Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
-William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
All was quiet.
For now.
AJ sat in the window seat of his darkened room, gazing up at the stars that shone so brilliantly. The moon would occasionally peek out from behind the clouds, and then disappear once more. The boys had been put to bed almost immediately upon the return to the mansion. Jason had left, without much fanfare, escorted out by Stefan’s watchful security team. Laticia had been brought over and despite her initial shock at the news, she accepted it quickly and moved on to tending to Michael and Morgan’s needs. Morgan now slept in the next room with the loving nanny and Maksim, who probably sat just off in the shadows of the room, still and alert as Levka did in AJ’s. Bobbie, by all accounts, had fallen asleep in the room Stefan had taken her to. She had shared a private moment with Lucas, called Tony and then retired to one of the many rooms in this wing of the house. Although it was noted, nothing was made of the fact that Stefan had remained at her side the entire evening, silent, but comforting in his presence.
AJ couldn’t sleep. He didn’t fear it. He knew that his son was safe. He knew that no harm would come to anyone under Stefan’s guard. Still, he could not answer the call that sleep beckoned.
He wasn’t alone.
A gentle tug of his shirt and he turned, startled to see Michael, wide awake and staring at him. AJ stared back for a moment before smiling. “Can’t sleep?”
Michael shook his head. AJ nodded understandingly. “Me neither. Want to sit up here?” he asked, patting the seat. Michael climbed up and into AJ’s lap, dragging a baby blue blanket with him. He curled up and AJ secured the blanket around them both and settled his arms protectively around the small boy. “Can you see the stars?”
Michael nodded, his head resting against AJ’s chest. “The moon’s hiding,” he whispered back.
“You think so?” AJ almost let out a laugh. He’d thought the same thing when he was a child. “I thought I was the only one who thought the moon was hiding from me.”
Michael looked up at AJ. “Mommy said I was so special that I was probably right. The moon would play games with me because he was so alone.”
“He’s not alone anymore, right? He has you and when Morgan gets big, he’ll have Morgan.”
Michael smiled at the thought of sharing the moon with Morgan. “And you, right AJ? The moon hides from you too.”
“Yeah,”AJ replied softly, stilling the quiver in his voice. He suppressed the emotion that had washed over him and simply tried to enjoy the moment for what it was.
“Do you think Mommy sees the moon from heaven? Do you think he hides from her too?” Michael paused as he thought of Carly. “I wish she was here. She was going to read “Goodnight, Moon” to me. My room is green, just like in the book.”
Michael’s stream of words hung in the air above AJ’s head. He wasn’t quite sure of how to respond. “I’ll bet the moon does hide from Mommy. I’ll bet he knows just how much you like it, so he does it special, just for you and Morgan. Even up in heaven.”
Michael looked at AJ, the seriousness in his gaze evident. “I think so too,” he finally said.
From the back of the room, Levka observed the quiet exchange and was struck by how similar it was to the stories his older brother Sergei would tell him about the nights on duty when a young Nikolas would climb into the safe arms of his Uncle Stefan and together would gaze out a window and talk about the wonders of the night sky and all the secrets it would hold.
*~*~*~*~*
“I feel like I should be doing something. My son is across the hall. My grandsons are 2 rooms down from that. I have to tell Luke and Lucky. I should talk to Mike and Courtney. I need to deal with Jason...” Bobbie’s voice trailed off as Stefan moved from his chaise to her bedside. She lay facing him, exhausted but unable to sleep. The bed dipped gently as it took his weight and he took her hands in his. “Your son is safe as are Michael and Morgan. You need to rest as well. Let the night pass. It comes for a good reason.”
“I don’t know if I can rest. When BJ died, I never slept willingly. I would collapse,” Bobbie explained sadly. “How can I rest? How can I sleep when my baby girl is not warm in her own bed? Both of my daughters are gone, Stefan. Both through tragedy. Both young. Both full of life and hope for the future. God played a cruel example when my BJ was taken. Now he takes Carly? He takes her from me and her boys? How do I rest? How do I breathe deep anymore?” Tears cascaded down her cheeks freely. Stefan wiped them away, pained by the sight of Barbara living her grief once more.
“You will rest because your body demands it, because if Caroline were here, she would order it. You will rest because Lucas is here as are your grandsons and they would not ignore the fatigue in your step tomorrow morning. A part of BJ still lives. A part of Caroline lives as well. They rest too. You must join them Barbara. Even in times of grief and violence and great loss.” Bobbie was mesmerized by Stefan’s heartfelt assurances and she warmed at his touch when his hand moved to cup the side of her face. “Even when you are alone, you will never be alone.”
With that said, Stefan rose and rounded the large bed and lay down beside Barbara. She turned and they shared a look that spoke of an understanding neither had felt before. In a fluid motion, Barbara rested against Stefan’s frame as his arms closed around her. He pulled her close and she nestled her head near the rhythmic beat of his heart. Strong and steady it thumped against her ear and within moments, her body gave a sigh and it melted into sleep. The gesture calmed Stefan and he too closed his eyes and drifted off.
*~*~*~*~*
“Hey.”
AJ turned in his seat to find her standing in the doorway of his room. So much had happened since they had last seen each other, she was sure he’d changed in the 24 hours they’d been apart. She dropped her purse to the floor and glanced around the room. Sun shone in through the massive windows AJ stood in front of. Morning had brought much needed light to the home.
“Is he here?”
“Breakfast. Bobbie and Mom are fussing over all the boys. Ned and Skye are cracking jokes. Trying to keep things light,” he replied as he heaved a sigh. The bed was a mess. He and Michael had fallen asleep on it, Michael latching himself to AJ. By morning though, AJ found himself occupying 1/8th of the bed while his son sprawled out over what remained of the kind sized frame. He placed Michael’s sweater and jeans on the bed and ran a hand through his unkempt hair. She crossed the room quickly and enveloped him in a warm embrace. “I’m so sorry. Baby, I don’t know what to say, other that I’m here for you.”
AJ pulled back and smiled. A re-energizing kiss followed and he finally felt more at ease with tackling the morning. He glanced over Gia’s shoulder, spying the mantle clock on his bedside table. “I have to find Michael’s shoe pronto. He’s only letting me out of his reach for about 3 minutes and I can’t find his left shoe anywhere in here.”
“Check under the bed?”
AJ smacked himself on the forehead, “you think I’d check under there first wouldn’t you?” Dropping to his knees, he quickly found the blue shoe and pulled it out. “Thank God, he really wanted to explore the grounds with Lucas and Dillon.”
“You going too?” Gia asked as the headed down the hallway to the main staircase. AJ nodded, “he starts to panic if he thinks I’m not coming back. Last night I could barely get him out of my lap to go to Bobbie.” He blinked hard as the memories of the previous night flashed in his mind. What a terrible night it had been.
Sensing his sadness, Gia took his hand and squeezed it tightly.
“AJ! The head Cassadine security guy, Valeri, he’s got Jason at the front gate. He wants to know what to do with him,” Reginald asked, his voice dropping low as the meaning behind Valeri’s query became obvious.
AJ let out a groan as Monica came hurrying out of the kitchen hallway. “AJ, Michael’s looking at the door for you, you better get in there.”
Reginald waved the phone. “What about Jason? Valeri’s getting testy,” he said anxiously. He certainly didn’t want to encounter the man who owned the gruff voice on the other end of the line.
“I’ll deal with him,” Monica announced firmly. Seeing Gia for the first time, she smiled warmly. “Gia, I’m so glad you’re here. Why don’t you join everyone in the kitchen for breakfast?” Watching the couple head off to the kitchen, Monica turned to Reginald. “Tell Valeri I’m heading down now and not to do anything until I get there. Clear?”
*~*~*~*~*
“Uncle? Uncle Lorenzo?”
Sage’s tentative voice echoed through the seemingly empty home. She’d been at a party all night and had prepared herself for his anger at missing her curfew had she not caught sight of the morning headlines that screamed at her in big bold lettering.
Mob King Michael ‘Sonny’ Corinthos and Wife Murdered In Hit
She had rushed up the floors two steps at a time unsure of what she’d find once she entered the home.
Silence greeted her. Was he even home? Shutting the door behind her, she moved from room to room, her anxiety growing. “Uncle! Uncle Lorenzo where are you!? It’s me, Sage!” She stood helplessly in the middle of his bedroom and let out a frustrated cry. What was she going to do now?
“He is not here.”
Sage whirled around at the familiar voice. “Mr. Cassadine?”
Stefan nodded curtly. “You’re Uncle is under my protection at present. You are to come with me immediately. Your Uncle will explain everything when you are reunited. Your belongings have already been packed. We will leave at once.” Guards materialized from behind him and stood ready to grab Sage if she bolted.
Sage regarded the imposing man fearfully. “He didn’t kill Carly or her husband!” she squeaked. “He loved her, I know it!” she insisted as she wrung her hands together.
Stefan blinked. “I am aware of that. Will you come quietly?”
“How can I trust you?” Sage demanded, her increasingly panicked state growing tenfold. Stefan sighed and then nodded to the guard who had inched behind Sage. Before Sage could muster a defense, the soft cloth with a pungent odor to it had been firmly pressed to her face and everything went black, but not before she’d clawed at the guard who held her. She sagged to the floor and the guard easily hosted her into his arms.
Stefan folded his arms in front of him, somewhat amused by the moment. His young cousin’s mistrust was living up to family expectations already. Removed from the home in the exact manner as her Father, Lorenzo.
Victor would have been proud. He had been the one to perfect the rare brand of chloroform used on both his son and granddaughter.
*~*~*~*~*
“Sit!” Valeri ordered the hostile young man as he fought against the ropes that bound him to the chair. “Be still.” He shook his head as Morgan continued to struggle angrily as he had for the past ten minutes. “Baklany,” he muttered in his native tongue.
“Untie him immediately,” Monica demanded as she entered the small security station. Valeri regarded her for a moment before pulling out a knife and easily cutting the ropes. Jason rose and made movements to leave.
“Stop. You won’t be allowed onto Quartermaine property,” Monica informed him as Valeri blocked the doorway. “If that’s your plan, I’d shelve it.”
Jason let out a growl and began to pace the room. “Let me out now!” he shouted. Monica’s heart quickened as she sensed the coiled rage within her youngest son. She waited a moment before addressing him again. “We need to talk.”
“No!” Jason hollered as he kicked the defenseless chair against the wall. “I need to get out and get Michael and Morgan away from here! They aren’t safe! Not against whoever took out Sonny and Carly and not against you!” he screeched into her face.
The next moment took him completely by surprised as Valeri grabbed Jason like a rag doll and slammed him against the door, expertly applying pressure against Jason’s windpipe. Jason let out a frantic gasp as his hands flew up to pry Valeri’s grip on him. When that didn’t work, he set to kick and punch the hulking Russian, which was just as useless. A more strangled gasp escaped him as Valeri leaned in close to his ear and whispered his contempt. “You will respect your Mother or I will become unpleasant and teach you a fine Russian game called, zamochit. It’s where I break every bone in your body and then beat you until you die. Fun, yes?”
“Please, let him go, he’ll listen to me,” Monica insisted as she gazed at the scene before her fearfully. Valeri nodded and released Jason, who promptly fell to the ground, wheezing. Monica rushed to him and placed her hand tentatively on his forearm. “Please Jason, just listen to me for a minute?”
Jason said nothing, but sat up straighter as his breathing became more normal and controlled. Monica took the calm moment and began to speak. “The boys are fine. Bobbie and Lucas are here. We’re all safe. I may not like Stefan Cassadine but I trust that he will keep all of us safe.” Jason said nothing at Monica’s softly spoken voice but his face relaxed slightly. “I know you don’t think we’re good for Michael or Morgan, but Michael is our grandson. He’s a part of our family and now, so is Morgan. I don’t expect you to understand it, but I do expect you to accept it.”
Jason turned to Monica, his expression cold. “They don’t know you. Carly wouldn’t want them here. She’d want them with me.”
Monica’s expression did not waver. “Well, frankly I don’t care about what Carly would have wanted. What’s important is what the boys need. Michael, for whatever reason, wants AJ. He needs him desperately and I’m not going to remove him. Morgan and Michael need to be together and so that means Morgan stays here too. It’s not up to you anymore.”
Jason tried to remain stoic as Monica’s last words fell over him. The meaning registered deep and some of the pain he’d been holding back since Sonny and Carly’s death, broke free. His mouth trembled slightly and his gaze became watery. “Carly wanted to watch them grow up, she wanted them to know her face and her smile and everything else,” he said quietly as he stared off. Monica’s heart lurched at her son’s pain. “Every Mother’s first wish is for her child to grow up happy and healthy. Her second wish is that she is there to witness every moment of that life. I’m sure your Mother wanted that too, but I was given that gift instead.” Jason drew back slightly, he’d known that Monica was not his birth Mother but he was nevertheless stunned by the impact of her words. “I was blessed with Emily when Paige died, but I lost Dawn too. I’ve been blessed and cursed. Blessed with the 4 children I’ve had and cursed with the two that I lost.” She cupped the side of his face tenderly. “AJ has been blessed to have Michael with him. Michael is blessed to have Morgan. They have all suffered terribly. What is so wrong with them finding strength and comfort with each other?”
Jason blinked as the tears streamed down his face. Never had he felt so lost before.
“We make choices in life, some for ourselves, some for others. Life can be cold in telling us what we need to do and in what we’ve earned from it.” Monica turned his tear streaked face back to her. Lovingly, she looked at him sadly, “I’m sorry you have lost your friends. When Michael is ready to see you again, I will be the first to let you know.” Then, very gently, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “I love you Jason,” she said tenderly, before she rose and left the station.
*~*~*~*~*
AJ and Gia watched from a short distance as Michael, Lucas and Dillon shouted and kicked a soccer ball around. Rosie, the stunning retriever Courtney had no longer wanted after the divorce, barked and jumped exuberantly as she frolicked among the boys.
“They seem to get along well,” Gia noted as Michael let out a delighted laugh as Dillon fell over dramatically. Michael paused and quickly turned to ensure AJ was still there. AJ smiled and waved and Michael waved back. In a few more minutes, the moment would repeat itself. AJ nodded, “I talked to Gail Baldwin this morning and she gave me a crash course on things. Try to normalize things, don’t deny his feelings, don’t push him but if he withdraws, try to ease him back out. It’s a lot to take in.”
Gia nodded in agreement. “You have plenty of help, though, by the looks of it.”
She glanced behind her to where Laticia and Bobbie sat with baby Morgan. Settled on a large blanket with toys, bottles and baby wipes strewn about, Morgan basked in the attention of the affectionate women. As was becoming normal, Maksim stood a few feet away, his eyes constantly moving as his imposing stance showed his fierce determination to protecting the helpless infant. “How’s Morgan doing?”
“Fine. Gail said he’ll be restless for a few days, but with Laticia, Michael and Bobbie around him, he’ll be fine.” He swallowed hard at the next part. “He won’t remember Carly. His memory doesn’t work the way Michael’s does yet.” The weight of the world seemed to rest on AJ’s shoulders in that moment. A child shouldn’t grow up like this. The responsibility to take care of the boys was his now. Despite the numerous family surrounding them, despite Bobbie taking on the maternal role, he still felt that decision making would be up to him. Michael needed him so desperately and the brothers would not be separated for any reason. For the foreseeable future, his life would be the boys. “I don’t know how I’m going to do this.” He let out a shaky breath as he admitted his deepest fear to Gia. “I made so many foolish mistakes with Michael. I don’t want to see this as another chance with him because this isn’t about me, but I can’t help thinking that it is another chance for us. Carly kept him from me but now it’s my job to keep her alive for him and then there’s Sonny…” his voice trailed off as he shook his head. “How will I look the boys in the eye and talk about how great their Dad was?”
“Whoa, whoa, slow down,” Gia murmured as she moved his face to look at her. Keeping her hands splayed out along the sides of his face, she waited until his breathing calmed. “Baby, you are going a mile a minute when you need to go a step. Take it one day, one breath, one challenge at a time. You can do this, but you need to let yourself do this. I know you have a lot of issues wrapped up in Sonny and Carly and Michael, but you need to let that go for now. Look at your son. Focus on him and Morgan and doing what is best for them. Remember, Michael came to you.”
AJ reached up and took her hands in his, steadied by her words. “I don’t get that part either. Why me? I don’t understand it.”
“I understand,” Gia replied softly. “I look at you and see exactly why he came to you and no one else. Michael and I belong to a rather exclusive club.”
AJ studied her calm brown eyes as he pulled her close. “You believe in me,” he finally said, awed by the sensation.
Gia smiled and bussed his nose gently. “Maybe you should join the club too.”
*~*~*~*~*
“Barbara.”
Bobbie rose immediately at his soft voice. She flew out of the bed and crossed the room quickly, nearly ending up in his arms in her sudden need to be close to him. He’d left early that morning, promising to return once he’d dealt with a few matters of concern. As the day progressed, she’d busied herself with tending to her three boys, grudgingly admiring the way AJ and the other Quartermaines handled Michael and Morgan. AJ and Michael seemed to simply glow when together, just as she had seen when Carly and Michael would share a tender moment. Lucas would do his best to help out and Bobbie remembered to whenever possible, hug him, tell him she loved him and simply drink in the sight of her now only living child. The day had gone quickly and when Morgan had gone down, she’d considered starting funeral arrangements but found it too painful. She needed help. Luke was still out of the country. She felt incredibly alone. She missed her Carly and everything seemed to be a mess. She hadn’t realized until now just how much she’d grown to need Stefan until he appeared in her darkened room as dusk encroached on the evening.
“You’re back.”
“I apologize for the time it took to make certain arrangements.” They took a seat on the edge of the bed and like clockwork, Stefan took her hands in the warmth of his. “How are the boys?”
“Morgan’s fine. Lucas is quiet but coping. Michael is where he needs to be and that’s the best thing right now.”
Stefan nodded agreeably to her report. He squeezed her hands gently as Bobbie gave a shaky smile. “I miss my daughter,” she finally whispered. “I thought that if I didn’t spend just one day involved in Carly’s dramas, it would be the most relaxing day ever and all I want is for her to come flying through the door demanding my undivided attention and credit card,” she laughed as fresh tears came forth. “Day 1 and I’m a mess. I try to stay alive for the boys but I just feel like dying. Just lying down and never getting up.” She paused and suddenly balled her hands into fists. “I’m so angry too!” she declared, a burst of rage filling her as she tore from the bed and went to the window. “I want these men dead. I want Sonny dead. I want someone to bring him back so I can kill him. I want Jason dead. I swear, if I had a gun in my hand and him in my sights, I’d blow him away. He was her friend, but he never protected her. Not from the violence, not from Sonny or anything.” Her shoulder began to shake and Stefan rose from the bed. The creak of the springs signaled Bobbie of his approach and she shook her head violently. He stopped instantly and she wrapped her arms about her tightly. “I wish I was dead too. My own child and I watched her live in that world. She’s my child and I just let her live with a man who brought nothing but death and destruction. I just let her surround herself and her boys with that. What’s wrong with me?” she whispered crossly. “I’m supposed to be a protector until the day I die. What kind of Mother am I?”
Stefan watched with growing alarm as Bobbie seemed to descend into the darkness of blaming herself. No matter what, he wouldn’t allow that to happen.
“Do you remember when we were married?”
Bobbie stiffened, startled by his question. “Yes, of course I do.”
“Do you remember your brother’s feelings on the marriage?”
Bobbie nodded at the memory of Luke’s rants.
“Why did you agree to marry me?”
Bobbie turned finally. “I thought I loved you.”
Stefan flinched ever so slightly at her choice of words but smoothly progressed to his next thought. “Nothing would have changed your mind, would it?”
“No.”
“Not even Luke, your brother, your family, your protector.”
“No. I was wrong, though. Luke was right about you.”
Stefan shook his head. “You were not wrong to choose, Barbara. You decided for yourself. You chose for yourself, despite the protests of your sworn protector. Caroline did the same. You responded more admirably than Luke. You supported her. You loathed her choice and yet you supported her in it. You offered her your undying love and a safe haven. Then you allowed her to choose. Again and again and again.”
“And she died,” Bobbie replied bitterly.
“And she died.”
“Because of Sonny.”
“Because she was Caroline, daughter of Barbara Jean. She was determined to live her life accordingly.”
“So it’s her fault?” Bobbie demanded as Stefan drew closer.
“Caroline was murdered. That is not her fault.”
“But being in that life was.”
“It was her choice.”
“So she was a fool, like me,” Bobbie surmised resentfully, wiping away angry tears.
Stefan paused. “She was in love. She had believed in it so strongly that it outweighed anything else. You did the one thing she would allow you to do. Be her Mother.”
Bobbie let out a strangled cry. She wanted answers but the search was fruitless. It had been the same when BJ had died. Long nights, endless tears, bursts of anger, days that never seemed to end.
And truths that never shied away.
Like Carly.
Like Stefan.
Like Barbara Jean Spencer, survivor extraordinaire.
“I have found the man responsible.”
The words chilled Bobbie to the bone. Greedily she grabbed the lapels on his jacket. “Who was it? Lorenzo? A new player in town? Who?” she demanded.
“It was not Lorenzo Alcazar. I have transported Lorenzo and his niece,” he said, pausing at the last word, “to a safe location until otherwise.”
“Who then?”
“A man we’ve called Brodyagi. A man who was not close to Corinthos, but worked for him nonetheless.”
Bobbie furrowed her brow in confusion. “It was one of Sonny’s own men?”
Stefan nodded.
There had been no conspiracy. No hired gun. No great mystery or evil enemy.
A subordinate had killed her daughter. A man no doubt hoping to gain a name for himself, to be recognized in the sea of faceless thugs. How stupid of him. How empty his choice had been.
Bobbie shook herself. No matter. The man had been found.
“Nothing will happen to him?”
“No. It is entirely in your hands.”
Bobbie nodded slowly, understanding just what Stefan meant. “Not tonight,” she said finally.
“As you wish.”
Bobbie turned and headed back to the window. The stars were just starting to make an appearance in the night sky. She had always loved stargazing. Luke had taught her some of the constellations when they were younger and she’d never stopped being in awe of them. They were a kind of comfort in that they were always there, like clockwork. In the dark, she could look up and see them gazing down at her.
Stefan drew towards her and slipped his arms around her waist. She took in a breath and exhaled as she twined her hands with his and felt the warmth in his comfort once more.
“There’s Gemini,” she said with a nod to the sky.
“Castor and Pollux, brothers who were devoted to each other,” Stefan added softly as he felt Bobbie relax in his arms.
“Thank you, Stefan.”
She meant it. In more ways than one.
*~*~*~*~*
Baklany-Russian slang for ‘punk’
Brodyagi-Russian slang for right hand man or leader-in-training
zamochit-form of torture, done exactly as described