Do not own General Hospital or any of the characters.

So this is going to be a short chapter.


The Flame of Franco

Wedding Gowns and Homeless Men...

A month had passed since Sam had visited her apartment, and she was finally feeling some what normal. She no longer felt like something was hanging over her head. She had officially moved out of her apartment, selling most of her furniture and putting the rest up in storage. She had also put it up on the market. She no longer needed to live there.

She didn't know if it was the planning of the wedding but she was feeling very optimistic about the future. She still had nightmares about Franco and had trouble sleeping through the night but she had her good days too. She was still seeing Dr. Winters, weekly. She had even started to go running again, something she hadn't done since the incident with Franco. She felt like she had her life back. She knew that Franco was still out there but she wasn't going to let that stop her from living her life. She was also back to working as a PI.

"What do you have planned for this morning?" asked Jason as he took a seat a cross from her at the dinning room table.

"Well, I'm suppose to meet up with Maxie at Crimson, she wants to go over the invitations with me and show me some wedding dresses," she raddled off as she reached for a piece of bacon on her plate, "and then I was planning on going for a run. Nothing special. What are your plans?" Her brown eyes looked into his blue ones.

"I was going to go visit Michael," he spoke in a low voice. It still pained him to think about the teenage locked up in jail and there was no way he could fix it.

"How is he doing?" asked Sam, her eyes filling with genuine concern. She had known the young man for a while now and knew how hard prison could be on a person, especially someone as young as Michael was.

"He is doing...okay, I guess," murmured Jason towards her. He wasn't really sure himself. He had gone to visit Michael once a week since he had been in Pentonville. Michael seemed to be holding up well but Jason knew he was just putting on a strong face for him. He didn't want him to feel anymore guiltier then he already was.

Sam didn't say anything at this. There was nothing really she could say. So instead she just simply reached out and placed a hand on top of his.

Jason met her gaze at this and gave her a sad smile.


"Oh My GOD!" cried out Maxie as Sam stepped out before her. She was dressed head to toe in white. Her hair was piled up in a French twist with a long laced veil. She was wearing a Vera Wang mermaid style wedding gown.

"What?" asked Sam, self consciously. She hadn't thought she looked so bad as she looked over her shoulder towards the mirror, taking in her reflection. "Is it that bad?" she asked turning to look at Maxie again.

"NO! You look stunning Sam!" replied Maxie, a wide grin appearing on her face. The dress was made for Sam, thought the blond to herself. The gown was ivory white and hugged Sam's curves in all the right places.

"You think?" asked Sam as she turned once again to look at herself in the mirror. This wasn't her first time in a wedding dress or getting married for that matter. But this was the first time that it would be real. That it would mean something. She wanted it to be special day. She was marrying the love of her life. Biting down on her lower lip, she titled her head to the side as she fingered the edges of the veil. She wasn't sure. All this wedding stuff was new to her.

Noticing her friends hesitation, Maxie quickly jumped in, "Okay, let's try some of the other ones." She then ushered Sam back into the makeshift dressing room they had created in the office. Maxie wanted Sam to feel beautiful and sexy on her wedding day. Her friend had been through hell and back and she deserved to feel special on her wedding day. And Maxie had made it her mission to make this come true. And that all started with the perfect wedding dress.


"Spare some change miss," asked a homeless man towards Alexis as she walked passed him and towards the entrance of Harbour View Towers.

Alexis was going over to the Penthouse to see her daughter's wedding dress. After spending most of the morning with Maxie, Sam had surprisingly found her dress. She had quickly called her mom to come and see it. She wanted her mother's approval on it.

"Sorry, I left my purse at home," commented Alexis towards the homeless who was seated just a few feet away from the doors of the apartment complex. And this was the truth. She had come straight from the office and only had her briefcase with her. She had no small change on her, only her credit card. Alexis continued to stare at the homeless man for a second. His face was hidden by the hood of his military jacket he was wearing. He held a sign in his lap reading, "WILL ENTERTAIN FOR FOOD!"

"How about a cigarette? I could really use one," spoke the man in a drawn out voice.

Alexis narrowed her eyes slightly at this. The voice sounded vaguely familiar but she could not pin point it. And not being able to see the man's face did not help her. "Sorry, I don't smoke," she replied blankly.

"Yes, might be for the better. It's a nasty habit that can kill you!" He chuckled softly to himself. Even though half his face was hidden from view underneath the hood, Alexis could make out his wide grin on his face. "Well, can I at least offer you some entertainment?" He asked, holding up the sign.

"Excuse me?" asked Alexis in puzzlement.

"Well, it's going to cost you but it will be well worth it!" spoke the homeless man as he lowered the sign and reached for something in the contents of his jacket.

Alexis then watched at he pulled out what looked to be a stuffed monkey and lay it down on the pavement in front of him. It was then she got a better look at the object. It wasn't just a stuffed monkey but a wined up toy of sorts. It held chimes in both of it's hands. The moment the object was set down on the floor, it came to life. It screeched like a monkey would as it gleefully banged the chimes together.

"It's cute!" smiled Alexis kindly at the homeless man as she watched the monkey. "It's very weird, but cute!" she had to admit.

"But you and your friend wouldn't make much money though," continued on Alexis as she pushed her glasses up onto her forehead and began to search in the contents of her purse for a dollar bill or something to give this man.

"I'm thinking about getting a real one," replied the homeless man as he picked up the toy monkey and turned him off.

"Well that, a few clowns and an elephant and you would have yourself a real show!" commented Alexis as she pulled out a five from the back of her briefcase. She knew this man needed it more then she did at this moment. She smiled at the man as she handed him over the bill.

"Yeah, well I hate clowns!" replied the homeless man in a cold voice as he took the bill from her.

"Sorry I don't have anything to eat," apologized Alexis, quickly changing the topic. She was once again looking in her brief case for anything she could give this man. She then came across a stick of gum. "Oh, how about a stick of gum?"

"Thanks," spoke the homeless man, taking the gum from her. "Spearmint?" he asked bringing up the gum to his nose to sniff. "Oh, cinnamon," he spoke in disappointment.

"Well beggars can't be choo.." she had began to say something but had quickly stopped herself. A smile appeared briefly on her face, "Well good luck with your show or should I saw break a leg!"

"Why stop there?" asked the homeless man.

A confused look appeared on the lawyer's face at this. But she quickly tried to hid it. "Well, have a good day!" she spoke, before continuing on her way towards the entrance.

The homeless man watched her go from the corner of his eye. He chuckled slightly to his self as he placed the toy monkey back into the contents of his coat and once again placed his sign back onto his lap. He blended in seamlessly into the back drop.

He had already seen one person he had wanted to see but there was still someone else he was waiting for.


"Welcome home, Mr. Morgan," spoke the doorman as he held open the door for Jason as he approached the building.

"Thanks Marty," spoke Jason towards the older man. He nodded his head in acknowledgment before stepping into the lobby of the building.

Marty watched as Jason made his way into the building and headed towards the elevators before turning his attention back onto the street. It was then that the doorman noticed the homeless man. "Move along please," he spoke calmingly but firmly towards the man. It was his job to keep the place clean and free of loitering people.

"That was Jason Morgan, wasn't it?" asked the homeless towards Marty as he stood up from his seat and came closer towards the door. The homeless man still had his hood drawn up, hiding his face from view as he looked up. "He is the famous mobster. He lives here right, on the Penthouse floor. They have said he as killed people. is it true?"

"That is known of your business," spoke Marty, firmly towards the homeless man.

"Oh but it is," chuckled the homeless man as he lowered his hood and smiled at the doorman, "Jason Morgan is my business," added Franco, before turning and walking away from Marty and disappeared down the street.


Okay more to come soon! Thanks for reading!

Julie