Fairy Tale 192-207

by: Belle

"Brenda - I hope you know I feel absolutely ridiculous. I can't believe that I've done yoga with you every morning for a week now." Jax complained.

Brenda opened her eyes slightly and what she saw was so hysterical that she had to bite her lip to keep from bursting out in laughter. Jax was sitting next to her on the yoga mat she had bought. His legs were crossed indian-style, he had his eyes squeezed sht and he was holding his arms straight out from his sides. He was dressed in only a pair of grey boxers and his hair was still toussled from sleeping. The funniest thing was the expression on his face. He looked asthough he was in deep concentration - his eyebrows were furrowed and his mouth was curled up in a frustrated pout/smile. "Sweetie - you have to breath. That's what makees yoga relaxing." Brenda reminded him, taking a deep breath herself.

Jax opened one eye, saw her looking at him and grinned, opening both eyes. "Can't we do something *else* to relax?" he suggested, looking over at the bed and smiling suggestively.

"We already *relaxed* that way all night." she giggled. "But we've already done our fifteen minutes of yoga, so we could have breakfast now if we'd like."

Jax got up. "I'd like." he kissed her on the hand. "Why don't you wash up and I'll go get breakfast ready."

Brenda pouted teasingly. "Are you insinuating that I smell?" she asked with mock sadness.

"Actually honey, I'm just trying to save our kitchen from Hurricane Brenda." he laughed kissing her on the head. "I'll be right back."

Brenda smiled to herself as she entered the bathroom and washed her face. "Our kitchen." she mused. It sounded so perfect. It had been exactly one week since Brenda had moved into Jax's penthouse, and she couldn't believe how natural living together seemed. Every morning she woke up to Jax kissing her softly. Once they got out of bed (it usually took a *little* while), Brenda dragged Jax down to the yoga mat, and they did yoga for approximately fifteen minutes. Then Jax made breakfast and they ate at the table on the balcony, sharing the morning paper and discussing their plans for the day. After breakfast, they both headed out, Jax going to NYC or his office on the 1st floor of the PC Hotel, Brenda usually going to the Gatehouse to work on L&B. The past week, J&B had spent most of their nights with Juliet, Kieron, Ned and Lois. The three women adored each other and despite the men's protests, everyone could tell that Ned was growing on Jax and Kieron and vice versa. Finally, for Brenda's favorite part of the day, when J&B returned to the penthouse, they spent the rest of night making love until they fell asleep happily in each other's arms.

"Breakfast is served my lady." Jax announced, peaking his head into the bathroom, and drawing Brenda out of her thoughts.

Brenda smiled, and put her soaps and brushes into the top drawer. "Great - I'm starved."

Jax laughed. She followed him out to the balcony, and sat down, pouring herself a cup of coffee and much to Jax's chagrin, reaching for the box of Frosted Flakes she had bought the day before when they'd gone food shopping. When she was done filling her bowl, she offered the box to Jax, but he just wrinkled his nose as he poured granola over his vanilla yogurt. He cut a banana also, and then passed her one, causing her to wrinkle her nose. They both laughed.

"You know -" Jax said, eating his granola and glancing over at her as she ate her Frosted Flakes and read the back of the box. "Maybe you can be on the Frosted Flakes commercial where you confess your secret habit of sneaking Frosted Flakes." he laughed. "I can see it now - 'Supermodel confesses "I eat Frosted Flakes"...."

Brenda giggled and smiled. "That's actually not a bad idea. When the Jacks' Cosmetics/Deception merger comes through, maybe I'll convince Lucy to run an ad campaign using me and Frosted Flakes." she held the box up to her face and smiled sexily. "What do you think?"

"I think you're crazy." Jax said, shaking his head, and opening the paper.

Brenda pouted.

"But adorable also." he added, getting her to smile. She took half of the paper, and turned to the entertainment page. The first page she opened to had a gigantic add for a furniture sale. She looked at the couches and tables and grinned.

"Look..." she pointed out the furniture to Jax. "Isn't this couch nice? It looks really comfortable."

"Yes it does." Jax said absent mindedly as he glanced over the financial section.

"It looks like a place where people would want to sleep, or *not* sleep." she added, smiling suggestively at him. "What do you think?"

"I think I should take a better look at this couch." Jax laughed, leaning over and looking at the ad. "Well sweetie - if you want to, you should go buy it. You're living here now and I want you to be comfortable."

"Really?" Brenda asked excitedly, spooning some fruit salad onto her plate. "Well...I'd love to go buy this couch, but -"

"But..." Jax repeated, shaking his head slightly and trying to understand what she wanted.

Brenda smiled. "But I want you to come with me. Oh please Jax! It will be so much fun, and we haven't really spent any time alone since going to Alaska. Sure I see you in the mornings and at night, but during the day we're both working, and" Brenda looked up at him hopefully, her eyes pleading. "And I miss you."

Any power Jax had to say no disappearing with those four little words. "Okay." he agreed. "I have been working awfully hard, and I think everything at the office is under control. Besides, I miss you too, and I don't think I could ever pass up the opportunity to spend the day with my faux-fiancee."

Brenda hit him giggling.

"Hey!" Jax cried, covering his head with his arms. Despite his cries, Brenda continued to *beat him up*. "Okay - you're asking for it." Jax picked up a spoonful of yogurt and granola and flicked it at her. It landed on her shoulder.

"Ewwwww....JAX!" Brenda cried, wrinkling her nose. She reached for the slices of bananas that Jax had next to his coffee, holding them in between her fingers, and grimacing. :Well - take this." she declared, flinging the bananas at Jax. One landed on his cheek, and two other landed on his bare chest.

A war ensured. Jax throwing granola, bananas, fruit salad and yogurt at Brenda. Brenda retalliating with fruit salad, muffins and frosted flakes. Finally, after Brenda was pulmetted with yogurt, she went crazy and picked up her entire bowl of frosted flakes, and ceremoniously dumped it over Jax's head.

Jax's eyes flew open with shock. Frosted Flakes and milk dripped down his face, and his lips were curled up in a sexy little pout. Brenda burst into giggles, and slid onto his lap. "Ohhhhhh honey, I'm so sorry." she tried to say as seriously as she could.

Jax wiped his face, and looked up at her. "Okay, I call a truce." he said, laughing.

Brenda kissed him on the lips. "Does that make it any better?" she crooned, picking wet frosted flakes out of his beautiful hair. "You know..." she said, kissing his cheek. "I think you need a shower." she looked down at herself, yogurt, banana, and granola covered. "I think I need a shower too." she raised an eyebrow suggestively.

"I thought you wanted to go furniture shopping." Jax reminded her.

Brenda considered this for a minute. "Later." she cried, jumping up. "Race you. Last one in the shower has to do breakfast dishes." Jax chased after her, laughing.

Two hours later, Jax and Brenda were dressed and ready to go shopping. Brenda was wearing a short A-line black skirt with a white chenille cropped T-shirt sweater. Her hair was pulled back in little black barrettes, and she was wearing black sandals. "Jaxxx...." she moaned. "come on - are you almost done looking through all those files?" She tapped her foot impatiently on the floor and folded her arms over her chest. They had been heading out the door twenty minutes ago, when Jax had gotten a phone call from the CEO of Sony and become wrapped up in looking for information on his computer.

"One second." he mouthed to her talking into the phone. Brenda tried to act angry, but he looked so gorgeous and she was so excited that he was going to go shopping with her that she was really happy. True to his word, exactly one minute later, Jax got off the phone, turned the computer off and grinned at her. "Sorry." he rubbed his hands together. "Now that that's all over - I'm yours for the rest of the day."

"That's what I like to hear." Brenda smiled. They walked to the elevator and headed down to the parking garage. "I want to drive." Brenda pleaded, reaching for Jax's keys to the BMW roadster convertible.

"Will I be risking my life?" Jax teased.

Brenda pouted and looked up at him with doe eyes.

Jax melted and handed her the keys. Brenda jumped up and down doing the little Brenda dance and climbed into the car. "Buckle up...." she warned as she started the car and peeled out of the parking lot.

* * * * * * *

"Jacks. Hey Kier - how are you doing? Bren - do you mind if I turn the radio down a little?" Brenda smiled and shook her head so Jax leaned over and turned the car radio down while balancing his cellular phone on his shoulder. Eventhough the radio was turned down, Brenda continued to sing along.

Kieron smiled and leaned back in his chair at his office in NYC that he shared with Jax. He could hear Brenda singing along with the radio and Jax arguing with her. "Okay - well I was just calling to tell you that I got the signed stock transfer from Tracey Quartermaine Solito. Everything is going exactly as planned."

"Great!" Jax exclaimed. "What about Ned? I think it's time that we talk to him about our plans, and also about the downfall of ELQ."

"I called Ashton this morning and I set a meeting for 6 p.m. You'll be able to make it right?"

"Definitely." Jax confirmed. "Brenda wants me to remind you that we're having dinner with you, Jules, Ned and Lois tonight at the Gatehouse. I guess we'll meet with Ned before dinner."

"Perfect." Kieron smiled. "So buddy - where are the two of you off to?"

"We're umm...we're going furniture shopping." Jax stuttered.

Kieron burst into laughter. "Furniture shopping?!" he exclaimed. "Wow! You're already acting like a married man! What's next? Are you guys going to start food shopping together?"

Jax blushed and remained speechless.

"I don't believe this." Kieron said increduously, shaking his head and laughing. "You've already gone food shopping together, haven't you?"

"Two days ago." Jax admitted, smiling to himself. As much as he knew he shouldn't be enjoying being so domestic when this was a pretend engagement, he couldn't help it. Brenda made everything fun and he loved being with her.

"Man - have you got it bad." Kieron teased.

Jax glanced at Brenda out of the corner of his eye and chuckled. She was driving his car, singing to herself and somehow dancing in her seat. The roof was down on the convertible, she was wearing sunglasses and her dark hair was flying with the wind. "I know Kier. I'm not sure how it happened, but it definitely has."

***

**************************************************************************************************

"Bren? Why don't you just redecorate the entire penthouse?" Jax teased, referring to how many new couches/tables/curtains/towels/comforters and various decorations Brenda had picked out.

Brenda's eyes lit up and she screamed out with joy. "Can I really?" Bouncing up and down, she took both of Jax's hands in hers' and looked at him pleadingly.

"You really want to redecorate the penthouse?" Jax asked curiously.

"I'd love to redecorate the penthouse." Brenda confessed. "Not that there's anything wrong with the way it is now....you've done a really great job, but everything is really masculine and I feel kind of out of place...so - as long as I'm living with you now - do you think?"

Jax looked down at her hopeful face, and thought about what he was doing. Letting her redecorate his penthouse was kind of a big step. Afterall, this meant that even after she moved out, there would be reminders and symbols of her everywhere he looked. Yet, as hard as he tried, he couldn't resist her, and before he even knew what he was saying, he heard himself telling her to have fun and buy whatever she liked. He even offered to go shopping with her and suggested they go to Paris to look for antiques. Brenda's reaction was beyond gleeful. She threw her arms around him and kissed him all over his face, finally kissing him passionately on the lips. "What am I doing?" Jax wondered as he watched Brenda fly over to a new dining room table and begin talking to a sales manager about how much it cost.

*****************************************************************************************************

"Alright sweetie - I'll meet you at the Gatehouse as soon as I'm done meeting with Kieron and Ned."

Brenda caressed Jax's face with her hand and smiled. "I'll be waiting. Now be good."

Jax laughed. " I will." he kissed her quickly on the lips. He could see Kieron rolling his eyes and looking at his watch behind the doors of the PC Grill. "Bye."

"Bye." Brenda grinned and walked to the car.

"Hey Kier -" Jax greeted his friend, walking into the Grill and slapping him on the back. "Is Ned here yet?"

Kieron shook his head. "Not yet. But - he should be here any minute." he laughed. THe two friends walked over to a small round table and ordered drinks. "So...." Kieron said, taking a sip of his seltzer water. "How was *furniture* shopping? Did you find any pretty curtains?"

Jax gave Kieron a "you're very funny" look. "Actually yes - Brenda's redecorating the penthouse. We probably found pretty everything you can possibly buy."

Kieron was just about to respond when Ned came over. "So what can I do for you two scoundrels?" Ned asked half jokingly as he pulled up a chair and sat down down with them.

"Hello to you too Ned." Jax said sarcastically. He looked at Kieron and grinned. "Besides, I think the question you really need the answer for is what the two of us can do for you."

"Really?" Ned said dryly. "What could the two of you do for me besides ruin my company, job and family?"

Kieron grinned. "I'm glad to know you think so highly of the two of us."

Jax shot him another look. "Okay Ned - here's the story. Kieron and I have some secret information about the future of ELQ. I'm sorry to say that things aren't looking so great. Ever since Sonny Corinthos came onto the board, stock has been plummetting and financially ELQ is hurting. Kieron and I have a plan on how to save ELQ, your job and your family." Jax went on to explain in detail how they planned on getting Sonny off the board, giving Ned his stocks, buying Lucy's stocks, and then using Tracey's shares so that Kieron, Jax and Ned had control of ELQ.

Ned looked at both Jax and Kieron suspiciously. "Why should I believe that the two of you are really going to help me and not just use this as an opportunity to seize ELQ?"

Jax leaned across the table and spoke to Ned seriously. "Listen - Brenda's my fiancee, and you're practically her brother. I'm doing this because if something happens to ELQ, then you're going to be unhappy, Brenda's going to be unhappy, and hence I'm going to be unhappy. Besides - I hate Sonny Corinthos and I want him out of Brenda's life and as removed from us as possible, so nothing would make me happier than getting him out of ELQ and eventually out of L&B."

Ned considered this for a moment. Jax's reasons made sense. "Okay - so I understand his part of this, but what about you?" he looked at Kieron.

"I just want to have fun." Kieron said nonchalantly. "And I can't wait to see the look on your grandfather's face when he finds out Jax and I own as much ELQ stock as he does, and that you're now the majority holder."

Ned nodded. As much as he hated to admit it. Their plan was a great one. He stuck out his hand. "It's a deal." he announced. He shook his head, this may be my undoing...but it may also be my only chance...

*****************************************************************************************************

"Hi Bren!" Juliet cried, getting up from Lois' couch and walking over to the door. "How was furniture shopping?"

"Great!" Brenda bounced into the room and tossed her purse on the coffee table. She danced around happily in front of Lois and Juliet for a moment and they both looked at each other curiously. "Guess what?"

"What?" Lois and Juliet asked in unison.

"Jax is letting me redecorate! Isn't that fabulous? It has to be some kind of sign that he's falling in love with me, or at least that he's getting used to my living with him."

"He's letting you redecorate?" Juliet repeated, smiling. "This is wonderful news! Jax never lets anyone touch his things."

"I know." Brenda danced around them, grinning like a mad woman. "Ohhhh...." she sighed, collapsing next to Lois on the couch. "We had such a wonderful day together. I never imagined shopping for furniture could be so much fun...."

Lois smiled. "So - it seems like things are going well."

"Things are going beyond well." Brenda confessed. "Jax seemed really happy today."

"Let's hope they're all still happy after the men have their little business meeting today." Lois said nervously. "I hope Ned doesn't do anything to make them hate him."

"I hope Kieron doesn't humiliate me." Juliet confessed.

Brenda smiled happily. "I know Jax won't humiliate me. He's -"

"perfect. I know, I know." Lois laughed.

Juliet made a gagging sound. "I don't know if I'll be able to handle the two of you once Jax actually does confess he loves you. It might be too much for my stomach to take."

Brenda just shrugged her shoulders and giggled. "okay girls...so what's the plan? I was thinking that we should tell the guys about NYC tonight...."

*****************************************************************************************************

"Bren? Are you almost ready? Juliet and Kieron are here." Jax called into the bedroom as he headed towards the front door. He opened it up to see Kieron and Juliet standing in the hallway, carrying tons of luggage, and looking completely prepared for their trip to NY. It was one week after J&B's furniture shopping excursion and the day that the Fab Six were leaving for NYC. "Morning you two." Jax greeted his sister and Kieron. "Jules - think you packed enough? We're only going for five days." Juliet just stuck her tongue out at her brother, and moved past him into the foyer.

"Where's Brenda?" Juliet asked, putting her bags on the floor and looking around.

"She's just finishing up her packing." Jax replied. "Kieron - did you set up all the meetings?" As much as the women had fought it, Ned, Kieron and Jax had agreed to go to NYC on the condition that they could work on their ELQ takeover.

Kieron nodded. "It's all taken care of."

"Great." Jax grinned.

"Hey everyone!" Brenda called as she trudged into the foyer, dragging her suitcases with her. Jax ran over to help her. "Are you guys ready to go? I am so excited!" she wrapped her arms around Jax, and kissed him. Leaning back, with her arms still wrapped around her neck, she looked at him critically. "I just heard you talking about business. I hope you plan on having *some* fun on this trip."

"I *definitely* plan on having fun." he said. "especially with you." he whispered in her ear, laughing.

Brenda grinned and mouthed. "I hope so."

"Okay guys - enough romantic stuff, we're running really late, and well - i'm scared of Ned." Kieron teased. "Oh Jax - here's your mail. I picked it up for you at the front desk on my way up."

Jax took the pile of mail from Kieron and sorted through it, tossing most of it into his briefcase and some of it into the trash. One letter he examined for a few moments. "Hmmm...what's this?" he murmered, opening the envelope carefully. He unfolded the paper inside. "It's a picture of something."

"Let me see." Brenda leaned over his shoulder and looked at the photograph. It was a black and white photo of a Vermeer painting hanging on a wall.

Kieron walked over and examined the picture. "That's one of the Vermeer paintings that was stolen from the Isabella Gardener museum in Boston a few years ago." he shrugged his shoulders. "Why would someone send it to you? Hey Jules - come look at this."

As soon as she heard the words "Vermeer" and "stolen" Juliet's heart stopped. It couldn't be. No....She silently walked over to where Jax, Brenda and Kieron were standing and looked at the picture. "Oh my god." she murmered, her voice trembling "Jax....throw that away. Now!" althought she tried to remain calm her, she was practially shouting.

"Jules - it's okay. It's probably just some junk mail." Jax reassured her.

"Just throw it away!" Juliet cried, her face turning white.

Kieron looked at her concerned. "Juliet - what's wrong? Do you know anything about this picture or why someone would send it to Jax?"

"No!" Juliet said forcefully.

Brenda's eyes met Jax's and the looked at each other for a moment, communicating with their eyes that something strange was going on. "Maybe we should go." Brenda suggested. "Sweetheart - why don't you just throw the picture away?" she nodded towards the trash.

"Good idea." Jax threw the picture in the trash, knowing that as soon as he came home he would take it out again.

Picking up all their luggage, Jax, Brenda and Kieron filed out of the penthouse, with Juliet trailing behind. Taking one final look at the trash, Juliet closed the door behind her. "Oh god." Juliet pleaded, closing her eyes. "Please don't let this be happening...."

To Be Continued.....

PREVIEW OF NEXT INSTALLMENT: The Fab Six's first three days of vacation in NYC - romance, mystery, business, and fun! ....J&B spend a romantic evening in their suite at the Park Plaza....NEd, Jax and Kieron play ball in Central Park while the women go shopping on 5th avenue....Brenda begs Jax to sing at a karaoke bar - will he or won't he - you'll find out in the next installment. :-)

Hope you enjoyed it!

- Belle

J&B Reuniters - Sonny never, Jax Forever

J&B Angels

IRFC