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Chapter 2

Jason was sitting behind his desk when Francis walked in. "Why are you frowning?" It was not a look the younger blonde sported much these days. Some days Jason was downright chipper.

"Would you like to come to my house for a Christmas day brunch?" Jason asked his friend.

Francis almost laughed. His partner looked miserable, this had to be Elizabeth's idea. "We are going to be in Italy." He and Diane were going to be visiting with his mother. The two women got along well, they bonded over a shared love of shopping, so it would be a fantastic visit.

"Oh." Jason frowned harder.

Francis gave up and laughed. "Do you want me there or not? I can't tell by all the frowning. Just tell Liz you don't want to host."

"You didn't see her Francis. She was glowing she was so happy about hosting." Jason threw down his pencil and leaned back in his chair. Hurting Elizabeth was simply not an option. "I was hoping you would be there to back me up."

"It's a party not a shootout." Francis said laughing harder. "Liz won't invite anyone you don't like. You can always say there is an emergency and hide here in the office."

"I can't lie to Elizabeth." Jason shot his friend a dirty look. Actually Jason didn't lie at all. It was something that never changed. "Johnny isn't traveling so he'll come." Jason would need to call his friend before he made other plans. "Cody isn't traveling because Kelly can't fly." The doctor was in her last trimester so travel was out. "Maybe Shawn will come."

"Nope." Francis just grinned. Jason sounded like he was planning an op. "He's going to Cozumel. He spent yesterday talking with Diane about some of the attractions he should be sure to hit." Francis and his lovely wife had gone there on their honeymoon. "Wear your gun, it will make you feel better." Francis said being smart, he knew Liz would kill Jason herself.

"Would you like me to die at my own party?" Jason said shaking his head. Nope he was going to have to suck it up. "If Elizabeth lets me turn on the game then I can hide in the den. Matt will join me." Jason really liked his brother in-law. Something that surprised him. He had not had much interaction with Matt before his plane crash, so he didn't know him well. He was expecting another version of Patrick, but nothing could be further from the truth. The two brothers didn't get along that well and were nothing alike. "I need to make sure Robin and Patrick are not on the list."

"That would be good. Considering the last time you were in a room together you hit him." Francis said smirking.

"I had to sleep on the couch." Jason thought it was worth it.

"Well knocking a guy out at his own wedding is frowned upon." Francis said laughing again. When Jason glared at him he laughed harder. "He had it coming, but you should have waited until he got back from his honeymoon."

"He called my wife a mob moll." Jason said getting pissed all over again. "Elizabeth said it was a joke, but I didn't find it funny." Patrick and Liz were close, closer than Liz and Robin which on some level made Jason jealous. That could have played a part in what took place. "I apologized. Eventually." Jason muttered. It took a month, but he did it. "We've even had them over for dinner." And each time they came over Jason got an emergency call. Funny how that worked.

Francis just looked at the papers in his hand and didn't say a word. "Is Milo going?"

"I'm sure Elizabeth will ask. He's her guard after all and they are close." Jason was glad that Milo decided to return to Port Charles. Jason was also happy that he and Francis worked out an alliance with Maximus.

"The Webbers?" Francis asked his friend.

"I have no clue. Steven and his wife Maggie will be invited but he just accepted the Chief of Staff position down in Memphis, so he is doubtful. Sarah may or may not come, and I'm hoping she chooses not to." Jason rocked his leather chair, a sign of frustration.

"Is she still being standoffish?" Francis wanted to know.

"She send presents for the kids on their birthdays and at Christmas, but she doesn't return Elizabeth's phone calls." Jason said through gritted teeth. "Sarah didn't even call on Elizabeth's birthday."

'Or come to the wedding.' Francis mentally added. "Maybe she'll change her mind."

"Maybe." Jason just hated the way Elizabeth hurt because the sisters weren't close. "Her parents are still in Africa, so they won't be coming either."

Stan stuck his head in the office, since the door was open that was fine. "Everything is transferred." He had spent the morning moving money.

'Thanks." Jason replied. "We are having a Christmas day brunch if you'd like to come." He tried to sound more chipper.

Stan laughed before clearing his throat. "I know my mother called and said Liz invited us." He just bet his boss was thrilled. "I accepted. I'm bringing my girlfriend, Zoe, and I'm hoping my mother will be nice since we are in public. Plus your kids will be around and they always make my mother smile."

"You're using my kids as human shields?" Jason asked his tech guy.

"Yes, I am." Stan said without the least bit of shame.

"What's wrong with your girlfriend?" Francis wanted to know.

"Nothing." Stan said grinning. "She's really nice. My mother doesn't understand the whole on line dating thing."

"When did your girl arrive in Port Charles?" Jason wanted to know. An interest in the lives of those around him was another new trait. Jason liked to know that his friends were happy. When Johnny broke up with Olivia he was the first one to check on the other man.

"Yesterday. She and her sister just moved here full time." Stan had been thrilled when Zoe told him that was happening. They had been talking and face timing for the last six months, he was ready to see if they could make this work with them in the same city. "I wouldn't bring her around if I didn't know she was safe." He wanted his bosses to know that. Since she was Jason's cousin that wasn't an issue.

"Never worried about that." Jason told the younger man. He hoped things worked out for Stan. The hacker waved and walked back to his office.

"So I will need to drop off my gifts for everyone before I go." Francis said with an evil grin.

"What's that face for?" Jason asked narrowing his eyes.

"I'm just thinking about how much you will love my gift for Cameron." His friends were going to kill him for how much he spent.

"It had better not be a puppy." Jason growled in warning. Cameron had been begging for a dog for the last few months. Elizabeth was close to caving but Jason was holding strong.

"I would never give you anything living." Francis knew better. What he had gotten was going to be bad enough. It was an over the top gift. The four year old was going to love it though. "I have work to do." Francis said standing up. "I just wanted to let you know that Duke signed off on the contract." They were going to be moving some items through their shipping lanes for the Scotsman. "His trucks will come down the night the shipment arrives."

"Sounds good." Jason liked to move merchandise out of the city as quickly as possible. They didn't store things on the ships or in their warehouses. Families that didn't provide immediate pick up didn't get to become repeat customers. "I'll oversee that myself."

"Ritchie can do it." Francis knew what Jason was doing. The shipment came in on Christmas day. Since this wasn't an emergency his partner wouldn't be lying. "That is why he oversees the warehouse." The senior guard had recently been promoted to LT., and had earned the trust that came with that position. "Stay at the party." Francis laughed as Jason's phone rang.

"Morgan. Send him in." Jason said to his assistant. "Get out." He said to Francis.

"See you later." Francis walked out and sent a greeting to the newcomer.

Jason stood up and smiled as his visitor walked in. "Howie, how are you?"

"I'm good and yourself?" The older man said taking a seat. He had become close to the young man he'd rescued. That, however, didn't stop him from being nervous about this visit.

"Good." Jason could sense nerves coming off his friend. "Want some coffee?"

"No, I'm fine. How are the boys?" Howie loved the Morgan boys and thought of them as grandkids. It was a novel feeling because he'd never married or had children of his own. He spent his younger years building his business and flying around the globe. The urge to settle down hadn't struck him until meeting Monica. They had been spending time together as friends since Jason came home after their plane crashed on the island and a few months ago Monica and Howie both admitted to wanting something more.

"Good. You should come by the house. We are having a brunch on Christmas day we'd all love it if you stopped by." Jason smiled and tried not to seem menacing. According to Emily he often seemed menacing.

"Actually. I won't be home this Christmas, that's what I've come to talk to you about." Howie started.

"Okay." Jason didn't see why Howie's Christmas plans were any of his business.

"I've asked Monica to go away with me." Howie told Jason.

"Monica? My mother Monica?" Jason asked stunned. "That Monica?" How the hell had he missed that.

"Yes. We've been spending time together." Howie began explaining. "She's a wonderful woman, and before things become more serious I'd like your blessing." It was a respect thing because they didn't need Jason's permission. Howie asked Monica to let him be the one to speak with her son.

"Spending time together?" Jason repeated. His mother was dating! She was his mom, and she was dating! Moms didn't date. They certainly didn't spend time with men. More serious? That meant sex, and Jason didn't want to think about his mom having sex. That was just wrong.

"Yes." Howie could hear Jason thinking. The poor man's eyes were bugging out. "Your mother is a beautiful, and smart woman."

"She's my mom." Jason pointed out. "I know she's smart and beautiful. Why do you know that?" He wanted to know.

"Because I'm smart too." Howie wasn't going to back down. Monica was worth the fight. "This is the part where you threaten me." He said grinning.

"You're damn right I'm going to threaten you. Hurt my mother and it will be the last thing you do." Jason said furrowing his forehead. Howie was one of the best men he knew, and if Monica was going to date anyone than she had made a good choice. But Howie was still a guy, and also being one Jason knew how guys thought. When you took your girl away, it was to get laid. His mother didn't have sex. "Where are you taking her?" Howie was about to get the grilling of a life time.

"Aruba." Howie got comfortable. Or tried to. Being glared at by Jason was not an easy thing to endure.

"Wrong, you are taking her to Puerto Rico." They would go to the casino that Morgan Corelli owned so that his mom could be looked after.

"If that will make you feel better, but I'm paying." Howie was going to stand firm on that. He knew there would be eyes on them, and he liked that Jason was being protective of his mother.

"That's acceptable. Are you flying down on one of the fleet?" Jason wanted to know. As soon as Howie left he was calling his mother. She should have mentioned this spending time thing.

"We are taking my personal plane, but I'm letting another pilot fly it." Howie wanted to focus on Monica. He'd already taken her flying just the two of them.

Jason wasn't sure he liked that. They could get up to a lot of things on the flight down. "My mother is a lady, and I expect you to treat her as such."

"I'm aware of that." Howie informed Jason. "So we have your blessing? Neither one of us wants to sneak around."

"You have it, for now." Jason said glaring again. "But I'm going to be watching you." He warned the older man. He was acting like an over protective dad whose daughter was going on her first date. But this was his mom, and a guy had to watch out for his mom and his girl.

"Thank you. We'll be back on the third of January." Howie said standing. He would wait to call Monica because he was guessing that Jason was going to go see his mother right after this meeting.

"Call me if you have trouble getting a reservation." The casino was a popular holiday destination.

"I will. Have a good day." Howie was whistling as he walked out of the office, leaving a grumpy Jason in his office. The blonde grabbed his jacket and headed out as well.

Monica was in her office when Jason walked in and closed the door. "You're dating?"

The Chief of Staff of the premier teaching hospital on the east coast put down her pen and looked at her youngest son. He was almost pouting. It made her want to take a picture. "Yes."

"You couldn't tell me. Do AJ and Emily know?" Jason said standing in front of her desk.

"Emily found out this morning, the same time Liz did. I haven't told your brother yet." She expected AJ to take the news the same way Jason had.

"It's a little soon don't you think?" Jason said actually pouting now.

"Jason, your father's been dead for several years now. Howie isn't the first man I've dated." Monica broke the news to her son.

"Who else?" Jason asked wide eyed with surprise.

Monica just laughed at the look on his face. If she told him that she had also slept with her last boyfriend it might kill him. Not that she would because Jason didn't need to know that. Although it was going to be obvious with Howie. "That doesn't matter." It was during the time they weren't speaking. "It's in the past. The important thing is I like Howie, he makes me feel special."

"You're my mom!" Jason exclaimed. "You don't need to feel special." Special meant sex.

That made Monica laugh harder. This was too priceless, her mob boss son was getting upset because she was dating. "Howie is a good man." He had kept her son safe, and the attraction didn't have a damned thing to do with that. Howie was hot.

"JASON MORGAN!" Elizabeth said coming into the office. Emily had spotted her brother heading in and called her. The young doctor said her brother had been muttering about Howie.

"What?" Jason turned to his wife and winced. Not only at the sharpness of his tone, but the look on her face. He was trouble, but had no idea why.

"How could you say that to your mother!?" Elizabeth came over to glare at her hubby. "She deserves someone to make her feel special."

"I didn't mean it like that." Jason said frowning. Bad wording still occasionally plagued him. "Of course she should feel special, but in this case special means…" He couldn't even say it.

"Sex." Elizabeth finished and then grinned at the expression on her husband's face. Monica had her lips pressed together trying not to laugh again. This was one of the most bizarre conversations she'd ever been a part of.

"Don't say it like that." Jason pouted. Moms didn't have sex. Especially not his mom.

"Poor baby." Elizabeth said giving him a hug. "Howie is still breathing right?" She joked.

Jason wrapped his arms around his wife. Everything was better when she was in his arms. "Yeah, but I warned him I would be watching. By the way you are now going to Puerto Rico." Jason told his mom prepared to dig in if she argued.

"I've never been there, Liz said it's lovely." Monica would give him this.

"Since you are here, you can take me to lunch." Elizabeth said steering Jason toward the door. She looked over at her mother and grinned. Monica gave her the thumbs up sign.

"Okay." Jason let her lead him out. They would have lunch, but first he was calling AJ.

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