It was Holly's turn to have a restless night. After Roger's ascent into darkness she locked the door and climbed into bed. She checked her night stand drawer, in it was her gun. She never kept it loaded, but tonight she did. She was uneasy. Roger wasn't stupid, he was reckless and when he was reckless he made poor choices. "Ed Bauer isn't going to be a father again" Echoed in her ears. She didn't know what he would do to see that fruition, but she was worried. At 2 a.m. she was still wide awake, she climbed out of bed and went to the front door. She looked out the window and sighed. What was she hoping for? That Roger would have returned and would be waiting on the other side. She dropped the blind and went to the couch. At some point she fell asleep, waking only when the phones ring woke her.

"Hello" She answered groggily, pushing her hair out of her face as she came to a sitting position.

There was no response on the other end of the line.

"Hello, who is this?" She asked more determinedly.

The line went dead.

"Oh Roger" She knew it was him. He was toying with her, she just knew it. She flung the light throw covering her body over the back of the couch and decided to go take a shower before going to breakfast, and then over to Ed's.

Holly arrived at Company, news paper folded under her arm. As it was a Sunday morning, just after the time services ended it was quite busy. She debated sitting at the bar, but decided to wait for an open table.

"I'll be outside" She told the hurried hostess.

She sat on the bench and opened her paper. If Roger had done anything stupid it would have been on the front page. Fortunately the only news was about the new elementary school being over budget and behind schedule in its renovations. There was already talk of delaying the start of the school year as a result. Holly snapped the paper to the next page where the editorials were written. While not a personal fan of Fletcher Reade, she did enjoy his writing so she quickly found herself engrossed, so much so that she didn't realize she was being stared at, when she did she jumped.

"Oh my God, Roger. How long have you been standing there?" She asked him.

He looked awful. He was dressed in the same suit he wore the night before. His hair was disheveled and his normally cleanly shaved chin and cheeks showed a fine sanding of stubble.

"Not long. I stopped by your place but you were already gone. I was hungry so I decided to come and get some food" He rubbed his stomach.

Holly moved the remainder of the Sunday edition from the bench and indicated that he should sit down.

"Roger, I was worried about you. What's going on? What did you mean when you said you're not going to let Ed be a father again?"

He sat down wearily beside her. He laced a finger through the knot of his tie pulling it loose. "It doesn't matter, does it, Holly? What's done is done."

She turned her head slightly. "Roger, did you do something?" Her voice was as rocky as her nerves.

"I sure did." He mused.

Holly was on high alert. "Roger, what did you do? Did you hurt Ed?"

His head snapped to attention. "What do you mean, did I hurt Ed?"

Her hands formed fists. "Roger, did you do something to him? Do I need to call the police?"

"Oh my God Holly. What do you think I did? Do you think I broke into the Bauer house, climbed the stairs and smothered the son of a bitch with a pillow while he slept?"

She arched an eyebrow. "It's plausible." She said drolly.

"No, Holly, that's not my style. Ok so it is, murder is one of my less known specialties."

She was not amused. "Out with it then Roger. I told you last night I am tired of you talking to me in riddles. Now tell me what is going on, or go home."

Roger stood. "Fine, I'll go home. I could use a shower and a shave" He noted as he rubbed his hand over his chin.

Holly, unmoving, asked him "Where did you go last night?" then added "Not that I care, I just don't want to be held as an accomplice if you did anything horrific."

Roger gave a sly smile. "It's nice to see that you still only see the worst in me, Holly. That was always part of your problem. You could never see past the anger to hurt, you could never hold me and love me and tell me that I mattered to you more than Ed did."

Worry gave way to anger. "Come on Roger, that is ancient history. History that I am not willing to relive with you."

"Well, history has a way of repeating itself, doesn't it?"

From the doorway the hostess appeared "Miss Lindsey, I have a table ready for you."

Holly stood and gathered her paper. "Thank you, I'll be right there." She faced Roger. "Would you like to have breakfast with me? They are busy this morning. It may be awhile until they can get you seated.

" I'm not hungry any more. See ya around, Holly" Much like the night before Roger turned on his heel and disappeared into the day leaving Holly to again wonder what was going on with him.

As Holly ate, she pretended to read her paper, but her mind continued to replay the last twelve hours with Roger. She debated if she should warn Ed, when he walked in. He looked around, seemingly surprised at the crowd. She raised a hand and called his name. He looked in her general direction and then clapped eyes on her. He said something to the hostess and then walked over.

"Good morning, I guess the day got further away from me than I thought. I wanted to grab breakfast before the church crowd arrived" He slid into the booth.

"I'm surprised you're working today, I thought you'd have taken the day off to continue celebrating with Maureen."

"We celebrated last night. Now it's back to reality." He sighed.

The waitress came and filled a cup with coffee. "Thank you" He said. "Can I have whatever danish you have left, please."

When the waitress walked away Ed turned his attention back to Holly. "You look like you didn't sleep. Are your migraines back again?"

"Only if my migraine is named Roger."

Ed puckered his lips in disgust. "I don't know why you continue to indulge him."

"He's Blake's father, and he of all people with his skills and talents should be able to find her. I told you last night that was the only reason."

"Ok, ok, I believe you, '' Ed said quietly. He didn't. Any time Holly became entangled with Roger he knew it was only a matter of time before she appeared on his doorstep either physically or metaphorically abused and mistreated.

"I think I should warn you though, he is acting even more peculiar than is typical for himself, Ed."

"Really in what way?"

The waitress dropped Ed's pastry in front of him and quickly moved along.

"He took the news of your impending fatherhood rather hard. I think it's because Blake has left town, and the idea of you having another shot at raising a child annoys him."

"Well did you tell him that is the only reason we did it? To annoy him?"

Holly didn't dignify the comment.

"He really is a piece of work. This has nothing to do with him. If he's missing Blake then he needs to go find her. He can't blame you or me for keeping her away from him this time."

"That's what I told him, but you know Roger. He's like a dog with a bone and until his beloved Christina returns, he is just going to keep chewing on it." Holly looked at her watch. "Ed, I have to go. '' She slid out of the booth and gathered her newspaper. "Just do me a favor, keep your eyes open. Something he said last doesn't sit well with me."

Ed's eyebrow raised. "What did he say?"

"It doesn't matter, like the dog with the bone Roger barks a warning before he bites you, but just keep an eye out anyway."

By the end of his shift Ed had practically forgotten about his discussion with Holly. After all, he had been dealing with the antics of Roger Thorpe for nearly all of his adult life. By the time he got home he had so forgotten about it he didn't even mention having breakfast with Holly. Come Monday, like his marriage to her, it was ancient history. Maureen however, was about to be blind sided.

Vanessa was in a meeting so the office was quiet. Maureen had been searching the internet for all things baby related. She had narrowed down the paint swatch for the nursery to one of two colors, and had found the sweetest bedding if it were a boy. She marked the page, closing it when the phone rang.

"Spaulding Enterprises, Vanessa Chamberlain's office." The smile in her voice was evident, but wouldn't last long.

"I need, no, I demand to see you immediately."

Maureen twisted the cord around her finger. She looked around to make sure no one was beyond her privacy partition "Roger, I am working. You can't call me at the office and expect me to drop everything to meet with you."

"You have one of two options. Either you meet me on your lunch hour, or I will come to Spaulding. I will sit in the lobby all day if I have to, but I will see you today."

Maureen sighed. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. "Roger, can't this wait, please?"

"No it can not. Now time is wasting. Are you going to meet me, or am I coming there."

She knew she couldn't go to his condo. Someone might see her there. Meeting him in public was equally out of the question. She thought about their day at the lighthouse. It was still unoccupied, and the odds of anyone driving out there and noticing her car was slim to none.

"Fine, how about the lighthouse? 12:30? But Roger, I can not stay long. I have to get back to the office."

"I will see you then." He growled and slammed the phone in her ear.

Maureen sent Vanessa a quick email. "Not feeling well, I'm going to take a personal day. I will be in early tomorrow. Please do not call Ed, he worries! Thank you ~M" She hit send, and grabbed her purse from the drawer. Before she went to the elevator she went to the ladies room for what seemed like the tenth time that morning, and then headed out the door.

She beat Roger to the lighthouse by ten minutes. She was pacing the small living room when he knocked on the door. "Come in" She called out, expecting him.

He shoved open the door but didn't close it. She studied his face. His features were set. His eyes were dark and his cheeks pointed as though he were clenching his jaw. His pointer finger was locked on her as he approached.

"I want to know, is that child you're carrying mine?" There was no softness in his voice, just anger.

Maureen felt behind her, feeling the edge of a chair she leaned into it. "Roger, please," She whispered.

"Please what? I have a right to know?' His indignation dripped in his words.

"Roger…" She thought about lying, but was overtaken by guilt. Guilt that should have been reserved for Ed. After all he was her husband, not Roger. Roger wasn't even in an affair. He was a fling. A dangerous, but lovely fling that made her feel alive again. Her loyalty didn't belong with him. She studied his eyes, unable to formulate words.

"Roger what? I asked you a question and I'd like an answer Maureen."

"The baby could be Ed's." She said softly.

"Could be? What does that mean, of course it could be but that isn't the question Maureen. The question is, am I the father?"

Every nerve in her body was on fire. She felt dizzy. The room was closing in on her but she answered. "Odds are in Ed's favor" She finally answered.

"Odds? Odds? We're not in Vegas, you're not playing with the house's money!" He screamed, but pulled back. He could see he was scaring her. "I'm sorry, forgive me. I'm a little tense." He took several mechanical breaths. "Do you expect me to believe that Ed is the father of this child simply because you two had sex more times you did with me? What are the odds of that, Maureen? Think about it, you two have shared a bed for how many nights and he hasn't managed to get you pregnant, yet you are with me twice and you suddenly are. Let's talk about odds. Unless you tell me you slipped your diaphragm in right before I took you on the stairs, we weren't any more protected than you and the good doctor are on a generic Saturday night at the Bauer house"

Maureen stood, fire in her eyes. She raised a hand and slapped Roger hard across the cheek. He recoiled before grabbing not one but both of her wrists. Roughly he pulled her into him. His eyes darted left to right, not focusing on but taking hers in. He let go of one of her wrists and used that hand to pull her face into his. Roughly he ground his lips into her.

At first Maureen resisted, but just as quickly yielded to him. He let her other wrist go and relaxed the hold on her head. His tongue darted in and out of her mouth. Neither could breathe. He let her head go. He continued to kiss her but backed his body away so that he could reach the buttons on his shirt. He slid it down his arms, leaving it in a heap on the floor. Slowly he guided her to the couch. He laid her down on it. He reached under her skirt and roughly groped at her stockings and underwear. He pulled them down, throwing them on the floor. He had to pull away then. He was still locked in the confines of his trousers. This was her chance, if she wanted to hurt him she was in the prime position to do so. One raised knee and he'd be doubled over in pain. She could escape then, but she didn't'.

She watched as he unbuckled his belt, and popped the button of his pants. In one fluid motion they were pulled down around his knees. She put a hand on his naked chest. His heart was pounding beneath her fingers. His eyes softened as he went to her again. He kissed her neck softly, he touched her from her knee to her hip. When his fingers moved to her center she arched her back and called out his name. "Roger!" He entered her swiftly, but gently. Never allowing his full weight on top of her. Within minutes she felt herself contract around him, and then he too reached his peak.

"I am so sorry" He said as he withdrew.

"Roger, what have I told you?" She whispered. "Stop apologizing for being human."

A flash of movement from the door caught his eye. His head turned sharply towards it.

"You are a dead man!" Ed Bauer screamed. He skipped over the two stairs that lead from the kitchen to the living room and vaulted over the back of the sofa knocking Roger to the floor with a thud. "She's pregnant, you son of a bitch. If you've hurt her or the baby I swear I will kill you!"

Maureen, doing her best to pull her skirt down screamed. "Ed, get off of him, it's not what it looks like!"

Roger shoved Ed off of him, and shook the cobwebs out of his head.

"What do you mean it's not what it looks like? He raped you for Gods sake, what is that supposed to look like?"

Roger pushed himself to a sitting position only to be knocked backwards when Ed sucker punched him. "Don't you move you animal!" Ed screamed.

"Maureen, call the police. I want him arrested!"

"I can't do that," She said softly.

"What?" Ed questioned.

"Do you mind if I pull my pants up?" Roger asked.

Ed shoved him as he went to Maureen.

"What are you talking about Maureen? He lured you here, and then he raped you."

Roger's movements rustled behind Ed. Maureen laid her hands on Ed's chest "Look at me" She told him, tears forming in his eyes.

"He didn't rape me" She said, the words catching in her throat.

Ed turned and faced Roger, he lunged at him, but Roger now prepared, grabbed his wrist and twisted his arm. "Careful there doc, I wouldn't want to damage those surgeon hands." Roger released him with a shove.

"If he didn't rape you then he drugged you and took advantage of you, it's the same thing!"

Fully engulfed in tears now Maureen shook her head no. "Ed, he didn't drug me, he didn't rape me. It's always been consensual"

A knot formed in both Ed's throat and stomach. "Always? So this is an affair?"

Maureen leaned into Ed. "Let's go home, we will talk about it there." She begged.

Ed's face fell as he caught Roger's movement "I'm an idiot" He said, closing his eyes.

"No, Ed, you're not. Come on, let's go home. We can talk the." Maureen pulled him by a hand.

"I don't think so," Roger growled from behind them. "There is still a pressing question that hasn't been answered."

Maureen, hand in a fist that lay on Ed's chest, closed her eyes. "Not now, Roger"

"Why not now, Maureen? I imagine the question I'd like the answer to is floating around Ed's otherwise empty brain."

"Shut up Thorpe! Or else" Ed said, spinning to face him.

Roger smacked his hands off his chest "Or else what? You want to have another go, come one, let's do it!"

"Ed, please, no." Maureen begged. "Let's just go home and we will talk this through."

Ed shook his head. "I'm so stupid. This is why you were so unsure about being pregnant, and why you waited so long to see Margaret, isn't it?" He smacked a palm off his head as if to jog himself back to the present.

"Ed, please" She begged again.

Ed closed his eyes, took her hands and pushed them back towards her. "Don't touch me." He said quietly. "I have to go."

"Good choice" Roger said under his breath.

Ed headed for the door, Maureen chased him, but he kept going. "Ed come back!" She called. For a moment she thought he might when he stopped at his car. He turned as if to say something, but when Roger appeared in the doorway, Ed simply shook his head and climbed in, throwing pea stone from the driveway as he sped off. Maureen in the meantime slid down the jam of the door, with tears in her eyes.