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Cassadine TNG 18

7:30am Breakfast at home– mass chore day getting everything ready for the week. Review the house books with Baba.
2 pm George and Bess’ wedding simulcast.
5 pm basketball game
8:30 Restaurant review for Mona– take Frankie to this one .
Midnight home and asleep.

The email had gone out to everyone. The wedding is going to be simulcast and had it’s own web address so that everyone cross country could watch the nuptials even if they couldn’t be there. Cole had made the executive decision to close Jake’s and offer it as an all age private party starting half an hour before the wedding would start about 5pm east coast time. Then everyone in Port Charles could see the wedding on the bar’s big screen. All the parents from Mayday, all the kids, teachers from Port Charles High. Principal Reynolds. Casey Marcos. Dara Jensen, Gia Campbell. Edward, Tracy and the staff of the Quartermaine mansion are all there. The CSMC– Port Charles office is there including Mouse. It’s an interesting mix of people. Edward and Tracy don’t know either the bride or groom really but Chandy would be playing there and many people in attendance are related to them. Alice had picked up a sheet cake from Costco and Cole had put in an order for a case of champagne and a case of good sparking cider the day before.

In Boston, Twink is at the CMCS waterfront building with Tori, Paul and Alecia as well as all the interns and any artists that might be in the building at the time. The greek place downstairs is going to cater a little something. The people Bess works with at the symphony are there as are neighbors and friends of the couple.

In LA, the party is over at Dillon Quartermaines’ place. He has the media room in the west wing where he normally does screenings and movie night. Fancy, Baba, Stefan, and Frankie all make their way over. Stefan had almost offered to stay home but decided that it would be interesting. The CSMC–LA crew that isn’t working is there including Mona who’d drug Edwards to it. Edwards had put up a bit of a fuss seeing as how he has a game today but hell at least he wasn’t actually at the wedding with her. Nothing spelled the death to a casual relationship like a date to a wedding.

The wedding projection starts about fifteen minutes early as the guests are seated. There are cameras all over the room but they are discreet with excellent zooms on them. Nobody would be rushing the bride to get a picture of her coming down the aisle. And the way the camera is set up there are pictures of everyone as they come down the aisle to take their seats. The provided pianist keeps music playing in the background. Then once everyone is seated the balance of Mayday take their places over by the pianist. Chandy gives her a smile as she eases onto the bench. The call had been made over the course of the all night rehearsal. Stanley would sing A time for us and then once he’d finished they’d go instrumental as Bess came down the aisle. That would allow Stanley to push the power and if she wasn’t totally surprised get the tears going before Bess ever came down the aisle. As soon as George is standing by the altar by the minister, Stanley begins low and slow his tenor voice easily filling the hotel chapel...

A time for us, some day there'll be
When chains are torn by courage born of a love that's free
A time when dreams so long denied
Can flourish as we unveil the love we no longer hide

A time for us, at last to see
A life worthwhile for you and me

And with our love, through tears and thorns
We will endure as we pass surely through every storm
A time for us, some day there'll be a new world
A world of shining hope for you and me

For you and me

And with our love, through tears and thorns
We will endure as we pass surely through every storm
A time for us, some day there'll be a new world
A world of shining hope for you and me

A world of shining hope for you and me...*

>>OMG, OMG! Did you know he could do that? Twink texts Fancy out in LA.

>>I’m a mess. If he asked me to marry him right now, I’d so totally do it. Fancy texts back to Boston. I had no idea. He never said anything. Alecia must be freaking out.

>>O she’s cursing. There is no way this can go on a Mayday album. It’s a different style. But you know she totally wants him too.

>>There’s Bess. She looks so beautiful. And George looks like he’s ten feet tall. Fancy comments.

There is a silence in the texting back and forth as both of the girls watch the ceremony. Only after the kiss at the end of the ceremony does the texting start up again.

>>Who do you think is going to catch the bouquet? Fancy texts.

>>There are only two single women there: Baby and Chandy. Oh you think Uncle Cole has realized that yet?

>>To be in Port Charles right now. Uncle Stefan and Baba just realized. If you could see the looks on their faces. Fancy figures what the hell and takes a quick picture with her phone of the people at the party there in LA.

>>I wonder if Hill has her phone with her. I’m going to text her. I’ll call you later.

>>If she sends pictures I want.

>>Deal.

The attendant at the spa had the web address of the simulcast and had recorded it. Then with a quick phone call to TMZ she makes her bonus for the month plus. Winter is kind of the slow time, she rationalizes to herself.

Meanwhile at the Boston Party, Alecia knows there is no way that this is going to be on a Mayday album. It might work as an encore, live only... going acoustic to bring Stanley out from behind the drum set and depending on the crowd. She makes eye contact with one of the interns who, because it is what he does, made sure that there had been an excellent recording of the ceremony. She makes her way over. “You got it?”

“Oh yeah.” The intern nods.

“You Tube now– just the performance not the vows. Get it out there along with an announcement of George’s wedding on the band website– no presents please-- charitable donation in their names to the Save The Music Foundation or best wishes only. None of the Mayday fans are going to be surprised. George has always bragged on Bess in every interview. This is going to totally change the way fans look at Stanley.”

“Is that a good thing?”

Alecia bites the inside of her cheek as she considers the question. “We’re going to be going into the third album after the tour... yeah, it’s the right time. Damn. Not just Stan– did you know that John played the mandolin?”

“If it has strings the guy plays it.” The intern counters.

“Good point. Get going!” Alecia puts him back to work. Mayday had fought against doing solo projects but maybe they needed to be adding to a few other artists albums and not just in the mixing booth. It would be a way to get their talents out there and hopefully not mess with the chemistry. Especially Stanley, maybe with a female solo artist... a duet there. Maybe something on a soundtrack.

Up in Port Charles at Jakes the corks have been popped and everyone has a glasses filled for toasts. It’s an all age party from Jimmy and Rafe at 12 to Edward, older than dirt. And it does get a little silly with the toasts especially with the kids involved. Some of them are old enough to know that the beverage they are getting is non-alcoholic but that some of the adults have the hard stuff. And they continue to make toasts to everyone including Bess and George’s dogs in Boston for the pure pleasure of seeing the adults acting silly.

Mr and Mrs Reynolds (nee Parker) are as proud as parents themselves. George had graduated from his high school and her music program. And Stanley... oh Stanley. He hadn’t taken anything away from the bride but that had been memorable and hit a lot of elders right where they lived. They remembered that song before it had become muzak and Mayday had managed to bring it back.

Skye is hanging with Dara, Gia and Casey Marcos. They are keeping half an eye on the younger kids but Skye had already sicced her boys on them to keep them in line, if that wasn’t fox running the chicken house. They’d teach them a few things that is for sure. She has to wonder whose car is going to be decorated because they can’t get to Bess and George’s. Cole comes over and running the back of one finger up his wife’s neck til she tilts her head back gives her a quick smooch. Skye grins at him. “You going to get them on the Jukebox?”

“Hell yeah. Not that many slow songs get played around here. But definitely.” He tops off the other ladies champagne flutes and drops off Skye’s beverage with a separate bottle he is carrying. “We’re going to have to have some cake around here before the kids get the adults totally snockered. Nothing worse than a champagne hangover.” Cole moves on to the next table. This one has a bunch of giggle girls of which only one is his although he’d claimed uncle status on the others: Hill, Elena and Mariah. “Hill, put that thing up or I’ll put it up for you.”

Hill of course protests. “Daddy Cole, it’s Twink in Boston. She just wants to know how the party is going here. She and Fancy were texting right before the wedding. Fancy has pictures of the party out in LA. Twink is going to get some of Boston.”

“Another reason to put that up. Go talk to your mother and see if she has her camera out in the car. You can get a few pictures of the party.”

Hill texts a quick TTYL and shuts down her phone.

In Las Vegas, the wedding party has moved from the chapel to the restaurant. Both Chandy and Baby are familiar with the way restaurants work. They are there early enough that the place can handle the extra party of 20ish without problems. Baby has a quick conversation with the maitre d’ to make sure that everything is in place. At precisely 4pm the doors to the restaurant would be closed and a sign posted that a private party was in going on. This would give them time to enjoy the chef’s meal without interruption. Anyone seated at 4pm would be part of the party when the champagne and cake are served. The cake Anders had ordered at Freed’s would be for the wedding party but everyone else in the restaurant would be having a Freed’s sheet cake as well but it would be a cut back in the kitchen.

This early the people in the restaurant are early bird seniors for the most part. Maybe a few couples and groups taking advantage of the less expensive lunch menu before the true dinner service started at 5:30. As soon as the doors are shut and the sign posted the servers start going round to the tables and letting their customers know what is going on offering champagne or sparkling water and a slice of cake.

“This is lovely!” A blue haired woman from des Moines exclaims. “Who is it? Is it anyone we’d know?”

“The bride is a cello player with the Boston Philharmonic and the groom is part of the headliner group from House of Blues last night– Mayday. You probably saw their poster in the lobby. Their label, CSMC, is providing the cake and champagne.” The server lets the older woman know in a low voice as she pours the beverages for the table.

“CSMC!” The woman repeats to her friends. “They run the senior center over at Woodland Hills. They bought the golf course and the club house and redid everything. Marv says that Pavel Radcliffe, the golfer, is going to be holding clinics there come spring. This is very exciting!”

The servers keep moving making sure that everyone has their flutes and their beverage of choice.

At the Maitre d’ go ahead nod, Kristina makes her way to a slightly raised dias and takes a microphone. “Good afternoon everyone. I want to thank you all for being here to celebrate our friends’ wedding. I know this is short notice but since he proposed yesterday...”

“On the PHONE.” Stanley yells out for everyone to hear. There is some hooting and applause at that.

“... You didn’t have much more notice than we did.” Kristina says wryly. She raises her flute. “George, I’ve known you since high school, Bess not long after that. You two have always been an inspiration. To George and Bess, health and happiness. May you be as happy twenty no, fifty years from now as you are today.” She takes a sip of the champagne and holds the glass aloft again.

The party at Dillon’s place would be going on longer for sure as all the CSMC- LA celebrate the nuptials but there are a few who had cut out early. Mona and Edwards because he has a game tonight and then Fancy, Frankie and Bic... because Edwards has a game tonight. Frankie and Bic had a few so Fancy drives them all to the Staples center for the game. They’d had to drive through a circle of paps at Dillon’s gate. Somehow they’d found out there was a party going on. But more specific they’d found out what the party was for which had Frankie swearing and getting on his cell to Mouse and then to Baba too to let her know it isn’t going to be easy getting out of Dillon’s house and that she and Stefan might want to have someone else drive them.

“How did they get it so fast?” Fancy glances over to Frankie and then in the rear view to Bic. She is careful to keep both hands on the wheel and the car in low gear but she doesn’t stop. If she does then they’ll be surrounded and unable to get started again.

“How do they get anything?” Bic shrugs. “They got a tip. Having a party for no reason in this town? No such thing. It would have gotten them digging.”

“They probably figure it’s Chandy and Anders.” Frankie suggests with a shrug as he re-pockets his cell. “That one has been on the rumor mill since Mayday moved to Boston. Looks like Mona and Edwards must have gotten out of here just at the right time.

As soon as they are clear, none of the photogs follow them. “Whew,” Fancy looks in the rear view. “I guess that means we’re the small fish tonight.”

“Not particularly.” Bic says wryly. “They just know where to find us later.”

After the game, it’s time to try a new restaurant. It’s as close as you get to Kelly’s without calling it the Peach pit. It’s an actual diner and not kitschy. The person behind the counter is a waitress not an actor. The man who can be seen through the window to the kitchen is a cook not a chef but the food is definitely 4 star in her opinion. “I think I’m having a religious experience.” Fancy murmurs. “This is soooo good.”

“It’s a good thing you have a metabolism that can handle this. You know one day you’re going to have to eat right.” Frankie warns but it doesn’t stop him from digging into the chili burger in front of him. “Baby tell the story of how Penny and Nikolas met over a pattymelt at Kelly’s?”

“No matter how hard Baba, Stefan and Baby try with all the good food. You know the best stories are always told over junk food. If it isn’t Penny, the pattymelt and a lottery ticket or Stefan and a bowl of Ruby’s chili then it’s Bruno and his adventures with the counter girl at Baskin and Robbins. And I do eat right most of the time.” Fancy contemplates the plate in front of her. Really it isn’t so bad a grilled cheese and a bowl of tomato soup. But the grilled cheese is perfect-- thick and gooey with cheese and the bread grilled just right. And the tomato soup has homemade croutons floating in it. This is good. “Frankie, try one of these croutons.” Fancy fishes one out and offers it to her bodyguard.

He takes the bite and frowns. “It has cheese in it too?”

“Baba and Baby have been getting on me that I need to start my own collection of recipes rather than To go menus. I think I’m ready to start.” Fancy looks at the waitress waiting for her to get back to the counter. “Hi, is the cook bribable and did he make the croutons?”

The waitress had been expecting a request for a couple glasses of water so she’s caught off guard. “Yes, he made the croutons and I don’t know about the bribable.”

Fancy reaches into her purse and pulls out her notebook. It’s a quick one line message. “Do you give cooking lessons?” She tears it off and hands it to the waitress. “Could you give this to him.”

“You going to tell Mona about this place?”

“Oh yeah, but I haven’t figure out quite how to phrase it. This is definitely niche food when nothing else is going to satisfy.”

Mona is up at 3am because of a little problem down in Florida. She handles it from the eat in dining room table of her apartment with her laptop and phones forwarded from the office. “Okay, honey, you don’t worry about anything now. Mona’s on it. Did the doctor say you could be released today?... Okay and you need to be in Atlanta by afternoon today.” Mona calls up the internal CSMC employee reference to see what he’s got going on. His is bare bones. Mouse might have more than basics but she’s got what she’s got. “There is absolutely no way you should be driving. You might have a concussion. I’m going to get some things lined up. I’ll be in contact... you just do what the doctor tells you. I’ll handle the rest.” She hangs up and then starts checking resources in the guy’s area. “Okay that would work.” She makes a quick phone call.

“Do you know what freaking time it is?” The person answer the phone on a Monday morning at 6am is not amused.

“Is this Lisa Pappas?”

“Yeah, who is this?”

“My name is Mona Dupree. I work for CSMC.”

“Is my brother okay?! My mom?!” Lisa recognizes the phone number now on the caller ID as the CSMC emergency line.

“They’re fine. I’m sorry I worried you. One of the guys based out of CSMC-Miami was driving to Atlanta and got into a car accident. He was taken to a hospital there in Gainesville. He says he needs to be in Atlanta this afternoon.”

“And this is my problem why?”

“I just thought you might be interested in making some money for two days work? He sounded like he has a concussion and shouldn’t be driving. He’s at the North Florida Regional Medical center– ER. He thinks he’s going to be released this morning. I think he’s concussed. Atlanta is what-- a six hour drive from where you are?”

“Yeah, if you hit the traffic right. This guy isn’t going to doing anything hinky is he? Last thing I want is for me to drive him up there if he’s going to be doing something I’m going to be an accessory to.” Lisa is already sitting up and glancing at the clock again. Six thirty freaking AM on a Monday morning. If the guy wasn’t already concussed she’d concuss him herself.

“I would have called someone else if that had been the case.” Mona says reassuringly.

“Dumb ass was probably trying to make good time doing that macho man 2am roadtrip bull ****. Never mind that the only people on the roads are drunk or hopped up truckers.”

“Probably.” Mona agrees with a grin. “You in?”

“Yeah, I’m in. I’ve got a car if you’ll reimburse for mileage.”

“Same rate as a rental car.” Mona figures that is fair. “I’m going to email you the particulars and a picture of the guy.”

“Might be helpful if I knew his name.”

“Oh right, sorry, his name is Morgan Benson.”

“I’ll give you a call when the meter starts running.” Lisa closes the call. They hadn’t really discussed what she was going to be getting paid for this little road trip but since it’s CSMC she knows it will be fair and she isn’t going to worry about it. And maybe if they got on the road sometime soon she’d still be home by late tonight. If she had to spend the night in HOT-lanta wouldn’t hurt her feelings any either. She jumps in the shower, gets dressed for the trip and packs an overnight bag. Next step check her email and get a picture of the guy. “Oh wow. He was probably on his way to a fashion shoot.” The guy is smoking hot even in what looked like a passport picture. “Maybe this won’t be so bad after all.” Printing off the picture and email as proof that Mona sent her, Lisa grabs her bag and heads out to her car.

The trip to the hospital doesn’t take long, it’s basically autopilot for her car. She worked per diem as a nurse at the regional medical center. Her mother and brother would rather that she went full time. She’d rather have the option of making tons of money and being able to take off when she felt like it. She’d do some Cat 5 work to justify it to herself and balance her karma for the times she took off to party on a beach complete with sun block and a drink with an umbrella. She’d finished with a 4.0 on her last two years of college and aced her clinicals; they could just let her be.

“Hey Lisa, I didn’t know you were working today.” The receptionist at the ER greets her as she walks up to the counter.

“Oh I’m not so don’t let anyone know I’m here. I’m just here to give one of your patients a lift. Morgan Benson?”

The receptionist makes a little thumping motion against her smock top over her heart. “Shame he’s got the disposition of a thorn lamed bear.”

“You guys were supposed to take care of that.” Lisa jokes. “He back there?”

“Cube three. Waiting for test results and then he’ll get the all clear.”

“Thanks.” Lisa Pappas makes her way back. The guy is sitting on the bed and she can tell he’s already impatient to be on his way. Men. “I’m Lisa. Mona sent me to drive you to Atlanta.”

“About time you showed up.” Morgan grumbles. “We’re out of here.”

“No, we’re really not. They may never see you again but I have to back here on Wednesday from 3-11.” Lisa takes a seat by the bed and stretches her legs out. “So were you drunk, asleep or hit by someone who was drunk or asleep.”

“Hit by someone who was.” Morgan grudgingly admits.

“If this takes long enough we could probably check on your car before heading out.”

“Are you one of those life and lemonade people?” Morgan asks suspiciously. He gets enough of that from his grandmother, Bobbie Spencer. It’s tolerable in short doses only. Contemplating a 6 hour car trip with one is horrifying.

“Not so much.” Lisa shrugs. “More of a use your head and save your feet as long as we’re going with the cliches. You?”

“Whatever can go wrong– will.”

Lisa nods. “Piss poor planning on your part doesn’t constitute an emergency on mine.”

“What goes around, comes around.”

The doctor is already talking when he comes into the cube. “Okay, Mr Benson. The test results look fine and we’ll be able to get you out of here. Lisa?”

“Hello doctor. I just couldn’t stay away. Standard precautions for Mr Benson?”

“You’ll be staying with him for the next 24 hours?”

“At least 6. I’ll make sure that it’s covered.” Lisa nods.

“No problem then. Here you go.” He rips off the directions and hands them to Lisa. “You’re in good hands, Mr Benson.” He moves on to his next patient.

“You wanted to leave?” Lisa quirks a brow as she gets to her feet. She walks him through the process of paying his bill and within minutes they are at her car and she is on the phone. “Hey Mona. Start the clock. Where did this guy’s car end up and are they open yet?”

* Johnny Mathis version with one word change

just to hear the song... cause you know you've heard it before.