Chapter 3:

Looking up from her coloring book, 8 year-old Nadine, quietly spoke. "Grandma Rose?"

A lean, middle-aged woman with the same striking blue eyes as the blonde child before her, turned to glance at her.

"Yes, my little princess?" She turned from the kitchen counter and walked towards the table with a batch of fresh cookies for her only grandchild.

"How come I don't have a daddy?" The older woman dropped the platter of cookies on the table harder than she meant to.

"Why do you ask, sweetheart?"

Looking at her with eyes that were glossy with tears, Nadine said, "The other kids at school all have mommy's and daddy's...how come I only have a mommy?"

Rose sat in the chair across from her daughter's only child and spoke softy and with caution.

"Your father, he left a long time ago, before you were born. Your mother tried to find him but she couldn't."

"Oh." The young child stared up from her book into a mirror of blue. "Well, if he doesn't need me...than I don't need him!" Then, her tiny face broke out into huge grin.

The older woman could only stare at the child with astonishment.

Slipping out of her memories, Nadine walked over to the bar. The one good thing about turning twenty-one was that she was legal to drink as much as she wanted.

After Johnny had left she mingled with a few guests but ended up standing in a corner watching Lulu Spencer dance with her father.

While staring, she got swept up in the many memories in which Nadine had asked multiple questions about her father. But every time her mother just said that he wasn't here so it didn't matter.

"What are you thinking about birthday girl?" Nadine turned her head to see Maxie Jones standing in front of her.

"Nothing of importance." She replied with a small smile.

"Well good. Because today is your birthday and we are going to celebrate!" The shorter blonde linked arms with Nadine and headed to the dance floor just as a faster song started.

"Maxie, what are we doing?" The nurse was just standing on the dance floor while the young fashionista spun around her. "You know I can't dance."

The other blonde didn't listen because she grabbed Nadine's hand and pulled her around the dance floor.

Soon enough, Nadine's sweet laughter was heard throughout the room as she and Maxie shook their bodies to the beat of the music.


Stepping into the Corinthos-Morgan coffee shop, Nadine ordered a latte and went to the back.

Looking up at two men, who can only be described as tall and scary-looking, the blonde smiled and asked politely if Spinelli was in the office.

"I'm sorry, Miss, Spinelli and the Boss are in a meeting right now." The older looking guard replied. "You may wait or I can relay a message to him for you."

"Thanks but I think I'll wait outside." Nadine turned on her white sneakers and took a seat at one of the round tables.

A waiter brought her the latte she ordered and she pulled out a worn out novel and began to read.

Only a half hour later, Spinelli came barreling out of the office and Nadine stood up and stepped right in front of him.

"Hey Spinelli." She said with a sickly sweet smile.

"Most gracious greetings, Noble Nurse Nadine! What brings you here?" The computer savvy teenager asked.

"You know why I'm here. Spin, you promised that you would help me find my father."

"I'm sorry but I have to reschedule for Stonecold requires the Jackal's cyber skills." He replied with an apologetic smile.

"Oh." Nadine bit her lip just out of habit. "Alright. I'll just talk to you later, I guess." She gathered her things and straightened up.

"Nadine?" The nurse turned and looked at one of her best friends. "I do want to assist you in the trek to find the Missing Paternal One…I just can't right now."

"I understand, Spinelli." Nadine gave him a smile. "We're still on for lunch right?"

"Wouldn't miss it." Was his reply before she stepped out into the cool spring air.

"Oh my God, I don't think I've ever danced that much in my life!" Nadine exclaimed. They had been on the dance floor for hours and finally they needed to stop or they would collapse from dehydration and exhaustion.

Maxie laughed and handed her a bottle of water. "Come out with me more often and you will."

The nurse glanced at her best friend and shook her head. "Yeah right. Like that'll ever happen."

Before Maxie could respond, Spinelli came up to them.

"Greetings Blonde Ones." They both returned the greeting with a smile.

"Sweet Nadine, may I have a moment alone to speak with you?" Spinelli asked.

"Yeah, sure, Spin." She told Maxie she would be right back and they left.

"What'd you wanna talk about that couldn't be said in front of Maxie?"

They couldn't find anywhere to talk quietly because people were surrounding ever inch of the hotel so they settled for a spot of the outskirts of the dance floor.

"It's about the case of the Missing Paternal One." He revealed.

Nadine grinned. "Did you find out where my father is?" Spinelli could see the brightness in her eye that could only be described as hope and anticipation.

"Well, yes, but Noble Nurse Nadine, I fear that it is not up to the Jackal to reveal the answers you seek."

"Who else is going to tell me? My mother hasn't said one word about who or where he is my whole life, so you're my only hope."

Nadine looked up at Spinelli with a pleading gaze. "Please, Spinelli, you need to tell me. I have to know who my father is."

While she was begging for answers, she did not realize that her mother and Sonny came up behind her and heard what she was saying.

"Nadine!" Kate's voice was filled with panic. "Stop badgering Spinelli. He's not going to tell you anything."

Nadine spun around to face her mother. "And why not? I deserve to know about my father!" She yelled.

"Honey, I know you do."

Noticing people stopping and staring at their little group, Kate said, "How about we go somewhere quieter, and I'll explain everything to you."

"No! How about you start telling me the truth for once!" Nadine was on the verge of tears but she wouldn't back down.

"Mom, please?" Her voice was cracking under the strain of her tears. "Doesn't my happiness mean anything to you?"

"Nadine, it's the only thing that matters!" Her voice wavering with emotion and her eyes glossy with tears.

"Then tell me." Nadine pressed, not caring about the fact that the music had lowered, the crowd stopped talking and thousands of eyes were on her.

Kate's honey-golden eyes switched from Nadine to Sonny and then they closed, when she opened them again, tears started to spill out.

"Just please know that I only stopped you from finding out to protect you. Okay, babe?" She told Nadine, her voice just above a whisper.

"I was almost seventeen at the time, and I was dating this guy. We were in love and that meant everything to me."

The fashion icon fidgeted with her hands and looked at Sonny.

"One night, he asked me to run away with him but I said no because I wanted a better life for myself than what he could give me." Looking down at the floor she continued to explain.

"After he left, I found out I was pregnant but he was long gone."

Sonny was in shock but Nadine was still confused.

"Mom, who is he? Who's my father?"

"I am."

Nadine's eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat because the answer came from the one and only, Sonny Corinthos.