He wasn't paying attention to much the first weeks after; simply trying not to focus on the pain of truly losing Sam, but when the newspaper arrived at his doorstep he couldn't help to notice the headline that read in bold print, "Alexis Davis Resigns as DA". It carried a picture of her and Ric in happier times, a bright smile adorned her face. He ran a finger over it and felt bad, because he knew that there was another person who was as heartbroken as he was.

The morning after she awoke on the couch covered with a throw. She didn't even notice when he left, but she never thought she would be so thankful that Jason Morgan was there that night. It wasn't the loss of Ric that had ripped out her heart, but the loss of her daughter all over again that caused her to feel a sharp pain in the depths of her soul.

He didn't know why he was at her door, but when he saw Manny lurking around her knew that she had to be warned. He didn't know why it was that he needed to protect her now. He had never seen her break and when she fell apart right in his arms he couldn't help but see the human being he was sure wasn't there. They had a tumultuous past filled with memories good and bad. He had hated her on principle for awhile strictly based on his two best friends pasts with her…he never allowed himself to see her side. Maybe his seeing her in pain and human had softened his resolve. He couldn't help but want to tell her that everything was going to be alright…but he couldn't promise her something that may never come. So here he stood poised at her door.

She never expected to see his face at the front door, and yet it caused some comfort to her. She smiled when Kristina ran to greet him, and shared in his pain when she asked where her big sister was. It was hard to watch Jason try to explain that Sam was on a little trip, but she could see the pain in his eyes as it matched her own.

She was surprised when Kristina asked him to stay for lunch, but even more taken aback that he did. It was awkward at first, but Jason seemed to make things easier. His quiet strength helped to calm her jilted nerves. He even offered to feed Molly when Kristina spilled lemonade all over herself. When she came down she saw a tenderness she had only heard that Jason Morgan held.

He saw the tears in her eye when Kristina once again asked about Sam. He could tell that he wasn't the only one missing her. He had heard from Sam a couple of times. Messages on the machine, crying and begging for forgiveness…begging him not to hate her…he didn't…he didn't know how to hate her…the truth was he had brought this upon them. He had turned away from her and really she was allowed to be with anyone she wanted. She wasn't betraying him…she had actually betrayed someone he didn't even know he liked, but it cup him just as deep as it had cut Alexis. After Kristina left with Viola he felt compelled to tell her about Manny. He watched as she dropped her beautiful face into her hands and rubbed them through her hair. He wondered if this is what she was feeling when Luis Alcazar murdered her sister, and then threatened Kristina's life. That was partly his fault, blinded by love for Courtney he didn't handle the business and Alcazar was left to torture everyone around him…not this time…he wouldn't let it touch her this time.

He told her about Manny, and she sighed, but he promised her no harm would come to them…and maybe it was her wanting to believe it, but she could feel it radiating from him…he would keep her safe. Every rational thought told her to stay away from mobsters, but truth was she didn't want to turn away…she wanted to bask in the safe feeling that Jason Morgan radiated from his beautiful blue eyes.

They sat quietly for a long time before he brought up the phone message. He remembered it crystal clear when he let the machine pick up because he knew it was her. First she cried and begged him to take her back, but then it shifted; she began to ask him to please tell Alexis sorry, and then she mentioned Kristina's name and she completely lost it, blubbering on…it took all the strength in his bones to not run and pick the phone up and tell her that he would make it all okay…he was tired of forgiving, he was tired of making things okay. But when he told her of the call, he saw a light shine, and yet break in her eyes…and then he saw her try to hold back…she bit her lip, but that couldn't stop the tears from coming. It was at that moment he went on instinct and brought her into his body. He rubbed her back and all thoughts of giving up went away; and he promised her that he would make it okay. He took his thumbs and wiped the tears away from her breathtaking toffee colored eyes. It was at that moment a feeling of tenderness took over and he brushed his lips across her forehead and brought her once again to his chest. He would not let her down.

She felt his lips, and the gentleness reminded her of a butterflies wings fluttering about. She melted into his arms, and didn't disconnect until she felt the familiar click of the door lock. When she saw Ric walk in she rose from the couch and got in defense mode. She couldn't say that she had ever liked a man to take so much control and protect her, but when Jason stood beside her and looked at Ric with that icy steel glare she felt safe. Ric couldn't hurt her anymore…she wasn't even sure when the line had been blurred between them…When she gave up on their so called love…she knew what she was to Ric: a pawn in his game to best Sonny. What better than to have of Sonny's than his ex lover, ex best friend, ex lawyer, mother of his first born?

He noticed the way she asked him to leave, way too nicely and with her eyes downcast. He continued to stare the other man down…he didn't care who Ric thought he was, but he was not going to let him come here and keep ruining people's lives. When Ric tried to approach Alexis he saw her cringe, and Jason pulled her behind him and stood chest to chest with Ric. Ric began to spout his filth and Jason swore he would have ripped off his head if Alexis wouldn't have put a calming hand on his shoulder and looked into his eyes and asked him not to. Ric went off with his temper tantrum and began to yell at them about having an affair. Alexis sighed and rolled her eyes and walked out just hoping she could wish him away.

Once Alexis was out of earshot Jason yanked him by the arm and pulled him towards the door, "leave Ric now" he said and finally something snapped, "tell Alexis she will be hearing from my custody attorney" he said angrily before slamming the door. Jason whipped out his cell phone and called a specific number. By the time Alexis came back out the locksmith's were on there way, and a guard was posted at her door. She apologized for Ric's behavior and Jason shrugged and smiled a sad smile.

When they came to the door they said their goodbyes, and before he walked out Alexis muttered two words, "thank you" to which he simply nodded. She couldn't explain the feeling when he left, and how much she wanted him to stay. Ric had once commented that she was drawn to powerful men…maybe it was true…maybe it was the calm power that Jason exuded that was drawing her to him…or the blue eyes that held so many emotions from a man the doctors said could carry none. Whatever it was…she didn't know what to do with it.

He left, and yet a part of him was crying out for her to ask him not to. But he left and she smiled; he had never noticed her beauty before and yet in the past weeks it had become like a revelation to him. Her face had a regal quality about it, and her wide warm brown eyes could capture your soul if you let them. Or maybe it was the way the whole world saw her neurotic and controlling, and yet a moment alone with her and her children and you began to notice a quiet vulnerability…he didn't know what it was, and he didn't know what to do with it.

He purposely stayed away hoping that these feelings would go away…and yet each night when he closed his eyes he wondered how she was doing…how the girl's were…he made sure to keep tabs on Ric and make sure he wasn't giving them any trouble. He had moved into Sonny's house which was fine with Jason…good riddance to both of them was all he could think.

She hadn't seen Jason in two weeks…surprisingly considering how many times she strolled on into Kelly's…just hoping to run into him. She had rented out an office space at the Metro Court to start her own practice. Quite surprisingly Jax called her up to tell her that Carly thought it was a good idea. Alexis smiled; wondering if Carly wasn't attempting to make amends for her own indiscretions with her mother's husband. Alexis decided not to care and she jumped on the offer. She needed something to take her mind off of Ric, Sam, and a certain blue eyed mob king pin that for some reason she couldn't get out of her head.

He went to Puerto Rico for a week, part business; part just him wanting to get away from it all. Jason was always expected to be the strong one, the one to put it all back together, but right now he just needed a break from it all. He hoped this would help his increasing thoughts about a certain lawyer with the infectious smile…and yet at the same time he didn't want them to go away.

Everything seemed to be going right until the morning she got the papers from the court about the divorce. It seemed Ric was making a big stink about custody; even though she had promised him they would work out a schedule for Molly…even if he was the biggest jerk on the planet she would never keep his daughter away from him. She sighed and thought about throwing something against the wall; as she looked around her office she decided none of them were worth breaking over Ric. So she walked out and planned to give him a piece of her mind.

He walked into the Metro Court looking for Carly; until a woman quite literally fell into his arms. He held her inhaling the scent of her hair, liking the way her cool skin felt against his, and then she shifted her eyes to his revelation she wasn't a stranger.

She should have been looking where she was going, but her anger mixed with a new pair of heels proved to be a disaster waiting to happen. At first she was mortified to practically fall into someone's arms, but then when she felt the stranger's strong arms steady her she kind of melted in the embrace enjoying the smell of his skin. When she looked up to see her rescuer she was astonished to see a familiar pair of blue eyes.

He smiled softly at her as she drew back flustered and apologized, rambling on about Ric and divorce and he saw the anger, hurt and sadness run across her face. He placed a calming hand on her shoulder and asked her if she didn't want to grab a bite to eat and talk about it. She didn't even think before she responded and maybe that was why she agreed to lunch.

That was how it started; over coffee, becoming friends. She didn't know what it was about Jason Morgan that suddenly made her feel like a giddy schoolgirl when they were together…and maybe it was wrong I mean is Carly's best friend, Sonny's life long comrade, her daughter's ex fiancée, but for once she didn't want to think about what was right.

He watched the way she was…walking through the door of Kelly's in jeans and a light sweater. He had come to enjoy these meetings almost too much…he wondered if maybe he was getting in over his head. His best friend hated her, his self proclaimed brother sired one of her children, and her daughter was the woman he thought he would spend the rest of his life with…and yet when she smiled at him and pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, he found that none of that even mattered anymore.

It was after dinner one night that he walked her to her door, and instead of putting the key in the lock she turned to him and embraced him pulling his warm body close to hers. She didn't know why it was an impulse to do…but it felt right having him so close to her.

She hugged him, tightly…and everything in his body screamed at him to run away, or to kiss her with a reckless abandon. At that moment she made the decision for them…

A/N: I know I left you with a cliffhanger, but that is just anticipation for next chapter! So, it is short, and moving at snail's pace, but I really think I like it better like that. Anyway thank you so much all my reviewers, I appreciate every single one of them-you all are awesome!