Written by: Dallas Walsh

Sabine Andrews walks into the country club and quickly moves to the bar to order a champagne cocktail. She then sits down and looks at her compact to fix her hair and make-up quickly. She is still reeling from the physical fight that she just had with her sister, Lydia Rockwell, at the hospital. She has no idea what could have provoked her sister to be physical with her, but she refuses to back down. After so many years of playing second fiddle to Lydia, Sabine knows that she has come into her own and she won't back down to her. Not now, not ever.

"It's a bit early to be drinking, isn't it?" Vivian Blackmore asks Sabine as she comes and sits next to Sabine at the bar, who is taking a sip of her champagne cocktail.

Sabine chuckles as she sets her glass down. "Not after the morning I've had," she purses her lips together.

Vivian looks at Sabine for a moment, thinking she knows the woman sitting to her. Then, she notices a couple of small scratches on her face. "I know you," Vivian tells her. "But I can't place you."

"Sabine Andrews," she replies to her. "I'm Lydia Rockwell's sister."

"Of course," Vivian nods back to her. "I'm sorry that you have that woman as blood."

"Ha!" Sabine chuckles back to her before she takes another sip of her champagne. "I suppose I should thank you."

"Vivian Blackmore," Vivian replies to her.

"Ah, the ex-wife of my sister's fiancé. Small town, this Kelsey Lake."

"That it is," Vivian tells her. "Looks like you and your sister had some kind of…altercation?"

"That's putting it mildly," Sabine purses her lips together. "What else is new though?"

Vivian chuckles. "It seems like you and I might have more in common than I thought."

"Cheers to not being in Lydia's good graces?" Sabine raises her glass, just as Vivian's iced tea arrives and the women toast glasses.

***

Jarek Williams opens the door to Lex's hospital room and moves inside. He looks at his husband, who is still sleeping in the bed. As Jarek moves closer to Lex, he can't help but wonder how they got to this place. The plan was always for Jarek to kill Lex to get the money that he and his mother, Odette Williams, felt like they were owed from the family, since they believe Mac caused his father's death. Now, Jarek looks at Lex and realizes that he should make a full recovery.

"You can never find out," Jarek whispers to himself, still looking at Lex. "That it was me. You have to wake up and think that Odette did this to you. It's the only way…"

Jarek looks up when he hears Lex moan a little, his mind still thinking about how Odette told him that there are more drugs at her house. Jarek rushes up to Lex's side as his eyes slowly open. "You're awake," Jarek puts a smile on his face.

Lex opens his mouth to say something, but Jarek hushes him. "Don't speak," Jarek replies to him. "Just know that I'm here, and you're entire family is here. You've been through so much, but you'll make it. You're going to be okay. Don't speak, I'll go get the Doctor, okay?"

***

"I'm surprised to see you here this morning," Cole Rockwell announces to Celeste Rockwell, as she sits alone at the a table at the country club, enjoying breakfast. He can't help but think about their kiss at the hospital the previous day, when Celeste finally admitted that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. He doesn't know what this means for their future, but he is excited to find out what it could mean.

"Are you?" she purses her lips together. "Your father went to the office early this morning to get some work done. I thought I'd grab a bite before heading to the hospital to see how Lexington is doing." Secretly, she also wanted to have time alone to reflect on the fact that she can't have any more children. Her fall down the staircase that caused her to miscarry, also caused her to have damage that will prevent her from ever having a child. It's a tough pill to swallow.

"I had the same idea," Cole nods back to her as he sits across from her. "I guess Stacey went to the office early too, the house was empty this morning."

"Sometimes it's good to get out of that house," Celeste replies to him, thinking about the previous night when she and Mac were going to have some champagne to celebrate Lex's recovery, but she returned with a bottle Mac's mood had changed and he went right to bed. She has no idea what triggered his mood, but it is cause for some concern. Adding in the fact that Cole kissed her, and Celeste feels like she has a million things on her mind.

"Are we going to ignore the elephant in the room?" he says looking into her eyes. "Our kiss at the hospital last night…"

"Cole," she cuts him off. "I got caught up in the moment…we can't actually be together again."

"Yes, we can," he informs her. "I ended things with Vivian. All we have to do is be honest with Mac and everything we've ever wanted to can come true. You can't tell me you don't want me as much as I want you."

"Cole…"

Cole reaches over and grabs her hand. "Don't tell me you don't want it," he tells her, as he squeezes her hand. "We can get through this, we just have to be honest."

At the bar, Vivian Blackmore turns around in her chair and sees Cole grabbing Celeste's hand. She purses her lips together, realizing that Cole ended their relationship because he still clearly has feelings for Celeste. The sight of them together makes her blood boil.

"If I can find a way to destroy Celeste," she whispers to herself. "Then Cole will have no choice but to come back to me. He will realize that he does love me, not that woman. The question is, how do I ruin Celeste?"

***

Lydia Rockwell rushes up to Lex's hospital room but stops checks her mirror in her purse to fix her hair before she opens the door.. She still can't believe that she and Sabine had a fight earlier in the hospital. She hates her sister for trying to interject herself into her family. The woman has a lot of nerve, Lydia thinks as she fluffs her hair. She shakes her head knowing that she has to focus on Lex right now. She opens the door to the hospital and gets tears in her eyes when she sees her son with his eyes wide open. Lex slowly puts his cut of water down on the table in front of him when he sees his mother in his room.

"I can't believe this," she says, as a tear falls down her cheek. "You're awake. You really are going to be okay."

"I'm fine, Mom," he replies to her. "A little sore, but Dr. Chen just told me that I should make a full recovery after some rehab. Where is everyone else?"

"They'll be here soon," she says as she sits next to him. "I wanted to have some time alone with you. You have no idea how worried we've all been."

"Sorry to scare you," he replies to her. "But, if I am honest Lydia, I really want to see everyone else. Can you send them in now, please?"

"You don't want to see me? I'm your mother!" she shrieks, horrified that Lex is still blaming her for everything that has happened in recent months.

Lex coughs a little. "I know exactly who you are," he says back to her. "You're the woman that has lied to me my entire life about my father. I almost died, but I still haven't forgotten everything you've done to me; to this family."

"I'm trying to make it up to you," she gasps in horror at his comments. "Please, Lexington, you have to give me the chance to do that. I am so sorry for the pain I've caused."

"I don't have to do anything," he tells her, as Jarek opens the door to the hospital. "Jarek, thank God. Come sit with me."

Jarek comes up to the other side of Lex. "Is everything okay?"

"It's fine," Lydia wipes her cheek dry. "I was just leaving. But, I'll be back. You won't get rid of me that easily, Lexington. I'm your mother and I love you."

Before Lex can reply, Lydia stands up and quickly rushes out of the hospital room. Jarek looks back at Lex. "She didn't upset you, did she?"

"No," Lex smiles back to him. "You are a sight for sore eyes. I've missed you."

Jarek chuckles back to him. "I've missed you too," he says. "You have no idea how happy I am that you're awake and will be okay."

"Me too, Jarek," Lex says back to him. "Me too. But tell me, what happened exactly? How did I get so many toxic drugs in my system?"

Jarek sighs and looks back at him. "My mother, she confessed to drugging you," he says back to Lex. "She's in jail. She wanted some kind of revenge on Mac."

"I can't believe this," Lex admits to him. "I'm so sorry, Jarek. I know how close you are to Odette."

"It's been difficult," he replies to him. "Anyways, your liver started to fail. And that's when Kent donated part of his liver to save you."

"Wait," Lex stops him. "Kent Blackmore saved my life?"

"Yea."

Lex turns pale at the thought of his biological father, the man he loathes, being the one who saved his life. "I… I don't know what to say," he says, as he locks eyes on Jarek, wondering if all this time has he has misread Kent's motives.

***

Lydia rushes to Kent Blackmore's hospital room and moves inside. She looks back at Kent, who is laying in his hospital room. "Hi darling," she tells him. "How are you feeling today?"

"A little sore," Kent admits to her, as she comes up to him. "But, Dr. Chen is telling me that I can go home today. That's good news, right?"

"What about the pain?" she asks him. "Will you have to do any physio?"

"They gave me medication," he tells her. "The pills work pretty quickly. And yes, I'm expected to be on the sidelines for a couple more weeks, maybe months, while I rehab. You look upset about something, darling, what is it? What's wrong?"

"I just came from seeing Lexington," she reveals to him. "He's awake but he is still treating me like I am piece of trash."

Kent shakes his head in disbelief. "He still didn't forgive you? You'd think that his near death experience, he would be able to put this all behind us."

"I'm afraid not," Lydia tells him. "So, I'm not sure he will be ready to make amends with you either. But I don't know. And, I'm not going to sit around and let all my children continue to hate me. I have to do something to get them back. Which is why, I have to tell you that I am leaving town. I have to go away on a business trip."

"What?" he asks her in surprise. "I'm just about to get out of the hospital. Is now the best time for you to leave me?"

"I'll hire a nurse or something," she tells him. "I have to do this Kent. I have to do this for Blackmore Ltd and my children. You understand, don't you?"

Kent looks back at her in surprise. "What does Blackmore Ltd. have to do with this?

"Darling, please don't worry," Lydia tells him, ignoring his question. "It is just a brief trip, I'll be back before you know it. And, when I'm back my children will be back in my good graces and Blackmore Ltd. Will be in a better position. This is a win-win-win, trust me."

"I do trust you, Lydia," he whispers back to her. "Just remember that I love you. Meanwhile, what happened to your face? You're all scratched up?"

Lydia waves her hand in the air. "Never mind that," she purses her lips together. "It's not important."

***

Stacey sits at Mac's desk and opens one of the files that is laying there. She quickly realizes that the file is on Kremlin Diamonds, and her mind immediately goes to Marat Kafelinkov. She wonders how he is going in Russia and realizes that it's been a day or two since they spoke last, mostly due to the time change.

She quickly scans the report in front of her and then realizes that something is very wrong with what she is reading. She re-reads it, thinking that there must be a mistake, but it only confirms what she read the first time.

"How is it possible that production is down at the Kremlin?" she asks herself, still looking at the figures. "That mine has one of the highest quantity of diamonds, it doesn't make sense that inventory is dropping so quickly."

She grabs her phone and quickly dials a number. "Marat," she says into the phone. "It's me, Stacey. You need to call me back as soon as you can."

"I have a better idea," he smiles at the doorway of Mac's office. "How about we talk in person?"

Stacey drops the phone and rushes over to her boyfriend, kissing him as soon as she reaches him. "I can't believe you're back," she says in between kisses. "When did you get here?"

"Just landed," he replies to her. "I came as soon as I got here. I missed you so much. And, you'll never believe what happened."

"Tell me!"

"I got my father's approval," he tells her. "He gave us our blessing. He is okay with you and I being together."

"That's great," she licks her lips. "I didn't know he was going to put up a fight."

"I was worried," he admits to her, as they move into the office. "What are you doing? Can we get out of here? I'd love to catch up with you in every way possible."

Stacey chuckles. "I want that too," she says, grabbing his hand, forgetting about the reason that she was actually calling Marat in the first place.

***

Mac quickly moves through the visitor's center of the jail until he sees Odette sitting across the glass wall. He looks at her for a moment and wonders if he is doing the right thing by visiting her; he knows that she is the main reason that his life is so upside down right now. As she was the one drugging Lexington and it was the bullet from her gun that Cole took for Celeste, which could be the reason that Celeste and Cole are growing closer again.

"It was beginning to think that you weren't going to say anything to me," she purses her lips together after Mac finally sits down and picks up the telephone to speak to her.

"Part of me thought it was a mistake coming here," he reveals to her. "But then, I remembered what you did to my son, and I had to say something."

Odette chuckles back to him. "You know," she replies to him. "At least when Lydia was here, she had a reason to be upset with me. After all, Lex really is her son. The only son you have, is the one who slept with your wife."

Mac feels the blood drain from his face at her words. "You didn't really think a beautiful, young woman like Celeste would stay with an old, crept man like you when she could have that young stud of a son, did you?"

"You're a vile woman," he replies to her quickly. "I knew this was a mistake. The only saving grace is that I get to walk out here as a free man. You, on the other hand, you'll be in this jail for a very long time. Enjoy your pathetic life, Odette."

***

Stacey walks into the hospital with a fresh glow on her face, fresh from making love to Marat. Afterwards, she knew she had to get to the hospital because she had received a text from Cole that Lex was awake and she can't wait to see her brother.

As she walks towards the room, she sees Brock Jennings, her high school friend whom has been helping Cole get back into shape following the shooting. She realizes that Brock will be the perfect physical trainer to help Lex get back on his feet as well.

"Brock," Stacey smiles as she approaches him. "Just the guy I needed to see."

"Hey Stace," he replies to her, as he holds a couple of files in his hand. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Cole; we've both just been busy."

"Cole is looking better than ever," she purses her lips together. "But, I need you to work that magic on my other brother. Lex woke up; he will make a full recovery. But, he has been through a lot. I think he could use some of the work ethic you used on Cole."

Brock chuckles back to her. "Well, I'd be game to help him. As long as he your Dad and Lex think it's a good idea."

"I'll make sure they do," she winks at him. "I'll be in touch, okay? I want to go see my brother."

"Absolutely," he nods back to her.

Stacey continues to walk towards Lex's room, where she can see Cole, Jarek, Sabine and Lydia all standing outside. She approaches the crowd, just as she hears the tail end of Cole's conversation with Lydia.

"Lydia, for the last time," Cole says in an angry whisper. "I will never forget everything you have done. You pushed Celeste down the stairs, which could have killed my child, for crying out loud! Not to mention lying to everyone about Lex's paternity!"

"What the hell is going on here?" Stacey asks, shocked by the conversation. "Lex has woken up, we shouldn't be having this conversation right now."

"I'm just trying to make you realize that I am sorry and I want you back in my life," Lydia protests with her children, still rattled that they all still seemingly hate her.

"Now isn't the time, mother," Stacey scolds her. "You can't just tell us you're sorry. You have to earn that. Now, Cole and I are going to see our brother."

Lydia watches in horror as they walk away from her. She looks at Sabine, who shrugs her shoulders. "Don't say anything," Lydia warns her sister, not wanting to have another fight with her. "Not a damn word."

"I think you've said enough for everyone," Sabine smirks back to her, knowing that she just took another slight jab at her sister.

***

"Yes, this is Lucinda Rockwell," the elderly Rockwell patriarch says into her cell phone, outside of the hospital. "I'm calling to make sure everything is on track."

Lucinda listens intently as the person on the other end of the telephone. "Yes, of course I understand what this means. I'm not stupid. And, yes, I realize that someone might get hurt. But when that woman that is involved, well, let's just say that I don't care if she gets hurt or not. She will pay for what she has done to my family, and this is how it will happen."

She ends her phone call and gets a devious grin on her face, knowing that she has a plan to make Lydia pay for all the damage she has caused her family.

"It's time you get yours," she smiles to herself, thinking of Lydia and everything she has done to her family.

***

"Celeste," Marat announces as he walks up to her table at the country club, as Celeste nurses a brandy. "It's good to see you."

"Marat," Celeste smiles back to him. "Please sit down. I didn't realize you were back in town?'

Marat nods back to her. "I just got back today," he reveals to her. "It was good to be home, but I missed Stacey a lot."

"So, things are going well between you two then?" Celeste asks him as he nods back to her. "That's great. I'm really happy for you. After everything that we went through, it's nice that you found happiness again."

"We did go through a lot, didn't we?" he asks her, reminded of their time together in New York City a few years ago. "It seems like a life time ago."

"It does," Celeste purses her lips together. "But, I haven't forgotten. How could I?"

"You're right about that," he nods back to her. "It is impossible to forget. So, tell me, Celeste, what is new with you? I can tell by the look on your face that you're upset about something."

Celeste sighs and looks back at her friend. "If I tell you something, do you promise it will stay between us?"

"Of course, you know that I will always keep your confidentiality."

"I learned something," she bites her lower lip to prevent herself from crying. "You heard about my fall down the stairs at the Rockwell mansion?"

"When you lost the baby, yes I heard about that. I'm sorry that happened to you."

"Thank you," she replies to him. "Well, I had a doctor's appointment recently and I learned that the fall actually caused more damage than we first thought."

Marat shakes his head in confusion. "What is it Celeste? What else happened?"

"The fall did some damage and, the short story is, I won't be able to have any more children. I will never have a child of my own…"

"Oh Celeste," Marat reaches over and grabs her hand to squeeze it. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say…"

"You don't have to say anything," she says as a tear falls down her cheek. "Just know that I'm grateful for you listening to me and supporting me."

At the bar, Vivian looks at Celeste and Marat in their close conversation and their hands touching one another. Suddenly, Vivian realizes that this could be exactly how she gets Cole back. "If she hasn't slept with him already, she will," Vivian whispers to herself, still eyeing the situation and realizing this is her chance to get Cole back. "That's just the kind of woman that Celeste is. Now, I just have to prove it."

***

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Jarek asks Lex, who is in a wheel chair and Jarek is pushing up closer to another hospital room.

"I have to do this," Lex replies to him. "He saved my life."

"Okay," Jarek says back to him, as he opens the door to Kent's room and then pushes Lex inside. "I'll be outside when you're ready to go back to your room.

Kent and Lex make eye contact with one another, both remembering how many times they said hurtful things to one another, especially after the truth about Lex's paternity was revealed. Lex, however, after learning that Kent saved his life, had to come see the man who gave him birth.

"I'm surprised to see you," Kent tells him. "It's a good surprise, don't get me wrong."

"How are you feeling?" Lex asks him. "You look good?"

Kent chuckles a little back to him. "Yea, I guess I'm doing okay. A little sore, but can't complain too much. The doctor said that I should get to go home today. I'll be going with some pain medication and going through some rehab."

"I'm glad that you'll be okay," Lex replies to him quickly. "Look, I really just came here to thank you. You saved my life, and for that, I will always be grateful."

Kent gets tears in his eyes. "As soon as I learned that you were sick, I knew I had to do anything to help you. I'm just glad that it all worked out in the end."

"It has worked out because of you," Lex tells him. "I can't lie and say that everything that has happened has been forgotten, but I think this is a good first step, don't you?"

Kent nods back to him. "I'd like that very much."

***

"I got here as soon as I could," Mac tells Lex, as he walks into the hospital room. "You are look good, son."

"Thanks Dad," Lex smiles back to him. "It's good to see you."

"You have no idea how good it is seeing you back too," Mac replies to him. "You gave us quite the scare."

"Jarek told me it was Odette who did this to me. I'm still in shock by that," he admits to Mac. "She always seemed to like me. The odd thing is, I have no idea how she would have so much access to me. With the amount of drugs in my system, she must been drugging me every day."

"That woman is sick," Mac tells him. "She wanted to get revenge on me for something that we aren't even responsible for. Anyways, that's for another time. Have you been given the okay to be discharged?"

"Dr. Chen is working on the papers now," Lex smiles back to him.

"I insist that you move back into the mansion," Mac tells him. "And, Stacey's friend, Brock, he's a physical therapist. He's been hired to help get you back on your feet."

"Wow, I don't know what to say," Lex admits to him.

"Say, you're okay with moving back into the mansion. Say you'll come home?"

"What's going on?" Jarek asks as he comes into the room, having overheard the end of the conversation.

"I was just telling Lex that you two should move into the mansion until Lex is 100%," Mac informs his son-in-law. "What do you say?"

"I'd love to be back in the mansion," Lex smiles, as he looks over at Jarek, who is secretly thrilled that he will be living in the Rockwell mansion too, recalling Odette's advice to enjoy the Rockwell fortune now that Lex will make a full recovery.

***

"I know I am the last person you wanted to see," Mac announces as he enters Kent's hospital room. "But, before I went home with Lexington, I had to come and see you one more time."

"Did you now?" Kent asks him, looking up from his newspaper that he is reading. Kent thought he might as well stay informed while being in the hospital. "Well, you're welcome. I already know you're going to thank me, again, for saving my son's life."

Mac feels his blood boil but he sighs in hopes of keeping his calm. "I do want to thank you," he replies to him. "Lex is still with us because of what you did. I don't know how I will ever repay you."

"No need," Kent tells him. "I'm just glad Lex is alive. We finally agree on something."

Mac chuckles. "That's something, huh?"

"And, as soon as Lydia gets back to town, I'll be back on my feet and things can go back to normal."

"Lydia is leaving town? Now? Why would she do that?"

Kent shrugs. "A business trip," he reveals to him.

"I see," Mac nods back to him. "I won't keep you. Get better, Kent."

Mac turns and leaves the hospital room, wondering what kind of business trip Lydia would be taking at a time when her fiancé and son just got out of major surgery. He shakes his head, as he heads to the door, wanting to get home as soon as possible.

***

"Sweetheart, what are you doing home?" Celeste asks Mac as she walks into the living room and she spies her husband pouring himself a brandy. "I thought you would be at the office or the hospital."

"I just came from the hospital," he replies to her before he takes a sip of his drink. "Lex is going to come home; he's going to live here again."

"Oh," Celeste nods back to him. "I guess that makes sense. He has room to recovery here more than the condo."

"You don't mind that I invited my son to live here again, do you?"

"Of course not," Celeste waves her hand in the air.

"Good," Mac says back to her. "Actually, I'm glad you're home. I think we should talk before Lex arrives. We need to clear the air."

Celeste arches her eyebrow. "I'm afraid I'm not sure what you're talking about," she admits to him. "What would we possibly have to clear the air about?"

"The fact that you're on birth control pills," he quickly tells her. "I know that you've been lying to me, Celeste. The question is, why? Why would you tell me that you want my child only to prevent that from ever happening?"

Celeste gulps as she looks back at her husband. "I…I'm…"

"Don't try to lie your way out of this," he grits his teeth together. "I saw your pills in your purse last night. You can't lie your way out of this. Now, tell me, or do I even have to ask?"

Celeste shakes her head. "What do you mean?"

"Is this about Cole? Are you still in love with my son?"

***

Lydia fastens her seatbelt on the private jet, desperate to get out of Kelsey Lake for a few days. By going to Russia to meet with Yuri Kaflinkov, she will get the Kremlin Diamonds mine under Blackmore Ltd's umbrella, and it will be the first step in getting her children back on her side. The fact that she will get away from all the hatred that her children are dishing out to her right now, is also a blessing for her.

"A few days in Russia will do me some good," she whispers to herself. "I'll get Blackmore Ltd the upper hand on Rockwell Mining and assist in getting my children back. This will be the best trip of my life."

"Ms. Rockwell," the pilot's voice comes through the intercom. "We are about to take off."

Lydia leans back in her chair as she feels the plane start to move. As the plane speeds up down the runway, the front wheels slowly leave the ground. However, within seconds, the engine starts to smoke and a fire breaks out! Inside the plane, Lydia lets out a blood curling scream as the plane starts to take a nose dive back towards the ground! The plane quickly crashes, as the fire spreads, leaving no sign of life anywhere.