What Leo said to him really hurt Ricky, and he could not figure what could have caused such a change in his relationship with Leo. He pondered it and could not figure out what was wrong. As this situation continued to irritate him he asked Amy if she knew if he or John had done anything to upset Leo that would make him distance himself from them. Amy looked at her husband and told him to look at the calendar. Ricky saw that it was Thursday January 23'rd. But Ricky still could not figure out what she meant until, he remembered Adrian. Every year Adrian at this time would become depressed, and distraught, because this would be another year Mercy never lived.

Leo also felt a little depressed about this time of year, but never so depressed he would be this mean, and cold toward him. So in order to figure out what was happening he talked with Nora, who still worked as Leo's assistant. Although Nora had noticed the depressive state Leo was in as well she had no answer to why he was acting like this. To be honest she too had become worried, especially after he had just come from Europe on an urgent matter that he was asked to attend by overseas investors. So Ricky went to the only person he knew that could shed some light on the situation, Bunny who had retired but still maintained control over the Boykewich Butchers.

When Ricky entered the shop he was reminiscent of this place and how it made him feel, the nostalgia of being back, and remembering how he and Ben used to work together cleaning and filling orders. He had since moved from the shop into the Jeurgen home which was given to he and Amy as a gift from George and Anne. George had since moved in with Kathleen, and Anne took up permanent residence in Palm Springs. This pleased Nora who was happy to have her son and his family so close which would help them rebuild their relationship, and gave her extra incentive to stay clean and sober. As Ricky walked through the doors there was Bunny helping a customer as she usually did. She might have retired, but she just couldn't stay away from the shop.

Hey there Mr. Vice President how is everything with the family and work?" she asked and embraced him in a hug. "I'm good Bunny and so is my family, you should stop by and see John and Martin they are both getting so big." he said with a big smile. "I'll try and do that" she replied and took a look a the troubled young man she knew so long ago. Ricky was now a success, and looking very handsome despite his now receding hairline which was the only evidence he was Bob's son. "So why are you here, I don't think you came back to this place to see me, or did you think you could sneak me up to the apartment. Remember I still have security cameras installed." she joked. "No, Bunny nothing like that I came to ask if you know why Leo is so irritated with me." he asked looking a bit sad.

"Well considering what happened two weeks ago I'm not surprised." she responded and wondering why he was shocked at Leo's change in attitude. "What are you talking about Bunny, what happened two weeks ago." Ricky asked confused. "Ben nearly died Ricky!" she said looking stunned he didn't know. "DIED! What happened to Ben." he asked worried. "Ricky, Ben contracted a bacterial infection while working on an important story for his magazine in South Africa." she responded. "Bacterial Infection, how did he get that." Ricky said worried. "Its south Africa Ricky not everything there is sanitary, and Ben was new to that area, so his body had no build up defense to the germs as some of the lucky adults who live to grow up develop. Ben could have gotten it from the food he ate, the water he drank or even a mosquito bite or swallowing the air. Almost 80% of the slums he visited to talk to the kids there is contaminated with germs, and disease." She said.

"Is he okay is he out of the hospital" Ricky asked concerned for Ben's safety. "He's fine, and from what Leo told me he was in and out of the hospital after the surgery and back here in the sometimes sanitized U.S." she replied. "Surgery, Ben had to have surgery, were there any complications." Ricky asked. "Not many, he had to have part of his stomach removed, and he will have to live with KROHNS disease for the rest of his life. But he is alive and okay." she said somewhat saddened by what she was telling Ricky. "Why didn't Leo say anything we could have done something to help him, or at least tried he stated. "He wanted to, but Ben's assistant had strict instructions from Ben should anything ever happen to him not to make a big deal about it or let it get out." she said. "What the hell would Ben do something like that for? Doesn't he know we all care about him, and worry." Ricky asked. "Ricky its Ben, he stopped relying on us a long time ago." Bunny replied feeling guilty that her relationship with Ben after so many years, was now non existent. She had been part of Ben's life since the day he was born, and she worked as Leo's replacement. Ben was like a second son to her and now he didn't even have faith that she would care he if his life was in danger.

Bunny hated to think that Ben of all people had doubts that she cared about him. Ben stopped coming to her for advice when he quit, and left for his summer intern program. Bunny had tried to arrange a surprise gift for him before he left, but Ben never told anyone he was leaving not even Leo. He had showed up at the graduation, took his diploma and the moment the procession was over he was gone. Leo had Bunny arrange a big hotel party to celebrate for all the students, specifically Ben and all his friends. But when Leo arrived home with Camille, and Chloe they only found his car and the keys with a letter telling Chloe the Mercedes was hers. He had taken only a few clothes and possessions, and like that he was gone. When Leo looked for answers the guidance counselor informed him that Ben had been researching scholarships, and other programs in colleges far away. Ben having a high GPA was able to get accepted to almost every university, the only ones that did not accept him were those that worried about Ben and his reputation for careless behavior as exhibited in his record of the school fire, his altercation with Omar, and his divorce record. His web video of passing out drunk was also a hindrance.

Ben however was accepted to the University of Vancouver and turned down the acceptance to the college in New York. Leo only needed two days before he discovered Ben's location and was furious with him for just leaving without even telling anyone. Ben assured him he did not want to upset anyone, but he wanted to be on his own. He had been through a lot in high school and it was time he lived his life in a place where no one knew him or cared about his past or his stupid mistakes. Being the Sausage Prince, had never made him happy and it was time he got to be happy. Leo was embarrassed and sad at what Ben told him, but he had to agree. But, one thing he wished for Ben is that he would find happiness, and love, even if he would lose him in the process. Ben looked at Leo and told him "Love is curse for me dad, because the ones I love never love me, and the ones that do love me let me down. Leo tried to protest Ben's words, but Ben refused to hear it. This made Leo sad, because his son didn't understand without love there is no happiness.

When Bunny heard this from Leo she found it difficult to accept, she made a promise to Sarah to help Ben in any way she could, and watch out for him. This was a promise that Sarah made everyone accept, her, Leo, Camille, and all of the servants. She truly worried about her son and the life he would live without her guidance. Now she Leo, Camille all felt that they had broken their promise to her. Bunny felt that this was because both she and Leo had concentrate too much on trying to force Ben to do the right thing. After looking at how Ricky's life had turned out all had agreed perhaps Ben making his own choices without their interference would have been better. What Bunny discovered about Leo is he felt guilty for forcing Ben to be friends with Ricky. Also for not putting a stop to his relationship with Amy, when he discovered she was pregnant. It was not Ben's responsibility, and he thought perhaps he should have let Ricky follow and make his own decisions, instead of influencing them. Ricky had parents, and his interference is probably what caused all of his son's problems.

When Tess contacted Leo about Ben being hospitalized he immediately flew to the hospital in New Guinea where Ben had been transferred to see to Ben's well being. When he found Ben he had been diagnosed as having a 104.0 fever and dehydrated. The doctor had to perform emergency surgery and put Ben on immediate antibiotics to treat the infection and placed him in sterilized environment. When he got there Leo met Tess, Eli, and Markus for the very first time. In all the years Ben had been gone he had never told Ben about his life or the people in it with him. He was never even allowed by Ben to visit him in Vancouver, because Ben didn't want everyone to know his dad was famous. This made Leo feel horrible to think his son was embarrassed by him or worse ashamed. When Leo met his friends he was surprised at the amount of information that they knew about the person his son was, and astonished at how much they wanted to know about Ben. Unfortunately before they even got a chance to really share stories Tess gave Leo an envelope with instructions of how Ben wanted his affairs to be handled should a situation arise.

When Leo received this document he was shocked that Ben being only 26 had already prepared a will. Leo looked to Tess and asked, "You seem to know my son better than I do considering you work so closely to him, has there ever been anything between you two? If I maybe so bold to ask?" Leo asked a little embarrassed. "Its okay Mr. Boykewich, but no Ben and I have never been anything more than close friends, and I am married to Markus now so it will never happen." she said with an understanding and sad expression. "Please call me Leo, but did you ever have any feelings for him, its just something about the way you act about Ben, that is similar to how my wife acted around me. She was my assistant for nearly 24 years and I never realized how she felt until it was almost too late." Leo explained. Mr. Boykewich I'm not going to lie, I did have very strong romantic feelings for your son, but he ignored all my advances, and refused to take a chance with me. I know it was for the best because now I am with a wonderful man who is the light of my life, but it doesn't stop me from feeling some regret of not knowing what I could have had with your son. He is truly a remarkable man, but something in him is broken and he knows it, but refuses to fix it." Tess replied with remorse.

"I know, its' something that broke in him when his mom died, and became irreparable when his daughter died." Leo said. "I know and can somewhat understand what you mean." Tess replied. "The only time Ben takes a vacation are two days a year, and both are top return home and celebrate the deaths of his mom, and Mercy." Tess continued. "Ben still comes home to visit their graves?" Leo asked. "Yes, doesn't he visit you on those trips back as well?" Tess asked. "No, I have always thought that Ben stays away, and he hasn't been home for seven years." Leo said shocked at this new information that Ben kept his promise on visiting Sarah and Mercy. This was strange and even sadder to Leo not only was Ben making preparations for his death at a young age, but he was more comfortable with the dead it seems than he was with the living. Had he let his son sink so far into depression that Ben no longer cared if he lived or died.

PRESENT STORY ARC.

"So is he okay then" Ricky asked Bunny. "Yes he is fine and thousands of people live with KRONHNS everyday like Ben. There is treatment but no real cure. Leo said that Ben is planning on having surgery done to have it placed in remission as soon as he is done with his treatments. she explained. "So why is Leo taking out his frustration of what is happening with Ben on John and I. Ricky asked. "He's not taking anything out on you Ricky, Leo is just realizing that while he spent so much time with you and your family, he neglected his own." Bunny explained. "Bunny, nobody made Ben leave or stay away he chose to do that on his own. Am I sorry for how everything turned out, yes but if Ben wants to pout let him. Why should Leo have to put up with his crap and get mad at my family because of Ben's arrogance." he said angrily. "Ricky may I remind you if this was pouting it wouldn't last for so many years. Also it is Leo's problem because Ben is his son, and if you truly are sorry you would understand that and accept it. Ben had to accept a lot because of you, and we both know you yourself could have handled this situation a lot better.

Your family is not going to suffer because Leo is not around. Your son's have two other grand father's as well as three grandmothers, and a host of uncles, and aunts courtesy of Shakur and Margaret. "Ben doesn't have that luxury of an extended family nor does Leo. Leo's brother Adolfo died two years ago, and Sarah had no other family. Ben is his only living blood heir, and his first born son from the first woman he ever loved and the love of his life. Sarah, and Ben are the reason Boykewich Int. exists and if you had known the relationship between them before high school you would be ashamed and sad for how they are now. If you had known his mom you would truly understand how Ben was able to deal with all he went through with all of you, and where his ability to love came from. You think that you had it rough with your childhood, but I saw what losing his mom did to him, and that puts both you and Ben dead even. The difference is he made the unselfish choices when it came to dealing with his pain. Ben and Leo paid a price for the happiness we all have now and that includes you and your family. Leo is trying find a way to do for Ben what he did for all of you." Bunny said with both anger and love. "Whats that?" Ricky asked a little ashamed of his response about Ben. "Save him." Bunny said.