Fletcher's car was in the driveway of the lighthouse when Blake returned. Reluctantly she put the car in park and went inside, despite her instinct to put the car in reverse and go anywhere but inside. Fletcher had not been a fan of hers for a long time, in part because Alexandra had sullied her name with him, and in part because he knew that she kept Meredith's secret from Rick. Knowing that Rick had likely heard her car pull in she put it in park and entered the light house where the conversation immediately stopped.

She volleyed her gaze between the two men. "Hello." She said, draping her purse over the railing.

"Hello Blake, it's nice to see you" Fletcher responded. Rick on the other hand quickly shuffled the papers they were studying and put them in a neat pile.

"Slow news day?" Blake asked referring to the fact that it was a work day.

Fletcher looked at Rick who shook his head in an almost imperceptive movement. "Something like that." Fletcher smiled, but Rick continued to look at the floor, not greeting Blake.

"I see. Well, I guess I better go find something to keep myself busy then."

"No, that's not necessary, I was just leaving. Rick, I'm sorry I missed Matthew, but I will be back another day. I still owe him a Cubs game" Fletcher clapped him on the back.

"Sure buddy, but no hot dogs. He still doesn't have teeth" Blake could tell something was wrong, but wasn't sure what.

"Blake, nice to see you again" Fletcher said coming up the stairs.

"You're a liar, but whatever" She said.

Fletcher opened his mouth to say something but quickly changed his mind. He stuck the tip of his tongue out and bit it. When he opened his mouth again it was to ask Blake a favor. "Do me a favor Blake, the next time you talk to Red, I mean Holly, would you tell her that I said Hello." His smile was sincere when he made the request, but Blake was still staring at Rick.

"Sure. Take care Fletcher."

With Fletcher gone Blake went to Rick and wrapped her arms around him. "What's wrong? What happened?"

Rick shook her off. "Nothing. I'm just missing Matthew."

Blake's mouth down turned into a frown. "Rick, I miss Matthew too, but he will be home tomorrow before dinner time."

"That's great, but did you forget I'm working second shift? If I'm lucky and get out of the ER on time I won't be home until he's getting a bath and being put to bed" He smacked the palms of his hands off of his thighs.

Blake grabbed a hand and took him to the couch. When he was seated, she took his arm and wrapped it around her shoulder. She laid her head on his chest. "I miss him too, but Rick, this is only temporary."

That caused Rick to blow up. "Temporary? Blake, do you know why Fletcher was here today?" She shook her head against him.

"Well, let me show you." He got up so abruptly that her head hit the couch cushion. He returned with a pile of paper.

"First, this came in the mail." He shoved two pages at her. It was the order for the paternity test.

"We knew to expect this Rick, but I don't think the judge is going to take Matthew away. Meredith didn't want Phillip to raise him. Have me called to the stand to testify to that effect. I will do it!" She declared.

"Then there is this" It was a copy from the Mirror, the Spaulding owned paper that circulated through Springfield. The headline read SPAULDING HEIR BEING RAISED IN MORALLY QUESTIONABLE SURROUDINGS

Blake read the article word for word, gasping often. When she was done, she wasn't sure if the tears she felt came from a place of anger, hurt, or sadness at the hand of Phillip Spaulding. Not only did he declare paternity before it was determined, but he called her out for his relationship with Alan, and then himself, and now with Rick. He went on to say that his son should be raised in the bosom of family, and not with the woman who should take the crown from the reigning slut of Springfield.

"Oh my God Rick, if the judge sees this, he is never going to give you custody" Blake cried.

"I know." He answered honestly.

"Well then there is only one solution here. I move out." Blake declared, expecting Rick to agree.

"No." he said quietly.

"No?" She asked incredulously.

"No. I have an even better idea"

Blake raised an eye brow. "If it involves Daddy, and a back hoe even I have to draw the line there RIck Bauer."

Rick laughed, a sincere laugh. "No, this doesn't involve Roger, but that isn't a bad idea." She batted at him, grateful for the relief of tension.

"Then what?"

"Marry me" he asked.

Blake swallowed several times. "Marry you? Are you insane?"

"No, in fact I am of sound mind and body."

"Rick, I am sorry, but I can't. I love you and I love Matthew, but I can't be the reason you lose him again."

He pulled her into him and surprised her by kissing her.

"Rick" she protested, but he kissed her again.

"Rick…." He did it again, this time using his fingers to unbutton her blouse.

"Rick…." He moved to her pants.

"Do you want me to stop?" He asked breathlessly. She shook her head no.

He stopped being gentle. He yanked her blouse open sending tiny white buttons skittering across the hardwood floor. He swore when he couldn't get her pants to cooperate. "Let me" She breathed heavily. When she was freed from the confines of the cloth Rick began to explore her body as if it were a new toy. Not one inch went untouched, or unexplored. By the time he was ready to enter her she was yearning in a way she never had before. When he climaxed Rick's face reddened and he cried out her name before rolling away from her. A few minutes later she heard him softly snoring. She eased herself over him and off the couch, smacking her knee on the coffee table as she did. "Damn it" she swore softly. She watched him for a moment, his breathing even, his face released of tension. Blake reached her right hand down and brushed it softly over his cheek.

"I love you" she said out loud. "Don't forget that" she said softly.

He heard her as he nodded his head before rolling over as he would in bed. She took a throw from the back of the couch and laid it over him. Gathering her clothes, including her ruined blouse she went up the stairs. She took a quick shower, praying that he'd slept through it. Then she went back to their bedroom where she pulled her suitcase from the back of the closet. For a moment she wanted to cry, but couldn't afford herself the luxury of it. She was on a mission. She wasn't going to allow him to lose Matthew on account of her.

Holly carried a briefcase in one hand, her keys and a bag from Company in the other as she unlocked her front door. She jumped back when she saw movement from the corner of her eye. "Oh, my goodness, Blake, you scared the life out of me" Her hand holding her keys was now over her heart. "Did I know you were coming?" She asked when she recovered.

"No, and I hope you don't mind." She sounded child like to Holly.

"It's not that I mind, it's just that I had made dinner plans, hence the take out." She held the bag up as proof. "But I will cancel them."

"Mom, you do not have to do that. I can go somewhere else."

Holly laid everything she was holding and laid it on the floor. "Honey, something is obviously upsetting you. I am canceling my plans. Just give me one minute." Holly disappeared to her bedroom.

Blake could hear her apologizing to the mystery guest, and could hear promises to make it up to them, soon. She got the impression that this wasn't a woman friend, but rather a man. As intrigued as she was, she couldn't allow herself petty gossip. When Holly returned, she had changed out of her business suit and into a pair of jeans and a turtle neck. Blake had already begun unpacking the bag from Company.

"Do you want some wine? I know I do. Your father is absolutely impossible to deal with anymore. Did you know he has taken up with Jenna Bradshaw of all people? A jewel thief. As if he needs any more scandal in his life" Holly tsk'd as she poured her wine.

"Jenna Bradshaw? Well good for him."

Holly set her wine glass on the counter and leaned against it. "Alright, what is going on with you? I tell you that your father is involved with Jenna Bradshaw and you say good for him? Well try this one on for size. My mystery guest was Alan Spaulding. We've been having a torrid affair" It was a lie of course, but Holly needed to confirm that Blake was not involved in the conversation at hand.

"If you're happy Mom, then I'm happy for you."

"Ok, that's it. You've either been kidnapped by pod people, or something has gone horribly wrong. As I haven't seen any news bulletins about an alien invasion, I'm going to go with that later. Blake, tell me, what is wrong?" Holly asked with intensity.

Blake sat heavily in a chair and laid her head in her hands. She started crying. Holly went to her and wrapped her arms around her. "Oh, my honey. What happened?" Her voice changed to soothing.

"Oh Mom, everything is a mess. Fletcher stopped by the light house today, and he showed Rick a mockup of tomorrows front page of the Mirror" Her sobs racked her body. "They are painting me to be an immoral slut."

"What? How? Blake, you need to tell me exactly what is going on." Blake dabbed at her tears and explained everything that had transpired that afternoon, including Rick's marriage proposal.

"I'm going to need more wine" Holly said quietly when she digested everything Blake had told her. She went to the counter and drained what remained in her first glass before pouring a second. "Now Blake, don't you think the judge is going to see right through Phillips attempt to discredit you before the paternity test is even completed? Just because he is biologically the father, that doesn't mean the judge will remove him from Rick's care. The judge didn't take you away from Ed when I was in jail for shooting Roger." Holly reasoned.

Blake rolled her eyes. "Oh great, there is yet another reason why I shouldn't be involved with Rick. I'm sure if Phillip needs it that he has that card up his sleeve. You were married to Ed, you shot daddy, I was once considered Rick's sister and then step sister. Just wonderful Mother."

"Just a minute young lady. I warned you not to get involved with Rick Bauer. I told you it was too soon after you broke up with Phillip, but did you listen to me? No. You went head long into another relationship like you always do."

Blake crossed her arms over her chest and pouted like a petulant child as Holly reigned over her.

"I warned you that you could get hurt." Holly sat in the chair diagonally placed from Blake's. "But I have seen such a change in you since you fell in love with Rick, and honey, if the judge holds my past mistakes against you then the deck was stacked to begin with. "She laid her hands on top of Blake's. "Now honey, I can understand why you're upset. This was a lot to take in today. I want you to stay here tonight, but if you really love Rick and I think you do, I want you to fight for him."

"Thank you, Mom," Blake said wiping the tears from her eyes. "I was ready to bolt, to go stay with Daddy, and Jenna you said. Oh, my Lord what is he thinking?"

Holly grinned. "He's not, and that has always been his problem. I just wonder who will be charged with a felony first."