"It must be an old people thing," Mei said turning to Max.

"Yeah, I think you're right," Max replied.

"Old?" Makayla protested.

"Can we kick them from the limo?" Tamarius exclaimed to his brother.

"Go ahead. Just leave the baby. There's still hope for him," Maxwell said jokingly.

"Honey, we need to be careful. They must have gotten new batteries for their hearing aids. They're testy tonight," Max joked back.

"I'm gonna kill him," Makayla teased.

"Stand down, honey. I got this one. He better sleep with one eye open tonight," Tamarius said, placing his hand on Makayla's knee.

"Uncle, Uncle, calm down. I wouldn't want you to have a stroke or put out a hip or something," Max snapped back with mock anger.

By the time the limo pulled into the circular driveway everyone was laughing hysterically.

Winston opened the limo door, smiling at the contagious laughter. "Good evening everyone," he greeted.

"Good evening, Winston," everyone replied as they stepped out of the limo.

"Ah, young master Max and beautiful Mrs. Martinez, how is college?" Winston asked.

"Exhausting. We need a vacation," Mei replied, handing Uriel to Winston's waiting arms as she shifted to get out of the limo.

"Yes, Cora has called six times already," Winston replied.

"Oh, my gosh. I gotta call her." Mei ran into the house.

"Winston, long time no see," Tamarius greeted Winston as he held his hand out to help Makayla as she stepped out of the limo.

"Yes, and I see a congratulations is in order. Welcome to the family, Mrs. Martinez."

"Thank you, Winston." Makayla blushed.

Cressida stood by the entryway, waiting for Maxwell to come inside. She greeted everyone as they passed, all congratulating her on her engagement. She was flattered by all the warmth that was shown to her. Her eyes lit up when she saw Maxwell walk in carrying Uriel's car seat and talking to Winston who carried Uriel.

"Oh, my goodness. Look at how big he's gotten." Cressida walked over to Uriel.

"Here you go." Winston handed Uriel to Cressida.

"You want me to hold him?" Cressida said, taking him.

Maxwell placed Uriel's car seat by the door before walking over to kiss Cressida. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Good."

Maxwell and Cressida slowly walked toward the family room, laughing as they saw Mei and Max running around with their cell phones, both talking to Cora and Nelson.

"See what happens to Mom and Dad when they get cell phones," Maxwell said to his grandson. Uriel began to get fussy as he watched his parents pass back and forth without even looking in his direction. They relaxed in the family room while everyone else got settled in.

"I spoke to the detectives," Cressida said as she readjusted Uriel on her lap.

"Did they get the results back yet?" Maxwell asked.

"No, but they looked into the whole chimera thing and were able to add it as new evidence into the case."

"That's excellent," Maxwell replied.

"I won't be representing him, of course; not after what he did."

"Cressida... there is something I didn't tell you before," Maxwell began.

"There you are!" Max said as he entered the room smiling at his son.

Uriel excitedly kicked his legs and reached for his dad. "Aw, is that your daddy?" Cressida said to Uriel while pointing to Max.

"Mommy just took off." Max picked his son. "Aunt Cora and Mommy are in gossip mode," Max joked while kissing his son's chubby cheeks. "Cressida, I think that it's great that you and my dad are getting married. I hope we don't scare you away."

"Thank you, Max," Cressida said.

"I'm going to give him a bath and put him to bed," Max said to them as he walked out.

"You know, I didn't expect everyone to be so accepting of our engagement, especially Max," Cressida said to Maxwell.

"Yeah, well you should have heard him in the car calling me and his uncle old," Maxwell said. "Don't let his kindness fool you. He's a little comedian."

"Hey, it's good to laugh," Cressida replied. "And you don't look old."

"I don't look like a grandpa?" Maxwell smiled.

"No...not at all."

"Maxwell, where is Mei?" Lin asked as she was wheeled into the room.

"Grandma!" Mei yelled in Chinese, as she ran in.

They instantly began talking and laughing as Mei told her about college life.

Maxwell took Cressida's hand as he stood up from the couch. "Goodnight, princess. Goodnight, Lin," Maxwell said as they left.

"Oh, goodnight Dad and Cressida," Mei replied, smiling at them as they left.

Lust vs Love Renee watched Samuel as he unloaded their luggage from the taxi. She turned to look at his large three story mansion in Alphabet, Georgia. It was a beautiful Victorian style mansion. She could see his father walking towards them. A handsome brown-skinned man in his mid forties, he had a charismatic smile and a proud strut. He was a character.

"Who is this lovely lady?" Kwame Peters asked his son as he approached a blushing Renee.

"Hey, Dad, This is Renee Loren. She'll be staying with us for the Thanksgiving Break," Samuel said.

"Very nice to meet you, young lady." Kwame took her hand and kissed the back of it.

"Nice to meet you, too," Renee replied.

"Son, how was your flight?" Kwame asked while giving his son a hug.

"Good, Dad." He looked over at Renee, gesturing for her to follow him as he began to walk towards the house.

"So, how long have you two been seeing each other?" Kwame asked.

"Oh no, sir, we're just friends," Renee replied politely.

"Friends, that's how it always starts out," Kwame replied.

They entered the mansion greeted by a full staff of female servants; all wearing tacky French maid costumes. Each woman looked to be about eighteen, just the legal age to be wearing such skimpy outfits. Renee stepped aside as his so-called servants swarmed Samuel. She didn't want to get lost in the crowd that took him away.

"I'll show you to your room." Kwame took her bag from her.

"Thank you for having me here," Renee said as they walked to her guest suite.

"Well, it's nice to see my son bring a friend home. If you need anything, I mean anything, just let me know, or any of the girls. Anyone here would be happy to assist you," Kwame informed Renee.

"Sure, thank you."

"I will have the rest of your luggage brought to you soon. Enjoy your room and please feel free to wander wherever you like. Dinner will be served in an hour," he said, walking her into the guest room.

"Okay, thanks," Renee replied as he left the room.

She flopped herself down on the large comfy bed. "What was I thinking?" she asked herself out loud as she felt the pains of homesickness creeping in.

Renee drifted off to sleep and was awakened by Samuel kissing her softly. She jumped up and he quickly moved back. "What are you doing?" Renee yelled.

"Waking you up." Samuel grin slyly as he sipped from a glass of wine.

"Don't ever do that. I'm not your girlfriend. You have your entourage of sluts. Keep that mess over there. God knows what you may have." Renee stood up from the bed and walked towards her suitcases.

"Do I sense jealousy?" Samuel smirked as he followed her.

"I'm serious. This was a mistake," Renee snapped.

"You're beautiful when you're angry," Samuel said, slowly biting his bottom lip.

"Don't," Renee said, pulling out her toothbrush and walking towards the bathroom.

"Don't what?"

"Sam, why do you go after Mei when you're surrounded by all these women? You're not ugly. You're okay."

"Okay?" Samuel felt insulted.

"Let's be honest. I'm your friend right?" Renee said, squeezing toothpaste out onto her brush.

"I would like to be more, but yes."

"Whatever. Look, you're never going to get Mei Martinez. The girl has got it all. Do you realize whom they were going home with? Who her family is? The Martinez started this college."

"You think I don't know that," Samuel snapped as he turned his back to her.

"Why are you chasing the impossible?" Renee asked before turning to brush her teeth.

"I am a collector of beautiful things," Samuel said, stretching out his arms and spilling his glass of wine in the process.

Renee finished brushing her teeth before walking out of the bathroom to get a good look at Samuel. "A collector?"

"Yes."

"For once I am glad you're not into me," Renee said.

"Who said you weren't already a part of my collection." Samuel grinned.

Renee stared at him intensely, growing annoyed by his presence. "You're a fool Sam and one of these days you're going to know what it feels like to only be a footnote in someone else's life."

"Well, you're just a footnote in mine." Samuel walked passed her.

"Go to hell," Renee said, biting back tears.

"Dinner is ready," Samuel called out before he left the room.

Renee took a minute before finding her way to the dining room. Kwame stood as she entered then hit his son with his cap for not being a gentleman and standing when she entered the room. He walked over and pulled a chair out for her, gently pushing it in as she sat.

"Did you get some rest?" he asked.

"Yes, I did," Renee replied feeling like the only piece of meat on the menu.

"So, son, how is school?"

"Dad, I met a girl at school."

Kwame glanced over at Renee and back at his son who didn't seem to care one way or the other about Renee's feelings. Renee just shook her head as she looked down at her plate. "Yeah?" he replied, feeling a little embarrassed by his son's rude behavior.

"There is this girl named Mei," Samuel began.

"Mei? Is she named after the month?" He took a sip of his wine.

"No, she is like Chinese or something mixed; green eyes, hot body, beautiful complexion. She is exotic," Samuel boasted.

"Seems like you got it bad for this one," Kwame said as he dove into his food. Occasionally he would glance over at Renee who quietly and quickly ate her food, tuning out Samuel's constant boasting of Mei.