Life Moves Forward (General Hospital)

May 7th 2027 Part 3

5:03 p.m.
     "Logie, Leo!" Cossette calls, chasing the older boys and giggling.
     "Come on, Cossy, come get me." Logan laughs, diving into the couch cushion fort. She follows after him, coming out the other end.
     "I got you, Logie." She cheers, grabbing his foot. Jake picks her up, pulling Logan up by his arm.
     "I told you guys, it's dinner time. You can play again later. The mac and cheese is getting cold." He says, rubbing Logan's head, nudging him towards the table. He puts Cossy down on a seat and spoons some into her bowl. "Eat up. There are chicken nuggets in the oven, they'll be out soon. Leo, stop watching for just a few minutes and come eat."
     "I just wanna wait until Jo is there. I need to make sure she's okay." Leo says, keeping his eyes glued to the TV.
     "Leo, why wouldn't Jo be okay?" Jake asks, walking over and sitting next to him.
     "I feel like something is wrong. She was really weird when her and Cassy were dropping off Cossy. I'm worried about her. What if she has the babies tonight?"
     "Than your parents will take care of her. Why are you so freaked out? Is it about what happened at your birthday party?"
     Leo nods. "I yelled at her and she ended up in the hospital. Jo said it's not my fault and Dad said we're all mad at Jo, but no one else is really mad. Dad could never be mad at her and neither could Mom. I feel alone."
     "I'm mad at Jo. I'm really mad. But I know she probably had a good reason, she just can't tell us. Jo missed a lot, but we can't punish her by making her miss more. Come on, it's time to eat."

     "Avery, look, Grandma and Ezzy are coming on now!" Holly cheers, dropping onto the pillow next to Joyce.
     Avery takes her spot on the couch next to Kiki. "I'm so proud of Ezra, he's going to do amazing tonight." Kiki says.
     "Yeah, he is. I just I could be there in person."
     "That's a lot of worry in one little sentence. You're worried about him, aren't you?"
     "I know the song he's doing, it's not easy. He'll need to take a lot of really deep and fast breaths. I just, I don't want anything to him. He's already been through so much and he's only nine."
     "Ez will be perfectly fine. He's at a fundraiser filled with doctors and nurses if anything does happen, which it won't. Stop making yourself go grey and watch the red carpet.

     "That Daddy!" Gavin exclaims, pointing at Griffin on the TV. "Danny, Danny, my daddy."
     "I see, Bud." Danny says, placing the bowl of spaghetti in front of Gavin, rubbing his head. "And that's me and Emily's daddy."
     Emily rolls her eyes from where she's playing on her phone. "He hasn't been our father in years."
     "Could you knock off that kind of shit in front of Gavin."
     "Bad word! I'm telling Mommy!" Gavin jumps down from the table and stumbles his way across to the home phone. Danny pulls it out of his hands, picking him up and putting him back at the table. "No fair!"
     "Who's no fair?"
     "You." Gavin pouts.
     "Yep, I sure am. Eat your spagat."

     Evan drops to his stomach, making an over exaggerated grunt. He sticks his tongue out and closes his eyes, waiting until Mick's giggles calm down. He rolls back onto his back and crawls towards his youngest brother.
     Eddy and Nat run past, engaged in an everlasting game of tag. Emma comes over, Maddison asleep in her arms. "Hey, Evan, don't you wanna go play with Eddy and Nat?"
     He shakes his head, going back to entertaining Mick. Marcus goes over to them, crouching and tilting his head. "Play?"
     Evan nods. "Yeah, we ar- we're playing. You can play too if you want."
     Marcus nods and leans back, landing on a pillow. He sits up and grabs one of Eddy's discarded you cars. "Voom voom."
     "That's right." Evan compliments, watching his siblings as they go running past. He looks back to the two younger ones, smiling and rolling to his side.

     Jack pats Tess' back, gently rocking her. He walks back into the livingroom, his younger brother's eyes glued to the tv while Kira's busy with her latest Lego masterpiece. Jack smiles, placing his free hand on Beau's head. "Look, Dad's next."
     Beau nods, not looking away from the screen. Beau eventually turns and looks up at his older brother. "Jackie, why did Daddy not know where he is?"
     "I don't know, bud. I don't know."

     "Grandma!" Kathy calls. "Mommy and Daddy are on!"
     Pam comes rushing out of the kitchen, wiping her hands off on her apron. She sits between her grandkids, lifting Mattie onto her lap.
     "Uncle Dubby and Uncle Barney." Kathy giggles.
     "Auntie Jo." Mattie adds.
     "Doesn't she just look stunning?" Pam asks loosely.
     "Her belly is too big." Kathy comments.
     "She's got two babies in her belly, but they're coming out soon."
     "Ew. I don't want babies in my belly. That sounds icky."
     "It is icky, but it's the best ickiness in the world."

     "Grandpa, I drew a picture." Toby boasts, practically shoving the piece of paper in Alan's face. "It's our family. That me, and Mommy, and Daddy, and you, and Grandma, and Auntie N-"
     "You drew Grandma?" Alan asks, holding the paper out.
     Toby nods, pointing to one of the top corners. "She's an angel in Heaven."
     "This is very sweet, buddy." Alan breathes, holding back the tears welling in him.
     "It's for you, Grandpa."
     "Thank you, bud." Alan gently takes the paper and sets it to the side, putting his arm around Toby for a hug. He looks over to the tv and its master, Connor. "How we looking?"
     "I can just about see Aunt Nadia. So, soon."
     Alan narrows his eyes at the tv, and turns to Jonas. "Jonas, bring me my phone, I need to make a call."
     Jonas grunts, continuing on the game he's playing. "Jonas, I'm serious. Bring me my phone or you won't get any dessert later."
     Jonas grunts again but brings Alan his phone, crossing his arms and watching his grandfather. Alan puts the phone to his ear, not breaking eye contact with Jonas. "Hello, my dear. I need you to go check on your daughter."
     "Which one?" Alexis asks.
     "The pregnant one."
     "These are my girls you're talking about, you'll have to be more clear." She says.
     "Go check on Jodie. She seems off. Have her stay off her feet."
     The phone goes silent for a few seconds before Alexis comes back on. "Jo says she feels fine. I'll keep an eye on her. Thank you for the warning."
     Alan hangs up and hands his phone back to the rather annoyed toddler. As soon as Jonas is gone, Alan places his hand over his chest. "Please, nothing go wrong tonight."