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Thanks for the awesome feedback everyone! I really appreciate it. I'm really curious how you all feel about the final scene. I decided on that scene months ago, but it was still difficult to write.

Six Years and Six Months Earlier

"Mom, Nikolas is a wonderful man and he treats me like a queen." Gia pronounced following her mother from her office to the nurses station.

"Oh I don't doubt he treats you like a queen." Florence agreed sounding far less impressed than her daughter. "He's letting you live rent free at his cottage, taking you out every night, showering you with extravagant gifts."

Gia sighed realizing she was in for a grade A Florence Campbell lecture, "And?"

"You may be his queen," Florence agreed regarding her daughter fearfully, "But Gia Campbell is getting lost in the process. Your whole life and identity are wrapped up in his life. What about your plans? Who do you see yourself being in five years? Have you two even talked about how your plan fit into his lifestyle?"

"Your plans." Gia reiterated defiantly. Since about Gia's fourteenth year the Campbell woman had waged an open and times contentious debate over precisely who was driving Gia's plans.

Florence took a calming breath trying to still herself. She and Gia fought far to often and frankly far to viciously. She remembered the tiny girl who'd run into her arms every evening when she picked her up from daycare, the girl who she'd cradled in her arms after the boys called her metal mouth in school. It was ever harder to reconcile the younger daughter who'd adored her with the headstrong, opinionated teenager and subsequent young woman who seemed to reveal in bucking authority and stepping away from every plan Florence thought she'd helped her make. Her mother often mused "God punishes you for your sins by giving you children who walk the same road you once walked." In her earlier years, Florence had thought the saying a empty homily, but she saw too much of herself in Gia and was beginning to believe her mother's saying was tragically apt.

Florence's ambition, as well as a tendency to be drawn to powerful men had left her at twenty-five a single mother raising a small boy. However, Marcus even as a toddler seemed an antithesis to his grandmother's words. Whereas Florence had been impetuous and emotional, Marcus was almost militaristic and taciturn in his approach to life. Other children thoughtlessly knocked down Lincoln logs, Marcus ,when finished playing, would neatly return each log to the container. When he was eight years old he used his allowance to buy a desk calendar so as to neatly log his assignments and appointments. Each morning he'd awaken and promptly make the bed. He had a ramrod straight posture which perhaps portended other tendencies. By age eight he had announced that he intended to become a police officer and never wavered from the conviction. For all his wonderful qualities, Marcus had little of Florence in his makeup. Gia once half seriously said Marcus must have been the product of a hospital switcher, his real parents a Marine Corps officer and an African American Rabbi, because only those two types could have produced a Marcus Taggert.

A few years later, after she'd made what she quickly realized was a second bad marriage, Florence had given birth to a tiny girl. It had not taken long to see herself in the girl. Gia was bright but impatient. She rushed at life in an reckless fashion, that Florence remembered all to well as mirroring her own approach. Gia's willfulness and her 'my way or the highway' attitude proved her mother's words all to true. Florence felt that her sins were being revisited on her early in her middle age. As Gia had aged the problems had only grown more acute. Gia was smart, but academically lazy. She'd leave her books in her locker, and had never spent more than an hour on any assignment. At every parent-teacher conference she heard a variation on the same theme, "Gia is bright, but unmotivated" "Her intelligence does not match her effort." Despite all that she'd still won the scholarship to Harvard.

Her scholarship seemed a great gift that Gia was tossing aside and for what a young man who had a lot of money, yet who possessed no real sense of himself or his role in life, and whom Florence believed would suck Gia into his personal morass. Florence had let two men cocoon her into such a vortex's and she felt helpless watching her daughter make the same mistakes. Still, she bit back an angry retort saying only, "Gia you made those plans. Did I approve, yes. Was I happy that you were thinking about a career, of course. But do not try and offload your indecision on me." She said firmly. "Go or don't go to Harvard that's up to you. But don't expect me to cheer your relationship with Nikolas." Florence said decidedly. "Now if you excuse me I have work to do, I don't want GH firing me before the ink on my contract is dry."

"Fine," Gia said falling out of step.

Florence walked onward feeling the pangs that always lingered after battles with Gia. She chided herself, really she was only trying to make Gia face honestly a truth she had taken to long to recognize; that it was easy to allow one's self to become dominated by someone else and harder to force yourself to be the dominant player in your own life. Still, Gia was her own person and had to make her own mistakes and grow and learn in becoming her own person. The balancing act of raising a child, and letting them make their own mistakes was trickier than she'd anticipated.

Pushing the argument from her mind, Florence tried to refocus on the tasks of the day. There were no less than ten things she needed to do before she could even consider going home. She needed a budget report from cardiology, she had a meeting scheduled with the policy committee to discuss GH's shockingly out of date sexual harassment policy, and there were no less than 20 letters which needed to be read and which would require a response of some type. It would be yet another long night, and if she got home in time for Lost it would be a minor miracle.

Never less, keeping busy bested another long night in a to quiet apartment. She'd reconciled herself to the children growing up and being on their own ,but she'd not yet adjusted to living alone. She missed Gia's booming music and dramatic fits. She missed to the day to day routines of motherhood. The severing of that daily role had left her with too much time, an excess of energy, and hours that she could not quite manage to fill despite her efforts.

Shaking her head she hurried toward the elevator. Work really was the best way to ward off feelings, she decided. Stepping into the shaft, she vaguely noticed a shadow, but did not turn around, instead she simply pushed the fourth floor button. The elevator began to rise, but she heard a sputtering sound, and the machinery seemed to groan to a slow, shuddering stop. "Great!" Florence exclaimed hitting the emergency button. If the maintenance department acted in their usual prompt fashion, she could easily expect to be out of this prison in 40 minutes. "Perfect," She muttered to herself irritably, "Just perfect."

"Do you want an apple?" A voice inquired.

Florence turned quickly around and saw a blonde bearded man sitting on the floor. "Did you fall?" She asked him.

"Me?" He said touching his hand to his chest. "No, I sat down when the elevator stopped." He replied to her question as if his answer was a simple truth anyone should have predicted. As if people's natural response to an elevator mishap was to take a seat and pull out an apple.

"Why?" She asked mystified.

"Well I've been in court all day trying to protect this ungrateful town, and I didn't see a couch or chair so the floor seemed okay." He shrugged as if this too made absolute sense. "So do you want some apple? I have a spare one in my other pocket."

She looked down at him feeling utterly confused, "You carry spare apples?" She felt rather like Alice sitting down to tea with the Mad Hatter.

He nodded smiling, "I actually got the idea from Emily."

"Emily Quartermaine?" Florence asked sounding puzzled.

"Yeah, I was talking to her one time, and right in the middle of the conversation she asked me if I wanted a piece of chocolate." Florence nodded far to flabbergasted to say anything. "And of course I said yes, because I do like chocolate. Anyway, she told me she keeps some in her purse in case she gets a craving. Now I do like chocolate, but I love apples. So ever since I put a few in my pocket before I leave the house. I find it really hit's the spot."

Florence looked at the man oddly. "What were you doing in court?"

"I'm the DA."

"The district attorney," Florence repeated disbelievingly.

His grin spread and he looked altogether pleased. "That's me."

"That somehow tells me a great deal about this town." Florence said drawing her arms together.

"You new here?"

She nodded, "I'm new the hospital administrator."

He snapped his fingers pointing one in a gun like fashion at her, "Gia's mom!"

"You know my daughter," Florence asked sounding concerned. "Was she arrested?"

"Oh no, nothing like that." He said quickly in a surprisingly reassuring fashion. "I met her on the island when we were all fighting Helena."

"You are part of that group?" Florence sighed thinking that somehow seemed right.

"Yeah. Gia's a great girl. You should be proud."

Florence smiled oddly pleased by the compliment, "Thank you."

"So," Scott said as if figuring something out. "If you are Gia's mom, that means you are also Taggert's mom."

"Guilty as charged," Florence said sliding down to the floor.

"They are very different." Scott observed seemingly thoughtfully.

"Do you have children?"

"Two," He said. "Serena is 12 years old and apparently knows everything there is to know. She also thinks dear old dad knows absolutely nada."

Florence chuckled remembering Gia at that age. "My daughter was the same." She said companionably. "And the other one."

His face fell, "We lost Karen a little while ago."

"Oh I'm sorry." Florence fumbled for the correct words, finding none available.

"It's alright…I mean its not alright but what do you do?" He looked down.

Florence surprised herself saying, "I'd love an apple." As if an invocation to move the elevator began to move.

"Looks like you've got the magic touch," Scott said forcing himself up with a horrible grimace, and extending his hand to help her to her feet. "Do you like steak?"

"Whaa?" Florence said.

"Steak. Do you like steak?"

"Yes."

"Have a late lunch with me." He said impulsively. "I can tell ya all the juicy gossip about the good folk of Port Charles."

"I have a lot of work to do." She said half heartedly. What had seemed pressing 10-15 minutes ago now seemed less relevant.

"Do it later." He urged grinning.

Florence looked at him for a long moment before saying, "Let me get my purse."

Present time

Pulling his jeep into the parking lot of the assigned meeting place, Scotty lowered his sunglasses and looked at the building before him despairingly. The Blue Note Motel had to be the sleaziest place within a hundred mile radius. Constructed in the 70's it maintained an aura of sleaze and degradation that echoed of key parties and people citing free love to justify sleeping with their best friend's girlfriend. Even during that era he'd wanted to get the hell out of that era. And now here he was back in the 70's via a super sleazy motel on the skiddest skid row in Port Charles. Just the type of place Jones would frequent.

The neon sign alone suggested cheap rates and accompanying cheap sex. The first few years after Laura left he'd sought out more than a few such places. He could have brought Susan Moore and a few others to a place like this a fact that troubled him more the older Serena became. He and Florence were going to have to have a big thick door to keep the young bucks of PC off their girls. Maybe they could dig a moat around the firehouse, put Serena and Lu in some convent.

Focused on the redesign of the house, he was taken aback by the wave of odor that attacked his nostrils when he opened the lobby door. The smell of cheap beer, discarded condoms and bad take out permeated the hall. He shouldn't be surprised really, this dump probably charged by the half hour, or hell by the quarter of an hour. Everything about the Blue Note smelled of cheap, fast, dirty sex. He'd always thought Jones tended toward the pervy side, what with that ridiculous hair and the rocker pretensions, this joint only made him more certain. The guy was a total, utter perv. Walking up to the desk he said, "I'm here to talk to a man about a dog."

The clerk, unshaven and having left bits of his breakfast in his stubble, barely looked up grunting, "Room 201." Before Scotty could move he added, "Elevator's broken."

"Surprise, surprise." Scotty called rolling his eyes. The things he did for this town. They should give him a crown with a big golden scepter. On the second floor stairway he caught sight of a couple grinding against the wall. "Get a room!" Scott bellowed moving past them.

"We rented the hall." The woman replied moaning loudly.

Scotty shook his head and resumed climbing. It really was ridiculous the things he had to do to protect and serve this town, painful too when his trick knee made stairs a bitch to climb. Moving down the hall he tried to avoid huffing from the climb. He really had to stop counting picking up bagels at a shop across from the gym, as visits to the gym.

Moving down the hall he caught sight of the room. He checked the knob and found it open. "Better be careful." He called loudly entering the room. "I saw a Jennifer Aniston movie that started like this…" He said in warning. "Ended up with one guy killing another in a prison. By the way," He said as always comfortable with his own conversation. "Maybe next time you can pick a sleazier place." Scotty commented glancing around the room, and deciding it looked like nothing so much as a setting for a 70's porno. All the place needed was a woman to stroll in and ask, 'Are you here to repair the TV?'

"Don't turn on the TV." Frisco called in warning exiting the bathroom.

"I'm here to fix it."

"What?" Frisco asked emerging from the bathroom.

"Couldn't you find something low cut and slinky?" Scott asked glancing at Frisco in a despairing tone.

"I didn't want to get you too excited." Frisco replied sarcastically. "Anna couldn't make it." He added by way of explanation.

Scotty rolled his eyes, "And you stuck with this place. We could have met a thousand other places."

"If anyone saw me with you they'd know something was up." He replied matter of factly. "I'd have to have some reason to meet with you."

Scotty frowned and looked down at the bed. Deciding it probably contained the remnants of way to many STD's, he remained standing. "Why this little rendezvous?"

"I needed to discuss something with you."

"Shoot."

"Don't tempt me." Frisco urged before saying, "Dara Jenkins is going to handle the Corinthos case."

If Alexis had considered it before she married, and she was 100% certain she had not, moving into a household with a husband, and Big Alice, Zoe with frequent house visits from Brenda had its benefits. She need never worry that Kristina would be alone or lonely. Even better Jason and Zoe were constitutionally light sleepers and never slept past six thirty, which meant Alexis could sleep in with no concern that Kristina would be neglected. As such when she rose at the scandalously late hour of ten a.m. she showered with no haste or concern that someone would feel uncomfortable or dispossessed by her absence.

The previous evening's ceremony, and more especially Jason wore heavily on her mind. Their kiss, both the intensity and the way it felt seared into her being, disturbed her. Being the daughter of a woman who'd literally been killed by passion, Alexis had grown up with a certain fear of intimacy. The last time she'd ignored that fear had come with fearful consequences. And to protect one of those consequences she'd brought Jason into her life. Certainly she found Jason attractive and there were advantages to increased intimacy. There were risks too, concerns his interest was borne more of propinquity and proximity than genuine love and devotion. She thought it altogether best to let things percolate a bit, allowing her time to gain a stronger sense of both their feelings.

Such thoughts weighed heavily on Alexis' mind as she descended the stairs. Nearing the library door she head a voice state, "And of course we couldn't tell Bruce."

Opening the door she head a second plaintive voice hiss in reply, "Skanks!"

Alexis smiled at the small brunette seated cross legged on her sofa, "Good morning to you too."

Brenda looked up and quickly pressed the button silencing the TV. "I'm sorry Alexis," She began apologetically. "These Kardashians are working my last nerve. Team Bruce!" She said before leaping off the couch. Brenda virtually danced toward Alexis announcing in a sing-song voice, "It's your most favorite houseguest."

"My very favorite," Alexis agreed giving Brenda a hug. Glancing around she said, "Where is our husband?" Typically Jason lounged on the couch watching nature programs on Saturday mornings. If they ever got BBC Earth he'd probably never leave the house.

"I sent him on a bagel run." Brenda explained returning to the couch. "I know its nearly lunchtime," She added as if defending herself, "But I'm craving bagels with cream cheese and some good coffee." She said sounding virtually rapturous at the idea. "Vegas has its advantages, good coffee and bagels aren't among them."

"And what does it have?" Alexis asked taking a seat in the overstuffed easy chair opposite the couch.

"Lots of fun and distractions." Brenda said adding, "And a good place to get away and gain some perspective."

"Maybe I should go there." Alexis mused half seriously.

Brenda eyed her for a moment before inquiring, "Jason distractions?"

"Jason, family, life distractions." She answered thoughtfully. "Sometimes they are all to intertwined to know which are distractions and which are the real thing."

"I got here last night." Brenda said pointedly. "That didn't look like a distraction."

Alexis sighed somehow that just felt right. Apparently she could kiss anyone without someone wandering by. Honestly if she and Jason ever had sex they'd probably have to pass out tickets so Carly and Courtney and any number of others could weigh in and provide detailed feedback.

Taking Alexis' silence for an unwillingness to discuss the topic, Brenda offered a comforting smile, "I promise I'm not here to advocate or push you. I just want you both to be happy."

"That makes two of us," Alexis agreed with a certain circumspectness feeling deeply relieved to see her daughter rush in providing her a means of shifting the topic. "Hello you!" She called happily and Kristina climbed up onto Alexis' lap. "Well Brenda," She said continuing to embrace her daughter, "What do you make of our girl?"

Brenda pretended to consider this for a moment before pronouncing, "I think she is about the best almost 3 year old I know."

"I am." Kristina agreed seriously. "Daddy went to get brunch." She added by way of explanation, "It's a meal between…." She looked over expectantly at Brenda.

"Breakfast and lunch." Brenda said, and almost as she said the word, Jason's voice sounded from outside.

"Daddy!" Kristina squealed running out of the room.

"Watch and learn." Alexis advised Brenda, before glancing over at Zoe entering through the opposite door. Zoe, hair bright pink and plastered up in spikes set the tray down adding, "Dark roast, do you want decaf Ms. D?"

"This is fine," Alexis said smiling. "Why don't you wait and grab a bagel for yourself. I think Jason is home."

Zoe shook her head, "I eat what I cook. Anything else is suspect." She responded turning and walking back toward the kitchen, clearly put out and making no attempt to conceal her feelings.

Looking a tad pained, Brenda admitted, "I think I upset her."

"Probably," Alexis agreed pouring some coffee in one cup. "Jason and I have to sneak take out in the house. And we make Alice tell her if we're going out to eat." She shrugged her shoulders as if this was a predictable problem.

Walking in the house Jason habitually dumped his keys on the entry table depositing the box of bagels beside them. He then turned and bent down to tie his shoelaces, when he did he felt a hand at his neck. Snaking his arm around his back, he stood and lumbered toward the library.

"Has anyone seen Krissy?" He called ignoring the giggle at his back.

"No," Alexis answered, acting mystified. "I haven't seen her? Have you seen her Brenda?"

Brenda shook her head, "Haven't seen her in a while."

The giggling continued, and Jason determinedly ignored the sound. "I wonder where Krissy went?" He asked dropping the box of bagels on the coffee table, and swaying back and forth causing Kristina to giggle even more loudly. "Should I check the kitchen?"

"You better." Alexis agreed feigning a serious tone. "I hope Zoe didn't start the dishwasher."

Jason lumbered toward the hall calling, "Krissy, Krissy where are you Krissy?"

"So what brings you back for a visit?" Alexis asked settling back into the cushions of the sofa and propping her feet on the coffee table. She was content with the coffee and wanted to enjoy the first cup, before starting on a bagel.

"Well," Brenda said after taking a sip of her coffee. "It's not exactly a visit." The was a certain hesitation in her words and she wrapped her arm around her leg and pulled it close to her chest.

Alexis arched an eyebrow, "Oh?"

"Luke and I have a little plan."

"Luke?" Alexis repeated disbelievingly. "He hasn't been in town in months."

"I know he dropped by Vegas on his way to wherever." Brenda explained rocking slightly. "We've got an idea of sorts."

"That sounds suitably mysterious." Alexis said studiously considering Brenda's words and watching her with a interested expression.

"Doesn't it?" Brenda agreed smiling mischievously. "Needless to say I'm back home."

"I'm glad." Alexis said reaching for her coffee.

"Me too," Brenda agreed adding, "But don't worry I'm going to find a place. I won't be here for long."

"What are you talking about?" Alexis asked seeming befuddled. "We have plenty of room, and we love having you here."

Brenda smiled, "If you are sure I'm not intruding."

"Absolutely."

"Great," Brenda said impetuously, "I had my bags brought in case." Her smile was equal parts impish and excited.

Her words caused Alexis to laugh easily saying, "Welcome home Brenda."

"Lila! Lila!" Edward roared storming into the library with a flushed face and a clearly agitated manner. "Where is my car?"

Lila inclined her head slightly causing a grinding pop. "What?" She said softly.

Edward purposefully softened his tone. "I merely want to know where my car is? I have very important business to conduct and my car is missing. Where is it?"

"Not here." Reginald said trotting across the room carrying a cup and saucer. Steam curled above the cup dissipating in the air. For as long as anyone could remember each morning at eleven, Lila drank a cup of Earl Grey tea. None of the Quartermaines shared her love for tea so her mid-morning ritual was a solitary routine, perhaps indeed her routine emerged because none of the Quartermaines drank tea. It was the one time of day she was generally assured a measure of privacy.

"Of course it isn't here." Edward replied peevishly. "If it was here I would not be asking where it was." He often believed Lila skilled the servants in offering utterly ridiculous answers to plainly simple questions.

"Lulu has the car." Lila replied eyeing the still steaming teacup placed on the tray beside her.

"Lulu?" Edward said trying to place the name. "Little Lulu Spencer."

"Do you know another Lulu?" Lila questioned sounding slightly puzzled.

Edward frowned asking, "Why does a little girl have my car."

"Please stop making such a racket," Lila requested lightly touching her hand to her head. "She called early this morning and said she wanted to speak to you about some private business. And so I sent the driver to bring her over."

"What private business could I possibly have with a small child?"

"Well I suppose she'll tell you when she arrives." Lila had long believed Edward simply failed to grasp even the simplest of ideas. He seemed incapable of following a path from A to B. She wondered how he'd ever run an office, let alone founded a company.

"Lila I cannot sit here all day waiting for a small child to show up." Edward said in a distinctively huffy tone. As if to justify his tone he added, "I have important business at the club."

Lila scowled, "Edward the only business you have is meeting up with the few members of the club as old as you are, so you can waste hours smoking cigars, playing cards and reliving a youth that was never as interesting as you pretend."

Edward took a seat during her diatribe and now lowered his paper a few inches to eye her while saying, "As you were part of that youth, you might reconsider how interesting it was."

"Oh I have," She agreed slowly extending her arm to grasp the tea cup. As she did hot lava like pain exploded in her arms causing her a sharp intake of breath. "I was the only interesting part," She said virtually gritting her teeth to offset the pain. Edward said nothing, but returned to perusing the paper. Reginald silently entered and lifted the cup to Lila's lips.

"This is the last box." Dillon said entering the gatehouse, carrying a heavy box marked china. He carefully placed it in the den.

"Wonderful, wonderful!" Jane congratulated hurrying in from the kitchen. "I cannot thank you enough for helping me move."

"No problem," Dillon replied looking around him. "Do you have anything else you need help with?"

Jane looked around her at the sea of boxes of all types and sizes, "Not at the moment. " She laughed heartily, " I do love the chaos of moving house. All the packages unopened and full of mystery. Having to arrange and rearrange items. It's all so exciting!" Seeing Dillon's uncomprehending expression, she laughed even harder saying, "My John used to give me the same expression when I'd say that to him. He said the fact the packages were a mystery was only due to my being an old woman with a dotty memory." She smiled at the memory, "He was right I suppose but…" She shook her head, "I still do love unpacking though." She pronounced with a giddy exuberance.

"It looks like you'll have a lot to love." Dillon remarked surveying the boxes.

"Indeed," She agreed walking over and seizing his arm, "Now since you won't let me pay you, I'm in the mood for some cookies and perhaps a mug of coca. Would you like to join me?"

"Sounds good." Dillon agreed following her into the kitchen. It struck him as something of an irony that he'd never ventured beyond the living room of the gatehouse.

The kitchen too was littered with boxes. Each box had a noun written across the side betraying the contents. The number of boxes and the precision of the details on the box betrayed a certain knowledge of moving and packaging for a move. "Have you moved around a lot?"

"My goodness," Jane brayed with a loud hearty laugh. "I should say so. Forgive me," She added. "I was remembering all the times John and I moved from one house to the next, and sometimes not even a house." Smiling she confided, "We were regular vagabonds. Didn't let the dust settle beneath us to long anywhere."

Dillon nodded leaning against the counter, "My mom and I were like that. For a long time I thought the kitchen was always called the pump room."

Jane smiled, "I'd venture you've seen quite a lot of the world."

"Yeah," Dillon nodded in agreement. He added more uncertainly, "Lonely though sometimes. I mean you had your husband and your boys and I had my mom…"

"That doesn't mean it wasn't lonely."

"Yeah."

Remembering boys who admitted any emotions tended not to like to dwell on them,

Jane busied herself putting water in the kettle. "Your grandmother tells me you are the next Scorsese."

"Well," Dillon said dubiously. "My grandmother is a little biased.

"Is she?"

Dillon shrugged, "Maybe not Scorsese, yet. One day." He added hopefully.

Pulling a coca can from the cabinet Jane admitted, "I'm afraid I don't know much about movies." Spooning some coca into two mugs she said, "When John, my husband," She added by way of explanation, "Was alive we were so frequently traveling, and moving about. I'm afraid I am sadly uninformed about movies."

"Emily told me you raised sled dogs in Alaska?"

Jane smiled seemingly remembering that era, "Yes. For a long time I thought John and I would spend the rest of our lives in a tiny cabin with just the dogs and one another for company." She shook her head as if wanting to dispel the memory, "Now though I'm very happy with this new life."

"You sound exactly like my grandmother," Dillon pronounced adding, "When she's lying to us."

"Well good morning I didn't expect to see you here," Florence called greeting Bobbie with a warm smile.

"I could say the same about you." Bobbie said leaning against the nurse's station with a clipboard resting against her thigh.

"Well my children are planning a surprise party for me tonight," She confided good naturedly, "So Scotty and I have to pretend to be busy, so we can pretend to be surprised."

Bobbie chuckled saying cheerfully, "Pretend to be surprised to see me."

"I will do that," Florence agreed easily. "Now what are you doing here on a beautiful Saturday morning?"

"Let's just say I had some ideas banging around my head, and I needed a distraction." Bobbie admitted candidly. "On the plus side though GH has gotten three times my normal workload out of my this morning." She giggled and shrugged to punctuate her sentence.

"Is it anything you need to talk about?"

Bobbie sighed, "I think the less I think or talk about this thing the better I will be."

"Understood," Florence agreed adding, "If you need to talk my door is always open."

"Thanks," Bobbie answered moving to the elevator.

"Oh," Florence said turning quickly around, "When you get some time can you pull the nursing records from Ward Four?"

Bobbie nodded before asking, "Anything wrong?"

"I don't think so," Florence replied hesitantly, "I just want to check some figures."

"Fine," Bobbie replied agreeably. "I'll pull it this afternoon."

"Thanks Bobbie." Florence offered as the elevator door opened.

"Well hello you," Bobbie said as Emily stepped off the elevator. "Is it chemo?"

Emily nodded glumly replying, "Fun times."

Bobbie offered her a smile, "I'll come down in a bit and check on you."

"Thanks," Emily answered stepping off the elevator. "Hello Mrs. Baldwin."

"Are you ever going to call me Florence?"

"Probably not." Florence chuckled softly, as Emily added off handedly, "I tried to call Gia this morning…"

"She's at my house." Florence explained before asking, "Are you and your parents coming tonight."

"My parents for sure, me eh."

"I understand."

Emily smiled, "Tell Scotty I said hello."

"He gets a Scotty, and I get Mrs. Baldwin."

"I've known him since my farming days," Emily offered walking toward the lounge. As a nurse wearing red scrubs passed she called, "Chemo party of one."

"Dr. Bishop," Florence smiled greeting Mary, who'd stopped at the station scrawling notes on a chart before handing it to the charge nurse.

Mary looked up from her chart, "Good morning."

"Busy downstairs?" Florence asked, she found the ER an interesting place to hear about but a distinctly unpleasant location to visit.

Mary chuckled lightly, "Distinctly. I'm on my four admittance and its only 9:30."

"Should make for a busy day."

"You bet," Mary agreed nodding to Florence and then walking toward her office.

A tall man with brownish, blonde hair adorned in jeans and a jean jacket passed Mary while removing his shades. Spotting a figure in the lounge he let out a low whistle,

"Well if it isn't Port Charles' favorite cancer patient." He beckoned cheerfully.

Emily looked up from her paperback retorting, "Well if it isn't the anyone can get diabetes even you poster child."

"And with this grin," He said flashing his teeth and tucking his chin downward. Then as if explaining his expression, "A hopeful sickness smile perfect to encourage donations to the diabetes chapter of any small town."

"Lucas Lorenzo Spencer Jones." Emily said smiling and rising.

"How is my favorite Quartermaine?" Lucas asked wrapping his arms around Emily.

"Cancerous but fine," She said. "You?"

"Sugar level acceptable, but not great." He said easily. "Mind if I sit down for a bit."

"I'd love it." Emily said. "So I haven't seen you in forever."

"I was off visiting Dad." He said with withering disdain and subtle eye roll.

Dropping back into the lounge chair Emily asked, "Anything wrong?"

"Hell yes, he's staying at that damn dude ranch in Texas." Lucas admitted scowling. "That means if I want to visit my father I've got to endure horse rides and cowboy hats."

"Save a horse, ride a cowboy country?"

"Yes mame." Lucas said with a pronounced drawl. "And it was hotter than hell."

"I'm from Arizona."

Lucas laughed, "You left Mel's Diner territory at what 11-12 and moved into the Warbucks mansion. You'd melt in an hour in Arizona now."

Emily nodded, "True. Glad to be home?"

"Let's just say green Port Charles looks sweet." He added half-seriously, "I think the heat melted my brain though."

"You just got back?"

He nodded, "Naturally Mommy dearest scheduled me a blood check five seconds after I stepped off the plane."

Emily laughed, "Tell me about it. My mom spent breakfast hectoring me about not attending my cancer support group. "

"God!" Lucas swore sympathetically. "Nurse Spencer used to drag me to this diabetes play group."

Scowling Emily said, "A diabetes play group?"

"Complete with sugar free snacks." Propping his boot atop the coffee table Lucas asked, "What do you do at a cancer support group."

"Talk about your problems," Emily said dispiritedly. "How you feel about the cancer. I used up all my good stuff in a couple of sessions."

"Wellllll," Lucas said drawing out the word, "That just sounds like a whole lot of fun."

"Oh yeah," Emily agreed sarcasm evident in her words. "Right up there with the yearly dental exam."

"I bet," He said momentarily distracted as Patrick Drake and a nurse walked by. Drake was clearly in full on flirt mode telling the nurse something that made her blush and laugh. Lucas watched them as they passed clearly entranced. Once they were out of earshot he whistled saying in a conversational, "Nice…."

"Really?" Emily said. "I think she needs to go to the gym. Her bottom is…tragic."

Lucas smiled an enigmatic smile that was offsetting, "Noted. Besides takes all kinds."

"Oh," Emily said shaking her head. "I forget how you Spencers are."

"How are we?" Lucas asked interestedly.

"Chase anything, flirt constantly, and drop innuendos at whim."

"Awww we aren't that bad."

"Are you kidding I love it!" She said causing Lucas to throw his head back and laugh heartily.

Courtney saw Jason's sister talking with a boy in the lounge. She thought of stopping by, but she had never really felt comfortable with her. Besides she was running late for her appointment. So she hurried down the hall and knocked on an office door.

"Come in," A voice called from inside.

"Dr. Bishop?" Courtney said uneasily. So far therapy seemed a lot like a weekly visit to the principal's office.

"Good morning Courtney," Mary said flashing her a quick smile before returning her attention to the file laid across her desk.

"Thank you for seeing me." Courtney took a seat in the chair opposite Mary's desk.

Recognizing that Mary was mentally immersed in the file before her, Courtney glanced about curiously. In the months she'd been coming here for therapy she'd gotten familiar with the lay of Mary's office. Courtney idly noticed aside from a single photograph of Bishop with a Marine, the desk remained as impersonal as ever. It seemed slightly ironic that a woman who spent her days interpreting other's thoughts, gave the appearance of possessing the most pure, sterile musings of her own. The same books were arranged in the same exact fashion. In the few months she'd been coming here, Courtney had made mental note of the titles; The Collected Works of Dr. Sidney Gottlieb, Dr. Donald Ewen Cameron and Project MKULTRA: Help or Hindrance, Psychic driving Hoax or Helpful, Depatterning A Means of Helping Patients Move On. During quiet moments she wondered about the names and terms, but generally she tried to focus on the tasks at hand. Toward such aims she announced, "I had a problem last night."

"Your message sounded urgent." Mary noted in the most clinical of fashions. Courtney had come to recognize that Mary's brevity of speech was a determined tactic, intended to force her patients to assume a proactive role in their therapy. She hadn't worked out yet if she liked the concept. She certainly did not feel proactive. Still, she tried her best to follow Mary's schema of therapeutic exchanges.

"Yes," Courtney replied looking down at her nails rubbing them against the fabric of the chair.

"Well," Mary prompted reaching for a pen.

"I saw Jason last night." Courtney heard the scratching of Mary's pen, yet Mary made no comment. Courtney becoming accustomed to the interplay of therapy, recognized Mary would remain silent waiting for her explanation. "He was with his wife at an event." She looked up and saw Mary gazing skeptically at her. "His wife made it clear she doesn't want me to bother them."

"Why do you think she did that?"

Courtney shrugged aimlessly, "I don't know." Even to her own ears, her answer seemed weak and inadequate.

"Don't you?" Mary challenged.

"I guess she blames me for Jason's injury." Courtney offered half heartedly.

Mary nodded, "And is that the only reason?"

"I guess not," Courtney said stretching her legs out slightly. "I guess she doesn't want me around. And really I don't think that's fair. I mean I love Jason. We were supposed to be together. She came in and ruined all our planes." She wanted to cry but fought against it, Dr. Bishop always looked displeased by crying, of emotionalism of any sort.

"She ruined your plans." Mary repeated Courtney's sentence flatly.

"I know what you mean," Courtney stated knowingly. "You think I'm stupid for wanting Jason after so long."

"I don't think you are stupid." Mary replied evenly.

"I do." Courtney said softly.

"Wait a second! Wait a second!" Scotty spat angrily rising off the bed. "I spent years trying to nail that scum, and can't even get him on a parking ticket. Now I've got the chance to really put the slime away and Dara gets it!"

Frisco nodded, "That's about the sum of it."

"Says who? WHO?" He demanded clearly furious.

Frisco watched Scott for a moment before answering, "You know I can't talk about that."

"So this invise…whoever says I gotta step down, and now what I'm supposed to be all oh I won't take the case." He finished his statement in a reedy voice. "Well no sir! I am going to be there in a front row seat to see that slime carted off to Sing Sing in shackles." Darkly he added, "I deserve that much."

"You deserve more." Frisco granted looking out the window. "But the… interested parties are calling the shots."

"I'm the DA."

"We both know that won't matter here." Frisco said habitually reaching for the pack of cigarettes he no longer had. Finding the pocket empty he shook his head in frustration.

"So if I object."

"The case will be dropped."

Scott took a deep breath trying to lower the anger coursing through his veins. "I've waited and waited on this day."

"Then don't corrupt it." Frisco advised glancing over at him. "Dara can carry the ball." He said pointedly. "As long as Sonny's in a cell you'll win."

Scott shook his head uncertainly, "I don't know."

"Yeah you do." Frisco disagreed without changing his expression. "Dara handles the case."

Scotty looked at him, "I just remembered all the reasons I think you and the Bureau are scum."

Frisco chuckled as if surprised by Scott's statement. "You're lucky." He replied tiredly. "You just remembered them, I live with those reasons everyday."

"I cannot believe you are back on this sad train." Gia said irritably as she grabbed one end of the banner to hand to Marcus who was waiting on a ladder. "Every time I see you it's the same refrain."

"Well," Marcus snapped lifting the banner up," When Gia nodded that the height was appropriate he grabbed several pre-cut pieces of duct tape and stuck them on the end of the banner thus affixing them to the wall. "You could TELL ME!"

Gia rolled her eyes saying, "You know you are going to have a stroke, or strain your vocal cords, something."

"Gia you've got to give me a name." He asserted irately. "I want to know who's head to push into the wall."

"You are not pushing anyone into a wall," Gia replied ripping some more tape for the other side. "Not to mention I don't want the father of my baby being involved in some kinky foreplay fantasy of yours."

"Gia Michelle," Marcus reiterated climbing down the ladder and carrying it to the other side of the room. "I need to know who this creep is, I just want to have a conversation with him."

"No," Gia said as she watched him re-climb the ladder. Handing him the other end of the banner she said, "You want to pound his face in."

"Well that too." He said taping the banner to the post. "Tell me who it is!"

"Sisters' who care just say NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!" She sing-sang happily.

Serena came down the steps asking, "What are you fighting about?"

"We're not fighting, honey." Marcus said softly.

"Like hell we're not." Gia retorted angrily. "He's on his usual tirade."

Serna shook her head, "She's not going to tell you."

"She knows!" Marcus said furiously. "Why can a little girl know and not me?"

"We're sisters," Serena said simply. "And I'm 14 and half not a little girl."

"Absolutely," Gia agreed giving Serena a soft smile before glancing over her shoulder and saying spitefully, "And frankly Serena and Lulu are huge improvements over my first sibling."

"Next thing you're going to tell me little Lulu knows."

"Lulu probably even knew before I did," Gia replied candidly.

Serena nodded adding, "Her sources are remarkable."

"How do you think we found out about you and Andy." Gia asked smiling.

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Marcus vowed hotly.

"Serena, " Gia said pointedly. "What's the word for someone so in the closet that they don't even know they are in the closet."

"Marcus." Serena guessed.

"Right." Gia admitted.

Marcus stepped off the ladder, "If I find out who this creep is the things I'm going to do to him, you can't even image."

"Oh I can," Gia said. "I never missed an episode of Queer as Folk. But he's straight so the whole big sexy black cop routine isn't going to work on him. Well," She said a bit confusedly. "Keith is his favorite character on Six Feet Under. So…."

Marcus looked at Gia for a moment and then said, "I'm going to Kelly's to pick up the food." He said lifting his coat and walking out slamming the door behind him.

"I always thought gay people were happy." Gia mused thoughtfully.

Jane smiled warily at Dillon, "Don't tell me you've already figured me out?" She said disappointedly. "I had hoped I was a bit more mysterious than that."

"I've had a lot of practice with my grandmother." Dillon admitted stirring his empty mug causing a clacking sound. "She tells us she's fine and happy, and not in pain." He paused for a moment before adding, "We all know none of that's true."

"And you don't think I'm happy?"

Dillon studied her for a moment contemplating how to answer her question. "When my mom decided to let me live with the family, I was happy I mean I had family a stable life- well as stable as the family can be, I knew I could pursue my filmmaking." He said adding, "But that didn't mean I didn't miss my old life with my mom."

"You are right," Jane replied kindly, "I do miss John and the cabin and the life we had. I am unspeakably sad about that lost life." She admitted looking away as if trying to catch sight of that life, "But I am ready to move on with the next chapter of my life," She said with breezy determination. "At present that seems to be here in Port Charles with Jax and his friends, and my friends here."

Dillon nodded stating a little uncomfortably, "I just wanted you to know if you get depressed or need someone to listen or want to vent or anything that's okay. It's better really than the other."

"You think your grandmother is keeping things from you?" Jane asked reading between the lines of his words.

Dillon nodded, "I think Grandmother wants us to think she's okay and things are okay and we'll all go on. But its not okay," He said his voice quivering a bit. "She hurts and she gets tired and she's fragile." He seemed to be fighting back a sob as he continued, "I know she's old, I understand aging….but…"

"She's your grandmother."

"Yeah." He agreed nodding.

Jane reached across the table and squeezed his hand, "If you're depressed or down or need someone to talk to," She said parroting his words, "I'm here."

"Thanks," Dillon said trying to calm himself. He was glad when the tea whistle shattered the silence and Jane rose to see to the coca.

Alexis was spreading cream cheese on a plain bagel, she looked up when she heard light footsteps coming toward the room. Kristina ran into the library jumping onto the couch beside Brenda. "I fooled Daddy!"

"You did!" Brenda said grinning at Jason. "I love fooling your daddy."

"Daddy doesn't love that so much," Jason retorted taking a seat next to Alexis. Without saying a word Alexis handed him one half of the bagel. He bit into it and began to chew methodically. He wrapped his free arm around Krissy who was resting her head on his chest.

Alexis poured him a cup of coffee. This done she leaned back handing it to him saying, "It's so nice to have the whole family home."

Jason furrowed his brow looking puzzled. Understanding his unspoken question Brenda replied exasperatedly, "She's talking about me!"

"Oh," He said nodding. "Right."

"Don't get lost in the nostalgia." Brenda snapped before adding cheerfully, "I have some great news!" Jason merely regarded her with an unreadable expression. "I'm going to be staying her for good."

"Hmmm." He said maintaining a stony expression.

Brenda smiled, "And I do mean here, here." She said cheekily, "Here with you and Alexis."

"Of course," He agreed matter of factly. "This is your home."

"Huh," Brenda said then shook her head saying dejectedly. "I had five good pot pie and cookie jokes, and you," She said sighing, "You ruin them by being all nice." She sat back against the cushion clearly put out by Jason's demeanor.

Andy followed Taggert into Kelly's. "You shouldn't let Gia get you down."

"She knows how upset I am." Taggert replied angrily. "She knows and she won't give me a damn name. Hey," He said as they stopped at the counter. "Penny, Gia ordered some food and a cake for tonight."

Penny nodded, "It's in the back, just give me a second." She called disappearing into the kitchen.

"I am telling you Andy," Taggert vowed hotly. "I find the guy who did this to my baby sister and I am going to put pain into every part of his body that touched my sister."

"What good is that going to do?" Andy said trying for rationalism. "Look buddy I know what it's like, I've got three sisters of my own. And yeah when they got old enough for guys it was hard. But Gia's a great girl she's got her head on her shoulders. Maybe you need to trust her."

"Oh I trust Gia," Marcus answered explaining, But this creep is going to suffer." As it to prove his poin the pounded his palm against the counter causing the silverware to bounce up and drop back onto the surface with a clanking sound.

Penny entered the room carrying several boxes. "Okay guys!"

"Great," Marcus said taking two boxes and leaving the other two for Andy to lift. "Thanks a million Penny," He said pushing the door open with his hip.

Penny smiled and watched them both walk out, afterwards she glanced down the counter,

"Zander are you okay?" Worriedly she said, "You look….sick."

He opened his mouth and barely squeaked out an answer to her first question, "Noooo."

As he spoke the door open and Scott Baldwin came in looking forlorn. Sidling up to the counter he said, "Chocolate shake. Milky, cold, now."

Penny nodded and walked toward the back. She'd given up trying to explain Kelly's didn't sell shakes. Bobbie always kept a carton of chocolate in the fridge for Scott. There was also a bottle of Scotch hidden in the back of the pantry for Luke, but that was another matter altogether.

After Penny disappeared, Scott glanced down the counter. "Zander?" He declared, "You look like I feel."

"Right." Zander agreed weakly.

Sighing Scott rose and walked toward Zander's end of the counter. "Mind if I sit with you?" Without waiting for an answer, he took the stool next to Zander. "So what bee crawled up your bonnet?"

"Marcus." He choked out nervously.

"Oh right," Scott said amiably. "I saw him stalking down the street." Scotty acknowledged pointedly, "When he gets in Shack mode I try to avoid that big black ball of anger."

Zander wasn't sure how to even begin to respond to that so he opted for, "Right."

"Does he know?" Scott asked making a circling motion with his fingers, and Zander had no idea what that meant so he just shook his head. "That might be for the best. " Scott replied seemingly working through the topic in his head before adding, "He's been pretty off about it for months. Probably working that anger up."

"Do you think he'd…kill someone?" Zander blurted out worriedly.

"Yes." Scott said adding, "Definitely."

"Oh."

Scott reached out and took the frosty glass Penny was extending. "Thanks Penny." He said popping a cherry in his mouth. "They really have the best shakes here. I don't understand why more people don't get them. Anyway," He said working his way back to the topic at hand. "Yes, Marcus would definitely kill people, but you not so much."

Relieving as that sounded Zander pressed, "Why not?"

"The guy's got a temper like you wouldn't believe," Scotty said amiably. "And trust me he's not a ball of laughs to have around the house for the holidays, but family is big to him like Kate Winslet and Leo on the boat big." He said taking a gulp of his milkshake. "When he found out I was marrying his mom, he was a real pain for a bit. I was kind of nervous to tell you the truth that when they asked if anyone objected if he'd read an itemized list. But," Scott added his voice taking on a sunnier tone. "The night before my wedding something happened."

Five Years and 366 Days Before

The sound of the knock caused Florence to look up suddenly.

"Mom?" Marcus voice echoed from behind the apartment door. "Mom?"

"I'm coming," Florence called rising and walking to the door throwing the latch and unlocking the door.

Marcus came in asking before he even stepped over the threshold, "Are you okay?" Gia called me from the docks said you were running over an hour later." Eyeing her uneasily he asked, "What's wrong?"

Florence lifted her arm where she was holding a letter. "From your uncle well both your uncles I suppose."

"Bad news?"

Sighing she handed him the letter. Marcus read it and tossed it on the table. "Nice."

"I know," She admitted sounding exhausted, "I haven't had the best record picking the best guys."

"So." Marcus said posing it as more of a challenge than response.

"You don't like Scott either." She pointed out sitting down on the sofa.

"I don't like anyone who gets too close to you and Gia." He said sitting down beside her. "That's my job."

"Maybe that's what Eugene and Frank are trying to do."

"No," Marcus said tossing the letter on the table. "They are trying to pressure you in the most lame fashion imaginable."

"Maybe they are right." She said quietly looking terribly saddened at the news.

"Do you love Scott?" Marcus asked abruptly.

She glanced up looking confused by his words. "Marcus, you know…."

"Just answer the question." Marcus requested plainly.

"Of course I love him." Florence said empathetically. "I love him very, very much."

Marcus nodded before asking, "Do you think you'll be happy with him?"

"Yes." She said with a smile.

"Do you remember what you told me and Gia, when you told us you were going to marry him." Without waiting for her response he stated, "You told us that from that moment on Scott and Serena were a part of our family. That you expected us to treat Scott with respect and to treat Serena like she was our sister."

"You've both been wonderful with Serena. I'm very grateful."

"But you missed the point," Marcus said taking her hand. "You said they were our family now. And Gia and I behaved exactly as you raised us to do, to accept your decision and behave accordingly."

"I know this has been hard for you." Florence said sounding half-apologetic.

"It hasn't been," Marcus said explaining, "Because Gia and I trust you. If you think marrying Scott is the best then, I think its right. And little Serena she's icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned. The thing is your family accepts this and if the others don't to hell with them."

"Such language," Florence admonished but she was smiling as she said it, and she reached out to touch Marcus' cheek. "I don't know how I managed to raise such a fine son. I love you very much." She said leaning in to hug Marcus.

"I love you too Mom," He said already raising to his feet. "Now let's go to that rehearsal before Gia has a panic attack and drives everyone crazier than usual."

Present Day

"So you see," Scott summarized slurping down the last of his milkshake. "Marcus has a stiff neck, but he's got a good heart."

"I don't think that applies to me though." Zander said uneasily.

"Oh it will." Scott predicted with a surprising conviction. "When your… my grandson or granddaughter is born you'll see."

Zander took a sip of his coffee. "I don't know. I'm not sure how any of that will work out."

Scott put his hand heavily on Zander's shoulder. "You focus on being the best dad you can be, leave that angry cop to Florence and Gia they'll work things out. Now," He said putting three dollar bills on the table. "This whole walk down memory lane has put me in the mood to go see the Mrs." He said pulling a five out of his pocket and placing his mug atop the bill.

Zander looked up, "Thanks Mr. Baldwin." He said offering an appreciative smile, "I'm grateful really."

Scotty buttoned his coat. "Us dad's got to stick together." He said turning and walking away the bell's of the door clanging behind him.

"So," Penny commented in a conspiratorial fashion, "You are Gia's baby daddy."

Zander groaned pleading, "Penny, please keep that between us."

"No one would believe me if I told them." She answered matter of factly. "But you and Gia well that's a bit of a surprise."

"Trust me," He said lifting his cup, "I think Gia and I feel exactly the same."

"I was betting on Lucky being the dad."

Zander looked down into his coffee saying glumly, "I think Gia still is."

　 "Hey big G!" Lucky called entering the fire house.

"You know Lucky, " Gia observed with a certain pique in her tone. "The bigger I get, the less I care for that name." Gia pronounced resting one hand on her hip.

"Too bad," He said fixing her with a toothy grin. Extending his arms he announced, "I've come to assist with all things party planning and anniversary related."

"I thought you had to pick up Emily." Gia said resting her head on his shoulder.

Lucky's grin dimmed. "Lucas is picking her up."

"Your hot cousin!" Gia said excitedly stepping out of his arms.

"He's not hot." Lucky said disgustedly. "He wears that stupid jean jacket, and those stupid sun glasses with his stupid hair and women go gaga like he's the new…" He scowled before admitting vacantly, "I don't know who girls consider hot."

"George Clooney." Gia suggested. "Jason Morgan. You."

"At least you got one out of three." He agreed smiling rakishly.

"Jason?" Serena repeated disbelievingly. "He's old."

"I know," Gia agreed sagely. "But I have a thing for older men." Before she could elaborate on that comment her phone buzzed. She pulled it from her pocket and said, "Yes," She listened silently for a moment before saying, "Ranch, definitely. Okay."

Lucky watched Gia for a moment before asking, "What was that about?"

"Nothing," She answered dismissively.

Lucky was about to pose a follow up question when the door swung open and his Aunt strolled in the doorway "The party assistance foundation is here!" She announced following Lesley through the door. "And we brought support."

"Hello, hello!" Elton cried virtually dancing into the room. "I thought you elves might like a little last minute guidance to make this gala a truly memorable occassion.

Gia walked across the room extending her hand and clasping his, "Always Elton."

"Now," He said seriously. "Do you really think the white doves are too much? Because I still believe they'd be the perfect finale. "

"A bit," Gia said reminding him, "It's only a firehouse so a banner and some crepe streamers are about all we can hope for." She then said, "But let me show you some of the canapés we have in the kitchen."

"Lead the way," He insisted as he and Amy followed Gia down the hall toward the kitchen.

Lucky turned and walked over grabbing a video camera sitting on the end table. "Grandma, since you are here early, can we go ahead and do your interview." Lucky said fiddling with the camera. Seeing Lesley's furrowed eye brow, he explained, "We're getting all the guests to talk a little bit about Scotty and Florence, you know a nice remember when segment."

"Oh," Lesley said touching her hair uneasily.

"You look great." Lucky said flashing a grin.

"You are a charmer like your father," Lesley observed chuckling happily, "But I like that about you."

Lucky grinned and gestured toward the sofa. "Okay," He said turning on the camera. "So tell a little bit about how you met Scott Baldwin."

Lesley laughed shaking her head admitting, "This is going to make me feel very old." More seriously she added by way of narration, "When I came to Port Charles, I met this adorable young boy who was very polite, and had very… distinctive to hair." She said giggling at the memory, "Then a few years later this teenager with shaggy hair wearing a pea coat and a t-shirt started coming to my house to visit Amy and Laura. So," She said warmly. "I guess you could say I've always known Scotty."

"And what do you think about him?"

"Scotty has always been kind and dependable." She said off handly. "Now," She cautioned, "I know if Scott sees this he'll say that I made him sound like a poodle. But Scott's always been the guy you wanted in your corner. He's got a big heart and I'm so glad Florence is taking care of that heart." Looking up she said uncertainly. "Is that okay?"

"Perfect."

"Well its about time!" Edward exclaimed putting down his paper when he heard Reginald opening the door.

"Edward be polite." Lila warned sternly.

"I am always polite. Really Lila," He retorted chiding her. "How you see me."

"How you see yourself," Lila replied quickly.

Reginald entered the room clearing his throat. "Lulu Spencer to you see Mr. Quartermaine."

Lulu strolled in, "Good morning."

"Why hello Lulu," Lila said cheerfully. "Would you like some coca or tea?"

"No thank you."

"Well please have a seat," Lila invited gesturing toward the couch. "Edward and I don't have nearly enough young visitors."

"We have entirely to many visitors of all sorts." Edward bellowed crossly. "Between Alan and the grandchildren this house feels like Penn Station at five o'clock."

"You have to forgive Edward," Lila said absently. "He's a bit grumpy this morning."

"I am a bit grumpy, because I missed a perfectly nice morning at the club."

"Trust me," Lulu said assuredly. "It'll be worth it."

Edward eyed her skeptically. "Well then?" He said in an encouraging fashion.

Lulu smiled saying, "I want to help you get Lucky and Emily together."

"Edward," Lila said turning her head, "Am I to understand that you are meddling in our granddaughter's love life and involving a small child in your schemes"

"Meddling," Edward repeated the word as if mystified to be charged with such behavior. Indeed, he puffed out his chest playing the role of the wronged to the hilt. "I have never done such a thing."

"Was my information, incorrect?" Lulu said crossing one leg over the other.

"What information." Lila questioned uneasily.

"I heard that Dr. Quartermaine and Mr. Quartermaine were discussing Lucky and Emily last night." She said matter of factly.

"Why? How?" Edward sputtered sounding confused.

"I have excellent sources." Lulu said adding by way of information, "Once when I was visiting Uncle Stefan, I was looking for a book to read. He said I could borrow anything he had. I think he thought I'd borrow The Little Prince or something like that. I picked a book on the history of the KGB."

"That's a…." Lila said uncertainly. "Interesting topic."

"Very," Lulu agreed showing no awareness of the irony of Lila's words. "I picked up lots of ideas. I have an entire network of information and intelligence around the greater Port Charles area."

"I see," Lila agreed nodding her head slightly causing an audible pop.

"I figure with the way my contacts are going, I'll either be head of the WSB or take over Sonny's syndicate."

"Ambitious." Edward said approvingly. "If only any of my grandchildren had your drive."

"Edward," Lila scolded disapprovingly.

"I was a little surprised," Lulu said getting to the matter at hand. "That you support Lucky over Nik."

"He didn't mean to be unkind. We all respect Nikolas." Lila said decisively.

"Really?" Lulu said.

"Don't you?" Lila asked increasingly confused by the conversation.

"Well he's my brother and I love him, but he's kind of a dilettante."

"Precisely," Edward commented seemingly warning to the conversation. "He's been handed the privileges and shows no realization of the effort and responsibility of his station."

Lila started to object, but Lulu spoke up quickly, "Oh he's totally right. But that's not what I came to talk about. I want to discuss how we're going to get Lucky and Emily together." She said in such a casual fashion that it clearly had not occurred to her that such a thought was atypical. Lila stared at her in shock, but Edward chuckled delightedly.

"I appreciate the coca," Dillon said walking into the den. "Are you sure I can't do anything else?"

"Spending the day unpacking an old woman's baubles." Jane retorted in a teasing manner. "I do hope you have better things to do than that."

"Well if you need any help, some of us are always home."

Smiling Jane said, "And if you need a friendly ear I have a feeling you can drop by here. It looks like I've several days of unpacking." An abrupt series of five knocks broke the silence. "I wasn't expecting anyone." Jane said noting, "I'm not quite used to having people constantly dropping in."

"Oh you better get used to that."

She opened the door to a young girl who immediately demanded, "Is Dillon here?"

"Right here Maxie." Dillon called.

"Thank goodness you're here!" Maxie replied somewhat breathlessly, rushing past Jane and entering the den. "I've been looking for you everywhere!"

"Why have you been looking for me?" Dillon questioned sounding mystified by her words.

"That's way to complicated to get into right now." Maxie answered hastily asking, "Do you have a passport?"

"Sure." He replied sounding befuddled by her words.

"Great!" Maxie said clapping her hands together. "You need to pack a bag and come with me."

"Why?"

"No time… I'll pay $500 dollars, plus expenses, and take care of the airline ticket."

Dillon rolled his eyes, "I don't need money. I have money."

"Well consider this research for your future career." Maxie suggested boredly.

"What do you want me to do?"

"I need you to help me set up video surveillance of a major mafia meeting."

"SHUT UP!" Dillon cried excitedly. "For real?"

She nodded, "Isn't it cool?"

"This sounds a bit dangerous." Jane warned cautiously.

"Oh it totally is!" Maxie agreed clearly energized by the notion. "I'm feeling very Angeline Jolie right now."

"Am I Brad Pitt?" Dillon asked hopefully.

"You'll be the dorky IT nerd." Maxie said with absolute seriousness.

"Good enough," Dillon agreed adding. "I ust need to pack a bag." Turning back he faced Jane saying, "Ixnay on sharing any of this with the family."

"Your secret is safe with me," She promised adding by way of a condition, "But call me and check in?"

Dillon offered a feigned salute, "Absolutely."

"Let's go, let's go!" Maxie urged quickly. "We've got to catch a plane in an hour." Dillon sprang after her. "Bye!" She called to Jane closing the door behind her.

"This is going to take a bit of getting used to." Jane said flatly.

"Hey," Jason called sticking his head tentatively in the library, "Coast clear?"

"Brenda's out," Alexis answered looking up from her laptop. "She went shopping."

"Shopping," He echoed thoughtfully. "We may not see her for days."

"Funny."

Jason regarded his wife with a stone face, "I wasn't joking."

"You are glad she's here though right?"

"Yeah." He said matter of factly. Cagily he added, "She'll tell you anything about some big plan?" He prounced the word plan disdainfully.

"She did," Alexis confirmed nodding her head.

Jason groaned admitting, "Don't know what to make of that."

"Oh I don't know." Alexis said confidently. "Knowing Brenda its probably something dramatic and fascinating and probably bound to be a gigantic success…"

"Or a huge mess." Jason said scrubbing his eyes with his hand.

"Well," Alexis said airily. "At least we'll have our own little mystery while we try to figure it out."

"Right up there with…how many toes is it?"

"The four toed statute." Alexis replied fascinated as always by Jason's odd memory. He could name virtually every animal down to genus and species, but he remained shaky on even the vaguest details of anything fictional. His memory was the oddest of landscapes.

"Yep," He said despairingly. "I think Brenda is own four toed statue."

Alexis laughed pronouncing, "You are in an unusually good mood." She smiled removing her glasses, "Maybe we really do need to keep Brenda around."

Walking toward Alexis, Jason said, "Brenda isn't the reason for my mood."

"Really?"

"Really." He agreed dropping down beside her, and softly touching her face. "It's my other wife's fault." He turned on his hip so they were face to face.

"Maybe I can take advantage of your good mood to ask a favor."

"Anything."

"You know the Baldwin party is tonight." She reminded him enjoying the sour expression that crossed his face. "Anyway Brenda, and Big Alice are going."

"Big Alice?"

"Florence plays bridge with Lila."

Jason nodded, he'd apparently reconciled that his household had mystifying ties with half the town. "Anyway," Alexis added, "Zoe has her karate class tonight. So," She added, "I was wondering if you could pull Daddy duty if I went with Big Alice and Brenda."

"I could do that," He said wrapping his arm around Alexis's hip and bringing her closer to him. "But it will cost you."

Alexis wasn't that familiar with a mischievous Jason, and found him surprisingly charming and arousing. "Will it?" She asked playfully. In reply he
leaned in pressing his lips against hers.

Certain spots in Port Charles retained an almost primal hold on Brenda's heart. So she was not surprised that after locating the perfect dress for the party at Wyndams, that she found her steps crossing the park and moving toward the docks. Most of Port Charles thought of the docks as somewhere to avoid owing to the crime and corruption located there, or the place where they worked, but for Brenda it was a place of so many happy memories. The times she'd walked with Julia. Edward bringing her here to show her an ELQ tanker with pride in his eyes. The cold mornings when she and A.J. and Jason had gone for early morning runs their breath crystallizing before them. Meeting Sonny… meeting Sonny.

Looking out into the water she lost herself in the memories of all the happy times she had on the docks. Aside from A.J. everyone in that memory felt part of some other life. Big hearted, half dorky Jason ripped away from them. Julia dead. Edward and Lila aging. And Sonny…that was the biggest loss of all. The romantic figure of her dreams turned into exactly what everyone said he would turn into. It all felt so heavy and so depressing.

"Ms. Barrett," A voice called. It took her a moment to connect the words and the voice. While she was doing so the voice demanded, "Ms. Barrett." She instinctively blinked her eyes open and shut, hoping this was like the nightmares she sometimes woke screaming from. That voice didn't belong here, it belonged in a dark place, a place she could shut away. Even before she opened her eyes she heard again, "Ms. Barrett."

"Luis." She said turning around to face him.

He stood silently staring at her for a long moment. "Lorenzo actually."

"Lorenzo?" She repeated dumbly.

"The brother of the man you helped murder."

"I didn't murder Lorenzo." Brenda said icily.

"Perhaps not physically, but his association with you led to his death."

"He kept me a virtual hostage for years." Brenda spat out furiously, "Excuse me if I don't buy the poor Luis song."

Lorenzo smiled a cold expression that seemed to chill the air, "He said you were amusing."

"You talked about me?"

"Of course." Lorenzo said disagreeably. "He was very fond of you. Sad," He mused plainly, "That you regarded his feelings so indifferently.

"I wasn't indifferent," Brenda said angrily. "I hated him."

"And now he's dead. How pleased you must be."

"Bren?" A voice called causing them both to turn.

Seeing a familiar face Brenda felt wave after wave of relief rush over her. "Ned!"

Ned hurried down the stairs. "What's going on."

"Nothing." Lorenzo said smoothly. "I was simply chatting with Ms. Barrett. Inquiring about her relationship with my brother."

"We're done now." Brenda said forcefully.

"Are we?" Lorenzo questioned fixing her with a smile. Sticking his hands in his coat pockets he said, "For now perhaps. Good morning Ms. Barrett, Mr. Ashton."

Ned watched Lorenzo cross the pier and vanish down a sidewalk. Once he was out of sight, Ned asked anxiously, "What did he want?"

"I… I don't know." Brenda said uneasily. "Luis said he had a brother, but he didn't mention he was a twin."

"He's been around for awhile." Ned noted vaguely. "But I don't know what he'd want with you." Looking over he said worriedly, "Bren you're shaking.

"Will you just hold me for a second?" She asked feeling desperately close to tears. In response, Ned enveloped her in a tight embrace.

"I just, I can't," Courtney repeated desperately. "I can't go on like this. I can't keep feeling this way."

"Breaking up with someone you love is always difficult." Mary offered in a clinically precise tone.

"It's not even about breaking up," Courtney said rising to her feet and pacing the carpet. "Jason and Alexis have been married almost a year. I should be over this!"

"There is no time table for emotional recovery."

"Don't you see," Courtney answered angrily. "I can't keep going through this… I know I'm supposed to be over him, over all our plans but I can't seem to do it. And I try, I try so hard to let go, to recognize its over. I know he's happy, I think he may even actually love Alexis…and knowing all that I still keep expecting him to come back. Every time I see him its like someone rips a new hole in my heart." She collapsed down in the chair. "I'd cry," She said plainly, "But I don't have tears left. All my hopes, all my plans, everything has vanished except the way I feel for Jason."

Courtney felt Mary's gaze heavily upon her. Still she was startled when Mary spoke, "Perhaps we should try a different approach." It was neither a question or a statement, instead it was a suggestion one that could be broached further or ignored entirely depending on Courtney's response.

"What do you mean?" Courtney asked looking over at Mary interestedly, "I thought therapy was therapy."

"Not precisely." Mary replied a bit archly. "There are many types of therapy Freudian analysis, the Gestalt approach, Cognitive. Some therapists use music and art. There are almost as many types of therapy as there are therapists."

"I see," Courtney agreed, though really she didn't. She'd have to remember the terms and Google them.

"The question is are you willing to try something a bit different?" This time Courtney noted a trace of optimism in Dr. Bishop's tone. It was the first time Mary had shown any emotional effect.

Courtney thought for a moment, clearly weighing the possibilities. "Yeah. Anything."

And for the first time Mary smiled, sounding genuinely pleased when she said, "Very well."

Hearing a knock on her office door, Florence looked up distractedly calling, "Come in Bobbie."

"Who is Bobby?" Scott demanding in a faux irritated tone entering the room.

Florence smiled removing her glasses, "A red head you used to date."

"Oh," Scott agreed easily. "That Bobbie." He was trying for a cheerful demeanor, but wasn't quite managing it.

"What's wrong?" Florence asked rising from her desk and walking over to her husband.

"Nothing." Scott said askin, "Can't a guy just visit his wife at work?"

"Of course, he can, but you look upset." Florence said wanting to press the point.

Scott wrapped his arms around her, "You know me to well Mrs. Baldwin."

"I should," She said touching his face. "Can you talk about it?"

Scotty shook his head. "Department stuff. Nothing for you to worry your pretty head about."

"It's my job to worry my pretty head about you." She said wrapping her arm around his neck. Opting to change the subject and hopefully her husband's mood Florence asked, "Do you remember where we were this time six years ago?"

"Sure," Scott said agreeably, "I was ironing a suit and getting ready to meet a certain girl for a wedding on a boat at sunset."

Florence smiled remembering the day, "I woke up feeling like the luckiest woman in the world."

"Really I woke up thinking my feet were awfully cold."

Florence slapped the labels of his coat, "Funny."

More seriously Scott said, "I love you Mrs. Baldwin."

"I love you Mr. Baldwin," She said sealing her words with a kiss.

Six Months Later

A single light illuminated the windowless hallway. They'd taken the elevator deep into the basement of GH. They stepped out and began walking down endless hallways and passages. A few moments before Bobbie had swiped her badge and the door had swung open. Then she Scott and Lesley had passed an EMPLOYEES ONLY sign turning to walk down yet another dimly lit hallway. It felt like they were humans trapped in a maze walking hallway after hallway.

As they approached another door Bobbie turned facing Scotty. "We can get someone else to do this," She said in an almost pleading tone. "Monica is in surgery but she'll be out, and she can do it." Emphatically as if she could sway his thoughts she added, "Let her do it."

"Scotty listen to her," Lesley begged, like Bobbie she sounded oddly emotional. "Sweetheart you don't want to do this." She added desperately.

"Les is right," Bobbie agreed softly. "You'll never be able to forget what you see."

Scotty looked over at Lesley, "I'm not going to forget." He said roughly. "I have to. I have to know, " He said flatly.

Lesley nodded and reached down to take his hand and hers, "Bobbie and I will be with you."

"Lesley?" Bobbie said as if questioning her as if wanting Lesley to overrule Scott's request.

Lesley met Bobbie's eyes, "He has to see."

Bobbie turned swiping her ID card. The door swung open and Scott followed Bobbie and Lesley into a blindingly white room.

An attendant likewise garbed in white was eating a sandwich and looked up in surprise to see three visitors. "Bobbie," The attendant said looking up. "I know I'm not supposed to…I wasn't expecting.."

Bobbie shook her head, "We need to see the…"

Laying his sandwich aside, the attendant walked over and opened a drawer pulling back a sheet.

"Oh GOD," Scotty screamed placing his hand over his mouth and forcing back the bile that threatened to escape. "Oh God what have I done?"

"You didn't do this Scotty," Lesley squeezing his hand and wrapping his free arm around his shoulder.

Scotty did not reply he instead seemed fixated by the fragments on the table. It wasn't a body anymore. It was the parts but the parts didn't equal a person. They were merely the charred bits that remained. The jagged pieces of a human body stacked and placed as close together as possible, as if the attempt was to reform a human, but it didn't work and it was ugly and dirty and a violation of everything humanity was supposed to stand for and be about. And then he noticed how the sheet fell away in midsection.

"Herg…" Scotty choked on the word but then forcing himself on said, "Her…legs. What happened to her legs?"

Bobbie took a deep breath before saying, "The police think the device must have been near the engine and.." Bobbie let her words evaporate in the air.

Scotty nodded biting his lip so hard blood flowed out. Lesley rested her head against his shoulder blade keeping her hand at his hip in case he began to sway.

"Is it?" The attendant asked clearly not sure how to finish his statement.

Scotty nodded letting the tears run unabated down his face, "That's my wife."