First of all I want to thank everyone for your very encouraging reviews. Secondly, I want tosayI'm sorryfor taking so long to update. For this chapter I wanted to explain why Skye came back to town. I don't watch much GH, so hopefully the reasons make sense and you like them.P.S. I dont know the address to the Chandler mansion so I made it up. :-) Hope you enjoy the chapter.
Kendall watched JR and his son leave the Valley Inn and she may her way back to Ethan, who was waiting patiently at the table. Ethan gave a slight smirk as she took her seat. She turned to him and said, "Good news, I convinced JR to take you up on your offer. He'll be at your office first thing tomorrow morning."
"I am glad you finally got him to see things my way. I hope I didn't take much convincing." Ethan responded.
"What do you mean by that? You think I traded my soul to JR in order for him to say yes." Kendall said jokingly.
"No, nothing like that. I just don't want to put you in any kind of a difficult situation." Ethan said before giving Kendall a small kiss on her cheek.
"You are so good to me, what did I do to deserve you?" Ethan smiled modestly at Kendall's tender compliments and he took her hand into his and began to caress it affectionately. "I'm serious Ethan. Hopefully things will go our way and Zach Slater will be convicted of murder." Ethan became nervous at the mention of Zach and his body tensed up.
He smiled oddly at Kendall and said, "Enough about my father. I'd rather concentrate on us and this moment."
Skye thought to herself as she watched the cabby load her luggage into the trunk of the yellow taxi. To think it was only a few hours ago when she made up her mind to leave Port Charles and return to Pinevalley. She had her reasons but she hoped her decision would not lead to more pain and regrets. She glared up at the clear afternoon sky and watched an airplane fly overhead. Pinevally Airport was almost the same as she remembered: small and uneventful. "Where to Ma'am?" A voice said breaking her chain of thought.
Skye turned to the cab driver and said, "1587 Maple street, please." The man nodded and kindly opened the door for her to get in. The thought of returning to Adam's house brought a nervous feeling into the depths of her stomach but she had to remain strong. She brought her leather coat close to her body and folded the newspaper in her hand. Skye sat down on the uncomfortable taxi chair and shut the open door behind her. She found her mind returning to Port Charles as the scenery changed outside her window. The pain of Luke pushing her away to find his "one true love" was too much for her. He continued to disappear for days and return like nothing changed. And who can forget the Quartermaines, her so-called family? No matter how hard she tried; they never seemed to fully embrace the idea of her being a member of the family. "Who can blame them?" Skye thought to herself.
She unfolded the crumpled newspaper and read the wrinkled front page. There in big bold letters, like a dagger into her heart, read: "Beloved Father and Citizen Found Slain." She could not believe that Edmund was dead and murdered no less. She remembered all that happened between them and how her feelings for him lingered after all these years. Skye prayed that she could hold herself together and not look for comfort in a bottle of Vodka. Maybe the man she once called father could ease some of her pain. She felt the car come to a stop and she looked out her window and saw the towering Chandler Mansion in front her eyes. Skye paid the cab driver with what little cash she could put together and he left her with her luggage on the front steps of the great stone house. Her nerves were on edge, but she finally built up the courage to ring the doorbell. Not long after the door slowly opened and Winifred's smile met Skye's face. "Oh, Miss Chand...I mean Skye, I didn't know you would be visiting the mansion today. Is Mr. Chandler expecting you?"
"Well actually, Adam doesn't know I'm in Pinevally. I hope that's not a problem and I can stay here?" Skye asked nervously.
"I will have to check with Mr. Chandler but please come inside until he comes home. I'm sure he won't mind you staying here though." Winifred helped Skye bring in her luggage and took her coat. Skye then made her way into the living room. She looked puzzled as she scanned over the insides of the house. It was nothing like she remembered. "I see you noticed the new look. Mr. Chandler had the house redecorated."
" I see. It looks very different from what I remembered. By the way Winifred, do you know when Adam will be coming home? I would like to know how he feels about me staying here before I get settled." Skye said turning to Winifred.
"Well, he seemed to bein a rush when he left. When he is like that it's hard to say when he'll be back."
"Great, the last thing I need is an angry Adam Chandler." Skye whispered to herself."
"Pardon me?" Winifred asked looking confused by Skye's whispered comments.
"Oh nothing Winifred. Is there anyone else in the house that can help me?"
"Well your brother... I mean JR, is in the Study with his son. Do you want me to go get him for you?"
"No, I'll go talk to him myself." Winifred nodded and directed Skye towards the Study. Skye's nerves were really on edge now and drink seemed like a very good idea. She has not seen "Junior" in so many years and now he's calling himself JR. On top of that, he now has a son. "Hopefully he's as sweet as when he was a little boy." She thought to herself. She stood outside the open door to the Study alone, fighting with herself to pull it together. She finally came up with the crazy idea to call him, and if he sounded at all angry she would leave the mansion immediately. She dialed the number on cellphone and by some stroke of luck the house phone began to ring. "I'm surprised the number still works." She said to herself.
She heard someone pick up the receiver and young man's voice answered, "JR Chandler."
Junior? Junior is that you?" She asked trying to appeal to his good side while giving a hint to whom she was.
But it backfired because JR became angry and began to shout into the phone, "No lady, the name is JR. Do you have a reason for calling here?"
"JR? You can't expect me to call you that, do you?" Once again she tried but it she could feel it wasn't working. She cursed herself for not following her first instinct and leaving the mansion right away.
"Listen, whoever you are, I have no time for games! Who are you and what do you want?" His voice yelled. It was time she used whatever shred of courage she had and face him. She stood in the doorway and what she saw wasn't the little boy from her memories. JR had grown into a strong young man that reminded her so much of Adam.
"Why don't you look up and find out?" She finally said. Skye felt relieved when she saw confusion in JR's eyes and not anger. Maybe this was the good sign she desperately needed.
"You look surprised to see me." Skye said while smiling at him. JR hung up the phone and scanned the woman from head to toe. Her sweater and pants fitted tightly around her body while her red hair fell smoothly to her shoulders. He walked over to her and gave her a smirk.
"Well Skye, what brings you to Pinevalley? Last I heard, you were in Port Charles playing little sweetheart to Daddy Quatermaine." JR said smugly.
"Do I really need a reason to come visit my little brother and nephew?" Skye asked with a sweet tone.
"If you were Hayley, I would buy the whole big sister act. But since I know who I'm talking to, you are gonna have to do better than that. Wait let me guess. The Quatermaines finally got tired of your baggage and kicked you out on your rear end?"
JR could see that Skye was a bit thrown off by his blunt words, but she kept her composure. "Actually JR, its the other way around. I got tired of the Quatermaines' baggage so I decided to come home to Pinevalley."
"What you call home, I call an asylum.I'm seriousSkye, this town is filled with certifiable lunatics."
"You seem to have made a good life for yourself in this town. I mean, you're successful, you have your son and probably a beautiful wife."
"That's where I have to stop you. You see, my ex-wife cannot come anywhere near our son until she undergoes weeks of therapy and passes a psychological evaluation. The fact of the matter is, no doctor intheir right mind would ever declare Babe sane."
"I see and you'll probably make sure of that." Skye said before sitting down in a chair. JR smiled then walked over to thebottles of liquorand filled a small glass with scotch. He tried to hand it to Skye but she would not extend her hand to grab it. After looking at the odd expression on her face, he finally understood the situation. "I forgot. Sorry about that." JR said to her before placing the glass on the desk.
"Do you know when Adam will be coming home?"
"Well, Dad went out looking for my little sister, Colby. But I'm sure you could care less about her." JR said.
"JR don't say that. What makes you think I wouldn't care? She's my sister too." Skye said.
"But she isn't Skye. You can't abandon this family and come back years later pretending to give a damn. Why did you really come back? Are you out of cash and in need of a handout?"
Skye was obviously hurt by JR's assumption but she stood up and answered him, "I did not come for a handout. All I want from you or Adam is a place to stay. Just for a few weeks or until I can get myself settled."
JR walked over to the playpen and took little Adam into his arms. He then turned to Skye and he realized how desperate she looked. "Skye, as far as I'm concerned you can stay here and I'm sure Dad won't mind either. Look, I gotta put this little guy down for his nap. I'll tell Winifred to bring your things to one of theguess rooms."
Skye gave him a small smile and nodded. JR left with Little Adam falling asleep on his shoulder. Skye looked around the room and sighed as she dropped herself on the leather couch. It was then that she realized that becoming a Chandler again would not be as easy as she hoped.
