Forbidden Love Chapter 6-15 (JB)

By Amy

Hi, everyone! I thought I'd give you all the weekend to catch up on your reading- I know I sent those first five chapters out pretty fast. Here is chapter 6, I hope you like it. The action is really going to start picking up, beginning with this chapter. Please tell me what you think and if I should continue. :-)
~Amy
_______________________________________________________
{Recap: Brenda agreed to accompany Jax back to Port Charles, after he assured her that it wouldn't mean moving their relationship to the next level before she was ready. Jax and Brenda discussed their former loves, and Brenda told Jax about someone from her past- Sonny Corinthos. Meanwhile, Miranda spoke with her private investigator and learned that Brenda was adopted and there was no record of who her natural parents were- Miranda vowed to learn the truth about Brenda. It was also revealed that Miranda knew about the disappearane of Baby Jessica after an experience a few years before. Jax also agreed to do everything he could to help Brenda find out who her real parents are. When they arrived at Jax's penthouse in Port Charles, they were soon surprised by a visit from Ned and Lois Ashton- and Jax and Ned were shocked when Lois and Brenda appeared to already know each other.}

Chapter 6
"Brenda Barrett! It is you!" Lois exclaimed, as Brenda ran over to give her a hug.
"How long has it been, Lo? 3 years?" Brenda asked as she hugged her friend.
"Too long, Bren. What've you been up to for the past few years?" Lois asked.
"A lot, I have so much to tell you," Brenda answered, her face falling. "So much has changed, Lois. I found out that- my parents- aren't my real parents," she whispered to her friend sadly.
"Whoa! Before we start catching up on our lives, could one of you explain exactly *how* you know each other and never mentioned the other before?" Jax asked amusedly, holding up a hand as he approached the two women.
"Yes please. Lois Marie Cerullo Ashton, we've been married for over a year and you've never mentioned Brenda before," Ned scolded his wife.
"Yeah, Lois Marie," Jax chided her, emphasising her middle name, "How come you never told me about this beautiful friend of yours?"
"So how did you two meet?" Ned asked.
Lois and Brenda went over and sat on one of Jax's couches, with Ned and Jax on the couch opposite them.
"Lois, do you wanna tell them?" Brenda asked.
"Sure, I'll start the story anyway. Three years ago, Bren and I met when we were both on vacation in the Florida Keys. Bren was staying at some fancy resort there with her parents, and Robin and I went down there for her spring break- dontcha remember that, honey? Mac gave Robin those tickets for the Florida vacation and she asked me to go with her?"
Ned nodded vaguely. "I just remember missing you," he said sweetly.
"Awww!" Lois smiled at her husband and blew him a kiss. "Anyway. We were on the beach one day, and Robin and I ran into Brenda here. To make a long story short, the three of us became friends right away. Robin's gonna be so excited you're here, Bren!"
Brenda smiled excitedly. "This is so great! When Jax told me about coming to Port Charles, I had completely forgotten that you and Robin lived here- I knew you lived somewhere in New York, but Port Charles didn't even register with me! Now I have my two closest friends and Jax here," Brenda finished, smiling from Lois to Jax.
Ned held up a hand in confusion. "Wait. I still don't understand why you never mentioned Brenda to me, Lois. And why if you guys got so close you never saw each other again in the past three years."
Lois sighed in exasperation. "Nedly! In case it has slipped your mind, you and I weren't even together at the time that all of this happened- we were fighting, remember?"
"You could've mentioned all of this after we got back together."
"Well, Lois, Robin, and I communicated by e-mail for a few months, but then some things in my life changed really drastically, and I kind of lost touch with everyone," Brenda tried to explain, thinking back on that first year that she knew the truth, and how complicated it had been for her.
Ned nodded slowly. "Well, in any case, Brenda, it's absolutely wonderful to meet you. Jax, Lois, and I spend a lot of time together, and it looks as though you'll fit right in," he told her, while reaching over to shake her hand.
"Thank you, Ned," Brenda answered, smiling sweetly. "I heard a lot about you when Lois and I met in Florida. I knew then that she was in love with you and would probably end up married to you soon!"
Ned laughed. "I'm glad you knew that! It took Lois awhile to decide, I had to spend a lot of time convincing her!" Lois laughed too and punched him playfully as she stood up and motioned for him to do the same.
"We should let you guys get back to doing whatever you were doing when we barged in," Lois hinted, raising her eyebrows suggestively at Brenda.
"Oh, you don't have to leave so soon!" Brenda exclaimed.
"Yeah, we should get home. Let's get together for lunch this week though, huh, Bren? I'll call Robin and tell her the good news," Lois announced as they made their way to the door.
"That would be great, Lo. It was great to see you again!" Brenda hugged her friend once more, and then Ned came over and kissed Brenda's cheek, and then they left.
Jax closed the door behind them and turned back to Brenda. "So, being in Port Charles might not be so bad after all, huh?" He teased her.
Brenda laughed and then wrapped her arms around Jax's neck and kissed his cheek.
"What was that for?" Jax asked, surprised, but happy at her display of affection.
"For bringing me here."
Jax wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her even closer. "You think you're going to be happy here, Brenda Barrett?" He asked, bringing his lips within inches of hers.
"Very happy," Brenda murmured before Jax's lips met hers in another mind-blowing kiss. Anything she planned to say next was quickly forgotten, replaced only with thoughts of how good kissing Jax felt.

Miranda Jameson sat in her apartment, drinking a glass of chardonnay and mulling over her latest discoveries...and her plans. She had just learned that, ironically enough, Brenda Barrett and Jessica Jacks were born the same year. Coincidence? {Maybe}, Miranda conceded; but it didn't have to be. {It *could* mean something important. Very important}, Miranda realized. She laughed sarcastically as she feigned shock and disbelief, and she whispered softly, "Jax, this is absolutely unbelievable...but I've just learned that your missing baby sister is alive! Not only alive- but surprisingly enough, your little sister and your new girlfriend are one and the same!"
Miranda swilled some more of her wine, and picked up the cordless phone beside her. Using the small leatherbound address book that she kept with her at all times, she found the number she was looking for. Miranda dialed the number and waited as it rang twice.
After another ring, a tired-sounding man picked up. "Hello?" He said, his Australian accent still prominent after living in the U.S. for years.
"I have absolutely amazing news!" Miranda exclaimed with fake excitement, without so much as a hello.
"This had better be good, Miranda," the man grumbled. "It's nearly four in the morning here!"
"Oh, trust me. You are going to want to thank me in *so* many different ways once I tell you what I've learned," Miranda purred seductively.
"Well? I'm not in the mood for games, Miranda."
"All right. I'll tell you. I have found her."
"Found *who*?" The man's voice sounded even more annoyed.
"Little Jessica Jacks...all grown up," Miranda told him playfully.
"*What* did you just say?" The man growled, but Miranda could tell that his interest was piqued.
"Oh come on. Don't I at least get a thank you first, Jerry?"

Hello! Here's chapter 7. I'd like to thank all of you that have been sending me feedback on this story, you all make me want to write this story every day. :-) This chapter is really for Aleli and LaQuana though- you guys are the best! Thanks for inspiring me to write this story. I hope you all enjoy this chapter- your comments and opinions are always welcome and appreciated.

~Amy
_______________________________________________________
{Recap: Brenda and Lois explained to Ned and Jax the story of how they met while on vacation in Florida three years before. Lois and Robin and been on vacation there when they met Brenda, and the three of them became best friends- until the sudden changes in Brenda's life caused her to lose touch with the others. After Lois and Ned left, Jax and Brenda enjoyed some time together, and Brenda thanked Jax for bringing her to Port Charles. On the evil side of PC (lol), Miranda learned that Brenda Barrett and Jessica Jacks were born the same year and began to hatch a plan. She then fantasized about breaking the news to Jax that his new girlfriend and his missing sister are the same woman. Miranda then called Jerry Jacks and told him that she had found his long-lost baby sister.}

Chapter 7
"Did you just say what I *think* you said?" Jerry asked, sounding much more alert now as he barked the question at Miranda.
"You heard me, Jerry. I've located Jessica," Miranda told him smugly.
"How did you even know about Jessie? I'm sure Jax didn't tell you," Jerry answered disbelievingly. Jerry knew that Miranda was the definition of untrustworthy.
Miranda frowned. She hadn't expected Jerry to doubt her news. "Well, to tell you the truth, I found out about your sister by accident, years ago. I've made it my mission to find her," Miranda announced.
"And what's in it for you?" Jerry asked. Miranda never did anything for anyone, without getting something in return.
"The pure joy of seeing the Jacks family reunited after all of these years," Miranda told him sweetly.
Jerry laughed sarcastically. "Yeah, right. Miranda, it's late, and I need my sleep." He didn't believe Miranda's story for a second...Miranda was always playing some game or another. It was her way.
"You don't believe me?" Miranda asked, surprised.
"Of course not."
"Well, I do have proof."
"C'mon, Miranda! I don't know what kind of sick game you're playing, but you've got to stop it now. We've had our own private investigators searching for Jessica since the day she disappeared. There is no way that you could've found her, just because you made it your mission to, and I won't let you hurt my brother or the rest of my family if this is another one of your sick jokes."
"Don't be so sure, Jerry. Maybe you'd better come to Port Charles yourself and take a good long look at my *proof*. If you can pry her out of your brother's arms long enough, that is," Miranda hinted disgustedly.
"Oh. I see what this is about. Jax has gone and gotten himself a real woman for a girlfriend, and you're out for revenge," Jerry realized.
"Don't be like that, Jerry," Miranda said sweetly. "If I remember correctly, you didn't have any problem at *all* believing that I was a *real* woman. I'm sure you haven't forgotten about our time together," Miranda pointed out suggestively.
Jerry groaned in anger. "You are never gonna let me forget that, are you?"
Miranda laughed. "You don't really want to forget, Jerry. I think you want to remember it all over again. Maybe you should come back to Port Charles soon...I could really use your help here." Miranda enjoyed Jerry. He was fun- especially in bed. When he wasn't being so loyal to his brother he was even more fun.
"Good BYE, Miranda," Jerry answered tiredly, before slamming down the phone. Jerry shook his head. {There's no way. Miranda's just playing another one of her games.}
Miranda hung up the phone but held onto it. "It's your loss, Jerry," she said aloud. {If you would've been just a little bit nicer to me...I would've waited awhile longer to tell Jax the truth about his precious Brenda. Oh well. I'll just show him my proof, and it'll be 'hello Brenda my sister, hello Miranda my love'.} Taking the big, official-looking envelope, she waved it proudly.
Miranda poured herself another glass of wine and stared down at the cordless phone in her hand. {Why not?} She asked herself. {Let's just give old Jaxy a call and make sure he's not doing...anything he shouldn't...with dear little Brenda.}
Miranda had begun to feel the effects of all of the wine she had drunk and she was feeling lightheaded and free. She dialed Jax's number.

While Miranda was celebrating an early victory, Jax and Brenda continued to enjoy their first night back in Port Charles. Jax ordered room service for them and they ate dinner, drank champagne, and talked about everything.
Brenda told Jax about how close she had been to Lois and Robin after they met in Florida. The three of them had been inseparable there, they had grown close so fast. They spent practically all of their time in Florida together, and learned all about each other. Brenda had heard all about Ned, whom Lois had been dating on and off for awhile. And even though Ned and Lois weren't together at that time, Brenda could tell from the way that Lois talked about her "Nedly" that they would be back together- for good- soon enough. Robin had told Brenda all about being HIV+ and dealing with that. Robin had also told her her plans to attend medical school that fall with her boyfriend, Jason Quartermaine. Brenda wondered now if Robin had done it, and how things were going with her. {I'll call her tomorrow,} Brenda decided as she sat staring at Jax and thinking for the millionth time that day how lucky she was to have run into Jax that day at the airport.
Jax caught Brenda staring at him as they sat quietly drinking their champagne after dinner. "What?" He asked.
"I was just thinking that I'm so glad I found you. This was truly a blessing. Not only did I find you, and you're this perfect, wonderful, handsome, gentle, giving man, but you've led me back to my two best friends in the entire world. How can I repay you for something like that?" Brenda asked, as tears of joy filled her velvet brown eyes.
Jax stood up and took Brenda's hand, pulling her up with him. "There's no point in thanking me, Brenda. All I can say is that you're welcome, and you are. You see, you can't choose who you fall in love with...but once you do, you want to do everything you can to make them happy. That's what I want for you. That's all I'm doing," Jax answered, cradling Brenda's face gently in his hands.
{He's talking about falling in love...already,} Brenda realized in shock. {I thought I was crazy for feeling those things this soon...I guess we're both crazy...crazy in love with each other}. Brenda's eyes welled up once again with fresh tears of happiness. She knew that neither she nor Jax were ready to say the actual words yet, but they were falling in love, and both of them knew that.
Brenda felt as though she could drown in Jax's warm, deep, aqua eyes. She could just stand there and look into them forever. Finally, she stood up on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck so that she could barely brush his lips with her own. Jax responded, first brushing her lips just as gently with his own, and then drawing her into a deeper kiss. As the kiss deepened, Jax plunged his tongue into her mouth to meet and dance with hers.
It felt like the kiss was going on for hours, although it was really only a couple of minutes. The passion between them continued to grow, as Jax gently lifted Brenda up and she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, and he kissed a line from her jaw over to her ear and down her neck.
Everything that they did felt so right, so completely perfect, that Brenda never wanted it to end, and even though she knew that it was probably too soon to do this, Brenda didn't want Jax to stop. She matched him, kiss for kiss, and when he strode with her in his arms over to the couch and laid her down on it, she quickly unbuttoned his shirt and drew it off, running her hands over his sleek, muscled chest.
{RRRRIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG}
Jax's phone suddenly began to ring, and Brenda felt him groan against her lips as the sound broke into their passionate haze.
"Let it ring," Brenda whispered, kissing him again and again.
The phone rang three more times and Jax finally pulled back and stood up. "Whoever this is has lousy timing, but it could be something important for them to be calling this late," Jax mumbled, reaching for the phone.
Brenda followed him, kissing his shoulder down his arm as he held the phone. "If that's Miranda again, tell her to go away!"
"Ohhh...Hello?" Jax answered impatiently as Brenda continued to kiss him. Suddenly he realized that talking on the phone while Brenda kissed him like this wasn't going to be so easy.
"Jax? Am I interrupting something?"
Jax tried not to yell as he heard the familiar voice- the same voice that had twice interrupted him when he had been with Brenda. "What is it, Miranda?"
Brenda stopped kissing him at the sound of that woman's name and sat back down on the couch. She yawned, and, noticing a blanket draped across the back of the couch, she draped it around her and laid back to rest. It had been such a long, busy, happy, exciting day.
"Well, Jax, I've gotten some information that you might be interested in, I was hoping you could come by and take a look at it," Miranda told him.
"Now? Miranda, it's LATE. Couldn't this wait till tomorrow morning at least?"
"Oh...well, sure, Jax. I just wanted you to know about it now so you can plan on it for tomorrow."
"What is this about, Miranda?"
"It's important, Jax. Just meet me here tomorrow morning, at nine."
"I need to know something, Miranda. If this is some kind of...ploy...to get me back, I'm sorry, Miranda, but it won't work," Jax answered, speaking quietly into the phone so that Brenda wouldn't hear.
"This is about something I've been working on for awhile, Jax, and I know you'll thank me once you know what it is. Just..get some sleep, Jax. Tomorrow is going to be a big day for you," Miranda announced. Without any other word, she hung up the phone, leaving Jax completely puzzled by her request...puzzled by everything she said, really.
He sighed and hung up the phone. "Now, where were we-" Jax turned around, asking Brenda a question, when he realized that the woman he had been about to make love to just minutes before was now sound asleep on his couch.
Jax laughed softly to himself, and walked over to the couch to caress Brenda's cheek tenderly. "You're so beautiful," he whispered, letting his hand float through her mane of dark hair.
He kissed her forehead gently, and then lifted her up into his arms and carried her up the stairs- and into the guestroom where they had put all of her things. He laid her gently on the bed, and carefully took off her shoes, pulling the covers up around her.
"Good night, Brenda," he whispered once more.

Hi, Angels! I hope you enjoy this chapter. I really appreciate all of you who send me feedback on a regular basis, specifically, Jen, Aleli, LaQuana,Vickie, Ruth, Linh, Amy, Maureen, Kermit, and Camille. You guys are the best!! :-)

~Amy
_______________________________________________________

{Recap: Miranda continued to plot against Brenda, by telling Jerry she had found his kidnapped sister Jessica and hinting that it had to do with Jax's new girlfriend. It was also revealed that Jerry and Miranda had a past together. In the end, Miranda called Jax, interrupting him and Brenda as they were about to make love, and asked him to come over to her place first thing in the morning. While Jax talked to Miranda, Brenda gave in to her exhaustion and fell asleep on the couch. Jax then carried Brenda up to the guestroom bed and kissed her goodnight.}

Chapter 8
"It's about time you got here," Miranda said, glancing at her watch.
Jax sighed, and stepped into her apartment. "I'm right on time, Miranda."
Miranda nodded. "True. I'm glad you came, Jax. We have some important things to discuss."
"Like what?" Jax asked nervously. "I hope this isn't about...us...and what happened in New York. I meant what I said there, Miranda. I'm sorry, but it really is over for us."
Miranda tried not to let her eyes flash with anger. {It wouldn't be if it weren't for that little witch Brenda}, Miranda thought. "This isn't about that, Jax. It's about a...project...I've been working on."
Jax narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Miranda never "worked" on anything herself- unless it was something underhanded and devious. "What kind of project?" He asked.
"Well, Jax...it has to do with your little sister."
Jax clenched his jaw and wondered angrily what Miranda had up her sleeve this time. The only thing Miranda ever did was play games. "What are you talking about? You've known my family for years, you know I don't have a younger sister," Jax announced, shaking his head in annoyance at her while trying to mask the pain that she had brought to the surface again.
"I know the truth, Jax. I have for awhile and I've been trying to find your poor baby sister on my own," Miranda announced, looking pleased with herself.
"What are you doing, Miranda? Who do you think you're trying to fool? Don't you know that I can see right through you? Whatever you're trying to pull, it *won't* work," Jax told her disgustedly. Without waiting to hear her retort, Jax turned toward the door to leave.
"Jax, before you go home to your new girlfriend, you might want to hear this."
Jax just shook his head and reached for the door knob.
"Your little sister is alive and well in Port Charles, Jax. Only she doesn't go by the name Jessica Jacks now. Her name is Brenda Barrett," Miranda told him, as smugly as ever, smiling like a chesire cat.
Jax felt as though he'd been slapped in the face, and punched in the stomach at the same time. "That the stupidest, most disgusting thing you have ever said to me," Jax announced, spitting the words out of his mouth as though they carried a bitter taste.
Miranda looked unaffected by Jax's rage. "It's true, Jax. I've got the proof right here." She handed Jax the envelope.
Jax took out the contents and gazed over them briefly. "You could've easily had these made up, Miranda. I don't believe any of this for a second."
"It's your choice, Jax. However...incest does have a fairly bad effect on one's social and I'm sure, business, life," Miranda told him cruelly.
Jax just shook his head. "Why should I believe you about this? You'd do anything to break my relationship with Brenda. You've been jealous since you saw us kissing at the hotel. This is just another one of your bitter schemes," Jax told her angrily. "What I really hate is that you're dragging Brenda into this the way you are. Hurt me if you want, but leave her out of it!"
Miranda shook her head slowly, feigning pain over Jax's words. "How could you think that way about me, Jax? After all that we've shared..." she allowed her eyes to fill with tears and her voice shook slightly. "One day you love me, and the next, you just throw me over for some little model that you meet. And then you accuse *me* of being hurtful."
"Oh Miranda, knock it off! You can't fool me. I never said I loved you. You knew from the start that I just wanted a casual relationship!"
"It didn't seem that way during all of those long nights of making love..." Miranda whispered accusingly.
"We had *s-ex*, Miranda. Nothing more. And we don't have anything now, so I want you to stay out of my life! I don't want to hear any more about this latest lie of yours, and if you involve Brenda in this...you'll regret it," Jax told her.
"It's all true, Jax. You think about that next time you kiss her...next time you hold her... it's not right, Jax. She's your *sister*!"
Jax glared at Miranda in response, and then walked out the door, slamming it behind him. He strode quickly out of the apartment building and got into his car. As he drove home, one thought kept haunting him. {What if it's true?}

A little while later, Jax arrived back at his penthouse to find that Brenda was still asleep. He peaked into her room and saw her sleeping peacefully, so he went downstairs to fix her some breakfast. He fixed her some scrambled eggs and bacon, and toast with strawberry jelly, and put everything on a tray and carried it up the stairs. He was walking down the hall towards the guestroom when he heard screaming. Brenda was screaming.
"Brenda?" Jax shouted. Still carrying the tray, he ran into the bedroom to see Brenda thrashing fitfully in the bed, bathed in sweat, with big tears running down her cheeks. She was now sobbing painfully and Jax could tell she was still dreaming as she continued to mutter sleepily.
"Let me go! Don't take me away!" Brenda mumbled, crying harder.
Jax wanted to wake her up, but her words were filling him with curiousity...and fear.
"Don't take me away! Let me stay with my family! NO! PLEASE!" Brenda screamed pitifully and Jax finally came out of the state he was in and realized he had to wake her up. He walked over to gently shake her shoulders, saying her name softly.
"Brenda, wake up, sweetie...it's just a dream...wake up now," Jax told her, and finally her eyes seemed to focus on him.
"Oh, Jax! I was so scared," Brenda cried, wrapping her arms around him and holding on for dear life.
Jax hugged her back. "Do you want to tell me about it? What was that dream about?"
Brenda sobbed some more and wiped her eyes as she pulled back from Jax's arms. "It was so frightening. I...I think I must've been a child in the dream...I don't remember this at all though. I was sitting in the grass, it was summertime...or it was warm at least...and there was a little tiny house not too far away, it was almost like a shack...I could hear people yelling from inside. Then this man just came out of nowhere...and he just picked me up and carried me away. I was screaming, trying to get him to take me back...I didn't want to leave my family...but he wouldn't let me go! Jax, he wouldn't let me go!" Brenda was crying again and Jax quickly wrapped her in his arms and stroked her hair gently.
Something about her dream was scaring him...nearly as much as it was scaring her. {Someone picked her up and carried her away...she was in the grass outside of a little house...just like Jessie when she disappeared...Brenda heard people yelling...Mum and Dad were fighting in the house when Jessie was kidnapped...Brenda thought she was just a child in the dream...Jessie was just a baby when she was taken from us. What if it's true? What if Brenda is Jessie? It can't be! This can't be true...} The disturbing thoughts raged on and on in Jax's head as he tried to soothe Brenda, who sat shaking in his arms.
Finally Brenda pulled back, and gazed into Jax's eyes with her sad, teary brown eyes. "Jax. I think I know what this means."
Jax swallowed hard. {Oh no...she's figured it out...it is true...} "What is it, Brenda?"
Brenda sobbed again as fresh tears clouded her eyes. "I was kidnapped."
Jax just pulled Brenda close once again and held her. He closed his eyes against his own tears that threatened to spill. Finally he pulled back a little and held Brenda's face in his hands. He was staring into her eyes, trying to find some sign that would tell him if she was his sister or not. But all he could see was her beautiful, sad eyes staring back at him. Brenda misinterpreted the moment and thought he was about to kiss her, and she closed her eyes and moved her face closer to his. Jax just sighed, and leaned his forehead against hers. He let his hands fall to her shoulders and he squeezed them gently.
"I brought you some breakfast, it's getting cold," Jax whispered into her hair.
Brenda was surprised, and disappointed that Jax hadn't kissed her. {Maybe I am moving too fast for him, I'm just laying all of my problems on him, and he's probably starting to feel more like my psychiatrist than my boyfriend...} Brenda thought guiltily. Brenda took the tray from him and ate everything on it in silence, while Jax watched her anxiously.
So many thoughts were going through his head...the what-if's. {What if she IS my sister...what if she is, and I have these feelings for her...I'll never get to kiss her, or hold her that way ever again...I guess it's good that we didn't make love...but how am I going to keep us from doing that when she has no idea what's going on? I don't want to tell her if it's not true...} Jax was tortured by these thoughts as he watched Brenda eat. There were so many mixed feelings. He didn't want Brenda to be his sister, he was really beginning to think that he was falling in love with her...and yet, he had always dreamed that his baby sister was still alive and out there somewhere. And if she had grown up to be as amazing as Brenda was, then that would be wonderful....but how could this be? The one woman that had broken through to him, the first woman ever that he felt like he could bare his heart and soul to, would turn out to be his sister? That would be completely cruel. {I have to find out the truth...I don't trust Miranda, but I just have to prove that Brenda is not my sister.}

A couple of hours later, Brenda was showered and dressed and waiting to meet Lois and Robin for lunch at the PC Grill. She had called Lois after breakfast and Lois had immediately told her that she and Robin were all set to take her out to lunch that day. Robin had been thrilled when Lois had told her the good news that Brenda was there in PC. So now Brenda was all ready, looking very much like a model in a bright red tank top and matching capri pants. Her long hair was pulled up into a casual pony tail and she had just enough makeup on to enhance her already flawless skin. Jax met her on the stairs as she was going down to wait for her friends, and had to remind himself to stop his heart from racing at the sight of her. {It'll be easier if you just put aside those feelings now...just in case}, Jax reminded himself. He just smiled stiffly.
"You look nice," he told her.
Brenda blinked in confusion. {What is going on with him? Since we met, he has always seemed really excited to see me and really pleased with my appearane. Now all of a sudden he doesn't want to kiss me anymore and he thinks I look *nice*. I really must be getting too serious on him, with that nightmare this morning, and my family problems...I have to show him that I can still be fun.} Brenda thought to herself, trying not to let her disappointment in his reaction show on her face. {Tonight I will show him. I'll get Lois and Robin to show me some places to go shopping this afternoon, and I'll get an outfit that will knock Jax's socks off. Who knows, maybe tonight we'll end up making love for the first time, if my plan works!} Brenda thought with excitement. She jogged down the rest of the stairs, and paused to kiss Jax on the cheek. "You're sure you don't mind that I'm spending the afternoon with Lois and Robin?" She asked, hoping to get some reaction out of him.
Jax shook his head, trying to look unaffected by both the kiss on the cheek and her appearance. Really he was dying to tell her how *amazing* she looked and take her in his arms and kiss her senseless...instead he just smiled blandly. "Of course I don't mind. I know you've missed Lois and Robin these past couple of years, so it's good that you're gonna connect with them again."
Brenda nodded, trying to hide her disappointment. "Okay. I'll be back later. I...I think I'll wait for them in the lobby now," she answered.
Jax just nodded, trying to look interested in some contracts he was working on.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Jax picked up the phone and called his parents' home in Alaska. His father answered right away.
"Dad! I was hoping you'd be home."
"Jax! It's good to hear from you. What've you been up to lately? Still seeing that...Matilda?" John asked, knowing full well that it was Miranda. John had never been fond of Miranda and never pretended to be- even when he knew that she and Jax were dating.
"Miranda, Dad."
"Right. So what's up, son?"
"Actually, Miranda and I have broken up...but that's not really what I'm calling about. I need your help with something."
John smiled at the news that his son had ended things with that witch. He still remembered the day a few years ago that Jane had found her snooping in their old (well-hidden) pictures of Jessica. "Anything, Jax. What is it?"
Jax sighed, wondering how much he should tell his father. "Well, Dad, I've met someone new. It's kind of a long story, but I've half fallen in love with this girl, and Miranda found out and got jealous, of course...and well...she's concocted this story, Dad..."
"What kind of story, Jax?" John asked sternly. John knew well enough that Miranda was no amateur at schemes and games.
"She's saying that this woman that I'm involved with, her name is Brenda Barrett, is actually....Dad, she's saying that Brenda is Jessica."
"WHAT?" John nearly dropped the phone. This was a big one, even for Miranda.
"Yeah, I know. I was shocked too. I told Miranda that I didn't believe her for a second, but since then some odd things have occurred to me and Dad, I just...I need you to investigate this with me so I can be sure...before I get more involved with Brenda. Can you help?"
John let out the deep breath he had been holding. "I'll be on the next flight to Port Charles, Jax."

Meanwhile, Lois and Robin arrived in the lobby of the hotel and saw Brenda right away. Brenda rushed forward and hugged Robin warmly, and then hugged Lois again. "I'm so glad you guys are here. I've missed both of you so much!"
Robin smiled back at her friend. "We've missed you too, Brenda. This is going to be great having you hear in PC with us. We can be here for each other all the time now, and we can be as close as we were in Florida."
Brenda's eyes filled with tears at Robin's words.
"What is it, Bren?" Lois asked, noticing Brenda's tears and sad expression.
"Guys, I need your help already."
"What's going on?" Robin asked.
"Yeah, we'll help you, whatever it is, Brenda! Is it Jax? Did something happen with you two?" Lois asked.
Brenda sighed. "No...nothing happened. That's the problem. You guys, I need you to help me come up with a plan to seduce Jax."

Hi everyone! Here is chapter 9, I hope you like it. I'd love to hear what you think! Thanks to all of you who send me feedback, I appreciate it more than you'll ever know. You guys are my inspiration. :-) Enjoy!

~Amy
_______________________________________________________
{Recap: Miranda told Jax that Brenda is really his kidnapped sister Jessica, and provided him with some proof. Jax claimed to Miranda that he didn't believe her, but he was later haunted by the idea. Jax's suspicions grew when Brenda had a nightmare of being kidnapped as a child. Jax's fears ended up causing him to pull away from Brenda, and Brenda misinterpreted his feelings, and became hurt, thinking that she was relying on him too much for emotional support. Brenda later met Lois and Robin for lunch and asked them for help with a plan- a plan to seduce Jax. Meanwhile, Jax called his father in Alaska and told him about Miranda's bombshell and asked for his help. John agreed to come to Port Charles right away.}

Chapter 9
Lois coughed, trying not to laugh. "Bren, did I hear you wrong, or did you just ask for our help in...oh...*seducing* Jax?"
Robin smiled. "Why don't you tell us everything, from the beginning, Brenda. I still want to know about why you're here and how you met Jax."
Brenda nodded seriously. "Lois, yes, I need you two to help me come up with a good plan to seduce Jax. Robin, that sounds really great, how about if we go to lunch and discuss everything?"
Robin and Lois agreed, and the three women left in Lois' car to go to the PC Grill. Once they were there they found a table easily. Brenda opened her menu, scanning it quickly, and didn't notice for several seconds that Lois and Robin were staring at her intently. "What?" Brenda asked laughingly.
"Are you okay, Bren? You acted perfectly happy when I saw you last night, but today you seem different, kind of sad," Lois observed seriously.
Brenda nodded. "Yeah, I wanna tell you guys everything, let's order first though, I'm starved."
A few minutes later, after they had each ordered salads and iced tea, Brenda began her story. "All right, I'll start back at the beginning, after we lost contact."
"That was about six months after we met in Florida, right?" Robin asked.
Brenda nodded. "That's right. I'd just turned 19, and I was getting ready to start college, at the Sorbonne. During the summer and fall I was finalizing all of my plans to go there, I was gonna start in September...but then the admissions people called and said they needed a copy of my birth certificate. I thought that Daddy had already taken care of that, I'd told him to months before. Daddy was really busy at the time, and I knew Mom wouldn't know where it was, so I decided to look for it on my own. Well, that turned out to be a mistake. A big mistake," Brenda paused to take a drink of her tea.
"Why was it a mistake, Brenda?" Robin asked in a concerned tone.
"One day Daddy came home and found me rifling through some of his files, looking for it. When he questioned me, I told him the truth, that I needed the birth certificate and I hadn't wanted to bother him."
"I'll bet he didn't take that well," Lois muttered. From what she had seen of him in Florida, Harlan Barrett was *not* a kind man, nor a patient or understanding man either.
"He was mad. Really mad. He started yelling at me for invading his privacy, and I started crying...then, just out of nowhere, he blurted out that he didn't want me to see it because I would see who my real parents are."
"Whoa," Robin whispered. She could not even imagine going through something like that.
"I was shocked beyond belief," Brenda went on, remembering the moment as if it happened yesterday. "I just stared at him, and then I demanded that he tell me what he meant by that."
"And he just told you?" Lois asked, surprised that Harlan would give up the secret so easily.
"You know my father better than that," Brenda answered lightly. "Nope, it took weeks, and I wouldn't let up on Mom or Daddy until they told me. Even then, they didn't tell me enough, they didn't tell me what I really wanted to hear- who my real parents are."
"They wouldn't tell you?" Robin asked in amazement.
"Nope, I don't even know now. All they would tell me was that my real parents did want me...and they adopted me when I was about a year old." Brenda shook her head in disgust. "As you can imagine, that wasn't enough for me. It's still not enough. I left home that day, and I haven't been back since. I told them I never wanted to see or hear from them ever again, unless they wanted to tell me who my real parents are."
"So that's why you were out of touch for so long?" Robin realized.
"Yeah," Brenda looked apologetic. "I wanted to contact you guys...but those first few months were hard! I had to find a job and a place to live, and I had vowed not to take any of *their* money. By the time I was comfortable in a place again, I figured you guys had forgotten me by then and I didn't think I'd ever see you again anyway," Brenda explained.
"So what did you do, Bren? How did you survive all that time?" Lois asked.
"I modeled. I found jobs modeling all around Europe. I lived in Italy for awhile, and then Paris. The whole time, I was searching for information on my real parents, and getting nowhere at all. Finally, about six months ago, I decided to move to New York and search for them here in the U.S. So I saved up my money, and left Europe just a few days ago."
Robin and Lois were amazed at their friend's story. When they had met her in Florida, Brenda was fun and sweet, and a good friend, but she was also extremely spoiled. Now here she was, telling them about how she had lived for the last two years without a cent from her parents or anyone else. How she had rebuilt her life from scrach, all alone.
"Okay, so I want to hear about how you met Jax!" Robin exclaimed, attempting to lighten the moment.
"All right, but first I want to know what you think of him, do you know Jax well?" Brenda asked Robin. She knew that Lois and Jax had been close for a long time, but no one mentioned Robin.
Robin shook her head. "I've never really gotten to know him, actually. I've always thought he was really interesting, from what I've heard, but I have just seen him a couple of times and never really talked to him."
Brenda nodded. "Okay. Well, I met Jax at the airport in New York City. I had my eyes glued to the directions to my hotel, and apparently so did he, because we just crashed into each other! It was fate. I'm sure of it now," Brenda said dreamily.
"So you two hit it off right away?" Lois asked.
"Yeah, we really did. We realized that we were staying at the same hotel, so Jax gave me a ride there, in his car. On the way we talked about everything...personal stuff that we wouldn't have told anyone else. It was really good. So when we got to the hotel Jax asked if I would go to dinner with him that night, and I said yes. Since then it has just been this wonderful, beautiful fairy tale romance. The next day, Jax asked me to come back to Port Charles with him. I took a chance and said yes, after he promised that he wasn't trying to rush me into a committment or anything, and here we are. You have no idea how happy I was when I saw Lois and realized that this was where you two live."
"We're happy you're here, too, Brenda," Robin answered.
Lois nodded and squeezed Brenda's hand. "Yeah, you bet we are. Now, what's the deal with this seduction plan?"
Brenda took a deep breath. "Wow, we've already been sitting here for over two hours! We've got to get this seduction plan in the works. Okay, I'm starting to think that Jax might be losing interest in me," she admitted.
"Why would you think that? It certainly didn't look like that the other night!" Lois exclaimed.
"It didn't seem like it then, either. It wasn't until this morning. I had a nightmare and I was telling him about it, and all of a sudden it just seemed like he was pulling away from me. Once I thought he was going to kiss me, and then he just stopped. Then just now, before I came down to meet you two, he really seemed indifferent, almost cold. It's a side of him I haven't seen until now," Brenda explained worriedly.
"What do you think is wrong, Brenda?" Robin asked.
"Well, I'm not sure, but I think it's because I've been so serious since we got back, we've spent so much time talking about my family, and my problems, and then last night, we were about to make love, for the first time, and the phone rang and while he was talking, I just fell asleep. I was so tired from everything that's gone on lately. He said it was okay, and he carried me up to bed, but I felt bad. The worst part is, that night I felt ready to be with him. I know it's really soon, but I really think that I am. So, I decided that tonight is the night that he's going to know I'm ready," Brenda announced.
"Aha! Seduction time!" Lois said in a playful voice.
"Yup! This is where you guys come in...any ideas on how I can seduce Jax?"
"I know, how about if you plan a romantic dinner with him? You could arrange for dinner to be brought up to the penthouse, and light a few candles, that kind of thing. And things can kinda...go from there," Lois said suggestively.
"Yeah! We can go shopping and pick out the perfect outfit for you to wear. He won't be able to resist you, Brenda!" Robin added.
Brenda gazed around the table at her two best friends and tears filled her eyes. "You two are the best."

While Brenda, Robin, and Lois were out to lunch and then shopping, Jax sat in the penthouse, trying to work. Unfortunately, thoughts of Brenda kept interrupting his thought process. The sparkle in her eyes when they had run into each other at the airport... the way she had confided in him on the way to the hotel, and how comfortable he had felt telling her about himself. Then there was their date, at the Italian restaurant, and when they danced she had seemed to fit so perfectly in his arms. He had felt like he never wanted to let her out of them, ever. Then when they had kissed back at the hotel...he had never felt that way before in his entire life. It felt so right, and he had known right then that he was falling for her- hard.
Jax sighed. {I have to stop thinking about all of that. If she is...if she *is* Jessica, I can never think of her that way ever again. Why was I so stupid, to fall for her so fast like that? }
Jax couldn't help but think of her though, and he was reliving the previous night's kisses on the couch before Miranda had called, when the phone rang.
"Yeah?" Jax answered.
"It's me, Jax. I'm gonna be arriving there tonight, around seven. Is that all right?" John asked his son as the plane made its way across the states.
Jax sighed. "That's perfect, Dad. Come right up to my penthouse when you get here. I'm glad you're coming."
A few minutes later, Jax hung up the phone and went upstairs to take a shower. As he stood beneath the pounding hot water, Jax couldn't keep from thinking of Brenda, her beautiful smile, her soft, creamy skin, her silky hair, and her loving, tender, yet passionate and strong spirit.

"That's it, Brenda! Get that one!" Lois exclaimed, admiring her friend.
Brenda looked unsure, and glanced from Lois to Robin. "Yeah? You really think so?"
Robin nodded enthusiastically. "You look gorgeous, Brenda, Jax is not gonna stand a chance!"
Brenda gazed down at the gold satin gown. The dress was lovely, it was long and sleeveless, with a high neckline but cut nearly to Brenda's waist in the back. There was a slit up one side that went all the way up to the thigh. The dress hung down to the top of Brenda's new matching gold open-toed sandals. "Okay, so we're all in agreement, I should get this one? And the shoes?" Brenda questioned nervously.
"YES!" Robin and Lois said in unison.
"We've been shopping for hours, Brenda, it's nearly five-thirty. This is the perfect dress, those are the perfect shoes, and you look fantastic," Robin said impatiently.
"Okay. I'll get them!" Brenda said excitedly, doing a little happy dance as she went back into the dressing room to change.
Fifteen minutes later, the three women left, Brenda carrying three large shopping bags, one with the dress, another for the shoes, and a third for the absolutely perfect lingerie she had found- including a short, gorgeous white satin nightgown with thin strands of gold thread woven into it. Brenda had also gotten some gold butterfly hair clips and matching jewelry.
Everything was ready, and Brenda was sure that her seduction was going to be a big success. She had even called earlier and arranged for dinner to be flown in from the Italian restaurant Jax had taken her to in New York. It would arrive at the penthouse at around seven, which gave her just about an hour to get ready before dinner.
When Lois and Robin dropped Brenda off at the hotel, she turned to hug each of them. "Thanks. You two are the best friends I could ever ask for."
"We know, we love you too, Bren," Lois answered.
"Will you let us know how your plan goes?" Robin asked curiously.
"Of course!" Brenda answered as she hugged her next. "I'll call you both in the morning..." she smiled. "Well, it might be afternoon. I will call you though, if I pull this off, I'm gonna owe you two forever!" Brenda told them jokingly as she got out of the car.
A few minutes later, she went upstairs to the penthouse, unlocking the door with the key Jax had given her. "Honey, I'm home!" She called out. When she got inside she was surprised to find Jax asleep on the couch, his hair still wet from a shower. As she passed by, she leaned down and kissed his forehead. "That's right, you rest up, because you've got a big night ahead of you," Brenda whispered playfully.
An hour later, the doorbell rang, and Jax was awake by then. He went to answer it, hoping it was John, and surprised to find boxes of takeout food from his favorite Italian restaurant in New York. "Where did this come from?" He asked in surprise.
"A....a Miss Barrett ordered all of this earlier today, sir," the delivery man said. Jax took the boxes and placed them on the already set dining room table.
"What is she up to?" Jax wondered aloud.
The words had no sooner left his lips when he heard footsteps on the stairs. "I hope you're hungry, Jax," Jax heard Brenda's voice before he saw her.
When he did see her, he felt as though the wind had been knocked out of him.
She seemed to glide down the rest of the stairs and came to stand in front of him. "Are you just going to stand there?" She asked, as Jax stood there, staring at her in awe.
"You look...amazing," Jax told her, letting his gaze wander over her body, as if his eyes had a mind of their own. {So much for not thinking of her romantically anymore!} He thought to himself as he barely stopped himself from pulling her into his arms.
"Thanks," Brenda answered twirling around so he could get the full effect of the dress. "Do you want to eat now?"
"Yeah...wow...I can't believe you did all of this yourself," Jax answered as he pulled Brenda's chair out for her and motioned for her to sit down at the table.
"I did it for you," Brenda answered, locking her eyes with Jax's. "I know I've been laying my problems on you a lot so far, and I just wanted to show you that we can have fun, too."
Jax felt his face heating up, as he wondered what she meant exactly by "fun". Brenda raised her glass of champagne to clink with Jax's.
"What are we toasting?" Jax asked.
Brenda smiled. "To us. And an unforgettable night."
Jax nearly choked on his champagne when he heard her words. {An "unforgettable night?? Oh god, what am I gonna do if she wants to....} Jax attempted not to think about what exactly Brenda had in mind, and instead he focused on eating his dinner. Everything was fine until they had finished and Jax looked up from his plate to find Brenda's eyes burning into his.
"Well...um...how was your lunch with Lois and Robin?" Jax asked uncomfortably.
"It was great," Brenda answered. "They helped me a lot," she said softly.
"Really? I'd like to get to know Robin. I've just met her a couple of times, at various social events. I'm sure she's a great person though."
Brenda nodded. "She is...but I don't want to talk about Lois and Robin."
"No?" Jax asked nervously. He ran his hand through his golden curls, and tried to look calm. Really, he was dying. Dying to pull Brenda into his arms and kiss her...and never stop. {This has to be one of Miranda's games. This beatiful woman in front of me *cannot* be my sister. Miranda just thought of the one thing that could possibly keep me and Brenda apart, and decided to use it.} Jax reasoned with himself as his eyes wandered from Brenda's full pink lips to her hair. She'd pulled it up in a gold clip, leaving a few long tendrils down to frame her face. Jax longed to take the clip out so that her hair fell down around her and he could run his fingers through it. Suddenly he was aware of the fact that Brenda was no longer seated in front of him, instead she had stood up and gone over to the stereo to turn some music on softly. Then she came over to stand next to where he sat.
"Dance with me, Jax," she whispered, reaching for his hand.
At the touch of his hand, Brenda felt a deep powerful connection, there were sparks between them, to say the least.
Jax looked into her eyes and couldn't resist. He allowed her to pull him up and lead him into the center of the room, where she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her head against his chest. Jax automatically wrapped his arms gently around her waist, not pressing her into him too firmly, but not pushing her away either. Time seemed to go in slow motion as they stood there together. They very slowly began to sway to the music, barely moving, each lost in the lyrics of the song.

~Everytime our eyes meet
This feeling inside me
Is almost more than I can take
Baby when you touch me
I can feel how much you love me
And it just blows me away
I've never been this close to anyone or anything
I can hear your thoughts
I can see your dreams

I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you, it just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life, with you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby i'm amazed by you
The smell of you skin
The taste of your kiss
The way you whisper in the dark
Your hair all around me, baby you surround me
You touch every place in my heart
Oh, it feels like the first time everytime
I wanna spend the whole night in your eyes

Every little thing that you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life, with you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Oh, every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you... ~

By the end of the song, Jax had pulled Brenda tightly into his arms and they stood there, staring into each other's eyes. Brenda's eyes were lit up with happiness, and shiny with tears. She had never, ever been so in love with anyone in her life. Jax raised his hands to Brenda's face, then dropped them back to her waist. {I have to let go of her...now...before this goes any further. This is wrong! No matter how right it feels...she could be my sister} Jax struggled with his thoughts as he felt Brenda's hands in his hair, pulling his head down to hers. "Brenda..." Jax tried to tell her to stop, but the words wouldn't come out.
Brenda raised a finger to Jax's lips. "Shh...Jax. No more words. This is going to be the night we've both been waiting for since we met. And it starts...now," She whispered, replacing her finger with her lips on Jax's almost instantaneously.
Before Jax could even form a coherent thought, he found himself locked in a passionate kiss...so deep and fiery that Jax was surprised their very bodies didn't catch on fire.
As Brenda continued to kiss him, Jax couldn't help himself, before he knew it he was kissing her back with equal ardor, pulling her closer and closer, meeting her tongue with his own in her mouth. Brenda moaned softly against his lips, and began slowly unbuttoning his shirt. "Jax..." she whispered. "Let's go upstairs."
Jax continued to kiss her, thinking to himself, {As long as we're down here, I'm safe...but if we go upstairs, I'll end up making love to her for sure}.
Jax reached up and gently pulled Brenda's hair clip out and her hair fell down around them. Before Jax could stop himself, he was pulling her down ontop of himself on the couch, and Jax was having serious doubts about his oath to not be with Brenda until he knew the truth that she wasn't his sister.
When Jax moved his lips to glide down Brenda's slender neck, Brenda took the opportunity to whisper again, "Let's go upstairs, Jax."
Jax stood up, gathering Brenda into his arms, kissing her once more.
Suddenly they were both aware of a door being slammed very near them. They broke apart slowly, turning to see what was going on.
John Jacks stood in the doorway, looking somewhat amused.
"Well, it looks like I got here just in time!"

*Song credit: "Amazed" by Lonestar*

Hi everyone! Here's chapter 10. Let me know what you think. Thanks again to everyone who sends me feedback- I love you guys!!! Keep it up.Oh and one more thing...Please don't hate me for what happens in this chapter! You all know I love J&B...keep that in mind, lol. :-) Here's some incentive to reply: 10 replies here will get you chapter 11 by Wednesday morning.
~Amy
_______________________________________________________
{Recap: Brenda told Lois and Robin all about her life since they met in Florida, and they marveled at how mature she had become since they met. Brenda then asked them for help in reclaiming Jax's attention, and Lois suggested that she surprise Jax with a special dinner. The three friends then went and found Brenda the perfect outfit to wear. Meanwhile, Jax spoke with John again and John confirmed that he was on his way to PC and would be there soon. Jax was later surprised when dinner from his favorite Italian restaurant in NYC showed up at the door, and he and Brenda shared a romantic dinner and dance. Jax allowed himself to get wrapped up in Brenda and they began to make love when John walked in just at the right moment to stop them. }

Chapter 10
"Dad!" Jax exclaimed, stepping away from Brenda hastily.
Brenda's eyes darted between the two men, confused. "Jax?" She asked, wondering why he had pulled away so quickly.
Jax took a deep breath. "Brenda! This is my father, John Jacks. Dad, I'd like you to meet Brenda Barrett," Jax made the introduction and then looked back and forth between John and Brenda as they shook hands. Jax looked hard for any connection between them, any resemblance at all, but didn't see any. Brenda looked nothing like him.
"I'm...pleased...to meet you, Miss Barrett," John said, searching Brenda's face, her features, for any sign that she was a Jacks.
Jax cleared his throat loudly, breaking the moment as John looked intently into Brenda's face. "Well, Brenda, thank you for dinner, but I'm afraid I have some very important...um...business details to discuss with my father."
Brenda nodded slowly, looking confused and disappointed. "Of course. I'll just be upstairs...in my room. It was nice meeting you, Mr. Jacks," Brenda said, backing up towards the stairs slowly.
John just nodded, still watching her when she disappeared a moment later.
"*That* is the woman you think is your sister?" John asked disbelievingly after they had heard Brenda's door slam shut. "If you suspect she's your sister, then what the bloody h*ll were you doing kissing her like that?"
Jax shook his head, looking upset. "Ijust can't believe that she could be Jessica. I can't seem to...to stop thinking of her that way, Dad! I keep resolving to, but then she looks up at me with those big brown eyes and she touches me...and all I want to do is hold her," Jax admitted.
"Well it certainly looked like you wanted to do *more* than that when I walked in," John commented dryly.
Jax just sighed. "I couldn't possibly feel this way if she were my real sister, Dad. I know I couldn't. What was your reaction when you saw her?"
John took a sip of the brandy he'd just poured himself. "Well I thought that she looked like a lovely girl...quite beautiful."
"That's all? You didn't feel anything...fatherly towards her? No connections?"
"Not that I could tell...but Jax you do have to remember that she was only one when she was taken from us. She has grown up as someone else. We might not feel anything familiar towards her," John answered practically.
Jax ran his fingers through his hair nervously. "There are so many coincidences, Dad. Brenda even had this nightmare this morning...that she was sitting in the grass outside of a tiny house, and the people inside were yelling...she said she felt like she was just a little child in the dream, and someone was taking her away," Jax said pointedly.
"It sounds like something Jessica could've dreamed about that awful day," John sighed. "I don't know what to tell you, Jax. I can see how much you care for the girl already, but I'm afraid that the safest thing for you would be to break up with her for now. Just until you know for sure...just until you know the truth," John told him.
"What am I gonna tell her? She knows that I've been falling in love with her...I'm sure she knows."
John clapped Jax on the back. "Just tell her that your feelings have changed! You have to, Jax. It's the only way. You have to break things off with her now, do it before it's too late."
"I know you're right, Dad. I just don't want to hurt her, the last thing I wanna do is hurt her," Jax explained sadly.
"It's for the best, Jax. Now, I should get down to my room and let you get some rest. Do what you have to do, Jax. I'll see you tomorrow and we'll try to get this whole thing solved as soon as possible."
"All right, Dad. Thanks," Jax said tiredly, seeing his father out.
Awhile later, Jax went up the stairs and paused in the doorway of the guest room, his hand on the door knob. It would be so easy to just go in there and take her in his arms...he wanted to so much...but no matter how much they both wanted it, he couldn't do it.
"NOOOOOOO!!!!!! Let me GO! PLEASE!!!"
Jax heard Brenda screaming and knew he couldn't just walk away. He opened the door and ran in, flipping the light on. "Brenda? It's okay, sweetie...wake up," Jax said, shaking Brenda lightly as she thrashed on the bed, sobbing violently.
Finally she started to come out of it and, still crying, threw her arms around Jax, holding onto him as if she would never let go.
Jax just held her while she cried, rubbing her back gently. "You're safe now, Brenda. I'm here, it's okay."
Finally Brenda was able to stop crying and she pulled back slightly, rubbing the last tears from her eyes. She suddenly realized that she had on the white satin negligee and looked down shyly. "I'm sorry about that, Jax. This is the second time you've had to rescue me from a bad dream," she said finally.
Jax smiled. "Do you want to tell me about it?" He asked, trying not to notice how beautiful she looked.
Brenda's eyes filled up again. "It was the same as last time. I...I was being kidnapped."
"Did you ever have this dream before you came to Port Charles?" Jax asked.
"No...they just started," Brenda answered, sobbing again.
"It's okay now. What can I do to help you, Brenda?" Jax asked, caressing her cheek gently.
Brenda sniffled. "Could you just...just stay in here with me? And hold me until I fall asleep?"
Jax nodded and slid under the covers beside her, holding her against him gently. {I'll have her here in my arms for this night, and tomorrow I'll have to break things off with her. Just until I find out that she's not my sister.} Jax thought as he felt Brenda relaxing and going to sleep in his arms.

When Brenda awoke the next morning, sunshine was pouring into the windows of the room, and she felt safe and warm. She realized right away that Jax was still there, holding onto her, he had stayed all night. Brenda turned over and found herself face to face with Jax, who was still asleep. His arms were still wrapped around her and he looked just like a little boy, his face was so relaxed and angelic. Brenda raised her hand to caress Jax's cheek gently. Jax seemed so funny sometimes...almost like two different people. There was the Jax she had met in New York, that was fun, and sweet, passionate, s-exy. That's who he had been the night before when they had danced and ate dinner..and afterwards...but then when his father had walked in, he seemed so emotionless and distant. When he'd comforted her after her dream he had been tender and understanding. It was that Jax that she was falling in love with, more each day. She wanted to learn more about him, and find out where he went when he got so distant and cold. {I want to know who you are, Jax. I want to know everything about you,} she thought. Then Brenda raised her lips and kissed Jax's closed eyelids first...and then his cheeks...and the tip of his nose. Then finally she found his lips, kissing him gently. Jax woke up then, and raised a hand to her face, kissing her back for a moment, very sweetly. A moment later, he pulled back abruptly and sat up, looking alarmed.
It took him a moment, but he finally remembered that he had stayed with Brenda the night before after she'd had that dream. He took a deep breath as he remembered what he'd decided to do that day.
"Jax? What's the matter?" Brenda asked, sitting up and putting her arms around him.
Jax used every last bit of strength and willpower he had and pulled away. He stood up and walked towards the door. "Nothing's the matter. I'm going to go take a shower, I'll meet you in awhile downstairs for breakfast. We need to talk."
Brenda sat stunned, staring after him as he left. "Talk about what, Jax?" She wondered aloud, shaking her head in confusion and hurt.

Thirty minutes later, Brenda finished showering and dressing went downstairs to find that room service had already delivered their breakfast. Jax was there, reading the newspaper.
Brenda had dressed casually, in a simple pale pink t-shirt and jeans, her hair pulled up in a ponytail. Jax was wearing his usual suit and tie, looking handsome and very important.
"What's up, Jax?" Brenda asked lightly as she sat down across from him. "What do we have to talk about?"
Jax took a sip of his coffee, realizing that his throat had suddenly gone dry as he realized what he had to do. He put down his newspaper and tried to act nonchalant. "Well, Brenda, the thing is...well..." Jax stuttered, unable to find the words.
"Yes?" Brenda asked nervously.
"The thing is, that this isn't really working out for me," Jax lied, trying not to see the pain in Brenda's eyes.
"And *what* would that be, exactly, Jax? Me? Our relationship? My living here?" Brenda asked in a pained voice.
"All of it," Jax answered. "You see...I think I mentioned this before, but I've never really had a lot of time for relationships. I'm very busy. That's why Miranda and I never lived together. I just have too much to do to be spending so much time...uh...looking after you," Jax spoke calmly, as his insides were quaking at his words. {Did I really just say that? That sounded horrible! Dad never said I had to *hurt* her this badly!} Jax thought to himself as he heard his own words.
"Look after me?" Brenda asked, her voice rising. "Well I'm sorry if I've been such a terrible inconvenience for you, Jax. I just want to remind you that *you* invited me here in the first place!" Brenda said angrily, standing up from the table.
Jax stood up too. "Well...I guess that was a mistake."
Brenda narrowed her eyes. "What's going on here, Jax?"
Jax hadn't expected this. "What do you mean? I...I'm breaking up with you," he answered nervously.
"Well I can see that, but what I don't understand is *why* and where this came from! We've had so much fun...in New York...on our first night back here...last night when we had dinner and danced...and then you were so sweet when I had those nightmares. You held me last night, Jax...all night, you just held me and took care of me," Brenda walked around the table to where Jax stood and raised her hand to his cheek. "Tell me what's going on, Jax."
Jax closed her eyes as she touched him, wanting so badly to just give in and tell her everything....or not tell her anything and just forget that she might be his sister. Instead he opened his eyes quickly and pulled away from her touch. "Nothing is going on, Brenda," he answered, turning away from her, so he didn't have to look into those heart-melting eyes of hers. "I told you...I don't have the time, or the patience for a relationship. So, I really need you to...to move out as soon as possible."
"You don't mean this," Brenda whispered, walking around to face him again and searching his eyes with hers.
"I do. Please, Brenda. You have friends here...I'm sure you can find somewhere else to stay. We're through."
Brenda forced herself to hold back the tears that threatened. "All right, Jax, if that's the way you feel." Jax looked relieved. "But Jax...you're wrong about something. We are *not* through. We never will be. You're pushing me away right now, and I don't know why...but I will find out...and we will get back together. What we have is too special and too rare to just let go of because you can't handle it!"
Jax just turned his eyes away from hers again, refusing to show any emotion. "I'll have someone come up to help you with your things," he answered coldly, trying not to wince at his own words after he said them.
Brenda sighed and began to go upstairs. "Fine, Jax. I'll leave for now, but don't think I'm giving up. I'm not. I'm going to get to the bottom of this. What we have is too special to just let go of, and I don't know why you're even trying to do that," She whispered before running up the stairs. She slammed the door and began packing her things, finally setting free the tears she had held back.

Fifteen minutes later, Brenda had taken her bags and gone down to the lobby. She had left the penthouse without another word to Jax...when she left he had been sitting at his desk looking over some papers. Brenda got into the cab that was waiting for her and gave the driver the address of Ned and Lois's gatehouse. When she got there, she rang the doorbell and Lois answered.
As soon as she saw her friend, tears began to fall down Brenda's cheeks freely. "Oh Lois...I need a place to stay! Can I stay here, with you?"
Lois just helped Brenda bring her bags in and then hugged her friend as she cried for a long time.

Jax groaned when he heard the knock at the door, he was sure that if it was Brenda, he wouldn't be able to put on this charade anymore, he would end up apologizing to her and begging for her forgiveness! He knew he had hurt her, and he felt horrible.
Jax opened the door, preparing to see Brenda's sad and hurt face and instead found himself face to face with his father, and a tall dark-haired woman.
"Jax! I'm glad I caught you. Can we come in?" John asked.
"Of course," Jax answered, stepping aside to let them in.
"Jax, I'd like you to meet Aleli Buchanan."
Jax nodded, shaking the woman's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Buchanan," Jax said properly as he met her ice blue eyes. "We haven't met before, have we? You look very familiar."
Aleli shook her head. "I don't think so...but you do look familiar to me, too. Oh, and please, call me Aleli."
Jax nodded and turned back to his father questioningly.
John picked up on his son's unanswered question. "Jax, I've hired Aleli to help us. Aleli is a widely-known private detective, and she's had a lot of success with kidnapping cases. If Jessica is somewhere in this world, Jax, Aleli is going to find her for us."

Hi, angels! Here's chapter 11! You kept your end of the deal, so I did too. Thanks to all of you who sent me feedback. Please tell me what you think of this chapter. Chapter 12 will be out by the end of the week. Of course...IF I got a lot of feedback again, I *might* be persuaded to get that next chapter out more towards the middle of the week...but I'm not blackmailing you or anything. *beg*
:-)
~Amy
_______________________________________________________
{Recap: John Jacks and Brenda met for the first time, and John later told Jax that he didn't feel any special connection to her. Yet John then told Jax that to be safe, he would have to break up with Brenda until they found out for sure that she wasn't his sister. When John left, Jax went upstairs to go to bed and overheard Brenda having another nightmare about being kidnapped. He went to comfort her and ended up staying and just holding her all night. In the morning, J&B shared one last kiss before Jax pulled away. Jax then shocked Brenda by telling her that their relationship wasn't working out for him and they needed to break up- and she needed to move out. Brenda tried to get Jax to change his mind, but when she wouldn't she swore she wouldn't give up on him and then went to Lois and Ned's house to stay. Later Jax had to deal with the aftermath of letting go of Brenda, and he was surprised when his father showed up with a private detective- Aleli Buchanan- and swore that she would find Jessica.}

Chapter 11
Jax smiled at Aleli slightly. "Well, if my father has this much faith in you, then I do, too. If there's anything I can do to help you, please let me know."
Aleli nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Jacks. I'll do everything I can to help your family. I am sure that you've been asked this many times by other investigators, but could you tell me everything that you remember about the day your sister disappeared? I realize you were just a child...but you must remember something..."
Jax cleared his throat, and thought for a moment. There was no question about it, he remembered everything. He could never forget that day. "I really don't think that anything I say can help you, but I'll tell you what I know. Let's sit down. Would you like something to drink?"
Aleli shook her head as she sat down on the couch opposite from John and Jax. "No thanks. Please, just start from the beginning." She took out a small notebook and pen and prepared to take notes.
Jax closed his eyes briefly, and then began talking. "Dad and Mum were inside the house, they'd asked us kids to stay outside for awhile while they discussed some things. So Jerry and I took Jessica outside, just a few feet from the house and we were playing with her there, in the grass. We were just little kids, we didn't even have many toys to play with, we just played silly little games with the baby...but it was fun," Jax's eyes had a faraway look in them as he remembered how much he had loved Jessica. She was *his* baby. He took care of her, looked after her, and protected her. "Anyway, we were just sitting there playing, when my good friend Thomas came over and asked me to go off somewhere with him. I...I shouldn't have left Jerry and Jessie alone, but I did anyway."
John interrupted. "Jax, Jerry's the oldest. He was responsible for both of you."
Jax closed his eyes painfully once again before continuing. "Anyway. I kissed Jessie goodbye and I went off with my friend. I came back soon after dark, like always, and when I got there Mum, Dad, and Jerry were all upset...they said Jess was gone and they were hoping that I had come back and taken her with me. But I hadn't. I hadn't seen her since I left her and Jerry in our yard...and I never saw her again," Jax finished sadly.
Aleli looked up from where she had been writing quickly and gazed at Jax sympathetically. "Thank you, Jax. I know that was painful for you."
Jax nodded and smiled back at her. "Is there any other way I can help?"
Aleli glanced down at her notes. "Well...your father mentioned that there's someone that you suspect is your sister. What can you tell me about that?"
"Her name is Brenda Barrett. She was adopted when she was a baby by Harlan and Veronica Barrett. Harlan is the president of Barrett Industries, based in London."
"What did the Barretts tell Brenda about her adoption? Do you know?" Aleli asked curiously, tapping her pen against the notebook.
"They didn't tell her a thing. She didn't even know she was adopted until recently, and they wouldn't give her any of the details about it- not even her birth parents' names."
Aleli nodded, deep in thought. "Your father mentioned that you were in sort of a...uh..relationship with Miss Barrett. So I assume I will be investigating her secretly?"
Jax nodded. "Please...let me know if it gets to be a problem...but I'd really like to keep this a secret until we know something for sure."
"What if it comes down to a blood test?"
"I'd like to try to get around that...for as long as possible anyway. If you find significant proof that Brenda is my sister, then I will tell her, and we'll do the blood tests. I want to avoid that, though."
Aleli nodded, and stood up. "Okay. Thanks for your help...I know this is a painful subject for both of you," she looked sympathetically at both men. "I've already talked to your father, Jax, and I'm going to contact your brother Jerry tonight. I'll do my very best."
Jax looked into Aleli's eyes and for some reason, he believed her. He believed that she would do everything in her power to find Jessica. She looked like someone they could trust. His father must have picked up on that right away. "C'mon, I'll walk you out," Jax told her, leading her out the door.
John stayed behind in the penthouse and took out his cellphone. He went over to Jax's desk and found his son's address book and found the number he was looking for. He dialed it and the woman picked up on the third ring.
"Whatever you're up to, you had better give it up *now* or you'll be sorry!" John snarled angrily into the phone.

Jax and Aleli walked down to the lobby in a comfortable silence. When they got to the door, Aleli turned to Jax and put her hand on his arm. "I know you probably gave up on finding your sister a long time ago, Jax, but I haven't let down a client yet. I'm not making any promises, but just know that in the three years I've been doing this, I've always been able to solve the case."
Jax nodded. "Thanks...that is comforting. I just...I don't want my friend..Miss Barrett..to be hurt by any of this. She's been through enough already," Jax added uncomfortably. {Like me breaking her heart in two}, he thought guiltily.
Aleli felt very comfortable talking to Jax, even though they'd just met and she didn't often confide in her clients. "I understand, Jax. Finding out that you're adopted isn't easy to deal with. I have an idea what Miss Barrett has been through, because I was adopted, too. I guess you could say that that's the *one* case I have never been able to solve. I don't know who my birth parents are."
"I'm sorry. It makes sense though, I mean, no wonder you're being so great about all of this. I appreciate it," Jax told her gratefully.
"I'll see you soon, Jax. Take care." Aleli walked out the door and Jax realized that when he went back up to the penthouse, after his father left, he would be all alone- with nothing but the few happy memories he and Brenda had shared there during the last few days- and the memory of the look on her face as he'd broken her heart.

At the Gatehouse, Brenda poured her heart out to Lois about what had just happened with Jax.
"And then he just out of the blue said that this wasn't working out for him and I should move out! Just like that!" Brenda finished her story sadly, wiping the last remaining tears from her eyes, and then taking a sip of the tea Lois had made for her.
"That jerk!" Lois shouted, outraged. "I'd have never guessed that he'd treat you like this, Bren. If I had, I swear, I would've warned you!"
"I know that, Lois. I can't believe it myself. Everything was so perfect for awhile! In New York, and then at first when we came back here, everything was great. I just don't get it at all! One minute he was sweet, caring, gentle, and wonderful...and the next he was just cold and distant, almost unfeeling."
"That doesn't sound like Jax at all. I've known him for awhile you know, and he's never been like that. Even Miranda's...*witchiness* never seemed to rub off on him when they were dating!"
"I'd almost think that it was his father. Everything was better until his father came in when we were..." Brenda broke off, blushing.
"When you were what? Oh Bren, don't tell me that your little seduction worked and you didn't even tell me about it!" Lois teased gently.
"I swear, Lo, it *was* working! He seemed hesitant at first, but we ate dinner and talked...and then we danced. It was so amazing. Then we started kissing. Kissing Jax is something so incredible...I've never felt this way about anyone before. Anyway, we were...well we were about to go upstairs...when Jax's father suddenly walked in on us. And he didn't even apologize...he said something really strange, in fact."
"What?" Lois asked, intrigued.
"He said something about how he'd gotten there just in time. Explain that one to me!" Brenda exclaimed with frustration.
Lois just shook her head. "I have no idea...what happened then?"
"Well, Jax said that he and his father needed to discuss some things, so I went upstairs to get ready for bed. I must've fallen asleep, because when I woke up, Jax was there and I'd been having another nightmare."
"One of those kidnapping ones again?" Lois asked with concern.
"Yeah. And Jax was so sweet again! He just held me...and I asked him to stay with me just until I fell asleep...but when I woke up this morning he was still there, beside me, holding me so gently in his arms. Oh, Lois, I've never been hurt this badly in my life, aside from what my parents did to me!"
Lois patted Brenda's back comfortingly. "So when did he get weird on you again?"
Brenda sighed heavily. "Well, when I woke up, he was still asleep...and...I kissed him. It was the strangest thing. He kissed me back so tenderly, so sweetly...and then like, an instant later he practically *jumped* out of bed and that's when he said that we needed to talk about something. I don't know what that was all about. It's so confusing."
"So then when you went downstairs for breakfast...that's when he gave you the big kiss-off?" Lois asked angrily.
Brenda nodded sadly. "I got dressed and went downstairs, and asked him what he wanted to talk about, and that's when he said that it wasn't working out."
"I'm so sorry, Bren."
Brenda swallowed back the tears that were threatening once again. "The worst part is, I'm in love with him, Lois. At least, I think I am...I've never felt this way about anyone and now he had to go and break my heart!"
Lois shook her head. "What are you gonna do now?"
"Can I stay here with you guys, just until I can find a place of my own? I don't know where else I'd go...I mean, Robin still lives with her uncle, right?"
"Of course you can stay here! Yes, Robin still lives with Mac."
"You're sure Ned won't mind?"
"He won't mind. Don't worry, Bren." Lois told her comfortingly, handing her another kleenex to wipe her eyes.
Brenda looked down at her wrist to see what time it was and suddenly realize that she didn't have her watch on. "Oh, no..." she moaned.
"What?" Lois asked worriedly.
"My watch! I must've left it at the penthouse. I have to get it back, it's all I have left of anything that my parents ever gave me. That's the only thing I kept!"
"I know, how about it if I go and get it for you?" Lois offered.
Brenda thought for a moment. "No...that's okay. I want to go myself. I want to see if Jax has come to his senses yet!" She grabbed her purse. "I'll call a cab."
"Are you sure you're up to this?"
"Yes, I need to do this, Lois."
"All right then. How about if I drive you? That way I'll be there if you need me."
Brenda nodded gratefully. "Okay, let's go."

Back at the hotel, Jax went back up to his penthouse dejectedly. When he got there he was surprised to find his father was already gone. {It's just as well...I need some time alone to think} he thought sadly. Jax walked upstairs and into the guestroom. He could still smell Brenda's perfume in there. It just made him miss her even more, he realized. He saw something on the dresser and walked over to it, confused. It was Brenda's watch. Jax picked it up and held onto it for a second. He took it with him back downstairs, thinking that he would call Lois or Ned and ask them to give it to her later. Jax had just sat down to work at his laptop a few minutes before, when there was a knock at the door.
Brenda stood outside the door, combing her fingers through her hair hurriedly, remembering that she hadn't even redone her makeup before she had Lois bring her over. Lois had even offered to come up with her, but Brenda had declined, feeling that she had to do this on her own. When Jax opened the door, Brenda was surprised to see that he looked tired, and distraught. She even noticed that his eyes had started to come alive when he saw her...but then he stopped them and looked indifferent again.
"Brenda," Jax whispered, he was surprised to see her there. Jax felt his heart tear a little more as he could see that she'd been crying.
"Hi, Jax," Brenda answered softly. "Can I come in?"
Jax hesitated a moment, then nodded, opening the door wide enough for her to come in. He waited until she was inside and he closed the door, before he spoke. "I...I thought I made myself clear before. We can't see each other anymore, Brenda."
Brenda just shook her head. "Jax..I...I came to get my watch. I guess I left it here, by accident."
Jax felt like the biggest jerk in the world. {Why did I have to say that? I should've just told her I found her watch and given it to her...no need to hurt her any more, and yet I keep doing it!} he thought to himself angrily. "I'm sorry. I found it a little while ago," Jax answered, taking the watch from his desk and handing it to her. "I was going to send it over to Ned, I figured he could give it to Lois and she would give it to you," he admitted.
Brenda leaned back against the desk and folded her arms across her chest. "Jax. Who are you trying to fool here? I can tell that something more is going on here than you're telling me!"
Jax turned away from her. "You're wrong, Brenda. I've just changed my mind about us, that's all."
Brenda sighed. "If that's true, and you really just don't care anymore...then why didn't you let me keep living here until I found another place? Why are you so anxious to never see me again?" She asked, her voice breaking slightly at the end.
Jax closed his eyes, still facing away from her. "Well...I just don't want to make this any harder...on either one of us, that's all."
Brenda walked around and stood in front of him. "All right, Jax. I'll let this go- for now- if you agree to do one thing for me."
"What?" Jax asked anxiously. He couldn't keep up this act for much longer.
Brenda stepped in closer to him. "Kiss me just one more time...just one more kiss, a kiss for goodbye...and I'll let you go." She put her hands on either side of his face, and she could feel him softening towards her.
Suddenly Jax knew he had to stop this. He couldn't let her see how easy it would be for him to just let her back in. But he couldn't. Not until he knew for sure that she wasn't Jessica. He knew he couldn't kiss her again.
To Brenda's surprise and disappointment, Jax pushed her away. "No. I'm sorry, Brenda...I can't...I can't ever kiss you again."
Brenda's eyes welled up with tears and she tried valiantly not to cry. "Fine, Jax. Just know this- what we had, some people never find. I'm not giving up on it, if it means that I have to wait for you for the rest of my life! It was *fate* that we ran into each other in that airport, Jax, and it was fate that we ended up going on that date...it was fate that we kissed outside my hotel room, and it was definitely fate that you convinced me to move here with you. I thought that you could see that...I know that you could before. I will not give up, Jax. Not ever. I will be here when you come to your senses and realize what you've thrown away."
Jax was angry then. Why couldn't she just let it go? "You can't do that, Brenda! Why are you going to waste your life on someone you can *never* have?" He asked bitterly.
The tears were flowing down Brenda's cheeks as she brushed them away angrily. "Where is this coming from? Why can I never have you, Jax? I know that you felt the same way!"
"I told you, I changed my mind. I don't know how many different ways I can tell you, Brenda. We're over...finished...we will never be together!" Jax told her cruelly, his own heart breaking as he said the words.
Brenda gasped at his words, and finally had had enough. Sobbing, she turned and threw open the door, slamming it behind her before she slid to the floor in the hallway, crying.

~What have I got to do to make you love me
What have I got to do to make you care
What do I do when lightning strikes me
And I wake to find that you're not there

What do I do to make you want me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I say when it's all over
And sorry seems to be the hardest word

It's sad, so sad
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad, so sad
Why can't we talk it over
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word

What do I do to make you love me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I do when lightning strikes me
What have I got to do
What have I got to do
When sorry seems to be the hardest word~

Jax's eyes filled up with tears as soon as she was gone, and he leaned against the door, holding his hands to his head. "Oh god...what've I done? I'm so sorry Brenda," he whispered.

*Song Credit: "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" by Elton John.
For those of you that remember it, this song was played on GH right after J&B's 2nd wedding catastrophe when Brenda was back at the penthouse and Jax was still at the hospital with his father.

Good morning, Angels! Here's chapter 12, as promised. Enjoy, and please tell me what you think. :-) I LOVE hearing from you guys, hearing your opinions and what you THINK is gonna happen...lol. Okay-this chapter is dedicated to Aleli and Nicole for always being here for me and forcing me to keep writing! LOL just kidding, but I love you guys!!! *g*

~Amy
___________________________________________________________
{Recap: Jax told Aleli all about the day that Jessica was kidnapped, and the two later bonded when Aleli admitted to Jax that she was adopted. John threatened someone on the phone, telling them to give up on whatever they are up to. Brenda told Lois all about her and Jax's breakup...later she realized that she'd left a watch that her parents had given her at Jax's penthouse, so Lois took her to get it back. Brenda then tried desperately to reconnect with Jax, but Jax just pushed her away even more, breaking her heart and his own. }

Chapter 12
"Brenda? What's wrong, Bren?" A voice at Brenda's side caused her to stop crying momentarily to look up. It was Lois.
Brenda stood up from where she had crouched on the floor outside of Jax's penthouse, crying as though her heart would break. It felt like it had. She was so sure now that what she had with Jax was real, true love, and now it was too late. {What had happened? Where had it gone wrong?} Brenda asked herself. "Oh, Lois. Jax made it clear...that we're through. He doesn't love me."
"Oh, Bren, I'm sorry. I can't believe he's doing this to you!" Lois told her sympathetically.
"I know, I don't understand it. Lo, I've got to get out of here, can we go now?"
Lois nodded, frowning at the door to Jax's penthouse. "I'd like to go in there and give that man a piece of my mind!"
Brenda stood up and took Lois' arm, leading her away. "Please don't do anything, Lois. Just take me back to the gatehouse, okay? I just need to think about this for awhile."
Lois nodded, glaring at the door once more as they walked away. "All right Bren, let's go home."
A little while later, after a silent ride back, Brenda went upstairs to lay down in the guest room that Lois had given her, and Lois stayed downstairs to wait for Ned to come home. As she waited for her husband, Lois suddenly realized what she had to do.
Lois picked up the phone and dialed Jax's number.
"Jasper Jacks, what do you think you're doing?" Lois yelled in her loud Brooklyn accent when he picked up.
"Lois! It's great to hear from you, too," Jax answered drily.
"Jax! Do you have any *idea* what you're doing to Brenda?" Lois asked angrily.
Jax sighed. He knew that this would come soon enough. Lois, Brenda, and Robin had become best friends again since Brenda had come to Port Charles, and he knew better than anyone that Lois looked out for her friends. "This really isn't any of your business, Lois," Jax answered vaguely.
"NONE OF MY BUSINESS??!!" Lois yelled in indignation. "Am I *not* both you AND Bren's closest friend?? Haven't I been there for you through thick and thin, wasn't I even there for you through your last girlfriend, the witch?" Lois fumed.
"I can't go into this now, Lois," Jax told her edgily.
"Jax, you're gonna tell me sooner or later, so why not make it sooner? Cause I'm not hanging up this phone until you tell me *why* you just broke Brenda's heart."
"It's complicated, Lois. I just can't be with her right now."
"You *can't*? Then why did you bring her here with you?" Lois asked skeptically. This just wasn't making sense to her.
"It seemed like a good idea at the time, but then some things happened...and..well..it's not a good idea now. Can we *please* just leave it at that?" Jax begged.
Lois narrowed her eyes. She was getting to him. There was no way she was giving up now! She decided to take a chance. "Jax...is Miranda pregnant? Is that why you can't be with Brenda?"

Meanwhile, in his hotel room, John Jacks answers his cell phone. "John Jacks here," he said.
"Where do you get off, John, trying to tell *me* what to do?" She asked angrily.
"It's for your own good," John snapped. "You believe *me*, you don't want to mess with the Jacks family, Miranda...you've done enough, and if you don't stay out of our lives now, you will pay."
"I've done nothing but help you and your family, John. I stopped Jax from making a *big* mistake with his sister...Brenda."
"That is yet to be determined. Why should any of us believe you, anyway? We've all seen your games firsthand, Miranda."
"Well, I am right, John. You'll see."
"Miranda, what do you think you're going to gain from this? The cash reward that I put up years ago won't apply to you, you have enough money anyway...so what do you think you're going to gain, IF you're right?"
"That's simple, John. I'll gain Jax. He'll be mine again. If this doesn't do it, I'll just have to take some...more *drastic* measures," Miranda answered, glancing down with a smirk at the pregnancy test that sat on the table.

In her own hotel suite, Aleli Buchanan sat looking for information on her laptop computer. She was looking through some back issues of several big European magazines, trying to find out more about Brenda Barrett. So far she hadn't learned much beyond the girl's statistics. There definitely wasn't anything very personal listed in the magazines that she was shown on the covers of. Brenda Barrett had obviously been a successful model all around Europe. Looking at one of the online articles, Aleli noticed Brenda's birthdate. December 14, 1978. {Okay,} Aleli thought, {Miranda was right about what year she was born, but what does that really mean? Lots of people were born in 1978. *I* was for goodness sake.} Miranda also knew that Jessica Jacks was born on June 22, but that really didn't prove anything either, since whoever Jessica's kidnappers were, they could've easily changed her documented birthdate. Aleli sighed. She wasn't having much luck with this case as of yet, and she had a promise to keep. So far she liked the Jacks', especially Jax. He was a nice guy and if Brenda wasn't his sister, she wanted to prove that right away so maybe he could find happiness with her again. Realizing that she wasn't going to get much further just then, Aleli closed the computer and stood up. Just then there was a knock at the door. "Who is it?" Aleli called, moving towards the door. She wasn't expecting anyone. Hearing no response, Aleli finally decided to just open the door. When she did she was shocked to see a very familiar face.
"Surprise! How are you, sis?"
Aleli gasped, and then smiled and leaned forward to hug her younger sister. "LaQuana, you have no idea how glad I am to see you!"

Back at the gatehouse, Brenda sat up in the guestroom. She was laying down, after telling Lois that she was going to take a nap, but she hadn't been able to sleep. All she could do was lay there and play Jax's last words to her over and over again in her mind. {"We're over...finished...we will never be together"} Then she couldn't stop remembering all of their good times together. The look in his eyes when they'd kissed for the first time...the feel of his hands on her as they danced...the way he opened up to her the first time they met and how she felt comfortable doing the same thing. None of it made sense to her. Part of her wanted to believe that his words just then were the lie...but she also knew that it could be that everything they'd shared was a lie. "Oh, Jax...." she whispered. "What happened?"
Brenda looked around the room and noticed the stereo that was set up in the corner. Thinking it might calm her spirit to listen to some music, she clicked it on and started crying again as she heard the lyrics to the song that was playing. As she listened, Brenda kept thinking how much they fit what was going on with her and Jax right then, and how much it reflected her own feelings.

~I never asked for this feeling
I never thought I would fall
I never knew how I felt
Till the day you were gone
I was lost
I never asked for red roses
I wasn't looking for love
Somehow I let my emotions take hold
And guess what all at once
I'm in love

Oh I miss you so much
I long for your love
It scares me
Cuz my heart gets so weak
That I can't even breathe
How can you take things so easily
Baby why aren't you missing me?

Why did I act like you mattered
It was silly of me to believe
That if I just opened my heart
Things would come naturally
Joke's on me
I did not ask for love letters
So why did you give them to me
How could I let your intentions
Get hold over me
So in love
So naive

Oh I miss you so much
I long for your love
It scares me
Cuz my heart gets so weak
That I can't even breathe
How can you take things so easily
Baby why aren't you missing me?

And oh how I hate what you have done
Made me fall so deep in love
Got no cure
You're the only one I want
That I love oh baby

Oh I miss you so much
I long for your love
It scares me
Cuz my heart gets so weak
That I can't even breathe
How can you take things so easily
Baby why aren't you missing me? ~

Jax closed his eyes and saw Brenda's teary face staring back at him. This was the only way, he realized. "Yes, Lois. Miranda is pregnant with my child."

*Song Credit: "I Miss You So Much" by TLC

Hi everyone! Can you believe this? 2 chapters at the same time...wow. I think I'm spoiling you. LOL. I realize I've gone longer than usual without posting though, so I hope you enjoy this newest chapter. :-) This week might be slower than usual as far as chapters go, because I have to work for the next 11 consecutive days. Yuck! So be patient with me, please, and I'll try to get the next one out as soon as I can. Thanks- let me know if you like these latest chapters and if I should continue to post this story. Also, this chapter is especially for Nicole. Nicole, I might have taught you about blackmail and bribery, but I'm attempting to use your brilliant ways of cliffhanger-ing. *g* Enjoy!

{{{Hugs}}},
Amy
_______________________________________________________
{Recap: (do you really need a recap? I just posted the last chapter 5 minutes ago. *g* Oh well I like doing recaps, it's fun) Lois found Brenda crying outside Jax's door and Brenda confessed that Jax had just broken things off with her for good. Lois then took Brenda back to the gatehouse, and after Brenda went upstairs to rest in the guestroom, Lois called Jax and demanded to know what was going on with him and Brenda. Jax finally lied to Lois and "admitted" that Miranda is pregnant with his child. Elsewhere, John received a phone call from the woman he spoke to earlier- the woman was revealed to be Miranda, and John threatened her that if she was playing a game with them, she would pay. Also, Aleli got to work on finding Jax's sister. She realized that she was also born the same year as Brenda and Jessica. Aleli was then surprised by a visit from her younger sister, LaQuana.}

Chapter 13
Brenda wiped the last tears from her eyes once again, and this time resolved to get out of bed and go see what Lois was up to. She certainly didn't want to look like a basket case when Ned got home- whenever that would be. Brenda stood up and made her way to the door, clicking off the stereo as she passed by. If nothing else, listening to that song had made her realize that she had to give Jax some time...after awhile, she would be able to convince him that they belonged together, and they would be together again. He just needed some time. Brenda ran her hands through her hair, took a deep breath, and walked out into the hallway and started down the stairs when she heard Lois speaking to someone. Lois' voice was muffled slightly, so Brenda went down the last stairs so that she was just standing a few feet behind her.
"AHA!" Lois exclaimed, as Brenda jumped from behind her. "So she *is* pregnant! I knew it had to be something like that, I knew you wouldn't just break poor Bren's heart for nothing, Jasper Jacks!"
Brenda couldn't believe her ears. She clapped a hand to her mouth to stop herself from screaming. {Miranda...oh my god...Miranda must be pregnant. That's it. That's why he's been acting so strangely!} Brenda thought, in shock. {Still...this is bad enough,} Brenda realized. {Would I even want to be with someone who just got someone pregnant and then dumped them to be with me?} Brenda wondered. Her head was spinning. So much was happening, so quickly. {Miranda is the witch here, I bet she did this on purpose to keep her hold on him! Jax might even be thinking that he should marry her to make things right for their child}, Brenda nearly gagged at the thought of *that*. {I need to go to him...tell him that we don't have to break up, I'll be with him no matter what. What we have is too special to lose. Now that I know the truth, there won't be any problem!} Brenda barely even thought about what she was doing. She simply grabbed her purse and Lois' car keys and took off. "Lois won't mind," Brenda whispered to herself as she watched her friend still arguing with Jax over the phone.

Aleli hugged her younger sister tightly for a moment. She and LaQuana had been pretty young when they'd learned that Aleli had been adopted. Their parents had told them the truth when they were just children. They had said that they had tried to have a baby for years, and finally adopted Aleli. Two years later, Hallie Buchanan had become pregnant- with LaQuana. Even though Aleli and LaQuana weren't sisters by birth, they had always been extremely close.
"I'm glad you're here, Sis, I've missed you!" Aleli exclaimed. "You look great!"
"Oh thanks Aleli. I've missed you too, that's why I'm here," LaQuana admitted.
"Do Mom and Dad know you're halfway around the world from home, looking for me?" Aleli asked nervously. The Buchanan's had lived in Hawaii since they'd adopted Aleli, and they were never wild about how much both of their daughters traveled.
"Yeah, they know. Anyway, I want to help you with your latest case! What's this one about?" LaQuana asked excitedly, eager to help her sister.
"I don't know, LaQuana...are you sure you want to get wrapped up in all of this? It might take awhile, but I *promised* this family that I would find their daughter that's been missing for twenty years," Aleli answered. She always had a good time with her younger sister, and she was also helpful on cases, but she didn't want to get her into something that she would later not want to be involved in.
"I'm sure, Aleli! So, tell me about it. Was their daughter kidnapped?" LaQuana asked eagerly, planting herself across from Aleli on the bed, her legs crossed indian-style.
"Yeah, I guess she was kidnapped. Supposedly she just disappeared, while one of their older sons that was supposed to be watching her went inside."
"So they have more children?"
"Two sons- Jax and Jerry. Jax lives here, and he's the real reason why I took the case," Aleli explained.
LaQuana raised her eyebrows suggestively. "He's that hot, huh, sis?" She teased.
Aleli blushed. "Well...um...he is good-looking. BUT, that's not why I took the case. You see, I guess this ex-girlfriend of his is telling him that his *new* girlfriend is really his long-missing little sister."
"Wow," LaQuana said. "Do you think it's true?"
Aleli sighed. "I just don't know *what* to think. There's not a lot of visible proof that this girl, Brenda, is his sister...but then I haven't found anything that definitely proves she's not, either. I am so stuck here, LaQuana. For all I know right now, *I* could be this guy's sister."
LaQuana narrowed her eyes. "Maybe we should look into that."

Jax paced back and forth, holding the phone slightly away from his ear in an attempt to muffle Lois' loud ranting.
"If you even *think* that you can just get away with this...with this *breaking* Brenda's heart, Jax, you better think again! I mean it! For all you know, Jax, Miranda could be lying! I wouldn't put it past her...that...that *witch*! If she is lying than you've probably just lost the only woman that will ever make you happy!! Are you listening to me, Jax? Do you hear me Jasper Jacks??" Lois yelled at him over the phone.
Jax winced, rolling his eyes. "I hear you , Lo. It'd be hard not to hear you. Listen I've got everything under control-" Just then a loud knock at the door interrupted Jax's train of thought. "I've gotta go, Lois, someone's at the door."
Jax hung up the phone without waiting for Lois' answer. He rubbed his temples, wondering for a moment if he had done the right thing with this latest plan of his. Hopefully this would be a sure way to make Brenda understand that they were over for good. Once she heard this, she wouldn't be coming over to tempt him anymore.
He walked over to open the door and came face to face once again with Brenda.
"Can I come in?" Brenda asked, imploring him with those big brown eyes of hers.
Jax nodded and opened the door wider so she could come in. {Just tell her...tell her this one little lie, and you won't have to hurt her anymore} Jax told himself as he took a deep breath and prepared himself to tell her.
"I know Miranda's pregnant!" Brenda burst out before he could say anything at all.
"What?" Jax asked in confusion. {How could she- Miranda isn't even- Ohh what is going on?? } Jax wondered in confusion.
Brenda paced around the living room agitatedly. "Don't even think of lying to me anymore, Jax. I know the truth now, and I want you to know...I accept it."
"You...you what?" Jax asked, still wondering *how* Brenda knew something that wasn't even true.
"I accept it. I don't care that Miranda's pregnant- if it even *is* your child- you don't love her, Jax. I know that," Brenda told him quickly.
Jax shook his head. "Uh...how did you...how did you find this out, Brenda?"
Brenda stopped pacing for a moment and looked over at him guiltily. "Well...I happened to hear Lois yelling about it when she was on the phone with you," Brenda admitted. "It's not like I was eavesdropping, I just...well...Lois isn't exactly quiet," Brenda added.
Jax nodded, relieved. {Okay,} he thought. {So it's not the way I planned on having her "find out", but now she knows and I can let her down easy..}
"Anyway, Jax, I am completely serious here. What we have is far more special than what you ever had with Miranda- baby or not. Of course I know you'll want to be part of the baby's life, but that's okay. We can still be together, Jax, don't you see?" Brenda asked excitedly, coming over to place her hands on Jax's chest as she smiled up at him.
Jax turned away quickly, covering his face with his hands. "No...no....this won't work, Brenda, I'm sorry," Jax mumbled.
"What are you talking about, Jax?"
Jax turned back to face her, forcing himself to be strong and to keep thinking of who she might really be- that was the only defense he had to keep him from sweeping her into his arms right then. "Miranda and I, and our child will be a family, Brenda. Miranda and I are....getting married," Jax lied, even the words tasting bad as he said them.
Brenda shook her head sadly. "You can't mean that, Jax."
"It's true."
"Oh but Jax...you're making a huge mistake! Can't you see that? It's wrong to marry someone when you don't love them...even for the sake of a child."
Jax struggled with his response to that. "Well...I...I do love Miranda...in a way."
Brenda couldn't even believe this. "I just can't believe this, Jax."
Jax nodded, and came over and hugged her gently for just a moment, and then stepped away. "I know. What we had was special, Brenda, and I'll never forget it. But I'm sorry...it's over now. The sooner you accept that, the better."
Brenda blinked rapidly against the tears that were threatening. "Better for me, Jax...or better for you?" She asked wisely.
Jax sighed, and went over and opened the door. "Better for all of us, Brenda. Goodbye," he added pointedly.
Brenda walked out regretfully. She really hadn't expected this. Without looking back, Brenda left the hotel and got in Lois' car...and drove back to the gatehouse. "Goodbye, Jax," she whispered as she drove. "I'm letting you go...for now...but someday, I know we'll be together."

~You look in my eyes
And I get emotional inside
I know it's crazy
But you still can touch my heart
And after all this time
You'd think that I
I wouldn't feel the same
But time melts into nothing
And nothing's changed

I still believe, someday you and me
Will find ourselves in love again.
I have a dream, someday you and me
Will find ourselves in love again

Each day of my life
I'm filled with all the joy I could find
You know that I am not the desperate type.
If there's one spark of hope left in my grasp
I'll hold it with both hands.
It's worth the risk of burning to have a second chance.
No, no, no, no, no, no I need you baby.
I still believe that we can be together.
If we believe that true love never has to end,
Then we must know that we will love again.

I still believe, someday you and me
Will find ourselves in love again.
I have a dream, someday you and me
Will find ourselves in love again~

Jax picked up his phone again and dialed, and tried to keep from wincing as she picked up the phone. "Miranda, it's Jax. I need to see you right away, can you come to the penthouse for dinner?"
Miranda took a deep breath. "Of course I can, Jax! That sounds wonderful," Miranda trilled happily.
"Good. Is 7 okay?" Jax asked hurriedly.
"Sure, I'll be there, Jax. Can I...bring anything?" Miranda asked.
"Just yourself. We'll have dinner and then we need to do some talking."
"All right, Jax, see you then."
Jax hung up the phone, running his hands through his hair nervously. "What have I gotten myself into?" He asked himself.

Miranda hung up the phone, a sly smile on her face. "I knew you'd start to come to your senses once Brenda was out of the way!" Miranda spoke aloud smugly.
"Now this will just finish the job," She told herself, picking up the pregnancy test. Miranda carried it into the bathroom and read the directions quickly.
In a matter of minutes, she stood there with the results in her hand. She glanced down at it, double checking to make sure. "Well, well, well. This wasn't much of a surprise."

Next time on Forbidden Love- Miranda gives Jax some news- but is she being truthful with him?
Also- Jerry arrives in PC

*Song Credit: "I Still Believe" by Mariah Carey

Hey everyone! I'm sorry it has taken so long to get this chapter out. I've been having some computer issues and so it took longer than usual. :-) Enjoy this chapter! If I get 10 or more replies I'll post again for Friday morning. (Not that I'm blackmailing you or anything though...*g*)
Hugs,
Amy
_______________________________________________________
{Recap: Brenda overheard Lois talking to Jax on the phone and she heard Lois say that Miranda is pregnant. Brenda then thought about what that meant for her relationship with Jax and decided to confront him with the truth and ask him one more time to continue their relationship. After taking Lois' car, she went to Jax's and told him what she knew (which momentarily confused Jax, since as far as he knows, Miranda isn't pregnant,lol). Jax then shocked Brenda when he told her that he plans to marry Miranda to provide their child with a stable home. In the end Jax admitted that what he and Brenda had shared was special, but still rejected her. Brenda then vowed to try to let Jax go, at least for awhile. Jax then called a surprised Miranda and asked her to dinner. After talking to Jax, Miranda took a pregnancy test. Meanwhile, Aleli told her younger sister LaQuana about the Jacks family case, and LaQuana became interested and suggested they look into the possiblility that Aleli is Jessica Jacks.}

Chapter 14
"I was just joking about me being Jax's sister, LaQuana. I was trying to prove the point that it could be anyone!" Aleli exclaimed.
"But why couldn't you be her, Aleli? Give me one good reason!" LaQuana demanded.
"Okay. First, I'm not tall and blond, like both Jax and his father are, as the mother and other brother and Jessica probably are, too. Secondly, I don't exactly speak with an Australian accent, if you haven't noticed. Finally, if I am Jessica Jacks, that would mean that Mom and Dad *kidnapped* me and our whole lives have been lies. That doesn't sound anything like Mom and Dad to me," Aleli explained, crossing her arms over her chest and looking pleased with herself.
LaQuana laughed. "I asked for *one* reason! Okay. First of all, you've never seen half of the Jacks family- they could be short and dark like you! Secondly, you didn't grow up in Australia, that's why you wouldn't have their accent. And third, of course Mom and Dad didn't kidnap you- someone probably kidnapped you and sold you to an adoption agency or something."
"And they say *I'm* the only detective in this family?" Aleli joked. "Okay, what you're saying makes sense, Sis. Still...there's no proof. It could be me, Brenda, or any other adopted girl in the world who was born in 1978."
"Let's start looking for proof, then! Will you let me help you with this case, Aleli?" LaQuana asked eagerly.
"How could I say no? Of course you can help me, it'll be nice to have a partner on this case," Aleli admitted.
"Great!" LaQuana squealed. "So, what do we do first?"
"I think we should take the night off. Just go out to dinner and see Port Charles a little bit. Tomorrow morning I have a meeting with Jax, over brunch. You can come, too, if you want."
"Sounds good! So where are we going for dinner?"
"I saw an advertisement in the newspaper for this place that looks cool- it's called The Outback."

Brenda parked Lois' car in the driveway and walked slowly into the house. She wiped away the last remaining tears that trailed down her cheeks and looked up to see Lois sitting on the couch, looking concerned. "I'm sorry, Lois," Brenda whispered.
"Where did you go?" Lois asked gently.
Brenda took a deep breath, and sat down on the couch next to her friend. "Well, first I came downstairs to see what you were doing, and when I got down here I heard you talking on the phone."
Recognition dawned in Lois' eyes as she realized what Brenda had heard.
"I heard you say that Miranda is pregnant. I realized that that's why Jax broke up with me, and I just had to see him. I had to go and talk to him. I wanted to confront him with the truth, and tell him that this doesn't change my feelings for him. I really thought once he knew that, things would be okay with us again, you know?"
"It didn't work out that way, huh?" Lois asked sympathetically.
Brenda shook her head, tears threatening again. "He...he told me he's going to marry that...that *witch*!"
Lois rolled her eyes in annoyance. "I don't know why he's being so stupid about this, Bren."
"He thinks he's doing the right thing. But it won't be a happy life for their child, if he and Miranda are always fighting!"
Lois nodded in agreement. "Right. And this is if Miranda actually *is* pregnant, and it's Jax's."
Brenda's eyes widened. "You think she would lie?"
Lois snorted, trying not to laugh. "Well, you've met her."
"Wow. I hadn't even considered that, though. And you said *if* it's Jax's. Did she cheat on him?"
Lois sighed. "Well...I wouldn't put it past her. I never got proof of it, but...well, let's just say faithfullness isn't one of Miranda's personality traits."
"I just wish Jax didn't have to shut me out like this...I wish he wasn't marrying her...and we could still be together."
"I know, sweetie," Lois answered, her heart going out to her friend as she hugged her comfortingly.
Brenda sniffled and laughed weakly. "I'm such a mess.."
"I have an idea that will make you feel better!" Lois announced.
"What? Send Miranda away somehow?" Brenda wished unhappily.
"Nope. Better. You, me, and Robin are gonna have a girls' night out!"
"Really? What about Ned?" Brenda wondered, suddenly realizing that he didn't even know she was staying there yet.
"Oh he called while you were gone, after I hung up from talking to Jax. He said that he has some kind of ELQ board meeting tonight so he won't be home till really late. And I told him that you were gonna be staying with us for awhile."
"He doesn't mind?" Brenda asked worriedly.
"No, not at all! He knows you're one of my bestest friends, Bren," Lois told her, smiling.
"Awwww! So, what do we do on this girls' night out?"
"Well, first we should call Robin and make sure she can come. Then I think we should go to The Outback for dinner."
"The Outback? That sounds like an interesting place."
"It's cool...plus Robin's uncle Mac runs it."
"Okay. I'll go change while you call Robin." Brenda ran upstairs to change clothes while Lois picked up the phone and dialed Robin's number.
"Hello?" Robin answered.
"Hey Robin, it's me."
"Hey, Lo! What's up?"
"Can you meet me and Bren at the Outback for dinner?"
"Sure, I'm not doing anything."
"Good. Brenda needs us right now, Robin."
"Did something else happen with Jax?" Robin asked. She hadn't heard from Brenda since she'd gotten her and Lois' advice on the seduction plan.
"Yeah...okay, here's the story. The seduction thing didn't quite work out and the next morning Jax just dumped her."
"That's horrible!"
"Worse yet. Then Bren came here to stay with us, and I called Jax to give him a piece of my mind about all of this...it turns out Miranda is pregnant. With Jax's child. Or so she says."
"Poor Brenda!" Robin exclaimed.
"Yeah. So I think it's about time we had some Robin-Lois-Brenda time, don't you?"
"Definitely! I'll meet you guys at The Outback at 7:30."

"Miranda. I'm glad you could make it." Jax opened the door to let Miranda in.
"I could never turn you down, Jax," Miranda purred as she walked in, smoothing the bodice of her short red dress.
"I took the liberty of ordering us dinner, it just got here," Jax announced, pulling out a chair for Miranda at the table.
"This looks great, Jax. You always have known what I like."
Jax and Miranda ate in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes. The whole time, Jax was thinking of Brenda. {If I was eating dinner with her, there wouldn't be this awkward silence...we always seem to have so much to talk about}.
When they finally finished dinner, Jax decided to just tell Miranda what he had to say and get it over with. "Miranda...I have to tell you something."
"Oh, I have something to tell you, too, Jax!" Miranda cooed.
"Please...let me go first. I decided to go along with your little idea that Brenda is my sister. We're investigating it, but Brenda can't know anything until she has to. So I broke up with her, but she's not buying it. I need a reason."
Miranda cackled. "That girl is just too much."
Jax ignored Miranda's comment. "Anyway. I told her...that you are pregnant and we're getting married. So what I need you to do is help me with this charade...just until we know whether or not she's my sister. I'll pay you...if that's what you want..." Jax trailed off as Miranda began laughing loudly. "What?"
"Well, Jax. It looks like your little white lie to Brenda has become a fact."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that I'm pregnant, Jax...I'm pregnant with your child," Miranda announced smugly.
Jax felt the world spin around him and the glass he was holding slipped through his fingers and crashed to the floor. "Are...are you sure?"
"Yes, I am."
"But how...how did this happen? I mean..we were always careful. Every time."
"These things just happen, Jax. So it looks like you won't be lying to dear little Brenda when you tell her that I'm pregnant and we're getting married."
Jax ran his fingers through his hair nervously. "I haven't asked you to marry, me, Miranda."
"No...but you will. You want your child to grow up with two parents who love each other, don't you?"
"Miranda, what are you talking about? You know I don't love you, that's why we broke up in the first place. I seriously doubt that you love me," Jax told her, annoyed.
"Oh, Jax. You'll still marry me. So, do I get a proposal, or what?" Miranda asked, holding out her left hand. "C'mon, Jax...I want the whole works, you down on one knee, the diamond ring...everything," Miranda told him greedily.
"Miranda. I want to make something clear first."
"What's that, Jax?"
"*If* we get married, our marriage will be one in name only."
"We'll see about that."
"I think you should go now. We both have a lot to think about," Jax answered, standing up to open the door.
Miranda gathered her purse and stood up to leave. "Don't you want to say goodbye to the baby, Jax?"
"How do I even know you're telling the truth about this, Miranda?"
"You'll just have to trust me," Miranda answered. She stared at Jax for a moment, and then turned on her heel and left.
"Yeah right- trust and Miranda are two words *never* to be used in the same sentence," Jax whispered as he closed the door behind her. Finally letting out some of the frustration that had been building inside of him for the last couple of days, Jax banged his head against the door several times. {I dumped the woman I love because I think she could be my sister....now I'm engaged to someone I don't even *like* most of the time who claims to be pregnant with my child...and now I have a headache. Could this get any worse?}

~World was on fire and no one could save me but you
Strange what desire will make foolish people do
I'd never dream that I'd meet somebody like you
And I'd never dream that I'd lose somebody like you

No I don't want to fall in love (This girl is only gonna break your heart)
No I don't want to fall in love (This girl is only gonna break your heart)
With you... with you (This girl is only gonna break your heart)

What a wicked game to play, to make me feel this way
What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you
What a wicked thing to say, you never felt this way
What a wicked thing to do, to make me dream of you

No I don't want to fall in love (This girl is only gonna break your heart)
No I don't want to fall in love (This girl is only gonna break your heart)
With you

World was on fire and no one could save me but you
Strange what desire will make foolish people do
I'd never dream that I'd love somebody like you
And I'd never dream that I'd loose somebody like you

No I don't want to fall in love (This girl is only gonna break your heart)
No I don't want to fall in love (This girl is only gonna break your heart)
With you (This girl is only gonna break your heart)
With you (This girl is only gonna break your heart)

No I... (This girl is only gonna break your heart)
(This girl is only gonna break your heart)

Nobody loves no one~

Miranda unlocked her apartment and stepped inside, distracted by thoughts of her dinner with Jax. She patted her flat stomach gently. {Don't worry- he'll change his mind about us soon}, she thought.
"It's about time you got home! I've been waiting here for two hours!"
Miranda jumped at the man's voice, she hadn't realized he was there.
She walked over and kissed him hard on the lips. "Hello, Jerry."

*Song Credit: "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak

Next time in Forbidden Love:
~LaQuana observes Jax and Aleli together, and later finds an important clue about who Jessica Jacks might be.
~Brenda meets a handsome stranger

Hi, Angels! Happy weekend! Can you believe this is the 15th chapter already? In the beginnning I was going to make this a short, 10-15 chapter story! I wonder what happened to that. ;-) Oh, well. LOL. I hope you enjoy this chapter, please send me feedback. I have to work all day tomorrow so I might not write tomorrow night, but maybe Sunday night. Also, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to LaQuana Nicole because she is being so strong right now despite being faced with some really unfair things, things she doesn't deserve in the least. Enjoy!

{{{Hugs}}},
Amy
___________________________________________________________
{Recap: Aleli and LaQuana discussed the possibility that Aleli is Jessica Jacks, and LaQuana convinced her sister to let her help out on the case. Aleli told her sister that they would be meeting with Jax for brunch the next morning, and they then decided to relax and see some of Port Charles that night. LaQuana and Aleli decided to go to the Outback for dinner. Meanwhile, Brenda told Lois all about where she had gone and about her talk with Jax. Lois tried to comfort Brenda and told her that they, along with Robin, would have a girls' night out that night since Ned would be at a meeting until late. They also decided to go to the Outback first for dinner. (Coincidence? hmmmm...*g*) Finally, Miranda arrived at Jax's for dinner. Jax began to tell Miranda about his lie to Brenda and ask her to play along with his ruse, but then Miranda shocked him when she told him that she *was* indeed pregnant. Miranda then tried to coerce Jax into marrying her but he said that they both needed some time to think. Once she left, Jax truly began to realize the frustration of the situation he had gotten himself into. When Miranda arrived back at her apartment, she was surprised to find Jerry there waiting for her, and she surprised *him* by greeting him with a passionate kiss.}

Chapter 15
Miranda wound her arms around Jerry's neck as she continued to kiss him. It only took a moment for Jerry to return her kiss with equal ardor, pulling her tighter into his arms and thrusting his tongue deeply into her mouth. The sensual kiss continued a minute longer, until Jerry pulled away suddenly and forceful. "What did you do that for? What are you trying to do to me here?" He asked angrily.
Miranda trailed a hand down Jerry's chest. "You didn't seem to be having a bad time, Jerry."
Jerry pushed her hand away as it trailed lower and walked away from her. "Now we agreed that that kind of thing was a bad idea! Or did you forget, already?"
"Oh Jerry just give it up," Miranda snarled. "Who cares if it's a bad idea? You know my motto, if it feels good, do it, and there are times when you *do* feel good to me, Jerry," Miranda answered, approaching him and starting to kiss him again. Jerry pushed her away again, running his hand through his hair nervously, the way Jax did at times. "I told you before, I won't risk hurting Jax anymore. I risked it before, and I gotta tell you, Miranda- you weren't worth risking losing my brother!"
"Are you *sure* of that, Jerry?" Miranda cooed.
"Yes, I am. Anyway, I came back to Port Charles to help my brother- not you."
"So what are you doing at my apartment, wasting my time?" Miranda asked impatiently.
"Well, well, well. I wasn't wasting your time a couple of minutes ago," Jerry said smugly.
"What do you want, Jerry?"
"I came here to warn you to let go of whatever game you're playing with my brother. It's not fair using some sweet, innocent girl to hurt him."
"Brenda? Sweet, innocent? Have you even *met* that girl?" Miranda asked in disbelief. "She's far from sweet and innocent. She deserves whatever she gets. She's not good enough for Jax, and she'll never have him."
"Right. So this is about punishing her, and you know she's not really our sister," Jerry deduced.
"Get out, Jerry. I've had enough of you and your stupid loyalty to Jax...you're even taking the side of some girl you've never met, over me."
"Green isn't your color Miranda."
"I said get out!" Miranda told him coldly.
"I have one more thing I need to discuss with you first," Jerry answered, turning and walking towards the other side of the apartment, where the bathroom was.
"What? Where are you going, Jerry? This is *my* apartment! I didn't even invite you in!" Miranda fumed.
A moment later, Jerry was back, with a small package in his hand. He'd found it earlier when he had been searching her apartment for information on the game she was playing with Jax and Brenda.
"Tell me, Miranda. What were you doing with this pregnancy test? You're not pregnant, by any chance are you?" Jerry asked, waving the package at her triumphantly.
"That's no business of yours," Miranda yelled, grabbing for the package.
"Isn't it?" Jerry asked. "Well then, tell me, Miranda, *how* exactly, if you *are* pregnant, that this child could be Jax's and not mine."

"I don't know if this was such a good idea, Lo. I think it would've been better if I'd just stayed home alone," Brenda admitted, sounding depressed, as the two friends entered the Outback.
"Oh, that's not true. We are going to have fun tonight, Bren. Just us girls."
Brenda sighed heavily and sat down at the table the waiter led them to. "Robin's meeting us, right?"
Lois nodded, picking up her menu. "She should be here anytime."
Brenda took a sip of her water. "I wonder what Jax is doing-"
"STOP!" Lois squealed.
Brenda looked startled. "What did I say?"
"Maybe I forgot to mention it, but we are *celebrating* tonight! We're celebrating you moving to Port Charles, and the person whose name begins with a 'J' and ends in an 'ax' will *not* be mentioned!"
Brenda cracked a tiny smile, but before she could answer, Robin appeared at their table.
"What's this about an ax?" She asked in confusion.
Brenda and Lois looked at each other and burst out laughing when they heard her question.
Lois finally stopped laughing long enough to motion for Robin to sit down. "You may join us, Robin dear, as long as you follow one rule. This has to do with the ax you heard me mention before."
"What?" Robin asked seriously.
"You have to promise not to mention the person whose name begins with a 'J' and ends in an 'ax'."
Robin nodded. "Cross my heart, and hope to die," She promised gravely.
Brenda cleared her throat. "I just want to thank you guys."
"For what?" Lois asked.
"For being here for me. I mean, we got to know each other and became friends over what, 2 weeks? Then we kept in touch for a couple of months and then we lost touch for two years. Now I just come barging back into your lives here, asking for a place to stay, whining to you constantly, and you're both so great to me," Brenda told them honestly, her eyes tearing up as she realized how lucky she was to have them.
Robin and Lois exchanged a look and Lois spoke. "You don't have to thank *us*, Brenda. We're just glad to have you back in our lives." Robin nodded her agreement. "Now, enough for this goopey stuff! This is our girls night out!"
Brenda finally smiled. "You're right! Let's just have fun, the three of us, together."
"Actually, I have a suggestion," Lois said slowly.
"What's that?" Robin asked.
"The next guy that walks in the door, Brenda has to go up to him and ask him to dance," Lois dared smugly.
"WHAT?" Brenda screamed. Several people at surrounding tables turned to stare at her and Brenda blushed. "Are you *nuts*?" She asked in a quieter tone.
"Nope, not at all. I just know that there are lots of other fish in the sea, and Port Charles *is* the hot guy capitol of the world," Lois announced seriously.
Robin snorted back a laugh. "Oh yeah, that's so true."
Brenda even managed a small smile. "Now if I agreed to this...this bribe...do people even dance in here?"
Lois nodded. "Sure, they do."
"Well, I think you two should have to dance with strangers, too," Brenda told them.
Robin shook her head. "Nope, see we couldn't do that, because Jason and Ned would be really mad if they found out."
"Oh yeah," Lois agreed. "They'd be furious."
Brenda laughed. "You two think you're so funny."
"Yup," Lois agreed.
Brenda took a deep breath. "All right, why not. I'll do it. Just one dance though. This doesn't change my feelings for-"
"Don't say it! We know!" Robin interrupted, laughing.
Brenda laughed too. "Okay, the next guy who comes in?"
Lois and Robin nodded eagerly. Just then the door opened and a guy who looked about fifty walked in wearing a wildly patterned hawaiian shirt and white pants.
Brenda looked at her friends in horror. "Please tell me that this deal does not apply to *him*."
"All right, to qualify, he has to look younger than forty."
Brenda nodded, looking relieved. The three women continued to sip their drinks and watch the door for a suitable dance partner for Brenda.
A few minutes later, a tall dark-haired man walked in, wearing jeans and a tight white t-shirt that showed off his muscular chest to perfection. He had thick, dark wavy hair and from what the three gawking girls at the table could see, he had soft, warm dark eyes.
"I think you've found him, Bren! Holy toledo!" Lois squealed, grabbing Brenda's arm across the table and shaking it.
Brenda and Robin laughed at their friend's enthusiasm. "Go get him, Brenda!" Robin suggested.
Brenda took a big drink of her glass of white wine and stood up as Lois and Robin waved her on.
The man had gone to sit down at the bar and Brenda walked bravely up to him.
"Excuse me," she said nervously.
"Yes?" He asked, his voice warm but hesitant.
"Would you like to dance?" Brenda asked, arching her eyebrow and smiling at him flirtatiously.
The man looked shocked, but thought right away that this woman was really quite beautiful, and he stood up and took her outstretched hand, and she led him onto the small dance floor where finally a couple of other couples were dancing.
The dark-haired man took Brenda gently into his arms, holding her close but not too close. They danced silently for a few minutes, quite comfortable in each other's arms when he finally spoke.
"What's your name?"
"Brenda. Brenda Barrett. I guess I should've introduced myself first, huh?" She realized, looking down.
"No, no it's okay. It's nice to meet you, Brenda," he said amicably.
Brenda took a deep breath and dared to look up...and up...into his warm brown eyes. "What's your name?"
"Jagger Cates."

Across the room, Aleli and LaQuana sat at their own table, chatting and people-watching. Mostly they were making fun of the couples on the dance floor, until one very attractive couple danced past them.
"Aleli- look at that man, doesn't he look familiar?" LaQuana asked, staring at the dark-haired man with interest. "That woman he's with even looks vaguely familiar."
Aleli nodded, trying to get a better glimpse of them. Suddenly she grabbed her sister's arm. "LaQuana! No wonder that man looks familiar! That's Jagger Cates! You know, the man I dated in high school for two years!"
LaQuana gasped, realizing she was right. "Wow. He's grown up a lot. And who's that woman he's with? She's gorgeous," she said enviously.
Aleli agreed. "Yeah, she looks familiar to me too, I bet if I could see her close up I'd know."
They watched as, when the song ended, the couple walked over to chat with two women at a nearby table.
"I think you should go over and say hello to Jagger, Aleli. It'll give you an opportunity to see who his date is, too," LaQuana suggested. "C'mon, I'll go with you."
Aleli nodded. They started to walk over to the other table when the woman Jagger was with turned suddenly to motion to someone across the room. Aleli gasped, and turned to drag LaQuana back to their own table.
"What is it?" LaQuana hissed.
"I *knew* I recognized that girl from somewhere! I was only searching for pictures and information about her all afternoon! I saw her face on dozens of online magazine covers! That's Brenda Barrett!" Aleli exclaimed.

Jagger admired Brenda as she bantered back and forth with her friends. The three of them seemed really nice, and it had felt really good dancing with Brenda before.
"So, Jagger, what do you do?" Robin asked him.
"I'm a police officer," he admitted. "I grew up in Hawaii and then moved to San Francisco to train to be an officer, now I'm here," he explained. "Actually, as much as I hate to, I should be going. I have to go back to work for awhile tonight. It was really nice meeting all of you though."
The three of them all agreed, and then Jagger turned to Brenda. "I'd really like to see you again, soon," he admitted.
Brenda hesitated, but nodded. "That would be cool."
"How about brunch, tomorrow?"
"Sure, sounds great. Where?"
"The Port Charles Hotel? I'm staying there for awhile, until I can find an apartment."
Brenda's face paled visibly at the mention of the hotel, but she recovered quickly. "Brunch sounds like a great idea."
After arranging the time they would meet, Jagger left, saying a quick goodbye to all of them and smiling at Brenda once more.
Once he was gone, Brenda turned to the others. "What do you think?" She asked hesitantly.
"I like him so far, Bren," Lois admitted. "He's certainly not hard to look at," she added.
Robin agreed. "The question is, what do *you* think of him?" She asked.
Brenda nodded slowly. "I like him so far. I think meeting him for brunch could be fun."

The next morning, Brenda bravely arrived at the Port Charles Hotel in time to meet Jagger, reminding herself that she could not even attempt to see Jax while she was there.
He met her there and greeted her with a smile, and leaned down to kiss her cheek.
As luck would have it, Jax came breezing through the lobby on his way to meet with Aleli and LaQuana. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the tall, dark-haired man lean down to kiss Brenda's cheek, and smile at her that way.
Jax felt some kind of strange emotion well up inside him and before he knew what he was doing, he strode right over to them and clapped his hand down on the other man's shoulder. "What do you think you're doing?"

Next time in Forbidden Love:
-Jax has a hard time concentrating on his meeting with Aleli and LaQuana with a certain *other* couple around!
-How will Miranda answer Jerry's question?
-Jagger meets up with someone from his past
-Brenda is confused about Jax's reaction to seeing her with Jagger