Awe man, here I was excited about Rae and Skye's relationship, which I still am, but what I'm really enjoying is writing Myrtle and Skye moments. Skye is a little afraid of Grandma Myrtle lol, in a reverence sort of way. Skye needs that.

Chapter 11- The Second Red-Headed Q

After leaving the arcade, Jax and Skye decided to go for a walk before driving back to Llanview.

"It's a nice night," Jax said.

"Sure, if you like the cold."

Jax removed his jacket and wrapped it around Skye.

"Thanks."

"Why don't we grab a hot chocolate or a coffee before we go?" Jax suggested, leading her back to Kelly's.

They ordered two hot chocolates and sat down. The place wasn't too busy, just a couple teenagers at another table.

"I had a lot of fun tonight," Skye said. "I didn't realize I needed that."

Jax smiled. "I did too. I'm hoping we can get together again soon."

"I'd like that."

Jax raised his mug. "Cheers! To a bright future!"

Skye tapped her bug against his. "Cheers!"

"Well, I'm going to use the bathroom before I take you home." Jax took one more sip and headed to the men's room.

Skye blushed as he walked away.

"I see I'm too late."

Skye looked over her shoulder to find one of the Alcazar twins walk in. Her mouth dropped slightly. "What do you want? You're lucky that my brother didn't get hurt…"

He walked over and sat at the table. "My brother was the one who got hurt. I tried to convince him to let your brother go."

"So, you're the less evil one in the family." Skye faked smiled. "But you're still a dirty mobster."

"That I am. I was going to ask you for dinner, if I ever found you again, but I see Jasper Jax beat me to the punch."

"Indeed, he has. He's not a low life like you."

He grinned at her. "Perhaps if you change your mind…" He slipped her a note with his number on it. "You'll give me a call."

Skye rolled her eyes. "In your dreams."

"My dreams always come true."

"Oh, not this time."

He winked at her and left.

"Ready to go?" Jax asked when he returned.

"Yes," Skye said looking over her shoulder.

FargateFargateFargate

When Sunday rolled around, Skye was anticipating the family dinner at the Quartermaine's. Myrtle spent the night so she could go with them to Port Charles later that day. They still hadn't redecorated Skye's room yet which Skye wasn't pleased about and she let Rae know every chance she got.

"It just doesn't suit me at all," Skye said at breakfast that morning. "It feels like I'm back in jail."

Rae shook her head as she passed the syrup. "I'm sure it's not that bad."

"It is. It really is."

"Then why don't you re-decorate it yourself?" Myrtle suggested. "You have two hands and money. If it's really that big of a problem, paint the room yourself and problem solved!"

Skye scrunched her face. "Me? Paint?" She laughed. "Oh, you're too funny, Grandmother."

"Actually, I think that's a great idea," Rae said. "We'll have a painting party. It'll be good for you."

Skye scrunched her face. "Uh, no, it wouldn't. If this was Daddy's home, he would've called the decorators the very day I said I needed the change, but it's almost been a full week."

"Well, I have news for you, Skye…" Myrtle grinned. "This isn't your Daddy's home. This is the real world where we can't just snap our fingers to make things happen."

Skye groaned.

Myrtle pointed her finger at her. "Now you will stop complaining to your mother about your room and go out first thing after work tomorrow and buy the paint that you want and anything else you want in your room. And you will paint it yourself."

"But—"

"No buts! Now finish your breakfast before it gets cold.

Skye gritted her teeth and cut her pancakes rather hard.

Rae bit her tongue so she wouldn't laugh too hard.

"Tell me, Skye," Myrtle said. "How are you enjoying your new Whac-A-Mole?"

Skye raised an eyebrow. "New?"

"Whac-A-Mole?" Rae asked. "What do you mean?"

"It was a gift I gave to Skye to help channel her anger," Myrtle said.

"Oh."

Skye moved a piece of pancake in a circular motion on her plate using her fork. "Well, if you must know, it's helping somewhat."

Myrtle smiled and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "I knew it would."

"Is that the noise I heard from your room the last couple nights, but you wouldn't tell me what it was?" Rae asked.

Skye shrugged. "Yeah."

"Well, I'm glad Mama was able to help you."

"I suppose."

FargateFargateFargate

The Quartermaine welcome mat, or lack thereof, was about 50/50. Monica, Skye's new brother AJ, and cousin Ned weren't pleased at all with the new heir. Alan and Lila (who Skye adored right from the moment she met her) were the most welcoming and so was Edward, though Skye had the suspicion he was playing her. Chloe, Lila's cousin, seemed neutral towards Skye and could take her or leave her.

Edward and Lila sat at the head of the table with Alan, Monica, Ned, Chloe, and two empty chairs (one with a booster seat) on one side and Myrtle, Rae, Skye, AJ, and another empty seat on the other. Alan said he thought it would be good for Skye to sit next to her new siblings to get to know them, something Monica rolled her eyes at.

"Emily isn't coming," Monica declared. "She is out with Zander."

Whispers filled the air.

"This is preposterous!" Edward slammed his wine glass down on the table. "After everything I did to protect that girl—"

"Grandfather," Ned cut in. "You pretended he attacked you to make him look bad."

Edward pointed at him. "Now, listen here… that hooligan is bad."

"I'm with Grandfather," AJ said. "We need to protect Em from him."

"I do agree," Alan said. "We don't want her to follow in Jason's footsteps."

Skye exchanged a look with Rae.

"On the plus side," Monica said. "Carly is bringing Michael. She only agreed if she didn't have to sit next to AJ."

"Who is Michael?" Skye asked.

"My son," AJ said.

"That you allowed Sonny Corinthos to steal from you," Edward said.

AJ gawked at him. "He hung me on a meat hook!"

"But the good news is that Carly has left Sonny," Monica said. "I just hope she can get him to sign over his rights to Michael."

Edward leaned towards her. "You think Sonny Corinthos would sign over anything once it's in his possession?"

Skye tapped her wine glass with her knife. "Excuse me? Now that I'm officially a member of this family, how much money do I get?"

Rae smacked herself in the forehead and everyone else gawked at her.

Monica cleared her throat. "Your lack of tact is only surpassed by your incredibly lousy sense of timing. If you want to pass yourself off as a Quartermaine I would suggest you make some adjustments."

"Skye is a Quartermaine, adjusted or not," Alan said.

"Well, she does have a couple of Quartermaine traits," Monica continued. "The cold blood and the materialism. But she lacks diplomacy, grace, polish. All you see is nothing but naked greed."

"That's uncalled for," Alan said.

"Quartermaines are smart. They have a certain charm. They're not desperate or if they are, they don't show it. We are not crass, and we are not rude."

"Excuse me?" Skye responded. "You don't know me. You don't know a thing about me."

"I know enough," Monica said. "I think you should just try bilking another family. Maybe some recent lotto winners."

"Monica," Rae said. "Skye is not a fortune hunter. She was raised by Adam Chandler. She has a sizeable trust fund. Believe me, she is not here for your money."

"Well," Monica laughed. "Adam Chandler didn't do much in they way of endowing her with any manors or civility."

"Back off of my daughter."

"Rae is right, Monica," Alan agreed. "That is completely uncalled for. It's not fair, I understand you're being angry, but it's mis-directed at Skye."

"I have plenty to go around," Monica said.

"Enough!" Skye said. "Thank you, Stepmommy for that very constructed advice. And I'm sure I can do better. Maybe I could've benefited from your guidance, but I was robbed of my birthright, after all. And you? Well, you're an invertible encyclopedia of grace and manners. And such a brilliant hostess. Why look at all of these happy faces."

She looked down the table at all of the horrified family members.

"Point well taken," Edward took a bite of his roll.

"I'm a quick study," Skye said. "Which could make me a valuable asset to the family business… which is what again?"

"Skye," Alan interrupted. "There will be plenty of time to discuss that after dinner, can we please just get through the meal?"

Myrtle leaned over Rae to speak to Skye and grinned. "I told you that you look more like me than any of them."

Skye rolled her eyes.

"I—I'm sorry, Monica," Rae said. "I would like to explain my daughter to you."

Skye's mouth dropped open. "Don't. Please. I don't need you as an interpreter."

"Monica, I think you're wrong about Skye."

Skye turned and sat at the edge of her seat, so she didn't have to look at them.

"I think she's a wonderful young woman," Rae continued. "With endless potential and capable of so much." She turned to Skye who was facing the opposite direction. "And all she really wants is to be loved and approved and to be accepted."

"Oh, good grief." Skye tossed her serviette onto the table and rose to her feet. "Here we go."

"Sometimes I think that gets the better of her. Sometimes, even negative attention is better than no attention at all."

"If Skye wants negative attention, she's gonna have to take a number," Ned spoke up.

"Are you through?" Skye walked closer to Rae. "Are you quite finished? Because you see, I found my family now and I don't need your help anymore. In fact, I don't need you anymore, period. Please leave."

"Well…" Monica grinned. "That's the best suggestion I've heard all night."

"Monica, I would guess that you would imagine that there isn't anything I wouldn't do to protect my daughter. Whether it's from herself or from you."

"Please spare us the professional shrink routine, Mother," Skye said. "You use it like a weapon and frankly, it's old it's tired and it's embarrassing."

Edward laughed. "I agree. Psychobabble, they call it. Hogwash I call it."

"Biology aside, you barely know me. You've proven that time and again that you're hardly qualified to lecture my psyche—"

"Skye," Rae said. "There's no shame in having needs."

"No. The shame is airing them in public."

"Skye, sit down!" Myrtle raised her voice.

Skye plopped down in her chair immediately.

"Everything your mother said was true," Myrtle said. "Now stop being such a drama queen."

Skye groaned.

"Hello." A blonde woman walked in with a four-year-old red-headed boy.

"Carly, hello," Monica said and walked over to them, hugging the little boy.

Skye's eyes grew wide and she turned to AJ. "Is that Michael?"

"Yep." AJ stood up, and scooped Michael in his arms. "That's my boy!"

Skye looked over at Alan. "So, that's your grandson? My nephew? By blood?"

Alan nodded. "Yes."

The biggest smile ever plastered over Skye's face and she leaned over Rae as much as she could towards Myrtle. "HA! There is another red head in the Quartermaine family. He looks just like me."