AN: I'm back! The story is still going! I'm losing steam for it, though. But don't worry, I will crank out at least another chapter. =D

This chapter is dedicated to Amethyst Beloved and Shamira, two of my original reviewers. For Amethyst Beloved, because her long-awaited Dillon + Georgie cameo is included in this chapter—actually, it's a big part (I saw them on Monday's ep—TOO CUTE!); and for Shamira, because she wasn't willing to part with this story! Plus they give awesome reviews. =D So to the two of you—this one's for you!

Hope you all like it.

Disclaimer: Okay, so all the people you don't recognize are mine, okay?

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Golden Child

Chapter Six

Shaking my head, I decided that it was best if I just left and so I made my way back to the familiar Quartermaine mansion, thoughts of Loren spinning through my head. As I drew closer to the mansion, however, I could hear incoherent shouting, and I winced. I really hoped it wasn't about me.

I finally got to the front door and lo and behold, there stood my uncle Dillon and his new wife Georgiana—but that's such a formal name for her; we all call her Georgie. Anyway, they were just standing there, apparently confused by all the screaming. "Dillon, I don't think it's a good idea to go in there," Georgie told him, apprehension apparent in her tone of voice. "It sounds serious."

"Nah, they always sound like that," Dillon said, brushing it off. "You should know better than that, Anna—remember all those times back in the day? You know how dysfunctional my family is."

"Yeah, that's why I married into it," she replied, smiling at the nickname that only he called her, giving her husband a small kiss. I smiled. They were adorable. As Dillon pulled away, he turned and saw me. "Hey, you! How long have you been standing there?"

"A few minutes. Why are you standing out here?"

Dillon smirked. "Anna here doesn't want to go inside 'cause she thinks it's serious. But I told her, it's always been like this. Hasn't it, Kristy?"

I nodded. "Yup." Dillon had a thing for funky nicknames. "So do you want to go in? I'll walk in with you, if that's what you want."

"Okay, sure," they agreed, and I went to open the door, but I stopped with my hand on the handle. "Just brace yourselves. I think I know what this arguing is all about."

They looked at me questioningly, but they didn't have time to ask because just then, I threw the door open and the sound of the argument hit us full force.

It seemed that everyone was there—most of the argument was going on between Great-grandfather and Skye, and I smiled wretchedly as I realized what was going on… my biggest fear… I was going to be kicked out.

"What do you mean, she's not family? We raised her, Grandfather! You were grooming her to be your heiress! Every single child you touch has some problem—it's a miracle Kristina didn't grow up to be the person you wanted her to be!" Skye was yelling.

"It's probably because she doesn't have any Quartermaine blood running through her anyway! I knew something was wrong with her when she was growing up! How could anyone not want to be part of this family?"

At that, snickers could be heard from all over the room. "My point exactly, Grandfather. Do you think we all enjoy being Quartermaines?"

"What are you talking about, Skye? You're not a Quartermaine, either."

At this, the man I had come to know as my grandfather entered the fray. "But you welcomed her into the family just the same. And when it came out that she wasn't a member by blood, you let her stay. Now she's asking you to do the same thing for Kristina—why won't you let her?"

"She has nothing to offer me. Besides, she's a spawn of that unstable woman Alexis, I bet she'll turn out exactly like her mother."

I stood there, horrified at Great-grandfather—no, Edward's—words, and before I could yell anything back to defend myself, Dillon did it for me. "How dare you insult Kristina when she's standing right here in front of you? One day, you think she's the future of this family and you lavish her with gifts and treat her well, and then when you find out she's not your flesh and blood, you turn on her? God! All you care about is the money and the power you have from being a Quartermaine! I'm so glad I didn't have to grow up around this house," Dillon cried, throwing his hands up in the air and turning to leave. Georgie grabbed his arm to calm him, while everyone else stood around, shocked into silence. Many—too many—pairs of eyes were boring into me. Finally, AJ was the first to speak.

"I… we didn't see you there."

I scoffed. "Obviously not." I narrowed my eyes at him. "So, do you agree with Edward? Do you think I have no place in this house?"

"You have no right to address me like that, Kristina," Edward spat bitterly.

"Excuse me? After denying me and insulting me, you have the audacity to say that to me? I can call you whatever the hell I please, Edward," I retorted, just as icily.

"Kristina, watch your language," Ned said warningly. I complied with a short nod and mouthed "sorry" to him. "You kept me in your home for sixteen years, you tried to bribe me, groom me to be your heiress, since you didn't think anyone else was worthy enough, attempted to taint me from the day I arrived in this house, as an innocent child, and now that you find out that I'm not a 'pureblood,' you want to kick me out, just like that? Fine! I'll leave—I don't want to stay here anyway. Not with the likes of you around." I proceeded to run up the stairs and straight to my room, throwing a suitcase onto the bed and throwing things angrily at it, and as a result, not really successfully getting things actually into the suitcase. I could hear the renewed, angry shouts of my so-called family below, and also, a few sets of footsteps. I heard a soft knock on the door. "Can I come in?"

"Who is it?" I replied cautiously, still throwing things into my suitcase, albeit not as hard.

"It's… it's Georgie," a soft voice said from the other side of the door. Gratefully, I opened the door to her and smiled weakly. "I'm sorry you had to see all of that."

"Yeah, so am I. They have no right to treat you like that," Georgie sympathized, picking up the things I had missed in my throwing rampage and folding them neatly as I began to vent on her.

"I know! They kept me here for all of my life, Great-grandfather trying to get me to be the next great Quartermaine heiress, after Emily married Nikolas… he tried to bribe me, to buy me, you name it, he tried to groom me to take her place. I mean, it was irritating, and I didn't give in to it, but knowing that he saw me as the promise of the Quartermaines, and then after finding out that I'm not blood related, he does a complete one-eighty and denies me? And to top it all off, my mother—Skye—isn't blood related, but even before she married Ned, they knew that, and they still kept her in the house. That is so unfair! And I talked to Alexis, and I heard her side of the story, how Ned and Skye stole me away from her… God, I don't know what to think anymore, Georgie! It's like, my life has turned upside down."

"Wait, wait… if you're not related to the Quartermaines, then… who are you?"

I smiled feebly. "I'm still Kristina. But I'm not a Quartermaine, nor an Ashton. I am a Cassadine… and a Corinthos."

Georgie gasped. "No way."

I nodded. "Yup. It turns out my best friend is my half-sister, which is really cool, but I mean… when you find out that everything you know is a lie, it's just… weird."

Georgie nodded sympathetically. "I know, Kristina. I'm sorry. But I know you can get through this. You're a tough cookie."

"Thanks for your faith in me, Georgie. At least someone thinks I'm worth something."

"Kristina, just because you're not the person you thought you were doesn't mean that you've lost any of your value. You're very strong, very independent, and I know that no matter what you'll come out on top. Now, if you're gonna leave, and gonna leave fast, I suggest that you finish packing."

I smiled—a real smile. "Thanks, Georgie."

"Of course." I went and gave the older woman a hug, telling her, "I'm glad Dillon married you." With that, she smiled brightly, and then left, but not before she said, "If you need anything, just let us know, okay?" Georgie had calmed me down considerably and now I could think a little more clearly. So, I was leaving. Finally. I was packing up, trying to figure out how much I could pack into one suitcase while leaving as little as I could behind, when a sudden realization crossed my mind. Where would I go? I didn't want to impose on Bella and her family—our father didn't even know about me yet. I didn't want to go to Wyndemere, although I knew they had the room—it was just too creepy for me. I didn't want to impose on Dillon and Georgie either; they were young and didn't need a burden like me. I sighed heavily. I should have thought of that before I went into my hysterical fit… but what could I do now? Great-grandfather—Edward—was expecting me out of the estate, and I didn't want to stay anyway. I decided to just leave and take things from there.

After I had packed enough stuff that I thought I could survive on, I bid a goodbye to my room and marched confidently out the door and down the stairs. The shouting match had subsided to a glaring competition, but that stopped when they saw (and heard) me. Skye looked helplessly at me. "Kristina, are you sure about this?"

I nodded. "No one wants me here anyway." I waved my hand around at the other members of my so-called family for effect.

"Kristina, you know that's not true. Your father—Ned and I, you know we love you," Skye retorted.

"I… I don't know, Skye. I know that, but I don't think I can stay here any longer, knowing these people don't want me here." Skye nodded understandingly, while Ned asked, concern evident in his expression, "Kristina, where are you going to stay? You're just sixteen."

Seeing the many expectant faces of the Quartermaines, looking for a smart answer, as if they were testing me, I drew closer to the man who raised me and whispered, so only he and Skye could hear, "I don't exactly know yet. But don't worry about me… I promise I'll be safe, and that I won't go anywhere that's harmful. And I'll call you."

Skye nodded. "Okay. Now go. The way they're looking at us is quite disconcerting."

"Okay. I will miss you," I admitted, giving the only parents I had known big hugs, fighting desperately to keep the tears prickling at the back of my eyes from falling. Ned and Skye returned my hugs, saying, "We'll miss you too, Kristina. Stay safe, okay?"

Nodding, I pulled away from them and began the so short, but ever so long journey to the front door, feeling like a rejected, outcast contestant in some warped-out reality TV show. I smiled ruefully at the irony—this wasn't a TV show, this was my life. I could feel all their eyes scrutinizing me, and finally, as I reached the front door, I put my hand on the doorknob and turned to face them. "I really, truly hope that the next life you touch won't be as screwed up as mine, and that you could learn to think about others before yourselves," I told them, sincerely. And with those parting words, I opened the door and strode confidently through it, not looking back as the door slammed behind me. I could hear the renewed shouting, but as I walked farther and farther away, it faded into the background, just as my past as a Quartermaine was beginning to fade.

It was beginning to get dark as I wandered around Port Charles, trying to think of my options. And frankly, they were running out. I could go to Wyndemere, but that was my last resort. I didn't want to stay with Bella… and I couldn't stay in a hotel forever… but… I could stay with Jason. The question was, did I want to? I stopped walking—as Jason's place was in a different direction—and hesitated. If I went there, they weren't likely to ask what was wrong, but then Hope would want to know… Justine would be too young to understand. I sighed. I wish I was her age, seeing the world through innocent eyes, not having to deal with the difficulties of life. Maybe I would go see them after all. As I got up, I heard a rustling in the bushes and turned around. "Hello?"

Nothing. I gave the bush a strange look, and then turned to go again, when I realized something was in front of me and I screamed.

"Hey, it's okay. It's just me."

I looked up into Loren's eyes. "So it is." I crossed my arms over my chest. "What brings you here? Do you just randomly wander around the park, hiding in the bushes all the time?"

He shrugged. "Bad timing, I guess. You always seem to catch me when I'm sneaking around, huh?"

"Actually… yeah," I realized. He gestured to my bags. "What's the deal?"

"I got kicked out of my house."

"That sucks. Hey—I have an idea. Do you…" he hesitated slightly. "Do you need somewhere to stay?"

I looked at Loren, bewildered. "Why do you care?"

"I know you need a place, so I'm trying to be nice—I know there are options like under a bridge, or below a tree… do you want to stay with me?"

My eyes widened. "What about your parents?"

Loren waved a hand. "They wouldn't care. Don't worry about it."

"In that case…" I nodded slowly. "If it's not too much trouble for you…"

He sighed, nodded, and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Follow me."

Review! Review! Next chapter—Loren and Kristina bonding time! Find out the deal with what really happened to Summer… and Lucky.