Dara is so excited, she can hardly contain herself. She went to Wyndams and bought this dress especially for Jax. It cost a bit, but she wanted to make a good impression. The cocktail dress that she bought was form fitting and accented every curve on Dara’s body. Hooked together up at the top, there was no back to speak  of, and with the length just above the knees, Dara knew that she had indeed achieved her subtle sexiness. She made sure to wear the earrings and bracelet that Jax had bought her. And looking at herself in the mirror, she realized that she didn’t need anything else. When Jax rang the doorbell, she jumped. She was so startled at how nervous she was.

“ Well, hello Jax.”

“ Dara...You...”

“ What?”

“ Look positively wonderful. I can’t believe my eyes. The dress does everything for you.”

(laughs) “ Thank you, Jax. Are those for me?”, pointing to the enormous bouquet Jax brought.

“ Of course.”

“ Let me take them and put them in water. Come on in.” Dara places the flowers in a vase, and the two of them leave.
 

They are enjoying drinks at the PC Grille when Justus and Sasha come in. Jax gets a look on his face, and Dara turns to see that Justus is with Sasha, who has on the same dress. Dara is struck by how it seemed that all eyes were on the lady with justus.

“ So, tell me Jax. Do you know the woman with Justus? I don’t.”

“ Actually, I do. Her name is Anastasia Cassadine. She used to be my sister-in-law.”

“ Sister-in-law? Well, she’s quite beautiful. And Justus seems to be enjoying himself.”

“ Are you uncomfortable being here? Considering that Justus is here?”

“ Don’t be silly. I refuse to let Justus Ward, or anyone else run my life. Besides, what we had is over.”

“ Is it, Dara? I know that being a lawyer, that you talk well. ‘A good game’ is what they call it. But, I saw the fury and fire and anger that you had at Justus at the Vineyard. It would indicate that you were more involved than your words indicated.”

“ The only person that I want to be involved with, is you. Justus means nothing to me.”

“ Alright, I’ll leave it alone. “

“ So, what do you have planned for tonight.”

“ Well, as first dates go, you aren’t getting the Jax Royal Treatment.”

“ And why is that?”

“ Because you are a sensible woman who works. So, I have to make do, with Port Charles as the locale. But, I think that I do alright.”

“ I’m sure you do. You know, my mother was impressed with you?”

“ No! I don’t believe you. I didn’t think that your mother was impressed with anyone.”

“ She’s not. But, she liked the way that you stood up to Justus.”

“ That was no problem. He was acting like a jerk.”

“ Yes, he was. I still don’t know why he even came, if we was going to be so ridiculous. Did he think that I was so pathetic that I needed for him to come so that I would have a date?”

“ I think that he realized that he had been a dufus, and he wanted to correct the situation.”

“ Well, enough about Justus. Tell me about your family.”

“ There is..my mother, father and older brother Jerry. “

“ Are you and Jerry close?”

“ Yes. I think as close as brothers can be. There isn’t anything that I wouldn’t do for him. There isn’t anywhere I wouldn’t go for him.”

“ You sound like a close family.”

“ Well, overall, I think we’re close. But, you know, some are closer than others. I think that we are solid, like yours. And everybit as nosy.”

“ I doubt anyone’s family is as nosy as mine.”

Jax Laughs. “ You know, I think I agree with you. But, that’s just because of the love. So, there’s no problem there. Ah, here’s dinner.”

Jax and Dara begin their dinner.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Justus was running late. So he called Sasha, and she had her driver take her to the Port Charles Grill. She was only there a few minutes when Justus arrived.

“ I’m sorry. Have you been waiting long?”

“  No. Not long at all. Problems at the office?”

“ No. A cousin. She was in desparate need of my car, so I guess I’ll have to take a cab home. Shall we go in?”

Justus notices Jax and Dara having dinner. All parties look at one another.

“So, You know Jasper and his lady friend?”

“ Her name is Dara Jensen.”

“ And you two were more than friends?”

“ You could say that.”

“ Well, why don’t we order.” Justus motions over to the waiter to bring over the champagne that he had pre-ordered. “I don’t think we can go wrong with a Dom Perignon, 1962.”

“ No, I guess you can’t” (takes a swallow) “This is good.

“ The best.”

“ So. You’re A.E. Cassadine. Very interesting. You’re a complicated piece of work Ms. Cassadine.”

“ Me? I thought I was an open book. Why don’t you tell me what you know, and I’ll fill in any blanks.”

“ OK. Anastasia Ekaterina Cassadine. Adopted, at 30 days old, by Stefan Cassadine, from an orphange in Provence, France. Entered Harvard at the age of 15. Graduated in 3 years with a Phi Beta Kappa. Was All-American and captained both the Fencing and Equestrian teams at Harvard. Just for kicks, got degrees from the London School of Economics and was one of the youngest students ever at the INSEAD. Speaks 4 languages outside of English. CEO of The Pegasus Group, one of the largest, privately held conglomerates in the world. Made your first Billion by the time you were 22. Private life....Marriages, one. To Jerry Jacks when you were 19 that lasted 7 months. Well?”

“ Is that all?”

“ No. how could I forget? Your nickname...the scorpion. So, how’s my research department doing?”

“ You need to hire some new folks. I was 31 days old when Papa found me. I speak 5 languages outside of English. And my marriage to Jerry lasted 6 months, 3 weeks, and 1 day. EXACTLY.”

“Was it THAT painful?”

“ I imagine that root canal without anastesia would be more pleasureable. Research goes both ways, Justus.”

“ Go ahead. “

“ Justus Bradley Daniel Ward. Son of Bradley Ward, the late civil rights leader, and Violet Ward. Education, the Hill School, then onto The University of Pennsylvania, where you graduated Phi Beta Kappa and went to law school there. You made Law Review and eventually became editor of the Civil Rights Law Journal. You were following in your father’s footsteps and even got his seat on the City Council. You resigned after getting Laura Spencer aquitted of First Degree Murder in a very celebrated trial. What made it doubly confusing is that you also had vanquished your enemies, and just won a  testy recount election. Presently, House Counsel for ELQ, Enterprises, Inc. You are the grandson of one Mary Mae Ward, community leader, founder of the Bradley Ward house. Your grandmother was headed for Beattification in this town. And then there is the matter of your grandfather, Edward  L. Quartermaine, who held Port Charles’ title of Devil Incarnate...until Papa arrived. I must say that I found the story of your grandparents to be quite a fascinating one.”

“ Oh?”

(up until now, this has been flirtatious, know-it-all banter. Now Sasha turns quite serious) “ Yes. I was reading the transcript of the trial. And thinking of you, sitting there, day after day. Imagining how you must have felt, when you thought that you would finally get justice for the murder of your father. Reading it....the story of the Quartermaines and the Wards....I was struck...by the absolute cruelty of the God’s of Fate. “

(completely unnerved...jokes) “Oh, don’t be so melodramatic. It all worked out.”

“ Did it? “

“ Yes. Anything else.”

“  Private life...one engagement. To Dr. Simone Ravelle Hardy, Pediatrician, General Hospital. Who called it off, if I may ask? “

“ I did.”

“  Oh. “

“  My turn. So, what was it like growing up a Cassadine?”

“  I don’t know. Have nothing to compare it to.”

“  Of course you do. Was your father always in control?”

“  No. I lived under the rule of my Yaya until I was 16. “

“  Yaya?”

“  That’s Greek for Grandmother. Helena herself.”

“  What happened when you were 16?”

“  My father staged a coup and Yaya was dispatched.”

“  So, what is Helena Cassadine really like? Any stories are welcome.”

“ Well, once, when my Yaya thought that I was not strong enough, She devised a test of my endurance. I was taken to the Parthenon in Athens and told to find my way home. “

“ So, did you?”

“ Of course. It took me a week. But I made it back alright. “

“  How old were you? “

“  Ten. “

“  Dare I ask how you repaid dear “Granny” for this adventure?”

“  Fortunately, I was just beginning my studies in chemistry. So, I devised my own experiments using acids. The hypothesis was to see how fast acid could eat through oil paintings. My theory was 2 minutes, 30 seconds. “

“  What did you use as test subjects? “

“ Being a Cassadine, I was fortunate to have a number of subjects that I could use. But I thought that it would be only fair, since I had thought about the experiment on my journey that she arranged, that she would want to do anything she could to advance my studies. So, I used her two favorite paintings in her bedroom: a Bottachelli and Renior. The time was 1 minute, 42 seconds by the way. “

“  So, what happened? “

“  We came to an understanding. “

“  Oh. I bet you did. “

“  So. Tell me about the Quartermaines. I would love to hear about the day when you first met “the family”. “

Justus’ cell phone rings.

“  Hold that thought. Justus Ward. “

“  Justus, it’s Ned. I’m at General Hospital. Grandfather has had another heart attack.”

“ I’ll be right there. (closes phone) I have to go. “

“  Is something wrong? “

“ Edward has had a heart attack. I gotta get my car....damn, Keesha has my car. “

“  I’ll take you. My driver is outside. “

“  Thank you. Let’s go. “

Justus and Sasha leave.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jax is observing Justus and Sasha. He notices the way that they leave.

“ That’s curious.”

“ What?”

“ Justus and Sasha just left their champagne just sitting there. I wonder what’s wrong?”

“ Who cares? I would much rather hear about your home in Alaska.”

“ What can I say? I don’t think that any descriptions do it justice. I would rather take you there.”

“ You’re willing to take me to meet your parents in Alaska?”

“ Sure. I’ve brought tons of friends home to meet my parents.”

Dara tries to cover her hurt. “ Well, I guess one day I’ll make it there. But, I’m not exactly fond of such harsh cold weather.”

Jax notices the  change in Dara. “ Dara? Was it something that I’ve said? Did I do anything to upset you?”

“ No. It’s just that I seem to be coming down with something. I know that this is bad form, but Jax would you understand it if I asked you to take me home?”

“ Now?”

“ Yes. I’m not feeling as well as I thought I was.”

“ Sure. Fine. I’ll get the check and we’ll take you home.”

“ Good. I will go to the ladies’ room, and meet you in the Lobby.”

Jax motions for the check. He pays it and goes to get Dara. There is silence between them on the way home. They get up to Dara’s door.

“ Jax, I wanted to thank you for dinner.”

“ Well, I’m sorry that our evening had to be cut so short.”

“ Me too. I’ll call you.”

“ I hope you feel better.”

“ Thanks, again.” Dara leans up and kisses Jax on the cheek. She goes into her apartment, leaving Jax standing outside, thoroughly confused as to how an evening with so much promise, was ended so prematurely. He had made sure to call and cancel the rest of the arrangements for the evening, which included dancing on the decorated roof of his building to Michael Feinstein. The men had spent almost all day getting the piano up there. Jax went home to his faxes and files.

Dara changed out of her clothes and sat in her bed, in her nightgown, wide awake, hearing the lessons of her Mother, Grandmother and Aunts in her mind. About not being “ presentable to Mama” material.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sasha takes out her cellphone.

" Alexis Davis."

" I thought you should know. Edward Quartermaine had a heart attack tonight."

" Oh, My God, is he..."

" No. He's still alive. The entire family is here. I came with Justus. We were having dinner. You should check on acquiring some ADR's of ELQ Businesses overseas."

" Always thinking, Sasha?"

" Absolutely, Alexis."

" Well, I hope that you show Justus some compassion."

" When appropriate. And here he comes now. Goodbye, Alexis."

Justus comes up to her.

" Well, who were you talking to?"

" Alexis. She sends you and your family her best. How are YOU doing?"

" Fine. They're all going in there to see him."

" And what about you?"

" I'll go in last. I don't want to bother him. Make sure the others have a turn. You know, you don't have to wait here with me."

" I don't mind. I had planned to spend the evening with you, remember?"

" But, I doubt you had visions of a hospital corridor in your head."

" No, I didn't. But, if you're here, I'm here."

" No. The family is here. And if you want to go, you should go."

" Really? I can stay."

" No. But, I might want to talk to you. So, maybe...."

" I have a compromise. I'll go back to the suite that I have rented out at the Port Charles Hotel. I'll spend the night there. So, if you need someone to just hold your hand and drink coffee, I'm there."

" Thanks. "

" No problem." Sasha kisses him slightly on the cheek. " Bye."

Sasha leaves Justus looking like he just lost his dog.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Setting: GH, Cardiac Intensive Care. Edward is in his room. All the family has been to see him, except for Justus. Edward looks weakened by all the tubes. Justus is startled by this image of him.

“  I thought you weren’t coming.”

“ Oh, Edward. And pass up the chance for your wonderful company? How are you?”

“  Monica says that I’ll live. I just have to take better care. She and Lila are giving Cook some godawful diet.....they’ll have me eating nothing but carrots, lettuce, cottage cheese and those ridiculous cardboard thingys.....rice cakes!”

“  Well, nice to know that you’re not letting something as insignificant as a heart attck keep you down. I guess it’s foolish for me to say  that you should do whatever they tell you to do...”

“  Yes, it is.”

(A long pause between them. Then they both start to say something)

“ You go on.....”, Justus says.

“  I was thinking about the first time I met you.”

“  The First Nurses Ball.”

“  Yes. There you were. Looking so much like Bradley. I couldn’t believe that this strapping, fierce young man was my grandson.”

“  But, I didn’t know that. I thought you were possibly the man that had killed my father. My, how far we’ve come. There was a time, even after I found out the truth, that I wouldn’t have come to see you. But GrannyMae wanted so desparately for us to forge a connection. “

“  And I guess we’ve done that. Justus, I know that we were the last bunch of folks that you would have chosen....but we are now family. And I don’t want what I’ve built torn asunder. Ned needs your help Justus. He’s brilliant and crafty, and an excellent CEO....and if you tell him I said so, I’ll call you a liar. But he needs an ally like you. Someone sharp, witty, who’s also family. Nothing is more important than this family. Tracey never understood that, which is the reason why she went in with that reptile Jax. I think that I see what MaryMae wanted. I see now what she saw. You are the best of us Justus. The best combination of myself and MaryMae. I know what your purpose is for the family. Since Jason died, and Lois left, there hasn’t been anyone in this family who acts as a conscience. I think that you get the title by default. “

“  Me? The conscience? Edward have you forgotten Damian Smith? “

“  Yes, I have. He was an aberration. I can’t believe that you intend to punish yourself over someone who wasn’t worth scraping off your shoes. Get over it already, Justus. No one cares what spigot in hell he’s roasting on, they’re just glad that he’s there. “

“  You’re all heart,  Edward. “

“  So. You’ll be staying on as House Counsel? “

“  After that warm, fuzzy plea? How could I refuse? You know, you are shameless.”

(smiling) “ I know.”

(gets up to leave) “Take care......Grandfather.”

“ Huh? “

“  You only get that once. Nite.”