** DISCLAIMER I do not own any character appearing on "General Hospital".

*words* = thoughts "words" = talking/speaking ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHAPTER 5: Zander Faces The Music

As the doors close on the elevator , Zander's attention is now concentrated on the paternity of Beth's child. Was it Zander's or was it his brother's? Did Beth have the baby? Zander was becoming more tense now knowing that someday he will have to face the music and hear about what he has been missing since he left Hamilton. But more importantly he wonders what happened to his mother, hopefully his father can give him some answers.

Zander is standing on the elevator wondering why it is taking slower than usual to move. He looks at his watch it's 2:50. *Okay…*, Zander thought, *I have ten minutes. Why on earth did I agree to this? I'm so stupid, I wish I'd never bumped into Beth at all.*

The doors of the elevator open to show the General Hospital cafeteria, Zander steps out and starts to walk along what seems to be a long corridor towards the table where his father and Beth are seated. To his left he could see Drs. Alan and Monica Quatermaine enjoying their coffee break, while to his right he sees Elizabeth Webber-Lansing and Gia Campbell chatting over some pie. He could feel them watching him as he headed towards the table where his father and Beth are seated.

"Hey Alex, over here! I've got Cherry JELL-O, your favourite!", called Beth, as she motioned for Zander to come to the table.

Slightly embarrassed, Zander held up his hand to acknowledge that he heard her and that he was coming. *Why did she do that?*, thought Zander, *I wonder what Alan and Monica are thinking about this? Hopefully they don't suspect anything. Same goes for Elizabeth and Gia.*

"Alexander, can you walk any slower?", asked Dr. Lewis as he motioned for Zander to come closer.

Zander realized that this was it, make or break time. He just wished that almost all the people close to Emily weren't so close to hearing his conversation with his father and his estranged friend/lover Beth. Zander heads towards the table where he sees Beth and his father both eating Lemon-Lime JELL-O and one serving of Cherry JELL-O which sits there untouched.

"Hi, sorry I took so long.", said Zander as he sits down between Beth and his father.

"That's alright Alex, I just hope that the JELL-O isn't ruined.", replied Beth.

"Aw Beth, didn't you learn anything in Medical School?", asked Dr. Lewis, "JELL-O doesn't get ruined easily. He'll be fine."

"So my dad tells me that you have something to tell me Beth.", said Zander suddenly.

"Uhhh… yes I do.", said Beth a little hesitantly.

"Well….?"

"Where do I start?", said Beth nervously, "I came to Port Charles to find you Al… I mean Zander. I came to find you because when your father told me he found you I knew I had to clear up some of the misunderstandings that occurred when you left. Plus I get paid more to become a Physician down here then I would have if I had stayed in Canada."

"That's the same reason I came down here Alexander.", said Zander's father, Dr. Lewis, "You know the so-called 'Brain Drain'?"

"Yeah I remember you telling me that dad.", answered Zander, "So Beth what kind of misunderstandings did you want to clear up?"

"Alright Zander this is going to be very hard for me to tell you this but, you know how I was pregnant before you left?", asked Beth.

"This is what I was afraid of….. well is it mine?", asked Zander.

"Well "it" is a "she" and yes she is yours, not your brother Pete's. We did a DNA test after she was born.", said Beth with a sigh of relief.