4×04 “Don’t Hold So Tight” Part 2
Written by: Chris Coleman, Kristi Clark and Kelly Zollo
Warning: Episode may contain graphic violence, language and sexual content
Theme Song: Mariah The Scientist- Burning Blue

Sebastian looked down at his phone and saw Max was calling him. He declined it as they stepped off the tarmac into JFK airport’s private loading area. He felt a sense of guilt because what if she needed him? What if she was in some sort of pain? What if she needed him? Right now it wasn’t about Max and to be fair he needed what was about to happen. For years his goal was to change the narrative of the Navarro clan. His mother and father ran Europe with an iron fist but now he wanted revenge and retribution. Turning off his phone he looked at his mother and saw her face staring at his phone. “You don’t have to look so gleeful. I just don’t want her to know I’m out of town. She’s fragile right now and I just think a little space might do us good.” He spoke smoothly. “You sure Enzo is going to be okay with me taking on what he’s doing? I mean we sent him to the best schools in Europe for this. He’s a master chemist and I’m just jumping back into the business now.” Pausing as they stepped into the limo waiting for them. The black town car was inconspicuous but also flashy. Just how his mother liked it. Picking up the decanter he poured himself some scotch.

Driving off he looked at the New York city and thought of his son. His beautiful baby boy that was taken from them. If Max gave birth outside of that boat and dirty warehouse he might still be here. “I blame nobody but Gia, and Ronan not Max and she is my fiance so I don’t want to hear anything negative about her. I love her more than life itself right now and we have suffered because of something Ronan or Gia did. Someone blew that boat up and as revenge and I want mine in blood. I want to make Ronan and Gia pay and nothing and no one will stop me. You know Hunter and Bliss thought they talked me out of my pain. Out of my rage but I can’t stop being mad that my damn child is in a coffin gone. A ghost now and I am left with all these pains and dreams for him. Damn it!” He crushed the cheap glass in his hand.

Regina Navarro knew pain and loss; she had lived it first when her daughter was slaughtered due to Ronan’s carelessness and when her husband had passed. She understood it but she didn’t understand Max Devonshire at all or what her son thought was this great love he shared with her. The two had nothing in common as far as shared values went and in the later months of Max’s pregnancy she had treated both her son and grandson with such indifference it was hard to feel for the woman. She cast her eyes at the phone remaining silent but a sense of satisfaction came so her son was lying to Max, they were broken beyond repair in her mind exactly what she wanted. She already knew that Enzo would be upset at Sebastian being back in the fold but it didn’t matter, the prince had returned and the eldest was doing what needed to be done. Enzo would adjust or she would see to it personally that he was sent somewhere else. For far too long they had been compliant and placating to the Madden and Falcone families no longer, not after what happened on that boat. She was over that now and like her son had just said revenge was theirs for the blood spilt of her innocent grandchild.

“Don’t worry about Enzo he knows that this was always in the plan, you coming back even though you stepped back for a moment. You’re father always knew, I told him you would come back around. As for Max perhaps a break is what is needed, mijo. She has her family there, you have yours here.” Regina said, looking at him and then casting a glance at the driver who had been with them for years. She reached over gently to his hand grabbing one of the bar towels from the back of the car while she put up the divider. Hoping the gesture reminded him of when she would tend his wounds when he was a child, that connection they shared. She was always gentle with Sebastian, gentle yet firm and she was right when it came to Max she had her family there. The Devonshire’s who looked down on people like them even though rumor had it that her father was just as bad and likely had blood on his hands. “Besides mijo you put her in danger if you told her about where you are we wouldn’t want that would we? After Enrique you both need to heal, worrying her solves nothing for her, but you taking this step. It could be your healing.” Regina said she had been practicing the words for the last few weeks hoping they sunk in; he didn’t need Max involved in what they were going to do and the distance was what was needed.

“I don’t want to heal. I want to feel like this forever because it’ll remind me exactly what I need to do. How I need to come at Gia, Ronan, any fucking family. I was kidnapped and treated like a bitch of Gia’s. I survived but barely and I didn’t tell anyone because I knew Enzo would kill for me. Now all I want is the blood to rain down on them. I want them to feel exactly how I do right now. Empty and hollow but enough about that.” He said looking out the window at the cold glorious steel skyline of NYC. Watching his mother wrap his hand he looked her in the eyes. “You know the night that I found Max. I saw Gia first and for a brief moment that baby cried. I just knew that was my son roaring at me. I knew it but then I saw Max holding that pale lifeless baby and she was barely breathing. I don’t know what happened that night and I will probably never know the exact details. But I know that I blame Ronan, and Gia for whatever that was. Whoever set that bomb set me back on this course.” Leaning back in the chair he closed his eyes as the ride seemed to fly by. 

His mother was chit chatting but he didn’t want to talk. His mind was running with revenge ideas. Torturing Gia like she had him in that warehouse. Killing Ronan’s brother or anyone else he considered family. All those things were swirling in his mind right along with a burning need to run to Max. He wanted to comfort her but he needed her to comfort him as well. Max was wrapped up in her own grief and that was painful. As he opened his eyes he was at a Manhattan building. It had his family seal on it and he smirked. Enzo had made a hell of a man of himself. A chemist in the Navarro clan. The driver opened the door and they exited the town car as they walked to the building. He saw Vincinzo standing outside smoking a cigarette. “Bro I told you to fucking quit those things.” Sebastian ran to Enzo and hugged him tight enough for the cigarette to fall to the ground. “My fucking baby brother all grown up look at you.” Kissing his cheeks. “This is all yours?”

Regina let Sebastian have his feelings to himself. He wasn’t in a mood to talk, always the brooding child in this case the pain was too raw; it was something she was used to with him. In this case she felt it was going to lead to him rising like a phoenix to take over the empire that her husband had left him. She worked quietly while she bandaged his hand, her head already plotting their next trip soon leaving Max would be second nature to him. She, like Sebastian wanted Ronan and Gia to pay, she was just going to make sure it was her son that did it not her, sacrifices had to be made for vengeance to be theirs. She could tell that Sebastian was reluctant about Gio, but her second son knew what his purpose was. “They will pay Sebastian dearly, mark my words, they will pay.” She finished as the wrap was done and she looked out at the skyline. Such a dreadful city, she missed Spain with its culture and identity, its skyline. Not this concrete and cold place.

The building of course had their logo but there was nothing else about it that was theirs or felt like theirs, she didn’t belong there, they belonged back at home. Of course her husband had an office in New York that was how the connection came to the Falcone’s, she had warned him that they would destroy their family she had been right. Her daughter was gone, a failed engagement that had led to Gia’s obsession with her eldest. Once they arrived though and the driver opened the car door she put on the front while she exited the car. Seeing her boys together she smiled at them, for a moment she thought she had a glimpse of a possible smile on Sebastian’s face. “Ah mijos just like your father and I always thought. Enzo, he is right you need to quit those dreadful things. So shall we go inside before perhaps prying eyes look too close?” She asked, touching both of them on their shoulders.

Enzo Navarro had been relishing this day where his mother finally saw his vision come to life, of course big brother had to come. Honestly he thought he would be back in Atlas Falls with Max Devonshire mourning his loss, so he was a little shocked when he tagged along. He was devastated for his little brother and the loss of his nephew, it was awful what happened and if he had been in town well Ronan and Gia would be gone. Unlike his father, mother and even Sebastian he had anger inside of him probably a reason why he had been shipped off to New York. He was too unpredictable back home so his parents thought college would do him good, which it did. It taught him everything he needed to know about cooking for the family. He smiled at Sebastian when he exited the car hugging him holding his cigarette in his hand. He took another drag while they both waited for their mother to get out, honestly he needed the nicotine. Smoking calmed his nerves and he was honestly shocked that he was the only one that partook given how much their father did back in the day before his first heart attack and he quit.

“Mama, hermano it is good to see you though I wish it were under better circumstances. I’m sorry Seb, I know how much you wanted everything to work out. Max didn’t come?” Enzo asked he hadn’t come for the burial of his nephew; it had been done privately and quietly but he knew how much Seb wanted that. His older brother had left the business behind for making the legitimate side work with the winery. He knew that Seb wanted a family and honestly he thought his brothers whirlwind summer with Max that turned to happiness would be that. Part of him was annoyed at the passover that Seb would get the keys to drive and the empire but he knew better than to say that out loud at least for now. “I do agree, let me show you what I’ve been working on.” He said holding the door open for his mother and brother to enter.

Sebastian walked into the club and he was impressed with the decor. His brother’s business front was exquisite, wondering how his reaction would be soon. He was about to make a major move and as he walked below the club. Sebastian’s eyes grew larger seeing the club below and he could tell his brother wouldn’t be pleased. No matter what he said. This lab was state of the art and his entire operation was amazing. Looking around he cleared his throat seeing his mother beaming with pride. Enzo was a brilliant chemist and his mind had done something incredible, let his mother tell it. “So I see the coke, weed plants, meth over there right? And that’s all the pharmaceutical pills we can get our hands on. Tell me brother this is great but why did mother have me fly all the way to New York to see this? I mean you’re doing what you’re supposed to do here right?” He said looking around and then he paused seeing a room in the back locked away. 

“What’s in there?” He asked as he took his mother’s hand and walked with her toward the room. Seeing Enzo’s face he knew that was why they were here. Since he was a kid he always competed with him. It was unfair though because no matter what Enzo did he’d never be him. He’d never have his mother’s love or his father’s respect like he did. Sebastian and one point took the Navarro clan to new heights and Enzo would have to work quadruple as hard to catch up. Whatever this was was his way of trying to catch up. “So baby bro what’s in the room?”

Enzo walked the club with his mother and brother seeing their approval meant everything he and watched and learned from the best, got advice from the best. When they walked to the back he half grinned at the coke and the weed that was nothing to what he was actually cooking up behind closed doors. He didn’t have his fancy degree for nothing and once he saw people attempt the same thing overseas only to fail. He was determined to make something that would be more desirable than ever before. “See for yourself.” Enzo said, opening the last door to the workers, mainly women, in their bras and panties wearing gloves and protective gear. “Watch.” He motioned for one of the workers to come to him while he put some of the powder on his hand and watched as she sniffed it and the effects took over. “It’s a little of everything all rolled into one, the best part it can be a liquid or a solid, gas too but I’m working on perfecting that one. We’ll need a lot, I’m calling it LVLZ.”

Regina watched the woman clearly going through the stages of the high at a record pace and she beamed with pride at her youngest son. A hint of revenge seeped into her spine while she watched Sebastian revel in it, at the power that the drug could have. The wealth could bring them back onto the top where they belonged. She studied Enzo celebrating with Sebastian while she looked around motioning for the girl to go back to where she was pleased when she needed to be carried as she looked at the product that would soon fill the streets. “Then we should get busy then shouldn’t we?” Regina said to them both going to them while the staff popped a bottle of champagne for them.

“Enzo I want you to come to Atlas Falls with me.” Sebastian said as he watched the young woman almost passing out from the euphoria she was feeling. That was money in the damn bank. He knew his brother had something incredible. He had to hand it him this was something he’d never seen before. “This drug will change the world and I want to hard launch it in Atlas Falls. Then I want it everywhere.” He knew this moment was going to be major. “I want to push it all through that city and make them all addicted to what we have. Make the streets scream the Navarro name and not even know they are crying for us. You see Gia is in Atlas Falls and I want to make Gia pay. I want to make Ronan pay. I want you at my side as I take everything from all of these gringos. I have spent my last ten years building the wineries in America, Spain, Brazil, and even Africa. We have connections all over the world, Enzo. You have just changed the drug game like crack in the eighties. You have a remarkable mind brother but you aren’t built for all of our world. Enzo you’ve never taken a life, you’ve never had to shoot a gun so I left a void and you tried to pick it up brother. But I’m here again. Mama you are to stay back this isn’t your fight anymore. I’m going to show them that we.” Sebastian picked up a champagne glass. “We are what they should have fucking been worried about. Navarro for life.” He declared as he clinked his glass with his brother and mother. Pulling them both into a fierce hug. 

*****

The Gulfstream’s engines wound down to a whisper as the aircraft settled on the Atlas Falls tarmac, its sleek white body gleaming under the afternoon sun. Through the oval window, Ana Castellano surveyed her new territory: a sprawling metropolitan cityscape backed by dramatic mountain peaks, different from Manhattan’s steel and glass canyon but no less impressive.

Perfect, she thought, checking her reflection in her phone screen. Her red lipstick was still flawless, and the delicate A necklace at her throat caught the light just right. Sometimes the most valuable acquisitions came wrapped in unassuming packages.

The cabin door opened with a soft hiss, and Ana descended the stairs with practiced grace, her heels clicking a confident rhythm against the metal steps. Her ash brown ombré hair caught the sunlight, and she’d chosen her outfit carefully for this first impression: Law Roach had styled her in understated elegance that whispered wealth without shouting it. Her makeup was subtle perfection except for the fierce red lip that made every word she spoke feel intentional. French-tipped nails drummed once against her designer handbag before she smiled, the A necklace at her throat glinting as she moved.

Behind her, flight attendants began unloading her Prada luggage, the black leather pieces as polished and purposeful as everything else about her arrival.

“Belle!” Ana’s face transformed as she spotted her college friend waiting on the tarmac, genuine warmth replacing the calculated composure she’d worn like armor for months. For just a moment, she wasn’t the CEO constantly strategizing her next move. She was simply Ana, remembering what it felt like to have friendships that existed outside the web of business and obligation.

Belle rushed forward, and Ana caught her in an embrace that felt like stepping back in time. Cambridge seemed like yesterday and a lifetime ago all at once.

“Look at you,” Ana said, pulling back to study Belle’s face. “Same beautiful smile.” Her gaze shifted to the man standing slightly behind Belle, taking in his protective stance, the way his hand rested lightly on Belle’s back. Ana’s smile widened with genuine amusement.

“You two are cute as hell together,” she said, warmth threading through her voice. “Belle, you didn’t tell me you had someone special.”

She extended a manicured hand toward Jamal, her business instincts automatically cataloging details: his confident handshake, the way he met her eyes directly, how he didn’t seem intimidated by her obvious wealth. Good. Belle deserved someone with backbone.

“I’m Ana Castellano,” she said simply, though she noticed how Belle’s face lit up with pride at the introduction.

“Ana was my mentor in college,” Belle explained to Jamal, her voice carrying that particular fondness reserved for people who’d changed your life. “Basically taught me everything about handling crazy situations.”

Ana felt something twist in her chest: pride mixed with an emotion she couldn’t quite name. If only Belle knew exactly what kinds of situations Ana had been preparing her for.

“You’re giving me way too much credit,” Ana replied, her tone light but her eyes serious as they met Belle’s. “You had the instincts. I just helped you trust them.” She paused, letting her gaze sweep across the modern airport terminal, the mountains rising beyond the city skyline. “Speaking of which, this place is gorgeous, but I’m actually here on business too. There’s a company here I want to get my hands on.”

The shift was subtle but unmistakable. The college friend receded slightly, and the CEO of Castell Industries stepped forward. Not cold, exactly, but focused in a way that suggested this conversation had layers Belle wasn’t seeing yet.

“But forget about that for now,” Ana continued, her smile returning to its genuine warmth. “I want to hear everything. How’d you two meet? And Belle…” her voice dropped slightly, taking on a more serious note, “you said you needed help with something. That’s why I’m really here.”

The words hung in the air, weighted with history and unspoken understanding. Ana had never ignored a call from someone she cared about, and she wasn’t about to start now. Even if caring about people had become infinitely more complicated since Cambridge.

*****

Monique moved a stray hair from her face as she finished her notes on Dru Price or Kendall Fraiser. Jackson and Dani had told her the entire torrid story and she was amazed at the lengths this heifer would go. It was enough to make her ill because who would do that? Whichever name she’d like to be called, the girl was a walking wrecking ball. She was emotionally damaged and what she did to her clients before her was reprehensible. Placing her pen down she looked at Jackson and Dani smiling warmly at them. “I first want to say I’m so apologetic that someone targeted your relationship in that way.” Watching them grip each other’s hand she felt a sadness echoing off of them. “I do have a question for both of you. It’s simple and I’d like to address it right now. Please turn to the other. With all that Dru Fraiser has done to both of you. You both I’m going to ask you first, Dani. Why didn’t you go to Jackson instead of Zach? I understand your connection to your cousin and I am sincerely sorry but Dani why go to Zach over the man you share everything with. The man who you sacrificed everything for? Wouldn’t Jackson be a better choice and tell Jackson why you didn’t go to him.” 

Monique had come to St. Christopher’s looking for a job never did she think she’d get an attending position for psychology. Earlier she met Chauncey Devonshire in passing, no doubt Jackson’s blood. The men were striking and Dani looked like someone from a bygone era. A beauty that was rare and unseen nowadays. Women didn’t look like her anymore. She wasn’t a stick but wasn’t near thick or fat. She had curves and her eyes hid pain. Jackson felt a little more chaotic and she could tell that she calmed his frayed energy. Yet right now it felt reversed because Dani looked a little nervous and Jackson was chill. He’d been to enough therapists to understand the process. “Dani?” She called out. 

Jackson bit his lip.”It’s okay baby we are here to fix this space, say it.” He said forcefully knowing that she wouldn’t mince his pride or ego right now. They were here to get help. “It’s okay.”

Dani had gone to her appointment with David and he had lifted most of the restrictions she had and then she met Jackson to head to their appointment. She had watched as Monique had signed the NDA, so far she liked the woman before them. She didn’t seem to want to psycho babble them to death with things they already knew, they had discussed Dru. She hadn’t told them what happened at her grandmother’s, she would especially Jackson but she didn’t want to trauma dump on the woman in front of her. She instead had drifted off to think about what happened at the car with Greer screaming Chauncey’s name, was it real or was it a blurred memory that she wanted to have happened because Greer marrying Brock was still surreal to her. She was trying but it felt like too much change at once Zach, baby BJ and Greer getting her grandmother’s ring to marry her cousin. She glanced back at Monique when she spoke about her choice to go to Zach.

“Honestly at the time I wasn’t sure that I wasn’t fucking crazy. I wanted to be sure about it, so you wouldn’t look at me differently. Plus you were dealing with everything at DGI and your dad had just died. So no I didn’t want to worry you, plus I did trust Dru and you around Dru. I just didn’t trust myself, Zach seemed like a logical choice. I needed you to believe me and I was afraid you wouldn’t without proof after our fight at the energy summit.” Dani said as she looked at him her voice not wavering it was something she felt like she had been holding in with him everything about turning to Zach, she had done it for the right reasons. Looking back she should have taken it straight to him and she knew that now as she looked at him. “I’m sorry I am, I just wanted to make sure. To make sure I wasn’t becoming my aunt. I felt like if I was, I would lose you.” She finished taking a breath while she looked over at Monique and then him.

Monique smiled at the couple before her. She had seen a lot of young couples and for some reason this one felt different. Jackson and Danielle had something old school about them and their love was a solid foundation. They’d lost their way and she was here to help correct the course. “Thank-you Dani for your honesty at this moment. Did you hear your wife Jackson? She was afraid to lose you.” 

Jackson squeezed Dani’s hand and looked into her eyes. “I accept your apology. I was afraid if I told you that I’d lose you.” Jackson confessed as he felt her squeezing his hand back.

“Is that why you didn’t say anything after the…” Monique turned her pages. “The incident when you were jogging and exercising and Dru approached you?” 

He could feel the tension rising and the heat in his face flushed a little. “Yes and no. At first the flirting was almost a relief. It made me feel like I was special in a way. Like we had a little inside joke or something. Like me and the cool nanny who was dating my cool cousin jokingly was flirting with me. Then that day everything changed. I’d told her to knock it off before that but she was aggressive and she pushed. I told her no and she then told me she’d tell Dani that I’d have my way with her. She painted this picture of me and I just believed that Dani would believe me as this womanizing monster.”

Dani honestly had no idea that Dru had come onto him at the house, he had never told her she didn’t get angry at it, he was telling her now. She would have believed him, wouldn’t she? Deep down she knew she would have but at the moment when they were so off kilter she wondered if because of everything that Dru had done at the time that they knew of if she would have. “I’d like to think I would have taken the news well if you told me, then again she was doing so much. But I know you, you’ve never cheated on me Jackson, even before we got married. I see how women look at you. She played us both pretty well, didn’t she?” She said, squeezing his hand for support while she looked over at Monique. “I think this made us realize we needed help to work through this, but we really are committed to us and our marriage. We want to put in the work so it doesn’t happen again.” 

“Exactly I want us to get so solid that nothing can come between us in this way. She played on our insecurities and she knew which buttons to press.” He looked into her eyes and felt himself getting some clarity. He looked at Monique and felt like this woman was good at what she was doing. 

Monique looked at the clock and she got up rubbing her skirt wrinkles out. “Together you two have major homework to do. Tonight I want you to share your fears with each other. Tell each other what keeps you up at night. Everything and then I want you to come in here and tell me how this exercise made you feel. Next week.” 

*****

Tess saw the portrait of Jackie and Lowell gone and her beautiful face was on the wall. It signified a new era was beginning and a fresh start. As she sauntered through the office touching what were once sacred halls. Lowell never let her back in these walls once she became his mistress. Now she was back and in charge and that feeling was electric. As she licked her lips she picked up the coffee cup and made an espresso. A voice came through the speakers in the room informing her that Mason was here. As she walked to her desk and sat behind it. Spinning around in the desk she looked at the skyline of Atlas Falls and felt the power pulsating through her body. “I don’t know why you’re here. I have removed you from power Mason. You are no longer on retainer for DGI. Shouldn’t you be trying to give me an injunction to stop me from having the company my husband wanted me to have? You are quite the lapdog, your husband not even a month in the ground and here you are groveling to me for these people who won’t even slice their pie with you.” She said sipping the espresso as she spun around in the chair to face him. 

“Mason, my sympathies are with you as a widow myself. It’s like I was a deer caught in headlights. I suggest you go back to Julian and tell him his services and your services are no longer needed either. I don’t have much else to say to you other than I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for your loss Mason. Zach was incredible and a jawline that wouldn’t quit. I do think if you continue to harass me or my company I’ll have my newest lawyer come after you.” Tess said looking at Mason who looked furious she brought up Zach. She knew what buttons to press and she was going to press all the buttons. “I’m bored from all of this now. I have a meeting with investors from Peru soon.”

Mason had showered and dressed, before making his way downstairs where he found Jackie waiting for him with the DGI driver; it had been more than a month since he had been inside of the very same car.  He was normally at his office with Julian but he had been summoned on and off when needed for Lowell, a man he greatly respected. For him DGI was personal not in the way of him having a piece of it but his father had been a board member and partner, he had advantages others didn’t because of that alone. He didn’t want to see it fall into the clutches of a bitch like Tess Blisston, when his best friend was named CEO by Lowell himself. They may not have had the actual will in their hands yet but Simon said his memory was jogging and they had someone working to uncover the truth. It was a matter of weeks now not the months that seemed so daunting. Once they arrived at DGI he entered meeting the court appointed server so that he could hand the papers to Tess himself, Jackie remained in the car.

Walking through the halls he stopped when he spotted Tess on the wall plastered where Lowell’s photo had once stood; the bitch was out of her mind. He made his way to her office, well it was Jackson’s office. Hopefully he deep cleaned it from the parasite that was in there once he was back. He listened to her rattle on about Zach and his blood boiled; they had nothing in common in their grief and his jaw ticked carefully to not lose his cool while the court clerk stepped forward and handed her the documents. “Please don’t talk to me about Zach ever again.” He said looking at her coldly while she read the papers seeing that sense of satisfaction she had fallen and inside he gleefully danced. “That is where you are wrong, you’ve been served Ms. Blisston. You will find a cease and desist of all operations involving yourself as CEO until the trial date listed on that court order. DGI will operate it just won’t be you in charge until our day in court. Julian and myself are representing the true heirs of this company, especially the rightful CEO that Lowell himself named. You really thought that tape stunt was going to change that? In case you didn’t know Dru confessed to staging the entire thing back at the hospital weeks ago.”

Snatching the documents she looked at him with a sharp stare. Her eyes glaring at him as she smirked at the ambitious young puppy. “Dru I don’t know who that is and what I do know is that Jackson still has a sextape out there. He’s still broken the morality clause for the head of DGI. Ironic isn’t it? Lowell placed a morality clause inside of the CEO spot. Knowing he hadn’t had a faithful bone in his body. Listen to me I have lawyers as well. I’ve in fact hired someone to get you out of my face. One moment please. Clare, I need you to get Nicholas and tell him to get in my office now.” Ending the intercom conversation by releasing the button with her freshly manicured nails. “Tel me Mason am I not allowed to send my condolences? Are my prayers somehow not good as say Jackie’s or your mother who was here that night. She was right here in this office helping with the takeover.” Letting her words hang in the air with a tinge of nastiness. “You want to beat me so badly Mason because you’re on the side of right and righteous. Tell me Mason, why are you so angry at me?” She questioned as she looked up at Nicholas entering. “Nicholas tell me what we can do about this.” 

Nicholas Wolfe walked to Tess desk and took the document from her hands and he smirked. “Exactly what I informed you that Mason and Julian would do. I’ll have my paralegals and the DGI lawyers stop this. You are the rightful CEO and unfortunately for them they can do nothing about it because they don’t have the other will. Now you’ve served my client Mason, is there anything else you want? I mean you can sit here and pout about Jackson not being in the CEO chair but we both know eventually he would have failed. Not only that but if you come into this building again I’ll have security remove you. There’s no reason for you or any other Devonshire’s to be here. Now if you’re done you are dismissed Mr. Fraiser or is it Delacroix. I mean do you keep your husband’s name after his untimely death?” Smoothly he stood by Tess’ side and looked at Mason menacingly. “I can’t wait to see you in court Mason, it’ll be quite the boon to take that smug self righteous expression off your face.”

Mason wasn’t sure he believed what she said about Dru and he really didn’t care all he knew was that they had a very public confession. At best Jackson breaking the morality clause was sketch with Tess’s claim, she wanted to bet technical Jackson was the victim of a drugging and extortion he’ll if Dru hadn’t of confessed rape even. “Dru Price, you know the woman on the tape, don’t worry you’ll meet her in court when I call her as a witness that the tape is a ruse. She’s also in legal trouble as the cops are looking into her drugging Jackson. Ever think that Lowell knew what he was doing this time? Let’s face it the morality he broke all the time was to treat you like the second rate wanna be you always were to him and I think that burns you still that you were never Jackie. You know I don’t want your condolences since I doubt you have a heart for what went down that night. If you did, you wouldn’t be doing this to Lowell’s children.” He said looking at Tess while she called in what he assumed was someone new at security only instead it was like seeing a blast from the past. He hadn’t seen Nicholas Wolfe since college.

Mason looked at Nicholas Wolfe. It was almost laughable when he thought about it too much how fitting the last name was. He and Julian had planned the papers well when they filed, DGI would still run with the Devonshire’s still there until a judge said otherwise. “Long time no see, weren’t you supposed to have skipped town after college never to return? I think it was probably for the best. How is your dear family?” Mason asked looking at him and for a moment he wondered if he and Julian could pull this off and he made a note to reach out to Braden and God forbid maybe Julian to bring in Lex though the thought made him want to vomit. “You’ll find it’s all in order till a court date or until you can find a judge to overturn it. Its my understanding that the Devonshire’s will be back in the building in a few hours to play nice of course till this pesky matter is resolved, Jackson included though the bitch next to you thought she could get rid of him.”  He made sure to keep his cool with Nicholas the best he could when he mentioned Zach, his hands fisting, not giving into the bait. “Not that is any of your business but we kept it Fraiser-Delacroix.”

“I’ll call judge Omar.” Nicholas said calmly as he strutted to Mason. “Oh you thought we’d be intimidated by you and Julian pounding your chest for the Devonshire’s. I have no beef with any of them. I just go where the money is and you, someone with a silver spoon shoved so far up his ass, wouldn’t know a thing about that now would you? Mason I do believe you shouldn’t talk about college when the skeleton’s in all of your friend’s closets are too much to bare. By the way, how is Hunter?” One little easter egg would be placed in his head now. So much had happened in the past and so many people needed to pay. Retribution would be so right. Stepping behind Tess with a sinful smile on his face. “Listen, I can understand how trying today must be. Just looking at the sweat on your brow and the puffy eyes. But this is business and I really can’t slice you up if you’re going to break down about your dead husband. So I beg of Julian to bring someone who doesn’t feel like one verbal jab about your last name will send you into a frenzy. Maybe you should go back home or something because you clearly aren’t prepared for work.” Nicholas folded his arms. 

“Listen carefully this injunction basically says that the Devonshire’s are allowed to continue to work here. However it doesn’t say that Tess isn’t in power and it does state that right now she is the active CEO. So no matter what your little court order is we still have the upperhand because as CEO Tess has the power to remove any employee she wants. I’m pretty sure that she can’t wait to call them in her office one by one and fire them. You see the Devonshire’s aren’t running it right now and for once you know the shark you’re up against. I’m not Elliot Duval and your nice words won’t win out. He made you into some sort legal hotshot but I can’t wait to show everyone that my time in China, Europe, and California has paid off so much. That I’m going to use every letter of the law to prove the Devonshire’s have no more claim and maybe you guys faked a will not Tess.” Nicholas said, smirking. “Get out Mr. Fraiser-Delacroix before you’re escorted off the premises.” 

Tess leaned back in the chair and watched Mason face scour. “You heard him go on leave and tell your overlords they are welcomed back and I’ll fire each and every one of them.”

Mason almost snapped at him for bringing up Zach or the state of how he looked, Nicholas had always been an ass clearly that hadn’t changed that much. What Nicholas didn’t know was that he was not the same hot headed kid that used to just follow Hunter and Jackson around and  lost his cool, no he was more calculated and that came from working for someone like Julian Sulliavan. “I’ll see you both in court as for firing them, that wouldn’t play out well with the press now would it? Throwing out all Lowell’s children after what happened on the Nightingale, that’s low Tess even for you I can’t wait to make a call to the Chronicle about it.” Mason finished not waiting for an answer as he walked out.

He waited till he was on the elevator until he pulled out his phone and called Julian. “It’s me, I’m coming into the office for a bit, we have a problem. Tess has hired Nicholas Wolfe to represent her, meaning we need to work faster on everything.” He paused when Julian mentioned Zach and he paused taking a deep breath as he bit back tears. “No I know you said to take time but I need to see this through. It is what Zach would have wanted me to do.”

*****

After Bliss had left more like after she had her removed from the premises Max had sat in the nursery consumed. Eventually she had wandered out to at least shower and start her day to prepare for the dinner party for her niece. As if a nice dinner party was supposed to fix everything that had happened. While she loved Maddie she already knew what awaited her at the party, the looks. The questions of are you okay? What can we do to help? Things will get better if you let them, what would get better? She shook her head wondering if she needed something to take the edge off. She had touched anything since her affair with Philip and wondered if she called him would he answer to help her acquire them? Maybe another day for today she was boxing up the clothes that were inside the dresser that was something that she was going to follow through on, giving the things to someone that would use them like Bliss.

It wasn’t like she or Sebastian would be using them anytime soon if at all, she had no desire to have another child and go through what she had survived. She looked at the clothes in the box, she and Seb didn’t have a baby shower she didn’t see the need and now looking back she regretted that, even though she had gotten everything that had been suggested to her. She actually thought about sending the items over with a snarky note to Bliss and Hunter congratulating them on her soon to be born niece, only to realize her mother would be horrified at that gesture. She took a sigh wondering if she really cared and heard footsteps in the hallway before she called out to Claire. “Claire, I’m not up for any more surprise visitors.” She began only to look up and see Sebastian there looking at her, before she noticed the pain on his face at the packed up boxes. “I’m sending everything over to Bliss and Hunter.”

“I just flew back in.” Sebastian said knowing he’d been avoiding her and knowing that her heart was broken. He shuffled into the room wondering if he could admit what he was doing. “I hate them for hurting you and our baby. If he had medical treatment and you were in a hospital maybe he’d still be here you know.” He picked up a lion stuffed animal and he shook his head wondering what she was thinking. How could they repair this? How could they fix all of this? Biting his lip he shook his head. “Why would you just send our son’s things to them? I want something, don’t you want to keep something? He was real Max, he was here and he’s gone but this all belongs to him and I don’t want to just send it to Bliss and Hunter. They don’t need our son’s things. I can’t believe you’d just send away our son’s belongings. You can’t erase him. You can’t just forget about Enrique Lowell Navarro. I wanted him to have your dad’s name because I know he means the world to you and you were the apple of his eye Max. His eldest and strongest daughter. Mi Amor please can we keep this. Put away not all of it but he doesn’t deserve to be forgotten because he’s not here right now.” Sebastian sat in the rocking chair as he looked up at her with pleading tears in his eyes. 

“I wasn’t there for you. I was looking though every moment I could feel something was wrong. I just wanted to find you and when I did he was gone. You were the only one who held our son. You are the only one who knows what happened and I didn’t want to ask then but now I need to because you want to just give his things away.” He said with a raspy tone holding back all the emotions. “You are my fiance and I love you and I just want to know everything if you can tell me. If you can just share with me something about that night. I just hate everything about what happened and how you saved me in that warehouse and I couldn’t save our son and you. I didn’t save him and I’m sorry because I think about him night and day. I think about what our lives should be with him in it and I don’t know how we can recover but we will, I promise Max. One day when we have more kids, we will never forget him. But Max, do you remember what happened that night?” Sebastian cautiously wondered if she would explode. Her emotions had been volatile and her mood was unpredictable right now. He prayed logic would work but right now he wasn’t sure.

Max looked at him and she knew he was hurting but right now she had no memory of the birth just that Hector and Gia had somehow got her off the boat, it was all so blurry. She watched him pick up the stuffed lion and bit back tears as he mentioned the middle name. After her father he would be so disappointed in her, she was going to fix that. She didn’t want to talk about that night and she wasn’t going to, she had no comfort to offer him or any memory. “He’s gone. I don’t want to keep any of it, I don’t want to live in a place filled with our dead child’s things. I want them gone, I don’t want to look at them anymore or see them, can’t you understand that? More children? I don’t want another child ever again.” Max looked at him, her voice cracking when she said it, but she did mean it not to hurt him or them but she wanted to be completely honest with him she had no desire to have another child ever again right now. “Keep the lion if you must if it brings you comfort, the rest of it I’m having it delivered to Hunter and Bliss so they can use it.” Honestly she had no idea if they would or not but it was better than her staring at it all day.

“None of it was your fault Sebastian, it isn’t like you are part of your family’s business and Ronan and Gia are to blame everyone knows they did it. I can’t comfort you about that night. It’s all so blurry I remember getting on the boat when Hector carried me there. Gia and he got me to shore. I have no idea how I got to the warehouse, all I remember is briefly holding his lifeless body in my arms for a second before the hospital. I wanted to say goodbye yet your mother took it upon herself to bury him.” Max said looking at him, she still couldn’t believe the audacity of Regina Navarro to take her baby and arrange a burial to help her. It was laughable granted she didn’t want a funeral for their son but she at least wanted a say. “What would you prefer I do? Cling to the stuffed animal of our dead child? I want to get back into a routine. It won’t bring him back holding onto all of this.” Max said looking around the nursery tears in her eyes and she saw the look on Sebastian’s face. They were broken, probably beyond repair now. But she wasn’t going to apologize for not wanting more children or grieving in her own way.

Sebastian staggered back as he cleared his throat looking at the woman he loved more than life itself. However he wasn’t sure how to approach her or the situation anymore. “I’d prefer you to not be so acidic and vicious to what I also need. To not mock my desire to keep something of our child. To not just move on and pretend that everything is alright. You want a fucking routine call Monique the new therapist at the hospital. I set an appointment for myself. Maybe you should do the same. However you won’t keep me around to keep punching me. Keep talking to me as if I’m an imbecile for wanting to remember and love him. I took it. I took all the verbal jabs, the nasty comments on my family, and I took you acting as if you didn’t love me, and how I wasn’t somehow good enough to be Mr. Max Devonshire. I took all of it because I knew when you saw him you’d melt. I was right but we don’t have him anymore so I guess this is just another inconvenience for you. Please stop acting as if you or I were in the mental space for handling our child. She did it because she heard your scream at the hospital. Hell everyone did. We all heard you break and I couldn’t handle it. So she stepped in because the Devonshire’s were surrounding you and Dani but you don’t remember that. I couldn’t breathe and I couldn’t think about him not being here. So my mother made a choice and I’m sorry if it’s not what you wanted.” His voice broke but at this very moment Sebastian refused to break. “I bought a lot of this shit you seem so enthused to get rid of. Don’t fucking touch it. Don’t you send any of MY SON!” He screamed at her punching the wall. “My son’s shit to your sister. I’ll have someone pick it up. In fact I’ll have someone pick up all my belongings.” 

Sebastian said, exhaling as he looked at her wiping his eyes. “Thank-you for being honest because I never felt like you wanted Enrique. So I guess saying you don’t want another kid confirms that. I don’t know, it often felt like you were jealous of your own son. Like he was getting more attention than you and you couldn’t handle it. I’m so done with you. I’m so done with loving someone who is so exhausting that they are stealing my energy. You are a vampire and you will stop feeding off of me. I’m done.” Sebastian took off his ring as he shook his head. Throwing the engagement band at her feet. “Nine months of you just treating me as if I was stupid, as if what I wanted wasn’t good enough for you, now I’m done. I’m done Max and I hope you know I’ll never love anyone the way I love you. But I gotta go.” Sebastian turned and walked away.

Max was honestly taken aback at him and her own self but she was too proud to admit it. Admitting it would face the reality for her that she had failed at everything helping at DGI, being a good partner and she couldn’t even have a baby right. She followed him out of the nursery for now leaving the half packed boxes on the floor “I don’t need a shrink, I’m not my brother. I didn’t even get a say in his burial and let’s face it your mother never wanted you to marry me anyway crazy old bat that she is, she’s never liked me and said as much and you let her. At least my family respected you. He’s gone. What do you want from me to sulk all day? To sit and cry that he’s gone, he’s not coming back! I can’t bring him back, don’t you understand that?” Max said seeing him finally turn around when she had yelled at him, she wasn’t sure what was up or down anymore with them but she was broken after losing Enrique she knew that.

“You want me to cling to a stuffed animal and walk around like a zombie? Or kneel at his crib and beg God to bring him back and hope that the millionth time will work? Life doesn’t work like that. I was jealous of him, that he had all these people that were excited for him when hopes and dreams were taking a backseat to the casino. There were reasons that Hunter and I divorced. I didn’t want kids being the biggest. But you were so excited about Enrique and I thought I could change, and now I can’t because he’s gone. I didn’t get to change and make that up to you. But I know I don’t want to go through that again.” Max said tears filling her eyes as she stared at him seeing his anger reflected with her own, maybe they had been kidding each other the entire time. She loved Sebastian but she also knew that sometimes love wasn’t enough and in this case maybe a break would do them both good. “I love you but I can’t bring him back and I don’t want more children, how is that fair to stay with me and we both want different things? So maybe you are right, one of us should leave so we can figure out what we both want.” Max said her voice cracking at him before she ran her fingers through her hair feeling the tears slipping out of her eyes. 

Sebastian stood looking at Max as he swallowed his heart in his throat. He felt the exact same because he wouldn’t go on living a lie. “Max, I’m not asking you to bring him back. I’m asking for you to heal and if this is how you heal then sobeit but I’m not like you. I’m not going to ask you to build a shrine, I’m not going to ask you to do anything because this is goodbye. I’m tired of trying to love you and I love you so much but maybe my love isn’t good enough. Maybe we were too different, maybe I didn’t give you what you needed. But I love you so much Max and I’m tired. So I know it’s right to walk away because you can’t admit it. My mother doesn’t like you because you’ve always treated me like shit. Your family loves me because someone finally wrangled you. Someone finally tamed the shrew and loved you unconditionally. You say you love me but I never felt it. Until now when you are absolutely ready to throw me away. ” As he looked around Sebastian took a deep breath. “I gotta go Max, I’ll send for my things. You be safe out here, it’s a cold lonely world and I fear you’re going to be the loneliest now.” He picked up his bag and looked around the penthouse and walked out the door. Closing that chapter now and turning a page. He would never be that man he was before Enrique’s death, and he’d never love anyone the way he loved Max Devonshire. He just couldn’t love her anymore. 

“Mami, I’m coming to your place okay?” Sebastian said as he pressed an elevator button needing air and to get away from his old life once and for all. He wasn’t just burying his son he was burying his dream life with Max. They all were dead and all that was left was someone who wanted revenge.

Max stood in the living room had she been that awful to him probably that wasn’t untrue she had been selfish with everything that had happened. She had always been selfish but she had never liked Regina even from their first meeting in Spain after everything with Philip so she assumed the feeling was mutual but to hear it was awful. She watched him sadly as he picked up a bag he had clearly packed before hand and walked out, she was certain she even heard the echo of the door latch behind him. Placing her hands in her face she let out a scream at the door before the tears streamed down her face about what a fucking mess it all was. She didn’t know how long she sat there and cried wondering when he would come back. It took her till she didn’t have anything else to cry out when she realized he wasn’t coming back.

She moved from the couch to look at the picture of her and Sebastian on the mantle before she turned on the glass fireplace waiting for it to warm up, she walked to the wet bar pouring herself a scotch. Taking a long and stiff drink she tossed the picture inside, watching the frame light first and then the paper as it slowly melted away. She looked at the clock and she hadn’t even told him that they were supposed to be at the mansion for the welcome home dinner for her niece. Just what she needed a distraction from the mess of her life, Sebastian would be back he had to be once he realized that everything was back to how it was. She brought the glass to her lips and downed it before reaching for the rest of the bottle for a refill, repeating the action. The honey and the tar of the liquid seemed to soothe her, the honey for the bitter-sweetness that she shared with Seb and the tar, for who she was, seemed to only heighten everything while she watched the picture burn before her. Watched as that part of her life turned to ash a distant and foreign memory.

*****

Death was such a fragile state and her family had been no exception to it over the years. Growing up in Addisonville like she had, death came even when you didn’t want it too. Rebecca Nolan had seen her fair share of it, even experienced it once or twice, but she hadn’t seen it up close in years. It was why the incident with the Nightingale casino had rattled her so much when it happened. She took the time she needed to process everything and Zach’s funeral had been so daunting that the weight felt like it was crushing her. She didn’t know Zach that well if at all because they were from different towns and didn’t have the same friend group. But she respected what he stood for and the values that he had and his loss was an absolute tragedy. She had bent down flowers in hand while she placed the bouquet down, lilies seemed fitting they had been at his funeral. Everyone was still looking into who had set off the bomb, though she agreed with the initial report clearly mob related.

Meaning it was either Ronan Madden or Gia Falcone that had done it and she pursed her lips at least it wasn’t something or someone else. She shook her head at the thought before placing her hand on the headstone and standing up, the faint glow of the last of sunset falling over the graveyard and it was almost enough to give someone a chill. Not her though, she was built for moments like this had been through moments like this. She wondered if she should visit another grave or not, it had been too long since she had been there. Her fingers absently rubbing together, to relax her mind before shaking her head. She turned and stopped in her tracks when she realized that she had come face to face with Lucy and Grace Fraiser. “Sorry I didn’t mean to intrude. Rebecca Nolan, I don’t think we met formally at the service, your brother and grandson was one of the finest officers and colleagues I have ever worked with.” She said extending her hand to Lucy first and then to Grace.

Lucy was exhausted by the end of the day even with her aunt helping her watch the twins she quickly realized why Dani and Jackson paid what they did for a nanny, it wasn’t easy work. She wanted nothing more than a stiff drink of the family stash, a nice hot bath and the bed in the upstairs guest bedroom at her grandmother’s. Most of her day had been getting them to social playtime, early swimming, naps and leaving her enough time to eat lunch and get them ready to be picked up for a Devonshire party. She had barely spoken to her grandmother since what happened in the kitchen honestly watching her cousin walk out had surprised her. Then again her uncle protecting Dru was gross and while she loved her grandmother that had not been the way to break it to her cousin or tell her to forgive Dru. Her aunt had been the same not talking about what happened in the kitchen and she wondered if her grandmother really was going to let Dru into her life. 

She’d already decided she was on her cousin’s side if that was the case, not that their grandmother needed to know that. When her grandmother had asked her to visit Zach’s grave after dinner she wondered what her brother would have done. He likely would have had their cousin’s back too, her parents would have wanted to support her grandmother and she got that. The rest no one had a lot of love for her uncle and honestly with her sister slapping the tar out of that woman at the hospital she was pretty sure where she would have learned. Meaning all around it would be a split, and she didn’t know how she felt about that. Her grandmother remembered some days, others she didn’t and she wondered if her affection for Dru was because she looked close to her dead aunt or not and was named after her. She had parked the car and helped her grandmother out approaching the gravesite; the dirt was still fresh on the ground.

Walking down the path she hadn’t been back since the funeral, honestly she wasn’t sure she could and as she passed others who had passed it seemed eerie almost and her eyes lingered on her aunt’s headstone. Kendall Marie Fraiser, beloved daughter and sister. Then her heart got heavy when she saw her cousin Victoria Elaine Fraiser, So small, so sweet, so soon. When it came to her brother’s she was taken back when she saw the woman standing there. She hadn’t met her at the funeral so when she had extended her hand she had numbly taken it. Rebecca Nolan, one of her brother’s fellow co-workers and fellow officers. She watched as her grandmother did the same and her eyes came to rest on her brother’s headstone.

Our hero, forever in our hearts.

Her chest tightened and she felt her grandmother gripping her arm and saw the tears in her eyes as they both stared at it, “It’s okay Zach would want the visitors. We just weren’t expecting anyone.” Lucy said looking at the woman, she wanted people to come and grieve when they needed to.

Grace Fraiser had forgotten all about the incident in the kitchen from that morning which was typical. She had spent most of the afternoon in the past with her nurse, remembering her late husband and three children. By mid afternoon she had remembered who Lucy was while they ate dinner and said she wanted to visit her grandson. Staring at the woman before them, it clicked. She knew her, it was Benji’s daughter. 

“Is your daddy still married to that Amish girl?  How are your folks in Addisonville? It was quite the scandal back then Lucy, Benji left the Thorpe family and married an Amish girl he fell in love with. Brenda then sunk her claws into Walter had Benji been around it wouldn’t have happened.” She paused for a moment thinking about it and shaking her head. “Hopefully you turn out to be better than all of them.”

Rebecca was taken aback at Grace Fraiser then again maybe she shouldn’t have been. Honestly she hadn’t seen Brenda or any of her cousins since she had been in town. She shuffled her feet for a moment. Yes her parents and younger brother were still Amish, she however wasn’t in contact with them per the rules and customs of her past life. 

“I really need to get going. Yes my parents are still together though I haven’t spoken to them in years. I’ll give you two privacy.” She finished not sure what else she was supposed to say to either of them as she walked towards her waiting car.

Lucy watched the entire exchange and it took her a moment to put all the pieces together that Rebecca Nolan was Brenda Thorpe’s niece. She shifted her weight uneasily knowing that Brenda had come in like a wrecking ball to her aunt and uncle’s marriage. That Brenda’s other niece had caused her cousin a ton of pain in the past. She had no idea if the woman before her was either good or bad, but she was there paying respects to her brother and she watched as Rebecca walked away to her car. Feeling a slight chill in the air she pulled her cardigan closer before speaking to her grandmother. 

“Tell me and Zach all about it nana.” She couldn’t help the notice the twinkle that happened when her grandmother’s lips curved a bit before she went into one of her old stories about the past.

*****

Jackson looked around his childhood home and the smells of familiar food intoxicated him. As he touched Dani’s hand he kissed it knowing that tonight was going to be fun. Looking at the mansion his mother had gone all out because Maddie honestly was special to them all. Her returning meant that so many wrongs were being righted. He wondered how tonight was going to go. They all hadn’t been together since Max was in the hospital. His twin was broken and honestly he felt that. He could feel Max crashing and the pain was palpable but he wasn’t sure what else he could do. Taking Dani’s hand he approached Maddie with all her friends including Dylan Fraiser. “Welcome home.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “The princess is back and I’m excited to hear all about California. Did you torture the Jensen’s with your business acumen? Or did you give it to them easily?” He looked at Dani hugging Dylan. He knew that this boy must have been Zeke Duvall, Wyatt Kincaid, and the other girl was Keke Watkins. They were an adorable friend group and sort of reminded him of a peaceful time in his life. When Hunter, Mason, Simon, Max, Cat, and a few others were their age. 

“Have you seen your aunt Max? Be sensitive, she’s fragile since losing her baby okay? Promise to shower her in some love. She needs it right now. Also I think you need to be thinking about colleges. I mean Ivy’s are knocking at your door right? You’re brilliant and one day you’re destined to take this company from me. So you know Maddie picking a school is important.” Jackson looked at Rory and Aspen walking in and he lowered his head. His little brother was still with the girl. “Maddie, how do you like Aspen? I mean I know she’s been around since you were a kid trying to hang with Jamal and Rory. You think she’s a good fit for your uncle?” He said, folding her arms. Sometimes Maddie was as close as they were to talking to Lowell again. He’d trained her and being a child he respected her as an adult. Sometimes he thought that was a great thing and others well Maddie was a spoiled brat. “This is all for you, are you alright?” 

Madeline had gotten ready for the party, somewhat begrudgingly if she were being honest. Of course she relished time in the limelight and wanted to see her family and friends after being away for months but it irked her that Chauncey had decided to pick now to play dad and there was nothing she could do because he’d outplayed her with that card. If there was one person who was undeniably on her side though it was Jackson. “Uncle Jackson!” Maddie beamed, hugging him tightly. “You know I’ve been sworn to secrecy on the details of DGI’s phenomenal success and I’ll never spill Lowell Devonshire’s secrets. Not that they were very interested anyway, they’re not exactly fans of Chauncey and all things Devonshire but I had so much fun in California. I mean I really missed you and everyone and playing polo but I feel like I got to know who my mom was better. I loved being in all the spaces she used to be. I stayed in her old room and met some of her old friends. I went sailing so much which Grandpa would’ve loved, right? Private movie studio tours and the opera and there’s so much! Let’s meet at the club this week though so I can tell you all about it. Just the two of us, hanging out like we used to. You always had the best stories about my mom, I think she’d like that, too. You could use some quality time with your favorite niece after that gross nanny fiasco, too.”

“Okay, so, my Grandparents really want me to go to Stanford, to be in California. They just want me around more which is nice but… Grandpa wanted me to go to Yale and it’s what I want, too. I didn’t know how to tell them that. Grandpa already bought me a house off campus. Tons of room for visitors, so you and the twins have to come to Connecticut. At least once a month. Oh my god, the stables are beautiful. I’ve already submitted my application for early admission but it’s basically a done deal. That’s just a formality, right? Wait, I’ll tell you all about it when we have lunch because I have lots of other people to talk to tonight. I know Max is in a bad place and I promise I’m going to love her so hard, don’t worry,” Maddie told him as she followed his gaze to see Rory and Aspen. “Oh I remember Aspen always trying to hang out with them,” she rolled her eyes. “She’s basically an NPC, I don’t know why he’s with her.”

Max had been meticulous in getting ready; she had appearances to keep up and by the time she had nearly finished the bottle of scotch she was ready to let loose at her niece’s party. She dressed in a black McQueen mini dress for the event, perfect if she wanted to leave while the driver had driven her to her parents house. She honestly didn’t want to see any of her family, she’d rather plan her next move in her life, though her heart was aching, the alcohol she had taken earlier in the night was enough to numb it all for now. She’d have to make excuses as to why Sebastian wasn’t there, she wasn’t ready to tell everyone that it was over, he’d come back. She instructed the driver to wait at the front door for a moment while she finished the glass in her hand while she steadied herself to head in and make small talk. Once inside the house she was glad to find that Bliss and Hunter weren’t there yet thank God. She side skirted her sister in law while she made her way to her niece and twin brother, grabbing a glass of champagne from a waiter as she did so, her mother never spared an expense in that regard.

“Caio, or is it still hello from California? I am so happy you could grace us with your presence again after skipping everything else this summer. Tell me you did all the shopping on Rodeo Drive while you were there at least.” Max said hugging her niece while she kissed both her cheeks honestly though who wanted to come home and attend funerals? She understood why Maddie had stayed gone as long as she did, bringing the glass to her lips she caught Maddie and Jackson looking over at Rory with Aspen and then back at her. “Oh are we gossiping about Aspen? She has to be a better choice than well you know, the Montgomery stripper. Besides, we’ve all settled a time or two before.” She made the dig as subtly as she could and she was pretty sure the buzz of the alcohol was kicking in when she said it and almost rolled her eyes at the looks she got from her twin, if he wanted to take it personal he could. “Tell me we’re not discussing something boring like college, you’re young, beautiful and a Devonshire that should be your priority your senior year.” She finished taking the glass and nearly drawing the entire liquid.

“No, for real,” Maddie agreed about settling as she hugged Max. “That’s a male Devonshire trait though. They all have it. Look what Chauncey drug home last? If I’d stayed over the summer, I’d have had to hire someone to taste my food before I ate it. You’ll never catch me slumming it. Nothing but the best for me, like Grandpa always said. I think if you’re going to dilute the bloodline-“ Madeline stopped talking immediately as Jackson gave her a distinctive warning look. “Nevermind. I just think there are more appropriate families for Aspen to latch on to. She’s weird and clingy. Ew, what are you drinking?” She asked, turning to Max finally noticing the scotch on her breath that didn’t match with the champagne glass on her hand. “Did you pre-game my welcome home party? That’s diabolical. You better dodge Grammy. And we are talking about college. I’m a young, beautiful Devonshire that has a company to run in the very near future. I have a level of excellence to maintain and I’m not slacking off now. I’m going to be the youngest CEO at DGI and the first with the academic pedigree to go along with it.”

“Are the female Devonshire’s forgetting that they’ve had some horrible spouses as well? Dimitri and Bliss, Philip and you, Belle and David? Oh you guys are just as bad, we just get a bad rep for it.” He looked over at Aspen and Rory. They appeared perfect. The redhead was stunning but she always seemed stifled or uptight. He hated that it seemed to be an unwritten rule that a Devonshire can’t date Montgomery’s. Unless it’s Max and she can get away with it in her own mind. Looking at his sister he wondered truly how his twin was doing. Her face showed she was wasted but her body still upheld that Devonshire stiff upper lip. “Also you have years before you get DGI, kid just graduate first. God dad did a number on you.” He laughed folding his arms watching Bliss and Hunter entering the party. He swore he saw Max wince at the image of Bliss and her swollen belly. Looking over at Belle and Jamal dancing he couldn’t help but feel like Devonshire’s and Delacroix always end in tragedy but they looked happy. “At least Belle’s with someone age appropriate now. I just wonder how long Jamal and Belle will be interested in each other?” He saw Rory approaching with Aspen on his arm. The perfect trophy fiance but was he happy? “Baby brother the genius, how are you?” Looking over he spotted Chauncey, Jackie and Selina speaking and they looked like they were approaching as well. 

Rory and Aspen had gotten ready for the dinner party at home for him; he went through the motions with it. Things had been tense between them with Randall’s death and honestly he wasn’t sure Aspen was taking it well. It had been so sudden and shocking, he wanted to support her but he also knew it felt like they were prolonging the inevitable with them too when had everything gone so poorly? He was trying to be a good guy and partner but for him it felt like he was always pulled to Yasmine. Maybe it was because he loved her first, of all the women he had dated or been with he felt that with her first and it was hard for him to let go. Hard for him to let her go knowing that he had caused her so much pain with what he had done with Tess, he shook his head as he and Aspen approached his siblings and niece, his hand on Aspen’s back for support. He was glad that at least his brother had a cooler head about it part of Chauncey and Max’s problem in his mind was they were too fucking stuck up to see people for who they were human, probably why all their relationships ended in disaster, money didn’t make someone.

“There she is the guest of honor. I for one am glad you got to visit with Logan’s family. We’re doing good thanks for asking. It has been a lot since Randall passed. And since that night everything happened with the boat. You and Dani okay, that had to have been hard with Zach. I know Jamal said that Mason’s been a mess.” Rory said, hugging his niece while he saw the looks he and Aspen had gotten, he had been close enough to overhear his teenage niece’s tongue and even his own sister’s comments. Regardless of what she and Seb were going through she needed to lay off bad mouthing Aspen all the time. “Don’t give Jamal a hard time, our sister is a handful besides they’re kinda cute. You know I was just thinking what a trainwreck that whole ordeal with Philip was the other day. At least you have a guy like Seb, the jury is still out on Chauncey after everything that Natasha has done. Speaking of Seb where is he?” Rory asked, looking around seeing Max glare at him.

Max brought the champagne glass to her lips, casting a glance at Aspen over the rim before she downed the rest of her glass. When Rory asked about Sebastian she knew it was a question that she couldn’t avoid. That night the way Rory said it sent a shiver down her spine, where she had lost her son, Aspen had lost Randall and Dani almost died or it felt heavy. “Well if you must know something came up and he needed to go on a trip to one of the wineries and before anyone asks, we don’t need a therapist. Not everyone is always so fragile. Aspen you of course look stunning as always, the perfect match.”

Madeline gave Rory a look that said he went too far when he went after Max like that after everything she’d been through. Taking a cheap shot over his cheaper fiancé was crazy. “Exquisite, Aspen, really. You guys look so cute together but Rory’s always been good at accessorizing. It’s still so funny to see you at his side instead of chasing behind him. Of course Max, no one thinks you need a therapist. Devonshire women are built different.”

“Welcome home, Madeline. Hunter and I missed you and Fox keeps asking when he can watch you play polo again,” Bliss said as she joined the group and hugged her niece. At least there was some feeling that life was getting back to normal or whatever the new normal would be. It seemed Max and Maddie were mean girling Aspen and she made a mental note to invite the girl to lunch. “Did I hear Max talking about a therapist? I’m so glad to hear it after turning the nursery into your own personal rage room earlier. I think talking to someone would be beneficial.” 

Belle and Jamal approached as she swirled off the dance floor walking to the group she smirked at Maddie who looked approvingly. Which was a plus and as she sauntered to them all she kissed her niece’s cheek handing her a slim box filled with a diamond necklace nameplate chain. “Oh therapy please do we have to talk about such crass things while young Maddie is returning into the fold? I for one want to discuss something much more prevalent. How to remove my mother from DGI.” Belle said, looking at her siblings. “Shall we discuss?” 

Jackson looked at his youngest sister and smiled. Bliss and Belle had been pulling their weight in the family for sure. Between Zerick, Bliss, and Belle they all wanted nothing more than to repay an invisible debt to the family. When they all just needed to be. It was hard and painful but it was the truth. “I say we wait, we just got our most brilliant strategist back but let’s let her enjoy her night. Tomorrow we all go to war thank-you Belle.” He looked over at Rory and Aspen actually feeling bad for the snide remark she made at her earlier. The girl just lost her dad and he was in the hospital that night. She wasn’t an accessory then she was raw pain. “Where’s your parents and mom? We need to toast to you tonight?” 

Max looked at her twin and the rest of her siblings feeling like she had won, except when she looked at Bliss before reaching for another glass of champagne when the waiter passed. Ignoring the judgement on all their faces it wasn’t like she wasn’t allowed to fucking drink at this point. “Yes I agree, where is mom?”

Rory didn’t say anything back honestly he didn’t want to argue with his clearly near drunk sister and it seemed his older brother was the same. He placed his hand on Aspen’s back for reassurance Max was just being bitchy for some reason as he spotted their mother making their way to them with Donovan, Jolene and Dani. He watched as his mother handed Donovan off to his brother and watched Jackson’s face light up. He wanted that one day. He just didn’t know if he wanted it with Aspen anymore or not.

Dani looked between all the Devonshire siblings and saw the way Jackson was looking. Something had gone down and she’d have to get the details later from him at home. She handed Donovan to her husband and leaned in hugging Maddie. “Welcome home we all missed you.” She managed to get out making Jolene didn’t tug at Maddie’s hair before placing her free hand on Jackson’s back, Max looked like a trainwreck.

Jackie had been wanting to throw this party for ages and had been planning it for a  few weeks, her granddaughter was finally home. Her family needed this moment of bonding over something good, it seemed since the explosion they had been thrust into chaos and sadness but we’re slowly healing. Or she liked to think they were seeing Maddie and then the twins warmed her heart and she was thrilled to see the rest of her family too. She smiled at her children while she approached even if Tess thought she had won she could never take this. Taking her family and children from her she may have taken the love of her life’s legacy and company but her family never. She walked towards them holding her head high as she looked at the little girl who had quickly grown into a young woman. It had happened so fast even the twins were growing and her heart broke at what could have been for her daughter Max and her now gone grandson.

“We are all so glad that you are home oh how I missed you. I do hope your summer was spent learning everything about Logan that you needed. I heard the car ride back was interesting. I would like to think you had time to rest of course afterwards.” Jackie said she had heard all about Maddie’s remarks about her father and Mason and she looked pointedly at her; she had never raised her to be so callous. “As for you taking over DGI in time, you’re too young and you need to focus on school this year. Besides we already have someone as CEO and I have no doubt very soon he will be back to running it like your grandfather envisioned.” She finished picking up her glasses and taking a drink seeing the rest of her children do the same, she saw her eldest approaching them hoping that their brief conversation through text earlier had settled things. Sometimes she wondered who was the parent her or Chauncey with her granddaughter.

Chauncey had enough of his daughter’s attitude in the car ride over enough that he shared her atrocious comments about Mason to his mother. She thought she was so smart and so grown up tonight would be one for the ages for her to know she was his daughter. Of course he was proud of her a little too much if he was honest, but she needed to learn more tact. He knew he had handled things with Natasha poorly but that didn’t excuse her either, he felt a shift had happened when she went to visit Logan’s family in California, one he didn’t like. Regardless, he, like his father, wanted her at Yale. They already had bought a house near campus; it was something his father said that he would do before he passed. Any Ivy league school would be happy to have her but in this case Yale was the alma mater for his father for a semester or two before he went to local university, he had gone to Stanford where he had met Logan. He approached his siblings, all of course in their own plans and schemes that was fine he would bide his time.

“Ah there you are the guest of honor. You look radiant as always Madeline. Your grandmother put in so much work for tonight the chef has prepared all your favorites for you and your.” He paused for a moment making sure of the disapproval of certain friends, mainly Dylan and Keke; they simply weren’t meant to be in the same room as his daughter was heard. “Friends. Let’s celebrate you coming home from California all grown and making big girl decisions this year. Hopefully in a year that you get nearly everything you have ever wanted. Not too much of course we wouldn’t want to spoil you too much. Your mother and I are so proud of the woman you are becoming and this was a way for the entire family to welcome you home after the way you just left us all. So let’s eat and of course celebrate.” He finished seeing the staff come out to announce the dinner as he smiled at his daughter turning to walk to the table leading the rest of them there.

*****

The twins were finally asleep after coming home from the dinner party for Maddie, a party that never lacked the drama for her husband’s family but at least it wasn’t her own this time. She had showered while Jackson had a phone call from Julian he needed to take. Honestly she felt like talking to Monique had helped a lot and it was a small step towards her and Jackson healing. Once out of the shower she dressed in her nightgown looking at the wound on her ribcage that was still healing David said another two weeks or so and her fingers traced it, he had cleared her for normal activity if she kept it easy. Realizing how close she had come to death was something she was still trying to come to grips with, if that tape had never happened and her sister had never entered their lives she would have never left DGI that night like she had. The mere thought of Dru infuriated her not to mention what she had learned at her grandmother’s.

She took a few deep breaths Dru would pay she’d make sure of it, finishing dressing and her skincare routine before heading back into their bedroom to see Jackson still on the phone. She could barely hear what was being said by Julian but she caught it well enough, Tess was fighting back with some lawyer named Nicholas Wolfe. Jackson’s face seemed worried at the name judging by the way he looked over at her and then to focus back on the phone call. Honestly she had hoped that Tess would have just done the right thing, but in typical Tess fashion she thought that she mattered more than Lowell’s own children or his last wishes. She knew that like her he was worried about DGI and everything going on there, Max of course and what she was going through too. She also knew that he, like her, really wanted to fix what went wrong with them so she reached over, touching the back of his neck and working her thumbs into circular motions, feeling him relax while she made her way to his shoulders massaging them to hopefully relax him fully.

“That psycho is trying to lock us out of the company by firing us and because she’s the active CEO right now until this Dru stuff is fully cleaned up she can do what she wants. I might have to report to that bitch but Mason will stop all major moves that she makes at DGI and we might even have to attack the company ourselves. That’s a strategy that Julian suggested. I won’t cannibalize my father’s legacy though and I won’t lose to this woman. She’s hurt but none of us are to blame for that. She will never be my mother and that is the truth and sadly I think she wants a seat at the table like Bliss and Belle have. She’ll never be my sisters and I’m sorry we will never forgive her for making Max come into the office tomorrow. If I could, I swear to God I’d kill her and I think everyone would be better for it.” Jackson said with a coldness in his voice. As he relaxed slightly he looked into her eyes. “I missed this.” He said honestly feeling like them for the first time in a long time. “Hey I got something to tell you.” 

“I did my homework.” He let her continue to massage his shoulders. “Since I was fourteen and I slept with that college girl. I have had a reputation and I honestly thought marrying you would change it but it’s odd. More women come onto me now than ever before. However I can’t help but believe that you are the woman for me. In fact I know it,  in my bones and everything I feel. Dani you are it for me. So I guess what I’m saying is even though Dru did that to me, I somehow lost faith in you. I thought you wouldn’t believe me over this woman who happens to be your toxic half-sister. I know I should have just opened my mouth and told you but I didn’t and that was a mistake. I should have known you would have saw through Dru maybe way faster and maybe things wouldn’t have happened.” Jackson said, finally turning to face her and touching her waist. “I made a mistake and I kept snowballing until I… I don’t even know if I used or not Dani.”

Dani would gladly assist with taking Tess down if asked the woman was a menace, she listened to what Julian told him to do while she massaged his shoulders, she honestly felt awful for Max but also knew that Max needed to process what she had gone through but going to DGI was not for the best for her sister in law. She listened as he spoke about his reputation. Yes he had one, she was fully aware of it when they started that first night, she didn’t. She was still angry at everything that Dru had done to her but even more so to him. “I did too. I know thank you for telling me, she was just so nice to me all the time, helping and then everything started to go bad with me and I really didn’t know what I was even doing for a while. Had I done all those texts, then I missed dinner and appointments and then that night at the ball something snapped. I should have trusted you more and told you. Instead we fought and I went to Zach. We both made mistakes. Honestly even if you did, you were drugged Jackson. She drugged you and she took advantage of you.” Dani said, looking at him and touching the side of his face.

She rested her forehead against his for a moment before she leaned in, kissing him gently on his lips, feeling him wrap his hands on her waist and she let out an exhale she didn’t know she’d been holding in. She stayed there for a moment before she pulled back from him, rubbing her thumbs on his neck. “I’d forgive you for it if you did. I still can’t believe she did that to you. Not me you. The tape plays in my head sometimes how real it looked. It makes me angry at her, like she took a part of you from me in some weird way. It’s like a nightmare of repeatedly thinking of you with someone else like that even though I know it’s not real. I’m sorry if I’ve been distant because of it with you. I don’t want that. I miss your hands on me, your body, us. It had to have been awful seeing me at the accident and I’m sorry how we left things that night for everything.” Dani finished looking at him and it felt like for her anyway they could get there again back to good.

“It wasn’t your fault or mine.” He said swiftly. “From now on we tell each other everything. When we have doubts we express them. It’s how she came between us not being honest with each other. Zach was easier to talk to that was my fault. I somehow didn’t see how much stress you were under. We were new parents and we were new CEO’s we should have communicated way better. That’s a learning curve and honestly your sister seemed to only want one thing. To hurt everyone and that’s fine but I’m going to get my lick back. I’m going to hurt Dru and your father won’t be able to do anything. I assure you that we will get our revenge against Dru.” He touched her face hearing about how Grace defended her granddaughter against Dani and that pissed him off. They could validate her bad behavior all they wanted Dru would feel the Devonshire’s wrath. Stroking her cheek he smiled as he kissed her shoulder blade which had a permeant scar from the crash. 

“I can still remember how scared I was seeing you in the med-vac that took me out. All I could think about is all the first we would have missed. Our first time taking the twins to Disneyland, our first time chasing some girl or boy away from the twins, their prom, our tenth anniversary I could see all the things I’d lose if I lost you. Dani I can never and I mean ever not appreciate you. You’ve given me a family when I thought I’d never have one. You’ve protected me through so many storms. I will tell you everything from this moment on. I will protect you and when you’re tired I’ll be there. Okay?” He rested his head on her lap looking up at her big brown eyes. “You know I have a kick ass son, a stunning daughter, and an amazing wife but I always thought about three kids. So whenever you’re ready.” He teased laughing at the thought of another child. “On second thought maybe in like three or four years.”

Dani looked at him in some ways. It was easier to talk to Zach because he knew about their aunt and she didn’t want to stress out Jackson more than he already was, it was all so messed up. Honestly she had taken on too much at once and it had nearly cost her. When he said that Dru wanted one thing, it was true apparently to hurt them all, how fucked up was that? “Don’t call her that, I only had one sister and I’d like to keep those memories good. She’s just an imposter and intruder in my life and there is no way I am forgiving her for what she did. My dad wants to bend over backwards for her. I don’t think we can let him be around the twins. I already told Lucy she can watch them here or at my mom’s house if that is how my grandmother feels too.” Dani said she knew it was harsh but she wasn’t going to defend it. She looked down at him and knew he was right and Monique seemed to have pointed that out too.

“I like Monique. She seems to really want to help us and I like her approach to just let us talk things out. You are right, we need to get better at that.” She ran her fingers through his hair while he talked about the accident and everything they could have missed, lucky for them David was an amazing doctor and she liked to think it wasn’t her time yet. Her fingers traced his chest for a moment when he said he’d protect her and he’d be there when she was tired and she smiled at him. “We wait too long, there’s too many years between them to keep them all occupied. Think about the age gap between you and Rory.” Dani said her voice low while she leaned in looking into his eyes, raising her eyebrow at him before leaning down to kiss him again, honestly for her she saw them with at least one, maybe two more kids. Pulling back she grinned at him. “I think I could be persuaded.”

“I’m thinking of two more? See I’m aiming for two boys but I can see you’re maneuvering for another daughter. I see that glint in your eye you’re scared when it’s me Donovan and Jackson Junior you and Jolene are through. You two will get voted out at every turn because us boys will be the majority vote. I’m just saying if you get another girl after little Jackson Junior then I wouldn’t mind. I mean Fraiser’s are known for big families and my dad had six. So I think four is pretty normal for us unless it’s too much for you. I mean your body your choice. Hell if we want more and you can’t have them we’ll hire a surrogate. I’m rich, you’re rich we can do whatever the fuck we want. I just want to do it with you. I want to live this life that my father told me I should have. That I know I should have. Raising kids, being a CEO, and being your husband so Dani I don’t care if we have twenty more kids as long as everyone of my babies are yours.” He leaned up and kissed her. “When I thought you were gone I couldn’t function. I couldn’t see me raising our kids without you. It scared me straight. All I want is DGI getting back in our hands now because God answered all my other prayers that night. If I didn’t believe then I do now.” Jackson admitted looking in her eyes. 

“Come on, let’s go to bed. We got a long day ahead of us because we are meeting with Julian, Mason, and Simon all in the morning.” He got up from her lap and pulled the covers back as she walked to the bathroom. Jackson followed picking up his toothbrush and they brushed their teeth together. Then he picked Dani up and looked at her. “This is us walking through our threshold and it’s a new honest version of us. No more doubting that my wife would kick a bitch ass if she came onto me. No more doubt that we can’t handle what’s in each other’s head.” He walked Dani to the bed. “Now let’s work on baby number three. RePlay turn off the lights!”  Jackson yelled playfully running to his bed.