Premise: Glo. 3M. The only way Georgie can afford life saving medical treatment is if she gets put on her husband's insurance plan. So she better get a husband quick.

Author's note: The TMK storyline never happened. Either did Logan attacking Lulu and Maxie. This story takes place before Obamacare, which passed in 2010.

The Married Life

REVISED HISTORY

Chapter One

November 2008

"Don't freak out," Maxie said to Georgie, the moment that Georgie walked into the living room.

Georgie took in the scene in front of her: Maxie, Logan and Cooper with their heads together plotting something. She was really too tired to deal with whatever her sister was about to say but she had to admit she was curious, too.

Forewarned is forearmed, after all.

"You saying don't freak out tells me that you've probably already done something," Georgie said "worth me freaking out about or you're about to. Which one is it?"

Maxie and Cooper shared a look before Maxie said "You need to marry Cooper."

Georgie's mouth dropped. Her skin flushed. "That is so kind of you to offer something like that but-."

"Don't say but!" Maxie cried, jumping to her feet and rushing toward her sister. "This your life on the line. There's no other choice. This is a plan that will work so you just need to get on board with it." Maxie looked at Coop. "Tell her, please! Tell her you want this, too!"

Cooper stood up. "Maxie and I both agreed this is what needs to happen next. It's what we both want. Your life is too important to risk to some insurance companies rules-."

Georgie said "Thank you. I mean it. But no. I won't marry you so I can use your insurance for my treatments. That would be against the law."

"The law is stupid!" Maxie said "The law said you couldn't get insurance at your job because it's just part-time and they don't have to offer it. The law said you couldn't stay on Mac's plan once you turned 21. The law said that insurance companies don't have to offer you coverage now because you're already sick! The law SUCKS! The law is going to take my sister from me. We have to make the law work for us, Georgie. I know you are not the type of person to lie but lying is the only way to save your life right now. You need treatment that you can't afford without insurance. Cooper has good insurance from the PCPD and it covers pre-existing conditions. Marrying Coop will get you the life saving treatment that you need. Saying no is just giving up!"

"I'm not giving up!" Georgie shouted "But I'm not going to become a criminal and also make Coop one, either!"

She ran upstairs.

Logan said "Well, that went great. She needs to drop her Mary Poppins routine and get with the program or else she ain't gonna be long for this world."

"Like you care," Maxie muttered, as she followed her sister upstairs.

Cooper said to Logan "Maxie is just upset. Don't take it personal. I know you do care what happens to Georgie."

"Georgie can't stand me but if she matters to you then she matters to me."

XXXXXX

"Georgie, please, open the door," Maxie said. "We need to talk more about this. You heard Patrick. You need to start the expeimental treatment as soon as possible."

"There's nothing to talk about! Go away! Please!"

Maxie could hear Georgie sobbing.

Maxie said "I'll go but this conversation isn't over. Unless you come up with some other way to pay for your treatments then you need to marry Cooper. Let him do this for you, Georgie. Don't let your pride decide. Coop cares about you. I love you. I can't live without my sister. I won't do it! So please, Georgie, if not for yourself, then for me. If you want to help me and Cooper be happy, and end up married with kids one day, then you have to marry him for now so you can be there to be my bridesmaid when I marry him. So you can be our kid's Aunt. So you can live. Please, Georgie, please."

Tears rolled down Maxie's face. She slid to the ground and cried.

Cooper found her there a little while later. He crouched down next to her. "It's gonna be okay."

"If my sister can't get the experimental treatment, she's going to die and nothing will ever be okay again."

Cooper took Maxie into his arms.

XXXXXXXXX

The next day Georgie walked out of her house and noticed a FOR SALE sign in the yard. Mac was selling the house to pay for her treatment.

Guilt wracked her.

She couldn't live with herself if her father lost his house because she got sick. She rushed to her car and drove to the Quartermaine mansion, where her best friend Brook lived at the Gatehouse.

When Brook opened the door, she took one look at Georgie and opened her arms for a hug. "It's going to be okay, I promise. We'll figure this all out."

Georgie pulled out of the hug. "Maxie came up with a way I can get the experimental treatment."

"That's great! That's amazing! You know I don't like your sister but if she figured out how you can get the treatment you need then I may just have to admit she's not so bad after all. Did she find some kind of Angel Donor or something? I tried talking my Grandfather into paying for it but he's so tight with a dime that he almost had a heart attack just thinking about footing the bill. So what did Maxie come up with?"

"There's an easy way for me to get really cheap insurance. All I got to do is marry Cooper Barrett."

Brooklyn mouth dropped. "Well, damn. I didn't see that coming."

"I'm not doing it. It wouldn't be right."

"Yes, you are! I'd marry you myself if that was legal and you could use my insurance. If there some guy willing to do you this solid, even if he is your sister's boyfriend, then you better thank your lucky stars and start planning a wedding. Georgie, this is no time to rest on your high moral ground. Right or wrong, this is a way to save your life. You didn't make the system but you got to live within it. The only way you are going to be able to live...is if you cheat just a teensy, tiny, itty bitty bit. It's obviously the way to go."

"No way. I'm not putting Maxie and Cooper through that."

"You'd rather put them through watching you die?"