Chapter Nine




I still don’t know what came over me . . . things have been going okay the past month: Jason has been supportive and respectful of my decision to not move in with him. He has been there for all of my appointments with Dr. Meadows and checks on me at least twice a day. At first I thought it would get on my nerves, but he hasn’t been overbearing at all. He gives me my space and has been trying very hard to be civil when he and my father are together. I guess with all of that’s going on, I couldn’t resist inviting him over for dinner. I made arrangements with Diego to spend the evening out with Brook Lynn so Jason and I could have some privacy. I honestly have no idea what to expect from this dinner . . . or is it a date? And why am I so nervous?

Jessica stood in front of her closet, trying to decide what to wear. At almost six months pregnant, she felt like a beached whale and didn’t want to choose something that would emphasize that. Deciding she needed reinforcements, Jessica called Carly.

“Okay, what is the big emergency?” Carly asked once Jessica had opened the door.

“I need you to help me pick out something to wear,” Jessica said as she pulled Carly into the apartment and toward her room.

“Something to wear? Jessica, I thought you were in labor or something,” Carly said in exasperation. “You’re just lucky I didn’t call Jason or Lorenzo on my way over here!”

“I’m sorry Carly, but this is important. I invited Jason over here for dinner tonight and I have nothing to wear!”

Carly started laughing.

“This is not funny Carly! I am nearly six months pregnant, my ankles and hands are swollen, I can’t see my feet, and everything I own makes me look like a whale,” Jessica moaned in frustration as she looked through her closet for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“All right, all right, believe me, I totally understand. Let’s see what we can do,” Carly said, rolling up her sleeves and getting serious.

An hour later, Jessica was wearing a dark blue, baby-doll style, skinny-strapped tank. The top was embroidered in a delicate flower design and the rest flowed gently over her belly from the empire waist and ended in a handkerchief cut. This was paired with a pair of white Capri pants that went to mid calf and simple, comfortable white sandals. Carly had pulled Jessica’s long dark hair into a simple ponytail with a few short strands framing her face. After applying light makeup, Jessica surveyed her look in the mirror.

“Wow, Carly, this looks great. Thank you!” Jessica exclaimed with a bright smile. “Now all I have to do is finish up dinner and everything will be ready.”

“You’re cooking?” Carly asked as she followed Jessica to the small kitchen, surprise evident on her face.

“Yes Carly, I’m cooking. Unlike you, I don’t burn water. I happen to be a good cook.”

“What are you making?” Carly peered over Jessica’s shoulder, admitting to herself that it all smelled great, and ignoring Jessica’s comment on her lack of cooking skills.

“Well, I’m making salmon in white wine, fresh green beans and a cold pasta salad,” Jessica answered as she checked on the salmon and added some salt to the green beans. Everything was almost ready. “And since I cannot drink, I have some sparkling apple cider in the fridge.”

Carly nodded in approval. “Okay, I’m going to get out of here before Jason arrives. Now, I know Diego is out for the night, what about Lorenzo? He won’t just pop up here, will he?”

Jessica shook her head. “No, he won’t. My father knows he has to call first before coming over. And anyway . . . with my luck, he’ll be busy tonight,” she said with a mischievous smile

Carly looked at Jessica curiously. “And what is that smile for? What do you have up your sleeve?” Carly asked when she saw the amused glint in her friend’s eyes, a look she knew she herself got when she was up to something.

“I don’t have anything up my sleeve Carly. It’s just that I’ve noticed my father spending some time with Skye,” she said as she set the small round table for dinner. She adjusted the white table cloth and set out the plates and other silverware for two. She then placed a couple of tall candles in silver holders in the center of the table.

“Wait, Skye Quartermaine?” Carly asked.

“That’s the one,” Jessica answered as she stepped back to survey her work. Satisfied, Jessica returned to the kitchen and took the salmon out of the oven.

“Well, I’m sure the Quartermaines are thrilled with that,” Carly said with a small laugh. She didn’t know why finding out that Lorenzo was interested in Skye seemed to bother her. What the hell am I thinking? I am happily married to Sonny, she thought to herself.

“I’m sure they’re still reeling over Jason’s warning to leave me alone when it comes to the baby.” Jessica shook her head over the memory when Skye had told her what happened.

“Yeah, I heard about that,” Carly said. She wasn’t surprised at all. She knew Jason wouldn’t let the Quartermaines interfere with his life, and that included Jessica and their child.

Carly left five minutes later and Jessica quickly checked the apartment to make sure everything was in order. Jason should be arriving soon.


*~*~*~*~*


After his shower, Jason pulled on a pair of dark blue jeans and a black t-shirt. He quickly fixed his hair and pulled on his biker boots. He was supposed to be at Jessica’s in another half hour for dinner. He smiled to himself as he finished getting ready, remembering the conversation the other day that led to her inviting him over for dinner.

~Flashback~


He had just left the Quartermaines and needed to clear his head. Jason headed to the park when he saw her sitting on a bench, a book in one hand while the other rubbed her belly gently. He thought she looked breathtaking sitting there in the soft afternoon sunlight.

Jason moved closer to her and she looked up, a smile on her lips. “Hi,” she said.

“Hi,” he answered back. He stood there with his hands in his pockets, unable to take his eyes from her.

“Would you like to join me?” she asked, indicating the empty space next to her.

Nodding, Jason sat. “How are you?” he asked, not sure why he was feeling awkward at the moment.

Jessica smiled and turned to him slightly. “Better than you obviously, is everything okay?” she asked.

Jason sighed. Jessica was one of the few people who could read him. “I was just at the Quartermaines,” he said, running his hands through his hair, a gesture that usually meant he was frustrated.

“Why?” Jessica asked curiously. “I mean, I know you don’t really care for them too much.”

“I went over there to tell them to back off of you. You don’t need the added stress that they can definitely provide,” he said. Her blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight and she practically glowed.

“Why would you do that Jason?”

“I heard about your ‘discussion’ with Alan the other day,” he said, his eyes flashing. Emily had told him how Alan had stopped Jessica after her last appointment at GH and bad mouthed Jason; telling her he was a killer and that his life was not a place to raise a child. He went on to put down Carly for the way she was raising Michael – referring to him as a killer in training. Emily had told Jason that Jessica had stood up for him and her choices with Alan, but seemed very upset.

He watched as Jessica looked down and fiddled with her book. Jason put his hand over hers, making her look at him again. “I told them that they were to leave you alone; that our child would never be considered a Quartermaine.”

“Thank you Jason,” she said softly. “I know I should have told you about that, but I didn’t want to stir up more problems with your family.”

“They aren’t my family Jessica. You and our daughter are my family. And I would do anything to protect you.”

He watched as her face light up and she smiled brightly. Then she took his hand and placed it over her belly. He felt the movement there and looked up at her. “Believe me Jason; I would never let anyone hurt our daughter in any way.”

Jason knew she was telling the truth. After what she had been through with Ric, Jason saw strength and a determination in her that almost mirrored Carly’s.

“Jason, would you like to come to dinner tomorrow night?” she asked him suddenly, her eyes wide.

He looked up at her and nodded. “Are you sure?” he asked. He wanted nothing more than to spend a quiet night with her, with no interruptions from her family and his friends.

“Yes, I am,” she said softly.

“Then I’ll be there.”


~End Flashback~

Jason was just about to leave when his door swung open and Carly walked in. Jason sighed, wishing he had remembered to lock his door. “Can this wait Carly? I’m on my way out,” he said, hoping she would assume it was for work and not ask questions.

Carly looked him up and down, taking in the loose-fitting carpenter jeans and black t-shirt that showed off his sculpted chest and arms, shaking her head sadly. “Not like that you’re not,” she said.

“What?” Jason asked in confusion, looking down at himself.

Carly sighed and rolled her eyes. “Men,” she said. “Jason, I know you’re going over to Jessica’s for dinner and you not going dressed like you’re spending the night prowling on the docks.”

“I do not prowl Carly,” Jason said.

“Yes, Jason, you do,” Carly answered back as she dropped her purse on the desk and started walking in a circle around Jason.

“What are you doing Carly?” Jason asked with a sigh. He really wanted to get over to Jessica’s. He knew she had arranged for Diego to not be around tonight and he did not want to waste time.

“Jason, this outfit might be fine for work, but not for a date with the woman you love,” Carly said after she finished her survey of him.

“Carly, Jessica has seen me dressed like this before,” he explained slowly, as if to a child.

“My point exactly Jason,” she said as she started heading up the stairs.

Jason sighed, knowing that it would be less painful to just go along with whatever Carly had planned.

Ten minutes later Jason headed back downstairs, now wearing a pair of black dress pants and a dark blue button down shirt that she had found buried at the back of his closet. His biker boots were replaced with a pair of loafers. Jason had drawn the line at the tie when he snatched it out of her hands and tossed it back on the shelf in the closet, glaring at her.


*~*~*~*~*


Diego walked with Brook Lynn out of Kelly’s, her hand in his. Ever since he moved in with Jessica, he had felt more comfortable with himself and had started to relax. He was even more willing to get to know his father better, even though things were still awkward between them.

“So, what do you want to do tonight?” Brook Lynn asked as they headed out of Kelly’s.

Diego shrugged. “I don’t know,” he said. “We can just take a walk in the park.”

“Okay,” said Brooklyn. “Are you okay?”

Diego sighed. “It’s just, everything is still so mixed up, you know?” he said as they sat on a bench.

“Mixed up how?” Brook Lynn asked as she sat beside him.

Diego wasn’t sure how to explain it. His mother had returned to Mexico and he had not heard from her since then. His father was doing everything in his power to keep Jessica away from Jason. And Jessica was trying to handle both her father and Morgan while trying to stay calm and keep her blood pressure from sky rocketing.

“Well, isn’t this nice and cozy,” said a woman’s voice and Diego looked up to see a blond woman wearing all black standing in front of them.

“Can we help you?” asked Diego curiously.

“Diego, let’s just get out of here,” said Brook Lynn, grabbing Diego’s hand and glaring at Faith. “She’s nothing but trouble.”

“She’s right Diego. Take Brook Lynn home,” said Lorenzo as he walked up to the little group.

Lorenzo had been on his way to the Haunted Star when he saw a familiar blond wearing all black talking to his son. Lorenzo felt his blood boil as he headed over, hearing what Brook Lynn said.

Diego looked between his father and the woman, not really sure what was going on.

Lorenzo looked over at Diego and nodded. “I’ll be fine here. Take Brook Lynn home and I’ll talk to you later,” he said, not wanting to dismiss his son, but wanting to get him away from the blond woman. He had seen the glint in her eyes when she looked at Diego and Lorenzo knew that meant trouble.

"Sure,” said Diego as he and Brook Lynn walked away.

Lorenzo watched and waited until the two teenagers were out of sight, then he turned back to the woman. “Stay away from my son, Faith,” he said in a cold voice.














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