Family Bonds: Book 2 of Sista

by Blackstar1979

Family Bonds the sequel to Sista. The the Superstars and Sistas have been through a lot that have carved out bonds where there were none. Will the past rip apart the bonds that have been forged or make them stronger? Reviews are welcomed as always.

36. Chapter 36 Strained Bonds

Chapter 36

Strained Bonds

Up in JC's room, Sally sat in the recliner holding JC. Handing him to Michael, she looks at Joshua's loose fit long-sleeved shirt. He'd just told them he had a surprise for his wife done yesterday. "Oh, I have to see this. What were you thinking?" Josh rolls up his sleeve. The thought behind what he'd done made Sally happy, and saddened her at the same time. Seeing what he'd covered his prior self-mutilation up with. Reminded her of finding him afraid in their bathroom all those years ago, when she could have lost him. He was waiting for her to say something else. He pulls his shirt sleeve down in a jerky motion, and says never mind saying it wasn't for her anyway. "Joshua… I…I think it shows tremendous growth on your part." She'd made him uncomfortable, he shrugs and says he just hoped Angel liked it. Michael speaks up saying he thought it was a great show of just how he felt. He then asked did Angel know what was there before. Joshua looked out the window squinting into the sun, as he says yeah, running both hands through his hair, he thanked them for watching JC. "Honey, it's our pleasure, it's not every weekend that we get to spend time with our grandson."

Joshua gets a text message, kisses JC on the forehead "You be good for G ma and Grandpa." He meets his mother's gaze, holding up his phone, and says "Another part of my surprise is ready, thanks again for this guys" and then dashes out of the room. Heading back into his bedroom, he walks over to the stereo to put on some music. Hearing the shower kick off, it was time to show Angel the first of her surprises for today. Angel comes out of the bathroom in a sleepshirt that hung to mid-thigh, drying her hair. It was time to stop making up excuses for wearing these hot ass long-sleeved shirts. She turned up the heat last night thinking he was catching a cold, when he went to bed with a shirt on. This morning he felt like she was trying to bake him. Taking the shirt off he says "Happy Valentine's Day, I want to show you something." He waits until she flicks her long curtain of deep red hair out of the way, and reveled in the shocked expression that took over his lover's face.

"Family where Life begins and Love Never ends" written in Gallic, on a ribbon, surrounding three hearts now covered the cross he'd burned into his flesh as a teen. "Wow, it's beautiful babe. "Angel says as she walks over, and runs her finger over where the hearts intersected. She could still feel where he'd burned himself to get a release from the shit that went on in his childhood. He puts his finger under her chin, drawing her gaze to his. He asks her was she surprised. "Yes, I surely didn't see this coming, and here I thought you were catching a cold." He smirks, and tells her this was just the first surprise he had in store for her today. He tells her his next surprise involved pampering her, and her girls. He then instructs her to close her eyes, and put out her hand. She complies, and he puts three tickets in her hand. She opens her eyes, and jumped in his arms kissing him. She then stops with alarm on her face. "What about JC?" Joshua tells her about letting his parents watch JC this weekend. "I'll have to pump some more, but if they wouldn't mind, that's great." He assures his wife that his parents were happy to spoil their son. Angel's smile came back into her eyes full force, as she kisses him again thanking him. Getting down and reading the name of the spa just to make sure it was the place she thought. She says "Oh my god babe, this is like the only place that I have felt comfortable going since I came back to Texas. How did you know? The girls are going to flip, thank you."

Seeing her so excited and happy was all he wanted. He knew she had issues with touch, and hoped she knew that he would have never done this without knowing full well that she was comfortable there. "I heard from a very reliable source that you liked the spa treatment you went to with Sophie last month. I figured you Candy and Sophie could get treated." Angel was so excited she practically flew into the closet to get dressed. Joshua walked to the door of their walk-in closet. Trapping his bottom lip between his teeth he says "Look on my side of the closet, you may find it. It's the only thing that I wouldn't wear." He says with a smirk. She looks over at his side of the closet. The earlier text was from Sophie, since Frank could no longer bring anything that was delivered into their suite of rooms, he enlisted Sophie to slip the outfit he'd ordered into their closet on his side.

Angel looked at his huge collection of clothing, her eyes pass over a red outfit then stop. She looks back at the smile on his face. "You are just full of surprises." He shrugs and says he told her he wanted their first Valentine's Day to be memorable. Knowing he didn't wear a lot of red her eyes move to the outfit, on first glace she thought it was a shirt, pulling it out she held out a t-back red swing dress with a bra and panties set attached to the hanger. "I should hope this is mine." She turns back to him laughing. He walks closer and pulls up the hem of her sleep shirt when he cupped her sex the laugher was replaced with a moan of pleasure. She closed her eyes and feels his other hand go to her breast when she felt his mouth replace the hand that was on her breast another moan escaped. He picks her up as she giggles like a school girl. Taking the dress and laying it on the chair just outside the closet he carries her to their bed and made lover to her.

Hours later, Candy stood in the atrium of Ivey Mansion looking at her latest love mark. Angel had called her telling her about Joshua's surprise spa treatment at Le Spa for them. She was already glowing. When she'd walked out in her bedroom this morning, Bradley was gone, just gone. Not even a goodbye. Then she'd heard knocking at her front door. Being smart, she looked out the window, too much shit was going on, and she was in a robe from her shower. At first she didn't see anyone. Had the person left? She then saw him, Bradley sitting on her porch swing. Sighing she opened her door a crack, and asked did he forget something, like a goodbye at least. He looked away from her, then those whisky colored eyes shot to her face and down her body. Usually, such a blatant visual caress, would have made her uncomfortable, with Brad it did just the opposite. He told her his thoughts, that she was wanting to put him out since she'd locked herself up in the bathroom, and he was making it easy on her. She told him and there she was about to fix him breakfast. That shocked him. Feeling exposed, she told him to come on and get his keys if that's all he wanted, saying she wasn't going to hunt for them. She wasn't expecting anything like what happened next. She waited for him to come in and when he did, it was on. He'd kicked the door closed and kissed her. The kiss was harsh at first, but before she could push away, she noticed she was kissing him back. Holy hell, sex with him drunk was kind of nice. Sex with him in her living room, on her sofa, sober, was amazing. He was like the best she'd had. He was big enough to fill her, but not too big to re-tear her. Though every dating mag she'd ever read told her to not compare, she couldn't help it. Bradley was gentle, that she didn't see coming. It was a welcomed change to what she was used to. He let her ride him and the pleasure she gave him was written all over his face. After Deon started getting comfortable with her again, after the Roman shit, it was like he kept getting rougher and rougher. A few times Deon was so rough she made him stop. Candy smiles at her reflection in the atrium mirror. After showering together in her upstairs bathroom, she'd fixed Bradley breakfast. When she got the text about the Spa treatment from Angel, she'd got dressed and told Bradley where she was going. He told her to have fun, and then asked her was she covering the club tonight. The Davenport was holding its annual Valentine's Day Dance. She hadn't wanted to, but had agreed long before now, when she thought Deon and she would be running it together. Brad asked if he could stop by and help her out. He must have picked up on her growing disinterest in running the club alone on Valentine's Day. She agreed and the biggest smile claimed his features eyes and all. It was contagious she found that she was smiling right back at him. Joshua speaking to her snapped her out of her day dream as she waved at him.

Angel and Joshua came out of the music room. Candy's name had been read through the system at the front door. Angel had just finished fixing Joshua his favorite lunch, and giving him the guitar he'd been looking at. Candy had given her the tip about the guitar. Joshua looks down the stairs says hey to his friend and goes back in his music room, to play with his new toy. Candy waved but didn't look up. Walking down the stairs Angel noticed her friend. Candy's hair was down. It looked nice. As they get in the limo and are driven by Andrew to Le Spa, Angel notices not for the first time that Candy seems distracted to the point she'd almost fell on her ass getting out of the car, even after Andrew had just said that the curb was higher here, and advised them all to watch their steps. She gets a text from Sophie.

Sophie: Your girl seems more space cadet than usual today. I hope this was a good idea to have her join us. With how the Deon crap hit the fan.

Angel: Right, before we left the house she said she had something to tell me. I'll talk to her give us some time alone. Joshua said she knew about the Spa gift, so she knew before I even messaged her that this was going on. Oh yes, and thank you for helping him with my outfit surprise.

Sophie: LOL my little brother talks to much, but you are welcome. I was surprised he could keep his shirt on, and his mouth closed about the tat. You know how he gets about keeping shit from you even if it's to shock your socks off later.

Angel: I think I know why. He told me he was nervous since he didn't know how I would react to him getting ink. The meaning behind it, and the fact of where he got it, just makes it, that much more special.

Sophie: Yeah I asked him why the cover up of the older tat that was there before and he just said it was time, and walked off. Your husband is so weird, but hey if it makes you happy that's all he was aiming for, so it worked.

Turning their phones off Angel, Sophie and Candy head to the back for a massage. After their exquisite rub down, the girls decide on where to head next. Candy wanted to get a manicure and pedicure since she was wearing and outfit with sandals to the club tonight. Angel says that sounded like a plan so they head off to the salon area. Sophie says she's going to get her eyebrows done then head that way. Angel says "Hmm, maybe I should finally get mine done."

Candy and Sophie look at each other and then back at Angel, and say in unison "what eyebrows?" Angel says she has eye brows. Angel had a light dusting of hair for eyebrows and most of the time when she was on stage her make-up artist would do a fill in, but that was about it. Sophie says "Yeah and they haven't grown since you were in elementary school." Candy says on a laugh "Angel, I think if you go in there you'll come out with no eyebrows at all. How about you come with me, and Sophie can go get her brows done, and Joshua won't bite our heads off, for letting you erase what little eye brows you have off." Angel says maybe next time then. Sophie says "maybe not."

Angel's plan had worked, she and Candy were now seated in front of two nail techs getting their fingers and toes done. Angel went with a Romanian tip black on top with red on bottom, to match her dress that she was wearing tonight. Candy got her usual pearl pink. "So Candy you're still okay about running the club tonight right?"

Candy says "I won't lie at first I had mixed feelings about it. Angel, I have something to tell you, and I would appreciate it if you didn't tell Josh." Angel asks did it have to do with the club. "No it has more to do with the fact that I slept with Bradley."

Angel was totally stupefied. "Wait, what? Bradley Davenport? What? How? Never mind the how. Why?"

Candy looks at the nail tech and then back at her friend. "I was lonely and upset last night, and well we got drunk and he cheered me up." Angel asks why she was upset. Candy told her friend what went down with her stalker caller, the former members of Angelic Impression forming a band, and trying to play at The Davenport, and the video of her being struck by Deon to music. Angel looked as pissed as she was. "I refunded their deposit, and put them out. Brad hung with me until it was closing time" she then tells her girl about finding random gifts again in her house and how Bradley took charge, and made sure there wasn't still someone lurking around her place. "I didn't feel safe at my own home. I asked him if he would mind staying the night, and he accepted. He was really nice to me, and I didn't plan on sleeping with him. it just kind of happened. Then this morning it happened again. He's so spontaneous, and he's gentle."

Angel didn't know what to say. This, she was not expecting. Bradley had been doing great as far as showing Joshua and his family that he was in fact a sober, and changed man. She had to give it to Brad, he'd been doing way better than anyone else she had come across that claimed to change their ways, but there was always that slim chance of a relapse. Deon did great for a time, and then lost his damn mind. Angel shivered at the thought of Deon losing it up in her office. She really didn't want her girl to get to excited about this, and then have Bradley hurt her, because that would be the nail in the coffin of Joshua and Bradley's relationship. "Wow, I mean wow." Looking at her friend, Candy was practically glowing and not just from her massage. "Do you think it could become serious or is this a rebound kind of thing? I mean he's single for a reason. His last girlfriend he stole from to get money for drugs. I'm not saying he'll relapse; I just don't want you going in with your eyes closed. When you asked about giving Deon another try I was wrong. I just don't want to see you get hurt, and me not say anything now."

"Angel, I know what you mean, and I hear your girl. I really do, but I want to find out where this could go. Right now, it's just someone one to talk to, really good sex, and no strings, or expectations. When I spoke to him at Logan's the other night, I found out that he was the dark haired stranger that fought off the Denton boys, when they were messing with me on the football field back in high school. I don't even want to think of what could have happened, if he hadn't of been looking to beat Chad's ass for hitting Cassandra earlier that day, and drove by the school. Logan says, I shouldn't put too much stock in to Bradley's memory, but Brad would not have known what was said, he wasn't in the room when we spoke about that a few days after Christmas. Heck, I never told Josh, so how else would Bradley of known what was said? As for the rebound thing, I don't miss Deon like last time, I cried my fucking eyes out over him. This time, I'm angrier that I fell for his lies back in October. His words were pretty, but they were all lies. I thought our break up would hurt like it did back in October, but it doesn't. Deon hitting me, and tossing me against the door, proved to me that I could never trust him again. Finding out he attacked you, and watching him try to hurt Bradley, shut any entrance that was opened to him in my heart. Finally, I'm seeing what lies under that nice accent, and all those things he knew I wanted to hear. I just can't deal. I am not willing to let him hurt me or you guys anymore. I didn't fight this hard to be normal, just to end up in a relationship that hurts me." She could tell Angel was getting uncomfortable with this conversation. The nail tech asked Angel to please hold still. Changing the subject Candy says "So, Angel how is your Valentine's Day going?" Angel seems to calm down, and a smile returns to replace the worried look she was wearing. As she spoke of some of the surprises Joshua had laid on her today.

Nikki and Frederick are on the pier of Cherry Lake kissing. They'd snuck her out of her home. Fred thought of everything. Her mom and Chase were still sleep this morning, when she put her stuffed animals under her covers and hopped out of her window. Walking along the ledge she got scared that she would fall, but Fred thought of everything he told her to trust him, and when she let go of the ledge he caught her. He had his own car. It was thrilling that a boy liked her enough to do stuff like this and surprise her. Nikki liked kissing him, he was really good at it. He gave her tingles all over. "Your lips are so soft." He stops kissing her, and looks her in the eye, and tells her hers are sweet. "Oh, that's because I have this Cherry Lime Aid lip gloss." Nikki reaches in her back pocket so she could fish it out, and show him. Her eyes caught something in the water. Then recognition dawned fear froze her as she watched a body floating in the lake face down. Fred tries to kiss her again. Nikki points at the body. "Look, if that guy is doing the Deadman's float he's either really good, or really dead." Fred says for her to calm down "There might be a dead man in the lake" Fred says they should wait two minutes if the guy didn't pop his head up they should get lost. "Why two minutes and we can't just leave him, we have to call the police." Fred shakes his head no and says after two minutes the guy would die if he didn't come up for air. "Wow you're really smart, creepy but smart, and why can't we call the cops?" he gives her a duh look that she didn't understand "What? I can't just wait 2 Minutes" turning away from Fred she tries to get the guy's attention. "Hey Mister, Hello, nice Deadman's float, but can you please come up for air, you're, kind of freaking me out?" Fred puts his hand over her mouth and tells her to shut the fuck up yelling. He says the guy is clearly dead, and they should leave now. "We have to call the police." She pulls her cell phone. He seemed to change right in front of her eyes, one while he was caring Fred, and the next thing she knew he was angry, and she was in the water. Worst of all he was running away. Realizing she was in the water with a dead body, she screamed for Fred to come back, she lost it when she heard him rev up his car and take off. He'd left her. Water mixed with tears as she swam back to land. She sat on the shore shivering and staring at the body bob up and down. A wave brought it closer and she realized it wasn't a guy, unless he was a crossdresser or something, the body was wearing a dress. She had to get back to the house. Looking across the lake, she could see the top of Ivey Mansion. This drive seemed so long, but if that was Ivey Mansion in the distance, maybe she could take the walking bridge and cut her walk in half. She couldn't even call anyone, not the police, not even a ride she was wet, cold, and freaked out, and now her phone, and her sandals was somewhere under Cherry Lake thanks to her stupid ass boyfriend shoving her in. She'd call the police when she got home. Her mom was going to be super pissed when she found out that she had snuck out. "Great, Happy Valentine's Day mom and Chase. Oh, why I'm wet? Um, I took a shower with all my clothes on." Nah, her mom would see right through that one, and if she didn't, Chase would. She kept talking to herself, she didn't have her phone, so there was no music, just her keeping herself company. She thought about Fred, and how mad he got. It reminded her of someone she hadn't thought about in a while. He reminded her of her dad. He wasn't beating on her or nothing, but pushing her in a lake off of a pier was a bit much. What if she couldn't swim, she'd be dead too, that's what? All because she thought it good to call the police about a dead body. It wasn't like "they" killed anyone. A memory of her parents fighting, and her mom threatening to call the cops flashes before her mind's eye. Nikki stops walking. Why would Fred be afraid of the police if he wasn't guilty of something? Why did he push her in the lake? Then Janet's words hit her and if he had of drowned her, someone would have found her body. Tears prick her eyes at the thought of her mom being sad because no one but Fred would have even known when, why, or how she got out of the house. Lots of questions and no real answers.

Thirty minutes later, Angel, Candy, and Sophie ride back towards the house. Someone was walking towards where the hill began. "Stop the car that's Nikki." Angel says as they come to a stop just beyond the first stop sign that lead to the numbered streets. Nikki crosses the street, and Angel powers down the window, yep that was Nikki, she was barefoot, and looked cold. "Nicole?" Nikki looked up and ran to the limo. Candy asked why she was wet, and Nikki burst into tears. The girls look at each other in confusion and wait for Nikki to calm down. Candy hands the girl a tissue. Nikki takes it and thanks her, then tells them about the dead body floating in Cherry Lake, omitting any mention of Frederick. Sophie asked but why was she wet. Nikki clams up. Andrew asked did she hurt anyone, see, or hear anyone get hurt at the Lake, saying she could tell them. Nikki looked up meeting his eyes, that were searching hers and says no. She explained about thinking the person was doing the Deadman's float, and then didn't respond or even flinch when she yelled at it. Andrew asked her did she touch the body. Nikki looked mortified as she says no.

Getting Nikki to Amy's place, Candy offered to walk her in. Nikki shrugged and said she was surprised Candy would want to. "Why is that, you know I'm here for you." Nikki stops walking as they reach the door before knocking, Nikki turns to her and asks if that was so, why had she been ditching her since her birthday. The young girl stared at her, Candy turned as if she was looking at the door. "I've been really busy running the club and stuff. I wasn't ditching you. So you want to tell me why you just happened to be at the lake all by your lonesome, without shoes, or even your bike?" Nikki says not really and asked could she ask Candy a question. "Not really, but go ahead" Candy says smiling. Nikki is about to open her mouth, when the front door is whipped open and Amy reaches grabs Nikki squeezing her to her in a huge hug. Candy could see that Amy was very upset.

Two and a half hours ago, mere minutes after Nikki swung from her window in the arms of Fred, Amy went to her girl's bedroom door and knocked. Slipping in, she went to the bedside of her baby girl who lay covered from head to toe in covers. She had her usual Valentine's Day box of Nikki's favorite chocolates and a rose. "Nikki, baby if it's too cold I can turn down the air." Amy dropped the candy heart when she noticed first that the lump wasn't moving. Fearing the worst she ripped the cover back yelling "Nicole!" That's when the nightmare changed direction. Her girl wasn't in bed, her girl was gone, where was she? She had to find her baby. "CHASE!" Chase came tearing into the room pulling a t-shirt over his head that matched the basketball shorts he was wearing. As Chase looked at her daughter's bed he cursed and looked in the closet, under the bed. "She's not here, what would make her want to run away? This party today is for her." Amy charges towards the door. Chase catches her elbow telling her to please calm down. She pulls free from him saying "FUCK THAT" and continues out to her phone and starts calling her baby. No answer, when Nikki's clipped "Leave a massage you know who you called" came on her voice mail, Amy spoke fighting back tears." Baby what 's wrong? Please come home. Your party is today, we can get through whatever is troubling you, please honey call me." Amy had been so amped and worried about later this evening when Chase was going to introduce her as his mate to his children, and her girl, and that fact that he wanted to propose to her sent a chill down her spine, what if Nikki had heard their conversation and this was her lashing out? Nikki said that Chase hadn't done anything inappropriate in her presence. She called Candy and got Voice mail, she went to call the police Chase took her cellphone and levels her with the business detached glare of the powerful man that he is. Amy backed away, lifted her chin and said "My child is missing, and I have to wonder why you of all people with everything that you have been through, would impede me from calling for help?" Chase says calling the police isn't hardly as effective as his team. "Look, I know you fear the corruption that we working class have to depend on, but Chase my child is missing." Her words struck like a punch to the face. He hands her the phone, tells her give him 5 hours or less which is better than the police telling her to wait 24 hours before they lift a fucking finger, if at all. Amy's eyes flashed with anger but she kept silent. Chase says he'd find her girl, but they needed to talk when he returned. Then he was gone, out the front door in a basketball type outfit, and neon Nike's that she'd bought him because he mentioned liking the team, calling Bobby. Now two and half hours later she was holding her baby girl to her as if she'd slip away. Amy didn't relent until she noticed Nikki shaking. Pulling away she focused on her baby girl and her program big sister Candy. She then noticed the stretch Rolls Royce in the driveway. "Nicole, I was so worried. What happened? Why would you run away? Why are you wet? Oh honey please don't cry, come inside." Nikki walks pass her and says she was going to shower. Amy turns back to Candy as she is about to walk back to the car. "Tell Chase thank you, please."

Candy was shocked Amy had thought Nikki had run away, then she thought about it, Nikki never did say why she was over by the lake. Candy thumbs at the limo "Um, Chase isn't in there, did something happen between you and Nikki again?" Amy's gaze darkens at the implication of a repeat of Christmas, and says no, she spoke of walking into Nikki's room and finding her gone. Amy says she called her, and Deon, Candy flinched at the mention of Deon's name. Amy then continues with a thank you for returning her girl. Candy asks how is Amy adjusting to life without the drugs. Amy steps back in the house, and says she is clean, and hasn't done anything since finishing her program, and coming home, and would appreciate if Candy would not reference her giant fuck up, every time they saw each other. Candy thought of Bradley, was this anger simmering behind Amy's eyes what Bradley felt when someone referenced his past? Coming back to herself Candy says "you're right, I'm Sorry" she sighs then goes onto say "glad I could help with getting Nikki back here, we were out and she just kind of walked out of the trail, down the hill, about 10 blocks from here. There's something else you might want to know; Nikki says she saw a dead body at the lake by the pier, that's where she says she was. Our driver is a federal agent and he says he will investigate it." Amy thanks her tightly and closed the door. Candy headed back to the limo and ducks her head in the back window, says her thank you and goodbyes, then crosses the street to her home.

Angel and Sophie are both surprised by Joshua and Luke who turns them around and treats them to lunch at their favorite Italian place. Jonathon and Gloria joins them, Sophie asks where Chase is and all shrug saying he said he was coming. As if on cue, he enters and makes a beeline for their table. This little place was their family tradition on Valentine's Day. This day used to be Chase getting them away from Sophia and her grouping of drunk evil bitches. Angel looks over at Bobby, her brother so many new family members to add to this great tradition, Luke would soon be her brother. Joshua her husband, squeezes her hand and she looks at him. Their baby boy was safe with their parents. It was such a relief to find out that Sally accepted her as one of her own. She knew Sally's mom was coming to town soon and would love on her boy. In these past months Angel too got a chance at the reset cycle when it came to mothers. Knowing that she didn't have to pretend to know every little thing about being a good wife, and mother, and Sally wasn't going to flip out on her if she made a mistake, was a huge relief. After they eat and chat for a while all head to the limos to leave.

Chase loved the V Day luncheon and was thrilled that Angel was there. Seeing his girls in that setting gave him many good memories of this day. Last year he'd been on a business trip and Angel was on tour or so he'd thought, to find out that his oldest had just been hiding in some fucking hotel and didn't trust that he could protect her from her ex angered him to no end. She and Joshua laughing with Luke and Sophie at a joke Bobby told about his latest tech blooper, was music to Chase's ears. He had got a text from Amy that Nicole had returned and asked for him. Amy's comment about him having money and position in a small town that if he faced fact, he owned most of, still upset him. What did she want? What was she expecting? He then thought about the root of his unease. He'd bought her a very large present. Now he hoped it was the right thing to do.

After a long talk with Janet. It was agreed that if Janet dropped the attitude that she could go tomorrow to see Nicole. Mark had his hair cut, and shaved off his beard, so it would grow back thicker in time for Mania at the end of March. He now sits on the couch while Janet and Paula are getting dressed. Hearing one of the twins start to cry, Mark gets up and heads into their room. When he walked to the crib. He expected their usual smile when they saw him. Rosa Alana is the one crying. "Hey pretty lady dad is here." Mark picks up Rosa and she looks at him and cries harder. "Hey now it's still daddy, you just can't pull my goatee anymore." Paula comes to the door, and says Rosa agreed that he cut too much off, he just didn't look like himself. When Rosa starts to calm down. Mark sticks his tongue out at Paula. Paula says that Rosa had just started recognizing his voice finally, even though it didn't match her image of her daddy. Rolling his eyes Mark says to both of his bossy women. "it will grow back I swear."

Mark and his girls go out for lunch on Paula she had insisted on buying him and Janet lunch as part of their gift. He had to go back on the road soon and wanted today with his little family. This new outlook he had on life since the Carla drugging him thing, was hard to keep up with, but worth it. He spent more time at home, and Janet even cooled down about going to see Nikki since their family talk. It probably wasn't the best parenting, but he hated to see her upset. The deal he'd struck with Janet, was that since he was going to be at his school tomorrow he would take her with him and Nikki could come to the school but Fred was not to be anywhere near her. So was it the best plan, not really, but it brought a smile to his little girl's face eyes and all.

As she sat in the back seat of the truck with the twins. Janet excitedly calls Nikki to tell her the deal her dad and momma had come up with. The deal was great she wasn't wanting to see Fred anyway. Nikki didn't answer. She texted and got no response. She leaves a message on Nikki's voicemail. She hoped Nikki wasn't still mad at her. Her momma asked her was something wrong. "I don't know, I called Nikki to tell her about me coming tomorrow and she isn't answering my calls or text."

Paula points out "If Nikki had a party planned, maybe she isn't near her phone, or just maybe her ringer isn't the loudest thing in the room she is in. Try her later." Janet tells her how Nikki was bummed that she couldn't come and even said something about Candy ditching her. "She has track and field friends there doesn't she?" Janet shrugs. Mark drove into the parking lot of the restaurant Paula had put into his GPS. The smile that lit his face was worth the planning. This was the first place they had ever ate at, as man and wife when they returned from their honeymoon. Mark admits he'd tried to get this place for their dinner tonight and it was booked solid until July. "Not when the owner wants to hold a concert in your new club that is opening up soon." He smirks, says "thank you darlin" and leans over kissing her.

Logan had bought Glenny a Valentine's Day gift. and since Glenny was invited to spend today with Nikki for her birthday he'd got Glenny a gift to give to her. This was a first time in the almost 20 years he was married, that he wouldn't be buying jewelry, along with the cards, and candy, or RSVP'ing at a fancy restaurant. It was stranger not buying something for even Janet, that little girl had been a part of their every holiday since she was 9. He'd kept his distance away from Mark and Janet since Megan's funeral. Tracy told him that he shouldn't. He'd told Tracy that he really just didn't know how he would be received once all the dust settled, since he wasn't blood kin to them, and that since Megan was gone. He'd waited until after they had brunch to give his son the candy, so Glenny would eat more than candy heading over to Amy's home. He walked in Glenny's room and found him lying on the floor talking to Row. Logan was happy that Glenny seemed to be adjusting to his new home here in the heart of Grandville South. Glenny had even started closing his bedroom door when about to play his Disney kids music on his tablet, or even to go to sleep, sleeping in the room with the door closed, even with Row as a pillow pet, was a huge step for his son. His boy was soon going to the big 4. Logan walks in and sits the small heart shaped box on Glenny's bed, Glenny looked at it, and shook his head no. "Do you know what it is?" Glenny says love day. "it is called a Valentine." Logan just knew his son was going to start pigging out on the 6 little heart shaped Snickers it was a small box, so at the very least he wouldn't get sick. Glenny went to open the box but stopped and looked at him with the strangest look on his little face, then started crying. That really wasn't what Logan was expecting. "Hey, what's wrong Glenny?" He reached down to pick Glenny up, and stopped when Row gave a howl, Row then lifted his head and honestly growled him. "Row Stop" Clearly Row was picking up on Glenny's mood change. When Glenny laid back on the floor crying Logan felt many emotions himself.

Glenny stared at the little box like the one his momma gave him on love day. It made him sick like the stuff she gave him when he was bad. She said for him to be a big boy, and for him to eat his love day candy. She said it would make his daddy come back. He ate it all. She watched him. It made him really sleepy. He had woken up in the big place again, with all the big peoples that look alike and got stuck, and his momma wasn't holding his hand like his daddy Logan, she was gone. Then his momma came back and said his daddy didn't even like him enough to come get him. Tears stung his eyes. He liked candy, but not that candy, it was bad. Row lifted his head and Glenny went back to lying on the floor hugging his pet. Row cried too, it was loud. His daddy Logan asked him what was wrong and Row growled at him. Glenny rubbed Row's big nose and put his arm on the big dog's neck. "He not come Row, it not works. Daddy not like me nuff." That made him cry even harder. His daddy Logan was talking to him. Glenny loved his daddy Logan but love day was bad. His Logan was mad and made Row leave the room. Glenny sat up and watched as his fur buddy left the room.

When Glenny said the bit about him not liking him enough, confusion hit the top of Logan's list. "I love you Glenny," How the heck did this day go so south, so quickly? He wanted to get to bottom of this without getting attacked by his own dog. "Row hall now" the big dog stayed for a beat, but good training won out, and made him trot into the hall. Logan walked behind him and closed the door. Still facing the door, he sighs and turns around to see Glenny still crying. "Come here son. Don't cry." Row scratched at the door and whined. Glenny got up and walked over to him. Logan stooped down so they were at eye level. Since this was killing his knee, that he'd banged doing Candy's lock reset the other day, he picked Glenny up and they went over to the recliner and sat down. "What's the matter Short Stuff?" His son put both hands on his head and swipes his hair back out of his face. Just like he did. That action made Logan smile. Then Glenny starts talking about something that clearly was a few months before he and Magen got his son away from Carla. He'd check the dates, but this date ran along the timeline of when Glenn hit the road and left Carla while at the hospital with Glenny. Weeks later Glenn popped up in Grandville hanging at Angel's place. To find out another instance that Carla put this little guy in the hospital to make Glenn come back was sickening and angered him all over again. Logan talks with a calm that he didn't feel. Glenny wasn't fooled and asked him was he mad at him for not eating the love day candy. "No, Squirt, not mad at you. I'm sad that that happened to you. I just want you to know that I'd never give you anything that would make you sick on purpose. They just Snickers in a different shape." Glenny asked if he would eat them with him and did they have to call it love day. "I'll share a treat with you, and we can call it anything you want ok." Glenny nods his head and lays on Logan's chest. Logan hugged his son to him and rubbed his back until the trimmers from him being so upset died down.

Glenny felt safe with his Daddy hugging him. His other daddy didn't come but his Logan did and was still here with him and Row. Soon after he calmed down Glenny gets up and walks over to the box of, candy and opens it. He takes one for his Logan, and one for him. Handing his daddy, the candy, he watched and when his daddy ate it up. Glenny took a little bite of his, and it was just like his daddy said, it was a Snickers bar shaped like a heart.

After polishing off three of the candy hearts Glenny tries and butchers the holiday's name. Logan had a memory of him as a child calling the long title of St. Valentine's Day something way shorter. "How about we call it Val Day" Glenny repeated it and smiled up at him as he takes the last piece of snickers and ate it, he then says he liked it better than love day. "Then, Val Day it is"

Nikki gets out of the shower dresses in warm clothes and heads into her bedroom and comes face to face with her mom. Lowering her gaze, she says "I want to talk to Chase please." Her mom says that won't stop them from talking about this. "I know." Nikki watches her mom text Chase. She then says he is on his way.

An hour later, Chase returns to the house dressed in one of his business suits. "Hi, come on in please." Chase tells Amy that he is not to be used as a go between. If they were going to move forward this issue was going to get settled among the three of them today. "I understand that you may still be angry about earlier. Chase my daughter ran away. I can't begin to explain what I felt. If this happens again, I'll not be persuaded not to call the authorities."

Chase meets her gaze he'd calmed down and thought of what he would say. "Amy, I'm glad that Nikki returned. As you keep making reference to, I am a business man. My son does more missing person's cases that he would ever like to admit to. Before Ivey Enterprises went anywhere, I was and am still, a practicing attorney. What I meant to say though I did not explain it to you in a calm fashion. In the event that you called the police, had a missing person's report generated. The authorities first will shame you and ask you questions that I don't think you can answer. One of the first things they will ask is why did you let her run? There is no support from the authorities dealing with runaways." Amy says the police would bring her girl back. "In the years my children were growing up, that is true. Now there are over a million homeless children avoiding home life, running the streets. The police can't do anything unless Nicole commits a crime. If they found her via the APB and she refused to go home, the missing persons case would close. She just would no longer be considered missing. The reason I said leave it to me is because I didn't want you to have to go through that, and where the local law can't make her come home, I can be very persuasive. If that didn't work she would have been very angry at being picked up and brought back here physically. I have a paper that I want you to read just so you know that I'm not just saying this stuff out of my dislike of the corruption level of the local law enforcement. I love and care about you both immensely. I PROTECT those that I love. I would never hamper your chance at retrieving your daughter if there was something the police could or even would do. My thoughts on why I would stop you from calling are simply driven by the fact that I didn't want to wait on Nikki to commit a crime, or get herself hurt or worse, in order for the police to call you with this news." Amy apologizes, and says just sometimes that she doesn't know how to react to some things he says or does because of his power. Chase smirks they both had a lot to learn about each other. "Power, I'm not going to sugar coat this. Though I am retired from a company that I helped build. Amy I'm rich it wasn't a magic trick, I'm not ashamed nor will I pretend to be ashamed of the success that I have earned, and with that Power or money, which seems to be a dirty word with you, I will protect and care for those that means the most to me. I saw my parents struggle, especially when my father was away on a mission. I never wanted that for my family. When I started making money, I would send my mother money, and she would apply a large portion of it to bills and my son, and I made sure to give her enough to have something to play with. She collected hats and shoes. I could just sit on my investments but it is just not how I'm wired. If I sat around here and did nothing I would drive us both nuts, then you would dump me then where would I be? If you have some issue with this is, speak now dear." Amy says it just takes some getting used to she also reveals a fear that he would ask her to quit her career just because she doesn't make as much as he. "I like that you are driven, and want to put your mark on the world. I am not one of the people you have probably read about, or heck it's probably been said about me in the news by people that make assumptions, and lump everyone that is in my tax bracket together. Amy, I have no intention of asking you to sit home and do nothing. I'd like to invest in your dream, support you in any way. Even if it is merely passing along a good word about the food." She hugs him he runs his hands up and down her back. "Now, you said Nicole wants to talk to me as well?"

Standing in the living room with Chase, Amy calls Nicole downstairs. Nikki comes in and sits on the sofa after greeting Chase. Amy knew why she ran, but couldn't put together why her girl would. "What did you see, or hear that made you want to leave? Listen, if you run away again, I can't stop you, but it's dangerous out there. I won't be able to protect you. So not only will you not solve your problems, you'll also be putting yourself at risk." Chase interjects not wanting to keep quiet. "Bad things happen to children and that's the risk you're taking. Believe me It's not worth it, Nikki." Nikki looks at them both and says she didn't run away. In defensive a tone. Amy asks "What's going on Nicole? I go in to check on you and give you presents, and you weren't there. I went into panic mode, calling your friends. the people we both know, after calling your phone. I got no answers. I even attempted to call the police. Chase promised he would find you and I stayed here hoping that when he did that you would be ok."

"Mom I didn't run away." Her mom goes on and on about her running away. Did it really look like she'd ran away? "Look, I'm not like you. I didn't run away. Why would I? I missed you so much why would I make you miss me like that?" Her mom reveals her dread that Nikki had heard their conversation about getting married. "Yeah, because if I had a problem with it, the best thing to do is run away and then you'd get married without me. I like you Chase I really do you make my mom happy."

Chase sits on the sofa. "Ok we are getting off topic. Nicole I am glad you are home safe and sound, you like me. I like and care for you as well. That still doesn't explain away, the fact that you weren't here this morning. Why is that, if you didn't run?" Nikki says she snuck out and went to the lake. "As you know I was here last night. I'm not a hard sleeper, if you came downstairs I would have heard you. The house was alarmed all except your window that was disabled supposedly, so you could open it to air out the paint smell since the house was closed up until your birthday. "Did you go out the window?" Nikki nods. "Your bedroom is on the second floor. With your mother's permission I will have that window modified so you won't get out on the roof anymore. It's dangerous, the last thing I want is you getting hurt by falling onto the concrete of the driveway. How did you get from the roof uninjured?" Nikki looks at her mom and asks her to please not let him lock her in like that. Amy asked was he asking to have the window sealed shut. "It will open eight inches at the top enough for fresh air not enough for her wiggle through." Nicole looks at her mom who said Chase could change her window. She says she won't do it again. "Young lady you never did answer how you managed to get off the roof uninjured. Did you sneak out with the young man that works at the eatery down the street from your school?"

Nikki had tried to keep Fred's involvement out of this, but it wasn't working and she wondered how Chase knew about Fred. She went with the truth. Her mom and Chase were mad and disappointed that she had snuck out. Mad, she was used to, the disappointment in their tones and gazes she wasn't. She just knew they were going to send her to her room. She was wrong. Chase asked her mom out of the room to talk for a second. Her mom was screaming at her. When he comes back in the room by himself, she looked at the kitchen door. Her mom was so angry that she couldn't even look at her anymore. "I said, I was sorry" He wasn't yelling as he walks back in and held something behind him, he tells her that her punishment would fit her dishonest ways. "You can't ground me. I didn't even do anything to you."

Keeping his tone calm Chase tells her "That's where you are wrong on both accounts, out of fear, your mother wanted to ground you for about three months and make you quit any extracurricular activities so she could keep an eye on you. Locked up in the house until it is time for you to get out of school for summer no track and field, no Davenport. Nicole you're getting older and you know sneaking out is dangerous for many reasons. You may think in small spur of the moment, but I have seen you use proper logic. That person in the lake for instance, could have just as easily been you. That pier could have caved in," She stands and says she's not that fat. He levels her with a glare and says in a stern tone "Sit down. That pier hasn't been reinforced in 20 years because the fact that Grandville South and North are still fighting over who will bring it up to code. That young man pushing you in the water could have..." Nicole says she knows he could have drowned her. "You getting hurt or worse would destroy your mother. I care for you both a great deal, and if something happened to you it would hurt me as well, because for as mature and smart as you are, you're still a child. Nicole I know for a time that you had to take on making adult decisions. Let your mom and I have the adult decisions for a time. Your punishment is a writing assignment." She cut him off saying she sucked at writing. Chase goes on "Also, you are not to continue seeing that boy. The writing assigned is to be turned in to your mother no typing it out, because you have to learn that there are consequences for your actions. Since you have a problem with the writing process, this will also help with that. You are to write your mother a letter, 5 paragraphs are the minimum, explaining your thoughts and actions when you left this house this morning and risked your safety, and why it was wrong. There are to be three drafts, you mother will make any corrections on grammar." Chase reveals a legal pad of paper, and pen, and hands it to her. Nicole drops the pen and tablet on the couch and says that he is not her father and that this was stupid. "Your right, I'm not you're father. I am someone that cares for you and will protect you even from you, if need be. Now pick up the paper and the pen."

Amy walked out of the kitchen. and says "Chase, we tried it your way. Nicole, you already have no phone because of this stunt. You won't need one, because as of this moment your party is over. There will be no internet, I'll be taking your makeup bag, you want to act like a disrespectful brat that can't be trusted, then fine, I will treat you as such. I'm revoking your work permit. You are to go to school, and come home. If your grades drop you will be grounded longer that the three months, you are at right now. This also means no track, nor swim team. In fact, where is that permission slip?" Nikki says Candy still has it. "She can keep it, because it is not to be turned in." Nikki looks at Chase then back at her mom and says this was dumb, he just wants her to write so he can make fun of her bad writing and her own momma was treating her like a prisoner for just sneaking out. She slips up and says she'd snuck out of Candy's home many times and nothing ever happened. Nikki covered her mouth. "I'm sure Candy will love to hear what you just said." Chase interjects and asks Nikki so what was it going to be, a writing assignment and a contract signing saying this behavior wasn't habitual in nature, or did she want to be really friendly with the four walls of her bedroom for the next half a year. Nikki chooses the writing assignment, picks up the pad and pen and starts writing. Amy meets Chase's gaze and asks him into the kitchen.

Letting her proceed him into the kitchen, Amy closes the door. Chase still saw the nervous energy within her stance as she peeked out the moving sliding doors over the breakfast bar. She whispers she hoped this was the right thing to do. "By your description of her state when she returned, and by her own admission of today's events, I really don't believe she is longing to repeat the sneaking out routine. I think her seeing you come apart after just getting you back will stick with her. I'll draw up the contract. Hopefully when she is writing out her thoughts it will sink in that even if we did not catch her the act alone was wrong." Amy asked did he have to deal with this type of thing with his girls. Chase looked out the window not wanting to relive any of the heart stopping moments of his children's different kinds of rebellion, he sighs and says. "No situation is just like the other. Our children have different driving forces behind their actions."

Later that night Angel, Joshua, Sophie, Luke, Bobby, and Joy are seated in a private room of a restaurant that had changed cuisine themes many times since starting up in Grandville South over 23 years ago. Chase loved the location and would bring them here for their birthday lunch when they turned 21. They all chat about how this was yet another thing they found out that hadn't changed about their father. Just this time they weren't seated in the 21 and over section near the bar. So all were carded inside the massive side room with the amazing view. Bobby joked with the waiter that he couldn't show him his I.D. Joy pinched him and told him she wasn't eating alone so stop fooling around. Bobby showed the waiter his I.D. The man looked relieved. Joy called him evil for messing with the wait staff. Sophie says he better watch it before he be ingesting something not edible. Angel and Joshua both make a face. Bobby says if the guy did anything to his food he'd shut this place down.

Chase walks in greets them all and sits at the head of the long table. He looks at the empty seats to his left and to his right. He'd left the place markers blank on purpose on the two seats. Today was full of memories, his surprise for Amy was almost blown, when she saw one of her head chefs walk out into the dining room and chat with patrons. She'd marched over and tapped the man on the shoulder about to have his head for moonlighting. The chef looked at Chase and said nothing. Amy looked back at him and asked what that look was about. He told her that it was a surprise.

Amy sat in a booth outside of the private room with Nikki who'd had her small celebration after turning in her written assignment. It took 6 drafts, but at the end she signed the contract, and was allowed her party. Her track mates came over, and she was doubly surprised that Glenny gave her a present. Nicole surprised Amy with a I'm sorry / Valentine's Day gift of her own. With his and Bradley's help and Candy's supervision, they carried a ceramic coat rack in to replace the one that had been behind the door. Amy was surly touched when Candy said that this time Nikki had contributed most of the art work and all Candy had to do was keep it workable clay until she was done. Amy said it was even more beautiful than the first one.

Sophie brings Chase out of his reverie when she asked what his big surprise was. Chase clears his throat. "I've met and have been dating someone that I want you all to meet." His children and their mates all except Luke stared at him. Sophie sat back in her chair and sighed, Luke's face was impassive, Angela looked alarmed, and asked how long. Bobby looked angry but contained. Joy put her hand on his that was balled into a fist on the table. "Is there something you want to say before I bring her and her child in?"

Bobby pushed to his feet says shaking his head "Not again Pop" and stormed out. Joy gets up apologizes and goes after him. Bobby wasn't up for round two. The look in his father's eyes was the same look he had as Bobby remembered a younger Chase William Ivey entering his parent's home on the Easter before he married another woman with a child. That time he hadn't brought her around. This time he was, but it didn't matter. Back then Bobby only had Nana's unease to go on. When she was killed, anger was his only family. He was an adult with at the very least one younger sibling. Getting his life back together after his downstream, drug induced, attempt on what he thought was Sophia Ivey's life in the park that day, and his dad coming to his rehab center made him angry. As he headed out the door with Joy behind him he caught sight of Nikki and her mom. "You have got to be fucking kidding me." He growled and stood outside waiting for the valet to bring his Hummer around. Joy placed her hand on his shoulder. He turned to her. She asked why he was running away. "Running, you think this me running?" She nodded, as he goes to open the driver's side door after taking the keys from the Valet. Joy attempts to take the keys from his hand, saying she wasn't ending up turned over with him trying to make this tank do 99mph down the highway. He heard the fear in her tone. Fuck he was freaking out his own female, that made him release his hold on the keys. She drives him back to their place in silence.

"That went well." Chase mumbled to himself. Robert's explosive scene as he passed Amy evoked a look of stress from Amy as she rose with Nikki saying maybe this wasn't the best idea. From the mayoral dinner they met at until now, it had been 6 months that he had known her. Seeing her head to the door Chase walks over and lightly grabs her by the elbow and whispers in her ear. "Please, granted this is not going how I planned, but please I want you to come join us." Meeting his eyes, she nods but says if they hurt her girl's feelings, she would not keep quiet. Chase had faith that his girls and their mates would not lash out as Bobby had. He has Amy and Nikki proceed him back into the private room. The looks of shock and awe were clearly in place. Angel broke the silence and asked Nikki how she was doing now that she was dry. Nikki chats with Angel and Sophie. Who keeps glancing at her phone every few seconds. Amy tries for small talk her nervous energy was almost tangible when Sophie and Luke spoke to her. Chase relaxed back in his seat. At the close of dinner, right before dessert Chase announces that he has one more surprise. Amy shakes her head no. He looks at her pointedly and says "Not that."

She deflated and sank back into her seat, relief surged through her. His girls were polite and she appreciated that. Amy didn't want to push her luck with telling them not only have I met someone but I intend to marry her. Today had been a whirl wind of emotion, and Amy didn't think she wanted to know what his girls would think right now. Dr. Sheldon met her eyes once the entire time they sat, and something in his demeanor changed. She knew he was the one that helped Chase find the therapy place outside of Grandville, and was very appreciative. Chase stands drawing everyone's attention. He says this gift was for her, confusion laced her features along with the others.

Chase stood "With all the different cuisine styles that have graced this place. It has never closed. Once again this place that has been an anchor for our family was in financial trouble. As Amy has said she is a small business owner that caters. Amy, I know how you feel about me, and I hope you know just how I feel about you. You're a smart business woman with a small space to create. I can't, well I could, but I won't give you your dream, but with this place, I can partner with you to help you flourish. From this day on this property is ours. Happy Valentine's Day dear."

Sophie puts down her fork and asks "Dad, can I speak with you in the hall please?" Her father stiffly walks out of the room and holds the door open for her. As they enter the hall. Sophie says "You met her months ago and now you are impulse buying her a business? Daddy this is almost on the level of you buying out Corrigan, that I understood, this you buying her a home, and now a place to work." She watches her father's gaze darken and go flat as he says he didn't buy her a home she bought it from his Saving Grandville Foundation. "True, for far less than market value. This is the same woman that you referred to me for a divorce lawyer. The same woman that ran out on her kid. Dad I'm going to say this once and then I'll drop it." He says no enough of this, and tells her to drop it now. Closing her eyes at his tone Sophie sighs. "This quest you're on is not healthy. You know nothing about this woman, but what she has told you. Sound familiar? You were just in the media spotlight to the point your own children thought you had lost your mind. You can't save her. You need to ask yourself if your meeting her, was purely by chance or not. You're a public figure, it's not that hard to find out where you will be." Her father's next words stung more than she thought they would. He asked her did she believe that Julius just happened to be where they met. She'd shared her revelation about Julius staking out the coffee shop near her college after he'd told her in one of their fights, that he couldn't stand the smell and the only reason he was there was for her. Sophie smirks with no humor and says in a hurt tone. "That was low, even for you." Not wanting to cause a scene Sophie turned around, walked back in the private room and says "Luke, I have a lot to do tomorrow and I need to get home." Meeting her gaze, Luke slowly rose and said sure. After saying quick goodbyes through thinned lips Sophie, saunters out of the room.

Angel gets a text message. The small talk Sophie invited their dad out in the hall had not ended well by the way Sophie came back in. To the naked eye, she looked as polished as ever. Angel wasn't fooled, many people she didn't read well, Sophie she knew. When Sophie was upset, but in public, her walk was more of a learned saunter, than her usual graceful stride. Angel didn't need a neon sign to know that he'd do the same to anything she said so she chose not to speak on the elephant in the room at all. Her Valentine's Day had been great, and she didn't want it ending in a war of words with her dad over someone that didn't deserve him. Angel had seen the mark Amy left on her own daughter, she'd been abusing Luke's drugs before going to rehab. Chase was in save a whore mode. Angel was no therapist, but she'd been in therapy long enough to notice Chase's transference. She didn't know in which way his transference was moving. Was Amy his newest project to save, since no one could save his wife from herself? Speaking to him now was foolish. Going home with an angry Joshua, while licking her wounds. That wasn't the topper she wanted for this evening. Chase had proven he knew what triggers to manipulate, to make them all retreat a safe distance, the fact that he would, was upsetting by itself, and Angel didn't want to play that game. She had been hurt by his defense mode in the past, and if she could prevent it, she would at any cost. Sophie had just reminded her that Joshua hadn't driven, Luke had. She says "Um we have to go I totally forgot we rode with Sophie and Luke It's, been interesting?" She feels Joshua's hand at her back. She slows her pace at his calming touch, as they walk out of the private room. When they enter the location beyond Valet, Luke honks at them, he was driving one of his toys, a Jet Black Mercedes Benz GLC Class that he'd bought last year for himself as a birthday present. He also knew that Sophie was more comfortable driving in the smaller than his Hummer, SUV. Luke was about cars, as Joshua was about guitars. Angel was happy that Luke could get Sophie to stop the closed off simmering silence. Sophie stopped hiding behind her learned behavior management tool, and spoke of what her own father, said to her. Luke was pissed, you could see it in his dark eyes in the passing street lamps, and in the white knuckled grip he had on the steering wheel, until Sophie reached over and placed her hand on his shoulder. He lessened his grip and takes her hand in his, kissing it while still focused on the road. The only time he took his hand back was to make the turn into the cul-de-sac of their home. As they arrive home Sophie says she is going to Luke's tonight. Angel and Joshua says their goodbyes and Angel snags a hug from her sis before they leave. Joshua and she heads to bed and end their Valentine's Day how they started with driving each into bliss.

The next day, Joshua hits the indoor pool at Ivey Health and Fitness on the bottom floor of Ivey Enterprises. By the time he pulled into the covered parking garage here this morning his nerves were on fire, but he knew he had to get over this, if he was going to be traveling to session and on the road, to shows. Coming here was his first step of reclaiming his life, and not letting his anxiety over the state policemen that attacked his ass, lock him into a learned avoidance pattern, as his shrink would call it. The first thing he had to do was start driving himself around again. When he was with Angel, they would use her truck. If JC was with them they'd use an Ivey Transit service vehicle. He'd drove himself here in his truck. Andrew was behind him, but hell, Andrew had been behind them in Pittsburg, Texas that day the cop tried to make him eat his fucking window with his wife and kid on the inside of this very cab crying.

He swims from one side to the other as fast as he could. He woke this morning, determined to get back to his workout routine. There was a lot on his mind. He needed to get a bass player before they looked around and needed to hire a temp, that wasn't that great of an idea. Hell, Scott was a fucking temp who got hired on when McBride signed them. He swore he saw Patrick last night. He called his lawyer this morning on the way here, and the guy said Patrick had escaped, but they were looking for him. Getting out of the pool Joshua dried off and hit the treadmill. Not only had James bailed himself out, but now Patrick was out and in hiding. Andrew knew where James was, if James stayed the fuck away from his home and family Joshua wouldn't kill his ass plain and simple. He calls Cass and tells her the news about Patrick's escape. To think less than a year ago, he would have never in a millennia called his sister. She understood how his mind worked better than Bradley did. He'd spoke to Cass about the shit that went down just before and after JC was born. Their talk in Angel's office, was when he'd shut her down about Angel not allowing Springer to visit, was the launch pad, Cassandra had told him if he needed to talk she was there for him. "Though you know I'm going to tell her; I really don't want to tell Angel." Cass says that he was the one that professed not to want them to hide shit from each other. Joshua raises the incline on the treadmill. "Yeah, I know it's just you didn't see the full force of the fear in her eyes when he showed up at our wedding, I did. I also saw the footage of him going into my home, and pushing his way in on my wife freaking her out. Patrick's best bet, if he doesn't want to end up sliced up, or shot, he had better stay the fuck away from my son and wife." The latter said on a growl. Joshua would never forget or forgive Patrick for drugging him while in a fight with James. The mental picture, of Patrick standing over him telling him he'd be gentle with his wife while Joshua lay on the floor of his office not able to move or hardly speak, assaulted him. His anger made his step falter on the treadmill and he'd almost had a quick kiss with the floor. It was time to go home. "Shit, I got to go I can't be here right now." Cass tells him to please calm down and be careful. "Will do, bye" Moments later Joshua walks out into the parking garage with Andrew. The agent told him that he let Bobby know about Patrick's escape. Upon arriving home, he takes deep calming breaths. Joshua gets out of his truck, the ride back was just as intense as the ride to the gym, but he'd done it. He'd made the first drive alone. He had a few work related calls, and then he'd tell Angel about Patrick. Heading into his music room he starts up his computer and logs in to The Davenport owner's conference call, he saw Angel on the screen as active, and would go in to her home office but right now he needed to compartmentalize his day.

Over at Candy's home, she sits in her clay studio making a sturdier coffee table. She would use China white clay for the top and Bradley was going to help her install a slide and lock function when all the pieces were dry, so the top of the table could be double its size, or as small as the first slab she was working on. Her phone rings it was about time for their owner's conference call. The call goes smoothly for a time. She reports the numbers from last night's Couple's dance contest, and that they needed a few more cases of rum. Bradley had helped her do inventory and help keep the bar stocked while she hosted and kept an eye on Larry, the manager in training. They all agreed that Larry was going to be named night manager and that the day manager would keep her hours. Vashon brought up that there was 2 grand missing according to what was sold as far a food and drinks on one of the last nights Deon worked the club solo. Joshua cursed and said that would have been a little before they went to the Grammys. Angel chimed in saying his last night solo would have been the night they did the interview to debunk the fake one. Candy froze. That was one of the only times Deon and Joshua got into it this year, other than here recently when he fired Deon. Joshua had left Deon in his office to watch the video of him not manhandling Angel's grandmother. Was that why he looked so guilty when he came to her house? Did it really have nothing to do with some green car he saw, and thought she was hurt? Had he already stolen the money? Enough questions to drown her later, right now she had to see if it was true. "Run the video it would still be in the folder for that date." Vash said he'd went on instinct and thought it was the day manager/waitress for the balcony level. He said she started there just after the new year and had some close calls when it came to giving back proper change. Angel says that wouldn't result in a 2,000 dollar drop in profit. He says he called her into his office and chewed her out. Joshua says that before they jumped to conclusions any more they should find out if their collective suspicion is true. Angel logged into the system and pulled up Joshua's office. When she says she was sending what she thought would answer their question Candy didn't want to see, but watched with the others on their prospective devices. Seeing Deon talking to Joshua and the challenge in his eyes when he grabbed their band lead hurt. Bradley walked in she felt this was private even though everyone was watching in their own places. Before she pulled away from Bradley's touch to draw her attention, she saw it and froze watching. On her screen Deon watched the playback Joshua had handed him, he looked out in the hall came back into view inside Joshua's office, and went through his desk. As he fucking spoke to her with Angel in ear shot of their call, he was rifling through Joshua's shit and then took two prepackaged stacks from the vault. Joshua cursed. So did Vash, Angel sighed. The last two pulls would have been the only ones that would still be in the top of the vault. The rest of the prior night's income was already in the under carriage of the vault, only able to be retrieved by owners. The top of the vault was for the next day's drawers and for stuff like deliveries, so that's why Vash would have thought it was the day manager/ waitress's blunder. If there was more, would Deon have taken it? Tears prick her eyes. Her ex fiancé stole from her best friend / boss; yes, she was on the phone with the other owners, but every one of them knew that at the core, that club was Joshua's club. "I'm sorry Joshua." Joshua was pissed the tone he said his Classic "Don't be" was a testament to that. Candy had to wonder how much of that anger was reserved for her. They quickly wrap their call and all signs out. Turning off her Bluetooth Candy takes the half necklace design from around her neck and tosses it on the nearby work bench. Bradley who hadn't left asked her did she want to talk or something. His tone was weird she looked up at him through her tears and looked away just as quickly.

Not giving her a chance to shut him down completely, Bradley wanted to know why Candy was apologizing to his brother. He'd watched with her as Deon snooped around Joshua's office after he left him there then Deon swiping bound money from the vault and wanted to give Deon a new face as much as the next person, but he wanted to know why Candy was apologizing for the ass hat. So he asked her just that, and like he thought her fucking reason wasn't a reason. "If you spent more time being angry at the ass that did the stealing instead of trying to turn it inward, you'd be better off. If you said you were angry because someone you trusted let you down in a major way by stealing from you. I'd understand the tears. He stole from you too not just Josh, Angel or even Vash." When the guys had gone to L.A. and climbed the hills, Deon kept making biting comments then playing them off as just kidding. Joshua had asked him what was wrong and Deon maintained that he was just fucking around. So Josh dropped it. Bradley nor Luke believed it, but Deon cooled it once they got back to the girls that night. Joshua had playfully ribbed Deon about having Candy withdrawals. Bradley saw the glare before Deon said maybe. He then made his phone the center of his world until the girls came back to the table from the bathroom.

Mark got up early this morning and woke Janet. She said she couldn't get in touch with Nikki and it was kind of freaking her out. When he suggested she call Nikki's mom or Candy, Janet did and was rewarded with information that was a relief on one hand and scary on the other. It turned out that Nikki hadn't answered her texts or voicemails because she'd lost her phone at the lake. Nikki's mom handed her the phone and she was finally able to speak to her girl. When Nikki told her no she wasn't mad at her that she had some major sharing to do when they met up Janet was anxious when she told Nikki about her dad's deal. Nikki agreed and says that was fine as long as they could at least see each other. They soon pull up to Amy's home and Janet calls Amy's phone again saying they were here. Now that Amy was going to be raising her child again Mark got out of the truck and walked up to the door as Nikki was coming out. She greets Mark and makes fun of his clean shaven look, and calls him Mr. Corporate "smart ass" Mark smirks then says "Go on to the truck Nikki. I'm going to talk to your mom." Nikki shrugs and gets in the rear seat in the middle so she could be in the mix. When the she gets in, Mark turned back to the front door. Where now Amy was standing watching him. Mark rubs his hand over the back of his neck, he could swear he felt Janet staring a hole in him, but he felt he should warn Amy about the kid with the past, because he would want Janet's friends' parents' to be straight with him. Taking off his sunglasses he held out his hand and introduced himself. After she introduces herself he says "Ms. Davis as you know our girls are friends, I have no qualms with that but, I think you should know that your daughter has shown interest in a young man with a criminal past." Her smile faltered and she thanked him for his concern for her girl. Mark was about to say something but she goes on to say she was recently made aware of the young man and her girl would not be continuing their courtship. "Just thought you should know ma'am." Her smile returns as she says she appreciated that, and that if she were made aware of anything like this about his child she would contact him. On the way to his school Mark jokes with the girls. It felt good, Nikki's radio silence unnerved Janet and that had pissed him off. Finding out that she wasn't just punishing Janet for trying to talk some sense in to her was a relief. The girls chatter all the way to his school. Mark figured he had done right by Janet. His little girl was happy but more importantly safe. "You girls can have my office I'll mostly be in the gymnasium."

Nikki smirks and says to Mark before he turns to leave. "I would say knock them dead but that could get you arrested, so "Taker EM Down." Nikki says in an impersonation of Angel singing his last year Mania's intro song. He mumbles smart ass and keeps on out the door. Janet asked how she was. "Well I like said on my mom's phone, fine I guess. My replacement phone is being shipped today. Anyway, um I'm not going to be seeing Fred anymore." Janet asks was it because of her. Nicole sighed and sat in the big leather chair that was in one of the four seating areas in Mark's huge office. "Um not entirely, though I had a lot of time to think about what you said on my way home yesterday. I'm sorry I wigged out on you." Janet asked what happened and how did she lose her phone, Janet knew that Nikki's phone was always clipped to her. Nikki retold the story leaving out nothing, by the time she stopped speaking Janet was hugging her crying that that Fred could have killed her. Nikki hugged her BFF back. "I'm good, I'm good I swear." Nikki says over the lump in her own throat. She not only scared her mom and Chase but even though she was fine, seeing Janet come apart was breaking her heart all over again. Pulling back, she says. "Janet please stop crying, I was dumb, but I'm okay. I'm not seeing him anymore, not that I could anyway now." Later after a lunch break at the in-house cafeteria the girls head back to Mark's office. Janet asked her a question that Nikki had thought about. Janet asked if Fred had even cared to check if she'd made it out of the water, or tried to email her since he would have known her phone was toast. "I didn't see him on my walk home, Though I wasn't really looking for him. I was freaked out, scared of what my mom would do if she found out and all around wired. Yesterday got busy and checking my email wasn't high on my list. Like I said the only reason I was allowed to come out today, was because I had to write a letter to my mom like a million times and sign a contract with Chase saying I wouldn't… How did he put it? Oh yeah, I wouldn't leave the premises without first notifying my mom where I was going. I scared her really bad, she thought I ran away. I just got her back. Having her gone and knowing why and where was better than not knowing, but worse because I knew why she was gone so long. I don't want to put that look back on her face or make her go away anymore." Nikki then talks about her party and her dinner with her mom, Chase and his family, and her mom's reaction to the dinner. "Mom was nervous before we even got there, it was like the people that I have come to know as friends were like so different last night." Janet says she thinks that maybe it was the shock that their dad was dating. She reminds Nikki of their conversation concerning her misplaced fears about Paula. Janet makes Nikki laugh by saying, Chase or her mom couldn't send them to their rooms for acting out. Nikki says "No it was like one by one they sent themselves to their room. When Bobby ran out of the room I thought there was something bad happening, until he saw us and was just super angry but kept going right out the door." Mark startles them when he walks in and says it was time to get Nikki back home so they could get home in time for dinner.

Janet says "Daddy may I drive please, just to Nikki's place, not on the highway." He asked did she bring her learner's permit. Janet pulls it from her cellphone case and says "Never leave home without it." Mark nods Janet drives with Mark in the passenger seat with a white knuckled grip on the Oh shit handle. Though he doesn't yell, he keeps up a dialogue telling her to speed up a little, or slowdown to take a turn. Nikki sat in the back seat quietly until they pull up into her driveway. The girls get out and hug and mumble things at each other. Nikki steps back and heads into her house pass Chase that hands her a box. Nikki holds it up and Janet and she both yell "text you later" in unison. Janet gets in the passenger seat and watches her dad adjust his seat and his mirrors. "I'm not that short." He tells her he hasn't been 5 foot anything in a long time.

Later that day, after a very informative meeting with Lieutenant Benjamin Valentine, Harold had more than his share of work to do. Ben refused to wear a wire since he was heading to Henriette's hide out, the real one, and feared that she would discover it and shoot his ass. No amount of threat seemed to be a better motivator from Harold to get his way with the cop. He'd sent Bobby to ask questions to all the police officers that had they're kids enrolled in that damn day care. Andrew had reported to him about someone floating in the lake via a child eye witness. He'd sent a few agents to go have a look. Their inside agent had went missing. Harold was worried that he'd been found out and killed. He gets word that the body is Identified as Carla Fairchild-Jacobs by dental work. Chase W Ivey's most recent girlfriend in the media. Jonathon L. McBride's most recent abductor according to police reports. He had to speak to Ivey and McBride there were suspicions and an open investigation involving both the men, and he didn't need Bobby covering for his old man. Though Harold doubted that Jonathon would be involved, he would not let his relationship to his sister and brother in-law who was also a victim of Fairchild- Jacobs's drugging spree, get in the way. The only other female those two shared, killed herself and that was Sophia Ivey. Chase had announced when asked after Fairchild- Jacobs seemed to disappear from his side in the public eye that she was out of town handling family business. Now she was dead and had been pulled from Cherry Lake yesterday. Of course the number one suspect hadn't surfaced either which was her husband Glenn Jacobs.

As Harold and his team pulls up on the side street in Dallas watching Benjamin communicate with Mob boss Henriette Valentine / Vargo via his long range Audio / Visual system he would pin this bitch to the wall. Ben was following the topic list perfectly. Harold gets a text on his business phone and on his personal at the same time. Checking the business phone first, he calls Area Field Commander Robert Hawk-Ivey "Bobby tell me you didn't just send me that. About how long has Jacobs been dead? The wife was pulled yesterday. We don't have her time frame yet the Coroner has his finger stuck up his ass about something. What do you mean there's a farewell webpage? Since we have to give Local a piece of this. Take it down have Caption Wildflower take it apart and give me a report. Yes, when she pulls it I want a paper trail. Oh and Bobby I don't have to tell you that if it has anything to do with Ivey Enterprises or any of its subsidiaries that you will be cut from this case. It's not personal, and I don't need it to become personal, there are a lot of holes in this case. I want them filled." Harold then checks his personal phone; the team he has watching his wife reported that yesterday until just now she'd been at another residence. The other part that made Harold drive his fist into the dashboard was that Ian just got pulled over for driving while under the influence. He felt as if his own life was spiraling out of control.

Over in Granville South, Bobby storms through the Saving Granville Foundation's Complex and into Chase's office. "Pop, I need you to level with me." Chase looks up at his entrance and looks back at his screen. He knew this was bound to happen after last night. Chase wasn't answering his calls; His dad could drive you up the wall with how distant he could become. "Not this now, this is business." Bobby shoves his phone in Chase's face and asks him "Is this logo associated with the Ivey Server in anyway?" Chase glances at the logo and back at his screen. "POP, look I know you are pissed about last night but you could be in serious trouble, I need to know now if this logo is going to come up under Ivey Server before I give it to Joy." Chase asks why. "I can't tell you that right now." Chase says then they are done here and dismissed him. Bobby stalks over to the audio recording system and shut it off. "Why, because someone is dead, and has left the world a fucking suicide note video on a website that's why. Now is this your server?" Chase looks at the logo again and say yes but he doesn't own the company. "That doesn't help, do you know who owns the website. It's layered and before I give it to Joy, I'd like to know what we are up against." Chase says ask Sophie she owns Ivey Enterprises. Bobby grabs his hair in frustration and says "Thanks for nothing" and storms out. Bobby gets a text as he gets in his vehicle. It was from his dad the words just pissed him off even more.

Chase: The next time you barge into my office I'll have you removed.

Bobby heads back to Ivey Mansion. His level of pissed off was off the charts. He had to find his baby sister. If his father wasn't going to help him he would not let this shit touch his family, whether he was on or off the fucking case. Seeing Angel and Joshua leave with Andrew he texts Andrew. Andrew calls him and speaks in code but answered that his charges were heading to retrieve baby bird from the other nest. He then texts Sophie and asked her if she was home yet or still at her doctor's appointment. His code, he didn't want it broadcasted where she was. The last thing he wanted was someone to know where Shelden's place was. That was the flaw that fucked up everything with the old nest as Andrew called Joshua's prior residence. Until the April mole entered into the STOP team no one knew where Angel was but him and Andrew when she went ghost. He couldn't turn back time and shield Angel or Joshua from detection, but he would be damned to hell if he or his team gave away Sophie's ghost location. Lucas Sheldon Jr.'s condo was a top agent level only, need to know location. As far as Bobby was concerned no one but his top level trusted agents, needed to know where his baby sister sometimes resided.

Sophie looks over at Luke who had slept in. After checking his digital day planner. She was completely surprised he'd canceled a meeting last night with an out of town medical company that he was thinking of revamping, to be with her at her dad's surprise dinner. Today he was on call, but put his name in the last slot. A smile crept on her face it always thrilled her when he purposely made little windows of time for them. She had noticed that she did the same for him, more than she ever did for any guy in her past. Their night wasn't a total ruin. He brought her here and she'd headed to the Jacuzzi in his massive bathroom. They spoke about her dad being a giant dick last night with his piercing comments about her past relationship's false start. Finding out that Julius had set her up and she had fallen for his lies stung. In the time right after Julius left her to find himself, she'd confided in her father. Her sister nor her therapist knew the whole story. Now Luke knew. Last night he listened and told her that he understood her need to get it out, he smartly didn't answer any of her rhetorical questions. That showed incredible progression on her lover's part. Luke, was a brilliant, verging on genius, doctor, but he still was on a learning curve when it came to some areas of social interaction. He served her wine and she vented, once she started to prune, they got out and he brushed her hair. They spoke and when she was all talked out and a little buzzed, he added a new way to his massive list of ways to pleasure her. She thought about how the hell he got her in that position. After getting up and hitting the shower she walked in and he was still sleeping. She sometimes forgot how strong he is. Her gaze moves up his toned body that was only half covered with the sheet in his classic position to sleep in, one arm draped over his eyes and his other at his side. Luke kept in shape and his performance last night was a testament to that. He'd stood and supported her weight merely by holding on to the front of her thighs and instructed her to wrap her legs around his waist. When she had glimpsed them in his bedroom mirror, they looked like a human swing, he told her a safe way to remove herself from the position in the event they tipped over. She liked that he made sure she always had a safe escape route when they did something they had never tried before, even when the risk was higher on his part, which most of the time it was. He'd sent her in to a screaming orgasm. As trimmers rocked her body he laid her on his newly purchased bed, and brought her back to the edge of bliss, before he let himself go over with her. She checked her phone before she started cooking and paused when she saw that Bobby sent her a text message marked urgent. She read it and called him back. She must have experienced information overload or something because the next thing she knew, Luke was behind her asking for the phone. How long had Bobby been calling her name? Taking a breath she would think about that later, sighing, she agrees to meet with Bobby at her office, not here, and hopefully get to the bottom of this video, she ends the call and turns around in to Luke's embrace. She tells him what Bobby was calling for and the fact that Chase just dismissed him and sent him after her.

Luke was pissed and pained. Not even 24 hours removed from such a cluster fuck of a dinner and Chase was stirring shit and slinging it at Sophie. He held her until she released him. She described her little phase out while on the phone. That worried him, Sophie was a very strong personality type, but this shit with her father was causing something liking to a temporary fugue state. Bobby's words had sent her on autopilot. She admitted to only being like that once before when she was 16. That time she'd wondered off and woke up at his family's home not even remembering leaving Ivey Mansion after an argument with her mother. He'd been off at college and she was as she called it, serving her time in high school.

Sitting in his home office Mark takes a call on his cell that Paula had brought him saying it was Vince and that he sounded weird. He takes it grunts a thank you at her. When the door is closed he hits surround sound speaker phone the mic flashes and the speaker beeps at him signaling that the call had linked. Mark says "What now Vincent, I thought we said I'd start my run on Monday Night Raw last time I checked that happened on Monday. I got the script info in the mail, it's not that involved. I'm still pissed you want me to fight Glenn with the shit he's put my family through I don't give fuck who you got writing I'm not putting him over at mania. I'm telling you now I know you and if you try to screw me I'll walk."

Vince says "First off, you do know me, I've never tried to screw you when it really mattered. The second thing I have to tell you is that you will not be facing Glenn, he's dead. He killed himself and left a note apologizing to you among other people. I figured you should know before this shit hits the media circus. Orton has agreed to do a run with you for the title at mania. Mark?" Mark told him he'd speak to him tomorrow night If they were done talking.

Authors Note: Chase has strained the bonds as far as he could, will he be able repair them, or will this stressed family bond snap? I want to thank my readers and of course my betas. Please review it helps: End Note