Author's Note: This is all I have written, but I expect only another couple of chapters after this. I wanna thank the readers--old and new--who have support my stories and encouraged me on my writing journey. I have been through so much this year and the love you share means the world. Sorry it's been a while, but I hope you enjoy the update.

Warning: Rated T as there may be some strong language.

Part 18

The two weeks he'd spent isolated & healing with his family had been a bright, joyful oasis in his too-often bleak life of the last several months. So it was no surprise to his family or their guards when a grin spread across Jason's face as he immediately recognized his little sister's voice. "Hey, Em!" he happily greeted, rising to hug her.

But his open joy struck his little sister dumb with shock. "Jason?" she squeaked in surprise moments before he had scooped her up & was swinging her shocked form around! "Did you get a lobotomy while you were out of town?!"

Jason's face fell as he mockglared at his sister, while Carly snickered. "I can't be happy now? I see how it is."

"No, it's just I've never seen you do more than smirk in public," she rushed to explain. "You gotta admit it's a bit of a shock, but a good one!"

Jason nodded. "I get it," he admitted with a smirk at Carly. "We were heading to the mansion to see you & Grandmother next, but come join us. We're finishing up lunch, but you're definitely welcome to join us."

When Emily finally registered Carly & Michael at the table he'd been sitting at, she stiffened. Carly offered her a polite nod & smile, and turned back to her son who was quickly becoming a total mess. "Were you with Carly & Michael this whole time? While grandmother & I were worried about you & she was ripping apart AJ's life & stealing his son, you were there helping yourself to his family?"

Jason immediately turned cool. "Michael is my son," he replied. "And Carly & Michael are my family. I have been reinstated as Michael's father since AJ's rights were severed because of the prison time he's facing for embezzling from ELQ. Actions he took all on his own & that have nothing to do with Carly."

"Jason!"

"I have never asked you to pick sides, and I won't start now," Jason continued growing colder with every word. "However, Carly & Michael are my family, & I expect you to respect them the same way I would expect you to be respected. If you can't handle that, let me know."

"Jason, I..." Emily paused to watch Carly completely focused on playing happily with her son although Emily was positive she heard every word. "Jase, I don't know. You just don't know what it's been like at the house."

"And I'm sorry I couldn't be around to be there for you," Jason sighed sadly. "If there was a way to safely reach out to you sooner, you know I would have."

Emily's eyes grew big with concern at his use of the word 'safely'. "Everything is ok now, though?" she asked glancing around her.

Jason rested his hands on her shoulders. "Everything is fine," he reassured her solemnly. "Well, as fine as my business gets. You know I wouldn't do anything that would put you or any of my family at risk, right?"

"I know, Jase," his sister acknowledged, opening her mouth to continue when she was cut off by a handsome young Hispanic man who appeared to be about her age.

"Heyo, Em," the young man called out. "Sorry, I'm late. But I came starved so what's it gonna be?"

"Jase, this is Juan Santiago, Sonny's kinda sorta godson from Puerto Rico," Emily began introducing two men. "Juan, this is my big brother, Jason."

"Jason Morgan?" he asked returning Jason's nod. "Man, Sonny's been looking for you everywhere! He know you're back?"

Jason stared at Juan silently sizing him up, until Carly interrupted, "As much as I hate to interrupt this display of brotherly testosterone poisoning because I think it's kinda sweet when you get all protective, but you, me, & Michael have a date with Lila's rose garden."

His face softened as he looked down at Carly holding Michael. With a nod, Jason reached into her tight front pocket & pulled out a card. "My new number," he explained. "Give it to no one who doesn't have it already."

"Except Sonny, right?" Juan interject drawing all eyes to him.

"Why would she need to?" Carly interrupted. "Are you trying to turn Emily into some kind of messenger for Jason with Sonny? That's his sister, dude!"

Juan's eyes bulged. "That's not what I meant," he tried to explain, not understanding how he'd been so misunderstood. "We don't have anything to do with his business. Sonny's just been worried about you, man. That's all."

Carly softened despite Jason remaining stoic & watchful as he tossed a hundred on their table. "I get that, but they're grown men & business partners. It's best you let them handle their affairs, ok, kid?"

Juan nodded, relaxing slightly realizing he'd unknowingly made some kind of mob faux pas, but that it wasn't irrevocable. He decided then & there he would avoid bringing up even seeing Jason Morgan. "No problem. Only beef I came here for goes on a bun."

"Well, hope you two have a great lunch!" Carly chirped, as their server arrived to bus their table. "Thanks, Lynn."

Jason pulled out another hundred. "For my sister & her friend."

"This is way too much, Mr. Mor--Jason," she admitted, remembering he preferred less formal address.

"Keep it or split it with your co-workers," he said with a shrug before turning all his focus on Carly & Michael. He scooped up his son with his left arm as his right palm slid into Carly's right back pocket. "Now, Michael, your mom & I are gonna take you to see your great-grandmother & her beautiful rose garden..."

"I can't believe how shameless Carly is," Liz whispered sidling up to her friend. "Not even divorced from one of your brothers before she's sunk her claws in the other. And it looks like she's got them in Jason deeper than ever."

"Wait, that's the one married to AJ?" Juan asked as they watched Carly rest her head on Jason's shoulder & him pause in whatever he way saying to Michael to drop a kiss on her head. "Well, it's clear why they need to divorce."

"You don't think she's pregnant again... only this time Jason really is the father?" Liz speculated with a sneer.

Emily froze as her eyes widened at the possibility. "Jason wouldn't cheat with her. Maybe she would hook up with him before the divorce is final, but my brother's not like that. He would make her wait."

"I guess we'll see in a few months," Juan added before turning away from the window. "Now, your brother covered lunch so how about we order!"

With a final unsure glance, Emily focused on her lunch date, instead of her brother's questionable taste in love interests.

"How long do you think we got before he snitches about seeing us?" Jason asked as he strapped Michael into their SUV.

"Couple hours at least," Carly replied. "They're gonna hang with Liz while they eat, and then they're gonna want some alone time before he has to head back to the penthouse."

Jason grunted.

"Your sister's gonna be fine with Miguel's kid," Carly said knowing exactly what he wasn't saying with that grunt. "Your overprotective brother shtick is cute though."

"Cute?" He deadpanned.

"Yup!" she replied, pinching his butt. "Just like your tush, well maybe not exactly like it."

"I got your cute," he snarled playful, helping her into the car.

"Don't threaten me with a good time, babe!" Carly shot back stealing a quick peck before settling into her seat.