" Yes, Jerome."

" We'll be landing in Port Charles in 30 minutes, Mr. Ward."

" Thank you."

Justus put down the phone. For the first time, since the beginning of today, he sat and felt the chair that he was in. How his life had changed in the stroke of several pens. No longer was he just the House Counsel for ELQ, Enterprises. He was now Justus Ward, ELQ Board Member, and Controller of the Bradley Ward Trust. He thought about the conversations that he had had during the day: first with Edward, then Sasha and finally Faith and his Mother. He  made a note of Faith's conversation. Her disappointment in him was obvious. As was his Mother's. She would never be as vocal as Faith. She would always show support for her son. " Whatever you want, baby. Whatever you want.", she always said. Yet, he knew that his Mother was equally as disappointed in the path that his life had taken. Yet, neither one of them knew the truth. That Justus Ward that they had admired, and respected died awhile ago. The night that he took a baseball bat to Damian Smith and let Laura Spencer take the rap. He closed the door long ago on that Justus Ward. It was the reason why he let Simone go. Because he was no longer the man that she loved. And he couldn't live with that kind of lie between them.

He thought about Dara. He saw how that relationship was doomed also. Dara might be somewhat jaded about the criminal justice system. But, she was enough of a DA to not be able to understand what he did. And he could never truly relax with Dara. Always thinking that if he truly relaxed, he might say something that would lead her to suspect his guilt. Working for ELQ, being around Edward, he realized just how much of a Quartermaine he was. And it wasn't something that particularly pleased him. But, he was tired to apologizing for his life. To his Mother. Faith. Keesha. Even Dara.

The only person who didn't seem to want his apologies was Sasha. And why should she. From what Justus had read about her, and what was rumored about her, what she had done to her enemies, made what Justus did to Damian, look like child's play. Justus believed her to be a dangerous woman. Yet, he couldn't quite shake her. He didn't know if that was a good thing, or the worst thing possible. He closed his eyes and just rested until the ELQ Jet landed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stefan and Sasha have just finished some Tai-Chi.

" Katya, tell me why you think so little of Katherine Bell."

" Papa, it hurts the brain cells to think of her at all, she's so useless."

" Yes. That. Why would you even say that? Don't you understand that she gives me some pleasure?"

" Am I really supposed to care? Or am I supposed to fulfill my role as the truthteller."

" I sometimes think that you revel in that role."

" Sometimes I do. You want to know what I dislike about Katherine Bell. At her core, she is a pathetic excuse for a woman. Me thinks you are a snob, Papa. But, then, I always knew that you were one. I mean, in my opinion, all you did is trade one prostitute in for another one."

" I beg your pardon."

" I've read the file on Bobbie Spencer. And what she HAD to do, when she was a child, in order to survive. She sold herself on the streets. So what. As soon as she could, she got out of the life, and has spent the rest of her life, trying to help others. Then, you have Ms. Bell. Who has spent almost all of her adult life, on her back, with wealthy men. The next one richer than the last. When a woman spends her time on her back in exchange for things, what is that, but a higher form of prostitution.

Sorry, but I'll take the former, over the latter. The former won't try and gloss over what they did. And the latter will have all sorts of elaborate names for who they are...which is nothing but a high-class whore."

" That's enough, Katya."

" No, Papa. That's not nearly enough. Katherine Bell is the type of woman that ONLY a man could fall for. The vacuous empty smile that a man sees into it whatever he wants. His own fantasy. She's such an empty vessel that a man can make her over into whatever he wants her to be. And that is her entire raison-d'etre for living. To be that vessel for as long as she can. Using whatever minimal bedroom skills that she has acquired along the way to keep said gentleman occupied. I would bet my fortune that Ms. Bell has no female associates. Because any self-respecting woman wouldn't be seen within 50 meters of her. We can scent those out.

She's the type of woman, that if you're stupid enough to become friends with her, as soon as your back is turned, she will, as they say, 'put the moves on', your husband. She's the type of woman that no sensible woman would ever leave their husband in a room alone with her. Not because she's that dazzling. Just because she's a snake. And we all know how snakes like to slither and lead people into the garden of temptation. That is why she has no use for Alexis or myself. She treats Alexis as little better than the hired help, instead of your close cousin. And me? I bet that she is counting the days until I leave town. Mark me, and mark me well, her wheels are spinning as to how to eliminate me from yours and Nikolas' lives."

" Don't be preposterous, Katya."

" I'm not Papa. No. One day she'll come to you. With either that smile on her face, or her best feigned sincerity in her  cow eyes. Whichever would be appropriate for the situation. And she will muster up all the caring in her voice. Full of selflessness. Full of support for you. But, the bottom line , that she has come to, is that it would be best , if I was away from the family. Best for Nikolas, you and yes...even me. And she'll make you think that it was all your idea. And if you stall on it. She will keep up the sincere routine, subtlety dropping the idea here, and there, maybe even whispering it to you after lovemaking. Drilling it into your subconscious, to where, one day, I'll find myself back in London, and I'll be lucky to get even a postcard from you on Holidays."

" You're positively paranoid, Anastasia."

" No, Papa. I know how to read and assess Female Ciphers. My extra X-Chromosome aids me."

" You don't know Katherine at all."

" I know her better than you ever will."

" Let's end this discussion."

" Fine."

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

Nikolas was in the Pediatric Playroom, when Stefan walked in.

"Hello, Nikolas."

" Uncle."

" How are you?"

" I am fine."

" And your new home?"

" Fine."

" Barbara isn't giving you any trouble?"

" No. None at all. Bobbie watches over me...from a distance."

" I see. Well, Nikolas, I know that you're birthday is upcoming, and I would like for you to come to Wyndemere for a celebration."

" I don't think so."

" Well, I think it would be best. You know, it's already been planned."

" Then UN-Plan it."

" I would, if I could. But, it isn't my idea. Katya's done all the planning."

" Oh."

" I thought you might see it my way."

" What is the phrase when it comes to Sasha and parties? (laughs) 'Resistance is Futile'."

" Pardon?"

" Oh, it's a line from a movie, Uncle, that I watched the other night."

" Oh."

" So, who is on the guest list?"

" Well, you, Alexis, Katya, myself, of course. And Barbara and Lucas."

" Bobbie and Lucas?"

" Do you not want them there?"

" I would like to have them there. But, won't it be uncomfortable for you?"

" It's your party, Nikolas. Both Barbara and I are adults, and we know how to behave."

" Well, thank you then. And I want Katherine and Emily Quartermaine there."

" Of course. Well, I will leave you. I will ask Barbara, so that she understands that her presence is fine with me. You will take care of the other invitations?"

" Yes. And Uncle?"

" Yes, Nikolas."

" Thank you."

" Certainly."

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

Bobbie is at the Nurses Station  when Stefan approaches.

" Barbara."

" Stefan. IS there something new that you would like to torture me with today?"

" Contrary to your beliefs, Barbara. Inventing ways to torture you occupies so very little of my time. You simply aren't worth the consideration."

" Yeah, OK, Stefan. What's up?"

" Nikolas' birthday is approaching."

" I know that. "

" You know that?"

" Yes. I have it marked on my calendar. What, did you think that I turned my feelings off for Nikolas."

" I wondered if you ever had them at all."

" Oh, are we going with THAT Bull. Well, I have patients to attend to. Goodbye, Stefan."

Bobbie turns to leave. Stefan grabs her arm.

" Barbara, wait." Bobbie looks down at Stefan's hand on her arm. Stefan removes it.

" You know, Stefan. I have better things to do with my time, than sit around and wait for your insults. As amusing as they might be."

" Barbara, Anastasia is holding a birthday party for Nikolas. I am extending an invitation to you and Lucas."

" Why?"

" Because Nikolas would want both of you there. And I want for Nikolas to enjoy his birthday. So, will you come?"

" Yes. Just leave me a message about the date and time, and I will make sure that Lucas and I both come."

" Thank you, Barbara."

" You're welcome, Stefan."

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

The Quartermaines are all gathered in the Den when Justus enters.

" Well, if it isn't our newest Board Member."

" Hello, Ned."

" Justus, you've got a seat on the Board?"

" Oh, it's more than just a seat, Junior. Justus has got an entire seat of power."

" I wouldn't put it like that, Ned."

" And how would you put it, Cuz?"

" I don't know. That I feel like a REAL member of the family."

" Well, that's what you are. I am so pleased that Edward's stock was a pleasant surprise for you, Justus."

" Indeed it was, Lila. And may I thank you for giving Edward good counsel?"

" This was one of only a handful of decisions, good decisions, that Edward has made, that he didn't need me for. Because it was the right thing to do."

" Well, Justus, congratulations. I can't believe I would tell anyone who gets further linked with this animal farm, congratulations, but, there it is."

" Thanks, Alan."

AJ almost slithers over to Ned. " So, Ned, do you feel it yet?"

" Feel what, Junior."

" The heat. The bright heat of the star who's about to burn you."

" And would that be you, Towel Boy?"

" Nope, Nedly. I think it would be Justus. Do you REALLY think that Grandfather gave all that to Justus because of his heart attack? Come on...Ned. We both know the old man better than that. He's about to put Justus into the arena with you, and he wanted him well-armed. And since we both know that Justus is the better man, why don't you go fold up your tent and put on those leather pants and say hello to Eddie Maine for me."

" Go to Hell, Junior."

" Sorry, Ned. Been there, Done that. Will tell my friends to give you a call when you arrive.", AJ laughs and walks away.

Justus is standing at the breakfast try pouring his OJ when he can feel someone looking at him. He turns to see Ned. Staring at him. Burrowing holes into him. As Ned raised his coffee cup to him, Justus knew what Ned was telling him.

" Let the games begin."