A/N: Hello all! As I'm sure you know, we are not allowed to give out "review replies" on our stories anymore. However, I feel that it is necessary for my stories because I often give out important information. If anyone has a problem with this, please email me at Cookiecrazyy85 at yahoo. Don't report me and have my account frozen/ the story taken down. That's just mean, and rude, and annoying beyond belief.
MelindaM- you never, ever, cross Maxie. That's what I love about her. She's so strong willed, and doesn't just crumble, but she's also emotional and sweet. She's my favorite female GH character without a doubt.
emmalee05- I know, I almost feel bad for torturing my characters so much. But, not bad enough to stop, lol.
xocatielizxo- I'm glad you liked it so much!
middiegurl08- Congratulations on the… football maybe? I don't know. I just don't know sports. So, anyway, congratulations. And I'm glad the chapter made the list!
Lili- I'm glad you loved it, as usual. But I'm all confused with what you want me to edit. Email me and lemme know!
Spoiledtink- Well, I didn't wait until 2006 to update. But I don't think this story will be completed by then! I'm on the last two chapters with writing it, but it's still gonna take a while to post.
Tania- I'm glad you liked it. Don't worry, everything will get sorted out soon…hopefully.
SweetScam- That's what happens when stubborn meets overprotective, lol.
Brittany- Glad you liked it!
Samantha- As a manipulative teenager myself, I was able to write Michael with great ease. We can say some pretty nasty things when we're upset and emotional, trust me, I know.
anon14- I love being fabulous! Thanks!
Arianna- Oh no, I hate it when I'm responsible for people's sanity. It's an awful lot of pressure, lol. But I'm glad you like my story that much.
Journeylover062- Congratulations on finishing school! Lucky, lol. I'm glad I was able to surprise you, and I'm even gladder that you've been able to get back to reading fanfiction.
Jen- I love the family moments too. Old GH used to have good moments, but lately, the term "family" has just been forgotten on that show. I mean, when was the last time we got a true, really good Quartermaine moment? We didn't even get a Quartermaine thanksgiving!
Vicki316- Ah yes, My Humps. Can there be a more romantic and beautifully written song? (If you couldn't tell, not a big fan of it). Bon Jovi's a different story though!
Silver- I'm glad that all my readers support girl power (and not in the Spice Girl sense) and are happy that Maxie slapped Jesse. I'm glad you liked the chapter!
Chapter 17- Decisions
"You sure you don't need any help with Ava?" asked Maxie as she started down the stairs.
"I think I've got it under control. If she would just stop squirming" said Courtney as she put on her cutesy voice at the end as she looked at Ava.
"How do I look?" asked Maxie.
Courtney looked up from the diaper she was trying to secure on her daughter and smiled.
"Perfect. You look like the prefect little sister" said Courtney.
"Well thank you, so do you. And the perfect wife. You sure about bringing Ava to court?" asked Maxie.
"She won't know what's going on anyway. And we might get some jury sympathy. Besides, Jason misses her" said Courtney.
"I can't believe it's been two weeks since they were arrested. They shouldn't have had to sit in prison for two weeks" said Maxie as her voice became emotional.
"I know" said Courtney empathetically as she felt the same way as Maxie. "Who knows, maybe they'll get off" said Courtney halfheartedly.
"With Jesse testifying, they're going to be in prison for the rest of time" said Maxie bitterly as she walked away, unable to face her sister anymore.
Courtney, Maxie, Ava, Carly and Michael arrived in court, ready to support their family. Michael had insisted on coming, and Carly and Sonny had decided that he was old enough to attend. Mike was there, waiting for them. He smiled when he saw his grandchildren, daughters, and daughter-in-law. After the obligatory hello kisses, Mike took Ava from Courtney's arms.
"Hey Avey" he said, calling her by the name he always did.
Ava smiled and baby-hugged her grandfather.
"How are you all holding up?" asked Mike in a serious tone.
"As good as can be expected" answered Courtney.
"Which means not good at all" interpreted Mike.
"Exactly" said Maxie.
"This is all so terrible. I just can't believe that things got this out of control" said Mike.
"Me too" said Carly as she rested one hand on Michael's shoulder.
The doors leading from the holding cells opened up and Sonny and Jason were led in, both in suits and handcuffs.
"Why don't you take this little one? I'm sure she wants to see her daddy" instructed Mike as he passed Ava back to Courtney.
They went over to see Jason and Sonny, but Maxie hung back with her father, sensing that they needed some time. Maxie let out a little sigh and Mike engulfed her in a hug.
"I know that this all so hard" said Mike.
"Yeah, it is" agreed Maxie. "I just can't believe that he would do this to me. I can't believe that he would hurt my family like he did. I really believed that Jesse loved me"
"And how 'bout now, you don't believe that he loves you?" asked Mike.
"No, I don't. If he loves me like he says he does, then he wouldn't be trying to destroy me. He wouldn't be hurting me like he is now. He never loved me. That much is obvious"
"Not necessarily" said Mike. "I saw the way that he looked at you. I saw the love that he felt for you"
"You must have just been misinterpreting something as silly as a look" said Maxie softly.
"Or, I'm right, and you just don't want to admit it because you're angry"
"I can't believe you're defending the guy who is trying to send your son and son-in-law to prison!"
"I'm not defending him. I'm defending your heart" said Mike.
"How?" asked Maxie.
"I just feel like there is some good reason that Jesse is doing this. I feel like he doesn't want to hurt you"
"Dad, I don't even know up from down any more, let alone the reasoning behind anything that Jesse Beaudry does"
"You know what you have to do Beaudry, right? We're clear?" asked Durant.
"Yeah, I know" said Jesse sadly as he looked out the window of the courthouse.
"You're doing the world a great justice. You are helping to put away two members of the scum of the earth. You're a good man Beaudry" said Durant with a pat to the shoulder.
"No, actually, I'm the scum of the planet. I'm the one ripping out hearts and stomping them into the ground"
"Jesse, Jesse, Jesse. You speak figuratively. But I speak literally when I tell you that you're stopping her heart from being ripped out" said Durant lethally.
"Your job is supposed to be making this town safe. Not being the one causing it to be so dangerous" said Jesse.
"Maybe so. But at least I'm not sleeping around with some slutty mob princess" goaded Durant.
Jesse's hands were wrapped around Durant's neck in a second. He pushed him against the wall and held him there so that he was gasping for breath.
"I see we're back in the same position" said Durant as he gasped for air.
"Look, I'm doing your bidding. But that doesn't give you the right to talk about Maxie that way. Ever. Do you understand me?" growled Jesse as he pressed Durant into the wall with more force.
"I understand. Now let me down you little prick" gasped Durant and Jesse released him.
John crumbled to the floor and grabbed at his neck, glaring back up at Jesse. "You have a mob temper. Maybe you worked out better at that cover job than you're willing to admit"
"Go to hell Durant" said Jesse as he stalked off.
Desperate for a breath of fresh air, Jesse stepped out into the courtyard of the courthouse. It was small, but there was a grassy patch and a tree or two. Plus, there was no media and no Durant.
"Maxie" he breathed softly as he saw her standing there.
"I didn't realize you'd be out here. I should go" said Maxie as she turned and saw him, pushing her way past him as she walked away.
"No, wait" Jesse called out as he grabbed her gently by the arm.
"What the hell do you want from me now?" she asked him.
"I just wanted to apologize" he said.
"I don't think that's gonna cut it" said Maxie crossly as she folded her arms over her chest.
"I never meant to hurt you" he told her.
"But you did" said Maxie. "And you know what, I'm done playing clean. I'm going to protect my family. So I'm telling you this now, testify against my brothers and I will let everyone know your little secret"
"What secret?" he asked her, thinking that she was talking about the reason for his testifying.
"I know that you're working with Lorenzo Alcazar" she said as she got right up in his face.
"What? What are you talking about?" he asked her.
"I saw you, the day Courtney went into labor. You were talking in the park"
"Maxie, I am not working with Lorenzo Alcazar"
"Than explain what I saw!" she demanded.
"I was apologizing" he answered truthfully.
"What?" she questioned, shaking her head in disbelief.
"I was apologizing for punching Diego. I ran into the man and when I see an opportunity, I take it. I didn't want him retaliating against your brothers for what I did. Something that was completely unrelated. Do you believe me?" he asked her as he looked straight into her eyes.
"Yes" she said softly, knowing that he was telling the truth. "Thank you for that I guess. God, I don't know what I'm going to do without my brothers" she admitted as she began to cry. "They mean the world to me. And now you're sending them away" she said as she looked at Jesse. "They protect me, and they love me, and they always make everything better. I feel safe with them, and loved. My mother, she was a piece of work. And my sister moved here to get away from her and find our dad. And she married this jerk on the way"
"AJ Quartermaine" said Jesse.
"You know him?" she asked.
"I've seen him around" answered Jesse.
"Anyway, Jason saved her from him after he did some crazy things to her. And her relationship with Sonny wasn't that great yet, but neither was mine. So once she was with Jason, she worked on her relationship with Sonny once he accepted them together. And with Jason's help, she came to Atlantic City and got me. She got guardianship over me with Jason and Sonny's help. She got me through high school, and now I'm on to college. Without Sonny and Jason, I would have been a waitress in a casino, living with my crazy mother. They made my dreams come true" said Maxie as she talked, forgetting that Jesse was even there.
"They mean everything to you, don't they" said Jesse softly as he swallowed.
"Everything" she said as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, allowing the warm summer air to wash over her. "I can't even think about losing them" she told him. "Please, please don't do this" she said as she turned around to face him, the pleading expression invading her features. "You don't have to testify against them. They don't deserve to go to prison. They'll die in prison. Sonny, he's claustrophobic. His stepfather used to beat him and lock him in a closet. Ever since he was a child, he couldn't stand small spaces. And that's what a prison cell is. And as for Jason, his freedom is everything to him. If he doesn't get to be free, he can't breathe. Plus, they both have kids. Jason just got his daughter, Ava…"
"Yeah, I know. I've seen her. She looks like you" said Jesse with a smile as he thought back on to that baby.
"My dad says that too" said Maxie. "I grew up without a father. And it was the worst feeling in the world. I hated watching the other girls go to father-daughter dances, and get flowers from their daddies at dance recitals, and all the other things. I just don't want Ava to go through the same thing as me. I want her to be happy" said Maxie.
"Maxie, I'm sorry" said Jesse as he looked down at his feet, the guilt and pain unbearable.
"I loved you Jesse. And maybe a part of me still does" she said truthfully. "And that part of me always will. But I won't ever be able to look at you again, knowing you're the one who destroyed my life, and the lives of the people that I love most. If you testify, you won't even be a shadow of the man that I fell in love with. The man who opened up to me about his brother. The man who helped me baby-sit. The only man that I have ever loved" admitted Maxie in a choked up voice. "You won't be that guy, and I can't stand to think of that ever happening. I'll think of you every night, and I'll think of how much I miss the man that I love" said Maxie as she walked away.
Jesse watched her retreating form as he wiped away his tears. He had a decision to make, and a big one at that. How could he decide between Maxie's life and her happiness? How could he pick this one?
The trial began after much waiting. It was a lot of boring financial stuff. Going over records, hearing testimonies from different people. The basic boring legalities that were putting Maxie to sleep. She thought back to her conversation with Jesse in the courtyard. He wasn't in the courtroom now. As a witness, he was in a separate room where he couldn't hear any of the testimonies in case they biased him. Little did she know, Jesse was pacing that room, reliving his conversations with both Maxie and Durant. Trying to make the biggest decision of his life.
Maxie looked over at Ava in Courtney's lap. She really did look like her. And like Courtney as well. And Jason. But then again, Maxie herself looked like Courtney. Maxie remembered all of the events her father missed, just as she described it to Jesse. She just prayed that Ava wasn't put in the same position. Maxie was snapped from her reverie by John Durant's booming voice.
"The prosecution calls Detective Jesse Beaudry to the stand"
A/N: I'm crossing my fingers that I can get away with this. I hate getting in trouble, I'm a goody-goody, what can I say? This is my own act of rebellion in my life, basically ever.
Also, remember, 15 reviews for an update!