Miami, Florida

The Clinic

She had just finished with a patient sitting behind her desk going over the last couple of weeks. The twins were very welcoming of Stella that it almost made her feel guilty about choosing not to tell him. Then thinking better of it her kids were two well adjusted kids with faults of their own.

Elesandro was emotional and hot head Estrella was calm and the most dangerous of the two. But you couldn't tell because of Les's temper but her boy was a big softy with a heart of gold. And he wanted to be a doctor just like her Star she was sure going to join the family business.

In which she was okay with she was so much like Curtis who as much as she despised him. He had some really good qualities and others not so much closing her eyes with a sigh she remember it so clearly. The man still had a small hold on her and that fueled her anger because she saw so much of him especially in her kids.

When Les got angry he wasn't her he was all his father and they both shared his complexion shaking her head. Then groaned in frustration she knew this day would come eventually and she was more than ready for it. By this time Stella had already left and was sure she had already told him and he was surely heading her way.

flashback

The next day she invited Stella over to meet the twins after talking with her mother who was always her voice of reason. She was also the reason why she went to visit his mother and she knew that Henrietta wasn't going to be able to tell him. Her situation was dire in away it was her way to hurt him like she was because she knew when Curtis did find out he would be hurt.

It was one of the many conversations they had when he became a father he wanted to be there for his kids everyday alot like her father. And she knew in taking that from him would hurt he hand names and everything and at the time she didn't care how he felt.

But after seeing Stella it made her feel a little guilty for denying her not so much him though. After setting the table for lunch when she heard the doorbell ring. "Show time" Elle said walking to answer the door taking a deep breath and opened"Hi Stella come on in" she says welcoming the woman inside.

"Wow you have a nice home i see you did pretty well for yourself" Stella said handing her the apple pie, making Elle smile" you remember" she said taken back. But took it and lead the older woman outside on the Lanai" thank you look i do apologize i wasn't trying to be hurtful to you Stella there was a lot going on at the time.

Shaking her head" Elena i understand he was a mess but i don't understand what happened because I was never able to get it out of him. About what happened with the two of you"Stella says, my accident wasn't an accident Stella is all i'm going to say.

I would prefer to not talk about it but i hope you will accept my apology I was really hurt and I can admit that I made a decision based on my hurt feelings. But it was never about you or Ms. Henrietta it was about my great disdain for your nephew in who I still can't stand by the way" Elle said.

"Baby can i just say you two were really good together you brought the best out of him he wasn't the same after you Elena" the woman said. Throwing her head back"please i would rather not talk about him please would you like lemonade" Elena asked. "Fine yes i will thank you" Stella says, "well let me get some ice" the young woman said getting up and going inside the house.

And straight to the bar and poured herself some Dominican rum drunk it she knew Stella enough to know she was already. Spinning ideas in her head to get them back together but it wasn't going to happen. She was over and above CURTIS FUCKING ASHFORD she mused to herself before going and getting the ice and a few picture books and going back outside.

"This is their baby book i have video inside the house they will be joining us once they're done with school and work," she said. Handing Stella the big book she held her mouth "That's them with my sister," she says, yeah the only one they have of her and them"Elle answers. "How is it that you were at the hospital the day she died and I didn't see you there I only left for no more than twenty minutes"Stella said.

As Elle looked at her and shrugged"I don't know" she replied, or you waited for me to leave and suck in knowing Curtis wasn't there yet" the older woman says. Elle looked at her indifferent but said nothing"hmmm" Stella said continuing to look at the pictures.

When she heard the door open"MAMI DONDE TU ESTA" Star shouted," En la espalda" Elle shouted back as her daughter made it to the back.

"Ohh i didn't know you had company" Star says, no it's okay mi amor have a seat i need to talk to you and your brother. So we are going to wait for him to come" Elena replies making her daughter watch her and the woman suspiciously. "Mami, ¿qué está pasando?" the teen asked just as she was about to speak they heard Elesandro, Kayla and Danisa come in.

"Mami, estoy aquí, ¿qué pasa?" Elesandro says coming in stopping when he saw Stella pointing at her" i saw you the other day," he said. Looking at her strangely" ven papi siéntate por favor" Elle said as he looked on just suspicious as his sister but sat next to his mom.

Taking a deep breath" the truth is papi she was looking to meet you because she is your grand aunt she's your grandmother's younger sister.

And your father's aunt" Elle said, as they both looked at their mother and Stella, "she did tell you we're not interested right" he said hotly. "Les stop i told her already that your not interest but she wants to get to know you guys if that's okay with the two of you," his mother said. "That's fine but as long as she understands we are not interested in knowing him which is funny she looks and finds us but he hasn't.

Even reached out to my mother since he left her to die"Elesandro says putting up his hands up before Stella could speak. "Yeah we know he didn't know but he didn't bother to find out how she was either so please don't defend him to me either" he said. "ELESANDRO BYRON TAVARES ENOUGH THAT ISN'T HER FAULT AND YOU WILL NOT BE RUDE TO HER EITHER ENTIENDES" Elena said.

He took a deep breath" I apologize Ma'am for being rude," the teenager said, Stella saw it so much like Curtis it was that it was astounding. His fire and they way he was protective of his mother " Listen here young man there is a lot I don't know. About what happen with your parents and why your father did why he did but make no mistake i will get to the bottom of this UNDERSTOOD"Stella said.

The rest of the meeting went off without she got to play with Danisa who was a joy to be around that the twins were both in college. Elesandro and Kayla had her at 15 but Elle made sure that both teens were going to finish high school and Elesandro is in college studying to be a doctor. And Estrella who is nicknamed Star was in college as well, she was a business major and Kayla was a few months away from graduating high school.

She would be joining him at the University of Miami in the summer they had a lot of help from his family. Hers not so much but she was in the process of talking to them again after they but her out for getting pregnant. Because her father was pissed because he sacrificed a lot for her to go to that school so she could get a good education. It turns out the kids enjoyed having her around she told them stories about the other side of their family.

Mostly keeping it on Tommy, Henrietta seeing as Curtis was a hotbed topic but Star seemed a little more intrigued. When she left he was torn between telling Curtis or just letting sleeping dogs lie but it would hurt more if he found out she knew and didn't tell him.

When there was a knock breaking her from her thoughts looking up rolling her eyes" Kingsley what do you want" Elle said. "I brought my niece in to be seen by the best pediatrician in the city," he said as she shook her head. "I'm not ever going to date you like ever we have been through this already i'm not playing hard to get I'm just not interested.

"Look, I know that English you were married to left but I'm still here and i'm here for you " he said putting his hand on his chest. Just then a tall brown skin guy peeked in"Elle you ready" Orlando said as she smiled,"Hey O yes i'm ready Admiral Kingsley was just leaving" Elle says. Setting his face ablaze" Tavares who is this joker" Tyrone says angrily, this is the guy i have been dating" she answered.

As he sizes up Orlando who was about the same height but a little bigger then he was but he was a got damn navy man. Who wasn't going to be intimidated by this man either" She don't really want you she just likes playing hard to get" Ty said. Making Orlando chuckle as he looked at Elle who shrugged at Tyrone" Well she hasn't played hard to get with me so whatever Ven chula' he replies.

"So Kingsley Dr. Rajesh could see your niece i'm off the clock see y'all" she said grabbing her purse then walked around him leaving.


Baltimore, Maryland

"Did they leave anything" Charles asked

The man shook his head as he stood up 'Sorry chief nothing just like the last time they got in and out in record time. It was as if they knew we were coming" detective Rollins said as Charles inwardly curse.

"Do you think it's them or someone else" the young detective asked, "I don't know but it sure looks like it's them check to see if his plan landed anywhere in or outside of the city"he replied

When his son came over"We checked the security cameras it was one person who took all of this in under 10 minutes. And by the looks of it that the perpetrator was a girl she and new this must have been a test. Because she left this one on purpose " Chuckie said, as father hisses "Then it may not be him but they want his attention.

Get to some of our contacts and see if anyone moves any of theses paintings are being sold on the black market. She left the most expensive one here why we are missing something" Charles said, have you heard from JoJo she is out of the hospital' Chuckie says. "yeah i spoke to her i told her to call if she needed anything to let me know"Senior said.

"Chief there's a message for you" Detective Bates called to him, as he and Chuckie made their way over. She plays the video they all listen to her gloat about taking it while they were watching. And if they didn't want anyone to find out they better get to looking for it she gave them coordinates to find the first painting.

Running his hand over his face"We need to find this girls she thinks she is smarter then we are but let's prove her wrong"Charles said.


Port Charles

Stella had been back for a almost a week now but she had been avoiding everyone she didn't know what to do. He seemed as happy as he could be with her but she promised him she would try.

And after what happened to Jordan she was trying but this was so hard to keep from him. Either way it was now or never she thought as she waited for him but was even more shocked when she saw Jordan get off the elevator with him.

"Excuse what did you just say Auntie"Curtis said as Jordan shook her head in disbelief, "you heard me Curtis"Stella said. She sighs he shook his head No"I would know if i had kids out there Auntie I would know" he insisted.

When Jordan spoke" Stella i thought we had worked through all that and her you go again. Starting this mess really' she says hurt, "Auntie why are you doing this Jordan is right we were good" Curtis said.

As she looked at him with tears in her eyes"baby listen to me" was all Stella got out before he cut her off. "No auntie i'm not doing this"he said getting up taking Jordan's hand and began to walk away. When she spoke"Elena Tavares"Stella says stopping dead in his tracks it was as if he got hit with a sledge hammer in the chest.

Turning to face his aunt she saw the evident despair in his eyes that he tried to hide"Did this woman put you up to this" Jordan asked.