The MetroCourt

The Next Morning

Jason and Kellie stepped out of the elevator to find Charles and the kids already seated in the restaurant.

"Daddy," Kelsey squealed, running to Jason who caught her and picked her up.

"Did you have fun with Grandpa Charles last night?" Jason asked as they made their way to the table.

Kelsey nodded, "We built a zoo with legos and put my animals in it."

"That's sounds fun," Jason said.

"I'll show you when we get home," Kelsey said.

At the table, Jason put Kelsey down in her seat and sat in the seat next to her.

"How was last night?" Kellie asked, ruffling Jared and Jamie's hair before sitting with them and Alyssa.

"It was alright," Jamie said, nonchalantly, "We played soccer."

"Spencer showed up," Jared said, "Not his typical arrogant self."

"I insisted he stay for dinner," Alyssa said, "I couldn't convince him to spend the night though."

"Well Spencer may have had other plans," Kellie said.

"He wanted to see his girlfriend," Alyssa said, "Do you think they'll get married one day?"

"I have no idea," Kellie replied as the waiter came to take their order. Spencer arrived as the waiter while Alyssa was ordering Waffles with peanut butter.

Kellie looked confused.

"Hi Spencer," she said.

"I told Spencer he was welcome to join us for brunch if he wanted," Charles said.

"I hope that's alright," Spencer said.

"It's more than alright," Kellie said, "I was just surprised."

Spencer sat across from Alyssa.

"Mommy, I want cinnaroll?" Kelsey asked.

"Maybe you can have a couple bites of mine," Kellie said, "That's an awful lot of cinnamon roll for one little girl."

"Daddy," Kelsey started to pout.

"Your mom's right," Jason said, shaking his head, "You wouldn't want to get a tummy ache would you?"

Kelsey shook her head, "No."

Once the waiter finished taking orders, Kellie felt a tap on her shoulder and looked behind her to see Charles.

"I wanted to talk to you for a minute," Charles said, "I meant to last night when you got home, but then…."

"Plans changed," Kellie said, "Sure."

Kellie stood up and nodded at Jason before she and Charles moved to the small sitting room.

Once seated, Charles set an envelope on the table and slid it to Kellie.

"I thought we signed all the paperwork to transfer the estate back to you already," Kellie commented.

"Yes, but there's one more item I need to talk to you about," Charles said.

"What is it?" Kellie asked.

"The house in Florida," Charles said, "I'm signing it over to you. Before you argue, I can't see the sense in holding on to it until well….."

"Charles, I can't let you do that," Kellie protested.

"Kellie," Charles said, "My mind's made up and the paperwork just needs your signature. You're only person I want to leave the family home to besides Tyler. You've already been through the house, made changes to it, taken the kids to it. The house should stay with you at this point."

"Charles," Kellie said, "It's too much…I can't accept this…I "

"Kellie," Charles said, "You can accept and will. As much I would be loathe to use the I was kidnapped by Victor Cassadine card to make my case here, I might consider it if I have to. But I'd really rather not do that."

"And yet you kinda did," Kellie said.

"And I think we both know I wouldn't pull that card except as a last resort," Charles said.

"I know," Kellie said, relenting, "Alright, I will have Alexis look over the paperwork before I sign it."

"Good," Charles said, "I'm glad to see you still getting your own attorney to look over legal documents"

"That was one of the first things you drilled into me, even if you drew up the paperwork," Kellie said, "Aside from don't speak without a lawyer present."

"I didn't really have to teach you that one," Charles said.

"True," Kellie said and then paused before continuing, "Did everything go alright with Spencer at the house last night. I'm sorry he got sprung on you."

"Well you were expecting to come home for dinner last night," Charles said, "And Spencer was fine. I caught him looking at PCU's website."

"What, really?" Kellie replied, "He wasn't entirely thrilled with me when I suggested he should look into college classes. He said he'd think about it."

"But you were concerned he might have been humoring you," Charles said.

"I hate to admit that," Kellie said, "But yes."

"Well something you and Alexis said got to him," Charles said.

"PCU kind of surprises me," Kellie said.

"His friends and girlfriend go there don't they," Charles said, "And I told him it would be good for him to just to go any place for college and take whatever classes he wants. He doesn't have to decide on a major even."

"The rest of his life has been so planned out," Kellie said, "And he never had a normal upbringing. I told him to major in whatever he wanted. Did he seem receptive at all?"

"He's intrigued," Charles said, "I'd say that's a good sign."

"I keep wondering if I'm doing the right thing," Kellie said, "With Spencer. I know Alexis said to take the opening if he gave me one about his future plans, but…"

"He still came to dinner last night," Charles said, "and showed up for brunch this morning. He wouldn't be here if he was upset with your advice. Besides if anyone overstepped, I did. He at least gave you the opening."

"How or why did you end up talking to Spencer about colleges?" Kellie asked.

"He seemed distracted," Charles said, "And then I saw he was looking at PCU's website on his phone. I was curious. Even back when Spencer was showing up announced at your house in California, I could see how much of his life was already decided for him. It reminded me of Tyler a bit. It was always expected in my family that the sons would practice law. I didn't expect that of Tyler. But the expectation carried over to him. His mother saw to it."

"Along with all her other expectations," Kellie said.

"I worried about Tyler following in my footsteps," Charles said, "Until I realized he really did want to practice law for himself. Now Spencer doesn't seem to have a direction or drive. I think that if Tyler had lived he might have been able to help Spencer with that to some degree. Somewhat similar backgrounds and closer in age."

"Whenever Spencer showed up in California," Kellie said, "Tyler and I we'd worry about him. It bothered us that he'd just leave boarding school on his own at such a young age to come to Port Charles or California. Granted we got along decently with Nikolas when we found out Chantelle was Helena's daughter. But it was hard not call to Nikolas out sometimes, Spencer just did whatever he wanted. I know that Spencer and Nikolas were close. But I can't imagine what Laura went through with him when we all though Nikolas was dead."

"You and Tyler did the best you could," Charles said, "You'll do the best you can for Spencer now. That's all anyone can ask for."

"And inviting Spencer to brunch?" Kellie asked.

"I figured I owed him since he expected you to be home last night," Charles replied, "Speaking of brunch…"

"We should probably head back to the table," Kellie said.