Thomas drove down the long dirt road towards the cabin, as Zander and his mother sat quietly in the back seat. Elenore watching out of the darkened windows as the scenery passed by, wondering how far from town Zander was taking her.
"How far is this house, Alex?" she asked as the cabin came into sight.
"About hour or so from town, mom. You'll be safe here. Only a select few know of it's existence."
Thomas pulled the limo up in front of the cabin and stopped the car. He got out and opened the back door for Zander and then went to the other side and opened up Elenore's side. Zander climbed out and rushed to help his mother.
Elenore climbed out of the car and noticed the beautiful log cabin standing in front of her. Her eyes widened as she noticed the colorful landscape that surrounded the house. The wrap around porch on the front reminded her of the house she lived in once as a child and she smiled.
"Emily's handy work, no doubt." she said about the landscape as Zander took her by the arm and walked with her to the front door.
"Yeah, Emily's given this house a real feel of home." Zander replied as he unlocked the front door and opened it.
Elenore stood in the doorway and was taken back by the country charm inside. Hard wooden floors welcomed her as she stepped into the foyer, a colorful old rug beneath her feet. Zander removed his jacket and laid it across the back of the overstuffed chair in the living room as he left his mother explore her new surroundings.
Elenore found her way into the kitchen and Zander soon followed, finding her smiling as she looked at the pictures of Devon on the refrigerator. He reached up into the cupboard for the coffee Emily had kept there and asked his mother if she would like a cup.
"Would you like a cup of coffee while we wait for Emily?" Zander asked his mom as she sat down at the round kitchen table.
"Yes I would, thank you dear." she accepted his offer. "This is a really beautiful house, Alex." another compliment to Zander and he smiled in return.
"Thank you. We don't use it often but it's here when and if we need it. Emily and I thought during the trial it would be a good time to get away from the city. There's more danger in town then usual for me, and I thought coming up here would protect Emily and Devon. We've been here about a month now."
"Has it been a big adjustment for Emily? I mean being a wife in this business is not easy." Elenore asked as Zander came to the table and sat down with her.
"Emily knew when she married me that this was my life, she knew the risks coming into it and believe me she had her eyes wide open to that fact. The guards, the drivers, the extra security are always on her mind, I'm sure and so is the worry and concern she has for me, but I guess that will never go away. It's been hard for the both of us lately and being shot and in the hospital for 3 weeks doesn't help matters any I guess." Zander let slip about his hospital stay and noticed his mother's reaction.
"Oh my God, Alex .. how long ago did that happen?! Elenore questioned concerned for her son.
"A few months ago, but I'm fine ... it wasn't anything, really." Zander replied trying to trivialize the dangerous situation he had been in.
"Being shot is not just nothing, Alex ... you could of been killed."
"Yes I know, mom, but this is the risk of living in the life I lead. There's no guarantees or promises, and Emily and I both know that, as did you and Dad."
Zander got up from the table and walked to the counter. He took out two coffee mugs from the cupboard and poured the fresh brewed coffee into them. He brought them to the table and sat back down with Elenore.
"So tell me about Emily's family, what are they like?" his mom asked as Zander poured sugar into his cup and stirred it in.
Zander snickered at the thought of explaining the Quartermaine's to her. "Something funny, Alex?" she asked as she lifted the coffee cup to her mouth and took a sip.
"It's just the Quartermaine's are hard to describe, they are a bit dysfunctional. And when I say dysfunctional I mean, showing that they love one another entails blackmail and backstabbing. Although they do seem to genuinely love and care about Emily, she's the youngest of the family." he explained.
"Oh I see, so she has brothers and sisters?"
"Well, Emily has two brothers, and she has a sister, I guess you could call her that. Emily's adoptive father's daughter, at least I think she's still his daughter, like I said it's a very unique family, those Quartermaines. I can tell you that they probably own half of Port Charles. They are a long standing core family in the city and are a ruthless business family. Emily's grandfather owns ELQ."
The mention of ELQ got Elenore's attention, she recognized the name from somewhere but just couldn't put her finger on where she had heard it before. Her mind searched her memories as Zander continued.
"And I can tell you another thing, they don't have much use for me, either. Never have and I don't think ever will. Although Emily's parents have come around somewhat since we got married but Edward, Emily's grandfather, he still calls me a deviant when he gets the chance." Zander chuckled at the thought of hearing Edward bellow the word. "But I can't say too much against her family, they do love Devon and they would do anything for him. They've been a great help to us when we needed them to." he added as he heard a car pull up outside the house.
Elenore turned around towards the front door and Zander went to see who had arrived. "Marcus is back with Emily and Devon." Zander announced and Elenore emerged from the kitchen to greet them.
Zander went out onto the front porch to meet them and noticed Ric pull up behind them in his car. Elenore stood in the doorway anxious to finally meet her grandson and she noticed her other son, climb from his car.
Emily emerged from the limo and reached in for Devon who was still in his car seat. Marcus helped her with the bags she had brought back with her, as Zander came down the front steps to meet them. Ric approached him and greeted him as Emily withdrew from the back seat with Devon in her arms. Elenore's face lit up when she saw the toddler being passed to Zander and they all walked up towards the house.
Devon buried his face against Zander as he saw a stranger to him waiting in the doorway. Elenore displayed obvious excitement about seeing all of her family as she stepped out of the way as they came in the door. Devon smiled shyly at her as he clinged to his daddy. Ric was the last to come in and he closed the door behind him as Emily had Marcus set the bags down at the bottom of the stairs. Zander took Devon into the living room and Elenore followed.
"Mom, this is Devon....." Zander introduced and noticed that Marcus waited by the door. Emily came in and sat down with Elenore and Devon as Zander excused himself to go talk with Marcus.
Elenore picked up Devon and smiled at him, he giggled in return. "I see the shyness doesn't last long with you .." she laughed and Emily laughed with her.
"Yeah he sometimes takes to people right away and others he doesn't. You seem to be one of the lucky ones." Emily replied as Elenore sat Devon down on her lap.
"He's a beautiful baby, Emily." Elenore said as she smoothed her hand over Devon's soft black hair, she noticed the cute curls that caressed his neck and smiled.
Zander glanced over into the living room as he spoke with Marcus about business and he saw his mother getting acquainted with everyone.
"Keep me posted on the Morgan situation, okay. If anything changes, I want to know about it." Zander instructed and Marcus nodded before leaving to go back to town.
"So how did the red tape cutting go, Ric?" Zander asked as he walked into the living room with the rest of them. "Is it alright if mom stayed here for a few days with us?" he added as he stood next to Ric.
"I put in a request for mom to stay until the verdict is in about Sonny. If he's convicted, I think the danger will subside and she'll be able to stay as long as she likes. Since there isn't any one left from the original organization, I don't see the threat, we'll just have to wait and see. For now, she can stay here and be with her family." Ric finished an a smile came across all of their faces.
At least for the next few days, Zander would be able to spend the time with his mother, something he had thought he would never get the opportunity to do again. Devon reached for Zander and he picked him up in his arms, only to sit back down with him on the couch, between Emily and Elenore, Ric looking on from the overstuffed chair.
For a while at least, all was calm for Zander and his family, but he knew he had better enjoy what he had for those brief moments, happiness never came easy and didn't last long. There was always some type of storm brewing outside just waiting to come down around them unexpectedly.