Part Fourteen
Two days after the doctor's appointment, Gia was sitting on the floor of her apartment with the Port Charles real estate listing surrounding her. She had her back pressed up against her couch. She had started by sitting on the comfortable cushions but found that she had to lean over to read the papers she had put on the coffee table. It really bothered her.
A little frustrated, Gia sent one of the booklets flying across the room, where it smacked hard against the wall. Most of the places listed where in bad parts of town. She knew Jason wouldn't want his child there…she didn't want her child there.
A knock came at the door, and Gia got up, looking over an offer for a bungalow as she crossed to open it. She looked up and came face to face with her mother.
"Can we talk?" Florence asked.
"Talk yes…argue no." Gia said. "I really don't need anymore stress." Her mother followed her in and watched as Gia resumed her place on the floor.
Florence watched Gia carefully as her daughter poured over the real estate listings. "Thinking of moving?"
Gia looked up. "Yeah, I can't think where the baby will fit into this apartment."
"It's nice to see you are putting some thought into this." Florence said.
"What did you expect? That I would sit around and grow fat thinking the pregnancy fairy would come save me?" Gia asked.
"I thought you said you didn't want to argue." Florence reminded her.
Gia sighed. "I don't…it's just I don't know anything different with you."
"I realize now that sending you to Carrie's was a mistake…"
"So was thinking I would give the baby up for adoption." Gia noticed the look on her face. "I overheard Carrie and you on the phone. I'm not even thinking that."
"I just wanted you to be aware of all of your options." Florence said. "I never wanted you to have children like this."
Gia closed her eyes and counted backwards from ten. "Mom, I am having a child. It's not how either of us planned it. I wanted to wait a few more years. But like it or not, I'm pregnant. And I am starting to get used to the idea. I am not saying that things are bright and cheery…there are some days I am going to need people around me. And I wish for once that you would stop living in your dreams for me, and be one of those supportive people."
"You can't expect me to be happy about this pregnancy?" Florence shifted in her seat.
"I know you're not happy, but this isn't about you. This is about me, and this baby inside of me. I need you to help, Mom. Can you put away your feelings of shame and be supportive of me for once in your life?" Gia asked.
Florence reached down and touched her daughter's face. "I don't feel ashamed of you." She nodded. "I'll be there for you."
"Thank you." Gia said reaching up to hug her mother.
"I was talking to your brother yesterday. He told me about Jason Morgan." Florence said. "But like you said, there are two sides to the story. What do you think of him?"
"I know from our conversations that he loves this child already. I know he'll do anything for it and he'll take good care of it." Gia admitted.
"But can he keep the baby safe?"
"Of course he can keep the baby safe." Gia said.
"Marcus told me about how he works for Adella's boy, Sonny Corinthos. He told me how he is Sonny's enforcer." Florence chose her words carefully. "Do you want you baby being raised by someone who kills?"
"Mom, whatever he does for Sonny has nothing to do with this child?" Her hands were on her stomach now. "All I know is that he loves the baby and I feel safe around him."
"Feeling safe and being safe are two different things." Florence reasoned.
"If I ever thought the baby was in danger I would not continue to be in the situation. My number one concern in life is my baby now." Gia said. "I know a lot of people think I am selfish…I admit I can be. But right now I have a life growing inside of me that depends on me for everything. I am not going to let it down."
Florence leaned down and kissed her daughter's forehead. She had never remembered hearing Gia speak with such wisdom. "I am proud of you right now."
Gia beamed. "Thanks Mom." She looked back down at the leaflet in her hand. "Do you want to help me call about a bungalow?"
****
Jason found his grandmother and Reginald in the rose garden. On one of the few remaining fine days in falls he wouldn't expect to find her anywhere else. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Grandmother…"
"Jason!" Her face lit up. "How lovely to see you!"
"I'm sorry I haven't visited lately." Jason said. "I've had my mind on other things."
Lila always seemed to notice when something was up. "What's wrong, dear?"
"I'll tell you..." He looked at Reginald. "But I need to tell Alan and Monica too. Would you go get them? Avoid the old man if you can…"
"He's at the ELQ office." Lila informed him.
Jason breathed a sigh of relief. He knew Edward would find out sooner or later but he didn't want to see the look of glee in the old man's eyes when he told them about Gia and the baby. He knew Edward would want to play a part in the baby's life…just like he tried to do with Michael. He took a seat on the patio furniture as he waited for Alan and Monica to come. Gia was right…he should tell them. They deserve to hear it from him.
The older couple appeared with a look of confusion on their face. Alan spoke first. "Reginald said you wanted to see us."
"I wanted to tell you all something." Jason said. "It's important and I thought it would be better that I be the one to tell you."
"It sounds serious." Monica commented.
"It is." Jason said. "I'm going to be a father."
"That's wonderful." Lila exclaimed.
"I thought Elizabeth was with Nikolas Cassadine." Alan said confused. "Unless you met someone new…"
"I did." Jason said. "Gia Campbell…"
"Gia?" Monica repeated. "Emily's friend? The model?"
"I wouldn't call Emily and her friends." Jason said realizing that they didn't know about Gia blackmailing Emily. "But yes, she is a model. And she is pregnant."
"You're not together, are you?" Lila asked, noticing the look on his face.
"No, we are not. But we both agreed to work together in raising the baby. I thought you should know." Jason said.
Monica smiled. "Thank you for telling me." She said even though she didn't fully understand the circumstances. "What brought this on?"
"Gia wants the whole family to be involved with the baby. I don't think she understands how this family operates. But, I knew you three will be good for the baby." Jason sighed. "I don't know about the rest of them." He said specifically thinking about Edward.
"Don't worry; we'll do whatever you want when it comes to this baby." Alan spoke up after a moment of silence.
"I'm glad to hear that." Jason said. "You'll be a part of his or her life…Gia wants it and so do I."
Monica felt tears come to her eyes. She knew her Jason was gone, but this Jason was making an effort to regain some of the old bond. Her relationship with him was different but that didn't stop her from loving him. "Thank you." Her pager went off. She cursed under her breath for the moment being interrupted. "It's the hospital..." She resisted the urge to hug Jason, knowing he probably didn't want that.
"Can I talk to you for a moment alone?" Jason asked Alan. The older man nodded, and had a surprised look on his face. "Will you be alright here grandmother?"
Lila nodded. "I am going to cut some roses. Please send Reginald out to help me."
The two men entered the house. Jason was the first to speak. "I am worried about how Edward will react. I really don't want to have another situation like the one with Michael. This baby is going to be a Morgan, not a Quartermaine. I don't want to have to think about Edward attempting to get the baby under this roof. It will never happen but I don't want him to get any ideas."
"You want me to talk to him." Alan concluded.
"Just tell him that he will never get his hands on the baby. I won't allow it." Jason said.
Alan never saw this kind of fierce protectiveness in his son before. He could understand it, being a father himself. "I really think after what happened with Michael that Father has learned his lesson. Lila has calmed him down…but I will speak to him when he finds out."
"Thanks." Jason looked at his watch. "I gotta go. I'm going to say goodbye to Grandmother."
Alan watched as his youngest son disappeared out into the rose garden. He couldn't believe what had happened that day. Not only had he been informed that he would be a grandfather…but Jason wanted to him to be involved. He felt like he got a part of his son back…
Jason smiled when he saw Lila again. With the help of Reginald, she had cut away a few of her late blooming roses and had them in a basket.
Lila eyed her grandson. "Everything will work out just fine. I know it will." She held out her basket of cut roses. "You will give these to Gia. Please bring her over some time soon. I would really like to get to know her better." She had met her a few times when Courtney was living in the house.
Jason took the basket handle. "Thank you grandmother…I'll bring her over real soon." He kissed her cheek and left the Quartermaine grounds with a warm feeling inside. He knew he had done the right thing…and he had Gia to thank for it.