…..I do own GH or any of the characters. No copy write infringement intended…..

Chapter Twenty-Five

The tie was strangling him. Running his fingers along the edge, he began to loosen the torture device but halted at hearing the snickering behind him. Glaring at the Irish man, Jason let his hand dropped to his side. "Screw off, O'Brien. I detest wearing this getup." Scowling at the other man's pristine black suit, he gave up and straightened the loathed tie. "Who called earlier while I was referring the argument between Cam and Jake?"

"Zacchara. I think Georgie's having a rough time. He said they would just meet us at the church."

Jason's frown deepened. "It would be better, safer, for her to be surrounded when she enters the church. I know that Logan and Wilson will be with them, but Johnny requested Milo along with three other guards stay with Baylor and Epiphany."

Trying to fasten the clasp on her charm bracelet, Elizabeth gave him a reassuring smile. "Jason, he's taken every precaution with her and Bay so far. Johnny reads Georgie pretty well. For him to alter the plans I would say that Georgie qualifies as more than just a bit upset. We'll just wait for them outside and go in together."

Joining the three in the living room Francis took the bracelet from Elizabeth and quickly had the clasp closed securely around her delicate wrist. His hazel eyes betrayed his own unease about the day ahead of them. "It's not that simple, Liz. Anna, Robert, Frisco, Robin and especially Sean will be in attendance because of Tiffany being Lucas's mother's sister. Then you add in the Spencer's because they are his adoptive family. Our men spotted the launch from Wyndamere just minutes ago. It seems Nik is venturing out in support of Bobbie. Must not be too sick, huh?" he added with a knowing look in the men's direction. "As for Jerry, he dated Bobbie in the past and could very well take this occasion as his way to insert himself in the middle of the growing group of nutcases. Helena may also want to disturb the service for many reasons if she's in the mood to create drama. The only person I believe might stay away is Anthony and I can assure you that John is not comforted by that thought since we all know he is desperate to gain access to Baylor. Not to even mention some old associates of the Jerome family could very well make an appearance since it was never a secret that Lucas was Julian's son. The older generation takes paying their respects seriously. If one would catch the resemblance of Georgie to either her father or half-brother, we are in a world of shit. Zacchara may know Georgie's moods but I hope that he is thinking with his head and not his emotions. Being in that church will be more of a danger for her than when Georgie was on her own, pregnant and fleeing this madness."

Adjusting Jason's tie that he had loosened during Francis' words, Elizabeth looked up. The worry in his eyes had caused a shiver to race down her spine. Jason was just as uncertain about the outcome of today as Francis. She knew that Johnny had pulled the other three off to the side last night before leaving to discuss something related to today's memorial. "Should I call Georgie?"

"No. If anyone understands exactly why we're so nervous about this, it's her," O'Brien added before Jason could respond. "You guys need to give her some credit. Georgianna's survived and fought hard to stay a step ahead of everything. She isn't going to fall apart now."

"OB, you can't know that. Lucas meant a lot to her." Elizabeth worried her lip. "And she won't even discuss what Spinelli and Cooper did. Until Brooke showed up yesterday she was distracted, even with Bay, but didn't want to talk about it."

"Maybe she's still processing it or just shoved it out of her mind to get through today." Jason purposely let his attention shift and looked at her stomach meaningfully. "You need to stop stressing over her and try to remain calm today. All those people that Francis mentioned that are a threat to Georgie, are also a threat to you as well, Elizabeth. If you leave my side then O'Brien, Francis, or Marco are to be glued to your elbow. No taking off."

Waiting until the other two men had walked out onto the porch Elizabeth stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. "Jason, I promise that I have no intention of taking any risks. With Lucky and evidently Nik showing up too, I have no need to push my luck."

Snaking his arms around her waist, he pulled her flush to him and dropped his head so his chin rested on her shoulder. "I'd much rather just stay here with you today. I've been so busy lately that we hardly spend any time together."

Playfully running her palm over the growing bulge in the front of his pants she nipped his earlobe. "Poor baby," she purred. "Maybe tonight I'll cheer you up some, a reward of sorts for putting on that suit and tie."

Threading his fingers through her hair and tipping her head back Jason captured her lips in a promise of things to come, leaving her slightly breathless. "Hmm. If that's what I'm going to get every time I wear one of these damn monkey suits I just might put one on more often," he growled.

Affectionately patting his cheek, she gave him a teasing wink before backing up and snatching up her purse. "Who knew Jason Morgan could be so easy?"

"Only for beautiful brunette nurses," he retorted with a chuckle of his own.

Skidding to a stop in the doorway Cam started producing loud gagging noises. "Geez! All you do is smooch on each other. Gross!" His face clearly showed his disgust. "Can we go visit Alice now? At least over at Grandma Monica's no one is this lovey dovey."

"You're going to like kisses one day, Cameron," Elizabeth warned while looking past at him and seeing Jake heading out onto the porch with the other guys.

"No way, Mom! All girls are is a bunch of trouble."

"At least he already picked up on that fact of life," Jason pointed out with a huge grin before stepping away to avoid her sharp elbow.

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Hanging up the phone after giving his men orders to search the tunnels of Wyndamere since Nik and Helena had been spotted leaving earlier, Johnny turned and came to face to face with his pale wife. Wondering how much she had heard, he took a small measure of relief that her eyes only contained the same sadness that he had seen in them all morning. Hopefully she had not overheard him telling the men to detain Diego at a safe house if he was located. Johnny needed to have a few words with the man before he would even think of letting him near Georgie or Baylor. There were too many unanswered questions about the past for him to set back and take a chance with their safety, especially since no one knew the entire truth of what had really occurred concerning Diego. Taking Barrett's and Spinelli's word for Diego being as much a victim of the situation didn't sit well with him. While the proof on the laptop proved Coop had strangled all the women back in 2007, Johnny still had doubts about Alcazar. Too many pieces of the puzzle didn't fit.

"I don't think I can do this," she confessed, her voice barely carrying to him.

"Yes, you can." When her eyes flooded with unshed tears, Johnny brought her close to him and smoothed a hand over hair as she rested her head on him. "Georgie, you are without a doubt the strongest woman that I know. You've triumphed over every obstacle tossed at you. Just lean on me today, let me help you. You're too hard on yourself."

Breathing in his scent and gathering her strength she nodded weakly. "I just feel so much guilt. Lucas wouldn't…"

"Stop, right now," he commanded. "Responsibility for what happened to Lucas lies only with the people who killed him, not you. It took a really long time for me to face that I was not to blame for my father's actions. Or even Claudia's mistakes. Just like you aren't for anyone's either." Leaning back enough that he could tip her face upwards, Johnny paused. There was something unrecognizable in her large brown eyes that he didn't like. "Trust me enough to help you through this, Georgie. Don't start rebuilding those walls, shutting me back out."

Pulling away from him and smoothing a hand over her charcoal grey dress, Georgie didn't respond. Flashes of the nightmares from the night before plagued her. Forcing the tension from her face when she heard Baylor skipping toward them, she crouched down and caught her in a tight hug. "Be good for Epiphany while Johnny and I are gone. Okay?"

"Pwomise. Piph said we's going to bake cookies!" she responded excitedly.

Johnny looked up sharply at the large woman watching them from where she had followed Baylor.

"Special recipe, Mr. Zacchara," she informed with a knowing smile before it fell away. "Your men are waiting on the porch. They're getting restless. You two best be getting a move on. You've delayed long enough, Georgianna."

Crinkling her nose up at the scolding tone, Georgie hugged Baylor before standing back up. "Love you, baby girl."

Baylor raised her arms and Johnny picked her up so that she could smack a kiss on his cheek. When she giggled as he tickled her belly, he caught Epiphany watching them carefully with a softness to her normally hard face. He sat Baylor down and after exchanging goodbyes maneuvered Georgie out the door before she could come up with another excuse.

"Why on earth do you have one of the SUVs?" Georgie questioned coming to a stop on the front sidewalk after seeing Logan lounging against the black vehicle. They never took one of the SUVs that him and Jason had for business. They both preferred their smaller cars.

"Precaution," he answered evasively while glancing around. "Where is Wilson?"

"Already at the church. He'll be waiting for us," Logan answered while assessing Georgie. The past couple days seemed to have subdued the petite brunette. Logan hadn't seen her this ill at ease since he had met her years ago. The combination of events left a sour taste in his own mouth as well. Not knowing what to say he had avoided Maxie's calls last night and earlier this morning. Her messages had become bitchier as time passed and she never heard from Coop. That was one situation he would gladly let anyone else deal with. Explaining about Cooper's hidden lifestyle to Maxie was one conversation he could not fathom the thought of. They still had unresolved issues from their sex bet years ago.

Less than fifteen minutes later after a silent ride Johnny helped Georgie from the vehicle while quickly scanning the small groups of people milling around. Catching Elizabeth's eye, he waited as they all joined them. He was hoping that Georgie would let the other woman help her since she had been distancing herself from him since she had woke this morning from what he knew had been a nightmare from the way she had been thrashing about in her sleep.

Feeling eyes on her Georgie turned to snap but instead felt her insides drop. Unable to find her voice, she walked into his arms when he opened them and just held on tightly.

"I was beginning to think you weren't coming," he told her while keeping an eye on the group of men watching him suspiciously. "I'm relieved you decided to show up."

"I forced myself," she admitted while giving him one more squeeze before stepping back and searching his red rimmed, worried green eyes. "How are you doing, Guy?"

"Hanging in there. Thank God you are here though. Five more minutes with those people and I may've been calling you to bail me out of jail. Why you chose to come back to this place I'll never understand. Lucas fled the first chance he got."

A fleeting smile of understanding crossed her face. "Yeah. The Spencer's have that effect on most people." Tugging him forward Georgie turned to the curious group. "This is Guy, Lucas' partner. Guy, this is Johnny, Elizabeth, Jason, Logan, and Francis. You remember OB I'm sure. Lucas admitted that you two had met him."

Guy politely greeted everyone while trying to gauge Georgie's new husband. Lucas had worried plenty over her sudden marriage and he was relieved to see the way that the mobster watched her. All the research that Lucas had done made it clear that the Zacchara heir had the resources to protect Georgie and Baylor, but it was her emotional welfare that her brother had really worried over.

"Which of the blood sucking vampires did what?" O'Brien asked the young man that he had visited on his trip to discuss Julian Jerome with Lucas. The older man was surprised that Georgie had learned of that since both Lucas and Guy swore him to secrecy.

"Miss Lesley Lu," he sneered. "She brings a whole new meaning to vapid waste of space and tactless bitch."

"Whoa. She must've really ticked you off."

"That's an understatement, G. I'm leaving tomorrow morning but there are a couple things that I need to discuss with you first. I also want to see the princess," he added.

"You should've stopped over as soon as you arrived in Port Charles," she chastised. "I called yesterday but you must have already been on your way."

"I was dealing with a complication that I need to speak with you about. Later," he told her when she lifted an eyebrow. "Fair warning though, that church is packed with just about everybody you need to avoid."

Georgie scowled. "I know."

Jason groaned as the Quartermaine limo pulled into the parking lot. He was relieved that only Brooklyn started their way until he spotted Dillon following his niece while glaring at Georgie. With the tense mood of Johnny and everyone else he prayed that his wild haired cousin had enough brains to keep his mouth shut. A confrontation here was the last thing that they needed.

Brooke kissed Guy's cheek in greeting before linking her arm through Georgie's while she pulled her aside. Dillon remained a couple feet away, his hands shoved into his pockets while looking uncomfortable.

"Have you spoken to Bobbie yet?"

"No. We just got arrived. Why?"

"She called the mansion and threw a fit on the phone with Monica over something. I was just curious because I heard your name mentioned."

Georgie just shrugged. "Who knows? She acts like Luke more and more as she gets older. I was trying to wait on Maxie. Have you seen her yet, Guy?"

"Inside with Mac, Frisco, and Felicia."

"Shit!" she hissed. "Why in the world did Felicia show up?"

Placing a hand on the small of her back Johnny watched as Lulu approached with Dante. Lulu observed the closeness between the two and hid a sneer. There was no way that boring Georgie Jones could satisfy Johnny. After learning that Carly was being detained for questions about Sonny's death, Lulu figured she could at least start planning to destroy Georgie's marriage. When Carly was released they would implement the plan. "Aunt Bobbie said that they're getting ready to start. Guy, she's decided to let you sit with the family." Dante winced at the condescending tone she used when addressing the man.

"I appreciate her including me but I'm joining Georgie and her group. Thanks anyway," he answered dismissively.

"Wouldn't you rather sit with people that Lucas was close to the last couple years? I mean Georgie just disappeared for years and left everyone believing that she was dead."

Clamping a hand on the younger woman's arm, Elizabeth just ignored the youngest Spencer. "Come on, Georgie. Let's go get settled."

Huffing as the large group started toward the doors Lulu rolled her eyes at Dante. "She always makes everything about her," she whined. "Come on, Dante. We can sit with Lucky, Sam, and Nik." Stalking off she never noticed the dark look that he tossed her way before finally following her. He really didn't need her attitude right now. Dante was dealing with losing a father that he had just come to accept and Lulu behaved like it was no big deal and refused to accept that Carly had murdered his father. Her unshakable belief in Carly floored the detective. The evidence was air tight.

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Even sitting in the back couple pews Georgie felt as though she was on display. Sensing her unease, Johnny linked his fingers with hers. As the Father wrapped up the service the tension in the building seemed to multiply, setting all the men on edge. But it was when Sean stopped and spoke to Georgie that the thin layer of control snapped.

"You should have prevented this, Georgie," he stated in a low whisper. "Lucas no longer lives because you refused..."

Johnny and Jason rose at the same time while Logan grasped her arm to keep her from moving. "If you finish that sentence you'd better be prepared for the fallout."

Ignoring Zacchara's warning Sean shook his head. "Stop and think, Georgie. I can make it so that everyone that you care about no longer exists and all those deaths will rest solely on your conscious. If you think that Morgan and Zacchara can protect you and Baylor forever you are sadly mistaken."

Two simultaneous explosions rocked the walls around them and a cocky smile flashed over Johnny's features before Sean's head jerked toward the open doors. "I don't give second warnings, Mr. Donley. I believe Frisco should have mentioned my first warning. He reports to you after all."

As chaos erupted around them Francis and O'Brien slipped back into their positions as the head of the WSB rushed toward the parking lot. But Georgie's softly spoken words had him staggering before he cleared the doorway.

"I told you all along, Sean, that Lucas was the only child that he gave a damn about. Do you believe me now?"

As news of the deaths of Anna, Robert, and Tiffany in the first vehicle explosion filtered its way through the crowd Johnny stood back and watched the fire department arrive on scene. His arms securely around Georgie's waist as he held her from behind, he contemplated her earlier words just as the occupant of the secondary explosion that had engulfed the other vehicle was identified. The only regret he felt was that Lucky and Sam had not been in the limo with Luke when it had went up in a ball of flames.

"You did this!" Robin raged, trying to break free from the restraining grip of Mac's arms as she sobbed. "You killed my parents, Zacchara!"

With pity in her voice, Georgie sadly shook her head. "Robin, that makes absolutely no sense. I know you are upset, but don't be ridiculous. What possible reason would Johnny have to want your parents harmed?"

Maxie stepped forward from where she had been standing with Dillon and Brooke. Trying to comfort her distraught cousin, she shot Johnny and Georgie an apologetic look as Robin continued to blame Johnny. "You guys should go. She'll calm down eventually and see that she's just reaching right now."

"Mac! Aren't you going to arrest Morgan and Zacchara? You know they did this!" Lucky bellowed as several of his former police officers surrounded him while Bobbie and Lulu hung onto another while crying hysterically. "He murdered my dad!"

"Spencer, the limo Luke was in caught fire from the first explosion," Mac tried to explain patiently, but the theatrics and losing his brother and ex sister-in-law had his fuse shortened. "Not every crime in this town is connected to Morgan and Johnny."

"Dad, we're gonna go," Georgie told Mac from Johnny's embrace. She knew there was no way he was releasing her with all that was going on at the moment, especially with Sean and Frisco glowering at them. "I think it would best for everyone. Maxie, call me later. I love you both." Turning and letting Johnny guide her to the SUV with Logan on her other side, Georgie caught Jason leading Elizabeth away from the highly strung crowd.

Guy stopped the group and verified her address before telling her that he would stop in early the next morning. Looking back at the medley he sighed. Lucas had loved his family but had never been blind to their faults. He couldn't help but thinking it had been impossible to ignore them because that was all the Spencer's showed to the public.

A/N: Sorry for taking so long. I played around with this chapter for a long time and finally had to make myself stop. If I had included everything that I wanted to, then the funeral would have lasted for probably ten chapters and I didn't want to drag it out because there is so much that still needs to be addressed. I had planned on something else happening in this chapter but it really makes more sense for it to occur later on. I hope you all enjoyed the last part. It's only the beginning of taking care of the trash!

Thank you so much for all the reviews, favorites, and follows. The support and encouragement is greatly appreciated!