The night was long, and they were all exhausted come morning. They ended up taking turns sitting with Gavin. He mainly slept but would wake up occasionally, and Rocco wanted to make sure he never woke up alone.

Rocco was waiting in a small room for the doctor to come and talk to him after Gavin's final tests. Alyssa never ended up coming back, which surprised no one. He was ready to get Gavin home, even though he dreaded what the week ahead would bring.

Dante said the best bet is to hold off on making any significant changes until after the weekend trip. He'd tell Alyssa they would sit and talk when he got home. Until then, he planned on moving into the guest room and tolerating the situation as best as possible.

There would be a lot to figure out, including living arrangements, but Dante's advice to put all that aside right now made sense.

"Good morning, Mr. Romano." Dr. Dayton's deep voice pulled him from his thoughts, and he looked up at the man as he entered the room.

"Morning," Rocco said.

"Is your wife here?" The doctor asked.

"She had to leave a family emergency." The lie tasted as bitter as it felt to cover for her, but he had to protect Gavin.

"I hope everything will be okay," Dr. Dayton said sincerely.

"Thank you," Rocco said. "Did Gavin test okay?"

"Wonderfully." "Gavin looks great." Dr. Dayton confirmed.

"Can I take him home then?" Rocco asked.

"Of course." The doctor confirmed.

"But before you go, I have to inform you that because Gavin was brought in as a result of drugs, a report must be made to social services." The doctor sat across from him, and Rocco felt his stomach knot up.

"What does that mean? Could I lose my boy?" Rocco was ready to get Dante in here right away, he started to stand, but the doctor held up a hand to calm him.

"Nothing like that is going to happen." He assured Rocco. "They go off my report. I don't see this as anything more than a horrible mistake; I can clearly see how cared for and loved Gavin is. I have no cause for concern."

"So social services isn't going to come here or anything?" Rocco asked.

"No." He confirmed. "A note will be made in Gavin's chart, however, and remain there. If a pattern ever was to occur, it's documented that way."

"Okay," Rocco said quietly, both relieved and not at the same time.

"Let's get your boy checked out so you can get him home." The doctor said warmly, and Rocco followed him back to the lobby.

A mark in Gavin's file commemorating how terrible of a father he was didn't exactly make him feel better. But at least no one was going to take him away. He glanced at the waiting area. Dante was looking into space, and Lexi was asleep against his shoulder. Dani was sitting on the other side of him; she looked exhausted, like she could barely keep her eyes open.

He felt a warmth through him. They all waited with him all night because they loved Gavin as much as he did. All this time, he thought he had to find a way to make it work so Gavin would have a mom and dad, and not have a sad childhood as he and Dante did.

He failed to see how much love his son did have in his life. He has an uncle and now a wonderful aunt in Dani. Not to mention Lexi, who has always been like an aunt to him. This is a family unit, and it's a good one for Gavin. Rocco would give anything for him to have all this and a great mom, but it's time accept that Lys is who she is. He will never let his son suffer due to his bad judgment regarding her ever again.

**

It was late morning when Rocco pulled back into the long driveway, with Gavin sleeping in the backseat and Dani sitting behind him. As he pulled further in, he saw several cars parked in the driveway and frowned angrily.

"What's going on here so early?" Dani asked.

He glanced back at her, "Why don't you take Gavin through the kitchen? Just head downstairs with him."

"Sure," she agreed.

"Pack yourself a bag. I'll get Gavin and myself and packed up," he added.

"We're leaving today?" She asked, looking surprised.

"I can't imagine an entire week here before the weekend is a good idea," Rocco said as he glanced back at the house.

He wasn't sure he could make it an hour before he'd blow up at her, and Gavin didn't need to see that right now.

"I agree," Dani said. "But we don't even know where we're going yet. Don't we need to book a cabin?"

"Well, let's make a road trip out of it. We can book it on the way. "

"Okay," she said; she got out and started helping Gavin out of his car seat. She picked him up, and he wrapped his arms around her back and buried her head in her chest. She carried him over to the kitchen entrance.

Once inside, Rocco braced himself and headed into the main entrance.

As he suspected, Alyssa was in the middle of a photo shoot. She was posed across the coach in a gold bikini, and her manager, Edward was snapping photos of her.

"The light. Shut the door!" Edward bellowed out.

Rocco slammed the door and stepped into the living room, his eyes burning with rage.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Rocco's kept his voice down so Gavin wouldn't hear him yell, but his tone was deadly. "This is MY house. I will not be disrespected in my own home."

Edward ignored him; he looked into his camera irritatedly, mumbling about how it was all ruined now.

"Rocco!" Alyssa got up, an angry scowl across her face. "You can't talk to my manager like that! This is an important shoot!"

"Seriously!? Your son just got back from the hospital, and all you're concerned about is a stupid photo shoot?"

"How dare you call my career stupid!" She spat out. "If Gavin were still in trouble, I'd be there, but he's fine."

"No thanks to you," Rocco muttered.

"Perhaps we should take a little break, Ali," Edward said. "I'll see what I can salvage here."

"Do whatever you want. I'm taking Gavin camping for the week." Rocco said, walking past both of them and heading towards the stairs.

"The week?" Alyssa asked. "When are you leaving?"

"Where are you going?" She started following him up the stairs, and he started walking faster.

"Rocco!" She yelled when he continued not to answer her.

"I don't have a damn thing I want to say to you," Rocco said, as she was hot on heels anyway.

"Well, that's too bad 'cause I'm your wife." She spat back.

He ignored her and continued to his room. He tossed his duffel bag into the bed and started throwing clothes.

"Right? Or is that about to change?" She asked.

"Not now." He muttered, shoving everything into his bag and zipping it shut.

"Then when?"

"When we get back, okay?" Rocco sighed.

"I don't see why you don't just say it now."

"Because I'd like us to sit down and talk about it like two civilized adults," Rocco said. "Not now, when we're so heated.

"You're such a chauvinist, Rocco," she accused. "Everything has to be on your terms. So selfish."

"This is about Gavin, not me!" He forced himself to remain calm when he only wanted to toss her out on her skinny little butt.

"I want him to have a good week. So, he's not traumatized over this whole thing." He added when she hesitated.

"Fine, go," she said flippantly. She then walked into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her.

He grabbed his bag and hurried to Gavin's room to pack him up. The sooner they got out of here—the better.

**

Alyssa stood in the living room, looking out the window as Rocco loaded the car. Dani, who it appeared was going with them on this road trip, was getting Gavin settled in as he did that.

"It's worked out perfectly in our favor, right?" Edward said as he stepped out of the kitchen. He fell against their plush couch—a bottle of Rocco's bourbon in his hand.

"It's not even noon, Edward." She shot him a dark look.

"It's never too early to celebrate." He replied, popping the top of the bottle and helping himself.

Finally, she heard the car doors shut one at a time, and the engine started. She watched with no expression as his car drove out of her sight.

"Come here, Ali-Baby." He patted the empty cushion next to him. "Come enjoy the fruit of our spoils with me."

"We haven't won anything yet." She turned and gave him a sharp look. "Don't get ahead of yourself."

"He took his nanny on vacation. I find that very telling." Edward swirled the bottle around and then took another long draw from it.

"But it's not proof." She reminded him as she went and sat down beside him. She let out a long, drawn-out sigh and leaned back against the plush cushions.

"Patience, Alyssa." He mimicked her actions and turned to look at her as he did.

His face was so close to hers she could smell his whiskey breath. Ugh, did she ever hate that smell? She'd known Edward a long time. Some might say they've always had a love/hate relationship. Alyssa wouldn't word it that way. 

Was there a fine line between hate and passion? Definitely yes. But did she love him? Definitely not. She often fantasized about a time when she wouldn't have to answer to him anymore. Right now, she needed him to propel her career forward. Someday, though... she'd be free. Rich, famous, beautiful, and free.

"This is a long game," he said. "We will, however, be victorious in the end."

"Of course we will." She flashed him a sexy smile.

"Shall we take advantage of this empty house?" His eyes twinkled in delight.

Typical, she thought. Even men as clever and resourceful as Edward still became useless and powerless against their groins. She had no qualms about using this weakness to her benefit. The power of it turned her on.

Maybe this foolish plan of Edward's would work after all. God knows Rocco's needs was rarely ever fulfilled. Dani seemed more than happy to stand in with Gavin. Why not Rocco as well?

She wouldn't be surprised if Dani weren't already planning such a thing. If the roles had been reversed, Alyssa would have definitely done so. 

"Why don't we finish our photo shoot first?" She suggested standing up and undoing her bikini top.

"I thought a private shoot might be nice." She added when he looked up at her naked chest.

"I do love the way you think, Ali-baby."