Family Secrets

After a lengthy argument between the two couples, they agreed that whoever had sent the pictures to Carly and Blair had to be a mutual adversary. Narrowing down the possibilities is where the trouble lay.

“Look, obviously this isn’t gonna be settled here and I need a drink,” Todd sighed scratching his forehead.

“We’re not going anywhere until we figure out who’s behind this,” Jason told him pointedly.

“We already said that it’s gotta be someone from the outside who knows both of our families.”

“I don’t like you, Manning. And I trust you less.”

“Whatever. Now I really need a drink to cry in because you don’t like me,” he told Jason sarcastically.

Jason shook his head and sighed deeply. “Fine, let’s go.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The large group entered the small bar with a slight commotion, pushing and shouting ensued and they finally broke off into smaller groups. Some heads turned when they entered and others ignored them completely.

Blair and Carly immediately headed towards the back of the bar where there was some seclusion. Lou and Johnny, who had been inseparable since they walked out of Todd’s office together, sat at a small table near the entrance.

Todd took a seat at the bar and ordered a double scotch for himself and one for Blair. He turned his head to the side and openly glared at Lou who seemed to be flirting with Johnny. Jason and Manny joined Todd at the bar, both ordering a beer.

Todd tossed back the scotch in his glass and cast a look at Jason who was looking around the bar. “What’s the matter, Morgan? This place ain’t up to your code?”

Jason ignored his comment and took a pull of his beer. The fact was that Jason liked the place. It reminded him of Jake’s.

Blair and Carly sat silently at their table while Carly looked around curiously. “This place is . . .”

“Don’t you dare say it’s a dump,” Blair cut her off.

“No, it’s – it reminds me of Jake’s.”

“What?”

“This bar back in Port Charles. It’s got the same vibe. Dark, moody.”

“Perfect,” Blair finished.

“Something like that,” Carly muttered.

“Look about what happened earlier,” Blair started.

“Forget about it. I figure we’re both on edge right now.”

“I just don’t want anyone messing with my family right now. We’ve gotten so far and I just don’t want it threatened.”

“Believe me, I know how you feel.”

“Sorry I called your husband a ‘brain damaged John Gotti wannabe’.”

Carly smirked at her. “I’m sorry I called your husband a ‘rape convicted Scarface wannabe’.”

They both started to chuckle at their statements. A waiter brought them their drinks and Carly looked back at the bar. Jason raised his beer bottle at her and she did the same. Blair took a sip of her scotch and watched Todd with curious eyes. He was up to something, she could feel it.

Carly turned her focus back on Blair who was staring at the bar. She called out her name a few times, but she didn’t respond. She took a drink of her beer and once again tried to grab Blair’s attention as she seemed to be miles away.

”Blair!”

Blair finally tore her eyes away from the bar and turned to Carly. “What?” she snapped.

Carly raised an eyebrow at her. “What the hell was that all about?”

“What?”

“You had that look on your face.”

“What look?”

Carly rolled her eyes at her. “God, never mind. I was just wondering what you were thinking about.”

“You wouldn’t understand.” Blair’s green eyes fixed on Carly and she sighed. “Todd and I, we met here.”

Carly’s face softened as well. “Oh,” she merely mumbled.

“What, no snappy comeback?” Blair smirked.

“No, its--it’s just weird.”

“What?”

“Me and Jason. We met in a bar kinda like this one too.”

Blair smiled at her slightly. “Lou will be thrilled that we have something else in common.”

Carly snorted and turned to Blair. “It is freaky.”

“It’s pure coincidence,” Blair waved her off.

“Maybe,” Carly mumbled. After a short silence, she spoke again. “So tell me about how you met Todd.”

Blair’s face softened and Carly took note of it with interest.

“You really want to know?”

“Yeah,” Carly genuinely smiled.

Blair began to smile and glanced back towards the bar. “Me and Todd . . . God, it seems like it was forever ago. I was sitting right there.”

Carly followed Blair’s finger to the seats occupied by Todd and Jason at the bar.

”I was sitting there, drinking away because I was so depressed that I’d been dumped. Well dumped is a little harsh,” Blair amended. “The guy I was involved with, Max,” she spit out the name, “he was married.” Carly’s eyes widened in surprise at her comment. “And Max decided to stick it out with his wife.”

“Anyways, this guy walked in,” Blair chuckled softly. “ ‘Excuse me, is somebody sitting here?’ those were the first words he said to me. He sat down and ‘Unforgettable’ started playing on the jukebox. And I swear to you at the same time, the both us yelled for someone to turn it off.”

Blair chuckled softly and Carly couldn’t help but smile.

“We started talking and I had no idea who he was at the time. The only thing floating in my head was the fact that this gorgeous long haired guy was single. We started talking about our horrid love lives and we just clicked. He accidentally knocked my purse to the floor and when I bent over to get it, I noticed it.”

“What?” Carly asked curiously.

“His ankle monitor.”

Blair and Carly both laughed at her remark.

“I told him to stay away from me, but damn, I didn’t mean it and the bastard knew it. When I first met Todd, he was this conniving mean bastard . . . and I was instantly attracted to him. I mean, he was out on parole for the rape and it made me nervous at first. But then after a while, it didn’t matter because I knew I was safe with him. We were friends at first," Blair looked off with a lost look in her eyes. "He became my best friend, the only person I could count on.”

“We slept together once and I remember panicking because it felt so right, but he was such the wrong guy. And then it kinda tumbled out of control. I got desperate because my mother was about to get kicked out of the hospital she was in because I hadn’t paid the bills. That’s when I found out that Todd was this millionaire. So I lied and told him I was pregnant with his kid and he married me.”

Blair shook her head sadly at the memory. “I scammed my best friend when I know deep down he would have helped me if I had just told him the truth. But God, I ended up scamming myself because I fell in love with him. And I think I was in love with him for a long time and I just didn’t realize it.”

"He was so hurt," Blair barely whispered. "I remember the look in his eyes when he found out even all these years later. . ." she cleared her throat and looked at Carly again. “Anyways, long story short, we got married again and then I thought he was dead for some time until he came back to town. We both married other people and then he left town again. But then he came back and the cycle started all over again. But the one thing that never changed, no matter what, was that there’s always been that pull between us. Even when he was married to that nasty troll Tea. I still loved him and he still loved me. But we finally got it right and fuck if I'm gonna let anyone come between us again."

“We have our ups and downs. He does something stupid and I react to it and it’s usually not pretty. But god, I want this to work. I just feel empty when we’re not together no matter what he’s done. I never stopped loving him. How could I when he has my heart?” she whispered.

Blair shook her head and raised an eyebrow at Carly. “Why am I telling you all of this?”

“I don’t know, but I’m glad you are. It really is freaky, Blair. Me and Jason, we met in this little dive, played pool, had sex and never even bothered with names and it went on like that for awhile. And then he became my best friend and I fell in love with him. I’ve done so many stupid things in my life, but he never judged me. He accepted me the way I was. I honestly believe I’d die without him.”

They both watched the men they were in love with laughing at the bar.

“Yeah,” Blair whispered. “I know how you feel.”

After a few moments, Carly cleared her throat and looked at Blair. “Do you ever wonder what would’ve happened to you if you’d been adopted?”

Blair narrowed her eyes at the question. “What?”

“I mean, sometimes I wonder what would’ve happened if my mother, Virginia, if she hadn’t adopted me. Where would I be? What would I be doing?”

“Would you of met Jason?” Blair finished for her.

“Yeah.”

Blair shook her head slowly. “Honestly I try not to think about that time in my life. It was horrible. Going from one foster home to another. Thinking that something‘s wrong with you. Why all these people won’t love you. You build walls and it seems like no one will ever get through.”

“But someone does,” Carly whispered.

“Yeah and you wonder how you lived that long without that love in your life in the first place. And you hope to God that you never have to know that loneliness ever again.”

"I always took Virginia for granted," Carly started sadly. "I mean all these years she's been gone and I don't know what I would’ve done if she hadn't been part of my life." She looked at Blair sadly. "I know if it weren't for her, I could’ve ended up like you and like thousands of other kids. No family, no home, nothing."

Blair nodded her head as well. "You were blessed, Carly."

"Yeah, yeah I was."

“Well this is a cheery conversation.” Blair chuckled softly and looked at Carly. “What do you think they’re talking about?”

Carly bit her bottom lip and watched the men curiously. “They’re probably betting which one of us is gonna slap the other first.”

Blair smirked slightly. “They should be betting on which one of them is gonna hit the other first.”

“I put $20 on Carly,” Jason stated.

“Hell no,” Todd broke in. “You don’t know Blair, she’s a wildcat. I put $50 on Blair.”

“You don’t know Carly. She’s crazy,” Manny added.

“Yeah, well, so’s Blair.”

“Well don’t bet on Jason,” Carly offered.

“Don’t bet on Todd either.”

Carly snickered quietly. “Manny’s gonna pull his gun.”

Blair chuckled softly and focused her gaze on Lou and Johnny. “So what’s the story on your friend?” Blair asked Carly.

“Johnny?” Carly asked as her eyes traveled to the small table. Johnny was whispering something in Lou’s ear and she giggled in return.

“Yeah, I’m a little worried about Lou. The last thing she needs is to get burned again.”

“Johnny’s a good guy,” Carly finally offered.

“He’s not married or anything is he?”

“Johnny? Hell no!” Carly grinned at her. “We think he’s phobic or something.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Half an hour later, Steve Anton walked into the small bar and surveyed the room. A few curious heads watched him as he entered. None of the patrons knew exactly what Steve was all about. He had been in town for over a year and still no one knew where he came from. It didn’t help that his closest and only friends happened to be the town pariahs.

Steve spotted Todd sitting at a table with quite a few recent familiar faces. He walked up to them with a grin on his face.

"Todd, I'm hurt you didn't invite me to your shindig here."

"That's because you use pussy words like 'shindig'. It's embarrassing, Steve," Todd smirked.

Steve's smile grew and revealed two deep dimples. Carly's eyebrows went up and she bit her lip as she inspected their newest guest. She quickly scanned his left hand for a wedding band and found none.

Sonja, my girl, have I got a surprise for you, Carly thought to herself.

"Todd, you're a prick," Steve chuckled.

"Fuck off, Steve," Todd laughed.

Steve continued to grin and shook his head at his friend.

"Steve, grab a seat and join us," Blair told him.

Steve's eyes moved to Blair and he smiled lovingly at her. "Thanks for the invite, Blair."

He walked over to her and kissed the top of her head before grabbing a chair from a nearby table. He dragged it over and squeezed in between Lou and Johnny.

"Hi, sugar," Steve greeted Lou. He kissed her cheek and Lou chuckled softly.

"Don’t worry, Steve, I'm in no need for a save . . . at least not yet," she whispered quietly in his ear.

"Yell if you need me," he whispered back and once again kissed her cheek. He turned his head and came face to face with an angry Johnny. "Hey," Steve grunted.

He moved from his position and dragged the chair between Jason and Todd. "How goes it?" Steve asked as he jutted his chin upwards.

Todd merely shook his head. "Jason Morgan, Carly Morgan, Johnny O'Brien, and Manny Soto -- Steve Anton."

Steve sat back and eyed the men carefully for a few seconds. He then turned to Carly and smiled. "Pleased to meet you," he offered as he kissed the back of her hand.

Jason pulled the gun from his jeans and dug it into Steve's ribs underneath the table.

"Don’t touch my wife," Jason told him coldly.

Carly simply rolled her eyes and continued her conversation with Blair.

"Oookay," Steve said calmly.

Steve shook his head as Jason replaced his gun. He turned to Todd and narrowed his eyes. "Wait. Jason Morgan? As in mob guy Jason Morgan?"

Todd simply smirked at him.

"Damn, Todd, I thought you hit rock bottom when we became friends."

"Who said we were friends?" Todd replied.

Steve shook his head and his smile fell when he turned back to Jason and Manny. One of Johnny's eyes was trained on Steve and the other on Lou, who he was continuing to flirt with.

"So what brings you gentlemen to the fair town of Llanview?" Steve asked curiously.

"I don’t think that's any of your business," Jason offered as he took a pull of his beer.

Steve glared at Jason for a few seconds. "I think it is. Anyone who sends threatening packages to my family becomes my business."

Johnny quickly pulled out of his conversation with Lou. "What the fuck did he just say?" he asked angrily.

Lou rolled her eyes and rose from the table. She calmly walked to the bar and ordered another drink. Carly and Blair watched Lou leave and Carly glared at Johnny.

"Dumbass," Carly muttered loudly. She turned her attention back to Blair. "So seriously, if you need help with Melador I’d be more than glad to help."

"You're not family," Manny shrugged as he glared at Steve. "It would’ve shown on the background check and nothing on no Steve Anton was found."

"I didn't mean by blood you idiot," Steve sighed.

Manny clenched his jaw and pulled the gun from his jeans and aimed it straight at Steve's groin under the table. "Come on, pretty boy," he hissed. "Give me a reason."

"Shut up," Todd shouted. "All of you."

Everyone in the bar turned their heads at the commotion.

"What the hell are you looking at?" Todd yelled at the other patrons. He turned his attention back to the group at the table. "If you morons are gonna keep pulling guns, we should finish this somewhere else. Preferably where cops don’t hang out."

Jason narrowed his eyes at Todd. "What do you have in mind, Manning?"

"My house."

Blair cleared her throat loudly and glared at Todd.

"I mean our house."

"No," Jason replied. "For all we fucking know you have more of these idiots there."

"Fine," Todd growled. "Where the fuck do you wanna go? Some abandoned warehouse or some shit?"

"Yes," Johnny replied.

"Oh, fuck no," Todd said as he stood from the table. "You can follow me and Blair to the house or you can stay here and make goo goo eyes at each other all fucking night long. Your choice."

"You're not going anywhere," Johnny sighed.

"Watch me, asshole."

He walked around the table and took Blair's arm gently. "Come on, babe, we're going home."

She glared at him ready to tell him off, but reconsidered when she saw his eyes. "Fine," she sighed. "Y'all take care," she waved to the group.

Steve grabbed Lou from the bar and she quickly glanced at Johnny who looked extremely pissed off. They walked out the bar without a word and the four of them got into the waiting limo silently.

"We're going home, Matt," Todd ordered as he hit the intercom.

"Yes, sir," Matt replied as he began to pull away.

Blair finally broke the silence. "Do you wanna tell me what the hell that was all about?" she asked Todd.

"Nope," he replied.

"Todd Manning . . ."

"Look, Blair, they kept pulling guns on Steve."

"That's so precious. You wanted to protect you friend," Lou said sweetly.

"No, I just didn't wanna get harassed by Bo 'I think I'm the best damn police commissioner in the world' Buchanan."

"Do you think that's on his business cards?" Steve asked Lou quietly.

She giggled slightly, but stopped when Todd turned his glare on her.

"And what the hell were you thinking?" he asked her.

"Me?" she squeaked. "What the fuck did I do?"

"You were hanging all over that --," he waved his hands around, "that moron, Jimmy."

"Johnny."

"Whatever."

"Leave her alone, Todd," Blair sighed. "Like you have room to talk."

"What the hell did I do wrong except save all of your ungrateful asses?"

"Please," they all responded.

"You love the fact that the Port Charles mob boss was in town. You got your latest cover story, Todd."

"I'm hurt that you'd say something like that, Blair."

She chuckled softly and shook her head.

Todd wasn't done with his tirade. "And what were you thinking yakking it up with Don Corleon's wife?"

Blair shrugged slightly. "We have a lot in common."

"Particularly the being married to assholes thing," Lou muttered.

"Shut up, Lou," Todd muttered.

Steve wrapped an arm around Lou and she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Ya try to be a good friend," she half-heartedly mumbled.

Steve kissed the crown of her head. "You really liked that Johnny guy, huh?"

She shrugged slightly. "He seemed nice."

"Yeah until his buddies kept pulling guns on me."

Lou chuckled softly. "Don't be so offended. You know it wasn't the first time it happened and it probably won't be the last."

"Louise, what am I gonna do with you?"

"Stop calling me that if you want to keep breathing would be the first thing I'd do if I were you."

"Are you crazy?" Todd asked Blair. "She's a mobster's wife. Just standing next to her could get you killed."

"Now you're just exaggerating," she sighed.

"Blair, who do you think those idiots with them were? Bodyguards, hitmen, whatever the hell you wanna call them."

"So?"

"So they're there so that they can take a bullet if they have to."

"Todd--"

"Blair," he said quietly. "We just got this thing between us working again and fuck if I'm gonna let some punk like Jason Morgan be the end of us."

She kissed him softly and smiled. "He won't. I promise," she sighed. "We still don't know who sent those pictures of them to us and vice versa."

"For all we know it's a setup," Todd sighed. "We'll find out tonight, one way or another."

"And you know that, how?"

"Because they're following us."

Blair looked at him curiously. "How--"

"Mr. Manning?" Matt interrupted.

"What?"

"I just wanted to let you know that it seems we're being followed by another limo."

"I know, just keep driving."

"Yes, sir."

"How did you know that they were gonna follow us?' Steve asked him.

"Lucky guess," he smirked.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Todd," Blair sighed as she leaned against him.

He wrapped his arms around her and smiled. "Always," he mumbled.