Hi everyone, the ending is based on Guest1's suggestion, but I included Spencer too. Enjoy!
Chapter 38- Nina's Anxiety
Nina lowered Willow's phone with a shaky hand. Not only was she bonding with her grandchildren and one of her daughters, but now she was about to see her other daughter who she thought had died.
But just how bad was Nelle's condition? Ava said she can't function independently and has amnesia. She wouldn't even know who Nina was. Which meant she wouldn't remember Wiley, and she wouldn't remember that Nina testified against her in Willow's favour.
But would she be called to testify again and have to choose between Willow and Nelle? Or was Nelle even in any condition to sue for custody of Wiley?
She took a deep breath and stepped out to the hallway where Wiley was standing by his bedroom door, carrying the kitten, and calling to Britt. "I wanna take a nap."
"Take a nap?" Nina cut in. "But you don't take naps anymore."
"But I wanna sleep in my racecar bed," Wiley said.
Britt shrugged. "Hey, the kid wants to sleep, let him sleep."
"Will you tuck me in and read me a story, Grandma?"
"Uh sure. But I have to talk to Britt first and make a phone call, okay?"
"Okay!" He ran into his room.
"Are you okay, Nina?" Britt asked. "You're really shaky."
Nina rubbed her forehead. "I—I think I'm on the verge of a breakdown…."
"What?"
"I just talked to Ava. She found Nelle in Denver. She's in a mental institution and has amnesia."
Britt's eyes grew wide. "Wow."
"I—I have to go," Nina said. "But I also need to stay here. I can't be in two places at once. I feel like this is both the start of my happy ending, but also the start of a huge nightmare."
"Why is it a nightmare?"
"I'm already having to choose between my girls," Nina said. "Going to see Nelle means leaving Willow and the kids. But Willow is at least comfortable… I need to see Nelle. I thought she was dead."
Britt nodded. "How long will you be gone?"
"I don't know. A day or two, maybe. I'm calling right now to get the earliest flight I can. Could you stay with Willow and the kids tonight?"
"Unfortunately, I have to work the night shift," Britt said. "Maybe Mom can sleepover. Willow really shouldn't be alone for long periods of time right now. Especially with the kids. I can stay until my shift starts though."
"Thanks." She lifted Willow's phone but had trouble dialing, she was shaking so much.
"Nina…." Britt moved over to her and held her hands. "It's okay. It's okay. I can dial for you. I shake too sometimes with my Huntington's."
"I just—" Nina said breathily. "I can't breathe. I just feel like… the pain… is going through my body… with every… heartbeat."
Britt rubbed her arm. "Just take slow, deep breaths."
"I'm just filled with… regret. What we missed out on. What could've been."
"I know, but you have a second chance with both of them."
"But they hate each other," Nina said. "Or at least Nelle used to. I don't know if she still will. But Willow hates her."
"Even if they don't get along, it doesn't mean you can't have a relationship with them individually. And if there is an issue with them both wanting Wiley, just don't take sides."
"My relationship with Willow is so fragile, I'm afraid bringing back Nelle will cause a wedge."
"Your relationship with Willow needs to be separate from your relationship with Nelle. Neither needs to interfere with the other."
"I just feel like it's always the worst case scenario with me and my daughters. I mean, I was in a coma for goodness sakes for most of their lives. Now Willow is physically unwell and Nelle is mentally unwell. She shook her head and started crying. "But the last words I said to Nelle… before we thought she died. Right after the custody hearing… when I chose to testify on Michael and Willow's behalf over hers… I told her she's always screwing up and she can never change because that's who she is. I basically blamed every problem in the world on her."
Britt cleared her throat. "I'm sure if you knew you were her mother back then, you might have used gentler words, but she needed some tough love. She was very troubled. And this is coming from someone who was very troubled herself. Don't beat yourself up about it. Plus, you said she has amnesia, right? You get to start off fresh with her. Just go there, be yourself, and show her how much she means to you."
GHGHGH
"Cam, what are you doing here?" Josslyn asked.
Cam was white in the face, looking back at Joss and Dex with half their clothes off. "Looks like I'm interrupting. So, is that it, Joss? You're with Dex now? Is he the reason why we broke up?"
Cameron turned to leave but Joss grabbed his arm and she got emotional. "Cameron, can we not do this in the hall? Please! Please…."
He hesitantly walked in the room.
"Hey man, I'm sorry that you—" Dex started.
"Do not man me!" Cam raised his index finger. "You're loving this. You guys are probably laughing your as ses off at how clueless you think I am."
Joss scoffed. "Do you really think I'd do that?"
He shook his head. "I don't know, Joss. I really didn't think you were going to dump me. And I sure didn't expect opening the door to another man in here today… and the man who held your brother's bride at gunpoint and who kidnapped your niece, no less. So, I guess I don't know what you're capable of Joss." He stared at them for a second. "What am I doing here? Screw you both." She charged past them. "Get the he ll out of my way."
"Cameron—" Joss grabbed his arm. "Cameron! Wait!"
Cam hung his head back.
GHGHGH
Nina peeked into Wiley's room, where he was lining up his new toys next to the kitten along his Bluey and Bingo comforter. Then she walked into Willow's room and watched her sleeping for a few minutes. She took a deep breath and decided she better wake her.
She sat the edge of her bed and shook her gently. "Willow…."
Willow slowly opened her eyes and stretched a little.
"I'm sorry to wake you," Nina said. "But I wanted to see you before I go."
Willow frowned a little. "Are you going to Nelle?"
Nina nodded. "I booked a flight for 4pm. I'm heading out now because I need to stop at Sonny's coffee shop to get my phone. But Britt's going to stay with you and the kids before she goes to work, then Aunt Liesl is going to spend the night."
Willow sighed and sat up a bit. "Everyone's going to a lot of trouble."
"It's not any trouble. They're happy to visit you…. I don't know how long I'll be gone. Probably just a day or two. But I'll get back as soon as I can."
Willow fidgeted in her lap. "And are you bringing Nelle back here?"
"I'm going to get more information. But from what Ava said on the phone, it sounds like if she comes back to Port Charles, she'll have to go to Shadybrook."
Willow's muscles eased a bit. "Okay, well, have a safe trip."
Nina smiled a little. She leaned forward and kissed Willow's forehead.
GHGHGH
"Why are you here?" Josslyn asked. "You could barely look at me at Kelly's."
Dex crossed his arms.
"I just got thinking about what you said, about giving us another chance," Cam said. "But I see that you've already moved on."
"I'm sorry that happened…."
"You're sorry that you got caught!"
She shook her head. "You didn't catch me! I wasn't doing anything wrong, Cam! We broke up!"
"You're saying this was your first time?" Cam asked. "Because I have quite the inkling that this has been going on for a while!"
"Cameron, over is over, and I'm so sorry that I hurt you." She placed a hand over her chest. "I really am. But as far as who I choose to spend my time with—"
Dex kept looking between them, staying silent.
Cameron laughed. "Ooh, that's what we're calling it now."
"I don't owe you anything," Joss said.
"At least tell me the truth," Cam said. "Did you at least wait until after we broke up before you slept with him?"
Tears spilled down Josslyn's cheeks.
He shook his head. "You slept with him while we were still together."
"I didn't want it to happen that way."
"You just couldn't help yourself."
"Cam!" Joss was growing frustrated. "I was trying to break up with you."
"Trying to break up with me? When were you trying to break up with me? When you ignored my texts and calls?"
She shook her head. "Look, I'm sorry that you were hurt by this. But I need to ask you a favour."
He laughed. "A favour?"
"Yes. You can't tell anyone about me and Dex."
"Oh, this is rich. You have the gall to ask me a favour after all this? You just don't want anyone to know that you would sleep with your niece's kidnapper. I should go right to the police because they're looking for Dex."
GHGHGH
Carly knocked on the door of the gatehouse. "Michael, please open up. I need to talk to you. It's about Willow and the kids."
Seconds later, Michael opened the door. He was still in his pajamas and still hadn't shaved. "Are they okay?"
"No, they're not okay." Carly walked in. "They moved in with Nina."
Michael clenched his jaw. "What?"
"And Nina herself dropped Wiley off at school today," Carly added.
He shook his head. "I don't believe it."
"Michael, I'm very concerned about Willow's choices right now. Taking the kids from you and moving in with Nina…. I think it's time we take legal action."
"Legal action?" Michael asked. "What are you talking about?"
"The kids aren't safe around Nina. If Willow is going to expose them to her, then I think we need to sue for custody."
Michael chewed his lip.
"I can get Diane on it right away," Carly said. "She can probably set up a temporary custody for you until we have to go to court—"
"I'm not taking Willow to court," Michael said. "And I'm not taking the kids from her."
"But you're their father and she's already taken them from you."
"I love Willow. I'm hoping we will reconcile, but if we don't, the only custody I'll go for is joint custody."
"But she's not even returning your calls," Carly said.
"She's still recovering and she's mad at me right now. But I will keep trying."
Ring. Ring.
Michael pulled out his phone. "It's Willow!... Hi, Willow?"
"Hi Michael."
"Oh, it's so good to hear your voice. How are you?"
"Still up and down, but I'm okay."
"I, uh, heard that you moved in with Nina?" he said.
"Yeah, just until I figure things out. But Nina is going out of town for a day or two. The doctors don't want me and the kids to be alone for long periods of time. Britt is here and she just got called into work early and Liesl isn't coming until later."
"Will you be okay?"
"Well, Wiley keeps asking for you, so I was wondering if maybe you want to come over for a few hours until Liesl comes."
Michael's face lit right up. "Would I ever. I'll be right over, I just gotta shower quick and shave."
"What's going on?" Carly asked after he hung up.
"Willow invited me over to visit her and the kids. I gotta clean myself up."
Carly smiled. "That's great. Can I join you?"
"No! Please leave."
GHGHGH
Nina arrived at the coffee shop and found Sonny in his office where he was talking on the phone.
"I'll call you back." He hung up and lifted Nina's phone. "Looking for this?"
Nina smiled. "Yes. I can't believe I dropped it in your car."
"Well, I can. You were very anxious last night."
She frowned. "I still am."
He handed her the phone and kissed her. "If you want, I can join you in Denver. I can ask Kristina to stay with Avery."
She shook her head. "Thank you. But this is something I need to do on my own. Though Ava will be there."
"Okay, well I'll miss you."
She wrapped her arms around him. "I'll miss you more."
GHGHGH
"Are you sure you want to go with us?" Spencer asked as he and Trina walked down the hallways of the dormitory.
"Yes, you're my friend and I want to help you find your daughter," Trina said. "Especially after you saved me at the warehouse. I just need to grab a few things."
"I honestly don't know if this lead will take us anywhere. But Ava did text me and said she thought she spotted Ryan boarding a plane for Santa Monica. Dad said he'll meet us at the airport.
They reached Trina and Josslyn's dormitory and heard voices.
"This is really none of your business, Cameron!" Josslyn practically shouted. "And it's no one else's business either."
"Really?" Cam asked. "And how do you think Willow would feel about this?"
Trina pushed the door open to find Josslyn and Dex half naked, with Cameron standing there tensed up.
