Random: Am I the only one who hates reading long messages? Long Facebook statuses, long anything except it's a book? lol 

Song: I bet my life -Imagine dragons

Brooke: "You and Haley fighting?"
Peyton: "That depends on which Haley we're talking about, Haley Scott; the nice girl that played TRIC, or Haley James; the not so much of a wife that left town and never called - because her, I have a problem with."
Brooke: "Do you ever think maybe it just got to be too much for her? Like, leaving the whole Chris thing out of it, maybe she just got scared of needing somebody too much."
Peyton: "Needing them so much she just... abandoned them?"
Brooke: "OK, you can hate me for saying this, but maybe your problem isn't so much with Haley as it is with Ellie; your returning birth mother."
Peyton: "No, Brooke, my problem is with anybody who just... vanishes and then waltzes back in and expects to be instantly forgiven and your problem is you're not gonna have anybody to help you paint this place if you don't stop telling me what my problem is."

- One Tree Hill

***

"By then I already knew Lexis was alive and even if he wasn't I was never going to be able to give E what he wanted. I never even really acknowledged the marriage, so I signed the papers and sent them to him,"

"Didn't he need the marriage to become Patriarch?" Jess asks.

"He was named Patriarch months back. It's not been publicly announced but it's a known secret. He has already started the hand over process. So I returned and the rest you know,"

"I never brought him up because I didn't think we were married. Not even while we were married on paper did I ever really acknowledge it as more than the signed papers that said husband and wife,"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Jess asks moving down.

"After what happened with Nathan. I didn't want you to misunderstand. I was scared you'd believe him more than me,"

"How could you ever think that?"

"I don't know, I wasn't thinking,"

"That much is obvious," Jess says and sighs.

"Forgive me? I really am sorry,"

Jess stays silent. She was also lying to Hera so who was she to judge her. 

"If you forgive me I'll forgive you," Jess says.

"Forgive you? For what?" Hera says and thinking she meant the lies from five years back she says, "Jess I forgave you years back,"

"What are you talking about?" Jess asks confused.

"Don't you mean the whole 234 virgin thing?" Hera responds.

"No, not that," Jess says and gets up interlocking her hands. She paces back and forth not sure how to say it.

"Jess you're scaring me," Hera says voice fills with concern.

"IteamedupwithLexistomakeyoulosethecase!" Jess says quickly and in one breath.

"What?" Hera says believing she'd misheard.

"I teamed up with Lexis to make you lose the case,"Jess repeats, this time slowly and cautiously, shutting her eyes, unable to look Hera in the face while admitting it.

Hera's forehead furrows.

"You...what?"Hera says refusing to accept what she heard.

Jess lets out a heavy sigh and opens her eyes.

"I agreed to help Lexis win the case and helped him," Jess finally admits looking Hera in the eye.

Hera stays quiet looking at Jess.

"Hera please say something," Jess says after minutes of silence.

"You're...you're not lying?" 

"I'm not lying," Jess says.

"Why?" Hera asks refusing to believe it.

"I...Lexis stil loves you,"

"What?" Hera says totally taken aback.

"He had this plan, idea, that by making you go through the case you'll be able to get over your self blame for the death of your son. The court case was all a ruse to get you to finally understand that,"

"I..."

"How could you?"

"Because I knew how much you still loved him and he you, I was just trying to help,"

"Help? Help?! By making me lose my daughter?"

"He wasn't going to separate you from her. Contrarily he was trying to use her to get you two back together,"

"Excuse me?"

"Hera Lexis never gave up on you. He still loves you,"

"Is this a joke?"

"No,"

"You actually bought that? That he forgave me, forgives me and wants us back together? Do you have any idea what you have done?!" Hera says in fury.

"I was just trying to help,"

"By putting me through the anxiety, the fear, the worry, the pain I've lived through the past days? Are you insane?!" Hera says furious.

"I'm sorry I just...I was hoping the end will justify the means,"

"The end justify the means? Losing my daughter? How could you?!"

"You wouldn't have really lost her, Lexis wanted you and your daughter," 

Hera raises her hands pacing. 

"Can you hear yourself Jess can you hear yourself? Do you know how absurd that is?"

"Why is it so absurd?"Jess says.

"I can't believe I'm listening to this," Hera says waving her hands.

"Hera listen, I listened to you please listen to me," Jess says.

Hera lets out a heavy breath and shuts her eyes trying to calm herself. Balling her hands into fists.

Taking it as a sign to keep going Jess continues,

"He loves you Hera, he was going to use this to help the two of you get together because knowing the type of person you are you'd never have accepted or believed him if he'd simply said he forgave you and wanted you back,"

"Of course I wouldn't and you're insane to have bought it! Have you forgotten who Lexis is? Did you forget what he did to his family when he got his memories back? I can't believe you almost made me lose my daughter but for the arrival of E,"

"What is wrong with you people?"

"Was it so wrong to want you to find happiness?"

"Don't you see? If E hadn't shown up today I'd have possibly lost my daughter forever! How would you have repaid me? Will you still be speaking this way if it turned out as I'm sure it would have that he was lying to you?"

"He wasn't,"

"You can't guarantee that!"

"Just as you can't guarantee he wasn't saying the truth,"

"I'd rather not have to be in the situation of guaranteeing anything!" Hera responds.

"No one after going through the things he has can be so forgiving. How could you? No wait...it's not how could you. This isn't your first time. You did this to me five years ago. How could I have been so stupid to expect anything less?"

"Now that's not fair..you know what happened five years ago was different,"

"Different? How so because from where I'm standing all I see is someone I saw as a friend betray me twice for Alexander,"

"Last time I did it for my sister and this time I did it for you,"

"Well thanks but no thanks, your help was not appreciated. Goodness I'm done here," Hera says picking her back and walking out of the apartment.

"Hera," Jess calls not wanting her to leave on bad terms.

"Jess I truly hope you don't tell Lexis about E and I but then that'd be expecting too much from you wouldn't it?"Hera says shaking her head and walking out slamming the door behind her.

A couple of minutes later seated next to E in the car filled with suppressed fury she asks,

"E why are we not divorced?"

"I never submitted the papers,"

"Why?"

"Precaution incase of a situation where you are faced with confronting a legal case from the Blacks,"

"How did you know about the case?"

"Did you really think I'd send you back here without making sure you were protected?"

"I had people watching you and in the shadows protecting you. They never showed themselves because I needed you to be strong on your own. But they were there should you have needed an outside aid,"

Hera smiles. 

"Thank you, at least I still have you," She says to which he takes her hand and squeezes it.

"Hera what happened back there? I can see something's bugging you," He asks.

She stays silent not answering.

After a while she bursts out, spilling everything that had occurred between her and Jess while E quietly listens while remembering a conversation he had with Jamie.

Jamie had called E to report a conversation had with Hera on the case. Explaining how it went.

"Hera if we bring up the marriage between you and Ethan and the custody agreement you signed giving him Shakespeare this case will be thrown out the court," Jamie says

"I know,"

"Then why on earth are we not using it?"

"We're not married,"

"What do you mean?"

"I sent him the divorce papers as soon as I found out Lexis was alive,"

"Why on earth would you do that?!"

"Because I don't love him. Jamie Ethan wants a lifetime with me. One filled with love. I can't give him that,"

"What if Lexis was not alive?"

"It'd make no difference,"

"Even if I wasn't divorced I'd never bring it up,"

"Why?"

"Lexis never had a chance to fight, for five years he had his life stolen from him, if I bring this up it'll only steal the only chance and right he has to fight. I can't do that to him, I stole five years of his life from him, I don't want to steal his right to fight for his daughter,"

"I don't get it, didn't you give Ethan custody to prevent the Blacks from taking her from you?"

"To be precise, Peter Black. Lexis...Lexis is her father. If I knew he was alive, I'd have never given Ethan custody,"

"Even if he'd tried taking away your daughter?"

"He wouldn't,"

"But he is now,"

"Because so much has happened that's made him angry. It's his way of fighting back for what he lost. If you were in his shoes wouldn't you?"

Jamie stays quiet.

"I'd file for shared custody,"

"Not if you want nothing to do with me which Lexis doesn't,"

"Why not just give him Shakespeare on a golden platter then?"Jamie says getting irritated. Why on earth was he going into a case with no valuable ammunition when he had the best ammunition in his storehouse? The fact that Shakespeare was under Ethan custody.

"Because I can't have Shakespeare grow up and find out I never fought for her. Have you thought of what she'd feel, the pain, betrayal and hurt she'd feel if she grew up and found out her mum never fought for her? I want her to know she was loved by both her mum and dad , that we loved her so much, we both fought for her never giving up till the last drop. Also it's not a win if I gain custody of Shakespeare but lose her father,"

"I'm not following,"

"If I win by showing that card, I don't know how Lexis will be able to survive it. If he loses Shakespeare, the pain added to his just regaining his memory will be too much to handle. Lexis might shut up internally, his brain. It can really kill him,"

"And if you lose the case?"

"Then It'll be what I deserve for what I made him go through all these years. It's the price I'll have to pay for leaving him five years ago,"

"So this whole court case is just a ruse to get her penance, keep his sanity, give him back his right to fight and make her daughter feel loved. Is it me or is Hera crazy?"Jaime asks E who smiles leaning back against his chair. After listening to Jamie recount his conversation with his sister.

"She wouldn't be Hera if she was sane," E replies smiling.

Jamie lets out a sigh.

"They fit each other don't you think?" E asks.

"One is having a court case to make her get out of her guilt and the other is going into it to give him back his rights,"

"What are you talking about?"

"Prior to the case, my dad contacted me about a case that was brought to his friend. It was by Alexander Black, seeking his opinion on a girl. His friend wanted my fathers opinion on the matter,"

"Isn't that against Hipaa laws? Disclosing patient records?"

"Not if they were given permission to do so. He asked Alexander if he could speak about the case with a colleague better equipped to aid with such a case. Alexander gave him permission unaware that this colleague was my father,"

"Wow, talk about a small world,"

"He wanted the best opinion. The best was and is my dad but due to personal reasons my father was conflicted about the case, yet it involved Hera so he called to hear my opinion,"

"How did your father know it was Hera?"

"The name was never revealed but the stories where too similar to be anyone else especially considering Alexander's involvement,"

"Seeing as my father is not in anyway the primary doctor linked to the case, he broke no Hipaa laws,"

"So what did you do?"

"I told him to give his professional opinion but make sure he stays anonymous,"

"Why?"

"If my dad had been revealed then do you honestly think Lexis wouldn't find out in court when about my relation to my father?"

Jamie sighs.

"Don't you think it's ironic? One is taking the burdens for both of them while another is trying to protect the other from the burden,"

"Of course, one is unknowingly undoing the actions of the other," E replies.

"A perfect match indeed,"Jamie replies sarcastically.

"What do you plan on doing?" He adds.

"Stopping the case," E answers.

"How?"

"I'm her husband, I have legal custody,"

"Didn't you both get divorced?"

"I haven't given the papers to the court yet,"

"Wait why?"

"Precautionary measures, should a day like today where he or his family members file for custody ever arise,"

"Does she know?"

"Of course not and you can't tell her. While you trust that lawyer. I don't. What sort of lawyer doesn't bring up UCCJEA laws when they're your best bet at winning a custody case for children residing abroad?" E asks.

"You think she doesn't want Hera to win?"

"I think she's either a horrible lawyer or is still loyal to her friend Alexander Black,"

"I doubt it,"

"Trust me, there are things I know about her that you don't. She is very capable of it," E says.

"But seeing as he is not trying to take Shakespeare from her why are you intervening? I mean I'd rather she be with you than go through the fire that is Lexis and his family but why are you not letting him go on with his plans?"

"Because he doesn't really want to take Shakespeare from her,"

"Expatiate," Jamie says.

"If he wins the case...while Alexander thinks getting her back will be easy, it won't,"

"Why?"

"Your sister while she will no longer think she killed her son, will hate him for what he did in the court room while still blaming herself for his accident five years ago,"

"Saying losing her daughter is what she deserves is easy. Actually losing her daughter is not going to be as easy to accept as she thinks and while looking for a way out of her pain the blame will be on him. Hera doesn't really actually want to lose her daughter. It'd take a lot more than he thinks to get her to accept him again."

"Even If he explains his reasoning?"

"Yes, because she's already broken. What's keeping her is the fragile glue that is her daughter. If she loses that...she'll be shattered worse than she previously was,"

"Hera is very very fragile. After everything that has happened to her for the past five years she never really got time to heal. While in Togo she was able to regain a bit of herself but she never was fully herself. Right now she thinks she deserves losing her daughter but the second the judge announces that custody will be given to him not only will he lose Hera forever, Hera will never be okay again. Her hate for Lexis will overpower anything else but most importantly..."

"Most importantly?"

"She'll hate herself for not stopping him even if it meant bringing me out,"

"So you're revealing yourself to stop her form hating him and herself while also helping him not use her?"

"No, I'm revealing myself and interrupting the case because I promised her I'd never let a Black take her daughter form her. There was no limitation as to which Black,"

"Come to think of it all three of you are stupid," Jamie says to which E laughs out loud.

Quieting down after having a good laugh, he gets serious once more.

"Hera has been with me for five years, five good years JJ. In those five years she never once smiled or laughed with me like she did with Lexis. I saw the videos and pictures. Hera truly came to live in a way no one not even Shakespeare was able to bring her in these five years when she was with him,"

"Not once was I able to do what Lexis did in a day or even a number of hours. It took me years to get Hera to smile and even then that wasn't me, that was her daughter. She made Hera smile, but Lexis? It took him a few days to have her laughing like she had no worries. LIke everything was alright because he was there. And in a way it kinda was,"

"You may not have her love but you deserve her just as much as he does," Jamie says.

E smiles bitterly.

"You know what makes Lexis and I different?" He asks.

"That Hera loves him?" Jamie answers..

"That Lexis can give up his wealth and family for Hera. I can't do that,"

"I can't believe her. How could she? I trusted her!" Hera says in anger drawing E back from his thoughts to the present.

"Considering her track record that's not surprising." E says.

"I should have thought of that. I can't believe I trusted her. E she almost caused me to lose my daughter,"

"But it wouldn't be a loss. Didn't she say he was using this to get you and Shakespeare?"

"You actually believe that?"

"You don't?"

"Of course I don't! After everything I put him through, I caused the accident that led to the memory loos and what he had to go through,"

"You didn't cause his memory loss Hera. That was the drugs,"

"But I caused the accident that gave them the opportunity to do that,"

"Hera you didn't cause the accident,"

"I did. If you know the things I said...E...he can't forgive me, it's impossible,"She says remembering all the hurtful words she'd ever thrown at him.

"Does it make sense that he forgives me and wants to be together? After everything? The lies, the pain I caused him?"

"Hera If he truly loves you, yes I can see how he'll forgive you,"

"He shouldn't, he deserves better,"

E's eyes thin as he tilts his head.

"Hera, are you mad at Jess for teaming up with him or are you mad that even with everything you've done, the lies and hurt you've caused him he still puts you first and loves you?" E asks to which tears stream down Hera's eyes.

***

What say you?