A/N – Thanks for the comments! Glad you like the friendships and romance.

Chapter 28

"You wish that they lived closer don't you?" Julian asked.

"I do, but this way we have an excuse to meet up with them. I like the little mini vacations. How are you and Carly doing?"

"We're good. She fell asleep here last night and Carlos carried them upstairs. I got to make breakfast with Michael which was messy, but good."

"I'm glad that you're happy dad."

"After your mother died, I tried to keep our lives stable. I focused on you and making sure I didn't screw things up."

"You didn't."

He was young when it happened, so he wasn't a monk, but there were very few women and he didn't regret it. Elizabeth was all he had left of his wife and he cherished every moment with her. He kissed her on the top of her head. "Carly is a little over the top sometimes, but she loves hard and she's loyal. I need that. Michael is great and I find myself wanting to be there for him."

Liz smiled. "If things work out, do you want to have a child with her eventually?"

"I don't know. I mean, if it happened I wouldn't be adverse to it."

"You're a great dad and I think Michael is really lucky to have you in his life."

"Thank you." He really had no idea what he was doing after Faith died, but he was so grateful that Elizabeth was a great kid and made it look easy.

There was a knock on the door and he could hear the guard talking to someone before it swung open. He was holding a package and Julian got up and took it from him. He frowned before pulling the tab on the envelope. Pictures fell out and Liz jumped up and gasped. They were of her and Jason at the lake house along with Doreen, Jim, and Carol. A picture of Carly and Michael at the park sent Julian on a cursing spree. He pulled out his phone. "Carlos?"

"Yeah."

"Where are you?"

"I'm on my way back."

"Turn around. Someone just send me pictures of Carly and Michael."

"Shit."

"Don't leave them."

Carlos pulled over. "I won't."

He ended the call and after a minute, Jason picked up.

"Where are you?"

"I'm standing at Carly's door."

"Carlos is on the way. Don't leave until he gets there and then come to the house."

Jason could tell it was serious. "Okay."

He pulled out his gun and pounded on the door. Looking around, he saw two of Julian's guards make themselves known and he nodded.

Carly pulled open the phone and gasped at the sight of Jason. His gun was drawn, muscles rippling, and he looked downright lethal. "Jason?"

"Are you alright?"

"Yes. What the hell is going on?"

Jason slipped his gun in the back of his pants in just enough time before Michael came running, leaping into his arms.

He smiled and moved into the house. "Hey buddy."

"Where have you been?"

"I went on vacation. Are you being good for your mommy?"

He nodded. "We slept over Julian's house."

Jason head tilted as Carly rolled her eyes.

"And I helped him make pancakes."

"That must have been messy."

Michael smiled.

"He had flour all over him. I'll text you a picture. Michael, go get the motorcycle we bought the other day so you can show your uncle."

He wiggled down and took off upstairs.

"What happened?"

"I don't know. Carlos is on his way and will explain. Julian called and told me not to leave until Carlos gets here."

"Does it ever end?"

"No."

She moved towards him and they hugged.

Michael ran towards them. "Look, it's just like yours."

Jason smiled. "It is."

Michael took off running, making motorcycle sounds.

"He asks about you all the time. I think you're his hero."

"I'll try to spend more time with him, although, he does have Julian now."

Carly grinned. "I'm happy."

"I'm glad. It will keep you out of trouble."

"But it always finds me."

He chuckled at the look on her face. "This is true. Maybe Diane can file a restraining order."

He hadn't heard a lot from her lately since she was devoted to making sure Francis was healing and he was. The last report Jason got was that he was getting good on his crutches and healing.

There was a knock on the door so Jason got it. "Hey."

Carlos moved past him. "Hey."

"What's going on?" Carly asked.

"Someone sent Julian some pictures of you and Michael at the park as well as Jason and Liz on vacation."

"Shit."

"Johnny has been informed. Paulie is on his way to Doreen and Jim."

"Good," Jason said as he smoothed his hair. "I have to go."

Carly grabbed his arm as he turned. "Be careful."

"I will. Listen to whatever Carlos says. I don't want to lose you or Michael."

"Okay."

Jason ran out to the car and headed to Julian's house.

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When Jason walked into living room, Liz jumped up and rushed into his arms. He held her tightly as his eyes connected with her father's.

"Is she okay?" Julian asked.

"Yes. Michael was playing when I left and Carly knows to do whatever Carlos asks."

"Until we know who we're dealing with, I think we should all be on lock down."

"I agree."

"I want you to take Elizabeth with you."

She stepped backwards like she had been slapped. "No."

"Elizabeth, you'll be safer at the towers."

"And then what about you?"

"I'll be fine. I have guards surrounding me, but I refuse to take a chance with your life. If they get through, then I'll deal with it. Please. I would feel better if you weren't here."

Her eyes filled with tears. They were defiant and angry.

"No! I won't leave you again. We fight together. If things get really bad, I'll go into the panic room, but I have no intention of leaving you."

Jason watched the standoff, wondering who would crack first. "I'm wherever you are."

Her eyes shifted. "Thank you."

"Jason, talk some sense into her."

"So now I'm daft? You are being ridiculously stubborn. Do not ask me to walk away and leave you here yet again."

"Elizabeth, you are not a fighter. If you're here, then I have to worry about defending you."

"I'm not some helpless child. I know how to shoot. If you're injured, I can take care of you. You always accuse me of running. Let me stay and fight. It's my choice."

Julian slowly walked towards his daughter. "I wasn't trying to slight you. I love you Elizabeth and just don't want you to get hurt."

"I have a gallery to open. I'm going to live my life, not in fear, but like I normally would. If something happens to change that, then I'll deal with it. Clearly they are toying with us."

Her father embraced her.

Julian looked over at Jason. "I guess you're moving back in?"

"Yeah." He was actually glad he'd get to be with her again.

Liz slightly smiled. "I'll go back to your place with you and help you pack."

"Okay."

She kissed her dad on the cheek. "We'll be back soon."

"Be careful."

They left hand in hand leaving a worried Julian behind.

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Jason finished packing the last of his clothes. He had about a week's worth in his bag. They stuck around for a bit while he did some laundry.

"I figured you send your laundry out to be cleaned?"

He shrugged. "It doesn't take that long to do. I don't mind it."

"I think being around Millie is spoiling me."

"Elizabeth, I need you to be really careful at the gallery. Of course we'll have a lot of guards there, but I want to look into putting some kind of panic room in there too, even if it's small. Is there a closet in the office?"

She nodded. "It's not that big."

"It's big enough for you to stand in, right?"

"Yes."

"We can put some shelving up high so water some food non-perishable food can be stocked in there. I'm sure we could cushion the floor. I know it might be a bit claustrophobic, but it could fit two people right?"

She thought about her and Georgie. "Yes."

"Do you mind if I make it happen this week?"

"It would work perfectly since the other construction people are still working on the walls."

"I'll make the call."

He got Cal on the phone and he agreed to stop by the next day.

"He'll be there at 11:30."

"Sounds good." She'd do whatever it took for her to be safe.

"What about the space on the ground floor?"

"It's empty. I was tempted to use it as a studio." It would need some better lighting, but she had already started drawing up some plans.

"It would need to have a panic room too in case you couldn't get upstairs."

"There's space. We can make it work."

He entwined their fingers. "Knowing you are safe makes me feel a lot better."

"Me too."

"You are going to be the love of my life. I can already tell."

She smiled. "You make me feel so lucky."

He kissed her reverently. "I'm the lucky one."

"We'll just have to learn to share that title."

"If you insist…."

She straddled him as their body melded together and it quickly got out of control. He carried her upstairs and made love to her until they were exhausted.

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The next day, Jim called Jason to find out what was going on after spotting Paulie in his car.

"Sorry, I should have called. Honestly, we don't know entirely, but someone took pictures of all of us together and I didn't want to take the chance. I don't think they have a beef with you, but with the pregnancy and all, I wanted to make sure that you were safe."

Jim understood. They took certain risks because of the friendship, but he wasn't going to let some crazy person ruin their bond. "Would it make you feel better if we slept in the shelter for a while?"

"If you don't mind, I think it's for the best."

"Okay. I have a delivery to make in a few days. Can Doreen come stay with you?"

"Of course."

"What about Chloe?"

"Hold on."

Julian had just gone into the kitchen so he followed him.

"Jim is going out of town in a few days. Can Doreen come stay with us?"

"You think that's a good idea in case something goes down?"

Jim could hear. "Jason, is it more dangerous to have her there?"

"I'm not sure. She could stay at my parent's house. It's well protected and they weren't included in the pictures." Jason honestly felt that whoever was screwing around with them were after the Jeromes first and foremost.

"You think they'd mind."

"Let me call my mom and make sure they are okay with Chloe. If not, she can stay with us."

"Okay."

Jason ended the call and Monica picked up on the first ring.

"Jason?"

"Hey, a friend of ours needs a place to stay for a few days. She's pregnant and her husband didn't want to leave her alone."

"Is she in the mob?"

"No, but she's our friend and could be targeted because of it."

"I don't have a problem with it. We have plenty of room."

Jason had already spoken to Carole and she was going to go stay with her son.

"They have a very big dog. She's beautiful, but slobbers a lot."

Monica made a sound, making Jason chuckle. "I'm just scared she'll knock into us and hurt us. Edward isn't getting any younger."

"Alright, we'll take the dog and you get the girl."

Monica chuckled. "Sounds good."

Julian's brow went up, making Jason smile.

"Is it okay?" Jason asked before dialing Jim.

"I guess. I'll put up the valuables so she can't do any serious damage."

Jim answered. "Hello?"

"Yeah, Doreen can stay with my parents and Chloe is with us."

"I'll deliver them on Tuesday. I'll be in my truck."

"There is plenty of room for it at my parent's house."

"Sounds good."

"I'll text you the address."

Elizabeth joined them. "What's going on?"

"Doreen is going to come stay with my parents while Jim is on the road. We thought it would be safer. Chloe will be with us."

Liz smirked. "I see."

Julian looked at her curiously. "You're not jealous of a dog are you?"

"What? No! I mean, not really."

The guys laughed.

"She's not sleeping in the bed."

"I wasn't thinking she would."

Liz grabbed a banana. "I'm out of here. Have a good day."

Jason chased after her and gave her a kiss she wouldn't soon forget. "I do that one better later."

She bit her lip and walked out the door. "Damn," she muttered. Jason just sizzled.

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Georgie perused the gallery. "It's starting to look good."

"I know. I can really visualize it now."

"What do you need me to do?"

Liz handed her a list. "I put them in order of importance. If you can handle that, we can then get started on my supply order."

Georgie read through them quickly to see if she had any questions, but she didn't so she went into the office to make some calls.

Elizabeth worked with the construction foreman and then caught a movement and saw Cal.

"Ms. Jerome, it's nice to meet you."

"Jason has said a lot of good things about you. I'll show you the space downstairs and then the closet in the office."

"Sounds good."

She took him around and Cal already had some ideas. They discussed them and Elizabeth liked what she heard. He said that it could be done by the end of the week. He took measurements and would order everything that was needed to secure the closets and make them impenetrable.

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Jason showed up with some lunch for everyone. Milo helped him carry bags and handed it out to the construction workers who were very surprised.

They put a blanket on the floor and Elizabeth insisted that Milo sit with them. He made a few calls to make sure other guards were in place and then relaxed.

Georgie handed him a sandwich and they started to eat.

"So good," Liz said as she chewed the hoagie.

"The best in the area," Milo said.

Georgie moaned. "Wow." It was so fresh.

"How do you like your first day so far?" Jason asked.

Georgie wiped her mouth. "It's been challenging, but I've loved every minute of it."

"She already got some donations for a program I'm starting. I didn't even ask her and she slipped it into her conversation. I want to start an art program for children. They could use my studio space downstairs a couple of days a week after school. I want to encourage them like my dad did to me."

Jason softly smiled at her. "I think that sounds great. If you need more donations, Sonny and I are always looking for a cause."

"Thanks. We'll keep that in mind when it's time to buy supplies," Georgie said.

"Whatever you need, we'll buy."