Thanks to all who comment and review: Poet, AMCGL, Mariska, Acester...you are all very appreciated!
To Fabfan and Nutty...You are the wind beneath my wings, yo! The fruit to my loom. Thanks for all the support you two have brought that keep me doing this thing I love. You're Aces in my book!
Frankie and Robin had returned to the dining room. There were a few moments of tension as Leo had dragged Maggie back into the room. Greenlee returned just as David stood up to speak. "My brothers have helped me see the error of my ways. I owe the both of you girls my deepest apologies. I grew up alone in a troubled environment. Leo had our mother and Trey was in a whole other family. It took us a long time to find each other and even longer for us to develop a trust, and relationships. I have just wanted to share that with the two of you. It pained me to see you separated. Frankie and I have bonded on some level and I wanted to do something special for her. I also hope to develop a relationship with you Maggie. I never thought about the baggage that comes with all those years apart. I had the best of intentions, but I should not have gone about it the way that I did. Please forgive me, if you can. And please, give yourselves a second chance at being the family you deserve."
Frankie gave David a knowing smile. "David, you have done so much for me already. I can never thank you enough for that. I don't hold anything against you. You were trying to do something nice." Frankie turned toward Maggie. "Mags, I would like a chance to talk. I know you have questions…I know I do. What do you say? You want to talk?" Frankie and Maggie just stared at each other in silence, each of them searching the other for something.
"I do have questions." Maggie said reluctantly. "Okay…let's talk." Maggie gestured toward the terrace. Frankie began to follow but gave a nervous look towards Robin and Leo. Leo just smiled and Robin nodded at Frankie. She mouthed We will be right here. Go on. Frankie took a deep breath and nodded. She scratched at her head as they walked out the doors and out of view.
The sisters sat in silence at first. The rest of the family went about their afternoon and made the best of what was left of the feast. The two sisters just sort of stared at each other for a while. Maggie shook her head. "Look at you, Frankie. Do you know how much I have worried for you? Wondered where you were? Where the hell have you been for the last several years?"
"I was running around. I slept in parks and bus depots and stuff a lot. Well, until I ran into Aunt Vanessa." Frankie stammered.
"Frankie!" Maggie said surprised. "You were in contact with Aunt Vanessa, but never once thought that you should contact…I don't know? Your sister?"
"It is not like that, Mags! I wasn't…Aunt Vanessa was/is a nut. She's certifiable. I was doing things…jobs for her that I wasn't proud of. I was strung out and she was a means to an end. She gave me food, clothes and the money I needed for a good time. I didn't want you to know that stuff." Frankie lowered her head as her sister's face showed the shock, disgust and concern at her sister's confessions. "Look, I don't even want to talk about all that. I'm clean. My conscience got to me, or something, and I ran from her as fast as I could. She is locked up somewhere and I am better. I have been doing well now on my own for a long time."
"Why didn't you ever find me? Check on, Mom? Anything? I have always been the one to care for you. I could have helped." Maggie said.
"Maggie, stop." Frankie shouted. "For God's sake, you are like two minutes older or something. You aren't responsible for me. You never were. I was always trying to tell you to go. All those times I cut class and tried to get away, I begged you. You stayed and made excuses and cleaned up her messes and tried to baby me, but you never once listened."
"Neither did you." Maggie said.
"Well, you had your boyfriends and your classes, then when you up and went off to school, I didn't see you packing me up with you. You left first." Frankie cried. She turned her back and walked a few feet away.
"I did all that to try and be an example. I wanted you to see that it was our way out. You never paid any attention or even tried to follow the rules back then. It was always about a good time. Your music, your books, your friends, even the drugs…I am sure they were just another way for you to escape from dealing with reality. You always tried to run, to escape."
"Well, you were too. You just said you went off to school to get away. You did. I suppose you are a doctor now? Or at least you should be pretty close, huh? I answered you….where have you been? Why didn't you look for me?" Frankie stammered, trying to control her tears, but without turning around.
"I started at Ithaca College and moved to Rochester. I have been there for a couple years now, finishing out my internship." Maggie said. "I think about you all the time. I just didn't know where to begin. I don't really go back to see Mom, much, just sometimes. She obviously has no clue what day it is, most times. Let alone, where her daughters are. I wanted…I just didn't know where to look."
"I have been in school." Frankie said. "I have been right down the road from you this whole time, at Syracuse. That is so weird."
After an hour, or so of, this the girls broke through a little. Whether it was peace, forgiveness, or just exhaustion…Frankie couldn't take anymore.
"I am so sorry, Maggie. I am sorry I left and never looked back. It wasn't you I was leaving behind, I just had to find my own way. You spent so much time trying to do good, appease Mom and make her happy. You were always trying to care for me and that was never your job. It was hers. I was tired of crying and begging for attention, love that should have just been given freely. I couldn't be that person anymore. I couldn't breathe there. I had to get out before I suffocated. You were off at school and I figured you were safe. So I left to find my own way and figure my life out. I see how I've hurt you and worried you by leaving without a word and never contacting you. I wish I could change that, but I can't." Maggie looked away, the tears filling her eyes. Frankie reached out to touch her sister's arm, but she pulled away. "Please, Maggie….we can't change the past, but we can have a future. Please let's promise to keep working on this."
Maggie hesitated. She turned her back to Frankie. After a painful few minutes, she turned back around. "I didn't know if you were dead or alive. I understand why you ran. I do. But I don't understand how you left me behind without a trace. Every pain in my gut, left me wondering if it was some sign. Some hint to tell me that you were gone. Not knowing has been the hardest. You are my sister. We are different as night and day, I know, but I love you. I will promise to keep trying, if you promise to never run again."
Frankie's eyes filled with tears. "I will…I do." Maggie stepped forward and caught her sister in a hug. It was awkward at first. Frankie was shocked and not sure what to do, then her walls came down. The girls cried and held each other. The moment was broken by the sound of Leo clearing his throat. He was cautiously approaching waving a white napkin with Robin right behind. "That is a sight, let me tell you. I assume it is safe to approach?"
Frankie stepped back and straightened out her shirt. "Yeah, we made some ground." She looked at her watch. "I guess we missed dinner, huh?" Leo nodded. Maggie laughed. "It is okay by me. I don't think I could eat very much right now. Wouldn't mind a drink though…who is with me?"
Leo raised his hand. "I am in. Greenlee went on over to Kendall's and I have to join her soon. I certainly could use a drink or two before dealing with Erica and Kendall." Frankie chuckled as Robin and Maggie shared a look.
Robin stepped forward with an extended hand. "Hi. I am Robin. I am Anna's daughter. It is good to meet you."
Maggie shook her hand warmly. "I live with Robin in Port Charles." Frankie added. "Would you believe it, Leo…Maggie went to school in Ithaca and Rochester and she has been working in Rochester all this time? Isn't that crazy? I still can't believe we were so close." The four walked into the bar and sat at a table. Leo left to order their drinks. "So Frankie, you filled in some of the blanks, but you haven't said how you found Leo again?" Maggie asked. Leo returned at that moment and passed out the drinks to the ladies. "Oh that was easy, Maggie. Destiny brought her to me."
Maggie looked at him puzzled. "Oh, yeah? Do tell?"
Leo looked at Frankie. "Go ahead." She replied.
"Frankie here is in love." He began. "She fell magically in love with a beautiful fair maiden who happened to be visiting Syracuse one night."
Maggie snorted. "Ha! I always thought you were gay. I knew it."
Frankie shot her a look. "Well, if you had pulled your face out of Greg Fisher's mouth for two minutes…you could have asked me."
"Oh, alright, alright." Maggie said. She still smirked. "That doesn't explain how you found Leo and David."
"Like I said," Frankie began, "during my troubled youth, Aunt Vanessa had found me. I ran some cons for her. That is when I first ran into him. I mean since our days of diapers."
Leo laughed and continued. "But our Frankie made good. She moved away, and turned herself around. You should be very proud of her, Maggie."
Frankie scratched her scalp. "Well, then I met this girl. Bianca. She is unlike any girl I've ever known. She is just…well, she…I am in love with her. Things were a little complicated and I made some mistakes. Took the long way around my feelings, but here I am."
"Annnnd?" Maggie said impatiently.
"Sorry." Leo interjected. "The destiny part that Oprah here keeps forgetting to mention is that Bianca is from here in Pine Valley and just happens to be my best friend."
"Ohh…now her ramblings make sense." Maggie laughed. "So where is this amazing woman now?"
"That is a really long story." Frankie sighed and took a drink. "It's one with an ending that I hope to remedy soon." Frankie gestured to the bartender for another beer. In moments he came over with a round for everyone.
"Hey Mike." Leo said. "Everyone…this is Mike. He's is the best bartender the Valley Inn has ever seen. Aren't you, Mike?"
Mike grinned and then turned serious. "Hey Leo, is Ms. Montgomery doing alright?"
Mike earned Frankie and Leo's undivided attention. The other girls just surveyed the scene, sensing the tension now radiating from Frankie's body. "What do you mean, Mike?" Leo questioned. "Why would anything be wrong with Ms. Montgomery?"
"Well, the word circulating is that she was in here earlier today to pick up some pies. She signed for them and then went to speak with her cousin, Mrs. DuPres. The next thing you know, the front hostess saw her drop to the ground. They helped her up and loaded her in a waiting car. I just figured if anyone would know her condition, it would be you. I am very sorry for springing this on you."
Leo took out a large bill and handed it to Mike. "No, no…by no means, Mike. Don't apologize. This should cover our drinks. Keep the change. Ladies…" Leo stood and gestured for the girls to follow Frankie who was already halfway to the door.
"I don't understand?" Robin said. "Who is Ms. Montgomery…and where are we going?"
"Bianca." Leo whispered. "Ms. Montgomery is Bianca."
In moments, the party had arrived, in two cars, to the Hart-Slater residence. They knocked on the door and were greeted by Reggie. "Hey Leo…Whoa! What the…? Frankie?" The young man hugged the blond girl. "This must be the sister, huh? I am Reggie Montgomery. I'm very pleased to meet you."
"Maggie Stone." Maggie replied while taking his hand.
"I am afraid you missed most of the shindig." Reggie explained. "Erica and Jack already took off. So did Ryan, Annie and Emma. Dani and Greenlee are helping Kendall clean up in the kitchen and Zack is with the kids in their room trying to settle them down. Kendall saved some food for you though." He looked around at the three women. "Although, I don't think she was counting on extras."
Frankie stepped forward. "And Bianca, Reggie? Where is Bianca? Someone at the Inn said she that she had collapsed. Is she okay? Where is she?" Her eyes searched the room.
"She is fine. She said she was just hungry and stressed out from all the activity over the last few days. She got a little dizzy, but she is fine. Her brother Josh, the doctor, was here and he checked her out before they left."
"Before they left?" Frankie asked. She noticed that Reggie got a guilty look on his face. "Reggie. I have to see her. Where did Bianca go?"
Reggie shook his head. He stepped over to the couch and sat. "Dammit Frankie, what are you even doing here? Bianca said you were long gone. She said y'all were over. You must have done something to make her believe that or she never would have…"
"WHAT?" Frankie demanded. "What did Bianca do, Reggie? I know that look. What aren't you telling me? What did she do?"
Reggie let out a deep sigh and put his face in his hands. He looked up, but couldn't look at Frankie. "Her friend, Sarah came to town the night that Bianca came back from looking for you. Bianca was a mess. She hasn't told me much, but we all could see it. Sarah showed up as they had planned, months ago. Bianca seemed upset by her presence though. Then today, at our dinner, she was different. She stood up and announced that she and Sarah had been going through some struggles with the distance between them. She said that everything was gonna be fine now though. The two of them had talked and they decided to live together."
Frankie's face fell. She heard nothing more, as Reggie continued to explain that the girls were driving back to Boston to get Sarah's affairs in order. Bianca seemed to be in a rush to get Sarah moved to Pine Valley. Maggie and Robin were startled when Frankie rushed from the room, throwing open the front door and running out into the night.
"Frankie!" Maggie yelled and chased after her sister.
"I am so sorry." Reggie apologized. "I didn't know she was going to be here. I don't think Bianca knew either."
Leo patted him on the shoulder. "It will work itself out. I just don't get what has gotten into Bianca? Sarah? Really? This is really sudden and not where her head seemed to be earlier this week." He grunted and shook his head. The group turned her attention to the door as Maggie returned breathless. "She is long gone. I couldn't catch her. I am really worried about her. From what I remember, she has never handled disappointment well. "
Reggie stood. "Let me go tell Dani what's up and we can all split up. We'll find her."