Of course…blah, blah, blah, blah… yada, yada, yada… No lawsuits please… no infringement intended.

Not associated with ABC, GH, the Writer's Guild, the creation of the Characters, etc. Purely for the enjoyment of storytelling.

Nothing strikingly offensive here… this is PG-13… at best. ………………………………………………………………………………………………

It had been their first real argument in a very long time. The house ran like a well oiled machine. Their schedules were just structured and flexible enough at the same time to accommodate most situations and the boys had all made nice adjustments to the new living situation. They had survived his family, her family and family court. They were as the saying goes… On a roll! If either had to describe their lives they would have both used the words perfect. But more often than not perfect did not include her husband's friends and their uncontrollable need to make their problems his.

"I just can't believe you would help her, especially with something like this. Jason she was wrong, but then again when isn't Carly wrong?" Elizabeth was trying not to raise her voice too much in the car, but her blood was boiling.

"Leave it alone. She didn't make me do anything. I make my own decisions and frankly I agree with Carly on this. Telling Sonny would only have made things worse. We both understand how he gets a lot better than you. Why can't you just trust me on this?"

She couldn't believe they were even having this conversation. She also couldn't believe that he had gone along with one of Carly's crazy schemes. "Jason," she placed a hand over his on the steering wheel, "you know I trust you with my life, except when Carly's involved because somehow… some way she always ends up making it about her."

"This wasn't about Carly it was about Michael and I don't want to talk about it anymore." Jason had pinched the bridge of his nose so many times during the ride home from Sonny's he knew he'd have a bruise in the morning. He couldn't believe that Elizabeth was being this stubborn and fixated on something that didn't directly involve her. This wasn't like her and he really hated the idea of fighting with her.

As they pulled up to the house and he slipped the car in the driveway he said a silent pray that Spinelli and Georgie had gotten the boys down and that Elizabeth wouldn't want to argue in front of their babysitters. Hearing the passenger door slam seconds after he put the gear in park he knew letting this go wasn't a real option anymore. Jason hopped out of the car and caught up to her before they came face-to-face with Marco on the front porch.

"I'm sorry you're so upset even if I don't get why, but could we just agree to disagree." He pleaded.

"How is it that you don't get why? You just did it again. You dismissed me. Conversations don't just end or go away simply because you say so. I never agreed to being treated this way." Elizabeth knew her cheeks were flushed and not in the good way. She didn't want to take this inside with the kids and the guards and Spinelli and Georgie. When the hell did her life become so consumed with all these other people to consider? She just wanted to argue with her husband not worry about a thousand other confounds.

"I've never dismissed you. The only things I've ever kept from you are about business."

"That's funny because I felt pretty ambushed tonight. Imagine my surprise when Carly showed up all pissed off about some phone call. Then to have her tear into me about getting you to tell the truth about something I didn't even know about. That's unfair and you know it."

Jason waved to Marco to open the door. Completely out of character Elizabeth breezed by with barely a glance to one of her favorite guards. Jason just shook his head and told him to get someone here to take Georgie home. Once they both entered Elizabeth threw on the charm and refused to let on that there was a problem.

"Good evening Fair Elizabeth… Stone-cold. How was your dinner with the Fashionista and Mr. Corinthos, sir?" Spinelli did go on.

"Fine, look we really appreciate you taking care of the boys tonight, but Marco has one of the guys out front waiting to take Georgie home. You should go with her and see her to her door." Jason bluntly stated taking no notice of the scene before him.

Poor kids were surrounded by brochures for hundreds of must see places all over Europe and were splitting a huge bowl of brownie ala mode Elizabeth left for them. They didn't look anywhere near ready to pick up and leave. And Mrs. Morgan wasn't about to give her husband the satisfaction of running them off to continue this ridiculous conversation. He didn't want to talk about it anymore and she planned on doing exactly that… not talking to him at all.

With a cursory glance in his direction, "You two take your time and finish your desert. I'm going to go and check on the boys."

"I'll come with you." Jason took the steps quickly trying to keep up with her pace at the same time looking over the banister at Spinelli to let him know to wrap it up sooner rather than later.

Elizabeth could practically feel his breath on her neck he was dogging her heels so closely. Staying angry with him was costing her. Giving him the cold shoulder was about to cause her to have to take a cold shower. Damn that Carly! And suddenly just thinking that woman's name was like having a bucket of ice thrown in her face. She entered Cam's room and of course he was out of the covers with his head hanging off the side of his choo-choo train bed. Jason slid past her and gently resituated his oldest and placed him back under the covers knowing he'd be doing it again at least two more times tonight. When he turned around the doorway was empty. Elizabeth was already in Jake's room when he got into the hall. He could hear her whispering gently to him and desperately wanted her saying loving words in his ear. But when she crossed him in the doorway he felt the chill roll off of her and settle on him. Stalking into their bedroom, which had never been the stage for anything but love, Elizabeth played the evenings events over in her head. She had actually had hopes for a pleasant evening as they got into the Denali earlier that night.

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Walking up behind her while she checked on her reflection for the third time Jason put his arms around his wife and told her once again how absolutely stunning she looked. She had a beautiful jeweled clip in the front of her hair with the rest of her chocolate brown tresses falling in ringlets around her face. Her dress was a cream knit with three quarter flowing sleeves and her legs looked long and sexy in the shoes that matched her hair color. As his eyes met hers in the mirror and his hand slid down to rest on her lovely rounded bottom, Jason began to lose focus.

"Mommy, mommy?" Cam ran through the door and jumped on their bed.

"Hey buddy, what's got you so excited?" Jason walked over and kneeled in front of the 4-year old.

"I don't know, but Cam please, no running through the house. You're gonna fall down and hurt yourself." Elizabeth ran her hand through the boy's hair and listened as he told them his very exciting news.

"Spins here and he has a friend." The little boy announced.

Jason looked at his wife curiously and then turned around for Cameron to hop on his shoulders for the ride down stairs. "I'll go deal with this and you can look at yourself one time. Then please come down. The sooner we go the sooner we're back."

He was being such a stinker about going for this dinner. But she was looking forward to the grown-up night out. As her husband crossed out of the room she called out to him, "Georgie is the friend he has with him, so be nice. I thought he'd feel more comfortable watching Cam and she'd take care of Jake and the diapers."

Jason walked back to kiss her as thanks for the warning. Spinelli didn't have any close guy friends, except the two odd ones he met on-line playing some game, but of all the screeching blondes he knew Jason liked Georgie Jones the best. He thought she was a good influence on his young hacker protégé. The two had been inseparable since she had gotten attacked in the park a few months ago.

Spinelli had been living at the house with them off and on, but since the attack on Maxie in her house and on her in the park Georgie had been staying at the penthouse with him more nights then not, much to her father's annoyance. She felt a lot safer with the guards in place and the high tech security. Sure she lived with the police commissioner, but the attacker had already been in her house once.

Elizabeth encouraged and supported the relationship, but Jason remained quiet. He remembered what it was like when he was with Robin and knew that Mac could be more than a little difficult when it came to his girls. But he stuck to his rule of letting others make their own decisions. Spinelli had gotten close with Elizabeth and the boys and they both liked having him around. Besides Jason knew if left to his own devices the kid would live off of orange soda and barbecue chips and it would worry his wife sick. So their "little brother" came and went from the family home at will and they always kept a light on for him.

Upstairs the reflection staring continued, the surgical nurse, the mommy, the wife… that's what Elizabeth usually saw when she looked in the mirror, but she finally decided that who reflected back to her tonight was Elizabeth the woman and she was satisfied. Taking up her purse she pulled her bedroom door closed and headed downstairs.

"Wow, you look pretty mommy."

"Thank you baby. Hi guys, thanks so much for doing this for us. We won't be late and this little one has to be in bed by eight. Jake's in his crib, but here's the monitor because he'll be waking up hungry in no time. Georgie you have both our cell numbers and Marco is out front in case of an emergency. Order whatever you want for dinner the money is on the kitchen counter and I made desert for you. Cam only gets one scoop of ice-cream no matter what he tells you to the contrary and…."

Here husband finally stopped her. "Elizabeth they'll be fine. Let's go."

"Stone-Cold is right Maternal One the Faithful Friend and I will be most vigilant in our duties and shall tend to our charges assiduously. Be off to your most excellent soiree hosted by the Fashionista."

Elizabeth wasn't always sure what Spinelli was talking about, but from what she gathered it sounded like he was ready to do a great job as a babysitter. She and Jason kissed Cameron goodnight and headed out to the car.

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Jason closed the door because he didn't want their voices to carry throughout the house. Elizabeth stood at the dresser taking off her jewelry and refused him eye contact. He just watched her wanting to strangle Carly for once again going off without stopping to count to ten. Walking to the chest in front of their bed she sat down to pull her shoes off. As she crossed her legs her husband came to kneel before her and placing his hand on her raised her foot he slid off the first shoe. Never saying a word, but feeling the intensity of his glare, she allowed him to do the same with her other one. He rubbed her calf muscles and she sighed her pleasure. The sound pulled her to the present and she placed her heel back on the ground and stood up.

"Is this really how you want to end this night? I certainly don't. I'm sorry…"

"The question is what exactly are you sorry for, agreeing to keep Carly's secret or getting caught for doing so. Jason we know first hand the damage secrets, best intentions or not, can cause. More importantly we know the damage Carly can cause. Now, you chose to forgive her for her part in the custody battle with Lucky, but I haven't and I won't. You promised to never have her in the middle of our relationship. You promised to handle her, but you know what, there are some people you just have no control over and I would have thought you would've learned that lesson from dealing with both Carly and Sam." Elizabeth grabbed her mommy pajamas from the chair by the bathroom door and slammed it once inside. Sliding down the door Elizabeth shook with tears making sure to not let any sound escape her lips. She played the scenes from earlier in her mind again and pounded her fist against her thighs in frustration over how things had come to this.

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Max had let them into the study and Jason called out to Sonny as soon as they were in the room. Apparently Sonny took to sitting out there waiting on Kate ever since she moved in next door. She was always just a little late assuring herself an entrance. It wasn't done in an obnoxious way, but spoke to the qualities both Kate/Connie shared. That was the reason he never got on her about the lateness that normally drove him crazy with the other women in his life.

"Hey Jason, thanks for coming and for the suit jacket. This was Kate's evening so…" Sonny let go of Jason's hand and leaned in to kiss Elizabeth's cheek.

"I think he looks wonderful. Besides it's nice to see him in a suit jacket and not have the reason being we're going to court." They all laughed at that. The laughter had been months in the coming, but it was nice to do and hear.

"Where's Kate?" Jason asked.

Sonny just shook his head and offered to get them something to drink. Jason took his usual beer and after some teasing over her preferred girl's night out beverage Elizabeth was finally given a simple glass of white wine. There were more smiles these days then tears when she thought about Emily, but she could still strangle her friend for coming home and telling Sonny about 'lick, slam, suck' back when they were still together.

"Well, well the gangs all here already. So sorry I was running behind schedule a little but Clarice called with a minor emergency that needed my attention." Kate had breezed in the room and addressed them like doting fans. She went straight over to kiss Sonny and then gave the request head nod to Jason who was not often open to sharing his personal space with other women.

When she went to hug Elizabeth she gushed over her outfit telling her how simply lovely it was and how she adored her sense of style. She felt Elizabeth was one of the few women in this town she had run across that could pull off good taste effortlessly. Jason noticed her blush, but knew how thrilled the compliment made her feel. He knew exactly how amazing, stylish and wonderful she was and tried to tell her everyday, but validation outside of your husband often speaks at greater volumes.

"I'm so excited that you're here because it would be a shame to have these men be business partners and such good friends and not get to know the woman behind Mr. Morgan's smile whenever I see him." Kate gushed.

Sonny watched in awe of the woman. They weren't living together and had had more than one false start and stumble in their reconnection, but she was hosting like lady of the manor and he admitted to himself he didn't mind one bit.

Kate spoke with Elizabeth about her work and fashion and Elizabeth showed pictures and went on about her children. Jason and Sonny stayed away from blatantly discussing business, but it did come up. When things turned to Michael and Morgan Jason noted a shift in something with Sonny, but when his friend didn't volunteer his worries Jason didn't pry. After a few more drinks Sonny put on music and he and Kate danced a little. It was nice, Elizabeth thought, to see the fashion maverick with her shoes off, laughing and swaying in the arms of the man she loved. She knew how hard it was to be in these men's lives and hoped their happiness lasted as long as her and Jason's. Guilt overtook her husband as he watched her smiling at the older couple. Leaning in he asked her to do the thing she knew he hated most. She respectfully declined saying that watching was wonderful enough as she kissed him and held onto his hand.

They had finally left the dinning room and were sitting in the study having coffee and talking when they first heard the commotion at the front door. Jason didn't make an immediate move because he knew Max could handle things. Well, Max could handle things until Jason realized it was Carly on the other side with him.

"The hell with their little dinner party, this is about my son!" The double doors flung open and in stormed hurricane Carly. "Jason how could you? There's no way Sonny found out unless you told him and you wouldn't have done that if it wasn't for little-miss-self-righteous."

"Carly whatever you're thinking trust me you're wrong. You need to stop this right now. You don't know what you're talking about." Jason made every attempt to block her path and keeping his eyes boring into her to calm her down.

"You know how he is Jase. He's gonna try to take my son, but I'm telling you right now," she directed this to Sonny wagging her finger at him, "there is no way I'm turning my child over to this control freak."

Poor Kate and Elizabeth were stunned. Elizabeth less so because Carly had been known to barge into a place, create a scene and leave destruction in her wake. What neither woman knew was what had prompted the outburst this time.

"You bitch, you just couldn't stand it that Jason was helping me out could you? You just had to interfere? What is this payback? Michael is just going through a phase. He listens to Jason we were working it out." Carly's arms were flailing and she was shouting directly at Elizabeth.

"Carly as usual I have no idea what you're talking about, but revenge is the way you operate not me. We were having a pleasant evening until you barged in and contrary to what you think your name didn't come up once, because the universe does not revolve around you!"

Kate wanted to diffuse, but she had already gone more than her required ten rounds with Sonny's ex-wife and just wanted to stay out of it. Sonny had left her side and had now replaced Jason in front of Carly.

"I warned you and candy-boy if you couldn't stop focusing on everything else and didn't reel Michael in what I was going to do. I'm done. Now I'm getting this situation back under control."

"So, what I was just supposed to come home and accept that my son wasn't living with me anymore. Marisol was packing his things for God's sake." Carly moved right on to attacking Kate.

"Anyway it's not like you can give him so much more attention with Ms. Howard taking up all of your time."

Jason was standing next to Elizabeth and was thinking of the easiest possible exit. However, when he went to put his arm around her she shifted to make sure she was just out of his reach. Kate walked over to Sonny whispered something in his ear and slipped back across the terrace.

Carly flopped down on the couch crossing her arms and refused to budge. "Well, you better fix a drink because I am not leaving until I make you understand that I am not giving you my son. Jason, don't just stand there, ignore the muffin's dirty little judgmental glares, and talk to him."

"This isn't Elizabeth's fault Carly," Sonny stated emphatically. "He's flunking classes, mouthing off, fighting, running my guards like they work for him and breaking every rule. Now he's ditching. If the school hadn't called to confirm our appointment with the counselor I would still be in the dark."

Jason felt horrible. He had paid the guards not to tell Sonny about the ditching or the truancy call, because Carly was petrified that Sonny would think she couldn't handle their oldest and take him from her. "Look I'll stay if you want, but you have to work this out for Michael. Carly he is in trouble. Sonny I'm sorry I kept it from you, but she wanted my help and thought I could give it. I tried to get through to him and I thought he was starting to listen."

"We all know how Carly operates Jason. We'll talk tomorrow. You need to take Elizabeth home and back to your own sons."

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A part of him was furious…with Carly for being a wrecking ball in his life, with himself for allowing it and with Elizabeth for not understanding. He knew a part of her was right though. He let Carly's panic and energy take over and convince him that if Sonny knew the truth about his oldest son's behavior that she'd loose him. Protecting Michael had always been the thing she held over him and the one thing he was powerless to resist. Now he could hear his wife sob on the other side of the bathroom door. She had since gotten up from the door and moved to the sink, turning the water on to muffle the sound, but he knew her moves before she made them. Sitting in the chair closest to the door he recalled all the times she displayed nothing but strength then snuck in there turned on the water and had a good cry. He hated when her tears had his name on them.

When the door opened her face had been scrubbed clean and her hair was still damp in front and pulled back up into a tight bun. She felt a little trapped because she knew she'd have to pass him in order to get to her side of the bed. He was doing what he always did… he just sat and waited to see her next move. No one knew her like her husband and he knew she'd deal with him in her time and her way. But the stand-off was making him just as uncomfortable as it was making her.

She broke the silence. "I'm all done in there if you need to get in."

More silence was the response she received. Heading for the door she thought she'd grab a bottle of water and maybe check on the boys again. She had to get away from his intense glare. He wanted some sort of resolution tonight, and she wasn't sure she could oblige. His voice hit her before she could put her hand on the door knob.

"Georgie and Spinelli already left, I checked the boys and here's your water."

Boy did she want to throttle him. Before she turned around she took a deep breath and attempted to wipe the smirk off of her face. No one knew her like her husband. Letting go of the handle she faced him keeping her back to the door and he finally made a move toward her. She certainly wasn't about to run from him like a four year old, so she stayed put. He put the water bottle on the dresser and stood in front of her with his hands shoved in his pockets. Her breath was caught in her throat. God how she loved this man even when she was furious with him. She had told him once before that even when they were at odds with one another it was always about someone else and unfortunately that hadn't changed. Right now Carly, and her many last names, was the white elephant between them.

His eyes were so intense when he got like this… silent. They were boring into her and she couldn't break away.

He said only one word, "please."

"I can't just be okay with this Jason. If I am then I'm saying it's alright for this to happen again. I'm saying that you keeping secrets with Carly is acceptable and it's not." Still they didn't move. His silence prompted her to go on. He needed her to get it all out.

"I know perfectly well how Sonny can be and I know how he's always felt about Jax, but making choices about Michael has to be between the three of them. You shouldn't be involved. We have our own children to worry about and a Spinelli." He blinked and smirked because even though he was twenty he knew she was right about the young hacker.

"Look I love Michael too, but you said it yourself he's way out of control and maybe Carly and Jax aren't handling it best. And I love you, but your talking to him hasn't made a difference either. Maybe now it's his father's turn to make the decisions. I know it's your instinct to rush in and pull Carly out of the fire so to speak, but did you ever give any thought to what it would do to your relationship with Sonny or me for that matter. Maybe he's wrong to want to send Michael to boarding school I don't know, but I do know he and Carly are the only ones who get to make that decision. And if that screeching, interfering, inconsiderate, bottle blonde harpy gets in my face again I'm going to forget I'm a wife and mother and mop the floor with her."

His smirk became a full on smile. Looking at him quizzically she asked, "What's so funny?"

"I'm just picturing you and Carly going ten rounds. That and I'm glad you're directing that temper towards her now."

"You're not off the hook that easy mister. There's plenty of temper to go around."

The smile left his face but lingered behind his eyes as he looked at her and stepped in closer shortening the distance between them, but increasing the heat. "I am sorry you know. I won't keep things from you that have the potential to blow up in your face without warning. You're right this wasn't business it was personal and it was Carly, so I should have seen it coming."

"Could you go back to the part where I was right?"

"That's the first smile you cracked since Carly burst in at Sonny's. Are we okay now?"

"I don't think you should get off that easy. I think there needs to be a very fitting punishment for the crime."

He closed the space more and put his arm over her shoulder on the door effectively eliminating any distance left between them. He bent down to kiss her neck, whispering, "So what kind of punishment would be appropriate?"

Aw, hell, now she couldn't think clearly at all. Her hand slid between them and she placed them flat on his massive chest. He moved from her neck to her lips and cut off her ability to not only think, but to speak. Hands around his neck now she tilted up and started to back him away from the door. Now this was the way the evening was supposed to end Jason thought. He slid his hands around her waist and they headed straight up the back of her shirt and began massaging her back. If she didn't take a step back this was going to a very inevitable place, but it wouldn't solve anything.

"I need to get some sleep I have an early surgery with Patrick tomorrow. Would you set the alarm for four please?" He was stunned. Was she seriously putting on the breaks and going to sleep. Jason just stood there. There were few nights they didn't make love and never without a really good reason, like sick kids, or one of them not being home.

She finally had her clear path to her side of the bed. He just watched her. Boy she hoped he couldn't tell how turned on she was or how frustrated, but she didn't want him to think that sex was going to be his easy out. She still had some very real concerns about his relationship with Carly and the fact that she could get him to do her bidding on a whim. He was strong in so many ways and he had gotten better where Carly was concerned, but she still knew how to pull his strings. She was going to have to find a way to deal with the situation and she planned on getting advice from an expert in the field… Robin.

Jake's cries coming through the monitor brought them back into the room and out of their own thoughts and disappointment. Elizabeth sighed and turned back toward the door.

"I got it." Jason walked out the door and Elizabeth climbed into bed.

She did need sleep and feeling the way she did she knew she wouldn't get any. She never fell to sleep easy when the other side of her bed was empty. What was taking so long? Jake usually took his bottle after being changed and went right back to sleep. Where the hell did Jason go? Nothing came from the monitor and when she couldn't take it anymore she started to go and check for herself. Then she heard his footsteps. She never said a word, but watched him undress and go in and out of the bathroom. When he was done he took her water off the dresser and went to place it on her nightstand. He knew she'd need it in the middle of the night she always did. Finally climbing in the bed on his side he slid over to his beautiful wife and kissed her on the forehead and breathed out I love you.

Having no idea she was still awake he was startled when she replied, "I love you too, night Jase."

She pulled his arm around her and snuggled in close. It didn't matter that she was angry or worried she knew this was the only way she'd get a good night's sleep.