1st Let's Play Catch Up, One more time
Maxie had been sitting in a cafe for hours trying to build up her courage. She had noticed that she was gettting sick and feeling exhausted and that only meant one thing. She was hoping for two outcomes. It seemed contridictary but on one hand she hoped she wasn't, it would make things easier if all they had to bind them was Max. They She and Johnny didn't have the best of relation ships anymore. On the other hand, she would love to have a little brother or sister for Max. After all, her kids would be the only thing she had left to look at of him. She drank the last of her water and called the sitter to tell her she would be a little late. Maxie walked back to the villa and up the stairs to her bedroom. The timer had gone off some time ago but she hadn't had the courage to look until now. Either way she would deal with it. When she saw the digital yes on the applicator she sank down to the bed and held her stomach. She was about to bring yet another Zacharra into the world and she would have to do it alone, yet again. She started to cry when she realized she would have yet another reminder of what she could have but didn't.
Chapter 6
You Mean Nothing to Me
Johnny looked on as she stretched and her stomach slightly overlapped the counter. She wasn't one to let herself go, not even if her heart was broken and she was eating olives, she hated Olives, and taking naps, she was pregnant, she had to be. He jumped up and came from behind and grabbed the jar for her. When she turned around she saw that look of disappointment on his face.
"Okay, what did I do now?"
Johnny put the jar down and placed his hand on her belly.
"You wanna tell me what the hell is going on or do you want me to guess."
Maxie brushed his hand away.
"What are you going on about now."
"I figured you would've learned from the last time you lied to me. How could you Maxie! You're pregnant."
"No."
"Yes and if you lie to my face again so help me-"
"You'll what? Lock me up in a tower like your father did. I knew you had some ulterior motive for showing up here. It was written all over your face."
"No no, you don't get to turn this around on me."
"Get out!"
"Not with out my kids."
"What makes you think this kid is even yours."
"You wouldn't, if it's mine Maxie spit it out."
Maxie had a hard look on her face that softened. She wanted to lie but she couldn't, not anymore.
"Fine, the baby is yours. Why are you doing this? I was fine, Max was fine, this baby was going to be fine, we were all going to be fine without you."
The thought of Maxie raising his children alone angered him, she wasn't even going to say a word if he hadn't shown up and seen it himself. He was more pissed off than ever.
"Get your stuff, we're leaving."
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
"You will because you don't have a choice, you think you can just run off with my kids and live happily ever after without me, without my consent, you got another thing coming. You are coming with me...NOW."
Maxie jumped at the booming of his voice but remained defiant. She walked past him but he moved around her and grabbed her. His eyes of absolute fury met her stone washed face.
"I could scream."
"Go ahead, no one can stop me."
"Let go of me, you're hurting me."
"I haven't begun to hurt you Maxie, not yet. I let your little lies slide last time but not this time. You will do what I say, when I say it and until that baby comes i own you. Afterwards you can go, without my kids."
"You wouldn't dare cut me out of my children's lives."
"Wouldn't I, I've gotten pretty good at doing onto others as they do to me, and the way I see it, I owe you this, it's the least I can do."
"What kind of a monster are you? I won't let you do this."
"Consider it done. The more you fight me the worse I'm gonna make it for you."
Through her tears Maxie cursed the day she ever met John Zacharra. He let go and walked up the stair to his son's room. Moments later a nurse came in and started to pack the little boys things when Isabella came in and walked right up to Johnny and slapped him and spit at his feet.
"Bastardo! I told you about coming here to make trouble, she is in her room packing and crying her eyes out. How dare you!"
"She brought it on herself."
"What happened to that sweet man that came here for his lost love."
"He got a reality check."
Johnny coldly got up and walked around the woman.
"You are breaking her heart."
"That's the plan."
Johnny walked down the steps carrying his son and passed a still sniffling Maxie in the doorway. He looked at her and for a split second felt remorse but the feeling was short lived as he saw her clutch her belly. He would not miss this childs life. They soon arrived back in Port Charles much to his wife's surprise. She had been packing and expected for him to move his new little family in but when he greeted her it was with loving arms. He was genuinly shocked to see she had most of her things packed.
"We going somewhere?"
"No, I figured you would want some time to bond with your new family."
"Unless I'm wrong my wife is apart of that family."
Brook lynn was surprised. she hadn't expected to have her husband come home to her. He walked over with arms open and embraced her. She hugged him back and from behind saw Maxie carrying a little boy walk in behind him.
"What's this about?"
"I need to talk to you about a few things. Will you walk with me?"
Brook lynn walked out of the room with him glancing in Maxie's direction. Maxie returned an ice cold look. Brook lynn knew something bad must've happened. Johny walked ahead and his wife caught up with him next to the pool outside.
"So you wanna tell me why your baby mama is here."
"She's moving in."
"What! Johnny, I'm happy you came back to me and it seems like you really want to try to be us again but I'm putting my foot down on this. Our relationship can't take this."
"Will you please give it a try. I want to try and get to know my son, i want to raise him with my wife...I can't do this with out you."
Brooklynn looked him over and could see he was really torn by this so she decided to give it a try. It was the least she could do.
"I guess it could be worse. Atleast there's only one kid to deal with."
Johnny's face went white for a moment. He could see that this was the moment he should be honest with her but knew it would break her heart. So he stayed silent. He would wait to bring the new baby up at a later time, when they were more solid. It was obvious to him now that Brook lynn was good for him, more than Maxie he thought. he needed to hang on to her. Maxie had hurt him so much he needed to show her he didn't need her anymore by showing her he loved his wife. Johnny embraced his wife. He looked over at the pool reflection and could see that Maxie was looking out her terrace that overlooked the pool. He decided he'd show her. Johnny kissed Brook lynn so passionately even she was caught off guard. Maxie saw this and her heart cracked a little but was not broken just yet. It hurt a lot though to see. A few hours later Maxie was in her room unpacking when there was a soft knock at her door. She opened it and revealed johnny leaning in the door way. He pushed right past her and walked into the room.
"Excuse you. You might have made me come here but you don't get to just come in my room when you want/"
"I pretty sure I can. Listen, we need to get a few things straight."
"Like what, how much you are your fathers son, yeah i got the memo on that."
"No. I want you to stay out of my wife's way. She doesn't know about the baby."
""And you're not gonna tell her are you? Well look who turned into the ultimate hypocrite."
"Shut your mouth. She's been through enough, she's not ready to hear it yet."
"So what exactly is it you're going to do Johnny. You gonna wait till you bring home a newborn and say, oh and by the way honey this is my new baby."
"Cut the sarcasm Maxie."
"No. You brought me here, deal with it."
Johnny walked up and got right in her face. He looked at her and she appeared to tremble in his presence. He softly placed his hand on her arm and ran his fingertips up the length of her arm. He could see she instantly tensed up. He slowly lowered his lips toward hers when she spoke.
"I hate to break it to you but that doesn't work on me anymore."
"If you say so. You know I heard pregnant women have a very high sex drive."
"Any drive for sex I had towards you died the moment you showed me how much like your father you really are and I have no desire to sleep with anyone like Anthony."
Maxie backed away from him and put enough distance between the two of them for him to get the hint.
"I trust your wife knows where you are."
"She didn't seem to bother you the last time we slept together."
"Funny, you didn't seem all that concerned for her either if I recall."
Johnny chuckled and walked out of her room closing the door behind him. Maxie let out a breath realizing that her feeling for him were stronger than ever. All she wanted was for him to take her in his arms and love her but she knew better than anyone that Johnny was self destructive, he wasn't being truthful. he was one of those people that lashed out and hurt anyone that hurt him and it was true Maxie had hurt him. He was trying to use her feelings against her, what worried her was that it might work. She had to do anything she could to stop herself from falling in love with him again. The next morning Maxie got up at the crack of dawn to walk around the compound. She walked everyday to help stay healthy for the baby. She thought the earlier she got out the less her chances were of running into Johnny or Brook Lynn. She happened into the kitchen and much to her unluck there was Johnny and Brook Lynn getting intimate. This felt like a stab to the heart. The way Johnny kissed her, the way his hands roamed her body, that crooked smile he got when he knew he was getting his way, all this is what Maxie missed when they were together. Maxie turned to walk away but bumped into a statue knocking it over and alerting the couple. Johnny rounded the corner first and caught Maxie trying to inch her way back up the stairs, He grabbed her arm and escorted her back upstairs and by the time Brook Lynn made it out of the kitchen she saw them from behind walking up the stairs and Johnny seemed to be angry. He flung open her door and forced Maxie inside the room.
"What the hell did I say, I said keep you distance from my wife!"
"I was hungry and I figured since it was early that neither of you would be up."
Johnny looked at her and saw something was wrong. She was more than just upset that he caught her.
"What's wrong?"
"Why the hell do you care, you just got through man-handling me and now you're concerned for my well-being."
"Make no mistake I don't care about what's bothering you unless it has to do with my kids."
"Then you don't wanna know now do you. The doors that way Mr. Zacharra, I'm sure your wife must be wondering where you are."
"You just stay in here till she leaves, which should be in a minute."
Johnny flung the door open again and stormed out. Maxie was infuriated. This asshole brought her here. What was she suppose to do, stay locked away in this room till the baby was born? Or maybe she was suppose to peer around every corner to make sure his precious Brook Lynn wasn't in the room before she entered. Fuck that Maxie thought. She went to open the door and there standing was Brook Lynn.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes you can, by leaving."
"Trust me, I'd love to but I don't have a choice in the matter."
"What is it you need? Money? I'll pay your way, just go back from where you came."
"And my son?"
"Your son deserves to be with a family that can take care of him. You should leave him here."
"Leave him here with you and Johnny? I don't think so. If you think I'm gonna leave my little boy here to complete your little happy family fantasy you can forget."
"Don't you see what you're doing?"
"I'm pretty sure your gonna enlighten me."
"Johnny and I are trying to make the best of the situation-"
"However you refer to your marriage is not my business but if you want me gone I suggest you get your husband to let go of me and his kids...kid."
"I'll talk to him but just consider what your son's life would be like growing up with two parents that love each other."
"Well Johnny and I would do fine but I'm sure it would piss you off to watch us raise our son."
"Just think about it, try not to be the selfish Maxie I know you are."
"Go to hell Mrs. Zacharra."
Maxie stepped back and slammed the door. The nerve of these people she thought. All she wanted to do was find a way out. She scoffed at the idea of leaving her son behind. How dare that bitch treat her son like a baseball card. She decided to go to her son's room and see how he had settled in. So far he seemed to be very distant and quiet. She worried that the sudden forced move traumatized him. As she rounded the corner she heard a piano. She went into the room but it was empty. She followed the sounds of the music to a large dining hall. There sitting at the piano was Johnny playing one of his favorite Mozart pieces (Fur Elise). Max was sitting next to him on the bench watching his fathers fingers tap the keys ever so softly and with absolute grace. the boy was hypnotized. Maxie watched the scene unfold with a bit of sadness. While lost in her thoughts she hadn't realized that Max saw her. He jumped from the bench and ran towards her and halfway there he slipped and fell. Maxie and Johnny both rushed to his side. Maxie holding Max in her arms as a worried Johnny looked him over. The boy looked as if he wanted to cry but stiffened his lip.
"He must get that from me."
Maxie looked up at him and couldn't help but look into his eyes and feel his hand on her leg. The child struggled to get out of his mother grip and walked back to the piano.
"I'll just .. . go."
"You don't have to."
"Yes I do. This game . . .I'm not playing. I've got Max to think about and another baby on the way. If you want to hurt me you're doing a good job of it."
"What are you talking-"
"You, looking at me like you are right now. One minute you're pissed at me and the next you're coming on to me then you're practically fucking your wife in my face!"
"Calm down, Max is right here. Besides what the hell do you care. Every time I get close to you I find out some secret or lie you've told. It's like you don't trust me."
"You're right I don't trust you. You broke my heart every chance you got. First with olivia then Brook lynn-"
"Oh no, you made it real clear to me on several occasions that you weren't interested back then and that has nothing to do with you lying to me about being pregnant with my kid!"
"That's were you're wrong. I lied because. ...because.."
"Go ahead spit out another one of your lies."
"I LOVE YOU."
The room was silent for a moment. Maxie took the silence to confirm what she already knew, he didn't love her back. She turned to walk out of the door but Johnny rushed to stop her and pulled her into one of his can't breath when he's kissing me kisses. They wildly grabbed onto each other till Maxie pushed him away. He couldn't look her in the eyes right now. He wanted to keep hating her. She rushed out of the room and when the door shut he opened his eyes. He turned to look at Max and saw he was laying on the bench sleeping. He carried the boy back to his room and tucked him in. Johnny watched the boy sleep and though of his mother. He thought about how it felt to touch her, to kiss her, to be inside her, to hear her calling his name but his thoughts were interrupted by his wife placing her hand on his shoulder.
"Bullet for your thoughts."
"It's nothing."
"I know it must be hard having her here. I asked her to leave-"
"Don't get involved."
"A little to late for that. You decided to have a kid with someone who wasn't your wife and you expect me to what...stay out of it?"
"I expect you to understand this is a delicate situation-"
"I understand. I get that you are hurt but keeping her here doesn't solve anything, especially for us."
"What do you want me to do, let her go and take my son back to Italy?"
"You know what they say, if you love something, let it go."
Johnny sprang up from his chair and walked out with Brook lynn following closely.
"Johnny, JOHNNY, wait."
"Wait for what. What the hell kind of person are you to ask me to give up my kid!"
"Someone who loves you!"
The argument continued and Brook lynn gave him a choice, it was either Maxie goes or she go. Again he would make the wrong choice. After a few drinks Johnny showed back up at Maxie's room. She opened the door and saw a slumped Johnny in the doorway.
"Will you please just leave me alone."
"I came to tell you...I'm sorry for making you come here. You can go."
"I'm not going anywhere without my son."
"You can stop with the yelling, you and Max can go, and this baby you're about to have... you're not bound to me anymore.
"What brought this on?"
"My marriage is in trouble. I want to do everything I can to save it, i can't do that if you're here. You distract me."
"I can respect that. We'll be out of here by tomorrow."
"You don't have to sound so happy about it."
"I'm not. I admit I was wrong to keep Max from his father. He loves you."
"You said you loved me too."
"That doesn't matter now Johnny, I never should've said tha-"
At that moment Maxie felt a sharp pain in her stomach. She clenched to her belly and fell to the floor. Johnny instantly dove down and picked her up and took her to the bed. Maxie squirmed with pain as Johnny frantically called the doctor. He worried about calling a hospital. If he did everyone would know about this new baby, including his wife. He figured the doctor on the premises would be able to tell them something faster since he was there. The doctor came pretty quickly and brought the ultrasound machine as Johnny had instructed. He struggled with his guilt, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself if anything happened to the baby because of him. The doctor injected Maxie with something that seem to help her.
"Okay now, has the pain stopped?"
"Yes doctor."
"Okay, so now what I want to do is have a look in there at your baby just to make sure everything is okay."
"What caused her the pain in the first place doc?"
"Her blood pressure is a little on the high side but that's nothing that can't be fixed with a little rest and relaxation and proper diet. I am concerned however this being her second child and her having a heart condition."
"Don't worry doc, I'm alot stronger than I look."
"Okay...so everything seems to be looking good so far. Good to hear I'm sure but would you like to know the sex of your baby?"
Johnny looked at Maxie who was beaming with happiness. She hadn't thought at all about her doctors appointment she had made prior to leaving Italy to find out the baby's gender. She knew what she was hoping for and wanted to be happy in the moment but knew that this was a tricky situation. She looked up at Johnny and saw him smiling looking at the small screen.
"So do we want to know?"
"Johnny?"
"I ...I... yeah."
With that the doctor pointed to the screen and explained what they were seeing. It was a healthy baby. . . .
No one knew at the time but Brook lynn had seen the doctor and followed him up the stairs fearing something had happened to her husband. She was heart broken as she listened to the joyous news on the other side of the door. She peered in and she too saw the baby on the screen that somehow had destroyed her world. How could it be something so small had that much power. She was hurt and angry. Those two combinations of feelings were never good when she was concerned. Johnny had done it again.