Family Ties

The beginning is mostly Chris and Julie -- the others will get involved more as the story progresses. This story begins with a different twist on what would have happend if Julie HAD stayed in Port Charles with Chris for the remainder of her days . . . . not to mention brought another surprise along with her for Chris . . . . .
Chapter 4

Frank races out of the bar, and sees a blonde girl exiting a phone booth around the corner. He quickly runs up and grabs her forcefully from behind. "Going somewhere?" he asks.
"Hey! Let me go!" the girl shouts.
"Give it back!" Frank says, holding her tightly.
"If you don't let me go right now, I'll SCREAM!" the girl shouts. Frank shoves her away.
"Give me my wallet!" Frank barks at her.
"I don't have your wallet, you freak! You stay away from me!"
"Oh no? We'll see about that!" Frank says. He grabs her again, and starts to feel around her coat pockets. Finally, he pulls something out. "Hmmm -- this looks like my wallet to ME -- you were saying." The girl looks down, ashamed.
"I just needed the money, okay? Look -- just let me go, I won't bother you again, I promise." Frank just glares at her. "Please?" she begs. Frank sighs.
"How much do you need?" he asks.
"I don't want your money."
"You wanted it about five minutes ago. Look -- you seem like a nice girl who's had a bad time of it. I'm just offering some help here." Frank says, handing her some money.
"Who the hell are you, some kind of saint?" the girl remarks.
"Just take it -- consider it my good deed for the day."
"Alright -- thanks." the girl says humbly. Frank turns around and walks away.

February 15, 2002 -- Karen enters the oncall room, and starts to turn around to leave the minute she sees Chris in there. "Karen, wait!" Chris says, following her.
"Don't even start with me Chris, I'm not in the mood." Karen says, walking away from him.
"Karen, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about yesterday -- I honestly didn't even think about what day it was." Karen turns around and looks at him.
"You really expect me to believe that?"
"It's the truth."
"You wouldn't know the truth if it were staring you in the face, Ramsey! Just leave me alone." Karen starts to walk away.
"Karen -- why would I even CARE about Valentine's Day, huh?" Chris asks, grabbing her arm. "All I care about is my son -- nothing else matters to me right now, you know that. Look -- I'll -- I'll even go and talk to Frank if you want me to. I wasn't exactly planning on being Scanlon's punching bag again any time soon, but if that's what it takes then --"
"Alright. Alright -- you made your point." Karen says. "And I guess it was -- kind of my fault. For forgetting."
"Kind of?" Chris asks.
"Alright, it WAS my fault. It's just that, with everything going on with Tyler and all --"
"Karen -- I never asked you to drop your life for me and my son. Look -- I appreciate the fact that you want to honor the promise you made to Julie. But if doing so is wrecking your personal life -- I don't think that's something Julie would want. I know Tyler adores you, but -- I don't expect you to put him first. Okay?"
"I love spending time with Tyler, Chris -- he's a sweet little boy."
"And I want you to spend time with him -- as much as you like. But obviously, other parts of your life are suffering right now -- you're under no obligation to me Karen, I hope you know that. And just to show you what a generous guy I can be -- why don't you take the rest of the afternoon off. I'll cover your shift, and you go patch things up with Frankenstein."
"Do you have to call him that?"
"No, I could call him a lot worse if you like. Karen -- I'm not gonna pretend to understand what you see in the guy. But I don't want to be the one blamed for ruining your relationship." Karen just stares at him, puzzled. "Before you ask -- no, there's no catch to this. Now go before I change my mind." Chris tells her. Karen just shakes her head and leaves.

"So you mean to tell me you have NO information for me?" Nicole asks the girl -- it's the same girl Frank met in the bar the night before.
"I told you --- I didn't exactly get off to a good start with him." the girl replies.
"Meaning what?" Nicole asks.
"I -- look, I'm broke, okay. I figured he had some cash on him, and my dad taught me a thing or two about a good sleight of hand, so --"
"You STOLE his wallet? You IDIOT!"
"Well, you sure as hell don't pay me enough!"
"Look -- Frank Scanlon hates Chris Ramsey. And I want you to get close to him -- eventually, he'll confide in you and spill some information that might be helpful in my custody case."
"Why do you want Chris' son so badly?" the girl asks.
"Tyler is my grandson. I love him."
"Yeah, sure you do. Look, I don't know about this Frank Scanlon thing -- he seems like a nice guy."
"Listen -- if it weren't for me, you'd be looking at some serious jail time, missy. I don't care if Frank Scanlon is a walking SAINT -- you're going to use him to help me get custody of Tyler."
"You want the kid's money, don't you?"
"That's none of your business. You said you wanted Chris to pay for what he did. I'm just giving you that opportunity. But only if you play by MY rules. Now go make nice with Frank Scanlon -- or you'll be back behind bars. Is that clear?"
"Yeah, it's clear." the girl says angrily.
"Good." Nicole says, and she opens up her purse and hands the girl some money. "This should take care of you for awhile."
"Thanks." the girl says, grabbing the money from Nicole, and she leaves.

Frank opens the front door -- it's Karen. "Can I come in?" she asks.
"Ramsey busy tonight?" Frank remarks.
"Frank, I'm sorry -- I just got caught up with --"
"Yeah, I know what you got caught up with. Karen -- when you agreed to be Tyler's godmother, I never thought you'd practically move in with Chris as part of the deal."
"Frank, he needs help. Nicole is making this so difficult for him -- Julie would never want her mother to raise her son."
"What a choice this kid's got for parents -- Ramsey or Nicole Devlin. He'd probably be better off being left with a pack of wolves."
"Chris is a good father -- you haven't seen him with Tyler, he's wonderful."
"Karen -- do remember that this is the same guy who used you as a guinea pig, and then threatened to let you DIE if you wouldn't become his own personal love slave."
"And he's sorry for that -- we all make mistakes, Frank. God knows you've made enough."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Do you want a list?" Karen asks.
"I never almost KILLED anyone." Frank says.
"Doesn't DL-56 ring a bell to you, Frank?"
"Ramsey is the one who kept me hooked on that drug and you know it!"
"No -- you CHOSE to, Frank. Don't blame Chris for your lack of self-control. You know what -- why don't you call me when you're ready to discuss this like a rational human being. I already did my part and apologized -- the rest is up to you." Karen says, and she leaves in a huff.

"You're not wearing that are you?" Chris asks Jack, who enters the living room wearing a worn out pair of jeans, a t-shirt with a motorcycle logo on it, and a backwards baseball cap.
"Um -- last time I looked I was." Jack remarks.
"Well change -- the social services rep will be here in a few minutes, and I want to make a good impression. You look like a greasy mechanic."
"I AM a mechanic!" Jack shouts.
"Yeah, but you don't have to admit it. Now go change -- look, if you don't have anything decent to wear, borrow something of mine."
"Have you always been this pompous?" Jack asks.
"The social worker will be here any minute with Tyler. I want to make a good impression, okay? Just please -- go change." Jack sighs in disgust.
"Alright, fine -- you owe me." Jack goes into the other room. A few minutes later, the doorbell rings. Chris opens the door.
"Hey buddy -- come here!" Chris says, reaching out for Tyler from the woman who's holding him. "Mrs. Walker -- please, come in." Chris tells her. "I'm still getting settled -- I should be pretty well moved in within a week or so."
"I see." the woman says, looking around the place. "Well -- I do have to say, this is an improvement from the apartment. May I see Tyler's room?"
"Of course." Chris says, and he takes her on a tour of the house. After they are done, they go into the living room. Jack is sitting on the couch. "Mrs. Walker -- you remember my brother Jack, right?"
"Of course. I take it you'll be living her as well." she says.
"My brother needs all the help he can get with Tyler. And I love my nephew -- I'll do anything for him."
"Well, that's very kind of you. I guess I'll leave for now -- I'll be back first thing Monday morning. Have a good visit." the woman says, and she leaves.
"Visit. You hear that -- I get to VISIT my own son." Chris says, sitting down with Tyler on his lap.
"It's not permanent, Chris."
"Jack -- I don't know how I'm gonna win this thing. Nicole can dig up enough on me to make me look like the devil himself."
"Well, then we'll just have to dig even deeper. Don't worry -- we won't let her win. We're Ramseys, right -- we can outsmart the best of them."
"I just wish I knew what her plan was. Because I know she has one. And whatever it is -- it's not good." Chris says.

Frank sits at the bar at Jakes, sulking, when someone sits down next to him. "You hang out here a lot, huh?" the girl asks him. Frank looks up.
"You again -- what, do you want more money? Go find yourself another sucker." Frank says.
"I -- I was hoping you'd be here. I wanted to give you this." The girl hands him some money. "Turns out I don't need it."
"What, did you win the lottery?"
"Something like that." the girl. "I'm really sorry -- about yesterday." The girl pauses for a moment. "Someone stole my purse -- I'm new in town, and I had no money on me. I was desperate. But -- the police found it, and -- I don't ever do things like that, I swear. I'm really sorry."
"So you're new in town, huh? Where are you from?"
"Nowhere in particular -- I travel a lot."
"Doing what?"
"I'm a -- consultant. I just got a job here in Port Charles, with a pretty big-money company. Yesterday was my first day in town, and -- nothing went right. My flight arrived late, so I lost my room at my hotel, and the only room I could find was the hotel down the street. And then my purse got stolen and -- I'm so sorry -- I hope you'll forgive me."
"So how does a big business consultant learn how to be a pickpocket?"
"Ex-boyfriend from high school. Just a little something he taught me that I never forgot. I'm Katie, by the way -- Katie Mayers."
"Frank Scanlon." Frank says.
"Well it's -- good to meet you." Frank doesn't say anything. "Well, I -- just wanted to return your money to you. I apologize again for causing you any trouble." Katie gets up and starts to leave.
"You don't have to go." Frank says.
"Well, you -- kind of looked like you wanted to be alone."
"Not especially -- come on, stick around. Order whatever you want, it's on me."
"Okay." Katie says, sitting back down. "You know, you're a very nice guy Frank Scanlon."
"Tell my girlfriend that -- she seems to have trouble noticing."
"Well, that's her loss -- some women just don't know a good thing when they see it." Katie tells him, as they continue to talk.

February 20, 2002 -- Tyler's custody trial begins. "Mrs. Mayfield -- would you please take the stand?" the judge asks, as Nicole is sworn in, and her attorney begins questioning her. "Mrs. Mayfield -- can you please tell the court about your current home situation."
"Yes -- my husband, Lance and I --- well, we want to give Tyler as good a home as we possibly can. We love children -- and since Lance has a job a the hospital, I'll be staying at home full-time with Tyler. Well, at least until he's of age to attend school. I feel it's important that a parent stay home with their child during the early years." Nicole states.
"What a crock. Julie told me she had more nannies than she could count." Chris whispers to Scott under his breath.
"A home you don't feel Dr. Ramsey can provide." her attorney suggests.
"Objection! Calls for speculation." Scott says.
"Sustained." the judge replies.
"Mrs. Mayfield -- do you feel that you would provide a good, stable environment for Tyler?" the attorney asks.
"Yes, I do -- and I don't intend to shut his father out of his life if I'm granted custody. I'm sure we could come up with some arrangement." Nicole suggests.
"No further questions." her attorney says. Scott gets up to question her.
"Mrs. Mayfield -- is it true that you and your daughter Julie -- Tyler's mother -- hadn't spoken to one another in two years?" Scott asks.
"Yes, that's true." Nicole says.
"Why is that?" Scott asks.
"Well -- my daughter was an extremely unstable woman. And I feel that, while married to Dr. Ramsey, he somehow had her convinced that I was a bad mother, and that she should no longer be a part of my life."
"That's a lie and you know it!" Chris shouts.
"Dr. Ramsey, sit down!" the judge says.
"Isn't it true that when your daughter was on trial, you wanted nothing to do with her?" Scott asks.
"No, that's not true at all -- it was Julie who resisted me. I tried calling, writing -- everything I could. She just pushed me away."
"There are witnesses that say at the courthouse, the one time you came to her trial, you told Julie she was a major disappointment to you. Is that true?" Scott asks.
"Yes, it is -- I was angry, and it was a foolish thing to say. I tried, afterward, to contact her, and make amends -- we all make mistakes. I just wish I had the chance to make things up to her." Nicole says, in tears.
"No more questions right now." Scott says. The judge turns to Chris.
"Dr. Ramsey -- the court will now hear from you." the judge says, and Chris is sworn in.
"Dr. Ramsey -- you were not informed that your wife had given birth to your son until December, 2001, is that correct?" Scott asks.
"Yes it is." Chris replies.
"And a paternity test has determined that Tyler is, in fact, your biological child."
"Yes, that's true."
"Do you want to raise your son, Dr. Ramsey?"
"Yes -- I love my son."
"Do you believe that your wife would have wanted her mother, Nicole Devlin Mayfield, to raise your son Tyler?" Scott asks.
"Objection! Calls for speculation." Nicole's attorney says.
"We're talking about Dr. Ramsey's wife -- if anyone would know what the boy's mother wanted, it would be him." Scott says.
"Overruled." the judge replies.
"No -- Julie wouldn't have wanted Nicole anywhere near Tyler. She hated Nicole. She never once mentioned her -- not once, the entire time she was in the hospital. She wanted me to raise Tyler." Chris says.
"You believe you can provide a good home for Tyler?" Scott asks.
"Yes, I do." Chris replies. "I have a good job, a house, and I love my son. I just want what's best for him."
"No further questions." Scott says, and Nicole's attorney approaches.
"Dr. Ramsey -- how many hours a day do you work?" he asks.
"It varies --- ten or twelve -- it just depends." Chris says.
"And when you're working -- who would be taking care of Tyler?"
"Well -- my brother is living with me. He's helping me quite a bit. And a colleague of mine, Karen Wexler --- she's helping me. And there are some others who will help if necessary."
"And how much time does that leave you to spend with your son?"
"Every other free minute I have. Tyler is my life -- if I'm not working, I'm with him."
"Do you think you're fit to be a parent, Dr. Ramsey? I mean -- given your questionable past." the attorney says.
"Objection!" Scott shouts.
"Your honor -- my client will bring in witnesses that will testify that Dr. Chris Ramsey is unfit to raise a plant, let alone a child. Mrs. Mayfield and her husband will also testify to that affect. Dr. Chris Ramsey is nothing more than a con artist who took advantage of a very unstable woman, convinced her he was in love with her, managed to swindle her out of her money, and is completely incapable of acting in anyone's best interest but his own. I guarantee, your honor -- granting custody of this young boy to a man like Dr. Ramsey would be a grave mistake." the attorney states, as Chris looks clearly upset.

"Chris, come on -- it was only the first day." Jack says, as they entire the house.
"Did you hear what he said, Jack? Come on --- Nicole can easily get half the town to line up to testify against me. I don't know what I'm gonna do here."
"Maybe the -- running away idea isn't so bad after all." Jack suggests.
"No -- Julie would hate that. She hated living that way. That's not what she wanted for Tyler. And I promised her he'd remain close to Christina. I intend to keep that promise."
"Look -- I have to go to the shop and finish up a couple of bikes. You gonna be okay here?" Jack asks.
"Yeah -- I'm fine, go ahead." Chris tells him. Jack opens the door, just as Karen was about to knock.
"Hey -- I'm glad you're here -- it didn't go very well today." Jack tells her, and leaves.
"Hey Chris." Karen says.
"Hi." Chris says.
"Sorry I couldn't be there today."
"It's okay. So -- how are things with Frank?"
"We're -- still kind of fighting right now. I apologized, he was a jerk -- the ball's in his court now."
"I'm sorry." Chris says.
"Listen -- I know you don't want to hear this, but -- I'm afraid I have some really bad news."
"Well good -- I wanted my day to get worse. Go ahead, let me have it."
"I got a subpoena from Nicole's attorney today. I have to testify against you, Chris -- I don't know for what, but -- I'm guessing it has something to do with the whole DL-56 mess." Karen says.
"Well, that's great." Chris remarks.
"I don't want to do this, I hope you know that. I know what a good father you are to Tyler. I don't want to see Nicole getting custody of him."
"Well -- you know enough to ruin me Karen, what can I say? I'm not gonna ask you to perjure yourself for me." Chris says, making himself a drink.
"I can tell them they'll need to treat me as a hostile witness." Karen says.
"Yeah, or you could just marry me and then you wouldn't have to testify." Chris jokingly remarks, taking a drink. Karen just laughs, then gets a serious look on her face.
"Hey -- why not. That's the perfect solution."
"Karen, I was kidding." Chris says.
"Well, I'm not kidding -- it's the perfect way out Chris, for both of us. So how about it -- you want to marry me?" Karen asks, as Chris drops his glass and stares at her in shock.

To Chapter Five