"Hello?" After a short pause, the man repeated his greeting, "Hello?"

"Hello," Anna said suddenly. Her mouth was dry and her hands were clammy. She couldn’t remember ever having felt quite this nervous. She glanced at her husband and daughter who smiled encouragingly. "Who is this?"

"Alex? Sweetheart, I know you’ve been working a lot lately but when you forget your own husband, enough is enough."

"Oh. No," Anna said quickly. "I’m…I’m not – " She stopped, not knowing how to continue.

"Alex, what’s wrong?" The man sounded concerned. His tone reminded her of Robert.

"I’m not Alex," she blurted. There was a long silence as neither knew what to say. "I’m sorry. I’m really so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. You must be Dimitri. My name is – "

"I don’t know what kind of sick joke you’re playing, but I suggest you don’t call back." His words were clipped with anger. Anna almost smiled at his sudden protectiveness, again reminded of Robert.

"Please let me explain. My name is Anna. Alexandra is my – "

"Alex’s sister died eight years ago. Do you think this is funny? Or are you one of those wackos looking to recruit my wife into some – "

"No! Of course not!"

" – terrorist organization with some stupid plot to take over the world?"

"No. I told you," Anna said, fighting to stay calm. Why should he believe her? Why should Alexandra believe her? "My name in Anna Devane Scorpio. Obviously, I’m not dead. Alexandra is my sister and – "

"Don’t lie to me, lady!" Anna felt her temper flare but tried to reason with her brother-in-law.

"I know this is very difficult to understand – "

"You got that right!" Anna sighed in frustration.

"May I speak to Alexan – " The loud click of the receiver being slammed down caused her to pull the phone away from her ear and stop mid-sentence. She stared at the phone in her hand, shocked and angry.

"I guess that didn’t go so well," Robert said from his place by the door. Robin sat nearby on the sofa looking sympathetic. She knew this was terribly painful and awkward for her mother. Even though her parents had known about Alexandra for several years, actually contacting her was difficult for her mother. But since the press descended on them this morning, it couldn’t be put off any longer. Anna was frantic to contact Alex before her sister saw her on the evening news or read about her in the morning paper. She had never met her sister and felt guilty for all of the pain and grief she’d caused Alexandra, albeit unintentionally. Robin knew her aunt was in for a series of shocks when she learned the whole truth about her family and the years she worked for Charlotte. To make matters worse – or, Robin admitted, better for Alexandra – they now had to contend with Alexandra’s new family as well. Robin hoped Alex’s family might help ease the blow of the extremely unpleasant news about Faison and Avery.

"He hung up on me," Anna said in consternation. Her voice cut through Robin’s thoughts and she tried to concentrate on the problem at hand. Her mother was still staring at the telephone in her hand.

"He hung up on me," Anna repeated loudly. "That arrogant son of a – "

"Anna, we knew this wouldn’t be easy. I still think you and I should fly down there and – "

"And leave Robin alone? Forget it." Anna began rifling though the address book that sat beside her on the desk.

"Now who are you calling?" Robin asked.

"I’m calling her office. It didn’t sound like she was at home anyway. Maybe she’s at the hospital." Anna found the number and dialed. She nervously drummed her fingers on the desk while she waited for an answer. Finally a man picked up the phone.

"Dr. Marick’s desk." Anna decided to skip the formalities this time, hoping to catch him off guard.

"Who’s this?" she demanded.

"It’s David," he said. He sounded skeptical. "Were you calling to check your messages? I can hang up." Anna sighed. Great, here we go again. She thought quickly. David? David who? Ah, Hayward.

"Dr. Hayward, I am not Alexandra. I take it she’s not there?"

"What? Who – "

"Just answer me please. Is Alexandra still at the hospital?" There was a pause before the man gave a short, humorless laugh.

"What game are you playing here, Alex? Did you finally go off the deep end?" Anna’s patience had reached its limit.

"Listen very carefully. Alexandra is not crazy. I am not crazy. I am not Alexandra. My name is Anna and I need to speak with Dr. Alexandra Marick immediately. Do you know where she is?" Before he could reply, Alex walked into the office. She frowned when she saw him sitting on her desk using her phone. David stared at her then gave a sly grin.

"How are you doing this?"

"Doing what?" came the irritated reply from both Anna and Alex. He gaped at Alex, confused for a moment. Then his eyes narrowed.

"Alex, say something."

"What? Why? What are you doing?" She gave him a shrewd look as she walked over to him. This time when she spoke, he didn’t hear the same thing over the telephone. He held up a hand to stop her. He was now completely baffled.

"Anna? Still there?" Anna didn’t answer; she had frozen when she heard her sister’s name and voice. "Anna?"

"Yes. I’m here." David was stunned. Alex’s lips hadn’t moved. Either she was an amazing ventriloquist or he had her dead twin sister on the phone. He’d heard the rumors flying around town about Alex having a twin sister who had been a spy until she was murdered. He’d also heard that her body was never recovered. He handed the telephone to Alex, eager to see her reaction.

"It’s for you." Alex’s expression had become guarded when she heard the name Anna. She took the phone cautiously. David Hayward looked entirely too pleased with himself.

"Who is it?" she asked him.

"Your sister," he replied with a smirk. She slowly raised the receiver to her ear. Her heart was pounding so hard she was sure David must be able to hear it. Was he trying to trick her so he could call her crazy again or was her sister really alive? She was almost afraid to find out.

"Hello?" Alex said hesitantly. Anna suddenly felt like she couldn’t breathe. She was too stunned to reply until Alex snapped, "Who is this?"

"Alexandra?" Anna asked faintly. "Is this…Dr. Alexandra Marick?" She knew perfectly well it was; her sister sounded exactly like her, but Anna was stalling for time to collect herself. In her office, Alex grabbed the edge of her desk for support. Her mind was reeling. Was it possible her sister was alive? No body had ever been found so maybe… Or maybe it was someone her moth – Charlotte – knew who was trying to use her again.

"Are you still there?" Anna asked. David reached out to steady Alex, but she knocked his hand away.

"Yeah, I’m here. Where are you?"

"Port Charles," Anna answered. "New York," she clarified. "It’s my home. I’m sorry to do this to you over the phone but…circumstances have arisen that forced me to call you."

"What circumstances? Why should I believe you?" Alex asked, still skeptical.

"I don’t know why you should believe me." Robert snapped his fingers to get her attention then pointed to the muted TV. "Are you near a television?" Anna asked.

"What? Yes, why?"

"Do you get WPLR there?"

"Yes."

"Turn it on."

Alex fumbled for the remote and turned on the station. She watched as the reporter on the screen recounted the morning’s events as he stood outside the Scorpios’ home. He introduced an angry-looking man as local police commissioner Malcolm Scorpio and tried to ask the man if his brother – former police commissioner Robert Scorpio – was also alive and back in Port Charles with his wife and daughter. Mac told the man to "stick it" then told the reporter and cameraman to "get the hell out of the street" before he had them arrested for jaywalking before stalking back toward the house. The reporter called after Mac, heckling him, but Mac made a rude gesture that caused the camera to abruptly swing away. Alex clutched the remote to her chest and sat in a nearby chair in awed silence. She could hear the blood rushing through her ears.

"Alexandra? Are you all right?" My sister, Alex thought. My sister is alive. Anna called to her again, "Alexandra!"

"I’m fine," she replied numbly.

"Do you believe me now?"

"Your family certainly does." Anna winced at her choice of words. Alex was her family, too.

"A friend of mine – Sean Donely – is on his way to pick you up. He’s going to bring you here. Can you go pack a few things? Enough for at least a few days? We have a lot to talk about."

"I’ll say," Alex replied with a slightly hysterical laugh. "See you soon," she added softly.

*****

Faison watched the television with glee. He leaned back on the sofa, puffing on his cigar in satisfaction. It appeared that every reporter on the eastern seaboard had descended on the Scorpio home. Not only would Anna, Robert and the rest of them be unable to come and go unnoticed, but he wouldn’t have to waste manpower to keep track of them. Their every move would be daily news, at least for a while. That idiot Morgan hired was easily coerced into slipping the information to the press, he thought. All too easy.

The other parts of his plan were also coming together nicely. Right about now, Morgan should be taking his beating for upsetting Robin yet again. Avery was at Wyndemere with him. Her pictures had been found at the WSB’s hideout. Anna and Robert had moved back into town where it was much easier to watch them. The only flaw was the fact that Alexandra was also on her way to Port Charles. Faison had hoped the woman would be left out of the equation, but he supposed, given the media attention, her involvement was inevitable. He knew just how to get rid of her though. He had hoped to take care of her before Anna met her. It would have been so much easier on her if she had never met her sister before she lost her.

Faison’s silent gloating was interrupted as Avery ran into the room and leaped onto the couch. He snuffed out his cigar as he caressed her cheek. Her cheeks and nose were still red from the cold.

"How was your walk with Mrs. Adams? Do you like the island?"

"Yes, it’s nice. But I bet it would be nicer with leaves and flowers and a pony," she answered with a mischievous glint in her eye. Faison smiled at his daughter’s directness. She reminded him of Anna when she asked for something without truly asking.

"I believe you have a very fine pony at home," he reasoned.

"Yes," Avery said slowly. "But I’m sure he misses me a whole bunch and wants to come stay with us."

"Avery," he sighed. "We discussed this before. Ponies don’t like to fly. We’ll be going home in a few weeks anyway." Her little face fell in disappointment and he immediately wanted to promise her an entire herd of flying ponies in every color of the rainbow. Since that was not realistic, he settled for a compromise.

"You know," he began as tapped his mouth with a finger. "I think most puppies simply love to fly." Avery’s whole face lit up at the prospect of the long-desired puppy.

"Really? A puppy?" she squealed. "When? Can we go right now and get him?" She hopped off of the sofa and tugged her father’s arm. Faison laughed as he tried to calm her, delighted she was happy again.

"Wait, wait, wait. We’ll get the puppy in just a few days."

"But why not today?" Avery asked, pushing her lower lip out in a pout.

"Because no one can know we’re here just yet. We need to wait for the…excitement to die down before we venture out." Avery was still upset, so he added, "But isn’t a few day’s wait better than a few weeks." Avery twisted her little foot while she thought about his question. Her slow smile was his answer and he smiled in return.

"Mrs. Adams guess what? We’re getting a puppy!" she shouted as she raced out of the room. Faison sat back and gave an awful smile, thinking that maybe, in just a few days, both he and Avery would have what they wanted.

*****

Parker and Jason stomped into the Emergency Room at General Hospital. Parker looked angry and Jason looked sullen. He didn’t want to come to the hospital but Parker insisted. Parker followed him to the admitting desk, watching the other man like he thought he might make a run for it. The nurse behind the desk took one look at Jason’s bruised and bloody face and sent him into an exam room.

As Jason sat on the gurney, he noticed Parker had followed him into the room. He glared, but Parker didn’t take the hint. Jason crossed his arms stubbornly and Parker mimicked his gesture.

"I’m here. You can go now," Jason said coldly.

"I’ll wait until you’re finished, then make sure you get home without being jumped again," Parker replied copying Jason’s expressionless tone.

"I can take care of myself," Jason said angrily.

"I’m sorry. Was that a thank you I just heard for saving your ass on the docks?" Parker asked putting a hand to his ear.

"I was doing fine on my own," Jason replied stubbornly.

Parker gave a loud sarcastic laugh. "Yeah, sure you were. If I hadn’t come along you’d be floating in the river right now."

"That’s your version. You can go home and tell Robin you rescued me like a good little boy."

Parker’s face flushed in anger. "I don’t think you really want to discuss Robin with me."

"Why? Don’t I make good pillow talk?"

"Not really," Parker smirked.

Jason had heard enough and charged him, head down, like a bull. He drove Parker into the wall, knocking the wind out of him. Parker managed to ram his knee into Jason’s stomach before Jason punched him in the face. They both went down swinging as Tony walked in.

"Hey! Hey you two! Knock it off! This is a hospital!" Tony shouted as he tried to pry them apart. Frisco flew into the room and grabbed Parker. Tony took the hint and grabbed Jason. They pulled the two men apart.

"Parker, what the hell are you doing?" Frisco asked.

"Teaching the vegetable a lesson he won’t forget!" Jason strained to get at him again so Frisco went over to help restrain him. Parker grinned meanly as Frisco and Tony each took one of Jason’s arms.

"Now that looks familiar." Jason struggled even harder to shake off Tony and Frisco.

"That’s it! Out! Now!" Tony ordered. Parker shrugged innocently.

"I’ll be in the waiting room." The three other men glared as he sauntered out the door. Tony let go of Jason.

"Are you going to behave or do I have to call security?" he asked. Jason jerked away from Frisco and straightened his clothes.

"I’m outta here." He tried to leave but Frisco blocked his path to the door.

"You look like hell. Let Tony look at you." Frisco’s tone left no room for argument. He turned to his brother and said, "I’m going to go talk to Parker. You got this?"

"Yeah, I got him." Frisco left with one final glare at Jason. Tony motioned for Jason to sit back down on the gurney.

"I don’t suppose it would do me any good to call the cops about this, would it?" Tony asked as Jason reluctantly sat. The icy glare he received was his only reply. Tony sighed again as he began cleaning Jason’s cuts.

*****

The small jet hit another small bit of turbulence that snapped Alex out of her daydream. She felt him staring at her again. She was determined not to return his curious stare but it made her feel like a bug under glass. Finally, she couldn’t stand it anymore. Her eyes met his and he gave an embarrassed grin.

"I was staring again," Sean said.

"Yes," Alex replied shortly.

"Sorry. But the resemblance is – "

"Uncanny," Alex said, finishing his sentence. "I know. You’ve said."

"Repeatedly," Dimitri added hatefully. Alex elbowed him in the ribs. The three of the lapsed into silence as Alex thought again about her strange day.

True to her word, Anna called when Sean reached the Wildwind estate. Alex opened the door to find him standing on the stoop. She liked Sean instantly. Something about the older man’s voice and demeanor immediately put her at ease. The same could not be said of her husband or brother-in-law. Both were hostile and distrustful, grilling Sean with a million questions. Dimitri had insisted on accompanying her to Port Charles while Edmund stayed behind to pump his news contacts for information. It seemed every media outlet in the Northeast had picked up the story about her sister and niece and it was slowly but steadily spreading south. Dimitri and Edmund fussed around her while Alex waited for Sean and watched the news coverage in fascination.

Alex felt for her husband; it was a lot to take in all at once. She wondered if her training at Bryn Wydd was helping her stay calm or if it was the prospect of finally meeting her sister. Dimitri had screamed and yelled and tried to stop her from coming. She knew he was only frightened for her but couldn’t help but resent his possessiveness. She had tried to explain both to him and to Edmund that she just "knew" this was right. He was sitting next to her sulking, blankly staring out the window. He hadn’t let go of her hand since they boarded the plane. He had, in fact, begun shouting at Sean Donely when he learned they were taking a private plane instead of a commercial airline. He had argued that Charlotte used her own private plane so she could abduct people and do God knows what to them. She knew he would feel less vulnerable in a crowd, but was embarrassed by his juvenile display. Finally, Sean compromised and agreed to use Dimitri’s plane and pilot instead.

Sean had answered some of her questions. Anna was okay. Her husband and daughter were with her as were her two granddaughters. Twins again, Alex thought with a proud smile. She also learned they were all in a considerable amount of danger, herself included. Alex sensed there was a great deal more to the story but Sean insisted she ask Anna directly. She was starting to believe the man sitting across from her knew more about her life than she herself did and the thought unsettled her. She wasn’t sure she was ready to remember. Ready or not, here I come.

Chapter 24

Robin had retreated to the nursery to escape the excitement downstairs. Her mother was a bundle of nerves and she was making everyone else jumpy. Robin sat on the floor playing with her daughters but no matter how hard she tried to concentrate, her mind kept going back to Paris.

The third letter she sent Jason never came back and she hadn’t heard from him so she was sitting at her desk writing a fourth. The doctor wanted her decision about the abortion as soon as possible and she was still torn about what to do. Part of her was still deliriously happy about the prospect of being a mother. Another part of her was more pragmatic. She was an HIV positive pre-med student, miles from home and family and completely alone. Except for Gerard, of course.

The day the letter came back (again marked Refused) Robin let Gerard take her out to dinner at an obscenely expensive restaurant. She let him take her on a carriage ride through a beautiful park by the river and huddled close to him under the blanket. She let him take her back to his house for a nightcap. She sat in his study which doubled as a library, sipping her drink and gazing at the books that lined the walls. Then she gave in to his often-repeated request and let him make love to her in front of the fire.

Robin felt a chill start at the base of her spine and work its way up. She couldn’t believe she had been so gullible. Her father and Mac had always accused her of being too trusting but falling for Gerard’s act was inexcusable. She had been so dense as to not realize he meant his gift to be an engagement ring until Gerard started making wedding plans over breakfast the next morning. She had made it easy for him, played right into his hands. All of those things he said had been to keep her interested, nothing more. At least she finally learned her lesson: she was meant to be alone. At least she had her daughters.

Robin watched the girls toddle around the room, Olivia chasing Isabella. They giggled as they waddled clumsily toward her and launched themselves into her lap. She kissed each tiny dark head tenderly and held them close. She tried not to think about how different things might have been. If she had only gotten pregnant a year earlier – no two years earlier – maybe her relationship with Jason would have been able to survive. Maybe they would be raising Olivia and Isabella together. Maybe if he’d just read one of her letters, they could have worked something out. Judging from his reaction the yesterday, Robin knew that was wishful thinking. Jason was determined to take the girls away from her. And she was just as determined to keep them. She wasn’t going to lose anyone else.

Jason stood in the parking garage of the Harborview Towers watching the car speed away. After yet another argument, Parker finally left him alone to fend for himself. Jason wanted to stay angry so he wouldn’t feel anything else but his anger was already draining away. In its place, came the despair he’d felt earlier. It seemed to him that his life was falling apart around him. Jason tried to convince himself that Parker had said it just to get to him. Because if it were true then he’d already lost everything. No matter how hard he tried to block it out the argument kept repeating in his mind.

As Jason got out of the car, he realized Parker was following him. Jason stopped and stared when he realized the agent planned on literally escorting him to his door.

"Let’s go over this one more time; I’m making sure you get home in one piece." He eyed Jason’s cuts and bruises and added, "More or less."

Jason cursed himself again for not reading Robin’s letters. How could he be so stupid? After everything that had happened, why had he thought she was trying to get him back? Judging by her reaction to him the day before that was the last thing she wanted. It appeared he threw away his last chance to be with her and his only chance to be a part of his daughters’ lives.

"There you are." Jason jumped at the sound of the man’s voice. He turned to see who was there. Faison walked slowly toward Jason in a cloud of smoke. He smirked at Jason’s surprise. "I’ve been looking everywhere for you."

"What the hell do you want?" Jason sneered. He was itching to bludgeon the man to death where he stood.

"I wanted to give you a little advice." Faison took a drag on his cigar as he studied the angry young man before him. "What happened your face?"

"Why don’t you tell me?" Sonny asked. Johnny told him Jason was in the garage so he’d come to investigate. Even with his arm in a sling, Sonny managed his cocky little strut over to the other two men. He could tell Jason resented his interference but Faison appeared unfazed by his unexpected arrival.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about, Mr. Corinthos. Why I’ve been at home all day if you’re implying I had something to do with Mr. Morgan’s…misfortune." Sonny gave him a phony, tight smile. He badly wanted to wipe the barely concealed smirk off Faison’s face.

"Jase, why don’t you run upstairs and get cleaned up. I think we need to have a private chat here."

"Sonny – "

"Yes. Run along like a good little boy. I’m sure Mr. Corinthos and I can come to an understanding." Jason wasn’t so much worried about Sonny – he could see two of their guys hovering nearby – but was furious at being dismissed by a child. He glared at Faison.

"If you have something to say to me then say it," Jason challenged. Faison’s smirk resurfaced.

"I admire your spirit. Obviously it wasn’t damaged in your accident." He paused, letting Jason fume. He calmly rolled his cigar between his fingers. "Very well. I want you to stay away from Robin. She’s very dear to me and I believe you have hurt her enough."

"I’ve hurt her?" Jason asked incredulously. "What about you?" What did you do to her? She was terrified of you in the hospital." Anger flashed in Sonny’s eyes. Jason hadn’t told him about that.

"I’ve never laid a hand on Robin – "

"You kept her away from her parents for years! She thought they were dead!"

"That was their choice. Not mine," Faison returned steadily. "As I said, I care for Robin a great deal. Like a daughter, you might say. Her happiness is very important to me. And you," he added pointing at Jason, "don’t make her happy." Jason was about to give in to his urge to beat Faison to a bloody pulp when Sonny stepped in.

"Yeah, well we’ll take your request into consideration. In the mean time, I’d like to remind you that this is private property. And as the owner of this property I’m telling you to get the hell out and stay out. You’re not welcome here." Faison simply smiled like Sonny had told a good joke and strolled away. Sonny waited until he was out of sight before turning to Jason.

"We need to talk." Jason could see Sonny was just as worried about Robin as he was. All he wanted to do was go straight to her and protect her from everything bad in the world but he knew he couldn’t. Not only did she not want his help, but he might get them both killed in the process. He decided that if he couldn’t help her directly, he would have to find some other way to protect her.

*****

Robin was still sitting on the floor with the girls when she sensed someone behind her. She quickly twisted around to see who it was. Parker stood in the doorway watching them with a little half smile on his face. Robin immediately noticed the redness around his eye that she knew would soon turn black and blue. Isabella let out a squeal and joyfully waddled over to him. Parker picked up the baby with the same little smile.

"Where have you been?" Robin asked. "I thought you left for the day." Parker shrugged.

"I needed to take care of something," he said evasively.

"Does the other guy look worse than you?" Parker sighed. Busted again. Does she have to be so damn observant? He knew from experience that it was easier to tell her the truth sooner rather than later. He just didn’t intend on telling her the whole truth.

"It’s a matter of opinion," he said diplomatically. Robin looked away but he could see by the set of her jaw that she was either scared or furious. Or both, he thought. "Some guy was getting the tar knocked out of him on the docks. It was three on one. I just thought I’d even the odds a little. No big deal."

Robin gave a slight nod and began building another tower of blocks for the twins to knock over. Parker rolled his eyes. Great, here we go with the silent treatment again. Well, you’re not getting away with it this time, Scorpio.

"So how are things around here?" he asked. When she didn’t answer right away, he began to worry that something else had gone wrong while he was out.

"Oh. That should be interesting." Wait ‘til the press gets a load of that. Olivia knocked the block tower over and both she and her sister clapped their tiny hands gleefully. He noticed Robin’s smile did not reach her eyes. She looked sad, haunted. He knew she must have been thinking of Gerard again. Her eyes always gave her away and he could see the guilt and pain and awful loneliness lurking in them.

Every time she looked that way he had the urge to somehow rescue her. Maybe I should tell her that. That would snap her out of it. He blamed Jason for destroying her confidence. She has nothing to be ashamed of. Gerard fooled everyone. She can’t help being so trusting, its her nature. If she’d been thinking clearly, trusting herself, she probably would have noticed something was off.

"Yep," she replied with a sigh. "The Quartermaines have landed." Parker groaned in disgust and hung his head. This day just keeps getting worse. Olivia suddenly began to cry.

Lyrics from "And So It Goes" by Billy Joel.