THE CALIENTE AFFAIRS: SEASON ONE
by ThomasMcNab

PART ONE (Updated December 23, 2005)
Prologue: "Once Upon a Time Ends Here"
Chapter One: "Three Little Words"
Chapter Two: "A Love Lost"
Chapter Three: "The End of The Old"
Chapter Four: "House of Cards"

Prologue: "Once Upon a Time Ends Here"

"Once upon a time, two baby girls' came into the world together. Dina & Nina were exactly the same in every way."

Well, that's not quite how the story goes!

The beautiful daughter's of Nighat & Flamenco Caliente were greatly loved. Unfortunately for Dina, her role as daddy's little princess was unfulfilled due to Flamenco's long shifts at his job. Denied the attention she should have received, Dina always felt incomplete and had a need to be loved. A need that would never truly be filled.

On her 21st birthday she manipulated her current boyfriend, the wealthy Michael Bachelor, so that he'd propose. Their wedding followed 5 days after, leaving Nina without her sister for the first time in twenty-one years.

However, Nina found companionship in the arms of a young man named Don Lothario. They had a whirlwind romance until it was shattered when Don revealed that he was engaged to the rich and beautiful Cassandra Goth. How could Nina compare to her, she thought to herself. Despite her fears, Don admitted his love for Nina had grown too strong to break. He promised Nina he would break-off his engagement and sealed it with a kiss.

With Nina still living alone, a mysterious prowler began stalking Nina and stealing her possessions. One night he even approached her in her bedroom. Nina screamed and it frightened the strange man away before he could touch her. Frightened and alone, Nina begged her sister to move back in. She and Michael had been arguing but Dina was adamant she wouldn't give up on their marriage.

But she didn't have to. Michael died the day after their first anniversary and Dina moved back in with her sister, unable to stay in his house for they were full of memories which only brought sadness to Dina now.

Unfortunately Dina felt out of place in Nina's life now. She soon found out about her affair with Don Lothario and felt a surge of jealousy. So one night when he was staying over, she managed to get him to come into her bedroom. She planned to seduce him, then run to her sister and claim he had tried to come onto her. It worked, but Dina experienced a taste of passion she'd never tasted before and before she knew it, they were waking up together in each others arms the next morning. Nina had slept the whole night through without noticing Don was missing. Feeling lucky, Dina began to wonder whether or not an affair with Don would be of some use. After all, he was engaged to Cassandra, the daughter or Mortimer Goth, one of the wealthiest men in Pleasantview. But with his overprotective daughter looking out for him, there was no way Dina could get anywhere near Mortimer to make her move.

If she could just separate the two for a while she was sure that Mortimer would fall for her. It's not as if she hadn't already tried. She knew Mortimer was already half way there, but Cassandra was stopping him. Dina told Don that in order to make her feel better; he should take a trip away with Cassandra. Don was confused, but if it kept Dina quiet he would do it.

And just like that, everything fell into place. Dina began dating Mortimer and no matter what Cassandra said it couldn't stop his love. With Cassandra busy trying to separate her dad and Dina, Nina saw an opportunity to take her relationship with Don further. Dina didn't see that coming, again she felt jealous of her sisters boyfriend, especially now she knew what he was like as a lover. It wasn't long before Dina found herself back in Don's bed. But this time Nina became suspicious and Dina had to invent a boyfriend for an alibi. This made Nina worry about Mortimer; she couldn't stand back and let her sister cheat on such a nice man.

But could she really go behind her sisters back to warn Mortimer of Dina's loose ways, especially when it came to men?

SIX MONTHS LATER

Chapter One: "Three Little Words"

"Good Morning Nina!" Mortimer grinned, a smile across his face as big as the sun. Nina knew why, she had just watched Dina leave to go see her boyfriend but not before planting a big kiss on Mortimer Goth's lips. She couldn't stand her sister's constant flings, she had to warn Mortimer in the nicest possible way that, truth be told, her sister was a bit of a slut.
"Mortimer, are you sure that you and Dina should be getting so close. I mean, she is a lot younger than you." Nina reasoned.
"What are you trying to say? That because I'm old I should just be left to wither and die alone!" Mortimer accused.
"No! I just mean, I think Dina's playing you to her own advantage."

"I see what this is, you're just jealous of your sister." Mortimer told Nina.
"What?!" Nina cried.
"I bet you always have been. After all, it's obvious that the egg wasn't equally split." Nina was shocked. But love makes people do crazy things sometimes; she only had to look at her own relationship to see that.

"Dina loves me." Mortimer claimed.
"All she loves is your bank account!" Nina let slip.
"Well, I wondered when the jealous twin would rear its ugly head." Mortimer said as he walked off.
"Ugly! Fine, be with Dina, see if I care," Nina kept on shouting, "I don't, you two can continue your sham of a relationship. But it won't be under my roof." And with that, Nina went out and got the locks changed. When Dina came back, she tried to reason with her sister but Nina was adamant either Mortimer apologised or Dina stopped cheating on him. Dina knew which option she preferred, but Mortimer was stubborn when it came to arguments. It's what kept Cassandra from breaking the two of them up. Admitting defeat, she left the Caliente lot to try and sort this mess out.

"Dina, you're not coming in!" Nina shouted to her sister outside. When she looked out of the window though, no one was there.

"Huh, that's funny. I could have sworn I heard somebody." Nina said to herself. Feeling a little on edge, Nina decided to make her self some cocoa to help her sleep.

As she sat in her house all alone, Nina felt a little unsafe. Of course she had reason to, but surely she was just being paranoid. It had been months since Nina had seen her stalker, but then again, stalkers tend to generally stay hidden, Nina thought to herself. She wished to herself that Don was here, everything in her life just felt safer when Don was around. But he was on a night shift at the hospital. Still, she could always call him at work.

Just for a little chat before bed. Nina stood up and began to make her way to the phone. But she stopped when she heard breathing coming from the other room. She could pick up the phone; dial the police before he even knew Nina was onto him. But what if she was hearing things again, she'd feel like a complete fool calling the police out at this time for nothing. Just a little peek was all she needed, she thought to herself. Slowly edging towards the door Nina was on her tip-toes, trying not to make a sound. She could still hear the breathing. Becoming so tense, Nina squeezed hard on the mug in her hand. It cracked and the loud noise caused Nina to scream and jump.

She fell in front of the door and saw her stalker, just standing there with his eyes wide.

He smiled and walked forward. Nina screamed like last time but obviously he had come prepared for that and it did nothing to stop him coming for her.

"Stop, please. Just leave now and I won't tell anyone. Just get out, NOOOW!" Nina screamed. The stalker lunged at Nina...

"AARGH!" Nina cried as she jumped back and put her arms up in defence. Nina lost her footing and before she could balance herself she fell backwards...

And smacked her head on the dining table.

It knocked her out instantly. Unbeknown to her though, this was not what her stalker had intended. He didn't want to hurt Nina, why would he want that? In order to cover his tracks, he decided to steal a few things in order to make it appear as if a simple robber had frightened Nina.

It was morning when Nina woke up on the cold hard floor of her kitchen. The phone was ringing, dazed but otherwise feeling okay, Nina got up to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hi you, how was your night?" Don's sweet voice asked her. She burst into tears and told Don everything that had happened. Don told Nina to phone the police and he would be right there, just to give him a minute.

The police had advised a paramedic to come and see if Nina was hurt. It felt like ages she was waiting for someone to come. She hoped it would be Don first, but the police turned up before him and asked Nina what had happened.

When Don got to the top of Middle Lane, he was alarmed to see an ambulance outside Nina's house. He ran as fast as he could, worried Nina had suffered a turn for the worst.

"Please Miss Caliente, if it is a head injury you must refrain from touching it."

"By that I mean your head." The doctor told Nina.
"Are you sure you can't give me anything for the pain?" Nina asked.
"It is vital you don't take any pain killing medication, such as painkillers, otherwise you could fall unconscious again or even worse... Something could happen that I don't know how to treat." Nina rolled her eyes and went to sit down. Just then Don burst through the door.
"Nina! Oh god, are you okay?"

"Don!" Nina went to hug her boyfriend.
"Who is this man?" The doctor asked.
"This was who I was telling you about, my boyfriend. I told you he was on his way; he can look after me now."
"Nina I..."
"Can't you Don!?" Nina nudged Don, "There's no need for Doctor Proctor to stay any longer now you, the trained paramedic, have arrived." Nina quickly showed the Doctor out and laughed in astonishment. "I need a drink." she cried as she went upstairs to the roof.

On the roof, Nina sat at the bar and told Don how she had mistaken a common burglar for her stalker. Another house had been robbed two blocks over and all the stuff was found in an abandoned factory just outside the city centre. "I felt like such an idiot. And then he comes over in that big ambulance with the sirens on and I was just sorry that bump didn't knock me out longer."
"Don't say things like that. I was really worried about you." Don said as he touched Nina.
"I fell over and banged my head." Nina said in a less than impressed voice.
"Nina, you were unconscious and alone in a house with a strange man. Anything could have happened; do you know how lucky you are?" Nina sighed and let Don wrap his arms around her. "Dina should have never left you alone; I should have never left you alone. Why did I..?"
"You couldn't help it, you were working. And I don't need Dina."
"Well you can't exactly stay here by yourself tonight; and what about the next night?" Nina smiled and looked into Don's eyes...

As Don left, he bumped into Dina on the front lawn. "How is she?" Dina asked.
"Fine, you can ask her yourself. I'm going back to my place." Don said as he tried to walk past Dina. She grabbed his arm and smiled.
"I'll see you there then." Don frowned at that remark.
"Are you insane? Your sister was almost attacked and you still think I'm just gonna let you sleep at my place tonight?" Don asked.
"Oh I know you will."

Dina grabbed Don and kissed him with a fiery passion, the same passion he had shown her last night. Don couldn't pull away, despite what he said it didn't change how he felt. Dina had become a part of his life now in some twisted way. As their lips parted, Don blurted out...
"I'm moving in." Dina looked at Don with a cold, hard glance. Her eyes squinted and Don swore a small laugh escaped her throat. "You can go back to my place tonight but rest assured I won't be there to tuck you in."
"You spineless bastard. She's got you wrapped around her little finger, hasn't she?" Don walked away. But he wasn't getting away with anything, Dina thought to herself as she went inside to see her sister.

"Dina!" Nina said in a surprised tone.
"I came as soon as soon as I heard." Dina cried as she hugged her twin.
"How did you hear?" Nina asked confused.

"Don told me." Nina looked confused. "Oh, didn't he tell you?" Dina paused and looked at her sister with the same cold stare she had left Don with. But with a small groan she sighed and put a smile on. "He wants us to make up. He managed to reach me on my cell when he heard about your attacker this morning."
"Trust me; there was no risk last night. The only damage done was the bruise to my head, and even that I managed to do all by myself." Nina sighed.
"Well, as long as you're okay, I'd really like to talk to you."
"Go on." Nina said, unsure whether or not a whole 24 hours had changed Dina.
"Look, I understand now why you were so mad. I kissed Mortimer right before I was going to see another guy. What I did was wrong... Oh god, what I'm doing is wrong." Dina sighed and sat down.

"What do you mean. Dina, what's wrong." Nina sat down next to her and gently touched her sister's hand. Dina fell forward into Nina's shoulder and began sobbing.
"It's my boyfriend. It turns out he was seeing someone else too."
"Oh Dina, I knew something like this would happen." Dina looked at Nina with a fake look of honesty.
"I broke it off. I got a taste of my own medicine and it is sour, I don't want to hurt Mortimer like that. I'm sorry I had to put you through this." Nina smiled as Dina smiled back. She was telling her sister exactly what she wanted to hear.

"I'm sorry I did what I had to do, but I guess we both paid the price. Listen Dina, you can totally have your old room back." Dina stood up and cried.
"You mean it?" Nina nodded and the sisters hugged. Out of Nina's view, Dina's smile turned into a scheming grin.

The next morning Don, after spending one last night at his house. came over with the his belongings and Nina made him some breakfast. She had kept quiet about Dina moving back so as to surprise him when he got here. And boy was it a surprise! "Dina! What are you doing here so early?"
"Don't act surprised, I know you got us both to have a good old chat yesterday." Nina said, "Oh look at you, I knew you'd be happy." Don looked at Dina who just smiled.
"Thank you Don, really!" And with that Dina innocently kissed Don's cheek. Don looked as white as a sheet but Nina could only see happiness in his eyes. Standing up, Don picked up the cereal bowls to clean, hoping to take his mind off of things.
"Oh don't bother; the insurance from the burglary is due to come through in a couple of days so I thought we could do with some extra help around the house." Don's face became whiter than white as he closed his eyes in disbelief.

He had never told Nina, but before he met her he had been having woohoo with a very sexy young maid at his old apartment, Kaylynn Langerak. It was only temporary, just while he and Cassandra got through a bad patch. Then he met Nina and realised he might not feel the way he used to about Cassandra. But Kaylynn couldn't accept that she was not what Don was looking for. So Don got out of their "relationship" the only way he could think of, he told the company Kaylynn had stolen from him and she was fired... Then, he moved! Now he had heard Kaylynn had been hired by a new cleaning company, he just prayed the maid Nina had hired wasn't...
"Kaylynn!" Nina welcomed the maid as Don opened his eyes and almost fainted. Without her seeing, he crept quietly up the stairs.

That night, Don relaxed on the roof and marvelled at his attempts to dodge Kaylynn. But his calm and relaxed state was disturbed when Dina came up the stairs in her bikini and fired up the hottub.
"Care to join me?" She asked.
"What the hell kind of twisted game are you playing?" Don asked.
"What game am I playing? That's rich coming from you." Dina shot back.
"Stunts like that kiss this morning cannot happen again." Dina raised out of the water like a swan and walked towards Don.
"What kiss, the one in the kitchen?" Dina said before once again kissing Don passionately, "Or the one we just shared now?"
"This ends now!" Don said as he pushed Dina away. "I love Nina! For god's sake, look at what I'm giving up to be with her. Anyone who knew would think I'm crazy. But you don't understand anything when it comes to love, do you?" Don said as he stormed off downstairs. That last comment had hurt Dina more than she'd like to admit. With her ego bruised, she went to bed, only to be disturbed a few minutes later by...

"Don!" Nina said, trying to sound surprised, "What's up?" He came in and Dina shut the door, as soon as she let go of the handle Don grabbed her and began kissing her all over. The two collapsed onto the bed and Don began to undress Dina. But for once Dina stopped him.
"I don't know if I can." Dina said, not believing she had turned Don down.
"Would you STOP! Why do you keep doing this? Do you hate your sister that much?" Don cried.
"Hate her? It's because she's my sister that I can't do this."
"It didn't stop you earlier."
"I wasn't thinking straight. When we lived separate lives it was easier to forget you were engaged and dating my sister. But now you're here, and it's like my guilty conscience is on display for the whole world to see. But I don't care... Don, I.." Don put his hand to Dina's mouth to stop her saying those three little words.
"That word gets thrown around too much in this house." Dina began to softly kiss Don's fingers. He pulled her close and the two kissed passionately once more.

After an eternity they finally stopped kissing and Dina lay in Don's tight embrace. Don began thinking about what Dina was thinking. 'How can she love me' he thought.

'I've told her that I'm in love with Nina, Why on earth would she still let herself feel this way.' Then he stopped and realised that there was no-one to blame but his self. If he really truly loved Nina unconditionally then he wouldn't be here right now, holding her sister in his arms. Unless...

Dina began to kiss him again and he stopped reading into things so much. He began to enjoy the moment for what it was, and with that. He began to unbutton his shirt.

As Don was about to undress too another knock interrupted them and before either of them had time to think Nina walked in.

She stopped as she saw her sister in a swimsuit and her boyfriend with his shirt unbuttoned. There was no doubting it, and Don knew it too. Nina had just caught Don cheating on her.

"No!"
"Nina, this wasn't meant to..."
"What ARE YOU DOING?" Nina yelled as tears began to form in her eyes.
"It isn't.. It's not.." For once Don knew that no lying could get him out of this situation. But Dina on the other hand...
"I kept telling you Don NO!" Don looked at Dina and a look of total cluelessness came across his face.
"What. What do you mean, Dina?" Nina sobbed.
"Nina, my heart hurts so much right now. I cannot believe someone you trusted, someone I trusted, would put me in this position." Dina could feel her nose begin to grow inside!
"No.. Don No. Tell me she isn't.." Nina couldn't speak, neither could Don.
"He came into my room and told me how messed up he was. He had agreed to move in with you because I wasn't here. Nina, Don told me he loves me."
"WHAT?!" Nina yelled, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Dina stop it," Don yelled. "Stop lying for once in your..."
"SHUT UP, BOTH OF YOU!" Nina cried. She turned to Don, "Look at me Don, look into my eyes and tell me you don't love her."

Don stared at his girlfriend. And then looked at Dina. That was enough for Nina and she stormed out of the room crying and locked herself in her bedroom across the hall. Don kept looking at Dina. Dina opened her mouth to say something but she couldn't. She left her bedroom and went upstairs to relax on the roof. Don sat down on the bed where just two minutes ago he was so happy. He wondered why he couldn't lie anymore. Maybe he couldn't lie because he loved Nina too much to hurt her. Or maybe he loved Dina more than he loved Nina. Confused and tired he quickly fell to sleep on Dina's bed.

Late that night, Nina crept downstairs to have a snack. She had been crying most of the night, so confused as to why Don had cheated on her with her sister. Mortimer's remarks about her being ugly came rushing into her head but she knew that wasn't the reason. If she were honest with herself, nothing was as perfect as she had hoped it would be. Her fairytale romance was tainted to begin with. Don wasn't hers, he was Cassandra's. So this was it, it was either admit defeat and let Don walk all over her. Or take charge, and for once in her life be the one to call the shots. Sobbing once more, Nina knew she had a tough time ahead, but she was certain that everything eventually would be alright.

One morning after that night Nina came and joined Dina for breakfast. Before she could begin to talk Nina stopped her. "I'm not mad at you," Dina was shocked, she really thought the other night was the final straw. "I've been thinking a lot over the past few days and if you really want to know, I actually expected you to do this. All our lives you competed for love. Whenever dad was around you had to be the one on his knee. I felt like a constant disappointment. Whatever I had you took, whoever I had a crush on at school you dated. I know that my first love broke up with me because of you. So no, I'm not mad at you, you were just acting like you've done all your life."

Dina was confused, was this good or bad? "Well it ends now." Nina got up and pulled her sister out of her chair. "Stop acting like a spoilt little brat and grow-up. We are not twelve years-old anymore. You need to stop being such a kid and finally realise that you don't have to compete with me."

Nina sat down but Dina stayed standing. "I love you, I will always love you. But right now, I don't like you. I don't like what you've become. This whole thing with Mortimer and your boyfriends' and now Don," Dina let out a sigh of relief inside, Nina hadn't figured out that the 'boyfriend' she was seeing whilst seeing Mortimer was Don. "I will not live with you whilst you keep messing up your life and the lives of other people."

"What do you want me to say?" Dina burst out. "I'm sorry, I'll never do it again? Well I can't." Dina went to sit at the counter away from her sister as she found herself beginning to cry.

Nina joined Dina, and showed her she was also crying, and there was nothing to be ashamed about.
"You don't think I know what I do is wrong? Well I do. Everyday I look at myself in the mirror and I don't recognise the girl staring back. Ever since..."

"Ever since Dad died." Nina finished Dina's sentence.
"It stupid isn't it, all that crap they tell you at counselling about how it's unhealthy to suppress grief and how it's wrong to try and find a replacement for something you've lost. It all turned out to be true." Dina revealed.
"Yeah, but I never thought It'd be you." Nina admitted.
"Michael! I should have seen it back then." Dina told Nina.
"Are you saying you married Michael because he reminded you of dad?" Nina asked.

"Maybe, I don't know. In some ways it was just having that feeling of love inside me and that constant gratification. You know, we only ever had woohoo once." Nina had never seen Dina open up like this; she had finally gotten through to her sister. "I loved him, but I wasn't in love with him."
"And what about Mortimer, is he just another replacement?"
"He's my saviour." Dina revealed. "I thought he was, but now I see that if I want things to change, and I do, I need to hold onto him."
"Good. But don't just tell him you love him because you think he wants to hear it. Say it when your ready." Dina smiled and stood up to leave.
"And Don?" Nina added. Dina breathed in and told Nina what she needed to hear.
"I was getting back at you for throwing me out, and I'm sorry. He didn't say he loved me, and I don't have any feelings for him." Dina felt that on some levels, that was true. She just hoped that that was enough to salvage things.

When Don came downstairs for breakfast he spied Dina outside speaking to Mortimer. He wondered if they were breaking up. But all thoughts of Dina were pushed out of his mind when Nina was sat at the table, waiting for him. "I'm so.."
"I don't care. What you did is unforgivable."
"What I did, what about.."
"Don't try to blame Dina, she didn't hold you at gunpoint and say 'kiss me or die'. I know she was just using you and I know, given our situation, that maybe in some ways this is my fault."
"No Nina it's.."
"Shut up! I'm not done. We are having an affair, which makes me feel cheap and stupid. But I can't help the way feel about you." Nina stood up, "I've scheduled a session at the salon for me and Dina. Whilst we're out I want you to make up your mind. You're either with me or you're not." An ultimatum, there was at least some hope that he and Nina had a future together, but perhaps Nina was better off without him, despite their love.

He couldn't believe it when he saw Dina and Nina leaving together in a cab. How did Dina keep doing it, he wondered. But it was time to stop thinking about her and anyone else for that matter; he had to think about where his future lay. He couldn't see himself with Cassandra, not after finding Nina. But now he was beginning to fall for Dina too, if she stuck around, who's to say they wouldn't revert back to their old ways? After all, it didn't appear to Don Dina was going to change at the click of her heels, despite what she might have told Nina.

With all these thoughts in head, Don decided to relax on his bed and see if the answer came to him in a dream. Unfortunately, he had the matter of a scorned maid to attend to.

"I KNEW you were here" Kaylynn yelled.
"Sweetie, I can explain!" He charmed.
"Don't sweetie me you pig! You cost me my job, not to mention the stigma of being branded a thief. Do you know how many houses they've put me on now?!"

"What was I supposed to do, you wouldn't leave me alone!" Don pleaded.
"Are you saying I can't take a hint, because I'm not just your run-of-the-mill school girl. I'm a college graduate now!" Kaylynn said with pride.
"Good, then 'door' is to you as 'leave' is to... Get the heck out of here!"
"Oh that's just what you want isn't it. You'd like me to leave, and then when I least expect it you'll be up to your old tricks again. Strutting around in your underwear. That perfectly toned body all on show. You always made me walk in on you in the shower! Your wet, soapy body, it just made me wanna..."

With that Kaylynn threw Don onto the bed and kissed him.
"I can't." Don protested, which was a first for him.
"Just, just give me this one last time. I swear, just one more time and you'll never see me again."
"I can't trust you." Don said, knowing full well of Kaylynn's past promises.
"Trust this.." Kaylynn said as she began to run her fingers up Don's naked body underneath his shirt. Don caught his breath and looked into Kaylynn's sweet young eyes.
"You'll never come back!"
"That's what I said."
"It wasn't a question." Don began to kiss Kaylynn, god how he had missed his most sweetest of guilty pleasures. "It was an order."
"Oh, I like it when you get all dominant." Kaylynn joked, but Don wasn't in the mood. Quickly, he let her live out her last little fantasy. Sure he enjoyed it too, but he knew this was just payback.

But luckily it wasn't too long before Kaylynn tired out, but Don didn't let her catch her breath. "Get out." Don said as he threw her clothes on the bed. "Now!"

Kaylynn got dressed with a feeling of cheapness; she knew she couldn't accept her wages for today without feeling like some sort of common hooker. Luckily though she was leaving Pleasantview, and it was Don who would have to stay and be the one to clean up the mess now, she thought to herself as she left.

"What do you mean you had to fire her?" Nina said as she and Dina sat down for lunch after their trip.
"You wouldn't believe it, I caught her stealing!" Don lied. "When I confronted her she went crazy and hit me!"
"Oh you poor thing!" Nina touched Don's face. Her touch felt so loving, Don hoped Nina's hair wasn't the only thing that had changed. Nina pulled away and went to sit down, embarrassed she had let her feelings show.
"Well it doesn't surprise me," Dina said, "She never showed up much around here anyway, she always said another house in the town was paying her more for some extra services." Don blushed. Dina joined her sister and Don suddenly felt awkward, he could sit next to Dina or he could sit next to Nina. They both looked at him, waiting. Don quickly walked to the kitchen counter and sat there. Behind him the sisters shared a quiet giggle.

"So are you saying that he's forgiven?" Dina asked as the sisters tried on new clothes in Dina's bedroom.
"No, I hate him. He can never be forgiven. Him and that gorgeous six-pack of his can just sleep on the roof!" Nina giggled as she looked through Dina's wardrobe. "I don't know. I can't just let him back in as if nothing happened, but he lives here too now and I really do love him so much."
"I can tell. That's why I felt so bad about what happened." Dina sighed and thought about what she almost lost the other night.
"I know. I told you I understand. But I've seen him look at you Dina, the way he began to look at me when we first moved into Pleasentview. Considering how we met, I can't trust he won't.."
"You can trust me, can't you?" Nina looked at her sister and for the first time they hugged.
"I trust you. But it still doesn't change his feelings. I think Dina, I may have to use Plan B"
"Can we really afford it?" Nina reached into her pocket and pulled out a photograph, then she smiled.

During his day off from his job in the Medical career, Don spent some time in the bathroom to fashion a new look, feeling left out of the sisters closeness. He emerged from the bathroom and Dina was lying on his bed. "We need to talk." She said. Don sat on the bed but didn't get comfy.
"Oh don't worry, I'm not trying to seduce you. I may spank you but it will not feel pleasurable!" Don looked confused. "Why won't you just let Nina back in, you've been sharing a bed now for the past two nights but she's told me you've been like ice."
"I can't. I don't want to let her down again."
"Are you really that weak? Who else could possibly be left in your little black book?" Dina joked.
"It's not that, I can stay faithful. But I don't know if.."
"If you love her?" Dina queried.
"No. I don't know if I love you." Dina's eyes widened. Just as Nina had said, but she couldn't believe it.
"Well let me make it easier, I don't love you. I never will as long as my sister loves you." Dina left Don alone.

After what seemed like forever, Nina went up to check on Don. He was still in same place as before and Nina joined him.
"Are you okay? You look nice, you didn't show me your new glasses." Nina gently touched Don's arm. Don looked into her eyes and asked,
"Why do you still love me?"
"Why? Don't you love me?" Nina said, her voice going ever so quiet she was almost whispering.
"I have never felt this before, the way I feel about you. I love you, so much." Nina leaned over and hugged Don. The two looked into each others eyes...

Nina softly kissed Don. She began to caress him but he stopped.
"Nina, I can't." Don said sadly.
"But, why. Is it, do you love..."
"Cassandra."
"Cassandra?!"
"What you said the other day made me think. She's the reason I've been so nervous about devoting myself to you. I have to break-up with her."
"Oh god. I hadn't even thought about this. Are you going to tell her.."
"No! I couldn't, she'd be devasted, I think it might kill Mortimer if he finds out his girlfriend's sister was woohooing his daughter's fiance."
"Oh god, you're right. Okay then. When."
"Now."
"Now?! But it's seven PM."
"It won't take long. I just want to do it and get back to you." Don kissed his girlfriend again, then called up Cassandra. She was over the moon to finally here from her fiance! He asked if he could come over and she told him that she was alone tonight as her father and brother were out. Nervous about what he was going to say, Don took one last look at his reason for doing this, Nina. He ordered a taxi and left.

Chapter Two: "A Love Lost"

When Don arrived at the Goth's beautiful Victorian mansion, he was transported back to when he first came. Cassandra, who had just turned sixteen, sneaked downstairs at midnight to let an attractive young boy into her house. The boy, Don aged Eighteen, had been dating Cassandra for a long time now. He was her first boyfriend & she always had to sneak around in fear of her father banning her from seeing him. He was after all the College stud, dating Mortimer Goth's sweet and innocent daughter. Innocent, he laughed as he thought back, after that night she was anything but innocent! On her Eighteenth birthday she finally introduced Don to her dad (he remarked how he looked a lot like a burglar he once saw leaping out of his window one night in the nude). That evening, drunk on love, he asked Mortimer if he could make an honest women out of his daughter and as it was time to give Cassie her present, he presented her with a beautiful diamond engagement ring.

And now he'd come to take it back. Don had to admit things had changed. Ever since the Caliente twins moved to Pleasentview Don's mind just seemed to be elsewhere. And then his affair started...

"Cass? Are you here?" Don said, letting himself in. His key was new & hardly used. He left it on the table, knowing he'd need it no more.
"Come upstairs." He heard Cassandra say. He went up, "In here," he heard from the bathroom.
"Cassie?" He peered into the bathroom & his mouth opened wide. Cassandra was there, in her underwear... waiting for Don. She obviously thought there was another reason he wanted to see her so badly. She came over & began to kiss him. Don made her stop.
"Cass, it's a bad time. There's something I've," Cassandra interrupted.
"Don't worry, were alone. Just you, me and true love!" Cassandra led him to her bedroom and she lay on the bed.
"True love?" Don felt something stirring inside. 'We are engaged, and I can't just let her humiliate herself', so he joined her...

When she had finally fallen to sleep, Don quietly got out of bed and went downstairs. He began thinking, his mind flashed back to earlier. His passion-fuelled moment with Cassandra, his total disregard for... Nina. He began to cry. 'I've lost her', he thought. 'She'll never understand.' Don was still breaking up with Cassandra but knew he couldn't lie to Nina. She'd know, he wouldn't be back at the Caliente house until after his shift at the hospital, Nina would know he stayed the night and...

He eyed the phone across the room and suddenly picked it up. He checked the time and was shocked to see it was coming up to one AM. 'Did we really spend all that time...' he thought. He began to dial the numbers, hoping Nina would be waiting.
"Hello!" Nina answered.
"Nina, it's me."
"I was hoping you'd call, what happened. Is it taking longer than you..?"
"I slept with her." Don blurted out.
"Oh," Nina said quietly, "I see."
"But it's over! Me and her, the engagement, our relationship is through... but she greeted me, and thought I'd come over to.. And I couldn't let her humiliate herself like that."
"It's okay, I get it, you met her years before you met me, you're her fiance. I know there's feelings still there, despite what you say. I get it, I believe you, I know." Nina said, Don could here her voice choking up. "Look I'm really tired so if you're not coming back tonight I'm just gonna hit the hay, 'kay?" Without letting him answer she hung up. Don sat on the sofa and began to cry again.

Early next morning, Don woke to find himself still on the sofa. He crept around and got dressed, he pulled on his coat and quietly opened the door. He shut it, again being quiet. He turned around but let out a little yelp when he saw Cassandra standing there on the porch.
"Cassandra!" He said in a high pitched voice.
"Are you leaving so early?" She questioned.
"Um, no. I was going to head to work. It'd be quicker to walk then go back to get my house and wait for,"
"I know your shift doesn't start for another 4 hours yet. I woke up and came downstairs and I saw you asleep on the sofa. What's going on?"
"Um, maybe we should go back inside."
"No. You wanted to tell me something last night but then you changed your mind and decided it could wait until after we had woohoo." Don could see Cassie's eyes begin to well-up. "So tell me, now." She knew, he thought.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you last night but I didn't want you to humiliate yourself."
"Humiliate myself!" Cassandra cried out loud as the tears began to fall slowly down her face. "No, because that would have been devastating. All this month I've been looking at wedding dresses and at wedding cakes and through all our time together you were... You were woohooing that slut Kaylynn! You don't think that's humiliating? Well thank you for finally thinking about my feelings for once." Don began to calm a little, she only knew about his fling with Kaylynn, that's all.
"If you knew then why didn't you,"
"Say something. Like you should have said something the first time it happened? Maybe I was a little lost for words. 'Don could never do that to me' I tell her, then she tries to save her own ass by claiming it wasn't her you were having the affair with." Don gasped, Kaylynn must have also been hired at the Goth's house. She obviously was going to tell her about him and Nina.

"What did she say?"
"I was talking with her, gleaming that married life was going to be wonderful. I even," She began to cry even more, "I told her about us, what we used to do. Do you know how I felt? And you were worried about me humiliating myself?!" Cassandra raised her hands to hit Don in anger. He let her, she began pounding his chest and she pushed him away. "After I told her about our first time, She suddenly burst out laughing and said, to my face 'What did you think when you saw his tattoo'. And then it hit me. Where your tattoo is, there's no way she could have seen it unless... She knew it too and she tried to deny it. Saying she accidentally walked in on you coming out of the shower. But I knew. And so I fired her and threw her out before she started lying again."

Don looked at his feet. "But if you knew then why did you go through that whole charade last night?"
"Because I needed to know if you still loved me. And I needed to know if I still loved you. And I thought things were going to be fine when you kissed me and we... But then I saw you asleep on the sofa. And it all came clear that last night wasn't just regular woohoo, it was pity woohoo."

"Well I don't need anyone's pity," Cassandra slipped off her engagement ring and grabbed Don's hand, "Especially not from you." She placed it in them and walked away as Don began to wipe the tears from his eyes. She looked back and couldn't help but ask...

"Why are you crying? Do you still pity me?" Cassandra asked.
"No, I think you're amazing," Cassandra rolled her eyes. "Really! You are so beautiful and you are so much stronger inside then I am. I'm crying because I can't believe I let myself treat you so bad. And I'm also crying because I'm happy." Cassandra laughed in astonishment. "Happy that now you'll finally be able to find someone who'll love you forever, not like me, who only loved you once." Cassandra looked at her ex-fiance and suddenly felt a little sad. She always knew, in the back of her mind that they would never be married. But she wanted to believe it so much. She just wanted to make her father happy and let him walk her down the aisle before... It was all for him, she never wanted anything other then to make him happy. But maybe now she could focus on herself, on actually finding love.

"Well, goodbye then. And again, I'm sorry." Don said, wondering why all his break-up's couldn't be this easy.
"I'm sorry too. I don't think you're going to be able to find another girlfriend so quickly after last night!" Cassandra let an evil smile cross her face and Don shivered as he remembered how she had dug her nails into his back during their woohoo and scratched him. "Actually I'm lying, I'm not that sorry at all." She smiled and went back inside her house. Don thought that maybe it wasn't such an easy break-up. After all, last night might have cost him Nina. And he really didn't want to lose her.

Chapter Three: "The End of The Old"

Nina stood there, ready to make the final change to her old life. She pulled out the picture she'd been looking at all week. It was a picture that made her remember happier times, and she so desperately wanted them back.
"Are you ready?" Asked the man.
"Definitely! Make it happen."

"I hope you like it. I'm not good in the kitchen but I've been studying and watching The Yummy Channel just for you." Dina said as she began to cook more food for Mortimer. He sat there with his mouth full already.
"I'm sure it will be lovely. After all, it has the best ingredient." He smiled
"What's that?"

"It was made by you." Dina smiled and felt her heart begin to race. She couldn't believe how fast her relationship with Mortimer was going. She was happy that finally she could relax and fall in love without any worries... Except for the fact her sister was in love with a man in love with her! Nina rushed into the house and Dina stopped her cooking and ran to her sister.

"Did you do it?"
"I did it, it's ours!" The two sisters shrieked and began hugging.
"What on earth is going on?" Mortimer asked, his face stuffed full again.
"I'll tell him the good news, you've got a visitor waiting to speak with you." Nina paused and didn't look so happy anymore. She went upstairs, opened her door and smiled before she went in and sat down.

"How was your day." She asked Don as they embraced on her bed. She was nervous inside, Nina was adamant that nothing would happen so soon after his betrayal. Sure, on the phone she said it was okay but she hoped that Don would realise the mistakes he'd made and let her come to him before he tried to get so close with her again.
"I might be getting that promotion I mentioned."
"Really?" Nina asked, avoiding what she really wanted to tell Don. "Listen, I need to tell you something, about our future.. If you think we have a future that is. I used to live in a great house on the edge of Pleasentview when I was little. Well, it's been empty for a while now and... Don, I'm going to move there." She smiled, Don didn't,
"Oh, I see." Nina was still smiling.
"I mean we're going to move there. All three of us!" Don looked at Nina and she began to kiss him.
"But I thought you were mad."
"I am. But I want us to try and get it right this time, I want to look at this as a new start for all of us."

"This is going to be great," Dina said. "I now know what you meant when you said you were going back to beginning. God, I thought you we're going to kill yourself at first or something."
"Dina! I just think we all became too involved in each others business and we'd started on a collision course and all it needed was for me to put us back on the right path!"
"Wow... did you just read that in your horoscope! You fibber!" Dina laughed along with Nina but Don just stood there, pretending to watch TV.

Was this really the best move? After all, he was planning to break-up with Nina just five minutes ago. After all his mistakes he thought it was the honest thing to do. Maybe they were breaking up, he thought. Just a little, they were leaving behind the old and flawed relationship they once had and moving forward. But Don was thinking that now Nina finally had him all to herself, she might realise the love that blossomed when they first met would be left behind too.

Chapter Four: "House of Cards"

"Well guys, what do you think? Will it do?" Nina asked, with a big grin stretching across her face.

"Will it do! Are you kidding, this place is huge!" Dina laughed.
"It was really was a great idea Nina. After everything that's happened," Don quickly glanced at Dina and Nina interrupted him.
"Hey, I told you. That's all in the past. Our lives together, our bright future, it begins here."
'Together' is all Don heard. All three of them, still together. After everything, Nina stuck by her sister and still loved him. It wasn't that Don didn't return the love, it's just not all of it was for Nina...

"Hello, I'm Mary-Sue Pleasent from the Pleasentville's 'Welcome to the Neighbourhood Committee'. I'm here to.. Welcome you to the neighbourhood!" Mary-Sue Pleasent had said a few hours ago. Wanting to do something nice for the woman, Nina fired up the new hottub and insisted that Mary-Sue join her and Dina whilst Don cooked dinner. When Don called, she and Mary-Sue left Dina, who had been joined by Mortimer, in the hottub.
"I must say I was surprised two 'twentysomethings' like you bought a house as old as this."
"Well actually it was my parents' house and I grew up here. It just felt like the right time to move back in. And there are three of us. My sister, me and my boyfriend" Don smiled at Mary-Sue.
"Speaking of Dina, where is she?" Don asked.
"Oh, she said she was going to take Mortimer for a 'personal' tour around the house. I assume her bedroom will be the grand finale, if you know what I mean!" Nina giggled and Don smiled too but inside his heart was hurting.

However, Dina simply wanted a romantic soak alone with her boyfriend. "Oh Dina, this house is wonderful. But not as wonderful as you!"
"Morty, my one-and-only." Dina whispered.
"Forever?"
"Forever!"
Mortimer felt his heart begin to race as Dina cuddled up to him in the tub. He'd only ever asked this question once. In fact he thought he'd never have to ask it again. But now, everything was perfect, wasn't it?
"Dina?"
"Yes?" Dina said, drifting off into a light sleep.
"I know that my love for you will never die, and I hope you feel the same. If you do... Dina, I'd like you to marry me."
Dina shot up, "Marry you? Did I hear that right?" Dina looked at her beautiful boyfriend and realised she had not misheard his words. "I... I don't know what to say."
"If you think I'm just an old fool in love then you can say no. It won't make me love you any less." Dina held Mortimer's hands.
"And why would I say no?" Mortimer smiled and so did Dina, "Yes, of course I'll marry you!"

Before the day ended, Mortimer phoned his daughter and asked her to bring over his son Alexander. Nina was asked by Dina to open up some champagne and the six of them met in the kitchen, plus a friend Don had invited from work.
"This wasn't really the type of gathering for work friends." Dina scowled.
"Oh but it is the kind for ex-fiance's?" Don retorted.
"I couldn't not invite her; this involves Mortimer and I and she is his daughter. It's your own fault if things are uncomfortable."
"She doesn't know about me and Nina."
"So? You can't control yourself for an hour-or-so?"
"I think you know the answer to that one, Dina!"
"Oh grow-up Don! Just shut up and listen. Things are about to change forever, and I couldn't be happier!" 'Change' Don thought. What kind of changes. Was Dina going to move out with Mortimer? Don crossed his fingers behind his back.

"Everyone! We've brought you all together because what we have to say involves you all in some way." Mortimer smiled and turned to his fiance. "Do you want to tell them?"
"Tell 'them' what?" Cassandra asked, who was well aware of her father's relationship with the town bicycle! Dina turned to face the five people, eagerly waiting for their news.

"Me and Mortimer... We're getting married!" Dina smiled and hugged her fiance. She looked around the room and saw her sister grinning from ear-to-ear, Cassandra looked annoyed and wouldn't stop starring at her father. Alex looked a little sad and Don... Don didn't seem to be showing any emotion on his face.
"Congratulations!" Nina said with a look of pure happiness for her sister. Dina looked at the other three and waited,
"Congratulations." They all forced out of their mouths. Dina sighed and realised that her union may have caused more harm than good.

"Oh to heck with them!" Nina whispered to her sister as the two talked amongst themselves. "This is your day, don't let them spoil it." Nina said, referring to the gloomy looks on most of the guests.
"I really wish you could be there for the ceremony, but Mortimer was right in thinking that the sooner we're married the better it will be for everybody. But on some part I understand their worries. Maybe we are rushing things." Dina sighed.

"Rushing things? I've seen aeroplanes that don't go as fast as you two. Tell me right now what it is you intend to do with my father." Cassandra said. Dina rolled her eyes,
"I plan to marry him and then hide the body under the porch!" Cassandra's mouth fell open and Alexander began to sob. "Oh, Alex! It was just a joke. Me and your sister were joking." Cassandra comforted her younger brother and turned to face Dina.
"Hear me now Dina, you will never get a simoleon of my father's money."
"Why would I want his money when I can have his love for free." Dina smiled as she knew she had won this round.
"Dina. Could we talk alone for a second" Don asked as Nina quickly went to say goodbye to Cassandra, who was storming out in a huff. 'Alone' Dina thought. She sighed and wished that everyone could just leave her and Mortimer's love alone. But there were things that needed to be said, but not without Nina present.

"Of course it's okay with us if Mortimer and Alex move in. You are going to be the man's wife soon!" Nina answered her sister's question.
"Actually I'm not so sure it's a good idea." Don added quietly.
"Erm Don, remember how I didn't ask Dina if you could live with the two of us. At least Dina is asking and I would have thought you'd understand it's the least we can do."
"Actually the least we can do is say no."
"Don," Dina demanded, "What is this really about?" Don looked at Nina,
"Don? Is there something you want to tell us?" Nina asked.
"Well, you know. I agree with Cassandra, I don't think you love Mortimer. I just think you love his money." Don revealed on the spot.

Dina slapped her former boyfriend as Nina rolled her eyes and left the two to 'discuss' things.
"Is that what this is about?" Dina whispered so Nina couldn't hear, "Or are you just realising that your perfect house of cards is crashing down around you?"

"Okay, I admit it. I'm just a little disgruntled that you're choosing Mortimer over me."
"There was no choosing involved Don. It was never going to be you and I don't know where you got that idea from."
"Oh I don't know, maybe it was all those times when we were in bed and you whispered that I was the only one who made you feel... Complete." Don said softly but with anger.

"I seem to remember you always replied by saying that without me you were nothing." Dina shot back.
"I am nothing. Without you, my life is empty." Don confessed.
"And so you're going to tell Nina all this?" Dina whispered as Don looked to the floor. "Don, you haven't changed a bit. I should just come clean to Nina about everything right now." Dina said, but Don grabbed her.
"Wait." Don said.

"I stopped waiting for you a long time ago Don." Dina said as she pushed Don's hand away from her. "You need to get a clue and figure out what it is you really want, because if I come back and you're still trying it on with me then I won't hesitate to tell Nina. Even if it means she never speaks to me again, at least you and her would be over."
"You're the one that needs to get a clue Dina, before it's too late and you're stuck with a man you don't love." Don replied.
"No actually, what she needs to get is married." Nina said as she joined the conversation. But how much had she heard, Don thought?

As everyone waved goodbye to Dina and Mortimer a worried Don decided to pretend as if Dina was never coming back. For the next few days it would be only him and Nina, he could finally figure out who his heart wanted without any distractions. He just hoped Nina felt the same.
"So, how much did you hear?" Don asked Nina as she kept on waving to the back of a limo.
"Enough. Enough to know that just because you don't want to live with Mortimer you think it's okay to ruin Dina's happiest day."
"Don't want to?" Don realised Nina still knew nothing. "Of course I don't. His daughter's my ex-fiance. It won't be long before he realises we're more then just friends and he tells Cassandra."
"So? It's over between you and her why should you still care? She certainly doesn't."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Don asked.
"Well, it's just she gave me the impression that she wasn't going to end the night on a low." Nina said with a sly grin. Don wondered whether Nina was right, had Cassandra moved on already?

END OF PART ONE