Chapter 71- Danny

"I want butter on my popcorn and I'm going to grab some chocolate," Stephanie said inside the theatre. "Do you guys want some?"

"I wouldn't mind a Snickers," Danny said. "I can go with you."

"Oh, that's okay," Stephanie said. "You should spend some time with your brother."

"Okay." He watched as she got up and left the theatre with her bag of popcorn.

Out in the lobby, Charlotte watched as Robin, Emma, and Noah stood in line for popcorn, and she stared down at her own.

"I'm just going to use the bathroom," Emma said.

Charlotte hurried into a different theatre to stay out of sight.

Once Robin and Noah got their popcorn, Robin said, "I want you to use the bathroom before we go in."

"But I don't gotta go, Mommy," Noah whined.

"I still want you to try. You can come with me to the ladies' room."

Noah sighed. "Okay." He skipped ahead of her.

"Noah, wait for me," Robin said.

Noah ran into the women's bathroom and as soon as he reached the doorway, he slipped over a pile of popcorn on the tiled floor. He cradled his arm and screamed.

Robin sped up and set the popcorn down as she kneeled beside him. "Are you okay, buddy?"

Emma came out of a stall and saw them. "What happened?"

"Can you move your arm?" Robin tried to help him move it, but he winced. "I think it's broken."

"Is everything okay in here?" One of the workers came over. "We've had a couple of popcorn spills today."

"Who would just leave their popcorn spilled out in the doorway without telling the workers?" Robin asked.

"I don't know, it wasn't there before I came in," Emma said.

"We better get you to the hospital, sweetie," Robin said.

"I wanna see the movie," Noah said.

"We'll come back another day. Emma, can you get a ride with Jake and Danny?"

"No, it's okay, I'll go with you guys to make sure he's okay," Emma said.

Back in the theatre, Charlotte sat down beside Jake.

He looked into her bag. "What happened to your popcorn?"

"Oh… I uh, spilled it."

A few minutes later, Stephanie returned and sat beside Danny.

"Yours is gone too," Danny said. "Did you spill your popcorn also?"

Stephanie smiled. "I was so hungry. I ate it all on my way back." She handed him the Snickers.

GHGHGH

Kristina cradled Amelia as she cried in one arm and had the other draped around Donna while they sat on the couch. Avery leaned against the chair next to them. Kristina and Avery glanced up when Alexis walked in. Donna just stared off.

"Hi, I came as soon as I could," Alexis said.

"Oh, thank goodness," Kristina said. "Molly just left like 15 minutes ago, but it feels like ages now."

"Yeah, she called me. She had to get home to Scarlett. What can I do?"

"Can you try to calm down Amelia?" Kristina asked.

"Of course." She took Amelia in her arms and rubbed her back. "Hi Avery, hi Donna. I don't know if you remember me. But I'm Kristina's mom, Alexis."

Avery nodded.

"Do you guys maybe want to order some pizza for dinner?" Alexis suggested. "That way we don't have to cook."

"I'm not hungry," Avery said.

"Aww, what about you, Donna?" Alexis asked.

"Donna, what do you say?" Kristina sighed when she didn't respond. "She's not talking. It's just like when I was a kid."

"Have you been talking to Michael?" Alexis asked.

"Just via text," Kristina said. "He said he'll come get Amelia in a couple of hours. Most of the Quartermaines are out of town, but they'll be around tomorrow if he needs help. And their nanny has the week off. I don't know how long Donna and Avery will be staying here, but I was talking to Dante and we agreed they should stay here since he has a full house and Michael is dealing with a lot right now. And Josslyn's apartment is smaller than mine. If… you know… the kids do need new homes, we're deciding who should take the triplets. I don't think I can handle more than two. They might need to go to Josslyn."

"Well, I'm sure everything will work out. And I'd like to stay for at least a night or two," Alexis said. "I think you could use some help."

"I'd appreciate that, Mom."

"Did Michael say how Wiley's surg—"

Donna screamed and ran and hid under the kitchen table.

GHGHGH

Willow kissed Wiley's fingers. "I'm so proud of you, baby. You pulled through the surgery. And I know you're going to wake up stronger than ever."

"Mommy's right," Nina said. "And we're here because we both love you."

Out in the waiting room, Michael and Nelle continued to argue.

"I'm going in by myself," Nelle said.

"My grandmother is the head chairperson of this hospital and if you keep fighting me on this, I will have you escorted out," Michael said.

"Even she can't override the law."

"Since when do you care about the law?" Michael asked.

"Michael…." They turned when Lucas got off the elevator. "I just heard… Wiley… is he… is he okay? What is she doing here?"

"Wiley made it through surgery," Michael said. "Patrick said he's going to live."

Lucas sighed in relief. "Thank goodness."

"But we don't know what effect this will have on him, if at all."

"Can I see him?" Lucas asked.

Michael nodded. "Of course. Willow's just in there now. She should be done soon."

"You're allowing Lucas to go in on his own but not me, his own mother who has legal rights?" Nelle asked.

"Yes, because I trust Lucas. I don't trust you."

"That isn't up to you," Nelle said.

While they kept arguing, Nina and Willow slipped out and Lucas snuck in. He started crying when he saw him. Head bandaged, a breathing tube taped to him. He sat at his side and held his hand.

"Hey, Wiley. It's me, Uncle Lucas. I'm so sorry this happened to you. And I'm so sorry I didn't fight to keep you. If I did, this wouldn't have happened. I still resent that Carly and Sonny separated Michael and me that night when we were deciding what was best for you. I'm sure we would've at least agreed on joint custody if we were allowed to decide for ourselves. I wish I could fix this for you. And I can't believe Carly is having more children. I hope the babies can be raised by someone else. I'll step up if I have to. I love you, Wiley. You've got to pull through this."

GHGHGH

Patrick found Robin, Emma, and Noah in the waiting room. "Hey, bud, are you okay?"

Emma scooched over so Patrick could sit beside Noah.

Noah pointed to his arm in the sling. "I broke my arm, Daddy."

"I heard. I'm sorry I just got the message, Robin. I had to do two major surgeries today."

"How is Wiley?" Robin asked.

"He'll live. We just don't know what effect it'll have on him. So, how's Noah's arm?"

"We had it x-rayed," Robin said. "The radius is fractured. Once the swelling goes down, he'll be fitted for a cast."

"It really hurt, Daddy," Noah said. "But Mommy said I can get a really cool cast and ask everyone to sign it."

Patrick grinned. "Yeah, you can have a lot of fun with it. I'll be the first to sign."

"I'll sign it too," Emma said.

"But we didn't get to see the movie."

"Well, I have the day off tomorrow, so maybe I can't take all of you," Patrick said.

"Yay!"

"Let's get you home," Robin said.

GHGHGH

Alexis was able to get Amelia to sleep in Kristina's bedroom, while Kristina got Avery and Donna to sit at the kitchen table.

Alexis passed around the pizza. "Mmm, looks delicious."

Avery pushed the plate away. "I'm not hungry. I want my mommy."

Kristina wrapped her arm around her. "I'm sorry, Avery."

There was a knock on the door and Alexis went to answer it.

"Hi Alexis." Carly was standing there. "I'm here to see my daughters. But can I talk to Kristina first?"

"Sure." Alexis returned to the kitchen. "Kristina, you better go to the door."

Kristina rubbed Avery's back, then headed to the door. "Hi Carly."

"Hi Kristina," Carly said. "How are the girls?"

"Not good."

Carly frowned. "Thank you for being there for them. I really appreciate it. I can take over from here. It's a lot of work."

"Oh, didn't the PCPD tell you?" Kristina asked. "The girls are staying with me during the investigation and I'm supposed to supervise you with them."

"They did tell me that," Carly said. "But I think we both agree that they need their mother. We know what the police are like. They don't need to know if I take them with me."

"The police are trying to do what's best for Donna and Avery until this is figured out."

"What's best for Donna and Avery is to be with me," Carly said. "You know you can visit them anytime, so that's not an issue."

"That's not what I'm worried about," Kristina said. "I'm worried about my traumatized sisters and what just happened to my nephew."

"What the police suspect is wrong."

"Carly, you may come in to visit them, but they are staying here with me. If you're going to badger me otherwise, then you can leave."

Carly's face went rigid. "Fine. Where are they?"

"In the kitchen. I'll show." Kristina led her through.

"Hi girls," Carly said.

"Mama Carly!" Avery jumped up and hugged her. "I'm scared."

Donna didn't move.

"I'm so sorry you girls are scared," Carly said. "But Wiley is going to be okay—"

Donna screamed again and dropped under the table.

Kristina knelt beside her. "She keeps doing this when we say his name."

"Donna, sweetheart, do you want to give Mommy a hug?" Carly asked. "It'll make you feel better."

Donna clung to Kristina.

"I want to see Mommy," Avery said.

"I'm sorry, Avery, but your Mommy is gone," Carly said.

Avery began crying again.

GHGHGH

Danny brought Stephanie up to the penthouse and Sam greeted them.

"Hi, you must be Stephanie." Sam shook her hand. "I'm Danny's mom, Sam."

"It's nice to meet you," Stephanie said.

"Make yourself at home," Sam said. "I just have to get the food out of the oven."

"Steph, I gotta use the bathroom," Danny said. "Will you be okay for a sec?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Danny stepped into the bathroom and Stephanie wandered around the living room looking at the framed photos. She stared at a picture of Sam and Alexis but stopped at an old picture of Sam with Danny Sr.

"Okay, dinner's ready!" Sam called out. "Dante, Scout, Rocco!"

Dante and Sam each sat at the ends while Danny and Stephanie sat across from Rocco and Scout.

"Everyone, this is Danny's friend, Stephanie," Sam said.

"Yeah, you've met my mom, and Rocco at school," Danny said. "That's Dante and my sister, Scout."

Rocco waved. "Hey."

Stephanie smiled. "Hi everyone."

"So, tell us a bit about yourself and your family," Dante said.

"Well, I play on the volleyball team," Stephanie said. "I live with my mom, brother, and sister. My little sister's name is Evelyn."

"I have a friend named Evelyn," Scout said.

"Oh, what school do you go to?" Stephanie asked.

"North Ward," Scout said.

Stephanie nodded. "So does Evelyn."

"What's your last name, Stephanie?" Sam asked.

"Mest."

"That's the last name of Scout's new friend," Sam said. "It's a small world."

"Even smaller," Stephanie said. "My brother's name is also Danny."

"Really?" Danny asked. "I didn't know you had a brother."

"Not many people do," Stephanie said. "He doesn't go to a public school. He attends a special boarding school. He has a rare genetic disorder called Fragile X Syndrome."

Sam scrunched her face. "Oh wow, my brother had that."

"Yeah, my uncle had it too," Stephanie said. "My brother was named after him."