Jax didn't sleep well. He kept going over and over in his mind about he should have just shelved his fears and insecurities and just kissed her. He had been in love with Chloe for fifteen years, and yet, he had never said anything to her. So it shouldn't be a big surprise to him that they were still not together. Perhaps if he told her how he felt, things would change.

And then, Jax suddenly knew what he had to do. He had to tell Chloe how he felt. These feelings were not going to go away, and they were only going to get stronger.

Jax sprang out of bed and got dressed for his morning run. He had to think about this first, plan things out in his head. And he certainly didn't want to just blurt out his feelings to her, no. He wanted it to be the right moment. He needed to plan out what he was going to say to her.

Just as Jax was about to head out, he saw that someone had slid a note under his door. Curiosity got the best of him, so he picked it up. He immediately recognized Chloe's handwriting.

Jax,

Hey u. I just wanted to let you know that I had
the most wonderful time last night. Thank you for
taking me out to dinner. Abbott's was great. Listen,
I hate to tell you this on such short notice, but I
didn't want to risk waking you up. I had to catch an
early flight to Milan. There is some kind of fashion
emergency that I must deal with before my runway show.
I'll call you later. Thanks again for being so sweet.

Lots of love,

Chloe  © J

Okay, so it was a little white lie, Chloe thought as she looked out of the plane window. There wasn't really an emergency in Milan, and the truth was, her runway show wasn't until next week. But there was no harm in getting there early, was there? As far as Chloe was concerned, she needed a little vacation to clear her head.

"Flight attendants, please prepare for takeoff," the pilot announced over the intercom.

Chloe checked her seatbelt one last time to make sure it was secured properly. Moments later, the plane began its ascent, and Chloe was already miles away from Port Charles.

Jax moped around the penthouse all day, waiting for Chloe's call. Of course, he couldn't blame her for leaving so suddenly, she had work to do after all. But he missed her. And now that she was gone, there was no way that he was going to tell her how he felt over the phone. He would have to wait until she got back from her trip, and even then, he wasn't so sure he had the courage to tell Chloe what he was feeling.

Finally that evening, the telephone rang.

"Hello?" Jax said, picking up the receiver.

"Hey, Jax, it's me," Chloe said, her voice on the other end.

"Chloe, hey!" Jax said a little too excitedly. "I was just thinking about you."

"I'm sorry I had to leave so unexpectedly."

"Oh, no that's fine. I mean, you gotta work, right?"

"Yeah…well, anyway, I was just calling to let you know that I got to Milan safely."

"That's good. When will you be back?"

"I uh…I really don't know. There're just some things…some things I need to deal with first."

"Alright, well I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too."

"You should probably get some sleep, it must be late there."

"Yes, it is."

"Well you get some rest. Have a good night."

"You too."

"Bye."

"Bye." Chloe quietly put the phone back on its cradle. Then, she buried her head into her pillow and cried herself to sleep.

Jax kept himself busy with work, busy with computer games, busy with exercise, anything to keep his mind off of Chloe and how much he missed her. Jax felt like he was going to go crazy, and Chloe had only been gone for a few days.

Chloe wasn't there to cook for him tonight, so Jax opted for some of Ruby's Chili at Kelly's.

"Hi, Elizabeth," Jax said.

"Hi, Jax. What can I get for you?"

"I'll have some of that really good chili."

"Sure," Elizabeth said with a smile and went to the back.

"Jax! Good to see you!" a familiar voice boomed from the front of the diner.

Jax turned around to see Herbert. "Hi, Herbert. Good to see you too."

Herbert walked over to him. "Jax, I have to leave town tomorrow, but before I left, I wanted to get in touch with my niece. I've left messages for her all day and her mother wasn't home when I called. Do you have any idea where she is?"

"Yeah, she went to Milan."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah. Some fashion emergency with her runway show or something."

"Ah, yes, of course, her runway show. Thank you, Jax."

"No problem, Herbert."

"Well, I must go. Tell your family I said hello."

"I will."

As Herbert left the diner, he thought about what Jax had told him. He went to every fashion show his niece had ever had since her career started, and he knew good and well that her show wasn't until next week. So why did she leave for Milan so early? Herbert decided that he had better go see what was going on.

Chloe sat on her hotel bed and fiddled with the bracelet on her wrist. She then went back to the sketch that she had been trying to complete all day. She heard a knock on her door and figured it was Therese.

When she opened the door, she was surprised to see not Therese, but her Uncle Herbert.

"Hello, Sunshine!" Herbert said in a jolly voice.

"Uncle Herbert! Hi!" Chloe threw her arms around her uncle.

Herbert laughed. "Well it's good to see you too, Chloe."

"Come in, come in."

"How are you, Chloe?"

"I'm good. What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean what am I doing here? I'm here to see you of course! You know I come to every single one of your fashion shows."

"But my show isn't until next week."

"Ah, so you do know when your show is." Herbert took a seat on the couch.

Chloe sat down beside him. "Uncle Herbert, that's kind of a weird thing to say. Of course I know when my own show is."

"Jax told me that you were here taking care of some problems with the upcoming show."

"Yeah…just, taking care of some last minute details…you know."

"But, Chloe, you just said your show isn't until next week. You're taking care of last minute details now?"

"Well…yeah."

Herbert leaned forward and smiled. "Chloe, you're a talented girl, but you make a terrible liar."

Chloe got up from her seat and put her sketchpad up. "Uncle Herbert, what you are you talking about?"

"Chloe, why are you really here? And don't give me some excuse about work. I can tell just by looking at you that something else is going on here."

"It's nothing, Uncle Herbert. I just needed a few days to, you know, clear my mind, and…relax. That's all."

Herbert stood up and walked over to her. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Uncle, I'm fine, better than ever."

"There's nothing bothering you?"

"No, nothing at all."

Herbert knew that that wasn't all, but he wasn't going to press. It was obvious that Chloe really didn't feel like talking about it now. "Alright, so what are your dinner plans for tonight?"

"I was just planning on ordering some room service."

"No, we can't have that. Grab your coat. Come on, your uncle is taking you out for dinner tonight."

Chloe smiled. "Okay." She grabbed her coat and followed her uncle out the door.

Chloe mingled with the crowd of celebrities, press, and other people in the biz after her fashion show.

"Chloe Morgan!"

Chloe turned around to face Gwyneth Paltrow walking towards her.

"Hi, Gwyneth!"

"Chloe, I simply *adore* your new collection! I think it is your best ever!"

"Oh, thank you so much!"

"It really is wonderful," Gwyneth said. "You must design my dress for the Oscars!"

Chloe smiled. "I would love to."

"Chloe, you've outdone yourself once again," said a male voice behind her.

Chloe turned around. "Tom, Nicole! Hi, how are you?"

"We're wonderful," Nicole said. "Love your designs."

"Thank you!

"Chloe!"

"Oh, excuse me."

"Ciao, Chloe, how are you, dear?"

"Hello, Franco! I'm good, how are you?"

"I'm great. Chloe, I have to tell you, I think this is your best collection yet."

Chloe laughed. "Oh, but don't you see? You taught me everything I know!"

Franco laughed. "But you did this work all on your own, and it's wonderful, dear. I'm very proud of you."

"Thank you," Chloe said, blushing.

"I hate to cut this short, dear, but I must go. Wonderful show again, Chloe. Arrivederci!"

"Ciao!"

After everyone had finally left, Chloe went to the backroom to straighten things up. Now, she could finally breathe a sigh of relief and stop putting on that happy facade. The truth was, to the outside world, Chloe seemed to be the happiest person at her show, but on the inside, she was not. Thoughts of Jax still managed to occupy her mind.

"Mademoiselle, what do you want me to do with these?" Therese asked, holding a few of the flower centerpieces.

"Oh, give them to the models. I have so many already."

"Very well, mademoiselle." Therese left the room.

Chloe sat down on the couch and played with the diamond bracelet on her arm, the bracelet Jax had given to her. And then, it hit her. She would have to return to Port Charles soon, and she would have to face Jax. She wasn't so sure if she was ready for that. She would just have to learn to accept that there would never be anything more than friendship between them.

"Wow, that is some piece jewelry you've got there."

Chloe looked up, surprised because she didn't hear her uncle enter the room.

Herbert sat down on the couch beside her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," Chloe said softly.

"Chloe, I know that something has been bothering you. Why don't you tell me what it is? Maybe I can help."

"I wish you could, Uncle Herbert, but you can't. No one can."

"Why don't you let me be the judge of that? Come on, tell me what's wrong."

"It's Jax."

"What about Jax?"

Chloe looked at her uncle. "I love him, Uncle, and I mean more than just a friend. I'm * in love* with him. And he doesn't feel the same way." Chloe started to get tears in her eyes.

Herbert frowned. "Did he tell you this?"

"Not with words, but I know that's how he feels."

"Chloe, how can you be so sure?"

"I just know."

"Why don't you start from the beginning, because I'm not as convinced as you are."

"Well, I don't really know where to start. I guess a part of me has always loved Jax. And lately, we've just been spending so much time together. And I guess the feelings I had for him just grew stronger."

Chloe paused.

"Go on," Herbert urged.

"Well, we decided that since we were both single, we would spend Valentine's Day together. So he shows up at my door with chocolate and flowers and wearing a really nice suit. Then, he takes me to the fanciest restaurant in town, Abbott's, the kind of place where they charge for the water. He orders a bottle of champagne. We danced. And he gives me this beautiful diamond bracelet." Chloe held up her arm. "Without kissing, it was probably the most romantic night I have ever had in my life. Afterwards, he walked me to my door. I was hoping, I was really wanting him to kiss me. And not just any kiss, you know. And then, he looked straight at me, and he leaned forward. I closed my eyes, thinking he was going kiss me, but then, he just gave me a simple peck on the cheek and said goodnight. That's why I came to Milan a week early. I had to get away. Every time I even think about him, I get all sad because I know that he doesn't feel the same way…"

Herbert hugged his niece and allowed her to cry on his shoulder.

Chloe quickly recomposed herself and grabbed a Kleenex.

"Chloe, you still didn't answer my question. How do you know that he doesn't feel the same way towards you?"

"I just do, okay? Look, Uncle, if Jax and I were meant to be together, don't you think it would have happened by now?"

"It hasn't happened, Chloe, because neither of you have admitted your feelings to each other."

"Uncle Herbert, I told you, Jax doesn't have feelings for me."

"Chloe, I think you're wrong about Jax."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm saying that I think you are wrong. I think he does love you."

"What?"

"I really think he does. Chloe, do you see the way he looks at you, or the way he smiles when he talks about you?"

Chloe didn't say anything.

"Well, I do. I see the way he looks at you. You may not believe it, but it is obvious that that boy loves you."

Chloe got up from the couch and paced around the room. "Uncle, you're just saying that."

"No I'm not."

"Uncle Herbert, you have always wanted Jax and I to fall in love and get married. I think you're just putting too much into this. You're actually starting to believe that it is true, but it's not. It's not true, okay? Jax doesn't feel that way about me, end of story."

"Chloe, come here, sit back down. Whether or not you think Jax has feelings for you, that is not important. What's important is how you feel. And my advice to you would be to tell Jax how you feel."

"No, Uncle, I couldn't do that!"

"Why not?"

"I'd do nothing but embarrass myself and then things would be awkward between us."

"Chloe, you don't know how Jax feels. You said yourself that he never told you. How do you know that he is not just as scared as you? Maybe he does love you, but he is afraid that you don't feel the same way. Have you ever thought about that?"

"No," Chloe said softly.

"Chloe, love is about taking risks. And sure, it's scary, but in the end, it's worth it. And honey, if you don't tell Jax how you feel, then you are going to regret it. You'll always wonder what could have been. Chloe, I think if you two just get your feelings out in the open, you'll be surprised at how things will suddenly become much clearer and things will just fall into place."

"I don't know, Uncle."

"Chloe, I promise you, it will. And I promise you, that boy loves you."

Chloe smiled. Talking with her uncle always made her feel better. She hugged him. "Thank you, Uncle Herbert. I always could talk to you."

"I'm just looking out for you, you know that don't you? And you know I love you, right?"

"I love you, too." Chloe smiled. "You know, this may sound silly, but ever since Daddy passed, I feel like you're sort of a father to me now."

Herbert smiled. "Chloe, your father would be so proud of you if he could see you now. I know he would. And you know what he would say?"

"What?"

"He would say that you need to tell Jax how you feel, before it's too late."

To be continued…