"Jason," Alexis said as she ran her fingers through her bed head, "Sit please. Would you like some coffee?"

She knew she could use some. Not including that she was dead tired because she was up all night working on Sonny Corinthos' estate, Alexis knew it was too early for a shot and that was what she really needed. Obviously Jason had seen Elizabeth last night and he knew everything.

"Elizabeth said no one knew."

"Knew what exactly?" Alexis asked as she crossed her arms across her chest. He must've been blindsided last night and she didn't want to throw something else at him this morning.

"About JJ," Jason said looking at her curiously. "She said that she didn't tell anyone that JJ was my child, but you knew. You knew exactly what I was talking about, Alexis."

Alexis took a deep breath and a step backwards. The way he was looking at her, it was like she held everything in her hands. He needed an answer, wanted someone to tell him something that he could actually believe.

If he wasn't going to sit, she certainly would.

Plopping down on a plush leather chair she looked up at him, "She didn't lie to you Jason," she winced when she saw his eyes flash and turn into those icy orbs he was famous for. "She didn't lie to you about that. As JJ got older, started to grow and develop…he has her hair and her skin tone as you can see, but other than that, he's all you Jason. Oh and his eyes…"

"I know about the eyes," he muttered.

"Then you would also know that it would kill Elizabeth to lose her baby," Alexis said and continued to push on even after Jason sighed, "Especially now Jason, it wouldn't be good for any of you."

"What's good for me, Alexis?" he asked. "I just found out that I had a three year old son, on top of other things, and I can't get to know him, I can't get to spend time with my son because her…whatever died in a fire."

Her whatever, Alexis thought. Apparently Jason was aware of Elizabeth's relationship with Sonny; he just wasn't sure where the line was drawn in the sand. She shook those thoughts from her head, deciding that she was not going to be the one to go into detail with him and stood up.

"I'm making coffee."

"I don't want coffee!" Jason yelled.

"Did it ever occur to you that I need it?" she said. "I know your upset but it is six in the morning. I still have a lot of paperwork left to do on…"

She looked at the file folder on her desk, open and in clear view, the last will and testament of Sonny Corinthos.

"I don't care what he left me," Jason said quietly, "It's all going to Michael. I don't want a damn thing from him."

"You have a business with him," Alexis said. "The warehouse, remember?"

"The one that blew up?" Jason asked and then shrugged. "I left that a long time ago."

Alexis clasped her hands together and took a step towards Jason, "I can't imagine how difficult this is for you. I'm not going to pretend that I was in your shoes or that I even want to be but you need to talk to Elizabeth about some things. There are other things you need to know."

"We talked enough," Jason said brushing past her again and starting to pace in front of the door, "Are you going to help me or not? I was denied three years of my child's life, surely the court…"

"Jason, I can't help you," Alexis said.

"Why?" Jason asked. "Why not?"

"Not only am I dealing with Sonny's estate," Alexis said and nibbled on her lip, "Elizabeth's my protégé."

"You're what?" Jason asked with raised eyebrows.

"My protégé," Alexis said. "It means I'm training her…"

Jason held his hand up, signaling for Alexis to stop, "I know what it is, but Elizabeth's an artist."

"No she's not Jason," Alexis said and ran her hand across her forehead, "Elizabeth's one year away from becoming an attorney."

Jason slammed his fist down on Alexis' desk, causing her to jump back. "Nice to know the bastard took that away from her as well."

She turned away from him sighing, "I'm going to put the coffee on."

"No really, I'm ok," Elizabeth sighed into the phone. "I got some sleep last night. Have you talked to Carly? So, you know?"

"Why do you think I'm calling, Elizabeth?" Bobbie asked on the other end of the phone, "She came storming in here last night telling me you threw her out of the house and were trying to get Jason Morgan back into bed."

"Is that all she told you?" Elizabeth asked as she ran her hand over her face. After all these years Carly was still trying her patience.

"She told me everything," Bobbie said quietly, "But I have the good sense not to repeat it. You have to understand how upset Carly is. She won't admit it."

"I know, Bobbie I know," Elizabeth said. "It's ok to cancel with JJ."

"What? Cancel? Elizabeth, I'm calling to see when I can come get him," Bobbie said soothingly, "Honey I know how much you love your son and I know how much you need him right now but you need to take a day or two to get your head straight. We're going on with the weekend as planned. He doesn't know does he?"

Elizabeth's eyes wandered towards the kitchen where her son was sitting down to a bowl full of Cocoa Puffs and Johnny telling him exciting stories. She squeezed her eyes shut and fought back the tears. How was she going to tell him Uncle Sonny was never coming back?

"I don't know how," Elizabeth said quietly, "He's too young to come to the services; I was thinking maybe I could wait till afterwards. Look, if Carly is staying with you…"

"Michael is with me now," Bobbie said. "He can't wait for JJ to come over. When can we come get him?"

"No, no I'll have Johnny drop him off," Elizabeth said, "I was going to come myself but…"

"Facing the world is not something your ready to do yet," Bobbie said. "I understand and I know how much those guards love that boy." Bobbie was hesitant for a moment before proceeding with her next question. "How does Jason feel about this?"

Elizabeth gave a bitter laugh and wiped at a few tears that escape from her lids, "That is something I do not want to get into right now, I'm sorry Bobbie."

"It's ok," Elizabeth knew it was, she could feel the woman smiling on the other end of the line.

"I'll have JJ over there in a little bit," Elizabeth said, "If it's too much."

"Nonsense," Bobbie said, "You call me if you need anything, ok? Anything at all Elizabeth, you know how much you mean to me."

"You don't know how much that means to me Bobbie," Elizabeth said quietly. "Thank you."

"You're welcome sweetie, goodbye."

"Bye."

Elizabeth let out a long, slow breath as she turned the phone off and placed it back on its cradle. Part of her felt like she was abandoning her son for the weekend. She never spent more than a night without him and that was on the rare occasion that Sonny could convince her. Bobbie was right. She did need to take care of things and the pamphlets of caskets in front of her only reminded her of how difficult it was going to be.

She straightened herself up and walked over to the wet bar, pouring herself a glass of water and drying her eyes. She didn't want her son to see her so upset. Until things were settled, JJ was to know nothing. It was going to be hard enough getting through these next few days, breaking her son's heart would be the most difficult.

"JJ, are you almost finished?"

"Done!" JJ yelled as he came bounding into the room with a smile on his face, "Uncle Johnny is silly," he laughed as Elizabeth knelt down in front of him. "I ate it all."

"I didn't doubt that you would," she said wiping some milk from her sons face. She then leaned in and kissed his cheek. "I just talked to Aunt Bobbie and guess who else is staying with her for the weekend?"

"Michael?" JJ's asked, his eyes widening at the thought of hanging out with the red headed boy who enjoyed Motorcycles as much as he did.

"Hmm-mmm," Elizabeth said, "And I'm sure if you're a good boy Aunt Bobbie will make you those cookies you love."

"Always does," he smiled. He then threw his arms around his mother and hugged her tightly.

"I love you," Elizabeth whispered as she kissed his hair. She then squeezed him tighter until JJ wiggled his way out of her arms.

"Too tight," he said squirming away. "When can I leave?"

"Well, you should be all packed," Elizabeth said standing up, "Uncle Johnny's going to take you."

JJ's brows furrowed as his little fingers counted off, trying to remember if he did indeed pack everything.

"I forgot something!" he scurried up the stairs before Elizabeth could even ask what.

"I cleaned up the dishes for you," Johnny said coming in from the kitchen and grabbing his trench coat from a chair.

"You didn't have to do that," Elizabeth said.

"I wish there were more there," Johnny said walking over towards her. "You haven't eaten anything since yesterday. If anything happened to you…"

"As soon as you leave I'm taking a nap and cooking some pancakes when I get up," Elizabeth said with a forced smile, "I promise."

"I'll just have Francis check on you," Johnny said kissing her forehead. "You don't have to be so brave."

Elizabeth gave him a watery smile and turned towards the stairs as her son came bounding down them. "Yes, I do."

"All ready," JJ said grinning. He had Boris in one hand and a tiny little orange motorcycle in the other. His favorite one, the one that Michael gave him, the one that Jason had given Michael.

"Be good," Elizabeth said kissing his hair, "Don't cause too much trouble for Aunt Bobbie and don't stay up too late."

"I won't, love you Mama."

The little boy picked up his backpack with one strap and dragged it out the door with a grinning Johnny following. Francis was already at his post and he was smiling as well. JJ had brought so much laughter and happiness to their lives. It killed Elizabeth to know it was destroying Jason's.

Jason.

She placed a weary hand over her stomach and made her way to the couch where she laid down and pulled a small blanket over her. Maybe if she thought of nothing, maybe if she succumb to the numbness she would be able to get just a few minutes of sleep. Maybe she wouldn't have the dreams with Sonny and the nightmares she caused with Jason.

After doing nothing but tossing on the couch for an hour, Elizabeth moved from the couch to where she was now, curled up in a chair in front of Sonny's desk. She tossed the last pamphlet down with a sigh.

She was going with the Barrington. It was a solid bronze casket that was beautifully brushed in a natural finish. It came with richly tufted royal white interior, a matching pillow and throw and elegantly rounded corners. It even had brushed bronze accessories with swing bar handles.

She wasn't sure if she was buying a casket or a car.

Sighing she knew that this was the right choice, the most ridiculously expensive and it was bronze, the closest thing to gold. Sonny loved gold.

Picking up the book beside the pamphlets she started to read about the services the funeral homes offered. There was going to be a mass, a Catholic one, but the funeral home wanted to offer her something a little extra. She knew that they just wanted her money, but she wanted to give Sonny the perfect goodbye.

Flipping through the pages Elizabeth jumped out of the chair when the front door flew open and Mac walked in along with another uniformed officer who had his gun aimed at Francis.

"What the hell is going on?" Elizabeth asked.

"I was here to ask you a few questions," Mac said. "Apparently Francis didn't think this was a good time and refused to let me in."

"You could have knocked."

"He refused to let me to do that too," Mac said dryly.

Elizabeth bite back a smile. She loved her guards, her friends. She nodded to him, letting him know that she would back okay. Without even looking at the police officer he took his stance back in front of the door, leaving it open just in case.

"He can put the gun away," Elizabeth said motioning to the cop who still looked a little leery of Francis. She didn't blame him.

"I reviewed your statement and unfortunately was unable to come up with any other eye witnesses," Mac said. "You said that this was unexpected."

"How many times have we been through this over the past four years, Mac?" Elizabeth said as she rubbed her hands over her tired eyes. Damn those nightmares about Morgan. "You can't expect witnesses after a bombing or a shooting or a stabbing or a fight. These people are not stupid, they're not going to risk their lives because Sonny Corinthos finally got what he deserved."

"I'm not…"

"The whole fucking police department thinks it and don't try and tell me otherwise," Elizabeth said folding her arms across her chest, "I don't know why this happened, how it happened or why no one could save him."

"No one got out alive," Mac said. "There was another body recovered, melted gun in hand."

"Well then, case solved?" she said with a smile. "I needed to know when you are releasing Sonny's body."

"I need to know that Jason Morgan isn't going to retaliate," Mac said.

The smile disappeared off of Elizabeth's face. It was already around town. Everyone knew that Jason Morgan was back.

"It seems like the case is solved," she forced out. "I cannot speak for Jason."

"Surely you must have seen him?" Mac asked. "Sonny Corinthos is dead and Morgan doesn't take the time to stop by and give condolences to his mistress and child?"

"Do not define my relationship with Sonny," Elizabeth said, feeling herself losing her grip on this situation. She had to remember to count to ten.

"Maybe Jason was with Sonny's wife and other child," Mac baited. "Wherever the hell he is…"

"You're going to have to take that up with him," Elizabeth snapped. "Give me the papers so I can release Sonny's body for burial."

"It's already done," Mac said. "Johnny signed papers for release yesterday and we sent him over to the crematory today."

"You did what?" Elizabeth asked in a soft voice, "Without even consulting me you sent Sonny's body someplace to get burned?"

"Elizabeth, there was no…"

"Do you think that you can do whatever the hell you want in this town just because your commissioner?" Elizabeth asked advancing towards him. "Just because you didn't like Sonny and just because you could never make those damn charges stick doesn't mean you have the right to set him on fire."

"Elizabeth…"

"He was one of the most important people in my life," she said reaching over to the desk and picking up the pamphlets, "And I wanted him buried the way he would've wanted. I wanted it done right!" she screamed as she threw them at Mac. "And you just up and decided…"

"He wasn't in one piece!"

Elizabeth froze as she reached for the services book. He wasn't in one piece. Her empty stomach started to twist and turn as horrible images danced through her mind. The gun shots, the explosions, Sonny not in one piece.

"What the hell is going on over here?" Alexis asked walking into the penthouse with Jason behind her, "Are you badgering my client, Commissioner?"

"Elizabeth."

She could've sworn she heard Jason call her name before she fell, could've sworn he was the one reaching out to her before her head met the floor. But her mind had been playing so many tricks on her she wasn't quite sure anymore.

Sonny was in pieces. Jason hated her.

At that moment, she didn't mind the darkness that closed in.