Our Time Now

The idea for this had bounced along for a bit and I hope I can pull this off...This is AU future material and I still don't own GH...Note I may be off timeline wise as to how old Maxie should be but since it is fanfic I am pulling the creative license card. The idea for the dog comes from OLTL if you don't get it feel free to ask...

He never did show up to study for that History exam though both of them knew they aced it. Talk at school that Monday was back to small talk.

"Hi...good luck...how do you think you did..."

Entering her Gran's house which was quickly becoming her home she smiled as she saw her mother's designer suitcases at the door.

Maxie had called telling the family that she would be later then expected coming back from the city.

"Mom, you home," Kenzie's voice rang as she removed her well worn light green hoodie and hung it on the coat tree by the door.

"In the office."

She entered the small room and spotted her mother perched on the black leather desk chair hovered over her laptop, a small furry ball on her lap.

"Mom what's that."

Maxie smiled and turned around allowing Kenzie to notice a small brown dog on her mother's lap dressed in some designer dog sweater.

"This is the newest edition to the family, say hello to Matt Hunter."

"Mom why did you name your dog after that skank Raylene's father..."

Kenzie paused a bit wondering if Matt and her mother had a fling in the never talked about past. That had to be it right, the real story, her mom and Matt Hunter were an item when she had the one night stand with her now father.

"Because Matt Hunter is a dog," Maxie said matter of factly.

"So this isn't a result of some unresolved love affair."

"God no Matt Hunter the person was a prick, I'm surprised Nadine fell for his sorry ass. You know did I ever tell you he ACTUALY wanted me to get an abortion."

"No."

"Yes, he kept going on about how my heart wasn't strong enough and all...like he knew anything about my condition. He then had the audacity to keep saying your father had some kind of mental disability and that he didn't want me to have to deal with the heartache."

"But you had me."

"I had you, no complications what so ever."

Kenzie smiled and gave her a hug.

"So anyways what drove you to buy Matt Hunter, the dog?"

"Actually it was an early birthday present from Federico.

Kenzie smiled thinking of Federico Cabrera the fashion genius that her mother knew when he was just the hotshot to watch for.

"That was sweet."

"I know, and the sweater Matt Hunter has on, a Federico Original. Anyways Freddy wants to know when your prom is because he wants to design your dress."

"I think he has a few more years for that."

Maxie nodded as they had some mother daughter time before Kenzie had to go upstairs to do homework.

-

They did in fact pass their exam and as the week progressed their relationship was like none of the drama existed and they were back to normal.

It was now the weekend again, Saturday to be exact and the two of them finally had a chance to have a weekend together to chill. They were together in the park, Kenzie was walking Matt Hunter while Marty was filming things for his film which he had since decided to make as a documentary and insisted that Kenzie be the co-director because he no longer needed her as an actress to which she had accepted.

They made their way toward a bench and took a seat.

"I still can't believe that designer got your mom a dog," he said petting the him.

"I still can't believe she named it after that ass."

"So there really is a Matt Hunter."

Kenzie nodded telling Marty all the horror stories she knew about Matt.

"Wow."

"I know."

"And yet she named him that anyway."

"Like she said Matt Hunter the person WAS a Dog."

Marty laughed.

"So anyway, I've been thinking something as of late."

"What is that?"

"Well I saw this old photo at your house and please don't kill me but I stole it."

"You stole a photo from my house, of what."

"It was the one of your mom and 'aunt' you know the young blonde woman that your parents think I kind of look like."

"Which the more I let it settle in I defiantly see some kind of resemblance between you and my aunt except that my aunt had these icy blue grey eyes?"

"You mean my mother's eyes."

"Now that you say that, your mother does have eyes like that. And then there was something my parents were fighting about while they thought I wasn't listening."

"What was it?"

"I don't really know, something about them knowing your parents and how my dad knew your grams lived in Oakfield. Then my mom saying how they, your parents couldn't know she was alive."

"That does sound weird...d-do you think there is a bigger picture because we can hire my dad I'm sure Jackal PI would jump on the case."

"No, your dad can't find out, no one can, I'll look into more and get back to you because I have a theory."

"What kind of theory."

"I'll tell you when I know more."

Kenzie nodded and they spent the rest of the afternoon talking about a changed subject.

--

Sunday morning Dillon and Georgie were not at home. Dillon was at the TV Station and Georgie was at the clinic hoping and praying she wouldn't have a run in with her past leaving Marty home alone to continue investigating.

He entered his parent's bedroom and spotted his mother's mahogany jewelry box sitting on her nightstand. Picking it up he placed it on the bed carefully going through the drawers of it to see what secrets it kept. So far he was only finding jewelry until he spotted something off, a folded piece of newspaper. Upon closer inspection he read about a Georgie Jones, found dead the evening of December 17th 2007 by one Damian Spinelli on the steps of the East Entrance to the park in Port Charles, New York. It said she was a victim of someone called the TMK or Text Message Killer and among her surviving relatives it stated that she had an older sister named Maxie. It was then he put the puzzle together, this was the last piece he needed. Somehow his mother died but not really, he'd have to find THAT out later. Her sister and friend got together having Kenzie and she started a fresh life with Dillon. He wondered if Dillon even was her childhood sweetheart until he read on and saw that his father was listed as her ex husband.

He needed to call Kenzie and he needed to call her now.

"Crap, busy signal..."

--

The reason for the busy signal was that Kenzie was otherwise engaged.

"I hate country music," Kenzie was saying over the phone while Matt Hunter was curled up asleep on her lap, "why on earth would I go to Nashville."

"The History," Maddie said.

"Again Maddie I hate Country Music, anyways how's Jake."

"Jake is Jake I guess but I'm so over him."

"You, over Jake."

"Asher is back."

"Asher, you mean Asher Giambetti."

"The one and only, apparently Diane missed working for small time crooks."

"So how is he, I haven't seen him in years."

"Kenz he's HOT, hold on I'll send you a picture."

Kenz waited patiently for the picture of now fifteen year old Asher to load. As she was waiting her phone beeped. Looking at the caller ID she saw it was Marty but since she was talking long distance she didn't want to go.

Soon her screen filled up with the picture of a young man. Fairly well built with short dark hair and deep green eyes looking back. She had to admit he was attractive.

"That's Asher."

"The city and puberty sure did the guy good."

"I know right, hold on I'm going to load the picture on my laptop and save it."

"Alright."

As she was doing this Spinelli entered the room already kind of distraught from being up in his Granny's room and upon seeing the strange young man's photo load on his daughter's computer screen he went into full fledged dad mode.

"Who the hell is he?"

"Relax dad that's just Asher."

"Asher, you mean the son of the former mob lawyer and protector of the night."

"Is there any other Asher I know?"

"I hope not."

Kenzie chuckled.

"Anyway daddy Asher is back in Port Charles and Maddie has a crush on him."

"Is that who you're talking to, Maddie?"

Kenzie nodded as her father yelled loud enough for it to be picked up.

"Hi Maddie.'

"Hi Uncle Damian," she said. Even though the older man was just her cousin through marriage he was always referred to as this.

He then took a seat on the living room chair as Matt Hunter sprung off Kenzie's lap and began to lick Spinelli's bare toes.

"Come up here you little mutt," he said picking him up.

"You know mom doesn't like you calling him that," Kenzie said standing up.

Spinelli chuckled and nodded.

-

A few moments later Kenzie returned into the living room and sat down with her dad.

"So how is Maddie?"

"Good besides crushing on Asher..Anyways you look like crap."

"That's because I feel like it."

"Oh my god you're not allergic to Matt Hunter are you."

"No, nothing like that, it's Gran."

"What's wrong?"

"She just seems more distant that's all and I hate to do this but I'm thinking of sending her to a home."

"It's that bad."

"Getting there."

"I'm sorry daddy," Kenzie said hugging him and causing Matt Hunter to scamper off.

"It's okay, I mean she is your great grandmother, my grandmother, she raised me most of my life."

"You never talk about my grandparents."

"Well from what I know I was a product of a drunken college one night stand and my mother never even knew my father's name. She did okay raising me, well with Granny's help until she died in a car wreck when I was five."

"I'm so sorry."

"It's okay; I turned out good didn't I."

"If you didn't I wouldn't be here. Anyway change in subject, mom's birthday she's going to be forty this year."

"Please don't remind me."

"Anyway, we are so planning a surprise party."

"We are."

"Sure, I mean we are her only family here in Oakfield and a milestone like this needs celebrating."

Spinelli smiled and nodded in agreement picking up a note pad.

"Ok let's get started."

--

The next morning Kenzie headed down the stairs when her parents called her over to the kitchen.

"It's ok; I'm going to grab a latte before school."

"This isn't about your nourishment or lack there of, it's Gran."

"What about her dad," she said noticing the tears welling up in the mirror image eyes of his.

Taking a deep breath she whispered, "She died didn't she."

"Last night, in her sleep."

"I've already called the school," Maxie said, "notified them of the situation."

Kenzie nodded picking up her phone.

"What are you doing," Maxie asked.

"Texitng Marty."

Her mother nodded as they sat around the kitchen trying to get things done

--

Later that afternoon Kenzie managed to find some alone time where she wasn't helping with funeral arrangements and things and was on the phone.

"I'm sorry to hear about Gran and yet I'm selfish, does this mean your moving back to Port Charles."

"I don't think so, at least not till the school year is out."

"School year, why not semester."

"There are too many things we need to do. Hear Gran's will, see what she wants to do with her things, the house, I mean dad was her only family and all that."

"I miss you though Spinelli."

"I miss you too Zacchara."

However little did she know Landon's I miss you meant so much more.

"Again I'm sorry."

"It's ok."

Matt Hunter was now nuzzling her leg.

"I'm sorry Landon I have to go; Matt Hunter needs to go out."

"Matt Hunter."

"Our dog...anyways I'll talk to you later."

Hanging up Landon rolled his eyes.

"Since when did they have a dog," he thought shaking his head.

--

After a long and sad and hectic week it was the day of Miriam's funeral. It was kind of weird especially for her father seeing all the people that piled into the church to pay their respects.

"I'm so sorry," said Bradin Wilkes who was at the funeral with Karin, "anyway my wife told me you were in town and I meant to call you."

"Y-you did."

"Yea, I thought we could hang out and get drinks, catch up."

"Catch up; you kicked my ass in high school."

"I'm sorry about that, anyway you look great and have two beautiful girls here."

"Thank you."

There were more awkward exchanges and Kenzie felt bad for her dad, she really did as she stepped out of the church for air.

"Marty hey," Kenzie said spotting her friend sitting on the steps dressed in a suit.

"Hey, sorry about Gran, I practically had to sneak out, nice service by the way."

"Thanks, and sneak out."

"My parents are weird and I think I know why."

He held out a piece of newspaper.

"A newspaper scrap."

"Read it."

Kenzie read through Georgie Jones's obituary twice and looked at Marty.

"I think that were cousins Kenz, that's why I feel so connected to you, our mom's are sisters."

"S-so what do we do now."

"I-I just don't know."

--

TBC

OK how did you like this update, I at least feel it isn't forced like the last two. Comments suggestions and feedback always loved.

And for the record I said Matt Hunter 14 times (well 15 counting that)