Alistair felt they were only a conversation away from solving all their worries, but his family was the problem that was blocking that conversation. He had brought his family in to help woo her, but now they were in the way, and alone time with Katherine this weekend might be next to impossible.

He supposed he could sneak into her room after everyone went to sleep, but he didn't want anything they did to be in secret anymore. Which meant an open conversation in a usual way, and the next time he made love to her, he would have all of her for keeps. He was determined on that point.

Alistair wandered back down the stairs and into his father's study, where he flopped into a chair across from his mother, who was curled up watching a program on her tablet.

"What are you watching?" Alistair asked as he heard a scream.

"Some of Katherine's show. I wanted to know what to expect." Grace's eyes were glued to the screen. "I give credit to Katherine. She's calm through all the other's antics." They watched for a while before Grace placed her tablet on the table next to her and turned her attention to her son. "Did you two figure it all out yet?"

The door opened, and Bryce entered carrying a tray of coffee with two cups for him and his wife.

"No, but we're a little closer, and your plan of making her feel included feels as if it's breaking the ice a little." Alistair stood, realizing that his parents were hoping for a little alone time. "I'll go keep an eye on everyone," he suggested.

There was a knock on the door, and Bryce called for whomever it was to enter with a resigned sigh.

Reva entered with Mason and Cassie's daughter Poppy hot on her heels, and behind her was a huge man who towered over his small cousin while looking just as resigned as his father.

"Poppy!" Grace greeted her as she stood to give her a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Reva, will you go and find Mason and Cassie? I think they would like to know that their daughter has come to visit."

Poppy's eyes grew large as she looked at Grace. "Mom and Dad are here?"

"Isn't that why you came?" Bryce asked as he eyed the man behind Poppy, who, to his credit, eyed him right back.

"No, I wanted to talk with Uncle Bryce and Alistair about a few things. It's business."

An awkward silence descended as they all looked at each other.

"Poppy, will you introduce me to your friend?" Alistair said, holding out his hand in greeting.

The man took his hand, and his handshake was firm.

"Umm," Poppy tucked a stray piece of strawberry red hair behind her ear and licked her lips, her brown eyes darting nervously to the man behind her.

"Isaac Harrison, this is my Aunt Grace and Uncle Bryce Stevens, and this is their son Alistair." She took a breath. "Isaac is my husband."

There was a stunned silence, and Grace was the one to break it first. "Congratulations!" she said, hugging Poppy again and then Isaac in his turn. Isaac accepted the hug and then shook Bryce's extended hand.

"I wish I could say a surprise spouse was a new event for this family, but it's not. It's happened several times over the years." Grace smiled, attempting to put everyone at ease.

"Several times?" Poppy asked. She knew about Beth and Wyatt, but who else?

"Yes, your Uncle Caleb and Aunt Norah were married for three years before he broke the news to us, and that was only because your Aunt Lizzy forced his hand." As Grace finished her statement, Cassie and Mason swept into the rooms all smiles.

Alistair took that moment to slip out and close the door behind him. He knew there was a good story, and he was eager to hear it, but he didn't want to be part of the drama about to unfold. Aunt Cassie would probably take it in stride, but Uncle Mason would not.

Alistair turned as Katherine descended the staircase. She wore a cuddly sweater highlighting her curves, a long skirt, and boots. Her hair was pulled into a tight ponytail, and her makeup highlighted her unique bone structure.

"You look perfect as if you were made to descend that staircase as the lady of the house," Alistair whispered in her ear as she joined him, and he enjoyed the blush that even her makeup couldn't hide.

"I doubt that." Katherine shook her head and allowed him to tuck her hand in the crook of his arm.

"Where are we headed?" he asked.

"Outside, we're doing the exterior shots." She nodded in the direction of the front door, and Alistair led her to it, then opened the door to a set of blazing lights with her crew gathered around.

"That was perfect. Can you do it one more time!" Kiki asked.

"Why?" Alistair asked with a frown.

"Because we want to get some shots of the two of you walking around the site as you tell her a few stories, and we want it to appear as if it took all day," Kiki explained without really paying attention to what she was saying.

"No, work with the shot you got if it was perfect," he smiled a tight smile that didn't reach his eyes, and he could tell it made Katherine nervous, so he tried to relax. It was going to be a total circus, as he had feared.

"Where's Mason? We will need him soon." Kiki moved on to the next item.

"You'll have to film without him. Some unexpected family business cropped up." Alistair squeezed Katherine's hand and then stepped away from her. "I'll watch from the shadows." 

He didn't want to miss his chance to see Katherine in action, so he moved into the darkness behind the crew and watched as she transformed before his eyes.

All at once, she became all business, walking and talking to the camera as she said the most ridiculous things, but they sounded almost sane when she said them. It went on for hours, with her walking and talking as they caught different angles of the house behind her.

When they called it for the night, it was past two in the morning, and the house was quiet.

"Is everything all right with Mason?" Katherine asked with a worried frown.

"Why? Are you afraid he won't be able to do the show?" It was out as soon as he thought it, and he wasn't sure why he had said it, but he wanted to take it back immediately.

Katherine stopped breathing for a moment, and he watched as she looked at something in the distance over his shoulder while swallowing hard as she reined in her emotions.

"Of course, that's what it is," she agreed and turned to leave.

Dammit! Why had he said it?

"Katherine!" he reached out and grabbed her arm to keep her from walking away.

"We're both tired, Alistair. We'll talk some more tomorrow if I have the time." She nodded in his direction without meeting his eyes and then walked away and into the house.

"Where had that anger come from, and why had it come on so quickly?" he rubbed his face in frustration. He had been so worried about Katherine figuring it all out that he hadn't stopped to check himself and make sure he didn't have to figure anything out, and it was apparent he did.

When he entered the house, he noticed the door to the study was open, and the light was still on, so he wandered in to find his father sitting behind his desk.

"I take it by the look on your face that it didn't go as well as you thought it would?" he asked as he looked up from what he was reading.

"No, I suddenly became very angry with her when I wasn't." Alistair shook his head in confusion.

Bryce smiled but didn't say anything.

"What, I take it you have a guess?" Alistair asked in a bitter voice that his father ignored.

"You need her to need you, and she hasn't confirmed that she does. I would guess that watching her tonight has only strengthened your doubt that she does need you." He looked back at his papers as Alistair mulled over his words.

Was that really what it was all about? He needed Katherine to want and need him? He rubbed his face once more. He needed something else to think about. Some separation from the subject may give him a little clarity. 

"What happened with Poppy's bombshell?" Alistair asked.

"Cassie was briefly hurt but managed to push past it." Bryce made a note on the paper in front of him.

"And Uncle Mason?" Alistair asked, feeling sorry for Poppy and at the same time jealous that she had found her love and married him. No doubt that had something to do with his sudden anger too. Nine years was a long time to wait.

"Unusually quiet." Bryce frowned as he said it. It was evident that he was worried about his brother's reaction. "Poppy wants us to consult on a few things. There are children involved."

"There never were any half-measures with Poppy, were there?" Alistair rose.

"She's too much like her mother and father in that regard."

"We'll talk about it tomorrow, and you'll tell me how I can help?"

"Yes," Bryce said, not looking up as his son left him hard at work.

Alistair knew his father was as worried as Uncle Mason was and wouldn't be able to sleep even if he tried.

Alistair felt that sleep would be a stranger to him as well, and maybe some quiet time to think would help him sort a few things out before seeing Katherine in the morning.