Serena was humming to herself as she fixed lunch when Luke walked into the house. DJ was sleeping peacefully in one corner of the room, and Luke assumed Daniel was in the clinic, which was just as well because he wanted privacy for this talk.

She looked up and smiled at her friend, but her smile faltered a bit at the expression on his usually happy face. "Hi Luke. What a nice surprise."

Luke grinned then turned to the small boy in the cradle and touched him tenderly. "Is this a bad time?"

"No, you're just in time for lunch, unless you're going home." There it was a flash of pain in his face, aha! Something was wrong at home.

"No, I'll be eating lunch in town."

"No, you'll be eating lunch here." She vowed to wait until he brought up whatever was bothering him. It wasn't her job to pry. She didn't have to wait long.

"I need to talk to you Serena. But I need to talk with my best friend and not Meg's stepmother."

Serena's eyebrows rose, it must be serious if he was putting conditions on their conversation. After a quick moment she agreed to put aside her role as his mother in law and allowed herself to be his friend. Luke told her about the entire confrontation he'd had with Meghan, by the time he had told her that Meg had told him she wasn't sure if she wanted the marriage to work, he had tears in his eyes. Serena was shocked and took a seat across from him, seeing his pain she rose and hugged him tightly.

"I don't know what I'm going to do if she leaves me." He said softly.

"I would never have believed this from her. Do you know what's caused this?" She asked although she was pretty sure this had something to do with Ian.

"No, I thought about asking her, but when she said she wasn't sure if she wanted the marriage to work, I just told her that she needed to find out what she wanted. If she decides to work things out, I'll find out then where I went wrong. But I do know that Ian had to have deceived her somehow."

She knew it! She'd known that nothing good could come from that man's appearance in town. Serena sighed loudly. "Meg's very young Luke and from what I see she's confused."

"I know." Luke nodded It's just my life, too.

"But that doesn't excuse her behavior, she's made vows."

Luke nodded, "Yes, she's made vows, but she also stopped it before something more serious happened, and it was only a kiss."

"Why are you defending her? There is no excuse for what she's done." Luke sighed and put his hands over his face. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. Serena saw his dejection and toned down her anger. She'd save it for Meghan later.

I don't know why I'm defending her. I still love her. He said to himself.

"You love her." She stated. In reply Luke nodded. "Then you have to fight for her. Do you think Ian will sit back and let Meg make the decision, or do you think he'd try to convince her that he's the best choice?" Before Luke could answer, Serena heard Daniel coming in from the clinic. "You should get yourself together before Daniel comes in. I don't think we should tell him about this just yet."

Luke agreed and quickly made his way over to the sink to remove any traces of sadness from his eyes just as Daniel walked into the room. The doctor stopped short when he saw his son-in-law and he quickly eyed Serena. Something was going on here. "Luke, you okay? You look like you're upset about something."

Luke nodded quickly. "I'm fine, it was windy outside, and I got a bit of dust in my eyes is all."

Daniel's eyebrows shot up, dust my eye, he thought then glanced at Serena. His wife wouldn't meet his gaze. Yep, something definitely was going on, and he would find out what it was later. "Lunch ready?"

"In a few minutes." Serena replied then subtly motioned for the doctor to leave. He sighed then kissed her and told her he'd be in the study. He excused himself then left the two of them alone once more.

As soon as Daniel was out of hearing range Serena turned back to Luke. "So?"

Luke sighed and sat at the table once more. "I don't want to confuse her more. I want her to stay because she loves me, not because I won in some game for her affections. I want her to be happy. Her happiness comes before mine."

"Luke sometimes it pays to be selfish. Meg is confused, and Ian is playing on her weaknesses. You have to convince her that you are what she needs, court her as if you two weren't married."

"If she chooses me, then I'll do a proper courtship, but I don't want to confuse her more. I'm afraid of confusing her more. Serena, why is Ian doing this to me? I mean he did it first with Sheila. I thought that he just wanted Sheila, but now I'm not so sure. What did I ever do to him?"

"You're asking the wrong person, Luke. This is something you should take up with Ian himself." She replied, and he nodded in agreement. "As far as a courtship goes, Luke she's never been courted. She sees Corey and Dean, and I think she wants that, too." She sighed loudly, "Ian will take whatever advantage you give him and turn it in his favor. You can't wait for Meghan, Luke, especially when Ian is after her like a hound in a hunt." Luke took it all in, maybe he'd take Meg out for a nice dinner without the kids. "There's no law that says you can't woo your wife Luke. Especially in a situation like this." She took his hand in hers and squeezed it tightly, "Don't let him win Luke. Fight for your wife."

Luke nodded, "You're right. There is no law, but I don't want her to feel trapped."

Serena inhaled deeply, "Give it a try. I think Meghan won't feel trapped at all. A woman likes to be pursued, maybe that's Ian's lure. If you see that you're trapping her then step back for a while and let her breathe." She sat back weakly, "Maybe this is as much mine and Daniel's fault, too. Maybe we should have made you court properly before agreeing to the marriage. I knew she was feeling lonely." She said softly

Luke looked up in surprise. "What do you mean?"

Serena smiled sadly. "She was jealous that her friends from Boston all had beaus. She wanted one so badly. And then you just popped right up, and you were the answer to her prayers. Add to that the fact that Corey was gone and well . . ."

"Well, maybe we should have waited. I never thought that before last night, though. It's not your fault. It's my fault. I'm old enough to know better than to rush things."

"You love her and wouldn't have thought to wait, but Meg, well she never had strong feelings for anyone. She's had crushes on people like Buck and even Simon, but that isn't the same."

Luke nodded. He remembered the feelings that he thought he had for Serena. They weren't as strong as the feelings he'd had for Meghan.

"I don't doubt she loves you Luke, that's why you need to make her see how much she cares. I think the only one who can do that is you."

"But doesn't she need to find out on her own? I mean I don't want her to be afraid of hurting me when she leaves. I know she loves me and doesn't want me to be hurt. But my goal is to make her happy and if that means letting her go, I will even though I'd die inside." He replied as his voice broke.

"Don't you dare roll over and give her up! You fight for her!"

Luke shook his head. Serena just didn't understand that he wanted her to be completely sure of her decision. He didn't want her to have second thoughts years down the road.

"Meghan loves you, and Ian has played her against you. He took advantage of her and once she allowed it he knew how to strike." Serena waited for a response, but Luke just nodded causing Serena to sigh loudly. "Meghan knows her heart, she knew it the day she married you. She knew it the day she realized she loved you. Ian has made her doubt herself." Luke didn't know what to say but he was thinking about everything that his friend was saying. Serena paused then continued, "If you allow her to doubt what she felt, then eventually she'll begin turning to Ian more and more, and he'll play up his friendship then he'll start telling her you don't care." Luke thought about the day that they had confessed their love for each other. How he had took her in his arms and kissed her, and how she had kissed him back. Was that what Ian had somehow discovered? Luke tried to think of how he could subtly let Meg know that he still loves her.

"No one said love was easy Luke. Lord knows I've had my share of trouble with Daniel, but we've worked through it together. The best things in life are worth fighting for. Don't let Ian get the upper hand." She took his hand in hers once more and stared at the face that had traveled over an ocean with her, "As your friend I am telling you that what Meghan did was the ultimate betrayal. But also as your friend, I'm telling you that she's worth fighting for."

"No, Serena, she stopped it before it got to the ultimate betrayal. She didn't sleep with him."

"But how long do you have until she doesn't stop it? Just think about it Luke. You and Meg belong together." He nodded, his mind racing with ideas on how to court Meghan. Serena kissed his cheek then hugged him once more. "It'll work out I know it."

"I hope so, Serena. I hope so." Luke replied then hugged her once more. "I better get back to the shop."

"What about lunch?"

"Some other time."

Serena watched him leave then turned to get Daniel for lunch. He attempted to find out what was wrong, but she refused to tell him for fear of his reaction. She'd take care of this herself. After lunch was over Serena told her husband she was going to see Meghan. He told her to be careful but wondered what was wrong with his daughter that caused her husband to be so upset and made his wife, her physician, run to her side.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Serena could hear the babies' wails from the porch. She tried the door only to find that it was unlocked. Panicked, she ran into the house, her son in her arms to find Meg sitting in her parlor. Her hair was loose and disheveled, she was still wearing her robe and she had both hands over her ears as her children cried from the bassinets in front of her.

"Meghan?!"

She looked up and Serena could see the distress in her face and hope in her eyes. "I can't get them to stop crying. I don't know what to do Serena."

She looked so tired and so worried that Serena wasn't sure she could confront her. First things first, she placed a sleeping DJ in his sister's arms while she checked on both Grant and Liz. "How long have they been crying?"

"All morning. First Liz would cry then I'd quiet her down, and Grant would start up. It's been back and forth like that for several hours. Fifteen minutes ago they both ganged up on me."

Serena picked up Grant and bounced him gently, immediately the boy quieted down and slept. When she was sure of his slumber, Serena gently placed him in the bassinet and picked up Liz, as if on cue the little girl followed her brother. "There now," Serena said as she placed a sleeping Liz in her cradle. "They're just a bit fussy." When she looked up she found Meghan crying softly and sitting slumped back on the couch with DJ in her arms. "Oh Meghan."

Meg released the child into his mother's arms then quickly wiped her cheeks. Luke, Corey and now her children had all turned against her but she would get through it . . . somehow. "Thank you Serena, I didn't know what I was going to do."

"It's alright Sweetie."

"What are you doing here?"

"Luke came by to see me today." She promised herself she'd be brief and to the point.

Meghan's heart dropped. He'd told her, it was written on her every feature. "Could we talk in the kitchen? I don't want to disturb the children." Serena nodded and followed her stepdaughter into the kitchen. "Can I get you anything?"

"No. Have you eaten?"

Meghan let out a weary breath. "No, and I'm not hungry. I'd just rather you get on with whatever you're here for, so I can sleep for a while."

Serena knew how hard it was with one newborn. She couldn't imagine taking care of two. "What is going on with you and Ian?"

"That seems to be the question on everyone's minds these days." Meg sneered. "What has Luke told you?"

"That you've kissed him."

"You knew that."

"I knew about the mistletoe incident Meghan. An incident you swore wouldn't happen again."

"I'm horrible. I'm a horrible wife, a horrible mother and a horrible friend."

"Is that your excuse for betraying the vows you made? For breaking the heart of a man who loves you with every fiber of his being?"

Meghan's head fell onto her arms and she wept loudly. "What do you want me to say?"

"I want to know why Meghan! Why did you do this?"

"I don't know."

"Don't give me that. I am not buying it! You fix this Meghan. Luke is too good a man to tell you what to do, but I am going to lay down the rules here." She inhaled deeply. "You are not to spend another moment alone with Ian Grant do you understand me?"

"He's my friend, the only close one I've got since Corey's not speaking to me anymore. I am not giving him up!"

"Then you will lose Luke." Serena shook her head slowly, "Remember him? The man you promised to love until death? The man who has been there to cheer you in every accomplishment you've had and wiped your tears for every disappointment you've faced. The one who convinced your father to sign a recommendation for Medical school, the man who built you a home, who gave you children, who-"

"Enough! I get it Serena. Luke has been there for me, and I know nothing about Ian. I love Luke. I really do, but I don't know what I feel for Ian."

"And you want to find out?"

"Maybe." Meghan sighed sadly. "I don't know what I want to do."

Serena sat beside the younger woman and held her hand. "This is killing Luke as much as it's killing you Meghan. Try to work this out."

"I can't. He won't speak to me."

Serena smiled. "He will." She rose and helped Meghan to her feet. "Now go get some sleep. I'll stay and watch the kids."

Meghan hugged her stepmother. "Thank you for listening Serena."

"You're welcome."

"Oh Serena?"

"Yes?"