General Hospital Rewrite Part One

June 2nd 2016

4:36 p.m.
     Julian buttons his shirt and heads downstairs. "How do I look?" Alexis asks. "God I've never seen a more beautiful woman." He compliments. She blushes and fixes her hair. "Does the dress look good?" she follows up. He steps closer to her and puts his hands on her back, pulling her against him. "You look more perfect every time I see you. This time is no exception." He says.
     "You're just trying to get lucky tonight." she teases. "If I we're trying to get lucky I'd wait till after dinner with our kids to do this." He tells her. "Alright Mister. No games than?" she asks. "When do I even need to play games?" he replies. "Fair enough."
     "Well, Mr. Jerome, we should get to dinner." she suggests. "Alright Mrs. Jerome, let's go."

5:04 p.m.
     Alexis and Julian sit at the table and start to wait for the rest of their party. Julian fidgets with his ring. Alexis notices and holds his hand. "You alright?" she asks. "I just realised how long it's been since I've been to the Metro-Court." he tells her. "Normally I'm here almost every day but I haven't been here since the Nurse's Ball and I know if wasn't that long ago but if feels like forever."
     "I know what you mean. Its only been a few months but it feels like years since you got hurt. Remember the day you got shot, we were having lunch and I got mad at you cause you told me you were back in the business. I forced myself to tell you I loved you. I did love you then and I love you now but I thought I was gonna lose you. I thought you were gonna die thinking I didn't really love you."
     He moves his other hand so both are on her's. "I knew you loved me. I also knew I had to get back to you and explain myself to you. I left you not knowing if I was truly resorting back to the man you first meet. Even if you hadn't said I love you, I still would have fought to tell you the truth." he tells her. "I'm so in love with you, and I'm gonna show you just how much for the rest of our lives." she promises.
     "Oh really now. And who was it who was saying no playing this game till after dinner?" he questions. "Oh shush. I'm not even playing." she tells him. "Yet." she adds. He smirks. "Sam and Jason are here." Julian says.
     They walk over to the table and Sam hugs Alexis, then Julian. Alexis hugs Jason sits down with Sam. Jason sticks a hand out for Julian to shake, half expecting him to turn it down. Julian shakes his hand, much to everyone's surprise. Sam smiles and looks at her mom. "I hope you're doing alright." Jason says. "A lots going on but I'll be okay." He says friendly.
     "Now we're just waiting for Lucas and Brad." he says. "Speak of the Devil." Sam says. Lucas walks over to the table. "Brad had to finish up a bunch of stuff at work so he's not gonna be able to make it." he says. "Oh that's too bad, I was hoping we'd get you both in the same place and we can talk about finally getting you guys married."
     "Well we're working on something and unlike the secret not so secret Nurse's Ball wedding we're keeping the details to ourselves until it happens." Lucas says. Julian throws a crumpled up gum wrapper at Lucas. "That was uncalled for." He says. "You were such an easy target and you deserved it."
     They all sit down and wait for a waiter. "So," Lucas starts the conversation, "got any idea about baby names?" he asks his sister. "Well, Arthur if it's a boy, and we actually have to ask Dad about something to fully answer that question." she pausing till her dad's listening. "We've already talked about this and if we do have a girl, we're obviously not gonna name her Arthur, but we were wondering how you'd feel it we named out little girl, if we have one, Jodie? If you're totally against it, we were tossing around the name Emily or Penelope, Penny for short."
     "Sam, I'm not sure what I should say to that. On one hand I would love for you to honor your little sister, but on the other, I don't want my little grandbaby thinking she somehow has to live for auntie Jo." He says, weighing his options. "If this is what you and Jason really want, who am I to disagree?" he says. "As long as your positive about this, I'm on board." He tells them.
     "Thank you Dad. We've talked a lot about this and we're sure. We love the name even without the meaning and it fits good with Danny. Danny and Jodie, just works. It fits Morgan too, Jodie Emily Morgan." she says. "Well, if it'll make my little girl happy, it's what I want."
     The waiter comes and they all order their food and get back to talking. "So, I know it's still super early into this whole trying for a baby but do you have name ideas yet?" Sam asks. "Wouldn't you like to know?" Julian says quietly, only to be elbowed by Alexis. "Actually we have." He corrects himself. "We're set on Andrew if it's a boy, middle name either Wyatt or Taylor. For a girl we're already sold on Sarah Claire." He tells everyone.
     "Those are some great names." Lucas says. "Alexis gets the credit." Julian adds. "Shush yourself. It was your dad's idea for Sarah." she tells them. "He's hoping for a girl." she adds. "What I'm hoping for is a happy health Jerome baby." He corrects. "Amen to that." Lucas says, followed by Sam and Jason.
     "This family could use some happy healthy times." Alexis says, holding Julian's hand. "Life owes us all a break. With your baby on the way, us planning ours, and Lucas finally getting married to Brad, things are gonna get easier." Alexis toasts to Sam and Jason. Julian drops his eyes to the table. He knew, and no one had to tell him, he'd started the string of tragedies. "I'll be right back, I have to go to the bathroom." he tells Alexis.
     He pushes away from the table and walks out of the restaurant. He pulls out his phone and unlocks it as he walks, knocking a girl off her feet. "I'm so sorry I wasn't paying attention. Are you alright?" he asks. She pulls her hat over her face and turns away. "I'm fine." she says quickly, before getting up and walking off quickly. He shrugs it off and keeps going.
     He opens his texts and scrolls to find Arthur's name. He opens it and rereads all the messages from his friend.
*im ok*
*Are you sure?*
*yes*
*You'd better not be lying to me*
*calm down Jules im ok*
     He shuts off his phone and goes to the bathroom.