Courtney walked into the small town diner, she immediately felt out of place with her camouflage army pants, black halter top, red leather jacket, studded leather choker, and her long blonde hair twisted up into a newsboys cap. Looking around she lowered her sunglasses thinking 'what have I gotten myself into'.

"Hi! Welcome to Kelly's how can I." the girl trailed off.

Courtney turned and looked at her, "I'm looking for the owner," she says sharply, "Think you can help me with that." She finishes as she drops her bag next to the counter and sits down.

"Of course," the girl smiles. "I'm Jessica, people call me Jesi though," she says with a smile.

"Courtney Matthews," Courtney says with a pointed look, "And I'm still looking for the owner," she says.

Jesi's smile becomes a little more fixed. "Of course, I'll be right back with her."

Courtney shakes her head as she glances around again. Quickly taking in the people she realizes that everyone is staring at her. Smirking she thinks, 'I'll give them something to stare at' as she reaches into her bag. Before she can grab anything though, a woman with red hair walks up to her.

"Hello, I'm Bobbie the owner of Kelly's, you must be Courtney Matthews, Jesi said you wanted to speak with me?" she asks.

"Yes I do, I was wondering if you have any positions open for an experienced waitress?" Courtney said, flashing a genuine smile.

"Why don't we go back into my office and we can discuss that," Bobbie offers as she stands.

Courtney stands and follows her into the office.

"So why don't you tell me a bit about yourself?" Bobbie invites as she sits with Courtney in the chairs in front of the desk.

"Well, I'm 19, from Atlantic City. Not sure if I'm just passing through town or staying here permanently. I'm actually here to try and get into the scholarship program at PCU," Courtney looks down into her lap, noticing that the black polish on her right hand was chipped, "I'm hoping to be a doctor someday," she says softly. "But while I'm here I need a place to stay, and to get that I need money," Courtney says as she looks Bobbie in the eye.

"Have you waitressed before?" Bobbie asks.

"All the time," Courtney answers, waving her hand dismissively. "I've been waitresing since I was about 13." Courtney answers quickly.

"Do you have any family in town?" Bobbie asks.

"Not that I know of," Courtney laughs softly, "My father died when I was a little girl, and if my mom is in town I certainly don't want to see her." Courtney can see that Bobbie is confused so she explains, "My mom and I have had a very strained relationship after I got pregnant when I was 17."

"So you have a child to take care of," Bobbie says.

"No, actually I don't. I knew I couldn't take care of her, so I gave her up for adoption," she says. "I'm sorry, I don't see what this has to do with me waitressing here,"

Bobbie smiles a matronly smile, "It doesn't, I've already decided to hire you, I just wanted to get to know you a little." Courtney smiles, "Come on," Bobbie says as she stands, "I'll introduce you to the girls and get you put onto the schedule." She says with a smile. "Do you have some place to stay?" she asks cautiously.

"No I don't, I was hoping someone could recommend a cheap apartment building maybe?" she asked hopefully.

Bobbie smiled again; Courtney was amazed anyone could be that happy. "I can rent you a room here," she offered.

Courtney considered it, "How much?" She asked.

"Normally I charge $100.00 a week, but since you're working here I think we can negotiate a little," Bobbie thought a moment, she wanted to give the girl a break, but she wasn't sure how she could do it without making it seem like she were handing out charity. "How does this sound," she began, "Once a week, you will work one shift that you do not get paid for, that will pay for your room." She proposed.

Courtney did the math quickly in her head, '4.50 an hour times 8 hours'. "But that's less than $40.00 dollars!" she exclaimed.

"It's the deal I offer all my girls if they live in a bad neighborhood, or if they've just moved into town," Bobbie lies skillfully.

Courtney looks suspicious, "Fine," she agrees. "When can I move in?" she asks.

"Anytime you want," Bobbie answers pulling some papers out of her desk. "Can you fill these out for me?" she asked as she handed them to her. "After you're done, Jesi will show you the ropes," she said with a smile.
After Courtney set the paperwork on Bobbie's desk she went back out to the counter. "Jesi?" she asked.

"Hey Courtney, Bobbie asked me to show you the ropes and get you started," she said, far to perky to be allowed.

Courtney grabs an apron as she is shown where everything is. Courtney looks up at the door as a man walks in. She checks him out for a moment before Jesi says, "Why don't you go take care of him as your first customer, he's easy. All he does is order a cup of coffee and leave a twenty dollar tip."

Courtney looks up at her in disbelief, "For a cup of coffee?" she asks.

"Yeah, he has to much money and he likes everyone here," Jesi smiles.

"Do you know him or something?" Courtney asks as she finishes tying on her apron.

Jesi laughs. "He's my husband," she says with a smile.

Courtney looks him over, "Oh so he's taken," she says with mock bitterness in her voice. "Darn," she says as she walks around the counter, "He looks like he's be good in bed," Courtney smiles as she hears Jesi laugh. Walking over to him she says, "Hi, Welcome to Kelly's, can I get you something to drink?"

The man looks up, "I'll have a cup of coffee," he says flashing her a smile, "You must be new here," he says as she returns with the coffeepot.

"Yes I am," Courtney says as she pours him a cup, "My name is Courtney," she says offering her hand.

"Jason," the man says shaking her hand, "Jason Morgan."

"Nice to meet you Jason," Courtney says, "Can I get you anything else?" she asks.

"Just another one of your smiles," Jason says as he grabs the paper of the table.

Courtney obliges before returning to the counter saying, "He is such a sweetheart,"
Weeks go by and Courtney settles in to her new life in Port Charles. She becomes good friends with Jesi and her husband, going out to dinner with them several times a month. In Jesi, Courtney finds a friend, and somewhat a sister. Jason has become her confidant, the man she trusts like she vowed never to trust again. Bobbie has become somewhat of a mentor to her, knowing the life Courtney led on the streets of Atlantic City.
Courtney runs into Kelly's, hoping against hope that Jason is there. "Jason," she exclaims as she grabs the chair across from him, flips it around, and straddles it. "I have been looking for you everywhere," she says, her face flushed from the cold.

"I've been right here for the past hour," Jason says, signaling the waitress on duty for a glass of water.

"Guess what!" Courtney says after she drains the glass.

"What?" Jason asks, looking her over. She was wearing one of her usual outfits, black jeans, a low-cut halter-top, her standard studded leather choker, and her leather jacket. Her light blonde hair was, again, twisted up into a newsboy's cap. He reaches across the table and pulls it off her head, messing up her hair.

"Jason!" she exclaims as he pulls the cap on. She laughs as his hair stays exactly how it always does, even after he crushes it with the cap. "Got enough gel in that hair Jase" she asks as she takes her cap back. His face lights up as he watches her fix her hair, her mouth going at a mile a minute. "So you know that I only came here to do that testing stuff right?" she asked not waiting for a response, "So I got it all done and then I didn't hear back from them for, like, ever Okay?" she took a breath. "So out of the blue this morning I got this letter from PCU," she pauses as she tucks the last few strands of hair back into her cap. "Here," she says pulling it out of her pocket and handing it to him.

He looks at the unopened envelope. "You haven't opened it," he says.

"I was waiting to find you because I can't open it by myself I'll go crazy, please open it for me?" Courtney asks quickly.

Jason looks her over again, "Are you sure?" he asks.

"Positive," she says, her face lighting up as he slits open the envelope and scans the letter. "Well?" she asks biting her nails, "What does it say?"

Jason stands up, shakes the letter, and begins to read. "Dear Miss Matthews," he pauses and looks at her, "You're sure you want to hear it from me, you don't want to read it yourself?" he asks, teasing her.

"Just read it!" she yells as she stands with him. By now they entire diner is watching and Bobbie has come out of her office to see what the commotion was all about.

"Dear Miss Matthews, We are delighted to welcome you into this year's class at Port Charles University!!!!!" Jason yells as he picks her up and spins her around.

"Oh my god!!!' Courtney screams as she hugs him.

Jason continues to read, "Unfortunately due to the amount of qualified applicants we are unable to offer you a scholarship this year, Oh Courtney," he says as he sets the letter on the table and wraps his arms around her waist. He held her as she began to sob. "It'll be okay," he whispers as he strokes her arms.

She pulls away from him and smiles sadly. "Oh well," she says softly as her eyes fill again with tears. "Excuse me," she says as she pulls away and runs up the steps to her room.

"Courtney!" Bobbie calls after her, "Jason what's wrong?"

Jason looks up from gathering her bag and letter and says, "She really needed that scholarship Bobbie, can I get a few cans of pop? I'm going to go calm her down,"

Bobbie nods and grabs two cans of Coke. She hands them to Jason who throws a twenty onto the table before he walks up the stairs. Knocking quietly, Jason opens the door to her room. He sees her sitting by the window looking out into the harbor. Quietly he sets her bag down by her bed and sits next to her. "I needed that scholarship," she whispers as she turns and looks at him, her face streaked with the heavy mascara she wears.

Jason reaches into his back pocket for his handkerchief and gently wipes her make up away. "I know you did baby, I know you did," was all he said. Courtney looked into his eyes, so full of compassion and sympathy, and buried her face into his chest, still sobbing. Jason looked down at the sobbing figure in his arms and his heart went out to her. "Courtney," he whispered. She looked up at him, wiping her eyes. "I want to put you through school," he whispers pulling off her hat for the second time. She smiles as she shakes her hair out as he continues. "I want you to go to school and become a doctor like you've always wanted, and I want to do this for you." He places a finger over her lips as she tries to say something. 'I'm not going to take no for an answer," he whispers. She opens her mouth and bites his finger. "Hey!" he exclaims, pulling his hand away. "Did you just bite me?" he asks, his eyes alight with mischief.

"Did you want me to?" she asks suggestively as she wipes her eyes again. Her mood again serious, she says, "Jason I can't let you put me through school."

"Why not?" he asked. "I want to do this for you Courtney," he begins but she cuts him off.

"Why?" she asks, "Why do you want to do this for me? I've only known you for a few weeks."

"I don't know how I can explain it Courtney," Jason says softly as they shift to face each other on the window seat. Jason pauses for a moment to collect his thoughts, "You know I'm horrible with words, so I'll just tell you how I feel. In these past few weeks since I met you, I feel, almost protective of you," he says. "Like I want to help you and keep you safe and make sure you're happy. I know that going to school will make you happy and I want to do anything in my power to get you there." He pauses as he gently wipes away a tear with the pad of his thumb. She unconsciously leans into his touch and smiles. "I just want you to be happy," he says as he kisses her forehead.

Courtney pulls away from him, "Jason I love that you want to do this for me, I really do. But I can't accept this from you," she whispers, her eyes tearing up again. "Yes, I really want to go to school and be a doctor, but I can't," she pauses as she steadies her voice. "I don't want to be indebted to you Jason," he tries to protest, but she cuts him off with, "And I know that you wouldn't think of it that way, but I would, and I can't do that."

Jason knows this is not a battle he will win today, so he says, "Fine," he brushes a strand of her hair behind her ear, "Fine," he whispers as he again takes her into his arms as she cries.

Slowly he strokes her hair as she settles further into his embrace. Courtney glances up into his warm, kind, eyes. "Thank you," she whispers.

"For what?" Jason asks, still stroking her hair.

"For just being here," Courtney whispers.

"You're welcome," Jason whispers kissing the top of her head.

Another week went by, and Jason still tried to convince her to accept his offer. Courtney steadfastly refused, stating again and again that she wouldn't be indebted to him. One day however...

"Courtney!" Bobbie yelled from her office, "Phone call!"

Courtney smiled at the customer for whom she was pouring coffee. "I'll be right back," she said as she set the pot back on the warmer. She waved to Jason who was walking in as she walked back. "Hello?" she said as she accepted the phone from Bobbie with a smile. "Yes this is Courtney Mathews,"

"Hello Miss Matthews, This is Leonard Parsley from the Admissions office at PCU, we were worried that you didn't receive your letter of acceptance since we didn't hear a response from you."

"I got it Mr. Parsley, but I'm afraid I will be unable to attend this year." She said, the sadness evident in her voice.

"I'm so sorry, I was under the impression that you were very excited about this. May I ask what changed?" he asked.

"When I applied I also applied for a scholarship. Unfortunately I didn't receive the scholarship and I'm unable to afford it by my self." Courtney pauses as she feels a soft tap on her shoulder. She turns around and sees Jason holding a slip of paper for her. Accepting it she sees it's a check for $60,000.00 Glaring at him she tries to hand it back, but he won't accept it. Finally her shoulder slump in defeat. "Mr. Parsley?" she asks. "I'm sorry to do this to you, but I think I've come up with a solution."

"Well I would love to hear it, we were very excited about you attending," he answers.

Courtney began to cry as she explained, "A friend of mine is standing here with a check to cover my college expenses. Mr. Parsley, I will be able to attend," she says as tears roll down her cheeks.

"I am so happy to hear that," he says. "I will send the orientation packet this afternoon," he says as he hears her cry. "Congratulations Miss Matthews, that's quite a friend you have there,"

"It most certainly is,": she says smiling up at Jason. "I look forward to receiving the packet, thank you."

"You're welcome, Good bye,"

"Good bye," Courtney says as she hangs up. Turning she runs into his arms. "Thank you so much," she says as she buries her face into his neck. Pulling back she hits right bicep. "I can't believe you did that," she says as she hugs him again.

As the year progresses Courtney becomes less and less the defensive young lady everyone knew her as, and more and more a sweet young student with the brightest future. A full year has passed since she finally accepted the money from Jason, but she refuses to let him pay for everything she needs so she can concentrate on her studies. Courtney insists on keeping her job at Kelly's and paying for everything besides her college herself.

Courtney looks up from the counter as a man walks through the door. He's an older man with bright blue eyes, hair that is grayer than blonde, and a small hoop earring in one ear. "Hey there beautiful," he says as he walks up to the counter. "Have we met before?" he asks.

"We haven't met, but I know who you are," Courtney says with a smile.

"Well who am I then?" the man asked with a flirtatious smile.

"You are Luke Spencer, Bobbies brother, and you come in, flirt with the all the waitresses, go back and talk to your sister, and come out and order something to eat." Courtney says with a bright smile.

"Well young lady, you're almost right," he says flirtatiously, "But you got one thing wrong, would you like to know what it is?"

"Oh I always want to know what I got wrong so I can get it right the next time," Courtney says turning over his coffee cup and lifting the pot with a questioning glance.

"Yes please," he says scooting his cup forward, "I don't flirt with all the waitresses," he winks at her, "Just the real pretty ones,"

Courtney blushes slightly, "You flatter me Luke," she says with a smile as someone calls for more coffee, "Excuse me," she says as she grabs the pot and walks around the counter.

"You know," Luke says when she returns, "You know my name and my routine and yet I don't know either about you," he says as he sips his coffee.

"Well I'll tell you my name, but you'll have to figure my routine out by yourself," Courtney says. "It's Courtney Matthews," she says.

"Well Courtney Matthews, it was a pleasure meeting you," he says as he takes her hand and kisses it.

"Ooh, a real live gentleman, you don't see those much anymore," She says, flashing him another smile. "Pleasure meeting you too Luke." She calls as he walks to Bobbie's office.

Jason walks in with the brightest smile on his face. "How's my second favorite girl today?" he asks.

"I'm not sure, I'd be happy to call Jesi and ask if you like," she offers with a smile as he sits at the counter. Quickly Courtney grabs him a cup of coffee, "So what's the big news, you look like you're about to burst," she asks.

"Jesi's pregnant," he says.

Courtney drops the cup of coffee she was holding, "Oh my god!" she says, "Congratulations," she says as she grabs the broom.

"Thanks," Jason says, "I really don't have time for the cup of coffee, I just wanted to stop in and tell you the good news,"

Again the weeks go by, Jesi progresses into her pregnancy with grace and Jason is excited to be a father. Courtney and Jesi go shopping for baby clothes and since she doesn't want to know the sex of the baby yet they buy outfits for both sexes.

Courtney checks her top once again in the mirrored walls of the elevator before stepping out. Walking over to Jason's penthouse she knocks on the door. "It's open," she hears him call so she walks in.

"Hey," she says looking around, "Where's Jesi?" she asks.

"Jesi won't be joining us tonight," Jason said stiffly, "She's mad at me right now."

"I see," Courtney says as she spins slowly, "Well? What do you think?" she asks.

Jason looks her over. Her long blonde hair is twisted up into a french twist with small white flowers dotting the seam, she is wearing a low cut red halter-top and an asymmetrical black leather skirt, and her shoes are knee high, black leather, lace up boots. He walks over and moves her hair away from her neck and laughs, "Do you wear that choker everywhere?" he asks.

"Yes, and for a good reason," she says, her eyes saddening slightly.

"Why?" Jason asks, noticing her change in demeanor.

"Let's not talk about that right now, come on, we're going to be late," Courtney says, pulling him out the door.

Before she can get to the door however, the phone rings. "Hang on, I have to get this, it might be Jesi," he says as he rushes to the phone. "Hello?" he says as he picks it up. "Bobbie, what's going-" he stops. "Oh my god," he says softly. "Well is she all right?" he asks. "Oh my god," he says again, tears springing to his eyes. "Yes, we'll be right there," he pauses as he listens. "Thank you for calling." Jason sets the phone down gently and turns to look at Courtney.

"What's wrong?" Courtney asks.

"Jesi was in a car accident," Jason says softly.

"Is she okay, is the baby okay?" Courtney asks leading him to the couch.

Jason looks down at her, "Jesi's dead,"