Chapter 11 - Coffee Anyone?
After attending her first meeting, Aly was feeling better, not great, but she wasn't keeping herself shut up in her room any longer. There was an awkwardness lingering at Fox Hollow. Spinelli went about his business, acting like nothing had been happening. Aly regretted the way she had treated him. She had barely spoken to him in recent weeks. She was hardly acting like a sister; she was acting more like a brat.
"Spinelli, I owe you an apology," she said softly as they sat at the breakfast table.
"For what?" he asked, puzzled that she was even speaking to him. He held no grudges but was still upset.
"I've been awful. It's been what? Two months, almost 3 since we found out that we are siblings, and I've done nothing but be a pain in your side. I've been horrible to you. Whether you are my brother or not, you didn't deserve to be treated the way you have been. All you have done is be a perfectly wonderful brother, and friend. I'm so sorry for the way I've treated you."
"You haven't been yourself; I just wanted to help you."
"I know that, now. I was wrong, I've been so wrong lately. I don't want you to feel like I don't appreciate what you've done for me. You are my brother, my only family, and I love you, Spin, I just… I want you to know that."
"I love you too," he said with a smile, "Now, can we get back to being the way we were before?"
"There is nothing else I want more," she said with a smile.
"Is the Jackal crazy, or have I heard music coming from your room every night this week?" he asked.
"You heard that?" she asked.
He shook his head. "I was unaware of the music playing device in your room."
"That's because there isn't one," she grinned.
He was puzzled.
"Spinelli, it was me," she said.
"You? But I heard a violin," he said, still confused.
"Yes, you did. I play the violin. I've played for years," she said proudly. She hadn't played for a very long time. After her parent's death, she had put her violin in the closet.
"I had no idea," he said.
"There are a lot of things that you don't know about me, not yet anyway," she patted him on the shoulder, smiled and went to her room.
She felt better that she told her brother how she really felt. He had been there for her and she was incredibly lucky to have him in her life.
A week had passed since the last meeting. Aly hadn't spoken to anyone but Spinelli. She wasn't quite ready for it yet. She knew in time she would be and that she'd have to talk to Nikolas, and apologize for treating him so horribly. He was acting in her best interest because he cared about her, and she had dismissed him rudely. That wasn't like her. She cared about him, too, and she had to let him know. She was ready for her next meeting. This week she was able to drive herself. She hoped that Lucky would be there again.
Sure enough, there he was, sitting down, an empty seat on either side of him. He motioned to her to sit next to him.
"Good to see you again, Aly," he said.
"You as well, thank you," she said as she sat down next to him.
The meeting this week really hit home with Aly. She was more in-tune to what was being said. They went over each of the 12 steps very carefully. Until now, she hadn't really realized how her addiction not only affected her, but those around her as well. She started thinking about how to help herself. One thing she needed to do was in step eight -- list people you hurt and make amends. She decided she would make her list once she got home. It was time.
At the end of the meeting, she hoped Lucky would invite her out for coffee again. She waited.
"Well, Aly, how are you feeling about things?" he asked.
"Better. I'm getting there, I suppose," she said shyly.
"Good, glad to hear it," he grabbed his jacket, "I'll see you next week?" he asked.
"Sure. I, uh, I was hoping to cash in that rain check if you aren't doing anything?"
"Yeah, I'd like that. Is Kelly's okay?" he asked.
"Sounds perfect," she smiled. She was all giddy.
Within a few minutes, they left the hospital. They went over to Kelly's to start what would be the first of many cups of coffee after their meetings.
"So, Nikolas was pretty vague when he told me about your addiction. How was Maxie involved again?" she boldly asked.
He wasn't surprised she asked. He was wondering when she was going to do that. "I had an accident where I hurt my back. I knew Maxie had a way to get me pain killers, and in return, I slept with her. It wasn't one of my finer moments."
"Maxie has a way of getting to people, doesn't she?" she asked.
"Yeah, you could say that," he said.
"I had her pegged the first time I met her. It's sad really. She's just lonely."
"She is. So much so that you could figure it out the first time you met her?"
"I read people well," she said with a smile.
"Really? Then how do you read me?"
"You? You are someone who has had his heart broken once or twice but refuses to give up on love. You would do anything for your family, and you will be an excellent father some day when you have your own children."
He smiled.
"You're a good guy, Detective Spencer."
"Thanks, I really appreciate that," he said, blushing a little.
"I just call it like I see it," she flirted.
They each took a sip of their coffee. She thought for a minute and then spoke.
"So, let me get this straight. You developed an addiction, and you slept with Maxie. Elizabeth found out and slept with Jason. You started seeing Sam but not before your divorce was final. You and Sam broke up because you found out about some of her lies, but then you gave her a second chance, only for her to ruin it by sleeping with Logan after you had a fight about more lies?" She was trying to understand him completely, so she had to get his story straight.
"Yeah, that sounds about right. You know what they say, what goes around comes around."
"And I thought I had it rough," Aly sighed.
"That's why I still go to meetings. It helps. The one thing you have to learn is not feel sorry for yourself."
"Easier said than done," Aly said softly.
"Aly, you have a lot going for you. Elizabeth tells me you are one of the best doctors that General Hospital has ever had. It takes a special person to do what you do, dealing with sick kids and their families. You are obviously a very caring and compassionate person. Just keep that in mind and things will get easier for you."
Aly looked at her watch. It had gotten late.
"Wow, I really should get home," she said.
"Sure….I'm really glad we did this. Maybe we can do it again?"
"I'd really like that. I'll see you soon?" she asked.
"I hope so," he said with a smile.
After she left, Lucky started wondering about Aly, and he wasn't sure why. 'She and Nikolas are close,' he thought, 'ever since the day they met. Maybe there's something more between her and my brother. She could be good for Nikolas, and Nikolas could be good for her. I have to talk to Nikolas first.' He was starting to care about Aly, more than just friends. If Nikolas was interested in her, he needed to know before he started feeling something more for Aly. He decided, 'nothing like the present time.' He got in his car and took off for Wyndemere.
Aly made her way back to Fox Hollow and up to her room. She needed to focus on step number eight in the N/A pattern, making her list of those she needed to make amends with. She pulled out a piece of paper and started her list. She wrote – 1. Nikolas; 2. Jason; 3. Logan. She stared at the list. 'This is a start,' she said and looked out the window. She realized that she was incredibly lucky to be alive, after everything she had been through.
Nikolas was up in the playroom with Spencer. Lesley was out, so he was taking the time to spend it with Spencer and spoil him. He wasn't sure how much longer he was going to be around and wanted to be with him when he could. All he knew was that he wasn't going to have the surgery. He couldn't live his life without Emily. She was so much a part of him; he saw her in everything and everywhere he went. He knew that Spencer was too young to know what was happening, and he was almost thankful that his son would never know. Spencer had enough people around to take care of him.
Lucky knocked on the playroom door. "Hey, Nikolas."
"Hi, Lucky, come on in. Join us boys at playtime," he laughed with Spencer. Lucky sat down with them, and Nikolas looked at his brother. "What's on your mind?"
"I had to come and talk to you, and also thank you."
Nikolas was a little confused. "What do you mean?"
"I needed to thank you for trying to talk some sense into Aly and trying to get her to come to the N/A meetings. I saw her there the first day, and we have been talking ever since. She is a great girl…she's had it really rough."
"Yes, she has. She is an amazing woman. We are lucky to have a friend like her in our lives."
Lucky thought for a minute and played with Spencer. 'How should I bring this up,' he wondered. 'No easy way to do it, just jump right in.'
"You got quiet again. So, what's with you? Out with it," Nikolas said. He wasn't normally pushy with Lucky, but something was going on with him, and he knew Lucky was stalling.
"I have to ask you about Aly," he started. "There's no easy way to do it, so I'll just come right out with it. How do you feel about her? Do you like her?"
Nikolas looked at his brother. He was still so much in love with Emily, so the question came as a surprise to him. "Of course, I like her, Lucky," he started. "She has been an incredible friend to me. She's warm, honest, caring, and reminds me of Emily in any number of ways," he stopped and looked at Lucky. "Aly has a lot of the same characteristics as Emily did, which I could see why you'd think there is something more. She's not Emily. Emily was the only one for me. You loved Emily too but as friend. That's how I feel about Aly."
"Nikolas, I know. This has been a nightmare for you. Just remember you have all of us to lean on. We'll be here for you."
"Why did you ask about Aly?"
"I started thinking today, you and Aly have a special relationship of some kind, and I wasn't sure what it was. I needed to know if you were interested in her. I'm beginning to care about her more than a friend, and I wanted to talk to you about it, since you know her pretty well."
"Lucky, you would be good for her. She needs someone strong and dependable in her life. Someone that will be there for her, no matter what. And quite honestly," he got up with Spencer, and so did Lucky, "you deserve someone like her, too. She will be good for you."
Nikolas put Spencer down for a nap, and they left the room and went downstairs towards the front door.
"Thanks. I sure hope so," Lucky said. "I've got to head back into town. I'll talk to you later on."
"Talk to you soon," Nikolas said and closed the front door. He sat down at his desk and began thinking. He hadn't heard from Aly since the day he went to Fox Hollow to get her out of her room, and then she threw him out. It was good to hear that she was in the land of the living again. He was hoping to run into his friend soon. He missed her, missed talking to her. He started doing some other things until it was time for Spencer to get up again.
Lucky headed back to town. Now he knew Nikolas didn't see Aly that way, even though they were close. It was time for Lucky to start finding out more about the real Aly.
Another week had passed. Aly found herself sitting at Kelly's with Lucky once again. Just as she had the previous 3 weeks. Each week they talked, mostly about Sam and Logan. It may have been a little redundant, but it was helping.
"I just can't seem to get past it all. I thought I knew Logan so well," Aly said in disbelief.
Lucky pondered for a moment. "That's it. You think you misread him," he finally said.
"Maybe I did. But what are you saying?" she asked. She was confused.
"Well, as much as I don't like the guy for what he did to you and to Lulu, I think when he met you, he changed. I think he became the guy that you thought he was."
"Funny, Lulu said the same thing," Aly said.
"I think that is your biggest problem. You are doubting yourself. You feel like you were wrong about him, but you weren't. You need to stop beating yourself up, what happened wasn't your fault. Logan is the one who screwed up, he's the only one to blame."
"I guess. Maybe you are right. I have always felt like I could read people really well," she admitted.
"And you do, but that doesn't mean that people won't disappoint you."
"Like you and Elizabeth. You both loved each other, and thought you knew each other really well, but you both disappointed one another." Aly was trying to make sense of things.
"Yes. We do know each other really well. People screw up and make mistakes. "
"But, you and Elizabeth, you were able to forgive each other?" She questioned.
"We were. It took some time, but we are finally in a good place. I had a lot of growing up to do. I think Logan is in the same position. "
"So maybe I should forgive him?" She gave him a questioning look.
"Well, that's totally up to you. I will say that with Elizabeth and me it was a little different with our situation. There is a lot of history between us. "
Aly looked to the floor. She wanted to have history with someone like Lucky did with Elizabeth. She wasn't sure if that would ever be possible.
She finally looked back up at Lucky, "I'm a little embarrassed at the fact that you have only seen me at my worst."
"If this is your worst, then your best must be pretty incredible," he smiled.
"You know what I mean,"she said sadly.
"You've seen me at mine too. The Black and White Ball when I found out Jake wasn't mine, that was not a good scene," he reminded her.
"Well, I understood you, though. Don't get me wrong, I love Elizabeth, and Jason too, but I didn't agree with how they handled that particular situation."
"It's in the past now. As much as I don't like Jason, I have no doubt that he loves Jake or Elizabeth. Sure, I worry, because a part of me still loves them both, but I know he'll do whatever it takes to keep Elizabeth and both of the boys safe."
"Good. You shouldn't have any doubts. Jason may not have the most respectable job, but he's a good guy, whether you want to believe it or not," Aly said.
"What I want to believe is that you and I have seen the last of the worst of ourselves."
"I want to believe that too. It's just hard. I, I put myself out there for the first time in my entire life, I took a chance, and it blew up in my face. I'm a little skeptical about doing that ever again."
"But Aly, that's what life is about. Taking chances. Because if you don't, you'll never know what might happen." His eyes sparkled. He hoped that eventually Aly would take another chance, on him.