Although the day and night before had been wonderful, Monroe woke up with a bad feeling in her gut. She knew good things couldn't last forever, but she was hoping she was wrong. She reluctantly got out of bed and made her way to the shower. Once inside with the hot water pouring down on her and the steam surrounding her, she realized she could quite possibly just stay in there all day. Avoid the world, her criminal parents, and the fact that she was living in a home she wasn't quite comfortable with yet. The last part was changeable though. Jason and Sam were making her feel more and more welcome. Making it known that she was going to be able to stay there as long as she wanted, no matter what happened. Eventually, Monroe did get out of the shower and changed into her school clothes. She put little effort into her hair and makeup, for some reason, she just wasn't in the mood. She made her way down the stairs and saw both Jason and Sam sitting at the kitchen table, sipping on coffee. When they heard Monroe get closer, they were drawn out of deep conversation.

"Sorry if I interrupted" Monroe said apologetically, as she went into the kitchen and poured herself coffee. She decided to keep it black and walked back towards the kitchen table to sit.

"It's fine, there is actually something we need to talk to you about" Sam said, motioning for Monroe to sit with them.

"Okay" Monroe said. She knew this had to be bad. She didn't understand where she got her sixth sense for a doomed day from, but she was pretty sure what ever Jason and Sam had to tell her was going to bother her.

"Well... Lucky and I have been trying to figure out what the best thing to do for handling the Balkan would be and although I'm against it, we think the best thing to do would be to go to the police. If convicted they will be facing close to life in prison for money laundering, child exploitation, and attempted murder" Jason informed Monroe, wanting to get everything out on the table.

"But what about Brenda? I mean of course they are going to mention that my brother was killed by her. If they are going to be taken down, I doubt they will go easily" Monroe countered.

"According to Lucky, he doesn't think they have any proof against Brenda or Dante. No prints were found on the body and a weapon was never found either. It would be considered an unsolved case. It would be a criminal's words against an innocent woman" Jason assured her.

"We just wanted to let you know, that when this is taken to trial and they are convicted. That leaves you with guardians, considering you are only 17." Sam told her.

"My guardians are dead, and my family doesn't associate with any of the rest of our family" Monroe said, getting worried. "I was planning on emancipating myself. I just don't know where I will go. Especially if they are convicted of money laundering, I would most likely be left with nothing" Monroe confided, she looked like she was going to be sick.

"Well if you are going to emancipate yourself, you can stay here. We don't mind you staying here at all and would like having you here. And I'm sure Michael will be happy to have you here, safe." Jason told the fragile girl in front of him, he could tell she was trying hard to be independent, but it was hard to take on all of this.

"I don't want to be a problem; I mean you already have Spinelli and Brenda living here. How can you two start a real life with all these people living in your home?" Monroe asked.

"Well, Sam has finally agreed to move in and Spinelli is going to be moving into her apartment and Brenda and Sonny are getting married, he bought her house, blah blah blah, so it would just be the three of us" Jason told her. "And trust me, you living here is about a million times easier than having Brenda and Spinelli here" Jason said, smiling slightly. He knew everything she was hearing was a lot, and he really did know that her living here was no problem. She caused no drama and she wasn't crazy. He also thought it would be best for Michael if he knew Monroe was safe.

"Well thank you, so much, for all of this. I really need to think about everything though. When are you going to police?"

"Today, and even if they were arrested today, they wouldn't go to trial for a few more days, after investigations. And the trial would last more than a day with all the things they are being charged for, so you have a couple weeks to really think about things" Jason assured her.

"Okay, well I have to go to school… I'll see you guys later" Monroe told them and she grabbed her bookbag, rushing out the door.

"Well, that went surprisingly well. I hope she's okay and I hope she chooses to stay here" Sam said.

"Yeah, she seems like a strong, smart girl. She can handle this" Jason reassured Sam, pulling her into a hug.

Monroe didn't wait for a guard to escort her, mainly because they thought she was going to school so they didn't follow her. She got into the elevator and almost ran to her car, trying to get inside as fast as she could. Once inside she took a few deep breaths and leaned back into the seat. Deciding she should text Michael and let him know she wasn't going to school.

Monroe- Hey. Just got some big news, need a day off. See you later?

Michael- Not coming to school?

Monroe- No, I just need to think about things.

Michael- Where do you want to meet?

Monroe- Don't miss school because I'm having a bad day. I'll be okay.

Michael- Where do you want to meet? We can talk..

Monroe- The Docks

Michael- Be there in 5 minutes

Monroe knew he wasn't going to take no for an answer and she was kind of glad for that, she needed him. She always needed him. She got to the docks and parked, seeing him sitting on a bench facing the water. She couldn't help but smile. She got out of her car and made her way to him, once he saw her he stood up to hug her and she sat down next to him, wrapping her arm around his and sitting close to him.

"So what's going on?" Michael asked her.

They spent the next hour discussing the recent things Monroe learned from Jason and Sam. Monroe confided in Michael that even though her parents never gave a crap about her, she still felt a twinge of sadness to know they were going to jail. Maybe not for her father; but how involved could her mother be? She knew how power hungry her mother was; even if she didn't have anything to do with the illegal actions of their business, both their names would be tied to everything because of the hotel once it was figured out who the Balkan was.

"I also feel guilty about staying with Jason and Sam, I mean after Brenda and Sonny get married, they will finally have the penthouse to themselves, but instead of that, they will have to become care givers of some damaged teenager."

"Wait, My dad and Brenda are getting married? And damaged teenager? Just because your parents are criminals, it does not make you damaged. Trust me." Michael said sternly.

"Shit, I guess you didn't know that yet. Great. Are you okay with that?" Monroe asked concerned.

"Leave it to you to be worried about how I feel when your parents are going to jail" Michael said. "I'm fine with my dad getting married; my mom on the other hand, might not be so fine with it." He said, shaking his head at the thought.

"Well I guess she will have to get over that, she's with Jax." Monroe said and Michael nodded his head, he didn't want to get into explaining his mother's reasoning today. "Although if I were you, I would avoid telling her anything at the moment."

"Oh believe me; I am not going to be the one to tell her that Brenda and my dad are getting married." Michael said throwing his hands up.

For a little while longer they talked about things until Monroe calmed down and was certain the best option for her was to emancipate herself from her parents and permanently live with Jason and Sam. She thought to herself that at least she was already 17; if she and Michael built a strong relationship together it would be possible for them to move in together. She stopped thinking of things like that, figuring she was getting ahead of herself, even if Monroe and Michael were handling things together that most teenage couples never would.

"I can't believe all this is happening, and homecoming is this weekend. It seems bizarre." Monroe told Michael who couldn't help but agree. Then again, everything that happened in his life seemed unusual. "Speaking of, did you get a suit yet?" Monroe asked him, trying to talk about something other than herself and her problems, even though she knew he didn't mind.

"Yes I did. I even got you, Taylor, Kristina and I a limo for the night" Michael told her, and she was surprised.

"Oh what a prince charming you are" she said, kissing him lightly and standing up.

"Don't be mean" He said, mocking hurt.

"I would never" she said giggling and hugging him, then pulling away to look up at him. He was probably a foot taller than her so she literally did have to look up to him. "I'm getting hungry. Want to go to Kelly's?"

"Sure, why not" he said, grabbing her hand as they walked to Kelly's together, leaving there cars.

After getting brunch at Kelly's, Monroe decided she was just going to go back to the penthouse and relax and Michael thought it sounded like a nice idea but he wanted to go home and get changed first. They walked back to their cars and Michael told her he would meet her back at Jason's.

When Michael walked in his house he was surprised to see his mom home and even more surprised to see Spinelli there. But, the most surprised was Carly, who was going to have to hide her dirt digging.

"What are you guys doing?" Michael asked curiously.

"Spinelli's just helping me with something. What are you doing home from school? It's only 11am." Carly asked, glancing at the grandfather clock hanging on the wall.

"Jason and Sam just gave Monroe a lot of information to deal with and I wanted to be there for her. She didn't want to go school cause she had a lot to think about" Michael explained, knowing his mom wouldn't think it was a great idea for him to be skipping school.

"I would rather you go to school Michael, it is your senior year. I want you to graduate with your class and go off to college. Cutting school isn't acceptable to me" Carly said sternly; although it melted her heart how he wanted to be there for Monroe.

"I know mom, it was just this one time. I didn't want Monroe to be by herself."

"Okay, good. So what did you come home for?" She asked, being her usual nosy self.

"I wanted to get changed, I'm just going to go over to Jason's and hang out with Monroe, in case she needs someone to talk to."

"So what is going on with that? Is she going to be living there permanently? Honestly, it may be the best thing for her"

"Yes, she will be. Hopefully her parents are being sent to jail and she is going to emancipate herself and live with Sam and Jason" Carly nodded her head.

"Well if her parents go to jail then Brenda can leave town forever and that will make everything right in the world" Carly said smiling, looking at Spinelli quickly. Michael just nodded, not wanting to inform her of the worst news possible she would inevitably be receiving some time soon.

Michael made his way over to the penthouse pretty quickly and Max let him in. He walked in to see Brenda looking through wedding magazines that were sprawled all over the sofa and Monroe nowhere in sight.

"Oh hi Michael, How are you?" Brenda said, hurrying up to pick up all the magazines and shove them into a tote bag that was on the floor.

"I'm good, and you?" Michael asked.

"I'm great, shouldn't you be at school?"

"Playing hooky today… have you seen Monroe?"

"Yeah, she just came in like 15 minutes ago and went upstairs" Brenda told him. "I'm gonna get going. Nice seeing you." Brenda told him. She was going to mention something about him playing hooky and how it was bad but she thought twice about it, figuring it wasn't her place to say something like that. After she put on her shoes and walked out the door, Michael decided to go upstairs. He knocked on Monroe's door lightly but didn't hear anything back. The bathroom door was open so she couldn't have been in there. He knocked one more time lightly and when he didn't hear anything back, he opened the door. He looked inside to see Monroe in pajamas, asleep on the bed. He was amazed at how fast she could fall asleep. He was also amazed at what a sound sleeper she was because Brenda had some weird music playing and she slammed the door accidentally on her way out. He smiled at how beautiful she looked sprawled across the bed. When he sat down next to her she must of noticed the bed move because he saw her eyes flutter open.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"No problem, I got kind of worried when you didn't answer me knocking on the bedroom door though"

"Oh, I'm fine. Just tired I guess. What do you want to do? Watch a movie or something?"

"Sounds good to me… but, no girly movies if you're going to fall asleep. I don't mind watching them with you, but if you fall asleep, it's kind of just me watching a chick flick on my own" he said, and she laughed and nodded. She put in some Liam Neeson movie she bought one time at Target because it was part of those 2 for 20 deals and cuddled up next to him in bed. It was odd that they could lie in her bed together and she knew he wouldn't do anything to make her uncomfortable. Then again, she knew Michael could never make her feel edgy, nervous, or scared which was all the things her ex boyfriend made her feel. Michael was a complete sweetheart to her and she was so lucky to have him, especially with everything that was going on.


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