Title: Fresh Slate
Name: Jules
Rating: PG-15
Disclaimer: Obviously, I don't own any of the characters, except for Brody, Vincent, Jessi, and obviously most of the children who are my creations or any other new characters you may see along the way, no matter how much I WISH I did. They belong ABC, General Hospital.
Classification: AU, Action/Adventure, Romance, Angst, Comedy, Crossover
Summary: What if Carly had gotten on the plane to leave PC and join Jason and Michael in the Caribbean. Say her plane crashed and she lost her memory, and shows up in PC 6 years later, with her new family. Carly, Jason, Lucky/Maxie, & more!
Status: Unfinished
Author's Note: Today (July 15) is my birthday, and here it is 5am and I can't get to sleep because it's too hot.
But guess what, something good has happened.
Yep, you guessed it, I Clover have been hit with another idea for a fan fiction, and let me tell you, it's a good one.
Ok, I'm done telling you how everything got started, I guess you think I should start writing huh? Well, ok. And here you go . . .
Author's Note 2: It's 2004, I'm now updating my fics so they live up to the standards I put all fics to, now that I'm 20, and not 17. I like to think my writing technique has improved somewhat over the years, not that it wasn't good before . . . . I know it was pretty good, because I would always get plenty of reviews , enough so that I could continue. But I also know there were some errors, because hey, I was a teenager, and nobody's perfect! My standards are also way higher these days. I hope you enjoy the improved versions of my fics.
Fresh Slate
By Clover
Chapter 1
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To set the scene:
Ok, you know how Carly was supposed to get on the plane to join Michael and Jason but instead went to the Quartermaines and so began her master plan? Well, here Carly DID get on the plane . . .
Oh, I almost forgot, pretend Luke and Laura are as in love as they ever were, and Luke is beginning to tolerate Nikolas.
Lucky's dating Liz, and Nikolas is dating Emily.
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Port Charles
Carly forlornly got on to the plane that would take her to Jason and her son. It was so hard leaving Bobbie behind, just when they'd started getting along, but Carly could not, would not, lose her son. She refused to lose her family, not after having fought so hard, for so long.
Sonny was the only other person besides Jason who knew she was leaving.
Carly got settled in her seat and decided to get some sleep during the lengthy flight, it had been a long night before, full of tossing and turning . . . .
Carly was jolted away hours later, when the private jet hit a rough patch of air. Carly figured that everything was all right when the plane smoothed out. She had just closed her eyes to go back to sleep, when the entire plane started shaking violently. Carly was now wide-awake and clutching the seat's armrests so hard her knuckles where white. Carly was absolutely terrified . . . . That was when the plane started to nose dive.
Carly's thoughts immediately turned to Jason and Michael, 'What if I never see them again? What if I die? What would Michael do without his mother . . .'
The thought was left unfinished, because something flew through the air from the back of the plane, striking her on the head, hard. Then everything went black . . . .
xXx
A private island, somewhere in the Caribbean
Young, handsome, and charismatic multibillionaire, Brody Everett, was walking along the beach of his private island, thinking about how monotonous his life was. Everyday, he would get up, go for a run on his beach, then go to work, via a global net-link in his home office on the island, and after several meetings, arguing with his business partners, or the people who ran his businesses, he would wander around the island. Sometimes leaving the island for charity events, social events he was expected to make appearances at for his company, or for his family, at which women, young and old, would throw themselves at him, in hopes he would become interested in them, marry them, and they would become part of his multibillion dollar empire. He just wanted something new in his life, something fresh and exciting, a chance at happiness . . . .
All his thoughts and musing abruptly stopped when something up ahead on the beach caught his eye. It was too far away to make out what it was, but he could tell that whatever had been swept up on his beach, was not a clump of seaweed. Without a second though, began jogging cautiously towards the object, not knowing whether, whatever it might be, was dangerous or not. As he got closer, he was able to discern that it was a person, a woman to be exact, with blond hair lying on his beach. Brody began running faster, not knowing whether she was alive or dead, as he neared her body, he was able to see she was very pretty, but soaking wet, with ragged clothing, and a bad cut on her head, plus some scrapes and other minor cuts.
He knelt down beside her and shook her, "Miss, Miss, can you hear me?"
After trying to wake the attractive young woman up for a few seconds, he checked for breath sounds and a pulse, he was immensely relieved to find one.
It would have been just horrible to have found such a beautiful young woman, dead on his beach, to know she'd been cut down in the prime of her life. He tried to wake her once more, but Brody could tell that it wasn't going to happen, and he knew that having her just lying there wasn't helping her at all. He gently picked up the young woman and ran as quickly as he could on the sand back to his mansion, where hopefully his housekeeper could help him, and they could call a doctor.
Brody ran to the kitchen entry with the unknown maiden and kicked on the door frantically, as his hands were too full to even knock.
Mrs. Lopez came rushing to the door, perceiving that something was wrong, and threw it open, she was surprised to see the man who she'd known since he was a toddler with an unconscious, and disheveled woman in his arms, "What in the world . . ." She started in her Spanish accent.
"Mrs. Lopez, help me. I found her on the beach. She's unconscious. She was in some sort of accident. She looks as though she's been injured, I just don't know how badly."
"Follow me, I have a guest room set up for when your father was coming for a visit, but ended up having to stay home. I was just about to close it up."
Brody followed the older woman up the back staircase from the kitchen, with the lifeless woman in his arms. Brody laid her carefully on the chestnut four-poster bed.
"Brody, you must to leave the room while I get her all cleaned up." Mrs. Lopez ordered, pushing him out into the hall.
"But, but . . ." Brody protested, not wanting to leave the beautiful, mysterious woman's side, there was something about her that he was drawn to.
"I insist. I'll let you come back in as soon as she's in bed, wearing some dry clothing. If you want to be of some help, call the main land and have some clothing for the senorita sent over, and have a doctor come."
Brody nodded his head in agreement, eager to be of some help, and rushed out of the room. Mrs. Lopez gave him the girl's clothing sizes a few moments later, as soon as she'd removed the torn, wet clothing.
Two hours later
Brody paced at the dock, impatiently waiting for the launch from the main land to get to the island with the doctor and clothes for the young woman. Finally, he stopped the boat approaching the dock, and he sighed with relief.
After the launch had been secured to the dock, a gangplank was lowered and the doctor disembarked, as well as three men laden down with packages. Brody shook the doctor hand, then signaled for the three men to head up the mansion.
Brody turned to the doctor, "Thank you for coming. Please, follow me."
Brody ushered the man up to the woman's room. The men with the clothing followed and left the packages by the door, as they'd been ordered, then went back out to the grounds to work, as Brody had pulled them away from their other work, to go pick up the clothing and doctor.
The doctor stepped into the room and found his newest patient lying on the bed, dressed in a nightgown that was quite obviously too large for her. He forced everyone but Mrs. Lopez to leave the room while he checked her out.
30 minutes later
Brody paced back and forth in the hallway , all the waiting he'd been forced to go through that day had been driving him crazy. He just wanted to know if the girl would be ok, how badly injured she was, and possibly what had happened to her. He was pretty much dying of curiosity, and getting tired of waiting. And frustrated Brody, was an impatient Brody.
He gave up pacing and leaned on the banister opposite the door, one that looked over his living room, onto his picture windows of palm trees, ferns, grasses, and a white sandy beach a ways away.
At last, the guest bedroom door opened and the doctor stepped out.
"Well, I'm sorry to say that she's in a coma, and I don't know how long it will be until she wakes up. I bandaged up the cut on her head, and put some ointments on her other scrapes and cuts, but you'll need to change the dressing everyday, and put this antibiotic on her other scrapes so they don't get infected. As for the coma, the only other thing I can suggest you can do for her, is talk to her. Some say that it helps, and that coma patients can hear you. However, I have to warn you, if she does every wake up, there is a very strong chance of brain damage. You should also know longer she's in the coma, the lower the chances of her ever waking up Mr. Everett."
xXx
Back in Port Charles
"DAMN IT!" Sonny yelled unhappily, throwing his cell phone across the room in anger.
He knew for absolute certain now, that there was no way that she could have survived. He'd had people searching the waters since the plane went down, and there was no sign of her. And the plane was at the bottom of the ocean.
Sonny sighed, knowing what he'd have to do. He ran a hand over his face, then went over and retrieved the phone, which by some miracle hadn't broken, and dialed the number he did not want to be calling for this reason.
"Hello?" Answered the man on the other end of the line.
"Jason, man, its Sonny. Um, shit, I don't know how to tell you this . . ."
"Sonny, what's wrong? Why isn't Carly here yet." His friend demanded immediately, having sensed something was wrong long ago.
"Jason, that's what I have to tell you . . . I'm sorry, but her plane went down, over the ocean on her way to you and Michael."
Down in the Caribbean, a shaken Jason got a lump in his throat. He knew what Sonny's insinuating, but he didn't want to believe it. He couldn't believe it. His best friend could not possibly gone. Michael couldn't have just lost his mother, "What are you saying?"
"She's gone man. There are no signs of survivors. I'm so sorry Jason . . ."
Sonny was never got to finish the sentence, Jason hung up on him.
Sonny collapsed on the couch, threw his head back and covered his face with his hands. In just one short phone-call, he'd knew, he'd been forced to destroy the lives of two men. Even if he hadn't caused that plane to go down, he had been the one forced to make the call to Jason. As much as he'd hated Carly, for what she did to Jason, Michael had lost his mother today, and no boy should have to ever experience that.
xXx
Luke's (Blues Club)
Lucky, Liz, Emily, Nikolas, Luke, Laura, Lulu, Bobbie, and Lucas were at Luke's enjoying a nice family dinner. Luke had promised to not pick on Nikolas for Lucky, Emily, Laura, Lulu, and Lucas' sakes, and Nikolas had promised not to provoke Luke, for the very same people. They were actually have a fairly enjoyable dinner.
(Ok, I don't know if they have a TV there, but imagine that they do if they don't)
Claude was watching the news at the bar, when something caught his eye, "EVERYONE SHUT UP!!!!!" He ordered, and turned the volume on the large TV way up.
"And I repeat." The newscasters voice announced, "A plane, coming from Port Charles has crashed into the ocean off the coast of the Bahamas. On the plane was Port Charles own Caroline Spencer, mother to Michael Morgan, leading citizens Dr.'s Alan and Monica Quartermaine's first grandchild. Reports say that there are no signs of survivors and they do not expect to find any more as the search continues . . ."
Claude switched off the TV in shock.
The room was completely silent, some not quite understanding the magnitude of what they'd just heard , or the relevance to certain people in the club, until Bobbie got over her shock and broke down in tears.
"Noooooooooooo!!!!!!, Not my baby!!!!" Bobbie screamed, "Luke, not my baby girl." Bobbie cried.
Luke took his sobbing sister into a giant hug. He didn't cry, but Laura could tell he was affected by this announcement.
Nikolas, Emily and Liz looked at each other then turned to Lucky, who was sitting back in his chair, his face blank with shock.
"I never even got to know her . . ." Was all he said, then he was silent.
Emily spoke up, shredding her napkin with nervousness, "Oh god, poor Michael. He's going have to grow up without his mother, and no memory of her. And Jason's got to be going out of his mind . . ."
Nikolas took Emily into his arms and held her close, knowing what a sensitive topic this was for her. Liz meanwhile took Lucky's hand in support.
All of Port Charles was rocked to the core by the news. Most of them had treated her like crap, and for her to be gone so suddenly, was just such a shock to them all. They were all beginning to realize she was just a mother, who was trying to raise her son, against a hell of a lot of opposition.
Even AJ was affected by the news of her death, and he knew that he couldn't take Michael, even if the boy was his son, away from the only person Michael had left. AJ dropped the custody suit and signed an affidavit that stated that he would never petition for custody and that even if he was the child's father. All custody was given Jason Morgan, the child's surviving parent. It turned out the hunk (It's the old AJ, the really cute one. Not Billy Warlock.) had a heart after all.
Sonny called Jason the minute he heard about AJ's decision.
"Yeah." Jason answered, his voice sounding exhausted.
"Jason, its Sonny. In light of Carly's . . . . Well, AJ's decided to drop the custody case. He's given you full custody."
Jason calmly replied, "Oh. We'll be back tomorrow." Then hung up.
That was Sonny's first sign that something was seriously wrong with his best friend. . . .
xXx
The next day
Jason walked into Sonny's penthouse with Michael, and immediately was assailed with memories of Carly. Both good and bad. Most vividly right then, was when she had talked him to let her stay with him, when she was pregnant with Michael. It was then she'd convinced him to say that they'd slept together, and convince people that he, not Tony or AJ was Michael's father . . . .
Flashback
Carly and Jason were in Jason's penthouse. They were standing near the couch. She had just spilled her guts and she and Jason had discussed his inability to lie convincingly.
"Look, if there's anything else I can do for you, I will. You need money, a lawyer, a place to stay –" Jason offered.
"Can I stay here?" Carly asked.
"What?"
"I mean, just for a little while. It looks like you've got plenty of room." Carly pleaded.
"Well, keep in mind, just last week somebody got shot for being in the same place I was." Jason warned.
"Yeah. I think I'd much rather get shot than be hound by AJ and Tony." Carly joked.
"Carly, don't. Don't say that." Jason ordered.
"I know. I'm just joking. But you're on the top floor! You've got a guard at the door. I think I feel safer here than anyplace else." She explained.
"Okay." He agreed.
"Thank you." Carly laughed, "You must think I'm totally crazy."
"You never get away with anything! But you always try. I have to admire that. Most people would give up, but you never do. "
"Well, maybe AJ and Tony are right about me. Maybe I'll make a horrible mother, but I'm pretty damn sure that I'm not gonna be the most horrible mother that ever lived! They wanna snatch my baby out of my arms the minute it's born, if not before. I can't let that happen." She insisted.
"I don't get it either. They already got to have sex with you. What more do they want?" Jason asked.
Carly laughed.
"A baby is a person, and you can't own a person." He paused, "Look, I got some calls to make. Wanna take a hot shower?"
Carly nodded her head
"Okay, there's plenty of bathrobes in the closets up there." Jason informed her.
Jason started to his desk.
Carly thought of something and walked after him, "Jason! Jason! Okay, if I say you're my baby's father and nobody asks you if it's true, would you have to deny it?"
"If nobody asks, I don't have to say anything. But somebody will." He reasoned.
"Yeah, maybe. But we could have a deal until then. You just let me do all the lying, I'm very good at it. And you don't deny. How does that sound?" Carly looking at Jason expectantly.
End of flashback
Jason snapped out of his trance and looked around, once more, Sonny obviously wasn't there, and the place was just too full of memories for him to stay. So he quickly exited back through the door, and went into the other Penthouse with Michael.
He got Michael settled in the playpen, with a couple toys. Then started the difficult task of packing up Carly's belongings, to put into storage until Michael perhaps one day wanted them.
Two hours later
Jason was unpacking a suitcase of Carly's things that he'd brought down with him and putting them in yet another cardboard box. They'd packed only they're most precious possessions, the rest they'd planned on buying down on the island.
From one of the pockets, Jason pulled out a very familiar long jewelry box. He stared at it for several moments, then opened it. He pulled out the diamond necklace, and once again was pulled into his memories, back to the night when he'd given them to her . . .
Flashback
Benny and Jason were talking, both clad in tuxes. Jason's hair was slicked back.
Jason spoke firmly to Benny, "Now, look, I'll be up on the platform. I'll either nod to you or send Johnny. Do not let them serve the strike notice until you hear from me."
Carly came down the stairs in a black, halter-style sleeveless gown, maybe taffeta, fitted at the top and loose and flowing below the waist. Her hair was down. Neither Jason nor Benny noticed her presence yet.
"You, you think that there's a chance that ELQ will settle?" Benny asked.
"No, no. I told Ned I'd speak to him tonight. I owe him that much." Jason told Benny .
Carly walked over to them. Jason spun to look at her. Benny politely walked out of range. She laughed and presented herself to Jason for inspection.
"You ready?" Jason asked
"Um, almost. Do you think I should wear my hair up?" Carly piled her hair atop her, "Or leave it down?" She let it fall to her shoulders again.
"Whatever you want." Jason replied absently.
Jason walked around her, picked up a notebook, and began leafing through it. She looked after him with a roll of her eyes, then at the mirror in front of her.
"Well, it's a formal occasion, I should probably wear it up. But then I would have to wear some sort of necklace and earrings. I don't really have anything that's appropriate." She looked over her shoulder at him.
"You have earrings . . ." Jason started.
"Yeah . . ." Carly thought for a moment, "Okay! Well, I can make something work, but it's gonna take me five more minutes."
"All right, well, I don't care if we don't get there until they're ready to sign." Jason let her know, walking by her again, looking at the notebook.
"I want us to walk in together and impress people. You know, like, we're as good as any of them." Carly confided in him.
Jason met her eyes, "We are, Carly."
Carly smiled, "Right. Okay. Five minutes. And that's it. I promise."
"Five minutes." Jason repeated.
Carly headed back upstairs, Jason watched her with a slight smile.
After she's gone, he motioned to Benny, "Benny. I need you to do something for me before we leave."
A little later
Jason was holding Michael by the dining room window "Right there, Michael. That's Pier 52. That's where Carly and I are going tonight. Supposed to be some kind of party, but really it's just an excuse for the Quartermaines and Jax to get dressed up and pretend to like people."
Carly came down the steps. Her hair was swept up with a few tendrils falling loosely. She was wearing a small pendant necklace and tiny earrings. She stopped on the stairway and cleared her throat. Jason turned to her and smiled.
"What do you think?" Carly asked.
Jason looked at her approvingly, "You look good."
Carly looked him over, "So do you. Don't you think, Michael? Doesn't Daddy look handsome?"
"I was just explaining to him about the party."
"Yeah, I heard." Carly admitted, "Um, we should get going though."
"We have to wait for Benny." Jason told her.
Carly was disappointed, "Benny's coming with us?"
Jason took Michael to the bassinet, "No. He had to take care of something for me."
"Oh." Carly came down the steps and stood next to Jason as he put the baby into the bassinet, "Well, I hope he hurries. I want to be fashionably late, but I don't want to be too late."
Jason looked at her.
She smiled, "You think I'm crazy, don't you?" She laughed.
Jason smiled back, "You care. A lot."
"Well, I just, you know. Jason, you've done so much for me. I want to make you proud tonight." Carly tried to explain.
"You don't have to do anything for me, Carly. At all." Jason assured her.
The door opened and Benny arrived.
Jason walked to meet him "You get them?"
Benny was holding a black velvet jewelry case as he talked to Jason, "I hope these are what you wanted."
Jason turned to Carly, who is facing the other way, "Ask Carly."
Carly turned to them, surprised and wary, "Ask me what?
Benny walked over to her and handed her the box.
She looked at it, then looked up questioningly, "This looks like a jewelry box . . ."
"Open it." Jason urged her.
With a curious look, Carly turned away and opened the box. Her face is stunned when she saw what was inside: a large diamond necklace and matching pendant earrings.
In wonder, she spoke softly, "Oh my God! Jason! Oh! They're beautiful!" She picked up the diamond necklace and earrings and held them in her hands, "Are they real?"
Benny and Jason laughed.
"No kidding, they're real!" Benny exclaimed.
"Benny, thanks." Jason told him.
"Sure." Benny patted him on the arm, "Meet you there."
Benny left.
Carly stared in disbelief at the necklace, "Oh, wow . . . Uh, I've never . . . I mean – "
Jason smiled, "Try it on."
Carly replied breathlessly, "Okay." She walked to the mirror, taking deep breaths. Jason stepped behind her and fastened it. She replaced the small earrings she was wearing with the new ones. Under her breath, "Wow . . . so incredible! Oh my God."
Jason looked at her in the reflection and asked quietly, "Well . . ."
Carly smiled widely at his reflection "Oh my goodness! What do you think?"
Jason smiled back.
"Like I said," Jason looked her over, "you look good."
He places a hand on each of her shoulders and gives her a reassuring pat. She brought her hands to her face, looking like she's close to happy tears.
Leticia came down the steps
Carly gathered herself, "Leticia, will you watch Michael? We're going to be late."
Leticia walked to bassinet, "Sure."
"Thanks."
Jason walked to bassinet, "Yeah, Michael, Leticia is going to feed you and put you to bed. We'll be back before you're ready to eat again."
Carly joined them at the bassinet "Good night, my little angel." she blew her son a kiss.
Jason turned to Carly, "Ready?"
Carly nodded. Jason grabbed her purse for her and handed it to her. They walk out of the penthouse and met Johnny at the doorway. In the hallway, Johnny and Jason walk ahead. Carly stopped and looks at herself in the mirror, touching the diamonds, still in disbelief. Then she looked after Jason, shook her head slightly, and, with a happy smile on her face, walked after them.
End of Flashback
Sonny went into Jason's penthouse and found him staring at a diamond necklace that he was holding reveredly in his hands. He wasn't positive, but he was pretty sure the necklace had belonged to Carly. Sonny could tell already that Carly's death had really affected Jason, his friend looked as though he hadn't slept for days, and Jason still hadn't noticed Sonny's entrance, and that just wasn't like Jason.
"Jason." He quietly said, announcing his presence.
Jason didn't answer, he was still totally lost in his memories.
Sonny tried again louder, "Jason."
Jason shook his head, and then turned to face Sonny, "Oh, hey Sonny."
Sonny hated to see his friend like this, "What are you doing Jase?"
"I was packing up Carly's things." Jason told him, the devastation in his eyes tore at Sonny's heart.
Sonny sat down next to Jason, "How are you man?"
"I'm fine. I was just thinking though, how do I explain this to Michael. How do I tell him that his mother is gone? How is he supposed to grow up not knowing her?" Jason asked in pain.
"He won't, because he'll have you. And he'll have the Spencers. You will tell him all about Carly, and how much she loved him." Sonny told him, setting aside his grudge against Carly for once. But he knew there were some important things he and Jason had to talk about, that he unfortunately had to get down to business, even with Jason in his state of morning, "Jason, the real reason I'm here is because of Moreno, word on the street is that even he most loyal employs will go against him if it means having us back. We're taking back control tonight, and I wanted to know, do you want come back? Or do you want to stay clean?"
Jason stared at Sonny for a minute, seriously considering his options, then gave him his answer, "I'm in."
Sonny smiled at him, "Welcome back."
They shook hands, cementing Jason's return to organized crime.
xXx
One week after the crash
Private Island in the Caribbean
Brody amazed Mrs. Lopez and remained vigil by the young woman's bedside for most of the time he wasn't doing what was necessary to keep his business up and running. From the moment he'd kneeled by her side on the beach, it was as if he'd been under a spell. Her waking up, and subsequent recovery consumed pretty much his every thought. It wasn't that he could be so caring that surprised the middle-aged woman, it was that he could be so focused on one woman, hell, that he'd even taken the time to actually focus on any specific woman.
Brody was a fairly young man, only 28 years old. His mother had been born in Italy, he'd got her features from her. He had wavy dark brown hair that came just short of his ears, and hazel eyes. He was 6' 3", well built, and he worked out, often.
He had his choice of practically any woman he wanted, but as of yet, he'd never even come close to having a serious relationship, not even in high school. Every time he would break it off, his father and sister would go nuts, but he would just shake his head, and when they would question why he didn't get married already, just kept saying, 'I haven't met the right woman'.
But this woman, this woman he hadn't ever even talked to, she captivated him, even though she'd been unconscious the entire time he'd known her, he was still drawn to her.
She was beautiful, from what he could tell while she slept, through the scratches. She had milky white skin, full lips, lovely shapely legs, she sure as hell didn't weigh too much from what he gathered carrying her in from the beach, an amazing curvaceous figure, gorgeous blond hair that was like honey and felt like silk.
He would sit by her side, long into the night, talking to her, hoping against hope that she would wake up. That she would wake up, and say something, anything, wake up so he could learn who she was, what had happened to her, how the hell she came to be washed up on his beach. If there was any way in the world he could help her when she finally did awaken, and she would, he vowed he would do it.
Two weeks later
Brody paced outside the woman's door. The doctor had returned to check his patient again, who was still in a coma.
The doctor came out, "Well, she's better, physically, but she is regrettably still in her coma." The kind man could see Brody was disheartened by the news. He laid his hand on the young man's shoulder and smiled encouragingly at him, "Keep talking to her, hopefully, she'll come out of it soon."
Brody nodded his head, then had Mrs. Lopez show the doctor out.
Later that night
Brody was on the balcony looking out into a tropical garden, which sat on the other side of the French doors in the woman's room, staring up at the stars, when he heard a moan coming from the bed. He spun around and rushed to the woman's bedside.
"Ohhhhh." The woman moaned again, moving slightly in the bed. She then opened her eyes, "Where am I?" She demanded, she looked around; "Who are you?"
"I'm Brody, you're at my home. You washed up my island on the beach three weeks ago. Who are you?" Brody answered, then questioned sensibly, and desperate to find out the mystery woman's name.
"I'm. . ." she frowned, struggling to think, "I'm . . . I don't know . . ." she murmured, her eyes widening with alarm, "I don't know who I am. Oh my god! I don't remember my name . . . . Or anything else." The woman cried out, total fear set in and she began struggling for breath as total panic set in.
"Um, just, calm down, I'll get the doctor. Stay here." Brody called out, rushing out of the room, "Mrs. Lopez! MRS. LOPEZ!!!"
One hour later
The doctor had rushed right out to the island upon hearing the girl was awake, and that she was unable to remember anything.
After what seemed like ages to Brody, the elderly man exited the guest bedroom for the second time that day "Well, she has amnesia. I doubt that she will ever recover her memory because of how long she was in the coma and due to the brain damage she suffered. And you tell me that you have absolutely no idea who she is or where she came from?"
Brody shook his head negatively, "I was hoping she could tell me who she was, and what had happened to her."
"Well, I don't think that there is anything that you can do to help her then, since you have no idea how long she'd been in the ocean before she washed up on your shore, or how long she was even on your beach." He looked at his watch, "I'm afraid I must go, my other patients at the hospital will be expecting me."
Brody nodded his head, and then the doctor left, showing himself out.
Brody cautiously walked into the room. He softly closed the door behind him, and he turned to look at the woman, who'd unknowingly been staying with him for the past few weeks. He noticed with sadness that she'd defensively wrapped her arms around her legs pulled up them to her chest, and had her head bowed down.
Before he could say anything though, she some how sensed he was there, "Why do you think I can't remember?"
Brody was shocked that she'd known he'd come in, even though she was facing the other direction, managed to answer, "The doctor said that it's a result of the coma and the brain damage. You were out of it for three weeks."
"Yeah, he told me that . . ." She swallowed a lump forming in her throat, and sniffed, "I don't even know my name."
"Well think of it this way, at least you won't have one thrust upon you." Brody joked, coming farther into the room.
"I guess." The young woman giggled, rubbing her eyes with the heal of her hand, to get rid of any signs of tears. Finally, she pulled up her head, and looked up at him, with her soulful brown eyes, "Can you help me choose one?"
Brody was lost, drowning in the chocolaty depths, "I-I (cough) Um, well, I guess I could . . . . But man you've really put me on the spot here . . . Oh, there is a family name I've always liked, Neve."
The blond woman mauled it over, biting her lip "Neve huh? . . . I like it. I don't suppose many people have it."
"Well it's Italian, like my mother and her family were. So, if you like it, then, Neve, it is." Brody sat on the bed next to her.
"What about a last name?" Neve asked.
"Right, you have to have a last name . . . hmm, what about Thomas?" Brody suggested, the name honestly was the first name of one of his business associates that he'd talked to that morning, so it was in his head. But the name sounded . . . alright with Neve, and it wasn't as if the man would ever find out.
"Neve Thomas . . . I like it!" Neve stated cheerfully.
"So do I! It's perfect." Brody pronounced, in his head he was frantically working out all the things he would have to do, and some favors he'd have to call in, to get her some valid ID's, and recognized as an actual existing person.
"Why are you being so nice?" Neve demanded abruptly, "I mean, why are you letting me stay on your island. You could have just sent me to a hospital on the main land."
Brody looked at her surprised, realizing that she was right. He actually had no idea why he'd insisted that she stay there, "I don't know. I guess I could have, but I never even thought about it."
"The thought never even crossed your mind?" Neve asked him, absolutely astonished.
"No." Brody revealed, shaking his head. Then realizing how odd his actions had actually been, and that they might frighten her, he changed the subject, "So, how are you feeling?"
"A little tired." She admitted, "But mostly I'm confused. I hate this not knowing who I am, where I'm from. If I have family, what I like, what I don't like."
Brody knew there was no way he could possibly know what she was going through, she'd basically just lost everything, but didn't even known what she lost. So he just said in his most compassionate way, "It must be difficult."
"It is . . . . The worst part is, what am I going to do? I mean, I don't have any money, I don't have a place to live . . ."
"Why don't you just stay here?" Brody suddenly interjected, seeing an opening.
It was his chance, while yes, it was horrible for him to capitalize on her misfortune, it was his opportunity to get to know her, let her get to know him. And he hadn't turn their multimillion-dollar family business into a multibillion by not jumping the opportunities that came his way.
"I don't want to impose . . ."
"You won't be. You must stay with me." He insisted, turning on his charm.
It only took a few short seconds of this irritable factor for her to cave, "Alright. I'll stay."
Seven months later
Neve and Brody were taking a romantic walk on the beach, hand in hand, watching the sunset. It was how they spent many an evening together. They both just loved the beach, the way the waves crashed upon the sand, the sound the surf, the constant changing color of the waters and sky.
Both enjoyed walking together in a comfortable silence, at peace with each other, neither knowing any reason to break the perfect tranquility of the night.
That was why Neve was so surprised when that evening, Brody pulled them to a stop abruptly, and broke the silence, "Neve, I have something to ask you."
Neve turned to him and looked at him, pushing a strand of her sun bleached light-blond hair out of her eyes, "What is it Brody?"
Brody got down on one knee, "I have never felt this way about anyone before. From the moment I first saw you on the beach, I felt a connection to you. And when you woke up, I was blown away by you. Your beauty is equal only to that of the heavens and the brightest stars. You've captured my heart, in a way I never dreamed was possible. Neve Thomas, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" Brody pulled out a platinum ring, it was a 2-carat Padaradscha (pinkish-orange) star sapphire surrounded by flawless ½-carat marquise diamonds 'D' grade on the color scale (which means colorless, the highest grade of diamond there is.)
Neve looked at Brody, her eyes filling with tears, she nodded her head, "Yes Brody, I'll marry you. I love you, so much."
Brody slipped the ring on her finger and stood up. He swept her into an amazing kiss that left Neve dazed. Brody pulled away with a twinkle in his eyes. He back away, holding up one finger to signal that he'd be back in one moment. Running quickly, he went over into the trees and flipped a switch. The palm trees lit up in white Christmas lights and some familiar opening beats then strains of music, began floating out from someplace Neve couldn't quite detect.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Maybe it's intuition
But some things you just don't question
Like in your eyes, I see my future in an instant
And there it goes
I know that it might sound
More than a little crazy
But I believe . . .
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Brody strolled back over, hands in his pockets, and a smoldering look in his eyes, Neve felt her heart quicken in her breast, and her breath was growing short. There was just something about him that always managed to do that do her. When he finally stopped, Neve could feel heat of his body, yet he wasn't even touching her. Her blood rushed beneath her skin as he towered over her, his hands ghosting over her face, down her arms, before finally he lifted up his hand, whispering huskily to her, "May I have this dance?"
"Yes you may." Neve replied in a hushed voice, placing her hand in his, staring up into his eyes.
Brody pulled her close to him, then wrapped his arms around her waist. Neve wrapped her arms around his neck and they started to sway to the music. His arms engulfed her small frame, and warmed her entire body and soul in the quickly cooling night.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The sunset beyond the horizon and the stars came out, twinkling with all their might in the dark sky.
The moonlight poured down on the joyful couple dancing on the beach, as if giving its own form of blessing on their impending nuptials.
The two had never imagined when they'd first spoken, that in a mere six months, they would have ended up blissfully happy together, engaged to be married.
But Neve had been scared, and so very alone with no one in the world that she knew of, and Brody had just been absolutely fascinated by the creature that had washed up on his beach, but he never dreamed that things would have turned out the way they did. The stars seemed to have aligned perfectly that day, so that their two lonely souls would find each other in their times of need.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
There's just no rhyme or reason
Only the sense of completion
And in your eyes, I see
the missing pieces I'm searching for
I know that it might sound
more than a little crazy
but I believe...
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Brody and Neve both loved this song. It had been their song from the moment they first heard it together on the radio.
Brody knew in an instant that it summed up his feelings for her perfectly, and while Neve couldn't exactly say she knew she loved him before she met him, she did know, that when staring into his gorgeous hazel eyes, that the constant ache of loss she felt, about her missing past disappeared, and she felt knew she could move on with her life, with Brody by her side.
Neve gazed up into Brody's eyes, the moon glimmering in her own, and their lips grew closer until they met in a tender loving kiss.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life A thousand angels dance around you
I am complete now that I've found you
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Even after the last cords of the music died away, the couple danced on the beach to the music made from the moon, the stars, the heavens, and winds that only children and lovers could hear, because they took the time to hear it.
xXx
Five months later
Port Charles, Quartermaine Mansion
Ned was reading the paper in the living room of the Quartermaine mansion, his wife Chloe by his side, looking over some design sketches.
AJ was arguing with Alan, Emily was in a corner with Nikolas, Monica was looking over some papers, Edward was grumbling about . . . something, and Lila was talking quietly to Reginald.
Their chatter was interrupted when Ned discovered something in the paper he found of interest, "Everyone listen to this article, 'The highly sought after handsome, young multibillionaire, Brody Everett, was finally wed last Saturday to the mysterious Neve Thomas on his Caribbean island in a small, elegant, private ceremony.'"
"And why exactly did you notify us of that?" AJ demanded wearily, his cousin always managed to rub him the wrong way. Ned just had to talk all the time, and it annoyed AJ . . . . It also really didn't help that Ned really was better at running ELQ than AJ ever could be either . . . what AJ really needed to do, was find something that was right for him.
Ned looked at him exasperated, "Because Junior, Brody Everett is a major ELQ stock holder, I'm voting his proxy in fact until he returns to Port Charles, if he does at that. Not to mention, mere the fact that he owns the mansion next door, which is even bigger than this place, is something that might have caught your attention."
"We must send them a wedding gift." Lila proclaimed, polite as ever, and as always ignoring her family's peaty squabbling, "Emily, would you be a dear and find something appropriate?"
"Of course I will Grandmother. In fact, Nikolas and I will go out right now and find a gift." Emily promised, getting up and following Nikolas to the door.
"Thank you dear. Goodbye Nikolas, it was lovely seeing you." Lila called out.
"It was nice seeing you too Mrs. Quartermaine." Nikolas told her politely, pausing by the door to do so, then was yanked out of the room by Emily.
Emily came back into the room moments later looking sheepish, "Um, where do I have it sent?"
Reginald calmly gave her a piece of paper with the address on it, which he'd began looking for as soon as Ned spoke of the wedding. He knew the way Lila Quartermaine operated.
"Thanks. Bye." Then she was out the door with Nikolas close behind.
Once they got out the doors of the mansion, Nikolas pulled Emily in for a passionate kiss. Their hands were going all over the place and tongues darted in and out of each other's mouths as they took advantage of the rare moment alone. When they finally pulled apart, their clothing was very much out of place. They straightened their clothes, then got into Emily's new cobalt-blue mustang convertible and speed straight to the mall.
One hour later
"What about this?" Nikolas suggested, holding up a crystal vase, beginning to grow tired of their tedious search. Emily simply didn't like anything he suggested.
Emily looked at him and rolled her eyes, "That's a joke right? Nikolas, we want something, different, out of the ordinary, something hip. Something that they won't already have gotten six of."
Emily searched the stores until she found what she was looking for, "Now that's what we're getting them." Emily proclaimed.
Nikolas looked at Emily then back at what she was pointing to, "You're going to get them that?"
"Oh yeah. Come on, how many other people do you think sent them a stereo system?" Emily asked, completely serious.
"None." Nikolas answered, thinking in his head that none had because it was completely ridiculous for a wedding gift.
"Exactly." Emily enlightened him. She waved over the sales person. Before the salesman got there she told him wistfully, "I wish I had one like that, but Mom and Dad would never go for it."
"Can I help you?" The guy asked.
"Yes. We'll take this state of the art stereo system, and we'd like it sent to . . ." Emily proceeded to give him the address. "And put on the card,
'To Brody and Neve,
Congratulations to you both. We hope that you have a wonderful life together.
From
The Quartermaines ."
The sales man nodded writing everything down. He smiled the whole time, it wasn't everyday someone bought a state of the art, top of the line, extremely expensive stereo system.
Once everything had been taken care of, Emily left.
Nikolas hung around for a minute and spoke to the salesman, "Hey, send another one to the Quartermaine mansion, write on the card, To Emily, From. . ." Nikolas looked around cautiously, making sure no one else was in hearing distance "Nikky." Nikky was Emily's pet name for him, he let her get away with it, as long as she never called him it in public.
Nikolas ran to catch up with Emily who was in another store already looking at dresses.
xXx
Two months later
The Everett Island
Neve and Brody had returned from their honeymoon to a mountain of wedding gifts from people who had heard about the private wedding ceremony, and had wanted to send something to show their happiness for the couple, or because some were business associates of Brody's and it was bad business not to send a gift.
The knew it was best not to procrastinate on such a task, especially since business was involved, got right to work on the large pile, writing down the names of who sent them something and what. So far they'd gotten 10 crystal vases, a da Vinci, three DVD players, two DVD cameras, five digital cameras, six picture frames, and a trip to a spa somewhere in Montana redeemable at anytime.
Neve managed to make her way to the giant box first, "Hey, Brody get over here. Help me open this."
"I'll be right there sweetheart, I just need to find you." Brody laughed. He somehow traversed through the boxes and packing kernels. "I made it!" he announced triumphantly, he gave her a kiss in celebration.
They got a bit caught up in the kiss, and weren't able to pull away for a few minutes. They gazed into each other's eyes, grinning madly, then kissed briefly once more before turning to the carton.
Together they opened the huge box. Neve snatched the card off the top of the mountain of kernels opens it and read it out loud, " 'To Brody and Neve,
Congratulations to you both. We hope that you have a wonderful life together. From The Quartermaines."' Short but sweet. Write down their names, and next we see what they got us."
Brody wrote down QUARTERMAINES, and then looked at Neve who looked back at him, an idea forming in his mind. Brody got a very mischievous look in his eyes.
"Mrs. Lopez would kill us." Neve insisted shaking her head, trying to fend off her new husband's devious influence.
"So, it'd be worth it." Brody pointed out to her, his most charming grin on his face.
Neve looked at the box, then to Brody, back at the box, then to Brody again and her resolve just melted away, "Ohhh . . . what the hell, you only live once."
Both dug into the box and began throwing the packing kernels all over the place. Somehow, a handful of peanuts got thrown into the face of one of the newlyweds. For a moment, there was a look of surprise, and then they started throwing the kernels at each other as war broke out between the two. By the time they reached the present they were laughing so hard, tears were running down their faces.
Neve finally really looked in the box and stopped laughing. "Cool! This is a gift I like."
"What did they get us?" Brody asked as he brushed some staticy kernels off of he and his wife, then looked in the box, "Whoa, that the latest thing on the market. Not to mention, it's actually a pretty nice gift. Coolness."
"Buffy addict . . ." Neve mumbled rolling her eyes, then went on, "Something tells me that they let one of the young Quartermaines choose it."
"You got that right." Brody nodded, agreeing with her, "It was probably their daughter, um Emily I think her name is, and she'd be around 17 or 18 by now."
But, their ability to ruminate on the origins of the gift were cut short, for they heard a noise coming from a nearby room.
"I bet that's Mrs. Lopez." Brody alerted Neve, fear building inside him.
"You know what, all of a sudden I'm feeling really tired. What about you sweets?" Neve hurriedly questioned stretching, looking him with frantic eyes.
"Now that you mention it, yes I am."
Together they both dove through the boxes, ran up the winding staircase and hid in their bedroom. They could hear Mrs. Lopez angry Spanish words from behind the doors. They quickly locked it and then burst out laughing.
"I- I-I never though Mrs. Lopez knew any words like that!" Neve told Brody when she calmed down enough to speak, "I mean, we're not little devils, and we're not destined for hell!" Neve translated Mrs. Lopez's screams, "At least I don't think so."
Brody studied his new wife intensely before saying softly, "You know Spanish?"
Neve looked at him, shock written in her eyes, "I guess I do."
"We learn something all the time about you." Brody quickly declared, putting a positive spin on the revelation.
Neve looked at her hands, her eyes were filling up with tears and she didn't want him to see, she hated to cry, and she knew that Brody hated to see her upset, "Yeah, except for who I am . . ."
"Love, that's not true, we know exactly who you are." Brody took her into his arms, picked her up and carried her to bed holding her close, "You are my wife, my lover, and my best friend. I don't care who you were before, because you're mine now, and that's all that matters."
Neve wiped away her tears, staring at her new husband in astonishment. She laughed shakily through her tears which were rapidly disappearing "You know what, you're right. It doesn't who I was. And it really doesn't matter if I ever remember, because I'm happy just being Mrs. Neve Everett." She informed him, the love that she felt for him radiating from every part of her being.
Brody gazed at her, his eyes filled with wonder and love, "I don't know how you do it, but I find more and more to love about you every day. I can't believe how lucky I have to have you."
Neve shook her head, "No, I'm the lucky one. Lucky you found me, lucky you fell in love with me, lucky to have someone like you, to complete me."
They stared at each other, basking in just the sheer bliss of being able to look at the one they loved, take in their new spouse in their own bed for the first time with all their senses.
Brody leaned down, and nuzzled Neve, breathing in the enticing scent of her hair, body wash, and something that he could only describe as his delectable wife.
There was something about her scent that comforted, intrigued, and turned him on all at the same time. Her hair smell like jasmine and honeysuckle, her body of jasmine and orchids, she always smelled so exotic. Whether it was because of all the time she spent in the garden reading, or it was just something that happened naturally, he knew it wasn't just the body washes or perfumes. But he did know he drove him absolutely mad. It made him want to be near her, touching her all the time. Plus her skin was just so soft, so smooth. He was like an addict, after he'd gotten just one touch, just the fleeting glance of his hand along her back, he'd been lost. Once they'd finally made love the first time, soon after becoming engaged, Brody knew there would never be anyone else for him, ever. He had never imagined making love could be the way it was with his Neve.
For Neve, it was a multitude of other things. It was his touch on her skin, which never failed to send her pulse racing. Just the merest hint of his nearing her body, made her breath catch in chest. It was the feel of his hands against her body, so big, so strong, yet so tender the way they would run down her arms legs, along her back. His fingers trailing, some times leading the way. There was so much power in his hands, but he never once used them to hurt her. Then there was the taste of him, Neve was just loved the taste of his kisses. When she kissed him, it was like vanilla and caramel, and she just couldn't get enough of it. But what she loved to kiss even more, was his skin, he had this unique flavor of sweet and spicy, it was like an obsession for her to figure exactly what the flavors were. Every time they were alone together, she delighted in kissing every part of his body, driving him insane before making love to him.
On top of all of this, they now had this most intriguing new aspect to their relationship. Their bond of man and wife. It seemed to bring their love making to an entirely new level that they never believed could exist. To know they had pledged their lives to each other, and only one another, just made the sex so much hotter, more passionate, it made them feel more connected.
Brody kissed his way down Neve's arm, to her fingers, stopping and smiling when he reached the new diamond set platinum ring that now accompanied her engagement ring, the symbol of undying love because a circle is endless. He wore a larger matching ring on his own left ring finger at that moment as well. The rings glinted in the afternoon light, and Brody felt as if his heart would burst.
Neve saw where Brody's gaze was focused, and sensed what her lover was feeling at that very moment. She lifted her right hand up and brushed a strand of hair off his forehead. She then brought his left hand up to her lips, and kissed it, as she stared into his eyes. Pulling his hand away she mouthed the words, I love you.
The young man's heart raced, every time she said those words, his heartbeat faster. Lowering himself down her body, to her abdomen, Brody pushed up bottom of her tank, and laid a kiss on her stomach, he pushed the tank a little higher, and gave her another kiss. With each raising of the tank, he placed a kiss on her abdomen, chest, shoulders, then finally her lips when she raised her arms and he pulled the tank completely off her body. He was straddling her toned tummy, leering down at her, smirking at the sight of one of his favorite bras, a light-blue see through with little blue flowers embroidered all over it. She smirked right back up at him, and ground her hips up into him, causing his eyebrows to jump, and his breath to quicken. Brody rubbed back against her, and leaned down and kissed along her collar bone, until he reached the spot where her jaw met her neck, and began to really concentrate his efforts there, knowing it was a very sensitive spot for her. Neve began writhing beneath him, her hands fumbled for the buttons of his white short-sleeve top. Finally she managed to find them in her hazy state of mind, but she was completely unable to think clearly enough to actually unbutton the shirt, so she simply ripped it open, buttons flying every which way.
Brody paused in his nibbling and sucking for a moment, long enough to give an impressed look to his wife, and shake the shirt from his arms, but then he went right back to his favorite task of nipping and licking and running his hands all over his wife's body. Neve meanwhile could now get access to every part of her new husband's upper body, and was very happy about this. She was about to run her fingers over his sweating pecks, bulging biceps, beautiful back while she nibbled on his earlobe.
Her hands drifted down his body, to the button of his chinos and quickly took care of that, and unzipped them, relieving him of the growing pressure. She pushed the pants down as much as she could with her hands, then let pushed them down and off the rest of the way with her feet. Brody was all for this idea, so he reached down and unbuttoned her tiny white shorts, hooking his thumbs into the waist band and pulled them down as she lifted up her hips to allow him to do so. He was delighted to see she was wearing the bra's matching thong panties. Neve pulled Brody down into a searing kiss, wrapping her legs around his and pulling him down onto her, she ground her body up and down, back and forth, wanting to feel every inch of him pressed against her.
Brody reached behind their writhing bodies and unhooked Neve's bra, a few moments later the bra he loved so much was haphazardly flying across the room, as was the matching thong a couple minutes later, and his boxers.
Gasps, moans, and groans were the only sounds coming from the room, except for the rhythmic pounding of the canopy against the wall.
As mad as Mrs. Lopez was, she kept far away from that wing of the mansion that day.
Two years later
April 24, 2001
The Everett mansion on the island, Neve and Brody's bedroom
Neve laid back on to the pillows of she and Brody's Tiki style canopy bed, panting. She was pretty sure she'd never felt anything so painful in her life. It was as if her insides were being pulled out. Sweat was rolling down her arched back and her long bangs had some time ago grown saturated.
"Ok, just one more push and it'll be over." The doctor promised her.
Brody held onto Neve's hand and wiped her forehead with a cool towel, "You can do it baby, it's almost over."
"Ok, PUSH" The doctor ordered.
Neve pushed with all the strength she had in here, "Oh GOD!!!!!! It hurts!!!" She screamed, while Brody winced from the pain in his eardrums and hand, not that he'd ever say anything about it, he wasn't that stupid.
"IT'S A BOY!" The doctor called out, holding up the newborn child.
Neve collapsed on the pillows trying to catch her breath and smiling, all the pain of the past several hours, and most especially of the past several minutes forgotten.
"Would you like to cut the cord, Daddy?" The doctor asked, grinning widely. He'd become very invested in this family he'd seen come into being from the beginning.
Brody did so in awe. The nurse the doctor had brought from the hospital cleaned up the baby, and did all the other necessary things, then handed the infant to Neve.
"Welcome to the outside world Graham Tyler Everett." Neve whispered to her newborn son.
Brody sat down next to his wife and put his arm around her. He kissed her on the forehead, then looked down at their new baby.
xXx
Two-day's later
Quartermaine's living room
All the Quartermaines were assembled as they always did in the morning, doing something. Including Emily and Nikolas, who had just got back from their three-month honeymoon. They were firmly enwrapped in each other's presence and didn't even notice anything that was going on in the living room. Chloe and Lila were playing with Chloe and Ned's nine-month-old, Zachary, who was basking in the attention.
Ned was reading the newspaper, as he did every morning, when once again, an article caught his attention, "Everyone listen up. 'Brody and Neve Everett welcomed a new addition into their family on April 24th; their first-born, a boy, weighing 7 lbs., 9 oz. They've named him Graham Tyler Everett.' I guess it's time to send them another gift."
xXx
Meanwhile
Lucky and Liz Spencer's
Lucky Spencer awoke to the sound of his newborn son, only eight-weeks-old, crying his little eyes out. Lucky had been out late working at his dad's club, earning money for his family.
Figuring that his wife would get their son, and let him sleep, Lucky pulled the covers over his head, trying to block out the sound of the piercing shrieks. However, several moments later, Lucky realized nothing was happening, that Liz wasn't getting up. He reached over, to shake his wife awake, only to hit an empty, cold spot on the bed. The young man pushed him self up on one arm, confused as to what was going on. He struggled to keep his eyes open, as he took in the sight of Liz's empty side of the bed.
That's when he saw the note on her pillow. Pushing himself up in bed, the sounds of his son's crying now having become muffled as everything in his being focused on that note.
He and Liz had been fighting lately. Mostly about how she felt he was abandoning her all day with a baby. That he just expected her to do everything to take care of Lance, and she couldn't do it all by herself, she had a life too. There had been many fights even before Lance had arrived . . . .
Lucky shakily picked up the note, Liz's family handwriting graced the page.
Dear Lucky,
I can't do this anymore. I'm just not meant to be a mother. I can't
be what it is you want, need me to be. I'm sorry, but I have to leave.
Leave you and Lance. As much as I love you both, it's time for me
to move on. I've loved you ever since I was a teenager, and you always
believed in me so much….Too much this time. It was just too much
pressure. I couldn't do it all. I couldn't be a wife, mother, lover, best
friend, and artist. I tried to tell you, time and again that I needed time
for myself. Time for my art, time for me…
Anyway, by the time you've read this, I'll have gotten on a bus and
be on my way out of Port Charles. I am on my way to pursue my dream
of becoming an artist. I've had divorce papers drawn up, all you have to
do is sign them. I've done a lot of thinking about this as well and . . . I've
given up my parental rights, so you have full custody.
There's a note in the nightstand for Lance, for when he's older. You
can decide where or not to give it to him or not. It just explains why I
left, my feelings. How I felt I wasn't ready for the responsibility of being
a mother.
I'm sorry Lucky. I will always love you. Thank you, for everything you
did for me.
Love always,
Elizabeth Webber Spencer
Lucky was in shock. Liz had left him . . . Liz had left him and their son! They were all alone! The world slowly came back into focus, and the cries of his son became noticeable once more. They were much more urgent and desperate this time though.
"Fuck!" Lucky growled, and jumped out of bed in his boxers and muscle shirt, and ran to the nursery.
In the dim morning light, he stubbed his toe on the rocker, but didn't let that stop him, he quickly made his way to his sobbing son's crib. Upon reaching the infant, he immediately picked the boy up and began rocking him, trying to calm him. Lance calmed down a bit, but not much. He'd been ignored too long to be pacified so easily. Plus, he was hungry, which Lucky soon realized the moment his son started trying to nurse on his peck.
Looking down at his tiny child, who was futilely trying to get milk out of him, Lucky sighed, "Well Lance, it looks like it's just you and me . . . . Ow! Hey! Hey, that hurts! Wow, no wonder your mom complained. Detach!"
After successfully pulling his son away, Lucky trudged down into the kitchen, and tiredly made up a bottle with one of the few containers of breast-milk Liz had left behind. He carefully heated it up, and tested it on his arm, while Lance cooed and blew spit bubbles.
As he watched his son contentedly feed, Lance's tiny little fists opening and closing, his eyes slowly blinking shut, Lucky leaned back in his chair, "We're going to be ok . . . right buddy? We're going to be alright on our own . . . ."
xXx
Three years later
The Q Mansion
Everyone's a little older, and pretty much doing the same thing they were three years before. The only difference was that Emily held a one-year-old boy while Chloe held a infant girl in her arms. They were cooing over each other's children, Brooke Lynn now stood next to them, alternating between both babies tickling them, trying to get laughter.
Ned was seated on the couch, he and Chloe's son, Zach sat next to him, imitating his father, pretending to read a newspaper, though he just had the comics.
Ned stood straight up, "Oh my God." His face a jumble of shock and sadness.
"What's wrong Ned?" Chloe questioned, looking up from the babies, concerned about her husband,
"There's another article in the paper about Brody Everett." Ned told them despondently, trying to comprehend what he'd just read.
AJ looked at him, bored, "What this time? He's getting a divorce?"
"AJ shut up." Ned demanded sternly, then he read the article about his friend out loud, the lump in his throat causing him some trouble as he did so, "'Multibillionaire businessman Brody Everett was killed in a car accident last week on the mainland. He leaves behind his three-year-old son Graham, and his eight-months pregnant wife, Neve.'"
Then entire room goes silent, as they realized the seriousness of the article.
Ned was the first to speak, his voice mournful "We went to school together. . .We used to play tennis together. . .We were just, great friends. Then he moved away . . . I can't believe he's gone. I kept meaning to go and visit him, meet his wife and son, like he kept asking me to, but the trip always got waylaid by business, his or mine." Ned sat down on the couch, suddenly feeling exhausted. Chloe passed Willow over to Brooke Lynn and rushed over to console her husband.
xXx
The Everett's private island
Mrs. Lopez did her best to comfort Neve, but the woman couldn't be comforted, by anyone. Neve just couldn't stop crying, and for once, it wasn't just hormones because of the pregnancy. Everywhere she turned she saw Brody, or something that reminded her of some special moment they shared. The entire island was full of everything that was Brody. She was in a deep state of depression and grief, with frequent fits of crying. She went on like that for a week. She only managed to stop when little Graham gathered up the courage to approach his mother, who in the past several days had changed so drastically, it scared him. Everyone had kept him away from her, fearing that she would scare him worse, and that he would make her grief even worse. But somehow, he managed to slip past the ones who were trying to 'do what was best', and get to his momma.
When he saw her, he was a little shocked, she hadn't gotten dressed since the funeral. And her face was red with sobbing. But his perception was skewed with a son's perception, so she was just as beautiful as ever to him.
Hesitantly, he fearfully tugged on the leg of her sweats, "Momma, momma pwease don't cwy, make me sad when you cwy." His little teary voice told her.
She looked down at him, hastily wiping away her tears with the back of her hand, not wanting her son to see her such a mess, "Oh, Graham, I'm sorry . . ."
Cocking his head, he looking up at her, his brown eyes full of confusion, "Momma, when's Daddy coming home? He would make evwy ting all better. He always make evwy ting all better."
Neve knew right then and there she had to stop her tears, if not for her, for her son's sake, and that she had to immediately explain things to her son. Though she was shocked no one had done so already. Carefully, she lowered herself to the fainting couch in her master-suite so she could sit at his level, "Baby, Graham sweetie. You know daddy loved you right?"
"Yeah, Daddy wuves me, to da moon, to da stars and beyond."
Neve laughed through her tears at the reminder of the two's little game, "Right, well, the thing is, as much (sniff) as much as your daddy loved you, as much as he loved me, I'm afraid . . . Oh god, I'm sorry baby, but Daddy isn't going to come home, ever again."
Graham's eyes filled up with tears of his own now, "But why?" he whined, "If, if he wuves us, why doesn't he come home? Why isn't he coming back?"
"Because sweetie . . . when Daddy was on the mainland, he got into a really, really bad accident. He got hurt real bad, and went to sleep. And . . . he can't wake up. This kind of sleep is forever. He died."
"He died?" Graham repeated, frowned.
"Yeah."
"What dat?"
Neve cursed silently, they'd never really prepared Graham for something like this, he was just too young, too naive to comprehend what 'death' was, hell she wasn't sure she understood what is was . . ., "Oh, well, when something, or someone dies . . . I guess it all depends on what you believe in. A lot of people believe in God, which means they go up to heaven when they die if they were a good person. They sit on clouds, and watch over the people they love, and when the people they love die, they meet them when they come up to heaven."
"Was Daddy a good person?"
"Oh Gods yes. He was one of the best people I've ever met. He was kind, caring, giving, and he loved his family more than anything in the world. If anyone deserved to get into heaven, he did."
Graham frowned, and pondered this deeply for several moments, as only three-year-olds' can do. "Soooo, Daddy's just in heaven, wight? And den that means he'll always watch us, right?"
Neve sighed, nodded, and gave Graham as big a hug as she good with her enormously pregnant belly, "Right Graham. He'll always be up there, watching us and protecting us. "
Two months later
Neve just couldn't stay on the island anymore. The only reason she'd stayed so long was because she was waiting until the baby was born. Though it had been her home as long as far as her memories went . . . all the memories were of Brody, and it was just simply too painful to stay there any longer.
After some deliberation, and a few chats with her father-in-law, she decided to move to Port Charles. Brody had left her everything, and she decided to take an active role in her new business. Especially this ELQ, it sounded intriguing, and since the board meetings were all in PC, it was only practical to go where the business was. So she packed up all their most sentimental items, kids favorites items, and the things they just simply couldn't live without, including Mrs. Lopez, and left her former Caribbean Paradise, which had become her Caribbean Prison. .
Three-day's later
Neve came into the recently furnished mansion holding her daughter Elise Faith Everett and stopped in the middle of the foyer spinning around, taking in the ambiance of her new home. Mrs. Lopez came right behind with Graham sleeping flopped out on her shoulder.
Fog had delayed the plane so it had landed much later than they'd planed, so Neve hustled everyone to bed promptly and had gone right to bed herself, immediately falling asleep.
She was going over to meet the Quartermaines the next afternoon with the children, wanting to meet their first neighbors, and her new business partners.
The next day
The Quartermaine Mansion
The Quartermaines, Jacks, Sonny Corinthos, and Jason Morgan were in the middle of an ELQ board meeting when Reginald knocked on the doors.
"What is it Reginald, can't you see we are busy?!" Edward demanded.
"Neve Everett is here with her two children." Reginald replied, not at all flustered by the old man's blustering.
Everyone looked up surprised. Of course everyone there knew the Everett name, but no one had ever seen Brody Everett's wife. They were all intrigued, and immediately turned to face the door. A woman in tailored black pants, a white satin shirt, and long wavy light-blond hair that went past her shoulder blades in layers came in. She was wearing sunglasses and long bangs were hiding her face. On one arm was a baby carrier, in her other hand was the small hand of a little blond boy, who was looking at the room with wide fascinated eyes.
Neve looked around, one eyebrow raised above her Gucci sunglasses "I'm sorry, I interrupted a meeting."
Everyone in the meeting knew that the voice sounded familiar, but they couldn't quite place it . . . .
Neve let go of Graham's hand and took off her sunglasses. She used her hand to push the hair out of her face, "Hello, I'm Neve Everett. It's a pleasure to meet you."
The room stared at her in shock. They were looking at the face of a woman who was supposed to be dead.
Emily, Chloe, and Monica fainted in shock. Reginald discretely backed out of the room to call his wife.
Jason stood there, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. This wasn't possible, this just wasn't possible. He blinked, then blinked once more. No, that was her, she was really standing there. He swallowed the lump in his throat, "Carly?"
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I give credit where credit is due. The song is 'I Knew I Loved You' by Savage Garden.
Please reply! Questions, comments, requests, or just tell me what ya think! Please give me some feedback.
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