My Life Closed Twice
Chapter 34: Center of Insanity
Disclaimer: General Hospital and all its characters belong to ABC, Disney, etc.
Author's Notes: Thanks to my faithful beta reader. Please read and review!
I awoke in the middle of a riot. All right, it was just your standard family gathering. Well, standard for my family. I opened my eyes a sliver to take stock of the situation. Sometime while I was asleep I had been moved into a private hospital room. The room was currently filled to the brim with people.
All the Quartermaines were present. Great-Grandfather Edward, Uncle Alan and Aunt Monica were carrying on a discussion on my left right next to my head (Hello, trying to sleep here). Uncle Zander, Aunt Emily, and Junior were further down my bedside carrying on a discussion with a cell phone Junior was holding out. I didn't know why they were all talking at a phone, but it was certainly a distracting conversation. My blanket's process toward the tuft of brown hair I could just see over the side of the bed indicated that Jase was enjoying his parents' distraction. At the foot of the bed Skye, Jax, Mr. Spencer, Mr. Baldwin, and Ms. Spencer all stood. Most of the group was watching Mr. Spencer and Mr. Baldwin argue about something. Ms Spencer was holding Leslie while Uncle Stephan standing right behind her held Mark. Uncle Stephan was dividing his time between watching the battle at the end of the bed, Mark and Mom who was seated across the bed from Great-Grandfather.
Mom was watching me. The laughter in her eyes told me that knew I was awake and assessing the situation. Some time while I was asleep she had changed clothes and run a brush through her hair. All the remains of the woman I had been calling my mother for the last six years seemed to have left. I had been patient and my reward was well worth it. I allowed myself to give her a quick grin before once again firmly closing my eyes
"You know, some people are trying to sleep here," I grumbled. Everyone stopped talking mid-sentence.
"It is rude to sleep when you have visitors young lady," Great-Grandfather Edward responded.
I opened my eyes. "I told you I grew up to be just like you."
"You're a better swimmer then he is," Junior teased.
"I had a great partner," I told him.
"Does this mean you might actually like me?" Junior responded.
"Don't hold your breath Junior," I returned. Junior smiled and gave my leg a squeeze.
"Well she certainly sounds fine," observed Aunt Emily.
"Of course she is fine, she is a Quartermaine," Great-Grandfather said.
"I think there is a little Cassadine in there," Mom argued.
"Nah, I think she is a lost Spencer," Mr. Spencer announced.
"Then I don't want to be found," I told him.
"She is definitely a Cassadine," Uncle Stephan with obvious relish.
"Oh no you don't, Cassadine. Your family doesn't get all of the credit. She is a perfect example of a true Quartermaine," Great-Grandfather Edward stated.
Enough was enough. "She is me. I have said it before and I will say it again. I'm Kristina Lila Davis-Ashton. I eat Quartermaines, Cassadines, and the occasional Spencer for breakfast," I stated firmly.
Most of the room broke down laughing (Great-Grandfather grumbled and Uncle Stephan just looked pleased). Once the laughter died down everyone resumed the discussions that I had interrupted. Except for the location, it could have passed for an average family celebration. People mingled around the room. Conversations ebbed and flowed over each other creating constant background music. Mom and Great-Grandfather didn't give up their positions on each side of me, but somehow everyone else worked out a dance that allowed me to talk to everybody.
Uncle Alan and Aunt Monica told me I would have to stay in the hospital overnight for observation. Aunt Emily, after rescuing my covers from her son, promised to get me some real food. Uncle Zander gave me a book of crossword puzzles to keep me busy. Jase gave me a hug and then tried to pull out my IV. Junior let me talk to Aunt Courtney who had been attending the get together via Junior's cell phone. Skye and Jax teased me about getting too much adventure. Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Spencer did their Abbot and Costello routine for me again. Uncle Stephan and Ms. Spencer both reassured me they were fine and let me play with the twins.
After an hour or so Aunt Monica announced it was time for me to get some rest. Everyone said good-bye one-by-one. The last ones left were Great- Grandfather and Mom.
"Now you listen to the doctors young lady. I am getting too old to be worrying so much about you," Great-Grandfather Edward said as he hugged me.
"You don't need to worry about me, I have some great guardian angels," I told him.
"Your Great-Grandmother has better things to do with her afterlife then spend all her time saving you," he scolded.
"Yeah, she still has to look after you," I said.
"Alexis, you better teach her to respect her elders," Great-Grandfather Edward groused.
"I will get right on that," Mom assured him with almost a straight face. I don't think Great-Grandfather bought it. He was muttering under his breath as he left.
I laughed. "I almost feel sorry for him. He doesn't really want us to be docile, he just can't stand us to show him our backbone," I said.
"Don't worry about him. He lives for the arguments," Mom told me.
I knew that. Truth is told I loved the arguments too. I also loved him. I loved them all. They were mine and I wasn't giving them up. I had been wondering who I was ever since I had overheard Mom and Mrs. Corinthos talking. Even Helena had gotten in on the act by trying to tell me I wasn't a Cassadine. Well, as Spencer had said, donating some chromosomes doesn't make you family. He was right. I know our situations weren't the same. However, the result was the same. Mr. Corinthos was no more my father then Junior was Michael's. I was a Quartermaine and that was that. I had lost too much family. I wasn't losing anymore.
"You love being at the center of all this insanity," Mom said.
I realized that while I was figuring out my place in the world Mom had been watching me. I looked at her. "They are my family no matter what," I said.
"Would you like to move here?" Mom asked.
What? Move back to the city my parents had purposely left and made sure I had never seen? Still, to be able to see everyone anytime I wanted. To be able to go shopping with Aunt Emily and Skye any time I wanted. To meet Michael for lunch and not have it end up in an ambulance. More dinners at the Q's that didn't include pizza. To have the chance to get to watch my cousins grow up.
However, what about Mom? Did she really want to move back to this town that had so many memories for her? Not all of them were happy. "I'm fine in New York," I answered.
Mom straightened up and got her lawyer look. "That is not what I asked you Miss Davis-Ashton. Would you please answer the question," she ordered.
This was an old game. Whenever Mom wanted the truth she treated me like one of her witnesses. I caved. "Yes."
Mom nodded her head. "I will arrange it," she said in a determined voice.
Chapter 34: Center of Insanity
Disclaimer: General Hospital and all its characters belong to ABC, Disney, etc.
Author's Notes: Thanks to my faithful beta reader. Please read and review!
I awoke in the middle of a riot. All right, it was just your standard family gathering. Well, standard for my family. I opened my eyes a sliver to take stock of the situation. Sometime while I was asleep I had been moved into a private hospital room. The room was currently filled to the brim with people.
All the Quartermaines were present. Great-Grandfather Edward, Uncle Alan and Aunt Monica were carrying on a discussion on my left right next to my head (Hello, trying to sleep here). Uncle Zander, Aunt Emily, and Junior were further down my bedside carrying on a discussion with a cell phone Junior was holding out. I didn't know why they were all talking at a phone, but it was certainly a distracting conversation. My blanket's process toward the tuft of brown hair I could just see over the side of the bed indicated that Jase was enjoying his parents' distraction. At the foot of the bed Skye, Jax, Mr. Spencer, Mr. Baldwin, and Ms. Spencer all stood. Most of the group was watching Mr. Spencer and Mr. Baldwin argue about something. Ms Spencer was holding Leslie while Uncle Stephan standing right behind her held Mark. Uncle Stephan was dividing his time between watching the battle at the end of the bed, Mark and Mom who was seated across the bed from Great-Grandfather.
Mom was watching me. The laughter in her eyes told me that knew I was awake and assessing the situation. Some time while I was asleep she had changed clothes and run a brush through her hair. All the remains of the woman I had been calling my mother for the last six years seemed to have left. I had been patient and my reward was well worth it. I allowed myself to give her a quick grin before once again firmly closing my eyes
"You know, some people are trying to sleep here," I grumbled. Everyone stopped talking mid-sentence.
"It is rude to sleep when you have visitors young lady," Great-Grandfather Edward responded.
I opened my eyes. "I told you I grew up to be just like you."
"You're a better swimmer then he is," Junior teased.
"I had a great partner," I told him.
"Does this mean you might actually like me?" Junior responded.
"Don't hold your breath Junior," I returned. Junior smiled and gave my leg a squeeze.
"Well she certainly sounds fine," observed Aunt Emily.
"Of course she is fine, she is a Quartermaine," Great-Grandfather said.
"I think there is a little Cassadine in there," Mom argued.
"Nah, I think she is a lost Spencer," Mr. Spencer announced.
"Then I don't want to be found," I told him.
"She is definitely a Cassadine," Uncle Stephan with obvious relish.
"Oh no you don't, Cassadine. Your family doesn't get all of the credit. She is a perfect example of a true Quartermaine," Great-Grandfather Edward stated.
Enough was enough. "She is me. I have said it before and I will say it again. I'm Kristina Lila Davis-Ashton. I eat Quartermaines, Cassadines, and the occasional Spencer for breakfast," I stated firmly.
Most of the room broke down laughing (Great-Grandfather grumbled and Uncle Stephan just looked pleased). Once the laughter died down everyone resumed the discussions that I had interrupted. Except for the location, it could have passed for an average family celebration. People mingled around the room. Conversations ebbed and flowed over each other creating constant background music. Mom and Great-Grandfather didn't give up their positions on each side of me, but somehow everyone else worked out a dance that allowed me to talk to everybody.
Uncle Alan and Aunt Monica told me I would have to stay in the hospital overnight for observation. Aunt Emily, after rescuing my covers from her son, promised to get me some real food. Uncle Zander gave me a book of crossword puzzles to keep me busy. Jase gave me a hug and then tried to pull out my IV. Junior let me talk to Aunt Courtney who had been attending the get together via Junior's cell phone. Skye and Jax teased me about getting too much adventure. Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Spencer did their Abbot and Costello routine for me again. Uncle Stephan and Ms. Spencer both reassured me they were fine and let me play with the twins.
After an hour or so Aunt Monica announced it was time for me to get some rest. Everyone said good-bye one-by-one. The last ones left were Great- Grandfather and Mom.
"Now you listen to the doctors young lady. I am getting too old to be worrying so much about you," Great-Grandfather Edward said as he hugged me.
"You don't need to worry about me, I have some great guardian angels," I told him.
"Your Great-Grandmother has better things to do with her afterlife then spend all her time saving you," he scolded.
"Yeah, she still has to look after you," I said.
"Alexis, you better teach her to respect her elders," Great-Grandfather Edward groused.
"I will get right on that," Mom assured him with almost a straight face. I don't think Great-Grandfather bought it. He was muttering under his breath as he left.
I laughed. "I almost feel sorry for him. He doesn't really want us to be docile, he just can't stand us to show him our backbone," I said.
"Don't worry about him. He lives for the arguments," Mom told me.
I knew that. Truth is told I loved the arguments too. I also loved him. I loved them all. They were mine and I wasn't giving them up. I had been wondering who I was ever since I had overheard Mom and Mrs. Corinthos talking. Even Helena had gotten in on the act by trying to tell me I wasn't a Cassadine. Well, as Spencer had said, donating some chromosomes doesn't make you family. He was right. I know our situations weren't the same. However, the result was the same. Mr. Corinthos was no more my father then Junior was Michael's. I was a Quartermaine and that was that. I had lost too much family. I wasn't losing anymore.
"You love being at the center of all this insanity," Mom said.
I realized that while I was figuring out my place in the world Mom had been watching me. I looked at her. "They are my family no matter what," I said.
"Would you like to move here?" Mom asked.
What? Move back to the city my parents had purposely left and made sure I had never seen? Still, to be able to see everyone anytime I wanted. To be able to go shopping with Aunt Emily and Skye any time I wanted. To meet Michael for lunch and not have it end up in an ambulance. More dinners at the Q's that didn't include pizza. To have the chance to get to watch my cousins grow up.
However, what about Mom? Did she really want to move back to this town that had so many memories for her? Not all of them were happy. "I'm fine in New York," I answered.
Mom straightened up and got her lawyer look. "That is not what I asked you Miss Davis-Ashton. Would you please answer the question," she ordered.
This was an old game. Whenever Mom wanted the truth she treated me like one of her witnesses. I caved. "Yes."
Mom nodded her head. "I will arrange it," she said in a determined voice.