Author's Note: Thanks for your patience in waiting for this next update. Happy reading!
Kellie turned her attention back to Taggert.
"I meant it when I said I should be thanking you," Kellie said, "You're the one that found Charles."
"If I hadn't of found Charles, it would have been Laura or Anna or one of the WSB stooges," Taggert said.
"But I might not have even seen him or known by now if it was the WSB," Kellie said, "I know it was a lot of cloak and dagger to get him directly back here."
"We all just wanted to see Charles come home," Taggert said, "If it wasn't for you sending a team to Greenland, I wouldn't have been there in the first place. I think you have to give yourself some credit here."
"How's Trina? Were you able to find her?" Kellie asked.
"Curtis found her and your cousin," Taggert said, "He caused a diversion for them to escape Victor's goons. Trina caught up with Laura at some point while I was looking through the Cassadine compound where I eventually found Charles. She's exhausted, resilient, and gave Victor one hell of a fight."
"I would expect nothing less from her," Kellie replied.
"How is Charles?" Taggert said, "He was really concerned about brainwashing and whether he should even come back to Port Charles."
"He's been seen by doctors on the flight here and at General Hospital," Kellie said, "And so far all clear. He'll just need time to recover mentally, emotionally, figure out life now that he's back home."
"It will take some time," Taggert said, "But he'll get there. He's made of pretty sturdy stuff."
"I know," Kellie said, "But I'm still not past the stage where I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and this is all a dream. Right now, I just hope we've done enough for the WSB to leave him alone."
"Charles is not going anywhere, he doesn't want to go," Taggert said, "And now that the media is reporting on his return from the dead, the WSB can't risk him disappearing into the thin air. It was a good move."
"Diane's idea," Kellie said.
"Has he been able to see his grandkids yet?" Taggert asked.
"We did a video call after we first told the kids," Kellie said, "But it's been a whirlwind the last couple days. It might be a few more days once all this dies down. I don't know that he's really had a lot of space to unwind between the hospital, my visit the next day, and then everything today. I just want him to have the time he needs. How was he when you found him?"
"He had a mountain man look going on with an unshaven beard," Taggert said, "I actually didn't recognize him at first. I can't say I'm surprised he's already done away with that beard."
"He must have shaved on the plane ride over," Kellie said, "Because I never saw the beard."
"He was a little worse for the wear, but I think you know that," Taggert continued, "He'd been working angles to try to escape. He apparently made Victor and his goons think he'd just lost his mind. Said it gave him cover to attempt escaping most of the time unless they thought he was too out of hand. Then they sedated him."
"I'm just so glad you found him," Kellie said.
"Me too," Taggert said, "I can't think of many who people I'd honestly say it's honor to help get back home like that. But Charles fits that bill."
"I wish I would have picked up on something and brought him home sooner," Kellie said.
"I know," Taggert said, "But I can't imagine Charles would want you anywhere in Victor Cassadine's crosshairs any more than I'd want that for Trina."
"Charles already made sure I knew, he'd prefer it took longer to find him to keep Victor from setting his sights back on me," Kellie said.
"He was worried about you the most out of everyone," Taggert said, "I did tell him about your warehouse set up at the self-defense studio."
"He already ratted you out for that," Kellie said, "I would've told him anyway."
"I figured," Taggert said, "That's why I figured it was safe to tell him."
Taggert went silent, but Kellie got the sense there was more he wanted to say.
"What is it?" Kellie asked.
Taggert hesitated, making a face, before he said what he wanted to say, "Just go easy on Charles, okay."
"What are you talking about?" Kellie asked.
"Look, I've known you and Charles ever since you moved out to California with Tyler," Taggert said, "Between Charles working as a lawyer and your penchant for turning police stations into chaos, I saw how you were with each other and I talked to Charles a lot. I always got the impression that he saw you as a daughter, not just a daughter-in-law. I could be off base."
"You're not wrong," Kellie said, "He left me a letter when we thought he died making sure I knew that. I honestly never understood it until he was gone. Part of him being back means we're sorting through that being out the open."
"Okay, so when I say go easy on Charles," Taggert said, "What I mean is let him be there for you however he wants to be. None of this independent, you don't have to do this mentality, I know you have. And none of the pushing him away for his own good."
Taggert noticed the slightly guilty look on Kellie's faced.
"You've already tried," Taggert said, "And Charles wasn't having any of it."
"Something like that," Kellie said.
"Good for him," Taggert said, "But seriously take extra care with him right now where your relationship with him is concerned. You mean a lot to him."
"I plan on it," Kellie said, assessing Taggert, "I can't help but wonder if this is about me and Charles or of it more about the rumors I've heard that Trina might not actually be your daughter."
"Both maybe," Taggert replied, "Trina decided she wants to get a DNA test, know everything for sure."
"Taggert, whatever that test says," Kellie said, "Trina's still going to need you as her father in her life. Yeah, she might build a relationship with Curtis and want to get to know his family, but she's still part of yours. You raised her. You were there for a lot of important and hard moments. That counts for everything."
"I hope so," Taggert replied.
"I know so," Kellie said, "Maybe she spends more time at first trying to build that relationship if it turns out Curtis is her biological dad. Curiosity got the better of me when it came to Sonny. I'm sure Trina has the same curiosity."
"Curtis is at least decent, well now," Taggert said, "I'm not sure from what I've heard that was the case way back when he and Portia were….well."
"I think we can at least believe that whatever happens with Curtis won't be anything like my relationship with Sonny," Kellie said.
Taggert chuckled, "That is probably true."
"You should probably find Jordan," Kellie said, "before you fall asleep standing up."
"You're probably right," Taggert said, "Thanks for the pep talk."
Taggert left and Kellie turned her attention to Johnny.
"So how was your date with Liz?" Kellie asked.
"Nice try, kid," Johnny said, "We've been over this. Not up for discussion."
"Come on, you've been dating each other since last year," Kellie said, "I just want to know what your status actually is. I assume it's serious because you've never been with anyone this long. Not to mention it is Liz."
"Has anyone ever told you that you're annoying, kid," Johnny replied.
"Just you," Kellie answered as Dante opened the door.
"Someone's ready to get out of here," Dante said, holding the door open as Charles came in the room.
"Diane made short work of the WSB," Charles said.
"That was fast," Johnny commented.
"They were pretty livid when they realized the press was outside and reported on Charles's return from the dead," Dante said, "I think between that and Diane, they didn't have anything to try and hold him on."
"Thank god," Kellie said.
"Diane is wrapping up with the WSB and the commissioner," Charles said, "But I am free to go. Any chance my grandkids would be available for a campfire and smores in the backyard tonight? It is a Friday night."
"Yes, they're all home tonight," Kellie said, "Are you sure you're up for it? I was going to ask about later this weekend. I thought you might want some time to relax after everything the few days."
"I just want to see my grandkids in person," Charles said, "Then I'll take all the time I need to relax."
"I just wanted to check," Kellie said.
"I appreciate it," Charles said, "Now what do you say we get out of here. I have a stop to make first. But then I'll see you and the grandkids when they get home from school."
"That would be great," Kellie said, "We have Danny and Jake this weekend too. I hope that's okay."
"Perfectly fine," Charles said, "I don't want to interrupt any of the kids' normal schedule any more than necessary. Do I need to pick up an extra smore supplies before I come over?"