~@~@ That's the Way Love goes

I disclaim.

~~

The temperature in Luke Spencer's office dropped about thirty degrees with the addition of Jason Morgan. The large blond man seemed perfectly harmless leaning on the doorjamb in a t-shirt and jeans, but all of his emotions were seen clearly in his blue eyes, and the emotion was confusion and anger." Emily, what do you mean 'with Johnny'."

" Uh… we'll just leave you guys to chat, right Luke?" Laura moved toward the door and looked back at her fiancé who hadn't yet moved.

" No I think I'll stay just in case Little darlin' needs back up." Luke winks at Emily and gives her a reassuring smile, completely ignoring the glare he received from both Laura and Jason.

" Emily I asked you a question?" Jason became instantly concerned when he saw Zander and Liz on the docks, when he questioned his sister's friend she said the Emily had run off. He had guessed that she would go to Luke's, he knew that Emily had a close relationship with Luke, the older Spencer interned treated Emily like she was another daughter, but the idea that Spencer felt his sister would need back up against him caused his heart rate to increase, and for the first time in a long time he felt fear. It increased when noticed that his sister was not looking at him and was in fact looking everywhere but in his general direction, which was strange considering that she knew she could tell him anything. He stepped further into the room and stopped right in front of her chair. " Emily?" His voiced took on a steel edge to it.

" Jason, we should talk about this later." Johnny stood up and moved in front of Emily blocking her from her brother's heated glance. Jason was looking at Emily like she was someone he was trying to shake down for information, and he was damned if it was going to happen with him here. " She doesn't want to talk to you right now."

Luke watched the scene with a smile and a sense of respect growing for O'Brien, hired thug or not, he seemed to care about Emily twice as much as the last two morons she dated or at least enough to brave Jason for her. He winced at the thought of the Juan and Zander, he had know that neither was good enough for his Little darlin', but saying it aloud only make him sound like Eddie, and he had rather get tucked in with the queen of the damned then be compared to old man Quartermaine.

" So you tell me what she meant." Jason's eyes narrowed, as he took in the protective stance that Johnny used to guard Emily from him, and his mind worked feverishly to fix the puzzle in his head. Luke and Johnny both seemed to think he was a danger to Emily, while Laura stood by the door silently pleading with Luke to leave. He mentally recalls the conversation that he had with Emily on the ride back to the city and Emily's constant glances into the rearview mirror, and lastly Johnny state of undress this morning when he arrived. " Fine you won't speak…Laura?" Jason's gaze lands on the nervous blonde by the door, the woman was itching to escape, and refused to meet his eyes.

" Jason enough, you don't have to interrogate everyone." Emily lifted her head and motioned for Johnny to move; when he did she met her brothers eyes, and blinked at the sight. Jason knew but he wanted her to tell him, like always he wanted the words. " Johnny and I are…" " Uh… we're…"

" Come on Little darlin' if you can't say it, you ain't old enough to do it." Luke's eyes widened when Emily looked around her brother to glare at him, it was a look that he knew quite well it was a patented ' doesn't screw with me look' that he had hoped she had in her, but just didn't expect to be the recipient of. 

" Luke we're leaving." Laura came back around the desk and grabbed his hand pulling him out of the office mouthing ' we're outside' to Emily and shutting the door behind her.

Taking a deep breath she took the plunge. " Jason, Johnny and I are together." She felt Johnny step behind her and put a strong hand on her shoulder, and sat straighter when she saw her brothers eyes narrow and focus on the man behind her. 

" No." An overwhelming feeling was bombarding Jason's body, it was one of superiority, he suddenly knew better then Emily, and he wasn't going to let her make a mistake and end up hurt. " Whatever happened was a one time thing, and will not happen again." Jason pointed to Johnny hatred radiating from his eyes." You will stay away from my sister leave quickly and I won't have to kill you."

" Jason…" Emily stood to confront him but was gently pushed back into her chair from behind.

" No."

" Jason you need to understand…"

" No, there is nothing to understand." Jason gives Johnny one more hard look before going to the door and opening it, he looks back at his sister and shakes his head." I'll have a new guard here in a few minutes, and that better not be here."

" Okay that went worse then I expected." She looked back at Johnny and meet his questioning eyes." We need to talk to Sonny, he's the only person that can keep him from killing you."

" Come on." Johnny took her hand and lead her through the club where Laura and Luke were huddled over a table talking quietly." Thank you for your help Mr. And Mrs. Spencer."

" Don't mention it we'd do anything for Emily." Laura gave them both a smile.

" Where you off to now Little Darlin'?"

" To throw ourselves on the mercy of the Godfather." Emily said as she gave Luke an eye roll before following Johnny out the door.

~~

Ten Minutes Later

Breathless and panting Johnny and Emily emerged from the elevator at Harbor Towers, and headed straight for Sonny's penthouse.

Francis must have been expecting them, because he merely stepped aside and opened the door. 

"SONNY." Emily stopped at the desk and leaned against it trying to catch her breath, she turned her head and glared at Johnny who seemed unfazed by all the running.

" Aunt Emily?" The little boy seated on the couch looked up at the shouting, and grinned at the sight of his favorite aunt." Mommy said you were here." Dropping his toy boat he took off in her direction.

" Michael." Suddenly the weariness disappeared as she looked at her nephew, pushing herself off the desk she met him halfway before enveloping him in a tight hug. Holding him she remembers one of the reasons she returned was so that she could watch him grow up. " Hey guy, I've missed you, those pictures just don't do you justice." Emily lets him slide down her body to the floor and bends down to meet his eyes. " How've you been?"

" I'm okay, but I missed you." " Are you here to see the robot I built?"

" Actually Mr. Man I need to speak to your Aunt Emily for a second, can you go upstairs and straighten your room, so she won't trip on your toys when she goes up to see you." Carly said as she walked out of the kitchen and smiled down at her son.

" Okay Mommy." Michael kisses Emily's cheek before turning on his feet and running up the stairs leaving the adults in a tense silence.

Emily stands and looks at Carly noticing where she just came from. " Are you supposed to be in Sonny's kitchen?"

Carly looks at stairs checking for her son, and gives and evil grin when she doesn't see him." Are you supposed to be doing your bodyguard?" 

Emily drops her head and she shakes it." How did you hear?"

" Jason called about fifteen minutes ago, yelling." She walks over to the couch and sinks down into it. " I didn't know that Jason could yell, but he did, and Sonny went running to meet him. " " It was suggested that I stay here, and keep you and Kevin Costner over there from going on the run."

" Kevin Costner, that's funny, you and Luke are hilarious." " Can you help me at all?"

" You went to Luke first, that was your first mistake." She laughs and glances over at Johnny. " No… I'm wrong I can't pin point your first mistake, but your current is going to Luke first."

" I didn't go to Luke, he found us."

" He found you." Carly falls off the couch laughing at the imagine of Luke finding them together. " Obviously you need lesson in sneaking around, what is this like the third time you and one of your secret boyfriends got caught."

" Carly are you going to help us or what?" Johnny asked as he sat down and looked Carly in her eyes.

" It's not that I don't want to, it's that I don't know if I can." " Jason was furious, he yelled, and Sonny didn't say anything, not a word." " That's a bad sign."  

~~~

" Jason you need to calm down." Sonny looked at his friend with worry. Jason was pacing the docks stopping occasionally to kick or hit something. " Things aren't as bad as they seem."

" Calm down, not as bad as them seem." Jason turned on Sonny anger causing his eyes to narrow. " Johnny O'Brien is having sex with my 19 year-old sister."

" Jason it's Emily, she knows what she's doing." " She grew up with the Q's she not some fresh out of high school little girl, she's gone through some rough stuff and come out on top." Sonny put his hand on Jason's shoulder and winced at the tension his felt. " I trust Emily and you should too. "

" That's not what you said when it was Courtney."

Sonny looked away like he'd been slapped, but regained his composure. " Courtney was and is still a means to an end for A.J., he set out to use and hurt her, I can't believe you're comparing A.J to Johnny." " Come on Jason they're not even the same species."

" That's where you're wrong they're both grown men using little girls." Jason shrugged off Sonny's hand and stormed up the stairs. " It's your business you do what you want, but he doesn't go near my sister again."

Sonny rubbed the bridge of his nose, he wasn't going to have Johnny killed or fired, but he needed to him to keep his distance until he could guarantee Jason would bury him, but he didn't know how he was going to accomplish that. Emily was just as stubborn and hard headed as her brother. " Great this is just what I need."

~~~

" Okay I have thought about this since I found out, and I have nothing." Carly says as she shrugs her shoulders." I haven't a clue what to do, I would say just tell them how you feel, but Jason's not going to understand this he probably feels betrayed, and let's face it we all know what happens when you betray Jason. " " On top of that, Emily has one of the most overbearing families on the eastern seaboard and they will not handle this well, your grandfather that will probably be the first Quartermaine after Jason to order a mob hit. " Emily dropped her head into her hands. " I'll do what I can and that's prevent any 'accidents' from befalling Johnny, but I can't get you approval."

Emily opened her mouth to answer when they heard noise from outside the front door. Johnny stood and motioned for them to remain while he took a look.

" I'm not here to see Corinthos, I want to see my sister is she here or not?" A.J.'s yell could clearly be heard through the door, and Emily quickly stood, and made her way to the there.

" Once again, Mr. Quartermaine I'm not at liberty to divulge the occupants of the penthouse to you, if you would like to leave a message I can see that Ms. Emily receives it."

Emily nudged Johnny out of the way and opens the door, where she finds Francis holding back an angry A.J., while a small blonde tried to restrain him from behind. " It's okay Francis, what's up A.J.?" Francis stepped back and retook his position by the door watching the other man through narrowed eyes.

" Hey I uh… wanted you to meet my wife, and thought maybe we could talk you into having lunch with us?" A.J. asks while he straightens his clothes, and gives her a small smile.

" I take it your wife is the woman behind you that you haven't introduced me to?"

" Oh sorry." He tuned and took the blondes hand guiding her forward." Emily this is Courtney, Courtney this is my baby sister Emily."

" Hi Courtney nice to meet you, you don't have to call me baby sister Emily, it's just Emily now." She took the other woman's hand and tried to find any resemble to Sonny, but could only find traces of Mike in her eyes and smile.

" It's nice to meet you I heard good things about you."

" As opposed to every other member of my family except Grandmother." Courtney nods." Yeah, they're … well they're family what can you do." " Uh… as for lunch I can come if you let me buy it, to make up for missing the big day."

" Em…"

" Don't argue with me big brother, I have made my decision and it's final." Emily looked back at the door, and started walking before turning back to he brother. " Hang on I'll be right back." She walked in and found Carly and Johnny talking in hushed tones at the desk.

" What does A.J. want?" Johnny asked turning to look at her form his position next to Carly.

Emily ignores the eye roll Carly gives at Johnny's question." We're going to lunch; I figure I'll start laying the groundwork for when the Q's find out, maybe get some other support, but if you don't want to come I understand."

He comes forward and takes her hand giving it a small squeeze." No, it's not that it's just Carly thinks I should stay and try to talk to Sonny."

Emily looks past him to examine Carly carefully, amazed by the next words that leave her mouth. " That's actually a good idea."

" Hey I'm trying to help you two."

" You're right Carly, thank you." Emily leans in and gives small and quick kiss before heading for the door. " Tell Michael I'll be back to see him later." She smiles at Francis and walks over to A.J. and Courtney who are waiting for the elevator.

The doors open Sonny walks out and glares at A.J. before giving a smile to his sister, and looking over at Emily. " Is He?"

Emily nodded and stared at he meaningfully. " Yeah, where is…"

" Stormed off."

" Can you…"

" Taking care of it." Sonny gave her a final nod, and headed toward his penthouse.

Emily stepped into the elevator and pressed the lobby button ignoring the looks she received from both her lunch companions.

" Em…?"

" It's a lunch conversation A.J., just trust me, this is something you need to hear sitting down."

~~

Jason stares at the door with trepidation, he's not scared, he's just weary. Anytime you involve a Quartermaine in your private business you risk having the old man show up at your door. He raises his hand to ring the bell when the door is pulled back.

" Jason isn't this a surprise."

Jason gives his mother a small smile, and accepts her brief hug. " Monica I need to speak with you in private."

" Is something wrong, is it Michael?" Monica leans against the door for support and placed a hand over her heart, her eyes showing worry and concern.

" No I need to speak to you about Emily."    

~~

" Why did you choose the PC Grille?" Courtney asked as she watched as Emily smiled and waved at the all the wait staff, and bus boys. "I mean I'd have thought a Quartermaine owned place would be low on your list."

"Be careful Court, this is where Emily vindictive streak comes out."

" It's not vindictive, it's just good clean fun." She turns to her sister-in law, and winks." You see whenever a Quartermaine comes in my Grandfather is called and told about it, just little things like who we were with and how long we stayed, or at least they did until I started coming here and over tipping, and now that their loyal to me they don't call him anymore." " So I come in buy a bunch of food on the house account and give it to the Ward House, and I just let Grandfather's imagination run wild when he get the bill."  

" See vindictive."

" This coming from a guy that used to carry a flask of water around to upset Grandfather and Ned."

A.J. leans in and stares at his sister with curiosity. " Never mind our weird little games with Grandfather, what was all that stuff at Sonny's, are you in trouble?"

" No at least I don't think so, but then Jason as other ideas."

" Why does Jason think you're on trouble?"

" Because he ran into me and this guy I'm seeing, and isn't that impressed, in fact he threatened to kill him."

" You're not back with that loser Zander are you because…."

" Hold it A.J." Emily put up her hand to silence her brother and narrowed her eyes." Don't think for a minute that I don't know what really happened, and what you and Skye did as well as Zander's role, and although I am not with him I'm also not that proud of what any of you did."

 " Wait what happened with Zander?" Courtney made her presence felt by directing the questioning to Emily, noticing how her husband's complexion paled at his sister's statement.

" Let's just say that A.J. and Skye, left some details out in story I was told involving Zander, while I was away." " No big deal because Zander also left some stuff out."

" Em that was done to protect you…"

" That's a little far fetched A.J., we both know what that was really about." " But we're not here to discuss my ex, I wanted to get to know Courtney, and tell you about the man in my life."

" Okay what's his name, do I know him?"

" Yes you do, it's Johnny O'Brien."