A glass of sparkling cider was found for Bianca and toasts were made. Marissa, Bianca and Krystal clinked their glasses together, each woman wishing JR farewell and good riddance. Then Marissa dragged a quietly protesting Bianca to the small dance-floor that had been set up in the corner of the room.

...

Krystal caught up with Opal in conversation with Scott, Madison, Jake and Amanda. It seemed that Amanda and Scott were butting heads over whether what happened to JR was really justice at all.

"This was a long time coming." said Scott, "My cousin has got away with too much for too long."

"But you must have known something wasn't right with him." said Amanda. "He hasn't been himself for a long time. To me he has always seemed lost."

"It's an act." said Scott bluntly. "How else would he have gotten away with his crap all these years?"

"Well, I think it is good if he is getting the treatment he needs." said Amanda not backing down.

"That's garbage." said Scott angrily. "He went to war with Marissa and Bianca. He would have been going after them still if he hadn't been caught out. He didn't care about anyone but himself, not even his own son."

"I'm not trying to justify what he did..!"

"Or sure sounds like it!"

"Yes well." said Krystal putting a restraining hand Scott's shoulder. "That young man has hurt people enough. I don't want JR causing another fight. What do you say we change the subject?"

"Yes," said Opal, "This is supposed to be a party."

Scott noticed the effect his words had on everyone.

"Your right." He said, "This is a party."

"So how was my grandson when you left him?" Krystal asked Opal.

"I dropped AJ and Miranda off with the nanny." said Opal, "Those two kids… you'd think they were already brother and sister. AJ was little upset about his dad but Miranda basically told him, 'Whatever happens you'll always have me,'… too cute."

Krystal grinned.

"And can you believe the weather." said Madison also glad of the change of subject. She had had quite an eventful day of her own and was keen to share it. "I was trapped at the Fusion offices all day. A tree can down just outside the main door. They wouldn't let us evacuate until they took branches down from another nearby tree and to top it all, a rep from the 'Fusion Pets' line got trapped between floors in the elevator when the power failed, we had to find a way to pry open the doors. It was mad."

"Whoa." said Opal. "The storm has certainly made a mess of the town. Did you see the roof of the Peterson's house on the corner Main Street?"

"We had to drive round it in the way here." said Scot.

"I think we all did." said Jake. "Mind you I think Bianca, Ryan and Cara had the most eventful day. Did you hear we have a new midwife in town!" said Jake smiling in the direction of Bianca, who was slow dancing with Marissa, the pair oblivious of everything else around them.

"What's this?" asked Madison.

"Cara went into labour in the middle of the storm." explained Jake. "First Ryan crashes his car and then he and Bianca had to do the delivery Cara's baby."

"She's had her baby." asked Madison.

"Yes, and I'm glad to report both mother and son are doing excellently. No problems with either. Bianca did a great job. They did everything right. She's named him Charles."

"Have you just come up from the hospital?" Opal asked Jake "Is there any more news on Erica?"

She had heard rumours of her best gal-pals return and was keen to know if it was true.

"The hospital has been manic all day. First the storm and then David swooping in from nowhere with Erica and his mystery patient." said Jake. "By all accounts Erica seems to have made a miraculous recovery. Whatever David's Orpheus treatment consists of it is amazing stuff."

"Mystery patient?" Krystal asked, her ears pricking up at the comment.

"I don't know who she is. The porters were saying David was more concerned about her than Erica. He's got her straight into a private room and only nurses approved by him are allowed to go in. It's a big mystery."

"She?" said Krystal her voice suddenly very quiet.

Opal could see the sudden change in her friend's face. She wasn't the only one.

"Do you know who it is?" asked Scott.

"David… he told JR that Babe was still alive. I thought he was just doing it to torment him… could it be true? Has he saved Babe?"

Opal put a hand on Krystal's arm.

"No. He would have said something. He wouldn't have kept Babe from you; he knows how much you love her. He wouldn't keep a mother from…" Opal stopped when she realised what she was saying.

"You were going to say David wouldn't keep a mother from her child weren't you?" said Krystal. "But he did it to Bianca."

"But… but that was for Babe's sake." said Opal, trying to get Krystal to see sense. She wasn't surprised at the possibility that David could still be harbouring secrets. But could he really be keeping a secret that big?

"But if it is her?" said Krystal, her voice now a whisper

"It won't be her. It can't be." said Opal.

But Krystal was already racing out of the door, the party and everything else forgotten.

…