Chapter 4
V is sitting on the swing in her indoor/outdoor porch looking out into the night, with a cup of hot chocolate in one hand and a baby monitor in the other. It's nearly 4 am, but she doesn't care, she can't sleep. V can't stop thinking about what had happened to Cody today. Even though she got a call from Carly letting V know that everything was fine, V couldn't shake the feeling that something was indeed very wrong. V may not believe in all that psychic mumbo jumbo, she does believe in intuition, which I guess is sorta the same thing. Same thing or not, V just has a feeling that something bad is going to happen and she can't help but worry. V hears the screen door open and sees Jax coming outside to join her on the porch. Jax: V, what are you doing awake? You haven't even been to bed yet, have you? V: No. I'm sorry, I just can't sleep. I'm still thinking about what happened earlier. Jax: Carly called you and said that everything is fine. She and Sonny have 2 bodyguards watching not only Cody but Michael, too. Trust me, they're safe. V: I know you're right. It's just that I can't shake this feeling that something is very wrong. Like our whole lives are going to be turned upside down. Jax: What makes you feel that way? V: I don't know, I just have a feeling that something is going to happen. Jax: Don't take this the wrong way, but are you sure this feeling doesn't have anything to do with postpartum depression? You only gave birth to Kaylee 3 weeks ago and the doctor said that you could have irrational feelings for a few months after the birth. V: You think my feelings are irrational? I have a feeling that something very bad is going to happen either to us or to our friends. It has nothing to do with postpartum depression. Jax: V, it's not that I don't care, I do, very much so, but... Jax is cut off by sounds coming from the baby monitor. Kaylee chose just then to wake up. V immediately stands up and goes into the house, but not before saying one more thing to Jax. V: If you'll excuse me, my daughter needs me. Jax shakes his head, not knowing what to make of V's outburst. ********************************************************************** Sonny is sitting in the living room staring into the fireplace, with a million thoughts racing through his head. Brenda is alive, that thought alone was very difficult for him to understand. Why had she never tried to contact anyone in Port Charles for the 8 years people have thought she and her mother were dead? Most of all, what would possess her to try to kidnap his son? How did she even know about Cody? Granted, the press tried to turn Cody's birth into front page news, but Carly and Sonny did their best to protect both Cody and Michael from the glare of the press. Sonny didn't know what to think of the woman he used to love. Should he still love her? A part of him always has through the years even after he married Carly, a part of his heart always belonged to Brenda. But now, after what she tried to do, he doesn't know what to do. Sonny hears someone walking down the stairs and turns to see Carly walking toward him. She sits on the foot rest right in front of him. Carly: Sonny, why haven't you come to bed yet? You've been sitting here since we put the boys to bed. Are you still thinking about Brenda? Sonny: Of course I'm still thinking about Brenda. How can I not be? (sighs) I'm sorry. I just...I just don't know what to think right now. I thought Brenda was dead, Carly. I thought she was gone..gone forever. Now, she's not dead after all and she's back. Only, it's obviously not the same woman that I used to love. Because that Brenda would never kidnap my son for the simple reason she knew it would hurt me. Carly: Eight years is a long time, Sonny. Who knows what she's been through. And her mother, she's crazy isn't she? And you told me there was a chance that had Brenda lived, she could've inherited her mother's crazy disease? Maybe, since she did live, it's her mother's disease, or maybe just her crazy mother telling her what to do. It's not the same Brenda she was the last time you saw her. Sonny: I know, and that's hard to accept. I just want to know why she would try to take my..our son. (looks at Carly) You know I'm not gonna leave you, right? I mean, just because Brenda's alive you know I'm not going to up and leave you and the boys to go find her. I love you Carly, and you and the boys are my life now. You know I'm not gonna leave you to go to Brenda, don't you? (almost near tears) You do believe that? Carly(touches his cheek): Oh, Sonny, of course I do. At first, I admit that thought did enter my mind. And it terrified me to think of my life without you. That's what I was thinking about before I came down here. But, the more I thought about it, I know that you love me and our sons and that you would never leave us. (beat of silence, while they share a soul stealing glance) What about Jax? Sonny: What about him? Carly: Sonny, you have to tell him that Brenda's alive. He was engaged to her when everyone thought she died. He needs to know and not by finding the headline on the newspaper. Which you know is going to happen in the next few days once the press gets ahold of news of the attempted kidnapping and when the video is made public, which it will so people can be on the look out for both Brenda and her mother, what's her name? Sonny: Veronica. Carly: Right. And then this way, Jax can get in touch with Brenda's sister and let her know in case she can help. Sonny, you have to tell him. Sonny: I'll go later on today. Not because I like Jax, but because it's the right thing to do. Carly: Thank you. What do you say we try to get a couple hours sleep before we have to get Michael and Cody up and ready for school? Sonny: Yeah. Did you call Mrs. Wilson about Benny staying with Cody? Carly: Yeah and she said it would be okay. She joked about now she'll have a teacher's aid. Sonny(laughs): And Johnny will be here at night. Carly: It's almost like old times again. Having Johnny and Benny around. Sonny: Yeah, they're both great guys. Especially considering neither one of them had to come here and help us now that they have families of their own. (yawns) Let's go to bed. Hand in hand, Sonny and Carly climb the stairs together to try and get some much needed sleep. ******************************************************** Jax and V's house...... Sonny is standing outside waiting for an answer after he had just rung the doorbell. He doesn't really want to be here, but Jax does need to know that Brenda is alive. After ringing the doorbell a second time, Sonny hears little feet running to answer the door. The opens and Sonny sees little Cole peeking out from the other side. Cole: Hi, Uncle Sonny. V(running into the living room): Cole, you're supposed to be taking a nap. And haven't both me and Daddy told you not to answer the door without one of us with you. Cole: Mama, it's Uncle Sonny. V: Oh. Hi, Sonny. Come in, please. Sonny: Thanks. Is Jax home? V: Yes. You want to talk to him about something? Sonny: Yeah, it's important. V: Okay, I'll go get him. Cole, come with me because you're going to go back to bed. Say good-bye to Uncle Sonny. Cole: Bye. Sonny: Bye. V: You can go sit on the couch and I'll get Jax. Sonny walks around the living room, looking at Jax and V's house for really the first time. He's been in it before, but he never really look around. Like his own house, their were family pictures everywhere, mainly of the kids. Cole, especially since he's older. Sonny picks up a framed picture of Jax holding Kaylee and V holding Cole while their sitting on V's hospital bed. He figures it must've been take the day Kaylee was born. Sonny puts the picture back on the table when he hears Jax coming. Jax: V said you wanted to see me and that it's important. Sonny: Yeah it is. Jax: How's Cody? Was he hurt yesterday? Sonny: No, he's fine. Me and Carly are more shaken up about this than he is. Look, Jax what I have to tell you, it's related to Cody's attempted kidnapping. Jax: Do you know who tried to take him? Sonny: Yeah. As a matter of fact, we both do. Jax: Who is it? Sonny: First, I think you need to sit down. Trust me. (Jax sits on the couch.) I wouldn't have believed it unless I saw the video from the museum myself, but it's...it's Brenda. Both she and her mother were on the video. Jax is just staring at Sonny, trying to absorb what he just heard. He heard Sonny, but in a way what Sonny said just didn't seem real. Brenda is alive? No. It just couldn't be. Jax: No, Sonny, no. It can't be. Brenda and her mother went of cliff in her car 8 years ago. I saw it happen. They're dead. I know they're dead. Sonny: They're alive Jax. I saw it with my own eyes. I could understand if there was only one lookalike, but 2 of them both looking like Brenda and Veronica and them being together? They're alive. I saw Brenda try to take my son. Jax: How? Why? Where is she now? Sonny: No one knows. She and her mother got away. Are you okay? You look like you're gonna pass out. (Jax doesn't answer, Sonny calls V from the kitchen.) V, can you come in here and bring some water? V comes into the living room with a glass of water and immediately sees Jax staring into space, looking very pale with Sonny standing over him. V rushes to his side and kneels on the floor in front of Jax. Sonny takes the glass of water splashes Jax with a little bit of it. That took Jax out of his trance and he saw both V and Sonny staring at him. V: Jax, are you all right? Sonny, what did you say to him? Sonny: Jax, do you want me to tell her or you? V: Somebody tell me what's going on here. Jax takes V's hands in his own and stares into her eyes. He knows this isn't going to be easy to tell her, but he has to. She's his wife, she deserves to know. Jax: V. V: Yes, Jax? Jax(gently as he can possibly say): Brenda's alive. She's the one who tried to kidnap Cody. V quickly gets to her feet and bolts away from both Sonny and Jax, going to the other side of the room. She stares at both of them in disbelief, turning white while tears are filling her eyes. V: What do you mean Brenda's alive? She died 8 years ago in a car accident. How can she be alive. Sonny(walking toward her): Carly and I saw the video from the museum. Both her and Veronica were right there in plain view. It's no mistake. They both got away when Brenda saw the cops she dropped Cody and ran. (looks back and forth between Jax and V) I should probably go so you guys can talk about this. I can show myself out. Jax: Call me if you get any word on her whereabouts. Sonny: I will. After Sonny leaves, the silence in the living room is deafening. V and Jax are on opposite sides of the living room, neither one knowing what to say. V thinks that this is the bad thing that was going to happen. She should be happy Brenda's not dead, but in her heart she fears that her family may be coming to an end. Jax watches V almost helplessly, not knowing what to say to V and at the same time, he has a million different emotions going through him. Not knowing what else to do, Jax walks over to V and tries to give her a hug, but she pushes him away. Sighing, Jax grabs his jacket and heads for the door. Jax: I'm going for a walk. After hearing the door slam, V walks over to the couch and sits down. She stares at the many pictures on the coffee table. One in particular catches her eye. V picks up the picture of her and Jax on their wedding day. She hugs it to her chest while tears stream down her face, praying that Brenda's return doesn't mark the end of her marriage to Jax. to be continued......
V is still sitting in the living room in shock at what she was told. Brenda is alive. V should've seen it coming, after all, no on really ever dies in Port Charles, do they? There was Lucky Spencer, Laura Spencer, Laura's mother, Katherine Bell, Stefan Cassadine, Helena, and countless other Port Charles residents are on the list of the un-dead that can now include Brenda Barrett and Veronica Wilding Barrett. What is V going to do? Jax is going to go back to Brenda once she is found and want to help her solve all her problems just like he did in the past. What's going to happen to her? What's going to happen to their children? Cole and Kaylee can't grow up without a father in their lives. V's thinks that deep in her heart she should be happy that Brenda and her mother haven't been dead all these years, but she's not. V's not going to be happy about anything or anyone that has the potential to rip her little family apart. V looks at the wedding photo she has clutched in her hands. She and Jax looked so happy and so in love. It's hard for her to believe that it was four years ago. Had all the time slipped through her fingers? It only seemed like yesterday when they said I do and promised they would be together forever. What is she going to do? Jax is walking along the country road near his home. He comes down this isolated road whenever he needs some privacy to think. He sure wishes he knew what to think right now. He just can't get over the fact that Brenda is alive. He should be bursting with joy that the woman he, at one time, considered to be the love of his life is alive. He's happy she's alive, don't mistake that, but he's not exactly ready to jump on the welcome wagon either. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't run back to Brenda now, not after all these years. He has Cole, Kaylee, and V. Oh, God, V. What must she be thinking right now? Jax(to himself): She must think I'll have my bags backed and be out the door at the first word I get about Brenda's whereabouts. She has to know that I would never leave her and the kids. Jax runs all the way back to his house, when he gets inside, V is nowhere to be found. Jax walks through the house, going from room to room calling her name quietly so he doesn't wake the children. He is about the check their bedroom, when he hears soft cries coming from Kaylee's room. He quietly pushes the door open and closes it behind him. He walks into the Baby Loony Tunes themed room and walks over to the bassinet, where Kaylee is crying. He gently scoops his daughter in his arms and walks over to the rocking chair right next to the window overlooking the backyard. He begins talking quietly which seems to calm Kaylee pretty quickly. He just sits there, rocking her while staring into her big pale blue eyes with wonder. Jax: Hey, there beautiful. What are you doing awake now, huh? You usually sleep a little longer for your afternoon naps. Did you hear Daddy calling Mommy? Don't you worry about anything Kaylee, everything is going to be just fine. V(from the doorway): Is it? Is everything really going to be all right, Jax? (walks into the room) You were gone for a while. Where were you? Jax: I went for a walk along the road like I always do when I need to think. V: I bet you had a lot to think about now. Jax: V, we need to talk. Come here, please. V reluctantly walks across the room and sits on the foot rest in front of Jax. She doesn't really want to look at Jax, so she just gazes at her beautiful daughter until Jax decides to speak up first. Jax: V, we need to talk about this. About Brenda being alive and it's going to effect us. V: I can call Alexis and she can have divorce papers ready if that's what you want. Jax: Venus, no. I don't want a divorce. That thought never even entered my mind. Tell me, why has it entered yours? V: Oh, come on, Jax. I'm not stupid, I know what's coming. You've just found out the love of your life is alive. Shouldn't you be out searching for her right now? Jax: I'm right where I'm supposed to be, home with you and our children. V, I'm not going to leave you. Why can't you see that? V: Because Jax. How would you feel if my thought to be dead fiancee, the man I worshipped the ground he walked on, the person who meant the most to me suddenly turned out to be not so dead? You would think I was going to go back to him the first chance I got. Jax: No, I would realize that this sudden news would be a lot for you to handle at the moment and that you needed a little bit of time to digest the news. V, I've only had an hour to think about what Sonny told me about Brenda and Veronica. It obviously not the same Brenda it was all those years ago, Because you know that that Brenda would never try to kidnap a child, much less Sonny's child. V: I know. It does seem out of character for her. Which means either she does have her mother's crazy disease or something happened over the last years that changed her dramatically. She's not the same person you loved. Jax: Right. And even if she was the same person, I wouldn't even consider going back to her. Do you know why? V: Because of the kids? Jax: Of course because of our beautiful children, I love them dearly. But you are the main reason. V, I love you so much. You, Cole, and Kaylee are my life. The three of you are my reasons for living. I couldn't picture my life without you guys even if I wanted to. (looks down at Kaylee, who has been laying awake quietly) Everything I could ever want is right here in this house. V: You mean it? Jax(touches her cheek with his free hand): Of course I mean it, V. I love you and nothing or nobody is going to change that. V: I love you, too. I'm sorry I ever doubted your love for me. Jax: It's okay. Everyone's entitled to a few moments of doubt. Cole(coming into the room): Mommy? Daddy? V: We're in here, Cole. Cole: I can't fall back to sleep, so can I stay up? V(pulls Cole into her lap): Yeah. Cole: Are you okay, Mama? You look like you were crying. V: I'm fine, Sweetie. (looks around at her family) Everything is just fine. ****************************************************** Car outside Jax and V's house...... Brenda and Veronica are sitting in the car watching the Jacks house all day. They did receive a surprise when Sonny came by the house, he took a peek in the car as he was driving past so they had to hide. Brenda figures they must know that her and her mother are alive because just remembered that the museum had cameras and that Sonny and Carly already saw the tape. Brenda: I think I know Sonny came here to tell Jax and V that we are alive and tried to take Cody. Which means people will be out looking for us. Veronica: So, what are we going to do? When are we going to get Kaylee? Brenda: We have to strike and we have to strike soon. Tomorrow night, after Jax and V go to sleep, which is around 11, we sneak into the house and get Kaylee. We just have to figure out how to get in. Veronica: I have these. (holds up a set of keys) Brenda: What are those? Veronica: Jax and V's house keys. Brenda: You stole their house keys? Veronica: No. I simply borrowed them while Jax was in a meeting and made a few spares. We can get in through the basement or the back door. Those would probably be the easiest entrances. Brenda: Great. (smiles) Tomorrow, Kaylee will be where she rightfully belongs, with us. Veronica: And by the time Jax and V wake up to check on her we will be long gone. to be continued......
Chapter 6
The next day- Brenda and Veronica's hotel room Veronica is packing up all her and Brenda's stuff. As soon as they get Kaylee, they are getting out of town so the risk of them being found is smaller. Veronica looks around the small hotel room she and Brenda have lived in for a little more than a year. It may be small and cramped, but it has become like home to both of them. Brenda comes in carrying quite a few shopping bags in her hands. Veronica: Brenda, what is all that stuff? Brenda: I bought some clothes, blankets, diapers, and other things we'll need for Kaylee. (takes an outfit out of the bag) Isn't this the most adorable sleeper? Veronica: It's precious. Brenda, where did you go shopping for those things? You couldn't have gone here in town with everyone that's looking for us. Brenda: No. I drove to Syracuse. Mama, I purchased something else while I was out. Veronica: What? Brenda: I rented out an apartment for the three of us to live in. Veronica: What? Brenda, I thought we were going to leave New York. Just last night you were talking about going into Canada. Brenda: I know. But if we stay in New York, we can stay one step ahead of the law. We can watch the news reports to find out what the police know. If they get close to us, then we'll think about moving farther away. (checks her watch) Only 6 more hours until we go get Kaylee. Veronica: Are you nervous? Brenda: A little, but I'll be much better when I hold Kaylee in my arms. ************************************************ V and Jax's house...... V and Carly are sitting in the kitchen talking about the recent activities that have been going on in their lives. They've been mainly talking about Brenda and Veronica's resurrection and how it may affect their lives. Carly: So, how did Jax take the news about Brenda being alive? V: A lot better than I did. I thought for sure Jax was going to leave me and the kids to go back to Brenda. After he had a little time to think, he told me that he would never consider leaving us and that he loves us. Carly: You still don't seem completely convinced. V: I'm not. Carly, this is like my worst nightmare come true. Not the fact that Brenda is alive, but knowing that she will try to win Jax back again. She did it once before, what's to stop her from doing it again? Carly: I thought you told Jax you trust him. V: I do. I just don't trust Brenda. You didn't see how Jax was when Brenda was around. It was like she had this magical spell over him. He would block out everything else but her. All he used to care about was what she wanted and what she needed. Carly: I know what you mean. I've seen relationships like that. Heck, I was apart of one. V: Sonny? Carly: No, well yeah, but before Sonny it was Tony. In the beginning of our relationship right after he left Bobbie, I probably could've gotten him to do anything I wanted. He doted on me at first. (shakes her head) I still can't believe I stole Bobbie's husband. V: It's in the past. What can you do about it now? Carly: I think you should be asking yourself that question, V. What Jax had with Brenda is in the past. I went through the same feelings at first about Sonny when I heard Brenda was alive. He was actually afraid that I felt he was going to run out on me and our sons. He convinced me that he only has eyes for me now and that he is totally devoted to his family. I believe him and you should think the same way about Jax. V: When did you become so insightful, Caroline? Carly: I've always been insightful, Venus. (V frowns at Carly's use of her name.) I just never really paid attention to it before Cody was born. Just then, Cole, and Jax holding Kaylee, come in through the back door. Jax had taken the kids to the park after Cole has begging for a while and Jax thought some fresh air would be good for Kaylee. Cole runs to his "Auntie" Carly when he sees her. Cole: Hi, Auntie Arly. (still can't pronounce his k's or c's that sound like k's) Daddy took us to the park. Carly: Oh. Did you have fun? It looks like you got pretty dirty. Cole: Yeah. I played in the sand box. V: Well, you're going to have to take a bath before dinner. Carly: Oh, dinner! (looks at her watch) I completely forgot Mike's coming over for dinner. I gotta go. I'm gonna be so late. Bye everyone. V(after Carly leaves): Cole, who do you want to give you your bath, me or Daddy? Cole: You, Mama. V(picking Cole up): Okay. Daddy, how about you start on the hot dogs and macaroni and cheese. Jax: Okay. I'll even put Kaylee's swing in the kitchen so she can watch me cook. Cole: Or watch you try. (giggling) V(laughing): That was a good one, Cole. Jax(trying to hide his smirk): Oh, really? (in his most fatherly voice) Go take a bath. Kaylee and I don't need you making fun of our cooking. Do we Sweetie? (Kaylee makes some gurgling sound.) See. Dinner will be ready in about 20 minutes. V: Hey, I got an idea. How about we see what goes faster? Daddy cooking dinner, or me and Cole in the bathroom. Jax(smiling): Is that a challenge, Mrs. Jacks? V(also smiling): You better believe it, Mr. Jacks. Cole: Ready...set...GO! V and Cole hurried up to the bathroom, while Jax quickly, but not too fast, got Kaylee into her swing and situated in the kitchen, while beginning to make dinner. Jax knew that V and Cole were going to win, but he was just glad to see V smiling and having fun after what happened yesterday. **************************************************** Late night- Brenda and Veronica's car...... Brenda and Veronica have just seen the last light go off in Jax and V's house. Brenda was beginning to think they would never go to sleep. They were up later than usual. Which means Jax must not have any meetings in the morning. Brenda begins to get out of the car when Veronica stops her. Brenda: Mama, what are you doing? Veronica: Brenda, Baby Girl, they just turned off the lights in their room. I doubt they've fallen asleep instantly. Let's just give them a little more time to fall asleep. Brenda(snaps): How much more time, MOTHER? I need to see Kaylee...(starting to tear up)...to hold her in my arms. Veronica: Just a few more minutes, Darling. I promise. ********************************************* Jax and V's bedroom...... V: I'm sorry about the way I spoke to you yesterday, Jax. Jax: It's okay, Venus. V: No, no it's not. I should've had more faith in you. I just can't stand the thought of anything ruining our family. Jax: Trust me, V, nothing will happen to ruin our family. Our children our safe in their beds and I'm not going anywhere. V: Okay. Goodnight, Jax. Jax: Goodnight, V. They share a brief goodnight kiss before cuddling together and falling asleep. A short while later, Brenda and Veronica are entering the basement using the set of keys Veronica had made. It takes them a few minutes to find the door because the only light they have is a flashlight since turning on any lights would attract attention. Once they are out of the basement and in the kitchen, they are able to find their way around a little more easily. While looking for Kaylee's room they take a little tour of the house. Brenda stops and notices all the family pictures that adorn the walls. She smiles a sad smile, wondering if her tragic accident hadn't happened, it would be her and Jax in those pictures with their children. When she sees the living room, it is almost too much for her and she falls to her knees in a soft thud. Veronica(whispered): Shhh. (sees Brenda on her knees) Baby Girl, what's the matter? Brenda(also whispered): All the family pictures. They make such a beautiful family. Veronica could tell Brenda was starting to change her mind and there was no way Veronica could let that happen. This is probably her only chance to be a grandmother and Brenda's only shot at motherhood. Brenda does have her disease and Brenda doesn't want to leave a baby to that risk. Making Brenda believe that Cody and Kaylee were her children was much easier than Veronica thought it would be. She simply told Brenda a different story about her past since Brenda has suffered years and years of amnesia since the accident and has only recently begun thinking things on her own again. No, Veronica definitely couldn't let her only chance to be a grandma slip through her fingers. Veronica: Brenda Veronica Barrett, she is your daughter. Yours. Jax stole her from you and now, it's time her got a shot of his own medicine. Brenda(snaps back to attention): Right. Let's go. Brenda and Veronica slowly make their way upstairs, trying to be quiet, but the stairs are creaking no matter how slow or quiet they try to be. Finally, the make it upstairs. They begin walking down the hall trying to find Kaylee's room. The first room they come to is a bathroom and then a closet. The next door they open reveals little Cole sound asleep in his bed. Veronica never thought to convince Brenda that Cole was her son, too. She thought one boy and one girl would be perfect for Brenda. Finally, they come to Kaylee's room. They quietly go into the room and close the door behind them. Brenda looks in the crib, not finding Kaylee in there. Brenda: Mama, Kaylee's not in the crib. Veronica: Try the bassinet. Brenda makes her way to the bassinet, finding a sleeping Kaylee, much to her relief. Before picking her up, Brenda looks around at Kaylee's room, smiling thinking the room fits her little girl. Brenda carefully and quietly scoops up the tiny bundle of Kaylee and blankets. Before they leave the room, Brenda grabs the stuffed dog that had been in the bassinet with Kaylee, thinking it would be good to have a reminder of her old home for Kaylee. Brenda and Veronica quickly vacate the house the same way they got in. Brenda fastens Kaylee in the car seat she bought earlier and settles in the car. Brenda and Veronica wait until the are a few miles away before they say a word. Brenda(laughing and crying): We did it, Mama. I got my little girl. I can't believe it. (looks in the back seat at a still sleeping Kaylee) She hasn't even stirred. She must feel comfortable with me. Veronica(soothingly): Of course she does, darling. You're her Mommy. ***************************************************** Jax and V's bedroom- a few hours later...... V is tossing and turning in a restless sleep. Kaylee hasn't woken up yet to be fed or changed and she usually has by now. V wakes up Jax who was sleeping soundly. V: Jax? Jax: What? V: Did you get up and feed or change Kaylee yet? Jax: No. Why? V: She hasn't woken up at all yet. Jax(checks the bedside clock): She usually has already been awake 2 times by now. (shrugs) Maybe she decided to give us a whole night of sleep. V: No, not at this young. Cole was almost a year before he first slept through the night. I'm going to go check on her. V hurries down the hall to Kaylee's room, noticing right away that the door is closed when V knows she always leave it open ajar. She quickly opens the door and again notices something else fishy. The baby monitor is turned off and unplugged. She runs over to the bassinet. The next thing Jax hears is a loud scream. He bolts out of bed and runs into Kaylee's room, where he finds V, standing in front of the bassinet with a look of panic and fear he has never seen before. Jax: V, what's wrong? V(sobbing): She's gone, Jax! Kaylee's gone! to be continued...... The next day- Brenda and Veronica's hotel room Veronica is packing up all her and Brenda's stuff. As soon as they get Kaylee, they are getting out of town so the risk of them being found is smaller. Veronica looks around the small hotel room she and Brenda have lived in for a little more than a year. It may be small and cramped, but it has become like home to both of them. Brenda comes in carrying quite a few shopping bags in her hands. Veronica: Brenda, what is all that stuff? Brenda: I bought some clothes, blankets, diapers, and other things we'll need for Kaylee. (takes an outfit out of the bag) Isn't this the most adorable sleeper? Veronica: It's precious. Brenda, where did you go shopping for those things? You couldn't have gone here in town with everyone that's looking for us. Brenda: No. I drove to Syracuse. Mama, I purchased something else while I was out. Veronica: What? Brenda: I rented out an apartment for the three of us to live in. Veronica: What? Brenda, I thought we were going to leave New York. Just last night you were talking about going into Canada. Brenda: I know. But if we stay in New York, we can stay one step ahead of the law. We can watch the news reports to find out what the police know. If they get close to us, then we'll think about moving farther away. (checks her watch) Only 6 more hours until we go get Kaylee. Veronica: Are you nervous? Brenda: A little, but I'll be much better when I hold Kaylee in my arms. ************************************************ V and Jax's house...... V and Carly are sitting in the kitchen talking about the recent activities that have been going on in their lives. They've been mainly talking about Brenda and Veronica's resurrection and how it may affect their lives. Carly: So, how did Jax take the news about Brenda being alive? V: A lot better than I did. I thought for sure Jax was going to leave me and the kids to go back to Brenda. After he had a little time to think, he told me that he would never consider leaving us and that he loves us. Carly: You still don't seem completely convinced. V: I'm not. Carly, this is like my worst nightmare come true. Not the fact that Brenda is alive, but knowing that she will try to win Jax back again. She did it once before, what's to stop her from doing it again? Carly: I thought you told Jax you trust him. V: I do. I just don't trust Brenda. You didn't see how Jax was when Brenda was around. It was like she had this magical spell over him. He would block out everything else but her. All he used to care about was what she wanted and what she needed. Carly: I know what you mean. I've seen relationships like that. Heck, I was apart of one. V: Sonny? Carly: No, well yeah, but before Sonny it was Tony. In the beginning of our relationship right after he left Bobbie, I probably could've gotten him to do anything I wanted. He doted on me at first. (shakes her head) I still can't believe I stole Bobbie's husband. V: It's in the past. What can you do about it now? Carly: I think you should be asking yourself that question, V. What Jax had with Brenda is in the past. I went through the same feelings at first about Sonny when I heard Brenda was alive. He was actually afraid that I felt he was going to run out on me and our sons. He convinced me that he only has eyes for me now and that he is totally devoted to his family. I believe him and you should think the same way about Jax. V: When did you become so insightful, Caroline? Carly: I've always been insightful, Venus. (V frowns at Carly's use of her name.) I just never really paid attention to it before Cody was born. Just then, Cole, and Jax holding Kaylee, come in through the back door. Jax had taken the kids to the park after Cole has begging for a while and Jax thought some fresh air would be good for Kaylee. Cole runs to his "Auntie" Carly when he sees her. Cole: Hi, Auntie Arly. (still can't pronounce his k's or c's that sound like k's) Daddy took us to the park. Carly: Oh. Did you have fun? It looks like you got pretty dirty. Cole: Yeah. I played in the sand box. V: Well, you're going to have to take a bath before dinner. Carly: Oh, dinner! (looks at her watch) I completely forgot Mike's coming over for dinner. I gotta go. I'm gonna be so late. Bye everyone. V(after Carly leaves): Cole, who do you want to give you your bath, me or Daddy? Cole: You, Mama. V(picking Cole up): Okay. Daddy, how about you start on the hot dogs and macaroni and cheese. Jax: Okay. I'll even put Kaylee's swing in the kitchen so she can watch me cook. Cole: Or watch you try. (giggling) V(laughing): That was a good one, Cole. Jax(trying to hide his smirk): Oh, really? (in his most fatherly voice) Go take a bath. Kaylee and I don't need you making fun of our cooking. Do we Sweetie? (Kaylee makes some gurgling sound.) See. Dinner will be ready in about 20 minutes. V: Hey, I got an idea. How about we see what goes faster? Daddy cooking dinner, or me and Cole in the bathroom. Jax(smiling): Is that a challenge, Mrs. Jacks? V(also smiling): You better believe it, Mr. Jacks. Cole: Ready...set...GO! V and Cole hurried up to the bathroom, while Jax quickly, but not too fast, got Kaylee into her swing and situated in the kitchen, while beginning to make dinner. Jax knew that V and Cole were going to win, but he was just glad to see V smiling and having fun after what happened yesterday. **************************************************** Late night- Brenda and Veronica's car...... Brenda and Veronica have just seen the last light go off in Jax and V's house. Brenda was beginning to think they would never go to sleep. They were up later than usual. Which means Jax must not have any meetings in the morning. Brenda begins to get out of the car when Veronica stops her. Brenda: Mama, what are you doing? Veronica: Brenda, Baby Girl, they just turned off the lights in their room. I doubt they've fallen asleep instantly. Let's just give them a little more time to fall asleep. Brenda(snaps): How much more time, MOTHER? I need to see Kaylee...(starting to tear up)...to hold her in my arms. Veronica: Just a few more minutes, Darling. I promise. ********************************************* Jax and V's bedroom...... V: I'm sorry about the way I spoke to you yesterday, Jax. Jax: It's okay, Venus. V: No, no it's not. I should've had more faith in you. I just can't stand the thought of anything ruining our family. Jax: Trust me, V, nothing will happen to ruin our family. Our children our safe in their beds and I'm not going anywhere. V: Okay. Goodnight, Jax. Jax: Goodnight, V. They share a brief goodnight kiss before cuddling together and falling asleep. A short while later, Brenda and Veronica are entering the basement using the set of keys Veronica had made. It takes them a few minutes to find the door because the only light they have is a flashlight since turning on any lights would attract attention. Once they are out of the basement and in the kitchen, they are able to find their way around a little more easily. While looking for Kaylee's room they take a little tour of the house. Brenda stops and notices all the family pictures that adorn the walls. She smiles a sad smile, wondering if her tragic accident hadn't happened, it would be her and Jax in those pictures with their children. When she sees the living room, it is almost too much for her and she falls to her knees in a soft thud. Veronica(whispered): Shhh. (sees Brenda on her knees) Baby Girl, what's the matter? Brenda(also whispered): All the family pictures. They make such a beautiful family. Veronica could tell Brenda was starting to change her mind and there was no way Veronica could let that happen. This is probably her only chance to be a grandmother and Brenda's only shot at motherhood. Brenda does have her disease and Brenda doesn't want to leave a baby to that risk. Making Brenda believe that Cody and Kaylee were her children was much easier than Veronica thought it would be. She simply told Brenda a different story about her past since Brenda has suffered years and years of amnesia since the accident and has only recently begun thinking things on her own again. No, Veronica definitely couldn't let her only chance to be a grandma slip through her fingers. Veronica: Brenda Veronica Barrett, she is your daughter. Yours. Jax stole her from you and now, it's time her got a shot of his own medicine. Brenda(snaps back to attention): Right. Let's go. Brenda and Veronica slowly make their way upstairs, trying to be quiet, but the stairs are creaking no matter how slow or quiet they try to be. Finally, the make it upstairs. They begin walking down the hall trying to find Kaylee's room. The first room they come to is a bathroom and then a closet. The next door they open reveals little Cole sound asleep in his bed. Veronica never thought to convince Brenda that Cole was her son, too. She thought one boy and one girl would be perfect for Brenda. Finally, they come to Kaylee's room. They quietly go into the room and close the door behind them. Brenda looks in the crib, not finding Kaylee in there. Brenda: Mama, Kaylee's not in the crib. Veronica: Try the bassinet. Brenda makes her way to the bassinet, finding a sleeping Kaylee, much to her relief. Before picking her up, Brenda looks around at Kaylee's room, smiling thinking the room fits her little girl. Brenda carefully and quietly scoops up the tiny bundle of Kaylee and blankets. Before they leave the room, Brenda grabs the stuffed dog that had been in the bassinet with Kaylee, thinking it would be good to have a reminder of her old home for Kaylee. Brenda and Veronica quickly vacate the house the same way they got in. Brenda fastens Kaylee in the car seat she bought earlier and settles in the car. Brenda and Veronica wait until the are a few miles away before they say a word. Brenda(laughing and crying): We did it, Mama. I got my little girl. I can't believe it. (looks in the back seat at a still sleeping Kaylee) She hasn't even stirred. She must feel comfortable with me. Veronica(soothingly): Of course she does, darling. You're her Mommy. ***************************************************** Jax and V's bedroom- a few hours later...... V is tossing and turning in a restless sleep. Kaylee hasn't woken up yet to be fed or changed and she usually has by now. V wakes up Jax who was sleeping soundly. V: Jax? Jax: What? V: Did you get up and feed or change Kaylee yet? Jax: No. Why? V: She hasn't woken up at all yet. Jax(checks the bedside clock): She usually has already been awake 2 times by now. (shrugs) Maybe she decided to give us a whole night of sleep. V: No, not at this young. Cole was almost a year before he first slept through the night. I'm going to go check on her. V hurries down the hall to Kaylee's room, noticing right away that the door is closed when V knows she always leave it open ajar. She quickly opens the door and again notices something else fishy. The baby monitor is turned off and unplugged. She runs over to the bassinet. The next thing Jax hears is a loud scream. He bolts out of bed and runs into Kaylee's room, where he finds V, standing in front of the bassinet with a look of panic and fear he has never seen before. Jax: V, what's wrong? V(sobbing): She's gone, Jax! Kaylee's gone! to be continued......