"When are you coming home?" Jason asked. It was nearing midnight at Maxie had yet to leave the studio. The morning after Maxie's firing/quitting she instantly set out to find a new job, needing to get back into the fashion industry before she was old news. She had called Fredorico and he gave her a job working on his new line that was set to debut in the Paris spring show. The only problem with the new job is that Maxie had to live in Manhattan during the week. And due to both of their unconventional jobs they hadn't been able to see each other in the last two weeks. Jason was becoming desperate to just hold her in his arms. And of course to do other things to her too, but mostly just physically see her.

"Sorry Jason Fredorico's new line is debuting in the next few months. It's a sleepless time for all of us." Maxie explained; she was speaking through the speaker phone as she busily stitched a half-inch loop onto one of the mannequins; it was draped in a sky blue fabric that was expertly designed by Freddy himself.

"Speaking of sleeping—the doorman at the apartment called me to say he hadn't seen you in a few days." Jason lied, in reality Cody, and Joe a new associate who had been assigned to Maxie informed him during check in that Maxie had been staying elsewhere.

"Yeah, I've been crashing at Fredorico's studio." Maxie said without going into detail.

"Maxie I know that I have nothing to worry about, but would you clear up that last statement for me please?"

"I'm sleeping on the couch at the studio; Jason Freddy would be more interested in sleeping with you than with me." Maxie smiled she could nearly feel Jason's discomfort through the phone. "What are the chances you'll be able to get away for a few days and come here?"

"We have a shipment coming in tomorrow night; I'm not worried about it but just to appease Sonny, you remember what happened last time."

"I understand. I hate it but I understand." Maxie said finishing the stitch and cutting the remaining thread off. "Did you hear that Crimson is doing a photo layout of Fredorico's new line? Which means I'll be back in town, and I'll get to boss Kate around."

"I still think you should have let me threaten her. Jaxs is a benefactor which means Carly has pull. Isn't that how Lulu got the job in the first place?" Jason asked lying back in their bed, he had taken to sleeping with her pillow pressed into his chest over the time just to inhale her scent.

"And I told you that I'm not using your position to get anything. I'm working my way up in this business. Plus you do me no good in the fashion industry other than to petrify potential employers." Maxie laughed moving to sit on the couch. There were a few other people in the studio but it was big enough that she could have this conversation without having to worry about eavesdropping.

"I know. I just miss you." Jason finally admitted.

"Well I miss you too." She smiled leaning back. "Listen, I'm almost done with my work here for the week. I could fly back late tomorrow night and stay until late Sunday."

Maxie waited for Jason to make some sort of response. After a brief silence on the phone Maxie wondered if Jason had fallen asleep. "Jase you still there? Do you not want me to come home for the weekend?"

Jason could hear the fear in her voice. Even after all these months she was still afraid that Jason would leave her. Despite his constant presence in her life. "Maxie come home. I would love to see you. Robin and Emma would love it too. Hell even Lulu will probably be glad to see you."

"So I'll book the flight?"

"I can't promise how much time I'll be able to carve out of my schedule. You are my priority and I want to spend all the time in the world with you, I just don't want you to be disappointed if I end up having to work."

"Any time I can get with you is better than none at all. Plus I think Cody could use a weekend off. All this fashion is starting to get to his head. I actually caught him reading the latest issue of Crimson, and he wasn't just looking at the pretty models."

Jason had to laugh at the image of military trained Cody skimming the articles in a fashion magazine. It would be like Jason reading articles other than for what presents to buy, or things written by Maxie.

"Come home." Jason finally whispered.

"I'll be there tomorrow night." She smiled before hanging up to go make the flight arrangements. Her brain was starting to get distracted so she really wouldn't accomplish much more tonight. She actually planned to go back to the apartment and sleep that night. Freddy had stayed at the studio the night before except neither of them got much work or sleep accomplished. Freddy had wanted to hear all about Jason, especially the elicit erotic details of their life together, which Maxie was glad to share with someone. Lulu was probably her best friend but this wasn't the type of conversation they would ever have. Mostly because Maxie had slept with Lulu's previous boyfriend, and almost with Johnny…and with her brother.

Plus Jason and Freddy would never meet, if she had anything to do with it. She liked her jealous Jason; it meant that he still wanted her. This ultimately was all she needed in life to make her happy.

Everything else was just a perk.

~*~

Maxie and Cody stepped off the elevator both happy to be back in Port Charles. They both only had their carry-on, not wanting to have to deal with luggage, plus she would only be there a short stay. Cody and another guard were trading weeks, to give them a break from guard-dog duty. She much preferred Cody to the other guard; Cody at least was starting to loosen up. Joe was all business no fun.

"So what are your plans for your week off?" Maxie asked as they walked towards the underground parking structure. She hadn't talked to Jason about all the travel plans, but he had assured her during their phone conversation that she didn't have to worry about anything.

All she needed was to get home.

"I plan on wearing whatever the hell I want." Cody said looking down at the designer jeans and button down shirt he was wearing. "I just want a pair of baggy jeans and a hooded sweatshirt."

"But you look so good dressed like this!" Maxie laughed, grabbing onto his arm. "You don't hate all the changes I've made to your wardrobe do you?"

"It's not that bad, and I don't mind letting you have your way. But I draw the line at my underwear. You get no control over that." Cody laughed letting Maxie lead towards the exit. Maxie just continued to follow Cody through the structure. She assumed Jason had informed him of what level the car was on.

"Well then enjoy your time off; it's back to designer duds next week." Maxie smiled. Patting his arm lightly, she was just about to ask where the car was when Jason walked around the corner instantly catching her attention. "Bye Cody! Enjoy your time off." She walked a few steps before turning back, "Hey, you see this smile on my face?" She waited for him to nod. "That's all I'll be wearing." She whispered before making her way into Jason's waiting arms.

"What was that about?" Jason asked waving to Cody before walking towards the waiting car.

"Nothing." She smiled wrapping her arms around his middle holding him firmly to his body. "Can we go home now?"

"Whatever you want."

~*~

Hours after returning to the penthouse Jason carefully slide out of the tight grasp of his naked girlfriend, pulling the sheet up to cover her more fully. She instinctually shuddered at his loss of body heat. He had almost an hour until the shipment was supposed to arrive. Giving him just enough time to shower and get to the warehouse before anything happened. He had been under the spray for about a minute before he saw his sleepy girlfriend walking into the large bathroom wearing his discarded shirt.

"Excuse me why are you leaving your willing, able and mostly naked girlfriend alone, in bed?" She asked opening the stall shower door. Jason continued his routine of shampoo and washing while Maxie leaned against the sink.

"I told you I had to work."

"I know I just didn't expect you to leave so quickly." She smiled handing him a towel as he stepped outside the shower.

"Go back to bed." Jason told her not seeing any reason why Maxie should be awake just because he was.

"What's the deal tonight? Just a basic shipment or is it something else?" She asked moving towards the closed toilet and taking a seat, watching Jason shave. He always shaved before going to bed. She very rarely encountered him when there was a light dusting of scruff along his chiseled jaw line. And while she found the scruff incredibly sexy, she appreciated the clean shave.

"Just a routine shipment." Jason smirked watching her avoid his request of her.

"Then why do you have to go? We could go back to bed? Eventually fall asleep?" She alluded sexily.

"How about I wake you up when I get back?" Jason suggested, he had a feeling there was something else on Maxie's mind.

"I'm sure I'll still be awake." She said knowing that she was asking a lot of question. Picking the easiest avoidance technique she choose to head back towards their bed, but not before going to her canvas bag to grab her drawing book.

"Is everything okay?" Jason asked after a few minutes of silence. He had finished shaving and moved towards the dresser to retrieve a pair of underwear slipping them on before going to sit on the edge of the bed. Forcing Maxie to lift her gaze from the paper, "I've supervised shipments before—"

"It's not that Jason. I'm fine, I've just missed you." She smiled sadly, the faintest glimmer of tears apparent in the corner of her eyes. "Sorry I don't know why—must just be hormonal." Maxie smiled again trying to push whatever feelings that had caused her mini emotional melt down away.

"Are you sure?" Jason pressed hoping that was the only issue. Since they had started dating other than Maxie's time in the hospital the two week stretch had been their longest time apart. He hoped he was still able to read her as well as before.

"I'm fine. Go do your business, and then come back!" She smirked leaning forward to kiss his cheek before moving back towards her drawing book.

"Try and get back to sleep." Jason whispered before leaving the bedroom and proceeding out of the penthouse. Ready to finish the shipment and get back to his odd acting girlfriend.

~*~

Maxie waited until she heard the front door close before moving from the bed. She reached across the end table to where her PDA was sitting and quickly maneuvered her way to the calendar. Scrolling back a few weeks to where she had saved a memo—the day she noticed the condom broke. While moving back towards the current date she passed the scheduled event that was supposed to happen two full weeks ago.

Her period.

Sure there had been a lot of stress lately. With Mac's continual despise for both Jason and herself, plus Kate's backstabbing bitchery. Preparing for the line, on top of the condom mishap; together it was enough to stress anyone out.

There was only one thing that she could do. Scrolling through the phone she called Lulu hoping that she was still awake. After what seemed like a million rings Lulu finally answered.

"This better be important." Lulu said she sounded out of breathe.

"Lulu it is. It's vitally important!" Maxie whispered. Jason had already left the penthouse but she still felt that she needed to speak quietly.

"Okay what is it?"

"I need you to bring me the bag." Maxie said not going into any more detail.

"What bag?" Lulu asked, seconds before it dawned on her. "You mean the bag from underneath the kitchen sink?" She could tell that Lulu was now moving, and Dominic's voice could be heard protesting in the background.

"Yes Lulu, that bag! I told it was important."

"Um—I'm currently indisposed." Lulu alluded. "Cant you just go to the store and buy one?"

"Yeah right Lulu, in this town where everyone is connected?" Maxie asked sarcastically like it was the most ridiculous question she had ever heard.

"Spinelli is here in the apartment, I can send him with the bag."

Maxie contemplated the thought. Her friendship with Spinelli had been through its up's and downs but she didn't know how this new potential change would affect them. "Fine, just please do it soon, Jason's out I just need to do this before he gets back."

"Maxie are you okay?" Lulu asked finally starting to sense the panic in Maxie's voice.

"I just need to know."

~*~

It was a little after 3 am when Jason finally returned to the penthouse. He had every intention of quietly making his way into their bedroom, stripping off the majority of his clothing and pulling Maxie into his arms to have the first restful sleep since Maxie had started working in Manhattan.

Upon opening the front door, the prospect of those ideas quickly disappeared. His former roommate was holding HIS girlfriend in an embrace against the stairs that to the casual observer would raise intense suspensions. Maxie clothed in one of his shirts and a pair of sweats, tears streaming down her porcelain cheeks, a wadded up Kleenex in her hand; along with something else he wasn't quite able to make out.

"Jason." Maxie said whispered between sobs.

Maxie's inquisition earlier had raised his level of awareness, but in the back of his mind he tried to justify it was Maxie's typical emotional cycle. He'd only seen Maxie cry on a few rare occasions over the span of their relationship; she had prided herself as not wanting to be the girl that always cried. "Maxie what's wrong?" Jason asked setting his keys down on the desk placing his gun there as well before moving swiftly towards her.

Spinelli took that as his cue to exit carefully untangling himself from the object of his former affection. "Fair Maximista, please call if you need further council." Spinelli smiled sadly patting Jason on the back and closing the door behind himself.

Jason's eyes barely registered Spinelli's exit his eyes never leaving Maxie. As he got closer he finally able to discern what the other item in Maxie's hand was.

"One time, I thought—I mean I'm on birth control, but the condom broke, but it was just us being extra careful because I take my pill every day. Jason—I'm-" Maxie she rambled as she struggled to keep the tears back.

Jason sat on the bottom step before pulling Maxie into his lap, taking the test out of her hand. Looking down before realizing that he had no idea what it meant. "Are you sure?"

"I'm a two weeks late!" Maxie said a new set a tears slowly trickling down her cheeks. "The night after the benefit, after I quit, when I took care of the condom, and showered, it broke. But I'm on my pill so it shouldn't have mattered."

"Maxie why didn't you tell me?" Jason asked worried that Maxie had done almost everything she could to avoid direct eye contact, she just kept staring down at her hands.

"I didn't want to worry you for no reason. I mean it wasn't supposed to matter, I'm on the pill." Maxie continued to stammer.

"Okay, well these tests aren't always accurate; we should go to the hospital, just to be sure before we jump into anything else." Jason said trying to be rational. "I can call Dr. Lee and have her set up an appointment?"

"Most of these tests don't give you a false positive, usually just a false negative so Jason I might very well be pregnant right this moment!"

"Well I know you're not going to get any sleep tonight, so why don't we go down to General Hospital and get a blood test done?" Jason suggested standing and placing Maxie softly on her feet. His hands never leaving her waist.

"Jason I'm so sorry." She whispered looking into his eyes finally; the mascara smeared down her cheeks.

Taking a Kleenex from her hand he gently wiped the smears off her cheeks, cupping her cheek in his hand when finished. "Stop apologizing Maxie. We are in this together. Pregnant or not, I'm not going anywhere."

"I just—I don't want you to think that—"

"Enough, whatever happens Maxie—" He whispered into her hair. They hadn't had many conversations about the future, Maxie was young, and Jason's lifestyle didn't provide him to focus too far ahead. But kids had always been something at the back of his mind. Between raising Michael, preparing for Sam's baby and being separated from Jake it was hard to not think about.

~*~

In reality by the time Maxie had washed her face and dressed in a simple pair of jeans and sweater it was nearing 5 AM. It would be very unlikely that Dr. Kelly Lee would actually be at the hospital.

For their luck, as soon as the couple stepped off the elevator they found Robin and Patrick standing at the nurse's station playfully bickering. Apparently Epiphany had caught Patrick and Robin in a supple closet and punished them to the night shift for a few weeks. Robin instantly noticed the serious expression on both of their faces and quickly went over to Maxie pulling her away to find out what was causing her cousin's tears. Patrick and Jason stayed behind at the nurse's station watching their girls disappear down a hallway.

"What's going on?" Patrick asked, worried about his cousin in-law. He didn't want to have to threaten Jason again.

"It's a—" Jason tried to finishes before walking towards the seating area. Putting his hand in his hands and releasing a deep breath. "Maxie might be pregnant." Jason finally said.

Patrick sat down placing a hand on Jason's back, "I'm just going to take a stab in the dark and say this would be an unplanned—"

"Yeah. We haven't even talked about any of this yet." Jason finally spoke after a long while. "She didn't tell me, but a few weeks ago the condom—"

"She's on birth control?" Jason nodded. "So was Robin."

"I should go sit with Maxie, she has a tendency to get inside her own head and—"

"Jason—" Patrick said stopping him from getting up just yet. "Just speaking from experience, from having a surprise like this. Figure out what you want, before you go in there. Maxie's head is going to be all over the place without having to worry about what you're thinking. So figure it out before you go in, and tell her."

"I would never abandon my child; whatever Maxie wants to do I'll support her decision." Jason said simply. Jason would never vote to abort a child, and he hoped that Maxie wouldn't either. If Maxie was dead set on it, then it would be an awkward discussion but he knew that was never something he would willingly vote for.

Jason quickly shook hands with Patrick before turning down the hallway he had seen Maxie and Robin turn down. After a short search he found Maxie sitting on top of an exam table wringing her hands over and over. Robin nowhere in sight.

"Hey." He whispered not wanting to startle her. "Where's Robin?"

"She drew my blood and took it over to the lab." Maxie said before jumping down from the table and quickly moving into Jason's waiting arms. "I'm so sorry that I didn't tell you."

Jason kissed the top of her head guiding her back to the exam table. "You took this test today, Maxie. You told me as soon as you knew there was something to tell."

"I know but I should have told you about the condom breaking." She said continuing to blame herself.

"Maxie stop." Jason said forcefully. "I'm not angry with you. I'm not upset, I'm not hurt." He started the tears continuing to trickle down her cheeks, her mascara long forgotten. "My only concern is that you are okay, and that you know you aren't alone in any of this. I'm not going anywhere." He repeated the mantra over and over again.

"That's really good Jase." Maxie smiled as his thumb came up to brush her tears away letting his hand linger against her cheek. "Because if I am pregnant I have no idea what I'm going to do—"

"We Maxie. We will figure this out." He said pulling her back into his arms, willing her to truly believe she wasn't alone in any of this. He hoped and prayed he had at least been able to show her that much in the many months they had been together.

Robin came in shortly after and told them the lab wouldn't have the results until that afternoon prompting them to go home. Jason thanked Robin while waiting for Maxie to put her jacket on. Smiling silently before they walked out of the exam room to the elevators.

"This is bad Patrick." Robin said when she finally made it back to the nurse's station. Patrick had returned to looking over a chart. "I've never seen Maxie that quiet."

"You put a rush on the test results?"

"Yeah, they'll be ready about the time we get off." Robin said picking up a chart. "I figured we could drop the results by the penthouse on our way home?"

"Sure. Did you talk to Maxie about her symptoms?" Patrick asked knowing that since Robin had also been through an unplanned pregnancy maybe she would have some sort of idea.

"She didn't say much. Did Jason say anything to you?"

"You know Jason; the guy never lets on to anything. Although when you first took Maxie away, the guys stressed out, anyone can see that."

~*~

When they finally returned to the penthouse the sun was fully raised over the waterfront.

"Let's get you up to bed." Jason said slowly following Maxie into the darkened penthouse.

"Like I could actually sleep."

Jason watched his girlfriend move over towards the couch, sinking into the leather cushions. Those were the first words she had spoken since Robin returned to the room. The unknown test results weighing heavily in on both of their minds.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Jason whispered moving to sit next to her; he kept a respectful distance knowing that crowding her wouldn't make her feel more comfortable.

"Not really, not until there is anything to talk about." Maxie took the silence as her opportunity to lean her head against his shoulder. "Do you have to go into work?"

"I can call Cody; have him keep an eye on things for me."

"You don't have to—"

"I've told you Maxie. I'm not going anywhere." He finished before wrapping his arm around her small frame, carefully moving them so that they were lying across the couch. Maxie's clung onto Jason as if her life depended on it.

~*~

Eventually the couple had fallen asleep on the couch only waking up when a knock came through the front door. It was Robin.

"I have your test results right here." Robin said as she held up the paper. "You're not pregnant." Robin said quietly not sure what reaction they were hoping for. Maxie's facial expression showing no change.

"I'm gonna go, I just wanted you to know as soon as the results came in." Robin smiled before exiting letting herself out.

Maxie made her way back to the couch bringing her knees up to her chest. Never before had he pictured Maxie as the young girl that she was, but seeing the blank expression on her continued to bring in the reality of the situation.

And just how close their lives had come to drastically changing that night.

~*~

Maxie called Fredrico and told him she needed a few more days in Port Charles; and with a promise to fill him in when he arrived in Port Charles the next week, Maxie went and showered while Jason ordered food from Maxie's favorite Thai restaurant. When she finally returned to the living room Jason had spread the food out across the coffee table

"Where do we go from here?" Maxie asked before moving to sit next to him. Jason pulled her closer from the corner of the couch so that her body was leaning into his embrace.

"I'd love to tell you that nothing is going to change, but Maxie we just had to face a harsh reality." Jason explained. "We've been careful, other than the condom breaking we've always been careful."

"So are you suggesting that we have less sex?" She smirked, showing the first signs of normalcy since the ordeal started.

Jason stifled a laugh before answering. "Definitely not, I just think we need to have a plan in case something like this happens again in the future."

Maxie nodded before moving to nibble at the food. "I don't want you to feel trapped into a relationship with me because of—"

"I'm not trapped in this relationship. I did everything I could to push you away and we still ended up here."

"Jason I never figured children into the equation. I mean I faked a pregnancy to try to keep lucky, but the idea of actually having a baby never came into my mind. I've never really thought about having them all that much, just about preventing it from happening. But you're right we have been careful, so what do we do if it happens again, and for real this time?"

"If it happens, then we'll deal with that then. We'll still be careful but we'll just see what happens."

"Jason I never planned on having kids. I never planned on a lot of this, but—"

"Maxie we don't have to make any decisions for the future right this minute."

"But that's just it Jason. I'm not saying I have baby fever or even know if I'll want a baby in the future, but just the thought of having a little girl with your bright blue eyes and my fashion sense…"

"Are you saying that—?"

"I don't know what I'm saying. But maybe someday it should be a discussion? I mean, if you think that maybe you would want to—"

"It'll be a discussion." Jason said pulling her closer into his body cradling her against his own. "A little girl with my eyes, you're crazy blonde hair. That would be nice."

~*~