Fairy Tale-34 to 44
by: Belle
"Well Kieron, maybe next time you'll be smart enough not to bet against me." Brenda announced proudly. It was 12:40 a.m. and she, Jax and Kieron were seated at a small table in the Regatta Bar at the top of the Crystal Palace Casino. They were having drinks while listening to the band and watching people dance. Only moments before, they had returned from the casino where Brenda had beat Kieron ten consecutive times in a mean game of poker. This had amazed both Jax and Kieron because out of their friends, Kieron was the strongest card player, and it was virtually impossible for the others to beat him in poker. After winning poker, Brenda had gone on to show the "boys" how to play Craps and Black Jack. Eventually, at 12:20 a.m. she announced that she was tired of gambling and would take her friends out for drinks on her.
"Perhaps." Kieron answered her giving a noncommited smile.
"So confident." Brenda mused. She leaned back in her chair and studied the two handsome men before her. This had been one of the most interesting nights of her life. She was having a blast.
Kieron laughed. "I just think you may have been experiencing beginners luck."
"Don't count on it." Brenda advized. Getting up from her chair, she said, "I'm just going to go wash my hands. I'll be back in a sec." Giving Jax a little squeeze on the arm she walked away from the table leaving Jax and Kieron alone for the first time since dinner.
"Jax. I think you've been holding out on me......" Kieron scooted his chair over next to Jax's and smirked. "Should I be planning a bachelor's party?"
Jax just rolled his eyes and laughed. "A bachelor's party? Honestly Kier - I think that's just a *little* prematuure. Bren and I are just friends. We only met three days ago."
Kieron's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Three days! You two behave asthough you've known each other for years." he shook his head and corrected himself. "you act asthough you've been in love for years."
"It's true." Jax agreed. "Wait - not the being in love part, but I do feel like I've known her for longer than a few days. We just - clicked. She's a wonderful woman, but it's truly not what you think it is. Kieron - Brenda and I have a deal. She's in love with this guy, Sonny Corinthos -"
"The mob boss?" Kieron asked.
"That's the one." Jax confirmed. "Anyway - she's in love with Sonny, but he's a married man, and I'm helping Brenda make him jealous. So, as you see, there's absolutely *nothing* between Brenda and I that you should be suspicious *or* excited about."
Kieron looked disappointed for a second, but then he laughed. "We'll see." he stated simply, giving Jax a smile that said "I don't buy your story for a second, no matter what you say I can see you're falling in love with her."
Jax groaned. "Let's just - ..... listen to the music, okay Matchmaker?"
"Fine matchee." Kieron agreed laughing.
Just as the song "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You" by Dean Martin came on, Brenda walked through the bar from the ladies' room. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement and all the men turned to look at her. Jax smiled unknowingly as he followed her across the room with his eyes. He didn't realize it, but he had a completely dumbfounded look on his face.
"Why don't you ask her to dance?" Kieron suggested, forcing Jax to return to planet earth.
"Huh? Oh - No. I don't like this song." Jax replied, trying to make an excuse. "Just listen to the words. How absurd is that? You're nobody till somebody loves you?"
Kieron rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Stop being such a baby, and just go ask the girl to dance."
"I will." Jax declared, getting up from their table. He crossed the room and met Brenda on the dance floor. He caught her hand in his, and she turned looking at him with surprise.
"Oh!" she cried. "I was just coming back to our table."
"I thought maybe we'd dance." Jax suggested, leading her over the center of the floor.
Brenda smiled. "That would be wonderful."
As they started dancing, the band began to repeat the song. They swayed back and forth comfortably to the 1920's swing tune.
You're nobody till somebody loves you
You're nobody till somebody cares.
You may be king,
And you may possess a world and it's gold,
But gold won't bring you happiness when you're growing old.
The world still is the same you never change it.
As sure as the stars shine above.
You're nobody till somebody loves you.
So find yourself somebody to love.
(musical ensemble)
The world still is the same you never change it
As sure as the stars shine above.
But you're nobody till somebody loves you.
So find yourself somebody to love.
Jax leaned close to Brenda and brushed her cheek with the side of his thumb. "If I didn't already tell you tonite - you look truly beautiful. I do believe that I'm the envy of every man in this room right now."
Brenda smiled and laughed. "Well, I know I'm the envy of every woman. Thank you so much."
"For what?" Jax asked. "Saying your beautiful? That's no chore."
Brenda looked up into his face and shook her head. "Well for that yes, but I'm really saying thank you for everything. I'm having an amazing time."
"Me too." Jax said honestly. As he said this they both looked intently into one another's eyes, and for some reason it was a very nice moment. They were in their own world and everyone in the room was looking at them. However, envy of their beauty was far from the people's minds. Instead they were envious of how deeply in love these two seemed.
"Who is that woman?" an elderly woman seated at a nearby table asked Kieron.
"The dark-haired one?" Kieron asked. "I do believe she's the future Mrs. Jasper Jacks." he answered laughing.
"Last one into the water is a rotten egg." Brenda screamed jumping in front of Jax and running as quickly as she could down the beach towards the ocean. She could hear Jax laughing and yelling after her. He was right behind her and every second she could feel him getting closer to catching up with her.
Brenda stopped in her tracts and thought for a second. Clutching her ankle she began to cry. "Owwww! My ankle. Jax - I think I twisted it." She tried to twist her face in pain and look depressed.
Jax stopped and leaned over her concernedly. "Are you okay? Here - let me look....." He reached for her foot - but he was startled by her pushing him into the sand.
"Gotcha!" she screamed laughing and flying down into the water.
"You little imp." Jax teased splashing her once he reached the ocean. "You cheated."
"I was just having fun." Brenda responded, splashing him back. "Are you mad?"
"Welllll......." Jax pretended to debate his feelings. "You know what would make me feel *a lot* better?"
"What?" Brenda looked at him curiously.
"A.........tickle attack." Jax lunged for her and swooped her up into his arms, tickling her and causing her to shriek and kick her legs.
"JAX! Okay, okay - you've gotten me back. Now please- let me down." Jax stopped tickling her but instead of putting her down he threw her into the water.
She emerged next to him giggling. "Okay - I think I've had enough tickling for one day." she announced, smoothing her hair away from her face with her hand. "What should we do now?"she looked at him eagerly and wrapped her arms around his neck so that she was able to stop treading water. Her body was pressed up against his, and she suddenly had the craziest urge to kiss him.
Jax was having the same urge. He thought about all the possible answers he could give to her provocative question. If only she knew what he really wanted to do now. Pushing her away slightly he began to climb out of the water, pulling her with him. "How about we go change and get ready for dinner?" he suggested. Changing seemed like an excellent idea. Then he wouldn't have to look at her bikini-clad body any longer. Not that he was complaining.....
"Sure." Brenda agreed happily. "What are we doing for dinner again?"
"We're meeting Kieron and this girlfriend of his, Emma or Emily - something like that.
"Kieron huh? Oh good!" Brenda chirped skipping along Jax as they got their towels and headed towards the elevators. She leaned towards and whispered in mock confidentiality. "I think he's *really* cute - don't you?"
"I guess." Jax said moodily. "If you like the blond, Ken-doll types." Brenda's question bothered him eventhough he wasn't sure why.
Brenda looked him up and down. "I do." she said flirtatiously. "Do you like the blond barbie types?" She looked at him curiously.
"No." Jax stated. "Well - I used to.....but, ummm, recentely that's been changing."
"Really?" Brenda responded. For some reason his answer thrilled her. Maybe it was because he was staring at her with those aquamarine blue eyes, or maybe it was just him.
The next scene is a montague of Jax and Brenda touring around the Bahamas. It is accompanied by the song "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash.
First we see Jax and Brenda walking hand in hand through the Straw Market and main avenuein the center of Nassau. Brenda is racing through the stores buying clothes, jewelry and perfume. Jax is carrying piles of bags and boxes, laughing and helping her pick things out.
I can see clearly now,The rain is gone.
I can see all obstacles in my way.
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.
It's going to be a bright, bright and sunshiny day.
It's going to be a bright, bright and sunshiny day.
Next they are shown sitting in a small street cafe eating gigantic ice cream sundaes. Both are talking quickly and Jax keeps threatening to throw whip creme at Brenda. She eventually picks up her spoon and slings a cherry at him which results in a war.
I think I can make it now the pain is gone.
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I have been praying for.
It's going to be a bright, bright and sunshiny day.
They are now sitting in a restaurant with Kieron and a tall blond girl. Everyone is sipping champagne and joking around.
Look all around it's nothing but blue skies.
Look straight ahead, nothing but blue skies.
The scene shifts to the beach at sunset where Jax and Brenda are walking together. Jax keeps chasing her and trying to throw her into the water. Eventually, he stops and takes her hand while she rests her head on his shoulder.
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone.
I can see all obstacles in my way.
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.
It's going to be a bright, bright and sunshiny day.
It's going to be a bright, bright and sunshiny day.
It's going to be a bright, bright and sunshiny day.
"Jax - do you believe in fate?" Brenda asked curiously as they were walking on the beach watching the sunrise. It was their last day in the Bahamas, and much to Brenda's delight Jax had cancelled all his business meetings so that they could spend the day together. They had woken up early and decided to go for a walk before breakfast.
Contimplating her question, Jax stopped walking and stared out at the crytal blue ocean. "I'm not sure." he answered honestly. "I guess to a certain extent I believe that there an ultimate purpose for everyone's life, but I think we all have the personal power to shape and control our lives. Why?" he asked gazing at her. "Do you?"
Brenda sat down on the sand and propped her knees up in front of her. "Yeah." she responded, running her hands through the sand. Looking at him she began to laugh. "It's funny, but I always have. As a child I always acted so tough, yet I've always been a sap at heart. You know the type - I've always believed in true love and destiny."
"Really? So - what is the purpose in our meeting one another?"
Brenda studied his face for a moment. "I'm not completely sure yet. Friendship," she giggled and poked him in the stomach. "- and your helping me make Sonny jealous." she adjusted her tank top and stretched gloriously. "So that I can be reunited with *my* true love."
Jax wasn't sure why, but the topic of Sonny was suddenly increadibly irksome to him. For the past few days he hadn't heard Sonny's name once, and now he began to realize that once they returned to Port Charles, his outings with Brenda were going to have a completely different purpose. "So you think Sonny's your soul mate?" Jax stated skeptically.
"Definitely." Brenda said this so confidently that Jax had to smile. "I knew from the moment I saw him that we were meant to be together." she layed back smiling to herself. "You know the feeling - you just look into someone's eyes and it's as though you can see their soul."
"I know the feeling." Jax mused looking at Brenda thoughtfully.
Brenda rolled onto her stomach and layed on her arm facing Jax. "I've experienced that feeling twice." she confided. "I've never told anyone this, but once, when I was twelve, I met this boy on the beach, and I remember thinking it was destiny." she giggled and stared at her hand. "He kissed my hand and his touch burned my skin. It seemed like he understood me and accepted me. Eventhough we only knew each other for five minutes I still dream about him sometimes. Yet - I can never see his face, only his eyes." Brenda looked at him curiously. "You know - his eyes were kind of similar to yours."
Jax feigned fear. "You aren't the kind of girl who stalks men with eyes from your dreams, are you?"
"Jax! No!" she stuck her tongue out at him. "don't mock me."
"I'm not. " he swore.
"So......." Brenda said pushing him playfully - "what about you...... do you think you've met your soul mate yet?"
Jax didn't say anything. Dusting the sand off his legs, he stood up, reached down and pulled her up beside him. "Not yet." he answered simply. "Strangely - I met a girl on a beach once too. I waas fifteen. I never saw her again, but something about her has always haunted me. There was someone else also, but I'd rather not talk about it right now." he looked at Brenda pleadingly - begging her to drop it.
"okay." Brenda agreed. Taking his hand happily and walking back to the hotel. As much as she was dying to know about Jax's secret love, she chose not to press things. Something in his eyes told her that going there would not be a smart decision. However, she couldn't help being intrigued.
The sun was setting behind the white clouds, and Brenda sighed as she watched the palm trees grow smaller and smaller. She and Jax were once again in the main cabin of his airplane preparing to return to Port Charles. In only a few hours she would be seeing Sonny again. And Lily of course. For some reason, the prospect of seeing Sonny didn't excite her nearly as much as she thought it would. She and Jax had been having so much fun.......An image of them laughing and dancing at the Regatta Bar flashed through her mind and she smiled to herself. Her thoughts were interrupted by a sexy whisper in her ear.
"A rolls for your thoughts." Jax offered laughing.
Brenda rolled her eyes and turned around in her seat so that they were facing each other. "The scary thing is that you could actually mean that."
"Actually - I think you'd look better in a Bentley." Jax responded. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small Tiffany's box wrapped in a silver bow and handed it to her. "It may not be a Rolls or a Bentley, but a car would have been difficult to ship from the island."
Brenda took the small box and smiled. "Jax..... you didn't have to do this."
"I know." he stated. " But - I wanted to. Open it." he looked at her nervously,with a boy-like eagerness in his eyes.
Smiling excitedly, Brenda wiggled her eyebrows a little, and began to peal the bow off with her pink fingernails. Inside the aqua Tiffany's box was a small black velvet box. Brenda opened it slowly and gasped when she saw what was inside. A delicate gold bracelet with alternating diamonds, saphires and pearls. There was a matching pair of earings - pearls with a small diamond and saphire protruding from the bottom. They were exquisite. "Oh Jax..... they're beautiful." she carefully removed the bracelet from the box, and turned it over in the palm of her hand.
"Here - look at the inscription." Jax suggested eagerly helping her look at the inner part of the bracelet. When Brenda saw what he had written she began to cry. Engraved in the gold was a small dolphin. Written in cursive next to the dolphin is said - Brenda: My dream for you is that you find the freedom and happiness of the dolphins we watched dance above the ocean. - Jax. Looking up, Jax smiled and sighed when he saw her dark eyes trembling with tears. "Thank you." she whispered.
"You're welcome." Jax replied, tenderly wiping her tears away with his thumb. He took her hand in his, and Brenda peacefully layed her head against his shoulder.
"I'm baaacccckkk!" Brenda cried, pushing through the door to Kelly's and bounding into the diner. She looked tan and well-rested. Her brand-new off-white tank dress set off her dark coloring and the glow in her cheeks and eyes. Jax came in behind her, carrying her suitcase and a couple of shopping bags. They were followed by the chauffer who was carrying piles of boxes and shopping bags.
"Brenda!" Ruby came rushing in from the kitchen and threw her arms around Brenda. "You're home." Ruby stepped back and examined Brenda's face carefully. "Honey - you look marvelous." she announced proudly. She then turned to Jax and smiled. "You came through on your promise. Somehow she looks more beautiful than ever."
Jax laughed and looked at Brenda fondly. "She sure does. Oh! Before I forget - here." He handed Ruby a box. "They're pastries from this amazing bakery we found in Nassau. I thought you might like to try some."
Ruby laughed. "Thank you!" Looking around she suddenly became aware of the piles of boxes and shopping bags. "It looks like someone went shopping."
Brenda giggled and wrapped her arms around Jax while standing next to him. "I'd have to say that was me." she volunteered. "Jax here showed me how to take the art of shopping to a finer level. You won't believe the things I found."
As Brenda began pulling out shirts and dresses from the bags to show Ruby, Jax's cellular phone rang, and he excused himself to make a call.
"You had a wonderful time, didn't you?" Ruby asked Brenda, smoothing her dark hair tenderly.
"I sure did." Brenda responded honestly, her eyes shining. "Jax is amazing. We went dancing, and swimming, and shopping! We took long walks on the beach - it was..... it was exactly what I needded."
"Honey do you think -" Ruby started, but was interrupted by Jax who walked over and wrapped his arm around Brenda's shoulder.
"Well - I've got to get going. That was Addie on the phone and I've got to go make some business calls and arrangements."
Brenda smiled up at him. "Okay - well, ummmmmmmm, thank you for everything."
"It was my pleasure." Jax ruffled her hair. "So - how about dinner tonite?"
Brenda's face lit up. Part of her had been worried that after the Bahamas he would forget all about her and return to his exciting social life. "That would be great."
"Great." Jax smiled. "Sevenish? You pick the restaurant - surprise me." he turned to Ruby and extended his hand. "Ruby - it was a pleasure seeing you again. I hope you like the pastries." he shook Ruby's hand and kissed Brenda quickly on the cheek. "Bye sweetie - see you tonite." he laughed as he said the word sweetie, picked up his bag and left.
"I'm going to get us some coffee Brenda." Ruby walked back into the kitchen leaving a somewhat startled Brenda alone in the diner. She touched the place he had kissed her on the cheek and smiled. "See you tonite." she murmered.
To be continued....
- Belle
J&B Reuniters - Sonny never, Jax forever
IRFC
J&Bangels