Welcome to my world of make believe. This is where Port Charles is run the
way I want it to be. A little background on this story. This is a sequel
to the story Bright Eyes, which has yet to be finished. This story takes
place about 8 months after V "left". A few things you should know,
although I suggest you go back and read Bright Eyes if you haven't yet. V
didn't leave with Simon, she got off the plane and rushed back to Luke's
where she and Luke decide to test the waters and dive head first into love.
Jaxis is still together and Bobbie and Jerry (who would never launder
money again!) got married and are in the final stages of adopting a baby
boy. The rest will be explained as we go.
Hypnotize the Moon
May 1, 2000
"Claude, bring out more tequila, I'm running low," V stood behind the bar and assess the damage that she and her best friend Jasper "Jax" Jacks had done on the usually well stocked bar at Luke's. "And don't forget the champagne. The good stuff in Luke's private stash, not the crap he brings out when one of the Quartermaines lower themselves to come in here.."
Claude nodded silently and tried to hide his smile. He had always enjoyed V, even before she hooked up with the boss, but now that he had gotten to know her better, he also respected her. She always spoke her mind, like it or not. And right now was a good example of one of those times. He couldn't tell if she was tipsy or just in a good mood today, but she was certainly in her prime.
"Venus, the last time we did this, Alexis was less then thrilled." Jax slurred. His accent was always thicker when he was drinking, and add the slur and an average person wouldn't be able to understand him. "I doubt she'll appreciate this at all."
"How often do you find out that your wife is providing your best friend with a niece?" She asked, pouring the end of their second bottle of tequila into glasses. "This is an occasion above and beyond all other occasions Jax. At least in my opinion it is. If I have to, I'll explain it to Alexis."
"Every couple of years if I have anything to say about it," Jax commented with a killer grin. "Hopefully boys the next few times though. I'm sure I'll need an army of big burly brothers to protect little Jasmine from the rest of the world."
V lifted her shot glass up, "To Jasmine Jacks, who we will be toasting for a long time to come. Much to her father's pleasure and her mom's chagrin I'm sure."
"Jasmine Kristiana Davis-Jacks to be specific," Jax toasted before tossing back his drink. "Who will hopefully look like her mum but have my temperament."
V threw her head back and laughed. "Good luck there Jasper. You'll be lucky if my little niece isn't exactly like her aunt V and her mommy. Even if she isn't that lucky, I'm sure she'll have you wrapped around her little baby pinky," She said wagging her own pinky at him.
You have beautiful hands Venus," He said leaning over the bar and taking her hand in his, getting serious for the first time of the afternoon. "They're so petite, but the strength in them is incredible. They deserve to be adorned with a wedding band, or at least an engagement ring."
"Jax," V snapped in a warning tone. "Between you and Jerry, you're driving me crazy. All this talk about weddings and everything that goes with them. You two go and get hitched and now it's Little V's turn. But someone forgot to ask me if it was something I wanted to do. Let me clear it up for you in case you aren't sure. I absolutely one hundred percent don't want to get married anytime soon. I'm quite content the way my life is right now," She pulled her hand back away from him, the force of the movement throwing her off balance. She stumbled backwards into a set of highball glasses. "Damn it," She muttered as she fell and heard the breaking glass tinkle around her.
"Bloody hell," Jax slurred, standing up to look at her over the bar. "I'm going to have to write Luke another check again aren't I?" He thought back to the celebration the day he learned of his impending fatherhood. They had together destroyed about a thousand dollars in glassware, tossing glasses into the fireplace, and around the bar.
"I'm sitting here in a pile of glass and you're worried about writing Luke a check? That's great, you're a real friend. You're bloody rich, and yet that's the first thing you think of." She looked down at her self with a lopsided smile. "You deserve to have to pay for this, it's your fault anyway. For starting in on me for no reason."
"You weren't the one who had to pay up last time. Luke let you off scot free." He started to look for Claude, hoping to find him and get the mess cleaned up quickly, before the owner of this establishment got back.
"Actually she didn't get off as easy as all that Lurch," Luke said, coming up beside him and peering over the bar at the sight that V was. "She has been the butt of many jokes around here. I also think both of her performances will make the security camera highlight reel that we show of all the stupid things that drunk idiots do through out the year." He was having a hard time not laughing. He yelled out for Claude, and turned back to watch his lady. "Looks like you've gotten yourself into quite a mess Smokey."
"It isn't as bad as all that Luke," V said trying to gingerly push herself up without slicing her palms. "We were celebrating the newest Jacks to make her appearance, and things got a little out of control."
"Isn't that what you two were celebrating the last time you trashed my club? Just how many children are you and Natasha having?" His voice softened when he said Alexis' name. She was most certainly his favorite Cassadine, even if she was now married to Lurch.
"Just one, but we found out at the ultrasound today that she is a she. The doctor told us that we might not be able to find out, that babies normally turn shy during such procedures. But she takes after me and is a bit of a ham. She flashed us."
"Well, since you have a legit reason to be tearing up my place, I'll only charge you half price for the ruined crystal. I'll get the rest out of Smokey, so she won't get off free this time. And to show you how very charitable I can be, I won't even call your wife and tell her about the mess you made this time."
"You're a real mate Spencer. She'll probably guess where I was. But that you aren't going to rat me out this time warms my heart. Of course, I'll owe you, but I will survive."
"He doesn't have to rat you out Jax," Alexis' voice came from the foyer area. "I got an anonymous call from someone saying that I might want to come pick up my errant husband who was making a drunk spectacle of himself."
Jax cringed even though he could hear the amusement in her voice. "It's not my fault this time beautiful. V was the one who did the damage this time."
"Only because you said," V stopped not wanting to say that he implied she should be married, and having Luke think she wanted that. "Well, he thought I needed." No, that wouldn't work either.
"What was it Smokey, must be bad if you're speechless." He looked at the smirk on Jax's face, and decided it would be better to push the issue, and clear the air. "You might as well tell me what you said Lurch, so I know exactly what to charge you, since you appear to be fully at fault."
"Jasper, don't. Let it go." V was desperate not to discuss this right now, or at least not in front of her friends.
"Sorry Venus, it's been on my mind lately," He hoped she'd forgive him someday for what he was about to say. "All I told her was that she had very beautiful hands. Hands that it was a shame that she didn't have a wedding band or even an engagement ring on."
V, who had just managed to get up and dust off her sweater and jeans almost, wanted to slink back down to the floor behind the bar. She couldn't believe he'd just said it. Alexis on the other hand, smacked her husband on the back of the head, wondering what had gotten into him. Even Claude, who was back and cleaning up the broken glass, snickered, which made it even more humiliating.
"Claude, you've got nothing to laugh about buddy. You broke the golden rule of the club. That rule being No Smokey behind the bar without adult supervision. I hope you don't have plans for the next few mornings." He smiled, seeing the barkeeps face fall. "You know where I'm going with this don't' you? See you for inventory, restocking and clean up in the morning."
"Come on boss, I wasn't gone more then five minutes, tops. Who would have thought she could do so much damage in that short of time period?"
"Tomorrow or you owe me the same as Lurch, since you're as much to blame as he is." Luke turned to Jax next, drawing a long breath, which gave him just enough time to collect his thoughts on the whole can of worms Jax had opened.
"If V wants to get married its news to me Lurch. We've never talked about it, and she's never said word one about it. Now I'm thrilled for you and Natasha, even for my sister and Gomez if it's what Barbara Jean wants, and it works out for them. But I've had one ball and chain, and would hate to turn my beautiful lady into one of those. And I don't need to give either of you two another reason to destroy my bar. Since it's apparently your favorite thing to do in celebration."
"Then maybe you should step out of the picture Spencer. V is a young and very beautiful woman, who deserves more then you're giving her. Is she going to have to settle for being an honorary aunt, or is she going to have a chance to have a child of her own?"
"Jax that is enough damn it," V interrupted, livid. "You're making a fool of yourself on my behalf and I don't appreciate it." Luke smiled smugly, sure he was safe, but V also turned on him. "Don't think that I'm letting you off either Spencer," She started, but was interrupted by a ringing phone, which she grabbed. "Luke's, Ardanowski speaking." She answered.
She could hear traffic in the background, and breathing but no one answered her. She repeated herself, and when she still had no answer she slammed the phone down. Just something to add to her night, an obscene phone caller who wimped out. She took a deep breath and tried to organize her thoughts, which were a bit fuzzy from the alcohol. "Now lets see, where was I?" Luke was about to speak up, hoping he could switch to a lighter topic, but he wasn't quick enough, "Oh, now I remember."
V smiled at her reluctant significant other, and leaned over the counter, to be closer to him, even though the bar counter still separated them. "You know how I feel about you Luke, and you have no reason to doubt that. You won my heart well before I ever got on or off that plane last year. But in one respect, Jax is right. I do want kids someday."
Jax jumped up and yelled, "I knew it, I knew you wanted kids of your own! You've been to excited about Jasmine and Bobbie and Jerry's little boy not to want them," Alexis slapped the back of his head again, and hissed, "Shut up Jasper, or else V won't be the only woman in your life who is furious with you." Jax did as she asked, but a small pout crossed his normally happy features.
"I love Lulu, and being an honorary aunt to Lucas and Jeremy is fine. But ever since I was a little girl, I played with my dolls and wanted to be a mommy."
"While you were playing with your dolls darlin' I was having kids of my own. I never thought we'd ever have a Lulu and I certainly never thought of having another one. I'll be ninety by time a little Smokey is an adult. And that isn't something I want to do, I won't leave you saddled with a kid without me here to help raise him or her."
"I said I wanted kids, but I never said you were going to be the proud papa Spencer," she countered. "Just that some day down the road, I'd like one of my own." V pushed off the back of the bar, throwing her arms out to balance herself. "That gives you something to think about while I'm gone tonight."
"Gone? Where are you going?" Luke worried aloud. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. "You're coming back right?"
"I'll be back sometime, don't worry." She said kissing him quickly on the lips. "I've got a party to continue and I wouldn't want to trash your place any more then I already have Luke. Plus since I'm rather upset with my drinking buddy, and I'm going to be drinking alone, I'd rather do it by myself. But if you need me, you know where to find me baby," She walked around the bar and out of the club, stumbling down the street to her old apartment that she still kept as her studio.
Luke slapped the back of Jax's head; "Thanks a lot Lurch. That's something I didn't want to happen just yet. Forget about only owing me half. I'll send you the bill for the whole mess." He said before storming off to his office slamming the door.
Looks like you're batting a thousand Jasper," Alexis said finally sitting down and ordering a juice.
~*~*~
A man set the pay phone received down and walked away from the booth he was at with a distinguished limp. He didn't know what Venus was doing behind the bar at Luke's. But it was going to certainly complicate matters. And he wasn't sure what to do about that just yet. He'd have to think about it. And to try and track down Luke, without the girl knowing. Only Luke could help him at this point, and V's presence would only complicate maters further.
Hypnotize the Moon
May 1, 2000
"Claude, bring out more tequila, I'm running low," V stood behind the bar and assess the damage that she and her best friend Jasper "Jax" Jacks had done on the usually well stocked bar at Luke's. "And don't forget the champagne. The good stuff in Luke's private stash, not the crap he brings out when one of the Quartermaines lower themselves to come in here.."
Claude nodded silently and tried to hide his smile. He had always enjoyed V, even before she hooked up with the boss, but now that he had gotten to know her better, he also respected her. She always spoke her mind, like it or not. And right now was a good example of one of those times. He couldn't tell if she was tipsy or just in a good mood today, but she was certainly in her prime.
"Venus, the last time we did this, Alexis was less then thrilled." Jax slurred. His accent was always thicker when he was drinking, and add the slur and an average person wouldn't be able to understand him. "I doubt she'll appreciate this at all."
"How often do you find out that your wife is providing your best friend with a niece?" She asked, pouring the end of their second bottle of tequila into glasses. "This is an occasion above and beyond all other occasions Jax. At least in my opinion it is. If I have to, I'll explain it to Alexis."
"Every couple of years if I have anything to say about it," Jax commented with a killer grin. "Hopefully boys the next few times though. I'm sure I'll need an army of big burly brothers to protect little Jasmine from the rest of the world."
V lifted her shot glass up, "To Jasmine Jacks, who we will be toasting for a long time to come. Much to her father's pleasure and her mom's chagrin I'm sure."
"Jasmine Kristiana Davis-Jacks to be specific," Jax toasted before tossing back his drink. "Who will hopefully look like her mum but have my temperament."
V threw her head back and laughed. "Good luck there Jasper. You'll be lucky if my little niece isn't exactly like her aunt V and her mommy. Even if she isn't that lucky, I'm sure she'll have you wrapped around her little baby pinky," She said wagging her own pinky at him.
You have beautiful hands Venus," He said leaning over the bar and taking her hand in his, getting serious for the first time of the afternoon. "They're so petite, but the strength in them is incredible. They deserve to be adorned with a wedding band, or at least an engagement ring."
"Jax," V snapped in a warning tone. "Between you and Jerry, you're driving me crazy. All this talk about weddings and everything that goes with them. You two go and get hitched and now it's Little V's turn. But someone forgot to ask me if it was something I wanted to do. Let me clear it up for you in case you aren't sure. I absolutely one hundred percent don't want to get married anytime soon. I'm quite content the way my life is right now," She pulled her hand back away from him, the force of the movement throwing her off balance. She stumbled backwards into a set of highball glasses. "Damn it," She muttered as she fell and heard the breaking glass tinkle around her.
"Bloody hell," Jax slurred, standing up to look at her over the bar. "I'm going to have to write Luke another check again aren't I?" He thought back to the celebration the day he learned of his impending fatherhood. They had together destroyed about a thousand dollars in glassware, tossing glasses into the fireplace, and around the bar.
"I'm sitting here in a pile of glass and you're worried about writing Luke a check? That's great, you're a real friend. You're bloody rich, and yet that's the first thing you think of." She looked down at her self with a lopsided smile. "You deserve to have to pay for this, it's your fault anyway. For starting in on me for no reason."
"You weren't the one who had to pay up last time. Luke let you off scot free." He started to look for Claude, hoping to find him and get the mess cleaned up quickly, before the owner of this establishment got back.
"Actually she didn't get off as easy as all that Lurch," Luke said, coming up beside him and peering over the bar at the sight that V was. "She has been the butt of many jokes around here. I also think both of her performances will make the security camera highlight reel that we show of all the stupid things that drunk idiots do through out the year." He was having a hard time not laughing. He yelled out for Claude, and turned back to watch his lady. "Looks like you've gotten yourself into quite a mess Smokey."
"It isn't as bad as all that Luke," V said trying to gingerly push herself up without slicing her palms. "We were celebrating the newest Jacks to make her appearance, and things got a little out of control."
"Isn't that what you two were celebrating the last time you trashed my club? Just how many children are you and Natasha having?" His voice softened when he said Alexis' name. She was most certainly his favorite Cassadine, even if she was now married to Lurch.
"Just one, but we found out at the ultrasound today that she is a she. The doctor told us that we might not be able to find out, that babies normally turn shy during such procedures. But she takes after me and is a bit of a ham. She flashed us."
"Well, since you have a legit reason to be tearing up my place, I'll only charge you half price for the ruined crystal. I'll get the rest out of Smokey, so she won't get off free this time. And to show you how very charitable I can be, I won't even call your wife and tell her about the mess you made this time."
"You're a real mate Spencer. She'll probably guess where I was. But that you aren't going to rat me out this time warms my heart. Of course, I'll owe you, but I will survive."
"He doesn't have to rat you out Jax," Alexis' voice came from the foyer area. "I got an anonymous call from someone saying that I might want to come pick up my errant husband who was making a drunk spectacle of himself."
Jax cringed even though he could hear the amusement in her voice. "It's not my fault this time beautiful. V was the one who did the damage this time."
"Only because you said," V stopped not wanting to say that he implied she should be married, and having Luke think she wanted that. "Well, he thought I needed." No, that wouldn't work either.
"What was it Smokey, must be bad if you're speechless." He looked at the smirk on Jax's face, and decided it would be better to push the issue, and clear the air. "You might as well tell me what you said Lurch, so I know exactly what to charge you, since you appear to be fully at fault."
"Jasper, don't. Let it go." V was desperate not to discuss this right now, or at least not in front of her friends.
"Sorry Venus, it's been on my mind lately," He hoped she'd forgive him someday for what he was about to say. "All I told her was that she had very beautiful hands. Hands that it was a shame that she didn't have a wedding band or even an engagement ring on."
V, who had just managed to get up and dust off her sweater and jeans almost, wanted to slink back down to the floor behind the bar. She couldn't believe he'd just said it. Alexis on the other hand, smacked her husband on the back of the head, wondering what had gotten into him. Even Claude, who was back and cleaning up the broken glass, snickered, which made it even more humiliating.
"Claude, you've got nothing to laugh about buddy. You broke the golden rule of the club. That rule being No Smokey behind the bar without adult supervision. I hope you don't have plans for the next few mornings." He smiled, seeing the barkeeps face fall. "You know where I'm going with this don't' you? See you for inventory, restocking and clean up in the morning."
"Come on boss, I wasn't gone more then five minutes, tops. Who would have thought she could do so much damage in that short of time period?"
"Tomorrow or you owe me the same as Lurch, since you're as much to blame as he is." Luke turned to Jax next, drawing a long breath, which gave him just enough time to collect his thoughts on the whole can of worms Jax had opened.
"If V wants to get married its news to me Lurch. We've never talked about it, and she's never said word one about it. Now I'm thrilled for you and Natasha, even for my sister and Gomez if it's what Barbara Jean wants, and it works out for them. But I've had one ball and chain, and would hate to turn my beautiful lady into one of those. And I don't need to give either of you two another reason to destroy my bar. Since it's apparently your favorite thing to do in celebration."
"Then maybe you should step out of the picture Spencer. V is a young and very beautiful woman, who deserves more then you're giving her. Is she going to have to settle for being an honorary aunt, or is she going to have a chance to have a child of her own?"
"Jax that is enough damn it," V interrupted, livid. "You're making a fool of yourself on my behalf and I don't appreciate it." Luke smiled smugly, sure he was safe, but V also turned on him. "Don't think that I'm letting you off either Spencer," She started, but was interrupted by a ringing phone, which she grabbed. "Luke's, Ardanowski speaking." She answered.
She could hear traffic in the background, and breathing but no one answered her. She repeated herself, and when she still had no answer she slammed the phone down. Just something to add to her night, an obscene phone caller who wimped out. She took a deep breath and tried to organize her thoughts, which were a bit fuzzy from the alcohol. "Now lets see, where was I?" Luke was about to speak up, hoping he could switch to a lighter topic, but he wasn't quick enough, "Oh, now I remember."
V smiled at her reluctant significant other, and leaned over the counter, to be closer to him, even though the bar counter still separated them. "You know how I feel about you Luke, and you have no reason to doubt that. You won my heart well before I ever got on or off that plane last year. But in one respect, Jax is right. I do want kids someday."
Jax jumped up and yelled, "I knew it, I knew you wanted kids of your own! You've been to excited about Jasmine and Bobbie and Jerry's little boy not to want them," Alexis slapped the back of his head again, and hissed, "Shut up Jasper, or else V won't be the only woman in your life who is furious with you." Jax did as she asked, but a small pout crossed his normally happy features.
"I love Lulu, and being an honorary aunt to Lucas and Jeremy is fine. But ever since I was a little girl, I played with my dolls and wanted to be a mommy."
"While you were playing with your dolls darlin' I was having kids of my own. I never thought we'd ever have a Lulu and I certainly never thought of having another one. I'll be ninety by time a little Smokey is an adult. And that isn't something I want to do, I won't leave you saddled with a kid without me here to help raise him or her."
"I said I wanted kids, but I never said you were going to be the proud papa Spencer," she countered. "Just that some day down the road, I'd like one of my own." V pushed off the back of the bar, throwing her arms out to balance herself. "That gives you something to think about while I'm gone tonight."
"Gone? Where are you going?" Luke worried aloud. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. "You're coming back right?"
"I'll be back sometime, don't worry." She said kissing him quickly on the lips. "I've got a party to continue and I wouldn't want to trash your place any more then I already have Luke. Plus since I'm rather upset with my drinking buddy, and I'm going to be drinking alone, I'd rather do it by myself. But if you need me, you know where to find me baby," She walked around the bar and out of the club, stumbling down the street to her old apartment that she still kept as her studio.
Luke slapped the back of Jax's head; "Thanks a lot Lurch. That's something I didn't want to happen just yet. Forget about only owing me half. I'll send you the bill for the whole mess." He said before storming off to his office slamming the door.
Looks like you're batting a thousand Jasper," Alexis said finally sitting down and ordering a juice.
~*~*~
A man set the pay phone received down and walked away from the booth he was at with a distinguished limp. He didn't know what Venus was doing behind the bar at Luke's. But it was going to certainly complicate matters. And he wasn't sure what to do about that just yet. He'd have to think about it. And to try and track down Luke, without the girl knowing. Only Luke could help him at this point, and V's presence would only complicate maters further.