Thanks here is the last part of episode 1. As I am working on the other christmas story I won't be starting episode 2 until after the fesitivities are concluded, and yes I promise the christmas story will be updated frequently I've got to get it done before the big day after all.

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“The truth?” Jackson swallowed nervously, the question was which truth since there were so many floating around at the moment. Yet since the likelihood of Krystle knowing any of his own deep dark secrets or the truth about Jess, her father and her poor mother, that sweet wisp of a girl long gone. Krystle surely meant the other truth…the one about Blake and Alexis. The only question left was exactly how much Krystle did know and how much was she just guessing, coming here hoping to trick him into confirming it.

Krystle could here the nerves in Jackson’s voice. The way his normally deep and soothing tenor voice broke slightly over the word. Even his eyes widened as he glanced about trying to avoid her gaze.

“It’s alright Jackson I know and I’m not angry with you for keeping it from me…I just wish I understood why?”

“But how could you know?” Jackson all but stuttered his handsome face creased in a frown, he had only discovered Alexis and Blake were reconciling because Carrington had appeared at breakfast. So how could Krystle have found out so soon? Unless of course Blake had found the balls to tell her himself, yet somehow Jackson doubted that was true.

“Its amazing the things you learn by accidentally eavesdropping.” Krystle answered softly her blue eyes locking softly on Jackson stunned and worried expression.

“And you are really alright with it?”

Chuckling Krystle admitted. “Well I was a little shocked, it did come out of left field but the important thing in this is the family. As long as my family isn’t hurt by this then how can I object…it only makes it bigger and they do say bigger is better don’t they?”

Shaking his head in amazement Jackson was stunned by the depth of selflessness of this woman. “Carrington is a fool you know.”

Blushing at his blunt praise Krystle brushed it aside. “Blake has his redeeming features. He is a good father, he loves his children…” Krystle added softly pausing as Jackson scoffed. “You don’t really know him Jackson Blake adores Krystina and Fallon has him wrapped finger.”

“But he’s not quite so understanding of his sons now is he?” Jackson retorted and Krystle couldn’t deny that, after all Blake hadn’t had the easiest of relationships with Adam or Steven and heaven knows what had happened between him and this other mysterious son of his but that didn’t mean it was all Blake’s fault.

Sighing Krystle could only shrug, glancing up at Jackson from beneath her eyelashes. “Blake doesn’t like to talk about it but I suspect he had a somewhat difficult relationship with his own father and that affected how he is with his sons.”

“That doesn’t make it right…”

“No but it does make him human.” Krystle countered relieved when the scowl finally vanished from Jackson’s brow.

“Alright you win now can we stop talking about Blake Carrington and his many psychological issues….Come on I have a surprise for you!” Jackson purposefully changed the subject, deliberately ignoring Krystle and her attempt to protest. “Now come on it is a pleasant one…”

“Jackson…” Krystle mock glowered as Jackson smirked at her and held out his hand.

“Pretty please?” Jackson teased fluttering his eyelashes dramatically, smiling in relief when Krystle laughed and took his hand.

“So this surprise…”

“Won’t be one if I tell you!” Jackson insisted leading Krystle down from his office and across the yard into the new stable block where the muted sounds of horses neighing and rustling their bedding soothed them both.

Coming to a standstill in front of the largest loosebox Jackson waved Krystle forward with a knowing grin, watching with pleasure as her own face lit up.

“She had the foal!”

“Yes I came down this morning to find our new arrival waiting for me.” Jackson replied moving to join Krystle at the stable door, their shoulders brushing as they gazed inside at the suckling foal who still staggered around on unsteady legs. “I saved the honour of naming our newest arrival for you!”

“For me?” Krystle beamed her joy lanced suddenly as echoing through the stable block came a rather familiar sounding laugh, that was accompanied a moment later by a familiar tinkle laugh that Krystle had once heard compared to a sliver of moonlight...or some such nonsense

“Krystle wait…” Yet Krystle ignored Jackson’s plea to wait. Unable to stop herself, it was like she was being pulled towards the other end of the stable block like a fish caught on a hook being slowly pulled towards shore.

In the end she simply stood in the open doorway her eyes providing the proof that her heart had suspected and the truth that she hadn’t dared give voice. There with his arms intimately about Alexis as he helped her lift down the heavy saddle, taking the opportunity to press a loving kiss to her cheek was Blake.

“Blake I told you it’s fine I can manage...” Alexis began her words dying on her lips as she turned in his arms and caught sight of their onlooker for the first time art of her unable to resist needling her former rival. “Well hello Krystle fancy seeing you? Did you need us for anything in particular or did you just come to watch?”

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