Chapter 55

December 31, 2008 Scorpio House 5:00 PM

Mac rapped lightly on the guest bedroom door. "Dia?"

Dianara opened the door a crack. "Yes, Mac?"

"Change into these." Mac handed Dianara a set of dark blue sweats with the PCPD logo.

"I'm going to take a quick shower. I came straight here from the studio and I think there's still sawdust in my hair."

"Sure, go ahead. it won't take but a few minutes to do a quick wash and dry."

Dianara accepted the sweats and gave Mac her soiled clothing before closing the door. Mac trudged down the stairs to put the clothes into the washer.

A half hour later, Maxie barged in breathless and harried. "The traffic is horrible. We better set out early to the villa if we want to beat traffic, Dad."

"We'll be fine, Maxie. The traffic will thin out soon." Mac laid down the tray with two coffees on it.

"Which one is for me?" asked Maxie.

Before Mac could answer, Dianara glided down the stairs dressed in Mac's sweats. "I feel like a new woman, Mac. Hi, Maxie!"

Maxie put Dianara's clothing and her words together and came up with a vision that she was all too willing to not remember. She said. "Dad, just promise me one thing."

"What's that?" asked Mac.

"That you'll keep your door locked at all times."

"What?"

"Just promise me." insisted Maxie.

"Okay." said a still puzzled Mac. He handed Dianara a cup of coffee. "There's a full pot in the kitchen. Help yourself."

"I might finish it." Maxie disappeared into the kitchen.

Dianara laughed. "You do know what she's thinking?"

"I gave up a long time ago trying to read her mind." said Mac.

"Maxie thinks we're involved." Dianara sat down on the sofa close to Mac.

"We are. Part of our cover."

"Let me put it more plainly." Dianara's eyes danced with mischief. "She thinks we spent the afternoon in bed tangled in the sheets and in each other."

Mac's eyes widened then he flushed at the image her words evoked. "Um, she does? I was just showing you the secret room and discussing our next move. I'll straighten her out about that right now."

"Do you want to?" Dianara leaned towards him holding his gaze. "And, Mac, I'm asking exactly what you think I'm asking."

"I thought you were a traditional woman." Mac said a little breathless with the nearness of her.

"I am normally. But this isn't normal. I could get reassigned tomorrow. Our line of work isn't a guarantee of a long life either. Anything can happen tomorrow or the next day." said Dianara. "No strings, Mac."

Mac closed the distance between them. Mac was no fool. "I say seize the day. Seize the woman."

"A man of few words." Her arms wound around his neck.

"Man of action not words." Mac murmurred close to her ear. "Allow me to demonstrate." Mac trailed butterfly kisses along her neck and jawline.

Maxie stepped through the kitchen doors. She immediately understood the situation. "Carry on! Ignore my presence." She stepped backwards into the kitchen again. "What is it with this family lately? Mistletoe gone airborne? Where can I get some?"

###

December 31, 2008 Port Charles Marina 6:45 PM

Just behind the marina under a cloudless sky, the city lights glittered like earthbound stars. The January chill intimidated the meek and invigorated the daring. Looking down the long dock, the Drake party beheld the stately Kestrel. Even in repose, the yacht's sleek lines and design made one think of a bird poised to take flight.

"I'm in love." said Patrick gazing at the Kestrel.

"He said a boat not a ship!" said Robin incredulously.

"She's gorgeous." said Matt.

Walking beside the Drake brothers, Robin suppressed a giggle. Men and their toys, she thought. Though she had to admit the Kestrel was impressive. She waved at Salim who waved back from the high command deck. In minutes they were aboard and the Kestrel had left the dock.

Lars led them into the main salon where Andrew lay exhausted in a couch. Emma lay also sleeping in a bassinet that had Robin drooling in envy. Instead of legs or a pedestal, the bassinet consisted of a halfshell containing the bedding and infant mounted on a circular tube. The motion of the boat caused the bassinet to naturally rock in a gentle but constant pace. She had to get one of these.

As Robin peered down to check on Emma, Andrew awoke managing a feeble wave. If his body barely moved, his hands expressed his agitation eloquently enough. "The day I've had would try a saint." said Andrew with the dramatic inflections of a stage actor. "The day I've had I would not wish on my worst enemy."

"Emma wore you out?" Patrick like his wife was fascinated by the bassinet. However at that moment he didn't know where to look. Matt too was gawking at the impeccably furnished salon. It screamed good taste with the unsaid comment that this brand of good taste required a lot of money.

"Not Emma. She never gives me problems. The theater was chaos. Met Suki Kwon. What a rad dude as he would say. I like him. The union representative fussed over due representation on a private project. Worthless agitator! Imagine, threatening to file a civil lawsuit for discrimination just because I re-re-refuse to hire UNION contractors. Who do they think they are talking t-t-to?" babbled Andrew. "And I had to get diapers because I ran out. I think the guys are feeding her too much. Then that ... that pesky girl who ... who never shuts up! Thought I'd seen the LAST of her but NO! She's ... she's like a barnacle on a boat - harmless but so ... so irritating and impossible to remove once it's latched on."

"Sounds like a rough day to me." said Robin.

"And it gets worse!" Andrew nearly wailed.

Robin made a noncommital noise to urge Andrew further. "Hmmm?"

"I can't get rid of her, Robin! She's family! She'll be around forever!"

"Who?" asked Robin wildly curious as to who had whipped her reserved and composed little brother into such an indignant frenzy.

"The Donely chit! That's who."

"Oh, Belle Donely."

"Whatever." said a now surly Andrew. "Why, Lord? Why me?"

"Aren't you overreacting a bit?"

"If anything I am s-s-seriously underestimating the impact of this individual on my life." Andrew countered. "Because of her, in just the last forty-eight hours mind you, I have had to incapacitate four drug dealers who had obvious nefarious designs on her person, evade said dealers' angry compatriots, endure her r-r-ridicule because she now believes me to be Emma's au pair and she dared to impugn my personal honor. Am I overreacting? I think NOT."

"Okay, I see." said Robin calmly. "You're having a stress-related meltdown."

"I am in perfect control. I don't believe in meltdowns. I'm just tired and not thinking clearly." said Andrew. "My problems lie with people who fling themselves into potentially dangerous situations with no thought of self-preservation. People who refuse to follow common sense. People who call 911 for an ambulance to help their attackers. She acted as if I'd done serious bodily injury. I only broke their arms. They'll live!"

"That was you?!" asked Patrick agog. "Um, each one of them came into the ER with BOTH arms broken."

"People like Belle?" asked Robin ignoring Patrick's non sequitor.

"Yes! Trouble surrounds her like ... like fireflies dancing around the firelight. She's needs rescuing all the time because she's so ... so stubborn. And she never stops talking!" explained Andrew.

"Fireflies dancing around the firelight, heh. Very poetic." said Patrick.

"Knowing Uncle Sean, I'm sure he's trained her to protect herself." assured Robin. "I doubt she's as helpless as you think she is."

"Maybe and maybe not." said Andrew grudgingly.

"She seemed very bright and polite at Christmas dinner," commented Matt. "And she takes after her mother. You know, pretty."

Hearing this unknown person seemed to jerk Andrew out of his horizontal self-induced wallowing within a sea of self-pity. He got to his feet. He looked Matt over from head to toe and back up again. "And you are?"

"Dr. Matt Hunter, nice to meet you," said Matt extending his hand.

Seeing Andrew's hesitation as puzzlement and not rudeness, Robin said. "Matt is Patrick's half brother."

"I see. Good. More family. I'm Andrew Scorpio." The two shook hands. Andrew's gracious manners returned in fine form once again. "Please call me Andrew."

"Andrew is my little brother sixteen years removed from the warm bosom and security of our loving family." said Robin.

"Laying it on a bit thick there aren't you?" said Andrew.

"This coming from someone who very nearly started spouting in iambic pentameter a minute ago." countered Robin. "You certainly have the accent for it."

"Point taken." said Andrew chagrined. His sister he realised could give as good as she got. "Where are my manners? Please make yourselves comfortable."

"This is an amazing boat." said Patrick. "How soon before we get to the villa?"

"At normal speeds about forty minutes. Robin told me you like speed, Patrick."

Patrick grinned. "A little, yeah."

"Follow me then."

The party followed Andrew to the command deck. Salim showed Patrick and Matt around the deck. The brothers eyes were nearly cross-eyed as they strained to see everything. All the masculine accoutrements of the controls - the shiny buttons, the complicated dials, the gleaming metal hinges and levers, the steering wheel, the screens displaying radar and position - were very alluring to them.

"We'll leave you in Salim's hands." said Andrew. He and Robin returned to Emma in the main salon.

Salim had both Matt and Patrick take a turn steering the Kestrel. While Patrick held the wheel, Salim nodded at his first mate. "Now, Patrick, Andrew said that you like to go fast. Hold on to the wheel, while we activate the hydrofoils."

"Hydrofoils?!" yelped Patrick. "Like in Moonraker and the Q-Boat?"

"Something like that but bigger and much faster." said Salim.

Matt and Patrick looked at the floor at the same time. They had felt the increased vibration from the engines followed by the unmistakeable sensation of being lifted up.

"Hold the course steady now." instructed Salim.

Patrick's hands turned white so hard was he gripping the wheel.

"Matt, come here. You will operate the throttle for Patrick." Salim showed Matt how to increase and decrease speed. "When you are ready, Matt, increase the speed."

Matt slowly pushed the throttles forward two inches. With each push, they could feel the ship going faster and faster. Through the wide windows they could see the churning of waves as the Kestrel cut through the water like a knife through butter. Matt and Patrick looked at each other and grinned in manic exultation.

"I only thought I was in love before. Now I KNOW I am." crooned Patrick. "Go, baby, go!"

###

December 31, 2008 Villa Scorpio 7 PM

"I love this room, Auntie." said Belle walking around the enclosed loggia. Vines climbed and trailed along the vertical walls stretching to the ceiling. Flowering plants graced a nook here and there giving the enclosed space a feeling of natural warmth. Small colored lights twinkled amongst the leaves. A sweeping black staircase curved a sinuous path to the second story. A pair of skylights opened up into the night sky. A secured steel door led outside to the barn.

Belle could just imagine the glory of sunlight filtering through the skylight and dappling across the vines and leaves illuminating the two sitting alcoves. One had a seating group for a dozen people and another was smaller with room for six. The smaller alcove had a chess table with a game in progress. This night the double doors were fully open into the house's dining room and lounge. Music and happy conversations floated in and out across the connected spaces.

Anna looked around. "So do I, Belle. It's peaceful and relaxing. It's like a walled garden in England, Port Charles style."

"Put some birds in here and it's almost like being outside."

"This is getting me through the winter." said Anna. She looked at her watch. "Robin and Patrick will be here soon. I better check on the menu. Are you all right here?"

Belle nodded. "Is ... will the au pair be coming, too?"

"Au pair?" asked Anna momentarily forgetting Andrew's pseudo role.

"Andy. Robin's au pair."

"Andy?" repeated Anna uncertainly. "You've met him?"

Belle quickly edited the details of her run ins with Andrew. "At the market earlier today with Emma and, uh, while I was out, um, shopping."

"You call him Andy?"

"Yeah." Belle answered.

Tiffany came bustling in. "Anna, you have done wonders to this place. I hardly recognize it."

"It's all Nestor. The man is so talented. And Lars, too. Look at the window boxes he's artfully stacked over there. It's like a curtain of foliage." said Anna. "Tif, did you know that Belle has met Andrew?"

Tiffany glanced at her daughter as if she'd suddenly sprouted horns. "You did and you didn't tell me?"

"Ah, there was nothing to tell." said Belle watching every word. Her mother had an ear for verbal crap and nonsense that was second to no one she knew.

"Well, out with it?" demanded Tiffany.

"Out with what?" asked Belle innocently.

Tiffany sighed. "Sugar plum, you have sharp eyes and an acid tongue. You have your daddy's knack for sizin' people up and knowing how to charm their socks off. You can rattle off first impressions like Walter Cronkite reads the news. What did you think about him?"

"Who's Walter Cronkite?"

"Forget him. I'm askin' about Andrew, darlin'."

Belle looked slightly off to the right over her mother's shoulder. A trick she learned from watching her father to make it seem as if one were looking at the person but really were not. "He's okay for a boy." said Belle very simply. "I can't place his accent."

"That's it? A boy with an accent?"

"I really only met Andy in ... in passing with, um, Emma at Neuman's."

"You call him Andy?" Tiffany and Anna exchanged looks that Belle couldn't quite decipher.

"Yes. Andrew is so old and stodgy. Andy fits him better" At the continued looks of puzzlement from her mother and namesake aunt, Belle added. "What? He didn't object."

"He didn't?" asked her mother.

"A little but he got used to it." explained Belle.

"He did? How unlike him. Surprising." said Anna. "My son will be here soon and you can get better acquainted."

"Your son?"

"Oops. He didn't introduce himself by his full name. Wouldn't want to break cover, of course." said Anna.

"Your son?" repeated Belle.

"He's Anna and Robert's. Robin's brother." said Tiffany.

"And he's Emma's uncle." said Belle. "I thought he was ... never mind. Wait a minute! Something doesn't fit here."

"Yes, you're definitely Sean's spawn. You pick up on the little details." said Anna with a smile.

"Ever since she turned six we stopped hiding her Christmas presents in the house. She's a regular Sherlock Holmes." Tiffany looked lovingly at her daughter. "Well, Sherlock Holmes with a big mouth."

"That's Southern charm, Tif."

"Yes, she does come by it naturally."

"Back to the original topic. If he's your son, how come he's never come up in conversation before? Or Christmas cards? Or anything since we got here?" asked Belle.

"That is a very, very long story." said Anna. "We've lived apart for a long time. This year we're getting to know each other and living together as a family. In fact, I encourage you to ask him questions when he gets here."

"Good idea. It might get him out of his shell." commented Tiffany. "Will you do that, sugar plum? Get to know him. Talk to him."

"I suppose I can do that." Belle gave the older women an angelic smile. Inwardly, she fumed. How dare he not tell her who he was, she thought. She was honest and told him who she was. Mentally, she ticked off a list of adjectives to describe Andrew. Condescending, check. Patronizing, check. Dishonest, check. Superior attitude, check. She was going to give him a piece of her mind for deceiving her.


A/N: A time for some humor, family times and romance. More to come as the New Year is welcomed with nostalgia, memories and reflections. Thoughts on the story so far? Too slow? Too much info too fast?