Chapter 5

Tuesday February 3rd, 2009
Las Vegas, Nevada
Willows Residence
8:13 a.m. P.S.T

Sara had spent the night reading in the chair in the spare room as she watched over her friend, making sure to wake her every couple of hours to make sure everything was all right and that she didn't need any further medical attention.

Vittoria was a little slower than normal getting dressed thanks to the wonderful head splitting migraine she had woken up with. She was prone to them to begin with and she knew that a concussion could give anyone, even someone not prone to getting them, a migraine, it just meant her's was a little worse than normal. Actually the fact that she was vertical at all was a surprise to her but she did need assistance making her way from the house out into the waiting car. Ken and David were with her and Sara in the car as they made their way from Sara and Gil's townhouse across town to the house Catherine shared with her mother and daughter. When they pulled onto the street, it was evident that the rest of the night shift team was already at Catherine's as all their cars could be seen parked either in her driveway or on the street out front of her house. After parking the car David helped Sara from the car before they both helped Vittoria climb from the car, Sara staying beside her friend and helping her up to the front door as David took the lead in front of them while Ken brought up the rear. When they reached the front door, David reached out and knocked.

"There you…Hello?" Catherine said when she opened the door, only to come face to face with David. "Excuse me but where do you think you're going?" she demanded when David went to enter the house.

"If you'll kindly step aside, Ma'am," David said.

"Like hell I will," countered Catherine.

"Catherine, if you want me in that house, you'll have to let David in first," Vittoria said from behind him.

"I beg your pardon?" demanded Catherine.

"Catherine please, just let him in so he can do his job," Vittoria said. When Catherine refused to get out of the way, Vittoria sighed. "Fine. I knew this wouldn't work," she said looking at Sara. "David just take us back to Sara's townhouse please and put a call in to the pilot. I want to return home as soon as possible."

"Like I said last night I'm all for you high tailing it back to DC Ali, but something tells me the group in there isn't going to let you disappear without coming after you now that they know what you look like. And Cath isn't going to just step aside without questioning David you know?" Sara spoke up quietly.

"Sara, you of all people know how difficult it would be for them to get to me should they follow me back and Catherine doesn't have a choice in the matter. If she wants me in that house, she has to step aside and let David look around," Vittoria countered.

"True," Sara agreed before turning to look at Catherine, "Cath honestly, I know you don't like people snooping around, interesting really when you think about it considering our line or work...but please. It's either let David do his job or Ali will go back to DC and goodbye any chance of seeing her again. And we both know if you cost me my chance of having her around I'll sic the guys in my fan club at the lab on you."

"Why do I have to let him look around?" demanded Catherine.

"Safety precaution, Ma'am," David said.

"Fine," Catherine sighed as she stepped back to allow David into the house. "Aren't you coming in?" she asked when neither Vittoria, Sara nor Ken moved to follow David into the house.

"Not until we have the all clear, Ma'am" Ken said.

"I see," said Catherine as David returned to the door, nodding to Ken to indicate the house was safe to enter.

"So, on to the great meeting where we all may kill each other," Sara mused as they moved into the house. "Thanks Cath," she whispered as they moved past her.

Catherine frowned but chose not to comment, for now. Turning she led the way to the living room where the others were, Sara sinking onto the couch next to Gil, Vittoria taking the final spot with them as Ken and David leaned against a wall for now.

"Alright Catherine, you demanded this little get together so, why don't you start the interrogation?" Vittoria said, rubbing her temples.

"Before she says anything, can I just say...holy crap you're the woman that was with the VP!" Greg interrupted, and Sara mentally winced.

"No, she's not," countered Nick.

"Knew we should have put a wig on you or something," Sara glanced over at Vittoria with a smile. "That and the fact that he's not as smart as he looks," she added nodding towards Nick.

"Going to school mom, don't want to know what the big get together with your co-workers is, just hope to God it's not some big orgy or something," newly turned sixteen-year-old Lindsey spoke as she walked through the room before stopping and looking over at the couch. "Wow, when did you meet the future Madame Vice President? Get me an autograph, kay? I gotta get to school before Tina tries to make a move on Paul again. You think she'd know to leave off another girl's bf even as much as she's the total living embodiment of every blonde joke but in a brunette haired body that she is..." Lindsey shrugged before continuing on her way. "See ya Mom, don't do anything you'd ground me for."

"God save me from teenagers," Catherine muttered as she shook her head.

"That was great, the teenager recognized her, and they're supposed to not give a care about politics and today's society," Greg laughed as he looked at Nick.

"Is it so hard for you to believe Nick that your whore of an ex-wife might actually be involved with a man for more than just money? That maybe, just maybe I'm not the person you believed me to be?" asked Vittoria quietly.

"Stop, don't answer," Sara spoke up quickly. "I really don't have the energy to get up and try to attack you again..." she added with a sigh.

"And I really don't want my living room to look like a war zone. Can we try to do this like civilized adults, no name calling...the teenager did just leave the house...even if she did go to make out with her boyfriend," Catherine shuddered.

"Ma'am, you know what Falcon told you," David said stepping up behind Vittoria and putting his hand on her shoulder.

"I know," Vittoria said quietly, wiping away an escaping tear.

"If you want to leave just say the word and we'll get you out of here," David said. "Falcon wants you back in one piece in every sense of the word, Ma'am."

"I know. Thank you, David," Vittoria said.

"Falcon?" asked Nick in confusion.

"Can I tell him? Please?" Greg asked eagerly. "He's being so...well blonde about it. No offence Cath."

"None taken," Catherine interjected.

"Ali?" Sara asked glancing at her; it wasn't her place to give Greg, however eager he was, permission.

"He means the Vice President Nick," Vittoria said.

"They're Secret Service, dingbat," Greg added with a nod.

"Shut up," Nick snapped at him before looking back at Vittoria.

"Look can we all just get past the fact that the two men with me are Secret Service and that I'm engaged to the Vice President, please?" Vittoria begged in exasperation. "You demanded this meeting Catherine because you said you wanted answers. Ask. I'll do my best to answer."

"Holy shit you're engaged to the VP?" Greg asked after quite literally falling off the couch. "Wow, can I get an autograph too?"

"Definitely upgraded," Catherine smiled, secretly enjoying the shocked look on Nick's face. "Congrats, but why don't we get this started and over with sooner. Honestly I don't know what I want to ask I just want the tension that's been between everyone, well save you and the two over there, in this room since you left to go away."

"Well, that's not exactly possible since it's doubtful Nick and I will ever get along again," Sara pointed out with a shrug.

"Actually, I should be thanking Nick," Vittoria said out of the blue.

"Excuse me?" Sara looked at her shocked.

"What?" Nick spoke at the same time.

"If Nick hadn't thrown me away like a piece of garbage, I never would have run east, run back to the life I'd walked away from when I graduated med-school and I never would have met Robert," Vittoria shrugged.

"Well, I suppose that's logical," Sara shrugged. "In that case, thanks Nick, well not for the whole fact my best friend disappeared for two years, missed my wedding, and all those other important things. But at least she found happiness with a really great guy who actually is all he appears to be and hey, how about that he's kinda well off to make things better."

Nick snorted in disbelief.

"Why is it so hard for you to believe that I've found happiness with someone like Robert Kinsley?" demanded Vittoria.

"I just find it hard to believe that a man like our Vice President would marry his whore," Nick snapped.

"If I'm a whore it's because you forced me into it," Vittoria said leaping to her feet and swaying slightly at her sudden movement.

"Like hell I did," countered Nick, closing the distance between him and Vittoria.

"Back away Sir," David said stepping between Vittoria and Nick.

"Enough man," Warrick spoke as he pulled Nick back, neither he nor Vittoria had even seen him rise. "You know, you gotta realize you screwed up," Warrick continued to Nick. "You just what? Believed everything the news said? We all know reporters tell the news as they see it half the time, and you just took their word for gold? She was your wife Nick; you should have trusted her enough to get the story. I just know her as a friend and me, Greg, hell the rest of us all know that Tori wouldn't have been going around selling her body like that. And as for the VP? Hell Stokes, he's damn lucky to get a woman like her, who cares what mistakes she's made in her life if any."

"I never did anything like what you accused me of Nick. I never sold myself to anyone," Vittoria said, tears falling down her cheeks. "I loved you and you threw me away!"

"I didn't throw you away Tori," countered Nick.

"Then what would you call it Nick? You told me to get out of the house. You told me you never wanted to see me again. My God Nick, you pushed me away from you hard enough that I tripped over the coffee table and you didn't even bother to stop and see if I was all right. What was I supposed to think? That if I stuck around, things would blow over and you'd come back to me? Nick you made it quite clear that you wanted nothing more to do with me and you refused to let me explain anything."

"Dude you really left her after she fell over a coffee table that you basically pushed her in to?" Greg asked with a frown. "That's just wrong, what if she had been seriously injured?"

"Then Griss would have been providing Sara with a serious alibi," Warrick spoke quietly.

"No he wouldn't, he loves me but he'd never give me an alibi if I killed someone," Sara countered before looking at Nick. "Well, explanation please, how could you just leave her there?"

"She was fine," Nick snapped. "She wasn't bleeding and she was still conscious."

"And had a concussion, you bastard. I had to drive myself to Heather's. I could have killed myself or someone else if I'd passed out behind the wheel."

"If what they said about you on the news wasn't true, as you claim, why run? Why disappear into thin air Tori? Why not stay and fight?" questioned Nick.

"Because I was afraid Nick," Vittoria countered. "And my name isn't Tori anymore. Vittoria Stark died two years ago."

"Oh God I forgot, everyone this is Ali, you of course know everyone Ali," Sara spoke up. "Oh and Nick, remind me later to smack you."

"What were you afraid of Tori…I mean Ali?" asked Greg curiously.

"I was afraid that you would react in a similar way to Nick. That you would turn me away like he did and I couldn't face that. I couldn't bare the thought that people I considered friends would turn me out and not let me explain. But most of all I was afraid of what you guys, Sara and Peter especially, would think of me," Vittoria said.

"Ali, we were your friends. What that reporter said didn't change how we thought of you. You could have come to us and we never would have turned you away," Warrick said.

"I know that now, Warrick, but I didn't then. All I knew was that Nick and I had been together for over a year and I believed him when he said he loved me and look at how he reacted. He didn't even give me a chance to explain that what was reported on the news wasn't true, that I had never sold myself in that way for money. It was against everything I ever stood for. What was I supposed to think, Warrick? The man I'd married and given my heart to had just ripped it out of my chest and threw me away like a piece of garbage, why should I think any of you would treat me any different. So I ran. I gave up everything I had worked for here. I gave up my career, my reputation, my family, my name and even my appearance. You lost a friend that night but I lost so much more," Vittoria said, her quiet voice ringing loudly in the quiet room.

"Someone had to help you though," commented Catherine. "You mentioned a Heather earlier."

"Heather Kessler…"

"As in Lady Heather?" asked Greg.

"Yes Greg," sighed Vittoria as she collapsed back onto the couch. "I've known Heather since college. She helped me start my business."

"Lady Heather's a dominatrix, you don't seem like the type," Gil said. "I mean no offense, of course."

"None taken Gil," Vittoria said. "No, I'm not a dominatrix. That was Heather's specialty and still is as you can no doubt tell. No I was more…window dressing, I guess you could call it."

"Window dressing?" asked Catherine in confusion.

"You know, the pretty girl on the arm of the high powered businessman?" Vittoria said. "That is what I was. Men would hire me to accompany them to parties, dinners, special functions where it was expected of them to bring a date but maybe they didn't want to bring their sister or their cousin and they couldn't exactly go alone so they'd call me. Sex was never part of the agreement and I made sure the men knew that up front. I even have it in writing in the contracts I made them sign."

"You mentioned you'd run back to the life you'd walked away from after med-school, was this the life you were referring to?" asked Catherine curiously.

"Yes," replied Vittoria. "When Vittoria Stark died two years ago, Aliana Frey returned to take her place."

"Which would explain the change in appearance," Warrick commented.

"Yes. I had to make sure there was no way to connect me with Vittoria Stark ever again," Vittoria said.

"Is that why you killed my child?" demanded Nick.

"I didn't kill your child Nick," countered Vittoria quietly, not looking at him.

"Then what would you call having an abortion?" he pressed.

"Just that. An abortion and like I said last night, I'm not sorry I did it even if…"

"Even if what Ali?" asked Sara in concern, not liking what she heard in her friend's voice.

"Even if it means I can never have children of my own," Vittoria said, her eyes downcast towards her lap.

"Ali, you know that a having an abortion doesn't mean that you can never have children," Sara said.

"It does if there were complications," Vittoria said. "I was just this side of the window in which it is safe to perform an abortion. Something went wrong during the procedure, I don't know what exactly I just know that I can never have children of my own anymore."

"Jesus," Warrick whispered.

"Oh Ali," Sara sighed as she slipped her hand into Vittoria's. "I'm sorry doesn't cut it, but it's all I got..."

"Me too," Greg spoke up quietly as Catherine hunted for a box of tissues before holding them up questioningly as she smiled sadly.

"Thanks," Vittoria said as she leant over and took a few tissues from Catherine, jumping slightly as she did so and glancing over at Gil when he pulled his arm back from his momentary rubbing of her back in comfort.

"That still doesn't explain why you did it and never bothered to tell me you were even pregnant in the first place," commented Nick, more anger in his voice than empathy.

"I had every intention of telling you I was pregnant Nick. I had only just learned of it the morning my life fell apart and you didn't exactly give me chance. As for why I did it, I already told you. I was cutting all ties to my life as Vittoria Stark and the business I was going back to was an appearance-based business. I can't really sell myself as window dressing if I'm as big as a house."

"I guess it also wouldn't help get your customers into bed if you were pregnant either would it," Nick commented nastily.

"That's outta line man," Warrick said.

"No actually, I don't think it is," Nick said. "She's denied having slept with anyone prior to two years ago. I want to hear her deny she's been selling herself since then."

"Okay, you know what, that's it. Call it hormonal overload; call it a bitchy pregnant woman. I say enough is enough," Sara snapped, "Cath, I know you have a good reason for this little intervention but quite frankly I don't see Nick and I ever getting along again as long as either of us lives if he's going to be this...down right nasty about everything. So intervention attempted, intervention not working. I didn't sleep last night, I know no one else here save Ali and the two living versions of superman over there," she hooked a thumb towards Ken and David who both grinned before coughing to hide them at her nickname for them. "I'm going to go home to crash, after sending him out for chocolate. Ready Ali?"

"More than ready," Vittoria said as she carefully climbed back to her feet. "Sleep sounds like a wonderful idea since I did get woken up every hour or so last night. Oh and Nick," Vittoria said turning to face him before walking over to where he was standing and slapping him as hard as she could. "You are such a hypocritical bastard. You stand there judging me for my actions in order to survive and accuse me of things you know nothing about," she hissed. "You forget I know all about your relationship with Kristy Hopkins. You remember the common streetwalker that you were accused of murdering? Don't you dare judge me. Jethro treated me better than you and even he made mistakes and like you I never told him about my past. At least Robert knows the truth about everything and thanks to him, I now have the family you denied me."

"I never forced you to have an abortion, Tori," countered Nick as he rubbed his cheek.

"You turned me away when I needed you most, Nick, so yes, you are responsible. And my name is Ali, not Tori," Vittoria said before turning around and walking out of the living room, David and Ken close behind.

"Just keep on digging that hole Nick, gonna make it so much easier to bury you after Sara murders you one of these nights," Greg muttered.

"Don't tempt me anymore than I already am," Sara added darkly as she rose to her own feet. "Cath thanks for the hospitality, I'll call later. Warrick and Greg, see you at work tonight. Nick...drop dead," she added as she walked out of the house, Gil just shaking his head as he followed her.

"That went anything but well," Catherine sighed, "Oh and Nicky, stop being a jackass already...it's really making the whole putting the bone to rest idea not work. Are you honestly trying to get yourself killed by treating Sara's best friend that way? In front of her especially, when we all know how Sara is normally a bit emotional and about a hundred times more now that she's pregnant?"

"Yeah, you think what she does to the coffee is bad..." Greg shook his head. "Night guys I'm crashing, and Nick, you better start rethinking your attitude, don't get me wrong I'd be upset if I found out my girl had an abortion, but at the same time...if I had left her, I'd realize I didn't have a right."

Wednesday February 4th, 2009
Henderson, Nevada
Stark Residence
5:53 p.m. P.S.T

It had been two years since she had last set foot inside the house. Two years since she'd last seen the pictures on the mantle, pictures of her and her brother over the years along with the one picture that never changed and never moved from the mantle, the last picture they had of their family before their parents had been killed by a drunk driver when Peter was eighteen and she only twelve. Everything had changed for them that fateful night. Their parents had been out celebrating their anniversary, leaving Vittoria at home under her brother's care. They were on their way home when it happened. They were hit head on by a driver that had been swerving all over the road and swerved into their lane right in front of them. Their car took the worst of the impact with the pick up truck the drunk driver had been driving. The guy had been well over the legal limit and had been charged with and convicted of vehicular manslaughter and served a few years in prison. As a result, her older brother Peter had been forced to give up his dreams of attending M.I.T. and took a job with a construction company in order to take care of his baby sister, not wanting to be separated from her.

He'd done so much, given up more than he should have had to over the years in order to take care of her; it's part of why she'd done what she'd done in college. He'd almost gone bankrupt trying to pay for her college education. She couldn't bear the thought of costing her brother more than he'd already given her just so she could go to medical school. What made this so hard for Vittoria was that she'd outright lied to her brother. Yes, she'd neglected to inform him of what she'd been doing while in college but that wasn't quite the same as blatantly lying to him year after year during her time at medical school. She couldn't bear to tell him the truth of how she'd gotten the money to pay for it so she'd told him she'd gotten a scholarship, not wanting to worry him about how he was going to pay for medical school after nearly bankrupting himself simply with her college education.

She'd planned it so they got to the house shortly before her brother would get home from work, that way David and Ken could quickly look around without her brother asking too many questions. She had managed to get them to agree to stay outside in the car by agreeing to stay within sight of the living room window, leaving her brother and her to talk privately when he returned home.

She was standing looking at the pictures on the mantle when she heard the front door open and close, and then movement in the front foyer. Turning around she saw him step into the doorway of the living room as he looked through the mail in his hand. He hadn't changed much in the two years she'd been away. His short hair was still the same light brown it had always been, although it was a bit grayer then she remembered. His tall 5'11" frame was still just as strong looking thanks to the manual labor he did everyday.

"Hey Big Brother," Vittoria said quietly.

Peter stopped flipping through the mail when he heard the voice coming from the living room. It was a voice he hadn't heard in two years, a voice he would know anywhere and a voice he'd missed hearing. "Little One?" he asked uncertainly when he looked over at the woman standing in his living room, not quite sure if the dark haired woman was in fact his sister, her hair and her manner of dress nothing like what he was accustomed to where Vittoria was concerned.

"Hi," Vittoria said quietly, wrapping her arms around her middle protectively, not sure exactly how her brother was going to react to seeing her again after so long.

Oh God, Little One," Peter said crossing the room in four easy steps and pulling Vittoria into his arms, holding onto her tightly. "God, I've missed you."

"I missed you too," Vittoria said into his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"Whatever for?" asked Peter, still not letting go of his sister.

"For everything. For leaving like I did. For lying to you and not telling you the truth. But mostly for disappearing on you for the past two years. I can only imagine what it did to you after the way we lost our parents. It killed me having to leave," Vittoria said.

"Why did you?" asked Peter, no hint of anger or recrimination in his voice as he pulled away and led Vittoria over to the couch, sitting them both down.

"I felt like I didn't have a choice. I was afraid of what you'd say after hearing the news. Peter, it was never like that. I never did what they accused me of," Vittoria said through her tears.

"I don't care what they said, Little One, and I don't care what you did or didn't do. None of that matters to me. All that matters is that you're alive and that you're here, you're home," Peter said, pulling Vittoria close once more.

"You're not angry with me?" Vittoria asked, causing Peter to pull back from her slightly.

"I could never be angry with you, Little One. You're my baby sister, you're all the family I have left," he said brushing a few strands of Vittoria's hair behind her ear. "I would never treat you the way that jerk Nick treated you. He was way out of line, Little One. You deserve someone better than either Nick or Jethro…"

"I'm getting married," Vittoria said suddenly.

"It's not Jethro is it?" asked Peter in concern. He knew all about the years of heartache his sister had lived with because of Jethro Gibbs and he knew the condition she'd been in after her return to Vegas after his accident and how it had led to her sudden and rather hasty marriage to Nick Stokes.

"No, it's not Jethro," Vittoria said, wiping tears from her eyes. "His name's Robert and you don't have to worry, Big Brother, he's nothing like Jethro or Nick. He's actually the reason I'm here. He knows everything about me, about my past, about what I've done, about who and what I've been. He wanted me to deal with things here so that they can't haunt me anymore. He truly loves me, Big Brother."

"Do you love him, Little One? I mean truly love him?" asked Peter in concern. His concern was over the fact that he didn't want to have to be the one to pick up the pieces of his sister's broken heart or have her disappear on him again.

"Yes, Big Brother. I truly love him. Jethro will always have a part of me, there's nothing I can do about that but I've accepted the fact that things between us were never meant to be. I've finally allowed myself to move on from him and Nick. I love Robert more than I ever thought possible. He adores me, Big Brother. He would do anything to make me happy."

"I'm glad to hear it, Little One," Peter said honestly. "You deserve to be happy."

"Will you give me away?"

"Of course," Peter said.

"Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me," Vittoria said as she hugged Peter once more.

"I think I have an idea," Peter said as he returned her hug.

Thursday February 5th, 2009
Henderson, Nevada
Stark Residence
2:43 p.m. P.S.T

"Excuse me, Ma'am," David said entering the living room where Vittoria was curled up reading. "There's a Ms. Willows here to see you."

"Thanks David," Vittoria said putting her book down on the coffee table and getting up from the couch. She hadn't exactly been expecting company so she was wearing a pair of comfortable yoga style cotton pants, a simple cotton shirt with a lightweight zip up hooded sweatshirt over the top. Her long hair was tied up into a messy ponytail with a butterfly clip and she was barefoot. "What brings you by Catherine?" she asked as she stepped out into the hallway.

"A chance to talk," Catherine shrugged. "Sara told me you were here now after I showed up on her door...I'm not sure if I woke her up, or if she somehow sensed I've had coffee today..."

"I take it she went running for the ladies room then," Vittoria said. "It's part of the reason I moved in with my brother. Ken and David don't do well without their coffee first thing in the morning."

Catherine chuckled, "Lucky men, they have an excuse...we can't even sneak coffee into another part of the lab, she knows somehow...poor Greg, she's destroyed 20 pounds of Blue Hawaiian since her morning sickness started..."

"Poor man. Why don't you come into the living room, it's a little more comfortable than the hallway. Can I get you something? I have coffee and this is a Sara free zone at the moment," Vittoria said.

"God please," Catherine agreed as they walked.

"Cream and sugar?" Vittoria asked as she led Catherine into the living room.

"Yes please."

"I'll be back in a moment," Vittoria said leaving Catherine alone in the living room as she made her way into the kitchen, quickly pouring out two cups of coffee and adding the required sugar and cream before making her way back out into the living room. "That was taken two days before they were killed," Vittoria said quietly from just behind Catherine when she noticed the picture Catherine was looking at.

"You look just like your mom," Catherine spoke softly.

"Thank you," Vittoria said. "At least I did before I dyed my hair. Coffee," she said holding the cup out towards Catherine.

"Thanks," Catherine replaced the picture and took her drink before moving to sit down. "You're probably wondering why I'm here..."

"Something like that," Vittoria admitted as she retook her spot from earlier, tucking her feet up under her.

"I wanted to apologize."

"Apologize?" asked Vittoria in confusion.

"For how things ended up at my house the other day, for forcing you into that situation, for not perhaps having talked about my own past so you would have known we all wouldn't have judged you like Nick had."

"The other day really wasn't your fault Catherine," Vittoria sighed. "If it hadn't happened then it would have happened eventually. I actually brought it on myself with my little revenge scheme on Nick."

Catherine chuckled at the memory, "Don't get me wrong, it was a bit evil really and mean... but God, it was hilarious seeing the look on Nick's face after you had kicked him in the balls."

"Was it really any worse than what he did to me?" Vittoria asked quietly, not really looking at Catherine. "He told me my past didn't matter and that he loved me and then he threw me aside like a piece of garbage."

"Want a good pair of stilettos and we'll both get him next time?" Catherine asked curious. "I'm sure we can convince someone to hold him down if need be... or else Sara can threaten someone into holding him down..."

"I think I've worn my last pair of stilettos for awhile. It's a little hard to spend an entire day in those things and not have my legs cramp," Vittoria said.

"Very true, imagine dancing around a pole in them," Catherine agreed.

"I can only imagine," Vittoria said. "I know I shouldn't have run like I did. I know I should have given everyone a chance it was just… it was my worst nightmare coming true and I did the only thing I could think of."

"You know, I might have done the same thing," Catherine smiled softly. "So, no more regretting it, we all do things that we look back on and go, duh why'd we do that. But it's over, it's done, let's move past and focus on the here and now. Never doubt and never look back."

"So, we're good then?"

"I say we are...what do you say?"

"We're good," Vittoria nodded. "Which is good because I have a huge favor to ask you."

"Oh?" Catherine quirked an eyebrow before lowering it. "It's nothing illegal right?"

"No, nothing illegal and nothing that is going to embarrass you…I hope," Vittoria said, biting her lower lip worriedly for a moment. "I'd ask Sara but she's going to be a little busy at the time and won't really be available and you're really my only other female friend so…"

"So..." Catherine prompted.

"I'm getting married in June and I need a maid of honor and I was wondering…" Vittoria trailed off with a sigh. /-/It's now or never girl. What's the worst she can do but say no,/-/ Vittoria thought to herself. "I was wondering if you'd stand up for me. Be my maid of honor."

"Not quite sure if I could even classify as a 'maid' anymore, but I'd love to," Catherine smiled. "So I take it you're planning the wedding sometime around when the Grissom larvae as it's called around the lab is due to make its appearance?"

"Sara said she's due June fourteenth. I'm getting married June twentieth. I can't really expect Sara to be available and in Washington a week after giving birth," Vittoria said. "And thanks. Do you think Lindsay would be interested in being a bridesmaid? One of Robert's nieces is the flower girl and the other is a bridesmaid and his daughter Michelle is another bridesmaid."

"Knowing my daughter, she would be beyond thrilled. And yeah a week might be pushing it...well, she may be there come hell or high water but in the bridal party...might be pushing it..." Catherine agreed.

"That sounds like Sara alright," Vittoria laughed. "Especially if her recent behavior is anything to go by. You should have seen the ruckus she created when I told her I was moving out of the townhouse on her. I had to swear I wasn't leaving town and let her help me move my few things over here to prove I wasn't heading for the airport. And since you've said yes, I'm kidnapping you and Lindsay this weekend and we're going to L.A. I've already cleared it with Gil."

"That must have been quite the sight. Did she make you actually sign anything saying you weren't leaving? And deal, my daughter is now going to love you forever, be warned."

"She didn't make me sign anything but she calls me almost every hour to make sure I'm still here. And Lindsay will probably love me even more when she finds out which usher she's going to be paired with," Vittoria smiled.

"Should I be afraid?" Catherine raised an eyebrow.

"Only if you're concerned about her spending the day with the President's son," Vittoria shrugged rather nonchalantly.

Catherine's jaw dropped before she got a hold of herself and just shook her head. "She's going to freak...she's going to love you more than me!" she added with a teasing note to her voice.

"Well President and Mrs. Carson have been really nice to me and have been friends with Robert for years so we thought it only right to ask their son to be an usher. I didn't have anyone to pair with him until Sara insisted on being the pain in the butt that she is. Course it is partly my own damn fault," Vittoria said shaking her head. "I knew I should have stayed away."

"Well I'm glad she was her usual insistent self, it's nice having you back...the gender divide isn't quite as large anymore," Catherine countered.

"Well, I guess we'll have to enjoy it while it lasts then, won't we," Vittoria smiled. "So, what time does Lindsay usually finish school?"

"She's got cheerleading practice until four-thirty, she's normally home by five."

"Well, we can go make her the envy of all her friends," Vittoria said. "Gil said you could have tonight as well as tomorrow and Saturday off."

"Are you thinking of picking my daughter up and having her miss school tomorrow to go wedding shopping now?" Catherine asked with a slight smirk.

"Only if her mother agrees of course," Vittoria said.

"Hmm, I think I'll use it as a bit of incentive to study more, but I agree," Catherine chuckled.

"Well then, let me go up and get changed then we can stop off at your place so you can throw some things together for you and Lindsay then we'll swing by the high school and pick her up on our way to the airport. Robert's pilot is already prepping the plane and the hotel knows we're coming so everything should be set," Vittoria said standing up.

"I feel like I'm doing things on Sam's tab again," Catherine chuckled. "But sounds good," she agreed as she stood.

"Don't worry Catherine, Sam has nothing to do with this," Vittoria replied with a laugh as she made her way out of the room. "Better get used to it too. I'm marrying the Vice President remember?" she called as she made her way upstairs.

"Trust me, Greg won't let us forget," Catherine called after her before grabbing her cell phone to call Gil and say thank you, and tell him to let Sara know she wouldn't let Vittoria out of her sight so stop harassing the poor woman before Sara reached stalker classification.

Vittoria returned fifteen minutes later, dressed in a navy blue pant suit with a white blouse underneath, her hair hanging loose down her back, David and Ken falling into step with her as she joined Catherine in the entry way. Not long after they were at the Willows' house, packing a few things that Catherine and Lindsay would need for the weekend before heading over to the high school to pick up Lindsay, the limo getting quite a bit of attention as it pulled up. Vittoria had explained to Catherine the choice in using a limo over the normal car she had been traveling in as the Limo being more comfortable for all of them on the way to the airport. Lindsay had been shocked to say the least. She stood there for a few moments with her mouth hanging open before shrieking and jumping around for a few minutes before calming down and making her way over to her mother. If she was shocked when she saw the car, it was nothing compared to how she felt when she discovered who was waiting inside the car and the questions the person inside had for her.