Jax sat on the couch watching Jossie play on the floor with Molly who had brought out some of her old Barbie dolls. They were dressing them up for some party at a hotel that suspiciously sounded like the MC.

Jossie kept calling her doll, Carly and dressed her up in some barely there party outfit. Alexis didn't even know that Barbie's wardrobe included such skimpy attire. Molly kept trying to explain to Jossie that their Barbies would be career women not clueless airheads sitting around waiting for Ken to call.

All Jossie seemed to care about was whether there'd be corn on the cob for dinner. Jax worried about her fixation with it. Alexis assured him that Molly had wanted to dress up like a Brussels Sprout for Halloween once when she'd been the same age.

Jax nursed his brandy. He'd brought his daughter over for dinner and tree decorating after braving the frigid night. The fire crackling in front of them kept everyone cozy and warm. He and Jossie would be sleeping over so there was no need to worry about that.

"I just worry a lot about my daughter," he said, "What with Carly shacking up with a man that terrorized her and hurt other people. I'll never understand it…even after being married to the woman."

Alexis sipped her own brandy and reached for one of Molly's fudge brownies. Damn they were delicious and she couldn't stop with one. She had no idea where Molly's culinary talent had come from…must be one of the few good qualities from her father's side.

"I don't either…she told me she was using Derek…Julian to get information on Ava who'd hooked up with Morgan."

Jax winced at that. After all, he'd been Morgan's father figure of sorts for years before the marriage broke apart and Morgan had wound up at a military academy for his own good.

"That's over with thankfully," he said, "The man's no less dangerous than Franco."

Alexis stared at her glass. He glanced over at her.

"I'm sorry…I just think as a mobster he's no better than Sonny," he said, "and Sam deserved a lot better and so did you."

She sighed.

"The young man I knew wasn't like the mobster he became," she said, "He wasn't a preppy student but he was nice. I didn't know what that was like. It's not what I learned growing up."

Jax softened.

"I know Alexis. I understand but he didn't turn out to be anything but a ruthless killer," Jax said, "He murdered his own sister."

"She betrayed him and it had something to do with Duke Lavery. There's bad blood between those two men. Duke wound up working for Julian at his company and Julian…he must have been laughing the whole time he fooled Duke into taking that job."

"Just like he played you and Sam," Jax said, "He knew the whole time that you were looking for him and that he was Sam's father but he said nothing."

She ran a hand through her hair.

"I know…his war with Sonny meant more than Sam or Danny, his own flesh and blood did and that's what I can't get past."

Jax paused.

"What about you and him?"

She shrugged and sipped her drink again.

"What about it? There's nothing between us now. He's just Sam's father, that's all," she said, "I'll find a way to fit him in the mix like I did Sonny. I don't need a relationship with him to do that."

Jax leaned back on the couch.

"I don't think he shares that sentiment."

"So what? Besides it's not me that interests him," she said, "He thinks that if he makes good with me, he'll be in good with Sam and Danny…but it doesn't work that way. Sam's got her own feelings and she doesn't want to see him."

"He seems a man intent on getting what he wants."

She tucked a leg underneath her in her chair.

"He's not going to charm Sam into letting him see her and Danny," she said, "after what he did at the party."

Jax appeared to digest that.

"But I just wish…that it'd turned out differently. I mean when he was Derek Wells…he was nice. A good listener…of course at the time I didn't know he was using me to get information on his enemy Sonny."

Jax leaned forward.

"His loss then Alexis. I'm saying that as a man talking about his favorite ex-wife."

She glanced up at him smiling at her.

"Thanks Jax…you're my favorite ex-husband too… I'm just going to have to figure out where to fit Julian in my family and make sure he stays put there."

She knew it was easier said than done.

Julian waited for news from Carlos about the bomb that blew up the gift shop at the MC. The area was cordoned off and makeshift mobile carts had been set up to do its business including selling what was left of the decimated flower collection.

He'd eaten in the restaurant as customers buzzed about the disaster that many had narrowly missed. Dante hung around interviewing people out in the lobby. Ava had taken Morgan out to Kelly's to eat some burgers and fries before heading off to a concert.

So that left him alone.

He'd hoped to have dinner with Alexis so they could catch up and she would soften her stance on him since he'd revealed his true identity but she wasn't interested. She was more intent on spending the holidays with her ex-husband Jax who was staying at her house.

They looked extremely close and he wondered if Jax had any intentions on rekindling their relationship. Jax was a powerful, wealthy man who was like him, someone who focused on what he really wanted and went after it. With Alexis, he probably didn't have to work very hard at it if what he saw was any indication.

She looked as beautiful as always handling Carly's attitude at her ex-husband without breaking a sweat. Carly obviously had issues with any woman sharing space with even men that she'd tossed aside after she'd finished with them but Alexis clearly had learned how to handle her.

But she'd kept him at arm's length as well refusing to have anything to do with him. He'd hoped with some time her aloofness towards him would begin to thaw.

No such luck.

"Julian…"

He looked up and saw Carlos approaching him.

"Any news?"

Carlos sat down at the table and reached for the bread basket.

"Not much. They think the bomb was in a flower arrangement but given that everything around it was blown to bits, they haven't been able to isolate which one."

Julian frowned.

"They can test for explosive residue."

"Yeah but that'll take a while…days and probably weeks or longer," he said, "You think it was someone targeting us?"

Julian shook his head.

"Sonny doesn't have that kind of imagination and would never target Carly's hotel. It must be someone else."

Carlos nibbled on his bread.

"Then why you care who was targeted?"

Julian paused.

"I just find it suspicious. Maybe it has to do with Jasper Jax being in town."

Carlos shrugged.

"Again why should you care?"

Julian sipped his drink.

"Alexis would care."

Carlos nodded.

"Ah…of course that's what this is about," he said, "You know you could send her flowers or chocolate, it's a lot easier…or better yet drop in on her and Jax' tree trimming party."

Julian glowered and Carlos almost chuckled at his boss' expression.

"I mean that's much simpler than looking for a bombing that might involve the man currently spending time with her."

A waiter refilled his glass

"Getting all cozy in front of a warm fire near the Christmas tree," he said, "sipping egg nog or whatever people do here."

"I get the picture."

Carlos continued, picking out another piece of bread to sample.

"Perhaps even in close proximity to some mistletoe…."

Julian just stared at him.

"I told you…"

Carlos chuckled.

"Man I can't imagine why you're wasting your time here," he said, "If it were Sabrina…but she's still hung up on that loser still thinking on his dead wife."

"Carlos…so what's next? You know Sonny's going to strike back where he believes we're vulnerable."

"Don't worry about that. I got it covered…," he said, "He'll get his enforcer to carry it out and Shawn and his teenage ward were busy picking out a Christmas tree this afternoon."

Julian leaned back in his chair.

"Everyone's celebrating the holidays except us."

Carlos narrowed his eyes.

"Boss did I hear you right? You actually mentioned holidays? That's so unlike you being all about work and nothing else."

Julian sighed.

"Perhaps, but this year will be an exception. I'll talk to Ava and we'll celebrate Christmas."

Carlos blinked.

"Whatever you say boss…I'll do that…"

He walked away from the table shaking his head. Julian's mind was already planning how to celebrate the holidays.