Written Sept. 19th - Dec. 23rd 08 (Parts 16 - 19)

Part Sixteen!!

The stage had been set and the players knew their roles by heart. It was time for Cane and Lily to regain what was rightfully theirs...

Crimson Lights...

Lily sat at a table with her back to the door. She heard the approaching footsteps and listened as they stopped behind her. A throat was cleared and a rose came round from behind, it's scent tickling her nostrils...

"Hello Sonny..." Lily stood quickly and spun around to face the man behind her. "Or should I say Billy, which name would you like me to use?"

The rose he held out fell to his side. "You knew?"

Lily batted her lashes at him and said, "next time you want to secretly hit on an old friend perhaps you shouldn't put so many familiar details into your profile."

Billy shrugged in his casual way and replied, "maybe I was hoping you would be smart enough to figure it out. Lily, you have grown into quite the attractive young woman and when Colleen told me that you had signed up on that silly dating site -"

"Ahhh... so my dear friend Colleen was the brains behind you contacting me... interesting..."

"Now, now don't get mad at C.C. she was, in her own way trying to help you out and cheer you up. And after I had heard about the number that Cane had done on you I felt it was my duty to go out of my way to make you feel better."

Lily looked him up and down. "Well, what can I do to ever repay you?"

Billy's gaze became hooded and predatory as he closed the distance between them. "Oh, I could think of one or two things..." And just like that he seized her mouth with his, his hands gripping her upper arms leaving her unable to push him away. But Lily didn't have long to wait before Billy was yanked away from her. "What the h-"

The resounding crack of a fist slamming into his jaw silenced the rest of that statement and sent Billy flying to the floor. He rubbed his jaw and looked up at the angry man standing over him... Cane...

Cane made to go for Billy again. "If I were you, I would stay down," he growled.

The commotion that the two men had caused did not go unnoticed by the people in the coffee house. Kevin and Jana among them stood with their mouths open staring at the scene on the patio.

Lily grabbed Cane's arm and spun him around, giving Billy a moment to recover. "What do you think you are doing?" She demanded.

Kevin cleared his throat and said, "nothing to see people. I'm sure that they have things under control and -" This was said even louder to make sure they heard, "that there won't be any further incidents that may cause damage to the coffee house." With that people resumed their conversations but still continued to shoot glances towards the patio - just in case...

Cane looked chagrined in her presence at what he had just displayed. "Lily I -"

"You what? How dare you pull the jealous boyfriend act when your WIFE waits for you at home."

By this time Billy had managed to get up and straighten himself out. Still rubbing his now slightly swollen jawline he said, "you have quite the right hook - brother."

Cane just turned a scowl on him before returning his gaze to Lily. "Lily, please he may be my brother but we both know he is a major player. He is just using you."

"I resent that."

"Shut up. Why don't you skulk off to your next conquest or better yet go find Amber and apologize because you can bet the fact that you were kissing Lily has already reached her ears."

"Alright. I'll go but not because of what you said."

"Yeah, right," muttered Cane.

Billy chose to ignore his rumblings. "I'll go because I don't want to be a part of causing anymore of a scene and I don't want to upset Lily any further. Perhaps you should consider doing the same. And Mother will hear of your ridiculous public display."

Cane took a menacing step towards him and Billy feeling the swelling on his jaw beat a hasty retreat out the back door...

Cane and Lily turned back to face one another, they were alone on the patio. To anyone who observed them they looked like they were involved in a heated discussion - thankfully no one was in ear shot or they would have heard...

A small giggle escape Lily's lips and she clamped a hand over them to prevent any further bursts. Sliding her fingers away she gestured at Cane and said, "you weren't supposed to hit him that hard."

Cane marked his points by touching each finger. "Well a) he had his hands on you, b) he had his mouth on you and c) it felt really, really good to do it." Thank goodness that Lily was the only one to see his face because a very self satisfying smile spread across it.

"Like I would have kissed him back." Lily said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I know you wouldn't because you love me."

"Wow, why don't you climb on the table and pound on your chest." Lily softened her remark with a smile of her own. "Well part one of our plan is complete."

"Yes the first act went off without a hitch. Now on to act two." They each made a point of storming off in separate directions...

Part Seventeen!!

Act Two...

Cane and Lily's house...

A few days later...

It was all set. Cane had movers come to his house and pack up each and every single item belonging to Chloe and her child. The boxes were stacked against the wall in the entry way, the movers were waiting in their truck around the corner for when Cane contacted them to come and move everything. They didn't mind, they were being paid very handsomely. The orange couch had also been removed, Cane requested it be burned. A new one was ordered...

The living room had been transformed into a mock courtroom. A desk sat at one end in front of the fire place where Cane sat as judge and jury. His executioners, Paul and Michael were waiting in the kitchen for when Chloe arrived. They would not have to wait long...

Chloe approached the front door with a triumphant smile upon her face. Cane had summoned her to their home with the promise of a wonderful surprise for her. She couldn't believe it, she had finally won him over...

She opened the door, walked inside and skidded to a halt as she gazed around and registered what she saw. "What -" her mouth hung open as she read the labels on the boxes: 'Chloe's Bedroom Crap', 'Chloe's Kitchen Junk' and 'Chloe's Clothing Garbage' were the ones she noticed before her eyes shot to across the room to Cane sitting calmly and coldly behind a desk. "What is going on? Why is my stuff here and why is it labeled this way?"

"Hello Chloe. You will find that a great deal has changed over the past week and a half. I have realized things." His hands clasped in front of him on the desk, he leaned forward and continued, "I have discovered things..."

Chloe visibly paled. She thought of turning and fleeing the house when a moment later that option was taken away from her. The door opened and three people entered...

Esther, whom Katherine and Jill had informed of what was to happen this evening so as not to be bombarded on the spot but it was still hurting her terribly at what her daughter had done.

Jill, who was there to stand by her son and welcome a change. Unfortunately Chloe would not be banished from her life, it was after all still her grandchild she carried.

And Katherine, she to was there for support but she was also there to make an announcement...

"Hello everyone. I hope we aren't to late." Jill said as she glared at Chloe.

"No Mum. You are just in time for the celebration. Gentlemen?"

Paul and Michael stepped from the kitchen to stand on either side of Cane, both with files and papers in their hands.

Chloe, having been edged closer to the middle of the room thanks to the arrival of the three women felt completely surrounded and terrified at what was to come. She cast a pleading glance towards her mother but Esther looked away although not before Chloe saw the shame in her eyes...

Michael began. "Ms. Mitchell it seems that you have been a very busy young woman in recent months. So in my hands I have two sets of papers. My left holds option number one: an annulment from Mr. Ashby and a document which you will sign stating that you will walk away from this with nothing from Mr. Ashby and he won't press charges. In my right hand option number two: I have documents that I will be filing with the police and the courts charging you with fraud, tampering with medical files and bribing medical personnel. Which will it be?"

Chloe's gaze darted to everyone in the room, it finally settled once again on Cane. "You're bluffing. You don't have any proof, all you have is speculation and here say."

Cane sighed at her utter ignorance and stupidity. "Chloe, do you really think I would hold a gathering such as this with an extensive guest list if all I really had was speculation and here say? I don't think so. Paul, if you would?"

"With pleasure." Paul walked over to where Chloe stood and proceed to put in her hand all of the security stills he had accumulated from the different hotels around New York that Chloe and Billy had stayed in along with credit card slips and room service bills. "And this is the signed statement from a Ms. Jennifer Armstrong."

Cane peered around Paul and said, "you remember Jennifer don't you Chloe? She was that thoughtful technician who gave me a copy of the ultra sound. It was also very thoughtful of her to alter the dates and measurements for you, wasn't it? For a fee of course. Funny she has recently had a change of heart or perhaps conscience and has decided that her skills would be better put to use with 'Doctors Without Borders' but before she left she was kind enough to give us a signed statement of what she did for you."

Paul pulled another piece of paper from his files. "I also have a signed statement from the bartender at Indigo who was contacted by you and asked that you be given only non-alcoholic drinks while you watched Mr. Ashby continue to indulge with his friend Bas - wasn't it?"

"Michael that reminds me. Can you add to the list of charges to be filed - attempted sexual assault? I am feeling rather violated right now."

"I think that can be arranged," Michael replied as he started to jot down some notes.

In a rage like watching a child have a tantrum Chloe grabbed the file from Paul and started ripping it to shreds. "So what? The DNA test shows that it's Cane's baby. This is all just circumstantial."

This made Cane laugh. "Chloe, Chloe, Chloe," he said while shaking his head at her. "Do you really think that is the only copies that I have and do you really think the only evidence I have is circumstantial? Tsk, tsk." Cane stood and reached into his pocket...

Meanwhile...

Billy arrived at the house to read a note on the door:

'Hey Billy. I'm just out back, come on in and grab a beer. Cane.'

"This apology better be good, Cane." Billy muttered as he turned the knob and stepped inside...

"Ahhh... Billy! Right on time."

Billy took in the scene in front of him. "Wow! Guess I'm not getting that beer or an apology after all. Why am I really here brother?"

"Well Billy, you are here for a couple of reasons. The first I was just about to reveal." Cane pulled a folded piece of paper out of his jacket pocket. "The blood work they did on you in the hospital sure came in handy when I had another much more thorough DNA test done, Chloe."

If it was possible Chloe paled even further and Billy began to shift back and forth on his feet.

"Oh, don't worry Billy you can thank Amber for your sample, it helps when brushes and razors are left lying around the apartment. She was really impressed to hear about you kissing Lily, this was her way of thanking you. But I have a pretty good idea that you won't be surprised by what these results say now will you?"

Billy's gaze touched on Chloe before it lowered to the floor.

"How could you, Billy? To your own brother." Jill scolded.

"Now Mum, don't be to hard on the lad. After all I don't believe he put it together until he arrived here and saw Chloe again. What he was wrong in was not stepping up and saying something. Instead he chose to see how he could use it to his advantage."

Chloe grabbed on to Cane's arm, her crocodile tears were flowing in full force. "Cane, you can't do this. I know you love this baby, I know you think of it as your baby. Billy will never be the kind of father that you would be. When I saw how you treated Lily when she was pregnant -" Chloe balked at what she had just let slip, she saw the look in Cane's eye's change to one of barely controlled rage but he wasn't the one to respond...

Lily had stepped out from the back hallway where she had been listening to everything. "Was that when you decided to manipulate Cane? I remember that botched trip to New York, you know the one that you were running upstairs to the bathroom every ten minutes - you suspected you were pregnant then, didn't you?" Lily was now standing beside Cane and for a moment her anger over came her and she lurched at Chloe. "DIDN'T YOU?!" She screamed.

Cane put a hand on Lily, instantly calming her and to every one's surprise Billy took a step in front of Chloe - as if to protect her...

Cane put his lips to Lily's temple and whispered, "it's ok sweetheart. It will be ok. Why don't you go sit beside Mum, alright?"

Lily nodded and with one last heated glance towards Chloe, did as Cane requested.

"It's always about Lily," Chloe spit out bitterly. "You never even gave us a chance, I was willing to give you a child - something she was unable to do. We could have been happy."

Cane came very close to Chloe, so close she could feel his breath hitting her face. "You don't get it do you?" He growled. "I love Lily, I will always love Lily and that child you tried to pass off as mine is just an innocent victim caught up in you web of lies and deceit. Don't make me regret giving you a chance to walk away unscathed here today. Sign the agreements and cut your losses. You are not my problem anymore."

Chloe finally admitted to herself that she had lost - she had lost everything. She walked up to the desk. Where Michael pointed to what she needed to read and sign:

'...it is decreed by the Court that the marriage contract heretofore entered into between the parties to this case, from and after this date, be and is set aside and dissolved as fully and effectually as if no such contract had ever been made or entered into...'

As Chloe scrawled her name beside Cane's already present signature, she realized that all of this had been for nothing... "What am I going to do now?"

Cane eyed her coolly and said, "I don't care, you're the Abbott's problem now. You brought this on yourself Chloe."

Chloe turned to find Katherine standing in front of her, looking very stern. "My dear, I gave you every opportunity because of who your mother was and I told you myself that you had better not make me regret that decision but you have. Oh, my dear you have. Before you go, there is just one more thing. That family heirloom you are wearing belongs to me and you will not have it on your finger for one minute longer." Katherine said as she held out her hand and waited.

Chloe struggled to get it off her swollen finger and a moment later dropped it into Katherine's palm. She grabbed her coat and Esther got up as well. Esther's gaze touched on everyone in the room. "I am so sorry for what my Kate has done to each and every one of you. I hope one day you will find it in your hearts to forgive her, to forgive me."

Cane walked over to her and touched her arm, "Esther, I have nothing but the up most respect for all that you have done in your life for yourself and your daughter. She did this to herself and there is no one to blame but her. You are an exceptional woman, don't ever forget that."

Esther smiled warmly at Cane before she turned and left behind Chloe. Billy thought it was best for him to leave as well but before he could make two steps towards the door, Katherine's voice stopped him...

"We are not finished with you yet, young man. I have an announcement to make, I'm just waiting for our final guests to arrive."

Billy sighed but the tone in his Grandmother's voice left no room for argument. Moments later a knock on the door...

Cane answered it to admit Jack and Gloria into the room.

"What the hell is this about, Cane?"

"Yes," Gloria chimed in. "What purpose would you have in calling us to a meeting at your house?"

"Cane may have sent you the invitation but it was I that wanted to speak to you." Katherine said as she stepped from behind Cane into their sight. "Please, I promise not to take much of your time."

Cane took a seat beside Lily and his mother while Katherine leaned against the desk in the center of the room commanding every one's attention. "Let me get right to the point. Gloria, we know about your exuberant purchases of Jabot stock with your husband Geoffrey." She held up her hand silencing Gloria's protest. "Don't bother trying to deny it, we have proof. And Jack we also know of your intent to take over Jabot using Gloria's stocks , your families proxies and your younger brother's gift for gathering inside information."

"Katherine -"

"Don't interrupt me! You are lucky that I am about to be as kind to you as I am. This was serious deception on your parts, all of you. But I am the majority owner of Jabot at your father's request Jack and that is the way it will stay. You will never get my stocks Gloria no matter how many times you say it is what John would have wanted - because we both know it was not. But what I do think you are right in is that an Abbott should be in charge of Jabot since it was an Abbott who began it all. Jack by the courts decree that can never be you but Billy it can be you. Unfortunately I do not trust you to do it alone, that is why your sister Ashley has agreed to return and be Co-CEO with you."

"What?" An astonished Jack asked.

"Oh, yes Jack. More than one can play at back door deals. What you were doing did not sit well with Ashley."

Billy glared at Cane, noting his calm demeanor. "So where does this leave Cane? I am sure he has no intention of stepping aside without a fight."

"There will be no need to fight. He is be promoted to join Jill in a joint Presidency of Chancellor Industries, where they will share in duties of over seeing all of Chancellor's vast holdings - including Jabot. So no, Cane won't be going anywhere. And when I retire to that great kingdom in the sky my Jabot stocks will be come part of Chancellor Industries. That will be all," Katherine said as she dismissed them.

Jack and Gloria were speechless. In fact they opened and closed their mouths several times but no words were uttered. They had gotten their wish, Jabot was once again being run by Abbott's but it would never be completely owned by them again. Numbly they gathered their things and walked out the door with Billy trailing behind - it was going to take some doing before his family forgave him and what the hell was going to do about Chloe...

Michael and Paul gathered up their materials and with a promise to file the Disillusion of Marriage Agreement right away, they shook Cane's hand and warmly said goodbye to the ladies before they left.

Katherine and Jill smiled warmly at the two people who were harmed most from all the lies and deceit they waded through today and they both had high hopes that they would manage to come to terms and get past all of this - that their love would become even stronger. With hugs and kisses for them both and best wishes too, Katherine and Jill left with their arms linked together. Finally leaving Lily and Cane alone in their home...

A shudder wracked Lily's body as the full magnatude of everything hit her full force as her eyes darted around the room finally landing on Cane. With tears in her eyes and her voice full of emotion she said, "it's finally over isn't it?"

Cane could not stand the space that separated them any longer and thought to hell with the movers, they could wait a while longer as he swept Lily up in his arms for a kiss that shook the very foundation of their home...

Part Eighteen!! (XXX... Per request from my wonderful galls at Ashby's Angels... Hee Hee!!)

Cane's tongue immediately delved into Lily's mouth. There kiss was strong and urgent, to long had they gone without the other...

Their hands roamed over one another's bodies, reaquainting themselves with the fire that only they could bring to each other. They immediately began removing each others clothing. Shoes were kicked away, Lily's black slacks and panties were next. Their mouths continued to explore as Lily pulled Cane's shirt from the waist of his pants and in her haste to touch his skin pulled it apart sending buttons flying as they continued to kiss, their tongues stroking one anothers. Cane continued to walk Lily back towards their master suite, towards the master bath with its enormous shower that had seemed so empty without Lily to join him in it - that was about to change...

Lily yanked the ruined shirt down and off Cane's arms. She reached for his belt buckle, her fingertips grazing his already straining cock. He groaned into her mouth as he reached around to cup her tight ass, pressing her very core against his hardness...

It was Lily's turn to moan. Blindly, Cane turned on the shower. The three seperate heads spraying deliciously warm water. Still half dressed, Cane pushed her the remaining way inside. Immediately her t-shirt became soaked and it clung to her aroused and heated flesh.

Cane removed his now damp trousers the rest of the way and threw them on to the bathroom floor. He watched through a hooded gaze as Lily leaned against the tile wall, watched as her t-shirt clung to all the right places. Lily bit her bottom lip in anticipation as she returned his gaze.

Cane stepped close to her. He soothed her caught lip with his tongue, he explored every inch of her soft, delectable mouth. Lily pressed her hips against his straining erection as Cane moved from exploring her mouth to her jawline and down along the column of her sensative neck. Lily's nipples pebbled in anticipation of Cane's touch and he did not disappoint...

Sliding his hands up and under her soaked shirt, his fingertips first grazed the undersides of her perfect breasts before moving up and over them to cup them, to squeeze them. He nipped and nibbled at her nipples before soothing them with his tongue through the wet material. Finally he lifted the shirt up and over her head, tossing it aside they both let out a sigh of longing as his mouth finally seized upon her perfect exposed tip. Drawing first one then the other into his mouth, he took great pleasure in hearing the satisfied little noises coming from her throat.

Lily needed to return the intense pleasure that Cane was giving her. She slid her fingers up and along his chiselled abs. Running her fingers over his taught flesh, leaving a trail of heat and fire in their wake. She played with his flat nipples coaxing them to hard nubs, leaning forward she nipped and licked them causing Cane a zing of pleasure straight to his groin.

Cane saught her mouth once again as his hand slid down to delve between her folds, his fingers slick with the moisture from the shower and her very essance. He placed first one then two fingers inside her tight sheath, stroking and moving inside her. His thumb found her clit and began a delicious circular movement causing Lily to clench uncontrollably around him...

Not to be outdone Lily reached for his long, hard, thick, length. Wrapping her deft fingers around it she began to stroke him in a long drawn out manner...

As they pleasured one another they were reaching the point of completion when Cane pulled Lily's hand from his aching flesh to pin it with his high on the shower wall. His other hand still wedged between her legs gave her clit just two more flicks as he felt her spasm and shudder around his fingers.

"Cane..." she groaned.

Removing his hand he grasped her other one and pinned it to high on the shower wall. "Look at me Lily."

She lifted her heavy and satisfied gaze up to meet his.

"I have every intention of taking you hard and fast against this wall. I have waited so long to feel your body surround mine."

"Now Cane. Don't make me wait a moment longer... fu-" Her grafic demand was swallowed by Cane's mouth as he lifted her legs and she wrapped them tightly around his waist. Grabbing his hard length , he guided it into her tight, slick sheath...

He moved with long steady strokes that gradually quickened and shortened with their growing need...

He pounded her willing flesh, each of them panting and making incoherant noises in the backs of their throats. Cane felt Lily tighten and begin to spasm around him, his pulsing release followed as they both cried out one anothers names with passion...

Breathing heaving, their foreheads pressed together as they recovered from such an intense and long over due release. Gently Cane slid Lily down the front of his body where he held her close, neither one of their legs very steady at the moment. Cane kissed Lily tenderly and said, "I love you. I love you so much I don't know what I was thinking to be away from you for so long. I am so glad this mess is finally behind us."

Lily stroked his cheek gently. "I love you too, more so now then I ever thought possible."

Between more kisses and gentle touching Cane and Lily washed one another and after drying off Cane scooped Lily up in his arms and walked to their bed where he placed her beneath the cool sheets. Joining her there, he drew her up against his body and they whispered sweet words and touched one another softly. In the shower, they had been rough and passionate as if cleansing and purging themselves of the past three months. Now in the warmth of their bed, in their room they made long, slow, sweet, passionate love to one another well into the night...

Part Nineteen!!

Can we talk...

Lily opened her eyes to find Cane gazing back at her, a slow, sultry smile spreading across his face.

"Mornin' baby." Cane said as he reached a hand out to caress Lily's face.

Lily stiffened and pulled away. She turned got up and pulled one of Cane's t-shirts up and over her head.

Cane sat up in the bed, the sheets pooled at his waist. His look grew concerned as he asked, "Lily what's wrong?"

"We need to talk. I - I think we may have rushed into things last night." At Cane's stricken look she put her hand up to continue, "now don't get me wrong last night was incredible. Like off the charts amazing but -"

"But?"

"I mean there were - are a lot of hurt feelings between us." Lily started pacing back and forth in front of the bed when she stopped suddenly to demand, "why did you give her my ring? When she flashed it in my face I don't know how I remained standing, it was like my heart had been ripped out and she was wearing it as a prize."

Cane reached for her again. "Lily I -"

But Lily continued as though she heard nothing, "I mean we had plans for that ring. It was a family heirloom, something that we were going to pass on to our children someday. So how could you Cane, how could you?"

Cane had gotten out of the bed while she was pacing and hastily dawned a pair of boxer breifs. He finally grabbed her by the arms stopping her in mid stride, his hurt bubbling to the surface. Searching her gaze he said, "you want to know why I did that? Well I'll tell you, I was a walking talking zombie - I wasn't even close to thinking straight. I had just found out that she was apparently carrying my child and I wanted to stick by and you figure this out with you but no! You told me to marry her, you practically forced me to do so. So I did what you wanted, I did what you asked. Maybe subconsciously I thought by giving the ring to her it would have given you a wake-up call. All I needed was one word from you - one and I would have called it off, I don't know as I already said I wasn't thinking straight. I was willing to do anything to get through this with you and you walked away from me. You abandoned me..."

"Abandoned you? I did what was right for what I thought was your child. So you wouldn't have to choose between us because that child had to come first."

"That's all fine and dandy but it wasn't my child, you sacraficed yourself for nothing, you sacrificed us for nothing. Maybe if we had stuck it out together we would have figured out her lies and deception all the more sooner instead we lost all this precious time that we could have shared with each other."

"Stuck it out? If you hadn't gotten mind bending drunk that night she never would have been able to manipulate you in the first place!" Lily clamped a hand over her mouth as she saw Cane's eyes fill with shame. "Cane, I'm sorry. I've already told you that I didn't blame you for that. That I had forgiven you. I was out of line."

Cane turned from her to gaze out the window and he replied softly, "no, no you're right Lily. And I swore to you that I would never put myself in a position like that again, that I would never drink again." He turned back towards her, "and I haven't."

Lily touched his arm and said, "I have trust issues."

"With good reason and I am so sorry that I added to those. I swore to you that I wasn't Daniel and look how I proved that. And I - I have abandonment issues."

Lily gave a soft ironic chuckle as she replied, "with good reason. I should have faught harder instead of being so self-sacrificing."

Cane cupped her face in his large, warm hands. "And together we are going to work on this. There is no way that we are going to give up on us after working so hard to find our way back to one another. We have some big talks ahead of us but I'm confident that we are going to come out of this stronger then ever."

"Me too." Lily said as she reached up on the tips of her toes to plant a soft, heated kiss on Cane's eager mouth.

Cane moved his mouth up to her temple where his lips moved against her as he said softly, "let's get dressed and I'll make you a hearty breakfast." Stepping back slightly, he smiled ruefully at her. "After all we have some other big conversations ahead of us starting with your father."

Lily's groan turned into a giggle as Cane tapped her ass and told her to get a move on. No matter what from now on they were going to talk things through and face everything together...