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It's a bright morning and at the McGregor Estate, Anna is reading the newspaper in the kitchen. Andrew comes in the door with doughnuts and coffee.

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Andrew: Good morning.

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Anna: Morning.

Andrew: I went out and got your favorite muffins, I remembered that after all this time.

Anna: Thanks.

Andrew: I know it's trivial, but it's my way of saying I never forgot about you.

Anna: You know, I still can't bring myself to forgiveness just yet, but honestly I'm glad you are back.

Andrew: And even that's more than I really deserve. I know you've got a lot to hash out before you can even think

about forgiving me.

Anna: Why should I?

Andrew: For one, you haven't even listened to my entire part of the story.

Anna: I didn't feel it was necessary. You married me while you were still married to another woman and

had a child with that woman.

Andrew: I married Cassandra when I was young, we were in love and I thought it was right for me.

But, after awhile, I learned we didn't really fit with each other and we got a quickie divorce.

Anna: So you did divorce Cassandra?

Andrew: I found out later it wasn't valid.

Anna: You should have told me in the first place.

Andrew: You were raised so traditional, I didn't think you'd want a divorced man with a child.

Anna: So you just kept it from me.

Andrew: I'm sorry, I had fallen for you so hard, I didn't want to ruin it.

Anna: What about your other son? How do you explain ignoring your child for all those years?

Andrew: After the divorce I thought was valid, Cassandra moved and I could never find her.

I looked for them so I could at least try to support him.

Anna: Did you ever intend to tell me any of this?

Andrew: Many times, but I always pictured you storming out and leaving me.

Anna: I wouldn't have done that, I would have valued you telling me the truth.

Andrew: We've got so much to hash out.

Anna: You've got a lot to hash out yourself, with your children. Edmund is still so full of anger toward you

and you still haven't told your other son that you are alive yet. Right now, I think your children should be

your first priority. Even though I'm no fan of George's, I do think you owe him an explanation, you are his father

after all.

Andrew: It won't be easy for me, I have to get my mind clear.

Anna: Life isn't easy.

Andrew: Truer words were never spoken.

Anna: Then why haven't you done anything?

Andrew: I feel the pressure even more. I set a deadline for myself everyday and then a keep moving it up.

Anna: Seems that you would have learned that putting things off does no good.

Andrew: I know, but I've got to do this one step at a time.

Anna: When are you going to take that first step though?

Andrew: The sooner, the better.

Anna: Good.

Andrew: I think this is the most you've said to me for weeks.

Anna: I haven't really had much to say.

Andrew: Accept of course when you had to fill me in on all the drama with our children.

Anna: Welcome back to the real world.

Andrew: Guess I better get to work trying mend these fences.

Anna: More like build them back up.

Andrew: Here goes nothing.

Andrew leaves.

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Leigh anxiously waits for Norm at the CoffeeRoom. She finally sees him come in the front door and toward her.

<i>note: The role of Norm Donahue is now being played by Lamman Rucker

</i>

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Leigh: Finally.

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Norm: Sorry to keep you waiting, but it took a bit of time.

Leigh: Did you meet with the feds?

Norm: I did. I gave them all of the information I was able to get about Christina and they think they have a case.

Leigh: The sooner she's arrested, the sooner I can get the courts to question Edmund's associations.

Norm: We don't know if they'll act at all, but I'm hoping there is a good chance they will.

Leigh: And they know where to find her?

Norm: Yep.

Leigh: I wish I knew more.

Norm: All they did was thank me for the information and that was it, no further details were disclosed.

Leigh: What if this falls through?

Norm: Be a little positive, won't you?

Leigh: I can't. I tried everything I could to get my kids before, but Edmund and his mother and all their

money were all there to block me.

Norm: That doesn't sound like the fighting spirit I've heard from you in the past.

Leigh: It's just that I'm tired of getting my hopes up and have them dashed.

Norm: Hey, think of it like this, for all we know, Christina could be getting busted right now and

Edmund being questioned about why he's so close to a criminal like her.

Leigh: When you've got money and resources like Edmund, you can avoid anything.

Norm: You can only buy yourself out of so much.

Leigh: I'm sorry if I sound pessimistic, but I like I said, I can't get my hopes up.

Norm: I promised you I'd help you get you kids back and that's what I'm going to do.

Leigh: Thank you, I don't know where I would have turned had I not had you.

Norm: I care about you, we were close at one time and I hope we can be close again.

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At Edmund's condo, Edmund is having breakfast with Christina.

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Christina: You haven't said more than two words since we got here, what's wrong?

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Edmund: Nothing's wrong.

Christina: It's about your father, isn't it?

Edmund: That has been on my mind a lot.

Christina: I can understand that, it's pretty hard to digest.

Edmund: My biggest problem is figuring out why he stayed away so long and let his family grieve.

I could never do that to my family, ever.

Christina: People do the wrong thing sometimes, but some of those times, they should be forgiven.

Edmund: You saying I should forgive my Father?

Christina: I'm giving you my viewpoint, it's up to you to make the decision.

Edmund: I don't know. Part of me is glad to have him back, because the family is back together again.

Christina: I know I wish I had a second chance with my father. He died when I was six years old.

Edmund: I'm sorry. You never told me that before.

Christina: It's not something I like to talk about.

Edmund: I'm sure I'm not going to be angry forever, but right now I just can't let go. My brother and sisters

have welcomed him back with no problem.

Christina: Under the circumstances, there wasn't a right or a wrong way to react, everyone is different.

Edmund: I suppose you're right. But, it is a new year and I want to start fresh, leave all the old behind.

I'm so glad I can leave that custody suit behind me.

Christina: So am I. You're a wonderful father, I can tell by just watching you with the kids.

Edmund: And, I'm glad that we found each other again. Hopefully this year, both of us have nowhere

but up to go.

Christina: I really hope for that too. Thank you for breakfast.

Edmund: No problem.

Christina: I've got some stuff I need to take care of now, so I gotta get going. I'll see you later though.

Edmund: All right.

Christina opens the door to leave and a federal agent is on the other side.

Agent: Are you Christina Davidson?

Christina: I am.

Agent: Miss Davidson, you are under arrest for dealing in stolen goods.

The agent handcuffs Christina.

Edmund: What is going on here?

Agent: And, Sir, are you Edmund McGregor?

Edmund: Yes, I am. Could you please tell me what is going on?

Agent: You'll need to come with us as well, for questioning.

Edmund: What for?

Agent: We just want to know if you have any information about Miss Davidson's activities.

Edmund: Okay, I'll cooperate, but I don't have any idea what's going on.

Edmund looks puzzled.

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At his Athletic Club suite, George is trying to get some work done when he's interrupted by a knock at the door.

He answers it and Cassandra is on the other side holding a bag.

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George: You're here early.

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Cassandra: I wanted to stop by and bring the baby some more things.

George: Mother, you've been bring him stuff since you found out about him. You're

going to spoil him.

Cassandra: This is my first grandchild, you can't blame me for getting a little carried away.

Where is he?

George: He's sleeping right now.

Cassandra: I think it's wonderful how you've rearranged your schedule so you have time to spend with your son. You've

got a good paternal instinct.

George: Teri and I both have made our schedules flexible so that both of us can spend enough time with him.

Cassandra: I'm proud of you, you stepped up to the plate. You know how to be a father despite not having one yourself.

George: Mother, I don't want to rehash all of that.

Cassandra: Just an observation.

George: Should I remind you about the trial you have coming up, partly because you couldn't let go of the past?

Cassandra: It just is very hard to let go, it still hurts.

George: I know it does and it bothers me too. But having a child now has given me a better outlook, the future

is more looking forth too, than rehashing the past.

Just then, there is a knock at door.

Cassandra: I'll get that.

Cassandra answers the door and gasps upon seeing Andrew.

George: Mother, what is it?

George goes over to the door, he is shocked to see Andrew, the father he had only seen in pictures.

This has been Varied Lives. Remember to tune into Point Palace and S.T.E.A.M.

Please join us next time for another episode of Varied Lives.