Marissa checked her watch before walking into Krystal's. She was running a little late. Scott was there ahead of her, sitting in one of the corner booths.

"Sorry… traffic." she said as an apology before sliding onto the bench opposite.

"I'm just glad you made it." said Scott, licking his lips pensively.

"So what did you want to talk about?"

Scott looked around for a waitress.

"Do you want to get a coffee first?" he asked.

Marissa just tapped her fingers on the table.

"No, I just want you to tell me what this is about." she said bluntly. "It worries me when friends want to talk to me in a professional capacity."

Scott sighed and turned back to Marissa, looking her in the eye for the first time since she arrived.

"I need advice on what to do about Holly."

"Holly?" said Marissa slowly.

"I want full custody." said Scott, "And I want to get it sorted before Madison is out of the hospital."

Marissa frowned.

"You're already her father." said Marissa.

"Yeah, but Madison and I aren't married and Adam said…"

"Adam?!" exclaimed Marissa. "Since when do you listen to Adam?"

"He made a good point." said Scott. "If thing don't work out between Madison and me, as the mother she will get priority… But she's my little girl. I've been looking after her these past months!"

"Is it likely not to work out?" Marissa asked. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing." said Scott quickly but looking too guilty for her to believe him.

"Are you worried that Madison won't recover from her mental illness? Is that what you're concerned about; Holly's safety?"

"That too." said Scott. "Dr Stanhope said she might be well enough to come home in just a few weeks but I can't…"

Scott shrugged his shoulders and look pleadingly at Marissa.

"Scott?"

Scott looked truly pained when he spoke his next words.

"I can't look after a mentally ill woman and a baby and run a business… and I don't want to!"

"But you love her!" exclaimed Marissa but on reading his expression she lost her certainty, "Don't you?"

"I did… or I thought I did." said Scott. He leant forward to emphasise his point. "But this isn't what I signed up for."

"Madison doesn't have anyone else." said Marissa, shocked that her good friend could just abandon someone he was supposed to be in love with. "When I started dating Bianca do you think I was ready for this last year or so of heart break..? You have to believe it will get better! You plan for the good times ahead!"

Scott sat back.

"But I don't see a future with Madison, I see my future with Holly. Will you help me?"

Marissa shook her head.

"I can't believe that you could be like this!" she exclaimed.

Scott met her disappointed gaze.

"How is this any different than you and JR?"

Marissa was so shocked by the question she actually gasped.

"JR… You are taking JR's side! Surly that only shows how wrong this is!"

"No." said Scott trying badly to make his point. "JR was ill and you left him to his illness. You ran off to be with Bianca! It's no different."

"It's so very different." said Marissa. "When I left JR I had no idea how ill he was… and I tried to help him only he wouldn't let me and I got to the realisation that my trying to help was just making worse. I didn't want to just abandon him to his drinking - he didn't give me any choice."

Something in Scott's words sparked another shocking thought.

"Is there someone else?" Marissa asked.

"Sorry?" asked Scott, this time it was his turn to be surprised by a question.

"You made the point that I left JR to be someone else… Is there someone else?"

Scott didn't answer. That guilty silence was as good as an answer to Marissa.

"Who is it?" she demanded.

"No one." said Scott quietly.

Marissa gave him hard look.

"I don't believe you. I thought you were better than this."

"Okay." said Scott backing down. "There is someone I love more than Madison."

"Who?"

"Holly!" said Scott firmly. "I love my daughter and I don't want to lose her! Will you help me or not?"

…