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The Triumph Of AJ Quartermaine
Welcome Home
The limo pulls up to the brownstone in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The custody hearing was only hours away they'd cut it close. Jerry hops out of the limo with his bag and a few packages. "See you in a few hours."
"Yeah, Let's make a deal to call each other just in case someone sleeps through their alarm."
"Hey I resemble that remark! Tell Mama we'll be there, okay Jerry?"
"You bet. Now get going or there'll be no sleep at all." Jerry slams the door then raps on the top as he steps back onto the sidewalk. Grabbing his key from his jacket he dashes up the Brownstone stairs. There is a note on the entryway table.
Jerry,
Lucas and I crashed. But I left the light on for you.
Love, Bobbie.
Jerry looks up the stairs and sure enough Bobbie's door is ajar and the light is on. He puts Bobbie's lei in the fridge as a last minute thought and then locking up heads upstairs. Stripping off his clothes in the half light he crawls into bed next to her. "Jerry?" She mumbles rolling over to rest her arm against his bare chest and settling her head into his shoulder.
"You expecting someone else, Luv?" Jerry whispers with a soft kiss to the top of her head.
"Nope, just you-- only you. Did everything go okay?" Bobbie rolls on top of Jerry pressing against him.
"Oh it was aces. I'll tell you all about it in the morning. Your daughter is one smart pain in the ass."
"Tell me something I don't know." Bobbie presses kisses to Jerry's jaw, nibbling on his chin.
"I missed you." Jerry slides his wide hands over Bobbie's nearly bare back pressing her even closer to him.
"I missed you too. Welcome home." Bobbie reaches over and turns off the muted light of the bedside table.
Happy family house--
AJ and Carly are pulling their gear from the car and the trunk. The driver is helping as well. It seems to never end. Finally all the packages are transferred to the entry way. And the driver is getting ready to leave.
"AJ?" Carly reminds.
"Oh right. Could you have a car here tomorrow morning at eight? We need to be down at the courthouse by 8:30."
"No problem, Mr. Quartermaine." The driver nods and retreats to the warm car. AJ quickly shuts the door and looks at his watch.
"Well if we crash now we could get five hours sleep before we have to get ready for court."
"Then why am I wide awake?"
"Because your internal clock thinks it's 2pm tomorrow?"
"Oh if only it would be-- then the custody hearing would be over and Tony would crawl back under his rock." Carly rolls her shoulders.
"Come here."
"What?"
"Come here." Carly walks over to AJ suspiciously but twirls around when he makes a hand motion. "Just as I thought." AJ's hands go to Carly's neck and shoulders. "You're one big knot of stress."
"Hey I'm the faux physical therapist here." Carly shivers then moans as AJ finds a knot and works it out then moves on to another.. "Forget it-- that feels too good-- don't stop.... Oh yes... right there. Harder...Oh God, AJ!" Carly's head falls forward lax all the muscles knot free.
"See Baby, you might have been the faux PT but I did more than hand out towels in that gym." AJ murmurs in her ear.
"Why am I only finding out about this now." Carly moans again. "I feel like a puddle of Jell-O."
"You going to be able to sleep now?" AJ continues with a smooth stroking motion.
"Yeah, right here." Carly weaves slightly on her feet.
"Come on, Baby. You'll sleep better in your own bed." AJ puts his hand around Carly's waist and starts leading her to the stairs.
"Whatever." Carly's head sags down onto AJ's shoulder. "AJ call Jason in the morning. Tell him you'll pick Michael up after court." Carly mumbles. "Wanna see Michael."
"Me too. Don't worry I'll take care of everything." AJ reassures.
"I know. So tired now." Carly yawns and walks across the threshold of her room to her bed. Pushing the closet of clothes she didn't take to Jakarta off the bed and onto the floor. "I'll pick it up in the morning--later." Carly collapses on to the bed. AJ takes off her shoes and taking an afghan from the window seat covers her with it. Carly is already asleep. AJ checks her alarm clock making sure that it is on wake the dead mode and goes down to the study to catch up on what ELQ business had happened while he was gone.
6am The Brownstone--
Jerry looks over at a still sleeping Bobbie and reluctantly rises. Grabbing a quick shower, he dresses and heads downstairs; this being discreet was for the bloody birds. Jerry grabs a cookbook in the kitchen and figures-- what the hell. Announce his presence with authority. Quickly tossing the cupboards he finds what he is searching for-- a waffle iron. With little skill and great enthusiasm he throws together the ingredients and starts whipping up some waffles. As the smell of cooking batter fills the house Jerry hears the noise of a little boy rising; there is a moment of quiet and then the thunder of feet on the stairs.
"Jerry!!" Lucas runs into the kitchen and throws his arms around Jerry to give him a big hug. "When did you get back?"
"Early early this morning. Figured I'd surprise you and your mum."
"We can make her breakfast in bed!" Lucas suggests stepping back so that he can see Jerry's face.
Remembering exactly what condition Bobbie's bed was in as well her state of undress Jerry quickly comes up with another suggestion. "We'll do that on the weekend when we have more time. Tell you what why don't you go knock on her door--don't go in-- just tell her through the door that breakfast is almost ready and I've got presents for the both of you."
"Presents?" Lucas says gleefully.
"Ah yes but not until both of you are down here ready for your day and my world famous waffles."
"Ready for my day?" Lucas inquires curiously.
Jerry points to Lucas' sock clad feet with a messy spatula that drips batter on the floor. "Shoes at least."
"Right." Lucas turns and races out of the kitchen. He starts hollering as he hits the stairs. "Mom, Jerry's home. He brought presents and is making breakfast. Wake up! Wake up!" By the time Lucas is at the top of the stairs Bobbie is in her robe and has her door open. Jerry says that we can open presents just as soon as we're ready for our day. I need my shoes; Mom, where are my shoes?"
"I don't know. Who wore them last?" Bobbie rolls her eyes as Lucas shrugs. "I'm going to get dressed you find your own shoes."
"Deal." Lucas tears off. Bobbie goes down the stairs in her robe and slippers. She gathers her hair up in a clip and anchors it viciously at the back of her head.
Jerry pauses in pouring the batter for another waffle and takes in the rumpled beauty before him. "That what you planning on wearing today? Judge won't be able to tell you no to anything." He pours the batter and closes the iron. Walking over to Bobbie, he draws her into an embrace and kisses her with enthusiasm, an enthusiasm that is returned. "Good Morning, Luv. "
"Good Morning, Jerry." Bobbie steps back and looks at her destroyed kitchen. Well it's somewhat contained-- all of the many dirty dishes are in the sink. "You've been busy."
"Sublimating. I know what I'd rather be doing this morning." Jerry comes up behind Bobbie who is starting to load dishes into the dishwasher. He grabs her around the waist and starts nuzzling on her neck. "We need to go on vacation, you, me and the kid. Without the specter of your ex looking over our shoulders. I ran into an old friend in Hawaii. She'll take good care of us."
"An Old Friend?" A tinge of green comes over Bobbie.
"Oh yeah, you'll like her. Leilani, she runs the flower stands in the Honolulu Airport. Samoan, 5ft4in and 250 lbs if the woman is an ounce. But that woman can dance. So good she can make you cry. Her family takes pity on me whenever I'm in the islands so I don't have to stay in one of those tourist trap hotels on the strip. Come on Bobbie-- it was in the low 80's there. Nice breeze blowing off the ocean. Blue Ocean, Green mountains and the smell of flowers everywhere. In fact. Close your eyes."
"What?"
"Just close them." Jerry makes sure that Bobbie's eyes are closed before going over to the fridge and grabs the orchid lei. Removing it from it's box he walks back toward Bobbie and lays it gently over her head. Kissing both cheeks as goes with tradition. "Aloha Bobbie."
Bobbie's eyes pop open. Her hand softly feathers over the gorgeous purple lei. "Oh Jerry, it's beautiful." She brings the floral garland to her nose. "And it smells so good. Thank you."
"First time I met Leilani she had a stand outside the airport don't know what made me stop but I needed something for Lady Jane. I took one look at a lei like this and I was a goner. Helped her get the contract for the whole airport. Her family has taken care of me ever since whenever I'm in the islands."
Lucas races into the kitchen. "I found them. Ew mushy stuff." He covers his eyes quickly. Jerry and Bobbie laugh.
"It's okay, Lucas you can look now. In fact pull up a chair. Your mum is going to pull together a selection of toppings to smother the taste of these waffles and then we'll be in business."
"And then we'll open presents." Lucas negotiates.
"Then the presents."