Chapter 4 - Reminisce It was empty in the apartment block. Dusk was approaching and all was silent. Nothing could be heard in the thick air that hung around the docks, once a place of gang warfare but now cultured into an extremely fashionable place to live. Many legends live on about the docks, from the old times, for the way it was a place of mystery. It was the place where Don Sonny Corinthos met with supermodel Brenda Barrett in her Port Charles days. It was where the drug smuggling ring run by Pierce Dorman had been based. Closer to the present, though not by much, it was where Alexis Davis had given birth. Now, in her penthouse apartment at the top of the building, she stood watching the endless stretch of water, inundated by memories. Happy memories. Quick flashes come to mind - the pain of giving birth, assisted only by Luke Spencer; her daughter's first day at PC Elementary; the day that Lucy Coe first introduced her daughter to the world of cosmetics; watching from the window as her daughter went on her first real date - and she smiled. The door slammed shut as a young girl with shoulder-length, chestnut brown hair, large hazel eyes and lightly-tanned skin rushed in, giving her mother a giant bear hug, almost knocking her to the floor in the process. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!" "Why Kristen, whatever for?" Alexis asks, wide eyed. "Oh, don't! I'm so happy. I'll never forget this as long as I live. A car! My own car! Wait till I tell the others, they're going to be SOOOO jealous!" "You know that you can't drive it till you get your permit..." "Not a problem. You're the best mother in the entire world!" Kristen smiles, a confident grin, showing off deep dimples that she knows her mother cannot refuse! "Well, don't you forget it, lady!" They hugged, but Alexis pulled back, staring at her daughter's face. "Happy Birthday, Honey. I love you very much." "I love you too. Can I go over to Melanie's?" "Sure. Have fun." "Bye! See you later." And with that, she exits as fast as she arrives. Alexis walks over to the sofa and collapses into it. She sighs, as the memories return. It's so hard to believe that Kristen, her beloved daughter, is already 16 years old. How time flies. It's also hard to believe how much she reminds her of her father. No, mustn't think about that. Don't get dragged down into the past, not again. We all know what happened the last time… NO! Never again. She must forget all that ever happened, but she can't. As much as she tries, she can't. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On the Cassadine Island in Greece, two girls were playing in the sand on the beach. One blonde girl and one her darker twin - both were about 8 years old, slim with shiny hair stretching down her back and deep blue eyes that mirror the ocean. "It's so cold!" the one stated. "But it's so much fun," continued the other, to which the first could do nothing but agree. They held hands and simultaneously jumped the waves, giggling and splashing, wetting the light, summer dresses that they wore. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the Quartermaine mansion, Lila woke up. It was dark outside, yet she was sure that it was not too late - probably almost 7pm. She sat up in bed and looked around the room, confused. As her tired eyes cleared, she realized where she was, and turned on the lamp sitting on her bedside table. A knock at the door revealed Reginald, faithful old Reggie, whom she beckoned to help her up and into her chair. He does so, smiling gently, wraps a coat around her shoulders and wheels her down to dinner with the family, the first since Emily turned up. She smiled at the thought of her granddaughter. So brave, so much like… It didn't matter anymore, it was all in the past. She decides that her mind must be playing tricks on her. She didn't like to think about her early years. So much unpleasantness. It was much better now, for happy times were here again. The smile once again plays around the corners of her mouth. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the other mansion, on the other side of town, the old lady rose from her antique chair and stared out the window. Instantly she thought of another window, not one unlike this one, which is probably what attracted her to this particular residence. She used to stare out of that window, over the entire island's grounds, and watch everyone at their day's activities. Nothing had changed today, only the technology with which she watched the people. She prided herself on he fact that no one could do anything that she wouldn't know of, in fact she relished in it. Things had changed. As she got older, she started to reminisce more of days long gone. Life goes on, and so did she, but her mind kept wandering back to the past. All her life, she had known something was wrong, but not what it was, and for years it had greatly disturbed her. She intensely disliked being left in the cold with anything, and she could tell that this was not something small. Perhaps it had something to do with her lack of friends. Perhaps it was her cold, cruel upbringing. Perhaps it was her choice of husband and family. Oh, sure, secrets were a big part of her life. They had been back for several generations. She, herself was continuing that legacy. She had a multitude of plots and plans that were always alive, simmering away. Some were on the backburner whilst others were in full force. Perhaps now it was time to change that. Time to find out the truth. But for that she would have to go back to the past. Way, way back, and she was not sure she could do that. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Helena Cassadine was afraid.