Chapter 6
Thursday February 5th, 2009
Hollywood, California
Renaissance Hollywood Hotel
Presidential Suite
7:03 p.m. P.S.T
"Ali!" cried a voice when Vittoria opened the door and stepped into the Presidential Suite, only to be attacked by a brown haired girl a few moments later, completely forgetting about Catherine and Lindsay for the moment.
"Hey Sweetie," Vittoria said as she ran her hand through the young girl's hair. "Is your dad here?"
"Yeah, he's in the bedroom. Sing something for me."
"Michelle, honey I don't think now's the time and besides we don't have a piano for me to play," Vittoria countered.
"Yes now. Dad promised me you'd sing for me. I miss hearing you sing every day and besides the piano's right over here," Michelle said, taking Vittoria by the hand and dragging her across the main room of the suite. Michelle had her father's hair and eyes but her facial structure must have been from her mother as it was more refined than her father's.
"Okay, okay I give in, you win," Vittoria laughed, allowing the eight year old to pull her across the room towards the piano. "What do you want me to sing?"
"I don't care, pick something, I just want to hear you sing," Michelle said, plopping down on the couch, leaning on the back of it so she could see Vittoria sitting at the piano.
"Hmm…" Vittoria thought for a moment as she ran her fingers across the keyboard before starting to play.
"Baby, before you
Well I was bad news
In lettin' me love you
I think I can get through
Oh baby before you
Well I was so scared
I was a train wreck waiting' to happen
On the way to nowhere
And now I think it's kind of funny that you say you love me
You tell me that I'm crazy then you smile"
As Vittoria sang, Catherine and Lindsay stepped further into the room, intent on watching the woman before them. This was a side to Vittoria that Catherine had never seen before and she wondered if Sara had ever truly seen this side of her friend.
"And now I think I'll get through
The end of the world
And now I think I'll get through
Being' a girl
Now I think I'll get through
Anything
And now I think I'll get through
Now honey around you
I'm feelin' so good
'Cause you picked me up out of the rough
And you polished me up and made me brand new
Now baby before you, ho ho
There was just a black hole
Yeah I was beat down blacked out
My darling you couldn't even know
But ever since I met you on a cloudy Monday
I can't believe how much I love the rain,"
As the song continued, they both noticed the man that entered the room from the far corner, phone in hand as he stopped in the doorway.
"And now I think I'll get through
The end of the world
And now I think I'll get through
Life as a girl
Now I think I'll get through
Anything
Now I think I'll get through
Ever since I met you on a cloudy Monday
I can't believe how much I love the rain
And now I think I'll get through
The end of the world
And now I think I'll get through
Life as a girl
Now I think I'll get through
Anything
Now I think I'll get through
Oh oh...
Oh oh...
And now I think I'll get through
Oh oh...
And now I think I'll get through
Oh oh...
And now I think I'll get through
And now I think I'll get through
Oh, and now I think I'll get through"
"Another one!" Michelle cried when Vittoria finished.
"Michelle…" Vittoria began.
"Please?" Michelle begged. "I haven't seen you since Christmas. Please?"
"Alright," Vittoria laughed. "One more. Any one in particular?"
"The one you like to sing about Dad," Michelle said.
"Which one is that?" asked Vittoria confused.
"You know the one I mean. The one you sing when you think no one's around."
"You're not supposed to know about that one," Vittoria said slightly embarrassed, having forgotten that Catherine and Lindsay were in the room and not realizing that Robert had entered during the previous song.
"I know, but I love it. Please Ali?" Michelle begged once more, putting the puppy dog face to good use.
Vittoria sighed, knowing she could never say no to that face as she ran her fingers across the keys once more before starting to play.
I cried a tear
You wiped it dry
I was confused
You cleared my mind
I sold my soul
You bought it back for me
And held the earth
You gave me dignity
Somehow you needed me
You gave me strength
To stand alone again
To face the world
Out on my own again
You put me high
Upon a pedestal
So high that I could almost see eternity
You needed me
You needed me
I can't believe it's you
I can't believe it's true
I needed you
And you were there
And I'll never leave, why should I leave
I needed you
I finally found someone who really cares
You needed me
You held my hand
It was cold
And I was lost
You took me home
You gave me love
That I was at the end
I turned my life
Back into truth again
You even called me friend
You gave me strength
To stand alone again
To face the world
Out on my own again
You put me high
Upon a pedestal
So high that I could almost see eternity
You needed me
You needed me
You needed me
You needed me
Oh, yes, you needed me
You needed me
As Vittoria played she never noticed Robert make his way across the room as she had closed her eyes shortly after starting to play, putting her emotions behind the words she sang. It wasn't until he ran his hand through her hair, pushing it behind her ear that she opened her eyes and looked straight into his.
"That was beautiful," he said as he leant down and kissed Vittoria.
"Ewwww!" Michelle squealed, watching her father and soon to be stepmother kiss.
"Give it a few years, you'll think it's fantastic," Lindsey called with a smile. "Although, you really never get used to watching your parents making out..."
Vittoria pulled back from Robert and turned her face away embarrassed as Robert chuckled and stepped back.
"Friends of yours?" Robert asked with a slight laugh.
"Something like that," Vittoria said quietly as she stood up and walked around the piano, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Robert and Michelle, this is Catherine Willows and her daughter Lindsay. Catherine's agreed to be my maid of honor and Lindsay's agreed to be a bridesmaid. Catherine, Lindsay, this is my fiancé Robert and his daughter Michelle," Vittoria said introducing everyone.
"Good evening," Robert said holding his hand out to Catherine.
"Hi," Michelle said shyly.
"Nice to meet you," Lindsey spoke up, and Catherine looked at her a moment before grinning. The girl was picking up manners after all...
"It's very nice to meet you both," Catherine spoke quietly shaking Robert's hand.
"I really hate to do this but…"
"It's okay Robert, you go. I wasn't even expecting you to be here after all," Vittoria said giving him a shove in the direction of the bedroom.
"Is that how you really feel about me?" Robert asked, a note of hurt entering his voice.
"Actually yes, now get out of here and leave us women alone," Vittoria said, pointing at the door to the bedroom, her face completely blank as Robert slunk off, at least until he got about a foot away from her and she couldn't hold it in anymore and broke down in a fit of giggles.
"Why you…" Robert began as he spun around and grabbed Vittoria around the waist, spinning her around as she laughed. After a few turns, he gently put her back on her feet before kissing her quickly on the forehead. "I won't be long," he said as he turned and made his way back into the bedroom, closing the door behind him, leaving Vittoria standing there shaking her head.
"They're so cute," Lindsey giggled. "They're just like Danielle and Henry in Ever After!"
"My daughter, the teenager," Catherine chuckled. "I like him Ali, looks like all he has to do now is pass the Sara test," she added with a wink.
"Sara already met him, but I don't know much of what happened. It was the night that she first found me and we'd had a major blow out talk type thing and when he arrived I wasn't in the best of ways. I think the extent of their interaction was names, Sara giving him a brief idea of what happened and him offering her a place to stay. We flew to Vegas the next day," Vittoria said as she led Catherine and Lindsay further into the room. "Michelle, is all your homework done?"
"Almost," Michelle answered.
"Why don't you go finish it and that way you're completely free tomorrow and the rest of the weekend and you can have fun with me, Catherine and Lindsay dress shopping," Vittoria said as she brushed Michelle's hair behind her ear.
"Okay Mom," Michelle said as she jumped to her feet only to stop suddenly and turn around. "Sorry Ali."
"What are you sorry for, Sweetie?" asked Vittoria in confusion.
"I didn't mean to call you Mom," Michelle said worriedly.
"Sweetie, come here," Vittoria said holding her hand out to Michelle, who took it reluctantly. "Does it bother you in anyway to call me Mom?"
"No," replied Michelle quietly. "I've wanted to call you that for the longest time but…"
"But you were worried about how I might react?" Vittoria asked in concern.
"Yeah," Michelle replied.
"Michelle, it doesn't bother me if you want to call me Mom. I know you never knew your mother and if you want to call me Mom instead of Ali, that's all right with me. In fact I would be honored if you called me Mom."
"You mean it?"
"I mean it, Michelle. I love you as if you were my own daughter. I had hoped you thought of me as a mother but I didn't want to push you on it," Vittoria said reassuringly only to have Michelle launch herself at her.
"Thank you," Michelle said quietly into Vittoria's shoulder. "I love you, Mom."
"You're welcome, Sweetie," Vittoria said. "I love you, too," she said stroking Michelle's hair. "Now, why don't you go finish your homework, I'm sure Lindsay could probably help you if you need it."
"Actually," Michelle said as she pulled back. "I am having a little trouble with my math."
"On it," Lindsey nodded. "You can call me Linds, everyone does," she continued as she joined Michelle and the two made their way into another room.
"You're a natural Ali," Catherine smiled. "You should give Sara pointers, when she's not on the destruction of coffee war path, she's calling me panicking she's going to be a bad parent...I don't know the whole story but think there's more to it than just jitters...Gil just tells me to not push..."
"I've always wanted children, but thanks to Nick, Michelle's the only child I'll ever have, and she's not even mine," Vittoria said quietly, looking down at her hands for a moment before getting up and walking over to the window, looking out over the city below her.
"I don't want to pry Ali..." Catherine began quietly as she followed over to look out on the city as well. "But whatever happened...is there really no way to have children of your own? Did they have to do a hyst or something like that...or is there a chance for a surrogate?"
"I didn't know at the time but I was almost too far along and the doctor I went to wasn't exactly the most reputable and I ended up with an infection. Poor Robert, I was out with him when I collapsed. Turns out I had gotten an infection in my uterus and it was quite progressed so they had no choice but to do a hysterectomy. The only way I'll ever have children is if I adopt. At least now I can tell Robert to get the papers drawn up so I can adopt Michelle. He's been all for me adopting her, but I was hesitant because I didn't know how she'd take the news," Vittoria said.
"I'm so sorry, Ali," Catherine whispered. "But I'm glad you've found Robert and Michelle...You deserve this chance at happiness."
"I never thought this would happen actually," Vittoria admitted. "I still wake up most mornings convinced it's all just a dream, that I haven't got this second chance with Robert. That he actually wants me, past and all."
"I like to think there's someone out there for everyone that's meant to be. The person who loves you no matter what...a soul mate. Then again I've learned that there are different types of soul mates, the ones who are lovers, and the ones who are best friends but more. Way I look at it; Sara's your second soul mate, just as Gil is mine. Seems to me Robert might be your first soul mate...and if someone like Sara and Gil can work things out...well, there's hope for the rest of humanity isn't there?" Catherine smirked.
"I hope so," Vittoria said returning Catherine's smile. "Third time's a charm right?"
"I hope so, for the sake of every other woman in this world besides me," Catherine agreed.
"So, are you ready to be thrust into the Washington spotlight?" Vittoria asked as she walked over to the sideboard and poured herself a glass of water before returning to the couch.
"Why not, I've had my fill of the Las Vegas spotlight," Catherine shrugged.
"Trust me, this is nothing like the Las Vegas spotlight," Vittoria said. "And it's going to start tomorrow with the dress shopping. Be prepared to be followed around all day long by the press as it's almost guaranteed to be leaked that I'm in town shopping for a wedding dress, especially since Robert and I haven't come out and announced the wedding officially."
"How fun..." Catherine muttered dryly. "You know, someone really needs to lock the paparazzi up some days."
"You're telling me," Vittoria replied. "I knew it was a part of the life when I met Robert and he told me he and Brandon were going to run for the White House together. I just figured nobody would recognize me anymore."
"Well, I think other than Sara, no one would have," Catherine shrugged. "Sadly, there's just no fooling that woman...I swear, she's a living computer sometimes the way her mind works...I've never asked what her IQ is...I like feeling smart around her without the knowledge."
"I'm with you on that one," Vittoria said. "Things would have been just fine if she hadn't shown up in Washington. Actually correction, things would have been better if Jethro had never shown up at the Marine Corps Birthday Ball, then I never would have been watching him and I never would have seen Sara with him and revealed myself to her. She never would have been able to get to me if I hadn't been in that bar that night."
"Hmm, so that makes one wonder, should I be thanking Jethro Gibbs or be angry with him...he's a bit of an odd one though, very quiet...he was at the wedding," she offered to explain how she met him.
"He is but he's a good man," Vittoria said quietly playing with her glass before putting it down on the coffee table and getting up and walking to the window once more.
Catherine raised an eyebrow in surprise before things fell into place. "Yeah...so serious question for a moment Ali... you want to keep chatting and bring up possible bad feelings? Or leave them where they lay and fill me in on happy wedding plans? I'm good either way..."
"Wedding plans sound good because the last thing I need is to have Robert come out here and find me in tears. He's picked me up so many times…I promised myself that I would put Jethro Gibbs out of my thoughts and out of my heart permanently three years ago. I just want to focus on my wedding to Robert that's in less than six months," Vittoria said wiping her eyes.
Sunday February 8th, 2009
Hollywood, California
Renaissance Hollywood Hotel
Presidential Suite
7:53 p.m. P.S.T
The weekend had just flown by for everyone in a whirl of dress shops and paparazzi. Vittoria had lost count of the number of stores and designers they had visited, never mind the total number of dresses she had tried on but eventually it all paid off and she had found the dress of her dreams. The thing she had truly missed about her wedding to Nick was getting to wear a wedding dress and getting to feel like a princess for a day. But that was behind her now. She had the dress, as did Catherine and the rest of the bridal party, all of whom had joined them for the weekend so all the girls could get their dresses together, allowing Catherine and Lindsay to meet the rest of the bridesmaids and flower girl, as well as Robert's brother and his wife.
Catherine and Lindsay had left about an hour earlier to return to Vegas, ensuring that Catherine would be at work on time. They had taken Michelle and her security detail with them. The pilot was going to stop in Vegas to drop Catherine and Lindsay off before continuing on to Washington so that Michelle could be back at school for Monday morning, leaving Vittoria and Robert completely alone, except for their own security details, who were currently standing guard outside the suite.
Robert had surprised Vittoria with a romantic dinner for two in their suite, not wishing to deal with being in public after their very public weekend and just enjoying the fact that he had Vittoria all to himself, away from the prying eyes of the public, her friends and his family.
"I have a question for you," Robert said as he put his knife and fork down, having finished his meal.
"Okay," Vittoria laughed.
"Do you trust me?"
"What?" asked Vittoria in confusion.
"Do you trust me?" Robert repeated.
"You know I do. Robert where is this coming from?"
"There's a difference between saying you trust someone and actually trusting them," Robert said, ignoring Vittoria's question as he rose from his chair and made his way around the table so he was standing behind her. "You say you trust me Ali, but do you honestly trust me?" he asked as he pulled the handkerchief out of his jacket pocket and folded it over before placing it over Vittoria's eyes and fastening it behind her head.
"Robert…" Vittoria began as she felt him take her hand and pull her to her feet and away from the table a few steps.
"Trust me Ali," Robert whispered in her ear as he started to undo her dress, having stepped around behind her, letting it fall to the floor, her bra and panties soon following. "You are so beautiful," he said stepping back around in front of Vittoria, taking in her naked body.
"Robert…" Vittoria began as she tried to cover herself, suddenly feeling extremely self-conscious.
"Don't," Robert said as he pulled Vittoria's hands away from her body so he could look at her fully once more before starting to walk backwards, pulling a still blindfolded Vittoria with him. When he reached his chair he sat down and pulled Vittoria towards him, indicating for her to straddle his legs and before putting gentle pressure on her hips to tell her to sit down.
When Vittoria sat down, she felt Robert's stiffening member under his pants, her hands automatically going to his belt only to be stopped when Robert pulled her hands off his belt. "You don't want…"
"I want," Robert said cutting her off.
"Then why did you stop me?" asked Vittoria in confusion.
"Because I want you to submit," Robert said.
"Submit?"
"I want you to submit your will to me. Don't get me wrong Ali, I love how you drive me crazy but I want to return the favor and in order for me to do that, you have to be willing to be submissive to me once in a while. This is where trust comes in, my Darling," Robert said as he leant up and brushed his lips against Vittoria's as he rocked her forward, only to pull away, causing her to whimper. "Do you trust me?" he asked and when Vittoria nodded he leant forward once more and captured her lips in a kiss, feeling her start to submit to his ministrations only to have her change course and start to try to take control of the kiss so he took her head in his hands and broke the kiss. "Submit to me Ali," he said. When Vittoria nodded once more, he leant in and kissed her again, this kiss the same as the last. He felt her start to submit to him only to turn around and try to control the kiss once more. "Ali…" he started as he pulled them apart once more.
"I'm sorry," Vittoria sobbed as she pulled the blindfold off and bolted into the bedroom.
"Damn it," Robert cursed as he took off after Vittoria, finding her curled up on the bed crying. "Ali what is it? Why are you so afraid to let go and let someone else be in control?" he asked, no hint of accusation anywhere in his voice, only care and concern as he rubbed her arm.
"I'm sorry Robert, I really am. I want to do as you ask. I was trying so hard to give in but I…I couldn't…"
"Do you know why you couldn't?"
Vittoria nodded. "I do, she sniffled. "I'm afraid."
"Afraid of what Ali?" asked Robert in concern.
"Afraid of what will happen if I let go of the control I've fought so hard to maintain. There is only one other time when I've given myself over completely to someone and I had my heart ripped out because of it," Vittoria said as she sat up and wiped her eyes.
"Nick?"
"No, not Nick. He was…he was before Nick. He was the reason I raced into marrying Nick. I married Nick because I thought he was a safe choice. I cared about Nick but not in the way I cared about this man or the way I care about you. I love you so much, Robert. I never thought I'd get so lucky to have someone like you in my life. But I'm afraid that…"
"You're afraid that if you truly give me every part of you, I'm going to hurt you," Robert finished for her.
"Yeah," Vittoria sniffed.
"Ali," Robert said, turning to face her better and brushing her hair behind her ear. "If I was going to walk away from you I would have done it long before now. I know who you were and what you were. I know about your life as Vittoria Stark and how it led to you being here. If I was going to turn you away I never would have asked you to marry me in the first place nor would I have asked you to adopt Michelle. I am not going anywhere; trust me in that. Please."
Vittoria nodded in agreement.
"Good. Now then where were we?" Robert smirked as he pulled the blindfold, which he had picked up on his way in to the bedroom, out of his pocket and quickly retied it around Vittoria's head.
"Rob…" Vittoria never got to finish her thought as Robert leant in and kissed her, smiling inwardly when he felt Vittoria start to try to take control of the kiss only to stop herself and allow him to keep control.
"Better," he smirked when he broke the kiss, pulling back from Vittoria just long enough to reposition her on the bed before straddling her hips.
"Robert, what are you doing?" asked Vittoria when she felt first one arm then the other being lifted above her head and something being fastened around her wrists. "You're tying me to the bed?" she demanded in shock when she felt the bed shift under her and Robert's weight lift off of her lap. "Robert?" she called again when she felt the same sensation around her ankles before hearing a chuckle come from somewhere beside the bed.
"Do you trust me?"
"Do I have much of a choice?" countered Vittoria before breaking off in a moan as she felt his hands start to massage her body.
Monday February 9th, 2009
Hollywood, California
Renaissance Hollywood Hotel
Presidential Suite
4:33 a.m. P.S.T
Vittoria groaned as she rolled over, blindly searching and reaching for the phone. "Hello?" she said only half awake. "Well, what do you expect Brandon when your best friend decides to keep me up half the night," she said before rolling back over, retaking her position next to Robert, her head on his chest. "It's for you," she said holding the phone up. "It's Brandon."
"Hello?" Robert said taking the phone from Vittoria. "Yes Brandon, I know I said I'd be back last night but something came up…You want to know what came up? Well…Yes that was Ali on the phone and yes she's fine, just a little worn out is all. Yes Brandon, I'll call my pilot and be back in Washington as soon as possible. Good day Brandon," Robert said hanging up the phone and handing it back to Vittoria, whose hand had appeared in front of him as soon as he'd said goodbye.
"You're going back to Washington?" asked Vittoria looking up into Robert's eyes from where her head rested on his chest.
"I am," Robert replied running his hands through her hair.
"Am I?" asked Vittoria quietly.
"Do you want to? Do you feel like you've come to terms with your life in Vegas?"
"As much as I'm ever going to. Nick will never forgive me for lying to him about my past and when he learned of what I did after leaving, it destroyed any possibility of even a civil relationship. Peter understands why I did what I did in both college and more recently. He's not angry or upset with me," Vittoria said as she drew gentle circles on Robert's chest.
"And Sara? What of your friendship with her?"
"To be honest she's driving me up the wall. I understand that she's afraid I'll just disappear again but she's not letting me out of her sight. She's worse than the Secret Service," Vittoria sighed as she suddenly rolled over.
"She's your friend Ali," Robert said as he rolled over and pulled Vittoria close to him so that her back was tight against his chest. "She's worried about you, that's all," he reassured in her ear.
"I know but I'm tired of my every step being watched by people other than the Secret Service," Vittoria said, turning her head slightly.
"A week, that's all I ask. Give it one more week and then you can come home," Robert said.
"Promise?"
"I promise," Robert swore as he leant in and kissed Vittoria. "Hold that thought," he said as he reached for the phone and placed a quick call to his pilot. "We have at least an hour before we'll be ready to fly. What do you say to a shower for two Ms. Frey?" he asked holding his hand out towards Vittoria.
"Sounds wonderful Mr. Kinsley," Vittoria said taking Robert's hand and letting him help her from the bed and falling into his arms the minute they reached the bathroom.
Monday February 9th, 2009
Las Vegas, Nevada
LVPD Crime Lab
7:33 a.m. P.S.T
"Is there a problem Catherine?" demanded Nick after Catherine pushed past him as he entered the locker room while she was on her way out.
"Yeah Nick. You. You screwed up. You screwed up so big you have no idea what you've lost," Catherine said.
"What are you talking about?" asked Nick in confusion.
"Tori, Nick, or should I say Ali. You screwed up and lost out on probably the best thing that could have ever happened to you and all because you refused to listen to your wife when she tried to explain. I've seen her Nick. I've seen a side of Ali that I doubt even Sara has ever seen," Catherine said, not realizing that Sara had just walked into the locker room behind her. "You make her out to be a monster but I've seen inside her world Nick. Robert Kinsley adores her, don't say it Nick," Catherine ordered when Nick went to interrupt. "Grow up and accept the fact that you screwed up and stop blaming an innocent woman for your fuck up," Catherine said, turning to leave only to walk into Sara.
"I'm outta here," Nick said brushing past Sara and Catherine and making his way out into the hall where he ran into Samantha Madison, a CSI level 3 from day shift, who was about an inch shorter than he was with long blonde hair and blue eyes. "You okay? You look like you could use a drink."
"I could definitely use a drink," Nick said as they made their way down the hall towards the break room.
"Well I can't offer you anything alcoholic but I can offer you coffee," Samantha said as she opened the door to the break room, neither one noticing the people currently in the room. "What happened this time?" she asked, having a good idea of what put Nick in his current mood.
"The usual," Nick said stepping into the room, Samantha hot on his heels when he finally looked at the woman who had just risen from where she had been sitting a moment before.
"Hello Nick."
"What are you doing here, Tori?" demanded Nick.
"It's Ali," Vittoria snapped in return before sighing. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped like that," she said, her voice much quieter than a moment before. "I should probably go," she said indicating the door. "I'm sorry to have bothered you. I knew it was a mistake coming here," she said before turning and starting to walk towards the door, past where Nick and Samantha were standing.
"Wait," Samantha said, putting her hand out onto Vittoria's arm, causing David and Ken to step forward to intervene if necessary. "Please?"
"I really shouldn't," Vittoria said sadly.
"Stay, please," Samantha asked.
"Sam what are you doing?" demanded Nick as he pulled her aside. "Do you have any idea who that is?"
"I know exactly who she is, Nick, I'm not blind, but I also know who she was," Sam countered. "I've seen the picture you keep hidden, Nick. It's her. She has the same eyes. Nick, listen to me. It's obvious she came here to talk to you; can't you at least try and hear her out? If not for yourself, will you at least do it for me? Nick, whatever happened between the two of you it's tearing you apart inside and I'm sure she feels much the same way. She's holding out an olive branch to you. Don't you want to know why? Please Nick, just listen to what she has to say. Accept what she says or don't accept it. Believe her or don't believe her, that's your right but can't you at least try to put everything to rest? For me?" When Nick nodded in agreement, Samantha leaned up and kissed him lightly on the cheek before turning and making her way out of the break room, leaving Nick and Vittoria alone, save for Ken and David, who also left after a look from Vittoria, taking up positions outside the break room door.
"She seems nice," Vittoria said when they were finally alone.
"She is," Nick said.
"Girlfriend?"
"Fiancée."
"Congratulations Nick. You deserve someone that makes you happy…"
"Whatever."
"I mean it Nick…"
"Why are you here?" asked Nick once more as he leant back against the counter.
"I honestly have no idea to tell you the truth," Vittoria sighed. "Robert made me realize that I can't truly move on with my life until I deal with this…this whatever it is that's going on between us. I never meant to hurt you Nick. I wanted to tell you, I tried to tell you so many times but you telling me my past didn't matter kept playing over and over again in my head every time I tried and the last thing I wanted was to rock the boat."
"Did you think I wouldn't accept you? Accept your past?" asked Nick, curiosity coloring his voice instead of anger.
"Partly," Vittoria said sitting down, her eyes going to her hands in her lap. "I wanted to go to medical school so badly and I knew what just my first year of college education was doing to Peter financially. He tried to hide it but I still knew that he was going bankrupt but he wouldn't hear of me leaving school and coming home and going to WLVU. I needed a way to make a lot of money and fast, that's when I met Heather…"
"Heather Kessler as in Lady Heather," Nick said for clarification.
"Yes. She helped me start my business and like I said before Nick, sex was never a part of the bargain. That was the one line I just couldn't cross," Vittoria said, wiping away an escaping tear.
"So why hide it? Why hide what you did?"
"I was ashamed. I was afraid of what people would think of me and as a doctor your reputation is everything. It's part of how Aliana Frey came to be. I needed to distance myself from that part of my life. I never thought anyone, especially Lieutenant Roberts would ever find out about what I did to put myself through school. It had been years since then and I thought it had been dead and buried all that time and then…and then I get blindsided by it."
"And then I go and flip out on you when you get home," Nick said as he sat down next to Vittoria. "I made a complete mess of things, didn't I?"
"You had every right to be upset Nick," Vittoria countered.
"I know I did, but I shouldn't have lashed out like I did. I never thought I could hurt as much as I did when I heard the news that day," Nick said.
"And for that I am truly sorry, Nick. Hurting you was the last thing I wanted to do. I had hoped to make it home to tell you before it hit the airwaves, unfortunately we both know how that worked out. It's amazing how your life can change in less than an hour," Vittoria sighed.
"What do you mean?" asked Nick curiously.
"While I'd been in court, I'd received a phone call on my cell. On the afternoon recess I checked the message and returned the call. That's when I found out I was carrying your child. God, I was so happy. I thought nothing could bring me down, turns out I was wrong cause not thirty minutes later my world crashed down around me when I got on the stand."
"When the Lieutenant brought up your past," Nick said.
"Yeah. I was floored. I couldn't understand how he could possibly know about that part of my life. The only person who ever knew about that part of my life was Heather, I made sure of that, not even Sara knew about it," Vittoria said wiping her eyes, only to find a handkerchief in front of her. "Thanks," she said taking it and wiping her eyes.
"You're welcome To…Ali," Nick said.
"And I didn't really mean what I said Nick, about the baby, about being glad I got rid of it. If I had it to do over again, I don't think I would, it cost me too much," Vittoria said sadly.
"It's okay Ali, I do understand your reasoning for having the abortion. I didn't exactly give you much of a reason to want to keep it, did I," Nick said.
"No, you didn't," Vittoria agreed.
"Ali, I know this really is none of my business but…"
"You want to know if I ever slept with any of my clients after I left here," Vittoria finished for him.
"You don't have to answer obviously," Nick said.
"It's alright Nick. I don't mind," Vittoria said. "There were two. Robert was the first man I went out with after I returned to Washington and he was the first. It was a part of the agreement that if the men wanted to sleep with any of the girls it had to be agreed upon outside the contracted time frame and between them. After Robert, I made sure to keep myself too highly priced to be of much interest to many of the men that crossed Winterfell's threshold.
"Winterfell?"
"The name I gave the house I ran the business out of," Tori said.
"You said there was a second," Nick prompted.
"A Marine General," Vittoria said. "No matter what I did to try to dissuade him, he would have none of it. He even offered to pay me double for my company for the night without even seeing what my fee was. He then offered to pay me my standard fee on top of the double if I would spend the night of the ball with him plus three others. I couldn't walk away from money like that. Plus I honestly don't know if he would have let me if I'd tried."
"He didn't hurt you, did he?" asked Nick in concern.
"No, I never let him be in control of our encounters," Vittoria said.
"Does Robert know about him?"
"Yes. I couldn't keep it from him. I saw him a few days after the General had left and he knew something was wrong. He knew something had me spooked, he just didn't know what. He was pretty good at reading me by that time. We'd been 'seeing' each other since I'd gotten to Washington almost two years earlier. Robert's helped me pick up the pieces. He's the reason I'm here."
"He sounds like a pretty good guy," Nick said watching Vittoria closely.
"He is," Vittoria said as she began playing with a bracelet on her wrist.
"You're still wearing it," Nick said when he recognized the bracelet on Vittoria's wrist.
"It was the one thing I allowed myself to keep when I left here. My one reminder of the life I left behind," Vittoria replied as she continued to play with one of the charms.
"What happened to your wrist?" asked Nick in concern when he caught sight of the redness around Vittoria's wrist.
"Nothing," Vittoria said, quickly pulling her sleeve back down.
"Ali what happened? Did Robert do this to you?" demanded Nick in concern as he leapt to his feet and started pacing.
"Nick it's not what you think, trust me on this okay? We've just worked things out between us…I hope. Don't let this spoil it please. I'm fine," Vittoria begged as she rose to her feet and stepped in front of Nick, trying to stop his pacing. "It's nothing I swear. What was done was done with my consent. Robert was merely trying to show me something and he used a sex game to do it."
"Used a sex game to do what? Who used a sex game? What..." Sara trailed off.
Earlier….
Catherine turned to leave only to run into Sara who was standing behind her.
"I'm outta here," Nick said brushing past Sara and Catherine.
"Sara," Catherine greeted.
"Hey Cath," Sara smiled. "How was the weekend?"
"It was great. Lindsay really enjoyed herself," Catherine said.
"That's good," Sara nodded. "Was planning on stopping by in the morning to say hi, I'll have to tease her about going shopping with a sixteen-year-old, if it brought back memories...then again when we were sixteen it was the eighties and God knows, there were some funky fashions then..."
"I wouldn't waste your time going by Ali's house unless you're going to see Peter," Catherine said a little hesitantly.
"Why..." Sara asked slowly.
"She's not there," Catherine said.
"Where is she?
"Still in Los Angeles," Catherine said. "At least she was when we left last night."
"Oh God," Sara whispered, images of Vittoria disappearing again running through her head.
"Sara, I don't think you have to worry," Catherine said, trying to reassure her.
"She disappeared for two years Cath…" Sara shot back as they made their way down the hallway, "I think I have every right to worry..."
"Sara, do you honestly think I would leave her in L.A. on her own?" Catherine said stopping in the hallway.
"No..." Sara answered slowly. "I panic, it's the hormones I swear..." she continued with a sigh.
"When we left, she was in Robert's capable hands as well as about a dozen Secret Service agents on top of David and Ken.
"Okay..." Sara nodded as they started walking again. "Yeah, so there's no reason to panic, besides I know what she looks like, so it's not like she can disappear again. She's marrying the VP after all..." she continued. "See, no panicking, I'm good, I'm not jumping to conclusions," she smiled as they drew closer to the break room.
"Good," Catherine smiled. "Robert really is good for her and their daughter is such a sweet girl."
"You guys are not going to believe who's in the break room with Nick," Archie said bouncing up and down on his toes.
Sara raised an eyebrow before shrugging, "The Pope?"
"Nope. Try the future wife of the Vice President," Archie said.
"She's with Nick?" demanded Catherine.
"Yep. Hey, I wonder how she knows him," Archie said.
"Oh Jesus," Sara muttered before brushing past him, Catherine on her heels as they made their way towards the break room.
"…used a sex game to do it."
"Used a sex game to do what? Who used a sex game? What..." Sara trailed off as she and Catherine stumbled into the break room.
"You are not fine and it's not nothing Ali," countered Nick, ignoring Sara and Catherine for the moment. "Those look like some serious rope burns."
"It wasn't rope and they're not that bad," Vittoria argued.
"Ali, you need to see a doctor," Nick told her.
"I'm not about to go walking into a hospital Nick and have the press all over me over something that's nothing. It's not like we've never done it before only difference being I was the one tied to the bed instead of him. You know what, I can't do this. I'm sorry," Vittoria said before making her way towards the door as quickly as she could without actually running, plowing right through both Sara and Catherine.
"Ali wait!" Nick called out chasing after her.
"Get me out of here," she said to David and Ken when she reached the doorway.
"Yes Ma'am," David said as he led Vittoria from the room, Ken falling in on her other side as they pushed their way through the quickly parting crowd.
"Thank you," Vittoria said, stopping briefly in front of Samantha. "Whatever you said, thank you. And congratulations, Nick's a wonderful guy, despite our problems."
"Thank you," Samantha said as she watched Vittoria and the two agents make their way from the building.
"Nick, what the hell just happened?" demanded Sara back in the break room?
"She needs a doctor, Sara," Nick said.
"For..." Sara prompted, deciding not to jump to conclusions...for the moment.
"She had a burn on her wrist. It looked like a rope burn from being tied down," Nick said, running his hand through his short hair.
Sara blinked a few times before nodding slowly as she turned towards Catherine. "Okay, I had the distinct impression of Robert that he loves her to death, did you get that too?"
"I was given the opportunity to see into their private world Sara. She's the center of his universe and Michelle simply adores her," Catherine said.
"Then I'm going to just assume they were just that, sex games and burns from whatever is tying the person down are completely normal..."
"Well then, I suggest you convince her to see a doctor Sara, cause the one I caught a glimpse of look pretty bad. Her wrist was dark red and look rather raw," Nick said.
"I'll talk with her but I don't make her do things Nick...and she's not going to the hospital I already know that," Sara shrugged. "But what happened in here before that?"
"We talked. Honest and truly talked, about everything. We managed to come to an understanding," Nick said. "And then I noticed her wrists and you know what happened after that."
"Okay..." Sara nodded slowly. "I need to get my results so...yeah..." she glanced at Catherine before turning and making her way back from the break room. The two of them making peace was the last thing she expected when she got up that morning...until she heard it from Vittoria's lips though she wasn't sure if she completely believed it.