This story is set in early September 2024. If you’re not watching the show, or you don’t remember, here are some of the big things to keep in mind –

• Kristina was a surrogate for TJ and Molly. She fell out a window at Ava’s, was badly injured, and the baby did not survive. She’s gone off the deep end a little with grief, and has clashed with her sister and TJ because Kristina was planning to keep the baby — Kristina was also arrested by John “Jagger” Cates who was trying to use her against Sonny. So she hates Cates, and so does Sonny. Sonny’s meds were messed with for months, so he’s unbalanced himself.
• Elizabeth broke up with Finn in June, and now we don’t care to remember he ever existed. Nothing much for her since then, other than trying to encourage Jason & Jake’s relationship — and Jake did not go to Spain. She’s spent some time with Jason, who’s keeping his distance from all things Sonny, trying to convince Sam he’s really out of the business so he can spend time with Danny, but Sam’s being a bitch. We hate her. This isn’t new.
• Jason was an FBI informant under Cates because of Carly. That went away in July, but Sonny still hasn’t forgiven him because, well, fair.

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Written in… 62 minutes.

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Monday, September 2, 2024

Webber House: Living Room

Elizabeth Webber opened her front door with an exasperated smile. “I told you that you don’t have to knock—” she said, stepping to one side, allowing Jason Morgan and his fourteen-year-old son inside. “Hey, Danny. Jake’s upstairs. Tell him to stop whatever he’s doing and come down. We’re leaving in ten minutes.”

“Got it.” Danny offered a two-fingered salute, then sprinted past her, thudding up the stairs.

Elizabeth looked past Jason, squinting her eyes at the clear, blue skies. “I don’t trust the weather forecast. Are they sure it’s not going to rain?”

“I thought I was the one trying to get out of this,” Jason teased, and she smirked. “There’s supposed to be a storm tonight, but unfortunately, it’s after the barbecue.”

“Oh, no, you might have to socialize,” Elizabeth said, pretending to be scandalized with a hand pressed against her chest. She closed the door. “I’m sorry, I tease, but I know how much you hate things like this.”

“As long as I can avoid ninety percent of the people there,” Jason said, “I’ll be fine. I really just want to see Monica. And Michael.” He squinted. “Maybe it’s more like ninety-eight percent.”

She laughed, and he trailed after her into the kitchen where the counter had a few different dishes — her famous brownies, and some fancy tart thing likely made by her youngest son, Aiden. “Who made the pasta salad?”

“You ask that like you should be scared. It’s from the grocery store,” Elizabeth said, unzipping a thermal bag to transport the dishes. “I know my limits.”

Jason picked up a flyer from the counter, and made a face. He held it up. “Drew Q for U?” That’s really the slogan?”

“I can’t even say it without snickering.” She plucked it from Jason’s hand. “It’s so gross, isn’t it? The way he’s using the Q name to get himself into office. I mean, Edward would probably love it, but there’s something about it that feels so slimy. He’s known he’s a Quartermaine for years, and didn’t bother to change his name until now.” When Jason opened his mouth, she held up a hand. “Don’t say it, I already know.”

“Michael and the rest of the family don’t seem to mind. Except for Tracy,” Jason added. “But she doesn’t like anyone.” His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he plucked it out. He clenched his jaw, reading the text.

“Everything okay? If you, um, have to cancel — I can take the boys—”

Jason lifted his gaze to Elizabeth’s, and knew she was thinking of all the other calls he’d received over the years. Calls and texts that had taken him away. “No, it’s nothing like that. And there’s nothing about my life now that would make that happen. I told you, it’s just the warehouse.”

“Right,” Elizabeth said, then smiled, but it was a brief, nervous one, and he knew she didn’t quite trust it. He didn’t trust it entirely either. It had been decades since he’d tried to leave the business, and being known as an informant for the FBI hadn’t made this attempt any easier — Elizabeth was right to be skeptical. “So everything is okay?”

“Yeah. Just—” Jason shook his head. “It’s Sam. Reminding me that Laura will be there with Rocco and Scout, so maybe I should leave Danny with her. I told her—” He tightened his hand around his phone, then exhaled in a slow, irritated breath. “It’s fine. She’ll get used to it.” She’d have to. He was  home, and his only priority now was making sure Jake and Danny knew they came first for him.

“It’ll get easier,” Elizabeth said. “I mean, Jake says full sentences in your presence now, and that’s not something that was true even a month ago. Sam will…” She wrinkled her nose. “You know what? I’m just going to stay out of it. You know how I feel about this. And so does she.” She opened the fridge, and started to remove a huge portable container of juice.

Jason hurried to take it from her, and she relinquished it without argument. “I know she’s angry about me being gone, and I don’t expect her to forgive me.” He set the container on the counter. “The Quartermaines can’t buy their own juice?”

“It’s sangria — and Sam can be as angry as she wants to be. It’s wrong for her to take it out on Danny or put me—” Elizabeth held up her hands. “Never mind.”

“I’m sorry. For letting her put you and Jake in the middle of this. And I should have told her no—”

“But you wanted to see Danny,” Elizabeth finished, and he sighed. “And we were going to the party today anyway, plus you’re great when it comes to the heavy stuff, so she did me a favor. I just don’t appreciate being made to feel like this is a supervised visit. And if I didn’t value Jake and Danny’s relationship so much, she’d hear about it from me.” She looked around the kitchen. “I think that’s everything. Let’s load up the car and then I’ll pry the boys from whatever video game they’re playing.”

Penthouse: Living Room

“I wish you were going today,” Sam McCall said, following Dante Falconieri to the closet where he took down the lockbox where he kept his gun. “I’d just feel so much better knowing you were there. Or if I were—”

Dante flipped back the top of the box, then looked at her a furrowed brow. “What exactly do you think is going to happen? It’s the Q’s annual barbecue—”

“There’s going to be triple the amount of people today,” Sam reminded him. “Because for some reason, my idiot ex-husband is running for Congress. Oh my God, every time I say it out loud, it sounds even more stupid.”

“Drew Q for U,” Dante quoted, and she snorted. “Hey, listen, he can get elected, head to DC, and he’ll stop pretending he knows anything about raising kids.” He stroked her arms, and she smiled at him. “We both know he didn’t come back as the guy we used to know. Whatever the Cassadines did to him, whatever happened in prison — the Drew you loved is gone.”

“And the one that adored our little girl like a princess is no where to be found. I know, I know.” Sam wrinkled her nose. “I don’t even care. He only remembers to be Scout’s father for photo opps these days, and now that he’s given up on boarding school, he doesn’t even ask about school.” She folded her arms. “It’s not him I’m worried about.”

“Sam—”

“I know you’re not on my side about this, but I’m not crazy to limit the time Danny spends with Jason. I’m not. Jason is still the same guy he always was, and Danny idolizes him. He’s gonna want to be just like him, with leather jackets, and motorcycles, and no respect for authority—”

“I think you’re not giving Danny enough credit — and you know, I don’t know if it’s fair to hold all that against Jason.” Dante lifted a brow. “It wasn’t that long ago you were fighting tooth and nail for that guy to stay in your life.”

“And where did it put me, Dante? In prison, away from my kids. And where did Jason end up? Working the frickin’ FBI, playing mercenary for over two years! One of us had to grow up, and he’s still the angry kid who can’t play nice with his family.” Sam huffed. “And you know what really makes me mad?”

“No, but you’re gonna tell me.” Dante clicked the magazine into his gun, then slid it into the holster at his hip.

“Why couldn’t Danny handle this like Jake? Jake understands what Jason did was irresponsible and unforgiveable. He said Jake only even talks to his dad because Elizabeth basically forces it.” Sam scowled. “You’d think she of all people would be on my side! Jason literally broke up with her because all his lifestyle, and walked away from being Jake’s dad for years—”

“So we’re mad at Danny because he likes his father, and mad at Elizabeth because she’s not as mad as you want her to be—”

“You’re using that tone that makes me feel stupid,” Sam muttered.

He kissed her forehead. “Jason seems to be staying out of trouble now that his FBI deal is over with, which is all you ever wanted. Danny is safe with him. What you should be worrying about is Kristina—”

“Oh, don’t get me started on that whole mess.” Sam scrubbed her hands through hair, sighed. “The funeral was so awful, and the only reason Molly is even considering a ceasefire is because of these awful charges. I just know Kristina’s going to say something insensitive and piss her off, and Mom will defend Krissy, which will make Molly lose her damn mind.” Sam looked at him. “Why can’t my family be as normal as yours?”

“Uh, Kristina is my family,” Dante reminded her, and she made a face. “And you really want to be more like to be more like my ma?”

“You know what, on second thought—” she shook her head, leaned up to kiss him. “Be careful at work, and I’ll see you tonight.”

Webber House: Jake’s Bedroom

Danny flopped into Jake’s desk chair, and used his foot to push the chair into a lazy spin. “How much longer are you gonna be?”

“Just finishing the shadow on this sketch,” came the mutter from the workstation under the window where his brother was crouched over an over-sized sketchpad. “If I lose the light, I’ll lose the perspective—”

“I don’t understand any of that, but your mom said ten minutes, and that was almost fifteen minutes ago. She’s gonna get mad.”

“She gets it. She used to be an artist.”

“Yeah?” Danny sat up. “Was she good?”

“Pretty good.” Jake flicked some pencil shavings from the drawing. “Besides, you only want to get there faster to see Georgie Jones in a bikini.”

Danny’s cheeks heated. “Do not. And ew, she’s basically family.”

“Sure. Keep telling yourself that.”

“Jake! Let’s go!”

Danny turned towards the door and the muffled voice from downstairs. “See, told you. Let’s go before she sends Dad up—”

“She knows better.” Jake turned the pad slightly to get a different angle. “Then I just wouldn’t go, and she’d get pissed at me, and it would the ruin the whole day. She wants me to spend time with him, she can wait five more minutes.”

Danny scowled. “You’re such a dick, you know that? Your mom actually lets you hang out with Dad whenever you want and you can’t even be bothered! Meanwhile, I have to have you and your mom around like babysitters.” He slouched back in the chair, folding his arms. “We should just switch moms. That would fix everything.”

“Yeah, no thanks.”

“What does that mean?” Danny demanded, straightening. “You’d be lucky to have my mom—”

Jake just looked at him, then sighed. “Okay, five seconds ago you were trying to trade for my mother, so pick a struggle, moron. And your mom is just trying to protect you. At least she gets it. Dad left us, Danny. For over two years. Why aren’t you more pissed about it?”

“Because he used to be dead, dickwad.” Danny shot to his feet. “And now he’s not! I’m so sick and tired you wishing Dad was still dead—”

“That’s not what I said!” Jake shot back, shoving himself to his feet, his picture forgotten. “Don’t be an asshole—”

“You started it!”

The door opened then, and Aiden stood there, somewhat awkwardly. “Uh, not that you guys care, but Mom and Jason are now debating who’s gonna come up here and break up this fight because we can hear you from the driveway.”

Danny scowled, looked at Jake. “I hate you.”

Jake shot him the finger. “Right back at you.”

Danny stomped out of the room, and Aiden looked at Jake, beleagured. “Is it gonna be like this all day? Because Tobias is gonna be there—”

“Don’t worry, I won’t embarrass you in front of your boyfriend. As long as Mom doesn’t want to pretend we’re all a happy family, we’re good.” Jake tossed his pencils back in their case. “Let’s get this over with.”

Davis House: Living Room

Alexis Davis pressed two fingers to her temple, counted to ten, opened her eyes, looked at her middle daughter, then repeated the count.

“I hate when you make that face, Mom! It was just a question—”

“It was a stupid question,” came the sound of her youngest daughter, and Alexis contemplated moving to Bali and changing her name. What a shame she’d given up alcohol, it would have been very useful for days like this.

“Can the both of you try not to ride my last nerve? This is already not an easy situation—” Alexis looked at Kristina. “No. We cannot move the federal court any faster. I’ve told you repeatedly — two weeks to the dismissal hearing is as quickly as I can manage.”

“I just don’t see why I have to be put through this.” Kristina’s eyes filled with tears. “Haven’t I gone through enough?”

“Honey—” Alexis looked at Molly, who sighed and leaned over, patted her sister’s shoulder.

“There, there.”

Kristina shrugged her sister’s hand off. “If you’re just going to be sarcastic about it,” she hissed. “I don’t need you!”

“Well, it wasn’t my idea to come over here!” Molly shot back. “You’re not the only one who’s been through a lot the last few weeks!”

“One of us went through a window and fell three stories!” Kristina retorted hotly. She sprang to her feet. “I’m being charged with attempted murder—”

“Okay, and Mom’s going to get this dismissed—” Molly looked at her mother. “Right?”

“The odds of this making it to trial, Kristina,” Alexis began, but Kristina rolled her eyes.

“I know, I know, Cates is just trying to aggravate Dad into doing something he can be arrested for, but it still isn’t fair that I’m going through this! First the window, and then Blaze left town—”

“You told her to go,” came Molly’s irritated mutter, accompanied by a roll of her eyes, but Kristina either ignored or didn’t hear it because she just kept going. “And Cates arrests me before I can even get out of the hospital—he arrested me before we could even have a funeral! I didn’t even get to put my daughter in the ground—” She closed her mouth, looked at her sister who had gone stony silent.

Alexis flinched when Kristina had said my daughter. “Molly, she didn’t mean it the way it sounded—”

“You know what? You don’t need me for this.” Molly snatched up her bag, started for the door, then whirled around to glare at her sister. “And for the record, Kristina, the world doesn’t revolve around you. Because on the day we buried my daughter, Irene, I had to watch my selfish sister suck up all the oxygen in the room. But you’ve been doing that since the day you were born, why should now be any different?”

Alexis winced when Molly slammed the door so hard, glass rattled in the windows. Kristina turned back to her mother with a scowl. “Well, now that she’s gone, maybe we can actually get somewhere.

I have never wanted a drink more than I do right now, Alexis thought, but took a deep breath. “All right, let’s start from the top.”

Quartermaine Estate: Kitchen

“Oh, thank you so much—” Sasha Corbin smiled brightly when Jason set down the sangria and Elizabeth unloaded her thermal bag. “There’s so many people here—I need all the extra food and drink I can get.”

“Emphasis on the drink,” Elizabeth said with a smirk and Sasha laughed. Elizabeth looked at Jason. “Now, are you going to try and have some fun or should I give up on that now?”

“Fun? At the Quartermaines?” Jason shook his head, but he had a slight smile. “I suppose anything is possible.”

| You’re Not Sorry – Part 2 →