Anna and Finn's Manor, Port Charles
Violet was curled up on the couch, comfortably surrounded by all of her favorite things and staring intensely at the tablet that she held in her small hands. It was the Nurses Ball, and Miss Brianna had let her watch it, and Violet had enjoyed herself- especially part when she snuck into the pantry and helped herself to the cookies that Anna had brought her from Kelly's as a treat. She saw her uncle Chase singing and was so happy. She hoped that Chase and Willow would visit soon. It had been too long since she had fun with Willow.
She tried her best to keep her excitement quiet and stay below notice. But her nanny was too busy straightening the kitchen to bother about Violet and her thoughts just now, so she was free to indulge in a long delightful daydream. Violet was happy for a moment alone to think things over. Already, even at what she thought was the wise old age of six years old, Violet was fiercely fond of, she would have solemnly told you, "thinking things over." This seemed the sensible thing to do.
Her eyes grew wide with delight when she saw a familiar face smiling at her from the bright screen. It was Anna! And she was talking about her daddy and how he asked her to marry him. Violet knew this story well because she liked to hear it told by them both. She remembered when daddy acted it out while Anna laughed and accepted him again in the kitchen when they were making dinner together. And then Anna had taken her upstairs to see the dress that she had worn to help enhance Violet's own imagination. Her dress was purple, of course, it was; what color could it have been other than Violet's own favorite color.
Violet turned her attention back to her tablet. She wished that Anna was dressed up tonight as she had been then but thought she looked nice all the same.
Violet had lived the first five years of her life only vaguely aware that not all children moved from place to place. It didn't matter too much. She brought with her a fairy tale world of her own invention, which kept her from feeling lonely. Bella and Otto were good enough playmates for a time. However, as she grew and would encounter other children, she was curious how it would feel to belong somewhere and make friends knowing that she would stay long enough to invite them to her birthday party.
And now she was Violet Barnes of 232 Harbor View Road, Port Charles New York. And that made her feel quite important. She had so many people that loved her, and Violet loved them all right back. She now was wise enough to know that flesh and blood playmates could be just as fun as imaginary ones. That cousins could be full of intrigue and mischief in a way that stuffed animals never could...if only she had known sooner.
And she loved her house. How lucky she had happened to live someplace so big and with a room filled with things she had chosen herself mixed with Anna's relics and those of Emma, who was a revered favorite of Violet's. She loved everything about it. Violet was sure nobody in the world had such a wonderful room as hers-a room, too, that was right next to Daddy and Anna's room. That made her feel so safe always. Because night, even when you were six, was a strange thing. Who knew what went on outside in the darkness? Strange things were abroad in the night, as Violet's had good reason to know, having seen them in her imagination. Perhaps the trees moved about and talked to one another? She knew that Bella and Otto did. Oh, the things in her imagination were interesting beyond any doubt, but Violet was just as glad none of them could come walking up the stairs into her room without Daddy and Anna catching them first.
Tonight everything seemed to drift through her mind in a dreamy, jumbled procession of happiness and sorrow, big and little things, past and present, all tangled up together. Sometimes she and her daddy and Anna would walk to the end of the street so she could see the water. She especially liked the evening when the lights across the harbor were twinkling out along the shadowy shore. Violet loved to watch the harbor lights. They fed some secret place of delight in her little soul, for Violet saw the true heart of each thing as clearly as the thing itself.
When it came to all of the people that circled around Violet in Port Charles Aunty, Elizabeth was third in Violet's affections. Daddy, of course, came first and then Anna, but Aunty Elizabeth right there. She was pretty, always smiling at her with eyes as blue as her own, the corners of her mouth quirked up at the corners, and she always gave her the warmest hugs. And Franco or Fwanco, as his name always came out no matter how hard she tried, always gave her as many helping of cake as she wanted. Who couldn't like someone who did that?
She was proud that her daddy and Anna were helping with the Nurses Ball tonight. They had explained how they were going to help sick people in the world. Daddy was a doctor, and he was always helping people. Violet was very fond of Anna. There was such fun in her. Her sayings were so interesting. She had such a delightful way of saying, "When I was in Vienna," or "When I was in Dubai," as easily as someone would say, "When I went to the store," and these sentences were usually followed by an exciting story. And she said things in a different way like "I will do" instead of "I'm going to." Violet liked it.
And the school was a new experience. She rather enjoyed school. It was quite delightful to be made a fuss over, and the big girls made such a fuss over her. They even argued over whom she would sit with and finally settled the matter by tossing a coin. One big girl, Charlotte had told her with a dramatic flair about how Anna had saved her from an evil lady who had tried to kidnap her. Violet had never heard stories like that happening to real people, let alone people she knew. And there were others. She had met Avery, her closest friend, since she had given her a sticker on her first day and seemed quite happy to be chummy. Another girl, Scout, didn't know who Mozart was and said she didn't like purple or pink, so Violet wasn't so sure of her. But overall, Violet felt quite happy and thought school was very nice.
The sound of the front door opening and closing caught her attention. Anna was taking off her coat and hanging it in her spot in the hall closet.
"Anna, you're back!" she padded on slippered feet into the arms waiting for her.
"Violet! It's late, darling; why are you still awake? " Anna squeezed her tight and kissed her on the cheek. Then she held Violet's hands in hers and smiled her warm smile.
"I saw you on TV," Violet said enthusiastically. "Are you famous now?" she asked with blue eyes wide and wondering.
"Hmmmm...that is a good question. I don't know if I'm famous the way you mean. But we were able to raise a lot of money for charity, and that was the goal."
"You're home!" At that moment, Violet's nanny came into the room. "She wanted to watch the live stream of the Nurses Ball, and I didn't see any harm in it."
Anna laughed. "There wasn't any. Thank you for staying later tonight. I can take it from here."
"Alright. She was wonderful as always, even ate her broccoli tonight."
Violet smiled and stuck out her chest in pride. She had done it because her daddy had told her that it was important for her health, although she would rather follow 'Wobert's advice on calcium and milkshakes.
They said their goodnights to her nanny, and Anna took charge of getting her ready for bed. She read her a chapter of her story, tucked her in, and kissed her goodnight. Before she left the room, Anna flicked on her nightlight and Violet.
She lay happily in her bed, her two little silver-golden braids that Anna had plaited, with their curling ends lying over her pillows, looking out of the window beside her. She loved that window because she could see who was coming and going into her house before they reached the door. And she loved the other window of her room because she could see the harbor from it and across the harbor to misty blue sky and she liked to dream about what lived there.
While she was visiting her dream world, Violet saw the window light up, signaling that a car had pulled up the drive.
Daddy! She thought.
She got up quietly and pulled on her pink fuzzy robe and slippers and slipped out of bed so quietly that she felt certain that Anna would be proud. Then she opened the door and, after looking both ways, moved silently to the top of the stairs.
Violet sat half concealed by a large vase at the head of the stairs. It was her favorite place to sit when she wanted to watch people as it afforded her a good view of the front door, and It was such fun to watch the arrivals and departures of the people who came and went from the house. Violet could look all she wanted without being seen, and there were so many interesting things that she learned. Port Charles and its inhabitants seemed to lead very exciting lives. Currently, she was more interested in why her daddy had left the Nurses Ball to go to the hospital. Someone must have been hurt and needed his help. She had to know more.
"I'm sorry that I took so long," Finn said apologetically.
"Not at all. Is Brook Lynn, alright?" Anna noticed that Finn looked worn down and took a step closer to him.
"When I left, she was heading into surgery. Her attacker did a lot of damage to her throat. And the wound was jagged."
Her throat? Wound? Violet covered her mouth with her hand to keep a sound of shock from betraying her presence.
"Who could have done this to her? And why?" Anna asked thoughtfully.
"I don't know. It could be a while before she's stable enough to give a statement."
"That's terrible. I'm sure Ned is frantic."
"I know. I'm glad to be home and glad that we are all safe and sound."
"We are. Violet's already in bed."
"Good." Anna smiled and started to walk away but was stopped by Finn's hand, pulling her back. "I wanted to say that your speech was wonderful. It was a credit to Robin and Stone."
"Thank you."
"And don't think I didn't take note of you mentioning last year when you agreed to be my wife. And now the plans are coming together." He pulled her closer. "I love you."
"And I love you," she said softly.
"I'm glad," Finn replied, looking deeply into her eyes.
Violet saw him stop and kiss Anna and wrap his arms around her tight. Her hand moved to his cheek, holding him to her. When they pulled back, they were smiling at each other with eyes that twinkled.
Violet smiled. She was happy that they loved each other so much. They were getting married, and she would be a flower girl, those words sounded thrilling, and she would have so many people to love in her heart. Violet sighed with contentedness.
"Did you hear something?" Finn asked.
Uh oh.
She was going to get caught if she pressed her luck. Violet held her breath until her daddy and Anna walked further into the living room, and then she stole back to her room noiselessly. She could see the pale moonglow in her window. While the information she had gleaned about this Brook Lynn was alarming, she did not feel scared or worried knowing that she was safe in her own home.
She then fell asleep with a smile on her face.
