This epic fanfic takes place in Port Charles 6 yrs. after we last left AJ/Kristina. Michael is now 12 yrs. old and Kristin Lila is 6 yrs. old. AJ/Kristina now also have the 2 newest additions to their family, Alan James Quartermaine III and his twin sister Alyssa Jasmine Quartermaine.
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Kristina came home from shopping for the upcoming Christmas holidays, her arms loaded down with packages. She let herself into the house that she, AJ, & the children now lived in since moving out of the mansion. Actually, it was more than just a house. The love she shared with her husband and children made it not just a house, but it made it a home.

She looked around for her family. Nothing. No noise, no clatter or clamour that came in a house with 4 children. She called out names.

Kristina - "AJ?, Kristin?, Michael? Where is everyone?"

Looking out the window she beheld the most beautiful sight. There in the yard was AJ building a snowman with Michael and Kristin Lila and not too far away were the twins AJ & AJ throwing snow at each other and just being typical 2 yr. old children. She smiled; then she remembered a time not too long ago when things weren't this warm and cozy.

She remembered back to the death of their daughter and how it affected them.

~Flashback~

AJ was kneeling at the grave marked Heaven Ly Quartermaine. AJ often referred to Kristina as his small piece of Heaven which was how their daughter came to have her name.

Kristina - "I thought I'd find you here." she said, relieved to have found him

AJ - "I'm where I'm supposed to be." he said, with a blank expression on his face

Kristina - "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked stunned and curious

AJ - "It means that if I were where I was supposed to be when you and our daughter needed me, she might be alive today." he said, sounding more depressed than he'd ever heard him sound before

Kristina - "You can't possibly mean that." she said, shocked that he'd think such a thing let alone say it

AJ - "Like he** I can't. My wife and daughter needed me and where was I? I'll tell you where I was, I was at ELQ in the middle of a worthless board meeting." he said with a tone of self loathing

Kristina - "Are you saying that you think you're responsible for the death of Heaven?" she inquired

AJ - "Yes." he said as if to say 'that about sums it up'

Kristina - "If you're really convinced of that, then bring her back." she said almost daring him to do it (tears starting to well up in her eyes)

AJ - "That's not fair! You know damn well I can't bring her back. If I could, you know I would, but I can't." (tears starting to well up in his eyes)

Kristina - "Maybe that's because you never had anything to do with her death. (in a loving tone, she said) AJ, baby, it wouldn't have mattered if you were there or not. It was meant to happen and it would've no matter what you did or didn't do."

AJ - "The fact still remains that if I hadn't put business before my family our daughter might still be here." he said stubbornly

Kristina (cupping AJ's face in her hands) - "AJ, Heaven was my daughter also. I carried her under my heart for 6 months and I'll carry her in my heart until the day I die. However, I know that I still have 4 children who need me; and they need you too AJ. Please, come home with me."

AJ - "It's not fair Kristina. Children aren't supposed to outlive their parents. Do you think anything will ever be okay again?"

Kristina - "I hope so AJ, I hope so." (the tears that threatened them both now fell freely as they held each other at their daughters grave site)

~end Flashback~

But that was then and this is now.

Kristina went to the back door and opened it.

(hearing the door open, everyone looked up from what they were doing)

(all of the children in unison) - "Mommy!!"

They all ran to her and hugged her nearly knocking her over.

Kristina - "Hi guys!" she said, as she affectionately hugged each child

AJ (in a low sexy voice) - "Welcome home Mrs. Quartermaine."

Kristina (in a low sexy voice) - "Oh, how I love the sound of that."

AJ - "The sound of what?"

Kristina - "Mrs. Quartermaine."

They kiss long and tenderly.

Michael - "Oh brother, are you two going to start that mushy stuff again.?"

They pulled away and turned to look at Michael.

Kristina (to Michael) - "Actually, no we're not going to start that mushy stuff again (she says as she playfully messes up his hair), because we all need to start getting ready to go to the mansion. Remember, we're having dinner over there tonight."

Kristin Lila - "Do we really have to go to the miserable old man's house?"

Kristina - "Kristin Lila Quartermaine! (she said, shocked at what her daughter said) Who are you calling a miserable old man?"

Kristin Lila - "Great grandfather."

Kristina - "Where did you learn such a mean thing?"

Kristin Lila - "From daddy. That's what he says after he gets off the phone with him."

Kristina (shooting AJ a hot look while still addressing Kristin Lila) - "Well, daddy shouldn't say things like that, because he never knows who's going to hear it."

AJ (addressing Kristin Lila) - "Angel, first of all it's not your great grandfather's house, it's your grandmother's (feeling Kristina's eyes boring a hole in his back) secondly, daddy was wrong to say that so try not to say that anymore, okay?"

Kristin Lila - "Okay daddy." she said as she hugged her father

The children went upstairs to get dressed.

AJ (turning to Kristina)(in a low sexy voice) - "You know, we don't have to be anywhere for quite a while, besides, it's customary to be fashionably late."

Kristina - "Might I remind you, love of my life, that the last time we were fashionably late, we ended up with the twins."

AJ - "I fail to see a problem here."

Kristina - "Okay, I'll tell you what. If we have anymore children, you carry them for the whole 9 months."

AJ (in a sarcastic tone) - "Deal."

They shared a smoldering kiss which was cut short when the doorbell rang.

He reluctantly pulled away from her and went to answer the door.

On the other side of the door stood none other than AJ's brother, Jason.

Jason - "Hey, AJ."

AJ stared at his brother, not daring to believe he was really standing there.

Jason - "Can I come in?"

(shaking himself from his disbelief) AJ - "Yeah, sure."

Jason - "It's been a long time.

AJ - "Last I heard, you were off somewhere doing Sonny's bidding."

Jason - "I haven't done anything for Sonny for at least a year before he died."

AJ - "You heard he died?"

Jason - "Not only did I hear about it, I was instrumental in it happening."

AJ - "What? How?"

Jason - "While I was away, I was in a really bad accident which actually proved to do more good than harm."

AJ - "How so?"

Jason - "Then initial trauma brought back all the memories I lost when I was in the accident with you."

AJ - "You called it an accident." (referring to the accident when AJ was driving drunk)

Jason - "It was an accident. Wrapping the car around a tree was your fault and so was being drunk, but my being in the car with you was my fault. I knew better than to get into a car with someone who was drunk and I did it anyway. I made that choice and it's time to stop blaming you for my choices."

AJ - "Thanks for saying that. So you never finished your story."

Jason - "Yeah, so after the accident I started to see Sonny in a whole new light. Then after what he did to you, I knew he had to be stopped so I started working with the authorities to bring him down."

AJ - "Sonny's been dead a lot of years, so where did you go from there? Why didn't you come home? Mom and dad have been worried sick about you."

Jason - "I met up with Robin in Paris and I've been with her up until 6 months ago."

AJ - "Why, did you two break up?"

Jason - "No! Haven't you heard?"

AJ - "Heard what?"

Jason - "Robin died 6 months ago. AIDS is a very hateful disease."

AJ - "Jase, I'm sorry. I know how much she meant to you."

Jason - "That actually brings me to why I came. I need you to go somewhere with me. There's something you need to see."

AJ - "I'll be glad to go with you, but I've got to be back in time to get my family to the mansion; we're having dinner over there as per grandfather's request. I could care less what he wants, I'm going for grandmother's sake."

Jason - "Speaking of family, how's everyone?"

AJ - "Grandfather is as much of an old wind bag as ever; grandmother still has the ability to see the good in anyone, no matter who they are; mom and dad on the other hand are a different story altogether; Emily is just as sweet as ever; then there's Skye, you haven't met her yet, but grandfather can't stand her."

(In unison they say) - "Which is all the more reason to like her."

AJ - "That reminds me, you haven't met my family yet. Stay here. (calling up the stairs) Kristina, come down here and bring the kids, there's someone I want you to meet."

Kristina - "We'll be right down, darling."

Moments later Kristina and the kids came downstairs.

AJ (to Kristina) - "Honey, I want you to meet someone. This is my brother Jason."

AJ (to Jason) - "This is my small piece of Heaven. This is my wife Kristina. (touching Michael lightly on the back) You already know Michael. (hugging Kristin Lila from behind) This beautiful angel is Kristin Lila, and last but certainly not least, these two precious babies are the twins Alan James and Alyssa Jasmine.

Jason (making reference to the initials of the twins) - "AJ & AJ, that's got to be a cause for confusion."

AJ - "Think of what it does to Ned. On the off chance he actually calls me AJ instead of "junior", 3 people turn around and answer him."

AJ - "Sweetheart, Jason wanted me to go somewhere with him, but I'll be back before we have to leave."

Kristina glared at Jason with a look so cold that if looks could kill, Jason would've dropped dead on the spot. She told Michael to take his brother and sisters back upstairs.

Kristina (to AJ, in a venomous tone) - "Why on Earth would you willingly go anywhere with the likes of him after everything he's done to you?"

AJ - "He's still my brother and he needs my help with something."

Kristina (still fuming) - "He helped a career criminal take your son away from you."

AJ - "In the end, he also helped me get him back."

Kristina - "So that's supposed to make everything alright?"

Jason - "That's one of the reasons I waited so long to come here. I was afraid AJ would hate me. He has every right to, and I wouldn't have blamed him if he'd just slammed the door in my face. Everything you said about me is true. What I did to my brother goes beyond cruel and if you hate me until the day I die, I can't stop you, nor can I blame you, but you'll never be able to hate me as much as I hate myself."

AJ - "Honey, I don't blame you for feeling the way you do. I'd be upset if you didn't, but Jason's making an effort. Can't you just try to meet him half way?"

Kristina - "Alright. For you, I'll give him a chance, (to Jason) but if anything, and I mean anything happens to my AJ, you'll answer to me."

Jason - "Message received, loud and clear."

(hugging Kristina) AJ - "Thank you. I love you"

Kristina - "I love you too. Please be careful."

They kiss and he turns and leaves.

(getting on his motorcycle) Jason (in reference to Kristina) - "She really loves you, and for the record, she's one feisty lady."

AJ (with a devilish grin) - "Those are two other things I love about her."

They hadn't traveled but a few miles when the car came out of nowhere. AJ tried to swerve to avoid it but it seemed whoever was driving intended for AJ to be the target.

It happened so fast. The crying tires, the breaking glass, and mangled metal. Jason stopped his motorcycle and ran to AJ's car. He tried to wake AJ but couldn't. Then he remembered the cell phone AJ always carried. He located it and dialed 911.

Operator - "911 dispatch, what's your emergency?"

Jason - "I need an ambulance -- (recognizing the driver of the other car) Oh my GOD!!!"

Operator - "I'm sorry, I didn't understand your last statement."

(pulling himself from his shock) Jason - "I need and ambulance to the corner of Main Street and 4th Avenue, for my brother... and his ex-wife."

to be continued...

Look for the conclusion of this fanfic in the fanfic entitled "The Ties That Bind"