Summary: This story is about Elizabeth Webber and AJ Quartermaine, the black sheep of their families. What would have happened if they had met up after JIP decided to go out? Blackbird is the first in a Trilogy called "Misguided Roses" This story also includes the characters Zander Smith, Skye Quartermaine and Jason Morgan. Eventually more characters may be added but it will still revolve around Liz, AJ, Skye and Zander.
I should also add that this is my brainchild from years back. It started it in 2003 with a one shot which you are about to read then got convinced to take it further. Happy to oblige (since I love both Alan James Junior and Elizabeth Imogene respectively) I began the journey to what I called "LayJ" (and yes, I used "journey" in there purposefully. Since then it's gone on several hiatus' due to lack of muse, school, work and other things.
The hiatus is over.
When does this story take place?
It begins on the day of Jax and Skye's wedding but after that the timeline is a bit fuzzy. Eventually, dates will be mentioned.
It is important to remember that Brenda does return, thus ending the union between Skye and Jax. That storyline stays the same for both parties but that is where the similarities between General Hospital and Blackbird end unless stated otherwise in the story itself.
Special thank you goes out to Donna and Meggi for listening to me ramble on about story ideas and BETAing some of the chapters.
September 2002
AJ left the wedding, a sour taste in his mouth, gut heavy with worry and panic. Leaving his wife alone with Jason just didn't seem like a good idea. But this was his chance to get his money back, to give her a better life.
He'd be good enough for Courtney…right?
XXXXXXXXXXX
Elizabeth paced through the Penthouse for the fifth time that evening. Jason was lying to her. About what? An affair?
Could be.
But Carly said…
But when was Carly ever right?
XXXXXXXXXXX
The airport, he should be heading to the airport like a smart man, not back to Courtney, not to say goodbye—again. But AJ needed to see her, couldn't get enough of her. Just one last time, then he'd go.
XXXXXXXXXXX
She had to get out of the suffocating Penthouse, Alcazar, danger and everything else be damned. She had to go. Somewhere, anywhere. Elizabeth didn't like being cooped up like an animal.
XXXXXXXXXXX
AJ ran up the steps of the church, the lights were out. Worry encased him. Was Courtney okay? Did something happen to her?
XXXXXXXXXXX
Why was she here? At the church. She knew Skye and Jax were getting married. There was no real reason for her to be there though, she was close to neither.
Maybe it was the idea of seeing a happy ending. Elizabeth hadn't had one of those. There had been happy parts of her life, sure. But never a happy ending. A figure caught her attention. His silhouette against the large doors of the church seemed so small.
As she drew neared she saw that it was AJ.
XXXXXXXXXXX
"Why are you outside? Shouldn't you be in there with your sister? It is her wedding day."
AJ turned around to see Elizabeth Webber, her small, fragile frame darkened by the night. There was a sadness in her eyes, a wariness. Suddenly a very uneasy feeling overcame him. Like they were both waiting for something terrible to unfold. Swallowing hard, he shrugged. "I was leaving to go to the airport. I just wanted to see Courtney one last time."
Immediately he saw understanding there. The wariness softened and she almost smiled. "I just…I wanted to see the wedding. I love weddings."
"Even though yours didn't turn out so well?"
"Right." Pain made her face tense up. "The lights are out."
He nodded slowly, "I'm going to go in and see if Courtney's alright. You stay here, I have a bad feeling about all of this."
Before hearing her answer, AJ walked inside the church and heard the chaos that was going on inside. Immediately he felt a hand on his shoulder.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Elizabeth hated the dark and out of fear she touched AJ's shoulder to remind her that she wasn't alone, even though the sound of people stumbling around and being loud told her that there were many people in the building.
"Who is it?" He whispered sharply.
Her tone matched his, "Elizabeth."
"I thought I told you to stay outside!"
She smiled sheepishly, knowing he couldn't see it. "I've been told I don't take orders well." Her admission was light hearted, after all there was no reason to explain herself to AJ, she didn't know him that well so why should he care.
XXXXXXXXXXX
"Apparently you've been told right." AJ answered, "I guess if I told you to stay here while I go look for Courtney I'd be wasting my breath." He wouldn't admit that it was nice having someone around when his insides were wound as tight as rubber bands. Unlike his brother, fear was a big motivator.
Her hand pressed down a little harder, hands shaking a bit. "You guessed right."
"You're scared?"
He didn't have to see her to know she was nodding, "who in their right mind wouldn't be with all that's gone on? But we have to see if Courtney's okay."
She had a point and it was nice to know she was scared as well and it was better to know that she was going to go with him.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Of course it was stupid to go into an unlit building when you were afraid of the dark. But then again it wasn't in her nature to let fear rule her life anymore. The rape had taught her that.
So she grabbed AJ's hand and he led her through the building, often stumbling over things as they went.
Finally the lights went on and the sight before her made her heart shatter into a million pieces. Her hand dropped from AJ's and she stared on in horror and agony.
XXXXXXXXXXX
There was Courtney with Jason's arms wrapped around her. They seemed so comfortable, so cozy. AJ felt Elizabeth's hand leave his.
The commotion around them wasn't noticed. Only the pain of seeing that Courtney's tender goodbye had meant nothing, that all along she had wanted one thing, one person, Jason. His heart sunk to his stomach.
"AJ!" Courtney exclaimed, untangling herself from Jason's arms and walking towards him, "look, it isn't what you think…"
XXXXXXXXXXX
"Can you explain?" Elizabeth asked tightly, not paying attention to Courtney in the slightest, "or is this business too?"
The pain was fueling her speech, no other component paralleled it. In fact, no other thought then run had entered her mind but her feet would not obey.
"I guess it's your turn, right?" She continued at his silence. "I had Zander, now you get Courtney?"
XXXXXXXXXXX
"Can't they always explain?" AJ breathed out, tears prickling behind his lids as his wife stood before him, lipstick smudged, cheeks a rosy red from blushing. What happened was obvious. "I- I don't want to hear it, not now, not ever."
"AJ-"
"I have a plane to catch."
XXXXXXXXXXX
"It's- its business, Elizabeth."
Bitter laughter gritted through her teeth, "right, of course." God, it hurt so bad. Why did it hurt so bad? She should have been used to this by now. "My bad."
Out of the corner of her eye she caught AJ walking away, Courtney following.
When he turned around she saw the pain in her broken heart mirrored in his eyes. Instead of watching him go through this and go through it herself, she grabbed Courtney's arm. "You have the brother you want to be with, the one who you don't consider your brother-in-law."
"You don't know anything about it."
XXXXXXXXXXX
AJ's eyes caught Elizabeth's and a tear slipped down her face, "right now, I think she's the only one here who does know." Wetting his lips, he sidestepped towards her and extended his hand. "Want to take a vacation, Elizabeth? One I think we both need?"
There was a bit of hesitation before the nod. "Yeah, I think I'd really like to get away."
"Elizabeth…" Jason began.
AJ turned his sharp brown eyes toward his brother after he saw Elizabeth wince. "Leave her alone, Jason. You got what you wanted, didn't you?"
"Shut up, AJ. You don't know what you're talking about."
Elizabeth took his hand and then began walking away, she paused and turned around.
XXXXXXXXXXX
"You were right all along, Jason, I guess I can't handle your business." When she turned around she began to let the tears she had been fighting so hard slip down her face. She turned her gaze to AJ, "can we go now?"
His nod was solemn, "yeah, but I'd like to light a candle before we leave, if you don't mind…and say a prayer for the broken hearted."
As always, feedback would help satisfy the muse and keep her yapping.