Title: Bringing Up Baby
Author: Marauderish Mischief Maker
Fandom: General Hospital
Rating: Teen (maybe changed to Mature later. Who knows? It will be a very long tale.)
Character(s): Ensemble, mostly centering on Anna Devane, Robert Scorpio, Robin Scorpio, and Aidan Devane
Summary: It's 1985, and Lindsay Devane dies leaving her sister Anna with the new responsibility of Anna's newly discovered baby nephew Aidan alongside her own daughter Robin Scorpio. As usual on a soap opera, there is a period of calm and then chaos ensues.
Beta Needed? Yes, for plot and grammar.
Author's Note: I fixed Aidan's birthday from an unknown date in 1978 to April 3, 1985, in order to better fit with my ideas for the story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I'm enjoying writing it.
Chapter 1: A New Beginning
The sun was just beginning to set over Port Charles as Anna Devane paced nervously in her living room. She had received a phone call earlier in the day that had left her both shocked and apprehensive. The man on the other end of the phone line had had an Essex accent. He had been a bit bare on the details end of things, only telling Anna to except a visitor coming that afternoon.
It was three o'clock when the doorbell finally rang, and Anna rushed to answer it. She opened the door to find a woman in her early forties, impeccably dressed and coiffed and carrying a briefcase. The woman extended her hand, offering a warm smile. Anna shook it with a smile of her own.
"Ms. Devane, I'm Emy Olivera, from Child Welfare Services in Harrogate, England."
"Harrogate? You're a long way from home, aren't you?"
"I suppose I am, but I go where the work takes me as they say. I understand that you're the younger sister of a Lindsay Devane?"
Anna nodded and shook the woman's hand, her British accent making her words sound formal and comforting at the same time. "Yes, that's right, five years younger. Please, come in."
Ms. Olivera's face fell, as if she had been expecting and hoping for a different answer, waiting for Anna to tell her that she had come by mistake. But she accepted Anna's invitation to come in anyway. As they entered the cozy living room, Anna noticed her daughter Robin Scorpio playing with her toys. She was a bright and spirited six-year-old with her mother's dark hair and her father's striking brown eyes.
Robin looked up from her play when she saw the unfamiliar woman with her mother. "Luv, look what Robby gave me today to sleep with." She presented a creamy-white stuffed unicorn with a golden horn and a seafoam green tail for their approval.
"It's gorgeous. What's its name?"
"I named her Harmony."
"Harmony, we could use more of that in the world," Olivera smiled.
"Who's this, Luv?"
Anna kneeled and smiled at her daughter. "Robin this is Ms. Olivera, sweetheart. She's here to help us with something very important. Can you say hello for me?"
"Hi."
"Pleased to meet you, Robin. What a well-mannered child."
Robin was seemingly satisfied with the answer and returned to her toys.
Ms. Olivera took a seat on the couch, and Anna joined her. They discussed the details of Lindsay's passing, the circumstances surrounding Aidan's arrival from England, and the legal arrangements that needed to be made. Anna felt overwhelmed by the sudden responsibility of caring for her baby nephew, but Ms. Olivera assured her that she would provide all the necessary guidance and support.
"I understand this is a difficult time for you, Ms. Devane," Ms. Olivera said sympathetically. "But young Aidan is lucky to have family like you who can take him in."
Anna nodded, her thoughts racing. She had always loved her sister, Lindsay, despite their differences. Now, she needed to step up and be the auntie that Aidan needed.
Just then, the front door swung open, and in walked Robert Scorpio, Anna's ex-husband, and Robin's father. His rugged charm hadn't faded over the years, and his piercing brown eyes met Anna's with a mixture of concern and curiosity.
"Anna, who's this?" Robert asked, nodding toward Ms. Olivera.
Anna quickly introduced Ms. Olivera to Robert, explaining the situation once more. Robert furrowed his brow, clearly surprised by the news.
"Another baby, Anna?" he said, running a hand through his dark hair. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm all for family, but we've got Robin to think about."
Anna understood his concern, but she also knew that Lindsay's son needed them now more than ever. "Robert, this is Aidan, Lindsay's son. He's family, and he's going to stay with us. We'll figure it out together."
Robert sighed, realizing that there was no arguing with Anna when she had made up her mind. "All right, Anna, if that's what you want. We'll make it work."
As they discussed the logistics of Aidan's arrival and where he would sleep, a solicitor arrived with Lindsay's will. The solicitor, Mr. Johnson, was a tall, distinguished man in his fifties, who carried himself with an air of professionalism.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Ms. Devane," he said as he handed her a sealed envelope. "I have Lindsay's last will and testament here. She requested that it be read in the presence of her family."
Anna nodded and thanked Mr. Johnson. She couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness and finality as she held the envelope in her hands. Lindsay had been her only sibling, and they had drifted apart over the years. Now, she was gone, leaving behind a son and a legacy that needed to be addressed.
With Robin, Robert, Ms. Olivera, and Mr. Johnson gathered in the living room, Anna carefully opened the envelope and began to read Lindsay's will.
"I, Lindsay Elizabeth Devane," Anna began, her voice trembling slightly, "being of sound mind and body, do hereby declare that herein is set forth my last will and testament."
As Anna continued to read, the room grew quiet, and the weight of Lindsay's words settled over them all. She left various personal items to friends and family, and as she reached the end of the document, she mentioned her beloved niece, Robin.
"To my dearest niece, Robin Scorpio," Anna read aloud, "You don't remember me, darling, but I met you when you were only a babe in arms. To you, my darling, I leave my cherished music box, which has brought me comfort and joy throughout my life."
Anna paused, her eyes filling with tears. She had no idea that Lindsay had such a special gift for Robin. She wiped away a tear and continued reading.
"The music box plays a tune called "House at Pooh Corner" that has always reminded me of the beauty and whimsy of life. May it bring you the same joy, my dear Robin, and may you always remember the love we shared."
Anna closed the will, and the room fell into a heavy silence. Robin, too young to fully grasp the weight of the moment, looked up at Anna with wide eyes.
"What's a music box, Luv?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Anna smiled through her tears and hugged her daughter. "It's a beautiful little box that plays a special song, sweetheart. And it's going to be something very precious that you'll always remember Aunt Lindsay by."
As the evening wore on, Anna, Robert, Robin, and their unexpected guests began to make plans for Aidan's arrival. There were many challenges ahead, but they were determined to face them as a family.
Little did they know that Aidan Devane, a baby from across the ocean, would soon become an integral part of their lives, bringing with him a connection to Lindsay that they would hold dear.
In the warm embrace of their home they began a new chapter in their lives, united by love, family, and the melody of a music box that would forever remind them of the sister, mother, and aunt they had lost but would never forget.