As Zander stared down at the receiver, he felt his heart leap into his throat, he'd anticipated this moment so many times… and there she was calling out his name again.

"Zander, are you alright?"

It was the gentle touch of her hand on his shoulder that brought him to his senses… it wasn't Emily after all. He tried hiding hid disappointment, but she recognized the signs of a broken heart.

"No answer, huh?" Elizabeth asked, with a sympathetic smile.

Zander placed the receiver back on it's cradle and paused before releasing it, when he turned to face her, his eyes said it all, "Can you at least tell me how she is?"

She placed her hand on his forearm, "buy me a cup of coffee?"

He hesitated momentarily, taking one last look at the phone, before nodding, " sure, why not."

Entering Kelly's, Liz shrugged out of her coat, " give me a minute to let Bobbie know I'm here."

"You working today?"

"Yeah, but my shift doesn't start for another half hour, I'll be right back."

Zander sat at the table nearest to the window, playing with the menu nervously, he couldn't wrap his mind around it… why now, what was it about today that had him thinking so much about Emily… maybe it was the need to tell someone about his Father, or maybe it was the fear that he'd screw up again, whatever it was left him confused and without Emily to talk to he felt empty.

So lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice the plate being slid in front of him, until Elizabeth cleared her throat, looking up she smiled and sat down across from him," I took it upon myself to order two slices of Ruby's famous Apple pie, and two piping hot cups of the best coffee."

"I take it when you say the best, you're talking about C&M imports specialty?"

"Is there any other? Now dig in," Liz, took a bite and motioned Zander to follow suit, when he didn't she slowly sat her fork down on the side of the plate and folded her hands in front of her, " what brought this on Zander, what's got you thinking about Emily after allthis time?"

"I never forgot her." Zander said defensively.

"I know… but you did seem to be moving on… so why now, what triggered it?"

Zander leaned back in his chair and looked through the window, " I was remembering when I was supposed to be in Canada, but I just couldn't get Emily off my mind, I knew it was love because I never felt anything that strong…and that real… and Em, she was so good, ya know? She has the biggest heart ever and there she was pleading with me to run so I wouldn't go to jail…or get murdered by Sorrel's men, whichever came first… and me, all I could think to say was… oh, never mind." Zander bowed his head and played with his fork.

Elizabeth's eyes softened, " No, tell me please."

Zander stilled his fork and looked up, with tears in his eyes, he smiled, " All I could think to say was I wanted a slice of October pie."

"October Pie?"

"You mean you've never heard of it either… man, it's the best thing ever."

"Did you Mother make it for you?"

Zander stiffened, " I didn't have a mother."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well you get used to it."

"No Zander, you don't."

Zander shifted uncomfortably in his seat, " look, I didn't come her looking for sympathy and pie… I just wanted to know how Emily is."

Elizabeth realized that any headway she'd made in getting to know Zander Smith had just hit a block wall, " She's doing okay, I spoke to her yesterday."

"It's probably hoping to much to think she asked about me." Zander said, the sad smile on Elizabeth's face gave him the answer he'd dreaded, he shrugged his shoulders, " I already knew the answer, don't look so sad."

"I think it's easier for her not to ask, she's trying to start a new life."

"I don't blame her… she deserves better than me."

"Don't say things like that Zander."

"Why not it's the truth, " Zander replied, then asked, " She still seeing the same guy?"

Elizabeth remained quiet, bowing her head, she took a deep breath and readied herself to lie, but when she looked up into his expectant eyes, she just couldn't, " they're engaged."

Zander pushed the seat back and stood up abruptly knocking it to the floor, " You couldn't have told me that like ten minutes ago… what was it, you wanted to see me at my lowest? It must make your day to know that Emily finally dumped the loser you were always warning her about!"

"Zander it's not like that… come on."

"She's the only girl I've ever loved, don't you get it… now I don't have anything!"

Zander stormed out of Kelly's leaving a mark on Elizabeth's soul, she knew all to well what it felt to lose the person you loved.

Sitting on the Dock of the Bay

Jake stood on the docks, staring out over the Port Charles Bay, stuffing his hands in his trench coat, he replayed the past month over in his mind, in that entire time he'd yet to see Mikey, and he had to wonder if they'd still get along, taking a step away from the dock he closed his eyes and remembered another time.

Flashback

"Jake!"

The crack of gunfire was heard as bullets flew, Jake ran as fast as he could, he had to get there in time… but he was to late, "NO!"

As he'd taken aim at the enforcer, it had been one Michael J Corinthos that had pushed him out of the way and shot the hitman.

"C'mon Man, let's get out of here!"

Flashback

"Bro, what are you doing?"

His eyes snapped open, glancing beside him he noticed his baby brother giving him a disapproving frown, " just getting some air little John."

"It's not exactly safeto beout here without a bodyguard."

Jake chuckled and patted his brother on the shoulder, " I haven't been here long enough to get that kind of reputation."

"You've been here long enough to get one with me."

Both men turned and saw Taggert standing on the bottom steps near the dock, " you're the one buying up all of Corinthos' businesses… Sonny's never shared very well, you got something on him?"

"Marcus is that anyway to greet an old friend?"

"I've got a hundred reasons why I should cart your butt into the PCPD right now."

"I'm intrigued… what have I done to warrant an arrest?"

"You're associated to Sonny, that's all the warrant I need."

"You two haven't kissed and made up yet?"

"Sonny's a cop killer, you should know that better than anyone else."

Jake stood deathly still, his jaw tensed, " do yourself a favor Marcus; leave it where it belongs… in the past."

"Struck a nerve? That's almost commendable, course you always had more of conscience than Corinthos anyway."

"I'll say one thing for you, you might've lost all your hair with time but there's one thing that hasn't changed."

"What's that?"

"Your still an ass."

In the shadows, Zander watched as his Father shed some light on his past, one piece of the puzzle found, a million more to go.

Harbor View Towers

Alexis smiled as Sonny escorted her down into the nightclub, she twirled a Gardenia in between her fingers as they made their way to the back of the club, bringing the flower to her nose, she closed her eyes and reveled in the sweet smell,when she reopened them she was met with his dark eyes staring intently at her.

"You've certainly put a lot of thought into this." Alexis smiled teasingly.

"Something wrong with that?"

Alexis widened her smile, " no, in fact I think I quite like it, but remember I'm normally a popcorn and coffee girl."

"I'll file that right next to your love of fuzzy socks." Sonny replied smiling back, leaning inhe kissed her, " now, can you please unlock the door."

"Alexis frowned, " I don't have the keys."

Sonny held up his hand, a set of keys dangling from his finger, " you do now."

Alexis took the keys and placed them in the lock, " okay, but you know how I am with locks."

"I know, I know."

Unlocking the door, she entered and gasped, " Sonny."

"Do you like it?"

She glanced over her shoulder, " you know I do… you did this for me?"

"No."

"No?"

"No, I did this for us."

Alexis turned to look at him,and thenback at the room that replicated another time, another place where two people had let go of the pain and sadness and enjoyed each other, it was Puerto Rico all over again, from the candles casting off a romantic shadow circling the room,the only thing missingwas the Gardenia in her hair," I don't have a mirror, do you think you can do the honors?"

Sonny smiled, and plucked the delicate flower from her hand,placing it gently behind her ear, heleaned back to let his eyes travel over her face, " I don't think I've ever seen you look as beautiful as you do now."

She blushed, reaching up tentatively to cup his face, " and I don't think I've ever seen you look as relaxed."

"You have that effect on me, not to mention a few others."

"Behave, we haven't had dinner."

Extending his hand he said, " shall we begin with dinner?"

"No, I think I'd like to begin with this," taking a step toward him, Alexis filled the space between them and placed her lips upon his, it was a sweet tender kiss that lasted momentarily, but it was full unspoken words, as they parted he took her by the hand and led her to the table.

Once they were seated he raised his glass to hers, " friends till the end?"

Alexis smiled, and clinked her glass against his, " you can count on it."