What Goes Around Comes Around

Everyone Deserves

Janet walked up, with Tori in her arms, to the gate of the house she formerly shared with her ex-husband. All the memories came flooding back as her fingertip touched the gate. Bad memories? Good memories? Too many memories that it made the child wipe her mother's tears.

Tori hugs Janet and jumps out of her mother's arms. In truth, Tori wasn't too fond of her mother carrying her around, but it kept Janet from breaking down, so Tori had to act.

"Hey, sis." Chase gave his little sister a soft smile.

Tori looks up at her brother, "Have you heard?"

Chase nodded, tears spilling from his hazel eyes.

Hana walks up behind Janet, "You don't have to do this; Guita and I can go in, get your stuff and, get out."

"Thanks, Hana," Janet stares at Hana, "but I need to do this. This was my home. Plus, your mother was right; you've been through hell and came back stronger. I want Tori to grow up like you."

"Trust me," Hana shook her head, "that¹ is not something you should wish for."

"What's not something," Robert and Tina walk out of the vehicle, "to wish for?"

"For Tori to grow up like me."

"'Cause, that would be bad," Amy walks behind the car, "I mean, look at the rage she has towards our parents."

"The grudges," Nico laughed as she and Karolina parked their car, "she carries."

"Or her many, many," Guita chuckles, "boyfriends."

Hana sighs, "Yup."

"Not even denying it." Dale smirks as he and his wife get out of their own vehicle.

"Nope," Hana shook her head, "what's the use. I mean, it's all true, so why deny it. It's my past. I can make excuses like I was young, stupid, and single, but what good will that do?"

"See," Janet points out, "at least she's honest, and she can keep a secret."

Hana smiles, "Thank you; it takes years of practice."

"And I'm sure," Alex put his arm around Hana's shoulders, "being the oldest of the PRIDE children taught you that."

Hana sighs and looks at Alex's hand, "You wanna keep that hand?"

Nico, Amy, Molly, Gert, Karolina, and Chase held their breaths.

"I know," Alex removes his arm from Hana's shoulders, "no touchy, the princess."

Molly chuckles; Hana smirks, "Good, you're learning."

"I feel sorry for Andre." Chase whispered to his wife.

"You feel bad for Andre; I feel bad for Robert," Gert admitted, "if Hana's like this, imagine how Tina is."

Guita smirks, "Maritess pala?"

Hana chuckles, "Let's just get this over with."

As everyone sat around the dust-covered mahogany dinner table, Alex and Guita set paperwork in front of Janet and Chase. Guita cleared her throat, "Mr. Stein wanted you to have the house."

Janet nods, "Okay?"

Chase walks to his dad's lab, trying to understand why; Hana sighs and follows him, "You okay?"

Chase looks up, "I can't believe he's gone."

Hana moves toward him, "Neither can I. When I first met Victor, I was 12. My first time tagging along with my parents to the PRIDE meeting," Hana chuckles, "I was pissed because a senior had invited me to a party, and my parents forbade me to go. Victor put you in my arms along with Alex and ordered me 'to go play'. He made a lot of bad decisions that cost his life; I'm not gonna negate that." Hana sighs, "I'm only saying he was the reason why the tradition of us staying during their meetings came about. Leslie didn't want Karolina to be anywhere near them, but because Victor had asked me to babysit you, all the kids soon joined in, and friendships were formed."

As Chase leaves and Hana notices Janet standing at the corner. Hana asks, "What?"

"That was nice," Janet raised her glass, "what you said."

Hana smiles, "Everyone deserves a nice memory of their parents."

Janet raised her eyebrow, "Everyone?"

"Godammit!" Hana walks away, "I'll be right back."

Janet places her glass on the table and pulls a white sheet off of a gadget; it was an old-time machine Victor built when they met. It never worked. Maybe it just needed a jumpstart as Janet plugs it in...