General Hospital Rewrite Part One

October 15th 2016 Part 2

1:23 p.m.
     "To Brad and Lucas!" Julian toasts. There's a collective cheer. "Now because the church went off without a hitch, someone's gotta get messy drunk. I nominate one of the grooms." he laughs. Brad and Lucas both laugh too. "You guys better make this work. There have been ups and downs and you have come out the other side just as amazing as before. I know you two have had an interesting eighteen months so make sure the next eighteen are pure newly wed bliss." He hugs Lucas as he sits.
     "Before my father can embarrass us anymore," Lucas side eyes him, "I think everyone should go get food." he says. "While everyone's busy I'm gonna head to the bathroom." Julian whispers to Lucas after he sits. "I'll cover for you." he tells him. Julian gets up and heads out of the ballroom. He checks his phone and smiles. *New Message From Alexis* he opens it. *That was cute. I love you.*
     He replies with an *Love you too.* he goes to open the bathroom door just as someone else opens it. The nob jabs into his side. He cries out and drops to the ground. "I'm so sorry Mr. Jerome." he apologizes. "It's okay TJ." he whimpers. "Here, lemme go get someone." he offers. Julian grabs his arm to stop him. "I don't need anyone else. Can you just help me stand?" he asks. TJ helps him to his feet. "I just need to just sit for a minute or two. I'm fine. Happens all the time."
     "Do you want me to go get your wife?" he asks. "No, no no no no no." he shakes his head. "She's stressed enough with the baby. I, I don't wanna add to that." he tells him. "Okay, do you need anything?" he asks him. "No, I'm fine. Just go back out there and get something to eat with everyone else." Julian says. "I'm real sorry." he apologizes again. Once he's gone Julian unbuttons his jacket and looks at his side in the mirror.
     He runs his fingers along the scarred skin. The pain wasn't what made him fall, it was the panic of being hit there again. He fixes his shirt and finishes what he planned on doing. As he walks away from the bathroom he stops and takes the incoming call. "Hello?... Lila?... What's wrong?... I'm so sorry... No, I can't go. I'm sorry... And you know, I didn't know your mother. It wouldn't be my place.... Just make sure your father doesn't get anything Arthur left her.... Oh, he is?... Wish I could say I'm sorry about that too.... No, I don't have anything of his."
     His mind flashes to the tie and the dog tags. "Yeah, I'm sure there's nothing." he says goodbye and hangs up. He heads back into the ballroom, completely distracted by the news he just received. "Hey." Alexis grabs his attention and his arm. "Hey." his voice cracks. "Honey what's wrong?" she asks. "Lila just called me. You remember Arthur's little sister? Well, their mother died the other day." he tells her. She covers her mouth and hugs him. "I'm so sorry." she says. He puts his head on her shoulder. Sam walks over.
     "What's wrong?" she asks. "Arthur's mom died." Alexis tells her. "Oh no." she puts her hands under her neck. "That's not actually all that's upsetting me. His father, Harold, he killed himself. Just after he got home. Didn't leave a note. All he left was an old picture of him and Arthur." he tells them. "That means he felt sorry right?" Alexis asks. "Yeah. Too bad Arthur's already dead and it doesn't mean anything." Julian hisses. "You don't know what you have until you lose it. Well not us. Not today. We can't let this get us down. We gotta love who we love while we can. Today is about Brad and Lucas finally tying the knot. Today we celebrate."
    
4:17 p.m.
     "Now I meant to mention this earlier. I see Carly, but it seems to me that Sonny skipped out on your wedding." Julian says to Lucas. "Actually, he wasn't invited. If fact, I told him not to come." he tells his father. Julian smiles. "Even though they'd both be here, inviting Sonny would've been like choosing him over Jodie. I couldn't do that. She's my little sister and I missed out on sixteen years of overprotective brothering."
     "Have I ever told you how proud I am of you?" Julian asks. "If mighta come up once or twice." Lucas laughs. "I have some stuff I gotta tell you." Lucas says. "Oh God. What kinda stuff?" Julian asks. "Uh, it's better if Brad and I told you together." he says. Lucas goes up to the front of the room where Brad's standing. "I think it's time." he says. "Okay, it's time." Brad agrees quietly. "Excuse me! Everyone! My husband and I have some news to share."
     "Since we are a married couple we have decided to move into an actual house. It's an adorable little two bedroom town house with a yard and a big living room so we will be having people over." Lucas announces. "That's actually the lesser of our two announcements." Brad states. They hold hands. "Lucas and I have been keeping a pretty big secret these last few months." Brad says. "We've been going through the process of seeing if we'd be able to adopt a child." he continues.
     "As of November first we will have a son!" Lucas tells everyone. Julian and Alexis hug, Jo gives an excited bounce. Sam leans on Jason, pulling Danny closer while Jason pulls Jake closer. "His name is Jackson, he's seven years old and one of the politest and sweetest boys either of us have ever meet." Brad says. People go up to congratulate them but Julian and Alexis and Sam hang back so they can have an actual conversation with them.
     Sam goes up before her parents. "We're getting another grandson." Julian gives a small bounce in his voice. "This family is getting so big." Alexis says. They make their way to Brad and Lucas. "You two. I have no words." Julian says. "We're so happy for you. For this family." Alexis says. "Thank you Alexis. Thanks Dad." Lucas hugs them both. "Tell me more about the kid." Julian urges. "Well, his birthday is April twelfth. He's super smart, so kind and thoughtful. He loves Star Wars and Harry Potter and stuff like that, so I'm guessing he's gonna like his auntie Jodie."
     "Damn right he is." Jo laughs. Sam and Jason walk back over with their boys. "I can't believe it! I'm getting another grandchild!" Julian exclaims. "I'm gonna have three grandkids!" he boasts. Jake shifts uncomfortably under his dad's arm and runs off. Julian's blood runs cold. "That's not what I meant to say. I meant three grandsons." he corrects. "Sam, Jason, I didn't mean it like that." he defends. Sam gives him an understanding nod but Jason grunts and takes off after his older son. "We know. We know." Sam comforts. "I'm so sorry. I need to go say something."
     "No no no. Jason will calm Jake down but he might need some time to calm down himself." Sam warns. "I need to do this." he reiterates. "Try not to make things worse." Sam tells him. Julian goes off in the direction Jason had run after Jake. He stops and waits for one of them to notice him. When they do it's Jake who's looked up, causing his father to look to. "Hey man, you've done enough." Jason goes to push Julian away. "Please, let me explain to Jake what I meant." he urges.
     Julian kneels in front of Jake, clearing his throat. "I'm sorry for what I said. Its not what I meant to say. What I meant to say is that I'm happy to be getting a third grandson. Not just grandchild. It came out wrong. You know I had a drink or two and Sam's mom kept me up all night cause she couldn't sleep. Can you just, real quick, what's your dad's name?" he asks. Jake gives a confused look. "Jason Morgan." he answers. "Now what's your dad's wife's name?"
     "Sam Morgan." he says. "Alright. And what does that make you to Sam?" Julian asks. "Her step-son." he says. "Now who's Sam's dad?" he asks. "You are." Jake reminds him. "So, if she's your step-mom, and I'm her father, what does that make me to you?" he asks. "My step-grandfather?" Jake asks. "Yep. Have you ever heard of something called Lilo and Stitch?" he asks. Jake nods his head. "Well, Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind, or forgotten."
     Jake stares at him. "You're a part of my family Jake." he states. Jake smiles and lunges forwards, wrapping his arms around Julian's neck. "Thank you." he whispers. Julian puts his hand on the back of Jake's head. "I know we aren't close. You just got back, I kinda just got back too. Your dad and my daughter just got married so you're officially family now. You know what that means? Family dinners that no one wants to go to but won't miss. Now, we're gonna all complain for a week then when the dinner finally comes we won't be able to wait for the next one. It's gonna go on forever. And we're gonna have thanksgiving at my house, it's gonna be great."
     "Would it be okay if I called you grandpa like Danny does?" he asks. "It wouldn't be okay. It would be awesome." Julian smiles. Jake smiles and hugs him again, this time tighter. Jason smiles down at them. Julian stands and keeps his hand on Jake's head. "I think we should go back in." he suggests. "Jake you and Danny go grab dessert bud. And you know what? I think Sam would want something sweet." Jason hints. Jake runs off.
     "I didn't expect that. That was really nice." Jason says. "I didn't expect it either." he admits. "You know Jake's closed off." Jason says. "Jo can be the same way. You know, 'I do things on my terms and only then.'" he says. "Yeah, but you seem to have them pretty figured out." Jason says. "Both of them. Jake's willing to open up to you. That's really big. And he adores Jodie." he says. "Glad I could help. He's a good kid and he's family now. I don't want him to have a hard life. And for Emily. I want her to have this big, normal family."
     "Me too." they head back into the ballroom. "Dad you missed it." Jodie says. "What'd I miss?" he asks. "Jodie felt the baby kick." Alexis says. He smiles. "That's amazing." he hugs them. "That's my little brother or sister!" she beams. Julian smiles. "I remember when I felt you kick for the first time. I could not even contain myself. I pissed off your mother, that's for sure." he laughs. "Red grapes pissed of my mother. You weren't special." Jo says playfully. She shrugs and turns.
     From where she's standing she can make out some of Jake and Danny's conversation. "He said 'Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind, or forgotten. Your grandpa said he's my grandpa too. He's really cool. And now we're getting another cousin too." Jake says. "I hope he likes trucks and coloring." Danny says. Jo thinks for a second. She knew that quote well.
     She turns to her father. He takes a few steps to her, leaving the other conversation. "What's with that face?" he asks. "You used a quote from Lilo and Stitch." Jodie says. "So?" he asks. "That movie wasn't even in theaters until the June after you lost me." she says. "How do you know it?" she asks. "Its a sad story about a drunk grieving father." he starts. "Your mother used to get movies of the month thing. That was the June one. I got the mail, had a few too many drinks and was lonely. I was sad and I missed my daughter. I put the movie in just for background noise and I heard that one line. No one gets left behind, or forgotten. I wasn't gonna forget you."
     "You know, I had this Stitch toy I couldn't live without. I always needed to know where it was. Could say I was a little obsessive compulsive." she says. "Well I see you've grown out of that." he says sarcastically. "It makes me, me." she makes a gesture. He rolls his eyes at her.

10:32 p.m.
     "My back's killing me." Alexis complains, sitting on the edge of the bed. Julian pulls himself up behind her and starts to rub her shoulders. She groans. "You got my hint." she says lovingly. "You could've asked." he tells her. "Hmm, but that's no fun." she says. "I like rubbing your body." he says. "You have magic hands." she moans as he rubs her lower back. "You'd know." he laughs. "Not tonight."
     "I don't want that tonight either. I was just making a joke. I'm tired." he says. He helps her get comfortable before working himself around her. "Today was great and horrible at the same time." Alexis says. "We're getting another grandson." Julian says. "I wonder if this is a son." she rubs her stomach and goes to falls asleep. "I wonder." Julian says, finally closing his eyes.

This has nothing to do with the story but please take a second to look at this picture.

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