A/N: And so it ends. I hope you like the ending. (It's incredibly long. 25 pages sheesh...I probably could have broken it up.) I have loved all those who have responded and replied to this story. Thank you so much for your encouragement and thoughts throughout. I know many more have read but not replied and that's cool too. Although I really am interested in peoples criticisms of my writing. However, as I've said in previous chapters, there will be a sequel. I want to finish up a long neglected Liason story called "Counting to Ten" before I start writing the sequel to this one but there is so much I have set up in this story for the sequel. When you read it you'll go….OH YEAH I forgot about that! LOL…anyhoo…thanks to all of you who have taken this ride with me. I hope it was worth the price of admission. (That was a dig to my fellow Liason friends who hated me for writing this Jaxie story and then secretly begged for new chapters. ;-) You know who you are.)

Now, in the immortal words of Jim Morrison of The Doors….

This is the end
My only friend

The end
It hurts to set you free
But you'll never follow me
The end of laughter
And soft lies
The end of nights we tried to die

This is the end

Chapter 20 (Epilogue) (c)

"What the fuck?" Jason could barely contain his anger as it rushed through him gripping his gut as tightly as his hand gripped the two dozen white and yellow calla lilies he finally found at the fourth flower shop on his way from the airport.

His flight landed around four thirty and after nearly three weeks gone from his family, all he wanted to do was wrap them all in his arms and hold them tight. Read to his boys and play a game of Dora the Explorer Candy Land and then kiss his girlfriend on every exposed inch of her body.

And he wanted every inch of her body to be exposed.

He imagined finally seeing them, even day dreaming about it while he was on the flight from the layover in Houston, Texas. The little pixie of a blonde in the baby blue see through negligee that didn't even cover half of her ass and the matching blue satin thong that didn't cover her ass at all.

He nearly exploded thinking about how his hands should be around her right now but instead…

"It's not what you think so release the steam before you go over there." Jason turned to see Dale Watson had come up behind him and was watching Maxie in a fierce embrace with Robbie Kent, Dale's grandson.

Damn, Jason thought, I really need to brush up on my skills. That's twice someone has been able to sneak up without me noticing them. "I…what's going on?"

"Robbie has been a real hero today. You should be thanking my grandson instead of thinking of ways to kill him." Dale responded shoving his hands into the pockets of his cargo shorts.

The older man turned and stood shoulder to shoulder with Jason as they watched Maxie bury her nose in Robbie's chest and hug his waist as her body visibly trembled. Robbie continually smoothed his hand up and down her back as the other cradled her head. Never once allowing his hand to travel too far down and never leaning too far into her with his lower body. His chin was rested on top of her head and he was looking up to the setting sun, his mouth moving with words neither of the two observers could hear nor make out.

Jason watched as the jealousy coursed through him in palpable waves. It should only be him that is Maxie's hero, ever. And here it was, less than a month away from her and Maxie was turning to someone else for comfort. "What's wrong with her?"

The meaning of that question two-fold.

"You mean aside from you just up and leaving without contact? Leaving her to take care of everything here without you? The boys? The business? The questions we've all been asking? Nothing much…" He flippantly told Jason through his tone and demeanor that he was dissatisfied with Jason. He turned to walk toward his house then stopped about five feet away. "Oh, except your youngest nearly got him self killed today while Maxie helplessly watched and Robbie over there saved him."

The older man walked off shaking his head. Never in his life had he met a man so smart and so stupid at the same time. Even his knuckle headed grandson wasn't as stupid as Jason Johnson. Sure family obligations were something you were supposed to take care of. If your family needed you, it was your duty as a man to do everything within your power to assist but not at the expense of your immediate family. Nope, first priority was your wife and kids and even if Maxie Webster and Jason Johnson weren't married, they might as well have been. Robbie may have been a jerk, and he'd been told by Robbie himself why his grandson was no longer dating Maxie and why Jason held such discontent toward him but still…Robbie walked away without obligation. Jason left her when his first obligation should have been to her and his boys.

And maybe he was from the old school, but it just didn't sit right with him no matter the real reasons behind it.

It was very apparent to him and his wife on day three that Maxie really didn't know what was going on. The girl usually never shut up and Dale would sit in his chair watching PTI and SportsCenter while listening to Maxie Webster tell Denny everything and then some about every aspect of the Webster-Johnson household. This had been a weekly occurrence since they had moved in next door, increasing to nearly a daily occurrence once Maxie and their granddaughter, Hannah, became so close. But the past three weeks, Maxie was evasive to the point where they concluded she too didn't understand completely why Jason had left but that she was scared and embarrassed by it.

And today Dale watched helplessly from his van while reading the paper as Maxie Webster finally hit her breaking point in the wake of Jason leaving. He drove her and the kids to the park. He had nothing better to do and knew there was no way Maxie could drive his extra long van so he decided to get a large coffee and his news paper and drive Maxie to the park with the kids. He was just about to get out of his van to tell Maxie he didn't think it was wise to let Jake climb the tree when his grandson pulled up. He was looking for his grandfather to see if he wanted to join him at the Tampa Rays baseball game that afternoon. He'd been given some free tickets at the base. After a brief chat, Robbie saw the height Jake had reached and took off in a sprint to catch the boy that he knew would be falling soon.

Once the excitement was over and Maxie was assured that Jake was okay, she broke down and hadn't really stopped crying since. Robbie took her and Dale took the kids back to the house where Denny took over the babysitting chore. Robbie tried everything in his power to get Maxie to open up to him or to distract her. It was a shame Hannah and Billy had taken their long planned vacation to Disney that week. Maxie really needed her friend.

Maxie was finally calming down and Robbie and Dale were planning to go to the baseball game when Jason arrived.

"Dale" Jason tried to stop him but the older man just lifted his hand above his head to wave Jason off and mumbled, Just talk to Maxie…she'll explain everything.

Jason watched as his friend, and truly he was his friend, walked away. He felt more distress that he had disappointed that man than he had ever felt with his own father or grandfather. Dale had become a good friend but more so, a father figure to Jason. He'd given sage advice when Jason needed it. He'd listened when Jason was at a loss. He and his wife had taken him, Maxie and their boys in to their family's fold and never once let them feel like they weren't a part of the Watson family.

And he was disenchanted with Jason because he up and left his family with Maxie holding the bag, so to speak. Jason understood that. He hated leaving Maxie but in his heart of hearts, he knew he would not find peace if he hadn't gone. Sure his obligation was here, within the walls of the house he was standing next to but he had an old obligation…to an old life…to family…to a nephew that in his mind he still felt was his son.

He smiled as he lowered his head and looked at the ground. He was glad Dale felt that way. It meant that no matter what, Maxie and the boys would always have the Watsons. And to an extent, he knew he did too.

Dale was very similar to him. He didn't mince words, he tried hard not to judge people and allow them their own choices. He expressed when he didn't like them and just now, he expressed to Jason how disappointed he was but still took his time to let Jason know that what he was seeing and what he was thinking was not what was really happening. That meant he was disappointed but hadn't washed his hands of his neighbor and friend.

Looking up he saw Maxie and Robbie still in the embrace and took three labored breaths and put one foot in front of the other as he walked toward the pair.

Robbie noticed him first and whispered something to Maxie then stepped back, dropping his hands to his side. Maxie turned her head quickly and within mere seconds took off running, launching herself into Jason's waiting arms.

"Oh my God, Jason, you're back." She cried as she buried her face in his neck. Pulling back she peppered his face with kisses, finally landing on his lips. "I missed you so much."

Jason was surprised, he expected a completely different reaction from her but when he felt her weight in his arms and smelled the faint jasmine of her shampoo and then felt her silk soft lips first against his neck then his cheek, chin and finally he tasted her with his own lips, he could do nothing but breathe a sigh of relief and smile.

"I missed you too…and the boys…so much." He nearly cried himself. He knew he had missed her but hadn't realized just how much until this moment.

"Glad you're back Jason." Robbie said and clapped him on the back pulling Jason and Maxie from their trance as he was memorizing her face, her red rimmed eyes, her supple lips, her smile and she was looking into the bluest eyes she'd ever seen.

Jason again cringed and wished nothing short of death for the man because he had interrupted their moment. He turned his head and slowly allowed Maxie to slide down his body until her feet were again firmly planted on the ground. "Thanks."

However, with the trance broken, what he expected from Maxie soon erupted. He felt the hand crack across his face and steeled his jaw when the other one came. "Where in the FUCK do you get off? Do you even care that Jake fell out of a fucking tree today? Do you care that he turned four last week? Do you care that you missed the meeting with the schools counselor about Cameron becoming involved with a study on child development the University of South Florida is doing? They want him to go to a special daycare the whole summer for this thing. I had to make the decision all by myself. I had no idea whether this would be good for him or not. I didn't know what I was doing. And Brittany's prom. We were supposed to go to that, remember? And the Bitterman's wedding. And the air conditioner broke right after you left. Thank God for Billy and Mr. Watson. I had no way of calling you, no way to ask you what to do. I had no idea where you were or what was happening. I didn't know when or if you were ever coming back. I didn't even know if you were alive or dead."

She hit him again and as her hand retracted he grabbed onto her wrist. "I'm sorry."

I'm sorry? I'm SORRY! She thought He has some fucking nerve!

She wrestled her wrist from his grip and stood, jaw agape, staring at him. She could not believe he thought I'm sorry would satisfy her.

"You're kidding right? This is some cosmic joke? Payback in the scheme of life for everything I've done in my past? A test maybe? That's it right? You were testing me?"

"No" he said simply. He knew she needed to get it out. That's why her initial response was such a shock. But that last comment caused his brows to furrow. To think it was a test or payback told him she never found the note he wrote to her. If he could, he'd kick his own ass for not leaving the note in a more obvious place. Yet still, after three weeks, he thought for sure she would have found it.

Forgetting that Robbie was still standing there and not seeing Dale walk up to the group, both shocked and taking in everything she had just said, Maxie turned and stormed off toward their house and Jason followed behind, flowers still in hand.

Once they reached the back patio he dropped out from her path to the sliding glass door to go to the spot he'd left the note. Their lounge chair. Their place. He thought for sure that she would have gone there when she was lonely or missing him or hell…just to lay out in the afternoon sun while the boys were playing in the back yard. Regardless, she always loved to lie in that chair.

He slid his hand into the small pillow casing that was tied to the top of the chair and laid over the cushions. His confusion was written clearly on his face when he came up empty. The letter wasn't there. If Maxie hadn't found it, then where was it? Anytime she lay in the chair, she would slide her cell phone into the pillow case to hold it and keep it near her head in case she fell asleep. He thought for sure she'd find the letter within a day or two of his departure. Her cell phone rarely left her side and there were times in the middle of the night he had to peel it off of his bare back and place it on her bedside table because she'd fallen asleep with it in her hands. Anytime she was on that lounger, she would slide it into the pillow to protect it and keep it close.

She must have found the letter, he surmised. Maybe she found it the night he left and was so upset she ripped it to shreds anyway, which was why he didn't leave it on his pillow to begin with.

Before he could move into the house and ask the question two little boys, HIS boys, came tearing through the house screaming for him and launched themselves into his arms. He crouched and caught them easily and lifted them up into his strong arms.

"Daddy!" Both children yelled which caused Maxie to stop and turn wide eyed to look at Jason.

Jason too had wide eyes and leaned his head back to look at his oldest son. "Cameron, did you just call me Daddy?"

"Yes. Miss Vonnie explained to me that I could call you Daddy too, just like Jake because even though I'm adopted, I'm your real son too."

"Yes..yes you are Cameron and I love you just as much as I do Jake…" Tears started to form in his eyes and he looked to Maxie who hadn't even tried to stop the tears from free falling across her cheeks. "I'd be so proud if you called me Daddy, just like Jake does."

Maxie walked up and scratched her nails lightly across Cameron's back. "What made you ask Miss Vonnie if you could call Jason Daddy?"

Jake spoke up first. "Stupid Cookie. She said that I don't have a mommy and that Cam doesn't have a mommy OR a daddy."

Jason walked, boys in arms and Maxie close on his heels, and set each of them down in their chair at the kitchen table. He then crouched down in front of Cameron and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Cameron, you know that you have both a father and a mother right?"

"Yeah, you and Maxie both told me. Mommy is in Heaven and Mommy told me my real daddy went to Heaven before I was born."

"Right. Mommy and" He looked at Maxie trying hard not to roll his eyes at his next statement "Zander, your biological father, are in Heaven."

Jason wasn't sure which was worse. Saying Zander, someone who he never liked or held any type of respect for, was worthy of going to a Heaven that housed people like Elizabeth, his grandmother Lila, his beloved sister Emily or even his father Alan and Maxie's sister Georgie was simply ludicrous. But the distaste of bile that rose in his throat and coated his tongue when he called Zander Cameron's biological father told him THAT was worse. But he knew that was what Cameron should always believe. No one should ever know the bad side of a father they never knew. Besides, he would want them to think that about him were he to die, even if he knew his past discretions would never allow him anywhere near the gates of Heaven. Thou Shalt Not Kill was a commandment he broke many, many times over and he didn't hold any misconceptions that he would one day atone for those sins. Be it here or in the afterlife.

But the two little boys sitting in front of him with curious eyes, hanging on his every word, didn't need to know that.

Ever.

"Cameron, Jake…" Maxie started as she sat down at her normal place at the table. "Jas…uh...Daddy and I want you to know that even though our family is…"

"Different" Jason gave her.

"Yes…different. I'm not your Mommy and all and Jason's not Cameron's biological father…you two still have what's most important."

Jason picked up her cue and pulled Cameron into his arms and sat in his seat placing the nearly seven year old in his lap. "You have two parents that love you so much. That's what Maxie and I are…your parents. That's what we're trying to say."

"But I can still call you Daddy right? Cause even Hannah said I could call you Daddy. Mr. Billy said I gotta ask you but Hannah said I didn't have to ask. She said I could call you Daddy if I wanted to."

"Cameron, I would love it if you called me Daddy."

Jake climbed over and climbed into Maxie's lap. "Can I call you Mommy?"

Jason's eyes quickly shifted from his oldest son to his youngest. His immediate, knee jerk reaction was to tell him NO. He has a Mommy. But then, he would be a hypocrite. Jake was too young. He only remembers his mother from Maxie's insistence that they be reminded of her constantly. He was only a year and a half old when Elizabeth died. Jason knew what that was like. He certainly didn't remember ANYTHING about his mother, Susan, because Monica and Alan had rarely, if ever, talked about her once she was gone. He called Monica Mom when he was younger. At least that's what they told him. Even rarely after he woke up, he called her Mom on occasions.

However, he didn't need to panic too long. Cameron and Maxie both told him "No" then Maxie went on to explain, "Jake, I'm way too young to be your's or Cam's Mom. I would be horrified if you called me Mommy. I'd rather you called me…"

"Cookie?" Jason added and then laughed and everyone got the joke and laughed with him.

"Yes, I'd rather you called me Cookie or…" she looked around "toaster or even refrigerator. Although, I would truly be offended if you called me refrigerator because that's like calling me fat and I'm…well I've really gained a lot of weight since I've been taking care of you boys. But I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm fat like a refrigerator or big as a house or anything. But I have put on some…I mean honestly, it's hard not to eat the cheeseburgers or the ice cream or the gummy worms when they're everywhere. Actually, if I want to lose the twenty pounds I've put on since we started on our adventure, I'd probably have to leave cause you boys always have the worst food. Macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, pizza. You know what…you'll probably be able to call me refrigerator pretty soon. Refrigerator Maxie…and stress the MAX in Maxie."

All three boys looked at each other and started rolling their eyes. The two little ones twirling their finger next to the side of their head. Two things Jason had taught them when Maxie would go off on these rambling tangents. She was crazy. And they were stuck listening. But Jason was thrilled. He'd missed this the most. Him and the boys listening as Maxie ranted and raged about something non consequential.

Then Jason heard the words he never wanted to hear. "I need to go on a diet. That's what I'll do. I am fat."

"No you're not and no you don't Maxie." He'd had enough. She was skinny to the point of being anorexic when they left port Charles. He didn't know for sure but would bet money she didn't even weigh a hundred pounds. Now she was still skinny but had muscle and tone and curves. And he loved her curves. Especially since that twenty pounds she said she'd gained had gone evenly to her tits and her ass. Two of his favorite places to grab on to.

She shot him a look, half surprised and half pissed. He wasn't sure if the half pissed was because he contradicted her, interrupted her rambling or because she had been in the process of storming away from him when Cameron had stopped them.

Knowing he wanted to at least quell the situation, he quickly added, "You are drop dead gorgeous and you know it. There isn't an ounce of fat on you and the way you look in a bikini puts supermodels to shame and you know THAT too."

"Oh brother" Cameron said and climbed down off of Jason's lap. "Jake they're gonna smooch, lets go."

"Yeah gross" Jake announced moving to climb down from Maxie's lap.

He tried to get down but Maxie held on to him. "Boys we aren't going to kiss. As a matter of fact, I think you two missed your father very much and he should spend some time with you."

She looked over at Jason and he watched as the wall that had just gone down for a few minutes went right back up. Which reminded him of the question he was going to ask her.

"Maxie, did you read the letter I left you?"

"You didn't leave me any letter Jason. Oh and thanks a lot for that too. You know…you…" she stopped seeing four eyes looking up at her as she moved across the room toward the living room. "We'll talk about this later…while you are explaining exactly what happened from the time you talked to my cousin to the moment you showed back up here. But not in front of the boys because I DO NOT have enough toys and the swear box isn't big enough to hold my new Camaro."

"Have you guys eaten?" Jason asked tentatively. Maybe something normal like dinner would let her calm down and let them talk a little to break the ice with the kids present as a buffer.

"Pizza!" Jake shouted.

"Sushi!" Cameron shouted.

"Sushi?" Jason turned questioning eyes up to Maxie and she smirked. "He just eats the rice and the shrimp but yeah…" she shrugged. "He likes sushi."

"Well what do you think Jake? You want to go to Ichiban and watch the funny man cook in front of us?"

"Can I wear a shirt with a pocket so he can throw the shrimp tails in it?" Jake asked.

"Sure." He laughed then looked up at Maxie, "Is that okay with you?"

"You're buying" she narrowed her eyes then lifted her hand to tap her perfectly manicured blood red fingernail against her chin. "And you're driving."

"I always buy and I always drive."

"Not the last three weeks you haven't." She couldn't help but add the dig.

The fact remained that even though he was home and he was safe, he left her to fend for her and the kids while he traipsed off to do whatever without so much as a phone call. Sure he loved her and sure he came back. Two things she had to admit she had really been questioning over the past few days. But he left. He left the life he claimed he would never give up for the old life he'd supposedly given up long ago for her. Well, not initially for her but for the boys. And eventually for her too.

"I'm sorry." He said again, knowing he'd say it at least another dozen times today alone.

"And I'm having the Lobster and Scallops"

"Good, I'll have the steak and chicken and I'll get Surf N Turf."

"I may not share with you."

"You never can eat more than three or four bites of the lobster and two or three of the scallops. Especially if you're going to have some sushi but if that's what you want…"

"No, you're right…I guess you'll get Surf N Turf but I'm not getting the fried rice. I'm getting extra vegetables."

"That's cool. I'll just eat Jake and Cam's."

"Nuh uh Daddy, I'm having SUSHI!" Cam announced as he twirled in a circle swinging Maxie's arm above his head.

"Well I'm not having that stuff. It's gross. Daddy said so. And Billy and Junior and Mr. Watson don't eat it either. It's prolly just for girls Cam. You're a big ole girl."

"Nuh uh Jake. You take that back. Boys eat sushi too. Don't they Maxie." He looked up and Maxie smiled.

"Yes Cameron, boys eat sushi too. It makes them big and strong."

"That's spinach Maxie. Spinach makes you big and strong." Jason added lifting his arm and flexing his muscle for her, smiling again knowing what was coming next.

"EEEEWWWWW" came three loud cries.

"Jason spinach is gross and we three decided a long time ago that you cannot make us eat it. I don't care what you say." Maxie's hand were on her hips in defiance. Jason may as well quit trying to force them to eat the stuff.

"More for me then." He smirked and picked up a pile of bills that had been stacked up, unopened, as if waiting for him on the counter.

Which they were. Maxie had looked at them just this morning and told herself she needed to open them and figure out what to do to pay them before they came home and there was no water or electricity. Now she needn't worry.

Jason was home.

She looked up at him and she couldn't help her eyes softening when she saw the blissful look he held as he thumbed through their mail listening to the boys and chiming in on the back and forth banter. Something so familiar in this house.

She smiled and her hand instinctively lifted and landed on his forearm to pull his attention from the bills to her. "And I'm getting a glass of plum wine and a bottle of Saki."

Jason's eyebrows rose. Last time she had plum wine and Saki she couldn't keep her hands off of him. As a matter of fact, he was exhausted the next morning and that was the day he went to his boss to change his schedule to have Monday's off with Maxie. He hated leaving her in bed that morning after a marathon night of love making.

"You can have whatever your heart desires Princess." He smiled and leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. Lightly. He didn't further the kiss because he knew he had a lot to make up to her but she let him kiss her. And that was all he needed to know.

They'd somehow be okay.

"See Jake I told ya they were gonna smooch."

"Gross"

~%~%~%~%~%~

At dinner, Maxie, Jake and Cameron each took turns filling Jason in on what he'd missed. Jake starting by explaining what Maxie meant by him almost getting killed falling out of a tree.

One by one they each shared stories and anecdotes. Jason was happy and proud and upset and frightened and incredibly sad that he'd missed so much in the short time he was gone.

He'd never felt that so much before. When he'd leave for a job for Sonny or a trip for himself, he never came back feeling like he'd missed out on much. Sure things had changed. When he came back the first time he left for a long period of time, so much had changed. Sonny and Carly were together and Lucky was alive. He'd go on jobs that might take him away from weeks at a time and he'd notice Morgan or Michael had changed or that he'd missed out on something special in someone's life.

But he never felt disappointed necessarily that he'd not been there for it. Just recognized that he'd missed it. Yet now, he felt a true and deep sadness that he wasn't there to see Cameron make a double play in T-ball or to watch Jake's surprised face when the four candles he'd blown out sparked back to life. He missed the chance to beat the snot out of, or at least intimidate badly, the boy that took Brittany to prom and then promptly turned into a beast with all hands in the limo to the point that the limo driver allowed Brittany to sit up front with him until they dropped the young man off. Although Maxie assured him that she knew who he was and if Jason wanted to make his presence known to the young man, Brittany would be grateful. She didn't have a father or older brother to do that for her.

He was happy to find out Brittany had decided to go to University of South Florida. She had become such an integral part of Georgie's Boutique, he and Maxie had discussed what they were going to do to replace her. Now, she would continue to work at the boutique while going to school and Maxie promised her that she could work whatever hours she wanted and Maxie would take up the slack.

He was not happy to find out that Maxie had decided to let Cameron be a part of the University's study on child development. He wanted Cameron to be able to have his summer free to do whatever he wanted to. However, Maxie reminded him that HE wasn't there to make the call and that she did the best she could.

That was the sixth time he'd said I'm sorry to her.

Besides, she said, the boys bickered way too much and it would be good if they weren't at the same place all summer long. Also, The O'Rourke's niece was one of the girls involved in the project so they knew Cameron would be safe and have someone there he knew and they could trust.

But even though he knew it wasn't real, Jason still couldn't get the image out of his mind of his son hooked up to those strange brain wave helmets you see in the movies.

He was pleasantly surprised when after the second tiny cup of Sake, Maxie's hand found his knee and then made its way up his thigh giving a strong squeeze when she'd gone as far as she should in public. He instantly hardened and looked down at her and she raised an eyebrow and whispered how much she had missed him.

That was when he got his third kiss from her since he'd come home.

Now he was full and happy and had heard all that he'd missed. He helped Maxie get the boys ready for bed and read to them and promised that he'd be there in the morning and would be walking them to school just like normal.

Finally, the dogs were all fed and were running around in the back yard while Jason set the mood. He lit the firepit in the middle of the table Maxie had bought with the lawn furniture. He had bitched about the cost and the uselessness of much of the furniture, including the need for a fire pit, but now he loved it and was glad he'd given in to Maxie just to shut her up at the time. They'd used that furniture and that firepit more than the fireplace in the house or the sofa in the living room.

Maxie had gone to wash her face and get into more comfortable clothes, which Jason knew to mean something shiny and silky but not see through and with a robe and probably at least knee length. He in turn put on his silk pajama bottoms she'd given him and nothing else. His feet were bare on the concrete and there was a light breeze caressing his tanned skin.

Again he slid his hand into the case that housed the head rest on their lounger. Not sure if he thought the letter would mysteriously reappear or if he was just reassuring himself that it really wasn't there.

He had a glass of plum wine, he bought a bottle at dinner with the sole purpose of being able to bring some home for this very reason, and a beer sitting on the table for him. Soft music was playing through the speakers that looked like rocks around the yard. The Chicago CD he'd bought a while back after that fateful wedding that changed everything for him and Maxie.

He looked up from his bent over position and his breath caught in his throat when he heard the sliding door roll open and Maxie stood in a black silk negligee that had lace, semi-see through cups covering her breasts and thin spaghetti straps. It flowed all the way down to the floor but had a slit up the sides trimmed with that same lace. The slit came up to where her thighs met with her hips on both sides. The matching robe was hanging loose and open on her shoulders and she had on kitten heel pumps with the little fuzzy feathers that Jason always thought were useless and didn't understand why they were sold as slippers but loved them now that they were on his woman's feet.

"You are so beautiful." He breathed, holding his hand out for her to come to him.

"You're not so bad yourself." She said stepping through the doorway and shutting it behind her. "I've missed seeing those washboard abs."

"Yeah?" He looked down at his tone body and then back up at her.

"Yeah" she slid up to him as he stood tall and flexed his muscles for her.

She trailed one lone fingernail across his abs and up along his collarbone and out over his shoulder then down circling his nipples, smirking with satisfaction as each of them instantly hardened as soon as her blood red nail neared them. Then her finger trailed down to his belly button and circled, playing in the light trail of hair that led down and disappeared below the low hanging pants.

She looked up at him and her eyes sparkled with desire. They were glazed over from the wine and the Sake but the look she was giving him was pure lust and desire. It was a look he'd seen so many times before. She knew what she was doing. There was no question in his mind. She was seducing him and he was putty in her hands.

Slowly he leaned down and her arms came up and clasped behind his neck. "I love you Maxie."

"I love you too Jason, so much."

His head finally lowered enough and his lips took hers in a gentle kiss. Soon his arms came around her back and he lifted her up into him as he sucked on her lower lip and then turned and kissed the corner of her mouth and pulled her upper lip in between his lips and bit lightly. Her sigh opened up her mouth enough for him to slip his tongue in and he instantly groaned and grew hard at the sensations. He could taste the plum wine and the sweet essence that was uniquely Princess Mariah Maximilliana.

His tongue searched out hers and once he found it, twirled around it angling his head to get deeper into the crevice of her mouth with his tongue. His fingers tangled in her hair which she'd taken down for him. Just the way he liked it, long and flowing. His other hand kept her body pressed against his at the waist as he turned them and laid her down on the lounge chair, lowering his body onto hers but using his knee between her legs to keep his weight off of her and to better control their descent onto the chair.

Instinctively, Maxie's legs wrapped around his torso and she pulled his lower body flush with hers so that his rapidly hardening cock was cradled against her wet, weeping and pulsating pussy.

They both let out a moan of pleasure when they felt the other against their most sensitive spots. Jason ground up against her for good measure to relieve the pressure they were both feeling.

"We should have just gone straight to bed." He whispered as he pulled his arm from around her back when they were both safely on the lounge chair and cupped her lace covered breast with his strong, calloused hand.

"No, I'd like to hear your explanation now that the boys are in bed." She announced and Jason dropped his forehead onto her collar bone where he'd been slowly working his lips down from her lips to her breasts.

The roadblock.

She wanted to talk. And they needed to talk. He had a lot to explain to her and quite a few more I'm sorry's he was sure. But right now, he wanted to feel himself encased inside her. He wanted to taste her dripping with need for him. He wanted to feel her nails scoring him as she begged him for more.

But she had a right to know exactly what happened. So he lifted himself off of her, kissing her lips one more time before standing and holding her hand to lift her up so he could slide in behind her and adjust the lounger to a more inclined position.

Once he was settled, he reached over and handed her the glass of wine and then picked up his beer, setting it on his thigh as his other arm wrapped around her midsection and searched her free hand then twined his fingers with hers.

"What do you want to know?"

"Did you kill her?"

Maxie's question shocked him and he instantly went rigid. "What?"

"Claudia, did you kill her?"

"How did you…you did find the letter." He responded.

"Jason, I'm not lying, I didn't find this mysterious letter you wrote me. I found Robin before she left town. She told me Michael was awake and that Claudia was out of jail and that they couldn't prove that she put the hit on Sonny but that everyone KNEW she did it." She turned in his arms and looked him in the eye. "I'm not stupid you know. Knowing Michael was awake wouldn't have made you leave so abruptly. You'd have probably talked to me about going there first. But knowing that Michael was awake, Sonny was in prison and Claudia was running free…you went to kill her. And that's why it was such a big secret. And also why I was so damn scared."

This was when Jason would normally clam up. Pleading the fifth and remaining stone silent was his MO. However, that was Jason Morgan. Right now, in this moment, in this chair with this beautiful blond in his lap, he was Jason Johnson. And Jason Johnson and Maxie Webster didn't have secrets.

"You are exactly right. I did go to kill her. But someone beat me to it."

"She was dead when you got there?" she leaned back, her eyes belying the skepticism. "Then why were you gone so long?"

"No, she wasn't dead when I got there and it was just three days ago that she died. I was in place and was ready to pull the trigger when someone else beat me to it."

"Who?"

"That's not important."

"I want to know. And I want to know what you were doing for three weeks."

"I was…" He sighed. He didn't want to tell her. His instincts were that she shouldn't know too much information in case there was ever a reason for her to be questioned. But he knew she deserved to know what kept him away from her and the boys for so long so he took a deep breath. "I was watching Michael…and Carly and Morgan and…Claudia."

"How is Michael?" she asked in a whisper. He'd told her in long stories on nights just like this while she lay in his arms about Michael and his dreams and regrets for the boy he felt so close to.

"He's…he's good. I guess. I never talked to him. Or anyone for that matter. Except Monica."

"You talked to Monica? Wait…you didn't talk to Michael or Carly or…"

He cut her off. "No, I don't need to interrupt their life. It would only complicate things more. Carly is pregnant. She looks ready to pop any minute. I overheard her saying something to Morgan about his little sister so I assume she's having a girl. Michael is angry and rebellious. Much like I was when I woke up from my coma but he remembers his life before he was shot so that's…good."

"And you talked to Monica?" she took a sip of her wine watching as his eyes softened at the mention of his mothers name.

"Yeah, I had to see her to tell her…I don't know. I just…I took her a computer disk I had with pictures of you, me and the boys. I wanted her to know we were happy and safe."

"So she knows about us?" Her eyes lit up. "What did she say about you and me being…together?"

"I didn't talk to her about it. I…I'm sure she knows by now that we're together but I didn't talk to her until the last night I was there and she didn't look at the disk while I was there so when we talked she didn't know. I just…I wanted her to know that she mattered to me. I did so many things wrong back then and it's only now…that I have you and the boys that I realized what I put her and the Quartermaines through."

"Oh" Maxie said, not sure what to say to him. She'd known he'd wrestled with demons from his past just like she'd wrestled with her own since they'd moved to Tampa. Each trying to justify and live with their choices up until then and also trying to learn from them.

"So who killed Claudia."

"Her brother."

"Johnny?" Maxie sat up this time turning fully in his lap.

"He killed her and Jerry Jax. Apparently he was the one Claudia hired to kill Sonny and in turn he hired Ian Devlin. Johnny killed both of them because they were plotting to take over the Zacharra organization. The woman even told one of her lieutenants to kill Johnny if it meant she would be able to take hold of the power as head of the family."

"Johnny's back in?"

"I don't think he ever really left. Maxie, it's impossible to leave the mob."

"You did."

"That's a little different. And honestly, I still fear that my enemies are looking for me." He reached up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear then let his hand trail down her neck. "That's why I'm always so…"

"Crazy?"

"Cautious…with you and the boys. That's why I am still skeptical of the people in our lives and had all the security installed into this house and the boutique. I don't know what I'd do if they ever found us. It would kill me if I lost you and the boys too."

"We're fine and you'll keep us safe. You always will." She turned and settled in his arms again, threading her fingers with his and bringing them slowly up to guide them around the curves of her breasts. "I trust you."

And it seemed she was fine with his explanation. He was glad. Telling him she trusted him was like hearing the angels sing. It was music to his ears.

"I love you Maxie and I'm never leaving you again."

"Don't make promises you can't keep. I understand why you went. Truly I do. But if something like that comes up again, you could at least let me know you're okay and where you're going and what you're doing."

He sighed, she was right but he HAD… "I did write you a letter. As a matter of fact, I put it in the case on the pillow in this chair. I figured you would find it when you slid your phone into it like you always do. Like you just did a few minutes ago."

"I haven't been on this chair since you and I sat here last. I couldn't. It…it didn't feel right and it hurt too much to think I would be in this huge chair without your arms around me."

"I'm sorry." Number eight.

"You should be. But if you put the letter…" she reached around his head trying to wrench her hand into the opening.

"It's not there. I don't know what happened to it." He said trailing his finger down the underside of her arm making her shiver.

As if on cue, Popeye groaned and lifted his head up off of the cement where he was laying beside them. Jason looked at the big dog and smiled "What's the matter Popeye?"

"I wonder if the boys found the letter." Maxie murmured and turned her head so that her ear was pressed against Jason's chest. The wine and Sake making her more tired than she wanted to be.

"I don't know. I wonder where the letter went too."

Just then Popeye's ears perked up and he shot up off the ground and ran toward the back of the yard where his doghouse was. Within seconds, a slobbery wet but still in tact letter appeared in Maxie's face and under Jason's nose in the jaws of their dog.

"Popeye…you took the letter?" Jason laughed. Never did he think of that and his surprise was apparent that it was still in it's original form. Popeye was known for eating the strangest things but Jason guessed even Popeye knew how important the letter was.

"This is the letter you wrote me?" she pulled it from Popeye's mouth and the dog instantly sat waiting to be praised for bringing it to her.

She scratched him behind the ear and said "Good Boy" and then added "But next time, could you be a little more prompt? I could have stood to see this letter about two weeks ago when I was out of my mind with worry."

Jason squeezed her tighter and brushed his lips against her exposed neck. "I'm sorry I worried you. I love you and I never wanted you to worry about me."

"Well, let's try to never let it happen again, okay?" she murmured as she lifted her chin to capture his lips.

After a passionate kiss that aroused them all over again she pulled away for much needed air. "This letter…is it worth reading now?"

"It's up to you. It's just me telling you how much I love you and explaining why I was leaving. It also has another envelope with information you would have needed if I hadn't returned but I also put that in the check book for you to find so that if you tore the letter up, you'd still have the pass codes and keys and combinations to the accounts and locks and such."

"It says how much you love me?"

"Yes but instead of reading it, I'd rather show you Princess."

"I think I'd rather you showed me too." She said and lifted herself off of the lounger and held her hand out for Jason. She wanted to make love to him and they certainly couldn't do it out there. "Take me to bed Jason."

"It would be my pleasure."

~%~%~%~%~%~

Maxie woke up to the feel of two strong arms lifting her legs onto two strong shoulders. Then she smiled and purred at the feel of a tongue darting out and licking up her slit.

"Mmmm good morning." She said as her hands instinctively ran through his hair and pulled his head down to feast upon her.

"I cannot get enough of you baby. I missed you so much."

"Well, I could always leave the shop closed and tell Brittany I'm not coming in so she can open it at three when she gets out of school. Unless you're planning to go to work today."

"Nope, I think I need to stay here and work on reminding you how much I love you."

His voice and hot breath sent tingles to her core. They'd made love through the night and when the sky was just starting to turn that darkest shade of blue instead of black because the sun was nearing to rise, she fell asleep in his arms, content and completely satisfied.

"I think that's a perfect plan." She smiled as he sucked her clit into his mouth and she cupped her own breasts and pinched her own nipples to add to the pleasure.

He worked her clit until she was panting and gyrating in rhythm of his tongue and teeth. She looked down and saw that he was turned sideways and was stroking himself as he licked and sucked her to orgasm and she suddenly needed him inside her.

She pulled at his hair and he shoved his tongue into her channel tasting her feminine juices. "Cum for me Maxie. I want to taste you. I…" He let out a hot breath of air that caused her to clench and release nearing completion. "I love it when you cum in my mouth."

His hand moved in time with his tongue and her hand continued her own assault on her nipples as she lifted her hips forcing more of herself into his mouth. "Oh my God Jason…I'm….I'm gonna cum."

And she exploded, the tiny pin pricks tingling up and down from her insides out and Jason quickly lapped up her juices and before she could open her eyes he was over her, quickly rolling a condom onto his long hard thick shaft and plunging inside of her, filling her to the hilt with his cock.

He moved quickly, loving the feel of his balls slapping against her ass as he built her up to another orgasm he hoped would explode around him just as he was exploding inside of her.

"Oh Jason" Maxie practically yelled as he pounded into her tight channel.

"Oh FUCK Maxie you feel so good." He grunted reaching underneath her to cup her ass cheek and tilt her core up to him. He used his other arm to shove her leg up above her head and turned slightly to get a different angle as he pivoted in long hard strokes in and out of her.

"Daddy, what are you doing to Maxie?"

Maxie screamed and Jason immediately went limp and scrambled to pull the covers up over the both of their exposed, naked and joined bodies.

"JACOB MARTIN" He yelled. "I'VE TOLD YOU NOT TO JUST WALK IN HERE. YOU HAVE TO KNOCK."

"But Daddy, Maxie was screaming."

Jason looked down at Maxie's face. They were now both under the covers from head to toe. He was still inside her but rapidly losing girth to his shaft and slowly he groaned as he pulled out of her. He gave one light peck to her lips and whispered 'We'll finish this later' and then rolled off of her and peeked his head out from the top of the covers.

"What are you doing to Maxie Daddy?"

"Don't you worry about what me and Maxie were doing. How many times have I told you to knock before entering this room when the door is closed?"

"About a million but you were hurting Maxie."

"He wasn't hurting me Jake honey. I'm okay." Maxie said from her hiding spot under the covers. "It's okay."

"And Daddy, you have to put a toy in the swear box. And that was the "F" word so it has to be something like your pool cue or your key to your motorcycle." Came Cameron's sleepy response as he rubbed at his eyes and moved past his brother to climb up on the bed.

Jason smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand and groaned. "What are you two doing up?"

"Daddy you and Maxie woke me up. You were yelling and there was banging and stuff." Jake said as he followed his brother and climbed up on the bed bending down to lift Prince up on the bed first.

Soon Precious followed and Popeye could be heard scrambling to his feet, his claws scratching at the tile floor in the play room as he was trying to get up on his feet and run to where the rest of the family was congregating.

Jason peeked under the sheet Maxie had tightly clasped and covered her head when he heard her giggle. "And what's so funny?"

"I told you to do something about the headboard."

"That's enough out of you WOMAN!"

"WOMAN? You're calling me woman now? You are such a brute." She feigned offense and he rolled his eyes.

He dropped the sheet down to see two pair of eyes, one set blue and one brown staring at him. Then a set of coal black eyes, another set of coal black eyes and bounding around the corner came a set of hazel eyes that leaped up on the bed, nearly knocking Jake and Prince off and aggravating Precious enough for her to turn and growl at the oafish dog.

"This is the brute. Popeye get down! Precious, you too! Cam and Jake…get out of here! Go brush your teeth or watch cartoons or…go back to bed. And take Prince with you."

"What are you going to do Daddy?" Cameron asked.

"I'm going back to sleep." He announced hoping that would get everyone except Maxie out of his room.

"You weren't sleeping when I came in here." Jake announced and then for added grief. "What were you doing bouncing on Maxie and why aren't you wearing your pj's?"

"Oh shit" He heard Maxie say under her breath.

"You weren't wearing your pj's?" Cameron asked. "Why aren't you wearing your pj's Daddy?"

Jason dropped his chin to his chest. But he still smiled loving the sound of Cameron Alexander calling him Daddy.

"It's none of your business." Jason said.

"Maxie isn't wearing any pj's either." Jake whispered to his brother but the neighbors could have heard him. The boy couldn't whisper.

"You're both naked?" Cameron asked with questioning eyes turning to his father and then to the lump under the covers.

"You see what your big mouth started." Jason said to Maxie and he poked her in the side, or what he thought was her side.

"OWWWW That's my boob you Neanderthal." She screamed and her bare leg shot out from under the covers and kicked him.

"Daddy you gotta say sorry." Jake announced shaking his head and climbing off the bed and turning to scoop up Prince.

"I've been saying I'm sorry all night Jake. As a matter of fact, you interrupted me saying I'm sorry."

"Jason don't tell him that!" Maxie's head shot out from under the cover to give him a warning glare.

"Well the kids are telling me to apologize to you and I'm trying to explain to them that I've apologized to you all night. As a matter of fact all yesterday evening as well."

"But she called you a nanderfalls Daddy. You always have to say sorry when she calls you a nanderfalls cause you did something mean." Jason's jaw clenched at his youngest son.

That boy was a traitor. He always took Maxie's side no matter what the situation. And now it seemed, he would be doing it again. Everyone said he was just like Jason. Looks and personality. And that may be true but the little boy loved Maxie more than anything in this world and that included his Daddy.

"It's not NANderfalls Jake. It's NEEanderfalls. You know like your knee?" The six year old stood from the bed and lifted his leg tapping his knee cap. "NEEanderfalls"

"No it's THALLS…TH…TH…like think or thump." Maxie chimed in "NeanderTHal"

"Oh" both boys looked at her and then looked at their father. "Why were you naked and hurting Maxie and saying bad words and making her call you a NEEanderTHal?" Jake asked.

He wasn't letting up.

Reaching down to the floor next to him he picked up his black silk pajama bottoms. There was no sense in hiding that he was naked. Both boys knew he was naked so he grabbed them, turned on the bed, put both feet through the leg openings then stood up letting the sheet and blanket fall from covering him and pulled them the rest of the way up.

"Come on boys. Let's go get some coffee and juice and see what's for breakfast and I'll talk to you about what you saw." He was tying his pants and when done used his hand on each boys head to push them out of the room.

He turned to close the door and could see Maxie shaking from laughter. "I'm glad you think this is funny Maxie. I'm about to have to explain something to a four year old and a six year old that shouldn't be hearing this for another five years, at least."

"Well, go easy on them. Leave out A LOT of details and try to resist the urge to shoot your brains out afterward. Okay?"

She smiled and then quickly dropped the sheet so he could get a view of her pert breasts that were still tingling and hungering for him. "Then hurry back. I think I may need help in the shower."

She watched as that little peek and the suggestion made his pants move from his dick twitching and his eyes eclipsed, the pupils enlarging with passion. "I love you. I'll try to make this really quick."

He went to shut the door then peeked his head back in, noticing she was reaching for something on the bedside table. "Oh and that condom is somewhere floating under the covers."

"EWWW" she screeched and he smiled, blew her a kiss and closed the door.

~%~%~%~%~%~

As soon as the door was shut, Maxie waited to the count of three then grabbed for the letter that was sitting on the bedside table underneath her phone.

She could not tear it open fast enough.

It was torn on the edge and had teeth mark holes but it was still in tact. It was weathered and semi hard from having been wet but the words on the page were clear.

Princess,

To say I love you does not begin to tell you how I feel. I am so in love with you that I don't think those eight letters come close to summing up what you mean to me.

I have to leave you. Michael is out of his coma and Claudia is on the loose in Port Charles. I know I made you and Jake and Cam promises and I intend to keep every one but I also made a promise to Michael and I cannot in good conscience go back on my word to him.

I won't be able to call you. Although I'll try if it's safe. I cannot lead my enemies to you and the boys and I know going to Port Charles to avenge Michael's shooting is already a huge risk to our new life.

Just know that I am thinking about you and wishing you were in my arms the entire time I'm gone.

I wish I could tell you I'll only be a few days or a week but I don't know how long I'll be or when I will return. Honestly, I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a slight chance that I won't return at all.

If that happens, the envelope I've enclosed has the accounts and codes to my safe deposit box, the password to my computer and the combination to all of the lock boxes in the house, in the garage and anywhere else. Call Spinelli but there's some stuff that even he doesn't know. I want you and the boys to have everything I own. I want to be there but if I can't be, at least I know that you and the boys are set for life.

Maxie, I know that you and I have had a hard road to get here but I want you to know that you are my world. You make me happier than I've ever been. Raising my boys with you is the most precious gift I'll ever get out of life.

I cannot wait to get home and be with my family. That's what you are. You, Cameron, Jake, Precious, Popeye and Prince. You're my family.

And you, Princess, are the center of our world. This family only works because of you. You are the key to my happiness. You are everything to me.

You are my life.

And that's why I say that simply saying I love you just isn't enough.

Always,

Jason

Jason watched from the cracked door as she read the letter over and over again. He'd come back to the room because the boys could have cared less about why they were naked in bed as soon as Power Rangers came on so he decided that was his chance to finish making love to the woman he adored above all others.

He watched silently as she moved the paper to her mouth, kissed it and then stood and pulled her journal from the table that set next to the window looking out at the back yard. She pulled at the red velvet string and opened it, lifting the pen to jot down a few words and then tucked the letter inside.

"I meant every word." He said as he finally moved into the room.

She didn't even flinch. She knew he was there. It didn't matter.

"You were right. Had I read the letter it would have been much easier on me."

"I'm sorry." He said as he moved up behind her and wrapped his arms around her kissing the top of her head.

"Stop apologizing. If you weren't the man that kept your promise to your old life, you wouldn't be the man that I trust to keep your promise to me and our new life."

"I promised I'd take care of you." He whispered against her temple and she sighed.

"You've given me a lifetime of promises."

"And I intend to keep every one." He turned her in his arms, knowing that suddenly, their relationship had shifted yet again. It was more solid and complete now.

"I will love you always Maxie."

She leaned up on her toes and kissed him pouring all the love she had into that one moment in time.

She pulled back locking eyes with him and whispered, "And that's the promise of a lifetime."

The End