A/N – Thanks for all of the reviews! Kcke2pen – I know, it is weird re: Edward being civil. I haven't tried that before so I thought, what the hell.

Chapter 61 - Homecoming

Emily's eyes took in everyone sitting around the table. It had taken a long time to get here and she couldn't believe how peaceful it seemed. "Does that include me?" she asked from the doorway of the room. Everyone's mouth dropped open who knew her.

"Emily," Jason said softly. He put his drink down and walked towards her. "How?"

"Mom called me. Your wife invited me," Emily said.

Jason turned towards Liz and smiled. She got up and stood next to him.

He calmly approached his sister who was in tears and pulled her against him. They hugged and he kissed her on the forehead. "Of course, I'm happy you are here." Reaching behind him, he grabbed Liz's arm and moved her beside him. "This is my wife, Elizabeth."

"Thank you for inviting me."

"You're welcome. It's nice to finally, meet you," Liz said before hugging her tightly.

"How far along are you?"

"I'm almost five months."

Emily smiled. "Well, congratulations." She pulled someone from behind her. "Everyone, this is my fiancé Michael McBain."

Jason shook his hand. "Welcome."

"Thank you," Michael said smiling. He had finally got to meet the infamous Jason Morgan he had heard so much about.

"Come sit, I'll formally introduce you to everyone later," Liz said pointing to the two empty chairs.

Emily and Michael sat and Jason went back to his seat. "Okay, let's try this again," he said as everyone smiled.

"I would have never seen this day coming where all of you would be in the same room together—peacefully," he added as everyone chuckled. "All of you have special meaning to us." He put his hand on Liz's shoulder. "May this be the first of many great holidays, and thank you for putting aside your differences and making this an incredible day for us."

"Cheers," everyone said before taking a drink.

Everyone ate and chatted amongst themselves. The food was delicious and Liz was really happy that everything had turned out so well.

Afterward, they went back into the living room since they were too full for dessert. Sonny, Dante, Claudia, Maya, and Alice teamed up to clean up the dining room and kitchen.

"So Michael, what do you do for a living?" Monica asked. She hates that she knows so little about Emily's life.

"I'm an ER doctor in Llanview Pennsylvania."

"How nice. Thank you for joining us."

Liz distracted Emily for a moment. "Where are you staying tonight?"

Emily shrugged. "I guess at the mansion. We came straight here."

"I know things are still awkward with them, so you're more than welcome to stay here with us. It will give us a chance to get to know each other better," Liz suggested.

Emily grinned. "I would love that. I know I'd be hiding out, but I can face all of them later."

"Good, then it's settled."

Jason watched his wife and sister whispering and wondered what they were up to. He looked over at Michael who was chatting with Edward and Monica and decided to rescue him.

"Hey Michael, want to see my man cave?"

"I would love to."

Emily frowned at Liz. "He's not going to give him a hard time is he?"

Liz shrugged. "I don't think so."

They ventured away and Michael was surprised when they entered the room. "This is awesome."

"Thanks. Sonny had it built for me. So, I heard you are a doctor," he said before walking over to the bar.

"Yes. I met your sister at the hospital."

Jason handed him a beer. "How is she doing?"

Michael smiled. "Good. She's a great physician and she misses you a lot. I'm glad that you're willing to forgive her. I love her more than anything and it's hard to see her go to such a sad place when it comes to her family."

Jason nodded.

Emily and Liz entered the room.

"Hey, no girls allowed," Jason said loudly.

Emily grinned. "Too bad," she said before walking over to Michael and giving him a kiss. "Liz invited us to stay here."

Michael smiled. "Sounds good to me, I want to get to know the man cave a little better."

"You play poker?" Jason asked.

"Yes. I'm okay at it."

"Good, I'll arrange a game for tomorrow with the guys."

"That's fine, the girls can gossip about you upstairs," Liz said.

"Sounds good to me," Emily said.

"Let's get back up there before they send out a search party," Liz said before leading Jason back upstairs.

Everyone gathered in the dining room for dessert and then people started to go home. They asked a few of them back over the next day, and everyone accepted. Monica was a little disappointed that Emily and Michael would be staying with Jason, but Emily promised to visit over the weekend.

When everyone had left, Emily asked to speak with Jason alone.

"I'm not even sure what to say to you. Sorry seems so inadequate," Emily said softly.

Jason took her hand. "Emily, I forgive you. I understand why you did what you did and we all made mistakes. I don't want you to beat yourself up over it anymore. We've all carried around this pain for way too long."

Emily started to cry and Jason gently embraced her. "I just don't know if I can forgive myself, Jason. I came to see you one day in the hospital. One of my friend's moms worked there, so she sneaked me in. You were restrained and drugged and I watched you struggle to get out of your restraints. You were yelling and so distraught that I was haunted by it for months. It destroyed me to know that I helped put you in there. When I saw the bad conditions, I immediately told Grandfather and Monica that they had to do something. At first, they fought me on it and that is why I left. I couldn't understand how they could even consider leaving you there or why they didn't believe me."

"Monica did fight to get me out and grandfather got the hospital shut down after seeing what they did to me firsthand. It doesn't excuse their behavior, but at least they tried to fix it."

He was somewhat comforted knowing that it had been Emily who had started getting them to question their decision and check out the hospital.

"I'm sorry I ran. You must have thought I abandoned you."

Jason shrugged. "Honestly, I was so screwed up that I was just trying to get through the day."

"Are you okay now?"

"Yes. I'm very happy and I feel a lot better now that we're all trying to get along."

Emily wiped away her tears. "Good, because I do love you and I've missed you so much."

Jason hugged her again. "Me too."

She savored their closeness for a moment. It had been way too long.

"So, tell me about that guy you brought into my house. I already texted Spinelli to have him checked out," Jason said, pretending to be mad. He had almost wished that Spinelli had been there today. It would have certainly made things more exciting, but he was spending time with his family so it was all good.

Emily rolled her eyes. "I don't know what a Spinelli is, but you better leave Michael alone. He kept me sane for the last few years."

"I need to make sure that he's good enough for you."

"I think that I'm glad you're having a boy."

Jason grinned. "That probably is a good thing. I'll see how your fiancé does tomorrow. If he can hold his own, then he stays, if not…" Jason made a trigger with his hand.

Emily hit him on the arm. "Do not make me tell your wife what you just said."

Jason smiled. "Tattletale." It felt good to have his sister back.