A/N: Thanks for all the people who have stuck by me, reading and reviewing…you rock. Special thanks to Sara, who inspired this story to be resurrected and has helped me become a better writer.
The smell of food tickled his nose…and when he opened his eyes there she was two little cherubic boys with her and a tray of food.
"Do you know how hard it is to talk Alfred into letting me cook? Do you make the help learn the Cassadine look of death too? I mean I am sure his foie gras is lovely but Cameron wanted grilled cheese" she said setting the tray down.
"How was your nap?" she asked taking out the right amount of pills and handing him a cup of water.
He had forgotten how much he liked to hear her voice, the excitement in her tone even when talking of nothing. The way the words animated her face, those cobalt blue eyes dancing and twinkling all over…and he wondered if it maybe wasn't just a little wrong the way he watched her mouth moved, focusing on that tiny birthmark that settled on her top lip.
She smiled at him, "Earth to Nikolas, did you need some more sleep?" she asked.
"I am sorry…the nap was fine…I feel much better, thank you" he said downing all the pills with one gulp of water.
Handing him a plate of food, "I tried to call Em…no answer…Monica said she didn't come home last night" she explained.
Taking a bite of the sandwich he choked back the emotion that came with her name. He knew how bad she was hurting now…and he wished he could be the one to help her pick up the pieces of her heart…but things had changed between them…he wasn't more sure of that until that last night…the goodbye that said everything.
"Dada, bite" Spencer asked opening his mouth wide.
That helped take the somber tone out of the room Nikolas feeding Spencer small bites, Cameron babbling about Chuggin' Charlie…and as the tiniest flutter could be felt in her stomach Elizabeth wondered the last time she had felt this happy.
OoOoO
"What are you doing Daddy?" Kristina asked in the doorway of the kitchen Lamby tucked under her arm.
He turned to her the dimples etching deep in his cheeks, "I'm making my girls some breakfast" he told her.
"Oh…Mommy usually makes us cereal…sometimes toast but I usually have to scrape off the black with a butter knife for her" she told him sitting down at the table.
Stifling a laugh he turned back to the cutting board chopping up the bell peppers, "You want to help Daddy cook" he asked.
"Sure!" she answered excitedly.
Turning around he handed her the bowl full of eggs, "Can you scramble those for me?"
Watching her she began to fluff the eggs, when they were beaten he handed her the garlic salt, "Now add a little bit of that" he instructed before handing her the pepper, "And that."
"Cooking is fun Daddy"
"Words I bet you never thought you'd hear a Davis woman say" Alexis said walking in the kitchen Molly in her arms.
He smiled, "You said it…not me" he teased.
"What are you making?" she asked pouring a cup of coffee.
"Omelets!" Kristina exclaimed.
An arched eyebrow shot in his direction, "Oh really?" she asked.
"Your mama loves omelets" he said smiling at their daughter.
Alexis narrowed her eyes at him; "I didn't think you remembered" she shot at him.
His eyes met hers in challenge, "You'd be surprised at what I remember"
OoOoO
The light stung her eyes and for a moment she forgot where she was lost in the pool of linen. The flood of memories came back to her and in an instant all she wanted to do was close her eyes and fall back into the world where her father wasn't gone…where her whole world wasn't crashing down upon her.
Getting up she looked at herself in the mirror, eyes swollen and puffy, hair limp, wearing a pair of Jax's pajamas. She didn't know what she would have done had Jax not been there…because looking at anyone else made it feel like someone was standing on her chest. She didn't want the sorry looks, or the sympathy…from Jax every word felt genuine…like he had stood in the hell she was in, and learned to climb back out.
Slowly she opened the door and he looked up from his paper at the table, "I didn't know what you liked for breakfast…so I ordered one of everything" he explained gesturing to the trays of food.
She felt her stomach rumble, "Thank you Jax…for this, for last night, for everything" she said sitting down.
He smiled, "Anytime" he said opening trays, "So what's your fancy?" he asked.
It was weird, the ease she felt around him since they had never really interacted besides the summer before…when her fairy tale went to hell.
"French toast and sausage" she said a small smile managing to make its way upon her face.
They ate breakfast in silence, Emily thankful for the questions that went unasked…the words left unsaid. When she was done she got up, "I should call my mom, they are probably worried" she said sighing.
"I called the Quartermaine's, let them know you were okay…I also had the boutique send up some clothes…so take as long as you need. I have a meeting, but the place is yours" he told her.
The sentiment of it all made tears come to her eyes, "Thank you Jax" she told him tears puddle in those toffee eyes.
His arms came around her and before she knew it the sob that was stuck in her throat was slowly trickling down her face.
Lips touched her head, "It's going to be okay Emily…I promise it's going to be okay" he told her holding her tightly to him as the emotion shook through her entire body.
In that moment she felt like as long as she stayed there everything really would be okay.
OoOoO
"So where are we going exactly?" Lucky implored looking over her shoulder at the map in front of her.
Her finger led a trail down the blue ocean, "Well right now we are on course to South America but really…anywhere you want, pick a country…any country" she teased.
"Costa Rica" he said without thinking.
A wide smile spread across her face, "Really?" she asked excited.
Nodding, "I remember seeing something on the Travel channel…it looks so beautiful. I always told myself that is somewhere I would like to go one day" he said wistfully.
Brown eyes found her feet, "With Elizabeth?" she whispered.
His finger touched under her chin bringing her gaze back into his, "Dreams change…and right now the only person I want to experience Costa Rica with is Sailor McCall" he told her teasing.
"Well good" she said the nervousness evident in her voice.
Turning around she felt the boat hit a wave and found her body falling back…two strong arms caught her from her fall.
"Whoa there, you okay?" he asked his hot breath tickling her ear.
She felt the rush of heat flush her skin, "I'm fine" she said pulling away.
When she looked at him she saw the boyish smile staring back at her...and for the life of her she couldn't remember anybody ever looking at her like that…like they saw past the façade, the tight jeans, the badass chick, the con, the flirting, all the way to Samantha McCall.
OoOoO
The words took a moment to sink in…flooding through her veins with the blood…slowly pumped to her heart…and when it got there it struck her.
Shaking her head, "What?" she asked.
He tried to touch her hand and she pulled it away jumping off the couch and away from him, "No, no it's not…the DNA test…the baby, its Lucky's…it is" she told him.
Getting up and walking towards her, "Car" he pleaded.
"No, no…Elizabeth wants you for herself…and she's using this baby, God, she's using this baby to get to you…don't let her do this, Jason, don't. We can get a DNA test…right now" she ranted her hands flailing in front of her, the tears falling down.
He could see the hurt in her eyes and it only sank his heart deeper in his chest. He took his hands and placed them on her shoulders, "Carly, please" he begged.
Stormy blue eyes met his own, "Elizabeth and I…we're not going to be together…but this baby…it's mine…I know you don't, but I trust Elizabeth" he told her.
Turning around she choked back the sob that threatened to knock her over and she walked over to the mantle running her finger gently over the picture of the boys.
There was an eerie silence before, "Why?" she whispered.
Watching her torrent of emotions come over her made him wish he could cut off his arm instead of cause her this pain. Walking towards her he fought the urge to touch her again.
"Why what?" he asked confused.
She turned to him, leveling a teary gaze, "Why does she get your baby and not me?"