Note: This chapter, particularly the final scenes, is written in the style of the old-school GH montages.

Song; Family Tree by Matthew West

 

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January 13, 2005

Haunted Star

You didn’t ask for this
Nobody ever would

Emily stepped into the main room of the casino, and couldn’t help the broad smile spreading across her face at the elaborate decorations her family had put together for her twenty-fifth birthday.

She saw her parents across the room, glasses of champagne in their hand. Monica raised her glass to her and then tipped her head to her grandparents, near one of the dinner tables.

Edward looked at her, his eyes unreadable, but his smile was warm. And then he nodded his head, as if to indicate she ought to look behind her. Emily turned, and she simply stopped.

“Nikolas.”

Caught in the middle of this dysfunction
It’s your sad reality

“Oh, good.” Elizabeth leaned into Jason’s side. “I hope he’s going to convince her to put the ring back on.”

Her boyfriend scowled. “I told her not to let the old man tell her what to do.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Yes, well, Emily felt differently.” She watched one of her best friends just stare at her estranged fiancé. “She was so happy when he proposed. I want her to light up like that again.”

And then Jason looked down at her, with a frown. “Do you want to get married?”

Elizabeth laughed. “Maybe one day, but certainly not now.” When he just kept staring at her, she flushed and sipped her champagne. That was the blessing and the curse of dating someone without a filter. One never knew what Jason would say next.

It’s your messed up family tree
And all you’re left with all these questions

Lulu hesitantly stepped in behind Emily and Nikolas and skirted around the edge of their staring at one another. She saw her parents across the room, and then Dillon by the appetizers. She checked the time on her phone, and sighed. Will was stopping by the house first to talk to his mother. He said that her family inspired him to do better with her.

Well, her lips curved into a grin at the thought. The Spencers were nothing if not inspirational. She saw Dillon motioning towards her and she nodded. With a finger touching the pearl necklace at her throat, she started for her best friend and partner in crime. Will might be the father of her child, but Dillon was her platonic life partner and they were going to have fun tonight.

Are you gonna be like your father was and his father was?
Do you have to carry what they’ve handed down?

Patrick eyed the drink in his hand and then looked across the room, where his sister and her boyfriend were talking quietly. She was smiling brightly, and even he looked less like a stone statue.

And he saw Robin with her father, sipping wine and laughing. He loved her so much—he’d never stopped. And with the news of her illness, of his father’s accident, he’d quite simply blocked out the fact that she’d moved on, had planned on marrying someone else.

He didn’t know who he was if he wasn’t Patrick Drake, Robin Scorpio’s childhood sweetheart. And he wasn’t sure he was interested in finding out.

Leaving his barely touched drink on the bar, he started across the room towards the Scorpios.

No, this is not your legacy
This is not your destiny
Yesterday does not define you

Robin turned from her father who was deep in conversation with her uncle Mac about the Yankees’ prospects for the next season as she saw Patrick approaching her. “I love Quartermaine parties,” she said to him as he joined her. “They go all out every year.”

“Yeah.” He slid his hands in his pockets. “Were you happy with him?” he asked quietly.

Robin hesitated and her heart aching for this boy, for this man who had always been in her heart. “I was, Patrick. But maybe…” She hesitated. “Maybe it was easy because it was just us in Paris. Our own little world. I don’t know what would have happened if he didn’t get sick.” Robin felt almost guilty for admitting what she’d only thought in her bed, alone at night. “But I won’t pretend that I didn’t love him.”

Patrick nodded, dipping his head towards the ground. “Fair enough.” Then he looked at her, his dark eyes burning into hers. “Do you think you could love me again?” He cleared his throat. “Never mind, don’t answer that.”

No, this is not your legacy
This is not your meant to be
I can break the chains that bind you

Will stepped into the casino, his eyes searching the room for a familiar face. He saw the Spencers by the blackjack table, and grinned because he could tell Lu’s mom was trying to discourage her husband from placing another bet. He saw Patrick winding away from a sad-looking Robin towards his sister and Jason.

And he saw Lulu laughing by the appetizers with Dillon.

He sighed, because he really did love her. He was just afraid it wasn’t the right kind of love, the kind that could keep a family together through the hard times. But it was a good, steady love that might end up fading into friendship.

And there were worst things in life than parents who were friends. He lifted his chin and started towards some friends from school, leaving Lulu to enjoy her time with her best friend. He was going to be okay, whether he lived with his mother (which seemed unlikely given her unhappiness at Lulu’s pregnancy), or he stayed with the Spencers.

He was going to be a better man than his father, and he was going to be a better father than the Drake men before him.

I have a dream for you
It’s better than where you’ve been
It’s bigger than your imagination

Jason had excused himself to grudgingly say hello to Monica who had been casting sad looks in their direction all night, as Patrick approached them. “Hey,” he nodded to his sister. “You look nice, tonight.”

“Thanks.” She hesitated. “Did…you argue with Robin?”

He shook his head and glanced back towards his ex-girlfriend standing with her father, her uncle and one of her younger cousins. “No. I’m just…trying to come to terms with the fact that she’s not the one.”

“Patrick…” She reached out to touch his forearm. “You don’t know what. You can’t know that. You guys are friends, and you can’t see what’s in the future.” Elizabeth hesitated. “But maybe she’s not. You’ll never know if you don’t open yourself back up to love.”

He nodded. “I know, I get that, Ellie. It’s the one thing Robin has beat into me in…” He let out a sound that was almost a huff mixed with a chuckle. “Has she only been home a month?”

“See?” Elizabeth arched an eyebrow. “Four measly weeks, you don’t know what could happen. Just…give yourself a chance. I love you, you annoying bastard.” She glanced down. “You, me and Will, we’re it. We have to stick together.”

“Don’t worry.” Patrick brushed a kiss across her forehead. “You’re stuck with me.”

You’re gonna find real love
And you’re gonna hold your kids
You’ll change the course of generations

“I can’t believe my grandfather invited you,” Emily murmured as Nikolas passed her a glass of champagne. “Are you positive he meant it?”

Edward approached them as he heard Emily’s statement. He cleared his throat. “I did.” He looked at his granddaughter, his beloved little girl all grown up. “I’m a stubborn old man who likes to believe he can control the people in his life. That being said, Emily…my dear, you are my granddaughter no matter whom you may marry. You can’t change that.” He scowled. “You’re a Quartermaine now, and you can’t just walk away from that.”

Nikolas just muttered something under his breath and rolled his eyes.

“Grandfather, I love you so much,” Emily began, but her tears slid down her face as her grandfather fished something from his tuxedo pocket. “That’s my ring.”

“Alice filched it from your jewelry box after you finished getting ready tonight.” He held it out to Nikolas. “So you know that I accept it, young man. But if you ever hurt her…”

Nikolas took the ring and cleared his throat. “Mr. Quartermaine, I know that your approval and blessing means the world to Emily, and as she means the same to me, I hope we can find some common ground.”

“We already have, my boy.” Edward kissed Emily on the cheek. “We both love this woman.” He returned to his wife, who beamed at him.

Emily took a deep breath and held out her hand. “I know you didn’t think I made the right decision—”

“You did right by you,” Nikolas said, softly. He slid the diamond ring back on her finger. “So let me do right by me. I love you, and we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together. All the rest? Doesn’t matter now.”

No, this is not your legacy
This is not your destiny
Yesterday does not define you

“I think my mother is trying to scheme my brother out of the CEO position at ELQ,” Dillon sighed as he perused the shrimp platter. “She’s just never satisfied.”

Lulu shrugged. “So we’ll just have to outscheme her. I’ll talk to Nikolas, he’s in business, and he’ll have some ideas to protect Ned.”

Dillon frowned. “You’re pregnant. We can’t be doing our old stuff anymore, Lu—”

She planted her hands on her hips. “Watch it, buddy. Don’t let me hear you say that being pregnant means I can’t wreak havoc on this unsuspecting world. I’ve always been the brains behind this operation, you’re just the brawn.”

“And that,” Dillon mused as he pooped a shrimp in his mouth, “is how we ended up sitting next to an albino you thought was Kristen Bell on a bus to Minneapolis in the middle of winter.”

“I really do love you, you know.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Chicks and guys come and go, but you and me, Dillon, this is forever. I love my family, they’re amazing, and Will’s been stand-up about this. I don’t know if we’ll get back together, but you’re my best friend in the whole world and I just don’t work without you.”

Dillon grinned. “Well, I will say, Lesley Lu Spencer, with you, there’s never a dull moment.” He tweaked one of his curls. “You really think we can outscheme Tracy Quartermaine?”

Her grin broadened. “We’re sure as hell going to try.”

No, this is not your legacy
This is not your meant to be
I can break the chains that bind you

Robin found Patrick as he was leaving his sister in the capable hands of friends from the hospital. “Hey…you just walked away earlier—”

“I’m sorry.” He took a champagne glass from a passing waiter. “It wasn’t a fair thing to ask you—”

“Patrick.” Her dark eyes were soft. “I don’t know if we’re going to be together again. It seems ridiculous to rule it out because at the end of the day, I still love you and you still love me. And it’s insane to think that it won’t matter down the road. But I just got home. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, much less next month.”

He nodded. “I can live with that. I know I told you I wouldn’t be around waiting, but I don’t know…” He offered her that dimpled grin that had kept him out of trouble with her for years. “I’ve already waited three years for you to come home. We can be friends. For now.”

And she laughed, because though she had moved on while she was gone, she had never closed her heart to Patrick Drake, and she knew she never would.

Cause you’re my child
You’re my chosen
You are loved
You are loved

On the dance floor, Emily looked at her ring over Nikolas’s shoulder. “I missed this ring,” she murmured. “My hand felt empty without it.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t take your concerns seriously.” He drew back to brush his lips against her cheek. “I didn’t want to see how our families could threaten us, but it’s different for me. I’m all Stefan really has. I knew he’d relent eventually. I…” he hesitated. “I forget sometimes you were adopted.”

“I think…” Emily’s eyes found her parents and she smiled. “I think sometimes, Nikolas, I’m the only one who does remember. I always felt like I had to be something more to deserve their love, to justify their choice.”

“And it’s just not true. They love you regardless of whose blood is in your veins.” He grinned. “I can understand that. I find it simply impossible not to love you, so how can they not feel the same way?”

“We are going to have the best life,” Emily said, her eyes bright with dreams of future happiness.

And I will restore
All that was broken
You are loved
You are loved

“It wasn’t so bad talking to the Quartermaines was it?” Elizabeth asked as Jason finally escaped that side of the room and rejoined her side. “Monica loves you.”

“She’s not really as bad as…” He grimaced. “All the rest of them. I can live with Monica and Emily. And the kid, Dillon, he’s a little goofy, but he’s all right.” He slid his arm around her waist. “I saw you talking to your brother earlier. Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” She leaned her cheek against his shoulder. “Yeah, I really believe that this time.” She looked up at him. “I…want to say something to you, and you don’t have to say it back, except if you want to, but I know—”

He gently covered her mouth with his hand. “Elizabeth, I love you, too.”

She laughed, and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You know me better than anyone. And I do love you.”

And just like the seasons change
Winter into spring

//Edward taps his champagne glass in order to make a toast to his granddaughter. Emily blushes as he lavishes praise on her, and begins to cry when he formally announces her engagement.//

You’re bringing new life to your family tree now
Yes you are
You are

//Laura comes up behind Lulu and wraps an arm around her shoulders. She touches the pearls around her neck and the two share a smile. Luke looks both proud and worried.//

No, this will be your legacy
This will be your destiny
Yesterday did not define you

//Patrick and Robin are dancing, and he dips her almost too low. She bursts into laughter, and as Patrick twirls her back around, she catches her dad’s resigned smile.//

No, this will be your legacy
This will be your meant to be
I can break the chains that bind you

//Elizabeth whispers something into Jason’s ear and he grins. She’ll keep that promise later, he tells her. It’s the least she can do after he got into a tuxedo for this.//

And just like the seasons change
Winter into spring

//Robin pulls Lulu away from her family over to Elizabeth and Emily and surprises the younger woman with a teddy bear, promising to stick by her. They’ve known Lulu since she was a little girl, and she’s always been like a little sister to them. Lulu starts to cry and throws her arms around them. How did a girl get so lucky to know so many wonderful people? Her baby is going to have the best family. //

You’re bringing new life to your family tree now

THE END

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Author’s Note

In December 2005, I was introduced to the gorgeous dimples of Patrick Drake, and shortly after his first scene with Elizabeth, I began to write the first scene in this story. It wasn’t until I reached the end of the first chapter that I even knew what I was going to do with this story — but I wrote Robin, Lulu, Emily and Elizabeth commiserating about the fathers and suddenly knew.

I thought about stringing this out until I figured out if Lulu and Will should be back together, to reunite Patrick and Robin, but it was never about those specific things. It was about four women, their love for their family and friends, and getting them past the struggle.

I grew up on GH in the 90s when it was this amazing mixture of action and adventure, family, love, friendship, secrets and drama. People were honestly friends who loved one another, not plot points on the way to the next story, so Daughters is kind of my nod to that old history. These relationships and friendships still exist under the muck on GH, because you can’t kill history. It’s probably the reason I keep going back.

Thanks for reading. If you’ve enjoyed it all the way through, please think about dropping me even a brief line to let me know.

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