At the bar in Metro Court Ric was sitting alone enjoying his evening sipping a scotch when someone he had never seen before went to the bar to order a drink. He couldn t help but smile at the way she skipped over to the bar, clearly someone was having a good day.

Glass of white wine please she asked the bartender and started singing to herself under her breath. She turned to look round the bar and saw Ric smiling at her instantly blushed

Sorry I didn t see you there Vanity embarrassed someone witnessed her silly behaviour.
Don t be this bar could do with some cheering up Ric said, picking up his drink to stand next to her,
getting more and more intrigued with the stranger having heard her accent.

Well I got myself a job so I won t be kicked out of my hotel room anytime soon

So you here in Port Charles for the long term? Ric asked, becoming more and more interested in the stranger.

Vanity nodded as she took a sip of her white wine. Feeling more relaxed now and enjoying having a handsome stranger talking to her she felt she could open up more.

I m sorry where are my manners Ric. Ric Lansing he held his hand out

Vanity Taylor they shook hands

So Vanity what brings you to Port Charles?

I m here to track down my sister. I ve never met her so I don t have a clue what she looks like maybe you know her?

What s her name?

Caroline but according to my research she seems to go by the name Carly

Ric coughed as she scotch he sipped at that very moment choked him from the shock of who was she referring to Vanity patted his back trying to help him

You OK? she asked looking concerned at his reaction to her question

Yes it s just. Yes I know her but I think you need to tell me more about yourself as she has never mentioned siblings

Vanity lowered her eyes then. It wasn t easy going to the complex nature of her background especially with a stranger but she knew these questions would be brought up if she was going to find this mystical sister who seemed to hold the key to her freedom from her quarrelsome family back home who seemed to enjoy reminding her that she would never be one of them due her mother falling for an American man s charms one night.

She took the glass of white wine which she had barely touched and knocked it back. Ric s eyes widened in surprise now not sure he was ready for this Pandora s Box Vanity took him through quickly her childhood to the day in her teens she came across her birth certificate and seeing a different man s name under father to the man who had raised her as his own. Then the countless hours of research she had undertaken to the private investigator who one day presented her with a new sibling, someone who lives in America and seeing her chance to meet her sister and maybe learn something about her real father she packed her bags not thinking about how much money she had or living arrangements.

Ric listened carefully and remembered how he came to Port Charles to get closer to Sonny. The importance of getting to know the older sibling he knew all too well. The fact was he could help her out of the goodness of his heart but getting to spend more time with this redhead wouldn t be a hardship for him either.

He took her hands in his and looked in her eyes. The piercing blueness of them seemed to pierce into his soul,
his heart skipped a beat.

I can help you

She grinned and hugged him

Thank you Ric

Ric grinned. Yes sometimes it paid to be the nice guy.