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

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

CHAPTER 14: Zander Goes To University

__At General Hospital__

Zander, Erin and Cameron met up with Beth, luckily she was on a break. She was surprised when Erin gave her a piece of cake.

"Erin honey you didn't have to bring me anything.", explained Beth.

"It wasn't my idea, it was daddy's.", responded Erin as she pointed to Zander and Cameron talking.

"Okay, why don't you head to the break room with me and we can eat this together.", said Beth, walked Erin to the break room and left Zander and Cameron to talk.

Zander and Cameron had come to the part of the conversation where they were discussing Zander's possible major at Port Charles University. Cameron then told Zander that it was his mother's wish that he would have furthered his education just like his brother would have. Cameron even offered to pay entirely for Zander's education.

"Dad, you don't have to feel like you owe it to me to pay for my education.", said Zander.

"Alexander, your mother and I would have paid for it anyway, besides it would give you more of a chance to focus on your studies and not worrying about having to pay for it.", explained Cameron. "Actually your mother always thought that since you were very good at math that you may want to major in it and use it towards a Business degree in Accounting."

"Are you trying to tell me that you want someone else to do your taxes?", asked Zander jokingly. "But really an accountant? That is a legitimate business, and it does pay well. Do you know if PCU would take me if I did a high school equivalency test?"

"I don't know son, I guess you'll have to go and find out."

"How long do you think that degree will take?"

"I'm guessing about four years, but if you take courses through the summer you can be done in three. I know that Beth's father's law firm represents an accounting firm here in Port Charles, I'm sure they may be able to hire you after you graduate."

"They probably would but I would want to try to get a job honestly, not through connections. You know I am trying to clean up my image."

"And I think you are doing a good job at that.", said Beth as she emerged from the break room with Erin. "Erin started to yawn, I think that maybe she would want to rest for awhile."

"I'm not tired.", replied Erin.

"But you will be soon.", said both Zander and Beth at the same moment, they then both looked into each others eyes. Then Zander kind of shook his head. *What was that?*, he thought, *That never happened with me and Emily before, we never responded the same thing at the same time. What if I was wrong about Emily being the love of my life? What if Beth was the one all along, I mean she did come and find me after my father had, so she must still care about me.*

__At Beth's__

There was an awkward silence between Zander and Beth since that response at the hospital. Beth was going out with Jax that night and Zander had to talk to her. About the awkwardness after his and Erin's visit to the hospital. Zander waited until Erin had gone to bed and talked outside Beth's room as she was changing for her late dinner date.

"Beth why are you being so quiet? Does it have anything to do with what happened in the hospital today?", asked Zander.

Zander then waited for what it seemed like an eternity before Beth gave him an answer.

"Yes Zander it does have something to do with what happened today at the hospital.", replied Beth, "It's just that I am freaking out about you and the relationship that I should be having with you."

"What kind do you think that is?"

"One that normal parents have. One that married couples have." Then she gasped.

Zander couldn't believe what he heard, *Did she really want to have a normal life for Erin? Was she expecting me to get involved with her again once she found out I was here? Just because I'm not with Emily anymore doesn't mean that I am on the rebound, and besides what about Jax, there must be something there, they have been going out for a month now.*

"Beth, don't be sorry, I realize that you wanted Erin to have both her parents when she was born. But do you think if I had stayed that we would have been married?"

"Yes, Zander a part of me says that yes we should be married, but I'm not too sure anymore since we are going in different directions, romantically speaking."

"Beth I'm not going to use you as the rebound from my break up with Emily. Oh I should tell you I have decided to go to Port Charles University to major in math so it could hopefully lead to a business degree."

"That's great to hear Zander!", exclaimed Beth, "I am happy that you have decided to do something with your life."

"My dad said that he would even pay for my education and that my mother had always wanted me to further my math education."

"So have you started the process of enrolling yet? The deadline to apply is coming up quickly."

"Well before I do that I need to get my high school diploma.", replied Zander as he rubbed his neck.

"I tell you what, I'll go with you to the university tomorrow to see what can be done. We'll go right after we drop Erin off at school, since I have a day off work I don't mind helping you apply."

"Thanks Beth. But hasn't it been seven years since you applied to university?"

"Yes, but I'm sure it hasn't changed that much. Can you zip this up?", asked Beth as she walked into the hall in a short gold cocktail dress. Zander's hands lightly caressed her back, he couldn't help but think that she was going to all this trouble to impress Jax.

"So where are you and Jax heading to tonight?"

"I don't know actually, Jasper told me that it was going to be a surprise."

"Just don't do anything too crazy, remember you're going to help me to apply to PCU tomorrow."

Just as Zander had said that, the phone rang, Beth hurried into her room. Zander strained to hear what Beth was saying from the hall, all he could tell was a sound of disappointment. Beth came back into the hall.

"Can you unzip this? It figures when I buy a new dress, my date cancels."

"Awww…. Beth, what was his excuse for cancelling?", asked Zander as he stood and stared at Beth.

"Something about a business meeting that needed to be attended to. Can you unzip this please?"

"No Beth, you deserve to have one nice meal in that dress. Go ahead finish getting ready."

"Zander what are you planning to do?"

"Trust me, now go on.", said Zander as Beth walked back into her room. Zander got on his cell phone and as he walked down the stairs he called the Chinese food place that he and Emily always got take out from, plus they had super speedy delivery.

Zander figured by the time Beth could finish doing her hair and makeup he could have the food on the dining room table, the candles lit, find some wine in the basement and still have enough time to put on a tie.

He was right, in the time it took him to do all that Beth came down the stairs looking like a goddess. Zander took her hand and led her to the candle lit light of the dining room. Although the food was still in the take out containers, Zander made it seem like they were at a five-star restaurant. Zander had never gone to all this effort when he was with Emily.

"Wow, Zander! This is better than those restaurants that Jasper always takes me to. I mean this has more thought put into it. Thank you."

"No problem Beth, it's just you seemed pretty excited about this date."

"I was, especially since he has never surprised me before. He always told me where we were going on dates.", as soon as Beth said that the doorbell rang. Zander got up to answer the door, he wondered who would want to interrupt their dinner.

Zander opened the front door of Beth's house and there stood Beth's parents Art and Jan Smith. Zander and Art looked at each other puzzlingly, wondering why each one was there.

"Alex, what are you doing here?", asked Art.

"I was about to ask you the same thing.", responded Zander with a smile on his face. He then saw their luggage they were carrying. "Here let me help you with that."

"Thank you Alex. So where's Beth?", asked Jan.

"She's in the dining room, we were having dinner because her date cancelled on her.", replied Zander.

"Are you living here now Alex?", asked Art.

"Well, ummm…..", said Zander as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck with his one hand, "For the time being I am, Beth said I could stay in one of the guest rooms."

"So you aren't living on your own or with your father?", asked Jan. As soon as Jan asked Zander that question, Beth emerged from the dining room.

"We thought it would be best for Erin if Zander stayed here, plus it's nice to have another person around to play board games with.", explained a smiling Beth. "So mom, dad, what are you doing here? And why did you decide to arrive this late?"

"Well you see honey, your father has a business meeting with some of the investors of a company. You know legal matters.", explained Jan.

"Not exactly, this one business man, Jasper Jacks, has decided to change law firms and move some of his capital ventures to Canada. Since he lives in Port Charles we thought it would be nice to come visit you and Erin while I'm here on business.", said Art.

"That's a good idea dad, you and mom can have the other guest room.", said Beth.

"Thank you sweetie. By the way you look gorgeous, Alex told us that your date cancelled on you. You're lucky to have him around.", said Jan as Art and Zander hauled the luggage upstairs to the other guest room.

"Yes I know mom, and he's been so great with Erin. It's too bad he wasn't around when she was a baby.", said Beth.

Zander and Art were upstairs in the other guestroom, they placed the luggage in spots where neither Art or Jan would stumble over them.

"Alex, you're not going to be breaking my little girl's heart again are you?", asked Art.

"No sir I'm not.", responded Zander, "Actually I just divorced my wife, because she claims she fell in love with another man. I am bitter about it but I'm not using Beth as a rebound."

"How long did you and your wife know each other?"

"Emily and I went out for 3 years and then when she got cancer, everyone thought it was terminal, and I married her so she wouldn't be alone for her last days. We loved each other, or so I thought. She miraculously got better and said Nikolas Cassadine was the reason for it and now she's with him."

"Did Erin ever meet her?"

"Thankfully no, or else it would have been strange for the poor girl."

"Has she ever met Beth's boyfriend?"

"Jasper Jacks, I don't think she has ever met him."

"She's dating Jasper Jacks?!?!"

"Yes, and he says it's mainly for getting her to invest in his ventures. Hopefully this won't complicate matters in your deal."

"He's been a client for awhile, but hopefully he's not going to ask if it's okay to marry Beth. I've heard about his past with women, and I really don't want to see Beth get hurt when he leaves her for another woman. Alex, you seem to have your head on your shoulders and look like you are setting your priorities now that you know about Erin."

"Yes, Beth is going to help me apply to Port Charles University tomorrow. My father had told me that it was my mother's wish that I would go to school and use my talent for math."

"You know our firm could always use another accountant. I think Jan and I should settle in for the night, you two are probably going to head out tomorrow morning right?"

"Right, well you have a good night and I guess I will see you in the morning."

Zander thought that maybe Art was going to kill him right there. *I mean I did leave his daughter and didn't own up to my responsibility as a parent,* thought Zander *But now they see that I am owning up to my responsibility, maybe they didn't think bad of me all along.*

As dawn broke, Zander had already gone down to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. He decided that since Beth's parents were there that he would go all out with a big breakfast consisting of French toast, pancakes, bacon, sausage, and scrambled eggs. He decided to go the distance with this breakfast, this would be Erin's first real family breakfast, he even called Cameron to ask if he wanted to join, he accepted and decided to be there.

"Alexander this looks wonderful." exclaimed Cameron.

"I do agree, I don't think Andrew has ever done anything like this for us, and we're his parents!" exclaimed Art, about Beth's older brother Andrew who was supposed to come to Port Charles in a few weeks.

"So how is Andrew dad?", asked Beth while eating some pancakes.

"He's doing okay, he really likes being a firefighter, I'm glad he finally found his calling in life. I thought for sure that he was happy being a Biochemist. Anyway he's coming to Port Charles to visit you and Erin in the next two weeks." responded Art.

"Really? Uncle Andrew is coming to see us?" asked Erin with excitement.

"Yes really sweet pea." responded Jan.

"So son, when are you going to register to PCU?", asked Cameron to Zander.

"Well, Beth and I are going to go there as soon as breakfast is over and when we drop Erin off at school." explained Zander.

"You know what, don't worry about that, Jan and I will take Erin to school." insisted Art.

"No dad it's okay, you should really have enough time to get ready for your meeting." replied Beth.

Zander drove and Beth just stared out the window, after they dropped of Erin at school. Zander couldn't help but notice that Beth was silent for most of the trip to Erin's school. He wondered if it had to do with her parents making a surprise visit, or was it that she wished that she was with Zander instead of Jax?

"What's wrong?" asked a concerned Zander.

"Nothing." sighed Beth, "Well I guess it's just that breakfast this morning was something that I've always dreamed of. And you made it come true, without no one hinting at you."

"I owed it to Erin, especially since your parents came to town. Plus it seemed like my father enjoyed it."

"Yes he did Zander. I haven't seen him this happy in a long time."

As Zander pulled into the visitor parking lot at PCU, he couldn't help but feel good that he did something that made his father happy and applying to PCU will make him even happier. Zander and Beth took a walk around campus before the Registrar's office opened. They talked about how Beth's father reacted to Zander telling him that Beth was going out with Jax. And Beth was telling Zander about all of Erin's firsts that he missed. Then out of the blue, Beth told Zander something that he totally didn't expect.

"Zander, I'm going to break up with Jasper."

"Why? I thought that you really enjoyed being with him."

"Well I did, but now I don't know, it seems like he's after my family's money. And after the few months now that you have come back into my life, I feel like now you and I were meant to be together now. I realize that you have just broken up with Emily and I know you don't want to use anyone as a rebound, but I feel like this just feels right, you and me."

"I do too Beth, I feel like this is right, between you and I, but I want to take it slow for Erin's sake."

"So do I, but for now I don't object to you moving everything of yours into the house."

"Thanks Beth, I guess I should get the rest of my stuff from Emily huh."

"Look it's 9:30!" exclaimed Beth, "I guess the Registrar's Office would be open by now."

Zander and Beth walked into the Registrar's Office at Port Charles University. They explained to Zander for the program that he wished to enrol in he would need to take a high school equivalency test and if his mark on the test was above 75% he would have guaranteed acceptance. He would have two weeks to study for it, luckily those were the two weeks before Beth's brother Andrew was going to visit, Andrew never really cared for Zander, since Pete was Andrew's best friend and all.

Zander passed his high school equivalency test and was ready for his first classes in September. His class schedule made enough time for him to care for his daughter as well. He was in the Business Administration program with a major in math and a minor in communications, which then led him to graduate with honours and then led to him obtaining his Masters in Business Administration (MBA). He loved the fact that now he was making something of himself, no longer was he a drug dealing, mob employee "ruffian", now he was clean cut guy with a family and a MBA.

And as for Zander's future…………. (chapter 15 - the final chapter, coming soon)