Ch 7
"Keesha, they are great. I am so happy that you thought of us when you wanted someone to take care of and take responsibility for your children", Emily said as they watched the four children sleep. All the children were tired out after a day spent perusing the Quartermaine estate.
"I completely agree. Even though I know that I wasn't exactly part of the equation", Nikolas said laughingly.
"Well, I didn't know that Emily had finally turned her crush into a real life romance, but Nikolas I am definitely happy that you have agreed to this. I thank you both".
"I know that you have entrusted Jason and Sonny with saving you. And I don't doubt that they will be able to help but if you need anything, please let me know. I am truly sincere. I don't know what I could do, but I have contacts all over the world and they are all at your disposal".
Keesha fought to speak, but could form no words around the lump in her throat. She could only shake her head as acknowledgment of what he said. Keesha turned back to her sleeping children on the pallet on the floor. They looked so peaceful and so innocent. Then she looked down at Jake. Jason's son, Jake. The little boy had been great all day. He had had the best time playing with her kids. Keesha had often wondered what it would be like to have a family with Jason. She had wondered what it would be like to raise kids with Jason. And today had only made her ponder that question even more. What would a life with Jason Morgan have been like? She couldn't think about it anymore.
"It is so good to have children back in this house again", Monica said as she walked into the parlor and stared at the sleeping children. "Today felt so wonderful. It's been too long".
"I agree, Monica. I do hope, Keesha that you will reconsider our offer. We would be honored to have you and the children stay with us. We have plenty of room and having the children here would benefit us so much. I've been looking for a fountain of youth and I think I've found it. I haven't felt this alive in… in ages. I don't even know how long", Edward said with a youthful giddiness about him.
Keesha looked from Monica and Edward to the sleeping children. "I don't know, I don't want to intrude. We have a great suite at the Metro Court and I just don't know. It's a generous offer. Let me think on it. We will go back to the hotel tonight and I will let you know my decision tomorrow".
"What decision?" asked Jason walking through the parlor doors. He stopped and looked at the sleeping children on the floor. A small smile crossed his lips. He looked up at Keesha and spoke before anyone could answer his question, "what did you do to my son?"
Keesha was taken aback by the fierce tone of Jason's voice. 'Oh no, I should have known the new and improved Jason Morgan was too good to be true', she thought. "I didn't do anything to your son. The kids played and had a wonderful day", Keesha said in a peeved tone.
Emily and Monica shared a quick look.
"Jase, Jake had a great day. He and Justus and Maya played and ran through grandmother's rose garden. They swam and went horse back riding. No one did anything to Jake", Emily said crossing the room to stand beside her brother.
"Em, calm down. I wasn't accusing either of you of anything. I just, he's never asleep this early; at least not when he is with me. I just wanted to know how you got him to sleep so early. And I guess after hearing all that he did today, my question was answered". Jason turned back to Keesha and said, "I'm sorry if you thought that I was accusing of hurting Jake. I… I was just kinda in awe of the fact that he is out like a light".
"It's ok, I just, you know…I guess I was used to Jason Morgan biting my head off", Keesha said looking down at the floor.
Jason's heart sank when he heard Keesha's words. 'She is still scared of me. She is always going to think the worst of me'. Jason cleared his throat and looked away. "Sonny and I have our best guys on Mariucci. They are looking into any business that your husband might have had with Mariucci. If there is any type of trail, and there has to be something, Stan or Spinelli will find it. Sonny and I are going to fix this. You don't have to worry about this. You aren't leaving your kids any time soon".
"Thank you", was all that Keesha managed to get out. She turned to Monica and Edward. "I think it's time that we are going. We will be at the Metro Court. We are in suite 425, just in case you need us".
Keesha walked over to the sleeping kids and began to try to wake them up. "Come on, Justus wake up. Help me get your sisters, come on sweetie", she said as she kissed cheek, rubbed his stomach and chest and gave him butterfly kisses.
Jason had never seen anything so sweet. He didn't know how Elizabeth woke Jake and Cameron in the morning, but he hoped it was something like this.
"How are you getting back to the hotel?" Jason asked.
"We have a driver, he should be waiting in the drive", Keesha answered.
Jason went to the sleeping children and swooped up Justus and then gently bent to pick up Maya, also. Keesha looked at him as he carried her sleeping children towards the door and she allowed herself to imagine, just for a second, that this was their family. Jason and Keesha Quartermaine or even Jason and Keesha Morgan. Either way it worked. Keesha bent over and picked up Lila. She headed to the couch and picked up the baby bag and her purse. She said her goodbyes to the Quartermaine clan as she followed Jason to the door.
Jason placed the sleeping children in the car and he looked down at Keesha's children. Keesha's kids, God these could have been his children or Jason Quartermaine's children. It confused him and he didn't know what to think of it anymore. Jason thought about what Sonny had said. Jason wondered about the 'connection' that Sonny thought existed between himself and Keesha. Suddenly he felt Keesha's eyes on his back.
"Thank you, Jason. I really appreciate all the help I can get", she said with a laugh. Then her mood turned somber, "It's hard without… without Daniel. I've never imagined raising kids without a husband. I never knew how hard it could be".
Jason looked down at the woman that had once loved him unconditionally, even though he had been a different person than the one she had fallen in love with. He looked at the sleeping child in her arms, the one with the light caramel colored skin and the bright azure eyes. The eyes the same color as his. Jason reached out for the baby and Keesha handed Lila to him. He held the little girl in his arms and looked at her.
Keesha took in the moment and felt the tears come to her eyes. Lila had looked so much like Morgan, and now seeing Jason holding her daughter. The daughter who looked so much like another little girl that Keesha held and loved. And now to see this; her heart broke. She watched Jason look at the child lovingly and her heart constricted. She hadn't realized until this moment, but Keesha Ward-Livingstone still loved Jason Morgan Quartermaine. The man who woke from the coma had been all anger but the man he was now, even though he didn't realize, was more like his old self than most realized.
"She's so beautiful. I've got Jake and Cameron, but this is the first little girl I've held. I'm looking at her and I just, she melts my heart. Maya too. Maya is a handful and I look at her and know that she is all you. If I let myself imagine, which I don't do much, I can imagine she and Justus are you and Justus at that age".
Keesha smiled with him. This felt so natural. Jason looked so natural holding her daughter. "Well", she said "I do appreciate this, unfortunately once we get to the hotel I am on my own".
Jason motioned for Keesha to get into the car. Once she was in he placed Lila in her arms. She settled the baby into the car seat and placed a kiss on her forehead once she had secured the baby in the seat. Jason watched on and had a thought.
"You know, Jake and I could accompany you to the hotel. I mean, you know, if you want".
Keesha was taken back. "That would be nice, but how are two of us going to handle four sleeping kids?" Keesha asked laughingly.
Jason hadn't thought of that. He smiled "I guess I didn't think that through".
"Well, I appreciate the thought. Thank you, Jason".
She leaned out of the car and kissed Jason gently on the cheek. "I appreciate all that you are doing for me". She leaned back into the car and Jason shut the door.
As the car drove away a smile crept onto Jason's face. His cheek burned where her lips had been. It had felt good. He wished that the kiss had been, instead of on his cheek, on his lips. 'That must be that connection that Sonny was talking about', thought Jason to himself.
She had just kissed Jason and she wished that she could go back and do it again.