Show: General Hospital
Title: Change is Good 2
Disclaimer: I own them all... really I do! Hmm... I guess it's also time to admit I'm a pathological liar.
A/N: Thanks for all the amazing response I have gotten for the first chapter. Please keep it up. Now, most persons familiar with my work know that I am a diehard Sexis fan. I have, however been getting some emails wondering when I'll start including the Carson action. I am not a Carson fan and in the next few chapters, you'll think I'm probably writing a Sexis story. I confess, it was going that way, but I think it's a challenge for me to write a pairing that I don't really appreciate (I'm trying to say nicely I hate the pairing actually, lol), so I'll try to be a little Carson sympathetic. But, remember, Carly's "deathly ill". What she's suffering from won't magically clear up. Just warning you all in advance.
X-X-X-X-X
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CHAPTER 3
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Port Charles, July 2008 (earlier that evening), PH2
"They're not coming are they?"
Elizabeth turned to her husband as she set the phone back on the cradle. "No. Mrs. Delaney says Marissa has strep-throat."
Jason nodded, though his eyes indicated that he didn't believe it for a second.
Tears gathered in Elizabeth eyes - her daughter's birthday party was shaping up to be a disaster.
"It'll be fine."
Liz's lip wobbled and she struggled not to cry. "No, it won't. This is my daughter's birthday and those hypocritical bitches are ruining it!"
Jason's jaw tightened and he stepped forward and wrapped his wife in his arms. He knew why Joey's birthday party was shaping up to be a disaster - it was because of who he was, not because Joey wasn't a delightful little girl. He couldn't help but wonder if they'd be so quick to cancel if Jason Quartermaine was hosting a party for his stepdaughter....
X-X-X-X-X
"Kristina's so bummed she had to miss the party."
"I can imagine," replied Cameron dryly, as they paused outside PH2. Before he could lift a hand to knock, the door swung open and a dark-haired hurricane wrapped its arms around Cameron's legs. "I swear this kid must be psychic," he muttered although there was no mistaking the twinkle in his eyes.
Alexis laughed as Cameron swung his granddaughter high in the air and she squealed in delight.
"Happy birthday, sweetheart!"
"Thank you, grandpa!" She pressed a kiss to his bearded cheek before demanding, "What did you bring me?"
"Hey guys." Alexis turned from the joyous scene to see a frazzled Zander smiling at them.
"Hello, sweetie," Alexis pressed a kiss to his cheek before stepping inside. Gathered in her former Penthouse was a motley crew of close friends and family of the Morgans and Lewis's. She felt a little sadness that the only person under the age of twenty was LuLu Spencer, who was almost fifteen she but, considering who Joanna's stepfather was and where the party was being held, she hadn't expected to see many children. She thought back to earlier in the day when Elizabeth had seemed desperate to confirm that she was coming. Now she knew why - no doubt there'd been plenty of cancellations; if people had had the decency to call that is. If only Kristina didn't have a cold - the two girls, despite the age difference, were close.
Alexis spotted a mountain of birthday presents under the stairs and smirked. Despite the lack of companionship, Joey certainly wouldn't be lacking for presents.
Her eyes surveyed the group again - Monica and Reginald were seated by Lila and Audrey, Jason and Bobby were talking with them; LuLu was chatting with Elizabeth; Luke was busy telling a joke to Lucky and Sonny's guards. Against her will, her eyes sought out the dark-haired man. He was talking to Justus outside the kitchen. His eyes lifted and for the barest moments she held his gaze until Joey caught her attention.
"Hey, Auntie 'Lexis."
"Hello, sweetie." She bent and kissed the little girl's smooth cheek. "Happy birthday," she said, handing over her present.
"Thank you." Joanna frowned a little. "Where's Krissy?"
"Krissy still has a cold. You wouldn't want to catch her germs now, would you?"
For a few seconds Joey looked heartbroken. No doubt she'd been counting on Kristina's presence as the only friend her age. She smiled softly after a while.
Alexis couldn't have resisted even if she tried. "Tell you what. If Krissy's feeling better tomorrow, I'll ask your Mama if I can take you two to the park and we'll have another party for just the two of you."
"Ok!" Joanna smiled again and darted away towards her mother.
Cameron, who'd come up behind her midway through their conversation, touched her shoulder lightly. She turned and smiled. "That was a very nice thing you did there," he said lightly, watching his granddaughter as she flitted about the room.
"I take it you noticed the same thing about this party as I did," Alexis said knowingly.
Before he got a chance to reply, Justus interrupted. "Alexis. Sorry to interrupt," he said, sounding not the least bit apologetic. "May I have a few moments of your time?" he asked pointedly.
Cameron barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes, knowing this was Justus-speak for 'Get lost.' "I better go say hello to Elizabeth."
Justus watched Cameron retreat across the living-room to greet Liz.
Alexis arched a brow at the other man. It wasn't a secret between the three that Justus, despite all the good doctor's reliability, didn't approve of Cameron Lewis's relationship with Alexis. "Sometimes, you can be such a Quartermaine," Alexis muttered dryly.
Justus flashed a grin. "It serves its purpose now and then. But seriously, Alexis, I need to talk to you about something."
"Here?" she asked pointedly, indicating the room, covered in balloons and various party paraphernalia.
"Point taken. Lunch tomorrow at the Grille?"
Alexis frowned, remembering her promise to Joey. "Tentative plans."
A shutter darkened Justus's eyes for a second. "Dinner then?"
"Once you're paying."
"I always do, don't I?" he continued with a knowing laugh.
Inwardly, Alexis blushed; outside, she was business as usual, but she knew Justus knew what she was thinking about because of the devilish twinkle in his dark-brown eyes.
From his vantage point, Cameron tried to focus on what Elizabeth was saying but his focus was on Alexis. Inwardly, he was having a struggle with himself. If you were watching your girlfriend conversing with her ex-lover, a man just five years older than your own son, you should be seeing red with jealousy, right?
Alexis threw her head back and laughed at something the man said, baring her swan-like throat. As her laughter reached his ears, he felt nothing.
Cameron grit his teeth - they were in trouble....
X-X-X-X-X
Birthday parties were absolute torture for him, but he would sooner have chewed off his right arm than miss Joey's.
Joanna was a joy; she brought a bittersweet smile to his face every time she called him, "Unca Sonny"; he lived for those words and for that smile.
He wondered what kind of kid Morgan had grown to be; he wondered if Michael was still a smart-aleck. He'd found Carly and their children three years ago but he'd honoured his promise and not intervened. Leticia, who sent pictures occasionally, regaled him about the boys' escapades once a month.
Well, he couldn't spoil his own children; he'd spoil Joey instead.
At present, he was listening to his lawyer but he didn't need to hear the delighted squeal of "Grandpa!" to know Cameron Lewis and Alexis Davis had arrived. Maybe it was because his nose had inadvertently twitched at the subtle scent of gardenias that reached his senses that were still cursedly tuned where she was concerned. The knowing male in him recognised that same sense of awareness in Justus's eyes. The lawyer actually faltered in mid-sentence and his gaze was pinned on her, before he caught himself and continued.
Inwardly, a silky black brow rose but he continued to listen. His eyes started to wander and they eventually lifted and caught hers. For the smallest moments two pairs of dark eyes were riveted to each other. There was none of the anger or indifference that had coloured their gazes in recent years. The staring might have continued for longer if Joanna hadn't stolen her attention.
Stolen?
Since when had he become possessive of Alexis Davis's attention again?
Through narrowed eyes, he watched Justus wrap up their conversation in record time and interrupt Cameron and Alexis. He recognised the subtlety of their relationship, how they seemed in tune with one another, on more than just a friendly level. He recognised that look in Alexis's eyes. The look she used to give him was now being given to Justus.
When had he become possessive of her attention?
As of now, apparently.
TBC...
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