Brenda Returns – Chapter 12

"Oh, there's Robin and Brenda," Jax says when he notices the ladies having dinner.

"I thought Brenda should have left Port Charles by now," Carly says.

"Why? Does it bother you, having her here?" he asks, taking her hand.

"No, I'm just curious as to why she's hanging around when this was just supposed to be a quick trip."

Jax shrugs. "I'll go find out."

"Jax, no." Carly tries to grab him but he's too quick.

"Hello ladies. It's a lovely evening and especially more so since the two of you are dining with us," Jax says, smiling his charming smile.

"Hi Jax," Robin says.

Jax nods at Robin and then turns his attention to Brenda.

"Brenda. It's good to still see you in Port Charles."

"Thank you."

"I'm sure Robin is glad to have her friend around this long?"

"Yes, I am," Robin smiles at Brenda.

"So, Robin, I took the test this afternoon to see if I'm a donor match. Do you know how soon we'll find out?" he asks.

"Sometimes it can take up to a week. The hospital will let you know."

"A match for what?" Carly asks from behind Jax.

Jax stands up straighter and turns to his wife.

"I got tested today to see if I'm a match to be a bone marrow donor for a little gir….a small child who is sick," he corrects himself.

"Bone marrow?" Carly asks. "Why didn't you mention this to me?"

"Because, darling, I hadn't seen you until just a few minutes ago it's not something I care to discuss with my wife, here, at the hotel," he says with a subtle smile on his face.

"Oh, I see. So, you're interested in saving someone else's child, but not about why you can't have one with your wife? Excuse me," she says to Robin and Brenda, who are left speechless.

Jax stares at Carly's retreating back for a few moments before he turns back to Robin and Brenda.

"Jax…" Brenda starts, but he cuts her off.

"I'm sorry about that. If you two ladies will excuse me. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

He nods at them and then follows Carly.

Robin blinks and stares at Brenda. "Wow."

"Yeah. I so didn't need to be around for that."

"Yeah, it was weird," Robin agrees.

"But see, it's another reason why I feel like I should still try to keep my secret. It will destroy Carly and Jax if they find out…."

"Brenda, if Carly and Jax can't withstand something like this, then they probably aren't meant to be married. It all boils down to trust and Carly has issues with that. No matter whom she is with."

~*~

"Thank you again for watching Hope tonight," Brenda says to Elizabeth.

"Not a problem. She loves playing with the boys, so I hardly even notice she's here. I think Cameron has a crush on her, it's so cute," Elizabeth says as she picks up a few of Hope's things and places them in a bag.

"Awww," Brenda smiles. "Jason's not here?" she asks, looking around.

"Business," Elizabeth simply states. "I'm used to it by now."

Brenda screws up her face. "Hey, can I pry into your personal life again?"

Elizabeth slowly sits down on the couch. "Maybe," she says, patting the seat next to her.

Brenda sits down. "When you found out you were pregnant with Jake, what went through your mind?"

Elizabeth pushes a strand of hair away from her face. "Well, my immediate reaction was that I needed to get a paternity test done. I had been with both Lucky and Jason around the same time. My next reaction was that I wanted to protect Lucky." Elizabeth takes a deep breath. "He got hooked on pain pills and seemed to be finally getting things back in order. I knew if he found out I was pregnant, but that the baby might not be his, it could make him start taking pills again. So, originally, that's why I didn't want to tell anyone."

"When did you change your mind?"

"Lucky got back on pills, anyway, and he pushed me down. Jason happened to be there, too and I told both of them I was pregnant. At the time, they both assumed the baby was Lucky's…"

"Even Jason?"

Elizabeth nods. "Yeah, at first he did. Jason and I used protection, so I don't think it occurred to him."

"I'm sorry, if I'm being too nosy, you don't have to tell me this if you don't feel comfortable…" Brenda starts.

"No, it's okay. If me telling you this, helps you make a decision about telling Jax…"

Brenda smiles and looks down at her hands. "I do want to tell him, but I'm scared." She looks up at Elizabeth with watery eyes.

Elizabeth reaches for Brenda's hands. "I understand."

"Sorry, please continue…"

"So, a few days go by and I was at Jason's Penthouse and he asked me if there was a chance he could be the father. I told him yes."

"How did he react to that?"

"Well, he was shocked," Elizabeth chuckles. "I mean, we used protection, so he didn't think….but anyway, turns out the condoms were defective, long story," she says when Brenda gives her a questionable look, "so Jason agreed to have a paternity test done. Lucky was in rehab at this point and I definitely didn't want to bring this up to him."

"I can see why…"

"I mean, he didn't even know I had been with Jason. But, my marriage was over the moment I found out he was cheating on me, so what Jason and I did that night, wasn't cheating, in my eyes."

"You don't have to explain…"

"No, I know. I just know what I'd think if I heard part of this story without explaining," Elizabeth smiles. "Anyway, Jason was out of town when I got the results. Sonny happened to be standing by me when I read them and he assumed that Lucky was the father. He started saying how it was better for Jason this way and I didn't correct him."

"Sounds like Sonny."

"Yeah, well, Carly also assumed that Lucky was the father and she decided to take it upon herself to tell Jason…"

"You mean before you did?"

Elizabeth nods. "Yeah. Carly couldn't wait to tell him that I wasn't going to have his child after all."

"Sounds like there's a lot of history there…"

"Oh yeah. But anyway, by the time I got to Jason, he thought he knew that Lucky was the father and he kind of reiterated what Sonny had said. That it was probably better for everyone, including the child. My heart dropped," Elizabeth says, almost sadly. "I think, deep down, I wanted him to say that he wanted to be the father and that everything would be okay…"

"So, you told him that Lucky was the father?"

Elizabeth nods. "I didn't tell him that, I let him assume. I mean, when someone tells you it's for the best, what are you supposed to say at that moment? I didn't have time to think so I didn't say anything."

"Were you able to share it with anyone?"

"At the time, no, I didn't tell anyone."

"I know what that feels like, too. No one knew that Jax is Hope's father until I came back here."

"It feels good to be able to talk about it, though, doesn't it?"

Brenda nods. "Yeah, it does. So, what was your biggest fear about telling Jason?"

Elizabeth throws her head back a little and thinks. "I don't know. Part of it was that I knew he hated to lie and that he'd want to not keep it a secret. Which scared me for Lucky's sake. I just didn't want to feel responsible for Lucky going back on pills. I knew it would hurt so many people in our lives. Then there was the whole danger thing. Again, I knew Jason would do whatever it took to keep us safe but still…"

"There's always the risk."

Elizabeth nods. "Right. Even now. Now that we're settled into this life together. I have guards on my house, gates, bullet proof glass…"

"And happy, healthy children..." Brenda adds.

Elizabeth stops and realizes Brenda's point. "Yes," she smiles. "Yes, that's true. I'm sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about. I'm happy for you and Jason."

"But to answer your question," Elizabeth giggles, "I was scared that Jason would hate me for not telling him. I was worried about his reaction."

Brenda nods.

"But, he surprised me. Well, actually, no he didn't. He was actually his typical Jason, self."

"What, not talking, moody…." Brenda jokes.

Elizabeth throws her head back and laughs. "Not that Jason. The Jason that I know. He was very understanding. I mean, he was hurt at first, especially when I told him I did it for his own good. He didn't like that. But we talked and came to an understanding…" Elizabeth smiles softly.

Brenda sighs. "I wish it was that easy for me."

Elizabeth takes Brenda's hand again. "Here's my two cents. I really feel that Jax has the right to know. Yes, he'll be hurt and he'll be angry, but eventually, I feel that it will all work out for the best. Hope will get to know her father…"

"I know," Brenda says, the tears starting to fall. "I know you're right, but what if he tries to take her away from me? What if his reaction confuses Hope? I don't want her hurt in any of this…"

"But the longer you wait, the harder it will be on Hope. Right now, she's still young enough that she'll adjust quickly to this stranger becoming her father."

Brenda squeezes Elizabeth's hand. "Thank you….for everything."

Jason comes in the front door and immediately puts his gun in a locked, hidden panel inside the front closet. When he turns around he sees Brenda and Elizabeth sitting on the couch. Brenda is wiping away tears.

"Uh, I can come back," he says, pointing toward the door.

"No, it's okay. I need to take Hope home," Brenda says.

"I'll go get her," Elizabeth says, leaving the room.

"You're a lucky guy, Jason," Brenda says, walking around the couch to stand in front of Jason.

"Why do you say that?" he asks with a soft smile on his face.

"Because of your family. You don't have any lies or secrets anymore and you're able to be with them. Elizabeth is great, she's helped me and Hope a lot."

"Yeah, she is great," he nods. "I am a very fortunate man."

"They were watching a movie in Cam's room and fell asleep," Elizabeth chuckles. She's carrying Hope, who is draped over her, as she walks down the stairs.

"Why are you doing that? Let me get her," Jason says, meeting Elizabeth part-way down the steps.

"Jason, I'm fine," she says, even though Jason takes Hope from her.

"I don't want you to fall…"

"I am not that clumsy," Elizabeth says, pretending to give Jason a dirty look.

"I just don't want to take any chances…" he says.

"Am I missing something?" Brenda asks as she reaches out to take Hope from him but he shakes his head.

"I can carry her out to the car. You have all her stuff?"

She looks around the room and takes a bag from Elizabeth.

"It should all be in there. If I find anything that is hers, I'll let you know," Elizabeth says.

Brenda notices Elizabeth is a little flush.

"Okay, what's going on?" she asks.

Elizabeth and Jason exchange glances and Jason nods.

"We're just not telling too many people right now…."

Brenda's heart leaps into her throat. "Telling people what? Are you okay, Elizabeth? Oh my God, I just sit here and dump all my problems…"

Elizabeth reaches out and grabs Brenda's hands to stop her from talking. "I'm fine. I'm just pregnant."

Brenda suddenly feels joyful. She hasn't felt that was in a long time. "Pregnant?"

Both Elizabeth and Jason smile and nod. "Yeah. I'm just about 12 weeks along…"

"Oh my…congratulations," Brenda says, pulling Elizabeth into a hug. "And you guys are going to get to do this the right way this time…together with no secrets."

"Yeah. I promise things will work out for you, Brenda. You have a beautiful daughter, that's what it's all about."