January 2nd, 2004

Today was Michael's birthday. It was going to be great. He and Elizabeth were getting all dressed up and going into town. They were going to eat at an expensive restaurant and stay the night at a hotel. Michael saw that Elizabeth packed her red teddy.

"Lizzie, are you going o come down any time soon?" Mike called out.

"Coming." Elizabeth walked down he stairs. Michael had to gasp. She was utterly gorgeous. She wore a clingy green dress, which her breasts were almost spilling out of.

"Christ. Major erection." He said. Elizabeth laughed as she grabbed her jacket.

"How romantic." She said.

"Let's just forget everything and have sex now." Mike said.

"No. I want to enjoy tonight first." She winked and took his hand, "Tonight is special."

"I know." Michael smiled as he led them out to the car.

* * *

They stared at the menus in front of them. Everything was so expensive, but Michael didn't care.

"Excuse me." Elizabeth waved he waiter over. "Today is my husband's birthday. Could I have two slices of your most expensive cake?"

"Certainly, Ma'am." The waiter walked off. Elizabeth took a sip of her water.

"Can you believe I'm thirty-three?" Michael asked his wife.

"Yes." She chuckled, "Would you like your gifts before we eat?"

"Of course." Michael said.

"Well, there's two." Elizabeth put a box on the table, "This is number one."

"Great." Michael took it and opened it up. His eyes widened. It was the new tool set he had been eyeing for work. The set had a feather duster and a horse hair duster! Two things he needed, "Oh Lizzie, this is great."

"I thought with that new dig you're going on, you'd need to bring it." She said.

"Yes. It'll be perfect." Michael said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." She said. Michael looked at her shyly.

"And my other gift?" He asked.

"Oh yeah." Elizabeth smiled, "Well. You're other gift will arrive in eight months because I'm pregnant." Michael stared at her with a pale face.

"We're having a baby?" He whispered. Elizabeth smiled and nodded.

"Yes." Elizabeth chuckled, "I'm due August 30th."

"August 30th?" He asked, "Close to your birthday."

"Great birthday present." Elizabeth reached over and took his hand, "This is a good present right? I know you said you didn't want another one, but I did. We didn't discuss this any further and I'm sorry you're mad." Michael began to chuckled.

"Don't put words in my mouth, Woman." He said squeezing her hand. "I want this baby. I want a little girl...maybe. Money and space isn't an issue anymore."

"Oh Michael!" Elizabeth stood up and ran into his arms, "Happy birthday." Michael hugged his wife.

"Thank you." He said hugging her. What did he want more? The tool set or the baby? He wasn't sure.

January 16th, 2004

Clark sat in his office yawning. He had been staring at the files in front of him for hours. He had a court case in the morning. A woman was suing her ex-husband for full custody. He normally didn't take custody battles, but this woman was desperate.

"Mr. Deveraux," His secretary knocked on the door, "Candy Philips is on line one. She's pretty hysterical." He sighed.

"All right. I have it." Clark picked up the phone, "Candy, what's wrong?"

"He won't leave!!" She screamed. Clark grunted.

"All right. I'll be there in ten minutes all right?" He asked.

"Pl-Please hurry. He's pissed off!!" Candy sobbed.

"I'll be there." Clark stood up and hung the phone up. "Gina, call the police, tell them our situation, and have them meet me at Mrs. Philips' house." She nodded.

"Certainly, Sir." Clark sighed and left his office.

* * *

He had expected there to be cruisers already there waiting, but when Clark pulled onto Evergreen terrace, everything was silent. He didn't see a single soul. He couldn't even hear any fights going on.

"Just great." Clark muttered as he pulled his car into Candy's driveway. All the lights were off in the house. Weird, Clark thought. He got out of the car and looked around. No neighbours were peering over their fences. No dogs were running around. No children were laughing in or outside the house. It was dead silent. Clark walked up the stairs and knocked on the door, "Candy?"

The door was unlocked so Clark opened it. He looked inside and called out her name again. It was strange. She had only called him twenty minutes ago. She had told him to come over. Why would she leave?

"Candy? Samantha?" He called out, "Is anyone home?" Clark looked around the living room. He glanced at a picture of Candy and her ex-husband. They looked so happy there. It was probably taken last year when Samantha was born.

"Candace?" Clark called out. Now he was getting worried. She had been so terrified on the phone. He walked down the hallway when he heard a whimpering. "Samantha? Is that you baby girl?"

"Mama." A soft whimper came from the bathroom. Clark opened the door and saw Samantha sitting on the floor.

"What are you doing in here all by yourself, Sweetheart? Where is your mommy?" Clark walked over to the baby but stopped. Right by Samantha, there was a trickle of something red on the bathtub.

"Mama." Samantha whimpered again. Clark swallowed and looked at the shower curtain.

"Come here." Clark croaked as he picked the baby up. His heart pounded in his chest. His hand shook as he opened the curtain. "Oh god." Bile rose in his throat as he stared at Candy's headless body. Clark clung to Samantha, putting his hand over her eyes.

* * *

Clark shuffled into his house. Everything was quiet, but not the same kind of quiet he had experienced earlier. The television was on. Stefanie was picking up the living room. She smiled when she saw him.

"Breckin has decided that he wants a bike for his birthday." Stefanie said, "I guess it's good there's one hiding in the garage." Her smile faded when she saw Clark's face. "What is it?"

"I had a tough day." He mumbled.

"You didn't have a court appearance today did you?" She asked.

"No." Clark mumbled. Stefanie walked up to him.

"Clark, you're scaring me." She said. He grabbed her and pulled her into a hug. He clung to her body, afraid to let go.

"I love you. I love you so much." He whispered as he held her. Clark couldn't get the image of Candy out of his head. He couldn't believe a man would do that to a woman he had once loved. He could never do that to Stefanie. Never.

* * *

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