Cassie had been awake for hours, just thinking. Wondering if she wanted to hear what Jake had to say. Would anything excuse the hurt he had caused her and their children? She had watched Brandon, Lori and Grace struggle after Jake's 'death' knowing that there was nothing she could do to mend their broken hearts. She listened to Grace cry herself to sleep night after night, breaking Cassie's heart a little more each time. How could she listen to Jake justify why he had done that to them? What did Jake want now he was back? To go back to playing happy families? Cassie wasn't sure how she was going to face him. She did know that she wanted to go home and have a shower and get ready in her own house. Cassie got out of bed and put her clothes back in from the previous night then she quietly tip-toed towards the front door trying not to wake Abigail. She took the spare key to Grey House out of the bowl in the hallway before she stepped out into the crisp morning air. She walked around the side of the house to the back door, she quietly unlocked the it and stepped in. Cassie took off her high heels so no one could hear her moving about, then she quietly walked up the side stairs towards her and Sam's bedroom.

Cassie slipped into the room, shutting the door behind her. "Cassie?" came Sam's tired voice from the bed. "Hi Sam," she said quietly as she say down next to him.

"Are you ok? I went over to Abigail's last night but she said you'd gone to sleep."

"I'm...I'm not sure how I'm feeling to be honest. Mostly hurt and angry," she told him honestly.

Sam took her hand and squeezed it, Cassie looked him in the eyes then moved bury her face in his chest. "Can't we just stay here and pretend everything is ok?"

"We will have to face it eventually."

Cassie nodded, "Will you stay with me? When I talk to Jake?"

Sam stroked her hair, "I'll do whatever you need me to," he said as he kissed her forehead.

"I love you, Sam."

"I love you, too."

An hour later Cassie and Sam were sat at the kitchen island having their morning tea and coffee, waiting for Jake. They didn't have to wait long until he appeared at the bottom of the stairs. "Good morning, Jake," Cassie said flatly as he walked into the kitchen.

"Morning," he said hesitantly.

"Would you like some coffee?" Sam asked.

"Please," Jake answered, Sam poured him a cup and handed it to him.

"So," Cassie began, "Tell me what happened."

Jake looked at her, "Maybe we should talk privately?"

Cassie shook her head, "No, I want Sam here."

"Okay, well... I had been investigating local drug dealing in Middleton and surrounding towns. I eventually linked it to a notorious crime boss and the FBI got involved. Bringing him down would have made my career and made the streets safer for everyone. But then some of his associates approached me, they had pictures of you and the kids. They threatened to hurt you if I didn't carry out jobs for them. I did a couple of things for them I'm not proud of but then they ordered me to kill someone. I couldn't do it but I also couldn't let them hurt you, so I approached the FBI and they came up with a plan that would keep you all safe and stop them from looking for me. "

Cassie just listened silently to what Jake had to say. She guessed it made sense, wanting to keep her and the kids safe. "Why didn't you tell me? We could have dealt with it together."

"I didn't want you involved at all, knowing anything could have got you killed. I did what I had to go keep my family safe."

"So, why come back now?" Cassie asked.

Because when I disappeared I continued investigating and working with the FBI and we brought the whole organisation down. Everyone associated is either dead or behind bars."

"So everything is ok now, you thought you could come back and we could pick up where we left of?" Cassie said angrily.

"That's not what I...I just thought you deserved the truth."

"I was devastated when you supposedly died, I felt like my whole world had ended. How could you lie there and pretend you were brain dead as we all said goodbye to you? That was the worst moment of my life and now I find out all that pain was a lie? I heard Grace cry herself to sleep every night. Do you have any idea how helpless I felt not being able to do anything to make our children feel better?" Cassie was crying now, Sam put his arm around her.

"I'm sorry Cass. I did what I had to, to keep you all safe. I don't know what else to say."

"Neither do I," Cassie said sadly before taking a sip of her tea that had now gone cold.

"I didn't realise we had any guests," a familiar voice came from the hallway. George walked into the kitchen a moment later. Morning Sam, Cassie...are you alright Cassie? he asked when he saw her tear stained face. She shook her head, looking towards Jake, George followed her gaze. He stood there open mouthed, trying to understand how his son in law was standing in front of him. George looked back to Cassie then again to Jake, "How?" was all the elderly man could manage to say.

"George," Jake finally said," How about we go for a walk, get some breakfast and I'll tell you everything?" George nodded and followed Jake out of the kitchen. A few moments later they heard the front door close behind them.

"You've been quiet," Cassie finally said to Sam.

"I thought it best you talk to your, uh... husband."

Cassie took his hand, "You're my husband. This doesn't change anything Sam, I love you."

Sam took her in his arms and held her, "I love you so much. You are everything to me." Cassie snuggled into him as Sam held her close. "Do you want me to call the hospital and tell them I won't be in?" Cassie shook her head, "No, it's ok. They need you and I should go and help Kate at the store. I was going to head in soon, after I've fixed my make-up."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I need to stay busy while I let everything sink in." Sam nodded understanding. "Will you be home for dinner?"

"Yeah I should be, unless I'm needed for an emergency. Are you sure you're going to be ok?" Cassie leant up to place a kiss on his lips, "Yeah."

"Call me if you need me. If I can't pick up, I'll get back to you as soon as I can, ok?" Cassie nodded, "I will." Sam picked up his coat and his briefcase and headed out the front door leaving Cassie alone again. She walked upstairs to their bedroom and sat down at her dressing table. She looked into the mirror, her eyes were tinged with red where she had been crying and her make-up was a mess. Cassie cleaned her face then re-applied everything, she still didn't look quite herself but it was a lot better than before. She gathered her things and left for the Bell, Book & Candle.

"Morning Cassie," Kate greeted her as she stepped into the store.

"Hi, how has your morning been?" she asked casually.

"A bit slow actually, so I finished up with the Christmas decorations." Cassie looked around, wondering why she hadn't already noticed, "Thank you, it looks amazing."

"Are you ok? You don't seem quite yourself?" Kate asked with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Someone from my past just turned up and it's thrown me a bit." Kate nodded, sensing Cassie didn't want to share anymore.

"I need to do a bit of paperwork, will you be alright out here?"

"Sure," Kate smiled, "I can handle any customers."

"Thank you, Cassie replied as she made her way to the back office.

Over at the Bistro, Stephanie greeted George as he sat down at a table with his friend. "Good morning George, we don't normally see you in here at this time of day." The elderly gentleman have her a small smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes, "Well I thought I'd have breakfast with my old friend here." Stephanie looked at the other man, he looked vaguely familiar, like she'd seen his face somewhere before." Stephanie held out her hand, "Hi, I'm Stephanie. It nice to meet you."

Jake took her hand and shook it, "Jake, Jake Russell." Stephanie's mouth fell open and she looked at George. That's where she had seen his face before, in Cassie's pictures at Grey House. "As in Cassie's dead husband, Jake Russell?"

Jake gave her a small smile, "It's complicated."

All Stephanie could think about was her friend, in a daze she took their order and quickly made her way to her office and sent Abigail a text.

Stephanie: OMG! You'll never guess who just walked into the Bistro with George!

Abigail: Jake?

Stephanie: You knew?

Abigail: He turned up at Grey House last night and Cassie turned up at my house shortly after. She was in such a state and couldn't bring herself to go home.

Stephanie: Poor Cassie and poor Sam. Do you know what the story is?

Abigail: Not yet, but I was going to pop in and see her at the store in a bit.

Stephanie: Well if he's here then everyone in town will soon know.

Abigail: I'm not sure Cassie is ready for that. I'll talk to her.

Stephanie: Ok, catch you later.

As Stephanie made her way back out front she heard a shrill voice, "Oh my goodness! Jake Russell?!" Martha was sitting down fanning herself at a nearby table, she looked like she was about to have a heart attack so Stephanie quickly got her a glass of water. "Thank you, dear," Martha said gratefully as she took the glass and took a sip. "Are you alright, Martha?" Jake asked with concern. "Yes, thank you," Martha answered, then her anger took over. "But...Cassie...You left Cassie and the children. You made everyone believe you were dead. How could you? "

"Madam Mayor," George began, "You don't know the whole story. Jake thought he was protecting them."

"George!" Martha admonished, "You of all people know how devastated Cassie was. How sad she was for years," she turned to Jake, "And now you come back when she's happily married to Sam? She deserves to be happy."

"I'm not here to cause Cassie anymore pain. Now everything is settled I wanted to see my children and tell her the truth." Jake tried to calm her down. Martha stepped towards him and waggled her finger at him, "That had better be it Jake Russell, you will not hurt Cassie anymore than you already have." With that she turned on her heels and marched out of the Bistro.