Kellie found the kids had nearly finished dinner when she returned to the dining room.

"Can we go home yet?" Alyssa asked,

"Did Jason take care of the bad guys yet?" Jamie asked.

"He's working on it," Kellie replied.

"That's what you always say," Jared said.

"I know you miss everyone at home," Kellie said, "It's just temporary."

Jamie rolled his eyes.

"I want to go home," Alyssa said, "I miss sleep overs with Avery and Scout."

"I promise as soon things are safer in Port Charles," Kellie said, "We'll go home."

When will that be?" Jamie asked.

"I don't know yet," Kellie said, "It's not an easy question to answer."

"Why not?" Alyssa said, "Uncle Jason just has to send the bad people to swim with the fishes right?"

"No," Kellie said, sharply.

"Not that again," Jared muttered.

"We let the cops handle the bad people," Kellie said, "But with Grandpa Sonny having been gone so long and not knowing who he is and people that he worked with leaving, sometimes it takes time to make positive changes, to make things safe again."

"It's one of those difficult things that's a part of being an adult," Kellie said scrambling for some kind of answer, "Sometimes it's just hard to understand."

"When I'm an adult," Alyssa said, "Then maybe I'll understand."

"I don't know," Jared said, "I'm starting to wonder how much adults really know what they're doing or do they make it up as they go."

"Can we be excused now?" Jamie asked.

"Sure," Kellie said, "After you clear the table."

After the kids were in bed, Kellie made a call from the outside patio.

"Is something wrong?" Ava immediately answered, "I'm assuming something must be wrong if you're calling me. I heard about Novak and Buscema being offed. Do I need to be concerned about Avery's welfare?"

"Ava, I'm not calling because something's wrong or Avery's in danger," Kellie said, "I was looking for information. I know you hear things from old friends so to speak. I'm wondering what you may have heard recently in light of Novak and Buscema's recent demise."

"I do hear things," Ava said, "but wouldn't your husband be a better source of information for that?"

"My husband who also might try to shield me from the answers I'm looking for," Kellie replied, "Plus I'm looking for a different perspective."

"Because he thinks he's protecting you," Ava said, "Why do you want to know?"

"My kids just want to come home, Ava," Kellie said, "I want to come home. But if Novak and Buscema are dead and there's a power grab."

"Then that just became a lot harder," Ava said, "What I'm hearing is people smell blood and the Corinthos Organization is in their sights. Cyrus managed to do a lot of damage after Sonny's disappearance. While Jason has done an admirable job taking charge, Sonny's reappearance and if his memories coming back are true are bringing the sharks out. But I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, am I?"

"No," Kellie said quietly.

"What are you planning to do now?" Ava asked.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out," Kellie replied.

Sometime after Kellie and Ava ended the call, Charles joined Kellie on the patio.

"Penny for your thoughts," Charles said.

"I'm not sure even I want to pay for my thoughts," Kellie said.

"I'm sure the kids know you're doing the best you can," Charles said.

Kellie didn't reply right away. Charles didn't push Kellie to respond.

"Did I make a mistake?" Kellie finally said, "Moving the kids to Port Charles? I was so focused on protecting them from Garrett and moving to Port Charles seemed to be the best way to do that. It never occurred to me to consider the danger to them of staying after the threat was gone. Not that I didn't that would be an issue. I just…I guess had no idea Sonny's death or disappearance would cause so much chaos and…."

"Kellie, there is no way you could have possibly foreseen how things would turn out," Charles said, "I doubt anyone could have predicted Sonny disappearing and the two other heads of family dying in such a short times span like that."

"But now I don't know when to bring the kids home," Kellie said, "You heard them earlier tonight. They're tired of hiding out here."

"I think you're putting too much pressure on yourself right now," Charles said, "Whatever's going on in Port Charles, I don't think you're going to solve it tonight. The kids are safe right now. You're on the mend. Those are the most important things right. The rest of it can wait and hopefully work it self out."

"Preferably with minimal bloodshed," Kellie said, "I don't know if that's possible. It just feels different this time."

"What feels different this time?" Charles asked.

Kellie shook her head, "Sorry, I shouldn't think out loud like that. Not about that…never mind forget I said anything."

"Is it something that maybe Johnny or Francis might be able to talk through with you?" Charles asked, "Or Lorenzo even?"

"I don't want Uncle Lo pulled back into anything," Kellie said, "Obviously, Johnny and Francis would be helpful for certain discussions, but I'm still their boss."

"They never seem to have a problem telling you when they disagree with you," Charles said.

"That's not all of it," Kellie said, "Johnny and Francis are loyal to me. But they also have history with Sonny and Jason. Whatever I'm trying to sort out right now, I'd need to be a lot more sorted out before I even talked to them."

"I'm going to hazard a guess that you're concerned about what Novak and Buscema's death mean for stability of the business and safety for you and the kids in Port Charles," Charles said, "Before you tell me you don't want to drag me into it, I've had some conversations with my brother, Maximus, things I was curious about, what some of the recent events might mean. Obviously, not the most recent events."

"Charles," Kellie started to protest.

"I don't plan on being unprepared when it becomes to protecting the kids or you," Charles said, "Now, I highly doubt you'd discuss committing any crimes. I think we could classify anything that might be questionable under attorney-client privilege."

Kellie contemplated Charles's point.

"And dealt in hypotheticals?" Charles pressed.

"I really don't think you want to hear the hypotheticals going through my brain," Kellie replied.

"Maybe if you say them out loud, maybe those worst case scenarios you're turning over and over won't seem quiet so bad," Charles said.

"Hypothetically, what if neither Jason or Sonny's leadership of the business isn't accepted at this point?" Kellie said, quietly,

"Meaning someone new takes over," Charles said, "What do you think the fallout might look like?"

"Both Jason and Sonny would be dead," Kellie said, "Along with Brick, Spinelli, Milo, Max, anyone loyal to them, that probably would include Johnny and Francis. They'd probably come after me too."

Neither Kellie or Charles spoke as the implications of her words weighed heavily on both of them.

"Do you think any assurances that you'd stay out of the business if a takeover happen would be enough to keep you safe?" Charles asked.

"No," Kellie said, "I'd be considered too much of a wildcard to risk it. Not when I did run the organization once before. When Sonny was thought to be dead, some thought I might take over instead of Jason or with Jason. Cyrus Renault certainly used those ideas to his advantage. Despite the reaction of some families when I returned to Port Charles, Selina Wu indicated my involvement in the organization might be welcome."

"No matter what you do, you'd be seen as a credible threat to whoever is looking to takeover the territory," Charles said, "What about the kids?"

"I honestly don't know," Kellie said, "They're all young enough, any enemies may leave them alone. But if they're along the lines of Anthony Zacharra, and nothing's off limits…. At the very least, Kelsey will lose both her parents. The boys and Alyssa already lost their dad and…."

Kellie choked up, unable to finish the sentence.

"They'll be mourning not only the loss of their mother, but their stepfather as well," Charles said.

"Yeah," Kellie said.

"Hypothetically," Charles said, "What might you need to do to ensure that doesn't happen? If Sonny and Jason aren't able to hold on or retain the power and respect like they have."

"Hypothetically speaking," Kellie said, "I'd have to run the business with Jason or take it over myself."

"Is that something you'd want to do?" Charles said.

"Involvement in the mob, isn't something, I'd ever wanted," Kellie said, "But the advantages of using that power when people like Ethan and Garrett came chasing after me were more beneficial than the alternatives."

"Sounds like that maybe a similar situation to the hypotheticals we've been discussing," Charles said, "Although as a lawyer, I'd have to advise against any criminal activity. However, as your father-in-law and as a grandfather, I'm going to tell you to fight, however, you need to in order to keep you and the kids alive and safe. I know you've had Diane Miller handle any legal matters related to Jason and Sonny's business. But if she's not available, I better be your next call."

Kellie nodded.

"I'm serious," Charles said.

"I know," Kellie replied.

After a few moments of silence, Charles said, "Anything else you need to sort out?"

"No," Kellie said, "That was the crux of it."

"Then I think I'll leave you to your thoughts," Charles said, "Other than to suggest you think about having this conversation with Jason if it looks like he and/or Sonny continue having these types of issues with the business. And Johnny and Francis if it gets to that. I don't want hear anything about you leaving them in the dark because you think they didn't sign up for something. They wouldn't have agreed to guard you and the kids if they had concerns about Sonny's business and your role in it."

Kellie looked at Charles thinking about protesting that last bit.

"Don't even thinking about arguing with that last point, kid," Johnny's voice came from somewhere nearby, "He's right and you know it."

"Sometimes he's too good at his job," Kellie muttered under her breath.

"But that's why you hired us," Johnny replied as Charles laughed.

"How much did you hear?" Kellie asked.

"All of it," Johnny said, " Kellie Corinthos Alcazar Giambetti Morgan"

"Hey, Alcazar never was on my or my mother's birth certificate," Kellie said, " and Giambetti is in Tyler's family bloodlines, not mine."

"Yet, Charles and Tyler's last name could have been Giambetti if Maximus's father had claimed Charles," Johnny said, "And your married name would have been Giambetti instead of Scott."

"He has a point," Charles said.

Kellie shook her head in annoyance as Charles went to leave.