~Blood Rose~
Let us, the Children of the Night,
Put off the cloak that hides the scar!
Let us be Children of the Light,
And tell the ages what we are!
(From Robinson, Edwin Arlington: The Children Of The Night)
Chapter 3:
Antoinette was aware of her partner's steady arm about her. Part of her was annoyed that he was obviously concerned about her falling after the almost fall at the Townhouse, she felt like pulling away to prove a point. However, another part of her was grateful, and she didn't want to push him away, she liked having him close. Besides, it wasn't like he was being obvious, pestering her with constant questions of her well-being, he knew better. To any others his arm about her was nothing more than simple affection, it had become to be expected of the two to share a closeness. They were not obscene in displays but shared a comfort with being in each other's spheres that there was never a question of their intimacy. Those that had fought against their becoming a couple had come to respect their relationship even if they didn't like it, and all those that mattered were happy for the respective half.
As they rounded Wyndemere, they happened upon the gathering. It was a private affair but with a large guest list filled with Cassadines, Spencers, all Gia's associates and their families from Deception, important employees and their families from General Hospital, which included the Quartermaine's obviously, as well as many others with connections of some sort or simply invited because of their prestige in the community.
"Aunt Skye!" a happy voice cried out and Antoinette turned to see a very happy red head running towards her. Through some miracle AJ had gained part-custody of Michael allowing him to see his son regularly. Michael had been shy at first, as well as confused to suddenly having a whole new set of family members but had warmed up to them. He had bonded quickly with his father and new stepmother, Aunt Courtney, as well as his Aunt Skye. She had wondered if he had unconsciously picked up his father's preference for being around his redheaded sister unlike with the rest of the Quartermaines and had even mentioned it to AJ, but he voiced the belief his son was just smart and knew the best people to get close to.
Michael grabbed his Aunt's hand and dragged her along talking a mile a minute, "Come on Aunt Skye, everyone is waiting for you and Uncle Jax!" Antoinette smiled to herself as Michael tried to drag her along. Michael had decided to call Jax 'uncle' all on his own some time ago, or so she thought. Unbeknownst to her, Ned had surprisingly remarked in Michael's hearing that he might as well call Jax 'uncle' because he most likely would have to someday, not that he necessarily liked the thought nor would voice it in her or Jax's hearing in case he gave the two ideas. After hearing this, Michael had been doing exactly that, which to everyone else's amusement immensely annoyed Sonny.
As Michael pulled his aunt along chattering nonstop, he was hailed by another child. "Hey Michael come on! My mom's got sparklers!"
Michael looked after the waving child then back at his Aunt, he look absolutely innocently torn at what to do. He could either abandon his Aunt and play with sparklers, or continue to drag her along to where everyone else was.
"I think we can find our way, you go ahead and play," Antoinette smiled at him, shaking her head in amusement as he hugged her in relief and ran off to play.
"He's so full of life isn't he? He's been through more than he knows at such a young age but at least he's happy, and alive."
Jax looked at Skye as she watched a group of children run about with sparklers, not caring they were meant for when it was darker. There had been something in her voice when she'd commented he was alive, something he couldn't put his finger on. She seemed to carry a sadness as she watched the children play.
He wondered if it had anything to do with what she was hiding, and filed it away for later thought.
Let us, the Children of the Night,
Put off the cloak that hides the scar!
Let us be Children of the Light,
And tell the ages what we are!
(From Robinson, Edwin Arlington: The Children Of The Night)
Chapter 3:
Antoinette was aware of her partner's steady arm about her. Part of her was annoyed that he was obviously concerned about her falling after the almost fall at the Townhouse, she felt like pulling away to prove a point. However, another part of her was grateful, and she didn't want to push him away, she liked having him close. Besides, it wasn't like he was being obvious, pestering her with constant questions of her well-being, he knew better. To any others his arm about her was nothing more than simple affection, it had become to be expected of the two to share a closeness. They were not obscene in displays but shared a comfort with being in each other's spheres that there was never a question of their intimacy. Those that had fought against their becoming a couple had come to respect their relationship even if they didn't like it, and all those that mattered were happy for the respective half.
As they rounded Wyndemere, they happened upon the gathering. It was a private affair but with a large guest list filled with Cassadines, Spencers, all Gia's associates and their families from Deception, important employees and their families from General Hospital, which included the Quartermaine's obviously, as well as many others with connections of some sort or simply invited because of their prestige in the community.
"Aunt Skye!" a happy voice cried out and Antoinette turned to see a very happy red head running towards her. Through some miracle AJ had gained part-custody of Michael allowing him to see his son regularly. Michael had been shy at first, as well as confused to suddenly having a whole new set of family members but had warmed up to them. He had bonded quickly with his father and new stepmother, Aunt Courtney, as well as his Aunt Skye. She had wondered if he had unconsciously picked up his father's preference for being around his redheaded sister unlike with the rest of the Quartermaines and had even mentioned it to AJ, but he voiced the belief his son was just smart and knew the best people to get close to.
Michael grabbed his Aunt's hand and dragged her along talking a mile a minute, "Come on Aunt Skye, everyone is waiting for you and Uncle Jax!" Antoinette smiled to herself as Michael tried to drag her along. Michael had decided to call Jax 'uncle' all on his own some time ago, or so she thought. Unbeknownst to her, Ned had surprisingly remarked in Michael's hearing that he might as well call Jax 'uncle' because he most likely would have to someday, not that he necessarily liked the thought nor would voice it in her or Jax's hearing in case he gave the two ideas. After hearing this, Michael had been doing exactly that, which to everyone else's amusement immensely annoyed Sonny.
As Michael pulled his aunt along chattering nonstop, he was hailed by another child. "Hey Michael come on! My mom's got sparklers!"
Michael looked after the waving child then back at his Aunt, he look absolutely innocently torn at what to do. He could either abandon his Aunt and play with sparklers, or continue to drag her along to where everyone else was.
"I think we can find our way, you go ahead and play," Antoinette smiled at him, shaking her head in amusement as he hugged her in relief and ran off to play.
"He's so full of life isn't he? He's been through more than he knows at such a young age but at least he's happy, and alive."
Jax looked at Skye as she watched a group of children run about with sparklers, not caring they were meant for when it was darker. There had been something in her voice when she'd commented he was alive, something he couldn't put his finger on. She seemed to carry a sadness as she watched the children play.
He wondered if it had anything to do with what she was hiding, and filed it away for later thought.
