Geese called in the night, and the doorbell rang at the lake home of Tony and Annabelle Reardon. Nola stood out on the front porch and looked out at the moonlit lake. Many happy times had happened at Tony and Annabelle's. Every year since Nola and Quint had moved with the family to Tanquir, they would come back to the States or come back from wherever they were living for yearly summer family reunions here. Stacey and AJ loved swimming in the lake and playing with their little cousins. Tony and Annabelle had two daughters, Nora who was18 and Olivia, 16.

Olivia peeked through the window and then ran to answer the door, "Aunt Nola," she squealed. She tightly wrapped her arms around Nola.

"Livvie, you look so beautiful and grown up." Olivia had curly short blonde hair and a full cherubic face and figure. Some hidden recessive genes clearly popped-up in this Reardon.

"Dad, Mom . .Aunt Nola is here," Olivia called out, as she continued to embrace her aunt.

Tony and Annabelle rushed out from the kitchen to warmly welcome their sister. Tony and Nola hugged each other not wanting to let the other go. Tony's hair had turned salt and pepper over the years, and he had acquired a rugged handsome look. Time had been very good to Annabelle, and she almost looked exactly as she had when she first met Tony. Annabelle and Olivia went back to the kitchen to prepare a late dinner for their special guest. Tony helped Nola bring her bags up to their guest room, and then they went back to the family room to relax and catch up. The cozy house was carefully decorated by Annabelle. She had paid close attention to every detail. The style could be best described as eclectic, but very homey and comfortable. Anyone would feel almost instantly at ease and welcomed within the small house's walls.

"Nol, it’s so good to see you looking so good, but I do wish it was under better circumstances."

"I'm sorry I had to be so quick on the phone, but I really wanted to discuss this with you in person."

"So what is all this about Crocker? I thought that creep was dead!!"

"So did everyone. But apparently he somehow made it out of that cave in Tanquir alive. First my friend Effie in London told me she had heard he was alive, and then Quinton got this strange call about him being alive, and then Silas himself actually called Quint. But the scariest thing, is that Silas left me a note when I was on the plane back from London."

"What?!!"

"It had to have been on the plane, even though I never saw him. There was no other explanation. The note said he was going to New Orleans."

"New Orleans?" Tony questioned then realized what that could mean.

Nola acknowledged his awareness, "I know. Quinton is going down there to make sure AJ is all right."

"That's good, and I'm glad you’re here with Annabelle and the girls and I."

"Where is Nora?'

"She’s out on a date."

Shaking her head, "Hmm, I just can't believe how quickly all the kids have grown up. It feels like just yesterday they were all babies."

"Nora is a senior and next year she’s going off to college. I couldn't be prouder of my baby going off to college, but hard to believe."

Distractedly Nola checks her watch. "You know, Quinton said he was going to call me when he reached AJ. But I haven't heard from him yet. This is making me crazy not knowing what is happening and not being able to go down to New Orleans."

"No Nola, it would be much too dangerous for you to go down there if there is any chance that Crocker is there. Quint was right in having you come out here."

"But I'm just so worried about AJ," Nola lamented.

"I know,” Tony fully understood, being a father himself,” but there is no way an old man like Silas is going to stand a chance against AJ. And AJ is a really smart kid. I’m sure it'll be fine. I want you here, and I know as much as you do what a jerk Silas is."

“I know.”

"I'm glad to hear, though, that you've been talking to Quint. Are things getting better?"

"I don't know. But I want things to be better, I guess. I really miss him a lot, and now with this whole Silas Crocker thing again, it just makes me want to be with him. He makes me feel safe"

"Then tell him that, Nol. I know for a fact that Quint loves you more than anything."

"But there are still all these other issues."

"What other issues?" Tony doubtfully inquires.

"Just things . .Helena Manzini."

"Helena Manzini? Are you crazy? He has been over that broad for years. She didn't mean anything to him more than a friend, and barely even that, all those years ago. Certainly, he is nothing more than friends with her now."

"I still don't trust her."

"You don't have to trust her, but do you trust Quint?"

"Well yeah."

"OK, then you just answered your own doubts."

"There are other things you don't know, Tony."

"Like what?"

Nola felt cornered by Tony's questions. "I know Quint always wanted a big family, and now Stacey and AJ are all grown, and it’s probably too late for me to give him anymore children and . . ."

"Nola, have you absolutely lost your mind? Are you going through the change or something?"

Nola gasped, "Tony, don't even say such a thing."

"I only said it because you're talking craziness.” Then he added as a quiet, teasing aside, “And also, let’s face facts.”

Nola shot him a “don’t even go there” expression.

Tony continued, “Seriously though, you gave Quint two great kids, and I'm sure he’s getting to a point in his life where he would like to be alone with you without any kids. I mean kids are great, but there comes a time in your life when you just want to relax."

"Technically I only gave him one child," Nola quietly added.

"Of all people, I would think that YOU would not say such a thing," Tony responded trying to somewhat shame his younger sister. "I know Quint well enough to know that he considers Stacey as much his as he does AJ. I was with the two of you when the whole issue of Quint adopting Stacey was brought up, and no one was happier about it than he was. The guy adores that girl. Stacey IS his daughter"

"I know."

"I know you know it in your heart, but your head is so damned stubborn. So now that I have shot that down, what are the other issues?"

"I just don't want him to feel that I'm stopping him from doing things he wants to do," Nola reached for any response.

"Nol, you are making just no sense at all. That poor man is suffering without you, and the only thing you are stopping him from is from being happy and from being with the love of his life."

"Why are you taking his side on this?"

"There are no sides, Nola. There’s only one side, and you’re both on it, but you just don't seem to know it."

"I hate when you do this to me. You’ve always done it?"

"Done what?"

"Make me feel like the kid sister."

"Well you are, but come on; you have not given me ONE good reason why you are not in Quint's arms right now. That guy crazy loves you, and he loves you as much today as he ever did . .probably more. I have talked a lot to him, and the way he talks about you is the same way he did when we all watched him fall in love with you on Thornway Road. Remember, I was there with him when he risked his life to save you from Crocker. I saw the look in his eyes, and I heard the tone in his voice, and it is ALL still there. I promise you."

"Well, it's personal," and with that Annabelle and Olivia made their way into the family room with some bowls full of pasta.

"We hope you will like this, Aunt Nola. I made the meat sauce."

"I'm sure it’ll be perfect. I’m so hungry."

"Aunt Nola, how are AJ and Stacey?"

"They’re great. I just got back from visiting Stacey in Oxford."

"Wow, I always tell my friends about my genius older cousin Stacey. All my friends always want to know about AJ too."

AJ had made quite a hit with the little friends of Nora and Olivia from the time he was 17 years old and got his drivers license. The girls would beg him to drive them around the cul de sac in whatever luxury car Quint had rented for the visit. AJ was not technically old enough to be driving a rented car, but Quint thought it was no harm if he drove slowly on the quiet cul de sac around Tony and Annabelle's house, and the little girls just loved it. They all swooned over AJ and thought that Nora and Olivia were so lucky to have such a strapping, cute, older cousin. AJ was always very good natured about the whole thing. It made him feel like a Justin Timberlake of sorts to the preteen crowd.

"I’m going to have to have a talk with that AJ," Tony joked.

"A little bothered that maybe AJ is taking away some of your thunder, big brother?" Nola ribbed.

"Huh, I think there are few arenas I could still compete with my stud muffin nephew anymore. Although, I still keep up on my karate."

"And how is Uncle Quint . ." Olivia stopped herself, thinking she said the wrong thing. "Oops I’m sorry. I guess I shouldn't have said that."

"No honey, it's ok," Nola reassured her. "I talked to your Uncle Quint today, and he’s going down to visit with AJ. And actually I should be hearing from him shortly."

"Are you guys getting back together?" Olivia asked excitedly and then continued in a very flamboyant dramatic style, almost the way Nola would go on and on when explaining the plot of an old movie. "You're such a cute couple. Him with those cute little ascots, I never saw anyone else wear one and didn't even know what they were called at first. And you with all your different hair styles and colors. I never knew what to expect with you. It was so cool. It was like you were so different from each other, but then fit together just perfectly. Absolutely perfectly! Plus, I always liked Uncle Quint's dorky science experiments that he would do with us."

"We'll see, but I doubt he knows you thought the experiments were dorky," Nola responded good-naturedly.

"Hmmmm, Annabelle, I wonder where our daughter got the gift of gab?"

"She reminds me a lot of her Aunt Nola, that’s for sure," Annabelle remarked.

Quint continued to try and reach AJ for hours with no success. Finally, he dialed his cell number, and it rang beyond the first ring. That was the first promising sign all night. AJ answered the phone, much to Quint's relief.

"AJ, where the hell have you been?"

"Dad, what's wrong? My cell phone battery was dead, and I was out."

"Everything's fine here. I wanted to make sure you were ok."

"I'm fine, but something really weird happened tonight."

"What?" Quint responded with concern.

"Eric and I were out at this bar in the French Quarter and ran into this old dude who started chatting us up and then mentioned he had this friend named Silas."

"AJ, what did this guy look like?" Quint inquired suspiciously.

"I don't know. He was kind of old . .like your age."

"Thanks a lot, son."

"Well, it is what it is, Dad. He had light brown hair, kind of thinning, I guess. He was dressed in this heavy jacket which was kind of weird, since it’s so warm here. He looked like an out-of-towner."

"I have not seen Silas since that time in the cave, but I would bet anything he was that charlatan Silas Crocker."

"Why do you think that?"

"I don't want you to get upset, but your mom called me and she had been visiting Stacey and Effie in London, and when she got into Newark airport to make her connection back to Springfield, she found a note from Silas that he must have left for her when she was sleeping on the plane."

"What the hell?"

"And the note said he was going to New Orleans. So we have been frantic trying to get in touch with you."

"Is Mom with you in California now?'" AJ hopefully asked.

"No, she didn't actually find the note until she was already on the connecting flight to Springfield. So I told her to go stay with your Uncle Tony."

"As long as I know Mom is safe, and she will be with Uncle Tony. But that bastard is going to be sorry if he tries to hurt or scare mom. I swear, I will beat the shit out of his tired old ass. What kind of shit is that, following a woman on a plane? And that means he was probably following her in London too. Man, I'm pissed."

"I know, but your mom is okay with Tony. There’s no way Silas could know where Tony lives."

"Why not? He seems to know everything else."

"Listen, I booked a flight to New Orleans first thing tomorrow. Maybe you and I can track Silas down. Did he say anything else that could indicate where he was staying?"

"No, not really. He was obviously lying about traveling with a friend."

"I'm sure, he just wanted to see how you would react to the name Silas,” Quint assumed. “It’s not like that’s a common name."

"I know and, I did kind of freak out and take off with Eric when he said it, so I’m sure he knows that I know."

"I’m sure he was also counting on you telling me this whole story." Quinton knew how the sick mind of Silas Crocker operated.

"There was one other thing that he said, Dad, that was kind of interesting."

"What was that?"

"He told me his name was Ryan," AJ recalled.

"Now I know for sure that was Silas. I guess it’s his sick sense of humor."

"Oh right, Ryan is your middle name and was your last name when you were a kid. What an asshole!"

"Yes, he is. I estimate that I should be at your dorm room sometime tomorrow around 11am, so please be up and ready for me."

"What are we going to do, Dad?"

"We’re going to go to the French Quarter to find Silas and kick the shit out of him, as you would say."

Nola, Tony, Annabelle and Olivia had spent the next hour or so catching up and finishing dinner. Finally, Nora came home just about the time that everyone was getting ready to go to bed. Nola was having a great time chatting with her brother, but she was exhausted from the time difference, all the traveling and the stress over Silas, Quint and AJ. Nora was also thrilled to see her Aunt Nola and promised her she would tell her all about her date, her college plans and her new boyfriend in the morning. Tony went with Nola up to the guest room to make sure all the preparations were acceptable.

"Nol, I just can't tell you how good it is to see you. It was hard living so far apart for such a long time."

"I know, but now I’m just two hours away in Springfield."

"I know, and Ma told me that you moved out of the boarding house? I don't like that Nol. Makes it seem too permanent."

"Maybe it will be."

"I don't want to hear that. As much as I want you closer, I also want you back with Quint where you belong."

"We'll see."

"Why do you keep saying that? Where did you move?"

"I can't tell you just yet."

"Why not?"

"It's a secret, that's why. But I promise when you hear, you'll approve." Nola tried to assure her brother. Suddenly her cell phone started buzzing. "I hope that’s Quint." She noticed the caller ID and answered, "Quinton?"

"Yes, honey. I just talked to AJ and he’s fine. I’m flying down there first thing tomorrow morning. There were no available flights left this evening."

"That’s a relief. I was so worried."

"Everything is fine, and no need to worry, but apparently AJ did have a little run- in already with Silas."