The next morning
Tyler felt Kellie stir against him. She opened her eyes long enough to groan.
"You're not going to want to get up for a while," Tyler said, running his fingers through her hair, "There's no reason to try. I'll get you some water and some aspirin."
"There's Gatorade in the pool house," Kellie said, "And that's where…that's where the rest of the alcohol you missed is."
"I'll take care of it," Tyler said, getting out of bed trying to disturb Kellie as little as possible.
As Tyler was scouring the pool house for alcohol, his phone rang.
"Hey Dad," Tyler answered.
"How are things going with you and Kellie?" Charles asked, "I heard she had some kind of an episode."
"It's rough," Tyler said, "One step forward, two steps back type thing. She was really good most of yesterday until she came to me and I told her we had to wait until we renewed our vows. By the time, I found Kellie she'd drank half a bottle of Tequila."
"She's trying to push you away," Charles said.
"You were right about her thinking she's not good enough for me," Tyler said, "She admitted it."
"Hang in there, son," Charles said, his speech faltering ever so slightly.
"I'm trying, Dad," Tyler said, "But she said something last night that makes me wonder if we can make it. She said I don't trust her. It's true I don't trust her not to leave."
"She doesn't trust you not to leave either," Charles said, his speech still slightly off.
"Dad, are you okay," Tyler asked.
"Just a late night, burning the midnight oil on a case," Charles said, "Nothing to worry about. I love you, son. Tell Kellie I said Hi. We'll chat later."
"I love you too, Dad," Tyler said as the line went dead.
Back in Miami, Charles Scott hung up the phone trembling before collapsing to the ground.
Later that afternoon
Kellie sat out on the balcony, her hangover mostly gone. Tyler had gone out and gotten her a new cell phone.
The number she dialed went to Lulu's voicemail. She started to leave a message and then hung up, thinking the better of it.
Within minutes, Lulu called back. When Kellie didn't answer, Lulu sent a text message, "Call me back. I'll answer. I'm guessing you want to talk to someone, but are over-thinking the whole thing. If I have to call you back, you better answer."
Kellie hit redial before she could think about it anymore.
"That was fast," Lulu said, "I figured I'd have to call you back and have Tyler hold the phone to your ear or something."
"Okay, I'm hanging up now," Kellie said.
"No, don't, ok that was kind of mean," Lulu said, "It's just you don't normally call unless it's some life or death problem. But never mind that. What's up?"
Kellie didn't answer right away.
"What's on your mind?" Lulu said, "You are the one called."
"It's stupid," Kellie said, "Forget I called."
"Kellie, I'm sure it's not stupid," Lulu said, "Spit it out."
"I put the moves on Tyler last night," Kellie said, "He turned me down. Said he'd only sleep with me once he'd proposed and we'd renewed our vows in a real wedding ceremony. So my husband doesn't want or trust me. Not that I blame him. Look at everything I've put him through. I don't even understand why he's still here. Why he even came."
"Wow, Kellie, breathe," Lulu said, "First off, definitely not stupid. You put yourself out there and Tyler totally rejected you as woman. You have every right to be upset"
"Thank you, I think," Kellie said.
"But I think the fact that he wants to wait and have a wedding with all the works is sweet," Lulu said, "That's major brownie points."
"But if we're going to do this why wait?" Kellie said, "It's not like we managed to wait when we were planning to get married eons ago. Why does it matter now?"
"Tyler stays with you because he's crazy in love with you," Lulu said, "Even though he probably could have done a better job at telling you no last night, you have put him through a lot. You ran out on him and it's not like you trust him not to walk out on you either."
"You're not making me feel better," Kellie said.
"That's what girlfriends do," Lulu said, "Sometimes we make you feel better and other times we tell you what you need to hear even if it makes you feel like dirt. So what happened after Tyler left you hot and bothered?"
"I went out to the pool house. Found a bottle of Tequila Tyler didn't find when he cleaned out the alcohol on the estate and got drunk on the beach," Kellie said.
"How much did you drink before Tyler found you?" Lulu asked, "Half the bottle."
"Am I really that predictable?" Kellie asked.
"Yeah," Lulu said, "When you're not doing the superhero mob princess thing, you're running all over the globe and throwing in the occasional drunken temper tantrum. Am I correct in assuming that Tyler dragged you back to the house where you flashed your claws a couple times before you cried yourself to sleep in Tyler's arms?"
"Seriously, Lulu, do you have spy cams or something," Kellie said, "Because that's just creepy. Make that really creepy."
"Nice try there attempting to steer the conversation away from you," Lulu said, "Are you trying to push Tyler away? That's exactly what you tried to do with your little drinking stunt last night."
"No…okay maybe," Kellie said, "I want to make it work with Tyler. But I don't know if we can."
"Kellie, no one knows if they're ever actually going to make it work," Lulu said, "You and Tyler are no different. So quit pushing everyone away. We're not going anywhere."
"Why did I think this was a good idea?" Kellie responded.
"I'm right and you know it," Lulu said, "I have to go. Call again. This was weird. But it was good. Maybe next time, I'll have the man drama and you can tell me things I don't want to hear. Make me feel like dirt. Of course, I'd actually have to have a man around to complain about."
"I met this guy in Italy who would be perfect for you," Kellie said, "Except for the fact he works for the Zacharras."
"Kellie what the hell were you doing getting mixed up with the Zacharras?" Lulu asked.
"It was actually a fluke thing," Kellie said, "I was riding hours outside the city. My tire blew. No cell reception. I started walking. Said guy pulls up in his black vehicle alongside me. Offers me a ride back to town."
"You got in the car with a complete stranger?" Lulu said, "You of all people should know better. Especially being in Zacharra territory."
"That's just it Lulu," Kellie said, "This foot soldier was American, raised in a Catholic. Everything about his involvement was just off. Other than the mob aspect, he seems like normal. He even noticed the fake wedding ring that I wore, told me to quite running from my husband and make things work with him."
"Smart guy," Lulu said, "If you ever cross paths with him and he's available, send him my way. Better yet, send him an invitation to your wedding. I'm sure he'd love to know you and Tyler are back together."
"Lulu," Kellie said, "You're going to be late to wherever it is you need to be. Kate will probably kill you."
"Dang it," Lulu said, hanging up "I gotta go."
"So what's this I hear about you meeting strange men in Italy," Tyler said, coming up behind Kellie.
"I blew a tire on my bike. This American foot soldier for the Zacharras happened to be driving by. He gave me a ride back to town," Kellie said.
"Did he know who you were?" Tyler asked.
"He did," Kellie said, "I didn't know who he was until he used my name and it wasn't the one I had given him."
"Obviously, you're safe," Tyler said, "It just seems odd he wouldn't try something."
"He works for a different branch of the family," Kellie said, "Other than Claudia, the Zacharras in Italy are almost a separate world from the Zacharras in Port Charles. I kind of got the feeling whatever his reasons are for being in the mob, they're not the usual ones."
"Kind of like you where it's to protect the innocent," Tyler said.
"Maybe," Kellie said.
"I guess he can't be all bad if he told you to quit running aside from giving you a ride to town," Tyler said, "Whatever he said, it stuck with you, didn't it?"
"I almost got on a plane to Port Charles. Then I isolated myself here after that," Kellie said, "If that counts for anything."
"I bet he'd want to know I came after you and you quit running," Tyler said.
"Are you saying I should look him up?" Kellie asked.
"If you want to," Tyler said, "I can also see the wheels turning in your head. Whatever doesn't fit about this guy whatever his name is, it bugs you."
"His name's Dominic," Kellie said, "I guess I could think about it. But it might be asking for trouble."
"If you find out something not on the up and up about this guy," Tyler said, "Give it to Jason or Lorenzo. I don't expect you stop doing your mafia/spy thing, Kellie. I knew what I signed on for when I stayed in Port Charles and again when I came down here."
"I'm sure you expected to deal with a mental episode and drunken temper tantrums," Kellie said, flippantly, "Tyler, you have to admit this more than you signed on for."
"Sometimes, yeah," Tyler said, wrapping his arms around Kellie "But I didn't come down here thinking us would be easy. I'm not going anywhere, Kellie, no matter how much you keep pushing. I wasn't trying to hurt you last night, but you were reacting more out of raw hurt and emotion. If we'd been with each more often before you left, it would be one thing. But we haven't and there are reasons you ran without me after Michael got shot. Being with each other now, won't fix the things that are wrong between us, Kellie. That's why I want to do the whole wedding and waiting thing because we when do say our vows, we're both in it from the beginning, for better for worse, until death do us part."
"Tyler, do you ever regret not waiting," Kellie asked, "When we were just out of school and stuff."
"Yes and no," Tyler said, "I loved being with you. Sometimes after you left, I was thankful for that one night. Other times it made hard to move on. I don't necessarily regret that you got pregnant. What I do regret is that because we didn't wait, you got pregnant only to lose a child on top of being raped by Ethan. Like I caused more heartache"
Tyler started to pull away from Kellie.
"You feel guilty because of that," Kellie said, pulling him back to her, "We didn't know Ethan was going to do the things he did. I'm glad we didn't wait. Because at least if Ethan couldn't be stopped from raping me, I know what it's supposed to be like between a man and a woman."
"Kellie," Tyler said, "I just wish."
"Tyler, my miscarrying our child wasn't your fault," Kellie said, tearing up "There's not a day that goes by that I don't wish she was here with us, that I had carried her to term, spent late nights feeding and changing her. I can't change that. I'm certainly not going to regret one of the best nights of my life because of what Ethan did."
Tyler collapsed on the balcony floor in Kellie's arms, his eyes welling with tears.
They stayed that way for who knows how long until Kellie turned Tyler's face towards her.
"I wish you'd told me that you've been blaming yourself for the fact we lost a child," Kellie said, "I had no idea you felt that way."
"Kellie, you've had so many things to deal with," Tyler said, "I didn't want to add your family's drama, the mob danger, and whatever else. I didn't think it was that important."
"Not important," Kellie said, "You think that that fact you somehow feel responsible for the heartache Ethan caused is not important. Do you know how ridiculous you sound?"
Tyler laughed.
"You're seriously laughing, right now," Kellie said, slugging Tyler's shoulder and standing up, "This isn't funny. I'm the one gets the rap for not sharing my feelings and shutting people out. Now here you are guilty of the same thing. Not once in any of our conversation about the rape, the baby, all of it, did you ever mention you blamed yourself like this."
Before Kellie could continue on, Tyler pulled her down to him and kissed her.
"We are quite the pair," Tyler said when he pulled away from Kellie.
"I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who's twisted in this relationship," Kellie said, leaning against Tyler's chest and letting him wrap his arms around her, "We're both ridiculous, you know that?"
"Tyler smiled, "I guess so."
"Do you really want to like date, propose, have a wedding ceremony, and wait?" Kellie asked.
Tyler thought for moment before answering, "Yeah, I do." He kissed her forehead.
"Okay," Kellie said, "If it's that important to you, we'll do it."
The butler interrupted them.
"Mr. Scott," he said, holding out Tyler's cell phone, "It's a Mr. DiLucca. He's quite insistent about reaching you."
"Roy?" Kellie said.
Tyler grabbed the cell phone, "Hello."
"Tyler, Roy DiLucca here."
"What's going on?" Tyler asked, putting Roy on speaker phone.
"There's no easy way to say this," Roy said, "Your father's in the hospital. The housekeeper found him unconscious this morning in the study. They think he had a stroke. He's pretty much out of it."
"I talked to him just this morning," Tyler said, "Other than…no wait his speech was off, he claimed it was because he'd been burning the midnight oil on a case, he was tired."
"It's bad," Roy said, "You need to get to Miami as soon as possible. Are you and Kellie on or off right now?"
"Definitely, on," Tyler said, shocked, "Why?"
"Bring her with you," Roy said, "There's things we have to discuss like why I'm the one telling you your father's in the hospital after having a horrific stroke."
"She may not be able come," Tyler said, "It's a long story."
"Tyler doesn't know what he's talking about," Kellie said, "I'm coming."
"Kellie, what about your therapy?" Tyler asked.
"I'll fly back here for it," Kellie said, "That's what my uncle's airplanes are for."
"Kellie, no," Tyler said, "You don't have."
"Ri-dic-ul-ous" Kellie said slowly.
"Kellie," Tyler said trying to be serious, but fighting laughter.
"Am I missing something here," Roy asked, "Do you two need a room?"
"Roy, I'll call you back with the flight plans," Tyler said, "Thanks for calling."
"I wish it was under better circumstances," Roy said and hung up.
"Your dad, a stroke," Kellie said, "He's not exactly old, old like a have stroke old."
"He probably had it right after he got off the phone with me," Tyler said, "He rushed me off the phone when I realized his speech was faltering. I should have…"
"Tyler, no," Kellie said, holding him, "There's no way you could have known especially if your Dad was bent on keeping what was happening with his health from you."
"I'm going to call Uncle Lo and have him get a plane ready for us," Kellie said.
"I don't think you should go," Tyler said, "The way Roy was talking, this reeks of foul play. The situation might not."
"I'm going with you, Tyler," Kellie said, "I don't exactly get to pick and choose when stuff like this happens."
"If Dr. Collins gives you the okay then you can come," Tyler said, "If he says no, promise me you'll stay here."
"Deal," Kellie said.
Port Charles
Lorenzo's study
Lorenzo was on the phone with Kevin debating Sam and Sage's request to surprise Kellie for the new year. Sam and Sage
"I don't know if she's ready for that yet," Kevin said, "She's not running any more, but she's not on even ground either. She's still processing a lot of emotions. She's may not be ready for that many people this soon."
"Has she had another setback?" Lorenzo asked.
"I talked to Tyler this morning," Kevin said, "He found her on the beach with a half empty tequila bottle."
Lorenzo groaned. Sam and Sage looked disappointed.
""I'd know more after our next session," Kevin said, "Her friends may want to consider waiting a few weeks to visit."
Lulu walked into the study, "Sorry I'm late. Do we have a green light?"
Sage mouthed "no" as Sam shook her head.
"Dr. Collins thinks we should wait," Sam said, "Apparently, Kellie had one of her infamous drinking scenarios last night."
"Oh, I know all about it," Lulu said, "Apparently, Tyler decided they should wait to do the sheet shimmy until after they have an actual wedding ceremony. He told her that after she got frisky."
"That's when Kellie decided to get drunk," Sam said.
"Lulu, How do you know this?" Sage asked, "We just found out about the drunk part from Dr. Collins."
"Girls," Lorenzo said, "I'm on the phone."
"Actually, put me on speaker phone," Kevin said, "I'd like to hear how Lulu knows this as well."
Alcazar switched the phone over to speaker and him, Sage, Sam, and Lulu huddled around the phone.
"Kellie called me," Lulu said, "We talked about the tequila, the situation with Tyler, this mysterious guy in Italy that gave her ride into town when the tire on her bike blew."
"You mean, Kellie, actually listened to me when I told her to call one of us for girl talk," Sage said, "Yes!"
"So Kellie actually called you, Lulu, to talk like a normal person," Kevin asked, "Has she ever done this before?"
"No, she only calls if like mob/spy stuff," Lulu said, "When something has to be done. This was totally not what I would expect from Kellie."
"So, Dr. Collins, can we please go visit Kellie for New Year's" Sage asked.
"After hearing what Lulu said about talking to Kellie," Kevin said, "I say go for it."
The girls cheered and hugged each other.
"Thank you, Dr. Collins," Sam said, "No telling Kellie what we're planning. We want it to be a surprise."
Kevin's response got lost in the girls chatter.
Lorenzo and Kevin attempted to finish the conversation amid the girls noisy celebrating. By the time, Lorenzo hung up, Sam had poured the wine.
"To celebrating the New Year in South America," Sam said as the girls toasted and drank their wine.
South American
Kevin's Office
Kevin hung up on the call with Lorenzo and noticed he had a missed call from Kellie and a voice mail asking him to call her back right away. Kevin hit redial.
"Dr. Collins," Kellie answered, "A situation kind of came up."
"Are you okay?" Kevin asked.
"I'm fine. But Tyler's dad isn't," Kellie said, "We just got a phone call that he had stroke. He's alive, but it sounds like it did a of lot damage. We have to fly out to Miami right away."
"Okay, what do you need me to do," Kevin asked, "Do we need reschedule your next session?"
"No," Kellie said, "I planned fly back in time for that and fly back to Miami afterwards if needed. Tyler wants to make sure you don't have a problem with me going to Miami. We were actually called by one of the guys that runs the Miami operations for us. Tyler worked for them at one time, but his father never had contact with them except when we thought Tyler died."
"Whatever's going on with Tyler's dad has a fishy smell to it?" Kevin said, "How do you feel about that?"
"I'm not thrilled that what's going with Tyler's dad doesn't look as straight forward as it should and that it could be shady," Kellie said, "I can't imagine not going with Tyler. I want to be there for Tyler and for his dad."
"I don't see any reason you shouldn't go to Miami with Tyler," Kevin said, "I'm only a phone call away if needed. I'll plan on seeing you as scheduled."
"Thank you," Kellie said.
"You're doing really well," Kevin said, "A lot better than I would have expected."
"You might not say that if you knew what happened last night" Kellie said.
"You got drunk," Kevin said, "Tyler called. But I also know that you called one of your friends to talk whatever girls talk about."
"How do you know that?" Kellie asked.
Your friends were at your Uncle's while I was on the phone with him," Kevin said, "It came up."
"Okay," Kellie said, suspiciously.
"That was a big step for you," Kevin said, trying to sidetrack Kellie, "One I didn't expect to see you make for quite some time."
"I don't even know what I'm doing," Kellie said, "I'm not sure what it says about me that I feel better knowing Tyler's just as messed up as I am. I found out today that he feels guilty that I miscarried a child because we didn't wait until we got married. I don't get it."
"We can talk about that in our next session, Kellie," Kevin said.
"Oh, right, sorry," Kellie said, "I have to arrange a plane. Thank you, again. I will see you next week."
"Alright, Kellie," Kevin said, "Call if you need anything in Miami."
"Bye," Kellie said and hung up, leaving Kevin slightly stunned.
"No wonder Sam, Sage, Kellie, and Lulu get along so well," Kevin said to himself.
Port Charles
Lorenzo's Study
Lorenzo sat in his study, enjoying the silence now that his daughter, niece, and Lulu had left. He opened the desk drawer and took two aspirin.
His phone rang.
Before he could say a word, Kellie's voice came over the speakers, "Uncle Lo, Tyler's dad is in the hospital. We need an airplane to Miami."
"Of course," Lorenzo said, "What happened?"
"Stroke," Kellie said, "All we know is it's bad. Roy DiLucca called to tell us."
"Why would Roy?" Lorenzo started to asked.
"We thought the same thing," Kellie said, "We'll find out more when we get to Miami."
"Are you sure you should be going?" Lorenzo asked.
"I've already cleared it with Dr. Collins," Kellie said, "I'll fly back here to keep my therapy appointment and probably stay through New Year's Day."
"How's Tyler?" Lorenzo asked.
"He's in shock. He'd talked to Charles just this morning," Kellie said, "I can't believe it either."
"I can have a plane ready to take off in two hours," Lorenzo said, "Does that work?"
"It's perfect," Kellie said.
"Is there anything else I can do?" Lorenzo asked.
"I'll let know if I think of something," Kellie said, "There is one thing. Can you find me an address for Dominic Pirelli? I met him in Italy when the tire on my bike blew and I had to walk back. He gave me a ride back to town and gave me advice I didn't take about my relationship with Tyler that was good. I just wanted to drop a note letting me I kind of eventually ended up taking it."
"What else can you tell me about him?" Lorenzo asked, his jaw slightly clinched, but not enough to give anything away in his voice.
"He's American," Kellie said, "Probably catholic and from New York I'm thinking. He works for the Zacharras."
"Kellie," Lorenzo said, warningly.
"I know the Zacharra thing throws me for a loop too," Kellie said, "But I don't think there's anything to worry about. I just want an address."
"Okay," Lorenzo said, "I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks," Kellie said, "and for the plane too."
"Anytime," Lorenzo said, "If you run across anything even remotely shady, I want to call me or Jason pronto. Don't do the cloak and dagger thing all on your own. Promise me."
"I promise," Kellie said.
"I'll hold you to it," Lorenzo said.
"I should go," Kellie said, "Pack and fly."
"Call me when you get to Miami," Lorenzo said as Kellie hung up.
Lorenzo slammed the phone back on the holder.
"This is not good," He muttered to himself and went to his safe. He pulled out a prepaid cellphone and hit speed dial.
"We have a problem," Lorenzo said, "My niece inadvertently made contact with our protégé several months back."
"I'm aware," a female voice said, "He informed me after it happened. I don't think it affects anything. Kellie is still away from Port Charles and not planning to return anytime soon, I hope."
"That hasn't changed," Lorenzo said, "But Kellie did ask me to find an address for Dominic. She wants to drop a note letting him know she took his advice about her husband."
"That's not good," the caller said, "Just tell her that you can't find him. Make her think, he gave her a bogus name."
"We better hope this works," Lorenzo said, "I wish you'd told me they'd made contact."
"You don't exactly answer this phone on a regular basis," the voice said and hung up.