The Return (Dixie)

[David Hayward]

David Hayward had been out of town for awhile, staying in Paris, France, researching on a new drug study that he had been working on for the past few years. David had heard that Dixie Cooney Martin was alive, yet again, and he was determined to gain her forgiveness, for everything he had done to her prior to her being killed off by poisoned pancakes. He made flight reservations, but he only bought a one way ticket. He was planning on returning to Pine Valley and this time it was going to be for good.

A day later he finally arrived back in Pine Valley. The first place that he was going to go, was too see Dixie Martin. After finding his rental car, which by the way, was a 2011 silver BMW, he got in, and cranked the car up. David then made his way over to Dixie's house, and after a short time of driving, he pulled into the driveway of the Martin's resident home, and got out.

He noticed a few kids playing from the window, and smiled. This was even going to be much better than he thought. He walked up to the door, and rang the door bell, as he waited for someone to answer, hoping that it wouldn't be Tad Martin, or any of the Martin's really. He only wanted to see Dixie's face, which he did when she was the one who opened the door. He put on his wicked smile, and looked to her. "Dixie Cooney...so what they say is true. You do have nine lives" he said in a sarcastic tone.

[Dix C. Martin]

"There. Perfect!"
Dixie exclaimed, realizing she'd done a better job on Kathy's manicure than anticipated.
"Oooh..they turned out good! Can I paint your's?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
She smiled, but frowned when she saw Tara toss a basketball beanbag at her twin brother's head. Getting him wailing and running to the couch.
"Ohh shh, it's okay tiger..here, Katie's gotcha."
Handing her boy over to her oldest girl, Dixie went over to the rug and gave Tara a scolding look.
"You are in trouble young lady."
"Ma?"
"Oh don't Ma me..c'mon, I think someone's nap is gonna be a bit earlier today."
Dixie sighed, and scooped up her on the verge of a tantrum daughter before putting her in her crib in the nursery. Coming back to the living room she heard the doorbell, along with Kathy who looked up curiously.

"I'll get it sunshine, keep an eye on Nolan."
Opening the door she was stunned to see who was smirking on the other side of it.
"You.."
"Momma? Who's at the door?"
Kathy asked walking up. But even though it was hard to see the stranger, she knew with the tense way her mother was standing they weren't welcome.
"Kathy, could you bring your brother to your room and play with him for awhile. Please."
"But.."
"Now, Kathy."
Dixie ordered. Turning to see that Kathy was out of range she backed up and gave David an stone cold glare. Not even bothering to acknowledge his smart remark with a response.
"What the hell do you want, David. Why are you here?"
She asked coldly. Not slamming the door yet, but refusing to let him in her house.

[David Hayward]

"I think you know why I am here Dixie" David said as he looked into her eyes, seeing abit of fury in them. "I just can't believe that what I heard was true. Your alive, again. I am sure Tad Martin was thrilled about that, and I am sure that if he was here, he would be gloating to my face that he had you again, but then again, I really don't care about him. All I care about is you, Dixie" David said as he took a step forward. "Let me come in, and explain everything."

"Once you have heard everything, then I promise that you will understand, because you are an understanding person, Dixie. You always have been, and you always will. That is one of the things that I like about you.." he said as he looked back to her.

[Dix C. Martin]

Hearing David's smug reply, Dixie bristled and it took all of her willpower to not haul him off and slug him. The way they'd parted had been ugly but she was fine with leaving it that way. David had put her through hell five years ago all because she'd seen the light and cut him out of her life. And now he was back, standing outside her house?
"Well for your information David, the feeling isn't mutual. So you can just take your caring and shove-"
Dixie spat, right as he stepped over the threshold and into the foyer, to her annoyance.
"One of the things you..ha!"
Crossing her arms she shook her head in disbelief.
"You know for being an evil genius you've got an awful memory, David. Last I checked your 'liking me' turned into you tricking me, insulting me, causing me and my family as much pain as humanly possible."
She said bitterly.
"You honestly think you can say or do anything to change that? If so your memory isn't all that's lost to you..you're downright delusional!"

[David Hayward]

"So, you think that I am evil?" he asked, shaking his head to her. "That isn't what you thought about me nine years ago when you and I had an affair, but alot has changed, and so have you. Your not the same naive Dixie that I once knew. You can't be fooled now, not by anyone or anything, can you Dixie?" he asked, as he took one more step towards her. "But I guess almost dying twice doesn't really agree with you, because the woman that I loved nine years ago, would have given me a chance to explain things" he said as he then leaned agains the wall, and crossed his arms.

"You can either let me come in and talk with you..or, we can do this the hard way, and I can go have a meeting with Tad, which you know that if he saw me that he would kill me, and no matter how much you hate me Dixie, you don't want your husband going to prison for murder now do you?" he asked as he tilted his head to the right.

[Dix C. Martin]

Hearing him bring up the affair, Dixie's gaze went icy.
"The woman you loved nine years ago, only loved you back because at the time it looked like you had something good in you. Something I could respect. Those days have since passed. And as far as chances go..I gave you more chances than anyone ever has in your entire life, and you still threw them all back in my face, viciously might I add. Forgive me if I'm not up to signing onto another round of that from you."

She retorted, before he brought up Tad and her eyes flickered briefly.
"Don't flatter yourself there David. You think Tad would waste a lick of energy on you anymore? Think again."
Suddenly she heard a whimper coming from the nursery. It went away but she knew her twins were getting restless. As was she for this conversation to end.
Stepping aside she let him enter her foyer but no further.
"Alright you wanna talk then talk. You have five minutes before I kick you out."
Dixie said firmly as she crossed her arms, waiting for him to spit it out.

[David Hayward]

"Only five minutes?" he asked shaking his head in the process. "I am here for one simple reason Dixie. Do you really expect me to believe that you are really happy in this Ozzy and Harriet lifestyle, where everything is just picture perfect, and you have your kids, and your friends and family, and yet in the center of it all is you. Do you think anyone stops to think about you, and what you want? I don't think they do, Dixie." he said as he took a step towards her.

"I think that even though you have it all, I think that their is a part of you, that longs for something more exciting, and I know that you wouldn't walk away from your family so easily like you did nine years ago, but I think that what I am fixing to offer you, I think you won't be stupid to pass this up. I am offering you a job, where you will have benefits like your kids college tuition is paid for, more money, and whatever else you want, and I want nothing in return, except for you to say yes"

[Dix C. Martin]

When David went and threw the Ozzy and Harriet comment in her face, tugging at her star Dixie crossed her arms protectively over herself. Holding her ground when he took another step towards her.
"You? Wanting nothing in return? Don't make me laugh."
She said, and took a defiant step towards him before staring right back in his eyes.
"David I'd have to be stupid to take you up on your offer. At least as stupid as you've become to to think I'd take it."
Going over to the playpen she knelt next to it to put some of the twins toys away.
"You know contrary to popular belief, it took a lot to get me to turn away from my family before. I'd nearly lost my life, had lost my daughter, and thanks to you I thought my marriage was lost to me too. I turned to you in a moment of weakness. And became your assistant as a distraction from my life seemingly caving in on me."

Throwing the last toy in the playpen she got up and walked back towards him.
"I've never cared about money. But, even though it's none of your business, Tad and I have enough, for us and certainly for our kids. I already have a job, one I love. And David all I want, is this. My house, my kids, my husband, the life I fought for. You think I need any more excitement, especially the kind you provide?"
Scoffing she shook her head.
"David I know what happens when I get mixed up with you. Mistakes that aren't worth repeating. So I'm sorry but you can give someone else this chance of a lifetime. I'm fresh out of chances for you."

[David Hayward]

"And how many chances has Tad given you? Plenty, Dixie, and how many times have you taken Tad back? More times than I can count, and all I am asking for is for you to give me a chance to be your friend, and for you to come work with me, and you won't even give me a chance?" he asked as he got closer to Dixie. "You my dear, are a hypocrite. Standing there all high and mighty, thinking that you and Tad are better than me, but you aren't. You are not even close to being better than me!" he said as he looked into Dixie's eyes.

"You see, Dixie, I know things. I know something that could rock JR's world if he knew. It would rock everyone's world in Pine Valley." he said as he smiled. "And of course, I will share it with you, even though as you said it, I am fresh out of chances with you." he said in a smartass tone. "My daughter Babe is alive, so is Josh Madden.."

[Dix C. Martin]

"What?! What did you just call me!"
Dixie spat, still bristling at David's remark about her and Tad and chances.
"I think our criminal records would beg to differ."
She retorted. Sure she was toeing that line a little given what happened in 2006, but David didn't know what happened back then and would never ever know.
Then though she saw that look, that dastardly little gleam in his eyes and felt a chill go down her spine. God she hated that look, he did know something. At her son's name though her eyes went cold.
"David if you so much as breathe in J.R's world, you'll be sorry."
She warned, deadly serious about that.
"Wait a minute.no, that..that's impossible..B..Babe had, kidney failure and, left town to..and Josh? Josh's heart is beating in his sister's chest right now!!"
Dixie sputtered. Her head spinning she took a seat at the kitchen table. Then after she let it sink in she looked up at David anxiously.
"Who else knows? Did you tell Erica, Krystal? J.R?"
She asked, getting a smart-ass smirk from David that made her blood boil. Swiftly she got up and stood inches away from him, her eyes flickering.
"I'm warning you David. You do one thing to my son, you taunt him with this news, upset my grandchild, I swear I'll make you pay for it."

[David Hayward]

"I did tell Erica, and Krystal. I am not that monster than you claim me to be Dixie. Erica knows that Josh is alive, and Krystal knows that our daughter is alive as well, but they also know that Babe and Josh are now together." David said as he kept that gleam in his eyes. "But, if you don't want me to as you so well put it, taunt your son, then well you will play by my rules, and I know you too well Dixie. Your son is your pride and joy, and you will do anything to protect him, and yes I mean anything.." he said with that smile that Dixie and others hated.

"You will do as I say, or else JR will learn in a very bad way that the mother of his child is playing tonsil hockey with Josh Madden." David threatened. "So, what's it going to be Dixie?"

[Dix C. Martin]

Her head still spinning as she tried to process everything she was hearing, Dixie's heart fell to the pit of her stomach when she heard David declare Babe and Josh were together, and fell even further when he dared bring up J.R.
"You are a son of a bitch, you know that? Who do you think you are? Coming in my house, giving me orders, making threats!"
She snarled, giving him a questioning look.
"Tell me something David, why the hell do you even want me working for you? I mean if you think so little of me that you'd happily go and turn my world on it's head, what could possibly make you want to hire me? What, was my filing system an art form? Was my phone dialing the best you ever had?"
Scoffing she shook her head.
"You can't be dense enough to think I'd ever get back in bed with you willingly, so what is it? Why go to all this trouble landing a job for a woman who clearly hates you, who you'd just assume destroy?"
Dixie asked, raising an eyebrow as she crossed her arms.
"I'm sorry, I just don't get it."

[David Hayward]

"Who said that I wanted to bed you Dixie?" David asked, as he tilted his head to her. "Once, maybe, but I no longer have the feelings that I had for you Dixie a long time ago, and quite frankly I am glad things turned out the way that they did, and that we didn't end up together, and do you want to know why?" he asked as he crossed his arms, and looked up to her. "Because, you never would have loved me the way that you love Tad, and I do get that, whether you believe me or not, but then again I don't really care Dixie."

He then walked to the front door, and turned to face Dixie once more. "This is far from over Dixie, but I will give you space, because after all, I am not the bad guy that you think that I am.." he said as he opened the door, and then left.

[Dix C. Martin]

Asking 'why' with her eyes, after hearing David's response Dixie let out a slight disbelieving laugh.
"Alright then..thanks for telling me."
She said quizzically.
When he walked out and said he was better than she thought, she frowned at him curiously. He almost seemed sincere, as sincere as he could get anyways. But no way was she gonna get ahead of herself thinking the best of him.
After the door shut Dixie let out a heavy sigh. Though David left peacefully she knew this was just the calm before a storm she was really not up to facing. And even though Tad would need to know what happened, it was a conversation she wasn't keen on having.

Going to the kitchen, reluctantly she stopped short of having a drink, instead opting for peanut brittle and curling up in the nursery with the kids.