Authors Note: Okay here is the next part, I know I totally leave you all hanging at the end. The beginning went on longer than I had expected. But the next chapter will be chalk full of JoMax and a nice juicy Lulu/Maxie fight. Comment!

Chapter 9: And So It Begins

Knock, knock, knock…

Maxie Jones slammed her delicate hand against the thick door of Jason Morgan's pent house, careful not to damage her newly painted fingernails. She continued to bang on the protective door ferociously until finally it finally swung open in annoyance.

"Oh, it's you." The mundane voice of Jason Morgan entered her anxious ears. He left the door open before turning to walk away. Scoffing at his rudeness, Maxie clicked her heels across the mobster's living room floor and headed for the stairs.

"He's still changing, he'll be down in a minute." Jason informed the blonde. Stopping in her tracks, Maxie wheeled around and redirected her footsteps. Marching to the couch, she plopped herself next to Jason.

"So Jason, are you going to be making an appearance at the Haunted Star tonight? You and Sam maybe?" Maxie asked raising her eyebrows in suggestion. The remaining Jones sister liked to think of herself as the mobster's personally appointed pest. She nagged, she argued, she went up when he said down; she was the equivalent of an annoying younger sister. And the truth was, she loved every minute of it. The makeshift family that she had created with Jason and Spinelli was like a lifeline. She had clung to their odd expressions and sturdy loyalty like a lifeboat after Georgie died. There were times where she couldn't bare to go home and face Mac, knowing that a chunk of their family unit would always be missing. Those were the times that she went to Jason's. Ironically enough his dangerously targeted home was a safe haven to Maxie.

"No. And get that idea out of your head right now. Sam and I are getting along fine and we don't need you sniffing around and causing trouble." He warned, knowing exactly how the blonde thought. Maxie would be over the moon if Jason and Sam reunited. Her best friend and her begrudging protector? For Maxie they were a match made in mob heaven.

"Well what if it wasn't trouble that I was causing…" She slowly let the words out, fighting back a smirk. She could already see the lines of stress etching on Jason's perfectly defined face.

"Maxie." He simply stated.

"Oh don't worry you big lug, I'm not going to do anything. But I can't make any promises if Sam happens to ask my opinion on the matter." She smiled in excitement. "The two of you are so perfect for each other. Like, way connected." She squealed happily.

"Maximista? Is that your musical alert of excitement I hear?" Spinelli's whimsical words rang down the stair case as he emerged wearing a tailored suit.

"Spinelli! You looks so amazing, that color is fabulous on you. God, I totally hit the nail on the hammer when I picked this out for you." Maxie rushed over to her good friend and immediately began toying with his hair.

"I think the fair one means to say that she hit the equivocal nail on the head." He corrected seriously. Maxie was too busy fussing with Spinelli's hair and suit to notice.

"Right, the hammer on the head." She muttered, standing back to look at Spinelli full on. "Wow, I'm good… I even surprise myself sometimes. Actually that's not true. I totally was aware of my fashion brilliance." She continued to ramble. Jason finally stood up, looking like he had recently acquired a headache, and walked over to the pair.

"Alright so, you both look presentable… off you go." He encouraged.

"Wait does my hair look okay? And my dress? I have to have the prettiest outfit there if I want to keep moving up at Crimson!" She nervously questioned.

"You look fine Maxie." Jason assured her, using a hand to guide the two friends closer to the door.

"Could you at least pretend to have an ounce of consideration in you?" Maxie demanded angrily. She was nervous and anxious about her plans for the evening and, in true Maxie fashion, she was letting off some steam in the place she felt most comfortable.

"How can someone so small, be so, so hugely irritating?" Jason wondered, directing the teasing question at Spinelli.

"She was-" The lovable nerd began to defend his 'Maximista'. "She has a name." Maxie interrupted. Spinelli nodded in acceptance and regained his composure."Maxie was-""Maxie can speak for herself." She interrupted yet again. Both Jason and Spinelli basked in their frustration as they waited for her to continue. "And for your information, tonight happens to be a very stressful and important evening for me." She bit out, a calm edge to her voice.

"Why? What's so stressful about a night at the Haunted Star?" Jason replied, mentally kicking himself for encouraging the conversation.

"The Jackal has to agree with Stone Cold's query, what complications could possibly ensue amidst the lighthearted atmosphere of our impending evening?" Spinelli's soft voice and Jason's blunt words were too much for Maxie to take. She was never good at keeping things from them.

"UGH! Fine, fine, you dragged it out of me." She exclaimed dramatically before sitting down in Jason's desk chair. The look on his face spoke of pure frustration and helplessness. He had asked one too many questions and now he was forced to endure the headache that was, Maxie Jones. "I'm going to do something stupid tonight. Something incredibly, ridiculously, undeniably stupid."

"What? Why? Why would you embark on your quote 'stupid' mission if you have the foresight to acknowledge the flaws that lie with in it?" Spinelli questioned in worry and confusion.

"Because I'm me! Duh Spinelli, I recognize something is completely destructive and then I dive in head first anyway. It's my nature." She responded, as if it were the most logical explanation on earth.

"So stop yourself this time." Jason stated simply.

"I can't!" She yelled, frustrated with their lack of understanding. "If I don't help Johnny cheat on Lulu then she'll never dump him and everything will become one big mess!" Spinelli sputtered as he registered her shocking words.

"If you DON'T help Johnny cheat on Lulu it'll be a mess? How is that even- how does…" Jason trailed off in exhaustion. "You know what? Leave me out of this." He finally spoke again.

"But- but, Stone Cold you cannot allow Maximista to sinfully create chaos with the dark prince of doom. It would be most self destructive not to mention the damage that it would place upon the peaceful coexisting of the fair blonde ones." Spinelli's frantic rambling continued to gain speed.

"SPINELLI!" Maxie finally shouted.

"But- Maximista you cant." He whimpered.

"I have to okay? Look you both have to promise not to breath a word of what I'm about to tell you okay?" The both stared at her blankly. "Um, this is the part where you say 'we promise Maxie'. Come on!" She shouted.

"I don't make blind promises." Jason answered.

"Oh really? I have a feeling princess Liz would say otherwise." Her spiteful words spoke to the actual intensity of the situation. Both of the men in the room could recognize the signs. Maxie was about to tear her life apart so, she was pushing people away before the impact ruined them all.

"Maxie, just tell us what's going on. Maybe we can help." The blue eyed enforcer softly encouraged the blonde. Now that he had a better idea of the situations weight, he would support Maxie any way he knew how.

"Okay well…" Maxie leapt into the story. She told Spinelli and Jason everything that had happened between her and Johnny. Well the business portions anyway. When she was finished both men looked skeptical.

"Maximista while I find your efforts noble and truly kind, I must encourage you to think this through. There must be some other way to keep the original blonde one safe from the fire of the Zaccharra's, for lack of a better term… hell." He pleaded, knowing in his heart that Maxie's mind was already made up.

"No." She replied firmly. Jason stood silently, considering the situation.

"Just be careful Maxie. You're playing with fire here and… well be careful." Jason finally spoke.

"What! Stone Cold, you cannot be supporting this abomination of a strategy!" Spinelli exclaimed.

"Maxie seams to have thought this through all the way and, well she is right. Lulu can be blind when it comes to Johnny. This might be the only way to really protect her." He defended Maxie's plan, causing a genuine smile to grace the blonde's lips. Jason usually treated Maxie like an over exuberant annoyance, but he did truly care for the younger girl. She was different than anyone he'd ever met, she was even a little intimidating. But somehow Maxie had wormed her way into Jason's heart and now he was prisoner to her excited smile and crazy antics.

"Thank you Jason." She replied sincerely. With a short nod Jason motioned for Maxie to get up out of his chair.

"You two should get going. If your planning on going through with your scheme…" He trailed off. Though he supported Maxie's plan, he was still worried for her. He knew that her life had been going well lately, and this new development would throw everything off course.

"Yeah, yeah we should go Spinelli." She agreed standing up and taking the computer genius's arm. Spinelli hung his head low and mumbled to himself as they made their way out the door.

00000 00000

With the ability to drop ones heart to their feet, the bright lights and upbeat music of the Haunted Star drifted outside. The soft bustling of bodies mingling together held no candle to the onslaught of notes being hit one by one on the piano in the corner. Familiarity. The feeling enticed each and every guest into being comfortable. The common array of events lined up in order seamed to trick everyone into thinking that this would in fact be, a fun filled evening. But for some, there was still the creeping feeling of what was to come, thick in the air. And as the piano's current tune simmered to a close, the feeling intensified. With a stony look set on her face, Maxie prepared to do what she did best. Cause a scene.

"Maxie wait!" Spinelli whispered urgently as her thin hand grasped the door handle in preparation. This was it, this was really it. She looked at him blankly. The girl was on a mission and she certainly had no room for this type of annoyance.

"Are you positive about your creeping agenda? It is not too late to change your mind." He assured her. Looking back he kicked himself for even letting her get this far. If he had provided a road block for her earlier there might be a chance. But by this point? All bets were off.

"Positive." Was her flat reply. She grabbed for the door again and this time Spinelli physically stopped her, earning a look of disgust. Wrenching her wrist from his grasp the small girl shoved her friend backward. Stumbling slightly, he regained his balance.

"What are you doing? Do you not understand that Lulu's life depends on this?" She whispered furiously as a formally dressed couple passed them and headed inside.

"I beg of you, find another way. This will surely destroy fair Lulu." His eyes pleaded helplessly with the blonde.

"Spinelli!" She hissed.

"She'll be heartbroken." He pointed out unnecessarily.

"Boo...hoo." She whimpered sarcastically.

"Who are you?" He questioned honestly.

"I'm a girl who's about to set things straight." She stated clearly. "And if I'm not mistaken, it's almost time for me to make my grand entrance."

"They'll all hate you."

"You won't."

"There's nothing I can say to stop you? Nothing that will make you reconsider?" He said softening his voice. All the frustration and begging had passed now. Spinelli had seen the way Maxie drew forward her walls of protection. She was ready for a war, no matter who she was going to have to fight. He knew better than to stand in her way when she felt this strongly about something.

"You know better than to ask that Spin." She admonished, softening her own voice.

"Then good luck I guess. I hope you find what you're looking for in there." He sighed deeply.

"You aren't coming?"

"I'll stay out here. This is your moment, for better or for worst." He admitted. Nodding in approval Maxie placed her hand firmly on the door handle yet again. With those final words Maxie swung the heavy doors open and entered the grandly decorated room. She marched forward with purpose and confidence. It was hard for people not to take notice when the beautiful blonde made her presence known.

00000 00000

Johnny had been patiently awaiting Maxie's arrival for over an hour now. Okay, so maybe patient wasn't the best word to use. The brown eyed musician had been moody and snappish. Lulu had actually gotten so fed up with him that she'd retreated to talk to one of her brothers. Finally, when it seamed as though she would never arrive; a pair of tortured blue eyes met his own brown ones. Fighting back a smile, Johnny took notice to the brightening room. Even the air around him seamed to have been breathed new life.

"Who's the blonde fox mate?" An Australian accent swam through Johnny's senses. Turning his head he noticed Luke's newest bartender staring in the direction of Lulu, who was now speaking with Maxie.

"Hey watch it you kangaroo, that's my little girl." The voice of Luke Spencer piped in as he joined the two younger men.

"The one in the red?" The man, Ethan Lovett, questioned.

"Oh no, her? That right there is Maxie Jones. You're gonna want to steer clear of that one too though." Luke replied, looking mildly relived that Ethan wasn't thinking of going after his daughter.

"Why is that? Do you have some sort of familial obligation to her as well?" He asked. Luke laughed boisterously.

"No, no. I'm just warning you buddy, that girl is trouble in it's truest form. She's a hell of a survivor but you know what they say. Surviving takes it's toll, and Miss Jones over there has certainly paid the price. She'll chew you up and spit you out junior." Luke's loud laughter followed him as he made his way over to some high paying customers.

"Sounds like the type of challenge I've been looking for." Ethan smirked, raising his eyebrows at Johnny as if they were old friends. Johnny balled his hands into tight fists, doing everything he could not to punch the foreigner.

"I don't think so man, Maxie's been through a lot. She'll see right through your BS and snap you in half." Johnny warned, trying to act casual.

"You know her too then?" Ethan questioned, seemingly unfazed by the other mans advice.

"We're friends." He answered softly, after a moment of thought. He looked over to meet Maxie's waiting eyes. She nodded at him discretely, but made sure that she was obvious enough about it that Lulu would take notice. The signal was a strange combination of subtlety and boldness, but it worked. Downing the rest of his drink Johnny patted Ethan on the back.

"I'll talk to you later man. I've got some business to attend to." He interrupted the new comer, who had been in the middle of telling some sort of story. Johnny kept his eyes on Maxie as she made her way through a door leading to some storage rooms. He followed her every move and exited the crowed gambling room. This was it.

"Oof!" He exclaimed as he found himself being slammed against a wall. Soon a pair of full lips were on his own. Responding quickly, Johnny found one of his hand in Maxie's soft hair and the other creeping up her unhealthily short dress.

"A room, we should find a room." She breathed when they finally parted for air. Nodding hurriedly, Johnny grabbed her and rushed her into the closest room he could find. Maxie jumped up onto a counter, used mostly for storage, and pulled Johnny to her once more.

"Let's make this happen Zaccharra." She muttered before wrestling his tie loose. His lips worked their way down her jaw and to her throat.

"Mmhm… can't… concentrate when you do that." Biting her lip Maxie began to pull Johnny's dress shirt from his pants. They had to create a picture of lust and sex. The plan was for Lulu to follow them here and find them in an intimate embrace. So far… so good.

"How do you think I feel, with you smelling so damn amazing." He spoke against her throat as he worked his way back to her lips.

"Johnny." She gasped as he nibbled on an especially sensitive area.

"Johnny!" Lulu's frantic, confused voice broke through the lust filled room. The pair sprung apart, both looking guilty.

"Lulu." The youngest Zaccharra uttered the name, looking every bit as sorry as the part required him to. They may have been doing this for Lulu's own good, but her pain was still real.

"Oh my god, how could you do this to me?" She screamed, her shock quickly evolving into anger. "And you!" She turned to Maxie, as if she were noticing her for the first time. "I should have known you weren't through being a filthy whore!" And so it began…

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