Miami was good. Jason was pleased with the way things turned out and the assurances that everyone understood what they were doing and who they were doing it for. That didn't mean he wasn't gonna keep a close eye on all of them. Caroline's presence was a surprise to many of them who didn't travel in the same circles as she did. They knew she was the mother of his child so they couldn't understand why she was in the meeting. It didn't take long to figure that out. They were all impressed and eager to meet the man up close and personal. They were more impressed when they did. And they were all certain they didn't want to fuck with him.

Puerto Rico was another matter. San Juan PD wasn't sure if they should give Morgan a medal or ask him to leave. Then they reconsidered that last part. Morgan sent everyone the message that Puerto Rico was his, then asked everyone else to leave. They ignored the fact that he was in town.

Salazar and Caroline did not hit it off well at all. Jason didn't open his mouth. Problem is, Jason meant it when he said he was an equal opportunity employer. When he decides something it is and he doesn't think about it anymore. Sure, it was a shock but all the guys in PC take it for granted just as much as he does. He didn't have to tell anyone she was on the books or to stay out of her way. He didn't realize he'd have to address that in other places.

They went straight from the airport to the meeting. Neither was wasting anytime before getting down to business. Jason also decided to set the tone early on with all of them. He knew how he wanted things run and he was going to make sure each one of them heard it at the same time. There would be no confusion in the future. And if someone fucked up and stepped out of line they were all gonna take the heat because they were all on notice. Accountability. That's how Jason Morgan works.

Jason and Caroline were shown directly into the conference room though they each got plenty of discreet peeks and sideways glances as they entered the building and walked down the hall. Aside from the fact that they were all still reeling from everything he did, they had to see the man up close. He was young but they could tell he knew. His lady was beautiful in an anglo sort way but still beautiful. Something about the way she moved confused a few of them but they said nothing. She was his girlfriend and the mother of his child. Why she was there was a mystery.

Salazar greeted them at the door as they entered the room.

"Mr. Morgan, welcome. I hope you had a pleasant flight."

Jason never engages in small talk. He doesn't get the point.

"It was fine. Let's get started."

That was all Salazar was going to get but he did have prior warning. He stepped aside but stopped in surprise when he saw Caroline. Salazar didn't get the memo.

"Miss. Roberts, we weren't aware you'd traveled directly here. Please allow me to have someone escort you to the hotel. There is a wide variety of shopping within the complex as well as close by and there is also a state of the art spa. Reservations will not be necessary for you."

Jason didn't say anything. The others in the room were watching because she was pretty and it was conversation. Something to look at while they waited. Everything he said made perfect sense and someone should have thought about that and been on hand at the airport to assist her so that she didn't have to make the useless trip. She is the bosses lady, after all. Caroline glanced at Jason. His expression was impassive but his eyes confirmed that he knew what she was about to do.

"Salazar."

"Yes, Mam?"

"Carly Roberts is dead. My name is Caroline Spencer. Sit down so the boss can start."

With that, she and Jason left the man standing there with his mouth slightly ajar and moved to the table. The others followed them with their eyes but still didn't understand what was happening. Jason walked ahead of Caroline and took his seat at the head of the table. No one was sure what to do with her but assumed he was allowing her to sit in on the meeting for some reason. With that thought, someone moved to add a chair next to him. This was screwing up the seating arraignments. They were always placed in descending order of seniority. No chair was necessary and they all required several minutes to quietly absorb why.

After Jason sat, Caroline moved to stand behind him to his right. Then she looked every person around the table in the eye before opening her suit jacket and silently waiting. They knew she just sent a message. They couldn't believe what the message was. Anyone else doing it, well they'd know immediately. This made no sense. But her eyes were too cold and her expression too hard. They all looked to Jason, hoping his magical powers as boss would be sufficient to snap them out of the twilight zone and back to the real world they know. He didn't give them much assistance. Nor did he wait for them to get it together. Yeah, he was definitely getting his money's worth out of Caroline.

"First, we're going to make sure everyone is clear on how I'm running things down here."

That was it.

It only took two hours but that was more than enough. Morgan was more than on top of his game. He knew everything and never had to look at his notes. That was a good thing because he didn't have any notes. They were clear on things. Everything. They were also clear on Caroline Spencer. More than that because they looked her in the eyes. She was a hitter and everybody knew it. They were also pretty sure that in addition to being his lady, she was his hammer. Unheard of and down right impossible. Then again, Jason Morgan just did the unheard of and the impossible. It wasn't going to be a one time thing. They got it.

Stepping into the lobby caused a bit of a commotion as well. He was Jason Morgan after all. It was his hotel. They went directly to the elevator with guards that traveled with them from Port Charles and up to their room. It wasn't until after Caroline went to change that she realized their scam was working a bit too well. This was the first time she and Jason ever traveled anywhere together. In Miami they stayed at the Biltmore in Coral Gables. Emily was involved in those reservations and her sense of humor more than apparent when they learned on arrival that they were booked in the Al Capone suite. She wasn't going to be getting any gold stars for that one. Still, it was a spacious multi bedroom suite, all jokes aside. The bullet holes in the walls and ceiling were never repaired because—well that is the reason its called the Al Capone suite. He survived a hit there, he gets the honors.

Emily didn't have anything cute to work with for Puerto Rico so when she told them it was for Mr. Morgan and his lady they went to work immediately preparing the suite. Unfortunately, it was a one bedroom suite.

"Hey Jase."

He's standing in the living room reading the messages that were left for him.

"Yeah."

"They messed up."

He walks down the hall to see what the problem is.

"How?"

"There's only one bedroom. Only one bed."

It took a few moments for the situation to register on both of them. Jason figured out the problem.

"We're supposed to be a couple remember? Why would they give us two bedrooms?"

He shrugged and went back to reading the messages. She still hadn't moved from her spot and her eye kept traveling back to the bed.

"I can take the couch, nobody will know."

That snapped her out of it.

"Its stupid for you to do that. It isn't like we haven't shared a bed together."

"Ok, just don't take all the counter space in the bathroom."

"Whatever."

She's now thinking she should have considered this possibility when packing because she didn't bring anything friendly. She can't buy anything friendly without raising suspicion either. Stuff they just took for granted in Port Charles didn't cross her mind preparing for the trip. Then she remembers its Jason. He probably wouldn't notice the night gowns anyway.

Dinner was an interesting affair. Jason didn't get the point of it but it had to be done. Dressing up in a tux to have dinner to talk about business seemed like a waste. Skip the tux, grab something, and get down to business. But, he's had to do enough of these over the last year that he just rolls with it. When she stepped out of the bedroom he had to stare. It wasn't possible to do anything else. Black was more than her color and she wore it well. Her hair was down and curled beautifully. She never really did that much unless she had to. And since she started working again, she needed functional when she wasn't at home. Strapless, elegant, with a daring split up one leg. He also couldn't stop himself from moving closer. She was engaged in her own inspection and had to get a better look so she met him half way. He nodded appreciatively.

"You look nice."

That's a major compliment from Jason Morgan.

She didn't say anything as she eyed him over. Armani wore him, not the other way around. No tie, Jason didn't go in for those. White tuxedo shirt with wide collar trimming the jacket's. It was tailored so perfectly he should have been a model. She stepped around him, wanting to get the full 360. He should have felt like something on the auction block the way she checked him out, raking her eyes over him intensely, but he didn't. Coming around his left side she ran her hand across his back and down his arm before facing him.

"Very nice."

Jason wasn't finished looking but had a different question pop into his head. As he looked her over curiously.

"Where are they?"

"Wouldn't you like to know."

He laughed and they walked out. He couldn't figure out where they were but he knew she was armed to the teeth and probably loaded down with lots of other toys. Jason figured there was no way she hid the garotte on her since its barbed and she wasn't planning on getting information tonight but he really didn't put too much past her.

Everyone was assembled. Everyone was expecting her. Everyone heard what happened in the conference room earlier that day. Nobody knew what the deal was with that entirely but they still knew how to treat her. Or so they thought. Her place wasn't defined and making the seating arraignments for dinner caused a bit of anxiety. Salazar still wasn't sure what happened earlier and wasn't happy about getting caught off guard or made to look stupid. But he wasn't stupid so he got over it quickly. He didn't know if she would stand during dinner or not but still made sure a place was ready for her at his right. He'd take the left. A woman? Morgan was different, he just didn't realize how different he was.

Jason and Caroline entered the room together. Salazar relaxed when he saw the way she was dressed because that meant she would take a seat. When he saw her shoes he wasn't sure. All women wore heels. His wife explained it accents the legs. Salazar thought his wife had great legs in heels or barefoot so he didn't care but it made her happy so he was fine with it.

Dinner was served and it was delicious. The wait staff knew how to move quickly and quietly. They also knew how to stay out of the way unnoticed. Well, almost all of them. One young lady was particularly attentive to Jason but he didn't notice. Caroline struggled not to roll her eyes at either of them at some point because she knew Jason didn't have a clue. As the evening wore on little Lolita kept whipping out her bag of tricks because she wasn't cutting any ice with him. Caroline didn't find it funny anymore. She wasn't sure why she didn't like it but she knew she didn't like it. She also had no reason to interfere, Jason wasn't her man. Then she realized she was being disrespected. The woman didn't know they weren't a couple. She caught some of the questioning looks pass between a few of the men and realized what the problem was. They were all picking up on what was going on and wondering what the deal was between her and the boss. Now she had a reason. That was all it took.

On the next pass through, Caroline allowed her to finish then start to leave the room. She waited for her to get to the center of the room then stopped her.

"Excuse me, Miss."

"Yes Mam."

"Please come here."

Jason didn't know what Caroline was doing or why but he figured it was for a good reason. The way the other men immediately stopped the discussion to shift their gaze between the two women told Jason enough. Latin Lolita Lupe or whatever her name was, Caroline wasn't sure and didn't actually care, walked over but didn't think she was caught. 45 minutes and the woman didn't say anything. Mr. Morgan didn't seem to mind. It couldn't be that big of a deal and its not like Mr. Rivera had a problem with it. In fact, he was quite responsive later.

Lupe walked back and stood to Caroline's left just between her and Jason. In one smooth motion that didn't require her to rise from her seat or break a sweat she had the left side of Lupe's face down on the table so all the other men in the room could see her eyes as Caroline held the nuzzle of a silenced nine millimeter to her right temple. Caroline said nothing for a full 5 minutes. Instead, she had the audacity to pick up her fork and continue eating with her right hand while keeping little Lolita trapped on the table at gun point with her left.

The room was dead silent as the men all stared. Most of then were getting over their earlier shock of the day when this happened. The ones who missed the matinee were floored. It would never have played out like this for any of their wives or girlfriends. Perhaps a cat fight in the ladies room. But truthfully, the woman would be sure to show her displeasure through looks or gestures to her husband only. Not something like this.

Poor Lupe was shaking and in tears. She couldn't control the trimmers of her body and started crying. No one saw where the gun came from or even expected her to have it on her. Not dressed the way she was. Caroline was done with Lupe. Her point was made. She also sent a message to the other men at the table on an entirely different level. They more than got it.

"Do we understand one another?"

"Yes, Mam!"

Her voice cracked and she sobbing by this point. Caroline released her and fast as lightening Lupe hauled ass out of the room never to return. The gun disappeared just as quickly as it appeared and still no one saw where it came from. The other men weren't sure what Morgan's reaction to something like that would be. They saw he didn't respond or welcome her attentions earlier. He seemed not to notice them in the least as business was discussed. But something like this was just too unusual. Jason made eye contact with Caroline. They both cracked up laughing and continued eating.

When Caroline stepped out of the bathroom she tried to slink across the room quietly. She thought he was in bed, already asleep and didn't want to disturb him. He was wide awake watching her from the chair across the room. After getting ready for bed he sat down to let his mind go over some of the events of the day. Jason had a lot to think about after the meeting and was trying to organize their activities for the next day as well. He'd never seen this night gown before, or he thought he hadn't, it was hard to tell. What wasn't hard to tell was how beautiful she looked.

As if by telepathy she must have caught that stray thought because she stilled her movements then turned around slowly toward his side of the room. Jason rose from his seat and walked toward her. They've lived together over a year, she's seen him in all states of undress. But there was something about seeing him moving toward her in black silk pajama bottoms with his washboard abs fully exposed under the moon light that made her pulse race. She met his eye and didn't look away as he closed the distance between them. When he was a little more than a ½ a foot she broke eye contact and swept her gaze across his body. She took her time with the inspection and he didn't stop her. It was only fair, he got more than an eye full earlier. She could have stared for a lot longer but was compelled to look him in the eye for some reason. When she did, her breath caught. She knew that look. He used to give it to her all the time in the old days. She used to give it to him all the time in the old days.

He raised one hand to her face and caressed her cheek slowly without saying a word. She didn't stop him. Jason didn't know what he was doing but he knew he couldn't stop himself and he really wasn't doing anything to try. He felt the heat and was pulled in so deep he couldn't get away. What was building between them was so hot it could have launched several nuclear missiles. When he finally spoke, it caused her to tremble.

"Can I kiss you?"

This probably wasn't a good idea. She didn't know that because she stopped thinking 15 minutes ago.

"Yes."

There was nothing quick about. Permission didn't hurry him along one bit. It was excruciating and erotic as hell. Gently he tilted her head with one hand while closing the distance between them to nothing. The anticipation was driving her crazy but she didn't know he was suffering the same way. When contact was finally made it was explosive. Just the brush of their lips together had both of them primed to step over the edge and fall into the abyss. They may have been a part for awhile but their bodies knew what to do and responded instantly. Fire, consuming and purifying at the same time. But this kiss was nothing like the old days. It was heavy with something that wasn't there before and light with something even newer than that. Their arms wrapped around each other were the only things helping them to stand. Everything was in that kiss. Neither of them could think only feel and it was better than anything either of them ever experienced before. After an eternity, they broke the kiss at the same time and looked deeply in each other's eyes. There was understanding in that moment so they knew they didn't have to do anything. And they wouldn't have to talk about it later. They were alright.

He lifted her hand and kissed it tenderly before clasping it and leading her to the bed. They climbed in without a word, found their favorite position from so long ago and drifted off to sleep content.

After leaving Puerto Rico they headed down for a visual inspection of both private islands. Caroline was exhausted from all her running around earlier that week. Distilleries, plantations, warehouses and shipping ports took their toll on her after awhile. She didn't want to smell sugar cane for another 10 years. She knew she'd be smelling it a lot over the next year so she shrugged and got over it. So now she stood facing a barren plot of land trying to flow with Jason but was not getting it. Finally she turned to him.

"What the hell am I looking at?"

He smiled.

"The casino."

It only took a second to register and she threw back her head and laughed.

"How soon till construction?"

"Next week."

"You move fast."

"Yeah."

They held hands and moved on. Hopefully Rey would like looking at concrete and piles of dirt. Something told her he'd be coming down here a lot to verify the project. Better him than her, she thought.

Once back in Port Charles, Caroline swore she was taking a vacation. It was wishful thinking so she was determined to sleep in the next day at least. In order for that to happen there was a rowdy teenager she had to put the screws to and lay down the law about unauthorized wake up calls. But Emily wasn't home. Jason went to the door to ask Joey where she was.

"She's spending the night at her cousin's."

Made sense that she didn't want to be alone. Jason moved past him to knock Justice's door to let her know they were back. Before he raised his hand Joey piped up with some helpful information.

"Justice is out of town."

Caroline didn't even bother asking because she knew Jason would. She also knew he was getting annoyed.

"Where is Emily?"

Joey got it.

"Spending the night with the Ashtons."

"And you couldn't have said that the first time?"

Joey looked like he was seriously trying to figure out the answer to that question. Rey watched the whole thing play out as he left his apartment so he decided to intervene.

"Probably not. Don't strain yourself Joey."

"Rey, any problems?"

"Smooth as silk the entire time. Emily was fine, no problems there. A last minute thing came up down in the city and Justice needed to go settle things before they got out of hand. You guys look beat. Wanna save the update for tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Unless something comes up that can't wait, I need sleep."

"Sure, see you in the morning."

That got Caroline's attention.

"Not early in the morning."

"Talk to the bunny, I'm not the one."

With that, they parted and went inside. Exhausted didn't cover it so they skipped dinner by silent agreement and headed up to bed. It was a little awkward but neither missed a step as they went to their respective rooms with a simple good night. They spent the last 9 nights sharing a bed after that kiss and both got used to it very quickly. They didn't talk about anything and they didn't feel any pressure to do so. It seemed natural and that was ok. But, neither considered how they would feel sleeping apart. If they took a minute to think about it they might have considered how strange the new twist in their relationship was. All they did was cuddle and sleep. They didn't even kiss again but somehow the sharing a bed deal was more difficult to stop doing than either suspected.

Caroline got ready for bed and spent a few minutes idly strolling around her room. Finally, she climbed in and tried to go to sleep. About the same time Jason was lying wide awake not doing a very good job of falling asleep.

He wasn't sure what the problem was. Then he did a quick reality check and figured that part out. Caroline quit counting sheep because it wasn't doing her any good. She got up and tried not to think about it too much as she left her room. She hoped it wouldn't seem weird. Jason met her halfway down the hall. They looked at each other carefully for some assurances because each was nervous and not sure what was going on. Satisfied that they were equally clueless but willing, they joined hands and headed to her room. With their arms wrapped around each other and their bodies close, they drifted off to sleep almost immediately.