"I'm going to win, I always do!" Astera exclaimed. "I don't think so. You may be younger than me but I'm stronger and bigger than you!" Mike retorted, with a small laugh.

They had been wrestling around on the floor for the past thirty minutes. They were given inspiration from a football game. Al Harris from the Green Bay Packers had sacked Mike's hero and favorite football player, Peyton Manning.

Astera couldn't help but laugh at the priceless look on Mike's face. This caused Mike to tackle her, and so they had been for the past thirty minutes.

They were too into their little match to notice Katherine Mayfair open the door, and she watched as the two of them rolled by. Katherine raised an eyebrow, before clearing her throat. Mike and Astera looked up. Katherine couldn't help but laugh.

"Aren't you two a funny pair…I don't even think I'm going to ask," Katherine said, shaking her head. Astera and Mike exchanged looks, before releasing their hold on each other. They stood up simultaneously.

"I was just stopping by to see how you we're doing over here…" Katherine said, with a soft smile.

Astera followed Katherine's gaze and saw that she was smiling at Mike. Astera rolled her eyes. "I think its cute that you two are dating. I don't know why you don't just be out and open about it," Astera stated.

Katherine gave her a knowing look, and Astera came to realization. "Oh…Susan…right…" Astera trailed.

"Katherine and I are having dinner here tonight…" Mike said, looking at Astera. Astera nodded, with a mischievous smile. "Okay…I get it. Maybe I can crash at Gabby's or something…" she said.

Katherine and Mike blushed slightly. "I didn't say you had to leave…" Mike stated, pointedly. Astera shook her head. "Oh trust me, you wouldn't need to anyway…" she joked, before walking away.

………………………….

Astera had been walking the streets for a good forty five minutes. It wasn't that she went to every house on the street…it was just that everyone seemed to want to talk to her.

Susan had Jackson over, and Astera didn't want to invade their privacy. Then Susan went on this rant about how Astera should spend some more time with Susan's daughter, Julie when Julie came back from college.

Gabby didn't have any more rooms available, since her two daughters each had their own room. Gabby offered Astera the guest room bed, but when Gabby's one daughter Juanita gave Astera an evil glare Astera suddenly realized she wouldn't feel safe sleeping there. Gabby had begun talking to her about how her and Astera should one day fly to New York and be modeling buddies.

Lynette was dealing with her own problems with her older boys. Astera didn't even ask the question, because as soon as she went up to the door she heard Lynette screaming at the boys. Astera needed her sleep, after all. So instead of asking Lynette for a place to stay, she began to talk to Lynette about maybe working part-time at the pizza parlor when she wasn't working as an EMT whenever the hospital hired her.

Astera walked up to Bree's house. Bree was probably her last hope. She knocked on the door and saw Ria there. Ria crossed her arms, before her eyes overlooked Astera.

"Can I help you?" Ria asked, in a mocking tone. Astera bit her lip to refrain herself from saying something stupid. She had completely forgotten about Ria living with Bree.

"Is Bree home?" Astera questioned. "Why?" Ria retorted. Astera blinked in surprise. "Because…I need to ask her something…" Astera replied. Ria yawned, before leaning against the doorframe. "She might be…" Ria retorted.

Astera scoffed. "You know what, never mind…" Astera said, before turning away. Ria smirked after her. "You want me to tell her you stopped by? Not saying I will but…you know…" Ria questioned.

Astera ignored Ria's question and continued to walk up the street. There was one more place she could try, and that was Edie's house.

Astera would much rather deal with Edie than with Ria. Ria was completely intolerable, Edie not so much. Astera walked up to the house, and sighed. She couldn't believe she was going to ask Edie for help, but then again…Ria was just as bad, if not worse.

Astera knocked on the door, and a minute or so later Dave answered it.

"Astera, hi. I haven't seen you in about a week. How's it going?" he asked.

"Its….going. Is Edie home?" Astera questioned. Dave showed her an amused smile, as if the thought of Astera wanting to talk to Edie was amusing. "She's out of town. She is visiting her son, Travers…" he said.

"Oh, I…didn't know she had a son…" Astera said. "Yea, he's about sixteen now…" Dave replied.

"Hmm…" Astera said, looking away. "You need something?" Dave asked.

"Well its just that…Mike has a…guest over tonight. I wanted to give them their privacy and I was wondering if I could crash on the floor or something…" Astera said, somewhat awkwardly.

Dave smiled. He realized that this could be the perfect opportunity to get what he wanted. If it was just him and Astera alone, for a whole night…he could most certainly learn a lot. He just needed to figure out a way to get it out of her. Tonight could be the perfect opportunity to put his plan in motion.

"You can sleep here…but it doesn't have to be on the floor," Dave replied.

"Oh….thank you. I'll just head home and do a few things and I'll be back…" Astera said. She gave Dave a thankful smile, before walking away.

Dave smirked wickedly after her, before closing the door.

……………………………..

Ria picked up the phone and began to dial the Solis's number. She began to tap her fingers against the kitchen counter, waiting for someone to pick up. She was getting rather agitated that she hadn't gotten anywhere with her plan yet.

Eventually Gabby answered the phone. "Hi Gabby, its Ria. Uh… I was just wondering how Carlos was doing…" Ria stated.

Gabby explained to Ria that Carlos had to wear bandages over his eyes for a few days, and Gabby complained that she couldn't go shopping because she had to keep Carlos under constant watch.

Ria had to keep herself contained. This was the best news she could possibly hear.

"Hey, I've got an idea. How about I watch Carlos for you for a couple of hours…. Maybe a whole day. You go ahead and go shopping…" Ria stated.

She smiled. "Oh, I'm positive. Anything for a friend….okay, I'll see you in two days. Bye…" Ria said, before hanging up.

She smiled down at the phone. She was now going to destroy the life of Gabby and Carlos Solis, who had caused her to loose hers. She hung the phone back up, and headed towards her room.

She had a plan to work out.

……………………………..

Dave opened the door to see Astera standing there. "That was quick," he said, motioning for her to move inside. "Just had to brush my teeth and stuff…" Astera said. Dave ushered for her to sit on the couch, before he took a seat next to her.

"I'm sorry if this place looks really…unkempt. I tend to get alittle lazy when Edie's not home," Dave stated. "Dave, the place is basically sparkling clean. What are you talking about? You want to see lazy? Take a good look at Mike's room…" Astera commented.

Dave chuckled. "You know, I'm glad you're here. Its good to have some company…" Dave replied. Astera nodded in agreement. "Thank you, again…." She said, with a small smile.

"Oh, its no problem. Anything to get Mike and Susan, the woman he loves so much back together again…" Dave trailed. Astera raised an eyebrow. "Mike and Susan? W…Why would you think that Mike and Susan would be on a date? They are divorced…" Astera commented.

"Oh…so he's not dating…Susan?" Dave played. It was a pointless question, but Dave thought maybe it would get him an answer.

"No, its not Susan…" Astera responded, before looking away.

When Astera didn't reply with a name, Dave realized it would be a lot harder than he thought. He realized Astera wasn't just going to shout out the name, no matter what. He decided it would be best to capture her at a weak moment, and he knew just what that was.

"So…how'd your date go with that doctor, Stephen, last week?" Dave asked.

Astera turned to face him. She opened her mouth, as if to reply but something made her stop. She slouched down on the couch and let out a small whine.

Bingo, buzz kill.

"Oh dear…looks like someone needs to talk…and a drink…" Dave said, standing up and walking towards the bar.

A few hours later, Astera was just about completely wasted. Dave had convinced her to drink three glasses of vodka. Dave had also done alittle trickery of his own.

Everytime he would fill Astera's glass with vodka, he would fill his own with water. He added olives to make it even more believable. Dave needed to remain sober, so he could think straight and make sure to ask the right questions. He needed a clear head so he could remember the answers as well.

Astera turned to look at him, confused. "How are you not….whee! this is the top of my fourth and I'm sooo tempted to run around the house in circles for no apparent reason. You know what they say four tequila…floor!" she said, before taking a sip of her drink.

She turned to look at Dave and shoved his shoulder playfully. "You really know how to hold your alcohol…" she said.

"Aw, I'm getting there…I'm just not showing it yet. A man never likes to get drunk infront of a beautiful lady. It makes him look less…manly…" Dave said.

Astera giggled, before placing a hand on his chest. "Look at you, naughty boy. Telling other girls that they are beautiful when your married. Ha! But don't worry…I know that you're a man. I can tell…" Astera said, her eyes overlooking him.

Oh yea, Astera was pretty much gone. She was not acting like herself at all. His plan was working to perfection.

Astera paused, and took her hand off of Dave. "But its like…Stephen just…disappeared. He won't answer his phone or anything…" Astera stated.

She looked over at Dave, before sliding closer to him and resting her head on his shoulder. Dave smirked. This was going in the exact direction he wanted it to. Now everything seemed so easy. Plus…it looked like he might get a bonus out of the night.

Dave placed his arm around her shoulders. Now he was getting somewhere.

"I mean…I thought we were going to have something special…like the kind of relationship that Mike and Katherine have now…" Astera blurted.

Dave smirk grew to a smile. So it was Katherine that Mike was dating. Astera was now proving to be very useful. She was beginning to tell him anything that he wanted to know.

Good girl, Dave thought.

"Maybe it was because I'm a bad kisser…" Astera stated.

Dave looked down at her. "I'm pretty sure that's not the case…" Dave replied. "How would you know? You've never kissed me before…" Astera retorted.

But Dave wanted to.

"That's true…but still…I don't think that's why…" Dave trailed. The reason was because Stephen fields was dead, but Astera would never know that…ever.

Or at least know that Dave was the killer.

Astera brought her gaze to meet his. "You know what? Would you do something for me? She asked.

"What's that?" Dave questioned.

"Will you tell me…if I'm a bad kisser?" Astera questioned. Dave looked down at her and raised his eyebrows.

"You want me to kiss you?" Dave asked. Yep, she was hopelessly drunk. This was not her at all…and Dave kind of liked it…a lot.

Whether it was really the alcohol talking or her as herself, Dave didn't mind. He wanted to get closer to Astera to get closer to Mike and a kiss would surely do it. It was also a good thing that Astera was attractive, or else he'd have to figure out something else.

"Well, you're married so I would understand if you-"

Dave cut Astera off by leaning in and kissing her softly. He pulled her closer, making sure to deepen the kiss…but not too deep. He pulled away after a few seconds, knowing he was leaving her wanting more.

He watched as her eyes opened slowly. "Not bad at all," Dave stated, truthfully.

Astera stared at him for a few seconds. "Oh…my…god," she said. Dave gave her a confused look. Maybe this wasn't going to be the reaction he wanted. Maybe this was a bad reaction.

"Dave Williams, I so have the hots for you right now…" Astera stated.

Okay, that was a good thing for Dave,

Normally, Astera would not have acted like this in any way, shape, or form. Astera would never want to get with a married man. Astera would never give away her family secrets. Astera would never ask a married man to kiss her.

But these things happened, because Astera had been tricked into being someone she was not. She had been tricked into consuming alcohol.

But the thing that Astera was about to do, was something she wouldn't do with any guy. Single or Not. First Date or Fifth date.

As Astera threw herself at Dave Williams, kissing him passionately, she had no idea what she was getting herself into.

She had no idea that when she woke up, she would be completely freaked. She had no idea that Dave Williams was going to destroy the life of her favorite cousin.

To those who wanted Astera and Dave to hook up, you got your wish. This may or may not be the only time either =]