Chapter 56

New Years Eve 2008

Malaga, Spain

The flames flickered low in the fireplace. Staring at the flames, eyes that often reflected cold pragmatism betrayed a touch of wistfulness this night. Silently, Charlotte raised a toast to an absent long ago lover. One she willfully betrayed and, as she had expected, betrayed her in his turn. They were a matched pair then and still.

"Wherever you are I hope you are well," said Charlotte Devane. It was the same toast each year. "Always."

###

Port Charles - The Docks

Gloved hands discreetly taped the plain brown envelope to the underside of the payphone enclosure. It was quickly and expertly done. He moved away to ostensibly watch the ice floes on the flowing Port Charles river. The city lights shone in the horizon.

Right at the stroke of eight o'clock, the envelope was detached in the same efficient manner as had been used to affix it. A slight figure stood by the other also admiring the winterscape.

"I hope the information was useful." said the second figure.

"You will see by how much you have been paid that it was." answered the first figure.

"When ... when will I be able to be sponsored?"

"Soon. You have made admirable progress."

"I want to join a real organization." said the woman earnestly.

"Continue to provide me with information and I promise you my full support." said the man. "That support is as you know not insubstantial."

The woman swallowed. "I know and I ... I thank you for the opportunities you've given me. What more do you want to know?"

"Your intended targets continue to be the mother and the child? No one else?"

The woman blew on her cold hands. "Yes, just them."

"When? How?"

"Plans have changed. Only Frank knows when. The compound will be introduced to the subject as before." said the woman.

"Can you get me a sample of this compound?"

"No. Frank keeps it on him at all times."

"And its effects?"

"I don't know. Only Frank knows for sure."

"Is it designed to be immediately fatal? Will a regular dose of antidote be required?"

"It's not fatal but I don't know if there is an antidote." the woman pulled the collars of her coat up shielding her neck from the chill. "Do you know anything about Charlie, my partner?"

"Only that the Mossad has been contacted to retrieve their long lost son."

The woman hissed under her breath. "There was not enough information on the hiring site. That's why we failed. Who lives there? It's a fortress as you said. How did you know it would be?"

"I know that the persons who live there have the most to lose and, in all probabllity, they have prepared for the worst scenario. Your ... employers would do well to end their plans now." advised the man. "Or they risk waking something dangerous and determined."

"Frank won't stop the mission."

"Is it a suicide mission?"

"He won't say but Charlie and I suspected it was." said the woman. "Will you ... can you pull me out before the end?"

"If you do not betray me, yes, I will pull you out. Also, I shall formally support your acceptance into the DVX." said the man. "Remember this, I do not take kindly to betrayals."

Maria Ormez nodded. Her hand squeezed the brown envelope in her coat pocket. "I remember, Hans."

"Betray me and you betray the organization." said Hans Dieter Reinhardt. "You can be such an asset to us, Maria, and we will reward your loyalty well."

The two figures blended into the night. One to return to a seedy apartment a few blocks away and the other to find the nearest bar to honor an annual tradition - a toast to an old flame loved and betrayed wherever she was.

###

Villa Scorpio New Year's Eve 2008

A little after dinner, Maxie strolled through the loggia admiring the twisting and twining vines. A rustling noise behind a partition startled her.

"Being back here is a real aphrodisiac for you, isn't it?" Maxie heard Tiffany murmur in a low husky voice.

"It's the danger, the cameraderie and the wanton woman I'm married to." Sean answered.

"You're wearing this woman out."

"I doubt that. Have I ever familiarized you with stealth sex? Hmm?" rumbled Sean.

"No, I don't believe so," whispered Tiffany. "Teach me."

Maxie heard the sound of a running zipper and fled the loggia. She made sure to close the french doors behind her.

"Everyone over forty is getting some." observed Maxie sliding into the couch next to Robin.

"Hey!" yelped Robin as she finished pouring wine into her wine glass. Next to her lay some blank papers, a pair of scissors, a jar and a bunch of pens. "I take exception to that."

"Okay, over thirty." amended Maxie. "But you don't count because you're a newlywed. You're supposed to be as busy as bunnies in springtime. Is there something in the food, the air? Look at Dad."

Robin glanced at Mac. He stood by the kitchen counter but took every opportunity to lean across and say something to Dianara who was the party's unoffical bartender. "He's stuck by her all night long."

"And all afternoon."

"What?"

"Never mind." Maxie sighed. "I'm happy for him. She's funny, gracious and famous. What's not to like?"

"If anyone knows what it takes to be with someone in law enforcement, it would be her." said Robin.

"Look at your parents. They're constantly in each other's orbit. They finish each other's sentences. It's ridiculous."

"Maxie, my parents have been like that ever since I can remember. Even when they weren't together they were close. It's not news."

"What about Sean and Tiffany? It's like 24/7 flirting with them. Are married people supposed to be like that all the time?"

"This married woman hopes to be." laughed Robin.

"But why is all this happening now? Dad is dating. You're seven kinds of happy. There are kissing couples around every corner. We're playing cat and mouse with some serious people. I'm so busy I don't remember what I did this morning. Yet, I'm actually kinda giddy. Are we in the Twilight Zone?"

Robin took a sip of her wine. "I know what it is. Mmmm. This is good. Have some."

"What is it then?" Maxie poured some wine for herself.

"It's because we're all together, feeling good. Ready to get our collective Us-Against-The-Bad-Guys groove on or grooving with our partners." said Robin with a big smile. "It's exciting and fun."

"Solo grooving is not fun."

"There's different kinds of grooving. Your problem is you've never been in a groove before. You don't know how good it feels. That it's even possible." Robin curled her legs under her and got comfortable on the sofa.

"You've lost me." said Maxie taking a sip. She took off her shoes and mimicked Robin getting comfortable herself.

"Getting your groove on isn't just about sex. For me grooving is getting to that place where everything just clicks whether that's within a relationship, a career, school, a family, whatever it may be." said Robin. "When I went to Paris, I wasn't in the best of shape. I'd left home, left people I loved. It was hard at first. As I let go of the guilt and regrets, I got into a groove without knowing it. I made new friends, found a career that I love to do. I looked forward to each day and each day I discovered myself a little more."

"Okay, oh wise oracle, but how does one get into the groove in the first place?"

"You make it."

"Just like that?"

"Decide to focus on one or two things. Ignore or eliminate the toxic stuff." advised Robin. "Once you've got those one or two in your groove, pick something else you want to add to that and work it in. It takes time but it's worth it."

"Where do I start?"

"What do you want most? Something just for you."

Maxie was silent for a time giving the question real consideration. Finally, she said. "Independence. I want to be able to stand on my own."

"How best can you do that?" Robin began to cut the paper into small strips while listening to Maxie's self examination.

"I need to go back to school. Even if it's just a few courses every semester."

"Good so far. What else?"

Maxie scanned the room. "There are opportunities I really need to take advantage of. Every woman here is awesome at what they do. I want to be like that."

"It sounds like you're making your groove already." said Robin. She placed the slips into a small pile. "You're good at your job, Maxie. We all know that but you're convinced you're not."

"Self confidence. I need to work on that."

"You'll have all of us cheering you on every step of the way so take a risk. If you fall, we'll pick you up and throw you back out there." Robin began to scribble on a slip of paper.

"Robin, what are you doing?" asked Maxie.

Robin folded the slip of paper a few times before picking another slip of paper. "It's a tradition of mine that I started when I moved to Paris. The holidays are a time for family and memories. This is my way of remembering but in a fun way."

"What do you do?"

"The first time I invited some of my new friends to participate. This time I'm going to get everybody to join in." Robin glanced around the room. "No one is going to escape me."

"Sounds devious. Count me in." said Maxie getting into the spirit of the game.

"Take these strips and give five of them to each person here." Robin explained. "Tell them to write down one item of interest per slip. It can be an object, a question, a person's name, a place, anything goes. All the slips are put in a jar. We then each take a turn pulling one out. The person then has to tell a real story about that item or a memory about it. Not knowing what you'll get is half the fun. It's a good way to pass the time."

Maxie took a handful of strips and a pen. She went hunting. No one was going to escape.

###

Maxie had secured slips from everyone save for one person. She added the newest slips to the jar. Anna slipped on to the sofa next to Robin after dropping her own folded slips in.

"Where's Andrew?" asked Maxie.

"He's upstairs putting Emma to sleep." said Anna.

"That was almost two hours ago." said Robin. "'Course he might be hiding from Belle."

"What is between those two? Tif and I thought they would just get on." said Anna.

"Ah, no. Andrew had a huge meltdown on our way here."

"Do tell." Robin proceeded to tell her mother about Andrew's dramatic announcements. Maxie went upstairs to check on him.

Andrew's bedroom door was ajar. Maxie pushed the door open a little and had a peek. The sight she saw made her gasp. She ran downstairs and urged Anna and Robin to follow her. The two followed her up both anxious to know what was so interesting.

Anna stumbled at the top of the stairs. She'd heard her voice. It was undeniably her but it was faint and weak sounding. It was coming from Andrew's room. The ladies peeked inside.

Surrounded by pillows, Andrew lay sprawled and softly snoring on his bed with Emma lying on his chest. Both were sound asleep.

Anna's gaze turned to the source of the voice she had heard. On the monitor in front of Andrew's bed, a video of herself was set to auto repeat and auto play. Quietly, Anna stepped inside. One hand reached out to touch her past self on the screen.

On the monitor, Anna, pale and exhausted, was saying. "You're due any day now. Cesar assures me that he'll find a hospital. Somewhere. I can't even see land when I look outside." Anna's hand caressed her enormous belly. "Whatever happens know that I love you. And your father loves you. He'll find you. He'll never stop looking." She wiped her cheek with one hand. "Back home, you'll have a big sister and an uncle and lots of family friends all around you. And godfathers and godmothers, I'm sure Robin will make sure of that." Anna laughed softly. "Sean will be first in line I know he will be."

In the room, Robin looked at her daughter, her brother then her mother. She put an arm around her mother. Anna was shaking. Robin wound both arms around Anna and held on tight.

The video Anna continued. "You're a big baby. Bigger than Robin was." Anna shifted positions on the bed. "If I have ... advice to give I suppose it would be to not be afraid of life, of living it, being involved in it. And, don't let anyone stop you from living the life you want to live. Life can be scary but that's why we learn and study. To prepare to take on life on your terms. Live. Learn. Love. Don't shy away from loving or being loved. If you're anything like me, you'll love deeply and with everything you have. You may get hurt or you may find that person who understands and accepts you just the way you are, then you'll be the luckiest person in the world. I did and so will you."

Anna stood sandwiched between Robin and Maxie. She put an arm around Maxie and the other around Robin. Her gaze rested briefly on her son, her granddaughter then back on the screen. Live. Learn. Love. It was all there in that room. She felt blessed and so very lucky.

Her eyes returned to the past. "I'm so tired." Anna sighed. "And you're so active. I'll start the song now. It always puts you to sleep." Anna smiled brilliantly. "Goodnight, little one." Anna pressed a button on a CD player. The sounds of a soothing lullaby began to play.

Anna led the way out the door. All their faces were wet with tears. Anna hugged Robin and then Maxie to her. "Do you know how much I love you two?"

Robert found them still hugging at the top of the stairs. He heard the lullaby and deduced what had turned the feminine waterworks on. He'd heard the lullaby so often in the past he was used to it but not fully immune. He joined the group hug.

"I heard that damned song every night for two years." said Robert. "It was torture."

The ladies laughed. Robin went to take Emma to her nursery crib. Maxie returned downstairs leaving Anna and Robert alone for a time.

"Good thing it wasn't used as I had thought it would be." said Anna laying her head against Robert's chest.

"What was that?" asked Robert.

"You didn't know?"

"It's a message for Andrew, isn't it?"

"Yes but it was ... was also my goodbye. I made Faison promise to give it to our son if ... if I didn't make it through the delivery." Anna swallowed hard. "I forced Cesar to put Andrew's life ahead of mine if a choice had to be made."

"Anna -" Robert began.

"Shush, it's over. It didn't happen." said Anna. "Our family is all here now. That's all that matters."