A/N: As always, thanks for reading, reviewing and following! It means a lot that you're still hanging in there with me. This chapter picks up the morning after the last one. There is a pivotal role played by a character that has been mentioned before but has never officially appeared in this story until now. Let me know what you think. Hope you enjoy this update!

/

Things were tense over breakfast at the Tasker-Montgomery's the morning following AJ's outburst. Both mothers were shocked by what he'd said along with being concerned and hurt. They had tried talking to AJ after the outburst the previous night, but the boy refused to talk. Consequently, it was a restless night for the women. They stayed up late talking, trying to figure out what was going on with their son to no avail. It seemed they just couldn't wrap their heads around what had happened, what the root of the problem was. They thought it might be related to the baby, but AJ had seemed excited about the prospect of becoming a big brother again just a short time ago. If it was in fact something to do with the baby, what had changed with him?

Miranda and Gabby knew something big was up. Their mothers looked tired and sad, and their brother looked downright miserable. His eyes looked a little red, and he still wasn't talking. His mood was probably what bothered Miranda the most. The two were extremely close and told each other almost everything. While he hadn't yet, she was hoping that maybe she might be able to get him to open up to her later. Miranda was determined to find out what was going on because whatever it was had her family hurting which was something she didn't like the least bit. She was a Kane woman after all and nobody messed with her family.

As for the couple, they agreed that Marissa would take the kids to school that morning and then work from home. The hope was she might be able to catch a much needed nap during the day. Whether or not AJ would go to school was one of the many things they discussed the night before. In the end, they decided to send him. He had to apologize to his teacher and turn in his homework once he was there which Marissa would make sure he did.

/

When the tense breakfast was finally finished and the kitchen cleaned up, Bianca headed off to work while the kids piled into Marissa's car.

Instead of dropping the kids off in the school's 'drop off' line like what would normally happen, Marissa parked the car in the school's lot. As they got out of the car, something fell out of a pocket of AJ's backpack, landing on the floor of the backseat of the vehicle and going unnoticed by everyone. The redhead made sure the car was locked and walked the kids inside. Gabby said goodbye and skipped off to her classroom.

/

Marissa paused outside AJ's room and spoke softly to her son so that no one could overhear. "We're going to talk more tonight about everything. Do you understand?"

AJ mumbled. "Yes, Ma."

"Good. Bianca and I love and want you very much no matter what you may think right now."

The boy turned and walked inside without responding.

Miranda hung back and watched as AJ apologized to his teacher and pulled out his homework before he sulked away to his seat.

/

"Could I ask you to do me a favor, Miranda?"

The girl glanced up to see her redheaded mother watching her. "Sure, Ma."

"If you know of anything going on with AJ, please tell your Mom or me."

Miranda nodded solemnly. "I will, Ma. I promise."

"Thank you. Okay, you better get to class. I'll see you tonight."

/

On her way home, Marissa felt a craving for hot chocolate and decided to make a quick stop at Krystal's. Normally, she would make it herself since her mother Lydia had passed on the family recipe for the best hot chocolate the redhead had ever had, but she just didn't feel like it today. It would be a quick stop before heading back home to deal with work and continue to try and figure out what was going on with AJ.

She parked her car and was stopped by Greenlee as she started to get out of it.

"Hey, Marissa. Good morning."

"Morning, Greenlee."

"Did the firm change the dress code?" Greenlee smirked as she noted the redhead's very casual dress.

"Unfortunately, no. There are some days lately that I wish it was changed. I just dropped the kids off at school and am going to be working from home today. It was a long night."

"How's AJ? Bianca said he hasn't been acting like himself lately."

"Honestly? I don't know. He somehow has gotten it into his head that Bianca and I don't love or want him."

"What?! That's ridiculous. You both are crazy about him, as in the sun rises and sets on him just like it does with the girls."

Marissa sighed. "I know that. You know that. AJ though is seriously doubting it."

"Do you think it's because of the baby?"

"Maybe, but he was fine with everything just a couple of weeks ago. He was really excited about becoming a big brother again. If that's it, then something happened to change his mind, and we have no idea what it could be. Now, he says he want to live with JR."

"No! That cannot happen! That would be a huge mistake."

"Preaching to the choir, Greenlee. Bianca and I aren't just going to step aside and let that happen. We're going to get to the bottom of this, no matter what."

"Good. You know you have my help if you need it."

"Thanks. I know, and we both really appreciate it."

"Anytime. So, what are you doing here?"

Marissa smiled. "Sparky's wanting hot chocolate. What about you?"

"Oh, I need caffeine, big time. Running into you reminds me that I have something for you that I was going to drop off later. Stay here, and I'll be right back with it."

Greenlee walked over to her car and pulled something from the backseat. She returned a few moments later. "Okay. The frame for your wedding picture finally came in. I'm sorry it took so long, but it is handcrafted and one of a kind."

"That's great, and don't worry. Do you want me to open it now or wait until Bianca's around?"

"You can wait for Bianca. We can just put it in your backseat if that's okay."

"That's perfect." Marissa opened the passenger door and helped Greenlee load the package onto the seat.

"What's that?" Greenlee spotted something laying on the floor of the car. She reached down and picked it up. "Did either you or Bianca drop your cellphone?"

"No, I don't think so. Why?"

"I found this on the floor." Greenlee handed the cellphone over to a confused Marissa.

"This isn't mine, and it's not Bianca's either."

"Who was in your car recently?"

"No one other than the kids." Marissa turned the cellphone on and went to the settings to find the device's number. "I don't recognize the number. There aren't any texts. Let me try the log. Well, there's been several calls from the same number, a lot of them and for varying lengths, but I don't recognize it either. What the hell?"

"Why don't you try the number?"

Marissa's finger hovered over the mysterious number, but she backed off from pressing it. "I don't think I should. Something's telling me not to. I'm going to call Mitch when I get home and have him check into this."

"That's probably a better idea. Let me know what you find out."

"I will. Let's get your caffeine fix and my hot chocolate. The sooner we do that, the sooner I can get to the bottom of this."

/

"Thanks for stopping by, Mitch." Marissa greeted the private investigator who followed her inside, and the two settled in the family room.

"No problem. I'm glad to help. What's up?"

"I have a bit of a mystery I need your help with, and it's personal. This cellphone was found in my car. The thing is, it's not mine or Bianca's, and the kids don't have them. We think they're too young to have one. I checked it out by going to the settings and looking up the number, and I don't recognize it or the one that's been calling it."

The investigator took the device and inspected it. "Did you call the number?"

"I almost did but thought better of it. I didn't want to give anyone a heads up if this turns out to be something. Think you could check it out for me?"

"Sure. There's something else though isn't there?"

Marissa sighed. "Yes, there is. AJ's been acting differently lately, not like himself at all. I can't help but wonder if the two are connected. I know it really isn't in your job description to check something out on a personal level, but I hoping you will. I just can't shake this feeling that this really is something to worry about, and well, I trust you to see if I'm right or not."

Mitch considered what the lawyer was telling him. He respected Marissa and knew she wasn't one to suspect conspiracies or sound alarms without just cause. She was logical and thought things through carefully. If she was seeing smoke, there probably was fire somewhere. Because this could involve a child, especially her child, Mitch was going to focus all of his resources into investigating this mystery. "Alright. I'll get on it right away and let you know something later today."

"Thanks, I really appreciate it. I'm really hoping it's nothing, but …"

"I'll find out, one way or the other. Trust me on this. I'll get you some answers."

"I do and thanks again."

/

"You can't be surprised, AJ. Why would your moms want you? Think about it. Miranda and Gabby belong to their mom, their real mom. The baby they're having belongs to them because she's actually having it. You? You don't fit in there. I mean, neither is your real mom, and you don't even look like any of them. Plus, there's your dad. He's caused a lot of problems. I'm sure when they look at you that you just remind them of him. Why would they want you around or love you then?" The boy paused and looked at another one, nudging him in the side. "Look at him! He's gonna cry! Chandler's going to cry! What a baby!"

"Shut up, Donnie!"

The boy's head whipped around and looked at the girl who had the nerve to yell at him, scoffing when he saw who it was. "Are you gonna make me?"

"If I have to, I will."

Donnie rolled his eyes. "What's it to you?"

"You're being a big, fat jerk for no reason. I thought AJ was supposed to be your friend."

"He is. He knows I'm just kidding. It's not my fault if he can't take a joke."

"Really? It doesn't look or sound very funny to me. It looks like you're doing your best to hurt someone who's supposed to be your friend. Telling someone their mom doesn't want or love them isn't much of a joke if you ask me. It's mean. How would you like it if someone told you the same thing? How would you feel if I told you that your mom and dad didn't love you and would be a lot happier and not fight as much if you weren't around? Let's face it. I've heard you say they fight a lot. I don't know, maybe it's because of you."

Donnie's eyes began to tear up. "That's not fair!"

"Yeah, I know. So, how do you think your friend feels hearing you tell him that?"

"Sorry, AJ. I didn't mean it." The boy mumbled, suddenly uncomfortable with what he'd been saying and doing just a few minutes ago.

"Go away, Donnie, and if I see you bothering AJ again, I'm gonna tell a teacher."

Hearing the threat, Donnie ran away followed closely behind by the other boy he'd been talking to.

/

AJ glanced up from where he was sitting on the ground of the playground and wiped his tears away. "Thanks, Amber. You didn't have to do that."

The darker-skinned girl shrugged and sat down next to the blonde boy. "Yeah, I did. You're my friend. I know we haven't always been friends, but we are now. You and Miranda were nice to me when I really didn't give you a reason to be. I was really mean to her."

"Yeah, you were, but …"

"I didn't know any better. It's my mom. She's just so mean sometimes especially to people who she thinks are different than her, and I don't understand it. If you ask me, I think you guys are lucky. Your moms are really nice to everyone, not mean to them like my mom." Amber paused and looked at her friend. "You're thinking about what Donnie said, aren't you?"

AJ nodded. "I think he's right."

"What? There's no way he's right. He was just being a big jerk. Your moms love you a lot."

"How can you tell?"

"I see how they look at you. They're really proud of you. They look at you like I wish my mom looked at me again."

"What'd you mean?"

Amber sighed. "She doesn't seem proud of me anymore, not since I don't agree with her on everything."

"You could agree with her, and she'd be proud of you again." AJ suggested.

The girl shook her head adamantly. "I can't, not on what she really wants me to. It's not right. I didn't really like myself that much when I did and was mean to people who didn't do anything to me, like you and Miranda. I don't wanna feel like that again or be like that anymore."

"I'm sorry she's like that. What about your dad?"

Amber shrugged. "He doesn't really say or do much to tell her it's not right. I think he just doesn't want to fight with her. That's where you're really lucky. Your moms aren't like that at all."

"I guess." AJ mumbled.

"Could I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"How long has Donnie been saying stuff like that? Do you know why?"

"He's been doing it for almost a couple of weeks I guess. I don't know why. Maybe because I was talking a lot about being a big brother again."

"That's not a reason. Did you tell anybody?"

AJ shook his head. "No. What could they do? He's right."

"No, he's not. They love you. It doesn't matter to them if you're adopted, and it doesn't matter to your sisters. You're their brother no matter what."

"I guess you're right."

"I am right, trust me." Amber studied her friend and could tell he wasn't convinced all the way. There was one thing she could do that might help him. "Recess is almost over so I need to go back inside. Are you okay?"

AJ nodded. "Yeah, I'm better now. Thanks, Amber." He wasn't really lying. AJ did feel a little better, maybe his Moms really did want him around.

"You're welcome, and remember, Donnie doesn't know what he's talking about and is a big, fat jerk."

/

Before she went back inside, Amber sought out the one person who she thought might be able to help AJ.

"Hey, Miranda. You got a minute?"

"Sure, Amber. What's up?"

"Something's up with AJ."

Miranda's smile immediately fell. "What do you mean?"

"I overheard Donnie telling him your moms don't love him. He's been doing that for a couple of weeks from what AJ said."

The brunette was slightly hurt by hearing this news from someone other than her brother but put that aside for the moment. "That's stupid. Our Moms love all of us the same."

"Well, Donnie was saying AJ doesn't fit in with your family, and they'll love the new baby more than him and won't want him anymore because he's adopted and because of his dad."

Miranda began to scour the playground with her eyes for Donnie. She was going to give the boy who bullied her brother a piece of her mind in true Kane woman style.

"I told Donnie to shut up and leave AJ alone, and if he bothered him again, I would tell a teacher. That shut him up."

"Thanks for helping AJ. Is he alright?"

"He said he was, but I don't know. He really seemed to believe Donnie."

"That jerk. I'm gonna make sure he doesn't do anything like that again."

"Hey, I know what you want to do, but don't. You'll just get yourself in big trouble, and I know what that's like." Amber warned her friend.

After considering her friend's warning, Miranda relented. "I guess you're right. Thanks for telling me and helping my brother."

"You're welcome. It's what friends do, right?"

Miranda smiled. "Right. It is."

Amber returned the smile and headed back inside, relieved she had done the right thing.

Watching her friend walk away, Miranda started to piece together the puzzle that had been her brother lately. She knew what she had to do. She had to tell their Moms what Amber had just told her. Miranda was positive they would want to know and would be able to help AJ.

/

Marissa's eyes scanned the report Mitch had created for her. The private investigator had started his investigation as soon as he had gotten to his car. He had lucked out and was able to trace the cellphone back to where it was originally purchased. After that, Mitch found out who actually bought the device and verified their identity by reviewing security footage from the store in question when the manager agreed to send him the digital feed after Mitch told him a child was involved. The investigator then went one step further by finding out how the cellphone got into the hands of someone in the Tasker-Montgomery household. After reviewing the security footage, it was simply a matter of putting one and one together to figure out who the cellphone was sent to.

As Mitch watched Marissa read, it was easy to see her anger increase with each word she read, and he couldn't blame her at all. If their positions were reversed, he'd feel the same exact way.

"You're sure of this?"

"Unfortunately, yes I am. I have the security footage if you want to see it."

"I don't want to, but I definitely need to. So, yes please."

Mitch pulled out his iPad, logged on and clicked on the link the store manager had sent him.

If Marissa was angry before, she was downright furious now. "Could you please send me that link?"

"No problem. Do you want the cellphone back?"

"Yes, I have a strong feeling a call will be coming through sometime soon. Thank you, Mitch, for everything and getting all of this evidence together so quickly. I can't tell you how much this means to me."

"You're more than welcome. I'm just glad I was able to find out where that cellphone was bought. Everything fell into place after that. Oh, I cloned the phone so I'll know when a call is coming in and can track the location of that incoming call. It will at least give you a heads up."

"That's perfect and will help a lot. Bianca and I don't want or need to be blindsided by something like this again."

"I agree. Okay, I need to head out. Good luck with this, and if you need anything else, don't hesitate to call."

"I won't, and I'll let you know how things go."

/

Miranda and AJ were quiet as they waited to be picked up after school while Gabby chattered away. AJ wore a sullen expression and was dreading the conversation he knew he would have to have with his mothers that evening. Miranda was half listening to her sister while she studied AJ. Since recess, she was able to put together what she thought was going on. Her brother felt they didn't want him around anymore and told them that. While that would have made them sad, it wasn't the main reason they looked so upset that morning. If she were to guess, Miranda would say that AJ had told them he wanted to live with his dad. That, in her mind, was all kinds of wrong, and she didn't believe it for a minute. AJ was just saying that so he wasn't hurting as much as he knew they were hearing that. Miranda knew what she needed to do. She just needed to figure out when she could do it. Hearing a horn sound, all three glanced up and saw their redheaded mother. They gathered their backpacks and got in the car to make the trek home.

/

With the kids in their rooms doing their homework, Marissa was in the office at home reading Mitch's report for what was easily probably the 100th time since she got it. She had left the door halfway open so she could hear the kids in case something happened as well as hear Bianca when she got home and headed back to their bedroom. Marissa had called her wife with updates throughout the day but held off on revealing the identity of who purchased the cellphone. That wasn't something she felt she should tell Bianca over the phone. It was something that had to be shared in person, and Marissa was trying to figure out the best way to do it. Even with the door partially open, the redhead had a fair degree of privacy that she needed. The kids didn't need to see this report. Yes, she and Bianca would need to talk to AJ about what was going on, but they would do it without revealing the report. Marissa was also trying to think of the best way to talk with AJ about everything. She was glad it was Friday, and they didn't have to deal with work or school tomorrow. The weekend gave them the extra time they would need to deal with this.

As Marissa pondered everything weighing on her mind, her thoughts were interrupted by a hesitant knock on the door. The redhead glanced up and saw her oldest daughter standing in the doorway and smiled.

"Hey, Miranda."

"Can I talk to you?" Miranda asked anxiously.

Marissa removed her glasses and set them on the desk. "Of course. Come on in."

"Can I close the door? It's kinda private."

"Sure. Whatever you need, sweetie." Marissa closed the file containing the report and the other evidence gathered by Mitch and slid it into her briefcase while her daughter was closing the door. The redhead waited patiently as Miranda settled in the chair opposite her.