A/N – Thanks for the comments! Emily will be here and there, but I'm not including her in all the stress cause of her pregnancy. She'll be worried, but I thought having her at the penthouse all the time would be too much on her.

Chapter 52

Emily fell back onto the pillows with a big grin on her face.

"Dear Lord, you're going to kill me."

She laughed. "You started it."

"I couldn't stop thinking about how hot you were when you were defending Liz's honor."

"You make me hot."

He cursed under his breath. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah."

He kissed his way up her body, pausing to lay extra kisses on her belly. "Are you like this when you're not pregnant?"

She grinned wickedly. "I guess you're going to have to wait and find out."

His mouth curved up. "I'm looking forward to it."

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Ari is surprised, but recognizes the woman standing before her. "You're Isabella. How? What are you doing here?" The spatula dropped from her hand and she quickly pulled a tray out of the oven and shut it off.

"You know who I am?"

"Yes. Helena showed me pictures and video to endlessly torture me. The only good thing is that I got to see my daughter and husband periodically."

Isabella cringed.

"You look a little pale. Perhaps you should sit down."

After slipping onto a stool, she takes the bottle of water Ari offers.

"Thank you."

Isabella took a long sip. "I know this may sound weird, but I came to see if you're real. Do you mind answering some questions?"

"No." She sat across from her.

There were basic questions about her wedding and honeymoon and then Isabella asked her main question. "Do you remember the combination to the safe in the office?"

"Yes. It was 22-17-43-5."

Isabella read the numbers off the paper. "You're really her?"

Ari nodded and then subconsciously smoothed her hair which is partially gray. There had been no need to primp and preen under the circumstances, but she feels a little embarrassed since Isabella is a beautiful woman. "Yes. Helena staged the shooting and then dragged me to Russia and I've been here ever since. She visited me every few months, always armed with new footage. I've watched you over the years and you've been very good to my daughter. Thank you."

"She misses you so much. I never tried to take your place, but I did want to be there for her."

"And you and Paul have a son together?"

"Yes. Mason is my crowning achievement. He's the best of both of us."

"He's very cute. I know this must be really awkward for you."

Isabella nodded. "I had a very rough life and Paul became my Prince Charming of sorts. He's an incredible man."

"I can't really argue with that. Living around violence changed me then and it affects me now. I fell in love with him, but I hated the business. You seem to have adapted quite well though."

Isabella shrugged. "It's usually pretty quiet. I love him, so I make sacrifices."

"I suppose. Where is he? Why didn't he come?"

"He doesn't know. A friend of ours needed help, so Paul is in New York. I didn't want to alert him or Arianna until I knew for sure it is you. Your, supposed, passing hurt them deeply."

"I cried for months afterwards and then I just became numb. I think that is when Helena decided to find a way to monitor my family so she could get a reaction out of me."

"I'm sorry. Helena is dead, Ari, so she can no longer hurt you."

She didn't react as expected. "I should feel better after hearing that, but the damage she did to me will probably be there until the day I die." Watching her family go on without her had been torturous.

"I understand."

"Do you?"

"Yes, more than you know."

"What now?"

"Well, I think it's better if you see Paul first, so, I've arranged for a flight to take us back the day after tomorrow."

Ari averted her gaze as she fretted. The future seemed so uncertain and she has no idea how Paul is going to react, not to mention all the legal crap she'll need to deal with, since she had been declared dead. Because of Helena, she has no home to go back to and her family has moved on. Her heart ached and to her surprise, she started to cry. It had been so many years since she had allowed herself any emotional release.

Isabella moved to her side and then is surprised when Ari grips her tightly. It had been so long since Ari had been held that it made her cry harder as Isabella stroked her back, looking at Riley over the top of the woman's head, both wondering about Ari's stability.

Abruptly, Ari pulled back. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. I understand."

She swiped at her face. "I just need a few minutes alone. I'm going to my room and pack up a small bag. Once we get there, maybe I can go shopping and burn everything else I have. I don't want any reminders of my time here."

Isabella nods and then watches her disappear around a corner. Riley approaches her.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes. She's pretty."

Riley didn't know what to say.

"It's okay to admit it. Arianna looks a lot like her mother."

"True."

Rex entered the kitchen. "You can stay at the other house. We'll move her over there as well. I don't think she'll want to stay here any longer than she has too."

"Okay. I think I need to lay down."

"Riley will take you."

After she left, Rex took her seat and shortly thereafter, Ari joined him.

"Are you Paul's enforcer?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Is he well?"

Rex softly smiled, trying to make her feel at ease. "He is fine. I came on shortly after he thought you had passed. It was rough for a long time, but then he met Isabella and started to live again."

She wiped a tear away. "Are they happy?"

"Very."

"Why do I feel like the interloper?"

"Because it's an awkward situation. I hope that I'm not speaking out of turn, but Isabella is a good person who had a rough life. Paul changed a lot for her, but you were his first love. He never forgot you."

She blew out a big breath. "Is he in danger right now?"

"I hope not. There is a man named Jason, who works for another organization, whose family had encountered some trouble. They have a history with Helena too and basically, Jason saved Isabella and Mason in the park one day and he and Paul developed a bond. They are loyal to each other and this man is missing."

"I see. I've dreamed of seeing them again every night since I've been gone. It was that hope that kept my spirits up. Even though Helena taunted me with photos and videos of Paul and Arianna with Isabella, I still longed for the times that evil bitch would visit because I could see them. Isabella is brave to come here and it's a testament to her strength that she wants to protect them. Is she well?"

"Why do you ask that?"

"She just seemed a little pale."

"I think Riley said she has been a little under the weather lately. It's probably nothing to worry about. I'm taking you to the other house when you are ready. Isabella is lying down, but she'll need to eat soon. Maybe you can talk more because regardless of the outcome, you will be in each other's lives because of the kids and Paul."

"You're right. I have nothing against her. If anything, I'm jealous that she got to spend all this time with my family."

"You'll see them soon and I think they have room in their hearts for both of you. We'll probably stop in New York before heading back to California. You can see Paul and then decide how to break it to Arianna."

"Okay."

She gathered the small amount of belongings she needed for the trip and then they headed to the house.

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Twelve-year-old Ian McCloskey studied his cat as she ran over to her food dish. "Abbie, why are you so dirty?"

The cat ignored him while she chowed down.

"Seriously, mom is going to kill me. Do I need to lock you up?" He is tempted to follow her, but he's meeting his friends over at the watering hole. At first, he had hated the idea of a cat and wanted a dog, but the feline had grown on him and was less maintenance. "Maybe I'll follow you tomorrow night and find out just what you're getting into."

The cat licked her paw and then glanced at him for a second before resuming her meal.

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Jason drifted in and out of consciousness as the day continued, knowing that the longer he is stuck there, the more serious his injuries will be. The cat had abandoned him and he couldn't blame her, but he kind of missed the company. His labored breathing filled the air and he can tell it's getting worse. The head injury is causing blurry vision and for the first time in his life, he'd kill to be in a hospital. The room around him starts to change and he gasps as he watches it morph into the beach house in California. Is he hallucinating? Did he die? Cam runs into the room and Jason calls out to him, asking him for help, but there is no response, angering him. Suddenly, he sees Elizabeth and he tries to reach out his hand and then moans loudly, due to the pain, and squeezes his eyes shut. When he calms down and his eyes flutter open, he's back in the basement and his lip quivers. "I have got to get out of here," he said emotionally, but when he tries to move, the pain in his body is so severe that he passes out again.

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Ari studied Isabella who does look more refreshed. "Can you tell me more about Arianna?"

Isabella softly smiled. "She got her business degree recently so she can help run the business."

Ari is surprised. "Oh."

"She loves working with her dad and of course, she is only involved in legit transactions."

"That's good."

"Paul would never allow her to be incriminated. She has a boyfriend named, Johnny. He's a guard in another organization in New York."

"How did they meet?"

"It was through Johnny's boss, Jason. They are crazy about each other and I'm thinking that she might eventually relocate or vice versa."

"He's nice?"

"Yes. He's a stand-up kind of guy and is very respectful. Of course, Paul gave him a hard time."

Ari smiled. "He was always very protective of her."

"I did the best I could to help her. I love her like she is my own. She has a wicked sense of humor and has such strength. You are so lucky to be blessed with her and she will be over the moon when she gets a look at you."

Ari grinned. "I've dreamed so many times of the moment I get to hold her in my arms again."

"It will be soon, but we are going to New York first so we can tell Paul."

"Okay. Do you have pictures?"

Isabella retrieved her phone and then showed her some more recent ones. Some had Mason in it and Ari inquired about him. The conversation was a little uneasy, but the women were warming towards each other.

For Ari, it was surreal and she realized just how much she lost since she had been taken away. Her daughter has changed in so many ways and Paul… He is still a very handsome man, but he looked a little more intense than before. There were pictures where he did look happy, but others revealed the pressures of the business and keeping his family safe.

"I'm sure this must be overwhelming," Isabella said quietly.

"Yes. It's a lot to process and I'm a little nervous to see them and I know my return will be emotional."

"I—when we get to New York, I think I'm going to leave you there with Paul. You need to talk and I don't want to interfere with that. Besides, I don't like leaving Arianna and Mason alone for too long, especially when we don't know what is going on with Jason."

"I won't disrespect what you have with my hus—with Paul. I think we can figure out what to do together. For now, I'd like to keep my existence a secret to the outside world. We don't know what else Helena has done."

"I agree."

"We're not leaving until tomorrow, right?"

Isabella nodded.

"Will you—I know this is asking a lot, but I'd like to color my hair."

"I completely understand. I'll make a list and send someone out to get the supplies and I'll help you."

"Thank you."

"If you give me your sizes, I can arrange for the boutique at the Metro Court to bring some clothes to your room. I'll make a reservation under an assumed name. I'm not sure where Paul is staying, but I'll get a suite just in case. I'm sure he's not going to want you to be too far away."

"Thank you. I don't know if I would be as stoic as you if the situation were reversed."

"Oh, don't be fooled, I'm still willing to fight for Paul, but I also understand your importance to the people that I love. Honestly, I like you and think that no matter how this plays out, we will be able to get along for the sake of Paul and the children."

"I agree. I am glad that Paul didn't marry a shrew."

Isabella chuckled. "Apparently, he has very good taste in woman."

"Not always, you should have met the crazy person he was engaged to before me."

"Do tell,"

Ari finally came alive, showing her personality as she animatedly described the woman and some of the fights that had transpired and had Isabella in tears from laughing.

Rex breathed a sigh of relief that they are bonding. He will escort them to New York personally and had already been arranging their flight.

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Elizabeth sketched, as Carly observed, trying to keep her mind off the fact that Jason could be lying somewhere dying and there wasn't anything she could do.

"You—I hated you for so long because I wanted Jason all to myself. I know it was irrational, but I haven't had many friends in my life and none, other than him, that ever would fight for me the way he has."

Liz stopped and lifted her chin up, wondering where Carly was going with her diatribe.

"I doubt we will ever be friends, but I would if it could bring Jason back. In fact, I would do anything because I owe him that."

"I understand."

"Do you really? Because people tend to judge me and not try to understand where I'm coming from. I know I've made some colossal mistakes, but Jason—there are really no words to describe how great he is and not just because he puts up with me. If something happens to him…"

Liz is surprised when Carly averts her eyes to abate her emotions.

"Jason accepted me and never judged me. Instead, he encouraged me to be authentic and even when he completely disagreed with my choices, he understood that they were my mistakes to make. So yes, I do understand why you want Jason in your life. He is one of the most giving people I have ever met and that is why I'm so scared right now. Even though I know that he doesn't particularly care about Courtney, he will always do what he thinks is the right thing and he would save her if he could and that is what I think she was counting on and why he is in the middle of this mess. Sonny used Jason's loyalty and conscious against him."

"Oh Muffin, I pray to God you are wrong about Sonny."

"Hoebag… Why?"

Carly smirked at the name calling and then turned serious. "Because we've already betrayed him and I basically chose Sonny over Jason on that night he found us. I was being self-destructive and lashing out, but in the back of my mind, I knew when I did it that Jason would never want to be with me again."

"Maybe you were protecting him from you."

Carly leaned back and closed her eyes. "I don't know, but if my choice in any way led to this…"

"You can't control Sonny. I don't think Jason would blame you for his actions."

"Why you?"

Liz rolled her eyes. "Why Sonny?"