A/N: I tried at a Ned/Tracy scene. I don't know if it's totally in character, but I've got a lot of Ned to learn. There will be more opportunities for Ned/Tracy scenes in later chapters, but I just figured I'd try something new. Hope y'all enjoy.

Lulu: Are you gonna get us and our little dog too?

Tracy: Zip it! Where the hell have you been?

Shannon: Out…

Tracy: No shit Sherlock. I'm going to ask again and this time, your answers had better be detailed. Where-have-you-been?

Lulu: We-were-out.

Tracy: I've had it with your mouth. You don't know your ass from a hole in the ground. You are a child, a child with the life experience of a kitten to say the least. Like I told my darling daughter here, I've forgotten more than you'll ever know. If you don't respect anything else about me, at least respect that I've been on this planet forty some odd years longer than you. Now, pulling ridiculous stunts may award you oh, about five seconds worth of acknowledgment from your father, but they're only received as annoying over here. The only thing you run around here is that mouth of yours! I suggest you shut those over glossed lips and hightail it upstairs.

Lulu arches her brow and laughs a haughty laugh. Shaking her head,

she makes her way upstairs. She stops for a second and turns around on her heal.

Lulu: I had a great time Shannon. We should do it again.

Shannon opens her mouth to say something, but when she catches death glare on her mother's face she decides against it.

Tracy: You appear to have inherited my common sense. Where have you been?

Shannon: Don't you think you're doing a little much? It's not even all that late.

Tracy: It's two o'clock in the morning and if it were six in the evening, this is my house therefore I define what is and what isn't too late.

Shannon: Isn't this Monica's house?

Tracy: My brother gave it to her. Wait a minute, why am I engaging in this conversation? This isn't a debate! I don't know what Jenny let you get away with, but coming and going as you please doesn't fly here. You are to tell me where you're going and when you get there, got it?

Shannon: You've got a lot of nerve! You completely ignore me for sixteen years and now you're really gonna stand there and shape your lips to have an attitude because I went out and had a good time?

Tracy: You're changing the subject. Just so you know, I know exactly what you're trying to do and it isn't going to work.

Shannon: I don't know what the hell you're talking about.

Tracy: Oh really? Well let me refresh your memory. You think you can wear me down by acting out until I return you to San Francisco. You and I are in this until you're legal and even then, you can't get away from me. Your brothers can vouch for that.

Shannon: I can see right through you lady. You get off on having the last word. Something's missing in your life, so you set out to bring everyone down a notch below you so you have something to look down on. My Mom hurt you, so you're going to hurt her. As long as you've been playing these games, you have yet to acknowledge the people you put in the middle. You hid Dillon from our Dad because he didn't love you back. My Dad never got to know what a great son he had. Then you take me away from my Mom right after she lost her husband and that made you feel good. Never mind that she's the only mother I've never known and the last thing I wanted was to leave her. But hey, you're floating on cloud nine, so who gives a damn!

Tracy: Your late father and his wife are not innocent in this. Your father eased his way into my life just for his own personal gain and when he did what he had to do, he ceremoniously dumped me. He embarrassed me in front of my entire family and the entire town. To add insult to injury, he set his sights on my son's wife! The woman you call your mother came into my home and stole my husband, my child, and broke my son's heart. You're damn skippy I want revenge!

Shannon: Never mind how I feel.

Tracy: You think I enjoy hurting you?

Shannon: Seems like it.

Tracy: Well I don't.

Shannon: There are three things I can't stand. Liars, thieves, and hypocrites have no positive place in my life. So far you fit into each of those categories. When this little visit is up, and it is just a visit, I don't ever what to see you again. I've been giving you chances since I was six years old and all you manage to do is disappoint me. I'm going to bed.

Tracy reaches out and grabs Shannon's arm.

Shannon: Don't touch me.

Tracy: If you think you're going to drop a bomb like that and walk away, you've got another thing coming.

Shannon: I'm done with you.

Tracy ignores her and drags her into the living room. She points to the couch.

Tracy: Sit!

Shannon: I said…

Tracy: I don't give two shakes of a lamb's tail what you said! Sit!

Shannon jerks out of her mother's grasp and plops onto the couch.

Tracy: You listen and you listen well. I thought about you every single day. When did you say your first word? How old you were when you took your first step? What happened your first day of school? Did Paul and Jenny treat you right? Were you receiving a decent education? Were you loved…?

Shannon: I wrote you! I told you about my day. I drew you pictures of every thing imaginable. I put my school picture in those envelopes. I used those letters to make you as apart of myself as Jenny Eckert. You were the one that never wrote me back. Do you realize how that felt? I improved my spelling with the hopes that my letters would be worth reading. I made up little stories to keep you entertained and yet you never sent back a sentence. I'm sick and tired of being hurt by you!

Tracy: I never got those letters.

Shannon: Liar!

Tracy: I never received a single letter from you.

Shannon: My Dad said he sent them.

Tracy: And he has this amazing track record of honesty?

Shannon: Don't you dare criticize him! He was more of I parent than you'll ever be.

Tracy: Then why did he lie to you about your letters?

Shannon: He probably didn't want me to know what a vindictive cow you were.

Tracy: Rain it in missy!

Shannon: You don't even have room to talk about my Dad. You never allowed us to see Dillon. I didn't even know what he looked like until he was standing in my kitchen.

Tracy: That was different.

Shannon: How so?

Tracy: You're upset and it's late. You wouldn't be able to accept it if you tried.

Shannon: I am not upset and I could care less about the time!

Tracy: (Through gritted teeth) Why are you yelling then?

Shannon: I don't want to hear any more of your excuses Tracy. I'm going to bed.

Tracy: I'm your mother, don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you.

Shannon: You were just a surrogate.

As hard as she tried to look indifferent, Shannon could see the corners of her mother's mouth quivering. She wished she could take it back. Both of them knew she hadn't meant it, but both were too prideful to say anything. It was Shannon that decided to break eye contact. She sighed and turned to leave the room.

On her way upstairs, Shannon pulled out her cell phone and checked the time. Flipping open her cell phone she decided to call her Mom.

Sydney: Hello?

Shannon: Siddo!

Sydney: Well you're not dead.

Shannon: Really?

Sydney: You haven't called. We were going to call you, but we figured you and Tracy may have needed some time.

Shannon: I don't think Tracy and I will have much of anything.

Sydney: What she do? Did she hurt you, because if she did...

Shannon: Unfortunately we both had a hand in this one.

Sydney: What happened?

Shannon: We both said some hurtful things and in the end, I said something that probably killed the likelihood of us having a relationship.

Sydney: Wanna talk about it?

Shannon: I'm not going to lie, not particularly. I just called to talk to Mom. Don't worry, I'll update you on everything, including a guy I met, but I need to ask Mom a quick question before I go to bed.

Sydney: A guy, huh? You move fast! Look, uh, I know we haven't really talked about the Tracy thing before, but if you ever wanna talk I've got Dad's listening skills.

Shannon: Yeah, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks Siddo.

Sydney: I'll see you soon. I miss you.

Shannon: I miss you too.

Sydney: I'll get mom. MOM! MOM! SHANNON WANTS TO TALK TO YOU!

Jenny: The point of a cordless phone is to be able to walk around. You could've brought the phone in the living room.

Sydney: Yeah, well, when have I done things the way they're supposed to be done?

Jenny: Just go. Please go. Hey there Sweetie! I was wondering when you'd call.

Shannon: Please don't think I'm awful, but I really need some sleep. I'll be happy to check in with you in the morning, but I only called to ask a quick question.

Jenny: Are you okay? Is you're asthma bothering you?

Shannon: No, no, I'm fine. It's not about my health.

Jenny: Okay then shoot.

Shannon: Remember how I used to send Tracy letters?

Jenny: Or course I do.

Shannon: Well Dad said he sent them, but Tracy says she never got them...

Jenny: He never sent them.

Shannon: Why? He let me go for years believe that she never wanted me.

Jenny: He couldn't find her or Dillon. He didn't know how to explain the entire mess to you. You were only a child.

Shannon sighs.

Shannon: Well, I just pushed my mother away for nothing.

Jenny: You and Tracy had a fight?

Shannon: A big one. I told her that I never wanted to see or hear from her after the visit. Then I called her a surrogate and now she hates me.

Jenny: I don't think she could ever hate you.

Shannon: Yeah, well you didn't see the look on her face. She look like she wanted to rip my tongue out and slap me with it.

Jenny: I think you hurt her feelings, but she could never hate you.

Shannon: Not that she'd ever tell you something like this, but do you think she loves me?

Jenny: That's something you're going to have to ask her.

Shannon: She'll probably never say a word to me.

Shannon walks into her room and closes the door.

Jenny: You want to fix this, it's up to you to try.

Shannon: That's where you come in.

Jenny: Me?

Shannon: Did Dad keep those letters?

Jenny: I think they're with his files in the garage.

Shannon: Will you send them to me? Maybe if she reads them, she'll know that I've always cared about her.

Jenny: Of course I'll send them.

Shannon: Do you think she'll accept them?

Jenny: I really don't know honey.

Shannon: Well I don't want her to think I'm begging for her forgiveness.

Jenny: It's okay to apologize Shannon.

Shannon: Yeah, but then she'll think I'm weak because I gave in.

Jenny: Your making assumptions. You don't know what she'll think or do until you give her the letters.

Shannon sighs and runs her fingers through her hair.

Shannon: Should I apologize now?

Jenny: If you hurt her the way you say you did, you're the last person she'll want to see. I'll send the letters when I go to work. They should arrive on Monday.

Shannon: You're a rock star! Thanks Mom.

Jenny: I talked to Samuel today.

Shannon: Yeah? What he say?

Jenny: He's working diligently on our date. We may have you home before your birthday.

Shannon: Well that's good to know. Tell him thanks for me.

Jenny: Will do. As you know, I have to get up at four to get to Menlo Park on time.

Shannon: Goodnight and I love you. Tell Siddo goodnight for me.

Jenny: I love you too honey.

Tracy watched Shannon stalk upstairs before turning on her heels and heading for a stiff Martini. She decided against waking Alice, she could make a decent Martini, but that woman had too many questions and Tracy had too little patience for curious help. She tested her work and nodded. It wasn't the way she liked it, yet she took another sip and made herself comfortable on the couch.

It was then that she wondered where Luke was. He was supposed to join the family at the "Quartermaine Reunion" as he so eloquently put it. She sighed with relief, at least he wasn't with Skye. Her entire existence was devoted to the spawn of a career criminal. The Fetal Convict seemed to have easily replaced Luke and as much as it hurt her husband, Tracy was rather excited. For the first time in her life, she wasn't agonizing over her husband and his mistress. She was worried if he was drinking too much. Most women would convulse at the thought of having a drunken dimwit fly in at two in the morning, but to Tracy that felt like a scrape on the knee.

She sipped her Martini and stared at the pictures on the mantel. Anyone who was anyone had a photo up there. Pictures of her mother and father in their younger years, Jason and AJ as young boys in bathing suites, Ned in high school, Emily as a rebellious teen glaring at the camera, Dillon and Georgie at last year's prom, and more relatives at various times were perfectly positioned. Tracy sat her martini glass on the table and picked up a black and white photo of her and Alan.

She wondered if Dillon and Shannon would've had the same type of relationship. Would Shannon manipulate her brother, piss him off and force him to retaliate, and manage to paint herself as the victim? Would Dillon be ready to snap her neck on Monday, but beat the living hell out of the boy the pulled her hair on Tuesday? Maybe Shannon would lie for him when he snuck out to be with the girl she'd warned him was easy? Dillon probably would've argued if Tracy threatened to send Shannon to boarding school, something Alan didn't do.

At that point, Tracy realized she knew nothing about her daughter. Sure, she knew very little about Dillon's everyday life, but they shared memories and she could read him. She knew some of what he feared. She knew what he aspired to be. She knew some of the things that made him smile. She'd seen him cry and she'd wrapped her arms around him to quiet him. She'd made mistakes with him. Some were like the one's she made with Ned, others were brand new. She'd made him feel so small. She'd manipulated him. He'd been neglected by her. She loved him and he knew it. He loved her and she knew it.

Shannon was different. She'd come along way from the laughing infant named Lila who's world revolved around Tracy. Her eyes no longer it up when Tracy walked into the room. She didn't squeal when her mother took her hand. She didn't laugh when she spoke to her. The Shannon Tracy held onto couldn't fall asleep without classical music in the background. Being in motion calmed her. Monica's baby talk made her cry.

She was the only child Tracy wasn't accused of warping. She had a fresh canvas to paint. She a chance to slip and paint over her mistakes with a moment of affection. Maybe they could go into the city for good shopping and food they way she and Lila used to. Tracy could tell her about her childhood fascination with the saxophone and how Lila sat in a Harlem jazz club until the last set. They could have a five star breakfast and then Tracy would let her win at tennis, like Lila used to. Or Tracy could talk to her, really talk to her, like she would with Lila. Shannon would listen, like her grandmother, but unlike her grandmother she could fully understand and not take pity on what she didn't.

Tracy laughed bitterly and downed her drink. If they were anything alike, Shannon wouldn't speak to her until hell froze over. Then again, she went out of her way to speak to her father.

Ned entered the Quartermaine living room carrying a streaming cup of tea. He'd come downstairs to retrieve a file, but when he saw his mother slumped over her glass, his interest peaked.

Ned: Mother?

Tracy jumped slightly and narrowed her eyes at her son. She didn't glare out of anger, the light above them was too bright.

Tracy: Don't sneak up on an old woman. You could've given me a heart attack.

Ned: You'd know the signs of a heart attack, wouldn't you?

This time she did glare.

Tracy: I am not in the mood.

Ned: Great, because I only came to get a file.

Tracy: Get it and go.

Ned arched his brow and took a seat next to his mother.

Ned: Okay, what's the matter?

Tracy: What are you talking about?

Ned: Oh come on Mother! You're sitting around, drinking into the wee hours of the morning for your health? Did you and Daddy Luke have a fight?

Tracy: Daddy Luke?

Ned shrugged.

Ned: Christina calls Rick…

Tracy: Why did I ask? To answer your question, Luke and I didn't have a fight. I haven't seen him since we returned from San Francisco.

Ned: Does that bother you?

Tracy: Not really.

Ned: You're lying.

Tracy: I am your mother! You don't call me a liar.

Ned: Well what am I supposed to call you when you lie?

Tracy: Don't you have a file to find?

Ned: Is it Skye?

Tracy: No.

Ned: Monica?

Tracy: No.

Ned: Okay, Alice?

Tracy: That makes sense. Her lack of etiquette would drive anyone to the bottle.

Ned: Alan?

Tracy: No.

Ned: For god sakes Mother! Since when have you become the master of monosyllables

Tracy: Since when has English not been your first language? I. Am. Fine. You're obviously in search of some drama. Go find Emily and ask her about her relationship. Better yet, ask Skye about her little criminal spawn. Go spark up a conversation with anybody in this god-forsaken town! Whatever you do, make sure it entails getting what you came for and leaving me alone.

Ned: You are abrasive shrew! I'll never"
understand you. You complain more often than not about the way the family overlooks you, yet when we try to reach out, you push us away. I don't know why I even bothered.

He moves get up, but Tracy touches him arm.

Tracy: I, uh, you have more experience with this than I do.

Ned: We've had this conversation before. If you and Luke are having…

Tracy: My sex life is not the issue--here anyway.

Ned relaxed a little and returned to the couch.

Ned: What is it then?

Tracy: You have more experience with irritable teenage girls than I do.

Ned: What about Lulu?

Tracy: As much as Lulu works my nerves, she doesn't drive me to drink. It's your sister.

Ned: She seemed pretty well behaved to me.

Tracy: It's just that she's so angry! I can't do or say anything without her blowing up in my face.

Ned: When Grandmother died you were the same way. You snapped at anything that moved. We all tried to comfort you, but you wouldn't have any of it. From what I gather, Shannon loved Paul probably as much as you loved Grandmother. Also like you, she's too proud to just sit and grieve.

Tracy: She blames me for the mess with her father and that woman.

Ned: All she knows is what Jenny and Paul explained. I don't think she's ever heard every little detail.

Tracy scoffed.

Tracy: She wouldn't believe it. She's got this saintly image of Jenny and there's not a single word I could say that would change that. She'll always blame me, even through we both know I had no choice in the matter.

Ned: She's a scared and confused child stuck in a new place with a new family that wasn't quite welcoming. She's probably more sad than upset. Have you tried talking to her?

Tracy: Every word I say she takes as an attack.

Ned: Have you told her that you're happy to have her back? Instead of forcing the fact that she stuck her, you could just tell her how you really feel.

Tracy ran her fingers through her hair.

Tracy: I don't know what I feel for her.

Ned: Do you love her?

Tracy thought for a second.

Tracy: I don't know. I love the baby I remember, but I have no idea what to make of the young woman that's here now.

Ned: I understand. I saw Brooke Lynn here and there, but for the most part she grew up without me. When she stormed back into my life as a feisty teenage girl, it took me awhile to find my niche. It won't happen instantly, but if you try to get to know her…

Tracy: She won't let me.

Ned: That's no excuse. Meet her half way.

Tracy: Oh, am I supposed to let her get away with what she did?

Ned: What did she do exactly?

Tracy: She came home at two in the morning and to add insult to injury, she started a screaming match.

Ned: We've already established that the kid's angry and confused. Cut her some slack.

Tracy downed her drink.

Tracy: Dillon has his moments, but never like this. I can't stand it.

Ned: Didn't you consider this when you plucked away from Jenny, a woman who actually knew how to deal with her?

Tracy glared at him.

Tracy: If this is another one of your "everyone in a wonderful mother but you" diatribes, you might as well go about your business because I'm not interested.

Ned: That's where she got it.

Tracy: What?

Ned: Taking everything as a personal attack! I'm sure Shannon and Jenny have butted heads at some point. Jenny's known her since she was a baby. She understands her temper. She knows what makes her tick. Maybe instead of burning bridges, she could've given you tips.

Tracy: They day I ask Jennifer Eckert for parenting tips, I suggest you alert every religious figure and scientist.

Ned: Dare I ask why?

Tracy: People in hell will need puff jackets and a pig just may whiz over your head.

Ned: Well then it's up to you to get to know her.

Tracy: What do you propose, being that she won't speak to me...

Ned: You're smart woman, figure something out.

Ned checks his watch and yawns.

Ned: It's late and I still need to read over these files for LB.

Tracy: Why do you waste your time on the ridiculous venture?

Ned: Because it's my passion. I don't want to have this argument. Just try to not ruin your last opportunity at real motherhood. Goodnight.

Tracy watched him fade into the hallway. She removed her glass from the coffee table and set it by the bar. Flipping the switch on her way out, she makes her away up to her bedroom.