A/N: Thanks for the PMs and reviews! They are always appreciated! Candylou, I am not at all insulted and glad you took the time to write your reviews. Indeed it is true there is a bit of a double standard that seemed to apply. When their bi interested were expressed way back in the original "When the Night Comes Falling..." there was an open mindedness on Chet's part for sure the way he viewed it. But less so the way Joe did, as he found it troubling but indulged it. I think the distinction comes in to play when it was clear Joe did it because he was potentially in love with Vanessa. Iola generally only cheated in a way that was purely for sexual need and she was never interested in having an actual relationship with Callie/Aimee, and while unconventional, her intent was never to leave her husband. Joe and Vanessa had an affair that was an opposite sex encounter that could actually pose a threat to his and Iola's marriage. So, the distinction exits in that Joe not only cheating with a woman whom he had potentially fallen in love with, but also his timing in that they took off the same week that Callie's daughter was kidnapped. I feel that perhaps this has earned him a little extra penalty.

In reply to a PM I got that had inquired about what universe this story was really taking place in, I honestly think that is up to the way you interpret it. I'd like to say it comes off as perhaps a blue spine with a rather progressive and diverse sense of personal relationships. But still keeps a foundation of who the original character are. Some have taken exception that I had always reworked Callie as an independent woman and given her such vises as alcohol and sex, rather than make her the heir apparent to Laura Hardy. But, as you have read more than once in my stories, even Laura has her vises. They are just more hidden behind her long established position as the blue spine matriarch of the Hardy family. Some might even derive that she would just as soon pop a Xanax and let Gertrude assume that role.

So, I would prefer not to refer to this as an AU, when in fact it is just a bit of a twist on the blue spine foundation that I have always loved. I thank anyone who reads and offers their input!

-3-

Chet wondered down the hallway, half awake. The smell of frying bacon wafting through the air had summoned him from his sleep. He smiled upon entering the kitchen and seeing Callie standing before the stove. He placed his arms around his wife from behind and kissed the back of her neck.

"Good morning, angel. How are you doing?" Callie smiled as she ran her hand down along his arm, then turned away from the stove.

"I'm good, babe. You doing alright? Not too worn out?" He reached over and took a pot of coffee and poured himself a steaming cup. He looked at her with a sheepish smile.

"I am a bit sore. But I think I will survive. Thank you for an amazing night!" Callie turned the stove down as she placed several strips of bacon onto a plate lined with paper towels. She raised an eyebrow towards him.

"Was I the first girl to get thanked? Or did you thank someone else with a morning quickie, first?" Chet grunted as he took a sip of coffee.

"No, my dear. You are the first. Alas, Aimee Lynn is still sleeping soundly in the middle of our bed." Callie nodded knowingly.

"Yes, she is a sound sleeper. Especially after an evening of activity." She opened a package of eggs and turned back to him. "Do you still like your eggs scrambled?" Chet tilted his head thoughtfully.

"I've been kind of liking them over easy lately." Callie managed to suppress a giggle.

"Why does that not surprise me, babe?"

Another ten minutes and both were seated at the kitchen table enjoying their breakfast. Chet consumed a few pieces of bacon in short succession and smiled at his wife.

"Your bacon is amazing, Cal." He said appreciatively. Callie brought her oversized cup of coffee to her lips with both hands as she leaned back, returning the smile.

"You already told me that last night when you were slapping my bacon, hun." Chet coughed abruptly as he looked at her, half surprised.

"I really used the word bacon?" Callie closed her eyes briefly and nodded.

"You did, my love." She took another sip of coffee and looked at him with am amused expression. "I would not suggest you use that term with Aimee. Pregnant women tend to not like being equated to pork products. Come to think of it, neither do women who are not expecting." Chet reddened slightly and looked down.

"I'm sorry, babe. I guess it just happened with the few Guinness I had, and loose lips." Callie's eyebrows went up and she looked at him sternly. Chet held up his hands in protest. "No! I mean I had a few beers and I tend to talk out of turn as you know. I didn't mean you or Aimee had…" Callie waved him off.

"Well, certainly not Aimee anyway." Her facial expression relaxed, and she shook her head towards him managing a grin. "Relax, babe, I'm just giving you a hard time. Last night was a new thing for us, and I am honestly still trying to determine if it's exciting or upsetting to me. Maybe a bit of both if you want me to be honest." He nodded soberly.

"I understand what you're saying. Really, I do. And I'd be lying if I didn't say I had mixed feelings as well. I do know that I love you and that will never change." Callie knew he was being truthful. She had never doubted his love over the years. What he may or may not feel for Aimee really wasn't that important to her, at the moment anyway. She had opened the can of worms over a year ago when she chose to venture out. There had been a need, she supposed. But what they all had now did not need validation. Nor did the need to impose jealousy seem all the necessary. Though she knew that might be hard to overcome at times.

"I love you to, baby." Chet finished his plate and sat back with his coffee.

"So, Frank said he was going to get back with us this morning about this well check that according to Marnie is concerning?" Callie nodded thoughtfully.

"Yeah, she is distressed even more. I can't say that I blame her, but this is all getting very confusing. The sheriff's office didn't see any flags, but Marnie seemed pretty damn convinced something was wrong. That there is no granddaughter."

"According to her." Chet interjected. "Who do we believe?" Callie finished her coffee and set the cup down with a shrug.

"Not sure who to believe. We need to investigate and see where the truth lies. Granted, I don't know anything about Marnie, but she seemed to have all her faculties. The fact she so vehemently denies the possibility that Melanie has a granddaughter makes me quite troubled. But I have no motive for there to be anything sinister at hand."

"Maybe Frank will have discovered something. When he went home last night, he said he was going to make some calls." Callie nodded seriously.

"Let's hope he can help us. I think I will go online and check the county assessor records and maybe I can determine something from the records."

"Couldn't hurt. So, is Maddie still sleeping?"

"Yeah. They must have stayed up late. When I poked my head in earlier, they were sound asleep under the covers."

"In the same bed?" Chet realized how he sounded after he asked, then looked down. Callie poured another cup of coffee and sat down next to him. She took his hand and offered a kind look.

"I know how you feel, babe. And in many respects, I feel the same. But Aimee did have a point when she chastised us last night." Chet looked up with some hesitation, then nodded.

"I hope you understand that my anxiety has nothing to do with the fact that Jaime is a girl." Callie ran her hand along his face and nodded.

"Oh, I know that, babe. You are not that type of person. And I will say the same thing. I am not apprehensive about their budding relationship because they are both female. I think that you and I just don't want that little girl to grow up. She is our baby." Chet closed his eyes and nodded his agreement.

"Yeah." He rasped, trying not to choke up at the thought. "But…I…I guess that isn't really being fair on our part. Or being very realistic. When that bastard robbed her of her innocence, all I wanted to do was to kill him." Callie placed her hand on his.

"Agreed, babe. I wanted to hurt him bad. But even if this hadn't happened, she would still be a very developed teenage girl and naturally interested in having some kind of relationship with someone. We can't stop what's coming. Or even try to delay it in the name of protecting her. That's not fair to her, and hardly a realistic expectation on our part." Chet exhaled slowly as he thought.

"Yeah, I know. I guess we had better learn to get comfortable with this relationship. Or any other than she may have in the future. As much as I don't want to let my little girl go." Callie made eye contact with him.

"We aren't letting her go, babe. We are letting her live her life. We will always be there for many years to come. And as long as we understand this natural progression and are supportive of her, she will be there with us." Chet felt better hearing these words. He forced a bittersweet smile and looked at her.

"Can't stop what's coming, can we?" Callie smiled and shook her head.

"I'm afraid not. And I don't mean to compound your troubles, hun, but you need to have a word with your folks. We need to quit using grandma and grandpa as a full-time babysitting service for Carly and Ellie." Chet nodded soberly when he thought about their younger two daughter and how they had found some convenience in having his parents watch the children full time.

"Yeah, you're right." She looked fretfully at him.

"And I don't want to further complicate things, but you will need to talk to them about Aimee and the baby." Chet let his breath escape slowly through his closed mouth.

"That will not be a conversation I look forward to." Callie held her hands up.

"Well, it won't be an easier conversation than if you just show up one day in eight months with this new bundle in your arms and tell your mom she is a grandma again." Chet rubbed his temples as he thought about it.

"Ok, I will address that this week. I just have to figure out a way that I can tell them without getting disowned." Callie felt sorry for him. Even though the circumstances were at times difficult for her to accept, she knew that he was in a bad way. The elder Mortons were not likely to be happy. They were stressed enough to have learned about Joe's indiscretions. And while Iola had also been unfaithful, at least to the extent of having been intimate with Callie and Aimee, Mr. and Mrs. Morton were not privilege to that information. Iola had managed to keep her occasional same sex flings with her best friend secret. She had been more successful at it than Callie, whose parents had been aware of her extramarital practices. If it hadn't been for the shame they felt over their daughter's same sex flings with Iola and Aimee, they no doubt would have enlightened the Mortons.

"Well, good luck with that one, babe. I think between the not going to church and the same sex affair with Aimee, I am history in my dad's eyes. Mom still talks to me, but she tends to look at me like she doesn't know me sometimes. Something like my daughter went gay so now what? She is afraid to talk about those things now. Makes me sad that one's parents can do that." She sighed.

Chet stood up and placed his arms around her. He knew the two of them were in a bad spot when it came to their relationships with their parents.

"It will be alright, baby. I think we need a distraction from this morning's sobering reality."

As luck would have it, a knock came on the front door. Callie glanced towards the front of the house.

"That will do, whoever it is." She muttered thankfully as she walked to the front door. She swung it open, and Frank Hardy offered her a smile.

"Morning, Cal. Hope I am not dropping by too early." Callie smiled and opened the door, gesturing for him to come in.

"Not at all, Frank. We didn't hear you drive up."

"Oh?" Frank asked as he looked around the foyer cautiously, hoping he hadn't interrupted anything. Callie rolled her eyes and shook her head as she led him along.

"Relax, Frank. The three way was last night." She declared as they entered the kitchen. Chet's eyes briefly went wide when he heard his wife. He looked down as he saw Frank look across the room at him, his face flush with embarrassment.

"Well, pal, I was gonna ask how you are this morning." He needled his chum, "But sounds like you are doing well." Chet finally looked up and raked his fingers through his hair and he shot his wife a look.

"Yeah, Frank. Doing ok, thanks." He mumbled. Callie looked back at him and rolled her eyes again.

"Oh, please! If I wasn't here, babe, you'd be bragging off to Frank about how you had a double header last night, or some other crass, locker room banter." Chet coughed and cleared his throat, then looked to Frank.

"Coffee, pal?" He asked, very much wishing to change the subject. Frank readily nodded.

"Yes, please." Chet took a fresh cup and filled it, then handed it to him.

"I take it you have some news for us?" Callie asked with an anxious look. Frank nodded.

"Well, some anyway. I checked back with the sheriff's department, and as I suspected they weren't inclined to go back over because of the word of an alleged elderly sibling who lives 800 miles away. They don't consider it a wise use of resources as they still deem this to be nothing more than a domestic issue. I did check the assessor records…"

"I was about to do that." Callie interrupted. "What did the records indicate?" Frank took a long sip of his coffee and leaned back against the counter.

"Unfortunately, not much. It's registered to a Delaware holding corporation called Ripple."

"Ripple?" Callie repeated. "Good song, but I never heard of the corporation." Frank smiled.

"It's probably just a shell company formed to keep the owner's names anonymous. It's a fairly common practice for some to use when wanting to remain private, or for tax reasons. I couldn't find anything out about it, other than the very limited contact info, which is nothing more than a PO box."

"So, a dead end?" Chet said sadly. Frank nodded.

"Well, from that source and another. I checked with a friend at the post office, and unfortunately, they indicate that the same corporation has an address forward filed. They cannot give me any other information without a court order." Callie threw her hands up.

"Well, this is getting stranger by the minute. What old lady with a handicap requests her mail being forwarded elsewhere from where they live? Makes little sense." Chet took a deep breath and looked up.

"Why don't we just go back out there? Take a look around with our detective friend?" He smiled to Frank.

"You guys know I have no jurisdiction out here in the county." Frank said with a tone of futility. Callie smiled and put her arm around him.

"True, but you do have a good track record of being quite the private detective. And a third set of eyes wouldn't hurt." She urged. Frank Hardy smiled and nodded.

"Well, I am a little curious myself." He admitted. "I guess I have some time to spare."

"Great!" Callie's face lit up. "I will go tell Aimee to check in on Maddie and we can go." She quickly exited the kitchen. Frank finished his coffee and looked over at his friend with a smirk. Chet's eyebrows went up in question.

"What's up, pal?" Frank offered him a bemused look.

"Nothing, dude. Are you sure you have the strength to make it over there? I mean if you need some rest because you couldn't sleep." Chet waved off his friend's ribbing.

"Aww, cut it out, man. It's not like that."

"Oh?" Frank grunted. "Then please tell me how it is. I mean I haven't gotten back into good enough graces with Tiff to even consider an overnight at this point. But you my friend have two babes here willing to serve. You live a charmed life, my friend." Chet knew that perhaps from an outsider's perspective he may be viewed as charmed. But he most certainly did not feel that was the case." He placed his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Well, pal, if you want to go tell my mom she is going to be a grandma again, and that it isn't Cal's, you are welcome to step into my charmed shoes." Frank nodded soberly and slapped his pal's arm.

"Yeah, I hear you, man. Sorry, I didn't mean to paint it all as you living some princely existence with a stable of concubines or anything." Chet had to chuckle.

"Concubines? Not interested in having those. I'm sure I could afford those if I wanted, but not my thing. Nope, I just found myself in a spot and things just developed. I honestly don't know what will come of it all. It's a bit overwhelming."

"Well, I am sure it is, pal. Again, I'm sorry if I made light of it all. Guess I just felt a little jealousy there for a bit." Chet nodded and offered a knowing look.

"Well, you are finding your path back with Tiffany. If you guys are serious about it, then all the good things that go with it will follow."

"For sure, man."

Callie walked back in wearing a pair of low rider jeans and black boots. She had a lightweight jacked over her tight crop top.

"Ok, guys, I'm ready." Chet nodded and gestured towards the others.

"Great. Shall we?"

Maddie's eyes flickered as the beams of sunlight shone through her blinds on the wall opposite her bed. She reached over and grabbed her phone and checked the time. After blinking several more times she shifted upwards to a seated position. She looked down at Jaime, who had felt the movement of the bed and started to stir. She reached down and touched her shoulder.

"Hey, girl. Morning has arrived." Jaime's eyes opened slowly and started to focus. She turned towards her friend and offered a tired looking smile.

"Good morning. What time is it?"

"Just after ten." Jaime shifted up herself and rubbed her eyes and yawned.

"Dang, we slept in. Guess we stayed up too late listening to the performance." Maddie cringed at the thought. The pair had heard Maddie's parents and Aimee the night before in the throws of passion.

"Not like it was intentional." Maddie muttered reflectively. "These wooden floors throughout the house seem to make everything louder and it wasn't exactly hard to figure out what they were doing down there."

"Creep you out?" Jaime asked with a curious look. Maddie shrugged.

"Well, not really. Just the idea of hearing them and knowing that all three of them were going at it. Just not something you want to hear your parents doing." Jaime giggled and opened up a nearby half empty bottle of Coke.

"Yeah, I never have that problem. Jesse and I have rooms on the opposite end of the house and there are plenty of rugs to absorb the sound. That, and the fact I figure they probably only have sex once a month." Jaime took a long drink of warm Coke, then smirked. "You think they figure we are up here messing around as well?" Maddie offered her a sideways glance.

"I hope not. I mean since we aren't up here messing around. Just cause I like sleeping in the same bed and being held doesn't mean we are doing stuff. I hope they don't think that, or I am bound to get a talking to." Jaime looked down with a sad expression. She would have certainly liked to pursue a more intimate level of contact with Maddie. She still remembered the times they shared when they were being held captive. The memory was fond, even if it had been under less than ideal circumstances. Maddie noticed her sudden quietness and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out like that." She turned and placed her hand on Jaime's. "You know I think about it…a lot. I just would like some time, you know?" Jaime nodded quietly. A moment later her phone alert went off, and she looked down and retrieved her phone. After typing out a message she looked up.

"My mom is picking me up in about twenty minutes. Jess and I need to go to therapy and then run some errands. Damn, I almost forgot about that appointment!" Maddie nodded.

"Ok." She replied quietly as Jaime got out of bed and went about finding a change of clothes in a nearby bag. Maddie watched her peel from her pajama shorts and top and looked at Jaime's bare form. She remembered when they were together.

Back there.

Maddie felt a tinge of excitement course through her body and bit her lower lip as she watched Jaime. It was a similar feeling she felt when she was being held the night before and Jaime's hand would occasionally brush against her breast.

As attracted as she was to Jaime, Maddie didn't want that to be the sole reason to become intimate with her again. And while their relationship and friendship were clearly forming a connection, she didn't feel the desire to rush things. As much as she often and fondly reflected to the times they were together. Still, the hormonal impulse that was running through Maddie was difficult to ignore. Jaime looked over at her as she finished dressing and noticed the concentrated look on Maddie's face.

"Are you ok?" Maddie nodded reassuringly.

"Yeah." She replied, still looking at her. Jaime slipped into her shoes and picked up her phone and looked down.

"Looks like she will be here in a few. You gonna come down?" Maddie paused, then shook her head.

"Think I might, uhm, hang in bed awhile." Jaime nodded, slightly perplexed. But she didn't want to make her mother wait. She would hear about it if they were late for their appointment. She bent over and kissed Maddie on the cheek. Maddie took a deep breath, inhaling her aura, then reached up and briefly ran her hand along Jaime's torso. Her friend sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Now you get horny." She lamented as she walked towards the bedroom door, glancing over her shoulder with a raised eyebrow. "Have fun, girl. Text ya later!"

Maddie watched her leave the room, then rolled over and sighed to herself in frustration. She finally reached over and grabbed the pillow that Jaime had used and drew it up to her face, inhaling deeply. Her scent caused an almost dizzying effect. She looked over her shoulder towards the door, making sure no one was there, then thrust the pillow between her legs and rolled over on top of it.

Frank, Chet and Callie stood before the heavy iron gate in front of the mansion that supposedly belonged to Melanie Daniels. Frank exhaled slowly as he took the massive home in.

"Looks way bigger than I remember it." He remarked in awe. Chet and Callie both nodded their agreement as they pushed the gate open.

"Yeah, for sure." Chet muttered fretfully as they proceeded up the walkway. The grounds were silent, save for the sounds of birds and the haunting clanging of the windchimes that they presumed were located in a large bank of trees on the left side of the house. They approached the door and Frank ran his fingers over the intricate carved woodwork.

"Don't make doors like this anymore." Frank commented as he reached up and let the large brass knocker make contact with the door. A massive echo reverberated through the door, and he looked at his two companions. "Don't need a doorbell with that thing, do you?"

"Nope." Callie whispered with anticipation, hoping that the door would finally be answered. The moments passed as the three friends waited tensely. After three minutes Frank knocked again. Several moments later Callie stepped back and exhaled. "No one is here, it seems." Frank turned and looked at her dejected expression.

"Well, I think I will have a look around, Cal. Why don't you wait at the door, just in case?" Callie nodded and Frank gestured to Chet. "Come on, pal." His stout chum nodded and proceeded to follow Frank as he walked along the front of the house towards the east side. As they walked along the side of the home towards the back Frank looked over at Chet. "You know, man, there probably isn't anything sinister going on. I think the sheriff's department made contact with someone they deemed to be credible and got a plausible story. Callie just has a voice on the end of a phone telling her something is not right. I mean what do you know about this Marnie woman?" Chet shrugged.

"Nothing, really, pal. Cal said she called once before and she wasn't really interested in hearing about any potential case, so she dismissed the woman before she could offer any details. I guess she thought the woman was going to give her some tedious job and didn't want to deal with it. But we don't know a thing about her." They reached the back of the property and Frank scanned the structure thoughtfully. After several moments he turned to Chet.

"All seems pretty innocuous, man. Other than feeling like you are in the middle of a creepy movie with those chimes clanging faintly and this huge home being here in the woods. It can play with your head. Maybe this old gal is just looking for attention."

Callie stood at the front door, and as each minute passed her hopes waned. Clearly no one was at home. The three times that they had knocked would have been sufficient for anyone who had heard to respond. At this point she assumed there was no further chance of anyone answering the door. She turned to leave the stoop and join the others.

Hello? Help Me!

Callie stopped in her tracks and abruptly turned back towards the door. She swore she had heard a faint voice from within the home! She stood just a couple inches from the door, pressing her hear close to it. A cold sweat came over her face.

Help!

The faint voice was unmistakable to her! Someone from within was asking for help! She immediately reached for a doorknob, but then stepped back with a confused look. For all its intricate carvings and massive knocker, there did not appear to be a doorknob! She stepped back to the door and tried to give it a firm push. But the door stood firm and didn't even sway. She looked all around the door for some kind of mechanism which might allow her to open it. As much as she searched she couldn't find anything. She leaned in again, hoping to hear the same faint plead for help. But all that she could hear was the faint sound of the windchimes. She stepped back and looked down the length of the front brick.

"Frank! Chet! Come here!" She yelled, not wishing to leave her place by the door for fear she would miss hearing the voice. She leaned towards the door again and listened intently. A few minutes later, Chet and Frank came running up to the front stoop. Chet sighed in relief when he found his wife safe.

"What's wrong, baby? Is everything alright?!" Callie stepped back and looked at them. The look on her face suggested that she had clearly been distressed by something. She took another breath and pointed towards the house

"I hear…heard a voice from inside! It was calling out for help! We must get in there and help them!" Frank looked to Chet, then they stepped up to the door, when Chet looked up in surprise.

"Where the hell is the doorknob?!" He asked in surprise. Frank also noted the strange absence of doorknob on the massive door. He looked back over to Chet.

"I didn't even notice the first time that there wasn't a knob."

"No keyhole either." Chet observed. Frank stood looking thoughtful for a moment, then snapped his fingers.

"I got it! Now I know why this was familiar. You know, this home could have been modified back in the day by John Mead." Chet and Callie looked at him blankly.

"John who?" Callie asked with a confused look. Frank grunted and held his hand out.

"John Mead designed doors without obvious locks. The family worked on a case involving a home he had here in Bayport. That was back in the day, 1946 I think." Chet rolled his eyes.

"Interesting trivia, Frank. But how the hell do we get inside this house?" Frank took a breath then looked at Callie.

"Cal, I don't want to sound critical or anything, but are you sure you heard something coming from inside the house? I mean maybe you just heard some faint voices carrying from a distant neighbor." Callie's eyes narrowed.

"Yes, Frank, I am damn sure it was coming from inside." She turned back towards the door and placed her hand on it. The door was quite stout in its build and was no doubt quite thick. She blinked a few times. "I mean I think I am sure." She immediately shifted back and looked at them. "Either that or I am going nuts." Chet cleared his throat and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"I believe you, babe. But yeah, that door is way heavy and dense to be sure. For sound to come through it…" His voice faded and he didn't really want to put more doubt on Callie and what she thought she heard. Callie looked over to Frank.

"How do we get in if there is no doorknob?" Frank studied the door, but then abruptly looked back over at Callie.

"Well, first off, we would need to have a search warrant. And, uh, I'm not so sure that would be an easy thing to get." Callie blinked at him in disbelief.

"A search warrant?" Frank nodded.

"Yeah, Cal. You went to the FBI academy. You know all about those things and how the process works." Callie turned around and slammed her hand against the door, then looked back with a distressed look.

"Damn it, there could be someone in there who needs help now!" She scolded him. Frank quickly glanced at Chet, then back to Callie.

"The operative word here that you yourself just used is could. Someone could be in there needing help. And I am sorry, but there is no judge in this county who will give us an order based on the fact that you think you heard a faint voice asking for help." Callie took a deep breath but didn't say anything. She brushed her golden hair away from her eyes then pushed her way past him.

"I'm not crazy, Frank. I am going to go check the other entrances!"