Haha, I did mention that I was going to dabble in David and Dixie...so it begins. (Lets be real here, she wasn't his victim and she definitely lead him on. I saw she got what she deserved!) You'll get a little calm before the next storm.

Chapter 5

"Does this mean Bianca will come live with Erica?" Dixie wondered, looking across her desk at David.

Jackson's call came through at just after 3am. Travis Montgomery was dead from a massive stroke. He was on his way over, and pleaded with them to wait to tell Bianca until he arrived.

Erica had instantly gone into protective mama bear mode, and had gone to wake Bianca. It was clear from the early hour that something terrible had happened. In the end, they ended up telling her together, before Jackson arrived.

It was probably for the best, as it allowed Erica and Bianca time to grieve without Jackson hovering.

He'd stepped back at Jackson's arrival, allowing the three of them to find comfort in one another. He had been pleasantly surprised when Erica asked him to stay by her side, hold her while she and Bianca made plans to go Seattle.

They'd taken the first flight out and were already well on their way.

"I'd assume so," David nodded. "Despite the reasons, it would make Erica so happy to have her home."

"Will make things a bit complicated for the two of you," Dixie mused.

"How so?" He asked curiously. He loved having Bianca around. She was a good kid. So much like her mother. But so different at the same time. He and Erica benefited greatly from her level headedness.

"Well having a teenager come to visit isn't the same thing as having one live with you."

"I like having Bianca around. She's a great kid and she's a voice of reason when Erica starts to have her doubts."

Dixie cocked her, and flashed him a curious smile. "Still going from being just the two of you, to the three of you. It won't be easy," She added, "Tad and Junior get along really well, but he'd be the first to tell you that being a step-parent is difficult."

"I think I can handle it," He told her confidently, "I've always wanted a family and if Bianca is home with Erica it gives me the chance to have it."

She nodded. As far as she knew, Erica hadn't picked a wedding date yet. And David still lived at The Valley Inn. "Just keep your eyes open and understand that parenting is hard work. Your relationship with Erica will end up taking a backseat, no matter how hard you try."

"Erica and I have survived far worse than the arrival of a teenager daughter," He reminded her, "Bianca is a good kid. She's not out to make Erica's life miserable. She's actually been the one trying to pin her mother down to set a date. It's good having her around, takes some of the heat off me," He teased.

"You don't think Bianca moving home will give Erica the opportunity to delay things even more?"

He raised an eyebrow at her, and motioned for her to continue.

"Well I mean; you still live at The Valley Inn. And you said Erica hasn't picked a date yet," She started, "Seems to me, her grieving daughter moving home is the perfect excuse to continue to delay the rest of your lives."

She wasn't completely incorrect. Erica used whatever reasons she could find, real or imaginary to run away from commitment. He had his own concerns as to whether or not they would ever walk down the aisle.

"Erica doesn't like commitment, and she'll run regardless of whether or not Bianca is here," He acknowledge, "But Bianca being here gives me the advantage. We both know Erica well enough can anticipate the struggle. It's two against one with Bianca here."

She nodded. "I hope you're right."

He was about to answer when his phone rang. "David Hayward," He barked into the receiver, thrown off by the tone of the conversation.

"I can call back."

He would know her voice anywhere. His lips twisted into content smile and he leaned back in his chair. She promised to call when they got to Seattle. He didn't think she would, for a lot of reasons, and was stunned that she actually had. "No, no. I'm sorry. I'm all yours. How are you? How is Bianca?"

Whatever Dixie thought, whatever Pine Valley thought, they were wrong. She might still run, but she wasn't going nearly as fast as she usually didn't. She wasn't using her and Bianca's grief to push him away. She letting him be a part of her life. She was letting him in, slowly, surely and steadily.

He wasn't naïve. He knew for every step forward it would be two backward. He would end up having to chase her, reel her back in. Convince her that they were meant to be. He knew all of this.

He wanted it. He needed it. Her. Bianca and the family they were building. And he would fight as hard as it took make it happen.

To be continued