melroyarticle

    She's the smart, sensible, savvy, and sexy nurse from his past, he's the rugged, dangerous, rough and tumble heartbreak she could never get over. And now, after testifying and putting her brother in jail, after romantically rejecting her for rival Bobbie Spencer, Melissa Bedford and Roy DiLucca have finally teamed up again, and this time, it's war.
      We almost didn't get to see Jensen Buchanan in the role of Melissa, but after a few legal snaffs, she's joined the show and did the impossible - made us root for her over tried and true veteran, Jaclyn Zeman's Bobbie. What is it about Melissa that makes us love her? Could it be that General Hospital has given us the chance to know and accept her? Could it be that she and A Martinez have fabulous chemistry? Could it be that cute little haircut that she pulls off so well? Could it be that she holds her own against Titans like Luke Spencer and Halana Cassadine? YES, to all of the above. But more than that, what makes Melissa and Roy work is good, old-fashioned fun. They're comfortable, relaxed, and easy together. There isn't all the drama that existed when Roy was with Bobbie.
     So what went wrong? Roy and Bobbie had their twenty-year history, book-ended with personal tragedy for them both. Why couldn't they make it work? Because Roy had more than guilt and friendship in his heart for his former flame, and Bobbie knew it. Enter Melissa. After finally making peace with Roy and wanting him to know she forgave him for her brother's death, Melissa wrote Roy a letter and sent it to him, through the FBI. A big no-no when Bobbie's around. Feeling like Melissa was stepping in on her territory, Bobbie tracked her down in Chicago, because she couldn't let it go when Roy insisted his relationship with Melissa was in the past. Melissa told Bobbie what she wanted to hear, that Roy was in the past, that that part of her life was over. But Bobbie had stirred up more than she bargained for, that flame was rekindled, and, like a woman on a mission, Melissa made her way to Port Charles.
     She was immediately put into her place by Bobbie, Felicia, and anyone else who thought she might be going after her one-time love. Melissa held her own against all of them, and after one manipulation too many from Bobbie, Melissa stood up and let them all know that, come hell or high water, she would not be moved. Her campaign to ruin Melissa a bust once Roy found out the truth, Bobbie tried unsuccessfully to let the situation go. Trust, a key factor for Roy after two decades as an FBI informant, was nonexistent between the two of them. Following that familiar adage, "do as I say, not as I do," Roy constantly told Bobbie to stay away from Melissa, but found it difficult to do that himself. Taking her cues from Roy, Melissa fought for a place in his life, seeing that he might be telling himself one thing, but all Roy truly wanted was Melissa's forgiveness for something that had been tearing at his heart for years. She gave it willingly, and then stood back, waiting for the dust to settle. Bobbie left Roy, ending it after he teamed up with the FBI and her daughter to put away Bobbie's son-in-law, Sonny Corinthos. Not five minutes later, Roy and Melissa were on their way to capturing that lovin' feelin'.
     So fast-forward to the present. Melissa's joined the fight against the Cassadines, earning her stripes in Luke Spencer's eyes, and Jensen Buchanan has already proven not only that she has what it takes to go up against the industry's best, but that she is one of them. Melissa and Roy show us what real friendship and real love is like. They make us believe in love and, more importantly, in them. They are the genuine article. When they sit at that piano, and he plays for her, A Martinez makes us feel like he's really playing for her. I look forward to the mishaps, shenanigans, and general craziness and romance that's bound to come our way with these two. I'm just glad to come along for the ride.