The Devil You Know: Chapter 17

In the morning, Todd ambled his way down the stairs whistling.  He hadn’t felt this good in months.  Then he saw Dorian in the sitting room.  He walked in and stood directly in front of her. 

Dorian looked up and nearly jumped.  “Todd, you gave me a fright.  Well, another one, after last night.”

“Yeah, about last night,” he drawled, moving out of her way as she went to the breakfast tray.  “I realize I am a guest in you house, but if you ever come barging into my room like you did…”

“No need to worry yourself there,” she said, downing her coffee in one gulp.  “I will make sure I knock the next time.  And I am sorry what happened last night.”

“What happened last night?” Starr asked as she was coming downstairs. 

“Ah, nothing, sweetheart,”  Dorian answered.  “Excuse me, I have to go check in on the kitchen.”  She scurried off with that comment.

Starr watch he aunt leave then noticed her father.  His cheeks were flushed.  She was about to query him further when her mother came down.  She looked at Todd and had an identical look on her face.

“Have you seen Dorian?” she asked Todd and Starr.

“Ah, she’s in the kitchen, but Blair, it’s already been addressed,” Todd assured her.

“Well, I think Ill go address it some more.”  With that, Blair stomped away.

Starr turned to her father again, her mouth agape.  “No!”  she said gleefully.  Her father only turned brighter.  “Did she…?”

They were interrupted again by Sam coming in.  “I’m not having any breakfast.  I gotta save space for the turkey.”

Todd had never been so glad to see the little boy.  Jack and Molly also coming in also saved him from furthering the embarrassing conversation with this daughter.  When Blair returned the matter was dropped almost completely, with only Starr’s looks directed at her parents.  Just as the rest of the house was arriving for breakfast, the Manning decided to head over to Llanfair. 

As soon as Nigel opened the door to the estate, Starr made a beeline for Michael, who was finishing up coffee with Sarah, Dillon and Clint.  “Good morning,” she said as she kissed him. 

“Morning,” he replied a smile on his face.  “How did everything go after dinner?”

“Fine for me, but for may parents…well,” she said, her eyes gleaming with mischief.  “Did you talk to your family?”

“Yeah, my mom’s doing great.  Jax even showed up, so Joss has her daddy for the holiday, but Johnny’s also going to be over for dinner,” Michael informed her.  “Dad and Kate are spending it with Alexis and Kristina.  And I even spoke to Edward.  They are awaiting the pizza delivery at the Quartermaines.”

“Think if there’s any leftovers, we should bring them back with us?  Maybe it’s just the curse of turkey on Thanksgiving for the family,” Dillon reasoned.

As they continued discussing holiday jinxes, Todd went into Llanfair’s kitchen.  “Happy Thanksgiving, sis,” he said as he gave her a sheepish peck on the cheek.

“Todd, good morning,” Viki replied as she smiled at him.  “How was you night last night?”

“Horrible.  I was forced to sit through another dinner with Dorian.  And then she had the nerve to barge into our room later on,” he said, as if to look for sympathy.

“Well, it is her house,” Viki reasoned, not noticing the look on Todd’s face. 

Before the conversation could continue, Tina joined them.  “Good morning to you Todd,” she said.  Todd merely grunted a reply and left.  When he was gone, Tina asked her sister, “What’s wrong with him now?”

As Todd made his way back to the library, the bell rang.  Since neither Nigel or Reginald were nearby, and the bell rang again, Todd went to open it.  “Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Hold your horses, cripple coming.”  Opening the door, he stuck out his tongue when he saw who was on the other side.  “Oh, great.  Bozo and the family.”

“And a Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Todd,” Bo said as politely as possible as he came in.  Nora just stared at him as she followed behind and Matthew and Destiny chose to remain silent as their son dozed in his carrier. 

“Bo, Nora, welcome,” Clint greeted them when he heard their voices.  “Why don’t I take your coats.”          
        
As they hustled out of the foyer and away from Todd, the bell rang again and Todd again was looking for the butlers, neither of whom seemed to appear.  Again, Todd opened the door, this time to find Nikolas and Spencer Cassadine.  “Ah, Nikolas, I guess, I should welcome you,” he said the father and son came in. 

“Thank you, Mr. Manning,” Nikolas replied.

Two blurs ran down the stairs and very nearly knocked Todd over on his way to the kitchen.  Nikolas reacted and caught Todd before he hit the ground.  As he was being helped up, he heard his niece Jessica yell, “Bree, Ryder what did I tell you about running in the house!”  She hurried down the stairs to help her uncle.  “Sorry about Ryder,” she said as she noticed Nikolas.  “Mr. Cassadine, what brings you here?”

“I invited him,” Molly’s voice said as she approached with Jack.  Then she went to hug her cousin and his son.  “It’s so wonderful you could come, right Jessica?”

Jack bit back a laugh as he realized what Molly was up to.  Todd threw her a look then looked back from Jessica to Nikolas.  Finally, he decided to be a nice guy for once and said to Spencer, “Let’s see if we can find Sam in this madhouse?  How’s that sound?”  When Spencer nodded enthusiastically, Todd nodded to Molly and Jack.  “Come and help, if you wouldn’t mind.”

They went into the library and found Sam easily.  Then Todd turned to Clint.  “There is a gentleman courting your blonde-haired daughter in the foyer,” he informed his soon to be brother-in-law.

“Courting?” Clint asked then he looked out the door.  Seeing Jessica and the man, he got up to investigate. 

The smirk on Todd’s face brought Blair over to him.  “What are you up to?” she asked.

“Nothing, just watching out for my favorite niece,” he said just as Natalie, John and Liam arrived, with Kevin and Joey on their heels.  “Which is still not you.”

“Love you too, Uncle Todd,” Natalie snarked as she headed out of the room.

“Hey, Kevin, know that fresh meat I told you about yesterday?” Todd asked.  When Kevin gave him a perplexed look, Todd chucked his thumb behind him.  Curious, Kevin and Joey followed their father.  Todd offered Blair another wicked smile. 

Viki, Tina and the butlers came into the library laden with trays of appetizers and drinks.  Bree and Ryder were following them as Cord and CJ made their way into the library.  The rest of the Buchanan men and Nikolas joined them. 

Viki looked around and asked, “Has anyone heard from Victor?”

From his seat on the couch, Todd could not resist the urge to crack a joke.  Putting his hands on his head, he said, “My psychic connection says they will be walking in the door….now.”

Just as the words were out of his mouth, Victor, Tea, Danie an Leo came in, causing Todd to let out a strangled gasp.  The whole room looked from Todd to Victor and back again.  Victor just looked at them oddly.  “What did I do now?  I just got here!”

The gathering meandered on.  Todd managed to have civil conversations with Tina and Cord, but still kept his distance from Viki’s sons.  He was heartened to see Victor doing the same thing.  “What, Kevin hasn’t forgiven you for my crimes either?” he asked.

“No, Kevin and I have our own issues,” he told his twin.  Then, noticing Nikolas Cassadine talking with both Jessica and Natalie, he asked, “What’s he doing here?”

“Molly invited him yesterday.  She felt bad…him being alone in a hotel for a holiday,” Todd explained.  “Plus, he and Sam have become friends.”

“You do know who his grandmother is…the one who kidnapped Tea and was behind everything with my son’s disappearance,” Victor said.

“Look, I’m all ready to go protective uncle for Jess on this guy, but neither of us should be judged by our family.  Besides, Molly gave me the whole scoop on him at dinner last night,” Todd replied.  “Kid’s had it tough…psycho family, no mom, dead fiancée, testy relationship with his brother.”  At that, Todd gave Victor a hard glare.  “If he pulls anything, I’ll be the first to come down on him.  But until then…”

Victor looked resigned.  “Fine, whatever.”  Then seeing Tina, he asked, “What has she got planned for us tomorrow night?”  At that, Todd just smiled.  Victor rolled his eyes.  “You know and your not going to tell me, right?”  Todd merely moved off, wordless.

Viki’s voice carried over the cacophony in the room.  “We’re getting ready to serve dinner, so if everyone will move into the dining room.”

As they walked in, Dillon Quartermaine let out a yelp and was suddenly near tears.  Tina became alarmed.  “What’s the matter?” she asked, confused.

“Nothing,” Dillon said recovering his composure as Sarah and Michael laughed, knowing what he was reacting to. 

They all sat down, but Viki, who remained standing.  “I’d like to say a few words before we dig in.  Uh, last year, there were not a lot of you here.  But I am so happy that you can all be here with us today.  And I am very happy that you will be here for Clint and I on Saturday.  That goes especially for Molly Lansing-Davis, Nikolas and Spencer Cassadine, Michael Corinthos and Dillon Quartermaine.”  With that, Viki raised her glass.  “I’d like to propose a toast…to family.”

Everyone there, Lord, Manning, Buchanan, McBain, Quartermaine, Cassadine, all raised their glasses and repeated, “To family.”


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