TaylorChesney: Thanks so much for taking the time to reply!! I'm so glad you're enjoying the story!!

IlovetowriteSMP: Thanks! I particularly enjoy Maxie and have been for the last few months so you can expect a lot of her! This story mainly revolves around she and Georgie.

katmere77: I'm glad t6hat you're continuing to enjoy this story! Hope I don't disappoint!

Chapter Three

Zack was used to being in some kind of trouble. It was a habit of his, ending up on the wrong side of…everything.

So as he sat in the back room of Jake's with Georgianna Jones leaning over him, a cool cloth being held onto his bleeding skull he knew he was once again in a lot of trouble.

When he had observed her in the diner he had known she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, Reading a book, not distracted by anything. A person that could focus on one thing so intently, without distraction, was amazing. He had been impressed, she was focused and gorgeous.

And then he learned her name. Georgie Jones. Georgianna Jones. He had heard that name before and not just from Cooper Barrett. From another man, one who was far more invested in the girl. A man who scared him shitless, the only man who could- that man was her father, Frisco Jones and he was the one thing that stood between his freedom and death. So when Zack's eyes fluttered open and he was looking into the warm, gentle eyes of Georgianna? He knew that once again he was on that wrong end.

But at that particular moment that wasn't what was really bothering him. What was much, much worse was that she stood there, looking stunning in a short black denim skirt and matching lacey top, smelling like some kind of heaven and looking completely desirable while he had no idea what to say to her. Girls had never been his strong point- maybe it was because he had spent many formative dating years in a cell and then when he was finally released from that cell he was bent on doing work for the government so he never had to go back or maybe it was because he had tried all of his life to be the opposite of his manwhore of a brother or maybe it was because no other girl had quite gotten his attention like this one…

It could have been a lot of things and he was cursing them all at that very moment.

"This is going to sting a little," she warned. But to him it already was stinging and not just a little. She was applying something to clean the wound and it hurt but not enough to distract him from her. Nor was it enough for the very natural reaction his body was having as she pressed herself closer to him trying to get better access to where that coward had knocked him senseless. "I really wish you would let me take you to the hospital."

He shook his head.

"Oh of course not," she sighed, her chest heaved and he winced- not from the pain in his head. "Why would you let me take you to the hospital, right? I mean what could trained doctors do to help you that I couldn't? Oh, that's right- scans and tests to make sure there's no permanent damage, professional care to prevent more injury and lets not forget…medicine!"

"I'm fine." He managed to get out in a murmur.

"Oh? This gaping hole in your head begs to differ."

"It's nothing."

She pulled away from him but the warmth that her body provided still lingered on his skin. "Can't you please just…not be such a guy and let me take you to get professional care?" She placed the bloodied cloth on the table next to her and met his gaze. Eyes like that should come with some kind of warning label, 'don't look into directly, may cause incoherent thought'. He was about to allow her to take him anywhere, even to the hospital to see his ass of a brother.

And just as he was about to nod the door opened and in walked the man that called himself 'Coleman'. "Are you almost done with him, Sugar?" He asked, running a hand through his hair, "Rainbow is getting a little impatient."

Georgianna shook her head, "tell her to go on without me, Coleman. I'll catch up."

He made a face, tucking his hands into his pockets. "She has a habit of killing the messenger, Sugar."

"She'll be fine with it, trust me"

"Okay, have it your way. Just be careful with this one, he took quite a few boys out tonight in a bar fight that he started." Coleman gave her a pointed look before walking out the door.

Finally Zack found something innocuous to ask, "you know him?"

She bit her lower lip and tucked a piece of her silken hair behind her ear. "His daughter Rainbow is my best friend," she explained with a small laugh, "and yes, before you ask, Rainbow is her real name. Her mom's…well her mom is sort of a hippy." Georgie motioned towards the door that Coleman had exited, "and he's just…Coleman….Oh, I just realized, I never asked your name? I'm Georgianna Jones but mostly everyone calls me Georgie, except for Coleman and Rainbow, they call me Sugar and Spinelli calls me…well he has a variety of names for me and…Oh God, I'm rambling." Her cheeks turned a very sweet shade of red.

Her nervousness made him smile and more importantly lessened the tension building inside him for not being able to say anything. "Zachary Drake."

"Drake?" She stepped back, "As in…Patrick Drake? Any relation?"

And his heart plummeted. "…you know him, huh?"

"Of course!"

Just. Great. He began to notice the throbbing in his head again and it was even less pleasant then when she first helped him sit up in the ally. If this sweet girl had been on of his brother's many conquests he was going to beat him to a pulp. "He's…he's my older brother."

She tilted her head to the side, furrowing her brow. "Really? That's weird, you'd think I'd have heard him say something about a brother…"

"We're not close."

She shrugged, "but still, I mean, he'd say something, right?"

"I guess."

She stared at him for a minute, as though measuring him up. He felt inadequate under her gaze but it had little to do with how she was staring at him. He knew she was only looking to see Patrick in him. It was a very depressing thought. "Family drama, huh?" She gave him a look of sympathy, "I have my share of it too. I think everyone does."

He could only nod. Of course she would understand and of course she wasn't going to press him on the subject because she was damned near perfect. And of course Patrick would have seen that and snatched her up. Of course.

"But hey, could you not tell your brother, or, well anyone, about seeing me here?" She asked, looking hopeful, "Because really? No one would understand it. They'd all just jump to conclusions-"

"Sugar, let's go." The door swung open again and in walked a rather dismally dressed dark haired, pale skinned girl with heavy black make up.

"Oh, um…Zachary?"

"I won't say anything, Georgianna."

She paused at the name then smiled brilliantly, "thanks."

She turned to the petite raven-haired girl. She was pretty, Zack noticed absently, probably overlooked because of the make-up and he came to the conclusion that was why she wore it. He looked back to Georgianna who was glancing over her shoulder as she left, "I hope your head doesn't feel too bad."

His head. He had almost forgotten.

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"No, no- this time I'll get it." Maxie held the basketball in her hands, eyes squinted and then she launched it into the air, jumping as she let go of the ball.

Miss.

She cursed, "this game sucks."

Robin laughed, catching the ball after it ricocheted off the backboard, "no, you just suck at it, there's a difference." Robin launched it into the net and made a whooping gesture with her hand. At a roll of Maxie's eyes, Robin sighed. "Here, let me show you how to do it, okay? Now place on hand here," She put Maxie's hand on the bottom of the ball, "this one here" and she moved Maxie's hand to the side, "now bend your wrist here- okay, I think you have it. Now try."

Maxie nodded, seemingly concentrating on the net. This time the launch had more strength and made it directly into the net. "Swoosh!"

"Okay girls, play time is over. Two against one." Patrick put in arrogantly as he swooped the ball into a dribble. "let me show you how it's done."

"Oh? Are you trying to impress us? I think that would be the only way you'd risk your precious hands in a basketball game."

"I'm already impressed" Maxie added in, standing next to her cousin, "anyone who can be that hot and have another skill is pretty remarkable. So if you want to just, not play basketball and do something fun, that's totally okay with me."

"I can think of a few things."

Maxie whirled around, "Cooper," she whispered.

"We need to talk, Maxie."

Reluctantly, she nodded.

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Robin watched as her cousin walked off with Cooper then she turned to Patrick, "that was your doing wasn't it, Patrick Drake?" She accused her mischievous boyfriend. "You called Coop."

He smiled back at her, "well, we did need alone time."

She whirled around, smiling and scooped up a basketball with one hand. "I guess we'll have to go for a little one on one, huh?"

"Not the kind of one on one I was looking forward to but…" He shrugged his shoulders and gave her a playful grin before advancing towards her, arms spread as she tried to get past him, dribbling the ball. He was centimeters away from her, hovering just close enough so they were barely not touching. Her heart raced, for several reasons and she sidestepped him them made her way to the basket only to miss and before she could retrieve the ball Patrick grabbed her, pulling her close and pressing his lips against hers in a kiss that made her heart beat even faster. Afterwards she leaned against his body, smiling. "Robin," he whispered, "I need to tell you something."

"Oh?" She looked up at him, standing straight again. "What is it?"

He touched her face, his own carrying a somber, pained expression. Robin wasn't sure what to say so she remained quiet, waiting for him to unload whatever was bothering him. Maybe he'd start acting like himself again and not look so troubled. "You know, I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have found you. I was just…stumbling around this planet, not thinking about anything important, just having fun and not caring about anything except…myself, really. My reputation as a doctor and as a ladies man, it's all that mattered…until you."

"Come on," Robin smiled, "you weren't that ba-" She stopped, considered it and shook her head, "never mind."

"Yeah, I was that bad. I was shallow before you, Robin. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm handsome enough to get away with it," he smirked, "but it's no way to live. I didn't care about my family either, well I did but I tried to block them out, you know?" He continued, his voice getting a little shaky, "I need for you to get that, okay?"

She nodded, confused, "Patrick, we've been over this, you're dad hurt you. But the two of you are getting better, you're not the Cleavers but at least your talking now."

"Yeah," he sighed, "and I really have you to thank for that. Without you I would have probably gone on hating him forever and in the end I had no right to."

Now she was really confused, "Patrick, what are you talking about? You had every right to be angry-"

"That's just it, Robin, I don't. I have no rights at all."

"Can you just…clarify all of this?" She asked, a heavy feeling resonating in her gut at how serious he looked. " Please?"

"But first just…you know that I love you, right?"

Of that she was certain, "of course I do, Patrick and I love you too." She took his hands in hers encouragingly, "you make me so incredibly hap-" Her phone ringing cut her off, she sighed heavily and she reached into her pocket to pull it out. "Oh, it's the hospital…" She groaned, they were never going to get any time alone.

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"I just want you to know, Maxie, that I told Georgie I was Three."

Her mouth fell open, she stopped dead and whirled around, "you did what?"

They were in the middle of the park, politely being ignored by the usual joggers, walkers and kids playing.

Cooper raised his eyebrows, taken aback by the absolute horror she displayed at his telling the truth. It was sometimes hard to remember that Maxie Jones was not like other girls, the truth was flexible, almost liquefied from her perspective. She molded it to her needs and apparently telling her sister his sins was not part of the mold she desired. "I…told her…everything."

"She could tell Mac, Coop! What were you thinking?" Maxie was shaking her head, eyes still wide, "she didn't even know if you were good enough for me before- which is ridiculous since you're the best thing that's happened to me in a long, long time- but now? Now she's going to do everything her brainy self can think up, which is a whole lot, to get rid of you!"

"Whoa," it was all so much to take in at once. How could one girl say so much in so little time? He had to think before speaking, always, and even then he didn't always get it out right. Her words came out in a stream, it was really an endearing quality. "I'm the best thing that's happened to you in a long time? You don't want to get rid of me? You'll have to excuse my surprise- but what?"

"Of course you are!" Maxie made a frustrated squeal, clenching her fists into little balls and then groaned. "Coop, of course you are, you're amazing, you're nice, you treat me well and to top it all off your super hot and great in bed."

"Really?"

She nodded, "yes! Yes! Okay? God." She rolled her eyes, "you're such a loyal, trustworthy guy, Coop."

"Then would you mind explaining to me why you've started that huge fight with me, Maxie? You've been avoiding me too."

She glared, "we got into a fight, I didn't start it."

"And what was that fight about?" Coop asked, raising a brow and folding his arms over his chest.

She shrugged, "I don't remember."

"Then why are you still mad?"

She opened her mouth to say something, then shut it again She began it again and then groaned. "Well now I'm angry for a whole new reason! Why would you tell my sister anything, Coop? She's way protective and trust me, she's a smart cookie. She'll figure out a way to keep us apart."

He snorted, "you're finding ways to do that all on your own- I guess you're just faster then your sister."

She glared, "and what was that ish about sending Logan after her, hmm?"

"I didn't do that, I wouldn't do that." Coop shook his head, "you're just not dealing with the problem. The first problem." In his attempt to leave no room for misunderstanding he earned himself the death gaze, usually saved for the people like Lulu and Elizabeth Spencer, not him. It stung. "Maxie, I want this to work, I want us to work- hell, I just want you, okay?"

She blinked at him, face ashen. "You don't know what you're asking."

He groaned, "I'm not the smartest Maxie, but I'm not a complete idiot, okay? I know what I want, I know what I'm asking for. You. Yeah, so you're a little messed up, so am I! So is everyone! Does that mean we all have to just…be alone?"

"Sometimes being alone is easier," Maxie replied heatedly, "sometimes being alone is the only safe thing. Because people leave, Coop. They always leave. They go looking for the next adventure, they go home to their mother's and they go back to their wives. People just don't stay." There were tears in her eyes and it looked as though she was trying to hold back more. Before he could react to her absolute loneliness she whirled around and began running off. He stared at her as she faded into the park, disappearing completely.

How could he argue?

He knew just as well as her that people always left. Because before this point he had always been the one leaving.

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He was still handsome.

V Ardanowski was used to having crushes. Unrequited love was an agonizing emotion she had come to grips with long ago. So while she was supposed to be doing leg work on a homicide case and instead watching Mac Scorpio she wasn't surprised that her heart skipped a beat.

He was smiling at Cruz as they walked across the station and he turned slightly, nodded at her and then continued into his office, Cruz following.

V sighed heavily, it was difficult to be cursed with eternal crushes because she knew, sans Simon, guys just didn't go after girls like her. The kind that didn't need rescuing, the kind that thought for herself, made her own path and did what she always thought was right.

How…provincial. How undesirable.

In other words, men were entirely too stupid.

She had considered lesbianism briefly after her break up with Simon. Surely women would consider her absolute stability to be an attractive quality. It was unfortunate that she just couldn't get attracted to women. Very sad. But she made a good friend out of the whole ordeal and really, one could never have enough friends.

So stupid guys it was.

It was time to put her focus back on her work if she catered to her school girl crush any longer she'd never get work done.

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"I'm glad you could make it." Bobbie opened the door for Maxie and immediately handed her a bag of balloons. "Lucas' party has been moved up to tomorrow. I've already made the necessary phone calls- everything will be set. I need you to blow up these balloons."

Maxie just rolled her eyes and took the balloons into the living room of the Brownstone, leaving Bobbie to go into the kitchen and finish making the desserts. Mike was kind enough to help her with the meals, leaving her to drown in chocolate goodness. It was too bad that he was leaving town to finally be with Tammy, she was going to miss him managing Kelly's and she hadn't found a new manager yet.

She couldn't give up Nursing to do it, the medical field was her passion. Besides, someone had to give Epiphany a run for her money!

Bobbie clasped her hands and looked at all the ingredients on the table. Lucas would be so pleasantly surprised, she had prepared all of his favorite desserts. He was going to love it! And the special guests…

Bobbie smiled, pleased with herself. The party was going to be a night to remember.

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The rush. The power. It was intoxicating.

Georgie knew she couldn't tell, that no one would understand, that if she got caught they'd take it all away from her. Usually she'd get that, she'd support Mac's need to take care of her, to protect her. Like herself, like Maxie, they were all the other had. They were a unit, a family and they loved each other because they wouldn't leave. Not like Robert or Felicia or Frisco or any of their other family members.

Even Robin had left for a while, when things got tough, when love had failed. She also understood why Robin would want to protect her- she had lost so much as well.

But they couldn't protect her forever…

So they just couldn't know.

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"Do you want to spend all this time in prison or do you want to help your country, Drake?"

Zack downed a shot, the words ringing in his memory. They had changed his life, they had brightened his future…hell, they had made a future possible. But the price…well, everything came with a price. He willingly paid the toll, worked for the little government agency, stopped the 'bad guys' and was now moving on with his life.

No probation, no problems. Just the memories of being Agent Frisco Jones lackey for a year. He learned a lot though, got his license for investigation in the process. It had been worth it.

Until he walked into Port Charles and saw Georgianna Jones. Frisco's daughter…

Frisco's incredibly attractive, intelligent and kind daughter.

"You look like you need another shot, kid." Coleman stated, putting the glass in front of him, both brows raised. "It's on the house."

"Thanks." Zack downed it quickly and then leaned back in his chair.

Beautiful, beautiful Georgianna…daughter to Frisco Jones, living in a town with Patrick and Noah…

He should have been out the door, hitting the bus and never looking back. His job just fell through, his family was in town and the man he had called boss for far too long had a daughter that was possibly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Of course she was probably already dating Patrick too.

Staying would be asking for trouble.

Zack looked up at Coleman, "know anywhere a guy like me could find some work?"

The man smirked, "yeah, yeah I do. That Kelly's place is looking for a short order cook- and think about it, you'd get to work with that sweet girl who doctored you all up." He was smug, eyes knowing. "Pretty little thing Sugar is, isn't she?"

Zack said nothing.

But he took what Coleman said into consideration, after all, he could cook.

hope you enjoyed!