The young blonde haired girl, Megan Mathews, sat in front of the over stuffed couch where her mom was sitting. She was playing with her Skipper Barbie doll, making high-pitched voices talking about fashion and such. Megan's mother, Courtney Mathews, was watching her daughter, her eyes sparkling slightly as she combed her daughter's hair up into a ponytail.
Courtney was a single parent, getting pregnant out of wedlock only three years ago. She had fled the only place she could have ever called home, leaving no trace of where she went. She had expected her overprotective brother to track her down eventually, but he never did.
She hadn't seen anyone from Port Charles since that night. That night she left. That night she found out she was pregnant.
****
Jason Morgan walked into Kelly's for cup of coffee. Once he had found himself a seat, he noticed a piece of paper stuck to his shoe. He removed it from his shoe. He sighed. It was only an old flier for a missing person, but this person in particular caught his attention; and he looked closer and he recognized this person.
He crumpled up the sign, not wanting to have the memories about the blonde return to him- especially now. He forced his mind to concentrate on the low, soft music playing in the background of Kelly's. He wouldn't think of Courtney. At least if he could help it.
****
Why am I here? Thoughts raced through Courtney's head as she held her daughter, asleep in her arms, boarding off an airplane at the Port Charles airport. She left all these old memories here, and she never wanted to feel the pain she had here ever again.
There's nothing for me here. I left a long time ago and promised never to come back, but look at me now. I'm back, right back where I started.
She quickly picked up her and Megan's very small amount of luggage and hauled them a cab. She settled down in the back seat, hugging Megan closer to her.
"Where to, miss?" the driver asked. Courtney looked up away from Megan. She paused, smiling, before she answered,
"Kelly's restaurant, please."
****
As the cab drove down the familiar streets of Port Charles, Courtney stared out the window with a dreamy look upon her face. Nothing had changed, but, then again, nothing ever did; and Courtney liked it that way. It seemed like only a few seconds of a drive, but the driver stopped in front of the familiar restaurant and said,
"Here you are, ma'am." He asked for his fare, and she paid him with the very little money she had at hand.
The cold wind blew, howling madly, and Courtney heard the cab drive off behind her. Megan began to wake up, and she asked
"Where are we, Mommy?" She began to suck on her thumb.
"Don't suck your thumb, honey," Courtney said gently, as she pulled Megan's thumb out of her mouth. "Hey, are you hungry?"
"Uh huh," Megan answered, smiling a little now revealing baby teeth.
"Let's go in and get something to eat, okay?"
Courtney walked up to the door, and, as she pulled the door open, all the old feelings, memories, and her old life rushed back into her body. She was the younger Courtney Mathews, not a mother, just a half-sister to a mobster, and she was in love.
****
Jason stared into his half filled mug of coffee. He sat at his normal table, alone like always, a newspaper in front of him. He gulped down another sip of the meek drink and began to read a new article.
It was late now, and many of the customers had gone home; he was one of the few that were still there. The door opened behind him, but he didn't bother to look up because it was probably only another man in town for business.
A woman with blonde hair walked by him with a child in her arms.
****
Courtney was relieved to see that Elizabeth wasn't working this shift, if she was still working here at all. She sat Megan down at a table near the front, and she took a seat across from her.
"What can I get you two?" a waitress asked, smiling especially wide at Megan.
"I'll just have a mug of coffee," Courtney replied. "What do you want, sweetie?"
"Can I have a hamburger?" Megan asked, suddenly growing shy.
"Of course you can," said the waitress as she scribbled down the order. "Cup of coffee and a hamburger. Is that all?"
"Yes, thanks."
Courtney fiddled with the sweet-and-low packet as she looked around the restaurant. The same place. Maybe a new coat of paint here or there, but it was just as she remembered. It was home.
She began to pull of her coat and the coat of her daughter, starting to examine the other people here at this hour.
She saw two business people seated in the back, both talking very rapidly on their cell phones sipping their coffee occasionally to refuel their voice. Her eyes also spotted a woman sitting alone, sipping tea. She reminded her of the younger version of herself: not sure what she wanted out of life yet and still yearning for her own soul mate.
Then her eyes traveled to a young man, sipping coffee and reading his paper, also alone. The man had short brown hair and was wearing a black leather jacket, but that was all she could see.
"Here's your coffee and your burger. Do you want any ketchup with that?"
****
"Sure. We'll take some ketchup, right Megan?" a familiar voice said behind Jason. Jason eyes flew up from his newspaper. That voice was extremely familiar. It sounded exactly like….
He turned around, mentally convincing himself that it couldn't be, that it was impossible.
It was.
He lost the feeling in his hands, and he tried to say something, but he couldn't.
Courtney Mathews, who was supposed to be missing and dead, was sitting behind him, in Kelly's with a kid.
Living my life in the slow hell.
Different girl every night at the hotel.
I ain't seen the sun shine in three damn days.
Been filling up on cocaine and whiskey.
Wish I had a good girl to miss me.
Lord, I wonder if I'll ever change my ways.
I put your picture away.
Sat down and cried today.
I can't look at you while I'm lying next to her.
I put your picture away,
Sat down and cried today.
I can't look at you while I'm lying next to her.
I called you last night at the hotel.
Everyone knows, but they won't tell.
But their half of a smiles tell me something just ain't right.
I've been waiting on you for a long time.
Filling up on heartaches and cheap wine.
I ain't heard from you in three damn nights.
I put your picture away.
I wonder where you've been.
I can't look at you while I'm lying next to him
I put your picture away.
I wonder where you've been.
I can't look at you while I'm lying next to him.
I saw yesterday with an old friend.
It was the same old same, "How have you been?"
Since you've been gone, my world's been dark and gray.
You reminded me of brightened days.
I hoped you were coming home to stay.
I ways headed to the church,
I was off to drink you away.
I thought about you for a long time.
Can't seem to get you off my mind.
I can't stand why we living life this way.
I found your picture today.
I swear I'll change my ways.
I just called to say, "I want to come back home."
I found your picture today.
I swear I'll change my ways.
I just called to say, "I want to come back home.
I just called to say, "I love you. Come back home."
"Picture" Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow
A/N Okay, this was written out of boredom, so let me know if it was good or not. If I get enough interest by reviews, I will continue it. I also enjoy lengthy reviews, so do not hesitate to write one!