Chapter 1: New Years Eve

Henry Corinthos looked at the clock.  A couple of hours to midnight.  It was 
about to be 1999 and the beginning of 1998 didn't even seem to be all that long 
ago.  As he sat back in his bed, he thought back to what had happened over the 
past year. On New Year's Eve, one year ago, he was at the Hardy house for a 
rather dull little party Sarah put together.  Not much happened that night at 
the Hardy household, just everyone finally meeting Steve and Lizzie realizing 
Lucky wasn't for her.  

Outside the household, Miranda had been kidnapped by Helena, Jason found out 
Tony was planning to sue Carly for custody of their child, Katherine almost died 
and then disappeared for good, Stefan confessed his love for Bobbie (whom he was 
still married to by a fluke in the divorce), and Jerry got V.  From then on 
everything got twisted.

Henry got off the bed and went down stairs to see people gathering in the 
ballroom.  He let out a loud sigh as he saw all the faces he knew.  In the past 
year he found out he was Stefan's son, which was right after he found out Sonny 
and Mike were family.  His mother and he moved into the guesthouse in February, 
after much persuasion from Stefan, and after she went to Paris for the last 
month, he ended up moving into Wyndemere.  She wasn't able to make it home for 
Christmas, which depressed him, but Stefan and he were getting along now, and it 
helped that his cousin Nikolas around.

When Henry reached the bottom of the steps, Lucky and Emily came rushing towards 
him.

Henry: Lucky, I can't believe your father let you onto the Cassadine island.

Lucky: Well, honestly, he doesn't really know.

Henry: Huh… Well, sorry to say you defied your father for nothing, this party is 
not very amusing at all.

Lucky: What?  Woah, sorry, but that sounded so much like Cassadine language, it 
was scary.

Henry: Shut up, bonehead.

Lucky: There, that's better.

Emily: *rolls eyes* Could you two stop?  Henry, I got big news.

Henry: Big news?  Woah, what?

Emily: The Webbers are coming to Port Charles.  Since they couldn't make it on 
the 25th, they're going to celebrate Christmas later this month.

Henry: Oh cool, Lizzie's going to be here.

Emily: Please…

Henry: What?

Emily: You know what.  I tell you Lizzie's coming and all you say is "oh cool" 
ever so calmly.  I can tell you’re just about ready to break into a dance.

Henry: Well, yeah, I'm happy to see an old friend.

Lucky and Emily look at each other in obvious disbelief.  Henry shook his head.  
They were NEVER going to give this up.  Yes, for a short while he did have a 
thing for Lizzie, he even "borrowed" Lucky's car to try to stop her at the 
airport, to try to tell her that he cared for her a lot, but, of course, he 
missed the flight and he kept it to himself since.  He told himself he was over 
her now.

Henry: Well, you know who's not going to be happy to hear this news…

They all looked to Nikolas at the opposite side of the room. Sarah and he ended 
rather badly.  A woman named Cordella Bonovynn was trying to seduce him for his 
riches and he had some trouble resisting her.  Sarah was very pissed and broke 
up with him. Stefan got rid of Cordella on his own.  He paid her off and told 
Nikolas.  It was to show that all she was interested in was the money.  It hurt 
Nikolas, but Stefan decided he needed to know. Well, since then, he's pretty 
much been dateless.

~*~

Brenda laughed as she watched Mike play with his grand daughter, Haily Marie 
Corinthos.  Sonny entered the living room of their house and Haily instantly 
said, "Da-da!"

Sonny: There's my little angel.

Sonny picked her up and gave her a kiss on the cheek.  He looked at Brenda and 
said, "Hello, honey.  He kissed her and then looks to Mike.

Sonny: Hey, Mike.

Mike: Hey…  Oh, it's almost eleven, I better get going or I'll miss my flight.

Sonny: Where're you going?

Mike: Uh… No place special, I'll see you later.

Brenda: Right, good luck.

Mike: Thanks.

Mike said goodbye and left.  Sonny took off his coat and looked at Brenda.

Sonny: What did you mean by good luck?

Brenda: Well…  no, I can't tell you, I swore to Mike that I wouldn't tell you.

Sonny: Wow, whatever it is, it must be big, you look like your ready to explode.

Brenda: I'm just so…  I don't know.

Sonny: What is it?

Brenda: I told you, I can tell you.

Sonny: *smiles widely* Brenda…

Brenda: Oh no, don't you flash your cute dimples at me, they won't work this 
time.

Sonny: Well, is there any other way I could persuade you? *kisses her*

Brenda: No…  but that's no reason to stop trying. *kisses him.*

Sonny: Okay, *looks to Haily* Haily, time for you to go to bed, you're up late 
enough as it is.

Sonny picked his daughter up and he took her up to her room and read her "The 
Night Before Christmas" (which has seemed to become her ultimately favorite 
story ever since he started reading it to her) before he joined Brenda.

~^~

Carly walked through the park, feeling the cold wind brush against her skin.  
One year ago, her life was completely different.  Her life was in complete 
ruins.  She trapped herself in that apartment, constantly in fear.  In fear that 
Henry Corinthos would tell everyone who she was, in fear that Tony would leave 
her for sleeping with A.J., in fear that something might happen…  Then, she 
found out Tony was going to sue her for custody, and then she collapsed. She was 
in a coma for quite awhile until she found herself in complete trouble.

^-^-^-^

Carly opened her eyes and could see someone was in her room.  It took her a 
second to realize that it was Jason.

Carly: Jason, what's going on…

Carly feels something is different.  Something is totally wrong. Then she feels 
her stomach.

Carly: Oh my God, the baby!  Where's my baby?

Jason: Easy, Carly.  You can't stress yourself out, that's what got you here in 
the first place.

Carly: What happened?

Jason: You were arguing with Dr. Jones a couple of weeks ago when you collapsed.  
You had to have a C-section to have the baby removed. He's alive, but is still 
not feeling well.

Carly: Oh my God, what have I done to my baby?

Jason: It wasn't your fault.

Carly: Just please tell me he's going to be all right.

Jason: I can't Carly.  I can't.

Carly put her head in her hands and started crying.  She couldn't stand it, this 
could not be happening!

Jason: Carly, there's something else.

Carly looked up at Jason through her watery eyes.  Jason sat next to her and 
took her hand.

Carly: Something else?  What else could there be?

Jason: Bobbie knows the truth.  She knows that you are her daughter, Caroline 
Benson.

Carly: What?  How?  No, wait.  It was that little twerp Henry Corinthos, wasn't 
it?

Jason: I'm not sure how it all came out.  Apparently Henry called Virginia and 
told her you were here, but Stefan Cassadine told Bobbie.

Carly: Stefan Cassadine?  How would he know?

Jason: He must have investigated her past when he married her.

Carly: Jason, what am I going to do?

Carly held to Jason and started sobbing again.

Jason: Carly, I have to go.  I'm not even supposed to be here, I just wanted to 
warn you.

Carly: Thank you Jason… Could you do me a favor?

Jason: Sure, what is it?

Carly: Could you see the baby and tell me how he's doing?

Jason: Okay, sure.

Jason left the room and Carly turned on her side.  Carly could not believe it.  
Her entire life had fallen apart and she had only been awake for five minutes.

^~^

Carly shot her head up as soon as she heard the door open.  It was Jason and he 
looked almost sad.

Carly: Jason, what it is?

Jason: Carly… I have to tell you something about your son.

Carly: No… no, please tell me he's okay.

Jason: I can't Carly.  He's dead.  He died ten minutes ago.

Carly: No…

Carly started to cry.  Jason walked up to her and hugged her.

Carly: No… No, dammit, NO!  It's not fair!  This isn't fair…

She couldn't say anything else, she felt as if someone one was choking her.  
Tears continuously streamed down her face.  Her sobs could be heard down the 
hall.

Carly: My baby's dead…

Jason patted her on the head and tried to calm her down, but it was no use.  All 
he could do was hold Carly tighter.

~^~

What had always bugged Carly was that she never even had the chance to hold him.  
She was afraid that everything was going to fall apart, but Bobbie said she 
wanted to try to build a relationship with her, Virginia stuck by her, and Jason 
was a very good friend to her.  She loved Jason. He was so kind to her, so 
understanding.  He didn't judge her, even though she has done so many terrible 
things.  Then, there was A.J. She knew he loved her.  He told her as much 
himself when he kissed her. She told him she couldn't handle a relationship and 
since then she hasn't seen as much of him.  She wasn't quite sure what she felt 
for A.J. It was so confusing, it has been for as long as she's known him.   That
Feeling was what kept her from drugging him so long ago. Carly sat down at a 
bench and looked up at the stars.  She was working at General Hospital, she was 
getting along with Bobbie, even Lucas, she was sort of dating Jason, she had an 
odd relationship with Henry Corinthos, and of course, an odder relationship with 
A.J. She never did quite know what to make of Henry.  When they were neighbors 
in Florida, she thought he was an all right kid, she didn't really know him, 
though.  He was usually just playing in his yard or doing stuff for her mom.  
Then, when they met up again, she thought he was a little twerp, that he was 
enjoying possibly destroying her life.  Then, when she collapsed, she heard that 
he was so worried about her, he started chewing Tony out for what he did to her 
and everything.  When he was rescued from Helena, she talked to him and they 
made some sort of peace, even though she completely let it slip that he was a 
Cassadine. Ever since then, things have just been weird. Carly had gotten onto 
the sidewalk and was walking along the now closed stores, when someone plowed 
right into her.

Woman: Would you watch it!

Carly looked over at the brunette woman which looked to be around her age.  She 
had some streaks of red hair and her eyes were icy blue.

Carly: Watch where I'm going?  You're the one who ran into me!

Woman: Oh shut up, I don't have time for this!

The woman just kept running and Carly shrugged with frustration. She brushed off 
the snow on her coat and just kept walking.

~^~

Jax woke up with a splitting headache.  He tried to get up, but he couldn't.  He 
found himself tied to a bed.

Janice: Comfortable, pumpkin?

Jax lifted his head to see Janice standing there, holding a knife.

Jax: Ja…  Janice?  What the hell…

Janice: That's right, hell, that's EXACTLY what you're going to be going through 
right now.

Jax: I don't understand…

Janice: The hell you don't!  Remember after the wedding, when you dumped me?  
When you took me all the way to Paris, when we danced under the pale moonlight, 
when I told you I wanted to spend the rest of my life like this, but YOU picked 
then to tell me it was over?

Jax: I…  I explained…

Janice: Right, you fed me some stupid lines, and then you patted me on the head 
and expected me to go away quietly and calmly.

Jax: I don't understand, why are you getting back at me now?

Janice: Because now I know why you did it…  It was because of my best friend in 
the whole world, Venus!

Jax: What?

Janice: That's why you got rid of me, because you wanted to be with her. Well, 
don't worry, I'm going to be sure you spend an eternity with her… IN HELL!

Janice lifted the knife into the air.

Janice: Too bad you won't live to see 1999!

Jax let out a loud scream as the knife came flying down.

~^~

Venus sighed as her cousin Loretta entered Kelly's late.

Lori: Hello, cousin.

Venus: Loretta…

Lori: I told you, I hate that name!  If you want me to call you V., the least 
you can do is respect me the same way and call me Lori!

Venus: All right, all right.  Why were you so late?

Lori: The plane got in late, but I swear, I tried to get here as soon as I 
could.

Venus: All right…

Lori: So, are we going anywhere to party or what?

Venus: Not really, I'm going on a date with Jerry, but you can do whatever you 
want.

Lori: All right, cool.

Venus couldn't believe she was letting her cousin move in with her, even if it 
was temporary.  He cousin wanted to be away from the rest of the family and 
asked V if she could stay with her and maybe get a life for herself in Port 
Charles.  She couldn't turn her down, but this was Loretta after all. Lori was 
already gone by the time Jerry arrived.

Jerry: Ready to go?

Venus: Am I ever?

Jerry took Venus' hand and kissed it.  Then they headed right out the door. 
Jerry couldn't believe that it wasn't that long ago that they were messed up in 
that Brett/Milo situation.  Milo wanted revenge on Jerry, Brett wanted revenge 
on Sonny for killing his family and Venus for not saving his cousin nicknamed 
"The Tin Man".  They decided to pull together and use Venus to get to Sonny and 
Jerry both, but Brett and Milo were very sloppy and are now safely sitting in a 
jail cell. Venus stepped on the launch with Jerry.

Venus: I can't believe I'm going to Wyndemere for this New Year's Party.

Jerry: What, it'll be fun.

Venus: If you say so…

~^~

Jax was almost relieved when he saw Janice stop right above his chest. He almost 
had a heart attack, too.

Janice: On second thought, it would be kinda nice to kill you and Venus 
together…  I think I'll wait.

Puts knife down on table.

Jax: Janice, you can't do this…

Janice: Oh, stuff it!

Janice shoves a rag into his mouth.

Janice: See you later.

Janice walked out the door as Jax struggled to get free, but he knew it was 
pretty much useless.  All he could do was lay there alone in the dark.

~^~

Mike got off the ELQ jet Brenda had gotten him on and rushed to the waiting 
limo.  He realized he hadn't thanked Brenda for arranging this yet, he would 
have to do so when he got back.  Everything was just so hectic right now.

^-^-^-^

Mike watched as a black woman with tight short dress entered the bar.

Mike: Anything I can do for you?

The woman smiled, taking off the sunglasses which covered her green eyes.

Woman: Buy me a drink?

Mike: Anything you want.

Woman: Good, I'll take a gin and tonic.

Mike: My kinda gal.

Mike got the bartender's attention and got her the drink.

Mike: Mike Corbin.

Woman: Charmed, my name is Angelica Louis, I just moved here from California.

Mike: Nice to meet you, Angelica.

Angelica: So, how long have you lived in New York City?

Mike: A while now.  I live down the block in…

Angelica: Garrison Complex?

Mike: Right.

Angelica: Funny, I live there too.

Mike: I guess we'll see a lot of each other then.

Angelica: I'm sure we will.  Well, I better go back to my apartment.  I don't 
suppose you could escort me back to my place.

Mike: No problem at all.

^-^-^-^

Mike entered the house on Parkston Street.

Mike: Angel, it's Mike!

Angelica walked down the spiral steps and went right to him.  She hugged him 
tight.

Angelica: Michael, I have missed you so much.

Mike: Angel, what is it, what's wrong?

Angelica pulled back and looked into his eyes.  Mike knew whatever it was it 
wasn't good.

Angelica: Mike, there's big trouble, and I need your help.

Mike: What kind of trouble?

Angelica: Ricky…

^-^-^-^

Angelica opened the door and looked to an older woman in the corner.

Angelica: Mrs. Henderson, you can go home now, thank you for letting me stay 
here.

Mrs. Henderson: It was no trouble, dear.  Ricky is in bed now, so you have the 
rest of the night to yourself.

She went out the door and Angelica turned back to Mike, who was still behind 
her.

Angelica: Thank you for walking me home.  Would you like some coffee?

Mike: Ah, no, that's okay…  Thanks for the offer though. Though, if you don't 
mind me asking, who's Ricky?

Angelica: Ricky's my boy.  Uh, I kinda divorced his father four years ago, he's 
ten now.

Mike: Oh, okay.  On second thought, I kinda would like some coffee.

Angelica: *smiles* All right, well, just kick off your shoes and follow me.

^-^-^-^

Mike: What about Ricky?

Angelica: He owes money to a man named Moreno.  Ricky was supposed to pay him 
back tomorrow, but Ricky is completely missing and Moreno keeps calling and 
telling me that if he doesn't find Ricky and get his money back, he'll kill me.  
I called you because I know your son has ties to the mob and your the only one I 
know who would help.

Mike: All right, all right, why don't you tell me the story from the beginning 
and then we'll figure out what to do.

Angelica nodded as she sat down.

~^~

Carly entered Luke's and looked around for Jason.  She sighed, when Luke popped 
out of nowhere.

Luke: What are you doing here?

Carly looked at him and gave a fake smile.

Carly: I'm looking for Jason.  You haven't seen him, have you?

Luke: No, not at all, why?

Carly: None of your business, dear uncle.

Luke: Is that any way to treat your uncle after everything I've done for you?

Carly: Then again, considering all you've "done" for me, maybe I just shouldn't 
speak to you at all.

Luke: Hey, no one's holding a gun to your head.

Carly: You're right.

Carly just smiled and walked away.

~^~

Emily walked over to Lucky.

Emily: Guess who showed up.

Lucky: Who?

Emily pointed at the doorway to Tony Jones.

Lucky: Oh my God…  Henry hasn't seen him, has…

Lucky was interrupted when Henry approached them.

Henry: What the hell is he doing here?

Emily: Well, your dad did invite the entire hospital staff…

Henry: So?  What the hell kind of nerve does that guy have showing up here 
knowing how much I hate- No, no, hate doesn't really capture my feelings for 
him, let's see… detest, despise, I don't know, one of those words that describes 
the most hatred a person can have for another.

Lucky: You know, Henry, once you get to know him, he's really not that bad of a 
guy…

Henry: Screw that!  Lucky, I was there to see how he treated Carly, I saw her 
lose her baby because of that man…

Emily: Henry, you know that it was no one's fault…

Henry: No, what happened was no accident and all the blame rests on him.  Not to 
mention how he's treated her afterwards.  Remember at the Nurse's ball when in 
front of everyone he pretty much accused her of intentionally killing their 
baby…

Emily: He was drunk…

Henry: Don't make excuses for him, he almost killed me that night. If Mike 
hadn't pushed me out of the way of his car, I might be dead right now.

Emily: Look, this isn't a good subject…  Come on Henry, it's almost the new 
year, don't let Tony get you all irritated.

Henry: You're right…  Let's get Nikolas and go to the guesthouse, we can
hang out there.

Emily: Yeah…  Where is he?

Henry: He should be around here somewhere…  Let's split up and meet back at 
guesthouse in a little bit.

Lucky: All right.

So they split up in search of Nikolas.

~^~

Stefan was sitting in the conservatory, when Laura opened the door.

Stefan: I was wondering how long it would take before you arrive.

Laura: Hello, Stefan.  What was so urgent you needed to see me right away?

Stefan picked up the remote and pressed the play button.  Laura watched the TV 
as Helena appeared on it.

Helena: Greetings.  If you are watching this, then I must now be dead.  If so, I 
would like to congratulate the person who did it, whomever it may be.  Was it 
you, Stefan?  If so, I hope you rot in hell with your father and me.  There is a 
much more important part of this video, though, Stefan.  I knew the truth you so 
hoped I would never learn.  I was never foolish to believe that you and Laura 
never had an affair and I was paying close attention when that genetics test was 
being done.  I know you are Nikolas' father, Stefan.  I've always kept it secret 
because I hoped I could someday get Nikolas to do as I wanted, but if I'm dead 
now, then what's the point of keeping it secret.  I had this tape sent to you on
New Year's Eve as a glimpse as to what the next year is going to be like.  I
may be dead, but you will pay.  You will all still pay.

Laura gasped as Stefan stopped the tape.

Laura: Does Nikolas know yet?

Stefan: No, he does not know that he is our son…

Laura: What are we going to do?

Stefan: I don't know, but we must figure it out before whatever surprise Helena 
had planned happens.

Laura: Right…  Maybe we should tell him…

Stefan: Shh…

Stefan rushed over to the doorway to hear someone running away.

Stefan: Someone heard!

Laura and Stefan rushed after the person and stopped them to find that it was…