**Friday Afternoon**

Ruby sat quietly on the stone bench absently running her finger over the black fabric of her skirt, she purposely arrived early hoping to collect her thoughts, before the others arrived. It wasn't but a couple weeks ago she stood here hand in hand with Luke as he said goodbye to his mother just the two of them, private and personal, but today would be a little more formal more final. From the moment her brother had first waltzed through the door with Lena she loved her, saying goodbye to her would be hard but not impossible, what was impossible was trying to imagine Luke and Bobbie growing up without her.

Ruby smiled sadly as she remembered meeting Lena for the first time

Tim waltzed through the door hand in hand with a beautiful petite blue eyed blonde the smile on his face spread from ear to ear which was such a rare sight on the face of her older brother, her heart skipped a beat looking at him she hoped this was a sign that her brother would break the nightmarish cycle that seemed to plague there family.

"Ruby come over here I want you to meet someone" Tim said enthusiastically "This is Lena. Lena meet my baby sister, Ruby"

"Hi Ruby, It's so nice to meet you, Tim's told me so much about you."

"Hello Lena, it's nice to meet you too." Ruby said she had no idea that this would be the beginning of a beautiful and lasting friendship.

Ruby found herself thinking about the positive influence Lena had been on her brother. They were so happy for the first year and a half of their marriage, until Tim was laid off a few weeks after buying a new house and Lena was four months pregnant with Luke. Tim started drinking heavily it didn't take him long to become verbally abusive to his wife and after loosing the house his verbal assaults turned physical. The first time she saw Lena with a black eye a bruised cheek and a fat lip she knew her brother had turned into her father. And when Lena denied the whole thing while staring at the ground she also knew Lena had turned into her mother and just like that the cycle continued. Ruby tried in vein to convince Lena to leave her brother, to take Luke and go to her parents or run somewhere, someplace Tim would never find them. Ruby knew from personal experience that sooner rather than later Lena would not be his only target and Luke was not safe.

"Please Lena think about Luke. He is NOT safe! YOU are not safe! Tell your parents the truth, tell them how much trouble you are in. If you can't do this for yourself than you do it for Luke." Ruby begged

"Ruby I appreciate what you are trying to say, but nothing is wrong between us. We had a small argument I was upset and tripped that's it. CAN we please drop this?"

"I wish I could, but I still have nightmares about what our father did to us! I am begging you not to let that happen to Luke." Ruby pleaded

"Ruby I love you so much for worrying about us but I have this under control. I am NOT going to walk away from my marriage, from my child's father, from my life now come on Tim will be home soon." Lena said and walked into the kitchen leaving Ruby standing alone.

"Oh Lena, I should have tried harder. None of this is fair, what am I supposed to do? Luke wants to come to Florida with me and Bobbie wants to stay here with the Quartermaine's. I want to take them back with me, BOTH of them, but taking Bobbie back to that environment would NOT be safe. I won't do that. We both made so many mistakes didn't we?" Ruby wiped at the tears that were flowing freely down her cheeks. She talked to Lena about her own marriage and how Tim was not the only one who fell into the cycle. Her own marriage was a nightmare her husband was a monster but unlike you Lena I escaped I ran to Florida started over. She finally admitted to her dead friend that in reality Florida wasn't a whole lot better. In fact she sometimes wondered if the physical abuse from her husband was better than the humiliation she felt every night before she closed her eyes.

She was so lost in her conversation with Lena and her own demons that she didn't see him studying her, he stood perfectly still and placed himself close enough to hear what she was saying without invading her space. He had compiled a full dossier on her and knew what she did for a living or rather what she managed he new her strengths and weaknesses her favorite color her favorite song the abuse she suffered at both her fathers and husbands hands. He knew every detail about her life but it wasn't until he heard her confession that he felt something other than contempt he was drawn to her he empathized with her. Before he could be drawn in further he was distracted by the chatter heading in his direction, as he turned toward the noise he saw his copper top holding onto her side as she tried to run to him he met her more than half way and as he scooped her up he quietly scolded "How many times do you have to be told no running and jumping around until you are healed?"

"Oh Darling, please don't be mad" she said as her little hand lightly touched his cheek "I just missed you so much"

"You saw me less than two hours ago, you could not have possibly missed me that much" he grinned at her.

"Oh but I did" she responded with her own matching grin

He shook his head as he placed her back onto the ground he should not be so easily manipulated he chuckled to himself. "Enough of your nonsense little copper top I will not be telling you again no more monkey business until the doctor says so. Are we clear?"

"Yes we are" she said as she slipped her hand into his and led him the remaining distance to Ruby. "Hi Aunt Ruby" she said quietly as Ruby helped her up onto the bench Darlington joining them "Why are you crying?" She asked curiously eyeing her aunt.

"Oh I was just talking to your mama we had a lot to discuss you know. I guess it made me a little sad" Ruby answered as she stroked her nieces red locks thankful that after Bobbies outburst in the hospital last week Gail had requested no one talk about the children's long term living arrangements in front of her until she had some more time to assess things. It apparently gave her enough security to bring a tentative truce between Aunt and niece and Ruby was more easily able to slowly bond with the child.

"Mamas in heaven now. Miss Lila said she's always with us that she can see everything we do and she hears us when we talk to her."

"Mrs Lila is right she's always with you little red riding hood and with Luke and with me and I believe she hears us that she is guiding us" Ruby assured her

"Like in the hospital when she told me not to be scared?" Bobbie asked as she stared into her aunts eyes/p
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"Yes just like that?" Ruby smiled as another tear escaped. Darlington reached for his handkerchief and handed it to her with a sad smile matching her own.

"The three of them sat quietly for a moment longer watching as the rest of the family walked over along with Lee, Gail Monica and Andrea. Ruby stood along with Darlington pulling her nephew into a tight embrace and than holding him at a distance she smiled "My don't you look handsome. You clean up nicely Lucas Lorenzo Spencer"

"Thanks Aunt Ruby" Luke said quietly as he looked at the ground. Although Gails request did wonders for Bobbie it put him on extreme edge causing him to act out and he was not ready to look his Aunt in the eye after his latest misdeed.

"Look at me" she whispered and when he did she continued "We will talk about you sneaking out tomorrow let's just try to get through today. Okay" she patted his cheek and he nodded. Looking past Ruby he saw the minister approaching.

"As Luke and Bobbie stood hand in hand at their mothers grave family and friends surrounded them while the preacher spoke words of peace, love and eternity Luke thought about the irony of the whole situation he wasn't sure he believed anything the preacher said and Bobbie was to young to understand it. In fact at this moment there were only two things he knew for sure. One was that he loved and more importantly needed his mother more than ever and two, she wasn't there! He needed her and she wasn't there because she didn't love them enough to leave his father. If she loved them enough she would still be alive. As the thought filled his mind he yanked his hand out of Bobbies causing her to jump and look up at him. As her big chocolate brown eyes stared into his sad angry sky blue ones he did the one thing he swore he never would. He targeted his anger on the most vulnerable person he knew, he wanted her to understand what he understood so he kept her gaze and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear "Mama DIDN'T love us enough Barbara Jean! If she loved us she would have left him and she would still be alive. She chose to leave us because SHE DIDN'T LOVE US enough!" As a frightened Bobbie took a step back from him he turned and walked away from the small assembled group with Ruby right on his tail and Tracy following slowly behind her yearning to help him.

Bobbie watched him walk away and as the words he said filled her head she turned to Lila who lifted her gently into her arms and held tight as the little girl sobbed into her chest. Alan took a step forward when he felt Monicas hand slip into his, as he looked into her eyes she beckoned him to take a deep breath and let his parents handle it. Lee slipped his arm through his wife's and patted her hand as she closed her eyes thinking back to Lukes session earlier that week. She remembered sensing so much anger that wasn't there the day of the children's confrontation but Luke refused to acknowledge it, in fact he refused to talk about much of anything. Edward torn looked over at Ruby and Tracy with Luke and stepped closer to Lila placing a gentle arm around her, he nodded for the preacher to continue. Darlington however kept a close eye on Andrea who seemed to be watching the interactions with the eye of an eagle. If there was a way to keep these two orphans together and each within reach of the protector they felt they needed, he was damn sure going to find it.

As the service ended the small group slowly walked toward their cars where Luke and Tracy were standing silently. Everyone was invited to the Quartermaine mansion where a small intimate lunch would be served in the rose garden. Gail hugged Lila while placing a soft kiss on Bobbies cheek as she was still holding tight in her safe arms. "We will be over after we pick up Scotty" she said quietly before turning to Ruby and giving her a comforting hug as well. "I am sorry for your loss, if you need anything please don't hesitate to ask." Ruby smiled sadly and nodded.

As Ruby slowly stepped away from the group Darlington approached her "Will you be joining us at the Quartermaines?" He asked softly.

She looked up at him skeptically she may not have some fancy education but she knew people and from day one she knew this man was more than an assistant or butler this man was put in place to protect the Quartermaine family long before they ever met her nephew and niece but today there was something different about him, a kindness on his face that was never there before at least not directed at her "Yes, Lila asked me to come we think it is good for the children to see a united front. But I thought I would take a walk on the pier first, give everyone a chance to settle in and catch their breaths."

"Than perhaps I will join you. If you don't mind the company that is?"

"Why?" She raised an eyebrow at him

"Because it seems you could use a friend" he said quietly.
She gave him a guarded smile "I guess I didn't realize we were friends"

"I suppose we haven't been but that doesn't change the fact that you could use one." He said matter of factly.

"I suppose It doesn't" she smiled sadly

As the two walked on the pier there were moments of long silence followed by light conversation. Ruby talked about Lena and the dreams the young mother once had for her family. She told him about the innocence she saw in Lena's eyes once upon a time. She spoke of her smile and her laugh "She was everything good and beautiful and different before he destroyed her, before he tried to destroy them all" she said "And if it weren't for Luke and Bobbie I would say my brother was the worst thing that could ever have happened to her" she continued as if she were talking more to herself than to him "She should have left...Why didn't she leave? Did she feel trapped? Is Luke right didn't she love them enough?" She stopped and turned toward the water there were so many questions Lena left unanswered.

She turned to him suddenly "I know you all think I'm a monster for suggesting we separate them, but I cannot protect Bobbie the way you can the way Edward and Lila can and I can't turn my back on Luke either." As he started to speak she held up her hand to stop him and took a deep breath before asking "If one of the two people you loved most in the world came to you broken as broken as any human being can be and begged for your help wouldn't you do everything you could to help them?"

"Yes, without hesitation" he assured her

"But?" She questioned

"But what if there is a solution where those children can have both you and the Quartermaines" he questioned

"I don't see how?" She said sadly

"Is there so much in Florida that you cannot live without?" He asked and when she looked down he continued "Perhaps it sounds unfair to suggest, but you did live here in Port Charles once, it is where you grew up? Is there nothing of it left that is appealing?"

"I love Port Charles... It will always be my home. But I can"t stay" When she looked at him she knew the single question he wanted to ask "It is as unsafe for me here as it was for Lena"

"Your brother?" He questioned

"No! No Tim was Lenas monster Lukes and Bobbies monster, My monster well ex-monster, he's here somewhere... At least he was when I ran" she said in almost a whisper.

"And if this monster was no longer in a position to do you harm?"

She shook her head "Than wouldn't all our lives be different?" Taking a deep breath she smiled and looked back at the water one last time "We should probably be getting back they are going to wonder what happened to us."

"Indeed" he said with a smile

"Thank You Mr. Darlington" she smiled softly at him

"For?" He smiled back

"Knowing I needed a friend" she stated as she started back down the docks

"I assure you the pleasure was mine Ms. Anderson, and please call me Jean-Luc" he said as he held out his arm to escort her.

"Jean-Luc" she looked at him and grinned "Jean-Luc it is as long as you call me Ruby"

"Ruby it is" he smiled back at her.

**Quartermaine Mansion**

Darlington and Ruby arrived at the mansion shortly after Lee and Gail, as they walked out to the rose garden Darlington looked around at the various groups Alan and Monica sat comfortably on the grass with Scotty and Bobbie laughing at something he was sure one of the youngsters said or did, Luke and Tracy sat quietly whispering or conspiring, which ever the case both had very serious looks on their faces. He shook his head thinking teenagers are forever sullen at best.

The afternoon flew by and Ruby was preparing to leave Lila approached and the ladies decided to go for a walk down to the lake "I appreciate you staying awhile longer I was hoping to talk to you privately " Lila said when Ruby nodded she continued "I was surprised and a bit concerned about Lukes outburst at the funeral, not just for him and Bobbie but for you as well, I know you and Lena were close"

Ruby smiled "We were more than close, we were family, and I miss her terribly but here and now my... no not my 'OUR' our focus needs to be on the children... I talked to Luke while the minister was finishing the service I know he's angry and confused and he promised he would try to be more open about his feelings with Gail, and with the two of us. I also told him it was unacceptable to put on Bobbie what he did today, that that behavior would not be tolerated. I think he understands. In fact I think he realized that the moment it happened. If you feel the need to reiterate it trust me I get it."

"No, I am sure he heard you, and if there is one thing I know without a doubt it is that he loves his sister more than anyone or anything else" Ruby nodded her agreement "I do hope he will open up to one of us... I hope the bond they share can endure" Lila said quietly

"You see it fading don't you?" When Lila nodded sadly Ruby patted her arm "I was hoping that was just my imagination running wild."

"Perhaps the two of us can meet with Gail together and discuss it" Lila suggested

"That's a great idea she may have some ideas we can use to help. I'm no psychologist but I think Luke needs Bobbie to miss Lena more, and I think she needs him to miss her less." She looked over at Lila who seemed to agree "Do you think it will ever get easier?"

"Oh my dear, I think with time it will. Time, patience and a lot of love." Lila smiled

The two women stood silently for several minutes looking at the lake each contemplating the situation and the journey ahead before heading back up to the house.

*Later that night*

"Miss Lila can I ask you somtim important?" Bobbie asked as she was snuggled up ready for a bedtime story

"Something" Lila corrected "Yes you MAY ask me anything"

Bobbie sat up looking her in the eyes "Do you love me enough? Cuz Luke said mama didn't love us enough. But you do right?"

Lila held her stair she had to be sure this little girl knew for sure "Barbara Jean Spencer I do love you enough. I love you more than you could possible imagine." When Bobbie threw her arms around her Lila squeezed her tight and said in her ear "So did your mama, you knew that love you felt that love the first night Darling carried you into this house. You hold onto that."

Bobbie relaxed back on her pillow "Can we read the Bear and blueberries book again tonight?"

"You mean Blueberries for Sal?" Lila smiled and held up Bobbies new favorite bedtime story "Yes scoot over" she said and crawled into get comfortable

Across town Ruby placed the picture of Lena she was holding on the nightstand before switching off the lamp next to her bed as she laid back she thought about the conversation she had with Darlington and repeated "Than wouldn't all our lives be different" a few more tears leaked out as she closed her eyes to sleep.

His face was stone as he talked into the pay phone "Yes I need another dossier done and I need it yesterday." He was quiet as he listened to the reply than continued "William Anderson, I want to know everything you can find on him, most importantly I need to know Where he is... Yes, yes very important I will be waiting." He hung up the phone and looked up at the windows above Kellys "Different they shall be" he said and smiled sadly as he saw the light turn off.