"A mountain bike, Jason? He's a little young!" Sam couldn't decide which of the conflicting feelings running through her to give top billing. When Jason first wheeled the bike in from the driveway, the parent in her saw only the dangers befalling her baby - toppling over rugged terrain at breakneck speeds…but then his glee at ripping off the big red bow, the sparkling light on his little face when his dad hoisted him to straddle the thing, set off a whole barrage of pride-filled angsty admiration for his bravado. Nothing scared Daniel Morgan, and that terrified and impressed her at the same time.

"He'll grow into it." Smiling at the irony, he soothed the anxiety she was trying silently to quell…having passed on her own fearless gene to their offspring, it sparred with her motherly instincts, clearly tugging her in two different directions. "We'll be careful - right, Danny?"

"Can we try it now, Daddy? Please?" Danny, who had barely nodded his head to Jason's statement, had eyes riveted on the blue bike his outstretched arms could barely reach its handles until he leaned forward eagerly. "Please, Daddy?"

Looking again at the mixed emotions plaguing Sam's eyes, Jason chuckled and patted his son's back. "Let's wait until it's light out. We'll take it for a test run in the morning and show Mommy how cool it is."

"Sam…do something!" Alexis' frantic whisper in her ear echoed Sam's emotions she was trying earnestly to quell.

"Do what, Mom? Stop Jason from giving his son a gift?"

"That's not a gift - it's a deathtrap!"

"Don't be so dramatic…he would never let anything hurt Danny." She believed the words with everything in her, despite being unable to quite hush the worry in her head.

Leaving Danny and his friends to their excited exploration and discovery of every feature of the dirtbike, Jason set to task reassuring Sam's doubts. Taking her hand, he gently shook it between them, roving his thumb across the back. "We'll go at a snail's pace until he learns how to ride it, and I've gotten everything to wrap him up like a Christmas present…helmet, chin guard, knee and elbow pads…he'll be tressed up like Thanksgiving turkey before we go out - everytime!" He shook their joined hands again and bored her worried eyes, "He'll be fine."

She knew that. Smiling through her fear as she shook her head at the most fearless of them all, Sam looked from her ecstatic little boy to the equally happy big one before her, knowing she was outnumbered, but also that she couldn't, and wouldn't, dream of stifling their son's spirit. Knowing she could trust Jason with both their lives, just as she'd always done, gave her more calm!

"That doesn't make me feel any better!" Alexis, seeing her daughter's relent, picked up the rebuttal. "You're both crazy - that's not a safe gift for a six-year-old, and I like my grandson's neck precisely where it is, thank you! Please take that thing away from him!"

Sam, still locked in the blue trance that churned her insides without trying, knew differently. "It's okay, Mom. He'll be with his father. He'll be safe."

"Don't worry, Alexis…" Michael joined them with a drink in one hand and stood next to Alexis as he gestured towards Danny, "…Morgan and I learned to ride with Jason…we couldn't get away with doing anything crazy…and we tried! Guy can be a real buzzkill. Danny's fine - trust me."

Throwing her hands up in frustration, Alexis turned to leave, "When did fear become such a bad thing…it keeps bones intact!" She stalked back to the house, her nerves unable to take the sight of Danny on the monstrous bike she couldn't bear the thought of him getting thrown from, knowing her poor heart was going to have to learn to adjust, given the two daredevils her grandchild had for parents. Neither one knew how to back down from a challenge or a difficult situation, and she supposed now it was only to be expected from their fearless offspring too. "They're all going to be the death of me!"

Sam found it amusing watching her mother mumble to herself as she retreated to the kitchen, though she completely understood her reservations, having to fight through her own. A soft quiet washed over her, which remained, even as Sonny joined them where they stood watching Danny at play. He stopped next to Jason and nodded towards their son, "Nice choice. Did our Brooklyn connect hook you up?"

Jason acknowledged his friend, then turned back to the joyful sight of his son's expressive glee, happy with the choice he'd narrowed the options to. "No, not this time." The wattage of the smile Danny had been wearing all night thrilled him to the heart, reminding him how he wanted his days consumed with making them as happy as they did him, the marvel at the type of joy that filled him from loving them, always the greatest thrill. After a long pause, he turned his attention to something that had gone ignored for too long, facing Sonny to address it finally. "You and I are long overdue a conversation - I know."

Nodding, Sonny shifted in place and glanced at him briefly, then eyed the ground. "Yea, I suppose you're right."

Clearing his throat, Jason pushed through the difficult words he often avoided, emotional being something he painfully evaded as much as humanly possible. "I know I was kind of harsh there for awhile…I forgot our friendship and everything that came along with it and I judged you unfairly in the process." His eyes darted between the man and the hedge behind them before meeting his eyes again. "I'm sorry for that. I hope you know no friendship ever meant more to me…I'm sorry I forgot that again."

With a lump in his throat, Sonny shifted again as his eyes bored the ground at his feet, before lifting once more to meet those of his truest friend. "I know that wasn't you, brother. There will never be anything between us not worthy of forgiveness - you know that. You have chips in this bank that will take longer than either of our lifetimes, to cash. You don't owe me any explanations."

Swallowing past his own lump that formed unexpectedly, Jason thrusted his free hand inside the front pocket of his jeans and turned back to face the party. "So…how's business?"

"Are you really asking, or just being polite?"

"I don't know how to be polite, Sonny."

With a chuckle, Sonny nodded in recollection. "That's right - you don't." Still, he knew his friend and felt his reservations. "What are your plans?"

With a shrug of his shoulders, Jason took a drink and allowed the cold beer to wash his throat, then swallowed as his eyes found Sam, where she'd joined a group of moms near the treat stand, her bright smile as they talked, warming him with the usual butterflies she instilled in his chest.

"Nothing's changed…I want my family with Sam, and we're pretty good at running the firm together. I like going home to them with a clean conscience at night, and being able to talk to my son about what I do. I honestly don't plan on that changing."

Although expected, it still felt like a knife in the heart to hear the actual words finally spoken. Deep inside, Sonny always knew this would be the outcome of their new existence, given everything that had happened and the way his friend had all but cut himself off from their business, but it never quite stopped him from hoping. When he'd heard he'd gotten his memories back, he'd hoped against hope that just like last time, he'd want back in. But this wasn't last time. His priorities, much like his life, had shifted once he took Danny home that night all those years ago. He recalled very well the conversation they'd had in the hospital lobby, and his frustrations at wanting to give Sam and Danny a life, but having only this one to share. Things had changed drastically since then, and now circumstances had weaved him into a new existence where he found himself unknowingly gifting that life he'd yearned, but felt unable to give his family. Truth be told, Sonny would jump on the chance himself, if given the same opportunity…but his destiny was one written a long time ago in the blood of Frank Smith. He'd worked the pawns of that game into crowning him King, the only throne he'd ever craved, the one that was his chosen cross to carry. His choice had been made ages ago. He would miss him, but he would never begrudge his brother the life he truly wanted…not after he'd helped him carve out his own.

"I took on some help recently…he's fitting in pretty well."

"You mean…?"

"Yeah. He fell back into things…seems Robin's reversed the hypnosis so your memories are gone…but he's quick, skilled, and eager to learn. Reminds me alot of you in the early days, when all you wanted was to prove yourself and live your life on your terms. He works hard, and quickly picking up the way we do things."

"A replacement Jason?" Sam joined the men deep in conversation, slipping an arm at Jason's waist when she caught the tail end of their talk. "You finally did it, Sonny? Found an exact match to take his place, after all this time?"

Her tone was light but they all knew it wasn't really a joke. "Naw…never that. Just like Shawn, and Duke before him, I have excellent help…but here's the only man who's ever fit the job like it was tailor-made!" Bringing sad eyes to meet his brother's brief gaze, Sonny rued at their days of old. "There'll never be another like you, man!" He meant it! Nobody else ever carried out his wishes before he himself knew exactly what they were, or solved a problem as quietly and ingeniously as his reverence in their circles acknowledged. Jason Morgan was one of an irreplaceable kind…but regrettably replace him he must.

"I appreciate that. I'm sure it'll work out." Holding the beer in his direction, Jason proffered a silent toast to who they'd been, who they were now, and to who they were destined to become, certain he'd never regret their past, anxiously anticipating the future with Sam and Danny, while thoroughly enjoying the present…and he wanted the same for everyone he loved.

Raising his plastic cup to touch the offered bottle, Sonny joined in the toast to the best friendship he'd known. "Here's hoping!"

Watching them both drink to the loaded toast, Sam looked from one face to the other and squeezed the man at her side closer. She hadn't known quite what to expect once his memories had returned, and with so much unfolding from one day to the next since that morning in the woods, they really hadn't had a chance to talk about next steps, but watching them now, seeing the acceptance on both their parts on the decided separation of a partnership that had truthfully been separated years before by a bullet in Jason's back, she realized she'd already accepted the new status quo. Jason had always fought to live his life on his own terms, but had somehow ended up always living it on somebody else's. While no-one ever forced him into doing anything, it always ended that what he did was for someone else's benefit.

A natural with a gun, he was quick and fast on his feet…but the gangster lifestyle had always been so he was Sonny's eyes and ears and present to watch his back; his love for Carly and her boys had always been selfless…but repeatedly translated to him sacrificing his own happiness to give them theirs; he hadn't particularly liked Sam when they first met, but soon offered her a home and his life as father to her daughter, to keep them safe and Michael's family intact; Elizabeth was no love of his life, yet, the willingness to give her children a family had spawned apathetic proposals to join their lives. With each selfless deed, she was able to id a sacrifice he'd made in the name of somebody else's happiness and well being. It felt high time his happiness took forefront!

Placing her body directly in front of his, Sam craned her neck to look up into the eyes of the man she loved. "Let's send these people home and get our son to bed. I want to take care of you."

Her words, though spoken softly, fell upon Sonny's ears as well, and as he watched two people completely in love with each other, the reverent look upon his brother sent his gaze in search of Carly. Clearing his throat self-consciously, Sonny nodded awkwardly to where she stood at one end of the yard with Lucas and Michael, "ahem…I'll see you tomorrow, man." But when neither one acknowledged his words, he could see they hadn't heard a thing he said. Shaking his head, Sonny left them to their quiet moment. Hard to believe he'd had a hand in bringing those two together, though he could never have known in a million years, the spitfire he'd taken hostage in a desperate moment, would turn out to be the love of his brother's life. If he didn't have Carly, he'd be jealous as hell!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Lucky parked the car outside Kelly's and took a deep breath. For the tenth time since her panicked phonecall, he found himself questioning the sanity of him running to her rescue - again! Something in her voice sounded sincere…but how many times before had he believed her, only to find she'd lied through her teeth - again! With a sigh, he exited the car and slammed the door shut…if he didn't share children with her, so help him!

Instinctively, his eyes were drawn instantly to a shape that slipped into the shadows and to the rear of the establishment as he drew near. Odd, but the sound of the slamming car door had seemed to disturb him just standing there, disappearing as Lucky approached. Brushing it off, he kept moving to the door of the diner, noticing Elizabeth was directly in the line of whomever it had been standing there. Maybe she really wasn't bullshitting this time!

"Lucky! Thank God!"

Staggering back from the force of her arms circling his neck and her body pushing up against him, he found himself uneasy in her grasp, so he steadily eased her down.

"Okay, okay…I came! Why am I here?"

"I'm scared, Lucky! Somebody is after me and I need you!"

The cop and gentleman in him would not let him ignore the frantic state she was in, so easing her back to the chair she'd vacated, he took a seat opposite her. "Sit down and tell me what happened."

"I just told you - he's after me!"

Ignoring the fact that she just snapped at him, Lucky pushed the neglected glass of water that was sitting on the table before her. "Maybe you should drink that."

Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth realized he was right. If she pushed him away she'd have nobody but herself to blame when he left her to get diced into little pieces by that crazy lunatic. "I'm sorry. It's just so unnerving. I don't know what to do."

Ushering her again, he watched as she took a sip of the water that appeared to help. "From the beginning - tell me."

Taking another deep breath, she allowed herself to explain. "Somebody is stalking me." Pushing the phone his way, she showed him the latest text message. "He's been calling and hanging up, and I know he's following me - I've been sensing someone everywhere I go, but when I turn around nobody's there." Her fingers laced and unlaced nervously as her eyes roved the doorway behind Lucky. "I'm scared, Lucky. Somebody's really out to hurt me."

"Sounds like you know who it is." He pushed the phone back towards her and searched dishonest eyes for the truth, not exactly shocked to find out she'd lied to somebody else. "Who'd you set up this time?"

"No-one!"

"Okay…so 'no-one' is texting you? You know exactly who it is, and you know what you did. If you don't plan on telling me, I don't see how you expect that I can help."

She could feel her back to the wall…Lucky already thought she was the biggest liar on the planet and this situation wasn't about do anything to change his mind. If she didn't come clean he wouldn't help, and she couldn't do it by herself. Stomping her leg childishly beneath the table, she grimaced and let it out.

"I didn't do anything, Lucky…this guy liked Sam and wanted to get her attention. He ended up doing something stupid that landed him in jail, and now he's blaming me! All I told him was to be bold in a way that would grab her attention…it's not my fault he chose to assault her to do that!"

"What?"

Shrinking from his look of disapproval, she defended herself against the instant judgment. "I didn't do anything, and I certainly wasn't there when he got himself locked up for what he did…yet it's my fault - like I told him to be stupid!" She sobbed distraughtly, "Now I have to fear him cornering me in some dark alley?"

Sitting back in the chair, he studied her bloated, tear-stained face in disbelief. "Elizabeth - what happened to you? Are you seeing the things you're doing? Who have you become?"

Smarting from the slap in his tone, she wiped at the tears and snarled through gritted teeth, "I have no choice…she's been trying to take my life ever since she showed up in this town…I have to defend myself."

"What the hell are you talking about? Sam didn't know you existed until you spread your legs in a blackout and tried to destroy everything that she had! She didn't go after your life or your fiancé - you went after hers!"

"I don't expect you to take my side, Lucky - you never take my side!"

"Are you kidding? Everybody takes your side…it's what you've always counted on and it's what you've used to get what you want! But you can't keep hurting people and doing what you feel like - you're not the only one being affected by all this!"

"I love him! What am I supposed to do with that?"

"Nothing! So what, you love him? He doesn't love you! You're not the first person to fall in love with somebody who doesn't love you back, and you won't be the last - but you know how sensible people handle it? They move on and give their love to somebody who wants it. You can't make the man want you, and you can't go around trying to destroy the woman he loves just because she's not you. Look what you've brought on yourself because of it?"

"So you believe me? You believe that somebody is after me?"

The shadow from earlier entered his mind and he sighed in empathy. "Yes, I think somebody was outside watching you when I drove up."

Frantic eyes scoured the doorway and glass windows, the darkness serving to recharge her resurged fears. "What - you saw him? He's really out there?"

"Calm down. Whoever he is, he left before I got to him. Come on, I'll take you home."

"But how do you know he's not waiting to pounce on us from the shadows? He could just be round the next corner, waiting to ambush us." Sinking back into the chair, she brought both hands to rest at her temples. "Oh, God he's going to kill us!"

"Stop it! Get a hold of yourself and let's go."

The sternness in his voice forced her to calm down again, but the fright wasn't going anywhere. "Do you still carry a gun?"

"Don't worry about what I carry. I'm not afraid of some punk, slinking around the dark to make women cower. Doesn't sound to me like he has the balls to take on someone his own size…though knowing Sam, I bet he hadn't expected what she had for him either…wish I'd been a fly on the wall to watch that one."

The sound of admiration for his old flame made her nauseous, but she was more concerned about her own welfare. "Are you sure?"

Standing and holding his hand out for her, Lucky nodded, "I'm sure I'm not spending the night here. Let's go!"