Chapter 44

Zander tried to focus his eyes on his mother, as warm tears welled in them. He had thought for so long that she was dead and now she was standing before him, it was all too surreal for him to comprehend at the moment. All he wanted to do was hold her in his arms and never let her go again. Elenore wiped her eyes from tears and released her grip on her son and offered him a seat so they could talk.

"I'm sorry about all this Alex, I didn't want you involved in all this." Elenore said to her son as he sat across from her at the table.

"I know but it's alright now ... I know the truth now and you're okay. That's what matters to me." Zander replied as he reached across the table and offered his hands to her to hold.

"How are you, Alex? I mean really." she asked with concern.

"There is so much to tell you, I don't even know where to begin." he replied wondering how much she knew about his life with Emily or if she knew about taking over his father's business.

"A good place to start would be at the beginning." she cracked a smile towards him.

Zander noticed that his mom glanced down at his hand and smiled when she saw the gold wedding band, so he thought he'd start with Emily and his family. His mom had not known about Emily or Devon, and he wondered how much she would like his wife, his mom a hard one to please sometimes.

"You're married?" she asked when she saw the gold band on his left hand.

"Yes to a wonderful woman who I adore. We've been married about 4 years now and we have a little boy, named Devon."

Elenore's face lit up when she heard that her son had a child. She had always wanted grandchildren and it overjoyed her to know that her son did her proud in that respect.

"Devon's with Emily's parents today, but I can show you a picture if you'd like to see one?" Zander said and he pulled his wallet from his pants pocket and opened it up, showing his mother a picture of his family. "This is Emily and Devon..." his words drifted off as his mother took the wallet in her hands and the tears began to fall once again.

"He's adorable, Alex. He's got alot of you in him." Elenore remarked about Devon. "Your wife, she's beautiful Alex." she added as the images of her son's family burned into her memory for safe keeping.

"Thank you .. they are my life and I don't know what I would do without them."

"So, tell me about business. I read in the newspapers that you took over Frank's business when he passed away. Is that true?" his mother asked and Zander taken back that she knew about that.

"Yeah, mom ... that's true. I have taken over the business, once Uncle Joe passed away, he had inherited from Frank and I was next in line when he died. It's doing well, Emily and I can't complain about the lifestyle it entails other then the danger we live in daily but that's to be expect in this business."

"I'm sure when your wife married you Alex, she knew what came with it. She looks to be a very strong woman, Alex." his mother gathered from the picture she was still holding in her hand.

"She is that. She's been my strength at times, and I am so grateful to have her in my life." Zander replied just as the door to the room opened and Ric stepped inside, Emily in tow.

Elenore looked up and smiled at her son, and then noticed Emily followed behind him. Ric went to his mother and embraced her as she stood from her seat. Emily walked in and closed the door behind her. Zander stood from his seat and pulled her to him and into his arms, giving her a kiss on the cheek as she fell into him.

"Mom, this is my wife, Emily." Zander introduced Emily.

"It's nice to meet you, Emily .... I'm Elenore." Zander's mother replied as she extended her hand to Emily.

"I wish I could say that I've heard a lot about you, but Zander's been pretty quiet about his family over the years." Emily smiled.

"It's okay, dear. I have my boys with me now and of course a new family with you and my grandchild, we can start anew and forget about the past." Elenore proclaimed.

"I'm sure your sons would like that very much, as would I and Devon."

"Good." Elenore replied and then looked at Ric. "How did the case go?"

"The judge is in deliberations. It may be a while. He has a lot of testimony and evidence to review." Ric replied as the two boys huddled together with their mother.

"How soon do you have to return?" Zander asked, his mind already thinking of an option to keep his mother a little longer in Port Charles.

"I don't really know Alex. But I can't be away for very long, the danger is still out there." she replied and wondered what he had working in his mind.

"Zander, I have an idea ..." Emily spoke up.

"I hope your thinking of what I'm thinking, sweetheart."

"I'm sure that I am .... why don't she come stay with us for a while. A few days perhaps." Emily suggested and Elenore became worried about bringing more danger to her son and his family.

Zander pulled Emily to him and kissed her as a thank you for thinking of her idea.

"And don't worry about the danger, Emily and I are staying at one of the safe houses right now, it wouldn't be any trouble at all to have another guest. There's plenty of room."

Elenore looked at Ric and then at Zander and Emily's smiling faces. "I would have to clear this with the proper authorities first." Ric said wanting to do this by the book.

"Okay, you go clear the red tape and I'll have one of the men take mom and I back to the cabin, Marcus can take Emily to pick up Devon at the Quartermaine's. You can meet us later and let us know what you've been able to accomplish." Zander suggested to Ric.

Elenore became excited to know she'd be spending some time with her family and she would be able to see for the first time her grandson, she was anxious to have some quality time with her sons.

Zander pulled his cell phone from his jacket pocket and called one of his men, then he'd call Marcus.

"Thomas, I need you to pick me up at the courthouse." Zander ordered. "And let's do the pickup on the side street, we have a delicate package come with us." he added as he winked at his mom.

He hung up with Thomas and then called his other driver, Marcus to pick up Emily. He made the arrangements and closed his cell phone before stuffing it back in his suit jacket pocket. Zander stepped out into the hallway and held the door open for the rest of them, Ric heading towards his office after saying his goodbyes, while the others went to the side exit and waited for Thomas and Marcus to pick them up.

Marcus was waiting for Emily as soon as they arrived at the side exit. Zander kissed her goodbye and assisted her into the back of the limo. "I'll see you back at the cabin." he said before he closed the door and then Marcus whisked Emily away.

"She's even more beautiful in person Alex. You make me very proud." Elenore said and she kissed his cheek.

It was the first time he could remember hearing that from either of his parents. All he's ever wanted was to have his parents proud of him and proud of what he had accomplished. He could finally say that his life was now complete.