Chapter Sixty-Six

Monica had one stop when she got off work, but it seemed like her day was never going to end. Twenty minutes more and she would be a free woman. All the extra work allowed her little time to think about Alan, but as soon as she slowed down, that was all she thought about and now with Jason's Alan missing, she wasn't sure she would be able to handle much more.

After everything was done, she planned on grabbing a warm cup of milk, curling up in Alan's favorite chair and reading a good book. For some reason it made her feel closer to him.

So with those good thoughts to tide her over, Monica continued her rounds, and dreading her stop before going home.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Emily arrived at Wyndemere a half hour after Nikolas had called. As soon as she pushed into the large den, he engulfed her in his arms.

"Nikolas, what is it, what's wrong?" Emily asked, wondering if he had heard what was going on or not.

"Nothing, I was just worried about you. Besides I think Helena is back, I have no proof, but what other reason is there to Lucky's outright stupid behavior." Nikolas asked, wanting Emily to tell him he was being silly, but feeling like it wasn't going to happen.

"Nik, you need to stop this. I love Lucky or the Lucky we all used to know, I honestly don't believe Helena is brainwashing him again, but that is what you think, isn't it." Emily enquired, understanding where Nikolas was coming from, but not so sure he was right. "Lucky has changed and I think it is high time we realize that. He needs to take responsibility for his own actions, he needs to stop making excuses and blaming it on everyone else. He is a man and it is time he starts acting as such."

"I know, you are probably right, but what if it is Helena, then we need to do something to help him. I can't let her destroy my brother, just because I don't agree with what he has done." Nikolas replied, frustrated that Emily wasn't seeing things the same way he was.

Unable to take the patronizing tone any longer Emily snapped, "You don't get it do you, one of my best friends was almost killed by another best friend. And I know Elizabeth wasn't right keeping the truth from Lucky, but I can now see why she did. By the way, if you care at all, Alan is missing, Elizabeth went into shock and couldn't remember a single thing. But let me guess you are going to blame this on my brother's business and Liz's breakdown on him, right?" Emily said, her anger evident in every word. Not giving him a chance to answer Emily quickly left the room. There was no way she was going to be able to be in the same room as him, not tonight.

"Em, Emily, wait!" Nikolas said, finally finding his voice. Did she really believe she could throw that kind of information around and expect a quick reply. But it was no use, she was gone.

He couldn't understand it, things between them were always stretched to the breaking point, it made one wonder if they were even destined to be together. He loved her, there was no doubt about that, but he had been groomed to put family first, perhaps that was his biggest flaw and if he didn't try to fix it soon, he could lose the love of his life, again.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Elizabeth had gone upstairs to change and spend some time with Cameron, but she had been unable to stay upstairs. She needed to know what was going on and being upstairs felt like she was forsaking her son just because she was tired and Jason believed she needed to rest.

Her and Jason had finally come to an agreement, so long as she didn't move from his lap, she could stay downstairs, but if she even felt inclined to move, she would be carried upstairs and deposited there to stay. So they cuddled on the large chair, each reading printouts that Stan and Spinelli had printed off from the computer.

Sonny dosed fitfully on the couch, Brenda wrapped tightly in his arms. Jason couldn't blame them for being tired, they had been running on high octane all day. He was amazed the Stan and Spinelli could still function, although Spinelli was most likely operating on orange soda, the kid probably had enough caffeine in his system to allow him to remain awake for weeks. Whatever the reason was though, he didn't care, he was grateful.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Monica walked slowly towards the house, dreading the conversation but knowing she had a right to know. They were never going to be friends again, but she desperately wanted to make the other woman see the error of her ways.

She supposed she was grasping at straws, Audrey could be headstrong and steadfast, at one time those were traits that Monica had thought good things, but now that she refused to see that her granddaughter was happy, in love and right where she wanted to be, well to say the least, it was driving her mad.

Trying to give herself a little more courage, Monica inhaled the warm night air and before she could convince her feet to move, her hand was rapping on the hard wooden door.

She was about to knock again when Audrey suddenly appeared. If looks could kill, Monica would now be with her husband.

"What exactly do you think you are doing?" Audrey asked, her tone of voice relaying that she did not want anything to do with this woman.

"Can I come in, there is something I need to speak to you about." Monica said, trying to maintain her temper, but when the door almost slammed in her face, Monica gave up a show of pretense and using the foot that blocked the door from closing completely, pushed her way into the house.

"If you don't leave, I will call the cops, what you are doing is breaking and entering and with your unsavory past, don't think you wouldn't spend a few nights in jail at the very least." Audrey hissed, her lips pulled so tightly they were nothing but a while slash across her face.

"Do what you must, but I thought you would like to know that your granddaughter is very happy, my son and her are wonderful parents and are devoted to one another. Get off your high horse Audrey, you are not a paragon of virtue, someone a long time ago may have put you on a pedestal, but like all those who are damned, they sooner or later fall. You are no angel, your halo is just as tarnished as the rest of ours." Monica snapped, she had really tried to keep her temper in check, but the other woman did not offer an easy way to do anything.

"You think you coming here and insulting me, will win me over. You are kidding, right? Now, would you please leave, before I have to call the cops." Audrey said, gritting her teeth.

Monica was going to try one more time to tell her about Alan's disappearance but something caught her eye.

Audrey went to make a move to stop Monica's movements, but Monica was quicker.

"Audrey, what in gods name are you doing with a baby monitor?" Monica asked, incredulously.

"Elizabeth had been in such a hurry when she was moving, she forgot it, it has been sitting there ever since. Now get out of my house!"

Trusting her gut instincts, Monica dodged around Audrey's commanding hand and dashed upstairs.

Her heart wouldn't stop pounding, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Alan was sleeping soundly in a little bassinet, his own grandmother had been the one to kidnap him.

Monica gently bent down and picked up her grandson. Then with him safely tucked in her arms, she made her way back downstairs and out the front door. She didn't really care where Audrey had gone, she just wanted to get him home.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A.N. Are you still enjoying this tale of mine, want to make my day, drop a reply, it really would make my day. My muse lives for your opinions. And to all of you who take the time to reply, I owe you many thanks, you are wonderful.