Elizabeth chuckled as she watches Leo and Liam playing PlayStation at Sharon's place. Elizabeth and Leo were visiting Liam and his grandmother on a Saturday. Where Leo and Liam were playing on the new PlayStation Elizabeth got for Liam in the living room, Elizabeth was with Sharon in the kitchen – helping her with the dinner. If she is honest, she is just present in the kitchen – she isn't truly helping Sharon with anything, and with Elizabeth's kitchen experience, it is better if she stays away from the cooking, or else they will be ordering a takeaway.

"You shouldn't have got him such an expensive gift, my dear," Sharon told Elizabeth as she chopped the celery as they two hear Leo and Liam screaming and yelling at the game in the living room. Elizabeth shrugged and took a piece of celery before putting it in her mouth, "He wanted it for a long time and also, he got such good grades in school. He deserved it." Elizabeth replied once she chewed and swallowed the piece of celery.

Sharon put the knife down and placed her hands on the counter, "Nevertheless, Elizabeth, that gift is – it is too expensive." Sharon spoke softly as she looked down at the chopped vegetables. Elizabeth could see that Sharon was struggling to speak up her mind. She could see how hesitant Sharon has is. So, Elizabeth decided to encourage her to speak up – she doesn't want Sharon or Liam to feel uneasy around her. "What is it, Sharon? Why can't I buy something expensive?" Elizabeth questioned calmly.

Sharon lift her gaze and look at Elizabeth, who was already watching the woman with her eyebrows knitted in concern. Sharon heaved a sigh, "Well, you are a nice girl – a perfect girl, even. You are very considerate to remember Liam – but, don't mind – but, I don't want him to get used to all this," She slowly spoke. She remembered to keep her voice down – in case she could be heard by Leo or Liam outside.

Elizabeth creased her forehead, "I don't understand," She mumbled.

Sharon exhaled and smashed her lips, "Well, Liam is – I don't know how to say this without offending you." She waved her hands defeatedly.

Elizabeth shook her head, "No, no – please. Tell me what you mean. I will not be offended, promise." She spoke with her hand over her chest. She truly wanted to know what Sharon means, because lately, Sharon seemed a little disturbed. Elizabeth wanted to know if she was the cause of it and if yes, then why? What did she do to make her feel that way?

"Liam is extremely close to Leo. He calls him dad, even when I asked him not to, but he does. I feel that – um, he shouldn't be so close the either of you. I don't want him to get hurt when one day you and Leo get somewhere better and maybe start your own family. He relies on Leo and now, he is getting attached to you. I want him to learn to survive on his own, because let's be honest, Elizabeth. With his mother in prison for better, and even if she comes out someday, I don't want him near my daughter, and with me aging – I don't know how long will it take before Liam is without a family," Sharon exhaled once she was done. Tears pooled in her eyes as she thought about her grandson.

Elizabeth thought she forgot to breathe for a second, not because she was offended by Sharon's words but because she could see where this was coming from. She could see the concern deep in Sharon's eyes. She could feel the thud in her chest for the young boy playing with Leo, outside. If Elizabeth was in Sharon's place, she would have had the same concerns. She opened her mouth, but no words escaped. What could Elizabeth say? What promises can Elizabeth make? There is just one thing she can assure Sharon of, no matter where they are, no matter what she and Leo does in their lives – she will never forget about Liam. He will always be a part of her family – if she ever had one, and even if she doesn't – she is not going toss Liam away.

"You are awfully quiet," Leo noticed as he sits in the passenger's seat while Elizabeth took the wheel. Elizabeth forced her lips to curl into a soft smile as she glanced towards Leo, who was already looking at her. Of course, Elizabeth has been quiet and tangled in her thoughts after talking to Sharon about Liam. "What is on your mind?" Leo asked.

What was Elizabeth supposed to tell him? What was on her mind? There was so much that her head was wrapped around. First come first, Liam. What does he mean to her and most importantly, what doesn't she mean to him? Does he think about Elizabeth as a woman in Leo's life or does she has managed to secure a place in his heart? Next, Sharon mentioned she and Leo starting their own family. Elizabeth has never been too well with children, and to be honest – she never thought about having her own one day either. If she decides to act on the plan of a childless future, will Leo accept?

There is so much Elizabeth hasn't talked about with Leo yet, maybe it is time she does it. She doesn't want to keep him in dark about the possibilities she sculpts in her regarding their future.

Back in New York, Marcus stood in front of the stove pouring pancake batter into the pan while Kathie stood beside him – clenching his sweatpant's fabric in her small fist. She has been very clingy towards Marcus for the past three days, Charlie and Marcus tried to talk to her about it, but it is never easy to talk to toddlers. Whatever has been bothering Kathie had made her very clingy towards her father. She is also being a bit distant from Charlie, and it scares her. Charlie wondered if she did something wrong – if it is her behavior that made Kathie so bothered?

It all started about three days ago when Marcus and Charlie brought Kathie back home from a playdate with some of the neighbor's kids. It was the first night in many months that Kathie had asked Marcus to sleep with her in her tiny bed and he did. First, they believed that Kathie had a nightmare the night before and she doesn't want to sleep alone for the night, but her behavior the next morning alarmed her parents a bit. She refused to let Charlie make her breakfast. She didn't even want her mother to bathe her, like every other day.

"Kathie, are you mad at mama?" Charlie remembered asking Kathie when she was playing in her room, alone. Kathie didn't answer. She kept on playing with her toys and completely ignored Charlie. "Did mama do something wrong, baby?" She asked again, but once again she was welcomed with silence.

This unusual behavior of Kathie extended for three days. With each passing day, Charlie is getting more and more worried. She sits around the dining table just outside the kitchen, while Marcus had asked to prepare breakfast on his day off. He is determined to talk to his daughter during or after breakfast. This weird behavior of hers cannot go long. Kathie had both her parents extremely worried. Marcus turned his head around to see Charlie sitting around the table with Ella in her arms. She was already looking at Marcus and Kathie. Marcus passed her a reassuring smile before he sighed and looked down at his daughter, "Kathie, why don't you sit down on the table with mama while I bring you to breakfast?" He asked. Kathie quickly shook her head no.

Marcus hoped that Charlie didn't witness such strong resistance from their daughter, but he know she had seen her. He can't even imagine how hard it must have been for Charlie. Certain fears have kept Marcus up all night, he wonders if it is the same with Charlie as well. For instance, he is scared that Kathie is coming to terms that Charlie is not her biological mother and now she is questioning her status in Charlie's life and vice versa. Even though Kathie is still young to form any kind of opinion of her own, but still Marcus wants to talk with her - to explain to her that even if Charlie didn't birth her, she loves Kathie just as Susan would have.

After he made the breakfast, he put it all on the table. He had made Kathie's favorite strawberry pancakes, along with a couple of fried eggs. He also diced some fresh fruit and made coffee for himself and Charlie. He sits around the table and Kathie decided to sit closer to her father.

"Kathie, do you want me to cut your pancake into pieces?" Charlie offered, but Kathie quickly shook her head and held on to Marcus's arm tightly. Marcus glanced at Charlie. His heart twists in his chest to see the gloss in her eyes. He decided not to wait for the breakfast to end and was about to ask Kathie why was so behaving so rudely towards her mother when Charlie put her hand on his and gently squeezed.

"Marcus, let her eat something first, okay?" Charlie softly asked Marcus, who sighed defeatedly and served Kathie her breakfast like Charlie used to. The three of them ate breakfast. Kathie has always been talkative but unlike most of the mornings, she was quiet for the last three mornings. Charlie and Marcus also ate in silence.

After they all ate, Charlie offered to do dishes while Marcus took Ella and Kathie to their room. Charlie understood that whatever is bothering Kathie is related to her, and if she will be there when Marcus tries to understand what is wrong with his daughter – Kathie might not be at ease with Charlie around her, so she decided to stay downstairs while Marcus took Kathie upstairs.

When they get to the room, Marcus puts Ella in her bouncer. Ella doesn't care about anything once she is put in a bouncer – she solely enjoys it and doesn't ask for anyone's attention. Marcus asked Kathie to sit on her bed while he sat down on the floor in front of her. "Dada, can I play with your hair?" Kathie excitedly ask. She usually plays with Charlie's hair. Marcus still remembers the day when Charlie got her hair cut short and Kathie threw a tantrum over her short hair. Charlie decided not to cut her hair short until Kathie approves of it. That is how much Charlie cares about Kathie.

Marcus smiled and poked his nose, "Why can't you play with mama's hair like you always does?" Marcus carefully asked.

The glint in Kathie's eyes suddenly vanishes. The smile turned into a frown as she aggressively shakes her head, "No, not her!" She angrily folded her arms over her chest.

Marcus knitted his eyebrows together, "Why not?" He asked.

Kathie pouted, "She is a bad lady!" Kathie complained.

Marcus squinted his eyes. His heart was racing in his chest, "Why would you say that Kathie? Did mama say something to you?" Marcus carefully asked. He didn't think a day would come when he will have to ask Kathie why was she hating on Charlie. The strong bond between Charlie and Kathie always had made him doubt that this day would even come, but here he is.

Kathie shook her head, "She lied to me," Kathie opened up.

Marcus pulled her eyebrows together, "About what?" He asked.

"That is not my mother. She is not. Mama is a fake mother. She is a bad person." Kathie complained. Kathie look up at Susan's picture that hangs on her bedroom's wall and points towards it, "That is my mama! Not Charlie!" Kathie complained. Marcus slowly blinked. Kathie called Charlie by her name, she never did that.

Marcus and Charlie have always been transparent about Susan. They have already told her about Susan. Marcus has shown her Susan's pictures, her videos and the two even took Kathie to Susan's grave. Charlie has always communicated with Kathie about it. She always ensures Kathie that even if she is not her birth mother, she looks at her just like Susan would have. So, now where was this coming from? Where did Kathie get the idea that Charlie is a bad person?

"What are you talking about, Kathryn? Charlie is not your birth mother – you already know that but she loves you more than anything," Marcus tried to stay calm when he was furious at the words that were coming out of Kathie's mouth. "Did mama do something to hurt you?" Marcus was dreading to ask this question. He trusts Charlie, but for the sake of his daughter – he had to ask it – even when he knows that Charlie would never hurt Kathie – in fact, that woman would save his daughter with her life.

Kathie shook her head, "No, but she will. Mel said that her mother told her that when I will get old Charlie will throw me out of the house and will keep you and Ella with her." Kathie's lower lips wobbled. Kathie's eyes pooled with tears, "Dada, you will not let her kick me out, right? We will fight her together, right?" Kathie asked before the child broke into sobs and embraced Marcus in a tight hug.

Marcu clenched his jaws together as he hugged his daughter back. Mel is one of the kids in their neighborhood and she is the daughter of this so-called sweet couple. Marcus was furious to listen to words coming out of his daughter's mouth. What kind of parents put such vile thoughts in their kid's head?! How dare they make such a disgusting assumption?!

Marcus's eyes filled with tears. He pulled away from his daughter and put his hands on her small face – looking into her eyes, "Listen to me carefully, Kathie. Neither of us would ever hurt you. No one is ever kicking you out, you hear me? You are just as much Charlie's daughter as mine. She would never do that. What Mel said was a lie." He told her sternly. It was getting hard for him to hold in his emotions. There are more chances of Marcus unintentionally hurting his daughter than of Charlie. He wanted to explain this to his daughter – and once he does – Mr. and Mrs. Crawford are getting a must-needed visit from Marcus and Charlie.