"Good." Arthur said taking a deep breath. "You must pardon these two Joseph."
Joseph smiled at Arthur. "I understand Arthur, my brother and I are the same. We never stop competing." Joseph added as he smiled.
Blayne turned to him with a smile of disgust. Gabriella did not fail to notice.
"Blayne come here and meet the children," said the Diana as she took her sister by the arm. "What the hell is going on between you and Chaz these days?" She asked under her breath as they both walked towards Christopher first.
"This is Christopher." Diana said with a smile.
Blayne smiled and put her hand out to the handsome little boy.
"Yeah, that's me."
"You are taller than I imagined." Blayne said.
The boy smiled proudly. "Grandfather is taking me riding tomorrow." Christopher said the excitement evident in his voice.
"Is he now? Are you a good rider young man?" Blayne was enjoying talking to the little boy. Diana walked away leaving them both in a very animated conversation. She also noticed that Gabriella would always turn every so often and look towards Blayne.
Elle remained separate and apart. Gabriella went over to her daughter.
"Do you want to go to bed sweetheart? Are you sure you weren't hurt?"
"I'm okay." Elle said frowning towards Blayne. "Who is she mom?"
Gabriella looked towards Blayne who was now talking with Abigail and Christopher.
"She is Abigail's daughter and Diana's sister."
"Is she your sister too then?"
"No." Gabriella answered softly still looking at Blayne.
Elle looked towards her mother now. "I saw the bust of her in your studio."
Gabriella smiled and looked towards her daughter. "Did you?"
"She looks different in real person though. You made her look…I don't know, she seemed different."
Gabriella smiled secretly to herself and looked back towards Blayne and this time a pair of eyes looked back at her as well. For a moment both just looked at each other basking in the memories if only for a second or two.
"Elle are you going riding tomorrow as well?" Chaz's words next to her broke her contact with Blayne and Gabriella looked from Chaz to her daughter.
"I guess."
"I shall pick out a special pony for you tomorrow then." Chaz said charmingly.
The evening dragged on until finally Gabriella excused herself and left to put the children to bed. The other adults remained over their coffee and their drinks.
Blayne had just gotten into bed when she heard a soft knock on her door. She frowned thinking that it was Chaz for another round of taunting. She yanked the door open.
"What do you want?"
She went silent when she saw Gabriella standing in front of her. Gabriella walked in passed her.
Blayne closed the door and turned to her in disbelief.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I don't know. Why did you come?" Gabriella turned around and asked her.
"How could you bring him here?" Blayne asked her in disbelief as she got closer. "How could you bring him?" Blayne demanded. The betrayal that she felt was audible in her words.
"I …I had promised Arthur that he could see the children." Gabriella said lamely. Her eyes pleaded with Blayne to understand.
"You brought him here!" Blayne spat out the words in disgust.
"I want you."
"I can't believe I've let this happen." Blayne turned away from her and ran her fingers through her hair. She felt tired and beaten suddenly. She closed her eyes and just wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole.
"I want you. I don't love him." Gabriella insisted as she reached for Blayne.
"But you go to him!" Blayne turned around and snarled at her. "You go to him."
"I'm right here." Gabriella said as she closed the distance between them. "I'm right here with you."
Blayne pushed her away. "Sure, long enough to pacify me and to go back to his bed." Blayne covered her face for a moment and began to feel the desperation in her building. "I can't do this. I can't."
"Blayne…"
Blayne turned to her and stared as Gabriella opened her robe and let it fall to the floor. "I am yours my darling. I am here and I am yours."
Blayne shook her head as Gabriella approached her. "No…"
"I belong to you Blayne. I belong to you." Gabriella said softly as she pressed herself against Blayne and her hand caressed her face. "I belong to you."
Blayne's mouth trembled as she felt Gabriella's hand behind her neck pulling her mouth closer. Blayne's eyes closed at the instant of that union. Her arms came up and pulled Gabriella tightly to her.
In the early hours of the morning Gabriella left Blayne's room. She closed the door behind her, ran her fingers through her hair and straightened her robe as she walked down the hallway into her room.
Diana had woken up with a headache and had gone down to the kitchen for a warm glass of milk. On her way back to her room she saw Gabriella walking out of Blayne's room and for some reason remained silent. She stood frozen in the spot for a moment and didn't understand because, somehow something didn't add up. Blayne must obviously be up so she walked over to her door and let herself in without knocking. She wanted to make sure her two sisters hadn't had another fight.
"I knew you would come back." Blayne said from the bathroom. The door was ajar. "Come on and take a shower with me; I promise to be good." Blayne walked out of the bathroom naked with a sultry smile on her face that disappeared the minute that she came face to face with Diana. Both women stared at one another without being able to utter a single word.
Diane suddenly seemed confused and walked out of the room quickly unable to look Blayne in the eye. Blayne stood frozen by the door frame unable to breathe.
Oh my God! Oh my God! Diana kept saying to herself over and over again. She walked into her room and closed the door behind her. Taking in a deep breath she leaned back. Diana needed to feel something solid behind her because she was sure if she didn't she would just collapse. I must be wrong. I just misread it all. She argued with herself.
She shook her head as if to dispel what she knew to be the truth.
Oh my God!
Diana walked over to the bed and sat down looking straight ahead in utter shock.
Blayne and Gabriella are… she shook her head again.
She suddenly got up and started pacing.
Oh my God!
Diana walked down to breakfast wondering how she was going to face them both. She walked into the dinning room and saw almost everyone serving themselves breakfast.
"Good morning darling." Her mother said to her and Diana smiled.
She looked around and noticed the Blayne was not down yet. Gabriella was helping Christopher serve himself some eggs from the serving tray.
Gabriella looked in her direction and smiled at her then turned towards her son again.
At that moment Blayne walked in. Diana went over to the buffet and started serving herself some breakfast.
"Good morning Diana." Gabriella said as she went to pour herself some orange juice next to her sister.
Diana was silent and didn't answer.
"Are you okay?" Gabriella asked concern evident in her voice.
Diana looked at her and searched her face.
"I didn't sleep well." Diana said suddenly. "How about you?"
Gabriella seemed confused. "I slept just fine."
"Did you?"
"Yes."
"Diana." Blayne said behind her.