Ebony had awakened in a foul mood. Ved's voice echoed in her head every day since he had come to see her and now she couldn't get Jay off her mind. He was even in her dreams.

"Where are you going?" she looked up at Slade who was fully dressed, Thunder in arm. She hadn't even realized she had slept through the infant's cries.

"Just thought we'd go for a little walk, and besides everyone feels as if you're being too overprotective. They've seen little of you and Thunder since the birthing."

"Maybe I don't want to be seen. You do realize I am the last person on the planet they thought would have a child?"

Slade smirked, "Well if you get dressed quickly you can join us so everyone can point and stare."

She rolled her eyes, glaring at him, "Don't mock me. It's weird for me. I have a reputation, and if I'm still myself they'll claim I'm an unfit mother!"

"I'm sorry…really if it'd make you more comfortable we'll wait for you."

"Great. I don't want my son bonding with just anyone! We have to keep him away from anyone who's ever tried to kill me, voted against me, or I just can't stand."

"That leaves who? Salene?"

"Exactly."

"You can't isolate him from everyone Ebony. The tribe is family."

Ebony smacked her lips climbing out of bed and headed to the bathroom, "Dysfunctional family. He's my son, and I only want what's best for him."

"Our son!"

"Whatever," she muttered.

When she was fully dressed she called out to Slade, but got no answer in return. She yanked the bathroom door open to an empty room.

"Ugh that man!"

~0~

It had taken some hard work but Trudy finally felt like she had pulled together the perfect baby shower for Khail and Ebony.

"I'm amazed Trudy, I didn't think you could pull this off with such little resources on this island," Ryan looked around the decorated room.

There were blue and yellow streamers Trudy had Lottie and Sammy make coming down the entry door. On every wall there were painted signs with it's a boy painted on them and other congratulatory sayings. And on one side of the room there was a table filled with gifts. Someone was creative enough to wrap them. Then at last there was a food table.

Trudy smirked, "Never doubt a determined woman Ryan."

"How do we make this a surprise?" Ram asked her.

"You of all people ask me how to pull off a surprise?" She shook her head. "It's simple really; we just have to get them to the party room."

"Simple for Mikhail, Ebony on the other hand will think it's a conspiracy," Lex laughed.

"Boys, boys, boys, trust me, I've thought about everything. This is going to be the perfect shower."

Just then Slade walked in with a cooing Thunder, "We ditched Ebony in the room, she's gonna be like a mad mother hen when she finds us."

Tai-San laughed, "We wouldn't expect Ebony to be any other way."

~0~

Mikhail had woken up to an empty spot beside her. Ryan was gone, her sister wasn't in her room, and the island outside her window was silent. That was unusual for breakfast time.

Pulling herself out of bed and waddling through the routine of getting dressed she finally made her way outside. No one was around, but steaming Ebony.

"Where is everyone?" she asked the other woman.

"You don't know either?!"

Khail shook her head, "Something's fishy. "

"I'll say. I'm going to skin Slade alive."

"Did you check the café?"

"I've checked everywhere!"

"I think I have an idea of where they may be," Mikhail looked ahead spotting Lottie and Brady heading into the hotel.

Ebony glared at Lottie who had also spotted them. She dashed inside pulling Brady behind her, and disappearing from their sight.

Mikhail made haste as best she could in her condition to keep up with Ebony who was speed walking. Once they were inside the building they followed a trail of sand to the room designated for parties.

The two women looked at one another as Ebony pushed open the door and a chorus of "Surprise" came flooding at them.

Ebony began to wonder why she had been left out of the loop until she realized the party was for her too. She was moved, but remained her poker face self. Mikhail beside her was moved to tears.

"You guys are wonderful!" Mikhail exclaimed.

"Yeah…uh…thanks," Ebony managed to say before shuffling over to Slade.

With the two guests of honor there, the festivities began with everyone bomb rushing the food table. All the men that was, except Jay who laid a gift on the table, and then casually slipped out. Ebony spotted him.

~0~

Mega's rehabilitation was going well. He could already feel the strength building in his leg muscles. He was grateful to have a devoted nurse like Danni. She was gentle, but she didn't go easy on him, and she was tough. She didn't take crap from him or anybody else.

"What are you thinking?" she asked him. He was smirking at her.

"I wonder why you spend all your time in a hospital with me instead of taking up company with that guy," he pointed to Dragon who was standing outside the door, "He clearly cares for you."

Danni rolled her eyes, "That guy is full of himself and doesn't know how to take no for an answer. Excuse me," she left him lying there to go see about Dragon's existence.

"What do you want?" she walked over to the door and stepped outside for a more private conversation.

"Pack your and your patient's bags, we set sail in about an hour."

"What do you mean set sail?"

Dragon frowned, "It's a no questions asked trip."

"Liar," she gave him a raised brow.

"I have no reason to lie. Kyra was very tight lipped about this mission. Only a few of her most trusted generals, cooks, and her doctor and company are allowed to go. But you know…"

Danni stopped him, "but for the right price you'll tell me, blah, blah, get out of here!" she shooed him away.

He laughed, "You know one day you are going to take me up on that offer."

"I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you," she disappeared back into the hospital room.

Mega looked at her frowning face, "What was that all about?"

"Aside from Dragon being himself, apparently we're going on a top secret mission."

"We?"

"Yes, Kyra has requested we go."

"But I'm a damaged good…I don't even know who I am."

Danni smiled at him patting his hand, "Maybe you'll find yourself out there."

Josh, as they had been calling him shrugged. Maybe he didn't want to know who he was. From how Kyra had described him, he had been an evil genius of sorts. Maybe losing his memory was good for him, a second chance.

~0~

Standing alone on Trader's boat, Jay stared out at the sea. He could hear someone coming on board, but he didn't turn around. He hadn't expected her to come, but she had. And from the sounds of her footsteps, she wasn't happy. He knew the gift would offset her, but it belonged to her. He had packed two gifts in one, a shirt for Thunder, and something for Ebony.

"What the hell is this?" Ebony held out the key. She knew exactly what it was. It had once represented the key to her heart, an actual key to her suite in her 'palace' in the city. No other man had ever possessed it, but Jay.

He turned around then, "You remember when you gave it to me?"

Ebony ignored the question, "I don't want it."

"Neither do I."

"What do you want from me?" she asked him.

"I've only ever wanted you."

"My heart belongs to someone else now."

"Then why are you here? You didn't have to come; you could've given the key to Slade, or just thrown it away. It means nothing to me anymore."

"Giving it to Slade would be wrong because I gave it to another man first."

"Well obviously the lock it fits has been changed."

"Why can't you just give us up?"

"I don't want to forget our past Ebony, and even if I tried to forget, I couldn't." He started closing the gap in between them.

Ebony stood there awkwardly, her arm still outstretched, holding out the key. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears.

Jay balled up the hand so that she was still grasping the key, "How do I breathe without you? I love you Ebony, I'll never stop."

He was close enough that Ebony felt his breath on her face. For an instant she remembered the old Jay, the general she had fallen in love with. She remembered their first date. Jay had made her feel out of her element when they had dated. Then she snapped out of it, remembering all the hurt. She stepped backwards just as he was about to kiss her.

"This key is useless to both of us!" she chucked it overboard into the water. "You know your brother came to see me. He told me to forgive was to forget. I forgive you Jay. For every mean spirited action you took against me. Now please just…leave me alone."

Jay watched her run down the ramp. The way she had paused and let him get close had let him know something was still alive there. Jay walked back over to the railing, a smile on his face. The key may have been useless to them, but there was still chemistry between them. Ebony had a family now and as much as he hated to disrupt that, he couldn't let things go.

~0~

Ebony was mad at herself. She had put herself in a jeopardizing position. She had almost betrayed Slade, and almost lost herself in Jay's eyes again. She wanted to cry, but knew she couldn't. She had to get back to the baby shower.

She was so confused. She knew that Slade was her soul mate, but something had awakened in her on that deck a few minutes ago. She didn't know what it was.

"Was it love or was it lust?" she asked herself mentally. Whatever it was, she knew she had to distance herself from Jay as much as she could.