Written by: Dallas Walsh

It isn't just a light sprinkle of rain, its pouring buckets of water as the Rockwell family stands in the cemetery. Large black umbrellas are over their heads as the minister finishes saying his final words. Lucinda Rockwell, who is not crying, passes her granddaughter, Stacey, a Kleenex as the tears flow from her eyes. Lucinda looks at her grandsons, Cole and Lex, who are standing next to Stacey and are trying to control their own tears and emotions. Next to Lex is Lucinda's son, MacKenzie, who has his hand over his mouth. Naturally next to Mac, with her hand on his back, is his wife, Carmen Santos, who is not remotely emotional about the service. Lucinda arches her eyebrow at the sight before she turns and watches Lydia Rockwell's coffin slowly be lowered into the ground.

Lucinda watches and finally feels like she is getting a tear in her eye as she recalls the events at the Rockwell mansion where their trusted maid, Ingrid, found Lydia with her head bashed in by a candle stick in the master bedroom. The police claimed that it was an attempted robbery gone wrong, but Lucinda suspects otherwise. Why would Lydia, who had been divorced from Mac, be back in the master bedroom? That's the part that makes Lucinda believe that something more happened to Lydia, however, she now just has to prove it. Lucinda looks at Carmen and their eyes lock for a moment; Carmen senses that Lucinda knows what she did to Lydia, but shakes her head knowing that it is impossible. No one knows that she killed Lydia, Carmen tells herself.

Suddenly, Carmen jolts up in the bedroom that she shares with Mac in a cold sweat. She looks around the room and realizes that it was a dream … a horrible dream. As she slowly crawls out of the bed, she realizes that she has to do something to make these nightmares go away; see, they started about 8 months ago when she accidently killed Celeste Baldwin. Ever since then, she has had recurring nightmares of either killing Lydia, or being at Lydia's funeral and one of the Rockwell's are suspicious of her actions.

"I have to get myself under control," she whispers to herself. "No one can ever know that I killed Celeste. I have to get these dreams under control. I simply have too."

***
"When was the last time you spoke to MacKenzie?" Lucinda asks Lydia as they sit together at the country club, each of them with a glass of champagne in front of them. Normally at brunch, people enjoy mimosas but these two ladies prefer their mimosas without the orange juice.

"Yesterday," Lydia picks her glass and takes a sip of the bubbly beverage. "I'm afraid it didn't end well. He believes that Carmen is still a wonderful wife and that she would never do anything to try to hurt him or the family."

Lucinda rolls her eyes back to her former daughter in law. "I love my son very much but sometimes he thinks with the wrong head on his body."

Lydia uneasily chuckles back to her. "I am running out of ideas about how we can get him to understand that Carmen is a gold digger, Lucinda. I don't know what else I can say or do."

Lucinda arches her eyebrow back to her. "I think it's time I put my plan into motion."

"Plan? What plan? Why has it taken you so long to fill me in on this plan?" Lydia asks her in surprise.

"I have an ace up my sleeve, but I must confess that I'm not ready to share it with you just yet," Lucinda admits to her. "But I do believe that I know just the thing that will send Carmen over the edge."

***

"Are there any updates at all with Madison's case?" Mac Rockwell asks his oldest son, Cole, as they stand in Mac's office at Rockwell Mining. Mac is pouring himself and Cole a brandy as they discuss the fact that Cole's girlfriend, Madison Stewart was arrested for Celeste's murder about 8 months ago. Of course, she has been in jail this entire time while the district attorney has been building their case as the Judge believed that she was a flight risk because of her wealthy family connections. Mac knows that this has taken its toll on Cole, who is trying to remain supportive and positive.

"I'm afraid not," Cole sighs before he accepts the drink from his father. "Madi is still in jail and I don't know if they have even set a trial date yet."

"This is unacceptable," Mac shakes his head back in disbelief. "The poor girl has spent the better part of a year behind bars for something we both know she didn't do."

"That's why I'm here today Dad," Cole looks back at his father. "I need you to do something, anything, to help Madi right now. She simply can't stay in jail any longer."

"I wish there was something I could do, Cole, but the fact of the matter is, my hands are tied."

"Why do you say that?" a disheartened Cole asks him back.

"Because," Mac replies to him. "If anyone from our family or the Cooper's do anything to help Madi, it will be obvious and we could open up a new investigation as to how Madi was suddenly released from jail," Mac explains to him. "We can't risk that, not with how much press this case has received."

"So you're telling me that I just have to sit back and wait for this damn trial to start? That I have to watch Madi suffer while she's in jail?"

"That's exactly what I am going to tell you to do."

***

Lex paces around the main office at Blackmore Ltd as he thinks about everything that has happened in the last few months, leading back to Stacey and Houston Blackmore's interrupted wedding; he discovered that Houston, his half-brother, arranged for his lover, Grant Shaw, to be seduced by Mateo Santos. Of course, Houston did all of this to ensure that Lex would let his personal issues effect his job as the CEO of Blackmore, a position that Houston has been wanting since he was born. However, Lex has since remained the CEO but he can't forget what Houston did to him and his relationship with Grant, so Houston's goal of getting him fired failed.

"I need to make you pay for what you did to me," Lex whispers to himself as he moves to the bar to pour himself a drink of brandy. "You ruined my relationship with Grant and you tried to take this company away from me. I won't let you get away with that Houston."

Lex turns and moves back to the desk where he sits down and then proceeds to take a drink of his brandy. "The question is, how can I get back at you? What can I do to ensure you never hurt me again?"

Suddenly, there's a knock on the door and Grant appears at the entrance. "Sorry if I am disturbing you but I had to see you Lex."

Lex stands up and looks back at the man that was his lover for so many months. He can't deny that Grant is looking toned and very handsome. "I can spare a few minutes, what's going on?"

"It's been months since my indiscretion with Mateo was revealed," Grant moves closer to him. "You keep saying that you can't forgive me and I've realized that I need to move on."

Lex arches his eyebrow back to him. "What are you saying?"

"I'm leaving town Lex," Grant reveals to him. "I'm going back to New York, unless you stop me."

Lex gulps and shakes his head back to him. "Safe travels, Grant."

Grant nods his head back to him, upset that Lex isn't even trying to put up a fight for him. When he reaches the door he turns back and looks at Lex. "For what it's worth, I did really care about you, Lex. I always have and a part of me always will."

***

"Chase, this is unacceptable," Vivian paces around the visiting center of the jail where Madi is being kept until her trial begins. She still can't believe that the judge has denied her daughter bail and there has been no official date set for the trial. "Madison should not have to spend all this time before jail for crying out loud!"

"Vivian, dear, I need you to calm down," Chase replies to her quickly. He is just as upset as she is but he knows getting worked up isn't the answer. "We have to keep positive for the sake of Madison. When she arrives, we can't let her know that we are worried or concerned about how things are going. We have to stay strong, can you do that?"

"Of course I can," Vivian replies to him. "My bigger concern is how much she is still leaning on Cole Rockwell. Had she not gotten involved with him, none of this would be happening right now."

"We can discuss Cole and Madi's relationship once we have left visiting our daughter. I agree with you that something has to happen to break those two up but right now, we have to focus on Madison."

Before Vivian can reply, a door opens and a large, muscular guard enters the room. Following him is Madison, who is wearing an orange jump suit. She has large bags under her eyes and her usual perfect hair is up in a lose pony tail.

"Darling," Vivian rushes up to her. "How are you? You're looking thin, are you eating enough?"

"I'm fine Mom," Madi uneasily replies to her. "Has there been any word on the trial date?"

"We are meeting with your lawyer once we leave here today," Chase tells his daughter. "I'm going to demand that we know when this will start as it has gone far too long."

"I just want this to be over," Madi admits to them. "I either want them to lock me up here or let me out already. I don't know how much more of this I can take."

"Don't you worry baby, we will make this ends. Soon," Vivian tells her as she moves up to her and hugs her.

"Thank you," Madi says as a tear falls down her cheek. "Now, can you please tell Cole to come see me? I haven't seen him in a few days and I miss him."

Vivian and Chase uneasily look back at one another. "Of course sweetheart, of course," Chase forces a smile on his face.

***

"Do you need help with anything at all?" Houston asks a very pregnant Stacey as they move into the living room of the Rockwell mansion. Houston can't help but remember how Stacey collapsed at their interrupted wedding months ago; at the hospital, she learned that she was pregnant. It took her awhile to tell him about the baby but once she did, he was thrilled. Of course, as they get closer to the due to date, he can't help but get excited by the idea of finally being a father.

"I need you to stay calm," an uneasily Stacey tells him as she pours herself a glass of water from the bar and then moves to the sofa. "I've invited someone over this afternoon because we have to have a conversation that is long overdue. Can you please tell me that you'll be on your best behaviour?"

Before Houston can say anything else, Ingrid, the trusted Rockwell maid, comes into the living room. "Miss Rockwell, your guest has arrived. Mr. Marat Kafelinkov is here."

"Thank you Ingrid," Stacey turns and smiles to the maid, who scurries off. Houston takes a deep sigh at hearing the name 'Marat Kafelinkov'. He hasn't seen the Russian in months and had assumed he had left town; to know that Stacey's ex is about to make an appearance leaves him very uneasy.

"Marat is here? Why?" Houston asks her in a whisper, as Stacey gives him a look to keep quiet.

"Stacey, I got your message, I got here as soon as I could," Marat announces as he walks into the living room and looks at Stacey and then over at Houston. "Wow, you're looking very pregnant."

Stacey chuckles as she stands and then gives him a hug. "Can Houston offer you a drink?"

"That would be lovely," Marat kisses her cheek. "I'll have a double scotch, please."

Houston rolls his eyes as he moves to the bar and pours two drinks. "I've asked you both over here because I need to discuss something with you," Stacey returns to her seat on the sofa. "I need you both to remain calm because this has to do with the baby. Can you please promise me that you'll remain on your best behaviour?"

"Of course," Marat accepts the drink from Houston. "Being a single father to Ivan has really matured me, I can handle anything you have to say."

"And same goes with me," Houston snips back to Marat. "You know our child is the most important thing to me."

Stacey gulps as she looks back at Houston. "That's the thing Houston," she beings to tell them. "With my due date getting closer, I have to be honest with everyone. I can't keep this secret anymore."

"Secret?" Houston asks her back in surprise. "What secret is that?"

"I slept with Marat last Christmas," she stuns him by her revelation as Houston's blood starts to boil. "You and I had just had a fight about the two of us working together at Rockwell, you stormed out I thought we were over."

"I don't believe this," Houston loses the color in his face. He didn't expect Stacey to be telling him this now. "You've been lying to me for months! How could you do this?"

"Don't raise your voice to her, she has a child to think about," Marat warns Houston, who feels his blood boil. "Stacey, you and I agreed to never speak of that night, why are you telling Houston now?"

"Because, based on the timing of everything," Stacey uneasily says back to them. "I don't know who the father of the baby is. Once the baby is born, we need to do a paternity test."

"I can't fucking believe this!" Houston yells back to her and Marat as he turns and throws his glass up against the wall. The brown liquid slowly drips down the wall as Houston runs his hands through his hair. "You have been lying to me for months! And now you want me to, what? Stay calm and accept that I've grown to love this baby only for Marat to be the father? You have a lot of nerve doing this to me, Stacey!"

"I never meant to hurt you," Stacey stands up from the sofa. "But, I couldn't bring my child into this world with this secret over my head. I had to be honest. I'm sorry that I kept this from you but the truth is out now."

"You want Marat to be the father, don't you?" Houston continues to lash out at her for her lies. "Never mind, I don't want the answer to that."

Before Stacey can reply, Houston storms out of the living room. "Houston wait! Houston!" Stacey screams as tears form in her eyes but her pleads fall on deaf ears.

Marat moves up Stacey and pulls her into a hug. "Are you okay? Try to stay calm."

"I can't stay calm! I have to make him understand," Stacey says as she starts to hyperventilate.

"Come sit down," Marat moves Stacey to the sofa. "You have to stay calm, breathe in, breathe out."

Stacey tries to stay breathing but feels her forehead start to bead with sweat. "My God, I feel dizzy," she says as her eyes roll back into her head and she faints on the sofa.

"Stacey? Stacey!" Marat yells as he grabs his phone. "My God," he says to himself as a dials 9-1-1.

***

"You need to do something about Lex, this is getting out of control," a furious Houston shouts as he opens the door to the penthouse where his father, Kent Blackmore, is living with his girlfriend, Sabine Andrews. Houston just came from the Rockwell mansion where Stacey revealed to him that he might not be the father of her baby. He can't believe that he has been so stupid all of these months; and to top it off, Lex is still running his family business. He has had enough of it, and he intends to tell his father just what he thinks.

"Nice to see you too son," Kent takes a sip of his brandy as he sits next to the fire place. "I am assuming you're, once again, upset that Lex is running my company."

"Houston, can I offer you a drink? You look stressed," Sabine stands up and moves towards the bar and pours two more brandys. She passes him one and takes a sip of the other.

"Thanks Sabine," Houston nods back to her. "And, yes, of course this has to do with Blackmore Ltd. Lex wasn't even raised as a Blackmore, how can you let him run the company over me? I'm your son!"

"Lex is also my son, in case you have forgotten," Kent stands up and moves closer to Houston. "And, he has a lot more experience than you do at running the company. I told you that you needed to work your way into the company and see what happens. Have you even tried to extend an olive branch to Lex after everything you did to him and Grant?"

"Why would I? He deserved everything he got!"

"I think what your father is trying to say, if I may, is that, you have to earn your respect at the company instead of plotting to take Lexington down," Sabine suggests to him. "If you're able to do that, you'd put yourself in a much better position."

"Dad, this isn't fair!"

"Life isn't always fair, son. You have been privileged your entire life, some things you have to earn," Kent tells him.

"Ugh," Houston groans. "I don't know why I bother."

Before either Sabine or Kent can reply, Houston storms out of the penthouse and slams the door behind him.

"I'm sorry about that," Kent looks at Sabine. "He can be … irritable sometimes."

"Don't worry about that, we have something more important to discuss."

Kent arches his eyebrow back to her. "What could this be?"

"I know," Sabine replies to him. "I know what you and Chase Cooper did all those years ago, and it's time we end it once and for all."

***

"Would somebody please tell me what the hell happened?" a worried Mac asks as he paces back and forth in the waiting room of the hospital while he, Lydia, Lucinda, Cole, Lex and Marat all wait to hear about Stacey's condition. They know that she is late into her pregnancy so it is most alarming that she fainted; they are all hoping for the best for both Stacey and the baby as they don't know what they would do if something happened now.

"It all happened very quickly," Marat explains to him as he stands up from his seat. "Stacey had invited Houston and I over to tell us that she actually wasn't sure who the father of the baby is, you see she and I slept together shortly before she found out she was pregnant."

"My God," Lydia gasps to herself. "Houston must have been livid."

"That is putting it mildly," Marat uneasily nods back the family.

"That doesn't explain how or why my daughter collapsed!" Mac says back to him.

"Houston ended up storming out," Marat continues to explain to the family. "I was trying to keep Stacey calm when she fainted. I called 911 and then you guys while I was in the ambulance."

"We all need to remain calm," Lucinda tells the Rockwell's. "Stacey, and the baby, will be fine. We have the best medical staff this country has with her right now."

"I hope you're right, Nana," Cole grabs her hand as he looks at her with worry on his face.

Before anyone can reply, a female doctor emerges into the waiting room. "Dr. Jefferson, how is she? How is Stacey?" Mac asks as Lydia comes up behind him.

"And the baby? How is the baby?" Lydia asks her next.

"Both are fine," Dr. Jefferson replies to them as they all breathe a sigh of relief. "It is good that Marat was with her when she fainted. After running some tests, I've determined that Stacey has gestational diabetes."

"What does that mean exactly?" Lex asks the doctor having not heard of this condition before.

"It is not uncommon for women to develop this while pregnant; it is just an increase high blood sugar levels during pregnancy," the doctor tells the family. "I want to keep Stacey in overnight but she should go home tomorrow. We will just have to watch her stress levels the rest of the pregnancy."

"So, she will be okay?" Mac asks as he and Lydia hug. "Thank God."

***

Once Cole and the rest of the Rockwell's learned that Stacey was out of the woods, he left the hospital and raced over to the jail where Madi is being held. The news of Stacey wasn't the only piece of information that he received that morning and he couldn't wait to share it with his girlfriend.

"Are you aboslutely sure that Stacey will make a full recovery?" Madi asks Cole as they sit across from one another in the visitors center.

Cole nods back to her. "The doctor said this condition is rather common for pregnant women; with some rest and monitaring of her stress, Stacey should be fine and she can carry out the pregnancy to term."

"What a relief," Madi replies to him. "It feels so helpless being in here while life is going on without me."

"Maybe not for much longer."

Madi looks back at him and arches her eyebrow. "What does that mean? Has there been a development?"

"I found out today that your trial date has been set," Cole tells her. "That means that this will all be over soon."

"Really? When is it? When is my trial?"

"Next week," Cole reveals to her. "And once your lawyer makes everyone realize you didn't kill Celeste, this will all be over."

***

"Did you hear about Madi's trial?" Deacon Cooper asks his father as he pours himself a cup of coffee as they stand in the living room of Vivian's mansion.

"Of course," Chase nods back to his son. "I got a call from the lawyer first thing this morning. I must admit, it's about damn time. The DA really took his sweet time putting together the case. Poor Madison shouldn't have been locked up for all these months."

"I'm just glad that we are finally moving forward," Deacon takes a sip of his coffee. "I'm also eager to start finalizing my launch to run for office. I have been waiting for this for so many years."

Chase sighs back to his son. He knows that Deacon has been working incredibly hard on his political career because he has always wanted to follow in his footsteps; however, Chase has some concerns.

"I know you have been working towards this son," Chase slowly replies to him. "But, I'm afraid this campaign is not for you. You will not run for Senate this go around."

Deacon feels his face flush with anger. "What do you mean? I've been working non-stop at this! Why would you not want me to run for office?"

"Our family is about to go through something incredibly difficult and painful," Chase explains to his son. "Madi's trial will mean our family name is in the press non-stop and it will not always paint us in the best of light. You running for office while this is happening would not be the smartest move."

"I don't want to wait another four years, Dad!"

"I know you don't son, but this is how it has to be. This is not up for dicussion," Chase stands firm with Deacon, who continues to fume.

***

"I can't believe this," Kent pours himself a brandy while he stands in the living room of the penthouse he shares with Sabine. She just admitted to him that she located the documentation in his office that confirmed what he and Chase Cooper were up too all those years ago. He thought that the secret was buried but now Sabine knows the truth and who knows who else. "You went through my documents in my private study? How could you do this?"

"Deacon was persistent," Sabine comes up behind him. "And, I can see why. If anyone knew that you paid for Chase' political campaign and in return, he allowed you to mine on restricted lands, you both could be in serious trouble."

"Deacon Cooper wanted these documents destoryed because he wants to run for office himself," Kent takes a sip of his brandy. "I had no intention of ever revealing what happened all those years ago."

"Like I said to you," Sabine purses her lips together. "I think the four of us, you, Deacon, Chase & I should meet, destory the documentation and never mention this again. As long as those papers are around, anyone could find them."

"The way you did?" Kent grits his teeth together. "I still can't believe that you snooped through my personal study! I guess I need to lock that damn door!"

"Be grateful that I was the one who found them Kent and not someone else," Sabine says back to him. "Now, are you going to stay mad at me or are you going to help me organize this gathering?"

***

"I feel like I haven't seen a lot of you lately," Mateo Santos tells his sister as they move into the living room of the Rockwell mansion. Carmen decided to invite her brother over for a visit since the family was at the hospital dealing with Stacey; she realized that she needed the support of her brother while she deals with these nightmares that she has been having.

"You haven't," Carmen quips back to him. "You've been so busy at the hospital since you got your job there as an orderly. Do you want a drink?"

"I'd love one," Mateo replies to her quickly. "One of my favorite things about coming to the mansion is this bar, it never runs out."

"You should see the monthly bill from the distributor," Carmen chuckles as she pours two brandy's and then passes her brother one. "I'm glad you're here Mateo."

"What's going on with you? You look a little pale," Mateo observes as he takes a sip of his brandy. "Are you pregnant?"

"Oh God no," Carmen takes a sip off her drink. "I'm…I'm struggling with you know what."

"Still?" Mateo asks her, knowing that she killed Celeste all those months ago. Carmen confided in him about the murder which she claims was an accident. He, of course, believes that it was an accident because he doesn't believe his sister is actually capable of murder. "You have to move on!"

"I've tried!" Carmen huffs back to him. "The problem isn't Celeste," she admits to him. "The problem is Lydia and the rest of this family. I keep having dreams about killing them and being at their funeral's."

Mateo laughs back to her before she shoots him a wicked glare. "I'm sorry, it's funny, okay?"

"No, its not! I can barely sleep at night."

"Carmen, look around you, you're living in this lavish mansion, you have anything you want at your finger tips, you have more money then you know what to do with…you need to get over these dreams and start living it up!"

"You really think so?" a nervous Carmen asks him back.

"I know so sis," Mateo winks back to her. "Throw away these negative thoughts and start living, you've earned it!"

***

"I am so relieved that Stacey will be okay," Mac tells Lydia as they slowly walk back towards their daugther's hopsital room, each holding a cup of coffee from the cafeteria. "I don't know what I would have done if anything had happened to her or the baby."

"I am in complete agreeance with you," Lydia admits to him. "I am still rather surprised by the admission that she doesn't know who the father of the baby is, however. If she's trying to avoid stress, this will not help her cause."

"Without speaking with her, I am assuming she wanted the truth to come before the baby arrived," Mac replies to her. "In fact, while she's here, she may even get the paternity test to confirm if Houston or Marat is the father."

"What a mess," Lydia shakes her head. "Speaking of which…"

Mac groans at the start of her next sentence. "Please tell me you are not about to go off on me again about what a gold digger my wife is, Lydia! You know that she is not a gold digger."

"Is that so?" Lydia rolls her eyes back to him. "If that's true, then why did she secretly use your funds to purchase enough stocks to be in control of Rockwell? What would have promoted her to do that?"

"She was insecure," Mac admits back to her. "But, she has left me in control of the company, hasn't she? She hasn't made any outlandish demands; she's just being my wife, that's all."

It's Lydia's turn to groan loudly back to her ex-husband. "Wake up Mac," Lydia snaps at him. "Start using the head on your shoulders instead of the one between your legs. You need to realize the kind of woman Carmen Santos is before it's too late!"

***

"Interesting that I arrive here and find you with your feet on the sofa with a drink in your hand," Lucinda announces to Carmen as she moves into the living room of the Rockwell mansion and she sees her son's wife sprawled out on the sofa with a glass of champagne in her hand. Lucinda can't believe that the younger woman is celebrating while Stacey is in the hospital.

Carmen sits on from the sofa as she was trying to relax after her meeting with Mateo. "What brings you by Lucinda?"

"I don't need a reason Carmen," Lucinda spits back to her. "But, I was here to see why on earth you weren't at the hopsital when Mac's daughter was admitted? Why are you not supporting your husband right now?"

"Because," Carmen stands up to face her mother in law. "I knew that the entire family was going to be there. Was one more person really going to make a difference in Stacey's well being?"

"And if she had not made it?" Lucinda asks her back. "You would have let your husband grieve the loss of his daughter, and unborn grandchild, alone? You are disgusting, you know that?"

"You will not come into my home and speak to me this way," Carmen grits her teeth together as she moves closer to Lucinda.

"Your home?" Lucinda laughs back at her. "Oh sweetie, this may be your current residence but it will never be your home. I'll see to that."

"Don't you threaten me Lucinda," Carmen warns her. "You don't know what I'm capable of."

"Enjoy this while you can dear," Lucinda ignores Carment's threats. "Because when I'm through with you, you won't know what hit you."

***

"I'm glad you guys are here this morning," Cole announces to Chase and Vivian as he moves into the living room of Vivian's mansion, while her maid Lola rushes in behind him.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Blackmore, I tried to stop him…" Lola says as she knows how harsh Vivian can be back to her.

"It's fine," Vivian waves her hand back to her maid. "We were expecting him."

Lola scurries off leaving the three of them alone in the mansion. "You were expecting me? Why, what's happened now?"

"We heard that you paid Madison a visit this morning," Chase replies to him as he folds his arms over his chest. "I am assuming you told her about the trial date?"

"I did," Cole nods back to him. "How do you know that I was there already today? Are you having me followed?"

"We are advised of every visitor Madison receives," Vivian informs him. "We didn't want anyone whom could upset her to see her."

"That seems a little over the top, don't you think?" Cole shrugs his shoulders back to them. "Anyways, yes, I told her about the trial date."

"That was something we wanted to share with our daughter," Chase tells him. "You're interference in this matter is getting tiresome."

"Interference?" Cole uneasily chuckles back to him. "In case you forgotten, Madi and I were engaged!"

"Until you found out that she was my daughter," Vivian reminds him. "That's neither here or now, the fact of the matter is, we don't want you anywhere near Madison. Can you please stay away from her?'

"No," Cole stands ground with them. "I came here today to tell you how worried I am about her and you want me to stay away from the woman I love? I will never do that, and Madi will not want me to stay away. She loves me just as much as I love her!"

"For now," Chase looks back at him. "She loves you for now."

"What does that mean?"

"Wait and see," Chase's words send a shiver down Cole's spine.

***

Marat sits next to Stacey as she lays in her hospital bed with her eyes still closed. He grabs her hand and moves it to his mouth, giving it a long kiss before moving it back to her side. He looks at the woman that he still loves and hopes that she wakes up soon. Only then will he really feel like she, and the baby, are out of the woods. To his surprise, Stacey's eyes slowly start fluttering.

"Hey, welcome back," he smiles to her. "You gave us all a scare."

"Where am I?" she asks as she looks around in confusion. "The baby?"

"You're both fine," Marat eases to her. "Don't get upset, it's not good for the baby."

"Thank God the baby is okay," Stacey breathes a sigh of relief. "What happened?"

"You were diagnoised with gestational diabetes," Marat explains to her. "Apparently, it's common for pregnant women but the good news is that as long as you keep your stress levels low, you and the baby will be fine."

"I can't believe I didn't realize that something was wrong sooner," Stacey shakes head in disbelief. "Thank you for getting me so quickly. I don't know what would have happened…"

"Let's not think about that now," Marat tells her. "The only thing that matters is that you and the baby are going to be okay."

Stacey nods back to him. "And, I was thinking," he continues to look at her. "While you're here, maybe we should have a paternity test done? It could be so easy and we could know once and for all who fathered this child."

Stacey uneasily nods back to him as she gets tears in her eyes. "As long as it won't hurt the baby, we can do it. But nothing can hurt my baby, nothing."

***

Lex opens the door to the main office of Blackmore Ltd and starts pacing back and forth. He moves over to the bar and pours himself a tall brandy, as he is feeling relieved that Stacey will be okay from her fainting spell. He takes a healthy drink of the brandy as the wheels in his head start to spin as he wonders about his quest to get revenge on Houston.

"Stacey doesn't know who the father of her baby is," he whispers to himself as he moves to the large window in his office and peers outside. "Houston could be the father or Marat could be the father. Why is this replaying over and over in my head?"

He takes another sip of his drink before he gets a glimmer in his eyes. "I wonder if this baby is the way to get my revenge on Houston. Maybe this is the true way to make sure that son of a bitch pays for what he did to my relationship with Grant."

***

Lex quickly walks towards Stacey's hospital room as he is desperate to find out how she is doing and if she has decided to get a paternity test to determine who the father of the baby is. He hasn't been able to stop thinking that, somehow, the baby could be his way to back at Houston for everything his brother has put him through with his relationship with Grant.

As he moves towards the hospital room, he happens to turn his head to the left and sees Mateo standing behind a desk. Lex immediately freezes as he sees the man who broke up his relationship with Grant, thanks to Houston. From the distance, he can't help but notice that Mateo is a very attractive man; for a brief moment, he can see why Grant was drawn to him. He shakes his head quickly, scolding himself that Grant should have been able to resist another man if they were in a relationship together.

He finds himself slowly moving up to the nurses station, wondering why Mateo is even at the hospital. "What are you doing here?" Lex asks him as he puts his hands in his pockets.

"Lex," Mateo looks up from some paperwork. "I heard about your sister, Stacey, I'm really sorry. I hope she's okay."

"Thanks," Lex nods back to him. "You didn't answer my question though, what are you doing here?"

"I guess Carmen hasn't told you," Mateo replies to him quickly. "I'm working here now, I'm a stock intern. I basically receive shipments of medical supplies and make sure it gets the stock room."

"Wow, I had no idea. Good for you for making an honest living for yourself."

Mateo uneasily chuckles back to him. "Gotta pay the bills somehow, you know? Look, I am glad I saw you today. I've been meaning to tell you how sorry I am about everything that happened with Houston and Grant. At the time, I needed the cash and Houston gave me a good payout."

It's Lex's turn to chuckle back to him. "And you had good sex, looks like it was a win win for you."

"I guess," Mateo replies to him. "But it still sucks that you got hurt in the process. I guess that's what Houston wanted all along."

"Your damn straight it is," Lex tells him back. "My brother will do anything to get back at me because my father put me in charge of Blackmore Ltd. and not him."

"Well, if I can make it up to you in anyway, I'd be happy to try."

"I'll keep that in mind," Lex looks back at him.

***

"Good you're still here," Lydia announces to Lucinda as she storms into the Rockwell mansion and sees the elderly woman pouring herself a drink. Lydia hasn't been able to stop thinking about Lucinda's comments about having a plan to make sure Carmen gets what is coming to her. She is desperate to help Lucinda with whatever this plan is, especially since she hasn't been able to get through to Mac about seeing Carmen for the type of woman that they all know that she is. "We have to talk and it can't wait."

Lucinda spins around with a brandy in her hand and takes a sip of it. "Do we? I didn't think we'd have anything to discuss since we know that Stacey will be perfectly fine. Our prayers have been answered."

"Yes, they have," Lydia moves to the bar to pour herself a drink. "But this is not about Stacey or the baby," Lydia continues. "This is about Carmen Santos."

"Oh goodie, my favorite person of interest."

"I'm being serious Lucinda!" Lydia snaps at her. "You mentioned that you have a plan to deal with her. I want to know what this plan is and how I can help. I will do whatever it takes to ensure Mac gets away from that woman!"

"I will not relay any information about my plan," Lucinda warns her. "The fewer people involved the better."

"Lucinda!"

"But," Lucinda cuts her off. "If you want to help, you can."

"What do you need me to do?" Lydia asks her intently.

"Keep MacKenzie at Rockwell Mining for as long as possible tonight," Lucinda replies to her as Mac arches her eyebrow. "I don't care what you have to do, just make sure Mac is at that office."

Lydia uneasily nods back to her. "I think I can do this."

"Don't think you can do it Lydia, just actually do it!"

***

A short time later, Lydia opens the door to Mac's office at Rockell Mining and moves inside. She clears her throat to get Mac's attention, who is sitting behind his large desk.

"Lydia, what brings you by?" Mac asks as he stands up and moves up to her as he kisses her cheeks. "I wasn't expecting anyone else tonight."

"I was going to head to the hospital to see Stacey before I went to bed and I thought you'd be here," Lydia admits to him. "I know that you likely would want to get some work done since the majority of the day you spent at the hospital."

Mac chuckles back to her. "It's amazing that everything we have been through, you still know me so damn well."

"How about we sit and have a drink together?" Lydia suggests to him, thinking about Lucinda's comments to her that she had to keep him at the office for as long as possible. "I'd love to hear your thoughts on Cole, Stacey and Lex and what is happening with our family right now."

"That sounds nice," Mac nods back to her as he moves to the bar. "Brandy?"

"Make it a double, I suspect we have a lot to discuss."

"Coming right up," Mac replies to her as he pours two drinks at the bar.

***

Houston slowly turns the handle on the door that leads into Stacey's hospital room. He looks at the woman he has been living with for months, thinking that the child she was carrying was his own. He still can't believe the bombshell that she laid on him: Marat might be the father of the child. He knows that he and Stacey and have their fair share of issues but he never expected that announcement from her.

"I didn't mean to wake you up," Houston whispers to her as Stacey opens her eyes and sees him in her room. "I can come back if you need your rest."

Stacey shakes her head back to him. "No, I'm glad you're here. I was so worried about you when you left the mansion earlier."

"I know," he sits next to her. "I needed time to wrap my head around the this news you gave me. I never would have left if I had known that you were sick. I hate that I wasn't there for you, Stacey."

"No one knew that I was sick," Stacey replies to him quickly. "Don't beat yourself up. Just be glad that the baby and I will both be fine. I'm getting discharged tomorrow morning."

"I'm so glad to hear that," Houston tells her. "I don't know what I would have done…"

"We don't have to think about that now," Stacey grabs his hand. "I was thinking about something though."

"What's that?"

"While I'm in the hospital, we should ask the doctor to perform a paternity test," Stacey bites her lip back to him. "We should find out who fathered my baby."

Houston uneasily nods back to her. "I couldn't agree more Stacey, we all need to know the truth once and for all."

***

"How is Ivan?" Cole asks Marat, who moves into the living room of the Rockwell mansion. Cole knows that Marat might have a long day since he was at the hospital with Stacey, which meant Ingrid and the other wait staff were left to tend to Ivan, who is still struggling since Celeste passed away.

"It took him longer to fall asleep than normal but I think he is finally down for the night," Marat replies to him as he moves to the bar and grabs a scotch. "What a day."

"You're telling me," Cole nods back to him. "They announced that Madi's trial will start next week. I had to tell her and then Vivian and Chase ripped me a new one for not letting them tell her."

"In-laws are the best and the worst at the same time," Marat chuckles back to him before he takes a sip of his scotch. "I am happy to hear that the trial is finally moving forward. I know you trust Madi is innocence but I do want justice for whoever killed my son's mother."

"I know you do," Cole sits next to him on the sofa. "For what it's worth, I want that too. You know how close I was to Celeste. I don't want to see her death go unpunished. I do believe, however, that the police have the wrong culprit."

"Whatever will happen, will happen I suppose."

"You also learned that you might be a father again today," Cole reminds him before he takes a sip of his drink. "How are you feeling about that?"

"To be honest, really excited," Marat admits to him. "I would love nothing more than to be the father to Stacey's baby. Despite everything, I still love her very much."

"Either way, someone will be incredibly hurt and someone will be overjoyed. I don't envy my sister right now," Cole replies to him. "But like you just said, whatever will happen, will happen."

***

Lex moves down the hallway of the hospital. He was just about to go see Stacey when he noticed that Houston was in the hospital room with her; he managed to open the door ever so slightly and heard Houston agree with Stacey that they need to get a paternity test done to find out who the father of the baby is.

"I have to do this," he whispers to himself as the wheels in his head continue to turn. "I have to make you pay, Houston."

He arrives at a door that says "Supplies" on it and he knocks on it. Within a few minutes, Mateo opens the door with some beads of sweat on his forehead. Lex gulps unable to deny how attractive he looks.

"Another visit so soon?" Mateo smirks back to him. "What do I owe the pleasure?"

"I had to find you," Lex admits to him as he moves inside the storage room and lets the door close behind him. "You told me earlier that you would do anything to make it up to me. Did you mean that?"

"Of course," Mateo looks back at Lex with intent. "I never meant to hurt you. Why? Did you think of something?"

"I did," Lex uneasily replies to him. "I need your help with something and I don't need you to ask me any questions."

"Okay?" Mateo uneasily replies to him as he arches his eyebrow. "What do you need me to do?"

***

Carmen lays in the large king size bed in the master bedroom of the Rockwell mansion. The curtains are open slightly, so the bright moon is creating a white glow in the room. Carmen rolls over in the bed, which only has her in it right now as Mac is still at the office. Of course, Carmen is suffering from another one of her nightmares that she has been having since she killed Celeste.

Suddenly, the window opens where the curtain is slightly ajar and a large gust of wind enters the room. The curtains blow and some papers that are on an end table float into the air and slowly land on the floor. The noises causes Carmen to stir in the bed. She slowly opens her eyes and wonders what happened.

"Hello?" she calls out as she sits up in the bed. There is no answer, so she scoots to the side of the bed and slips her robe on before she walks to the window. "How did this get open?" she asks herself as she closes the window and then slowly draws the curtains closed.

Suddenly, she hears a noise from behind her. She turns around and can see a figure standing by the bed. "Whose there? What are you doing in my room? Ingrid, is that you?"

The figure doesn't say anything but Carmen can see that it is moving closer to her. Carmen moves back to the curtains and opens them again, allowing the light of the moon to light up the room again. Carmen turns back around and screams out in horror as she sees a bloody Celeste standing in front of her.

"You didn't think you'd get rid of me that easily, did you?" Celeste whispers back to Carmen, who continues to scream out in horror.