Journey Online

“It’s all too perfect. Nothing this perfect lasts.” She looked back at him when she heard him laughing.

“You call this perfect? You’re crazy, you know that?”

He stopped laughing and took her face in his hands. This woman in front of him who had been through so much pain and hardship and thought someone loving her for who she was seemed too perfect was almost too much for him to bear.

“Courtney, in the past three years you’ve lost both your parents and had your brother disappear. In the past two months you’ve had the local mob muscle pull a gun on you and then try to turn you into a kept woman.” He was relieved to see her smile return. “You’ve had plates thrown at you and a car has hit your brother. Everything is not perfect. Not yet. Please say you’ll marry me.”

She nodded and broke into a grin. “You’re right. Things really do suck after all. Thanks for the pep talk.”

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The foursome sat around drinking champagne after a very eloquent toast by Sonny that included his high recommendation of marriage. Carly kept yanking Courtney’s hand into the light to see the ring. She had been very impressed with Jason and the changes Courtney had brought in his life. Jason’s face seemed more open, more at peace. This was what he needed - Courtney was what he needed.

“So, you’re going to get married right away? But a wedding takes a while to plan.” Carly whined.

Jason and Courtney both laughed at her transparent attempt to arrange yet another wedding.

“Carly, I’m sorry, but a big wedding just isn’t us.” Courtney felt a little bad for her friend. Carly just wasn’t truly happy unless she was stage-managing something.

“Well, you are planning something special, right?”

“I am planning the most amazing wedding for my bride.” Jason replied as he took Courtney’s hand and kissed it. “Right here at home.”

They all turned when they heard Max knock at the door and open it announcing “Zander Smith to see Ms. Matthews.”

Courtney ran to the door champagne glass still in hand.

“Zander, I thought you weren’t being released until tomorrow?” She reached out to hug him but he just took the glass from her and drained it.

“I didn’t want to miss the party. I guess my invite got lost in the mail, huh?” He slurred.

Jason was over to them in a few strides. This was not good. Zander obviously checked himself out of the hospital and had gone and gotten drunk or high.

“Hey, Zander, your room’s all ready. Let me help you up there.” Jason tried to take Zander’s arm but he jerked away from the taller man’s grasp.

“I got it. I don’t need your help.” He started to take a step up but slipped and almost fell.

Jason was afraid to look at Courtney. He didn’t want to see the pain in her eyes but when he did look all he saw was anger. Courtney was royally p*ssed.

“Alright, Zander, let’s get a few ground rules out of the way. You just left the hospital without being checked out by a doctor. You’ve obviously been partying. That won’t fly here. There will be no drugs and no drinking in this home. Do you understand me?”

Zander looked over at Jason who was standing with his arms crossed waiting to see how this would play out.

“Well, looks like you’ve already broken one of your rules, lil sis or am I imagining that champagne?” Zander smirked.

“Let’s get a few things clear here. I did not get high and step off a curb into the path of a car. I am not the one who needed an induced coma to clean drugs out of my system and I am not the one who does whatever the hell I want no matter who it hurts. So you let Jason show you up to your room and you sleep it off. We’ll talk in the morning.”

She turned her back on him and walked back to her friends. She was shaking the whole way though. She sat down and watched Jason lead Zander up the stairs out of the corner of her eye.

“Hey, you okay?” Carly asked concerned for her friend. “Don’t let this ruin your night.”

“I won’t. Zander and I have a lot to work out but I am not going to let that ruin what I have with Jason. I got scared earlier because I was afraid that things were going too well. Zander’s little stunt proved that Jason was right - things are far from perfect.” Courtney sighed and rubbed her forehead.

Sonny stood and helped Carly up. “We’re going to head out now. We have our own little Valentine’s Day celebration to continue.”

“Thanks for coming over. It really meant a lot to Jason to be able to share this with you. I’m sorry we have to cut it short.”

She kissed Sonny on the cheek and gave Carly a hug. The other couple had gone by the time Jason returned downstairs.

“Some party, huh?” He remarked as he kissed her on the forehead.

“I’m sorry about earlier. I shouldn’t have done that to you.”

“You handled it perfectly, honey. He even told me how great it was that you were … and I quote, ‘ragging on’ him.”

“No, I meant when I told you I wouldn’t marry you. I just got scared and my first thought was to run. Zander and I are a lot alike in that respect.”

Jason put his arms around her. “This will all work out. We’ll get him some help and we’ll keep Tony on him.” She put her head on his shoulder.

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Courtney was up early the next morning to stretch and practice a little. She had been neglecting her workouts lately and she really needed to get back at them. They calmed her but it was important to stay focused so she could be ready for anything. You never knew when you’d need the kinds of skills she’d learned.

A throat cleared behind her. She turned and saw Zander standing at the foot of the stairs.

“Hey, Zan. Sleep well?” She asked casually as she continued stretching.

“Yeah, fine. So how big of a jerk was I last night?”

“Pretty big. You crashed Valentine’s Day, you know?” She looked at him.

“Sorry. Jason was pretty cool about it though. You know he really doesn’t like me much.” Zander looked around the room noting all the differences since the last time he had been there.

“Luckily for you, he likes me a lot.” Courtney smiled.

“I noticed. Big changes around here.” Zander nodded at the living room.

“We just redecorated.” Courtney told him proudly. “Carly and I designed everything.”

“You seem to have settled in pretty well. New family and everything.” Zander gave her a hard look.

“Don’t you do this to me, Zander. You left! I came looking for you and you told me to go away. I have not abandoned you. I fell in love that’s all.”

“You fell in love with a mobster.” Zander spit at her.

His words just set her off again. “I fell in love with a man who treats me, and you, I might add, a whole hell of a lot better than our own father ever did. You know how you survived that car accident? The bodyguard Jason put on you rushed you to the hospital, that’s how.”

She stomped into the kitchen and met Jason on the other side of the door. He had come down the back stairs not wanting to interrupt the fight Courtney and Zander were having.

“Eggs?” He offered.

She shot him a dark look. Zander slammed the door open and glared at Courtney.

“I am not a child. In case you’ve forgotten I’m the older brother.”

“When it’s convenient for you. And it’s only a few months. If you stopped acting like a child I’d stop treating you like one.” Courtney threw her hands up in exasperation. She turned to go up the back stairs. “By the way, you have an appointment with Monica at 10:00am. Tony will take you and make sure you get there and back home safely.”

“I don’t want any damn bodyguard.” Zander yelled at her.

“Well, that’s too bad because as far as I am concerned, buddy, you are under house arrest. And don’t think of going after Jason with that foul mouth of yours. I made the decision and Tony reports directly to me. I own you, Zan, and until you get your life under control Tony is your shadow.”

“B*tch.” She turned back just in time to see Jason grab Zander by the front of his shirt and back him up against the counter.

“I don’t care if you did just get out of the hospital, Zander, if you ever talk to her like that again I swear ….”

“Jason, please.” Courtney returned to the kitchen. She watched her fiancée loosen his grip on her brother but he didn’t let go.

“No, I will not listen to him talk to you like that after everything you’ve gone through.”

Zander just looked at his sister. “I’m sorry, Corey. I don’t know why I said that.”

“I do. You’re angry, frustrated and scared.” Jason finally let go of Zander. “But you can’t take it out on her. She’s trying to help you.”

“I know. Okay, so I guess I have a babysitter for a little while.” Zander shrugged.

“And if you behave yourself then we can shift Tony to his new job early.” Courtney smiled. “Who wants eggs?”

“New job?” Jason asked.

“Can you just let it go, okay? I just meant another job. Not new - just another.” She was frustrated that Jason had latched onto that and kept working at it like a dog with a bone.

“Then why did you say it?” Jason knew something was up and he was going to get her to admit it.

“Jason.” She turned around to look at him. “I have a brother I am trying to help through rehab and a wedding in 4 days. You are driving me crazy, please stop.”

“I just don’t understand why you would say new if you didn’t mean new? And where have you been all morning? I called like 10 times. I came home because I was worried.”

“Jason, we live in a penthouse with security in the lobby and a bodyguard outside our front door. What would have happened to me that you wouldn’t have heard about within 30 seconds? I have been running between here and next door making arrangements with Carly. If you’d really wanted to find me you would have called Max or the little electronic leash I’m on lately.”

She wagged the cell phone at him and then stuck it in her back pocket.

“Now, I am trying to avoid dealing with the florist because he won’t stop yelling at me for getting married the weekend after Valentine’s Day and make arrangements with the caterers not to mention fielding calls from Lila and your mother every three seconds so they can offer assistance. I haven’t even gotten my dress yet. Jason, I love you, but I swear, if you do not get out of my sight immediately you will be sleeping on the couch, all right?”

She looked in his eyes and saw the hurt. Keeping a secret from him was difficult but it was necessary for right now. Eventually she could tell him everything but she just needed to get through this wedding.

“Sorry, honey. I guess I’m just a little overwhelmed right now.” She reached up and gave him a hug. “But I am serious when I say I cannot talk to you right now. Tonight, okay?”

She turned back to the notebook in front of her on the counter and grabbed her cell phone as it started beeping in her pocket “Wedding Central” she barked into it.

Jason turned and walked out of the kitchen. He was going to find out what she was hiding from him. She saw him leave but still dropped her voice.

“Hi, Sonny. Jason is getting really suspicious. I’m getting the feeling he’s snooping around. What do I do now?”

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Liz watched Jason walk into Kelly’s and sit at the counter. The waitress poured him a cup of coffee. She walked in and sat down next to him.

“Where’s your bodyguard, Cathy is it?” She sniped.

“Courtney is at home. Making wedding plans, Elizabeth.”

“Well, you don’t look very happy. Are you sure you don’t want to take me up on my offer?”

“Elizabeth, the only thing I am unhappy about is the fact that I have to wait 4 more days until she’s my wife. Goodbye.”

Jason stood up and threw some money on the counter. Elizabeth watched him walk out of Kelly’s with a snide smile on her face.

“Maybe, I’ll just go offer my assistance to the bride.”

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Courtney and Carly were up to their eyes in boxes. Gifts just kept pouring in. How all these people had found out about the wedding was beyond either of them but after the 15th card that read some name like Phillip Wallace Worthington, VI they concluded that Lila had been a very busy woman.

“Courtney, you have to stop stalling and pick a dress.” Carly mentioned.

“There is too much to be done. I don’t have time to let you turn me into your own personal Barbie doll. Just pick one, okay?” Courtney started scribbling in her notebook again.

“Courtney, stop.” Carly put her hand over the top of the book.

“What’s really going on because I know it’s not the wedding.”

Courtney studied her friend. She knew she could fool Jason but Carly was another story. If she didn’t tell her Carly would probably hold her down until she spilled the whole story.

“Okay, I have to tell someone. Keeping this from Jason is just about killing me but you cannot tell Sonny I told you.”

“I knew something was going on.” Carly eyed the frazzled bride.

“Sonny came to me a few weeks ago, right before Zander’s accident, and asked me if I would like to help him open a gym. Well, not really a gym, more of a community center. Underprivileged kids could go there after school and play sports. And, this is where I come in; we’d also have self-defense classes for women. He wanted me to design the program and choose instructors and help him figure out what we’d need.”

Carly was stunned. “Did he tell you why he wanted to do this?”

“He said that when he was younger his stepfather wasn’t the nicest guy. He told me that he wanted to make sure kids had a place to go that was safe and where women could learn to take care of themselves like I had.”

Carly had tears in her eyes. Sonny’s childhood had been a lot rougher than he’d painted for Courtney.

“It was supposed to be a surprise for you and Jason. Kind of a wedding gift except for the groom and the groom’s best friend. Sonny wants Jason to run it.”

“So, all this running around isn’t for the wedding?” Carly asked.

“No, I pawned all the wedding stuff off on you. Except the dress.” Courtney laughed. “You are planning your fourth wedding in three years.”

“Well, can I help you with the other stuff too?” Carly offered.

“God, that would be great. Jason is getting really suspicious and I am completely neglecting him.”

Max opened the door and announced, “Mrs. Morgan. Mrs. Quartermaine to see you.”

“Max, I’m not Mrs. Morgan until Saturday.” She laughed. “Please show Monica in …”

Carly and Courtney were none too pleased to see Elizabeth walk in instead of Monica.

“Hey, ladies, need another bridesmaid?”

“What are you doing here?” Carly got up to stand between Elizabeth and Courtney.

“I just came by to offer my services. When I saw Jason earlier he said you were too busy with the wedding to even pay attention to him.”

Carly saw Courtney’s face fall. Elizabeth had hit a nerve with her remark and Carly wanted to make sure she nipped this whole situation in the bud before it got any further.

“Elizabeth, that is so great of you. You can come help me arrange the seating chart?” Carly told the brunette. Both Courtney and Elizabeth looked at her with gaping mouths.

‘Seating chart?’ Courtney thought. ‘There are 12 people.’

“Well, I … uh … I don’t want to intrude.” Elizabeth finally got out.

“No, it’s perfect. Courtney can go spend some time with Jason and you and I can chat.” Carly looked at Liz who was looking back at her like she wanted to run.

Courtney broke into a huge grin when she realized just what her best friend was doing for her. She grabbed her phone and jacket out of the closet and ran out before she had any second thoughts about leaving Elizabeth alone with Carly.

“Hey, Max.” She began as she got on the elevator. “If you hear any screaming just ignore it, okay?”

“Okay, Mrs. Morgan.” The bodyguard grinned at his new boss. Things were certainly a lot more fun with her around.

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Jason was standing on the South Street pier looking out over the water when his phone rang.

“Matthews.” Courtney replied.

“Hey, you, how’s it going at wedding central?” He was pleased to hear her voice. Their disagreement this morning was still bothering him.

“Great. How’s it going on the pier?”

“Fine … wait, how did you know I was on the pier?”

“You always go to the pier when something’s bothering you. Besides, I am the top of the stairs watching you.”

He turned to see her looking at him. She gave him a bright smile and walked down the stairs to meet him. She stopped on the bottom step so they were roughly the same height.

“Hi, sweetie, I’ve missed you.” She told him as she reached out to touch his face.

“You didn’t sound like it earlier.” Jason Morgan, one of the most feared men in Port Charles, was actually pouting.

“Are you serious? That’s why I’ve been so cranky. I am so busy I never get to see you.” She looked into his eyes. “But you were being a pain.”

“I know.” He sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. “I just feel like you’re keeping something from me. I know that’s stupid.”

“I am keeping something from you. Or more specifically Sonny, Carly, and I are keeping something from you. It’s called a surprise so quit snooping and prying.” She leaned in and kissed him.

“A surprise? For me?”

“Yes, now can we go get some hot chocolate? I’m freezing out here.”

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After they finished their hot chocolate they walked hand in hand back to the penthouse. She had been telling him about her morning and he was laughing at her account of Liz’s appearance and Carly’s sacrifice.

“I just hope there’s not too much blood. I don’t think we have enough time to repaint.” Jason chuckled.

“I’m sure Carly has enough presence of mind to take her out on the balcony.”

Johnny had come on shift to replace Max and he was still a little wary of Courtney. She had tried to apologize but it just made him more nervous. They listened at the door of the penthouse but all was quiet. Jason gingerly opened the door but no one was in the room.

“Well, that’s a relief. We have the whole place to ourselves.” Jason said as he nuzzled Courtney’s ear.

“No, Zander should be home. His group session ended two hours ago. Tony?”

Tony walked in from the kitchen with a sandwich in his hand, “Yeah, Mrs. Morgan.”

“It’s Matthews until … never mind. Where’s Zander?”

“He went upstairs with the girl.”

“Girl? What girl?” Jason asked.

Courtney could feel her face starting to get hot. “Please tell me it’s some girl he met at group, please, Tony, I’m begging you.”

“No, that girl that was here. She said she was your friend.”

“Why did you let him go upstairs with her?”

“You didn’t say nothing about girls just drugs and booze, Mrs. Morgan.”

She turned to Jason panic on her face. “Oh God, Jason, he’s upstairs with Elizabeth. Please tell me he’s not … He wouldn’t …”

“Tony, how long ago did they go upstairs?” Jason asked grabbing Courtney’s arm to prevent her from running up the stairs.

“About 45 minutes ago.” Tony answered.

“Okay, thanks, Tony. You can go now. We’ll take it from here.”

“Thanks. Bye, Mrs. Morgan.” Courtney tried to hold it together until Tony got out the door.

“Gun.” Courtney demanded.

“What?” Jason looked at her.

“I said, give me your gun.”

“Courtney, you can’t shoot her.” Jason tried not to laugh.

“Why not? She’s a little b*tch who seduced my brother when she couldn’t get her hands on my boyfriend.”

“I didn’t seduce anybody. He went with me quite willingly.” Elizabeth said as she came down the stairs. “I have to say, Jason, I had forgotten how comfortable your bed was.”

Courtney whipped her head around to glare at Jason. “Did she just tell me that she had sex with my brother in our bed?”

“Honey, calm down.”

“Don’t you dare tell me to calm down! I am getting married in four days and this little slut, your ex-girlfriend, has just informed me that not only has she had sex with you in that bed but also my brother.”

“Courtney, it’s a new bed. I got it after they ran off and got married.”

“Well, I hope you get a discount because that one is getting burned.”

Courtney was yelling so loud Johnny peeked his head in the door. “Mr. Morgan, is everything okay?”

Courtney turned to the man who was terrified of what she was going to do when he saw the rage in her face. “No, Johnny everything is not okay. You need to call the cops.”

“Cops, Mrs. Morgan? Uh, we don’t usually do that. What’s that number?”

“911, Johnny. And tell them to hurry. Tell them Mrs. AJ Quartermaine just fell off a balcony and is most likely dead.”

Jason broke in. “Everything is fine, Johnny, forget about the cops.”

Johnny shut the door quickly. Elizabeth just looked back and forth from Courtney to Jason with an amused look on her face. She was confident that Jason wouldn’t let Courtney hurt her but she began to rethink that when she saw the dangerous look in his eyes.

“Elizabeth, I think you’d better leave.”

“Jealous, Jason?” She wanted to keep the upper hand in this matter but she was losing it quickly.

Neither Jason nor Elizabeth noticed that Courtney had gotten out her cell phone and had made a call.

“May I speak to AJ Quartermaine, please? This is Courtney Matthews. I see. Can you give him a message please? Can you tell him to come and get his wife? And that if she doesn’t stop coming on to my husband and brother I am going to call the press and let them do a little story on how promiscuous she is becoming. Thank you!”

“I think you should wait downstairs for him. Do you want to take the elevator or the balcony?” Courtney offered with a fake smile.

It had been over an hour since Elizabeth left but Courtney still wouldn’t talk to Jason. He would start but she’d just give him a look that let him know to keep his mouth shut or face very dire consequences. As far as he could tell she wasn’t exactly mad at him unless it was because he wouldn’t let her shoot Elizabeth. Zander had locked himself in his room and kept calling Jason on his cell phone to ask when Tony was coming back. After the first two calls Jason stopped answering and then turned it off because Courtney would start glaring at him every time she heard him say Zander’s name.

They both looked over to see Sonny walk in when they heard the door open.

“Jason, man, I’ve been calling you. Why didn’t you answer?”

Sonny looked at Jason as Jason looked at Courtney who just glared at him.

“He hasn’t been answering his phone because he turned it off.” She ground out.

“Uh, okay. Things seem a little tense. Is everything all right over here?” Sonny inquired.

“Tense, no, everything is fine. We’re having fun over here. Planning the wedding, making arrangements for our honeymoon, catching my brother having sex with Jason’s ex-girlfriend in our bed. Things are just perfect!”

Sonny leaned closer to Jason while Courtney continued to rant. “Did she just say …?”

“Yeah, and I wouldn’t ask anymore questions if I were you, she’s very, very angry right now. At who, I’m not really sure.” Jason sighed.

“Where the hell are those guys with the new mattress?” Courtney yelled.

“Courtney, you need to calm down. I can understand why you’re angry but you aren’t doing yourself any good.” Sonny propelled her to sit on the couch.

Courtney took a deep breath and let him sit her down. “You’re right. I just can’t imagine what would possess him to do something like this … in my bed no less.”

“Courtney, maybe he’s feeling a little lost and lonely. You need to talk to him.”

Jason watched as his best friend calmed and comforted his soon-to-be wife. It was unusual because Sonny was the hothead in the family but with Courtney around Sonny had a chance to take a new role - wise older brother.

“You know for a coffee importer you sure are smart.” She kissed him on the cheek and went upstairs to talk to her brother.

“Thanks. I was not getting through to her.” Jason told him.

“Well, you wouldn’t have been able to no matter what. She’s angriest with you right now.”

“Me? It’s not like I let it happen - I was with her.” Jason protested.

“Jason, she is planning her future, trying to move on with her life and she keeps getting slapped in the face with your past. First, she had to watch Elizabeth attempt to seduce you and then she comes home to find this scene. It may not be your fault but you need to find a way to fix this for her.”

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“Zander, I just can’t imagine what you were thinking.”

“God, Corey, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking. We started talking about the wedding and then one thing led to another. Your room was the first one we came to and by then all rational thought was out the window.”

“Did you know she’s married? To AJ Quartermaine, no less.”

“Yeah, I picked that up when you were yelling. Man, Corey, you can yell. I don’t ever remember you being able to yell that loud.”

“Well, when I find Jason’s ex in bed with you it makes me a little cranky.”

“Yeah, she dated Jason before she married AJ.”

“So … it wasn’t even about me? Jeez, I’m an idiot. I thought she really liked me.”

“Zan, I’m sure she did but she’s a really unhappy woman. AJ cheats on her and she really doesn’t like me at all. I’ll tell you that story later.”

“Hey, you never told me how you and Jason met. This is all happening kind of fast, isn’t it?”

“Very fast. Not even two months after we met I will be Mrs. Jason Morgan.”

“Wow, love at first sight, huh?” Zander smiled at his sister.

“Um, kind of. More like violence at first sight. When we met I was fighting with Max and Johnny.”

“Then Jason threatened to shoot me.”

“And then I took his gun away from him and knocked him on his butt.”

“Very funny, Corey. Seriously, how’d you two meet?” He could take a joke after everything he had put her through.

“I’m not joking, Zan. That’s how it happened. I swear.” At the puzzled look on his face she continued.

“Okay, long story short. I came to Port Charles to find you. My car got stolen and I was looking for some light to call the cops when Max and Johnny approached me. I got a little scared and defended myself. Jason showed up and he and I got into it a little too. He laughed at me and I lost my temper. We made up and decided to be friends … or well, at least friendlier than trying to kill each other. He offered to let me stay here with him .…” Zander gave her a look. “… in the room you are now in. Then we just fell in love.”

“That’s so weird. I wouldn’t think of Jason like that.”

“How so?” Courtney was curious. Everything she really knew about Jason came from first hand experience so she wanted Zander’s take on what had happened.

“Well, the Jason I knew was a pretty controlled guy. Didn’t talk a lot, didn’t lose control, didn’t let anyone in on what he was thinking or feeling. The guy I’ve seen the past couple of days is completely different. You’ve changed him, Corey.”

“Okay, you really need to stop calling me Corey.” She said laughing. “He’s changed, huh? I hope he’s happy about that.”

“He is, trust me. I can see it in his face. He’s crazy about you.” Zander gave his sister a hug. “And I’m going to stop being such a brat and let you be happy. You deserve it.”

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“No, Monica, Courtney is fine. She was really angry at the time but she’s calmed down now. Yeah, I’ll tell her. You too. Bye.” Jason hung the phone up.

“So, Monica heard.” Courtney said coming down the stairs.

“Evidently, everyone heard. AJ was yelling about as loud as you were. That was a pretty nice trick you played on her.” Jason grabbed Courtney and pulled her to him. “I’m sorry that she keeps annoying you. I just want you to be happy and have the wedding of your dreams and people keep trying to ruin it for you.”

“I’m doing okay. It was just so awful to think of you with her …” Courtney made a face.

“Stop. I never loved her. I love you and only you. And, one more thing, I did not tell her that you were neglecting me. Elizabeth just said that to hurt you.” At her look he continued. “Carly told me what Liz said to you when she came here. Carly feels really bad too. She feels responsible for what happened. She said she ran next door to check on Michael and when she got back they were both gone. She had no idea what they were doing.”

“Okay, I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Has the new bed gotten here yet?”

“Just arrived. Wanna go christen it?” Jason offered. “I’ll bet I can take your mind of all this wedding nonsense.”

“I would like nothing better.” She replied kissing him.

Carly decided Courtney should stay with them after the rehearsal dinner. She told them it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding. Jason was not pleased. He made a remark to Carly about how it would also be bad luck if the groom had to kill the matron-of-honor before the wedding.

Courtney was moving in between the bed, closet and dresser packing up their bags for the honeymoon.

“Sweetie, it’s just for one night.”

“The night before our wedding. We might actually have had some time together tonight and now you’re going to be gone.”

“Well, I only have to leave here just before midnight.” She flirted. “And I’ll be back at 10am for the ceremony.”

“But I won’t be able to sleep without you in bed with me.” He wheedled.

“Jason, just how much sleep were you planning on us getting anyway?” She smirked.

“Very little.” He grinned as he sat down on the bed next to the bag that held his clothes. It was not very full but he didn’t think he would need much for two weeks on a deserted island.

“Tomorrow night we’ll be an old married couple and too tired to make love.”

Courtney grabbed a pillow and whacked him in the face with it. He wrestled it away from her and threw her on the bed tickling her.

“You’d better not be too tired to make love to me when I’m your wife.” She gasped, laughing and out of breath from the horseplay.

Jason leaned down to give her a slow lingering kiss. “I will never be too tired to make love to you and if I am kill me right there because I won’t want to live.”

“I can’t believe this time tomorrow we’ll be married.” She smiled as she lay in his arms.

“And this time Sunday you and I will be on our own private island and I can finally see you in that bikini.” Jason reminded her.

“I’m not taking it.” She said.

“What? Why not?” Jason asked.

“I don’t want any tan lines.” She said with a very naughty look for him.

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They took so long they had to rush to get dressed and they still managed to get carried away in the limo. Jason had Marco circle the block for almost an hour until Courtney finally insisted that they had to go in. Flushed and rumpled they arrived at Club 101 very late for the rehearsal dinner. The various family members smiled at them and teased them about what they had been doing to make them so late. Courtney just enjoyed all the love from her new family. They were flawed - all of them - but they tried and she loved them. The whole rehearsal dinner, of which there was not actual rehearsal, consisted of Jason and Courtney, Sonny and Carly, Alan and Monica, Lila, Reginald, the Quartermaines butler and major domo to Lila, Jason’s sister Emily who had flown in from college, Zander, Tony, and the justice of the peace who left after a brief rundown of the next day’s schedule with Carly. The wedding would take place in Sonny and Carly’s penthouse then everyone would go across the hall to Jason and Courtney’s for the small, intimate brunch reception.

Courtney was most excited about meeting Emily. Jason’s adopted sister was very sweet. She gave Courtney a big hug and told her how happy she was that Jason had found someone so wonderful. Then she asked her if it was true that she had taken Jason down the first night they met. When Courtney confirmed that the story was true Emily started laughing and said she knew Jason had always needed a swift kick in the butt.

Tony kept close eye on Zander but he was on his best behavior and determined not to ruin Courtney’s special night. Plus he had seen Emily giving him looks and he knew that if he wanted a chance with a beautiful girl like her he had to get his act together - permanently.

The family ate and danced and laughed for hours until Jason stood up, took Courtney’s hand and announced that he was taking his bride home to spend a little time alone with her before the Wicked Witch of Weddings stole her from him. Carly tried to glare at him but the look of love on his face stopped her cold. Her best friend was happy and getting married to the girl of his dreams tomorrow.

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Still dressed in their party clothes, Courtney had slipped off her shoes and had climbed into Jason’s lap the moment they were alone in the penthouse. She wound her arms around him and buried her face in his neck. She was tired and overwhelmed from all the planning and excitement of the week. They sat in front of the fire just holding each other.

“We’re getting married tomorrow, Jason. I still can’t believe it. Two months ago I spent Christmas alone and now I’ll never be alone again.”

“Not if I have anything to say about it.” He brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her softly on her cheek. “I have a confession to make.”

Courtney pulled away to look at him concern on her face. “Cold feet?”

“No, nothing like that. I would have married you the week after I met you. I was just waiting for you to be ready.” He tucked her down lower in his lap so her could look into her eyes. “You know how the guys have been calling you Mrs. Morgan all week? I asked them to do that.”

“Why?” She asked with a little laugh.

“Because I love the way it sounds. Mrs. Morgan; My wife; All of it. I never thought much about getting married before I met you and now it’s the only thing I want.”

“Well, tomorrow I really will be your wife.”

“Forever.” He swept her up into a slow, lingering, passionate kiss. There was no intent in the kiss, nothing in it that asked for another level of intimacy. It was pure, unadulterated love and it took both their breath away. They tightened their grip on one another and they didn’t even hear the knock on the door indicating Sonny and Carly were home and it was time for Courtney to leave.

Carly was not surprised that no one answered and didn’t try to knock again. She grabbed Zander and directed him to the other penthouse. Jason and Courtney had broken all the rules in the short course of their romance … another one wouldn’t matter.

They held each other for hours; breathing each other’s soul, drinking in each other’s life. It was in these moments they truly became one. They did not need a ceremony or a piece of paper. In the small, quiet hours of the night, long after the fire had burned out they walked hand in hand up the stairs to bed and made love for the last time before becoming husband and wife.

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In the morning, Carly quietly snuck in and woke Courtney up. They had about 2 hours to get ready before the ceremony. Courtney left Jason asleep with a kiss and a letter she had written him days before. A letter that told him all the things she could never say out loud. Words in her heart that she needed him to know. She had been running for so long that once she had taken a chance to stop and linger she saw how wonderful her life was - not because it was perfect but rather because it was not.

Jason woke up shortly after she had gone. Finding the letter on her pillow he grabbed both up and still able to smell her on the fabric he hugged the pillow tightly to him. Then he read the letter.

Jason, When you proposed to me you told me the moment you fell in love with me was the first moment you looked into my eyes. It took me a little longer to realize what I felt for you was love. When I saw you standing on the pier with Elizabeth I wasn’t afraid. I never doubted you. I knew that you would never betray the words you spoke to me the night before. I trusted you completely in that moment. More than I had ever trusted anyone before - even more than I trust myself. When I heard you tell her that you would never risk what we had I knew that I was the most important person in your life. Only my mother has loved me so much. She was willing to give everything for me … even her life … just as I know that would give your life for me. I had been so scared to let someone love me and to love them back because I knew I would only lose that person in the end but now I know that it is the chance that you can love and lose that makes it all worthwhile. I am willing to take the chance to love you because even the shortest instant with you is worth the risk. I am counting the moments until I hear the words, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Then everyone will know what I already know in my heart. You and I are bound together forever in love. All my love, Courtney

“Jason, you’ve got to get up. We’ve only got a few hours, man.”

Getting no response Zander opened the bedroom door. He saw Jason sitting on the bed holding Courtney’s pillow.

“Jase, we’ve got to get moving.”

Jason didn’t move. Zander was becoming concerned. “Are you okay? Are you going to back out because I will kill you if you break my sister’s heart. I mean it!”

Jason finally looked up just realizing Zander was standing in the room. He gave his new brother a big smile.

“Hey, Zander. I’m marrying the most amazing girl in the world in less than 2 hours. This is the best day of my life.”

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“He’s just going to die when he sees you in that dress.”

“You think?” Courtney said beaming in the mirror at her friend.

Courtney turned to face Carly. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. I wouldn’t be getting married today if it weren’t for you.”

“Sure, you would.” Carly told her.

“No, that night at the club started it all. When I danced with him I felt his heart beating against mine. That was the moment I knew I was home.”

“Courtney, you and Jason are meant to be together. It would have happened no matter what. I believe in destiny. It was no accident you and Jason met.”

“I think it was Carly. A brilliant cosmic accident like the one that created the universe.” She turned back to the mirror to make a few more adjustment to her hair.

“Let’s do it.” Courtney let out a deep breath, grabbed her bouquet off the table and walked towards the door.

Chapter 23 - The Wedding

When the music started he turned to see her standing at the top of the stairs. She looked the way she had the night of their first date. The same loose waves in her hair, the same tiny white flowers, and impossibly the same dress but in white. She was so breathtaking beautiful he felt the world stop and melt away. No one existed but the two of them. In the moment it took her to make her way down he never saw her move only felt her drawn to him … like gravity. She was a force he could not escape, a force he did not want to escape.

She saw him look at her and was completely overwhelmed to see tears in his eyes. She had never seen such a look on anyone’s face. He was so full of peace and love … for her. She didn’t even know how she got down the stairs and over to him she just knew she had to be near him, feel him by her side, touch him. He looked so handsome, no tux, no tie just him the way he always was, the only way she wanted him. She reached up to wipe the tear falling from his eye but he grabbed her hand and placing his lips against her palm whispered, “It’s okay to cry sometimes.”

They just looked in each other’s eyes ignoring everyone around them for a minute. The justice of the peace finally broke the spell with his words.

“Family and friends, we are joined here today to witness the union of Jason and Courtney.

“Jason, do you take Courtney to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, for so long as you both shall live? Do you pledge to give to her the same happiness she gives to you, and to respect her for who she is, not who you want her to be? Do you pledge to love Courtney and throughout your years together to be honest, faithful, and kind to her?

“I do.” Jason gave Courtney’s hand a gentle squeeze.

“Excellent. Now Courtney has a special request. She has some personal vows for Jason that she wants everyone to hear. Courtney?”

Jason was a little surprised by the officiant’s words. He looked at Courtney with the question on his face.

“Jason, I have had a difficult time sharing my feelings with you. I have been afraid to open up and allow you into my heart. But you taught me that I have nothing to fear from loving you and being loved by you. With all my heart I take you to be my husband. I will love you through the good and the bad, through the joy and the sorrow. I will trust in you completely. I will make you a part of me and in turn, become a part of you. Together we will face all of life's experiences and share one another’s dreams. I pledge to you with all my heart to love you in all ways for the rest of our lives. I will never leave you, I will never let you down”

Jason felt tears welling up again as Courtney smiled at him so sweetly.

“Jason and Courtney will now exchange rings as a symbol of the commitment they make to one another today. Jason?”

"Courtney, with this ring I pledge my love and fidelity." Jason gently placed the ring on Courtney’s finger. She looked down at her finger and saw not the plain gold band she was expecting but a diamond band that neatly locked onto her engagement ring. She looked up at Jason who just gave her a wink.

“Jason, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you.” She slipped the simple gold band on his hand. It looked so right there. When she looked into his eyes she realized that from the moment he met her, in his heart, the ring had always been there. “For as much as Jason and Courtney have consented together, have given and pledged their promises to each other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving a ring by the authority vested in me by the State of New York, I pronounce them to be husband and wife. Jason, you may now kiss your bride.” As Jason leaned in to kiss Courtney they both heard the justice of the peace announce. "And now Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the pleasure of presenting to you Mr. and Mrs. Jason Morgan.”

Courtney broke their kiss with a laugh. The small crowd applauded and Courtney tossed her bouquet straight into Emily’s hands.

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Courtney felt someone tugging on the hem of her dress. She looked down to see Michael standing next to her.

“Now that you’re married to Uncle Jason does that mean I can call you Aunt Courtney?”

She smiled at the little boy and then kneeled down to give him a hug. “It sure does.”

Jason watched from the other side of the room where he was trying to have a conversation with his father but he was having a hard time paying attention. He couldn’t take his eyes off of his wife.

Allan looked at his son. This moment of casual conversation was one he had not been sure would ever happen. Jason had been so distant since the accident. Seeing him like this was almost like having the old Jason back.

“She’s very beautiful, Jason.”

“Yes, she is.” Jason said lovingly.

“Your grandmother is crazy about her. She said that dinner with you two was the highlight of her week.”

“Courtney was a nervous wreck about meeting her after what happened with Elizabeth on the pier. Grandmother insisted on the whole story and by the time Courtney was done grandmother was almost in tears she was laughing so hard.”

“Yes, well, Courtney has a sweetness about her that makes it difficult not to like her.”

Jason watched his bride walk over to the couch and sit to talk to his elderly wheel chair bound grandmother and then he saw Lila hand her a box.

“Dad, excuse me.”

Jason arrived at the moment Courtney opened the box and found a string of antique pearls.

“These are the Morgan family pearls. My mother gave them to me on my wedding day and now I’m giving them to you.”

Jason sat down next to Courtney.

“I can’t accept these, Mrs. Quartermaine. These should stay in the family.”

“Nonsense, you can and you will. You are now a member of the Morgan-Quartermaine family. And you will call me grandmother or Lila.”

Tears filled Courtney’s eyes as she leaned over to kiss the woman on her cheek.

“I will cherish them always, grandmother.”

“Then one day you can give them to the great-granddaughter you are going to bear me.” Lila summoned Reginald to wheel her off to have cake with Michael.

Courtney turned to Jason with shock and worry on her face.

She leaned in and whispered to him. “Oh my God, Jason, I completely forgot about the pills.”

“What pills?” Jason whispered back.

“The birth control pills Dr. Meadows gave me. I didn’t even get the prescription filled. I completely forgot because of Zander’s accident.”

“So?” He picked up her hands and brought them to his lips.

“So, we’ve been having unprotected sex for weeks.” Courtney fretted.

“Well, maybe we’ll be giving grandmother that great-granddaughter for Christmas.” He said.

“And if not?” She asked.

Jason didn’t get a chance to answer. Sonny walked over to the couch. “Courtney, I think we’ve kept him in the dark long enough, don’t you?”

Sonny reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a very full envelope. Courtney stood up to accept the envelope and then handed it to Jason.

“What’s this?” Jason asked looking back and forth between Sonny and Courtney. He saw Carly out of the corner of his eye. She was trying not to smile. “Carly?”

“I don’t know anything. Just open it.”

Jason opened the envelope and read the first page but it still didn’t make any sense to him. Courtney sat back down next to him. “A few weeks ago Sonny called me up and asked me to help him with this project. It was something he’d been thinking about doing for years and after the incident the night we met he thought the time was right.”

“Yeah, for you to run.” Sonny told his best friend. “Well, you and Courtney.”

“I don’t understand. I don’t have time to run a gym. We’ve got the coffee warehouse and … the other business I do for you.”

“After you get back, your priority is this gym. You and Courtney get it up and running then we’ll talk about the other business.”

“Jason, this is very important to me. I need my best man on it. That’s you.” Sonny said with a smile.

Jason looked at Courtney. “Do you want to do this?”

“Go to work every day with my husband? You bet!” She gave him a hug.

“It’s a deal.” Jason stood up and took the hand Sonny was offering then pulled him into a spontaneous hug.

“Your first duty is to sign the paperwork.” Sonny offered him a pen. “And then go on your honeymoon.”

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Courtney avoided the champagne just in case she was pregnant. She was thinking about the odds. The math was beyond her. She figured it would be almost impossible for her not to be pregnant as much time as she and Jason spent in bed. A baby. She was scared and excited at the same time. Jason seemed excited by the prospect. She caught him looking at Michael so many times. He had been a father to Michael before Sonny came into the picture and Carly had told her how wonderful Jason had been. Everything was just moving so quickly and she needed a chance to catch her breath. She slipped upstairs for a moment of solitude.

She walked into the bedroom and sat next to the bags they had packed yesterday. She looked up at the figure that appeared in the doorway.

“You must have some kind of sixth sense to know just when I need you.”

Carly just nodded. “What’s going on?”

“Because of Zander’s accident I forgot all about the pills. Jason and I haven’t been using protection for weeks.”

“And you’re scared you might be pregnant?” Carly sat down on the bed next to her.

“Terrified. Jason seems happy with the idea but …”

“But it’s happening to your body. I know how you feel. When I thought I was pregnant with Michael I was terrified too. It’s the not knowing that’s the worst.”

“So what do I do? We leave in a little bit. I don’t think I can just pop into the local drugstore on the island and get a test.”

“I have an idea. Do we need to keep this a secret or can I enlist some more help?”

Courtney gave her a small smile. “Okay, but don’t tell Lila. She’ll start calling all her friends and we’ll be inundated with baby gifts.”

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Courtney slipped back downstairs the back way and coming out of the kitchen she saw Carly snag Monica. After a brief conference Monica left the penthouse. None of this went unnoticed by Jason. He didn’t ask but he kept an eye on Courtney. She tried to act normally but he could see she was nervous. He was angry with himself for not being more careful. It never occurred to him to continue using condoms. He assumed after her doctor’s visit that everything was safe. Now 2 hours into their marriage he had caused her to be frightened and upset. It was obvious to him that the idea of a baby was not something that she was excited about right now. She was still young, they had a new business to run, a marriage to settle into. This was just the wrong time. As much as he wanted a baby with her it was just not the right time for Courtney. When Monica walked back in 15 minutes after she’d left he knew what was going on. Carly had sent Monica out for a pregnancy test. He wouldn’t push. He’d let Courtney do what she needed to do and then later she could tell him. That is if he didn’t die from curiosity first.

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The three women went back upstairs and an observant Emily followed. The party was too small for four people to disappear, especially when one was the bride. The men started wondering what was going on upstairs. Jason made an excuse that Courtney was showing the women the clothes for their honeymoon and they seemed to buy it except for Sonny.

“Everything all right, Jase?”

Jason led him over to the other side of the room. “No, Courtney thinks she may be pregnant and isn’t very happy about it.”

“Yeah, that’s a problem.”

“I’m so stupid. I thought we were being careful and now she’s scared and upset. How are we supposed to go on our honeymoon when she’s miserable?” Jason ran his hands over his face.

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“How much longer, Monica?” Courtney asked.

“About three minutes. Courtney, you need to relax. Either way everything will be fine.”

“A baby.” Emily said. “This is so great. Wait, is it great?”

“She’s not sure.” Carly answered.

“Well, on a subconscious level she must want to be pregnant otherwise she would have been more careful.” Emily answered.

“Freshman psych rears its ugly head.” Carly muttered.

“Emily!” Monica scolded. “Her brother was in a coma and she just forgot. Accidents happen.” Monica gave Emily a pointed look. “Although it had better not happen to you.”

“Stop, please. You all are just making me more nervous.” Courtney pleaded.

“Courtney, sit down, okay?” Carly led her friend to the bed and pulled her down.

“This is all just happening so fast. Two months ago I didn’t even know where Port Charles was and now I’m here, married and maybe pregnant.” She was shaking and sucking in air. “I can’t breathe.”

“She’s hyperventilating. Carly, help her put her head between her knees. Emily, go get Jason.”

“NO!” Courtney protested. “I don’t want to scare him. I’ll be fine.”

“Jason will happy whenever it happens -now or later.” Carly assured her.

“Well, you’d better figure out what you’re going to tell him fast.” Emily said as she handed Courtney the test.