REKINDLED ROMANCE

PREFACE

This story picks up after the General Hospital episode in approximately September 1997 where A.J. Quartermaine talked with his grandmother Lila Quartermaine at the Quartermaine mansion about what really happened after he was born and how his father Alan Quartermaine needed proof that A.J. was really his son.

CHAPTER 1

A.J. stood at the corner table in the living room, holding a family picture in his hand. He began to trace his mother's face with his index finger when he heard a familiar voice say "hello" to him. He turned and saw Keesha.

"I know I probably shouldn't have come.." she began.

"No," A.J. assured her. "It's okay."

"Sally let me in," Keesha quickly continued, wanting to explain her actions. "I told her that I didn't want to disturb you and that I would wait in the foyer, but she mentioned that the family had left for Sonny and Brenda's wedding and that you were in here. Alone."

A.J. nodded but didn't offer any explanation.

"Are you okay, A.J.?" Keesha asked, wanting to move closer to him, yet unable to discern his mood.

He returned the family picture to the table and placed his arms across his chest.

"I'm okay. I'm always sad whenever I talk with my family. I know it shouldn't be this way and yet, I never know what to do to make it different the next time."

Keesha took a step closer to him. "May I ask how it went?"

A.J. motioned for her to sit on the couch and took a seat next to her.

"I know I haven't been up front with you, Keesha, and yet you have been there for me every step of the way. Please accept my apology for that, and please know that I do want to confide in you. I just don't know where to begin."

"Why not start at the beginning?" she offered. "Or with today's conversation?"

A.J. shook his head. "I'm sorry. I wish I could. I hate that I'm dragging you down with me. If you want to have nothing more to do with me, believe me, I would understand. I would hate it, but I would understand."

Keesha held his hands in hers. "Do I look like I want to leave, A.J.?"

He stared at her for a long moment. "No, you don't. You have the patience of a saint."

He gave her a half smile and then shook his head.

"I am patient, A.J., but I'm no saint. I just want you to give yourself, and me, a chance. I want you to know that I want to be here for you, and I will be, unless you send me away. If that's what you want..."

He gave her hands a squeeze and told her he didn't want her to go. She smiled and let his hands go. A.J. rose from the couch and made his way, once more, to the table with the family portrait.

"Why do things have to be so complicated?"

Keesha didn't know if he was asking her or asking the picture as she made her way to stand behind him. He seemed to forget that she was in the room as he stared at the portrait.

"Who is in the picture that you want?" she asked quietly.

"My mom," he admitted with a choked voice, and touched her face in the picture one more time.

Keesha asked him to turn to look at her, and when he did, his eyes shone bright with unshed tears.

"Honey," she said, growing concerned. "What's wrong? What happened here today?"

A.J. sighed and ran his hands over his eyes to brush away the tears that threatened. "It's not about today, Keesha. It's about my life, and what I mean to this family, and the mess I've made."

He took a deep breath before continuing.

"I wish my mom were here. I know I need to enlighten a certain someone about her actions, but first I need to be enlightened about a few things."

"I don't know what things you need to be enlightened about," Keesha said, "but I can guess whom you need to enlighten. Are you going to do it?"

"I want to," he said, "but I don’t know that I’m ready."

"You should, A.J.," she encouraged. "For your own sake, if nothing else."

"You’re right, I know. I’ll think about it."

"I can tell you’d rather be alone, so I’m going to leave. Good luck, A.J."

"Thanks, Keesha," he said, walking with her to the door. "And thanks so much for stopping by."

"No problem," she said and smiled. "You take care."

He nodded as he watched her walk away.

He soon followed, taking off in his car, and heading for his apartment. When he arrived, he heard music coming from Carly's apartment, so he knew she was home. A.J., ready to knock on her door, suddenly realized she might not be alone. He decided to enter his apartment. After pouring himself an iced tea, he reached for the phone and called her.

"Are you alone?" he asked without preamble.

Carly, taken aback at the sound of A.J.'s voice, didn't answer.

"Are you alone?" he asked again, with quiet determination.

"At the moment, yes, but Tony could come home..."

He cut her off. "I'll be right there. And I have the key, Carly, so you better let me in."

Carly's apartment door was open and she was waiting when A.J. emerged from his apartment.

"Very good," he said, as he entered her apartment. "You're learning."

"What is it that you want, A.J.?" Carly demanded, irritated by his visit.

He took his time before answering. "I've been thinking about our conversation at the airport, and I've decided that I have absolutely no reason to believe anything you tell me."

"And just what is it you don't believe? You're the one who's had the total recall. What could I possibly have to add?"

"Due to circumstances in my own life which I don't care to discuss with you, I've decided I want proof, from you, that the baby you're carrying is not mine."

Carly took a step backward and sat down on the couch.

"We've been through this before, A.J. I told you that this baby is not yours."

"And as I've just stated, you have given me absolutely no reason to believe you, so unless you don't care what Tony finds out and how quickly, I suggest you listen very carefully to what I'm saying: Prove this baby isn't mine!"

"You're asking me to endanger my baby's life, not to mention mine, just to prove something to you that I already know to be true. Thanks a lot, A.J.!"

"I'm talking about having a sonogram done. I've heard they can pinpoint the due date almost precisely."

"Okay," Carly conceded. "I'll find out about scheduling the test. But this has to be done discreetly, A.J. Nobody can know about this."

"Fine. If you're suggesting a different doctor or a different location, that works for me because I intend to be with you every step of the way."

"No!" Carly cried. "This makes no sense, A.J. You cannot be seen with me."

"Why not? To everyone else, we're the best of friends." The note of sarcasm in his tone did not escape Carly.

"A.J., this is something I would be doing with Tony. Not with you. I know I don't deserve to ask this, but please let me handle this my own way."

"Sorry, Carly, but I can't do that. I need to represent my own interest here or at least have someone I trust represent me. And you," he said, pointing his finger at her, "don't fit that description."

Carly brushed away the tears that threatened her eyes and tried to regain her composure as she rose from the couch.

"How about if I let you see the results?"

"Nice try, but not good enough. Anything could be done to alter those results."

"A.J., what do you want from me?" Carly pleaded. "I'm willing to submit to your stupid test."

A.J. snapped his fingers as he thought of the perfect solution.

"You make all the necessary arrangements, and I'll have the perfect person be with you the entire time."

"Who, A.J.?" Carly's anxiety was not lost on A.J.

"I'll be in touch, Carly. You just get busy with those arrangements."

"Damnit, A.J., what are you doing?"

"Now you get to have a little taste of what it feels like to be at someone's mercy. It isn't fun, is it, Carly?"

A.J. turned to leave as Carly, totally frustrated, ran a hand through her blonde locks and slammed the apartment door in anger.

"What am I going to do?" she asked aloud, realizing for the first time that A.J. had her right where he wanted her.

As soon as A.J. returned to his apartment, he called Keesha. When her answering machine came on, he left a message asking her to call him as soon as possible.

Ten minutes later his phone rang, and he answered it on the first ring, thinking it was Keesha.

"A.J.?"

"Oh, Emily. Hi! I'm sorry. I was expecting a call from Keesha. How are you? Where are you?"

Emily laughed. "We're home, silly. I'm so glad you're back, too. I hope your rehab went well. I sent you my good thoughts everyday."

"Thanks, Em. You know I received them. How was Italy?" he asked, eager to change the subject.

"Italy was great. Mom and I had a blast. So, when are we going to see you?"

"Soon. I promise. I just have a few things to care of first."

"Okay. Love you! Here's Mom."

A.J. braced himself for the worst, but Monica was in control when she hello.

"Hi, Mom. How are you?"

"I could be doing better, but all things considered, I'm doing okay. We need to talk, A.J. Soon."

"I know, Mom, I know. And as I told Emily, I just have a few things to take care of, and I'll be over. But Mom, I only want to see you and Emily. And I want to talk to you alone."

"No problem. That can be arranged. See you soon."

"Okay. Mom?"

"Yes, A.J.?"

"I love you."

Monica didn't respond, but she held the phone close to her for a long moment. Emily returned to Monica's room and asked her what was wrong.

"Nothing, honey," she answered, as she replaced the receiver.

"Didn't A.J. sound great? Are we going to see him?" she asked expectantly.

"Yes, we are, sweetheart. He'll be here in a little while. Why don't you start to unpack and find the souvenir shirt you want to give him."

"Good idea."

A.J. waited ten more minutes for Keesha to call and then decided to leave her another message asking her to page him.

"I'm going to see my mom, but please don't call me there. Page me and leave a number where I can reach you. Thanks, Keesha. I owe you."

A.J. arrived at the Quartermaine mansion twenty minutes later and was enthusiastically greeted by Emily.

"Hey, there," he said, as she rushed to give him a hug. "Welcome home."

"Thanks. You look great."

"Thank you. You do, too. Italian food must agree with you," he said and smiled.

"Hello, A.J.," Monica said coolly, entering the foyer.

"Hi, Mom. Welcome home."

"Thank you."

Emily let them have a brief hug before she started to fill him in on their trip. They made their way into the living room and after Emily gave him the highlights, she told him she was going to her room to get his souvenir.

Once Monica and A.J. were alone, Monica asked him the obvious question.

"What happened to your rehab, A.J.?"

"Mom, I know how this looks, but a lot has happened that nobody knows about. I've been waiting for you to return."

"Well, I'm here. So, let's have it."

A.J. sighed and massaged the back of his neck.

"I wish it were that simple, but it isn't. I'm still working some things out."

"Isn't that the story of your life, A.J.? There's always something to be worked out, isn't there?"

A.J. was stunned by Monica's reaction. He'd come to expect that kind of comment from his father but not his mother. And to make matters worse, his response had to wait as his pager went off. He was relieved, however, to see Keesha's home number.

"I just need to make a quick call."

"Go ahead," Monica said and gave an exasperated sigh. "You know where the phone is."

"Mom, please believe me when I tell you that this is a very important phone call."

"Of course it is, A.J. You probably orchestrated this phone call to happen when you knew you'd be here with me just like you orchestrate everything else in your life. But by all means, use the phone."

Monica ushered him out of the room with a wave of her hand.

A.J. fumed as he headed to the study where he could have some privacy. He took a few moments to calm himself before he called Keesha. The last thing he needed right now was more questions from Keesha about what was wrong with him.

"Keesha, thanks for getting back to me. I was wondering if we could meet. I need a huge favor, but I also know I need to explain some things to you before I ask it."

"I'm here for you, A.J. I've told you that."

"I know. I can be at your place in an hour. Does that work?"

"I'll be here."

"Thanks."

When A.J. returned to the living room, Emily was there with his souvenir.

"Oh, Em, I love it! Thank you very much."

"You're welcome," she said and smiled.

A.J. held the T-shirt out in front of him and admired the artwork that depicted several famous Italian themes. He gave Emily a big hug and another thank you as he explained that he had to leave.

"A.J.," Monica admonished. "We barely had a chance to talk."

"I know, and I want to talk with you some more about a few things, but whether you believe me or not, there is something very serious going on in my life that I need to take care of."

The hurt that A.J. felt at Monica's earlier words was evident in his voice. Monica looked at her son and wanted so much to believe him. Emily looked at both of them questioningly, so Monica softened her tone and told him to be in touch.

"I will," he said and gave her a quick kiss.

"I hope you're okay, A.J.," Emily added.

"I am, Em. I love you."

He left the mansion and drove across town to Keesha's apartment. She greeted him warmly and led him to the living room, where she had a pitcher of iced tea and two glasses sitting on the coffee table. After she poured each of them a glass, they made themselves comfortable on the couch.

"So, what brings you here?" Keesha asked.

A.J. took a swallow of his iced tea before he answered. "I have a lot to tell you, Keesha. And I hope when I'm finished, we will still be friends and that I will still be able to count on you because I need a big favor."

"Just take your time, A.J., and tell me everything you want me to know."

A.J. nodded and after drinking some more iced tea, he began.

"What I need to fill you in on is what I remembered when Kevin put me under. I went back to the night Carly and I met. I had been drinking. Nothing new there, right? But so had Carly. And she was upset. Very upset. We got to talking and drinking and more talking and more drinking and then suddenly, we were all over each other."

Keesha stiffened but didn't say anything. Her movement was not lost on A.J.

"I know, Keesha. And as you've probably figured out, it gets worse."

"Go on," she said softly. "I want to hear it."

A.J. sighed and continued. "We talked about having someplace to go so we could have sex. I suggested Jason's room. And there we were. Together. In Jason's bed."

Keesha ran her hands over her face.

"I know," A.J. acknowledged. "It's horrible. And I didn't even have a memory of it until a few days ago."

Keesha looked up then as the impact of his words struck her.

"And now Carly is pregnant."

A.J. nodded solemnly. "And she is claiming, very loudly I might add, that there is no way I'm the father. At the airport, I bought it, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that she has not been straight with me once. Why would that change now?"

"Exactly, A.J. I bet she's trying to cover up the fact that you are the father."

A.J. cringed at Keesha's comment, but he couldn't ignore it.

"I know it's a definite possibility."

"So, what did you tell her?"

"This is where you come in. I confronted her with the fact that I want proof the baby isn't mine, so we agreed that she would have a sonogram. Well, she balked at every suggestion I made regarding the arrangements for the test, so I told her that I had the perfect solution and that she better meet me at the hospital tomorrow."

"How does this involve me? What's your perfect solution?"

A.J. took a deep breath before he told Keesha his plan. "Would you be with Carly while the test is being done?"

"Oh, A.J., I don't know about this."

"I would do it. I want to do it. But I do agree Carly has a point about how awkward it would look. But my interests need to be represented. She is acting way too panicky if she's so sure I'm not the father."

"Carly and I are no longer exactly friends. I bet she won't let me anywhere near her."

"She will. Trust me. She won't like it, but she will."

"What are you saying, A.J.? What exactly has been going on between you two?"

A.J. rose from the couch and began to pace the floor.

"I know you're not going to like what I'm about to say, Keesha, so I hope you'll listen to my explanation before making any judgments. The talk I had just had when you came to see me at my parents' house was with my grandmother. I know it's no secret to you that I've been struggling with my father since you have witnessed a couple of our conversations, if you could even call them that. Finding out that I could possibly be the father of Carly's baby made me think back on my relationship with my father. I've always had questions, but nobody ever seemed willing to talk about the time I was born or why there seemed to be, at least in my mind, such a different feeling my father had between Jason and me. I needed some answers. And my grandmother provided them. They hurt, but I needed to hear them."

"Was there a problem with your birth, A.J.?"

"Not with my birth but with my birth parents," A.J. answered softly, looking away from Keesha. "Apparently, Alan questioned my paternity. He didn't believe I was his son."

"A.J., that's awful!" Keesha said, rising from the couch and making her way to him.

A.J. looked at her. His face was grim. "It was awful, Keesha. I remembered things I hadn't thought about in years."

"But Lila assured you, right, that you are a Quartermaine?"

"Yes," A.J. nodded. "I am Alan's son. But before he would believe that, he needed proof. And I believe, because he needed that proof, he's never been able to fully accept me as his son. And because of my situation, Keesha, I cannot do that to another baby. Especially if that baby might be mine."

"Okay," Keesha said, nodding her head. "I see where you're going with this. But what does all this mean for Carly?"

"It means that, for the sake of the baby and only the baby, if I find out, for sure, that there is no way I could be the father, I walk away, Keesha, and leave her and Tony alone to raise their child in peace."

"After you tell Tony and your family what Carly's done. Right, A.J.?" Keesha asked, hoping that she was understanding him correctly.

A.J. shook his head. "No, Keesha. I walk away, never saying anything. I cannot put any kind of doubt in Tony's mind. If he's the father, the baby needs to be born with that assurance." A.J.'s eyes grew sad. "I never want Tony to look at his child the way my father looks at me. I can't do it."

"But, A.J.," Keesha pleaded, her heart breaking for him, "Are you going to let your family believe forever that you drank that night and had another blackout? They'll never understand why you didn't go into rehab, and your father will always think of you as a failure. I understand you not wanting to hurt the baby, but what about everything that Carly has done to you? Your life deserves some kind of consideration here, too."

"I need to get my life back on track, Keesha. Finding out that I'm not the father and leaving Carly and her sick mind as far behind as I can are the two best ways I know how to begin to do that. She knows what she did to me, and she has to live with that knowledge and whatever guilt she may feel for the rest of her life. AA talks about taking the high road. This may be my first chance to put that into practice. I hope I get the opportunity."

Keesha shook her head in amazement, and yet, deep down, she knew so much of what he said made sense. She wanted to see Carly pay for what she had done, but she knew A.J. was right. The best thing that could happen with all of this is that he finds out he's not the father and puts as much distance between himself and Carly as he could.

"You're an incredible man, A.J.," Keesha said, taking his hands in hers. "I commend you if this is really what you want to do and can do it. I know I couldn't."

"Does this mean you'll help me with Carly?" A.J. asked, hopeful.

"I'll do what I can. Let me know when you find out the details, and I'll be there."

"I will. Thank you, Keesha. You're the best!"

A.J. took her into his arms; she didn't resist. He held her close, needing to feel the touch of another human.

"I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come back into my life. I'm so thankful and yet so undeserving of your friendship. You don't know how good it felt to be able to talk to you and to unburden myself. I hated not being able to confide in you."

"Why did you feel you couldn't tell me before?" Keesha asked.

"I was afraid to tell you about my drunken night with Carly and that I might be a father. I'm always messing up the good things in my life, Keesha. I don't know what I would have done if you had turned cold and unfeeling on me and threw me out of your apartment. I hoped that it wouldn't happen, yet, I knew it was a real possibility when I came here."

"A.J., I've witnessed, first hand, how your months of sobriety have changed you. I left before because I could not let you drag me down with you when you showed no signs of wanting to get any help. But you are not that same person. Baby, please believe that you have changed as you've stayed sober. If you don't believe that, then how can you let any of us into your life again?"

A.J. pulled away from Keesha and looked at her. "You are so good to me and for me. Thank you for caring about me. Your concern, and dare I say love, mean more to me than you can imagine. I don't ever want to hurt you again. I die in here, Keesha," he said, tapping his chest near his heart, "every time I think about the way I treated you when I was drinking."

Keesha grabbed his hand and held it. "Please don't go there, A.J. I don't want to think about those times anymore. We both suffered more than we should have." Her voice brightened. "Thank God for second chances, though, right?"

"Right," A.J. answered and smiled.

A few moments of not altogether uncomfortable silence passed between them. Hazel eyes gazed at dark brown ones until Keesha felt compelled to speak to break the growing attraction between them. They were just good friends, best friends, she reminded herself. Nothing more.

"Would you like some more iced tea?" she finally asked.

A.J. expelled the breath he had been holding. "No, thanks. I've taken up enough of your time. I better be going."

"Do you know when Carly will be in touch about the test?"

"If I don't hear from her by tomorrow morning, she'll be hearing from me. I'll be in touch. Thanks to you, Keesha, I feel very relieved."

"No problem. I just hope it all works out."

"Me, too."

He gave her a kiss on her cheek and left her apartment.

As soon as A.J. walked into his apartment, his telephone rang. He said "hello" and heard Carly's voice on the other end.

"I don't have much time, A.J., but I wanted to let you know that I've scheduled the test for tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. at Mercy Hospital."

"Mercy? I told you to have the test done at General."

"I can't, A.J.! It's too much of a risk. A risk I'm not willing to take."

"So, instead, you'll risk me telling Tony everything. Fine. Is he there? I'll be right over."

"Would you just stop and think for a moment?" Carly cried. "There are way too many people at GH who would love to know why I was having a sonogram."

"Carly, pregnant women have them all the time. It's a common test."

"But to specifically ask for the due date? I don't think so, A.J. And if I know you, and I believe I do, this is not the way you want this to be handled, is it?"

A.J. looked upward and then conceded the less questions the better.

"Great. Then I'll be a Mercy at 4:00 p.m." Carly was about to terminate the phone call when A.J. stopped her.

"Just a minute, Carly. I have a couple of things to say to you."

"A.J., I told you I don't have much time."

"Make time for this," he said, with barely concealed anger. "Number one, the time you're telling me better be the right time, or you'll just have to have the sonogram done again. Got that?"

"Yes."

"Number two, Keesha will be at Mercy when you have your sonogram done. In fact, she will be with you the entire time. I want true results, Carly, do I make myself clear?"

"But..."

"Now, you said you had to go, so good-bye."

Carly slammed down the phone in anger and then picked it up again. She called her acquaintance from nursing school, Lorraine, who had agreed to help her get the results she needed from the sonogram for a price and told her the latest development.

"A friend of mine wants to be in the room with me when I have the sonogram done. Is that allowed?"

"Sure. Who's the 'friend', Carly?"

"None of your business, Lorraine. Regardless of this friend's presence, I still want the results of the sonogram to come out the way you and I talked about."

"Don't worry, Carly. Your sonogram will say you are due in December."

"Great. That's all I needed to know."

"So much for your little friend Keesha, A.J.," Carly said with a satisfied smile as she hung up the phone.

A.J. called Keesha and told her to meet Carly at 3:30 p.m. at Mercy the next day.

"And don't worry about not going in with her. She knows where I stand if she doesn't let you be with her, so you shouldn't have any problems."

"Okay, A.J. I'm hoping this all works out the way you're envisioning."

"Me, too."


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