A/N: Going on vacation so won't be updating until next weekend and there will be plenty of JoLu in chapter 10. Don't fret.

Chapter Nine

Johnny answered after the first ring. "Hey, you and Rocco okay?" he asked and she could tell he was just waking up. His voice was groggy even thought it was mid afternoon.

"We're fine, just wanted to thank you again."

"Lulu, you know I would do anything for you," he responded and Lulu knew that was true. He hadn't had to stay last night to take her home or get a booster seat to make sure Rocco was safe as he drove them home. All of that proved how much Johnny had grown and how much he had changed from the selfish creature he once had been. The one that had moved on with Maxie before they were even over.

She felt she could trust him now, he was so different from the boy she had been with the first time. He was finally a man without anyone holding him back . "I do know that Johnny, thank you," she said simply. He went to jail for her. What greater sacrifice then than.

"No thanks needed Lulu, so little man doing okay?" he asked again, she could tell he actually cared. He didn't even know Rocco but the fact he mattered so much to Lulu, that he cared about Rocco as well.

"He's sleeping but he's doing good. Just a mild case of strep throat but don't want Char around until he's no longer contagious."

"See Lulu, you're good mom," thinking about her small break down last night, she felt embarrassed about and ran a hand through her long blonde hair.

"I'm so sorry about that, I don't know why I lost it."

Johnny sighed and she could tell he had stopped moving around and sat down. Probably on some flat surface in the garage. "Lulu, you love your children and of course you were upset that he was sick. I get it."

"You're right but still, I kind of ruined the moment."

"The moment had passed and it was amazing. One I hope we get to repeat."

Lulu wanted the same thing, she wanted to be with Johnny again in that sexual way. Before Olivia called, she had been so relaxed and happy. Weights had been lifted off her shoulders for that short time. She hadn't been a working single mother, she had just been a woman.

"Me too, maybe this weekend? Dante has Rocco most weekends now and Char will be with Valentine probably," she still wasn't ready to bring Johnny around her kids, probably would never be. It was too much of a dangerous idea. Not willing to risk loosing custody of her children..

"That sounds perfect, but I might put you to work," he said with a small laugh.

"Oo, what kind of work?" Lulu wouldn't lie, thinking of being on her knees working him came to mind and she was more than up for that job.

"Get your mind out of the gutter Lesley Lu Spencer," he said firmly but laughed right afterwards and she joined him in the laughing. Feeling relaxed just like that. Knowing she would be able to get to be with Johnny and being on the phone with him relaxed her. "I'm opening the garage next Monday. Might need your help too put on some finishing touches."

She was more than happy to that but she thought of the location and how close it was to Sonny's coffee shop. It would be a good thing for him when it came it to the customer but she was still worried about Sonny's reaction. "Have you uh seen Sonny around?"

"No. I haven't. Been pretty busy though, rarely leave the garage."

That made sense, Johnny would be busy putting on the finishing touches and getting everything ready to accept his first client. "Okay. Well hopefully there won't be any issues." And she might just try to make sure of that.

"I'm done with that life Lulu, I won't let him antagonize me," Johnny seemed confident and while she wanted to believe in him, but the history between all of them would make that hard. Still, she wanted to make sure he knew she was confident in him.

"Good. Well I should get a shower but uh…call me tonight?" It felt weird asking him to call her but she did want to hear from him.

"Of course, can't keep me away."

Three days later, Rocco was better and was at daycare with Char while she headed to work. She and Johnny had talked every day on the phone and they were both itching to see each other again. Which was why they decided to meet for lunch. Since Maxie would be gone today and Nina would probably be off somewhere as well, she had suggest her place of work.

Probably why she had dressed up once again, not that she thought anything would happen in the office but still, wanted to look good.

Stepping off the elevator in the restraunt, planning on getting some coffee and go ahead and put lunch orders in, she saw Sonny sitting at the bar. Probably waiting for Carly. She knew she should just leave it alone but she wanted to make sure Johnny got a real chance at this new life he was building. This could blow up in her face, he could go to Dante but her relationship with Sonny was pretty strong. Being one of his best friend's daughter gained her some respect. Biting her lip, she marched over to where he was sitting.

"Hi Sonny." She said and the man turned in his stool, giving her that blinding smile.

"Lulu, hi," he said and stood up, moving to give her a quick hug which she returned.

"Are you busy?"

"For you, never," motioning to the stool next to him, he took it and sat down. They talked about Rocco for a few moments and the conversation turned to Dante. "Are you and him still doing alright? If you need me to talk to him, I can. I know how to be divorced."

He said it as a joke and Lulu did laugh, if anyone did know how to be divorced, it would be Sonny. He and Carly made an art out of it and still kept their family together. "No, we're fine. This is about Johnny Zacchara."

His grinned dropped but he nodded. "Yeah, heard he was out. Bought a garage on the pier."

"Yeah, and I know it sounds contrite Sonny but he has changed."

"You two back together?" By the tone of his voice, she knew he would disapprove it, so she shook her head.

"No, but he's still my friend Sonny and I want him to stay on the straight and narrow. He seems to have changed and I don't want him to get sidetracked."

He sighed and ran a hand along the back of his neck. "Hey, as long as he stays away from my business, I don't even need to speak to him."

"Thank you Sonny. I'm glad you guys can coexist."

"Anything for you Lulu," he said and they both stood up. Sharing another hug. "Bring Rocco by soon?"

She nodded. "I'm sure he'd love to hang out with Avery."

"Good. Don't be a stranger Lulu."

Nodding once more, she went to the ordering station and ordered a cup of coffee. As well as putting two orders for the burger here for lunch. Asking them to be brought up to the office around one , she grabbed her coffee and going to the elevator.

She felt more confident about Johnny's future. Heading up the office, she knew she had a bounce in her step.

Getting to the office, she saw Nina at her desk and walked in. "Hey Nina, anything I can help with today besides working on the layout?"

"Uh…I have a few calls coming in, have a meeting with a new advertiser this afternoon, so can you take some detail messages for me and make appointments as well?"

Glad that Nina wouldn't be around when Johnny got here, she nodded. "Of course. I'll also take some messages for Maxie." Her and Nathan had finally decided to go out of town for a late honeymoon and she would have double the work, but seeing Johnny made it all worth it.