Show: General Hospital
Title: Change is Good: Chapter 7
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
A/N: Thank you for the last chapter's comments. Don't worry ZEm fans; things will get better.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Kelly's (the next day)
Liz couldn't help it, but she couldn't wait to see him. As the day gradually approached midday, each time the little bell above the door jingled, she looked up in breathless anticipation, only to be disappointed – this time was no exception.
Nikolas Cassidine ambled up to the counter, a small bag in his hand. Elizabeth took one look at him and was automatically struck with concern for her friend. His face was pale and drawn and he looked exhausted.
"Are you alright?"
The look he leveled her clearly stated that he wasn't. Since Emily had walked out, he hadn't been sleeping well. Since this second bigger fight, sleep had completely evaded him and his guilt and anger was sapping what little energy he had left. He was struck with a need to talk to her, to explain his actions, but something kept him back.
He set the bag on the counter. "I figured Emily might need some of her clothes, so I packed some. You can give them to her when you get home."
"Emily's not staying with me, Nikolas," Liz explained, although she took the bag from him.
Nik looked surprised. "She went back to the Quartermaine's?" he asked, knowing Edward would most likely rub it in her face that they were on the rocks.
"Nope," Liz shook her head. "Jason's back in town. She's staying with him at his penthouse."
Sure enough, the doorbell jingled again and who should duck into the diner than Morgan himself.
Upon spying Nikolas at the counter with Liz, his eyes narrowed and his fists subconsciously clenched. He slowly made his way up to the counter, never taking his eyes off the Cassidine Prince, who had turned to face the Corinthos Enforcer.
"Jason," Nikolas greeted apprehensively.
Jason said nothing, unsure if words would cause him to want him to beat the Prince of Nothing to a pulp.
Nikolas sighed in mild frustration. "I guess you'll see that Emily gets her things?" he inquired of Liz, who nodded, before he turned around and left the diner, conscious that Jason's eyes never left his back on his way through the door.
"I guess I should be thanking my lucky stars I don't have to call the police to report a murder," Elizabeth quipped, holding the small bag out to Jason, who barely cracked a smile.
He took it from her in mild curiosity.
"Nikolas thought Emily might want some of her things," she explained.
"How thoughtful," Jason muttered sarcastically in reply, taking a seat at the counter.
Elizabeth automatically turned over the cup in front of him and poured him some coffee. "How was your morning?" she asked conversationally.
"Productive," Jason cryptically replied.
Inwardly, her curiosity was pricked, but she knew better than to pry.
"I'm sure my afternoon will be better," he smoothly continued.
"Oh, why's that?" she asked, meeting his clear blue eyes.
"Do you even have to ask?"
Elizabeth could feel her cheeks flushing.
Jason calmly sipped his coffee.
"Things really have changed," she murmured.
Jason looked up. "How so?"
She set the coffee pot down and laid a hand against her hip. "Jason Morgan just made me blush."
*~*~*~*~*~*
Zander wasn't sure why the hell he was doing this. He felt like Daniel going into the lion's den. This lion's den being Harborview Towers, the domain of a man who he'd tried to kill more than once, all to see a woman who he was sure hated him with every fiber of her being.
As he stepped off the elevator, he could feel his knees practically quaking. He was unarmed but bound to run into one of Sonny's many guards. They all held a hatred in their hearts for anyone who'd been close to Faith Roscoe – that crazy bitch had toyed with them too many times. Sure enough, a guard was stationed outside Penthouse 4, indicating the Master of the house was in residence – Mr. Sonny Corinthos himself. He could feel Johnny O'Brien's cold surprised gaze on him and he was surprised that the guard hadn't shot him on sight. Instead, he held his head high and strode past the guard to stand before the door of Penthouse 2.
"Jason isn't home," called out O'Brien.
"I'm not here to see Morgan," Zander replied, presenting his back to the burly guard and lifting his hand to knock.
Emily wasn't entirely surprised to hear the knock on the door. More than likely it was one of the guards checking up on her. She never expected to swing open the door and find herself face to face with her soon-to-be ex-husband.
For long indeterminable seconds, the two simply stood there, gazes never leaving each other's faces. Johnny could see the uncertainty creeping into Emily's face and he stepped forward, ready to tell Smith to get lost, when she stepped back from the door and allowed him in.
Johnny didn't know quite how to take that, but he knew Jason wouldn't be too pleased that Smith was in his home. He stepped back beside the door outside Sonny's apartment. It wasn't his job to meddle in his boss's sister's affairs.
Inside Jason's penthouse, Emily subconsciously tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she regarded her husband. She wished she looked more glamorous, but for now she was clad in a grey T-shirt that belonged to Jason and was two sizes too big and her jeans. Zander turned towards her; mindful that this was the first time in more than a year that he'd been inside Jason's apartment – the last time, of course, being before life had thrown a monkey wrench in his plans.
Instead, he chose to meet his wife's eyes. He swallowed and then heaved a sigh and began. "I spent most of the night and this morning thinking. Thinking about last night, thinking about yesterday at breakfast, thinking about the day I married you, thinking about the day I saw you back in Port Charles, about your Prom… about the first time we made love…" he cursed silently as his voice cracked. "I came to a conclusion… I still love you, Emily." Her eyes widened at that. "I *do*, and there's not a damn thing that I can do about that. You're under my skin, Ms. Quartermaine," he continued ruefully, "and all I can seem to do is *think* about you. That's never going to change.
"But one thing I *don't* need from you or anybody, for that matter, is *pity* -"
"I don't pity you, Zander," Emily broke in.
"Yes, Emily, you *do*." Zander clenched his jaw; he needed a moment to collect his thoughts. "You *do*. I hear it in your voice every time you make a half-hearted attempt to carry on a conversation…."
"What would you rather me do, Zander? Hate you?" she asked in confusion.
"I'd much rather want you to hate me than put me in the position where I feel terrible because of the way I've treated you, Emily! God knows I deserve to hate you!"
There was nothing she could do. She couldn't run this time. She knew she didn't deserve to run away. Zander had to have his full say and it was now.
But he was running out of steam. At this point in his life, he couldn't sit back and deliver blows and not have her defend herself. The old Zander -- the boy -- would have taken advantage of the situation. The man he was now, though he was aching inside, wouldn't do such a thing. He asked the question that had been on his mind for months now. "Why'd you leave me, Em? All I ever did was love you…. You made me want to be a better person…. Did that mean nothing to you?" he was close to tears by now.
Emily couldn't look him in the face. She wrapped her arms around her waist and said nothing.
Zander's jaw clenched. "I never took you for a coward, Emily Quartermaine. I guess that's just another thing I was wrong about."
Emily's eyes narrowed. "It's times like this when you turn spiteful and vindictive that I know why I left."
"I think after all the crap you put me through that I deserve a little spitefulness," Zander shot back. "You betrayed the vows we made before *God* with a man that I despise. I think I've at least earned the right to know *why*!"
"I loved him!"
"And what about me, Emily?" he cursed himself for the heartbroken tone of his voice. "About the love that *we* had? Did the laws and sanctity of our marriage fall so far down the ladder that you didn't give a crap about them?
"No," he scowled. "Of course not. You thought you were going to die, so you did us all a favour."
"It wasn't like that Zan --"
"Then what was it like, Emily? I sure as hell don't know!"
"I loved you both!"
They both fell silent.
"You made your choice, Emily." He finally replied and moved to sail past her but she grabbed his forearm, stalling him.
"I loved you, Zander, really I did."
He shrugged off her arm. "Pity, Emily. I don't need your damned pity!"
"I'm not pitying you, Zander, just stating a fact!" Emily's own temper ignited. "I loved you… and I'm sorry. If you can't accept that, there's nothing I can do…."
Zander stepped away and shook his head. "You know the sad thing about this whole situation, Emily? I *want* to forgive you…."
Her bottom lip trembled.
"Really, I do. I'm not totally innocent in this – I manipulated you, I lied…. But that doesn't change the fact about what you did. It doesn't change the fact that no matter how much I love you right now, I don't think I can ever forgive you."
He went to move away once more, but her voice stopped him yet again.
"Why'd you come here?"
Zander shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe I'm a masochist." There was another long pause before he sighed again and, surprising them both, reached for her hand. "I didn't come here to fight with you, Emily. That much I *do* know."
Emily looked down at their joined hands, not surprised by her level of awareness around him. Her gaze flicked back to his and she was mesmerized by the dark brown orbs so similar to Nikolas's yet so different.
With that one touch, all the anger flowed out of him. He stepped away, knowing if he remained in contact with her any longer, he would break.
He decided to be truthful. "Elizabeth told me that your engagement is off…. Maybe I came over here to find out if it was true… maybe not. I just knew I needed to get these thoughts off my mind…."
Emily nodded and turned away. "It's true. The engagement's off… I think. Nikolas and I haven't spoken since I walked out," she chuckled, but there was no amusement. "The first time we fought, it was about money. The second time we fought, it was about *you*. If it's any consolation, Nikolas gets equally as testy where you're concerned."
Zander looked at her in amazement.
"I love Nikolas," she concluded, unaware that her statement had caused Zander to grimace. "But it's hard to love a man that had the world at his feet for his entire life and now has had the rug pulled out from under him." She turned to her husband. "At least with you, I knew where we stood. I didn't have to worry that for the sake of your family you would shackle yourself to a woman you loathe. You loved me, you listened and you always trusted me. What we had was *beautiful*."
Zander could listen to no more. He reached across the small distance between them, caught her hand in his and, pulling her close, brought his lips to hers. His fingers tangled in the chestnut waves as she opened her mouth and allowed his tongue access to the sweet honeyed recesses inside. He was starved for the taste of her, but he didn't rush her.
Before she could get used to the reminder of his taste, he pulled away. "What we had… I wish we could have again," he whispered a hair's breadth above her lips. "But if you love him Emily," his heart clenched, "find him and work things out…. Make up your mind for once."
TBC...
A/N: Did you enjoy? If you did, drop me a line and let me know. You know I'm a self-confessed review junkie, lol, so I need my fix!
Cara
Title: Change is Good: Chapter 7
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
A/N: Thank you for the last chapter's comments. Don't worry ZEm fans; things will get better.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Kelly's (the next day)
Liz couldn't help it, but she couldn't wait to see him. As the day gradually approached midday, each time the little bell above the door jingled, she looked up in breathless anticipation, only to be disappointed – this time was no exception.
Nikolas Cassidine ambled up to the counter, a small bag in his hand. Elizabeth took one look at him and was automatically struck with concern for her friend. His face was pale and drawn and he looked exhausted.
"Are you alright?"
The look he leveled her clearly stated that he wasn't. Since Emily had walked out, he hadn't been sleeping well. Since this second bigger fight, sleep had completely evaded him and his guilt and anger was sapping what little energy he had left. He was struck with a need to talk to her, to explain his actions, but something kept him back.
He set the bag on the counter. "I figured Emily might need some of her clothes, so I packed some. You can give them to her when you get home."
"Emily's not staying with me, Nikolas," Liz explained, although she took the bag from him.
Nik looked surprised. "She went back to the Quartermaine's?" he asked, knowing Edward would most likely rub it in her face that they were on the rocks.
"Nope," Liz shook her head. "Jason's back in town. She's staying with him at his penthouse."
Sure enough, the doorbell jingled again and who should duck into the diner than Morgan himself.
Upon spying Nikolas at the counter with Liz, his eyes narrowed and his fists subconsciously clenched. He slowly made his way up to the counter, never taking his eyes off the Cassidine Prince, who had turned to face the Corinthos Enforcer.
"Jason," Nikolas greeted apprehensively.
Jason said nothing, unsure if words would cause him to want him to beat the Prince of Nothing to a pulp.
Nikolas sighed in mild frustration. "I guess you'll see that Emily gets her things?" he inquired of Liz, who nodded, before he turned around and left the diner, conscious that Jason's eyes never left his back on his way through the door.
"I guess I should be thanking my lucky stars I don't have to call the police to report a murder," Elizabeth quipped, holding the small bag out to Jason, who barely cracked a smile.
He took it from her in mild curiosity.
"Nikolas thought Emily might want some of her things," she explained.
"How thoughtful," Jason muttered sarcastically in reply, taking a seat at the counter.
Elizabeth automatically turned over the cup in front of him and poured him some coffee. "How was your morning?" she asked conversationally.
"Productive," Jason cryptically replied.
Inwardly, her curiosity was pricked, but she knew better than to pry.
"I'm sure my afternoon will be better," he smoothly continued.
"Oh, why's that?" she asked, meeting his clear blue eyes.
"Do you even have to ask?"
Elizabeth could feel her cheeks flushing.
Jason calmly sipped his coffee.
"Things really have changed," she murmured.
Jason looked up. "How so?"
She set the coffee pot down and laid a hand against her hip. "Jason Morgan just made me blush."
*~*~*~*~*~*
Zander wasn't sure why the hell he was doing this. He felt like Daniel going into the lion's den. This lion's den being Harborview Towers, the domain of a man who he'd tried to kill more than once, all to see a woman who he was sure hated him with every fiber of her being.
As he stepped off the elevator, he could feel his knees practically quaking. He was unarmed but bound to run into one of Sonny's many guards. They all held a hatred in their hearts for anyone who'd been close to Faith Roscoe – that crazy bitch had toyed with them too many times. Sure enough, a guard was stationed outside Penthouse 4, indicating the Master of the house was in residence – Mr. Sonny Corinthos himself. He could feel Johnny O'Brien's cold surprised gaze on him and he was surprised that the guard hadn't shot him on sight. Instead, he held his head high and strode past the guard to stand before the door of Penthouse 2.
"Jason isn't home," called out O'Brien.
"I'm not here to see Morgan," Zander replied, presenting his back to the burly guard and lifting his hand to knock.
Emily wasn't entirely surprised to hear the knock on the door. More than likely it was one of the guards checking up on her. She never expected to swing open the door and find herself face to face with her soon-to-be ex-husband.
For long indeterminable seconds, the two simply stood there, gazes never leaving each other's faces. Johnny could see the uncertainty creeping into Emily's face and he stepped forward, ready to tell Smith to get lost, when she stepped back from the door and allowed him in.
Johnny didn't know quite how to take that, but he knew Jason wouldn't be too pleased that Smith was in his home. He stepped back beside the door outside Sonny's apartment. It wasn't his job to meddle in his boss's sister's affairs.
Inside Jason's penthouse, Emily subconsciously tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she regarded her husband. She wished she looked more glamorous, but for now she was clad in a grey T-shirt that belonged to Jason and was two sizes too big and her jeans. Zander turned towards her; mindful that this was the first time in more than a year that he'd been inside Jason's apartment – the last time, of course, being before life had thrown a monkey wrench in his plans.
Instead, he chose to meet his wife's eyes. He swallowed and then heaved a sigh and began. "I spent most of the night and this morning thinking. Thinking about last night, thinking about yesterday at breakfast, thinking about the day I married you, thinking about the day I saw you back in Port Charles, about your Prom… about the first time we made love…" he cursed silently as his voice cracked. "I came to a conclusion… I still love you, Emily." Her eyes widened at that. "I *do*, and there's not a damn thing that I can do about that. You're under my skin, Ms. Quartermaine," he continued ruefully, "and all I can seem to do is *think* about you. That's never going to change.
"But one thing I *don't* need from you or anybody, for that matter, is *pity* -"
"I don't pity you, Zander," Emily broke in.
"Yes, Emily, you *do*." Zander clenched his jaw; he needed a moment to collect his thoughts. "You *do*. I hear it in your voice every time you make a half-hearted attempt to carry on a conversation…."
"What would you rather me do, Zander? Hate you?" she asked in confusion.
"I'd much rather want you to hate me than put me in the position where I feel terrible because of the way I've treated you, Emily! God knows I deserve to hate you!"
There was nothing she could do. She couldn't run this time. She knew she didn't deserve to run away. Zander had to have his full say and it was now.
But he was running out of steam. At this point in his life, he couldn't sit back and deliver blows and not have her defend herself. The old Zander -- the boy -- would have taken advantage of the situation. The man he was now, though he was aching inside, wouldn't do such a thing. He asked the question that had been on his mind for months now. "Why'd you leave me, Em? All I ever did was love you…. You made me want to be a better person…. Did that mean nothing to you?" he was close to tears by now.
Emily couldn't look him in the face. She wrapped her arms around her waist and said nothing.
Zander's jaw clenched. "I never took you for a coward, Emily Quartermaine. I guess that's just another thing I was wrong about."
Emily's eyes narrowed. "It's times like this when you turn spiteful and vindictive that I know why I left."
"I think after all the crap you put me through that I deserve a little spitefulness," Zander shot back. "You betrayed the vows we made before *God* with a man that I despise. I think I've at least earned the right to know *why*!"
"I loved him!"
"And what about me, Emily?" he cursed himself for the heartbroken tone of his voice. "About the love that *we* had? Did the laws and sanctity of our marriage fall so far down the ladder that you didn't give a crap about them?
"No," he scowled. "Of course not. You thought you were going to die, so you did us all a favour."
"It wasn't like that Zan --"
"Then what was it like, Emily? I sure as hell don't know!"
"I loved you both!"
They both fell silent.
"You made your choice, Emily." He finally replied and moved to sail past her but she grabbed his forearm, stalling him.
"I loved you, Zander, really I did."
He shrugged off her arm. "Pity, Emily. I don't need your damned pity!"
"I'm not pitying you, Zander, just stating a fact!" Emily's own temper ignited. "I loved you… and I'm sorry. If you can't accept that, there's nothing I can do…."
Zander stepped away and shook his head. "You know the sad thing about this whole situation, Emily? I *want* to forgive you…."
Her bottom lip trembled.
"Really, I do. I'm not totally innocent in this – I manipulated you, I lied…. But that doesn't change the fact about what you did. It doesn't change the fact that no matter how much I love you right now, I don't think I can ever forgive you."
He went to move away once more, but her voice stopped him yet again.
"Why'd you come here?"
Zander shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe I'm a masochist." There was another long pause before he sighed again and, surprising them both, reached for her hand. "I didn't come here to fight with you, Emily. That much I *do* know."
Emily looked down at their joined hands, not surprised by her level of awareness around him. Her gaze flicked back to his and she was mesmerized by the dark brown orbs so similar to Nikolas's yet so different.
With that one touch, all the anger flowed out of him. He stepped away, knowing if he remained in contact with her any longer, he would break.
He decided to be truthful. "Elizabeth told me that your engagement is off…. Maybe I came over here to find out if it was true… maybe not. I just knew I needed to get these thoughts off my mind…."
Emily nodded and turned away. "It's true. The engagement's off… I think. Nikolas and I haven't spoken since I walked out," she chuckled, but there was no amusement. "The first time we fought, it was about money. The second time we fought, it was about *you*. If it's any consolation, Nikolas gets equally as testy where you're concerned."
Zander looked at her in amazement.
"I love Nikolas," she concluded, unaware that her statement had caused Zander to grimace. "But it's hard to love a man that had the world at his feet for his entire life and now has had the rug pulled out from under him." She turned to her husband. "At least with you, I knew where we stood. I didn't have to worry that for the sake of your family you would shackle yourself to a woman you loathe. You loved me, you listened and you always trusted me. What we had was *beautiful*."
Zander could listen to no more. He reached across the small distance between them, caught her hand in his and, pulling her close, brought his lips to hers. His fingers tangled in the chestnut waves as she opened her mouth and allowed his tongue access to the sweet honeyed recesses inside. He was starved for the taste of her, but he didn't rush her.
Before she could get used to the reminder of his taste, he pulled away. "What we had… I wish we could have again," he whispered a hair's breadth above her lips. "But if you love him Emily," his heart clenched, "find him and work things out…. Make up your mind for once."
TBC...
A/N: Did you enjoy? If you did, drop me a line and let me know. You know I'm a self-confessed review junkie, lol, so I need my fix!
Cara