Chapter 25

Skye's Townhouse

Rae put some biscotti on a small plate, set the plate on the tea tray, and carried it into the living room. She set the tray on the coffee table and sat down. Mocha took the opportunity to jump on her lap. Skye sat curled up in the overstuffed armchair. She smiled at Mocha, glad that the little cat liked her mother. Rae had been thrilled with him, giving him smooches and buying cat toys until Skye thought she was going to be sick. Rae had flown to Port Charles as soon as she heard what had happened to Skye. She had planned to come for Thanksgiving anyway, and just decided to come early for a long stay. Skye didn't mind, but she scrupulously avoided talking about Sonny Corinthos. It would have been painful enough to even mention him, without hearing the censure in her mother's voice that she had been foolish enough to fall in love with a mobster.

Rae gently shifted Mocha over to the sofa cushion next to her, and poured a cup of tea. She added two cubes of sugar, and set the cup on the end table next to Skye. Then she poured her own cup. When both women had taken a sip of tea, Rae set her cup down and folded her hands. She looked down for a moment, then over at Skye. "My dear, I know that the experience you went through was difficult. And much as I would like to respect your privacy, I am concerned for you. I will admit I am curious as well. Specifically about the gentleman who blocked the bullet meant to…to kill you." There was dead silence in the room. "Please, Skye, don't be afraid to open up to me. You can trust me. Alan told me a lot about Sonny Corinthos – what he does for a living, how he relates to the Quartermaines. He told me about AJ's son, and how that particular feud has been resolved. I'm not sure how Mr. Corinthos relates to this man who wants to kill you. There is a great deal missing, Skye, and only you can fill in the gaps." Skye had been staring into her teacup the entire time. When she looked up, there was a world of pain in her eyes. "Well mother, you asked for it."

Unable to cope with keeping it all inside, Skye told Rae everything. She started with the first moment she met Sonny up until the moment she walked out of his hospital room two weeks ago. Skye left nothing out, and when she was finished, she felt utterly drained. She became aware of her surroundings and realized that at some point she had shifted from the chair to the sofa and was now enfolded in Rae's arms. She sat up, reached for a tissue, and blew her nose. Rae looked at her daughter knowingly. "I can see why you have been reluctant to talk to me about him." Skye looked at her warily. Rae continued, "You were afraid I would be disappointed in you for giving your heart, once again, to an unworthy gentleman." Skye looked down. "Well, he's no model citizen." Rae smiled. "Well, Max Holden has the appearance of being a model citizen, but he's rotten to the core. Though it took awhile, you recognized that he was bad for you and ended it. Do you see that happening with Sonny Corinthos?" Skye rolled her eyes. "There would be nothing to end." Rae waved her hand. "Lets pretend you are together. Could you see yourself ending it?" Skye shook her head. "If he was mine I would never let go." Rae smiled. "That's because you see something special in him. And I must say that despite his many contradictions, there is one thing that endears me to him." Skye looked at her. "What's that, mother?" Rae put her hand on Skye's shoulder. "He saved your life. Twice. And despite the ham-handed way he's doing it, its obvious that he still wants to protect you. How could any mother object to that?"

Rae hugged Skye, not letting her see the turmoil in her heart. If Skye and Sonny Corinthos were to actually get together, Rae could see her life being very rocky. Not that the path of love ever ran smoothly, but Rae wanted the best for Skye. All she could hope for now was that whoever Skye did marry would love her no matter what life threw at them.

Quartermaine Mansion

Skye was surprised that Monica readily agreed to let Rae come to Thanksgiving dinner. Was she so happy that Emily was going to be home that she just didn't care? Months ago Skye and Monica had come to an understanding. Skye was going to be a regular part of Alan's life, and Monica learned to accept it. But Skye would not have predicted that Monica could accept Rae. Skye voiced her amazement to Rae, but Rae just gave a tiny smile. When they arrived at the mansion, Skye's eyes widened when she saw John Sykes sitting on the sofa. "What are you doing here, John?" He stood up and smiled. "You're looking at the new police commisioner for Port Charles." Skye's mouth dropped open. Rae went over to John and gave him a long hug. Then she and John turned to Skye. "That's not all. Dr. Kevin Collins has asked me to head up a new counseling center that is going to be built here." Skye just stared at them in shock. Smiling, John continued, "Rae and I figured that fate was trying to tell us something. So I asked her to marry me, and she said yes." Skye put her hands to her cheeks. "I am just flabbergasted! How long have you been keeping this a secret, mother?" Rae smiled sadly. "John proposed the night of Halloween. I felt that with everything happening to you that it would be best to wait awhile before saying anything." Skye went over and hugged her. "You must have been bursting at the seams to tell me. No wonder you had that little Mona Lisa smile in the car. You knew that Monica wouldn't mind you coming to dinner because you were bringing your fiance too!" Rae laughed and nodded.

They chatted for a little while, then Alan and Monica walked into the living room. Alan beamed at them. "Congratulations Rae. John, welcome to Port Charles." The two men shook hands. Monica also congratulated them and shook their hands. Ned wheeled Emily into the room, and Skye went over to greet her sister. The teenager was still confined to a wheelchair, but was making a great deal of progress. A little while later, AJ arrived with Courtney, and he introduced her to his little sister. Being relatively close in age, she and Emily became fast friends. Finally Edward came in and demanded that they all cease their chatter and come into the dining room, where Lila was waiting. Everyone filed into the dining room, oohing and aahing over the feast on the table. They sat down and after saying grace, began to pass the food around. Ned looked over at John. "You know, I hadn't even heard that Mac Scorpio was resigning as commisioner. Do you know anything about what he's going to do?" John looked up from scooping some mashed potatoes. "Apparently he decided to join the WSB. He got a sterling recommendation from his sister-in-law Anna Devane. She used to work for the bureau, but now she's the chief of police over in Pine Valley."

Skye smiled. "I met Anna when I was there a few months ago. We've been keeping in touch. She's a great person." Ned nodded. "Yes she is. Makes me wonder why she would want to be friends with you." Skye stared at him agape. Edward laughed. Alan frowned at Ned. "What would make you say a thing like that?" Ned looked stubborn. "Oh, come on Alan. She's been nothing but trouble from the first moment she stepped into this house. Now she's got some mobster gunning after her, and we may all be in the line of fire." Edward piped up. "I totally agree, Ned. I am sick and tired of this family being a target for organized crime. First Jason decides to join the mob. Then Emily brings that hoodlum Zander into our midst. AJ marries a crime lord's sister. And now Skye has a contract out on her life. Might as well paint a big bullseye on top of the house." There was a whole chorus of protests. Emily burst into tears at the mention of Zander. Monica started yelling at Edward for denigrating Jason and Emily. AJ told Edward never to say another word about Courtney. Rae defended Skye, while John told her that it was probably best to keep out of it. Skye pointed to Ned and told him that he was the one starting trouble this time. Lila tried to calm everyone down, but to no avail.

The passing of the food became haphazard. Rae accidentally spilled the cranberry sauce on the tablecloth, which enraged Monica since she and Alan had purchased it on their honeymoon. John calmly asked Monica to please not yell at his fiance. Alan told him to butt out. Monica turned on Alan and demanded to know if he was jealous of John. Alan told her not to be ridiculous. Edward loudly demanded the dinner rolls, which Monica shoved in his direction. To make room for the dinner rolls, Edward passed the turkey gravy to Ned, who said he didn't want any damned gravy and shoved it towards Courtney. Unfortunately Courtney was not ready to receive the gravy, since she was still waiting to pass the mashed potatoes on to AJ. Subsequently, the gravy was dumped in her lap, and the mashed potatoes ended up in AJ's face. Instead of being chagrined, Ned started laughing, prompting Emily to defend her new friend Courtney by demanding that Ned apologize. Ned stopped laughing and said he wasn't going to take orders from some snot-nosed brat. Monica immediately demanded to know what Ned's freaking problem was, and Skye chiimed in that perhaps it was the fact that Felicia had just dumped his ass the day before. Infuriated, Ned stood up, but neglected to scoot his chair back first. AJ also stood up at precisely that same moment, wiping potatoes out of his eyes. The result was that they violently jarred the table, causing the turkey to actually roll off its platter and onto John's lap.

Edward stood up, threw down his napkin, and declared that this was the last time interlopers were going to ruin his Thanksgiving meal. He stomped out of the room, followed by Monica who declared that she would never again let Rae spend Thanksgiving in her house. Alan went after her, arguing that it was actually Edward and Ned's fault. Skye was right behind him, accusing Monica of being blinded by jealousy. Rae and John went after Skye, pleading with her to leave it alone. Ned went to go order the pizzas and AJ followed him, still demanding an apology. Lila and Emily helped Courtney clean the gravy off her clothes. They all eventually ended up in the living room, still screaming and yelling. The entire group was just reaching a fever pitch, when there was a loud whistling noise over by the door. Everyone froze in place, a chilling sense of déjà vu gripping them. They turned their heads to see Sonny Corinthos standing in the doorway. Edward was the first to snap out of it. "What the hell are you doing here, Corinthos?" Rae put her hand on John's arm, as she realized she was looking at the man her daughter loved. Skye just stared wide-eyed at him. Sonny's eyes travelled the room until he found Skye. Without taking his eyes off her, he answered the question. "I'm here, Edward, because I want to ask Skye if she would do me the great honor of accepting my hand in marriage."

Skye gripped the chair beside her. She couldn't believe her ears. "M…marriage?" was all she could say. Sonny cocked his head. "Just so you know, I didn't ask because I want to protect you, or because I'm trying to get back at AJ, or whatever else you can come up with in that head of yours. I'm asking you to marry me because I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. I need you with me, Antoinette. What do you say?" Skye felt like her knees were going to turn to jelly, but she managed to remain standing. Sonny had just walked into this room full of people and laid his heart bare before her. She took a deep breath. "My answer is yes." There was a collective gasp. "And just so you know, I'm saying yes because I love you more than anything, and I need to be with you too." She ran over to Sonny and threw herself in his arms, oblivious to the uproar her answer had triggered.