Reunion by Marianne As the Triumph's horn blew, the engines slowly but surely moved the mighty ship from Berth 80 in New York City harbor. As the ship maneuvered its way toward the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and open waters, the view of New York City's skyline was breath taking. The ship continued to sail pass Liberty Island and dwarfed a passing Staten Island Ferry boat. He stood on the top deck of this monstrous ship and watched the City slowly disappear oblivious to the sounds of joyous vacationers behind him. His wife had recently died in a car accident and he thought he and his son needed some time alone and he was hoping a vacation would help. He turned his attention back to the dwindling crowd and he decided to find his son and then take a nap before dinner. She had looked forward to this vacation all summer. She was over worked and needed a few weeks alone. The peace and quiet would be good for her. She was even so tired after the plane trip and the crazy cab ride from the airport that all she wanted to do was get to her cabin. She decided to skip the usual bon voyage celebration and instead she enjoyed a glass of wine and sat on the balcony off her room. She sat there until night time fell and decided to get ready for dinner. She made her way to the dining room and was awed by the sheer size of it. She silently asked herself was there anything small about this ship. She found her table and sat down. During dinner she shared idle conversation with the other quests at the table. Occasionally she let her eyes wander the room, once during dinner she saw a handsome young blonde haired man leave the dining room. He had an air of being self assured yet sad. She thought for an instant there was something familiar about him but she couldn't place it and she shrugged it of. She decided after coffee that she had enough and wanted to see the night sky and walk around the deck. The cruise was a two week venture to the Carribean, and it would take a couple of days to get to the first port of call. The travel days were full of rest and relaxation, good food and entertaining night shows. The night before the ship was to dock in St. Thomas, she decided to see a movie, but she was tired and half way through it decided to retire for the evening. She was able to slip through the darkness and out of the theater. He was only mildly interested in the show but his attention was drawn to the figure of the woman coming his way. He watched her approach and he couldn't make out her features because of the darkness. His eyes followed her as she left, he thought he recognized something about her and he followed her out onto the deck. She was leaning on the railing staring across the moonlit ocean. He stood at the entrance to the deck and when she turned he could see her profile and he knew. He knew why there was something familiar about her. She was the woman he loved all his life, the woman he wanted to grow old with. The woman he was even briefly married to so many years before. He thought maybe he should just walk away, God knows the ship was big enough not to run into her again. But he couldn't, she still looked as beautiful tonight as she did 20 years ago. He smiled and called out her name. The sound of his voice broke the silence and she was startled to hear her name. She turned around and looked at him. She almost had forgotten how tall he was and still very handsome, with a hint of gray around his temples, the only difference was he was wearing glasses. She returned his smile, and said, "Alan? Alan Quartermaine,?" Alan: (walking towards her): Monica, you look wonderful. Monica: Thank you, so do you. This is a surprise. She was right, it was a surprise. The last thing she ever imagined was running into her ex husband, even more of surprise was how she instantly was attracted to him. They had divorced only after a few years of marriage. The divorce was unpleasant. Alan was devastated to learn that the child he thought he had fathered was not his, he opted quickly not to contest the proceedings any further and soon afterwards left Port Charles. The last Monica had heard, was he had married Susan Moore, they had a son and were living in Westchester County, a northern suburb of New York City. Alan wondered why she was alone. "How's Rick? Is he aboard the ship?", he asked. Monica: No, I'm alone. We divorced several years ago. How about you? I heard that you remarried, is your wife with you?" Alan: "No, she died in an auto accident a few months ago." Monica: "I'm sorry, I didn't know." Alan: "Thank you. Do you have a few minutes. Maybe we can sit down and talk for a few minutes." Monica: (even though she was tired, but she was interested in catching up with him), "Sure, lets walk down near the pool." The night air was warm as they walked down the deck. They sat down and ordered a night cap. A few minutes turned into two hours. They were both surprised at how easily they picked up after 20 years. He knew that Monica had married Rick Weber almost immediately after their divorce but after he started his own practice in NYC he made the choice not to follow their lives. It was hard since Rick and Monica were such prominent doctors and well known in the medical profession but thankfully Port Charles was far enough away from NYC. Monica in turned learned that after moving to New York City, Alan ran into Susan Moore at a fund raising dinner. They started an affair and after she learned she was pregnant they had gotten married. Life had pretty much been uneventful for them both. She didn't go into any great detail about her divorce and he didn't go into any great detail about his marriage. He didn't tell her that the marriage had turned platonic. It was true enough that he cared for Susan and maybe even briefly loved her, especially after Jason was born. But things took on a life of its own after that. His practice was flourishing and he spend a lot of time at the office or hospital. Susan learned to accept this as being married to a doctor and turned her attentions on Jason. They stayed together and accepted the situation. Their conversation was interrupted by Jason. "Hi dad I've wondering where you were." He turned his attention to Monica, "Excuse me, I didn't mean to be rude. I'm Jason, Alan's son." He smile and charm was warm. Monica smile back, "Nice to meet you Jason, I'm Monica." She recognized him immediately, he was the young man she noticed the first night during dinner. Now she knew why he looked familiar, she could see how much he reminded her of Alan. Jason said, "Dad, its getting late, I won't be able to get you up in the morning to go scuba diving if you don't get to bed." Alan laughed, "He's going to be a doctor, he loves to order me around." Monica laughed also. Jason turned back to Monica, "Will you be scuba diving tomorrow as well Monica?" Monica: "No, I think I'll just enjoy the sight seeing, but I hope you both have a good time. Jason: "Thank you. Well Dad, I'm going to the cabin, I'll see you there. It was nice to meet you Monica." Alan: "I'll be right along Jason. Monica: "It was nice to meet you Jason." Jason left and Alan turned his attention back to Monica, "Well, I guess it is getting late, may I walk you to your cabin?" Monica: "Thank you, that would be nice." They walked to Monica's cabin in silence, and they promised to meet up tomorrow night for dinner. The two weeks flew by and Alan and Monica found every opportunity to spend time together. Finally the last night of the cruise was upon them. They had dinner together and went dancing afterwards. Jason was off with a young lady he met during the cruise. After a while, Alan and Monica decided to go on deck and enjoy the night sky. They both silently wondered if they would see each other again after they docked tomorrow. Alan was first to break the silence, "Its a beautiful night." Monica: "Hmm, it sure is. What time is it?" Alan: "Its a quarter to 3, in another 3 hours we'll be arriving in New York". Monica: "Lets stay on deck and watch the boat dock." Alan: (not wanting this to end quickly agreed), "Sounds like a great idea." All too soon morning had arrived and the ship was safely back in its berth. The two weeks were over but it was everything they both had hoped for yet never imagined would happen. They eventually opened up to each other about the directions they respective lives had taken. Alan knew he fell back in love with Monica the night she told him about her breast cancer and how she adopted her daughter Emily. His heart went out to her and wished he could have been there for her. He wanted to make love to her and tell her how desirous she was. He backed off in fear he would scare her off. Each day he spend with her, he knew he wanted her back in his life but he was going to take it slow. Monica was well rested and was sorry to be back in New York, she was intrigued by her ex husband. He seemed to have mellowed over the years and she enjoyed his company. She wanted to spend more time with him. Unfortunately the time had come for their goodbyes. They walked out together and Alan waved down a cab for Monica. "Are you sure you won't let me drive you to the airport?", he asked. Monica: "No, its out of your way, and saying good bye here is better." Alan: "It's no trouble really, and to be honest, I don't want to say goodbye." Monica smiled, "thank you, but I still think its better this way." Alan: "I guess I'm not going to convince you, am I?" Monica: "Its sweet of you offer, but you can't convince me." Alan (hiding his disappointment): "OK, I hope you have a safe trip, and I'll call you soon." Monica: "Fair enough" The cabbie put Monica's luggage into the trunk and he waited for her to get into the car. Alan and Monica stood silently looking at each other. Alan decided to seize the moment and he took her into his arms, she placed her head against his chest and he closed his eyes and kissed the top of her head. After a few seconds she pulled back and looked into his eyes. He could no longer resist and he kissed her and to his relief, she responded with equal passion. They let go of each other and she got into the cab. Alan watched it disappear onto the streets of New York City. The next week went by fast, Monica was glad to see Emily and James again. They were the bright spots in her life. She was also grateful for her work, being a cardiac surgeon gave her immense joy. She liked helping people. All week long she grilled by both Gail Baldwin and Bobbie Spencer about her trip. They wanted to know if she met anyone, she only smiled. She didn't want them to know she met up with Alan. Alan had called her to let her know that he and Jason were coming to Port Charles for the weekend. He said they would be arriving on Friday. Finally the day arrived, and she was signing off the last of her charts. Gail walked up to her. Gail: "Ok Monica, I know you too well, what are you hiding?" Monica: "Hiding? What do you mean?" Gail: "I know you met someone on your vacation, when are you going to tell me about him." Monica:" Gail, what makes you think I met someone?" Gail:"Monica, its me Gail remember, you never were very good at hiding things from me." Before Monica answered her, she noticed the elevator doors open. Alan stepped out and looked around and then walked straight to the nurse's station. Gail couldn't believe her eyes. "Alan Quartermaine, how are you? What brings you back to Port Charles?" Alan: "Hello Gail, (winking at Monica) I'm in town for a few days, my son Jason is interested in looking at PC University, he's planning on going to medical school next year." Gail: "That's wonderful" With that the elevator doors reopened and Jason stepped out. He walked over to his father and saw Monica. "Hi Dad, hi Monica." Gail raised her eyebrows. Monica returned his greeting. "Gail, would you please excuse Monica and me for a minute?", Alan asked. Gail: "Of course Alan". Alan and Monica walked over to the sitting area, :"Monica I didn't think today would ever come." Monica: "Me either, I'm glad you're here." Alan smiled, "me too, can we have dinner tonight?" Monica: "I'm sorry, I promised my daughter, pizza and a movie" Alan: "No problem, tomorrow?" Monica: "Tomorrow would be fine" The next night Alan and Monica dined at the PC Grill. Monica: "Where is Jason?" Alan: "He's staying at the college tonight" Monica: "I hope he's enjoying himself" Alan: "Jason is outgoing, I'm sure he's having a good time." As the dinner continued they enjoyed each other's company and idle conversation. After dinner they walked down to the water front and watched the big ships being unloaded. Alan: "Port Charles doesn't look like it has changed very much over the last 20 years" Monica: "No, I guess not. By the way, how long will you be in town?" Alan: " Only until tomorrow, Jason has to get back to school and I patients to see on Monday. Maybe you might think about coming down state one weekend? Bring your daughter, we'll go into the City and see a play." Monica: "That sounds like a plan." Alan smiled and he leaned over and took her face in his hands and kissed her. He kissed her gently and soon the kisses became more urgent, more hungry. They finally broke and he took her by the hand and they walked back to the hotel. The elevator seemed to take forever but it finally reached its destination. They walked quietly to Alan's room, once inside, he took her into his arms and he whispered,"are you sure?" Monica nodded her head, "very sure". He kissed her, even when they were married, he had never wanted her as much as he wanted her now. He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom where they dissolved as one into the night. Alan and Monica spend the rest of the weekend together. Alan and Jason met Emily and the three of them hit it off. James, Monica's son had left town for a business trip. Alan was relieved though, he once thought James was his. He was named Alan James Jr, but after the divorce the Alan was dropped. Despite his new found love for Monica, Alan was unclear how he felt this young man, but before Alan left he got Monica to agree to bring Emily for a visit the following weekend. Monday at work Monica got the third degree from Gail. "Monica, now I know why you didn't tell me about who you met." Monica:" Gail, I know what you are thinking, but that was then and this is now. Alan's different and I'm different. The only thing that's not different is the chemistry." Gail:"The chemistry?" You've slept with him?" Monica: "Oh don't look so surprised. Why not? After all I was once married to him. Besides it was great." Gail: "That's exactly why, you two ended badly." Monica:"Yes that's true, but that was along time ago and this time its different." Gail:" I hope you two know what you're doing." Monica: "We do and don't worry, we'll take it very slow." Gail knowing the past that Alan and Monica shared was dubious. But Alan and Monica did surprise Gail, as well themselves, they took their new found relationship very seriously and very slow. Pretty soon a year had passed and Alan and Monica somehow managed to maintain a long distance relationship. They mostly saw each other on weekends and special occasions, but Jason's acceptance into PCU Medical School was about to change all that. Now that Jason would be going to school in Port Charles, Alan thought it would be a good time to move there as well and be closer to Monica. He even sold his practice and joined the staff at General Hospital. Things seemed to go smoothly, Alan and James even got a long well. But one weekend in early June, James was involved in a car accident on his way home from work. He was hit by a drunk driver driving the wrong way on the highway. He was brought into the General Hospital emergency room with multiple injuries. Monica was operating on a patient. Alan was the attending physician in the ER. He was shocked to see it was James, but before Monica could be told he wanted James stabilized. James had suffered two broken legs, a collapsed lung and internal bleeding and had lost a lot of blood. He would more than likely need a blood transfusion. But nothing could prepare Alan for what he was about to learn. Alan left James in the ER and went to the nurse's station. "Amy, can you please page Monica for me," asked Alan. Amy: "Sure Alan." Alan: "And do me another favorite, check with the blood bank and make sure they have supply of o- positive, encase James needs a transfusion." Amy: (phone rings): Sure Alan. Emergency room, Amy Vining." Monica: Hi Amy, Alan paged me, is he there?" Amy: "He's right here." Alan, its Monica." Alan:(takes the phone):"Thanks Amy, Monica, are you free? Can you come down to the ER?" Monica: "Sure, what's wrong?" Alan: "Just come down right away." Monica arrived a few minutes later. Alan met her at the elevator and walked over the sitting area. Monica: "Alan what's wrong?" Alan: "Monica, James was brought in a little while ago, he was in a car accident. Both his legs are broken, he has internal bleeding and a collapsed lung." Monica: "Oh dear God." Alan:"He'll be ok, he's stabilized and being brought upstairs to the 4th floor. Mark Griffen is going to take over. He's a good doctor, James will be ok." Monica: "How did the accident happen?" Alan: "James was on his way home from work, a drunk driver got on the highway in the wrong direction and caused the accident." Monica: "My God Alan, he's lucky to be alive." Alan: "Yes he is, but the fact is he is alive and he's young and he'll pull through this. I have Amy making sure there is a supply of blood on hand if he needs a transfusion." Monica: "A blood transfusion?" Alan: "Right now, its just a precautionary measure. Listen, Rick needs to know about this, do you want me to call him?" Monica: "No, no its ok, I can call him". She gets up and makes the phone call, she returns a few minutes later. "He says he'll be here tonight. He's going to catch the 5 o'clock flight out of Kennedy. Did you know that he moved to the City"? Alan :"no, I didn't know that, fortunately I never ran into him." Mark Griffen came up to them. "Hello Monica, Alan. I just examined James, and for now he's stabilized and on pain medication. The internal bleeding has stopped, but he should sleep comfortably for now. We've given him some blood to replace what he's lost". Alan:"Amy was checking to see how much supply of o- positive we had on hand." Mark:"O-positive? James is B" Alan was stunned, when he and Monica divorced, and he tried to gain custody, blood tests showed James was o-positive. Mark: "Listen, I'm going to check on James before I leave tonight, but for now he's stable, if you want to see him you can. But I doubt he'll be awake until tomorrow morning. If you need anything just have me paged." Monica: "Thanks Mark, we will." Mark leaves them and Monica turns to Alan. "Alan, what's the matter?" Alan:"What's the matter? Don't you know?" Monica: "Know what?" Alan: "The blood type, Monica?" Mark said James was B, not o-positive. Monica: "You've lost me" Alan: "Don't you remember, when we divorced and fought over custody of James, court blood tests showed he was O-positive. (He was starting to get angry) What have you done?" Monica: "what do you mean what have I done? Alan: The blood types, did you switch the blood types 20 years ago?" Monica: "how can you accuse of that? Alan: "How can I not?" Alan was very angry and instead of getting into a heated argument, he left. Tony Jones was coming on duty and Alan told Amy he was leaving for the day. He left a bewildered and upset Monica alone. Alan was furious and he went over to the PC Grill for a drink. He was sitting at the bar, when Lee and Gail Baldwin noticed him and approached him. Gail:"Alan, is everything alright?" Alan:"No, no everything is not alright" Lee: "Alan, what happened? Did you and Monica have a fight?" Alan looked and them and shook his head: "James was in a car accident, I found out that his blood type is different than what I was told 20 years ago at the divorce. He could be my son." Lee:"If that young man might be your son, why are you here drinking?" Alan: "I'm angry at Monica for deceiving me all these years and he doesn't think of me as his father. Rick is on his way here." Gail:"Lee, I better get over to the hospital." Lee: "Good idea, I'll stay here and keep Alan out of trouble." Gail left the two men and went to help Monica. She found her in James room. "Monica, are you alright?" she asked. Monica: "Oh Gail, (she give Gail a hug). Thanks for being here. How did you find out?" Gail:"Lee and I ran into Alan at the Grill. He's very upset. Lee stayed with him" Monica:"Gail, Alan thinks I deliberately changed James blood types during the divorce hearings. Gail, I had nothing to do with it. Rick took care of everything." Gail: "Its true, then? Alan is right? James might be his?" Monica: "I guess if the blood type is different, but I don't even remember now. Maybe Lee can look at the old record." Gail: "I'll have him do that, Alan is very upset. You need to talk to him." Monica: "Suppose he won't listen, if this is true, he's been denied his son for 20 years........(her voice trails off)" Gail:"Would you like me to talk to him" Monica: "Would you, please" Gail:"Yes, I'll go back to the Grill and see him and ask Lee to look into the old records right away. Will you be ok?" Monica: Yeah I'll be fine." Gail:"Alan said Rick is on his way, will you be ok " Monica:"I'll be ok, I promise" As Gail was getting to leave, Alan and Lee walked in. Gail: "I was just coming over to see you both." Lee:"We decided to check the old divorce papers. Monica the transcribes state James blood type as o-positive. Do you have any idea how this could have happened?" Monica: "I swear I have no idea, all I remember was asking Rick to handle it. Alan I didn't change any blood types." Alan didn't answer, he just walked over and looked in at James. Lee and Gail looked at each other and felt helpless. Gail was the first one to speak,"Alan, Monica told me she had nothing to do with this, I believe her. She seems to have been duped just as you have." Alan (turning around):"I'm going to have a paternity test taken and when Rick gets here, he has some explaining to do. If James is my son, Rick will have no say in this. (He looked at Monica) I want so much to believe you had nothing to do with this." Monica: (feels a slight glimmer of hope): "If Rick did this, you'll have to get in line." Alan sits down and loosens his tie. He looks at Monica and wants to reach out to her, but he can't, he doesn't know if he believes she had nothing to do with this. Time seems to pass slowly, Lee and Gail went home and Alan went to the cafeteria to get coffee. Monica was in the room alone when Rick showed up. Her back was to the door and thought it was Alan returning with the coffee. Rick: "hello Monica" Monica: (she turns around and glares at him) "Rick, you made it" Rick (senses something is wrong): "What's's wrong? Is James worse?" Monica: "No, he's stabilized" Rick: "I'm going in to see him" Monica: "No, he's resting comfortable, leave him alone." Rick:"If that's what you want." Monica:"That's what I want." Rick:"You look well, James always tells me how good you look, he's right." Monica: (wondering what is keeping Alan): "Thank you" Rick (still feeling a coolness): "James told me you were seeing Alan again. I must say that was a surprise." Monica (getting defensive): "Why? Why should my seeing Alan be such a surprise. We've both changed and we get along very well." Rick: "Hey, I just thought they way you divorced, it was messy. That's all" Monica: "And you helped that mess along didn't you." Rick: "What are you saying? You were the one married to him, you cheated on him." Monica: "That's right I'm guilty of that, but I'm not guilty of falsifying blood tests." Rick: (he's getting defensive):"Be careful of what you are accusing me of." Alan : "Then I'll accuse you of it." Rick (turns to see Alan): "Alan, why didn't I know you'd be around someplace. You can't prove anything." Alan: "I already have. Now I know Monica had nothing to do with this and I know James blood is B and not o-positive. You switched the blood types 20 years ago. James is my son, isn't he?" Rick: "Get real" Alan: "Oh don't worry, I am. Lee's making arrangements for a paternity test." Rick:"James will never accept you as his father, I'm his father." Alan: "Once the paternity is proven, you'll have no rights to him." Rick: "Monica are you going along with this? Monica :"Yes, we know James blood type is B" Rick: "You two deserve each other you know that." Monica: "Yeah, I guess we do. How could you have don this?" Rick: "I haven't done anything and I'm not leaving, I'm staying here with my son." Alan: "Come on Monica let's go, we can't do anything tonight for James. He won't be awake until the morning. We'll come back then. (Turning to Rick) "Think very carefully of your next move. You can rest assure once I have the paternity results prove I'm the father, this will hit the papers." Rick: "Don't threaten me Alan" Alan (smiles):" I wouldn't dream of it." Rick and Alan continue to stare at each other. "Come on Alan, lets go," Monica says and she grabs onto his arm. He lets her lead him out of the room. Once in the elevator, he turns to her and says."I'm too keyed up, I need to go for a walk, (he hesitates but continues) do you want to come." Monica: "Yeah, I'm too keyed up too." They left the hospital and walked in silence for a long time both lost in their own thoughts. Finally Monica broke the silence and simply asked, "What happens to us? Alan: (stopped and drew in a deep breath) :"I want us to get married." Monica (taken totally by surprise): "You do, after all this?" Alan:"Look I was listening to that weasel try to deny he had anything to do with this. I knew for sure then you didn't know anything about it." Monica, just nodded her head. Alan continued, "I'm sorry if I gave you a hard time earlier." Monica: "Well considering our past, maybe it was justified." Alan smiles, "Well, this is definitely not how or where I wanted to do this, but will you marry me?" Monica :"Yes." Alan :"good. Do you want to be alone tonight? I know I don't. Monica :"your place or mine?" Alan: "how about neutral territory, lets go to the hotel. Less chance of being disturbed." Monica: "Ok" They spend the night just lying with each other, hopeful for their future. The next day Alan and Monica went to the hospital and looked in on James. Rick had spend the night in his room. Alan: "Are you still here?" Rick: "Yes Alan, I'm still here, I am James father after all." Alan: "That remains to be seen." Rick: "your dreaming" Alan :"hmm, you'd like that." Monica :" Alan, can I talk with you a second." Alan and Monica walk outside the room. Alan: "What is it" Monica: "You were getting no where with him. Its better if you just walk a way for a few minutes. Alan, I just remembered something." Alan: "What?" Monica: "Remember when we were getting divorced, you said you thought that James had the Quartermaine birthmark. Alan: "Yeah, I remember. But when the blood tests showed differently, well it was kind of hard to argue with modern science." Monica: "But don't you see, what if you were right about it?." Alan: (goes over and kisses her): "Your right." They walk back into the room. Rick watches as they walk pass him and over to James's bed. Monica shows Alan the birthmark on James arm. Rick: "What are you doing?" Monica :"James has the Quartermaine birthmark." Rick:"Oh please. You are as delirious as Alan is." Monica: "Oh I don't think so. Alan is right, once the paternity test is finished you'll lose James." Before Rick could answer James start to stir. James : "Mom?" Monica :" James, I'm here. How are you feeling? Are you in pain, can I get you anything?" James: What happened? The last thing I remember is a car coming at me." Monica: "That's right, there was a drunk driver, going in the opposite direction." James : "well every bone in my body aches, what's wrong with me." Monica: "a couple broken legs, a collapsed lung, you had internal bleeding but they stopped it." James: Dad, you're here, Alan." Rick :" Hi son, your mother called me and I've been here all night." James : "I could have sworn I heard yelling last night.: Rick :"no" James : "yeah, about me, and who's son I am." There was silence. Rick was the first to speak, "You must have misunderstood, you were sedated." Monica :" James you needn't worry about this. You need your rest and have to get better." James : "Alan, you've been very quiet." Alan: "I think your mother is right, you need to get better." James: "Tell me the truth, am I your son?" Alan (hesitates a moment, looks over at Monica and then back to James) : 'I think there is a good chance." James looks over at Rick, "Is he right?" Rick: "He wants it to be right." James :"Don't lie to me, you guys were in a heated argument. Is he right?" Rick :" No of course not." James : "Mom?" Monica :" Alan wants a paternity test, I agree." James : "You had nothing to do with this?" Monica starts to feel a little uncomfortable and asks to speak to James alone. Both Alan and Rick oblige. Monica explains to James about the divorce and the custody battle. There was question of paternity and tests were taken. She continued to tell him that because of his accident they found out his blood type was different than was original thought. She also told him about the birthmark on his arm. He asked point blank if she thought Rick was lying and she agreed the facts were looking that way. He also asked how she felt about both Rick and Alan. She explained to him how at one time she thought Rick was the love of her life and there was a part of her that would always love him but they grew apart and now she fell in love with Alan and wanted a future with him. She told him that they were going to get married when he was better. James was happy that his mother had found some happiness, but now he had to deal with who he was or might be. Alan and Rick came back into the room. "Congratulations Alan, Mom told me the good news", James said. Alan: Thank you James, I'll take good care of her." James: " I have no doubt." Rick looks at Monica and pipes in: "Congratulations on what?" Monica (walking over to Alan and puts her arm around his): "What do you think? Alan and I are getting married." Rick :"do you know what you are doing?" Monica :"its none of your business" James : "Mom, Alan I need to talk to Dad- alone. OK?" Alan : "Sure, we'll go and get some coffee." Monica and Alan leave and return about an hour later. They find him alone. They asked him whwere Rick was, and James told them that he was going to return to New York City. He also asked Monica to let him speak to Alan alone. They talked until James said he was tired. Alan left and found Monica. Monica :"How did it go" Alan :"It went well, come let's get out of here." Monica :"let me say goodbye to James." Alan: "Its ok, he's sleeping, he's been through a lot. He said he'd see you in the morning." Monica :"ok, did he say anything about Rick? Alan : "Come lets get out of here. They went back to Monica's and he told her what happened. He told her the reason Rick left was James got him to admit to switching the blood test. Monica : "Oh Alan, he's got to be so upset." Alan : "he is, but he'll work it out. He knows you love him, and he knows I want too. Rick is the one he has issues with. We'll be there for him and help him deal with this." Monica nods her head. :And you? Are you going to be ok?" Alan : "I've lost 20 years with him, I have a lot to make up for but I'll be fine." Monica :" I'm sorry for all this." Alan :" You didn't know." Monica: "its been a stressful two days. I don't know about you, but I'm wiped out." Alan :" It has been an emotional day. I'm glad things worked out for us." Monica (smiles): "Me too. Why don't we finish this conversation upstairs.?" Alan :" you want to just talk." Monica: "I'm sure you can talk me into something else." Alan smiles :"I'll do my best." Monica :" Oh I'm sure you will." The walk upstairs arm in arm, to enjoy the beginning of their new life together.