~@~@ Complicated Ch. 22
I disclaim
*** I've decided to completely ignore the stupid thing they're doing on GH when they've made Skye a non-Quartermaine, don't get me wrong I think she and Ned are mildly entertaining, but she's better as a Quartermaine.
~~~
Emily managed to contain the smile that fought it way to the surface. God how she loved her big sister. They were times over the years when she wondered what she had done in a former life to earn the punishment of having A.J. and Skye as siblings, the antics they seemed to accomplished, on their own and together, sometimes made the mind boggle, but every now and then they managed to remind her why she loved them so. Tonight was Skye's night.
She had called her sister early this morning, crazed out of her mind with a Quartermaine type dilemma, and begged for help. In her usual carefree manner she had said 'Don't worry about it, I've got you covered'. The statement had caused her worry, After all Skye's way of covering things were liable to include blackmail , murder, and most often the police; but not having much choice she just brushed it off, if Skye said she had it covered, it was covered.
And how do you save your baby sisters' older socially unacceptable lover from a dinner/interrogation with the parents and grandparents. You bring the most socially unacceptable guy you know and unannounced your engagement, to said outcast. It was brilliant, simple and so Skye; she didn't know why she didn't see it sooner.
Emily gave Skye a small smile, and looked over at her sister's 'intended'. She was so happy she could almost kiss Coleman, the only thing stopping her was his cologne , Skye may find 'High Karate' sexy, but even from across the large table the smell was giving her a headache.
Jagger caught the sisters shared smile, and turned back to the entertainment, for the first fifteen minutes, he had received glares from both Drs. Quartermaine and the head of the family, Edward Quartermaine, who had managed to name every important person he knew, including Mayor Justice Ward, the cousin Emily had forgotten to mention. But then the red head had showed up, with a throwback to the seventies, with everything from the tan leather jacket, to the open collared shirt and gold chain.
At first Alan and Edward had stared at them both looking confused as if they were unsure of who they needed to attack , but then his savior, appropriately named Skye, announced her engagement to the throw back, and his fate was sealed. Standing next to Coleman, he looked like a Mayflower decedent, and now he was being treated like a Kennedy.
"So Jagger, how are things on the police force?" Lila asked from her place at the head of the table.
"They're going fine Ma'am, except for this tough as nails attorney that keeps showing me up in front of my boss." He gave Emily a sly look, and squeezed her hand under the table, when she blushed.
"Hey." Coleman leaned forward on the table with his elbows on the edge, and nodded toward the other man. "Is your real name really Jagger?"
"Get your elbows off the table. You ruffian." Alan pointed an accusing finger at the younger man. " And you never mind whether or not his real name or not, at least his has more then one, not to mention a decent job, and manners, which is more then I can say for you…you…LONG HAIRED HIPPY."
Everyone in attendance stared at the doctor in amazement, if the man had grabbed his chest, he would look exactly like his father. As if realizing that very same thing, Alan abruptly stood, and ran through the doors muttering his apologies.
Edward looked at Coleman, and shook his head in disgust. "Now look what you've done, you've driven him back to pills."
"Edward that's enough." Lila wheeled herself back from the table and gave each gentleman a small smile. "I'm sorry to have to cut this evening short, but I'm afraid I'll have to leave you."
"It was a pleasure Mrs. Quartermaine." Jagger replied as he bent to kiss her offered cheek.
"Yeah, I'll see you at the wedding doll face, save me a twirl." Coleman kissed her other cheek, and gave a sly wink, ignoring the looks he received from the others.
"I'll be sure to." "Girls, could you help to my rooms?"
"Of course Grandmother." Emily fell into step along side her sister as she pushed Lila wheelchair to the elevator.
The door closing behind them was like a tomb, and the fact that Edward leaned forward and gave a feral grin. "Well now we can get down to business."
~~~
"Well girls, it has been a very interesting evening."
"It certainly has Grandmother."
"Both your young men seem to have caused quite a stir." "I've never heard Alan sound so…"
"Much like Grandfather."
"Yeah that was a little scary." Skye gave an involuntary shudder. The thought of two Edwards was enough to have her running to the liquor cabinet.
"Yes I'm sure your father is just as terrified by his actions as you are, but then Quartermaine men often have that reaction when they're close to losing someone they care about." "Why Edward himself looked positively shaken the first time he sounded like his father, it was right after that he brought his first Motorbike."
Emily and Skye stopped and stared at each other, in open mouth shock, the picture of Edward Quartermaine on a 'motorbike' was too insane to comprehend. Then regained their composure and continued to follow. "You girls must promise me that you'll take it easy on you father especially now."
"Why especially now, Grandmother?" Emily stopped at the door and gave Reginald a smile, as he fussed about to get Grandmother settled in bed.
"Because your father has seen something that caused him great distress, and he's just reacting to it, without thinking clearly."
"Reacting to what?" Skye stepped into the room, and aimed a quick look at her sister, who shook her head, also confused by their grandmothers thought process.
"Your young men."
"Why I've brought men here before, I admit this is Emily's first, but still no big deal." Skye quickly ducked the hand that her sister aimed at her, and continued to focus on hr grandmother.
"It's a 'very big deal', these men are different from beaus we've met before, and I think your father sees it." "I know I've never seen either of you this calm and happy." As she settled in her bed, amongst her covers and motioned for them to come forward granting each one a kiss as they did so, before lying back on her bed." Goodnights Dears."
"Goodnight Grandmother.
~~~
"Excuse me sir?" Jagger looked at Edward questioningly, sparing a glance at Coleman, who didn't seem that surprised.
"Oh can the sirs, you hoodlum, how much?" Edward narrowed his eyes, took out his checkbook." How much for you two too leave my granddaughters alone, hmm… One million?"
"Oh my god." Jagger stared at the patriarch in shock, while across from him Coleman, who looked to be considering the proposition.
"Is that a piece or combined?"
"A piece."
"Nah no deal." The shaggy head shook profusely." Skye said not to buckle for anything less then Five."
"FIVE." Monica said chocking slightly on her wine." For Skye, no way… for Emily yes, but Skye no… she's gained and loss more husbands then I care to remember, I think we can just chance him."
"Oh my god." Jagger repeated, still not allowing his mouth to close. He had thought Emily was just being paranoid about her family's control issue, but she was dead on. "You're actually willing to pay us to get out of Emily and Skye's lives?"
"No….Monica was right we can risk Skye's marriage, they barely cost us anything, but you yes, Emily has potential." Edward made eye contact with Monica, before turn fully to Jagger." Okay, 1.5 million."
"No."
"2."
"No."
"3.5" Monica jumped in, and followed her bid, with a fist to the table." And a recommendation to any police department you want."
"Hold out, they'll go higher."
Jagger too a sip of his wine, and shook his head, before closing his eyes, next time he thought next time he won't be so quick to think Emily's overreacting.
~~~
"Do you think what grandmother said was true?"
Emily paused outside the door, and thought about the man she left downstairs. "Yes, definitely."
"Oh crap." Skye fell back against the wall, and pulled her knees to her chest, as she began banging her head against the wall, muttering something. Her young sister followed, and lightly touched her shoulder." Oh damn."
"Skye you okay?" She was used to dramatics, and over the top behavior, but the to see her sister to begin to quietly sob, and was Emily worried, Skye didn't cry, drink, swear, and threatened yes, but crying wasn't something she did, she said it made it to easy for people to hurt her. "Skye what's going on?"
"I love him." Skye whispered quietly, barley looking at her sister." I love him."
"We're talking about Coleman." She said, and gave a sigh of relief when she nodded, but it quickly turned to confusion. " Skye we know you love Coleman, that's why you're marrying him right?" The question was hopeful, hopeful that Skye was in love, and that it wasn't one of her schemes or plans, that would probably get her into trouble.
"Emily I've been married four times, I stopped believing in love, after the second ex-husband left me for his true love. " She looked at her sister terrified." I can't be in love with him, not anymore then I was with Jax or Ben, or Tom, this is just one of my long infatuations that is full of good sex, and some laughs, but I'm not in love with him, do you hear me?"
"Yes okay, Skye." Emily leaned back against the wall, and eyed her sister." It's okay to be in love with him, I'm in love with Jagger."
"Yeah, like you in love with Zander, or Juan, or Sly?"
"No." Emily shook her head." I was even old enough to know what love really is with Juan and Zander; I know what it is now."
"Really how?"
"Therapy." As Skye laughs she continued." No I'm serious, I didn't'' actually listen to my therapist, but I would start think about everything I learned , and I… wasn't who I am now, I was dreaming of happily ever afters, I thought I was going to be a model, that life was simple, I grew up." "I stop trying to fit in, I'm not Grandfather's pet, or the little girl that needs to be, if Jagger and I fell apart tomorrow, it would hurt but… I still go on, and that was part of my growing up, I became what I wanted to be... and"
"That's nice and all, but we were talking about love not your little journey of self discovery."
Ignoring the eye roll form her sister, she went on." The point is that when you finally discover who you REALLY are, with out all the placating, giving in to what others want, once you get to that place, you can really find love, and that's how I know I love Jagger, because I know for sure I'd be this way without him.." She dusted off her dress, as she rose, and put out a hand to help Skye up." I think you know that too, now come on Grandfather is probably got his checkbook out by now." As her sister fell in step beside her, she glanced at her." How did you know about Sly?"
Skye stopped at the stairs and laughed loudly." Em EVERYONE knew about Sly." At her sister horrified expression, she leaned in and whispered." Honey you're just not good at this secret relationships, it's quite disappointing considering that you are a Quartermaine."
~~~
"Are you okay?"
Courtney looked over at Jason, weighting his question, was she okay? Not really but then she hadn't been for a long time, leaving A.J. hadn't really changed anything, just made the end of her marriage more permanent and real. "No."
"He'll leave you alone; I'll make sure of it."
The edge of his words, made her worry, she had always know what exactly Jason Morgan was, an enforcer, people who he didn't like, didn't stick around, but she didn't hate A.J. enough to put him on Jason hit list." There's no need to go that far, I'm sure he knows that I'm off limits, I don't want you to do something on account of me."
Jason looked at her surprised." I wouldn't kill him, he's my brother, and I can't."
"But I thought you..."
"Hated him, I do, but he's still my brother, there are too many people that love the both of us, to ever kill him." "A.J. and I we never get along, but we know enough to that we can't change who we are to each other, I don't like it, I don't like him, but I respect want I once knew we were."
"I don't think A.J. sees it the same way."
Jason nodded." And that's the okay, as long as he doesn't cross the line."
"I'm just curious, what's the line?"
"Our family, we don't acknowledge the same people with the same titles, but we still share family, and once either of us crosses that line, things are going to get difficult."
~~~
A.J. stared at the picture, while silent tears ran down his face, it was taken so long ago, and he could hardly remember ever looking so young. It was taken long before Skye entered the picture, probably before Emily even fell into drugs. It was a picture of happier times; times he would never see again.
By this time tomorrow night, his brother would be dead. Not the brother in the picture, no that brother had died along time ago, no this brother was the one he created.
Jason Morgan, the man that stole his child, and wife from him, that took away Emily's love. He'd die tomorrow, for that man, he could shed no tears, but for his brother he would wept, one last time.
~~~