Beecham House Present Day...

"You wanted to see me," Cian said as he stepped into the sitting room at the family home at the Maple Grove Compound, where he'd grown up with his adopted sister, Gabrielle, and twin brother Frank. The house had once been full of love and laughter, but that was before their mother had died, before everything had changed. The house held no more joy for Cian now. It only served as a painful reminder of the past and memories he'd rather forget.

"Have a seat, son," Gordon Granger told his eldest, gesturing to a chair beside the fireplace and adjacent to his own, where they could speak face to face. They were alone for once, and that was why Gordon had chosen this place and time to summon him there.

"What's this about?" Cian asked as he settled himself stiffly in the chair across from his father. He knew it had to be important, and he was worried it was something serious. "Is something wrong" Is this about Gabi?"

Gordon smiled and leaned over to lay a reassuring hand against Cian's arm. "No, it's not about Gabi. Gabi is fine."

Cian frowned. That only left one thing then, and he didn't really want to talk about it. There was no healing the rift in the family, and both Cian and Gordon knew it. Too much had happened, things Gordon didn't even know about and that Cian was too afraid to share. His father had been through enough. He didn't want to hurt him any further. And suddenly from the look on Gordon's face, Cian realized why he'd been summoned.

"It's about Christmas, isn't it?"

Gordon smiled sadly, which was enough to confirm his son's suspicions. "I would like us all to be there this year, Kee. It's been a difficult year for everyone. We should be there together as a family."

Cian frowned, not wanting to disappoint his father, but unable to comply with his request, not after everything that had happened. "I'm sorry, Dad, but I can't."

"Cian..." Gordon started, his hand squeezing his son's arm as if to reinforce his concerns and drive them home. "I'm worried about Humphrey. He's getting older. He's not going to live forever. It would be nice if the family could put their differences aside for once. If you can't do it for Humphrey, then do it for me."

"I can't," Cian repeated, glumly.

"Why not' If this is about Frank, he's different now. He's..."

"It's not about Frank!" Cian exclaimed, though it partly was. "It's about me. I can't face them. Not after..." Cian swallowed hard, the pain and shame that had caused him to run away from home coming back in a rush of memories. "Please, don't make me."

"Cian, no one blames you for anything. I hear you're dating someone. Bring her along. I'm sure everyone would love to see you and to meet her."

"No," Cian replied bluntly, pulling away from his father's hand and moving to his feet, chewing on a thumbnail while he paced the floor in nervous agitation.

"Things have changed. People have changed. You have to let the past go," Gordon pointed out, watching his son pace back and forth. He could see the pain and anger bubbling just beneath the surface, just waiting for the right opportunity to explode, and Cian didn't disappoint him.

"I didn't hurt that girl, Dad!" Cian exclaimed suddenly. "I didn't do anything wrong!"

Gordon frowned. So, that was it or part of it. Something that had happened over ten years ago and was still eating the young man. The truth had never really come out and had faded from memory, but Cian hadn't forgotten and worried that people still blamed him for something he hadn't done.

"No one is accusing you of anything, Kee. No one is blaming you."

Cian clenched his jaw, knowing that wasn't exactly true. "Is he going to be there?"

"Who?"

"Frank," Cian replied bluntly. Not Jon. Jon didn't even remember what had transpired between them. Frank was another story.

Gordon frowned, wishing his children would put their differences aside once and for all and become a family again. "I don't know. He's been through a lot. He's trying to get better."

Cian nodded. That was enough of an answer for him. If there was any chance his brother would be at the big house for Christmas, Cian would make sure he wasn't. "I'm not going, Dad. I can't. Not after..."

Cian stopped his pacing to look out the window at the winter wonderland that was right outside the door, and he missed his mother more than ever. She'd been the glue that had held the family together, and none of this would have happened if she'd still been alive. Cian closed his eyes, remembering all the horrible things his brother had done. If his father knew the truth, it would break his heart.

"Just let it go, Dad. Just leave it be," he told his father sadly.

Cian felt a hand against his shoulder and didn't need to turn around to know his father was standing behind him with a worried expression on his face. "Cian, it was a long time ago. You're the one that needs to let it go."

"I have to go," Cian said, pulling away from his father to make his way toward the door.

"Just think about it. It would mean a lot to me and to the rest of the family." I don't have a family, Cian thought sadly to himself. I just have Tera. "There's nothing to think about. I'm not going."

"You can't run away from your problems forever, Kee."

"I'm not running away," Cian argued, his hand on the doorknob.

"Isn't that what you did when you left all those years ago to go off on your adventures?"

Cian paused at the doorway, unsure what to say. No one really knew what had transpired over the last ten years. All they knew were the stories Cian had told, some true, some not so true. It was better that way. "They're just stories, Dad. That's all they are."

"Cian, your brother's changed."

Cian closed his eyes again, not wanting to talk about his brother or even think about all the things he'd done. Frank wasn't getting anywhere near Tera, if Cian had anything to say about it. He wasn't risking the same thing happening again. Not with Frank, not with Jon, not with anyone. No one was going to hurt Tera. No one. "I have to go. I'll see you later, Dad."

Gordon Granger dropped heavily into a chair as his eldest son left, turning his back on his own family, people that cared for him, no matter what he might believe.

He shoved a hand through his hair and turned to watch the flames dancing in the hearth, hearing the engine of Cian's motorcycle roar to life and then fade as he drove away from Maple Grove. If there was one thing he wanted more than any other, it was to be a family again. Nothing else would make him happier than that, but it seemed the more time that passed, the less likely it was to happen, and Gordon was starting to wonder if it ever would.

Beecham House A little over ten years ago...

Once Christine was gone, Frank closed the door behind him. It took him no time to tug the sheets down from the curtain rods and chandelier. He bundled them together and trooped up the stairs. Dad, Cian and Gabi would be home soon, so they stayed bundled together at the bottom of Frank's closet. Besides, Frank had been getting into the habit of not doing anything to take care of himself. His room was littered with laundry, pop cans and dirty dishes. He didn't care.

The hockey game had gone well, but Cian's heart wasn't in it, not since Mom had died. Being the eldest, he was trying to put up a good front and hold things together, but he knew he was failing.

Gabi had made it a point to go to every one of Cian's games, and every activity Frank did, since their mother's death. She was the only one left who could - their father was sinking badly into alcohol-fuelled depression, so the teenaged girl had made it her job to make sure her brothers were supported in what they did. But it didn't help that something just wasn't right anymore.

Gordon Granger dropped Cian and Gabi off in front of the house, making some excuse about some errand or other that he had to run, but the two of them knew better. Cian made no argument about it, but got out of the car as told, just in time to see his girlfriend making a mad dash from the house right into his cousin, Jon's, arms. Cian watched for a moment, but when it became obvious to him what was going on, he turned away and stormed toward the house, jaw clenched, his face flushed with anger and embarrassment.

Frank had heard the car pull up and he opened his drapes just enough to watch the scene unfolding outside. He grinned when he saw Cian's reaction to seeing Jon and Christy together. That part hadn't been planned, but it was a bonus to make Cian's life that much more miserable. Letting the drapes close, he turned to leave his room and bounded down the stairs. For the first time in months, he smiled in the presence of others. He stood at the bottom of the stairs, leaning on the banister and simply waiting for Cian and Gabi to come in.

Gabi took a little longer to get out of the car, making a point of kissing their father's cheek and hugging him before opening up the door to slide out and stand beside Cian. So, of course, she missed what had suddenly made her brother so angry. "Kee?" Blinking in bewildered surprise - he didn't usually just leave her standing alone in the dark - Gabi hurried to try and catch up. "Cian, what?s wrong?"

"Nothing," the sixteen year old replied, blinking back tears as he marched up the path to the porch. After all, Gabi was Christy's best friend, and he wasn't sure what Gabi would say if he told her what he'd just witnessed. Would she side with Christy or Cian' He continued up the stairs, not daring to turn around and look at his sister or she'd see the tears starting.

"But ..." Gabi didn't have anything to say that might possibly make her brother tell her what was going on, running along the path to keep up. "Kee, please!"

Cian pulled open the front door and stepped inside. Normally, he would have opened the door for his sister and made sure she was safely inside, but not tonight. If she hadn't been behind him, he probably would have slammed the door. "Just leave me alone," he told her, making a beeline for the stairs and almost running into Frank. He looked as miserable as he felt, his heart close to breaking. The only girl he'd ever loved since kindergarten had run straight into the arms of his cousin and best friend.

Frowning, utterly bemused, Gabi hurried over the porch behind Cian, closing the door behind them both. She'd just opened her mouth to ask again what was wrong when he answered, and she flinched, unaccountably hurt by the misery in Cian's tone.

"Hello, brother," Frank smirked. He remained where he was, blocking the stairs. "Something wrong" Kee" You look like you're ready to cry. Are you crying, Kee" Because crying is for babies."

Cian's brows furrowed at his brother's teasing. Now was not the time. "Get out of my way," he told his brother, matter of factly.

"Why?" Frank challenged, standing up straighter and balling his fists. He'd been dying to lay into Cian for a while now and it seemed he was going to get his chance. "Christy tell you that you've got zits on your ass or something?"

By the door, Gabi winced again, rubbing her temple with her fingers. She hated it when her brothers fought, and yet that seemed to be all they did in these last few months.

"Shut up, Frank," Cian told his brother, shoving past him up the stairs. He didn't want his brother to see his tears, especially since all he'd do was make fun of him.

"Make me." Frank's smirk had turned into a sneer. He got shoved to the side and he bounced off the banister and turned to follow his brother. There was no escaping. "Or did she not put out' I hear that she's given it to the entire baseball team. Guess she's not into hockey players. Sorry "bout your luck, brother."

"Frank, don't ..." There wasn't much she could do to stop Frank from tormenting Cian, but Gabi hadn't yet given up trying. She moved up the stairs after her brothers, tugging at Frank's shirt. "Let him alone."

Cian bristled when he heard the insult to Christy's virtue. Even if he was hurt and angry, he wasn't going to stand by and let Frank insult her. He stopped halfway up the stairs and turned back around, eyes narrowed. "You better take that back."

Between Gabi tugging at his shirt and begging him to stop and Cian's sudden whirl on him, Frank suddenly felt trapped. "I see! I see how you are! You both are against me! You both hate me!" He turned and wormed his way around Gabi to run down the stairs. "You both hate me!"

Gabi flinched away again as Frank snapped, hitting the wall hard to keep out of his way as he stormed past her. Her eyes rose to Cian for a moment, torn between her brothers, not knowing which of them to help first. "Kee ..." Raising her voice, she called down the stairs. "Frank, come back!"

Cian's mouth opened to protest his brother's accusation, part of him wanting to go tell him he was wrong, to tell him they didn't hate him, that it was just the opposite, but the pain was too much. His gaze darted briefly to Gabi, hesitating a moment as if he was about to say something, and then he turned and bounded up the stairs to his room, slamming the door behind him.

Frank stopped in the kitchen and he turned around when the door upstairs slammed. "So, Mr. Perfect isn't having a Perfect Day. I think the entire world is going to go into mourning." He paced the kitchen, eyes darting from appliance to appliance. He wrung his hands and began muttering under his breath.

Left alone on the stairs, Gabi looked back and forth between Cian's closed bedroom door the sound of Frank pacing back and forth in the kitchen. She bit her lip, sliding down the wall to sit where she was, halfway between her warring brothers. "Don't make me choose," she whispered softly, curling her knees to her chest. "Please don't make me choose."

Gabi was the last shining light in Frank's world. He heard her whimpering and his pacing stopped. He sighed and walked back out of the kitchen like he was walking towards the electric chair. "Gabi." He stopped in front of her and knelt down. "I'll go say sorry, just please don't cry."

Cian clenched his jaw, realizing what his brother was up to and not wanting to put Gabi in the middle. "Liar," he said quietly, stepping back.

"What?" She didn't know what she'd burst in on, or whether she truly wanted to be part of this, her expression twisted into something close to tears as again her brothers had put her into a situation where she was going to have to choose between them. "What's happened" Why're you fighting again?"

Tears sprang to Frank's eyes. He swallowed the coppery taste of his own blood as he bit his tongue to produce those tears. "Kee thinks I hurt Christy! I would never do that!" He slowly brought his arms down from his face and he looked up at Cian and flinched back again. "I wouldn't ever hurt her, in a million years."

"You're a liar," Cian said again, but he wasn't going to repeat what his brother had told him, not in front of Gabi. Her feelings were more important than his own, and he didn't want to put her in the middle or to have to choose between them.

Cian turned away from his brother and started toward the door. He didn't want to look at him, talk to him, or be in the same house with him. "The truth will come out, Frank," he warned his brother. He could lie to Gabi all he wanted, but Cian had an alibi and that alibi was Gabi. If Christy talked to Gabi, Gabi would realize who was telling the truth and who was lying.

Who did Gabi believe" Frank, who had a bloodied mouth and a wild look in his eyes ....or Cian, who was hurting and didn't make a habit of lying" She loved her brothers a great deal, but this was going a little far. Her hand slid into Cian's as he approached, herself moving further into the room toward Frank, warm brown eyes lifting to his. "Kee?" she asked softly, not knowing how to put the question into words without hurting him further.

Frank pulled himself to sit beside the bed, leaning back against it. His arms rested upon his knees as he watched his siblings. He licked his lips and waited for what Gabi had to say.

Cian paused, hesitating when Gabi took his hand and looked into his eyes. Nothing mattered anymore, nothing but Gabi's happiness. "It's okay, Gabi. Don't worry. It's gonna be okay." He brushed his fingers against her cheek and tried to smile through his tears, knowing the promise was made in vain. Inside he knew, nothing was ever going to be okay again, but he couldn't bear to tell her that.

She could see how much effort it took Cian to give her that smile, surging forward to hug him tightly for a moment. "Tell me ....if you can," was whispered softly into his ear, an unequivocal promise to always be there if he needed her. But, of course, that promise was always also extended to Frank, and that brother was her next destination, having seen the blood welling from his tongue to coat his teeth.

As they embraced, Frank got up and he walked towards them. He put one arm around Cian, the other around Gabi. "Yes, it's going to be okay. I promise." He bowed his head, touching Gabi's ear with his forehead. "I love you guys."

One arm went around his sister's shoulders to hug her back, if only briefly, but Cian said nothing. He knew the truth was going to come out sooner or later, and it was going to hurt her. Frank, in his haste to hurt Cian, was going to hurt Gabi, too.

As soon as Frank tried to hug him, Cian pulled away, his composure breaking at his brother's betrayal. "I don't know who you are anymore, Frank," Cian told his brother, painfully.

Silent as her brothers began to speak again, Gabi let her eyes flick between Cian and Frank, her arms about their waists.

"I'm your brother," Frank replied quietly, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if in confusion. When you watch people as much as Frank did, you got good at imitating their facial expressions. It made getting through the world full of emotions when he had none a lot easier.

"No, you're not. Not anymore." Cian turned a sorrowful look toward his sister, not wanting to hurt her, but too much had happened, and at that moment, he wanted nothing to do with his brother.

"I'm sorry, Gabi." Cian pulled away from her toward the door again. Even if he tried to explain to Christy, it was too late. She'd made her choice and her choice had been Jon. Frank had made his choice, too, choosing to betray him and then lie about it. There was only one person left besides Gabi that he could count on, and he wasn't so sure about him either.

Her head lowered, hiding her eyes from both of them as Cian's words to Frank cut frighteningly deep. She knew she was more of a guest in this house than they were, as the adopted sibling; if Cian could cut ties with his twin, then where did that leave Gabi" Such a selfish way of looking at things, but there you go. She swallowed, shaking her head. "So am I."

"How could you say such a thing?" Frank rearranged his features and a tear rolled down his cheek. He saw the hurt in Gabi's face and he tightened his grip on her. "You're tearing us apart, Cian. And so close after losing Mom." He was very proud of himself for that line, but it never showed upon his face. "Don't you love us anymore, Kee?"

The tears were coming again and Cian didn't want them to see them. Frank would only laugh and make fun of him, and it would only hurt Gabi further. "Yeah, I do." But instead of hugging them and letting bygones be bygones yet again, he turned, stepped out the door, and started down the stairs.

Gabi had opened her mouth to object to Frank's words when Cian spoke, cutting her off with that heartbreaking reply. As he stepped out through the door, she turned unhappy eyes on Frank. "Why would you say that?" she asked him, deeply hurt by the way her relationship with her brothers seemed to be falling apart. "You're not the only one hurting, Frank - we all are. The last thing we need is to start hurting each other more. Not with Dad being ..." She didn't let herself say it, shaking her head. "I can't lose anyone else, I can't." Turning, she slipped through the door herself, one hand over her mouth as her own tears, so often suppressed, made themselves known, describing the path to her room with stifled sobs.

"What' Gabi!" Frank ran after her, calling her name. "Don't you see, it wasn't me that said the hurting words! It was Cian! He's the one that's saying I'm a liar. Please, Gabi. You're not losing me." He stopped in the hallway and his shoulders slumped. "Please, Gabi. If you don't believe me, and Cian doesn't believe me..." His voice trailed off and he wandered towards his own bedroom. "I guess it's true then. My own family hates me." He stepped into his room and shut the door behind him, quietly. He put his back to the door and leaned against it.

Cian's footsteps could be heard on the stairs as he descended them, the front door heard opening and closing as he slipped out. He only meant to go out for a little while, to try and find his father and sort this whole thing out. To try and figure out what was going on and try to patch things up, but as fate would have it, it would be years before Cian ever stepped foot in Beecham House again.