AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey guys! I'm sorry for the wait. I'm still studying for
finals and all, which are tomorrow and the next day. After that I'll be
able to focus a bit more on the story, but not for long. Sunday my best
friend and I are flying out to Oregon and Washington state to visit her
family. I'll be there the whole month of June, but hopefully that won't
affect the progress of my story. I'll have time to write it, but we'll be
pretty busy visiting her something like 73 relatives out there. Whew!
That's a lot of people, I don't know about you guys, but I have an
extremely small family (think less than 10). Over 70 people's going to be a
little overwhelming. Anyway, on with chapter 8, I hope you guys enjoy
because this took me a while to get it just how I wanted it.
She closed her eyes and held Dawne closer to her, placing a kiss in the girl's hair. After a long moment she opened her eyes and looked beyond Dawne's shoulder at Collin. He locked eyes with her and she could see the fear and anger was still there as he rubbed the hand he'd punched Trystan with.
"You should go," he said as he came over and bent down next to her and Dawne. "You need to get out of here fast..... Before he decides to send his men in."
She nodded slowly, in a haze of disbelief.
He studied her for a moment, then turned around and found Jax standing over him. "Take them someplace safe, will you?" he asked of him.
"Of course," Jax nodded and bent down as Collin stood. "Come here," he said pulling Dawne out of Skye's arms and picking her up. He helped Skye stand, keeping his hand firmly under her elbow as he did and led her out of the room.
As they reached the top stair DA Baldwin and two of his police officers passed them. He gave Skye a quick glance but didn't stop as he and his men rushed down the stairs.
"They're going after Collin," Skye stated and tried to pull away from Jax. "They'll arrest him."
"Don't worry about him," Jax said and tugged her forward. "He can take care of himself." She was reluctant, but obeyed as he led her and Dawne out to his limo. "Take us back to the house," he ordered the driver as he opened the door and motioned for her to get in. He set Dawne down and she climbed in after Skye, and he soon followed.
He watched as Dawne climbed into Skye's lap and rested her head on her mother's shoulder. Skye began to stroke Dawne's hair, every once in a while she kissed the top of her head, but she remained silent through the entire trip to his mansion.
He continued to watch the two with interest and curiosity, his mind zooming with all that had been thrown at him. Trystan Bryant was Dawne's father; he didn't need to be told that. It had been obvious in Skye's actions and in the man's appearance.
He was completely confused as to how little Dawne could look like a miniature version of Skye, and yet resemble her father at the exact same time. He studied the two now and realized that Skye's face was a bit more angular, while Dawne's had a slight square shape to it. Dawne's eyes were also a bit browner than Skye's, and Skye's lips were full, the top as well as the bottom, while Dawne's upper lip was thin.
They were small differences, many people wouldn't have noticed them, but Jax did, and he wondered how he'd ever missed them in the first place.
He had so many questions to ask her, but he refrained, knowing it wasn't the time, not with Dawne sitting there. And Skye looked every bit as confused as he did, which also kept him from opening his mouth.
The car pulled to a halt just outside of Jax's mansion no more than fifteen minutes later. Dawne had fallen asleep on her mother's shoulder, and she carried her inside, following silently behind Jax.
He led them inside and was greeted by his butler, William. "Good evening Mr. Jacks, glad to have you home," William said in a stiff British accent as he took his employer's coat.
Jax nodded to the man and motioned to Skye. "William, this is my ex-wife and her daughter, they'll be staying the night with us. Arrange a room for them please."
"Yes sir," William nodded and walked away quickly to carry out his orders.
He turned back to Skye and was startled by the fear in her eyes. "We should get her to bed," he told her softly after a short moment.
Skye nodded but said nothing as William came back into the room. "Mary's preparing the room adjoining yours sir," he informed them.
"Thanks," Jax nodded and turned back to Skye. "Would you like me to carry her?" he asked. She nodded once again and transferred Dawne into Jax's arms carefully, and followed him as he started up a large staircase.
They entered the room as Mary was turning down the bed sheets. She smiled cheerfully at Jax, but it faded quickly and she left the room, sensing something wasn't right.
Carefully Jax laid Dawne down in the bed as Skye sat down on the end and pulled Dawne's shoes off. "Shouldn't we undress her?" he asked in a hushed whisper.
Skye shook her head, once again not saying a word. He nodded slowly and stepped back to give her the space he knew she wanted. For now he'd ask no questions, but once he had her alone he would drill her for answers. She wasn't going to escape him, not this time. He ::would:: have all of his questions answered.
Skye pulled the covers up and tucked them carefully around her sleeping daughter. Slowly she leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Dawne's forehead, "I love you." She whispered and stepped away from her.
She looked up and saw Jax standing patiently by the door, waiting for her. Though she would've rather stayed with Dawne and slept beside her, she followed him out of the room, keeping her eyes artfully away from his piercing gaze.
Quietly he shut the door to Dawne's room and turned around to find Skye staring around his room. He walked up behind her and placed his hands gently on her shoulders, feeling her jump slightly beneath his hands. "Skye- " he began, but he stopped when she looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
Suddenly he didn't have the heart to drill her with questions. She looked scared and defenseless, and those weren't words one normally used to describe Skye. She had always been a strong and independent woman, but now she appeared weak and vulnerable. "Tell me," he requested softly. "Talk to me."
Skye turned away from him and began to pace, spinning her sapphire ring around her finger as she did. "Trystan Bryant and I were.... involved, for lack of a better term, in college. He was the popular, handsome, smart and rich senior, while I was the pretty little rich freshman. It was definitely a good match, even Adam approved of him," she wrinkled her nose at the mention of the man she had once thought was her father.
"We met through friends the first week of Summer Semester, three days later we were a couple. I guess that was mistake number one. For the first two months he was great, very romantic and considerate, but after that he became more interested in what I could do for him rather than what we could do for each other. I continued going out with him though because Adam was actually proud of me. It didn't matter that he was a complete and total jerk, Adam was calling me his daughter for the first time.
"Then one night when he was drunk and being particularly rude, I refused to sleep with him. He got angry and knocked me around a bit. I was used to being knocked around by Althea, so when he came crawling back begging me to forgive him, I did.
"Things got better for a while, he was very careful with me, very kind. He brought me a dozen roses every day for three weeks. Then he asked me to move in with him and I accepted, that was probably the biggest mistake I ever made. Soon after we moved in together he asked me to marry him. We had only been going out three months by then and I hardly knew him so I told him no, that we should wait a while longer. He got so angry." She paused remembering exactly what had happened after she said no. The memory didn't affect her as it once had. She used to curl into a little ball and cry her eyes out, but not anymore. It was over and done with and there was nothing she could do to change the past. She steeled her voice and went on. "He beat the shit out of me. If Collin hadn't decided to stop by and say hey when he did, Trystan would have killed me."
She saw the sadness in Jax's eyes give way to pure fury. He pushed himself away from the fireplace, punching it as he did. "Bastard," he growled. How could she just stand there and look so calm? Didn't it hurt her to think about it, he wondered to himself.
"That was the last straw, I broke it off immediately after I was released from the hospital. He was charged with assault and battery..... attempted murder too. But he's slick, he got out of it with a few phone calls to the right people -one being my dad."
Jax shook his head and laughed out of pure anger. "I always knew Adam was a low down son of a bitch, but I never imagined he could sink that low." He sighed and opened a decanter of Brandy and poured himself a glass. "What else?"
Skye shrugged. "A few months later I discovered I was pregnant. I didn't tell anyone but Collin and my roommate.... I barely showed so I got away with it, even Adam never knew." She walked around the room fingering the little trinkets scattered around the room as she spoke. "Trystan graduated early, so he never knew either. I don't understand how he found out! How could he possibly have known that Dawne is his daughter after all of this time?"
This time here eyes did fill with tears. She was only nineteen, and only seven months pregnant. She'd been so close to loosing Dawne and she hadn't even cared. She hadn't wanted the baby, but Collin had convinced her to at least have it, to give it to some nice couple that did want a baby. So she went through with the pregnancy, hating every second of it.
When the time came when Dawne was born she'd cursed everyone and everything within sight. Then they'd handed her to her. She was so small and fragile, her cry so weak and miserable. And she'd fallen in love. But still she'd pushed her away. Dawne's chances of surviving were slim, the doctors said, because Dawne was a preemie.
Dawne had been in the hospital for three months after she was born for observation. Skye hadn't visited her once. She didn't even go to the hospital to pick her up on the day she was to be released. Collin had gone instead. In the following weeks she'd continued to push Dawne away, refusing to care for her, trying to convince herself that she didn't love Dawne. But she did. She was completely in love with that little girl from the moment she'd been placed in her arms, she just hadn't wanted to admit it.
Collin had known the truth without having to be told. He'd taken care of little Dawne himself, slowly pushing Dawne onto Skye until Skye finally relented when Dawne was sixteen months.
Skye shook her head, ridding herself of the old memories "I won't let him have her," she said, looking up at Jax, with new resolve. "I won't."
"Of course not," he nodded and pulled her closer to him and wrapped his arms around her.
"He doesn't deserve her," she sniffled.
"Not a chance," Jax agreed.
"He gonna' to take me to court, Jax," she said. "I don't know what to do."
"You'll get the best lawyer there is," he answered. "I'll ask Alexis to represent you."
Skye gave an un-ladylike snort. "It'll be a cold day in hell when she agrees to help me."
"She'll say yes because I'll ask her to," he replied. "She won't say no to me. I don't think she can."
"Don't be so sure," Skye shook her head and pulled away from him slightly to look up at him. "I think she hates me more than she loves her daughter."
Jax ignored her statement knowing she may very well be right. But Alexis ::would:: represent Skye, even if he had to fall down on his knees and beg her to take the case, he'd convince her to do it. There was no way he was going to allow that man to take Dawne away from Skye.
Skye let her head drop back on to Jax's shoulder and felt herself melting into him. She'd never felt safer in her life, than when she was being held in Jax's arms. Suddenly she felt tears rise up again, she'd missed him so much, and here she was being held in his arms over half a year after he'd divorced her for Brenda.
He noticed her sniffling again and he took her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "Don't cry. I'm not gonna' let him hurt you or Dawne," he said.
She nodded and closed her eyes as a few tears spilled over. "Jax?" she asked through the tears as she let her head rest on his shoulder again.
"Yes?" he answered.
"Will you hold me tonight?" she asked in barely above a whisper. "Please?"
He said nothing as he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. He laid her down on it softly and walked around to the other side, then crawled on top and pulled her into his arms, happily content just to hold her as long as she wanted to be held.
* * * * *
Skye entered the hotel late the next morning with Dawne's hand in her own. As her normal routine she went to the front desk and smiled at the clerk. "Morning Charlie," she greeted.
"Good morning Ms. Quartermaine," he returned with a smile as he handed her the day's mail. "There's a man waiting for you in the lobby. Right over there," he pointed to a man in a suit sitting in one of the chairs with a brief case on his lap.
She paused, not exactly sure what she should do. She took a deep breath, held her head high and walked over to him, knowing whatever news this man bore wasn't good. "Ms. Chandler-Quartermaine?" he asked, standing up to greet her.
He didn't offer his hand and neither did she. "Yes?" she responded, keeping her voice level and cool.
"I'm Frank Wiles," he said as he opened his brief case and pulled out a manila folder. "I'm here to issue you a court summons."
"A subpoena?" she breathed taking the files he handed her.
"Yes ma'am," he nodded coolly. "The court date's set for April 14th."
"The fourteenth?" she repeated, forgetting the cool facade she'd formed. "That's Monday!"
"Yes ma'am," he nodded. "I should be going now, good luck." He added, he closed his briefcase and walked off before she could say anything else.
"Mommy?" Dawne asked looking up at her mother who was now white as a sheet.
"I-I need to sit," she stuttered and fumbled as she sat down in the chair previously occupied by the man. Her breathing hitched as she absorbed what she'd just been told. ::He's really going to do this:: she thought. ::I'm going to loose Dawne. Even if Alexis agrees to be my lawyer I'll loose her. He'll set the case up so he'll win, I know he will.::
She looked down at her daughter, staring worry faced up at her. "Oh baby," she whispered and pulled Dawne into her lap. "Oh, this can't be happening. It just can't!"
* * * * *
Alexis adjusted the strap of her purse as she rang the doorbell of Jax's mansion. She looked around in curiosity at the large stone structure in front of her, she'd never been to Jax's mansion before. She hadn't even known he'd owned one, apparently he didn't come here often.
She smiled as the door opened, expecting to see Jax, but was disappointed to find a stiff looking man instead. "I'm here to see Mr. Jacks," she said to his questioning gaze.
"Ms. Davis?" he asked in a stiff British accent.
"Yes," she nodded."
"Right this way ma'am," he stepped aside to allow her entrance and she followed him into a large room lined with books. "Mr. Jacks is just finishing up his shower, he'll be down in a moment. May I get you anything?" he asked.
"No, I'm fine," she answered. The man nodded and left, leaving her alone in the room. "Huh," she said to herself as she looked around the room in curiosity. She stepped over to the shelves and pulled out a book, "Moby Dick. Interesting."
She replaced the book and continued on in her snooping. There was a very large window across the room that opened up onto a terrace. She found herself drawn to it and stepped outside, her breath catching at the sight of a beautiful garden of roses.
She stood on the terrace staring out at the garden for a few moments, and didn't even hear Jax come in. "Pretty isn't it?" he asked coming up beside her to stare out at the garden.
She jumped at the sound of his voice, but relaxed knowing it was only him. "It's gorgeous," she answered. "I didn't even know about this place."
"I don't come here often," he answered.
"So why are you here now?" she asked.
"I brought Skye here last night," he answered, turning back to her in time to see her wrinkle her nose in distaste.
"Tell me you're not back together with her?" she pleaded.
Jax was silent for a moment. "No," he said finally. "We're not."
She sighed with relief. "I honestly can't see why you ever married that woman, let alone got involved with her in the first place. She's bad news, Jax."
"Everyone told me that about her when I got interested in her," he said, turning to look back out at the garden. "Maybe someone should've told her that about me."
Alexis was silent for a moment as she studied him. He leaned against the railing of the terrace, staring out at it as if he were in deep thought. He didn't seem to mind the wind whipping at his hair he usually kept so carefully in place, he was simply entranced in thought. "Jax, what did you call me over here for?"
He turned back to her and smiled. "Always one to get to the point, weren't you?" When she said nothing he smiled and turned around to lean against the railing. "I'm sure you've heard by now about the trouble at the party last night."
"The little girl's father showed up," she nodded. "Yeah, I heard. What about it?"
Jax was silent for a moment again. "He wants custody of Dawne. He's already had the subpoena papers delivered to Skye."
"So?" Alexis said cautiously. She could tell what was coming next.
"So I want you to represent Skye at the hearing," he replied.
Alexis stared at him. She'd known it was coming up still couldn't believe he'd even think to ask her. "Absolutely not!" she exclaimed. "Do you know how much I loathe that woman? She probably deserves to loose that little girl!"
"No," Jax said sharply cutting her off. He saw the surprise in her eyes at his anger, but he continued. "That man will never lay a hand on that little girl as long as I live."
She stared at him a moment longer, then slowly she smiled. "You're in love with her aren't you?"
"What?" he asked.
"You're in love with Skye," she laughed again. "Oh, that's rich! I thought you'd learned your lesson, but no. She reeled you back in like a gold fish in a little bowl-"
"Alexis that's enough," he said cutting her off. "I haven't been reeled into anything. Skye didn't ask for my help, I offered it, starting with you. I told her I'd get her the best lawyer, and you're it."
Alexis shook her head. "There is no way in hell I'm representing that woman. Have you forgotten that she accused me of murdering Alcazar?"
"Alexis, you did murder him!" he exclaimed. "Skye covered for you as long as she could before they were about to throw her in jail for it! You did nothing knowing all along you were the real killer!"
"She tried to steal Kristina from me," Alexis insisted.
"She did nothing but love that little girl while you couldn't be near her," he shook his head. "If anything, she gave Kristina the love and attention you couldn't give her at the time."
"She turned me away from the door every time I came to visit her," she exclaimed.
"Because you had ::set:: visitations that ::you:: didn't abide by!" he exclaimed. "She was trying to protect you so you ::could:: see your daughter again! You would have been thrown in jail had Edward caught you sneaking in to visit Kristina during an unscheduled visit. Skye saved you Alexis. Every time she turned you away it was so in six months you'd be able to have custody of her again." He paused seeing that his words were getting across to Alexis. "You owe Skye Alexis. Please, do this for me if you won't do it for her."
Alexis remained silent and frowned. "It's just a custody case?"
"Just a custody case," he nodded.
She bit her lip, thinking it over in her mind. "I'll need to set up an interview with her. She has to tell me everything."
"Thank you," he smiled. "Thank you so much."
"Yeah yeah yeah," she grunted. "Just get me the interview."
"Absolutely," he nodded. "You won't regret this."
"I'm sure I will," she grumbled, angry with herself for relenting.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: So there it is you guys. I sure hope it was worth the wait. Oh and just a little note if you're confused: I'm not going along with the current story on GH, the whole Alexis/Dawbson thing is just a little stupid in my opinion, so in my story it never happened. It's already been six months so Alexis has her lawyer's license back and she has custody of Kristina again (in the beginning of the story Kristina was simply visiting her father and that's why she was at the Quartermaine's). And let's just pretend that everything Jax said about Skye helping Alexis to keep her child is true, 'kay? Well that's it. I'm hoping to get the next chapter out soon, so please review and tell me what you think. I need the inspiration! Thanks, bye! PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!
She closed her eyes and held Dawne closer to her, placing a kiss in the girl's hair. After a long moment she opened her eyes and looked beyond Dawne's shoulder at Collin. He locked eyes with her and she could see the fear and anger was still there as he rubbed the hand he'd punched Trystan with.
"You should go," he said as he came over and bent down next to her and Dawne. "You need to get out of here fast..... Before he decides to send his men in."
She nodded slowly, in a haze of disbelief.
He studied her for a moment, then turned around and found Jax standing over him. "Take them someplace safe, will you?" he asked of him.
"Of course," Jax nodded and bent down as Collin stood. "Come here," he said pulling Dawne out of Skye's arms and picking her up. He helped Skye stand, keeping his hand firmly under her elbow as he did and led her out of the room.
As they reached the top stair DA Baldwin and two of his police officers passed them. He gave Skye a quick glance but didn't stop as he and his men rushed down the stairs.
"They're going after Collin," Skye stated and tried to pull away from Jax. "They'll arrest him."
"Don't worry about him," Jax said and tugged her forward. "He can take care of himself." She was reluctant, but obeyed as he led her and Dawne out to his limo. "Take us back to the house," he ordered the driver as he opened the door and motioned for her to get in. He set Dawne down and she climbed in after Skye, and he soon followed.
He watched as Dawne climbed into Skye's lap and rested her head on her mother's shoulder. Skye began to stroke Dawne's hair, every once in a while she kissed the top of her head, but she remained silent through the entire trip to his mansion.
He continued to watch the two with interest and curiosity, his mind zooming with all that had been thrown at him. Trystan Bryant was Dawne's father; he didn't need to be told that. It had been obvious in Skye's actions and in the man's appearance.
He was completely confused as to how little Dawne could look like a miniature version of Skye, and yet resemble her father at the exact same time. He studied the two now and realized that Skye's face was a bit more angular, while Dawne's had a slight square shape to it. Dawne's eyes were also a bit browner than Skye's, and Skye's lips were full, the top as well as the bottom, while Dawne's upper lip was thin.
They were small differences, many people wouldn't have noticed them, but Jax did, and he wondered how he'd ever missed them in the first place.
He had so many questions to ask her, but he refrained, knowing it wasn't the time, not with Dawne sitting there. And Skye looked every bit as confused as he did, which also kept him from opening his mouth.
The car pulled to a halt just outside of Jax's mansion no more than fifteen minutes later. Dawne had fallen asleep on her mother's shoulder, and she carried her inside, following silently behind Jax.
He led them inside and was greeted by his butler, William. "Good evening Mr. Jacks, glad to have you home," William said in a stiff British accent as he took his employer's coat.
Jax nodded to the man and motioned to Skye. "William, this is my ex-wife and her daughter, they'll be staying the night with us. Arrange a room for them please."
"Yes sir," William nodded and walked away quickly to carry out his orders.
He turned back to Skye and was startled by the fear in her eyes. "We should get her to bed," he told her softly after a short moment.
Skye nodded but said nothing as William came back into the room. "Mary's preparing the room adjoining yours sir," he informed them.
"Thanks," Jax nodded and turned back to Skye. "Would you like me to carry her?" he asked. She nodded once again and transferred Dawne into Jax's arms carefully, and followed him as he started up a large staircase.
They entered the room as Mary was turning down the bed sheets. She smiled cheerfully at Jax, but it faded quickly and she left the room, sensing something wasn't right.
Carefully Jax laid Dawne down in the bed as Skye sat down on the end and pulled Dawne's shoes off. "Shouldn't we undress her?" he asked in a hushed whisper.
Skye shook her head, once again not saying a word. He nodded slowly and stepped back to give her the space he knew she wanted. For now he'd ask no questions, but once he had her alone he would drill her for answers. She wasn't going to escape him, not this time. He ::would:: have all of his questions answered.
Skye pulled the covers up and tucked them carefully around her sleeping daughter. Slowly she leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Dawne's forehead, "I love you." She whispered and stepped away from her.
She looked up and saw Jax standing patiently by the door, waiting for her. Though she would've rather stayed with Dawne and slept beside her, she followed him out of the room, keeping her eyes artfully away from his piercing gaze.
Quietly he shut the door to Dawne's room and turned around to find Skye staring around his room. He walked up behind her and placed his hands gently on her shoulders, feeling her jump slightly beneath his hands. "Skye- " he began, but he stopped when she looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
Suddenly he didn't have the heart to drill her with questions. She looked scared and defenseless, and those weren't words one normally used to describe Skye. She had always been a strong and independent woman, but now she appeared weak and vulnerable. "Tell me," he requested softly. "Talk to me."
Skye turned away from him and began to pace, spinning her sapphire ring around her finger as she did. "Trystan Bryant and I were.... involved, for lack of a better term, in college. He was the popular, handsome, smart and rich senior, while I was the pretty little rich freshman. It was definitely a good match, even Adam approved of him," she wrinkled her nose at the mention of the man she had once thought was her father.
"We met through friends the first week of Summer Semester, three days later we were a couple. I guess that was mistake number one. For the first two months he was great, very romantic and considerate, but after that he became more interested in what I could do for him rather than what we could do for each other. I continued going out with him though because Adam was actually proud of me. It didn't matter that he was a complete and total jerk, Adam was calling me his daughter for the first time.
"Then one night when he was drunk and being particularly rude, I refused to sleep with him. He got angry and knocked me around a bit. I was used to being knocked around by Althea, so when he came crawling back begging me to forgive him, I did.
"Things got better for a while, he was very careful with me, very kind. He brought me a dozen roses every day for three weeks. Then he asked me to move in with him and I accepted, that was probably the biggest mistake I ever made. Soon after we moved in together he asked me to marry him. We had only been going out three months by then and I hardly knew him so I told him no, that we should wait a while longer. He got so angry." She paused remembering exactly what had happened after she said no. The memory didn't affect her as it once had. She used to curl into a little ball and cry her eyes out, but not anymore. It was over and done with and there was nothing she could do to change the past. She steeled her voice and went on. "He beat the shit out of me. If Collin hadn't decided to stop by and say hey when he did, Trystan would have killed me."
She saw the sadness in Jax's eyes give way to pure fury. He pushed himself away from the fireplace, punching it as he did. "Bastard," he growled. How could she just stand there and look so calm? Didn't it hurt her to think about it, he wondered to himself.
"That was the last straw, I broke it off immediately after I was released from the hospital. He was charged with assault and battery..... attempted murder too. But he's slick, he got out of it with a few phone calls to the right people -one being my dad."
Jax shook his head and laughed out of pure anger. "I always knew Adam was a low down son of a bitch, but I never imagined he could sink that low." He sighed and opened a decanter of Brandy and poured himself a glass. "What else?"
Skye shrugged. "A few months later I discovered I was pregnant. I didn't tell anyone but Collin and my roommate.... I barely showed so I got away with it, even Adam never knew." She walked around the room fingering the little trinkets scattered around the room as she spoke. "Trystan graduated early, so he never knew either. I don't understand how he found out! How could he possibly have known that Dawne is his daughter after all of this time?"
This time here eyes did fill with tears. She was only nineteen, and only seven months pregnant. She'd been so close to loosing Dawne and she hadn't even cared. She hadn't wanted the baby, but Collin had convinced her to at least have it, to give it to some nice couple that did want a baby. So she went through with the pregnancy, hating every second of it.
When the time came when Dawne was born she'd cursed everyone and everything within sight. Then they'd handed her to her. She was so small and fragile, her cry so weak and miserable. And she'd fallen in love. But still she'd pushed her away. Dawne's chances of surviving were slim, the doctors said, because Dawne was a preemie.
Dawne had been in the hospital for three months after she was born for observation. Skye hadn't visited her once. She didn't even go to the hospital to pick her up on the day she was to be released. Collin had gone instead. In the following weeks she'd continued to push Dawne away, refusing to care for her, trying to convince herself that she didn't love Dawne. But she did. She was completely in love with that little girl from the moment she'd been placed in her arms, she just hadn't wanted to admit it.
Collin had known the truth without having to be told. He'd taken care of little Dawne himself, slowly pushing Dawne onto Skye until Skye finally relented when Dawne was sixteen months.
Skye shook her head, ridding herself of the old memories "I won't let him have her," she said, looking up at Jax, with new resolve. "I won't."
"Of course not," he nodded and pulled her closer to him and wrapped his arms around her.
"He doesn't deserve her," she sniffled.
"Not a chance," Jax agreed.
"He gonna' to take me to court, Jax," she said. "I don't know what to do."
"You'll get the best lawyer there is," he answered. "I'll ask Alexis to represent you."
Skye gave an un-ladylike snort. "It'll be a cold day in hell when she agrees to help me."
"She'll say yes because I'll ask her to," he replied. "She won't say no to me. I don't think she can."
"Don't be so sure," Skye shook her head and pulled away from him slightly to look up at him. "I think she hates me more than she loves her daughter."
Jax ignored her statement knowing she may very well be right. But Alexis ::would:: represent Skye, even if he had to fall down on his knees and beg her to take the case, he'd convince her to do it. There was no way he was going to allow that man to take Dawne away from Skye.
Skye let her head drop back on to Jax's shoulder and felt herself melting into him. She'd never felt safer in her life, than when she was being held in Jax's arms. Suddenly she felt tears rise up again, she'd missed him so much, and here she was being held in his arms over half a year after he'd divorced her for Brenda.
He noticed her sniffling again and he took her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "Don't cry. I'm not gonna' let him hurt you or Dawne," he said.
She nodded and closed her eyes as a few tears spilled over. "Jax?" she asked through the tears as she let her head rest on his shoulder again.
"Yes?" he answered.
"Will you hold me tonight?" she asked in barely above a whisper. "Please?"
He said nothing as he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. He laid her down on it softly and walked around to the other side, then crawled on top and pulled her into his arms, happily content just to hold her as long as she wanted to be held.
* * * * *
Skye entered the hotel late the next morning with Dawne's hand in her own. As her normal routine she went to the front desk and smiled at the clerk. "Morning Charlie," she greeted.
"Good morning Ms. Quartermaine," he returned with a smile as he handed her the day's mail. "There's a man waiting for you in the lobby. Right over there," he pointed to a man in a suit sitting in one of the chairs with a brief case on his lap.
She paused, not exactly sure what she should do. She took a deep breath, held her head high and walked over to him, knowing whatever news this man bore wasn't good. "Ms. Chandler-Quartermaine?" he asked, standing up to greet her.
He didn't offer his hand and neither did she. "Yes?" she responded, keeping her voice level and cool.
"I'm Frank Wiles," he said as he opened his brief case and pulled out a manila folder. "I'm here to issue you a court summons."
"A subpoena?" she breathed taking the files he handed her.
"Yes ma'am," he nodded coolly. "The court date's set for April 14th."
"The fourteenth?" she repeated, forgetting the cool facade she'd formed. "That's Monday!"
"Yes ma'am," he nodded. "I should be going now, good luck." He added, he closed his briefcase and walked off before she could say anything else.
"Mommy?" Dawne asked looking up at her mother who was now white as a sheet.
"I-I need to sit," she stuttered and fumbled as she sat down in the chair previously occupied by the man. Her breathing hitched as she absorbed what she'd just been told. ::He's really going to do this:: she thought. ::I'm going to loose Dawne. Even if Alexis agrees to be my lawyer I'll loose her. He'll set the case up so he'll win, I know he will.::
She looked down at her daughter, staring worry faced up at her. "Oh baby," she whispered and pulled Dawne into her lap. "Oh, this can't be happening. It just can't!"
* * * * *
Alexis adjusted the strap of her purse as she rang the doorbell of Jax's mansion. She looked around in curiosity at the large stone structure in front of her, she'd never been to Jax's mansion before. She hadn't even known he'd owned one, apparently he didn't come here often.
She smiled as the door opened, expecting to see Jax, but was disappointed to find a stiff looking man instead. "I'm here to see Mr. Jacks," she said to his questioning gaze.
"Ms. Davis?" he asked in a stiff British accent.
"Yes," she nodded."
"Right this way ma'am," he stepped aside to allow her entrance and she followed him into a large room lined with books. "Mr. Jacks is just finishing up his shower, he'll be down in a moment. May I get you anything?" he asked.
"No, I'm fine," she answered. The man nodded and left, leaving her alone in the room. "Huh," she said to herself as she looked around the room in curiosity. She stepped over to the shelves and pulled out a book, "Moby Dick. Interesting."
She replaced the book and continued on in her snooping. There was a very large window across the room that opened up onto a terrace. She found herself drawn to it and stepped outside, her breath catching at the sight of a beautiful garden of roses.
She stood on the terrace staring out at the garden for a few moments, and didn't even hear Jax come in. "Pretty isn't it?" he asked coming up beside her to stare out at the garden.
She jumped at the sound of his voice, but relaxed knowing it was only him. "It's gorgeous," she answered. "I didn't even know about this place."
"I don't come here often," he answered.
"So why are you here now?" she asked.
"I brought Skye here last night," he answered, turning back to her in time to see her wrinkle her nose in distaste.
"Tell me you're not back together with her?" she pleaded.
Jax was silent for a moment. "No," he said finally. "We're not."
She sighed with relief. "I honestly can't see why you ever married that woman, let alone got involved with her in the first place. She's bad news, Jax."
"Everyone told me that about her when I got interested in her," he said, turning to look back out at the garden. "Maybe someone should've told her that about me."
Alexis was silent for a moment as she studied him. He leaned against the railing of the terrace, staring out at it as if he were in deep thought. He didn't seem to mind the wind whipping at his hair he usually kept so carefully in place, he was simply entranced in thought. "Jax, what did you call me over here for?"
He turned back to her and smiled. "Always one to get to the point, weren't you?" When she said nothing he smiled and turned around to lean against the railing. "I'm sure you've heard by now about the trouble at the party last night."
"The little girl's father showed up," she nodded. "Yeah, I heard. What about it?"
Jax was silent for a moment again. "He wants custody of Dawne. He's already had the subpoena papers delivered to Skye."
"So?" Alexis said cautiously. She could tell what was coming next.
"So I want you to represent Skye at the hearing," he replied.
Alexis stared at him. She'd known it was coming up still couldn't believe he'd even think to ask her. "Absolutely not!" she exclaimed. "Do you know how much I loathe that woman? She probably deserves to loose that little girl!"
"No," Jax said sharply cutting her off. He saw the surprise in her eyes at his anger, but he continued. "That man will never lay a hand on that little girl as long as I live."
She stared at him a moment longer, then slowly she smiled. "You're in love with her aren't you?"
"What?" he asked.
"You're in love with Skye," she laughed again. "Oh, that's rich! I thought you'd learned your lesson, but no. She reeled you back in like a gold fish in a little bowl-"
"Alexis that's enough," he said cutting her off. "I haven't been reeled into anything. Skye didn't ask for my help, I offered it, starting with you. I told her I'd get her the best lawyer, and you're it."
Alexis shook her head. "There is no way in hell I'm representing that woman. Have you forgotten that she accused me of murdering Alcazar?"
"Alexis, you did murder him!" he exclaimed. "Skye covered for you as long as she could before they were about to throw her in jail for it! You did nothing knowing all along you were the real killer!"
"She tried to steal Kristina from me," Alexis insisted.
"She did nothing but love that little girl while you couldn't be near her," he shook his head. "If anything, she gave Kristina the love and attention you couldn't give her at the time."
"She turned me away from the door every time I came to visit her," she exclaimed.
"Because you had ::set:: visitations that ::you:: didn't abide by!" he exclaimed. "She was trying to protect you so you ::could:: see your daughter again! You would have been thrown in jail had Edward caught you sneaking in to visit Kristina during an unscheduled visit. Skye saved you Alexis. Every time she turned you away it was so in six months you'd be able to have custody of her again." He paused seeing that his words were getting across to Alexis. "You owe Skye Alexis. Please, do this for me if you won't do it for her."
Alexis remained silent and frowned. "It's just a custody case?"
"Just a custody case," he nodded.
She bit her lip, thinking it over in her mind. "I'll need to set up an interview with her. She has to tell me everything."
"Thank you," he smiled. "Thank you so much."
"Yeah yeah yeah," she grunted. "Just get me the interview."
"Absolutely," he nodded. "You won't regret this."
"I'm sure I will," she grumbled, angry with herself for relenting.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: So there it is you guys. I sure hope it was worth the wait. Oh and just a little note if you're confused: I'm not going along with the current story on GH, the whole Alexis/Dawbson thing is just a little stupid in my opinion, so in my story it never happened. It's already been six months so Alexis has her lawyer's license back and she has custody of Kristina again (in the beginning of the story Kristina was simply visiting her father and that's why she was at the Quartermaine's). And let's just pretend that everything Jax said about Skye helping Alexis to keep her child is true, 'kay? Well that's it. I'm hoping to get the next chapter out soon, so please review and tell me what you think. I need the inspiration! Thanks, bye! PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!!
