A/N – Thanks for the comments! Sorry, I'm so late. Life is so busy right now.

Chapter 40

Lila sighed as she fussed with her blanket. The funeral for Sam and Sonny's baby had been gut-wrenching and very hard on Sam especially. It's one of those things that reminds you to be thankful for what you have.

"Are you okay?" Edward asked. His wife has a big heart.

"I will be. I'm worried about her. She got very quiet." At first, Sam was openly crying and then she stilled and just stared at the coffin which is of great concern.

"We can check on her for the next few days if that will make you feel better."

"It would." Sonny had opted not to have people over to his house after the burial but had reserved a room at the hotel so people could gather.

"You tell me when you want to leave."

The door opened and everyone's attention went there.

"Are you sure about this?" Sonny asked. They had planned to just go home, but Sam insisted on coming.

"Yes." Her voice sounds so small.

"Okay."

They slowly made their way inside and were met by Monica who hugged her.

"I just wanted to thank everyone," Sam said as she retreated.

"We could have done that for you." She looks exhausted and pale.

"I know."

Alan cleared his throat. "Can I have everyone's attention?" It's not like they weren't already focused on them, but he said it anyway.

Sam took a deep breath. "I just wanted to thank you all for coming to support us. It has been very hard to deal with our loss. I didn't think I'd ever want kids, but the idea grew on me. Adela was loved so very much." She struggled to maintain her composure as Jason moved closer.

Elizabeth had nudged him because Sam doesn't look like she was physically holding up well. Her hand that they can see is shaking.

"It's hard not to feel bitter, but for now, it's difficult not to go there. Anyway, thank you again, and stay if you want."

She went to move and then her eyes flutter as a gasp went through the crowd when she began to go down.

Sonny grabbed her under the arms and then Jason easily lifted her, and they went to a table in the corner of the room.

"Sonny, sit down," Monica directed.

He quickly did and then Jason placed Sam on his lap.

"Has she eaten?"

He sighed. "I don't think so. She was scared it would upset her stomach." It's been rough planning it and it had got moved back twice due to emergencies.

Alan brought over some water as Elizabeth gathered some food from the buffet.

After a minute or so, Sam stirred and struggled for a second until she realized something happened.

Jason knelt in front of them and decided to try and lighten the mood. "If I have to pick you up one more time…"

Sam's eyes grew wide. "What happened?"

"You passed out," Sonny said.

"Oh God, that's so embarrassing."

He slipped her onto the chair next to him.

"Drink some water, please," Alan said.

"I'm going to check your pulse," Monica added. She held her wrist. "It's fast, but not too bad.

Elizabeth moved passed Jason and put a plate in front of her. "You have to eat."

"Okay." For a second her eyes landed on Liz's stomach. "You got bigger."

"Yeah, I know. I need to go shopping."

Sam almost said that she'd go with her, but it would be too much.

Jason's phone rang and they could tell something is wrong. He stepped away under watchful eyes.

A tired Ryan begins to talk. "Emily got some news and she's distraught."

"What happened?" The last he heard, she was just dehydrated.

Ryan's mother grabbed the phone. "Jason, it's Maggie."

"Hi."

"I'm sorry to bother you, but your sister is upset and wants to speak with Nikolas."

"Jesus. That's too dangerous."

"She's not taking no for an answer."

Sam and Elizabeth watched as Jason ran his hand through his hair. "This isn't good."

Liz nodded. "I know." She can tell by his body language that he is tense.

"Why does she even want to go there?"

Maggie eyed Emily who nodded. "She was pregnant."

"What!" His exclamation reverberated in the room, making several people turn and look which he didn't notice because he was positioned away from them.

"She lost the baby. That is what was making her sick. Please don't tell Johnny. She wants to."

"He's not here, and I won't. I'm, sorry."

Maggie glanced at Emily. "He said that he's sorry."

She nodded as she wiped away some tears.

"Nikolas was the father, wasn't he?"

"Yes. I'm going to give you back to my son now."

Rory took the phone. "I can make it so it's secure, but is there any way someone she knows can come support her?"

"Okay, I'll speak with the family." Several acquaintances and business associates had already left, so there aren't too many other people in the room.

"Call me back."

Jason slowly put the phone in his pocket and turned. Lila and Edward had joined everyone in the corner, so he headed back over there.

"I'll tell you when everyone else is gone."

There wasn't a peep, so he focused on his wife. "You okay?"

"I'm fine. See? I'm drinking water."

"Good."

Sam sucked in a breath. "Can you give me a lift to the bathroom?"

Jason's brow rose, almost making her smile before she stood.

"I'll go with you," Liz said following.

Jason eyed a guard, and he quickly tailed them.

"Is everything alright?" Lila asked.

"No."

"Should I stay?"

"Yes."

"I truly hate your one-word answers," Edward said.

Alan almost cracked a smile. "Patience is not one of your virtues.

Lila touched Sonny's arm. "How are you, dear?"

Despite his attempts to quell his emotions, the question stirred things up and his eyes filled with tears.

"I'm coping."

"Alice just texted me. The boys are fine."

"Thank you for lending her to us."

"It was no problem at all. She thinks they are a lot of fun."

It took another half-hour until the family was left alone. The room was quickly swept for bugs and then Jason sat at the table.

"Emily—she found out that she was pregnant."

A tear ran down Sam's face. "You said was."

He nodded.

"Oh," Monica said. All sorts of things are running through her mind. Emily's body had been through so much. It's not safe at all for her to carry a baby and she hopes permanent damage wasn't done. As much as she would love another grandchild, she doesn't want her daughter to suffer for one.

"Is she okay?" Alan asked.

"No. She wants to speak to Nikolas."

The realization that he was the father shocked the family.

"I need to go to her," Monica said.

"You can't."

"Why the hell not?" Edward asked. "She needs her family."

"It would be noticed. We can't do anything that will tip Helena off. You know it's not safe."

Edward muttered under his breath as Monica began to cry out of frustration and grief.

"Are you saying that none of us can go?" Lila asked. She doesn't care about her handicap. She can still travel with precautions.

"Yes."

"Then I will."

The entire table stared at Sam.

"Sam…" Sonny said.

"She knows me, and I know how she feels. I need to get away and she shouldn't be alone."

Everyone is silent for a long moment.

Sonny got up and walked away, unable to handle the conversation.

"Perhaps you need to be with him. I think he's barely holding on," Alan said.

"He'll be fine. The kids will help him. Helena doesn't care about me, and my absence will go unnoticed." The look in her eyes made it clear that she desperately needs this.

"I hate that I can't be there for my daughter, but at the same time, I appreciate that you want to help. I'm just concerned that it will be too much for you to handle. This has been very hard for you to deal with and are you even physically up for it?"

"I'm still healing, but I can travel. I swear I'm not running away, but sometimes; you just need to catch your breath and I can't do that here." It's the perfect scenario and when she's ready, she'll go find Carly."

Jason met the gaze of his family one by one until Lila finally spoke.

"I guess we don't have any choice but to trust you."

"I'll make sure we eat, and I'll watch over her. I promise."

Sonny got himself together and returned to the table. "I don't want you to go. It scares me that you are so eager to do this, but I'll trust you because I love you." Everyone must deal with grief in their own way and he knows that she's struggling to be around the kids.

"I love you too." She does and it's not that she doesn't want to try and support him but she's barely holding on.

"Then, let's go home. You can leave first thing in the morning." There is an underground tunnel that leads to the house next door. He had bought that property too and some of the guards and staff stay there when necessary. It's not uncommon to have people going in and out of there. It will work out perfectly.

When Sam stood, Elizabeth did too, and they embraced.

"Tell her that I love her."

"I will."

"Can I give her a letter?" Lila asked.

"Write what you want, and I'll have a guard deliver it," Jason said.

"Does Johnny know?" Alan asked.

"No. She's going to tell him." Jason said. It's still early in the day, but he figures that Emily will want to speak with Nikolas first.

"God please be with her," Monica whispered.

They headed back to the mansion, but Jason and Elizabeth went home.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Nikolas moves onto the balcony of the hotel he's staying at. He had gone through the motions, meeting with Maximus and issuing a warning. He could tell the mobster was pissed, but he hadn't said much. Jason must have told him to keep his cool.

A guard moved onto the balcony. "This was just delivered to the front desk."

Nikolas frowned.

"No bugs or components are out of the ordinary. It's safe."

When the phone rang, they both jumped. Nikolas grabbed it and answered, thinking it was Jason. The guard left the room to give him some privacy.

"Hello?"

"It's me."

He is stunned. "What's wrong?"

She sucked in a wobbly breath. "I need to tell you something."

When she couldn't contain her emotions and began to cry, he became gravely concerned.

"I'm listening."

After a few minutes, she calmed. "I collapsed and they called a doctor."

His stomach dropped. "Is it cancer?"

"No…no. I—there was an infection, and I was dehydrated."

He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Nikolas, I was pregnant."

Tears pricked his eyes.

"I didn't mean to, because it's dangerous for me right now, but I guess we weren't careful."

There was one night when they came together, even though things weren't going well between them, and it was the last time he had gotten to touch her, and thinks of it often.

She began to cry. "It hurts regardless of our situation."

A tear runs down his face.

"Say something."

He clears his throat. "I'm sorry for a lot of things. Are you okay?"

She is glad he has finally dropped his façade of not caring. "I'm emotional right now, but I'll eventually be okay. I'm being taken care of."

"I'm glad."

"I have to go, but I just thought you should know."

"This is all her fault. The stress…"

She sucks in a breath. "It may have contributed, but my body probably couldn't handle it anyway."

"Take care, Em."

"I will. You too."

"I will."

When the line went dead, he let out a sob and then put the phone on the ground and stomped on it before throwing it in the trash. Helena will pay if it's the last thing he does. He has lost everything, even the dream of having a child with the woman he loves all because his grandmother is out of control, and he didn't stop her.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason's eyes jerked toward the bathroom door as he grabbed a shirt to wear, and he was pleased when Elizabeth openly admired his chest.

"You're bigger than when we were together before."

"It helps when I have to beat up annoying people."

A smile slowly edged onto her face. "Is that right?"

He nodded.

She slowly made her way to him, and he sucked in a breath when her hands made a trail down his chest.

"Your body… It always takes my breath away."

When her hands settled on his belt and she undid it, a tortured groan left his lips. "Elizabeth…"

"I don't want to wait."

It had been an emotional day and Jason is worried that if they move forward, she'll regret it.

When he started to speak, her finger met his lips.

"I know what I want. Life is too short and I don't want to go another day without knowing how it would be if we made love. Haven't we waited long enough?"

"I suppose, but—"

"No, Jason. I know my mind and heart and you are constantly in both. We love each other. Isn't that enough?"

With a shaky voice, he said, "Yes."

"Then show me how you feel. Make me yours."

His head is reeling because he can't believe that the time has finally come.

She smirked at his fearful expression. "Are you scared of me?"

"I—part of me feels like I'll be out of control and the other part doesn't want to hurt you."

"You won't. We do have to be careful because I am very pregnant, but I can lay on my side."

He nodded. "Okay."

And just like that, her expression went from emotional to sultry and he almost moaned as she undid his zipper.

His hands flew to hers and pushed them aside before his lips attacked her mouth.

As he sensuously dueled with her tongue, she moaned a touched his chest. The baby is preventing them from pressing against each other, but neither is bothered by the intrusion.

Slowly, he moved toward the bed and then retreated to remove her night grown.

"Wait…"

His hands dropped.

She pushed one strap down and then the other and his eyes followed the fabric to the floor and then slowly raked up her body making her shudder.

"Beautiful," he whispered.

"Touch me."

He's not used to her being forward, but she has grown into a woman, and he can't wait to taste her.

His movements are too slow for her liking, but her eyes are locked with his and the fire she sees is making her overheat.

Slowly, he slid his hand down her arms and when his hands landed on her belly, he let out a sigh.

"I hope that isn't a turn-off."

"Nothing about you is a turn-off, Elizabeth."

She loves the way he says her name and makes a note to somehow record it one day, so she'll always have it.

"You're even more beautiful carrying our child."

It makes her heart melt that he already loves the baby. Blood never mattered to him, but someday, she hopes to give him another child; one that they create out of their love.

"Why did you tear up?"

"Just thinking about the future and growing our family."

"I'd like that."

His lips skirt against hers and then he sweeps her up into a kiss that she hoped would never end. He eases her onto the bed and then moves her back.

"Comfortable?"

"Yes." She can barely talk or concentrate knowing what is about to happen. It's a long time coming, but something she has always dreamed of.

As he removed her bra, and then tasted one nipple before concentrating on the other, she is almost overstimulated.

"Take me, Jason. I want to feel you."

He almost shakes as he pulls back and then drops his underwear and sweatpants.

A gasp leaves her lips as his cock stands proud and long.

"I won't hurt you." He chuckles at her expression which implies she wishes he could. "After the baby, we can be rougher."

"I'll look forward to it." He is a dichotomy, half raw and the other filled with love. It's what makes him so attractive to her aside from his perfect body. He's everything she has ever wanted—security, love, and strength; someone that can believe in her without fail.

He moves above her, sliding his hand up her leg. "So soft…" After kissing his way up her body, he moves her onto her side and his fingers dance across her mound, making her breath quicken.

"Jason…"

His finger slipped inside her as his other moved across her clit and she swore she saw stars. After a few minutes, she begged for him to enter her.

As he sucked on her neck, his cock breached her opening and she practically gushed as he slid his way home.

He pauses, trying to calm himself. "I don't think I can last long this go-round."

"I don't think I will either."

As he began to thrust, they moaned.

"Yes!" she yelled as his hips found a rhythm. When his fingers joined the party, she couldn't help it, and chanted his name, driving him crazy.

When she cried out in ecstasy and her body clamped onto him, he let out several pants before whispering her names.

The feeling of him filling her set her off again and when his hips finally stilled, she didn't want him to ever leave her.

When he pulled out, she rolled onto her back.

"That was everything."

He slightly smiled. "Yeah, it was."

"I love you so much."

The words make him feel so good. "I love you too—always."

"Tired…"

"Go to sleep. I won't let you go."