Hi everyone. While I think his name should stay Wiley on the show so that's one less thing that changes in his life, I think it should be the opposite now in the story. Nelle and everyone have been calling him Jonah for the last three years, the poor kid is probably used to it by now. I think it would be less confusing for his sake to call him Jonah. Even though I'm so used to calling him Wiley. Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 17- Cassadine Family Dinner

"You mean to say that I've been locked in cages, tied to trees, thrown in horse manure, endured whippings, and left outside in the bitter cold and the scorching hot sun for hours on end the past three years just to find out that Uncle Sonny is dead, Aunt Lulu was shot, and none of the inheritance is ours?" Spencer asked Nikolas, furrowing his eyebrows as Danny and his parents and grandparents reached Alexis' wing.

Nikolas sighed and squeezed Spencer's shoulders. "What you went through was despicable and Valentin will pay for it, but Aunt Lulu is fine now and things can still be the way they were before Valentin showed up taking over Wyndemere. Aunt Alexis still wants us to live here. She is nothing like Valentin. You're safe now. We all are."

"Your father is right," Alexis said wrapping an arm around Spencer. "We're all family. In fact, I think we should have a family dinner tonight to celebrate us all being together again. You should join us, Drew."

Drew nodded.

"Sure," Nikolas said. "You haven't spent much time with your cousins, it'll be good for all of us."

"You mean the cousins who are the new heirs?" Spencer groaned.

Sam cleared her throat. "Is this what's going to happen if we all live here? We'll end up fighting over inheritances?"

"No," Alexis said. "I'll distribute it all evenly, including Nikolas and Spencer."

"Come on…" Drew massaged Sam's shoulders. "Let's go check on Scout and Willow."

When Danny, Drew, and Sam arrived at Willow and Scout's chamber, Scout was fast asleep next to Willow in the four-poster bed. Willow was sitting up and staring at her un-bandaged scarified arm.

"Willow…" Sam walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. "Lucas said to keep the bandage on until we clean it tonight."

"I just… I needed to see it," Willow said.

"And does it help?"

She shook her head. "No."

Sam took her hand and looked at Nelle's carving job, then lifted Willow's chin. "Lucas said it will most likely scar. But Nelle is gone. She can't hurt you anymore. This scar doesn't define you."

Willow teared up. "Thank you for saving me."

"Oh, sweetie…" Sam sat beside her and wrapped an around her. "I wanted to do that for three years… I saw what they did to you, Danny, and Scout… They played the camera footage for me, but I couldn't get to you sooner… then ultimately it was all of you that saved us."

Danny turned and stepped out to the hallway. Three years. Three years from his family he wouldn't get back. He felt empty inside. He felt a loss. But at the same time, losing his family like that made him grateful for them… and… and… would he have met Angelica if all this didn't happen? Angelica… her soft tanned skin. Her gentle brown eyes. Her smooth hair… Her determination. Her attitude. Her cleverness. Her… Just her… Just the way she is…

"You okay, Danny?" Drew asked.

Danny jerked a little and nodded. "Yeah. Just a little tired. I think I'll take a nap before that family dinner."

GHGHGH

When Danny arrived in the private dining room, most of his family were already seated in their Sunday best they found in the castle. His grandparents were each seated at either end of the table. Along the left side, next to Alexis in this order was Kristina, Molly, Lexie, TJ, Drew, Scout, an empty seat, Willow, and Sam. And to Julian's left, Leo, Lucas, two empty seats, Ava, Avery, Nikky, Nikolas, and Spencer.

Danny took the empty black and cryptic chair between Willow and Scout. He gulped. "I didn't realize our family was this big…"

"Me neither…" Sam groaned.

"Who are the other two seats for?" Molly asked.

Alexis opened her mouth, when Michael walked in holding Wiley's hand.

Willow's face paled.

"I ran into Michael earlier. And his procedure worked," Alexis said, walking over to Wiley and kneeling in front of him. "Hi Wiley. It's so good to see you."

Wiley moved closer to Michael.

"We took care of you a lot when you were a baby," Alexis said. "And couple people near the end of the table especially love you very much. But we all do."

"He, uh, actually is used to Jonah now," Michael said. "I wanted to keep Wiley, but Nelle got everyone to call him Jonah."

Lucas walked over to them and extended a hand to Jonah. "Hey Jonah, remember me? I came to see you earlier. Would you and your dad want to come sit with me?"

Jonah smiled a little and nodded, then took Lucas' hand.

"Hey, bud," Julian said as they sat down.

"Hi Jonah." Willow leaned forward a little. "I'm so glad you could join us. I hope we have some yummy food that you'll like."

Danny looked up as Carly walked in wearing an apron and carrying a tray of food. She scowled as she placed a plate in front of Alexis. "Did you really have to assign me to the kitchens?"

Alexis started to snigger but swallowed to hide it.

"Yes, she did, Carly," Julian smirked. "Yes, she did."

Carly left and returned with more food and placed a plate of roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, turnip, cranberries, peas, and a side of Caesar salad in front of Danny.

Carly glared at everyone, before leaving again.

Julian tapped his knife against his wine glass. "Everyone, I'd just like to say on behalf of myself—King Julian and Queen Natasha—"

Alexis rolled her eyes. "No one needs to call us that…"

Julian continued, "We are so proud and blessed to have all of our princes and princesses back together and safe under one roof."

Alexis smiled. "Now that I agree with."

"Now I think we should all join hands." Julian held Sam's and Leo's hands.

"Uh… okay," Alexis said, taking Kristina's and Spencer's hands.

"Now if we can all lower our heads… and lettuce, turnip, and pea."

Everyone around the table laughed except Alexis and Spencer.

"Julian!" Alexis shouted.

Julian raised his hands. "Bon Appetit! Or should I say as a Russian Royal…"

Alexis rolled her eyes again.

"Priyatnogo Appetita!" Julian lifted his fork.

"That's what you were doing in the library all afternoon?" Alexis asked. "Looking up Russian words?"

"Absolutely," Julian said. "As Korol' and Koroleva of this island, we must speak our native tongue."

"Russian is not your native tongue," Alexis said, taking a bite of her meat.

"Our people don't need to know that," Julian said.

Danny chuckled.

"Dad has a point," Lucas said, helping Jonah cut his meat.

"We're not going to lie to them…" Alexis said. "Besides, they all know us personally already."

Spencer stared at his plate and moved his food around with his fork.

"Well, they'll all honour their king and queen. Our nobles and…" He tilted his head towards Carly when she walked in again. "our peasants."

Carly's nostrils flared and gritted her teeth. "How are your meals?"

"How are your meals, your majesty." Julian corrected.

Alexis' eyes grew wide.

Carly groaned. "How are your meals, your majesty?"

Julian beamed. "Fit for a king."

"Julian!" Alexis snapped. "We are not going to be condescending to people. Especially in front of our grandchildren."

"We won't be." Julian grinned at Carly. "Just to those to deserve it."

Carly chewed her lip. "Would everyone like pie or cake for dessert, your majesties?"

Once they were finished their main courses, Carly brought around their desserts. Danny chose to have some of the chocolate lava cake.

"And Stanislaus… Lex, did you know he was our great-grandfather?" Julian asked.

Alexis sighed. "You mean my great-grandfather…"

"Stanislaus, he tripled our family's power base before meeting a very untimely death," Julian explained.

Alexis placed a hand on her forehead and shook her head. "I'm gonna burn the library…"

"It's important to pass on family history to our princes and princesses," Julian said.

"I think I'm gonna be sick…" Sam stood up. "I'm going to get some fresh air."

Sam made her way to the balcony.

Drew wiped his mouth with his serviette and followed Sam.

"And our great-aunt Irina," Julian continued. "Her first two husbands disappeared without explanation."

"Okay, Julian, enough," Alexis said. "Nikolas, Ava, how did the kids sleep today?"

"Nikky and Avery slept fine," Ava said.

"Spencer wasn't able to sleep," Nikolas said. "Neither did we."

Spencer stared at his apple pie.

"Excuse me…" Danny pushed his plate forward and headed to the balcony, opting for fresh air too.

"Sam…" Drew took her hands in his and kissed them. "I know we weren't back together long before V-Town took over… but the truth is, I've never stopped loving you. Even through all the mind-mapping, being apart these three years… I love your smile, I love your laugh, I love your strength… your fierceness… your compassion… I love being with you and I miss you when we're apart."

A single tear fell down Sam's cheek.

"But I don't want us to be apart anymore. I want to always be with you… to be with our kids… to be a family. Monica wants me to live with her, and I love her… but I want to be with you." He knelt down on one knee and pulled out a ring.

Sam placed a hand over her heart.

Danny smiled. He knew he should turn away and give them privacy, but he didn't want to. The diamonds on the ring sparkled under the moonlight.

"Your mom found this for me today… it was your ancestor Anya's… apparently she was all right…" Drew swallowed hard. "Sam, will you marry me?"

Tears streamed down Sam's cheeks. "Yes! Yes! Of course!"

Drew smiled and slipped the ring on her finger, then rose and swung her around before kissing her.

Danny returned to the dining room as Lucas scooped some ice cream on a spoon and tapped it on Jonah's nose. Jonah giggled. Michael and Willow's seats were empty too now.

"Danny, are you okay?" Alexis asked.

"Yeah," Danny said. "I need the bathroom though."

"Ah, Prince Daniel," Julian said. "I believe you mean the garderobe."

"Uh, yeah, sure…" Danny hastened to the hallway, but stopped when he heard voices.

"Willow, I'm so sorry," Michael said. "I never would have treated you that way—"

"If you weren't mind-mapped, I know," Willow finished for him. "And I'm not mad at you, it's just…"

"We can't just pick up where we left off." Michael nodded.

Willow tucked some hair behind her ear. "It really hurt me… it wasn't your fault, it just happened. A lot of people were hurt by Valentin and the Marchesis. But I feel like I need time to heal and grow."

"I understand."

"And I just found my parents weeks before V-Town took over…" Willow sighed. "I haven't really had time to get to know them or my new siblings… and I need to do some self-discovery."

"My Grandma Monica invited Jonah and I to stay with her," Michael said. "Well, so did my mom… but after everything… she could have lost me Jonah… and she won't get a procedure done… I think we'll stay with the Quartermaines. But I want you and Lucas to still be a part of Jonah's life. He deserves to know both of you. I already talked to Lucas. Once Jonah is settled a little more, we'll try sleepovers and see how things go. Will you be staying here at Wyndemere?"

She shrugged. "I haven't really decided. Alexis invited me to… I guess Jax and Sam are going to… but all the rooms are so dark and cryptic… So, I'm not sure. But I don't know where else I'd go. Unless I stay with Sasha and Elias."

"Well, you have choices." Michael smiled. "You have a lot of people who care about you. Including me."

"There you are!" Sam arrived at the doorway and took Danny and Willow's hands. "Drew and I have something to tell you."

They followed Sam back to the table. Michael, Willow, and Danny returned to their seats and Drew and Sam stood with their arms around each other.

"Drew and I are engaged!" Sam announced and showed everyone her ring.

Kristina and Molly squealed.

"Wow, congrats sis!" Lucas grinned.

Alexis started to cry and walked over and hugged both of them. "I'm so happy for you."

Scout looked up and smiled a little.

Willow and Danny hugged Sam.

Julian smiled widest of all. "It will be our first Royal Wedding!"

Sam groaned. "I was kind of thinking of something small… just the family."

"Just the family!" Julian shook his head. "We have a queendom who will want to see their Crown Princess wed!"

Sam hung her head back, then turned to Alexis. "Is Dad still in the sewer?"