No one Leaves….."...I'm Human."

Brenda had been home for over a month now. She hoped and prayed that Jax didn't call. She had given him her phone number at the auction. And up until that day, he had not used it. She was getting Lola ready for school, when her phone rung. She didn't recognize the number, so she ignored it. After taking Lola to school, she made herself a cup of coffee, and sat down at her laptop. She looked down at her cell phone, and saw the message light flashing. She reached down, and pressed the voice mail button. That's when she heard his voice. "Hello, Brenda, this is Jax. I'll be in Rome next week. I think it's time, we make good on that date. This is my number, call me, and let me know if you'll be free. Take care."

Brenda felt her heart drop. "Damn it!" (I could always pretend like, I'll be out of town, or busy. But knowing Jax, he'll just offer to reschedule.) She sighed. (I could meet him, and he'd never have to see Lola.) "Damn it, Brenda." And on top of all this, Brenda was still really upset with Jax, she just had a moment, when he was talking about his daughter, and she made the dumbest mistake ever. She invited him to Rome. She sighed. She'd figure a way out of this mess.

After twenty minutes of wrestling with a couple of ideas, she decided to just go on a date with him, and then let that be the end of it.

She dialed his number…...

Brenda opened the door. "Hello Mona. Lola is already in bed."

Mona followed Brenda in. "Your hair looks beautiful."

"Thanks, but I just want to get this over with."

"Do you even know this guy?"

"Kind of."

"He isn't a creep is he?"

Brenda grinned, as she walked to her bedroom, with Mona following. "He has his moments."

"Well, you can take my knife with you."

Brenda laughed. "I don't need your knife. He's not that type of a creep."

"Where are you two going?"

"I don't know. I just want to get this over with." Brenda took off her robe, and stepped into her skirt, and then pulled on her shirt. Mona helped her tuck in her shirt. She wore a pencil skirt, with a black matching shirt. The skirt hugged every curve. She threw on some platform heels, and some blood red lipstick. Mona looked her over. "Brenda you look beautiful. Classic elegance."

"Thanks, but I just want to get this over with."

"You keep saying that. If you don't want to do it, don't."

"No, I said I would, so I am."

"Are you meeting him?"

"He's picking me up."

"Why? You hardly know him. That's not smart Brenda."

Brenda looked at Mona, she hated lying to her. And she really didn't want Jax to pick her up, but he kept insisting. At least Lola was in bed. "I know him Mona. He's from my past, and I don't want to talk about it….ok."

Mona could tell that it was more to the story, but she would respect her wishes. "Ok."

*Doorbell* Brenda took a deep breath, and said a prayer. Mona had never seen Brenda, so nervous. She touched her shoulder. "Brenda, are you sure you're ok?"

"I am, just get the door please. I don't want Lola to wake up. I just need a moment."

"Ok." Mona left, and went and opened the door.

Jax turned around and smiled. "Hello."

"Hello. Come in. I'm Mona, Brenda is on her way."

Jax followed her in, closing the door behind him. He looked around. Her apt. reminded him, of the cottage that Brenda had in Port Charles…in the way that it was decorated. Mona motioned for him to have a seat. He did.

He looked over at Mona. "Do we know each other?"

Mona shook her head. "I don't think so, but you do look familiar."

"You do too."

"Where are you taking her?"

At that moment Brenda walked in. "Mona, stop giving him a hard time."

"I'm not giving him a hard time, I was just curious."

Jax stood up, when he saw Brenda entering. She looked stunning. "Hello."

"Hello, Jax."

Brenda grabbed her clutch. "I won't be long."

"Ok."

Jax turned to Mona. "Nice meeting you."

"You too. Take care of my Brenda."

"I will."

They leave. Mona walked over and locked the door. "What a handsome devil….."

Brenda and Jax are in the back of a limo, on their way to some unknown destination. She should have been able to relax, but she couldn't. There was still a lot of tension, between the two of them. She was still very angry with him. She was so worried about him running into Lola, she totally forgot about the evening, that they would be spending together.

Jax looked over at her. "Relax Brenda."

She looked at him briefly, then back out of the window. "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

"Jax, this is supposed to be a simple dinner date."

"I don't do simple dinner dates."

"Nothing has changed Jax. I am still upset with you."

"I know, I can see it in your eyes."

She continued looking out of the window. They ride the rest of the way in silence.

They pulled up to the opera house. The driver got out and opened the door for Jax. He walked around, and opened Brenda's door. He offered his hand, but she didn't take it. "I'm fine, thanks."

They walked in, and Brenda quickly noticed that there was no one else around, besides the people who worked there. She looked over at Jax. "Where is everybody?"

"We are everybody."

Brenda sighed. "Jax, what is this? Is this your way of trying, to make me remember how we use to be?"

"Yes."

"I don't want to remember how it use to be. Jax, this was supposed to be a simple dinner date. An obligation for charity. Not a real date."

"Brenda, it's not a real date. I just wanted to do something nice for you. I don't expect either one of us, to ever forget what happened. This is just an attempt, at remembering one of the many good times we had. That's all. We may not ever see each other again after tonight. Let's make the most of it." He looked down at her. "Ok."

"Ok, whatever Jax."

They were taken to their seats. Brenda looked over at him, as the lights dimmed. "No dinner on the stage this time?"

"No. We're being treated to a real show."

"Really?"

Jax nodded. "Really."

Brenda had never seen an opera before. She had no idea if she would even like it, but she was going to give it a chance, especially since it meant, she didn't have to talk to him.

This was not just a show, this was a huge production. She was so into it. There were so many highs and lows, throughout the show. It was a love story, and everything about it was breathtaking. The singing, the emotion, it seemed so real. By the time that it was over, she was emotionally drained, but she loved every minute of it.

They stood up and clapped after it was over. The actors went through their normal routines of bowing, as if it was a full house.

"That was really good."

"Glad you liked it."

"I never knew you liked operas."

"I've been to one or two. I remember seeing this one, and I thought it would be perfect for tonight."

"Well, it was. I'll have to bring Mona. And you rented this whole theatre out?"

"Yes."

"Jax, you didn't have to do that. I would have been perfectly fine, seeing it with five hundred other people."

"I would have too, but at least it isn't taking us two hours to leave."

Brenda laughed. "True."

They made it back to the limo, and now they are on their way to dinner.

They talked about the show, until they pulled up to the restaurant. Jax informed the driver that he could let himself out. He got out, walked around the car, and opened the door for Brenda. They preceded to go into the restaurant, where they are taken to a private dining area.

Jax pulled out her chair. She thanked him, and sat down. Brenda had a feeling, that this was going to be one of the longest, dinners of her life. At least at the opera, they could focus on the show, and not each other. But now they were at dinner, alone in a room, and neither one, could escape the other.

Their personal waiter introduced himself, and handed Jax and Brenda a wine list. Jax looked up at her. "What would you like?"

"I don't care, you choose."

Jax made a choice, took Brenda's list and handed them both to the waiter. He left briefly and brought back a bottle of wine, in which he poured into their glasses. They ordered, and he left.

To say that it was awkward and uncomfortable, would be an understatement. Brenda could not pretend she wasn't still angry with Jax.

"Brenda, I got this room, so that we could talk things out."

"Jax, you already know how I feel."

"You hate me."

Brenda looked down. "I don't hate you, I just don't like you."

"Wow…..."

"It's how I feel. Honestly, I never wanted to lay eyes on you again."

"I felt the same way about you, for a very long time."

She looked up into his eyes. "I didn't say no."

"No, but you kissed another man. You don't think that hurt?"

"It was just a kiss."

"Yeah, to you. Not to me. You left me, for the man you were kissing. You don't think I would have a problem with that?"

"Yes, but you should have discussed it with me."

"Maybe I should have. Like I told you at the auction, I had every intentions of marrying you."

"So that makes it better, and I should be more understanding?."

The waiter returned with their food, but neither one felt like eating. Jax asked the waiter for privacy.

By this point Brenda had gotten up, and walked out onto the balcony. Jax followed her. "Brenda, I don't think you should be understanding. But you can't be all that shocked."

"Are you serious? You let me walk down that isle, with all of our friends present, and you said no. Knowing how devastated I was when, Sonny did it. And I don't care if you showed up! It doesn't make it right! You were there Jax. You were there for my nervous breakdown. And you still did it."

"I didn't know I was going to say no, until it came out."

Brenda looked out into the night. "You broke my heart."

Jax stared at her. "And you didn't break mine? You couldn't expect me to always be the bigger person. I watched you and Sonny make eyes at each other, the first time we were together. I saw all of that, and I tried to pretend like I didn't see it. Because I believed one day you would wake up, and see what we had. But you didn't. You left me, for the love of your life. You have no idea what that did to me. I had this woman, that I loved with all of my heart, who wanted someone else. But somehow we found our way back. And finally, I thought we were going to make it work. And you kissed him again. I couldn't put myself through that, not again. I was not going to sit around, and wait for you to walk through the door, and tell me you're leaving."

Brenda turned to him. "That never would have happened. I loved you Jax."

"Not if you had to kiss another man, to know for sure."

"That kiss with Sonny, meant nothing. It was a mistake. I always loved you. But regardless, you still had no right to do that to me. You could have told me, before the ceremony."

"Look, it happened. We can't change it. You kissed Sonny, and I said no."

"And don't forget the one million dollars you offered me."

Jax sighed. "We can't change any of it. I hate that it happened, I really do, but it did. I just don't want us to go on like this. I realize we don't see each other everyday….."

At that moment Brenda thought about Lola. She saw him everyday, when she looked into Lola's eyes.

"….I think we can get passed this. I think we can be friends again. It's been eight years. I understand if you want to go on hating me, or whatever you want to call it. But I had to try to make things right. I didn't want to leave this earth, with this still hanging over our heads. Regardless if we ever see each other again, I would love to know that you forgave me."

"Jax, it's not that easy. The hurt is still very fresh."

"Not for me."

"Well, I didn't say no to you."

"But you-."

"I know! I kissed Sonny! The kiss was a mistake!"

Jax stared at her for a moment, and started laughing, and so did Brenda. "This back and forth, is getting ridiculous. I said my peace. So, If I die tomorrow, or you die tomorrow, my conscious is clear. I've done everything I can to make it right."

*silence* Brenda swallowed hard, and stared out into the night. "When I first saw you…at the luncheon, I wanted to slap the hell out of you."

Jax's eyes are still on her. "If it will help you get over it…..."

Brenda shook her head. "I'm not going to hit you. Jax, I want to get passed this, but for some reason I just can't."

"You can if you try hard. You forgave Sonny, why can't you forgive me?"

"We never got back together after he left me. We're not even friends. But Jax, it's not the same. I never in a million years thought you would do anything like that. I always thought my heart was safe with you."

'It was, but I'm human Brenda."

Brenda sighed. "I know."

His eyes are still on her, as she looked down at the street below.

Brenda continued. "I was hurt more than anything. I never thought you would treat me like that."

"The only thing I can say is I'm sorry."

"It just doesn't seem like it's enough."

Jax watched as the wind whipped through her hair. "I'd give you the world, if it would make things right between us."

She looked over at him. "You don't have a time machine laying around do you?"

"If I did, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"I should have never kissed Sonny."

"And I…..shouldn't have done a lot of things."

Brenda took a deep breath, and let it out. "I don't want to talk it about it anymore, because you're right, we can't change it."

"No we can't, but we can move forward."

"Yes." *silence* "Jax, I just noticed your accent has faded a little."

"Has it?"

"Yes, it has."

"I guess, I've been in the States too long."

"At least you're still good looking."

Jax smiled. "Am I?"

Brenda laughed. "Come on, all this therapy has made me hungry." They go back inside, and have dinner…

Brenda and Jax are on the way up to her place. They ride the elevator in silence. After exiting, they walk down the hall to her apt. Brenda unlocked, and opened the door. She turned. "Thanks for tonight."

"Thanks for listening. I don't know if we can be friends after this, but I think it is a step in the right direction."

"Yeah, it is."

"Brenda, there is a reason I'm in Rome. I've been asked to help with ASEC."

"What?"

"Yes, I haven't accepted. That depends on how you feel about it."

"Jax, it is an organization that helps kids. If you can make it better, than do it." (Damn it, Brenda. There you go again. You should have said, hell no!)

He smiled. "Ok."

"Mamma!"

Brenda turned to see Lola running toward her, she froze. But Lola jumped in her arms. "Lola…what…are you doing up?"

Mona appeared. "She was thirsty….we were on our way to the kitchen."

Jax smiled. "Well, hello there."

Brenda wanted to push him out, and shut the door. But that might look suspicious.

"Wait a minute." He looked at Mona, then Lola. "Now, I remember, I met you in the hotel lobby, in Paris. She dropped her necklace."

Brenda's eyes got wide. "What?"

Mona smiled. "Yes, that's right."

"Brenda, I had no idea I was meeting your daughter. She is gorgeous."

"Thanks. So…you three have already met?"

"Briefly…..in the lobby of your hotel in Paris. Aren't you going to introduce us?"

"Ahh…yeah…um…Lola, this is my friend Jax."

Lola smiled. "Hello."

"Hello."

Brenda felt like she was about to have a heart attack. "Ok, say goodnight."

"Buona notte."

Jax smiled. "Good night."

Brenda looked over at Mona. "Could you put her back in the bed? I'll bring her something to drink, in a minute."

Mona took Lola back to her bedroom.

"Brenda, she really is beautiful."

"Thanks."

"And thanks for tonight, I hope it helped…..ease some of the hurt, hate, or whatever you want to call it."

"It helped."

Their eyes lock for a moment. Brenda looked away.

His eyes never leave her. "I won't keep you. Take care."

She looked up into his eyes. "Goodnight, Jax." Brenda watched as he walked down the hall. She quickly closed the door, and leaned up against it. (He had no idea.)

Mona walked into the living room, and saw Brenda up against the door. "Are you ok?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

"He is a very good looking man."

"Yeah…..he is."

"Someone from your past…right?"

Brenda had a hard time, putting her thoughts together. "Yeah."

"Brenda….relax, he doesn't know."

"Know what?"

"Look, Brenda, I always suspected Lola was yours. I don't know why you don't want anyone to know that. And I'll never tell a soul, but if you don't want that guy to know, he's the father, you have to relax. And yes, I knew, when I opened the door and looked into his eyes. It was like looking into Lola's."

"Mona, I-."

"Don't worry, he won't hear it from me. I'm going to get Lola something to drink." Brenda watched as Mona headed into the kitchen…...