[A/N] Sorry this took so long to post. This chapter is kind of short, the next one will be longer...I promise :)

Jerry was standing on the pier when his cell phone began to ring. He looked at the caller I.D., it was not number he recognized.

"Hello," he answered.

"Is this James Craig?"

"Who's asking?" Jerry questioned. He hadn't used that name in a long time.

"Let's just say an old friend." the voice on the other line said. The voice was oddly familiar, but Jerry had a hard time placing it

"You see I don't have any friends, and I am not this James Craig. I'm afraid you have the wrong number,"

"No, I know I have the right number, it's just hard to determine what name you are going by these days."

Jerry still couldn't recognize the voice and he was getting agitated, "Who the hell are you," Jerry shouted into his phone.

Coop came around the corner and walked up behind Jerry, "Three."

Jerry spun around and faced Coop. He did not look as shocked as Coop had thought he might be. Instead his lips curled into an evil grin.

"Well, well, well. Look who is back in town. Last time I checked you were found swinging from your ceiling fan." Jerry never ceased to be dramatic when he spoke.

"And the last time I checked, you had died in an explosion at sea," Coop's face was emotionless.

"It seems we are both dead men walking," Jerry chuckled, "So what brings you back to Port Charles?"

"There's word out there that you are putting together a team. I want in on it."

"Oh is that right. And where did you hear this little tidbit of information," he questioned Coop.

"I heard whispers on the streets," he looked at Jerry, "So what do you say, you going to let me in on it?"

"That all depends on what your willing to do. I suppose those..." he paused and smirked, "whispers you spoke of told you where this is going down."

"The Metro Court." Coop stated matter-of-factly.

"And that won't be a problem for you?" Jerry asked, examining Coop's face, seeing if it sparked any emotion.

"I don't see why it should be," Coop replied indifferently.

Jerry grinned, "Well then Mr. Barrett, it seems we have a deal," he shook Coop's hand, "Meet me at Warehouse Sixteen tonight at seven."

"I'll be there."

Maxie was at her final dress fitting. The Crimson Gala was tomorrow night, words could not express how excited she was. It was the first time Crimson had hosted a party this extravagant with so many high profile people in attendance. She would be in the same room as the world's most renowned designers and influential people in the fashion industry. If that weren't enough to put butterflies in your stomach, Maxie would be wearing the Harry Winston blue sapphire and diamond necklace. She was terrified yet exhilarated at the same time. The entire gala was inspired by the piece of jewelry that would be resting around her neck.

Her dress was a long gown with an asymmetrical bodice that drape over her right shoulder. The royal blue silk tiers cascaded down to the floor where it fell into a pool around her feet, the epitome of perfection. She spun around in front of the mirror, taking in the beauty of the gown draped over her slim figure. Just then the door to her fitting room cracked open.

"Miss Jones," a squeaky voice inquired.

"Yes." Maxie replied.

"There is gentleman here to see you,"

Maxie immediately got giddy, "Please send him in." She stood in the center of the raised platform in the room, so the mirrors behind her reflected every angle of the dress.

Dr. Matthew Hunter entered the room, when he looked up at her his heart almost stopped. Some days it was hard to believe the woman standing before him was with him. He knew from the moment she threatened to have Nikalos Cassadine take his fellowship away that she was the only girl for him. It took a lot of rejection and perseverance to get just one date with her, but that was all he needed.

"You sure do clean up nice," he smirked.

"Well at least one of us has to look presentable," she quipped, still smiling.

"You look absolutely stunning. All eyes will be on you at the Gala," Matt said as she stepped off of the platform.

Maxie's smile evaporated, "All except yours," she stuck out her bottom lip in an exaggerated pout. "I still can't believe my boyfriend is making me go stag to Crimson's first Gala tomorrow night."

"You know I have a surgery booked."

"I know," she replied, "Your patients are so selfish," Maxie said only half joking.

"I'll make it up to you, I promise," he grinned. Matt lifted her chin with his hand and kissed her lips.

"Oh trust me, I will never let you live this one down," she smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

She gazed into the eyes of the man who would never hurt her the way she had hurt so many people in her life. They had been together for almost a year and a half; that had to be some kind of record for Maxie. She wasn't used to people sticking around this long, normally she would have run them off by now, if they weren't already dead. The truth is, she liked it. She liked feeling special to someone. That's what she had searched for her entire life, and she'd find it for a snapshot of a second and then it was gone. When she was with Matt she believed that this time it would last longer, maybe even for the rest of her life.

Matt was different from the other guys she had dated. First of all he wasn't a cop, which was a small comfort to her since both cops she was seriously involved with were now six feet below the surface. He didn't have that bad-boy quality that she was normally drawn to; in fact he was an all around good guy. Sometimes he could be arrogant and egotistical, but it comes with the territory of being a neurosurgeon. She loved him.

Still, she couldn't push a thought out of her mind. It was an ominous shadow that followed her, and she could not escape its presence. Would he eventually be added to her list of casualties? After all, in her experience no one stays together forever, no matter how much forever is promised. That didn't stop her from believing in a future with Matt.