Written by: Dallas Walsh

Odette Carlson was 22 years old when she met Bernie Williams. She was immediately smitten with the older man, of 15 years, with his dashing good looks, seemingly solid career and quest to have a family. Within one year of their romance, Bernie was proposing to Odette, who happily accepted. They were married in a simple ceremony, with only a witness in attendance as Odette's parents were not pleased that Bernie was 15 years, which in their mind was "greatly", older than their daughter. Despite her parents objections, Odette went ahead with the wedding and it was the best day of her life because she married her best friend and soul mate.

Within a year of marriage, Odette found herself pregnant with her first, and only, child. Jarek was born into a home filled with love. Bernie adored his son and wanted to give him the best life possible. A better life than Bernie had growing up, that is for sure. It was around this time that Bernie started getting promoted at work. Odette, who was staying at home to raise Jarek, started seeing her husband less and less as he continued to climb the corporate ladder at Rockwell Mining. Odette, while she loved seeing her husband succeed, she did miss him around the house, but she continued to support him at every turn.

And, that's when everything changed for the Williams family. It started out as a regular day. Odette made scrambled eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast. As per usual, she made the coffee too strong for Bernie's liking, but he still had two cups. He kissed Odette and Jarek goodbye and went to work. Time seemingly went by slower that day for Odette; at the time, she had no idea why, but now she realizes why it was moving so slowly. She caught up on 'All My Children' and 'Guiding Light' while Jarek played with his toy trucks in the living room. Then, the telephone rang and Odette slowly moved as an unsinkable dread came over her. Odette listened as they told her about the explosion at the Kelsey Lake mine and that there were no survivors; Bernie was one of the men that were in the mine when the explosion went off. Odette, surprisingly enough, did not break down. She looked at her son and realized that she was all he had in the world now. After she hung up the phone, she turned the TV back on to the local news and saw the man she grew to hate: MacKenzie Rockwell, who was giving a statement about the explosion; The explosion that killed the love her life; The explosion that killed the father of her son; The explosion that put a fire in Odette's belly. From that day on, she knew that somehow, someway, she would get revenge on Mac and the Rockwell family for taking her husband from her.

This is exactly why she convinced Jarek, once he was older and a proudly gay man, to pursue Lex Rockwell when they started dating. Odette's first motive was getting money from the Rockwell's that she thought was rightfully hers since Bernie would have continued to climb the ladder at Rockwell Mining, had he not been killed. Odette was thrilled when Jarek and Lex became engaged and got married. But, the truth about Lex's paternity came out and both Odette and Jarek were worried that he wouldn't be worth the same amount of money being a Blackmore vs. a Rockwell. Odette convinced Jarek to poison Lex before his will could be changed. Lex, after being drugged, soon collapsed and was rushed to the hospital, where he lived. Odette took the blame for it and went to jail. Odette, however, was rattled when Jarek ended up dead a few months later. Now, not only had the Rockwell's taken her husband from her, but also her son. The only person she ever really truly loved was dead. Just like Bernie's death, Odette kept herself together as she couldn't possibly get revenge on the Rockwell's from behind the prison bars.

In the following weeks, Odette was a model citizen in prison. She knew that she had to complete extra chores and was on her best behavior. She also started getting support from Detective Garrett Owen, who is a police detective in Kelsey Lake. He started keeping her updated on the Rockwell situation, as he sympathized with her after everything, and everyone, that she had lost. Then, a miracle happened: she was granted early parole. As soon as she got out of jail, Odette started putting a plan she conducted into jail into motion. She kept having visions of burning the Rockwell mansion down to the ground; the house that kept the family together would be destroyed. If she could do that, she would win, she told herself.

She heard about Mac's plan for some fancy masquerade ball, naturally at his mansion. This, she thought to herself, would be the perfect time to blow up the mansion. With help with Garrett, she was able to obtain three bombs through the black market. Carefully, she was able to break into the mansion and place the bombs before the party started. She was able to do this before the Rockwell's even knew she had been released from jail. By the time they learned this piece of news, the bombs were set and ready to go off.

Odette attended the party, but she realized that Mac had seen her lurking around. Finally, when the time was right, she revealed herself to Mac, and the entire Rockwell family. And, that's when she revealed her little surprise: the bombs. Mac rushed to stop her, but Odette detonated the bombs; one after another after another after another, the explosions rocked the Rockwell mansion all the guests at the party. Odette saw Mac's face filled with horror right before she set the bombs off and it gave her everything she wanted and so much more. She knew that he was worried that everything he had worked towards was going to fall apart; his beautiful mansion, all of his expensive possessions and most importantly, his entire family. So, when the second explosion went off behind Odette, and the force sent her body flying into the air, she didn't care. For a moment, she got to see Mac Rockwell on his knees begging her not to ruin everything. And, she got her revenge. Odette's body landed in the pool, outside the mansion in the garden. Garrett was the one who saw her and he jumped into the water after her, but it was too late. He pronounced her dead on the spot.

Chaos surrounded the mansion following the bombs going off; guests were laying in debris and blood while firefighters raced to the scene. But there was a brief moment, when all the guests, at least those alive, were trying to make sense of the scene and of what had happened. Mac, who had lunged towards Odette, was thrown back at the first explosion. His body flew into a bookcase behind him and knocked the wind out of him completely. He looked to his left and screamed Lydia's name, as he saw another bookshelf tumble on top of her and Kent Blackmore, followed by a second one falling on top of it. Mac slowly got up, by this time the second and third explosions had taken place and tried to regain his composure. Dust, debris and death surrounded him. Still, he managed to slowly walk over to the toppled bookcases and he managed to lift one up and push it back over. He paused and put his hand on his aching back.

"Come on Mac," he whispered to himself. "You can damn well do this!"

He peered down and saw Kent open his eyes from beneath the heavy bookshelves. "Mac," he pleaded. "Please, help me."

For a brief moment, Mac thought about all of the dastardly deeds that Kent Blackmore had inflicted on him and his family and wondered if this was his chance to finally rid himself of his rival. He could have easily of pinned Kent's death on Odette; Lord knew that there were many dead people around him right now, Kent could just be another one. But, that's when he saw Lydia's hand next to Kent. If Mac choose not to lift the bookshelf, Lydia would remain trapped under there as well. He couldn't let his ex-wife, the mother of children die. Not like this, not after the miracle of her coming back from the dead once. With a grunt, Mac bent down and lifted the second bookcase up and pushed it away from Kent and Lydia.

"Are you okay?" Mac asked Kent, as he reached his hand down to help him up.

"I think so," Kent replied as he coughed a little from all the dust. "I just had the wind knocked out of me."

They both turned and saw Lydia laying on the ground unconscious. "Lydia!" Mac yelled as he rushed over to her. "Lydia, can you hear me? Lydia!?"

When she didn't respond, Mac lifted her into his arms and rushed towards what used to be the front door. He dodged various objects that had been disjointed from the explosions until he arrived outside.

"Help me!" he yelled until some paramedics approached him. "You have to help my wife! You have to help her, please!"

And, just like that, they started to tend to Lydia, as Mac watched with intent and worry, hoping that he saved her in time. He didn't know what he would do if his wife, the mother of his children, wouldn't pull through.

Back inside, Lex Rockwell slowly stood up, having been forced on to the stairwell from the explosions. He looked around and couldn't believe the destruction the bombs created. The house looked nothing like what he was used too. He looked down the stairs and saw his older brother, Cole Rockwell, walking around almost in a haze. Lex's mind immediately flashed back to a few moments before the bombs went off: he overheard Cole and his lover, Brock Jennings talk about a sexual encounter they had in the summer. Lex, still, couldn't believe that his straight brother allowed his boyfriend to give him a blow job. But, considering the surroundings, Lex moved down the stairs towards his brother, realizing that he had to focus on more important things at the moment.

"Cole, are you okay?" Lex asked him, as he slowly reached the base of the stairs.

"I…I don't know," Cole looked back at him in confusion. "This is crazy. Where is Brock? Where is Tanner? Where is … my God, where is Celeste?" he asked, wondering about his girlfriend, Celeste Baldwin, and Lex's other lover, Tanner Young. "We should find them! They might need medical assistance."

Lex looked back at Cole with an uncertainty, which Cole immediately picked up on. "Lex, whatever happened between Brock and I is not important right now! We have to work together, don't you understand that?"

"Fine!" Lex snapped at him. "Let's try to find the others, he said as he turned his head and saw some blonde hair under the stairs, which had semi collapsed. "Look, that might be Brock!"

Cole moved as quickly as he could past some wandering guests over to where there was a body laying under some rumble. He, with Lex's help, moved a large table that had been flipped over. They looked back down and saw Brock's bloodily face. "Oh God, Brock," Lex covered his mouth in horror.

Cole leaned down and put two fingers to Brock's neck and then looked up at Lex with sadness. "He's dead," Cole gulped as he shook his head repeatedly, stunned that Brock was dead.

Back in the living room, Kent looked around the room for Houston Blackmore, his son, and Vivian Blackmore, his ex-wife. He wasn't too upset that Mac rushed out of the house with Lydia in his arms, as right before Odette revealed herself, Sabine Andrews had revealed that Lydia and Houston were lovers while they were being held hostage together. Kent can't believe that his fiancé and son had sex with one another; the thought makes him utterly sick to his stomach. Still, he can't leave him, or Vivian, in the house to, possibly, die.

"Kent," Vivian limped over to her ex-husband. "I was over by the bar and some glass shattered into my leg. I can't barely walk!"

"Jesus," Kent looked at her as he wraps his arm around her. "Let me help you get out of here."

"No," Vivian stopped him. "I don't want to leave, not until I know Houston is okay. Have you seen him?"

"I haven't," he replied to her. "Lydia and Mac, they are okay. I was just about to try to find you and Houston. Maybe he is looking for Stacey?"

Vivian shrugged her shoulders back to him. "We have to find him. Our son, we thought he died once. We can't lose him again! We can't leave until we know Houston is okay!"

Before, Kent replied a group of 4 guests from the party ushered by them. The last one stopped and looked at Kent and Vivian. "Mom! Dad!" Houston said, stopping to hug his parents. "Thank God you guys are okay. I was so worried about you two."

"And us about you," Vivian replied to him with a smile on her face.

"Have you see Stacey?" Houston asked about his fiancé, Stacey Rockwell. "I don't want to leave here until I know she's okay."

"Son, you need to help me get your mother out of here," Kent replied to him. "Her leg is badly cut. Don't worry about Stacey; she has her family and her husband looking for her."

"Fine, I'll help you," Houston looked back to him, still upset that his father tried to kill Stacey. "But then, I have to find Stacey."

Outside in the garden, Marat Kafelinkov searched the rose garden for where Celeste Baldwin was last seen. He couldn't help but recall Celeste telling him that she was pregnant and the baby would be his because they slept together after Stacey was shot. The baby itself should be considered a miracle because Celeste had been told she would never have another child again; however, they both knew that the truth would potentially ruin their relationships with Cole and Stacey, respectively. As he looked for Celeste, Marat hoped that Celeste was okay because if anything happened to her, or the baby, he wouldn't be able to go on.

That's when he saw Celeste's body; the force of an explosion threw her on to her back and she was laying unconscious near the pool.

"Celeste," he rushed up to her and rolled her over. "Celeste, can you hear me? Oh my God, Celeste!"

"Marat," Sabine Andrews and Tanner Young came up to him. "Do you need help? We can get her to an ambulance."

"Yes, I will lift her and take her now," Marat looked back at them in shock. "We have to make sure she is okay, we have too!"

"Let me take her," Tanner told Marat, as he approached him from, emerging from behind Sabine.

"Why?"

"Because," Sabine interrupted. "I've been looking for you. I have to tell you something. Your father, he's inside the house. He was at the party."

Marat slowly stood tall looking back at her in horror. "What do you mean? Why was my Dad here? How do you know this?"

"None of that matters right now," Sabine looked back at him. "We have to find him. We have to make sure he's okay."

Marat immediately looked behind her at Tanner. "Man, you're going to take her right to the ambulance? She needs medical attention."

Tanner nodding back to him with intent. "I promise," he replied. "She'll be in the next ambulance, you have my word."

"Good, come on Sabine, let's go find my father! He has to be okay!"

They rushed inside the mansion, which was still filled with dust and debris. "Where do we even begin to look for him?" Marat asked Sabine, who was peering inside the building.

"I last saw him in the study," Sabine informed him. "Let's try to walk through this mess over to the study?"

"Okay," Marat nodded back to her. "Just be careful, okay?"

Sabine went first but she reached behind her and grabbed Marat's hand. They slowly walked through what used to be the living room of the mansion until they reached the foyer. They stopped and coughed a little, having breathed in too much dust.

"Marat?" a voice called out, causing Marat to turn and see Stacey sitting on the stairs leading up to the second floor. "Oh My God, thank God you're okay."

Marat rushed up to his wife and hugged her tightly. "Are you okay?"

"I think so," Stacey said as they exited their embrace and shared a quick kiss with him.

"My father is here," Marat advised her quickly. "I'm trying to find him."

Before Stacey could reply, Sabine let out a blood curling scream. Marat turned and saw Sabine lifting a door off the ground; the glass on the sides of the door had been blown out. Beneath the door laid a dead Yuri Kafelinkov.

"No," Marat covered his mouth in horror. "No!"

"I'm so sorry," Sabine looked back up at him after feeling for a pulse. "He's dead."

"Otets!" Marat yelled out in pain. "Otets!"

***

PRESENT

Slowly, the survivors of the explosion made their way to the hospital to get checked out and to ensure they were all going to be okay. News of Odette's death rocked everyone but also created a sense of relief as they knew that she wouldn't be able to hurt them anymore.

Lex paces back and forth in a waiting room, wondering when he would hear about his family. He can't help but feel guilty about everything that has happened since Odette was his mother in law. He feels like he should have known that something wasn't right with her while he was married to Jarek. Of course, his mind is also on the fact that Brock is dead and that his mother hasn't woken up yet.

"Everything is a mess," he whispers to himself. "My God, everything is a mess."

"Hey, I'm glad I found you," a voice calls out causing Lex to turn around and see Tanner standing in the waiting room. Lex rushes up to him and hugs him tightly.

"Are you okay?"

"I will be fine," Tanner tells him. "I just got a clean bill of health from the doctor."

"Thank God," Lex exits their hug and looks into his eyes. "Brock was killed. I saw him. I saw his body."

"What?" Tanner asks in shock. "I can't believe this. This is all so sad."

"Me either," Lex shakes his head back to him. "This is all my fault. All of it."

"Don't say that," Tanner scolds him. "You didn't know that Odette was going to blow up your house. You can't blame yourself."

"I'm just so worried about my Mom, and everyone," Lex sighs. "And Brock, he didn't deserve this. He had so much life to live still."

"I'm going to go and get you a cup of tea. When I get back, I want you sit down and drink it and try to stay calm until we hear something, okay?"

Lex uneasily nods back to him. "Okay, thanks Tanner."

***

"Stacey, thank God you're okay," Houston rushes up to his former fiancé, as he just left a hospital room where Vivian is getting her leg treated. Stacey slowly turns around to face him and can't help but get a smile on her face knowing that Houston is alive and well. "Have you been looked at by a doctor?"

"I'm fine," she waves her hand back to him. "So are you?"

He nods back to her. "My Mom has a badly cut leg, but otherwise we will all make a full recovery."

"I'm glad to hear that," Stacey turns away from him, immediately recalling how moments before the bombs went off Sabine revealed to everyone that Houston and Lydia had become lovers while her grandmother, Lucinda Rockwell, was holding them hostage. Stacey can't believe that the man that she loved, the man that she admitted to still caring about, slept with her mother. She doesn't know how she can ever get over that. It's not something she thinks she can get past.

"Stacey, what's going on? Why are you almost in tears?"

"Do you really have to ask me that?" she replies to him. "Tonight, this entire night, has been nothing but chaotic. Odette blew up my house!"

Houston comes up behind her and puts his hands on her shoulders, but she recoils away from him. "Please, don't do that."

"Is this because of what Sabine said?" he asks her. "You have to let me explain, Stacey."

"No," Stacey turns to him as a single tear falls down her cheek. "I don't have to do anything, Houston. You slept with my Mother! You did that, and then you proceeded to lie to me about it for months!"

"I can explain!"

"I don't want to hear about it," she replies to him. "I have to go find my husband," she makes sure the words 'husband' sting him. "He just lost his father. But you need to listen to me, Houston, anything we may have had, it's gone. We are over. We will always and forever be a thing of the past."

"You don't mean that," he pleads with her, feeling his heart break in his chest.

"Your damn straight I mean that," she spits back to him. "Goodbye Houston, for good this time."

Before Houston can reply, Stacey storms away from him. He sighs and he runs his hand through his hair, wondering how he can make this up to Stacey.

***

"Dr. Chen, how is she? How is Celeste?" Cole asks the doctor, who comes out of Celeste's hospital room. Cole raced to see Celeste as soon as he found out that Marat and Tanner had found her unconscious outside after the explosions went off. He has been worried sick about her, knowing how much she has been through. He just hopes and prays that she is okay.

"She's doing fine," Dr. Chen nods back to him, recalling how Celeste just finished pleading with him not to tell anyone that she is pregnant. The doctor realizes that Celeste was very lucky not to have lost the child; he isn't sure why she doesn't want anyone to know about it the child, but he has to respect their wishes. "She should make a full recovery."

"Oh, thank God," Cole breathes a sigh of relief. "Do you mind if I go visit her?"

"Not at all," Dr. Chen uneasily nods back to him. "Just make sure she rests when she gets tired. She has been through a lot."

Cole smiles back to him before turning and opening the door to Celeste's room. She turns and looks at him when he enters the hospital room. "Hey," Cole whispers to her. "How are you feeling?"

Celeste shrugs a little. "I was outside and had no idea what was happening. What did happen?"

Cole gulps as he slowly nods back to her. "Yea, Odette Williams, she got out of jail and planted bombs at the mansion," Cole reveals to her. "We have no idea how many people died, we know that Brock Jennings and Yuri Kafelinkov are dead."

"What?" Celeste gasps back to him as she covers her mouth. "Marat must be devastated."

"I haven't seen him yet," Cole tells her. "I'm just glad that you're okay."

Celeste bites her lower lip, feeling grateful that she didn't lose another baby. The last thing that she wanted to have happen was to find out she miscarried again, especially since she was told that she would never get pregnant again; this baby she is carrying is a blessing.

"I'm glad that you're okay too," she replies to him. "I just want to put this all behind us, even though that won't be easy."

"Me too," Cole nods back to her. "But that might take some time."

***

"Dad, has there been any word on Mom?" Stacey asks Mac as she walks up to her father, who is pacing back and forth outside of Lydia's hospital room. Cole follows behind Stacey, also looking for an update on his mother.

Mac stops pacing and looks at his children, immediately moving up to them to give them each a hug. "No, not yet, and I am starting to get concerned."

"I just can't believe this has all happened," Cole sighs back to him. "Odette is crazy. I can't believe she blew up our house."

"We don't have to worry about her anymore," Mac replies to him quickly. "Garrett Owen confirmed to me that she is dead. Odette will never hurt us again."

"That's probably the only silver lining in all of this," Stacey tells him. "I saw Lex, by the way. He looked like he was getting some rest."

"Good," Mac nods back to him. "He is probably feeling responsible for some of this considering he was married to Odette's son."

"He can't blame himself," Cole mumbles back to him. "What about the house, Dad? Any word on the damage?"

"I haven't even thought that far ahead yet."

Before anyone can say anything else, Dr. Chen emerges from Lydia's hospital room and approaches the Rockwell's. "Doctor, how is our mother?" Cole asks him, folding his arms across his chest.

"Better than I thought," Dr. Chen admits to them. "She is still sleeping right now, but I expect her to wake up soon. Her vitals are all good, and I haven't detected any internal injuries. That being said, once she wakes up, I will be able to complete more tests to ensure she will make a full recovery, but it does look like Mrs. Rockwell got very lucky."

"Oh, thank God," Mac whispers as he grabs Stacey's hand. "Can we see her?"

"Yes, but limit to brief visits, I do want her to rest and, as I mentioned, I want to run more tests once she's awake."

"Understood, thank you doctor," Cole smiles back to him before he looks at Stacey and Mac and breathes a sigh of relief.

***

"Kent, I just heard from Dr. Chen that Lydia should make a full recovery, at least he suspects so until she wakes up so he can do more tests," Sabine announces to her sisters fiancé as she moves into the waiting room where he is pacing back and forth.

Kent looks back at her and slightly rolls his eyes. "What was that for? I thought you'd be happy that Lydia was going to make a full recovery."

Kent uneasily chuckles back to her. "You did? That surprises me Sabine," he replies to her. "Considering you announced to the world that Lydia and my son were lovers."

"I was drunk," she tells him as she puts her hand on her hip. "And, I was upset that Mac wasn't interested in marrying me anymore."

"So, you thought you'd ruin everyone else's life because you were miserable? That's really sweet of you."

"Oh, shut up!" Sabine barks at him. "I know that you still love Lydia, regardless of what she may have done with your son. They were, after all, locked in a cage and had no reason to believe that they were ever going to escape."

"Look at you, making excuses for her and everything now," Kent sneers back to her. "After everything you and Lydia have done to each other, I'm surprised that you're in her corner."

"I just want everyone to be happy," she tells him. "That means you and Lydia being together."

"Why? So Mac won't obsess about Lydia and you can then be with him?"

"If that's what it takes…"

Before Kent can reply, Vivian slowly walks into the waiting room on crutches. "Kent," she calls out, causing her ex-husband to look beyond Sabine. "Do you think you could take me home?"

"Vivian, what did the doctor say?" Kent moves past Sabine.

"No permanent damage," she purses her lips together. "I'll just have to use these stupid crutches until my leg is healed but I will be fine."

"Good news," Kent winks back at her. "And yes, I can take you home. Sabine and I were done here."

Sabine sighs heavily as Kent helps Vivian out of the waiting room. She was hoping that Kent would forgive Lydia for her affair with Houston; if he doesn't, she knows that she has no chance of getting back together with Mac, and she refuses to let that happen.

"We will be together Mac, we will be."

***

"She looked pretty peaceful," Cole tells Mac as he slowly walks out of Lydia's hospital room and looks over at his father.

"I just hope she wakes up sooner rather than later," Mac replies to him. "I'll feel a lot better when she opens her eyes."

"You still care about her, huh?" Cole uneasily smiles to his Dad as he puts his hand on his shoulder.

"Your mother and I, we've spent a lot of years together, some good, some bad, but we always cared for each other," Mac replies to him.

"She can feel that, I know she can," Cole nods back to him. "Look, I didn't want to say anything right now, but something happened at the party that I think you should know about."

Mac arches his eyebrow and then looks back at his son. "What else happened?"

"Grant Shaw arrived at the party," Cole reveals to him. "And, he was asking about Dixie Ryan."

Mac feels the blood drain from his face at the thought of helping Cole cover up Dixie's death. "Why the hell would Grant Shaw be asking about Dixie?"

"Because," Cole begins to tell him. "He claims she was his sister. Do you know what this means?"

"It means nothing," Mac tells him as he locks his eyes with his son. "No one knows a damn thing about what happened to Dixie, and we will keep it that way, do you understand me?" he asks Cole, who slowly nods back to him. "Good, because we have more important things to worry about than Grant Shaw asking us questions about Dixie Ryan."

***

Stacey slowly opens the door to the small chapel in the hospital and she moves inside. She couldn't go in and visit Lydia; she was relieved to hear that her mother should make a full recovery, but she can't forget the fact that Sabine revealed that Lydia and Houston had become lovers while they were trapped together. Her mother and her former fiancé, in bed together, she hates the thought to her very core. She takes a deep breath, recalling how she told Marat, her husband, that she had feelings for Houston still. Those feelings have since been erased; she can't be with anyone who slept with her mother.

She moves down the short aisle and sees someone sitting in the front pew: it's Marat. She reaches out and touches her husband's shoulder. He looks up at her with red eyes; she can't imagine what he is going through right now having learned that Yuri died in the bomb.

"I'm so glad that I found you," she tells him as she moves around him and sits next to her husband. "I'm so sorry about Yuri."

Marat nods back to her, but lets a tear fall from his face. "Darling, is there anything that I can do for you? Anything at all?"

"I don't think there's anything that anyone can do," he whispers back to her. "My father is gone and nothing will bring him back to me."

"I know," she nods back to him. "I remember the feeling of dread and helplessness when my Mother was in the plane crash and we thought she was dead. I've been where you, Marat. Please, lean on me. That's what I'm here for. I'm your wife."

"Are you?" he asks her as they lock eyes. "Because, at the party you told me that you still had feelings for Houston Blackmore. Do you have any idea what that did to me?"

"I'm so sorry," she bites her lower lip. "I never meant to hurt you."

"You did."

"I want our marriage to work, Marat. I want to be the wife you deserve. I want to be here for you," Stacey says as she grabs his hand.

"And, what about Houston?"

"That's in the past," she tells him. "I can't be with him, even if I wanted to be. I'm married to you. I made vows to you. You're my present, you're my future, you're my husband."

Tears fill Marat's eyes as he leans into her shoulder. "I needed to hear that so badly," he reveals to her. "I just lost my father, I couldn't bear losing you too."

"You won't lose me," she holds her weeping husband. "I'm here. I'm right here, and I'm never leaving you again."

***

Lex slowly opens his eyes from the chair in the waiting room that he fell asleep in. He looks to the table next to him and sees the empty tea cup that Tanner brought him earlier; he can't believe that he fell asleep considering everything that is going on right now, but he does feel well rested. He looks over at the entry way and sees a figure standing there.

He bolts up and rubs his eyes until he can see an attractive young man standing in front of him. "Who are you? Why are you watching me? And, why do you look so familiar?"

The young man moves closer to Lex. "I'm Toby Sinclair," he reaches out to shake Lex's hand. "I work in the stables at the Rockwell mansion; you've seen me around, but we've never been formally introduced."

Lex shakes Toby' hand. "How long were you watching me?"

"Not long," Toby replies to him. "But you are handsome when you sleep. Awake too, for that matter."

"Thanks, but it doesn't make it less creepy."

"Sorry," Toby shrugs his shoulders. "I was in the main house when it exploded. I am just here to get checked out. I have to admit, when I was at the party earlier. I overheard what happened between Cole and Brock."

"I still can't believe that Brock gave my brother head," Lex shakes his head in disgust. "I can't even be mad though, Brock is dead. He's not coming back to us."

"That doesn't mean that you have to forgive Cole," Toby replies to him. "He got a blow job from your boyfriend. That's fucked up, even for Cole. You should get back at him."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I like you Lex," Toby replies to him. "I felt it from the first time I saw you. I'm just trying to look out for you, that's all. And for the record, I'd never give Cole a blow job. You on the other hand…"

Lex uneasily chuckles back to him. "Well, thanks. I'll keep that in mind."

***

Cole comes into the hospital, having just gotten some air. After talking to Mac about Dixie and Grant, and knowing that Celeste was resting, he decided to go for a short walk, just to clear his head. He didn't want to be gone too long because he wants to be there when Lydia wakes up. As he walks into the hospital, however, he spots Kent helping Vivian towards the exit. He can't help but remember the ball where Vivian told him that Celeste and Marat were together; he knows that she was trying to give the illusion that they were having an affair, which he believes that they are not.

"Vivian, are you okay?" he asks her, noticing that she is on crutches.

"Kent, darling, can you go get the car? I'll just be a moment," Vivian asks him, as he nods to her.

"You'll be okay?" he asks her.

"I'll be fine," Vivian tells him as Kent continues to leave.

"I'm so sorry you got hurt," Cole tells her as he comes up to her. "Odette is crazy!"

"At least she's dead," Vivian replies to him. "She can't hurt anyone anymore, and I'll be fine. Just some cuts on my leg. You look like you're okay?"

"Yea, I'm here for Celeste and my mother."

"Two women I don't exactly have the best history with," Vivian quips back to him. "Do me a favor, Cole, and keep your eye on Celeste. I still believe she is hiding something from you. I don't know what it is, but I know what I saw between her and Marat."

"Vivian…"

"No," she cuts Cole off. "I'm going home to rest. All I'm asking is that you take my warning to heart. Don't let that woman play for a fool again."

***

Mac sits next to Lydia's hospital bed with his head down. He is longing for her to wake up so he can ensure that she will be okay. He can't have anything happen to her, not after they just got her back.

"Lydia, we need you so badly," he whispers to himself. "Please wake up, please come back to us. Please come back to me."

He looks up quickly when he hears Lydia start to mumble. Slowly, Lydia's eyes open and she looks around the room.

"Lydia, oh thank God!" Mac says with a grin on his face. "You have no idea how worried we were about you."

Just then, Cole and Lex come into the hospital room, having seen from outside that Lydia was waking up. "Mom," Cole rushes up to his mother, as Lex stays back. He keeps thinking about what Toby told him; to get back at Cole for getting a blow job from Brock. "Thank God you're awake."

Lydia tries to say something back. "Don't talk, not yet," Mac replies to her. "Let me go get Dr. Chen to make sure you're okay."

Mac rushes out of the hospital room, looking for Dr. Chen, when he spots Stacey standing in the hallway. "Stacey," he calls out to his daughter. "Why aren't you in with your mother? She just woke!"

Stacey shakes her head back to him as tears fill her eyes. "Oh Daddy," she gasps. "I'm so glad that she is awake, I didn't want her to die but Daddy … she slept with Houston. I don't know if I can forgive her for that. I really, really don't."

Mac comes up to his daughter and hugs her. "We can talk about that later," he whispers into her ear. "Right now, I have to find Dr. Chen to make sure that Lydia is okay. We'll talk soon, okay?"

Stacey nods back to him as a tear falls from her cheek as Mac rushes off to find the doctor.

***

A few moments later, Cole, Lex and Mac stand in the back of the hospital room, while Dr. Chen is with Lydia, doing various exams on her to make sure she is okay. He flashes a light into her eyes and then looks into her mouth.

"I'm telling you, I feel absolutely fine," Lydia tells Dr. Chen as she closes her mouth and he shuts the light off. "I just want to go home, doctor."

"Mrs. Rockwell," Dr. Chen replies to her. "You've been through quite an ordeal, at the very least, I need you to stay overnight to ensure you don't have a concussion."

"And, Mom, the mansion is in disrepair," Cole chimes in. "We don't really have anywhere to go right now."

"I'm going to go a couple more tests," Dr. Chen tells Lydia, as he pulls out a small wheel and lifts the blankets over her feet. "Can you feel this?"

He places the small wheel over her feet and rolls it back and forth. Lydia looks forward at the doctor. "When are you going to put it on my foot?" she asks him.

"You can't feel it?" Dr. Chen asks her back as she shakes her head.

"Feel what? Doctor, answer me now, this is not funny!"

Dr. Chen moves up her leg with the wheel, but still Lydia doesn't make any sudden movements. "I can't feel a damn thing!" Lydia shrieks at him. "What does this mean? Why can't I feel my legs?"

"I'll run more exams," Dr. Chen looks back at her. "But this is why you have to stay in the hospital right now. You might have to be in a wheelchair."

"No," Lydia gasps back to him. "I can't be paralyzed, I just can't be," she cries as the family looks back at her with concern.

***

Kent walks through the hospital towards Lydia's room, having returned after dropping Vivian off at her mansion. He had been thinking about Lydia and knew that he had to get back to see her. He couldn't leave their relationship hanging over night; he has to see her to tell her what he has decided.

He turns around, however, when he hears his name being called.

"Dad," Houston says as he walks up to Kent. "I'm glad I ran into you."

"Are you?" Kent asks him without making eye contact with him. "I'm surprised to hear that considering you slept with my fiancé."

"I didn't think I would see the light of day again," Houston tries to explain to him, thinking of being held hostage by Lucinda Rockwell. "What I did, Dad, it doesn't even compare to you trying to kill Stacey. What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking about a way to get back at Stacey for almost ruining my company and for teaching those damn Rockwell's a lesson about crossing me," Kent spits back to him. "I don't expect you to understand, you slept with my fiancé for crying out loud!. But after everything that has happened, do you really think that this is the time or place for this conversation? I'm about to go see Lydia."

"So you can forgive Lydia but not me?" Houston asks him shocked. "That doesn't seem fair!"

"Lydia could have died," Kent replies to him quickly. "I'm not saying what will happen, but right now, I have to make sure she's okay. Now, if you'll excuse me."

Kent turns and opens the door to Lydia's room leaving Houston in the hallway and sees her laying in bed with red eyes. "Lydia," he calls out to her, causing her to turn and look at him. "Where is everyone? I'm surprised Cole, Lex, Stacey or Mac aren't with you."

"They just left so I could rest. I have to stay in the hospital for a while," she replies to him.

"You were in a serious accident, that's probably for the best," he moves closer to her. "Look, I'll let you get some rest, but I had to see you."

"I'm glad you came. I'm just glad that Odette is dead; that woman caused our families enough pain."

"She certainly did. And, you might not be so happy to see me once I tell you what I have to tell you."

Lydia looks back at him in surprise. "What do you mean? What is going on, Kent?"

"You slept with Houston," he whispers back to her. "Sabine revealed that right before Odette announced herself at the ball."

"I remember," Lydia replies to him quickly. "You have to understand the situation Houston and I were in," she continues to tell him. "We never thought we were getting out that damn cage. Lucinda wasn't about to let us go!"

"I don't care what the reasons are," Kent informs her. "There are somethings I can't forgive; you sleeping with my son is one of them."

"Kent, you don't mean that!"

"I do," he nods back to her. "I wish you a speedy recovery, Lydia. But we are over."

***

Garrett Owen opens the door to the Williams house and moves inside. He looks behind him to make sure no one has seen him; when the coast is clear, he closes and locks the front door. He moves into the living room, where he sees the curtains drawn. The room is filled with pictures of Bernie, Odette and Jarek. He moves to the fireplace mantel and picks up a family picture and looks at it.

"What a beautiful family," he says to himself before he places the picture back down on the mantel.

"It's about time you got here, what the hell took you so long?"

Garrett turns around and sees an alive Odette standing before him. "Sorry, the bombs created chaos. I was busy. Thank God you're okay. You could have been killed."

"Thank you for telling everyone I was dead," she replies to him. "Because now, we can carry out our plan."

"And what is our plan?"

Odette chuckles to herself. "To make sure the Rockwell's pay for what they've done to me. I will make each and every one of them suffer. And you're going to help me," she says before she laughs again.