"He hates me."

"He doesn't hate you."

Georgie lifted her bruised tearstained face from her hands and stared at her sister. It was like old times, the way they were talking about their problems. "He does. Did you see the way he stormed out of here? You'd think I had the plague."

"He doesn't hate you. It had to have been quite a shock. Think of how it was when I found out that you were alive," Maxie reasoned. She paced back and forth, berating herself for even telling Dillon in the first place and causing her sister this pain.

Georgie frowned behind Maxie's back. "You don't mean that. I know you Maxie, because if you did, you wouldn't be pacing."

Maxie stopped and glared. "I do mean it. Dillon Quartermaine loved you—"

"Loved me, as in past tense," Georgie cut in angrily. She hated to give Maxie an attitude, but she just couldn't help it. She was just so irritated at Dillon.

"Georgie—"

"Don't. Just don't," Georgie shook her head adamantly. "I've learned to live with my mistakes. I lost Dillon and I just need to get over it."

"Miracles happen," Maxie insisted, dropping into the arm chair beside the bed.

"Not to me they don't. I gave up my life as it was when I decided to fake my death and join the WSB as an undercover agent," Georgie said decidedly. As far as she was concerned the topic was closed, locked tightly with the key tossed away.

Maxie sighed. She knew her sister and because she did, she knew that Georgie was anything if not stubborn. "Miracles do happen. You're back and you're alive. As far as I'm concerned that's a miracle among miracles." She stood up and placed a gentle kiss on her sister's brow. "I love you, Georgie. I need you, so don't go away." She turned and walked toward the door. Georgie's voice stopped her.

"Maxie?"

"Yes?" she stopped and turned.

"I love you too, more than anything. I never stopped loving you, even when I was gone," Georgie replied. She smiled slightly. "And I'm not going anywhere. I've come home, where I belong." She laid her head back and settled into the pillows.

"Goodnight Georgie," Maxie said, hitting the switch on the wall. The room was dimmed and she could only make out Georgie's form lying on the hospital bed. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Good night, Maxie." She closed her eyes and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

Maxie tiptoed down the hallway, carrying her coat and purse. She'd hoped that by telling Dillon, all would be well. But in the end, she'd only caused more heartache. She rubbed her eyes and hit the elevator button. The clock on the wall read 10:03. She never planned to be out so late, but it couldn't be helped. It had taken all day to wait for Dillon and by the time he'd gone, she had been trying to comfort both her sister and herself. Perhaps tomorrow would be better. She could only hope for both herself and Georgie.

The vibration of her cell phone snapped her out of her musings. She reached for it out of her purse and looked at the reading. It was a missed message from Mac. Shaking her head, she laughed to herself. She hadn't thought of him in days. But now she needed to decide what to do about him. He'd have to know eventually. Soon, if the doctors had their way. Dr. Drake had said that she might be released within the week.

If only life were easier, Maxie thought as she unlocked her car door and got inside. But if it were, she supposed, it would be boring. And if there was anything that Maxie Jones-Spinelli hated more than anything, it was monotony.

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Mattie stepped out of the shower and reached for a towel. Drying herself off, she slipped her robe off the hook and put it on. With only one bathroom in their tiny apartment, she and Sarah had a schedule for showers. Mattie would get dressed and ready in the privacy of her own bedroom so that Sarah could use the bathroom. Picking up her discarded clothing, she opened the door and crept down the hall toward her bedroom.

As she closed the door, she could hear the murmur of the television. Sarah was probably watching The Today Show while she finished her breakfast. She wasn't a morning person by nature, so Mattie had quickly learned to stay out of her way during that part of the day.

Still wearing her robe, she stood in front of the closet and perused her options. Because she was a resident and more often than naught spent her days in scrubs, she rarely worried about what she was wearing for work. But today was different. She didn't know why, but she felt different, more beautiful. And something made her want to play the part.

Perhaps it was the ring on her finger or the fact that she'd gotten a really great night of sleep. But whatever it was, she felt different, better than normal.

She flipped through the rainbow of identical blouses and slacks of dark drab colors. Frowning, she selected a pair of gray slacks and…she didn't want to wear the same blouse again. So what to wear? Smiling, she spotted a light pink cashmere sweater. That was the perfect thing to wear on a day like today.

Mattie slipped the robe off her body and replaced it with matching panties and a bra. Over that, she pulled on a white camisole and tugged on the sweater. She slipped the slacks on and buttoned them at the waist. There, she was nearly done.

Twenty minutes later, she walked out of the room, having dried and brushed her hair and finished her make-up. She'd opted to wear her hair in a low pony-tail at the base of her neck.

Sarah was stepping out of the bathroom as she made her way toward the kitchen. Mattie deposited her dirty clothes in the hamper in the bathroom. One of these days, she'd have to lug the basket down stairs to the washroom and do the laundry. She and Sarah tried to split chores like laundry and housework fifty-fifty. But usually whoever had the time would do the work.

She walked into the kitchen and poured her first cup of coffee for the day. Sipping it, she wondered what Morgan was doing at the moment. Was he having breakfast or what he already at the station for the day? Had he taken a shower yet? At that thought, she shook her head. She was so losing it. It was one little engagement ring and she was tempted to check herself into Shadybrook. Perhaps she should stop by and talk with Lainey today.

A rap on the door had to chuckling to her. Saved by the knock, she thought and set her cup down to answer it. She smiled when she opened the door and saw Morgan standing in front of her with a huge bouquet of tulips.

"Hey beautiful." He leaned in for a kiss and she fully intended to give him only a peck when he pulled her into his arms and deepened the kiss. Finally he let her go and she opened the door wider for him.

"Are those for me?" she asked coyly, eyeing the bursting bunch of flowers.

He thrust them out and grinned at her. "I saw them and they reminded me of you."

She laughed and walked back toward the kitchen, her arms full of blooms. She dumped them on the counter and motioned to a high cupboard where vases were stored. It wasn't often that she got flowers so the vases were stores out of the way. He reached up and deftly grabbed a Waterford Crystal vase that had been given to her by Anna. She filled it with water and lovingly arranged the flowers while Morgan poured a cup of coffee for himself.

"I know that you have to be at the hospital but I was wondering if you wanted to catch dinner tonight. I was thinking that maybe we should tell my mom and Jax about the wedding too," he said carefully. He wasn't sure how she would react and didn't want to spoil the bliss.

She looked up and the smile drained from her face. "Really? Do we have to—I mean, we haven't even set a date yet." She looked like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights.

He cursed himself for hurrying her too fast. "Look, I'm sorry. We don't have to, not yet anyway."

She shook her head. "No, no. we do have to. It's only right, especially if I see Maxie and ask her about helping plan our wedding." She sighed and turned away to look out the window.

Morgan came up behind her and put his arms around her. "Mattie, I love you. Don't ever doubt that. I know that my mom can be overbearing sometimes, but remember that I love you." He turned her around and kissed her lips soundly.

She pulled back and eyed him skeptically. "Overbearing? I'm sorry because I know she's your mom and you love her, but that's Carly on a nice day."

He laughed and hugged her to him. "I knew there was a reason that I loved you. At least I'll never have a dull day when I'm with you."

"Oh, so that's the only reason you love me?" she asked coyly, fluttering her eyelashes at him.

He grinned. "Well…there is your fabulous smile and your gorgeous body."

"In that order?"

"Not necessarily," he said, tilting her head up and pushed his lips on hers possessively.

She smiled and her eye caught sight of the clock on the stove. It read 8:37. She had only twenty minutes to get to work and get changed before her shift. Slipping out of his arms, she grinned. "Now look what you did. You made me late. I'm going to have to punish you for that later."

"Oh really. What kind of punishment did you have in mind?"

She chuckled. "I'm going to let you suffer. You'll just have to wait and see." With one last kiss, she dumped her coffee down the sink and rinsed out the cup. Walking to the hall closet, she pulled out her wool coat and slipped it on. She wrapped her scarf around her neck and picked up her laptop bag and purse. "I'm leaving Sarah!" she called, tugging her gloves on.

The bedroom door opened and Sarah walked out, dressed in her police uniform. "I'm leaving—oh hi Morgan! I didn't know you were here," she said sarcastically. She looked at Mattie and rolled her eyes.

"Hi Sarah," Morgan replied dryly. He picked up his coat and followed Mattie out the door. "Bye Sarah."

"Bye Sarah. I'll call you later," Mattie called, her tone implying that Sarah better not ask anything about what she'd heard in the kitchen.

Together, Mattie and Morgan walked down the hallway and stepped onto the elevator. He followed her out to her car and waited until she'd driven away. She waved as she turned the car out of the garage onto the street.

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Maxie stepped off the elevator and walked directly toward her sister's room. In her hand, she held a tray with two coffees in it and a bag of pastries from Kelly's. She knew that if Epiphany or Elizabeth saw her with the food, she'd get reprimanded.

Georgie's room was open and Maxie could see Dr. Drake examining her. She stopped in the doorway and waited while the doctor finished talking to her sister. Georgie looked up and smiled when she saw Maxie.

"Hi!"

Patrick turned around. "Oh hi Maxie, perfect timing."

She stepped in. "Oh, good news?"

"I think that the patient is fit to go home today," Patrick said, smiling at Georgie. He made a notation in his chart and patted Maxie's shoulder. As he walked past, he leaned in close, "You are going to have to tell Mac soon."

She frowned and nodded. As soon as he'd left, she pasted a smile on her face and walked to Georgie's bedside. Setting the coffees down, she handed the bag of pastries to Georgie.

"Here, I brought you some pastries from Kelly's. I thought they'd bring back some memories," she said, sitting down in the chair.

Georgie smiled. "Thanks." She looked down for a moment and then back at Maxie's face. "I-I'm sorry for last night."

Maxie shook her head. "No, no, don't be sorry." She took a sip of her coffee and handed the other cup to Georgie, who accepted it gratefully.

"So I'm finally going to be out of this place," Georgie commented awkwardly. She wasn't sure what to say to her sister. Not after last night.

Maxie frowned. She couldn't do small talk today. She needed to get to the point. "We need to tell Mac."

Georgie stopped and stared at her sister. "What do you mean?"

"Georgie, you are getting out of the hospital today. Where are you going to go? I mean—we live in Port Charles, you are going to run into him eventually. Imagine how heart-stopping that would be—to see his dead daughter alive," Maxie reasoned.

"Okay." Georgie looked up at the clock.

"Okay? Just like that?" Maxie questioned, surprised at her sister's complacent attitude.

Georgie shrugged. "Well yeah. I mean, it has to be done. He will have to know so we might as well tell him."

"I'll do it. I don't want him to have a heart attack," Maxie said dryly. She stood up and reached for her jacket. "I'll go over there now. Hopefully when I get back you'll be discharged. Oh by the way, Spinelli and I are inviting you to stay with us until you figure out what you are going to do."

Georgie looked taken aback. "I-I…thanks." Her mouth fell agape. "I don't know what to say."

Maxie smiled. "Say yes. Say that you will stay with us and stay here in Port Charles…or at least won't go away for long." She leaned down and kissed Georgie's forehead.

Georgie smiled. "Yes. Now go. I have a feeling you are going to have your hands full with Mac—if he's anything like he was thirty years ago, he's stubborn."

"Like someone else I know," Maxie said dryly. But she waved and walked out of the room.

Georgie watched her go and shook her head. She didn't know how Mac would take it but hoped that it would be okay because she didn't want to cause anyone else anymore pain. Not after what she'd done to Dillon. As much as she wanted her life back the way it was before she'd 'died', she didn't want to hurt the people who had mourned for her. Sighing, she pushed back the covers and slipped out of the bed. If she was going to be discharged soon, she might as well see about her belongings.

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Okay, so you should review now. Please…I love reading them! How is the story so far? The next chapter will include Maxie telling Mac about Georgie. That's going to be a heartbreaker. Also, a little sneak peak…Georgie will have a life between her 'death' and her return and it isn't pretty. So keep reading. Hopefully I will have another chapter up within the next week. This last chapter came fast…my muse is working overtime. Review please, but most of all…Enjoy!