"Do not feed my daughter ice cream," Kellie managed to yell.
"Did you lock the door?" Jason asked, collapsed on top of Kellie.
"I don't know," Kellie said, "I'm not sure."
"Think we have time for another round," Jason asked, kissing Kellie's shoulders.
"I'd lock the door and go for it," Kellie said, "but Kristina's about to give our toddler ice cream as second breakfast."
"We can't subject Francis or anyone else to that," Jason said, kissing Kellie one last time before moving off her and scrambling to find his clothes.
He found Kellie's clothes and tossed them to her before proceeding to put his on.
"I think we might need to implement a no visitors unless you called ahead," Kellie said, getting dressed, "At least until we've made up the last however many months we've been apart."
"At least Kristina didn't walk in on us," Jason said, realizing his phone was buzzing.
"Very true," Kellie said as Jason check his phone.
"Sonny wants to see me," Jason said.
"Ah the God complex calls and summons," Kellie quipped.
"Maybe this is a good sign," Jason said.
"I won't hold my breath," Kellie said, "And then I can be pleasantly surprised and but still skeptical if I'm wrong."
"Fair enough," Jason trying not to laugh.
"Let's go make sure Kelsey doesn't end up on a reign of sugar terror," Kellie said, moving away from the pool table.
"Hold on," Jason said, pulling Kellie to him, "I want you to know that I really am going to fix this. Make sure you don't have to run the business or join the families. I know I've failed at that this last year. I promise I'll do better."
"I know you'll try," Kellie said, "But we also both know, nothing is certain."
"I promise you won't have to do anything you don't want to keep us safe," Jason said, "I have to step up, no matter how hard it might be."
Kellie kissed Jason and they nearly forgot themselves when Kellie stopped.
"Kelsey, ice cream crisis, now," Kellie said, running for the door.
Kellie got to the kitchen to find Kristina giving Kelsey gold fish crackers.
"Thank god," Kellie said, "I was little concerned that Kelsey was about go on sugar rampage."
"I figured that would give you and Jason incentive to finish up," Kristina said, "But I learned the hard way when baby-sitting your adorable gremlin not to give her sugar. Where's Jason"
"Either behind me or headed to see Dad," Kellie said.
"I saw Dad this morning," Kristina said, "He's ummm…. I don't' think it's going to be pretty."
Kellie groaned and then yelled, "Jason, don't leave yet."
No answer.
I'll catch him," Kristina said, taking off.
Kristina caught Jason twenty feet outside the front door.
"Kristina," Jason acknowledged.
"I saw my dad this morning," Kristina said, "He was in a mood. Dante couldn't even talk him out of it."
"Not unexpected," Jason said, "How much do you know?"
"That Kellie was at some meeting last night where she voted for Selina Wu to become head of the five families and that she's been offered her own seat with them," Kristina said, "One that's not contingent on her ousting you and Dad. Is she taking it?"
"She's undecided," Jason said, "I'm hoping I can make it so she can say no."
"Jason, you need to do better than hope," Kristina said, "I know she's been willing to take it or at least make a move against Dad for awhile now. But I don't know that it's what she actually wants."
"She doesn't," Jason said.
"Then you have to fight for my sister, Jason," Kristina said, "I know you and my Dad go way back. But you have to put her first this time. I've come to understand that part of the problem with your relationship with Sam was that the business, my dad, and our family came first a lot. That's ultimately why Sam never wanted another chance with you when we found out you were alive. While you've managed to put Kellie first a lot, you've been slipping since Dad came back from Nixon Falls. I know Kellie is good at the mob stuff and probably made it really easy for you to forget it's not what she ever wanted. It's what she does, helps keep everyone safe. But we both know that she's had go beyond what she should have ever had to do."
"All you need to know is I'm going to take care of this," Jason said.
"Be sure that you do and don't let my dad tell you otherwise," Kristina said, "Kellie shouldn't have to pay the price in this mob war any more than she already has. If you don't, I will make you regret the day you came back from the Russian clinic."
"It won't be necessary," Jason said.
"It better not be," Kristina said, "I'd really like to Kellie's offer to invest in my own casino to stay on the table. She's hesitating to keep it open if she end's up going against Dad."
"She doesn't want you caught in the middle," Jason said, "She knows that you and Sonny have mostly had a good relationship whatever happened with Charlie's aside."
"I love her for it, Jason," Kristina said, "But again, I repeat ensure that Kellie can still make that offer and forget about the offer from the families. I'm not kidding when I say I will make you regret otherwise."
"I don't doubt it," Jason said, "Now if you'll excuse me. I have to go make all that can happen."
Jason left and Kristina went back inside.
"What is going on?" Kellie asked when Kristina came back in, "What happened with Dad?"
"He was whining about you betraying him," Kristina said, "And from what I can tell refuses to listen to reason. We all see that he's not running things. But he won't see it."
"Kristina, it's being handled," Kellie said.
"How? Exactly?" Kristina said, "Why were you at a meeting and voting against Dad."
Kellie sighed, "Kristina…."
"No," Kristina said, "We had an understanding on the island that you weren't going to shield me like a I'm little kid. So spill."
"I only went to the meeting to inform Dad and his associates I now own a major shipping company," Kellie said, "Or part of one anyway. One that they might use occasionally."
"You certainly worked fast to get leverage," Kristina said, "Lorenzo had something didn't he? I knew he had to have kept something just in case."
"My partner whoever he is," Kellie said, "Is a silent partner and prefers to remain anonymous."
"I'll take that as a yes," Kristina said, "Was Johnny Zacharra there? I heard he made parole."
"He was," Kellie said, "I know that you were involved with him while I was in California. I don't know the details. But just be careful if he comes sniffing around."
"First of all, that was a fake relationship and the reasons why don't matter," Kristina said, "Any idea how he got out?"
"Good behavior apparently," Kellie shrugged.
"I think someone got him out for the sole purpose of taking over the Buscema territory," Kristina said.
"Could be," Kellie said, "But who knows."
"More," Kelsey babbled, waving her snack cup.
"Not until later," Kellie said, picking up Kelsey and putting her on her lap.
"Assuming that Jason steps up and you don't take a seat with the families," Kristina said, "What's next?"
"What do you mean what's next?" Kellie asked, "I have my adorable gremlin as you put it and her siblings to keep me busy. Not to mention a casino, a shipping company, and my studio to run while keeping an eye on the foundation."
"Nice try," Kristina said, "Of those the only one you actually fully run is the studio, even then you have a business manager. Zach Slater runs the casino for you. Since you could no longer actively be involved in the day to day operations of the foundation, Lorenzo runs that too. I'm assuming that your partnership with him in the shipping company means, operationally really aren't changing too much and that just runs in the background."
"All do require my attention," Kellie said, "To some degree."
"And you're bored," Kristina said.
"Excuse me?" Kellie said.
"You, Kellie Riley Corinthos Alcazar Scott Morgan are bored," Kristina said, "Don't get me wrong, you obviously adore your children and enjoy teaching women's self-defense classes. But I think you miss working your rescue missions and those type of things you did with the foundation. I thought you were going to be consulting on those still, but I don't think you have been."
"No," Kellie said, "While I was pregnant with Kelsey and nursing, they had to keep running while I was unavailable. There hasn't been as much need for that as we though they're might be."
"In the meantime, you've been getting involved in Dad and Jason's business," Kristina said.
"Which we both know has been necessary and unavoidable," Kellie said.
"True," Kristina said, "But you've always been good at the whole ferreting out information and the spy, rescue, dangerous whatever you want to call them missions. I think you actually miss that. The situation with Dad and Jason allowed you to tap back into that. But I think you really should consider going to into business for yourself as I don't know a private investigator…"
"Too many rules and guidelines to want to be a licensed investigator," Kellie replied.
"Okay a security consultant then, but you know what I mean," Kristina said, "You'd get paid and you could use it for the personal projects you want to take on. Still work the hours you want around the kids and the studio and anything else."
"Kristina, I don't know," Kellie said.
"So what you're planning to actively work at my casino?" Kristina said, "Not that I won't appreciate your advice, but again Zach runs your casino for you. I can't see you taking an interest in a casino now."
"Maybe she should," Michael interrupted.
"Unless you're here to apologize to for having me hauled down to the PCPD," Kellie said, icily "I suggest you turn around and leave before I have you thrown out."