HAPPY NEW YEARS everyone! I realize I'm like 3 days late, but hey I could care less. LOL. So I would again like to thank you all for the reviewing. And PianoPlayer55 if you wanted to e-mail me with any specific questions, or post them in the review I will be happy to answer them, as long as I don't give my story away. And that goes for any one else with questions, I am more than willing to answer them. Truth is I sometimes even get confused at what I have written. LMAO. So I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

- - - - - - - - - -

Chapter 24

Cassie sat in her hotel room waiting for her Dad to get back. She had been so happy to see Emma hours before that her current mood didn't make sense. She sat in a big armchair just staring into the middle of nowhere. Those idiots had pissed her off. What right did either of them have to say those things?

FLASHBACK

Emma had just run out the door, and Cassie had called her Dad. Once Emma was out of sight Lila had come running out as if the conversation had included her, but Cassie wasn't paying attention to her. She was looking at the man who had just walked into the room.

All she did was stare. She wasn't even listening to the conversation. She couldn't listen. She was too lost in her own thoughts, her memories. She wasn't sure what he was doing there, but she knew that he used to do some work for Jason and Sonny. She just hoped that he didn't say anything.

Stan looked at her for a brief moment before shifting his gaze. That moment was all that was needed, because in the next second Sonny's voice was heard booming throughout the room.

It didn't shake her gaze, she just kept staring as Morgan took her arm and led her upstairs. She just kept turning her head to look at him until she was too far up the stairs to look anymore.

She knew where she was. She just didn't care as she sat there trying to figure out what was going on.

Michael looked at her. She looked as lost, and confused as when Emma…

He was at a loss. Slowly he approached Cassie and knelt in front of her. He knew what was going through her head. She had always blamed herself, no matter how many times they told her it wasn't her fault.

"Hey," Michael said in a soft voice, " It wasn't your fault."

All Cassie could do was remain silent as the tears built up in her eyes.

"You know that right," Michael continued as he took her into a hug.

"What if he tells…What if they get mad…What…" Cassie asked between sobs.

"Shhhh, It wasn't your fault and no one is mad at you," Michael reassured her.

He loved Cassie like a sister; he loved them both, so much. He was never sure of the exact details, but he knew enough to know that Cassie blamed herself. It broke his heart to see her so broken.

Morgan watched as this girl broke down in front of them. He had barley been able to take his eyes of her when he was told to go into the kitchen. Seeing her cry made it even more difficult. He wanted to know why she was so hurt, what caused it, and how he could help. He wanted to make her feel better, and he wasn't sure why.

Riley stood in awe. How did Michael know so much about Emma and her friends? Why was this girl crying? What wasn't her fault? Riley wanted answers to all his questions, but he would settle for questioning his best friend about the look he had on his face, in his eyes.

This was Cassie. The girl Sam was sure knew all of Emma's secrets, that's what she had heard anyway. Sam was starting to freak out. Sam wasn't sure what she was going to do, but she knew she had to do something, and fast.

Lila wasn't sure what to say. There was another girl from California, a friend of Emma no less, hanging out in her house, with Michael trying to comfort her. What was it with Michael and girls from California?

"I'm sure it was her fault," Lila said breaking the silence that had consumed the room, "I mean she is friends with that trouble maker Emma."

That had Cassie. She could have cried for hours in silence, she had always seen Michael as a brother, and that was what she needed. However Lila had opened her mouth.

Cassie was usually the quite one that never really liked confrontations. Lila however was pushing her buttons, and she really needed a release of her feelings so she would take it.

She tipped her head up and slipped out of Michaels embrace. She eyed Lila, and saw nothing special, a girl with a mouth that she used too much. Never breaking eye contact Cassie walked up to Lila and stood so close that Lila could fell Cassie's hot breath on her cheek.

Slowly Cassie leaned over so only Lila could hear the words she said, "You think you're so great, but you're not. You nothing more than a brat who wishes she weren't about to loose her entire world, because you will."

Lila took a step or two back and looked at Cassie. Both girls were fuming as Lila went to slap Cassie, but Cassie was faster. Her hand was caught mid swing. Lila flinched in pain as Cassie tightened the grasp she had on Lila's wrist.

Sam went up to the girls and forcefully removed Cassie's hand from her daughter. She hugged her and shot daggers through her eyes at the girl who had hurt Lila.

Lila stayed in her mother's arms as she let the fake tears fall from her eyes. Cassie had hurt her wrist, and she was milking it for all it was worth.

"I think you should leave," Sam said in anger.

"You don't have too, Cassie," Michael said looking angrily at Sam.

"Yes, She does Michael. She needs to leave my home, and not come back. The same goes for Emma. She's not wanted here and neither are you. This is my Family, and that includes Jason. Tell Emma to get her claws out of him and leave," Sam said as Lila tried to hide her smile.

Cassie just looked at the woman before walking out, not even justifying Sam's comment with an answer. Cassie knew Sam was wrong. She slammed the door as she exited the room; running right down the stair's not caring if they yelled at her. She ran right to the door.

"You people are ass's," Cassie said as she opened the door, "If any of you hurt Emma the last thing you'll be worried about is your business."

She stood waiting for the elevator when Stan came up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She didn't look at him, just got in the elevator and waited for the doors to close.

END FLASHBACK

Max walked into the hotel room to find Cassie asleep in a chair. He walked up to his daughter, his Angel. She looked so peaceful, but her eyes gave it away. They were red and puffy, and her cheeks glistened from the wetness of the tears.

His heart broke for her as he scooped her up and lay in her in one of the beds. She had sounded fine when she called about Emma, what had changed in those few hours that he had been searching for a girl he had thought of as his daughter.

He hated to see her hurt, to see her cry, or even to know that she had been. He had been able to deal with so much when working with Sonny, and Jason, but some how he couldn't handle seeing his daughter cry.

He just sat watching her sleep as he began to relax. Before Max knew what happened he was asleep, dreaming about all the good times.

-.-

She couldn't move. She was caught in a trance as she looked at him. She hadn't expected to see him yet, but there he was. Leaning against the rock eyes shut. He looked so peaceful, so calm, like he did when he slept, next to her.

She could have smacked herself for that thought. She wasn't supposed to think about him, in bed, with her, doing things that Emma would cringe at hearing.

-

He knew she was there, but for some reason he couldn't bring himself to open his eyes. What if it weren't actually her? He didn't think he could handle not seeing her there. Sure he had talked to her for the second time in years that morning, but he wanted more. How much more he wasn't sure, but he wanted more.

-

Finally willing her legs to move she turned around, hoping she didn't disturb him. She went to walk away, but the snapping of a twig made it impossible to do such.

-

Jason found it funny. She was trying to get away unheard, not really her strong suit, considering he already knew she was there.

He opened his eyes fully knowing that it was her. Only she would leave him sitting with his thoughts. Carly wouldn't and Sam would never give him a moments' peace, if she could help it.

-

She froze, and silently cursed herself. She didn't want to bother him.

She turned her head back to look at him, hoping he hadn't heard her. She knew it was a lost cause to wish such a thing, he heard everything.

She looked at him and was drawn in. His baby blues bore right into her, like Emma's did. She was caught as she turned around to completely face him. She couldn't walk away, not yet any way.

He looked at her, as a lump rose in his throat. She was as beautiful as the day he met her, and could still take his breath away. He was silently hopping that she would come and take a seat next to him as he looked up at her.

Courtney stood there looking at him. She was unsure of what to do, but the look in his eyes made it ok. Slowly she walked over to where he sat, and looked down at him, he just looked right back until she sat down.

They remained in silence, Jason leaning against a rock, as Courtney sat next to him, legs twisted up like a pretzel. One might think that after all these years of being apart it might be uncomfortable, but it wasn't.

The questions that surrounded both were too great to make the peace both felt last. As much as both wanted to remain in that moment forever, they couldn't.

"Why are you here,"

-.-