A/N: As a long time fan of both General Hospital and All My Children, I got this idea a while back and finally, I've decided to just go for it because Morgan's fic was one I desperately wanted to re-write anyway. Technically, I don't own Jenny Martin because she was a bit character on AMC towards the end, but.. I do own the personality I've given her and any backstory I come up with for her in the future and the fact that I've SOARSED her up to around the age of 23 for this piece. I've seen one or two other fics like this and I deeply enjoyed reading them and am saddened that they've been discontinued, so I figured fuck it. Why not write my own.
I'll be pairing Jenny with Morgan Corinthos and given that this takes place before the explosion he died in would have, I am totally avoiding Morgan's death here and that this story will be a total canon deviation because I don't watch General Hospital anymore so I have not one clue what's happening now and honestly, I prefer it that way.
Jenny Martin is the daughter of AMC characters Tad Martin and Krystal Carey. In this fic, they are married and have been married for years. They had their ups and downs and even split up for stretches of time, but they always seemed to drift back together. Jenny moved to Port Charles because she got a position at the hospital as a nurse and she wanted a fresh start after the end of a rocky 5 year relationship with a guy she met in high school that she'd previously been living with. Before anyone asks, no. Neither Tad nor Krystal liked this guy from the word go. It's one of the biggest reasons they're constantly checking in on her now, because they're half afraid that the ex will show up again like a bad penny. That he'll suck her right back in and Jenny will be put through hell all over again...
Anyway, enjoy I suppose? I'm really looking forward to writing this, I have a lot of stuff planned for it.
ONE
"I know, Mom. I know. I'm hurrying back to my apartment as quickly as I can, okay? I'm being careful, I promise." I reassured my mom for the billionth time that I was fine. That I was doing my best to get back to the safety of my studio apartment and that I wouldn't be out in the worst of the snowstorm. I struggled with the brown paper grocery bags, stopping to shift them around in my arms and attempt keeping a better grip and when I did, I felt someone press against me from behind. I felt the strap of my messenger bag being tugged on and then I felt it slip free. A man took off running down the sidewalk, holding my bright red messenger bag against him close and tight and I fumed, dropping my groceries as I ended the conversation with my mom abruptly, "Mom, I've gotta go, someone just snatched my purse. I'm going straight home, I'm safe." I ignored my mom's firm commands not to chase or engage the thief, that I should go down to the local police station and give a report instead and let the cops handle everything. I hung up and shoved the Samsung Galaxy down into the hip pocket of my leather jacket, grumbling as I took off at a slippery full tilt run down the icy sidewalk in the hopes of catching up to my would be purse thief and taking my damn purse back.
I caught sight of the guy up ahead just as he was knocked to the ground by another guy with jet black hair. The other guy was shouting as he straddled my would be purse thief and I hurried over, thinking that if nothing else, I could grab my bag and get the hell out of Dodge, leaving the two of them to fight it out instead. Before I got the chance, two of the local mob dons Sonny Corinthos and Julian Jerome were both out on the sidewalk, breaking up the fight between the two guys.
The guy with jet black hair spotted me on the crosswalk the opposite side of the street and he held up my bag with a cocky and triumphant smirk. As soon as the light flickered on indicating that it was safe for me to cross the street, I jogged over, out of breath.
I took my bag from him when he held it out. Smirking at him as I tilted my head slightly and raised my hand, tousling snow-dampened hair. "Thanks." I muttered breathlessly, quick to add, "I was going to try and get it back myself. You didn't have to do that, sir."
The guy shrugged as if it were nothing. Raising a hand to rake his fingers through his hair as he gazed at me thoughtfully. That cocky smirk softening just a little. "My name's M- uhh.. It's Stone. What's yours?"
When he hesitated and it seemed as if he were going to tell me another name, my brow raised. I quickly put it out of my mind though, because what business is it of mine of the guy's choosing not to be forthcoming about his name, anyway? Port Charles is a big city, I highly doubt I'll even see him again at any point in the foreseeable future. Even though I did find it odd. Why not just tell me his actual name?
Reaching down to my favorite pair of combat boots to produce a handful of cash, I held it out to him. Taking hold of his hand and curling his hand around wadded bills when he refused to take the money as a reward. I pouted a little. "C'mon, big guy. It's the least I can do. You didn't have to do that and you took a huge risk just now."
I remembered that he'd asked my name and as I pulled my hand away from the warmth of the way his hand enveloped my own presently, I introduced myself with a polite smile. "My name is Jen. Most everybody calls me Jenny though, despite the fact that it's childish." I blushed ever so slightly when Stone responded, "Jenny fits you better, though. It's cute and sweet, kinda like you... Not childish at all." and his eyes roamed over me slowly, as if he were taking me in. I shuffled my feet, not quite sure what to do next. The ringing of my cell phone shattered through my daze and I gave a sheepish sigh while shaking my head. "Thank you for getting my bag back, Stone. I should get going, otherwise my mom's liable to send the Army out looking for me. She's kind of overprotective like that."
After lingering a second or two longer than I should've, I managed to make myself walk away, taking out my cell phone as I did. My mom's voice burst through the static on the other end of the line and I pleaded, "Yikes, mom. Turn down the volume, please? It kind of sounds like you're shouting in my ear."
"Sorry, baby doll. I just wanted to see if you were back at your apartment yet, because I happened t' see the weather forecast for Port Charles on the news and that storm's heading your way. You know dad and me worry."
"I know, mama. I swear, I'm heading there now."
"Did you find a cop to speak with about your bag being snatched?" I could hear my father ask from the background, adding mostly as an afterthought, "I told you to keep all your cash in your pocket or on your physical being, little bit."
I laughed softly. "My money was actually in my boot, daddy. Just would've been a real big hassle to replace my id card and cancel my bank cards and stuff. Thankfully, I'm not going to have to."
"Jennifer Colby Martin, so help me God, if I find out you chased down the person who made off with your purse..." my father had the phone now, concern and gentle scolding filling his voice. "Dad, no. Oh, I was going to. I was going to tase the hell out of him with my new taser you guys insisted on buying and mailing to me, but alas, I got denied the fun. No, this guy must've seen what happened because he chased the thief down and beat the crap out of him then took my bag back. He just gave it to me a little while ago."
"You thanked him, yeah?"
"I gave him a little money." I answered my mom as I made my way down the sidewalk. Stopping to pick up my bags of groceries where I'd stashed them before taking off at a run moments before. Continuing my walk towards the studio apartment I'm renting over Kelly's Diner. As I stopped to knock the snow off the soles of my boots at the door, the owner of the diner called out to me.
"There's plenty of chili left, kid. Maybe even a grilled cheese."
"If that's a hint you want to play me in a game of Texas Hold Em sir, give me just a few minutes and I'll be back down. Gotta go put away my groceries." I gave a soft laugh and turned my attention to the nightly check in with my mom and dad as I trudged up the back stairwell and stopped at the door to my little studio apartment, digging around for my key.
The lights overhead started to flicker and I jumped a little, swearing under my breath. Prompting my mom to warn me, "Mouth, baby doll."
"Mom, I can't help it the lights flickering in my building caught me by surprise." I teased gently, putting the key in the lock and making it inside my apartment just in time to have every single light go off. I grumbled as I sat my groceries down on the kitchen island. "I'm home safe now." I informed my mom. I could almost hear her breathe a sigh of relief.
"I'm going to get off here now, baby doll. If you get scared during the storm, me and Daddy have our phones on, okay?"
"Moooom. I'm fine. It's gonna be fine. We do have snowstorms in Pine Valley, it's not anything I'm not used to."
"I know you're grown, baby doll, but you're always gonna be my little girl. I'm always gonna worry. I just worry more now, with you livin all the way in Port Charles."
"I love you, Mama. Tell Daddy I love him too."
My dad took the phone back. I smiled, leaning against my counter, listening to him as he rattled through a never-ending list of things just like usual. Concerned about my well-being because now instead of merely a phone call and a quick 6 minute drive across town, there are many miles separating us. "I love you, Daddy. I'll talk to you guys again tomorrow night."
"Talk to you then, little bit."
After hanging up with my parents, I changed out of my wet clothes and into some warmer ones. Grabbing a weathered deck of playing cards and the few candles I could spare just in case Mike, the old man who owns the diner, didn't have any at his own apartment the floor above mine. Then I made my way down the stairs, using my cell phone as a flashlight to light my path down.
I stood at the bottom of the stairs for a second or two when I heard Mike talking to somebody else and stepping out just a little to try and see who it was because I'm nothing if not nosy, I quickly realized that it was Mr. Corinthos. Used to his visits now and then, I wandered in.
"I bought down some candles, sir. In case you didn't have any."
Mike smiled, thanking me as he took the candles. Sonny chuckled as he nodded to the cards in my hand. "So you're the one who's been playin cards with my dad."
I smiled, nodding. Taking my seat on the stool across the counter. Wincing as I happened to catch sight of the white out conditions outside. Sonny sat down two stools away. I shuffled the cards and Mike went back into the kitchen, emerging a minute or two later with two bowls of chili and a plate piled high with grilled cheese, setting the food down to the side. Sonny wandered back into the kitchen, I guess to get his own bowl of chili. Which was strange because usually, Mr. Corinthos doesn't really stick around long at all. He pretty much stops by, checks in to make sure his father's alright and goes his own way until the next time.
I couldn't imagine having that tense a relationship with my own parents. I guess because we've always been close, despite them both having the tendency to linger and overprotect. But I know they're only doing that because they care and they've already had so much bad stuff happen to the ones they loved in the past. Both of them have lost kids. Or had kids go down paths in life that were far less than desirable.
"Hey kid." Sonny spoke up after a few seconds. "Mind dealin me in this hand? I've got a little time to kill before I gotta make my way back home."
I nodded, dealing the three of us a hand of cards. As we played, the conversation was mostly idle. But I quickly discovered that Sonny actually did have a reason for sticking around when about three rounds in, he turned to me and asked, " How's it been living here so far?"
"It's been good, I mean between work and stuff I really haven't gotten a chance to get out and do any sort of sight-seeing, sir." I shrugged, reaching out to take a sip of the Dr. Pepper sitting in front of me.
" I see you met my son earlier. Morgan?"
I raised a brow. I didn't mention that he introduced himself as Stone, but Sonny's next statement gave me the slightest clue as to why he might have done it. "He's a good kid. Just going through a lot right now. Things are real tense between us. Him getting the shit end of genetics and being diagnosed with bipolar didn't help any."
"I'm sorry to hear that, sir. He seemed like a real nice guy." I mused. Filing away that the things Sonny told me about his son seemed to be both a nudge in some form and a warning in other ways. Like.. He was hinting that he wanted Stone and I to get to know each other, but at the same time, he was warning me about him too.
And me, being me, I didn't really read too much into either thing. I highly doubt a man as handsome as Stone would give me a second glance and even if he did, my job at the hospital and volunteering at the women's shelter and the kids gymnastics class I'd taken on to teach down at the gym recently kept my hands pretty full.
Besides, the thought came, now that I'm thinking about it, I've seen the guy around a time or two and he's always with that Jerome girl. The literal knockout. The one who looks like she's always up to no good. The girl I avoid at all costs just because she strikes me as the drama-filled type.
Realizing that fact, I quickly put any of those little sparks and tummy flutters I felt earlier during my run in with Sonny's son right out of my head because if that's his type, we'd never work.
Mike and Sonny got caught up discussing exactly what was going on with Morgan lately and despite telling myself just to tune it out and speak when spoken to, I found myself listening intently. Offering the most gentle opinions and hints on occasion so maybe Sonny would take it easier on the poor guy. Going through everything they were discussing with a new Bipolar disorder on top of it was nothing if not daunting and honestly, they're lucky the guy wants to get out of bed most days.
I could've told Sonny exactly what went wrong, but I chose to keep my observations about the man's obvious parenting style to myself. It's not my business. Until tonight, I barely interacted with the guy.
The game came to an end and yawning, I slipped off the stool. Gathering up the dishes and taking them back to the kitchen just so Mike and Mr. Corinthos could talk more privately. I'd just finished washing the dishes when Sonny cleared his throat from the doorway. "I'll see ya around, kid. I just wanted to tell you that tonight when the two of you were talkin after Morgan gave you your bag back, was the first time I saw him smile in weeks."
I smiled, nodding. "He's kind of a flirt. It was amusing, actually. Maybe I'll see him around. It's like I said though.. I stay really busy."
Sonny nodded and walked out, leaving me to stand there and try to figure out just what the hell had taken place. Wondering why he felt the need to tell me his son's life story and why it felt like he was both hinting that he wanted me to get to know the guy and warning me about him at the same time. Annoyed with myself for even letting any of it occupy my brain, I shook my head. Stepping back into the main part of the diner to tell Mike goodnight before making my way back upstairs.
Once I was in my apartment, I flopped down on my couch. Scrolling through my phone idly for an hour or two. I wound up caving in to the burning desire I had to look up Stone. When anything I did find kept leading back to Morgan Stone Corinthos, I fell for the bait and that's exactly how I wound up finding the guy's Instagram.
Scrolling through the photos and video clips, shaking my head at myself as I mumbled aloud, "Oh, you are definitely my type but.. My type is always trouble. My type is precisely why I moved here to start over." and closing my phone, I made a mental note to maybe steer clear of Morgan Corinthos. I figured that given the size of the town we live in, it shouldn't be hard at all to do.
Little did I know...
