Lila Quartermaine smiled as she watched her family sitting at breakfast together. Her family, known for being dysfunctional was actually getting along, even though all of the members weren't here.

Alan was off on attending a series of work seminars in Boston, but was expected to arrive back in Port Charles sometime tomorrow.

Tracy was currently enthralled in all things ELQ and refused to be pulled away from work.

AJ was in another country, most likely enjoying the sites, and avoiding the very notion of settling down. He was quite a spirited one.

The family that was here at the breakfast table with her though was enough for Lila in the moment.

Her husband was chatting idly with Monica and Emily about a foundation and shelter he wanted to start. Apparently the idea stemmed from a conversation Sam, who had told Edward that instead spending outrageous amounts money on material things, that he should open a shelter that would provide for boys and girls who were headed down the wrong path.

Ah, Sam.

She was quite a lovely woman, and she had obviously captured the attention of her grandson. Over the years, Lila had seen Jason with many women, and she had seen his heart broken only twice. She knew her grandson, and she knew that despite his tough exterior, he was afraid to be hurt again. The way he acted with Sam, told Lila that Jason was willing to risk his heart with Sam. The pair may not see it yet, but Lila could tell that the two were destined for something great, something life changing, something together.

She noticed the way his eyes followed Sam from the time she entered a room to the time she left it. Jason also looked at Sam much differently than he looked at all the other women he bought home. Jason looked at Sam like she her very existence kept him on Earth, as if Sam was the oxygen Jason needed to survive. If Sam moved slightly in her chair, Jason moved as well. They were in sync.

Jason may not know it yet, but he was falling in love with Sam. Deeply.

Sam was no different from her grandson, and Lila Quartermaine was no fool. The passion marks on Sam's neck, though hidden quite well, she knew came from Jason. Sam had worn her hair down all morning, but she'd turned her head abruptly when Jason had entered the kitchen and momentarily, she'd exposed her neck. The way Sam gravitated towards Jason when they shared a room, was just as obvious to Lila as the need Sam and Jason had to have physical contact. It didn't go unnoticed by Lila that, Sam and Jason sat as close as possible during breakfast.

Breakfast had ended and Sam was stubbornly helping Alice with the dishes, so Lila decided to pull her grandson aside and talk to him. She could tell that something had happened between Jason and Sam. That much was clear from the pained looks the two had tried quite well to hide. They may have been sitting close together at breakfast, but there was still tension between the two.

"How are you grandmother?" Jason asked as he and Lila settled in Jason's library. It was quiet and secluded, perfect for this conversation. Jason knew his grandmother, and he knew that there was something on her mind.

"I am lovely, my dear boy. So tell me, what is troubling you?" Lila fixed a knowing look on her grandson.

Jason sighed. He was the head of a successful crime organization, a ruthless killer, and a fearless man who never backed down, yet when he talked with his grandmother, none of that mattered. He was simply Jason, nothing more, nothing less, thus making it impossible to lie to his grandmother. She was soft spoken, but she was also knowing and firm when things were kept from her.

"I really care about Sam, grandmother," Jason began, his feelings pouring out of him, "but she has been through something terrible and she won't let herself tell me."

"Why do I have a feeling this more?"

"I want a relationship with Sam. I know I said I would never try another relationship, but Sam makes me not care about what I have been through. She doesn't care about my wealth or what I do for a living. She challenges me. I like her grandmother, and a part of me wants to be angry at her for keeping something from me, but how can I when I'm keeping my past from her? How can I be angry with her for not trusting me, when I can't trust her."

"Oh, Jason, we all have secrets. You're scared to tell Sam the whole truth about your past, because you're afraid she'll judge you and run from you. I can guarantee you it's the exact opposite for Sam."

"What do you mean?"

"Sam isn't telling you everything, because Sam is scared that you will pity her, and she doesn't strike me as someone who appreciates pity. Whatever Sam is hiding, hurt her very deeply, and she's afraid if she tells you, you'll look at her differently."

"How do you know this? Has Sam talked to you?"

"She doesn't have to my dear boy. Sam's eyes are very telling. She lights up when she talks to people, especially you, but I can see the hidden pain in her eyes. Something, or someone hurt her deeply Jason, and I want you to promise me that when she tells you, you will comfort her, but you won't pity her."

"I promise grandmother, but how do you know she will tell me, and if she does, how will she know the difference between me comforting her, and me pitying her?"

"You make Sam feel safe. She is much more relaxed when you are near, which means that she trusts you Jason. As for her knowing the difference, just trust your dear old grandmother."

Jason smiled at his grandmother, and hoped that she was right. He couldn't explain it, but the pull he felt towards Sam was growing stronger. She was so different from any other woman he'd ever been with. Sam knew what Jason was and who Jason was, and she didn't seem scared. Sam didn't seem like the type of person to try and change Jason, which was nice, considering the catastrophes know as his previous relationships.

"Jason." Lila's soft spoken word pulled Jason from his thoughts. He looked at his grandmother and wait patiently for her to speak.

"Sam seems to be a special girl. The same way you want her to be honest with you; you have to be honest with her. She balances you out, and gets along with your grandfather. I'd say she is a keeper. The only way you will be able to keep her Jason, is if you are honest with her. Lies will get you nowhere with Sam. The problem you are having doesn't concern trust, it concerns fear. The both of you are scared to share everything, because the consequences seem too great. Sometimes, you just have to forgo the consequences

"Thanks for the advice, grandmother."

"Oh, Jason, I'm always here for you. Never forget that." Lila patted Jason's knee to finalize her words.

While Jason was bonding with his grandmother, Emily and Monica decided to pull Sam aside. They wanted to get to know the woman who'd entranced their brother and son, respectively.

So, after getting Edward in contact with the people who could help start his charity and foundation, Monica and Emily cornered Sam who'd been sitting cross-legged outside in the garden. She had a rose in her hands and was caressing it lovingly.

"Hi, Sam" Emily spoke softly, not wanting to disrupt the peace that surrounded the garden.

"You don't mind if we have some girl time, do you?" Monica asked, as she and Emily moved to sit beside Sam.

Sam looked down at the rose in her hand, before slipping it into her hair, just above her ear.

"Sure." She answered, the beginnings of a small smile appearing on her face.

"You make my brother very happy." Emily began, "for that I want to thank you."

"I have to agree with Emily, you are really good for my son."

"Edward told me the same thing." Sam replied, her eyes focused on the bed of roses not far from where she was sitting.

Sam knew she wasn't hole-heartedly interested in the conversation. Her brain kept going back to the dream she'd had many nights ago. The dream in which she and Jason had been watching a sunset, and he'd told her that she needed to trust him, and that he wouldn't hurt her way Jerry did.

"That's a feat in itself." Monica smiled.

"How so?" Sam asked finally looking up at the two woman sitting with her. She had a feeling this conversation could be enlightening.

"Edward has never approved of any of the women that Jason has brought home. He always told Jason they were after his money or that their intentions weren't pure."

"It seems grandfather was correct." Emily added.

"How so?" Sam asked, her interest piqued.

"Every female that Jason has introduced us to has tried to use him for something. Elizabeth wanted money, and even tried passing someone else's child of on Jason. Brenda wanted the fame she believed being with Jason would present to her; apparently Jason could have furthered her modeling career. Then, there was Courtney."

Sam gulped. No wonder the man had said what he'd said to her. Every woman he'd ever attempted to build something with had used him. Sam couldn't fathom the idea of using Jason. He may put on the persona of a cold hearted man, but Sam knew better.

Sam was a witness to the gentler side of Jason. It was visible in the way he was with his grandmother, mother, and sister. Sam witnessed the softer side of Jason when Maxie, Carly, and Olivia had come around. The biggest tell-tale sign of Jason's softer, kinder side was in the way he touched and kissed her. Sure there was deeply rooted passion, but Jason was a huge man. If he wanted to overpower Sam, he could do it easily.

"Have you and Jason ever talked about your pasts with each other?" Monica questioned.

"We've talked about the basics, but not every detail. It's just easier that way." Sam supplied.

"Oh, sweetheart, take it from me, it may seem easier, but it doesn't mean it's better. Secrets need to be told. You and Jason seem really good together, and I would hate to see you two fall apart because the both of you didn't put everything on the table."

Monica got up and walked away after saying those last words to Sam. She knew that what she what she'd said was something that Sam needed to process. Monica only hoped that it wouldn't take too long.

"What happened with Courtney?" Sam asked, her voice a raspy whisper. Emily looked at her with sad mahogany eyes.

"That's something Jason needs to tell you. All I can say is that you're better than that…woman. I think you're great for my brother Sam." Emily followed Monica's footsteps, and left Sam to herself.

Jason watched from the window as his mother and Emily talked with Sam. She'd looked so beautiful holding the flower up to her face, her dark hair providing a curtain of silk. Jason wasn't clueless though. He knew that something was bothering Sam.

When Sam placed the flower in her hair, effectively keeping it from her face, Jason was struck by Sam's beauty. She was wearing very little makeup and had only run a brush through her hair, but still she was a stunning beauty. When Sam looked up and met his eyes through the window, Jason could see what his grandmother had been talking about. While Sam's eyes were a beautiful, mahogany-hazelnut brown, and staring at him with wonder in her eyes, there was also fear there. Jason wasn't foolish enough to believe that Sam feared him. No, he knew what Sam feared, because he feared it himself: the past. Jason knew that his was less than perfect, and he also knew that Sam's was one of torment and pain.

As much as Jason racked his brain, he couldn't think of a way for Sam to open up to him. He hoped that Monica and Emily's talk with Sam would help her see.

Jason was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of a loud laugh. His eyes flew back to Sam ad he saw her leaning back with her hair dancing behind her. She looked to be laughing whole-heartedly. Jason eyes traveled a little further and landed on Maxie, who was laughing just as hard as Sam.

"You really care for her, don't you?" Johnny's voice drifted into the room.

"When did you get here?" Jason asked, pulling himself away from the window.

"Maxie was with Olivia, and saw a pair of boots, she knew Sam would love, so she dragged me, Liv, and Spinelli with her to get them, and then we came here. Sonny and Carly should be here soon."

"She needed all of you to buy Sam a pair of boots?" Jason tried to stifle a small chuckle threatening to erupt.

"She really needed an excuse to come see Sam, and then she and Olivia concocted a scheme about boots. Although, I think Maxie saw the opportunity to shop as a bonus."

"Wow," was all that Jason could say.

"You didn't answer my question." Johnny said knowingly.

"What question?" Sonny asked as he and Spinelli walked into Jason's library.

"Does Jason really care for Sam?" Johnny replied.

"Stonecold?" Spinelli urged Jason.

"I told her a little bit about my past, and she doesn't pity me or judge me. She gets along with Edward and Olivia, and Maxie and Carly both approve." Jason answered in explanation.

"She does all of those things Jason, but how do you feel about her?" Sonny questioned.

"She makes me feel…different, like what I do and who I am to the world isn't important. It's easy to have a conversation with her. I know that she not after my money and I like spending time with her."

"That is as close as you have ever come to admitting your feelings," Johnny said, "you must really care for this girl."

"Does this mean divorce papers need to be drawn up then?" Sonny asked.

Jason inhaled deeply. There it was the thing he'd been furiously attempting to forget, Sam was married, to a monster. Instead of dealing with how that made him feel, Jason replied to Sonny.

"How did you know?"

"Jerry Jacks may be a secretive person, but even he can't hide a beauty like that from the world. I figured out who she was the day we met her. I know you Jason, you're all about business and you have been because of the last three train wreck women that you have been involved with. I knew you weren't looking for a relationship and probably never would be again. Then I saw the way you and Sam reacted to each other. You couldn't stop touching her, and your eyes were drawn to Sam like Spinelli to a brand new computer. It was then that I figured there was more to the story."

"I was just supposed to kidnap Sam, and keep her locked in a room I had built here. The clothes I had Maxie buy were supposed to be for Sam because she would need them, not because I wanted to buy them."

"So what changed?" Johnny asked.

"When Shawn brought her to me, she was sleeping, and I could see tear tracts on her face. When she woke up, she begged me to let her go, for the safety of others. She didn't plead for herself, but for those she feared would be harmed because of her absence. When I realized how sick Jerry was and all the horrid things he'd done, I started protecting her, rather than simply holding her captive."

"Maxie these are a work of art." Sam said, her fingers gliding gently along the 5-inch heel of the boot.

"I know," she said, "which is why I want joint custody of them, us wearing the same shoes size gives me more of an excuse to shop!" Maxie was beaming like a child on Christmas and Sam just laughed. It felt good. When Carly and Olivia walked up, all of the women sat down with Sam, and talked and laughed. Sam liked spending time with people who actually enjoyed conversing with her. It was nice to feel equal.

A little while later, the entire group was sitting in Jason's living room. They were all laughing and enjoying each other's company. Sam found herself more than once staring at the laugh lines along Jason's face as he allowed himself to enjoy his friends, which were fast becoming her own. More than once though, Sam had noticed Carly staring intently at her.

To ease the sudden tension she was feeling, Sam got up and went to the kitchen, under the pretense of getting everyone something more to drink. Sam left the room before hearing Carly excuse herself to help.

"Spill" Carly said parading into the kitchen after Sam.

"What are you talking about?"

"You keep staring at Jason like it's the last time you will see him at peace, like it's the last time you'll see him at all."

"Carly, I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Sam, I can see that something isn't right. You have this look like your trying to appear happy, but inside something is wrong. Look, you don't have to tell me Sam, but please tell Jason. Anyone with eyes can see that you two have something real. Jason will listen if you tell him things, I should know, because I'm always doing something crazy and he's always there to listen. He won't judge you Sam."

Sam only stared at Carly as she talked. How could a woman she'd met less than a month ago see right through her?

Carly smiled reassuringly at Sam one last time before disappearing from the kitchen. She made sure to grab a couple of drinks to satisfy her reason for following Sam into the kitchen. Once Carly left, Sam sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, her frustration getting the best of her. Sam was frustrated with herself. Why couldn't she just tell Jason everything!?

"Hey, you okay?" Jason asked, walking into the kitchen.

Sam looked up at Jason and despite herself, and the mantra of "don't cry" running through her head, a tear fell down Sam's face.

Without thinking, Jason bounded across the kitchen and pulled Sam into him. He wrapped his arms around her and a pressed a kiss into her hair. Sam only held onto him tighter. She needed his strength in that moment.

"Talk to me." Jason breathed. His voice was raw, as if he was experiencing he pain right along with Sam.

"Jason," was all Sam managed to say. She buried her head in his massive chest, and cried. She cried for her inability to be honest with Jason, and her inability to feel she deserved better.

Before Sam's body could settle into its growing fatigue, Jason lifted her up, much like he had the first time she'd broken down, only this time he was holding her as if he'd never let go.

Leaving his friends and family behind in his living room, Jason headed back to the room where it all started.

Sam watched from the corner of her eye as Jason entered the code to her old room.

"So we won't be interrupted," Jason supplied the answer to Sam's silent question.

When the door closed behind them, Jason walked towards the bed he'd first laid Sam down in. He sat gingerly inside on the bed and eased up until his back was along the headboard, Sam was resting comfortably against the front of his body, her head rising and falling with his chest.

"When you are ready to talk, Sam, I am ready to listen." Jason whispered, "but know that we are not leaving this room until you've shed every tear and spilled every single one of your fears."

Sam looked up into Jason's eyes. She could see his sincerity. It was then, that Sam knew. Sam McCall was ready to let someone in.

While Sam and Jason were having a heart to heart, the sound of Jason's doorbell rang throughout the house. Jason's stare captivated Sam entirely too much for her to care who it was.

Maxie on the other hand decided to go open the door when the sound of the doorbell once again filled her ears. She walked into the foyer and pulled open Jason's front door. The smile that was upon her lips fell at the sight of Brenda, her catlike features on full display.

"Where's Jason?" Brenda asked forcing her way past Maxie and into the house.

"Leave," Maxie quipped back.

"Not until I see Jason," Brenda replied before walking toward the voices she could hear drifting from Jason's living room.

Carly was the first to noticed Brenda, she was followed quickly by the rest of the people sitting around the room.

"Hello everyone," Brenda spoke. She trained her gaze on Lila who she knew was a gentle as they came.

Lila smiled a small smile at her and clasped her hands in her lap.

"How can we help you, dear?" Lila's voice was soft.

"I'm looking for Jason," Brenda said as she plastered a smile on her face.

"Jason and Sam have gone to have some alone time." Lila answered.

"Oh well, I'll wait. I mean, I have all the time in the world."

"I don't think that's such a good idea." Maxie said. She was doing her best to hold her tongue.

"I wasn't aware that you actually thought, Maxie. I assumed that Spinelli was the thinker in your relationship, and you were…I was going to say beauty but well…"

"Now Brenda I don't think it's a good idea for you to be talking about beauty, considering you have about as much botox in your cheeks as Joan Rivers. " Olivia countered on behalf of Maxie.

"Olivia, there is no need to be catty." Brenda replied.

"At least she doesn't look like one," Carly said.

"You worked really hard on that one, didn't you Carly?"

"Nah, it's natural to me."

"I'm sure,"

"Brenda, dear, Jason and Sam are busy at the moment, but I'll make sure that Jason knows you were here." Lila attempted to appease Brenda and avoid the confrontation she sensed was coming.

"I'm really more comfortable waiting." Brenda answered back.

"We're really more comfortable with you leaving." Tracy quipped, causing Sonny, Johnny, Spinelli, and Edward to smile.

"I've never agreed more with Tracy," Maxie said.

"Yes, well, I'm not leaving."

"Oh you're going to leave," Olivia said, "all those in favor?"

"I," spoke Maxie and Carly simultaneously.

"That means, you've been voted off the island." Maxie began to steer Brenda toward the door. The two made it into the foyer before Brenda turned to stare coldly at Maxie.

"You don't run me, and I'm not leaving."

"There is the door. Either you walk through it willingly, or my six inch heel was escort you."

"You could never beat me, Maxie. Not then and not now."

"Wrong, Brenda. Spinelli is the man I love and he loves me. Jason wants nothing to do with you, and thinks of me like a little sister. There was never a competition, Brenda. You are vindictive and manipulative. You care only for about you. I may indulge in those tendencies every once in a while, but I love Spinelli with everything that I am, and I'd fight for Jason if he ever needed me to."

"Nice speech, Maxie, but I'm still not leaving. You think what you want, but Jason is mine, and if I wanted, Spinelli would be mine too."

At Brenda's words, Maxie saw red. Her hand flew out and hit Brenda across the face.

"Don't make threats Brenda when you and I both know that you can't back them up. It's time to go, and if I were you, I wouldn't come back anytime soon."

Maxie pulled open Jason's front door, shoved Brenda past the threshold, and promptly slammed the door shut.

SO MY NON GH WATCHING BOYFRIEND HAS STRUCK ONCE MORE!

THIS TIME HE WOKE ME UP WITH CHICKEN PARMESAN FOR DINNER. HE EVEN CLEANED THE KITCHEN AFTERWARDS. THEN, HE USED HIS DIMPLES AND EYES TO GET ME TO WRITE ANOTHER CHAPTER. HE KNOWS I'M A SUCKER FOR HIS EYES...SIGH...THAT'S WHY THIS CHAPTER IS A LITTLE LONGER THAN NORMAL!

SOOOOOOOO...

WHAT DID YOU THINK?

WAS IT WHAT YOU EXPECTED?

NEXT TIME:

SAM AND JASON GET BRUTALLY HONEST.

JERRY MAKES A MOVE.

ALAN QUARTERMAINE ARRIVES.

ROMANCE ANYONE?

GO! GO! GO!

REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!

JaSamUntilForeverEnds :)