A/N – Thanks for still reading this one. Drama coming on Monday…

Chapter 47

Jason watched as Elizabeth gazed into the distance from her perch on the bridge. She had gotten right off the bike and headed there, and he is trying to give her space to process whatever happened.

"I guess you can't pick your parents, so expectations should be set low."

He moved a little closer. "I don't think it is asking a lot to be loved. Parents do stupid things. My biological mom died because of blackmail and the Quartermaines."

She turned to focus on him. "Do you remember her?"

"No."

She took a few steps closer to him. "The Q's made a lot of mistakes, but you managed to forgive them. How?"

He shrugged. "I made mistakes to and I didn't always forgive them. You didn't make any and were just a kid that they abandoned. They say you forgive so you can move on, but that doesn't mean you forget. Words were said, and actions were taken that can't be reversed."

"Yeah."

"I take it you told them you want nothing to do with them."

"I told them that they are dead to me and I meant it."

"Still?"

She sighed and threw up her hands. "My mom is mentally ill, and I swear my father needs to be checked as well."

Jason smirked. "You can toss most of my family into that pile."

She slightly smiled. "Is it wrong holding it against her? They left me."

"Only you can answer that because you are the person they did wrong."

She made a frustrated sound. "Why am I trying to be fair when they weren't?"

"Because you're a better person than they are."

"Dammit! I hate having a conscience."

He pulled her into his arms and slightly swayed as she relaxed against him. "Judge her for what she did to you. Leave Nicole and Francis out of it. Do you want a relationship with your parents on your terms?"

"I don't even know who they are anymore, and they have no idea who I am either. Part of me wants my mom and dad, but they really don't know how to be one. They've proven that."

"So, you either teach them on your terms and let them prove themselves or let them walk away. What can you live with?"

She let out a frustrated groan. "I don't know."

"Then you just need time to think." It can't be his decision.

"They are going to meet with Blackie. Maybe I'll partially crash it. I have some thinking to do."

"I'll back you regardless."

"Thank you."

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Blackie, Nicole, and the baby are in the park when Jason and Elizabeth approach them.

"Hey," Nicole said. "How did it go?"

She plopped onto the blanket and Ali crawled towards her.

"I told them that they are dead to me."

Blackie's grimaced. "Ouch…"

"Yeah."

Nicole sighed. "You are having second thoughts?"

"I feel a little guilty about it."

"I need you to know that this is your decision. You had a different relationship with them and I don't want you to hold what they did to me against them. That goes for you too, Blackie."

"I'm not sure what to think," he said.

"Then hear them out. There will be no hard feelings from me."

"You don't want to confront them?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes and no. I just don't think anything they say will change my mind right now. What they did hurts and I don't have it in me to feel compassionate right now."

"I get it. I just don't want to piss off my sister."

Nicole grinned. "This whole sister thing will never get old."

"Hey, what about me?"

Liz laughed. "I'm glad that I have such a handsome and witty brother."

He grinned. "Thank you."

"I guess I feel the same way except for the handsome part."

His mouth fell open.

"Gotcha."

He pulled her towards him and tickled her as the ladies laughed. Ali decided to help him and Nicole called her a traitor when she crawled into her uncle's lap.

They chatted for a while and then headed back to the house.

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Eva's eyes flickered from one member of the Ruiz family to another as a cone of silence stifled the energy in the room. Manny squeezed her hand. He still feels like crap but had decided that it's best just to be honest with his family before they start making plans.

Luella crossed her arms in front of her. "So, let me get this straight, you are refusing to stay at the house and let your mother take care of you?"

"Yes."

Javier started to chuckle but quickly stopped when he is the target of his mother's lethal glare.

She starts to talk loudly in Spanish and then that got everyone started and Eva bit her lip and when the din started to progress she stood. "Enough!"

Luella's mouth fell open.

"He is still recovering and this is not helping. Manny is a grown man and we made this decision together. This is not about disrespect or loyalty. He loves me and I'm falling in love with him. I want—no I need to take care of him, so I'm asking you to step back. If you want to make meals and come over and check on him, you are more than welcome to visit as long as he is up to it. I know you love him and are used to taking care of him, but he has me now too. I also want to get to know you better and there is no reason we can't work together. I'm not going anywhere and will fight for him and with him against anyone."

Manny is so entranced by Eva's fierceness that he can't even form words.

Hector clucked his tongue. "Well, well. I never thought that you'd ever date someone who could respectfully step up to your mother."

Luella elbowed him. "I don't like being told no."

"You have more in common with each other than you realize," Manny muttered which made Eva shoot him a look and his brother snicker.

"And it's hard to let go of him. No woman has ever fought for him like you just did and I only wanted someone to see how wonderful my son is and cherish him. I think that you will." She sniffed and Manny slightly groaned. He hates seeing his mother cry.

Eva tilted her head. "You know that I'm a lawyer right?"

Hector handed his wife a tissue as she nodded.

"Mom, please don't cry," Manny said.

"Unbelievable," Eva said with a smirk. "How often do you play them like this?"

Manny, Javier, and Hector's mouths dropped open in horror.

She shifted her gaze to the men. And how often do you make her think that you fall for it?"

There is silence as the men wait for Luella to explode, but instead, her laughter fills the air.

"You and I are going to get along just fine."

Eva chuckled. "You'll have to give me some tips to keep them in line."

"Oh, I can do that and more."

The men groaned.

"Let's go get some tea and talk about Manny's care. If you don't watch him like a hawk, he'll sneak out if he can stand the pain."

"Oh trust me, he won't be able to get by me," Eva said.

As they left the room, Manny glanced at his brother. "I'm so screwed."

Hector started to laugh and his boys followed. For the first time since Manny was shot, he feels like everything will truly be alright.

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Johnny grabbed his phone. "What's going on?"

"I have him in my sight."

A grin lit up Johnny's face. "Where are you?"

"In a little town outside the border. He's had several visitors and you're not going to like this."

"Who?"

"The only reason I recognized the guy is because he was a guard at one of the parties Frank threw."

"So he's connected?"

"Yeah. It looks like Sal is backing him."

Johnny is floored. Sal is a member of the five families and it's rare they'd get directly involved.

"Rumor has it that Sal wanted his nephew to take over Sonny's territory and Francis ruined that. He has a lot of firepower. How do you want me to handle this?"

"Francis will be back tomorrow evening. Do not lose Ronnie. How many people are watching him?"

"I have three guys at all times and a few people working at the border."

"Good. When Francis returns, I'll come to you. Ronnie is mine. Sal can go fuck himself. Francis will want to deal with him directly. Do you have pictures?"

"Yes and some audio as well." He takes his job seriously and is one of the best.

"We'll need it. My guess is that when things start to fall apart, Sal will distance himself. Ronnie is not the type to put all of his eggs in one basket, so even if Sal backs off, there will be someone there to take his place.

"I agree. Let me know when you are close."

Johnny ended the call. It's just a matter of time before Ronnie makes a fatal error and Johnny will be right there ready to rub his nose in it.

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The next afternoon, Elizabeth and Blackie joined Carolyn and Jeff at their hotel room.

"Elizabeth, we weren't expecting you," Jeff said as he stepped backwards to let them in.

"I wanted to say a few more things."

Carolyn is glad to see her. She is beautiful and fierce and she can't help feel proud that her daughter rose above all the hardships in her life.

Blackie grabbed Elizabeth's hand when they sat, trying to be supportive and she is grateful.

"First, we agreed not to let each other's experiences with you affect our decisions. With that said, I feel like we are strangers. Life has changed us to such a degree that we really don't know each other anymore. I'm conflicted because mental illness is involved, but I'm not sure that I move past this right now or ever. I'm not completely opening a door for reconciliation, but I'm going to try to forgive you so that I don't have to carry around the pain anymore. It's my way of moving forward."

"May I say something?" Jeff asked.

"Yes."

"I'm sorry. I was so wrapped up in fear and protecting your mother that I ended up being a horrible dad. We talked last night and I realized I've been making excuses instaed of facing what I did. Before your mother, I was lousy in relationships and maybe I had a need to be this white knight and come to her rescue. I don't know. I know I had a crappy way of showing it, but I do love you, Elizabeth."

"I do think you loved me, but you just loved her a lot more. I get that you put your spouse first, but you were supposed to take care of us and be there for your children and you did for a huge chunk of my life and trust me, that is the only thing that is keeping me from walking out that door forever." She turned her attention to her mother. "So, are you on medication?"

"Yes. I went off them before which is probably while I freaked out so much regarding the airport incident, but I'm back on them and this time, I won't go off. I think in my mind I was feeling well and didn't need them, but I have to face that they are part of my life now."

"Good." She stood. "I don't hate you anymore, but I think you need to get your life situated before I'd ever consider even letting you in a little. If, in the future, I decide that I want to try to have a relationship with you, then I'll get in touch. That's all I can offer you."

"We understand," Jeff said with teary eyes.

"I think someday Nicole will at least want to tell you off, just listen when she does because it's not healthy for her to carry that pain around. She is been through so much that she's lucky she is still standing. Her life is now surrounded by love and family and she's happy and doesn't want to dwell on you. Leave her alone and give her time."

"Okay," Carolyn said before wiping away a tear.

The door shut and Blackie sighed.

"Look, I don't know you, but you hurt my sisters which does not bode well. I know what Elizabeth said about not letting everyone else's decisions affect mine and I get it, but it's hard to separate for me. I had a crappy family life and now, I have great sisters and a brother and a dad. I'm willing to stay in touch with you, but I'm also going to be guarded. I never thought I'd meet my real parents and I know that Frank is not perfect and your relationship suffered because of the business, but I don't respect your choices."

"I get it. I screwed up royally. I want to get to know you and I get how hard this is for you. When I gave you up, it tore me apart. I was such a mess and the paranoia was so bad. Also, I'm so sorry that you suffered. It will always eat away at me because I truly thought you'd be safer and better off without me. All I can promise you is that I will go back to therapy and take my medication and do the best I can to stay healthy. I can't live like this anymore." She is practically sobbing and Blackie stood and pulled her into a hug.

"Why don't we just stay in touch for now and talk here and there and get to know each other."

She savored his energy and then pulled back. "It's more than I deserve. Thank you."

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Francis checked his messages before they started the journey home.

"I don't like that look on your face."

"They found Ronnie and he's being backed by one of the members of the five families." He is livid but tries to keep his temper in check.

"That's pretty serious. What will happen to him?"

"Either they'll deal with him or I will. In the end, he won't hold a top spot anymore."

"How many people do you have working for you?"

"That's a little hard to answer because some come and go, so probably around fifty steadily. Taking on Sonny's territory will double that and more. I have a trucking business as well so I don't have to worry about trusting someone outside the organization for deliveries." He continued to give her an overview of his portfolio.

"You have a lot going on."

Francis shrugged. "Right now, I don't want to think about it because of the beautiful woman who is at my side.

She smiled. "I loved going away with you and how special you make me feel. Thank you."

"You are easy to love."

"I feel the same about you." Things are moving way faster than she had anticipated, but she is loving every minute of it.

"I had Kelly's shut down early and we're going to have dinner there with everyone."

"That's probably a good idea. I miss them."

"It's going to be very busy the next few days and maybe dangerous. I just want to make sure that everyone is paying attention and watching their back. Sal is dangerous and powerful, but I'll be damned if I let him hurt the people I love. Ronnie will not get to my sister."

"I'll do whatever I can to help."

He kissed her languidly. "Thank you."