Getting to The Truth
**GETTING TO THE TRUTH**
Chapter 69
Six weeks later, mid-December.
"Keep your eyes closed," Jax ordered as he fumbled slightly with a set of keys while checking to make sure that Mel still had her eyes closed.
"Now would I cheat and peek?" Mel said, a slight sardonic curl to her lip.
Jax looked at her warily, "Do you really want me answer that?"
Mel laughed and squeezed her eyes shut, "Okay, okay...they are really closed. What's this big surprise anyway?"
"Just a couple more minutes and you'll find out all for yourself," he said, opening the door.
He lead her into the room, looked around the room, saw that everything was in place, "Wait a second, don't open them yet," he said quickly as he flipped the switch on the wall. The sounds of some oldie goldies filled the room. "Okay...you can open them."
Mel slowly opened her eyes, and blinked as she looked around the room. It was a large room with wooden floors and a huge marble fireplace with a roaring fire, that centered one side of the room. The room was empty except for a blanket and huge throw pillows. Candles and champagne chilling in a silver ice bucket, with two crystal champagne flutes resting on the floor beside it. In front of her, stood a large decorated Christmas tree in front of huge windows and a glass door that opened out onto a balcony. She walked to the windows and looked out. Jax quickly opened the door and motioned for her to step outside. She slid through the door and her breath caught as she saw the scene spread out before her. The balcony was long and stretched all the way down the side of the building. And it overlooked the sparkling lights of Port Charles. She went to railing and looked out, the wind blowing her hair across her body. "It's breathtaking."
"You're breathtaking," he whispered into her ear as he came up behind her, pinning her body against the railing.
She closed her eyes as she leaned back against him. His warmth and strength surrounding her. He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck.
"Who's place is this?" she whispered.
"Mine...or rather...ours," he said, slightly hesitant.
She turned her head and looked at him. Her brown eyes wide and curious. "Ours?"
He turned her fully in his arms, then slipped to the balcony floor on one knee, "Melanie, I love you...will you be my wife?"
Mel's eyes filled with tears, "Oh Jax...." her voice choked. She kneeled down in front of him, and cupped his face in her hands, "You know I love you...."
Jax's heart skipped at beat, as he stared at her, "I know"
"And I have no doubt that I want to spend my life with you...."
"As I do with you..."
Mel shook her head slightly, "It's too soon Jax...everything is happening so fast..."
"Melanie..."
"No Jax...please listen...I love you...and I want to spend my life with you...but I have to be sure you want the same thing."
"I do want the same thing."
She bit her lip nervously, "Brenda hasn't even been dead a year."
"I know...but this has nothing to do with Brenda," he ran his hand through his hair with agitation, "I didn't plan this Melanie....I didn't want to fall in love again. I never had any intention of ever marrying again...but then you came along. And, it happened, you happened. You were always there...making me smile...making me feel. And then you nearly died...and I wanted to die with you. I knew then that, regardless of the time, no matter how fast it was...you had become my life. I fought it and I denied it. But there it was. And miraculously..." he laughed slightly, "you loved me back." He looked into her big brown eyes and melted, "Love doesn't have a time table, you know. It doesn't make it any less valid because it happened this year versus next year. I want to live with you...I want to go to sleep with you at night and wake up with you in the morning...I want to share everything I have with you...I want...."
Mel put her hand over his lips, she smiled through her tears, "I love you"
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, "then marry me...we belong together."
She kissed his neck as she wrapped his arms around her, and jumped into a life she never dreamed she would ever see, "Yes Jax....I'll marry you."
He held his breath for only a moment before hugging the breath out of her and laughed in delight as he swung her up in his arms and twirled her around. Then stopped suddenly, looked into her eyes, as she wrapped her legs and arms around him, "I love you," he whispered as his mouth lowered to hers. His lips covered hers in the sweetest kiss she had ever known. She moaned slightly and deepened the kiss. They were out of breath when he finally raised his head and looked at her again. He smiled slowly and brightly, then swung her around again with a shout of laughter, and carried her back into the penthouse. The music was now playing the lively song of Brown-Eyed Girl. He laughed, set her on her feet, then swung her out in a twirling dance step...
Hey, where did we go...days when the rain came....
Down in the hollow, playin' a new game.
Laughin' and a runnin', hey hey, skippin' and a jumpin'...
In the misty morning' fog with our hears a thumpin' at you,
The Brown-Eyed Girl
You're my Brown-Eyed Girl
Mel's laughter rang out in the room as Jax swung and twirled her in his own happy dance...
Now what ever happened, Tuesday is so slow,
Goin' down the old man river, with a transistor radio
standin' in the sunlight laughin'
hidin' behind a rainbow wall
Slippin' and a slidin', all along the waterfall with you,
the Brown-Eyed Girl
You're my Brown-Eyed Girl...
Both their voices rang out, singing with the song...
Do you remember when, ah we used to sing...
Sha la la la la la la la la la la dee dah
Sha la la la la la la la la la la dee dah
la dee dah
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Libby looked at the stack of videos that Jerry had put down on the end table, her eyes crinkling with silent laughter as she read the titles:
"Bringing Up Baby"
"Baby Boom"
"Look Who's Talking"
"Three Men and a Baby"
"She's Having a Baby"
She rolled her eyes to the ceiling as the strains of "Having my Baby" filled the room. And she giggled softly to herself. The man was going all out to make her admit she was pregnant. For the past 6 weeks, he had tried everything. It had only taken a couple of days for Libby to realize that Jerry wasn't upset about the baby, as she had thought at first. Instead he appeared excited about it. When they went out in public, he made a point of pointing out every baby they saw. He had even spent a day shopping with her, unusual, but he had taken the opportunity to steer her to the baby department in every store. The baby magazines she had purchased and spread around the house to tip him off she was pregnant, had been replaced with books for baby names, child birth methods and parenting books.
She took great delight in not telling him a thing. Her grandmother, upon hearing the news, had scolded her severely for putting Jerry through the wringer, and then had turned around to give her ideas about how to keep the farce up.
It had become a game....who would spill the beans first. It was a race with time...and time was running out. Her figure was already showing signs of her pregnancy with the slight swelling of her breasts, to the slight roundness of her once flat stomach. Libby placed a hand over her stomach and smiled. She knew she couldn't wait forever, but she was having such a good time watching Jerry come up with elaborate plans to get her to admit the truth.
"Here's the popcorn," Jerry said, as he came into the room and plopped down beside her. He smiled at her, "Ready for a night of movies, popcorn and snuggling?" He pulled her close and kissed her head and began the snuggling part of the evening.
Libby dipped her hand in the popcorn bowl and snuggled close to him, "So what brought this on?"
"What?"
"The quiet evening at home, the movies, the popcorn..."
Jerry smile innocently at her, "Well...I've just completed a business deal and wanted to celebrate with you."
"And this is your idea of a celebration?"
"Nothing better....I must be turning into an old married man..."
"Ummmhmmmm..." Libby muttered disbelieving, "So what was the business deal and why wasn't I part of it?"
"It's a surprise for you."
"Really?" she looked at him in excitement, "Did you buy me that sweet little software company I had my eye on?"
"Nice try...but no business talk tonight. And that software company is a loser, if you buy into it, you'll lose your shirt."
"That software company has a lot of promise," she argued.
"It's in ruins...the product might have been viable at one time...but the poor management of it has ruined it's promise."
"I beg to differ. You don't know anything about computers. Granted, it needs new management, but that's how we can get it. Give it the proper leadership..."
He kissed her soundly to shut her up, then pulled back, "I said no business talk tonight. We can argue about the software company tomorrow...tonight...it's just you and me...and an empty house." He reached over for the remote control and pushed the button.
She looked disgruntled for a moment, then sighed and made herself comfortable next to Jerry. They watched the movie in silence for awhile, snuggling even closer as they eventually stretched out on the couch. He pulled her in closer to where she was laying half on top of him. She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder and watched the movie as Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant raced wildly in the movie searching for Baby.
He tenderly stroked her hair, lulling her to slowly to sleep. Just as she was drifting off to lalaland, the movie ended and he gently wiggled his way out from under her to insert another tape. This time the movie was "She's Having a Baby". She sat up and grabbed a handful of now-cold popcorn and popped some in her mouth. He raised his eyebrow at her as he settled back into the sofa, pulling her back into his arms.
"Interesting movies you picked out. Was the video store out of new-releases?" She asked him, drawing her legs up under her.
"No....I just decided to go with a theme," he answered.
"And what exactly is the theme?" she asked innocently.
He narrowed his eyes on her, "What do you think the theme is?"
She shook her head, "I have no idea...is it.....big cats?"
He rolled his eyes, "Yeah, that's it....big cats."
"Oh," she turned her head away from him and smiled. "You know....I see another theme in all these movies."
"Oh yeah?" He tried to act uninterested.
"MmmmmHmmmmm," she said, not explaining.
He finally gave up, "and???"
She looked at him innocently again, "And what?" She grabbed some more popcorn.
He growled, "Libby you are driving me nuts...."
"I am?"
He cleared his throat, "Do you have something to tell me or not?"
She smiled broadly at him, "As a matter of fact I do."
He smiled back at her, relaxing, glad the game was about to end between them, "I'm listening Luv."
She threw some popcorn in her mouth, chewed slowly, then leaned closer to him, "Jerry...Honey..."
"Yeah?" He whispered against her lips.
She lightly stroked his lips with her tongue, then whispered seductively, "You put too much salt on the popcorn."
A stunned expression flittered across Jerry's face as he took in her words. He growled, grabbed her and pushed her back against the cushions of the sofa. "You are determined to drive me insane, aren't you?"
Her eyes twinkled up at him, "I wouldn't have far to drive you."
He growled again, then lowered his lips to her's. His kisses were punishing, yet exciting. She returned each and every kiss, just as he gave them...hard, deep and long. Her arms wrapped around him as her hands pulled on his shirt, finally freeing it from his jeans. He released her lips and buried his face in her neck, quickly ridding her of her shirt and bra. He ran his hands over her body, then cupped her breasts, his lips making their way to the rosy tips.
She moaned and pushed her hands under his jeans, cupping his buttocks and pulling him in closer as her legs circled his hips. Her hands moved slowly towards the front of his jeans, and she worked frantically on the buttons she found there. He groaned, released her breasts, and stood. He frantically disposed of his clothes, then turned and relieved her of her remaining clothes. When they were both naked, he looked at her for a moment with aroused flames lighting his eyes, then lowered himself back to her, slipping between her legs and wrapping his arms tightly around her, pushing himself closer to her, driving her insane with the closeness, but yet no fulfillment. Her hands searched for him, desperate to make him a part of herself. But he captured her hands and pulled them over her head. She arched against him, but he shook his head as his lips claimed her's again, then pulled back slightly, staring into her eyes. She looked back at him confused.
"I love you Libby. And I love our baby," he kissed her soundly, then pulled back again, "I'm just going to ask you for one promise..."
"What?" she gasped, her body straining against his, desperate in it's need.
"Promise me you'll admit that you're having my baby before you actually have it..." he groaned out before taking both her hands in one hand and using his now freehand to roam her body.
She arched against him again as his hand found her, and she nodded slightly, licked her lips, "I promise..." she groaned as he joined with her. He swallowed her promise with his lips as he carried them into explosive fulfillment that they could only find with each other.
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"So when are you going to marry me?" Jax asked as he swayed with Mel to the music flowing through the room. They each held a glass of champagne in their hand as they held onto each other with their free hand.
She took a sip of champagne and looked at him over her glass. Licking her lips, "I was thinking...June."
"Uh uh," Jax shook his head.
"Uh uh?" Her brow furrowed slightly.
He shook his head again and pulled her in closer, "June is too far away. I was thinking Christmas Day."
"Uh uh," Mel shook her head.
"Uh uh?" His brow furrowed slightly.
She shook her head again and pulled back slightly, "I want an old fashioned wedding...the dress, the veil, the church, the cake, the wedding showers..."
"Okay, okay I get it," he laughed, "But you can still have all that, and we wouldn't have to wait until June."
"Ahhhh, you mean...with all your money, you can just *snap*, and all will be done," she teased him.
"Just like that!" His eyes filled with laughter. "And you wouldn't have to do a thing. Just think of it...you get all those things your heart so desires, and you wouldn't have to go insane with all the details."
"Hmmmm....but you see...going insane is half the fun of a wedding. Besides, my parents would kill the both of us, if they didn't get to throw me the wedding they've been planning for me since the day I was born."
"I see..." he said, taking her champagne glass from her and setting it on the floor with his. He pulled her back against him, wrapping his arms around her tightly. She smiled up at him as she entwined her arms around his neck. He put his face against her's as they swayed to the music. She inhaled the manly scent of him and tightened her hold. Kissing the side of her face, he made his way to her ear, sucking it into his mouth, causing shivers to run down her body. He laughed sexily and whispered, "Maybe we can compromise..."
She arched her neck and he took her up on her invitation as his lips caressed her neck. She shivered again and whispered back to him, "Compromise is good...."
"UmmHmmmm," he agreed as his tongue swirled over her pulse, making it race wildly. "I think I might be able to hold off until February....have a Valentine's Day wedding..." he suggested.
"I've got a better idea," she said, biting his neck slightly, "How about May?"
He shook his head and pulled their sweaters off, then pulled her back into his arms, "March?"
She ran her fingers gently over his back, her fingernails sending chills down his body, "May?"
He laughed slightly, "I see you need a lesson in negotiating...I give a month, you give a month...."
She grinned at him, "Oh...is that how it works?"
"MmmmHmmmm....now...shall we start negotiations again?" He went back to nuzzling her neck, "March?"
She grinned mischievously over his shoulder, "June?"
He gasped and started tickling her. She shrieked with laughter, breaking free and backing away from him. He faked to the right, and when she went left he grabbed her. They playfully fought, twisting and turning, until they tumbled to the pillows, Mel on top. She pulled his arms above his head and grinned at him, "Gotcha!"
He grinned at her, "What are you going to do with me now that you got me?"
"Oh...I bet I can think of something," she released his arms and ran her fingers down them and over his shoulders in a soft caress. She looked into his eyes as she lowered her mouth to his chest. She kissed him tenderly on his pectorals, her lips moving to his small nipples. Her eyes never left his as she ran her tongue over the small knots. He moaned, his arms reaching for her, but she shook her head and pulled his arms back over his head. He closed his eyes and willed himself to do as she silently requested, not knowing if he could as her lips found his chest again, kissing and licking her way down his body. He groaned as she dipped her tongue into his bellybutton, pleasure raging through his body. His hands, of their own accord, cupped her head as she opened his jeans and her mouth delved lower. Unable to take any more, he pulled gently on her head, his hands tangling in her hair. She raised her head and looked at him, he shook his head, "Don't....I want you too much...."
She nodded her head slightly and let him slowly pull her back to his mouth. His lips took possession her's as he rolled her over and slowly sent her out of her mind as he did to her, what she had done to him. His lips and tongue roving her body, tasting every inch. And when both of them were at the brink, he took them gently into ecstasy.
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End of Chapter 69
HollyJo