Gabriella sat down on the bench. Why had she allowed it? Because Elle had seemed happy and happy was not something Elle had been for a long time. She desperately wanted to reach her daughter. It had been such a long time since she had understood what her little girl needed. She was loosing Elle and she knew it. Joseph was just too blind to admit it. Elle had an incredible mind but where as once it was filled with curiosity and wonder these days all Elle seemed was sad and depressed.

"Mom, grandpa and I are going to go fishing want to come?"

Gabriella suddenly noticed Christopher next to her and smiled. "I'm sorry sweetheart I didn't hear you."

"Want to come fishing with grandpa and me?"

Gabriella smiled and looked up at Arthur who suddenly seemed pale.

"Are you feeling all right?" Gabriella asked as she got up.

"Yes, I'll be fine. I am going fishing with my grandson."

Gabriella saw the sadness hidden behind the smile. He wanted to spend as much time with his grandchildren as possible. Time was the only thing he didn't have.

Gabriella nodded sadly. "Don't stay out too long."

Arthur smiled and nodded. "Come on Christopher. Have I told you about the trout I caught at your age?"

"How big was it?"

Gabriella smiled sadly as she saw them walking away.



* * *

"I don't know how you two think you are going to pull this off." Chaz said mockingly as he walked up to her in the garden.

Gabriella's eyes went up to the sky and back down again in exasperation before she turned towards Chaz.

"What ever are you talking about Chaz?"

"You and my sister." he said as he bit into an apple. Chaz seemed relaxed and handsome as usual. How he could say such insensitively cruel things and yet manage to look like it was just light conversation Gabriella would never understand. What seemed to disarm her about Chaz constantly was how much like Blayne he looked; there of course is where the resemblance's stopped.

"I still don't know what you are talking about."

"Okay, keep playing your little games. I just hope I'm around when it blows up in your faces." Chaz laughed loudly.

"Chaz are you behaving yourself?" Diana asked suddenly standing next to both of them.

"Me?" He asked incredulously. "You mean our big and little sister don't you?"

"Chaz you are being a boar again."

"Fine look the other way if you want to." Chaz walked away from them.

"Are you all right?" Diana asked Gabriella.

"Chaz is someone I won't miss when I leave here."

"That's not what I meant." Diana sat down on the bench. "I love you both you know."

Gabriella smiled and sat down next to her sister. "I know." She had known exactly what Diana had meant.

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know." Gabriella was about to say something when she heard the roar of the motorcycle pulling into the driveway. "Blayne and Elle are back." Gabriella said as she got up.

"Gabriella?" Diana reached out for her sister's hand.

"Yes?"

At that moment Joseph was walking towards them. Diana released her sister's hand. "I think Joseph is angry."

Gabriella turned towards her husband as Elle and Blayne were walking towards her and Diana.



* * *

"Elle go inside." Her father instructed.

Elle looked up at Blayne who nodded. She then looked towards her mother who caressed her face and smiled at her. "Go on sweetheart. You can tell me all about your ride later."

Elle walked towards the house.

"I don't want my daughter riding a motorcycle." Joseph said harshly at Blayne whose face became cold as steel.

"Joseph, I gave her permission." Gabriella intervened.

"You made a mistake. I don't want Elle on a motorcycle."

Diana wanted to disappear. She was becoming more nervous by the second as she saw the expression on Blayne's face.

"You don't make all the decisions where the children are concerned. Elle was actually happy. Didn't you notice? When was the last time she seemed happy to you Joseph?"

"A lot of difference that would make if she were dead!"

The noise of the slap to his face left everyone in shock.

"Don't you ever say that! Never say that!" Gabriella was yelling.

Joseph stared at her as if she had lost her mind. "What's the matter with you these days?"

"Don't you say that my baby will die. Don't you dare say that ever!" Gabriella began crying in earnest.

Joseph stared in disbelief. "I didn't mean it like that. I…"

"I love her. I would never intentionally put her in harms way." Gabriella turned her back to him and continued to weep.

"I know that…. I didn't mean to…" Joseph seemed genuinely sorry.

Blayne stared at them and realized that there was something more going on then just her taking Elle for a ride.

Joseph tried putting his arms around his wife. Gabriella pulled away from him. "Don't!"

"Gabriella, I said I was sorry." He tried getting closer to her again.

Blayne stared not understanding what was happening.

"Don't touch me!"

Joseph's hands suddenly lowered. He took a deep breath and spoke softly to her. "I never blamed you. I swear I never blamed you."

Gabriella looked away.

"I loved her too. It wasn't anyone's fault." Joseph said sadly then walked away.

Blayne looked at Diana and saw the same question in her eyes.

Gabriella looked at Blayne with tear filled eyes. Blayne stared back for a moment then walked away as well. She wasn't about to give Gabriella a chance to hurt her again if she could help it.

Gabriella closed her eyes as tears escaped them.

"She's hurt." Diana said softly trying to console her sister who seemed even more upset as she watched Blayne walking away from her.

"Yes, I know. I hurt her." Gabriella turned suddenly and walked towards the house as well.



* * *

Dinner was a solemn affair. Elle kept looking up from her father to her mother who barely spoke. Christopher was the only one talking excitedly about his adventures while fishing with his grandfather.

"I wish you could all stay longer," Arthur said to Gabriella.

"The children have school."

Joseph was about to speak then Gabriella added. "I also have meetings scheduled with the gallery for my upcoming exhibition."

Blayne looked up but said nothing.

"You'll let me know when and where?" Diana asked her sister. She wanted Gabriella to know that although she didn't approve of her relationship with Blayne they were still sisters.

Gabriella smiled at Diana and nodded.

"Are you and Blayne taking out the sail boat tomorrow?" Abigail asked her husband. "Perhaps the others would like to go as well."

Elle looked up immediately. "Mom?"

Gabriella smiled indulgently at her daughter and nodded.

"Why don't you go with her. I'll stay with Christopher," Joseph turned to Arthur to explain. "Christopher gets sea sick."

"I get sea sick too…. I'll wait here on land." Diana laughed.

Arthur laughed too remembering the last time he had taken Diana out on the boat and the disastrous outcome.

"What time are we going?" Elle asked excitedly.

"We sail at nine am. Have you sailed before?" Arthur was pleased to have finally been able to engage his granddaughter in conversation.

"No, not really. Will we go out far?"

"Blayne and I usually go out to a nearby island. We'll be gone most of the day." Arthur was pleased. He turned towards his daughter and surprised both Gabriella and Blayne. "Come with us Gabriella."

"Yes darling why don't you." Joseph encouraged her.

"Perhaps she doesn't like sailing." Blayne said curtly as she looked up challenging Gabriella to argue with her. She knew she was annoying Joseph but she didn't care; she wanted as much distance as possible between Gabriella and herself.

"Yes why don't' you." Chaz said enjoying the discomfort.

"Please mom….come with us." Elle asked softly.

Gabriella looked at Blayne and then smiled at Elle and nodded.

After the coffee was served Blayne excused herself saying that she had calls to make.



* * *

Gabriella had tucked the children into bed and was changing when Joseph came up behind her and tried taking her in his arms. She immediately walked away from him.

"Please don't," she said as she pulled her robe closed.

"We have to talk about this." Joseph said softly.

"There is nothing to talk about," she answered as she began to fidget.

He knew only too well the signs of her reaction. The doctor had said it would take time. But, it had been a year already and nothing seemed to change if anything things had gotten worse in the last few months.

"I think we should go to therapy together," Joseph said suddenly.

"Why bother…"

He stared at her for a moment before speaking. "Because a marriage includes sex with your husband."

She turned to him and searched his face. "Do you love me Joseph?"

"How can you ask?"

"Do you love me?"

He looked at her and took a few steps away then faced her again. "Yes, I love you."

"I don't think you do," she said sadly to him.

"We've had a few bad times but all couples do sometimes but, yes Gabriella I love you very much. I'm sorry if you've ever doubted that," he said taking a step closer to her.