Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. The powers that be at General Hospital do. They just don't use them very well. There are some original characters in here as well.

Feedback: Is greatly appreciated. If you like it tell me why, if you don't, please tell me what you don't like. It's how I learn.

Author's notes: A lot of the characters on GH will be in this fic, if you don't see them right away give me time. I like fic's with a lot of characters in them, so that is how I write them.

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What If…

Chapter 14

~Docks~

"So let me get this straight, Jason had no clue what you had done, until he woke up the next morning?" Emily asked when she could breathe again; Rory was keeping her in stitches.

"Nope."

"Oh my god, I would have loved to have heard him when he found out," Emily cried collapsing on a bench with a laugh.

"Well actually I'm surprised you didn't hear him, he wasn't exactly quiet," Rory said shaking her head at the memory. "Besides it's not like I did any permanent damage, it was only a temporary tattoo, and it wasn't visible to anyone but me, well it better not have been."

Emily started laughing again it was hard to imagine her oh so serious brother with Rory. She had discovered within five minutes of being around Rory that any awkwardness had faded, in the face of her take no prisoner's personality. Rory definitely did not act like Elizabeth, except for maybe the big heart both women seemed to have. "Okay stop, I need air." She said finally gasping for breath.

Rory just smiled, glad she had eased Emily's mind, whatever had been bothering her seemed to have been forgotten for the time being, in fact the past several hours had flown by.

"Okay let's talk about you, Jason said you wanted to be a writer, and now he thinks its law?"

"I don't know, I'm barely 18, it's hard to know what I want to do with my life." Emily shrugged.

"Well I can understand that, I'm 20 and I still don't have a clue, what I want to do with my life," Rory broke off catching sight of something down the dock, "But I do know what I want right now."

"What?"

"A hotdog, want one Em, my treat?" Rory said getting to her feet.

"Okay," Emily said starting after her only to stop when her cell rang.

"I'll get it." Rory said heading for the vendor.

"Okay fully loaded," Emily called, "Hello."

"Emily where are you," Zander asked not bothering to say hello, "I've been looking for you."

"I've been all over, giving Rory a tour of Port Charles."

"What? You're still with her? You guys were at Kelly's hours ago?" Zander said nervously, what had the little bitch said about him. "What could you two have found to talk about, Port Charles isn't that big."

"Lot's of things Zander, why?" Emily asked tensing she didn't like his tone.

"Well, whatever she said about me ignore it, she just doesn't like me. She's just like your other friends stuck up."

Emily closed her eyes, at the flash of pain she felt, when she realized the truth, Zander had hit on Rory, and he was afraid Rory had told her, "You didn't," she whispered.

"Didn't what? Look I don't know what she has been telling you, but the girl is a nutcase," Zander said quickly.

"Why do you keep doing this to me Zander?" Emily said walking to the water, why do I keep letting you do this to me, "Are you trying to hurt me?"

"Emily I didn't do anything," Zander snapped, "Look she's with your brother, and you know he hates me, so she would say anything to break us up."

"She never even mentioned your name, Zander."

Oh man, Zander thought hitting his hand against the doorframe, he was making a lot of mistakes lately that was going to have to stop. "Look Emily, I thought she might have misread something I said when I met her, that's all."

"What that you wanted to sleep with her like every other woman you've been talking to?" Emily asked bitterly.

"Emily I do not hit on other women, I love you, you know that. Yes I do find other women attractive, sometimes they flirt with me, and sometimes I get tempted, it's hard to resist when you keep putting on the brakes, every time we get close."

"You said you understood that I wasn't ready," Emily said quickly.

"Are you ever going to be ready, ever since that night you've hardly even let me kiss you. I'm sorry Emily but I'm a man and sometimes it's like I'm dating a girl not a woman," Zander accused deciding it was time to press the issue.

Emily sucked in a breath, "So is this an ultimatum, sleep with you or were through?"

"No of course not Emily, I'm just telling you how I feel, you're the one always going on and on how we need to be honest with each other. I'm just telling you that I find the situation frustrating." Zander paused before applying some guilt, "Or am I wrong, do you only want me to tell you when I'm feeling happy?"

"No," Emily choked out, "I have to go Zander," closing her phone and continuing to stare out over the water.

Rory had paused when she saw Emily was on the phone, wanting to give her some privacy, but the wind couldn't help but carry Emily's words to her. She really wanted to meet Zander again; she would do a lot more than flip his chair when she did.

"Here you go Emily," Rory said brightly not quite sure how to proceed, she thought she'd wait and take her cues from Emily.

"Thanks," Emily said wiping the tears from her face, averting her gaze while reaching for the hotdog.

"No problem," Rory said as they moved to the bench, "I always loved being around the water, I guess because it always impressed me with how insignificant I really am."

"What?" Emily asked not really listening to her.

"Well here's this huge body of water, that has been around forever, it's seen more things than I will ever see. We can't control it, we can't stop it, the only thing we can do is respect it, and even then we fail. As powerful as we think we are, the water can defeat us anytime." She said before turning to Emily, "I don't know I guess I always feel pretty small next to it like my problems don't mean a thing."

Emily studied Rory then, "You heard me on the phone."

Rory flushed slightly, "Yes, I wasn't trying to listen but I heard. If you want to talk about it, I'll listen if you don't I won't mention it."

Emily sighed setting the hotdog on the bench beside her, wasn't this what she had wanted to talk to Rory about things, "He did didn't he?"

Rory raised her eyebrows questioningly, her mouth full of her own hotdog.

"He hit on you," Emily paused, "and I bet he didn't just happen to fall out of his chair either did he?"

"I won't apologize for it, I'm just sorry your hurting."

"He's not usually like that," Emily said continuing on quickly when Rory only looked at her. "He's not, you should have been here when I first met him," she broke off remembering the gun and the fear she had felt when she first met him, "Well not then, but later as I got to know him, I discovered a really great guy who had some rotten breaks."

Rory kept quiet, eating her hotdog and waited for Emily to go on.

"It's just he's real insecure, everyone in my life thinks he's worthless, a deviant, a criminal, that he deserves to be on death row, when he doesn't. He didn't deserve to be killed for what he did, so I had to help him." Her words began to tumble out faster, "And even after he helped convict Sorel, people still won't cut him a break."

"You're right I don't think he deserved to go to jail for murdering that cop. He did a good thing getting Sorel convicted." Rory agreed quietly.

"Right." Emily said looking at Rory in confusion, "It's just he is older than I am, he's used to having sex in a relationship and I have been dragging my feet on that, so it's only natural that he would look someplace else right? I mean every time we get close I freeze up with him, he's a man and bound to be frustrated."

"No what he is doing is not right Emily. I don't care what age he is or you are, if he is pressuring you for sex, and using the old I'm a man, I have needs excuse, it doesn't matter, he shouldn't do it, it's wrong." Rory said quickly.

"You don't understand him."

"That's right I don't, but I do understand men similar to him, whatever mess or problem they have is not their fault, it's someone else's. They say they love you, but they would love you more if you would just do this one thing for them."

"He loves me." Emily argued desperately.

"Okay then to you love means, that it's okay to cheat on someone because their frustrated, it's okay to belittle them if they refuse, it's alright to pressure them into doing things they don't want. Is that what love is to you? Is that what you think Jason and I have?"

"No of course not, it's just he…" Emily's voice trailed off.

"Look I can understand why you wanted to help Zander, he was going to be executed for something he didn't do. You helped him and I commend you for that. But when is it enough? Yes he didn't deserve to die, but does that mean he deserves you?" Rory pressed.

"I love him."

"Then why doesn't the smile reach your eyes? Why when you are close to him do you freeze up? When you love someone, really love them, you don't freeze when they touch you. Even if you aren't ready to sleep with him, you still would feel comfortable around him." Rory argued, "You don't act or feel that way with Zander do you?"

"I-I." Emily began the tears starting to fall.

"Emily I'm not trying to hurt you, but holding onto someone because you're afraid of who you are without them is just not right. You deserve so much more than that, you can't live your life for someone else, especially when he's not doing the same for you."

"You don't understand, I have to…" Emily broke off when nausea swamped her.

"Emily!" Rory cried when the girl went white and perspiration formed on her brow.

"Get it away." Emily choked gesturing to the hotdog.

Rory pushed Emily's head between her knees, and quickly picked up the hotdog and threw it away. She jogged down the dock, and bought some water from the vendor, before racing back to Emily, who was rocking herself on the bench.

"Here put some water on your face and breathe." Rory said putting the bottle in her hand.

"I'm okay," Emily said after awhile, "Sorry if I spooked you, I had the flu last week I must not be over it."

Rory sighed and studied her friend, "Are you pregnant?"

"No." Emily said immediately before continuing on in a small voice, "Maybe."

"I thought you said you had never slept with Zander."

"I haven't or so he says. He told me we stopped. I remember saying no, and he said we stopped. If he's lying to me I don't know what to do, if he lied and something happened then yes I may be pregnant. God I don't know what to wish for, if I'm pregnant than my boyfriend is a liar, if I'm not than I'm awful for thinking he's a liar." Emily said crying.

Puzzled, Rory leaned closer, "Emily I don't understand what happened?"

Emily closed her eyes and took a deep breath before beginning, "You see one night when we were alone we…"

"Hi Rory, Emily," Jason called coming down the docks to them.

Emily grabbed Rory's hand, "He can't know." She cried desperately, "Please!"

"It's okay, I'll handle it," Rory said, getting to her feet to slow Jason down.

"Hey yourself," Rory said rushing up to him, Jason stopped and dropped a quick kiss on her lips before pulling back. Rory stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck to pull his head down for another kiss.

Passion erupted between them, when Rory nipped at his lips demanding entrance, her hands burying themselves in his hair, pulling his head closer. His hands tightened on her hips, when she leaned against him, supporting her weight as she deepened the kiss. She broke the kiss to take a breath, before placing kisses along his jawline.

"Rory." Jason said finally, becoming aware that they were on the docks in the middle of the day, "Stop that." He said but the order had no punch to it, her mouth had found it's way to the sensitive spot behind his earlobe. God that drove him crazy.

"Okay I'll stop," Rory said pulling back and breathing hard herself, stopping the sensual assault as quickly as she had started it. She had only meant to give Emily some time to get control of herself, but something happened to her control every time she touched him. It simply vanished.

Jason caught her hand pulling her closer to him, his eyes were a deeper shade of blue, and like hers were full of longing at the moment, "Not that I'm complaining but what was that for?"

"Oh I had a hotdog." She answered simply.

Jason laughed, staring at her in amusement is there any wonder he loved her, he pulled her into his arms and hugged her, "Remind me to stop at the store then."

"Why we don't have anywhere to cook them."

"I'll find us a place," Jason growled kissing her lightly before turning his gaze to Emily who was watching them with an amused expression on her face. "Hi," he said with a smile.

"Hi yourself, do you two want to be alone?"

"Are you kidding she barely lets me go outside as it is, every once in a while I need fresh air," Jason teased with a sly smile.

Emily's mouth dropped open in shock, she knew Jason had a sense of humor, regardless of what other's thought. It was dry but it was there, but one liners? Now that was a new one.

"Can it Morgan," Rory said pulling out of his hold, to slap his arm, biting her lip to keep from laughing. Damn that was good line she wished she had thought of it.

Jason smiled at her seeing the amusement in her eyes, "So what have you two been up to?"

"Oh I've got the nickel tour of Port Charles, or what did you call it Em, Port Chuckles?"

"Yeah a friend of mine always calls it that, Jason have you seen grandmother yet?"

"No that was where I was heading now."

"Good, I know she's been missing you, I need to go I have to meet Monica."

"Okay." Rory said crossing too her to give her a hug, "Our secret." She whispered and Emily sighed in relief. "Call me," she said pulling away.

Jason heard her sigh, and moved over to them, "I'll talk to you soon Emily." He said hugging her, before looking in her face and seeing the red puffy eyes, she had been crying, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine it's just allergies."

"Emily." he said catching her arm when she turned to walk away.

"So have you seen any butterflies lately?" Emily asked desperate to get him off track. Rory let out a groan behind them.

"B-butterflies?" He sputtered, looking back at Rory who smiled at him. Who rolled her eyes once he turned back to Emily.

"Yeah Rory tells me that you seem to attract them."

"She did? What else did she tell you?" Jason asked quietly glaring at Rory who was looking everywhere but at him.

Emily had mentioned it only so he wouldn't press her, but now she was glad she did, "She just mentioned that they seemed to have an affection for you in Mexico." She said with a smile.

"Rory you didn't." Jason snapped with a groan, rubbing his hand over his face.

Rory swallowed her laugh and faced him then, "Jason I just mentioned we saw some butterflies while we were in Mexico and they seemed to have taken a liking to a rather sweet part of you." She said seriously and with a straight face until she made the mistake of looking at Emily, which caused them both to burst out laughing.

His head snapped back and forth between the two women, who were laughing at him, he cursed under his breath and crossed his arms over his chest to glare at them.

"Sorry Jason," Emily managed gasping for breath, he just glared at her, "I really have to go now." She said the look on his face was priceless. "Bye." She raced up the stairs, her laughter floating down to him.

Rory put her hands over her mouth in an attempt to gain control, when Jason focused on her. She took a deep breath before speaking, "So you better go then, you don't want to keep your grandmother waiting."

Jason said nothing but took a step closer to her, "Uh she knows your coming right? You don't want to shock her or anything." She went on, noticing him take another step closer.

She took a step back, "Your not mad are you?" She asked feeling the need to laugh welling up in her again. She had a feeling that wouldn't be good right now.

He raised his eyebrow, his eyes never leaving her face and moved closer to her.

"Jason you have nothing to be embarrassed about." She backed up, "It was a story to cheer her up, that's all."

He said nothing but kept coming closer to her, she risked a quick look over her shoulder the water was getting awfully close. She knew he wouldn't push her, but she didn't know if he would try to catch her right now either.

"Now Jason she wanted to know how we met, and since you don't like me to tell that story I told this one instead. I didn't know it would upset you. Maybe you should make me a list of what stories I can tell and which one's I can't; of course I'll ignore it but maybe that will make you feel better." She took another step back and felt nothing.

Jason reached out quickly catching her.

"Thanks." She said smiling up at him, uh-oh he still looked upset.

"So you thought I wouldn't mind my sister hearing that story." He said then in a low voice.

She knew she was in for it when she heard the tone of his voice, it was confirmed as she saw his eyes flick from her to the water. She wrapped her arms around his neck in self-preservation, if she was going in so was he, "You wanted me to cheer her up."

"So telling her how you made an ass out of me fits the bill?"

"I didn't make an ass out of you, in fact it was your ass we were talking about," Rory said cheekily she couldn't resist.

"Rory," he said with a groan pulling her arms from his neck.

She quickly turned to move away and he caught her from behind easily enough, his arms encircled her waist pinning her arms to her sides.

"So you and my sister were talking about my ass." He said softly.

"Well it's such a cute ass, especially when you had a butterfly tattoo on it." She said with a laugh, straining against his hold.

"And why was there a tattoo on my butt?" He picked her up.

"I don't know, they were just attracted to it I guess, I don't blame them I've always been fond of that part of your anatomy as well." She tried to break his grip, "Besides you didn't get to see it like I did, trust me Jason it would have been a great conversation piece."

"You put a tattoo of a butterfly on my butt while I was asleep and you call that a conversation piece?" He asked carrying her closer to the water.

"It was only a temporary one, besides didn't I do my best to chew that sucker off?" Rory asked on a laugh.

"You know I never did thank you properly for that did I?" He asked edging her over the water.

"Yes you did." Rory yelped more out of laughter than of concern, "Jason put me down."

"Worried?" He asked.

She studied the water and felt his grip shift he might do it, "Morgan stop it you put me down right now." She yelled.

"Yes Morgan, you better put the lady down and back away right now." The order came from behind them.

Jason tensed recognizing the voice, he brought Rory closer to him, allowing himself a brief moment to hold her before turning to face the man, "Taggert what do you want?" he asked shortly.