Author's Note:  SURPRISE!!  Two chapters in one day.  Amazing you say?  Unbelievable?  So, I thought I'd post this one since I had such a time getting Chapter 8 up.  BTW, this is the beginning of my favourite section.

Chapter 9

~~~The yacht~~~

After Carly and Sonny left the remaining four people stood silently for a few moments, as if absorbing all that had just occurred. Alexis finally sighed and turned to pour herself another drink.

"So, that went well," she scoffed, before tossing back her drink faster than any of them had seen her do before.

"Could'a been worse Cuz, could'a been much worse," Leo responded dryly. Looking at Elizabeth he became concerned. She was too pale, too quiet. Not a reaction he had expected from her.

"Elizabeth?" He glanced at Jason before turning his eyes back to his younger cousin. "You gonna be okay?"

Elizabeth chuckled softly at first and then began laughing. Just as quickly as she started she stopped. Stalking over to the bar, she poured herself a shot of vodka and downed it just as quickly as her mother did her own. She leaned back and sighed. Looking around her she smiled at the three people closest to her, knowing that their concern was over her having deceived two close friends, one a best friend for so many years; and her reaction to finally revealing that deceit to them.

"I'm fine, Leo. Just a little sad that it had to be done this way. And I really hated having to use Michael and scaring Carly." She answered Leo's question in a quiet steady voice, belying the anger and sorrow she was feeling at the situation they were in.

Alexis wrapped an arm around her daughter and kissed her forehead. "You did what you had to do. Nothing else would have gotten through to Sonny, I'm afraid. And Carly won't hold it against you. She is the more practical of the two of them." Alexis grinned as her daughter chuckled at the last comment. She continued. "And since when does a disagreement keep you two at odds. You'll be back to causing us all grief in no time."

Elizabeth turned to look at Alexis, marveling at the fact that she ended up not only finding her mother and that she turned out to such a wonderful and understanding one. "Thanks, Mom. How come you always know what to say? My supposed mother never had a clue."

"Cause even though we were apart for all those years it's just one of those natural things. Kind of like breathing." Alexis grinned as she slowly released her daughter and gently push her toward her fiancé. Looking at Jason she tilted her head. "So do you want to tell me who was on the phone or do I need to torture Leo with threats of spending time with Jax?" She asked, only slightly joking.

Jason grabbed Elizabeth and pulled her tightly to him. He smiled as he felt her arms circle his waist. A feeling he'd never tire of, Elizabeth next to him. A feeling he had thought he would never have, especially after the shooting. Alexis clearing her throat and yelling his name startled him out of his reverie.

"Sorry," he mumbled. "The call was bad news. Francesca's coming to town." At Alexis' and Elizabeth's questioning looks he continued. "For some reason, Max has decided that she needs to be here. He told her that she would simply strengthen our presence here. Personally I think he just wants her out of town and to have her annoy Sonny. But it's Max, so who knows for sure."

"I'll call him later. Maybe I can get him to come to his senses." Alexis shook her head. What the hell was Max thinking? And as happy as she was that they would all get to see Francesca again she couldn't believe that her arrival wouldn't cause more harm than good. Sighing she glanced at her family. "He's gone insane if he thinks this will help us. And is there any way I can not be related to him after the wedding?"

~~~PC Grille 2 days later~~~

Alexis wasn't sure what she had been thinking. She knew that she shouldn't have told her husband who was joining them but she also didn't want to surprise him with two people he didn't overly much like. She never understood why Jax never liked Leo from their first meeting. Of course, she rarely understood why her husband disliked certain people. He was one of the most oddly judgmental people she knew. His saving grace and one of the reasons she loved him was that that he always managed to set aside his dislike when he had to for those that were her friends and family. Something he did with difficulty at times. They had agreed to let him avoid contact with Sonny when at all possible. And Leo. Well she actually thought he enjoyed their sparring matches as much as her cousin did.

"Alexis?" The accented voice cut though her thoughts. Turning she smiled warmly at Jax.

"Yes, dear."

"So exactly where were you? You seem a bit distracted tonight. Actually you've seemed a bit distracted the last few days." He hadn't wanted to say anything but his concern had grown as the days passed. "You've got something on your mind. Anything I can help you with?"

Alexis sighed. She had wanted to tell him about what was going on but wasn't sure he really wanted to know. He had never approved of her daughter's secret life or her involvement in it. Taking a sip of her wine, she braced herself. "You might not be happy with what I'm about to tell you."

~~~The yacht~~~

Leo couldn't believe the day was finally over. After the confrontation on the yacht he wanted nothing more than to stay and work out what their next move would be but he had work at Deception he could not put off. He left Elizabeth, Jason and Alexis to figure out what to do next. And what they thought Sonny would do now that he knew, kind of, what was happening.

So he had gone to work. And had spent most of that afternoon and the next two days expecting to get waylaid by Carly, something he desperately wanted to avoid. He had spent an inordinate amount of time trying to make sure there was no way she could corner him alone. He needn't have bothered. She hadn't come in. He found out shortly before that the first day that she had called Laura and informed her that a family emergency would keep her out of the office for a few days.

Family emergency my ass, he thought. Well that was one way of putting it, though he preferred family hurricane. Everyone saw it coming and could only hope to remain standing after it passed over. And he still wasn't sure if that would happen. Like the eye of the hurricane, it was calm again but he knew that it would not last and once again the storm would hit with all its force. The winds buffeting everyone around and them all hoping to have survived once the storm was done with them.

Francesca coming to town wasn't going to help the situation either. It would probably just intensify the coming storm. He wasn't sure what she and Max were thinking. Her coming to town would certainly be noticed by Sorel and put her, put them all, in danger. Without her presence Sorel would have no idea that his deal was being investigated and plans in effect to destroy the deal and finally take him down for good. Without her, Sorel would become overconfident and make a mistake. A mistake that would allow them to get rid of him once and for all.

So why the hell was she coming? They hadn't heard from her or Max since her call and it bothered him. Alexis had tried to contact Max but he obviously was avoiding talking to her. And Francesca wasn't returning his calls. Their plans were at a standstill. Well, he thought to himself, no need to worry until she's here. He'd let Elizabeth and Jason do the worrying about the situation since they were the ones in charge.

That decided he went to change for his dinner with Alexis and Jax. At least he'd get to amuse himself by annoying Jax, glad that he had the opportunity at partaking one of his favorite pastimes.

~~~PC Grille~~~

Jax sat and stared at his wife. He was speechless, totally and utterly speechless. Releasing a deep breath he began to question if we had understood her correctly. "You're telling me that Jason is in town; that Sonny and Carly know about him, Lizzie, Leo and you; and that Francesca is going to be here any day now?" He groaned at Alexis' nod. "I think I should have stayed in London," he groaned quietly.

Alexis hit him lightly on the arm. She leaned back toward him so no one could overhear their conversation. "Like this is my fault. Well it isn't." she protested at his look of disbelief. "I didn't know about Jason being here until Sonny had found him at Elizabeth's. And apparently Sonny would have found out soon anyway, there's trouble brewing. And I don't know what Max was thinking since he's the one that is sending Francesca."

Jax shook his head slowly and reached for Alexis' hand. "So I'm going to have to put up with Leo and Jason tonight, aren't I?"

"Uh-huh." Her lips twisted in a slight smile. She hoped that tonight would help everyone relax during the calm before the storm.

Jax grinned widely. "Okay, wife. One pleasant family dinner per your order. At least it will be on my part. It'll be just the five…no make that the six of us." He stated as he motioned her to look at the interior entrance.

Alexis turned to see whom Jax was pointing out. She smiled at seeing her daughter flanked by Jason on her left and Leo on her right. And a redhead next to Leo. She turned and was about to make a comment to Jax when her brain registered what she had seen. She quickly turned and saw her daughter and future son-in-law walking towards her. And Leo following closely behind them…with Francesca.