Note: Thank you so much to those of you who left comments on the last chapter: Drumboy100, Guests (various), Hero76, FANHB08, sm2003495, hbndgirl, Ritu, candylou, Paulina Ann, Caranath, max2013, EvergreenDreamweaver, BMSH, ChrisCorso, and ErinJordan. Your feedback always makes me think and I am appreciative of the support and suggestions. This chapter flips to Callie before the action picks up. I am trying to work on balancing how the guys will intellectually solve the case while simultaneously advancing to the action and exploring each character in depth, my favorite thing to do! I'm also trying to show more of who Johnny was via flashbacks... and, based on those flashbacks, who Frank, Joe, Callie, and others were/are as well.

I believe that I sent PM's to everyone who had a registered account. Several people did not, so to the following people:

1. Guest: Regarding Jessica, she is Stella's mother. Lorenzo is her brother and Josh was her boyfriend.

2. Guest: Hello...

3. Guest: Thank you for remembering the detail about Callie coming onto John in "The Stages of Conviction." She did indeed, but that was immediately after her attack when she was suffering PTSD and wasn't thinking straight. She and John both knew that, and Callie DID tell Frank everything about that time. She has always been honest about her background.

4. Ritu, you're lovely and I always appreciate your sweet feedback. I am a big Callie fan because in the early years of FanFiction, no one was... many writers demonized her for some reason I cannot understand. I would think Frank Hardy would want a solid, smart, good person by his side. I don't know if I will be writing any more after this story, but I'll never say never. I may do shorter works or a one shot here and there. We shall see. It depends on the muses and if people even have an interest in seeing more in this arc.

5. Candylou, thanks for your kind words and insights. Frank just needs a little time to get it together; he's trying really hard.

Relative Fortune

Chapter 10

Callie cried, something she almost never did, wrapping her arms around herself as sat on her bed, pictures of Johnny spread in front of her. Finally, after almost two years, she had opened the envelope of pictures that he had left for her, stuffed inside the great financial gift to her and Frank, almost as if he had known in some strange way that his beautiful, bright star was not meant to burn long. She finally let the overwhelming emotions out, allowing herself to mourn privately for her dearest friend, the only other man with whom she could have fallen in love if the universe had aligned in the slightest different way.

She looked at the ruby ring she always wore on her right hand, a gift from Johnny several years ago. Her heart ached at his loss, an emptiness that could never be filled no matter how hard she tried to pretend it could be.

She sat back against the headboard, trying in vain to stop the tears. But now, it was as if the dam had opened, and there was no stopping it.

He was everywhere. She had FELT his presence almost overwhelmingly this month, and she had brushed it off, knowing that the anniversary of both his birth and death were coming in the next few weeks. But maybe it was something more. Maybe it was a sign. Maybe it was him reaching out to her from beyond trying to ask for her help.

Johnny had a baby girl. She knew it was true.

And she could never, ever let someone else raise that child.

Unconsciously, she covered her stomach, a womb that would never again be able to hold life, and tried to control her breathing. She had been so blessed in her life, more than she ever could have imagined. She had solid, selfless parents and extended family, two miracle children who now defined her meaning in life, and her soulmate, the deepest, most precious and passionate love she had ever found, in Frank. She had a brother in Joe and a sister in Vanessa, friends, a top notch education, a purposeful job that she loved, financial security. For all of those things, she was grateful beyond belief.

She had even come to terms with the vicious, vile attack that had been perpetrated upon her, though she allowed herself to cry now, too, for the first time in years about it; for the night of agony, the years of recovery, and the lifetime of strength that she needed to keep her wits about her as a result of it. The unfairness of it all… she had always wanted a big family, and for years- years- she had believed she couldn't have any children. And the truth was, had it not been for two miracles and top notch medical care, she never would have sustained the pregnancies that she had. She hated to admit how deeply it pained her that she would never again have children; she and Frank may have decided not to, but the fact remained that the choice had been taken away from her, and it left her… empty.

Johnny had been taken away from her, too, and she still missed him every day. But now… but now maybe she could have a part of him back. God, he would have loved any child; he had told her that countless times. She rubbed her forehead, thinking of the utter joy he had felt, how excited he had been, when she had become pregnant. He had died in the same week that her son had been born. He had never seen his namesake.

How had this happened?

Instantly, her mind flashed back to that Christmas before he had died, before the Cotnig case had taken him and destroyed so many lives. She had only started feeling a little off at four months pregnant, her medical issues not even a reality at that point, and she had flown out to Malibu to spend an extended weekend with him while he had a weekend off from a movie shoot and Frank and Joe were on a case in Maine.

"I will never NOT appreciate this life," Johnny told her as he smiled at her from the reclining chair adjacent to her and laced his fingers through hers. It was a gorgeous, perfect California day and they were lounging outside on the private stretch of beach he owned outside his Malibu home.

Callie smiled as she looked out at the ocean, pulling down the wide brim on her sunhat and squeezing his hand. "I mean, it does beat the days we had to scrimp and save to earn enough money to use the pool at the YMCA," she admitted, giggling.

John laughed. "No joke! We couldn't even relax for two seconds. Remember when I found that diaper in the pool? I couldn't swim again for a month before I got my nerve up again."

Callie nodded, the grin still on her face. "Yeah, so then you got the great idea to teach me how to surf, only you couldn't afford a surfboard, so we rented one from that old beach shack and it split in half when we were way back in the ocean! I thought I would die of exhaustion trying to swim to shore or be attacked by a shark along the way!" She started laughing. "We had so much fun, Johnny. No matter how little we each had, we made the most of it."

"We sure did," John agreed. "Now look at you! Married to Frank, a baby on the way…" He sat up and turned to her. "I am so happy for you," he told her, and, in a rare moment of seriousness, he leaned over and kissed her forehead. "You deserve the world, and I love you so much, sweetheart."

Callie turned to him, resting her hands on both sides of his face. "YOU deserve the world, and I love you so much, too." She leaned forward and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Now stop being so serious and enjoy this amazing life."

John smiled again and reached for her hands as he faced her. "Can I tell you something?"

"Don't you always?" she questioned back, teasing.

John pulled down his sunglasses and rolled his eyes before taking them off. "I wanted to thank you for coming all the way out to see me. I know I'll see you and Frank in three months, but it's been so long. And the holidays are always kind of lonely. My Christmas will be spent with my director on location in Ireland."

"Oh, honey," Callie replied, "you can stay with us anytime you want."

"I'm not asking you to feel bad for me," Johnny answered. "I mean, who can complain, right?! It's just that you're my family and…." He sighed, and she squeezed his hands.

"What, Johnny?" she asked, with concern.

"You never judge me, and you tell it like it is. You don't care about money or fame or anything, and you know who I really am. And so does Frank. And your Bayport friends are really cool, too. But you will always be my best friend and I need some best friend advice."

"Okay…" Callie replied, patient.

"So… I messed up. Big time. UGH!" He released her hands and leaned against the chair, pushing back his golden brown hair.

"What'd you do?" Callie tried not to smile. "Let's face it, Johnny. You tend to attract some wildness in your life. You're a little out of your mind."

John stared at her for a few seconds before laughing. "I choose to be entertained by that and not offended."

"Of course!" Callie replied lightly. "Spit it out. No need for long, drawn out, circuitous tales, my dear."

"Says the woman, a master in silence," he joked.

"John!" she retorted. "Let's do it. Get to the point."

"Okay," he began. "So I was seeing this guy for a few months, and…"

"You were? Why didn't you tell me?!" she squealed delightedly.

"Let's do it, John," he parroted back to her, teasing. "Get to the point."

"Sorry," she murmured, with a small laugh. "Go ahead."

"I'll be brief," he agreed, but she could see the worry in his eyes. "It was a pretty bad breakup. I mean, I liked him a lot, and he cheated on me. So I went out one night, got completely wasted- thank god the press didn't catch wind of it- and ended up hooking up with this girl. Then she left, and I have no way to get in touch with her. I… what happened?" he finished with a sigh. "I feel like an awful human being."

Callie sucked in her breath. "Okay. Wow," she managed. "That's a lot to process."

"Yup," John replied. "I'm sorry. I apologize. I want to be the good person you believe me to be, and I wasn't." Despite his deep tan, she could tell he was blushing.

"John," she found herself saying quietly, "look at me."

He met her eyes.

"You do not owe me an apology. You have set the golden standard for friendship, and I will always support you unconditionally."

"But…" he started, and she cut him off.

"I know what you're feeling. Honey, you were hurt and you lashed out. No one can blame you for that. It's been years since you've been with women, right? College was the last time… and you struggled so much then to figure out your sexuality. You know who you are, and one drunken night doesn't negate that."

"Thanks, Cal," he said at last. "I know. But I think I needed to hear it from you."

She rubbed his arm. "You… I mean… it was consensual, I assume." She hated that her voice shook on that question.

Johnny looked shocked. "Of course. God!" He stood for a moment. "Really?! It's bad enough I was drunk, but I would never…"

She stood next to him. "I know. I had to ask."

"Did you?!" he asked pointedly. "Yes, it was. Want details?" He was almost shouting, obviously having been upset by her question. "It was at a club, late at night. She came onto me and I didn't stop her. I didn't want to think and I didn't want to feel, but all I've been doing the past two weeks is thinking and feeling terrible. I'm over those crazy days, Callie. They ended in college… with you!" He threw up his hands. "You always saw the best in me; you always saw the glass half-full. Instead of letting my life pull you down, you raised me up. I'm sorry I let you down now."

She went to respond, but felt lightheaded and shaky, something she now knew was the start of her severe anemia, but which she didn't know then. Her heart started racing and she found it hard to breathe as black dots started to swim in front of her eyes.

She didn't remember how she ended up back in the house; all she remembered was talking to an EMT later, who had cleared her after checking her out but advised that she see a doctor upon her return home. Then she had slept and slept and slept before waking up the next day groggily, seeing Johnny sitting beside her.

He told her that he had called Frank, who was on his way to California as they spoke, and his green eyes were filled with concern. She sat up weakly and nodded at him, and, in the next minute, she was securely in his arms. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, kissing the top of her head. "God, I never meant to upset you."

Callie closed her eyes and snuggled against him. "You didn't," she answered. Slowly opening her eyes, she pulled back slightly from him as the magnitude of what had happened dawned on her.

"The baby's okay," Johnny replied, answering her unasked question. "Thank god."

She nodded. "I'm a little scared," she admitted in a soft voice.

Johnny held her closer, and she clung to him, wishing that Frank were there with her, and she was in his arms, instead.

"He's coming," he responded, again as though he could read her thoughts. "But I'm going to take care of you until he arrives."

"You always do," she managed.

She must have fallen asleep again, because when she woke up at the sound of beeping from a text message, she was alone. Frank had texted not an hour ago that he was on the way, and she smiled, comforted, needing him there. She stood, feeling much stronger, took a quick shower, and changed. Then she walked into the living room, moving next to Johnny, who had stood at her arrival.

She motioned for him to sit down and she sat on his lap, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "Thank you," she told him. "I'm okay now, but I WILL feel better when Frank is here and I see a doctor. It could have been anything. Please don't think for a second it's your fault."

Johnny nodded, but she could see he wasn't convinced. "You are incapable of doing bad, John." At that, he met her eyes. "You have been my best friend for years and you put your whole life on hold to take care of me…"

"Don't," he cut in. "Don't go there."

"My point is, John John," she went on, still looking into his eyes, "that you are a selfless, amazing person. Someone hurt you and what did you do? You lashed out and ended up hurting yourself instead of anyone else. You had a one night stand, which everyone in the world seems to have done- well, except for me and Frank- " she laughed softly. "So what? You tried to find her; she didn't want to be found. She pursued you and took advantage of who you were. You shouldn't have done it, but live and learn. How many times have you told me not to be defined by what is in the past?"

"Thanks, sweetheart," he said softly, and she saw the tears in his eyes. "Besides," he went on, "I couldn't be straight or I would have married you a long time ago and Frank's loss would have been my gain." He winked at her as he wiped back his tears.

Callie laughed."Oh, right. Obviously."

He smiled back. "It worked out, though. I ended up with the most beautiful best friend in the world and her really handsome but totally off the market husband as one of my closest friends. And-" he gently touched her stomach, as she had just started showing, "you are going to have a beautiful baby who I will spoil rotten. No kidding- Joe Hardy and I may come to blows over the status as #1 Uncle."

Callie grinned and rolled her eyes. "You have to share. I love him, too."

"I mean, I guess." He sighed dramatically, teasing her.

"Ready?" she asked him. "Let's look for my husband. He should be arriving pretty soon."

Johnny took her hand as he stood next to her and then, impulsively, hugged her to him. She would never forget the look in his eyes or his next words, which now resonated more clearly than ever.

"You need to take care of yourself, Callie." His eyes shone with conviction. "I love you with my whole heart. I swear to you that I will love your children with all that I have forever and treat them as my own. I know this might be selfish, but I know that I won't ever have my own children, so I want to leave a little of me with yours." His voice cut out.

Callie fought her own tears. All that was unspoken was in that silence: his regret at not having his own biological children to hold true to who he was; his deep buried fear, which only she really knew, about being alone, since his parents were now dead and he was an only child; his need to be accepted and embraced for who he was, not what he could offer others. "My baby- babies?!-" she let out a little laugh, "-will love you so much," she whispered. "Frank and I are your family, Johnny. I would trust you with my child like I know you would trust me with yours. See what happens one day. You can adopt, you know." She gave him a small wink.

"You're right," he said at last. "Come on," he went on, releasing her and taking her hand. "Let's wait out front. No more baby talk for now. There will be plenty of time for that."

Only there hadn't been time. He was gone three months later.

Callie reached for a tissue and wiped her eyes. She could hear his words, picture the look in his eyes, and feel his arms around her now as of it were yesterday. She would stop crying now; he would want that.

But she would not betray her words to him; his to her. Johnny WOULD have adored JJ and Laurie, and, if it was true that he had a daughter- and the timeline and his words supported that truth- then she would love that child as if she would her own.

"But at what cost?" she whispered out loud.

Could she ask that sacrifice of Frank, to raise another man's child as his own, no matter how good of a friend he was? She knew that Frank loved Johnny, too, but deep down she had always known that Frank had the slightest insecurity about him, accepting him totally but never quite totally at peace with the fact that she could love another man as she did- would Johnny's baby exacerbate that insecurity and would Frank, subconsciously, take it out on Johnny's child by distancing himself from her?

And, even in a perfect world, married three years and having three children under two was almost overwhelming. Would it be too much for them to handle?

All this… IF it was true. And then, IF Frank and Joe could save her from a horrible monster. The thought made her stomach turn.

She loved Frank deeply; he was everything to her. Frank was her best friend in the world, her soul's companion, and they shared the most passionate and intensely beautiful love she had ever known; would ever know.

No- Frank had to come first, before Johnny. She knew that. There was no one Frank would ever come second to with her.

But she did love Johnny, too, and would love his child; she was already invested, based on that one picture, when she saw Johnny looking right into her eyes through that beautiful baby.

She looked at her hands, the right one sporting the ruby ring Johnny had given her, the left one her gorgeous wedding and engagement rings.

She closed her eyes and prayed for guidance, clasping her hands, her left hand instinctively covering her right one. It had always been that way… and she knew it always would be; as it should be.

But she needed both hands to be whole.

What was she going to do?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A knock on the door snapped her from her reverie. Grabbing a tissue, she dabbed at her eyes and flipped on the camera focused on the front door, surprised when she saw Joe there. She thought he would have been busy on one of the many cases in which he was involved.

Uttering a quick prayer of thanks that both kids were still napping, she quickly got out of bed and went down the stairs, opening the door.

"Hey," she told him as she ushered him into the house. "What are you doing here?"

Joe smiled at her as he entered, immediately noticing her red-rimmed eyes. Yes, coming here to see her had been the right thing to do. "I literally have only 15 minutes," Joe told her as he kissed her cheek, "but I wanted to see you."

"Is everything okay?" she asked him as he took off his jacket and threw it on the nearby table in the entrance-way.

Joe looked at her, his bright blue eyes full of compassion. "I thought that you might need a hug," he said, simply. "No offense, but by the look on your face, I think I may have been right."

Callie felt her lower lip tremble. "Why would you think that?" she asked, voice shaking.

"Come here," Joe sighed, and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. He kissed the top of her head as she hugged him back tightly. "I know about Johnny," he said softly. "I know about the baby. And I know Frank's reaction to the whole thing. I also know him well enough to know he processes things differently than… normal people." He smiled. "I knew he would be out on the Santitori case today, because he actually focuses better when he distracts himself- trust me."

Callie buried her face against his chest, just under his shoulder, and cut to the heart of the matter. "Oh, Joe," she whispered. "He might have had a daughter."

Gently, Joe pulled back and cupped her face in his hands, looking into her eyes. "Cal, I promise you that I'll find out. I give you my word. If Johnny had a daughter, I'll know, and so will you. Frank wants to know, too, believe it or not. He just… I know his reaction is a little weird. Just give him time to process everything, you know? On top of this news, yesterday was really traumatic for him. He needs time to work things out silently first. It's just his way."

Callie nodded as she fought tears. "I don't blame him," she said quietly. "He… he has his reasons. We talked a little, and we'll work it out. We… have to."

Joe smiled affectionately at her and kissed her forehead before dropping his hands. "You will. You always do. Today, I wanted to promise you that I'll find out the truth. I also wanted to tell you that, while I don't really understand Frank's reaction, I do know him. No matter what you two decide, if that little girl is John's daughter, I know my brother. He will do the right thing, whatever he thinks that is. And I'm sure he'll talk to you about it. You'll work this out as a team, right? Team.. Frallie? Calank?" he teased her.

Callie nodded and managed a little smile. "You're a dork, but you're good to my husband. Team Jank… I'm partial to Team Froe. And you are always so good to me, too," she choked out. "Team Calloe? Team Jallie?"

"I like Jallie," he said softly, as he rubbed her back.

"I'm just… a little overwhelmed right now." She again wiped at her eyes.

"Of course you are, Cal." He squeezed her shoulder. "But please- it's so important- tell Frank to talk to me. I'm here for him. And I'm here for you, too. So is Van, and my parents, and yours. A lot of people love you both, and you'll get through this."

"You're a good guy, Joe," she replied, reaching for his hand. "Thank you."

"I also need you to help me," Joe told her, rubbing her hand in comfort. He was being serious and he needed her now.

"Anything. Of course," she agreed readily.

"You know most… not all… about Van's dad," he began.

Callie was surprised. "Where'd that come from?" she asked.

"Please, Cal. Just listen. Van loves you and she's trusted you with that information for a long time. Tell me the truth. Have you told my brother?"

Callie shook her head. "No. She asked me not to tell anyone a long time ago."

Joe nodded. "I appreciate that," he replied. "You know how to keep a secret."

Callie felt her face blush, and Joe's eyes grew wide. "Oh, god, Cal. I- that's not what I…" He stuttered. They'd never spoken of her secret since she had told him close to two months ago.

"It's okay," she said at last. "I know."

"Open mouth, insert foot," he joked, weakly, and was relieved when Callie just squeezed his hand.

"What did you want to tell me?" she asked.

Joe sighed before answering. "Cal, I hate secrets; I really do. But we all have them, and I can only hope that they won't come back to hurt us. I think Vanessa should tell people, because she is not her father, and she has nothing to be ashamed of, but that's not my call."

"No, it's not," Callie agreed, gently.

Joe smiled. "I'm telling you this because I'm looking into it soon with Biff. I told Van that I'm telling you. Don't worry about the details. Just please- if something goes wrong, when I'm with Biff… tell Frank. Vanessa will have the details."

"Something go wrong when you and Biff are together? Never," she teased.

Joe rolled his eyes. "Cal, I know you don't understand this. But I need this favor. Say nothing to Frank. But if you or Van don't hear from me three days after I leave- and I'll tell you when that is- call Vanessa and tell Frank. Got it?"

She nodded. "Okay. You have my word."

"Good enough," he replied. He grabbed his jacket and threw it on after releasing her hand. He met her eyes as he got ready to go. "Hey," he reminded her. "Remember what I said. I'll get answers for you; trust my brother and talk to him; and know I'm here for you and I love you both." He leaned down and hugged her tightly.

"Thank you," she told him as she pulled away. "You're semi-endearing at times." Her eyes shone with affection.

Joe laughed. "You're not," he replied, winked, and headed out the door.

Mission one of the day was accomplished, at least.