Port Charles

General Hospital

Manolo looked between them, feeling both of their emotions dripping off them "Mrs. Ashford Where have you been?" Curtis questioned as she entered the room, "well I needed some time to wrap my head around the fuckery that is our lives at the moment is all" she answered. Shaking his head"YOU DON'T GET TO SHUT ME OUT ELENA, YOU DON'T MAKE THAT CHOICE BY YOURSELF I AM YOUR FUCKING HUSBAND. FOR BETTER OR GOT DAMN WORST "he said angrily and hurt. "I NEEDED TO FUCKING BREATH CURTIS BEFORE I LOSE MY SHIT AND KILL THAT BITCH GAWDD I'M HURT CURTIS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU STILL FUCKED THAT BITCH.

AND NUTTED IN THAT BITCH NOW THE RATIONAL SIDE OF ME KNOWS YOU DIDN'T FUCK HER ON PURPOSE BUT THAT OTHER PART OF ME IS PISSED THE FUCK OFF" Elle shouted. " YOU THINK THIS IS HARD FOR ME KNOWING THAT I BETRAYED YOU BUT YOU ARE MY WIFE AND WE SHOULD BE DEALING WITH THIS TOGETHER NOT APART" he said.

"Yeah well this isn't easy for me because I know my temper and you know that to Curtis'' she says. Running his hand over his salt and pepper beard "Elle this is just as hard for me and you not being here makes it worse for me. Because I don't know where you are or what you're thinking babe , I never wanted this alright.

And I know that I am to blame because of the drugs and everything but I need you to know that. I would never choose to betray you or our family" Curtis says, "well not to put a damper on things but she's been here hanging around"Manolo says. "I know the kids told me so when I got here I put her ass on notices. If she tries me she will see what will happen to her ass" Elena says with a shrug.

"So no more running away woman because I need you here. That's it, do you hear me"he says. Making her and Manolo look at him "don't get cute with me Curtis you know I find that attractive. When you get demanding but baby steps love baby steps i'm not there yet" she says. Her father rolled his eyes. "You two disgust me," the older man says, making a face while kissing his daughter on the forehead. Then shaking Curtis's hand while someone watched them from outside stretching his hand out. Elena put her hands in his "for better or for worse right" she says he kissed her hand "Nah baby girl for better because we already went through the worse" he says.

"Can I help sir?" Stella says, making the man freeze before rushing away. With her hot on his heels when she reached out and went to grab his arm to stop him. He pulled away swiftly making her fall to the ground then he fled the scene only stopping when he was further away. Leaning against the wall he closed his eyes with a sigh as he shook his head before leaving. Walking away from his family was the hardest thing he ever had to do but it had to be done.

Because his cover had been blown and they would be targets if he didn't leave when he did. He loved them so much he remembered the moment he fell in love with his late wife. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever met. Curtis had her smile, he was broken. When he had found out Tommy was killed he lost it then to lose her not so soon son after him. His entire world had crumbled and he had lost everything he loved. Only person left was his baby boy. That's when he had learned Curtis was married with a family.

And Thomas Jr's son remained, it gave him something to live for; he was hoping now that he was considered dead. That he could finally be with his family but the only thing that plagued him was that Curtis would believe him. He hoped Stella was alright; he never meant for her to see him; he had hoped to speak with his son first.

Flashback

Baltimore, Maryland

It was 1971 Baltimore she was working down by the marina; she was a waitress and he had been on the West Coast for a while; it was his first day back. When he spotted her she took his breath away"excuse me Alistar" he says walking over to her " well hello sweet thang how are you doing this evening Marshall Ashford " Marshall says introducing himself. When she looked up at him and smiled" Irene Heniretta Henry but you can call me Henny" she answered, all he could do was stare repeating her name to himself. When he put his hand forward to shake hers it was like.

Bolt of electricity ran through them both catching them off guard. "Well Henny can I take you out to dinner whatever you want my treat" he said with a smile, "sorry I don't get off until late and I have school in the morning" she replies. He couldn't help but be intrigued.

"Any day when you're not working we could do anything you want if you don't mind me asking what you are going to school for," he asked. She had long flowing hair and looked like a young Lena Horne with an Eartha Kitts complexion. She smiled" St. Joseph, it's my last year before I start working at the hospital. What about you" she says. "I'm a marine sweet thang I just came back to town" Marshall answers as she shook her head.

"Well welcome home Marshall Ashford and I'm free Friday afternoon" Henny replies making his face light up. "Fantastic is there anyway I can call you to come and pick you up" he says when she takes a piece of paper from the back of her order book. Then wrote her number down on it with him taking his business card and with his on it.

When someone called her name "sorry I have to get back to work" she says, "sure thang you take care I will see you on Friday" he said. Watching her walk away from that day forward he would talk on the phone for hours. Before he started picking her up so she wouldn't have to take the bus late at night. They fell head over heels in love with each other; they were married a year later in 1972.

TJ had helped Stella to the room. "Auntie what happened?" Curtis says, "oh nothing I tripped" the older woman says. Making Curtis, Elle and Manolo look at her" well that's not what I saw, you went chasing someone" , TJ says. "Why are you chasing that woman Stella?" Elle says with a grin making her husband laugh. "Ha ha ha real cute" Stella says, " Who you chasing down in the hospital Auntie. I already told you they can't get better sheets then this" Curtis says as he and Elena kept on giggling.

"I see someone is in a better mood. I told you that you needed to come up here" the woman says. Changing the subject, something was vaguely familiar about the man but she couldn't put her finger on it. "Yes I am we talked and everything is gonna be okay we will figure it out together" her nephew says. With a big smile it warmed her heart. He had been so down for the last few days, nothing. Was working so she went and talked to his wife who was more hard headed then he was. She hugged him then kissed him on top of his forehead but she was gonna keep an eye on things.

Just then Starr, Robinson and Brian came in. "Mami, Papi, hi abuelo, Aunt Stella and TJ" she says greeting them one by one. Robinson's face lit up when he saw his mother, thinking finally they could turn things around. Hugging his mother then leaning this head on her shoulder "Elle stop babying that boy he is bigger then you are" Curtis says.

"Shush, leave my baby alone Curtis" she replies with Robinson sticking his tongue at his father. "Hmm, I thought I was your baby" he said she smiled "No your my Zaddy this my baby" Elle says. "Que Carajo te veré" Manolo says, leaving as Elle, Starr and TJ all laughed while he stormed out. "I Love you Papi" she shouted as someone watched him leave from the corner hiding out of sight.

The docks

All of the girls turned and looked at her as Skylar scoffed" I thought of all those things and none of them happened Skylar. All those things plagued my mind but I was young and naive and I made a mistake. Cheating on my husband but that is between thee adults in this situation" Portia says. As Sky rolled her eyes "yeah and how would you know things happen all the time" she replies.

"I am 18 years old mom. I'm not a little kid anymore you never planned on telling me. No Skylar is right. What if he never showed up here in Port Charles you wouldn't have said anything. So what was the real reason you told me" Trina says, Shaking her head "I tell you why Trin she thought maybe after all this time she could land and she missed the mark by a mile.

What she didn't count on was his wife hearing it first. I had a great deal of respect for you. I saw you as a real mom. Not like my mom but a real mom now I'm just like wow you fooled us all because. I look at your daughter, one of my best friends and all I see is pain if she can't trust you who can trust" she says walking away.

"Sky wait ughhh '' Josslyn says as Emma nodded then going after Skylar, "Trina baby I know your mad at me this is on me. And I'm sorry this is why I didn't want to say anything to see that look on your face baby that pain and to know that. I put that there I will always regret doing that I thought I was doing the right thing for everyone involved.

But I didn't. I made the wrong decision and worse of all I caused you pain and that I hate baby. You have to understand I love you so much and this was hard for me and it wasn't something I took lightly either. I will not tell you everything about my past because you're a child and my child. I do promise going forward to be more honest with you about things" Portia says.

Shaking her head "You don't get it do you mom I can't just forgive you because you lied after telling me to be honest all time. And you weren't honest and you still aren't not with me and not with yourself. Come on Joss, let's go find Skylar and Emma" she says, leaving Portia by herself.

As the tears start to stream down her face a man passed her his handkerchief. "No thank you," she says, taking a tissue from her purse and dabbing her eyes, "no worries sweetheart your daughter" he asked sitting next to her. She looks up at him as he gives her a slight smile"yeah my pride and joy she doesn't understand the sacrifices I've made for her" Portia says. With a nod of his head " they often never do they think things are simple when it never really is but they won't get it until they have to make their own difficult choices" he says.

While he just looked out at the water"Sounds like you've had the similar experience" she says, "you could say so I've kept a lot of secrets from them to protect them and they didn't like being handled hmmm" he said clearing his throat at the end. Thinking about when he last saw his eldest son and how they had it out"how do you fix it" the young woman asked,"sadly to say you gotta let them learn the hard way it's not always black or white you take care ,young lady" he says. Before getting up and leaving Portia to her own thoughts, she didn't want Trina to be hurt anymore, so how could she not do anything about it?.

The gym

Les, Roman, Danny were at the gym when Spencer came inside, placing his bag down. "Gentlemen," he says greeting them , they all nod. "Prince Cassadine k Lo k" Les says from the bench press. "Damn bro how much do you need on there?" Spencer says, "Listen, I bro, he can carry papa if he has too and it's a force of habit. From his football days he just keeps upping the ani right now this dick is at 450" Roman says.

Making his brother laugh"imaginate loko like Papa would let anyone carry his big ass that old bastard is gonna walk out like yo soy hombre,"Elesandro says laughing. "Viejo definitely would though" Danny says laughing, "for real he'll be like que carajo" Rome said sitting up and wiping his face off. Then drinking his water as Les continues pushing the weights up and Danny "well you don't need that much bro a simple 180 will do I'm sure your not walking around. Carrying your great grandfather" he says changing the weights on his bench press"Spencer says putting on his gloves .

"Bro you have to challenge yourself see I'm 6'3 215 of pure muscle and that's why I can take out anyone bigger because of how much I can press" Les says flexing as they all laughed. "Regardless of this idiots talk he's right my dear cousin you have to do more if someone decides to challenge you" Danny says going back to what he was doing. Just then Skylar came in with Emma trailing behind "hi darling how are you so happy what is your plan you said you were gonna help Trina and neither of you idiots. Have done anything you are here older brothers for gosh sake you all have each other who does she have" she says.

Making Roman look up" ayyy mi madre kid Roman Ese es tu problema" Les say laughing. "Sky come on they are all hurting here" Emma says, " I Know that Em but I have a really bad feeling about this. And I can't shake it at all and I don't want her to get hurt either" Skylar says. "Look babe listen me she's not ready to let us in Me and Les tried at the hospital.

She straight up look me and Les in the face and said she didn't want nothing to do with us. Now with us being who we are know she said it out of hurt and anger but we can't force her. To let us in we all going through the same shit but she has to be ready for that. Skylar and she's not. So it's gonna get worse before it's get better but it's not like we not on the job.

Because we are listen we got her but this delicate situation and if she is any Ashford. That means she is gonna lose it soon we can't avoid it either no Skylar babe your hearts in the right place. But if she falls we gonna be there to catch her right now she's not in the head space to think logically. So y'all have to be there until she comes to a place where she is ready its okay" Roman says.

Hugging her "I don't want to see her hurt Roman I've been there and she was strong for me when I couldn't be" she whispered. But it was the way she said it gave him pause "What does that mean Sky" he says pulling back looking at her. That's when Josslyn and Trina walked Les covered his chest as Josslyn shook her head. As the rest of the guys started laughing "Asshole" Joss said, "Why are you here" Trina says. When Skylar looked at her with tears in her eyes clearing her throat "Umm I need to talk to Roman is all" she replied. "Oh okay can we go now" her friend said "Hello to you too little sister" Roman says.

As Trina glared him "I'm not your sister" she says making him and Les smile "Yeah and a leopard doesn't have spots. Sorry to break it to you little momma the moment your momma took what she wanted and you were created. Your were my sister whether you like it or not so get use to it because i'm only gonna.

Let your rock but for so long before I put my foot down now you may not want to be my sister but you are" Elesandro says shaking his head. Making Trina glare at him before storming out as Josslyn shoved him "your an asshole, Trina" she says as her friends went after her. " How is that helping her Les" Skylar says shaking her head as they all looked at him. As he just walked back over to the bench and went back to working out like nothing happened.

"Nah Kid Roman don't look at me like that don't be mad because I said it either because she wants to hurt everyone else because she hurt. Well guess what I'm a big boy and I can take it I'm still not gonna hurt her but I'm not gonna give her a pass either. Because we are all in the same boat she's lucky its me and not Starr because she would tap that ass" he said. They all knew what he was saying was true because she was angry at all The people she knew wouldn't hurt her.