Again just wanted to say thank you for all the wonderful reviews and staying with me as I continue writing this story. I want it to be enjoyable and a good read. I apologize if at times it seems to be dragging out.

It was late when Helen and Barry finally pulled up into their home in Dublin. The car service had already dropped off Helen's sister Serena and her husband Mark and had driven at an excruciating snail pace, Helen wanted to rip the drivers hair out. But she bit her tongue because Barry was always nagging her about being inconsiderate.

"Did you at least have a good time love?" said Helen as the driver helped them drag the mounds of luggage to the front door.

"If good is what you want to call it then sure."

For some reason Barry had developed a short fuse full of curt responses during the getaway. He jammed his key into the front door throwing it upon with such force it frightened both Helen and the driver. Helen quickly tipped the driver shooing him away and helped Barry drag the remaining bags into the house.

"Well spit it out then! What are you going on about now?"

"Well if you must know Helen I did not have a good time in Nice. Not at all actually, and you want to know why?"

"Oh absolutely Barry!" said Helen rounding on Barry as he went past the stairs through the living room into the kitchen.

"Just once Helen, just once I'd like to go on vacation without our sons being the topic of conversation, the end all be all."

"I'm their mother I have a right to remember my sons fondly."

"They're our sons Helen, ours not yours. Don't you dare suggest that I don't remember my boys. And I believe all you ever do is remember them nowadays and it isn't even fondly anymore. Your full of so much bitterness and so much hate."

"Me? Hate?" answered Helen incredulously as she positioned herself across the kitchen counter from Barry.

"Yes, you! It's always about you. You couldn't let our Serena share the news about becoming a grandma finally without raining on her parade and guilt tripping her. I mean Kara has been trying for a child for ages, but you just couldn't let Serena have her moment. You just had to mention that Paul never got to have kids, conveniently forgetting that Liam and Michelle both gave us grandbabies. And don't even get me started on how Liam supposedly would've loved everything we were doing in Nice Helen. I can tell you he most certainly would have not."

"Well I'm sorry if I wanted to keep my precious sons memories alive, but I'll have you know a mother loves each and everyone of her babies."

Barry gave out an exasperated sigh and turned on his heel headed towards his den.

"And a father doesn't Helen? Typical, it is so typical of you. Maybe you ought to direct some of that love to your living daughter as well. You hijack all the memories, you make them your own and you smoother everyone in the process."

Barry's voice trialed off as he reached down the hall to his Den. Helen was still fuming in the kitchen when she heard a loud gasp.

"Barry?" she called out finally. "Barry, why are you so quite?" Helen began to make her way from the kitchen down the hall to the Den. The dark hallway was welcomed by a glimmer of light illumining from the den. Helen was worried now, at little uneasy, but continued to joke jovially. "The cat got your tongue?"

She came into view of a horrifying scene unfolding in her mist. Her nephew Tom sat bound and gagged before her, and her husband Barry stood being held at gunpoint by what Helen viewed as an extremely old man, with hollow lifeless grey eyes. For a minute she just gapped in horror trying to convince herself it was all just a dream. The old man looked at her menacing in all manner as her husband quivered and her nephew whimpered. She wanted to run to Tom and free him, the old men seemed to know what she was thinking.

"I'd think twice if I were you Mrs. Connor."

Helen was stunned. How did he know her name? Who the hell was this man and what was he doing in her home holding her family hostage?

"W-what do you want?" she finally stammered.

The man's eyes suddenly turned deadly as he shoved terrified a Barry to the side sending him plummeting to the floor. Barry let out a howling sound. He had arthritis in his left knee.

"This isn't about what I want Mrs. Connor, but rather what an enemy of mine wants. Of course he is only an enemy in association but an opponent all the same. I believe you may know the man in particular of which I speak, a Mr. Tony Gordon."

Helen felt the blood drain from her she wanted to faint. Barry looked at her with terrified eyes and gradually his expression switched to one of confusion. Tom simply continued to whimper with great excessiveness. He was unable to speak as he had been gagged. The old man seemed to be enjoying the terror he was inflicting upon her and her family and it only made her grow defiant.

"Yeah I know him. What does he want? And what does my family have to do with it?"

"Your asking all the wrong questions Mrs. Connor. It isn't a question of what Gordon wants, but rather ensuring he gets everything he doesn't. And since you seem a little slow on the uptake I'll say it to you plainly. You were a major weapon for Mr. Gordon the last time around, you know what I'm talking about."

Barry and Tom exchanged confused looks. The old man gestured for Helen to sit down in one of the three chairs he had managed to cram into Barry's tiny den; Tom was already tied to one. Helen was hesitant but she didn't want any trouble. She sat down and the man began to bind her hands in a fashion similar to her nephew Tom. He hummed gingerly for a while engrossed in his work like he had done it many times before, removed from the horrid situation around him.

"Who are you?" Helen asked simply dumbfounded. "Did Tony send you?"

The man had now moved onto Barry, holding a rag of chloroform to his mouth to make him immobile before responding.

"Quite a lovely home you managed to make for yourself Helen; very lovely pictures of the kids, and insightful quotes. What is the one again? It moved me to tears every time I read it as a boy from Ovid's Metamorphoses. It goes, I grabbed a pile of dust…"

"…And holding it up foolishly asked for as many birthdays as the grains of dust, I forgot to ask that they be years of youth," Helen finished for the man not breaking from his cold stoic grey eyes.

"Yes, beautiful isn't it? The whole work is really. It's all about the different forms of love; the gods who wish to control them and Amor himself. But love can't be controlled no matter how irrational, how thoughtless and reckless But of course you know all about that don't you Helen?"

Helen thought of all the things she had done for the love of her children, especially her two sons. She thought of the woman who came between them, the woman who destroyed them and how she was powerless to stop it. She thought of how Liam behaved from an early age in Carla's presence and how she always knew the girl was trouble. How Paul wouldn't hear any reason, and married Carla anyways. She knew all about irrational love, and she knew what she had done for the sake of it, what she had been driven to do. If anything it was a sign perhaps the time had come to confess to her sins. She nodded her head in understanding.

"Good," whispered the old man. "It's easy to get through to people with great works of literature I find." He paused before continuing, You really tried though didn't you, to build a home, a home for love. Shame nothing every works out how you imagine it."

"What do you want? You said you were here about Tony Gordon." Helen was annoyed with his philosophical rant. "What do I have to do to make sure my family goes unharmed?"

The old man looked at her more amused then ever.

"Oh, so now you care about your family being unharmed, some would say it's a little late for that. You couldn't keep two kids out of harms way no matter how hard you tried. And your daughter has had her fair share of setbacks. But that's no matter of mine. You asked a question, I will answer it as best I can. Tony Gordon well be wanting something from you in due time, and it is my job to ensure that he doesn't get what he wants. If I have to keep you and your family as hostages to accomplish such, then I will. If last time is any indication, you can be easily persuaded." The old man reached into his pocket now, he had successfully tied up an immobile Barry. He pulled out a cell phone. "But that Tony business is for a later time, we will get to the details of what you have to do later. For now we have more pressing matters to attend to." The man pressed a few buttons holding it to Helen as it began to ring.

"Why are you giving me that for? Who are we calling?"

"Why your daughter in-law of course, Carla Connor. Didn't Tom tell you she's been in Dublin for quite some time now, from what I gather she's been in this house a couple of times now as well."

Helen went absolutely pale, before becoming enraged with anger. The old man began to leer at her and cocked his head to side clearing enjoying her rage.

"I will not talk to her."

"Oh yes you will Mrs. Connor, if you want your remaining family to live, you'll do anything and everything I tell you."

He shoved a piece of paper in front of Helen's eyes a script of some sort and the room was full of a terrible silence as everyone waited for Carla to pick up on the other end.

Maria walked into the Rovers Return just looking to unwind and relax for the day. She had been so busy making appointments for Liam to see whatever specialists she could get her hands on. She was determined to make sure her son weathered the storm. On top of that she was dealing more and more with Michelle's paranoia. The visit with Dr. Harrington did little to convince Michelle that Carla was okay or give any indication as to her whereabouts. To be honest Maria sort of had an uneasy feeling about Dr. Harrington as well. When they arrived at her office, she was behaving in a manner Maria considered really unbecoming. But Maria just wanted to put all the Carla drama behind her and relax. Marcus offered to watch Liam and Dylan while Sean and Maria went to grab a drink. They slid into their regular booth and ordered.

"Vodka Tonic," Maria told Stella. It was her usual drink. Sean ordered a small beer. They both spotted Alex as soon as he walked in.

"I am trying to figure out his deal," said Sean. "It was strange Sally was whining that he wasn't coming into work, in fact she called his home about a billion times and he said he wasn't. And then all the sudden, he ends up showing up out of the blue ready to work."

"Hmmm," responded Maria. She thought about how well her and Alex had gotten on before he completely bailed on her. She blamed Michelle for that; she had obviously made him uncomfortable. Alex didn't seem to notice her; he was carrying a bulky fashionable man purse and seemed engrossed in a conversation on his cell phone. Maria couldn't stop staring, as he pulled out a big bulky book and placed in on the table.

"Earth to Maria! Hello Maria, are you going to pay attention to me or just spend the whole evening gawking at deep mysterious handsome man over there?"

"Well maybe I should just go over and say hello."

"Do what you want, Fiz will be here soon and Eileen to most likely. Just make it quick hey."

Maria was confused, Sean had been the one encouraging her to talk to Alex, what had changed? She got up and made her way towards the booth where Alex sat alone with a whole bunch of papers spread out on the table. He looked engrossed in the numbers laid out before him.

"Hello Alex," said Maria.

Frank looked up from his work and greeted her with warm eyes. "Maria, how are you? Please sit down."

Maria sat down immediately and felt at ease. "I am well, how are you? Listen I'm sorry about the last time we met and how Michelle was."

"No need to apologize Maria, really I was not bothered."

"Really, not at all?"

"Well maybe just a little bit I know how family can be."

"Ha-ha, well are you busy? I hope I am not interrupting."

Frank quickly shuffled his papers into a folder and placed them on a book. He gave Maria his full attention. "No not at all. Can I get you something to drink?"

Maria had completely forgotten that she left her Vodka Tonic at her booth with Sean.

"Let me see if I remember, you drink Vodka Tonic right?" He motioned Stella over and ordered a vodka tonic and a brandy.

Maria sat nervously; she had no idea what to talk about. He made her nervous and she didn't want to say anything just for the sake of talking. They stared at each other for a while and Alex looked mildly entertained. His attractive features flustered Maria. She dropped the intense eye contact and settled her attention on a book he had placed his work folder on.

"How do you have time to read?" Maria grabbed for the book examining it. The title looked familiar. It was Ovid's Metamorphoses. "And you don't read lightly," Maria added.

"No, I do not but I my life has always been one more inclined to work than play."

"Where's the fun in that?"

"My life has never been one of fun really. My parents never really allowed for that. The way they showed their love was through meticulous thought out plans on how to be a learned man. My childhood was one of countless discourse."

"And you were okay with that?"

"Well no Maria, but it was my life. When has a child ever been able to voice if the decisions their parents made were in fact okay to them."

Maria thought of her own son, she would want Liam to grow up knowing that he could always come to her with anything that he could always voice his concerns. She wanted him to know that he didn't always had to be okay with the circumstances that surrounded him, that it was okay to be angry. Maria herself wasn't okay with most of the things that happened in her life, she would never be okay with losing Liam. She would never be okay with what Carla and Liam had done to her. But she didn't want to think about that right now. Hastily she changed the subject.

"What's this about? This book, I know a quote from it?"

"Let me guess, the one about a pile of dust."

"Yeah, yeah that's exactly it, how did you know?"

"Because it's a really famous, quote from the text, but not the absolute best one in my opinion." Alex looked bemused and Maria began to feel stupid. "And it's a series of poems about love," he added in a whisper.

Just then Sean scurried by on his way to the men's washroom quickly mouthing his signature, "Just call me cupid."

Maria was utterly embarrassed and Alex raised his eyebrows. "Your friend gets it doesn't he, I guessed he's read this book."

"Oh Sean, he is just being his usual pushy self."

"So he is wrong, you don't like me?"

"I didn't say that!" Maria protested. Alex broke out into an infectious laughter.

"I was joking Maria. But I was hoping perhaps you would let me take you out sometime?"

Maria was ecstatic; she practically jumped out of her seat. "Yes please do! I mean yes I'd like that."

"Good," Alex whispered. His voice had become seductive. Just then his phone began to ring. "Maria this is an important call, do you mind waiting while I take it outside?"

"Not at all," Maria beamed as Alex headed for the front of the pub. He pushed past an entering Fiz and Eileen, who waved at Maria cheerfully.

"Crawford," Frank answered as soon as he was outside and a safe distance from any passing customers. "Have you done it?"

"Yes sir, I've done it. Carla Connor has for the time being taken a detour and wont be returning to Weatherfield for a time just like you asked."

"Good, that will keep her from Harrington and Gordon's clutches for a time. And you've gotten Helen and Barry?"

"Yes sir, they're tied up as we speak. It was Helen who I got to make the call to Carla to meet. She is being rather cooperative. I was expecting some difficulty, the way you described her."

"She is difficult Crawford, don't let your guard down once. I don't need Tony having access to her he did last time. You don't even know how much information she gave him."

"She had nothing to do with the trial last time."

"I know, but the thing about Gordon is that he has always been very clever. Tony has always been two steps ahead of his opponents. You don't even know the scope of what he managed to get her to reveal about Carla and Liam."

"Sir believe me when I say, I've worked in this business a long time and nothing ceases to amaze me. "

"Well then I'm impressed Crawford, your even further gone then I am. Because the gravity of what Helen Connor did to her own sons, I often wonder just how she manages to look at herself in the mirror everyday."

"That's where were different sir, I don't go looking for reason in anything whether it be love, hate, sadness, or whatever. Every emotion is irrational and therefore none can make logical sense. But your the learned man here, your life's work seems to be one of endless discourse. But I am warning you now sir, you can't afford to mess anything up."

"Yes, yes I know Crawford."

"And you're prepared for that sir? What this may do to you, whatever the cost?"

"Yes, I have to be."

"Then it is you is further gone. You have much further to fall and much more to lose then I ever have."

"To beat the villain you must become the bigger villain Crawford. I can be just as ruthless as Tony if need be."

"So you keep saying, but who knows whether there is truth in any of this. It is easy to say the words, to write them even, but to live them, I'm still unsure." There was a long pause, before Crawford continued, "But sir, I shall not keep you, you must be busy entertaining Maria."

"Yes I am actually. I haven't much time to get her on my side."

"Well then off you go."

Crawford ended the call and Frank turned back towards the direction of the Rovers. He felt elated his plan was going well so far and Tony was none the wiser.

Carla was in her hotel room enduring what would be her last night in Dublin. She had decided to go home, and had even taken the liberty of texting Michelle to tell her she'd be back in town tomorrow. Carla couldn't say whether the trip had brought her the peace she was looking for, but it definitely brought her some understanding. It was a step in the right direction. Carla decided that there was something she must do as soon as she arrived back in Manchester; she had to apologize to Dr. Harrington for the physical assault. If this trip had made Carla realize anything it was the romanticized view she held of her and the brothers relationship. She was nostalgic for the past to the effect that she convinced herself everything was always better then. To a degree it was, but she had acted like the pain had been non-existent when Liam and Paul were around. She needed a psychiatrists help to sort through her fallacies, biases, and general irrational thought. The only way things would get better was if she tried to frame her life in a different approach, one with fewer projections. She decided she would call Dr. Harrington tomorrow before she boarded the plan back home.

Ring Ring

Carla grabbed her phone; it was an unknown number, listed as private. She was hesitant to answer it at first but decided to pick it up after a few more moments.

"Hello," Carla answered.

There was a silence followed by a few muffled sounds and then a familiar voice it sent chills through Carla's entire body. She felt nothing but bitterness and deep despair. She was in a good place and this person threatened to ruin everything she had just accomplished.

"Carla?" Said Helen Connor's voice. "Carla is that you?"

"Yes," Carla answered. She was bewildered as to what she could possibly say next. She had not talked to Helen in years and there last meeting had been so traumatic for Carla she locked it away deep inside her mind and tried to forget about it. Carla was suddenly filled with rage; Tom couldn't keep his mouth shut about Carla being in Dublin. As soon as she was done with Helen, she was going to call him and scream at him. "Helen, how are you?"

"Fine," said Helen curtly. "Listen Carla, I know you've been in town for sometime. I just got back from Nice, and was wondering if you wanted to get together to talk?"

Carla thought of all the pain Helen had caused her, in all the years of them knowing one another, their talks usually consisted of accusatory heated arguments. Besides what could Helen really have to say, that she hadn't already said before? It would just be more of the usual, blaming Carla for all the poor decisions Paul made, and cursing the day she led her Liam astray. But then Carla reminded herself that negativity was the mainstay of the old her, the new her wanted to be more optimistic. The new her wanted to be able to stand proud in the face of those who tried to tear her down. She wanted to let Helen know that she wasn't sorry for having cared so deeply for her both her sons and that she would not apologize for any of the supposed wrongs and transgressions committed on her part.

"That I'll be fine Helen," Carla responded just as curtly. "Name the time and place and I'll be there."