She then walked quietly towards the Library. It suddenly occurred to her that this was her favorite room in this house. So much living had been done here. Here she had had long talks with her father and here in the very same room she had loved and held Gabriella. And as she felt the power that merely remembering held over her she shut her eyes trying to shut out living. Because living was just too painful and just existing was easier.

She had intentionally not come earlier. She wasn't exactly sure how she would react with everyone. It had been months since she had come to visit. The house, the grounds, everything looked the same. Even the Christmas tree held the old and comfortable visage. But life was not as she wished it was. If granted one wish what would she wish for? What did she want for Christmas?

It was easy. She would wish to live one hour over and over again for the rest of her life. She walked slowly towards the window and stared out. How many times had she stood in the same spot throughout the years searching and not finding the answers of what she wanted for herself? Sadly, now she new. The one thing she wanted she would never have.

She looked down and saw the burgundy decanter and poured herself a large drink. Looking at it for a moment she then raised it to her lips. Before drinking she raised it up and softly celebrated her anguish. "Merry Christmas my darling." As the tears ran down her face she drank all the contents within the glass.

Blayne poured the amber liquid into the glass once more and filled it to the rim. She then took the glass with her as she headed up the stairs towards her bedroom.

She never noticed the dark figure that had remained silent in the room.



* * *

Elena hurried to open the door to stop the persistent knocking. In front of her stood an elegant woman.

"Can I help you?" Elena asked politely.

"Yes, I hope you can. My name is Abigail Aston-Carlyle."



Part Six (Conclusion)

Elena stood surprised; both women searched the other's face for some kind of sign. In the end both realized that there was nothing but a past between them.

"May I come in?" Abigail asked softly.

"Yes, please." Elena stepped to the side and let Abigail in.

Abigail walked into the small but cozy living room slowly. She saw the photographs of a lifetime on the walls and the coffee table.

Elena watched as Arthur's wife inspected the photographs that comprised her life.

Abigail stopped in front of a photograph of a young Gabriella on top of a pony. The sun had caught the little girl in such a way that her blue eyes seemed just like those of her father. Abigail picked up the photo and smiled sadly.

"Arthur loved horses…" Abigail could not keep the sadness from her voice.

"Yes…"

Abigail closed her eyes at those words as she turned to look at the woman that had always been there between her and the man that she had loved.

"Won't you sit down?" Elena said as she pointed to the nearby sofa.

"Yes, thank you." She then put down Gabriella's photograph, walked over to the sofa and sat down.

"Can I offer you something to drink?"

"No, no thank you," Abigail said as she looked down at the floor and Elena sat down in an armchair in front of her. "He never stopped loving you," Abigail said as her eyes came up to meet Elena's surprised ones. "Even in the end. His last words were for you." Tears ran down Abigail's face as she saw the pain register itself on Elena's face.

"I…" Elena looked away. She didn't want to know. What good would it do?

"He woke up clutching his chest with your name on his lips."

Elena turned towards the woman in front of her now and shared her pain.

"He died saying your name…"

"I'm sorry…" was all that Elena managed to say.

Abigail then got up and walked up to the bow window and stared out onto the street. "I'm here because this has to end."

"I don't understand," Elena said in confusion.

"I think you do. I don't want this for my daughter. And I don't think you want this for yours," Abigail said bluntly and turned to face Elena. As soon as she saw Elena's face she knew that she had been right.

"I don't know what you are talking about," Elena said, trying to hide her growing nervousness.

"Blayne is an exceptional woman. She is one of those people that are good and fine. And she is slowly dying of love. I have stood by all these months….I won't any longer."

"I don't understand!" Elena said in agitation.

"Don't you?" Abigail faced her as well. "I found them together. Is that blunt enough for you?"

"I don't want to hear this." Elena got up quickly. "Please leave my house."

"I know this is difficult. I have been trying to forget it and just ignore it but, the reality is that my daughter is in a great deal of pain and I know that yours must be too." Abigail appealed to the woman in front of her whose semblance looked stern and unyielding.

"Gabriella is just fine. I'm sorry," Elena said as she was walking towards the front door to let Abigail out.

"I don't want my daughter to be a homosexual." The words stopped Elena and made her turn around. Her eyes saddened as she saw her own pain mirrored in Abigail's eyes. "I don't want that kind of life for her."

Elena remained quite as her eyes looked away.

"Blayne has always been a tower of strength. She is strong and proud, she's all those clichés that used to apply in my day. My daughter is the best of us all. Even Arthur couldn't change that."

Elena stared at her in confusion now.

Abigail took a deep breath. "He loved the children in his own way. He wanted to shape them in his vision; Chaz simply rebelled coming up short all the time and decided to do nothing with his life. Diana is pretty much the same, she wonders aimlessly and doesn't even try. Blayne was the one that excelled in everything and had all his attention. He doted on her and she adored him. Blayne was everything he wanted except for one thing."

Elena waited patiently. It saddened her that Arthur was indeed a man that had not deserved to be loved by so many.

"Blayne would not marry. She couldn't seem to find someone and give him the grandchildren he wanted to leave his legacy to. They would argue endlessly but she would never give in. And of course a part of him was proud that she was so strong." Abigail finished sadly.

"He was generous with Elle and Christopher," Elena said simply as she sat down again.

"Arthur never changed his will," Abigail said bluntly.

Elena looked up at her in confusion.

"Not even at the end did he stop being the selfish egocentric man that he was. I loved him but that is the truth."

"But, the trust funds for Elle and Christopher…."

"I was there when they read the will. The trust funds if they came from anyone it is Blayne. He left her control of everything." Abigail sat down as well looking suddenly weary. "Blayne is drinking which is not like her. My daughter carries this incredible sadness that is really frightening me." Abigail looked up at Elena will tear filled eyes.

Elena looked away. She didn't want to hear this; and a part of her resented her daughter for this manifestation.

"If anything happens to her Gabriella will never know another day's peace."

"Is that a threat!" Elena said angrily as she turned towards Abigail.

"No…" Abigail continued sadly. "I saw them…I saw as they reached out to one another. I should have seen it for what it was right from the beginning. They have this understanding between them. I know that Arthur found out and demanded that Blayne stay away. That has also hurt her so much. She lost her father and lost the only person she will ever love the same day." Abigail looked up as tears rolled down her face.

"In time…it may pass you don't know that it won't…" Elena began to say.

"If anything happens to Blayne, Gabriella will never forgive herself. I saw them together…that is how I know."

Elena got up and wrapped her arms around herself; she wasn't sure what to do or what to think. Would her Leila truly feel that way? Could she see beyond her prejudices and accept this? She just wasn't sure she could.

"At Christmas my daughter was barely the woman I knew. At that time she was at least in the world of the living. It's the first Christmas Eve she was not there for. Her brother actually waited for her. He came up to my room that night… I have never seen Chaz worry about her. That night he was. Blayne has always been there anchor…" Abigail gasped for air as the tears began to overwhelm her again. "She has since then avoided us all."

Abigail sat down and took out a handkerchief from her purse and began wiping her tears. "Two months ago she just stopped going into the office and flew to her house in Cape Cod. That was two months ago. I was angry, we are all so angry….angry and confused. I have this premonition and I went to see her a few days ago. What I found has brought me here to you…" Abigail began to cry in earnest and her body began to shake.

Elena immediately went to her and sat down next to her.

"I found a stranger. Thin and gaunt, I don't think she even knew I was there. She just stares out into the ocean. I'm frightened."

Elena got up. "I'm sorry."

Abigail then got up too disappointed that she had not been able to touch Elena's heart. "Arthur's legacy has been one of pain and sorrow. We don't have to let it continue." Abigail pleaded.