Written by: Dallas Walsh

Helena Grant closes her eyes and lets herself be taken in by the warm kiss from Nathan Lockhart. The kiss is sweet but passionate and lasts just long enough for her to want another when their lips part. They both open their eyes and look at one another, lust fills the room.

"Nathan," she whispers back to him as she sits on the sofa in the executive suite at Rockwell Mining. "We can't be doing this; I am with Mac and you're engaged to Sabine!"

Nathan nods back to her as he knows that she is dating his brother, MacKenzie Rockwell, and he is engaged to Sabine Andrews. Deep down, however, he knows that this is all a part of his plan to get revenge on Mac and Sabine, as he learned that they had an affair with each other.

"I know," he finally replies to her. "The fact is, I was just taken by you. The smell of your perfume…"

Helena chuckles back to him. "I appreciate that, and for the record, any woman would be a fool not to notice how handsome you are, Nathan. But we are adults, and we can control ourselves. I don't want anything to ruin what I am creating with Mac, and nothing should come between you and Sabine when you are so close to saying your vows."

"You are right," Nathan bites his lip back to her. "This will be our secret; our first, and last, kiss."

***

Stacey Rockwell slowly walks towards the waiting room of the hospital where she sees Kent Blackmore on his phone. She pauses when she sees the man that she is in love with and thinks about how earlier she overheard Vivian Blackmore profess her love to Kent. She is trying not to feel insecure about what she heard, but she is because she told Kent to marry Vivian as they all assumed that she was going to die. However, Vivian is now awake, talking and seemingly, on the road to recovery.

Kent looks up from his phone when he hears Stacey enter the room. He can tell that something is troubling her just based on her facial expression.

"Stace," he says as he stands up and moves up to her. "I was just about to text you."

"You were?" she asks him quickly. "Has something happened with Vivian?"

"You won't believe this," he replies to her as he puts his phone in his pocket. "She's talking, the doctors are now saying that the swelling in her brain has gone down completely."

"It's a miracle."

"It is starting to look that way."

Stacey sighs back to him. "I…I was going to visit her earlier," Stacey begins to reveal to Kent. "Only, you were with her, so I left."

"You should have come in and said hi," Kent tells her.

"I didn't want to interrupt," she admits to him. "But Kent, I heard what she said to you. I heard Vivian profess her love to you."

Kent uneasily sighs back to her knowing that Stacey must be upset by Vivian's revelation, even though it can't be that surprising. He knows that this must be why she looks so distraught.

"That must have been very hard for you to hear, considering this wedding was your idea," he replies to her. "But…"

"I need to know," Stacey cuts him off as she folds her arms over her chest. "How do you feel about Vivian? She is head over heels in love with you, Kent. But how do you feel about her?"

***

"I can't tell you how happy I am to hear about your Mom," Celeste Baldwin tells Houston Blackmore as they sit across from one another in the hospital cafeteria. Houston just finished telling his friend about the good news that Vivian is awake and, seemingly, on the road to recovery. "It was touch and go for a while."

Houston beams back to her with a smile on his face. "I can't tell you how relieved I am, how relieved we all are. I really believe that Kent marrying my Mom is what pulled her through."

"It is still surprising that Stacey suggested the marriage considering her feelings for Kent," she tells him as she takes a sip of her water. "With your Mom waking up, what do you think will happen now?"

Houston shrugs back to her. "I have no idea, but I have to believe that this might be a chance for Stacey and I to get back together."

Celeste looks back at him in surprise by his admission. "You and Stacey, you think you will get back together now?"

Houston smirks back to her. "I don't know," he reveals to her. "But Kent is married to Vivian now, which means Stacey is a free woman; if I play my cards right, this could be the opening for us to reunite and be together, the way it's always meant to be."

"I hope it works out for you, Houston, I really do."

***


"Thank you both for meeting me this morning," Deacon Cooper says to his parents, Chase and Dyhannah Cooper, as they sit at a table in the country club with some breakfast in front of them. Deacon was eager to see his parents this morning because he has something to discuss with them, only he isn't sure how they are going to react.

"You made it seem important," Dyhannah replies to him as she takes a sip of her coffee. "I am assuming that this is about Quinn?"

Deacon sighs back to her as he thinks about his mother's plan for Chase to represent Quinn Cunningham in her custody suit against Marat Kafelinkov because she wants Quinn to purposely lose custody of baby Jumper as a way to get revenge on her for all of her lies.

"This has to do with this plan that you have come up with," Deacon nods back to his mother. "I…I'm having second thoughts."

Chase looks over at Dyhannah uneasily before he looks at his son. "Second thoughts? Do you remember how she lied to you for months about being that child's father?"

"I haven't forgotten," Deacon tells them. "It still hurts to this day that I am not Jumper's father. I thought I was going to raise him; to find out, at last minute, that Marat is really his father, it hurts like hell."

"Then why are you having second thoughts?" Dyhannah asks him as she takes another sip of her coffee. "This is the perfect way to get revenge on that woman."

"Because," Deacon begins to explain to them. "I've seen Quinn with Jumper and she is a really good mother; she's great with him. I…I don't think we should carry out this plan to make Quinn lose her son."

Dyhannah and Chase easily look back at one another, stunned that Deacon has seemingly gone against their idea of revenge on Quinn as they thought this was the perfect way to get back at her for her lies and deceit.

***

A short time later, Quinn moves up to a table in the country club where Sabine Andrews is sitting waiting for her daughter to arrive.

"Good morning mother," Quinn says as sits across from her. "Thanks for meeting me this morning, I know you probably have a million things to do with your wedding planning."

"I always have time for my beautiful daughter," Sabine says as she picks up her champagne cocktail and takes a sip of it. "How is the custody case going?"

Quinn smiles back to her as she is actually thrilled with how things have progressed with the Cooper's, which she never thought would be the case considering their history.

"I can't tell you how genuinely surprised I am by how well things are going," she reveals to her mother as she takes a sip of her cocktail. "After everything that I went through with the Cooper's in the last year, I never thought that Chase would agree to represent me."

"He probably realizes that a child should always be with their mother," Sabine suggest to her quickly.

"Whatever the reason is, I am very happy with how things are going. Chase has built a very strong case for me."

"So, you think that you will win?"

"I don't think Marat has a chance in hell of taking my son away from me," Quinn tells her, unaware that Marat is sitting behind her and can hear everything she just said. "My son will stay where he belongs, with me."

At this table, Marat sighs to himself, wondering if what Quinn is saying is true or if he still has a chance to be with his son.

***

A short time later, Marat steps off the elevator on the second level of the country club and moves towards one of the doors to the suites. He knocks on one of the door, and puts his hands in his pocket while he waits for the door to open.

"Marat, this is a surprise," Dyhannah says as he sees him standing in the hallway.

"Hello Dyhannah," he replies to her. "Do you mind if I come in? I'd like to talk to you."

"By all means," Dyhannah lets him into her suite. "Let me guess, you're here about the custody case?"

"You and I, we were close once," Marat tells her. "Do you remember how we fell into each other's beds when you first came to town?"

"How could I forget?" Dyhannah chuckles back to him. "You and I, we always had good chemistry, Marat."

"Then how could you and your family help Quinn with the custody case? Not only do you have I have history, but she purposely lied to your son for months about Jumper's paternity," Marat explains to her. "So, please, tell me why you're helping her?"

Dyhannah uneasily sighs back to him. "This has nothing to do with you," she tells him. "I still like to think that we are friends?"

"A friend wouldn't try to take my son away from me!"

"Let's just say this," Dyhannah moves closer to him. "I'm trying to keep my friends closer, my enemies closer…"

"What does that mean?" Marat asks her. "Because, I just heard Quinn tell Sabine that Chase has a solid case! I don't want to lose my son!"

"I can't get into the details," Dyhannah informs him. "Just know that I believe Quinn will get everything that she deserves and more."

***

Meanwhile, in Deacon's suite, he stands with Chase and Quinn as they are having a meeting to discuss the custody hearing. Deacon just hopes that he was able to get through to his parents about carrying out this plan of revenge on Quinn.

"So, what is the plan?" Quinn asks the men as they stand facing one another. "Do I have to do anything else before the trial?"

"I don't believe so," Chase replies to her as he pours himself a cup of coffee from the bar. "I believe our case is solid and strong enough to beat Marat."

"I hope you're right," Quinn uneasily nods back to him. "The last thing I want is to do is lose my son."

"Don't worry about that," Deacon says as he locks eyes with his father. "We will make sure that you keep Jumper. Nothing will stop that from happening, right Dad?"

Chase takes a sip of his coffee while he looks back at his son with intent. "That's the goal," he finally says back to everyone, as Deacon breathes a sigh of relief, hoping that it means that his father will not try to sabotage the case.

***

"You seem quiet this afternoon, is everything okay?" Mac Rockwell asks Helena Grant as they sit at the bar in the country club having a light lunch and a drink together. He has observed that his lover is not as talkative as she normally is and is wondering what is going on with her.

Helena uneasily gulps back to him as she takes a sip of her whiskey sour. Her mind is racing over the fact that she and Nathan shared a kiss; he agreed that it wouldn't happen again, but he insisted that they keep it a secret. Helena, however, knows that she is terrible at keeping secrets, especially when one like this could ruin her relationship with Mac, which has been going well. Still, she can't stop thinking about Nathan's lips against her own.

"Sorry, I guess my mind is preoccupied," she finally replies to him. "It's…it's just this case I'm working on at the police station."

"Ah, well, I hope you are able to solve it soon," Mac smiles back to her. "Knowing you, you already have," he chuckles to her.

"I wish it was that easy."

"Are you sure there isn't something else on your mind?" Mac asks her as he takes a bite of his cobb salad. "I … I don't think that I've ever seen you this way before, Helena."

Helena turns to him and gulps again. "You're…you're right, there is something else that I have to tell you," she says as she starts to get the nerve up to tell him about her kiss with Nathan. She realizes that she must tell him the truth, she can't keep lying to him about this, not if she wants to have a clear conscious.

"Alright, well I'm all ears…"

"It's…you see…" she begins to say to back to him.

"Mac, Helena, hi," Sabine says as she comes up to the bar where they are seated. "I hope I'm not interrupting, but I just saw you two and wanted to come and say hello."

"Sabine," Mac looks back at her. "Helena and I were just having lunch, do you want to join us? Do you mind, Helena?"

"Of course not," Helena forces a smile on her face. "We can finish our conversation later."

"Okay, I will join you," Sabine smiles as she sits next to Mac. "It will give me the chance to fill you both in on all the wedding plans that Nathan and I have made."

Helena takes another sip of her cocktail, realizing that she now will have to listen to all the wedding plans that Nathan has made while she is trying to put him out of her mind.

***

An hour or so later, Helena is wrapping up at the bar of the country club so she can get back to the police station. She wishes that she had been able to finish her conversation with Mac, but she is starting to think that Sabine interrupting was a blessing because she doesn't know if she should tell the truth or not.

"Helena," Nathan says as he approaches her. "I'm glad I ran into you, I think we should talk."

"I just had lunch with Mac and Sabine," she reveals to him. "I was so close to telling Mac the truth before Sabine interrupted."

Nathan's eyes open wider in shock. "Please, don't say anything, Helena. I know what happened was wrong; you and I, we just got caught up in a moment. I promise that it won't happen again."

"I won't say anything," Helena nods her head back to him. "I don't want to hurt Mac, but you're right, it can't happen again."

"Thank you for not saying anything," Nathan tells her. "I'm going to meet with Sabine in the dining room and we are going to plan our wedding. I…I don't want to do anything else to ruin the wedding day."

"I promise I won't say anything, you have my word."

Nathan smiles back at her, thrilled that he was able keep her quiet because it means that his plan can continue.

"Thank you, Helena," he whispers back to her. "And, I'll see you later so we can finish the ring."

***

A short time later, Nathan and Sabine are sitting across from each other at a table in the country club with a bottle of champagne chilling next to them.

"Did you hear back from the caterer?" Sabine asks him as she takes a sip of her champagne.

"I did and they have confirmed that they are going to do some canapés during the reception and two options for dinner, lobster or fillet mignon, will be the two options."

"Oh, that sounds lovely," Sabine replies to him. "I have a meeting with a designer for a wedding dress. He said that he can have the dress ready by the end of next week."

"I bet you'll look beautiful, no matter what you wear," he smiles over to her.

"Thank you," Sabine says back to him. "It really feels like everything is coming together, Nathan. I am so excited for our wedding."

"Me too, Sabine, me too," he winks back at her before he takes a healthy sip of his champagne.

***

Lydia Rockwell opens the door to the main office at Rockwell Mining and spies Mac sitting behind the main desk. She, still, can't believe that Mac and Nathan are working together to run the company. After so many years of them being at odds, it is a surprise that they are co-existing.

"I still can't believe that you and Nathan are working together, and no one has died yet," Lydia quips to her former husband as she sets her large Chanel purse down on the sofa.

Mac chuckles back to her. "Hello to you too," he says as he stands up from behind the desk. "And Nathan and I, we've managed to stay out of each other's hair, which has helped a lot with us working together."

"Whatever works, I suppose."

"What brings you by, Lydia? Does this have anything to do with your looking into Dane's past?" Mac asks her as he knows that she has been worried about his mother, Lucinda Rockwell, marrying his biological father, Dane Ashby, because she doesn't feel like they know enough about Dane.

"If you're asking me if I have uncovered anything, the answer is no," Lydia informs him quickly. "But that doesn't mean that I am giving up. I am determined to find out if he has any skeletons in his closet before Lucinda marries him."

"Like I've been saying, we are still a far ways off from her marrying anyone," Mac replies to her. "The divorce process from Mortimer will be complicated."

"I hope so," Lydia bites her lower lip. "Because I refuse to let Lucinda possibly make the biggest mistake of her life."

***

Later that evening, Mac is sitting in the country club with Lucinda and Dane for dinner with his parents. While he takes a sip of his red wine, he can't help but notice that his mother does look the happiest that she has been in a very long time, and that makes him feel at ease, despite knowing that Lydia is looking into Dane's past.

"This was a lovely suggestion, the three of us having dinner out tonight," Mac tells his parents before he takes a bite of his lobster risotto.

"Well yes," Lucinda nods back to him as she finishes chewing her piece of tuna tartar. "Dane and I, we have some news and we wanted you to hear it from us first."

Mac looks back at them with an arched eyebrow, wondering what news his parents have for him now. "You have peaked my curiosity," he chuckles back to them. "What is going on?"

"I think I'm going to leave this announcement to your mother," Dane replies to him. "It's more her news then mine anyways."

"Alright mother, over to you."

Lucinda chuckles to him before she takes a sip of her wine. "I've made a decision, and before I tell you what it is, you have to know that I thought long and hard about this, Mac. But I have started divorce proceedings with Mortimer. Soon, I will be a single woman and free to marry Dane."

Mac nods back to her. He isn't over surprised by this news because he knows that she wants to marry Dane, but this does mean that Lydia's investigation will have to happen sooner than later, and he realizes that this means that Nathan will take over as Mortimer's medical advisor.

"I know that you didn't want to give up control over Mortimer's care, mother," Mac finally tells her. "But if you want to live the rest of your life with Dane, I think this is the best decision. Have you informed Nathan of this yet?"

"No," Lucinda quickly tells him. "And please, don't say anything to him. I want to be the one to tell Levy the news. I need to stress the importance of him making sure he always puts Morti's needs first. I am trusting that he will not let me, or this family, down."

***

The following morning, Madison Stewart is sitting next to Vivian in her hospital room while she watches her mother sleep. She is still over the moon that her mother is getting better each and every day; there was a time when she, and her family, believed that Vivian was going to die.

She looks up when she hears Vivian moan a little. She smiles when she sees her mother opening her eyes.

"Good morning," Madi tells her as she moves some of the hair out of Vivian's face. "How are you feeling today?"

"I'm….I'm feeling so much better," Vivian tells her daughter. "My…my ankle hurts though."

"You broke it in the crash," Madi explains to her. "Your car also flipped 5 times because it was snowing in Pasanda."

"I…I don't remember any of that," Vivian admits to her.

"You don't have to remember, we are just so glad that you're getting better. It was touch and go for a while."

"I am sorry I put you all through this," Vivian tells her. "But thank you for being here. It really means a lot to me."

Madi gets tears in her eyes. "I know we haven't always gotten along Mom, but I love you so much. I wouldn't be anywhere else."

"We have Kent to thank for me being here," Vivian looks back at her. "Marrying me really saved me, Madison. I have loved him for so long, having him profess his love to me, it saved my life. And now, I will spend the rest of my life as Mrs. Kent Blackmore."

***

"Morning," Stacey says as she moves up to Kent, who is in a waiting room at the hospital. She passes him a coffee that she brought him since the coffee at the cafeteria is barely drinkable. "I brought you a coffee and a drawing from Poppy. She misses you."

Kent looks at the picture and smiles at it before he takes a sip of his coffee. "I bet she's getting so big. I promise, I'll leave the hospital soon and come see my daughter."

"I've told her that Vivian was in the hospital and that's why you've been away," Stacey explains to him. "She's mature for her age and seemingly understands."

"Still, I'd like to see my daughter soon. If you're with that?"

"Of course, I am," Stacey nods back to him. "I'd never keep you from your daughter, Kent. How is Vivian doing?"

Kent takes another sip of his coffee before he looks back at her. "She's doing much better. The doctors are now expecting her to make a full recovery."

"Wow," Stacey shakes her head in disbelief. "Just a few days ago, she only had until the end of this week to live, and now she's going to be okay?"

"It's a miracle," Kent uneasily smiles back to her.

Stacey feels her eyes swell with water as she shakes her head again. "No, it wasn't a miracle," she whispers back to him. "It was the fact that you married her, Kent. Your marriage is what saved Vivian's life."

"Stacey…"

"No, there's nothing to say Kent," Stacey cuts him off. "We both know that I am right. You marrying Vivian saved her life. She loves you and wants to be your wife, there's no other explanation."

***

"You look so happy that your Mom is going to make a complete recovery," Cole chuckles to Madi as they sit across from one another in the country club, having an early lunch together. Madi just informed Cole of her visit with Vivian earlier in the day and how well she is doing now.

"I can't tell you how relieved I am," Madi nods back to him. "I was so scared for a while there…"

"I know you were," Cole reaches over and grabs her hand to squeeze it. "This just proves that good things happen when we keep the faith and believe. This…this is cause for champagne!"

Madi giggles back to him as Cole orders a bottle from the waiter. Within a few minutes, they are toasting one another with a glass of the bubbly beverage.

"Thank you for this," Madi looks back at him before she sets her glass down on the table. "I do feel like we should be celebrating right now."

"You have the most beautiful smile, Madi," he looks back at her as she blushes. "You always have."

"Cole…"

He leans over the table and kisses her on the lips, just as Celeste enters the dining room. She sees the kiss and turns around and leaves unseen, feeling her heart break inside her chest.

"Sorry, I couldn't help myself," Cole says as his lips part from Madi's.

"Don't apologize," Madi whispers back to him. "I am definitely not complaining."

***

A short time later, Cole is finishing paying the tab for him and Madi as she wanted to get back to the hospital to see Vivian again. Just as he is about to leave, Celeste reappears and moves up to his table.

"Cole, please, don't go, not yet," Celeste stops him as she sits across from him. "You never answered my question from yesterday and I need to know, especially since you and Madi are obviously getting closer again."

"Me and Madi?" Cole asks her in surprise. "Are you stalking me, Celeste?"

Celeste rolls her eyes back to him. "Of course not," she hisses back to him. "I just happened to be here earlier, and I saw you two together. But Cole, I know that you came to my suite that night that I was with Houston. And I still want to know why. Why were you coming to see me?"

Cole sighs back to her. "Fine, if you want the truth, I'll tell you."

"Okay…"

"I…I did think that you and I could have had a chance to work things out," he reveals to her as Celeste gasps back to him. "But that all went away when I saw you in bed with Houston. That was the final straw for you and I, Celeste."

"But…"

"No but's," Cole cuts her off quickly. "You wanted the truth, you have it. Now, please, let me move and live my life the way I want too."

***

"Are you pouring a nightcap? Because, I would love one," Lydia asks Mac as she moves into the living room of the Rockwell Mansion after a long day.

"I am indeed," Mac replies to her as he pours another brandy for his former wife. "Here you go. Tell me, why was today so long?"

"It just felt like I had a million things to do," Lydia admits to him as she sits on the sofa and puts her feet up on the coffee table before she takes a sip of her brandy. "And accomplished hardly any of them."

Mac chuckles back to her as he sits next to her. "Well, I have some new for you. I had dinner with Lucinda and Dane last night."

Lydia sits up and looks over at him. "Oh? How did that go?"

Mac arches his eyebrow back to her. "Lucinda has decided to proceed with the divorce proceedings with Mortimer," he reveals to her as Lydia's eyes open wider in surprise. "So, your investigation, it needs to be kicked into high gear because she could be marrying Dane sooner than later."

***

Lex and Jaxson sit at one of the most private tables in the country club as they are enjoying a late dinner with one another. Lex looks over at Jaxson and nervously smiles at him; he almost can't believe that he is actually on a date with Jarek's twin brother.

"Does anything on the menu catch your eye tonight?" Jaxson asks him as he looks up from the menu and over at his date.

"How about the Merlot? We should share the bottle? It was always…well, sorry," Lex catches himself about to refer to it as Jaxson's favorite when it was actually Jarek's.

"Sorry? For what? I'm game for the Merlot."

Lex breathes a sigh of relief. "Perfect, let's do that. Do you want to share an appetizer? The tiger prawns sound nice."

"Yea, that works," Jaxson tells him. "Are you okay? You seem…nervous?"

Lex puts the menu down and looks back at him. "I guess I am," he nods to him. "It's … it's been a long time since I've been on a real date, yet alone with a man that looks like my husband."

Jaxon uneasily nods back to him. "Are you sitting across from me right now and telling me that you're thinking about Jarek, my twin brother?"

Lex gulps heavily back to him. "Is it weird? I mean, I don't know. I am sorry that sitting with you makes me think of Jarek, but you do look just like him?"

"Wait," Jaxson sighs heavily back to him. "Did you sleep with me because you wanted to reconnect in some twisted way with Jarek? Is that what this is all about?"

"I…I…"

"You know what?" Jaxson stands up from the table. "This date is over. I'm not about to waste my time with someone that wants to reconnect something they had with my dead brother with me. Enjoy your dinner, Lex."

Lex puts his hand over his mouth as his date walks away from the table, wondering what the hell he had done.

***

The following morning, Lydia finishes her coffee and then sets the glass down on the table in the Rockwell dining room in the mansion. She sighs as she must find a way to ensure she gets the information on Dane before Lucinda divorces Mortimer and marries him.

She moves to her purse to find her phone as she must call Casper Ross to find out what the latest is on the investigation into Dane's past.

Just then, her phone starts to ring, and she arches her eyebrow when she sees Casper's name on the screen.

"I was just about to call you," she says as she answers the call. "Please tell me that you have information on Dane?"

"I do," Casper says as he stands in his office. "Can you come by? I think that we should discuss this in person."

"I'll be right there," Lydia tells him as she hangs up the phone. She takes a deep breath before she puts her phone in to her purse. "Okay, time to find out what you're hiding, Dane."

***

Stacey is moving towards the front entrance of the hospital, hoping to get some clarity on Vivian's condition this morning. She still has no idea what Vivian's sudden recover means for her future with Kent, but she has to figure it out because she feels like she is in turmoil.

"Morning," Houston says as he comes up to her. "I was just coming to get some fresh air."

"Morning," Stacey replies to him. "How is Vivian this morning?"

"She is doing really well," Houston informs her. "The doctors, they want her to try to walk around today."

"That is a good sign, huh? I can't believe this, if I am honest. She was supposed to be…well dead by now."

"You did this Stace," Houston grabs her hand. "You saved my Mom but allowing my Dad to marry her."

"I guess I gave up my future for Vivian's life…"

"You have a future," Houston whispers back to her. "It just might look differently then what you thought."

They lock eyes for a moment before Houston moves and kisses her on her lips. They part for a moment, allowing Houston to smile at her. "I love you, I always have," he whispers before he moves in and kisses her again more passionately.