'Gracias.' Olivia said as she generously tipped the bellboy.

The young man nodded, smiling. 'Enjoy your stay senoritas.'

'We're finally here!' Tamara exclaimed as she sank into one of the twin beds in their hotel room.

'Remember we have to be at Chichén Itza day after tomorrow.' Olivia said crossing the room to get two drinks from the fridge. 'I really can't wait to meet the Moores.'

'You also can't wait to see El Castillo; where your parents had that super romantic wedding of theirs.' Tamara smiled, taking the plastic bottle Olivia handed to her.

'Symbolic wedding.' Olivia corrected, unscrewing the cap off hers. 'It was more like a spiritual union; it wasn't valid because Ma was still married to Victor.'

'I can't imagine anything more gross than being married to Victor Kiriakis. No offence... but what was she thinking?'

'A long, complicated story that belongs in the past.' Was the firm answer. Olivia didn't want Tamara to criticize Bo, which she definitely would if she heard the whole story. 'I don't want to talk about it.' As she spoke, she suddenly realised she didn't tell EJ she was going away for the summer. But then again, he'd promised to give her space so it was unlikely he'd worry if he didn't hear from her for a while. Trouble was, she was feeling sad and pensive again and this time, not because she was far away from her parents.

Tamara sat up, watching the way Olivia's face fell. 'Are you okay, sweetie?'

'Sure I am... why wouldn't I be?'

'Olivia, for god sake; I know you, something's upset you all of a sudden. What's wrong?'

Olivia glared at her. 'I'm not upset! I...' might as well say so and get over it, 'I was thinking of EJ. I miss him.'

'The point of this trip was to get away from him, remember?'

'And think of the irony... Dad and Ma suggested this trip to help me get over Nathan.' Olivia laughed harshly as she sat on the bed opposite Tamara's. 'Bloody hell, if they only knew!'

'Nathan's no longer the issue, huh?' Tamara rightly guessed.

Olivia's green eyes met her friend's. 'The whole time I was recovering at home EJ was in my thoughts, in my heart...' she shook her head. 'It's official Tam; I've fallen in love with him. I'm in love with EJ DiMera and there's not a damn thing I can do about it, nothing so it's no point telling me to forget him, because I can't! No matter how you try, you can't deny the feelings in here.' She pointed to her chest with a trembling finger. 'So criticize away.'

Tamara got up to sit next to her, taking her hand and squeezing it. 'I'm not going to criticize you.'

Olivia looked up. 'No?'

'No. Hey... stranger things have happened... and strange things happen for a reason. No one ever thought Uncle Abe and Lexie would reconcile and be more in love with each other even after he found out she was a DiMera, after she cheated on him, after she falsified a medical report that got her suspended for a while. His heart led him back to her because he saw something no one saw at that time, I guess; something that told him she will never repeat her past mistakes. Hang on...' she added before Olivia could speak, 'I'm not saying I'm giving EJ the benefit of the doubt. You're the sister I never had and I don't want you to get hurt. And you are going to get hurt when you finally have to choose between wanting to be with him for the rest of your life or staying loyal to your family.'

'He said he'll never force me anything on me. But he doesn't know I love him. That's how it's going to be then, he'll never know.' Olivia said resolutely.

'You mean, you won't tell him.'

Olivia nodded, blinking her eyes rapidly to keep the tears back. 'It's best this way, Tam. EJ never finds out and he'll stop clinging to the hope we'll ever be together.' Putting the bottle on the nightstand, she got up. 'Call room service; enchiladas, salad, strawberry ice-cream and papaya juice for me, order anything you like. I'm taking a shower.'

'You got it.' Tamara watched her friend enter the bathroom, feeling very sorry for her. She no longer blamed EJ for her dilemma; it was now shifted to Nathan. If he hadn't abandoned her, she wouldn't have been rendered vulnerable to EJ, a man forbidden to her. Sighing, she reached for the phone.

In the bathroom, Olivia stripped off her sundress and entered the shower cubicle, turning on the taps. Leaning against the tiled wall, she gave in to the tears, sobbing. 'Oh EJ...' she whispered.

:::::::::::::::::

'It's so good to hear your voice, kitten!' Carly said, phone pressed to her ear. 'I hope you and Tamara are settling in okay.'

'We are, Mummy. The place is more beautiful than I imagined.'

Carly frowned. What? Bo, who was sitting next to her, mouthed anxiously.

Olivia hardly called her Mummy, except on those rare occasions she was deeply disturbed about something. 'Is everything alright, darling? You sound strange.'

'I'm fine, why won't I be?'

'I don't know, for a minute there I thought something was bothering you.'

'I'm just missing you and Dad, that's all. Is he there?'

'Yeah... hold on.' Carly passed the phone to Bo.

'Hi baby girl. How was your flight?'

'The flight was smooth and there's a lot to take in, Cancun's so beautiful.'

Bo smiled, knowing that all too well. 'You're going to have a lot of fun there. So what's your itinerary?'

'Well, we'll be in Cancun the whole of tomorrow and then on to Chichén Itza. I think we'll go to Veracruz and then Acapulco next.'

'You girls be careful out there, I don't want you and Tamara getting involved with drunk frat boys.'

'Come on Dad!' Olivia chuckled. 'Like Tamara and I have time for frat boys.'

'Your Mum and I miss you already.'

'I miss you too, very much. And with Ciara away with Hope, you must feel pretty down, right?'

'A little,' Bo confessed, slipping his free arm around Carly, pulling her closer. 'But your Mum and I really felt you need this trip, the chance to have some real fun. And I hope you'll spend most of the time having fun instead of thinking so much.'

'I won't let you down, Dad; promise.'

'Where's Tamara?'

'In the Jacuzzi, it will take a bloody bomb to get her out of it!'

Bo laughed. 'Well, tell her we said hi. Take care, you too.'

'Okay Dad.'

Bo passed the phone back to Carly and she said goodbye too. 'What was with the frown earlier?' he asked as Carly hung up.

'Olivia called me Mummy.'

'So? Didn't she call you that when she was a little girl?'

Carly shook her head; unable to shake the feeling their daughter was hiding something. 'The only times she calls me that now if something's on her mind and she wants to tell me about it. She said it's because she's missing us but I don't know Bo... I sensed something.'

'Oh come on Princess, if something was bothering our girl she'd tell you especially. Don't make so much out of it; she was just having a moment of homesickness.'

'I guess you're right.' Sighing, Carly rested her head on Bo's chest. 'No matter how old they get, they're still babies to us.'

'Hmm... Point taken. I look at Shawn D and he's still the little boy I used to carry on my shoulders all those years ago.'

Carly smiled. 'You were so protective of him. I wish I'd been there when he was a teenager. How was he then?'

Bo chuckled, stroking her hair. 'Worse than his old man, believe me.'

Laughing, Carly turned her head. 'I can't imagine anyone worse than you, Bo Brady!'

Bo snorted. 'Easy for you to say, you weren't there! Not that I'm complaining or anything; Shawn D just acted out like any teenager- finally he and Belle settled down and gave Claire some stability. A lot more than I expected, too. I wasn't sure he'd try again after Mimi.'

'Who's Mimi?'

'His first wife, who also happened to be Patrick's sister.'

Carly sat up, eyes widening in disbelief. 'You're kidding.'

'Yeah, and considering who Patrick did you can imagine just how glad I am things didn't work out between them.'

Carly shook her head. 'Looks like lots of very weird things went on while I was gone.'

'You have no idea, princess. A lot I want to forget.' Smiling, he drew her back down, resting her head on his chest. 'I have my future right here.'

Carly nestled against him, both groaning as the doorbell rang. 'Oh who could that be?' she muttered, starting up but Bo stopped her. 'You stay put; I'll see who it is.'

Phoebe was standing near the door and to his surprise, she was growling at it. 'What's the matter with you?' he asked, bending to pat her.

Phoebe didn't move, instead she growled louder. Perplexed, he opened the door and he stared; amazed and furious. 'What the hell are you doing here?' he shouted.

Hearing her husband's angry voice, Carly got up and hurried to the door, stopping in her tracks on seeing who was at the door. 'Oh... you have GOT to be kidding me!'

It was Victor, looking as calm as you please. 'Hello Bo. Carly, you look well. Can I come in?'

'You got a lot of nerve, coming to my house.' Bo's voice was tight. 'I told you never to come near me or my family.'

'Shh... Quiet Pheebs.' Carly grabbed hold of the dog's collar, silencing her.

'Well Bo... you know me, I don't usually do what I'm told. And the most precious thing to me is my family.'

'How dare you say that to us; after conspiring with that old witch to kill our daughter!' Carly cried, infuriated. 'Have you suddenly gone senile or what? What makes you think you're welcome to our house after what you did?'

'Carly, you of all people should understand... Vivian was a very manipulative woman...'

'Just hold it right there, Victor!' Bo spat. 'You chose to believe Vivian because you never stopped hating Carly. Harming Carly was one thing, but my daughter... my little girl was poisoned! And you knew it was Vivian the whole time but you still...'

Carly grabbed hold of him when it looked like he was about to punch Victor on the face.

'Look Bo... I'm sorry about what happened. But Vivian could manipulate just about anyone. I came back here to ask you and Carly to give me another chance; please.' Victor's face was expressionless but his tone contrite. 'I cannot be without my family, especially my grandchildren.'

'Shawn D, Ciara and Olivia are off limits to you Victor, off limits you hear me!' Bo growled. 'And I don't intend on ever forgiving you; not now, not ever. Don't ever come back here because I won't be so charitable next time.'

'Bo, Carly, wait...' Victor began but the door was soundly slammed on his face.

:::::::::::::::::

Professor Moore and Soledad gave Olivia and Tamara a very warm welcome when they arrived at Chichén Itza; Soledad exclaimed over the spitting resemblance between Olivia and Carly; hugging and kissing Olivia over and over again. The two girls were giving separate rooms already prepared for them and after they'd freshened up, they came out to find a large lunch laid out for them.

'We couldn't possibly eat all this, Mrs Soledad!' Tamara protested, laughing as Soledad served them.

'Well you must make an effort. Especially you my dear.' Soledad beamed at Olivia. 'Carlina told us you were in an accident some time ago and I can see you've lost a lot of weight. So you need to get your strength back, yes?'

Olivia wryly agreed. Hank smiled at her. 'We're really excited, having you and your friend here with us. I can't wait to show you the sights.'

'We look forward to it; especially...'

'Ah yes; El Castillo. Seems just like yesterday Soledad and I witnessed your parents climb up that pyramid. Your mother looked so lovely in the dress Soledad gave her.'

Olivia smiled, turning to their hostess. 'Mum told me it was your wedding dress.'

'Yes, it was. And it was an honour, seeing it being used after so long. Your mother wore it well.' Soledad patted her hand. 'It's like looking at her right now, you're just as beautiful.'

'She turns heads anywhere we go.' Tamara said proudly.

'Alright...' Olivia felt herself blush red with embarrassment. 'More compliments than I can handle... please cease.'

Everyone at the table laughed heartily.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

The two girls wore comfortable walking shoes, tank tops and shorts along with wide brimmed hats as Professor Moore took them round the next day. Before leading them to El Castillo, he took them to the Temple of the Warriors and then El Caracol – a circular temple on a rectangular platform, which served as an astronomical observatory. Finally he took them to the famous pyramid.

'It's so beautiful!' Tamara gasped. 'Amazing!'

Olivia stared up at it. 'It's really magnificent, Professor.'

'It sure is. It's dedicated to the Feathered Serpent God, Kukulcán; that's why it's also known as The Pyramid of Kukulcán.

'No wonder your parents choose this place for their symbolic wedding.' Tamara said thoughtfully. 'There's something so mystic about it.'

'I feel it too, Tam. People really don't climb it anymore, Professor?'

'No, Olivia. The steps are way too steep now so it's no longer safe. But back in the day when people did, they were treated to a spectacular view.'

'I can just imagine.' It was right here Mum and Dad made their pledge... and became one, she thought. They are so lucky... this place seems to be filled with ancient magic. She thought of EJ again and shook her head. Not everyone was that lucky.

Tamara saw the way Olivia's face fell and winced. She truly didn't want her to get hurt but she hated seeing her sad too. And when the sad look in her eyes remained for the next three days, Tamara made a decision.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Besides El Castillo, Olivia was attracted to the Great Ball court. There were seven courts; used in the past for playing the Mesoamerican ballgame, according to the professor but this one was the largest and most impressive. Olivia however was more interested in how it served her parents; it was here her father had first proposed to her mother; he'd uttered the words; 'I want you to marry me' which had sent her running across the court to him. 'And...' Olivia smiled, remembering Carly's soft voice, 'he went down on one knee.'

Oh Mum... she shook her head. Who wouldn't have wanted to be in your shoes at that very moment?

Two people, predestined to be together...

She swallowed, as she thought of her own love. EJ, forbidden to her. She missed him so badly it was like a knife in her heart. Unlike her parents, she wasn't free to live her love with him... she could never tell him how much she loved and wanted him...

Tears pouring down her cheeks, she stared across the court and suddenly blinked. In the distance, a man was looking straight at her; staring at her intently. She wiped her eyes with her knuckles but it wasn't an illusion, he was right there. It can't be...

'Oh my God...' she whispered, walking at first and then running, running towards him and he in turn ran towards her. 'Oh my God... EJ!' She flung her arms round his neck, holding him tightly. 'You're here!'

'I'm here...' he whispered, stroking her hair, pressing his lips against her forehead. After Tamara's phone call, he'd cleared his desk and taken the first flight out. Just hearing that Olivia was missing him was more than enough reason to be by her side. 'I'm here, I'll always be here for as long as you want me.'

Olivia sobbed, raising her head to touch his face with her hands. Swiftly EJ devoured her mouth in a passionate kiss; kissing her like he'd wanted to kiss her for so very long, plunging in his tongue as he explored the sweet, warm mouth. Olivia clung to him, fervently kissing him back; love and passion for him flowing through her body.

Finally coming for air, they ended the kiss. He touched her face, grey eyes locked with green. 'I love you.' he said, his voice husky with emotion. 'I love you so much... we can make this work my love, I promise.'

Olivia said nothing; instead she kissed him again, hugging him tight. She had no idea what tomorrow would bring but for now she wanted to just bask in EJ's arms.