I am not happy with this chapter. Well, the middle part. I needed to get some information in but I just am not happy with how it came out but…it is what it is. I hope you all can muddle through it.

BTW…my laptop took a power zap and hit the crapper. Luckily, I had the where-with-all to copy my outline and cast list and notes over to my PC at work so I didn't lose everything. However, that is why it's been two weeks since my last chapter. Unfortunately, the laptop is lost but not it's hard drive and I have a regular computer at home. (It's Windows 2000 and what a time warp it is working on that thing after XP)

Anyhoo…this chapter is long. VERY LONG ! But hopefully you'll enjoy it and get a better feel for the Morgan family dynamics when it is read. It's not as snarky as the previous chapters but like I said, not happy with it but needed to infuse it with a lot of info for future reference.

Oh, also, I think I'll post a chapter that is just the cast list for you guys. That may come later this afternoon. It will be an explanation of sorts as well.

PS: Thank you for all of your feedback. You are all wonderful and encouraging and I love it.

Oh, and again, I asked permission and she said yes.

Alison (alikat)

Chapter 4

Okay so I cut my hubby off.

That's right. All you guys reading this…it's the worst kept secret known to man so there should be no surprised faces in the crowd.

Women cut their men off from the nookie when they aren't getting their way.

It's a fact of life. Death, taxes and blue balls. Live with it.

That little brat of mine better appreciate what I go through to try to talk her daddy into letting her date a boy one year older than her. I mean honestly, I'm pulling out the big guns here. Cutting him off means cutting myself off too. Oh yes men, we don't like it either…it's just something we have to do sometimes. Kind of like bikini waxes.

It's been eight days now and I don't know how long I'll be able to hold out but I'm holding strong for my little girl.

I know some of you are rolling your eyes. My girlfriend Lainey says she and Cody can go weeks at a time. The last time I went more than a week and Jason was around was the six weeks after we had our pink bundle of joy. And we cheated by week three.

Shit, Jason better be out of town, sick or his pecker fell off if we go that long.

Lord of the Manor is now at the point of being mad at me but that's not why…I ran out of gas at the top of the street the other day. What? I was busy. Yeah, yeah that's exactly what he said.

Isn't there supposed to be an alarm or something? And before you ask, yes my husband pointed out the orange glowing gas pump but what the hell is that supposed to mean? It should say…hey dumbass, you're out of gas and ding at me like when I don't put on my seat belt.

Or at least sing a song like

I want some gas
Come on, go get some gas
That's right, baby
I want some gas
I want some...gas

Oh, in my head that tune is George Michael's I Want Your Sex.

EIGHT DAYS

Or maybe it could be…I knew a girl named Lexus I guess you could say she was a gas fiend. I met her at car store lobby masturba…wait…okay…we see where my head is. Oh and that was Darlin Nicki by Prince. (GREAT SEX SONG I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE.)

Speaking of, have we discussed the must haves of a great sex life? NO? Remind me. It's a must read. Trust me.

Back to my story of why my hubby is mad at me. (And yes I realize that is a switch but he's being a big ass about things so in all honesty, I am mad at him right back and two negatives make a positive and…huh? Anyway, Then when he and Jake got gas in it… (Did you know they had to lift the hood? And they think I am dumb. I just put it in the hole on the side of the car.) where was I…oh yeah so they put gas in it and drove it to the house, Jake told his dad the engine light was on.

That kid hates me and I labored for that kid. Actually, I almost died on the table but that's another story and wasn't really his fault but still…I gave birth to the little ass and he tells on me. I no longer make brownies either.

None of the men in this house are getting any this week. LOL

Anyhoo…so the engine light was on. Big deal. As I have said and he has proven with his over excessive spoiling of our three rotten assed children, we can afford to buy a new car whenever we want to. So what if the engine light comes on. That just means its time to trade it in. Right girls?

Besides, he's the mechanic in the family. Not to mention the man of the house and the husband in our relationship. HE should be checking my car on a regular basis. If there's something wrong, he can fix it. If lights come on that shouldn't he can do whatever it takes to turn them off. Hey, I don't wait for him to tell me he has nothing clean to wear. I check his hamper and if it's full, I wash his clothes…Why can't he do that with my car.

Okay, enough about that because it just makes me mad all over again.

Damn stupid man.

And I am NOT mad because of the car because I don't really care about that. I have been eying the new Audi TT Roadster lately anyway. Sweet, sweet car…anyhoo…I am mad because that man has the NERVE to be mad at me because of it.

Boys…I know you don't understand. It's a girl thing. Right Girls? Kind of like the "Witholding Sex" thing. Again I say, Live with it.

It goes right back to what I was saying before, I've got my own money. Hell, I earn the big bucks from this blog. Oh, did I tell you I get paid to basically trash my kids and my husband in a weekly column. I know, you guys are looking at your spreadsheets and your nurses charts and your check stubs and your bosses little yellow sticky note that you want to shove up the fat baldheaded mans ass and thinking what the heck am I doing here? I need to just type trash and make the bank. Just like the Humble Grumbler does.

Just remember though, you have to have the gift of gab and diarrhea of the keyboard. Not all of us can pull that off.

So like I was saying, I have my own money from this blog. I also have another perk. Have you ever noticed you don't see Herpes Cream or Limp Pecker Pills advertised on my page? Why? Because I won't let them. I took less money to be able to demand that some of the freaky shit that gets advertised on the world wide web won't be seen while reading my article. I'm just quirky that way.

I mean how can you read about my husband giving me the high hard one while you are considering whether a plastic applicator or the flushable cardboard one is the best tampon for you? Or worse yet, which diaper cream to use on that baby of yours.

The last thing I need is some woman OR MAN reading about my hubby and I getting it on while seeing an ad for a porn site. That just breeds pervs and I'm not associating my delectable ass to that creepy shit. And no baby shit either. What a mood killer.

Hell, we made a rule seventeen years ago that anything remotely looking like children was not allowed into our bedroom because of the way a kid's rattle or a five year olds nerf ball is the ultimate birth control…as in, abstinence is the only one hundred percent birth control. Well who the hell wants that?

Not me? YEAH, not me. Screw the daughter's dream to go on a date with the resident James Dean. I got my own hottie that I am abstaining from. And for her? Yeah, I'm a woman and a mom so which wins out?

I'll give it two more days but when we hit Saturday morning shower sex, I'm giving in. Screw her. She'll be out of the house soon enough. I've got years with this man. I can't ruin it now just for her. Can I?

Until next time…

Humbly Yours,

Grumble

...

"Babe, have you seen my brown belt?" Jason asked while casually strolling up beside his wife's desk.

Elizabeth turned to see her husband, who she was just complaining about in her blog, standing with wet hair freshly tousled by the towel, a dark red short sleeved button up shirt (that was unbuttoned) and matching boxers that could be seen because he was wearing his crisp white buttonfly Levi's that were not buttoned.

He is so not playing fair !!

With her mouth agape, she watched as her husband gave a little smirk and then leaned up against her desk, brushing her hand on the armrest of her leather desk chair with his thigh as he did so. Then he finally wiped the two droplets of water that were trailing across his chest and ripples of his abs. Elizabeth's eyes followed his tanned hand from his chest to the golden trail of hair that started at his navel and disappeared under the brick red silk boxers.

He was dressed in the one pair of jeans that always made Elizabeth's panties just melt off her body and he knew it.

"Elizabeth?" Jason leaned over and watched as his wife's eyes followed, seemingly transfixed on his stomach. "Have you seen my brown belt?"

"Hmmm?" she licked her lips and he knew he was getting to her. Maybe this was what he should have done a week ago when he realized she was holding out on him.

"You see something you like babe?" he shifted again and grabbed her hand that was gripping the arm of the chair so tight her knuckles were ghostly white. "You know you can have it anytime…anywhere."

Jason took her hand and smoothed it up and down his stomach and then pushed it over his growing member.

"Make love to me Elizabeth. I need you." He whispered and leaned down to brush his lips to hers.

She pulled back with such force she almost tipped out of her chair. Jason grabbed the chair and caught it. He got on his knees in front of her and gripped both arms effectively trapping her in front of him. He pulled the chair to him forcing her legs apart and around his chest and looked her in the eyes.

"I know why you are doing this but you don't have to. I know you want me babe, just give in. You don't need to do this anymore. My body aches for you Elizabeth. I need to be inside you. Come on. Let's go upstairs."

Elizabeth felt the pull. She loved this man and making love to him was the best part. She didn't want to turn him away. One last ditch effort was needed though. She hated losing.

"Honey, just let JJ take her to this dance. We'll get Jake to double date with them. Her and Anna. She'll be safe and she can prove to you that we raised a smart girl. Just compromise."

"NO" he said as he stood and pulled her to her feet. He pulled her into his chest and rubbed himself against her stomach. "I don't want to fight with you about this. It's bad enough that I have been fighting with Ella about it. Don't let this come between us Elizabeth. It's not fair."

Elizabeth allowed her husband to wrap his arms around her. She splayed her hands across his chest and then leaned in to kiss right where his heart was covered by skin and bone. Her fingers danced across his chest as her lips traveled to the left and then brushed against his hardened nipples. She flicked her tongue out across it eliciting a deep moan.

"What's not fair honey is that you are treating our daughter differently than you treated the two boys. It's not right. And what kind of mother would I be if I didn't protest this."

"Yeah but you aren't protesting the situation with Ella, you are taking it out on our marriage. THAT is what's not fair. I know this is killing you as much as it is killing me so just stop it. Besides, Ella IS different than the boys. Look at her." He pushed Elizabeth away from him to peel her body from his. "She barely bigger than you. The boys are bigger, stronger and able to handle themselves. What kind of father would I be if I let our little girl have to fend off JJ by herself. She's not ready."

"NO you aren't ready. Face it Jason, you still treat her like she was ten. She's not. She's a young woman. She needs to learn slowly how to deal with boys. JJ is someone we can trust her with"

Jason sat down in the chair and pulled his wife into his lap. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck and he pulled her legs so that she was sitting sideways on him.

"She can date. Just with boys her own age." Jason reasoned as he nuzzled her neck.

"JJ is only a year older Jason. That's really not much difference. Besides, we know JJ and JJ knows Jake and Cam and he'd be stupid to"

Jason cut her off with his lips. Quickly the kiss deepened until Elizabeth could feel the aching burn deep inside her. Jason's hands traveled up his wife's body and he cupped her pert breasts over her green charmeuse peasant blouse. Elizabeth moaned and pushed her body into his hands. Her tongue danced with his as she wriggled her ass over his groin.

"I'm taking you upstairs" Jason mumbled as his hands moved from her chest to grip under her knees and behind her back.

He stood and continued the kiss as he started to make his way from his wife's office to the much needed release they both yearned for.

"So you'll let her go?" Elizabeth asked as she nipped at his chin.

"No, not with JJ." He said as he moved across the room and moaned when he felt his wife's tongue trail seductively down the column of his throat.

"Then this isn't going to happen honey." She murmured as her hands rolled and pinched his nipples.

"What? Babe, you can't be serious." Jason pulled back astonished at his wife's words.

"I am very serious Jason. Give Ella what she wants and I'll give you what you need."

"FORGET IT" Jason bellowed and he dropped Elizabeth unceremoniously from his arms. He then stormed out of the room mumbling about his crazy fucking wife and her childish games.

Elizabeth adjusted herself on the couch that her husband had dropped her on. He's damn lucky he didn't drop her to the floor. Then again she knew he wouldn't have done that, no matter how mad he was.

"Fucking men" she burst as she pulled herself from the couch and headed out of the office to go find something to distract her mind. "He's being so God Damn stubborn."

"Who is?" Jake asked as he passed his mother headed for the stairs to go to his bedroom.

"What? Oh Jakey…it's nothing."

"Mwam, will you PLEASE stop calling me Jakey?"

"I try. At least I don't say it in front of your friends anymore."

"Yes you do. You came into the game room the other day and Mal, Molly, Anna and Gino were all in there."

"I already apologized for that Jacob. Besides, you ratted me out to your father so you deserved it."

"Mwam, I already told you. I wasn't ratting you out but Dad needed to replace the timing belt. Would you have rathered be stranded somewhere and your car just stall on you?" Jake was now fully turned around and walking behind his mother to continue his defense.

Jake knew his mother was playing her version of Let's Make a Deal with both he and his father. She had done it all their lives. When she wanted her way, which she usually got from Dad anyway, she used bribery and bargaining. When she wanted the boys to do something or wear something or was mad because they did something, she handled it the same way. This time it was her brownies and cooking dinner because Dad wouldn't let Ella date JJ and because he had told his Dad about her engine light being on.

Sure, he knew that right after she ran out of gas and his father was already upset but also teasing her mercilessly about it probably wasn't the time to bring it up but he only said something because of his concern for his mother. And he was right to do it. When he and his father got the hood up and inspected the car, she was low on power steering fluid and need her timing belt replaced. It was frayed to the point that it would snap at any minute. Had she been driving one of the cliff roads and taking the turns too fast like she always did when the belt snapped, she could have been killed. The car would have stalled instantly and with the power steering fluid low, her little body may not have been able to control the car.

But she didn't care about that. All she cared was that her son told on her to his father.

Oh…and don't think he didn't know she was holding out sex from him too but for THAT he wasn't complaining. He was getting a full nights sleep for the past week because of it. It's hard to sleep with heavy headphones over your ears and Kayne West or Kid Rock blaring through the speakers to drown them out.

Just then both looked up to see Ella followed by Jason coming in from the game room.

"I DON'T CARE!" Ella screeched at her father.

"Ella, I said you could go with Ian or Daniel. What's wrong with going with them or simply going with your girlfriends like you did last year? You can meet JJ AT the dance and have a good time. Your mother and I or Anna's parents can drop you off and pick you up."

"NO. I AM GOING WITH JJ DADDY. AND HE'S DRIVING ME. I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY. MWAM ALREADY SAID I COULD SO YOU DON'T GET A VOTE."

Elizabeth and Jake stood and watched as Ella rounded on her father and stomped her feet. They could both read the pained expression on his face. It was a war that had been going on within the household for over a week now and it was wearing on Jason more than anyone. Jake came up behind his mother and draped his arm over her shoulder. The only one that hated Jason and Ella arguing more than the two of them was his mother.

Jake knew his mother felt guilty for the time that Jason missed with Jake. She carried that guilt everyday. She tried her hardest to make it up to Jason for Jake with Ella. She was overly sensitive when it came to him and his father and he knew that their father son relationship was so close because Elizabeth insisted it be so. It made up for the time he lost with his father and vice versa for the year and a half plus. He also knew it was why she had always let Jason take the lead when it came to rearing his little sister. Until recently.

Jake didn't remember because he was too young but his friend Jackal Spinelli's parents had explained it one night. Well, his Mom had. She was like the town gossip and as long as you could follow along her rapid fire speech, you usually got a plethora of information out of her.

He was at their house spending the night with Jack and complaining that Ella was spoiled and got everything. He hated that his father would get on to him and Cam but not Ella and that his mother wouldn't do anything about it. Mrs. Spinelli said that it was all because of the guilt that his mother felt over letting him think that his father was Lucky Spencer for so long and keeping Jason away from them. She also said she felt her own guilt because of the affair she had with Lucky that caused Elizabeth to turn to Jason but then patted him on the head and said, "but then we wouldn't have you so I guess they have me to thank for that."

She hammered the point that Jason was a good father and Elizabeth felt guilty so she rarely, if ever stepped in when he made decisions about the kids. Jake was only eleven at the time but Maxie Spinelli made him realize why his mother and father were the way they were and after that, he just accepted it.

The shouting got louder and his mother shivered which pulled Jake from his thoughts. He wrapped both arms around her and pulled her back into his broadening chest and kissed the top of her head. Just like he'd seen his father and brother do a million times.

"ELLA I DON'T APPRECIATE YOUR ATTITUDE. YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN. AND I DO GET A VOTE. I AM YOUR FATHER AND YOU ARE SIXTEEN. YOU HAVE THIS WHOLE FAMILY FIGHTING AND I WANT IT TO STOP. THIS HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH. I SAID YOU CANNOT GO WITH JJ TO THE HOMECOMING DANCE AND THAT'S FINAL. "

Jake watched as the words roared from his father's lips while he wagged a finger at his little sister's face. He could see his father's rage and how he was barely able to keep it from bubbling over the surface. He'd seen that look in his father's eyes before and Ella, no matter how much her father doted and spoiled her, was not going to win this battle.

"I DON'T EVEN CARE WHAT YOU SAY. I'LL GO WITH OR WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION. I HATE YOU AND I NEVER WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN."

Elizabeth's trembling hands came up to cover her mouth. She watched as her daughter stomped out of the house toward the street and her husband slumped down to the floor where he was standing.

Jake unwrapped his arms from around his mother and shook his head silently as he made his way to his room.

Elizabeth walked up to her husband who was now sitting up against the wall with his knees bent and his head hung between them in his hands. She knelt down in front of him and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Honey, she didn't mean it. She's just upset."

"Yes she did." He hiccupped and she knew his emotions had gotten the best of him.

Reaching down to pull his chin up so she could face him, she saw the tears in his eyes. "NO, she doesn't hate you. She loves you. This is my fault and I'll fix it."

"How?" he asked knowing that even with everything, she still was not going to be able to convince him to let her go on the date, especially now.

"I don't know but I know where I am going to start." She whispered as she climbed into his lap and started right back up where they had left off in the office.

The fight between her and her husband was over and the war between her and her daughter was about to begin but for now, right now, it was time for some making up.

...

Jacob watched from his bedroom window as his sister walked across the yard to her best friend, Anna's, house. Anna Drake and Ella Morgan had been inseparable since their families had moved into the neighborhood when they were both three.

The old part of town with it's hundred plus year old houses that were in what was called the "blighted" area called the Asian Quarters near the waterfront had gone through a renaissance after the mob war to end all mob wars erupted and ended in a flash that took the lives of Anthony Zacharra, Trevor Lansing, Andre Karpov, his lawyer Sasha, Frisco Jones who was in the Karpov organization undercover, Mac Scorpio and Sonny Corinthos. From that point on, Port Charles was a different town according to everyone.

Robin and Elizabeth were both mothers and decided they wanted their children growing up together. They both found a street that ended on the waterfront and bought the houses right next door to each other and began renovations. The two Victorian style homes were gutted and renovated from top to bottom. It took less than a year thanks to Jason's connections. Big Pappy liked to always say it was his connections but everyone knew, except for the old man, that Jason still had a large finger in the pie at the time.

The Giambetti's, Milo and his wife Leyla, already lived in a house one block over when she turned up pregnant with the twins. It was a present from Big Pappy for their rushed wedding. Three years after that, Matt and Nadine Hunter bought the house three doors down when it went on the market and Johnny Zacharra bought Kate Howards place after she moved back to the city grieving over Sonny's death. He lived two blocks away but really only three houses over if they jumped fences. Max Giambetti and Diane Miller, a longtime couple finally moved in together when Max's son Joseph "Joey" Giambetti showed up motherless and looking for a father who hadn't ever known he existed. Joey was ten at the time, same age as Morgan and Cam. That's when Max and Diane decided to live together and raise Joey in Sonny's old penthouse which the organization still owned. Alexis Davis and her two daughters remained in the Lake Cottage just a few blocks in the opposite direction of the Towers. Jax and Carly planned to build a new house on a piece of property across the street from Metro Court which was close by when they decided they wanted to have more children after Michael's accident and during the mob war that killed Morgan's father. They scrapped those plans as soon as Sonny was killed and bought Greystone Manor. Actually, Morgan inherited it.

The Spinelli's lived in Jake's father's old penthouse. It was a wedding present he gave his young friend for all of his years of hard work and dedication solely to Jason which held true to this day. Since Harbor View Towers was on the waterfront a half mile up the street and most of the parents were either related or close friends, all of the children grew up together. Cam, Joey, Kristina and Morgan being the oldest group and Ella, Anna, Cece and Georgie being in the youngest group. The kids of all of these well known Port Charles residents became the Tree Fort Gang. Named by Elizabeth in a book she was writing and a nickname taken on by many of the parents.

Fabiano "Gino" Giambetti and his twin sister Farah, Malcolm "Mal" Drake and his little sister Anna, Kristina and Molly who both went by Davis but were legally Corinthos and Lansing and their little brother Ian Jacks, Morgan Corinthos and his little sister Cecelia "Cece" Jax, Joseph "Joey" Giambetti, Johnny "JJ" Zacharra Junior, Jackal "Jack" and Georgie Spinelli, Amalia Hunter and of course the three Morgan children were all friends or family in some way. They all hung out, mostly at the Morgan house, much to Jake's mother's annoyance. However, Jake's father, Jason, relished in the fact that all the kids were close by.

Honestly, everyone loved Jason. He was great with advice. He rarely, if ever, completely lost his temper around the kids. He was always teaching them new things and taking them to really neat, off the wall places like The Museum of Prehistoric History. He was the carpool Dad and fixed everyone's car. He and Mr. Drake built this huge tree house and installed lighting and a window air and heat unit. Then he built the garage and the game room. He packed it with stuff to encourage all of the friends of his kids to hang out at his house. They always used Uncle Max and Big Pappy's bodyguards and limo's to take them places if Jason didn't do it himself. He rarely liked to go out so he was usually the babysitter when all of Jake's mother's friends wanted to have their "girls nights" at Jakes. Jacob still wonders if he was named after that bar.

Jason taught everyone, even the girls, self defense lessons. Everyone got a new baseball bat that day. Jake's mother was weird that night but Daddy was happy and so was she so he and Cam just chalked it up to their being the weirdest parents in the universe. No one's parents acted like them. Aunt Carly said it was because "The Muffin", which is what Aunt Carly called his mother, is the only girl his Dad could never say no to. Jake's mother on the other hand says it's Aunt Carly. Jake stopped trying to figure it out a long, long time ago because as far as he was concerned, his father told both of them "No". The difference was that Aunt Carly rarely listened and he didn't have to say it as often to his mother because she stayed out of trouble.

Jake watched as Ella climbed through Anna's window after climbing the trellis, a stunt that she pulled on a regular basis if she was upset because Mrs. Drake was always calling their mother when Ella was over at her house upset. He sighed heavily and let out the breath he was holding when she finally made it through and shut the window behind her. His little sister wasn't being fair. Sure, he wasn't really sure why his father was so adamant about her not going on a date with JJ. He knew his Dad wanted her to date boys their own age but JJ was only a year older and his Dad always seemed to like him. Regardless of how unfair his father was being, he had been suffering because of the situation and it all came to a head in the family room downstairs when Ella announced she hated him.

It pained Jacob to know that his father was hurting. He was closest with his Dad, not because he was his biological son but because Cam was always studying and then off to school. His interests were more in sports and medicine. He was really close to Uncle Steven and Mr. Drake and Mr. Hunter. Also, he had two best friends that took a lot of his time. Cam, Morgan and Joey were inseparable and then when Kristina became a part of the mix Cameron's attention was solely fixed on her and school.

Familiar noises in his parents room put a smile on his face. Then when he heard his mothers ex-rated words through the walls of his bedroom, his smile turned and he walked out of his room and headed across the street. No child should be subjected to that. It wasn't even dinner time yet.

"I really need to take over Cam's room. They don't even try to disguise it anymore." Jacob said to himself as he looked then crossed the empty street and marched up the wooden steps to the huge wrap around porch of the Drake house.

Knocking and then hitting the doorbell, Jacob watched through the stained glass double doors as Dr. Patrick Drake came from his study, turned to yell up the stairs and then finished his trek to the front door.

"Hello Jacob. What are you doing here?" Patrick asked as he slid a hand into his pants pocket.

"Dr. Drake, can I speak to my sister please?" Jake asked using all of the manners his father instilled in him.

"Son, your sister isn't here. Anna is upstairs studying by herself."

"Oh, I thought she was here. Well, can…can I speak with Anna please?"

"Sure….ANNA…YOU HAVE A VISITOR AT THE DOOR."

Just then, Anna bounced down the stairs with her cheerleading practice shorts and shirt still on and her hair in a ponytail high on her head. Behind her was Ella Morgan, wearing her 4H Officer's t-shirt and a pair of raggedy, torn blue jeans.

"Anna…what?...Ella when did you get here?" Dr. Drake stammered, confused because he had been in his study for which the door was between the front door and the stairs. He never heard her knock or come in and he had seen, himself, that Anna was in her room studying when he got home from the hospital over an hour ago and went to his study to continue with more work.

"Oh Dr. Drake, you almost never hear when I come in." Ella smiled and rolled her eyes then winked at Jake and Anna.

"Well, that's true. It's like you just appear in the house sometimes. Makes me think I am losing my mind because I never hear you come in. Don't tell anyone though. I wouldn't want to lose my job as chief of staff of General Hospital because they think I am losing my mind because my daughter's best friend just appears like a hologram and then disappears just as quickly sometimes."

Everyone laughed at him. He was rarely funny and Jake and Ella's mom always teased Anna's mom that since becoming chief of staff he had taken on the same personality traits as their Grandfather, Alan Quartermaine, and their Great Grandfather, Steve Hardy. Parents were weird and that was just the way it was. It was easier to laugh at their stupid jokes and move on.

"Ella, I need to talk to you." Jake interrupted the laughter.

"Sure Jake, what about?" Ella asked.

"Well, come in. No need to heat the whole neighborhood. It costs enough to heat the house." Patrick said as he swept his hand toward the living room.

"Thank you Dr Drake." Jake said politely as he stepped over the threshold of the Drake house.

"We're going to go up to my room Dad." Anna announced and both Jake and Patrick gave her a strained look.

"Anna, even if it's Jacob Morgan, you are not to have boys in your room and you know it. Ella, you can either talk to your brother in the living room or back at your own house. Besides, Anna, don't you have a test tomorrow that you need to prepare for?"

"Yes Dad." She sighed as she led the other into the living room.

Once they were seated in the living room and they heard Dr. Drake's door to his office close the two girls rolled their eyes and giggled. Jake turned to his sister and gave the infamous Morgan glare.

"Ella, you need to go apologize to Dad. What you said was wrong. Oh and it did the opposite effect anyway. Mwam gave in and their um…you know…right now. I think you are going to have both Mwam and Dad to deal with now."

"It's not fair Jake. Dad always let you and Cam have car dates alone when you were sixteen."

"I know. It's probably not fair but I think Dad thinks it's different for boys and girls. Either way, he isn't changing his mind. You'll just have to accept it. But Ella, telling Dad you hate him was cruel."

"I know. I didn't mean it. It's just so unfair. Even Mwam said I could but he won't budge."

"Well, I don't have a date for homecoming. I can find one and maybe he'll let you go with JJ if it's a double date with me."

It was strange how much he and his mother thought alike on certain things.

"Who would you take?" Anna asked with a hopeful gleam in her eyes. She had been in love with Jake for years.

"I don't know. I was thinking about asking Molly." Jake announced.

"Oh" Anna clearly sounded dejected. Ella gave her a look and patted her hand. She knew Anna had a crush but also knew that Jake had no interest in Anna Drake. It would be too hard to date Dr. Patrick Drake's daughter even if he did like her that way. Patrick Drake was equally tough on boys when it came to his little girl as Jason was with Ella. "Well, I better go study for that exam. I'll see you two at school tomorrow." Anna said and walked to the front door indicating she didn't want them there anymore.

"I'll be back in a little while" Ella whispered and Jake smirked because he knew she would be. Jake had even gone over to the trellis one day to test its strength when no one was home. He worried about his sister climbing it all the time but wasn't going to say anything because it wouldn't do any good.

...

Dinner at the Morgan house was a silent affair. Jason and Elizabeth were much happier but Elizabeth was clearly ready to start her war with her daughter as soon as their meals were consumed. Jake and Ella were silent because they had talked and Jake had agreed he would talk to his father tonight to see if there was a compromise to be had. Ella was still shooting daggers at her father and was actually giving the Morgan glare to her mother as well and Jason Morgan, aside from a few sweet glances at his wife, was completely utterly miserable.

"Dad, can I talk to you?" Jake asked as he walked into the BG and handed his father the wrench he could see his father needed for Cece's car.

"Sure son. What's up?" Jason lifted his body from inside the hood and wiped his hands on a grease rag hanging on the bumper.

"I don't like how things ended here today with you and Ella."

"Son, you need to stay out of it." Jason sighed not needing another Morgan family member telling him what an antiquated ogre he was being.

"I am Dad. I understand. You are just trying to protect her. I totally agree but I just wanted you to know that Ella didn't mean what she said. She's just upset. She has been in love with JJ Zacharra for…well forever it seems."

"She's too young to be in love Jake."

"Well, that's not necessarily true. Everyone has a first love Dad. That may not be the only love of their life or even the greatest love of their life. Mwam is living proof of that but it's love to her. I know how you feel Dad. She's my little sister. I am very protective over her too. Hell you should have heard the riot act I read Mal when HE asked her."

"WHAT?" Jason shouted.

"Mwam didn't tell you? Malcolm asked Ella to the dance. I don't know what the hell his problem is but jeez….that's just gross."

"No that's a death wish right there son. You should have kicked his ass to make sure he knew that your sister is off limits. And why haven't you already done so with JJ. These boys need to understand that your little sister is too young for them. I can't very well go around kicking their asses but you sure as hell can."

"DAD" Jake pulled on his fathers arm as Jason started to pace and shut down into the "Stone Cold" mode.

"No Jake. You are her older brother. You need to be the one that handles these boys in school."

"Dad, I am not beating the fuck out of my best friend and Ella's boyfriend over your pig headed nineteen fifty's way of thinking. She's old enough and I am just trying to give another option that will make peace with this family. Let her go on the car date with JJ and I'll double date with them. I'll drive and I'll control what goes on the entire time between them."

"Jacob, Malcolm Drake is not your best friend if he's hitting on your sister. JJ is NOT her boyfriend and you sound just like your mother."

"Mwam?"

"Yes, she said the same damn thing. I'll bet you are suggesting you take Anna as well. I'll tell you like I told your mother. Patrick and I have already discussed this. It will be over our dead bodies that you or JJ date our little girls." Jason wagged a finger in Jake's face.

Jason knew his son was a player and readily agreed with Patrick when the subject came up. Sure, Jacob was a good kid but he fully understood Patrick's concerns over his daughter's crush with his middle child.

Dejectedly, Jacob matched icy blue eyes with icy blue eyes. To look at the two it was like looking into a mirror except Jason was broader and had more scars and facial lines.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. You know, you may win this battle but Dad, you won't win this war. She'll grow up and by your own doing, she'll do it without your and Mom's guidance because she'll sneak around and lie like Cece does. When she turns up eighteen and pregnant or runs away with him, don't come looking to me. I'm warning you now."

"Ella is nothing like Cece." Jason countered. His best friend's daughter was hell on wheels. He was cleaning out her car and found cigarettes and a condom wrapper. However, Carly was her mother. That kind of explained it.

"Not yet. Cece had a head start on her. But if you and Mwam aren't careful, that's exactly what will happen. You can't treat her like a porcelain doll and wrap her in cotton Dad."

"NOW you really DO sound like your mother. Get the hell out of here." Jason swatted at Jake with the shop towel. "Oh and if there are any of the Tree Fort Gang in the game room, send them home when you walk through. I'm done with you kids for the day."

"Alright Dad. Hey, wanna play a game of pool in about an hour?" Jake said holding out two fingers to the side. They always played pool and placed bets. Jake had gotten as good as his Dad at the game and they would bet for hours Jake could stay out past his curfew. Either one, two or three hours past eleven, which was Elizabeth's rule.

"Not tonight son. Tomorrow after school, I promise. We won't get to the weekend without you winning an hour or more but now that your Mom isn't mad at me, I think I'll take advantage of it." Jason said with a wiggle of his brow.

"DAD…you are one sick puppy." He laughed but felt the bile rise in his stomach. He had long accepted his parent's healthy sex life and since he had one of his own now, he understood how lucky his father was but still. That was his MOTHER he was doing those things to.

"Hey, I hope you should be so lucky when you find the love of your life. Your mother was a great find. I thank the heavens for her every day."

"That reminds me. I am sick of hearing Mwam calling for the Lord from your room. Can I please have Cam's room?"

Jason laughed. He knew Jake had the worst room of the house. Elizabeth didn't want to move Cam's stuff but Jake had a right to the room down the hall instead of the room next door. They did like to get loud. It was a complaint his son had voiced ever since he figured out what he was hearing.

"I'll talk to your Mom again."

"Thanks Dad."

...

Emily Audrey Morgan was in deep shit. Actually, she was buried under the pile that everyone shoveled their deep shit on to. Her mother had steam coming from her ears.

"Ella, you are a selfish, spoiled little brat. Your father has done everything for you. EVERYTHING!" She stomped over and stuck her finger in her daughter's tear stained face. "Don't think the waterworks are going to work on me. I have tried and tried for you. All I ever asked of you in all of this is to be patient, give me time and then just be accepting if it doesn't go your way. You promised and what do you do? You tell him you hate him. HATE? I cannot even fathom what the hell is going on in that head of yours."

Elizabeth continued pacing the family room. Every few minutes she would look over at her daughter who still had the Morgan glare and watched her mother. It was a battle of the wills between them. The both of them were exactly alike and since the age Ella reached her mothers height she never backed down from the argument.

"You know what. I am not even going to lecture you about how uncaring and mean you are to your father. How spoiled, selfish and wrong. Here's all I am going to do. After your little stunt today, you have lost your car privileges for a month."

"Mwam NO!" Ella stood and protested.

"And…AND…you aren't allowed to even GO to that dance. Date or no date, YOU, little girl, won't be there."

In a strange turn of events…the next thing to happen was Jake opening the door. Ella turned and saw her brother and darted past him to the BG to find her Daddy.

"DADDY!"…she came running at full speed and Jason barely had time to pull himself from under the hood of Cece's before she launched herself into his arms.

"WHAT?...What's going on?...Princess?...What's the matter?" Jason said feeling the tears on his neck and hearing his little girl crying.

"Mwam is SO MEAN! Daddy, you have to do something. Please Daddy, you have to do something." She kept saying.

"What happened? Is this about our argument earlier Princess?" Jason was a weak man when it came to his daughter's tears and he knew his wife was livid and intended to speak with Ella after dinner which is why he was in the BG working on a car.

"She…she….she took my car and said I can't even go to the dance now." Ella's tears started all over again.

Jason looked up to see his wife in the doorway with a little smile on her face. She said she'd fix it. What she did was make herself the bad guy again so that Jason could have his little girl back. The only problem was that THAT wasn't how Jason wanted it to happen. He pulled his daughter into his chest and wrapped his big strong arms around her and scrubbed his hand over his face. 'Fuck' he thought. 'Now what do I do?'

He looked over at his wife and could see her lifting her hand and waving it at him in a silent sign language telling him to 'go on and make it all right by giving in as usual'

"Princess, your mother is just mad right now. You know she'll calm down by tomorrow. I'll talk to her and by tomorrow you'll have your car back and you'll be able to go to the dance. But still not with JJ, okay?"

"Thank you Daddy. I love you." She sniffled and wiped her nose on his shirt.

"I know baby. I love you too." He said with a deep sigh as he rested his chin on his daughter's head and pulled her even more into him for a hug as he smiled back at his wife who was silently clapping her hands as she listened in from the door.

"Daddy?"

"Yes Princess?"

"I'm sorry for what I said today. I don't hate you. I could never EVER hate you. I love you with all of my heart."

"I know Princess. I know."