A/N – Thanks for the comments! Glad you like the Q bets. Love reading your responses. * Kikimoo – Most guys are horndogs lol, but Johnny is not as slutty as people make him out to be. They mainly like teasing him. He's just a single guy who hooks up occasionally.

Chapter 32

Alan whistled as Michael covered his ears. "Enough!"

"No arguing."

"Tell them, Michael," Jason said.

"Mommy will put you on a time out."

"I would kind of like to see Carly put Tracy on a time out," Alan said.

"Please," Tracy muttered.

Carly shot her a look. "I only need one arm."

"You can borrow one of mine," Alice said.

"You're fired," Tracy yelled.

"You can't fire her. This is my house," Monica said.

Alice licked her tongue out.

"Grow up," Tracy said.

"Now you're on a time out for talking back to mommy," Michael said.

Tracy looked at him like he was crazy.

"You don't want to be a bad example, do you?" Jason asked.

"I am not going on a time out."

"Then no dessert," Michael said.

Tracy's mouth dropped open.

"I can make that happen," Alice said.

"Tracy is a really bad girl, isn't she?" Monica asked.

Michael smiled as he nodded.

"Pass the potatoes," Tracy said.

Carly's head tilted.

"What? He said no dessert. If I'm not eating it, then I'm going to fill up on the potatoes."

Jim chuckled and handed them to her.

"Taken down by a four-year-old," Jason said.

Tracy glared at him.

"Yep, that glare runs in the family," Liz said.

"It's been handed down from generation to generation," Edward said.

"How come I didn't get it?" Alan asked.

"You just didn't apply yourself. Besides, Monica has enough glare for the both of you."

"Thank you, Edward."

Jason shook his head. "My family is proud of the weirdest things."

Everyone laughed.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Jim stayed with Doreen for the night. He is leaving first thing in the morning. Jason and Liz went back to her house and walked Chloe so she'll be familiar with her surroundings. Julian was stunned when he saw her, but Chloe was so sweet that she drew him in right away.

She found a spot on the rug to plop down on and took a nap.

"She can sleep in the room with us," Jason said.

"That's fine. The property is surrounded by a fence, so she can run around all she wants," Julian said.

"Okay."

Milo walked in and saw Chloe. "Wow."

"I know. She's beautiful, isn't she?"

"Max told me about her." He sat on the floor next to Chloe and gave her some love. "I jog in the morning. I can do it in the back yard and take her with me." There was a lot of acreage behind the house.

"That's fine. I'll leave the door cracked in the room."

"Sounds good."

"How's Georgie?"

"Fine. She has been texting me more."

"That's good. Her parents arrived tonight, so she's freaking out a little."

"That's not good."

"Hopefully, they won't upset her too much."

"If they do, she'll have you to lean on."

Milo smiled. "Yeah."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Georgie played with Hailey as Brenda and Robin talked. Mac is cooking a roast for dinner and Anna is propped up on the couch.

There is a knock on the door and Georgie's stomach flip-flopped.

Robin opened the door.

"Hello," Frisco said giving her a hug.

"Hi."

Felicia hugged her. "How are you doing?"

"It's tough, but we're hanging in there."

Georgie watched as they embraced Mac and then Anna. Hailey was introduced and finally her eyes locked with her mother's.

"Georgie."

"Hi," she said softly.

Frisco approached her. "You're as beautiful as ever."

Her eyes began to tear. "Thanks."

The tension is thick, so Robin held out her hand and took Hailey into the kitchen and Brenda followed.

Mac refused to leave in case things got ugly.

"I know you hate me for staying away," Frisco said.

Georgie wiped a tear away. "I just don't understand why you are back."

"Just because I wasn't here doesn't mean that I don't love you."

"I don't think either one of you know what that word means. You abandoned us and put your career first. I really don't want to discuss this. You're here, so I'll deal with it, but I don't need or want you in my life. You don't get how painful it is for me to see you."

She grabbed her keys. "I need to go for a walk. You can start without me."

"Georgie..."

Felicia touched his arm. "Let her go."

Georgie rushed outside, tears streaming down her face. Her guard followed at a distance, making sure he wasn't too far, but tried to give her space.

He called Milo who picked up right away.

"Enzo? Is she okay?"

"No. She's really upset and ran outside. We're on her street and she just stopped."

"I'll be right there."

Liz stood. "Is she okay?"

"No. I'll go get her."

"You can bring her back here if you want."

"Thanks."

He left and Liz turned to her father and Jason.

"She'll be fine," Jason said.

"I know. Her parents basically abandoned her and she's hurting. It must be so hard to see them."

"It is, but she's going to have to find a way to deal with that, so it doesn't destroy her every time," Julian said.

"That's easier said than done."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

Milo stopped his car and ran across the street. "Georgie!"

She looked up and then threw her arms around him as she sobbed.

"I've got you," he whispered.

It took several minutes for her to calm down and then he handed her some tissues and she blew her nose and wiped her face.

"I don't know why I'm letting this get to me so much."

"Losing Maxie took a toll on you and them being here is bringing up all your emotions."

"I just thought I was in a better place with it. You know? I mean it's not something that I can ever forget, but usually I can deal with seeing them."

"I'm sorry."

"Me too. I don't want to go back there."

"Liz said you could stay with her tonight."

"Really?"

Milo nodded. "If you want, you can stay in the car and I'll go get a bag for you."

"I would appreciate that."

"Okay."

She texted Robin to pack her backpack.

Milo opened the car door for her and she slipped inside. He parked a house down and then got out and went to the door.

Robin opened it and handed it to him. "Take care of her."

"I will."

"Who are you?" Frisco said from behind her.

"I am her friend."

Frisco glared. "If you were her friend, then you'd encourage her to talk to us."

Milo sighed. "Sir, you haven't been in her life for years. You get no say. Georgie is hurting, and you left her here and rarely contacted her. You have no idea what a wonderful, beautiful person she is because you never took the time to get to know her. I have her back, and I will give her what she needs until she's ready to address you. Until then, you need to respect her privacy. She is so worth fighting for. If you want to be in her life, then you need to show her that she matters and she's worth sticking around for."

"My job—"

"—always came before her. You really don't deserve her." Robin put her hand on Milo's arm. She could tell he wanted to deck Frisco.

Felicia wiped a tear away. "I'm staying."

Frisco spun around. "What?"

"Our daughter needs me, and I need to be there for her. I'm sorry, but I'm choosing Georgie."

Milo relaxed a little. "She might not be able to accept you right away, but that will mean a lot to her. Don't give up."

Felicia nodded.

Robin followed him onto the porch. "You did good, Milo. Look, I know you are in love with Georgie. I'm all for it because I think you're a good man. Be patient with her. Sometimes, she acts out when they are around."

"I will."

He hustled to the car.

"They didn't give you a hard time, did they?"

"Your dad did a little. Georgie, your mom says she's staying. I think she wants to try to make amends."

"I don't trust her, and I don't care about appeasing her guilt."

"I told her she needed to respect your choices."

"Thank you."

He squeezed her hand and then started the car and they were on their way.

Liz opened the door and her arms were immediately filled with Georgie. They hugged for a while and then pulled apart.

"I have a half gallon of rocky road ice cream with your name on it."

Georgie wiped a tear away. "Thanks." To her surprise, Jason got up and gave her a hug.

"I think you know the history with my family and that it was a different situation. I'm not trying to tell you what to do, I just wanted to say that the years I spent pushing them away, they were hurt. Carrying that pain around wasn't good for me, so I really hope that you decide one way or the other what you want and then make peace with that. You have to do what is best for you."

She started to cry a little. "Thank you for saying that." It surprised her that Jason would show any vulnerability with her.

Liz rubbed her back and Chloe, sensing her distress, got up and showed her some love.

"She's huge, but like a big teddy bear. Where did she come from?"

"Doreen is here. She's staying with Jason's family. This is Chloe."

Georgie fawned over her, taking her mind off of her family she is soon smiling. Liz went into the kitchen and dished some ice cream out and then headed back to her. They went into the dining room to have some privacy.

Georgie moaned as she tasted the ice cream. "That hit the spot. We hadn't eaten, and Mac's roast smelled so good."

"You want me to make you something?"

"No, this is perfect."

"We don't have to talk about it."

Georgie shrugged. "It's just one of those things that suck. I don't know how to let go of the pain and let them in."

"Well, I think it's a process. Sometimes, your parents just can't be the people you want them to be. They are flawed and they hurt you so you get to be upset."

"Did you always get along with yours?"

"Well, my mom died during childbirth, so I never got to have a relationship with her. Sometimes, I would get mad at her for leaving me and then of course I'd feel crappy about it. It's hard. I felt abandoned even though I know she didn't do it on purpose. Your situation is different."

"Part of me feels like I'd be betraying Maxie if I forgave them."

"You both get to have your own feelings or opinion regarding your parents. You can't let how she dealt with it influence you. That wouldn't be fair. Do you want to forgive them?"

Georgie's spoon clattered against her bowl after she released it and moved against the chair back. "I don't know. Part of me wants to because I feel like they are all I have left."

"You have Mac, Robin, Milo, and me. Seriously Georgie, if you need to protect your heart, then do it. I'll stand behind you regardless of the outcome."

"Thanks! That means a lot to me. My mom is staying behind. She wants to make amends."

"Well, make her work for it then. You deserve it. It's up to you whether or not you want a relationship with her. Do you think it's possible?"

"I guess anything is possible."

"And your dad?"

"I don't think he'll ever choose me. He'll make some excuse and leave. How to do I let go of that?"

"You decide that you can accept him for who he is, warts and all, and let go. It's not hurting him to hold onto the pain. It's only harming you. You can forgive so you can let go of the pain, but you don't have to forget. It doesn't mean that what he did was okay in any way. It's empowering because it allows you to take control of your life."

Georgie relaxed a little and took another bite. "I understand. Thanks!"

"Anytime."

Milo walked in. "You okay?"

Georgie slightly smiled. "Yeah. You want some ice cream?"

He placed his hand on his stomach. "I'm watching my abs."

"I really don't think a few spoonful of ice cream can ruin them." She had got a glimpse of his body at the gym and his chest is beautiful.

"Chloe and I have a jogging date in the morning."

"She has everyone around here wrapped. Doesn't she?"

Liz made a noise. "I'm surprised Jason hasn't volunteered to sleep on the floor with her."

"I heard that," he said sitting next to her.

Milo chuckled. "I would hope that he'd rather sleep with you."

The look on Jason's face made them all laugh.

Julian sat next to Georgie. "I think we should change the subject. Georgie, welcome to Casa Jerome."

"Thanks for having me. I really appreciate it."

"You can stay as long as you want."

"Dad, do you want some ice cream?"

"Yeah, I'll get it."

Millie clicked her tongue as she walked in with a bowl. "Here you go."

"Thank you, Millie."

"Does anyone else need anything?"

She looked around, but everyone shook their head no.

"Thanks!" Liz said.

Millie smiled and disappeared.

"She has a sixth sense of knowing when I need something," Julian said.

"You need to give her a raise."

"I'm sending her on a cruise. She loves them."

Milo got up. "I'll take Chloe on a walk."

He left and several minutes later, Jason heard Chloe barking from far away.

"That doesn't sound good."

Julian jumped up and Jason followed him to the deck. "They are at the edge of the property." Chloe started to cry and whimper and then barked again.

Three guards rushed from the front of the house and ran towards the sounds.

Jason took his gun out and followed as quickly as he could.

Liz grabbed Georgie's hand. "Come on." They went back into the house. Julian followed and locked the front door and made sure they were secured. He grabbed a shotgun and sent the girls to Liz's room upstairs.

"You think Milo is okay?"

"I hope so. You can sleep in here tonight. I'll be downstairs with Jason."

"Okay."

They could hear a commotion outside and Liz slipped to the window and gasped. Jason had Chloe and the guards were carrying Milo.

She dashed out of the room and Georgie followed. They had just got Milo on the couch when they got downstairs.

"What happened?"

"We think he saw something and jumped over the fence. It looks like he fought with someone. We found his gun next to him. I think that they hit him on the head."

There is a blood running down the side of his face. Liz ran and got a washcloth. When she got back, she handed it to Georgie and she shook off her shock and started to tend to Milo, carefully wiping it away.

Julian called a doctor and Georgie fought her tears when he wouldn't wake up.

"I called in extra guards. Thank God that Chloe was with him," a guard said.

Jason tried to console Chloe who is still a little upset. Finally, she settled against his leg as he stroked her fur. "Good girl," he whispered.

Milo started to stir and then groan when the light hurt his eyes.

"Keep still," Georgie said softly.

Milo remembered what happened and he tried to sit up.

"Milo Giambetti, keep still or I will tie you down."

Jason smirked. "She's right. I'll have Chloe sit on you."

Milo groaned. "Chloe! Is she okay?"

"She's fine and right next to me. I'm sure she'll slobber on you later."

Milo relaxed a little. "Chloe barked and I saw a light. I took off after it and didn't realize it was more than one person. I think someone snuck up behind me."

"For now on, everyone works in twos. I'm not taking any more chances," Jason said. "And Chloe has to be on a leash most of the time. I don't want her running off now that they know she's here."

The doctor walked in and everyone stepped back to let him examine Milo.