CHAPTERS NINE AND TEN

 

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GH 2026.09 All In The Family      Richard's house. Thaao sips a cup of tea and wanders around the livingroom waiting for Richard to get out of the shower. Strolling over to thefireplace, he studies several interesting watercolors. The artist seemsto capture some of Thaao's own turbulent thoughts on paper, usingnothing more than a stroke of a brush. Also on the mantle are a fewpictures. They are of Richard's house mate Destiny and her family. Theylook so happy to be with one another, and so loving. But no one couldknow what lies beneath the surface of a picture perfect family.Remembering the pictures he has of his own family...Billy, and Miranda,and their son Patrick, Thaao winces in pain. There was no Patrick. Henever existed.      "Dad?" Rick moves from the stairs to where Thaao stands one handgripping the mantle and the other trembling around his tea. "Are you allright?"      Shaken by the depths of his own despair, Thaao forcibly regains controlof his whirlwind emotions, and pauses before looking at Richard. "Yes,Son. I'm fine. Just tired that's all." Thaao grasps Richard's shoulderand moves to the couch. "So what are you going to do with yourself now?You can't be a bartender forever. There's no challenge in it."      "I know. I've given it a lot of thought and the answer is that I'munsure what I want to do anymore." Rick answers honestly.      "Well you do have your Teacher's Certification." Thaao reminds him. "Istill think it was a wise decision to get that. You have a specialrapport with children. They listen to you, try to emulate you...it's aunique gift to be able to mold the lives of children."      "Yes, I know, but I was never good at the structure of a schoolenvironment. Filling out forms, dealing with red tape when all thatmattered were the kids. Not how many of them went onto college, or howmany of them scored high on their aptitude tests, but what they learnedabout life. How much they KNEW compared to how much they could memorize.Taking facts and making sense of them, making them their own. And how tocommunicate and work with others. . . ." Pausing for a moment, Ricksmiles ruefully. "Sorry, I'll step down from my soapbox for a moment."      Thaao's grin is genuine. "Not on my account. Since I've arrived, Ihaven't seen you so excited about anything. Allow me to step up on mypersonal soapbox for a minute or two. Do what you are passionate about.What makes you happy, and excited,  what makes you want to wake up andface the day. Life is too short to do otherwise. It's what I have alwaystold your brother and what I am telling you."      At that, the doorbell rings and Rick goes to answer it. Thaao turns onthe couch to see who it is, a sinking feeling washing over him.      Upon seeing his brother, Rick falters for a moment. "Nikolas... comein,  how are you?"      "Well. And?" Noticing for the first time the older gentlemen seated onthe couch, Nikolas' gaze turns to Rick. "I'm sorry to come by uninvited,but I had hoped to invite you to lunch. I did not realize you hadcompany."      Knowing the introduction now was unavoidable and remembering the wordsThaao had spoken just the other day,'Well you act as if there's notenough room in you for BOTH your families.'  Rick summons up his nerveand makes the introductions he's been dreading. "Thaao Onassis, this isNikolas Cassadine.  Nikolas, this is my- father Thaao."      The two men eye each other warily. Nikolas is the first to speak. "It'sa pleasure to meet you. I did not know that you were in Port Charles."He adds, glancing at Richard.      "I just arrived actually." Thaao answers, keeping his tone neutral.There was something about the arrogant Cassadine that instantly put himon guard. The younger man seems to carry himself regally and exudepower. But, he conceded mentally, given who and what Nikolas Cassadineis, he has the right. "I was planning on taking Rick to lunch, would youcare to join us?"      Without missing a beat, Nikolas nods his head once. "Yes, I would likethat very much. That is, if you don't mind, Richard?"      Feeling trapped in the midst of a mine field, Richard answers slowly."No. That would be great."      "Shall we then, Gentlemen?" Thaao indicates the door, and waits untilRick and Nikolas walk out before him. He takes a fortifying gulp of tea,knowing that the next few hours would be critical to the rest of hislife.      *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*      The Morgan house. Robin is perched on the edge of the couch dartingfurtive glances in Jason's direction. Jason sits stone faced across fromher and reads the papers she has given him.      "I don't see any problem with these, Robin." Jason finally breaks thesilence. "And I know that you won't take alimony from me, but I think Ihave found a compromise. I would like to make a donation annually to thehealth clinic that your order serves." Jason pauses, letting out a slowbreath. "In Robert's name."      "That's very kind and generous of you, Jason." Robin agrees. "Now weboth need to sign these." She indicates where.      "Then our marriage is over." Jason's blue eyes search her face.      "No." Robin's voice is calm and a little flat. "Our marriage died withRobert." She smiles sadly, tears sparkling in her eyes. "But Jason, I'vefound a new life. A new calling. The Sisters Of Perpetual Sacrifice havegiven me a new chance at life. I don't hate anymore, I don't blameanymore, and I don't feel guilt anymore." Robin moves to where Jasonsits and crouches down at his feet. "If you could find a way to movepast your own guilt, and your own pain you could be happy again. Trulyhappy." Blinking with surprise at her own words, Robin takes his hand."Did you hear that, Jason? I want you to be happy. . . .and I mean it.You deserve happiness."      "It's not that easy, Robin. I can't move on. And I don't have your kindof faith." Jason admits woodenly.      "I know that. But you have to find your own faith, and your own reasonfor going on. Life keeps moving, and since Robert died, you haven't.You're too much alone. Even Anna worries about you."      "I have our children. That is enough for me," He answers, feeling hercool fingers clasp his, knowing that it will be the last time.      "Yes. And they adore you. But Jason, you must stop dwelling in the past.It does no one any good. Least of all you. You are not responsible forthe actions of others. And you can't bring Robert back by mourning himforever. Remember him with love, and find a way to move on. Feel newlove, and let some light into your world." Suddenly anxious, Robinsqueezes his hand tightly. "I need to know that you won't shut yourselfdown. That you'll go on living once I go back to Paris. Anna and Michaelboth need to see you moving on with your life. Because as long as youare stuck here in this place of self-loathing , they are too."      *~*~*~*~*~***~*~*~*~*~***~*~*~*~*~***~*~*~*~*~*~***~*~*~*~      The Firehouse. Dominique strokes her new kitten's silky fur while holding it against her cheek. "What a sweet girl. You know I think thatyou're going to be good company here." She croons affectionately whenthe doorbell rings. "Not again. . .geesh. Doesn't this guy get outmuch?" Cautiously peering out the door, Dom breathes a sigh of relief atseeing her brother. "Simon!"      "Hey Dom. I warned you I'd be making surprise visits." Simon strides inand shuts the door behind him. "And do me a favor, okay? Don't peek outthe window to see who it is. Use this nice handy dandy little monitor."He taps the small screen with a switch on it.      "Yes, oh Masterful one." Dom salutes with one hand, her kitten in theother.      "Was this from the nut job in question?" Simon asks plucking the kittenfrom Dom's arms and petting it gently. "Nice. Did Mac and Felicia checkthe collar for a bug?"      "Yes, of course." Dom nods taking the kitten back.      "Good, so what's her name?" He asks as he drops his leather jacket onthe table and moves toward the kitchen.      "Who says I'm gonna keep her?" Dom asks, feeling a little prickly atbeing so predictable.      "I do." Simon answers his head in her refrigerator. "So stop being apain and tell me her name."      "Beyanu."      "Huh?" Removing half the food from the fridge, Simon begins to build asandwich.      "Be- On- You." Dom repeats slowly. "Cause she's always on top of me."      "Cute." Simon cuts the sandwich in half, places each half on a plate andmoves into the living room. "Come on Dom, you and the Putty Tat need toeat. I don't know what's wrong with my sisters. . .you're both skin andbones."      The doorbell rings once more and Dom goes to answer it. "ProbablyDestiny, as we speak," She remarks while pulling open the door. Sittingon the doorstep is a flat velvet jeweler's box. "Oh Simon." Dom callsout nervously, "My wacky friend has paid another visit!"      Almost instantly Simon moves Dominique aside and nudges the box with thetip of one boot. "Hmm...  very daring to do this in broad daylight,"Simon ponders out loud.      "You know, Si. You could make your tone a little less admiring."Dominique bristles.      Picking up the box, Simon shakes his head. "Trust me, Dom. Admiration isthe LAST thing I feel for this bastard." He gingerly opens the box."Though he does have a sense of style don't you think?" He turns the boxtowards Dominique, and she lets out a gasp.      "My God Simon! That thing is exquisite! It can't be real!" Dom lifts theheavy diamond and ruby necklace off the velvet lining. "I can't imaginewhat something like this would cost!"      Noticing the card poking out in one corner, Simon lifts it out and readsaloud. "My dearest Josephine- I asked myself last night "Who can find avirtuous woman?" And the answer came as if from Heaven. I have found avirtuous woman. I hope these are to your liking.  Adoringly Yours, N."      "Josephine." Dom repeats slowly. "You realize that if I am Josephine,he's Napoleon Bonaparte?"      "And the question, "Who can find a virtuous woman?" Is an old proverb.'Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.' Ohgood. A control freak, a megalomaniac, a scholar and a stalker allrolled into one." Simon plucks the necklace out of Dom's hands. "This isgetting stranger by the minute." Taking his sister's arm, Simon guidesher over to the sofa and settles her in, then removes some folded papersfrom his back pocket. "I've been doing some digging around, you know howwe said that this all seemed like an elaborate set up to distract you? Ithink we were on to something."      "What did you find out?"      Handing her the papers, Simon explains. "I started running a list ofevery person who would be hurt the most by your new security software.Then I started to narrow it down from the little dime store operations,to those who stands to lose the most money. . .the big gun runners. Thepeople supplying arms for revolution illegally all over the world.You've open a big can of worms, Little Sister."      "But Simon, very few people even KNOW that I am designing this software.It's not like I took out an ad." Dom begins to skim the list,recognizing some names of suspected arms dealers from the news.      "But you know what gets me now?" Simon asks. "At first these incidentsseemed like a distraction. But now, now they are very personal. Almostlike this freak is in love with you."      "Gets to you? Simon I hate this. I hate this more than words can say,"Dominique confesses. "I don't know what I am feeling. Whether or not Ishould be relieved cause this guy loves me and doesn't want to kill me.Or be even more frightened of what a psychopath would do in the name oflove?"      "Your gun loaded?" Simon asks seriously.      "No. It's in it's lock box." Dom replies nibbling on her lower lip.      "Take it out. It won't do you any good if you keep it locked up. Loadit, and whenever you are alone in the house I want you to take it withyou from room to room. Hell, I'll get you a license to carry a concealedweapon on the streets too. A few judges in Port Charles owe me favors. Iknow you're a decent shot at a target, but it's different when it's ahuman being. You know where to aim to incapacitate someone?" He waitsfor her nod. "But if someone is in this house with you, I don't give adamn about anything but your safety. Shoot to kill and do it right."Seeing the horrified look on her face Simon takes her face in his hands."I'm not saying this to terrify you even more, I just want you to knowthat in a life or death situation, your life comes first."      "I understand." Dominique forces a brave smile. "Any other brotherlywords of advice?"      "Yeah, for the love of God, do NOT tell Mom that I encourage you tocarry a gun." Simon tugs on a stand of Dom's hair.      *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*GH2026.10 Tough Love      Lucky's Club. Gabe sits on a couch in the back room and talks in a quiet voice with Leia. Lucky can't make out their words, but by the tone of Leia's voice, he knows that she is charming her older brother. God knows Leia can charm the birds out of the sky and the fish out of the water. A slight pang of guilt at using one child to trap another washes over Lucky, but he shakes it off and moves to pull a beer out of the small fridge. "You want a beer?" Lucky calls to Gabe.      "I don't drink." Is Gabe's only response. "Ever."      "Got ya." Lucky nods, sensing the road blocks go up around Gabe. For an instant the young man's thoughts seem very far away, then he and Leia continue talking. "You know, I think your mother stood us up." Lucky announces a short while later.      "Probably thought that if we were alone together that we would have a miraculous bonding experience." Gabe snorts derisively."She reads one self help book and all of a sudden. . . . ."      "You want to stay for lunch?" Lucky asks. "No pressure, just food."      "Come on Gabe! Stay!" Leia demands imperiously. "And you can tell me more stories."      Looking into his sister's pleading eyes, Gabe remembers another young girl pleading with him to stay. The memories are painful ones and Gabe closes his eyes for one brief moment. Helpless to resist Leia, Gabe nods. "Yeah, sure."      Lucky, Gabe and Leia sit at the small table and share the meal in an uneasy silence. "Daddy, can I watch TV in your office?"      "Sure, Babe." Lucky nods. "Go ahead."      Watching Leia skip out of the room with so much life and vitality, Gabe is the first to break the silence. "So, are there any more?"      "Any more wha-?" Lucky begins. "Oh, you mean any more brothers and sisters. No. There was once, but- well let's just say it's one hell of a long story." Reaching into his pocket Lucky removes a cigar and pats his pockets for his lighter. "You smoke?"      "Yeah, I cut back though, those things will kill you." A slow smile crosses Gabe's face as he extends his own lighter. "Breathe deep."      "So why don't you drink?" Lucky asks bluntly.      "Because when you live on the Res you see too many people die with bottles in their hands. I won't give anyone the satisfaction of seeing some dumb tribal boy liquored up." Gabe's answer seems incomplete somehow, but Lucky lets it go.      The door to the back room of the club opens revealing Lu. She stops dead at the sight of Gabe, recognizing him as the man who clocked Lucky and then dropped the bombshell about being his long lost son. "Oops! I didn't know you had company, Lucky..." She starts to back out. "I just wanted to talk...."      Lucky waves her in. "C'mon in, Lu. You might as well meet Gabe."      Gabe gets up and puts on his sunglasses. "No offense, Mrs Spencer, but I think I've had enough introductions for one day. I have more important things to do than stick around here and get ambushed by more 'family'."      "That's the first time I've been called MRS Spencer," Lu answers with a wry smile, extending her hand for a shake. "Actually I'm Lu Hornsby. Whatever the circumstances, I'm happy to meet you."       "She's my little sister," Lucky adds as explanation. "Oh, and just for clarification, I also have two half brothers in town, Nikolas Cassadine and Rick Cassadine AKA Onassis."      After a pregnant pause, Gabe reluctantly shakes Lu's hand. "I have a feeling I'm going to be running into Lucky's family all over town."      Lucky takes another puff of his cigar as he leans back on the arm of the couch. "You ain't just whistling Dixie, Kid. As long as you are in Port Charles, about half the people you meet are my family in one way or another"      ************      At the park, Emily sits alone on a park bench lifting her face up to the sun to enjoy the warm rays caressing her face.       "Do you have any idea what you are doing to Lucky?" A gravely voice rasps, sitting down uninvited next to her. "Did you know that you're practically ripping out his heart?      "Mike!" Startled out of her private thoughts, Emily sits up. "What are you talking about?"      "Freezing him out like this, Emily. It's wrong. For God's sake, Girl! Snap out of it!"      Her eyes welling with tears, Emily twists her wedding band around her finger. "I can't believe that you're telling me to snap out of it! I can't just pretend that it's okay that Lucky had a son I never knew about!"      "Emily." Mike's voice softens somewhat. "You're missing the point. The point is that Lucky had a son HE never knew about. I know you're upset, Sweetheart, but the plain truth is that this is not about you. It's about Lucky, the most family-minded man I know outside of his father, finding out that he missed his son's entire childhood." Mike takes one of Emily's soft hands between his own gnarled fingers. "I know finding out that Lucky slept with Gabe's mother hurt, but Honey, put it into some sort of perspective. He was a kid, away from the first REAL home he'd ever known. His life was upside down and inside out because his mother married his father's mortal enemy. That doesn't excuse a one night stand, but it does explain it. It was a million years ago and from the day he married you, he's been faithful and loving. Maybe not perfect, but he loves you and Leia more than life itself. You're blessed."      "I know this hurts Lucky. And part of me just wants to reach out to him and tell him that everything is going to be all right. But how can I say it when I'm not so sure myself?" Emily asks, brushing at a stray lock of hair.      "Listen, Emily. I know what it's like to have your child grow up without you. By the time Sonny and I reunited it was almost too late. But the difference between me and Lucky is that I was the type of guy who walked away from his own son. Lucky would never do that. Ever. Your husband is a good man. Lucky didn't lie to you and he didn't mean to hurt you." His eyes bore into Emily's soul. "Now the question is, Emily, can you get over this? Or around this? Or past this? I think you're strong enough to love Lucky, and be his wife and partner. Remember? To love, honor and cherish. Through richer and poorer, for better and worse, in sickness and in health till death do you part? Welcome to the worst part, Babe. Lucky needs you more now than ever. So instead of wallowing in your own self-pity, maybe you need to be helping to your husband cope with this." Mike slowly rises to his feet. "I know your pride is hurt, Em. But if you love Lucky as much as you say you do, you'll swallow your pride, choke on it if you have to. The least he deserves is the same kind of forgiveness and understanding he gave you regarding another child he lost that he never knew he had." Mike reaches down and taps a finger lightly on the side of Emily's face. "You know I am only saying this because I love you and Lucky like you are my own kids. I've known you since you and Lucky still thought the other had cooties. And if I see either one of you, or both of you up on a ledge, I've gotta say something. Think about what I said, Em."             *~*~**~*~***~*~*~*~*      Morgan's.      "Oh Mom! I wish you didn't have to leave." Anna breathes deeply and struggles to hold back her tears.      "I know, My Darling." Robin's hands stroke Anna's silken blonde hair slowly and soothingly. Sitting on the living room sofa with her daughter's head on her lap, Robin fights the pangs in her heart. "But I am always with you, Anna. Always right here." She touches her daughter's chest where Anna's heart beats. "In your heart. And you and Michael are ALWAYS in my heart." Tracing a heart shape on the front of her green tunic top, where a gold cross hangs Robin continues. "I love you so very much, Anna."      "I love you too, Mom. And so does Michael in his own way, he just doesn't understand." Anna whispers.      "Michael loves me." Robin reassures her daughter. "I know that as certainly as the sun rising tomorrow. He's angry and I know he's hurting too. With time and faith, we'll get through it."      "Sometimes I get so mad at him." Anna confides sadly. "He just won't listen to anybody. Not Daddy, not Alexis, not Uncle Mac or Mike. He just storms off and doesn't talk."      "Your brother holds a lot inside him, Anna. It's hard for him to talk about it." Robin assures. "It's not your fault."      "I know Mom, I just feel so helpless and sad sometimes." Anna whispers.      "It's okay to feel sad, Honey. But when you do, tell your father, or your brother. A pain shared is a pain halved." Robin lightly strokes Anna's hair, relishing these last few moments with her little girl. No, not a little girl anymore, Robin reminds herself. A young woman. Almost the same age she was when she fell in love with Stone. Robin lets herself embrace the fond memories of her first young love. "You know, I think you should come and visit me in Paris this summer." She suggests.      "Oh really, Mom? I could? I would LOVE to!" Anna bolts up straight and wraps her arms around her mother. "That would be so much fun! And I could help out in your clinic," She offers excitedly.      "I'll arrange it with your father the next time we talk." Robin promises.      The door opens and Michael strides in dropping his backpack on the floor. Eying his mother warily, he doesn't say a word.      "Mike! Mom is leaving. Don't you have anything to say?" Anna's blue eyes plead with her brother for some kind of reaction, some emotion.      "Nope." Michael answers stiffly. "Dad around?"      Her eyes welling with tears, Anna hugs her mother once more and storms past Michael. "You can be such a cold hearted bastard! I'm ashamed to admit you're my brother!"       "Anna!" Robin protests.      "I may have always been cold hearted, but thanks to HER..." Michael says scathingly as he jerks a thumb toward Robin. "annulment, we're both bastards now."      With a final look at her horror-stricken mother, Anna opens the door. "Mom,  I love you, but right now I don't want to be any where NEAR this insensitive jerk! Call me when your plane lands!" The door slams on a choked sob and the sound of feet running on the gravel driveway echo in the now silent house.      "Michael. . . " With an air of helplessness, Robin extends her hands to her firstborn.      Recoiling in disgust, Michael turns from his mother. "You see what you're doing? You leave us, then you come waltzing in and out of our lives expecting that it won't hurt anyone. . . .well you know what, SISTER? It hurts Dad, it hurts Uncle Mac, and it rips Anna's heart out every time you turn your back on them."      "What about you, Michael?" Robin asks quietly.      "I couldn't care less," Michael staunchly maintains. "You might as well have died with Robbie. You're nothing."      "Michael Morgan!" A heavy hand clamps down on Micheal's shoulder.      "Uncle Mac."      "That's no way to talk to your mother!" Mac's face is lined with anger, and a touch sadness. "Apologize this instant."      Micheal's young face twists with a deep-seated bitterness. "She's not my mother. Hell, she's not even married to my father anymore. Haven't you heard the happy news? Their marriage has been annulled. She belongs to the Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost now. Hard for us mere mortals to compete."      

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