Chapter 14: Life Celebrations

Brenda finished getting dressed and then Robin pronounced her looking perfect. "Is it okay if I don't dress up?" Robin asked. "I could wear my wedding dress but it seems like it is an omen of bad luck."

Brenda chuckled. "Sure you don't have to dress up but everyone else does."

"What about Sonny?" Robin asked.

"He's already in a suit. I just told him to add a tie," Brenda said with a giggle. "Now I wonder how many people are actually going to show up."

"A chance to have free drinks, food and the chance to see a famous supermodel? No one's going to miss it!"

XoXoXo

Sonny came to the door and grinned when he saw Brenda all dressed up. "You look amazing," he said.

"Thank you, Mr. Corinthos," Brenda said. "That is so kind of you." She giggled. "And you don't look half bad yourself."

He just smiled and held out his arm to her. "Are we really going to do this thing?"

"Yes," Brenda said taking his arm as they walked out of her hospital room.

XoXoXo

"So what is this all about?" Tracy Quartermaine asked. "Some kind of wake for someone who isn't even dead yet?"

"Tracy, I don't know why Brenda would even invite you," her father Edward said.

"What I want to know is why she would invite Carly and Jax," Monica said walking over to them.

"Or Kate Howard for that matter," Edward said. "Isn't she Sonny's new –"

"Playmate," Tracy offered.

The Quartermaines looked around and saw tons of people had filled the hospital board room, munching on sushi wraps and drinking wine and trying to figure out what the hell was going on. People who meant the world to Brenda, people who hated her, even people they didn't think Brenda had met or would ever have anything to do with, were crammed into the room.

"Well I want to know why Robin was so insistent we come," Tracy said, sounding like her normal petulant self.

"Tracy, why don't you stop complaining and just shut up or go home?" Monica exhorted.

"Now, Monica, you know we couldn't have a party without Tracy," Brenda said, suddenly sweeping into the room on Sonny's arm.

"Brenda, dear!" Edward exclaimed. "It's so wonderful to see you." He kissed her on the cheek. "Too bad you brought that degenerate with you." He gestured to Sonny.

"Heel, Edward," Monica said, also kissing Brenda's cheek. "So what's this all about? I hear you have a brain tumor through the ever-active hospital grapevine but then we get a call from Robin an hour ago saying you want to see all of us for some kind of party ...?"

"I did," Brenda said. "And I'll explain everything in just a moment."

Brenda mingled for a bit with the people she knew best and then walked to the center of the room, clapping her hands. "Hello everyone. Can I have your attention please?" she asked and everyone quieted for the moment anyway.

"Now you are probably all wondering why you were invited here tonight, why I showed up in a big, foofy but beautiful red dress, if I really have a brain tumor, and if you don't know me, who the hell I am. I can explain all of that to you."

She smiled as she looked around at the faces of the people who made up life in Port Charles – old friends, old flames, old enemies and new ones. People who she didn't know but who moved on the periphery of her world making it somehow more meaningful tonight and every night.

"Tomorrow I will undergo brain surgery," Brenda said.

Carly started to send up a retort but Jax clamped a hand over her mouth. Brenda just laughed. "It's okay, Carly, I don't want you to censor your feelings on my account. In fact, this whole night is about living. It's not some kind of wake or early funeral. It's about living, going out in the world, and doing the best we can to touch someone's life even in a small way." Her eyes watered now. "I could die tomorrow – I could die in twenty years or thirty even but tonight I really want to live, know what it's like again to be in my hometown – and this is my home in every way that counts – and know all the people who live here who have touched my life in more ways than they could have imagined or guessed. So tonight is not about death – it's a party to celebrate life and the big moments and the little ones and cherish them all."

She dashed at two stray tears that rolled down her face. "Okay, everyone, please have fun. Get to know each other. Talk to me. Tell me how you really feel about me because even if I don't know you yet, I hope I will eventually. You could be my next door neighbor in a few months or a potential friend or even a potential enemy but someone who will make my life very damned interesting! Thank you all for coming."

Large applause went up at the end of Brenda's speech and she noticed through teary eyes that even Carly was clapping reluctantly. She turned to see Sonny watching her from the side of the room with a look of pride and yet humility on his face. She smiled and started over to him but was practically mauled by everyone wanting to talk to her. She met lots of new people and reacquainted herself with old friends like Mike and Bobbie who looked suspiciously close. Brenda thought she smelled a romance brewing there but was not about to say so and embarrass them.

She greeted some of her old friends like Lucky and Luke with kisses on the cheek and others she just shook hands with but she hadn't felt this good in a long time. Even Carly eventually moved over to her to talk and Brenda was determined to let Carly say her piece without interference.

"Brenda, I don't like you," Carly said right away. She held up a hand to stop Jax from saying anything. "I don't like you at all but I almost admire you for your stubbornness and refusal to give in. I kind of understand now why you wanted to spend time with Michael. And for that, I can't hate you. I don't have to love you - I definitely NEVER will - but you've been a very worthy opponent and I would kind of miss sparring with you if you died tomorrow."

Brenda smiled. "Carly, you know in all of the years we've known each other you've never said a nicer thing to me that I can remember. I too have enjoyed our rivalry and god willing I will live on to continue it. I can't let you win again."

Carly sighed and glanced at Jax. "I suppose you want to say something to Brenda …"

Jax looked between his current wife and then his ex-lover. "Actually I do."

"I'm going to go dance with Jason then," Carly said.

"Good luck getting him to do that," Brenda called after her.

Carly sneered. "Trust me, I have ways of making him do what I want."

Jax sighed and Brenda hid a smile. "You've got a livewire there, Jax."

"Tell me about it," Jax said. He suddenly reached out and took her hands. "Brenda, I am so sorry-"

Brenda shook her head. "No, please don't say you're sorry for anything. I just want to put the past where it belongs – in the past."

"Okay well then I'll say I have regretted things I've done but I am always going to be there if you need me. You taught me how to love someone with my whole heart and now I have Carly so in a way I have to thank you for that."

Brenda nodded. "I never thought we'd be having this conversation."

Jax smirked. "Me either."

"But just be happy, Jax, be happy. Believe it or not that's all I ever wanted for you."

"I am happy," Jax said. "The only thing that will make my world more complete is you and Michael being well again."

Brenda nodded and reached up and kissed Jax's cheek. "We will be. I really think we will be."

XoXoXo

Sonny was about to move over and steal Brenda away from boring ass Jax but Kate stepped into his line of sight first. He walked over to her. "Hey," he said simply.

"Hello, Sonny, I've been meaning to talk to you since I got your call about this – what shall we call it? – life celebration? … Anyway I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time."

Sonny locked eyes with Brenda for a moment and then she noticed Kate but her smile never faltered. He loved her smile. God how had he lived so long without seeing it?

Sonny looked back at Kate. "Sure we can talk."

"Okay out in the hallway. This needs to stay private."

"Sure …" Sonny said and followed her out the door.