Lost Without Each Other - Sequel to The Meaning of Forever
Chapter 1
Dillon scraped the hot scrambled eggs from the pan as they fell and nestled onto the plate, while three year old Ava sat on the marble counertop in her pink and white Dora the Explorer pajamas, waiting for the toast to pop up.
"It's ready Daddy!" said Ava, as she turned her head to her father. Her chesnut dark curly hair was in the way of her brown eyes, and she brushed it back with her tiny fingers.
"Okay munchkin," said Dillon, after he put two slices of bacon next to the eggs. "wait a few seconds then you can take one out and put it on the plate." he finished. Ava counted those few seconds in her head as far as she could. Up to 10.
"Now I can daddy?" she asked, reaching for the toast.
"Yep." He answered, watching her pick up the burnt bread and dropping it on Georgie's plate.
"Good girl. Now all we need for Mommy is the orange juice." said Dillon.
"I wanna get it!" Ava volunteered excitedly.
"Alright just dont drop the carton on the floor like last time." he told her, helping Ava down off the couner. "Jack doesnt like orange juice." he finished.
"I be careful." she promised, as she quickly walked to the refrigerator that was covered with papers of all her drawings. She grabbed the half full carton of OJ from inside and shut the door with her foot.
"Here Daddy." Ava said, and Dillon reached down to take it from her.
"Thank you, my little assistant cheif." he said in a comical voice.
"You're welcome." she answered in a childish laughter.
Dillon put the food and orange juice on a carrying tray, while Ava didn't let him forget the 'pretty white flower' for Mommy, next to the plate. Dillon carried the food, with Ava leading them the way upstairs to Georgie and Dillon's room, holding a card made out of Crayola crayons and white construction paper. Ava slowly opened the door and Dillon followed in behind her. She tip-toed to the bed, as Dillon placed the tray down on a small nightstand beside the bed. Ava gently climbed onto the matress next to her sleeping mother and put her tiny finger to her lips, telling her father to be quiet. He mocked her, then sat beside Georgie and leaned forward, softly kissing her cheek. Georgie gradually opened her eyes at the warmth of her husband's touch and slowly smiled. She began to stretch.
"Happy Birthday Mommy!" Ava loudly said as she tackled Georgie, huging her. Jack barked from on the floor and went over to the bed, hoping to join in on the family affair. More so wanting the bacon that was sitting on the nightstand, just two feet in front of him.
"Thank you baby!" Georgie happily said to her daughter in their embrace. "I was woundering when you and Daddy were gonna wake me up." she finished. They let go of their hug.
"Happy Birthday babe." said Dillon. Georgie sat up and met his eyes.
"Thank you." she whispered with a smile, and kissed him.
"Here mommy, I made this for you." said Ava, handing Georgie the card made out of white construction paper.
"Ohh..let me see this.." Georgie said while she took it from her daughter. Of course, Ava was still too young to be able to write actual letters of the alphabet, so Dillon had to help her yesturday while Georgie was at PCU taking her last midterm exams.
"Happy Birthday Mommy," Georgie read the front outloud, then opened the card and looked inside. There was a few multi-colored scribbles and three stick figured people, one with spikey-hair, and a small semi-looking brown dog. 'I Love You' was written at the top. A smile became unnoticed on Georgie's face.
"I love you too Doodlebug." Georgie said to Ava and kissed her cheek. "Thank you sweetheart, I love it." she added.
"Daddy drew Jack." Ava implied.
"I can tell." Georgie said behind a small laugh, and looked over at Dillon.
"Hey!" he defended." I'll have you know, that I am - a," he pondered quickly. "a terrible, artist." he admitted.
"You tried." Georgie smiled,then kissed him. Dillon put his hand inside his pajama pocket and pulled out a small, wrapped box, then handed it to his wife after they released from each other's lips.
"What is it?" Georgie asked with an anticipated grin.
"Well ya have to open it to find out Einstein." Dillon teased.
"Rip it Mommy!" encouraged Ava. Georgie tore at the wrapping paper and Ava pitched in. She opened the box and found her quarter necklace inside. The same one Dillon had given her just a few years ago. Georgie set the box down and held the necklace in her hand.
"Pretty.." Ava admired.
"Dillon.." Georgie smiled, when she saw that the back of the quarter had been smoothed out flat, and 'April 17, 2003' was engraved on it. She looked up at him.
"I wasn't sure at first if the jeweler was able, to do that with a quarter but I still would of did it myself anyways - somehow. Even if I'd be sent to prison for destroying a federal coin." he said.
"I was affraid I lost this!" she lightly hit him in the arm. He smiled.
"You like it?" he asked.
"I love it." she corrected. "And I love you." she continued, leaning into her boyfriend of nearly four years, husband of three. Ava petted Jack.
"I love you too." he said, and kissed her.
"Can you?" Georgie asked, holding up the necklace.
"Of course." he smiled, and took it from her. Georgie lifted her shoulder length hair so Dillon could clasp the chain together. When he finished, she kissed him once more.
"What smells so good?" Georgie asked.
"Well Madam, we have zee birthday special," said Dillon in a foreign accent. "consisting of scrambled eggs, with a side of bacon," he continued, as he reached over for the tray of food and placed it on Georgie's lap. "and buttered toast - carefully toasted by the lovely Miss Ava Lila Quartermaine I might add - some orange juice, and a pretty white flower to wash it all down with." he finished.
"Bunnapatee." Ava tried to say.
"Looks great, especially the flower." Georgie said.
"I helped!" Ava said proudly.
"You were a big help munchkin." Dillon told her and kissed his daughter's nose.
"You did?! Well now I know this is going to taste delicious. Thank you so much." said Georgie. She put the fork in the eggs and brought them to her mouth.
"You're welcome but," said Dillon. "before you eat anymore of that, there's one last present for you to open."
"Dillon.."she mumbled."Babe I don't need - " she said with a mouthfull.
"- Yes you do. Last one I swear." he said. Dillon pulled out one last box from under the bed and handed it to her.
"Now this is just part of your present. The other half isn't .. wrappable." he searched for the right word. Georgie looked at him, puzzled. Then began unwrapping.
"Get that side baby." Georgie told Ava, as she helped her mother again. The paper was thrown on the floor, and Georgie opened the box to find
"Beads!" said Ava, looking inside.
"A whole lot of them," said Georgie. Dillon watched with a smile as Georgie and Ava took the necklace of beads out of the box. Jack, their Golden Retriever, stared at the bacon still on the plate and licked his chops.
"Dillon these are great but when am I ever gonna use - " she questioned. Something occured to her by the expression on Dillon's face.
"Mardi Gra!" she said happily.
"Mardi Gra!" Dillon repeated with a grin.
"Maury Gra!" Ava mimicked and lightly bounced up and down on the matress with her small knees. Jack jumped onto the bed with his front paws and took Georgie's bacon in his mouth, running off with his new breakfast.
"No Jack that's mommy's food!" Ava yelled sternly, and climbed off the bed, then chased after him.
"Jack!" yelled Dillon and Georgie.
"Dillon," Georgie began, while taking a bite of her toast then putting it back down on the plate. "you know I'd love to go to New Orleans with you," she swallowed the bread. "but we can't exactly bring a 3 year old with us where women flash everyone, and people drinking themselves to death til wee hours of the morning." she continued, setting the rest of the food on the side of the bed and off her lap.
"No kidding." he agreed. "She can stay with my mom and Grandfather, or Mac and your Mom til we get back. It's only gonna be for two nights and we come home Sunday morning." Dillon suggested.
"Okay. On one condition." Georgie said.
"What's that?" Dillon asked, as he slid his hands underneath her thighs and pulled Georgie closer to him on the bed.
"You have to be the one to put Ava to bed early tonight," she wrapped her arms around his neck, while crossing her right hand over her left. "so Mommy and Daddy can have some together time." Georgie told him. Dillon tried to hold back a smile but failed, and touched her lips with his own. Their kiss was deep, and lingered on while someone came running back in the room.
"Eww.. thats disdusting." Ava told her parents, mispronouncing the word. Dillon and Georgie knew that voice, and lightly chuckled against each other's lips. They unlocked their kiss. Dillon unexpectedly snatched his daughter up in his arms and she screeched. He playfully threw her onto the bed next to Georgie and began to tickle her.
"Eww huh? How do you think YOU got here Doodlebug?The stork?" Dillon asked Ava as he continued to tickle her belly and up to her underarm.
"Yeah.."she hysterically laughed.
"Get her feet mommy!" said Dillon. Georgie ran her fingertips up and down the child's feet. Soon her giggles were infectious.
Chapter 2
Sure it wasn't Disney World, but the carnival was still exciting enough for every kid in Port Charles. Including the ones at heart.
"Hey Munchkin, how 'bout the bumper cars?" Dillon asked Ava, holding on to her ankles, while carrying her on his shoulders. Georgie walked beside them, holding a few stuffed animals Dillon had won for both her and Ava.
"Yeah! The blue one!" Ava agreed. "Come with us mommy." she finished.
"I would but I have to hold Dora and the teddy bear. You and daddy go on and I'll watch." said Georgie.
"K' but next ride you come with us. K?" said Ava
"Okay." Georgie promised. Dillon took Ava off his shoulders and they stood in line. When it was their turn, Ava ran directly to the blue car. Dillon sat in the passenger's seat and buckled Ava in, leaving one arm wrapped around his daughter and protectivly against him, while helping her with the steering wheel. Diego, Lulu and Kyle were all being chased and bumped into by Dillon and Ava. A smile found Georgie's face as she witnessed all of this from where she was standing. That was her little family she and Dillon created. The one she used to fear to have at the time because they were too young, yet were ready enough to be married. But she loved them both so much, and at this particular moment Georgie silently hoped to whoever was in charge of life, that she could continue to be this happy. Even if the feeling could not last forever.
"I knew he'd sneek off to the Bumper Cars." Maxie interrupted Georgie's thoughts, coming up from behind her while pushing a stroller. She stood next to her sister in front of the ride. "Told me he was just gonna get a soda. How come you're not on there?" she asked Georgie.
"I like the Scrambler better. Plus, I'm the keeper of Dora and Teddy after hearing, 'Mommy hold this' about a dozen times." Georgie said, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, then leaning down towards the stroller to greet her nephew Jessie.
"Hey blue eyes.." Georgie smiled, and softly brushed her finger along the ten month old baby's cheek. He cooed as Georgie continued to interact with him.
Maxie and her ex-boyfriend Eric, dated for a whole year. They broke up when he chose to work at a different hospital outside of town, and they lost touch after awhile. He's now married to a spoiled rich girl with big blond hair. Maxie confirmed this while gossiping with her co-workers at The MetroCourt. Suddenly one fine day, a familar guy checks in at MC and it never crossed Maxie's mind that she would see him again. Kyle Radcliff. She read about him in the newspaper one day, when he was arrested for drug posession. Once he was released from jail he moved back to Port Charles and reconnected with Maxie. Kyle has been clean ever since. She got pregnant a year later and gave birth to Kyle's son. There was no question of what name to give their baby after they found out the sex.
"So, you and Dillon coming to Mom and Mac's after this? You know you can't escape from them wanting to throw you a birthday party, even if we were 80 and walking with canes." Maxie asked her.
"Definatly." said Georgie, as she handed baby Jessie a teething ring that soothed his little gums. She stood back up and took a piece of cotton candy from Maxie.
"Do you think Mom and Mac would mind watching Ava on Friday?" Georgie asked her older sister, then put the candy in her mouth.
"No are you kidding? They practically yank Jessie out of mine or Kyle's arms whenever we're over there." said Maxie as she put another piece of cotton candy in her mouth. "Where you and Dillon going anyways?" she added. Georgie took another piece.
"New Orleans." Georgie answered. "Can't wait." she smiled. "This will be the first time in a long time, Dillon and I actually spend alone, together." she finished, swallowing the cotton candy.
"You're just happy 'cause you guys get to have all the sex you want without any interruptions." Maxie grinned. Georgie gasped behind a dropping jaw, and threw a piece of cotton candy at her sister.
"In the words of my three year old, that's disdusting." Georgie said.
"What's disgusting?" asked Dillon
"You." Georgie teased.
"Oh." he said and riped off a piece of the cotton candy from Georgie's hand.
"I want some!" said Ava. Dillon gave her a small piece of the fluffy pink candy, as she liked to call it.
"How was the ride?" Georgie asked her daughter.
"Fun! Daddy let me drive." said Ava, as she enjoyed the cotton candy in her mouth while her tiny fingers were becoming sticky.
"Wow. You hardly ever let me drive." Georgie said to Dillon.
"That's because you can't." he teased.
"Maxie can't either." said Kyle.
"Yes I can!" Maxie defended.
"No you can't! Known fact: women are terrible drivers." Kyle said, so sure of himself.
"Oh that's not true!" Georgie disagreed.
"Such a lie!" Lulu disagreed.
"Definatly wrong!" Maxie disagreed along with the girls all at once.
"Hi Jessie.." Ava smiled, and greeted her cousin while the adults had a debate. She stood in front of the stroller and kissed her cousin on the cheek, then played with him.
"Diego, Dillon, am I right or what?" Kyle asked his primates. All eyes were on them, waiting for a response.
"So true." Diego said. "Admit it girls." he finished. Lulu punched her boyfriend in the arm. More bickering began.
"Okay okay wait," Dillon silenced them. "they're not terrible drivers. Women can't - some - women just aren't as good as men." he finished.
"I'm so squishing you on The Scrambler." Georgie said to Dillon. He raised his eyebrows in delight.
"C'mon Ava," Georgie held out her hand for Ava to take it. "let's go find some more rides." she put her not-so-sticky hand in her mother's and they all walked together around the carnival.
"Gramma FeFe!" Ava yelled excitedly, while running to Felicia.
"Hi pumpkin!" Felicia bent down to her granddaughter's level and opened her arms as Ava sank into them. "Did you have fun at the carnival?" she asked her.
"Yeah!" she responded. They let go of their embrace. "I got Dora and this.." she held out her wrist to Felicia, showing a glow bracelet.
"Oh how pretty. Mommy should put that in the freezer for you tonight so it continues to glow." said Felicia. She stood up and welcomed the rest of her company.
"Happy Birthday honey." Felicia said to her daughter, and hugged her.
"Thanks." smiled Georgie. They soon released from their embrace.
"Hi Dillon." Felicia welcomed him also with a hug.
"Hi Felicia how's it going?" he asked her.
"Good." she said and released from their hug.
"Where's Dad? Still at the station?" Georgie asked as she tied Ava's left shoelace that came loose. Felicia greeted Maxie, Kyle, Lulu, and Diego with the same open arms she gave her daughter and son-in-law.
"Yeah. Hey handsom boy.." she said to baby Jessie and took him from Maxie. "He just called a few minutes ago before you all got here. Should be home in about a half hour." she finished.
What was supposed to be just a small family gathering with a few friends, soon became a birthday party. Sam McCall and Maxie became best friends while working together at the MetroCourt, so she invited her over and told Sam to bring Christina and Molly. Ava became attached to both girls and they played together, whenever they were around each other. Dillon would pay the babysitter for watching Ava, while Georgie was in school and he was at work for ELQ. He was always a guest at Ava, Molly, and Christina's tea parties after Alexis would drop the girls off for a playdate. Ava liked it most when Daddy gave pony rides and built forts with her using couch coushins. The fun was usually shortened when Georgie told them it was time to eat dinner. She was always forgiven when Mommy let Ava put make-up on her and they played beauty salon. Presently, it was a tough decision at this point to choose which card was needed most.
"Do you have a.. 5?" Ava asked Aunt Lulu, sitting on the living room floor around the coffee table.
"Nope. Go Fish." she said. Ava picked up a card and put it in her hands with her other ones.
"Uhh..Sam," said Lulu. "Do you have a 7?" she asked.
"Go Fish." Sam instructed. "Molly, you have a 4 babydoll?" Sam asked her sister.
"Go Fish!" Molly told her. Sam picked up a card from the deck, after Lulu.
Georgie put the ice cream away and back in the freezer, while Felicia took the rest of the cake she baked, and covered it with clear seran wrap.
"How'd your exams go? I know you've been stressing this semester." she asked her, while putting the plastic wrap back in the cabinet. Georgie leaned her waist on the side of the couner and crossed her arms.
"Good I hope. We don't get our grades back til Wednesday." she told her mother.
"You'll do great. You always do." said Felicia as she closed the cabinet. "Mac and I are so proud of you Georgie. You and Dillon. You built a great life for yourselves.. and have a beautiful little girl who is so lucky to have you two as her parents. I know it hasn't always been easy, nothing ever is. But look how far you and Dillon have come. You'll be fine." she assured Georgie.
"Thanks Mom. I just - " Georgie sighed. " I feel like I've been selfish lately. You know because, I'm in college and I have one more year left, and Dillon has always wanted to go to film school since before I've known him. And where is he? ELQ. While I'm.." she trailed off. "I just want Dillon to be happy by doing what he loves." she finished.
"Have you discussed this with him?" Felicia asked her.
"Yeah plenty of times. He tells me the same thing whenever we talk about it. That Ava and I make him happy, and the directing is just a dream." Georgie told her.
"Sometimes dreams do come true. Honey I know you love Dillon, and want what's best for him. If he's meant to be a director then he will be. If not, then there's nothing you can do but continue to love him as much as I know you always have, and support him with whatever decision he makes." Felicia encouraged her. Georgie nodded in silence.
"Ugh," sighed Mac, coming into the kitchen. "I'm getting my butt kicked in there with that 'Go Fish' game. I quit." he finished. Felicia and Georgie both laughed.
"Any more cake left? Im starving." said Kyle, as he entered and helped himself to some more food.
"You had two pieces already!" Mac unbelievably said.
"I know! Gotta fill my stomach for later. Maxie's a terrible cook." said Kyle, putting a piece of cake on his plate.
"That exsplains why you really come here to visit. Just so you can eat all of Mom and Mac's food." Georgie said to Kyle.
"Exactly! Thank you sweetheart." said Mac.
"Hey! I was beginning to like you Georgie. Now we're back to square one all over again missy!" Kyle joked. Georgie giggled while she picked up her paper plate of cake and ice cream, then headed to the living room.
"Dillon, do you have.. a 4?" Maxie asked, while she held Jessie on her lap.
"Go Fish." said Dillon. Maxie picked up a card from the deck.
"Hey Munchkin, can Daddy have some?" Dillon asked Ava, who held two playing cards in one hand, while the other was busy putting a piece of vanilla cake in her mouth using a fork. She nodded and gave Dillon a piece.
"Mmm.. thank you peanutt." he said. Then took some icing and smeared it on Ava's nose.
"Daddy.." she laughed.
"What? Oh wait you got some -" he put more in the same spot. Georgie sat down on the couch and watched them play the card game. Ava giggled again.
"Whose winning?" Georgie asked.
"I am!" said Ava, Molly, Maxie, and Christina.
"What's on your face doodlebug?" she asked Ava.
"Frosting. Daddy did it." Ava answered Georgie.
"Daddy's silly. Come 'er let me get it off." said Georgie. Ava scooted to the couch from on the floor and over to her mother. Georgie took a napkin and wiped it off Ava's nose, then kissed it. She put her fork in the cake.
"Hey where's my piece?" Dillon asked Georgie.
"I'm the birthday girl, this one is mine. Get your own." Georgie teased.
"Fine then." Dillon said, and looked at his cards.
"I'm kidding cheeseball. Here," she said, and fed him a piece.
"Happy?" Georgie said.
"Very." Dillon told her. She wiped the icing off of his lips with her own.
"Thanks again Ms. Jones, for having us." Lulu said to Felicia.
"Sure. Glad to have you here." said Felicia
"Bye Georgie. Happy Birthday." Lulu hugged her friend.
"Bye Lu, thanks." They released from their hug. "Drive carefully." Georgie said sarcastically.
"Okay." Lulu laughed. "Bye Ava, we'll have to play another game sometime." she added.
"Bye." Ava waved.
"Bye Dillon." Lulu said to her step-brother.
"Cya." he said. Diego opened the front door and Lulu left the house with him behind her. Eventually Sam, Maxie, and Kyle left a few minutes later. It was an hour before Ava's bedtime, and Dillon and Georgie knew how cranky their daughter would be the next morning if they didn't get home soon.
"You wanna take some cake home with you? What's left of it I mean." Mac asked.
"Naw. Thanks anyway Mac." Dillon said quietly, while holding a tired Ava. Her head resting on his shoulder, and her little arm hanging freely.
"See you this weekend." Georgie said.
"Yep. Goodnight guys." said Felicia.
A story of 'Green Eggs and Ham' was read, and Dillon pulled the covers over Ava, while Georgie turned on the night light.
"Goodnight Munchkin. Love you." Dillon whispered, then kissed his daughter's forehead.
"Love you too Daddy." Ava said.
"Night baby." Georgie whispered. "Love you." she kissed her cheek.
"Love you too Mommy." Ava said back the same way.
Dillon let the dog outside to do his business, and locked the front door after calling him back in. Then joined Georgie in the living room.
"Whatta you doing?" Dillon asked his wife, as he sat on the couch, while Georgie was sitting on the floor in front of the stack of a DVD collection, searching for something to watch.
"Looking for a movie. We haven't had a movie night in a while that didn't involve princesses or talking cartoon animals." Georgie said with a suttle smile.
"Cartoons rock!" said Dillon.
"How 'bout 50 First Dates ?" asked Georgie.
"Mm.." Dillon hummed in thought. "no."
"Oh c'mon Adam Sandler is awesome." said Georgie.
"Yeah but. What else we got?" asked Dillon. She picked another one up.
" American Pie." said Georgie.
"Eh." said Dillon.
"Okay..um," Georgie searched. "Oh my god we have this?" she asked, picking up the DVD.
"What?" Dillon asked.
" To Have and Have Not." Georgie said. "Remember when we first watched this?" she turned her head and smiled at him.
"Yep. Put it in." said Dillon. Georgie did just that, and found a place next to her husband on the couch in a comfortable position. The movie was almost at the end, and Dillon and Georgie found themselves paying attention to something more satisfying. It was as if they were teenagers again having a makeout session. Only this time, Mac wouldn't be able to interrupt them and drag Dillon out of the room by his spikey hair.
Georgie's arms wrapped around his neck while their kiss grew deeper and more intense. Dillon was on top of her, and continued to devour her mouth passionatly. He soon discovered her neck, and dabbed small kisses along her soft skin.
"Dillon." she exhaled. He then made his way back up to her jawline. "we should probably make sure Ava's sleeping." Georgie whispered heavily.
"She is." he said against her lips. She took his word for it and invited Dillon's tongue further inside her mouth. Besides, If she wasn't sleeping she'd be downstairs by now asking for a drink. They both knew this. Soon their kisses led to alot more, and within minutes their bare skin met each other, as they continued to make love on the couch. The thought of using their bed instead wasn't an option.
By now, the TV was still on, but neither one of them felt like turning it off. Dillon and Georgie layed in their birthday suites, cuddled together with a blanket over their nude bodies. Georgie's head rested on her husband's chest, with her right arm drapped across his abdomen, and Dillon held her protectivly against him.
"You know.." Georgie began, resting her eyes. Then opened them again.
"Hm." Dillon said, without moving his lips.
"If people actually knew what you and I like to sometimes do on this couch, they might think twice about sitting on it." Georgie pointed out.
"Well then I guess we better keep that dirty little secret between us." said Dillon. Georgie looked up at him and they both smirked. She put her hand on his cheek and brought his head down to meet her lips.
Chapter 3
"Alright..one hamburger, a grilled cheese sandwich, and one cheeseburger." said Mike, as he put Georgie, Ava, and Maxie's food down on the table in front of them.
"Thanks Mike." said Georgie with a polite smile.
"You're welcome honey." Mike said, and went to get other customer's food.
"Did you confront him about it?" Georgie asked, as she put ketchup on Ava's plate. Usually Georgie lets her do it herself, but she tends to use the whole bottle.
"No." said Maxie. "I was going to, but I want him to come to me and tell me himself." she finished. Georgie put the ketchup back on the table.
"Fat chance." said Georgie. "Maxie, this is Kyle we're talking about. The same Kyle who - "
"Mommy this is burned." Ava interrupted, and looked disapointed. This isn't how Daddy makes grilled cheese she thought.
"It's not burnt Ava, just a little golden brown. Dip it in your ketchup and you won't even taste it." said Georgie. Ava sighed a defeated sigh, and began eating.
"I know, he promised me that he stopped taking them. I want to believe Kyle. For the baby's sake and his." said Maxie.
"And how many times in the past has Kyle broken those promises to you, about how he's not going to use drugs anymore?" Georgie asked her, saying the word 'drugs' low enough, hoping Ava wouldn't hear her to avoid asking what they were.
"Okay, you have a point. But Georgie, I've made bad choices before - terrible," Maxie corrected herself. "choices too and been given chance after chance from people. I think Kyle deserves that same compassion." she finished.
"Maxie, do you hear yourself? Look, I know you care about Kyle. He's the father of your child and you guys have history together. I care about him too - really I do. It just seems like maybe he wont change. He just, needs help." said Georgie.
"And I'm gonna help him. If Kyle takes another pill, which Im sure he will - I'm taking him to rehab." said Maxie.
"Good. That's where he belongs." said Georgie. She bit into her cheeseburger.
"Guess now I know how Elizabeth must have felt when Lucky was taking those pills." said Maxie, picking up her hamburger.
"You couldn't have felt this way then and not given Lucky pills?" Georgie joked, after swallowing her food.
"Ouch." Maxie said sarcasticly.
"Mommy." said Ava.
"What?" Georgie asked.
"I gotta go real bad.." Ava looked at Georgie and squirmed in her chair.
"Okay. I'll be right back." Georgie told Maxie. She helped Ava off the chair, and took her to the bathroom.
Dillon faxed the CEO of another company, just as his brother Ned asked him to do, and then dialed a number he knew by heart.
"Hey G. It's me." he said into the phone.
"Hey what's up?" said Georgie on the other end, breaking the uncooked spagetti in half before putting it in boiling water.
"Nothing. Listen um, I might be home a little late than usual. Ned asked me to do him a favor after work so, I'm gonna do that then I'll be home." Dillon told her.
"Okay." said Georgie.
"How did Ava do at GH today?" Dillon asked.
"Fine. Last shot until she starts kidnergarden. We went to Kelly's after that with Maxie and Jessie." said Georgie.
"That's good. Alright well I'll cya soon." said Dillon.
"Bye." Georgie hung up.
"What favor?" asked Ned, standing in the middle of the room holding an envelope.
"I had to tell her something why I'm not gonna be home on time. Just thought of anything I could think of." Dillon exsplained.
"I know there's a good reason why you lied.. otherwise I'd have to kill you if you jeopardized your marriage again to my favorite sister-in-law." said Ned.
"Trust me it's a good reason." Dillon said, forcing back a smile. "What's in the envelope?" he added. Ned walked over to his brother.
"Your paycheck." Ned handed it to him.
"Oh thanks." Dillon took it from him.
"Now, before you open it, I just need to stay something." said Ned.
"Shoot." said Dillon.
"Mother and I discussed your future, - argued quit alot - and we did actually agree." said Ned.
"You sure she wasn't like, lying or - " Dillon said
"No, no. She was sober and honest about it. Took alot of convincing." said Ned.
"Okay." said Dillon.
"Dillon, we think it's best that you don't work here full time anymore." Ned told him.
"What? You're kidding right?" asked Dillon
"No." said Ned.
"Ned. You - you can't fire me man, I have a family to support!" Dillon went postal.
"I know you do! Would you cool down. I'm just saying that you wont be here as much anymore." Ned told him.
"Wh- What the hell does that mean?" asked Dillon.
"It means that I'm laying you off for awhile. Then you work part time - "
"I don't want to work part time, I can't afford to work part time, I need this job! I'm sorry, Ned look, you've always been a great brother to me since I moved here. I just don't understand why you, of all people would agree with our mother on this." said Dillon.
"Because, this isn't what you should be doing." said Ned.
"I have to. If I have to work here ALL my life to support my wife and kid, and put myself through film school this way, then I have to." said Dillon with a stern voice. He got his jacket off the back of the chair, and left. Dillon drove to where he planned, and walked into the store. As much as he was angry, he still had every intention of purchasing the ring before Ned told him about his job.
Ava sat at the kitchen table, coloring in her Dora coloring book.
"Is the pasgetti done yet Mommy?" she asked.
"Almost baby. Few more minutes." said Georgie, while she stirred the sauce, and the spagetti continued to cook in the boiled water. "Go wash your hands first." Georgie added.
"K. Don't put Dora away." said Ava, getting off the chair.
"I wont." said Georgie, turning off the stove and bringing the spagetti to the sink. Ava ran to the bathroom and washed her hands, just as Georgie asked. When she was finished, she was on her way back to the kitchen when the front door opened.
"Daddy!!" Ava said excitedly, and ran to Dillon.
"Hi peanutt." he scooped her up in his arms and kissed her cheek dozens of times til she giggled.
"How's your arm?" Dillon asked her, as he carried her into the kitchen.
"Hurts." Ava said.
"Aw let me see." said Dillon. She showed him the tiny mark from the needle. He kissed it.
"There. It'll feel better soon." he said. Dillon put Ava down, and she quickly walked back to the table to finish coloring. Dillon slithered his arms around Georgie's waist from behind.
"Hey." Georgie smiled and greeted his lips.
"Hi." Dillon said back.
"You okay?" she asked. Dillon let go of her and scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah uh, just long day." he lied.
"You know, I can tell by now what's really going on in that head of yours." said Georgie as she poured the pasta sauce over the spagetti.
"We need to talk. After dinner." Dillon confessed. He knew he couldn't keep what was bothering him from her.
"Dillon I'm so sorry." said Georgie, holding onto his wrist as they stood in the kitchen after cleaning up.
"It's not your fault." Dillon said.
"Well at least, you're not fired. And it's not a big deal you're only -"
"Georgie, it is! It is a big deal. I won't be making as much as I used too. We wouldn't even be able to afford this house if I hadn't been working for my brother!" Dillon said.
"Maybe Mike will hire me again part time at Kelly's after school, and Maxie can watch Ava.." Georgie procrastinated.
"No. No. I mean, yeah it would help us but - we wouldn't get to see each other as much, and Ava would always be stuck with babysitters." said Dillon. It was quiet for a moment.
"Dillon we dont have to go to New Orleans tomorrow if - " Georgie started.
"No, I'm taking you. Alright?" Dillon sighed. "I dont know, maybe I can talk Ned into reconsidering this stupid thing and let me do what I was before." he finished.
"What made him change your hours anyway?" It's not like Ned to do something like that." said Georgie.
"My mother." Dillon said with a fake smile.
"Tracy?" she repeated.
"Yeah. Who, for some reason all of a sudden, doesn't want me to be Donald Trump anymore. Her and Ned agreed that what I should be doing, is not be in the office of ELQ. But I have to! Okay? I need this job for us!" Dillon said. Georgie was quiet. She didn't want to bring it up again, but she hated feeling like she was the only one accomplishing something they both wanted. College and film school. But she loved Dillon more.
"Dillon so what you're not going to be making more money than you used to. If it's still gonna get us by, and get you to film school, we'll deal." said Georgie. "Right?" she added.
"Right." he agreed, still frustrated. Georgie took his hand and pulled Dillon into her. She kissed his lips, then embraced him in a hug.
The front door was locked, the kitchen light was off, and the only thing left on downstairs was the TV and DVD player.
"His son Bingo - " said Dory the blue fish
"- Nemo." Marlin corrected.
"-Nemo. Was taken to Sydney." said Dory.
Dillon and Georgie sat with their daughter on the couch of dirty little secrets, as they watched Finding Nemo. Ava laughed when Dory tried to speak whale. It was her favorite part. She always giggled more when Dillon mocked the character of Dory in the movie, and pretended to speak whale too. About five minutes left of the movie, Ava layed her head on Georgie's lap, fighting to stay awake. While Georgie ran her finger's slowly through her daughter's hair, she rested her body against Dillon. Georgie brought her eyes up at her husband and motioned with her head for him to look down at Ava. The corners of his lips stretched as he saw their daughter had fallen asleep. Dillon grabbed the remote and turned off the movie. Georgie carefully tried to get up without waking Ava. She made a noise in her sleep almost like a tiny whimper, as Georgie picked her up.
"Shh.."Georgie whispered, and rubbed her back soothingly, while Ava rested her head on Georgie's shoulder.
"C'mon Jack." Dillon whispered to the dog and motioned him Dillon's way. Georgie carried Ava to her bedroom, with Dillon behind her as they went up the steps.
to be continued...