Alright, hot of the presses, chapter 2. A note, though. I reserve the right to bring back from the dead any chacters whom I need. That will definitely be obvious in this chapter. Also, the current hostage crisis is not taking place, but I will probably use after affects of it in the story.
I tried to do the whole second day in this chapter, but it will be spilling into the next one. There's a lot going on and just one chapter ain't gonna cut it.
As always, please read and respond. I'm needy and responses do wonders for writers block.
Chapter 2-Two Days Before
Melanie Davis walked out of her dorm room and made her way to the subway entrance. Her mother and sisters were waiting for her at the caf and she didn't want to be later than she was. As she came to a corner, a figure caught her eye. He was a tall man, dressed in black with a very distinguished posture. She was staring at him and noticed that he had begun to stare back. When he turned to face her, she shook her head, thinking she was seeing something. When she looked back, he was gone. Melanie did a three-sixty, looking for him, but he had vanished into the crowds of Manhattan. She continued to the subway and Lower Manhattan.
When she arrived at the caf, she noticed that her mother and sisters were all there. Angela was drawing pictures on a placemat with Kristina and Alexis was feeding Molly. They all looked so happy that Melanie knew what had happened. She entered the caf and hugged her mother.
"Wow, not that I'll ever turn down affection from one of my girls, but what was that for?" Alexis asked.
"The cancer's gone." It was a statement, not a question that Melanie replied.
Angela looked at her sister questioningly. "How did you know? Mama, did you tell her ahead of time?"
Melanie sat down and undid her coat. "Why else would you all look so happy? It was like the sun was shining from inside here."
Alexis laughed. "Well, I didn't realize we were glowing so much. As for your answer, the cancer is in remission. We found out yesterday just before the party."
"Oh, and how is the birthday boy? I wish I could have been there," Melanie sighed.
"He made a mess!" Kristina exclaimed. She giggled, describing how messy Kelly's had been afterwards. "Cam and Morgan also made a mess and got in lots of trouble with Grandpa."
"Yes, Mike is going to be finding cake in places you can't even imagine for the next month," Angela continued. "The only problem with the party was it was crashed by Ric."
"Why did he even think to come?" Melanie asked as she wrinkled her nose.
"He tried to provoke me about the custody case. I informed him to talk to my doctor because his last bullet, the cancer, was used up. Then Nikolas, Sonny and Luke gave him very intimidating looks and he ran out of there fast," Alexis explained.
"When he got outside, Mickey gave him a piece of advice about angering certain families in town. It was really amusing," Angela continued.
The family continued to chat, eventually leaving the caf to head uptown and do a little shopping. When they got onto Fifth Avenue, Alexis went ahead with Kristina and Molly, and Angela and Melanie hung back. When their mother and two little sisters went into one of the shops, Melanie pulled Angela aside.
"This is going to sound crazy, what I'm about to tell you," Melanie started.
Angela smiled. "You're a Cassadine. Trust me, whatever it is, it won't be crazy."
Melanie let out a sigh. "I think I saw Uncle Stefan today."
Angela blinked at her and started to laugh. "Sorry, but did I hear you correctly?" When Melanie nodded, Angela shook her head. "Melanie, he's dead and buried. Look, I'll admit that over the past few months I wished that he would come back..."
"Really? You and he...well, you always seemed to be butting heads," Melanie interrupted.
Angela ducked her head. "With the way Ric was acting, trying to hurt Mama and Kristina and Molly, I actually prayed that he'd come back to destroy Ric. I went to his grave and it reminded me that he was really gone."
Melanie shook her head. "Could there be even the slightest chance? I mean, look at grandfather. We all thought he was dead. Maybe Helena pulled a switcheroo." She gave her older sister an impassioned look. "Angela, this man I saw, he had the same stance, that rigidity that Uncle had. He looked at me, and I swear, he knew me and he knew that I knew him."
Angela had rarely seen this intensity from Melanie. She was the one who didn't let a lot affect her. Angela and Kristina were always susceptible to dreaminess, but Melanie was always very literal minded. She also held the Cassadine family at arm's length. Angela looked away from her sister, thinking for minute when Melanie continued. "The man who returned four years ago was so different from the Uncle Stefan that any of us knew."
"I'll have someone look into it, but don't get your hopes up. Melanie, there are millions of people in this city. Could you have just seen someone who resembles him?" Angela asked.
"Ang, I just can't shake this feeling," was her only response as the rest of their family came outside.
Meanwhile, up in Port Charles, Mickey Villianov was getting off the phone in his penthouse. Formerly inhabited by Sonny Corinthos, the place was highly secure. Mickey had just received a call from his father, telling him to expect a package to be delivered to him from the bank. Sergei Villianov had not said what was in the package but that Mickey would know what to do with it. As he moved into the kitchen to fix himself a snack there came a knock at the door.
"Coming," he yelled. Mickey didn't know whom to find and was happy to see his college buddy, Dr. Patrick Drake.
"Hey there," Patrick said as he walked inside. "So, Robin's not talking to me and I know you told me Angela was out of town for the day. How about we pick up Pete and head for lunch at Kelly's?" he asked.
Mickey smiled as he grabbed his jacket. "What did you do now?"
Patrick exhaled a long breath. "We had an argument about furniture. She bought a couch, which I returned then decided to buy back. Now she's mad because she feels that I bought it out of guilt or something." He stared at Mickey. "Please do not tell this to Pete because he will have a field day."
Mickey was about to answer when the elevator doors opened to reveal a courier who was looking for him. "Patrick, can you wait a minute? This is something that my father alerted me about." With that, both of them went back into the penthouse. Mickey opened the envelope as Patrick went to get a drink.
The envelope contained a sealed bag with two necklaces and two pieces of paper. Patrick handed Mickey a soda can as Mickey read the names on what turned out to be birth certificates. Rereading them, he turned to Patrick. "Look, I need to take a rain check on lunch. This is business that needs to be taken care of immediately."
Patrick nodded and left. Mickey dialed a number and got an answer on the first ring. "Hello, I just received some information and I need to speak with you at once... Good, is your son there because it concerns him as well?...I will be over at once." With that, he hung up the cell phone and left.
The Davis women arrived back in Port Charles early and Alexis took the little girls home. Angela made her way over to the docks and the launch to Wyndemere. As she got on the launch, she dialed the number of an old friend.
"Hello Leo...Thank you it is nice to hear from you too. Listen I need something looked into. Uncle Stefan's personal accounts, can you access them? I need to see if anyone has touched them in the years since he died. It's a hunch that I'm playing...Thank you Leo, I look forward to hearing from you." With that she hung up the phone and proceeded to the small family cemetery on the island. It was here that Stefan Darius Mikkosovich Cassadine was buried, near a memorial stone for his sister, Kristina Carter Cassadine. She walked to the plot and saw that it was still undisturbed. She stood there looking at it for a few minutes when she heard footsteps. She turned to find her cousin Nikolas standing at the gate.
"I saw you come over. Why did you come to this place?" he asked.
Angela gave a wan smile. "Just being thankful that it won't have to be used for a little while longer."
"Your mother will be around for a long time more, Angela, protecting all of us," he said back.
Angela turned to Stefan's grave. "Do you ever think about him?" she asked, pointing to the tombstone.
Nikolas stepped closer. "Every day, from when I wake up to when I fall asleep. I especially think of him when I look at Spencer."
Angela laughed. "Ah, yes. Spencer Alexi Nikolaiovich. What would Uncle say about that name?"
"He won't." He turned to Angela. "You have carefully avoided answering my question."
She smiled. "You noticed. I just got to thinking about him and those children who will never know him. Kristina, Molly and Spencer won't know him and how, despite his darkness, how much he loved his family. You, Melanie and I held him in awe and fear. We may not have always liked him but we can't deny how he dedicated himself to family. So, do we tell the little ones about his darkness or his light?"
"Careful, you're starting to sound like him," Nikolas cautioned her with a smile.
She ducked her head, replying, "With this upcoming custody battle, I have wished he was here. Ric would have no chance."
"Ric might find himself dead if Stefan was alive. Remember what he did to Ned?" Nikolas looked back at the grave, then at Angela. "What's brought this on?"
Angela sighed. "Maybe it's just a yearning for what has gone past us. Remembering how few people could stand up against the united front of Mama, Stefan, you and I. The recent battles my mother has fought have weakened her and I fear that you and I have lost our Cassadine-ness." She paused. "Listen, your cousin is just getting reflective in her old age. Can we go in and have some tea. I have to tell you what Kristina got in New York City today." With that she held out her hand, which Nikolas took, and they walked back to the main house, both hoping to look toward the future.
The guard opened the door and Mickey Villianov entered the estate. He was led to the living room where a strange combination of office machinery and baby toys were around the room. As he waited for the gentleman he was meeting, he picked up a plush toy that made cat meows. A minute later, a young man came down the stairs, carrying a little girl.
"Can I help you Mr. Villianov?" Diego Alcazar asked.
"I am waiting to speak to your father, but I do need to meet with you as well," Mickey answered.
"I am here. What was so urgent that you needed to speak with us right away?" Lorenzo Alcazar asked.
Mickey looked at both of them. "Before I start, where is Ms. Quartermaine? This matter does concern her, but not to the degree that it concerns either of you."
Lorenzo took his daughter, Lila Rae, out of Diego's arms. "She had to run some errands and Diego offered to watch his sister."
Mickey nodded. "You will tell her this information later." With that, he pulled out the envelope from his briefcase. "My father's bank was recently given permission to open a safe deposit box. In was this envelope." He handed the envelope to Lorenzo, who handed Lila Rae back to Diego.
Lorenzo opened the envelope to find the two necklaces and the birth certificates. He read both and looked up at Mickey. "These are mine and my brother's. How did you get them?"
"They were probably in there more because of the necklaces." Mickey took one out with the initials LMC. "These are medallions given to members of the Cassadine family. Angela calls them the family dog tags. They usually have the initials of the child engraved on the back."
Lorenzo examined the backing. "These first two letters are my initials. Lorenzo Miguel." Looking at the other one, he added. "This was my brother's, Luis Antonio."
Mickey nodded. "As I suspected." He sat down on the couch. "When did you know you were Cassadines?"
Angela got back to the penthouse late but was not surprised that Mickey wasn't there. She got her jacket off when the phone rang.
"Angela, you have returned. How was your day?" her grandfather asked on the other end.
Angela smiled. "It was fine."
"Good, good. I just spoke to your mother and Nikolas. We are having a family meeting tomorrow morning. This will end then," Mikkos told her.
Angela sighed. "All the excuses have run out?"
He nodded on his end. "Ten o'clock. Be there. Mickey should not come."
Angela agreed and hung up the phone. She knew that tomorrow her world would come crashing to the ground.
Listening in on the line, Helena Cassadine smiled. Tomorrow she would finish it. The path to the throne for her beloved grandson would at last be cleared.
