Lucky trudged down the staircase, avoiding the various toys left by Lila or Ethan that littered the steps. Rubbing his stubbled chin, he blinked sleepily as he headed towards the kitchen, the aroma of coffee filling his nostrils. With a smile, he pushed open the door to the sun filled kitchen.
"Hey baby," he murmured approaching Emily at the counter, oblivious to everything else. Pressing a kiss against the back of her neck, his hand slipped into her terry cloth robe and suggestively began moving upwards.
"Lucky, open your eyes and look around first," Emily said gently, pushing his hand away. Grabbing her own mug, she took a seat at the kitchen table.
With a frown, Lucky turned and blinked a few times. "Lucas!" he exclaimed as the features of his handsome younger cousin came into view. "How the hell are ya?" he said, heartily exchanging a hug with Lucas. It had been far too long since his last visit with the somber young man.
Lucas smiled in return, but the happiness did not quite reach his eyes as he shifted in his seat. "I came home last night as a surprise and got an even bigger one from Mom," he said quietly, his gaze traveling from Lucky to Emily. "I can't believe Michael is A.J. Quartermaine's son."
Emily sighed. "It took us all for a ride," she admitted, still feeling the anger of Jason and Carly's deceit. "It looks like for now he'll be living with us. Anywhere else is too difficult for him. This is a safe place."
Lucky nodded, "we got plenty of room and the kids have always liked him. How's Bobbie handling it?" he queried his cousin. Bobbie had struggled to keep the peace between her son and daughter after Tony's death. Always the glue to her family, Lucky knew that this revelation would devastate Bobbie. Lucas let out a hollow laugh. "She got plastered last night and told me everything, crying the whole time. I put her to bed and called the hospital, she's not going to work today." He shook his head. "I can't believe they did that, after what they did to my Dad," he said, his voice shaking with quiet rage, his voice trailing off as sudden tears sprang forward.
Emily leaned forward and squeezed Lucas's hand. "You look tired, why don't you take a nap in the spare upstairs?"
Lucas shrugged, not noticing the concerned look that Lucky and Emily shared. Lucas had always been a distant boy, feeling the strain of his jarred family while growing up. Although measures were taken to shield him from the pain of the past, Lucas experienced constant uncertainty about the people that surrounded him, leaving him with an jaded view of love, trust, loyalty and family. Once he'd discovered the secrets of his Mother, sister, Father and Michael, he'd cut himself off from most who knew and loved him. Spending his teenage years out of Port Charles and now, University elsewhere had seemed to give Lucas the stability he had needed his entire life. The scars of the past, however, never seemed too far.
"I think I'll just head home," he decided quietly.
The protective wall went up once more.
**************
Saber Hall Academy
Michael stood anxiously behind the Dogwood trees nestled alongside the exclusive private school that he and Spencer attended. With a shake of his head, he knew he should be attending at this very moment. Missing school, however, was the last thing on his mind as he watched the groups of smartly dressed students amble along the paths to the main doors at the front of the building. He was looking for one in particular.
Spencer.
Michael's heart tightened at the thought of his younger brother. He hoped that Spencer hadn't heard the news yet. If there was one thing Jason Morgan could control in his household, it was information, he thought bitterly.
Well, no more, he decided firmly watching the guard drive off as Spencer entered the school. Hopefully Spencer would find the note left tucked in his locker and follow the instructions carefully.
After a few minutes of agonizing waiting, a side door opened and Spencer's red hair cautiously peeked out, followed by his uncertain face. Michael waved silently until Spencer's eyes lit up happily.
It only took another minute before Michael and Spencer wordlessly entered the thickness of the forest before they warmly hugged each other, thankful to be together again.
"Why aren't you at home? Why did you leave? Nobody tells me anything," Spencer complained as he ran a worried hand through his hair. Seeing Michael now had calmed him, but now the questions that had been running around in his head spilled out at high speed. "Mom and Dad are really worried about you," he said finally, noting the change in his brother's face at the mention of their parents.
"I have to tell you something," Michael started grimly, already sensing that this was going to be more difficult than he anticipated. Still, he'd rather Spencer heard this from him than anyone else. "And I need for you to keep quiet until I'm finished."
Spencer nodded quickly, eager for any information that would help him understand the unsteady state of his family.
Michael bit his lower lip and grabbed Spencer's hand in his, squeezing it once before he opened his mouth and began speaking slowly, taking Spencer back to the day they had found the court order in the Quartermaine attic. Spencer listened, his mouth parting slightly when Michael revealed the major secret their parents had guarded so long. When Michael finished speaking, he waited and watched Spencer, ready for any kind of reaction he might have.
Spencer's eyes darted from Michael to the greenery beyond and back. Confusion was written everywhere and he had so many things he wanted to say. Overwhelmed by the entire revelation, Spencer's face crumpled and he burst into tears. Rushing to his brother's side, Michael remained silent as he hugged his brother, feeling Spencer's slim arms grasp onto him tightly, his entire frame shaking as he sobbed. Michael blinked back his own tears that threatened to fall. This moment wasn't about him, and for Michael, it had been the only way Spencer should have been told.
It didn't get any easier.
********************
Wyndemere Stables
"You do more than one thing when you brush Providence," Dominic advised the two young students who listened intently to his sage words. Dominic's hand covered Jewel's, correcting her rhythm until she nodded her understanding. "You also soothe him, with the words you use and your touch. He learns that you are kind and gentle and will always care for him properly."
Dominic rounded Providence, giving his ears a scratch while he observed Raphael carefully move the brush in the steady, firm manner he'd been taught by his Father. "Very nice Raphael," Dominic praised with a smile.
"Father says trust is very important," Raphael reported, eager to impress his older cousin. "He says you must treat each horse under your care as well as you would like to be treated."
Jewel rolled her eyes at Raphael's attempt to kiss up to Dominic. "Everybody knows that," she said dismissively. Raphael narrowed his eyes, feeling his hands ball with annoyance.
"Not everyone Jewel, sometimes people mistreat their animals," Dominic interrupted smoothly, handing each child a bucket full of various treats for the horses. "Why don't you and I head down to the North end and start handing out the treats? Raphael, you can start at this end," he said firmly as Raphael opened his mouth in protest.
"Dominic?"
Dominic turned, his relaxed expression tensing with apprehension. Dade took a friendly step towards the three. His dark eyes regarded the suspicious young man, Dominic knew who he was both in terms of his relationship with Jerry Jacks as well as his Mother. Attempting to forge a friendship of some kind with Dominic would be a tough climb, but one Dade was willing to work on.
Dade's eyes flickered to Jewel. "Why don't you get started Jewel, Dominic will be down in a minute, okay?" he suggested.
Jewel nodded and quickly marched her way down the corridor, knowing better than to try and argue with Dade when he used that tone. Dominic and Dade rounded a corner and waited until they were walking along the lawn outside the stables before either spoke.
"What's on your mind?" Dominic asked, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. He had seen the impact of Dade Phillips on his Mother and while the change in her was obviously a positive one, Dominic felt himself being torn between loyalty to his late Father and wanting his Mother to be happy. He'd been avoiding a moment like this for some time now, but as he reflected on the hard times Michael was going through, this seemed so trivial in comparison.
"I know that my relationship with your Mother has been on your mind and I think it's good for us to discuss anything you want to know, about me, about anything." Dade's open manner relaxed Dominic's tense shoulders as he considered Dade's offer.
"How do you know her?" he finally asked, his eyes reading Dade's expression carefully.
Dade smiled. "University at first, we became good friends in a short period of time," he recollected fondly as the two strolled along the gravel path they'd come across.
Dominic bit his lower lip before responding. "Good friends? How good?"
Dade turned, stopping. "We were involved, if that's what you're asking," he replied quietly.
Dominic nodded, keeping his eyes firmly on the ground.
"But we parted ways. I moved on and so did she, with your Father," Dade said, emphasizing his last few words. He wanted no confusion for Dominic to deal with.
Dominic's gaze rose slowly, letting the information sink in. "Did you know my Father?" he asked tentatively.
Dade drew in his breath, weighing his response carefully. "I never met him, but, I do know he was a good man. Honest. Hard working. He made her laugh," he replied softly, the memory of watching her from afar from many years before. He smiled wistfully at Dominic, who had breathlessly listened to the older man's words.
Dominic watched Dade's face radiate the love he felt for Alexis. She wants to be happy, he reminded himself silently.
"Can you make her laugh?"
It was not a curious challenge, but a hopeful declaration. The meaning was clear.
Would he make her happy? Would he love her completely and protect her? Would he stay when things got tough?
Without even realizing it, Dominic held his breath with anticipation.
"Absolutely," Dade replied, his eyes glistening with tears of joy.
Dominic shrugged with a smile, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat. "Then, I guess that's all I need to know."
****************
Morgan PH
Liars.
Filthy, rotten liars.
With everything in him, Spencer's unspoken fury took him straight home. He'd promised Michael to wait at school until he'd return at lunchtime, but Spencer had found he couldn't contain all the emotions that were building within him. School was the last place where he could be. The last place he wanted to be. Slipping past security, he'd quickly found his way back to Harborview Towers, aching to confront his parents.
As he waited silently in the elevator leading up to his destination, Spencer shook his head, confused and hurt over why something like this had happened to their family.
To Michael.
Don't let negative feelings get bottled up, his parents had stressed to he and Michael over the years.
Don't hide how you really feel. It's important to talk about things.
Spencer's tightly clenched fist pounded once on the elevator wall. He was going to make them regret those words.
The doors chimed and Spencer emerged, a grim determination filling him. He was angry, confused and scared. He was going to tell them exactly how he felt.
"Why aren't you at school?" Renaldo questioned as Spencer headed towards him. Alarmed when Spencer pushed past him into the suite without a word, Renaldo followed quickly behind.
Something was about to blow.
"Spencer! Hold up a second, your parents are in a meeting!" Renaldo called as he jogged after Spencer down the hallway.
But his words fell on deaf ears as Spencer threw open the office door.
Ignoring the team of lawyers who were positioned around the room, conferring with his parents, Spencer's eyes narrowed when they zeroed in on the targets. Anger glittered in his eyes as he took a step towards them.
"Liars!" he shouted, the volume causing everyone, including Renaldo, to jump. Carly rose quickly, knowing what had brought this on. "Spencer," she started softly, moving past the perplexed lawyers who remained silent.
"No!" Hot tears spilled down his cheeks as he shook his head. "I know what you did!" Spencer angrily shrugged off Renaldo's hands as they rested on his shoulders while Carly closed the distance between them.
"Spencer," she started again, her voice now quivering with emotion. Her arms moved towards him, wanting to take her youngest child into her arms and comfort him.
"Don't touch me!" he shrieked moving away from both Renaldo and Carly. He wiped the tears with the sleeve of his school sweater. His breath was ragged as he attempted to find the words to express himself.
"Spencer," Jason's calm voice rang across the room. He stood and moved around the leather sofa carefully, his eyes never leaving Spencer's. The gesture seemed only to agitate Spencer further. Opening his mouth to speak again, Spencer cut him off.
"No! You taught us to never lie!" Spencer accused him, pointing a shaky finger at his Father. "And you lied!" he screamed.
Renaldo swallowed hard, visibly upset at Spencer's behavior. He'd often thought of Michael and Spencer as the sons he never had. It was hard to watch Spencer so upset and unwilling to find comfort in his home.
Jason, paled considerably by Spencer's words, took a deep breath, determined to calm his son down.
"Spencer," he tried again, his voice much softer as he and Carly reached out to their youngest.
"You!" Spencer pointed again to Jason, "and you!" his arm jerked to Carly. "You're fucking liars! I'll never believe you again!" His fury was clear to everyone in the room. He meant every word he said.
With that, Spencer rushed back through the door, squirming past Renaldo and Carly.
"Spencer!" Carly screamed as she desperately chased after him with Jason hot on her heels. She couldn't let both of her sons leave like this.
"Renaldo!" Jason hollered.
"I'm way ahead of you," Renaldo called back as he flipped open his cell phone, dialing the number he knew by heart. "Hey! Spencer's coming out of the building, I don't know which exit but I want him followed. Don't let him know and keep on him. Get back to me when he takes a breather somewhere," Renaldo barked into the phone as he rushed down the emergency staircase while Jason and Carly jumped onto the second elevator, but within a few minutes, the hope of catching Spencer had diminished.
He was gone.
******************
Office of Justus Ward
"I don't care, I'm phasing myself out. The case is yours Jim, a few more signatures on some documents and I no longer represent Jason Morgan or any of his associates." Justus pinched the bridge of his nose and released a frustrated sigh. Extracting himself from Jason Morgan after nearly 20 years was proving to be more of an uphill climb than what he'd first thought.
As the man on the other end implored him to reconsider, Justus shook his head impatiently. "It's not happening. Not now, not ever. By the end of business tomorrow, I'll have nothing to do with Morgan Enterprises."
Suddenly aware that he wasn't alone in his office, Justus's gaze rose from the file folders on his desk to the person standing a few feet from him. "I gotta go Jim, I'll talk to you later," he said abruptly, hanging up the phone.
"Michael." Justus's voice curiously greeted the nervous young man. He sadly noted that in a matter of days, Michael's demeanor had changed dramatically. No longer could Justus see the bright, easy going teenager with a charismatic smile. The intensity in his eyes had paled considerably. He looked pale and tired, his shoulders slumped as if he was carrying the weight of the world on his back. Justus knew the feeling. Why would anyone risk putting their child through something like that?
"Come in, are you hungry? Thirsty?" he queried Michael as he grabbed the phone to call his secretary. Michael gingerly sat in the leather chair across from Justus's desk. "No thanks, I'm okay."
Justus frowned, a smile playing about his lips. "Not even a meat lover's pizza, extra cheese?" he teased. Michael's eyes rose, a flicker of amusement passing over his face.
"Well, okay," he agreed, feeling his stomach growl hungrily.
Justus laughed, relieved that not everything about Michael had changed. Within 25 minutes, both were munching on their slices of hot pizza and guzzling on the cold soda Justus pulled from his mini fridge.
Wiping his fingers on a nearby napkin, Justus leaned forward in the leather sofa. "So, what can I do for you?"
Michael paused, chewing more slowly as his brow furrowed. "You never knew about their secret," he started after swallowing. Justus shook his head vehemently, "no way Michael, I would never have supported something like this. Ever."
Michael's eyebrows lifted slightly, surprised by Justus's strong insistence. "Justus, I never suspected you were involved. I'm sorry if it came across that way," he assured him.
Relief passed over Justus as he took a sip of his cola. It was obvious that Michael's opinion on Justus's role in all of this had weighed heavily on the older man's mind for some time. Michael was comforted by the fact that something in his family's life wasn't completely messed up.
"You're not like that," he added, popping a piece of pepperoni into his mouth. "I wish I could say the same for other family members."
The bitterness was hard to ignore and beneath that was a deep pain that Justus couldn't help wincing at. After a few minutes of quiet, Justus decided to let it go and move on. "You came here for more than one reason I'm guessing."
Michael nodded, "I wanted to discuss a few things with you. I hoped you could help me."
Justus leaned forward eagerly. "I'd be glad to offer any help I can, Michael. What's on your mind?"
"Emancipation."