Several days later, Georgie finally felt more like herself. She and Dillon had gone to Vermont and she�d called Mac. He�d asked her to come home, told her that he�d forget everything, and that he�d still let her see Dillon, but she told him that for the time being, this was where she needed to be. Maxie had taken the phone, but Georgie didn�t want to talk to her. She was sure that her sister would figure out what was going on and tell Mac.
Dillon had arranged for Ned to come up for a few days, and Georgie was actually excited that he was visiting. It would be nice to see a familiar, friendly face, and he�d already promised not to tell anyone where he was going and why.
�Do you want to take a trip before your seventh month?� Dillon asked. �Just a little trip��
�We�ll see,� she was actually seriously considering his suggestion of going to Europe. �Let�s see what the doctor says.�
They were watching old movies, eating popcorn and enjoying each other. For a while, they seemed to forget everything going on and were able to relax. At least until the doorbell rang.
�I thought Ned wasn�t coming until tomorrow,� Georgie said, looking nervous.
�He�s not.� Dillon didn�t let Georgie see how nervous he was. Only a couple of people in town had seen him and almost no one knew Georgie lived with him. �Go in the bedroom. I�ll get rid of whoever it is.�
Georgie nodded and walked into the other room as the doorbell rang again.
Dillon wished there was a peephole as he took a deep breath in front of the door. Slowly, he opened it, and was shocked to see a couple dressed in Hawaiian attire.
�Can I help yall?� He asked, putting on a southern accent, hoping that should they mention him in town, they�d think he was from the south.
�Our car broke down a few miles down the road. We�re on our way to the airport and this was the closest house..�
�Come on in and use the phone,� Dillon said, relieved that the couple was just passing by. �It�s over there by the TV.�
�Thank you, you dear boy,� the woman said, her dark glasses too big for her face. It was a crazy scheme, but she was sure that Dillon wouldn�t recognize her. She was shocked to see him, and wondered what was going on.
Georgie slowly entered the room and saw Dillon smiled. �Lucy,� His accent thicker than before. �These people need the phone. Their car done broke down on the way to the airport.�
Trying not to laugh, Georgie answered �Well, don�t keep them, Darlin�! Let �em use the phone and call a tow truck.�
The man made his way to the phone and pulled a small phonebook from his pocket while the woman smiled and looked around. �What a sweet little cabin. Such nice accommodations for such a young couple��
�We�re not that young.� Georgie said. �Connor and I were just blessed with��
�Would you like something to drink?� Dillon asked, wanting to keep Georgie from saying too much. The fake Ids he�s had made claimed they were twenty two. �We have tea, water, Coke, Sprite, Ginger Ale��
Ginger ale? The woman knew why they were here. No one there age willingly drank ginger ale! �I�ll just take some water��
�Dolly, we got to go wait for the tow truck. Thank you for letting us borrow the phone.� The man had heard the list of drinks and was thinking the same thing as his companion, and knew it made sense. Georgie wouldn�t have run away otherwise. �You two take care of yourselves��
�Thanks yall. Be careful,� Dillon walked them out and watched as they started down the road. Once they were out of sight, he closed the door. �That was too weird.�
�Totally. I thought for sure that Mac had found me.� Georgie said, laying her head on Dillon�s shoulder. �They looked so ridiculous!�
�Yeah, it took a lot not to laugh.� Dillon said, smiling. �But there was something about them. It was like I knew them��
�I know, but that�s impossible. I�d remember meeting people like that.� Georgie said, settling on the couch again. �They�re gone. Let�s finish our movie.�
Zander was waiting as his investigators returned. �Well, who is Jade protecting?�
Summer and Luke exchanged a look. Zander had explained very little to them, but still they wanted to help him. They knew the teenagers were hiding for a reason, and they were sure now that they knew the reasons behind their sudden disappearance from town. �I think you ought to let this one go.� Luke said.
�Who was it?� Zander asked, looking at Summer. �Is it someone close to us?�
�Look, they�re scared. If you corner them, they are only going to run. You said Jade was protecting them? I think she�s trying to make sure they don�t make any sudden moves�.�
�Look, I didn�t tell you everything. This couple is having a baby. A baby that Emily and I could adopt��
�I don�t doubt that, man, but I think it�d be best to leave this one alone��
�Why damn it? Why?� Zander asked.
Luke shook his head. �If you adopt that baby, you and Emily are going to be causing two people close to you some heavy heartache. Holidays, family dinners��
�Who is it?� Suddenly he had a suspicion, but he didn�t want it to be true. �It�s not��
Summer grabbed both men and started toward the car. �Let�s get back to Port Charles. It�s getting dark and we�ve got a two hour drive��
�Who is it?� Zander asked again.
Luke finally broke down and told him. �It�s your wife�s cousin and his pretty little girlfriend. I think you�d be playing with fire if you tried to push this. There�s no way you could adopt that baby without breaking their hearts.�
Zander stood, shocked by this discovery, but not discouraged. �Summer�s right. We�ve got a long drive a head of us.� There was something he had to discuss with Emily and he wanted to talk to her before Dillon or Georgie realized that Luke Spencer had been the strange tourist at their door.
Chapter 7
Two days after Luke and Summer had tricked Dillon into letting them in, Jade was getting ready to drive to Canada to see them. Georgie had a doctor�s appointment and although she normally would not accompany a client, she felt in this case she should. As she was preparing to leave, Zander and Emily walked in and looked determined. �Oh, dear, I know that look in your eyes. What�s going on?�
�Lucy and Connor. Have they chosen anyone yet?� Emily asked.
Great! They were still obsessed with the one baby they couldn�t have. �We�re still going through files��
�Zander said you mentioned that they wanted a couple outside of Port Charles. What if we lived elsewhere?� Emily asked.
�What do you mean?� Jade asked.
�If you can get them to agree to allow us to adopt their child, we�ll move to London.� Emily said. �Grandmother has a house there that�s been closed for years. I talked to her last night and she agreed that we could move there if it would help convince them to let us adopt their baby.�
Jade looked at them and knew they weren�t going to give up on this. �I can talk to them, but I can�t promise anything. I already told you that there are no guarantees in this��
�And we understand that, but something in their file reached out to me,� Emily said, smiling. Jade saw that she looked relaxed and happy for the first time in weeks. �Please, try.�
�I�ll try,� Jade said, �but I can�t promise anything.�
Emily was so sure that the young couple would agree that she excused herself to call Lila. Zander looked at Jade and she scolded him.
�I told you to forget them!� She said.
Zander shrugged. �I couldn�t. Emily couldn�t. Something tells us that we are the best choice for them.� He couldn�t tell her that he knew the couple�s true identity and wanted nothing more than to help them. He wondered if Ned knew what was going on, but decided that he probably didn�t. �Jade, from their file, they sound like good kids��
�They are, and I think that their baby would be perfect for anyone, but you have to promise me that you won�t move back here. Ever!�
�There are no guarantees,� he said, smiling at her. She started to get angry and he sighed. �I know, Jade. We move to England and stay there�at least until we adopt the next baby and we have to meet with our favorite attorney.�
�Let�s get through this adoption, and then we�ll worry about the next one.� Jade said, knowing that she was going to have to break many of her own rules. �Let me talk to the kids, and see what they think. You probably won�t meet them, which isn�t how I conduct business��
�Just work it out, Jade. I have a feeling that these kids will agree to it.� Zander said. He was determined to help Dillon and Georgie, and if taking Emily away from Port Charles would do it, then so be it.
Chapter 8
Jade took a deep breath before handing the file to Dillon and Georgie. She�d taken the name off of it and explained that the family was planning on moving to London. �I waited until after your appointment to make sure that everything was alright. These people are very interested in your baby. Honestly, of the dozens of files I went through with them, yours was the only one they seemed to take a real interest in. I didn�t mention them before because I didn�t want to deal with a Port Charles family, but since they�re leaving��
Georgie looked through and nodded, �I�m glad that they are financially stable, because we know that they will be able to provide the essentials for the baby, but both have police records��
�From when they were your age,� Jade replied quickly. �I wouldn�t be representing them if they were still causing problems.� She wasn�t going to tell them that occasionally Zander still had run ins with the PCPD. �I promise, these are good people.�
Dillon looked at her. �You said that normally we�d meet the couple?�
�Yes, but under these circumstances, I think it�d be best to forfeit the meeting. Most of Port Chuck knows the two of you, and your families. I can�t promise that someone wouldn�t say something.�
�Then this is fine,� Georgie was quick to say.
Jade smiled, �I thought that you two would agree. Well, do you want them to answer the questionnaire I had you make up?�
Dillon and Georgie exchanged a look and then looked at Jade. �Yeah, sounds good.� Dillon said.
Jade closed her briefcase and looked at them again. �Before I go and tell them the good news, are you both sure?�
Georgie nodded, but Dillon didn�t respond at first. When Georgie saw that he was less than enthusiastic, she questioned him. �You aren�t changing your mind, are you?�
After a couple of minutes, Dillon stood up. �Tell them they�ll have a baby in seven months.� The doctor had told confirmed Georgie was just over twelve weeks pregnant.
Jade watched him leave the room and looked at the younger girl. �Georgie, are you both sure this is what you want?�
�This is best for the baby.� Georgie said, not making eye contact with Jade.
�I can�t go to them until I know for sure��
�I think we�re going to Paris.� Georgie said all of a sudden. �We were talking about it before, but Dillon said it might do us some good to go and see the world before we go back to Port Charles.�
Jade nodded and smiled. �I agree. Things are going to be difficult for the two of you when you have to move back to town. A trip wouldn�t be a bad idea. As long as you both let your parents know that you�ll come home after that.�
�I told Mac that I�d finish school in the next six months. I started the correspondence courses this week. I don�t know that I really belong in a high school anymore.�
�It would be hard, Georgie. Although no one would know it, you�d be far more grown up than your peers. I think it would also be difficult for you because everyone would wonder where you are and why you came back. I�ll bring one of the spare computers we have in the office and you finish those courses.� Jade felt like a mother toward the young girl now, which reminded her of something. �Have you tried to call Felicia?�
�No. I thought about it, but I wasn�t sure if it was such a good. She�d tell Dad and he�d be searching every inch of Canada looking for us. I don�t want anyone else to know.�
�Okay, I won�t push it.� Jade had planned on asking about Maxie, but she�d wait until next time. Georgie looked tired and Jade wanted her to get plenty of rest. �Have you been taking the prenatal vitamins?� Jade had brought her some to get through until the doctor gave her a prescription. Georgie nodded and Jade smiled. �I know they make you feel sick sometimes, but remember, the baby will get what he or she needs from the vitamins��
�How did you do it?� Georgie asked, remembering the scandal behind Jade�s pregnancy, and feeling close enough to her that she could ask. �You hid it from everyone for months��
�No, I didn�t. Gia knew, and I think Zander did too, but he was too caught up in trying to set things straight with Emily, and then the wedding, that he didn�t want to acknowledge it. Lucky and Nikolas knew, but they never said anything.� Jade saw Georgie look down. �What?�
�It must have been hard, knowing that Zander was with Emily.� The way Georgie said it made Jade suspect that there were other reasons behind the anxiousness to give the baby up for adoption.
�Yes, it was, because I was in love with him for a very long time, and I still am, I suppose, but I had to move on. It was harder knowing that Emily wanted him to make a choice at first. She was so angry and hurt, even though she and Nikolas were pretending to be engaged, and she didn�t want to accept that she did play a small part in everything�� Jade sighed. �Zander told Emily that he wasn�t making a choice. There was no choice, he said. He wanted both, and eventually Emily got over it.�
�Does she ever see Alyssa?� Georgie asked.
�Zander and Emily come and get her every chance they get. I don�t think Emily would ever admit it to me, but she�s in love with Alyssa.� Jade smiled.
�Was it hard having the Quartermaines talking about you all the time?� That was something Georgie witnessed first hand. �I always heard them talking..�
�It bothered me at first. It really bothered me, but Lila called me over and told me that the baby was mine. If Zander wanted to be a part of her life, that would be fine, but I was the one having the baby and I was the one that would care for her from the start. After Lila told me that, everything said about me was ignored.� Jade saw Dillon watching from the kitchen. �You know, there�s a pregnancy support group at the hospital where you are delivering..�
�I can�t do that.� Georgie said. It was bad enough she was having doubts about the adoption, but she feared that if she spoke too much about the pregnancy, that the baby would become more hers. �I�ll take the birthing class, but nothing else.�
�Alright.� Touching her shoulder, Jade reassured Georgie with a smile. �Everything happens for a reason. You may not see it like that, but you are giving a wonderful gift to a couple of wonderful people that want a baby more than anything in the world. I know the next few months are going to be hard, but please try and remember that. You have my number, so call me anytime, night or day.�
Georgie started crying and hugged Jade. Jade knew that this case was different, not just because she knew everyone personally, but because the child involved was more precious to all four of them than any baby had ever been to a client. Jade let the young girl cry and worried again that she was making a mistake.
As she left, she looked at Dillon, knowing that she was making the right decision. �I�m not going to tell the other couple that you�re interested. I�m going to give them the survey, bring it back in a week, but I won�t give it to you unless both of you convince me that you are absolutely sure this is what you want.� She was giving them a chance to change their minds, and Dillon�s heart rejoiced. A week wasn�t that much time, but if he could convince Georgie to keep the baby, Jade could bring a judge with her next time.
Chapter 9
Emily sat very still as the needle entered her arm. She was use to it, and could probably have drawn her own blood by this point, but she didn�t even feel like joking about it. Zander was there, holding her hand, but she couldn�t even look at him.
This test would determine once and for all if she�d ever have a baby. Dr. Meadows had already told her that it could take months to get the results back, because it was such a delicate test, but Emily wasn�t too concerned about that. She was still going to adopt a baby, and if God blessed her with the ability to carry one of her own, she�d take that gift as well.
�Are you cold?� Zander asked, seeing her shiver slightly.
�A little, but it�s alright. After they take the blood, they�ll do the laproscopy, and I�ll be under, so I won�t even notice.� She smiled, but saw that he was worried. She�d seen him look that way several times in the last year and tried to reassure him. �Everything will be okay, Zander.�
�I know, but this is all overwhelming.� He said, looking around. �I don�t know how you can handle all of this��
�You get use to it.� She said, still smiling.
The nurse brought in a wheelchair and told Zander that he would have to wait elsewhere for Emily to return. He kissed her gently and whispered, �I love you.�
�I love you, Zander. Go see Alyssa. Give her a big kiss for me.� Emily said before they wheeled her out of the room. Zander liked her suggestion and called Jade to make sure they were home.
Walking into the house, he heard Jade encouraging Alyssa. Watching from the doorway, he saw his daughter rolling across the room, laughing. Jade was moving a little farther away each time, and Alyssa never seemed to notice that it was a trick to get her to roll more.
�I knew she was rolling over, but I didn�t know that she was using it as a mode of transportation.� Zander�s voice caused Alyssa to stop and look around. She smiled as soon as she saw him and he picked her up, getting another laugh from her.
�Everyday it�s something new. She�s actually playing with some of the toys Nikolas bought her the last time he went to New York City.� Jade stood up. �You want something to eat or drink?�
�No, I�m fine.� He was smiling at his daughter and wondered for the millionth time how often he�d see her once he and Emily left for England. �Do you think visitation will be a problem?� He asked.
�We�ll work it out.� Jade said. �It�s going to be really hard at first, because by that age, she�ll know you and Emily, and she�ll rely on you both, but Lucky suggested that I put her in some kind of daycare program once or twice a week when she�s seven or eight months old. It might not be such a bad idea since you�re leaving.�
Zander knew this was a dangerous question, but he was torn. �Could you come with us?�
Jade raised her eyebrow, �Why in the hell would I want to do that?� She asked, knowing Emily would hate the idea.
�I don�t want to leave Alyssa,� his eyes spoke volumes to her and she turned away.
�You want me to pack up and leave a successful practice, my brothers, sister, aunt..� Jade was fighting tears. �I can�t do it, Zander.�
�Why not? I looked into it, and it wouldn�t be difficult for you to start over with the business�.�
�I�m not going to follow you around the world like a lovesick puppy!� Jade�s voice was steady, but she felt anything but. �That�s exactly how everyone would see it. It wouldn�t matter how many times we said that it was for Alyssa, no one would believe it!�
�I don�t care what anyone else thinks!� Zander had always been like that, except with Emily, and occasionally Alexis. �Let them talk. Alyssa needs all three of us��
�Does she? Or do you need proof that you are a man?� Jade asked. �Are you sure that you don�t want her with you because you want people to know that you can father a baby?�
�That�s sick, Jade!� And it hurt. She was being vicious, and she knew it. Zander also knew that the Cassadine in her was coming out. �I love Alyssa and I don�t want to be away from her.�
�Then adopt another baby��
�I don�t want another baby!�
�Why? Why are you so determined to adopt this particular baby?�
The phone saved Zander from answering and Jade answered it with an annoyed, �Hello?�
�Jade, it�s Georgie. Can you come to the cabin?� She was crying, and Jade worried something had happened to the baby.
�What�s wrong?�
�Dillon was trying to fix a hole in the roof, and he fell.�
�What the hell was he thinking? That boy has probably never�Damn it! I�m on my way.� Jade promised to be there as soon as possible. �Don�t let him move.�
�He�s laying on the couch, but I think he might have a concussion.� Georgie said.
�Okay, I�m on my way.� She hung up and looked at Zander. �I have to go. Connor fell off the roof trying to fix a hole, and Lucy thinks he might have a concussion.�
�I�ll go with you��
�No!� Jade said, too quickly. �I�ll call Lucky. You need to go back to the hospital��
�I�ll take Alyssa with me. Emily would love to see her.� Zander said, putting Alyssa in the car seat/carrier Jade used. �I�ll get her bottles and diaper bag. Go make sure Dil...Connor is alright.�
His slip went unnoticed as Jade rushed around, grabbing her purse and keys, and then remembering that she should bring her first aid kit. �I�ll call you. Tell Emily I hope everything went alright. I love you Alyssa,� She kissed her daughter before flying out of the open door and to her car. Zander wanted to follow her, but the risk was too high. Instead, he gathered everything he needed for Alyssa and soon was walking through the hall of General Hospital, hoping that her surprise visitor would help keep Emily in high spirits.
Chapter 10
Jade drove as fast as she could, reaching the cabin in record time. The door was opened and she saw Dillon laying on the couch with an ice pack on his head.
�Are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?� Jade asked, hoping that it wasn�t something serious. She�d have to call Ned, and if Dillon ended up in the hospital, she had no doubt that the entire family would know about it, and that Mac would learn of Georgie�s whereabouts.
�I�m fine. Really. I didn�t hit anything on the way down and I landed in a pile of leaves.� He motioned toward Georgie, who was in the kitchen getting drinks. �She overreacted.�
�All I saw was your body falling from the roof! What was I suppose to do?�
�You could have waited until I said I was hurt to call Jade!� Dillon sat up, slowly and looked at Jade. �My head hurts a little, but I had a headache before I went to fix the damn hole.� It had been raining for three days straight and Dillon was worried that Georgie would get sick.
�Dillon, how many roofs have you fixed?� Jade asked.
�None, why?�
�I�ll call someone in the morning�.�
�Damn it, Jade! We aren�t children!� Dillon said, angry at Jade, angry at Georgie, but most of all angry at himself. �I can handle a hole in the roof!�
�You are acting like a child right now.� Jade pointed out. �Georgie was right to call me. I expect you to see a doctor tomorrow. If you have to, send the bill to me��
�I have money.� Dillon reminded her.
�I know, but you two will be moving in a few months, and you refuse to let me help you. Georgie also needs three meals a day and snacks�.�
�I found an apartment already. We�re moving in four months.� Dillon said. �It�s a good price, the hospital is across the street, and there�s plenty of places to find food around��
�Not junk food. She needs healthy food.� Jade said.
�What�s it matter? It�s not like she�s keeping the baby�.� Dillon knew he shouldn�t say anything, but he was tired of hiding his feelings. �She doesn�t have to eat healthy like you did, or get enough sleep��
�Georgie, pack an overnight bag. Now.� Jade said, calmly.
�What does it matter? Jade, really? The couple won�t know the differences one way or another��
�I will, and I�ll tell them,� Jade wouldn�t, but she knew that she was getting somewhere with him. Dillon needed to explode, and if she was the one that he screamed at, she didn�t care as long as Georgie wasn�t there to hear it. �And you�ll know it, Dillon. I honestly don�t believe that you would let Georgie stuff herself with junk food.�
�What good does eating healthy do, Jade? You had Alyssa early and Zander still didn�t come back to you.� Dillon knew that was low as soon as the words were out of his mouth. Georgie was in the room again, crying and frightened by Dillon�s outburst, but Jade was as calm as she could be.
�Georgie, go wait in the car.� Jade said. Georgie didn�t move. �Go, I�ll be there in a minute.�
Once she was gone, Jade looked at Dillon and tried not to lose her temper. �One, I ate healthy because I cared about the baby I was carrying. Two, I was in a car accident, Dillon, and you know that. If I hadn�t delivered Alyssa that night, she would have died. Three, Zander didn�t come back to me because he doesn�t love me. I don�t think he ever did, but that�s none of your business. I�m here to help you, whether or not you let me is entirely up to you.
�I�m taking Georgie to a hotel for the night. I want you to calm down, relax, and then decide what you are really doing here. I know that you really want to keep this child, but you don�t want to upset Georgie. If that�s what you really want, then you need to decide how you are going to convince Georgie to keep the baby.�
�What if I go back to Port Charles?� Dillon asked, knowing that it would be emotional suicide, but he didn�t have a choice. Georgie didn�t want to keep their baby, and he did. Sticking around for seven more months, seeing Georgie get bigger everyday, and then the baby being taken from them was more than he could handle. �I�ll support Georgie, but I can�t stay here��
�I think you�ll prove her right if you do that. Part of the reason I�m sure she�s anxious to give the baby up is because she�s not convinced that you are going to be around forever. And she�s right to have those thoughts. You are young, and there�s no guarantees in life, but I�ve heard you say how much you love her and want to spend your life with her,� He�d told her that when she�d call to check on them a few days before, � and leaving her when she needs you most would ruin everything.�
�I can�t do it, Jade. I can�t watch her get bigger by the day with our baby, and know that she feels the baby moving��
�You two need some time alone. I�ll take Georgie to a hotel, and tomorrow morning, I�ll bring her home. The two of you can then talk about everything and make the decision. Together.� Jade reached out and touched his hand. �Whatever you decide will be what�s best for the baby.�
Dillon nodded, agreeing that they needed time alone. He thanked Jade and a few minutes later, watched the car pull away. Sitting down in the dark, he was determined to think everything through before Georgie came home.