Posted by Jen on July 03, 2000 at 09:06:09:

Jasper Jacks stood at the window of his parents Alaskan compound. He had come home for a while to get over Brenda's
betrayal and also because he had begun to get a cold back in Port Charles that had made him want to be spoiled by Lady Jane.
Just then he heard footsteps behind him. He turned his head and saw his mother carrying a steaming mug. She said"Son i made
you some hot tea with honey to open up your head." he replied"Thanks Mum." She said" There is some of your favorite potato
soup downstairs on the stove if you're hungry." He smiled at her. Then she headed out of the room to make a phone call. She
dialed a long distamce number on her cell phone. On the third ring a woman answered. "Hello." Jane replied"Hello Venus this is
Jane Jacks dear." She replied"How are you mom?" Jane smiled athe the endearment and then replied"I'm good and so is John
but we're both worried about Jax right now." V's ears perked up. Hmm she thought what has Jasper done now. Lady Jane
continued,"That she-devil Brenda left him for that hoodlum Corinthos." "He's hurting so much that he's gotten a cold in the
process but he won't open up to his dad or me." V thought a minute then responded" Oh and you would like me to make him
feel better?" Jane responded"Well i wouldn't ask this but he won't talk to us and i know it's tearing him apart." V said" Well i
can be on the next plane up there." "I have some vacation time coming and Ned's on his honeymoon. Jane said"Well we'll see
you in three hours then. Then they hung up.
Three and a half hours later , Alaskan wilderness. Jane and John have gone to town to get supplies leaving Jax at the house to
greet V. They both hope they have done the right thing by asking V to come up there. Jax is laying on their leather sectional
couch with a box of tissues next to him and a fire going. He is casually attired in sweats and a long sleeved T-shirt from
Abercrombie and Fitch. He reaches for a tissue just as the doorbell rings. Then he walks over to get it with the tissue still in his
hand. When he opens the door he is surprised to see V standing there. He says"Well Venus aren't you a sight for sore eyes."
She can see that he looks pale and sounds a little hoarse. She replies" You don't look so hot Jasper." Ouch he thinks to himself
I deserved that one. She come sin and takes her luggage to the guest room. Then she walks into the living room to see Jax
blowing his nose. Poor guy she thinks he sounds miserable. She knows he hates colds too.
She sits on the floor next to where Jax's head is laying on the couch. Finally the ice gets broken between them. He speaks first.
"So V how was the trip?" She replies"Good i'm glad to be able to visit." He says"Well i sure don't feel like flying with this head
cold." "Got it two days after i got home i think i'm keeping Kleenex in business." She said"Well i'll go in the kitchen and get you
some juice." "Be right back." She walks into the kitchen to get some crushed ice and finds some of Jax's favorite orange
pineapple juice. She pours it into a tall glass and carries it back into the living room. She walks in just as Jax sneezes quietly.
She says"Bless you Jax." He replies"Thank you." Then she sets the juice in front of him. She really looks at him then and notices
the emotional and physical pain he's in. His eyes are a listless looking blue-grey that he gets when he's depressed . He's also
pale and thinner than when she had seen him last.
 

Jax woke up with a scratchy feeling in his throat. He thought well i'll head downstairs and get some cough drops. He got down
there and saw that his folks were all ready at the breakfast table. They told him that they were going to spend the day at the
Fulton's house. Jax and V could have the house to themselves until that evening. Then they left. Jax heard the cell phone ring
then. He answered it" Jax residence." It was Brenda. She said"Hi Jax it's me. He said" What do you want?" She said" Just to
hear your voice." He thought she really has no clue calling me as if nothing happened between us. Then V entered the room. He
said"Look Brenda for the last time it's over between us." She said" Fine Jax, it's your loss." He sat in the nearest chair with his
head in his hands. V walked to him and touched his neck. He looked up at her with tears in his eyes. She said"Come here."
Then she held him as he finally cried for what was and what could never be again. He stopped crying after a while and blew his
nose. He looked at her white T-shirt and said" V I'm sorry." She said"Why you needed that release." He said"Yes,but your shirt
is wet." She said "So it will dry." He laughed to himself. Then he said"I need some hot tea, my throat feels scratchy, would you
like some?" She said" Are you sure you're not getting the flu?" He saw the concern on her face. He replied"No i always got
scratchy throats with my colds as a kid." She said"Well come with me i'll make you some." She made him a mug of Earl Gray
tea with honey. He said"Thank you sweetie." She replied"You're welcome." Then they held hands and sat on the couch
together. Jax felt his nose get itchy again. He asked"V can you pass me a tissue?" She said "Sure." He covered his nose and
turned his head. He sneezed twice quietly. V said" Bless you sweetie." He said"Thank you." He said"I think i need to go and
take some medicine and lay down." V said" Well i'll head into the pharmacy and pick you up some more tissues and more
juice." She said"See you in a while." He kissed her cheek and said"Later luv." Then they went their separate ways. Jax headed
up to his bedroom and V went out to town for a while. Each needed some time with their thoughts of the other. Brenda's phone
call had changed the dynamic here but both of them still weren't ready to admit that they were falling for the other. (The action is
going to pick up soon, so stay tuned people)
 

Jax and V spent the rest of the day getting to know each other. He made them chili for their dinner that night. They even played
a game of Monopoly which V won. Jax said"I should let you vote my ELQ stock." She laughed. He said"Are you ready to
think about facing Port Charles?" She said" Yes if you are." He said" I have nothing to hide , it's Brenda's loss." She leaned over
and kissed him. He said"V remember i've been sick." She said"Jax if i was going to get your cold it would have been 3 days
ago, not now." He laughed. "Well then i think we both are ready to head home to Port Charles in the morning." V said "I cant
wait." Then they went to bed.
 

The next day Jax and V packed for their trip back to Port Charles. Jane and John were sorry to see them go, but glad their son
had found lasting love. Jax and V caught their commercial flight into Port Charles. They decided to pick up takeout from Luke's
for dinner and head to Jax's cottage. They walked into Luke's and he said"Hey Jax, hi V." They both ordered their food and
said "Hello" to Luke. He said"Well V i hope you won't be throwing margaritas tonight." She replied"No we are just getting
takeout and leaving." Jax was puzzled about the margarita line,but he decided to find out when they got home. They took their
buffalo wing salads and cheese fries and headed to the cottage. Jax got out some paper plates and opened two beers. He
said"V, what did Luke mean about the margarita?" She said"Well Brenda and i had a run in and i ended up throwing a
margarita at her after she called me a tramp."Jax laughed. He said" Gee i had better not make you mad or you will drown me in
Jack Daniels ." She laughed at that one. She said"Jer also had a confrontation with Corinthos ,but he can tell you that story at
the office tommorrow." Jax thought i just hope my brother gets Corinthos to stay the hell out of my face for a few days.Jax then
drove V to her apartment. She had an early day at L&B tommorrow and wanted to get plenty of rest. Jax also had meetings all
day. They kissed again and planned to meet at the Grille for dinner the next night. Then each headed home having sweet dreams
of the other.
 

The next evening Jax has arrived at the Grille, He is a little early so he arranges for a private table in the second dining room.
Then he sees Brenda walk in with Sonny. Sonny says"Hey golden boy eating alone tonight?" with a smirk on his face. Jax
replies"Not that it is any of your concern Corinthos but i have a date." He notices V then at the bar getting a club soda with
lime. Brenda mutters something about Jax is so desperate that he has to date his former secretary. Then they go to their tables.
Jax and V are eating in peace when Jerry walks into the Grille alone. They hear Sonny make a remark about ooh golden boy
had to call big brother to protect him. Jerry orders a shot of whiskey and walks over to Sonny's table. He says"Oh hello
Corinthos, nice evening isn't it?" Brenda says"Well there is the one Jacks brother who could never be man enough to have me."
Jerry laughs and says"Brenda luv, you'd never be woman enough for me or for Jax, so you and this snake charmer deserve
each other." Then he walks to Jax's table. V of course is cracking up. Jax is even smiling in spite of himself. V makes the
remark that too bad this isn't Luke's or she'd give Brenda another margarita shampoo. All three of them laugh and finish their
meals. Then they head home to Jax's cottage. Jax says"Jer here are the keys to my Malibu beach house after tonight you can
take Bobbie there for two weeks vacation." Jerry smiles and thinks of telling Bobbie that they will be going away on vacation
for the next two weeks . Then Jerry leaves. Jax says"V, i have been meaning to ask you, when are you going to move in here?"
She says" Well i can bring some things over this weekend. " She said"Felicia and Mac will be helping me, is that all right?" He
replies"Fine, but you will have to tell Felicia that we are an item." She smiles thinking i can't wait to finally tell someone that i got
the man of my dreams. Then they kiss and she heads back to her place to start packing her clothes.
 

Well the weekend comes and V gets settled into Jax's with help from Mac and Felicia. After she is unpacked, Jax decides to
surprise her with a candlelit evening. V goes upstairs to shower and Jax finds her old jasmine scented candles as well as a
sandalwood one Lady jane likes when she visits him . He lights them around the living room and opens the sliding door to their
deck. V comes down in shorts and a tank top with her hair down. She sees the candles right away and then notices Jax sitting
outside on their swing. She walks over to him and he pulls her on to the swing next to him. She says"I love the candles sweetie."
He replies"I wanted to make your first night at home special." Then he realizes he has just referred to this as her home. She
says"Sweetie if only you knew how long i've waited to come home to this place with you." He looks at her and thinks to
himself, what a fool i was for not noticing her long ago. He takes her in his arms and they begin to make love. She says"Jax i
think we should head in side with this." He puts out the candles and they head upstairs to his waterbed. They begin to kiss and
caress each other. Their first night together turns out to be more than V ever dreamed. She falls asleep holding him in her arms
and she thinks to herself, now that you and i have found each other Jax, i'm not letting you go.
 

V wakes up the morning after their first night together to find Jax's side of the bed empty. She figures he went for his morning
run. She decides to get up and shower. As she walks toward the bathroom she can hear water running. She slips in behind Jax
and begins kissing his neck and back. He turns and says"Well good morning to you too." She notices his eyes look teal blue.
They make out for a while and wash each others hair and bodies and then decide to get breakfast. Jax wraps her in his robe
and heads to his room in his Calvin Klein briefs. A part of V wants to jump him right there, but she doesn't. They get dressed
and head downstairs to have some bagels. Jax brews her a cappucino and blends his usual protein shake. They eat and think of
how they want to spend this rainy Sunday together. V says" Well Jax i wouldn't mind cuddling in front of the fire with you." He
says"Your wish is my command ." He grabs some graham crackers , chocolate bars, and marshmellows as V goes upstairs to
put her hair in a ponytail. When she comes back down she hears him playing Tim Mcgraw CDs on the stereo. He is playing her
favorite song"It's your Love." He waits till she is sitting on the couch and he softly begins singing to her. She listens to him and
feels a tear sliding down her cheek. After the song ends He pulls out a small box from his pocket. She thinks he can't possibly
be proposing ,but yet she's curious. He opens it and pulls out an emerald and tigers eye necklace. He says" V this necklace
belonged to my mum, it is from the Aborigine tradition in Australia." She looks into his eyes as he speaks. The tigers eye is to
protect the woman who wears it and the emerald stands for commitment by her lover." He asks" Will you wear this for me,
you're the only woman i've ever given it to." She is so moved she doesn't know what to say. She says" Yes i'll wear it and i am
honored that this comes from your mother." He replies" She gave me her blessing a few days ago on the phone when i told her
you were moving in with me." They kiss to seal their commitment and spend the rest of the day in each others arms eating
Smores and kissing.(I know anyone who loves Brenda won't like the Smores reference, but after all it is my story).
 

The next day, Jax is out running errands while V cleans the cottage. Then his cell phone rings. She answers it. It's Jerry . He
says" Hi Venus luv, how's my favorite margarita tosser this morning?" She laughs and says "Fine Jer how are you?" He
says"Loving Malibu and Bobbie thanks to my little brother." he asks"Where is Jaxy anyway?" V answers" Out running errands
." Jerry says"Well tell him i'll see him in a week then luv." She replies "Will do."
Across town near the docks.. Jax is walking along near Kelly's when he sees Sonny. He decides to ignore him and keep going
toward home. Sonny says" So do you wish you had Brenda back yet Jaxie Boy?" Jax replies" Does she know how you throw
her in my face every chance you get Corinthos?" Sonny replies" Jealousy isn't an attractive trait on you Jasper." Jax's blood
begins doing a slow boil. He replies" You know Michael, if you ask me you are the one who looks mighty bloody insecure right
now." He says" But then Brenda tends to make men feel that way." Mac is walking by near Kelly's and he decides to watch this
situation. Sonny of course decides to take a swing at Jax as he is walking away. Jax ends up with a bruised jaw. He decides to
head home when Mac says" Jax, follow me down to the station." Jax says" Why Mac, i didn't do anything." Mac says "I know,
then he reads Sonny his rights, and cuffs him." He says" You are going to press charges on him for assault , right Jax.? " Jax
says" Well if you saw what happened yes." They head on down to the station and Mac books Sonny. Jax of course heads
home with a throbbing jaw and the beginning of one of his migraine headaches. He thinks damn Corinthos, i should never have
let him get the best of me. He walks in the door surprising V when she notices his bruised lower jaw. She asks" What
happened?" He replies" My jaw had a run in with Sonny on the docks today." She is stunned. "He hit you?" Jax replies "Yes,
Mac saw it all and arrested him for assault." He says" Can you go upstairs and get me a Motrin?" She thinks uhoh he's getting a
migraine plus his jaw hurts, i don't want to be here tonight. She says" Sure sweetie why don't you lay down on the couch unless
you feel like going to bed." He says "I will meet you in my room in a few minutes." They both head upstairs. V gives Jax his
Motrin and some water and then decides to get a bubble bath. She writes Jax a note telling him Jerry called earlier and when he
wakes up, if he's hungry there is leftover chili downstairs in the fridge for his dinner. She looks in on Jax and he has fallen
asleep. She figures the Motrin did it's job.. She hopes he's not cranky and groggy when he wakes up though. She wishes she
could pull Brenda's hair out of her little head, but then she chuckles thinking to herself about Brenda having to bail Sonny-Bunny
out of jail. That is enough to make V smile..(I know i'm evil tonight with all this Brenda bashing but its all in fun and no harm is
meant.)
 

The rest of the evening after Jax's assault is rather quiet. V putters around typing some things for Ned and listens to the stereo
softly. Jax comes down two hours later looking groggy and wrung out. V asks"Do you feel better sweetie?" He replies"Well my
head has stopped pounding at least." She asks "Do you feel like some dinner?" He replies"How about some toast and ginger
ale, my stomach feels a little off ." She says"Relax and i'll bring it in to you." He smiles thinking i truly have the most wonderful
woman in my life. He thinks about a more permanent commitment down the line. A few minutes later V brings in his food. She
places it on the table in front of him and sits behind him. She asks"How about one of my massages?" He grins at her. She says"
Eat and i'll be right back." She goes upstairs to get her vanilla scented massage oil from the bathroom. When she gets back
downstairs he is lying on his stomach facing the fireplace. V lifts his T-shirt over his head and begins to rub the back of his neck
slowly in a circular motion. Jax sighs in relaxation and begins to drift off. He looks at V with his eyes shining teal blue for a
moment. She is thinking about telling Jerry about Jax's incident with Sonny, but then realizes it's up to Jax. Then their phone
rings breaking the mood. It's Brenda with a whiny tone in her voice. She asks" Is Jax there?" V replies"No Brenda, he's not."
She says"Oh it's you then uh V." V replies"Brenda is there a point to this call or something?" Brenda answers" i just wanted to
tell Jax that he ruined my evening tonight
 

to continue where we left off: Brenda has just called Jax's home to whine about him ruining her evening. Here is V's
response:"You know Brenda i have never told you what i think since i threw the margarita at you, but i suggest you listen." First
of all" You're a vain spoiled little witch that thinks the world revolves around making her happy." Second" If you don't stop
calling here i am filing harassment charges against you tommorrow morning." "Oh and one more thing Brenda Baby, don't ever
ever assume you know Jax, because you don't have a clue and you never will." Then she hits disconnect on her cell phone. She
turns to see Jax standing over at the window looking out at the city. He is sort of taken aback by this side of V ,but he knew
she had her limit and Brenda finally hit her last bloody nerve. He comes over to her and kisses her. She asks"What was that
for?" He says"Because i think the firey side of you is just too bloody cute for words." She blushes knowing he must have
overheard her. They hold hands and go upstairs to really light both of their inner fires and enjoy the healing power of their
passion together.
 

The next day V heads off to work at the gatehouse as usual. Jax had gone into the office despite the fact that his jaw still looked
black and blue. Jerry and Bobbie were due back from vacation that evening and Jax wanted to clear off Jerry's desk for him.
V is typing away at some contracts for Ned, and listening to Miguel Morez 's latest album when the doorbell rings. Ned goes to
get it and finds a delivery guy from the local flower shop. He notices V's name on the card and takes the bouquet of red roses
to her. He sets them on the table beside her laptop. She looks up and jokes"Gee Ned you shouldn't have, don't you have a wife
to spoil now?" He laughs and says" These aren't from me, are you going to fill me in on your admirer?" V blushes and then
opens the card. It reads"I love you with all my heart, Jax." Ned notices the name and says" Hmm so that Australian pirate is the
reason for the smile on your face lately?" V replies"Yes we've been living together for the past few weeks now." Ned replies"V
i'm truly happy for you ." She thanks him and he goes up to the main house to get them some cappucino's. As he leaves, V dials
her cell phone. "J&J Jacks, Addie the secretary answers. V replies"Can i speak to Jasper please?" She rings her through to
Jerry's desk. He answers"Well hello luv, this is a nice surprise." She answers" Just like the one i just got at L& B." He can hear
the warmth in her voice. She says"Oh Ned knows about us now, i hope that's all right." Jax replies"Yes i'ts fine, i know how
much you like Alexis." They talk a little longer and plan dinner that night at Kellys.
end chapter 10