Author's Note: I've got one more chapter to this story and then an epilogue/future look. The plan was to jump ahead a couple of years and pick it up in a new story, but I'm not going to do it if readers aren't into it. Which is fine-but if you want me to pick it up and keep going, I need a sign of some sort. And if you don't, well that's cool too!

Julian heard the footsteps as they worked their way down the hall. The click-clack indicated female; the stride, determination. Diane had just left and he knew it wasn't Alexis, which left him with a third option. As she appeared behind his jailer, he tilted his head down to meet those brown eyes she got from her mother. He smiled slightly, "Sam."

-"Julian." She was using his first name, so he knew they were off to a bad start. Although the fact that her face looked incredibly angry really should have been his first clue. "Not so sure why you're smiling."

-"Happy to see my daughter."

-"Maybe not." She looked him up and down. He didn't look like he'd slept much, but his face had the cool demeanor she'd come to expect from her father. If Julian was worried about anything, he wasn't showing it.

-"I'll always be happy to see you, Sam."

Greetings over, Sam got straight to the point. "Is is true? Did you frame Ric? Did you fire Mom?"

-"It's true I turned over evidence about Ric. And it's true I fired your mother. I have no comment on whether or not he was framed."

Sam rolled her eyes. "Did you know he was alive?"

-"Not until yesterday."

-"And you couldn't have warned us? Let Molly know? Told Mom?"

Julian looked at his shoes. "I figured you'd find out anyway. And I was pretty sure I was the last person your mother wanted to speak to yesterday."

-"Think second-to-last. But you're right-we found out. Oh boy did we find out. He showed up at Nikolas's memorial service and immediately started in on Mom-"

-"-what do you mean he started in on your mother?" Julian stood taller as the anger worked its way up his spine.

Sam saw her father was getting riled up. "Nothing to worry about. He just asked if she knew you were lying."

-"And she told him 'no,' right?"

Sam sighed. "No. She didn't. Because she was your lawyer, Julian, and anything you may or may not have discussed falls under attorney/client privilege."

-"Fine. I can break it, right? She didn't know. How could Ric even think that?"

-"As big of an ass as Ric is-and believe me, he's a huge ass-he at one point felt something for my mother. And he was terrible to her. Somewhere deep down, he feels guilt for that and the only way for him to shake it is for her to do something more horrible. So I think he's more hopeful than delusional."

Julian looked at her mouth agape. "That's the most insane thing I've ever heard."

-"I've spent some time thinking about it."

-"Why? Jesus, Sam. I can't imagine why anyone would spend 30 seconds thinking about Ric."

Sam shrugged. "Well, he was family." Eager to change the subject, she continued. "Anyway, enough about Ric. Let's go back to you, Dad."

Julian wanted to smile at the 'Dad' but didn't want to call attention to her slip. "There's not much I can tell you, Sam. They do record everything in here."

-"Were you lying when you said you wanted out?"

Julian was silent for a moment before he said, "No comment."

-"Then are you going to cut a deal? I'm assuming that's why you've hired Diane."

He looked at his hands. "Remember when we had that discussion in the park? About danger?"

-"Yes."

-"People in my 'alleged' line of work don't tend to fare well when they cut a deal with the feds. And their families tend to fare worse."

Sam looked at him confused. "So...what are you saying? You're NOT going to cut a deal? You're going to go to trial? Julian, Ric's *alive*. They know you lied-you may never get out."

Julian shrugged. "I didn't do anything wrong, Sam. So I have nothing to fear from a trial."

She could feel his eyes boring into her. There was a lot he couldn't say, but she was piecing the hints and clues he left for her to figure it out. He was going to trial because cutting a deal to save his own skin would put them all in danger. That made sense-but only if he wasn't the boss. And if he *was* the boss, there'd be no deal to cut. There was no one else for him to turn in.

-"Wait. Have they even offered you a deal?"

-"They have."

Sam asked pointedly. "And you didn't take it."

-"I did not." Julian watched Sam's eyes and knew she understood. "Good girl," he muttered under his breath. He felt a swell of pride for his daughter, and wondered if this was how parents felt when their kids came home with straight As.

Her head tilted to the side in a move she learned from her mother. "Yet you fired Mom? What happened between you two?"

-"I feel her life is complicated enough at the moment."

-"But not even to her face? Not in person? No. It's not making sense to me."

-"What's not?"

Sam was silent as she worked the problem in her head. There's no way Julian wouldn't tell her mother about Ric once he found out she was alive. Sure, if Ric stayed dead and the Feds never found out about it, Julian would keep his mouth shut-and rightfully so. Alexis would tear into him. Suddenly, Sam had a thought.

-"When did Mom become your lawyer?"

-"OK, Sam. You're all over the place right now. I'm not following."

-"Just answer the question. I mean she wouldn't take you on as a client for forever. What changed?"

Julian shrugged. "I don't know. She couldn't have me as a client while she was representing Sonny. I guess once she no longer was his attorney she could represent me."

Sam smiled as she had her eureka moment. "OK, I got it."

The pride Julian felt earlier was turning into dread. "What exactly do you have?"

-"This. The story. I understand all of it. It makes sense to me now."

-"That makes one of us." Something had clearly come over Sam. Julian wasn't sure what it was or what she figured out, but her next question made him realize her epiphany was working in his favor.

-"Alright, Dad. You're going to fight this thing. What can your daughter do to help?"

Ric looked over at his daughter. "C'mon, Molly. You can see your Mom anytime. Just come out to brunch with me and Liz."

-"Dad, I really want to. But Mom said it was important. She really needs to talk to us, and I think I should be there. I promise I'll meet up with you afterwards."

Molly watched her father begin to pout. "What could be so important that it couldn't wait?"

She tried to assuage her father, "I'm not sure, Dad. But with Sam's arrest and Nikolas's death, she's had a really rough time of it lately."

Molly's attempt to mollify her father was a wild miscalculation. "With all due respect, it's been a rough time for me, too. I missed you, Molls. A lot."

She walked over to her father to hug him. It must have been the three hundredth time she'd done it since he walked into Wyndamere, but she was still shocked she had the opportunity to do it at all. If she was being honest, she didn't want to let her father leave her sight. But her mother needed her, and Ric needed some time with Elizabeth alone anyway. "OK. Let's make a deal. I see Mom for brunch today and then we spend the next few days together."

He smiled, although Molly noted it didn't reach his eyes. "Fine. I'll see you later sweetheart."

Kristina arrived at Davis Castle and immediately unpacked the coffee and French press she brought with her. She was quiet, hoping that her presence would be undetected, particularly by her former stepfather. Kristina loved Ric, and she was thrilled he was still alive. But she was disappointed in how quickly he turned on her mother. Growing up she had been aware that 'Daddy Ric' wasn't the most popular member of her family, but she willfully ignored the the slights she saw him endure, chalking them up to the perils of being the younger sibling.

But now that she was older, she found herself mentally challenging some of Molly's assertions about her father. In Ric's death, her sister had mythologized her father's memory. Kristina wondered about the shelf life of this sainted view now that he was actually alive.

Molly bounced into the kitchen and nodded at Kristina. Her eyes drifted over to the bit of equipment on the counter. "Wow, a French press! Since when did you get all fancy?"

-"Cheaper than buying coffee at Starbucks. And frankly better."

-"I didn't realize you were pinching pennies. I never would have guessed from that new Kate Spade bag."

-"I want to move to New York, and I need to save for it."

Molly's eyes grew wide. "Have you told Mom yet?"

Kristina shook her head. "No. I'm not going to tell her until I'm sure she's OK. Besides, there's no rush. It's not like the city is going anywhere."

-"What do you mean 'sure she's OK'?"

-"You're kidding right?"

-"Sort of, but sort of not. I mean I *know* she's devastated by Nikolas, but Krissy you don't have to put off your dreams. She wouldn't want you to. Mom has me and Sam and Uncle Victor...she'll be fine."

Kristina raised an eyebrow. "I didn't realize she and Uncle Victor were close."

-"She said he helped her a lot while Nikolas was sick. And he's always trying to cheer her up. He's really quite charming, Krissy. I think you'd like him."

-"I don't know, Molls." Kristina eyed her sister skeptically. "She's always hated her family-Nikolas and Uncle Stefan notwithstanding."

Molly smiled. "Trust me, Krissy. You'll like him."

-"I'll take your word for it." Kristina looked at her hands, trying to figure out how to delicately broach the next subject. "You know, Molly. Nikolas isn't the only thing Mom has lost."

-"What do you-oh." Molly was quiet. "You mean Julian."

-"I know you don't like him, and you have very solid reasons for that. But Mom loves him, and she must be devastated."

Molly sighed. "I know. I just wish…" She shook her head in frustration. "I just *wish* she could fall in love with someone who was a *good* person. Who actually loved her enough to sacrifice for her."

-"I know. I wish that, too. But she doesn't like those guys, does she? She always really wants the ones who don't pick her. Not when it counts anyway."

-"And we have to watch her heart break again. It sucks that he's Sam's dad."

Kristina smiled. "I guess it's only fair. I mean Sam had to watch her split with your dad. I guess we've come full circle."

-"Speaking of my dad, you just missed him this morning. I'm going to meet up with him later. You should come. I know he'd love to see you."

-"Maybe not today. I'd like to see Ric, too, but I think I want to wait until Mom's more steady."

Molly looked at her confused. "What does one thing have to do with another?"

-"He seems kind of pissed at her. I don't want to get in the middle of that. I'd rather wait until she can defend herself."

-"He's not pissed at her, he just…" Molly trailed off.

-"No, he's pissed at her, Molly. And I guess it's because he's been through a lot and it was her boyfriend who did it to him. So there's probably some transference of blame. But I'm not gonna watch him tear into her. Not while she's like this."

Her younger sister got defensive. "He wasn't tearing into her. He was challenging her. But I agree: his timing was terrible."

-"Well I don't envy you. And because I don't want to be in your position, I'm going to wait a bit before I decide to reacquaint myself with Ric.

-"He really wants to see you, Krissy."

-"He could have seen me at any point in the 5 years before he was framed. Another 2 to 3 months won't kill him."

Molly nodded as she poured herself a cup of coffee, knowing it was time to let the subject drop.

Alexis walked through the empty living room until she reached the sparsely supplied kitchen. She dropped the bags on the counter as Kristina entered. "Bringing in the take-out in plain grocery bags. Trying to scare us into thinking you're cooking?"

-"Worth a shot."

-"Do something about the smell next time. Those are obviously from Kelly's." She kissed her mother on the cheek as she started to get out plates.

-"Sam here yet?"

-"Nope."

-"Molly?"

Kristina nodded. "She's upstairs. Just got out of the shower."

Alexis asked quietly, "Ric?"

-"Nope. He's gone. You said you just wanted us, right?"

-"Yes, but I was afraid-"

She walked over and wrapped her arm around Alexis. "Mom, Molly's not mad at you. She knows you didn't do this. And she also knows you need her, too."

Alexis smiled. "Thank you, sweetheart. But I'll be fine. I promise." She kissed Kristina on the forehead as Sam walked into the kitchen and put her keys on the counter.

-"Hey. Did you bring my stuff?" Kristina asked her.

-"Yup. It's in the car. I brought some of Molly's stuff over, too."

-"Awesome. I'll get her and we'll unpack."

Alexis raised her head. "Do you need any help?"

Sam interjected, "Actually, Mom. I need to talk to you for a second. Krissy, you and Molly should be able to handle the stuff that's there."

Her mother smiled. "Sorry, Kristina. I really, really, really was looking forward to helping you move. The physical part. Was living for it."

As Kristina left the kitchen, Sam nodded to the full French press on the counter. "What is that?"

Alexis shrugged. "I don't know, but it has coffee in it. Do you want some?"

-"Why are you asking? Are you testing me or something?"

-"I was being polite." Alexis poured her a mug. "OK. So what do you want to talk to me about."

Sam moved to the fridge to get out some milk. "Just one question: when did you stop working for Sonny?"

Alexis was surprised. "That's a pretty random question. Why do you want to know?"

-"Curiosity. Do you not want to tell me?"

-"No. It's not a secret or anything. When they arrested you. I quit that day."

Sam nodded her head. The one piece she needed to bring her theory together was in her hands. "Why did you quit?"

-"You were in jail. Sonny is...demanding. Sometimes he is myopic when he needs something and I didn't want any distractions. Plus, if I'm being honest? I wanted out for a long time. I just needed a reason."

-"And that's when you started representing Dad, right?"

-"I guess." Now Alexis was curious. "Where is all of this coming from?"

Sam put her coffee on the counter. "So I saw Dad this morning."

-"Ahhh."

-"And we got to talking. He was offered a deal but he's not taking it."

Her mother looked confused. "Why would he not take a deal?"

-"He thinks a deal will put us in more danger. He'll always be looking over his shoulder, yada, yada, yada. You know the drill."

Surprised by how casually Sam was treating the topic, Alexis noted, "you're awfully blase about the dangers involved with snitching."

-"Not really. I get it. But I was more interested in why they offered him a deal at all."

-"Obviously they wanted him to turn evidence."

Sam nodded. "But against who?"

-"Excuse me?"

Sam smiled. "Against who? Ric wasn't his boss. Julian framed Ric. He was his own boss. Right?"

-"I'm not following."

-"I think you are, Mom." Sam paused for emphasis. "You didn't quit Sonny because he was too demanding, Mom. You and I know Sonny is pretty narcissistic, but he would do anything for me when push comes to shove. But you *would* have to quit being Sonny's attorney if you needed to be Julian's."

Alexis put on her poker face. "I'm still not following."

-"Mom. Really?" Her question was met with a blank stare. After about a full minute, Alexis added, "It's your theory, Sam. Is that it?"

-"No. It's not," Sam became a little defensive. Her mother was smart, and her standing there coolly appraising her daughter fed into her insecurities. She felt her pride rising. "You needed to be Julian's lawyer because you needed confidentiality. You needed him to admit to something illegal. And he did. That's why the two of you have been so secretive and weird."

-"Secretive and weird? We were not secretive and-"

-"Mom, MOM," Sam interrupted to stop her before she began to spiral. "Focus."

-"Sorry. Go on. We were secretive and weird and then…?"

-"Dad had a boss and it wasn't Ric. And you figured that out. And you needed him to tell you because you thought that's who was framing me."

-"I know you expect me to say something. But you also know I can't."

-"Why not, Mom? I figured it out," Sam sulked.

Alexis sighed. "The same reason I couldn't say anything to Molly."

Sam sulked. "You guys could have told me. You *should* have told me."

-"Hypothetically speaking. If your theory actually is true, Sam, how could he tell you? You could be subpoenaed. You would probably go looking for his boss. And if he's the kind of man who would shoot Lucas or blow up my house, he would be too dangerous for you to tangle with." Alexis caught herself. "Allegedly."

-"But Nina's mother, Mom?"

-"Honestly, she still could easily have been behind it. Look how it turned out. It was Franco this whole time. Your theory-or if we're being technical-your theory on *my* theory would have been wrong."

-"Except Dad has a boss, Mom. Or had a boss?"

Alexis shrugged. "I'll play. Why 'had'?"

-"Because he promised me the threat was gone. So I'm assuming the boss is dead. And I'm assuming the DA doesn't know that yet or they wouldn't have offered Dad a deal."

-"Well, even if everything you said up until that point is true, I don't know anything about a deal, Sam. Your father fired me. I have no more insight into his legal dealings now than you do."

Sam's lowered her voice. "How do you feel about that?"

-"Well, no one likes to be fired, Sam."

-"Stop, Mom! Just stop." Sam felt guilty about her tone. "Look, I'm sorry I was short with you. But the man you love-you seem to adore-lied to you and then he fired you. He's potentially going to prison and you may never see him again. Mom: how. do. you. feel. about. that?"

Alexis stood silently as a tear fell down her cheek. Finally, she sighed. "Heartbroken. Like I can't even breathe."

Sam walked over to hug her mother. "Oh, Mom," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."