Episode 2.08

Williams Home

Maggie, Larry, and Ariel were in the living room, gathered by the fireplace. Each had a camera in their hands. Maggie tapped her foot impatiently, “Cassidy! Get your beauty queen butt down here! I want to get a picture before Stephen shows up!” she called towards the stairs.

“I’m coming, just strapping on my shoe!” she called down from her room.

Larry put his arm around Ariel, “I can’t believe it my baby is seventeen today and going to Prom.” He sighed, “It seems like only yesterday Maggie was going to prom for the first time.”

Maggie shook her head, really not sure if she wanted to know what the hell was going on between her father and Ariel. “Dad it was ten years ago.”

Footsteps could be heard on the stairs and the three focused their attention towards that side of the room as Cassie came down in a long, shimmering yellow dress, with orange neck scarf. Her hair was pulled into a messy French twist, thanks to help from Ariel. “Well what do you think?”

Maggie thought she would cry at the sight of her sister, “You are gorgeous Cass, you look wonderful.”

Cassie blushed when she nervously smiled, “Thank you Mag.”

“Alright,” Ariel began, “time for pictures. Go stand over by the couch.”

Cassie did as asked and all three cameras began to flash as someone knocked on the door. “I’ll get it!” Cassie said as she went towards the door, expecting to find her date.

As Cassie opened the door, her eyes set upon a very familiar site. She gasped in shock and shook her head in surprise, “Oh my God, you’re, do you know who you are?” she asked.

The door slowly began to open wider and Larry and Maggie both saw Allie looking at them with a very large smile, “Yes, I do know who I am.”

Cassie turned to her father, “Daddy, this is Dr. Allison Cramer, a famous psychiatrist who deals primarily with women who miscarried.”

Larry looked down at the ground, when he heard a horn honking, “Cassie, just go meet Stephen and have his parents or whoever’s take more pictures. Go have fun, and happy birthday sweetheart.”

“But, daddy—“ she began, only to stop when she saw the look on Maggie’s face, “Whatever you say.” She then walked out of the house, meeting Stephen outside.


Moonlight Bar

The music inside the bar was blasting as Dan walked in and over to the bar. He had become quite a regular since Ciel had begun her job, it was one of the few ways they could see each other. Though he had a plan to change all of that, an idea of how to keep them together forever, and help her avoid marrying Arnold Kensington.

“What will it be tonight Dan?” asked the bartender, a man about 50, who heard tales of love and heartbreak all the time.

“Just a beer, oh and could you pass this to Ciel?” he asked putting an envelope on the top of the bar.

“Sure no problem.” He said, putting a bottle of Coors Light in front of Dan and then taking the envelope over to Ciel.


Ciel opened the envelope and inside was a note that appeared to look like a ransom note and it said,
Ciel, Marry Me.

Dan

It also had a ring, a small bubble gum dispenser ring. She smiled and looked around, catching sight of him at the bar. She put the ring on and went over and kissed him. “Yes Dan Adams, I will marry you!”

“Oh you are so not marrying him! You’re engaged to me Ciel!” Called out a smooth, strong, masculine voice belonging to a tall, hansom man standing in the shadows.

Ciel and Dan both turned and saw George, Callie, and a man that had to be Arnold Kensington, only he wasn’t nerdy at all.

“Mom, Dad, ARNOLD? What are you doing here?” Ciel asked as she leaned against the bar in shock.

“We came to talk some sense into you.” Arnold said as he walked over to Ciel and kissed her right in front of Dan.

“Get your hands off my girlfriend!” Dan yelled out.

Arnold broke the kiss and Ciel stood there frozen in shock, not clear on how she felt about either man.

Arnold smiled a cocky smile at Dan, “Ciel is my fiancé so I think you need to learn to respect that.”

“Arnold, Mom, Dad, please I’ll talk to you all later. I have work to do. Just leave, alright?” Ciel pleaded.

Callie saw the look of horror in her daughters eyes, “alright come talk with us when you get done here. We’ll have this all figured out.” She then looked at her husband and Arnold, “Come on boys lets go.”

Dan and Ciel watched the trio leave and Ciel spoke, “I’m sorry, I thought they would get it. Obviously they haven’t.”

“Its alright, you’ll explain to them we’re in love and everything will be fine in the end. I promise.” Dan said, before planting a soft kiss on her lips. “I love you, never forget that.”

Ciel smiled, “I won’t,” she placed her hand over his heart, “and never forget that I love you.”


Pinõn Hallow Park

Ethan and Abby walked into the park, holding hands and looking up at the night sky. “Its beautiful out here.” Abby said before she and Ethan sat down on a bench.

“Yeah it is, and the stars the way they reflect in your eyes is just amazing Abby.”

“Ethan are you trying to sweet talk me?” she asked with a smile.

“I have to try?” he asked before leaning in and kissing her, slowly at first a moment before becoming more driven with want and need.

Abby pulled back, trying to catch her breath, “Wow, I wasn’t expecting it to be that intense.”

Ethan smiled, “Neither was I.”

Abby giggled and then kissed Ethan again.

 


Hallow Hills—Pool House

Chad laid next to Bethany in bed, his hand on her stomach, feeling their unborn child moving inside of her. “He’ll be here soon.” Chad said proudly.

“Yeah he will.” Bethany replied, her mind thinking back to what Trista had told them, all about how she could die. “We need to take the time we have left with just us and do what we can, before we’re busy with this on.”

Chad smiled, “I agree. Tomorrow you should go and get that dress in the window of Crystal’s for the party my parents are hosting.”

“Are you sure you want to go to a Hospital fund raiser? I mean your parents really haven’t been that supportive of us at all.” Bethany reminded him.

Chad shook his head, “Mom’s still freaked about Kip, and having him go to Florida.” He sat up, “there’s something you should know about my brother.”

Bethany sat up looking at her husband, “What about Kip?”

“You know how Brighton and I were connected? Well he was planning on blackmailing me, Kip found out.” Chad looked down, knowing he never wanted to tell her this, “He killed Brighton, when they got in a fight.”

“You’re brother killed my brother? But why?” Bethany asked, feeling her heart racing so she took slow deep breaths to stay calm.

“To protect me, the family. I’m sorry.”

 


Siobhan’s Apartment

Siobhan sat on her couch watching a very old rerun of Law and Order when someone began knocking on her door. She slowly got up and walked over, and opened the door. “Shamus! What are you doing here?” she asked when she saw Becker.

“Siobhan, I just had to talk to you.” He said as he pushed his way into the apartment.

“Why, shouldn’t you be with Desiree, I heard she took you home from the hospital.”

Becker smiled when he hard the jealousy in her voice, “Yeah well the ADA took you home. But this isn’t about them its about us.”

“There is no us.” She said slamming the door before she un-muted her TV and caught an ad for Love and Honor.

“There could be right? We could be an us, if you just open up to the idea.” He said sitting on the couch beside her.

“What makes you think so?” she asked.

He smiled and looked down, “Its kind of stupid but a fortune teller once told me to be on the lookout for a woman named Siobhan, she would have the key to my heart.”

“A fortune teller?” Siobhan asked, knowing she hadn’t mentioned her fortuneteller to him. “Yes, stupid I know.”

“Not really.” She said as she began to chew on her lower lip.

Her relaxed tone made Becker smile and he leaned in and kissed her, with the need that had been brewing since they had met.


Pinõn Hallow Airport

“Flight 5587 for Nashville will begin boarding in five minutes.” Came over the P.A. system as Trista sat there nervously flipping through a magazine, she couldn’t believe this at all. She was really going to go on some TV show to find love, even though her heart belong to Kyle. He just wasn’t ready to commit.

“Trista!” called out Kyle as he ran over to her.

“Kyle! What are you doing here?” she asked, hoping to get the answer she wanted.

Panic set in over him, “I just wanted to let you know I’ll take care of your plants while your gone. No need to let them die while you’re finding love with some random TV guy.”

Disappointment clouded her eyes, “Thanks, but I already asked Abby to do that. Is there anything else?”

Kyle looked down at the ground, “Um yeah, Good luck. Hopefully you’ll find what your looking for.”

“Thanks, there about to board so I’ll see you when I get back. Bye.” Trista said as she went and got in line.

“Bye.” He said softly as he watched her walk away, and mentally kicked himself for not stopping her.


Williams Home

Larry took a deep breath as he watched Cassie get into Stephen’s car before looking at Allison, “What the hell are you doing here Allie?”

“I came to check on Maggie. I know what happened.” She said calmly as she walked into the living room of what had once been her home.

Maggie could feel the anger building within her once again, and the tears burning her eyes, “I told you in the hospital in Nashville I didn’t want you as apart of my life. So you what, follow me to Durango and show up here on Cassie’s birthday?”

“Maggie, I know how difficult it is to have a miscarriage, I had several while you’re father and I were together.”

“Six, Allie, you had Six. Do you think I don’t remember?” Larry asked, a bitter tone burning in his voice.

Ariel slipped out of the room, realizing she didn’t belong in this conversation at the time.

“What do you want me to say to you Larry? Yes I’m sorry I left you, but I couldn’t keep breaking your heart every time I had a miscarriage so I left.” Allie looked into the eyes of her ex-husband, “I’m also sorry for all the pain I caused the girls. But you’ve done wonderfully with them. Look at Maggie here; she’s a beautiful young woman, married to a very nice, successful man in Nashville.” She turned to the door that Cassie had left through, “And Cassie is growing up beautifully as well.”

Damnit Mother, don’t lie I know you had another child.” Maggie picked up the book Cassie had been leaving all over the house, “It says so right here.” She then tossed it to Allie.

“Yes, I had a son after your father and I broke up.” Allie could feel tears in her eyes, “That doesn’t mean I don’t love you and Cassie. I love all my children.”

“How long before you leave him too Mother?” Maggie shook her head, “Forget it, I’m going to bed.” Maggie started up the stairs and saw Ariel sitting at the top, looking as pale as a ghost, “My father won’t take her back, he’s crazy about you, ya know.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence Maggie. You know I never set out to fall in love with your father, right?” Ariel was clearly looking for some sort of approval from her future stepdaughter. Maggie smiled slightly, “Yeah I know. But he hasn’t been as happy as he is with you in a very long time.”

“Tell me Allison, did we have another child or not? Did you really have that last miscarriage or not?” Larry’s voice echoed through out the entire house. Maggie was only grateful that Cassie, for the time being was protected from all of this.


George and Callie’s Hotel Room

Ciel knocked on the door and Arnold opened it. Candles were lit all over the place and orchids were scattered about, creating a romantic atmosphere. “Ciel, come on in my love.” Ciel rolled her eyes, “Where are my parents Arnold?”

“They went out, George thought it would be good if we discussed our problems.” Arnold closed the door as they walked into the room.

Arnold, I love Dan, I want to marry him. I’m sorry but its true.” She started to explain, when her eyes set upon a picture of her and Arnold only a year before. “You still have this?” she asked.

“Of course I do Ciel, you’re the only woman in the world for me. I know your parents have tried to control every aspect of your life. I bet that’s what you expect from me to right?” he asked. Ciel nodded, “Well yeah, wouldn’t you think so?”

“I can understand that, but Ciel you love me I see it in your eyes, I feel it in your kiss. I’m only asking you for a chance; if you really love this other guy then stay. But if a single piece of your heart still screams my name in your dreams come back to Chicago with me.” Arnold cupped her face in his hands and smiled, “I won’t force you to be a society wife, and hell you can work with me at Kensington INC if you want.

“I’ll let you think about it tonight, but we’re going to leave tomorrow morning at 8am. I have a ticket on reserve for you.” Arnold leaned down and let his lips press against Ciel’s for a moment in a slow, sweet, soul mate sort of kiss.