A/N: Okay...so I've seen where some feel it's prudent to make a disclaimer. So here goes...I don't own the characters developed by General Hospital, ABC, yadda yadda...I do own the story but in no way intend to harm or disclose anything that could possibly cause me and my bank account harm. ;-P

Chapter 17

"So Uncle Mac was right. You two are an item?"

"Uh…yeah." Maxie gave a half smile half worried look at her cousins disbelieving comment.

Jason squeezed her shoulder and leaned to place a kiss atop Maxie's head. "We sure are."

He emphasized it as if it was the most wonderful thing in the world and to him, it was. It caused Maxie to feel more confident. She hadn't had to face the outside world with regard to her relationship with Jason. Well, their past at least. And Robin was important to both of them for different reasons.

Robin always seemed to be Jason's true north. That guidance that he used for right and wrong. At least years ago. Even after they broke up. He would talk to her and it would help him find his way.

And with Maxie, she idolized her older cousin. Always had. Robin was the first to lose her parents and have Mac raising her. She was strong and independent and smart. And she was riddled with more adversity than anyone she knew and yet, she kept going. She made goals, focused and achieved them. Even Emma was a goal. Patrick...finding true love.

Maxie always wanted to be her but never seemed to know the right way to achieve her goals so when she didn't obtain them or she did but they were goals geared to further destroy her, she would die a little each time seeing the look in her father's eyes, and Georgie's and especially Robin's.

But Jason had never been a goal she set out to achieve. It just sort of happened when they weren't looking. And even though she was still so scared because the rug was always ripped out underneath her, Jason always managed to help her find the calm and peace she only found while in his arms. A safety she'd never known before.

"Interesting." Robin commented half under her breath. Then she looked at Jake. "So how are you doing Jake?"

Jason felt Maxie deflate under his arm. Robin had made it very clear in one word that she wasn't a fan of the new pairing. It angered him but then he didn't care what Robin or anyone thought of their relationship. But he knew Maxie did.

Jake murmured a 'good' and then looked to his father and Maxie for their reactions. Jake was an intuitive little boy and he could tell that the lady sitting in front of him wasn't very happy for his Daddy and Maxie.

Jason decided to let the comment slide and hoped to lighten the mood. "The rest of us are good too. So what brings you here? Did Mac tell you where we live?"

"Actually it was Bobbie. The other night at the hospital it was pretty dead and we were talking at the hub about Michael and I mentioned you and she said you guys were really thriving and that Maxie's boutique was a real money maker. I asked her about it and she said you named it after Georgie." She shifted on the outdoor sofa and leaned over to pet Precious who licked her hand. "I got curious as to how you guys were doing and I figured there couldn't be that many Georgie's Boutiques in the world so I did an internet search and found you guys here."

"Oh" Was Maxie's only response. She'd known her cousin all her life and could already tell that Robin Scorpio-Drake did NOT approve of her and was here on a fact finding mission.

"Yeah, the boutique's doing really great. Maxie's a great business woman. I'm so proud of her. In another year I can probably quit my job." Jason laughed trying to lighten the mood as he eyed the beautiful blond in his arms.

"Why would you do that Daddy?" Jake asked and Jason realized that maybe Jake didn't need to be here for this conversation.

"Jake why don't you go take the roses inside for Maxie to clean and put in the vases. Then you need to wash your hands and you can put on your trunks and you and Precious can go swimming." Jake could have cared less about any of the adults at the mention of going in the pool. They had installed a bigger pool now that he could swim and if this summer turned out okay, his father promised to put in a real pool in the ground like Ling-Mei had. He took off running toward the basket of flowers and scooped them up, Precious hopping beside him excited form his energy. "Oh and call your brother at Juniors and tell him to come home. We have family in town."

Jake turned and looked at his father curiously at the mention of family and then shrugged and pulled open the sliding glass door letting him and Precious in and Prince out. Prince shot across the patio as fast as his little legs could carry him and Maxie smiled a genuine smile as she scooped up the ten pound puppy. Jason dropped his hand from Maxie's shoulder when she bent over but then tugged her and Prince over to the lounge chair that Jake and Precious had just exited and pulled Maxie down to sit beside him. In their chair. Putting a possessive hand on her knee.

"So you looked us up and just came down here to see us?" Maxie asked, hesitation in her voice.

"I didn't do anything that would raise suspicion. Even Patrick thinks I am down here at a conference on the uses of new psychiatric medicines with regard to memory loss. There actually is a convention here in town for that. I guess it was just karma that it was in the town I wanted to fly to to see you guys."

There was that damn karma word and Jason knew as soon as she said it, that Maxie was going to freak out again. And it didn't take long for her to confirm his suspicions. He heard her audible gasp and then looked to see her face stricken in fear.

"Maxie don't." he whispered in her ear as he put his arm around her again.

"Maxie I must say, you are the biggest shock. Look at you. You're so…Carol Brady."

"Why would you say that?" Maxie asked.

"Maybe because I haven't seen you wear jean shorts since you were seven and you were doing laundry when I walked into the garage."

"Carol Brady never wore jean shorts either and…I would only wear them around the house. I mean…" she looked to Jason but his face was stoic and stone-like. "I guess being called Carol Brady would be a compliment. She's like the best TV mom ever so…whatever."

"Who's Carol Brady?" Jason asked.

Both women look at him as if he'd just grown three heads.

"What?" He stared wide eyed at both gawking women.

They both broke into a fit of giggles and Jason let out a sigh of relief at the sound. Maybe this wasn't so bad. Maybe the awkwardness was over. Maybe Robin would support them and then Maxie could finally calm down.

Maybe.

~%~%~%~%~%~

Jason cooked Kebabs on the grill. A special recipe Maxie had learned that she actually had perfected. The marinade was a combination of Catalina Dressing, Soy Sauce and Onion Powder. The Kebabs were a favorite and they cooked them often.

Jason always ate three skewers of pineapple, onion, red, green and orange bell pepper and mushrooms. Then one skewer of jumbo butterfly shrimp and one skewer of cubed chicken. Maxie and the boys would split two skewers of each of the meats and four skewers of the vegetables but then Jason would finish whatever was left on Maxie's plate, as had become their custom.

Maxie would do all of the preparation including making rice for them to eat with the kebabs. She learned quickly that she had to make a double batch, making enough for Jason to then eat more of at midnight when he would go hunting for food after sex. He swore the kebabs were better cold than fresh from the grill.

Robin was impressed and had even entered the simple recipe for the marinade into her Blackberry, telling Maxie she would make it for Mac and Patrick when she got back home. The girls spent time with Jake at the pool, swinging their legs on the side of the deck and throwing the frisbee along with Jason for Precious and Popeye to chase after.

Cameron had come home with Billy, Hannah and Junior in tow and all three curious friends met Maxie's cousin. Cameron didn't recognize Robin, or if he did he didn't let on, so that was a relief. They didn't stay long, knowing that the visit was a surprise for both Jason and Maxie.

Once dinner was over, Jason offered to take the boys out for ice cream while Robin and Maxie caught up with each other more. He knew there was girl talk to be done and could tell both women were just waiting for the opportunity when he and the boys weren't around.

He didn't mind. Sure it was nice seeing Robin but he didn't feel the same about her that he did long ago. She was more just a part of his past. His focus was on his present and the future he wanted to share with the four inhabitants of the Webster-Johnson household.

When he got back with the boys, he put them to bed. Robin would be staying in Jake's bedroom and the boys would both bunk in Cam's room. It didn't take long for them both to fall asleep. Jason was reading a travel book on the Fiji Islands and both zonked out when he got to the climate and average rainfall.

When he entered the living room both girls were headed out onto the patio with fruity drinks in tow. Jason grabbed a beer from the fridge and joined them.

"It's been a very interesting day." Robin commented as she laid down on the lounge chair. Jason and Maxie's lounge chair much to Jason's chagrin.

Jason's brows furrowed but then he smiled when he saw Maxie pat the open spot on the couch next to her. Quickly he moved over and slid in behind her bringing one leg up to stretch longways on the couch and Maxie slid up close to him pressing her back into his chest.

"Pretty normal for around here." Jason murmured as he leaned in and kissed Maxie's bare shoulder. She had changed into a simple pink sundress that was strapless and came just to her knees. He loved that dress.

"Yeah well not exactly normal. You didn't finish the lawn and I didn't finish the laundry but that's okay. The boys have clothes for school tomorrow and I'll just finish up tomorrow morning." She turned her head slightly to Jason and he grinned at her then placed another kiss on her shoulder again. His arms came up around her midsection and he squeezed her tightly to him.

"I never thought I'd see the day when Jason Morgan would become so...domestic."

"It's Jason Johnson." Maxie reminded her with a hint of aggravation.

All day they had corrected her. Confusion really set in when she said something in front of Cameron prompting the intuitive little boy to start asking questions.

"Listen Robin...it's really important that you keep to our cover story. We don't like to lie to the boys and we've found that the more time passes, they've forgotten their past." Jason ground out through gritted teeth.

"Boy that must be really hard on you Maxie." Robin laughed.

"What is?" Maxie asked.

"Not lying. To boys especially. I didn't think you had it in you. Of course the boys forgetting their past helps huh?" Robin retorted and Jason cringed when he felt Maxie become stiff in his arms.

"I...I've changed Robin."

"That much is obvious but Maxie it's just a matter of time."

"What's just a matter of time?" Maxie pulled from Jason's arms and moved down the couch away from him. "You don't know...you haven't been around."

"No I haven't but I know you Maxie. You'll only be able to keep up this charade of being the good girl that does laundry and cooks Jason's favorite meals and corrects the boys grammar. Suzy Homemaker you aren't. You're MO is more like Maxie Homewrecker."

"Okay…before this gets out of control. Robin…Maxie and I are in love. I guess Mac told you all about it when he got home from his visit last November. And he approved. Once he saw how this family runs, how could he not? I love your cousin and it's obvious you don't approve but we aren't asking for it." Then he looked at Maxie's wide eyes and he saw her visibly cringe when he told her cousin that they didn't care what she thought. "But Maxie and you are family and your opinion IS important to her."

"Well in my opinion, this whole set up is ridiculous. If you weren't stuck together, you would have never even given Maxie a forward glance."

Jason started to speak but was cut off by Maxie who squared her shoulders and sat up straighter. "Robin, I admire you a lot. I have since I was little. But this…this isn't you Robin. You were the one who asked Jason to take me with him. You wanted me safe."

"Yeah but I don't want you tearing apart Jason and the boys lives in the process. You're destructive Maxie. Jason's been hurt enough and those boys…they lost their mother. You can't be Maxie Jones World Terror and expect them to survive it."

"Maxie Webster" Maxie murmured and Jason could tell that all Maxie's strength and bravado had just flown the coop with Robin's scathing blows.

"Maxie Webster…" Robin let out a little chuckle. "Maxie, you're still Maxie. You are a walking relationship disaster. I always knew you had a crush on Jason when he and I were dating but come on Maxie…seriously."

"Robin I don't' understand…" Maxie started but was cut off.

"Maxie I have always stuck up for you, even when you did the craziest things.

"Hold on Robin. Maxie adores you. She…"

"Maxie adores Maxie and she always will. And I'm not going to sit here and pretend that this…fling is okay or that it will end up as anything other than the train wreck it will become."

"Where do you get off…" Jason again was interrupted.

"I'm not the one that was walking around with a pillow under my shirt pretending it was a baby for months and then pretending to have a miscarriage. I mean…Elizabeth must be rolling over in her grave knowing that Maxie is raising her children and sleeping with the man that should have been with her all those years."

"Robin" Jason's tone was warning.

"I mean…what did she do to trick you into bed? Pills? Bribery? Alcohol?"

Jason stood towering over Robin, anger rolling off of him in waves. "Robin, YOU don't get to come here, to our home, and talk to Maxie that way. YOU don't get to judge. Why would you come here if all you wanted to do was tear your cousin to shreds?"

"Really Jason? I don't get to judge? I was the first woman you ever loved. I've known Maxie all of her life. I know how you are and I know how she is. I was the one that set the groundwork for my cousin to set her stakes on you and your money. I know how she thinks Jason and I know how you don't stand up for yourself and let people walk all over you until it's too late and you're broken beyond repair. And Elizabeth was my best friend after Emily died."

Robin had stood herself and was poking at her own chest while spitting her venom. "Let me guess…Maxie made demands for her successful boutique. And you paid every dime to give her what she wanted so that she would be happy because you don't care about money. Am I close?"

Nothing was said so she continued, "And this house…well actually, I'm a little confused about it. I could see Maxie trying to convince you into buying a mansion on the ocean but I would bet my paycheck that everything in the house is top of the line, special ordered or hand made. Nothing but the best for my little cousin. Of course with someone else's credit card."

Maxie's barely audible voice came from behind Jason. "This is not you, Robin. You would not say those things about me. I think…I think something must be wrong with your own life and you need help."

Maxie ran for the house, tears streaming down her face. Jason turned after watching Maxie's retreat. All the work he'd done over the past few months. Then their talk last week that lasted nearly all night long. All the convincing he'd done. All the walls he'd torn down in the last week.

Ruined.

He would never hit a woman and he would never tell someone else how they should feel. He may not like it but peoples emotions and people's opinions were their own. And they had a right to them. He'd always felt that way and always tried to live by that motto.

But hitting Robin Scorpio-Drake square in that big smug mouth of hers flashed through his mind.

He never cared what others thought of him. Never cared if he was appropriate or accepted. He'd lived his whole life...well his whole life since waking up from his coma, fighting for his right to be and do and say whatever he wanted. And he'd fielded quite a few mean spirited blows in his life.

Somehow he was never good enough for the ones he loved. Never refined enough or never having the appropriate clothes or job or friends. And this woman in front of him was the one who taught him, along with Sonny, that it was okay.

That he didn't have to be what others wanted him to be. He could be who he wanted, do what he wanted, live how he wanted.

But he had known for years now that Robin only meant if it fell within her parameters. And apparently being in love and spending his life with her cousin didn't fall within her parameters.

He looked at her with nothing but scorn. How could she tear her cousin down so easily. Especially when she'd just shown up. And how did she really find them. Sure, she may have found the boutique on the internet but that didn't explain how she'd shown up at their house.

Suddenly his stomach clenched. The hair on the back of his neck stood up and the intuition that had kept him alive for so many years started posing questions. But the one he would ask came out laced with scorn.

Anger even.

He narrowed his eyes into slits and balled up his fists against his thighs.

"Robin, why exactly are you here?"

"I came to see for myself what Bobbie and Mac were talking about. You two are walking around with blinders on."

"Robin I don't care what you think. What I do care about is that Maxie is in there" He pointed toward the door as he loomed over the tiny brunette. "And she's crying her eyes out because you are being cruel. Your words were mean and spiteful and I want to know why. She doesn't deserve this. She idolizes you and you just confirmed all of her fears. All of the fears I have been working so hard to help her get past."

"But"

"NO!!!" he boomed finally letting the anger he felt inside bubble to the surface. "No buts Robin. You don't get to come here and tear apart the relationship Maxie and I have just because you were curious and then decided you know what's best. YOU DON'T KNOW! Maxie and I are...we're happy and she is not a train wreck. She makes me and the boys happier than we've been in a really long time. This family doesn't work without her. Now you can have an opinion. Everyone has that right. But I have rights too. And I have the right to keep you from ruining what I've built here. Now tell me why you really came and then you can do one of two things. You can go in there and apologize to your cousin or you can leave."

Robin was shocked. Jason had never stood up to her that way. Sure they had fought. The worst when she told AJ about Michael but this was different. This was as if Jason was pleading and fighting for his life. She looked him in the eye and could see the anger on the surface but could also see the fear.

It was unimaginable that Maxie had fooled him so badly that he thought she was what he and the boys needed. She knew better.

Stepping back she shrugged her shoulders. "If you want me to leave, I guess I'll go. I'm not going to apologize to Maxie for telling her the truth. She's going to break your heart Jason. She doesn't know how NOT to." She shook her head and walked across the patio to look up at the moon that was full and brightly shining. "I love my cousin Jason but I'm not wrong. She's not Mommy and Wife material. She's the other woman. It's just the way it is."

"You're wrong. You don't know Maxie. Not for the past two years. She's grown up. I've seen it. I've watched it. And you saw her with the boys, especially Jake. Robin, she's changed."'

"No one changes that much." Robin replied over her shoulder.

"You have." Jason murmured under his breath but she heard it and let out a frustrated sigh.

Jason walked up beside her facing the moon and mimicking her stance with legs spread and arms folded across his chest. "Why are you here?" He asked again knowing there was more than just a trip down south to tear Maxie apart.

"You know me so well." she smiled looking up at him but then looking back when she saw the visible disgust he held for her. "I came to talk to you. Can we sit down?"

He nodded quickly and then turned and motioned with his arm where she could sit. Following her he sat on the opposite end of the couch and turned his body toward her lifting his leg slightly on the middle cushion.

"Talk" He said when after a few moments she still hadn't spoken. "Then you can leave because no one who treats Maxie the way you did is sleeping under my roof."

"Fine, I guess I had a premonition when I made the hotel reservation and never brought my bag in from the car." Before Jason could make a comment she trudged on. "Like I said before, Bobbie and I were talking. We were talking about you and the boys and Maxie and we talked a lot about her and Mac's trip down here at Thanksgiving."

"Yeah we had a nice time." Jason interjected.

"That's what Bobbie said and that's what confused me."

"Why?"

"Because I know Bobbie and Mac must have left out a lot about the happenings of Port Charles."

"We talked about Port Charles but not when the kids were around."

"Oh you may have talked about how Kelly's burned down and when they rebuilt it, Luke made it exactly the same down to the horrible red and white checkered curtains in the window. Or that Mayor Floyd was caught with his pants down at the Metro Court when his mistress died in a mysterious showering accident. Bobbie and Mac may have told you that Sam McCall opened a Private Eye agency and you may have talked about how the hospital was completely renovated. Did they mention that Luke and Holly have a son that Luke never knew about? It doesn't matter. None of that matters however I know neither of them told you what really is going on in Port Charles."

"And you're here to tell me?" Jason asked. He hadn't known about Mayor Floyd but he and Sonny had used his indiscretions for years to keep him in line. And Luke having an illegitimate son? Well hell, that's probably not the only one. Sam having a PI agency was a laugh but she was no longer his problem.

Robin sighed again. This was going to be hard on Jason which is why she was glad she was the one giving him the news. She would be able to help him. Just like she did years ago.

"Jason...there's no real easy way to tell you this so I'm just going to say it. Claudia Zacharra was let out of jail on a technicality about eight months ago. Apparently Lucky didn't read her her Miranda Rights directly from the card so her lawyer had all her charges dropped."

"So Lucky screwed up. That's no surprise. And Claudia Zacharra is running free. She's a loose cannon but some other rival family will probably put her out of Port Charles' misery soon."

"Jason that's not all." She hesitated and Jason leaned up noticing her hesitation and prompted her.

"Just come out with it."

"She's the one who ordered the hit on Sonny that got Michael shot."

Jason sucked in air into his lungs. He hadn't expected that. It felt like a punch to the gut. He hadn't forgotten about Michael but the mention of his name hadn't crossed his mind in a while. Well his life as a normal child. He hadn't thought about Michael in that hospital in a coma for a while and suddenly the guilt of his part in all of it consumed him.

"How?" he didn't have words but she knew what he was asking.

"It came out in discovery while the state was building the case but then she got off on a technicality and there was no hard evidence. But that's not all."

"It's NOT?" Jason's eyes grew wide. What more could there be?

"Michael...Patrick...umm...Carly..." She wasn't sure where to start.

"What about them Robin?"

"Carly and Jax were researching new innovations in head trauma and the specific conditions regarding Michael's coma. They found this experimental procedure and authorized Patrick to perform the surgery. We weren't real hopeful at first. He didn't really react to the surgery but...Jason...Michael woke up."

"HE WHAT?" Jason stood and moved across the patio. He grabbed onto the stainless steel handlebar of the grill to hold him up. Suddenly his legs felt weak.

Robin quickly followed him and instinctively started rubbing circles in his back with her fingernails. Something she always used to do with him when he was stressed or upset. Jason turned to face her and she saw tears in his eyes forming.

"Jason, Michael is alive and awake and walking and talking and...trashing rooms and lashing out at Carly and Jax..." she laughed a little and shook her head, looking down. Then she lifted her chin back up and saw the tears streaming down his face steadily now. "He reminds me so much of you."

"Does..." he swallowed thickly, "does he remember?"

She cut him off quickly knowing what he was thinking. "He remembers everything. He was really upset that you weren't there. He asked for you more than he asked for Sonny."

"Sonny" Jason wiped at his tears and shoved his hands in his pockets. "How is he?"

"He's...well...he's as good as can be expected. He's so claustrophobic but he can't be kept in the open. There have already been a few attempts on his life at Pentonville so Uncle Mac has had a few of the old offices at the station renovated. They are his new jail cell. It's a larger room. I asked Uncle Mac for that special favor. And Lainey comes by to talk to him once or twice a week. He's still on his meds so his bipolar disorder is controlled but...since Michael woke up he's been going off a little more because they won't let them see each other."

"Oh...well...He shouldn't be around the kids anyway. That's how Michael..." he couldn't finish the sentence. He still took all the blame for that. Had he never let Carly and Michael be a part of his life, a part of his world, Sonny would have never met them.

Jason sat for a long time in silence. Robin let him process what she'd told him. She skipped the other revelations that Mike Corbin had been killed and there was a new woman running around town that looked exactly like his dead sister, Emily. That he could find out on his own.

And he would.

And she knew it.

And that was what she was betting on.

"Well, I'm going to go. I have a hotel room at the Hilton near the airport. Room twelve o five. Oh and Jason...tell Maxie I'll be here till Wednesday. I may not agree with your relationship but she's still my little cousin and I love her dearly."

She patted him on the leg then got up and pulled her keys to her rental car from her pocket. She leaned down and placed a kiss on his cheek and patted his knee then turned and walked away without a word.

~%~%~%~%~%~%~

Maxie had been in bed curled into a ball. When she ran into the house she had gone to the kitchen. She heard Jason yelling at Robin but he never came in to check on her. She went to their room and washed her face, tears still flowing. She pulled one of his t-shirts on instinctively. They always helped her feel closer to him.

About thirty minutes later she heard Robin's car pull away and she went to the window to verify it was indeed her leaving. Still Jason didn't come in. Finally twenty minutes after that she heard the sliding glass door open and close then heard Jason milling around in the kitchen.

Her heart sunk. Obviously whatever she and Jason talked about had turned Jason against her. Maxie's world was crashing around her, just like she expected but still the pain of knowing it was happening was unbearable.

She held her breath when he finally came into the room. He went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth and came out in his sleep shorts. Instead of climbing into bed with her, he sat on the very edge.

"I know you're awake." He said softly.

Maxie rolled onto her back and slapped her hands down to her side over the covers. Fresh tears threatened to fall but she held her tongue and the tears at bay. This is it. She thought. It's over.

"Maxie, I can't explain everything to you. Maybe when I get back. I'm...I'm going to take some time off of work. A leave of absence. I'll be gone for a while. I don't know how long. It could be days, it could be a few weeks. There's something I need to do. I need you to take care of the boys for me until I get back."

Then without further explanation, Jason stood and walked out of the room quietly shutting the door behind him.

Maxie rolled onto her stomach and cried herself to sleep.