"Catherine!" Ashley whispered.

"What?" Catherine moaned drowsily.

"It's morning," Ashley said in a tone that was much too happy for that hour. She jumped on top of her older sister.

"Ouch," Catherine laughed. "Careful. Don't wake Scarlett."

"Get out of bed," Ashley giggled. "I want a rematch at chess."

"Alright, alright. Get off me," Catherine chuckled.

Ashley dragged her older sister out of bed, but Cath insisted on making breakfast first.

—————

Matt stirred slightly and realized Scarlett was still asleep. He could flip her over easily now, or ask Cath to take a shift. His back was feeling horrid and he couldn't feel his right arm. He sighed and held her a little closer. If he left, the nightmares might come back.

Catherine knocked on the doorpost. "Hey," she smiled. "I made breakfast. You hungry?"

"Yes," Matt nodded. "But I don't think I should move."

"The kid has to wake up at some point," Catherine laughed.

"She had a long, sleepless night," Matt pouted. "I know a lot about those. Let her sleep in."

"Do you want me to sit with her while you go eat?"

"Nah, I want to be here when she wakes up," Matt smiled.

Catherine smiled fondly.

Ashley came up behind her older sister. "Checkmate!"

"Again?" Catherine moaned. "You've got to be cheating."

"Shh!" Matt chuckled as Scarlett rubbed her eyes and turned over.

"I think you know what this means," Ashley said with a smirk. "To the terrace!"

Catherine groaned. "I'll do it later. Go eat your breakfast."

Ashley skipped off and Catherine crawled into bed beside Matt, being careful not to wake Scarlett. "You know," she smiled, "you're really good with kids."

"I've had some practice. Back when Alexandra was little we used to do stuff all the time."

"Alexandra?"

"My niece," Matt said with a groan as he slipped his arm out from under Scarlett's head.

"Babe, are you sure you don't want me to take her?" Catherine chuckled. "Your back's gotta be killing you."

Scarlett stirred and her eyes fluttered open. Her cheeks were red from tears, but she smiled up at Matt. "Good morning," she said softly.

"Good morning," Matt replied.

"You feeling better, kid?" Catherine smiled.

Scarlett nodded.

"Breakfast is in the kitchen. Ask Ashley to get it for you."

"Alright," Scarlett smiled, climbing off the bed and running to find her sister.

"I'm glad to see her back to normal. It honestly scared me when she came in crying," Catherine sighed.

"Alexandra used to cry all the time after her father died," Matt sighed. "I felt so guilty leaving. She lost me and her father within the same month."

"Poor kid."

"I don't suppose she's my little sunshine anymore," Matt laughed sadly, his face contorting into a frown. "She'd be almost all grown up now."

Catherine rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm sure you'll get to see her once your name is cleared."

"I don't think they'd ever forgive me, Cath. I didn't leave a note, a single phone call. She was in torment over her father, and I left her too."

"Catherine! I can't reach the plates!" Ashley called from the other room.

Catherine sighed. "This is what happens when you're the tall one in the family."

"I got it," Matt smiled, kissing her cheek and jumping out of bed.

Catherine followed him into the kitchen and was greeted by Scarlett hugging her around the waist. "Well, hello. What can I do for you?"

"Can you do my hair in braids so that it's curly for the show?" Scarlett grinned.

Catherine laughed. "Alright," she said, shaking her head. "I can't say no to that face."

Scarlett turned to Matt. "Are you going to spend the day with us?"

"Not sure. I think I'll check on Josh first and be back soon as I can."

"Matt," Ashley said suddenly, "when are you going to propose to Cath?"

"When the ring I ordered comes in."

Catherine laughed. "Proposals take time, Ash. Believe me, I know. Been there, done that."

"You proposed to someone?" Scarlett gaped.

"Once," Catherine said with a half smile. "But that was a long time ago."

"How come you didn't get married?" Ashley asked with curiosity.

"Things happen," Catherine shrugged. "People get sick of you, they realize that you aren't good enough, they know that there's someone better out there...At least, in my case."

Matt gave a surprised glance. "I didn't know that."

"It's not exactly my proudest achievement," Catherine sighed.

"Alex?" Matt mouthed silently

Cath shook her head.

"Who was it?" Scarlett asked.

"The Phantom of the Opera. He said he was too good for me. Can you believe it?" Catherine joked with a laugh. "Nah, it was Andrew."

Ashley made a face. "The surfer?"

"Hey, you try dating in Paris for a few years, see who you end up with," Catherine laughed. Her smile faded a bit as she continued, "He broke up with me a week later. He did actually did say he was too good for me, or something like that."

"Jerk," Matt scoffed, fixing a cup of coffee

"I'm used to it," Catherine shrugged, shaking her head. "I've been told that my entire life."

"Then they're not jerks, their plebeian idiots," Matt muttered angrily.

Catherine put a calming hand on his shoulder. "It's alright."

"No, Cath, it's not. Not for anyone."

"Well," she shrugged, "maybe they were right...about me."

Matt wrapped his arms around her from behind. "You don't really believe that, do you?"

"Sometimes," Catherine nodded.

"Well, don't," Matt said firmly, grasping her hand. "Don't."

"I'll try," Cath sighed, leaning against him. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Do you have to check on Josh? Can't we just have Mari do it?"

"I haven't seen him in ages, Cath. I miss him. Besides, I want to make sure he's alright."

"Okay," Catherine sighed. "I should probably call Mari. She's meeting her father today. If you're right and she's related to Mel...I just don't know what she'll do."

"I don't know what I'll do," Matt moaned.

"Mariah's related to Mel?" Ashley asked with sudden interest.

Catherine gestured for her sister to stop talking.

Matt's eyes narrowed. "Wait, how do you know about Mel?! Did your father say something?!"

Ashley looked at Catherine helplessly. She didn't want to throw her sister under the bus. "Um," she stammered, "no."

"'No' you don't know, or 'no' you won't tell me?!" Matt snapped, staring coldly at her.

"I can't say," Ashley said plainly. "I promised I wouldn't tell."

"Oh," Matt said, trying his best to maintain self control. "Ashley, if your father told you not to say anything, whatever we say overrules that. Understood? People's lives, Mel's life was affected by secret decisions. If you know anything, Ashley, you've got to tell me."

"You don't have to protect me, Ash," Catherine sighed. "I told her, Matt."

"Oh," Matt said, trying to mask the disappointment in his voice. "I see."

"Ashley, do you know why Father came to Paris years ago?" Catherine asked, remembering Scarlett's dream. "Your sister said that he did something."

"We lived in Paris. He found a job here and we took it. Then something happened, and we left for New York," Ashley nodded.

"What happened, Ash? This is really important. We need to know if he was involved with Mel's accident."

"Father wouldn't," Ashley said with some offense. "He wouldn't."

"I know," Catherine sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "But Ashley, if you can remember anything at all, it would be a big help."

"He sold something he wasn't supposed to," Scarlett quipped before Ashley could stop her.

"What was it?" Catherine pressed.

"He-"

Ashley covered Scarlett's mouth. "She isn't supposed to say."

"Why? Ashley, please, we need to know. What did Father sell?"

Scarlett bit Ashley's hand and Ashley leapt away in surprise.

"A car!" Scarlett yelped quickly. "He gave somebody a car that wasn't his."

Catherine turned to Matt. "Babe, the person that hit Mel...my father gave them that car."

"He didn't!" Ashley yelled. "You're lying. You didn't know him like we did! You hated him. You'll say anything!"

"You're right, I didn't know him the way you did. You know why? Because he walked out on me. I needed him more than ever and he left, and you know what? It hurts, okay? To this day, it hurts," Catherine said with a tear in her eye. "And I never hated him. He hated me."

"You're lying!" Ashley shouted. "Daddy loved you. Your mother asked him to leave. You both hated him. My father would never intentionally hurt anyone."

Scarlett quivered and terror and hid behind Matt. "Cath," he said softly, "leave it."

Catherine sighed, trying to keep her tone calm. "Don't even try, kid. This is an argument you can't win, so don't even try," she said, retreating to her room and shutting the door behind her.