Aurora Borealis

In November 2007, Aurora Borealis was the biggest attraction at Large Bar. The Canadian-born drag queen did musical numbers, comedy, hosted the weekly karaoke night, and usually had a talent for getting boys to come up on stage and strip out of their clothes! That night, Aurora performed "Fever" to the crowd, who loved every second. Shawn Marks was definitely entertained by Aurora's act, and made plans to see it again.

Shawn Marks attended the same show by Aurora Borealis the following week, and Aurora couldn't help but notice the handsome Shawn in the audience this time. After the show, Aurora joined Shawn at his table in the darkest corner of the bar, and wanted to know his story. Shawn lies that his name is "Mark" and he just likes good solid entertainment. Aurora is flattered. "Mark" admires how comfortable Aurora is on stage, in her own skin. It took Aurora a lot of time to get that comfortable, Aurora admitted. Aurora had a lot to sort out before realizing that the only way to live life was out loud. "Mark" told Aurora to keep doing what she was doing... and "Mark" would be right there to see it, every time. Aurora makes "Mark" promise to be at her next show.

Shawn Marks worked through lunch at VSI to "add elements" to Leo's scheduled presentations for the week. He hadn't been asked to, and no one knew Shawn was doing so, but Shawn knew the value of the clients that Leo was trying to bring in under the VSI umbrella and wanted to see the company succeed. Shawn's dedication went seemingly unrecognized, which contributed to Shawn's need to get away to some kind of sanctuary. That sanctuary became Aurora Borealis's weekly performances at Large Bar.

Shawn was caught off guard one night, when his sister Rachel Marks found him in the crowd at Large Bar! Rachel was there to collect a payment from her client, Rodney Applewhite, but Rachel couldn't figure out for the life of her why her brother was sitting in a gay bar watching a drag performance. Shawn covered, claiming he was entertaining a VSI client, and since the meeting just ended he couldn't wait to get out of the bar -- since it made him so uncomfortable. Aurora noticed Shawn explaining himself to the pretty woman, and saw Shawn hastily leave with her, leaving Aurora so flustered with jealousy she cut her show short. Aurora wondered if Shawn was bisexual or just a closeted gay man.

Eleanor and Rod had brainstormed a big New Years Eve bash for Large Bar, which Rod was managing and Aurora Borealis was hosting. As all the gays gathered at Large Bar for the New Year festivities, the drinks flowed and true colors emerged. With Redeye closed for New Years Eve, Crystal was able to sneak over to Large Bar, hoping to snag a New Years Kiss from Rod. Shawn Marks showed up at Large Bar as well, to catch Aurora's performance of Auld Lang Syne, minutes before the ball was supposed to drop. Aurora spotted "Mark" (Shawn) in the crowd and followed him outside into the alley behind Large Bar. Snow was gently falling on this New Years Eve night.

Aurora noticed that "Mark" hadn't been to Aurora's last two performances. Aurora admitted to not enjoying to perform as much anymore, when she looks out into the audience and doesn't see "Mark" there. "Mark" opened up about expectations from the people in his life, and how hard it can sometimes be to live up to the expectations everyone has for you. Aurora could definitely identify, explaining that being a famous New York City drag queen didn't quite fit the expectations that Eddie Dawson's mother had for him. They shared a tense moment when Shawn faced a dose of reality, learning Aurora's real name. Feeling closer to Aurora, Shawn admitted that his name wasn't really "Mark," that he was really Shawn Marks. Their walls from the world temporarily torn down, Shawn and Aurora shared a passionate kiss, hot enough to make the snow melt at their feet.

Ever since their New Years kiss, Aurora was dreamily getting her hopes up about something serious developing between her and Shawn. But Shawn, after his close call at being recognized from Large Bar by Christian at Jenna's party, decided to visit Large Bar to tell Aurora he couldn't attend her shows anymore. Shawn arrived during Aurora's strip show while Aurora was trying to recruit participants, and when the spotlight lands on Shawn, he flees! Aurora fears she ruined things with Shawn for good.

Aurora (in everyday clothes as Eddie Dawson) runs into Shawn at The Redeye and Shawn almost didn't recognize "Aurora"! Shawn behaves differently, since Shawn had never met "Eddie," but as they spoke (and after Eddie apologizes for the spotlight attention at Large Bar), Shawn realizes it's Eddie that Shawn is attracted to, not just Aurora. Eddie says that if Shawn can't come to Large anymore, then the two of them should meet for dinner or drinks elsewhere. Shawn agrees, but Henry Von Stadt interrupts, inquiring about Shawn's friend. Shawn scrambles, and lies that Eddie is his personal shopper, making comments to Henry about how Shawn knows nothing about style like "these people" do. Eddie is embarrassed, but goes along with the lie.

Eddie has brunch with his good friend Terrence and shares that he feels like whatever he has with "this man" (not using Shawn's name) will forever be a secret. Terrence wonders if Eddie will be able to live like that, considering how publicly Eddie chooses to live his life. Eddie decides not to call Shawn, to see if Shawn will call him. Several days later, after Shawn spent a night in Jenna's bed, Shawn called Eddie and asked to come over to Eddie's apartment for drinks. Eddie got excited despite himself, and started setting up his tiny apartment for a date while blasting "I Wanna Come Over" on the stereo.

Shawn arrived at Eddie's apartment and they talk over glasses of wine. Eddie is dressed as Eddie and wants to know about Shawn. Initially guarded, Shawn opens up and tells Eddie about his bratty sister that he's stuck living with at the moment, and their parents. Shawn reveals that his mother is a well-known fashionista and his father is a world class con artist, which led to a very rocky childhood up until his parents divorce. Eddie asks if anyone has ever known Shawn was gay, and Shawn refuses to be considered gay or closeted, he just enjoys sex. Shawn makes fun of Eddie's cramped apartment, and Eddie teases back that he doesn't need to overcompensate for anything by having a big expansive home. Shawn promises he doesn't need to overcompensate for anything either, and their flirtation leads them to kiss passionately... until they begin to start taking each other's clothes off!

Aurora Borealis performs her Valentines show at Large Bar and is devastated to not find Shawn in the audience. Aurora felt so close to Shawn at the end of January. Rushing to check his phone after the show, Eddie was crushed not to have even heard from Shawn on Valentines Day. Eddie refused the offer of free drinks from some party boys at Large Bar, and went home, even lighting some candles in the hopes Shawn would surprise him... but Shawn never showed. Eddie stayed on the couch, curled up, listening to "All By Myself" on the stereo on Valentines night.

After a disappointing Valentines Day, Aurora Borealis calls Shawn's office, but intern Thomas answers the call. Aurora tells Thomas to tell Shawn that Aurora called. When Thomas relays the message, Shawn's strange reaction makes Thomas curious.

Shawn Marks leaves his office for the day, but Thomas wants to stay to get a jump on the Sapphyre project. Late at night, Jenna calls, wanting to speak to Shawn. Thomas tells his big sister that Shawn isn't there, but Jenna orders him to stop lying, she knows that Shawn is working late at the office tonight. Thomas doesn't want to get Shawn in trouble, so he says he is probably at a dinner meeting, but he left the office hours ago. Thomas apologizes if there were any misunderstandings, but secretly takes great pleasure in the notion that Shawn is lying to Jenna. Jenna is embarrassed to look as though she's being lied to in front of her rival half-brother. Jenna then tries Shawn's cell phone, but Shawn doesn't answer. That's because Shawn is at Aurora's apartment, trying to make up for Valentines Day! Eddie didn't want to show Shawn how upset he was over Valentines Day for fear of scaring Shawn away completely, so Eddie just gave in and slept with Shawn again, hoping to show Shawn how he strongly he feels about him.

Jenna, overwrought with suspicion, breaks into Shawn & Rachel's apartment with spare key that is usually left under the mat, and heads to Shawn's room. Rummaging through his datebook she finds nothing. Jenna decides to check his laundry, and is taken aback to find lipstick on Shawn's collar in his laundry. "A hideous shade I wouldn't be caught dead wearing... Couldn't he have at least slept with a woman that had some taste?!" Jenna is disgusted. Replacing the laundry as she found it, Jenna storms out. Jenna then visits Shawn in his office. Jenna accuses Shawn of lying that Rachel was his sister and accuses Rachel of being his live-in girlfriend, swearing Rachel looks like the kind of "slut" that a man would cheat with. Shawn is shocked at the overreaction and verifies that Rachel really is his sister and isn't sure where all this is coming from. Jenna explains about finding the lipstick on his collar and wants to confirm that even if she's not the only one in Shawn's life, that she is at least his "Number one". Shawn reaffirms commitment and that Jenna turns him on completely. Especially when she's jealous... Jenna is won over by Shawn's declarations and they end up have sex on Shawn's desk!

Large Bar's new hire Dominic and Aurora developed a tentative friendship, as Dominic played it as though he was intimidated to be living in a big city where the gay scene was so "in your face". Aurora offered to show Dominic the ropes, and Dominic revealed that the only way he could liven up the gay scene in all the small towns that he's lived in was with the aid of some designer drugs. Aurora expressed curiosity about the drugs effects, and Dominic assured Aurora that they were safe and very effective. After a successful test run of Dom's designer drugs, Aurora decided that Dominic and he could party together on a regular basis. With Aurora's being exposed to a new carefree partying lifestyle, Aurora tried to be hands-off when it came to Shawn, deciding Shawn wasn't healthy for him. After two unanswered phone calls, Shawn stopped in briefly to see Aurora, and Aurora, high on some of the drugs, told Shawn he never wanted to see him again. The confrontation caught Dominic's eye... and so did handsome Shawn.

Dominic tells Aurora that the prices of his pills are going to go up. Aurora immediately gets angry, accusing Dominic of trying to get him hooked on the drugs through their friendship. Aurora insists he won't buy into that extortion ploy and swears he isn't addicted and doesn't need the drugs. Attempting to go cold turkey, Aurora experiences withdrawals and appears to be coming down with a flu.

At Aurora's karaoke show at Large Bar, Aurora has to dismiss himself early as host because of the withdrawal symptoms. Rod takes over as host and Christian convinces him to perform a song to liven up the night. Aurora, meanwhile, needs to get money together for the drugs, unable to go cold turkey. Aurora notices a drunk patron in the crowd at Large Bar and offers to get him a cab. Once he hailed the cab, Aurora takes out the drunk's wallet to tell the cab driver the man's address, but ends up taking the man's cash too. Aurora sends the drunk off in the cab, dumps the drunk's wallet in the Large Bar lost and found, and goes back to Dominic to buy the pills. Dominic has an attack of conscience and almost doesn't want to sell to Aurora anymore. Convincing himself that Aurora may be forced to go score drugs from someone else on the street, someone not concerned with his welfare, Dominic sells to Aurora to keep him close.

Aurora gets loopy on the latest pills Dom sold him and Dominic takes Aurora back to Aurora's apartment where a high Aurora admits to missing Shawn. Dominic tries to convince Aurora to stop taking the drugs, stop trying to escape his loneliness and sadness with the pills, and Aurora passes out. Dominic feels responsible for what's become of Aurora.

At the "Angels in America" dress rehearsal, Aurora makes a scene and breaks down. The dress rehearsal is postponed and Terrence and Christian privately tell Aurora he is suspended from the show. Aurora is devastated, feeling as if everyone is abandoning him, taking everything away from him, feeling more lost and alone than ever. Terrence and Christian insist that they love him as a dear friend and want to help, but Aurora needs to take a step back from the life he has right now in order to gain perspective on his choices. Aurora storms off and goes home, and accidentally overdoses on the drugs. Meanwhile, Dominic gets his hands on Shawn's phone number and alerts him to what shape Aurora has been in. Shawn can't help but feel responsible, and goes to visit Aurora's apartment to find Aurora on his living room floor after the overdose.

Shawn takes Aurora to the hospital and leaves him on a gurney in the Emergency Room, sneaking away so as not to be seen. Dr. Julia Lawless treats Aurora and ends up saving his life. Unsure of who to notify, and feeling sympathetic to Aurora, Julia finds "Mom" in Aurora's cell phone and calls her, to tell her of Eddie's condition.

Aurora regains consciousness and finds himself on suicide watch at the hospital. Dominic is waiting by Aurora's bedside and apologizes for contributing to where Aurora has ended up. Aurora decides to try to get off the drugs. He doesn't want to keep playing with his own life like this. Dominic is glad to hear it. Aurora asks how he got to the hospital, and Dom assumes Shawn brought him in, since Dominic told Shawn that Aurora could really use him. Aurora is buoyed to know Shawn saved him and wants to see him again to thank him.

Fiona notices a jittery Dominic visited Aurora in the hospital, and Fiona wonders if Dom gave Aurora the drugs. Putting two and two together and connecting Leo to Dominic and Aurora's possible connection, Fiona then wonders if VSI is really a drug trafficking front company!

Dominic stops by Shawn's office at VSI to thank him for saving Aurora. Shawn tells Dominic that no one can know of Shawn and Aurora's connection, so Dominic must stop visiting him about Aurora. Dom tells Shawn that Aurora needs him, more than Shawn has given him so far, and that Shawn owes it to Aurora to make sure that Aurora is okay.

Shawn goes back to the hospital and signs in as "Mark" to visit Aurora. Aurora wakes up at Shawn's arrival. Aurora insists he owes Shawn a thanks -- and an apology. Shawn's confused. Aurora claims to be a fraud. All that confidence, all that bravado, all that self-assuredness... it's all part of the show, part of the character. Eddie is lonely, insecure, a little desperate, and hopelessly in love with Shawn. Shawn is surprised and admits he hasn't been deserving of Eddie's love. Eddie reveals that he grew up watching his mother live her life alone, a single mother, Eddie never knew his father, and Eddie always felt that love was revealing a secret side of yourself to that one special person. Eddie feels like Shawn has let him see a side of him that no one else knows. Eddie doesn't understand why Shawn seems so resistant to true happiness. Shawn reveals how challenging it's been as a black man in the corporate world, all he's had to do to get to where he is, how frustrating to know he can do Leo Von Stadt's job better than Leo can. To be openly gay would still have him in the mailroom. Eddie doesn't understand why Shawn wants to be a part of a world he believes doesn't want him. Shawn doesn't understand why he should give up on the career of his dreams, that he's so good at, because of whoever he sleeps with. Eddie sees his point, but still thinks they could find ways to make it work. Eddie doesn't want the drugs to fill the emptiness where Shawn used to be... where Shawn is supposed to be. Eddie wants Shawn. Shawn kisses Eddie, promising they can work it out, but not if Eddie wants to kill himself with drugs.

Eddie is surprised by his next visitor... his mother Edina!

"I can't believe you came," Eddie said, bewildered at the sight of his mother after years apart with no contact. "I almost didn't come, when they called me," Edina (Ilene Kristen) admitted, sitting at Eddie's bedside, getting lost in the machines in Eddie's room, the I.V. drip, the chart at the side of his bed... "I was mad," Edina continued, "I figured this was the life you chose when you left us to come to New York. I figured you wanted the crossdresser performances and the drinking and the partying and the sex and the drugs and everything this city had to offer. And if that's what you wanted, then that's sure as hell what you got. All I ever did was try to love you and give you a good life. I didn't have much, I couldn't give you the father that you wanted. I couldn't send you to that performing arts school you wanted to go to. When the whole drag thing came up, I didn't know what to do. So I let you go. And I tried to stop thinking about you. Tried to convince myself that Eddie... my little boy... was gone. All that was left was Aurora freakin' Borealis. But no matter what, I couldn't get myself to believe it. I figured you'd come back. But days turned into weeks, turned into months, turned into years. And you never looked back. So for me to get this call... that you nearly killed yourself with some hot-to-trot illegal designer pills... What am I to do? You turned your back on me, didn't want my love or support. I tried my best. And my grandmother's voice kept echoing in my head. You remember how she always seems to guide me? She kept telling me, "your son almost died... and there's a reason he didn't..." so I knew then that I had to come. I had to make sure my little boy was okay."

Eddie is released from the hospital and invites his mother to lunch at The Redeye. Eddie wants his mother to stay in New York. Edina seems uncomfortable with the idea. Eddie insists she think about it. Shawn and Jenna sit at a nearby table, and don't see Eddie or Edina. Eddie does, however, see Shawn with Jenna, and notices Shawn being physical with her. Like a knife through his heart, Eddie can't help but have a reaction. Edina can't help but notice. Inquiring about who the man is, Edina is stonewalled; Eddie doesn't want to talk about it. Edina speculates that Shawn is the man that drove Edie to drugs and she wants to march over and give Shawn a piece of her mind! Eddie begs her not to, the situation is more complicated than that, and only Eddie drove Eddie to drugs. Edina soon realizes Jenna is with Shawn and it makes Edina unexpectedly nervous.

Edina suggests they leave The Redeye for Eddie's apartment. On their way out, Jenna and Shawn spot them. Shawn didn't know Eddie was released from the hospital, and Jenna is so wrapped up in seeing Edina and wondering who the young man was that was with her, that she doesn't notice Shawn's reaction. Shawn is curious as to what Jenna's interest in the woman is. "She's my father's second wife," Jenna bitterly informs him, and Shawn becomes instantly nervous that this new mysterious woman somehow links Aurora to Jenna.

The Baldwin clan (plus Edina, plus Shawn) gathered for a meal at The Redeye, where Thomas's toast to his parents nearly made Jenna's eyes roll all the way to the next table. Despite sour Jenna and indifferent James, Edina was happy to be dining with "her boys" Theodore and Thomas. Shawn excuses himself to the restroom and Jenna does too, catching Shawn before he got to his destination and demanding he help her rid her father of "that overbleached wench" Edina. Back at the table, Edina was sharing a laugh with her boys, until she was stunned to be interrupted by a confused Eddie. "Hey," Eddie interrupts, "Care to introduce me to your friends?" The Baldwin men are curious that Edina knows anyone else in Manhattan and introduce themselves by first name. "And you are?" Theodore inquires. "I'm Edina's son... Eddie," he informs them, while his mother gets that "dear in the headlights" look and Thomas's jaw drops to the floor, confused at how it's at all possible.

"Her son?!" Thomas looks to his mother, not really able to process this information. Edina is rendered speechless, looking back and forth, from Eddie, to Thomas, to Theodore, back to Eddie. All three men expecting some kind of explanation, but only receiving the tearful stares of a woman they all thought they knew. "Edina, what's going on?" Theodore places a comforting hand on Edina's shoulder, seeing she's having a rough time. Edina grabs Theodore's hand with her own tightly, taking what may be the last bit of comfort he ever offers her when he hears the truth. "Mother, what's happening? Why are you answering to these men?" Eddie asks his mother. "I have something very important to say," Edina mutters, after clearing the lump from her throat, "I've lied to all of you." As the three men still wait for their answers, Jenna and Shawn return to the table to find the very tense scene. Eddie locks eyes with Shawn, and realizes he and his "other woman" were occupying the two empty seats at the table.

Why are these men so shocked that you have a son?" Eddie asked plainly, not getting what the big deal was, why it seemed like their opinion mattered to her so much. "Because I never told them," Edina admitted, her head hanging low and not looking at anyone in the eye. "Eddie," Edina took a deep breath, "Thomas... he's your brother. And Theodore, he's... he's my ex-husband... and your father." Edina exhaled a sentence so simple, but one that took over 30 years to utter. "What? How? Why would you keep something like this from us?" Thomas was outraged, feeling like one of the few things he could count on all his life suddenly wasn't so dependable. Eddie was transfixed by Thomas, realizing that someone else, this young stranger, was entirely invested in this woman as his mother. Eddie was amazed that he and Shawn weren't the only ones at the table who lived two lives. "You don't understand," Edina said... Edina revealed she met Theodore in 1974, when Theodore was travelling, getting his graduate school education. They met in Canada on Theodore's spring break, and surprisingly fell in love. Edina was younger, infatuated with this educated, tender man. But she knew he was married with children (7 year old Jenna and 1 year old James) and despite his marital problems, loved his wife and wanted his marriage to work. Edina knew their time together would be brief, but they did make love, and Edina never told Theodore she was pregnant, not wanting to complicate his life or ruin his marriage. Years passed, Theodore kept in touch, and Edina kept him informed on her life, but said nothing of their son, Eddie. In the summer of 1979, when Eddie was 5, Edina was coming to New York for a conference and didn't plan to tell Theodore she was coming... but she ran into him at a bar. Theodore had just learned his wife Veronica was dying, from Hodgkins Disease. Theodore was devastated, that much was obvious to Edina. Edina tried to console him, but one thing led to another, and they spent a night together. Edina ordered Theodore to forget her and return to his wife, help her fight the Hodgkins. But within a year, Veronica had died... and Edina gave birth to a daughter, Didi. "Well aren't you just a fertile Myrtle!!!" Jenna shouted, outraged to learn in mere minutes that she now has TWO new half-siblings and TWO more obstacles to her ultimate goal, her inheritance. "Shut. Up. Jenna." Theodore said sternly and simply. And Jenna did, having never heard that chilling tone from her father before a day in her life. Thomas is speechless to know he has two full siblings he never knew about. Eddie had been watching Theodore, until Theodore started studying Eddie's face and Eddie couldn't put his eyes anywhere comfortably. Edina continued her story, explaining that it was 1986 when Edina could finally face Theodore. She left Eddie and Didi with her sister Trina, and went to New York to tell Theodore the truth about their children, but she couldn't. Too much time had passed. Theodore would never forgive her, he'd never look at her the same way. Theodore offered her a fresh start, Veronica had been gone for years, Jenna and James had left for school and their own lives, and selfishly, Edina took that fresh start. Theodore was free to be completely hers. It was the easiest... and the hardest... thing she had ever done. Edina stayed in New York, Trina agreed to take care of Eddie and Didi, and Edina was pregnant again, this time with Thomas. Raising a child with Theodore was heavenly... until Didi started having her problems at school back in Canada, and Edina's highwire balancing act between her two lives became too much for her to bear. She realized she couldn't be a half of a person in her own life, and felt that Thomas was young but still mature enough to be on his own with his father. Edina knew Theodore would raise Thomas well. Shawn is hit hard by Edina's talk of her dual life and being a half a person, but Shawn is an expert at not showing it. Edina continued, she returned to Canada and Eddie and Didi, and tried to be there for them 100%, but Edina always felt there was a... disconnection between them because of her years away. Eddie is emotional, and at this point can't hide it any longer. Eyes welling up with tears, Eddie dashes out of the restaurant and Edina shouts after him, but realizes she needs to let him go. For now. The table sits in silence. Shawn gets up to excuse himself, sure that the Baldwins have a lot to discuss. Jenna's mind is racing too much to think to stop Shawn, and Shawn leaves.

Eddie couldn't handle his overwhelming emotions and ran to Large Bar, where he finds Dominic. Dominic can tell something's wrong with Eddie, but Eddie doesn't want to discuss it. Dom wants to help, but Eddie quickly snaps at him, but then pulls back and approaches Dominic more softly, telling him if he wants to help... he can sell him some of the pills. Dominic refuses, and Eddie gets angry and calls Dominic worthless, and threatens him, telling him if he doesn't want to sell then Eddie might as well call the cops on him. Dominic calls Eddie's bluff, willing to face the wrath of the cops, but Dom refuses to put Eddie back in the hospital with those drugs. Eddie, disappointed in his quick backslide about wanting the drugs, breaks down. Dominic offers to call someone for him, but Eddie screams for Dom to just leave him alone, and Eddie swipes a group of freshly-washed glasses off the bar, shattering them. Dom realizes how much Eddie is suffering, but goes to get some materials to clean up the broken glass, and runs into Ford, who was eavesdropping.

Theodore, Thomas, and Jenna take Edina home to the Baldwin brownstone in Theodore's car. The ride is silent. Edina asks Thomas to sit down and talk with her. Thomas is cold to her, and heads downstairs to his own space. Rebecca calls him and Thomas answers, unable to hide the emotion in his voice. Rebecca wants to know what's wrong. Thomas tells her that everything he ever thought he knew about his parents was a lie.

Edina heads up to Theodore's room and starts throwing her belongings into a suitcase. Theodore gently but firmly takes her hands from what she's doing and tries to get her to meet his gaze. Edina can't look at him, and tears are rolling down her face. "I've wrecked it! Like I knew! I knew it would all come crashing down! I knew the more I waited the more damage it would do to all of you, to all of us!" Theodore quietly took her into his arms. "It's going to be alright," Theodore assured her, "The truth is out now. Everyone knows everything. Now is the time to put all these pieces together. And we can all be whole again." Edina is breathless at Theodore's suggestion... amazed that he wasn't through with her at all... he was still there, willing to fight for their life together.

Shawn finds Eddie at Large Bar and sees Dominic cleaning up the broken glass, obvious that Eddie had an emotional outburst. Eddie agrees to let Shawn take him home. At Eddie's apartment, Eddie breaks down about his past being ripped out from under him. Eddie confesses he thought his mother never even knew who his father was. Eddie thought she was too ashamed about being promiscuous or even if it wasn't her choice to sleep with the man and get pregnant. Eddie had all these ugly ideas about how he was conceived, but it turns out he was born from love and a modern day star-crossed lovers story, and that his father is actually a sweet old man who obviously loves his children. Eddie sees his mother even built a life with the man for years, had another child with him, and STILL excluded Eddie from knowing his father. Shawn tried to defend Edina's choices, certain that Eddie wasn't seeing the difficult position Edina was in, but Eddie fired back, "The difficult position my mother put HERSELF in! HER lies! HER choices! She created that hell for me, and for Didi and for herself. She decided to keep those two lives separate and leave us hungry for a father... for a mother! What the hell kind of person does that to children she claims to love?!"

Shawn didn't know what to tell Eddie. Eddie didn't want Shawn's comfort. Eddie swore Shawn is just as bad as Edina, telling lies, keeping secrets, dividing his life into pieces tucked away in little drawers, afraid of anyone knowing who he really, truly, completely is. Eddie said Shawn is just as much a coward as his mother is. Eddie tells him to go give his new sister Jenna Baldwin a shoulder to cry on. Shawn decides they will talk more when Eddie calms down. Right now he obviously doesn't want to be helped.

Eddie recounts to Terrence and Christian the story of learning the truth about his family, and Christian is envious. Christian wishes that a father and some siblings would drop out of the sky one day, some new people to get to know, find things in common with, compare notes with about their differences. "You want mine?" Eddie jokes. Eddie admits it almost drove him back to drugs, but luckily, his dealer refused to sell to him. Eddie neglects to mention his dealer is Christian's foster brother Dominic. Christian and Terrence are relieved, and proud that Eddie faced the demon and ultimately didn't slip in his recovery from his addiction. They want to know if Eddie is going to make an effort to get to know his new family. Eddie finds it odd... It was always so easy to be "out and proud" in New York, he never had to care what people thought of him here, there were no expectations or pre-conceived notions about him. But now... Eddie's afraid for his new family to learn he's gay... and especially that he's a drag queen. Eddie knows it shouldn't matter, and if they don't understand then he'll know whether it's worth knowing his new family or not. But as much as he knows in his head... his heart is afraid for what the Baldwins will think of him.

Eddie is home in his small messy apartment and drowning his sorrows in a tub of Rocky Road ice cream while the song "Iris" from The Goo Goo Dolls plays on the stereo system. Apparently Eddie had stopped in mid-transition from Aurora to Eddie because he's still got smeared lipstick on his mouth and a feather boa around his neck, but doesn't have his "Aurora" wig on, or any "Aurora" clothes. Using his ice cream spoon as a microphone, Eddie climbs all over his couch, lip-synching the chorus to "Iris" when there's a knock at the door. It's Thomas Baldwin, but the music is blaring, and Thomas hears it through the door. Knocking louder until Eddie hears it over the stereo, Eddie dismounts the couch and delicately traipses across the room and swings the door open, not expecting his new little brother to be on the other side of the door to witness the self-pitying solo performance, not to mention the remains of "Aurora Borealis" all over Eddie!

Thomas can't help but smile at the scene he just apparently interrupted. "Bad time?" Thomas asked innocently. Eddie, embarrassed and surprised, scrambles to shut off his blasting music and invites Thomas in, and Eddie quickly discards the feather boa behind the couch. Thomas picks it up from the floor and offers it back to his new brother and tells him it's a good color for him. Eddie sits down with Thomas and apologizes... Eddie was still trying to figure out how he was going to go about sharing his identity with his newfound family. Thomas feels he's the one who should apologize... showing up unexpectedly at Eddie's doorstep and trying to force a family bonding moment, while not giving a moment's thought to whether Eddie needed his own amount of time to adjust to the news of his sudden family. Eddie doesn't hold Thomas responsible for any awkwardness. Thomas inquires about the feather boa and the makeup, "Fashion choice? Hobby? Lifestyle?"... Eddie thinks on the answer, "All of the above, I guess," he laughs. Eddie explains that he works as a drag queen, Aurora Borealis. Thomas likes the name Eddie came up with for his character. Eddie is surprised Thomas is so accepting and not "weirded out" by it. "It's New York," Thomas explained, pretty much summing it up. Eddie inquired about how old Thomas was to be so open-minded and mature, and Thomas shared that he just celebrated a birthday. Eddie awkwardly offered his new brother a happy birthday, and Thomas thanked him. Thomas explained that he came over to sort of extend an olive branch, and hoped they could have a good relationship. Eddie appreciated it, and was thrown for a loop when Thomas invited him to their planned Father's Day dinner at the Baldwin home. Thomas said he could even bring the feather boa if he wanted. Eddie accepted the invitation but decided against bringing the feather boa. Eddie asked that Thomas let him tell the rest of the family about himself in his own time, in his own way. Thomas understood and respected Eddie's request.

Edina gave Theodore a photo album for Father's Day, filled with pictures of Eddie and Didi from their early childhood up through high school. Theodore is overwhelmed with emotion, and he and Thomas look through the album. Theodore notes that Didi is very beautiful, but always seems to have a sadness in her eyes. Theodore feels responsible, that she's sad because she never knew him. Edina assures him Didi was sad, but because of her own reasons, not because she ever made it known that she longed for a father. Growing up, Didi was always very accepting of the circumstances that life had given her, and took everything for what it was, refusing to get caught up in what might have been. Theodore notes that Eddie always seemed to keep his hair long. Edina shared that Eddie never liked getting haircuts when he was young. Eddie arrives and Thomas lets him in. Theodore is thrilled that Eddie chose to accept Thomas's invitation. Eddie is embarrassed to see the old pictures that Edina gave to Theodore. Eddie had ordered his mother to burn the photos from that dance class he took, and that photo of a 4 year old Eddie walking in his mother's high heels! Theodore is grateful that Edina captured those moments for him to see, even all these years later.

Jenna arrives late and gives her father a box full of scratch-off lottery tickets as a Father's Day present, claiming it's a token of what brought the family back together. Edina finds the gift tacky. Thomas is furious and privately shares with Eddie that Jenna found the most selfish and self-involved gift she could have possibly given their father... and she most likely used THEODORE'S money to buy the lottery tickets, and probably bought them in order for Theodore to win MORE money that she could use to further herself in the future. Eddie is shocked, but not necessarily surprised by Jenna's nerve. Eddie doesn't believe Thomas's opinion is anything less than an accurate view of his half-sister.

Realizing Thomas invited Eddie over for Father's Day and saw them talking together (most certainly about Jenna!), Jenna views it as Thomas rallying the troops against her! Not about to go down without a fight, Jenna thinks she needs to start cultivating a relationship of her own with her newfound half-brother, before Thomas completely turns him against her! Jenna hopes that she'll be able to find some common ground that can bring them together (if only Jenna knew how common their ground is!).

The Day of Compassion Charity Bachelor Auction gets underway and Eleanor begins her hosting duties to the sold-out event. First, Eleanor recognizes Henry Von Stadt for not only underwriting the entire event, but for donating a staggering $2 million in Terrence Applewhite's name. Terrence joined Eleanor on stage to thank Henry for his generous donation. Terrence makes a speech about the importance of AIDS research. Eleanor then relays that Henry is also going to be matching every final bid, $2 for every $1.

Eleanor explains that the tickets for the Auction were purposely inexpensive so that more of the guests' money could go toward bidding on their crop of bachelors! Eleanor acknowledges that while she can't enforce it, she requests that anyone who has a significant other up for bid NOT bid on them. The purpose is to meet someone you don't know, or don't know very well, and sit down for an evening of open communication, to learn something new. Eleanor reinforces that knowledge is power, and if there was more tolerance and open communication, they could potentially slow, and maybe even stop, the spread of HIV and AIDS. The bachelor auction begins, and the results are shocking! Edina bids on the object of son Eddie's affection, Shawn Marks. Jenna bids on new half-brother Eddie Dawson.

"Do you practice safe sex?" Edina asks with a terrified seriousness. Shawn is so shocked by the question he can't even register whether it offends him or not. Shawn tells her that he does practice safe sex. Edina tells him that she knows Eddie cares about Shawn very much... and given what she knows now about Shawn's lifestyle and his relationship with Jenna, Edina doesn't think it's a very smart thing for Eddie to care so much for Shawn. Shawn can't really disagree with her. Edina also knows that the heart is never known for being a "smart" organ. Edina has lived in a glass house for as long as she can remember, so she doesn't throw stones about peoples' choices in life, but Edina does encourage Shawn to think long and hard about whether he's really pleasing anyone in the situation in which he finds himself. Edina makes no secret of the fact that she finds Shawn deplorable for trying to have his cake and eat it too, and he may even think he's found the perfect system to a fulfilling life... but when he lays his head down to sleep at night, he knows in his heart of hearts that he hasn't lived a truly honest day in his entire life. "Maybe the heart knows more than it lets on, after all," Edina says, leaving him with that thought and abandoning her untouched dinner.

Jenna notices Edina has left Shawn at the table. "Maybe your mom's not into black guys," Jenna speculates. "I doubt that's the reason... some people just aren't intended to get along," Eddie says, though possibly talking about his present situation, not his mother's. Jenna tries to probe Eddie and asks about his type. Eddie sidesteps the small-talk, asking why Jenna really bid on him. "Just want to get to know my new brother!" Jenna gushed, unconvincingly. Jenna's certain there's a way they can all co-exist as one big happy family. Jenna asks what Eddie does for a living, and Eddie scrambles to answer that he's an entertainer. Jenna isn't surprised, New York is just brimming with actors, it seems. Jenna jokes that Shawn likes to role-play with her, if Eddie can catch her meaning... Eddie certainly could, he replied. Eddie asked about the nature of Jenna and Shawn's relationship, wondering if it was love. Jenna's still waiting to hear a satisfactory definition for a word like "Love". Jenna describes her relationship with Shawn as them being the perfect power couple. Driven, Ambitious, Attractive, Successful... all those things only magnified by being together, running parallel through life, straight to the top. Eddie decides that Jenna and Shawn are only using each other to advance professionally... but isn't sure if that makes him feel better or worse about Jenna and Shawn's relationship.

Shawn was back in Aurora's audience for the next performance at Large Bar, and Eddie hoped things were getting back to the way they were in the beginning. Eddie was surprised when Thomas and Rebecca came to support him! Eddie was touched and told Thomas after the performance that he's glad Thomas is with Rebecca (whom he has watched grow up for years while working with her mother Eleanor). Rebecca still can't believe the weird coincidence that her boyfriend and Eddie turned out to be brothers. Spotting his VSI intern Thomas at the bar with Eddie, Shawn slipped out of Large Bar unseen by Thomas. Eddie couldn't help but notice Shawn leave at the site of Thomas, and Eddie wondered if there would ever be a point when everyone could know about the feelings Eddie and Shawn have for each other.