Love and Redemption By Amy
Chapter 1: Reunion
~ present time ~
A mysterious woman with large, dark sunglasses and a scarf tied around her hair entered the Port Charles Hotel. She walks over to a bellboy, and inquires in a quiet accented voice as to which suite Brenda Barret was staying in. The bellboy looks hesitant at divulging information to a stranger. Sensing this, the woman assures him she is Brenda’s sister and has come to surprise her. The bellboy looks at the woman. She didn’t seem dangerous, he figures she looks similar enough to Miss Barrett, and gives her the number of the penthouse suite Brenda shares with her fiancé Jax. The woman tips him, and he leaves. She then steps into the elevator, and pushes the penthouse floor. She gets out of the elevator, and walks to the suite. She knocks softly on the door. There is no answer. She knocks again. Still no answer. She sighs, turning to go, but changes her mind. She looks at the lock on the door for a moment. Then, before she loses her nerve, she pulls a long hairpin out of her hair and begins to pick the lock. The lock quickly opens, and she enters the spacious, luxurious penthouse and takes a long glance around. There appeared to be no one home. She reached into her shoulder bag, and pulled out an envelope addressed to Brenda, and a beautifully wrapped package.
Jax, weary after a long day at the office, sighs as he steps off the elevator. He has been looking forward to seeing Brenda all day. As he gets to his suite, he notices the door is unlocked. He shakes his head at Brenda’s thoughtlessness, but then remembers she should still be meeting with Lucy, and tenses up. The stalker! He silently opens the penthouse door, and spots a woman placing a package and note on the desk. Jax is momentarily confused. A woman?! She turns her attention to a picture frame holding a photo of them and picks it up. She has not heard him enter. The movement propels Jax into action, and he burst into the suite and grabs the woman. She gasps in surprise, but before she can react, Jax pins her hands behind her and runs his hands down her body, searching for weapons. Finding none, he is about to turn her around when she breaks free and pushes away from him, but not before he managed to snatch off her sunglasses and scarf to get a look at her. He wasn’t expecting what he saw. She was no older than Brenda! He could see the fear mixing with indignation in her eyes as she stared back at him.
Jax glares at her, furious. "Who are you?" he demanded. He ripped into the package she had left on the desk and found a musicbox. He smashed it against the desk in disgust. The woman blinked at him. Had Brenda married a lunatic?
"I asked you a question! Who are you? Who sent you here? How did you get in?" His questions came faster than the girl could answer. She shook her head, confused. Jax advanced on her, and she retreated step for step."I want to know who sent you!" Jax snapped at her, his blue eyes now a steely silver. "It was Sonny wasn’t it? Has he stooped so low he has to send a girl to do his dirty work?"
"I don’t know who you’re talking about! No one sent me!" she exclaimed.
"Then tell me, what is this" Jax snatched up the envelope to Brenda and waved it, "supposed to be?"
"It was a gift - "
"A gift Sonny told you to deliver!" Jax bit out, cutting her off.
"No! No one told me to do it! That was *my* gift to Brenda!" she said vehemently.
"YOU! You’re the one that’s behind all this?" Jax said, incredulous. "We’ll see what the police have to say about your little break and enter!" he thundered, reaching for the phone.
"NO!" she cried, and she snatched the phone line just as Jax picked up the reciever, and ripped it from the phone. Jax simply stared at the line in disbelief.
"That was not a wise move," he stated in an ominously low voice.
The girl’s eyes blazed with alarm at his tone. Her gaze darts to the open door behind Jax. He noticed where she was looking and takes a step towards her, "Oh no you don’t!" but she was too quick. She flung the desklamp into him. The impact caught him by surprise and caused him to momentarily stagger, giving her a chance to dash around him. But before she could get to the door, Jax caught her from behind and whiped her around angrily. The girl let fly a left hook that took Jax by surprise, and hit him square in the mouth.
Just then, Brenda bounded into the room, full of her usual energy, tossing her jacket and bags aside, and streaking towards Jax all in one movement. At the sight of the altercation front of her, she comes to an abrupt halt, her mouth agape in shock.
"Jax!?!"
Jax’s head swings around at the sound of Brenda’s voice, and he immediately lets go of the girl and she instinctively backs away from him. A small spot of blood smeared his bottom lip.
"Jax what the hell is going on here?" Brenda demanded looking from him to the girl, back to him. The girl, who’s back had been to Brenda, finally turns around to face her. Brenda gasps in surprise, and she blinks, unable to move for several seconds, recognition dawning in her eyes.
"Lena?" she whispered in uncertainty. The girl looks at Brenda for a long moment, and nodded slowly. Suddenly, Brenda’s expression goes from shock to joy. "Lena!" she screamed. She raced over and launched herself at the girl and they landed in an undignified heap by Jax’s surprised feet. Brenda was laughing and crying at the same time as she engulfed her friend in a massive hug.
"Lena, it’s really you! I missed you!" Brenda was practically choking her friend.
"Oh Bren, I missed you too!" Lena replied, hugging Brenda back.
Jax’s expression went from outrage to confusion to amusement. The tension drained from his body, and he felt himself relax. He bent down to heave the two girls to their feet."I take it you two know each other then?"
Brenda was breathless with glee as she nodded."Of course! Lena is one of my best friends in the whole world! Lena, I’d like you to meet my husband Jasper Jacks. Jax, this is Madelena - "
Lena cut her off. "Lena. Lena Raine."
Brenda gave her a look. "Raine?" Lena gave her a look but didn’t answer. Jax was studying Lena, seeing her clearly for the first time. She is about Brenda’s size, with oval grey eyes and long dark hair. And she spoke with a faint accent he hadn’t been able to make out. Lena regarded him warily. Brenda saw this.
"Jax! Why were you attacking each other when I came in?"
Jax shook his head ruefully, rubbing his sore mouth. He wiped off the blood with his hand. "The door was unlocked when I came in, and I saw her leaving a present for you, so I automatically assumed she was either your stalker or working for him."
Lena turned to Brenda in alarm. "Stalker?"
"Some wierdo has been sending me gifts, and Jax is being paranoid about it."
"Brenda, are you in trouble?"
"No." Brenda denied. Jax gave her a look.
"I didn’t mean to scare you like that," he said to Lena.
"It’s all right," Lena replied. "Although I was wondering if Brenda had married a psychopath. I shouldn’t have come without notice like that. I’m sorry I hit you. No hard feelings?"
Jax shook his head while he wiggled his jaw and grinned. "You pack one hell of a punch for someone your size. Just how did you manage to get into the suite?"
"I picked the lock." Lena replied. She added, "I only meant to leave the present and surprise Brenda."
"You picked the lock." Jax repeated. Lena nodded.
"How do you know how to pick a lock?"
"That, you should ask Brenda." Lena smiled mischievously, and Brenda giggled. Jax looked at Brenda expectantly.
"We sort of picked it up from some …uh…people we… um… used to hang out with… once." Jax just looked at both of them, and shook his head, not knowing what to make of that. "Come on. We have so much to talk about!" Brenda squealed. She dragged Jax and Lena to the couches to sit down, and she settled herself in Jax’s lap across from her friend. Jax could practically feel the delight emanating from Brenda at Lena’s sudden appearance. Brenda was clapping her hand and beaming like a two year- old and she was so excited she was talking in staccatto. Lena just laughed at her,
"You never change do you, cara?"
"Never!" Brenda grinned, flashing her dimples. "But you sure did. Look at you! I barely recognized you!" To Jax she added, "Lena and I go way back. We grew up together in the boarding schools. We were inseparable!"
"Terrible and insufferable would be more accurate," Lena corrected smiling fondly at Brenda, who grinned.
"Let me guess, you were terrible, and Brenda was insufferable," Jax said with laugh.
"Ha ha, very funny Jax." Brenda retorted, poking him in the belly. "Lena and I are like family." Brenda frowned. "Actually, we’re closer than family since we never had much real family."
"How come you never told me about your friend here?" Jax asked Brenda.
"We sort of lost contact right after I came to New York and…." Brenda looked at Lena. "Hey! How come you disappeared like that? Why didn’t you ever come visit before, or call me? And how come you’re here now?"
"Well, I’ve been out of touch for a long time." Lena explained.
"Out of touch? Like as in out of touch with reality?" Brenda asked arching an eyebrow.
Lena laughed at that. "No, as in out of touch with the rest of the civilized world."
"Really? What have you been up to all this time?"
Lena paused for a moment before answering. "I was in Africa."
Brenda’s eyes were wide. "Africa?" Lena nodded. "As in scorching desert, elephants and half-naked people carrying spears? That Africa?"
Lena laughed. "That would be the one."
"What on earth were you doing there?"
"Going on safari." Lena replied, not wanting to elaborate. "News traveled slowly where I was, so I read about your whirlwind romance and wedding after the fact. I couldn’t believe your settling down. I had to come see for myself. You both have my sincerest congratulations." She turned to Jax, "I knew that you had to be something extraordinary, in spite of first impressions," Lena grinned, "for Brenda to marry you. Brenda always had excellent taste in men." Jax and Brenda smiled at that.
"Well, you know, we aren’t exactly married right now." Brenda said, and Lena looked confused.
"But the papers said…"
"Yeah, but our wedding had to be called off because Jax’s dead wife showed up." Brenda said with disgust. She went on to briefly describe Miranda’s miraculous return from the netherworld to interrupt their wedding.
Lena raised her eyebrows. "A not-so-dead first wife?" Brenda rolled her eyes.
"Who conveniently resurrected to stop your wedding?"
"She was conveniently discovered by Sonny who brought her to the wedding."
"Sonny?" Lena inquired.
"It’s a long story" Jax sighed. "But we’re sorting through it. We’re planning to have another ceremony soon."
"That’s right. We are *determined* to get married this time." Brenda laughed.
Lena sat back and looked at the two of them, Brenda sitting comfortably on Jax’s lap, his head resting comfortably atop her head. They looked for all the world the picture of love. A flicker of pain leap into her eyes as a memory assailed her, but she pushed it back. "Well, I came to see if Brenda was happy, and if she was marrying a good man. And I’m glad that she is both."
"That’s sure kind of you to say," Jax said wryly, "Considering the way I terrorized you earlier."
"I forgive you for that" Lena smiled. "You were only looking out for Brenda after all."
Jax grinned. "That’s mighty diplomatic of you."
"Diplomacy must be in my blood," Lena replied, and Brenda laughed.
At Jax’s puzzled expression, she explained, "Lena grew up surrounded by diplomats."
"Diplomats and gypsies," Lena said smiling, "and instinct tells me you two will get through whatever obstacles in your path and make it work."
"Miranda’s no obstacle," Brenda muttered, "She’s more like an albatross." Both Jax and Lena laughed at her.
"Just don’t take two long figuring things out. Life is fleeting, and you have to grab your happiness while you can." She said it in a sad and wistfully voice and Brenda gave her a strange look. Lena glanced at her watch, and then she stood. "Well kids, it’s been a long day. I really am glad to have met you, Jax, and to see you doing so well Bren. But I think I should be leaving now."
"Where are you staying?" Brenda asked.
Lena tilted her head. "Staying?"
Brenda narrowed her eyes at her friend. "How long are you in town for *exactly*?"
"Well, exactly a few more hours. I’m flying out tonight."
Brenda jumped from Jax’s lap horrified. "You can’t! You just got here!"
"I never planned for this to be a long visit, cara. I was just stopping by to offer my best wishes."
"You can’t go. You have to stay for the..the..the wedding!"
"The wedding?" Lena repeated.
"Yes! It’s your duty to stay and help me with planning it!" Brenda said resolutely. Jax chuckled. Lena wasn’t going to have a chance against Brenda. "I want you to be my bridesmaid, along with Robin, and Lois."
"Brenda be reasonable. You don’t even have a set date. I promise you I’ll come back."
Brenda shook her head, "No way, jose. You are not getting off that easy." Lena shook her head at that.
"Where do you suggest I stay then?"
"Here!" Brenda replied brightly.
Lena raised an eyebrow, deliberately misreading Brenda. "Here? On your couch? Have you been watching too many reruns of *Three’s Company*?" Jax laughed.
"Funny Len, you know I meant here in the hotel."
"Brenda, I couldn’t possibly - "
"Why not?" Brenda demanded.
"I couldn’t possible afford it." Lena said smiled, finishing her sentence.
"Yeah right." But Lena was serious. "What are you talking about? What about the trust fund your grandfather - " Lena cut her off. "It doesn’t exist."
"It doesn’t WHAT?!" Brenda was indignant. "Why that lousy old son of a - "
"Brenda, you know I never expected anything from him anyway."
Brenda huffed for a minute then calmed down. "What about Tobbe? Can’t he do anything about that?" she asked curiously.
Lena was silent for a minute. She shook her head. "Tobbe died years ago."
Brenda was stunned. "Oh Lena. I’m so sorry."
"Hey," Lena said, "remember what I told you?"
Brenda grinned impishly. "Never to be sorry for something I didn’t do, because there was already a mountain of things I did do I should be sorry for!"
"You remembered." They both laughed.
"Is that why you changed your name…and took off without a trace?" Brenda asked.
Lena replied, "Partly."
Jax had been watching their exchange silently. He debated whether or not offering to put Lena up at his own expense would offend her. He could tell she was the proud, independent type. But it would mean so much to Brenda to have her friend here. Especially after the debacle with Miranda. Brenda was not bothered by any considerations of pride, however, and before Jax could utter his offer, Brenda started jumping up and down with excitement.
"I’ve got the perfect idea! You can have the apartment I used to live in above Ruby’s!"
"Brenda - " Lena began, but Brenda cut her off with her flurry of words.
"Oh no you don’t. You’re family, and family takes care of family, and since you’re family, what’s mine is automatically yours. Besides, you’re going to love Ruby, and you might as well stay there since I’m not anymore, and it’s a great place, and Ruby cooks great food, and I’m not letting you leave Port Charles now that you’re finally here, even if it means I have to barricade you in here myself, and that’s final!" Brenda said with determination. She put on the most pleading face.
Lena was uncertain. She wanted to stay. More than anything, she wanted the chance to start her life over again. But she would be taking a great risk. She was already taking a big chance just by being here. Could she take that kind of a risk?
"Madelena Raine, I am NOT, I repeat NOT letting you leave!" Brenda declared. "Come on, you have to stay. Please, please, pretty please?"
Lena sighed. Maybe this time things will work out. She threw up her hands and shook her head ruefully. "Someday, I will learn to say no to you, Brenda."
Jax laughed. "When you master that trick, be sure to call me." Brenda threw pillows at them both.
"It’s settled then, you’re staying."
"Did I ever have a choice?" Brenda shook her head and grinned. "Well then, you had best give me some instructions on how to get to this oasis above Ruby’s, as I’m about to drop in my tracks on your fine Persian carpet." Brenda went and wrote down instructions on how to get to Ruby’s, and called Ruby to let her know of her new tenant. Lena bid the lovebirds good-night, and went off to find her new home.
Chapter 2: Tales to Tell
The next day, Brenda, still pumped full of adrenaline and eager to introduce Lena to Lois and Robin, decided to call them over to Lena’s room and surprise her. She was sure they would all become the best of friends, and she was right. The girls took to each other on sight, after Lena got over the surprise at finding a veritable party going on in her kitchen when she woke up.
"Brenda? My god, what’s going on here?" she asked, coming out in a tank top and baggy pj bottoms. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"Look!" Brenda exclaimed cheerfully. "We brought breakfast!" She gestured to the spread on the kitchen table. There was butter croissants, waffles, bagels, muffins, cream cheese, cereal, milk, juice, eggs, sausage, ham, toast, a bowl of fruit, a pitcher of juice and coffee.
"Breakfast?" Lena repeated in amazement at the sight before her. "Breakfast for whom? The marine corps?" Brenda grinned and shrugged.
"Well, I brought some, and Ruby said she wanted to make sure you ate something. She says you’re a stick."
"Brenda, there’s more food on that table than I’ve seen in the entire time I was in Africa!" Everyone laughed.
"Lena, these are my two best friends in Port Charles. Lois Cerullo-Ashton, and Robin Scorpio." Brenda said, pointing to Robin and Lois. "Guys, this is my childhood partner in crime, Lena Raine."
"Hi" Robin said.
"Hiya" Lois echoed.
Lena smiled. "Delighted to meet the both of you."
"I love your accent," Robin commented. "Where’s it from?"
Lena grinned. "Oh, a smorgasbord of countries."
"And ya know how accents turn a guy on!" Lois piped in, deliberately accentuating her Brooklyn one, causing everyone to laugh.
Lena plopped herself down into one of the kitchen chairs. She picked up a piece of toast and started munching on it. "So to what do I owe the pleasure of present company? I mean besides breakfast?" She smirked at Brenda. "Did you expect me to sneak away in the middle of the night or something?"
"I wouldn’t put it past you," Brenda retorted smirking in return. "Actually, today we were going to do some wedding planning, and I thought you’d like to get in on some of the action."
"Yeah, Bren, just what is going on with this whole Miranda deal?" Lois asked, chewing on an apple.
"I honestly don’t know." Brenda replied with a touch of frustration, "But I know she can’t stonewall the inevitable. Jax and I belong together. She had her chance years ago, and she blew it. She’s not the one he loves anymore."
"I can’t believe she just comes schmaltzing into town and expect you to hand him over." Robin added, sighing. "And she’s got uncle Mac all gooey-eyed at her."
"Well I’m not handing him over. Jax is going to talk to her today. He thinks it’s best, since no one knows if she’s got a death certificate or not, to just get a quickie divorce. Once the divorce come through, it’s austa la vista baby!" Brenda declared with a flourish, causing the group to dissolve into giggles.
The rest of the day, the girls ran through wedding and reception ideas. Brenda wanted to start from scratch and have a completely different ceremony from the fateful one at the Quartermaine mansion. Magazines and catalogues were strewn all over the place and they good-naturedly debated and argued over ceremony details. It had already been decided that the bridesmaids would wear aquamarine gowns, and Lois and Robin had already been fitted. Brenda made an appointment for Lena to be fitted when she went in for her fitting since Valentino was going to design both the bridesmaid gowns and the wedding dress. Lena was feeling incredibly comfortable with Brenda’s friends. She couldn’t remember when she’d last felt this at ease. Lois and Robin, for their part, were relieved to find Lena just as easygoing as Brenda, and not some European snob. Lena told them wicked stories about a wild Brenda back in the boarding school days, and kept them rolling on the floor with laughter. She started on one particular story involving the rugby team, Brenda threatened her with severe bodily harm if she continued, so she just grinned and stopped. When Brenda was taking a phone call from Jax, Lois whispered to Robin and Lena Jax's plans to surprise Brenda at the reception.
"I can't believe he's going to sing!" Robin said laughing, trying to picture it.
"Who's going to sing?" Brenda walked back in and laughed at their hushed expressions. She plopped onto the couch beside Robin.
"Ah...I was just askin' Lena if she...uh...did any singin'." Lois covered.
"Oh, didn't I mention that?" Brenda said with a smile.
"Can ya really sing?" Lois asked, with genuine interest now.
Lena shook her head and said with a laugh, "Nothing worth mentioning."
"She's being modest, she used to belt it out like you wouldn't believe in all the bars of Nice."
Lena groaned. "I can't believe you brought that up."
Brenda giggled. "How could I not? You were the hit of the town!"
"What I *was* was crazy insane drunk!"
"No seriously, I'd like ta hear ya sing!" Lois said. "Ya know that Bren and I have a record company, and we're always lookin' for new talent."
Robin leaned over to Lena. "Better watch out. Lois is relentless!"
"Thank ya!" Lois beamed. "I'll take that as a compliment!" and Robin laughed.
Lois checked her watch and found it was well past six. "Well I dunno about you peoples," said Lois, "But I’m starvin’!"
"Me too!" Robin chimed in.
"Hey! I know!" Brenda exclaimed excitedly. "Since Jax is running late and can’t make dinner, lets get all dolled up to the nines and go for a girls night out!"
"Right on girlfriend!" Lois agreed enthusiastically. "Lemme go ta call Ned first." And Lois went to the kitchen to phone her husband and let him know her plans.
"Where should we go?" Brenda pondered.
"How about that ritzy new French place?" Robin suggested. "They have the cutest valet guys," She grinned.
"Sounds fabulous you guys, but you’ll have to count me out." Lena said.
"You’re not coming?"
"I don’t have anything to wear." Lena smiled.
"Ha! I don’t believe you!" Brenda laughed, flouncing into the bedroom. She hauled open Lena’s suitcase and proceeded to unearth every article of clothing, sending stuff flying in every direction.
"Brenda!" Lena protests laughing. "Really! Is this necessary!"
"Yes!" Brenda replies, happily rifling through the suitcase, determined to find something suitable. "My god Lena, you really DON’T have anything fancy with you!"
Lena rolls her eyes and shrugs at Robin and Lois who had returned from the kitchen, and they chuckle.
"Wait a sec…what’s this?" Brenda pulls out a picture frame. It is a photo of a Lena in the arms of a handsome man unknown to her. She has a wreath of flowers in her hair and is wearing a simple brown dress. He is in a loose-fitting pair of khakis and a tan shirt. Their gazes are locked in the dying light of the sunset. "Wow! Who’s this gorgeous creature?" she inquires with an arch grin.
Lena sees the photograph in Brenda’s hands and becomes very still. Her face is calm, but her eyes are flashing with emotion. Lena opens her mouth, and says "Kyle…"
Lois and Robin walk over to look at the picture in Brenda’s hands. Robin whistles. "Who is he?" Lena hesitates, wondering how to explain who Kyle was.
"Sure looks like one ‘o those barefoot weddin’ pitures ta me guys. " Lois says grinning.
Brenda’s eyes open wide and squeals. "YOUR HUSBAND?! Oh my god, you got married without telling me? How could you not tell me? How could you not invite me?"
Lena gives her an odd look, and decides not to correct her. It would be easier than explaining things she didn’t want to explain. "Invite you?"
"Yes!" Brenda scolded, playfully swatting at Lena. "How could you not invite me there?"
"Where? To Africa?" Lena asked incredulously. "Brenda, we were in a straw hut in the middle of nowhere. I doubt you would’ve survived a day in the Zairian climate. Not to mention there’s no such thing as a hot shower." Lois and Robin laughed at the image of Brenda, sweaty in the heat, being chased by pesky mosquitoes.
Brenda was full of curiosity. How come Lena didn’t mention this before?
"Did you guys meet in Africa?"
"No."
"Did you fall in love in there then?"
Lena shakes her head. "Actually, we fell into a pit of quicksand." Brenda looks appalled and her expression expects Lena to continue, but Lena just gives her a small sad smile. She goes slowly over to Brenda and take the picture frame from her hands, and gazes at the photograph for a long time.
Brenda mistakes her sadness for longing, and exclaims "Hey, congratulations you! How come you didn’t bring prince charming to New York with you?" giving her friend a bear hug.
Lena is startled by Brenda’s embrace pulled back. "I…he…couldn’t make it."
"Well where is he if not by his beloved wife." Lois asked.
Lena remains silent, and stares back down at the photograph.
Brenda, thinking she hadn’t heard the question, lightly teases her friend. "So what, Len? Did you forget where you stashed him?" Lois chuckled at that. Brenda suddenly has a brainstorm. "So *that’s* why you were so eager to get back to wherever! Ah ha! Gotcha!" she laughed flopping onto the bed. Lena smiled at that but didn’t look up.
"So when’s this Kyle going to make his appearance now that I’ve roped you into staying here?"
"He’s not" Lena replied.
"He’s not?" Brenda echoed. "Why not?"
"Brenda - "
"Hey, where’s your ring?" Robin suddenly asked. Lena was caught off guard and didn’t know how to answer.
"I sold it." she replied. It was true, she had sold it. But she wasn’t talking about Kyle.
"You *sold* your ring?!" Lois asked dumbfounded.
Lena shrugged. "What can I say, we were really desperate for money."
Brenda is quiet for a moment. "Is he still in Africa?" she asked.
"No, he’s in Ireland."
Brenda is confused. "I thought you guys were in Africa, what’s he doing in Ireland?"
Lena doesn’t know how to say it except to come out with the truth. "It’s where he’s buried." She says simply.
She glances up and notices the stunned expression on everyone’s face.
Brenda recovers her powers of speech first. "He’s dead? Lena! My god! What happened?"
"He…Africa is a very beautiful, but terrible place."
"Oh Lena, I’m so sorry." Brenda gets up off the bed and engulfs her friend in a tight hug. Lena smiles and hugs her back.
"It’s all right Bren," she says softly. "It was a long time ago."
Everyone is silent for a while. Lois decides to break the dark mood. "Well, I dunno about you all, but I’m still starvin’! What about those plans?"
"Well, we thought about going to Maison Fruits de Mer," Robin said. "Except we have to get Lena something fancy to wear first."
Brenda laughed. "OH that! Don’t worry about that. Lena can wear something of mine! Come on, lets get going!" she turns to Lena. "You know, we definitely have to go on a shopping spree as soon as possible! We have to get you an entire new wardrobe!"
Lena laughs. "Brenda! At least wait until I find a job!"
"Job or no job, you better look out coz when Brenda gets into one ‘o her shoppin’ moods, nobody’s safe!" Lois warned, and Brenda smacked her. Brenda and Lena head for the penthouse as Lois and Robin go home to get dressed.
+++
Meanwhile, Jax was in Miranda’s appartment atop the Outback. He had asked to see her today, and Miranda had no idea what he wished to talk to her about. She hadn’t known whether to be delighted he wanted to spend time with her, or terrified he was going to break things off with her. She didn’t really believe he would leave her, she could still see how much he cared about her everytime she looked into those amazing Aegean-coloured eyes of his. Still, the tone of his voice when he had called her was fairly serious, and Miranda was very apprehensive.
She had greeted him with enthusiasm, and when she took his hand to lead him into her apartment, she was thrilled he did not pull back. Jax had just wanted to get this over with. He had not been looking forward to this conversation, he knew how much it would upset her, but he knew it had to be done. Miranda sat down on the couch expectantly, and patted the seat next to her. Jax, however, preferred to remain standing. He didn’t know how to say it, so he just came right out and said it. He told her he had done a lot of thinking, and maybe it was time to admit a few things. They were no longer the love-struck teenagers they were all those years ago, and it was in the best interests of everyone for them to end things and move on. Miranda reacted like he’s slapped her.
"Best interests for whom? You and me? or Brenda?" Miranda snapped.
"Miranda, you have to know how this whole situation has affected everyone, and yes, Brenda has been hurt by all of this also. It would be a relief for her to have some sort of closure."
"Funny, she doesn’t seem to apply that same theory to Sonny Corinthos."
"We are not discussing Sonny Corinthos." Jax said, his voice rising.
"I guess it was foolish of me to think I could compare to a model," she said bitterly. "So I’m no longer good enough for you."
"I didn’t say that," Jax said. "I’m not comparing you to Brenda. You are completely different. But we can’t live like this forever."
"You’re telling me that you no longer love me?" Miranda asked disbelieving. "I don’t believe you! I can see in your eyes you still love me!"
"Miranda," Jax paused, trying to find a way for it not to sound too harsh or hurtful. "I still care about you, but I *love* Brenda."
"You don’t love her, and she doesn’t love you! Can’t you see she’s using you as a substitute for Sonny, Jax? Can’t you see she’s just going to hurt you?"
"Miranda - "
"*I’m* the one that loves you. Truly loves you. Why can’t we go back to the way we were?" Miranda pleaded, grasping both of Jax’s hands in her own.
"Because, Miranda," Jax said, sadness creeping into his eyes, "We’re not the same people anymore. I moved on, so must you."
"What are you saying Jax?" her voice sounded desperate now.
"I’m saying that I came to ask you to divorce me."
"NO!" Miranda shook her head vehemently, her eyes wild. "No, Jax - "
"Miranda I know this is hard for you. It’s hard for the both of us. But my life is with Brenda now, and I need for you to realize that."
"So what? You’re just going to dump me?" Miranda’s voice was rising hysterically. She was losing Jax, and she was panicking.
"As I recall," Jax said, a hard edge entering his tone, "it was *you* who dumped *me* when you let me believe you died in that mine."
"That was different!" Miranda said defensively. "I needed the time to recover, Jax. I was shattered, both physically and emotionally. I never dumped you."
"You just let me grieve for you for 6 years."
"Jax, I *love* you. I *never* stopped loving you." Miranda stated emphatically, pressing herself against Jax and wrapping her arms around him. "I can’t let you go Jax, please, don’t do this."
He gently pried her arms from him and stood her an arms length from him. "Miranda, it’s over," he said softly. "I came because I wanted you to hear it from me, not from some lawyer. My attorney will have the papers drawn up for you in a few days."
+++
Later that night, Jax found Brenda sitting, staring into the flames of the fireplace. He flopped beside her, put his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. Brenda sighed in contentment and leaned into him.
"An M&M for your thoughts?" Jax fed her a candy. Brenda grinned at him, then became serious again.
"I was just remeniscing." She crawled onto his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and put her head against his. "You know, Lena and I pretty much had to fend for ourselves. It was her and me, against the world." she recalled with a wistful smile.
"I kinda feel sorry for the world," Jax teased.
Brenda suddenly buries her head in his shoulder. "I am sooo incredibly lucky to have you, you know that? And I didn’t do anything to deserve you!"
Jax laughs. "You mean you didn’t sell your soul to the devil?"
"Jax, I’m so grateful you’re in my life. Sometimes I can’t believe you’re really still here."
Jax is a bit taken aback by the sudden seriousness of her tone. He tips her chin to face him. "Hey, sweetie, what’s wrong?"
Brenda kisses him. "Nothing." She wraps her arms more securely around him. "Life is perfect with you. Well, with the exception of Miranda and Sonny, life is perfect."
"Brenda, did something happen today?"
Brenda shook her head. "No" She sighed. "I was just thinking."
"About?"
"Stuff."
"What about *stuff*?"
"How did things go with Miranda?" Brenda asked suddenly, remembering why Jax had been unable to make dinner.
Jax sighed. Things had not gone over well with Miranda. She had gone from hysterical to accusatory to crying and pleading. They were still at an impass when he left.
"That bad?" Brenda took in his weary expression.
"I think she’s…shell-shocked." Jax finally said.
"Jax, she gave up any claim to you when she made her decision to "die" 6 years ago." Brenda said, frustrated. "She has no right to contest this divorce!"
Jax sighed again. "I know sweetie. But I did spring it up on her out of the blue. I think she’s hurting right now, but she’ll come to realize that it’s not meant to be."
"Ha! Maybe in a millenia."
"Brenda - "
"Jax, do *not* tell me to be patient. " Brenda warned, anger creeping into her voice.
"Brenda - "
"She wants you Jax, and she’s desperate not to lose you."
"Brenda, I know what you think, and I agree with you. But I’m not going to drag Miranda to the courthouse by the ends of her hair."
"Why not?" Brenda demanded, too angry to think about what was just said.
Jax gazed at her beautiful face flushed with anger and laughed. His laughter was too infectious, and soon Brenda joined in.
"It’ll be ok," Jax said, placing a sweet kiss on Brenda’s lips. "I promise."
"I know Jax," Brenda murmered into his mouth, "you always make everything ok."
"Is this what had you all stony-faced earlier?" Jax said teasingly.
"Actually…no. I was thinking about life."
"What about life?"
"Lena. I was thinking what a raw deal she got."
"I’m not sure I follow you."
"You know, all the stuff she’s had thrown at her. I mean, me and her, we’re like the same you know? But we’re not, because I caught a break. I mean, I didn’t until you pulled me out of that downward spiral with Sonny, but now I have you, and we’re happy. But Lena didn’t catch you, or a break, I guess she did for a bit, but not really, so now she’s unhappy, and I just think that it’s not fair!"
"Woah, back up a bit. You and Lena are the same except she didn’t catch or break me and now she’s unhappy?" Jax felt like he got mental whiplash. Brenda really was hanging around Lucy too much.
Brenda bursts into laughter at Jax’s completely confused expression. "No silly!"
Jax shook his head as if to clear it. "Why don’t you, ah, say it a little slower sweetie."
"I guess I’m just trying to say I think that life really sucks as far as Lena is concerned."
"And why’s that?"
"Because everyone’s dead."
"Excuse me?" Sometimes Jax thought one had to have the patience of Job to talk to Brenda.
"You know, her whole family. They’re all dead. Her parents, her brother… her husband."
"Are you serious?" Jax was dumbfounded.
Brenda nodded and sighed. "I just found out this afternoon. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe she was married, but I *really* couldn’t believe it when she told me he was dead."
Jax let out a low whistle.
"You know, when I saw her yesterday, I knew she was different somehow. I mean, I knew she was still Lena, but it’s like she’s got this completely different aura now you know? And I wish there was something I could do."
Jax, silent. After a moment, he spoke up. "There really isn’t anything anyone can do. When you lose people you love, you just have to be allowed to grieve. Nothing can protect you from that."
"I know that." Brenda said, smiling into his gorgeous blue eyes. "Still, I wish I could help. It’s silly, I know but I think about how lonely it must be and I feel like I should, I dunno, adopt her or something." She laughed.
"It’s not silly. It’s a natural reaction you have toward people you care about. And it’s one of the things I love most about you."
"One of the things?" Brenda inquired archly.
"Among many." Jax replied kissing her softly on in the hollow of her neck. Brenda shuddered and nuzzled his ear.
"How many?"
"Too many to count." Brenda laughed a throaty sexy laugh, and pulled Jax into a long, languorous kiss, which ignited the burning passion that always smoldered when they were together. Jax lowered her to the ground, never breaking their contact. They made slow sensuous love in front of the fire, and afterwards he wrapped an afghan snugly around them. Brenda laid her head against his chest, and closed her eyes.
"I love you Jax," she murmered.
He kissed the top of her head, and held her until she went to sleep in his arms. Lying there in silence, his thoughts drifted from the conversation about Lena to Miranda, and back to how he had felt when he had thought he lost her to the explosion. How he had wanted to end it all to be with her, how much his family had gone through watching him suffer, and how they had tried to support him. He hugged Brenda tighter to him. And then, just like that, as soon as he finally thought he had gotten his life back on track, she had reappeared from the dead. Sonny had brought her back to stop the wedding. And then it became like a spiral of chaos he couldn’t break free from. His whole world was turned upside down, not to mention Brenda’s. He gazed at her sleeping figure, her hand resting lightly on his heart. He smiled. Brenda. She certainly had his heart. So much happened, it had hurt them both so much. It was time for it to stop. He refused let her go now that he had found her. She was his life.
Chapter 3: Memories
Settled into her new place above Ruby’s, Lena has come out of her shower, and is sitting cross-legged on the bed, her photograph in her lap. The memories flood her mind unwittingly, and she surrenders to them.
+++
She had met Kyle in the hospital. They were in Russia then. He was her doctor, the first foreigner she had seen in months. She had been burning up with pneumonia, and she recalled his soothing voice assuring her she would be all right. She hadn’t wanted to be all right. She had wanted to slip into the comforting darkness that surrounded her, to let go. But he wouldn’t let her. The fever had made her senseless and she had begged him to set her free. Had she been rational, she would have never uttered the words. She knew better than to ask for help. She knew the consequences. But Kyle had promised to help her.
Kyle had looked down at the pale, beautiful girl, struggling against her restraints on the bed, fighting the fever, fighting the medication, fighting the staff that tried to treat her. She had been delirious for the past two days, but in a moment of coherency, she had asked him help her, to let her sleep forever. He had brushed the damp hair from her face, and he promised to help her. He knew from her extensive medical charts that she was in serious trouble. He had to get her out of there before it was too late. He found out later exactly who he had to go against in order to help her, but he remained steadfast in his determination. He had the help of his associate from Kiev, Yuri Kovalenko, and together, they puzzled out how to get Lena out of the hospital, past her guard, and smuggle her out of the country. When Lena’s fever subsided briefly, he had informed her of the plan. Lena had protested, he didn’t know what he was saying. They would kill him if he tried anything. Kyle only looked at her and said then they would leave together. Lena didn’t know how to trust him, but she was too ill and weak to argue. Kyle had to move fast. A week after her admittance, the men had come back for her. He had been able to stall them, claiming that her status was still critical, but he would not be able to put them off much longer, for Lena’s status was rapidly improving, although her temperature was till alarmingly high. Kyle waited for night to fall, then drugged Lena’s guard, and wheeled her from her room out to the waiting ambulance. He secured her in the back, and spirited them away. They drove for about an hour in the pitch darkness of night before reaching the destination. Kyle got out of the ambulance, and put an unconscious Lena into Yuri’s car. Then, together with Yuri, he pushed the ambulance off the high cliff, and watched it crash and explode on the cliffs below. They quickly climbed into the car and raced to the border.
A manhunt had ensued in Smoleosk, and then through Russia once it was discovered Lena was missing. She was declared mentally unstable and her guard had turned up dead. Drugs somehow had been placed on his body, and Lena was wanted for murder as well as suspected drug involvement. A huge reward was offered for her return and the borders were closed off. But by then, Yuri had gotten them across the border into Kiev. From there, Kyle and Lena made their way through Poland, across Belgium, and eventually to Ireland where they hid with his brother Trevor. Maddie. That was what he had taken to calling her on their journey. He had brought drugs and medicines from the hospital, and struggled to lower her temperature. She was skittish as hell, the slightest thing set her off, and he had a hell of a time trying to treat her. The way she resisted against him frustrated him beyond words, but he maintained his patience and stayed gentle with her. Eventually, she started to relax around him. By the time they made it to Belfast, her fever was gone. They had stayed on in Ireland with his brother for several months, waiting for things to cool off. Even Interpol had been involved in the search, but once the remains of the stolen ambulance were discovered, they were presumed dead and the search ended. Still, they stayed out of sight as a precaution, and Trevor had managed to procure new identies for them. Lena took her mother’s name as her surname, and Kyle used his grandmother’s. But Kyle had no desire to stay in Ireland, and after a few months, declared his intention to move to Africa. He had found a placement in a missionary agency that desperately needed doctors to work in Africa.
She had followed Kyle from Ireland to Africa because she could not think of what else she was supposed to do. He never pressured her to go, he had told her she was free now. There was nothing keeping her in Ireland. There was nothing keeping her anywhere for that matter. Life was empty, she was alone. She was grateful for him for everything he had done and risked for her, so she went with him. When she first arrived, Africa was nothing like she expected. It wasn’t the sands she had seen in Lawrence of Arabia, it wasn’t the jungle she had envisioned in old Audrey Hepburn movies. It was something completely foreign, new, and exhilarating. The beauty and rugged untamedness of the jungle took her breath away. And the suffering of the people that lived there, in the village she found herself in, was beyond anything she had ever seen. This was poverty and misery in the extreme. But the people had an inextinguishable exuberance, and Lena was moved by their optimism. She saw her opportunity to do something, to help others, and in the process, to heal and fill that emptiness in her soul. She never imagined she would find so much more.
Kyle worked at the clinic. It wasn’t a clinic really, it was more of a patchwork of metal and wood that held together the makeshift hospital. He was the youngest doctor of the bunch, and one of the most ferociously dedicated. Leaning against the fragile doorframe that didn’t look to support his weight much longer, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his brown hair ruffled by the breeze, squinting against the piercing mid-day sun, he had looked in reality more like a soldier of fortune than a doctor. But this is where he truly wanted to be, and he was determined to make a difference. He had been raised poor in the slums of Belfast Ireland by his grandmother, and had to claw his way through medical school. He wanted to dedicate his life to saving lives. The fighting he had witnessed growing up in Belfast, the death of family, friends, innocents had sickened him. It was one of the reasons he had wanted to leave Ireland. He taught Lena about medicine, and she was a quick learner. But she was still aloof. She was emotionally fragile and was plagued by nightmares. She couldn’t bear to be touched. Kyle was the only person she let near her. She was unsure of her feelings for Kyle. She had been in a bad place for so long, she wasn’t sure she could trust herself anymore. She didn’t trust in happiness. Kyle realized this, and he fought her on it. He was determined to get her to accept things and trust in him because she was driving him crazy. They fought like wildcats, they would fight over the colour of the sky because fighting was the safest thing for Lena. It came instinctively, and it was as if she was goading him into hurting her or turning his back on her. Half the time, she had no idea what they were fighting about.
And then they fell into that pit of quicksand. Frustrated beyond belief after another heated argument, she had stomped off into the jungle to cool off. And Kyle had followed. He caught up with her, lecturing her about the dangers of wandering the jungle alone, and she had yelled at him to leave her alone. They hadn’t even noticed they were sloshing right into quicksand, and by the time they realized, they were sinking fast. Lena screamed as she went down, but Kyle, after the initial surprise, became very subdued. He seemed resigned to sink and die. Lena railed at him it was his fault they were going to die, if only he hadn’t distracted her she wouldn’t have fallen in! Kyle had smiled, and said if it was fated for them to die here, he wanted to die knowing she had admitted her true feelings. Lena, told him he was crazy. He wanted her to admit she loved him as much as he loved her. Lena thought he had gone insane. They were drowning in sand, and he preoccupied with professions of love?! Suddenly she stopped struggling and her shoulders slumped. No one had come to help them. She looked at him, the hurt and fear evident in her eyes, and whispered that she owed him her life, he chased her demons away, he meant everything to her. Kyle immediately felt contrite about teasing her. He had hugged her to him, and apologized as they continued to sink. Then suddenly, he started to squirm around, and actually drag himself out of the pit. He hauled her out, and grinned sheepishly at her completely floored expression.
He had tricked her! He had known all along how to get out of the quicksand. And he had played on her emotions to get her to admit her feelings for him. He was good, she had to give him credit. Lena was furious! She left him there, without another word, and stormed back to the village, his good-natured laughter rang out behind her. She refused to even acknowledge his existence for days. But he was persistent, and he had apologized profusely for scaring her. She couldn’t stonewall him for long. She really had come to love, trust and depend on him in spite of all the walls she threw up around herself. She told him he was crazy for loving her and he just laughed. He told her he had loved her since the day she had hurled curses on his head for trying to make her take her fever medication. He was so full of patience, honor, and so damn determined. Gradually he and Joseph drew her out of her shell. Joseph Kwetu, a missionary worker had taken her under his wing. His heart had gone out to her. He had seen this before, and he understood her insecurity. He was an ex-mercenary, and he taught her about self defense. He knew it would help her feel more secure, and eventually the old Lena started coming back. Kyle had pledged his life to her in that little straw hut, in the beautiful African sunset. She hadn’t thought it possible to love anyone so much. He promised he would never hurt her, never leave her. Seven months. That’s all they had. Only seven months before…
Lena shook her head, rose from the bed, and tucked the photograph back into her suitcase. She would not think of it. He was gone. There was no changing that.
Chapter 4: Photo Shoot
The next day, Brenda took Lena to a modeling shoot. She wanted to show her friend what she did for a living. She is doing another promotional shoot for Jax Cosmetics. Lucy comes out and hustles everyone into place. Lena watches from the sidelines. She liked Lucy instantly. The woman was a flurry of activity and a walking comedy show. During a break, Brenda and Lena got goofy with the make-up artist and wardrobe girl.
"Look!" Brenda steps out from behind the dressing screen as Scarlett O’Hara. She put a hand to her forehead and mimicked a southern accent. "Rhett, dahhling…"
Lena laughs from the make-up chair, while Shari, the stylist did her face. Brenda plops herself onto the chair beside her, camera in hand.
"Isn’t this fun?" she grins. "Say cheese!" She shoots a picture of Lena, who tried to protect herself by throwing her hands over her face. "Hey! You ruined the picture!" Brenda laughs. Lena stuck her tongue out at Brenda while Shari dusted her face with powder, and Brenda quickly snapped another picture. "Gotcha!"
When Shari was done with Lena, Brenda took her to wardrobe, and they tried on all different outfits. Brenda put on one of the shimmering designer wedding gowns, a sleeveless, strapless sheath with tiny pearls sewns in intricate patterns. Lena put on a tuxedo. It was tailored for a female body so it was close-fitting, though it hung a bit long in the arms. Brenda has her hair cascading over her bare shoulders, and Lena pinned hers up haphazardly, loose strands dangling around her face. Brenda grabbed Lena's hand and they ran over to the set, which Lucy had decorated as an outdoor park and snatched up the cameras lying around. They started snapping pictures of each other, laughing at their own silliness. The photographer had come back in, and was taking pictures of them goofing around.
"Brender, My love!," Lena said mimicking Jax, faking an awful Australian accent, causing Brenda to giggle. "You have captured my heart! You are the only woman for me!"
"And what about Miranda?" Brenda mocked sternly wagging her finger.
"Miranda the ghoul? Ah, Brender, you wound me to think I would choose her over you! Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." Lena said with an exaggerated Shakespearean flourish. Brenda burst out laughing, think Shakespeare would roll over in his grave at Lena's terrible accent. Lena dropped on one knee in front of Brenda. "Marry me Brender! I can't go on without you!"
Brenda, biting back a huge grin replied, "Oh I’m sorry but I can’t! You see," she thrusted out her hand with Jax’s ring, "I’m already engaged! I hope you understand."
Lena puts her hands to her heart and makes a wounded face. "Alas, my heart. It beats no more. You have killed it." And she threw herself onto the ground in mock death. Brenda burst out laughing, and the photographer joined her. She took a handful of flower petal from a nearby basket and sprinkled Lena with them. Lena suddenly jumped up to grab another basket and fling the entire contents at Brenda, showering her with petals. They both squealed with laughter. Lucy had come back in and was watching them with amusement. She thought it looks great! Such spontaneity! It was perfect for the new perfume they were launching. Fresh, fun, friends forever. Fabulous! She had to get to the copywriter! She scurries over to tell the photographer to take real shots of Brenda and Lena, who are now laughing and dancing hand in hand like children under the shower of flowers. She soon comes back and announces her idea to Brenda and Lena.
"Luce! That’s a great idea!" Brenda says enthusiastically.
"I know!" Lucy replies, delighted. "I came in and saw you guys fooling around and it was fabulous! It goes perfect with the new campaign we’re running to coincide with your wedding and all, and you both look just marvelous, you destroyed the set but that’s ok, I mean, it was like a creative spurt right? And we’re lucky that Anton was here to catch it all, but you know, we’re really going to have to do a proper shoot with the both of you to back the rest of the line." Lucy finally paused to take a breath.
Lena, horrified, looks like a deer caught in headlights. "Wait a minute, wait a minute, hold on! What are you two talking about?"
Lucy beams at her. "I’m talking about getting you, missy, into the new Jacks Cosmetics ad campaign, with Brenda here! I’d like to stay and chat but I have to rush and go over the new boards with the PR people but don’t you worry your pretty little head cuz once we get done, you’ll be famous!"
"No, no, no, no, no!" Lena cried rushing after Lucy and grabbing hold of her arm. Lucy looked startled, and Lena let go, embarrassed. Then she laughed a little at the ridiculousness of it all. "Lucy, I’m sorry but I don’t *want* to be famous! Really, I’m flattered, but I can’t do this. I’m not a public sort of person."
"Since when?" Brenda demanded.
"Since I was just threatened with public exposure! I’m sorry, but I…"
Lucy pouted. "Oh push tush. You’re just nervous. Don’t worry. All new models are nervous, but you’re a natural, and you work great with Brenda! That’s probably cuz your such good friends and all. You’ll look divine, trust me, we won’t let you down."
"I don’t doubt that but - "
"Len, this is the perfect opportunity! I mean, you did say you were looking for a job right? So now a job just landed on your head! How can you turn this down? It’s the chance of a lifetime!" Brenda reasoned.
"Yes but - "
"Oh right! Didn’t I mention that the job pays superbly? You’ll see for yourself how fantastic it’ll look, people will adore you. Besides, we are in quite a rush to get this thing rolling," Lucy adds. "I mean, who knows when this next wedding will pop up, and we have to have the prints up and at ‘em before Jax that rascal whisks Brenda here off for god knows how long on their honeymoon, and it is such an important thing to start a new fragrance off strongly, so, well, I mean you can consider it as doing a favour for your very good friends Brenda and Jax here!" Brenda grins. Typical Lucy. Poor Lena looks like she was just snowed.
"Hey, don’t worry!" Brenda chimes in. "It’s easy as pie. Come on Len."
Lena smiles hopelessly at the two of them. Her thoughts are in a whirl. Was this wise? She did need to find an occupation, but modeling? Lena laughs at the two expectant faces and gives her shoulders a helpless shrug. "OK, but just this once." she reluctantly relents.
"Excellent! Perfect! Now I really have to dash. I will get back to you about contracts and such. Ta!" Lucy is gone within a blink of an eye, leaving Lena wondering if she had just made the biggest mistake of her life.
Anton, the photographer strolled over behind the girls, winding a camera. "Don’t worry doll, I’ll take good care of you." He slung his arm around Lena’s shoulders, but Lena instinctively grabbed his wrist in a vice-like grip and twisted. Anton dropped the camera in his other hand and yelled.
"Lena!" Brenda exclaimed. Lena let Anton go and he rubbed his arm grimacing.
"Sorry," Lena bent down to pick up the camera, and handed it to Anton, who took it and quickly left.
Brenda watched as he headed out of the studio, then turned to her friend. "What was that all about? You almost broke his arm!"
Lena didn't meet Brenda's gaze. "I’m sorry. I don’t like strangers touching me," she said simply, and she went to change. Brenda stared at her retreating back with confusion.
A few days later, Lucy sends her a copy of the ads, and she has to admit. They do look great together. They look just like old times. She smiles at the memories of those carefree days. She is not smiling later, however, when Brenda tells her that not only are they appearing in all the major fashion magazines, but their images are plastered on billboards and bus stops all across the country. Lena wants to kill Lucy. Brenda and Lois laughingly tell her to relax and enjoy her newfound celebrity status. Lena can’t help feeling uneasy. She stares at the magazine spreads, and sighs. She is so tired of it all. But they presumed she was dead. Maybe she didn’t have to hide anymore.
~ Ireland: IRA safehouse ~
"Loarken!" his friend Robbie calls out in a thick Irish brogue, striding into the dark room.
"Over here!" Trevor replied, not looking up. His hands were busy tying a mass of wires together.
Robbie walks over to where he sits, and thrusts a magazine at him.
Trevor looks up at his friend quizzically. "What is this?"
"I think there’s something in here you should see."
Trevor pauses with the wires and glances at the magazine. "A bridal magazine?"
Robbie nodded. "It belongs to my sister, but I saw something you might be interested in." He flipped through the magazine until he reached the advertisement from Jax Cosmetics. The one featuring Brenda and Lena, both in wedding attire, dancing around showered by flower petals.
Trevor looked at the picture, and again looks at his friend. "Why are you wasting my time with this garbage?" he demanded pushing the magazine away. "I’ve got more important things on my mind than American fashion models."
But Robbie just flips further to another ad, this time the a close-up of both girls smiling, and points directly at Lena. Trevor grabbed the magazine. His eyes narrow and he catches his breath. Could it be? The hair was different…but the face, the eyes. Those unforgettable eyes that had haunted him with their sadness. A sadness that still shone through in the photograph, despite the smile. He pulled out the worn picture that he kept with him.
"Madelena," he whispered. It couldn’t be. It was impossible. But yet…
Chapter 5: Fun in the Sun
~ Jacks beach house in Malibu ~
Jax and Brenda have decided to throw an impromptu "winter is too cold" party at the Jacks beach. With all that has happened, they are all a bit frazzled so they decided to take a mini vacation. They are also trying to duck the media frenzy that has built up to a crescendo around them. Ever since the botched wedding fiasco, they have been tabloid fodder for every major publication. Lois, Ned, Lena, Jax and Brenda are flown over in Jax's corporate jet. Lois is in heaven in the sun, as the heavy burden of her pregnancy had been making her cranky, and Ned couldn't be more relieved to see his wife cheery again. Robin is in school, and couldn't make it. There is a loud pounding on the front door.
"Lena! Can you get that?" Brenda yells from the kitchen at Lena, who was walking past the foyer.
Lena opens the door and is nearly bowled over by Jerry, Jax’s twin, who has a large crate in his arms, obstructing his view.
"Hello all!" he hollers in that unmistakable Australian accent, "I have arrived!" Jerry breezes by Lena. Mistaking her for Brenda, he plants a big kiss on her lips, and walks over to enthusiastically plunk the crate down in the kitchen. Then he sees Brenda with Jax in the kitchen in front of him, and Ned and Lois outside, all regarding him curiously. He stops and turns to Lena who still has her hand on the doorknob. Everyone shifts their focus from Jerry to Lena. She seems confused that there appear to be two of Jax, and self-consciously shakes her head a little before turning to close the door. When she turns to head toward the kitchen, Jerry’s eyes are still on her.
She had borrowed a bathing suit and sarong of Brenda’s, and her hair was up in a ponytail. Her exotic appearance is a stark contrast to his blonde blue-eyed looks. He grins at her, finally recognizing her from the Jax Cosmetics billboard atop Times Square. She must be a modeling friend of Brenda’s.
"Come on you guys!" Brenda calls for them to join them outside.
Sitting on the deck, Brenda links her arm through Lena’s and grins at Jerry. "Lena, this goofball here is the notorious Jerry Jacks. Jerry, this is my childhood friend Lena Raine."
"Pleasure to meet you Lena." Jerry grins, looking amazingly like Jax.
"I’m sure it was," Lois, who had witnessed Jerry’s kiss cracks. Jax, who was sitting beside her laughs.
"Typical of a Jacks." Ned laments.
"Well, they certainly know how to make first impressions." Lena says chuckling.
Jerry raises his eyebrow in curiosity and Brenda laughingly relates Jax’s first encounter with her friend. Lena keeps looking from Jax to Jerry, trying to figure out how to tell them apart.
Brenda sees this and says, "I know how you feel Len, I was like just as appalled to find out there was two of them running around."
"Hey!" Jax and Jerry protest in unison.
"Please! We are nothing alike." Jerry says with a smile. Brenda, Ned and Lois roll their eyes.
"The difference is, I don’t run around kissing strange women," says Jax.
"You’d better not!" warns Brenda.
"I don’t run around kissing strange women, only beautiful women." Jerry clarifies.
Ned and Jax declare their beautiful women off limits, and Jerry smirks at Lena who laughs.
Jerry's friends Jake and Damon have arrived, having been invited by him. Jake McLaren was the same age as the Jacks brothers, and he possessed a smile that could melt a glacier. He was built like a swimmer and his jet black hair contrasted sharply with his deep green eyes that flashed in the sun. Damon Monroe was the youngest one. He had a babyface, a compact build and an easygoing manner that belied his underlying lethalness. Unbeknownst to everyone but Jax, Damon, Jake and Jerry are all members of the WSB. They currently are on a week's R&R before having to resume duties.
Jerry, Jake, Damon and Jax have set up a net for a volleyball game, and try to persuade the others to join.
"What about you Ashton?" Jax calls from the beach.
"I think I’ll stay here with my wife and watch the slaughter from afar," he calls back.
"Come on Brenda," Jerry beckoned.
Brenda shook her head. "I want to go over some wedding details with Lena and Lois," she yelled back.
"Slugs!" Jax yelled and they collectively stuck their tongues out at him.
"You gonna let the women walk all over you like that little brother?" Jerry smirked. Jax shot Jerry a grin and raced toward the deck. Jax grabbed Brenda who squealed and grabbed Lena. Jax hauled them both out onto the beach, deaf to their protests. Jerry insisted Brenda be on his team.
"You distract him, and I’ll score!" he whispered into her ear. Brenda laughed and nodded. She was wearing Jax’s favourite striped blue bikini, and as she undid her sundress, she could feel his eyes glued on her. She wiggled her hips playfully, and grinned at him, and then at Jerry who winked.
Jake flipped the volleyball to Lena. "Looks like we got ourselves a weak spot," he said, flashing his amazing smile.
Jax heard, and shot his friend a smirk. It was Jax, Jake and Lena against Jerry, Brenda and Damon. Jax and Jerry start to brag about how they will wipe the beach with each other and Damon rolls his eyes at Lois and Ned, who chuckle.
They volley for serve, and it goes to Jake. Like the amazing athlete he is, he takes a running leap and pounds the ball straight at Damon, who doesn’t flinch and volleys it to Brenda. She sets up for a spiking Jerry, who drills it into the sand, and then does a merry dance of superiority. Brenda then serves right to Jax, who taps it to Jake, who sets up for Lena, who makes a big show of spiking, but tips the ball lightly over the net instead. Jerry dove for it but was too late.
Lena grinned down at him and stuck her hand out to him under the net. "Would you like some help getting up, old man?" Jerry snarls and playfully slaps her hand away. Brenda doubles over laughing and Lois cat calls from the deck. Jerry shoots them an "I’ll get you later look." They continue their spirited game, neither side gaining an advantage for long, when they finally call truce out of starvation. Jake and Lena collapse in the sand, and Jerry walks over to kick more sand on top of them.
"I have now officially buried the opposition!" he says, raising his arms in victory.
Lena flips out her arm and trips an unsuspecting Jerry, who lands with a thud. She stands and dusts herself off on him. "You know what they say, the bigger they are, the harder they fall."
Jake and Jax burst out laughing. "Jerry man, I think you’ve met your match." Jake says, slapping his friend on the back. Jerry laughs good-naturedly, and picks himself out of the sand. He grins in Lena’s direction as they all head back to the house. So Brenda’s friend was a little spitfire. He liked her.
Everyone was inside enjoying the fresh oysters Jerry had brought in. Dinner was catered by a seafood restaurant that Brenda loved, and it was a merry feast. Jax and Ned were needling each other about ELQ and Jax’s attempted take-over long ago. After dinner, Brenda put on some old Beach Boys music, and suggested a card game.
She winked at Lena, and whispered to her friend, "Lets see how much money we can cheat off these bozos!" Jake, who was sitting beside Lena flashed his killer dimples said "I heard that, but for a percentage, I’ll forget that I did!" causing Brenda and Lena to dissolve into laughter.
After a few hands, Lena excused herself from the game. Knowing she was welcome among the circle of friends, yet still feeling like a foreigner, she slipped outside to the deck for some air. And for some quiet. She smiled, they were such a happy energetic bunch. But happiness, too much of it, made her uncomfortable. She was never convinced it could be genuine and lasting and she hadn’t wanted her melancholy vibes to rub off on the merriment. Jerry noticed she was gone, and went in search for her. He found her leaning against the railing, staring absently at the ocean.
"I thought all models were supposed to crave the centre of attention," he said, startling her out of her reverie. He leaned his back against the railing and faced her. The current of electricity that shot through the both of them as their gazes locked was unmistakable, and Lena averted her eyes quickly.
She looked back inside the house at Brenda, talking to everyone at once, and replied "Looks like she’s doing a good job."
"I meant you."
Jerry was too close for Lena’s comfort, and she moved away from where he stood. "I’m not a model."
Jerry raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "Well you could’ve fooled me, maybe I hallucinated the billboard in Times Square."
Lena grimaced, then laughed. "That was Lucy’s bright idea, not mine."
"Oh, well if you’re not a model, what are you then?"
"Are you a corporate shark like your brother?" she countered.
Jerry shrugged and smiled enigmatically. "I asked you first."
Lena smiled at him. "A poet, a preacher, a grade-school teacher..." Lena vaguely recited and Jerry laughed, noting that she was being just as mysterious as he.
"In other words a bohemian?" he asked. Lena chuckled out at the ocean. A burst of commotion from inside caused her to look over her shoulder. Jerry followed her gaze. Brenda was jumping ineffectually, trying to reach a card Jax was holding high over his head from her. Finally, out of frustration, Brenda punched Jax in the stomach, causing him to double over in surprise, and she snatched her prize out of his hands, victoriously dancing around the room. Soft laughter escaped Lena’s lips. She felt Jerry’s eyes on her and she gazed up at him.
"Why aren’t you inside fleecing my brother alongside Brenda?"
Lena chose to ignore his question, instead, she commented "They’re so happy."
Jerry replied, "They *are* happy, they’re so happy in fact, it’s disgusting."
Lena chuckled at that. "Jealous?"
"Are you?"
Before she could stop herself, she said "I hope it lasts."
Jerry looked at her quizzically, "Why shouldn’t it?"
Lena opened her mouth to reply, but then closed it, changing her mind.
Jerry was curious , "You know something I don’t?"
Lena shook her head. "No. I don’t have much faith in fairy tales, that’s all."
Jerry asked, "You don’t believe in love and happiness?"
Lena said, "I believe that happiness is an illusion created out of love, and like all illusions, subject to being shattered."
Jerry raised an eyebrow at her. "You’re much too young and far too pretty to be so cynical, don’t you think?" Lena turned and smiled at him. Behind him, over his shoulder, she saw a strange movement. She rolled her eyes. Jerry cocked an eyebrow in question.
"Don’t look now, but the paparazzi has arrived. They’re taking pictures as we speak."
Jerry looked. He turned back and smirked at her. "Well then maybe we should give them something to gossip about!" He swung an arm casually across her slim shoulders, and leaned towards her. Lena peeled his arm off and shook her head at him.
"You are an outrageous flirt," she said to him softly. She lightly petted his cheek then strode back into the house away from the prying cameras. Jerry was left standing on the deck, his grin wider now as he watched her walk away from him. He made a mental point to ask his brother and future sister in law about this girl.
The next morning it was around 5:30AM, and Lena had just returned from a morning walk along the beach. She was wearing Lois’s walkman, and making herself a sandwich for breakfast. The rest of the household was still fast asleep. Jerry, Jake and Jax had risen for their daily morning workouts. Jerry came downstairs, and saw Lena in the kitchen, humming softly to the music of her walkman as she retrieved some tomatoes from the fridge. He was surprised to see her up this early. He headed towards the kitchen.
"Lena." He called quietly. She didn’t hear him through her headphones. "Lena," he called again. She still didn’t hear him, and continued slicing her bread. "Lena!" Jerry gripped her arm to get her attention. Before he could blink, Lena swung her free hand up and had the knife pressed to his neck, catching Jerry off guard. His grip on her arm convulsed as he stared at her. An emotion he couldn’t place flickered wildly through her eyes and her eyes widened as she realized what she was doing. She immediately dropped the knife onto the counter. Wordlessly, she pulled her arm from Jerry’s grip, picked up her sandwich, and left the kitchen. Jerry stood motionless, trying to figure out what just happened.
"Jer!" Jax called from behind him. "Hey Jerry, snap out of it big brother. Jake’s waiting out back!" Jerry shook his head to clear it, and followed his brother out to the beach.
Later that morning, Jerry was out on the deck sipping lemonade with Brenda and Jax. Jake and Damon were surfing in the ocean, and Lois and Lena had gone out shopping for baby stuff. Lois was supposed to go with Ned, but he had to leave because of an ELQ emergency. Brenda was supposed to join them shopping later in the afternoon. Jax and Jerry were humorously ribbing each other, regaling Brenda with their exploits as children in Australia. Jerry was telling Brenda about the time he and Jax had snuck a dead crocodile into the school pool. When it came time for the swim team practice, Jax ducked underneath the crocodile, and pretended to eat Jerry alive. They practically gave their coach and entire team a heart attack, and were suspended from the team for weeks. Brenda was laughing so hard she was crying.
"You should have seen how fast those cowards scrambled out of the pool!" Jax roared.
"And I thought Lena and I were bad!"
"Ah yes, Miss Raine," Jerry said, leaning back into his chair.
"What about Miss Raine?" Brenda asks suspiciously.
"Nothing. Is she always so mysterious?"
"Lena? Mysterious? When?" Brenda’s laughed.
"Last night, when we were talking out on the deck..."
"Oh really." Brenda turned to Jax. "Does she seem mysterious to you?"
Jax grinned. "Only when she’s sneaking around our penthouse leaving gifts for you. Maybe she just doesn’t like you, Jer."
"Impossible. Everyone likes me. Women adore me. How can she not like me?" Jerry asks, taking a sip of his lemonade.
Brenda threw back her head in laughter. "And he wonders why she’s mysterious. Did you even let her get a word in edgewise? Or were you too busy letting her know how magnificent you are and how the world bows at you feet?"
Jerry threw Brenda a mock hurt expression. "Of course I let her get a word in edgewise. I *did* have to pause for breath you know." Brenda giggled. "So why don’t you fill me in?"
Jax reached over and pulled Brenda onto his lap. "I think, sweetie, that my dear brother is fishing for information."
Jerry scowled at Jax good-naturedly. "I am simply making polite conversation."
"Yeah, whatever," Jax rolled his eyes.
"What do you want to know?" Brenda asked, draping an arm around Jax.
"How well do you know her?"
Brenda threw Jerry a curious glance. "Pretty well. Why?"
Jerry debated whether or not to tell her about this morning’s incident. "Is she prone to violence?"
"Violence? Like homocidal tendencies?" Brenda laughed.
"Jerry suffers from acute delusional paranoia sweetie." Jax said, grinning at his wife.
"Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it little brother." Jerry retorted.
Brenda turned serious as she pondered Jerry’s question. "You know, Lena was never much of a pacifist. I mean you should have seen the stuff we used to get into. Still, she used to be so laid back, but lately, I don’t know. She almost jumped out her skin when I came up behind her yesterday, and practially twisted off poor Anton’s arm when he tried to put his arm around her." Brenda shook her head. "I really don’t know what’s up with her."
The three sat in silence for a moment, before Jax suggested, "Maybe it’s something to do with all that’s happened."
"Troubled history?" Jerry asked.
Brenda sighed. "You could say that. I met Lena when she came to live in Paris with Tobbe. He was the coolest guy you know. I had a huge crush on him, he was so cute."
"Tobbe?" Jax and Jerry said in unison.
"Lena’s little brother." Brenda elaborated. "Actually, her step-brother, from her father’s first marriage. His mother died giving birth to him. Anyhow, he never shunned her or treated her like a second-class citizen like old Gerard, their grandfather did," Brenda continued, on a roll now. "Lena’s grandfather shunned her?" Jax said, incredulous. Brenda nodded, absently toying with the hair at the base of Jax’s neck. "Why?"
"Oh, cuz he was seriously opposed her father’s marriage to her mother." "And why’s that?" Jerry asked.
Brenda furrowed her forehead. "I don’t think he liked the idea of her mother being Oriental."
"Lena’s mother was Oriental?"
"Yeah. So I think he thought it would like embarrass the family name or something, especially Lena’s adoption since her real father’s identity is this big mystery." Jax shook his head in disbelief. "Anyhow," Brenda continued, "old Gerard cut all ties with them. Except for Tobbe. And even when they were practically orphaned - "
"She was orphaned?"
"Mmm hmm. Her parents were shot or run over by tanks or something, I’m not really sure."
"They were WHAT?"
"Well yeah. There was some sort of military coup or something, and all hell broke loose. Lena didn’t elaborate much, you know. She just said that father told her governess to get the kids to the American embassy, and that was the last she saw of him."
"Where was this?" Jerry demanded.
"Prague."
"Czechoslovakia?"
"Yeah, her dad was a French liason there. So anyways, Gerard basically kept Tobbe and ignored her growing up, and he paid Marina to raise Lena in Italy. Lena didn’t even see Tobbe until the old fogey died! You know, I remember when I met her, I was like so amazed there was actually someone who felt just as abandoned as I did. So we became the dynamic duo!" "The dynamic duo?" Jax echoed.
Brenda giggled. "Uh huh. We were determined to show up everyone that thought we weren’t, you know, worthy. I think it was attention deficit syndrome or something. We got into sooo much trouble." She laughed over the memory.
"Why am I not surprised?" Jax rolled his eyes and Brenda hit him.
She turned to Jerry. "That’s why she sounds a bit off. She’s got this French-Italian accent thing. You should hear her with Lois when they really get going. It’s hilarious! Speaking of which," Brenda checked her watch, "I should get going, I’m supposed to meet those two for lunch." She hopped off Jax’s lap, gave him a quick kiss, and strode inside the beach house. Jax watched her go in, and then turned to his brother. Jerry shook his head, gazing absently at his lemonade.
"So her parents were killed and her grandfather ostracized her," he said thoughtfully.
Jax looked at his brother. "If I remember correctly, Brenda told me her brother and husband are dead too."
Jerry’s head snapped up. "What? What happened?" Jax shrugged. "Don’t know. Brenda just said she mentioned something about Africa being a violent place."
Jerry pondered what Jax said. He wondered what it was happened in Africa. Whatever it was, it had the effect of coiling the girl’s nerves into a taught spring. She had aroused his curiosity. He always loved a challenge.
Chapter 6: Confrontations
Lena and Robin were having dinner at the Outback. They had taken quite a liking to each other, having quite a bit in common in the experience department of losing loved ones. Robin had told Lena about Jason and their relationship. She also told her about Stone, and how he died, and her HIV positive status. Lena told her about having to deal with that in Africa, where the epidemic was running rampant, but there were also many curious cases where people seemingly developed an immunity to the disease. Robin and Lena were discussing the possibilities of cures when Jax approached their table. He was waiting for Brenda who was had yet to arrive as Lucy had her working at a frantic pace in a modeling shoot. The girls invited him to have a seat, while he waited. Felicia came and said she needed Robin’s help with something in the back, so she excused herself.
Lena and Jax were talking and laughing about different places they’d been when Sonny entered. His efforts to convince Brenda to leave Jax had so far been unsuccessful. He knew she loved *him* and he couldn’t understand why she persisted in this charade. He knew that he had upset her when he had put a stop to the previous wedding, but that was done for her own good. She had to see what Jasper Jacks was really like. Sonny was also anxious to talk to Brenda because he was concerned for her safety. He knew that she had been harassed with anonymous gifts and phone calls and he was worried. Whenever he had tried to get to Brenda alone he had been thwarted. Jax was always with her. He was sure Jax was deliberately keeping him from seeing Brenda. He was frustrated beyond belief. He had to convince Brenda of the huge mistake she was making before it was too late. They were meant for each other, he knew that in his soul.
He saw Jax sitting near the back in deeply engrossed in a conversation with a woman. They were here! He strode over to their table, determined to make Brenda finally see the light. When he approached, he saw the woman with Jax wasn’t Brenda at all. It was the other model from Brenda’s shoots. So! Jax was having an intimate dinner with another woman. Sonny’s eyes flashed with malice.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here Jaxyboy? You two sure look cozy."
Jax looked up and saw Sonny. His expression turned to one of extreme distaste, like he’d bitten a lime. "Sonny, what do you want now?" Over at a table with Mac, Miranda peered over at the group curiously. She had not recognized the woman Jax was with, and had been regarding them with great interest. She had been avoiding Jax since their "talk", not wanting to face having to negotiate the terms of the divorce, and so far, Jax had let her be.
Sonny looked from Jax to Lena, slowly sweeping his eyes over her, and back to Jax again. "Brenda know about your new toy here?" he asked sarcastically. "Two wives not enough for you rich boy?"
"Sonny, get lost or I’ll have you thrown out for harassment!" Jax threatened.
"I always knew you were bad for Brenda," Sonny sneered.
Jax shot out of his chair. "Stay away from Brenda Corinthos," he bit out in a tone of quiet fury.
Sonny shoots Jax a glare, and turns. "This isn’t over by a longshot." He walked away.
Lena shook her head. "What was that all about?"
Jax sits back down, and his eyes narrow at Sonny’s retreating back. Before he can answer, a waitress comes over to tell Jax there is a call for him at the bar. He goes to take the call, and then returns.
"Lena, there is a business emergency I needs to take care of. Can you call Brenda and let her know? I tried to reach her but her cell was busy and I’m sort of pressed for time," he said while slipping on his coat.
"Sure." Lena assured him, rising. "No problem." Jax shot her an apologetic smile as he strode out of the restaurant. Lena went to the bar to call Brenda, and Miranda excused herself from Mac, and walked over to the bar. She heard Lena try to reach Brenda, but get Lucy instead, who told her Brenda had already left, and should be arriving any minute. As she returned to her table, Sonny approached her again, sitting in the seat Jax had vacated earlier.
"Getting friendly with the bossman are we?" He drawled, tapping his fingers on the table lazily.
"Excuse me?" Lena asked, gazing at him like she would a lunatic.
"You heard me. I asked you if you liked your cozy new ‘relationship.’ Looks like it didn’t take you too long to sleep your way to the top now did it?"
"*Lucy* is my boss," Lena clarified with a glint in her eye, "and attractive as she is, I wasn’t under the impression that our *relationship* was so cozy."
Sonny’s jaw clenched. Was she making fun of him? His eyes bore into hers, but she didn’t flinch. "You’re good," he said smoothly, "but then, that’s how Jaxyboy likes it isn’t it?"
Brenda, who had just arrived, looked around the restaurant and spotted Sonny sitting at the table with Lena. Sonny’s back was to her, but she could see Lena’s bewildered expression. Annoyance shot through her, and she stalked her way towards them.
"What the hell do you think you’re doing Sonny?"
Sonny turned, surprised to see Brenda. He smiled at her. "Maybe that’s something you should ask *her*."
"Ask her what? Why should I have to ask her anything?" Brenda demanded.
"Because not five minutes ago she was in here sharing a cozy dinner with your white knight!"
Brenda glared at Sonny. "What business would that be of yours?"
"I make it my business to look out for you Brenda."
"Oh give it up Sonny! I didn’t ask for your help, and I certainly don’t need it! STOP harassing me and my friends!" she railed. Lena, sensing this may get ugly, got out of her chair and gently pulled Brenda away from Sonny and led her to the exit. Unable to resist, Miranda stepped out in front of them. Brenda rolled her eyes, Jax's ex was the last person she wanted to see.
"Get out of the way Miranda," Brenda snapped.
"Testy tonight aren’t we? Your lover touch off a nerve? Sonny does always manage to arouse such passion from you." Miranda said sweetly.
"Move it or lose it," Brenda enunciated each word, looking like she was going to bulldoze her way past the woman.
"You know, sooner or later, Jax is going to tire of your silly games and he’s going to see you for what you really are."
"What I *am* is the love of his life." Brenda said in a tone that grated on Miranda’s nerves. "Something even someone as pathetic as you should realize." The group was starting to attract attention, and Mac was moving towards them.
"Don’t flatter yourself. You’re nothing but a manipulative, spoiled brat."
"Oh *I’m* manipulative." Brenda snorted. "Funny Miranda, really funny. Nice to see that the explosion didn’t blow away your sense of humor like it did your *commitment* to your husband."
"Why you!" Miranda raised her arm to backhand Brenda but she was grabbed from behind by Mac just as Lena dragged Brenda from the restaurant. Brenda was so agitated she just let herself be pulled along. When they reached her Porsche, she suddenly stopped.
"Hey wait a minute. What are you doing?"
"*We* are getting out of here before you commit a serious crime, like homicide."
Brenda shook her head. "She makes me so furious! And Sonny! Argh!! They both make me climb walls!" Brenda took a few minutes to calm herself down. Then she looked around. It finally occurred her she hadn’t seen Jax anywhere. "Where’s Jax?" she asked.
"He had a business emergency, so he had to leave." Lena explained. "Open the doors Bren, it’s freezing out here." Brenda unlocked the doors to her Porsche and the girls climbed in.
"Have you eaten yet?" Brenda shook her head, no. "Then how about we go somewhere else to finish this dinner?"
"You're on!" Brenda agreed, and she sped them out of the parkinglot, her tires squealing.
+++
Jax ran his hand through his hair in frustration. He stared at the monitor in front of him. "How the hell did this happen?" he demanded. Several of Jack's Enterprises' mines in Peru had exploded, causing serious damage to the operation as well as injuring scores of civilians from the landslides they triggered.
"I don't know," Cameron, his Central American advisor replied with a helpless shake of his head. "The foreman at one of the mines insists it was sabotaged. There wasn't any scheduled detonations when it blew."
"A sabotage." Jax said, his eyes narrowed and turned an icy shade of blue.
Cameron nodded. "There's been some agitation lately. Nobody knows for sure, but there have been a lot of rumors floating around."
"What kind of rumors?"
"Rumblings about the Túpac Amaru."
"Bloody hell!" Jax exploded. "You're telling me the mines got caught up in terrorist activities?"
Cameron sighed, not knowing what to say. "We aren't sure. As of now, they're just rumors."
Jax's expression took on a stone-cold determination. "Go down there and *make* sure. I want to know exactly what happened. In the meantime, I'll have Addy work on recouperations and reparations for the damage caused. I'll be damned it I'm going to let a bunch of guerrillas run me out of the country."
Chapter 7: Hapless Mishaps
Brenda and Lena were in New York City, having stolen Jax’s private jet for the excursion. Donna Karen was putting on a show at the Fashion Café, and Lucy had suggested they go check it out. As promised, as soon as it was over, the girls hit the streets and Brenda took her friend on a massive shopping spree. They had spent the better part of the day rifling through all the major designer boutiques courtesy of Jacks Cosmetics. They tried on so many clothes and shoes they were both beginning to get dizzy. The shopkeepers were incredibly harried trying to keep up with Brenda, and Lena had to salute her friend’s exuberance and endurance. She had no idea how Brenda managed to remember what she had already seen and what she hadn’t. Finally, Lena told her she was going to drop dead from all the stuff they had bought. They were up to their ears in packages and boxes. Brenda just grinned. They flew back to Port Charles and took the limo to Luke’s. Brenda had taken the opportunity to chat up Noel Gallagher, who was at the Donna Karen show, and wanted to go to Luke’s club to drop off a present for Robin who was there with Jason.
"Oh my god Brenda!" Robin screamed looking at her gift. "I can’t believe this!" Brenda had charmed Noel and gotten her backstage passes to see Oasis in New York City with Jason.
"Well you were moaning and groaning about it for so long, I just had to!" Brenda replied, giggling with delight at her friend’s happiness. "You really like it?" She needn’t have asked. Robin was bouncing with joy.
"I love it! Thank you soooo much!" she exclaimed, grabbing Brenda and hugging her hard.
"OWWW!!!" Brenda laughed. "You’re cutting off the air supply!"
"And we know how disastrous that would be for such an airhead." Lena teased, and Brenda smacked her.
Brenda’s cell phone rang. It was Jax. He was waiting for her at the penthouse, he had a surprise for her. Brenda tried to make him tell her what it was but he just laughed and told her she would have to come see for herself and hung up. Brenda laughed and turned to her friends. "As much as I’d love to stay and chat with you guys, I’ve got to get home to Jax."
Robin hugged Brenda again. "Thank you so much!"
"You are more than welcome." Brenda dialed her driver. "Neil, why don’t you go bring the car around front?" She looked at Lena. "You coming with me?"
Lena shook her head and laughed. "No, I’ll call a cab. You run home to your loverboy."
Brenda grinned. "I’ll see you guys later then, ok?" waved, and walked out of the club.
Sonny, who had been watching them surreptitiously from the back room, slipped out to follow her. He caught up with her in the dark path leading to the parking lot.
"Brenda!" he called. She stopped, and turned to find him behind her.
"Sonny, what do you want?"
"We need to talk." He said, taking hold of her arm and pulling her around the corner.
"No we don't." Brenda said, determined not to be pulled back into Sonny's web. "Sonny, Jax would *not* appreciate you talking to me."
"This isn't about Jax. It's about us!"
"Let it go. There is no *us* Sonny, not anymore."
"Brenda when are you going to realize that you don’t love that, that - "
"Don’t you *dare* insult him Sonny Corinthos!" Brenda warned, starting to feel the anger rise in her at how much she resented his insinuating himself into her life at every opportunity.
"Cut the act Brenda! I *know* you love me. We belong together!"
"You don't know anything! I love Jax, and I belong with *him*!"
"Brenda will you listen to me! He’s no good for you!"
"OH and *you* are?" Brenda railed. "You never did anything but make me miserable. You married Lilly. You chose to be with Lilly, and you cut me out!"
"You know why I had to - "
"No I don’t! Because you never told me! You kept me in the dark about everything!"
"Brenda!"
"Just leave me alone! Let go of me!" Brenda shouted at him furiously, angry that he could still stir up so much emotion in her. She tried to pry off his arm.
Just then, Lena, who had heard their voices came into the alleyway. She had bid Robin and Jason good-night, and was headed home. She saw Brenda struggling with Sonny, and stopped dead in her tracks.
"NO!" Sonny yelled back at her, anger blazing in his dark eyes. "Not until I’m finished! You are going to listen to what I have to say!"
"I’m not interested in anything you have to say!" Brenda shrieked. "Let me GO!"
"I’m NOT letting you go Brenda!" Sonny shouted.
Lena watched them and felt light-headed. Visions of *HIM*, his menacing voice, his fury, his eyes just before he lost control flashed through her head. She shuddered.
"Sonny stop it!" Brenda screamed.
Brenda’s scream pierced through Lena’s thoughts and she ran towards them. She shoved Sonny away from Brenda, and hit him with all her might. Sonny’s head snapped back, taken by surprise, and he landed in a heap at their feet.
"You bastard!"
Brenda stared at her, stunned. Sonny shook his head to clear it, and he picked himself off the ground. He took a step towards them, and Lena stepped out in front of Brenda.
"You stay away from her!" she blazed.
Sonny glared at her, his jaw throbbing in pain. "This is none of your business! Brenda, we are going to finish this!"
"Sonny, no!" Brenda cried. He took another step towards her but Lena blocked him.
"Get out of my way!" he growled, trying to brush Lena aside.
"Are you deaf or just plain stupid?" Lena shouted, shoving him back. "She said NO!"
Suddenly, a black car zoomed into the parking lot. It squealed by, spraying the alleyway with bullets. Brenda ducked as Sonny and Lena dove down. Robin and Jason came running out of the club with Luke. Neil ran out behind him, having gone into the club to find Brenda. Sonny got up off the ground, he is unhurt. He goes to Brenda in panic.
"Brenda!" Sonny cried. "Brenda! Are you all right?"
Brenda nods her head. "I’m fine." She looked over at her friend and gasped. "Lena!" Lena is sitting on the pavement, propped up by Luke, holding her arm and biting her lip, grimacing. Blood from the wound in her shoulder was seeping down her arm, staining her white blouse.
Robin called for an ambulance. Jason and Sonny disappear before the police arrive right behind the paramedics. Lena is taken to the hospital. Brenda had called Jax to tell him what had happened, but she was so incoherent that he wasn’t able to make out what she was saying. He dashed out to meet them at the hospital. With the commotion, none of them noticed the black car had halted around the block. The two assailants in dark attire step out to survey their work. They are stunned when they notice who their victim is. They quickly dial their cell phone. A man stealthily moves behind them, straining to hear, but could only make out pieces of the conversation. They hit the wrong girl, it wasn’t the intended target. There are some heated words exchanged, and the men get back into the car and take off. Damon, flipped out his cell phone. He had been keeping an eye on Sonny for Jax as a favor to Jerry, who was out of the country. He punches in Jerry’s number."
"Jerry," a voice blurred by static came in reply.
"Jerry, man, it’s Damon. A hit went down tonight."
At the other end, Jerry swore. "Where?" He bit out.
"Luke’s. An unmarked car with two shooters pulled up and opened fire."
"Brenda ok?"
"Yeah, but her friend Lena got hit."
"Jesus. What happened?"
"Corinthos pulled Brenda into an alley. It got a bit heated, and I almost had to step in, but Lena came out and saw them. She hauled out and decked him."
"She WHAT?" Jerry was incredulous.
"Sent him flying, Jer." Damon chuckled. "Then she pushed him out of her face. You should’ve seen it." Jerry shook his head in disbelief. The girl was insane.
"Maybe we should sign her up. We could use someone like her," Damon continued.
Jerry sighed. "Looks like whoever is behind this has run out of patience. We've got to move on this. Track Corinthos down, keep an eye on him. Whoever is gunning for Sonny is endangering Brenda. I’ll let Jax know. "
At the hospital, Brenda, who was distraught, had flung herself into Jax’s arms the instant he came racing through the elevator doors. The sight of Brenda with blood down her shirt had almost stopped his heart. He enveloped her in a massive hug, relieved she was all right.
"It's ok Brenda. I've got you now." he said, taking a quick glance all over her to make sure she was in one piece. He tipped her face to meet his. "Sweetie, what happened?"
"I don't know! We were in the alleyway, and all I heard were the gunshots, and then I just dove for cover! One minute we were yelling, and the next minute - "
Jax interrupted her. "Yelling? Who was yelling?"
"All of us! Me, Lena, Sonny, we -"
"Sonny!? Sonny was there?"
Brenda nodded and told Jax about what happened. His expression hardened as he heard how Sonny had been harassing them, and was still in the process of harassing them when Lena was shot. "Damnit! I knew something like this would happen! I warned Corinthos to stay away from you!" Jax's expression turned grim. If Lena hadn’t been in front of Brenda when the shots rang out, Brenda might have been the one in the operating room right now. Jax led Brenda to the seating area to wait for the doctors to come out of surgery.
Alan Quartermaine and Dr. Gregory finally came out after several hours to say that it was a flesh wound, the bullet went straight through, and they’ve stopped the bleeding. Lena will be fine.
"Can I go see her?" Brenda asks immediately. Alan nods, and tells her to ask the nurse about which room she has been brought up in.
Jax’s cell phone rings. It’s Jerry. "Brenda, honey, you go on ahead. I'll be right behind you."
Brenda follows the nurse into the hospital room, leaving Jax behind to speak to Jerry.
"Jerry, you heard."
"Yeah, I heard. Damon was there. He overheard the shooters talking. They were aiming for Brenda, Jax." Jax sucks in his breath. "Whoever is out to get Sonny is trying to do it through Brenda."
"So what now?"
"Simple. Find who ever’s after Sonny. Jax, I gotta go." Jerry abruptly hung up, leaving Jax listening to a dial tone. Jax flipped shut his phone. Find the men who are after Sonny. This may prove difficult since the man had so many enemies.
Inside the hospital room, Lena has gotten over the shock of being shot. Alan Quartermaine had told her she would be good as new. She tries to calm Brenda down.
"Brenda," she says, shaking her head a little, "please stop looking at me like that. You make me feel like I was shot in the head instead of the shoulder."
"I could kill Sonny." Brenda ranted, too busy being angry at Sonny and concerned for Lena to realize the danger she herself had been in. "I could just wring his neck! Oh Len, I’m so sorry, this is all my fault."
"Brenda, this is not your fault." Lena said emphatically.
"Yes it is!" she insists. "I’m the one that got involved with Sonny, and it’s because of his stupid obsession with getting me back that you got shot!" Brenda blinks tears from her eyes.
"Cara, it’s not your fault. And I’m fine." Lena says gently.
"You’re not fine! You were just been shot! And it IS my fault! "
"Brenda, I know I was just shot but you did *not* pull the trigger." Lena said sternly. "I am *not* terminal here.
"But you could have been!" Brenda insisted. "It should've been me! If you hadn't been standing in front of me..."
"Brenda, you can't blame yourself for that. Who knows," Lena shrugged and winced slightly at the pain the movement caused, "maybe I just happen to be bullet absorbent." Brenda threw her a killing glare. "Come on Bren, I’ll just have an extra hole in my arm," Lena said, trying to lighten Brenda’s mood.
Brenda stares at Lena for a long moment, and finally relents. "You’re determined not to take me seriously aren’t you."
"Have I ever?" Lena smiled. Brenda shook her head.
"I can’t believe you punched Sonny." Brenda said, her dimples showing.
"You punched Sonny?" Jax said in amazement as he came in. Jerry had not mentioned that.
"He deserved it." Lena said, her eyes flashed with animosity.
Brenda regarded her friend curiously. Lena had come at Sonny like she was trying to take his head off. She knew that Sonny would never intentionally hurt her. What had made her react so violently?
Lena closed her eyes. "I think the painkillers they gave me are getting to my head now. It’s late. You don’t need to stay here with me. You should get going."
Just then, Alan Quartermaine appears in the room. "I agree. You guys should go home. This one will be fine, she just needs to get some rest now."
Lena opens her eyes, and waves as Brenda and Jax head out the door. Jax pokes his head in a second later, flipped her the thumbs up sign and mouthed "Thank you." to Lena. She smiled at him. As soon as they leave, she lets out a huge sigh, and an anxious looks creeps into her eyes. She blinks, and shakes her head, and then closes her eyes, drifting off to sleep.
While Lena is asleep, she does not notice a man staring at her through the glass windows of her room. It is Harry Silver, one-time employee of Sonny, and loyal friend of Lilly. He has returned to Port Charles, vowing revenge against Sonny for Lilly’s death. He wanted to make Sonny pay, to have him suffer by making him watch Brenda suffer. His hired thugs were to take her down in front of him. Harry silently walked away. Next time, he swore, he would take care of things himself.
+++
Jax, with his arm around Brenda’s waist, guided her into the dark penthouse. On the ride home, his heart had finally stopped racing. He had nearly flipped out of his mind when Brenda had called him sounding completely hysterical, crying about a shooting. Brenda, for her part, had also gotten over her initial scare. Jax shook his head. She truly believed that the bullets had been meant for Sonny and not her. Jax had not told her what Damon had overheard. He didn't want to alarm her further, but insisted that she stay completely away from Sonny. To his great relief, she heartily agreed without argument. He flipped on the lights and Brenda gasped. Before her was a magnificent display. Jax had cleared the living room area, and set up a romantic table for two. An elaborate flower and candle centerpiece stood at the center of the table. Champagne was chilling on a stainless steel stand beside the table, but the ice had all melted. The wonderfully prepared food on the table had long since gone cold. Brenda turned to Jax with wonder in her eyes, and for the first time that night, noticed that he was dressed in one of his Armani tuxes.
"Surprise," Jax murmured, grinning at the expression on Brenda's face.
"What's the occasion?" she asked, still dazed.
"Oh nothing," he replied nonchalantly, though the gleam in his eyes told different. "I just thought we could do a little celebrating."
"Oh, Jax..." Brenda bit her lip. "It's all ruined. I'm so sorry."
Jax hugged Brenda to him. "Hey, let's worry about that later. Right now, I think we should get you cleaned up." Brenda had streaks of blood on her shirt which she had used to wipe off her hands. Jax steered her towards the bathroom, and drew the water for a bath as Brenda peeled off her soiled clothes. Wordlessly, she stepped into the tub, and let the warm water engulf her with it's soothingness. Jax caressed her cheek and kissed the top of her head. He was about to turn and go when she called out to him.
"Jax..." He turned back. She held out her hand to him. He took it in his, and smiled at her. Shedding his own clothes, he stepped into the tub to join her, pulling her tightly against his chest and wrapping his arms around her soft body. Brenda moaned and closed her eyes. "This feels sooo good. Don't ever let go."
"I won't." Jax said, kissing her neck. They sank deeper into the water together.
"What were we going to celebrate?" Brenda asked, her eyes still closed.
"My divorce." Jax said with a smile in his voice. Brenda spun around in the water to face him.
"You're WHAT?!"
Jax flashed a Cheshire cat-like grin. "Honey, I thought you'd be pleased."
"Jax, are you serious?"
"Very serious."
"You're divorced."
"*Getting* divorced." Jax clarified. "My lawyers have all the paperwork ready. All we need now is Miranda to agree to the terms, and sign on the dotted line. And then..." Jax leered at her. "Baby, I'm aaaalll yours."
"Jax!" Brenda squealed, throwing her arms around him, splashing water everywhere. She kissed him all over his face, and finally planted a searing kiss on his lips that made both their hearts do wild somersaults. Jax kissed her back, his mouth caressing hers as his hands ran up her body, sending shivers down her spine. Brenda wrapped her arms around his neck as his kisses moved to the nape of her neck. Jax pulled Brenda down to him, sloshing water over the sides of the tub, his body tense with desire for her, and plunged into her. Brenda felt like Jax had set her on fire from within, their bodies moved together, their soft moans the only sounds escaping their mouths.
+++
The next morning, Jerry stepped off the elevator to General Hospital and headed for the receptionist. He had completed his mission the night before, and flown into town late that morning. He asked her the room number for Lena Raine. The receptionist looked through her files, and told him that she had checked out earlier that morning.
Lena had stayed overnight, but then decided to check out as soon as she woke up. She had slept uneasily, despite the tranquilizers. Although she had worked in the medical clinic in Africa with Kyle, she felt queasy being a patient. It held too many bad memories for her so she went back to her apartment.
Jerry spotted Alan Quartermaine, and stopped him to ask about Lena's condition. The two men talked about for a moment before Jerry took his leave. Alan had told him it was unusual for someone to leave so soon after such an incident, but Lena was in no critical danger, and therefore he couldn’t really stop her when she wished to go. She needed to be sure to clean and change the bandages, and take it easy for a while.
Lena heard a knock on her door. She opened her eyes and sighed.
"Who is it?" she called.
"Jerry Jacks." Came the reply.
Jerry? Lena slowly rose from the couch, careful not to jar her arm, and walked over to open the door. Jerry stood behind it with a handful of flowers. She smiled uncertainly at him.
"Come on in." Jerry followed her in, and watched her take a seat on the couch. "I didn’t know you were in town."
"What are you doing out of the hospital?" he demanded sternly. Lena rose her eyebrows in question. "You’re in no condition to leave, you were just shot!"
"Why must everyone keep reminding me of that?" she murmured.
"Come on, I’m taking you back." He said, holding out a hand to her.
Lena looked at him. "Excuse me?"
"I’m taking you back to the hospital. You can’t stay here. There’s no one looking after you."
"Jerry, I appreciate your concern, but I can look after myself."
"Lena, this is not the flu. You were just - "
"Yes I know." Lena cut in. "I was just shot." She laughed at the expression on his face.
"You think this is a joking matter?"
Lena sobered. "No, I don’t. I didn’t appreciate getting shot. But I feel fine so there really is no need for me to go back. They can use the bed for someone who really needs it."
"YOU really need it." Jerry insisted, incredulous that the girl would be so stubborn.
Lena shook her head at him, and winced slightly as pain shot through her arm. "Honestly," she told him, "between you and Brenda, you would think I was on my deathbed. It is only a small shoulder wound."
"It could have been a lot worse." He said, looking down at her with a serious, no nonsense face.
"Believe me, I’ve seen a lot worse." she muttered. Jerry looked at her in surprise.
"What do you mean by that?"
Lena started. She hadn’t meant to say it out loud. "Nothing. Really." She paused, then looked up at Jerry. "Are those for me or did you run into a secret admirer on the way here?" she asked, nodding to the flowers he still had in his hand. Jerry looked down at the flowers, his expression clearly indicating that he’d completely forgotten about them. He sighed and rolled his eyes before grinning.
"Yeah, they’re for you." He went into her kitchen and filled a glass full of water, and put the flowers into it. Lena watched him from the couch. She had not seen him since the party at the beach house. He had approached her that evening, after she had returned with Brenda and Lois from shopping, and asked her about the incident at breakfast. She had known he would, though she was surprised he had not mentioned it to anyone else. She had explained that he had startled her. She had lived in a very volatile part of Africa, and it taught her to be on edge all the time. He had accepted it at that, although his eyes continued to blaze with unspoken curiosity. Jerry brought the glass out and placed it on the table in front of her.
"Can I ask you something about Sonny Corinthos?" Lena asked. "What is his problem?"
Jerry sat down beside her on the couch. He picked up her hand, and noticed the bruised knuckles. He still couldn’t believe she had punched out the biggest mob boss on the eastern seaboard.
"You mean you don’t know?" Lena shook her head, no, and pulled her hand from Jerry’s grasp.
He proceeded to tell her Sonny and Brenda’s story. He leaves out the part about him and Damon investigating Sonny’s movements for Jax to keep him away from Brenda. When he is finished, Lena shakes her head. A mobster. Brenda had gotten involved with a crime lord. She closed her eyes. How ironic.
"You have to hand it to Brenda. She never does things the easy way."
"From what Brenda tells me, neither do you." Jerry said meaningfully.
There is another knock at the door and Jerry goes to get it.
"Hey slugger!" It was Jax, Brenda, and Lois. They came by for a visit and are surprised to see Jerry there. Jax gives his brother a look which Jerry pointedly ignores. They had gone to the hospital but were told that Lena has left and were all wondering why she checked out. Brenda didn’t think it was a good idea, and tried to convince her so. Jerry told her he already tried that.
"Well, if you hate hospitals so much, why don’t we get a nurse to come in to look after you?" Jax suggested.
"You guys! Really, please, stop mothering!" Lena protests.
"Lena, this is no time to be stubborn!" Brenda persisted.
"I’m not being stubborn!"
"Good! Then you’ll get a nurse." Brenda smiled.
"Brenda, I don’t need a nurse. Kyle was a doctor, and he *did* teach me a thing or two. Surely I can manage to change a few measly bandages on my own!"
Brenda looked surprised. "He was a doctor?"
Lena paused. She hadn’t meant to say anything. Reluctant to talk about him, she nodded. She noticed Lois was carrying a large bundle. "What is that?"
"A present!" she said cheerfully. Lois had brought an armful of tabloids. She threw them at Jax. The headlines all announced his "New affair with the mystery model!" showing pictures of Jax and Brenda contrasted against pictures of Jerry and Lena on the deck of the beachhouse, and "Mystery model shot!" Lena and Jax both groan, and Jax berated Jerry for tainting his sainted reputation, but Lois, Brenda and Jerry laugh so hard they get tears in their eyes as they read aloud the fabricated tales of the sordid romance and attempted murder, and soon everyone was cracking up.
Chapter 8: Christmas in Colorado
It was Christmas. Miranda had still not signed the divorce papers. Every time Jax had entreated her to in order for everyone to move on with their lives, she had dredged up the past. How happy they were together in Australia, how those memories had kept her going after the accident, how she had suffered, how hurt she was that he was forcing her to sever all ties to him. Jax didn’t have the heart to force her, and Brenda couldn’t believe he was letting her string him along like that. They fought constantly. Brenda didn’t want to give up on Jax, but the way he kept putting Miranda first over their relationship drove her crazy, and she began to wonder if Jax truly wanted to leave Miranda after all. Jax assured her that she was the only woman he wanted, and in the end, Miranda promised to sign the papers before Christmas so they could all start anew.
The gang was in Aspen, Colorado. Eddie Maine and the Idle Rich had a few performances booked in several of the popular clubs there. Lois would have managed fine by herself, but Brenda had wanted to spend Christmas somewhere away from where Miranda was, she was so sick of seeing her pop up everywhere, and Lois suggested everyone go skiing in Aspen. The Jacks owned a large chalet up in the mountains, accessible only by helicopter. Ned, Lois, who was close to the end of her term but determined to keep active, came with Jax, Brenda, Lena, and Jerry. Lena was not as good a skier as the rest, and she stayed behind with Lois who was taking it easy. At night, they would fly down into town to have dinner and watch Ned perform, but mostly, they would all just relax in the chalet. It had all the amenities, except for a chef for Lois and Lena had volunteered to do the cooking.
Tonight, however, Ned, Jax and Jerry had all flown back to Port Charles to handle an ELQ emergency, but promised to be back in time for Ned's performance.
Lois and Brenda are frantically rushing around behind the stage, and Lena is comically watching them. Eddie Maine and the Idle Rich are supposed to be onstage in a matter of minutes, and Ned has still not appeared. Lois is blowing smoke out of her ears. He had called, and told them that the ELQ emergency meeting had gone on longer than expected, but he was on his way back.
"Lois, relax," Lena said smiling. I'm sure he'll get here any minute. I'll go out and look for him." She comes out from behind the stage and scans the crowd. She looked at the door of the club. No Ned. She turned to go back behind the stage to tell Lois. Lois was on a rampage. She was beyond frenzied.
"I'm gonna kill him. I swear ta god I'm gonna kill him," she said through gritted teeth. Brenda was pacing such crazy circles around the sound equipment it was dizzying to watch her. Suddenly the phone rang and both women dove for it. Lois grabbed it first. It was Ned.
"You're dead meat Ashton!" she hollered into the phone. "Where the hell are you! You were supposed to be onstage five minutes ago!"
"We're on our way, we'll be there in a few minutes! Just stall for me!" he said, and he hung up.
Lois stared blankly at the phone. "Stall?"
"Stall?" Brenda echoed. "The crowd's already starting to get restless. What does he want us to do? Get up and do card tricks?"
The manager of the club barged in and demanded an explanation from Lois as to why his stage was empty. Suddenly Lois’s eyes fell to Lena who had been quietly standing to the back of the room.
Lena saw the gleam in her eye and backed up. "No, Lois, uh uh, no way."
Brenda realized what Lois was thinking and started to plead with Lena. "Come on Len! This is an emergency! You gotta help."
"Come on Lena. Just this once." Lois begged.
"No! Guys! I can’t just go waltzing up on stage unprepared!"
"Why not?" Brenda demanded. "You've done it before!"
"That was before! I was drunk then!"
"Stall the crowd for me and the drinks'll be on me!" Lois declared.
Lena shook her head, caught between laughter and alarm. "But I've got nothing to perform!"
"Improvise!" Lois replied.
"Improvise?!"
"It'll come naturally." Brenda assured her. "Just this once, Len, please?"
Before Lena could utter another syllable, Lois grabbed hold of her hand and dragged the reluctant girl out onto the stage into the spotlight. The crowd, seeing something finally on stage began to quiet.
"Ah, hiya folks!" Lois boomed into the microphone. "Sorry for the delay. Seems there's a small difficulty with the main show that had to be worked out." Lois talked over the boos from the crowd. "But in the meantime, there is a special pre-Eddie Maine performance tonight by a newcomer to their music scene, so please give her a warm welcome!" She clapped into the microphone and the crowd sent up a round of applause. Then she hopped off backstage, leaving Lena standing there alone, looking stricken.
Lena smiled weakly at the patrons, and cleared her throat. Behind her, Lois uttered an audible prayer. Lena's eyes flew wildly around, then she saw the guitar. God, how long has it been since she touched one of these? She swallowed. Not since Ireland. Not since O’Malley’s pub, and she had been completely drunk then as well. She picked up the guitar and stood in front of the microphone. Now what? She needed to start slow and soft. She needed to give her fingers a chance to remember. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She clenched her fists, then relaxed her hands, and gingerly strummed the chords to the ballad she had been listening to over and over on Lois's walkman. It was Jewel's "You Were Meant For Me." Her clear sweet voice, almost too quiet to hear at first, wafted through the club and gained strength.
I hear the clock, it’s 6 am / I feel so far from where I’ve been
Got my eggs and my pancakes too / Got my maple syrup, everything but you
Break the yolks, make a smiley face / I kinda like it in my brand new place
Wipe the spots off of the mirror / Don’t leave the keys in the door
I never put wet towels on the floor anymore ‘cause
Dreams last, so long / Even after your gone
I know that you love me / And soon you will see
You were meant for me / And I was meant for you.
An image of Kyle’s face formed in her mind. The memory of the first time she laid eyes on him. And when they were in Africa. Him leaning against the fragile doorframe of the clinic, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his tousselled dark brown hair, squinting against the mid-day sun, as he watched her approach. So handsome, so vibrantly full of life.
Called my mama, she was out for a walk / Consoled a cup of coffee but it didn’t want to talk
So I, picked up the paper, it was full of bad news / More hearts being broken, and people being used
She flashed to Joseph telling her Kyle was dead. He was gone. Forever. Joseph holding her while she cried.
Put on my coat in the pouring rain / Saw a movie it just wasn’t the same
‘Cause it was happy, and I was sad / And it made me miss you, oh so bad ‘cause
Dreams last, so long / Even after your gone
I know that you love me / And soon you will see
You were meant for me / And I was meant for you
Ned burst through the doors of the club and made a beeline for the backstage door. Lena’s eyes were closed, and she didn’t see him come in. Jax and Jerry, who had come right behind him, quietly slipped into the seats of a nearby table. Jax spotted Brenda, standing by the side of the stage, and waved. She waved back and came out to join him.
Go about my business, I’m doing fine / Besides what would I say if I had you on the line
Same old story, not much to say / Hearts are broken everyday
Lena opened her eyes to dispel the images, and peered into the crowd. The lights on the stage were too bright, and she blinked to adjust her eyes to them. She saw Brenda sitting by Jax close to the stage, and Jerry beside them.
Brush my teeth put the cap back on / I know you hate it when I leave the light on
I pick a book up, turn the sheets down / Take a deep breath and a good look around
Put on my pj’s and hop into bed / I’m half alive but I feel mostly dead
I try and tell myself it’ll all be all right / I just shouldn’t think, anymore tonight
‘cause Dreams last, so long / Even after your gone
I know that you love me / And soon you will see
You were meant for me / And I was meant for you
Lena repeated the last line, softer this time as if she were singing more to herself than to a crowd. The song ended. Her fingers stilled. Silence. The club burst into appreciative applause. Lena smiled into the crowd. Brenda, Jax and Jerry smiled back at her. She looked at the side of the stage behind the curtains, and saw Ned jumping into his Eddie Maine attire. Lois beamed at her and gestured for her to continue. Continue? What was she supposed to continue with? She only knew a handful of songs. She searched the crowd for some sign of inspiration.
"How many of you out there tonight are single?" A rowdy cheer rose from the crowd and she chuckled. "How many have had their hearts stomped on?" An even louder cheer reverberated through the club. She shrugged and said, "Then you should all know the words to this next song. But first, I need some audience participation." Lena hopped off the stage, and dragged Brenda up with her. Brenda shrieked and the audience laughed.
"Are you crazy?" Brenda hissed.
"Just sing along Bren," Lena grinned.
You never close your eyes
Anymore when I kiss your lips
Brenda smirked as she recognized the song. She and Lena used to mimick the scene from Top Gun endlessly, and it drove everyone around them nuts. Lena held the mike in front of her and she picked up the next line.
There's no tenderness
Like before in you fingertips
You're trying hard not to show it,
Brenda and Lena put their arms around each other's shoulders and belted out the chorus together.
But baby, baby I know it
You've lost that lovin' feelin', oh that lovin' feelin'
You've lost that lovin' feelin', now it's gone, gone, gone
Ned strode onto the stage at this point in his Eddie Main gear, microphone stand in hand, grinning at Lena who continued to play and Brenda who winked. He stands in between them, his arms gesturing dramatically as he threw himself into the song. Jax and Jerry can't believe their eyes at the sight they see on stage. They can barely contain their laughter.
There's no tenderness in your eyes
When I reach out for you
Girl, you're starting to critisize
Every little thing I do
It makes me just feel like crying
'Cause baby, something beautiful's dying
By now, the entire audience is rowdily singing along. Jax and Jerry included, as they are both singing and grinning broad, Joker-like grins, looking like complete cheeseheads.
You've lost that lovin' feelin', oh that lovin' feelin'
You've lost that lovin' feelin', now it's gone, gone, gone
Baby, baby, I get down on my knees for you
Ned dropped to his knees and the audience cheered.
If you would only love me like you used to do
We had a love, love, love, love affair every day
Oh don't, don't, don't, don't take it away
Listen to me, talkin' to you
Bring back that lovin' feelin, oh, that lovin' feelin'
Bring back that lovin' feelin, now it's gone, gone, gone
And I can't go on
The song ends, and Ned throws up his arms to a comical effect. The crowd roars into applause, and Lena gratefully puts down the guitar. Ned grabs both her and Brenda's hands before they can run off the stage, and forces them to take a bow. The crowd continues to whistle and cheer. Ned releases them, giving them each a quick kiss and takes over the show as his band accompanies him on the stage.
Brenda and Lena walk over back to the table where Jerry and Jax are.
Brenda leaned over to Lena. "You know, for someone who claimed not to be able to just waltz onto a stage, you sure rocked the crowd!"
Lena laughs at her. "If you guys *ever* do that to me again, I will seriously kill you both!"
"Come on Lena," Brenda teases. "You loved it. Admit it."
"I will not."
"Liar!" Lena stuck her tongue out at Brenda.
Jax chuckles. "You better watch it," he said, "lest Lois sinks her talons into you for good!"
"Then you'll would be dead in the water, like Ashton up there." Jerry added, his eyes twinkling, and they all broke out laughing. Jerry grins at Lena, who was rolling her eyes and making the sign of the cross
+++
Christmas Eve. The gang had just finished decorating the giant, lush pine tree that stood touching the ceiling of the cabin. Jingle Bell Rock was blaring from the sound system, and they were rocking right along with the music, spilling their drinks and tripping over strings of lights, roaring with infectious laughter. The women had gone overboard with lights and ornaments, and the tree , tinselled within an inch of its life, was barely visible beneath the blinking, jangling, jingling, and sparkling. Lois had even ademently insisted on stringing up *real* popcorn on the tree, although most of it went into their stomachs instead. The men had just laughed and let the women boss them around. Jerry hoisted Brenda onto his shoulders, and she set the delicate porcelain angel atop the tree with much ceremony, and everyone clapped. Once the mammoth mission was complete, they all collapsed on the rug in front of the fire. Jerry and Ned were roasting chestnuts on the open fire, and competeing who could do the better roasting.
Upstairs, in their bedroom, Jax got off the phone with his lawyer in Port Charles. He put his head in his hands and heaved a weary sigh. Brenda, who had been watching him, and listening from the doorway of their bedroom balled her fists in frustration.
"She didn’t sign it, did she." Brenda said, anger clearly evident in her voice. Jax shook his head.
"What was her excuse this time. No, let me guess, she broke one of her fragile wrists picking up the pen." Brenda said sarcastically.
"Brenda - " Jax began in a warning voice.
"What Jax. What?"
"You don’t understand."
"What don’t I understand?" Brenda shouted. "The fact that you’re making her your main concern, yet again? What is it going to take for you to put us first? Maybe I should go find myself a nice mine to blow up in since it seems to be the only way to get your attention these days!"
"Brenda that’s enough!" Jax snapped, shooting out of his chair.
"You’re right! I’m sick of this. She’s pulling all the strings Jax, and we’re just puppets to this sick game she’s playing. She’s manipulating you Jax, and you’re letting her."
"You think I like this? You think this is easy for me?" Jax demanded, every bit as angry as Brenda.
"I don’t know Jax, you tell me!"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that obviously she’s still in your system. Why else would you be dragging your feet on this?"
"Brenda, I am *not* dragging my feet!"
"Give me a break Jax! You and I both know what you’re capable of, and if you wanted to divorce her, you could’ve done it in 2 seconds flat. But no, it’s got to be *her* decision, and you damn well knows she’s not giving you up. What I want to know, is where that leaves me!"
"Brenda I can’t believe you would even think I was trying to hang on to Miranda. That’s not what this is all about! I love you, and there’s nothing I want more than for us to spend the rest of our lives together. But Miranda’s been through hell and I’m just trying to make this as painless as possible for everyone involved!"
"Right." Brenda snapped. "Fragile little Miranda’s feelings must be spared. What about *my* feelings Jax? Of course. I forgot. My feelings don’t count for anything. I just sleep here!" Brenda turned on her heel and stomped down the hall, almost running over Lena who was coming out of her room.
"Brenda!" Jax yelled, stalking after her. Brenda marched into Lena’s room and slammed the door, locking herself inside. Jax pounded on the door. "Brenda open this door!"
"No Jax!" Brenda’s muffled yell came from behind the thick wooden door. "Go away! I don’t want to hear it!" Jax looked about ready to break down the door when Lena put her hand on his arm. She shook her head.
"Leave her alone for a while. She’s only going to get angrier if you barge in before she’s ready to talk to you again."
"Of all the stubborn! childish!..." Jax clenched his jaw in frustration, and then sighed.
"She’s right you know," Jerry said from the stairway. He had heard the entire argument from downstairs they were so loud. "You could’ve clearly divorced Miranda on grounds of desertion without getting her involved at all. So what’s stopping you?"
Jax glared at his brother, but he knew what he was saying was true. He rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I don’t know, I guess it was important for me to know Miranda realized it was over between us and end things of her own volition. I didn’t want to have to be brutal about it."
"Life doesn’t come in tidy little packages little brother. Sometimes things get messy."
"You know how much Brenda loves you," Lena said gently, "but this whole thing has her thrown for a loop. She’s never been overly confident, and she’s scared of losing you."
"You can’t keep straddling the fence Jax. Brenda’s not stupid, and she’s not going to wait forever you know."
Jax looked at the both of them, then at the door in front of him, and then walked quietly back to his room to think. Lena watched him close his door, and then glanced at her own. "Looks like I’ve been locked out of my room. I wonder where she expects me to sleep tonight."
"How 'bout my room?" Jerry said with a winning smile.
"*Your* room?" She closed her eyes and shook her head, biting down her smile. "No, I think I’ll just sleep on the couch in front of the fire."
"My mother would have my head if I were to allow that." Jerry declared.
"I doubt your mother would mind this one exception."
Jerry gave her a mock pout. "What's the matter? Don't you want to sleep with me?"
Lena laughed at the look on Jerry's face. "You don't want to sleep with *me*" she said.
"Why not?"
"Because I kick!"
Before Jerry could comment on that, a loud cry from Lois caused them both to rush downstairs into the livingroom. Lois was lying on the couch moaning, Ned was kneeling beside her holding her hand looking panicked.
"Lois! Ned! What’s wrong!" Jerry demanded, running into the room. Lena was right behind him.
"She just suddenly started having pains!" Ned explained. "We have to get to a hospital!" Jerry picked up the phone and dialed the pilot. Then he slammed the phone down in frustration.
"We can’t get off the mountain. The snow’s coming down too hard, there’s almost zero visibility. We’re going to have to wait until morning." Jerry said.
"What do you mean we can’t get off this mountain!" Lois bellowed. "This baby is comin’, and she’s not going to wait till mornin’! We have to get out of here, NOW!" Lois was breathing hard and Ned brushed her forehead gingerly.
"There’s got to be something we can do!" he yelled at Jerry. "We can’t just stay here!"
Lena kneeled down beside Ned. "Lois, how long have you been having these pains?"
Lois shook her head. "I’m not sure. I haven’t been feelin’ well all day, but it’s only gotten bad just now. Why?"
Lena smiled reassuringly at Lois before saying, "I think your contractions are looking pretty severe. You must have started you labour this morning." She looked at Ned and Jerry, and back to Lois. "I don’t think we could’ve made it to a hospital in time even if we wanted to. This baby is ready to come out now."
"WHAT?" Ned and Lois both shouted.
"No way!" Ned said vehemently. "There is no way we’re having this baby in this cabin."
"You’re not the one that should talk Ned Ashton!" Lois yelled as another pain racked her. She grabbed Ned’s arm in a deathgrip, and he grimaced in pain.
"I don’t think it’s up to you," Lena said to Ned.
"What’s all the yelling about?" Jax asked coming into the room.
"Lois is having her baby," Jerry told him from his perch on the corner of the table.
"She’s WHAT?!! What are you all still doing here!!? I’ll call the pilot!"
"I already did. We’re snowed in Jax." Jerry explained.
Brenda walked into the room "What’s going on in here? Lois, I could hear you screaming from upstairs!"
"Lois is having her baby." Jax said to Brenda.
"She’s WHAT?!!?"
"Is there an echo in here?" Jerry mused to himself.
"Excuse me, I hate to interrupt, but DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO DELIVER A BABY???" Lois hollered.
"Ohmygosh, Lois!" Brenda exclaimed, rushing to her side.
"Ned! Didn't they teach you how to do this in those classes you took?" Jax asked.
"Not how to deliver a baby!" Ned cried. "Just how to breathe!"
"Breathe? What good is breathing if no one knows how to get the baby out?" Brenda exclaimed.
"Didn’t you say you worked in a clinic before?" Jerry asked Lena. All five pairs of eyes fixed on Lena, who slowly rose to her feet.
"Yes, but - "
"Then help her!" Ned implored.
"How do you know I’ve ever delivered a baby?" Lena protested.
"You have to know how! You must have seen it done before!" Ned countered.
"Yes, but African women don’t come to a clinic unless something goes wrong!"
"We’re having a baby on top of a mountain in a secluded log cabin! Doesn’t that qualify as something going wrong?!!" Ned shouted in a panic.
"Hey! Don’t yell at her! It’s not her fault Lois went into labour!" Jerry snapped at Ned.
"This is not happenin’." Lois muttered, "Please Lord, this is NOT happenin’ to me." Another contraction hit, and Lois twisted in pain.
"Madelena! Do something!" Brenda ordered, squeezing Lois’s hand tightly.
Lena closed her eyes an said a silent prayer. She opened them and looked at everyone staring at her. "OK, water. We’re going to need boiled water, cool water, lots of clean towels, a sterilized knife, and a wash basin, and some bandages…and a glass of brandy."
"Brandy? Isn’t that bad for the baby?" Jax asked.
"It’s not for *her*, it’s for *me*." Lena replied.
"For you," Jax repeated.
"Do *you* want to deliver this baby?" she asked him pointedly. Jax shook his head.
As Jax and Jerry rushed off to retrieve the items on the list, Lena looked at Ned. "We’re going to have to get her off this couch onto a mattress or something more level." Ned pried off Lois’s hand and ran upstairs to get a mattress. Lena kneeled down beside Lois. "It’s going to be ok. This is the most natural thing in the world. You’re going to do great." Ned came down with the mattress just as Jerry came in. He helped Ned place the mattress before the fire, and lower Lois onto it.
Brenda pulled Lena aside. "Have you ever done this before?" she whispered.
"No," Lena whispered back.
"NO?" Brenda said so loudly that Ned and Jerry looked up at her. She lowered her voice. "What are you going to do?"
"I don’t know!" Lena said under her breath. "You’re the genius that volunteered me!" Just then, Jax came in with the rest of the required items. He handed Lena a tumbler full of brandy and she took a big gulp before going over to Lois. Ned was to one side of her, Brenda on the other. The Jacks brothers hung back, unsure what to do next. Lena covered Lois’s legs with a large blanket as Ned propped her up with a pillow.
"How close have the contractions been coming?" Lena asked.
Ned thought for minute. "About 5 minutes apart or so."
"Ok, take this," Lena handed him a small towel and a basin of cool water. "You wipe her down, it’ll be soothing." Ned started to wipe the damp, cool cloth across Lois’s sweaty forehead, and she moaned gratefully. "OK Lois, I’m going to take a peek and see how far you’re along." Lena pushed up Lois’s knees and peered beneath the blanket. She looked up again, and said, "You’re pretty close."
Ned squeezed his wife’s hand. "Just hang in there baby."
"Easy for *you* to say Ashton!" Lois said through gritted teeth as another contraction hit. "If I survive this, you are NEVER getting in my bed again!" Jax and Jerry laughed, but stopped immediately when Lois and Brenda glared at them.
"Jax, Jerry, I’m going to need you two to hold on to Lois’s legs while she pushes." The brothers moved so they each stood to one side of the mattress. The contractions were coming one after another, and Lois was yelling her head off. Ned entreated her to breathe.
"BREATHE?!!" Lois bellowed. "I’m bein’ split in two and you’re tellin’ me ta breathe?!" Ned cringed and Jerry had to hide his laughter by coughing.
"Almost ready to push Lois. Is there anything she can use to bite down on?"
Jerry thought for a second. "Yeah, this." He unbuckled his belt, and pulled it from his waist, wrapping it around his hand as he did so. The tumbler of brandy slid from Lena’s numb fingers and shattered onto the floor. An image of Draco performing the same deliberate action in front of her shot through her mind.
"Lena? Lena!" Jerry saw the naked terror in her eyes. He moved towards her but she jerked back. She squeezed her eyes shut, and exhaled a shuddering breath.
"Lena! Are you ok?" Brenda’s voice was full of worry. She had never seen her friend so rattled. Lena nodded her head, and looked back up at Lois apologetically.
"Sorry. I..it slipped."
Lois was about to tell her it was all right when a massive contraction racked her body. Jerry handed his belt to Ned to put it in front of Lois for her to bite down on.
Lena looked under the towel and saw that she was fully dilated. "OK guys, it’s time. Here goes nothing." Lois glowered at her and Lena gave her a sheepish half-smile. "Kidding. Kidding. Lois, on the next contraction, I’m going to need you to push ok?" Lois nodded. "Jax, Jerry, get ready to steady her legs." Jax took hold of Lois’s right knee, and Jerry her left.
The contraction hit, and Lois started to push, hurtling curses at Ned as she did so. Finally it subsided and she went limp from the exertion.
"Breathe Lois, remember, your baby needs oxygen."
"You can do this Lo," Brenda encouraged, holding her other hand.
Half an hour later, the head of the baby appeared.
"Come on Lois! I can see the head of your baby. Just a few more big pushes and you can hold her in your arms."
"Come on Lois!"
"Hang in there Lois!"
"Push Lois!"
"Come on sweetheart!"
"Just a little bit more!"
Lois gave one final push, screaming with pain. Lena manipulated the baby so that one shoulder came out first, followed by the other, then finally the rest of the baby slid out in a big gush of amniotic fluid. Lois sagged with the effort as Lena patted the infant gently on the back to clear it’s lungs. Suddenly a lusty cry filled the room
"It’s a girl, Lois!" Lena held up the baby for Lois and Ned to see. "You’ve got a beautiful baby girl!" Lois burst into tears, and Brenda followed, hugging her friend close. "Would you like to cut the chord?" Lena asked Ned. He gulped and nodded, and Lena handed him the knife. Once the chord was cut, Lena washed the baby in the basin of warm water, and put the baby into the towel Jerry held out for her. She went over to a still sobbing Lois, and laid the child in her arms. "Congratulations, and Merry Christmas." she said smiling at the couple.
"She’s the perfect Christmas gift. Thank ya." Lois sniffed, reaching out to give Lena’s a hand a squeeze.
"Hey, you did all the work. All I did was catch her when she came out."
"Oh look!" Brenda cooed. "Lois! She’s got your eyes!"
"Do you have a name picked out?" Jax asked, coming around to look at the now quiet infant.
Lois stroked her daughter’s tiny cheek, and fingered one of her perfect miniature hands. "Yeah," she whispered. "Brooke Lynn. Brooke Lynn Ashton."
Brenda and Jax were off in a corner, talking as Ned carried Lois back upstairs, and Lena followed with their daughter.
"That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen my whole life." Brenda murmured in awe.
Jax touched Brenda’s face gently, not knowing how she would react after the argument they had earlier. Brenda turned her face into his hand, and he pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Yes, Brenda, it was. I want that to be us someday."
"Jax - " Brenda began, but he cut her off putting a finger to her lips.
"You were right Brenda. I don’t know what got into me, I wasn’t firing on all cylinders I guess. It’s time to end this. Tomorrow morning, first thing, I’m going to call my attorney, and leave him a message to sue Miranda for divorce. She left me 6 years ago, she made the choice to leave, and I’ll be damned if she can’t accept the responsibility of that now."
"Jax," Brenda breathed as his mouth covered hers with a passion only she could ignite. She kissed him back with all the happiness she felt overflowing her very being, and their kisses would have led to much more had they not heard Jerry discretely coughing at them. Jax broke the kiss reluctantly and smiled down at Brenda, whose eyes were hazy with desire.
"Aren't you guys forgetting something?" Jerry tossed his brother a mistletoe, and Jax caught it with one hand while still hugging Brenda with the other.
"Merry Christmas Jax," Brenda whispered.
"Merry Christmas my love."
"Glad to see you two back on track." Jerry said with a smirk.
An hour later, Lois, Ned and baby Brooke were comfortably settled in Lena’s room, as the mattress in their room had been used for Lois to give birth on. Jax, Brenda, Jerry and Lena were in the living room. The Cerullos and Quartermaines had been called to notify them of the new addition. Brenda had fallen asleep in Jax’s arms and Jax carried her into their room. Lena had dozed off on one of the couches. Jax came back in to see Jerry staring thoughtfully down at her, recalling her expression when she dropped her brandy.
"What?" he asked his brother.
Jerry glanced up at Jax. "Something’s up with her."
Jax looked at his brother and recognized his expression. "Jerry…"
Jerry shook his head. He covered her with a blanket, not wanting to disturb her, and motioned for Jax to follow him up the stairs.
The next morning, Christmas morning, the pilot was ready to fly Ned, Lois and their new baby to the nearest hospital, and afterwards, Jax had his plane waiting to take them back to Port Charles. The rest of them would stay on in Aspen for New Years before returning. True to his word, Jax had called his attorney first thing in the morning, and left him instructions to file for divorce from Miranda on grounds of desertion. Brenda and Lena were with Lois in the bedroom, helping her get ready for her departure. Lena was cradling the newborn infant, gently rocking back and forth, and Brenda was right beside her. Lois and Ned had decided that, under the circumstances, Brooke Lynn should have a godfamily instead of just godparents since so many people helped to bring her into the world.
"Lois, you should be so proud, look at her!" Brenda exclaimed, picking up on of Brooke’s delicate hands and playing with her tiny fingers.
"Believe me! I am!" Lois said laughing. "But I couldn’t have done it all without everyone’s help. Especially yours Lena. Ned and I are so grateful to ya."
Lena blushed. "Really, I didn’t do that much."
"Don’t be so modest! Ya kept things together when me and Ned were about to come unglued."
"Lois, you *did* get unglued. Poor Ned’s arm is all black and blue." Brenda said laughing.
Lois grinned. "Well, ya know, I wanted him ta feel somethin’ like I was feelin’. Anyhow, Lena, like I was sayin’ you’re really good at this sorta thing. Ever thought about bein’ a doctor? I’m sure they’d love ta have ya at General Hospital."
"I don’t know Lois," Lena said smiling as the baby yawned. "But you sure inspired me to think about it."
"Well, let me know and I’ll put in a good word for ya with the Q’s," Lois winked. Lena handed the baby back to her mother as Ned came in. They were ready to leave.
Chapter 9: Christmas Day
Jax and Brenda went to see Lois, Ned and baby onto the helicopter. Jax gave the pilot some last minute instructions, and then he and Brenda waved a fond farewell to the departing trio as they lifted into the air. Lena was inside the kitchen, surveying the damage of leftovers from the night before. The kitchen was a mess and she was busy cleaning up while trying to figure out what to make for Christmas morning breakfast. Jerry was leaning against the counter, watching her, happily making a nuisance of himself and getting in the way of everything.
Lena sniffed into the bowl of eggnog, left out from the night before. "Ug! Yuck. This smells awful." She handed the bowl to Jerry. "Here, pour it down the sink." She grabbed a plate full of Lois’s special calamari, dumped the contents into the garbage, and put the empty plate on top of the bowl still resting in Jerry’s hands. "Put that in the sink too." Like a tornado, she whipped around, dumping, scraping, and stacking dishes onto Jerry’s growing pile.
Jerry was biting his lip to keep from grinning. Lena had piled the dishes so high so fast he couldn’t move if he tried. "Ah…"
Lena looked up at Jerry, balancing the heap of dishes precariously. "What are you doing?" She asked, wide-eyed. Jerry felt the rumblings build up inside, and he couldn’t contain it any longer. He burst into laughter, his whole body shaking with mirth. The dishes he was holding shook along with him, splashing a mixture of sauce and other liquids onto the floor and the giant tower tilted dangerously.
"Jerry!!" Lena dashed over to him, making a mad attempt to grab the wavering crockery. She slipped on the spillage, and careened towards him. Jerry, seeing that they were about to collide threw the heap from him, and dived for Lena. He tackled her to the ground and they fell beside the island counter, his body shielding hers from the falling dishware.
CCCCRRRRRAAAAASSSHHH!!!! Sounds of shattering china reverberated throughout the cabin as Jax and Brenda came back in.
"Oh my god!"
"What the hell?!!"
Together, they raced towards the kitchen. They stopped abruptly at the entrance, and surveyed with open-mouthed horror at the destruction before them. Shards of china and gobs of goo decorated every inch of the kitchen. Jerry was sprawled on top of Lena on the floor beside the counter.
"Jerry! Lena! Are you two OK? What happened?" Brenda’s words came out in a rush.
Both of them looked dazed. Jax looked from the wreckage to Brenda, who looked at him and then at the two figures on the floor. They looked at each other, the smashed ruins, and everyone exploded into uncontrolled fits of laughter.
Jax wiped tears from his eyes. "Why didn’t you just *say* you hated doing dishes?" he choked out. "You didn’t have to break them all. We could’ve gotten a maid!"
Jerry moved off of Lena, and hauled her to her feet. Neither had been injured by the flying crockery.
"It’s *his* fault!" Lena smiled, brushing herself off. "He was supposed to put them into the sink."
"Like I could’ve moved with such a pile," Jerry retorted, picking a stray piece of pasta from her hair.
"Oh, and what happened to Mr. Speed and Agility?" she countered.
"I got you out of harm’s way didn’t I?" Jerry said cockily.
"You wouldn’t have had to if you’d put the dishes into the sink in the first place!"
"OK you two," Brenda stepped in. "Break it up."
"Awww, she started it." Jerry whined in a little boy’s voice. Lena stuck her tongue out at him.
+++
An hour later, after the four of them had cleaned up the mess, they were sitting at the table for breakfast. Jax was eating his usual yogurt-granola-fruit thing, Jerry was wolfing down sausages and eggs, and Lena and Brenda were drinking coffee and munching on bagels and cheese. Lena dipped her bagel into her coffee and took a bite.
"Lena, that’s gross!" Brenda said, wrinkling her nose. Lena grinned at her and continued dipping. Brenda threw a chunk of cheese at her, which she deflected, causing it to land in Jax’s bowl, splashing yogurt on his nose.
"Sorry sweetie!" Brenda and Lena sang out together. Jax shook his head rolling his eyes, and fished out the cheese as the girls giggled. Brenda leaned over and licked the yogurt off his nose.
"So what’s the plan for the rest of the day now that we’ve gotten rid of the Ashtons?" Jerry asked.
"Are you kidding?" Brenda said. "PRESENTS!!" She jumped out of her chair. "Come on!! Last one to the tree is a rotten fruitcake!" she cried, dashing off into the next room. Everyone watched her go. Jerry, with his fork still hanging in midair, glanced at his brother, then at Lena with amusement.
Lena shook her head. "She was crazy before I met her. I swear!" she said laughing.
"I thought fruitcake *never* went bad." Jax said getting out of his chair. They all headed off to join Brenda.
+++
Sitting cross-legged underneath the tree, Brenda had already started to unearth the ornately wrapped gifts. She had tinsel in her hair from crawling under the tree, and she looked adorable in her brown leggings and oversized sweater. The trio sat down near her, forming a small circle.
"Oh! Me first! Me first!" Brenda chirped. She handed a box to Jerry and grinned. Jerry grinned back, and shook the box beside his ear.
"At least it’s not ticking," he teased. He ripped into the wrapping paper, and stuck the bow in Lena’s hair. She pulled it off and bounced it off his head. He pulled open the box. He looked at his present in amused surprise. He fished it out. "A Gameboy?" he asked, not quite believing his eyes. Jax laughed at the expression of confusion on his brother’s face.
"Not just *any* Gameboy!" Brenda explained laughing alongside Jax. "Jax told me how addicted you were to Nintendo. It’s a super, one-of-a-kind Gameboy that plays Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Tetris *and* Mario Brothers!"
"How on earth - "
"Jax bribed the computer nerds at Nintendo to make it for you," Brenda explained, grinning widely.
Jerry laughed and leaned over to hug her. "Thanks, Bren. "
Next, Brenda got up and pushed a heavy, awkward-looking crate in Jax’s direction. He glanced at her curiously. What on earth could be in there? "Open it! Open it!" she said, bouncing up and down from anticipation. "Oh wait! Don’t open it yet. Open this first!" She handed him a small box. Jax smiled at her actions, and took the box from her. He carefully ripped at the packaging, and found a velvet jewelry box. Popping it open, he saw a pair of golden cufflinks, diamond studs in the shape of eternity was embedded into the gold setting, and the initials J & B engraved in the center.
"To make up for the ones you lost!" Brenda said, flashing her dimples.
"You mean *we* lost." Jax replied with a grin. "As I recall, you had a hand in *losing* them."
Lena looked at Jerry. "I don’t think we were meant to hear this conversation." Jerry smirked.
"Do you like them?"
"I love them," he said, giving her a kiss. "Thank you sweetheart."
"OK! *Now* you can open this!" She handed him a crowbar. "But be careful!"
"Is it alive?"
"No," Brenda giggled.
Jax shook his head as he pried open the crate. Once he got the top off, all he saw was a mess of shredded newspapers. He dug around, and his hands hit something. Pushing aside the packing material, he lifted out a statue. He simply stared at it. It was a three foot tall white marble statue of *him* almost naked, coming out of the surf a la the birth of Venus. He blinked to make sure he wasn’t seeing things.
"What is it?" Jerry came around his brother, saw the statue, and stared like Jax.
"It’s for you, my Adonis," Brenda said trying to suppress her grin but failing. "I wanted you immortalized!"
Jerry erupted with laughter and Brenda and Lena joined him. Jerry put his hand on Jax’s shoulder as he bent over and gasped for breath. "Oh man. Wait till Mum see this!"
"We can set it in our foyer!" Brenda added cheerfully, noting that Jax had yet to utter a sound. "Or better yet, you can put it in your office!" Jax turned to stare at Brenda with disbelief and Jerry totally collapsed. "What’s the matter honey? Don’t you like it?"
Jax gave up. He collapsed onto the floor beside his brother and laughed until his stomach ached and his legs felt like jelly. "Oh Brenda," he groaned. Brenda flopped down beside him, and laughed with him. When he finally got his breath back, he went and got an afghan which he threw over the statue, and shook his head at it. He gave her as serious a look as he could muster. "Brenda, that thing is *never* going to see the light of day."
Brenda pouted through her laugher. "Oh come on Jax. Don't be so modest! Lena thought it was kind cute, didn’t you Len?"
"Absolutely!" Lena affirmed, smiling broadly.
"You knew about it and you didn’t stop her?"
"Stop her? Stop Brenda?" Lena asked with exaggerated incredulity.
"Gotta admit, little brother, it looks exactly like you." Jerry said, pulling the cover off.
Jax scowled merrily at Jerry. "Which means it also looks exactly like *you*!"
Jerry wrinkled his nose. "Nah, not my style…Adonis." Jax balled up the wrapping paper beside him and pelted Jerry with them as he laughed.
"OK, last one!" Brenda said, pulling a large envelope from under a pile. She handed it to Lena who smiled at her. Lena opened the envelope, and found a set of registration forms and a blank cheque. She looked at Brenda questioningly.
"It’s for PCU," Brenda explained. "I want to pay your tuition there, that is, if you want to go. You told me about how you had to stop your studies, and how you read all these books anyways, and I felt…well, I felt that…" her voice dwindled off as she looked at Lena uncertainly. Lena’s eyes met hers and they were filled with happiness.
She reached over and pulled Brenda into a massive bear hug and Brenda hugged her right back, relieved that she had done the right thing.
"Thank you," Lena said, her voice quavering slightly.
"You’re so welcome."
"Ok, who’s next?" Jax asked.
"Me." Lena said, letting go of Brenda and blinking tears out of her eyes. "I just started working, so don’t expect too much," she said smiling. "I mean, what does one get the man who has everything anyway? Not to mention the wife and brother of the man who has everything!" She reached under the tree and pulled out three gifts, which she distributed to each person. Brenda tore hers open first, and found a pair of golden lucky dice. Opening them, she found, inset, tiny pictures of them together, during one of their excursions to Monte Carlo.
"My god Len! Look at us! That was so long ago!" Brenda exclaimed. The dice had a switch, which Lena explained would cause them to land at a set number. "Great. More ways to cheat!" Brenda hugged her friend. "Thank you!"
Jerry opened his next, and found a strange contraption. "Brenda and Jax told me how much you travel, so I thought it might come in handy." It was a compass-sundial, made in the form of a pocket watch, set in stone and platinum, that kept track of the time all around the world.
Jerry beamed at her. "It will never leave my side." he said flirtatiously, and Lena laughed. "Thanks, darlin'."
Jax opened his last, and discovered a tome of books. It was the complete works of William Butler Yeats. "Excellent! Thank you! More poetry I can seduce women with." He wagged his eyebrows suggestively, and everyone laughed.
"You’re welcome! Brenda mentioned your tendancy to spew poetry at the oddest moments."
"My turn!" Jerry said. He reached over and handed his gift to Brenda. With typical Brenda impatience, she tore it apart in seconds, and lifted out a delicate, extremely old hand mirror.
"Oh Jerry, wow" she murmered, as the sunlight streaming in caught on the bejeweled, gold casing, reflecting light in all directions.
"It was unearthed during one of the excavations at Pompeii," he said.
"It’s beautiful! Thank you!" Brenda kissed Jerry on the cheek.
Jerry handed Lena her gift. It was a beautifully and ornately decorated marble box. Intricate patterns and designs covered the surface, and an unknown script was carved onto the lid.
"It’s Pandora’s Box." Jerry said. Lena looked up at him in surprise. "Not the original, of course," he smiled. "But close enough. The writing on the lid is the legend of Pandora’s Box. Go ahead, open it." Lena opened the box slowly, and sucked in her breath. The inside was lined with crushed crystal and the effect of the light shining off it was a glittering, moving of lights to emulate the escape of the famed ills.
"It’s breath-taking." Lena said, gazing at it in wonder. She met Jerry’s gaze and smiled appreciatively. "Thank you." Jerry smiled back at her, admiring the way the brilliant lights danced on her face.
"And finally!" He handed his brother his present. Jax gave Jerry a knowing look, and Jerry returned it.
"Why do I have a feeling I’m going to regret this?" he mumbled, as he opened his package and reeled from the stench.
"What is it? What is it?" Brenda asked enthusiastically, peering over his shoulder. "AHHH!!!" she shrieked when she saw it. Jax threw Jerry a disgusted look and Jerry roared with laughter.
"Merry Christmas bro!" He chortled.
"A fish?" Lena asked as she saw what was in the box. It was a dead, raw, smelly fish.
"Jerry that is the most nasty, disgusting, gross, vulgar, vile thing I have ever seen!" Brenda ranted as Jerry continued to laugh.
Jax chuckled as he closed the box and set it far, far away from himself. "Good one Jer," he said. "I’ll have to keep this in mind next year. In the meantime…" he handed Jerry a lumpy box, very poorly wrapped.
Jerry looked at Jax suspiciously, and unwrapped the package. It was a life preserver. One of the floppy, bright yellow ones you find on airplanes, complete with the two little tabs to pull to inflate it. Jerry laughed as he pulled on the tabs and watched the thing inflate.
"Gee Jax," he drawled, twirling the life preserver around his hand. "I'll never leave home without it. Thanks!"
"A fish and a life preserver? Am I missing something?" Brenda asked.
"Sweetie, Jerry and I have been having this competition for years of who can get the other the worst, most useless gift for Christmas."
Brenda looked from Jax to Jerry. They were mirror images of glee and playfulness. "You guys are too weird."
"Ah, but you wouldn’t have us any other way!" Jax smiled, his blue eyes sparkling with merriment. He handed Lena her present. Lena’s eyes widened when she saw it. It was a Stradivari violin.
"Oh my god, Jax."
"Do you like it? Brenda told me you used to play."
"Jax, this is too much. Really."
"Then you like it," he stated confidently.
"I love it. I don’t know what to say. Thank you."
"You’re welcome. So," he said getting off the ground. "Anybody for some snowboarding?"
"Wait a minute! What about me?" Brenda asked, pulling him back down.
"What about you sweetheart?" he asked smiling.
"Jax!" Brenda couldn’t help laughing at his innocent expression. "You turkey! Where is *my* present?"
"After that horrid statue, I revoked your present priveledges!"
"JAX!"
"Just kidding!" He hauled her up to stand before him. "You’re going to have to wait until tonight for your present."
"Tonight? Why?"
"It’s a surprise!" he said, kissing the tip of her nose. "So no more questions! Come on! Lets hit the slopes!"
Chapter 10: Christmas Night
They spent the rest of the day on the mountain. Jax and Jerry trying to teach Brenda and Lena how to snowboard. It was almost five before they finally came back to the cabin, exhausted. They all took long, hot showers to relieve their aching muscles and warm their bodies. Jax was whisking Brenda away for a night of magic - his present to her - but their destination was still a surprise. Jax quickly dressed in a pale blue tux, the shade of blue illuminating the rich hue of his eyes. While he was making the necessary arrangements, Brenda came down the stairs. Jax had planned for her entire outfit, right down to the slippers on her feet. She was dressed in an ice blue gown that was lined with a fur trim and a fur hood. Opal earrings sparkled and framed her face, and her hair was pinned backed by diamond baretts. She looked like an ice princess as she descended.
"Oo la la!" Lena said grinning at her friend. "Regarde a toi!" (Look at you!"
Brenda twirled prettily at the foot of the stairs and laughed. "C'est bon?"
Lena chuckled. "Est-ce que ton mari sais comment qu’il est vraiment de la chance?"(Does your husband know how lucky he is?)
Brenda looked in the direction of Jax, who had stopped his conversation with Jerry to gaze appreciatively at her. "Je pense que c’est oui," she replied, noting how handsome and sexy Jax appeared all dressed up.
"Hey! Stop that!" he said, smiling as he strode over to her.
"Right. Insult him in English so I can partake!" Jerry added.
Jax wrapped his arms around Brenda, who laced her fingers behind his neck. "Do you have any idea how ravishing you look tonight?" He kissed the tip of her nose.
"Wine comes in at the mouth
And love comes in at the eye
I lift the glass to my mouth,
I look at you, and I sigh."
Lena laughed. "A Drinking Song by Yeats. You don't waste any time do you?"
Jax grinned devilishly. "Oh I *never* waste time."
"Ah, mon chevalier," Brenda said smiling into his darkening eyes. "You’re not looking all that bad yourself! So, where are we headed tonight?" Jax kept grinning but said nothing.
He held his hand out for her. "Shall we go, my love?" Brenda put her hand in his and he led her to the helicopter pad.
"Have fun you two." Jerry said.
"Your fairy godmother says not to worry, your pumpkins will stay carriages long after the stroke of midnight." Lena added, smiling.
"Bye!" Brenda squealed as Jax swept her into the helicopter. They waved and took off.
After a couple of hours, they landed in Colorado Springs, where a horse-drawn sleigh awaited them. Jax tucked Brenda securely underneath the heavy blankets, and they spirited away. The sleighbells chimed melodically as the horses dashed their way through the snow.
Back at the cabin, Jerry turned to Lena. "Looks like it’s just you and me tonight, kiddo," he said. Feeling suddenly uncomfortable at the prospect, Lena broke eye contact first and turned from Jerry to head towards the kitchen. He followed her, and took a seat at the table. With Lois and Ned gone, and Brenda and Jax's departure, the chalet seemed very empty.
"I guess it’s too late to try the traditional turkey and cranberry sauce Christmas dinner," Lena smiled.
"That’s ok. Never liked turkey anyway. Back in Australia, mum used to roast kangaroo for Christmas."
"Kangaroo?"
"Yep."
"An *entire* kangaroo?"
"Sure!"
"You’re not serious." Lena looked at Jerry’s face, and it was perfectly serious. Except for the twinkling in his eyes.
"You’re such a cad," she laughed, throwing a dishtowel at him. Jerry caught it and grinned. "Seriously, what should we do about dinner?"
"Whatever you’d like. I’m easy."
"I’m sure you are." Lena said, rolling her eyes. "Hmmm, how about African style cuisine?"
"As long as it’s edible."
"No crickets and soil then?"
"Not unless you wanna go ice fishing with me Lena darlin’."
"Darlin’? Since when did I become *darlin’*?" She asked, taking out some ingredients from the fridge and placing them on the counter.
"Would you prefer Lena baby?" he asked, taking the tomatoes from her and rinsing them off in the sink.
"Just how much jet exhaust have you inhaled over the years?" she asked, slicing the chicken and veal.
Jerry shrugged and smirked. "How do you want these onions done, Lena *darlin’*?"
"Diced, Jerry *dearest.*"
Jerry laughed and diced the onions. Lena stir-fried the veal and chicken with spicy bar-b-que and garlic sauce, and cooked tomatoes, onions, and other assorted vegetables.
She was a little unsure of how much sauce to add to the food.
"Um, I don't know how spicy your tastes are..."
Jerry smiled mischievously. "Oh, I'd say my tastes are *very* spicy."
Lena raised an eyebrow at him, and added more sauce to the meat.
She got some pita bread, and Jerry set them out on the plates. He opened a bottle of wine as she scooped the veal-chicken combo onto the pita, followed by the vegetables.
When he wasn't looking, she mixed a heap of cayenne pepper into his food.
"Not exactly the way the Ethiopians do it, but close enough," she said, sitting down. Jerry took a seat opposite her, and poured the wine. He handed her a glass, and held his up for a toast.
"To our first Christmas together."
Lena laughed. He was incorrigible.
"Merry Christmas, Jerry." They both sipped their wine. "Tell me if it’s spicy enough."
Jerry bit a piece of chicken, and fanned his mouth. "Hot! Hot!"
"Hot temperature? Or hot spicy?"
"Both!" he downed his glass of wine in a single gulp.
Lena laughed out loud. "I’m sorry." She got up and poured him a glass of water.
"Here. I had no idea your taste buds were so…sensitive. "
Jerry downed the water just as quickly. "Are you challenging my manhood?" he asked,
with a gleam in his eye.
"Just an observation," she smiled, chewing her own food without the slightest problem.
"Why do I get the feeling I've been had?" Jerry said suspiciously, blinking the tears that
had sprung into his eyes away.
Lena grinned. "I thought your tastes were very spicy, *darlin'*!" Jerry laughed, and looked up at the ceiling with a Why Me? expression. Lena took pity and got him another plate of non-spicy food.
"This is really good. How come they never serve food like this when *I’m* in Africa?"
"You’ve been to Africa?" Lena asked, surprised.
"Sure. From Casablanca to Cairo to the Cape of Good Hope."
"Wow, I had no idea your company was that big."
Jerry smiled. The WSB was big all right. It reached all corners of the globe.
"So how long did you live in Africa?"
"A little while."
"Where?"
"In Zaire. Near Bukavu, on the border of Rwanda."
Jerry raised his eyebrows. That was one of the hottest areas in the continent, and he didn’t mean temperature wise. "How did a nice girl like you end up in a godforsaken place like that?"
Lena paused as she pondered just how to answer that. She didn’t want to lie, but she couldn’t tell him the real story. Over the last little while, Lena had become accustomed to Jerry’s breezing in and out without warning. She liked his company, but at the same time, his presence unnerved her. She knew that he had asked Brenda about her, and that Brenda had told him what she knew. Lena didn’t know whether to be alarmed or amused at his interest. He was outrageously flirtatious and a lot of fun to be around, just like Jax. But underneath all that, Lena sensed there was a deadly seriousness and world-weariness about him. Like he was burdened with a heavy load he couldn’t, or wouldn’t shake free of. Lena saw it, only because it mirrored her own disposition. There was an undercurrent whenever they were together, like a private duel. Brenda had noticed, and suggested to Jax fixing the two of them up. Jax told her to leave well enough alone. Lena liked Jerry, but knew under the circumstances she shouldn’t get too close to him. She couldn’t, for more reasons than she cared to count. Nevertheless, Brenda was determined, and worked to throw them together as much as possible, much to Lena’s consternation, and Jax and Jerry’s amusement.
"Lena?" Jerry prompted, when she had drifted off.
Lena glanced up at him. "You’re making assumptions in that."
"In what?"
"That I’m a nice girl." Jerry narrowed his eyes. Her whole demeanor had changed. Gone was the easy-going girl of a few minutes ago, and in her place sat one that was more tense and wary.
"How did you end up in the Kongo?"
Lena rubbed her eyes. "Kyle went. I followed."
Jerry was about to ask why there, of all places, and how that man could’ve allowed his wife to be in such a dangerous place, but thought better of it. He knew that Kyle had died there and it had to be a sore subject. Lena’s expression clearly showed that was all she intended to say on the subject, so he dropped it. For now.
They finished the rest of their dinner in relative ease, focusing their conversation on lighter subjects.
After dinner, Jerry challenged Lena to a game of Super Mario and whipped her butt. He knew where all the secrets were buried, and Lena didn’t have a chance. They played games for a few hours, before quitting. Lena flopped down in front of the fire as Jerry went to make hot chocolate with marshmellows. She picked up the violin Jax had given her, and gently strummed the strings.
"Why don’t you play something?" Jerry asked, coming in.
Lena shook her head. "No, I really don’t remember much. My mother was the one that could make these things come alive."
Jerry dropped down beside her, and handed her a steaming mug. "Your mother played?"
"Yeah. And sang too. Like an angel."
"You miss her don’t you."
Lena closed her eyes and tilted her head. "All the time. They were like Romeo and Juliet, my parents."
"Brenda mentioned that there was some controversy surrounding their marriage."
Lena sighed. "Old Gerard banished them. They were polar opposites, but they loved each other. That’s all that mattered."
"I thought you didn’t believe in those storybook fantasies."
"Romeo and Juliet was no fairy tale. It was a tragedy. A pair of star-crossed lovers..."
"Prodigious birth of love it is to me, that I should love a loathed enemy." Jerry quoted.
"And we two alone will sing like birds i' the cage…"
"So we'll live, and pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh…" Jerry grinned. "King Lear."
Lena smiled. "Very good. Perhaps I should have gotten you literature too."
"Nah, I like gadgets better."
Lena laughed and Jerry looked at her so intently it flustered her. She got up to sit on the couch and flipped on the television. Jerry smiled inwardly. Her discomfort did not escape him. He knew every time she broke their gaze he was getting to her. He deliberately got up and sat down next to her.
"What are we watching?" he asked, as soon as Lena settled on a channel.
Lena beamed. "The Sound of Music!" Jerry groaned. "Come on! Don’t tell me you don’t like this movie. It’s a classic!"
"Sure, a classic pain in the a- "
"Hey!" Lena hit him with a pillow.
Jerry sighed dramatically. "I supposed I’ll just have to suffer through it."
Lena rolled her eyes. "Such Christmas spirit."
Jerry smirked at her. "Anything to please you darlin’," he said, putting an arm around her shoulders. Lena made a face and shrugged it off. She pulled her legs up and rested her arms on her knees as they watched the rest of the movie in a comfortable silence. After that, The Grinch That Stole Christmas came on, and Jerry cracked her up with his amazing ability to recite all the lines. He told her he had memorized all of Dr, Seuss. By the time the third movie, Dicken’s A Christmas Carol ended, they were both fast asleep.
Brenda and Jax entered the dimly lit cabin quietly. Brenda was floating on air. It had been truly a night of magic. The horse-drawn sleigh had taken the scenic route around Colorado Springs, and the freshly fallen snow glittered under the lights. They had dinner with David Copperfield and Claudia Schiffer, and afterwards, they had all been taken by sleigh to the beautiful Cheyenne Mountain where David performed in front of a private crowd of superstars. He even used Brenda in one of his illusions, causing her to appear to fly over the mountain, and disappear, only to reappear in a buff of smoke from a genie's lamp.
Afterwards, they had gone to a Colorado Springs resort where they danced, gambled, and partied the night away. When they returned, they were both exhausted but exhilerated. Tiptoeing past the main room, Brenda spotted Lena and Jerry sleeping peacefully on the couch.
"Jax look!" she whispered, pointing at them.
Jax looked and smiled. Sometime after Lena had fallen aslep, Jerry had shifted them so they were lying on the couch. He had his arms around her, and she was lying against him, resting her head against his chest. They were breathing in synch, their bodies rising and falling softly together. A blanket was thrown on top of them and the TV flickered with a black and white movie. Brenda crept over to turn it off. She turned to Jax who held his hand out for her. They smiled at each other, the unspoken love passing between them, as they made their way up the stairs and up to their room.
Chapter 11: New Year's Eve!
New Years Eve, the place to be was at a party thrown jointly by Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman and Robert Redford at a downtown Aspen resort. Naturally, the Jacks were invited. The banquet hall of the resort had been completely transformed into an ice palace, with shimmering ice sculptures all around the hall. A giant disco ball flashed from the center of the ceiling. Waiters meandered around the room dressed in white suits and little black ties, carrying trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres. Little hats and other New Years paraphernalia were handed out to the guests as they entered, as well as placed on their tables.
Jax and Jerry had come in Hugo Boss tuxedoes, Jax wore white and Jerry wore black. Jerry being Jerry, his tux had leather tails. Jax had his hair slicked back, lending a very sophisticated appearence. Jerry's hair was longer than his brother's, and his devilish attitude only made him appear racier. Brenda was dressed in a pale, glimmering ice red gown that was strapless, seeming to defy gravity, which accentuated her stunning figure. Her hair was swept up off her head in a complicated knot, and her face was framed with the shining opal earrings from Jax. Lena had come in a sparkling sliver dress that ended mid-thigh, with glittering spaghetti straps that hung off her shoulders. She was not all curves like Brenda, her figure was slighter, more waif-like, courtesy of her mother’s heritage. Her hair hung loose, and she had lined her eyes with kohl, the effect of which made her seem Oriental.
Robert Redford was the consumate, gracious host. He entertained everyone until it was time for the food to be served. The waiters ushered all the guests to their assigned tables where a succulent feast was brought out, course by course. The delicious dinner was followed by entertainment. The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Tori Amos and The Counting Crows among others all performed. There was much dancing and mingling as celebrities and assorted bigwigs rubbed elbows. Jax and Brenda moved as if they were one on the dancefloor, garnering many envious looks at their obvious happiness. Jerry and Lena were dancing together when Val Kilmer cut in with a charming smile to dance with Lena. Jerry looked briefly annoyed, but was distracted when Uma Thurman spun into his arms. Needless to say, fresh gossip spread like wildfire at all the goings on that night.
While the Jacks brothers were getting reacquainted with Mel and Robin Gibson, old friends of theirs, Brenda and Lena were off to the side of the room. Leaning against an ornately decorated column, they were unabashedly gossiping about all the guests. They watched Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas, who had brought their new baby to the bash, bask in the attention their daughter garnered.
"I still can’t believe Lois had her baby."
"*I* still can’t believe you volunteered me to deliver her!"
"Lena, you did great!"
"I was so nervous, I was afraid I would drop the baby or something." Lena laughed. She reached out and took two champagne glasses from a passing waiter, and handed on to Brenda. They chinked glasses and laughed.
"She’s such a little miracle." Brenda sighed, sipping her champagne while dreamily looking at Jax.
Lena chuckled. "Don’t you mean *he*?"
Brenda laughed. "Jax told me he wanted that for us, to have a baby. Can you imagine? Me? With a baby?"
Lena made the sign of the cross. "Madre de Dios! One of you is trouble enough!"
The girls laughed, and caused many passerbys to gaze at them admiringly. They were a dazzling duo, definitely a pair of head turners, even in this crowd. Standing beside each other, talking in hushed tones with their heads together, merriment radiating from their expressions, they looked exactly as they used to years ago when they had run rampant through Europe.
Lena said something that caused Brenda's clear, light-hearted laugh to ring out. Jax and Jerry recognized her laughter, and Jax turned and waved from across the room as Jerry raised his glass to them. Brenda blew a kiss and Lena smiled back at them.
Mel Gibson flashed his million dollar smile at the brothers. "Ah mates, I can hear the hearts are cracking all around the world."
His wife laughed. "I hardly think that's anything new with these two. I've yet to see a crazier set of roving eyes!"
"Don't let Brenda hear you say that," Jax laughed. "Besides, I only have eyes for my wife now."
"Not that I blame you," Paul Newman stepped into the conversation with his wife, Joanne Woodward. "They sure are pretty little things." Jax beamed with pride and Jerry grinned.
Joanne smiled at the brothers. "How are John and Jane?" she asked.
"Better than ever." Jax replied, as the foursome exchanged handshakes.
Across the room, Brenda was saying, "No seriously! That would be so amazing. I can just picture it, all of our kids playing together. And our daughters can become the dynamic trio with Brooke!"
A flash of pain shot through Lena’s eyes and her expression saddened. "I think you’re going to have to stick to dynamic duos."
Brenda turned to her friend. "Don’t tell me you don't want kids? You were so great with Brooke."
"Wanting, and having are two different things, querida." Lena said, looking into the crowd before her.
"The labour looks pretty bad doesn’t it," Brenda agreed. "But Lois made it, and I guess so will we!"
Lena shook her head. "No Bren, I’m never going to have children."
"Why not?"
"Because I can’t." Lena said softly, and she shut her eyes as if to block out her own words.
"What? How do you know!?"
Lena opened her eyes and they were brimming with tears. "Because once," she said in a voice so quiet Brenda had to strain to hear her, "I almost had a baby."
Brenda was visibly shocked. "What? What happened?" she asked in a low tone.
The tears splashed over and streamed down her cheeks. "I was almost 5 months pregnant…I…fell. I miscarried badly and the doctors told me I could never have another baby." Lena jerked upright and thrust her glass onto a nearby table. She strode away, wiping her tears with her hands, not looking back at Brenda. Brenda stared after her friend, too stunned to move.
Lena fled to the bathroom, oblivious to the other women there, and shut herself into a cubicle. She was breathing in gasps, trying to choke down the sobs that were stuck in her throat, trying to shut out the memories that invaded her soul and wreaked havoc on her peace of mind. She slumped to the ground in a pitiful heap.
She had thought then, after she discovered she was pregnant, that maybe he would be less ruthless, less relentless. She had been wrong. Being pregnant just made her more vulnerable. She had been so torn. The last thing she wanted was to bring a child into such an environment of rage and terror. But she so desperately clung to the child inside as a lifeline to the world of the living. In the end, it didn’t matter. Draco had snapped, once again. He had slapped and punched, and finally smashed her through the glass of their shower stall. When she had finally regained consciousness, she had had massive hemorrhaging, and had to have a blood transfusion. The baby was gone.
After several minutes, Lena shook herself. She couldn't do this. She had made a vow to move on. She unlocked the cubicle door, and went to the sink to splash water on her face.
"Here," a towel was handed in front of her. Lena looked up to see Goldie Hawn holding the towel out to her. Lena accepted it with a weary smile. "Thanks."
"No problem kiddo," Goldie said with a smile. "Glad to see you’re ok, you almost ran me down on your way in."
Lena looked appalled, but Goldie just chuckled. "Don’t worry about it. I know the look sweetheart, and I know it’s about a man. Come here." Goldie dabbed another towel under the tap, and proceeded to wipe the streaks of kohl off Lena’s face. "Come on, let's fix you up," she said as she pulled her make-up bag and began to reapply make-up to Lena's face. Lena just stood there, too numb and surprised to do anything else.
Outside, the Jacks brothers had made their way back to Brenda, who was still standing where Lena left her. Jax slid his arm around her, and kissed her forehead. "It’s almost time for the countdown sweetie, you ready?" he asked, snapping a party hat onto her head. Brenda looked at him like she hadn’t heard him.
"Hey, where’s Lena?" Jerry asked, looking around.
Brenda looked stricken. "I don’t know!" she pulled out of Jax’s arms. "I have to go after her!"
Jax pulled her back. "Brenda! What’s wrong?"
Brenda shook her head, not wanting to get into it here. "She’s upset and she took off, I have to find her!"
Jerry spotted Lena being led out of the bathroom by Goldie Hawn, who had a firm clasp of her hand and was walking towards Kurt Russell. Lena looked pale and drawn but composed. "Looks like someone beat you to it," he said, nodding in the direction of Goldie and Lena. Brenda and Jax both looked and saw Lena being introduced to Kurt Russell and Warren Beatty.
Brenda walked over to the group, excused herself, and asked to steal Lena away. Goldie gave Lena a sweet smile and the thumbs up, to which Lena had to smile back. She had gotten her emotions under control now. Brenda pulled Lena away and off behind another column.
"Nice hat, Bren." Lena said, snapping the elastic beneath Brenda’s chin.
Brenda ignored her. "Lena, are you ok?"
Lena sighed. "Yes."
"Are you sure? I mean, my god!"
Lena looked Brenda in the eye, and smiled a little to assure her. "I’m fine now. I’m sorry if I upset you."
"Forget about me. I’m worried about you!"
"Don’t be. You know how well I roll with the punches."
Jax and Jerry came up from behind them. "Everything all right you two?" Jerry asked.
Lena gave Brenda a look that told her not to mention anything, and nodded to Jerry. Brenda nodded, after a slight pause.
The crowd hushed, then burst into a chant. "FIVE…FOUR….THREE….TWO…ONE….HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!" everyone screamed. Balloons, streamers, and confetti poured down from the ceiling, showering the partygoers. Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and Robert Reford popped a giant bottle of champagne, spraying it’s contents everywhere while everyone cheered. The band launched into the traditional rendition of "Auld Lang Syne" and Kurt Russell led the singing.
Jax pulled Brenda into a soul-searing kiss, something many of the other loving couples throughout the banquet hall were doing.
Jerry whirled Lena around. "Dance with me darlin'" Couples all around the room were pouring onto the dancefloor to sway to the traditional ballad.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!
"You ok?" Jerry whispered into Lena's ear. He didn't need to feel the tension in her body to know that something wasn't right. She looked like she'd been crying, despite the carefully made-up camouflage.
Lena nodded and closing her eyes, laid her head on Jerry's chest as they moved slowly to the music. He hugged her tighter to him and kissed her forehead gently.
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne!
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne!