And now onto the next update! I know where this story is going, it's just a matter of me finishing it. I have schedule set in my mind but we'll see how work this week treats me!

The months leading up to the wedding were anything but smooth sailing. After returning to Port Charles, Jason dropped Maxie off at her childhood home to talk things through with Robin and Mac.

Maxie showed off the 2 karat round diamond engagement ring and listened to Mac's continual pleads to call the whole thing off. By now Maxie and Robin just learned to ignore Mac's request and Maxie continued on telling of how Jason proposed. Minus the burnt chicken and hours spent making love on every possible surface the island provided.

"Are you sure this is what you want to do Maxie, shackle yourself down with a professional killer?"

"Oh Mac would you just stop already!" Robin said defending Maxie. "You gave Jason permission, and he's going to follow through."

"Mac, I love him, and he loves me. Jesse—that was the last time I ever thought maybe I'd marry this guy. When Jason kisses me—"

"Maxie I don't want to hear this—"

"Just let me finish." She said strongly, Robin smiling at her cousin's boldness. "When Jason kisses me. It's like everything else in the world disappears. I know all you see him as is Sonny's flunky and enforcer to the Port Charles mob; but to me…Jason's the man who leaves messages on my phone to tell me how beautiful he thinks I am. He talks me out of all my crazy schemes and keeps me level headed. Dad he lets me dress him! Jason Morgan, the one man outfit guy. Just be happy for me. Your daughter is loved, and loved by a man who would do anything to keep me happy and safe, isn't that what parent's want for their children anyway?"

"Okay I get it!" Mac finally smiled, just wanting the Jason Morgan uplifting portion of this evening over.

"I've missed you Dad. I know that Jason isn't the man you would have chosen for me, but he's the man I choose. I want to be able to share my life with both of you. And in the future, when Jason and I have children I want them to know there grandpa Mac. And for Grandpa to not hate their father."

"One step at a time Maxie." Mac said pulling her into a hug.

"That's all I can ask for." Maxie smiled happy that her relationship with the only father she had ever truly known was slowly taking a turn, and this time for the better.

~*~

It seemed like everyone in Port Charles had an opinion about their engagement. From Epiphany who told her she was setting herself up for a lifetime of pain. To Kate who thought nothing would be better than to run the wedding in the fall issue of the magazine, Maxie quickly reminded her of the last incident, and the older fashionista quickly retracted her proposal. Cody hugged Maxie much to Jason's surprise and told her he'd actually miss being her guard.

Maxie was on top of wedding plans, and even convinced Jason that wearing a tie wouldn't be that bad, and he could even take it off at the reception, which Carly was throwing as her wedding present to the couple at the Metro Court.

When it came down to final details Lulu and Spinelli were chosen to represent them as maid of honor and best man respectively. Jason's bachelor party consisted of Spinelli, Patrick, Cody, and brief appearance by Sonny and Mac. And their time consisted of drinks and karaoke at Jakes; although Jason didn't sing.

The girls went to a spa during the day, getting nice and pampered all on Jason's dollar of course, followed by dinner in a suite and a surprise appearance by a male entertainer, a crazy idea agreed upon by Robin and Carly.

It was finally the week of the nuptials and Maxie was moving back to Mac's for the week, via pre-wedding ritual. "Are you sure you really have to do this?"

"Jason it's traditional." Maxie said standing at the door with her suitcase.

"But it's this suitcase. I don't like seeing you standing at this door like this. It looks like you're leaving me with the amount of stuff your taking."

"Well if you start to miss my stuff you can just go over to the walk in closet. There are plenty of other clothes that I'm sure would love your attention." She joked moving away from the bag to sit with Jason on the couch.

"I'm just going to miss you." Jason admitted leaning into kiss her. One kiss turned into another, and another until Jason was covering Maxie's body with his, his hand working its way underneath her shirt fiddling with the clasp of her bra. "If you leave how on earth are we going to have our daily sex?" He said finally freeing the clasp. Jason sat up quickly working to remove Maxie's shirt taking the bar with it.

"This was not in the plan!"

"Would you like to stop?"

"No!" Maxie immediately responded. "Can you just promise me one thing?"

Jason waited for Maxie to ask.

"Promise me, that just because we're getting married; promise me that you'll still want to do this with me. Even after we have kids, or when were old and wrinkly?"

"Maxie, you will never have to worry about that." Jason smiled before reclaiming her lips for another searing kiss.

~*~

That last detail consisted of a final dress fitting, making sure the decorations at the church were just right, Lulu and Robin took over the bulk of the responsibilities making sure that every item on Maxie's wedding to-do list were checked and double checked.

And Mac tried one last chance to talk his daughter out of marrying into the mob.

"So tomorrow."

"Yes Mac tomorrow. Tomorrow I become Mariah Maximillian Morgan."

"And you're sure?"

"Mac we've been through this!" Maxie whined leaning back against the couch.

"I'm just making sure." He said, a slight smile creeping across his features. He had never really pictured Maxie as being the marrying type of girl, but she seemed so steadfast in her decision. Giving Mac the tiniest bit of calm. "And about your mother?"

"I've been with Jason for over a year. We haven't heard from mom in 3 years. If she really wanted to make an effort to know me, she would have tried to contact me, at some point in all of this. And she hasn't. I only want people at this wedding that love me, and support my decision."

"You're including me in that statement?" Mac laughed, finally getting a smile out of his daughter.

"Yes Mac. You will never admit it, and I'd never ask you to say it in public. But you like Jason Morgan. And I, I love him."

"Who are you and what have you done with my stubborn emotionally stunted daughter?" Mac joked.

"I know I used to believe that it was Spinelli who brought out the best in me. And he did. But I learned that my best can always be better."

"Did Jason ever tell you about the day he asked permission?" Mac smiled leaning back into the couch wrapping his arm around Maxie's shoulders.

"I know that it involved handcuffs and a lie detector test, but that's about it."

"Why don't I fill in some blanks for you?"

**

"So to what do we owe this voluntary visit?" Mac joked sitting on the edge of the table. "Here to make a confession?"

"I'm here to talk to you about Maxie. She's fine." Jason assured.

"Then what is there to talk about? Are you finally going to do something noble and let her go?"

"I want you to know, I didn't ask Maxie to stop talking to you. I would never ask her to do that. In some warped way that only Maxie's mind works she told herself, that until things between you two were on better terms she'd rather ignore you than fight with you." Jason explained.

"That does sound like Maxie." Mac thought his smirk changing to a small but noticeable frown. "So what brings you here?"

"We had a scare a couple months ago. She took an at home test and then we went to the hospital where Robin gave her a blood test. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since."

"Why are you telling me this Jason? Do you really think it's going to benefit you to tell me how careless you are when it comes to protecting my daughter?"

Jason ran a hand over his face. "The truth is I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. And I would never push Maxie to think about children if she didn't express a desire for them too."

"Jason would you just get to the point already!"

"I want to have a family with your daughter Mac, not just children; I want to marry your daughter." Jason finally said taking a beat to let the new information sink in. "I know you have your concerns regarding my life. But I would never knowingly risk Maxie or my child's life."

Mac didn't waste any time before moving around the table and lifting Jason out of the chair tossing him into the wall. "Hands behind your head." Mac barked. Jason complied and soon had his hands cuffed behind his back.

**

"Mac didn't you learn your lesson from Patrick." Maxie smiled. "Clearly your tough guy routine didn't work on him, why did you think it would work on Jason?"

Mac just shook his head. He didn't actually think it would work. He just wanted to see if Jason was willing to jump through the hoops.

"So the lie detector test. Were there any question's that Jason failed?"

"He didn't fail any questions. But he refused to answer a few of them."

"Let me guess, you took that opportunity to ask him about the business?" Mac just nodded. "Mac Jason still makes me leave the room when anything closely resembling business is involved."

"That's good." Mac smiled truly happy for his daughter's bright state of mind. And as much as Mac didn't want to admit it, it was almost completely because of Jason Morgan.

"I should probably get some sleep."

"Yes you should. You are getting married in the morning." Mac actually managed to say with a true smile on his face.

"I love you daddy." Maxie smiled as she bounced up the stairs. Mac finally alone again, had time to sit back and process the final thoughts in his head. Tomorrow his only living daughter would walk down the aisle.

When he first got involved with Felicia he knew that Maxie came along with the deal. The cute curious little blonde ball of sunshine next; Georgie, and although her conception caused a little drama amongst the adults in the girls lives in the end it was Mac who raised them into the girls they had become.

Somewhere along the way they each choose to live out their lives in their own ways. Georgie was always a bookworm; always focused on others. Even during her brief defiance with her marriage to Dillon, he knew that deep down Georgie would still be there even when they weren't speaking to each other.

With Maxie; things had always been a bit more difficult. Maxie had been older and had a few more memories of Frisco; meaning she knew the hurt of not just a mother—but a father too who deserted her. And as much as Mac's constant presence in her life tried to dissuade her fear it never seemed like enough.

Early on Maxie started her rebellious streak traveling into Canada with people from school to get her first tattoo. Her irrational crush on Lucky Spencer, which after years of waiting led to her affair with him.

All the men in Maxie's life had let her down. Had abandoned her in some way or another. Whether through their unfortunate death; or they proved themselves to be unworthy of Maxie's attention. He had always assumed that Jason would eventually fall into one of those categories.

But here he was.

The night before his only living daughter's wedding. Tomorrow morning he would wake up; get dressed in his suit and tie and willing give his daughter to the Port Charles mob. Did Mac believe that Jason would do everything in his power to keep her safe? Absolutely.

Jason was loyal to a fault, which was the only reason he knew that he could—and would go through with this.

Tomorrow.

~*~

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