Second Time Around-32

Hi! Thanks for the great encouragement. Rhonda especially for always reminding me to
write! This one is sort of a breather from the trial. For those of you who do watch The
Practice, Helen will show up in this one. She was Bobby's old girlfriend, the DA. I will
be away until Sunday, so make this one last. Sorry it was so late! Enjoy!

Jane

The Second Time Around
Chapter 32

Brenda sat down anxiously on the bench by the dock. She fumbled aggressively
with the handkerchief that was tied around her eyes.
"Jax! I want to know what it is!"
Jax laughed as he watched her try to untie the knot. "Here, let me do it. I always
knew you couldn't stand surprises."
"Oh, I love surprises. I just want to know what they are," Brenda grinned up at
him blindly .
Brenda gasped slightly as the cloth fell to her lap. "Oh, Jax," Brenda whispered to
him.
"Thoroughly awed?" Jax asked, "Aren't you used to my surprises by now?"
"Well, of course. I just thought with everything going on, that there wouldn't be
any for a while."
Jax carefully watched her face as a wave of memories flooded through her. Her
brow was furrowed slightly but her eyes had that surreal quality to them that they often
had. They were lost in thought but appeared more alive than ever before.
"I thought that this was perfect timing. Something we both need desperately."
Brenda nodded and allowed her eyes to rest on him. She smiled rather giddily. It
was that feeling she got on rare moments when she was so overwhelmed by him. It was
that heavy, almost aching tension that she got just to be with him, to be near him. It was
the same feeling that she had gotten when he had first asked her to marry him and kissed
her without a mere reflection. She hadn't realized it fully then, but she could appreciate it
now.
The night was clear and the sky seemed endless, etched with perfectly brilliant
starts. The gentle lap of the water was the only sound between them. Jax was waiting
for her reaction. He could see it in her eyes, but he wanted to hear it. To make sure that
she remembered.
"What do you think?" he asked cautiously.
"Its the Isabella...what else could I be thinking?"
**************************************************************************
Bobby sighed. They were getting no where. They hadn't been for the last hour. It
was Saturday night and they were all restless. Extremely restless and agitated. Being
confined to a hotel room for days now, was no way to build everlasting friendships.
Ally pulled at her hair in boredom. It wasn't that she wasn't into this case, she was
just sick of working on it.
"How are you doing?"
Ally turned at the sound of Billy's voice. "I'm doing ok, for once."
Billy returned her smile, "You just seemed preoccupied. I wasn't sure if I was
supposed to worry."
Ally thought for a moment, "No, I don't think you have to worry so much
anymore."
"Really?" Billy looked happy, "I'm glad. It was beginning to be a time consuming
job."
Ally let her gaze linger on him for a moment longer. So, maybe she wasn't
completely over him...yet. She just had to keep working on it. She turned her attention to
Bobby. He looked frustrated. More than frustrated. Maybe it was just working with these
people. Perhaps she should rephrase that...people from her firm.
"Richard. Please. Would you stop going on?" Lindsay stood up in agitation.
The room quieted suddenly. Bobby sighed and let his pen and pad fall to the
table. He looked around the room at the faces waiting for his signal. He looked to Ally.
"Ally, what do you think we should do?"
"Me?" Ally pointed to herself in shock.
"As far as I can tell you are the only Ally in the room."
"Right." Ally smoothed out her skirt, "I don't know. Maybe we need to take a
break?"
"I think you're right. Lets go do something that involves nothing with this case.
Absolutely nothing."
"What the hell do you do in Port Charles?" Eugene grumbled.
"If you want to," Bobby looked to Ally, "there are a few places that aren't too bad.
Ally and I have been to the Outback. Its a restaurant and bar and they sometimes have
music."
"Anything else?" Elaine asked.
"There's Luke's. Its like a jazz club I guess. I have personally never been there. So
why don't we just do what we want. If you want to just go to your hotel room or go
wherever you want," Bobby waited for any answers.
Ally stood up. It was time to be aggressive. Time to take fate into her hands. She
had to get this thing rolling. Isn't that what Lois him implied?
"Bobby," everyone turned to her, including Bobby, "how about the Outback for
dinner?"
He nodded, "That sounds great. Why don't we take my car?"
"Fine," Ally grabbed her coat.
"The Outback? That doesn't sound so bad. Eleanor?" Lindsay turned to her.
"Actually..."
"Right Eleanor?" Lindsay nodded quickly.
"Ah, right. I guess we'll see you guys there."
Suddenly a group decision had been made and the entirety of both firms were
going to the Outback.
"Don't you love these group outings?" Georgia whispered apologetically to Ally.
"Love em," Ally moaned.
"So, why don't we just meet at the Outback, agreed?" Bobby headed toward the
door.
"The Outback sounds fine."
Everyone turned toward the voice. Helen shut the door loudly behind her.
"Bobby we need to talk."
**************************************************************************
Jax glowed at her answer.
"You didn't really think I wouldn't remember?"
"Of course not. I just wasn't sure what it meant for us," Jax pulled her toward
him.
"It means everything now. I want you to be confident in that. I didn't regret it then
and I don't today," Brenda rushed past him to the end of the dock, "So how about
escorting me to the yacht?"
"I would love to my lady," Brenda slipped her arm through his as he lead her up
the stair and onto the deck.
There was a table assembled on the far end in linen and crystal. A small
orchestra appeared from around the corner and began to set up. Slowly the yacht drifted
away from the dock as its anchor was pulled from the floor of the river.
"This is too much," Brenda lead Jax to the dimly lit dinning area. There were
numerous candles doting the railings and simple floral arrangements of tulips, white
roses, and lilies of the valley.
Brenda looked to Jax in sudden confusion. "Are we expecting company?"
"Perhaps," Jax alluded as he pulled out a chair for her.
"I am confused," she glanced around the table," there are only two places set for
dinner and six chairs."
"That's right. My are you good at math," Jax jested.
Brenda dismissed his humor and grew wide in excitement, "We are having
company! How thrilling! Who is it? Ned and Lois? Thao? Tell me!"
"No, no, no, my dear one. You will have to wait until after dinner."
Brenda consented as a waiter prepared to serve them. Chilled champagne
accompanied crisp Romaine lettuce with plum tomatoes and a rich peppercorn dressing.
Jax had the chef prepare tender crab cakes, only lightly crusted in olive oil and a sinful
beranise sauce.
"I am so full," Brenda touched her stomach as she ate the last bite of her julienne
vegetables.
"I am quite proud of you sweetie. You finished your whole plate."
"Oh, shut up! I am not a picky eater."
"You are right." Jax looked succumbed to defeat, "You just don't eat."
Brenda crinkled her nose in stubbornness. "Fine, bring out your dessert. I can not
wait to devour it."
"Just don't drop any your dress."
Brenda laughed as she looked down at her fire red dress. It was simple and long
and thankfully very comfortable. "I won't spill a thing," Brenda tested him.
The waiter brought out two silver plates with a decadent piece of cake. "What is
that?" Brenda admired the cake.
"Its chocolate cake."
"That's it?" Brenda slumped in her chair in disappointment.
"What? Not good enough for you?" Jax grinned in triumph at her.
"Well, I was just expecting something more...I don't know, exotic?"
"Why don't you try it?"
Brenda took a bite and let it rest in her mouth. She moaned in complete
satisfaction. "That is incredible chocolate cake. I love it!"
Jax laughed at her, "That's what I thought."
"Oh really?" Brenda leaned across the table at him, "As delicious as this chocolate
cake is, I have an idea where it can be better put to use."
Jax raised a bemused eyebrow, "Is that so? My, my, you are creative."
Brenda reached over to whisper in his ear when the sound of Rachmaninoff began
to clash with the subtle sounds of Bach playing on the deck.
"Its another yacht!" Brenda jumped up and ran to the railing.
The yacht moved closer until it was parallel with the Isabella. Brenda shrieked
when she saw a very smug man appear from the doorway.
"Does this seem familiar to you Mrs. Jacks?"
"Of course it does!" Brenda hugged Thao as he stepped onto the Isabella.
"And that is not all," Thao chuckled as he greeted Jax.
"I'm glad you could come," Jax embraced his old friend.
The Contessa, Augustine, and Kieran entered the boat much to Brenda's delight.
**************************************************************************
Ally waited until Bobby closed the door to the Outback before she leaned closer
to him.
"Can I tell you again how glad I am that you said you would talk to her later?"
"I think you've told me quite a few times already." Bobby eyed the rest of the
group seated in several clumps.
"Should we join them?"
Ally frowned, "Not unless you want to?"
Bobby spotted Helen chatting with Lindsay and the rest of the firm, "I see a
perfect table over there."
Ally sighed with relief as they sat down and eyed their menus.
"Do you think they'll be angry?"
"Oh, that we didn't sit with them?" Bobby laughed, "They'll get over it."
Ally waited while Bobby continued to appear engrossed in his menu. "If you don't
mind me asking. I mean, I know that its not really any of my business...but did you ever
love Helen?"
Bobby looked momentarily startled as he put down his menu. His eyes reflected
surprise and brief hesitation.
"I don't know," he said honestly, "I liked her, I liked her a lot. But things didn't
work out and I never got the opportunity to see if I loved her."
Ally nodded, "But part of you wants to see if you might have loved her? Am I
right?"
"That is most likely the truth," Bobby narrowed his eyes, "is there something else
to this?"
Ally shook her head, "Not yet at least."
Bobby sighed, "Ally, I know that I didn't exactly deal with things properly. Its
been bothering me ever since I told you that I needed time."
"Well how much time? You don't expect me to wait forever?" Ally said dryly.
"No, I don't," he paused, "I don't know what I want. But that isn't a good enough
answer for you, is it?"
"Once again, you're right. Although how does friendship sound?"
"Ahh, friends. I would like that Ally."
Bobby watched her reaction carefully. She looked pleased but not satisfied. Was
he making a mistake? He did feel the attraction, but what if Helen was the one? If he
just screwed it up.
**************************************************************************
Brenda jumped up excitedly from her chair, "I would say that my eight beats your
five Thao. It appears that you have lost again."
"Ah, when did you become so good at black jack?"
"Its like an acquired taste," Brenda laughed so that her entire face glowed.
"I told you my wife was as shrewd as a genuine Jacks," Jax boasted.
"And yet for such a smart woman she seems so immune to my charms."
"Oh, Thao. Now, if I wasn't already happily married I would take you up on your
offer just like that," Brenda snapped her fingers.
"That is too kind. Now I just have to figure out how to get rid of Jax here."
Jax laughed, "That might just be a little more difficult than you plan."
"So," the Contessa began, "how are things with Jerry?"
Jax shrugged, "As best as can be expected."
She nodded, "We all heard about it in Europe. It just so happens that Kieran was
throwing a marvelous party at his villa off the coast of Monaco. We heard about it there
unfortunately. The press is thriving on it."
"Its how they make their living," Jax shook his head, "besides soon this will be
over with."
Kieran patted Jax reassuringly on the back, "Just tell Jerry that we're all here for
him if ever gets his act together."
"Which will be never!" Augustine rang out.
Everyone laughed while Augustine got up, "I think its time for a little dancing."
"It wouldn't be the same without it!" Brenda yelled.
"Right, right. Considering who sang at your wedding?"
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry. What can we do to make it up to you?" Brenda smiled.
"I suppose just pretend as if you like my music," Augustine whispered to the
orchestra.
"Would you care to dance?" Jax bowed to Brenda.
"Why, I would love to....but my dance card is all filled."
"Is that so? We will just have to rectify that situation," Jax pulled her up into his
arms.
"I think its been rectified," Brenda whispered breathlessly into his ear.
**************************************************************************
Bobby set down his fork. He had managed to divulge enough information about
his past. What on earth had possessed him?
"Upset with yourself that you told me so much?" Ally asked.
"No. I'm not really upset about that, just surprised. I was actually glad to talk
about it."
"Me too. But then again I have had enough disasters for dates to talk about them
for an entire month."
Bobby laughed, "Lets just hope this doesn't count as one of them."
"No, it doesn't. This is an almost perfect date."
"Almost perfect?" Bobby raised an eyebrow, "And who said that this was a date?"
"I thought you did?" Ally smirked.
Bobby stopped for a moment, "I suppose we do have to make sure one thing is
right. After all I have to repay you for my dancing lesson."
"In what way?" Ally asked innocently.
"Ally, would you have this dance?" Bobby stood up and extended his hand.
Ally smiled and followed him to the dance floor as the music started again.

Someday, when I'm awfully low,
when the world is cold,
I will feel a glow just thinking of you.
And the way you look tonight.

He moved his arm around her waist and brought her closer to him. Ally tried to
catch her breath as he leaned toward her and his cheek managed to graze hers.
"How's this?" Bobby smiled.
"This is perfect," Ally looked him in the eyes.

Oh but, you're lovely with your smile so warm
and your cheeks so soft.
There is nothing for me
but to love you,
just the way you look tonight.

Brenda giggled as Jax twirled her around in his arms. The soft but strong voice of
Augustine rang out against the water and echoed back to the yacht. This is where they
had been married. This was the first time. Just them and God.
"I love you so much," Brenda sighed as she rested her head on his chest.
"I will always know that," Jax looked down at her through loving eyes.
Brenda looked up at him suddenly, as if she just realized something. "You do
realize that we did."
"What's that?" Jax asked as he brought her closer to him.
"We did it. We fulfilled that promise we made. Nobody leaves. We did it."
Jax laughed softly, "Yes, we did."
"And, I'm perfectly sure that we will keep that promise forever," Brenda touched
his face gently.
"Forever," Jax's lips found hers as if they were born to it.

With each word your tenderness grows,
tearing my fears apart.
And that laugh, that wrinkles your nose,
touches my foolish heart.

Helen looked agitated as everyone else was transfixed at the closeness between
Bobby and Ally.
"Are the two of them?" Helen's voice trailed off.
"It certainly looks like," Lindsay sighed.
Eleanor turned to Rebecca, "They look rather cute together."
Billy watched through somewhat jealous eyes but turned to his wife. "It appears
that Ally has found someone."
Georgia smiled fully, "Thank God."

Lovely, never, never change.
Keep that breathless charm,
won't you please arrange it?
Cause I love you,
just the way you look tonight.

Bobby focused on Ally. "I want you to know that I do like you, despite your little
fetishes."
Ally agreed, "People love me because of my fetishes."
Bobby twirled her in his arms, "You never cease to amaze me."
"Why is that?" Ally wondered why he was holding her so close if he only liked
her.
"Maybe its because you're so different then me, but you have so much energy. So
much innocence."
"I wouldn't go that far."
They both stopped suddenly, the song merely in the background, oblivious to
everyone watching.
"I want to kiss you," Ally breathed heavily as she whispered.
Bobby brought his face a mere inch away from hers. "I've wanted to kiss you from
the moment I saw you."
Bobby hands searched for her face as Ally wrapped her arms hungrily around
him.
"Then what the hell took you so long?" Ally murmured as she felt his lips capture
hers.

Just the way you look
tonight.