Mr. Right (General Hospital)

Chapter 1: Lonely

February 16th 2019

     "This is nice. We have to have Saturday morning brunch more often." Alexis says, taking a bite of her muffin.
     "I agree." Kristina says pointedly. "Do you wanna see the jumpsuit I'm getting for the Nurse's Ball?"
     "Gimme that." Molly grabs her sister's phone. "Oh my God, Kristina, you're gonna look like a damn queen in this."
     "Thanks, you should see Valerie's, it's breathtaking."
     "Everything Valerie does is breathtaking to you." Molly teases. Kristina sighs in agreement.
     "I'm actually getting a purple and blue dress, not a single black thread." Sam says, sipping at her coffee.
     "I'm going light pink, but I don't have an exact dress yet." Molly adds.
     "I am so happy for you girls. It sounds like you're all counting down the days." Alexis comments. "And how was all your Valentine's days?"
     "Amazing." Molly beams. "TJ was so romantic and got me all kinds of flowers, balloons, and chocolates. Oh, and this huge stuffed bear. It says, 'Shit bitch you is fine.' It was this stupid meme he started sending me around Christmas."
     "Julian offered me the day off, but since Valerie had to work I just worked too. But we went to this really nice club after and had a great dinner." Kristina tells them. "Then we went back to her apartment and, well, that's not important."
     "Jason and I had dinner with Danny, Drew had Scout. It was a nice night, though." Sam says. She turns to Alexis. "How was dinner with Neil?"
     "Oh, well, we didn't actually have dinner. He had a family emergency and had to leave town. There was something with an aunt and a helicopter in a pool." Alexis explains.
     "Oh, well I hope everything is okay. Do you know when he's coming back?" Kristina asks.
     "He isn't coming back." Alexis admits. "He already told me that he's probably going to be there the foreseeable future. He doesn't think things will work long distance between us and he'd like to keep in touch but he wants me to consider myself open to other men."
     "Oh, Mom." Kristina rubs her arm.
     "It's fine. I'm just a little disappointed. And I need a new therapist."
     "Than let's get you back out there." Molly starts, the idea lighting up her face. "You need a date for the Nurse's Ball, so it's the perfect time to start dating. All the single guys have love on the brain from Valentine's day and it's still far enough from the Nurse's Ball that you can have a meaningful relationship with the guy."
     "I'm not sure, Mol. And I don't even know where to start."
     "What am I hearing?" Diane asks, standing behind Alexis.
     "My darling daughters are saying that I need to start dating. I'm thinking Christian Mingle."
     "I know a great guy that you would just adore." Diane says. "And he's got quite the face and body."
     "There's a professor at my school who I think you'd really get along with." Molly says.
     "I met a guy recently, a doctor, whose available." Sam adds.
     "There's a lawyer that always comes to Charlie's, he's really nice and good looking." Kristina pitches.
     "Okay, whatever. You win. I'll go out with your mystery men. What have I got to lose?"

Later

     Alexis pushes the door to Charlie's open and rushes inside, shaking off the cold. She looks over at the bar and its bartender. He's more focused on something behind the bar than on the customer they just came in. The only one all morning from the looks of things. She sits at one of the stools and knocks her hand on the bar top. "What do I gotta do to get some service around here?" She teases.
     Julian looks up and over at her, chucking. "Hey, Alexis. God, it's been months. How have you been?"
     "I'm alright.  I'm hiding from my daughters and Diane right now. What's so interesting down there?"
     Julian bends down and stands up with a baby. "I'm trying to keep him hidden from customers."
     "There's no way that this big boy is little Nolan."
     "He is. He's gotten much bigger lately, but he's still my little angel."
     "Wow, he's so handsome. How has he been?"
     "Stronger. He's a fighter. Being born six weeks early hardly left a scratch on this little warrior." Julian tells her, pressing Nolan's head to his cheek.
     "And you?"
     "I'm managing. Nolan's helping me through it day by day. We're each other's rocks."
     "I'm glad you have each other. So, why are you hiding him? Is he playing hokie from daycare?"
     Julian laughs awkwardly. "He doesn't go to daycare. I missed so much time with Leo, I can't bare to be away from Nolan. I like having him close to me. So, why are you hiding from your daughters and Diane?"
     "They're all starting to set me up with different single guys they know. I just don't want to talk about it anymore."
     "Can I overstep our boundaries for a minute?"
     "Sure."
     "I know a guy."
     "You?" She asks.
     "No, I know you wouldn't even consider me. It's a buddy of mine. Chris Jankovic. He owns a bar outside Port Charles. We meet up for drinks every so often. He's a really nice and sensitive guy. How would you feel about another date on that list?"
     "At this point it won't hurt anything."
     Julian smiles, turning to Nolan. "I saw that."
     Nolan pulls her tongue back in his mouth and faces Alexis. She smiles and waves at him. "Would you mind if I just hid out here for a couple hours?"
     "Of course." Julian pauses. "As long as you watch Nolan, so I can get more work done."
     "Oh, it's a deal. Pass that beautiful little boy over." She stands and opens her arms.
     Julian puts Nolan in her arms, patting his son's back. "Careful with him, he'll stop at nothing to shove his tongue in your ear."
     "That is a sacrifice I am willing to make."