GH 2025
By Barkussab
GH2025.02 Unexpected News Patrick shakes his head, slumping onto the steps in front of the house. "How? She was my mother! How can my life, my world and everything I know be founded on a lie?"
Georgie pulls out her cell phone from her pocket. "I have to call Stefan and Laura."
Patrick lifts his head from his hands. "Now?" He looks dazed.
Georgie places her hand on his shoulder. "Stefan and Laura have searched for you for twenty-five years. I don't think they should have to wait any longer, I should probably talk to them first." She walks a little ways down the dock dials the number and closes her eyes with emotion.
"Hello?"
Georgie takes a steadying breath. "Stefan?"
"Georgie! This is a surprise!"
Georgie's voice is low and rough. "I've found Richard."
Across the ocean, Stefan Cassadine's world tilts on it's axis. "You've what!"
"Did you hear me, Stefan? I have found your son. Richard Stefanovich Cassadine is alive and well, and less than fifty feet away."
"How? How is it possible after all this time? My son!" The desperate, hope in his voice travels across continents.
"It's a story that I think should be told to you in person, Stefan. I want to bring him to you."
Almost dazedly, Stefan says, "I must tell Lasha."
A tear rolls down Georgie's face."He'll be coming home soon, Stefan."
Sitting at his desk, Stefan tries to absorb the news, His son,Richard. The child symbolizing all the love in his heart for Lasha. The boy to unite both familes in love, and shared joy. The boy who had instead united them in their grief, their sorrow, and their pain. His eyes travel the length of the room, skimming over file cabinet after file cabinet of false leads that had accumulated for twenty five years. So many hopes raised and dashed,like being swept in a strong current against rough
rocks. Lasha. He must tell her of this news now. His legs carry him swiftly through the house.
The living room at Wyndemere. Laura sits comfortably on the sofa reading her book. As Stefan enters the room, she looks up with all the love in her heart. But sensing something is wrong, she quickly asks. "Stefan! You look like you've seen a ghost! What is it? Is it one of the children?"
"Yes, Lasha." Stefan chokes out around the emotion welling up inside. "Richard. Our child has been found."
"No." Laura whispers. "Impossible! After so much time,Stefan, it can't be true! Someone is toying with us!" Her eyes fill with anguished tears. Her words are denial, but something flickers behind her eyes, hope.
"Georgie called me. She has found our son and is bringing him home." Stefan pulls his wife into his arms. "Our son, Lasha! Our lost child is coming home."
"Could it be true, Stefan?" Laura's blue eyes plead with him for reassurance. "I've always dreamed that Richard would be reunited with us, but then I woke, and he was still missing. Can it be after all this time that he could come home?" She shakes her head. "Or will I wake up and find my arms empty again? Our hearts bare? Stefan, everytime we allow ourselves to believe. . ."
"We will know soon, my darling. We will know soon." Stefan presses his lips against his wife's hair. "We must tell Nikolas and Lucky. They will never forgive us if we try and keep it from them." Reluctantly, he pulls away and numbly picks up the phone.
"Lucky's!"
"Lucky?"
"Hey Stefan! What's up? How are things on Spook Island?" Lucky's voice resonates confidence.
"Lucky, there's something new regarding Richard. Your mother needs you and Nikolas to come here immediately. It is entirely possible that Georgie has found your brother."
Lucky drops the bar glass in his hand, causing Nikolas to glance in his direction. "What is it?" He asks rising from the table that holds their chess game.
"Richard? You think Georgie's found Richard?" Lucky repeats slowly. "We'll be there in ten minutes." He turns to his older brother. "That was Stefan, he said Georgie found our brother."
"Richard?" Nikolas whispers. Thinking back to the night his youngest brother had been born. . . The foul smelling cigars Lucky had been passing out. The bottle of champagne smuggled in by Kevin, and the feeling of true family he'd gotten by just knowing that the new life coming into the world would not be half anything. Not half Spencer or half Cassadine. Not half loved, not half alone. He would be complete. He would have brothers to protect him. A sister for him to proctect. He was every hope and dream rolled into one adored child. Then the soul-killing pain of losing him.. . .of the years chasing shadows of leads. Every call, every note, every whisper. And nothing. How could it be now?
"Hey man! Snap out of it! We need to get to Wyndemere pronto! Mom is gonna need us if it turns out to be another dead end." Lucky claps a hand on Nikolas' shoulder. "Let's go."
"Lu! Wait up!" Staci shouts after her aunt grumpily, jogging behind Lu.
"If you can't keep up, maybe you should turn back!" Lu laughs as she speeds down the path on Spoon Island. Hearing her niece huffing and puffing behind her.Lu smiles to herself at the joy of having Staci home mending fences with the family. Even in the midst of all the tummult in her ownlife, it feels right to be home.Her thoughts are interrupted by the persistant ringing from her cell phone.. She slows down and flips it open allowing Staci to catch her. "Lu here! Mom? What is it? Richard? You mean you think my brother's been found? We're just a mile from the house. We'll be home in a few miutes!"
Staci's eyes grow wide. "Did you say what I think you said?"
Lu doesn't even explain, she just begins to sprint to Wyndmere as fast as possible, this time Staci has no trouble keeping up.
Lucky and Nikolas approach the house. "Let's listen to what they have to say." Lucky says. "I don't want to hurt them, but there's been so many false hopes. Let's try and keep this real."
"Agreed." Nikolas nods. "I just can't believe Georgie would call with anything other than a genuine lead." They enter the house and head for the livingroom.
"Lucky! Nik! Is it true?" Lesley Lu demands coming in seconds after them.
"Has Richard been found?" Staci asks wrapping an arm around her father's waist.
"We don't know yet,darling. But by God, we'll have answers soon enough."
Patrick races down the beach, his legs pumping, arms moving as fast as he can. He races faster and faster trying to escape the thoughts haunting him. His mother a kidnapper. His father a dupe. And his brother. Billy, what was Billy now? Nothing. A stranger? NO! His brother. The distant Cassadines are the strangers. How could they not find him? He was taken as a baby. Twenty-five years with the wrong woman. He laughs bitterly to himself. The wrong woman tucking him in. The wrong woman teaching him to swim, the wrong mother.
He races into the surf and dives under the cool, salty water, clothes and all. His strokes sure and competent, he swims to where his own float plane is anchored. "I just can't go waltzing back into the arms of my family. I don't know these people. Not yet anyway."
Georgie, after composing herself silently on the dock, turns to the house to find only Thaao and Billy standing there. "Where's Pat-" She corrects herself. "Where is he?"
"He said he needed a moment alone, and went to walk on the beach." Thaao replies. Just then,the hum of a float-plane can be heard directly over them and then wings it's way out of sight.
"That's Patrick's plane." Billy says. "He's left!"
GH 2025.03 Fight Or Flight
"He's gone!" Billy exclaims in frustration. "DAMN! I knew we never should have given him that plane!"
Thaao places a hand on his son's shoulder. "He's hurting now,William. Your mother just dropped a bombshell on him. Give him time."
"I should have seen this coming." Georgie swears softly under her breath. "Now I have to go back to Port Charles and explain to Stefan and Laura how I lost their son....again. I am sorry for what you are going through, but I HAVE to go to them, and I have to go now."
"He's not really lost. " Thaao ponders aloud.
"What do you mean?" Georgie asks sharply. "Do you know where he's gone?"
"No." Thaao responds. "But he knows where to find the Cassadines. It's no secret that they reside in Port Charles, New York. William and Jerry have both told us all about them.. I know my son." He looks at Billy and nods. "I know both my sons. Patrick will want to see them. He'll have to see them."
"So you think his destination is going to be Port Charles?" Billy asks. "Yes, I can see that. Patrick will want to check them out, get to know them through other people's eyes. Then he'll make contact."
"I hope to God you're both right."
In Paris. A young woman stands at a terminal. She is arguing furiously with the attendant. "You don't understand! I have to be on THIS flight!" Her voice rises in desperation. "My mother's gonna kill me if I don't get home to Port Charles!"
"I am SO sorry, mademoiselle! There was a mistake when your ticket was issued. There is no room for you on the flight. You can be on the next available flight tomorrow morning... We will of course be glad to put you up in a hotel room. Again I apologize."
The woman stalks away from the counter. She sinks down onto her suitcase. "Mom is gonna kill me. Not once, but over and over again. Then, when she's done killing me, she's gonna have Dad bring me back to life so she can kill me again!" She drops her tousled brown head into her hands
and contemplates Hari Kari and other forms of ritualistic suicide.
"I'm sorry; I could help but overhear your dilemma." A deep voice comes from behind her. "Perhaps I can be of some service?"
The young woman looks up to see a handsome man with dark hair, and piercing brown eyes. "Mother always told me never to talk to strange guys in airports."
He crouches down. "Do you need a ride BACK to the States or not little girl?" He asks. "I've rented a plane. I'm going to New York. I'm sure you can catch a ride to where you are going from there." He stands and starts to walk away.
The girl, being no fool, grabs her suitcase. "Ya' know, strange or not, you may have just saved my butt!" She sticks out her carefully manicured hand. "I'm Destiny."
The young man arches an eyebrow."I'll say. Pa-Rick. Rick Jameson. Where are you going?" He shakes her hand.
The girl holds up her hand. "Puh-leeze. . . no jokes. I don't want to hear about fate, karma or anything even similar. I've heard them all and they stopped being funny when I was ten. I'm going to Port Charles, New York."
He smiles slowly to himself. "I'll say you're Destiny." He grins boyishly. Together they walk out on the tarmac.
Destiny climbs into the plane, and sets down her suitcase. "I'm a God-awful flier." She confesses. "I hope you don't mind me riding up in front with you, my big sister thinks I'm the world's biggest wimp. She flies these things like I drive!"
Rick smiles. "No problem. The pre-flight's already done, and we're all cleared for take off." The checks his instruments as Destiny gets settled in her seat and straps herself in. "So, why's a gorgeous woman so desperate to get *out* of Paris?"
"I've been here for almost a year. My mother's birthday party is tonight. I have to be there."
"How old is she?" He asks making the necessary adjustments.
"Good question." She laughs. "No one knows for sure except my dad. Every year he throws her a great big bash, but she's never told anyone how old she is. . . it's not even on her driver's license."
"Sounds like fun."
"So why are you going to Port Charles?" Destiny asks curiously.
"Someone close to me just passed away. I needed to get away, and I hear Port Charles is a great place." He changes the subject swiftly. "So who'll be at this bash?"
"Knowing my mom and dad, probably the whole town." Destiny starts to think aloud. "Uncle Mac and Aunt Felicia. Maxie and Georgie if they're around, Lucky, Nikolas, Aunt Laura and Uncle Stefan. Mom said that Staci and LuLu were both home, and no party is complete without my uncle
Scott. My sister Serena, if she can tear herself away from work for a second. All my mom's ex husbands, and old boyfriends."
"Sounds like you've got a big family."
"Not really. Most of them are honorary aunts and uncles. Like Mac and Felicia Scorpio have just been friends with my parents forever. . . .since the 90's. And Stefan is actually my dad's cousin. And Aunt Laura and my mom are close like sisters."
"Stefan?" Rick prompts.
"Cassadine. You've probably heard of him or Nikolas. It seems like just about everyone has."
"Cassadines, yes. I think I've heard of them." Rick changes the subject. "So what have you been doing in Paris for the past year?" At Destiny's skeptical look, he continues. "It's going to be a long trip, we might as well get to know each other."
She ponders that for a moment, then decides he's right. "Well, I was originally supposed to be taking classes at the Sorbonne." She nods to herself. "And I did. At first, then I met this man. . . "
Rick arches an eyebrow.
"Not that kind of man!" Destiny protests. "He's a chemist. He creates perfumes. Some of the most exotic and amazing fragrances in the world come from Jean-Luc. He's eighty seven and still works fifty hour weeks! He knows my mom, and sort of took me under his wing teaching me everything he knows. Now mom is going to hand over the reins of her company. Jax Cosmetics, you ever hear of it? Well, it's Mom's baby. She said at this birthday party she'd let me take over. After my apprenticeship I think I can do a good job. I would have been happy to stay in Paris, but I missed my family." She confides.
"It sounds like you're really close to your family." Rick observes with a twinge of envy, remembering all the lies and deceit tangled with in his own family tree.
"We are. I mean, my mom is the greatest woman I know." Destiny laughs and pulls a locket out from under her shirt. It's a sterling silver heart shaped locket, she opens it and reveals two pictures. One is of her and an older woman with silver hair and a lively smile. Next to her is a handsome man with a silver ponytail tied back with a black tie.
"Your mother and father?"
"Yes. Daddy says he and Mom are soul mates." The other picture is Destiny and her *exact* double.
"Your sister I presume?" He asks taking his eyes off the instrument panel once again. "You're identical!"
"Yeah. Dom is younger though." Destiny lovingly closes the locket and tucks it back in. "Dom gave it to me when I left, so I wouldn't feel homesick." She fiddles with the locket. "It didn't work though."
"What does Dom do?"
"She's a software designer. She has her own company, Rubber Ducky Inc." Destiny says proudly. "Dom got all of Dad's computer know-how and Mom's creativity. She designs all those cool computer games kids can't get enough of."
"Wow! A very talented family."
Opening the door to the living room at Wyndemere,. Georgie's heart sticks in her throat. She crosses the room and goes directly to Stefan and Laura. "I'm sorry." She blurts out, kneeling in front of the sofa where they sit arms wrapped around one another.
"A false lead." Laura whispers. "Just another dead end."
"NO!" Georgie exclaims. "I saw him! I saw Richard. He's alive. But while I was calling you Stefan, he got spooked and took off."
"How do you know it was him?" Nikolas asks tentatively.
"It was Miranda Jameson Onassis. She was dying. She made a full confession before she died. Helena arranged for Jennifer Smith to take Richard from the hospital. Then Helena gave him to Miranda to raise as her own. He's been raised by Thaao Onassis and Miranda his whole life." She reaches into the bag at her side. "Thaao sent these to show you." She pulls out albums of photos. "He's intelligent, healthy, and strong."
The whole family gathers close to see the pictures. Laura's fingertips trace a picture of him as a child. "My son." Her voice is tremulous. "Did they hurt him?" She asks the unspeakable.
"No,. Thaao adores him. He would never hurt him. Thaao never knew about the kidnapping. I believe him."
"Then why did he run?" Lucky asks, unable to take his eyes off the picture of a young Richard playing on a sandy beach.
"He's had one hell of a shock. But Thaao made a good point. He says that Richard will come to you when he is ready." She ducks her head. "I know I promised you your son, I'm sorry."
Stefan stands and pulls her into a comforting embrace. "Sorry? No. You have given us our child, our Richard. We know that he is alive, that he was loved, and that he knows where to find us. For the past twenty five years there has been little hope, and now, now we have hope."
