Tad stood up and approached JR and without really saying anything, he hugged his stepson. On his cue, Asher went behind them into the foyer and locked the door, then placed his chair in front of it and sat. This went unnoticed by JR who pulled away from Tad and nervously shifted his gaze between his stepfather and sister. "JR, we love you and we really need to talk to you." Tad said. Colby stood up and walked to her brother. JR had a moment of realization in his eyes and then his features seemed to flash with pain, before growing stoic again. He choked up, a little, when he tried to speak. "Is it Dad? Did something happen to Dad? What is this?"

Colby hugged her brother and replied "No, no…it's nothing like that. We need to talk about you. I am worried about you." The relief washed over JR, as well as confusion. He took a nearby chair and ran his hand through his hair. "Colby, what is this nonsense? What in the world are you worried about me for? I am fine." Colby shook her head vigorously "No, JR! No you're not! I caught you drinking the other night! I saw you!" Tad walked up behind Colby and put his hand on her back. He knelt to the ground near JR and spoke softly. "JR, what is going on? You were doing so well. Let us help you. Whatever it is…we can help."

JR stood up, the anger obviously building up. "Colby, this is nonsense! I had one drink! Fine…okay? I admit it. I will go to a meeting and be done with it. No sense in rounding up the posse to attack me!" Tad got up and walked over in front of JR and said "Hang on! We know that it was more than one drink. Colby and I talked with the staff and we know there were several bottles found and about you passing out by the pool the other night."

A look of embarrassment could almost be seen across JR's features, before he went numb again. "Okay, what do you think you are going to do about this? What are you going to do, Tad? You gonna hug it out of me? Is Krystal going to bake some brownies? Maybe Opal can do our nails…huh?" JR tried to fight his urges that were building up. He felt twitchy and thought I'll be damned if I give them anything to go on about. He sat hoping to steady his hands on the armrests, and continued "We can make a little party out of it? Everybody is here to save JR! You people don't know the first thing about my life…about what I am going through!" Tad was frustrated and turned around, looking to others for help. Krystal spoke up "JR no one wants to see you fall off the wagon. We just want to help for AJ's sake. That boy needs you sober."

JR stood, started clapping and said "Well, thank you…Mother of the Year! So glad you could be here for this!" He spun around and scanned the room. "Where is my dear ex-wife? She didn't want to be part of the fun? Couldn't 'tear' herself away from her 'vacation'?" JR's affectations and gestures were not lost on Krystal. He couldn't possibly know about the girls? She thought, and then dismissed it. There was a knock on the door and JR turned to see Asher rise and open the door. "Really, Tad?" JR questioned. "You think Asher is going to stop me from leaving, or going for another drink?" JR did not see Marissa enter after Asher let her in. She spoke "He may not be able to alone, but we all will...together."

JR turned to look at Marissa with anger in his eyes. "JR, what are you doing?" She asked. "Just a few weeks ago, you were so proud of your sobriety…What happened?" JR slammed his fist against a table and shouted "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU CARE, MARISSA? We divorced and when I tried to work it out…to change…you said it was over. Tell me, how long did you wait until you jumped in someone else's bed?" The room fell into a hush and mouths were agape. Marissa stood horrified thinking He knows. How in the hell does he know? Tad looked to JR and questioned "Is that what all this is about? You and Marissa?"

"Why don't you share your filthy little secrets with everyone, Marissa? Or would you like me too? Oh, yeah…I know! It seems that my dear ex-wife has been playing me for a fool. Running around town behind my back. Isn't that right, dear? How long…how long has this been dragging on, huh? While we were married?" Krystal couldn't take anymore and shouted "JR, STOP!"

"No, it is okay, Krystal." Marissa said. "He is upset and if he wants to be upset, that is okay." She turned to JR and slowly stepped towards him. "JR, you have this all wrong. I want to talk to you about this. Yes, I am with someone, but it is new and it was long after we were done. You have got to believe me." Amanda scoffed "JR, you know I am your friend, and I have known you a long time, but don't act like you haven't made mistakes too. We all do." She turned to face everyone and said "I think they need to discuss this more privately." Everyone nodded and went to separate areas of the house.

Marissa touched JR on the shoulder and he pulled away. "JR, look I don't know how you found out, and it doesn't really matter. I should have told you." JR looked at her with an angry confused grimace "Bianca? Marissa…I don't get it…You're straight. I mean, have you ever?"

"No, I have never and I assure you…" She said "This was not something that I planned on. We were friends…and that was all. I didn't even start getting closer to her until her divorce. You and I were divorced and things were still very complicated. Then the longer Bianca and I knew each other, the closer we became. I swear to you…nothing happened…nothing at all, until the last week or so."

"So, all those nights you stayed over there…Nothing?' JR questioned. "Why should I believe you?"

"Because we were friends first, JR. Because we helped each other and hurt each other and we both walked away because we knew we were no longer what the other one needed. Because we have a child that we share, and we have been doing right by him…and we are going to continue to do that. You can look me in the eyes and know that I am telling you the truth."

"I guess I do." JR said. 'I don't know why, but I do. I believe you. I just felt so betrayed when I found out. It just all seemed so shady." He turns from her and shakes his head, his mind is racing. I don't get it. How can she just switch like that? Damn it, Marissa…I wanted to try again. If they are a couple, then that means she has moved on…we really are done. JR choked back his emotions and let his anger take over. He turned back around and pointed angrily at Marissa, closing the distance between them. Oh God! If I just want to take her in my arms and hold her. Kiss her, make her see that this is…NO! Stop this! You are a Chandler! You don't beg for a woman. He came out of his own daze and questioned Marissa. "If you two…if you are together…why are you running around at some resort? Hmm? Why not just be open. What do they say? We're here…We're Queer…blah blah blah" His exaggerated movements and tone pissed Marissa off.

"Stop, JR!" She shouted. "You are angry and hurt and I get it. I absolutely do and I'm okay with you being mad. You know that you don't feel that way! You also know that this is not the bullshit message that we are teaching our son! Don't turn this into some hate campaign. You can be mad at me, but not for reasons like that." JR softened a bit and nodded. Marissa continued "Remember how proud we both were of AJ for sticking up for Miranda? We both felt that what happened was wrong. The gay issue has nothing to do with this problem. You have known Bianca a very long time and have never had a problem with her being gay before."

JR laughed and said, "No, No our problems have been on almost every other topic but that. Well, I had a crush on her when I was a kid and then she came out…but that was about as close as it got to me being angry about sexuality." JR half smiled and then his feelings took over again, so he shut them down. "You didn't answer me though. If this is something you are willing to throw our family away for…then why are you two sneaking off? Why not come out with it?"

Marissa gave JR a disapproving look and said "We were trying to figure this out. It was never about trying to cause a scandal, or embarrass anybody. I have real feelings for her, JR…stronger than I have felt in a long time and I just couldn't deny that anymore. It was unexpected and surprising and we didn't want to spread this all over the place, before we could even put a name on it. So we went away and just tried to figure it all out. May I ask…how you found out?"

"The Exposer got a lead on you guys from some pissed off employee. I paid him off to kill it. They have pictures and everything. You really should be more careful."

"Wow, I know exactly the son of a bitch that did this! Oh well, I am not afraid of whatever they have. Bianca and I will get through this. For the record, I am not throwing away anything. You and I don't have to be together to be family. I care about you and we both look after AJ and love him…that hasn't changed. But you…you started drinking again…because of this? Why? Why did this get to you?" Marissa asked. JR could feel the anger building up again. He fought to hide his feelings, the feelings that seemed to be building in his gut. She had gotten through to his heart and that was a weakness that he would never show. Not to her or anyone. Then he heard AJ's voice from the hall. Neither parent had heard him come into the room. "Daddy…you are drinking again? I thought you stopped because you said it was bad for you? Please don't do something that is bad for you…I love you, Dad!"

JR would not let anyone through, not ever…except his little boy. He felt a little piece of the wall in his heart crumble and fought the formation of tears in his eyes. He picked his son up and said "I won't drink another drop, I promise. I love you too, AJ!" When his son hugged him and his ex-wife turned away, JR let a tear fall and quickly wiped it away.