Author's Note: Finally a new chapter! Yay! So this time of year is a really busy time for me at work and it's been exceptionally so this year. Updates tend to less consistent as a result. But new chapters will happen. Have a great weekend!

Carly looked at Kellie speechless at first.

"You do trust me to have Jason's back right?" Kellie continued, "That conversation we had after Jason got shot by Garrett's snipers, that applies here too."

"When you say you'll have his back in this situation, what exactly does that mean?" Carly asked, "You haven't made a secret of wanting to be out of the business. I don't' see how you having Jason's back in this situation means you can keep your hands clean."

"What I want and what happens with the business, two entirely different things. I've never actually been left totally out of it," Kellie said, "Cyrus isn't the first business enemy to come after me or my family. I'm not just going to sit around and do nothing."

"Did you really follow Jason to the docks as his back up?" Carly asked.

"Carly, the less you know the better," Jason replied.

"I'll take that as a yes then," Carly said, "I told you that you needed to take back up. You can't exactly do things the way you would have in the past. Take the types of risks you did before you were in charge. Thank god, Kellie was willing to go. Can you imagine what might have happened if Cyrus had taken someone other than Brando with him?"

"That's exactly what I said," Kellie replied.

Kellie and Carly both looked at Jason.

"Kellie and I have an understanding about this situation and back up," Jason said, "I will not take that kind of risk again."

"Good," Carly said, "Then as long as Kellie's watching your back. I think we're good here."

"Carly," Jason said, "I need you to promise me you won't interfere in the business again. Something comes up, you bring it to me. No more giving any kind of orders like that or walking into the middle of meetings you don't need to be at."

"But what if it's something like Cyrus saying he has something on us and I need to….," Carly started to ask.

"No," Kellie interrupted.

Carly looked at Jason.

"Kellie's right," Jason said, "Don't put yourself in the middle of it. We'll let Diane handle it if Cyrus does something that brings us to the attention of the cops."

Carly let out a sigh of exasperation, "Fine… but I reserve the right to tell you when I a disagree with a decision."

"You're welcome to your opinion," Jason said, "But at the end of the day, the business decisions aren't yours whether you agree with them or not."

"Look…Just be careful," Carly said, "Both of you. We've lost enough already."

"We've got this, Carly," Kellie replied, "We know what we're doing."

"I'm trusting that…a lot," Carly said, "I should get going."

"Actually, do you have a moment?" Jason asked, "Since you're here, there's some stuff we need to go over for Sonny's funeral."

"Sure, I guess I have a few minutes," Carly replied.

"Is there anything you need me for?" Kellie asked, "I have an appointment with a WSB contact at the MetroCourt. Are you still good to take Kelsey while I'm out?"

"Go," Jason said, "I can catch you up later. I take it that you're meeting with Robert or Anna?"

Kellie shook her head.

"But that would leave Valentine," Jason said.

"Well, he's the one that might have the information I'm looking for," Kellie said, heading back out of the room, "I'll tell you about it later."

"She can't even stand to be in the same room as Valentin," Carly said, "She thinks Valentin's just going to give her information."

"I've learned to never underestimate her ability to work with people she doesn't like," Jason said, "especially if there enemy is her or our enemy."

"True," Carly replied, "So about the funeral… what do you need?"

"We need to make decisions about flowers, set up the service," Jason said, "Do you want to make the appointments or do you want me to?"

"Could you do it and just let me know when?" Carly asked.

"Sure," Jason said.

"Thanks for handling all of the arrangements," Carly said, "I hate that we have to do this. I get why we have to have Sonny's funeral. I just hate it, Jason."

"I know," Jason said.

"At least you'll be there next to me," Carly said, "I can't imagine doing this without you."

Jason looked uncomfortable, "Carly, I'm not exactly going to be able to be the shoulder I think you expect to cry on at funeral."

"What exactly does that mean?" Carly said, "Of course, I'm going to be right next to you at the funeral."

"Carly, you realize that as much as the funeral is about saying goodbye to Sonny," Jason said, "It's also about showing the other families that there is a clear transition of power. That means Kellie and I have to make sure we present a united front. I can't guarantee that I can be the person there for you during the entire service."

"Because Kellie's Sonny's daughter," Carly replied quietly, "aside from being your wife. And the families would look at her as someone who potentially run the business."

"Yeah," Jason said, "I'm sure Bobby or Michael or even Max or Brick can be on standby."

"I know," Carly said, "It's just not the same."

"You'll get through it," Jason said, "We all will."

MetroCourt

Kellie saw Valentin seated and was headed over to meet him when Ava stopped her.

"Kellie, do you perhaps have a moment?" Ava asked.

"What is it, Ava?" Kellie replied.

"I was wondering given the current tensions in Port Charles," Ava said, "There were all sorts of rumors flying around that Jason kidnapped Cyrus's mother. Although given that she was found in Cyrus's room here, that's obviously not the case. I'm wondering how concerned I should be for Avery's safety."

"Did the guards from Sonny's go with you when Avery came to live with you?" Kellie asked.

"Yes," Ava said, "And Nikolas hired extra guard."

"Did he or you run background checks on the new guys?" Kellie asked.

Ava nodded.

"For right now," Kellie said, "I think you're fine. If something changes, I'll let you know. Or if you feel like you want more protection or even just a security analysis of what you're doing, let me. I can help out with that."

"I just want to know that Avery's safe," Ava said, "After the lengths, Morgan said you went to protect him and Michael when they were growing up…I guess feel knowing you're looking out for her too, regardless of what you think of me as a mother."

"Ava, while I never want to hear Morgan's name come out of your mouth again," Kellie replied, "And the history between you and my family is absolutely sordid and awful, I don't have any reason to doubt your ability as Avery's mother. As far as I'm concerned the only thing that matters is between the two of us is what's best for Avery and that she's safe."

Ava let out a sigh of relief, "Thank you."

"I'm meeting someone," Kellie said.

"Just one more thing," Ava said, "I still hear things from time to time even though like you I'm out of the family business. I'm hearing that Jason's transition to boss isn't as solid as we would have expected. Something about being unsure of who's in charge."

"That's not good," Kellie said, "I'll let Jason know. If you hear anything more will you let me know."

Ava nodded, "I won't take up any more of your time."

Ava left and Kellie headed over to Valentin.

"You're keeping interesting company these days," Valentin said, "Your family and the Jeromes aren't exactly besties."

"But we do have my little sister in common," Kellie said, "You and I aren't exactly besties either. You did interfere in Garrett Esoterra's capture resulting in him being free to kidnap my daughter again and then myself."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Valentin said, "I merely got a report he'd been sighted. Thought I'd do you the courtesy of letting you know he'd been spotted."

"We both know I don't believe that," Kellie replied.

"Yes, well, it's about the same as you believing you're out of the Corinthos Organization," Valentin replied.

"I don't have anything to do with its operations," Kellie said.

"Maybe not," Valentin said, "But we both know that if you wanted to, you could take it over."

"But I'm not," Kellie said.

"How sure are you about that?" Valentin said, "If I'm not mistaken by the activity around here earlier today, I'd say you were involved."

"What are you talking about?" Kellie asked.

"Cyrus's missing mother ended up in his hotel room," Valentin said, "While most may believe he took her to frame Jason, the man's too smart for that. Now while you and Jason aren't in the business kidnapping old ladies. From what I've heard about you at the WSB, I could see you rectifying something like an ambitious underling taking Florence by leaving in her in Cyrus's room."

"Interesting, but delusional theory," Kellie replied, "Now on to more realistic things like Cassandra Pierce."

"What interest could you possibly have in Cassandra Pierce?" Valentin asked.

"Curiosity about the history of drug trafficking in Port Charles," Kellie said, "You certainly had your altercations with her."

"What brought that on?" Valentin asked, "Cassandra's been a non-factor for awhile."

"She had partners, didn't she?" Kellie said, "With the amount of new faces trying to come into the area with their products the last few years, I'm starting to wonder if there might be connections. Seems too coincidental. Thought maybe you could tell me more."

"I have no clue who they are," Valentin said.

"What about your contacts?" Kellie asked.

"That's an awfully big favor to ask of someone you can barely tolerate," Valentin said.

"Well, you know, the enemy of my enemy," Kellie said, "And for all your questionable decisions, I don't think you'd like to see more drugs being run through Port Charles."

"That is something we can agree on," Valentin replied, "You know this means you'll owe me a favor some day."

"I'd say it makes you even for the debacle with Garrett," Kellie said, "You do owe me for that."

Valentin looked as if he wanted to challenge Kellie before saying,, "I can't really argue with you on that point. We'll just consider it a gift between family. Given the recent bombshell that Helena was actually my mother, that would make me your children's great uncle then."

"Or we could just continue on as we had before we knew you and my late husband's mother were both Helena's children," Kellie replied.

"Mrs. Morgan," Cyrus's voice interrupted, "I suppose I have your husband to thank for my mother's appearance in my hotel room."