Disclaimer: I don't own anything…

A/N 2: Alright, here we go…This fic is AU and set in the future. It contains an OC, which I've never used before, but is necessary for the story. Everything that has happened with Journey has occurred in this fic right up to the anniversary of the miscarriage.

Summary: Things aren't always what they appear to be. Sometimes, the "perfect" marriage isn't perfect. Who do you turn to when the world collapses around you?

She Will Be Loved Ch. 4:

And if you just hold on, I wont let ya fall
We can make it through the storms and the winds of change

The soft knock resounded through Jason's nearly empty penthouse. The only remaining furniture was his pool table and couch with some other small pieces that Penny had not taken with her. The apartment was sparse, just the way he liked it. He returned home from his meeting with Penny and the lawyers early, unable to hear anymore of her pleading and begging. He forced himself out of one the barstools and crossed the short distance to the front door. He opened it to find a slightly frazzled Courtney. She seemed on edge which led him to believe that Sonny had informed her of Doug's visit.

"You wanted to see me?" She tucked a piece of her long blonde hair behind her ear.

"Yeah," he opened the door wider and motioned for her to follow him inside, which she did without a moment's hesitation. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." She assured her in strongest voice, but knew that there was no fooling him. "Sonny told me that Doug stopped by and that you were here to greet him. I appreciate that. I'm not sure what I would have done if he took Via."

"You know that's never going to happen," he put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and watched as her blue eyes clouded with tears that she desperately tried to hide.

"I just…Never mind." She let her lids slide close and a short sigh escape her pursed lips. "What did you want to talk to me about?" He recognized her shutting down. After all, he had done it himself on so many occasions that it was easy to spot.

"It can wait," he was trying not to put anymore stress on her, but could see that she wasn't going to give up that easily.

"I didn't come all the way over here for you to put whatever you want to say off."

"You came across the hall." Jason replied with a grin and watched her demeanor relax slightly.

"It's a long walk for me. I'm getting old." She returned with a smile. "Come on, talk to me." A slight poke to his side forced a small laugh from him. "Still ticklish there I see."

"Don't do it, Courtney." He warned lightheartedly and was met with a smirk.

"Do what?" Her index finger jabbed into his ribs which elicited another chuckle and a satisfied look across the blonde woman's face. "Oh that."

"Okay." He held up his hands in mock surrender before trying to piece together his offer. "I was just thinking that since Sonny's Penthouse is kind of cramped that you and the girls could move in her with me." Her face crumpled slightly.

"I knew that I was getting in the way. Did Sonny put you up to this? He couldn't tell me himself that we were cramping his family?" Courtney let the quiet rant spill from her lips and was met with a empathetic shake of her companion's head.

"That's not it. I came up with this all on my own. You know that your brother loves having you and the girls around." He tried and watched as his ex wife paced a small circle in his foyer.

"I'll just get my own place. That way there you can have your space and so can't Sonny."

"No way."

"Excuse me? Jason I am a grown woman and more than capable of taking care of myself and daughters." She stood taut with her hands on her hips in a show of independence.

"And where are you going to get the money? I'm sure that Doug has frozen all of your accounts."

"I'll get a job." She reasoned.

"And who's going to watch the girls?"

"I'll hire a babysitter."

"Protection?"

"I can't think about this all right now, Jase."

"You have to! What are you going to do if Doug shows up at your place? He's not going to take "go away" as an answer." He raised his voice and watched the look of indignation come across her face.

"Don't lecture me about my husband. I am very aware of what he's capable of. More so than you and Sonny." Courtney spat out.

"I just want to help you. I want to know that you as well as Hannah and Olivia are safe." She felt the compassion in his voice and immediately felt bad for lashing out.

"I want to know that too…"

"Then let me make sure of it. You know how good I am at being a bodyguard." He let the last part hang in the air as a reference to the first time he came to her aid. God, the stalking incident seemed like lifetimes ago.

"You promise that we want be in your way?"

"Only if you promise that I won't be in your way." A nod was the only response that she had. Her emotions where coming to the forefront and she wasn't quite sure how long she would be able to keep them at bay. He reached out a shaky arm and pulled her deep into his embrace. His cologne invaded her nostrils, reminding her of times that he fought away all her fears with just a single touch. She wanted to collapse in his arms and let go of everything that she had been holding onto for seven long years, but wondered if that was even an option any longer. She had spent so long keeping her feelings to herself and never asking anyone for anything. Until now of course. Now, she needed her ex husband more than he could ever know and it made her nervous. What if it was too much for him to handle. Carly had told her that divorce with Penny was rough on him. Could she really let him deal with her pain as well as his own?

What she feared most was the fluttering in her stomach at the thought of living with him once again. God, she had just left her husband and was already feeling attraction to another man. It's not just another man, her mind reminded her. True her and Jason had a past together and what if that was why she felt so drawn to him. What if she was just reacting to the thought of a time when a man treated her like a queen.

"You okay?" His question jarred her momentarily before she looked up and offered him a weak smile.

"Yup. I was just thinking that I need to work on my billiard's game if I'm going to go back to kicking your ass on that table." She covered smoothly as she motioned to the dark green table a few feet away.

"Yeah maybe this time I won't let you win all the time." He scoffed and was given a slap on his arm.

"You never let me win!"

"Okay…" he looked away and was met with another hard smack.

"You didn't!"

"Well, if I remember correctly I don't think that we ever made it through a whole game. Something always seemed to distract us…" The second the comment came out of his mouth, he wished that he could take it back. "Sorry…"

"Don't worry about it. Those were some good times." The last part came out as almost a whisper and caught the couple off guard. "I should umm…You know start packing." She was out the door before he could reply. He let a small smile slide across his lips before quickly dismissing it. That was a long time ago, Morgan, he reminded himself.

Courtney leaned up against the hard cherry oak door quietly slamming her head against it. What was I thinking? I cannot make comments like that if we plan on living together on a purely platonic level. Do I even want to live with him on a platonic level? Of course I do. I'm vulnerable right now and I'm sure if things were different I wouldn't feel so drawn to him. Or would I?

Carly entered the downstairs guest room in hopes of finding Courtney but instead was met with Olivia, who sat on the side of the queen sized bed watching her baby sister napping soundly next to her. She took this time to look at the young girl and was in amazement of how much she resembled her mother. Right down to the bright blue eyes and round face.

"Hi there," she greeted quietly and caught the five-year-old's attention. "My name is Carly. You met me a long time ago."

"Yeah. You gave me a piece of chocolate and Uncle Sonny yelled at you." Olivia recalled as if it was just yesterday instead of two years before.

"Yeah, well Uncle Sonny yells at me a lot. I just ignore him." She smiled.

"My dad used to yell at my mom." The little girl confided and Carly immediately kicked herself for not coming up with a better comment. "But mommy says that we don't have see him anymore."

"No you don't," The older woman let her eyes wander over to the sleeping two year and watched as Olivia brushed a curl out of the baby's face.

"I love chocolate, but mom says it makes me too hyper."

"What your mom doesn't know won't hurt her. How about me and you make a few glasses of hot coco." She saw the little girl falter and grinned in return. "I won't tell if you don't."

"Okay," Olivia finally agreed and took the outstretched hand that her aunt offered. "Can Hannah come too?"

"I think we should let her finish sleeping. She had a long day of shopping with me and your mom and that's enough to wear anyone out." Carly replied as she lead her niece down to the kitchen

Sonny slammed the phone down in a fit of frustration. He had just spoken to Justice to try and get a restraining order on Doug Brady, but to no avail. There was no way to bar a man from seeing his children unless both his wife and daughters took the stand to testify against him. He couldn't do that Courtney and the girls. It took all the courage she had to show up on his doorstep and didn't want to push her any farther for fear that she might indeed crack under pressure. I'll just double up security, he tried to ease himself just as Carly and Olivia pranced by the open door.

"Hey!" He yelled to grab there attention and watched as they emerged on the doorway with mischievous grins on their face. "Where are you to going?"

"The kitchen," Olivia answered.

"What for?"

"Uhh…carrots. Yeah this little girl loves her vegetables." Carly tried her best to lie but the smile in her eyes told her husband too much.

"I'm sure she does. Just don't give her too much sugar, dear." He tried, but knew it was useless as he watched the two females scamper out. There presence was replaced with his baby sister, who watched as her sister-in-law and daughter raced down the hall.

"What are they doing?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You don't want to know," he assured and was met with a nod.

"So, we are going to move in with Jason."

"Okay," he replied without hesitation. There was no one he trusted more than Jason and knew that he would guard the three woman with his life.

"You could have just told me that I was in the way…"

"You weren't in the way. I just thought that you might like more space than this place could allow." She nodded and he continued on. "I've added more security."

"I appreciate you wanting to take care of us, Sonny. I really do, but you have got to understand that I won't live my life behind bullet proof glass. My daughters deserve more than that." Courtney whispered.

"It's just for now until I can figure out what exactly Brady wants." He assured.

"What makes you think he wants something?"

"Guys like that always want something, Courtney."

A/N: I know I said there wasn't going to be anymore updates for awhile, but attribute it to nervous energy for game three tonight. Song credit goes to Kid Rock and his song Lonely Road Of Faith. Drop a line and let me know whatcha think