Blayne kissed her head and her face gently. Gabriella turned her face and she looked up. Blayne's lips kissed her softly. "I'm sorry. You won't be alone again. I promise." She caressed Gabriella's face tenderly.

"Blayne please…"

"Shhh…" She kissed Gabriella again then pulled her deeper into her embrace.

Arthur walked in unannounced. They both turned to him still holding on to one another. Gabriella released Blayne and took a step back. Arthur stared from Gabriella to Blayne.

"Blayne, I need to speak to Gabriella alone. Then I would like to speak with you." Arthur was leaving no room for argument. Blayne felt like a schoolgirl being caught in an infraction, being sent away to be punished appropriately later. She looked towards Gabriella then back to Arthur.

"No."

"No?"

"No."

Arthur was visibly angry. "I want to speak to Gabriella, leave us Blayne!"

"No."

"Very well. Will you concede to speak with me then?" Arthur could barely control his anger. She had disobeyed him. She had disobeyed him and he was angry. He had specifically told her to stay away from Gabriella.

Blayne suddenly felt Gabriella's hand in her own. She looked down then up to Gabriella's face and what she saw there surprised her.

"Blayne?" Arthur said impatiently.

"It's all right. Go on. We'll talk again later, I promise," Blayne said gently with a reassuring smile to Gabriella. With that one action Gabriella had sealed Blayne's fate. There was no retreat now. She was in for better or for worse.

Gabriella then left them alone. Arthur said nothing for a moment.

"What was that I walked into!" He suddenly voiced his anger.

"You walked into what you created. What happened? What did you all do?" Blayne lashed back.

"Chaz, as usual, was himself," Arthur replied.

"Why didn't you control the situation?" Blayne asked accusingly.

Arthur said nothing and just stared at her.

"What?" She said as she walked away from him. "What do you expect from me?"

"I want you to stay away from my daughter!"

Blayne felt the blow even if no physical contact had been made. She stood silently, waiting and searching his eyes for the man she knew.

Arthur broke eye contact and walked towards a chair and sat down.

"I'm not responsible for what you all do. I can't stop her from coming to me, Arthur." Blayne ran her fingers through her hair as she spoke. "I hate this."

Blayne turned away and Arthur now raised his eyes to her.

"Have you always been this way?" He asked out of nowhere.

"You mean have I always liked women?"

"Yes, that," he replied uncomfortably.

"I've never given it much thought," she said nonchalantly.

"If you've never given it much thought then why her? Why now!" He stood up in agitation. "I'm dying Blayne; why now?"

"Why Elena Agramonte? Why her when you knew you shouldn't?" Blayne asked then looked away sadly. "I don't know why. It just is."

"Then walk away," Arthur insisted as he stood up.

"Like you?" Blayne stood up as well.

"All right! Yes, like me!"

"I can't." Blayne lost all her anger as she said the words. "I can't."

"I want you to go then."

Blayne looked at him and allowed her eyes to show the hurt in them.

"It's best, Blayne."

"Is it that easy for you to turn me away?"

Arthur looked away.

"It's best Blayne."

"For you."

Arthur looked her straight in the eyes unmoved. "Yes, for me."

"No."

"No? What is it with you and No?"

"I promised her I would be here until she left. I won't break that promise. I won't." Blayne stood her ground.

"You also promised me something, Blayne."

"What do you want from me, Arthur? I love her goddamn it!" Blayne covered her face as the magnitude of the words that had come out of her mouth hit her.

"You just met her! This is sick, Blayne!"

Blayne remained silent, then she looked up and just stared at him. "Is that how you see me, Father? Am I something repugnant to you now? How am I different? Don't you think if I could tear this out of me I would?" Blayne waited for answers that she knew would never come. "I don't know how to stop it."

Arthur looked away from her and walked around the chair he had been sitting in.

Blayne breathed in deeply.

I love her. Oh God, I love her. She thought over and over again as her eyes looked around the room in desperation.

"Blayne perhaps it's a chemical imbalance or something."

She looked at him not believing what she had just heard. "A chemical imbalance?"

"Yes, a psychiatrist might be able to help you, Blayne," he said hopefully.

Blayne looked down and then turned away from him as she walked towards the window. It was still light out. Nothing had changed and yet everything in her world had.

"I have no chemical imbalance, father. I don't think they've invented a cure for loving someone. You should know that," she said sadly.

"It's not right for you to take advantage of Gabriella."

She turned around and faced him. "What?"

"Don't manipulate her, Blayne. She has a life. Diana needs her. She has a husband, Blayne."

"She doesn't love him!"

"Does she love you?"

Blayne remained silent. He had his mark and went in for the kill. "What about her children and her mother? Elena is old fashioned. Would her children understand Blayne? Even if you were to seduce Gabriella…would she be able to walk away from her mother and her children to be with you?"

Blayne met his eyes as hers filled with tears. "I love her father." The truth of her words hurt. Those words that she never thought she would utter cut at her.

"If you love her, then let her go." Arthur added.

The tears ran freely down Blayne's face. Arthur had never seen her like this and suddenly her weakness touched his heart. "It will be for the best, Blayne," he said softly. At that moment Arthur knew he had convinced her.

She nodded as the tears continued fall down her face. Blayne looked down then up and met her father's eyes again.

Arthur looked away quickly. "All right then. In time you will see that you did the right thing."

He looked towards his daughter again before he left her in the library and again his chest tightened in pain. Blayne would keep her word he knew that. Arthur also realized that they would never ever be this close again.



* * *

"Hello Joseph."

"Gabriella? Where are you?"

"In Massachusetts."

"What's going on?" He didn't hide the anger in his voice.

"I had some rather upsetting news less then a week ago," she said and yet she realized it seemed like ages. So much had happened in such a short period of time.

"How could you just take off and not tell me?"

"Joseph, I'm sorry. I guess I wasn't thinking."

"Yes, thinking is not your forte, is it."

"No, I guess not." Gabriella felt drained.

"I'll be home on Thursday. We finished up earlier than expected. Remember we are dinning with the Metcaffs on Saturday. Will you be back by then?" He sounded like he was in a hurry.

"Ummm…. Yes, I should be." Gabriella was suddenly aware of feeling the strain of the day.

"Good, I'll see you no later than Saturday then."

Before she could speak he hung up and it occurred to her that this is the way they spoke on the phone. Neither of them really cared for the other anymore. They acted out of habit, of what was expected rather then the need to connect. The usual feeling of restlessness began to overtake her. At these times she went to her studio. Gabriella thought about trying to find Blayne. Instead, she opted to go for a walk. She needed to move to be active.



* * *

Gabriella walked around the grounds. It had begun to get dark but the flora was still visible and the fragrance was wonderful. She leaned down to admire a flower when she heard footsteps. Gabriella turned and she saw Arthur approaching she stood up straight, almost bracing herself in finding herself alone with him.

"Those are Chinese lilies," he pointed to the flowers that she had been admiring only moments before.

Gabriella then looked towards them again then away.

"I'm sorry about everything." Arthur waited expectantly for her next move.

Gabriella looked at him and said nothing. Almost by an inner understanding they both began to walk side by side.

"You have a lovely family," he said suddenly.

Gabriella said nothing as they both continued to walk.

"I would like to meet my grandchildren, Gabriella," he said softly. "I am not asking for forgiveness. I know only time, perhaps, could gain me that with you. Unfortunately, time is the one thing I don't have. I won't say anything to them. I would just like to see them once before I die. Please grant me that." Arthur's words sounded sincere and made her nod her agreement.

"Thank you Gabriella," he said truly moved by her generosity.

"I think I'll go in now," she said suddenly.

"I've spoken with Blayne."

Gabriella turned towards him. "And?"

"She will not be bossing you around anymore."

"I can take care of myself. I don't need you fighting my battles for me," Gabriella said irately.

"Blayne sometimes….is too aggressive."

"At least she knows what she wants and she fights for it."

"Is that an attribute you admire?" Arthur was eyeing his daughter curiously. He had not expected Gabriella to be defending Blayne or excusing her.