Subject: Rot Soaps - From Here to There parts 15 & 16 >From Here to There Part #15 by A The sun shining on his face wakes him. He rolls over, a bit startled to encounter another body in his bed. He opens his eyes; the events of the night before rush back to him. She is lying beside him, sleeping contently. Cringing, he berates himself for having allowed this to happen. To be honest, she had been right; he had wanted her more than was comprehendible last night. The intensity of that desire, of his desire, had truly frightened him, leaving him feeling a bit uneasy. He makes an attempt to reconcile the "out of control" person with the person he is when the day dawns, but he closes his eyes in despair, finding no easy answers. She feels him stirring, but feigns sleep, enjoying his closeness. Whatever today would bring, he could never wish away the previous night. She revels in his warmth and her drowsiness a bit longer. She sleepily rolls closer to him. Opening one eye and then the other, she looks into his face. Pretending to be surprised, she speaks. "Ross?" She pulls the covers over her head. "I must be dreaming! Wow, that was one hell of a dream. Talk about technicolor." He muses; he had forgotten how much he enjoyed waking up beside her. The sense of loss cuts him. Ross: Cute, Blake. Real cute. Blake:(sits up, looking slightly dishevelled, but refreshed) Really, I think we need a re-match, just to be sure it wasn't a dream. Not allowing himself to consider that possibility, he freezes her out with a cold stare, trying with success to get the previous night out of his mind. Blake:(shrugs) I guess not. I understand. After last night's performance, you need to recharge your battery! (grins, in spite of the fact his look is getting darker) Before you start with your infamous, "this should not have happened, Blake" blah blah blah.... Ross: The fact is it did happen. I'll admit I'm not infallible; I had the bad judgement to have sex with you. Blake:(can't hide the hurt) Sex? You made love to me Ross, and I made *love* to you. Ross:(puts on his glasses) Call it what you will... but, for me it had nothing o do with love. Don't beat yourself up about it though. Just chalk it up to another one of your infamous slip-ups with an ex. Deciding not to engage in his little game, she shoots him a withering look, throws back the covers and struts naked across the room to the master bath, pausing at the door before hollering back at him. "I know you can't help yourself Ross, so look all you want. I really don't mind!" His face flushes. He throws his head back on the pillows and lifts up the heet. "You've got to stop that. As if you haven't gotten me into enough trouble already." Leaning over the side of the bed, he searches for his clothes. Disgusted, he gets out of bed, pulls off the sheet and wraps himself in it. He marches to the bathroom. "Blake, Blake! What the hell did you do with my clothes? Stop playing these games, and give me my clothes back!" Blake peeks around the shower curtain. "I imagine your clothes are where you left them, Ross. Kitchen floor!" She pulls the curtain shut, and he walks back into their bedroom. The door opens slowly as Jason crawls in, jabbering, "Mema... Mema." He catches sight of Ross and makes a bee-line for him. Pushing himself up on his chubby little legs, he stumbles, but Ross scoops him up before he falls. Arms outstretched, he cries excitedly, "Da... Da." Ross cannot help but smile. "What? Happy to see your ol' Dad?" Stepping out of the shower and into a towel, Blake saunters into the bedroom, intent on drying her hair. "Ross, did you find... (smiles as their little boy jabbers excitedly) Well, good morning, sweetheart. (to Ross) I see our little early bird is up and about. He is such a morning person... Never wakes up in a bad mood. Gee, I wonder who he gets that from?" Ross sneaks a peek in her direction. Deciding that she looks a little too sexy for him to deal with rationally, he heads for the door, talking to Jason as he goes. "How about if Jason helps Dad find his clothes?" Jason just waves his arms happily, and they head off. Halfway down the stairs, there is a knock at the door. Ross shouts to Blake. "Someone's at the door." She can't hear him over the noise of the hairdryer. Hoping that it is only the paperboy, he opens the door a crack. His heart drops as he looks Holly squarely in the eye. She pushes the door open. Holly:(genuinely surprised) Ross. Ross:(wishing the floor would open up and swallow him) Holly. Holly just looks at him. His cheeks colour under her scruntity. Unable to and it any longer, he blurts. "It's not what you think." Holly:(feeling flip) Are you psychic, Counsellor? Just what am I thinking? Ross:(flustered, in no mood for more games) I don't know, Holly. But, whatever it is, you're wrong. Holly:(to Jason) Boy, your dad is a crank this morning. Why do I have the feeling he is protesting too much? (unable to resist) Nice outfit, Ross. Ross:(acutely unhappy to be finding himself in this embarassing situation) If you'll excuse us; we need to find our clothes. Holly: You lost your clothes? He ignores her. Amused at his bewilderment and obvious discomfort, she follows him into the kitchen. He hastily picks up his T-shirt and underwear. Holly picks up the shirt off the floor. Holly: You forgot your shirt, Ross. Ross: That's not m... (catches himself, reaches for it) Thank you. Holly holds it back. Holly:(studies the shirt) You seem to be missing a button... several actually. Ross keeps wishing her away, but to no avail. Ross:(he grabs the shirt) Am I? I never noticed. Holly bends over and retrieves three buttons off the floor. Holly:(admonishing him) Bad thing to leave around for little mouths. I am curious though, how did they all fall off at once? Ross: Haven't you ever heard the saying? Curiosity killed the ex-mother-in-law. Holly bursts out laughing just as Blake walks in. She is smiling radiantly. Blake: There you guys are; I was beginning to wonder. Mom! I didn't expect you so early. Holly: I wanted to make sure you weren't overwhelmed, but I see you have back up. Blake: Ross generously offered to stay last night... to help with the boys and Meg. Holly: How nice... Ross. Blake: Ross, since you're here, would you mind terribly giving Jason a bath? Ross:(halfway out the door) Sure. (thankful to be able to finally escape) Blake: Oh, and Ross... just toss my shirt in the hamper. He doesn't reply. Holly looks at her daughter and raises an eyebrow, the pieces finally fitting together. ********************** Enjoying a cup of coffee, Holly is working hard at getting Blake to talk. "You are absolutely radiant this morning." Blake: Am I? Must be that new beauty bar. Here I thought all their claims were just hype. Holly:(grins at Blake's brush off) Ross, on the other hand, looks like a cross between a deer in headlights and the boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Blake:(dismissively) Oh, you know Ross. Who would know what's going on in that head of his. Holly: I do know Ross well enough to read his guilty expression loud and clear. Blake takes a sip of her coffee. Holly:(pushing) I take it he didn't sleep on the couch last night? Blake:(deadpan) He prefers the guestroom. Holly: Blake! Blake: Ok, ok. Technically, Ross didn't sleep here last night. (grinning from ear to ear) Well, not much anyway. (laughs) Holly: What does this all mean. Blake: To quote Ross, "It means nothing, except that I had the bad judgement to have sex with you." Holly:(grimmaces) Ouch. He really needs to work on his pillow talk. You ok? Blake: Never been better. Ross almost had me convinced that he was really over and done with me. I guess I was right all along. We aren't finished, far from it. Holly: Did he say something else to give you hope? Blake: No, but for perhaps the first time in his life, Ross Marler met a force that was stronger than himself... his feelings for me. I'll give him this, he fought hard, but in the end he lost control, allowing something besides his obstinate pride and exasperating logic to rule his actions. Holly can't help but wonder if possibly Blake is wrong, very wrong, about Ross's motivation. >From Here to There Part #16 written by: A editor extraordinaire: Emily S The sun is shining at Hollybend, where a distraught Blake has come to Holly, in tears and clearly upset. Holly:(hugs her daughter) Honey, what's wrong? Blake: Everything, Mom. Everything. Holly:(simply, cutting to the chase) Ross? Blake:(nods) He hasn't called, he hasn't been by to see Jason and he won't take my calls. Holly: This surprises you? Blake: Yes. Ross isn't the kind of man that makes love to a woman the way he made love to me the other night and then just cuts off all contact. Holly:(sadly) I think you may have misinterpreted what the other night meant. You said he wasn't happy when he woke up that morning, that he regretted what had happened. Blake: True, but that was just Ross being Ross. Trying to keep his dignity and self-respect intact. I love him more than anything. I can't take this anymore; I'm so tired. I just want him back with us where he belongs. Holly hugs Blake, trying to comfort her and vowing to make things better for her daughter and grandchildren. ******************* Open to Ross' office. Leaning back in his chair, Ross is relaxed dictating correspondence into a tape recorder. The door opens. He is annoyed by the interruption. He looks up, staring into Holly's extremely irate face. Ross: Hi, Holly. What can I do for you? Holly: It isn't what you can do for me, but what you can do for Blake and the children. Ross: I'm not about to discuss Blake with you. Holly:(taking a seat) Wrong answer. You don't have a choice! Deciding it will be far easier to let her rant and be done with it then to fight her, he leans back, looking smug. Ross: What is it, Holly? You want me to kiss and make up? Perhaps move back in with Blake and the boys so she can continue to live her fantasy life? Holly: I want you to stop messing with her head. She had really started to get it all together before the other night. Now, she is a basket case again, wondering where you are and why you haven't called. Ross stands up and walks to the other side of his desk. Ross: Why should I call? We aren't husband and wife... Well, not for long anyway. Holly:(not surprised at his cold behavior) Do you care to explain what the other night was about then? Blake seemed to think you were on the road to reconciliation. Ross:(sarcastically) Am I responsible for Blake's delusions? For god's sake, Holly, what did she think? "Seduce Ross back into my bed and he'll be my devoted husband for life?" I just forgive and forget? Holly: You know as well as I do that she still loves you. Ross: I'm afraid *that* is her problem, because I don't love her. Holly: Why didn't you tell her? Instead of sending her mixed messages... God, Ross, did you have to sleep with her? Ross: No, I didn't have to. Holly: Why did you? Ross:(bitter and angry at being questioned this way) Because I *could*, Holly! We're consenting adults. Blake made it very clear that her body was available to me. (as if to justify his words) She got what she wanted!! He doesn't see it coming; she slaps him hard. Holly:(in stunned amazement) She got what she wanted? You disgust me! (enraged, she gets in his face, he shrinks back from her) Ross Marler... always the upstanding, honest and decent man, gets to play victim in his life, the stoic silent martyr. Always quick to lay blame, yet never able to take any! If you had any sort of human decency left, you would have made her understand. Instead you what... cruelly, and in the most perverse way, fed into her hopes. Let her go, Ross... Just let her go. His hand touches his cheek. It is burning, but it can't compare to match the burning sting of her words. He stands silent, she slams out his door. ********************* It's early evening, and the babies are sleeping. Blake is curled up on the ouch settling in to a new novel when the doorbell rings. She sighs, wondering why it is she never gets five minutes peace. She goes to the door, hoping it isn't Rick. Her face lights up when she sees who her visitor is. Blake: Ross, come on in. I've been expecting you. Ross:(frowns) You have? Blake: Yes. You certainly took your good old time getting here, but that's ok; you're here now. (she reaches out to hug him, he doesn't respond) Ross: Where are the boys? Blake:(happily) They are in bed, tucked in safe and sound. I could wake them up though; they've missed you these past few days... So have I. Ross:(coolly) We need to talk. Blake: I know. After what happened last week, I guess we have a lot to talk about, lots of things to work out. I know it is going to be hard, but I think our love is strong enough to get us through it. Ross:(knowing Holly had been right) Our love? Blake:(beaming, secure in the knowledge that he has finally come to term with his feelings for her. She decides she'll go easy on him, making his admission as easy as possible) Yes, the way we feel about each other. Ross: I stopped by, because I just wanted you to be clear on what happened the other night. Blake: I was there... remember? We made love, and it was incredible. Ross:(takes off his glasses) That had nothing to do with love, Blake. Blake:(frustrated at his continued denial) It had everything to do with love, Ross. Ross: I'm just so damn sorry it happened. Blake:(insecurities starting to kick in) Don't say that, Ross, because I don't believe you. Ross: It was very irresponsible of me. Blake, listen to me. We will not be getting back together, today, tomorrow, EVER! Too much has happened. Blake:(fighting) You made love to me in "our" bed the other night. Don't try to tell me I imagined it. Ross: We had sex; the rest you imagined. Blake: Don't say that! Ross: It has to be said, dammit. Otherwise you'll keep hoping, playing games, refusing to get on with your life. Blake: I'll always hope... until you are back here with us where you belong. He walks away, taking a short break, he takes a deep breath. "You just don't get it, Blake." Blake: You got that right. I know you love the boys, and somewhere deep down you love me too. (desperately) You proved that the other night. Ross: I do love Jason with all my heart, and Kevin too. But Blake, I don't love you, not anymore. The hurt, anger and betrayal just gnawed away at what I once felt for you, until nothing was left. (he can see she is starting to understand, the devastated look in her eyes is deeper than he could have imagined, he continues) You've always had a problem distinguishing between sex and love. Sex does not equal love. I would have thought you of all people would have learned that by now. She is just staring at him fixedly, unable to absorb what he is saying. Ross: The other night was great, as far as sex goes. We both took what we wanted. It wasn't the most prudent thing we've ever done, but we are consenting adults. But, it was not the beginning of a reconciliation, it was the end of us, the final chapter. She continues to stare at him speechless, unbelieving what she is hearing. Blake:(finally able to put a thought to words) I don't understand. If you don't love me, why did you... Ross: Why? Because you made yourself available. (shrugs) I had nothing better to do at the time. Blake:(horrified) Oh god, you don't mean what you are saying; you can't. Ross: I do. You've always thought sex would solve your problems. Haven't you learned yet it only perpetuates them? There is no denying you are great in bed, Blake... Your sons are a testament to that. Blake:(at that instant she hates him with every fibre of her being) You bastard! You are too much of a coward to admit you love me. He grabs her. Ross: I don't love you. If anything I'm beginning to hate you for what you have done to all of us. You cannot imagine my disgust at waking up in bed with you. Blake:(completely destroyed) Get out!! Get the hell out!!! Ross sighs and leaves knowing that finally she got it. **************** Early the next morning, Rick pounds on her door. Blake is sitting on the sofa where she has been all night. "Blake, I know you're in there. Answer the door, dammit." Numb, in no mood for further confrontation she tries to ignore him. But, he only gets louder, so she responds. "What the hell do you want?" Rick hands her a packet of legal papers. "I'm suing you for joint custody of Kevin. I thought I should deliver these in person." Blake:(dazed) You don't want to do that, Rick. Rick: It is the only way I can guarantee the access to Kevin that I deserve as his father. Blake: You deserve? Get the hell out of my house! Rick: I want to see Kevin. Blake: Let me get this straight: you slap me with a custody suit and you want to see *my* son? Get out! This is one fight you'll regret ever starting, Rick Bauer! No one messes with my babies... no one! (she slams the door and bolts it) She walks over to the phone and punches in familiar numbers. It rings. "Daddy... Daddy, I need your help." >> >"Republicans understand the importance of bondage between mother and child." >--Former U.S Vice-President Dan Quayle on Republican Family Values. >> >"Republicans understand the importance of bondage between mother and child." >--Former U.S Vice-President Dan Quayle on Republican Family Values.