"Out of the mouths of babes, I guess," Monica finally said when she and Charles were able to stop laughing, "I really thought that it'd be quieter out here."
"The Quartermaine estate has never really been quiet," Charles said, "I guess I could have invited you over to the safe house. There would have been more privacy. It just didn't really feel right for whatever reason."
"It's not home," Monica said, "Nor I suspect even like a room at the MetroCourt you'd choose to rent out to live in for however long."
"I suppose so," Charles said.
"How long you do think you'll stay at the safe house?" Monica asked.
"I haven't really thought about it yet," Charles said, "I know that's somewhat dependent on being assured that it's safe enough for me to move residences and no one else will be coming after me. Those will be discussions to have with Kellie and Lorenzo. Which brings up the subject of guards. I know they're necessary for right now. But I'm sure Kellie will want me to keep them longer than might be necessary."
"Is there any harm in letting Kellie have the guards on you longer?" Monica asked, "Other than you feeling it's unnecessary. When I ran into the Kellie at the cemetery, it seemed like she felt like she should be doing more to help you."
"There's nothing that I would consider her responsibility," Charles said.
"She does understand that on one level," Monica said, "But security is something Kellie can do. So maybe just for her peace of mind, let her win that argument for a bit longer than you normally would."
"And pretend I don't see the guards when she only lets me think she's pulled them off," Charles said.
"I think she might need the extra reassurance that you're not going anywhere unwillingly," Monica said, "To be honest, it would make me feel better as well."
"You make very reasonable points," Charles said, "Alright, I will allow the guards to stay longer than I would usually."
"In your text messages, you mentioned you went to see the grandkids after you were at the station," Monica said, "How was that?"
"Everything I could have needed," Charles said, "Although I can't believe how much it seems like they've all grown up in the months I've been gone. The boys are teenagers and in middle school already. Alyssa is in a hurry to be a teenager. And Kelsey's quite the little girl compared to the shy toddler she was."
"It does feel like even I blinked and they all grew up like that overnight," Monica said, "Sounds like it all went well with them."
"The kids are the least fazed from what I could tell," Charles said, "The boys even tried to pretend it wasn't a big deal sort of. Other than trying to get their video games privileges back by using me as an excuse."
"Do I even want to ask what they did to lose them?" Monica asked.
"Jamie tried to sneak off to help with the Greenland rescue and Jared tried to cover for him," Charles replied.
"I can't say that surprises me," Monica said, "From what Olivia says Jamie wants to learn from Dante about police work, but from his mother about being a spy."
"Danny and Jake were there too," Charles said, "It was good to see them and the kids all seem to still get along."
"I remember how rough it was when Kellie moved back to Port Charles and she and Jason got married," Monica said, "Danny and Alyssa especially."
"I remember," Charles said, "Alyssa was so adamant about wanting to stay in California and then really upset when Kellie and Jason got married."
"And now.." Monica started to say and thought the better of it.
"She's taken to Jason as a father figure," Charles said, "Lorenzo had warned me. Alyssa didn't even think twice at first about it when I was over until she remembered I was there."
"I imagine that still can't have been easy for you," Monica said.
"No, it wasn't," Charles said, "But Tyler isn't able to be here for Alyssa or the boys. As young as they were when Tyler passed away, I figured they'd eventually look to someone else to fill that void. I'm grateful that Jason is able to do that."
"But it still reminds you that your son isn't able to be here," Monica said, taking Charles's hand, "I still have those moments when something reminds me of my children that have been gone, something they would have liked or missed out on."
Neither Monica or Charles said anything for several moments after that.
