"Okay Dad, why the Manning family meeting at six in the morning?" Dani tilted her head and rolled her eyes to her sister. Starr raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms across her chest.
Todd smiled at his daughters before taking a slow deep breath and letting his shoulders drop as he exhaled.
"With everything that's happened, all we've learned.." He gestured for the kids to sit. "The Mannings are going on the offensive.
"The offensive?" Starr whispered softly, the weariness creeping into her tone. "What's that mean?"
Todd looked to where his son had settled into a chair. He walked around the table and dropped his hand on his shoulder.
"Jack is going to help us with our next attempt to uncover the people that are trying to destroy the family."
"Wait what?" Dani's face went blank and she sank into a chair.
"He and Victor are going to an area near Pine Valley to try and infiltrate the facility where they think Truman might be." Todd kept his voice neutral.
"Wait, what?!" Starr mimicked her sister, bringing her hand to her chest like her mother.
Manning's mouth stretched into a long grin, he loved these children. He'd do anything for them, anything.
"Victor is going to pretend to be turned. He's going to make contact and tell them Jack is interested in learning more. That he's curious."
"And they'll jump at the chance." Dani breathed, leaning forward just a little. "They'll fall for it."
"We don't know that." Starr shook her head. "You don't think that they'll just open their arms."
"You don't know them like I do." Dani shook her head, Todd watched her stare at the reflection of herself in the table. "They're hungry."
"Dani's right." Jack whispered.
"Oh so you two are experts now?" She shouted.
"They didn't come for you Starr, you don't understand." Jack met Dani's eyes, and she nodded at him.
"No they just turned my boyfriend and made me think my daughter was dead." She snapped, but her siblings didn't seem to notice, they were still locked on each other.
"No one is saying you haven't been hurt by this, Shorty." Todd said softly.
"So Jack's running off to play secret agent with father number two what the hell are Starr and I supposed to do?" Todd turned towards his raven haired daughter and swallowed hard, but it was her step-mother whose hand came down gently on her arm.
"Starr, you're going to go public." Three sets of eyes flipped to him. "You are going to say you are suspending your tour due to a family emergency. You're going to out yourself as being in Llanview, go to Llanfair and LaBoulie. We want rumors out in the press that something is wrong."
"I've spent the last three years diverting attention from this place-."
"That was defense Shorty, we're on offense now." Todd said quickly.
"And me?" Danielle asked, her brown eyes wide and focused.
"You have the most important job, Sweetie." Blair's voice was still hoarse from sobbing, Todd winced when he heard it. He slid his fingers across her cheek and into her hair and she tilted her head slightly in acknowledgment. "You're going to keep the children safe."
"Babysitting? Can't Aunt Vicki-."
"Dani if this falls apart they'll have the information out of Victor in minutes and they'll come looking for them." Todd said softly, feeling his wife's body shutter beside him. "You think Aunt Vicki can fight them off, Firecracker?"
"Dad." She looked up at him.
"You will take the children to the basement and you will stay there with them until someone comes to get you."
"The basement?" Todd noticed fear in her face for the first time since they'd come into the room.
"Blair and I.." He pressed his palm into Blair's shoulder and she covered his hand with her own. "Are going to back up Jack and Victor. If we aren't successful…"
"They'll weaponize you." Dani swallowed hard.
"Weaponize-." Starr's wide eyes flipped between her parents and her sibling.
"They don't kill people Starr the use them. Haven't you caught on yet?" Jack hissed.
"Jack, the fact that your sister doesn't know is by design." Blair reminded him. Starr looked indigent.
"Well, you better start explaining!" Starr cried.
"Can't stand not being in the action can you?" Jack snorted.
"Jack stop." Blair whispered.
"No Jack's right you guys better start talking!" Starr yelped.
"Afterward." Todd knocked his fist against the table. "We'll get everyone caught up and soothe hurt feelings afterward."
"How will I know?" Dani said softly, tears forming in her eyes. "If it's safe, to let you in?"
Todd's head tipped to the side.
"I'm going to change the codes, Firecracker."
"Dad." She said softly, Todd watched his daughter's eyes start to water.
"Wait who are we giving the code to?" Jack asked in alarm.
"Someone even this organization won't mess with." Blair smiled looking at Starr. She sat up straighter.
"The son of a mobster." Todd announced.
…...
"Starr thank God." Michael's eyes rolled up into his head before he met hers again. "I was starting to get worried. Where the hell have you been? There is a team of photographers roaming my driveway because rumor had it you gave them the slip in NYC and they assume that means you're here."
"I'm in Llanview." Her voice was soft.
"Llanview why?" He made a face. She hadn't been home in over a year and every time he had brought it up she'd gotten teary eyed and waved him off.
"Michael I can't tell you over the phone. I'm going to need you to come here." She chewed on the edge of her finger tip of a second.
"To Llanview." He furrowed his eyebrows.
"Please." She whispered. "Can you?"
"Tonight right?" His eyebrows arched. "I'm guessing I'm leaving in the middle
of the night and not telling anyone?"
"Actually no." She took a deep breath. "Leave tomorrow in broad daylight and tell everyone. Make a big production."
…..
"So I just stay here and act like everything's normal?" She from the door of their bedroom as he pulled his suitcase and backpack from the closet.
"That's the plan, yes." Victor ground the words out. He was tired of having this conversation.
"And why can't I go to Llanview?" She raised her eyebrows at him.
"Tea we've been over this. You going there draws attention to you. It brings you into the story."
"My daughter is already there. You and Todd insist that my son needs to be there. I don't think that it would be that out of character for me to be there." She shouted.
"No one knows Dani's there." He rubbed his face. "And Tommy should have been there all along. It's the safest place in the damn world for him to be. It was a damn act of mercy that Todd brought him here."
"Oh yes, Merciful Todd Manning." She mocked.
"Tea!" He yelped turning around and taking her by the shoulders. "I have to worry about Jack. I have to worry about not turning back into a killing machine. I have to worry about being used to hurt my own family. I cannot worry about your hurt feelings." She looked away, bringing her hands up and hooking her thumbs around his. "I'm taking Tommy to be with his brother and sister. Dani will keep the younger kids safe. Todd and Blair and I will keep Jack safe. We'll end this."
"And I'll go to work and act like nothing's wrong." She pouted.
"For now." He nodded. "You've been done with the Manning's and the Lord's for years now remember? You got out. Which is what you can tell them when they come here looking for comment."
"Fuck them all." She mumbled as he pulled her to his chest.
"I mean if you want to ad lib." He snorted, kissing the base of her throat.
"Oh don't worry I will." She teased, but the anger had left her and he could feel it. Her fingers rubbed against the muscles of his back. "I'll have no problem spouting out my rage."
"I like your rage." He told her blankly, pressing his nose into her chin. "It's hot."
"Yeah?" She raised her eyebrows. "Good thing because I'm pretty pissed off."
"Show me." He pulled her backwards until his legs hit the bed.
…..
"Mom?"
Blair looked up at her son as they drove thought Llanview.
"Jack?"
"I just.. " He swallowed hard. "I'm just really going to sell it in there okay?"
"Good. I needs to be real."
"I just.. I want you to know I don't mean it." He whispered.
"Oh Honey." She reached across the car and laid her hand on his arm.
"I'm going to say things, about you and Dad." He glanced at her, then out the window. I need you and Sam to know I'm going to say really awful things, but I don't mean it."
"We know." She slid over on the seat and took his hand. "Jack we know."
"I'm going to say things about Dad, I would have said before, you know? Before I really knew him." He looked at Sam. His brother nodded. "Scarface, the whole bit."
"Your Dad loves you Jack." She said softly. "And he knows you love him." Her son nodded his head before taking her hand and squeezing as they pulled up to the Palace. She looked across the car at Sam. "He knows we're a family. Nothing anyone says is going to change that."
"Ready?" Jack exhaled, looking from Sam to his mom and back again. "It's gonna be big."
"Let's do it." Sam shrugged. "Let's remind Llanview nobody makes a scene like a Manning."
….
"Hey." Todd said quickly. "You get it?"
"Did I get it!" Jess exclaimed loudly. "You have no idea."
"Was it good?" He laughed.
"He threw a full plate of food Uncle Todd, it's all over MyFace. It's glorious."
"That's my boy." He whispered, pulling up the Sun's website on his computer.
"Blair cried. Sam yelled at him to get out and never come back it was AMAZING!"
Todd watched the scene unfold. His son had pulled out all the old favorites. 'He killed my Dad.' 'Scarface.' 'Gave me away as a baby.' He'd sung all the greatest hits.
"Okay. So Vic gets in around seven, I need you to get a crew out there as loudly as possible to film Starr's fake arrival. It'll give Natalie and John enough time to get Victor off the Plane and back here."
"I'll start giving out orders, loudly, at the coffee shop." Jess sighed.
"Good Girl." He grinned watching the Sun's website views increase before his eyes.
"Also Blair's going to drop off Sam tonight. He wants to spend hang out with Bree before he heads off to the Basement."
"He's avoiding Victor?"
"I think so." Todd sighed. "I don't think he minds. The only person he asked to see
was Vicki."
"You sure he's up to this?" She sighed back.
"Vic's fine. This is all going to work." He stopped for a minute. "Did John up security at Llanfair?"
"CJ's here all weekend." Todd rolled his eyes at Jess' feeble whisper. "And we'll have Sean."
"You should take me up on my offer and bring the kids here Jessica."
"They're safe there." She said softly.
"I hope so." Todd gave her a long look.
"My kids haven't be targeted Uncle Todd. "
"Because Natalie walked in on your father's induction ceremony." He snorted. "Allison didn't get to finish the job."
"Maybe. Or maybe they're not Lord enough." She shrugged.
"Are you saying my kids are more Lord than yours?" He grimaced.
"Well Mannings are their own breed." She grinned.
"That they are, but I still want you to be careful. Especially when you have my kid there."
"I'll have CJ watch him like a hawk."
"Good deal." He pointed at her.
"Be safe, Uncle Todd." Jess said softly.
"I'll see you soon." Todd winced before closing the call from his favorite niece. He left his office and made his way down the stairs as the door opened.
"Hey!" He yelped holding up his tablet. "You missed your calling. You should have gone to acting school, seriously you did amazing."
"Yeah." Jack smiled weakly. "I trashed my father and made my mother cry. Amazing."
Todd tossed his arm around his son.
"You did what you needed to do." He rubbed his hand up over Jacks' head.
"Yeah." He said softly as Todd's arm started to pull away. "Dad?"
Todd stopped, turning back just as Jack crashed into him.
"Jack." Todd closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around the young man.
"I'm sorry." He whispered.
"You did great, Son." He cupped his hand on the back of his neck.
"No for.. before." Todd could hardly hear him, Jack somehow pressed further into his shoulder. "When you came home."
"Hey." He pushed his son back and put a hand on both of sides of his face. "You weren't wrong." He laughed. "Not back then. You weren't totally wrong."
"You're my Dad." He whispered shaking his head. "I should have.." He shook his head again.. "I was worried about myself. About what happened with Gigi. I thought Victor could-."
"You were my son." Todd smiled widely at him. "You were just like your old man. Looking out for yourself." He laughed.
"You look out for me." Jack sniffed. "And mom and Sam and the girls."
"So do you." He pulled him back to his chest. "So do you John Cramer Manning, which is what you did today. And your dad is thrilled and you can call me any name you want, and I'm still gonna love you and be your dad okay?"
Jack nodded into his shoulder.
"Now go up and make sure you have everything we need. Okay?" He pulled back, wiping his face dramatically before heading upstairs.
"What was that?" Todd turned to Blair.
"You being right again." She sighed, taking the place in his arms their son had just vacated.
"How's that?"
"The kids." She swallowed hard. "They're not alright, Todd."
"They're Mannings." He raised an eyebrow. "Of course they're not alright."
"Todd-."
"Shh.. it's going to be okay." He pressed a quick kiss to her lips. "Let's have a nice night."
….
Michael Corinthos had exited private planes with his girlfriend many times. He'd never been ushered onto one as it pulled through a secured hanger by an FBI agent moments before her until today. Looking out the window he could see her hugging a man in a hoodie who was quickly lead away to a black tinted sedan. She climbed the stairs and kissed him soundly as the plane moved out of the hanger and they deplaned as if they'd just arrived from New York.
"You going to tell me what's going on?"
"When we get to my mother's." She told him nervously.
"Starr I haven't seen you in over a month. You go quiet for five days and now you want me to wait until we get to your moms?"
"I love you." She said quickly, reaching out and touching his face.
"I love you too, what's happening."
"I-." She looked down at her hands. "Michael I don't know if you're going to want to be with me after you hear what I have to say."
"Starr what's going on?" Michael's hand closed over hers.
"You know how we like to play 'Who's family is more complicated'?" She looked at him with her heavy lidded eyes. He nodded. "I'm going to win."
"Tell me."
"When we get to my mom's."
The pulled into the outer garage and the guard looked into the car.
"Ms. Manning." He nodded at her. "Mr. Corinthos If you could place your left hand on the pad please, Sir." Michael did as he was told. "Your right hand. Look here please, Sir." The man snapped a photo, Michael blinked hard.
"What was that?" He asked his girlfriend quietly.
"Retinal scan." Starr murmured.
"To get into your house?" He blinked again as she watched his pupil slowly dilate.
"Yes." Her lips pressed together before raising an open hand and shaking it victoriously. "Winning."
"We're cleared, Ms. Manning." She watched Michael jump when the driver exited and the steel inner door started to lift and the car rolled in. She met his eyes and swallowed hard as the door lowered and the green light flashed and the car doors unlocked. She grabbed her bag and handed him his and walked towards the elevator.
Starr pressed her finger against the keypad and opened the elevator door. She turned to him and for a second she thought maybe she'd tell him it all right now. Then she remembered her mother's terror at even saying Hope's name outside the house. She took Michael's hand in hers. The door opened into the outer lobby and no she key'd in the number. She pulled him into the inner lobby before turning to look at him.
"Fort Knox." He mumbled.
"What's in here is more precious than what's at Fort Knox." She told him her finger hovering over the code box for just a second before she pressed it onto the pad.
"Visitor detected." The system reported before it started counting down. Starr took his hand and pressed his index finger into the pad. "Michael Corinthos. Confirmed."
"Validate." Breathed Starr, hitting the button again. She finally opened the door.
"We're here." She called quietly.
"Hi Michael." Blair Manning smiled from the dining room. "It's good to see you."
He nodded at her before his eyes drifted to the other two people in the room and Starr watched the color drain from his face.
"Corinthos." Todd said softly, next to him Victor said nothing. Starr took his hand in hers.
"There's more." She told him softly.
"She's upstairs." Blair whispered. "Why don't you introduce them, and then Michael can come down here and we'll fill him in."
…
Sam Manning was starting to regret leaving home. His cousins were heavily engaged in the movie they were watching, he couldn't stop thinking about his family. He glanced over at Sean who was lazily texting, his shoulder propped against the door almost like his job was to keep Sam in, instead of keep intruders out.
He pulled out his phone and tapped a message to his mother.
Can I come home?
He waited for her to ask why, or complain he should have left with aunt Vicki or do any of the other things he knew she would want to do.
Instead she replied: Ten Minutes.
That was all. He stood up and made his way over to Bree.
"My mom needs me to come home." He whispered softly.
"Bummer." She rolled her eyes and looked back at the movie. "I'll see you at school?"
"Yeah." He lied, giving Sean a quick look he gestured at the door. "Mom's coming."
He looked like he might argue before his phone chimed and he gave it a quick glance before nodding at his young charge. He followed him down the steps as Sam grabbed his bag and wandered into the library.
"I'm going to go check the perimeter. Stay in the house."
Sam nodded. He was scanning the photos on the wall, wondering how many of these dead relatives were really dead when the door chimed.
"Victor." Natalie gasped. Sam's eyes wiped around to the figure in the doorway. There stood his father with a smirk on his face. "I thought you were staying at Todd's"
"I wanted to see my sister." He looked past her to Sam. "Sammy! There you are!" He reached out his arms and that's when Sam noticed it. The thick black curve of a curled 'branch' peeking out from the sleeve of his shirt. His eyes darted back to the man for just a fraction of a second before he sprinted into the kitchen and up the backstairs.
"Sam!" He heard the man call.
"Hold on a second!" He heard Natalie yell."
"Bree!" He yelled down the hall crashing into the playroom.
"What?"
"Come on!" He yelled grabbing Liam by the arm. "Get Ryder, come on!" He could hear footsteps coming up the stairs front stairs. "Carriage House! Now! Run!"
He pushed his cousin's past him and raced back down the steps as CJ came out of his room.
"Walker Lawrence." He yelled at him, still pushing at his cousins. "It's not Victor. It's Walker Lawrence. Help Natalie."
"Sam wait." CJ yelled after him, before turning towards the argument that seemed to be escalating in the fourier.
"No! Help Natalie!" Todd Manning was nothing if not thorough, in all of his discussions with his youngest son about his trips to Llanfair he had been especially detailed about the emergency plan. Carriage House. Activate. Hide. He shoved Bree again, practically lifting three year old Liam off his feet. "Carriage House."
The kids busted out the kitchen door and ran over the damp grass and almost directly into Sean.
"Walker Lawrence." Sam heaved breathlessly as Bree entered the door code. He pointed back at the house. "Go."
He shut the door firmly in his bodyguards face, pushed his cousins back into the smaller bedroom and fished his phone from his pocket opened an ap and hit the red button he'd never thought he'd ever need.
….
"Emergency Beacon Activated." The Fortresses security system announced unceremoniously. Todd Manning shot to his feet.
"Who?" He shouted back into the air.
"Sam Manning. Location 1177A Regency Drive."
"The carriage house." Victor announced.
"Dad?" Jack yelled from upstairs just as Dani came through the other door with the younger children. She clutched the terror to her chest with one arm and boosted Tommy further onto her hip with the other.
"Media room." Todd yelped watching as Jack took Merrie from his sister and grasped Hope by the arm. "Starr go."
His daughter hesitated for a moment, but Vicki gripped her arm until she rose, taking her aunts hand. Michael started after her but Todd gestured to him. Grasping his phone in his hand as it started to ring.
"Are you where I told you to go?" He said without any fan fair.
"Yes. Dad it wasn't Victor." Sam heaved. "It was Walker Lawrence. I know it."
"You saw Walker Lawrence?" He raised his eyes to Victor who cursed under his breath.
"He still had the tattoo." His son's breathless assertion made Todd grip the phone tighter. "Victor doesn't have the-."
"Sam do you remember what I told you?" Todd's voice was stern and calm.
"Yes. I have Bree and the boys. We're in the little bedroom." Sam breathed.
"Okay listen to me." He said sharply. "There is a keypad in the closet. The code is your home code Sam. Just type it in okay? Then keep the kids quiet until someone comes to get you."
"Okay."
"You're going to be okay, Son."
"Mom." He whispered. "She was coming."
"Your moms' fine. Stay quiet. I'm going to give the phone to Victor now. He's going to take it to Jack you stay on the phone with your brother but don't say anything unless you have to okay."
"Okay." He whispered.
"You're safe Sam." He told him again. Handing his brother the phone.
"Tell Jack to lock down the Media Room. Call Blair." He told him, grasping Michael by the arm. "We have work to do."
….
"Todd?!" Blair Manning shouted into her phone.
"It's Victor."
"Victor?"
"Todd took Michael to the Basement to reset the codes."
"Now?!"
"Yes now." He huffed. "Where are you?"
"The driver changed directions. Is Sam-?"
"He's in the safe room. Jacks' on the phone with him right now."
"The kids-."
"Media room" Victor sighed. "We're all in the media room."
"Listen, I won't be able to enter the building while Todd's in the Basement."
"Blair don't go to Llanfair." She looked out the window at the dozen or so police cars that zoomed by her.
"Victor I-." She shook her head.
"Sam's safe. Don't go to Llanfair." He ordered.
"I can't just.."
"Yes you can." He assured her. "Our son did exactly what Todd taught him to do. He has his cousins with him and they are in a secure room. Do not go to Llanfair."
"Okay." She whined. "I don't have much say anyway. The driver seems to know what to do."
"I'm sure Todd left detailed instructions." Victor snorted.
"Are they scared?"
"The little ones? No. Danielle put on Moana, they're transfixed." He chuckled. "I've never seen it as an actual media room before."
"Multipurpose." She whispered. "I should-."
"Stay on the phone with me." He whispered back, closing his eyes. "Just.. stay on the phone with me."
"Okay." Her voice had lost a little of its panicked edge. "I'm here."
…..
"I need you to watch me very carefully." Todd's voice was low. "My children's lives depend on you getting this right." He tapped furiously at the keyboard. "Right hand." He ordered tapping some more as Michael lowered his hand to the pad. "I want you to create a code that means something to you. It.. can't be a birthday or a date or a phone number. Make it a sentence. Something that you won't ever forget, but no one else would understand. Not even Starr."
"Okay." Michael answered softly.
"Left hand." He complied with the demand.
"Then. After we are gone. After my kids are in this room." He swallowed again. "You call Tea Delgado in Tahiti and you tell it to her." He turned to face Michael, his eyes boring into his. "You don't tell anyone you did that. You don't mention that you have ever spoken to her. Not even to Starr. Do you understand."
"I understand."
"My daughter loves you." Todd said flatly. "That should make me hate you but for some reason it makes me trust you. So.. " He shook his head. "Tea Delgado."
"Tea Delgado." He repeated.
"Put in your code." Todd whispered taking a few steps away from the keyboard and rubbing his face. "Trust the son of mobster with the lives of your family. Nice Manning, nice."
"It um.. says system transferred."
"Okay." The older man gulped. "So you get in the elevator and what button do you press?"
"None. I key in the first code and press my thumb to the pad."
"Good." He quipped. "Then what?"
"It will stop here and I thumbprint again."
"Good."
"Then password to lift the steel barrier." He sighed.
"Good." He swallowed hard. "Tea Delgado."
"As soon as they're in there." He remembered, as Todd pressed him into the elevator. "Mr. Manning?" He mumbled as the door closed.
"Yeah, Kid?" He breathed, pressing his back against the elevator door.
"I love her too." He confessed.
"Good to know." Todd grumbled, as the doors opened the keyed back into the house. Todd headed up the steps with Michael on his heels and knocked on the door of the Media room.
"It's Dad." He called and Dani opened the door and he folded her into this arms. He glanced over at Victor who had the phone against his ear.
"Todd's back." He heard him whisper.
"Is that my wife?" He handed him the phone. "Hey."
"Why am I in the police garage Todd?" She asked softly.
"Must have been the closest secure location." He sighed.
"You turned over the keys to the Kingdom?"
"Just the secret parts." He grinned a little.
"Todd?" Vicki called. "Natalie says the LPD have the situation under control."
"She use the code word?" He mumbled.
"She used the code word." Vicki smirked back at him. Todd walked across the room to the control panel and tapped at it for a second.
"Go get the kid." He told Blair softly. "Love you."
"I love you." She told him before hanging up.
"Todd we don't need to create a safe room at Llanfair! Todd you'll damage the original walls! Todd if you feel the need to secure something secure the carriage house!" Todd was doing his best worst impression of Vicki, with a sly grin. She returned it. "Now do you believe me?"
"We'll update." She relented.
"You bet you will. You're getting a gate and a guard house." The screen behind him blinked and he pressed a button as Jessica appeared on the screen. "Steel shutters." He turned to his niece. "Where were you?"
"The Sun. The steel shutters are a nice touch Mom" She gestured behind her at the rising curtains of metal before returning her wary gaze to her uncle. "I'm rethinking my offer. If you have room for Bree and Ryder.."
"Of course we do." Dani answered, her arms wrapped tightly around her youngest brother as Tommy starred at the larger screen where they were singing about coconuts.
"Convince your sister it's what's best for Liam." Todd said quickly.
"I'll talk to her." Jess whispered.
"Blair's on her way to pick up Sam."
"I'll meet her there." Jess nodded gathering her purse. "If they'll let me out."
"I called the all clear." He sighed, rubbing at his face again. Jess nodded and ended the connection.
….
"Mom's coming Sam." Jack told his brother through the silent line. "They got him. You guys can come out as soon as mom gets there."
"They got him?
"Yeah." Jack assured. "You did good Sam."
Sam smiled a little as his brother hung up and he heard the creaking sound of the steel barrier beginning to lift. He stood up slowly reaching out his hand to Bree who watched the door warily. "It's my mom." He told her.
It turned out to be both of their mothers, followed soon by at disheveled Natalie and a worried John McBain. After everyone had been properly hugged and checked over for any scratches that may have occurred they were loaded up with Aunt Tina and her little dog too. With that the Bucanan branch of the Lords headed off to the fortress. Sam had never been so happy to hear the steel garage door click into place. He stood with his mother in the lobby as their town car was traded out for McBain's police vehicle. She ran her hand across his shoulders.
"You did good Sam." She told him softly.
"Was he there for me?" He asked quietly. "Or for them?"
"We don't know." Blair stepped closer and her son leaned back into her.
"It was probably me though right? Since it's Spencer Truman and my crazy birth mom?"
"What?"
"The third branch. It's them right? I mean they were in the photos. Hope knew Spencer."
"Sam.."
"I'm just saying. Just because no one tells me doesn't mean I don't hear things." He looked up at her. "It's not too far of a stretch to think they were after me."
"Sweetheart, I'm sorry." Her shoulders sagged.
"I'm not a little kid anymore." Sam told his mother.
"You're right, you're not." She smiled at him, as the Buchanan cousins filed out of the car. "And your Fathers and I have to stop treating you like you are."
"Father." He whispered. "I only have one father."
Blair glanced at him, her mouth slipping open, but whatever response she may have had faded into the sound of the Buchanan kids chatter. Blair led them to the elevator without saying another word to her son.
…..
Blair met her husband's eyes over the crowd of people in their living room. He gestured towards the stairs and she nodded, steering her youngest son along with her. Sam wrapped his arms around him and Todd's lids sunk shut.
"You did good Buddy." He was whispering when Blair leaned her face into his shoulder. "Just like we talked about."
"Sam needs to talk to his Daddy." Blair told him softly in his ear. Todd's eyes drited toward Victor but Blair shook her head. "Take your son upstairs, Todd."
Manning swallowed, leaning over and kissing his wife before lifting the gangly preteen off his feet and carrying him like a child up the steps. Blair looked at Sam''s skinny legs as they knotted themselves around her husbands waist.
"Is he okay?" Jack asked quickly, slipping his hand across her back.
"He's growing up. We don't give that enough attention." Blair said softly.
"He did so good today." Jack smiled proudly.
"And now he's a sad little boy who needs his Daddy." She rubbed her face.
"There's a lot of that going around." Jack shrugged with just a touch of self consciousness. Blair hugged him to her side.
"Looks like we're having a party." She sighed looking out at the crowd of Lords in her living room.
"Weird having this many people here." She and Jack watched as babies were passed around and hugs were given. She watched Starr awkwardly introduce Michael. She watched McBain cross the room.
"I need to talk to Manning."
"His son needs to talk to him more." Blair told him defensively, John relented with quick nod.
"We need to reevaluate." He continued. "We need to question Lawrence. Maybe we can use it to our advantage."
"Victor can pose as Walker." Jack realized, nodding slowly.
"It may be an even better option." The cop's eyebrows rose. "Natalie.. and I…" He turned and looked at Blair. "We um.. we're going to.. leave Liam here with Dani."
"It's a good decision." The tall blonde smiled sweetly.
"He'll be happier, with Bree and Ryder." John nodded.
"Where's Uncle Todd?" Jessica asked, sliding up to Blair with her phone on her ear.
"With Sam." Blair told her pointedly.
"I just wanted to update him." She sighed. "We're saying a family dispute led to police being called to Llanfair. Mom's calling the Banner that's what they're going to run with too, and ask for privacy. It'll give Jack and Victor's cover some more credibility tomorrow."
"Good thinking." She sighed, pulling her son a little closer. Blair looked across the room where Victor stood a little too stiffly next to his sister. She felt it again, the sickly dizzying feeling of two Todd Mannings.
"You okay?" Jack whispered as John and Jessica made there way back to the group.
"I think my adrenaline is wearing off." She smiled at him. "I'm going to check on your father."
Todd met her at the door of the east wing.
"How's Sam?" She asked as he winded his arms around her and leaned them back against the wall.
"He's okay. He's going to take a few minutes and then he'll be down." Todd laid his cheek against her face and she could feel him sigh. "That was too close Blair."
"I know." She whimpered.
"I think the LPD saw this coming." He breathed. "That's why Bo ran the check."
"He thinks you're involved?"
"Yeah. And not in a good way." He pressed the back of his head against the wall and ran his hands up into her hair. "The Sun needs to float this. We may be able to use Walker to our advantage."
"Your niece is way ahead of you." She smiled. "Jess has the story on lock down and advised Vicki on how to spin it to the Banner."
"Well oiled machine." He sighed.
"It's helpful when one family runs all the print media outlets in town." She remined him.
"Helpful." Todd grinned, before filling his lungs as fully as he could and pressing his forehead to hers. "You okay?"
"I'm a Manning, I'm never okay." She raised an eyebrow.
"I know Victor is-."
"I don't' want to talk about Victor." She interrupted.
"Don't you think we should?" Brought his hands to her face and framed her cheeks.
"No." She countered, lifting and eyebrow. He gave her a sad smile and pressed his lips to hers.
"You think they'd notice if I just took you to the bedroom right now?" He asked honestly.
"Your public awaits." She remind."Everyone wants a piece of Todd Manning."
"Humm." He laughed at her innuendo. "You're the only one who gets one."
"The only one?" She arched an eyebrow.
"In the last like twenty two years, twenty six if you don't count that one little slip up down there." He chucked his thumb over the railing at Dani.
"What about that one's mother?" She countered with a sly look pointing at her daughters boyfriend. She could see him gulp.
"Two slip ups." He shrugged. "That one was your fault."
"My fault?" She squeaked.
"You rejected me." He countered. "In my grief, I reached for the next mouthy leggy blonde that crossed my path. Pale immitation." She rolled her eyes at him. "Hey besides Jr, you've slept with both of the men in my living room right now." She bit her lip and looked over the rail again before shrugging at him. "Uh huh."
"I'm not going to win this one." She shook her head at him, he joined her with a slow grin. "I should quit while I'm ahead."
He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her soundly.
"Todd?" Victor's voice carried up to the loft and he rolled his eyes.
"Vic?"
"Could you maybe remove your lips from Blair and come join the rest of us?" His blank tone made her grin despite herself.
"In a minute." Manning answered haughtily before returning to kiss his wife again. She ran her hand across his face and around his ear. "We'll finish this later."
"Bet on it." She sighed, pulling away and taking his hand as the walked down the staircase and back in to offensive mode.