the test together as Alex pulled it from her pocket.

Gregory was wrapped in Olivia's arm, smiling graciously as he received the congratulations of the room. He was basking in it, and the color in his face was starting to improve as Olivia held him.

Bette tapped the test and grinned wickedly. "I knew it. How's he going to break the news to Livie?" She wondered as she refilled her champagne from the fountain on the table. "She's going to be a wreck. Remember how upset she was when gave him that case of the chicken pox?"

Alex nearly choked on her champagne. "How was she supposed to know he hadn't had it yet?"

Bette clinked their glasses together. "I don't know. But it was a hoot wasn't it? All those little red spots..."

"Oh the poor dears..." Shaking her head, Alex watched as Olivia kissed him again. "This is nine months, that was a week."

"Do you think they'll be able to switch back?" Bette wondered as she started examining the tray of desserts.

"I have no idea. I don't even know how they switched in the first place." Alex caught Gregory's eye across the room and gave him the thumbs up she'd agreed upon. All the new colored drained from his face.

"Oh dear." Alex turned Bette from the desserts as Gregory swayed by Olivia's side. "He's not taking it well."

"Do you think-?" Bette's wondering was cut short as Gregory fainted dead away. She clucked her tongue and set down her glass as the party turned into a flutter of activity around Gregory. "We should have bet on it."

Alex set hers down next to Bette's and followed her over. "Even I wouldn't have taken those kinds of odds."