A/N: finally it's here. Sorry for the long wait. If it seems a bit rushed, I apologize. Hope you guys like it.
Disclaimer: still own nothing.
Caroline Renoir-Hart had just dropped her seven year old daughter off at one of her best friends' house. Alicia Scott had been kind enough to take Kimberly for her. She just had to get away from it all. It was now June, and the place was clear and beautiful; but she couldn't even enjoy the warm summer breeze or the sunshine. She had just found out that her husband of eight years was cheating on her. She had always suspected it, but she never had any proof. 'Well walking in on them surely qualifies as more than enough proof,' she thought to herself. It didn't surprise her in the least. They fought all the time. Sometimes she wondered why they stayed together for as long as they did. She was glad that she had enrolled Kimberly into that toddlers' gymnastics class when she was younger, and was glad that she had friends. At least that way, her daughter wouldn't be subjected to the fights that were a constant thing in the house. Right now, she and her husband, Kenneth Hart, were on a trial separation. Caroline sighed and started walking again. She had her head down, so she wasn't paying attention and walked into someone,
"Oh I'm sorry," she said, "I didn't see you there." she raised her head and gasped softly. Looking back at her was a very handsome man with brown eyes that reminded of warm chocolate.
"Are you ok?" the man asked. He looked into the woman's eyes and saw how beautiful she was.
"I'm fine," she said, "I wasn't really paying attention like I said."
…
Jordan McKnight was walking through the Angel Grove Park. He and his wife Sandra were having problems and he just needed to get away. They had a huge fight two days ago, and he stayed away for fear that he would do something that he would regret. He got in his car and drove straight from San Francisco, until he had finally stopped in Angel Grove. He rented a hotel room to try and think about his marriage and where it was going. This morning he got up and decided to walk around. He stopped at the local youth center to grab a bite to eat, and then he headed out to the park. He walked and walked until the one thing he didn't want to do, he ended up doing; thinking about his wife. 'What am I going to do? Sandy's been so angry lately. Ever since she found out she couldn't have kids. We fight all the time, and we haven't had sex in weeks, not since that doctor's visit. I want my wife back, but I don't know how much more I can take.' He sighed. He looked around, and then started walking again. His head down, he didn't see the woman coming, the next thing he knew he had walked into her, and she was already apologizing, "Oh I'm sorry, I didn't see you there."
"Are you ok?" he asked, then looked at her face and was surprised at how beautiful she was.
"I'm fine," she said, "I wasn't really paying attention like I said." Caroline looked everywhere but the man's face. She felt a blush rise in her cheeks and felt heat where his hands rested on her hips. Jordan was struck silent by the woman in his arms. Her dark brown hair hung just below her shoulders and her eyes sparkled, despite the fact that she seemed so distracted.
"Are you sure you're ok?" he asked again.
Caroline giggled as she looked at him, "Yes I'm fine. I'm just a bit clumsy that's all."
"Ok," he said, "I'm Jordan by the way, Jordan McKnight."
"Caroline Renoir," she said. 'I wonder why I didn't say my married name.'
"Sounds French," he smiled.
"It is," she said, "My parents came from France."
"Well Caroline, I hope you don't mind, but I was wondering if I could buy you lunch," he said, "As an apology for bumping into you." 'What am I doing? I'm married. But in the few seconds that I've met her, I don't seem to really care.'
"Sure, that would be good," she said with a smile. The two turned and started walking in the opposite direction, back to where the youth center was. On the way they talked about everything. She found out that he was a construction worker from Reefside, and he found that she was an Interior Designer. They talked all day and at the end, were sad to see the other go. They made plans for the next day, and went their separate ways. Caroline entered the Scott's home with the most genuine smile on her face for the first time in a while. Alicia looked up from making the kids something to eat, and watched as her best friend came into the house with a smile on her face. She smiled and said, "Wow, haven't seen that smile on your face in a long time."
"Hey," she smiled, "Was Kim good?" she knew she didn't have to ask, but sometimes she did anyway. Her daughter was not only hyper, but she had a temper as well.
"Are you kidding?" Alicia said, "Of course she was good, besides she's my little helper." Alicia knew all about the little girl's temper. It only comes out when she gets really angry.
"What do you mean?" Caroline asked. Alicia looked up and pointed to where Jason, Zack and Billy were sitting. Caroline turned and saw the three boys sitting there. Billy looked a little scared, whereas Jason and Zack looked beat and torn. Caroline shook her head and turned back to Alicia, "What happened?"
Alicia laughed as she looked at the boys, "Well apparently Jason and Zack thought that it would be fun to pull Kimberly's hair and then throw her doll into the small mud pit at the back."
Laughing and shaking her head, Caroline turned back to her, "I swear Lish, those boys don't learn."
"Tell me about it Carrie," Alicia said, "So, are you going to tell me what put that smile on your face?" at her words, Caroline couldn't stop the smile from coming on her face. She thought about the day she had had with Jordan. 'I had more fun today than any other day with Ken. I wonder what we'll do tomorrow.' She was broken out of her thoughts by Alicia's voice, "CARRIE!"
"What?"
"Where were you girl?" Alicia asked with amusement shining in her eyes.
"I was just thinking about today," she sighed.
"What about today?" Alicia asked curiously. Her best friend looked like she was troubled over something. She hoped that it had nothing to do with Ken. Caroline gave pause as she thought about what she wanted to say. She looked over at her best friend. She and Alicia had been friends since she first came to the United States when she was eight years old. They hit it off instantly when Caroline was being teased on for her French accent, and Alicia came to her rescue. Ever since, they've been close. There was nothing that she couldn't tell her. She was scared that she would be angry, but remembered that Alicia was always there for her, no matter how bad she messed up. Sure she was close to the others, MaryAnn Taylor and Shiori Kwan, but in truth she hadn't met them until high school, and she hadn't met Aileen Cranston until she moved here with husband David and son Billy when Kim and the others were starting kindergarten. All four were like sisters, and they had mourned together when Aileen had died from cancer earlier this year, but she knew Alicia longer, so she knew that whatever she told her would stay between the two of them. "If I tell you something, will you keep it strictly between us? No telling Preston?" she asked, referring to her husband.
"Carrie, you know I won't tell," Alicia said, now getting scared at the thought that something was wrong, "But I promise anyways if it makes you feel better."
Caroline took a deep breath and asked, "Have you ever felt something that was so new and it made you feel amazing, but it wasn't from where you thought it would be?" taking one look to make sure that the kids were ok, Alicia grabbed her friend's hands and led her to the back porch.
"Car, what's going on?" she asked, "What are you talking about?"
"I met someone," she said.
"What do you mean, you met someone?"
"Well at the park," Caroline said, "I literally ran into him when I was walking. He was so sweet Lish. He offered to buy me lunch and I did, and we talked." Alicia looked on as Caroline talked. Her best friend's eyes sparkled as recalled her day. The only other time she had seen her eyes sparkled like that, was whenever it had something to with Kimberly.
"Oh Lish, we had so much in common," Caroline said, "We talked about everything. And you know what? For the first time in a long time, I felt special; like I was the only thing that mattered."
"Oh Carrie," Alicia said.
"Do you know how nice it is to feel special by someone other than your daughter?" Caroline asked as she looked her in the eyes, "My daughter is the most important thing to me, and I love how she makes me feel special, but sometimes…"
"Sometimes it would be nice to feel that from someone that can relate to you," Alicia finished.
"Exactly," she said, "And that's how he made me feel. I don't know how else to explain it Lish, I don't know why he makes me feel that way, but he does."
"Oh honey," Alicia said. She could see the emotions in her eyes and could see that her friend was staring to have some sort of feelings for this guy. "I was always told that the heart wants what it wants, and you can't help who you like, and as your best friend, it's my duty to let you know when you screwing up."
"Of course," Caroline said, wondering where she was going.
"But it's also my duty to stick by you, no matter what," Alicia said, "So if you like this guy, then be honest with him and be sure this is what you want. Remember that what you do, affects not only you, but that sweet seven year old girl in there that is counting on her mom."
"I know," Caroline sighed, "I'd die before I do anything to hurt her, but I can't help how I feel. I know it's only been a few hours, but…"
"I'm in no way condoning adultery, and you know what happened with Ken, all I'm saying, all I'm asking is for you to think about this."
"I will," Caroline said, and then moved to hug her.
"So tell me," Alicia teased, "Is he cute?"
"Alicia!" Caroline laughed.
"Well that answered that question," Alicia said as she hugged her again, "Remember, be careful. I don't want you getting hurt."
"I will." True to her word, Caroline told Jordan everything the next time she saw him. He was very understanding and told her about his problems as well. Over the next few weeks, they spent most of their free time together. Jordan would drive down from San Francisco and they would spend days together. It was in September, when she found out that she was pregnant. She was scared and excite at the same time. Alicia, of course, was the first one that she told. Ken was overseas on business, had been ever since she caught him with his co-worker, and was due back in October. She wasn't sure how to tell Jordan. With Alicia, she went to the doctor and found out that she was only two months pregnant and she was due in April of next year. Because of his construction job, Jordan was now on the road a lot, so it was easy to keep it from him. As her pregnancy went along, Alicia helped her hide it well so that no one would know. It was around thanksgiving, when she had gone in for a sonogram, that she was told she was expecting twins. Alicia had been worried at how big she was getting for just four months and had convinced her to get checked out. She had also convinced her to tell Jordan about the pregnancy. Around the same time, Ken Hart had come back into town, wanting them to try to reconcile after everything. She was confused as to what to do, being that she still loved him. She had told Jordan, and he was very excited about becoming a father as well. She told him about Ken, and was shocked when he told her the exact thing about Sandra, his wife. Ken understood that she had a daughter to think of, and that she was still in love with her husband, because he was still in love with his wife. It was around New Year's when everything went downhill. Ken had decided to surprise his wife by coming home early and taking her out to dinner. He entered the bedroom, and was shocked at the sight. His wife, his six months' pregnant wife was standing there in nothing but a skirt and bra.
"What the hell?" he asked outraged.
Caroline turned towards the doorway in shock, "Ken, what are you doing home?"
"I came home to surprise you, but I guess the surprise is on me," he said, "You've been cheating on me?"
"Ken, it's not like that," she said.
"Oh it's not?" he snarled, "You're pregnant Caroline, and I know it's not by me. Which means you've been cheating on me, how could you?"
That made Caroline angry, "How could I? You cheated on me first Ken. You fight with me all the time, you're never home. My God, your own daughter sees more of Preston than she does her own father."
"Don't put this on me," he said.
"Why shouldn't I?" she asked, "Don't play innocent. I never set out to cheat on you, but you set out to cheat on me. You hurt not only me, but Kimberly as well."
"Don't bring my daughter into this."
"Your daughter?" she asked, "You know nothing about 'your' daughter."
"I do."
"Oh really?" she asked, "Do you even know what her favorite color is? Do you know the reason why she was in the hospital after Easter, after Aileen died?"
Ken could say nothing. But it seemed that she wasn't waiting on him as she continued talking, "She had a meet, and she had heard us fighting nights before it happened. She was also sick but didn't say anything because she thought that we would be angry at her if she didn't do the meet. She thought if she did the meet, then we would stop fighting. Our daughter put her health at risk because of you, because of us." She would never forget how she had felt when Alicia had told her that. It had hurt to know that she was partially to blame for her daughter being hospitalized.
"So what?"
"So I met someone," she said, "Someone that made me feel special; special in a way that I hadn't felt in a long time."
"Well no wife of mine is having some bastard's kid," he said.
"I'm not having an abortion," she said, shocked at the thought.
"Who said anything about that?" he sneered, "Well obviously it's too late anyways. No, I have an idea." And with that he walked off, leaving his wife very much confused and dreading what his idea was. She called Alicia and Jordan and told them what had happened. Two weeks later, Caroline was sitting on her couch, her daughter chattering away about her upcoming birthday. She heard the doorbell and moved to get it. As she opened the door, she stood there in shock. Standing on the other side was none other than Sandra McKnight, Jordan's wife.
"Can I come in?"
"Sure," she said, "Kimberly could you go to your room please?"
"But mommy, I'm not done," Kimberly whined.
"Kimberly Annabelle Hart, don't you dare throw a tantrum and do as I say," she said sternly. She did not want her daughter to witness whatever was going to happen.
"Fine mommy," Kim said as she picked up her doll and made her way up the stairs to her room.
"What can I do for you?" Caroline asked.
"Oh cut the pleasantries," Sandra said, "You know why I'm here. Apparently you've been seeing my husband since last summer."
"How do you know that?" Caroline asked confused.
"I think you know," Sandra said. Caroline looked at for a minute before it dawned on her, "Ken told you."
"Yes, he also told me that you are very pregnant," she said, "And I can see that."
"What are you doing here? What do you want?"
"Your baby," she said with a small smile.
A chill went up Caroline's spine. There was no way she heard her right, "What?"
"You heard me," Sandra said, no smile on her face now, "I'm sure you know that I can't have kids, and I know that Jordan would love it, you already have a child, so I think it's only fair."
"Fair? How is that fair?"
"Because I want kids and you are pregnant with my husband's baby," she said, "So either give me the baby, or…"
"Or what?" Caroline asked.
"Or lose your daughter," she shrugged. She stood up and walked to the door, "You have until March to decide. Be happy that I'm giving you time." And with that, she walked out the door. Caroline sat there, long after she left. She kept going over the conversation in head. In a daze, she stood and walked to her daughter's room. She opened the door, and watched as her daughter was playing house. Her heart ached at the thought of losing her and at losing the twins. She didn't know what to do. She went to Alicia's place and cried on her shoulder as she told her what happened. Her daughter's birthday came and went. She was still seeing Jordan and had told him what happened. They talked and as much as it hurt, she decided that she couldn't lose her daughter. She had decided to give him the twins. She had also thought about that Ken. She didn't want her kids to grow up being hated by him, or even calling him dad. She thought about her marriage; the fights, the angry words, and decided that raising one child was bad enough; she didn't want to put two more through it. And she also knew without a doubt that they would always be the target of Ken's anger, and she didn't want that. Jordan had understood and had assured her that the kids would know her. March came and went and it was now April. Her due date was fast approaching. She was standing around at a barbecue that the Kwan's were having when her water broke.
(A/N: the others know that she is pregnant, but they think that Ken's the father, only Alicia Scott knows the truth)
She was rushed to the hospital immediately. Alicia called Jordan discreetly and let him know what was up. Afterwards she went to be with her friend. When the twins were born, they didn't have a name yet, so they were called baby1 and baby2. The doctors had shoved everyone but Alicia out of the room, saying that they could visit tomorrow. As soon as the other left, Jordan came.
"Hey, how are you?"
"I'm fine," Caroline said, "Come meet our sons."
"You mean our sons?" Sandra asked as she came in the room. Caroline shook her, not wanting to fight after just giving birth, "So have you decided?" Caroline looked down at the sleeping boys in her arms. She loved them with all heart, and it would be hard to let go, but she knew she had to, "Yes I have."
"Well?"
"I'm going to let the bots go with their father," she said with tears in her eyes, "Better him than some stranger. And I know that despite our differences, you will love them as your own. Would you like to hold them?"
Sandra was shocked. She honestly hadn't expected her to do what she was doing. As she took one of the boys in her arms, she felt joy go through her, "What are their names?"
"They don't have any yet," Alicia said as she watched the woman. She didn't trust her, but she did seem to be genuinely captivated by the baby.
"Actually I have an idea for names," Jordan said.
"What?" Alicia asked.
"Well I was thinking that baby1," he said referring to the baby in his wife's arms, "Is going to be called Eric Jordan McKnight, and baby2 is Connor Jayden McKnight." Caroline and Alicia both gasped softly at the names. Eric was the shortened form of Caroline's middle name, Erica; and Jayden was a combination of her parents names, Jamison and Dennica. 'So that's why he asked me my full name and that of my parents.'
"I know that you love these babies, but I do have one request," Sandra said. Every looked at the auburn haired woman.
"What is it?" Caroline asked.
"You are to stay away from the twins," Ken said coming into the room, startling them.
"What?!"
"You heard me," he said, "I let you give birth to them, now if you want to see your daughter then you agree."
"I already agreed to give them up, why can't that be enough?" she asked.
"Because I don't want them confused as to who their parents are," Sandra said calmly.
"Now wait just a minute," Alicia started only to be stopped by Caroline's arm, "No wait Lish. It's ok."
"What?" she said incredulously, "You can't be serious."
"I am," she said, "I can't lose my daughter. It sucks to have to choose, but I can't allow them to be brought up in that house, where they might feel Ken's anger. Kim's his daughter so she won't feel much, but the twins aren't."
"You're braver than I am," Jordan said.
She gave a tiny smile and looked at Sandra, "Just promise me something."
"What?"
"Promise to love them and be there for them," she said as the tears flowed down her cheeks, "Always put them first, and let them know every day that they are loved."
"I will," Sandra said, "And I know it may not seem like it, but I am sorry." The nurse came in and wrote up the birth certificate with the names. The twins stayed in the hospital overnight, and then left along with Sandra and Jordan. Caroline cried in Alicia's arms as she watched them leave. Later at her house, after many explanations as to why she didn't have the boys, she sat in her room silently crying. Her door pushed opened and she looked up to see her eight year old daughter looking at her, "Mommy, why are you crying? Did you have a bad dream?"
Caroline gave her daughter a watery smile. She leaned over and pulled her onto the bed with her, "Yes sweetie, mommy had a bad dream." 'One I wish I could wake up from.' "But you know what?"
"What mommy?" young Kimberly asked.
"I'm going to be fine because I've got you," she said as she kissed her, "Now let's get some sleep. Mommy's tired."
"OK," Kim said, "I love you mommy."
"I love you too baby." They fell asleep in each other's arms. Weeks went without word from Jordan. She heard from him in June, one year after they met. He had told her why he chose to name the kids after her, saying tat by doing that, she would always be with them, even if they didn't know it. She knew that he and his wife had moved from San Francisco, but to where she had no clue. Months turned into years, as she went on with her life. She still thought about them, but knew in her heart they were ok. She had finally divorced from Ken and had gotten remarried to French artist and art dealer, Pierre Dumas. Pierre knew all about what had happened, and had been there when she finally broke down and let out the emotions that she had been holding inside since she gave her boys up. She moved to Paris, her homeland, leaving her daughter behind. She was sad, but knew that she was well taken care of. As it was, her mind would wonder about her three kids, but she knew deep down that she would see them again and couldn't wait for the day when it did.
A/n: ok. I'm glad I got this chapter over with. Just to let you know, the next chapters are going be revealing chapters. I just can't wait anymore. The others need to know. Secrets are going to come out in the next few chapters.
A/N 2: to those that are possibly confused about the twin thing; Connor actually mentioned a few times in DT about a twin that lives up in Blue Bay Harbor (maybe during the episode with the NS gang. I think it was call 'Thunderstruck'; I'm not too sure though), and if you remember at the end of NS, three teens were late to class; the guy Eric is Connor's twin. Well anyway, you guys know what to do, push that little button below and send a review. Your opinions matter, but I should warn you, any flames will not be taken into consideration and will actually be used to warm my house.
A/N 3: I'm working on the next chapter for HBC, should have it up by tomorrow.