The Scorpio house was in its usual morning turmoil when Felicia heard the insistent knocking at the door. She peeked through the blinds to see her ex-husband standing on the porch. She had been wondering when he would show up to see their daughters. He was turned away from the door talking to the guard so she studied his profile. He reminded her of a little boy with his jeans and leather jacket, his hands stuffed in his pockets and that lock of hair falling onto his forehead. Little boy charm, too, she thought sagely.

When she opened the door, he smiled at her. That charming, sexy, lopsided, little grin that usually got him anything he wanted, especially from anyone of the female persuasion. She was determined to resist that smile. She stepped back wordlessly to let him in. She noticed with a hint of satisfaction that he was nervous. There were few things that made Frisco Jones nervous, and Felicia was glad that seeing his daughters after so long an absence was one of them. He stepped into the living room, openly looking around which irritated Felicia. She felt like her family was being invaded by a nosy stranger. Finally, he turned to her. She noticed the grin was back. Forget it buster, it’s not going to work.

"Hey. You look nice." Don’t look. Just ignore it. Be cool, Felicia..

"Thank you. What brings you here so early? Did Robert or Anna need you for something?" She noted the grin faltered just a bit.

"No. We haven’t had much of a chance to talk since I got back into town. I wanted to stop by and say hi. And I was hoping to see the girls. Maybe take them to Kelly’s for breakfast."

"It’s a school day Frisco. They’re upstairs getting ready. And running late as usual."

"Like mother, like daughters," Frisco muttered. "Don’t you think you could make an exception? They could be a little late for school. I mean its not everyday I get to see them."

"Yes, I know," Felicia answered, causing his grin to slip a little more. "Maybe you could come back after school."

"Well…sure. I guess. I just – "

"Mom! I can’t find my blue sweater!" Maxie yelled as she ran down the stairs. She stopped when she saw her father.

"Hey, Maxie. Wow, look how big you’ve gotten." Maxie looked at her father like he was something she had just scraped off the bottom of her shoe.

"Whatever. So have you seen my sweater, Mom?" she asked as she tried to ignore Frisco. Felicia noticed the grin was gone and couldn’t stop herself from feeling sorry for him.

"Maxie, aren’t you going to say hello?" she prodded.

"Hello," Maxie said sarcastically. "When are you leaving again?"

"Maxie!"

"No, Felicia it’s okay. I haven’t been around much." He turned to Maxie. "I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stay. But I’d like to spend as much time as I can with you and your sister. I’ve missed you both."

"Yeah, sure you have. That’s why you haven’t been home for years."

"I’m sorry for that, Max. But I had good reasons. There were people – friends – who counted on me to help keep them safe. I had to help them."

"Why? ‘Cause they’re so much more important than your own kids?" Maxie asked with all of the indignant anger a twelve-year old could muster.

"Of course not," Frisco said. He couldn’t believe she actually thought anyone or anything could be more precious to him than his daughters. "You and Georgie are the two most important people in my life. But my friends would have done the same thing for me. They would have dropped everything to help me. That’s why they’re such good friends. And if I had come back to Port Charles to see you I might have put you in danger. And that’s the last thing on earth I want to do."

Maxie dropped her eyes, regretting being so harsh with her father, but still feeling hurt and abandoned by him. Georgie came bouncing down the stairs, wearing only one shoe.

"Mommy, I can’t find my shoe!" She stopped beside her sister, gawking at Frisco.

"Daddy? Are you going to live here, too, now?" she asked innocently. Both girls were thrilled with all of the activity in the house. They loved having Robin back home, and enjoyed playing with the babies. Robert and Anna were mysterious and exciting to them. After all, everyone thought they were dead. She and Maxie were instantly drawn to Anna and pestered her with questions until Felicia or Mac shooed them away. She was still jealous of Maxie because she wanted Anna to be her godmother, too.

"Uh, no, Georgie. I just stopped by for a visit. I’d better go. I’ll come back after school."

"You’re not going away again are you?" Georgie suddenly looked like she was on the verge of tears.

"No! No, I’m not going anywhere." Felicia shot him a dirty look, knowing he was making a promise he might not be able to keep. She decided to step in before the conversation went downhill.

"You know what? You guys can be a little late for school today. Why don’t we all have breakfast together? Won’t that be fun?" Before anyone could answer, Mac came downstairs carrying Georgie’s other shoe.

"Guess what I found?" he called out. Georgie ran over to him, jumping up and down.

"My shoe! My shoe!" He handed her the shoe distractedly as he noticed Frisco. He bent to pick the little girl up as Maxie inched closer to him.

"What’s going on?" he asked a little too politely. Frisco and Felicia exchanged a look. Then Felicia pasted on a big, fake smile and explained the morning’s plan to her husband

*****

Robin was taking her time getting ready. Her parents offered to take care of the twins after they found her sleeping on the couch that morning. She knew they were worried about her but didn’t know how to reassure them. They still didn’t know what happened the day before; Parker had protected her privacy and dignity and lied to their faces when they asked what had caused her latest headache. Robin wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She was used to fighting with Parker, not conspiring with him.

She reached into the drawer in the nightstand to get her diary, thinking that writing about her feelings might help her feel better. Instead she accidentally pulled out the bundle of letters she’d hidden there. The rush of emotions she felt as she looked at them took her breath away. They were only paper and ink but the letters still had the power to bring her to her knees.

She looked at the top envelope. Jason’s address was neatly printed in her delicate handwriting. The words "Refused – return to sender" were slashed angrily in Jason’s handwriting. She knew most of the envelopes in the pile looked the same. She thought back to the day she found out she was pregnant.

"It is not possible!" Robin insisted.

"I understand that you’re upset, but denying it won’t help," the doctor said as he tried to calm her. "It’s not the end of the world. You’re very healthy, your viral load is still undetectable – "

"I can’t do this!"

There were so many possibilities. So many what-if’s. What if the baby was sick? What if the baby died? What if she died? What if Jason wanted the baby? What if he didn’t? What if he took the baby away from her? What if he rejected the baby because of her?

She was still so lost in her thoughts that she plowed into somebody. The impact of the collision knocked her down and caused the man to stumble. They both began apologizing at once. He flashed a dazzling smile as he helped her to her feet. Then he offered to walk her home. She looked around, finally realizing she was miles from her tiny apartment. When she told him she didn’t live nearby, he offered to drive her home. She tried to brush him off but he was persistent, obvious in his interest. She politely declining didn’t work, she tried to laugh him off telling him her mother told her never to accept rides from tall, dark, mysterious men. Finally, she got angry and rudely told him that she could take care of herself. He astonished her by immediately agreeing. How long had it been since someone had that kind of faith in her? She had finally come to terms with the fact that everyone treated her like some fragile little doll that needed to be coddled and protected. With one short sentence he captured her interest.

"Obviously, but I want to protect the other good Samaritans who might try to rescue you." The twinkle in his eye told her he was joking, but the way he looked at her made her shiver. How long had it been since someone looked at her with that kind of interest? She let him take her home. He kissed her hand at the door, lingering just a little too long to be considered polite. Before he left, he told her he would pick her up at eight for dinner. She bristled at his overconfidence.

Robin shoved the letters back in the drawer, cringing to think that she had been so gullible. Gerard had presented a very appealing option at a time when she felt completely unattractive and unlovable. He was a handsome, vaguely dangerous, slightly older man. He was wealthy, powerful, willing and eager to give her his complete attention and not the least bit shy about his attraction to her. After months of living with Jason, constantly having to accept coming in last to Michael, Carly, Sonny and the business, Gerard was the polar opposite. He made no secret of the fact that Robin came first. Before his job, his friends, his family, everything. Who else would possibly respond by grabbing her and kissing her after she screamed at him that not only was she HIV positive but she was pregnant with another man’s child? Who else would be so supportive as she tried to contact her baby’s father and struggled with the decision of whether or not to have the baby? Who else would be so insistent about marrying her after he knew the other man was finally completely out of her life? Who else would constantly tell her she was beautiful as her body changed and grew rounder? It was all too tempting at a time when she doubted herself so much but even now she couldn’t forgive herself. She should have known better.

A commotion outside interrupted her thoughts. She cautiously walked to the window. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Two news vans were parked on the street and several reporters were clamoring around the porch. She could hear Mac shouting at them, telling them to get the hell off of his property before he arrested them all. Robin couldn’t understand why they were there. Had something happened? She got her answer when one of the reporters saw her standing there and the cameras swung in her direction. Jason. Jason told someone she was here. Robin was furious. How would her parents ever be able to leave the house now? They would be mobbed.

The door slammed against the wall as it was flung open, startling her. Her father stormed into the room.

"Come away from the window, luv."

"Did they see you?"

"No. But they saw you. And your mother." Robin closed her eyes tightly as Robert put his arms around her. It seemed their private wars had just become public.

*****

Sonny moved carefully as he walked into the penthouse, trying not to jar his shoulder. Carly trailed behind him, fussing over him. He eased himself down on the couch. After a brief but intense argument with Carly over whether or not he needed to be in bed, he put his feet up and clicked on the TV. A few minutes later, Johnny announced Jason and let him in. Sonny muted the television as Jason sat across from him. He noticed the dark circles under the younger man’s eyes. It appeared Jason wasn’t sleeping again.

"How are you feeling?" Jason asked.

"I’ve been better. Cops still hassling you?"

"No. Taggart’s called a couple of times, but that’s it. Nothing I can’t handle." Sonny noticed his friend’s distraction. He also noticed that Jason was careful to avoid looking him in the eyes.

"You find out anything yet?" Jason’s head jerked up.

"What?"

"Did you find out anything about the shooters?" Sonny repeated, watching him closely.

"No. I put some feelers out but…" Jason broke off mid-sentence. Sonny followed his gaze and saw the Scorpio house on the TV screen. He quickly turned the sound up, terrified that something had happened to Robin. They listened, transfixed, as the reporter told them of a tip that Robin Scorpio had been found and was staying with her uncle. Sonny swore softly as the reporters recognized Anna in the background before the camera swung up to show Robin standing at an upstairs window.

Jason jumped up off of the couch, already dialing a number on his cell phone.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he shouted. "I told you to keep this quiet!" He listened angrily for a moment before shouting, "You’re fired!" into the phone and throwing it across the room. Sonny was shocked. Carly came running out of the kitchen but Sonny waved her off. She watched Jason pace around the room for a minute before retreating.

"Jason? What’s the matter?" Jason ignored him and continued to pace. "Hey, I’m talking to you! What’s going on?"

"That idiot!" Jason seethed. Sonny stared, uncomprehending. "The stupid lawyer called the press!"

"What lawyer?" Sonny asked suspiciously. Jason sighed in disgust as he returned to the couch and began to explain.

*****

Faison paced impatiently in his study. He checked his watch again. They should have arrived by now. He didn’t know what was taking so long but he knew he didn’t like it. When the door finally opened, he was ready to fly into a rage. Instead, he smiled at the little girl who skipped into the room and into his arms. He picked her up, swinging her around.

"Daddy!" Avery squealed. "I missed you." She planted a kiss on his cheek.

"I bet I missed you more," he teased.

"Nuh uh!" she giggled. Her tiny nose wrinkled at his cigar. "Yuck! Those are bad for you," she said seriously. Faison chuckled and crushed the cigar out in the ashtray. Avery made no move to get down as she looked curiously around the room.

"Is this our new house?"

"Only for a little while, darling."

"It’s dark," she replied. He smiled at her again.

"Wait until you see your room. You might not want to leave."

"Does it have a puppy?" she asked with a twinkle in her eye. Faison laughed at her again. She had been begging for a puppy for months and she knew it was only a matter of time before he caved in and got her one.

"Now I wonder who would want a puppy?"

"Me, Daddy! I want a puppy! Please?"

"When we get home, we’ll see about getting you a puppy. Will that do?"

Avery sighed dramatically. "I suppose. May I get down please?"

Faison watched in admiration as she wandered around the room, her little hand trailing over the furniture. She was a gorgeous little girl with her rosy complexion, long dark hair and dancing brown eyes. Strangers often stopped them to compliment him on his beautiful daughter. Faison remembered another little girl who was every bit as lovely, charming and intelligent. He couldn’t wait to introduce Anna to their daughter.

Avery was anxious and kept glancing his way. He knew what she wanted to ask. He sat behind his desk and waited. She eventually came over and climbed onto his lap.

"Daddy? When will Mommy be here?"

"Soon, Avery. I promise you."

"But doesn’t she want to come home? Doesn’t she love us anymore?" she asked fearfully. Faison smiled to reassure her.

"Of course your mommy loves us. She’ll come home to us soon, darling. I guarantee it."

Chapter 22

Sonny sat stock-still on the couch glaring at Jason. Jason waited for the explosion he knew would follow his explanation of his meeting with Robin. The minutes stretched out as the tense silence continued. Jason had only seen Sonny that angry a few times.

Just as Carly walked into the room, Sonny ground out, "Get out of my home." Carly stopped to stare at her husband in shock.

"Sonny!"

"Get out, Jason! I mean it!"

"Sonny, what’s going on? What happened?" Carly asked, still confused. Jason got up, almost relieved that Sonny didn’t want to get into it right at that moment. It was probably better that he had time to cool off.

"It’s fine, Carly."

"It’s not fine, Jason! It’s a long way from fine!" Sonny shouted. "What did I tell you? Huh? What did I tell you?" Jason didn’t understand the question. "One of the first times I met you. You never hit anyone smaller than you and you never, ever hit a woman! Never!"

"I didn’t hit her, she hit me!" Jason’s response only made Sonny angrier. Carly still had no idea what they were talking about. She looked from one man to the other bewildered as Sonny continued to yell.

"You deserved that and more! You better be damn glad I can’t kick your ass right now! Get out of my sight!" Johnny, hearing the shouting, opened the door and stuck his head in. He had been expecting a confrontation since Pete told him how he "helped" Jason the day before.

"Sonny? Everything okay?" Johnny asked, knowing full well everything was definitely not okay. He knew he should stay out of it but he always liked Robin and thought Jason was behaving like a jerk. He was half-hoping to be asked to show Jason the door.

"Get him out of here!" Sonny told his guard. Gina brushed past Johnny. She was still wearing one of Jason’s T-shirts but had hastily pulled on her jeans when she saw the news report. She was barefoot. Carly, noticing all of these things, glared at the other woman.

"Well, I see you saw the news, too," Gina said as she took in the scene before her. Sonny sat red-faced on the couch glaring daggers at Jason who was hanging his head looking frustrated and embarrassed. Carly stood nearby trying to figure out why they were arguing and Johnny looked ready to pounce. Gina looked at Jason suspiciously.

"Any ideas about where that ‘tip’ to the press came from, Jason?" she asked as she crossed her arms.

"My lawyer," Jason mumbled. "Former lawyer," he amended. Gina sighed. What was that expression? The road to hell is paved with good intentions? So Jason had called a lawyer after she went to bed. She knew he was up to something. Jason began walking to the door.

"I’m going out," he told Gina.

"Out where?"

"Just out," he replied irritably as he walked past her into the hall.

"I hope you don’t think you’re going over there. That’s the last thing –"

"I’m not going anywhere near Robin right now. Don’t worry. I’ll see you later." Jason disappeared into the elevator. Gina stood in the doorway staring after him.

"Gina! How long have you known about this?" Sonny asked.

"Since he came home last night," she answered honestly.

"And you’re okay with this?" he asked in outrage.

"Of course not!" Gina snapped. Her stomach began to churn at the smell of coffee drifting into the room from the kitchen. "What he did was stupid. He completely overreacted. I’m sure there’s a lot more to the story than any of us know. And it doesn’t sound like he actually told the lawyer to tell the press about Robin." She paused and put a hand over her mouth. "I have to throw up."

Sonny, Carly and Johnny watched in confusion as she raced out the room and into the bathroom down the hall. Sonny threw his hands in the air in disgust.

"Now what?"

*****

"Alan! Monica!" Edward wandered out in the foyer of the Quartermaine mansion. "Where the bloody hell is everyone?" he grumbled.

"Alan!" he bellowed again.

"What in the world are you yelling about now?" Alan asked as he leisurely descended the stairs.

"For heaven’s sake, do you live in a bubble? Haven’t you seen the news?" Alan’s heart began to pound. He feared something had happened to Jason or AJ. He pushed past his father and hurried into the den. He watched the news report in horror. Mac Scorpio, Frisco Jones and what looked like half the PCPD were trying to clear the Scorpio’s lawn of reporters. The snooty woman on camera was reiterating that an anonymous tip had been received that not only was Robin Scorpio alive and well and staying at her uncle’s home, but that she was the mother of two small babies. The reporter also said smugly that Robin’s supposedly dead mother, Anna Devane Scorpio had been spotted in the house. Alan sank to the sofa as Monica entered the room.

"What was all of that yelling about?" Both men shushed her and waved at her to be quiet. Monica was about to tell them where they could put their "shh’s" when she finally heard what the reporter was saying. The woman was continuing her report by speculating that local "crime lord" Jason Morgan was the father of the two children. Monica moved to sit beside her husband. Emily ran into the den.

"Is it true?" She saw the reporter on the screen and stopped to listen for a moment. "Oh my God!" She flopped into an armchair, covering her face with her hands.

"Emily? What’s wrong?" Monica asked.

"This is all my fault," Emily moaned. Monica, Alan and Edward exchanged inquisitive looks.

"How is this your fault?" Alan asked.

"I told Jason about the babies," Emily’s parents were shocked.

"How did you even know?" Emily winced. She had forgotten she would have to admit she was eavesdropping.

"I heard you telling Mom," she said hesitantly. At their outraged looks, she tried to explain her actions. "I didn’t know he’d be mad! I thought he’d be happy! He’s been so worried about Robin I thought he’d be thrilled to know she was okay and about their babies, but…"

"But…" Monica prompted.

"What did that hoodlum do?" Edward asked, unable to contain himself any longer.

"Father please!" Alan snapped, before turning to Emily and lowering his voice. "Emily what happened?"

"I found him at the hospital after Sonny got shot and I told him. He was so angry. Then Taggart came in and dragged him down to the police station to talk about the shooting."

"But that doesn’t mean he would do something like this. I mean, now Faison knows Robin is here. Jason wouldn’t do anything to put Robin and his daughters in danger."

"He was really angry, Mom." Alan and Monica stared helplessly at their daughter, not quite willing to believe Jason would have done something so reckless. Edward began blustering again.

"Well, I for one am going over there to see what is going on with that girl. I can’t believe Robin would keep something so important from us!"

"Edward sit down!" Monica ordered. "After the fiasco with Michael, why wouldn’t Robin keep her children from us?"

"And just how did you two know about this anyway?" Edward asked. Alan explained about Robin’s doctor appointment causing his father to start complaining about no one telling him as Emily sneaked out of the room.

*****

Gina lay on the lounge chair in front of the fire. She still felt queasy after her bout of vomiting. She had come back to Jason’s penthouse, partly to avoid Sonny and Carly’s questions and partly to wait for Jason. She hoped he wouldn’t do anything to make the situation worse. A pounding on the door startled her. The pounding continued as she heard Johnny yelling over the din. She hurried over to the door and peered through the peephole. A tall, dark-haired young man was arguing with Johnny as he continued banging on the door.

Gina flung the door open without thinking. The man stopped knocking and looked surprised to see her instead of Jason. He took in her appearance and apparently didn’t like what he saw. She still wore Jason’s T-shirt over her jeans and her feet were still bare. She had a blanket draped around her shoulders. The man glared at her.

"Where is he?" he demanded. Gina scowled at his rudeness.

"Who wants to know?" she asked. The man reached in his pocket and pulled out a badge. He held it right in front of her face. Oh great, the WSB. Jason I’m going to kill you, she thought. She looked more closely at the name on the badge: Owen Parker. Ah, the competition. She coolly looked Parker up and down. So this is why Jason’s so jealous.

"He’s not here," she said. The man snorted and put his hands on his hips.

"Yeah, right. Get him out here." Gina mimicked his gesture, putting her hands on her own hips.

"I said he went out. He’s probably riding around cooling off."

"Where?"

"I don’t know. Look around," she replied. Parker glared at her for a moment, before turning on his heel and striding to the elevator. She followed him into the hall.

"He didn’t plan this," Gina called after him. "His lawyer did it." Parker simply glared as he got on the elevator and viciously jabbed the lobby button. Gina leaned her forehead against the elevator doors after they closed. Johnny waited expectantly nearby. Gina straightened and walked back into the penthouse. Johnny was still watching when she slammed the door.

*****

Jason stalked across the docks, still unsure why he was there. He had ridden his bike for a couple hours but hadn’t been able to lose the tension he felt. He couldn’t believe his lawyer told the press about Robin and their daughters. Didn’t the fool realize, he’d put them all in danger from Faison? Jason knew Faison was aware that Robin was in town; he saw her at the hospital. But what if he hadn’t known about the twins? Were they in danger now because of him? He would have called Alexis if he actually thought she would help him. But Alexis was Jax’s ex-wife and he wasn’t sure she would want to take on this particular case. Besides, she had refused to help during Michael’s custody suit claiming it wasn’t her area of expertise.

Jason wanted to go straight to Robin and explain. He doubted, however, that she would believe him. He had spent most of the night staring into the fire, thinking about her, their relationship and their daughters. He was still adjusting to the fact that they had two little girls together. There was a time when the thought of being a parent with Robin thrilled him. It was something he quietly hoped for but always in vague terms of "someday" and "maybe". After Robin left and he gave up Michael, he never thought he would have the opportunity to be a father again. Now they had children but not each other.

He agonized over the letters she sent him last year; he had returned them all unopened. He had even had a lawyer – the same lawyer he called last night – send a large check and a letter that basically said "have a nice life but leave me the hell alone". Jason couldn’t imagine what she felt when she read it. She was pregnant and alone – and if he knew Robin, terrified of passing her HIV on to her babies – and she gets some stupid check and a letter telling her to go away. Robin returned the check to the lawyer’s office, torn into pieces and had not contacted him since. Two of her friends sent letters, though. He wondered now if her friends were trying to tell him about the babies, tell him he was a jackass or even trying to tell him that Robin was in danger. At the time, he thought Robin put them up to writing to him and sent them back to her with another not-so-nice letter attached. He could understand how she might have been worried about his reaction, but he still couldn’t believe she didn’t try harder to tell him about their daughters. Faison was the only reason he could think of. Faison must have done something to scare her off. And, there was the fact that Parker, a WSB agent, had been with her that day in the park. Was he there to protect her or because they were friends? Or lovers?

Jason realized he was heading toward the dock were the launches to Wyndemere were docked. He didn’t know what he planned to do, but the only thought in his head was to stop Faison from hurting his children. As he turned the corner, he ran headlong into three large, muscular men. Jason muttered an apology and tried to side-step them but they blocked his way. One man reached out to shove him, as the other two circled behind him, grabbing his arms. Jason struggled but could not get away. The man in front of him leaned in close.

"Faison says to leave her alone." Then he punched Jason in the stomach. Jason tried to double over as the wind was knocked out of him but the other two men held him upright. The third man waited for him to catch his breath before looming over Jason again.

"Do you understand? Leave the girl alone." Before he could punch him again, Jason kicked the man in the stomach, using him as leverage to push the men holding him back. Unfortunately for Jason, his plan didn’t work and only served to enrage the men further. They began pummeling him. Jason was outnumbered and it was all he could do to deflect some of the blows.

Suddenly one of the men was thrown back as he was hit in the face with a flying fist. Parker punched the man again before he could recover, knocking him out. Another of the men, let go of Jason to go after Parker. As they fought, Jason managed to gather enough strength to sucker punch the remaining thug. After several minutes of intense fighting, only Parker and Jason were left standing. They sized each other up as they gasped for breath. Jason clutched his stomach as Parker rubbed his bruised knuckles.

Finally Jason grudgingly offered his hand to Parker. Parker took the offered hand and shook it. Then he punched Jason in the jaw, knocking him to his knees. He pointed down at the other man.

"That’s for Robin."