DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters.

Twenty-One

Spinelli looked up from his laptop when the elevator chimed, announcing an incoming guest. He looked up expectantly for Sonny or Carly or some other known being to walk out but instead he was graced with the presence of one of the most beautiful beings he had come to see.

"Hi," she said surprised to find a stranger sitting outside the penthouse.

Spinelli was at a loss for words and couldn't even move.

"Who are you?" she asked wrapping her sweater tightly across her body.

"The Jackal," he said in a rush setting down his computer and holding out his hand. "I reside here, currently unwanted inside."

"Okay. Is Jason around?"

"Stone Cold is inside with fair Elizabeth, young Cam and the innocent one having breakfast."

"So I shouldn't interrupt them?" she asked curiously.

"Only if you would like to. I have chosen to wait it out in the hallway where I can work in peace." Spinelli nervously stood in front of her unsure what to say next. "You are the wickedness herself, Stone Cold's, evil ex-wife. Am I correct?"

Brenda looked at him but didn't say anything.

"Of course, those are the words of the Valkyrie herself and not mine. To me you are Aphrodite. Goddess of Beauty and Love. And the eternal fashionista, the one who has the everlasting love of the Godfather, and the most beautiful girl in the world."

Brenda laughed a little before holding out her hand.

"Brenda would suffice. I need to see Jason."

"I'll announce you," Spinelli offered as he picked up his laptop, knocked on the door and slowly opened it. He peaked inside. Jason and Elizabeth were sitting on the couch, Cam in her lap, Jake in his arms.

"You have a visitor," Spinelli told him.

"Who?" Jason asked.

"The ex-wife," Spinelli said hesitantly before opening the door wider and Brenda walked in.

She was slightly taken aback by the child in Jason's arms and the cozy little situation that was before her. Elizabeth's smile slowly faded. Apparently neither was aware that Brenda was in town.

"Sorry to stop by so unexpectedly. I'm kind of on a strict schedule and this was the only time I could," she said as Spinelli closed the door behind her and stood awkwardly behind her.

"It's okay," Jason said.

"I need to talk to you, if that's okay," she started as her phone started to ring. She hesitated a moment before looking at the caller ID. "Excuse me just a second." Brenda flipped open the phone. "Hi." She listened on the other end as Lois very quickly rattled of a string of information. "She did what? I'm going to kill her," Brenda hissed. "I'm on my way." Brenda hung up the phone and replaced it in her pocket. "Can you do me a favor?" she asked ignoring the crowd they had.

"What?" Jason asked.

"Can you call Sonny and tell him you have an emergency and that he needs to come here right away?" she asked.

Jason didn't ask, because the tone of her voice and the brief conversation, told him she meant business. He flipped open his phone and after a few quick seconds he hung up. "It's off."

Brenda cursed under her breath and looked at him. "I need to go. Sorry to bother you." She quickly opened the door and disappeared outside. Jason quickly passed off Jake to Elizabeth and followed Brenda out to catch her as the elevator door opened, hearing the door close behind him.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Don't worry about it. I can handle it," she told him stepping into the elevator.

He blocked it from closing with his hand.

"What did you need to talk about?" he asked.

She realized it was now or never. She wished for never but now she had an escape route and she could drop her bombshell and disappear.

"I'm pregnant," she told him flat out, looking him straight in the eyes before putting a protective hand over her stomach. "And you're the father."

His guard was down. He had no response and his reflexes failed him as the elevator door slid shut, blocked him out.