The Other Kind of Sex

Considering the Possibilities, a slashfic in four parts

Rating: NC-17 for graphic male-male sex

Pairings: AJ Quartermaine/Nikolas Cassadine, Juan Santiago/Lucky Spencer, Mac Scorpio/Stefan Cassadine, Jason Morgan/Sonny Corinthos, Ned Ashton/Jasper Jacks, Marcus Taggert/Alex Garcia, Cesar Faison/you'll see

Disclaimer: "General Hospital," with its related characters and themes, does not belong to me. I make no money from this venture.

Dedication: This slashfic is for Anders Hovre and Ewan McGregor.

Wherein Jax gets an earful, Jax gets a knee in his groin, and Jax doesn't get what he wants. Wherein Emily squeaks; Juan growls; and Nikolas purrs. Wherein Mac can't find his gun; wealthy Europeans read Twain; and The Monkees turn out to be a hit in Puerto Rico.

Notice: I was in the middle of writing when Carly lost Sonny's baby in May of 2000. This slashfic assumes that she never miscarried. The Nikolas Cassadine of this fiction is Tyler Christopher's character.

Be aware that this story will explore a sexual relationship between Juan and Lucky. Juan is seventeen years old; Lucky is eighteen.

"Considering the Possibilities" Part Two: The Other Kind of Sex; or, Maybe It's Something in the Water

Fingers tapped Juan's chin.

Juan twitched.

Emily giggled.

A fingertip stroked Juan's nose.

Juan twitched.

Emily giggled.

"What's he doing?" Elizabeth whispered.

"Nothing indecent," Nikolas whispered back.

Blue eyes scanned the theater. The lights had come up but were still dim, and the door closed behind the last patron. He had seconds before the ushers came. He took his chance and, putting a hand over Emily's eyes, lowered his head, licking across Juan's lips, sliding inside Juan's mouth. He put a hand between Juan and the seat, on the small of Juan's back, feeling Juan's body lift toward him as Juan started to kiss him in return.

He heard the door open and straightened.

"Damn," Juan said.

"What did I miss?" Emily demanded. "What did I miss?"

Nikolas removed his hand from Elizabeth's eyes. "What happened?" she asked. "What was it?"

"Lucky kissed him," Nikolas said.

"And I missed it?!" Emily demanded.

"I fell asleep?" Juan asked.

"In a movie theater," Elizabeth said. "How can you sleep through all of that noise?"

"What movie was it?" Juan asked.

"We'd better go," Lucky said, "before the usher throws us out of here."

"You owe me a kiss," Emily said. "Next time I get to watch."

"Why does Nikolas get to watch?" Elizabeth asked.

"Nikolas was watching?" Juan asked.

"Took pictures and everything," Nikolas said.

"Just because you're older," Emily said. "And a guy. And European. That's not fair. I'm watching next time." The five of them filed out of the theater. Juan liked remembering the feel of it, waking up to a tongue pushing between his lips, coming awake - - coming alive - - under Lucky's kiss. He figured it was okay that Nikolas saw, if Nikolas had looked. He wasn't into live sex shows or anything, but he was okay with small PDAs. Not that tongue-kissing was really a small PDA.

And Emily was way too interested in watching them kiss.

Maybe if she saw it once, her curiosity would be satisfied.

They left the theater and went to Emily's house. Emily got Nikolas to tell her what had happened at the board meeting. She said that Edward and Ned had been asking her about him for days, and she wanted to know what he'd done. Nikolas was at first reluctant to tell, but did at her insistence. They all loved it. Edward Quartermaine getting any comeuppance, no matter how small, was sweet, and from a nineteen-year-old Cassadine? Too sweet.

Nikolas wasn't pleased that Edward and Ned saw fit to ask into his affairs. He decided to warn Stefan.

The four of them stood to leave, but Emily said that she wanted to see a kiss, just one.

"You're sure," Lucky said.

"Yes. Just one."

"You want to go?" he asked Elizabeth.

"I...think I'll stay," she said, a little uncertain.

"You want to go?" Juan asked Nikolas.

"Everyone else is staying," Nikolas said.

"This isn't going to be spectacular or anything," Juan said.

"I'll be the judge of that," Lucky said. His hands crept up Juan's neck; he leaned in close. Juan's hands rested on his sides. Juan's eyes closed; Lucky kissed Juan, eyes closing, lips parting. He kept his tongue to himself, and so did Juan, and as soon as it had begun it ended; they stepped back, eyes opening, hands releasing.

"More," Emily breathed, eyes on Juan's mouth.

"You said just one," Lucky said.

"No, no, more," she said, nudging him back to Juan. So he kissed Juan again. When his tongue slid into Juan's mouth he heard Emily gasp. Juan's arms were around his neck; he flirted with Juan's tongue until Juan made the cutest, tiniest growling sound and tongue-fucked his mouth until his knees almost buckled. He sucked hard, to make Juan stop, and Juan was pressed against him like they were trying to share skin, and he remembered that they had an audience. He very carefully pulled back from Juan, licking his own lips this time, opening his eyes.

Elizabeth's jaw was on the floor. Emily was practically drooling. Nikolas wasn't blinking.

"Sorry," Juan said.

"You wanted more," Lucky reminded Emily.

"She got it," Nikolas said.

"Wow," Emily said. "Wow. Wow. Can I have him back?"

"No," Lucky said. "Are you guys okay?"

"Yes," Emily said. "I am very okay. You're sure I can't borrow him? Just for like five minutes? Ten?"

Elizabeth, without taking her eyes from Lucky and Juan, reached for Emily's arm. "Make them do it again."

"Again?" Nikolas asked.

"I want to hear that sound again. I like that sound," Elizabeth said.

"Sound?" Lucky asked. "We're noisy?"

"That noise Juan makes," Nikolas said.

"He never made it for me," Emily pouted.

"I make a sound?" Juan asked.

"Just kiss him once more," Emily pleaded.

"No," Lucky said. "No way."

"I'll kiss him," Emily suggested.

"I'll kiss him," Elizabeth said.

"Don't you even think it," Lucky told Nikolas.

"My odd noises and I are going to go now," Juan said. "See you guys later."

When Nikolas got home, he told Stefan that Edward and Ned were expressing an interest. Stefan told him in return that Jax was looking into their investments.

"AJ is making a name for himself," Stefan said. "He's working with some high-profile names and handling large sums. People recognize his name, see that he's working for us, and are raising eyebrows. Edward Quartermaine must be realizing how short-sighted and foolish he was to underestimate AJ."

"It must kill Edward to have a Quartermaine known to be working for someone else."

"Rumors has it that AJ's working for us as part of an ELQ espionage program, trying to get insider information on the estate."

"He isn't," Nikolas was quick to say.

"Of course he isn't," Stefan said. "But Edward may ask him to."

"He won't do it," Nikolas said.

"I've trusted him thus far, and he's given me no reason to doubt him," Stefan said.

That meant a lot, coming from Stefan's mouth, but it didn't mean that AJ was free and clear. Stefan would be watching AJ closely, and Nikolas knew it. Nikolas believed that AJ was loyal, but he also knew how much Edward's opinion meant to AJ. He didn't think that AJ would sell him out for Edward's praise, but Edward was a manipulative man. Anything could happen.

He wondered what it looked like when he kissed AJ. He wondered if he made noises when he kissed.

He spent all day Friday at L&B. Ned came by, under the guise of L&B business. Nikolas liked Ned, respected Ned as a person and as a businessman. Ned of course had no idea that Nikolas and AJ had been lovers.

Ned tried to ask about AJ under the guise of concern for a family member. Then Ned dropped that pretense and tried the fellow businessman approach. Ned had been reared for the upper-class, but he had nothing on Nikolas, who politely and cheerfully parried each question and managed to say absolutely nothing. Frustrated, Ned left.

When Nikolas went home, he had dinner with Stefan. Then he waited in the library until he heard AJ come home. Stefan called him in to attend while Stefan and AJ discussed business. When they finished, he told AJ about Ned's visit.

"Well, if you're worried about my loyalties," AJ said, "I'm sure that you both can understand when I say that I'd sell out my grandfather in a heartbeat."

"I don't have the time nor the inclination to engage in petty squabbles with the local corporate executives," Stefan said. "Please advise your grandfather and Mr. Jacks that they are wasting their efforts."

"Gladly," AJ said.

Saturday morning, AJ knew from experience, Ned and Jax would both be at the Quartermaine mansion, Jax having spent the night. He rose early and went over there. He found everyone at the breakfast bar: Edward, Alan, Emily, Ned, and Jax.

"Good morning, AJ," Edward said warmly. "Won't you have a croissant?"

"No thanks," AJ said. "I won't stay long. I have an appointment to take Michael to the zoo with Jason."

"Michael?" Edward asked.

"Jason?" Alan asked.

AJ smirked. Emily hugged him. Yes, he was actually on good terms with the prodigal son, and he was reclaiming the Quartermaine heir. But he didn't care about that; he just wanted his son back, and he wanted his brother back, because he loved them, not because it was good for ELQ, not because his grandfather or father wanted it.

"Well, that's wonderful," Edward said. "Won't you bring little Michael here to visit his family?"

"No," AJ said. "I'm here on business."

"I hear that business is going quite well for you," Ned said.

"I always knew that you had it in you," Edward said, "if you'd toughen up and put yourself into it. Now-"

"I work for Stefan Cassadine," AJ said. "I work for Nikolas Cassadine. I cut deals and manage accounts and handle portfolios for them. I am not interested in ever working for ELQ. I am not interested in ever working for you again." He turned to Jax. "You're wasting your time. You're wasting my time."

Emily squeezed him and kissed his cheek. Edward was trying to argue. "You want to come with me and Michael and Jason?" AJ asked Emily.

"Yes!" she exclaimed. "Let's go."

"Now, AJ-"

"Good-bye, Grandfather. Oh, and Jax?" He leaned in close and whispered, "You think you're sore after Ned fucks you? Just try messing with me." He took Emily's hand and left.

"What did he say to you?" Edward demanded.

"How much do you know about Stefan Cassadine?" Jax asked Ned.

"What do you mean?"

"His personal life."

"He has awful taste in women. Katherine, of course. He was obsessed with Laura Spencer, but she'd never leave Luke. He married Bobbie Spencer. Why?"

"So he's..."

"He's what? Oh. As far as I know. Why?"

"What about your cousin?"

Ned choked on his coffee. "What?"

"Is it possible?"

Ned lowered his voice. "AJ and Stefan?"

Jax nodded.

"God, Jax, it's too early in the morning for this."

"Is it possible?"

"Anything's possible. You think AJ's gay? What did he say to you?"

Jax told him. Ned laughed.

Juan and Lucky were walking from school. "Do I really make noise when I kiss?"

"I think what they meant is that one little sound you make when you get frustrated," Lucky said. "It's this tiny growl in the back of your throat."

"I growl?" Juan asked.

"I don't know how you do it but it shoots right down into my - - never mind."

"Okay." Juan grinned. "So can you show me sometime? Kiss me and make me growl?"

"You don't have to ask me twice," Lucky said. "As long as we can find somewhere to do it."

"Think Sonny'd let us use his place?"

"No."

"What about Johnny?"

"Johnny?" Lucky asked. "You want to ask your biological mother's widower's bodyguard if you can make out in his apartment?"

"Yeah," Juan said. "It's worth a shot."

So they went to the penthouse. When they got off the elevator, Juan said, "Hey, Johnny, you got a minute?"

"What can I do for you?"

"We need privacy," Juan said. "But I don't want to ask Sonny."

"Privacy," Johnny said.

"Right. There's something we want to do, but we don't have any place to do it."

"What is it?" Johnny asked.

"It's not drugs or anything," Lucky said.

"Could we use your apartment?" Juan asked.

"You have homes of your own," Johnny reminded them.

"Yeah, but I live with Taggert, and Bobbie's right there, and Lucas. And Lucky's got his mom and his little sister, and his grandmother... Not a lot of privacy there."

"Tell you what," Johnny said. "You ask Mr. Corinthos. If he says it's okay, you can use my apartment, whenever you want, and I'll keep you from being bothered."

"Just ask Sonny," Juan said in disbelief.

"Okay," Lucky said. "Is he here?"

"Are you nuts?" Juan asked Lucky.

"Just ask him," Lucky said.

"Mr. Corinthos isn't here, but Mr. Morgan is," Johnny said. "If he okays it, it's fine with me."

Johnny announced them. "You might as well stay and listen," Juan told Johnny, so they congregated in the open doorway. "Um, Lucky and I need privacy to do something, and Johnny says we can use his apartment if it's okay with you."

"Privacy," Jason said. He exchanged a glance with Johnny. "For sex?"

"No!" Juan said. "No, not, not that kind of sex."

"The other kind?" Jason asked.

"There's another kind?" Lucky asked Juan. "Kids these days," he told Johnny.

"Not sex," Juan told Jason. "Just to spend time together, and kiss, and be together. Not actually...sex. It's a small, crowded town. It's hard to get privacy at home. But here, you have nice doors that lock, and a guard, and you could really easily keep the kids from walking in on us. I'm not saying we'd be over at Johnny's apartment every day all day, just sometimes, you know, if he doesn't need it."

"Okay," Jason said. "No sex," he said firmly. "If Johnny and Francis agree, then it's okay. I'll tell Sonny. You go ask Francis."

"He's here?" Juan asked.

"He's sleeping," Johnny said. "Come on," and he went down the hallway. He unlocked the door. In the darkness, Johnny walked unerringly to the sofa, which Juan could make out from the light in the hallway. Francis slept on the sofa? There was a murmur, a rustle, and a click as Johnny turned on a lamp.

Francis was on the sofa, beneath a blanket, in a T-shirt, cheeks graced with blonde stubble. He rubbed one eye and set his gun beneath his pillow again.

"Juan and Lucky want to use our apartment for not sex," Johnny said.

"Our apartment?" Francis asked. "What's not sex?"

"Kissing and spending time together."

"Does Sonny know about this?"

"Jason's going to tell him."

"Jason thinks that Sonny's going to be okay with Juan making out whenever he wants to?" Francis asked. "If it's okay with everybody else, it's okay with me, as long as it's not while I'm trying to sleep."

"Sorry. Go back to sleep."

"Thanks, Francis," Juan said. Johnny turned out the light and left, locking the door. "So as long as Sonny says okay, it's okay?"

"Yes," Johnny said. "Now let me do my job."

"Sorry. Thanks, Johnny." Juan went to the elevator. As soon as the doors shut, he turned to Lucky. "Did you see that?"

"See what?"

"Francis sleeps on the sofa."

"I saw that."

"I thought that they were together."

"I thought so, too."

"I was sure they were together."

"Me, too."

'Maybe they're having a fight."

"People who are fighting don't act like that."

"Then why is he on the sofa?"

"Ask him."

"Hey, I'm the one who humiliated myself in front of Jason. It's your turn."

They went back to the penthouse the next evening. When they saw Johnny, Juan poked Lucky. Lucky said, "Hey, Johnny. Does Francis always sleep on the sofa?"

"No," Johnny said.

Juan poked Lucky again.

"You two are lovers, aren't you?"

"Yes," Johnny said.

"You ask," Lucky told Juan.

"No way," Juan said. "Johnny's a really nice guy, but he has a gun. Is Sonny here?"

Johnny smiled and announced them. Sonny walked over to them, shirt sleeves rolled up, daughter on one arm. AJ was there, sitting on the sofa with Michael and Jason. "Hi, everybody," Juan said, flashing a nervous smile.

Sonny looked at them darkly, handed Corintha to Jason, and took Juan and Lucky over by the window. "Jason says you want to make out in Johnny and Francis' apartment."

"Yes sir," Juan said.

"Okay. You know what sex is?"

"Yes," Juan said.

"Don't do it. Go away; I want to talk to Lucky."

"Okay." Juan went to the sofa but kept his eyes on the windows. Sonny was talking too quietly for him to hear, but Sonny was definitely pointing in his direction. Lucky was agreeing with everything that Sonny said and nodding respectfully. There was a series of questions and nods, then Sonny nodded himself and let Lucky go.

Juan didn't know what to say to AJ. He knew that Nikolas and AJ hadn't been together for a while now. He knew that Nikolas really missed AJ, but he didn't know why they'd broken up in the first place. Something must have happened after dinner at the Quartermaines. Did AJ know about Sonny and Jason? Did Jason know that AJ'd been with Nikolas? Did AJ care about Nikolas anymore?

And what was with Johnny and Francis? It was none of his business, but it was driving him crazy. He couldn't come up with a plausible explanation.

When Jason was at the opposite end of the room from AJ, Juan asked, "Does AJ know that you and Sonny are together?"

"I don't know," Jason said. "AJ?"

"Yeah?" AJ asked, looking up from Michael's book.

"Do you know that Sonny and I are together?"

"Do I know that you and Sonny are lovers?" AJ clarified. "Yeah."

Jason flashed Juan a smile.

"It's that easy?" Juan asked. "You just...tell people?"

"Not just anybody," Jason said. "But who cares if I'm sleeping with Sonny? It doesn't affect anybody except me and Sonny, and Michael and Corintha."

"And Carly," AJ said.

"All Carly ever wanted was Michael," Jason said. "And now Corintha. And she has them."

"She wanted you," AJ corrected. "And she didn't get you."

"What about you?" Sonny asked.

"Me?" AJ asked.

"You," Sonny agreed, waiting.

"I don't want Carly."

"I haven't seen you with anybody, I haven't heard you mention anybody. But you're walking around like you're pining for somebody you can't have."

"I did have somebody," AJ said. "Not anymore."

"Somebody," Sonny said. "You mean a guy."

"What'd you do to him?" Lucky asked.

"It's Nikolas," Jason said.

"Nikolas," Sonny said. "Nikolas Cassadine?" His voice was laced through with shock.

"How'd you know?" AJ asked Jason.

"I've talked to you."

When AJ got back to Windemere, in the mail waiting for him he found an invitation to dinner at the Quartermaine mansion. He walked up to his room. Maybe he should go to the dinner. See what Edward was up to. The invitation included a guest. He considered taking Michael, but didn't want to subject Michael to a Quartermaine family dinner. He considered inviting Jason, but that wasn't fair to anyone, least of all to Jason. He decided not to invite Jason simply because it crossed his mind that Jason might accept.

"You look thoughtful."

"Grandfather invited me to dinner. Tomorrow night. Me and a guest."

"Whom are you taking?" Nikolas was drifting into the room, towards him.

Maybe if he held still, Nikolas would come close. It was like setting a trap. "Probably no one."

"Invite me," Nikolas said. "You aren't CEO of ELQ; you have a new job, a better job. You see Michael all of the time, whenever you want. You're close to Jason. And maybe you don't have Carly, a pretty little blonde, but you can have me. You can walk into that house a successful man, someone who's earned a place in the corporate world, and you can have me on your arm. Edward thought that Carly could help you? What'll he think of me? I'm intelligent, educated, sophisticated, cultured, well-versed, and handsome. I have an important name and an important position. I can charm my way into or out of any situation. I impress people. My name impresses them more than yours ever will. Carly was trying to impress Mrs. Barrington - - women like Amanda Barrington only wish that they could speak to me." Nikolas' fingers trailed along AJ's jaw. "You can walk into that house and let everyone there know that I'm yours. You can look Ned in the eye and let him know that all he has is an arrogant criminal for a boyfriend, while you're...fucking...me." Nikolas kissed him.

Thus began the new stage of AJ and Nikolas' relationship. AJ was, to his chagrin, more comfortable in this role. They weren't equals; he was using Nikolas, using Nikolas for prestige, using Nikolas to impress his family, using Nikolas for sex. He understood this relationship, he could handle this situation. He could look at Nikolas lying in his bed, and he didn't have to ask himself why he thought that he could ever have anyone like this. He could just use Nikolas, knowing he didn't deserve Nikolas. This made sense to him.

Emily didn't want to be at another dinner, so she was with Elizabeth. Edward had been pleased and had encouraged Alan to absent himself. That left Edward and Ned free and clear to work AJ. Ned invited Jax, of course, which displeased Edward.

The three men were in the sitting room when Reginald opened the doors and announced, "Mr. Quartermaine and Mr. Cassadine."

AJ walked in calmly, dressed in a dark suit, one hand on Nikolas' back, Nikolas looking young and beautiful.

"Oh my god," Ned said to Jax.

"You take the one on the left, I'll take the one on the right," Jax said.

"I'll take the one on the right," Ned corrected.

"He's too young for you." Jax raised his voice. "AJ, Nikolas."

"Jax," AJ said.

"You thought it was Stefan," Jax told Ned.

"You thought it was Stefan," Ned corrected.

"Someone's turning green," Nikolas murmured to AJ.

"Someone's turning red," AJ replied. "Go talk to them while I handle Grandfather."

"Throw me to the wolves," Nikolas whispered. "How cruel." Three pairs of eyes watched his lashes lower, his lips pout. Then his lashes fluttered, he smiled, and he eased himself from AJ's side to approach Ned and Jax.

AJ and Edward talked business. AJ kept Edward talking business, displayed his proficiency, let Edward glimpse exactly how much he knew of Stefan's business, how much he knew of the international situation, and how much he knew about how ELQ was doing. He name-dropped as best he could without even trying. Every once in a while he glanced over to Nikolas. Nikolas, with soft lips and lush dark lashes, had Ned and Jax snared.

When it came time to eat, the five of them settled around a small table. AJ switched over to Ned, giving Ned the same chat he'd given Edward, letting Ned see that the competition was fierce. He left Edward to Nikolas, who charmed the old man until Edward could have eaten out of Nikolas' hand or proclaimed Nikolas the Quartermaine heir. Jax wouldn't leave Nikolas' side. Neither would Edward. Ned was dying to get back.

AJ waited until dinner ended and they were all back in the sitting room. Nikolas was Chloe and Alexis and Jax and Ned all in one, only younger and prettier and more powerful. It was amazing. AJ just wanted to fuck him. He could see Jax and Ned wanting to, too.

-back arching, head thrown back, lips parting and wet, the most beautiful aching sounds coming from that throat, knees bent, legs splayed, heels digging into the mattress-

AJ smiled to himself. If they only knew. He set down his glass (water) and walked over to stand beside Nikolas. "We have to go back to Windemere."

"Oh," and Nikolas' eyes dipped briefly to AJ's mouth, "all right." He set down his own glass. "Mr. Quartermaine, thank you very much for inviting me. You have a lovely home."

Ned grimaced. AJ's home. AJ's lover.

"Thank you for coming, Nikolas," Edward said. "We were glad to have you." He shook Nikolas' hand.

"Yeah, I wish he'd come," Jax muttered.

"I'd be glad to have him," Ned said.

"Good-bye Ned," Nikolas said. "Jax."

"Bye, Nikolas," they said. "AJ." AJ put a hand on Nikolas' back and walked his handsome young lover from the house.

"AJ is going to take him right to bed," Ned said.

"And fuck him," Jax said.

"Even when I was nineteen, my butt never looked that good."

"You have a great butt," Jax said. "If you didn't, we wouldn't let you onstage in those leather pants."

"Thanks. Think we could steal him from AJ?"

"I could."

"I couldn't?"

"AJ must have told him what a bastard you are."

"All lies."

Jax snorted.

AJ took Nikolas back to Windemere, to AJ's room, and fucked him. It was glorious.

AJ woke the next morning and waited, eyes shut, taking inventory. He had a great job. He had a great son. He was getting along with both Emily and Jason. Sonny didn't want to kill him. He was living in a great place. He was sober. He had Nikolas.

A warm hand reached over his side and caressed his abdomen. Stroked lower. "Make love to me," came the warm invitation laced with want.

Oh, yes, life was good. Life was great. Life had never been better.

After school that day, Lucky led the group into L&B. Nikolas greeted them with a warm smile. "Hey, how was school?"

"What happened to you?" Emily asked.

"You're smiling," Elizabeth said. "You're happy. You look...happy!"

"Of course I'm happy," Nikolas said.

"Is he exuding pheremones?" Juan asked Lucky.

"Did you get new business?" Emily asked.

"AJ," Lucky told Juan.

"Gotta be," Juan agreed. He distracted Elizabeth and Emily so that Lucky could ask Nikolas.

"How's AJ?" Lucky asked.

"I can't be that obvious," Nikolas said.

"You're beaming," Lucky said. "So everything's okay?"

"I think that I should tell Emily soon," Nikolas said. "You think she'll be okay?"

"She's really getting along with AJ now," Lucky said. "She'll definitely be surprised, but she'll be okay. Why are you telling her now?"

"AJ took me to dinner at her house last night. She wasn't there, but Ned and Jax and her grandfather were. He took me as his date, and no one missed it. Next time she might be there."

"You made an appearance as his date?" Lucky asked.

"It's okay."

"Really."

"Yeah."

"Nikolas, I'm going to ask a dumb question."

"Go ahead."

"Are Ned and Jax together?"

"You catch on fast."

"And Edward lets them? Never mind, that's not what I meant. Ned and Jax. Sonny and Jason. You and AJ. Me and Juan. My dad and Roy, your uncle and Mac. Taggert and Garcia. Francis and Johnny. Who's left?"

"Well, if it's genetic, a lot of us are related," Nikolas said. "Maybe it's something in the water in Port Charles."

After school the next day, Emily went to Windemere at Nikolas' request. Nikolas met her in the entranceway and took her to AJ's office.

"What's going on?" she asked, dropping her bookbag.

"Hey, Em," AJ said, rising and walking to stand with them.

"You know about Lucky and Juan," Nikolas said.

"Yeah," she said, and waited.

"Yeah," AJ said.

"You, too? You two?" she asked, astonished. "No!"

"Yeah," AJ said.

"Since when?"

"We were together for three weeks, and then we weren't, and now we are again," Nikolas said.

"Together," she repeated. "You and you."

"Yeah," AJ said. "Is that okay?"

"Wow."

"You know you can't go telling people," AJ said. "Lucky and Juan know, and Jason knows. So you can tell Elizabeth, but that's it."

"Everybody already knows?"

"Lucky's my brother," Nikolas said.

"And I'm your sister!" Emily told AJ. "Tell me these things!"

"You aren't upset?" Nikolas asked, to make sure.

"Wow. Wait..." She looked from one to the other. "You're having...sex?"

"That's really not something I want to discuss with my little sister," AJ said.

"You're adults. You live in the same house. You're together," Emily said.

"Yes, we're having sex," AJ said.

"Sex. Real sex. Wow. Wow wow wow-"

"Okay, go home," Nikolas told her.

"Wow."

Edward was trying to court AJ and Nikolas. Jax and Ned were just trying to seduce Nikolas, competing with each other and AJ. But there was no real competition. In between covetous glances at Nikolas' mouth and ass, Jax and Ned got the message that they could look but not touch. AJ had his hands all over Nikolas' fortune, which Edward wanted, and all over Nikolas, whom Ned wanted. They were invited to dinner again; when Emily caught wind of it she was determined to be there, until AJ and Nikolas talked her out of it. Jax heard about it and showed up uninvited. Nikolas spent the evening charming Edward again. Edward loved money, loved flattery, loved pretty young things, loved to flirt; Nikolas played the part with perfect grace. Normally it was terribly obvious when someone was playing Edward, but Nikolas did it with such class and sophistication that it was hard to tell that he wasn't being utterly artless. In fact, AJ began to wonder whether Nikolas were playing a part at all. He looked so...innocent, pleasant.

Ned and Jax talked with Edward just so that they could talk to Nikolas. AJ was left on the side, watching, until Nikolas included him. Then it was all Edward, Nikolas, and AJ; Ned and Jax were out in the cold.

Jax didn't like being excluded from the inner circle.

He started on AJ.

AJ didn't know whether to run away or laugh. Since Ned looked really mad, he decided to laugh, and stay.

Then he wondered what would happen if he did stay.

In a ten-second break, he whispered his suggestion to Nikolas. Nikolas smiled at him. Ten minutes later, Edward was inviting them to stay, not to go the whole way back to Windemere, it was terribly late, etc. AJ didn't know how Nikolas did that! Some sort of brainwashing, maybe.

AJ knew from experience that Ned and Jax had sex, then stayed up talking. Conveniently, his rooms were right beside Ned's, with the wall between his bedroom and Ned's bedroom.

Ned and Jax had sex. As they were catching their breath, they heard a door open and close. AJ's room. Which meant that maybe AJ was leaving to go down to Nikolas in the guest room.

A thrill of laughter. Oh. Nikolas was in AJ's room. Ned and Jax became very still and quiet.

The bedsprings were quiet - - nothing cheap and noisy for the Quartermaines - - but Ned and Jax listened carefully. They heard quiet noises, almost nothing, for the longest time. Maybe nothing was happening. Then they heard Nikolas. He sounded as though he were in blind ecstasy. What was AJ doing? They heard AJ talking, caught the gist of it, and realized that AJ was finger-fucking Nikolas, giving a lube job. All that long time had been foreplay? Good god, Nikolas must be good. And if AJ were lubing Nikolas, that meant... Nikolas' gasps of pure pleasure were almost drowned out by AJ's shockingly satisfied moan. AJ was in. And out. And in. And out. And in. Nikolas kept up a breathless litany of ohs, and just the sound of it made Ned hard again. AJ was trying to get Nikolas to come, but Nikolas was too excited to bother. The ohs changed to ahs. Nikolas came with a breathless scream.

When he came he planted his feet on AJ's hips and shoved AJ off of him. He held up a hand for silence and tried to catch his breath. AJ, bewildered and really ready to come, waited.

Jax hadn't heard AJ come. What was wrong?

"Let me," Nikolas said softly.

"Oh, god," AJ moaned.

What? Ned wondered.

"Oh, god, Nikolas, oh, oh, oh, yes, yes."

It couldn't be.

"Oh...oh...oh..."

Ned ached to come.

"Ohh...ohhh...ohhhhhhyes, oh my god oh my god oh my god."

No way.

AJ shouted.

A blow job. The kid let you fuck him to heaven and then sucked you off.

Nikolas kissed AJ, who moaned and held him close. Ned and Jax, fingering their penises, strained to hear the sounds of Nikolas and AJ making out, kissing and touching and petting and licking in AJ's big soft bed. The young men finally subsided, curled up together in AJ's bed, falling asleep.

In the morning, Ned was in the shower when Jax reached in and grabbed him, pulling him across the room to stand by the wall. AJ's alarm was beeping. Ned chanced upon a spot by the vent where the beeps were louder. Jax pressed against him, listening.

The beeping stopped.

"Morning." Nikolas, warm, lazy. Ned crouched down and could hear everything.

"Morning." God, he could hear them kissing.

"Make love to me," Nikolas said softly. More kissing.

"Make love to me," AJ said, trying to breathe.

"Yes yes," Jax said.

"No no," Ned argued.

"Mmm, fuck me," Nikolas half-moaned. "Then I'll fuck you."

"Yes yes," Jax and Ned urged. They heard a lot of kissing, soft sighs and gasps, muted moans. From the sound of it, AJ started licking Nikolas somewhere, and kept going, and wouldn't stop, and Nikolas really liked it. Then they heard what they'd heard muffled last night: Nikolas' pleasure as AJ's fingers entered Nikolas' body, AJ encouraging Nikolas to open for him. God, that kid must be tight, if they were dragging out the process all over again.

"Ready?" AJ asked.

"Please," Nikolas gasped.

"Oh my god," AJ said. Then again, choked, groaning, "Oh my god."

"Ooohh!" Nikolas moaned.

"Hold still, hold still," AJ gasped.

"Please fuck me," Nikolas panted. "That feels...so good...so good."

"So tight," AJ gasped.

"So..." Nikolas moaned and almost purred. Ned wanted to come. Nikolas gave a series of throaty, aching, deeply pleasured noises. "Oh, AJ, I want to come," he breathed. It sounded as though he were about to hyperventilate when he started to gasp. Then AJ shouted. Silence. AJ grunted and Nikolas literally whimpered.

"Fuck me," AJ said, sounding totally sated and exhausted.

"Yes," Nikolas said, eagerly. There was kissing - - good god, more kissing? Get down to it! But no, they kissed, and they stroked, and then Nikolas said, "Roll over."

"Yes," Jax said.

"Roll over?" AJ asked.

"I want to lick you," Nikolas said.

"Oh my god," Ned said.

"He doesn't mean that," Jax said.

"Like...before?" AJ asked.

"He means it," Ned said.

There was a quiet rustle: AJ turning over. "Spread your legs for me," Nikolas murmured, and then there was stillness, and then AJ moaned. In between AJ's soft moans and half-contented, half-crazy-horny sighs, Ned and Jax heard lapping noises. AJ's moans got more intense. God, Nikolas must be tongue-fucking him. "Roll over," Nikolas said, and he sounded so damned hungry. Ned and Jax heard more kissing, but moans and pleas in between kisses, so that Nikolas must be lubricating AJ while they kissed. "Let me," Nikolas said. "Oh, yes, just like that," and then there was a muffled scream, like someone with a hand over his mouth. Then there was a lot of panting. "Okay?" Nikolas asked.

AJ sounded as though he were doing lamaze breathing. "Yes," he said. "More."

Stifled moans and choked screams again. God, what were they doing to each other? There was another round of panting, and then quiet kissing - now?! -, and then, "Fast or slow?"

"Fast," Jax said. "Fuck him hard."

"Fast," AJ said. There were a lot of aching breaths from AJ, the sexiest sound yet, and eager, greedy noises from Nikolas, and then Nikolas came.

"You're...hard...again," Nikolas said, trying to catch his breath.

"Your fault," AJ said, also trying to breathe.

"Let me," Nikolas said. It was the third time he'd said it, and those were Ned's new favorite words.

"Oh my god," AJ said. "Oh...my...aahhh..." Oh god, now they could hear it, all of the licking, the lapping, the sucking, those greedy hungry noises Nikolas made. AJ started to breathe funny again, and Jax could imagine them on the other side of the wall, in bed, AJ lying there in tortured ecstasy, Nikolas crouching between AJ's thighs with those soft lips wrapped around AJ's cock. Jax tried to imagine more, how AJ's legs would be, whether their brown eyes would be opened or closed, whether AJ was grabbing Nikolas' hair or the bedclothes. Nikolas sounded just as into the act as AJ was, and Jax liked someone who found cocksucking gratifying.

AJ came.

More kissing.

"We really have to go," Nikolas said.

"But you're hard again," AJ said.

"Your family's waiting."

"One little blowjob."

"What if someone comes looking for us?"

"I'll be quick."

"I just came."

"That's not my fault."

Nikolas laughed. "Stop that."

"Don't you like it?"

"Of course I...ooohhh...like it...A...J...aahhh..." Nikolas wasn't really coherent anymore. Jax wondered how good they really were at cocksucking. Did they have good tongue technique? Did they use their hands? What exactly were they spending all of this time licking and slurping? How well did they really suck? Did they deep throat? Probably not; they couldn't have much experience. Or could they? He liked the idea of them as virgins, learning on each other's bodies, but in all likelihood they'd been fooling around with other boys since prep school.

Nikolas came. So did Ned. Jax had already come in sympathy with Nikolas' incoherency.

"You taste so good," AJ murmured. More kissing. "So do you," Nikolas said. More kissing. Lots of kissing. "How do you do that?" AJ asked.

"What?" Nikolas asked, interested in kissing.

"That thing with your tongue."

"What thing with my tongue?"

"You know, not the thing...I mean the thing where you..."

"I don't know, I just do it because it makes you shudder."

"I shudder?"

"You shudder. AJ?"

"Mmm."

"Can you teach me how to...swallow like that, when you take me the whole way?"

"It's called deep throating."

"It feels so good."

"Does it?"

"You've never...no one's ever done it to you?"

"Nikolas, I've only been with three people before you, and none of them did any of what you do."

"Is that why you squeaked the first time I lick-"

"I did not squeak."

"No one's ever given you a blow job?"

"No one but you. And boy do you make up for it."

"We really have to get out of bed."

"I know." More kissing.

"Did I hurt you?" Nikolas asked.

"When? Oh. No."

"You're sure?"

"Are you okay?" AJ asked.

"It felt so good." Soft moan, more kissing.

"I'm going to take a shower. You stay here."

"Without you?"

"Oh god." More kissing. A lot more kissing. Breathless laughter and more kissing. Finally AJ said, "Let go of me!" and ran to his bathroom. Nikolas laughed and settled into bed comfortably.

Ned and Jax had learned a lot: AJ and Nikolas fucked each other and sucked each other. They were smart enough to stretch and lube but didn't use condoms. AJ deep throated. Nikolas gave rim jobs. AJ shuddered. Nikolas purred. Apparently they both either had huge cocks or really tight assholes. Ned and Jax dressed with half of their attention on the wall, listening. There was another round of kissing between AJ and Nikolas' showers. Then AJ dressed while Nikolas showered, and they started to talk about nothing significant, and Jax and Ned darted for the door to be downstairs before the other two got there.

Edward and Alan were having breakfast when Ned and Jax came in pretending to be normal. Emily came in and said, "How was dinner last night? Did you scar AJ?"

"AJ's fine," Edward said. "He'll be down soon and you can see for yourself."

"Down?" Emily asked. "He's here?"

"Father invited AJ and Nikolas to spend the night," Alan said.

"Both of them?" Emily asked. "Really."

"Hey, Em." AJ walked in and kissed her cheek.

"You are both here," she said. "How did this happen?"

"Your grandfather was kind enough to extend his hospitality," Nikolas said.

"You aren't staying, are you?" Emily asked AJ.

"Get out while you still can," Alan translated.

"I'll be gone soon enough," AJ said.

"Since you've been gone Cook started to make the foods you like," Emily said. "I think she misses you."

"Glad someone does," AJ said, getting a croissant.

"Would you like juice?" Emily asked Nikolas.

"Let me," Nikolas said, pouring for her. Ned stopped breathing until Jax stepped on his toes.

"Are you all right?" Emily asked Ned and Jax. "Or are you on a hunger strike?"

"You should be drinking milk," Nikolas told her.

"I know, I know, osteoporosis," she said. "Thanks." She tugged his shirt collar up a little. He flashed her a smile and she poked AJ. "What are you two doing today?"

"Some of us work," AJ said.

"It's Saturday," she objected. "Nikolas?"

"I should at least pretend to earn my keep," Nikolas said.

"I won't see Michael until tomorrow, so I'm free tonight," AJ said. "We could take you out to dinner."

"Ah, handsome older men," Emily said, and pretended to swoon. "Great! Where?"

'I haven't been to the Grill in two months," AJ said. "Let's not go there."

"Let's," Emily argued. "If we go there I can pay."

"Okay," AJ said. "I can live off my sister."

"How about seven?" Emily asked. "I'll meet you there."

"We're eating at the Grill tonight," Ned and Jax said to each other.

Ned and Jax got there early and set out files, pretending to be there to discuss business. They kept their eyes on the door, waiting to see the trio.

At 6:50, AJ arrived. He came over to the bar. "Do you spend time doing anything not related to business? It's Saturday night. You should be out having fun, and here you are in the bar your family owns talking about profit margins. Club soda, please."

"And this is what you do for fun?" Ned asked. "Meeting your little sister for dinner in a restaurant your family owns?"

"I like Emily," AJ said. "I like to spend time with my sister. Besides," he grinned, "Nikolas is coming, too."

"I'll just bet he is," Ned said, smiling. AJ tossed him a bewildered look and decided to ignore him.

"What else do you do for fun?" Jax asked AJ. Ned resisted the urge to tweak Jax's nose.

"Besides Nikolas?" AJ asked. "And profit margins, of course."

"Of course," Jax said, smiling.

"It's been a while since I've actually had fun," AJ said. "Living with Grandfather does that to a person."

"Do you play cards?" Jax asked.

"Not with you," AJ said. "I know you're a card shark."

"Well, if you aren't up to the challenge..."

"I could be persuaded," AJ said. "Nikolas."

Nikolas walked over to them, standing at AJ's side but not close enough for anyone in the place to look twice. "Ned, Jax. AJ, Emily called. She won't be here."

"Then who's going to pay?" AJ asked.

"Well, you know the owner," Nikolas said.

"Oh good, I'd love to spend my Saturday night in Ned's debt," AJ said.

"Spend it in mine," Jax invited. "I'll pay for dinner, and you can pay me back when you lose the game."

"What game?" Nikolas asked.

"Jax wants to beat me at cards," AJ said. "What do you play?"

"Poker's simple enough," Jax said. "You went to prep school, you must play."

"Enough to win more than I lose," AJ said.

"What do you say?" Jax asked Nikolas. "I'll pay for dinner, then we'll find a suite and see how well AJ loses."

"I'll play," Nikolas said, "as long as you don't mind how awful I am."

So the four of them ate. Ned couldn't believe how likable AJ actually was. AJ's arrogance and self-pity had vanished, leaving a humorous intelligent young man. He couldn't help but remember listening to his cousin suck Nikolas' cock, fisting himself, straining to catch every strangled moan. They stopped by the front desk; Ned got them a two-room suite, picking up cards and poker chips as well. They settled around the table, fishing out their wallets, draping their suit coats over their chairs.

"You always carry that much cash on you?" Jax asked Nikolas.

"You never know when you'll need to buy a fleet of Rolls Royces," AJ told Jax, and pulled out a bit of his own money.

"You won't get far with that," Jax told AJ.

AJ held his hand out to Nikolas. Nikolas handed him a stack of bills. AJ smiled at Jax.

"Your very own ATM," Ned said.

"He can take it out of my paycheck," AJ said.

Folllowing traditions of denial and intrigue, no one had said a word about the fact that they were couples, or even that they were gay. They were pretending that they were just guys getting together for a game of cards. For all Jax could tell, AJ and Nikolas had no idea of what he and Ned were planning. Not that he and Ned had said a word to each other. But he knew what he wanted, and he knew what Ned wanted: them. AJ and Nikolas. Naked. Making those hot sweet noises.

Jax refused to believe that Nikolas was really this good an actor. The boy had to be entirely innocent. But a Cassadine, innocent? AJ, he thought, sensed their interest but wasn't aware of any intent to act on that interest. Of course he intended to act on his interest, he was Jasper Jacks, acting was what he did. And Ned wanted it every bit as much as he did.

They played a few hands. Jax was of course ahead; Ned was doing well. AJ was learning fast. Nikolas promised to beat them all at chess someday, but as for poker he didn't do very well. The more they played, the better AJ and Nikolas got. Jax had been conned before, or at least people had tried to con him, so he recognized a con. This was no con. They actually weren't very good, but were learning, and tried to win back some of their losses. It was all so naive and charming. He wanted them naked.

He couldn't get them drunk. He would have considered it, just enough to make them interesting, of course not enough to jar their inhibitions. But he wouldn't dare to give AJ alcohol, and Nikolas was too young in America. What else could he do? Just ask them, "Will you have sex with me?"

Nikolas yawned. The idea of a warm, drowsy, naked Nikolas in his bed made Jax hard.

"Someone should put you to bed," Ned told Nikolas.

"Not until I've won again," Nikolas said. "Keep dealing."

"Not again," AJ said. "I give up." He handed Nikolas his winnings. "I'm going to borrow one of these beds."

"You're abandoning me to them?" Nikolas said.

"You wanted to keep playing," AJ reminded him. He unbuttoned and untucked his shirt, exposing his undershirt, and collapsed on his back on the bed. Jax and Ned watched a moment longer, and were rewarded when one hand lazily drifted down to open AJ's belt and the button of AJ's pants. Nikolas smiled into his cards. AJ sighed, eyes closing.

Nikolas was an intelligent person. He knew that Jax and Ned wanted him. They'd been flirting with increasing openness all evening. They wanted AJ, too. They kept looking at AJ, who was half-asleep on the bed. With AJ across the room and not watching, they started to touch Nikolas, started to look at him openly with want in their eyes.

He wasn't afraid. They weren't dangerous, not physically. They wouldn't molest him or rape him. If he told them to stop, they'd stop. But he wasn't sure how far AJ wanted to let this go before stopping it.

They ordered room service. AJ rejoined them. They did more talking than playing. AJ's shirt was on the bed; they were barefoot, tieless, shirts unbuttoned at the neck. Ned's eyes kept straying to the love bite on Nikolas' neck, and he kept trying to imagine at which point it had appeared. Last night or this morning? During sex or foreplay or afterplay?

The conversation progressed to women. AJ referred to Julia as "the first time I took one of Ned's lovers."

"The first time?" Ned repeated.

"Well, you never know when it could happen again," AJ said.

Tonight, if Jax had anything to say about it.

"Julia was smart," Ned said. "I liked her better as a friend then as a lover."

"You didn't like the sex?" AJ asked.

"Did you?" Ned asked.

"It was...straightforward."

"Exactly," Ned said. "She didn't even give head."

"Not to you, either?" AJ asked.

"Not in front of the child, please," Jax said.

"Nikolas is old enough to have gotten a blow job," Ned said. "Haven't you?" he asked Nikolas.

"Haven't I?" Nikolas repeated.

"Gotten a blow job," Ned said.

"Yes," Nikolas admitted.

"From Katherine?" Jax asked.

"Not likely," Ned said.

"From whom?" Jax asked.

"You can't ask him that," Ned said.

"Why not?" Jax asked. "Okay, tell us how old you were."

"Nineteen."

"How old are you now?"

"Nineteen."

Jax laughed. "Now you have to tell us who it was."

"I did it," AJ said. "I sucked him."

"You," Ned said. Since no one ever had said anything about AJ and Nikolas directly, he needed to feign some surprise.

"Why not?" AJ asked.

"You're bisexual?" Jax asked.

"I think I'm gay," AJ said. "It's been a confusing year."

"You give head?" Ned asked.

"Well, I'm self-taught, so I wouldn't brag about my technique, but I make Nikolas come," AJ said.

"Come on, anyone can give a sloppy blow job," Jax said. "Are you any good? Do you make it interesting?"

"How interesting?" AJ asked.

"Show me."

AJ raised his chin. "Show you."

"Show me," Jax repeated.

"You," AJ said, "wish."

"I do," Jax agreed, leaning forward.

AJ leaned back. "You buy me dinner and think I'm going to suck you off?"

"Poker paid me back for the dinner. Blow job's just between us."

"The four of us,"AJ clarified. "I don't think so. I have sex with Nikolas. That's it. Not with you."

"So I'll watch."

"You think I'm going to let you watch Nikolas come?" AJ asked. "That sight's for my eyes only." He stood. "Tell you what. You get Ned to deep-throat you, and pretend that it's me. If I can fit Nikolas' cock into my mouth, I'm sure I can fit yours." He left, Nikolas following.

"That went badly," Ned said.

"Not ready to give up, are you?" Jax asked.

"Not nearly."

AJ and Nikolas went back to Windemere and made love in Nikolas' bed. AJ held Nikolas close, kissing him. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Nikolas asked, kissing AJ.

"For telling them about us."

"They knew anyway."

"I'm still sorry. They didn't deserve to hear it."

"They want us."

"I know." AJ stroked Nikolas' hair.

"They aren't going to stop."

"They won't hurt you."

"They can't," Nikolas said, kissing him.

"I forgot," AJ said.

"Forgot what?"

"This morning. I know it sounds stupid, but I did. I forgot last night, too."

"That they were listening?"

"Yes."

"I forgot, too."

"You didn't."

"I remembered in the shower. Last night I forgot really early on, but I remembered right before I came. And this morning I didn't even think about it."

"I forgot, too. When you kicked me last night, I thought you'd gone insane. But when you motioned me to be quiet, I remembered. And I felt awful. Knowing that someone had been listening to us. That someone heard you come."

"In the shower, I was trying to remember what we'd done, what we'd said."

"I didn't remember until I walked downstairs and saw them. Do you think they really were listening?"

"They must have been."

"I'm sorry."

"If they were listening, do you think that they thought that we knew?"

"We did know."

"But we forgot. We weren't thinking about them."

"So they thought we were performing?"

"I wasn't."

"I know. I wasn't, either."

"Except last night, when I gave you a blow job. I did it on purpose."

"But you weren't performing. You weren't faking. You were just doing it, like always, really really well."

"Really, really well?"

"Really, really well."

"Only because you taste so good that I always enjoy myself." Nikolas kissed him again.

"I love you."

Nikolas raised his head.

AJ closed his mouth.

"Do you?" Nikolas asked softly, not believing, not trusting.

"I love you," AJ said.

"People say that," Nikolas said. "They say it to me. Sarah Webber. Helena. Katherine. My mother. My grandmother."

"I know."

"Stefan means it. He loves me. He hurts me and lies to me. Lucky loves me and he never says it. And you. You say it. What does it mean when you say it? What does it mean that you say that to me?"

"It means that I love you. I'm in love with you. I want to be with you. I don't want to lie to you or hurt you. I want you to love me. I want you to be happy and safe. I want you to want me."

"I do love you," Nikolas said. "That's why you're in my bed. That's why I let you touch me."

"You've loved me all of this time?"

"Yes," Nikolas said. "And now I want you to go."

"You're in love with me?"

"Go."

"Why are you mad at me? You're mad because I told you that I love you? What, if I don't love you it's okay? You'd rather I didn't?"

"Stefan loves me. Lucky loves me. Alexis, Emily, Elizabeth, they care about me. Even Juan likes me. That's all."

"That's not true," AJ said, "and it's not good enough, even if it were. Don't you want someone to love you, to be in love with you, to make love with you? Someone you can spend your life with, share your life with?"

"Please get out of my room."

"Kiss me good-bye," AJ said.

"No."

AJ looked hard at Nikolas. "You really want me to go. Okay. I'm not about to force myself into your bed."

Nikolas was too well-bred to turn sullen. He didn't sulk. But he became polite to the point of a rigid formality that reminded Lucky of Stefan's coldest moments. He spent time alone, riding Sheba, reading. Since he was alone, people didn't notice that he was skipping meals. When he was forced to eat with Stefan, he ate little. He avoided AJ so much it was downright rude. He became remote, superior, not arrogant so much as distant.

Friday Juan and Lucky walked into L&B after school. The place looked empty, and Lucky was about to call out for Nikolas, when he heard a resounding smack.

"What was that?" Juan asked.

Jax came from the back room, walking fast, red-faced, furious. The door slammed.

"Ned?" Lucky called.

Silence.

"Should we go check on him?" Juan asked.

"Ned?" Lucky called again. He and Juan moved toward the back room. They reached Ned's office door when it opened suddenly. "Nikolas!"

"Ned's not here," Nikolas said.

"Did you hit Jax?" Juan asked.

"Are you okay?" Lucky asked.

"What happened?" Juan asked.

"He touched me," Nikolas said.

"Touched you," Juan said. "You mean...he touched you?! That-"

"Did he hurt you?" Lucky asked.

"I didn't let him," Nikolas said. "He tried to touch me, and I told him no. He touched me. I hit him. He left."

"I'll kill him," Lucky said simply.

"Why was he touching you?" Juan asked. "You can't just go around grabbing people."

"He wants to fuck me," Nikolas said.

"You swear?" Juan asked.

"Where'd he touch you?" Lucky asked.

"Nowhere appropriate," Nikolas said. "Earlier, last week, I was trying to impress AJ's family, so I tried to impress Edward, and I flirted with Ned to make him jealous. It worked. A bit too well. Now Ned and Jax don't want to keep their hands to themselves."

"Has Ned touched you?" Lucky asked.

"My arm. I move away when he gets too close. He knows he shouldn't come near me. They both know it."

"Maybe they think that since you aren't with AJ anymore, that you're...fair game," Juan said.

"The only person," Nikolas said, "who is allowed to touch me, is my uncle. These egocentric men nearing forty should not be grabbing teenaged boys, whether I'm European or not."

"I'm going to kill Jax," Lucky said. "Then I'll take care of Ned."

"I'll help," Juan said.

"Nikolas, are you okay?" Lucky asked. "You aren't hurt. He didn't...do anything?"

"He had every intention of doing something," Nikolas said, "but I'm not his to touch."

"If you tell Stefan he'll take care of it better than I can," Lucky said.

Nikolas considered it. That evening at dinner, he told Stefan. That night, Stefan told Mac. The next morning, the police commissioner of Port Charles knocked on the Quartermaines' door. Reginald ushered Mac into the breakfast room.

"Good morning, commissioner, what can we do for you today?" Edward asked.

"We haven't done anything, have we?" Alan asked Emily.

"I'd like to speak to Ned and Jax," Mac said.

"What have you done?" Edward asked Ned.

"Nothing," Ned said, puzzled.

"I just thought that it might be in everyone's best interest if I give you a friendly reminder," Mac said. "As far as I know, Ned, repeated and offensive inappropriate comments are still not a good idea in the workplace. Sexual harassment of an employee will not look good to your investors. And Jax, try to remember that no means no. Have a nice day." Mac left.

"Sexual harassment?!" Edward bellowed. "If you're harassing-"

"He called Mac?" Jax asked.

"He?" Edward asked.

"'No means no'? What did you do, try to rape him?!" Ned demanded.

"Who's he?" Emily asked. "Who's him?"

"The Port Charles police commissioner is here at seven thirty in the morning?" Jax asked. "How did that happen?"

Emily flew at Ned and slammed her hands into his chest. "What did you do to Nikolas!"

"Nikolas?" Alan repeated.

"Cassadine?" Edward asked.

"What did you do what did you do!" she screamed.

"I didn't do anything!" Ned protested.

"Then why is Mac here?! Commissioner Scorpio doesn't make early morning house calls to just anyone, you know! What did you do to Nikolas!" She turned to Jax and shouted, "No means no! No means no!" she screamed, and launched herself at him.

AJ ran in and grabbed her. "Em! What's going on? What did you do to her?" he asked Jax.

"I didn't do anything to her," Jax said.

"No means no," she said, sobbing.

"Her friend Elizabeth was raped," Ned said to Jax softly.

"Shit," Jax said.

AJ held Emily and looked to Alan for information. Alan said, "Mac Scorpio was just here."

"Mac?"

"Apparently Ned and Jax have been sexually harassing someone."

"No," AJ said. He handed Emily over to Alan and turned to face Ned and Jax. "What did you do to Nikolas?"

"It was Nikolas?" Edward asked.

"I flirted with him," Ned said. "I was just talking. Teasing. It didn't mean anything."

"And you?" AJ asked.

"I reached for him. He told me no. I didn't think he meant it," Jax said.

"You didn't think that he meant it?!" Emily shouted. "What did you think that he meant?!"

"You didn't think he meant it," AJ said. "So, what, you did it again? You grabbed him?"

"Yes. He hit me. I left," Jax said.

"To you, it doesn't mean anything. To you, it doesn't mean anything," AJ told Ned and Jax. "It means something to me. It means something to Emily. It means something to Mac. And it fucking damn well means something to Nikolas." He stepped forward and landed a blow squarely in Ned's face. Jax got a knee to the groin and a blow to the back of the head. Ned was leaning over the breakfast bar, bleeding; Jax was on the floor. "Does it mean something yet?!"

"You!" Edward glared down at Jax. "I want you out of my house! No, better yet. AJ, there are papers in my desk. Your mother's given the property to you. As soon as you sign it, you can order them out of your house."

"Stop bleeding on my carpet," AJ told Ned.

"I'd still like to know why Mac was here at all," Alan said. "It doesn't sound as though Nikolas is pressing charges. Why is Mac involved?"

"Some people," AJ said, "will go out of their way to protect Nikolas."

"I'd say he deserves it," Edward said. "Ned, I'd have you fired if I thought AJ were ever coming back. Since he's not, you can keep your job. But if I hear that you've been near that boy-"

"He's an adult. He can take care of himself." Ned glared at AJ. "He isn't yours anymore."

"He'll never be yours."

"You were never good enough for him."

"You used to be a boxer, didn't you?" Jax asked.

"Don't worry about me," AJ said. "I'm just an alcoholic secretary. And I know full well that I'm not good enough for Nikolas. At least when I reached for him, he let me close." He put his arm around Emily and led her out of the room, out of the house. "Are you okay?"

"What did they do to Nikolas?" she asked.

"I don't know," AJ said. "I'll find out. They won't do it again. Why are you awake this early on a Saturday?"

"Lucky called me and said I should get up early. Why are you here?"

"Lucky called me and told me to come."

"Emily!" Juan ran up the drive, Lucky chasing him. "Are Ned and Jax here?"

"They didn't leave yet, did they? What happened to your hand?" Lucky asked AJ.

"AJ punched Ned and Jax," Emily said.

"Oh. So you heard," Juan said.

"Commissioner Scorpio came here and told them off," Emily said. "Then Jax came in and we told him and he hit them. You know what really happened?"

"Yesterday," Lucky said. "Nikolas told us that Ned's been hitting on him and he wants it to stop. And Jax tried to touch him, he says, but he told Jax no, and Jax did touch him, so he hit him."

"We got there just in time to hear it," Juan said, "and then Jax came storming out."

"Where did Jax touch him?" Emily asked.

"He won't say," Lucky said. "Mac Scorpio was here?"

"Serious stuff," Juan said. "How'd he...oh."

"What is going on?" Emily demanded. "Why is Mac here? Nikolas went to him?"

"I think Nikolas told Stefan," Lucky said.

"So Stefan told Mac?" Emily asked. "Why would Mac come in person this early in the morning?"

"It's a long story," Lucky said.

"I'll tell you when you're older," AJ said.

"Nikolas didn't tell you anything about it?" Juan asked AJ.

"No," AJ said.

"Why are you fighting again?" Emily demanded. "You were together, and then you weren't, and then you were together and you actually told me about it, and now you're apart again. What did you do?"

"I told him that I'm in love with him," AJ said. They waited for more. Nothing was forthcoming.

"That's it?" Juan asked. "You told him that you're in love with him and he dumped you?"

"That's it," AJ said. "He doesn't believe me."

"Why not?" Emily asked.

"Come on, Em. You think that living with Grandfather and Ned has screwed me up? Think how bad it must be for Nikolas. The way he's lived, the things people do to him, the things people do in his name. The people who say they love him have hurt him the most."

"This town has some really messed up people," Juan said.

"No kidding," Emily said.

AJ went to Windemere and looked for Nikolas. He found Nikolas lying across the bed, dressed but barefoot. "Nikolas?" There was no response. He walked over, coming closer. "Mac stopped by to see Jax and Ned. They won't bother you again. I wish you'd told me. I didn't know what they were doing. I should have known it would escalate." No response. "Did Jax hurt you?"

"He came into L&B. He wanted a file from Ned's office, said he left it there. Ned wasn't there so I went to the office to get it. He followed me in there. He started to tell me how handsome I looked. I was tired of them looking at me, tired of them talking to me, tired of them trying to touch me, so I told him that I wasn't interested. He said that you were a fool to let me go, and he reached out to touch my side and I jerked away, I told him no. He put his hand on my butt and he leaned in so fast and I didn't want him to touch me and I didn't want him to kiss me and I hit him. I don't want his hands on me."

"You didn't deserve it," AJ said. "He had no right."

"I wanted to come home to you. I wanted you to kiss me so I wouldn't think of him trying to kiss me."

"I wish I'd been there to stop him from ever going near you."

Nikolas held out a hand. AJ took it, was pulled closer, laid down on the bed on his side, facing Nikolas. Carefully he touched Nikolas, who moved up against him until they were lying in an embrace. "I love you," Nikolas said, tucked under AJ's chin, eyes closed. He stroked Nikolas' back.

So they entered into the new phase of their relationship, the one where AJ died inside every time Nikolas kissed him. The one where Nikolas shied away from people physically, but not from Lucky, not from Stefan, never from AJ. It was as though Nikolas' body were AJ's personal property, his to touch, his to use as he pleased. And no one else was allowed close. Nikolas said, "I love you," every night, but AJ never said it, never tried to say it, didn't want Nikolas to pull away again.

He believed that Nikolas was in love with him. It was the best thing that had ever happened to him, or at least a tie with Michael. But he'd made a mess of Michael, and he was well on to ruining any relationship with Nikolas. Maybe he was destined to fail and destroy. Maybe he couldn't do anything right, after all.

Nikolas was mostly back to normal, as long as no one tried to touch him. He was losing weight; AJ wasn't sure who else noticed, since he was the only one who'd seen Nikolas naked regularly before and after. Stefan was noticing, he knew, because Stefan noticed everything about Nikolas. What was it like to have someone that dedicated to you? Was that fatherhood? He couldn't get Nikolas to eat more. He wondered whether Nikolas were trying to take up less space, to make it less likely that someone would get close physically. Emotionally? Or maybe Nikolas was trying, in an odd way, to be less attractive, so that people wouldn't try to touch. AJ couldn't tell, and Nikolas wasn't talking about it. Nikolas wasn't bulimic, and didn't seem anorexic, necessarily; Nikolas just wasn't eating.

Stefan spoke with Nikolas about it one evening at dinner. Nikolas still wouldn't eat. So AJ decided to take matters into his own hands. He knew that, of all of the cultured and exotic dishes that Nikolas had ever eaten, Nikolas really liked packaged chocolate pudding. It wasn't exactly full of vitamins, but it had milk, and it would be something in Nikolas' stomach. So he bought some, and made it himself, and when it was chilled he took it up to Nikolas' room. He paused outside the door, closed his eyes, counted to ten, and walked in. Nikolas, who'd never gone back to L&B, was lounging on the bed reading. Nikolas did a lot of that under normal circumstances; it wasn't a behavior that made AJ worry now. He set the bowl on the floor and kissed Nikolas, who kissed him back without reservation. "Take off your clothes," he said. Nikolas set aside the book and stripped naked. He got on the bed too, on top of Nikolas, kissing and licking at Nikolas' mouth. He sat up and Nikolas came right with him, kneeling on the mattress, tugging at his clothes. He undressed himself with Nikolas' help. Once they were naked and aroused, neither of which took long at all, AJ said, "Nikolas."

"What?" Nikolas asked, sensing the change in tone.

AJ sat up and guided Nikolas up, too. He passed a hand over Nikolas' abdomen and said, "I can count your ribs. Look down."

Nikolas wouldn't look.

"Look," AJ commanded.

Nikolas closed his eyes.

"It's okay," AJ said, and embraced Nikolas. "Nothing's wrong, Nikolas, you haven't done anything. You just need to eat a little more. You've just lost some weight, that's all. Come here." He sat at the head of the bed, against Nikolas' headboard, pulling Nikolas into his lap, Nikolas' back to his chest. He reached down and found the bowl and spoon. "Between the two of us, we're going to eat this. And when it's gone, I'm going to make love to you. You go first."

"I'm not hungry."

"Eat it anyway, just because it tastes good."

"Food doesn't taste good anymore."

"Then eat it because I tell you to."

"If I eat it," Nikolas said softly, "will you love me?"

AJ's heart hurt. "No, Nikolas," he said, closing his eyes, letting his pain show because Nikolas couldn't see, keeping his voice flat and calm. "It doesn't matter what you do, I won't love you."

And that was how he got Nikolas to eat.

matthew@matthewtime.com
"Considering the Possibilities" Part Three: "Mac Scorpio Recites Love Sonnets"
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