I really appreciate all of the reviews and questions. This story is still a bit of a work in progress so your thoughts (and answering some of your questions) are really helping me flesh it out more. So, here is the latest Q&A installment; I will try to get Chapter 50 posted tomorrow.

1.)What is Dr. Jones up to?

So much of Dr. Tony Jones's story is true to canon (although I did alter some dates to clean up continuity errors/account for SORAS—ie. BJ and Maxie Jones are both born in October 1986. BJ actually was onscreen and Maxie was born in 1990 but was SORAS'd almost overnight from newborn to three and was around the same age as BJ the spring BJ died.). He has had a lot of loss in his life (both of his parents; his first wife was killed a hit/run driver; he believed his brother was dead for over a year; and then BJ died in 1994) and his marriages after Tania (Lucy Coe from October 1987-December 1988 then Bobbie Spencer from October 1989-May 1997) did not end well. He and Lucy were volatile at the end but in some ways I think the issues with Bobbie were more painful because they had been married longer, he once really loved her, and perhaps he had some guilt about sleeping with a woman young enough to be his daughter (and who apparently was his ex-wife's daughter although neither Tony or Bobbie know that). It probably also didn't help that it played out at PCGH since Tony was an attending neurosurgeon, Bobbie was an OR nurse, and Carly was a PT assistant (until she was fired for having sex with Tony at the hospital while on the clock). Unfortunately, this has all set up a perfect storm and the spiraling you're seeing in Chapter 39 is really just the beginning of his descent. Tony is not the father of Carly's baby but I think he does somewhat genuinely believe that he is and I do think some of his motivation really is to do what is right for his child.

2.)Who is Detective Allison Jordan? Is she an OC?

Detective Allison (West) Jordan is an original character. I personally am fine with original characters as long as they are introduced and allowed to fit into the canvas without taking over. Using Allison Jordan in this role so soon after her introduction I think does make me potentially vulnerable to violate my own unwritten rule but, I sort of felt that she fit best for this. [I have used the character in stuff written set in 2008-2013 so she is a pretty developed character in my mind.]

So, Allison Jordan grew up in a Boston suburb as Allison West. She graduated from HS a year early in June 1988 and started at BU (studying criminal justice and forensics in Fall 1988). In summer 1990 she applied to the Boston Police Academy and took a semester off of college to complete the Academy and she was a rookie cop in January 1991. She eventually finished up her BS degree in Forensics in May 1994 and married IAB officer and law student Malcolm "Mac" Jordan 6-4-94. They actually met on the job but they never officially dated until he left her precinct summer 1992 to work IAB while going to law school. He finished law school in May 1995, passed the bar, and took a job with the Boston DA's office. He was shot on the courthouse steps 2-28-97. Allison was pregnant with their daughter then and transferred to the PCPD after his death to be closer to his parents—Tom & Marge Jordan. Allison started at the PCPD in March 1997 and was paired with Alejandro Garcia as his former partner Marcus Taggert was suspended. Although they got off on the wrong foot initially things improved before the end of their first day together (as illustrated in the flashback in Chapter 12). Mackenzie Jordan was born 7-26-97 and Allison returned from maternity leave on -9-29-97.

3.)Can any of Ned's wives be accepted into the Quartermaine Family? Will any of them feel that they are?

So, the Quartermaines would insist that they gave Jenny every chance and that they really loved Lois. I actually think there are some canon scenes which they could use to bolster both points and I have molded most of them in much kinder, less judgmental, and more emotionally healthy than is probably true to canon so perhaps what they say is true. So, then what was the problem?

I think that Jenny Eckert really just had issues and never loved Ned. She was written inconsistently it seems and oscillated back and forth between being sweet and truly evil—I reconciled that by taking the stance that the sweet was more an act and means to an end.

I think Lois is kind with a strong sense of integrity and she did love Ned. But pretty much all of Lois's marriage to Ned was during a very hard part of her life. Her father was dying of Pancreatic Cancer and then did die while she pregnant with Brooke. She had a rough pregnancy with Brooke. Around her Sonny was going through all of his drama (and this works with a slightly altered history that Sonny was even more of Cerullo sibling than in true show canon, additionally Carmine Cerullo was involved in the Camarese organization at least peripherally so I think that Lois isn't as apt to reject Sonny because of his La Costa Nostra ties), Monica was dealing with her own health issues, Monica brought Paige Bowen and her daughter Emily into the family and then Paige died, Jason's parents died and Jason sustained significant TBI. I think it was just a very hard time for Lois and the Qs and Lois viewed a lot of things through the lens of that.

Now Ned has a third wife and the Qs are actually quite desperate for her to feel like she is part of the family. They're looking back on everything with Lois because they want to do better/different. It's actually an interesting dynamic because although Carly feels so insecure and wants to be accepted, she doesn't realize that they actually are almost as desperate for her to accept them. I also think that in many ways Ned is trying to shield Carly from his family much more than he did for Jenny or Lois. He has given Carly a few outs she hasn't taken. This may all implode because I could see Carly considering their acceptance ingenuine and of course there is the question of what happens when the truth comes out that Ned isn't the biological father? What then? Will the Qs be grateful that Carly tried to keep the baby in the family or will they resent her lies? I'm actually figuring some of this out as I write but I think these are the questions that should be out there.

4.)So, what is up with Sonny?

When I write Sonny, I generally tend to channel his Stone era persona and let him grow from there. I realize that the GH writers keep regressing him but also considering him somewhat immortal or at least above owning any of his actions. I just can't do it.

In this the Sonny and Karen story is a bit different. Yes, she did strip in his club but she was in college (and almost 21 which actually helps reconcile some timing issues GH introduced by having her finish high school in 1993 and then by an intern at PCGH in 1997—it really doesn't work that way) not high school. Yes, there were drugs involved but Sonny didn't give them to her and paid for rehab after he realized what she was doing. They never had a sexual relationship and as she says in Chapter 42 at one time a strip club was her safe haven. She gets that is messed up but her life was messed up and ultimately, she came out of it. In this Sonny voluntarily closed the Paradise Lounge in January 1993 because the more he learned the stories behind women in his club he just couldn't anymore. This had some implications for him in terms of his relationships in the organization but he did it anyway either because his convictions were strong or because it was an early manic moment with perceived invulnerability or maybe some of both.

In 1997 Sonny resumed a relationship with Brenda Barrett around Valentine's Day. She had been pretty platonically dating AJ Quartermaine after Lily's death during the period where she and Sonny both felt too guilty to go there. She and AJ continued to be friends and parted very amicably. Sonny and Brenda got engaged late that spring. Karen returned to PC for internship and hung out with Brenda, they never fought over Jagger so they were actually friends. Sonny bumped into Karen at the 1997 Nurse's Ball and told her how proud he was of her. They shared a hug (and her father held his temper—he hates her connection to Sonny but also hates that if he had been in her life she would have never needed that connection. Although it is hard for him to acknowledge on some level he is grateful to Sonny for how he did help her). On 8-21-97 Sonny, Brenda, Karen, Gina (who is a medical student at Stanford), and Jagger (who is a Vice Cop in San Franciso but is not having an affair with his partner and will likely transfer back to PCPD once he wraps a huge case) celebrated what would have been Stone Cates's 21st Birthday. Brenda and Sonny were supposed to marry 8-23-97 but Sonny went to Brenda a few hours before the rehearsal dinner and told her it wasn't safe. He said his goodbyes to Lois and Brooke and then took off for Puerto Rico since he had learned that Hernando Rivera was actually alive. Jason is in charge while Sonny is out of town and is at least on paper running the organization. Behind the scenes Sonny is also looking for evidence that could help acquit Kaylee Reynolds of Dr. Pierce Dorman's murder. Sonny makes an appearance in Brooklyn in a few more chapters and he will be back in Port Charles before the end of 1997 because he will need to help Jason out with the Morenos.

5.)Hornsby Who's Who

-Paul Hornsby Born 3-15-55. He graduated BU Law School in May 1981. At that time, he had a wife (Caitlin Longsworth Hornsby) and a 4 month old daughter. His wife and daughter had fled home to his inlaws so he just stayed in Boston (he didn't admit he was having trouble passing the NY Bar). In 1989 he came to Port Charles and was briefly an associate in Murdoch, Drake, & Lansing. In 1991, partly as a favor to Stuart Longsworth, Edward Quartermaine convinced the ELQ Board to hire Paul as pro-counsel. In spite of this favor, Paul was unfaithful and divorced Caitlin in early 1992. After Edward Quartermaine caught him bribing a zoning official in March 1993, he got fired but he stuck around PC theoretically to be close to his daughter (more realistically because he was having an affair with Jenny Eckert Ashton). When Jenny's husband Ned caught them together Jenny divorced Ned and they moved to GA along with Jenny's nephew Sly.

-Caitlin Longsworth Hornsby (Paul's 1st Wife) Born 1-1-61. Grew up in Port Charles, graduated from Chapparal Country Day School in 1979. She went to Boston University for college and met 2nd year law student Paul Hornsby. She ended up getting pregnant her freshman spring so Paul married her and their daughter Susannah Claire Hornsby was born January 1981. She really struggled as a young mom and ended up leaving Paul, dropping out of college and coming home to her parents when Suzy was a few months old. Paul graduated from BU Law in May 1981 but had already planned to take a job in Boston (and then failed the NY State Bar x 2). Caitlin floundered and was in and out of Rose Lawn while Audrey raised Suzy. Eventually Paul reunited with his wife and daughter in 1989 and was briefly an associate in Murdoch, Drake, & Lansing. In 1991, partly as a favor to Caitlin's father, Stuart Longsworth, Edward Quartermaine convinced the ELQ Board to hire Paul as pro-counsel. In spite of this Caitlin and Paul still divorced in early 1992. After the divorce Suzy initially stayed with Audrey & Stuart and Caitlin kind of flitted about. When the Hornsby's left town in 1993, Paul insisted Suzy go with the rest of the clan. Suzy and Jenny didn't get along so she ended up returning to Port Charles in Fall 1995 to start her freshman year at Chapparal Country Day School. Suzy initially moved in with her maternal grandparents but Caitlin returned there after her late 1995 Rose Lawn release and is starting to actually parent her daughter.

-Susannah Claire Hornsby-Daughter of Paul & Caitlin. She was born January 1981 and is currently a junior at Chapparal Country Day School

-Jennifer Eckert Hornsby (Paul's 2nd Wife) Born April 1972. She met Ned Ashton over the Christmas Holiday in 1991 and they were married by 5-1-93. Unfortunately, Jenny had also been seeing Paul Hornsby since January 1992 (when he was technically still married to Caitlin) and continued to see him after marrying Ned. Ned caught Jenny and Paul in bed together in August 1993. Instead of apologizing, Jenny demanded a divorce, mucho alimony, and revealed that she was pregnant but it couldn't possibly be Ned's. Ned's head swum but he didn't contest the divorce and since Jenny committed adultery it is granted in September 1993. Jenny and Paul immediately left for GA with her nephew Sly and Paul's daughter, Suzy. Jenny delivered daughter Ashton Hornsby in November 1993.

-Ashton Hornsby-Alleged daughter of Paul & Jenny. Jenny had an affair with Paul throughout her marriage to Ned so it certainly could be his baby (and two paternity tests support that although paternity tests can be altered) but what is up with her name?

6.)What (or maybe who) is next for Katherine?

I'm not sure exactly who Katherine will be with. I do think at some point she will return to Stefan but perhaps that will end up just being part of a revenge plot. She will definitely have a tryst with Nikolas but I'm not sure when exactly that will happen. I'm also a little intrigued by a possible Jax & Katherine pairing. They schemed in the past and now fear that their past schemes could be revealed, could bring them closer.

7.)What is Abby Mitchell up to? Is she being a victim advocate or is she being bought?

Another good question…I'm not really sure at this point where her motivations lie. I think either option could be plausible but I guess I really haven't written this character enough. [She apparently was PC DA in some period in between Michael Schultz and Ric Lansing but I truly don't remember the character—during that time period anything I've seen was tried by Dara Jensen who was an ADA. In other stuff I've written I had her as the DA between 1996 and 2000. She was an ADA who ran against Shultz and defeated him but then shouldered all the blame when Ric Lansing created the Alcazar Mistrial. Ironically Ric Lansing ended up being the next DA.]

8.)Is Jax being written true to character?

I think so but I know that Jax fans may disagree. Jax has really done some lame things over the years and been incredibly cruel to various people he is supposed to care about or women he is supposed to love. I haven't watched GH in years (and during the period I did watch I was somewhat sporadic and would supplement with clips which may skew my perceptions) but at least during the time period this story was set I think Jax was a quite selfish and arrogant jerk. He tried to pass himself off as Brenda's white knight but that really never rang true and I think that anyone who ever loved her at all and knew her history would have never let her get all the way down the aisle in a church full of her friends start into her vows and then humiliate her. That whole scene was callous and cruel independent of anything else.

9.)Who is Faith Ward?

Faith Ward is the youngest child of the late Bradley Ward Jr. and Isabella Ward. She is the younger sister of Isaiah Ward and Justus Ward and the Granddaughter of the Late Rev. Bradley Ward Sr. and Mary Mae Ward. She was born May 9, 1982 in Port Charles because her family moved there after her grandfather's death when the KKK firebombed his church in January 1981. She grew up with Allison and Emily Quartermaine, Lucky Spencer, and Sly Eckert. She is currently a sophomore at Port Charles High School and on the Varsity Tennis Team with Allison Quartermaine.

10.)To the person who asked if Tracy still married Gino Solieto, no she did not. She married Lord Lawrence Ashton in September 1966 (and divorced him in April 1968 due to his infidelity). She married Dr. Ryan Graebler in 1985 and they are still married and raising their children eleven-year-old Dylan and six year old Shannon Lila.

11.)Why is Dr. Winters also Dr. Judgmental?

Dr. Louise Elaine "Lainey" Winters was introduced to the GH canvas ~2005 as the psychiatrist who initially worked with Carly Corinthos. I decided to introduce her earlier as a psychiatry resident and develop her character a little more. I didn't really know much about her but I believe that she was supposed to have older half-siblings who basically were uninterested in her (and also turned their back on their collective father). Her father was apparently supposed to have been an attorney before he succumbed to dementia and was supposed to be in some nursing home in Port Charles (where Cody Paul killed him in a misguided mercy killing). That said, I do agree that Lainey's interaction with Dr. Grabler is not really appropriate especially since he is an attending and she is a PGY2 resident. I think that fits with how the character was (at least in the clips I saw) in 2005 and 2006 though.

12.)Alden Family Connections?

Trisha Alden Mackenzie (daughter of Clay & Gwyneth Alden) and Cooper Alden (son of Tyler and Cynthia Alden) are the two surviving heirs of the Alden Family from Corinth, PA. In Fall 1995 Gwyneth Alden went on a murder spree and committed suicide right before she was apprehended by the Corinth PD. Trisha largely ceded family control to her cousin and he liquidated most family assets and founded the Alden Family Hedge Fund with those proceeds in early 1996. As Cooper's wife, Steffi Brewster Alden is Trisha Alden Mackenzie's cousin by marriage.

Trisha's reservations about Steffi's modeling stem from her cousin's concerns about Steffi returning to modeling as he feels that was a significant factor in her eating disorder. She may also feel that as Steffi has a 19 month old daughter and a four year old stepson at home that they should be her priority although that would be a bit hypocritical since Trisha and her husband have a five year old (Christopher Mackenzie)at home and Trisha was working as a professor at Alden University when he was a baby and then was in Europe during her amnesia period. She didn't return to her husband and son until November 1995 when Christopher was three years old.

13.)Alexandria Quartermaine et. al?

I'm guessing you've read other stuff I've written if you're asking but, yes, I kind of twisted the whole Alexandria Quartermaine saga both because I wasn't around then and had not much clue what actually happened and because it worked better with some plotlines I wanted to use. So…

*Alexandria Quartermaine was the eldest child of Abbott & Abbra Quartermaine. Abbott was Edward's brother. He was an attorney who later became a federal judge. He helped Lila get a court granted divorce from her abusive husband Crane Tolliver so she could marry his younger brother so the brothers are close.

*Alexandria Quartermaine attended Stanford University and graduated in May 1980 with a degree in engineering. She started working for ELQ Enterprises in June 1980

*On July 31, 1981, Alexandria Quartermaine was killed in diamond mining accident (at the Q mine in Nevada) which was part of a revenge plot of Stavros Cassadine against Luke Spencer (who struck out at them originally to avenge Stavros's rape of Laura which was less of a rape than what Luke did). Tony Cassadine (who was sort of Alexandria's boyfriend) attempted to rescue/warn Alexandria at the last minute and was presumed dead in the blast although his body was never recovered.

*Abbott and Abbra Quartermaine conceived twins in their grief. Alexander and Andrea Quartermaine were born at 30 weeks but were healthy. Unfortunately, their mother suffered a postpartum stroke. Edward & Lila fly immediately to be there for his brother and are there when she is actually declared brain dead on March 20, 1982.

14.)Are Lucky and Liz destined to grow up and become a super couple?

I'm not sure. I have written stuff with Lucky and Liz together but not really thriving so maybe that should tell me something. I think that as at least one reviewer has suggested part of the problem is that Lucky has never really grown up or taken much responsibility. I think some of that is a Spencer thing. Luke is not exactly the adult in the room almost ever and he usually has a lot of excuses or likes to rewrite history so that he can somehow pretend he was the one wronged. I guess I don't know what the future holds. I probably will plan to pair Lucky and Liz some time around Summer 1998 and will likely do the whole stalking and blackmail storyline with Tom Baker albeit with a few twists. I'm open to other ideas for Liz pairings so feel free to suggest in a review. I probably will not proceed with Liason mainly because I am leaning towards a more healthy variation on Jarly.