Author's Note: Not even sure to where to begin with this author's note. I'd been planning with this chapter to write one related to this story wrapping up soon. (That note will be in the next chapter). But then the news broke regarding Billy Miller's (formely Drew on GH) passing on the heels of Jackie Zeman (Bobbie Spencer) and Sonya Eddy (Epiphany Johnson) along with one of the producers. Sending thoughts and prayers to their families and friends.
Epiphany's character will live on in this universe as doctor. I plan on writing that in at some point. Just not sure when that will happen yet. As for Bobbie's character, I'm waiting to see what the show does with her character. In this stories, Drew is still married to Sam, although he did disappear like he did in the show until he was dropped off on the island earlier in "Dark Nights'. Ultimately, I've seen Drew here more like Billy Miller's Drew and will likely write to that in the future.
Next up more conversation between Kellie and Lorenzo which will resolve in the next chapter which will be posted later this week.
Once Kellie and Lorenzo reached the study, Kellie shut the door.
Kellie buried her face in her hands. Lorenzo gently grabbed Kellie's wrists, encouraging her to remove her hands from her face and look at him. The tears Kellie had worked so hard to hold back streaked down her face.
"Uncle Lo," Kellie said, "I'd really hoped the kids wouldn't have those questions yet. I botched that, telling them that I didn't know how well I can actually protect them."
"You were honest with them," Lorenzo said, "The boys and Alyssa are getting old enough to understand some of the more complex realities of the business and the impacts it has. They were in a shootout where they saw their grandfather fatally shot. This is after months of being on the island to try to keep them safe from Sonny and Jason's enemies. They're old enough that I'd expect them to have more questions than they did with Olivia Jerome or Garrett Esoterra."
"I know," Kellie said, "Wishful thinking I guess."
"We all wish the kids wouldn't have to be concerned with this," Lorenzo said, "Hopefully, now that Jason is running things, the concern will be a lot less."
"God, I hope so," Kellie said.
"Speaking of Jason, is he here?" Lorenzo asked.
"No, he had to go take care of business," Kellie said, "Make sure he stays in charge and that's there no doubts even if Sonny comes back."
"I'm glad Jason finally stepped up," Lorenzo said, "I really hope you don't take the fifth seat with the Five Families."
"I don't want to," Kellie said, "But I can't quite say that wouldn't happen yet. I don't know if we can afford to leave it empty."
"I know," Lorenzo said, "But if you openly don't take it, maybe it would it demonstrate to the five families and anyone else seeing you as a viable successor to Sonny and Jason that you're not a threat. Maybe they'll be more likely to leave you alone."
"That still leaves the unknown of who ultimately takes the spot," Kellie said, "Friend or foe."
Lorenzo considered his response.
"You have something in mind?" Kellie said, "Or are you up to something?"
"It's nothing," Lorenzo said.
"Uncle Lo," Kellie admonished.
"I've been talking to Maximus Giambetti," Lorenzo said, "I thought someone should keep a connection with him as he seems to be pretty resourceful. He mentioned he could probably ensure the spot was filled to your benefit. You can stay out of it, if that's what you want. I assume that's what you want based on our previous conversations."
"That would be my preference," Kellie said, "But would that entail? I can't see anyone coming into take the spot as simple."
"No, but Maximus's word carries a lot of weight," Lorenzo said, "Even though he operates out of Italy since he was deported. Him showing up and I know he did, despite all official denials he didn't, that also speaks volumes. The rumors will still fly, especially with the PCPD asking if he was here. He holds a lot of power. I think he could make it happen. If someone takes that seat that doesn't have his approval, they won't hold it for long."
"You know this how?" Kellie asked.
"I've been doing my research," Lorenzo said, "I think it is your best option. Otherwise we might be hoping Sonny grabs the seat. While Jason has cut Sonny completely out of the Corinthos organization, Sonny's not without other resources."
"No, he's not," Kellie said, "I could also see him teaming up with Brick to run that territory."
"Can I let Maximus know you want to go ahead with that option?" Lorenzo asked.
"Actually, I think I'd rather let him know myself," Kellie said, "He did tell me I could reach out to him and I think it's something I should request myself at least in this case."
"If you're sure," Lorenzo said, "I'm more than happy to make those arrangements for you."
"And I appreciate it," Kellie said, "It just feels like something I need to do. I've spent the better part of a year and a half on this ledge of will I or won't I step in to take over the business. I need to be the one to make the decision final."
"I can understand that," Lorenzo said, "This business has taken up way too much of your life. I owe you an apology for that. I should have found another way to handle Sonny's downfall years ago against my brother than encouraging you to take over."
"Uncle Lo, I still stand by the decisions I made back then," Kellie said, "We all made the best decisions we could at the time. Who knows even if I hadn't have taken over back then, maybe I still would have been seen as a threat now. We had no way of knowing. It wasn't just one thing put me in this position. It was a lot of different things throughout my life that led to this. Not just the fact I ran the business years ago."
"Still I plan on doing a lot better job of making sure you don't have to face this decision again ever," Lorenzo said.
Kellie nodded. By Lorenzo noted she seemed distracted.
"What is it?" Lorenzo asked.
"Do you think he actually just took off like that?" Kellie said.
"I wouldn't put it past him," Lorenzo said, "Unfortunately, you know better than anyone that Sonny does tend to do what he wants. I can't see this being any different."
"But to not even tell Jason he was leaving," Kellie said.
"Unless they'd been disagreeing over how to run the business," Lorenzo said, "Or I could totally see Sonny assuming Jason would just keep things running and turn it back over to him when he comes back."
"Little does he know," Kellie said, "His disappearance is ultimately making it easier for Jason to take over completely."
"How are you doing with Sonny's latest disappearance?" Lorenzo asked, "I know that finding out Sonny didn't try to figure out who he was and if he had family when he ended up in Nixon Falls hurt you. I guess I'm wondering if this might be the same."
"Some I guess," Kellie said, "You'd think I would know better by now and be able to just totally shrug it off. But I guess I haven't figured out how to do that yet. Some part of me hopes he'll still figure his whatever out and stop making decisions that put everyone in more danger or doing what he wants for himself with no consideration for anyone else. Every time I think I've seen it all with him…."
"He manages to lower the bar again," Lorenzo finished when Kellie didn't finish her sentence.
"Something like that," Kellie said, "Maybe it just stings more now that Charles is gone. I didn't think I would feel disappointment over something like this, not after we thought he was dead and then finding him in Nixon only to learn he didn't really try to figure out who he was."
"There's no shame in still wishing your father could be better than he's been," Lorenzo said, "Even while figuring out how to deal with the reality of how he is."
"The worst part is I'd actually gotten to what seemed like a good place with him right before we thought he died on that bridge," Kellie said, "It was still complicated him being gone. But the roller coaster that's our relationship had stopped."
"And now you feel like you're back on it," Lorenzo said.
"More like I never left it," Kellie responded.
"I'm going to be honest with you," Lorenzo said, "I wish I could tell you that you and Sonny would get to place where you have a consistently amicable relationship. But unless Sonny has a personality transplant or an extraordinary come to Jesus moment, I'd be surprised if that happens. I think the best thing you can do for yourself is live your life and just not worry about Sonny. Know that he'll probably disappoint you again because it's what he does. If wasn't this, it would eventually be something else."
"You're not really telling me anything I don't already know," Kellie said, "Maybe I just need to refigure it out again with Sonny being back and getting used to not having Charles around anymore."
"It'll take time," Lorenzo said, "But you will figure it out."
"I hope so," Kellie said, "It's just sometimes between you and Charles, it seemed easier to forget my father's shortcomings.
"I think you give me too much credit," Lorenzo said.
"Maybe you don't give yourself enough," Kellie said, "I know you tend to think you've somehow failed me as an uncle over the years because I ran the business and still have to deal with the things I do. But you've always been involved in making sure I had whatever I needed no questions asked ever since you found out I was your niece. Not that my dad didn't try to do those things at times…"
"If it was convenient for him and on his terms," Lorenzo muttered under his breathe.
"I didn't know what strings were going to be attached," Kellie said, "and you've never disowned me or made excuses on the rare occasion you might have screwed up."
"I'm starting to see that your mother, foster parents, and Sonny set a very low bar for you as to what parents should do," Lorenzo said.
"But you didn't have to," Kellie said.
"Let me stop you right there," Lorenzo said, "I did have to when I found out we were related. I'd already failed Sage. There was no way I was going let you hang out in the wind. No one knew where you were at the time and I'd heard all the rumblings and rumors regarding your relationship with Sonny the first time you were in Port Charles. When I looked into your background, I hated you dealt with all you had pretty much alone. Sonny should have figured out how to give you space rather than you feeling you needed to run all over the world without having any idea where you were."
"Technically, Jason did know where I was unless I was undercover," Kellie said.
"Only after he tracked you down. Even then, he didn't tell Sonny he found you. Jason knew Sonny would try to drag you back to Port Charles before you were ready," Lorenzo said, "That's not a healthy adult father daughter relationship. His own enforcer didn't tell him where you were and that's just one of many examples I could tell you after watching Sonny with you for years. When you were shot in South America, we didn't tell him anything or let him know where you were until it became obvious you might not survive the infection. What kind of father is Sonny that Jason and I were hiding your whereabouts from him like that. And I need to stop there because I know I'm biased when it comes to Sonny, he is still your father. I swore I wasn't going to bad mouth Sonny to you."
"But you're not saying anything that isn't true," Kellie said, "Nothing I haven't thought over the years. Honestly, I'm glad you said something. I know I'm not the only one that sees it. Everyone always says "Sonny loves and cares about his kids." In the back of my mind there's always a 'but' that gets added to that."
Kellie thought for a moment.
"That 'but' is never going to go away is it?" Kellie finally said, "He could probably legitimately change, I don't know that I'd ever believe it was real at this point. I think I'd still always be waiting for that next shoe to drop with him. In my head, I know he can provide money, food, shelter, protection sort of if he's not deluding himself about the threat."
"The reason why you have your own security separate from his," Lorenzo replied, "Sorry, I said I was going to stop doing that."
"Again, not untrue," Kellie said, "Maybe I need to hear someone else say the things I've been thinking in my head for years now. You're probably one of the few people that wouldn't tip toe around the truth in this case if I asked."
"Do you have any idea how much hate what Sonny has put you through?" Lorenzo said, "I wish you didn't have to deal with the questions, the doubts, the buts when it comes to him. I wish I could tell you that would change. However, if I'm being honest, I don't think it…. I don't think it ever will."