JULY 1997 Stefan sat at a table in Wyndemere, working on his laptop as Alexis came in. “Stefan, do you have a minute?” Stefan looked up at her and took off his glasses, “What can I do for you, Alexis?” She sat down opposite him and folded her hands together, placing them on the table. It was a gesture Stefan recognized. “What’s wrong?” “I need to talk to you about someone.” “Who?” “Natasha,” she said simply. Stefan sighed slightly, “Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. What about her?” “I did some research on her a while back,” Alexis said simply. Stefan nodded, “Mikkos always said that Natasha died as a child. I would imagine that Helena was responsible. Even though no one knows for sure.” Alexis took a deep breath, “Helena was responsible for Natasha’s mother’s death, but she did not kill Natasha.” “What are you saying, Alexis?” “Natasha is alive,” Alexis revealed. “I know who she is.” Stefan sat forward in his seat, expectantly, “Who?” “Me,” Alexis said calmly. Stefan didn’t want to believe her at first, but looked at the sincerity on her face. “You are absolutely sure of that?” Alexis nodded, “Yes. I didn’t know myself until I was able to put some of the pieces together.” She pulled out the necklace that she always wore, “I’ve worn this necklace ever since I was a child and never knew where it came from. It turns out that the ring it was my mother’s. It’s the only thing of hers I have.” Stefan regarded her for a minute, then stood and crossed to her. He pulled her gently to her feet and held her face in his hands, as if seeing it for the first time. He embraced her, “Welcome home, Sister,” he whispered to her as tears flowed freely down Alexis’ face. ***** Carly and Jessica were standing in the main part of Kelly’s. Ruby was back behind the counter, trying not to obviously eavesdrop. Jessica noticed and brought her voice down to a more private level, “So that’s Luke and Bobbie’s aunt?” Carly nodded, “Yep, that’s Ruby.” “Does she know? I’ve heard so much about her from Dad.” “I’m gonna tell her now.” “I’m staying at the PC Hotel if you need me,” Jessica said quickly. “You’re not going to meet her?” “I haven’t even met Luke and Bobbie yet, I know I’m not ready to meet their aunt. But you’ll be fine. She likes family, or so you said.” Carly nodded, “Yeah, but I’m not sure if she’ll exactly be nice to me after what I did to my own ‘mother’.” Jessica quickly embraced her niece, “Good luck, Baby.” Carly smiled, “Thanks, Aunt Jessie.” Jessica nodded and left. Carly turned around and breathed deeply. She crossed the room and sat down at the bar. Ruby asked her blankly, “Your aunt?” Carly nodded, “Jessica, yes. Ruby, can I ask you something?” Ruby lifted an eyebrow, “I guess.” Carly folded her hands on the bar and stared at them. “First, I want to thank you for letting me have my room back, all things considered.” Ruby interjected, “I wouldn’t let even you go without a place to stay.” Carly smiled a bit, without looking up. “I don’t know Ruby, you may throw me out on my ear after I say this. My name isn’t really Carly Roberts. Carly was my best friend in high school. She died in a car wreck before we graduated. My real name is Caroline Benson.” Carly looked up at Ruby hesitantly. “And for this, I’m going to throw you out?” It hit Carly like a ton of bricks that Ruby didn’t follow the connection. “You mean Bobbie never said anything? Oh boy.” Carly sighed, “You remember the child that Bobbie gave up for adoption when she was 16?” She pointed at herself. “It’s me.” Ruby gasped, “You?” Carly nodded silently. “Who else knows about this?” Carly shrugged, “Just about everybody at this point. I’m surprised it didn’t make the front page of the Herald.” Carly noticed that Ruby wasn’t amused, so she amended her statement. “Yeah, Bobbie knows.” Ruby nodded, “What was her reaction?” “I’m not sure. I wasn’t there when she first found out. I’ve not really seen her since.” “So is Jessica related to your adoptive parents?” “You cut right to the chase, don’t ya?” Carly asked. “No, she’s not. Her full name is Jessica Lynn Spencer. She Luke and Bobbie’s half sister. Alexander’s side, of course.” “Do they know?” Ruby asked. Carly shrugged, “I don’t have a clue.” Ruby nodded, as everything slowly sank in. ***** SEPTEMBER 1997 Lisa walked into Kelly’s and eased herself onto a barstool as Ruby walked out of the kitchen. Ruby smiled, “And here it was I thought you had forgotten about your old aunt.” Lisa feigned shock, then smiled, “You Ruby? Never.” “So where’s Annie?” Ruby asked. “Annie?” “Oh, didn’t Laura tell you? That’s what Lulu called Anreya.” “She’s with Stefan.” Lisa smiled, “Annie, huh? I have a funny feeling that’s gonna stick.” Ruby looked at Lisa, “Well, what kind of name is Anreya, anyway.” Lisa had never really thought about her daughter’s name. It was something Stefan had picked when they found out that Lisa was expecting a girl. Lisa said her full name aloud, “Anreya Marina Cassadine,” she said with an accent. “Appropriate, I guess. Besides, it makes Lisa Ann seem so dull.” Lisa smiled. Ruby nodded, “Well, maybe so. Tell me Lisa, what do you know about Jessica?” Lisa did a double take, “What did Daddy tell you?” “Luke didn’t tell me anything. Carly did.” Ruby remembered Carly’s confession. “Or Caroline, whatever she’s calling herself now days.” Lisa tried not to register her shock at finding out that Caroline knew Jessica. She answered Ruby’s question. “I met Jessica once, but I didn’t really know who she was.” Lisa left out Jessica’s part in Anreya’s birth. “She stayed with Alexander in Greece, from what I’ve heard, past that, I don’t know anything about her. I didn’t know she was Alexander’s daughter until he told me in a letter.” Ruby thought about this for a minute. “There’s more to it than meets the eye.” Lisa nodded, “Isn’t there always?” She stood up. “Where are you going?” Ruby asked. “Bloodhounding. And Cee seems as good a place to start as anywhere.” Lisa replied as she went upstairs to talk to Carly. *****
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX Lisa knocked on Carly’s room door. When she didn’t get an answer, she said, “Cee, it’s me, Lisa.” She waited a second, but still didn’t get an answer. She tried the doorknob. The door opened. Slowly, Lisa stuck her head in the room. She saw Carly staring out the window, much the same as she herself had done several months ago. “Hey Cee,” she said. Carly still didn’t say anything. Lisa walked up to her. “Cousin, what’s wrong?” Carly slowly turned around and looked at Lisa. Carly looked like a ghost. She was pale and thin, it looked like she hadn’t slept in at least a week. “Cee, what happened to you?” Carly blinked her bloodshot eyes. She pointed at a large vodka bottle on the nightstand. “I’m drinking myself into oblivion, Cousin. Wanna join me?” Lisa shook her head, “No. What’s wrong? You’ve not done this in years.” Carly nodded, “Since when we first met. And what was your oh-so-smart answer then? Find yourself. Search for your roots, find out who you really are.” Lisa sighed, “I never claimed to be perfect. But you had an agenda from the day you walked into this town.” “Best laid plans, huh?” Lisa shrugged, “I guess.” Carly looked Lisa in the eyes, “Then how come your life is so perfect?” Lisa shook her head again, “It’s far from perfect, Cee. And look at what I’ve come through to get to this point. It’s not been easy.” Carly laughed, “That’s easy for you to say. You’ve got a rich husband, parents, a kid and siblings. What have I got? An empty room in a boarding house. So why don’t you go home to your mansion on that private island.” She pointed at the door, “Go on, get out!” she yelled. Instead of leaving, Lisa sat down in the chair closest to Carly. Carly glared at her, “I said get out! What part of that don’t you understand? Is that Spoon Island fog affecting your brain?” Lisa smiled slightly. “Maybe it was the cold water when I tried to kill myself.” Lisa laughed. “Cee, you’re drunk. You have no idea what you’re saying, so I’m gonna stay here till you get over it.” “It’ll be a long wait.” “Then that’s my problem.” Lisa sat back in the chair, making herself comfortable and silently declaring that she wasn’t moving. Carly flopped on the bed and laid back. “Fine.” Carly closed her eyes and put her hands in the air and started badly singing and doing the motions for the song, “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Lisa closed her eyes and put her head in her hands. It was going to be a long day. ***** Three hours later, Lisa glanced over at the stirring form of Carly. “You would not believe the dreams I’ve been having,” Carly mumbled. Lisa smiled. Hangover, she thought. She remembered those well. “Pink elephants, Cee?” Carly sat up slowly, rubbing her head. “No, purple spiders. Big purple spiders.” “You only mangled 27 choruses of “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Rather appropriate, I think.” Carly groaned and covered her head with the pillow. Lisa stood up. “Well Cee, now that your awake and sober, you can get up, take a shower and come with me.” Carly slowly lifted the pillow off her head, “Are you crazy?” “Absolutely certifiable,” Lisa said with a straight face. “If you won’t go with me, then just tell me where Jessica was staying.” “At the PC Hotel,” Carly replied instantly. Then it hit her, “How do you know about Aunt Jessie?” Lisa shrugged, “I try to know lots of things. See you later, Cee.” Lisa turned and walked towards the door. “Hey Cousin?” Carly called out. Lisa turned to face her, “Yeah.” Carly shook her head, “Nevermind.” Lisa nodded and walked out. On her way downstairs, she asked Ruby to keep an eye on Carly, just in case. ***** Luke walked absentmindedly into the club, puffing on a cigar. Mike looked up from the glass he was polishing. “Hiya Boss, I was getting worried about you. Laura said you left home hours ago.” Luke looked up at him, “Can’t a man take care of some family business without everyone getting all flustered?” Before Mike could ask him what he meant, Bobbie entered. “Hi Beautiful, long time, no see. Where you been hiding?” Bobbie smiled at Mike, “Oahu.” Luke looked at her, “You went to Hawaii for two months? How could you afford it?” Bobbie smiled, “It was part of my settlement.” Mike shook his head, “Damn, you two weren’t even really married and he gave you a settlement?” Luke put his hand up, “She and Lucas will never need a thing, right Barbara?” Bobbie nodded silently. “How generous and humble,” Luke said sarcastically. “Luke,” she reprimanded, “Be nice. Now, what did you want to see me about?” Mike made himself scarce so Luke and Bobbie could talk. “I just wondered if you’d heard any peep out of Jessica?” Bobbie shook her head, “Nope. You say she’s been here in Port Charles for almost four months and no one’s seen or heard anything from her. You’d think if she really came to Port Charles because Alexander wanted her to meet us, the least she could do would be actually introduce herself.” Luke shrugged, “You’d think so. But your guess as to what she’s up to is as good as mine, Barbara Jean.” Lisa walked in the club. Luke and Bobbie turned as she walked towards them. “Hey Sunshine,” Luke said. “Hi Daddy, Bobbie,” Lisa said. She turned to her father, “Mike was worried about your being late. Where were you?” Luke frowned, “I went for a walk to think, is that a crime?” “Depends.” Lisa said, “Was it about Jessica or me and Stefan again.” Bobbie turned away slightly at Lisa’s mention of Stefan. Lisa noticed, “I’m really sorry Bobbie. None of this would have happened to you if it wasn’t for me.” Bobbie shook her head, “It’s not your fault.” Lisa insisted, “Yes it is. Even the part with Caroline. She wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me.” Luke interrupted, “Wait a minute, back up the freight train. I thought you said Caroline called you about coming here for Lulu.” Lisa nodded, “She did, but this was after...” She cut herself off. Better to go back and explain the whole deal, she thought. “I started traveling after Anreya’s ‘death’. I met Caroline in Florida a couple months later, because we were both taking the same night class. We started talking and I found out that she was having problems relating to her adoptive mother, Virginia. We had a common ground, you know? With both of us not being raised by our own family, that is. “She was basically having an identity crisis and was trying to solve her problems by drinking them away. I’d gone through that stage already. I drank all the time and lived for nothing else but that bottle. I learned by winding up in gutters a few too many times that it didn’t solve anything. So, I told her that she might learn something about herself by learning about who she really was. She had Bobbie’s name, but that was it. I knew who and where you were,” Lisa said, pointing at Luke, “but I didn’t know you two were brother and sister. “We started jokingly calling each other ‘Cousin’ and found out later we were right. I didn’t know what she wanted when she came here, she just called and told me where she was. It was then I realized that she was up to no good. I decided to stay as far away as possible, because if she was gonna cause trouble, I didn’t want to be anywhere nearby.” Luke interrupted, “And then she called you.” Lisa nodded, “And told me about Lulu, yes.” Bobbie sighed and shook her head. Luke leaned over and kissed his daughter on the temple. The club door opened again and a 30ish year old woman with strawberry blonde hair entered. Luke and Bobbie turned to look at her, but Lisa kept her back to her. “Excuse me,” the woman said, “I’m looking for Luke Spencer.” “Who wants to know?” Luke said. “My name is Jessica.” Lisa turned around to see the newcomer. Jessica gasped when she saw Lisa, “It’s you!” she exclaimed. “It’s about time,” Lisa said harshly. *****
