chapter11
Chapter 11


The hospital elevator was full when Monica stepped on to take it to the fourth floor. It was usually busy every morning when she came in to work, but today was different for her. Many days had passed since Monica heard from Jason and she was now getting worried, but if he had any news he would call. It wasn't like Jason to go for days and not call her, something was wrong. She went about her busy day as usual trying not to bring attention to the fact she was in a panic about her daughter and grand-child. Not knowing was the worst part of this situation. The hospital had called her in last night for an emergency surgery and it had been a few hours since she checked her messages, so maybe he did call her and she was unaware of it. Monica could only hope and pray that they were alright. She knew Sonny would protect them, but Emily was with child, if she needed medical attention...no, she couldn't think like that...Emily was fine and right now, she needed to focus on work and her patients. Work was the only thing keeping her sane right now. This whole situation with Sorel and Zander had really put her off keel and she need to focus and concentrate on her work to get her through the day.

Monica made her way to her office and as she passed the nurses station she stopped off to get any messages that may have been left for her while she was in surgery. There were no messages from Jason, but she didn't think there would be, he would call her cell and not the hospital. Monica opened the door to her office and took a seat behind her desk. She laid the medical charts she had in her hands down on the desk and started flipping through them. In one quick instant a thought came to her...a baby shower. Emily was now a little over seven months and Monica knew because of the incident with the apartment she was sure Emily lost everything she had bought for the baby. A baby shower certainly would be a surprise for Emily when she returned home. She needed to make arrangements and she knew just who to call.

As she reached for the phone to make a few calls, her cell phone rang. Monica shuffled through her bag to find her cell. She flipped it open and said "Hello, Dr. Quartermaine." She was praying to God it was Jason with news. She was surprised when she heard the voice respond.."Mom, it's me..." Shocked at hearing the voice hesitated with her response..."Emily...where are you? Oh, honey we have been so worried about you.." "I know mom, but I'm fine really. Jason told me tell you that he is sorry for not calling, but he figured that you would rather hear this from me..." Emily replied. A million thoughts ran through her mind when she heard her daughter say that...good and bad ones. "Tell me what?..." Monica replied not knowing how to prepare herself for this news. "Mom, we're coming home...Sorel is no longer a threat to us and we are coming home." Emily said with a sigh of relief. Monica was so happy to hear that...her daughter was coming home. After weeks of being away, she could finally embrace her daughter once again. "When Emily...when are you coming home? And where are you going stay now that you don't have your apartment?" Monica inquired as she felt overcome with joy that things were alright. "Sonny got us another place to stay and he has taken care of everything, so you don't have to worry about where I'll be living. As soon as we get there I'll call you." "Alright, I'll wait to hear from you later today, then. And Emily..I love you." Monica replied as she flipped closed the file she had been reading. "I love you too, Mom..I'll talk to you later.." Emily replied as her end of the conversation went dead. Monica flipped her cell phone closed and stuff it back in her bag.

If her daughter was coming home today, the baby shower needed to be arranged. There were so many things to be done and now so little time. Monica picked up the phone receiver and pressed a number into the key pad. "Chloe..it's Monica. Could I meet with you?" Monica said as the call was answered on the other end. "Great...I'll see you in a few minutes.." she replied as they made arrangements to meet at L&B momentarily. Monica gathered her things and closed the door behind her. She headed for the elevator when she saw Alan standing at the nurses station retrieving his messages. "Alan..." she shouted from across the way. "Monica, what is it..did something happen to Emily.." he replied as he rushed over to where she stood waiting for the elevator. "No this is good news...Emily and Zander are coming home. The Sorel situation has been taken care of....their coming home." she replied as she embraced him tightly. "Oh thank God....when? When she coming home?" he replied as his strong arms tightened. "Sometime today...she said she'd call me when they got back and settled in their new place." she replied as she broke the embrace. "New place?...what new place?" he inquired as the elevator signaled it had arrived. "Sonny got them a new place...but I'm late to meet with Chloe about a baby shower. I'll explain later." she replied as she turned and stepped into the elevator. "Okay..call me.." Alan replied with a smile and the doors to the elevator began to close.

***********************************************************************************************

Zander and Emily had packed all their things in duffle bags Jason had brought for them weeks prior. They were just waiting for him to come pick them up to take them back to Port Charles. They were relieved that the situation with Sorel was finally over and that they could now live without the notion of looking over their shoulder every second of the day. Zander's dealings with Sorel and his organization could finally be buried in the past where it belonged. It was time to move on to bigger and better things. Emily was soon going to deliver a baby boy, they had a new place to live, and Zander was moving deeper into Sonny's organization. They didn't live a normal life, but it was normal for them.

It was now around noon as Zander noticed a limo pulling up to the house and observed as Jason stepped out from the back seat. Zander gathered the duffle bags in his hands and placed them at the bottom of the stairs as Emily grabbed her back pack and slid her arms through the straps. They were finally going home. After almost four weeks of being away from Port Charles, and living in the safe house, it was the only thing they had thought about the last few days. Sunshine, and fresh air. Two things that they had not been exposed to for quite a while. Jason strutted down the stairs to where Zander and Emily stood waiting for him. "So, it looks like the two of you are ready to go home?" he asked as he reached down for the duffle bags that lay at his feet. "And it's about time...it's a nice place to visit..but I don't think I'd want to live here." Zander said as he turned and looked at Jason. "Do ya's have everything?" Jason said as he seemed to be speaking to Emily. "Yes...I have all of it packed..but wait.." she said as she dropped her back pack on the sofa. "Now what?..." Zander questioned he noticed she did so. "I gotta go to the bathroom before we go..." she replied as she turned and quickly walked towards the bedroom door. "You just went...no more than 5 minutes ago.." he shouted to her "I know...but I gotta go again.." she shouted in return with a giggle. "Women!" he replied.

Emily returned a few moments later as Zander noticed her fixing her blouse so she looked just perfect. "Okay..let's go before I have to go again." she replied as she slid her arms through the straps on her backpack. She was now experiencing the truth of pregnancy. It seemed she was in the bathroom every five minutes. She couldn't help it, when she had to go..she had to go. The three of them loaded their gear in the trunk and Jason opened the back door for Emily so she could step into the limo. She took the seat along the window so she would have room to sprawl out on the seat. Her back had been bothering for a while now, and the trip home was just gonna kill her if she had to sit in one position for very long. Once they were all in, Jason knocked on the partition for the driver to head back to Port Charles.

The drive wasn't terribly long, but it was long enough. For Emily it felt like forever since she was in Port Charles. She missed her friends and her family and she desperately want to see them again. She was not concerned in the least about the new life that was about to begin. Her and Zander had waited a long time to be happy and now with Sorel out of the picture it looked like their happiness was about to become a reality.

Zander and Jason discussed quietly what lied ahead for he and Emily. Jason had expressed his ideas about allowing Zander to proceed with the responsibilities Sonny had offered him. The offer would of brought Zander into the business dealings of the coffee business as well as being more involved as Jason was. Emily had also expressed her feelings about this decision and had felt that it would be a good move for Zander. He had been involved with the organization for more than a year and had already moved quickly through the ranks. Sonny trusted him completely and Zander knew it. He would never disappoint or betray Sonny again. He learned his lesson the first time and knew that Sonny would do anything to protect he and Emily. The organization was their life. For the exception of Sorel, this life had been good to them. It had brought many things to their life, he would of never been able to provide his wife if he had worked a regular nine to five job. He started out that way working in the warehouse and he worked hard to become an intricate part of Sonny's organization. It may be a dangerous lifestyle to lead and it can turn deadly...but this was the life that became normal for he and Emily. He was now her protector and he promised never to have harm come to her. The three of them have vowed to keep her safe and she deserved everything life had to offer. He knew she would be just as happy without many of the expensive things, cause she was just like that. She didn't need money to make her happy...she only needed him. He made her happy and she had him from that night in the motel room. Looking back on it, he didn't realize it then, but he does now...that he saw something special in Emily that night and knew she would be the one to change his life.

The long black limo drove past the Port Charles city limits sign and Emily became anxious at the thought of seeing her family and friends. The driver seemed to know where they were going as he made a left turn at the first stop they came to. Zander and Emily knew about the new apartment Sonny had leased for them since they lost everything when the loft exploded over a month ago. The limo slowed it's speed as they came upon a fairly tall building. It had one of those canopies on the front and a doorman who was gracious enough to open the door of the limo as the stopped in front. "You're home..." Jason said as he exited the limo. Zander and Emily looked at each other a little puzzled, because the building they had pulled up to was the Port Charles Towers. "Sonny has arranged for the two of you to live in one of the apartments on the 20th floor. He has paid the lease for three years so take this as a welcome home present from him and Carly." Jason added as he grabbed the bags from the trunk. The three of them entered the hotel and wandered towards the elevators. Zander and Emily not knowing what to say about Sonny's gift, and for the first time speechless. Sonny and Carly had done so much for them already, they didn't have to do this too. As the elevator came to a stop on the 20th floor, Jason led the way to their new home. The halls of the hotel were lit with beautiful sconces that held a cone shape bulb, the walls were beautifully wallpapered with a intricate design and a dark wooden molding about half way down meeting the wooden slatted sections to the floor.

Jason took the key out of his jeans pocket and unlocked the door of the new apartment...2020P. Emily and Zander stood in awe of the appearance of the apartment. It was spacious and it was very beautifully decorated. They set the bags in the so called foyer and wandered into the living room area. Emily fell into the sofa that was of leather material as Zander meandered through the other lower areas of the apartment. There was a short staircase that led up to the two bedrooms and the main bath. It was certainly something they would not of expected. The kitchen was done in black and stainless steel, the countertops in a gray granite, and he noticed a center island that contained a stainless steel sink with a wooden rack overhead filled with bottles wine and crystal glasses. He turned and wandered back into the living room area where Emily was peering out the window that overlooked the city below. Jason stood in the foyer observing their every move about the apartment waiting for them to say something. Finally the moment of truth was spoken as Zander turned to him and said "Would you tell Sonny that we appreciate the welcome home gift and ask him how we can every repay him for everything he had done for us.." "No need for thank yous..." Jason replied as he placed the apartment key on the table by the door. "Sonny wants the two of you to be happy now that Sorel is no longer a threat....so enjoy it. The two of you deserve this." he added as he turned to leave. "Jason..." Emily cried out. "I know..." he said and closed the door behind him.

Zander and Emily stood in their new apartment for a few moments embracing each other and looking forward to their new beginnings.

*******************************************************************************************************

Monica wandered into L&B as Chloe came out from her office sketching a design on her sketch pad she held in her hands. Chloe heard the door open and noticed Monica walk in and remove her coat. "So, what can I help you with, Monica?" Chloe asked as she laid the sketch pad on the conference table. "A baby shower!" she replied as they walked towards each other. "A baby shower for Emily?...what a great idea?!" Chloe answered as she and Monica went to sit down on the sofa. Monica hadn't told anyone that she and Zander had been living elsewhere but since they were coming home today, she saw no reason to keep their whereabouts a secret. "She and Zander have a new place to live..thanks to Sonny and I thought it would be high time Emily had a some happiness." Monica said as she got comfortable in her seat. "Sounds like fun...what do you need?" Chloe replied as she got excited about making the plans. "Well, everything. I've been so busy at the hospital, I was hoping that between you, Elizabeth and myself we should be able to pull this off without Emily finding out. "Oooh a surprise baby shower..I like it!" she replied as Elizabeth came down the stairs. "What's a surprise?" Elizabeth replied as she made her way over to the conversation. "Emily's baby shower...wanna help?" Chloe said as Elizabeth took a seat in the chair closest to them. "Do you even have to ask? Sure I'll help what do you need me to do?" "Well, Monica figured that between the three of us, we should be able to pull a great party together." Chloe responded. "I was thinking of the PC Grille. It's neutral." Monica said as Elizabeth and Chloe were in thought about the plans. "Okay, the PC Grille...now invitations and the guest list." Chloe suggested as Elizabeth got up for a pad and pen to write this all down. When she returned to the conversation, she started writing a list of invitees.

As Elizabeth made a list of guests to invite for the baby shower, Chloe and Monica discussed the other arrangements. What was supposed to be a few moment discussion turned into a few hours. Monica wanted to make Emily's baby shower special and with the help of Chloe and Elizabeth, it would be. Elizabeth finished with the guest list and started to rattle off the names she had thought of. "Okay, we have the following on the guest list...speak up if you want others added as well...the three of us who sit here...Lila..Gia..Alexis...Carly...Bobbie..and Felicia...anyone I'm missing." Chloe and Monica repeated the names to themselves and responded simultaneously "No." "Good, then we can get these in the mail sometime tomorrow. Now we have a little problem...of when we are going to spring this on Emily." Monica and Chloe both took their date books in their hands and flipped through their calendars. "How bout two weeks from now?" Monica replied as she pointed her finger to a Saturday two weeks from today. "Sounds good to me...I have plans the following week in Milan but I'm free that weekend." Chloe replied agreeing with Monica's suggestion. "I'll call the PC Grille before we make it definite." Elizabeth said as she rose from her seat and walked towards the phone on the desk. "Great!...We'll see you then!" Elizabeth replied with a huge grin on her face. She hung up the phone and re joined Chloe and Monica. "The PC Grille would be glad to have us that day. So things with them are set. The shower was really coming together as Monica's cell phone rang. She reached in her bag to pull out the phone. She flipped it open and said.."Dr. Quartermaine.." "Mom, I'm home!" the voice replied. "Oh my God...Emily! You're home! Where? Can I come see you?" she replied with joy and excitement to hear from her. "Mom...I'm at the Port Charles Towers...Apartment 2020P." she replied. "Well, would you like some company? I have Elizabeth and Chloe here with me...I'm sure they would love to see you." Monica answered as the three of them held hands across the table hoping Emily would say yes. "Sure..I'll see you guys in a few minutes than." she replied getting excited about seeing her family and Elizabeth again. "Okay..we'll be there." Monica replied as she hesitated than flipped the cell phone closed.

***********************************************************************************************

While Emily was on the phone calling Monica, Zander had taken the bags upstairs to the bedroom. He was gone for a little while so she too headed upstairs to check on him. "Zander..." she called. "In here, Em..." he responded from the master bedroom. She wandered in the direction of his voice and she noticed the second bedroom door was ajar. Her curiosity got the best of her as she sneaked a peak inside. She stood in awe at the site of the beautifully decorated nursery. She had everything she could ever want for her new baby. The walls had baby zoo animals scattered about in a neutral color and it had a neutral color wall to wall carpeting. She noticed a mahogany crib in the corner and a mahogany rocker sat next to it with a mint green baby quilt draped over the back. Tears filled her eyes as she was looking into the nursery where soon their precious baby boy would sleep. "Zander..uh..Zand.." she began as a stray tear fell from the corner of her eye. He heard her call him and he came up from behind her and wrapped his strong arms about her. "Who did all this? " she said quietly to him as she looked up at his face. "I don't know..honest I don't. But who ever did this...they did a really nice job." he replied As they stood in amazement of the decorations in the room, there was a knock at the front door. "I'll get it.." he whispered as he leaned in close enough she could feel his whisper against her neck. "Okay..It's probably my mom.." she replied as she watched him walk down the few stairs towards the door. Emily stood a few moments listening to who was at the door before she wandered downstairs to greet her guests.

The apartment was situated at the end of a long hallway and Jason had already assigned a new guard at their door. Zander had gotten only a few feet from the door when Antonio opened the door and announce their guests. Antonio was a muscular brut who had been working for Sonny in Puerto Rico for a while. He was a tall man with a darker complexion, deep set eyes and soft dark brown hair. Monica, Chloe, and Elizabeth noticed Antonio as they passed by him when they entered the apartment. The three ladies certainly couldn't resist the temptation to look at the handsome brut who announced them. Monica noticed Emily descend from upstairs as she politely nodded to Zander who stood by the door when they entered. Emily ran quickly into her mother's arms as Chloe and Elizabeth followed with an embrace as well. The four of them had so much to talk about and Zander knew this was his time to vacate a room filled with women. "Zander.. where you going..." Emily said as she notice he was trying sneak away quietly. "Who...me? Well, I thought..uh..I give the four of you a chance to talk without me hangin around." he replied as he turned cause he knew he was caught sneaking out of the room. "Stay...please." Monica replied as she turned and walked over to him. "Come..on. We promise no girl talk." she added as she led him by the arm to the sofa. Zander confused by the invitation to sit with four women..but beautiful women they were. "So...when did ya's get home?" Elizabeth asked as the four sat in the make shif living room. The living room was really in the center of an open area between the stairs and the kitchen area. "About an hour ago..we really had no idea this is what we would come back to." Zander replied as he and Emily sat together on the large leather sofa. "So who's the new guard..." Chloe asked as she glanced towards the door. "He is Antonio. Sonny arranged for him when we got home." Emily replied as she noticed it peaked Chloe's interest.

They visited for a while before Monica looked at her watch and noticed she needed to get back to the hospital. "Well, I gotta get back to the hospital and I'm sure Chloe and Elizabeth want to get things done for Milan, so I think we will say thank you for allowing us this visit." Monica said as she rose from her seat. "Mom, you don't need my permission to visit with me. None of you do..just stop by." Emily replied as Zander assisted her in getting up off the sofa. Chloe noticed that Emily wasn't having it easy getting up or down now that she was late in her seven month. "I swear if I get any bigger, I will need to stay permanently on the sofa." she added as she followed the group to the door. "Aw..Em...You'll be find out when you hold your baby boy in your hands that it will all be worth it." her mother replied as she kissed her softly on the cheek. "I know..but I would like him out sooner than later. The kicking the ribs is the worst..he certainly has great timing." Emily giggled as she looked at Zander. He knew right away what she meant. The baby has been kicking her lately during their quiet moments in bed. Zander is hoping that he will grow out of this little habit once he joins them in the real world. He opened the door for the ladies as they all said their good-byes and again noticed Antonio outside the door standing guard. Antonio closed the door as Emily and Zander were overcame with a sigh of relief.

"Okay, that went well..." he said as he made his way back to the sofa. "Didn't it though?" she asked as she sat down beside him. "What do you want to do about dinner?" he asked as he looked at his watch which read four o'clock. She looked at him and grinned..."How bout pepperoni pizza and Pixie Sticks?!" Just the sound of that made his stomach churn. "Eww. God..where do you come up with these things..." he replied with a corny look on his face. "What no Pixie Sticks?" ...she replied as she turned and looked at him. "No...pepperoni pizza.." he responded with a little chuckle under his breath. "You don't like pepperoni pizza? You're kidding right?" "Plain will suit me just fine..." he said as he reached for the phone that sat on the coffee table. "Okay..plain pizza with Pixie Sticks.." she replied with a giggle. "Em...I don't think the kitchen will have Pixie Sticks..." "No..but the corner store does.." she replied hoping the hint would get Zander to go get her some. "Okay...I got the hint..I'll be right back." he said as he kissed her on the cheek.

Zander got up and walked towards the door as looked back at her with a grin. "Grape!...make sure their grape." she said as he reached for his keys. "Grape..gotcha. The whole box?" he answered as he turned and waited for her response. "If they have it..Get them now, it'll save you a trip tonight!" she replied. With that Zander walked out the door headed for the corner store for Pixie Sticks of all things. As Zander walked out the door, Emily made a phone call to the local pizzeria for take out. By the time he would return with her grape Pixie Sticks, the pizza should be here. She thought about how long it has been since she had a piece of pizza. It had been quite a while, since the first few months of her pregnancy any sight or smell of food made her sick. But now, she was hungry all the time.

She couldn't believe her craving for grape Pixie Sticks...of all things. But Zander was such a sweetheart to go down to the corner store and buy her some. She hoped he would remember to buy the whole box if they had one...cause these cravings usually lasted all night. One wouldn't be enough.

Zander returned the apartment with a whole box of grape Pixie Sticks in his hands as Antonio noticed he needed help opening the door. Before he closed the door behind him, the pizza delivery guy was waiting for his tip. "Antonio.." Zander said as he nodded to pay the man. "Yes sir.." he responded as he dug deep in his pocket for the exact change.

Zander walked into the apartment and set the box of Emily's pixie sticks and his keys down on the table by the door. "Ah...pixie sticks!" Emily yelled with glee as she saw the purple box sitting there on the table. She noticed that Zander had turned and was holding the pizza she ordered. Emily got up as fast as she could and rushed over to get her hands on the box before he conned her out of them. He was good at that...making deals with her..however she was always the one who ended up with owing him. As he turned to come back into the apartment, he noticed she had the box in her hands and walking back towards the sofa.

"Hey...where you going with those.." he said jokingly. "With what?" she replied as she almost had the box opened. "With those pixie sticks...what you ain't sharing..again?" "What do you mean..again?" ..she questioned. "Do I have to remind you of those pixie stick fights we have had..?" "Oh, those..well if you want some come getcha some!" she replied tempting him. They laughed and playfully wrestled on the sofa for the pixie sticks...until it turned into something more than pixie sticks they wanted. They came nose to nose with each other and he drew her closer and planted a playful kiss on her purple lips. It seemed that she was holding out on him, and had eaten one already from the box. "Now, who's holding out on whom?" he replied as he broke the kiss. She licked her lips trying to remove the grape color from them and replied.."Who...I didn't eat one.." knowing full well he tasted the grape sugar on her lips. "Oh..you didn't...then why do you have grape sugar on your upper lip?" he asked. "Where..?" "Right...here.." he replied as he kissed her lip where the grape sugar glittered. Neither of them realized that their dinner was getting cold. There was nothing that could tear these two apart when they got like this.

The two of them sprawled out on the sofa in relaxing positions and just enjoyed each other's company for a change. Zander and Emily could finally have a peaceful night to themselves. And they were going to take full advantage of it. "Antonio.." Zander yelled towards the door. "Sir?" he replied as the door opened. "No visitors tonight..okay." "Yes..sir." Antonio replied as he closed the door once again.

The sun had gone down on Port Charles and the stars twinkled in the night sky as Zander and Emily stood in front of the window. He stood behind her as she peered out looking across the tall buildings towards the bay. He wrapped his arms around her and leaned in and kissed her on the temple. They stood there just counting the stars in the night sky as well as counting their blessings for everything they held dear.

Chapter 12