Author's Note: Hope you're all doing well. Happy Fall and almost Halloween.

"You said you wanted to talk to me," Kristina asked Kellie.

"Yeah," Kellie said, "I hate to bring this up right now."

"You get to bring up whatever you want when you want right now," Kristina said, "Charles was family to you."

"Well, we've had conversations about Dad and my concerns about him and running the business," Kellie said, "We've also discussed the possibility of my investing in casinos for you."

"We don't' have to make any decisions about that right now," Kristina said, "I still have to finishing putting together a business plan and I have more to learn."

"That's all good," Kellie said, "Depending on what I decide to do in regards to Dad, I realize I may end up putting you in an awkward spot with him if we were to go into business together. I know you're not thrilled with him about Charlies, but it's one to just be mad at him for that. It would be another to consider the things I'm considering."

"Are you thinking about making a move for the business?" Kristina asked.

"Maybe, I don't know," Kellie said, "I need to talk to Jason still. There's still some other things to figure out. But after what happened here. I can't keep sitting back and waiting for Dad to sort stuff out. The kids want to go home. And obviously here wasn't safe enough."

"You have been through lot right now," Kristina said, "And while I appreciate your concern for me in regards to Dad and whatever you might do, I think you should hold off on any major decisions. Sleep on it. Talk to Jason. Maybe's he's already got a solution."

"I know you're right," Kellie said, "I don't want you caught off guard or caught in the middle. Whatever happens, if you decide to move forward on your own with the casino. I want you to know that's okay."

"Let's just see what happens," Kristina said, "I don't think anything has to be decided today. Maybe any fall out between you and Dad won't be as bad as you think."

Kellie gave Kristina a skeptical look.

"You're right, who am I trying to kid?" Kristina said, "I'm surprised you'd even hint that. You'd usually hold something like that pretty close, so Dad wouldn't have any idea."

"Even if you told Dad about our conversation," Kellie said, "How do you honestly think he'll react."

Kristina thought for a moment, "He wouldn't take you seriously. He'd under estimate you and assume you wouldn't actually do anything like that."

Kellie shrugged.

Kristina shook her head, "Oh no."

"What?" Kellie asked.

"Three words," Kristina said, "Kellie Corinthos crazy."

"I think it's a little premature for that," Kellie said, "Like you said I might need to sleep on it, talk to Jason. I don't even have a fully formed plan yet."

"Oh come on," Kristina said as Jason entered the room.

"What's going on?" Jason asked.

"We were just discussing Kristina's casino venture," Kellie said.

"I'm going to leave you two to talk," Kristina said.

"Hey, Kristina, before you go," Kellie said, "I also wanted to ask how you are after yesterday and stabbing Cyrus with that knife throw."

"I'm fine," Kristina said, "I'd do it again to protect our family."

"I know it's a lot different practicing at my studio compared to using those skills in a situation like that," Kellie said, "If you need to talk, I'm here. Whenever that is."

Kristina hugged Kellie, "Thank you. But as long as Cyrus stays unconscious everything should be good. Take care of yourself right now."

Kristina released Kellie and quickly left.

"What was that about?" Jason asked.

"I was letting Kristina know if she felt not moving forward with my help on the casino venture was better for her, it was fine," Kellie said, "I don't want her caught between Dad and I depending on…."

"Depending on what?" Jason asked.

"What I do next," Kellie said, softly.

Jason let out a deep breathe and pulled Kellie into this arms, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what," Kellie asked.

"For not doing more, so you wouldn't feel like this or be in this position," Jason said, his frustration showing, "Is there anything specific you're thinking about doing?"

"All I've done is start looking into options to secure our position in Port Charles," Kellie said, "There's nothing I've actually committed to and I have a few other things to look into. I started considering this before the shooting in the courtyard. Now that the kids were a target as a result of this and Charles….I can't keep us in this holding pattern. The kids want to go home and asking them to stay here after what just happened."

"No of course not," Jason said, "Hopefully Cyrus is the end of the whole business of there being a hit on your back provided he stays unconscious. But I'll work with Johnny and Francis for more security at home until we know for sure."

"We still need to stabilize Port Charles," Kellie said.

"I know," Jason said, "I can't seem to get through the Sonny. I was just on the phone with him. He wants to maintain the same course of action until I don't know."

Is someone dying not enough for him?" Kellie replied heatedly, "Especially someone that just caught in the crossfire."

"I promise you," Jason said, "I'm going to take care of it. I'm going to fix it."

"I am still going to see if some of the other paths I'm exploring might offer," Kellie said.

"I want to tell you that you shouldn't have to," Jason said, "What ideas are you considering?"

"Will you trust me to not tell you?" Kellie asked, "It might be better if you don't know for now."

Jason thought about it for a moment.

"Just promise me that if looks dicey or you find yourself in a tight spot," Jason said, "You'll talk to me."

"Of course," Kellie said, "While you have some sway with Johnny and Francis, remember they ultimately work for me. So they won't drop any hints unless it's a situation where I need your help."

"I'm glad you're not doing whatever it is you're doing alone," Jason said.

"Did Sonny have anything else to say?" Kellie asked.

"He wanted to know how soon I'd be back in Port Charles," Jason said, "I told him I didn't know yet. But if you're serious about coming back to Port Charles, I guess it'll be as soon as we can make the arrangements."

"I'm sorry that you feel like you're torn between Sonny and I," Kellie said.

"Don't worry about it," Jason said, "That's for me to figure out."

"I never wanted you to feel like you'd end up in this position," Kellie Said, "But then again aside from when I took over, despite his mistakes, I don't think I ever thought I'd feel like he wouldn't have control of the business. Not like this."

"I think Nixon Falls changed him," Jason said, "I just don't know if he's ready to admit it or not."

Kellie leaned her head against Jason's shoulder.

"Did you read Charles's letter?"

"Yeah, I did," Kellie said, "It is what I expected sort of. He knew I'd blame myself if this happened and some of what he wrote what to that effect. I guess he had some other things he wanted to say to me that I kind of knew, but we never talked about."

"I'm glad you had him and Tyler all those years ago in Miami," Jason said, "That you had someone looking out for you when Sonny and the rest of us didn't know you existed."

"Me too," Kellie replied.