Standing just behind a storage rack, Elliot waited until Kayla and Steve exited the room and headed towards the elevator. For the past few days, he would follow the same routine, showing up at the hospital and waiting for the moment when Stephanie was by herself so he could go and visit with her. Each time he went, she had been asleep and that was the way he wanted it. No one would have believed such a confident looking man would be so fearful of this young woman, but he was and the only way he would have seen her, was if she didn’t know.

Placing the large arrangement of red roses on the table by her bedside, he noted the others that adorned the room. None matched the opulence and grandeur of his gift as his seemed to make a statement that this was given to someone who was very important to him. It was the third vase of roses he brought in and they now held a place of prominence within the room. So far, no one had guessed who brought them as they seem to appear when no one was in attendance and he never left a card to expose his generosity.

Steve had wrongfully assumed they were from Benjy, though a nagging feeling told him from the start that he was incorrect. Benjy had already suggested his cousin, but as no one had seen him around, it wasn’t considered a feasible answer. As he had done on his previous visits, Elliot had been content to just sit by her side and hold Stephanie’s hand while she slept. The color of her complexion was much improved and she was mending well, but the grimaces of pain that sometimes flashed over her face told all, she was still in great pain and would be for a long time.

"Do you know I find myself tongued when I’m with you? I cannot seem to say what I want to say. My thoughts are just so jumbled… all I have to do is be with you for that to happen."

He stroked her hand and held it, feeling the warmth of her, the softness made him feel how much he wanted to hold her again. Just one more time, he had wished. "I won’t be back tomorrow Sweetheart… you see I leave today, in a few hours. I have some last minute details to take care of at the office… then I’ll be gone."

She seemed to listen to him, though deep in sleep, Stephanie’s face was turned to his and she had a calm expression on her face, as though listening in earnest to his farewell. "That’s what I wanted to tell you… I don’t know when I’ll be coming back… or if. After everything that has happened… what my father’s men did… I need to find a way to make it right again."

Speaking softly, in low hush tones, he watched her, perhaps hoping she would open her eyes and tell him not to leave, perhaps waking and pulling him towards her for a kiss. Elliot sat and watched her, kept his few minutes of vigil over her sleeping form, but not once did she move or stir. "Benjamin said he will stay a while longer… his injuries are much better already that he may come to see you soon himself." Gazing at her, the tears that had formed already made his eyes misty and uncomfortable that he stood abruptly. His composure was shaken, but he quickly pulled himself together before an embarrassing situation could occur.

"I am here to say… I guess I’m here to say goodbye. I wish we had… more time… more moments… but it won’t happen, not for us… Goodbye Stephanie." He told her sadly. Lifting her hand to his lips, he placed a kiss there, then bent down and put another at her lips. She stirred then, and moved uneasily before falling back asleep without truly waking. Pressing his lips to her forehead, he gave her one last kiss before standing up and walking to the door. "Goodbye Sweetheart." His last words hung in the air between them as he opened the door and walked out of her room.

Benjy was just as surprised in finding him leaving her room as Elliot was in being caught. His cousin saw in his wheelchair pushed by an orderly, obviously on his way to visit too. Then met just outside her room and as Benjy struggle to sign to him. "It’s okay…" Elliot told him as he took hold of his cousin’s chair. "Should you be out of bed so soon?"

"I okay… It’s only for a little while." Gesturing with his head, Benjy motioned to Stephanie’s room and questioned him further. "Why didn’t you let her know you’ve been visiting?"

"How do you kno… have you seen me here before?"

"The flowers. They are from you?"

"Yes… I guess they are quite obvious. I thought it best I kept out of everyone’s way."

"Is it because of Steve Johnson… because he’s not going to deny you visits."

"No. Well, I had thought to avoid the man as much as I could, but… its better that I just make myself scarce."

"Why?"

"Because I leave today."

Benjy looked taken back and merely gazed at him a bit perplexed. "I didn’t know you would go ahead and continue with your plans. I thought… I thought maybe you would postpone your trip."

"There’s no need to do that. Everything has been set for a while now. It’s best… that I just proceeded as planned." There it was again, the same unemotional, unreachable façade that had been missing from him the past couple of weeks. For the last few days, Elliot was almost human in his show of emotion, but all that vanished as Benjy stared back seeing his cousin turn once again into Mr. Lansing.

"And what about Stephanie? I hear she’s asked for you."

"Has she?" Benjy saw it there, a bit of feeling reached for the surface but Elliot squashed it back down just as quickly. "I’m afraid there won’t be time for me to make a proper farewell, so I’ve just made a quick stop to see she is well and then I can be off."

"Did you understand what I just said… she’s asked for you."

"Yes… so you’ve said."

"But you’re still leaving? Why? " Benjy frowned at him then and brought up the one sore point that had always hindered him. "This is because of Steve Johnson? You’re giving up because he doesn’t like you."

It would be so easy if it was that simple. How much he would have liked for it to be that simple, but it wasn’t. Elliot tried taking a deep breath and he swore he felt his heart beat against his chest in protest. His heart, he thought and frowned too. "The man could never stop me… if I made my choice Benjamin. No… I am leaving because I need to. There are matters which must be taken care of."

"So it’s true then, you’re selling both."

"Yes. I find keeping them troublesome and unnecessary."

"But why the estate? I know your mother’s house was never a happy place for you, but the house in England… it’s your birthright. Don’t throw that away." Benjy came as close to pleading with him as he ever had in all the years they knew each other.

Letting out a sigh, Elliot smiled almost cautiously before responding. "There are sad memories there too. It wasn’t always filled with laughter either."

"I know." Benjy agreed with him, dejectedly. "When will you return… at the end of the month?"

Elliot turned his gaze off to the side then, thinking to himself that it would be a very long time before he would be back here. Benjy sat and waited and the longer he waited, the more uneasy he became. "Elliot? When will you be coming back?"

"I don’t know."

For a long moment, Benjy just stared at him, his expression a mixture of sadness, confusion and some anger. Beneath the seemingly haughty exterior his cousin was showing, the man was hiding something and he could almost feel the underlying layer was one made from pain. It came to him that the man was contemplating never coming back. "You can’t leave it like this. She’ll want to know why. You just can’t leave her like this."

Neither one had to explain who the she was and the message was understood too, that Elliot was running away, instead of fighting. "She has you…" He told Benjamin and quickly regretted saying the words. The small voice inside him called him a fool, but he hushed him. "… You are here for her."

"I am her friend. She chose you… not me."

"Then she will choose again."

"Love doesn’t happen that way." Benjy shook his head at him again. "Don’t be a fool, Elliot."

Giving a small laugh, his cousin smiled back and gave his arm a quick pat. "I am never that… but what I will be is late if I don’t finish what I need to at the office. The apartment is yours for as long as you need and my assistant will see to you should you require help. Goodbye Benjamin… perhaps when you are better… you will come and see me in London."

"So you’re really not coming back?"

"I haven’t said that… but it may be a very long time before I return here." He looked once more towards Stephanie’s door before giving Benjy a reassuring look and smile. "If you need to reach me… you’ll know where to call."

"Yes… I know." The disappointment that showed was strong, but Benjy hoped he would come to his senses before too much damage could occur. "Have a safe trip, Elliot."

"Thank you Benjamin. Goodbye." He watched as Elliot headed to the elevator and takes it down to the street level, leaving him alone just outside her door. He felt bad for the two of them and wished something would happen to make Elliot change his mind. He just didn’t know what.

"I’m sorry, Stephanie…I tried." He told himself as he waited for the orderly to wheel him inside her room.

**********

No one seemed to mind that Stephanie had slept through their visits. The roll call of visitors had been limited, but still, each prominent member of their extended family was there to do a quick peek in. Steve had remained in the background, her sentry as grandparents and an uncle or two dropped in and just as quickly dropped out. Seeing the smile on her sleeping face and the rosy color that had returned to her cheeks were enough to give them all a big sigh of relief that all was well. Benjy’s brief two minute stay also went by unnoticed by all, but he made it known he would make another attempt later on that day when Stephanie would be awake.

Stephanie opened her eyes to find her father sitting at a chair near the window, reading the newspaper and drinking coffee. His attention, though focused on the fine print was truly held by it as he glanced up to look at her after just a few second. "Baby! You’re awake!"

"How long have I slept?" Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she tried moving, but quickly felt the sharp pain and let out a loud moan. Her face twisted into a grimace as rushed over to help her get comfortable.

"Easy… easy…! I’ve got you." She gripped hard at the hand that held hers as the pillows were moved at her back and she was able to sit up a little better. "Does it hurt really bad, baby? I could get your mama and have her give you some pain killers."

"It always hurts, papa… but…I’m okay." Her face had grown flush and red as she bit down at the pain, but when she faced Steve, he saw how bravely she was fighting showing him how much it really hurt.

He brushed his fingers through her hair and gave her a quick kiss before pulling a chair up and sitting beside the bed. "You missed all your guests today. Even your uncle’s Roman and Bo were here."

"Were they? Someone should have woken me up." Looking around the room, the number of flower filled vases seemed to have multiplied by ten since yesterday. Stephanie’s eyes widened in pleasure at seeing so many and instantly began to guess at who sent which to her.

"I told them they could, but no one wanted to disturb your beauty sleep, so they just left presents and said they’ll come back again."

"All these flowers all from family?"

"Pretty much, except for a few" Pointing to a large assortment near the window, Steve told her that was from the racing team. "They also called and told you to hurry and get well because you are needed back."

Smiling at the thought, she wondered if she would ever be able to race again. While the doctors were able to save her leg, there were no guarantees she could in the same top form as before. The idea that her racing could be over suddenly hit her and she nearly sobbed aloud at the pain of that loss. With her papa sitting so close, he could tell where her thoughts had turned to as he squeezed her hands and forced her to smile back. "Don’t think of that, baby… don’t give up yet."

Nodding at him, Stephanie made herself smile, she made herself stop focusing on the worst. Until she actually tried again, she wouldn’t know. Her eyes caught a beautiful arrangement or long stem red roses on the table just by her bed. Looking around the room, she saw two more, exactly the same, placed on two other tables. From where she lay, she had not been able to spot a card and had turned to her father when he saw where she had been looking and mentioned the flowers first.

"Those red ones just showed up here. No messenger, no card… I have no idea who sent them."

"Maybe… maybe they’re from Benjy?" As soon as she asked, she wished very hard that she would be wrong.

"No, he sent that arrangement of Orchids… but he did mention it was probably Elliot." When Steve said the man’s name, Stephanie watched him carefully, expecting to see the same disgruntled expression he always wore when Elliot’s name came up in conversation, but this time, it was lacking.

She had to ask, she needed to now because one time, she thought she saw him but she realized after it must have been a dream. "Has he been around?"

"I don’t think so… well leastwise, not when I’ve been here and I’m almost always here."

"I guess he’s been busy." There was no way she could hide the disappointment in her voice much less the forlorn expression on her face. All she could think of was what happened between them that day. Stephanie thought she had gotten to him, that she finally reached him, but now? She just wished he would show up so they could talk.

"He’s leaving for England tonight, baby."

"Maybe he’s visit after he gets back."

"I’m sure he will." Thinking to turn the topic back to Benjy as he had a habit of doing whenever Elliot was mention, this was the first time, he held his tongue and just let the subject end where it was.

"You haven’t said one bad thing about him so far." Stephanie noticed too.

"I guess I haven’t."

"Don’t tell me you’re starting to like him?"

"Well I’m grateful to him for keeping you safe… but don’t go putting words into my mouth."

"But papa, you don’t hate him anymore… even I can see that."

Steve gave her a sly grin and gently cupped her face. She looked back at him with hopeful eyes, wanting so much for his dislike to end. "I never… really… hated the man. He just got on my nerves from time to time."

"What if I told you… what if I said he’s more than just a friend to me? Would you be mad?"

His sigh was loud and deep and Steve sat back in his chair letting his daughters words sink into him. "I’m not mad… just… I just want you to be happy… you know?"

"And if Elliot makes me happy? What then?"

"I’d still say… be sure, be very, very sure because I couldn’t bear it if you were hurt."

"Were you sure with mom? She always told she knew you were the man the moment you let her see under there." Stephanie pointed to his patch and Steve handled it, as was his habit when he felt a little uneasy.

"You can’t really compare your mama and me to the two of you."

"Why not?"

"It’s different, baby! We’re different."

"You know papa… if you would just take a closer look… you’d see just how much you and Elliot are alike."

"Oh no! Not you too! Have you been talking to your mama behind my back? Geez, you women sure know how to gang up on a man."

"Mom and I haven’t talked much about Elliot. I’m speaking for me and what I’ve seen."

"Well I haven’t seen anything." He told her. When he started shifting around in his chair, she knew she was getting to him and he could either close up or mouth off, either of which wasn’t what she wanted.

"Maybe when he gets back and we spend more time together… maybe you’ll feel differently then."

"Don’t hold your breath baby. As I said, I may not hate the man, but I haven’t put him on my Christmas card list yet."

"I have no worries."

The knock on the door made both turn in that direction as the door swung open and Benjy was wheeled in. The big, happy smile on his face bounced back from Stephanie’s then Steve’s as the man came over to get him. "Well… lookie here… you’re looking good there dude." The bandages around his arm were half covered by the robe he wore though he moved a little easier now.

Pushing his wheel chair up on the other side of the bed, he reached out a hand to Stephanie as she eagerly placed hers in his and felt relieved at his own fast recovery. Seeing her awake and cheerful, made him smile more deeply, forcing his dimples to pop out. Moving his arm around, both Steve and Stephanie saw him grimace slightly but his signing was still as fluid as ever and he looked eager to tell of his own news. "I came earlier… but you were asleep."

"I know… that’s what everyone’s been saying."

"But you’re better… the leg… it’s going to be well?"

Steve went ahead and answered first, forgetting how much sign Stephanie had learned in the last few months, but no one seemed to mind. "Doctors say it will take a while, but she’s going to be fine

"They performed a miracle considering how much damage was there. But I’m feeling really good… optimistic."

Benjy certainly looked pleased and happy, but he also sensed the not so hidden fears of what had changed because of the injury. He thought a long moment before actually bringing it up and Stephanie did seem to expect he would ask. "Will you be okay to race?"

"Truthfully… I don’t know just yet." Her deep, lasting sigh spoke volumes in regards to what she didn’t hope would be the outcome. If anything, time was the enemy here for her. Even with the racing team giving her the nice get well message, there was no question she would be replaced any day now and the official word would be she had to be removed due to unforeseen injuries. It wasn’t personally, it was business and his was one outcome that was just inevitable.

Each time she thought about it, Stephanie wanted to cry, but crying wasn’t going to change anything. She was injured, she would be replaced, her season was over, end of story. "I’m sorry Stephanie. I know how hard it will be… not to know if you could continue until… I wish it didn’t have to be this way for you."

She forced a smile and tossed her head around as her curls bounce from her shoulder to the pillows. The unfailing Johnson spirit, she had it and much more. There were no absolutes so far, only countless ifs and possibilities that no one had sure answers for. If the chance to race again was there, she would find it. "Don’t worry. I may be down right now, but I’ll be back. So… what about your shoulder there… that looks like its healing well too?"

"Yeah dude." Steve piped in as he moved to get some water. "It’s only been a few days and you’re already getting around this place. Don’t overdo it… you know."

"I’m not… but the doctors did say I should be out of here in another couple of days."

"That fast?" Stephanie asked as he nodded. "Are you still staying at Elliot’s apartment?"

It was there, the subtle yet unhidden look in her face, the slight fluctuation in her voice when she said his name. Benjy saw the same just a short while ago when he told Elliot Stephanie had asked about him. The man was still at his office, but only for another couple of hours if that then he would be gone. Stephanie didn’t know yet.

"Yes… Elliot told me to stay as long as I wanted. He leaves in a little while for England."

"That’s what we heard." Steve’s deep voice answered again for his daughter and when he faced her, she looked frail and weak all of a sudden. "So when do you expect him back… by next week, right?"

Just as he thought, they didn’t know, no one did. The man who came mysteriously into town was leaving under even more unknown and silent circumstances. If only he hadn’t made such a huge lasting impact here, his departure wouldn’t be noticed. Benjy has seen Steve’s earlier dislike of his cousin change over the course in the last few days, but somehow, he couldn’t imagine seeing him that upset over Elliot’s long lasting absence. Stephanie’s feelings were an entirely different matter. Here, Elliot had erred in his judgment and choices.

What exactly could he tell them by the truth. There was every chance he would never return. "He didn’t say… but I don’t expect he’ll be coming back for a long time."

Stephanie’s stunned expression told him all and he felt bad being the one to break the news. "What are you saying… he’s not returning? I don’t understand?"

"He’s mentioned business abroad that will take a long time to settle… so I don’t know how long… maybe months… maybe more than that…?"

"Did he tell you goodbye, Benjy?" Her voice has become so small that Steve gave his daughter a worried look.

When Benjy nodded, she pressed her lips tightly together and tried to look away, but she had too many eyes on her to remain unseen. There was nothing Steve could do to change things and he wasn’t sure he wanted to. Truthfully, Benjy’s news did surprise him too and a part of him was happy, but his joy quickly died when he saw his daughter’s face. It was another blow she didn’t need now and if he could bring the man back so she would cheer up he would do just that. He hadn’t lied to Stephanie when he said he no longer disliked Elliot. But his feelings for him were still confused that he needed time too, to figure out what he really felt about the man.

Since waking up from his dream in the chapel, he had told no one about remembering the rest of his memories. Now he had a name to put with the grave and a dark story to tell. He had no idea how to tell John other than just telling him, without fanfare and hoping the man could take it. But how could he accept a story like that? It still bothered him wondering if Elliot had known, did he know what happened all those years?

"Papa?"

At the sound of her small voice, Steve felt a small piece of his heart just ache for his girl, especially knowing there was nothing he could do to stop her pain. "What is it baby?"

"I’m just feeling really tired, papa. I want to take a nap if that’s okay." She looked defeated and it just tore away at him. Benjy looked guilty to being the bearer of bad news, but Steve knew the real reason was now getting ready, preparing himself to walk out of his daughter’s life without even a goodbye.

"Sure baby." Giving her a quick kiss on her forehead, he helped her settled again against the pillows as she closed her eyes and turned her face away from them. "Come on Benjy… let’s get you back to your room."

They left the room without another glance as Stephanie opened her eyes, looking straight at the vase of red roses by her bed. Reaching with one hand, she fingered the plump healthy bloom before letting her hand fall back on the bed and shutting her eyes again so the tears wouldn’t flow. She failed miserably as they came down and washed the pink from her cheeks.

**********

John slipped his head through the door and saw that Stephanie was fast asleep. Bringing over the flower arrangement, he carried it in and set it down on one of the tables, looking around at the dozen vases all over the room. Obviously everyone else had the same idea as he and Marlena. Tiptoeing over to her, he gave her a gentle smile before making his way out again. He probably should have called first, but since Marlena was there to meet with a patient, he just tagged along. There was still a part of him that regarded Stephanie as family, his once upon a time niece. Even if he wasn’t a Brady now, he still loved her as though he was her uncle.

Hearing about her accident just made his guts boil and nearly sent him to Portia’s house, though all had ended by the time word reached him of the disturbance. With the ISA getting involved, he kept his distance, only approaching now that things had calmed down. No one had told him the Gabriel’s were in Salem, but from Bo’s remarks, it looked like they kept a very low profile and didn’t show until they were ready to attack. This time, they took a civilian casualty only they picked the wrong one. Standing outside her room a few minutes longer, Steve returned to find him looking through the glass in the door at Stephanie, his face grim, but caring.

"John? What are you doing here?"

"Came to see the kid! Brought some flowers… like everyone else." He grinned.

"Popular choice. Thanks for coming. She’s resting right now, so I went for a quick bite."

"Yeah well… Marlena had to come in, so I figured I could swing by, see how she was."

"Thanks… I really appreciate that."

Steve looked at him, he watched as John stood so at ease and calm. He came here for Stephanie, but now that he was there, he had to tell him. The whole room seemed to feel so hot and uncomfortable all of a sudden as Steve swayed from one foot to the other, trying to find the words to start, to steer them to what he needed to say. John spared him a glance while looking around to see if Marlena had finished yet. It was probably the fidgeting that caught his attention the most and he faced the man fully seeing the clear agitation.

Taking several deep breaths, Steve gave him the most meaningful expression he could muster, but it didn’t do any good, he wasn’t tuning in to what was wrong. The only thing John could get was the man was uneasy and the uneasiness was directed at him. Could it have something to do with the Gabriel’s? Whatever they came for wasn’t his to give, so his connection to them was rather non distinct. In fact there was nothing there to tie them together.

"John… we need to have… I need to tell you…" He couldn’t get the words out and it made him seem more desperate. Just tell him, he thought to himself. End his suffering and your and tell him.

"What’s the matter with you?" Thinking a moment, Johns suddenly panicked that there was something more with Stephanie. "Wait, she is okay right? I heard she was doing good?"

"Stephanie’s fine! She perfect! It’s not her… it’s you."

"Me?"

"John… I have news." The man just looked back at him confused and gave a small shake of his head.

"What news?"

Steve swallowed and gave him a hard look. He could feel his throat constrict and tighten, but he forced himself to continue. "You know John… you know."

Marlena had just come out of the elevator when she spotted her husband outside the room with Steve. She was about to join them when she heard her name called and walked in the opposite direction towards the nurses’ station. From where she stood, she could still see the two men clearly, though anything spoke by them, remained unknown. One of the nurses mentioned she had been paged, but as she checked for messages, now were showing up. Asking them to recheck, she turned her glance once again to the two men and from across the wide space saw her husband’s face turn ashen as he nearly slumped forward.

Rushing over, she caught him, pulling him out of Steve’s grasp as the man had grabbed hold of his arm, preventing him from falling. "John! What is it? What happened? You look like you seen a gho…"

His eyes welled up fast and the anguish spread clear through, cutting through him like a knife in butter. John could barely hold himself steady and pulled Marlena into his arms, holding her tightly as she looked towards Steve, clearly confused. Steve turned his gaze away from them and took a few steps away, but it wasn’t far enough not to hear John’s tortured cry. "Doc… Doc?"

"Yes… I’m here! What is it?"

"Doc?" He could only say her name. It was the only source of strength the man had at that moment and even that wouldn’t get him through the nightmare.

**********

Closing the last of his files, Elliot signed off his final orders and stamped his seal on the papers, ready to be handed in to his assistant the following morning. The company was still operational though at least for now, the main headquarters would move from Salem to London because that’s where he planned to live for a while. It was better this way for everyone. He was more at ease and at home there, it was his world where as here in Salem, he was an outsider.

There really wasn’t much left to do. The office would still be kept and run by his staff. There was no reason to lay them off and his assistant could handle things quite well as he already had experience when Elliot needed to be out of town. It was simply a change in venue, a new zip code and nothing more. He had moved once already so another trip across the pond was nothing new or hard. It was forgetting that would be difficult. Matters there in Salem had progressed to a level he never expected. But as all things could be built and strengthened, in the same note, they could be torn down and broken.

He wasn’t going to think about what he was leaving behind. Now that he made his choice he had to stick with it and he would not be deterred. Like his father, his choices were simple and straightforward. Once he chose his path, he rarely ever swayed or made detours. It was a stubborn trait and made him more miserable than happy, but it kept him alive. He felt at his chest then, though the thin fabric of his shirt, his fingers rubbed over the slight ridges just beneath, moving up and down the old scar, marking where his life ended and started again.

Just like now. As he was closing his life in Salem, he would continue again in London. It was his answer, the one he chose and the one he would live with. Gathering the last of his personal effects, he placed them in the carrying bag he brought, leaving the room clean and clutter free. It would be as though he was never there. Closing the bag shut, the sound of the door opening startled him as Elliot looked up to see John enter his office.

He walked in, his steps heavy and uneven as he faced the younger man. With eyes deathly still, only the glistening film over them marked their presence. It was something Elliot could not bear to see. John walked slowly, drudgingly, making his way until he stood just a foot away and stopped at a standstill. They faced each other a moment before the older man’s eyes fell just to his chest, seeking the spot where a part of him now lived. Lifting his hand up, he reached high, placing it over the beating and set his palm down, letting the rise and fall touch him there.

John narrowed his gaze, focusing on one part and one part only as his eyes closed and the beating grew stronger. Elliot had not looked at first, but chose to turn his head away, letting his gaze fall elsewhere. It was only when the other could not see him that he chanced a look back and saw what he never hoped to see again. Elliot saw the man’s heart break before him as he finally found the answer to his nightmare. Tears fell from his eyes as John felt his son’s heart beat against his hand.

Taking the floral arrangement of roses cut from the bushes in the garden, Elliot lay them down on his father’s grave and stood back, brushing off some leaves and twigs that littered his mound. He had visited every day since arriving, doing his rightful duty as a son. The house had been placed on the market that morning and he wouldn’t have many more chances to visit once prospective buyers came to inspect and browse. For now, he did what he could. He paid his respects because in spite of what Greyson did, he was still his father.

Not too far off, the couple walked hand in hand and finding the small hill knew they were close. The woman saw the small headstone first pointing to it as her husband advanced and kneeled down at the foot of the grave. His wife came by his side and held the flowers they brought in her hands. She watched as he traced the letters of the child’s name with his fingers before bowing his head, as his shoulders shook from his sobbing. She waited a long moment, giving him as much time as he needed while her own tears fell for the boy almost forgotten.

When John finally lifted his head, he turned and asked Marlena for the flowers and taking them from her, he placed it across the headstone of his son’s grave. "Julian." His father whispered his name as the breeze brushed by them, sending a sudden, quick chill of air before disappearing and the warmth returned.

Steve parked his car and reaching for the small bouquet of flowers, got out and walked towards the grave near the large sycamore tree. It was shaded there casting shadows to fall in and around the grave and he had to wonder if that Portia was happy with where she was laid to rest. As he had done a few times before, he brought her a small bouquet of flowers, placing them in the ceramic vase just to the side of her headstone. No one had known he made this special trip every once in a while and he saw no reason to advertise his activities for it neither benefited nor hurt anyone. A few blooms and a few minutes of his time weren’t too much to give up.

It was then he noticed the other arrangement, nearly half dead now but still lovely and grand. The large red roses had only partially opened though the edges of several had already begun to shrivel and brown. He had a good understanding of who brought them here, and while he was surprised, a part of him expected it to happen, eventually. For Portia’s sake, he was happy Elliot finally visited his mother. Placing his own flowers in the vase, he just looked again at her headstone, noting the simplicity of the design. So unlike her life where chaos and confusion reigned. At least in death, she could now rest.

"Rest in Peace, Portia… rest in Peace."

THE END.