A/N: And here is the birthday update of Tangled Secrets for everyone. My birthday was fantabulous, thank you all of you who gave me well wishes. I had two birthday dinners. Friday night my best friend's family took me out, and last night my parents took me out. And I have a small gathering of friends planned for next week. So the birthday celebration continues. And I got some awesome presents. My favorite was this beautiful Tiffanys/ Elsa Peretti letter necklace. I love it. So overall, it was a sucessful birthday.
middiegurl08- You are doing a hell of a job when it comes to guessing on my stories, lol. Remind me in May, I'm going to sing to you over the internet. It's a talent of mine.
MelindaM- I am so sorry that you are in a bad mood. I hope you're feeling better by the time you're reading this. If you want, you can borrow my bad day song. It's called Bad Day and it's by Daniel Powter. It really does cheer me up when I'm down.
JulesMorgan- Happy early birthday. Getting your braces off is good. Except my gums got swollen and there was a lot of blood. Everywhere. And they make you wear a retainer all the time. I wore it for the first hour. And I've barely put it back in since. Oops, oh well.
Spoiledtink- People do tend to say some terrible things in arguments. And as for the baby, just keep reading...
emmalee05- As a sister myself, I know all about the sister connection. My sister and I are close, so it's easy to write Maxie and Courtney.
Tania- The two were really talking. About what though? Hmmm, can't tell you that. At least not just yet. .:evil laugh:.
Vicki316- I hope you had fun at the concert. And I love when people write me books, don't worry. And I am so glad you found the time to update!
Alicia (NOT LINDZE)- I am so sorry that you couldn't view it right away, but I'm glad I was able to help. I'm still stuck on your story, give me another day but I'll try to get back to you on monday.
Journeylover062- That's Sonny for you. I love the guy, but he really pisses me off sometimes. So I love to write him when he has agrounding experience.
Tina- I'm working on loosening up, I promise. Glad you liked it!
Jen- Glad you think it's getting better and better. That's all I want from my stories.
anon14- Can't say anything about that particular conversation, but keep reading to find out about the little Journey baby.
blackcherrymeg16- Feel bad for Maxie! She just got her heart ripped out and Sonny isn't being sympathetic at all. But, I can understand why you would see Maxie as acting like a brat.
Christine- Don't worry, I would never ever abandon a fic. Even if I got tired of it, I would finish it up. I hate when people don't finish their stories, and I wouldn't want to make myself into a hypocrite.
Chapter 11- Baby Fever
"Calm down, both the baby and Courtney are fine" said Sonny as he held up his hands and a huge smile graced his face. It's a girl, but they don't have a name for her yet" he explained.
"Oh thank god!" gushed Maxie as she sunk back into a chair. "They're both ok" she whispered to herself as though she needed to hear it aloud again in order to believe it.
"Yeah, no thanks to you" scoffed Sonny.
"Sonny, now is not the time" warned Carly as she put one hand on Sonny's arm to calm her down.
"No, I think this is the perfect time" growled Sonny as he brushed her off.
"God Sonny! You can be such a bastard sometimes!" yelled Maxie as she jumped up out of the chair, her temper flaring. "Courtney's early labor wasn't my fault. If it was anyone's fault, it's yours! You were the one who caused problems for everyone. You got in the middle of everything; even the things that weren't yours to get in the middle of! You were yelling today too! You were there too when Courtney's water broke!" Maxie bellowed. "You are such a hypocrite, and I never thought that I could feel this way, but I do! I hate you Sonny! You have no regard for anyone but yourself. You couldn't care less that I was hurt. You gave a rat's ass that I was nursing a broken heart! And I still am!" she screamed as loud as she could before grabbing her purse and storming off.
Maxie made it to the third floor lounge before collapsing in a fit of tears on the couch. She hardly even noticed the nurses and doctors go past as life went on for everyone else. But Maxie was so sick of it. She was so sick of it all. Of Sonny minimizing her pain, or being a selfish jerk, or trying to run her life. She was sick of the constant pain she felt when she was separated from Jesse like she was right now. She hated biting her friends' heads off, and being so damn moody. She hated that despite what she said to Sonny, she still felt responsible for Courtney's early delivery, even though both she and the baby were perfectly fine.
"Maxie? Are you ok?" came a voice and Maxie looked up, straight into Jesse's eyes.
"What are you doing here?" she asked him harshly, frantically wiping away her tears.
Jesse inwardly cringed at her harsh tone, but he sat down next to her anyway.
"I came here to see Sonny. He said he wanted this report by tonight, and he didn't care where he was" said Jesse as he held up a folder.
"I assume that means even if he was arrested and in a holding cell, or if his sister went into labor…" said Maxie.
"Yup"
"My brother can be a demanding boss" she said bitterly.
"Yeah, I think I have some idea of that"
"You could quit you know. You can leave. You can get a normal, safe job. You can be with me" she pleaded.
"Maxie, I can't do that. You know that I can't do that"
"I don't understand why!" she said as her bitter tears began to spill. "I feel like everyone's blaming me for everything lately, and I get nothing in return"
"What are people blaming you for?" asked Jesse quietly, angry that people were taking advantage of the woman that he loved.
"Sonny thinks it's my fault that Courtney went into a premature labor. We were fighting, the three of us, when it happened" Maxie explained.
"Dare I ask what you were fighting about?" asked Jesse.
"I think you already know the answer" she said shortly.
"Yeah. I do. But it doesn't make it your fault! Why do you let your brother control you like that?" he asked her.
"I don't. But you do. And when he controls you, he controls me" explained Maxie.
"Than that's just another reason why you need to stay away from me" sighed Jesse as he looked down at his feet.
"No, it's just another reason why I need to be with you! When I'm with you, none of this matters. It all just kinda fades away. I'm happy when I'm with you"
"I'm happy when I'm with you too Maxie, but it can never work" he said softly.
"What are you hiding?" she asked him.
"I'm not hiding anything Maxie" said Jesse with a sigh. "I just can't be with you. It's for your own safety. I just need to stay away from you"
"And it doesn't matter that your hurting both of us by doing this?" she asked him as her bottom lip began to quiver and her eyes filled with tears.
"It does matter Maxie" said Jesse as he took her hands in his. "But at the same time, there is too much at risk. I need to take my chances, and hurt us both, because I need to protect us both. I'm sorry Maxie" he said quietly as he leaned over and gently kissed her cheek, letting his lips linger on her soft skin for perhaps a second too long.
He reluctantly pulled away and let go of her hands before walking away, leaving her crying on the couch. Jesse rounded the corner of the hallway and just started crying himself.
"I am so sorry Maxie" he whispered. "I love you so much, but there is too much at stake. I can't destroy this. My life is on the line, and yours is too. I need to protect you"
Maxie was finally able to compose herself after a few minutes, and she decided to go visit her sister and new niece. Afterall, she wasn't about to let Sonny control her life like she told Jesse. She didn't give a damn if he didn't want her there. She was going to see her sister, and Sonny could go to hell for all she cared.
Maxie finally made it to Courtney's room and gently pushed open the door, the sadness welling up inside of her at the sight she saw. Courtney was lying in the bed with her daughter in her arms. Jason had his arms wrapped around the two of them, and Sonny and Carly were sitting on chairs next to the bed, wrapped in each other's arms. Michael, Morgan, and Kristina all sat propped up on the bed, watching their new baby cousin. The whole family seemed perfect and complete. Maxie felt like an outsider as she watched them all. She felt like no one really wanted her there; no one needed her there. Maxie brushed her tears away and was about to leave when Sonny suddenly looked up.
"Maxie" he said softly. "We were wondering when you would come and see your brand new niece"
"Don't worry Sonny. I'm just going to leave" she said bitterly.
"No, Maxie, don't" said Sonny as he stood up and walked over to her. "Courtney wants to see you"
"And what about you?" she asked, her arms folded over her chest, her blue eyes boring into Sonny.
"I want you here too" he said with a sigh as he wrapped his arm around her and led her into the room. "I love you sis" he said as he bent down and planted a tiny kiss on the top of her head.
"I love you too" she said with a sigh.
"I'm sorry for what I said to you" he whispered in her ear. "I was just worried about Courtney and the baby"
"I know. I'm sorry too" she said.
Meanwhile, everyone else was gushing over the baby.
"We still need a name for this little one" said Sonny as he and Maxie walked back over to everyone.
"I know, we can't keep calling her baby girl Morgan" said Courtney with a laugh.
"Hey! That's what I call Morgan sometimes!" exclaimed Michael with a smirk as he pointed to his little brother.
"Mommy!" cried Morgan.
"Michael, we told you not to tease your brother" said Carly in a bored tone as she rolled her eyes, as though she said that to him ten times a day, which she really did.
"I have a great name" said Maxie as she sat down on the bed next to her sister.
"Yeah, what's that?" asked Courtney.
"Maxie!" exclaimed Maxie excitedly.
"Someone thinks highly of themselves" said Jason with a roll of his eyes.
"Hey! Maxie's a great name!" she protested.
"No, Maxie refers to a feminine hygiene product" whispered Michael.
"I heard that!" snapped Maxie as she hit Michael in the head while everyone else laughed.
"How'd you get the normal name?" grumbled Maxie to Courtney.
"How 'bout Caroline?" asked Carly.
"No! Kristina!" laughed the little girl.
"For the last time, we are not naming this little girl after one of you! It's confusing enough having 97 Michaels!" said Courtney with a laugh.
"Not 97, just three! And one's Mike, one's Sonny, and the last is Michael. We still have room for a Mikey, if only this little girl was boy" said Sonny with a smile.
"There's always Michelle. The feminine version of Michael" the third Michael interjected.
"Let's think of new names" said Jason with a sigh.
"If Mike hadn't had to go back to the diner, he would have supported our Michael idea" said Sonny as he crossed his arms over his chest in mock anger.
"Look, baby's opening her eyes!" said Morgan excitedly as he pointed at his cousin.
"Oh, look at those beautiful blue eyes" gushed Carly as she looked at her niece.
"She looks perfect with those blonde curls too" said Maxie as she looked over at her niece. "Can I hold her?" she asked her sister.
"Of course!" exclaimed Courtney as Jason helped her to gently pass his daughter to Maxie.
"Hey baby" said Maxie softly as she looked at the perfect little cooing child in her arms. "I'm your Aunt Maxie. I'm the cool one" she explained, prompting a 'hey' from Carly. "And I promise to take care of you, and give you advice about clothes, and hair, and makeup, and boys of course"
"No boys" said Jason gruffly as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Why don't you just look into sending her to a nunnery?" asked Carly with a roll of her eyes. "Oh my god Jase! I was kidding" she said when Jason looked like he was considering it.
"Anyway baby," said Maxie as she went back to talking to her niece, "I promise to make sure you always have a good time when you're with me. I will always be there when you need to talk, and I'm never going to judge. I love you" she said as she planted a little kiss on top her head, covered in its golden curls.
She handed the baby back to Jason, and then a smile lit up her face.
"I just thought of the perfect name!" she said turning to her family.
"What is it?" asked Courtney as she tried to sit up a little.
"How 'bout Ava?" Maxie suggested.
Everyone mumbled a little, testing the name out and seeing if they liked it.
"Oh Maxie, it's perfect for her" said Courtney, tears welling up in her eyes as she realized just how perfect the name was. "What do you think Jason?" she asked, looking up at her husband.
Jason broke out into a huge grin.
"I love it if you do" he told her.
"Ava Morgan" said Courtney softly.
"She sounds like an actress in an old movie" laughed Sonny.
"Yeah, she does" agreed Michael as he looked at her. "But what about a middle name?"
Everyone went into deep thought for a few minutes, unsure of what name they could possibly use. Every now and then, Carly would catch Jason or Courtney's eye and mouth 'Caroline' at them, but they would just roll their eyes.
"How 'bout Jessica?" suggested Carly.
"No way!" shouted Jason.
"Why not?" asked Courtney confusedly. "It's a nice name"
"Think about it Court. Think what her initials would be" prompted Jason.
"A.J. Eww, yeah. No way! We are not giving her those initials" said Courtney, "on to the next name".
Everyone thought for a while more before Courtney finally spoke up.
"Look, I know we said that we weren't naming her after anyone, but what do you think of Lila as a middle name?" she asked.
"Ava Lila Morgan" tried Jason. "I love it! And Grandmother will be so honored"
"It's perfect" said Maxie as they all crowded around the baby.
Liz walked into the room and saw the happy family.
"Liz, just in time. We thought of a name for you to put on the certificate" said Jason.
"What is it?" she asked eagerly.
"Ava Lila Morgan" said Jason proudly.
"Guys, it's perfect. And Lila will be thrilled" said Liz with a smile. "Now I hate to do this to you all, but its baby Ava's time to eat. Ready for this Courtney?" she asked with a smile.
"I guess" said Courtney nervously.
"Trust me, once you get the hang of it, it's nothing" said Liz with a reassuring smile.
"She's right" said Carly. "Eww, I can't believe I just agreed with the muffin" said Carly as she wrinkled her nose.
"We'll see you later" said Sonny as he grabbed Carly's arm and led her out before she could say anything else.
"Bye. I love you. All three of you" said Maxie as she kissed Courtney, Jason, and Ava all goodbye.
"We love you too" Courtney called after her as she and the kids left, leaving Courtney, Jason, and Ava alone with just Liz to help them.
Maxie felt a twinge as she left. They were there with their family. They had formed their own little unit. That baby would be coming home to her house and would be taking up all of her sister and brother's attention. She didn't want to seem like a spoiled brat, but she couldn't help but feel like excess baggage. Pushing those thoughts aside, she walked over to where Carly and Sonny were waiting with the kids, a newly delivered file now in Sonny's hand. Maxie looked at the file and thought of Jesse. What would their kids look like? If only Maxie could one day have kids with the man that she loved.
A/N: So, the quick update was due to my birthday. So don't expect another one so soon. But I will update quicker if we hit my review goal of 20 reviews. Leave me reviews everyone!