When Cassadines Fall

Lesley strings a few bags along her cast as she climbs from the van. "How long have you been going there."

"Ever since I moved to Port Charles." Maddy replies as she is searching for her house keys.

Stefan opens the back door and reaches for the packages. "You ladies look lovely." He compliments honestly.

"Thanks." Maddy accepts the compliment. "It's Nik's night to cook." She looks over Stefan's shoulder and sees Mrs. L standing by the stove. "And I see he is cheating already."

Mrs. L. looks over a little guilty. "I was in town."

"Oh yeah right! Cover for him! You see what I have to put up with?" She asks Lesley. "Granny Lesley, this is Mrs. Lansbury. She is the one who keeps the Cassadines humming right along and frees them up for their plans of world domination. Has Lucky gotten back with Lulu?"

"Master Nikolas and his brother are with their sister in her room." Mrs. L. informs her. "High tea, you know."

"This I got to see." Maddy strings her bags on the basement door knob and hangs up her coat. She watches as Lesley reluctantly allows Stefan to help her with her coat. "What you really need is a poncho. They might not be in style but it would make it so much easier with your arm. I know a gal in Chinatown who could make you up one in about thirty minutes. Just take a nice wool blanket and slice a hole in the middle and finish it up. You want me to give her a call?"

"That sounds about my speed." Lesley agrees. She follows Maddy to her granddaughter's room. Lulu's room is actually a mini living space. The bed is the least important part of the room. There is a child size study area in one corner with a comfortable chair, thick rug with tons of pillows piled along the wall. Bookcases go up about five feet in that corner with spaces for dolls or stuffed animals mixed in with the age appropriate books. Nik and Lucky are seated with Lulu around a small table with stoneware tea set and a platter of scones. Lucky has reversed his chair so he is leaning over the back of it. Nik is sitting sideways in his chair knowing his legs will never fit under the shortened table. Maddy leans against the door frame and just grins. The guys are rapt in their attention to their little sister.

Lulu looks up to see Lesley; she runs over and hugs her. "Grandma!" With all the flexibility of childhood, her face is happy and clear of the nightmare of the last few days. "I caught fish! Mrs Lansbury is going to cook my fish for dinner. I'm telling Lucky and Nikky all about my friends in Carolina. Where did you go?"

"Maddy took me to the beauty parlor to get my hair done cause I can't wash it one handed. And then she took me to see all the places in Port Charles where she sells coffee." Lesley explains as she brushes back Lulu's hair with her good hand. "What a beautiful room, Baby." Lesley compliments.

"When we got back from fishing, Lucky and me put up all the books from boxes he and Nikky brought from Carolina."

Nik comes over to stand by Maddy. "Princess, this is Maddy; she's a friend of mine."

"Niknik, we met on Halloween but that was just for a second. Hey Lulu."

Lulu gets shy and ducks her head into Lesley's hip. "Hi." Her voice can hardly be heard.

"I'll let you get reacquainted. I'm going to check my messages." Maddy decides to retreat. Lulu needs to make friends at her own speed.

"I'll be right back." Nik tells his family and follows Maddy out in the hallway. "How are you doing? Have you decided how you want to handle the Jacks problem?"

"I'm ignoring it. Tomorrow is another day. And Mondays are made for stuff going down. Sundays are mine." Maddy admits. "You know you are going to have to pull another day on the cooking schedule since you had Mrs. L take over tonight." Maddy tries to change the subject.

Nik grins. "I know. But I think you'd rather have Mrs. L's cooking than mine."

"Well yeah! But it isn't fair." Maddy gets quiet and slides in closer so that they won't be overheard. "Did you call on your mom? Was there any change?"

Nik shakes his head no. "Nothing. The specialist flew in from Chapel Hill. We'll be getting his opinion in the next couple days faxed to." Nik grimaces. "Tony Jones."

"Why does everyone do that?!" Maddy demands. "Make a face when Tony Jones' name is mentioned?"

"He has history with the Spencer's. He's Lucas' father but there is a restraining order to keep him away from Lucas after he threatened to kidnap. no-- was planning on taking Lucas from Bobbie in a custody dispute."

"And he's working at your hospital?" Maddy quirks a brow and steps away. "Let me go make my calls." She runs a hand over Nik's arm and then turns away.

Port Charles Boys and Girls club gym.

Jerry shows up and takes a seat in the bleachers content to watch for awhile and get his thoughts together. When had things gotten so darn screwed up? Hell that was easy. Thanksgiving. No, before that when his parents decided that Port Charles was the place to winter. But how can he complain when he has a daughter okay might have a daughter. But a daughter. Bobbie had been working like mad to keep him on an even keel with this whole thing. Reminding him that Maddy is a grown woman, reminding him of all the problems she'd gone through with Caroline. But he had to let her know that she isn't alone that she has a safety net if things got crazed. Just like Carly, just like Lucas if God forbid he should need it. Lucas goes up for a layup and eases the ball in the basket with a little wobble. Lucas gives a quick yes and then moves back to defense.

JD slides in next to Jerry. "It's a good age." JD says out of nowhere.

"What?" Jerry is startled from his own thoughts. "Oh the kids, yeah. Still game to try just about anything." Jerry looks around focusing more on his surroundings and sees Rita out there on the court. All the kids were playing in coed teams. Not even a month before Lucas might have been the shortest one in his age bracket but that's not true anymore. Now Rita is. "Rita has a great outside shot."

"It's a good thing." JD shakes his head ruefully. "That and free throws. She'll never have the height for the game."

"I thought Rita was working at the restaurant."

"This morning. As soon as the Brunch rush was over Cookie sent her home. I brought her here when she started climbing the walls. She was playing guard when she was over at the public school. The coach at Queen of Angels is willing to give her a try out for their team but it's already formed. So she's worrying herself sick on it."

Jerry watches as Rita executes a steal on some guy that is showboating with the ball. She gets control of the ball and passes it quickly to a guy under the basket who sets up and misses the first time but rebounds and gets it in the second. Mr. Showboat isn't thrilled by being showed up by a girl and bumps Rita the next time up the court. Rita rolls her eyes at the guy and just keeps moving. "Idiot." Rita mutters under her breath, but she is already more focused on the game.

A group of young men who'd been playing an evil game of three on three over on the half court leaving the full court for the age group with the most players come in to watch. Leaning over the water fountain to get a quick drink and then wet down their faces. One plucks off his shirt and uses it to wipe the moisture from his body. Grabbing the basketball, he sits down on it leaning up against the wall. His eyes narrow when he sees the second bump. Rita protects the ball getting it off to Lucas who feeds their inside guy. Rita gives a sharp elbow to the guy who is crowding her. "Why don't you got get a pair of pompoms, shorty?" The guy gets in Rita's face.

Rita waves a hand in front of her face. "Buy a toothbrush, metal mouth."

JD and Jerry are starting to pay much closer attention as are the older guys. The one sitting on the basketball quits talking right in the middle of whatever gag he was sharing with the others to watch the action. Rita goes chasing a loose ball and her tormentor is right after her, tripping her as she gains control of the ball. Lucas calls out a protest but the real noise comes from the sidelines.

Ricky is on his feet having just completed a shrill two finger whistle. He tosses his shirt to the floor and walks out onto the court, head and shoulder taller than anybody out on the floor. "Foul. Tripping." He glares at the offender until the little punk raises his hand. Ricky collects the ball and tosses it to Rita.

"It should be a shot." Lucas demands.

"Kay." Ricky agrees and snags the ball back from Rita. "One 'n one; line it up." As soon as they are all lined up, he hands the ball to Rita with a quick mutter under his breath. "Make him pay, munchkin." Rita takes a deep breath and then another. She bounces the ball twice and then sends it flying to the backboard where it bounces neatly through the rim. One of the other players retrieves the ball and passes it to Ricky since he is acting as ref. Ricky hands it to Rita. "Play this one." He tells the players. Rita goes through her routine and then sinks another free throw.

"You weren't kidding about the free throws." Jerry tells JD. He's impressed. He'd watched enough of Lucas' pickup games to know that kids this age don't have the coordination and skill yet to be hitting a lot of their shots.

"Nope. When Rita gets ticked about things and can't go riding to get out of her funk she heads out to the hoop and just takes free throws until she works out whatever is eating at her." JD explains.

"Well she's been practicing."

"Well she's been on restriction." JD grins ruefully. "Glad Ricky stepped up. Rita would have hated it if I started getting parental out on the
court."

"You know Ricky?"

"Yeah. You?"

"I know his dad from trips down to New Orleans."

"Oh really." JD studies Lucas and Caroline's stepfather carefully. "I have heard."

Jerry interrupts. "Probably all true but that is none of my business. And none of Ricky's either."

"That's what Johnny tells me too." JD says slowly. They silently watch the game as it winds down. Finally the only three left are Rita, Lucas and Ricky. Ricky starts working with them on some of the sneaky barely legal stuff that the older guys specialize in. Soon they are just fooling around on the court the only ones left. Rita makes a play for the basket but then comes to a stop to set up for a jumper.

"Come on Rita." Ricky waves her on. "I got ya. Go for the basket." Rita shrugs wondering what the heck he is doing. "Pass to Lucas now!" He demands. Rita bounces the ball cross court to Lucas and then figuring what Ricky is up to she keeps running straight at him. At the last second, Ricky grabs her and lifts her into the air. Lucas lobs it up to the backboard and Rita slams it in.

"Yes! I did it! Daddy, did you see that?!"

"And you said you couldn't dunk." Ricky laughs as he drops her back to her feet.

"What about me?" Lucas demands.
 

"No way dude. You're already getting too tall for me. You'll be doing dunks" Ricky considers "Probably by next year some time. Dunks are easy though. It's free throws and clutch shooting that wins games."

"Daddy, can Ricky and Lucas come over for dinner?"

JD shrugs. "Fine with me. But you better check with Cookie." Rita runs over to her dad's side to grab his cell phone to call home.

"Lucas." Jerry leaves his concerns unsaid.

"I have all my stuff." Lucas leaves it unsaid as well.

Rita nods to her dad having gotten the okay. JD looks over at Ricky. "What about you or do you have to work?"

"I don't go in until eleven." Ricky replies. "Yeah, if the invitation's open, I don't turn down your wife's cooking. Jerry, if you want I can give Lucas a lift back to your place after."

Jerry nods. "Okay." He gives Lucas' shoulder a quick squeeze. "I'll let your mum know what is up." Jerry turns to Ricky. "Drive safe."

Everyone gathers around the kitchen table. Lesley is given the chair on the end 'cause she needs more room. The table is kind of crowded but nobody wants to break out the dining room table again. The star of the dinner is the fish Lulu caught which many examine and then compare to Lulu in size.

"Hey I'm telling you; I didn't help." Lucky protests for like the tenth time. "She got that sucker up to the surface all on her own."

Lulu makes a muscle for Stefan. "See. I'm strong."

Stefan covers a grin and very seriously checks Lulu's bicep. "Yes, I see I was mistaken. I stand corrected, Miss Lesley Lu." He makes a sharp bow in her direction.

Lu giggles. "You're silly." She tucks a leg under herself so she is tall enough to be at the table without something stupid like a dictionary or something to sit on. Stefan is on one side of her and Mrs. L takes the other. Mrs. L has grown more used to joining the family for dinner while coming over to Wyndemere Lite. And Goodness knows she wouldn't want to over on Spoon Island where Master Stefan had nothing but dreary business dinners. Mrs. L helps Lulu with her servings and then carefully selects each piece of silverware as she goes so Lulu can see which spoon goes with what.

As soon as everyone is dished up with the fish, rice, broccoli and cauliflower, which Lulu smothers in cheese sauce so she can't taste either of the flower shaped vegetables. Liz opens the conversation. "Gram took me to Porter's for Brunch. I swear you can find out more about who is seeing whom by hanging out there than the PC Grille."

"Porters?" Lesley asks.

Lucky is the one that answers. "It's a restaurant that is owned by Johnny Cook. He is the son of the Quartermaine's old cook. He'd been working it for a while like three years or something but it only took off once this Mob guy named Moreno was kicked out of town. Once that guy was gone, Johnny could focus on cooking rather than just keeping his people alive and his place from burning."

"Within six months after that he'd put Café Matisse out of business. Now he is seriously cutting into the PC Grille especially for Brunch. The customers they get are from the hotel not people from town." Maddy adds.

"In other words the people who don't know any better." Lesley clarifies.

"Exactly." Nik says wryly. "I don't even like the guy and I go to his restaurant. And any time you have a pastry at one of Maddy's coffee stands you're supporting the guy. He's good."

"Yep, I'm eminently boycottable. Pastries from Johnny and coffee from the biggest mob boss in upstate New York. Kind of ironic that my courthouse kiosk does the best business Monday through Friday." Maddy takes a bite of the fish and hmm's. "Good job, Lulu. Since you brought dinner tonight you don't have to cook for at least a week. Right Niknik?"

Nik gets up from the table and goes over to the calendar fastened to the fridge with magnets. He picks a day and puts his name on it. "There. Are we okay now?"

"Sure. I never had a problem." Maddy takes another bite of the dinner happy that things had gone her way.

"Madeliene, since I'm returning to the island this evening..."

"You want a game?" Maddy offers knowing where Stefan is going.

"What kinda game?" Lulu demands.

"Chess." Stefan answers.

"Oh." Lulu makes a face. "That's boring."

"Actually Miss Lesley Lu, Madeliene was just your age when she started playing." Stefan tells her. "Nikolas as well although he seems to agree with you that chess is boring."

"Before you decide it's boring, Lulu, you should watch the way that Uncle Stefan and Madeliene play." Nik suggests.

Ricky and Lucas play on Rita's playstation after dinner. Rita kicks back ready to take on the winner. Rita, as is her nature, decides to get nosy. "So why did you and Maddy break up?" Lucas is distracted by the out of the blue comment and listens carefully for the answer.

Ricky grimaces. "'Cause we got together for all the wrong reasons. It was right after my grandmother died three, almost four years ago. That messed with both of our heads. Breaking up wasn't the mistake. Getting together was." That's as much as he can tell the kids without getting into details that were for adults only. Maddy had been in the mood to be self-destructive and really stupid after finding Granny Rosa; he'd been more than willing to lead her down that path. Maddy had been the one to pull out of it. Eventually. Somehow they'd managed to keep it from his father, they'd both agreed on that from day one. "We should have tried to be friends instead. Maddy wasn't much older than you, Rita."

"You guys weren't friends?" Lucas asks casually, too casually, keeping his eyes on the TV screen.

"No. We still aren't. Too much history. We love the people we have in common, but we don't agree on them or on each other." Ricky glances down at his watch. "I'm going to be the party pooper here, Lucas, but I have to get you home so I can get ready for work." Lucas rises from off of the floor putting up the playstation. He takes off to thank Mrs. Porter for dinner again leaving Rita and Ricky alone in the family room. "You having any more problems with Vicki?"

"Nope, she hasn't said boo to me since before Thanksgiving. Elizabeth Webber was asking questions about you today at the restaurant. Nothing really nosy. Just if you'd been in."

"Who the hell is she?" Ricky demands.

"A friend of Emily Quartermaine. Her boyfriend is Nikolas Cassadine's brother, Lucky Spencer."

"Oh her, I didn't know last name. Yeah, She works at Kelly's." Ricky places the name. "Not a problem. Lucky helped me get the car when I first came to town. He knew where all the lots were and who had the best deal. Anybody else?"

"No. Nobody else."

"Thanks for looking out." Ricky nods. "Maddy's aunt has a preliminary court date coming up this next week. Things are going to start getting interesting again. My Dad is starting to get impatient."

"Yeah, but he's going to stay down there right?" Rita demands. "Port Charles is a great place to visit but I don't want your dad working here."

Ricky laughs. "You're too attached to that Corinthos guy. Maybe I should snitch you off to your dad."

"He's a good tipper!" Rita says defensively. She falls silent as they all end up by the front door. Ricky thanks Cookie and JD for having him to dinner and then walks out with Lucas to his car parked out by the garage. Lucas climbs into the front passenger side and automatically buckles up.

Lucas waits until they are on the road before he makes any comments. "You and Maddy have someone else in common."

"Oh? You dating her now?"

"No Joke, Ricky."

"Okay no joke, what's up, Lucas?"

"Jerry."

"I know Jerry flew Cassadine down to pick Maddy up after her mom died but they didn't seem too tight." Ricky shrugs. "Jerry and my dad are the ones that are buds. Not Jerry and Maddy."

"That's all going to change." Lucas says cryptically. "Jerry has figured out he used to date Maddy's mother. Before she was born-- like nine months before Maddy was born."

Ricky pulls over to the side of the road and stops the car shutting it off and then turns in his seat to face Lucas. "You ate a bad mushroom at dinner right? Having some kind of weird trip. You didn't just tell me that Jerry is Maddy's father?!" Lucas doesn't say a word. Ricky swears. "You have got to be kidding me."

"Jerry thinks it's true. He doesn't know that I know. They're keeping this one adults only." Lucas makes little quote motions in the air on the last part. "So I'd really appreciate if you didn't let Jerry know you know or how you found out. They haven't done DNA or anything. Jerry was going to talk to Maddy but I haven't heard how that turned out."

"When did you hear all this?"

"After Thanksgiving. They were all talking about it Friday morning. but it's kinda all gotten messed up with Aunt Laura getting in a car accident."

"How are you dealing with all this?"

Lucas shrugs. "Big sisters are a pain but I've kind of gotten used to having them. She couldn't be any worse than Carly."

It might be getting close to Lulu's bedtime with school the next day. Lesley has already crashed. Mrs. L. is closeted away with one of her mystery novels. Lucky and Liz had headed back to their place. Nik cuddles with his sister on the couch by the fire in the study quietly reading to her from one of her books. (actually they are alternating pages) Stefan and Maddy glare at each other over the chess board. Stefan is still slow in picking but faster playing with Maddy than he is with anyone else. Maddy is quick to make her moves and not quiet in her comments about Stefan's play. The chess version of trash talking is in evidence. Every once in a while Lulu looks up from the book to watch with fascination as Maddy exclaims and swiftly claims one of Stefan's pieces from the board.

Everyone is so caught up in their own pursuits that they all jump when there is a sharp insistent rap on the door. Nik jumps up and reaches for the poker by the fire. Cinnamon rises from by the fire and growls in the direction of the of potential intruder. Maddy looks at the dark figure on the other side of the French doors carefully and then tells Nik. "It's okay." She goes over and opens the door, hugging herself to keep away the cold and her free hand is at Cinnamon's collar holding the dog back from investigating. "Ricky? What are you doing here?"

"I want to talk to you now!" Ricky slides by Maddy and into the house. He looks around the study. He sees the wide eyed stare of the little girl on the couch. "Privately."

"Is Poppi okay?" Maddy demands.

"Privately Maddy." Ricky grinds out between gritted teeth. He reaches for Maddy and Cinnamon starts to growl.

"Cinnamon NO!" Maddy protests. Maddy looks around the room. Private in this house would be a joke especially with Nik and Stefan around Ricky-never a good combination. She reaches into her pocket and feels the van keys. "Cinnamon, stay with Niknik." She leads Ricky out of the house shutting the French doors behind her. Half way there Ricky grabs her keys transferring them to his right hand. His next grab is her arm. He half leads half drags her to the van. Opening the door he shoves her in and then climbs in behind her shutting the sliding door with a firm slam. "What the hell crawled up your butt?!" Maddy plops herself into one of the captain's chairs and straightens her top.

Ricky gets comfortable on the couch in the back of the van. Maddy grins knowing he is going to be covered in dog hair when he leaves. Ricky quips without humor. "So have you already picked out a father's day present for this year?"

Maddy's eyes narrow in the darkness. How had Ricky heard about this one? "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Pull the other one, Baby. I can hear it in your voice. You. Jerry. father daughter picnics."

"Where are you getting your information, Ricky; 'cause they are feeding you a line."

"Nevermind that. Just know that my source believes this to be true. If there is a scam being played then it's you playing it on Jerry not vice versa."

"I don't have to listen to this!" Maddy gets up to get out of the van.

Ricky is right there and pushes her back in her seat. "What game are you playing?"

"I'm not playing, Ricky. This did not come from me." She can see his disbelief. "On your grandmother's soul, Ricky. Old lady Jacks dropped this bomb on me. If she believes it then it's 'cause someone is working her and it isn't me." Maddy swears putting her hand over her heart. Ricky backs off at the first mention of Rosa. "I have one living relative, Ricky. That is my aunt Dara, and look what a mess she is in cause of me! If God above came down and lit a bush on fire telling me Jerry Jacks is my father, I'd deny it to anyone who asked. The guy has a wife and kid, kids, grandkid, Ricky. I don't have a father." Maddy says with clear emphasis.

Ricky nods. This was going beyond don't ask don't tell and getting into deny, deny, deny. "Yeah, you kind of are the typhoid Mary of relatives. What about Cassadine? You don't seem to be worried too much about his skin."

"I did my research. They can take care of themselves."

"And the little girl?" Ricky reminds. "Can she take care of herself too?"

Maddy bites her lip. "I wasn't planning on her. Nik never sees his sister or should I say never saw his sister."

"Things change. You ready to move?"

"I can't leave." Maddy shakes her head. "Not with Aunt Dara on trial." Maddy supports her head with her hands resting her elbows on her knees. "What a mess."

"Yeah, you do seem to have a dark cloud that just follows you around."

"That was not helpful." Maddy says between gritted teeth.

"Fine. You don't want to leave. You want to bury your head in the sand and have no comment on any of this crud."

"Yes! There is no connection between me and the Jacks family! PERIOD!"

"And we're going to handle this inhouse and not involve my father in any of this."

Maddy is taken aback. "Poppi?! Why would anyone tell Poppi? Is that what this is? Some way to get after Poppi? Ricky, no way can Poppi know about this, believe this!"

"Sounds as if we're in agreement." Ricky says grimly. "Your Aunt has a preliminary hearing coming up this week. Maybe her damn lawyer will get it done then and quit dragging this out."

"I have to get inside." Maddy runs her hands up her arms. It was starting to get cold or rather colder in the van.

"Yeah, you do that. I'll go shut up the Jacks."

"Keep them away from me, Ricky."

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