"Tell me again why we have to go to the don's for dinner?"  Jasper Jax wrapped his arms around his wife's slender waist from behind.

"Jax, you're going to muss me."  Alexis sighed and leaned into her husband.  Her husband.  She still couldn't believe they were married.  "We're going because Sonny brought Elizabeth back to Port Charles and I want to see my godchild." 

"The godchild that you share with Corinthos, right?"  Jax didn't even try to hide his displeasure of the situation.

"Elizabeth's daughter, Jax.  Her name is Isabelle, she's almost eighteen months old."  Alexis shifted in his arms so she pressed against the marble counter of the sink.  "Honey, you have to accept this.  It isn't up for discussion."

Jax raised an eyebrow.  "I have to accept that my wife, who was once a respectable lawyer, is nothing more than a mob mouthpiece now?"  He shook his head even as his hands pulled her closer to him.  "No, I don't have to accept it." 

Alexis sighed.  "Honey, I'm not having this argument with you right now.  No one wins and we just end up being mad at each other."

Jax leaned in, kissed her neck above her collar.  "Don't you know," he whispered in her ear, "that the best part of arguing is making up."  Jax returned his lips to the column of her neck. 

Even as she spoke, she tilted her head to give him better access.  "Honey, I can't quit my job, okay?  I never meant to like what I was doing.  You have to know that I wouldn't defend them if I really thought they were guilty." 

His head jerked up, his blue eyes held a tint of anger.  "They're mobsters, Lexi.  They are] guilty and you] get them off." 

Alexis sighed and pushed back against his chest, making him take a step back.  "They're not mobsters.  They're not just my clients either, honey.  Sonny and Jason—even Elizabeth.  Those people are my family.  I can't turn my back on them because it would be like walking away from Stefan or Nikolas.  Would you ask me to do that?"

"Of course not, but–"

"Then don't ask me to do this."  Alexis glanced at herself once more in the mirror, straightened the collar of her shirt and nodded in approval.  "Let's go, we don't want to be late." 

"Fine," he grumbled.  "But you owe me Lexi." 

~*~

Elizabeth padded across the hall to Sonny's penthouse.  She and Isabelle had only moved in two days before and he was already insisting that they get together for a 'family' dinner.  Which meant he had invited Alexis over, too. 

"Hey Francis," she nodded to the bodyguard outside the door.  She stopped and let him take Isa from her.  "Isa, say hello to godfather number three." 

"Number three?" Francis asked.  "I thought we decided I was going to be number two and Johnny was going to be number three." 

Elizabeth rolled her eyes.  Could two men compete more than Johnny and Francis?  She had asked all three men because she knew all three would lay down their lives for her or Isabelle.  It had been an impossible choice between the three of them.  "You are such a big baby, Frannie."

"Frannie?"  His eyes narrowed.  "When did you start calling me Frannie?" 

Elizabeth laughed and reached for her daughter.  "C'mon honey, I don't want Uncle Frannie's attitude to be transferred to you." 

Francis laughed and moved aside to open the door. 

Sonny was standing in the middle of the living room, kissing a beautiful woman that Elizabeth had never seen before.  Apparently, he had invited more than just Alexis over for dinner.  She cleared her throat and then felt embarrassed when he broke away from this kiss.  Elizabeth could have sworn she saw a blush creep into his dark skin.

"Elizabeth," Sonny smiled.  With his dimples at full bore, he made his way over to the young woman and her daughter.  "How's Isabelle?"

"Isa's fine, Sonny."  Elizabeth shifted her eyes to the woman and smiled.  She fit with Sonny.  The brunette was Sonny's height, slender, and she seemed to carry an air about her that told Elizabeth she wasn't going to cooperate when Sonny sent her to her room.  "Who's this?"

Isabelle in tow, Sonny turned and smiled at the woman.  "Elizabeth, this is Marie.  Marie, this is Elizabeth."  He crossed to where she was standing and slipped an arm around her waist.  "And this is Elizabeth's daughter, Isabelle." 

"Nice to meet you, Isabelle," Marie said.  She glanced at Elizabeth and smiled.  "May I hold your daughter?" 

Elizabeth smiled widely and nodded.   "Just be careful with her, she's precious to me." 

Marie smiled and took Isabelle from Sonny and began to walk around the room with her. 

Sonny glanced at his girlfriend and then back at Elizabeth.  He took in what she was wearing and frowned.  "I thought I told you we were having dinner."  His eyes scanned  down her body.  Elizabeth was clad in a pair of hip hugger denim jeans, a long sleeve black shirt that rested against the top of the jeans, and no shoes.  "Where are your shoes?"

Elizabeth smirked.  "I didn't realize I had to wear shoes in order to eat, Dad.  I would have dressed for dinner if you would have given me more than twenty minutes notice.  But, when you barge in, demand I come across the hall because we're having a family dinner and then you're gone again, I didn't really have a lot of time to get myself and Isabelle ready.  I figured that Alexis would want to see the baby, not me, so I dressed her for dinner." 

It was moments like this when Sonny could see exactly why Jason had married Elizabeth.  She was a spitfire when you ticked her off.  Even though he knew she was joking with him, he didn't want to be the person who received the force of her temper when she was really mad.  "It's okay, kid.  You don't have to have shoes to eat." 

"Gee, thanks Sonny."  Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.  "I didn't want to have to go all the way back across the hall to get them." 

"No, no."  Sonny waved his hand in the air.  "That's not necessary."  Sonny stopped speaking and wondered if he should tell her now or after dinner.  Alexis would surely be here soon.  But that also meant her husband would be with her.  Not someone that he wanted to share this information with.  "Elizabeth, you want to sit down?"

Elizabeth didn't notice the change in his voice and she followed him over to the couch.  Sonny instinctively reached and covered one of her hands.  "Honey, I've got some news." 

"News?"

"We found him." 

It took a moment for what he was saying to register.  "You found him?  B–but, two days ago you said you didn't know where he was.  I don't understand, Sonny." 

Sonny reached up to cup her cheek and smiled.  "Honey, we found him.  There was a tip a few days ago, but I didn't want to tell you, get your hopes up and then it not be anything.  So I didn't tell you." 

"Okay."

"He's in Spain.  I don't know where in Spain, but I know that he's in the country."

"Spain?" she asked.  Elizabeth stood and crossed to the globe that was sitting on the bookshelf.  She moved it so that the Iberian Peninsula was facing her.  Elizabeth slid her fingers over the country and smiled.  Jason was in Spain.  If they knew where he was, then soon they would find him.  She glanced over as Sonny took Isabelle from Marie and the other woman disappeared into the kitchen.

Sonny approached Elizabeth, a thin smile on his lips.  He wasn't sure how she was going to react to this news, but so far she was taking it very well.  Silently he handed Isabelle to her mother and then stepped away so they could have a moment of privacy.

"Honey," Elizabeth whispered in Isabelle's ear.  She pointed to Spain on the map.  "That's where Daddy is." 

"Dada," the little girl cooed.

"That's right, Isa.  Dada."  Elizabeth lifted Isabelle's chubby finger and placed it over Spain.  "We'll find him," she whispered.  "Mommy promises that Daddy will come back to you.  Soon." 

Elizabeth turned around, with tears in her eyes, and smiled at Sonny.  She started to say something when Francis opened the door and announced that the Jacks' were here.

Sonny turned, glared at the tall Australian.  "I liked it so much better when you would come alone, Alexis." 

"Sonny," his lawyer warned.  Alexis didn't feel she needed to finish the statement and she looked past her client to where Elizabeth was standing.  "Elizabeth!  And you have Isabelle with you."

Elizabeth's smile was wide and genuine as the older woman made her way over.  "How are you Mrs. Jacks?" 

"Her name," Sonny said through clenched teeth, "is Alexis."

"Her name is Mrs. Jasper Jacks."  Jax knew he shouldn't taunt Sonny, but sometimes when the opportunity presented itself, he just couldn't not taunt him.

"Fellas," Alexis said firmly.  "We're here to celebrate Elizabeth's homecoming.  This is not going to be another game of one-upmanship."

"Honey," Jax said, noticing the way Sonny flinched when he used the term of endearment.  "I know this is about welcoming Elizabeth home, so let me be the first."  He crossed to the young brunette and smiled at the child in her arms.  "I'm glad you're back, Elizabeth.  And I know Lexi is as well." 

"Lexi," Sonny snorted.  He started to say more but Marie appeared from the kitchen.

"Honey, dinner's ready."  Marie made her way over to him and slinked an arm around his waist.

Both Alexis and Jax turned to look at the brunette attached to his side. 

Sonny gave them both a dimpled grin and introduced them.  "This is Marie.  Meet my lawyer Alexis Davis and her husband, Jasper." 

Alexis took a step forward and smiled, extended a hand to the woman.  "Alexis Davis-Jacks." 

Jax smiled proudly while Sonny tried to hide his distaste for her use of the last name.  He turned his attention to the woman who was still clinging to Corinthos and he wondered what it was that women saw in him.  For a time, he even believed that Alexis had some unresolved feelings for him.  They had since talked about them, long before they married.  He approached his wife from behind, placed a hand on her shoulder.  "Jasper Jacks.  But my friends call me Jax." 

Marie gave him a warm smile and Sonny watched with pride.  Elizabeth took in this scene and wondered if perhaps Marie was the woman who would give Sonny a family of his own.  But the relationship was new still and they had a long road ahead of them.

"Are we ready to eat?" Marie asked.

As soon as they were all seated around the dining room table, Sonny and Marie left and returned again with the food.  Sonny was seated at the head of the table with Elizabeth and Marie on both sides.  Isabelle sat next to her mother.  Jax was at the other end of the table and Alexis sat to his right.  Everyone made small talk during dinner.

"Sonny."  Elizabeth said after she pushed her plate away.  "That was delicious.  I haven't had a meal like that since–"

"Is that so," he cut her off.  "Then you'll just have to start coming over for dinner more often.  Like, every night." 

Elizabeth's eyes widened at the suggestion.  She knew this was Sonny's way of watching out for her, but every night seemed a bit…excessive.  "That won't be necessary, Sonny.  I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself." 

"I wasn't saying that you're not.  I was just saying that there was no point for you and Isabelle to eat that take out food I know you love so much.  Besides," he gave her a quick grin, "I doubt Wong's delivers all the way from Buffalo." 

Elizabeth coughed when he gave her the name of the Chinese place from Buffalo.  "How did you know that?" 

"How do you think?"  He reached out, patted her arm.  "Don't get so worked up, Elizabeth.  You've had guards for a long time now." 

"I just…I didn't think they were there to spy on me."  Elizabeth glanced across the table, tried to make eye contact with Alexis.  The older woman shook her head, telling her she wasn't going to jump into the middle of this one.  Elizabeth turned her attention back to Isabelle and feed her some more mashed potatoes.

"They're not spies," Sonny said gently.  "Look, I'm not going to make you come over, but I do want you to take better care of yourself." 

"Sonny's right," Alexis added.  "You are looking thin.  Are you sleeping properly?" 

Elizabeth jerked her head towards Sonny to ask him the silent question, but he just shook his head.  She turned her attention back to Alexis and said, "I've been sleeping fine, thank you." 

The room went silent and Elizabeth berated herself for the way that she had snapped at Alexis.  "Look–"

"That's fine, honey.  I'm just worried about you.  I just want to make sure you're taking care of yourself and that beautiful daughter of yours."  The attorney's brown eyes were filled with sincerity. 

Sensing the need to change the subject, Jax turned to Marie and said, "Marie, tell us about yourself." 

She looked to Sonny and he smiled.  "I do PR work for Chloe Morgan Designs." 

Elizabeth's eyes perked up.  "I worked for Chloe once.  I was her personal assistant when she first moved to Port Charles."

"Is that so?  Chloe's fabulous, isn't she?  Of course, she's not working out of Port Charles anymore and spends most of her time in either Paris or Milan.  I help the assistant that she has in the office over here and basically we run the operation together." 

"I'd heard Chloe had branched out."  Elizabeth smiled and glanced down at her engagement ring.  "She designed my wedding dress." 

"Really?"  Marie's smile was bright and she looked at the younger girl.  "I'd be interested in seeing some pictures someday if you have the time." 

"I'd like that." 

Marie turned back to Jax and smiled.  "And I live in the apartment complex that A.J. Quartermaine just completed on the other side of town."

"You mean Corinthos hasn't got you living in here already?"  He gave Sonny a smug smile, "You're slowing down, old man." 

"Unlike you Jasper, I like to know my women before I marry them."  He gave the Australian his full attention and added, "And I definitely don't marry them when I know that they're in love with another man." 

"No, you just string them along for years and then when you do finally agree to marry them, you send your boy Jason to clean up your mess."

"Jax."  Alexis touched her husband's arm and shook her head. 

"You're right," Sonny agreed.  "But I gave her up so she would be safe.  You're the one who let someone drive her off a cliff." 

"Sonny," Elizabeth tried.  "Can we not do this?" 

"At least," Jax continued, ignoring looks from Elizabeth and Alexis, "I know that Alexis won't get shot in my shower." 

"Alexis got shot in my shower?" Sonny looked at his lawyer, dimples showing.  "Why didn't you tell me?  Or did you just bill me for it?" 

Alexis rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath. 

"Marie," Jax drawled, "did you know that your 'honey' is the crime boss of Port Charles?"

"Alleged," Alexis interjected, but no one heard her.

"Alexis, did you know that your beloved husband plotted with Tracy Quartermaine to overthrow the Quartermaine Empire?" 

"Oh for the love of…" Alexis muttered and pushed her chair back.  "We're going to settle this, once and for all."  She looked at Elizabeth.  "Would you please find a ruler, so they can whip 'em out and measure them?  Their 'Who's the bigger man' contest is getting tiring."

Everyone at the table was stunned into silence.  Elizabeth stood and walked to the desk and searched the only unlocked drawer.  She held up a white, six inch ruler.  "This is all I could find.  Think it's long enough?"

"It's more than enough," Alexis quipped.  

Sonny glared at Elizabeth and she smiled like a Cheshire cat at him.

Jax looked at Alexis.  "How do you know?"

Alexis' eyes widened and she turned to her husband.  "I know that you aren't suggesting what I think you're suggesting.  Not only is that ludicrous, but there's a child present Jax!"   

Both men stared at her as she continued to talk.  "I'm not going to choose between the two of you.  You started this game a long time ago with Brenda and it's hard to believe that either of you loved her at all, because it's all about me, me, me.  I'm not putting up with it anymore."  She turned to face Jax and reached out, touched his face.  "Honey, I'm going to continue to represent Sonny in his interests.  Sonny is my best friend and I'd do anything for him.  And I know that he'd do the same for me.  I'm going to be Elizabeth's friend," she held her hand up when he started to speak; "I know you're going to say this isn't about Elizabeth.  But Elizabeth is Jason's wife and eventually it will become about Elizabeth.  I'm just telling you now, I'm going to be her friend and I'm going to help her with Isabelle if I can.  If you don't like that or can't accept that, then you need to tell me now." 

"I understand and I accept it."  Jax glared at Sonny over his wife's head and fumed even more when a smug smile broke out across the mobster's face.

"Thanks, Alexis."

Alexis turned to face Sonny and glared at him.  Immediately, his dimples disappeared.  "I wouldn't thank me yet.  I'm your attorney, Sonny.  But I'm also your friend.  When you asked me to help out during Elizabeth's pregnancy, I did because I think that she is an amazing woman.  She thanked me for it by asking me to be the child's godmother."  She smiled at her old friend.  "I'm married now, Sonny.  I don't live across the hall anymore.  I'm not at your beck and call.  I'll charge you double if you call me after five and triple if you call me on the weekends.  Don't test me, because you know I'll do it.  I don't want to quit working for you, Sonny.  I respect you and I respect Jason and it goes past attorney-client.  You two and Elizabeth are my family.  But don't ask me to turn my back on Jax because he's my husband.  I made promises to him and I intend on keeping them.  If both of you plan on staying in my life, then you need to find a way to get over this vendetta you hold for each other.  And you have to start now." 

Jax grumbled, put an arm around his wife's waist and extended the other hand to his rival.  "I'll do it, if you will Corinthos." 

Sonny looked at Elizabeth who nodded her head and then at Marie who was staring at him with question in her eyes.  He didn't say anything, but he shook hands with the man. 

"Well," Alexis said, "now that we have that settled.  How about desert?  Or better yet, is there any popcorn?"

At first it was only Marie who laughed, but soon the rest of the room joined in.  Elizabeth started to feed the rest of the potatoes to Isabelle.  Everyone else rejoined her at the table and Sonny went into the kitchen to retrieve a homemade cheesecake.  When he returned, he cut everyone a slice and took one for himself and sat back down.

Jax turned back to Marie and smiled.  "I'm sorry about that.  Got kind of out of hand.  But as my wife made clear, it is time that we moved past this vendetta.  Is there anything else you need to know?"

She smiled at the man and reached under the table, wrapped her fingers around Sonny's and gave him a gentle squeeze.  "I do have one question.  Who's Jason?"

The room fell so silent, they could've heard a pin drop.  Sonny glanced at Elizabeth, watching her as she fed Isabelle trying to ignore the fact that everybody's eyes had fallen on her.  It was Jax who broke the silence.

"Jason used to be a Quartermaine heir until Corinthos over there corrupted him." 

"Jax!" Alexis scolded.  She gave him a look and he immediately closed his mouth.

Sonny smiled and reached across the table to squeeze Elizabeth's hand.  "Jason is my partner in the coffee business.  You know the Corinthos-Morgan warehouse?  He's Morgan."

"I see."  Marie turned to Elizabeth and smiled.  "Elizabeth, where is your husband?"

Elizabeth went pale and turned her attention back to Isabelle.  "He's…uhhh…out of town on business right now." 

"Oh, are you married to one of Sonny's bodyguards?  Johnny?  I haven't seen him today." 

"Marie–"

Elizabeth cut Sonny off.  "No, it's okay."  She turned to Marie and gave her a half-hearted smile.  "Jason is my husband.  We've been married for four years now." 

"I see."  Marie turned her attention back to her plate as everyone's eyes turned back to Elizabeth and her daughter. 

After a minute of no one saying anything, Alexis cleared her throat and stood.  "Sonny, it was a lovely dinner, thank you for inviting us." 

"Leaving so soon?" he asked.  Sonny stood as did Elizabeth as they went to show their guests out.  "Thank you for coming, Alexis, Jasper." 

"I'll see you at the warehouse in the morning?" the lawyer asked.  "We have coffee contracts to go over." 

"Bright and early."  Sonny leaned in, gave his lawyer a kiss on the cheek and silently celebrated when Jax scowled at the gesture.  "Have a good night, Alexis."

When the Jacks' were gone, Elizabeth quickly began to gather her and Isabelle's things and was out of the penthouse in less than two minutes.  Once the door was shut behind him safely, Sonny turned and smiled at Marie.  "I'm sorry about that.  It got out of hand there for a minute."

"That's okay," she said.  Marie stood and crossed to him.  "Tell me, what did I say that cleared the room like that?"

Sonny took her hand and led her over to the sofa.  He fixed them both a drink and, once they had settled in, he took a long swallow of the scotch and shook his head.  "It's a long story."