AN: Ah, sorry for the long delay. Life went a little sideways for a while there. Calmed down immensely now, so I should be back to more frequent updates.

We're finally meeting Marissa. I'm changing her history a little, but otherwise, it's still the same.

Something Erica does in this chapter will open the door for the truth about Alex Olivia to come out.

I'm going to have D&E meet them before Miranda. I need a fight, a reason for them to argue to get Miranda out in the open. And that makes the most sense after the twins.


Chapter 23 Part I

Twenty weeks pregnant was everything she remembered it to be. Only this time, she knew she was having the boy she had believed Bianca to be.

She felt great, finally. Incubating Kane-Hayward DNA wasn't an easy feat, but he was so worth it and all discomfort she'd experienced.

They were beginning to talk names and nursery designs.

David liked simple, easy, logical designs. Echoing those feelings into his name choices.

Where she was drawn to fashionable and decorative pieces. She hadn't waited her whole for this child to put him in a boring, drab room.

Nor was she going to give him a boring, average name.

David said she could have finally say, but he didn't want a son named after wood, cities or countries, no food, no colors or anything made up.

Otherwise, he trusted her judgment.

Living together was going better than either of them could have imagined.

They worked well as housemates. They shared spaces. Shared their lives but kept their own spaces when needed.

When they had been together she'd believed cohabitation was impossible. That more than a night or two in the same space would see their relationship implode. Their egos far too big to coexist.

Only, they seemed more than capable of not just coexisting but enjoying one another's constant presence.

Most nights, they shared the same bed. Falling asleep side by side. They didn't question it or deal with it's possible implications, choosing instead to do what brought them both the most sense of calm.

They were currently sitting on the living room couch, dinner delayed as David explained the far away look in his eyes.

"Krystal did what?" Erica gasped in horror.

"She sold her," David pushed out through a painful breath, handing Erica the DNA test results he'd just received.

Marissa Tasker was his daughter. Babe's fraternal twin sister. He had only met her once in passing, having been the one to hand him Erica's takeout order from Krystal's.

She seemed nice. But nothing about her stood out or reminded him of Babe.

The Exposer broke the story, and Krystal had immediately fessed up to the truth in an attempt to salvage what was left of her life with the Chandlers.

Now here he was, with another daughter he knew nothing about. Who's life he'd missed most of.

"My God," She read the results a second time and shook her head. "She sold your child."

David nodded, head tipped back against the couch cushions, eyes closed as he struggled to keep his tears at bay. "Says she couldn't afford to keep two babies and she didn't want to go through the normal adoption process because she didn't know how to find me, and likely wouldn't have been able to give one up."

"So she sold her?" Erica repeated, anger rising in her voice.

David fought back a small smile. Erica hated Krystal, and she hadn't been fond of Babe, yet the anger in her voice was palpable.

"Where is she now?"

David shook his head. "Chandler Mansion, I'd guess."

"And you're just going to sit here? Feel sorry for yourself. Let Krystal Carey poison another daughter against you?"

He looked her now, her eyes blazing and gorgeous face twisted with disgust and disapproval.

She was the most incredible woman he had ever met. And he didn't deserve her.

"I made so many mistakes with Babe. I don't want to repeat them with Marissa. She knows the truth. She knows where to find me. I'm going to try my best to let her come to me."

She scoffed and shook her head. "That will never happen with her at Adam's and the venom they'll be filling her head with. No. I won't allow it."

He watched with wide eyes as she pushed herself up from the couch before shaking her head at him and heading for the door. "Erica?" He questioned, watching her grab her keys from the table near the door. "Where are you going?"

"To get your daughter."

TBC