Chapter 26
Note- this chapter is dedicated to
notashamedtobeasoilyfan
for suggesting a double date. I figured why not go for it.
And to everyone else who reviews regularly, thanks so much.
Monday 11 am
Emily stood in Jason's apartment, with a smile on her face, as she suggested "I was hoping you and Sam could join Milo and I for dinner at the Metro Court tonight."
"No, no, no," Jason kept saying the word until Emily interrupted.
"Please! I want Milo to feel comfortable with you in social settings. So he can't stop worrying that you are against us being together."
"Being together? Em, really, use some other term."
"Fine, keeping company. Better?"
"I do not want to watch any keeping company."
"It will be fun. I was thinking I would also invite Max and Carly."
Jason grimaced. "You do know that Max can not eat, think, or most of the time, even talk when Carly is around, right?"
"I thought tonight might help him to learn how."
Jason gave her a wide eyed looked that said, Why bother?
Then he told his sister, "Good luck with that. But count me out."
"It would make me so happy, Jason." She gave him her puppy dog eyes.
As usual they started to work. She saw him softening and threw her arms around him. "Thanks! You are the best big brother ever. See you tonight at eight."
She hurried from the apartment.
Jason called out, "Sam!"
Sam walked to the top of the stairs. "Problem?"
"Yeah, a huge one. Can you call my sister and explain that we are not going on a double... no make that triple date with her tonight?"
"That was so sweet of Emily to ask us. I need to go find an outfit." Then Sam jogged off leaving Jason rubbing is forehead in frustration.
He thought of calling Carly but knew she would think this whole idea was a blast, so he didn't bother.
He was outnumbered. 3 to 1. And that meant, Jason Morgan was going on a triple date.
12: 30 pm
Pete found Liz sitting on the docks around lunch time.
"Slacking off again I see." he joked
"I'm on a break. What? You never heard of that before?" she snapped
Pete didn't get upset. Instead he asked, "Okay, what happened?"
Liz held her cup of coffee and stared towards the water. Pete sat down and waited for her to answer.
"Lucky and I now have a court date to settle the divorce. If we go in there and say the right things and sign the right papers then I will no longer be a married woman," her voice was calm but devastated. " I can't go back and I can't go forward. I thought, in my life, I would be a lot of things to Lucky Spencer. But I never imagined one would be his ex-wife."
She turned and looked at him. "I wanted to be able to convince you love was worth going for. That love was beautiful. Because you didn't seem to think it could be. Now I don't know if I believe in it anymore myself. I don't know anything now, Pete."
"Elizabeth."
Hearing her name on his lips started to calm her. The effect was like slipping into a warm bath.
He continued, "We aren't even thirty yet. We don't have to have this all figured out. If you can't go forward or back then stay still for a while. Just wait this out."
"Isn't that the same thing as hiding from reality?" her words were soft and unsure. She wanted a way to make it through this, but didn't know if it existed.
"So what if it is."
She sighed. "I don't want to look like I can't move on."
"Forget about what people think of you. Be odd. It works for me. Look at how charming I am." he gave her a crooked grin.
Liz smiled and rolled her eyes. "Okay I will try on one condition. You do me a favor."
"Oh no, will this require me to be mature and reasonable?"
"No more than you usually are, which is not at all."
"Okay. Bring it on then."
Liz met his eyes. "Will you stand still with me for a while?"
He took her hand. "I can do that, Elizabeth."
4 pm
Nikolas carried Spencer in his arms as he approached the nurse's desk at General Hospital.
"Now there is one person I never mind seeing around here," Epiphany said
"Why thank you," Nikolas answered primly "I have always found your company enjoyable, too."
"I meant the baby," Epiphany said without humor.
"Oh, of course."
Kelly turned the corner and spotted them. She waved at Spencer, who cooed in her direction.
Nikolas said to Epiphany, "If you will excuse me."
She muttered as he walked away, "Oh goody, another episode of Broken Hearted Hospital begins."
Kelly said "Hey cutie."
"You are addressing my son, right?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Just making sure. So how are you today?"
"Good. Does Spencer have an appointment?"
"Yes, he's having vaccinations."
"Are you going to be able to handle seeing a needle stuck into your little boy?"
Nikolas tried to appear strong but Kelly could see he was worried. She took his hand. "I'll come with you, okay?"
"Thank you," he said, visibly relived.
8pm
Milo and Emily stepped off the elevator at the Metro Court and immediately spotted Jason, Carly and Max sitting at a table.
Milo spun back around. He whispered to Emily, "I don't think this dinner is a very good idea."
"My brother doesn't bite."
"No, he shoots."
"Milo," she smiled, causing his heart to melt "he wouldn't hurt someone I care about. You just have to start to get to know him as more than your boss."
"For you, I will try."
They turned and hand in hand headed for the table.
"Hello, sir." Milo said formally.
Jason glared at him.
"Call him Jase," Carly said "He likes that. Right, Jase?"
Jason looked at her, "Don't start."
She smirked.
He shook his head.
The Giambetti brothers nodded at each other, hello.
Emily and Milo sat down.
"So what happened to Sam?" Emily asked
"She got sick at the last moment. But, lucky me, she insisted I come anyway." Jason's voice inferred
he would rather be poked with hot coals than have to make meaningless small talk for a couple of hours.
Emily said, "Maybe Sam can join us next time."
Jason rolled his eyes, clearly saying their would be no next time.
Carly smiled at Jason.
Max stared at Carly.
Carly said, "I was surprised to get your phone message, Emily. I didn't know I was on your BFF list."
Emily bit back her reply of Hell no, you aren't and instead said, "Anyone Jason cares about I care about. You feel the same, right?"
Carly gave her a catty grin that clearly said Touche.
Emily said, "So, thank you all for coming. It means so much to Milo and me. We should make this a regular thing."
Emily was determined to give Max more chances to be with Carly, hoping it might lead to something romantic. Not that she thought it was the greatest idea but Emily wanted to help him get his dream come true.
"Sounds good to me," Max said "How about every Monday night?"
Jason jumped in with, "I have to work Mondays."
"Okay, Tuesdays," Max said
"And Tuesdays and all the other days. Forever." Jason said, hoping to end the conversation. He stood up. "I am going to go get like five beers."
"I don't want beer," Emily said
"They are all for me," he told her, walking off.
"Such good times, huh" Carly said, dryly. She looked at Emily, "I told you he wouldn't go for this."
"Give him time," Emily said "He got used to you and Sonny, didn't he?"
"Okay, on that depressing note," Carly said "I'm going to go dance. I've already ordered dinner for everyone. It's seven courses and gourmet so get some drinks and relax because the food is on the house."
Carly looked at Max. "Will you save me from Emily's idea of a good time and dance with me?"
A full minute later, he nodded. With stars in his eyes, they walked toward the terrace where a string quartet was playing.
Milo told Emily, "I'll talk to your brother and make this right. Somehow."
He walked over to the bar.
Jason said, "So I guess we are triple date buddies now."
"Sorry, boss. I tried to talk her out of it."
"This is more than casual dating with you two. Your hooked on her, aren't you? You went and fell for my little sister, Milo."
Milo met his eyes. "Will the answer get me killed?"
"Lying will."
"Yes, I did."
"Great!" Jason said sarcastically. "And your brother is hot for Carly. You two really are set on driving me crazy, aren't you?"
"That wasn't my intention. You shouldn't worry about Emily when she is with me because I will never let her be hurt by the business."
"That will be a good trick, Milo, if you can pull it off."
"I will or die trying."
Jason saw in his eyes it was the truth. "Date Emily if you must but you have to put a stop to the group outings. I can't do triple date Monday every week. I just can't."
"I hear ya, boss."
AFTER DINNER, Max suggested they go to a dance club.
Jason said, indigent, "No! The deal was dinner. Just dinner."
Carly whispered in Jason's ear, "You can do this to make your sister happy. Just this once."
He knew Carly would not stop till she got her way so Jason nodded, yes.
Jason wore a frustrated expression all the way to the club. He rode on his bike.
Emily and Milo went in his car since he always drove and paid for everything on their dates. It made her feel more normal, and less like an heiress and ex-princess. Which was a good thing, in her opinion.
Carly rode in the limo with Max. She asked him, "How did you get suckered into this triple date fiasco?"
"For Milo. What about you?" he could talk to her if he was not facing her, so he concentrated on the road.
"For Jason. He needed the support and anyway I wanted to see the look on his face when Emily and Milo kissed in front of him for the first time. Priceless I tell you! He still sees her as thirteen years old, I swear."
"There isn't much you wouldn't do for Jason is there?"
"Of course that goes without saying."
The words slipped out of his mouth before he could censor them, "I feel that way about you."
"I know that, Max."
That was all that was said about that subject that night, but soon Max planned to find the courage to boldly tell her the true depths of his feelings.
He only hoped he could manage to not pass out immediately afterwards.
AT THE DANCE CLUB, Emily couldn't stop smiling as she danced with Milo.
Never would she of thought he enjoyed this kind of music.
The Ludacris song Stand Up was blasting in the speakers
(When I move you move
just like that
When I move you move
just like that
When I move you move
just like that?
Hell yeah! Hey DJ bring that back! ...)
Making the whole night even more fun to Emily was the fact that Max was doing a bad job of impersonating Usher a few feet away, but Carly was sweetly pretending like he danced beautifully.
(My people outside and they can't get in
We gonna rush the back door and break em in
The owner already pissed
cause we sorta late
But our time and our clothes gotta coordinate...)
Jason stood, in the throng of people, perfectly still. He wore his leather jacket and had his arms crossed over his chest.
Maxie spotted him and then danced around him, trying to get him to move a little bit.
Jason glared at her.
(Most girls looking right
some looking a mess
That's why they spilling drinks all over ya dress )
Jason could not believe the things he would do for Emily or Carly. They batted their eyelashes and here he stood, along with Milo and Max, making damn fools out of themselves.
(Stand up! Stand up! Stand up! Stand up!
Damn right the Fire Marshall wanna shut us down
Get us out
so someone can gun us down
We was two songs away from getting some cutta
Now we one song away from tearing da club up ...)
This song was giving Jason a migraine. He wondered if the DJ would take a bribe to play something more mellow.
Something no one would want to dance to.
Maxie mouthed , "Isn't this fun? Come on, relax."
Jason mouthed back, "Go away."
"What?" asked Maxie
"GO!" he yelled over the music but she thought he said I know
"I know it is fun," she said smiling
Jason was sure she was the most ditzy thing on two feet in Port Charles. Between her, the music and the strobe lights he felt sick. He turned away from her.
He hated this song. Just hated it. Wanted to find whoever made it and kill him.
(When I move you move
just like that
When I move you move
just like that?
When I move you move
just like that?
Hell ya! Hey DJ bring that back!)
Max loved this song. He was going to put it in his ipod as soon as he got home and fall to sleep dreaming about dancing to it with Mrs. C.
Emily moved close to Milo, laughing and wrapping her arms around his neck then kissing him in the middle of the crowd.
After months of mourning everything- Zander, the cancer, who she was before Conner came into her life, Mary conning Nikolas, losing Nikolas, losing and losing and losing- now she felt like she was winning again.
Milo could make little things seems like memories to build a life around. She wanted that life now. She wanted to stay who she was in this moment: the girl who Milo could make smile.
That was the only dream left in her nearly shattered heart. But that was enough to start to make her heal from the inside out.
When Jason could take no more of the dance club he went over to Carly and nodded at the door, silently telling her he was leaving. She laughed at the look on his face, no one was ever more miserable in a club before.
Giving him a quick kiss on the cheek she said good bye and he made his escape.
Jason rode his bike to Kelly's and ordered soup for Sam.
Liz was sitting at the counter.
"You don't look too happy," she commented.
Jason said, "Tonight I was on a date with Milo... so yeah, I have had better days."
Liz chuckled. "Emily tried to talk me into joining the group date but I don't spend my free time with Carly for anyone."
Jason knew he was the one thing that made Carly not get along with Liz or Robin or Brenda so he didn't say anything in response to her comment. His eyes went to the papers that were in front of Liz.
She followed his gaze, and her expression turned somber. "These are custody papers for Cameron. I'm supposed to be upstairs with Lucky working something out. I could tell him he can never see my son again or I could give him joint custody or anything in between. I want to do the right thing for my little boy, to let him keep his father but... I keep thinking..."
"What?"
"How can I trust Lucky with Cameron but I still can't trust him with my own heart? Why can't I forgive?"
"Maybe you can forgive but can't go back."
"I just wish it didn't happen..." she thought of Maxie.
"But it did." Jason could help thinking about things he wanted to have never have happened. But even entertaining those thoughts hurt, and once more, he pushed them back.
"You don't believe in wishes, do you?" Liz asked
"I wished I believed in wishes coming true. Does that count?"
Liz smiled sadly. "I don't know. I don't know anything anymore." Her eyes went to the papers again.
She needed an answer before she walked upstairs to see Lucky, and still, even now, she had none.
(Let it fall by the way
Leave me where I lay
down
Tell me love isn't true
It's just something that we do) ( Madonna)
Liz stood up.
Mike walked out and handed Jason the soup. "You going to be okay?" he asked Liz.
"Yeah, I know what I have to do. I have to put my son before my wounded pride. I have to remember who Lucky really is and believe he can be that man again now that he is clean. I have to have some faith." She sighed.
Faith.
Liz would do just about anything to be able to buy a big container of it like the soup Jason held in his hand. She needed it so badly and feared she would not be able to find enough to get through this divorce.
Or to ever love another man again. She thought of Pete and what that might mean for them.
She knew it was crazy and reckless, to want to jump back in the dating thing, but deep down she really wanted to be the woman who made him believe love was real.
If only she could convince herself it was something that could last...
(Tell me love isn't true
It's just something that we do
Tell me everything I'm not
But please don't tell me to stop) ( Madonna)
Coming up-
Robin and Cruz make big plans but will something get in the way?
For another character an illness reveals some startling truths.