~@~@ In The End.
I disclaim
The first day had been the hardest.
He woke up like he normally did, but just us he was washing his face it hit him he was alone. He'd been alone dozens of times, but Emily was always with him, just hidden away in the corner of his mind. Telling him to stay safe, and be nice to the Q's, but she wasn't there anymore. Yesterday she had given him an ultimatum, either accept her and Johnny or get out of her life. He had picked the later.
Once he fully comprehended that the only family he had was gone, he tried to block it out. He'd done it before, when Elizabeth had chosen Zander over him, he had just told himself that he didn't love her and he just seemed to stop caring, but it wasn't working for Emily, She wasn't some girl he thought he loved, she was his sister and she loved simply because he Jason, but he couldn't return the favor.
But he wasn't wrong, this whole thing was bad she just refused to look at things from his perspective, and now he had lost her.
Looking at himself in the mirror, he could tell how being apart from her had taken it's toll, he had always looked cold, but it was just in appearance and not in personality, but now that was no longer true, and he was force to admit that he had needed her as much as she needed him. Where Emily claimed that he was her strength, she was his humanity; he only cared because he knew she wanted him to, and now he had nothing.
Or almost nothing.
Three years later and the only thing he had of he little sister were pictures, and second hand information. He checked his watch for the fourth time, she was late, but she was always late, and he knew as soon as she got here that she start giving him one of her excuses, and wouldn't stop till she ran out of breath.
" Stop doing that, I'm not that late." " Besides it's not my fault there was traffic, on Naylor Road."
Jason looked up Skye, and almost grinned, if was strange the kind of people you turn to in crisis. When he first heard of Skye Chandler-Quartermaine, it was from Emily, she had described their new sister as 'A.J.'s Twin', which in his mind meant she lied a lot, and he was right. She did lie a lot, almost dally, but where A.J. lied for selfish reasons, Skye lied to survive and in some cases protect, she was a lot more like Carly then A.J. Now he would willingly kill to protect her just as he would Emily, he just wouldn't tell her that. Knowing Skye she would hand him a list of people that had 'wronged her'. Thinking back to how they got here he was kind of glad he had a blow out.
Flashback
2 ½ years ago The Outback
He wiped the rain of his forehead, and shook his head, of all the nights to have a blow out. He was all set to leave Port Charles, after months of waiting for Emily to realize her mistake; he had finally broken down, and decided to take another trip. Unfortunately he picked the worst night to eave, the forecaster said it was going to be the coldest November night in Port Charles history, what he forget to mention was the it would rain.
Thankfully the Outback looked open, he couldn't believe that the first time he forgets to charge his cell phone is the night that he gets a flat. He stopped just the door and looked into the window, freezing at the sight inside Emily. She was there with O'Brien and what looked like the rest if the Quartermaine family, the fact that they all seemed to be getting along, just showed him how right he was. After all anyone that the Quartermaines approve of is definitely not good.
" You know those doors open up?"
Jason clenched his jaw, Emily had been right about one thing, Skye was in fact A.J.'s twin, and he felt the same dislike for her that he felt for his brother. Turning he glared at her with all he had, and was a little surprised when she didn't take an step back, but merely narrowed her eyes. " You want in, you can go around?"
Skye looked past him into the window, and then clicked her tongue." Ah I take it you've heard the news, and have come to stop it."
" What news?"
Skye paused torn about what to do, on one hand she had information that she knew would upset him, but on the other she knew the news would hurt what feelings he did have. Now she wasn't really a fan of her 'brother', but she knew what it was like to be on the outside looking in, any information she learned about her family in Pine valley came from her Uncle Stuart, and no matter how disinterested she acted, it always hurt to her about her sister Colby who only knew her as a photograph and a birthday card. " Jason maybe you should go."
" I can't my bike has a flat I need to use the phone, but don't change the subject what news Skye?" He was using his best 'enforcer' voice, and he could tell that she knew something important, but was holding back.
" Here use my phone." Skye grabbed her cell phone from her purse and thrust it at him, now eager to get away from him." But don't go in there, for your own good."
Jason took the phone and let his hand drop to his sides, a feeling of dread began to spread in his stomach." TELL ME."
" THEY'RE ENGAGED." She silently cursed herself at the shade of gray that his face took, she wasn't going to tell him but he had gotten all demanding, and she had snapped, she lowered her voice and continued. " Emily's graduating early and heading off to Harvard, Johnny proposed and so now they're getting married before the fall classes began."
The large man dropped back against the wall, as if the building could support him and the house that Skye just dropped on him. Emily, his little sister, his only family was getting married she wasn't going to get over her infatuation with Johnny; she was going to spend the rest of her life with him. " This is wrong."
" Yeah, I think so too, but hey it's her life."
" How can you just say that, he will HURT her?"
" So did you." He turned away as if she struck him, but it didn't stop her." You didn't think it hurt when the one person that always supports her no matter what, turned away from her, you don't think making a decision following her heart when she knew it was leading away from you, tore her to pieces." " Because if you thought that then you didn't know Emily half as well as people believe."
" I'm doing this for Emily…"
" Oh God, you sound like Edward." Skye walked up to the window watching as Johnny and Emily danced together in the center of the room, she was cynical, several marriages had killed the romantic in her long ago. She knew hat deep within her she waned her sister to be happy, but the doubt and hurts of the pat keep her believing that Emily was headed for hurt, but unlike Jason she knew that if it was to happen she had to experience for herself. " You're doing this because you think you're right, and don't care about how anyone else see the situation, and now because of your stupidity you're going to miss out on Emily's life."
" I didn't chose this, it was her ultimatum…"
" Oh that's right Emily was selfish and didn't want to spend the rest of her life, with you looking down on the man she loved." " That B!tch."
Jason turned away and began dialing a number on the cell phone, blocking out Skye's words, he told Benny where he was and that he'd be waiting. "Thanks." He put the phone in her coat pocket, and began walking down the steps.
" Jason wait." Skye followed behind him rummaging thru her purse, before taking out a small card and handing to him. " Those are all my numbers, give me a call when you land someplace, in case Emily wants to get in contact with you."
" Okay."
But Emily hadn't, and so he called Skye, and she'd give him some excuse and tell him how Emily was weakening, and was just a few steps from call him herself. Then eventually she would just give him updates, and then she was emailing him photos, pretty soon, it became obvious that they were just calling to talk to each other. " Skye I'm sure that your excuse is valid, and you're right you're not that late." He stood and gave her a brief hug, reminding him how much he enjoyed having someone care about him.
" It's good to see you Jase." Skye settled into her seat and stared at her younger brother thoughtfully, he hadn't really changed since the fist time she saw him, and she was sure that if he weren't her brother she would have been as scared as the rest of the patrons in the small café seemed to be. " I see you're terrorizing the fine people of New York."
Jason looked at around and gave a small grin, the other customers were watching him from the corner of their eyes, like they expected him, to rob the place." They should mind their own business."
" Yes well, speaking of business." Skye rummaged though her purse, and gave a small squeal when she found what she was looking for; She slid the picture face down across the table, waiting patiently for Jason's reaction.
" She looks good."
" I know, the entire family is vying for her attention, just the other day Grandfather…" She stopped when she heard a sharp intake of breath, and looked over at him. " Jase?"
" I'm sorry."
" About What?"
" I made her choose, I didn't trust him, I didn't trust either one of them, and I've missed so much."
Skye watched in amazement Jason's eyes began to water, it was strange she had given up on him ending this stupidity years ago, but he remained as stubborn as Emily was. " About Time."
" She'll never forgive me."
" This is Emily, she forgave you years ago, she's just waiting to tell you to your face." She leaned over the table and kissed his cheek, before taking out a small piece of paper. " If you leave now, you could get there just in time to tuck Paige in."
" Thank you." Jason stood and began moving toward the door, he was halfway there when he stopped and came toward her lifting her out the chair into a large hug. " I love you, Skye."
" I know." Skye tighten her hold before she stepped back and pouched him away. " Now go see our little sister."
~~~
Two Hours Later.
One hour, he'd be home in one hour. She shook her head, saying it like that made it sound like Paige was trouble, which she wasn't but the little girl seem to know when her daddy was coming home and began to show off just in time for him, but today she was stating early." Paige baby, don't you want to save this for your Daddy." The small girl looked at her mother with mild amusement, which she was sure she had learned from her Great grandfather before taking a deep breath and starting to cry. " Guess not." Picking up her daughter Emily began the usual routine of walking up and down the length of their living room singing quietly to her.
" Hey, Daddy's home." Johnny stopped in the doorway, and grinned at the sight. Coming home to his wife and daughter was something he was quickly becoming addicted to, especially if their faces continued to light up like they did." How's my favorite girl?" He asked as he stepped closer and held out his arms for his daughter.
" I thought I was your favorite girl?" The pout on her face was brief, as the small kiss he gave her replaced it with a large smile.
" No you're your favorite woman, this angel is my favorite girl."
" Not that I'm complaining but what are you doing home so early." She sank down on the couch, and watched him play with their daughter, she doubted people in Port Charles would be able to recognize the man playing on the floor with his daughter, from the silent but threatening body guard that followed behind Sonny Corinthos and for that she was forever grateful.
" Skye called said you needed me, something about a surprise arriving."
Emily stopped cleaning her desk, and looked at him through narrow eyes." If she sent another expensive toy, it's going back."
Johnny held up the wiggling little girl, and pouted at his wife." Ahh…why you being so mean mommy?"
" Because her room is full of expensive toys, that she looks at for about a minute before she plays with the box it came in."
" Well…"
DING DONG
" I guess we'll just have to see, won't we?" Shifting Paige on his hip, and walked toward the door and opened it, before he froze and simply stared at the man in the doorway, who was too buy staring at Paige to pay him any mind. " Jason."
He stopped staring at the small girl long enough to look at the man holding her, it was at that moment that he realized that a man he once loved like a brother, was now technicality his brother-in-law. " Johnny."
Stepping back he allowed the other man to enter. " Em we have company." He watched Emily tensed up at the sight of her brother, and he silently cursed himself, the man that once brought her immense joy, now only brought her anxiety, and he was directly responsible for it. " Well we're going to start dinner."
Emily nodded, but keep her gaze on her brother." What are you doing here?"
" She's beautiful." He tore his eyes away from Emily, and looked around the living room the fireplace was plastered with pictures, mostly of his niece, but there were photos of Michael, The Q's, and it the center was a picture of Emily and Johnny on what he guessed was their wedding day. Bringing his eyes back to meet her, nodded." She looks like you."
" You're reaching, she looks more like Johnny then me, but what are you ding here?"
" I came to apologize." " I was wrong, Johnny is a good man, and he never showed me any reason not to trust him, and you've always been ale to handle yourself, I should have trusted two people I loved to be able to live their own lives without my interference, but I didn't I was worried you be hurt again, and I was trying to protect you." " I screwed up, I hurt you, and I missed out on an important piece of your life." He fidgeted nervously, waiting for her reaction, but she only stared at him." I told Skye this wasn't going to work."
" When did you talk to Skye?"
" We talk about once a month, sometimes I come into the city to see her." " You were right about her, she's actually kind of nice." " She told me that you'd already forgiven me…"
" I have, I just need to be sure, that you're really okay with this." She moved from behind her desk, and walked to the fireplace, picking up the wedding picture." This is my life Jason, Johnny's my husband, Paige is our daughter, this is what I always wanted, and I'm happy."
" I know I can see it." And he could, there was a light in her eyes that he hadn't see for years. " I just want to be part of your life again, I've missed you."
" Jase." Those were the last words she said as she rushed into her brothers arms, she had missed him dreadfully. There had been so many time when she wanted to see him, he had been the first person she wanted t tell about her engagement, and it took all her strength to keep her from calling when she was pregnant, but she didn't have to hold back those feelings anymore, because he was back. " I missed you so much."
" Hey sorry to interrupt, but Dinners on." Johnny gave Paige a kiss on the forehead, and looked his former fried n the eye." There's enough if you want to join us?"
He hesitated, not wanting to push the progress he had made so far, but he looked down at Emily who started back with a hopeful smile. " Sure."
" Good, maybe if you take Paige she'll actually eat." Emily walked toward her husband holding her arms out, and as expected her daughter gurgled and leaned forward falling into her mother's arms. " Paige Lila O'Brien, I liked you to meet your Uncle Jason."
Jason walked slowly toward Emily and Paige, trying to cement the image in his mind." Hi Paige." He stopped just in front of them, not really sure how the child was going to react to him. They seemed to study each other, trying to figure out what the other was thinking, finally fed up with the silence Paige giggled, and reached for one of the straps on his leather jacket, he caught her hand and brought it to his mouth kiss it softly, before he tock from his sister settling her firmly against his chest. " Come on I bet your daddy made us some nice food."
Johnny pulled Emily back into his arms as he watched them walk into the kitchen. " See I told you everything would be okay."
" Yeah you're occasionally right."
" Occasionally, I told you the day we got together things would work out."
Emily turned in his arms and gave him a look of outrage." That's not what you said…"
" Em, you just reconciled with you brother, and we have a beautiful daughter, just say I love you and then kiss me."
" I love you." She wound her arm around his neck bringing down his head down so she could catch his lips with her own.
" I love you too." Johnny murmured as he returned his wife's kiss.
Neither was aware that Jason watched from the doorway still holding onto to his niece, he lowered his voice as to not alert the couple." You see Paige, your parents are very much in love, and one day you find a love like that, and don't you worry when it's your time your Uncle Jason will stay out of it."
The End
Okay guys it's over, but don't worry there are all kinds of GH fanfics running around in my head. Thanks for all your support (Tamara and Anya Harris especially)