Author's Note: Hey all! Thanks for the feedback, means a lot, and I also find that people don't really reply that much. You all should! You would get more updates sooner if you did, wink, wink.

Ok, so I mention a house in this chap. I doesn't exist, unless I'm like some sort of psychic, in which case I would be able to see if I pass my English final, but I can't. Anyways, The house comes from my crazy mind; I just wanted to let you all know that.

Enjoy, and remember to review! It makes me happy (course so do hott a$$ guys)!

-o-o-o-o-o-

Chapter 18

Emma had been awake for hours currently she sat on the pool table looking around the room. She hadn't been able to sleep.

FLASHBACK

Emma lay in the guest room bed looking at the ceiling. Jason had left to answer the phone and Emma couldn't sleep. She didn't want to.

She had been awake since before Jason had come into her room. She had woken up in a cold sweat from her dream as she used to years ago. She had hoped the events of a few nights ago wouldn't stir up the dreams, but they had.

It had been nearly two days since Emma had been slapped, and had ripped Sam to shreds. She wasn't really surprised they came back; she was just hoping they wouldn't. The dreams reminded her of a time that was behind her, about things better left forgotten.

She wasn't sure how long she had stayed in bed wide-awake, but eventually Jason made his way back upstairs.

He looked into the room. He stared at the girl for some time before shutting the door again and walking down the hall.

Once Emma heard a door shut she sat up in bed. She didn't want to set her head back down because eventually she would fall asleep again. Something she didn't want to happen, not right now anyway.

Emma looked around the room. There wasn't much too it. It was a large empty room, a queen size bed, and a dresser in the large closet; there was a chair that Jason had been sitting in, and a desk. When she had arrived Jason had given her the choice of room's, even his. She took the one less lived in. There was another room a third choice with a bathroom, but that didn't feel right, especially after Jason mentioned Sam had stayed in that room.

Emma stayed in the room for a while longer not sure what too do. About 30 minutes later she was bored of the room, it was so plain, so she wandered down stairs.

END FLASHBACK

After wandering down stairs Emma had ended up on the pool table, her position for the last few hours. Carly had told her that Jason hadn't changed the room since Courtney had lived there, Emma kinda figured that, it just seemed like her Mothers style was in the room. Emma just sat looking the room over. She wasn't sure what she was looking at, or for, but she continued to look.

After what would seem like forever to anyone watching Emma hoped down from the table, and into the Kitchen.

-.-

Emma hadn't found anything to eat at Jason's. He really needed to go shopping. She had searched for sometime before deciding to raid Sonny's fridge.

She walked out Jason's door and looked at the guard, it was Fred. He was an older gentleman, not as old as Sonny, but older than Michael. She walked across the hall and stood in front of him.

Fred looked down at her. She had come to stay with Jason a few days ago and he liked the girl. She was a sweet kid who made him laugh. She wasn't as uptight as anyone else in the building, and didn't mind having the guards call her Emma. In fact she preferred it, unlike Sam or Lila who had to be called Miss, or Misses Corinthos.

"Can I help you with something," Fred asked looking at her.

"Not really, Do you always work," Emma questioned.

"Yes he does," Marco stated as he exited the elevator.

Marco was one of her favorites. She had thought that he wouldn't be in the business anymore, but he was. She had enjoyed the stories her Uncle Max had told her of the man and the trouble they had gotten in way back when. That's how she knew he existed, the stories. Emma had taken an immediate liking to the ex-guard. That was another reason she liked him so much, she felt like she already knew the man. He was more of a business associate that handled the out of town dealings now. Marco had been very nice to her since she had come to stay.

"I have a family to support, and enjoy my work," Fred defended.

"You're dog doesn't count, and you enjoy standing in front of the door for hours," Emma commented with a smirk.

"Only when I get to talk to you,"

"How sweet. Fred likes me. What are you up to Marco," Emma questioned.

"I was hoping to talk to Sonny or Jason, but they're both asleep aren't they?"

"Yup, and now I'm gonna leave the two of you to get some food because my tummy's a rumblin," Emma stated with a laugh as she walked into Sonny's. She had somehow pushed her dreams, and past to the back of her head over the hours and was glad for it.

Fred and Marco watched her go into the penthouse. She was a great girl. All those who worked for Sonny or Jason seemed to love her, and it had only been a few days. She was a breath of fresh air, and kept them all on there feet. Especially the way she kept dodging Sam and Lila since she arrived, it had made them all laugh.

"She's gonna be the death of us all one of these days," Fred commented with a laugh once she was in the door.

"No kidding. She's a great girl though, More fun to hang around than Lila or Sam. Tell Sonny or Jase to call me when the get up. We may have a problem."

"Will do Boss," Fred replied as Marco got back on the elevator and left.

It was early. She sat on the porch to her vacation home in Italy watching the sunrise. It was close to the beach and temple that Jason had always mentioned.

It was on a cliff around 40 or 50 feet above the water. Windows ran along the east side of the house facing the water. It was bigger than the house in the states, due to the fact that Cassie and her family usually stayed with them.

There was a double level porch, one was at the house level, by the back door, and the second was about 10 feet above the water. There were lovely granite steps that went between the porches and the beach. It was a private beach, a small cove cut off from the world. The second porch met with the stones of the cliff that wandered out over the water.

If you were to look straight down from the ledge you would be met with the crystal clear water. The ledge was a good 7 or 8 feet above the water, but the water was deep. Emma and Cassie loved to dive off of it. It was there favorite pass time and it scared their Mothers to death. Emma was four and a half, and Cassie a bit over five years when they first jumped off.

FLASHBACK

"Girls," Courtney screamed, "Don't play too close to the edge."

"Ok," the two little girls screamed as they turned back to their toys.

Emma and Cassie sat on the lower porch with their toys, as Courtney and Patty made dinner. Max was close by going over some documents as he watched the girls, or tried too.

"I wanna swim," Cassie stated to Emma.

"Ok," Emma said looking up "Lets swim like your Dad."

"I dunno, He said not too," Cassie stated questioningly, "He also said not to tell Mommy that he did that."

"If he can do it so can we," Emma stated with determination in her voice as she stood up, Cassie followed suit.

They looked over at Max; He was deep in thought and looking at the papers in front of him.

"Ok lets go," Emma, said taking Cassie's hand.

The girls walked to the edge and looked over. It was pretty high, but the girls were determined, or at least Emma was.

"You ready," Emma asked.

"No," Cassie replied her voice full of fear.

"Ok, on three," Emma said ignoring Cassie's tone, "One…Two…Three…"

The girls jumped. They weren't the best swimmers, but they knew to keep their head above water and to plug your nose so they did.

SPLASH

Max looked up when he heard a splash, as did Courtney and Patty. None of them saw the girls. Patty and Courtney ran down the stairs as Max ran to the side of the ledge. Looking down he saw the girls and jumped in.

When they hit the water, they went under. They went further below the water than they had ever gone. They weren't under water long before they each felt an arm around their waists.

Max grabbed the girls as fast as he could and brought them too the surface. He swam to shore and kept both of the girls securely in his grasp. Once out of the water he set them down. Emma had the biggest smile on while Cassie had the biggest scowl on.

Both were met with a worried Mother. The worry didn't last long as they both were deemed fine.

"What did you think you were doing," Courtney questioned Emma.

"That's what I'd like to know," Patty asked addressing her daughter.

Cassie looked down as her mother questioned her. Her face got sad and she played with her fingers. Emma however stood looking at her Mom with a big smile still on her face. The girl started to laugh as her Mother continued to give her the angry face.

"That was fun," Emma said between giggles, as she ignored her Mothers questioning, "Can I do it again."

"I don't wanna," Cassie, said in a pitifully sad voice as she looked at Emma, "I got water up my nose."

"Serves you right," Patty said to Cassie, "Where did you girls get the idea to jump off the ledge. You know it's dangerous, and we told you not too."

"Dad..." Cassie started before Emma hit her arm, "Oww, That hurt Emma."

The damage had already been done as Courtney and Patty stood lifting their daughters, who were wrapped in towels, with them. They both looked at Max. Cassie looked down, and Emma squeezed the water out of her hair and onto he mothers shirt, she didn't notice. She was too mad.

"I can't believe you," Patty yelled causing Max to look down.

"How many times have we told you not to jump off of there when the girls are around," Courtney added, "What would have happened had you not been right there."

Max cringed. He probably wouldn't have a daughter, or a niece. He was upset with himself, but was brought out of his thoughts by a child giggling.

Cassie still stayed silent, but Emma was giggling away.

"Mommy," Emma prodded her Mother. Courtney Continued to glare at Max.

"Mommy," Emma continued, "Mommy."

"What sweetie," Courtney asked as she looked at her daughter, " Are you hurt."

"No."

"Are you hungry?"

"Yes," Cassie broke in.

"Me too, but that's not what I wanted too say," Emma said as she continued to play with her hair.

"Then what Emma," Courtney asked causing Emma to giggle more.

"You're all wet Mommy," Emma giggled more.

Courtney looked at her shirt. Sure enough it was soaking wet. Courtney frowned and looked up at her giggling daughters she spoke once again.

"Can I do it again?"

END FLASHBACK

Courtney had too laugh at the memory. Emma was something else, and she loved too jump off that overhang. She was so much like her parents, but she had picked too much up from Carly over the years, she was an impulsive girl.

Emma. It had been a few days since her distraught daughter had called her and she was a little worried. Deciding to check on her Courtney made her way inside to the phone.

-.-

Jason walked down the stairs. He was hoping Emma was somewhere down there because she wasn't in her room. Her room. He liked the sound of that, he just wasn't sure why.

He reached the bottom stairs as the theme song to the Simpson's began to play. Jason eyed the room. He wanted to know where the noise was coming from. He looked to the coffee table and saw a cell phone. He walked to the table and picked up the phone. It must have been Emma's.

"Hello," He said as he held the phone to his ear.

"Jason"…