The silence in the room was deafening. Scared to be the first one to speak, Elizabeth carefully kept her tear filled eyes down. Flashbacks from her own childhood washed over her. Memories she'd carefully kept locked away. The wounds caused by hurt feelings from callous words never really healed. Not completely anyway.

Being an orphan at such a young age was traumatic enough. Being an orphan whose parents were murdered under questionable circumstances, made her and her siblings targets of whispered gossip. In several instances their words weren't spoken quietly enough. Soon after starting school, a scary and emotional experience without the gentle encouragement of her parents, the name calling had started.

No one knew how to fling an insult like a child. Delivered carelessly with no remorse. Unlike adults, young children rarely understood what they were saying. They were just repeating what they'd overheard from adults who couldn't seem to keep their venom to themselves. Sometimes, she really did blame the parents.

Clearing her throat, Debra looked heatedly at the parents in the room. Her mouth was pinched tight until she finally shook her head in disgust. "I want to make something clear. This is my school. Your children are mine from eight until two-thirty."

"I was under the impression that this was a public school." Ric Lansing apparently missed the anger radiating from Debra, but when he was on the receiving end of her don't mess with me stares he snapped his mouth shut and wiped the stupid smirk from his face.

"Where this school has a zero tolerance for violence, we also don't put up with emotion abuse." Pausing, Debra took a deep breath. "How the three of you feel about one another outside this school is none of my concern, or my business. But I'm not above giving you some well needed advice. Children are impressionable. They learn by example. Your mannerisms, and conversations are closely monitored at all times. They are just learning to separate good from bad in a social aspect. Don't let you bigotry, and ignorant words set them on a path that may not be of their choosing."

"How dare you." Looking as though she'd been slapped, hard across the face, Alexis's chest heaved. "You can't speak to me like that!"

"Really?" Tilting her head to the right, Debra looked almost smug. "I don't remember seeing it written anywhere that I can't give my professional advice." Sitting down in her chair, she folded her hands on top of her desk. "You may take your children home for the day. With the school's policy each of the students will get a warning."

"Are you kidding me?" This time Ric didn't look smug.

"Zero tolerance Mr. Lansing. We're living in a different world."

"Kyle's the one with a bloody nose."

"Zero tolerance covers more than one type of violence. The next time it'll be a weeks suspension."

"I'll have you know, I have lunch with Superintendent Morris at the Port Charles Country Club." Crossing her arms over her chest, Alexis Davis tone was meant to intimidate. Elizabeth was glad to see that the principal didn't even bat an eye.

"I'm aware he eats Ms. Davis. I'm sure you'll understand that I'm required to notify him of today's situation. Unless there's anything else, I have a meeting and Miss Webber has a classroom of children who'll be back from recess any moment."

Alexis and Ric exchanged a mutinous look before storming out, their hushed words were cut off when Lansing shut the door a little harder than necessary.

"Mr. Morgan, I don't even know how to apologize for today." Elizabeth watched as Debra's expression softened. Glancing over to where Jason stood, she felt his eyes on her until he tore them away to Debra.

"Why?" There was no mistaking the pent up fury, but his reply was softly spoken. "You're not the one who caused this."

"No, but it's my responsibility to ensure a safe and comfortable place for Michael to learn."

"I know." Nodding once, Jason frowned. "Is there anything else?"

"What?" Looking startled, Debra shook her head. "No, not at all. Michael's a very well behaved child. You should be proud. If you two will excuse me, I really need to update Mr. Morris before that wretched woman gets a hold of him."

Taking this as her queue to leave Elizabeth gave her boss a soft smile before heading to the closed door. Jason beat her to it, and opened it for her. It was odd, after their last meeting, she would've thought he'd prefer slamming it on her foot.

Stopping just inside the office, Elizabeth knew it would be just easier to leave things the way they were. It wouldn't be taking the easy path, and she'd be damned to let that happen.

"Ja -." Clearing her throat and shooting a glance around to see if anyone had caught her slip, Elizabeth was pleased to find no one around. "Mr. Morgan, I would also like to apologize."

"You're not the one filling those kids full of crap." Blinking, Elizabeth watched while some of the cool exterior seemed to chip away. Not too sure how to take the sudden change, she decided to tread softly.

"No, but I'm their teacher and should've noticed if there was any tension between them. I don't know, maybe found a way to -."

"You're not a miracle worker." With a sarcastic laugh, Jason looked down at her. "There wasn't anything you could've done to stop this."

Frowning, Elizabeth contemplated what he said. It was hard not to feel as though there was something she could've done. "Still, I think I'll reassign seating. Michael and Kyle sit at the same table."

"Don't." His words were sharp and left no room for argument. "That's not going to help Michael."

"It's not going to help -."

Wishing for once she'd just listen to him, Jason held up his hand to silence her. "Michael needs to learn that not everyone in the world is going to like him. It doesn't matter if it's because their parents are too stupid to keep their mouths shut, or they don't like the way he dresses. Coddling him will only make him into a sniveling snot like that Lansing kid."

"So, you don't want me to do anything? Just sit back and let this run it's coarse." The idea didn't sit well with her.

"Yeah, something like that."

"I'm sorry, but I don't know if I can do that. I can't allow this kind of disruption in the classroom. It's not fair to the other children, or to Michael." Seeing that Jason was starting to look annoyed again, an expression she was starting to recognize, Elizabeth sighed. "How about this, I'll try it your way. But if something like this happens again, I'll reassign seating."

Taking her words into consideration, Jason finally relented. "Fine. I'm going to take Michael home."

"You're not mad, are you?" Shifting uneasily in his seat, Michael Morgan looked over at his father with uncertainty.

"No." Gripping the steering wheel tight enough to make his knuckles turn white, Jason glanced in the rearview mirror, more out of habit but it after the last few days it paid to be on guard. "I understand why you hit that Lansing kid, but perhaps in the future you tone it down a bit."

A part of him wanted to congratulate his on an excellently delivered blow. It would've been hypocritical of him to punish his son for doing something he probably would've done in his place. Except of doing it out in the open, he would've waited until prying eyes weren't around. But that lesson had taken years to learn.

The other part of him, the one the school board would thank in the coming years, couldn't sit back grinning like a maniac. There was a hard lesson his son needed to learn from this. Michael already had it rough enough, being the son of an un-convicted criminal. It didn't matter he and Sonny were responsible for the low crime rate and almost drug free community. The shadier side of the business made them enemies with the local law enforcement. That went double with D.A. Lansing and his uptight college Alexis Davis, who'd tried several times to pin them with anything that would put them behind bars.

"I ignored them like you said." Defending himself, Michael pouted and turned to look out the window. "Kyle said mean things about Mom."

He'd be a liar if he were to say he hadn't been effected by what Lansing's offspring had repeated. It'd been a sucker punch out of no where, and the thought that Michael had heard it from some smug spoiled brat made it worse.

There was only so much you could tell a three year old after they'd lost their Mother. It was hard enough getting Michael to understand that his Mommy wasn't going to be able to take him to the park anymore.

Besides, Jason would never believe in a hundred years that Carly had killed herself. The woman hadn't known the meaning of backing down. To do something like killing herself would mean she would've admitted to defeat. Hell would freeze over before that would've ever happened.

Not the best Mother in the world, Carly had one thing going for her. She'd loved Michael to the best of her abilities. He'd known that. It was the only reason he allowed her visitation rights to their son.

No, Carly had exactly what she had wanted. A townhouse he'd paid out the ass for in the posh part of town. A monthly allowance that kept her in all the designer clothing and shiny jewels that made her happy. Most importantly, she had the attention of every person in town. There was no reason she would've checked out like she had. On an overdose of cheap whiskey and a handful of sleeping pills. It wasn't dramatic enough for Carly's taste.

"Kyle said that Mom . . . that she killed herself because of you."

God he wanted to hit something.

"Do you think Miss Webber's mad at me?" Suddenly panicked, Michael looked up imploringly at his father.

The question caught him off guard. Hadn't he pegged her as one of the hypocritical residents who looked down their noses at him. Thinking she'd treat Michael the same way? "I think she's worried about you."

"I like her." Still looking worried, Michael chewed on his lower lip. "She doesn't know much about Geography, but she's really nice."

"I still can remember making you and Lucky hot chocolate after school." With a wistful sigh, Laura Spencer set the hot mug down in front of Elizabeth.

"I remember." Smiling weakly, Elizabeth wished she could turn back time and be ten again. With ten year old worries. Laura always seemed to knew how to make things better. "There wasn't anything your special hot chocolate couldn't solve."

"Want to talk about it?" Laura asked in her warm, compassionate way. It reminded Elizabeth of the first time she'd met her. Caring and compassionate, she'd accepted her into the Spencer family. Not caring how the rest of the town regarded her.

"Why do I feel like I've walked into an on going war?"

"Ah, yes. Davis and Lansing verses Corinthos and Morgan." Nodding, Laura made a face. "Between you and me, Alexis Davis drives me insane."

"You?" Perplexed, Elizabeth stared across the table. "I was under the impression you liked everyone."

"It's a talent." A saucy little grin flashed across her face. "But you're right. There's no love lost between them."

Needing a second to collect her thoughts, Elizabeth stared down at the marshmallows bobbing in her mug. "Laura, how close is Luke with Jason and Sonny?"

Looking momentarily stunned, Laura blow out a long breath. "That's not the question you really want to ask, is it?"

"No, it isn't." Not knowing if she was crossing the line, Elizabeth didn't want to insult the only family who accepted her unconditionally. "Ric Lansing said something about them being mobsters."

"Elizabeth, there's things about this town." Starting off badly, Laura licked her lips. "No lies. I once promised you I'd never lie to you Elizabeth."

"That was years ago."

"A promise is a promise." Tapping her finger a few times on the table, the older woman looked up. "But Elizabeth, you need to promise me something before I answer your questions. You can't breath a word to anyone."

Laura's serious expression was the only answer she needed. "Of course Laura."

"Luke is a silent partner with Sonny and Jason." Pausing, Laura eyed her shrewdly. "By the way, don't think I haven't noticed that you seem to be on a first name basis. We'll talk about that in a moment."

"So they're mobsters?"

"I suppose some would view them like that. I have to be honest, I work hard at being clueless. It makes my life a lot more calm. But I'm not a fool. I know Luke's association with Sonny and Jason isn't what I'd consider legal."

"Laura, they don't have anything to do with drugs, do they?"

"What?" Laura's eyes popped open. "No. God no. Elizabeth after what you've gone through. No. Luke would never. The three of them have worked hard to keep drug dealers out of Port Charles. Perhaps the way the go about it may be crossing the line, but I know Luke's only doing what he thinks is right."

Relieved beyond belief, Elizabeth felt the tension ease from her chest. "You're okay with what he does then?"

"I'm not thrilled with it. And there's things I could do without. But I love Luke. Expecting him to work some nine to five job is pointless. He's not really the shirt and tie kind of person if you haven't noticed. It's hard to explain." Tilting her head to the side, Laura stayed silent for a moment. "Someday you're going to find someone you love more than anything. But no one is perfect. You just have to know what you're able to accept. Now, tell me. How is it that you know Sonny and Jason?"

Licking her lips, Elizabeth looked around the kitchen before settling her eyes back on Laura. "Elizabeth, take it from me. Just spit it out. It's a lot easier."

"Lucky and I found a dead body in the woods behind my house."

" . . . Would you like a shot of Schnaps in your hot chocolate?" Laura stood and crossed the kitchen to the cabinet near the refrigerator. "Mint gives it a great kick."

"I'm sorry Laura, I shouldn't have just said it like that."

"No, don't be sorry Elizabeth. I'm the one who's sorry. With the way Luke's been acting for the last few days . . . He'd been hinting. It's the clueless thing." Pouring a shot into each of their mugs, Laura set down the bottle. "Okay tell me. All of it. From beginning to end."