FLETCHER READEFLETCHER READEFletcher came on to the show during the infamous 'Dreaming Death' storyline of 1983. While covering the mayhem in San Rios, ace reporter Fletcher Reade ended up helping Hillary Bauer (Ed's half sister) escape the country and return to her true love, Dr. Jim Reardon. Unfortunately for Fletch, he fell in love with her in the process. Fletch repeated this pattern several more times in his life; sometimes winning the girl, other times... Also in love with Jim Reardon, Dr. Claire Ramsey became the first major relationship for Fletcher in Springfield. While in Beirut together with Ed and Maureen Bauer, Fletch and Mo were thought dead. Devastated by their loss (and obviously incoherent), Claire and Ed sought solace from each other, thinking the other was their respective dead lover. This was how Michelle Bauer was conceived. While in Beirut, we learned that Fletcher's daughter, Rebecca, was killed there years earlier (as was her mother, Leah). Never wanting to feel that kind of devastation again and feeling responsible for her death, Fletcher had a vasectomy. Although he had forgiven Claire for not telling him about her one nighter with Ed, they didn't last. Fletch has a sister, Meredith, who was once married to Rick Bauer and lost Phillip Spaulding's child. Fletcher fell in love with Maeve Stoddard, publisher of the Springfield Journal and Kyle Sampson's wife. Fletch supported Maeve during her unhappy marriage and subsequent divorce and the two eventually married. Sadly, Maeve died in a helicopter accident. Fletch fought her mother for custody of Maeve and Kyle's son, Ben. Maureen Bauer was there for Fletch and she eventually developed a crush on him that contributed to the disintegration of his friendship with Ed Bauer. Later, while stranded on an island with Alexandra Spaulding, Fletch fell hard -- as she fell for the mysterious Adam, who turned out to be none other than Roger Thorpe. This started their feud that continues to this day. Alex and Fletch didn't last, but thanks to her schemes backfiring, he and Journal co-owner/publisher, Holly Lindsey, found each other and married. They are now awaiting the birth of their child. Apparently, the warranty on the infamous vasectomy expired.