Candice was taken aback at her sister yelling, but it was laid bare between the three of them. "N-No," she said quickly, trying to change the subject, shaking her head. "I'm not twisting his words. I know he said that-"

"I'm going to take a wild guess," Rosalie finally said after being quiet for a while, "that you kept pestering him, and as he kept rejecting you, you took advantage of him. You know who did that, right?" she asked slowly, watching Candice's face change from confusion to almost a tiny bit of horror. "My boyfriend's baby mama. She did that because she couldn't stand it when Olivier told her no. So one night in Vegas, she plotted to take advantage of him, and, well, here we are." she said, spreading her arms wide before dropping them. "My boyfriend has a child with her, and he's waiting on the right day to take them away from her so we can raise it. So if that happened with you and Raegan, what makes you think he's going to let you raise it with him?"

Words started to sputter out of Candice's mouth, but nothing came out as she started to turn and walk away, but Natalia's words made her stop. "I don't know why you became so damned desperate to have these children with all these men, but I wish you can stop and think about the goddamn consequences before you start plotting on throwing yourself on a man and hope that he'd give you want you want."

"You know why," Candice said slowly, shivering. "You know damn why I'm doing all this, Tali."

Rosalie watched as Natalia sighed, as if she knew what Candice was talking about. "Because of our mother." she said. "Because you don't know who your real father is. Is that it?"

The only thing that could be heard between them were silence.

Without a word, Candice stormed back inside the hotel, her Marchesa dress flowing behind her, leaving both Rosalie and Natalia standing there in the cold. "Well," Rosalie said with a sigh, shaking her head. "I didn't know about all of that, but...damn."

"It's always been like that with her, lashing out and doing some rebellious things that sometimes get her into trouble." Natalia shook her head as they went back into the hotel. "When she was sixteen, she dated her first older man that almost got her pregnant, but they broke up because he'd beaten her near death and almost killed her if I didn't go and save her. Almost shot him with one of daddy's guns, to be honest." she shook her head as they walked back to the ballroom, stopping so the coat checker can take Rosalie's coat. "Ever since then, I've been the one chasing her around town as she dates these older men each time she gets older, or get her out of whatever the hell she'd gotten herself into. When she got married, I was glad that there's someone to take care of her, but when she started sneaking around and getting pregnant, that's when I chased after her, again."

Rosalie nodded as they snatched the champagne from the passing waiter's tray and took a sip. She didn't even know all of this, but she knew Lorelei would do the same thing if anything happened to her, and she would do the same if anything happened to Lorelei. "So now what?' she asked, waving at someone from across the room. "Gonna drag her back to Texas?"

Natalia sighed and nodded. "I have no choice." she said. "And this time, she'll have to answer to her husband and children."

*~*~*~*~*

Genevieve dropped her fork as they kissed, her fingers itching to touch him, to tear off his clothes and make love to him right here and there. But somewhere in her mind, she heard Candice laughing, mocking her that she had him now, that she won't let him go. Tearing her lips from his, she took a deep breath. "What..." she started to say, reaching for her wine. "What the hell was that?"

"A Take Me Back kiss," Raegan answered, going back to his seat. "Because you won't accept an apology from me for some reason, and it is the only way I can apologize to you, G."

Well it was one hell of an apology.

"You could've begged." Genevieve said randomly, toying with her wineglass. "On your knees. Then kiss my feet and beg me to take you back."

A wicked grin appeared on Rae's face at her words. "That can be arranged," he agreed. "Though I was about to watch a movie before I head to bed."

"Funny-Astrid recommended that we watch a movie. I said we'll try, but..."

"Even if it's How the Grinch Stole Christmas?"

"My favorite movie?"

"Just because I did one bad thing, doesn't mean that I don't know everything about you, G. I know how much you love the one with Jim Carrey in it. I know how much you hate it when someone betrays you, and that you need some space before you forgive that person. Well, this is me breaking that space rule."

It had always shocked her that Raegan knew her too damned well. He knew when and when not to seek her forgiveness, knowing that she'd take a while before she forgave someone. But to try and butter her up like this? "...you spoke to ma, didn't you?" she asked with a little smile. Her ma always knew how to cheer her up, even if she was miles away from home. "How is she?"

"She's doing okay. She wishes you can visit her more often." he rubbed the back of his head as he spoke. "I know Jersey is far away, but maybe after Christmas we can go and see her? Spend a little time with her before we go back to Atlanta?"

Genevieve sighed, closing her eyes as she thought about her ma, who was in a senior facility in New Jersey with her dementia. It took her mother a while to remember who she was, or Raegan is, but at least she knew what she needed for comfort. "Maybe before New Years?" she asked as they finished up their food. "I think she'll like that. Maybe make a day out of it."

A small smile appeared on Raegan's face as he nodded, getting up and cleaning up their dishes. "I think she'll like that." he said, turning to go to the kitchen before he was stopped when Genevieve called after him. "Yeah?"

"Popcorn," she called. "We can't watch a movie without popcorn."

He laughed as he went into the kitchen to put the dishes up and pop them some movie butter popcorn.

*~*~*~*~*

Coming back inside the hotel's ballroom and sitting down next to Olivier to eat was about to become one of the best things about this gala. Everyone was talking about winter trips, New Years, Christmas, how Candice and Lily did a good job of decorating this place. Cameras flashing so they can get good pictures of the party to put on one of Lily's gossip websites. She and Natalia posed for some, but Candice was in a lot of them.

But there was no sign of Lily anywhere.

"I can't believe Lily Hamilton is late to her own party," one person said, shuddering. "How declassé."

"I heard that she and Daniel aren't doing so well," another said. "Rumor has it, she's sleeping with one of his running mates."

"Oh god, not Travis. He's a fat pig."

"It's not Travis. It's that Cedric fellow...Cedric Chicoine, that's his name. Came all the way from Quebec to run for office here. Well, Cedric is dreamy, that's for sure. Might even be dreamier than Doctor McDreamy from Greys."

"Maybe that's why she's late. Being under Cedric must've made her forget about the party. But at least Candice didn't forget, nor Rosalie."

"How could Rosalie not show up with that handsome Olivier?"

"I'm starting to remember why I only have eyes for you," Olivier grumbled after hearing the conversation, picking up his glass of Old Fashioned and taking a sip. "Apparently I'm not that dreamy than this Cedric Chicoine fellow."

Rosalie chuckled. "Oh you're dreamy," she leaned over and placed a little kiss on his chin. "Dreamy enough for me."

"Careful, Lady Rosalie. One more kiss like that, then we'll-" he stopped talking as he looked up and swore when his ex-girlfriend and baby mama, Chrysèlie Natel, walked in wearing a light blue St. John dress with little flowers all over them. Her blonde hair was in the Hollywood waves style, and the heels were Christian Louboutons, of course. On her arm was none other than Cedric Chicoine, and the gossip was true-he was dreamy.

"Olivier Barthel," Chrysèlie purred, a smile appearing on her lips. "I never thought to see you here. I thought you were with our son?"

"You mean Zacharie?" he answered, running a hand down his face. Why now, did she show up here, to all places? "I told you that he's with his babysitter tonight, and that he's spending Christmas with me. In fact, why are you here?"

"I was personally invited by Lily, and I had to bring a plus one, so why not bring my husband?"

The record in both Rosalie and Olivier's head scratched.

"I'm sorry-you're married?" Rosalie finally asked, after staring at them. "I'm going to assume that this gentleman next to you is your husband?"

"Oui," Cedric answered, holding out his hand so she could shake it. "Cedric Chicoine, at your service." He turned to Olivier, his light green eyes almost sparkling in the light. "And you must be Zacharie's father, the one my wife told me about?"

Dumbly, Olivier nodded. "Jo ech sinn," he answered, lapsing into Luxembourgish, completely forgetting his French entirely. "Where did you two meet?"

"Montréal-Pierre," Cedric answered. "She was just getting off her flight from Atlanta, and I was just about to get on a flight to Atlanta. One thing led to another, and we've been together ever since." and right next to him, Chrysèlie Natel Chicoine laughed softly.

"Darling, come now. Let's not bore them with our story. Our seats are ready, and I have an eye on those steaks." she purred, dragging her husband along with him.

"Remember what the doctor said, ma cherie," Cedric cautioned her, waving goodbye to both Rosalie and Olivier. "Any more food and the baby will come early."

Baby?!

She's pregnant?? Again??

As Chrysèlie's laughter melted into the background, Rosalie and Olivier looked at one another. "So she's pregnant for real this time?" she asked, going back to her three ingredient steak with crispy parmesan potatoes. "And married, who would've thunk?"

"Now I know why she was so damned easy when it came to the schedule of taking care of son. He changed her somehow." Olivier guessed with a laugh. "I was thinking that she was going to have Zacharie forever, but I guess having him on some holidays and seeing him on the weekends were perfect."

"And you said that he's with his babysitter tonight?"

He nodded. "Mariah. She's staying at a hotel tonight, and when I called her up to babysit him, she was thrilled."

Rosalie nodded, taking a bite of her potatoes. "How about we leave here, grab Zach, and go home so we can let him open one Christmas gift. Just one."

"Just like Paisley and Mase?"

She nodded as she finished off her plate. "Yep. Did you know that it was tradition to open one Christmas gift before Christmas?"

"Why no, I didn't."

"Well it is in my family. And since poor Lily's not here," Rosalie got up and grabbed her clutch, looking around. "We can go-"

"Thank god you're leaving right now," Prescott said, breathless. "Because Astrid's water just broke, and the baby's coming."

...oh fuck.