Ok, I had a bit of writer's block, but here's the update! Thanks for everyone reviewing and giving their feedback - it will be included eventually ;). Several storylines will move a little faster after this, but feedback (and suggestions) are definitely appreciated! Enjoy!

Disclaimer (just in case): Still don't own any characters...yet!

Chapter 6

Ned stood facing the water that engulfed the piers, but wasn't actually looking at it. He had been walking for almost an hour after having the quietest dinner the Quartermaine mansion had ever seen. Monica and Alan weren't accounted for, neither was Emily or Dillon. Grandfather picked at his food, and his mother Tracy couldn't sit at the nearly empty table for longer than five minutes after dinner was served.

"Leave it to Junior," Ned muttered, but regretted it. Junior, he thought. He always considered less than spineless for the stunts he pulled to get everyone's attention. But his mother was right – they all did it. He craved attention from his family, pulled stupid stunts to defy or glorify the Quartermaine name, and it cost him countless relationships, not to mention money or real respect. He sighed, but turned quickly when he heard footsteps behind him.

"You look like you need more than a penny or your thoughts," Maria said, looking Ned in the eyes. "You tell me yours, I'll tell you mine." She walked toward the bench, and patted the seat next to her.

Ned liked her approach – they barely knew each other but she had an ease about her that made him want to tell her his life story. Whether it was that, or just because he was feeling sorry for himself, Ned sat down and turned to gaze into her soulful brown eyes.

"I had a death in the family," he started.

"I heard you say something to Lois about a memorial before," she acknowledged, "I'm sorry to hear it."

"Yeah, funny thing was, I wasn't sorry," Ned's voice was somber. "It was my cousin, AJ. I mean I can't tell you how many times I loathed his existence, how many times I wished horrible things to happen to him," he looked at Maria's only slightly horrified expression, and leaned forward, "but now, all I think is that I wish he were here."

"Well," Maria said slowly, "you don't strike me as the type that loathes easily – you know, just from the day that we've known each other." She stopped and saw him smile a little more. "And I'm sure everyone has one person that annoys them, that thorn in their backside...you just didn't expect to lose yours, did you?" Maria asked gently.

"Yep, I knew AJ would always be there for me to harass, so he could harass me right back," Ned thought aloud, "it's a Quartermaine tradition."

Maria laughed at him. "Should I be worried?"

He laughed out loud. "Depends on what you do to deserve it," he said through a grin, a flirtatious one that Maria couldn't ignore.

"I consider myself warned," Maria smiled back, and the two of them stared at each other for a moment before looking – really looking back into the harbor.

"Hey," Carly said, as she stepped through Lorenzo's door.

"Well, I know this isn't a social call, Carly, since you don't tend to make those," Lorenzo walked toward his bar and poured some water, "so what can I do for you this time?"

Carly looked at him, annoyed that he was insinuating she only used him. "Are angry with me about something? If this is about the last time I asked you to intervene, we already –"

"It's not," Lorenzo cut her off. "We have already talked about that, among other things. You want to keep sticking your neck out for Sonny and Jason, it's your choice, but I'd rather not be involved in the future." He eyes her suspiciously. "I hope that's not why you're here – but then again, I don't see you needing a babysitter or a loan."

Her temper was flaring at Lorenzo's mention of the men in her life, but she had to smirk at his final comment. "No it's not about Sonny, or Jason. It's Courtney."

"Great," Lorenzo's jumped out as went to fix himself a shot. Gonna need this, he thought.

Carly jumped in front of him. "I know, but this isn't what you think. She came to me, and so I'm coming to you. She doesn't know I'm here..."

"Do you remember how well that worked out the last time?" Lorenzo took his shot back hard and looked over at Carly. "She hates me, Carly, so whatever assistance I could provide would be thrown back in my face, and you know it." He walked around her and sat on his couch.

"I know, but I wanted to come to you first, and then talk to Courtney this time," Carly's pleading eyes got to Lorenzo, like they always did. "She doesn't want to go to Sonny or Jason because they've just been through the whole mess with the kidnapping, and the situation, is well... delicate at best." Carly found herself needing a drink, and nodded toward the bar.

Lorenzo nodded back, and watched her walk over and pour herself a scotch, and gulp it hard. "Must be bad," he said behind her, and continued as she turned to face him, "and since you know I won't refuse you, you can start at the beginning."

Carly's eyes softened. She had come to depend on Lorenzo more than she thought imaginable, especially considering their history, and she knew he'd do exactly as she asked. "Ok, Courtney just found out that she was still legally married to AJ. The little snake filed phony divorce papers, and wanted to use it to get half of Courtney's money she got from helping that woman in the hotel fire." Carly sat down next to Lorenzo, sighing loudly. "She got real papers drawn up, took them to the Bahamas where AJ was staying alone, and he refused to sign them. AJ ends up dead, and now Courtney's theprimary suspect."

"So what... I'm supposed to dispose of the evidence?" Lorenzo replied perplexed.

"She didn't kill AJ, although if she had, I wouldn't blink before taking care of it myself," Carly responded, and Lorenzo laughed. He loved the fire in Carly's eyes when she talked. "No Courtney left the weasel alive, got on a plane and told her life story to this woman Rachel."

"No offense, but as Sonny's sister, she should know better," Lorenzo replied. Rachel, he thought, but decided to let Carly continue.

"Yeah, well, Courtney didn't say anything about Sonny – but told this woman about AJ, including the part that she wished him dead. This Rachel person went back to the Bahamas during their layover, killed AJ, and put Courtney's fingerprints on the weapon. Now she wants Courtney to kill for her."

"That's twisted, but inspired," Lorenzo said as he sat forward.

"She's crazy, Lorenzo," Carly countered, shocked by his admiration of a mad woman. "She wants Courtney to kill Steven Webber, claims he was the biggest mistake in her life." Carly stood up, and Lorenzo did as well. "So, I'm asking you to get to this woman before she does anything else to hurt Courtney."

"So this is for Courtney, and Steven," Lorenzo sought answers in her eyes. He knew how close she had been getting to Steven, probably an attempt to keep him at bay.

"I don't want Steven dead, but this is about Courtney, and this woman hurting my family." Carly responded a little too forcefully. She had been tempted to intervene with the woman herself, just to see what she had on Steven, but thought Courtney may be right about not wanting Rachel to know anymore about Courtney's family.

"Alright, I'll meet her, see what I can come up with, but we meet Courtney and tell her first," Lorenzo said thoughtfully, and turned his back toward Carly. "No surprise attacks from her that way. By the way, what's the woman's last name?"

"Adair, I think. Rachel Adair." Carly said, hoping she remembered it right from her discussion with Courtney outside the PCPD.

Lorenzo looked back at her, and Carly thought she caught a smile forming at the corners of his mouth.

Courtney walked to the door of her loft, to find it already ajar. She slowed her pace, so that her heels would not make such a hard sound, and stepped back against the wall. Charging the door, she kicked it open to find Jax, standing with two glasses of champagne in his hands, alarmed.

"Well, you've always made an entrance... but I'm not sure I needed to see what you learned in kickboxing class," Jax said perturbed, setting the champagne on the coffee table.

"Jax, my God," Courtney was just as shocked as he was, and finally began to breathe. "My door was open, and I didn't have anything on me, so I thought I could try to scare an attacker or robber or... God, I'm sorry." She rubbed her forehead in frustration. The whole situation with Rachel – and keeping it from Jax – was weighing on her more than she was willing to admit to herself.

"Hey, hey," Jax walked over to her, quickly forgetting how annoyed he had been at being frightened by his fiancée. "It's going to be ok, really. I just came over to take your mind off everything that's been happening lately. But something else is going on," Jax said looking into her eyes, though she kept trying to divert them. "What is it, Courtney?"

She paused, actually contemplating telling him the truth, but quickly looking away. "I'm just on edge, Jax," she said, walking away from his embrace. He sighed and looked to the ceiling behind her back as she continued. "They found Kristina, and I'm happy for Sonny, really I am. But he didn't even look right, in his eyes, and I can't tell him anything about this whole mess... I just feel so disconnected from my family right now."

"Well, I'm your family, too," Jax said, fixing his crystal blue eyes into hers. He hugged her to him. "So let's focus on becoming a family, and start with our wedding." He smiled and drew her back from him to look again into her face. He never tired of studying her bright blue eyes and wide smile. It took her a while to smile though, and this time, it was a bit too wide.

"Why, Jax, I wouldn't have picked you for the invitations and colors type," Courtney replied, sounding overly cheerful.

"You inspire me," he nuzzled near her neck and began a trail of kisses up to her ear. Just as he moved in to taste her cherry lips, Courtney's cell buzzed from deep in her purse. She immediately pulled away, much to Jax's chagrin.

"Don't answer it," he said, pulling her close to his body from behind. She dug in her purse anyway, and saw 'Carly' on the ID. "Hey, what's up?" Courtney tried to sound carefree, though her heart jumped into her throat.

"Meet me at the docks in 20 minutes," Carly said from Lorenzo's hallway, with him standing directly behind her.

"Now?" Courtney feigned disappointment.

"Um, yeah... I got the solution you need." Carly's exasperated voice was muffled by Courtney's long hair, which Courtney silently said a prayer of thanks for, as Jax moved back, defeated.

"I'll be right there, then," Courtney said, and turned to Jax. "I'm sorry, really – don't be mad, please?" She batted her eyes and pouted slightly, hoping this would be the last time she had to lie to him.

"Fine, fine," Jax said, "I'll wait here – but if anyone but you walks through that door when you get back, I'm gone."

"You just be prepared to spend the night studying color swatches," she smiled and leaned into Jax's powerful hold. She kissed him harder than before, and pushed herself back playfully. She headed for the door, but turned back to look at Jax once more. He's more than I deserve, she thought and walked out the door – right into Rachel.

"Well, hi there," Rachel sounded even more cheerful than the last time they saw each other. "Looks like I got here just in time, where ya going?"

"Out," Courtney responded. She was beyond patience with this psychopath, and wanted to get to Carly and her solution as quickly as possible. "I don't have time to talk, so we can do this another time," she started to usher Rachel along with her to the exit.

Rachel snatched her arm back, and pushed Courtney against the wall. "Listen up, I'm not one to be dismissed. So," she regained her pleasant composure, "you can just let me stay here until you get back." Rachel walked back to Courtney's door, and opened it, finding Jax looking over some papers in his briefcase.

"Ah," Rachel said, and Jax stood up, curiously watching a woman that looked like she could be Courtney's body double and Courtney right behind her. "That's why you want me gone, Court! Didn't want to expose your company?" Rachel turned back to Courtney, who was fuming.

"Was this the phone call you got?" Jax inquired, and Courtney looked up at him, eyes wide.

"No, um," Courtney hesitated, trying to think of a quick explanation for Rachel.

"I'm an old friend of Courtney's," Rachel turned to Jax. Courtney wasn't kidding – this man is fabulous. "And you…are…Jasper Jacks, right?"

"Right," Jax responded carefully, still not liking the look in Courtney's face. "How would you know that?"

"Well, besides the society pages," Rachel smirked in Courtney's direction, "I'd recognize the face of Money magazine anywhere."

"That was ages ago," Jax laughed, but was impressed she knew of his work.

"Yeah, well, Rachel's a pretty successful business person," Courtney jumped in. "Why don't you tell him, Rachel?" She challenged the woman.

"Sure, but I came to see you, hun," Rachel smiled back. "I really didn't mean to be an imposition."

"Not at all," Courtney turned back to Jax. "You can stay and discuss business with Jax, and I should be back in about 20 minutes, and we can all catch up together, before you leave." Courtney made a point to emphasize the leaving part. But she was intrigued at the idea of Jax unwittingly getting leverage on Rachel for her.

"Courtney," Jax started but she cut him off.

"Be right back, baby." Courtney ran out the door, leaving Rachel to soak in the sights, as Jax shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.

"So, what brings you to Port Charles?" he asked.

Emily burst through the doors of the Quartermaine mansion, and wiped furiously at her face. She didn't care what Liz's explanation was, nothing she could say would make telling her mother right. She hugged her arms around herself and took deep breaths. The house was still quiet, but the silence only let Connor back into Emily's thoughts.

No matter how much you hate me, you want to be with me. You're too good. You're too compassionate. You'll forgive anything and anybody –

Emily shook her head wildly. No, I won't forgive anything, not anybody, she thought. She opened the doors to the family room, to find her parents talking.

"I just hope..." Monica said, but stopped when she heard Emily come through the doors. "Emily." Her voice deadened, and Emily knew they had been talking about her.

"What were you saying, Mom?" Emily tried hard to maintain her composure, to not look in her parent's eyes. She knew she would see that her mother had told her father, and that would be the end of her. Alan had been on such a tirade earlier, but was now deafeningly silent, and Emily's worst fear was confirmed.

"Emily, your mother and I were talking about you," Alan stated almost coldly, reserved. "We want to do the right thing by the children we have left."

Emily slightly eased, hoping that meant her mother had kept her secret. "You always have, Dad, and I'm so grateful. To both of you – you stand by me and respect my wishes, and you let me make up my own mind. I couldn't have better parents, and I know AJ felt the same way." She knew she was laying it on thick, but she had to keep her mother quiet about what happened.

Monica turned away as Emily ran to embrace her father tightly. She could sense what was coming next, and the fallout was going to immense.

Alan held onto Emily, afraid that this would be the last time he ever would. "Emily," he said, as he drew her away slowly to look in her face, "I know, do you understand?" He continued, though Emily's face contorted in despair. He shifted her to look at him when she tried to turn accusingly to her mother. "Emily, I know... and now, so does Nikolas."

Emily broke his embrace swiftly, and stared in disbelief at her parents, who were both in tears.

"It's ok, it'll all be ok," Lucky said as Liz lay crying into his arm. "Emily will be ok, and then we'll all work through this together, just like we always have."

Liz straightened up, and checked Lucky's IV, making sure she hadn't leaned on him too hard. "I'm so sorry, Lucky. I'm sorry you had to wake up to this." She pushed her remaining tears out the way. "For God sakes, who cries on a former coma patient's shoulders?"

"Emphasis on former," Lucky grabbed for Liz's hand. "And you need to stop, right now." Liz looked at Lucky questioningly, but he continued anyway. "You need to stop taking care of everything, especially me – it bruises my very healthy male ego."

Liz smiled and leaned in to kiss Lucky's forehead.

"That's the smile I love," he whispered in her ear. They gazed at each other for what seemed like forever. "It's what I came back for."

Bobbie brushed passed a still dazed Steven as John approached him, giving John an austere look before rushing to a patient's room. John barely noticed, which made Bobbie seethe that much more.

"So who's the blonde, Doc?" John startled Steven, as he whipped around to face the prosecutor's gleaming eyes. "That wouldn't happen to be Rachel, would it? Thee Rachel?" Durant could tell by Steven's reddening complexion that he was dancing on that familiar soft spot.

Steven threw his pen down on his pen and faced John Durant hard. "You would know, wouldn't you?" He rushed at Durant and slammed him against the wall.

"Whoa, whoa! You need to –"

"No! You listen! I don't care what you've done for me, or how much you feel I betrayed you, or how you feel about me wanting to be with Carly – I don't care!" Steven's voice grew angrier and even toned. "But you do not get to bring her back into my life, you will not ruin me John, you understand?"

"Hey, hey, hey…what the hell?" Ric rushed up to the two fighting men and pulled Steven and Durant apart. "Dr. Webber, you want to explain why you're attacking him? Or do you care to, Mr. Durant?"

"No, I don't," John said, eyes ablaze, "but if you put your hands on me again for something I didn't do – by the way, best believe you'll be behind bars." John huffed and straightened his ties and suit jacket.

"Whatever," Steven said, calming down and turning to an aghast Alexis, who had Kristina in her arms. "I apologize, Alexis... would you still like me to examine Kristina? I got Ric's call and planned to meet you here."

"Um, ok," Alexis said, unsure. "You want to go with Dr. Webber, huh, sweetie? Then we can go home! Yeah, here you go," Alexis handed Kristina to Steven, and looked around to see John heading for the elevator. "Wait, Durant!"

John turned to meet Alexis' eager face. "I want to know what you're going to do about going after Sonny. Can you really charge him with murder for shooting Faith?"

Before John could reply, Ric placed his arms strongly around his wife's waist. "Honey, Dr. Meadows is waiting for you, I think we should go and not waste her time," he said as he gently pushed her toward Dr. Meadows, near the nurses' station.

He turned back to John. "My wife just got her daughter back, we just found out she's having another baby. She's really emotional right now, and I'd appreciate it if you just forget what she said."

"Well, congratulations Lansing," Durant replied, haughty. "But why would you want me to forget prosecuting your brother? Do you think your wife and children are going to feel safe and secure knowing you're protecting criminals, criminals like Sonny and Faith – because yeah buddy, they're one and the same!" John stepped closer to Ric, and Ric squared his posture to menacingly look John in the eyes.

"Sonny and Faith are not the same, and you can go after him whenever you like, Durant," Ric said, "but not on this, and not using my family to get to him or me." Ric turned on his heel and stalked away.

Lorenzo walked stealthily behind Carly to the docks, but stopped short when he saw Ned and Maria sitting on the bench.

"Thank you, Maria," Ned said as he got up. "Maybe we'll actually talk about our children next time." He flashed those dimples, and Maria felt a shiver down her spine – and not from the cold air.

"I'm sure you'll inform me, as well, about this discussion," Lorenzo's voice interrupted the fiery look on Maria's face as she focused on Ned's smile. She looked over Ned's shoulders to see Lorenzo standing with Carly. And he has the nerve to sound jealous, she thought to herself.

Before Maria could respond, Ned turned to face Lorenzo directly. "Sure, but since this discussion had nothing to do with you, you won't mind if I leave you out of it." Ned turned back to Maria, whose eyes fell right back into the spell from before. He surprised himself when he leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks again," Ned whispered in Maria's ear, and walked off in the direction of Kelly's.

Lorenzo couldn't decide how to react, especially when he saw the girlish grin and deep blush on Maria's bronze face. She shot them a slightly embarrassed look before walking away, still caressing her cheek thoughtfully.

Carly acknowledged Maria's goodbye with a small nod, and noticed how Lorenzo's demeanor had shifted. "Do you need to go talk to her?"

"No, Maria's business is just that – her own," Lorenzo replied stiffly.

Carly shrugged and held up her hands submissively. She and Lorenzo stood quietly until they heard Courtney's footsteps coming down toward them.

"Carly! You call this a solution?" Courtney shot Carly an exasperated look and started toward Lorenzo, when Carly pushed her back.

"You don't get to criticize my methods at this point, ok? You don't want Sonny and Jason involved – fine. I agreed with you, but Lorenzo is not a member of our family, and he can handle things appropriately," Carly tilted her head between her best friend and her former lover, "if it comes to that."

"Look, Courtney, you don't like me, and I'm not fond of you," Lorenzo admitted, though Carly gave him a warning look. "But Carly has a point, and since you need help, why not take it?"

"Because you're only using Carly," Courtney shot back, and made Carly face her. "Can't you see that? You just broke up with Sonny, and you're going to him with your problems. If he keeps helping you out, he's going to expect something in return!"

Lorenzo stepped between Carly to get right in Courtney's face. "You can say what you want about me, believe what you like, but I am not using Carly. I leave that up to you."

He began to walk away from both women, but Carly grabbed his arm.

"What! I'm using Carly?" Courtney couldn't believe her ears.

"Yes!" Lorenzo's patience with Courtney was beyond worn. Her voice was beginning to sound like nails on a chalkboard, and he just wanted to be done with this. "You want her to come in fix your problems, hide your secrets from people you claim to care about, all while you call the shots!" He moved back toward them. "I will talk to this woman you spilled your guts to, and get her to back off. Then, we can resume or normal distaste – and distance – with each other alright?"

Carly was taken aback when she realized he was addressing her as well. "Ok, Lorenzo, we'll cooperate, won't we?" She grasped Courtney's arm tightly. "C'mon, you know you have no other outs here," she spoke low into Courtney's ear. She then looked back, to see Lornezo's stern face hadn't softened.

"Fine, alright," Courtney declared. "Just get her to leave me alone, and try not doing it from a yacht." She knew the remark was below the belt but she didn't care.

Lorenzo walked off without looking in Carly's direction. Carly turned to her friend and searched her face. "Was that really necessary?"

"Whatever, Carly," Courtney said harshly. "I don't like being in Lorenzo Alcazar's debt, and I resent that either of us are in that situation now." She was angry about depending on Alcazar, but she was also angry about Rachel, and lying to Jax, and AJ, and the divorce. Her anger was clouding her brain 24/7, and she wanted it all to just stop.

"Well beggars can't be choosers," Carly snapped back. She was annoyed that Courtney wasn't thanking her for coming up with something, much less the fact Carly knew she, not Courtney, would be the one in Lorenzo's debt. However, the way he brushed past her had an air of finality to it that didn't sit well with Carly. She looked at Courtney again. "So, have you seen Jason?"

"No, and I'm not going to," Courtney sighed and sat on the bench. "I had to rush out her, leaving Jax in my loft..." with Rachel, she thought. "Carly, I have to get back, you know, before Jax asks any questions. Thanks, I mean it, ok?" She hugged her friend quickly and raced to survey the damage.

"So you're the chief financial officer of Adair Realty?" Jax looked at Rachel, amazed. In the time since Courtney had left, she managed to get him to tell her everything about his business ventures before he came to Port Charles. They discussed mergers and acquisitions in their respective fields, and he could tell she was as cutthroat as he was in business. He admired how she played information close to the vest, and had only let minor details about her role in Adair Realty get out.

"Guilty as charged," Rachel smiled, and sipped more of the champagne Jax had brought back from his trip to France. She didn't tell him she acted as both CFO and CEO of the company – she liked keeping him guessing. "I learned from the best, how to crunch numbers."

"Your father's business sense was definitely to be marveled at," Jax stated matter-of-factly. "I read about him when I was studying at my university."

"Yeah, he was great," Rachel got quiet. She hadn't talked about her father in so long, not since Steven. Just the thought of her intimate conversations with him about her family, and wanting to make her father proud sent burning sensations through her veins.

"You ok?" Jax noticed Rachel's tightened grip on the champagne glass, and eased it out of her hand. "I'm sorry. I know your father's passing must have been hard on you. I didn't mean to bring it up."

"No, no, it's ok," Rachel straightened up quickly. "He and I were very close, especially after I joined his company, and I'm thankful for the time we had together. It sounds silly, bonding over accounts and documents, but I knew he was passing one everything he had ever learned to me." She noticed Jax's smile fade. "Your father too, you know."

Jax looked up at her in surprise as she nodded. "I read an article about him, before he passed most of the business to you. There was a picture, and he was just beaming – and the columnist wrote he had never seen a man more happy to retire, but your father just said…"

"'Because I'm leaving it all in good hands'" Jax finished. "You read that one?"

"Yep, and I knew I wanted that, too." Rachel picked up her glass, and poured more for herself and Jax. "So let's toast – to making our fathers proud." They clinked glasses and smiled at one another. Just as Rachel hoped this moment could freeze in time, Courtney rushed in the door, and slammed it behind her, causing Rachel and Jax to jump.

"Sorry, it took…" Courtney turned to see Jax and Rachel drinking the champagne he brought home for her and tried hard not to frown.

"It's ok, we were just catching up! But I'm sure you guys would like time on your own, right," Rachel brushed off her dress and grabbed her coat before turning back to Jax. "It was my pleasure to confer with you, Mr. Jacks," she smiled and mockingly bowed.

"Pleasure was all mine," Jax laughed, and the twinkle in his eyes made Courtney fume.

"Yeah, we'll have to get together sometime," Courtney piped up and walked between Rachel and Jax's still clasped hands. She arrogantly placed her hand on Jax's shoulder.

"Oh, we will," Rachel called back as she made her way to the door. "Soon." She walked out into the hallway, her mind turning with different scenarios. She rubbed her left hand over right, where Jax had held her firmly. Looks like I have some calls to make, she thought.

"I don't believe you did this to me," Emily could barely choke out the words, and Monica rushed to her when she looked as though she would faint.

"Honey, we just want to be there for you," Monica pleaded and tried to get her daughter to look at her. "We thought it might be too hard for you to tell Nikolas – to look at him, because he looked like Connor."

"He's not Connor! He's not!" Emily began shouting as her finger shook pointedly t her mother. "You had no right to tell him, to burden him when he can do nothing about it. And he doesn't have to, remember? I did something about it. I SHOT HIM – I KILLED CONNOR BISHOP!" Emily voice stopped trembling as eyes set on Monica and Alan's faces. "He will never hurt me again, or anyone else. That's why you shouldn't have told him – that's why I want you to leave it alone!"

"What is going on down here?" Tracy's voice interrupted Emily's screeching. "What's happened now?"

"Nothing, Tracy," Emily shot back with venom. "Nothing but the tried-and-true tradition of Quartermaines stabbing each other in the back." She turned accusingly on her father first. "You say you didn't do right be AJ, that you want to do right by all of us, huh? You betrayed AJ, and you betrayed me. Thankfully, Jason doesn't care enough about you to subject himself to your kind of loyalty."

Monica stepped in front of Alan, whose pained expression only mirrored half of how much Emily's words had hurt him. "Don't say that!" Monica exclaimed and grabbed Emily's arms. "You're hurting, and we tried to help you, not hurt you! We don't ever want anyone to be able to hurt you again – please Emily, please believe me!"

Ned and Dillon came through the doors, and stepped cautiously behind their mother. A survey of the room – Alan standing behind Monica, the picture of a broken man; Monica grabbing Emily by the arms, pleading and shaking her at the same time, and Tracy quietly observing – they could tell something else had gone seriously wrong.

Emily shook free of Monica's grasp. "I don't believe you – I never will again. Liz betrayed my trust in her to you, but you, Mom – I thought you would help me, at least respect me. But since you won't, why stop what you started?" She turned to Tracy, Ned and Dillon's questioning faces. "They don't know? You didn't have a family meeting about it? God knows we haven't had one of those in a while, huh?" Emily smirked ruefully, and Ned could almost see AJ in her face.

She walked closer to the three of them. "You want to know, Aunt Tracy? Huh? Ok, everyone – let's say it all together, now!" Emily turned to her parents. "Back me up will ya? I can't make such a grand announcement without you guys, right?" She turned back to Tracy and her sons. "One, two, three... I WAS RAPED! There, it's been said, for the entire world to hear! I was raped by a man who looked exactly like my husband, and I killed him! My best friend told my mom, my mom told my dad, they told my husband, now I'm telling you," she finished as the tears and convulsions were overcoming her words.

Tracy, Ned, and Dillon all looked at Emily devastated. Tracy's look of sympathy was all it took to make Emily run out to the terrace, leaving the family completely stunned.

Emily ran to Lila's garden, frantic to get away from her confession, from their pleading and sympathetic eyes, from their betrayal. Her tears blinded her, and she stumbled and fell near Lila's rose bush that was perfectly trimmed, as if anticipating the time to bloom – yet with every thorn in tact. Emily focused on the thorns and began to touch them, and they cut the tips of her finger almost mercifully.

Edward, who had been sitting in the middle of Lila's empty garden, talking to his love, rushed to grab Emily off the ground. He had heard the commotion at the house but didn't want to face another fight. "Emily? You're going to cut yourself, come here," he said as he pulled her up from the ground.

"I need help, Grandfather, please," Emily looked at the old man's eyes, confused but not questioning her. "Don't ask me, just help!"

"I'll do whatever you want, sweetheart, we'll do it together," Edward said in her ear, as she held on to him for dear life.