CHAPTERS 7 AND 8

Chapter 7

Brook Lynn entered the Quartermaine mansion.

"Brook, what are you doing home?" Ned asked.

"Not happy to see me?" she asked.

"Of course I am. I thought you were spending the day with Georgie."

"I came home to see someone."

"Someone?" he asked.

Brook Lynn sighed. "You're not going to believe this, but um…Granny."

"Wow, that's surprising."

"What's so surprising?" Lois chimed in. "Brookie, baby, do you have some surprising news for us?"

"Ma, I didn't know you were home."

"Ned and I decided to put L&B on hold for the day."

"Because of Great-Grandmother Lila?"

"Yes," she responded sadly. She changed her tone. "So what is the surprising news?"

"It's nothing," Brook Lynn told her.

"Something you don't wanna share?"

"It isn't anything important," Brook replied.

"Ned?" asked Lois.

Ned shrugged. "You'll have to talk to Brook. I am not going to say anything."

He smiled at Brook. "I'll leave you two alone."

At that moment, an angry Monica stormed into the mansion.

"Have any of you seen my husband?"

"Nope. Can't say I've seen Dr. Q."

"What about you, Brook Lynn?"

"Sorry Monica."

Ned, who had not yet left the room, spoke, "He went to see Tracy."

"Where?"

"The office."

"Thank you, Ned. Will somebody find me when he returns? I'd like to have some words with him."

"Is everything all right?" Lois asked.

Monica replied, "No, but it will be."

She walked out of the room.

"I wonder what that was about," Ned wondered aloud.

Chapter 8

Tracy and Alan walked through the doors of the Quartermaine's.

Edward announced, "Tracy and Alan are home."

The family, including Luke, gathered around.

"What the hell is going on?" Tracy asked.

"I was wondering the same thing," Alan whispered to her.

"I have an announcement," Lois told the two siblings.

"And she would not tell until everyone arrived," Dillon noted.

"All right, we're all here. What's going on?" Tracy asked.

"This better be good," Edward said.

"What about Skye and Justus?" Emily interrupted. "They're not here."

"And they're NOT family," Tracy spoke rudely.

"Skye is just as much as my daughter as Emily," Alan said.

"Helloooo," Tracy said melodiously. "Emily is NOT family either."

"I'd watch what you say in my house," Monica told her. "And yes, I know you gave it to me, Alan."

Tracy cringed. "Are you done?"

Lois took control, "All right. All right. Emily, to answer your question, which was an excellent question, by the way, Justus is away on business."

"And Skye?" Emily asked. "Oh and Jason!"

"Oh my goodness!" Tracy shouted. "Jason's part of the family now?"

"Can it, Tracy," Monica told her.

"Tracy's right," Alan said. "Jason stopped being part of this family the moment he picked up a gun for that punk Corinthos."

"Jason is a good man!" Emily shouted.

"No, Emily," Alan corrected. "Good men don't orchestrate the death of people on a regular basis."

"The people he hurts are not good! He is protecting his family!"

"Easy there, Emily," Luke said. "Don't be going all silly on us again."

"Silly?" asked Emily. "I am most certainly not being silly!"

Alan rolled his eyes.

"Did you just roll your eyes at me, Dad? How could you be so rude?"

"Give it up, Emily. Not everyone is going to unravel the royal carpet for the contract killer," Tracy told her.

"Well, at least he didn't kidnap an innocent child!"

"Um, excuse me, but didn't Jason steal Michael in the first place?" Brook asked.

"It's complicated," Emily stated.

The family was rather divided.

"So!" Lois perked up. "Jason cannot attend tonight, but I already contacted Skye. She is actually at the Haunted Star right now."

"Oh," Luke realized.

"What did I tell you?" Tracy said while placing her hands on her hips. "You were supposed to go about today like any other day."

Luke responded, "She'll get over it."

"Yoo hoo!" said Lois, while waving her hands. "I'm doing the talking here."

"Well, excuse me," Tracy said rudely.

Lois glared at Tracy."Skye should be here within the hour. She knows exactly what's going on."

"Which would be…," Ned allowed Lois to finish his sentence.

"I have reservations at the Metro Court for the entire family!" Lois said happily.

The family was shocked. The room was filled with "Why's," "What were you thinking's? and "Are you insane's?"

"Enough already!" Emily called out. "Lois, this is a wonderful idea."

"Ugh," Tracy said.

"Leave her alone," Monica scolded.

"Or what? You'll kick me out?"

"Don't tempt me," Monica told her.

"No one is kicking my sugar plum out," Luke said firmly.

Monica shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Now that we all know the announcement, I'd like to talk to Alan for a moment."

Alan and Monica walked into the den.

"What's going on with them?" Lois asked.

"Does it matter?" Tracy asked.

"It does to me," Emily piped up. "If my parents are having problems, I want to know about them."

Tracy laughed. "A little nosy, aren't we?"

"Leave Emily alone," Dillon said.

"Do not tell me what to do. Now shut your mouth," Tracy said.

Silence filled the room.

PREVIEWS FOR CHAPTERS 9-10-11:

Monica and Alan argue about AJ and Jason.

Ned and Dillon discuss Lois's reservations.

Monica advises Tracy.