A/N – Thanks for the comments! I'm so glad that you liked Alfred's secret! It has been so much fun to bring him to life.

Chapter 34

Claudia smiled and broke down her plans and after several moments, Tracy thought over her proposition. It is risky being associated with Claudia, but if she remains silent, at least for several years, they could rake in a lot of money from real estate. It could be the cash infusion that ELQ needs. While the business is still doing okay, it had seen better days and it would take some cash to fix that.

"I'll agree to this arrangement as long as I have a say on what we buy and I'm more than just a mouth piece. I can easily give you a million to buy in." She had managed her money well.

"I wouldn't have it any other way. I respect you and know you bring a lot to the table. After speaking with a friend, there are some other possibilities we can research as well. I'll have my lawyer draw up the agreement." It is going to cost millions to do what she wanted, but the return would be a lot more.

Tracy took another sip of her coffee. "Once you're finished, I'll have my lawyer review it and then hopefully, we're on our way to a great partnership."

They shook hands.

"What do you want to call it?" Tracy asked.

"I was thinking that since it is a new beginning for me, we might call it Novella Corp." The word means new in Italian.

"Not bad."

"If you think of anything else, let me know."

"I will."

Claudia hasn't been this excited in a long time. The future looked great and she couldn't wait to share everything with Johnny when the time is right.

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Elizabeth blinked a few times, her mind deep in thought. Jason had just laid out Sonny's plan and she couldn't believe that they are going to go legit.

"Baby?"

She swallowed hard. "Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"I don't know what to say."

"Are you going to leave me if I'm not a bad boy anymore?"

A slow grin eased on to her face. "Well, I don't know. I'm going to need some time to think about that." His announcement will change their life and she is relieved that as time goes by, she won't have to worry about him being hurt or something bad happening to her or the kids.

He took off his shirt and then smoothed back his hair as her eyes narrowed.

"You are cheating."

"No I'm not. I was hot."

"Since when do you just take your shirt off and parade around the house?"

"I'm not parading. Did you turn off the air?"

She rolled her eyes as he pretended it is stuffy in the room. "You don't think I can resist those abs?"

"I don't know. Maybe you only like them because of the scars."

She slightly smiled.

Cam ran into the room and frowned. "Daddy, why is your shirt off?"

"He was hot," Liz said as her eyes twinkled.

Cam struggled out of his shirt. "I'm hot."

Liz shook her head. "See what you stated."

"Mommy are you hot?"

"Oh, she's hot alright."

Liz glared at her husband and then turned to their child. "Mommy is fine. You and your daddy are just being silly."

Jason put this shirt back on and then helped Cam.

"Go get ready for the park," Liz said.

Cam took off and Liz shoved Jason against the wall and pulled his head down.

"For the record, you'll always be my bad boy."

"Only yours."

She kissed him passionately, wishing they had more time to take it further. "You better be here for his nap."

He smiled. "I will be."

She kissed him again, making sure that she gave him something to look forward to.

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Two months later

Liz grabbed her swollen belly as she bent over. "Jason, have you seen my heels?"

He froze in the doorway and their gaze locked and then her eyes narrowed as her hands slipped onto her hips. "Did you hide my heels?"

"Um, I think Cam is calling me." He spun on his heel and tried to make a hasty exit.

"Not so fast. Jason!"

She growled when he didn't reappear and grabbed a pair of flats. They are going to be late for their dinner with Sonny and the boys. He had gotten the paternity test results back and they wanted to be there to support him either way. Carly had moved into her new home the month prior and the boys were trying to adjust. It had been hard for them to take that step, but the more they hashed things out, the more they realized that they bought out the worse in each other. Jason and Elizabeth spent a lot of extra time with the boys to try to give them some stability. Morgan seemed to like playing with Cam and Elizabeth was glad that he had someone to play with whose parents wouldn't judge Jason for his career choice.

She hurried downstairs where her family is waiting.

Cam ran up to her and patted her belly. "Hi Jake. Is he moving mommy?"

"No baby, I think he's sleeping. You ready to go see your friends?"

He nodded and took Jason's hand they headed to Sonny's.

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There are certain things you can prepare for in life and others you just can't. As much as he wanted to be a father again, fate had other plans and Carly's baby is not his.

Jason walked into Sonny's kitchen and then paused as he watched him methodically cut up some onion.

"I'm not going to fall apart."

"So, I take it that the news wasn't good?"

Sonny shook his head. "No, but I'm trying to just concentrate on loving the boys and Kristina."

"It's a good plan. I'm sorry."

After taking a sip of wine, Sonny went back to the task at hand.

"What are you making?"

"I'm cooking cheese and chicken quesadillas for the boys and we're having steak tacos with my special sauce and some sides."

"Sounds good."

"Elizabeth said she has been craving the sauce, so right now, it's all about her."

Jason slightly smiled. "Yeah. I think she's mad at me."

"Why"

"I hid her heels."

Sonny looked up. "Why?"

"Because she's a klutz and tripped the other day when I came in and luckily, I caught her."

Sonny chuckled. "I'll let you fight that battle. I invited someone to dinner."

Jason's brow went up. "Do I know her?"

"No. I met her at the Grille the other night. Surprisingly enough, she tripped and I caught her."

"See, they are deadly."

"But they make their legs look so good."

Jason chuckled. "So, what do you know about her?"

"She is a little fiery and a child activist. She does a lot of good work fighting for children who can't fight for themselves."

"Does she know about what you do?"

Sonny grabbed a dishtowel and grabbed the handle of the pot. "Yeah. She moved to town a month ago. She has family here."

"And she doesn't care?"

"I think she does to a degree, but is willing not to judge me. I asked Liz to say it's her friend if the boys ask. Cataleya knows as well. I just—it's new, but I needed her to see me as a dad, to know I have another side to me, but at the same time, I want to protect my boys." Unlike the past, when he was just trying to scratch an itch, he really likes her and wants to get to know her. The connection was immediate and he couldn't help but want what Jason had already found, a love that would last and is healthy.

"I'll get it." Jason hurried to the door and when he opened it, a Latina woman around thirty-five with long dark hair and almond eyes stared back at him. She is around 5'4 and very pretty with minimal makeup. She looked low maintenance which is not Sonny's norm. "Hi. I'm Jason, come in."

She smiled brightly. "I'm Cataleya, but most friends call Leya"

"This is my wife, Elizabeth."

"So beautiful, when are you due?"

"I'm almost in my seventh month."

"Well, pregnancy certainly agrees with you."

"Thanks."

Michael ran downstairs and came to a halt when he sees the stranger.

Liz holds out her hand and he takes it. "This is Sonny's oldest, Michael. This is one of my new friends, Cataleya."

"Call me Leya. It's nice to meet you."

Michael smiled, thinking she is pretty. "Hi."

Sonny moved into the room with some wine in one hand and water in another. "Hello, welcome to my home."

She smiled and then took the glass. "Thank you. It's lovely and your son is very handsome."

Michael blushed, making his dad chuckle as he handed the water to Elizabeth.

"Did you need something, Michael?" Jason asked.

"Can you come play with us?"

"Dinner is almost ready," Sonny explained.

Jason rubbed his neck. "Come on, but it's just for a few minutes."

They took off and Sonny went back into the kitchen.

Liz sipped some water.

"So, is this your first child?"

"No, I have a three-year-old, soon to be four upstairs."

"I want to have kids someday."

"I love Cameron so much and can't wait to meet Jacob. I had Cam when I was younger and I feel like Jake is my gift to Jason. He's such a good father."

"And he works with Sonny?" Leya wasn't naïve. She understood the business that Sonny is in and even though they have chemistry in spades, the danger did give her pause.

"Yes. Jason is Sonny's partner. You know what they do, right?"

"Yes. How do you deal with it?"

"Well, Jason protects us the best he can. Love is a risk and he's the one. I never want to be with anyone else. He is the most beautiful man inside and out and there is not a more loyal person I know. He has the biggest heart, which is the total opposite of what most people see. He is dangerous, but it's never directed at me."

Leya smiled. "There's nothing like being thoroughly loved."

Sonny joined them.

"So, Leya, what do you do for a living?"

"Child advocacy. Do to the closeness to the border, there is a lot of issues with people smuggling children. I raise a lot of money each year to try and get the security measures improved in San Diego and along the New York and Canadian border."

"That must be very rewarding."

"It is, but there are some days where I struggle, especially if we lose a life."

Elizabeth could see the fire lurking behind her eyes and hoped that Leya gave Sonny a chance. She seemed to be just what he needed—a passionate woman with a good head on her shoulders.

"May I use your bathroom?"

Sonny led her down a hallway and then returned to Elizabeth. "What do you think?"

"I love her, Sonny, and I don't think she'd take any crap."

Sonny laughed. "Yeah. I need someone to keep me straight."

"I know. Keeping you in line has been a chore the last few months." They had been spending a lot of time becoming friends again. Liz isn't afraid to tell Sonny the truth and it had helped him realize that he has issues he needs to deal with if he is going to have a successful relationship.

Leya found them trading barbs and smiled.

"And you're going to tell me where my husband hid my heels."

Sonny's eyes grew wide. "I don't know. He just told me you were mad at him while we were in the kitchen."

"I knew it! He did take them."

Sonny realized he had been played as Leya laughed loudly.

"You're good," she said.

Liz smirked. "They can be pretty clueless at times."

Jason approached them. "Did you just call Sonny clueless?"

"I think she included you in that."

"Are you throwing me under the bus?"

"Yeah, since you tricked me."

Jason's head tilted. "What happened?"

"I'm sorry, man. She used a Jedi mind trick."

Liz cracked up.

Jason sighed.

"The gig is up. I know you took the shoes."

Jason shook his head. "Seriously Sonny, I can't tell you anything."

"I don't know what to say."

"She played you. If word gets out, your reputation is ruined."

Sonny rubbed the back of his neck. "This stays with us right?"

Liz grinned devilishly. "That just depends on what you made for dessert."

"It's a chocolate something or other."

She clapped. "You had me at chocolate."

Sonny's dimples were on full display.

"Traitor…," Jason muttered as he sat on the couch.

"Come here, baby," Liz said before giving him a kiss. "I still want my heels."

"But baby..."

Cam's squeal filled the room. "Daddy!"

Jason's arms were soon filled. "Yes, buddy."

"Michael is trying to get me."

Michael crept into the room and Cam's eyes grew big and he moved Jason's arm and put it in front of him like he's trying to hide.

Sonny grabbed his son and Morgan soon ran into the room.

"Hey, where did everyone go?"

Leya smiled as the curious little boy approached her.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Leya. What's your name?"

"Morgan Stone Corinthos."

"That's a great name."

"I'm named after Uncle Jason."

"Well, I think Morgan is a great name."

He smiled and then sat next to his dad once Jason pulled Liz onto his lap to make room. Cam pouted so Jason put him on Liz's lap, making him laugh.

"Are you guys hungry?"

"Yes!" Came one loud response led by Liz.

They headed into the dining room. Leya certainly was impressed and knew she had made the right choice by accepting the date.

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Jax entered Carly's house and handed her some flowers.

"Thank you." He had been laying on the charm and being very sweet, but there is something that is bothering her.

They went to the dining room. The take out Carly had ordered was already sitting on the table waiting.

"This looks great."

She smiled. "There is one thing that I'm really good at and that's ordering food."

Jax laughed.

They ate mostly in silence unless Jax asked her questions. Once done, Carly got up to clear the table.

"Let me do this. Go into the living room and relax."

A few minutes later, he joined her.

"Jax, I have to ask. If this baby wasn't yours—are you—I mean are you interested in me for me?"

"Have I lost my touch? Carly, I wouldn't be spending this much time with you if I wasn't."

"I just—I like you and I need to know that you'd be interested if there was no baby."

He took her hand. "Yes."

"Why?"

Jax laughed at the look on her face. "I know who you are and let's just say I enjoy your fire and loyalty. I have fun when I'm with you and I admit, I probably shouldn't have slept with you."

Her face fell.

"No, you're thinking the wrong thing. I shouldn't have because you were tipsy, but I wanted you. Are you still in love with Sonny?"

"I will always love him, but we're toxic. I'm where I'm supposed to be."

"Then, I will stand by you no matter what and want to be with you. Will you have me?"

She wiped a tear away and then grabbed his face and kissed him hard. Maybe Jax could help her fill the hole in her heart.

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Jason slipped out of bed and grabbed his phone and went into the bathroom. "Hello?"

"it's Robbie."

"Did something happened?"

"We bugged Ms. McCall's car. Do you want us to take Lucky?"

"Have they been in contact?"

"Not yet."

"Grab him. You know where to take him."

"I'll send you a text when we get there."

"Good job."

When he went back into the bedroom, Liz wasn't there so he went downstairs and found her in the kitchen drinking some juice. "You okay, baby?"

"I'm fine. What's going on?"

He shifted back and forth. This isn't going to be an easy conversation.