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

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

CHAPTER 11: Zander Feels The Tension

It had been two weeks since Zander met with his daughter and he has spent nearly everyday with her, getting to know her, even having tea parties with her. He was there when they finally released Emily from the hospital, but so was Nikolas. Zander could feel the tension now between him and Emily. He couldn't believe that Nikolas would actually try to break up his marriage to Emily. Let's face it Emily and Nikolas had been getting a lot closer since she was released from the hospital. Zander had a nice long talk with Emily at home about him getting to know his daughter and he asked her if she was fine with that.

"It's good that you care so much about your daughter Zander. No matter what happens to us, I hope that you still be a part of her life.", said Emily.

"What do you mean by, "no matter what happens to us"?", asked Zander.

"Forget I said it.", replied Emily.

"No, Em. Are you worried that I will leave you for Beth? Because you know I love you I married you because I was afraid of losing you. Em, you are the most wonderful woman I have ever known. I'm not going to leave you."

"I know you aren't Zander, but what I am trying to say is…."

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Zander got up to answer it. When he opened the door he came face to face with the person he somehow thought would be there. Nikolas.

"What are you doing here?", asked Zander in a suspicious tone, as Emily walked up behind him.

"I was about to ask you the same thing.", replied Nikolas jokingly, "Aren't you supposed to be spending quality time with your daughter right now?"

"Leave my daughter out of this."

"Well it's not my fault that you are ignoring your wife."

"Nikolas, would you please leave.", asked Zander in a stern tone.

"No, because Emily asked me to come over awhile ago."

"Is that true?", asked Zander as he turned to look at Emily.

"Yes, Zander", said Emily

"WHAT?!", replied Zander in absolute shock.

"Nikolas is my friend, you know that. And…. Well there's something I need to tell you."

Zander couldn't believe this, just when he thought his life was finally on track, it gets off track once again. He knew that Nikolas was pursuing his wife, but he didn't know that she was letting him continue doing it. Did she not love him anymore?

She told him about her dreams while in her cancer induced coma and how the visions of her and Nikolas together gave her the strength to beat the illness. As well as Nikolas being at her bedside all of those times. She realized that yes Zander does love her but she doesn't love Zander anymore.

Frustrated and furious Zander left to cool down. He got in his car, he turned it on and took off. He kept driving until he came to a big house with a guard at the front door. He walked up to the door.

"Hey is Beth home?" asked Zander.

"Yes she is, just ring the doorbell." replied the guard.

"Thanks man."

Zander rang the doorbell, the door opened. Beth stood there in a short hunter green, spaghetti strap dress, with matching shoes, her hair was done up and the last time Zander could remember Beth wearing that much makeup was the night Erin was conceived. Her smile slowly gave way to a look of disappointment.

"What's wrong?", asked Zander.

"Nothing I thought you were someone else." replied Beth, "So what are you doing here?"

"Can't a guy see his daughter?"

"Now Zander c'mon tell me, did something happen between you and Emily?"

"Yes, it turns out she doesn't love me anymore, she'd rather be with that pompous jerk Nikolas."

"I'm sorry Zander.", said Beth as she leaned in to give him a hug. "I know how much you love Emily and I'm glad that you decided to come here and spend time with Erin instead of drowning your sorrows at Jake's."

"Yeah, so why are you all dressed up?"

"Well I kind of have a date tonight. But you are more than welcome to stay and look after Erin with your father."

"If you wanted someone to stay with Erin, why didn't you call me in the first place? By the way who are you going out with?"

"Well Zander your father is always the first person I think of calling, ever since I came to Port Charles. And I am going out with Jasper Jacks. He's taking me to dinner and Keith Urban concert."

"Jasper Jacks? You know he'll break your heart right?"

"It's not like I've had it broken before."

"Sorry."

"That's okay."

"So Keith Urban eh? I know how much you like country music. So does Jax know him?"

"Yes Jax does know him, they went to school together. Jax promised me on our first date that he would take me to a Keith Urban concert."

"So how many dates have you two had?"

"This will be our fifth date. Don't worry Zander, he hasn't met Erin yet and it's not like I'm looking for a commitment. Have you told Erin about Emily yet or has Erin met Emily?"

"No not yet, and it looks like she never will."

"Don't say that Zander. You and Emily will get back together."

"And what if we don't?"

"Then at least you have another person to love, someone who will rely on you for the rest of her life, your daughter. So you life will be worth living and not worth drinking away."

The doorbell rang. Beth went to answer it while leaving Zander standing in the foyer. It was Jax. He gave her a peck on the cheek and handed her flowers, Gerber daisies, her favourite.

*Mr. Smooth Australian man, knows what her favourite flowers are. Heh I've known ever since I met her.* thought Zander.

He then watched as Beth went to get a vase and some water for the flowers. Jax noticed Zander and started walking towards him.

"Zander I didn't expect to see you here." said Jax in his Australian accent that the women can't resist.

"Well, you should expect to see me here more often Jax. After all MY daughter lives here with HER mother."

"No need to be defensive there Zander, these dates are truly business."

"Business? You're taking the mother of MY daughter out for business? Does she know that it's just for business?"

"Don't worry Zander, I'm not taking your daughter away from you. And yes she knows it's about business, but she is very stubborn to invest in my ventures."

"So you think taking her to see Keith Urban will seal the deal?"

"Who knows, look I'm not a mind reader."

Beth walked back into the foyer, with the vase of flowers in one hand and her jacket and purse in the other. Zander noticed that she was a little off balance. He swooped in and grabbed the vase from her hand.

"Thank you." said Beth graciously.

"No problem. So where did you say Erin was?" said Zander.

"Upstairs in her playroom with your father. I wouldn't doubt that they are having a tea party."

"She loves her tea parties. You don't mind if I stay here tonight do you Beth?"

"No, I don't mind. Just as long as you stay in the guest room."

"Don't worry I won't go anywhere near your bed."

As Zander headed up the stairs, Beth and Jax left for their date. He headed down the hall and found his father and his daughter having a tea party. Both looked towards the door, when Erin saw Zander standing there she got up, ran and gave him a big hug.

"Daddy!" yelled Erin as she ran and gave Zander a big hug.

"Hey sweet pea." replied Zander.

"Alexander I didn't realize that you were looking after Erin tonight." said Cameron.

"Actually I didn't know that you were looking after her too." said Zander.

"What's the real reason you are here?"

"I'll tell you as soon as Erin goes to bed."

For the next two hours Zander, Cameron and Erin had a wonderful tea party. Then it was time to tuck Erin in for the night. Instead of Cameron reading her a story Zander was asked to read one to her. Cameron waited out in the hall outside of her room. He was proud that Zander cares so much for his little girl. Zander slowly walked out and carefully closed the door behind him.

"So, what is wrong now between you and Emily?"

"Apparently she doesn't love me anymore and when she was in her coma she dreamt about Nikolas.", said Zander as they were walking down the stairs.

"So I take it her dreams about Nikolas helped her miraculously recover from her cancer?", asked Cameron as they sat down on the sofa.

"Yes, exactly. I thought she loved me and now I find out that she would rather be with Prince Nikolas…."

"Do you think it's over?"

"Looks like it. What should I do?"

"Tell her you love her then ask if she still loves you. If she says no, calmly tell her that you will always love her and that it's too bad that she doesn't feel the same especially with all you two have been through."

"Dad I don't want to get a divorce."

"Well son, unless she has a change of heart when you come home, it looks like you have no other choice but to divorce. Just think of Erin when you make your decision."

"I wish that none of this happened."

Just as Zander said that he noticed Beth standing in the doorway. She looked upset but also looked like she just got in.

"Sorry I didn't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to say goodnight.", said Beth.

"Goodnight Beth." said Zander.

"Goodnight dear." said Cameron.

Cameron got up from the sofa, he didn't know what more he could do for his son. He didn't agree either with the idea of Emily suddenly not loving Zander anymore. It was better that Zander was at Beth's instead of at Jake's drowning his sorrows. Being a father changed Zander, hopefully for the better. Cameron left Beth's house, leaving Zander to figure out his relationship with Emily by himself.