I do apologize for not updating quicker. With the Kristina recast + maid of honor duties + bridesmaid duties for the other wedding I'm in + memorizing lines for the movie I'm in I have zero time for myself or writing which sucks. So I'm going to attempt to get out at least 2 or 3 chapters in the next couple of days to move this story along! Thanks for reading! Also so sorry for a short update!

5.

"About time someone came home! I'm starving." Ethan heard as soon as he walked through the front doors of his home. He found his two children sitting on the sofa side by side with a box of sugared cereal between them.

"Where's your mom?" He asked taking the cereal box from them popping a few pieces into his mouth as he shook his head at them.

"You shouldn't be eating this for dinner. I can't believe we even have it in the house. It's full of sugar." He told them his mouth full of cereal.

"You bought it," Alex pointed out.

"I have no idea where mom is. I came home from school and she wasn't here. I tried her cell phone twice and she's not picking up for me." Aviana answered taking the box of cereal back from her father and setting it back in between her and her little brother.

Ethan pulled out his cell phone and dialed his wife's number to no avail. He frowned; this was unlike Kristina not to pick up their calls. His mind raced back to their argument this morning, he hadn't seen Kristina that angry in a very long time.

Without saying a word to the kids Ethan walked briskly down the hall to the master bedroom suite he shared with his wife. The room looked the exactly the same as he'd left it that morning. Kristina's clothes and jewelry still in its rightful place. She didn't leave me, thank God. He thought to himself. He was preparing to close the door when he noticed the light to their walk-in closet was on.

He opened the door to the closet to find Kristina's clothes scattered everywhere, the box where Kristina kept her Port Charles memories she believed he didn't know about was opened and out of the box was that picture of herself with her mom and sisters. He hated that Kristina was hurting, even more so knowing that he was responsible for initiating the pain.

"Dad?" At the sound of Aviana's voice he dropped the picture of Kristina and her family. He could hear her footsteps getting closer, he turned off the light and walked out of the closet immediately.

"Dad is mom alright?"

"Fine, she's fine. Come on let's go order something for dinner." He told her guiding her closer to the exit by the small of her back. Aviana looked up at him suspiciously.

"If something's wrong can you please tell me?" She said stopping him. Alex crept into the room.

"She left didn't she?" Alex asked his voice filled with panic. Aviana gasped.

"Oh my God, did mom leave us?" Ethan opened his mouth to speak when the headlights of what he could only assume was Kristina's car shone into the window.

"Stay here, I'm going to go check on her." He told them guiding them out of the bedroom and closing the door. He could only imagine what his wife had in store for him.

"…and if they haven't made an immediate move than I doubt anyone is looking for the two of you." Kristina rolled her eyes at the person speaking to her over the phone. It had taken her hours to finally get connected to her source who at the moment wasn't being very resourceful

"I have no doubt in my mind that someone else spotted Aviana that night. If there's anyone who could help us fight her it would be you." Kristina said turning into her driveway. She pressed the button for the garage doors and eased her car inside to avoid the rain.

"Kristina, I really have no idea how I could be a help to you or Ethan in anyway. Our situations are completely different."

"Our situations are completely different and yet surprisingly similar. Please, I'm just asking you to hear me out, if Helena would come looking for us—"

"I'm sure Helena is dead and buried by now."

"You and I both know that just because people assume you're dead that doesn't always mean that it's the truth. I thought you of all people would have figured that our by now."

"Kristina…"

"I think we would have a better chance of surviving if you helped us fight her. She would expect the two of us, but you being there, not only would if throw her off, but I know you could manage to escape if it came down to that."

"I think that is a really bad idea. I'm lucky to have escaped years ago. If he found me again…"

"What about your family?" Kristina pressed, fighting the guilt that was nipping at her gut. It was low blow but a final attempt for help.

"What about your family? "

"My family? What about your family? Don't you dare attempt to us a guilt trip on me Kristina Davis. I want my family to be safe just as much as yours!" Kristina sighed as she turned the volume down on her call.

"You're right I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone there." She could hear the hurt in her friend's voice on the other line. Kristina was at a loss for words. The one person outside of her husband that she trusted and she was throwing them under the bus too.

"Look Kristina maybe—" There was a knock on her car window that made her jump.

"Krissy? Are you okay?"

"I'll call you later." She said hanging up her phone and she unlocked her car door and slid out to greet her husband.

"Luv, are you okay?"

"Fine." She replied closing her door and making her way to the backseat. Cooking dinner was out of the question that night so she'd picked up some take-out Chinese on her way back home. Hanging the bags to Ethan she wordlessly walked around him and into the house where her children greeted her with hugs.

"Um, wow, what did I do to deserve such a warm welcome from everyone?" She asked putting her purse down.

"You didn't pick up your phone." Aviana told her.

"I thought you left us." Alex told her in a small voice. Kristina's heart broke and she pulled her children in and gave Ethan an apologetic look as he walked by them placing the Chinese on the table.

"I will never leave the two of you…or your father for that matter. I just needed a couple hours to clear my head." Alex's stomach growling made Kristina's smile.

"Your dad just brought in some takeout for Mr. Chan's." She hinted almost stumbling over as her kids quickly released her and sprinted towards the kitchen.

Hi, you've reached the voicemail of Molly Lansing. Sorry I missed your call. Leave me a message and I'll return your call as soon as possible! Toodles!

"Mollz, it's me. You never got back to me on joining us for dinner. Guess you're busy? I'll tell my mom to save a plate just in case you change your mind…alright…goodnight….bye." Cameron hung up from the phone call feeling extremely lame.

He'd casually mention to Molly on Saturday that his mom would be making dinner Monday night and that she was welcome to join them. Molly had sort of brushed it off with a smile and a "I'll think about it", but it was way she said she would think about it that gave him hope.

Was Aiden right? Was he really that desperate for Molly's attention? Sadly, he knew the answer. He'd been a sucker for Molly Lansing for almost 10 years now. Shaking the thoughts of Molly out of his head Cameron fished around the back seat of his car. Of course he had no umbrella and it was pouring outside. Stuffing his cell phone in his pocket Cameron braced himself to make a run for the front door of his childhood home. As soon as he stepped out of the car he was drenched. Darting across the lawn he wasn't even completely on the porch before the front door swung open and his petite mother popped her head out giving him an exasperated look.

"Hi sweetheart," Liz said trying to pull him into a hug.

"Mom I'm soaked." Ignoring his protests Liz gave him a tight hug. Cameron pulled back giving her a questioning look. Elizabeth's eyes said it all. He'd come home just in time.

"What's Aiden done this time?" He asked ushering her back inside as she closed the door behind them.

"Whoa, why am I always the one getting blamed?" Aiden asked jogging down the steps. "Not everything bad that happens is my fault," He told his older brother as he jumped down the last step Cameron pinching the back of his neck as he walked by him and into the kitchen.

"He's right for once," Elizabeth replied taking a seat on their couch. Ju

"Are you going to let me in on what's going on then, Mom?"

"So where's Molly? I thought she was joining us tonight?" Elizabeth asked changing the subject. Cameron felt his heart sink once again.

"I don't know, I told her about it Saturday but it was nothing definite I guess." He replied to his mother not even bothering to hide his disappointment. Although he'd never admitted how loud to his obsession over Molly, his mother knew him too well.

"I'm sorry baby,"

"It's fine. It's better this way, spending time with you and the trouble maker in there," He joked watching as his mother gave him another sad smile. "Okay Mom, I'm serious tell me what's wrong. It's written all over your face."

"It's nothing,"

"No it is something," Aiden told him walking out of the kitchen with 3 plates and 3 sets of silverware in his hands. He placed them on the dining room table and then came back into the living standing next to Elizabeth.

"She's upset because Dad's coming home."

"I'm sorry—what?" Cameron asked jumping up. Elizabeth stood in between her boys putting comforting hands on each of their shoulders.

"Please, could both of you calm down?"

"Calm down? Mom why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"For a visit Cameron. Lucky is coming home for a visit," Liz said giving Aiden a warning look.

"Since when is this his home?"

"I've already told her I don't want to see him." Aiden said his blood boiling at just the thought of seeing his father again. Everyone had so many wonderful stories about how great of a father Lucky Spencer was, how dedicated Lucky Spencer was to his family. How dedicated could a man be from 3,000 miles away? He hadn't seen his father since he was 13, and that was during one of his very brief visits.

"Aiden don't talk about your father that way! Lucky called me today to let me know that he's going to be flying in sometime this week to see the family."

"How very noble of him," Cameron told her sarcastically.

"Cam—"

"Mom I'm sorry but I can't sit here and pretend to be happy that he's coming for a visit. I gave up on Dad a long time ago. He abandoned us!"

"He was grieving!"

"For a wife he knew for what? 6 months? How about me? How about Aiden? How about you mom?"

"He's still your father!" It broke Cameron's heart seeing his mother on the verge of tears, but her constant defending of their father leaving them struck a nerve.

"No, Lucky Spencer stopped being my father the moment he walked out of those doors and never returned."

"I second that," Aiden said pulling his mom into a hug.

"I don't want you and your brother hating Lucky for what happened between us," Aiden wiped the tears that had fallen from his mother's eyes.

"Mom, I was too young to know what happened between you and Dad. But I know that a father isn't supposed to abandon his kids. In my 15 ½ years on this earth I have only a handful of memories with dad because he was too selfish to even attempt to bond with me. Cameron's right, he stopped being a father the day he walked out on us. The only father I've ever known is you. You've been mom, dad, everything to us." Aiden sent Liz into a blubbering mess as both her boys gave her a hug.

Elizabeth wiped her eyes looking between both of her sons and sighed.

"You two are wonderful," She laughed as she blew out a heavy breath. "Alright, no more crying! I'm have to take this chicken out of the oven before it overcooks, okay? Aiden could you set the table please? I'll be right back."

Elizabeth quickly walked around them and into her kitchen. Cameron and Aiden exchanged worried glances as loud noises from the kitchen filled the air.

"Aiden, if you're here when dad comes make sure that you call me." Aiden nodded his head in understanding.

"How much do you two love me?" Aviana asked that night as she sat down at the dinner table. If she wanted her plan to work, she had to do this fast. Ethan and Kristina exchanged glances at each other. Both knew that nothing good ever came from Aviana asking that question.

"Depends on how much it's going to cost me, love." Ethan told her passing the large container of sesame chicken to his daughter. He became ridiculously giddy when he noticed a slight smirk on Kristina's face. Unphased by her father, Aviana shook off his comment and continued with a smile.

"As you both know, Wednesday the 7th grade class is going to the Planetarium in DC." She started out, across from her Alexander rolled his eyes.

"Yes…" Ethan said preparing himself for whatever Aviana had in store for them.

"Well, Kaley and I wanted to do a pre-planetarium girls' night sleepover tomorrow."

"I'm sorry a what?"

"A sleepover. So we can try on our field trip clothes and do our hair. And then of course on the bus ride to DC I'll do Kaley's makeup since her mom won't let her wear any," Aviana explained wanted to grin like a Cheshire cat when she noticed the scowl on her mom's face at the mention of Kaley's mom.

"That woman. I still can't believe at the last PTA meeting she told me that lip gloss is inappropriate for 13 year old girls and that I should be ashamed of myself for promoting baby prostitution. It's a wonder Kaley's as normal as she is," Kristina said angrily. It was a well known fact that she and Hanna, Kaley's mother, had two very different methods of parenting and did not attempt to disguise the face that they disagreed with each other's methods.

"So…is that a yes?" Aviana asked slowly. She hadn't even buttered them up yet, maybe her trip to Port Charles would go over smoother than expected.

"That's a 'we'll think about it'," Ethan answered he waited for his wife to chime in, when she didn't he backed up his decision. "Wednesday will still be a school day, I don't want you and Kaley up half the night before."

"We wouldn't! And Wednesday is going to be like a Saturday! We have zero class work that day. We come into school and then head straight to the bus!"

"And why would you need to do your hair for a field trip? You're only going to the planetarium." Ethan asked. Aviana and Kristina both cracked huge smiles at the same time.

"Obviously, I've missed the joke." Kristina reached out and touched her husband's hand gently.

"Ethan, do you remember the way I was when I was a teenager?" She asked.

"Of course I do. In face I have some very vivid memories,"

"Do you remember the time I decided to get that bootylicious makeover ?" She asked thinking back to that not so flattering time in her life.

"Yes I do. By the way, I'm not sure if I ever told you, but you were really cute, even with those low cut dresses with the bras poking out." Ethan said breaking into a smile. Kristina pinched him playfully.

"I was 18 give me a break. Do you remember the reason why I got the makeover?" She asked again almost in tears when the smile fell from Ethan's face.

"No—what?"

"I don't get it. Why did you get a makeover?" Alex asked his mom.

"Avi, instead of this planetarium trip how about we start looking at girls' only boarding schools?"

"Oh Ethan stop." Kristina said waving him off.

"I still don't get it. I'm in this conversation too." Alex said dropping his fork on the table. Kristina smiled at her.

"I'm sorry sweetheart. I got the makeover hoping that you dad would notice me."

"Did it work?" He asked Kristina cringed at the thought.

"Um, not really. In fact, it didn't really help at all. You see kids, back then your dad was an idiot." She joked.

"Thanks honey. Actually Alex, Aviana your mom tried to change her appearance thinking it would get me to notice her when I'd noticed her all along."

"How come she didn't know?" Alex asked. He loved when his parents would talk about the time before they were a couple. It made it easier for him to put the pieces to the puzzle together.

"Because I was too afraid of admitting my feelings for her back then."

"What changed your mind?" Aviana asked.

"Yes Ethan, what did change your mind?" Kristina challenged raising an eyebrow at him.

"Well, if you must know. It was the moment when I looked in those brown eyes and realized that your mother had become my entire life and that I couldn't live without her." He told them honestly.

"Damn you Ethan Lovett, I'm supposed to be mad at you!" Kristina said feeling herself get choked up after hearing his words, Ethan let out a low chuckle as he took the seat Kristina was in and slid it closer to his giving her a peck on her lips.

"I love you,"

"Ew!" Alex and Aviana said in unison making disgusted faces at their parents.

"So does that mean I can go to the sleepover? I may meet the guy who's going to think I'm his entire world at the planetarium!" Aviana exclaimed excitedly. Ethan pulled apart from his wife and gave Aviana stern look.

"You do and he'll be a dead man," He told her as Kristina snorted with laughter.

Later that evening Aviana Lovett was packing her bags for her 'sleepover' at Kaley's tomorrow. The bus fare would be expensive, but she had $300 dollars saved from babysitting, Christmas money, birthday money that her parents didn't know she stashed away. She had been texting Aiden back and forth; he promised her that he would find a safe place for her to crash while she was in town.

"I know you aren't going to Kaley's for a sleepover tomorrow," Alex said walking into her bedroom. Aviana quickly shut her bedroom door and glared at Alex.

"What are you talking about? Of course I'm going to Kaley's tomorrow,"

"I read your message from Aiden. I know—"

"You hacked into my Slosh account again? I told you to never do that again! What is wrong with you?"

"No what's wrong with you? Mom and Dad almost got divorced because of you!" Aviana snorted.

"Yeah right. Mom and Dad aren't getting a divorce. They had a fight, they needed time to cool off, and now they're all lovely dovey again. Did you not see them at dinner?"

"I'm telling mom that you're meeting Aiden Spencer!" Alex said his hand ready to open the bedroom door.

"You do and I'll tell them both exactly how you got the money to fix your laptop." She said to her younger brother smirking at the nervous look that appeared across his face. A couple months ago she noticed Alex coming home from school with loads of cash. He'd been scamming his classmates out of their lunch money at recess with the card tricks their dad had taught them.

Kristina told them on several different occasions that she did not want them using Ethan's card scams for money. They could play each other, but never use what their dad had taught them to scam other people.

"You wouldn't!"

"I would. You throw me under the bus baby brother and you're coming with me."

"Mom and dad would still be more mad at you."

"I also know that you hacked into your math's teacher's grading system and changed your C- to a A. How do you think they'd feel about that one?" Aviana toyed.

"Are you done attempting to blackmail me Alexander? I'll be back Wednesday night, the same time as the field trip will be over. Mom's not going to call Hanna, if you think anything suspicious is about to happen please distract them. Alright? Deal?"

"I have no choice."

"Good then it's a deal. I promise you Alexander, I'm going back there because we both deserve answers. If mom and dad aren't going give us those answers then we need to get them ourselves."