"Well I just don't understand why you would make a promise like that and then back out now." Laura said through ground teeth. "We had an agreement; I will not be made a fool."

The phone beeped. "Listen, I have someone on the other line. If you could just—" Someone was at the door too. She could hear them knocking away. "I have to call you back."

"Laura." Elizabeth greeted her soon-to-be-mother-in-law when the door opened. She offered a small smile as she stepped through the door, the binder she and Robin had only recently started in her hand. Laura had offered to help with the wedding plans and there was no good reason to turn her down. Right now Elizabeth needed a distraction, something to keep her mind off of the fact Robin was still just laying there in the hospital bed. Trying to keep Laura from completely overtaking every aspect of her wedding was as close as she had to a distraction right now. It would work right up to the point when she was sure she was going to remember Robin was supposed to be helping her do this. "I brought everything I have."

"Good." Laura beamed and hung up the phone. "Come and sit down. I made finger sandwiches."

"You didn't have to go to any trouble Laura."

"Please." Laura waved off her concern. "We can't think without proper nutrition. Do you like ham and cheese?"

"Yes. Thank you." Elizabeth eyed the telephone suspiciously. "Who were you talking to just now?"

"No one." Laura hedged. "Iced tea?"

"That's fine. Are you sure it was no one?"

"It's just a little surprise I've been working on." Laura replied.

"Surprise? Laura I don't have a good track record with surprises."

"I've been looking into a particular venue for the wedding."

So far it didn't sound like it had a chance to blow up in her face. "I'm glad you're working on plan B because plan A seems to be a dud."

"Plan A?"

"Mt. Hebron. Lucky suggested it and since it's the only thing he seems to have an opinion on, we wanted to have the wedding there. But since we're looking at Christmas, well who could have figured a small chapel in the woods would have a year wait list?"

"That's actually what I've been working on. Great minds think alike."

Elizabeth shook her head in confusion. "But when we called they said..."

"I've had you and Lucky on the list for quite a while..."

"So I was right to be paranoid?" She wasn't going to add that Lucky was correct as well. No sense in letting him know he was actually right. There would be no living with him then.

"I had a feeling. Anyway, it wasn't definite and I figured it couldn't hurt. The last three brides in your way were struck down by terrible accidents--why are you looking at me like that? I had nothing to do with it!" Laura promised.

"Sure you didn't." Elizabeth laughed lightly. The idea of making sure of that with Robin crossed her mind before she could stop it. Damn it, she told herself, this is not the time to be sad. You know Robin would kick your ass for that one. "So what other details have you decided for me?" She asked, putting on her best happy voice.

"Nothing at all. I know my limits."

"If you knew that I wouldn't have been on the waiting list before I was engaged." Elizabeth pointed out.

"Do you want Mt. Hebron or not?" Laura challenged.

"Touché. I withdraw the protest. What else should we discuss?"

"Color scheme for your bridesmaids?"

"I was thinking blue. It would work well for both Lulu and...." Elizabeth's voice faltered before she could finish the sentence.

"Blue works." Laura decided not to comment on Elizabeth's silence.

"Simple and classic." Elizabeth forced herself to smile. "Of course it will help if we can track Lulu down for a fitting."

"I slipped a GPS in her purse."

"Good. Lucky is about this close to doing the same thing."

"I always give my children a chance to let me into their lives." Laura reasoned.

"You're much better at it than my parents."

"Do you know what I wanted to be when I was a little girl?"

"No."

"A mother." Laura answered simply.

"It sounds like you knew your life's calling early then."

Laura couldn't help but tear up. "If only I could keep them from getting hurt."

"I know." Elizabeth sighed. "I get that it's necessary for growing up and all, but it still sucks."

"I haven't been able to get in touch with either Anna or Robert since this whole thing happened."

"I'm sure they'll show up. They've never been conventional about answering phones I hear."

"I can't imagine being away when my children need me." Laura scoffed. "However, I suppose that is hypocritical of me."

"What do you mean?"

"My daughter's life has never been more of a mystery to me than right now."

"She's in college." Elizabeth reached out to grab Laura's hand. "She's on her own for the first time and unless I'm wrong, she's met what looks to be a good guy. The men in her family don't tend to do well with that. Lulu's probably just making sure this new guy of hers doesn't scare so easily."

"Like Bradley."

"Exactly. I hate to think what nicknames they would come up with for Evan."

"She's so much more fragile than anyone realizes."

"I know. But she's also stronger than I think she's given credit for. After all she survived growing up as the only girl in this house."

"Have you and Lucky decided which type of cake you want?" Laura decided it was best to return to the main focus of the conversation.

"Chocolate."

*****

The Paradise Lounge was unusually busy for the middle of the afternoon. Vermin wouldn't have thought the crowds would be so numerous, but the people didn't bother him. A person might be nosy, but groups of people never heard anything past their table. He followed Lulu Spencer's tiny form as she spoke to the hostess. He waved her over.

"You wanted to see me?" Lulu asked, slouching down into the claustrophobic booth. She tried to keep her eyes trained on Vermin and not the action that was taking place on the stage.

"I thought this would be the best time as any to discuss your situation." Vermin explained.

"My situation?" Lulu blinked in confusion.

"You owe me a lot of money for starters."

"I know that. And I'll pay you off. I promise. You know I'm good for it."

"I know you've been saying the same thing for a while." Vermin clarified.

"Things have been tough. Business hasn't been good as it usually is." Of course the fact that she no longer went to class probably more than accounted for her drop in customers.

"I came here to talk business, not hear excuses."

"Talk. I'm listening."

"I make it a point to not negotiate with clients. It's messy and I've heard every sob story you can think of."

"Then why did you want to see me?"

"I've found an exception."

Lulu leaned back further, trying to press her body into the cheap leather of the booth. She didn't like the look in his eye. "And that would be..."

"I've come up with a solution for you."

"A solution? I'm all ears."

Vermin didn't say anything. He gestured toward the stage with a subtle little nod.

Lulu twisted her head just in time to see a girl who looked roughly her age swing herself around on the cold metal pole. The various middle-aged men and enforcer-types that Vermin usually surrounded himself with offered up a smattering of applause for her effort. Twirling her head around again, Lulu met Vermin's eyes with incredulity. "You're serious?"

"You would earn what you owe me in a week tops." Vermin told her.

"But I...I couldn't..." She tried to ignore the increase of applause that probably meant a strategic article of clothing had come off of the girl on stage. "I don't...I wouldn't know how to do that."

"You could learn."

"I'm not that fast of a learner."

Vermin leaned closer so that their noses were almost touching. "Then I suggest you try to be better because I am not a patient man."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm tired of waiting for payment. Either you do this or they'll be consequences."

"What kind of consequences?"

"The kind I'm not going to talk about in public."

Lulu nodded her head quickly. It would just be the next in the long line of decisions her parents would never know about if she could help it. Shame quickly flooded her as she heard the words fall from her lips. "When do you want me to start?"

*****

Kate Howard paused outside the glass doors just long enough to run her fingers through her hair. This move was a gamble, but it was the only move she had. He had no reason to go with her plan, except for the fact they had nothing to lose at this point. Walking through the doors, she fixed her best steely look at the lone receptionist, a mere girl, couldn't be more than twenty-one. She had been working at her first station when she was this girl's age.

"Can I help you?" Becca asked, stunned to see Kate Howard striding into her reception area.

"Cruz Rodriguez. It's urgent."

"Is he expecting you?"

"No. But I'm sure once you'll tell him I'm here he'll make room in his schedule." Kate said confidently, crossing her arms.

Becca pushed the button to Cruz's phone, and hurriedly spoke before he got a chance to say hello. "Kate Howard is out here to see you."

Kate sat down, hoping this would work the way she thought it would. She was running out of ideas and she realized Cruz was probably running out of options. Hopefully he wasn't stubborn when it came to saving his magazine.

"Send her in." Cruz allowed leaning back in his chair.

"He'll see you. Just go straight..."

"I can find my way." Kate cut her off. It wasn't like the magazine had a maze of offices. She could see Cruz from here. "Thank you."

"Can I offer you some coffee?" Cruz greeted Kate when she let herself into his office.

"No. Thank you. I'm here to make you an offer."

"Who are you?"

"Kate Howard. I'm a reporter. A damn good one if I do say so myself. And I'm the person Jasper Jax wants to help take over your magazine."

"So you're a spy then. Ask me whatever you want. I'll tell you what I've told everyone else: No comment."

"You misunderstand me. I'm not a spy. I don't even want the job. I'm here to help you."

"Oh why didn't you say so?" Cruz rolled his eyes.

"Look I know you have no reason to trust me on this. You don't know me and I just admitted to being in contact with your worst enemy."

"He's an enemy only because he chooses to be."

"And I choose to be your friend."'

"And why is that?"

"We're journalists. We may be in different areas, but we understand the game. I have to eat, drink, and live for crimes. You have to do the same for the events going on here in town. Jasper Jax just sees money. We see the story, the heart, what really matters."

"So you're saying we're the same?"

"No. Not the same. But we understand each other."

"Why do you want to help me?"

"Because I don't like to see people get pushed around. From what I've been able to find out, the only reason this magazine is on anyone's radar is you. I like to see people who do the work get the credit. I know it's a crazy idea."

"Very crazy." Cruz agreed.

"So do you want to hear my plan or not?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Not if you want to beat Jasper Jax."

"Well then."