Thanks everyone for the reviews! Everything about the GQ break up will be explained a little later in the flashbacks.
Dillon shut the car door quietly and walked toward the church. The parking lot was full of cars and a few news reporters. He slid a pair of sunglasses over his eyes as he approached them.
"It's Dillon Quartermaine!" he heard one reporter call out, so he quickened his pace and ducked into the foyer of the church before they could grab onto him. The doors to the sanctuary were open and he could see in when he came in the front door. His grandmother and grandfather were seated in the front row, the casket sitting in front of them open. Dillon felt his heart rise into his throat when he caught sight of it. The mahogany box surrounded by dozens of flower arrangements held his brother.
"Dillon," he heard a soft voice call him and he turned to find Emily and Nikolas.
"Em," he let out a little sigh of relief "Hey."
"How are you doing?" she asked sympathetically, her eyes swollen from crying.
"I'm in shock," he admitted "I guess, I just haven't accepted it yet."
She nodded understanding and gave him a quick hug before taking Nikolas' hand and walking into the sanctuary to join the rest of the family. He couldn't bring himself to walk in there yet. He made his way out one of the side doors and into the garden, blocked off from the nosy reporters. He nervously rummaged around in his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, carefully lighting one and taking a long drag on it.
"Since when do you smoke?"
The voice took him by surprise and he turned around quickly. Georgie stood in front of him, near the door in a black dress. A strand of pearls hung around her neck. Ned had given her those for her twenty-fourth birthday.
"Um, couple years," he answered, trying to be casual, flicking the ashes off the end of the cigarette and taking another puff.
"That stuff will kill you, you know. I see it every day."
"Yeah, yeah I know."
She moved a little closer to him, as if she wasn't sure how close was too close. She gently reached out and touched his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered, looking up at him.
"Thanks," he managed as his chin started to tremble. Now, now it was setting in. The sight of Georgie and the comforting manner she was addressing him with, now he knew Ned was gone. Tears began to slide down his rough cheeks as he bent his head down and rubbed his eyes with his hand.
"It's all right," she whispered, pulling him toward her and into a hug. A hug that he desperately needed, that he had needed for the last three years. He held onto her as tight as he could, dropping his cigarette onto the ground and burying his face into her hair. He never wanted to let go.
"I think the service is about to start," she whispered.
"Yeah," he sniffed, slowly pulling away from her, running his hands over his face to compose himself "Yeah, we should go inside."
"Yeah," she forced a smile as he walked away from her and went through the door, leaving her in the garden.
Dillon gripped his grandmother's hand tightly as they stood by the gravesite. Edward cast him downward glances but he never noticed them.
"Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us..."
Georgie glanced over at him as she continued to recite the Lord's prayer. His chin was still trembling, and poor Lila was distraught.
Skye stood beside AJ. Georgie had been shocked when the news of Skye and Ned's marriage hit the papers years ago. She never really saw them as a good match but she learned later through Dillon that it was all an attempt to get custody of Kristina. The plan had failed, but somehow Ned and Skye had been able to build a solid eight years of married life together instead of heading to the divorce lawyer. They loved and cared for each other, while not in the way a husband and wife normally would. It was, as Ned had always said, better than being alone.
Alexis was there, finding it hard to compose herself, gripping Kristina's hand. Lois had brought Brook Lynn. Brenda Barrett had flown in from Paris and was standing with the family, dotting her eyes with a tissue. The cemetery was still, dew was on the grass and birds were chirping in the huge oak trees. A tear trickled down Georgie's cheek, which she quickly wiped away, as the pastor ended the service. She gripped her funeral program in her hand as she made her way to her car and left quietly, unseen by Dillon and the rest of the Quartermaines.
"They're reading the will tonight. Grandfather wanted to get it over with," Emily told Dillon as they walked back to their cars.
"He would," Dillon scoffed "See what's in it for him."
Emily gave him a disappointed look but he didn't notice. His eyes darted around the cemetery. Georgie had been there earlier.
"Well, I guess I'll see you tonight then," he sighed, breaking away from her and getting into the limo that was waiting for him.
* Flashback *
"Thank you so much," Georgie smiled, looking up at Ned, holding the string of pearls between her fingers "It's gorgeous, you shouldn't have given me something this extravagant."
"Please," Ned scoffed, giving her a hug "Nothing's too good for you. Happy Birthday."
The Cellar was decorated with little white lights, roses and candles. It was closed off to the public, and only the people on the guest list were allowed in. It was a perfect birthday present from Dillon.
"Aw Ned, come on now you're stealing away the birthday girl," Dillon smiled walking up to them.
"My apologies," Ned laughed "She's all yours."
Georgie gave Ned one more hug before he left them to join Skye at the bar. They stood there beside each other and all Georgie could do was smile.
"What?"
"Thank you. This is the best birthday I have ever had."
"You're welcome," he smiled back at her.
"I just, I never imagined that things would turn out this way," she took his hand "But they have and nothing in my life right now would be possible without you."
"I told you a long time ago Georgie that I would do anything for you and I will, for the rest of my life."
Georgie kissed him lightly on the lips and pulled back to look him in the eyes.
"May I have this dance Mr. Quartermaine?"
* End Flashback *
"I saw Georgie at the services today," Lila spoke softly to Dillon as they all waited for the lawyer to arrive with the will "She's such a sweet girl."
"Yes, she is grandmother," Dillon smiled taking a sip of the scotch that Alice had poured out for everyone
"I do wish you two would have stayed together."
Dillon just smiled weakly at her. He glanced around the room. All of the money grubbing lunatics were there all pooled together under one roof. Funny, he hadn't missed it one bit.
"Emily tells me that you're going to be staying in Port Charles for a few days."
"Yes, I wanted to see what I could do for the family."
"That's nice dear but you needn't worry about us," Lila reached out and took her grandson's hand "My you have grown into such a handsome man."
Dillon leaned over and kissed his grandmother's cheek. It felt good talking to her.
"I'm really sorry that my mother couldn't..." he began, hoping to make an explanation for Tracy's absence. She had insisted to him on the phone that she was sick, but he knew she couldn't face the guilt, and couldn't face the family.
"Tracy, has her own life, one that does not involve this family any longer...I only wish she would have come for Ned's sake, and yours Dillon. A man needs his mother, even after he is grown."
"Somehow I don't think Ned would have expected her to be here."
"You're probably right," she sighed "...I don't know where we went wrong."
"Don't blame yourself," he leaned closer to her "What my mother does is not your fault."
The lawyer opened the door to the study and everyone's heads turned quickly.
"I have the will," he said, walking in and taking a seat behind the large oak desk "I will read it as written."
Author's Note: I just want to point out that I'm not a Ned/Skye fan but I couldn't really think of anyone else to pair him with. I didn't want it to be Alexis after everything that has went down between them lately. I would have explored the Lois option, but I didn't watch GH when she was with Ned so I was afraid I wouldn't portray their relationship accurately.
Dillon shut the car door quietly and walked toward the church. The parking lot was full of cars and a few news reporters. He slid a pair of sunglasses over his eyes as he approached them.
"It's Dillon Quartermaine!" he heard one reporter call out, so he quickened his pace and ducked into the foyer of the church before they could grab onto him. The doors to the sanctuary were open and he could see in when he came in the front door. His grandmother and grandfather were seated in the front row, the casket sitting in front of them open. Dillon felt his heart rise into his throat when he caught sight of it. The mahogany box surrounded by dozens of flower arrangements held his brother.
"Dillon," he heard a soft voice call him and he turned to find Emily and Nikolas.
"Em," he let out a little sigh of relief "Hey."
"How are you doing?" she asked sympathetically, her eyes swollen from crying.
"I'm in shock," he admitted "I guess, I just haven't accepted it yet."
She nodded understanding and gave him a quick hug before taking Nikolas' hand and walking into the sanctuary to join the rest of the family. He couldn't bring himself to walk in there yet. He made his way out one of the side doors and into the garden, blocked off from the nosy reporters. He nervously rummaged around in his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, carefully lighting one and taking a long drag on it.
"Since when do you smoke?"
The voice took him by surprise and he turned around quickly. Georgie stood in front of him, near the door in a black dress. A strand of pearls hung around her neck. Ned had given her those for her twenty-fourth birthday.
"Um, couple years," he answered, trying to be casual, flicking the ashes off the end of the cigarette and taking another puff.
"That stuff will kill you, you know. I see it every day."
"Yeah, yeah I know."
She moved a little closer to him, as if she wasn't sure how close was too close. She gently reached out and touched his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered, looking up at him.
"Thanks," he managed as his chin started to tremble. Now, now it was setting in. The sight of Georgie and the comforting manner she was addressing him with, now he knew Ned was gone. Tears began to slide down his rough cheeks as he bent his head down and rubbed his eyes with his hand.
"It's all right," she whispered, pulling him toward her and into a hug. A hug that he desperately needed, that he had needed for the last three years. He held onto her as tight as he could, dropping his cigarette onto the ground and burying his face into her hair. He never wanted to let go.
"I think the service is about to start," she whispered.
"Yeah," he sniffed, slowly pulling away from her, running his hands over his face to compose himself "Yeah, we should go inside."
"Yeah," she forced a smile as he walked away from her and went through the door, leaving her in the garden.
Dillon gripped his grandmother's hand tightly as they stood by the gravesite. Edward cast him downward glances but he never noticed them.
"Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us..."
Georgie glanced over at him as she continued to recite the Lord's prayer. His chin was still trembling, and poor Lila was distraught.
Skye stood beside AJ. Georgie had been shocked when the news of Skye and Ned's marriage hit the papers years ago. She never really saw them as a good match but she learned later through Dillon that it was all an attempt to get custody of Kristina. The plan had failed, but somehow Ned and Skye had been able to build a solid eight years of married life together instead of heading to the divorce lawyer. They loved and cared for each other, while not in the way a husband and wife normally would. It was, as Ned had always said, better than being alone.
Alexis was there, finding it hard to compose herself, gripping Kristina's hand. Lois had brought Brook Lynn. Brenda Barrett had flown in from Paris and was standing with the family, dotting her eyes with a tissue. The cemetery was still, dew was on the grass and birds were chirping in the huge oak trees. A tear trickled down Georgie's cheek, which she quickly wiped away, as the pastor ended the service. She gripped her funeral program in her hand as she made her way to her car and left quietly, unseen by Dillon and the rest of the Quartermaines.
"They're reading the will tonight. Grandfather wanted to get it over with," Emily told Dillon as they walked back to their cars.
"He would," Dillon scoffed "See what's in it for him."
Emily gave him a disappointed look but he didn't notice. His eyes darted around the cemetery. Georgie had been there earlier.
"Well, I guess I'll see you tonight then," he sighed, breaking away from her and getting into the limo that was waiting for him.
* Flashback *
"Thank you so much," Georgie smiled, looking up at Ned, holding the string of pearls between her fingers "It's gorgeous, you shouldn't have given me something this extravagant."
"Please," Ned scoffed, giving her a hug "Nothing's too good for you. Happy Birthday."
The Cellar was decorated with little white lights, roses and candles. It was closed off to the public, and only the people on the guest list were allowed in. It was a perfect birthday present from Dillon.
"Aw Ned, come on now you're stealing away the birthday girl," Dillon smiled walking up to them.
"My apologies," Ned laughed "She's all yours."
Georgie gave Ned one more hug before he left them to join Skye at the bar. They stood there beside each other and all Georgie could do was smile.
"What?"
"Thank you. This is the best birthday I have ever had."
"You're welcome," he smiled back at her.
"I just, I never imagined that things would turn out this way," she took his hand "But they have and nothing in my life right now would be possible without you."
"I told you a long time ago Georgie that I would do anything for you and I will, for the rest of my life."
Georgie kissed him lightly on the lips and pulled back to look him in the eyes.
"May I have this dance Mr. Quartermaine?"
* End Flashback *
"I saw Georgie at the services today," Lila spoke softly to Dillon as they all waited for the lawyer to arrive with the will "She's such a sweet girl."
"Yes, she is grandmother," Dillon smiled taking a sip of the scotch that Alice had poured out for everyone
"I do wish you two would have stayed together."
Dillon just smiled weakly at her. He glanced around the room. All of the money grubbing lunatics were there all pooled together under one roof. Funny, he hadn't missed it one bit.
"Emily tells me that you're going to be staying in Port Charles for a few days."
"Yes, I wanted to see what I could do for the family."
"That's nice dear but you needn't worry about us," Lila reached out and took her grandson's hand "My you have grown into such a handsome man."
Dillon leaned over and kissed his grandmother's cheek. It felt good talking to her.
"I'm really sorry that my mother couldn't..." he began, hoping to make an explanation for Tracy's absence. She had insisted to him on the phone that she was sick, but he knew she couldn't face the guilt, and couldn't face the family.
"Tracy, has her own life, one that does not involve this family any longer...I only wish she would have come for Ned's sake, and yours Dillon. A man needs his mother, even after he is grown."
"Somehow I don't think Ned would have expected her to be here."
"You're probably right," she sighed "...I don't know where we went wrong."
"Don't blame yourself," he leaned closer to her "What my mother does is not your fault."
The lawyer opened the door to the study and everyone's heads turned quickly.
"I have the will," he said, walking in and taking a seat behind the large oak desk "I will read it as written."
Author's Note: I just want to point out that I'm not a Ned/Skye fan but I couldn't really think of anyone else to pair him with. I didn't want it to be Alexis after everything that has went down between them lately. I would have explored the Lois option, but I didn't watch GH when she was with Ned so I was afraid I wouldn't portray their relationship accurately.