Author's Note: I hope everyone is staying well and safe. Have a great day!
Cameron made his way upstairs, cautiously. He opened the door to Jared and Jamie's room. He motioned silently for them to follow him.
Jamie threw his covers off as Jared looked at him skeptically, "Hold on, you better have a really good reason for asking us to to."
"Do you want to work things out with Danny?" Cameron whispered, "For Jake and the new baby. No adults. Just us."
"It can't hurt to try," Jamie said.
"If we get caught," Jared said, "We're blaming you."
"No fights," Cameron said, "I need your word. Otherwise we will get caught."
"Alright," Jared said, throwing his covers off and following Cameron.
"Go down your media room," Cameron said, "I'll get Jake and Danny."
Jared and Jamie went downstairs. Before Cameron could get Jake and Danny, the door to Jason and Kellie's room opened.
Jason stepped out of the room and shut the door behind him. He heard Jared and Jamie whispering headed down the stairs.
"Do you need something?" Jason asked Cameron.
"I just wanted to check on Jake," Cameron said.
Jason looked at Cameron skeptically, "And Jamie and Jared are out of bed because?"
Cameron stuttered over his response.
"You've already been caught," Jason said, "Why don't you start with the truth?"
"I thought I might be able to negotiate a truce or something," Cameron said, "I can't stand back while Jake gets hurts because Danny can't seem to get along with you or Jake or your family. Maybe it's a dumb idea."
"Maybe not," Jason said, "You can only try. But no fighting and if Kellie wakes up…"
"I understand," Cameron said.
Jason nodded and disappeared back into the bedroom.
Cameron got Jake and Danny. Jake was eager to go downstairs, but Danny took some convincing.
They went downstairs to find Jared and Jamie grabbing snacks. Jake joined grabbing some of his favorites out of the pantry.
"This is not quiet," Cameron said.
"What's a sleepover without a midnight snack raid," Jamie replied.
"What if your mom wakes up?" Jake asked.
"She won't," Jared said, "Not with the baby making her tired."
"Besides if we get caught," Jamie said, "We're all getting in trouble together. Which means no one is snitching to Mom or Uncle Jason."
"Aren't we all already in trouble together?" Jake asked.
"It's Cameron's idea," Jared said, "And he's the oldest, so we'll blame him."
"Thanks a lot," Cameron said.
"This is your idea," Danny said.
"Here," Jamie said, shoving a bag of candy at Danny, "These must be yours. No one else here eats these."
Danny looked at the bag of sweet and sour candy confused, "They're my favorite actually."
Jared handing him and Cameron each a large popcorn bowl, "Come on, Jake gets to pick the movie."
Jake, Jamie, and Jared grabbed their snacks and went to the media room.
"This may be the dumbest idea you had in mind," Danny said, "We're so getting caught."
"We may as well enjoy it," Cameron said, "And besides like they said what's a sleepover without a midnight snack raid."
Cameron ate some popcorn and left Danny in the kitchen. Danny thought about it and then followed Cameron.
Jake was picking out a movie when Cameron and Danny found them. Aiden was happily eating Jake's candy.
Before Jared could turn the tv on, Cameron grabbed the remote from him.
"Hey," Jared said.
"Before we watch a movie," Cameron said, "We all have to talk. What's it going to take for you all to get along?"
"Why do you care?" Jamie asked, "You're not related to us."
"Not even as a stepbrother," Jared said.
Danny smirked.
"But Jake is my brother and I care about what happens to him," Cameron said, " I think both of you care about what happens to Jake. And right now everyone not getting along isn't fair to him."
"Why don't we ask Jake how he feels about that?" Danny replied.
"What did any of us ever do to you?" Jake exploded at Danny, "I know you're mad at Dad. But what does that have to do with us? Jamie and Jared didn't make Dad marry their mom. What's so bad about that, Danny? Dad's been around more since he came back from the island and married her. But you wouldn't know that since you refuse to see him…."
"You died," Danny snapped, "Both of you."
Silence filled the room.
"But I didn't actually die," Jake said, confused, "And neither did Dad."
"I thought you did though," Danny said, "You know what. It doesn't matter. Let's just watch the movie."
"No, it does matter," Cameron said.
"Wait, everyone thought Jake was dead?" Jared asked.
"We know about Uncle Jason," Jamie said, "But Jake."
"Yeah, " Cameron said, "We thought he'd been hit by car. Turns out Helena Cassadine just wanted everyone to think he was dead."
"She kidnapped us too," Jared said, "At least that's what we were told."
"She's crazy," Jamie said, "At least that's what Mom and Dad told us. What don't you just blame her instead of your dad and Jake?"
"I don't blame….," Danny said, "I just don't want to go through losing them again. Considering what Dad does for a living."
"You mean coffee importer," Jake said.
"Yes, coffee importer," Jared said, straight faced daring Danny to say otherwise.
"If you really…" Danny started to say when Cameron smacked him upside the head
"You mean because people don't like Dad and Uncle Sonny?" Jake asked, "And might try to hurt them."
"Yeah," Danny said, then turned to Jamie and Jared, "Don't you worry about your mom and that she…."
Cameron glared at Danny.
"Used to help Uncle Jason and Grandpa Sonny with their coffee business," Jamie said, "Sure. But we worried about her before we learned that when she went on rescue missions to save people."
"That's normal for us," Jared said, "But we're not jerks to everyone because of it."
"Maybe Danny needs to see a shrink," Jamie said.
"Are you serious?"Danny said, "You think I'm crazy?"
Jared rolled his eyes, "No, because that would mean Jamie and I are. We're definitely not crazy. Mom made us see shrink when we moved here."
"She thought we might need to talk to someone with our dad dying and Alyssa being kidnapped," Jamie said, "It kind of helped not that we'd ever admit that."
"Mom thinks we only agreed to keep going so Alyssa would," Jared said, "We'd like to keep that way so she doesn't worry."
"I won't say anything," Danny said, "I'd do the same for Scout."
"Really?" Jake asked, "Because I'm pretty sure you've given your mom plenty to worry about."
"Like she even cares," Danny said, "She's too busy trying to rescue Aunt Kristina or something."
"From what?" Jamie asked.
"Some cult creep," Danny said.
"You mean Shiloh?" Jared said.
"You know about him?" Danny asked.
"Mom tells us who we should avoid," Jamie said, "He's one of them. Even before Aunt Krissy took Alyssa to see him."
"What does your Mom think he did?" Danny asked.
"We don't know," Jared said, "It's apparently a grown up conversation."
"The guy has perv written all over him," Danny said.
"What's a perv?" Aidan asked.
"A creep," Cameron said.
"Anyway," Danny said, "Is he the type of creep your mom's foundation would investigate? Then maybe my mom wouldn't have to investigate him."
"No idea," Jamie said, "But we can ask on one condition."
"We don't expect to be best friends or anything," Jared said, "We just want you stop being a jerk to Jake and the rest of us, especially when the baby's born."
That's all we're asking," Jamie said, "Like it or not we're all family with the new baby coming."
"You might find you actually like us," Jared said.
"Depends," Danny said.
"On what?" Jake asked.
"If Jamie can teach me how to punch like he does," Danny said.
"That could be arranged," Jamie said.
"So everyone's perfectly clear," Cameron said, "You're calling a truce."
"I guess we are," Danny said.
"For real?" Jake asked, "You're not going to decide not to honor the truce later."
"For real," Danny said, "I will try to be a better brother and I won't back out. I just I don't know how that looks."
"No one does," Jamie said, "Especially when your mom marries your cousin's dad."
"Now you're making us sound like hicks," Jared said.
"Welcome to Port Charles," Danny muttered.
"So truce then," Cameron said, "I think you guys should shake on it."
"Spit shake," Jamie said.
"That's disgusting," Jared said, "Do people still do that?"
"It's either that or a blood oath," Jamie said, "Mom will notices a cut on our hands."
"We're spit shaking," Jake said, "All of us, Cameron and Aidan too."
"This is really between the four of you," Cameron said, "I was just trying to help."
"We're making a pact," Jake said, "All six of of us. We're all connected by blood in one way or another or will be. So we make a pact to treat each other like brothers, look out for each other, watch out for our sisters, and have each others back when it matters most."
Jamie and Jake spit on their hands and extended them. Aidan followed suit.
"Truce," Jamie said,
"Truce," Aidan said, innocently.
"Truce," Jared said, spiting and extending his hand out.
"Truce," Danny said, doing same, "This was your idea, Cameron. Now you're really stuck with me."
"I think I can handle it, truce," Cameron said, spitting and extending his hands.
The boys all shook hands with each other.
"Can we start the movie now?" Jake asked.
"Of course," Jamie said, taking the remote back from Cameron and turning the tv on.
The next morning
Kellie woke up, looked at the clock, and realized she'd slept in. She also realized she'd slept in yesterday's clothes.
Kellie sat up as Jason entered the room, carrying a bakery bag.
"You're awake," Jason said.
"Jason, the boys," Kellie said.
"I got it handled," Jason said, "You crashed last night."
"I'm stilling wearing yesterday's clothes," Kellie said.
"You had a a busy day yesterday," Jason said.
"Murder interrogation, fraud investigation," Kellie said, "Finding our we're having a girl."
"And keeping a whole posse of kids who haven't been getting along in line at an impromptu sleepover," Jason said, handing Kellie the bakery bag.
"You got doughnuts," Kellie asked after looking in the bag.
"Drew sent them over," Jason said as Kellie pulled out a chocolate doughnut with sprinkles and bit into it, "This was one was sent courtesy of Olivia. She want wanted to make sure you got it."
"Olivia is also planning to come over," Jason said, "And she told me to tell you she made arrangements for you to go to MetroCourt Spa this afternoon, whatever you want."
"Well first I have to have the boys clean up the backyard," Kellie said, "But a massage sounds amazing."
"I already have the boys cleaning up the yard," Jason said, "But there's something else you need to know."
"Oh god, what happened now?" Kellie asked, "Did the boys get into another fight? I'm so tired of all the not getting along. I know that we threw a lot at the kids with our marriage and now baby on top of everything else they've been dealing. But I just want them to figure it out out before the baby's born. I want Danny to know his little sister and oh god I am a hormonal mess this morning."
Kellie took another bite of her doughnut as her eyes got teary.
"There were no fights, the boys are fine," Jason said, "I'm not entirely sure what happened last night, but they seem to be getting along. Look I caught Cameron getting the boys up to join him and Aidan downstairs. He was trying see if he could help broker a peace deal. I didn't see the harm in letting him try."
"Do you think it worked?" Kellie asked.
"I think so," Jason said, "It seems like whatever they need to work out, they did. Danny seems to have toned down the attitude. All Cameron will tell me is it worked out better than he hoped."
"If they're holding confidences," Kellie said, "That's a good sign."
"Other than Cameron, the boys think they got away with sneaking out of their rooms," Jason said, "It's probably better that we let them think they got away with it this time."
"You're right," Kellie said, "So how did the sneaking out turn up, did the boys go back to their bedrooms?"
"The boys all fell asleep watching movies downstairs," Jason said, "They also raided the kitchen for popcorn and candy. Though the only sign of that is the full garage can in the kitchen. They did attempt to cover their tracks."
Kellie moved as if to get up from the bed, "I should."
"Hold on," Jason said, "There's nothing you have to do this morning. You are officially off Mom duty for the day."
"You know it doesn't work like that," Kellie said.
"All I'm saying is I've got the boys handled," Jason said, "Liz is going to come pick up Cameron and Aidan. Sam is on her way to pick up Danny. Olivia is going to watch Jared and Jamie while I take Jake to the Arcade and Lunch."
"Jason," Kellie said.
"Even Wonder Woman deserves a day off once in awhile," Jason said, pulling Kellie closer to him, "We both know you won't win this argument. You never do."
"Okay, okay," Kellie said, "I will try to relax today."
"There is something I want ask you about," Jason said.
"What is it?" Kellie asked.
"It's about Danny and his living arrangements," Jason said, "From what I can tell he spends a lot of time at the Quartermaines. I'm starting to wonder if maybe I should consider having him stay here at least for the time being. Jamie and Jared asked me if the foundation could investigate Shiloh so Sam wouldn't have to."
"Which means Danny said something to them about her being gone all the time," Kellie said,
Of course I'll support you and what's best for Danny."
"I'll talk to Sam this morning when she picks up Danny," Jason said, "I'll let her know about last night and the investigation into the foundation and Shiloh. Hopefully, she'll let us takeover and…. I hate the idea of separating Danny from Scout."
"I know," Kellie said, "I don't like it either. I'd also suggest that you give Danny a choice for now if it comes to that. Let him decide if he wants things to continue as they are now so he can be with Scout or give him the option to stay here. If he wants to stay at the Quartermaines, you'll need to spend more time there. If you frame it as a choice, it might help him settle down overall."
"Otherwise, he'll feel like it's one more thing he's not being asked his opinion about," Jason said, "And that's some of his problem."
"You can always revisit the living arrangement later if giving him a choice doesn't work," Kellie said.