Chapter Four: Breakfast
Alexis' PH
Marcus regarded the man standing in his doorway with distaste. "Jacks," he drawled. "'Lexis doesn't keep office hours on Saturday. Maybe you should call, make an appointment."
Jax smiled, showing all of his teeth. "Commissioner," he echoed the other man's tone. "I did. With Alexis." He took a step forward. "She in her office?"
"No," Marcus slung the towel in his hand around his neck; Jax had interrupted his tai-chi routine. "She's in the kitchen; I'll get her."
Jax smiled again. "Don't put yourself out." He brushed past Taggert. "I know the way."
Gritting his teeth, Marcus followed Jasper Jacks into Alexis' kitchen. He really hated the way that man looked at his-- at Alexis. "Lexi," he called past him, "incoming!"
Jax ignored the other man as he pushed the swinging door forward and sniffed. "Smells fabulous," he announced. "Which means you," he pointed at Alexis, sitting at the table, "didn't cook."
"Watch it, you," Alexis looked at him and waved her coffee mug. "I'm still on my first cup." She waved her cup in the general direction of the stove and Gia. "She is responsible for breakfast; be very, very nice and maybe she'll offer you some."
"No thanks," Jax shook his head. "Already had my power shake. But, the nice part I can pull off." He smiled at Gia. "It's good to see you again in person, Gia, rather than listening in to my wife's side of a three hour phone conversation. Speaking of, when she wakes, expect a call. Carly's got a plan."
"Oh lord." Alexis rolled her eyes.
Jax glanced sharply at his ex-wife, but Gia spoke over Alexis, deliberately. "Any advance warning? Should I be afraid?" she asked, with a grin.
Jax shook his head. "No idea. I've learned it's best to smile, nod, and agree with everything my wife says. Things tend to turn out better that way."
"Jax." Alexis stood up and pushed her chair in as she carried the empty mug to the coffe-maker and refilled. "Is Carly why you wanted to see me?" she asked, warily.
"Mmm." Jax responded, noncommittally, with a pointed glance at Marcus.
Marcus made no move to leave; instead, he crossed his arms with a contented smile, and leaned back against the kitchen wall, eyeing Jax.
Gia rolled her eyes and walked over to her brother with a sigh. "Marcus," she tugged at his elbow. "Come help me start getting the kids going."
Marcus glanced at her with wide eyes. "I didn't hear the baby monitor," he looked at Alexis. "You hear anything, honey?"
"God," Gia elbowed him, "you are such a man sometimes. Stop peeing on your territory and let Alexis do her damn job, you big idiot!"
Alexis bit her lip to stifle a laugh. "Honey," she looked at Marcus, "I won't be long. Right?" A quick 'agree-with-me-or-else' glance at Jax produced a nod. "By the time the boys are up and dressed, we'll be done. Jax knows the weekends are family time."
"And, I wouldn't have interrupted if it weren't important," Jax added. "Don't worry, Taggert; I'm only borrowing my ex-wife, not stealing her."
Marcus glared but headed in the direction Gia was tugging him. "Don't pull Alexis into another mess she's gonna end up mopping up for you," he grumbled, over his shoulder. "Thirty minutes, Jacks, then I'm comin' in."
Alexis waited a moment then whirled on Jax. "Why do you do that?" she demanded, hands on hips. "Why do you deliberately -- do that?"
Jax chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "'Cause it's fun. He's cute when he gets all huffy. Come on, Alexis; I just like teasing the man."
Alexis glared. "I am immune to your charms, Jasper Jacks. And, I don't like you provoking my -- my Police Commissioner!" She stirred her coffee, blowing on the surface. "Why do I put up with you?"
"Because I bribe you," he reached in his coat pocket, pulled out a packet of microwave popcorn, and tossed it on the counter. "Movie style with extra butter."
"Ohhh, no fair playing dirty." Alexis pointed at a kitchen chair. "Sit." Jax sat. "Stay," she ordered and added two large teaspoons of sugar to her mug. Slowly, silently, she drained the coffee and rinsed out the mug with deliberate motions. Only once it was firmly in the drying rack did she sit across from Jax, lifting a single eyebrow. "So, ex-husband." She regarded him a moment. "Tell me."
Jax unfolded his arms and leaned across the table. "Quick and to the point, then?"
Alexis nodded. "You know that's how I like it."
"Fine." He lay his palms on the kitchen tabletop. "You've been following the news, I assume, and you live with the Police Commissioner so you know that Corinthos has been brought back."
Alexis' tone was neutral. "For which I'd have thought you'd be rejoicing."
"If Corinthos were to get what he deserves you know I would," Jax replied, fiercely. "But at least with the man hiding in some dark, deep hole, he wasn't in my face; we could pretend we lived in a world in which he never existed. Now," he pulled several papers out of his pocket and handed them across the table, "that isn't possible."
Alexis scanned the document, soundlessly. "Jax," she said, finally, handing the subpoena back to him, "if you're asking what I think you are," she shook her head, "I'm sorry. It just isn't possible."
Jax pocketed Carly's subpoena. "I know Carly isn't your favorite person--"
"No, she's not," Alexis said, honestly. "Though we're civil, for your sake, more than anything." Her forehead wrinkled. "But, not to the point of my representing her. Frankly, I'm surprised she'd want me to do so. Her step-father's an attorney, and I'm sure Carly has a whole cadre of lawyers working for her at Deception."
Jax waved a dismissive hand. "You're better and far more experienced in criminal law than any of Carly's corporate attorneys. And, I don't like Scott Baldwin."
"So? You aren't looking for a lawyer." Alexis scrutinized his face. "Jax! She doesn't know you're here, does she? This isn't coming from Carly; it's coming from you."
"I want my wife protected, Alexis. I don't want her to be forced to get all twisted up in Corinthos' life again," Jax asserted, his voice forceful and his eyes blazing. "You can stop this; I know you can. I want you to do it."
"It's just a deposition; it's not like she's being--" Alexis broke off; she knew that particular set of Jax's jaw. Sitting back, she shook her head gently. "I'm sorry, Jax. You know I love you, and you know I'd help you if I could. But, aside from the fact that I don't take on clients through intermediaries, I can't get involved in this particular case."
"Why not?" her ex-husband demanded. "Alexis, don't tell me you're still involved with Sonny Corinthos!" She was silent; her silence spoke more than volumes. "Bloody hell, Alexis, this is a murder case! He's accused of murdering a man!"
"Accused not found guilty," Alexis spoke with some asperity. "I should rephrase a statement I just made -- I can't get further involved in this particular case. It would be a conflict of interest."
Jax pushed his chair back sharply as he stood. "I can't believe you're still representing the man, Alexis! Five years ago, when he was about to be arrested for the murder of Joseph Sorel, he skipped town and ran. How much more of an indictment of guilt do you need? A signed confession?"
"I've seen the case, Jax; it's completely built on circumstantial evidence, and at the very least, the fact that Joseph Sorel's daughter left town with Sonny should indicate--" She broke off with an exasperated noise and looked away, her arms folded across her chest. "I'm not going to discuss this with you. Besides the fact that it's unethical, Sonny is never going to be something you and I can discuss calmly." Alexis looked back at him and stood up with a sigh. She crossed the room, laying a hand on his arm. "Jax. I wish I could help you. But, I can't; I'm sorry. I do love you, though."
Jax let out a sigh of his own, his jaw unclenching slightly. "I will never understand how smart, savvy, otherwise intelligent women become so utterly idiotic when it comes to that man." He threw up his hands at Alexis' look. "Fine. I give up. If you're sure I can't change your mind."
She shook her head. "I spoke to Sonny yesterday," Alexis' voice was quiet, but sure. "I've agreed to represent him."
A choking noise started in the corridor, and both Alexis and Jax turned to face an utterly still Marcus Taggert, his son cradled against his shoulder. Alexis spoke first, taking a step towards her lover. "Marcus, I meant to tell you. But, with Gia's visit--"
He lifted a single hand, wordlessly, and she stopped. Marcus looked at Alexis a long moment, completely ignoring Jax, his eyes shadowed and dark. She took another step towards him, saying his name once.
Marcus turned on his heel, and without a single word, walked out of the room.
the Brownstone
"Mama?" Carly closed the front door behind her, rolling her eyes at Bobbie's inclination to behave as if they lived in Mayberry. "I've told you something like a thousand times you shouldn't leave the door unlocked," she called, exasperated.
"We're in the kitchen," came the response; Bobbie was schooled in hearing only what she wanted to and ignoring the rest. "Come eat something."
Carly picked her way through the living room and tried to avoid a collision with a precarious stack of video games, several desecrated Barbie dolls, fifteen different bottles of nail polish -- all different shades of metallic blue, and a bowl full of apples. Managing to trip only once, she found her way to the kitchen and stepped in with a sigh of relief. Four heads turned her way, all offering various greetings. Carly waved to all and sundry and pulled out the chair beside her daughter's high chair. She unstrapped an increasingly loud Jessa, transferring her to her lap. "I didn't know you had the whole menagerie this weekend," she said to Bobbie who had turned back to pancakes at the stove. "Why didn't you tell Jax when he asked you to take Jessa?"
"Hey!" A paper towel grenade launched itself at Carly's head; she ducked. "If anyone belongs in a zoo, Sis..." Lucas trailed off, smiling with saccharine sweetness.
"Then it's the creature with monkey-breath," Carly finished, sticking out her tongue. She shook her head sadly. "Poor Megan; that girlfriend of yours has never seen you in the morning, has she?"
Bobbie reached behind her, stopping Lucas from moving with a single hand on his shoulder. "Carly," she warned. "If you ever want me to baby-sit again, then stop picking on your brother."
Carly lifted the hand that wasn't holding her daughter in the Girl Scout salute. "Scout's honor, I'll quit. Sorry, kiddo."
"Yeah, whatever." Lucas stood up and dumped his plate in the sink. He looked at Bobbie. "Mom?"
"Go on," Bobbie gestured, and Lucas headed quickly for the door. "But, an appearance at dinner tonight is required!" she called after him, then sighed as she heard the motor rev on the car. "Thank you very much, Caroline," Bobbie shot a look at her daughter. "I cannot wait until Michael hits adolescence; that'll be my best revenge."
"Carly, know what?" Carly looked at the young girl across the table, glad for the distraction. "I designed a dress; wanna see?"
Carly laughed. "Sure, Chrissy, bring it here."
Christina Baldwin shook her head. "Can't. I need Jessa to model; it's a baby dress. And, I invented it with her inside. Can I borrow?" She held out her arms.
"I don't know; want to go play with Chrissy, baby girl?" Carly asked her daughter.
Jessa responded by crowing and patting her mother's cheeks. "Ess!" She announced. "Crissy pay dess-up!"
Carly groaned and looked at Bobbie. "I am raising a fashion model," she announced, then slid Jessa off her lap, making sure Christina held her daughter's hand. "Okay, do your worst; just be careful, Christina." Carly turned back to her mother after they left. "I really am sorry, Bobbie; I didn't know you had the whole gang."
"Minus Serena; she's with Lucy and Kevin looking at colleges this weekend." Bobbie turned off the flame on the stove and handed a plate of pancakes to Carly along with the syrup. She picked up Christina's and Jessa's abandoned plates and carried them to the sink. "I don't mind," she spoke with her back to Carly as she ran water over the dishes, "it's a good distraction."
Carly stood up, taking the plates from her mother and putting them in the dishwasher as she spoke. "Jessa was okay, then?" she asked, putting off the inevitable a few minutes longer.
"My granddaughter was, as always, a delight and a joy." Bobbie looked at Carly questioningly. "But who is 'Dak'?"
Carly wrinkled her forehead momentarily, then laughed suddenly. "Jack. Oh, he's-- a new kid at the daycare," she improvised. "Jessa played with him yesterday; she was pretty taken."
"Yes, I could tell. She must have asked me fifty times last night where 'Dak' was." Bobbie turned off the faucet and hung her dishrag over the spout. She looked at Carly's untouched plate. "You aren't going to eat those, are you?"
Carly wrinkled her nose. "Too fatty for first thing in the morning." She sat back down and Bobbie followed, reaching for the plate absently tearing the pancakes into little bits. Carly reached out and covered her hand with her own. "Mama..."
Bobbie half-rose; Carly let go her hand. "I think we have some granola somewhere; Serena's on a natural food kick. I could--"
"Bobbie," Carly cut through her mother's words, and slowly, Bobbie sat back down again. "Guess you've been following the news then, huh?"
Bobbie let out a small, humorless laugh. "Do you have to ask?"
Carly shook her head. "Not really. Look, Mama, you didn't -- you didn't do anything stupid, did you? Like tell Scott ... anything?"
Bobbie shook her head; Carly could see her hand trembling. "No. I didn't. Though, I'm starting to think that maybe I should."
"No!" Carly reached out and grabbed her mother's hand again, this time with more force. "God, I knew you would start doing this. We made a deal, Mama, and we're gonna stick to it. This is going to go away, okay? As long as you don't do anything to mess it up; everything's going to be fine." She paused. "We both knew Sonny wouldn't stay gone forever."
"One could hope," Bobbie muttered. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she responded to Carly's look. "I just closed the door on that chapter of my life, and hoped like hell it would never be reopened." She loosed her fingers from Carly's and clasped her hands tightly together as she lifted her eyes to meet her daughter's. "I suppose I should have known better, huh?"
"Bobbie, there is no reason you ever have to go there again," Carly insisted. "I can handle it. Just keep on -- doing what you're doing. Be super-Mom, be Scott's wife," she rolled her eyes at that one, "be the best nurse at GH. Remember, this has nothing, NOTHING, to do with you. It's best that way; we both agreed."
Bobbie hesitated a long moment, then finally nodded her assent. "And, what about you, daughter-of-mine? What are you planning?"
"Me?" Carly's eyes were wide and innocent. "Not a damn thing. I'm gonna do exactly what I told you, just -- live my life. Do what I have to do."
"Carly--"
Bobbie was interrupted by two pairs of scampering feet running down the hallway. Christina paused in the doorway. "Dum da dum da DUM!" she announced, gesturing wildly at the figure just behind the arch.
Jessa toddled in, swathed from head to toe in what looked to be every single scrap from Bobbie's ragbag. She grasped hold of her mother's knee once she reached her and looked up with a grin. "I pretty," the two-year old announced, smugly.
Carly laughed. "Oh, yes, baby girl, you are!" She swung the toddler up in her lap, making Jessa squeal with pleasure. "Chrissy, this is absolutely brilliant," she grinned at the other girl. "You have got a future in design, kiddo."
Christina scampered to the table, thrusting between Bobbie and Carly. "Can I come work at Deception? Can I, can I, can I?"
Bobbie stood up, taking Carly's uneaten pancakes to the sink. "I think your mother would have something to say about that one, Chrissy," she laughed, slightly, trying for lightness, trying to take Carly's advice.
Carly glanced over at her, as she continued laughing with the girls. Despite all of Bobbie's best efforts, despite the deliberate lightness in her voice, she knew that this nightmare was far from over. Her mother's hands were still trembling. And, her eyes were terrified.
Quartermaine mansion
"I don't care what kind of nonsense your mother feeds you, young man, but when you're under this roof, you will eat a proper breakfast!" Emily could hear her grandfather's voice echoing as she descended the stairs, and she hesitated, briefly debating the pros and cons of a McDonald's run.
"My son is nine years old, Grandfather; he can feed himself without any help from you." She sighed and stepped for the double doors; she was, after all, Michael's godmother. She had a duty.
"Morning all," Emily breezed with a confident smile that boardrooms around the world had come to know. "Hey, Michael, I know where Cook hides the Frosted Flakes," she winked at the boy, who's arms were crossed as he shook a scowling face at a plate of cantaloupe Edward was thrusting towards him.
Michael flashed her a grateful look and scampered towards her. "Thanks Emmie. Me too. But, he," he jerked his thumb at Edward, "wouldn't let me go get 'em."
"It's okay, Michael," AJ spoke up, stepping to Emily's side and slipping a grateful arm around her shoulders. "Go ahead, buddy. Your Aunt Emily has just offered herself up as new meat." He grinned, and planted a kiss on Emily's temple. "Don't know what possessed me to think bringing my son for breakfast was a good thing; my wife had the good sense to plead a headache and stay home," he murmured under his breath while his son took advantage of this distraction to slip out towards the kitchen.
"I heard that!" Edward grumped. "And, the next time I see Ms. Kristina, you'd bet I'll--"
"Enough, Father," Alan pushed his chair back and greeted Emily with a kiss. "Good morning sunshine," he smiled. "Sleep well?"
"Mmm-hmmm," Emily murmured, blandly, deciding that it would be impolitic to mention that she slept better in Lucky's arms than alone. "Has Grandmother had her tray yet? Because I could--"
"Lila is expecting you in her rooms after breakfast," Edward held out a chair insistently. "Sit and eat; breakfast is the most important meal of the day, or so that fool doctor keeps telling me, and you will sit and eat with the family!"
"Yes, Grandfather," Emily sat, demurely, leaning over to kiss Monica's cheek. "Morning Mom." She looked across the table at her brother who, as usual, looked ten million miles away from Quartermaine chaos. Emily grinned. "Morning Jase."
Her brother nodded and continued eating methodically; Monica leaned over and returned her daughter's embrace enthusiastically. "Good morning, darling. It is so good to have you home."
"It's good to be home." AJ snorted as he took his seat, and she suppressed a giggle. "I've missed you all." She looked around the buffet. "Ned and Lois aren't coming up this morning?"
"It's Lois's mother's birthday; they took the girls and went into Bensonhurst for the weekend," Monica explained. "They'll be back late tomorrow afternoon."
"Ned had better be back," Edward's voice boomed. "We have a meeting with a very important client on Monday, and we'll need to spend Sunday night preparing. In fact, I wanted to speak to you about this, Emily," he looked at his granddaughter.
Emily frowned, slightly. "Grandfather, I'm supposed to be on vacation; I just spent six months in Europe doing PR for the new ELQ subsidiary. I'm not sure I want to take on a new client this soon."
AJ spoke up from his end of the table. "See, this is why I keep telling you, Em; come work for me. We could use a good PR person, and unlike Grandfather, Kristina and I don't go in for slave labor."
Edward bristled, ignoring his grandson . "ELQ doesn't go on vacation, young lady, and this is a client I do not want to lose! Besides," his forehead creased, "they asked for you by name; this client refuses to do business with any other PR representative."
Emily sighed. "Alright, I'll look at the file. After breakfast," she added, as Grandfather started to get up.
"Now, Emily, the early bird--"
"She said after breakfast." Jason stood up, looking at his grandfather. "Sit. Eat. Stop bugging her."
After several 'harumphs', Edward sat down slowly; the family well knew the price of Jason returning to his family on any kind of a basis. Emily shot her brother a grateful look, and he sat again, spearing a slice of cantaloupe on the way down. "So, tell me about the hospital," Emily looked at her parents with a conciliatory smile. "Catch me up on all the gossip."
"You would not believe what young Allison Barrington has done with the Wellness Center," Monica began. "When she took over her grandmother's seat on the board, we were all skeptical, but she's really quite a dynamo. Your generation has done themselves proud, Em."
"I'm not sure I can take credit for Allison Barrington, Mom," Emily laughed. She was interrupted by the chime of a cell phone; six hands simultaneously reached for pockets and purses. Emily held hers aloft. "Mine. Sorry, I won't be long." She stood up, moving towards the terrace and stepping out. "Hello?"
"Anyone still alive?" Her boyfriend's amused voice echoed across the line. "You did remember your bulletproof vest, didn't you?"
"There's plenty of food left if you'd care to join us for breakfast," Emily responded sweetly. "In fact, Mom and Dad were just saying last night how they'd just love to sit down with you and have a nice loooong chat. I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you--"
"That's okay, baby," Lucky interrupted, hastily. "Me and my Cocoa Puffs are just fine here. Lonely, but fine."
"Lonely? What, Lu's not up yet?"
"Nah, she's bunkin' at the mausoleum for the time being. Decided Nik-nik was lonesome."
"Ah." Emily was silent for a moment. "Your sister has a good heart. Listen," she looked through the glass doors at her family, "the peanut gallery's starting to glare; I'd better head back in. I'll call you later today."
"I'll be at the club. Hey Em," there was a slight pause, "love you."
"Me too, you." Emily closed the phone, softly, her forehead creasing for a moment. She took a deep breath and let it out again, trying to clear her mind, refusing to let it go down certain paths. This wasn't the time; this wasn't the place. She shook her head once to clear it and pushed open the terrace door; the bosom of her family was exactly the distraction she needed. "Sorry guys." Emily slid into her place at the table and looked at her mother. " Okay, keep going. What were you saying about Allison Barrington?"
Wyndemere
Lu bit the inside of her cheek, hard. She would not laugh, she would not laugh, she would not-- A giggle erupted, and that was the battle, lost. Within seconds, it turned into a full-fledged belly laugh, and all she could do was point at the object dangling from her brother's hand. "The bell," Leslie Lu managed to gasp. She shook her hand back and forth in imitation. "Ring-ring!" She dissolved into giggles again.
Nik looked at the small brass bell in his hand with puzzlement. "This?" he lifted it, his forehead creasing. "Want me to ring it again?"
"No, please!" Lu gasped out. After a moment of deep breathing, she stood up, her juice glass in one hand and her plate in the other, and marched down the length of the dining table. She plopped down beside her brother, and folded one leg underneath her. "Can't you just, like, call for them? Or, I don't know, get up and get your eggs yourself? Nikky," she looked at him, pityingly, "it's dinky."
Nikolas lay the bell down and reached out to tweak his sister's nose. "And, the last thing I want to be is dinky, right?" He rolled his eyes comically, then glanced around the formal room. "Sorry, Lu, I guess I've just gotten into -- habits, here. It's simpler, somehow."
"Which is why I'm here," she smiled, sunnily. "To break you of all your bad habits, big brother, and replace them with even nastier ones. Daddy would be so proud!"
"I'm sure he would." Nik smiled back; it was impossible not to smile at his baby sister. It always had been, from the very first moment he'd seen her. "Speaking of Luke and what he wants for you, what are your plans, Lu? I know this visit is more than just an extended stay, but how much more?"
"I don't know yet. I mean, a lot more, I think." Lu lay her fork down. "You know Daddy can't come back to the States, but we talked for, like, forever. And we talked about what Mama would have wanted, and what I wanted, and -- here I am. Daddy said that Mama always wanted us to have a place to come home to, and as much as I love our chalet, it's not home, not like what she meant. So, I guess Port Charles is. Or, I'm gonna see if it can be."
Nikolas reached out and brushed a stray strand of wispy dark hair back behind her ear. His voice was soft. "I think you're right; I think our mother would have liked that very much. And," he tugged on the same strand, "you know Lucky and I do. So what next?" He grimaced. "Public high school?"
Lu clasped her palms together. "Yes! It sounds fun, Nikky. Lucky told me about all the things you can do, like rigging fire alarms and some really awesome stuff with computers. Plus," she shrugged, "I like school."
"Hey, what you want, you get, Lu. Though, public high school," he shuddered, "was not an experience I relished."
"Yeah, but I don't relish shaking around little brass bells, either." Lu stuck out her tongue. "But, before that, I've gotta find a good ballet school. If I don't keep training, I'm going to lose everything; I haven't been on pointe in, like, a week. Ooh, and I've gotta find a place to take the plane up, just to keep a hand in. And, I start work tonight." She finished loading her toast with strawberry jam and took a bite, licking her thumb and forefinger delicately.
"Work?" Nikolas cocked his head. "Lu, what are you talking about?"
"A' da cub." She chewed, swallowed, and tried again. "At the club. Lucky said I can start hostessing tonight."
Nikolas' brow furrowed. "At Luke's? The bar where they serve alcohol?" He shook his head. "You're fourteen, Lu; I don't think--"
"Nik, I'm not serving. I'm not even coming near the bar. I'm just seating people at their tables at my brother's club. C'mon, Nikky, don't be a grump," she teased, tickling him with an index finger under his chin. "Hey, you can come with me; it'll be fun! It's open mike night."
"Open mike night?" Nikolas looked at her dubiously. "I've been to open mike night with Lucky; not a pretty sight, Lu."
"C'mon, Nik," she wheedled, "Lucky'll be there and Em and everyone. It'll be like a homecoming party, and it'll be SO fun!"
"Emily?" his eyebrows lifted. "And, Lucky and everybody?" Nikolas continued quickly, his voice teasing and deliberately light. "And, a homecoming party? Of course I'll be there, Lady Lu. How could I refuse you anything?"
"Good," she smiled happily, but Leslie Lu was nobody's fool. She filed his odd reaction to Emily's name along with the other oddnesses about her brother and her OTHER brother's girlfriend. Time enough to dig into this mystery later. "Hey, I'm out of juice." Lu glanced sidelong at him and giggled, reaching for the little brass bell. "Can I?"
