Fairy Tale-135 to 144
by: Belle
"So then Ms.Katie-Camper suggests that she and I go fishing in the river. Naturally I had to go along with her -"
"Oh naturally...." Jax echoed Brenda, wrapping an affectionate arm around her, while rolling his eyes and grinning at Juliet and Kieron. Jax, Brenda, Juliet and Kieron were having dinner at Tristan's Cafe to celebrate J&B having survived a day of hiking and aborted camping with Katya and Andrew. Brenda was describing her adventures with Katie. Every time she would tell a story, Jax would then give the real details, much to Brenda's annoyance. "Because - since fishing was chapter 12 in the how to camp guidebook - Brenda is an expert.
Brenda glared at him, biting back a smile. "ANYWAY - I agreed to fish, so we treked down to the river carrying all our fishing gear. Katie was *so* clumsy that she tripped all the way down....." Jax raised an eyebrow and she blushed, remembering how many times she'd dropped her gear and how Jax had practically had to carry her down. "When we got to the river we waded in to our ankles, and dropped our lines. You guys would have been so proud of me - I put the worm on the hook all by myself. I'm telling you - I felt like a true fisherwoman. Before I knew it, fish were biting my hook and I was reeling them in. It was a miracle. The fish were practically jumping into my basket." she looked at Jax, grinning excitedly, waiting for him to confirm her story.
Jax returned her grin and shook his head wondrously, "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes - but I don't think I've ever seen anyone catch fish at the rate you did today."
"I know!" Brenda shrieked. "It was like a dream. Here I was, reeling the fish in, looking completely at one with nature, while poor little Katie stood there warding off bugs, sweating, and not catching a thing!" she giggled. "After awhile, it was so pathetic that I actually felt sorry for her and voluteered to help her out. She exploded on me - saying that the only reason I was having such good luck was because I got lucky and was standing in a lucky spot. Then she declared that she wanted to get as far away from me as possible, and was going to the other side of the river by walking on the log. Well - I told her that I didn't think that was a very smart idea."
"What an amazing deduction - did you learn that from Chapter 13 - outdoor disasters?" Juliet teased.
"If there was such a chapter - Brenda would have been in the book herself." Jax added laughing. Brenda turned to him pouting pathetically. He reached out to touch her, but she shrugged away, milking his sympathy for all it's worth. "Oh sweetie - don't be mad." Brenda continued to sulk, working him with her eyes. Jax pulled her chair close to his, and wrapped his arms around her, dragging her onto his lap and tickling her until she burst into laughter and gave up.
"Stop!" she cried, laughing. "I forgive you. Just stop." Satisfied, Jax stopped tickling her, but kept her on his lap, his head resting on her's as she continued to tell her story. "Of course, my advising her against crossing the river only made Katie want to do it more, so yelling that I had no idea what I was talking about, she climbed onto the log and had reached just about the mid-point when the log rolled over - sending her crashing into the rapids."
"No!" Kieron cried, laughing hysterically.
"Yes." Brenda grinned. "Katie was screaming and kicking and trying to stand up. I tried to help her, but what do you know - the rapids were just too powerful, and I couldn't quite reach her. Andrew saw what happened and ran and caught her after she'd been floating for nearly 1/4 a mile." Brenda shook her head in mock sadness. "the poor girl. Her clothes were all torn and her make-up and hair were a mess. I just felt so bad."
"I could tell." Jax said wryly. "Your grief was especially apparent when you she was groaning about being cold, wet and the dry-cleaning bills she was going to have to pay, and you reminded her that some women just don't know how to live in a world without hair dryers and curling irons."
Brenda smiled smugly at Juliet and Kieron. "Needless to say, Katie-Camper was all too eager to cancel our overnight and return to the safety and comfort of her house. It was a shame really - I thought I was just getting into the camping groove."
"Yeah you were a regular forest ranger." Jax rolled his eyes.
Brenda turned her head and stared at him indignantly. "Hey - I thought I did pretty well."
"You did." Jax smiled, and kissed her cheek. "I was very proud of you."
Brenda smiled, and snuggled into him, sighing.
"You guys are so adorable together." Juliet mused, leaning against Kieron. "I can't wait for your wedding. I am so relieved that both of you gave up your "we're just friends" claim. It was getting extremely frustrating."
"Hey - I can say the same thing about your "Kieron and I hate eachother" claim - and the same goes for you Kier." Brenda teased. "What can we say -" she wrapped her arms possessively aaround Jax's neck, and rubbed her cheek against his. "I'm just happy that the four of us are sitting here together, happy and in love." she raised a slender eyebrow and grinned. "Maybe we can even plan a double wedding...."
"Is that supposed to be a hint?" Kieron asked. "I don't know Jax - this fiancee of yours seems to be determined to change all of our bachelor status'."
"I know." Jax groaned. "She's impossible."
"I'm not impossible." Brenda announced. "I just want everyone to be happy."
Jax looked at her curiously. "And you think marriage is the way to happiness for everyone."
Brenda looked intently into his eyes. "For the four of us? Absolutely."
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Jax wandered aimlessly around the shopping mall, searching for a good-bye present to give his grandmother. It was the morning after the famed "camping expedition" and he and Kieron had gone into town while Brenda and Juliet went to the hospital with Lady Jane to bring Grandma Jacks home. Brenda and Jax were planning on leaving early the next morning, as were Juliet and Kieron.
"Hey buddy - you okay?" Kieron asked, elbowing Jax. "You look kind of tired or confused or something. Brenda wearing you out?"
Jax smiled weakly. If only Kieron knew. Last night had been yet another sleepless night for Jax. After getting home from dinner, Brenda had paraded around their room in this creme silk nightgown that barely reached her mid-thigh. If Jax hadn't known how much she loved Sonny, he would have sworn that she was trying to seduce him. It had taken every ounce of resistance he had not to pin her down to the bed and make passionate love to her. He had actually gone and taken a cold shower at 1 a.m. using the excuse that he needed to stay awake and work and that showering made him more alert. When he got out of the shower, he had found Brenda fast asleep, curled up in the middle of the bed with an angelic smile spread across her face. Seeing her so peaceful and beautiful and damn irrisistible, Jax had elected to spend the night on the sofa next to his desk. Unfortunately, Brenda's mere presence in his room kept him tossing and turning. He couldn't figure out why, but suddenly Brenda haunted every thought and desire that he had. It was almost asthough she'd put some spell on him that was keeping him from thinking straight. These past few days he had actually found himself thinking that he wouldn't mind marrying her - wishing their engagement was real. If that wasn't insanity - he didn't know what was. "I'm just ttired. I've had a lot of work to do." Jax lied. "It has nothing to do with Brenda."
Kieron smiled sympathetically. "Yeah - I know you've had a lot going on. Everything with your grandmother, and work and the engagement. Speaking of which - have you gotten Brenda a ring yet? Because Jules and I were noticing that she isn't wearing anything."
"No...I uhhhh - hadn't really found the time to get one yet." Jax stuttered, searching for a valid excuse.
"Well - you might want to get moving man." Kieron slapped Jax on the back and arched one eyebrow. "Brenda is an awfully appealing woman, and if she was mine, I'd want a ring on her finger just so other men would know she was already taken."
"That's true...." Jax murmered, furrowing his brow.
"You know - we could look for a ring right now. There's a Cartier and a Tiffany's in this mall and i'm sure you could find something acceptable."
Jax considered this for a moment. Maybe getting a ring for Brenda was a good idea. Even if this was a fake engagement, there was no harm in putting a ring on the girl's finger. Somehow the idea made him happier than he'd felt all morning. "That's a great idea Kieron." he grinned at his best friend. "Hey - maybe you can look for something for Juliet too?"
Kieron shook his head and laughed. "We'll see..."
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Fifteen minutes later, Jax and Kieron were standing in front of the glass display cases in Tiffany's. As soon as the two men had entered the store, the sales girls had practically run each other over trying to be the first one to help them, and Jax was having a lot of fun looking through all the different styles and types of rings they had.
"Hmmm....." Jax murmered, examining the 6 karot diamond solitaire ring the girl had just handed him. "I don't know...." he looked at Kieron, who just shrugged his shoulders. "I want something extraordinary - just like my umm...fiancee. Price isn't an issue."
The young woman's eyes lit up. "Let's see....why don't we start by your telling me a little about your fiancee. Then I can get a feel about what kind of ring she would like."
"Okay - well Brenda is a model, so she's very into fashion, and she has olive coloring and dark hair. She's lively, tenacious, intelligent - stubborn. She's just amazing." Jax blushed when he realized he was rambling about things that had nothing to do with picking out a ring.
The sale's girl smiled. "I can see you're very in love, and I think I have the perfect ring for you."
Jax cringed. LOVE.....that word sounded so real, and yet he couldn't rule out the possibility that he was in love with Brenda. Hell - here he was, in Tiffany's gushing about his pretend - fiancee and getting ready to buy her an engagement ring. And not just any engagement ring, but an extraordinary ring that had to removed from the safe in the back room. A few moments later, the woman returned, carrying a small black velvet box. "Here we go Mr -"
"Jacks. Jasper JAcks."
The woman smiled, realizing that the man hadn't been lying when he said price didn't matter. The JAcks' family were legendary in Alaska. She was slightly embarrassed that she hadn't recognized him. "WHat do you think of this ring Mr.JAcks?" she opened the box and held the ring out for Jax to see.
Jax grinned. The ring couldn't have been more perfect. IT was a 10 karot diamond solitaire placed on a simple platinum band. The ring was simple but spectacular. Brenda would love it. "I'll take it." Jax announced, handing her his credit card.
Walking out of the store five minutes later, Jax couldn't get over how excited he felt. "That was a terrific idea Kier." he praised his best friend.
"Terrific ideas are my specialty." Kieron boasted. "So - when are you going to give her the ring? When we get home."
"I think so." Jax answered. I'll give it to her tonight, since after tomorrow she won't need it anymore. He thought to himself. Once we're away from my family, it will be good-bye engagement, hello Sonny. He tried to shake off the bitterness he felt about his engagement ending, but it wouldn't leave him, so he elected to change the subject. "Hey ! What did you buy Jules?" he asked, noticing the turquoise bag Kieron was holding.
"That's for you to know, and me to find out." Kieron teased.
Jax frowned. "Well - am I going to find out before we both leave tomorrow morning? God knows when I'll actually see the two of you again."
"What are you talking about? Didn't Brenda tell you?" Kieron looked confused.
Jax felt queasy all of a sudden. "Didn't Brenda tell me what?" he asked suspiciously.
"That Juliet and I are moving to Port Charles! I can't believe she didn't mention it to you. She asked Jules to help her plan the wedding and everything. Jax...Jax - are you okay?" Kieron gazed at his best friend nervously.
Jax had the strangest expression on his face that Kieron had ever seen. He looked dazed, and Kieron couldn't tell if he was smiling or frowning. "Uhhh...yeah...." Jax murmered. "Where are you guys planning on living?" he shook his head, trying to clear his mind.
"Well for now - in Brenda's old place." Kieron smiled. "Isn't that great of her? Assoon as we can, we're going to try to get the penthouse across the hall from you guys.I know someone lives there right now - but I'm sure I can find a way to work things out."
"Brenda's *old* place? Our penthouse?" Jax repeated increduously.
"Yeah. Bren told Jules and I all about how the two of you are moving in together. I think it's a great idea. This way you'll be all adapted before you get married. I bet you can't wait for her to move in." Kieron grinned.
Jax just grinned and nodded. He couldn't believe this. What was Brenda up to? Whatever it was - he was going to find out. That is - as soon as he gave her the ring....
To be continued....
- Belle
J&B REuniters - Sonny never - Jax FOREVER
J&B Angels
IRFC