A/N: As always, thank you so much for the love and support you show me and my story! It means everything. I know everyone is wondering how Drew is going to handle finding Jason in the penthouse with Sam and the kids so let's get to it, shall we ;)

Danny studied the dominoes on the table, his childlike features set in hard lines. His brow furrowed as he examined his remaining tiles until his next move became clear. A smile crept slowly across his face as he reached for his double four and slapped it down with a triumphant grin.

"Beat that," he challenged his following opponent.

Sam turned her loving gaze from the child on her knee to the one at her side, an amused twinkle in her eyes.

"Oh yeah?" Her reply was quick but lame. "Watch me." Within seconds her bravado deflated as she reached into the boneyard, forfeiting her turn.

The five year old stifled a giggle at his mother's expense, who turned her attention back to the infant on her lap.

"You think that's funny," she teased as Scout wrapped her hands around the brunette's fingers.

All eyes were on Jason now. It was his turn and the domino in his hand could potentially signal the end of the game. Like Danny, he stared at the board, then then his remaining tile with laser focus before laying it down with a playful smirk- the one that never failed to provoke a smile from Sam, and this time was no exception.

She beamed at him from across the table while Danny stared at the tiles in bewilderment. He blinked once. Then again, and again before finally finding his voice.

"But, but I always win," he stammered in disbelief.

Jason wiped his hand over his mouth in attempt to hide his chuckle. Danny had definitely inherited his mother's competitive streak.

"Well, that's because you were playing against your mom," he baited the brunette, in good nature of course.

His efforts were rewarded with glowing chocolate eyes and a curl of her lips. Her hands roamed the the surface of the table for a weapon, finding the napkin he had balled up during lunch. She picked it up and sent it sailing toward his chest, not at all surprised when he caught the projectile, spoiling her plan.

Still, she earned a laugh from Jason and a giggle from the kids.

"I'll have you know I'm very good at this game," she defended. The baby gurgled her support while Jason and Danny maintained their skepticism.

"Don't look at me like that, I am!"

Her game dramatically improved with the absence of tequila. Though it did make things a little more interesting. And a lot more fun!

"I'm the one who taught you how to play," she continued. "And I'm the only person that's ever beaten your dad." She paused, considering the boldness of that statement. "That I know of."

Danny turned toward Jason seeking confirmation while he and Sam shared a knowing glance. Her wins had come few and far between, and one had even been the result of blackmail, but he was happy to allow her this moment and would do nothing to erase the admiration in their son's eyes.

"She's right," he conceded, while the brunette mouthed her thanks behind Danny, who twisted toward her with his whole body now.

"Show me?"

Jason had never understood how Sam felt hiding behind that bush watching Elizabeth with his child, but Drew did. Standing outside the penthouse door, listening to Jason and Sam banter adorably with one another and the child they'd always dreamed of having together, had provided him with frightening insight to the feeling of displacement and the desperation it inspired. Two months ago, he'd been the happiest man alive. He had a new lease on life, a beautiful family, and a new adventure ahead. His life was everything he could possibly hope for. Then his twin brother had come crashing through the skylight and overnight his dreamlike existence had transformed into a nightmare.

Just when he'd finally put his wandering and confusion behind him, the truth had come out and he'd once again been stripped of everything he thought he knew. He wasn't Danny and Jake's father, nor was he the love of Sam's life. He was an outsider, an orphan. And Jason was home, ready to claim the blank spaces Drew had chosen to reject.

Despite having his name and his memories, Drew had never become Jason- not really. It would have been easy falling into the roles his brother had left behind, but he chose to forge his own way instead. Rather than stepping back in line as Sonny's number two, he'd chosen to explore his options, eventually purchasing Aurora and becoming his own boss. He and Sam had also decided to start over with a clean slate, building a friendship and partnership that ultimately led to a life-changing romance.

Drew rested his head against the door, fighting back a surge of bittersweet memories. He didn't have to remember his past to know the last two years were most likely the happiest he'd ever been and he didn't want to give that up.

'Sam loves me,' he reminded, with a deep calming breath. 'She loves our family, and our life together.'

"Being" Jason has given him an advantage no previous competitor had ever had- her undivided love and loyalty. Every other relationship had been spent with one foot either out the door or in the past, but with him, she'd held nothing back. She had given her all, and in return he'd done the same. There were admittedly similarities between he and his twin- Sam had told him so many times, even credited those traits for being what pulled her toward him in the beginning. But in the end, it was their differences that would set them apart. And Sam had loved and embraced those traits as well.

He had to trust that. More importantly, he had to trust her. Sam had given him no reason for doubt, aside from the reasonable amount of confusion at her ex husband's return. She had chosen to remain by his side both in business and their marriage. Her honesty and fidelity hadn't wavered . It was his own insecurity forcing her to take up Jason's defense, and unless he changed course immediately, his fear of her running into the arms of Port Charles's favorite henchman would become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

He was a Seal, a strategist, and it was time he started thinking like one.

With newfound confidence and a firm grasp on his emotions he turned the door handle, alerting the others to his presence.

"Hey guys," he called out cheerily, laying down his case and slipping off his suit jacket. "How was everyone's day?"

He stiffened at the sight of Scout in the mobster's arms, but quickly recovered, flashing a charming smile as he came closer.

"May I," he asked, grateful when his daughter reached out for him as well.

Jason nodded curtly, passing her off to her father. "Yeah, of course."

Sam sat cross-legged on the floor, her fingers shuffling the downward faced tiles for their next round. Her hands froze instinctively as Drew towered over them with Emily on his hip.

"How's daddy's princess?"

She smiled watching the two together. Out of all the men Faison and Helena could have sent her way, they'd chosen one who was kind and devoted, and a wonderful father. For that she was grateful.

"You seem to be feeling better champ," he said, noting the glance exchanged between mother and son. He made a mental note to ask about that later as he moved the baby from one side to the other.

His gaze fell to the table with an inward sigh.

'Of course...'

Sam's eyes followed his down to the table.

"Dominoes huh?" His throat was uncomfortably dry all of a sudden and his stomach turned over.

The brunette smiled, guiltily, once again feeling that her life had been reduced to a childhood game of tug of war. On one side was Jason and their years of memories together. Dominoes had been a recurring theme in their relationship, though they were usually accompanied with tequila, and playing with him and Danny had been a natural progression of that history. But then there was Drew, she had also played with, and who felt equally entitled to that legacy.

She looked down at the tiles to avoid the probing gazes of both men.

"Um, yeah. We just finished the game." She scooped the tiles in her hand and began placing them back in the box.

"You know it's Danny's favorite."

Drew nodded, a charming grin plastered across his face.

"Only cause he always wins," he joked, but the little boy piped up with a rebuttal.

"Not this time. Dad won," he said.

The word Dad did not go unnoticed. In fact, it hurt like hell. Not long ago, that word had applied to him. Now he was just his uncle or his stepfather, and while Danny might be able to love him in those roles, it would never be the same as before. Already he could see the five year old's adoration shifting toward his brother. Drew was no longer his hero. Jason was. The mob enforcer would be the one to set Danny's example of manhood moving forward. And without knowing any better, that bright, sweet, funny child would grow to emulate violence and criminality.

He turned toward Jason, a glint of disgust hiding behind his amiable expression.

"Good for you," he congratulated. "He spanks Sam and I both every time. I guess that means he takes after you."

Danny frowned. "That's not what mommy said.

His gaze softened, eyes twinkling with humor. Between Jason's memories and his own, he knew his wife was no domino champion, but there was no reason to rob their son- her son, of that disillusion.

His mouth briefly formed an upside down U shape.

"My bad."

There were a few awkward giggles and then a hush fell over the room. Danny watched as the adults took turns exchanging meaningful looks that he didn't quite understand, waiting for someone-anyone to speak. The tension was suffocating, even for a five year old, and the little boy could take it no longer.

"Can I take Dad up to my room?" His voice was small but clear.

Sam smiled, ruffling his curly waves and nodding her approval. Jason rose from his position on the floor and followed his son's lead up the staircase.

Drew bent down, ready and eager to take advantage of their privacy. Unfortunately, his wife did not respond the way he'd anticipated. As he tried to deepen the kiss, she pulled back, an unreadable darkness in her eyes.

"What's wrong," he asked, watching her wipe her hands down her legs and rise to her feet.

She tugged on the ends of her sleeves, cloaking her hands in fabric.

"It's just been a long day." Her response was vague and only confused him further.

"Did something happen with Danny," he probed, reflecting on the glance they'd shared earlier.

She shook her head no, rubbing her forehead as if trying to ease a headache.

"Nothing happened, exactly." Her arms crossed and she angled her head to the side. "He just had a lot on his mind the last few days, a lot of questions."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. 'Why did this have to be so hard?'

"He wanted to know why you hate Jason, and if he left because of you."

The pint sized brunette winced as the color drained from her husband's face. Carefully, he approached the pack and play, and sat Scout down inside it. The little girl immersed herself in her toys and forgot mommy and daddy were even around while Drew stood next to her, searching for words.

He couldn't exactly blame Danny or Sam for thinking that. Though, he thought he'd done a better job of masking his feelings in the former's case.

"What did you tell him, when he asked that, what did you say?"

What had she said? That conversation felt like a lifetime ago after Spinelli's outburst of concern and her run in with Jason on the docks.

She brushed her hair back from her face with the opposite hand.

"I don't know...I told him that Jason left for business reasons and he'd be back soon."

The blonde scoffed, rubbing the scruff on his jawline.

"Business reasons, well I guess that's one way of putting it." Jason had left to commit cold blooded murder, but he understood why Sam kept that detail from Danny. What he didn't understand is why she seemed okay with that fact.

"What did you tell him about me?"

One arm was now crossed across her torso, a sign of defense, while the thumb of her other hand had been resting against the corner of her mouth. The free hand made a flourish into the air, palm up and fingers outstretched.

"I don't remember exactly. I asked him why he thought that. He said he didn't think, he knew. He seemed more worried that Jason wasn't coming back, so that was my focus."

He looked down, shaking his head.

Of course, her focus was Jason. Everyone's focus since the reveal was on Jason. Even his own. He was trying to be more considerate of his brother's situation. He was trying to understand. But it didn't help that no one stopped to look at things from his point of view.

"So you didn't defend me at all?"

The hurt in his voice caused her to drop all defense.

"I didn't know what to say," she confessed with a shrug of her shoulders. "We both know you're not Jason's number one fan, and I didn't know what he saw or heard to make him think that. I just wanted to help him feel better and hearing that Jason was coming back...helped."

Drew let out a frustrated sigh.

"Wouldn't it help Danny to know that I'm not trying to get rid of his father? Or do you believe that too?"

Sam rushed to his side, latching onto his arm.

"I know that this is hard for you, and I understand why you're struggling to accept Jason. Anyone in your position would feel the same way. But I also know you love Danny, and you'd never do anything to hurt him. So no matter how you feel about Jason, I know you wouldn't try to take him from Danny."

Her chocolate orbs were like hooks, reeling him back to the surface. She felt his muscles slack as the comfort of her words broke through. Still, as she stroked his arm, and they smiled at one another, there was a prickling thought in the back of her mind.

Then why hadn't she said that? If her faith in him was so steadfast and sure, why hadn't she plead his case that morning? Why had she, for a fraction of a second, questioned if Drew had conspired to keep her out of the office the day of Jason's return? And why could she not bring herself to reach for his hand?

This time when they reached the top of the stairs, Danny ushered his father into the room. Once they were inside, he closed the door behind them, shutting out any voices that might carry. He knew now that his dad loved him and would never go away just because someone wanted him to. Still, he didn't want him to hear the hurtful things his other daddy might be saying downstairs.

"So," Jason shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "What would you like to do?"

The five year old shrugged. He hadn't planned beyond their escape, to be honest.

"We can play something." This option inspired little enthusiasm from the child. "Or you know, we can just talk."

Gently, he guided the boy over to his bed and they both sat down. Jason's elbows rested on his legs and his fingers interlocked. Danny took note of this and tried his best to mimic the stance.

The man's lips crooked upward as he watched from the corner of his eye.

"You know, your mom mentioned that you were having a hard time while I was away."

The preschooler frowned, no longer pleased with himself.

"She thought you might have been worried about me."

Danny looked up, locking eyes with his dad. He couldn't explain the pit in his stomach, he just knew the topic made him uncomfortable.

"I might have been," he admitted, somberly.

Jason smiled, rubbing circles on his son's back, just as he'd watched Sam do earlier.

"That's my fault, Danny. I should have explained things to you better before I left. I should have said goodbye."

The little boy's gaze drifted up to his father's face. He looked sad.

"But you did," he argued. "You petted my head, and kissed me, and told me you loved me, remember?"

Jason blinked, his mouth half open.

"Uh, yeah, I do, but I didn't think you did." They had all assumed he was asleep that night.

A shadow fell over Jason's face as realization dawned. If he'd been able to hear Drew's accusations, then so had Danny. He twiddled with his thumbs, contemplating his next words carefully.

"You know, sometimes when adults are afraid, they say things they shouldn't or that they don't really mean..."

He could feel his son watching, hanging onto each syllable, and swallowed hard. Michael was already a man by the time of his disappearance. Morgan was in boarding school. It had been a long time since he'd been required to reach a child on their level.

"And your-" what was he supposed to call Drew? "Your other dad, he spent a long time believing something that wasn't true until I showed up. So right now he's scared and he's confused, and we need to be patient with him."

Was that too big a word for a five year old?

"Do you know what patience is?"

Danny considered the question a minute, bobbing his head back and forth.

"I think so. It's like when I want mommy to play with me, but she's doing something with my sister so I have to wait my turn, right?"

He smiled as Jason nodded his approval.

"That's right, but sometimes it also means loving people even when they make mistakes."

The little boy echoed Jason's nod, as if to say he understood.

"So you're saying I should love my other daddy even though he said not nice things about you?"

Jason pulled his son closer to his side in a one armed hug.

"That's exactly what I'm saying."

He looked up at Jason, curiosity etched in his tiny features, a small breath of relief on his lips. Truthfully, he loved both his dads and didn't want to choose sides, so hearing Jason give him permission to love his other daddy had been just what he needed to hear.

"Does that mean you love him too?"

His voice was barely above a whisper.

Jason rubbed his chin. His feelings about Drew were complicated, too complicated for a five year old to wrap their mind around.

"I don't really know your other dad all that well, so I can't love him the way you do. But I do understand this is rough on him, and I'm trying not to take to heart, because he doesn't really know me either."

Danny pondered on the response a moment before deeming it sense worthy and moving on. He started to get up but Jason laid his hand on his shoulder easing him back down.

"One more thing and then I promise we're done." Was that- an eye roll? Did five year olds even do that? Whatever it was, he chose to ignore it. He could hardly fault the kid for despising heavy conversation when it was something they shared.

Jason met his boy's eyes in earnest.

"I know your mom told you this already, but I wanted you to hear it from me." Danny's head gave a slight tilt toward his shoulder. "Sometimes I might have to go away for a little bit, like the last few days, but I promise you I will always do whatever it takes to get back to my family, and that means you, okay? I'm not gonna let anyone keep us apart."

Only Sam or death could make him break that vow, and she would never ask him to.

Nearly an hour had passed by the time she heard Jason's footsteps on the stairs. She glanced over to Drew, who was sitting next to her, forcing a smile. Inside something was twisting painfully, but that was her cross her bear, her punishment for bringing Jason there. It had seemed like the right thing at the time. Jason and Danny were both hurting. They needed one another, and being together that afternoon had brought them both joy. That fact alone made her decision impossible to regret.

But in her attempt to console them she had disregarded her husband's feelings and that was wrong. He'd made so much progress where Jason was concerned. Even when he'd been unexpectedly faced with having his brother in their home, holding their daughter, he'd managed to keep his calm and made no disparagement the other's character once they were alone. He was trying and didn't deserve to have her complicating his efforts.

Which meant days like today couldn't keep happening.

The couple rose and met their guest at the bottom of the steps.

Standing between them was always the hardest part. It was a physical representation of her inner turmoil and she hated it.

"You and Danny have fun," Drew asked, searching for a neutral opening.

Jason nodded, with half a smile.

"Yeah, we did."

The host parroted his twin's nod and smile. It was moments like this she remembered how she ever could have confused the two. Though their faces were no longer the same, they shared certain habits and characteristics she had believed were inherent to her husband's- former husband's being.

"I'm glad," Drew said, pushing his thumbs into his pockets. "But Sam and I were talking and we agree it's time to start taking our situation more seriously."

He glanced over to his wife for support, but her cocoa orbs were firmly fixed on the floor.

Jason's brow crinkled, as his gaze shifted to Sam. Whatever was going to happen, he wanted to hear it from her.

"What does he mean by that?" His voice was soft but urgent.

The brunette lifted her eyes to meet his and found fear and uncertainty staring back at her. She didn't want to be here, having this conversation. She wanted to go back to playing dominoes and laughing with the children, but that moment had passed and there was no going back to it.

Drew stepped forward, sensing her hesitation. He hadn't made her do this. They'd both agreed it was best for Danny and their family to set some boundaries between the three of them.

'Then why is she so reluctant to follow through' his brain challenged, though he already knew the answer. How could he not, with a lifetime of memories in his head?

"Relax Jason, I have no intention of coming between you and Danny. We just think it's time the three of us sat down and made out a schedule. That way he knows when he gets to see you and the kids' routine isn't disrupted."

It took everything in Sam not to reach out when she saw the look on his face- that quiet resignation. Surely, he knew she'd never cut him out of their son's life.

"You're free to see Danny whenever you want," she erupted suddenly. "This is not about limiting your time with him. It's just a guideline to help us coexist peacefully."

'And to keep me away from you,' he thought bitterly.

Emily Scout cries out from her pack and play, demanding their attention. Hours had passed since lunch and she was anxious for her next feeding. Immediately, Sam raced to her side, hooking the child on her hip.

Drew reached out, touching the brunette's back and planting a kiss on the baby's temple.

"Would you mind taking her upstairs, just for a minute? There's something I'd like to say to Jason and I'd prefer it to stay between us."

Her eyes darted from one twin to the other cautiously. Though both had been on their best behavior, she wasn't quite ready to leave them alone together just yet. Just as she was about to object Scout let out another impatient wail, asserting priority.

Both men waited until the infant's howls could no longer be heard before turning their gaze to one another.

For the first time since Jason had come crashing into his life, Drew stood objectively observing the man who he had shared an identity with. Without the knowledge Faison had given him, Jason had also done nothing to warrant his anger, and when charged with the allegation of hatred, he'd realized that he didn't actually hate the person standing in front of him. It was the legend of Jason Morgan he hated. His brother was nothing more than a man, and a flawed one at that. There was no reason they had to be enemies.

Assuming Jason would accept his apology.

"Listen man," Drew gulped hard, hoping to swallow the lump in his throat. "I wanted to say I'm sorry, and not just for what I said today, which was completely out of line, but what I said about using Danny to get to Sam, and manipulating her on the docks." He grimaced, taking stock of his many indiscretions. "Wow! I've said a lot of really inappropriate things, haven't I?"

Jason just shrugged in his nonjudgmental way while his brother shifted in place uncomfortably.

"You bailed me out with the Navy and I never even said thank you...so I guess I'm saying it now. Thanks for that."

The lines of Jason's face softened with understanding. Finally, he was meeting the man his friends had defended and Sam had fallen for, and he could see why.

His chest constricted with that thought. It was easy to believe he and Sam might find their way back together when he was convinced he was the better man. Now he wasn't so sure.

"It was nothing," he said, never one to take credit for his heroics.

Drew shook his head, offering a handshake and a truce.

"It was the difference between freedom and imprisonment, which is a big deal to me."

Jason took his hand and the two exchanged a friendly shake while Sam watched from the stairs, with a knot in her stomach.

If you haven't realized it by now, the Drew of this story is not the character from the show we have come to despise. But fear not loyal readers, this is still very much a Jasam endgame, only now Jason has a worthy opponent for Sam's heart ;)