AUTHORS NOTE: Just a bit of filler here, here not a long chapter but one to just make the transfer from Seattle to New York and to set the scene for what is to come.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER 137

(EVA)

I sigh as I throw myself down on to the sofa, I look up to see Gideon is on the phone again, and I wonder what is going on now.

He ends the call and pushes his phone into his pocket. "Everything ok Angel?" he asks and I nod.

"I've just been informed that all Jared's belongings are now on board the plane and on route to New York; he went with Angus and Jason to pack them up and I've just spoken to Raul who has been liaising with Angus and he has informed me that he has organised transportation from the airport to the Penthouse" he explains.

"You didn't go with him, this time to help him pack up his stuff?" I ask, wondering why he is here.

He shakes his head, "No, as you know I had my therapy session with Caroline. I offered to rearrange it so I could go and help but he asked if he could spend some quality time with Angus so I left things as they were" he says with a small grin.

I smile at that, everyone has noticed just how attached Jared has become to Angus, and how protective Angus is towards him, just like with Gideon Angus has adopted a paternal role towards Jared. It isn't difficult though as Jared is so easy to love and he has slotted into the family completely effortlessly. We have all noticed that he also likes spending time one on one with Christian, and I think this concerns Gideon a bit wondering how that will affect Jared when we go home to New York.

I look at my husband, he is totally in over his head and makes no secret of the fact that he has no idea what he is doing. His lack of social skills was more than apparent when I met him, as he had essentially raised himself from the age of five years old when his father died and Elizabeth moved on to Chris. From his early teens he was totally alienated from his family, so he has spent practically his entire life inherently alone despite being surrounded by people which had to be incredibly lonely. Then he met me and for the first time in his life he found someone who not only wanted him but put him first and he clung to it… and me. I had my own set of baggage from what Nathan did to me, and so in those first few months we nearly destroyed each other with our mutual issues, but we worked through it and became stronger as a result. He begged me not to give up on him and I didn't. He then rewarded that belief in him with a totally unbelievable and completely amazingly selfless act, one which had it gone wrong would've destroyed him completely and could've separated him from me forever had it been discovered what he had done. When Nathan inevitably found me, and came looking for me – stalking me, Gideon had felt a degree of responsibility for that happening as I had managed to maintain an anonymous existence until I met Gideon which had obviously been blown away. Nathan came to New York but he never left again, as Gideon had killed him. That is something which only we know about and something which has to be kept between us for both our sakes.

Gideon's life changed forever when he met me, for the first time in his life he had his own family, a family other than Angus. This past year that family has expanded out of all proportion and for someone who spent the majority of his life alone he has coped amazingly well with the changes. He has accepted all these people into his life willingly and completely and learnt that he doesn't have to deal with everything alone anymore. Now he has his son, and I couldn't be prouder of the way Gideon has dealt with that one, but there was no question in the fact he would stand up and immediately claim Jared.

"What about Jared's room at the Penthouse?" I ask.

Gideon shrugs, "Raul assures me it's nearly done, I took a good look at his bedroom at his parents' house when I went back to have a look around the other day. I'm not going to try and recreate it or anything like that but it gave me some ideas on what to go for and I sent photographs of it to Raul".

"You've not seen it?" I ask and Gideon shakes his head.

"No" he says simply, but I detect a hint of concern in that answer.

I touch his arm, "I'm sure he will love it" I say and Gideon smiles.

"I hope so" he says.

"Where is Jared now?" I ask.

"With Angus, Angus text me a while ago and said they are making their way back here" he says.

I wrap my arms around him and squeeze and his arms automatically encircle me.

"Are you alright?" he asks me.

I nod, "I am" I say.

Gideon pulls away from me slightly and looks at me carefully, "I'm sensing a but here" he replies.

I sigh, as I voice the only thing that concerns me about everything that is happening at the moment, "I'm just worried about Corrine. She has been abnormally quiet considering the publicity surrounding all this. The news that you have a son is massive, when we get back to New York that is only going to increase and I'm just surprised that she is being so quiet".

Gideon lets out a snort, "After the way Ana ripped her a new one the last time she started making waves, and the fact all evidence proves to how she was totally in the wrong it could be argued that she might try and avoid us" he suggests to which I also let out a derisive snort.

"I don't think so, she is desperate to get attention from you and this will – to her, seem like a justifiable reason to make contact with you" I say.

"DAD!"

I feel Gideon freeze at the shout, and he looks at me panic stricken. I pull away from him and give his hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Calm down, he's here and he's safe, he could be just looking for you to tell you he's back" I reason and he nods. Patting his arm, I call out to Jared letting him know where we are.

Moments later the door flies open and Jared runs in. "Dad, she's here… she's here in Seattle" he blurts out.

Angus appears and Gideon looks at him questioningly.

"Corrine is here lad" Angus confirms.

I roll my eyes, hating the fact I've been proved right "And there we go, I rest my case" I say waving my hand.

Gideon reaches out and touches my arm, before moving towards Jared.

"Did she approach you? Did she say anything?" he asks anxiously.

Jared shakes his head, "No, she was just watching. I didn't notice her to begin with. When we were loading the truck that Elliot let us borrow, Jason was just putting my bike in when he spotted her. She was across the other side of the road and she was just watching us. She didn't say a word, Angus recognised her and said who it was. It was almost as if she was looking for something or someone, she looked straight at me but didn't react and then she just kept looking round. When that guy showed up – I don't know his name, he works for Christian, not Jason the other guy…?"

"Luke Sawyer?" I ask and Jared shakes his head.

"No, the other one" he says.

"Oh erm… something Ryan" I say as I try and wrack my brains as I picture the security guy in question.

Gideon nods "I know who you mean" he says simply.

"When he appeared, Corrine looked carefully at him but she kept looking around as though she was looking for someone else. I thought it might've been you she was looking for" Jared explains.

Gideon sighs. I glance at him, it could've been and from what Jared has said that seems to be the case and I'm certain that will make Gideon all the more determined not to allow her anywhere near us as he won't want her attempting to try and use Jared to try and get to us... well, him.

"Well, she was just watching and didn't approach you or say anything so I suggest we just ignore her. I'm not prepared to show her any attention which is what she obviously wants, and there is also the fact that we will be leaving Seattle soon" Gideon says which confirms my own thoughts and Jared nods.

"When are we going to New York?" he asks.

"We are flying back the day after tomorrow and I have a 6.30am flight slot, so be aware that we will need to be up really early" Gideon says with a smile.

"Ok" Jared says, "The majority of my stuff has gone now so it's just pretty much what I brought here with me that first night that is left" he says.

"Good" Gideon replies, "And you are sure you took everything from the house as we won't be able to go back there?" he asks.

Jared nods and looks a little sheepish, "I did… I may've also taken a few other things from the house, is that ok?" he asks.

"What did you take?" Gideon asks.

Jared swallows "All the photo albums, and pictures in frames they had, I also found all my uncle's journals there was a huge box of them. They go back years right back to when he lived in Connecticut and I…" he stops and Gideon wraps his arm around him.

"You did nothing wrong Jared, they were your family" he says.

Jared puts his head down, "I also took the TV… I had my GenTen plugged into it so when I boxed that up… I mean, I reasoned that I'd need it for that when I get to New York and… and why should Uncle Phil and Uncle Patrick benefit when they don't give a damn about me?" he says.

Gideon holds him even tighter, "That is a very good point and I see no problem with your actions, did you have this reasoning with any other items in the house?" he asks mildly and Jared flushes slightly.

"Maybe" he says evasively and I grin at him realising he has cherry picked the house of things which otherwise would be sold and the proceeds be shared with his uncles.

"It doesn't look like we are running away… from her, does it?" Jared asks suddenly and my eyebrows rise in surprise at that comment. I hadn't thought about that, I glance at Gideon and he shakes his head.

"We were always going to be leaving soon so no not really" he says.

oooOOOooo

Two days later…

(GIDEON)

We are standing at the foot of the steps of my plane, the rain is steadily coming down but everyone is here to say goodbye. Ireland, Christopher and Victor have already returned to New York and now we are finally heading home.

I look around, Christian is at this moment standing with his arm around Jared's shoulder and saying goodbye to him, he glances at me and grins, "If your dad becomes too much to bear, I'm always only a telephone or Skype call away" he says in a loud voice which makes everyone laugh and Jared smiles at that.

Elliot and Megumi are here as are Grace and Carrick and also Ray, which considering the time of day as it is ridiculously early, I am beyond moved that they have done so.

As Christian releases Jared and he comes to stand next to me, Ray steps forward and holds out something to Jared, I know immediately that it is the statue of Oscar, it is much bigger than I thought it was going to be and I think Jared is also surprised by the size of the package carefully wrapped in brown paper.

"Here you go son, I followed that photograph you gave me and I'm quite pleased with the result as I think I got a good likeness" Ray says.

"Do I have time to open it now?" Jared asks and I nod, as I want to see this.

Jared rips off the paper and everyone gasps, it is stunningly beautiful.

"Oh god dad, that's gorgeous" Ana exclaims.

I am shocked especially considering the short amount of time it has taken for Ray to make this.

What was a rectangle of wood is now a beautiful dog which blends into the rectangle to form a solid base and the name Oscar is carved into that base, it has been sanded and varnished and looks amazing.

"Ray, I don't know what to say" I say as I stare at the memorial.

Jared stares at it and then lurching forward he wraps his arm around Ray and bursts into tears, "Thank you so much for this I love it" he says between sobs.

Ray looks slightly uncomfortable at the amount of affection being heaped upon him but Jared's emotional state clearly overrides that as he hugs my son back and smiles affectionately at him.

"You are welcome son, send me a photograph of it when you put it where it's going" he says and Jared nods his head adamantly.

"I will, and thank you so much" he says again.

A few moments later and all the goodbyes have been said, it is time for us to board the plane. "We need to go now" I say and everyone nods.

Slowly we board the plane, I am watching Jared closely as this has to be massive for him to be uprooted once again and going to live in yet another part of the country. He is clutching his wooden dog tightly and an idea comes to me.

"Jared do you want to stop off in Chicago on route to New York?" I ask, pointing at the wooden statue.

His eyes widen, "Can we do that?" he asks and I nod, I glance at Angus who immediately lifts his phone to make the relevant changes to the flight plan.

Four hours later we are once again at Jared's house in Chicago, the sun is shining here compared to the dull drizzly day we left in Seattle. Eva and I stand watching Jared in silence as he carefully places the statue where he had earlier scattered the ashes. He pauses as he takes a photograph of it.

"You can come here whenever you want, just let me know when you want to come" I say and Jared nods.

"Thank you" he says. He looks around and lets out a long sigh before turning and looking at me, "Ok I'm ready to go now… let's go home" he says.