A/N: Getting back into some neglected storylines here...so, I know I said this would be it for this series. And in a way it will be. However, I've been sort of kicking around a new story, this one focusing on Eva starting at Eden Hall, with David and Mikey already having been there for a few years. It's just kind of some notes right now. But if people were interested...anyway, let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 41: Relapse

Tammy sighed and knocked on the door of Connie and Charlie's. She was holding a bag with the latest boys clothes from RDC-E collection, their baby and children's line, named for Eva.

"Hi," Charlie said.

"Hi," she whispered and hugged him awkwardly. "It's really good to see you."

"You too," he smiled. "You brought presents?"

"Um, baby clothes," she said and held up the bag.

"Of course," he said. "Come on in." She walked in. "So this is awkward." She laughed. "Cons!" He said as they walked in.

"Hi," Connie smiled.

"Hi," Tammy said. "Um,"

"I'll let you two um," he said. "I'll go check on the baby." He walked away.

"So," Connie said. "I saw pictures from your show in Vogue. That's really cool." Tammy nodded.

"It's been nuts," Tammy admitted and sat down. "So a baby?"

"It's totally tiring," Connie said. "But he's amazing, wait until you see him." Tammy nodded. "So uh, how's your Mom?"

"She's good," Tammy said. "Look, not to be abrupt or anything, but why did you decide to call me?"

"Guy said you've been having a hard time," Connie sighed. Tammy nodded and frowned. "Tammy, really, I've wanted to for years, but I just thought you wouldn't want to hear from me."

"Oh," Tammy said softly. "Well, I guess that makes it OK then," she sat down. Connie sighed.

"Really? You came here to make me feel guilty?" Connie said.

"No," Tammy sighed, "I didn't. I'm sorry if you do." Connie sighed. "Do you expect me to?"

"Don't you?" She said. "The phone works both ways."

"I'm sorry," Tammy said, "was I supposed to call you when you said you never wanted to talk to me again?" Connie stared at her.

"Wow," Connie said. "So you don't take any responsibility for this?" Tammy frowned.

"Wait," Tammy stopped. "You actually expect me to apologize to you?" Connie shrugged. "For what exactly?"

"I think you know," Connie mumbled.

"Right," Tammy stood up, "I'm sorry I wasn't as strong as you were. I'm sorry that I was able to find you someone to adopt your baby so that you didn't have to go through what I did." She grabbed her purse. Charlie walked back downstairs. "It was good to see you Charlie." She walked out. Connie sat down.

"What did you do?" Charlie said. Connie frowned. "Cons!"

"Look, it's not my fault she," she started, "I mean, it's been three years, maybe it's been too long." He sat down and kissed her.

"We'll try again in another three years," he whispered. She laughed and wiped her eyes.

"Hey," Kyla said sitting up on her knees on Dean's bed while he packed for a trip back home. "When you go away how does this work?"

"How does what work?" He raised his eyebrows. "I just met you, and you've pretty much started living in my apartment."

"I haven't heard you complain," she shrugged. He laughed and kissed her.

"Here," he handed her an extra key. "You don't have to sleep in your tiny two room apartment with your four roommates."

"And two of their cats," she said and kissed him. He laughed. "Thank you."

"Now there are some house rules," he said. "No parties, no boys," she laughed.

"I have a huge paper due," she said. "You're saving me from sleeping in the library, really."

"I like thinking of you sleeping in the library," he said. "Makes me think of college and all the sleeping I did there."

"Yes, but see, when I sleep in the library, it's me catching a half hour nap on a chair and then getting back to work," she said. "Not having sex with a TA."

"I never had sex with a TA," he laughed. "Work study students, yes, but TA's, never." She laughed. They kissed again. "I don't really want to go yet." She laughed.

"I'll be here when you get back," she said. He kissed her again and they fell back on the bed. "Why do you have to go anyway?"

"Because," he sighed, "my two best friends are getting married, I'm their best man, and their engagement party is this week. I'd bring you with me, but you've got that paper, and there's no way I'm letting Tanya and Lisa meet you yet, it's way too soon." She laughed. They kissed again and then a horn honked.

"Cab?" She sighed. He nodded. "OK, call me when you land so I know you're not dead or whatever."

"You got it," he said. "See you on Monday."

"Bye," she said. "Thanks again." They kissed.

"No problem," he smiled.

"Hey," Jimmy pulled up and saw Julie walking out to her car. "Where you headed?"

"I have to pick Mikey up at practice," she said. Stephanie came running out too. "Steph, Jimmy's home, you don't have to come now if you don't want to."

"Hi Jimmy!" Stephanie said excitedly hugging Jimmy.

"Hi Bug!" He squeezed her and picked her up. "I missed you." He looked at Julie. "Isn't it a little early in the year for Pee Wee's practice?"

"Not hockey," Julie said. "Soccer." She shook her head unable to hide her distaste.

"Mikey plays soccer?" Jimmy cheered up.

"Yeah, in the fall," Julie said, "only because my dad was afraid that if he played football he'd break something and not be able to play hockey in the winter."

"You can get hurt playing soccer too," Jimmy frowned.

"Not when you're seven you can't." Julie laughed. "Stephie, are you coming?"

"I'll stay with Jimmy," she said. Julie nodded and drove away. "Why doesn't Julie like soccer?" Jimmy laughed.

"She just likes to tease me because hockey players are tougher than soccer players," he explained, "so she's tougher than me."

"Oh," Stephie nodded. "I'm going to play hockey like Julie."

"You bet you are," he said. "You'll even be better than her; we'll both make sure of it." Stephanie giggled.

Steve sat quietly in the chair set up for him at the set. Casey walked over and sat down next to him.

"This man is an idiot," Casey mumbled. Steve assumed he was referring to the director.

"You hired him," Steve shrugged. "I'll sell it, don't worry."

"You could sell ice to Eskimos, that doesn't worry me," Casey shook his head. Steve nodded. "You screwing the press though."

"Relax," Steve said. "It's not going anywhere, she knows that." Casey raised his eyebrows. "Oh, baby, yeah, I had a great time too, but who are we kidding, I live in New York, you live in LA, it could never work. I know I hate it too, you're so special," he immediately dropped character and then shrugged.

"Wow, you're kind of a dick," Casey said. "I would have wasted so much time trying to convert you in college." Steve laughed.

"I might've gone for it if you got me drunk enough," he smirked. Casey laughed. "I floated using Emma for RDC by Kelly last night."

"Synergy," Casey nodded, "hot. How'd she take it?"

"I think we can get her on board," he said. "I don't think Tammy's ever going to talk to me again, so that could be a problem." As he spoke his cell phone rang. "Callins." He said.

"Steve?" Tammy said. "I'm really sorry, I know you're working, but if I stop by,"

"Yeah," he said. "Come by, we should talk anyway."

"You people a fucking chronic," Casey shook his head and walked away.

Tanya walked into Lisa and Kevin's place quietly. Lisa smiled from the kitchen table.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey," Tanya smiled and sat down. "Why is it so quiet in here?"

"Mmm," Lisa closed her eyes. "Because Kevin took the baby and Lizzie to pick up Dean at the airport, and David stayed at Patrick's last night." Tanya nodded. "Are you OK?"

"Yeah," Tanya nodded. "I guess, I mean, engagement party, it makes it all real."

"Are you having second thoughts?" Lisa asked.

"No, of course not," Tanya shook her head. "I love Fulton." Lisa nodded.

"Are you sure?" Lisa said. Tanya sighed. "Look, it's just that the two of you have these super intense past relationships that never really went away. And I know, there cannot be three people in a marriage, trust me."

"It's not like that," Tanya said. "The doubts have nothing to do with Dean."

"So where are the doubts?" Lisa asked.

"His job," she whispered. Lisa nodded. "Lee, it's so dangerous, if something were to happen to him."

"Oh God," Lisa hugged her. "That's an OK doubt to have." Tanya nodded and wiped her eyes. "Sweetie," she said. "Is that really it?"

"We might have to move," Tanya sighed, "I mean, I get it, it's part of the job. But Chicago's home, you know?"

"I know," Lisa said. "But it's exciting." Tanya nodded. "So, what's with Dean not wanting us to meet his new girlfriend?"

"I don't know," Tanya shook her head, "apparently we're 'scary?'"

"He's clearly unbalanced," Lisa said. Tanya laughed. David walked in a slammed the door. "Davey?" Lisa said and followed him as he stormed into his room. "T," she said, "sorry."

"It's OK," Tanya said. "I recognize Patrick fallout when I see it. I've seen you go through it enough times."

"Right thanks," Lisa said and walked upstairs. "Are you OK kid?"

"I hate him," David mumbled his face pressed into a pillow. Lisa sighed. He'd been crying, she could tell, but she wouldn't say anything.

"No you don't," she said and sat down. "When's he going?"

"Tomorrow," David said.

"Out on tour again?" Lisa said. "He'll come back, he always does."

"Not this time," David said. "He's not going on tour, he's just going." Lisa hugged him. "I hate him."

"Davey, baby, please stop saying that," Lisa whispered. He looked at her. "Patrick loves you, he's your father."

"Can Dad adopt me for real?" David said. Lisa closed her eyes. "You guys always said that it was my choice."

"Yeah," Lisa nodded. "I know we did, but honey, it's not a decision that you should make when you're upset." David nodded. "What did he say?"

"He said that he misses it out west," David said. "And that there's this producer in Denver wants to do an album with him." Lisa bit her lip. Almost thirty and still trying to be a goddamn rock star, when he made more than enough as a songwriter, touring and musician, "I want him to be happy Mom, but I thought,"

"I know, kiddo," she said softly. She hugged him. "Tell you what, I'm going to talk to him."

"Dad doesn't like when you talk to him," he said.

"Yeah," she nodded. "Except when it's about you." She hugged him. "I love you. Patrick loves you too."

"How can you defend him?" He asked softly. "Mom, after all the times he's,"

"David, it's very complicated," she said.

"It's not!" He said. "He left before I was born, and then over and over again." She nodded. "He tried to break up you and Dad!"

"He gave me you," she said softly. David looked at her. "Oh baby, I tried to hate him. You have no idea how many times I've tried. But I just can't. I can't hate him because he gave me you." He hugged her tightly.

"I want Dad to adopt me," he said.

"OK," she nodded, "but let me talk to him first." He nodded. "Now, cheer up, we don't need Dean killing him before I talk to him or he leaves."

"OK," David nodded. She smiled and stood up. "I love you, Mom," he said. She smiled at him. "I love you best."

"I love you first and most," she smiled, remembering their old goodnight from when she'd been pregnant with Lizzie, and when the girl had been a baby. She got into the car and drove to Patrick's. She knocked on the door. He opened it. "Hi Pat, are you busy? No, good." She walked in.

"Hi Lee, wow, it's been a year?" He said. "You look great. Lost the baby weight, me I'm good."

"You're moving to Denver?" She said. He sighed. "Tomorrow?"

"Yes but," he started.

"And you were planning on telling me when?" She asked.

"I really don't see how it's any of your business Lee," he shrugged.

"You don't?" She said. He shook his head. "So the crying ten year old, that's none of my business?" He closed his eyes. "When are you going to get that it's not just you? When are you going to understand that what you do affects him?"

"I didn't," he stuttered.

"He asked about the adoption Pat," Lisa said. "After a summer of asking to move in with you he asked if Kevin would adopt him."

"He wanted to move in with me?" Patrick said. Lisa nodded. "Lee, do you think he still,"

"Like hell I'd let you take my son to Colorado!" She said. "I was just starting to consider letting him live with you here!"

"Lisa, I'd take care of him," he said, "it might be good. Just for a little while, one school semester."

"No!" She shook her head. "No, no!"

"Isn't it up to David?" He asked.

"He's ten!" She said. "Let's see, do you want to live with your mother, step father, and two loud screaming little siblings or move to the home John Elway with your cool rocker dude dad? Of course he'd pick you!" He looked at her.

"Lisa," he said. "Please?" He whispered and put his arms around her waist. "Please, let me have some time with our son?"

"I have to think about it," she looked up at him. "And I have to talk to Kevin." He nodded. "Can you put off going for a few weeks?"

"Sure," he said softly. "Thanks." She nodded. He kissed her. "I love you."

"I love you too," she said softly.

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