Chapter 4

Leo stood on the deck of the yacht waiting for the new day to begin. He silently stared at the mist hovering over the water as he sipped his morning coffee. He had decided to enjoy this quiet moment; this lull in what he knew would be a tumultuous day. After visiting Alexis the night before he had come back to the yacht hoping to get a few hours of good sleep. But sleep wasn't forthcoming so he spent most of the night mulling over the call from Jason and what today's meetings could involve. He knew Jason and Elizabeth would be here within the half hour. And Alexis probably also, full guns and ready to blast both of them for being caught by Sonny.

That didn't overly much concern him though. After the latest news from New York he was sure that Sonny would have found out eventually and most likely within the next few months. He frowned as he remembered his last conversation with Elizabeth about her trip to New York. The news had been unsettling at best. Herlihy had told her that the problem they thought had been solved might be back. Only this time the assault would begin on the east coast. The word on the street was that once the east coast was under their control that they would once again go after the family in Chicago.

Leo swore under his breath. How the hell did he end up involved in all this? Just a few years ago his only worry was his next con. Where his next big score was coming from. That and whatever trouble he and Greenlee could get into. He smiled remembering those times and her. He made a mental note to call her soon and find if she'd driven Jake crazy yet. Coming back to the present he looked around and noticed Alexis on the docks. He sighed and reminded himself exactly why he was a part of this. Family. He turned around to go back inside preparing himself for Alexis and the meetings to come.


~~~Chicago~~~

Francesca couldn't believe what she had heard from Port Charles. They were meeting with Corinthos today. Well that blew most of her plans to hell and back. She didn't even want to know how he found out about them. Then again she wasn't really surprised. They hadn't seen each other in almost two months and she was sure neither was expecting Sonny to just show up at Elizabeth's apartment.

Looking out her window at the Lakeshore she shook her head and smirked. Raising her glass she laughed softly. "Enjoy it while you can Sonny. You're about to find out exactly how the big boys really play."


~~~Port Charles: PH4 Sonny's place~~~~

Carly sat nervously at the table drinking her coffee. It had been a quiet morning thus far. Michael had been sent off to school without incident. She sat watching her husband finish his breakfast. She just couldn't believe how calm he was. He would be leaving soon, ostensibly by himself, for the yacht. As if she would let him go alone. She slowly shook her head in disbelief. He should her better by now than to think she'd allow that.

"So," she huffed out, "just what do you think is going on with them?" She knew he wouldn't have to ask whom she meant.

He didn't raise his eyes from the paper he was reviewing. "I think that was pretty obvious. I told you what I walked in on."

She rolled her eyes at his terse comment. "Sonny, they weren't actually doing anything and it's not like they were naked." She was interrupted at this point by his snort of derision. "You know I'm right. Plus what about Leo? Elizabeth's been seeing him hasn't she? I'm pretty positive that diamond she's wearing is from him. She wouldn't cheat on him, it's not in her to cheat like that." That was about the only thing that Carly was confident of at this time. After all that she had been through and done in Port Charles, she knew her best friend's stance on that topic.

"Doesn't really matter, does it?" Sonny answered after a few moments of silence. "That doesn't concern us. What does concern us is why we never knew they were in contact and why he's back now." He rose from his seat picking up his papers before walking to his desk.

Carly smiled at Sonny as she rose from the table. "Well no time like the present to find out is there?" She stopped halfway to the door before turning around, a grin on her face. "Let's go hear what they have to say."

"Carly, you are not coming with me." Sonny exclaimed as he walked around his wife. "Don't you have a meeting this morning at your office?"

Carly smirked as she watched him try to get her to agree not to go to the yacht with him. "Sonny," she stated in a calm voice, "there is no way in hell you are getting out of here without me and no way that I am letting you go to see Elizabeth by yourself." She walked past him and grabbed her coat. "Get your coat dear, it's cold outside." She glanced over her shoulder as she reached to open the door. "But not as cold as it will be in our room if I don't get my way on this."

Sonny stared unbelievingly as Carly opened the door and walked into the hallway. Shaking his head he picked up his coat and followed his wife. He just knew that this was going to be a long and tortuous morning.


~~~Port Charles: Yacht~~~

Elizabeth winced as Alexis once again started on her lecture about getting caught by Sonny. She really didn't want to hear this again. It's not like we haven't heard this already she thought, only once on the phone first thing this morning and then when they arrived on the yacht.

"Alexis," she interrupted the older woman. "We know that it was bad timing. We know that it shouldn't have happened. But it did and now we'll just deal with it."

Alexis rubbed her temples. "I think I'm going to hyperventilate. That's it." She suddenly turned to Jason. "And you," she poked him in the chest. "What the hell are you doing here? Surprise visits to Port Charles aren't very smart."

Jason stared at her for a moment before sighing. "I know that I should have called first. Actually I just wanted some time with Lizzie before I called a meeting. This isn't just a spur of the moment pleasure trip."

That announcement got Leo's attention. "So Lizzie's not a reason to come home?" He just couldn't resist since he knew what the answer would be. And he got the response he wanted Alexis and Elizabeth smiling and chuckling and Jason glaring at him in exasperation. Getting serious, he continued with his questioning. "So what are you doing here? And why would we need to meet irregardless of Sonny catching the two of you?"

"Bad news," Jason stated simply. He glanced at Elizabeth knowing that this would bring back bad memories for her. "Our friends out west are back at it again. They're on the move. There was an attempt on Max a few days ago and the signs point to them."

"Now I really am going to hyperventilate," Alexis muttered to herself.

"Shit," was Leo's simple reaction. He looked at Jason. "Are we sure? No way anyone could be mistaken?"

"Positive," Jason stated. He turned his eyes to Elizabeth, wanting to make sure that she was okay. She hadn't said a word or made a sound in response to his news. She was sitting silently slowly sipping her drink, her eyes dark and her expression unreadable. "Elizabeth?" he questioned.

"I'm fine Jase," she answered the unspoken query. She sat her glass down on the table and looked at the other three people with her, but addressing Jason. "We've heard rumblings about them recently. I just saw Herlihy last week and he said that there was talk of them on the streets. So, I guess they are going to go after Sonny first, then moving in to consolidate?"

Jason nodded his head in agreement. "That's what we think. I came ahead since we have to decide how to approach things here."

"Someone will have to tell him," Alexis nodded her head slowly. "But when and who?" She looked at Elizabeth and Jason. "It should be one of you. He wouldn't trust Leo and he would think I was blowing things out of proportion, if he even thought I knew what I was talking about."

"You're right," Jason agreed. He sat next to Elizabeth, his arm automatically wrapping around her shoulders. "What we need to decide is just how much we tell him."

"Everything," Elizabeth replied simply. Looking at Alexis and Leo she grimaced. "That is if you two agree. Do you want him to know exactly how much you are involved? He won't be happy especially with you, Alexis. When he finds out just how much you never told him…"

Alexis waived off Elizabeth's concern. "He'll get over it. Does anyone in this town really expect a Cassadine to tell all? He's not naïve; he knows that there is a lot I've never told him. Of course the fact that his attorney also works for a rival organization is not going to go over very well at all." She grinned slightly at the three younger people. "But then neither is the fact that his best friend heads up one of the largest territories in the country."

Leo groaned as he looked at Elizabeth and Alexis. "Tell me again why I ever got involved with you three."

"Cause you love us?" Elizabeth grinned as she leaned against Jason, glad that the mood in the room had lightened a bit. She laughed as Leo just shook his head.

Alexis reached over and patted Leo's cheek. "Probably because it's impossible for you to say no to the women in your family."

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Next Chapter: Carly and Sonny on the yacht. Just how they react to the foursome?

So any guesses as to what's going on? I'm thinking that the person that can figure it out get's a prize (and not the next chapter.)