Rewriting The Stars
Endgame: Liason
Nearly six months ago...
With Aoife down for her afternoon nap, guards standing watch inside and outside of her room, the three of them are in the office trying to come up with the best plan to keep Aoife safe. Though they're certain that her brothers won't harm Aoife, they would still use her to get to them and they just couldn't take that risk.
She's already suggested that she go to the O'Brien compound, seeing as they kept her safe for the most part before Johnny returned, but he won't hear of it. Since taking over the business, Johnny can't turn to his brother for help, especially when it comes to dealing with her family. It would look like they were combining forces and that just wouldn't sit well with the other families. Balance of power or whatever.
"There's gotta be something we haven't considered yet," Johnny comments as he paces behind his desk. "If only Port Charles were closer. It would give me time to get them out and return before they notice."
And there it was. Again. From the moment he took the seat as head of the organization, Johnny has constantly referenced his time in Port Charles and the people there. The way things are done there, he'd say, what he had learned there, he'd continue on and on about all that he had experienced there.
She tried to tell him that their way of life will not translate well to the way things are done there. Does he listen? No. It was one of the things that had her worried about him returning. As much as she loves Johnny, it's clear that he still holds love for that way of life and she isn't sure that this way of life will hold him forever.
"What?" Johnny's confusion pulls her out of her thoughts as she follows his gaze to his partner, one of the many things from his past life that she wishes he would have let go of, the man just didn't fit in well with their way of life. "You're trying not to say something."
"It's nothing," Francis voices before letting out a sigh when Johnny walks out from behind the desk to stand in front of him. "Fine, fine...there's one option, but it's a long shot."
"Long shot is better than no shot," Johnny points out. "What is it?"
"Jason's just a few hours out by plane," Francis explains. "He's staying at one of my safe houses."
"On a job?" Johnny questions curiously. "I don't think he'd be able to help if he's out on assignment."
"He's not on a job exactly," Francis replies. "He's there with Elizabeth."
"Wait...what?" Johnny looks at him in confusion. "What does that mean exactly?"
"You remember when Jason asked for help and I ran our plans by him?" Francis questions, continuing when he shakes his head. "What he needed help with was a safe house equipped with enough medical supplies to help Elizabeth recover. They've been there ever since."
At the mention of Elizabeth's name, her eyes immediately find Johnny's face as the reality of what his partner's saying hits him, and there it was. That almost longing look that would grace his face at the mere mention of her name. Fiona doesn't doubt that Johnny loves her, it's clear in everything he does, but she also knows that a part of him loves this girl.
Though he denies it, saying that their relationship didn't last long enough for him to truly fall in love with her, Fiona knows the look of someone that has walked away from something truly special because it was the same look she held when she walked away from him. It's an almost gutted look, torn between what must be and what could have been, and she'd be lying if she said it didn't hurt on some level.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Johnny voices, realizing that two people that mean the world to him were just a short flight away. "Don't you think I deserved to know they were that close?"
"You're right, I should have told you," Francis accepts. "But your focus had to be here and you already said your goodbyes."
"Yeah, I guess," Johnny concedes after glancing at her, something in his eyes told her that he was pulling back on his anger because she was there, making her wonder how this conversation would have gone down had she not been present. "It's a moot point now, anyway, so, let's move on."
"Right, okay," Francis accepts. "If you leave just after nightfall, you'll be able to get there, explain the situation, and make it back before anyone notices you left."
"Do I get any say in this?" Fiona finally chimes in, realizing what they were saying and just exactly who she'd have to be living with while he handles things.
"Only if you have a better option," Johnny replies. "You and Aoife's safety is my only concern here. If anyone can keep you safe, it's this guy and right now that's what I need, you and Aoife safe."
"Why can't we just stay with your brother?" Fiona suggests yet again. "He has an entire underground network that can keep us hidden long enough for you to finish things."
"We already went over why that's not plausible," Johnny reminds her, walking over to take her hands in his. "I know you'd rather stay, but I need you to trust me that this is our best option. It won't be for long, I promise, I just need the space to do what's necessary without worrying about my wife and daughter. Please, Fi, don't fight me on this."
"Would you mind giving us a moment alone?" Fiona voices, staring at her husband, not wanting to argue this out in front of his friend. "And, in case it wasn't clear, that was rhetorical."
"Sure," Francis replies, seeing that this was one of those moments that he prefers not being in the room. "I'll wait outside."
"Don't bother waiting," Johnny says as Francis pulls open the door. "Put things in motion. This won't take long."
"Uh," Francis glances between the two, gaining a feeling similar to the one he felt during the rare moments that Sonny and Lily argued. "Right...I'll get on that."
"Really, John, really?!" Fiona throws back as Francis flees the room, not even hesitating for a single moment. "So the decision is made just like that?"
"It's the best option and, quite frankly, the only option available," Johnny says seriously. "You want to argue this out, fine, but the sooner we get things in motion the better our chances will be. We don't have time to hesitate and we surely don't have time to wait for you to come up with a better plan."
"It's the only option because you refuse to accept the one option that's here," Fiona states angrily. "Your brother protected me just fine before you arrived, but you can't stop to consider that he can help us now! Why? I get that you trust these people and you think they are your family, but you're not working for them anymore, John! You're here. You chose here! Maybe it's time you stop thinking like a lieutenant in Corinthos's organization and start thinking like the head of this family!"
"You think I don't want to be able to turn to my brother for help?! He's my brother!" Johnny finally shouts, growing tired of her digs at his past. "Sure, reaching out and asking for his help could keep you safe, but at what cost? It would solve the issues with your brothers but it'll create an even bigger problem with the other families than we can handle! So, yeah, I'd rather make the choice that'll result in the least amount of consequences, sue me!"
"Screw the other families!" Fiona snaps. "You and Declan could take over things if you just combined your forces..."
"No," Johnny cuts her off. "We're not doing that."
"Why not?"
"What we have is enough," Johnny says seriously. "The last thing we need, the last thing anyone needs, is for an all-out war to break out on the streets of Ireland. That's far too much bloodshed, not to mention the high risk for innocent casualties, all of which will be unnecessary, Fi, I won't do that."
"Yeah, well, that's the truth of the matter," Fiona reminds him. "Something you understood before you left."
"Maybe, but this is who I am," Johnny says seriously. "The man you see before you is who I am, Fi, and I'm not about to change. It's on you to decide if who I am is still someone you can love."
"That's not fair," Fiona throws back. "All I'm saying is that the way of life you adopted while you were gone will not translate here. I've been saying it for weeks now. If you want to maintain your seat, you have to be willing to make the hard decisions. And, yes, that means that there will be bloodshed..."
"That's the way of the elders, that doesn't have to be the way I handle my business," Johnny sighs. "There's a better way to handle business and I know that because I've lived it. Once I can put that into place here, things will get better, but it's going to take time. If you can just give me that to show you, to prove to you, that I know what I'm doing. Can you do that, Fi?"
"Fine," Fiona manages to say, unable to fathom just what living with the girl who clearly holds a piece of her husband's heart will be like, but knowing she had no choice in the matter. No amount of arguing is going to change his mind. "If this is the only way...fine."
Using Francis's connections, they are able to make their way to a neighboring country before hopping on a private plane to their destination. While they're on the plane, Francis will make conspicuous stops through town as if Johnny's taking her on a date, hitting places that her brothers are too afraid to step into before heading back to the compound. If all goes to plan, Johnny will be back in the country before morning, with none the wiser.
The moment the door opened, it was clear that their presence there wasn't exactly welcomed, and this is the person that her husband has talked so highly about. She doesn't see it. Once introductions are out of the way, Johnny was about to explain why they were there when his little angel on earth wheeled into view, the pain in his voice alone had her despising the woman. For her to still hold a piece of her husband, she just wasn't happy with the situation at all.
"I go where John goes," she answered defiantly, not appreciating being dismissed like she wasn't his life partner.
"Either go upstairs with your daughter or you all can walk out that door," the man threw back dismissively, clearly not liking her any more than she likes him. "I don't talk business with children present."
"Fi, it's fine, just take Aoife upstairs," her husband cut her off, clearly seeing that she was gearing up for an argument. "This won't take long."
"Fine," she stated, glaring at the man as she took her daughter and turned away from them.
"She means well," she heard her husband say as she was heading to the stairs. "She's just a little headstrong sometimes."
Headstrong? Did he seriously just say that she was headstrong? Making her way upstairs, she walks into the first room, it was as good as any. Setting her daughter down on the floor, she pulls out a few toys from her purse to keep her distracted as they wait, seriously not seeing why Johnny cares so much for these people. The man seemed like any other man to her. What makes him so special?
"Headstrong?" Fiona voices immediately when he walks into the room. "I'm headstrong?"
"I didn't mean it like that and you know it," Johnny throws back. "Look, I know this situation has us both at our wits' end, but you were pushing things down there and you know it."
"Whatever," Fiona gives as her reply. "What's the verdict?"
The fact that the man agreed to have them stay there was a surprise all its own, she hadn't expected he'd agree after the way he spoke to her, but the conditions took her by an even bigger surprise. What kind of host puts limitations on their guests? It's ludicrous.
"It won't be for long, Fi, I swear," Johnny says seriously. "I'll get things squared away and I'll be back for you guys."
"Okay," Fiona accepts, knowing that the decision is made and the reality set before them, no use arguing the point now. "I'll do whatever I need to. Just make it fast."
"I will," Johnny promises, leaning in to kiss her softly before touching his forehead to hers. "I love you, Fi."
"I love you, too, John."
After bringing up their bags from the car, Johnny said his goodbyes to their daughter before leaving them to their own accord, making her swear that this situation couldn't come to an end soon enough. The first few days required a lot of adjustments on her part, not at all accustomed to being restricted in her movements, but she managed for the sake of her daughter.
Though she tried not to, she couldn't help but watch the girl that still holds a piece of her husband's heart, though she clearly didn't realize it. Could she truly be oblivious to her husband's affections? Like him saying goodbye to her actually meant that he didn't care for her as deeply as he does. In a way, she's actually thankful for her oblivion, to know that the girl had no idea the pull she has on Johnny.
Then she overheard a conversation between the two as they were leaving the gym one evening. She had to be mistaken. There was no way that he'd ever let her use that name. She was the only person that was allowed to call him that. Yet she heard the girl clear as day and that hit her deep. How could he let her use that name?
"Do you mind if I join you?" Elizabeth had voiced as she wheeled herself out onto the back patio where Fiona was watching over her daughter playing in the yard. "I could use some fresh air after my therapy session."
"Um, sure, I guess," Fiona replied, unsure of the girl's intentions. "How's that going?"
"It's a struggle, but it's helping," Elizabeth answers honestly before gesturing to Aoife. "She's really beautiful. She looks so much like John."
"Yeah, it's one of the main reasons I had the DNA test done," Fiona admits, she truly is her father's daughter. "I'm not sure if you know this, but he doesn't really like being called John."
"Oh, I know," Elizabeth admitted. "It was something we both agreed on."
"What do you mean?"
"He calls me a name I don't like, so, I call him John," Elizabeth explains. "It's a whole thing."
"So he lets you call him that?"
"Is something wrong?" Elizabeth looks at her curiously. "I didn't mean to offend you or anything..."
"No, it's not that," Fiona sighs, turning her gaze back to her daughter. "I'm the only one that calls him that...I used to be the only one that calls him that, anyway."
"I didn't know that," Elizabeth replies honestly. "Then again, I'm learning there's a lot I didn't know about John."
"Could you..." Fiona turns to her before continuing. "Could you please stop calling him that?"
"I..."
"Look, I get that you two were a thing, but I just can't stand hearing that name from anyone else," Fiona says seriously, feeling herself start to get heated though she tries to stop herself. "So, please, stop. He's my husband and that's my nickname for him."
"I know he's your husband," Elizabeth replies, tears frozen in her eyes, making Fiona groan inwardly, great, now she's going to make her cry. "I never meant anything by it. John..."
"Didn't I just ask you to stop saying that name?" Fiona says as she shoots to her feet. "His name is Johnny. Use it."
"Elizabeth, go back inside," Jason's voice sounds from the doorway, pushing the door open wide enough for her to wheel herself inside. "Dinner's just about done."
"Jason..." Elizabeth says carefully, clearly seeing the anger in his eyes that Fiona can see clear as day.
"It's fine," Jason assures, stepping to the side. "Go inside and wash up. I'll come get you when the table's set."
"Okay," Elizabeth accepts, glancing at Fiona before wheeling herself back inside to wash up for dinner.
The look on Elizabeth's face had Fiona cursing herself for letting her emotions take control of her actions, but she just couldn't stand to hear her say his name like that anymore. It was bad enough to know that she holds a piece of her husband's heart, but to see that he cared deeply enough for her to let her call him that, she just couldn't stop herself.
"I'm only going to say this once, watch your mouth when you talk to her," Jason states sternly, keeping his voice even to avoid scaring the little child playing in the yard. "You want to get mad at someone for what went down with Elizabeth and Johnny, take it up with your husband. Elizabeth cared for Johnny, it's not her fault that he opened parts of himself to her that you think you hold claim to. Do I make myself clear?"
"If you were in my shoes and someone you loved gave themselves to someone else, how would you handle it?" Fiona throws back. "It might not be her fault, but she holds a piece of my husband's heart and I don't know what to do with that."
"That's your own business," Jason counters. "I suggest you solve it on your own and leave Elizabeth out of it."
"I told him to go back to her, you know," Fiona finds herself admitting. "I told him not to choose me because I knew how much he cared for her. John chose to be with me! He chose our family! I just want that! I want my family to be whole without remnants of the past! Is that too much to ask for?"
"If you're looking for sympathy, I'm not the person to give it to you because I know Johnny's history with you," Jason states. "But, word of advice, no matter how badly you may want it, the past isn't just going to disappear. Johnny had a life outside of Ireland and the sooner you accept that the better off you'll be."
"His life with you all never should have happened," Fiona throws back as he opens the door. "He never should have left Ireland."
"But he did," Jason says plainly. "Consider this your last warning, leave Elizabeth alone, she's been through enough. I won't say it again."
That was the end of that as Jason made his way back into the house, shutting the door behind him, leaving her to her own thoughts. She knows he's right. Johnny had a life after he left Ireland, but that didn't stop her from wishing it never happened. That she was the only person that held any part of his heart.
If she were honest, she would admit that she understood why Johnny had fallen for her, she was clearly a good person. Evident enough in the fact that she let Johnny move his family into her recovery home without a second thought. If she hadn't reached out when she did and the two had any real time to be together, Fiona isn't sure that Johnny would have chosen her over this girl and that's the part that hurts her the most.
The weeks to follow that interaction were tense in the house, but she could see that they were both trying to be civil for the sake of Aoife and that made her grateful. To know that they were good enough people that they didn't let their feelings toward her affect how they treated her daughter.
Salt in the wound, though, was watching her daughter start to favor Elizabeth. As if having a place in her husband's heart wasn't bad enough. Now she's gaining a place in her daughter's life, as well. She tries to remind herself that it's not Elizabeth's fault that her husband had opened his heart to her or that her daughter was growing attached given the situation, but she still didn't like it.
"Where's Jason?" Fiona questioned one day when she walked into the living room to find Elizabeth by herself with a book. "I don't usually see you during the day."
"He went on a supply run," Elizabeth explains, not even glancing in her direction. "The guy that usually delivers our stuff couldn't make it out this week. He'll be home soon."
"Oh, okay," Fiona glances around the room, unsure of what she's about to do but needing to do it anyway. "Aoife's down for her nap. She won't be up for another hour or so."
"I know her schedule," Elizabeth replies simply. "That's why I'm reading a book."
"Right, anyway," Fiona walks over to sit across from her on the club chair. "Look, can we talk?"
"Depends on the topic of conversation," Elizabeth replies simply. "I had a rough night and I don't feel like being attacked for my past."
"I wasn't trying to attack you," Fiona counters, letting out a sigh when Elizabeth finally lifts her gaze to look at her skeptically. "I can see how it may appear that way, but you have to see it from my perspective. For as long as I can remember, I was the only one that could call him that, it was something special between the two of us..."
"I know the feeling," Elizabeth points out. "I thought the same."
"Right," Fiona accepts. "But can you see how that can leave me hurting? To know that a girl he only started dating was permitted to call him a name that was special between the two of us?"
"Maybe," Elizabeth replies simply. "But can you see that I knew nothing about you? From my perspective, John was my boyfriend, he was the man that I envisioned building a future with. Come to find out, on a hospital bed fighting for my life, no less, that his heart belonged to someone else and not only that but he also has a daughter with this woman. Tell me how understanding you'd be if you were in my position. From the way you have treated me for something I had no control over, it's clear that you wouldn't be quite so understanding had the roles been reversed."
"Fair enough," Fiona accepts, seeing just where this woman stands and finding that she's not wrong. "I know it probably doesn't mean much to you, but I did tell him to go back to you. I told him to consider what he was giving up and he was the one that chose to be with me."
"John doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do," Elizabeth replies simply. "Which makes it unthinkable that you could be so insecure in your relationship with him. He chose you. That should be enough."
"I wish it was," Fiona admits. "He still longs for his life in Port Charles. He says he won't resent me for having to leave it behind, but I just can't help thinking he will one day."
"If you keep denying that part of him exists, he just might," Elizabeth says honestly. "John made his choice to be with you, it doesn't erase the time without you. The people he left behind are part of his family. They love him and they'll always be part of him. I saw the connections he had and it's some of the most real relationships I've ever seen. So, instead of wishing that time didn't exist, why don't you try to get to know that part of him? Because - trust me when I say - he's worth getting to know. If you'll excuse me..."
"Where are you going?"
"I'd like to be alone," Elizabeth voices as unhooks the brakes. "For whatever it's worth, I hope you and Johnny can work things out. For Aoife's sake, if nothing else."
That would be the last time that Elizabeth spoke to her one on one in any capacity that didn't have to deal with Aoife. As the days went by, Fiona accustomed herself to the way things worked, accepting that she really had no right to ask anything of these people. They were already putting themselves out by having them there while her husband handled things, the least she could do was make it as painless as possible.
The day that Johnny and Francis showed up on the doorstep, Fiona could see the relief on both of their faces, knowing that their time together has officially come to an end. The only fond farewell that occurred was between Aoife and Elizabeth. Her daughter was truly sad to see her time with Elizabeth come to an end. Aoife even managed to get a smile out of Jason and that was a miracle all its own.
Author's Note: I hear you. Trust me, I wish I had a more stable update schedule, but I really am trying. The only solution I could give at this point is to possibly wait until I finish a story before reading it. I write as I go and some updates come harder than others. Either way, if you continue reading or wait till it's finished, I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. Take care all of you and know that I truly hope you enjoyed this update. I can't wait to hear your thoughts and, as always, I thank you for your kind words and your overwhelming support. I appreciate you all.