Chapter 31

Riley stood in front of the elevator up to Sonny, and Jason's penthouses, for some reason it was stalled. So he had called the buildings mechanical technician a few minutes ago, who had finally got the elevator moving again.

As the doors opened for Riley to step on he froze. There huddled in the corner was a crying Emma. Unsure of what to do Riley stood in between the doors of the elevator staring. He didn't like to see the girl cry, he wasn't sure why, he just didn't like it.

Emma hadn't really noticed anything until she felt a pair of eyes on her. Looking up she saw Riley. He looked worried, and Emma didn't want that, she was sick of people worrying about her.

Drying her tears Emma slowly stood, as she dusted herself off. She looked at Riley, locking eyes for just as second, before looking down. Emma walked towards the doors, and pushed past Riley, only to be met with his hand grabbing her arm. She looked up at him again and just stared.

Riley hadn't been sure why he grabbed her arm, but he had, and when she looked up he saw her eyes. They were no longer the shocking green they had been when they had met; they were blue, ice blue, cold and unwelcoming, like Jason's got, yet so beautiful. Riley couldn't understand this, seconds ago when Emma locked eyes with him they were filled with so much pain, and emotion, yet as he looked at her know there was no emotion, there was nothing.

"Do you mind letting go of my arm," Emma spoke coolly. Her voice was much more controlled than she truly felt.

"What's wrong," Riley asked in a soft caring voice.

"I have no clue what you're talking about," Emma replied, as she ripped her arm from his hold, "If you could excuse me I have things that need to be done.

Emma walked out the front doors leaving a very confused Riley standing by the elevator. He walks into the elevator and just as the doors were about to close he walked back out. He wasn't sure why, but he wanted to make Emma feel better, he knew something was wrong.

Riley walked out the doors and towards Kelly's in search of Emma, not really caring that he had to meet Jason, and Sonny.

.-

Cassie, and Max sat in front of the coffee table as they ate their room service breakfast. The tickle war had ended, and breakfast ordered, and it had been done in silence for the most part.

Cassie kept glancing at her dad as she ate her strawberry and whip cream covered waffles. He was looking at her like he was worried. She just ate and tried to ignore him, she didn't really want to answer a bunch of questions.

Max had studied Cassie all morning, he knew something happened last night, and he wanted answers.

"What," Cassie asked loudly; finally unable to take her fathers watchful stare.

Max looked at his daughter. He wasn't sure if he should just ask or not. He decided he would chance it.

"What happened last night," Max said afraid of his daughter's reaction.

"Nothing," Cassie spoke as she looked down at her plate.

"Something happened," Max, continued.

"It was nothing," Cassie responded wishing her dad would leave it alone, "Can you just leave it alone."

"No, I won't," Max, said getting a little uncomfortable. Cassie only dodged question that mainly dealt with Emma, and what the girls went through as children, "I saw the tears in your eyes last night."

This caused Cassie to look up at her Father. He looked angry, but most of all he looked worried. She didn't want to deal with it. Not this instance anyway.

Walking to the door, Cassie slipped her sandals on and walked out the door slamming it shut.

Max was confused, he wanted to help his daughter, but she didn't want his help. He wished his wife were there, she could always get Cassie to open up. He guessed he would just have to wait for her to come to him.

.-

"You knew," Sonny screamed causing everyone to 'jump six feet in the air.'

"Yeah I knew," Michael said firmly, "And I'm glad I did. I know what's coming next too."

"Please enlighten us then Michael," Sam said her voice dripping with hate. She was sick of people standing up for Emma.

"I'm sure Mom can tell you Dad, or Aunt Courtney. They have both been through it,

They get to deal with it all over again. Would you like to guess what I'm talking about," Michael said in challenge to the man that was his father.

Sonny remained silent as he looked at Michael. He didn't get why Michael was so mad at him, or why he didn't tell them about Emma. He wanted to know why he didn't say a thing all those years.

"You lying scheming Bitch," Sonny screamed as he turned to face Carly, "Why would you make him lie to me, to his family. He is my son! How dare you make him keep this from me."

"She didn't…" Michael started only to be interrupted.

"So what if I did," Carly countered just as loudly, "It's not like you even cared. I mean hell you have no sister. You never listened to me, so what if Michael kept something from you, he kept his relationship with Kris secret, and you got over that. Never disowned him, you tried, but it didn't work. So tell me why should I care that you blame this on me, and I'm guessing Court too."

"You kept my niece from me. My family, Jason's family," Sonny screamed even louder as he turned to face Courtney, "You kept another child from Jason. Would you have told him if she hadn't made it? If she had died, while you sat in your comfy home with your lover Jax."

Courtney heard the words. What if Emma had died, would she have told Jason, she wasn't sure, most likely not, it would have been exactly like the first time she was pregnant. Jason would try and mourn for a child that he never knew; he would have had to cry for the moments he never got.

Tears came to Courtney's eyes before she could stop them. It wasn't Sonny that had made her cry that bothered her; it was what he said about Emma not making it. It had almost happened, she had almost lost her little girl, first at birth, then 9 years or so later when…

Carly looked at her friend. Sonny didn't know, he had no clue what that man had done, but Carly was still furious at the man.

"Sweetie are you ok," Carly said as she walked over to her friend and put an arm around her as she kept her eyes focused on her.

All Courtney could do was nod as the tears continued to fall freely down her checks.

This caused Sam to let out a laugh, making Carly's head shoot up and look at the twit.

"Were going Michael," Carly stated angrily as she pushed the down button for the elevator

"Where do you think you are going," Sonny's voice boomed, " We're not done here."

Sonny began to walk towards his ex-wife, only to have Michael step in his way.

"I'll see ya later, Ma. I'll be by for Dinner maybe," Michael spoke as he glared at his father, who was glaring right back.

Jason had remained silent through Sonny's rant. He had seen Carly stand up to him; it was like they were still married in the way they fought. Carly was the only one that could talk to him like that and get away with it. He had also seen Courtney begin to cry, and as mad and hurt as he was he wanted to go to her, he wanted to comfort her, and tell her it would all be ok, but he couldn't. They weren't that close anymore, were they?

"We need to talk," Jason said firmly coming out of his trance, as Carly and Courtney walked onto the elevator.

It was a miracle that anyone had heard him, but Courtney had, as she brought her head up to look at him. She just looked at him, standing in front of the door, he was trying to be strong, and to hide himself, but his eyes gave him away. They were Emma's, and she could read the girl, just as she could read Jase. He was hurting, but so was she, and she couldn't do this now

"Later," Courtney whispered, as the elevator doors began to shut, "I can't now."

That was the last thing any of them heard before the doors closed, and left the three men, and woman standing in the hall.