Chapter 2
The Q Mansion
“I think I know what my daughter wants,” Monica argued against Skye.
“You ‘think’?” Skye laughed. “I really recommend you don’t do things your not good at. Let Emily decide. This is her wedding, Monica. Not yours.”
“I know that,” Monica opposed, “I’m simply giving my opinion, if that even matters in this house anymore!” Monica slammed the edge of the dining table. Emily sat adjacent to both of them, trying to compose herself from the irritation. She looked up at Reginald with a fatigued expression.
“Don’t look at me. I just serve,” Reginald said refilling her orange juice.
After a few more rants, she couldn’t take it anymore.
“Shut up! Both of you!” She demanded. Skye and Monica were both silent, but kept their infuriated expressions towards eachother like two schoolgirls fighting over a toy.
“Stop it!” Emily ordered. “We’re never going to get anything done like this.”
“Your right Emily. We’ll stop. Won’t we, Skye?”
“Yeah,” Skye gritted. A buzzing sound went off.
“Sorry,” Skye said pulling out her cellular, “I have to take this. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” she said standing up and ascending towards a private room.
“Take your time.” Monica called out. Monica smiled towards her daughter, “Emily. I’m so happy for you. I just hope that Lucky makes you happy.”
“Thanks Mom,” Emily returned her smile, “Don’t worry. I think he will. Um, would you excuse me for a second? I need to go to the bathroom.” Emily tried to walk out as calmly as possible, descended the stairs, and immediately shut the bathroom door, heading for the sink. She turned on the cold water. It was happening again. For the past few weeks she had been feeling utterly nauseated, and even threw up once or twice. She didn’t want to tell anyone, but now it looked like there wasn’t much of a choice. Emily reached for the nearest towel and combined it with a blend of water before massaging it around her face. She sighed, letting the moisture flow into her system as she took deep breaths.
“This can’t be happening,” she said, her voice filled with resentment.
PC Hotel
“Marcus, where are you now?” Gia asked her brother through the phone.
“A few hundred miles off Port Charles. But don’t worry I’ll be back by tomorrow,” Marcus Taggert assured his little sister.
“Oh wow. I can’t wait,” she said sarcastically.
“I know your looking forward to it.”
Jason entered from the bathroom not realizing Gia was talking to Taggert.
“Hey Gia, I need to--.”
“Shh,” Gia muted him.
“Who’s that?” Taggert asked inquisitively.
“Who’s what?”
“That voice from your line. It sounded like a man. Is someone there with you? Please tell me your not back with Cassdine.”
“No Marcus, I can honestly say I’m not with him. Look, it was just the television set. I turned it on too high. That’s all.”
Taggert paused for a moment before saying, “Okay.” But he didn’t believe her. Gia had a pattern of lying to him.
Jason remained silent but moved closer to Gia.
“So, I’ll see you tomorrow for breakfeast?”
“Sure.”
“You can pay,” she smiled.
“Sure,” Taggert rolled his eyes. “What time?”
“I don’t know, I guess around…” Gia was about to answer but her sense of concentration grew stumpy as Jason’s lips trailed around her neck. “Uh…around, eeeight.” Gia managed to say, as she pushed Jason slightly back.
Taggert’s face grew even more vague by her tone. “What’s wrong with your voice? Are you catching a cold? Never mind, I have to go. See you later, Sis.”
“Bye.” Gia hung up the phone and turned back at Jason. “That was nice. Do you have any idea what would happen if Marcus actually found out you were with me?”
“Yeah.” Was all he said as he sat back on the edge of the bed.
Gia looked at him blankly. “Yeah?” She mimicked. “Of course. What else could you expect from the man with one-syllable conversations.”
Jason shrugged, “I can’t help it if you find me irresistible.”
Gia wanted to wipe that smirk off his face, “More like vice versa.” She sank down on the bed, pulling him along with her.
“Who were you talking to on the phone this morning?” She asked, snuggling closer to him as he put his arm around her waist.
“My sister,” he answered.
“Emily’s wedding.”
He nodded. “You going?”
“Yeah, Lucky invited me.”
“Ah.” Jason shook his head. “I’m guessing we’re not going together.”
Gia gave a mocking laugh after framing him intently with a kiss, “I don’t think your sister will be too thrilled to hear that you’re sleeping with me on her wedding day.”
PC Hotel
Zander looked at his watch impatiently. How long does it take for a person to get packed? He slouched back on the chaise and picked up the daily paper from the coffee table. Rummaging through it in a quick blur. “Crap,” he said turning the paper, “Crap,” he reiterated turning to another page. He finally paused at the enlarged photo that caught his eye along with the headline. It was in the society column, ‘Emily Quartermaine to Wed…’ After a few moments of observing the picture, Zander hastily folded the newspaper and shoved it aside on the table. The thought of her getting married gave him fast sentiments of anger, shock, and resent; it was sickening him to the very core.
“Zander,” the young lady called but realized she was getting no where. So instead, she grabbed a heavy chapter book on the self and slammed it on the coffee table, making Zander swing up.
“I knew that would get your attention. Since I obviously can’t.” She smiled but noticed Zander’s poignant face.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you. I know you must hate tagging along with me.”
“No,” Zander looked at the newspaper than up at her, “Actually Courtney, your doing me a favor.”
“I am?” Courtney asked, partly staggered.
“Yeah.” Zander looked down at the suitcases on her hand. “C’mon, I better take you to see your mom before your brother gets on my back,” he said taking her suitcases and escorting her out.
Harbor View Towers
Sonny’s Penthouse – Two Hours Later
“Take care of that for me, Johnny,” Sonny ordered entering his penthouse and shutting the door behind him. He turned around and noticed Jason inclining back on his sofa reading the newspaper.
“About time you showed up,” Sonny said heading, pouring himself a drink, “You want something to drink?” He offered.
“No thanks.” Jason put down his newspaper.
“Where were you last night?” Sonny asked. “I tried to contact you but I got no answer.”
“Oh, yeah.” Jason shifted, rubbing his neck, “Sorry. I was busy.” Sonny looked at him with curiosity. “Hope it wasn’t important.”
“No,” Sonny shook his head. “It’s okay. I got Zander to handle it. But I might need you for the rest of this week since he’s taking Courtney to see her mother.”
“Okay,” Jason nodded. “I’m going to go to the warehouse right now.” He stood up, heading for the door. “Oh and I thought you might want to know, Carly’s coming home.”
“Carly’s here?” Sonny’s face partially lit up.
“No.” Jason turned from the door to face him. “She will be though for Spencer’s wedding.”
Sonny stood silent for a minute before saying, “Thanks for the update.” And with that Jason left the penthouse, leaving Sonny to his thoughts.
Chapter 3
“Wow, this view is…Wow.” Carly commented looking down on the plain cerulean-shaded ocean. The noise and tremor of the engine had decreased, leaving an echo of a jangle on metal and the pulsation of pontoons on the water.
“What did I tell you?” Jax said from the pilot’s seat, lurching his seaplane.
“I never had a single doubt.” Carly smiled at him from the copilot’s seat, looking down at the dampened landscape.
“Right.” Jax nodded irreverently. “Is that why I had to carry you in hear like a child.”
Carly stuck her tongue out at him. But Jax’s concentration was intense. Eyes straight down the channel as they encircled over the water, until in one flat motion he pulled rear leisurely on the wheeled bondage. Jax leaned back on and slightly turned his attention to Carly who was looking at the scenery.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” He grinned.
“Yeah.” She agreed. “I didn’t know you liked to fly.” Jax nodded.
“Here,” he said taking her hand gently and grasping it to the controls.
“What are you doing?” Carly asked, frightened and thrilled in concord. “Jax. No! I never…” But it was too late, Jax’s hands were already off the wheel, and Carly had taken over. “Are you insane?”
“To let you fly my plane?” Jax thought for a moment then realized, “Yeah. I probably am. But I guess you have that affect on me.”
“Good.” Carly gave a swift grin. “But I’m serious, I don’t know a thing about-.”
“Just put your feet on the tiller controls down there,” he instructed, and keep them even. And you’ll be fine.”
For once in her life Carly was utterly speechless. She was flying. A plane. Jax watched her appearance.
“You like?”
“Yeah.” Carly divulged. “Now take it back.”
“Not yet.” He said, sorting out his suitcase, allowing Carly to roam the skies.
“How long will it be until we get to Port Charles?”
“Should be less than an hour longer.” Jax stated, groping through some files. “Why? Are you in a hurry?”
“Kinda,” Carly shrugged, “I really want to see Michael.”
“I’m sure he’s fine. Isn’t Bobbie taking care of him.”
“Yes. But my mother’s been busy with Lucky’s wedding.”
“That would be tomorrow right?”
Carly nodded, “Are you going?”
“I am.” He answered, reading a document.
“Well then I’ll just tag along with you.” Carly said.
Jax looked up at her.
“Or do you have a date? I don’t want to intrude or anything.” Carly looked at him from the corner of her eye.
“I’m sure Kristina won’t mind.”
“Kristina??” Carly asked, a bit stunned.
PC Hotel
Marcus Taggert entered the PC Hotel. He realized he had been more calm and subtle when he left Port Charles then when he came back. He had hoped that seeing his sister would cheer him up, but Gia wasn’t always reassuring. The elevator doors open, he entered happy that it was isolated. That was until a big mouthed red-head howled to leave it open. Taggert rolled his eyes, and pressed the stop button on the elevator, allowing the woman to enter.
“Thanks,” Skye Chandler-Quartermaine looked up at the man, “Oh its you.”
“You’re welcome,” Taggert stated cynically. The both jumped to press the elevator number and found their fingers colliding on number 25.
“Well looks like we’re going to the same floor.” Skye affirmed.
“Whoopee,” Taggert said in a dull tone.
Skye turned her back to him. They stood in silence waiting for the elevator to presume them to floor 25, when the entire upper base of the elevator stumped making Skye fall on Taggert.
“Oh no. We’re stuck!” She claimed.
“Really? How could you tell?” Taggert mocked.
“Well do something.” She directed. She was getting sick of getting stuck in elevators with men.
“Fine. How about I start by getting you off of me!” Taggert said, pushing Skye off his body.
“Aah.” Skye tilted to the other side of the elevator. “Hey.”
Taggert got up on his feet, wiping his hands on his jacket. He observed the monitor buttons, which were practically frozen. He grabbed the emergency phone from its slot.
“Yes, this is Lt. Taggert. Your elevator is stuck around floor 16. I need someone up here, to fix this inconvenience.”
“And make it fast!” Skye yelled towards the phone, recieveing a frown from Taggert.
“Okay. Fine.” With that he hung up and looked back at Skye.
“Well?” She asserted.
“They’ll get someone up here. As soon as they can.”
“Right? This is hell. And I have a meeting to attend in,” she looks at her watch, “five minutes.”
“A meeting? Huh?”
Skye turns to face Taggert, “Yes. Which you don’t need to know anything about. Unless you have a warrant that is.”
Taggert shrugs, “I can get one.”
“Whatever Taggert.” Skye sits down on the corner. “Bye the way, does anyone ever call you by your first name?”
Taggert sighed, sitting down on an adjacent corner. “Yes.”
“Just what is your first name?”
Taggert looked at her with oddity. “I think it’s better if you didn’t know.”
“So your not going to tell me?”
“Nope.” He replied with a small grin forming on his face.
“Fine.” Skye said, fumbling through her purse, unwrapping out a stick of gum before putting it into her mouth. “Is it Craig?”
“Huh?” Taggert looked at her.
“Your name.” She said smacking the gum.
“No.”
“You look like a Craig. How about…James?” Taggert shakes his head no. “Zack… Eddie…Larry.”
Jax’s Plane
Jax bit his lip, trying not to laugh. “Yes, Kristina.”
“Never mind,” Carly shook her head partly angry, partly upset. “Let’s talk business.” She ordered.
“Okay. Have you decided on where to relocate your club?”
“Yeah. I thought about it,” Carly said, her eyes staying focused. “I decided not to relocate it.”
“What?” Jax put down the tablet. “Carly, if this is about what happened in Manhattan-.”
“No.” She cut him off. “It’s…It’s not that. Look, what happened…happened. It was a mistake.” Carly said, trying not to look at him.
“Yeah, it was.” Jax lied. “We were both lonely and quite…a little drunk.”
“A little?” Carly raised a brow.
“We can put that behind us, can’t we?” Jax asked, searching her face for some expression.
“Yeah.” Carly answered softly. “We’re still business partners right?”
“Of course.” Jax affirmed. “So, what’s this about?”
“I simply don’t want to relocate the club. It’s too much of a hassle. Besides, Manhattan seems to be paraded with night-clubs as it is. Too much competition.”
“I can handle competition,” said the corporate-raider.
“Well I’m not ready too. Not yet, at least. And I’m not ready to move to Manhattan yet, either. I say give it a few more weeks and we’ll see.”
“If you say so.” Jax locked his valise.
“You’re finally getting it,” Carly said.
Jax moved closer to her, letting their hands adjoin as he took hold of the controls.
“I’ll take it from here.” Jax pushed the control farther forward, making the plane making the plane pick up more speed.
PC Hotel – Elevator
“Fred? No. Zackery? No. David?”
Taggert rubbed his eyes in irritation as he continued to hear Skye go through a list of names. She was like a human baby book. Maybe if I close my eyes, she’ll disappear, Taggert thought to himself. Skye stopped talking as she heard the elevator shift.
“Hey wake up,” Skye stood up.
“What?” Taggert opened his eyes.
“The elevators back on.”
“Finally.” Taggert made a motion to move, but the elevator uproared once more, making Skye fall on Taggert in reiteration. For a moment, neither of them moved, instead looked at eachother face to face, indulged with propinquity. Until the elevator rang 25 and the doors opened. The man, waiting for the elevator, looked down on the two people that lay on the elevator base and gave a contortion look, “Get a room.”
Taggert immediately pushed Skye off of him. “Hey.” She screeched with her rear end falling down on the metallic like center. Taggert exited the elevator, suited himself up, and came face to face with the man.
“Just what are you doing here Morgan?”
“You don’t ask and neither will I,” Jason said watching Skye come out of the elevator.
“Corinthos making you do his dirty work for him, again. Oh wait. I forgot that’s what he pays you to do doesn’t he? I don’t think you can even speak for yourself without his permission.”
With that Jason grasped Taggert’s collar, almost ready to choke him.
“Is this tribulation towards an officer?” Taggert said calmly.
“Maybe,” Jason started but then saw Gia come out into the hallway watching the scene. He roughly let his hand loose and pushed Taggert frontward.
“I don’t need to waste my time.” Jason stepped back.
“Bye all means, do. Give me a reason to put your ass in jail.”
Jason sneered at him before looking back at the open elevator.
“I think I’ll take the stairs.” He brushed past Skye and towards the other end of the hall.
“What was that about?” Gia asked from behind. Taggert turned around and hugged his sister. Gia looked at him waiting for an answer.
“Oh, that was just Morgan giving me a hard time as usual.”
“Oh really, uh,” she staggered, “I’m hungry. Let’s go, Marcus.”
“Marcus, so it’s Marcus.” Skye leered before walking away.
“Goodbye Ms. Quartermaine!” Taggert shook his head.
