Blayne then turned towards her and was about to speak when she saw the tears ready to spill out of Gabriella's eyes. Blayne took her by the arm and walked her out of the foyer and into the library close by.

"I'm sorry about Diana," Blayne said softly. Gabriella had her back to her.

Gabriella then turned towards her and Blayne could see the tears running down her cheeks.

"Look, I just want to go home. This was a mistake all around. You promised you would take me home," she pleaded as she walked up to Blayne.

Blayne's hands went up to her arms gently; she was about to speak when the door opened and Arthur walked in.

Gabriella turned away from him and began to wipe her tears away. He turned to Blayne with a concerned look on his face.

Blayne looked away.

"Gabriella …there is so much I want to say…" he trailed off.

Gabriella turned to him. "I don't want to hear it! I don't want to know you! I hate you!" She was becoming hysterical.

"Gabriella!" Blayne interceded.

"No, let her Blayne. She has a right to be upset." Arthur took a step closer.

"That's very big of you," Gabriella said mockingly.

"I'm sorry," Arthur said sadly.

"You were always between my father and me." She began to cry again. "You were always there every time he looked at me and I saw the hurt in his eyes. I saw his heart break a little at a time after every comment about my eyes. And I'm suppose to be happy about this?" Gabriella openly wept as she now put her arms protective around her body. "How could I not hate you? You took my father away from me," she sobbed. "He knew." Gabriella turned desperately seeking solace, "and he loved me anyway."

Suddenly Blayne's arms surrounded her. Gabriella sobbed as Blayne held her tightly, as she looked towards Arthur who sat down and looked down forlorn.

"Now I have lost him forever." Gabriella wept as she buried her face in Blayne's chest.

"No you haven't. He loved you. Not because he had to but because he wanted to," Blayne tried to console her.

Gabriella pulled away from her.

"You can't know what it was like. You didn't have people stop talking when you entered a room." Gabriella was getting angry again. "I was always the subject of speculation. And my father…I hate my eyes." Gabriella sat exhausted then took a deep breath.

"I just want to know you," Arthur said softly.

Gabriella looked up quickly. "Well, I don't want to know you!"

Arthur said nothing.

"I have come. Can I go now?" Gabriella asked sarcastically.

Arthur seemed confused and looked towards Blayne.

"I threatened her," Blayne clarified.

"You what!" Arthur got up indignantly.

"I told you I was not the right person for this…I…" Blayne became silent.

"Blayne?" Arthur waited.

"I got the job done," Blayne said point blank.

"Blayne!"

"Isn't that all that matters? You taught me that father," she replied coldly.

Both stood their ground unwilling to back down.

Gabriella was about to say something when Abigail Aston-Carlyle walked into the room closing the door behind her.

"Is something wrong?" She asked looking from Blayne to Arthur.

"No, nothing." Arthur broke eye contact and Blayne seemed to take a breath of relief.

"Gabriella, my dear, I had Henry take your bags up to one of the suites in the east wing. You will get the full sun and the view is lovely from there. Blayne will be next to you," Abigail said with a shaky smile.

Gabriella looked down at her lap.

"I don't think…"

"That will be perfect, mother. That way I will be close by," Blayne said as she challenged Gabriella. Both women looked at each other silently for a moment.

Arthur noticed the eye contact and found it disturbing; he didn't like the idea of Blayne bullying the young woman.

"Gabriella would you prefer a suite in another part of the estate?" Arthur waited for the response.

"Is something wrong?" Abigail looked from Blayne to Arthur.

"She will stay in the east wing," Blayne challenged.

Arthur turned to her with anger evident on his face now.

Gabriella stood up suddenly. "There is no need for a place for me to sleep since I will not be staying."

All three sets of eyes turned towards her now.

Blayne walked up to her and looked down into her eyes as she took her hand gently. She spoke softly so that Gabriella would be the only one to hear her. "You have a father who wants to know you and a sister that might not admit it but that needs you. Stay, for just a little while and give them a chance. At least give Diana a chance. God knows I haven't been able to guide her." Blayne waited patiently for her reply.

Gabriella looked down. Her eyes suddenly caught sight of her hand in Blayne's and she almost became mesmerized by the rhythmic way Blayne's thumb was caressing her palm.

"Diana shares your blood." Gabriella looked up after Blayne made that statement. "Give that a chance. After your mother she is all you have that is a part of you too."

Gabriella seemed shaken and then nodded. "Only for a little while."

"Good enough," Blayne said with a smile.

"One day you are going to outsmart yourself," Gabriella said to her seriously.

Blayne smiled a little. "You think so, little sister?"

Gabriella's eyebrow arched and shook her head. "All right but, I am only committing to a few days. Deal?"

Blayne's mouth smiled slightly. "Deal. Now let me show you to your room." Blayne guided Gabriella passed Abigail and Arthur.

Arthur seemed both surprised and impressed. He had just seen Blayne at her best. Not only had she managed to get Gabriella to stay but also obviously she had found a way of communicating with the woman that seemed to dislike her one-minute and seek comfort from her the next. As usual Blayne never ceased to amaze him.

Gabriella suddenly stopped in front of Abigail. "Thank you, I'm sure the room is lovely."

Abigail was a bit surprised at the earnest expression of the young woman in front of her.

"You're quite welcome my dear." Abigail gave her a smile in return.

Blayne then put her hand on the middle of Gabriella's back and guided her out of the room.



* * *

"You seemed upset when I walked in."

"Blayne sometimes just goes too far," Arthur said as he walked away from his wife and sat down in a chair facing her.

"Blayne is too much like you," Abigail said sadly as she sat in a chair opposite her husband.

"She bullied that girl to come."

"And what did you expect, Arthur?"

Arthur looked up suddenly.

"I didn't expect her to threaten my daughter!" He said as he got up suddenly.

"They seem to understand each other." Abigail pointed out exactly what confused him.

"Oddly enough."

"Has it occurred to you that Blayne, that all the children, may feel threatened by Gabriella?"

"Why?"

"Arthur, for a brilliant man you can be very dense sometimes." Abigail saw the negative reaction her words produced.

"Well, if I am disappointed it is their own fault!"

"I know Chaz and Diana have disappointed you. I know that Blayne in some ways has too by not settling down and having children. They love you Arthur; and your disappointment is quite obvious," Abigail said sadly.

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that coming up short is painful." Abigail's eyes filled with tears.

Arthur stared at her silently.

"Not being first choice is very painful Arthur." Tears now ran down the lovely face of Abigail Aston-Carlyle.

Arthur looked away. The truth was not always easy to take.

"Until recently Blayne was the apple of your eye and now not only is she dealing with the news of loosing you, her father, but not being a first choice."

Arthur turned to her.

"I love all my children," he stated with conviction.

"I know you do. Just remember to let them know it," Abigail said, and then walked out of the room



* * *

"Is she here?" Chaz asked as he walked into the sunroom.

"She's here," replied Diana staring out towards the gardens.

"What do you think?" He asked, sitting down next to her.

"What do I know!" Diana got up and stomped out of the room.

"Jesus! What is wrong with you!"

Chaz followed her and spoke to her as they walked.

"Diana, talk to me."

"Why?" She stopped suddenly and faced him. "Why do you care all of a sudden?"

Chaz seemed confused. "Stop acting like a lunatic for once and talk to me."

Diana searched his face.

"Were you ever glad I was born, Chaz?"

He blinked a few times, surprised by the question.

"Yes of course," he replied matter of factly.

"I don't think I have ever thought you were," Diana said as a tear ran down her face.

Chaz was suddenly seemed at a loss for words.

Diana walked away and this time he did not follow her.



* * *

"The view is lovely." Gabriella was looking out the window of her room.

"Yes it is," Blayne said softly looking at the woman standing only a few feet away.

"Have you always lived here?"

"I don't live here," Blayne clarified.

Gabriella turned around to face her.

"But your mother said…"

"I use the rooms in this wing when I stay here."

"Oh…"

Blayne smiled slightly. "I have a place I stay at in Boston but, home to me is my house in Cape Cod."