Vivian Blackmore quickly moves to the bar in living room of the mansion that she lives in. She pours herself a stiff scotch and takes a sip of it as she tries to calm her nerves down. She shuts her eyes for a moment and is immediately taken back to seeing her husband, Kent Blackmore, standing in the foyer of the house with Stacey Rockwell in his arms. They were kissing one another, which is why Vivian is so furious. She has no idea why her husband is kissing another woman, yet alone the mother of his grandchild.

She turns her head and looks at the large Christmas tree that is in the living room. She moves up to it and bends down to see one of the presents that has Kent's name written on it.

"If something is going on with you and Stacey," she whispers to herself as she sets the present back down on the tree skirt. "I will find out, and I will put an end to it. We just got our marriage back, it will be a cold day in hell if I'm going to lose you again."

***

Lucinda Rockwell turns a page in a bridal magazine as she sits on the sofa in the study of the Rockwell Mansion. Next to her is her fiancé, Dane Ashby, as they are starting to formulate some ideas for the wedding. Now that her divorce to Mortimer Rockwell has been finalized, they would like to be married sooner than later.

"I am not sure that I am seeing anything of interest in these magazines in terms of a wedding dress," she sighs to him. "I am a woman of a certain age, and this isn't my first wedding, so I am not sure that an over-the-top gown is the way to go."

"That is fair," Dane chuckles back to her. "I am sure that no matter what you wear, you will be the most beautiful bride."

Lucinda blushes back to him. "You're too kind to me," she replies to him. "It almost feels surreal that we are doing this, huh?"

"It might be, but I am really looking forward to spending our golden years together. This wedding can't happen soon enough."

"I know you are eager," she nods back to him. "I still believe that we should wait until after the Christmas season, though."

"Yes, I agree," Dane tells her. "But by Valentine's Day, I want to be your husband."

She leans in and kisses him on the lips. "That is something that can be arranged."

***

Lydia Rockwell sits at the bar in the country club with a rum and eggnog in front of her. She slowly takes a sip of her drink while she can hear the Christmas music playing around her. Her mind, however, is racing over the fact that Lucinda and Mortimer's divorce is finalized; that means that Lucinda will be marrying Dane soon. Lydia is still wondering how she and MacKenzie Rockwell will tell Lucinda that Dyhannah Cooper is Dane's long-lost child; she uncovered this while she investigated Dane. Now, Mac is worried that with Nathan Lockhart taking over as Mortimer's personal care giver, he could use the information about Dyhannah to his advantage.

"You look a million miles away," a voice calls out from behind Lydia. She turns and sees Nathan moving towards her. The last time she saw Nathan, she congratulated him on taking over Mortimer's power of attorney. "If you're wondering what you can get me for Christmas, I have a few ideas."

Lydia chuckles as he sits next to her. "I guess I was just thinking about you, actually."

"Me? I'm flattered."

She giggles back to him. "It just seems like you are coming into more power," she says back to him. "Having control over Mortimer, I mean, gives you more power, especially since you are also CEO of Rockwell Mining."

"I suppose that is true," Nathan nods back to her. "Honestly, I don't expect a lot to change. Mac and I, we are still running the company together. And my father's care has to be the most important thing."

"I still can't believe that you and Mac are working so closely together," she reveals to him. "Miracles do happen."

Nathan chuckles back to her. "We have our tense moments," he says. "But we are trying to put the company's needs first."

"You know, if you need help with anything, I would love to get back into the business world," Lydia suggests back to him. "I worked at both Rockwell Mining and Blackmore Ltd. for many years."

"That's an interesting suggestion. By chance, what would some of your ideas look like?"

"Well," Lydia purses her lips together. "Mac just asked Dyhannah Cooper to work for the company and she turned him down. But I think she would be a great fit at the company."

Nathan arches her eyebrow back to her. "That's an interesting idea," Nathan agrees with her. "Dyhannah is a spit fire, she could really bring some new energy into the organization. I like that idea, Lydia. I like it a lot."

***

Mac lays in his large king-size bed in his bedroom in the Rockwell mansion and he tries to catch his breath. His muscular chest is fresh with a light coding of sweat. He looks over and sees a naked Sabine Andrews laying next to him, also with a grin on her face.

He recalls how he was at the country club and he saw Sabine alone at a table. He went over to her and they ended up kissing, which escalated, and they ended up having sex with one another.

"I…I can't believe we just did that," Mac admits to her as he looks over at his lover.

Sabine chuckles to him. "Neither can I, but I am not complaining. I needed you tonight, Mac."

"I needed you too," he replies to her. "I am just worried that we are opening up a can of worms…I can't imagine that my brother is going to be happy about this."

Sabine runs her finger over his chest before she looks into his eyes. "I don't care what Nathan says or thinks about this. He is the one that threw me away with his secrets and lies."

"And what about Lydia?" Mac asks her as he thinks about his former wife and Sabine's sister. "Do you think that she will be okay with this?"

"I think my sister will come around," Sabine nods back to him. "After all, you two haven't been together for many years."

"I like how positive you are about you and I being together," Mac admits to her.

"We keep ending up in these situations," Sabine says back to him. "We are obviously attracted to one another, Mac. I say we screw the naysayers and see what is really between us. What do you say?"

"I say," Mac leans and kisses her on the lips. "I want you again right now and I don't think I can wait."

***

"You two look like are spoiling my children this year," Stacey Rockwell chuckles as her brother's, Cole and Lexington, move into the guest house where she lives with her children, Drake and Poppy, carrying three bags of Christmas presents.

"What can we say? We like to spoil our niece and nephew," Lex winks back to her.

"Lex and I don't always see eye to eye, but we definitely agree on this," Cole chuckles. "Besides, do you remember how much we loved opening presents on Christmas day? Drake and Poppy, they should experience that too."

"By the looks of it, there isn't any toys left in the stores," Stacey laughs back with them. "Seriously guys, thanks so much. It really means a lot to me that you care so much about Drake and Poppy."

"We have always been close as siblings," Lex reminds her. "That's why it is nice that we can be close to your kids now."

"Maybe it is the time of year, but I agree with Lex again," Cole chuckles.

Lex looks back at his brother and winks. "This is becoming a habit!"

"Let's not get carried away," Cole replies to him. "What is going on with you, by the way? Did you and Casper ever get back together?"

Lex sighs back to his siblings as he recalls how he finally realized that he wanted to be with Casper Ross in a relationship, he went to his office and Casper had disappeared. He has no idea where Casper is, but now he doesn't know if he will ever be with the man he was falling for.

"No," Lex shakes his head back to him. "He is gone, and I don't know where he went or how to find him."

"He just left?" Stacey asks him. "That seems … odd?"

"It is," Lex replies to her. "He was working on some case and then he was just gone. He left without saying a word."

"I know you that you and I didn't always see eye to eye when it comes too Casper," Cole tells his brother. "But I am sorry about this. If Stacey and I can help with anything, we are here for you."

Lex smiles back to his siblings. "Thanks," he says. "I am just going to focus on making this the best Christmas ever and try to move on."

***

A short time later, Lex is sitting in the police station outside of Helena Grant's office. After seeing Cole and Stacey, an idea came to Lex about how he could find Casper, and now he is waiting to see the police detective. He just hopes that she is able to help him.

"Mr. Rockwell," another police officer says to him. "Detective Grant can see you now."

"Thanks," Lex replies as he stands up and moves into the office, where he sees Helena sitting behind her desk. "Detective, thanks for seeing me today."

Helena looks back at him and uneasily smiles to him. "You made it seem important on the phone, so I'm glad to have some time for you."

"This is about Casper Ross," Lex reveals to her. "I'd…I'd like to file a missing person report."

"The private detective that had his office on Slate street?"

"Yes, that's him," Lex tells her. "He was working on a case and then, without notice, his office was closed. He hasn't been seen since, and his phone has been disconnected. It's all very curious and I'm worried about him."

"How long has been missing?" Helena asks him next.

"About a week, I guess. Is that too soon to file the report?"

"No, it's not," Helena replies to him. "We just don't know if there was foul play or not. But, I can look into this and let you know."

"Thanks detective," Lex uneasily nods back to her.

***



Cole moves into the country club looking to grab a drink. After spending the morning with his siblings, he realizes that he is very lucky that they are so close. He hates when he is fighting with either Lex or Stacey, so he is going to focus on remaining civil with them.

As he moves closer to the bar, he sees Celeste Baldwin sitting alone. He knows that she is still desperate to get back together with him, but he is determined to have a future with Madison Stewart; he just needs Celeste to understand that.

"Cole, what a surprise," Celeste turns her head when she sees him moving closer to the bar. "Join me for a holiday drink? The eggnog is to die for this year."

Cole chuckles back to her. "I'd love too, but I don't want you to get the wrong idea," he tells her quickly. "I need you to hear me out on something, Celeste. The key is that I need you to hear me, truly hear me."

Celeste gulps back to him. "What's going on? Everyone is okay, I hope?"

"Yes, we are all fine," Cole sits next to her. "Look, I know that we have a long history and we've had a lot of good times together."

"Yes, we certainly have."

"But that is in the past," Cole looks back at her. "I know that you want us to be together, but I don't want that, not anymore. With Madi back in town, I am falling in love with her all over again and that's where my future lies."

Celeste feels her eyes swell with water. "I don't want to hurt you," he whispers back to her. "But I need you know that we are over, Celeste. So please, stop trying to win me back because it will not happen."

***

A short time later, Celeste continues to sit at the bar in the country club, but now she has a brandy in front of her. After Cole told her that they were over for good, she needed something stronger to help calm her nerves. She can't believe that he was so blunt with her, but she knows that, deep down, he must still love her. She doesn't believe for a second that Cole loves Madi more than her.

"A brandy? Man, after the morning I've had, I could use one," Houston Blackmore says as he moves up to his friend and sits next to her.

"You too, huh?" she chuckles back to him. "I just had a run-in with Cole."

"And? How did that go? Is he going to slip back into your stocking this Christmas?"

"I wish," she rolls her eyes before she takes a sip of her brandy. "He told me we are over because he wants to pursue a relationship with Madi. But I know, deep down, he still loves me."

Houston takes a sip of his brandy before he looks back at Celeste. "This isn't the first time he has said that to you," he reminds her. "So, how are you going to get through to him?"

Celeste gets a sly grin on her face. "I think I know exactly how I am going to get Cole to realize that he loves me and not Madison," she winks back to him. "I am determined to get him back before Christmas Day."

***

Houston moves into the living room of the Blackmore mansion and immediately sees his mother making herself a drink. He arches his eyebrow as he knows that she hasn't been drinking since she got out of the hospital, so seeing her at the bar is a surprise to him.

"Trying to get into the Christmas spirit?" Houston chuckles as he moves up to his mother and kisses her cheek. He immediately notices that she has red eyes. "Mom? What is it? What's happened?"

Vivian takes a sip of her brandy before she looks back at son. She can't stop thinking about seeing Kent and Stacey sharing a kiss earlier in the day; she has to know if something is going on with her husband because she will not lose him.

"It's nothing."

"It's not nothing," Houston replies to her quickly. "You're in tears and you're drinking, which you hadn't been since you got out of the hospital. Tell me what's going on, Mom? Maybe I can help?"

Vivian sighs back to him. "I…I saw something earlier and I haven't been able to get it out of my head."

"What did you see?"

"Your father and Stacey," Vivian lets another tear fall down her cheek. "They were kissing one another, Houston. My God, I think my husband is sleeping with the mother of our grandchild!"

Houston gulps back to her, which Vivian notices. "Is it true?" she asks her son with desperation. "Do you know if Kent and Stacey are sneaking around behind my back? Do you know if Kent is still sleeping with Stacey?"

***

"I am really glad that you asked me to come over for a little while," Kent tells Stacey as they sit next to one another on the sofa in the living room of the guestroom that is on the Rockwell mansion grounds. "It's nice to catch up with you and not be interrupted."

"I didn't think kissing you in the foyer of the mansion that you live in with your wife was the best idea," Stacey chuckles back to him. "But I agree, it has been nice to reconnect."

"You know, I heard the nanny tell Drake and Poppy that she was taking them to the zoo," Kent looks back at her. "We are alone, Stacey. We could reconnect in every way."

Stacey gulps back to him as she thinks about the day of Nathan and Sabine's botched wedding; before the ceremony began, Houston arrived at her place and revealed to her that he had just seen Kent and Vivian in a close encounter. Being upset by this, Stacey and Houston kissed and ended up making love to one another. That has caused Stacey to feel even more confused than before.

"I…I don't think that's a good idea," Stacey pushes him away from her. "We need to figure out what is going on first, Kent."

"I told you that I loved you, Stacey. That's all that should matter."

"But it doesn't," Stacey looks back at him. "You're still married to Vivian, and I, well…"

"What? What about you?" Kent asks her in confusion.

Stacey shakes her head as her eyes fill with water. "I…I made a mistake the day of Nathan and Sabine's wedding."

Kent arches his eyebrow back to her. "What kind of mistake, Stacey? What are you trying to tell me, exactly?"

***

Nathan steps out of the elevator at Blackmore Ltd. and moves towards the main office. Once he gets there, he opens the door and sees Dyhannah Cooper sitting behind the desk. He gets a sly grin on his face as he moves into the office.

"I certainly hope I am not interrupting, you look incredibly busy," Nathan announces to her as he moves closer to the desk.

Dyhannah looks up and arches her eyebrow. "Nathan, this is a surprise. What do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

"A little birdy told me that my brother offered you a position at Rockwell Mining and you turned him down flat," Nathan chuckles back to her.

"You heard correctly," Dyhannah moves towards the bar to pour herself a cup of water. "If you're here to try to change my mind, I will tell you what I told Mac, I am not interested in working for Rockwell's. The family is so damn entitled, it makes me sick."

Nathan continues to chuckle. "I am not sure if you're aware, but I am not like the rest of my family. Not even close."

"I have thought that since I heard about your feud with Mac."

"And now, I am the most powerful member of my family," he grins back to her. "Not only am I co-CEO of Rockwell Mining, but I just took over as power of attorney for my father as my mother divorced him as she is engaged to Dane Ashby."

"Congratulations to you," Dyhannah purses her lips back to him.

"I want you to come work for me," Nathan stuns her by his admission. "I know that you turned my brother down, and I understand your reasons. But imagine the look on his face if you reveal that I convinced you to come work for me, not him. It would be like adding salt in the wound."

Dyhannah chuckles back to him. "That's a very interesting idea," she nods back to him. "I'll tell you what, Nathan, I will consider your proposal and keep you posted."

"Please do, but Dyhannah, don't keep me waiting too long. I am not a patient man."

***

"Dad, hi," Deacon Cooper says as he opens the door to his suite on the second level of the country club and sees Chase Cooper standing in the hallway. "I'm afraid I don't have a lot of time to talk; I am just on my way to meet Quinn and Sabine."

Chase arches his eyebrow back to his son. "Do they have an update on where Jumper is?"

"I am not sure," Deacon admits back to him. "We are meeting at the police station; I suppose Helena Grant will give us the latest information."

"I hope that Quinn is able to get her son back before Christmas," Chase tells his son.

"You and I both," Deacon says back to him. "I don't know what else I can do, but I will everything in my power to ensure Quinn and Jumper are reunited."

Chase nods back to him as he realizes that Deacon has developed feelings, again, for Quinn. He just hopes that this time, she doesn't hurt him the way she did the last time they were together.

***

A short time later, Deacon, together with Quinn Cunningham and Sabine Andrews, are standing in Helena Grant's office at the police station. The police detective is typing into her laptop which Quinn paces back and forth.

"What is this all about?" Sabine finally breaks the silence in the room. "Have you uncovered where my grandson is?"

"Not exactly," Helena looks up from her computer. "However, I just got the footage from the Rockwell mansion the day of your wedding to Nathan. I am about to review and wanted you all here for it."

"You have the footage?" a desperate Quinn rushes to the other side of the desk. "Let's see it! This could tell us where my son is!"

Helena pushes play on the screen while Deacon and Sabine move around to see the screen at the same time.

"There are so many people in the foyer," Sabine notes at the footage. "Everyone was racing around trying to get everything set up."

"Look there," Deacon points to the screen. "Is that Marat Kafelinkov?"

Helena pauses the footage and zooms in. "It is," Quinn gasps back to everyone. "Marat wasn't at the wedding though?"

"Let's keep playing the footage," Helena says as she resumes the footage. "He appears to be going upstairs."

"What the hell is he doing?" Quinn asks him horror.

A few more minutes pass of the footage before they see Marat reappear on the stairs. When no one is around, he leaves the mansion, only he has baby Jumper in his hands.

"My God," Quinn covers her mouth in shock. "Marat kidnapped my son! That son of a bitch stole my baby!"

***

"I have a bottle of champagne," Nathan announces to Lydia as he opens the door to the study at the Rockwell mansion.

Lydia turns around from her gaze into the fireplace and arches her eyebrow when she sees Nathan putting the bottle of champagne down on the bar. "And what are we celebrating?" she asks him as he pops the cork and pours two glasses. He passes her one before he takes a sip of his drink.

"I just heard from Dyhannah Cooper," he reveals to her with a sly grin on his face. "And she has agreed to come to for me at Rockwell Mining. I am thinking that Mac will not be happy with me, or Dyhannah, with this turn of events."

Lydia grins back to him. "This is an interesting turn of events," she chuckles back to him as she takes a sip of her champagne. "Congratulations!"

"Thank you, but I couldn't have done this without you, Lydia. It seems like we may prove to be a good team."

Lydia toasts his glass before she takes another sip of her champagne, her eyes locked with Nathan's.

***

Mac moves into living room of the Rockwell mansion and sees Sabine pouring herself a drink. He moves up to his lover and kisses her cheek.

"How was your day?" he asks her.

"You won't believe what happened," Sabine replies to him before she takes a sip of her scotch. "Helena was able to uncover who kidnapped Jumper."

Mac looks back at her in surprise. "Really? Who?"

"It was Marat," Sabine reveals to him. "Helena suspects that he panicked that he was going to lose the custody case and that's why he took Jumper."

"My God, and this happened the day of the wedding? My security team notified Nathan and I and that they asked for the footage of that day."

"Yes, the day of the wedding," Sabine nods back to him. "There was so much chaos going on in here with everyone getting ready, he was able to slip in and out without anyone raising an eyebrow."

"I am so sorry Sabine," Mac pulls her into a hug. "Whatever I can do to help, you know I'm here for you."

"Thank you, Mac," Sabine bites her lower lip. "I just want my grandson back. I am just praying for a Christmas miracle."

At the entry way of the living room, Nathan stands with an arched eyebrow as he looks at his brother in the arms of his former fiancé.

***

"I think we have to look at some of the positives," Deacon tells Quinn as he passes her a brandy as she paces back and forth in his suite at the country club. He can tell that she is a nervous wreck knowing that Marat has kidnapped Jumper. "At least we know who took Jumper now."

Quinn finishes the brandy in one swift gulp before she sighs back to him. "It's just… Marat is a very wealthy man. He has the resources to disappear."

"He's also Jumper's father," Deacon reminds her. "I have a hard time believing that he would do anything to harm Jumper. Again, that has to be a positive aspect in this nightmare."

"I suppose you're right about that," Quinn nervously looks back to him. "I am just so scared that I will never see Jumper again. Marat, he could have taken our son anywhere in the world. What if…what if I never see my son again?"

Deacon pulls her into a hug and holds her closely. "We will get Jumper back, I don't know how or when, but I won't stop until you have your son back, Quinn."

***

"Listen, Mom, a lot of things happened when you were out of town," Houston calmly tells Vivian as they continue to stand face to face in the living room of the Blackmore mansion.

"Things like Kent hooking up with Stacey?" Vivian gasps back to him in shock. "I…I don't believe this! I thought their affair ended a long time ago after they had Poppy!"

"I don't want you to get worked up," Houston tells her. "But yes, Kent and Stacey have been seeing one another. It was actually her idea for Dad to marry you while you were in the hospital because she thought you were dying."

Vivian starts to laugh. "So, my marriage is, what, a sham?"

"No," Houston grabs her shoulders and looks back at her. "This is our chance, Mom. This can be the way that you and I stay with the ones we love, forever this time."

"What are you suggesting, Houston?" Vivian asks him quickly.

"I'm saying, if we play our cards right, you can be married to Dad and I can reunite with Stacey and things can be the way they've always meant to be."

***

"You haven't answered me," Kent passes Stacey a brandy, which she takes a sip of immediately. "What is this mistake that you made the day of Nathan and Sabine's wedding?"

Stacey takes a sip of her brandy before she gulps back to Kent. "You have to understand," she whispers back to him. "I had seen Vivian profess his love to you and kiss you," she tells him. "And then, Houston came over and he told me that he saw you and Vivian embracing…"

"Houston? My son was here?"

Stacey nods back to him. "My head was spinning and I, I didn't think that you and I had a future, Kent."

"What are you trying to tell me?" Kent asks her as he folds his arms over his chest.

"I…I slept with Kent," Stacey gasps back to him. "My God, I made love to your son," she tells him as he feels his blood start to boil.

***

"Are you sure you couldn't wait for Nathan to get home to talk to him?" Dane asks Lucinda as they step off the elevator at Rockwell Mining and move towards the main office.

"I am eager to hear if he has made any plans within regards to Mortimer's care," Lucinda replies to him. "I just need to know that he isn't going to do anything hasty."

"Alright," Dane nods back to her. "I'm sure we can get some answers from him."

Lucinda freezes when she opens the office door and sees Dyhannah placing some files down on the desk. She puts her hand on her hip as she sighs heavily. "What the hell are you doing here? This is a private office, need I remind you."

"Be careful old woman, you're going to give yourself a heartache," Dyhannah quips back to her. "I work here now."

"Since when?" Lucinda huffs back to her.

"Since earlier today," Dyhannah replies to her. "Nathan hired me. I gather he doesn't have to run his business decisions by his mother?"

"This is still a Rockwell company," Dane reminds Dyhannah. "You can show the matriarch of the company some respect."

"I will do just that," Dyhannah hisses back to him as Dane and Lucinda look at one another in shock. "When she, and everyone else in the company, start to show everyone around you some respect, including me."

***

Nathan takes a sip of his scotch as he stares at a file that rests on the coffee table in front of him. He finally received Mortimer's medical files from his lawyer, and he has been eager to review them to see if there any changes that are pressing that he needs to make.

"Well, here goes nothing," he says as he sets his scotch down and picks up the file folder. He opens the folder as he sits back into the sofa and starts to read the file.

"Interesting," he whispers to himself. "I think I am going to need to see more documentation about this."

He picks up his cell phone and dials a number. "It's my favorite lawyer," he smirks into his phone. "I'm fine, but I need something from…I need my father's will and I need it now."

***

The following morning, Lydia rushes into the living room of the Rockwell mansion and sees Mac pouring himself a cup of coffee. Immediately, Lydia is taken back to the previous day when she spied Mac and Sabine kissing at the country club. She had no idea that her former husband and sister had rekindled their romance.

"I'm glad that I found you alone," Lydia announces as Mac turns around and sees his former wife. "We need to talk."

Mac takes a sip of his coffee before he looks back at her. "Is everything okay, Lydia? Have you thought about a way to tell Lucinda and Dane the truth about Dyhannah without giving Nathan more power?"

"No," Lydia shakes her head back to him. "This is about you and your love life."

Mac chuckles back to her. "My love life? You know damn well that I ended things with Helena after her affair with Nathan was revealed."

"Yes, I recall," Lydia purses her lips together. "But I also know that Nathan seduced Sabine because he found out that you two slept together."

"That's very true, but…"

"But nothing," Lydia cuts him off. "I know, Mac. I saw you."

"What did you see, exactly, Lydia?"

"You and my sister," Lydia whispers back to him. "I saw you two kissing at the country club! What are you thinking?"

Mac chuckles back to her. "I am thinking that I am a single man, your sister is a single, beautiful woman, and …"

"You're playing with fire Mac," Lydia warns him. "You know if Nathan finds out about this…"

"Then he won't find out about this," Mac tells her. "Nathan doesn't need to know that Sabine and I are lovers again."

"Just don't say that I didn't warn you, Mac. Because I have a feeling that this will cause a lot more chaos than you realize."

***

A short time later, a furious Lydia steps off the elevator at Rockwell Mining and quickly moves towards the main office. She opens the door and sees Nathan sitting behind the desk.

"Ugh, I need a drink," she groans as she moves towards the bar. "I've had a hell of a morning."

Nathan chuckles back to her as he stands up. "What happened at breakfast this morning that has put you in a mood?"

"I suppose you're going to find out sooner than later," Lydia turns to face him before she takes a sip of her scotch. "Mac and Sabine are, once again, sleeping together."

"I can't say that I am surprised," Nathan admits to her. "I always suspected that they had unfinished business."

"You're taking this news very well," Lydia replies to him. "I thought you'd be as livid as I am!"

"Two of my least favorite people are sleeping together?" he chuckles back to her. "I think they deserve one another. And you, Lydia, you deserve better than Mac."

"I'm not upset because of that…"

"You can fool other's but you can't fool me," Nathan looks into her eyes. "I know that you've always cared about my brother. But it's time that you move on from him."

Lydia looks back into his eyes and licks her lips. "And how do you propose I do that?"

"Maybe try something new?" he asks her as he smiles while he leans in and kisses her on the lips. The kiss takes her by surprise, but she finds herself kissing Nathan back and it becomes more passionate.

***

"Did you get any sleep last night?" Deacon asks Quinn as they sit across from one another at a table in the country club, while Christmas music plays in the background.

"Barely," Quinn admits to him as she takes a sip of her coffee. "I kept thinking about where Marat could have taken my son. I am…terrified that I will never see him again."

"We have to try to stay positive," Deacon replies to her quickly. "And, I have an idea. There's a reason why I wanted to meet you here this morning for breakfast."

Quinn arches her eyebrow back to him. "What's this idea? Do you think it could help us get Jumper back?"

Deacon looks over her shoulder and sees Celeste move into the dining room. "She just walked in," Deacon says as he stands up from the chair and moves towards Celeste, as Quinn turns and follows him.

"Celeste, I need a moment of your time, if you don't mind," Deacon says as he moves up to her.

Celeste looks back at them in surprise. "I'm not sure how I could help you?"

"This is about Marat Kafelinkov," Deacon replies to her quickly. "He's kidnapped Jumper; do you have any idea of where he would have taken Quinn's son?"

"Please," Quinn pleads with her. "Any information you might have, would be greatly appreciated. Mother to mother, please tell me anything you know."

Celeste gulps back to them. "I wish I knew something, but I have no idea where Marat is or where he could have taken Jumper. I will tell you that he was desperate to be a part of Jumper's life; he wouldn't do anything to hurt that little boy."

"I hope you're right," Quinn gets tears in her eyes. "But that still doesn't help me find my son!"

***

Madi moves to the front door of the Blackmore mansion, where she is staying while she is in town. Normally the housekeeper would get the door, but Madi was so close to the door when the bell rang, she decided to get it herself.

"Cole," she says when she sees her former fiancé standing on the other side when she opens the door. "What are you doing here?"

"I had to see you," Cole tells her as he moves into the foyer and then turns to face her. "You look beautiful, by the way."

Madi smiles back to him as she moves some hair behind her ear. "Thank you. What is this all about? I already told you, I don't want to go around and around with you and Celeste."

"That's what I wanted to tell you," he reveals to her. "I saw Celeste yesterday and I told her that we were over. I told her that I wanted my future to be with you and not her. You and I, we can be together now, Madi."

Madi looks back at him in surprise. "I'm nervous about this."

"I get it," Cole nods back to her. "But I want to be with you, Madi. I want nothing more than to be your lover. So, what do you say? Can you give us another chance?"

***

Celeste slowly moves up to the door of Cole's bedroom at the Rockwell Mansion. She looks over her shoulder to ensure no one can see her. She was able to get into the mansion by telling the staff that she was there to see her children, but in fact she has another purpose.

When she realizes that the coast is clear, she opens the door and moves inside Cole's bedroom. Once she's inside, she closes the door behind herself.

She turns and smiles to herself. "Okay," she whispers to herself. "It's time to ensure Cole and Madi never get back together," she says as she gets a wicked grin over her face.