Chapter 19

Anna was in the middle of preparing a salad to go with dinner when the doorbell rang. "Could you get that Zach?" she called from the kitchen.

"Sure," he answered. "Were you expecting someone?"

"No I wasn't."

Zach opens the door to find MJ. "May I help you?"

"Is Ms. Donnelly in?" MJ asked, thinking he should have called first after the shirtless gentlemen answered the door.

Anna walked in from the kitchen and stood next to Zach. "MJ?" she said cleaning her hands with a
dishtowel. "What are you doing here?"

"I came by to drop off some story ideas. What can I say, I'm an eager beaver. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"Oh no, I was just throwing together some dinner. I'm sorry MJ, this is my husband Zachary Grayson. Zach this is the man that's going to save the station."

"The great Mr. Harmon," Zach smiled, extending his hand to MJ. "Anna has spoken very highly of you. It's nice to meet you."

Taking Zach's hand in a firm shake, "You too," he said, pleased that his boss would gush to her husband about him.

"I'll give you two a couple of minutes to talk shop while I finish getting dressed. Again, nice meeting you," he said to MJ before heading into the bedroom.

"Please, have a seat," Anna offered as she sat on the couch.

"I should have called first. I feel like I'm intruding," MJ confessed as he sat in the cushioned armchair across from her.

"It's no problem. Zach has been away on business for several weeks and he just got in this morning."

"Ugh, now I really feel like a heel," he groaned.

"Don't really, it's okay," she assured him. "Pretty soon he'll be with me all the time. He promised this was his last case."

"Case? Is he a lawyer?"

"I wish," she grumbled. "No, my husband works for the WSB."

"Really? He's a spy?"

"Yes, really and he is a spy. I can't wait until he's not. I worry about him, this is such a dangerous job."

"He looks like he can take care of himself."

"I know he can but--, I'm sorry, you didn't come here to listen to me worry about my husband. You said you had story ideas."

"Yes, I do," he replied handing her a manila folder. "This opportunity means a lot to me and I guess I'm just putting everything I have into it. I hope I'm not getting ahead of myself?"

"Absolutely not, there's nothing wrong with a little drive. I'll take a look a these," she said retrieving the folder.

"There's no rush, just when you get a minute. That said I'm going to leave you and Mr. Grayson alone."

"You're welcome to stay for dinner it's--" she began.

MJ interrupts her invitation as he stood up from the chair and walked towards the door. "That's very kind of you Ms. Donnelly but I think my presence is the last thing you want around here. Besides, I have a date, I stopped over on my way."

"I thought you were a little overdressed to just be dropping off a file," she said following him to the door. "Well, you have a good time and I'll see you on Monday."

A good time? He would be having a much better time if this date were with Jensyn. Where did that come from? Lena is beautiful too, and she doesn't give him a bunch of lip, at least not the kind he doesn't want. "Yes, Monday, I'll be there with bells on, and I will have a good time tonight, thank you."

Moments after MJ left, Zach emerged from the bedroom. "So is your protégé gone?"

Looking up from the file, "Yes, he just left," she answered.

"He seems like a nice young man."

"He is," she agreed. "I really like him. He's a bit pompous but it's sorta charming on him, and he's a very hard worker. MJ Harmon has a very bright future ahead of him."

"So do we," Zach replied giving her a kiss on the forehead.

"When is your meeting?"

"In a couple of hours."

"Uh-huh," she mumbled walking back into the kitchen.

"Anna everything is going to be fine. I wish you would stop worrying," he said wrapping his arms around her waist and bringing her back against his chest.

"And I wish you were done with the WSB."

Kissing her cheek, "I will be, soon," he promised. "You know, I've worked up quite an appetite."

"Well, dinner is almost ready," she told him.

"I'm not talking about food," he grinned, leading her back into the bedroom.

~~*~~

"Okay, you sent the guys off to the video store without us, if we end up watching some nut job wearing a hockey mask and wielding a machete it's gonna be your fault," Ally remarked as levity colored her doleful expression.  Folding her legs beneath her, she sat on the couch. "What's on your mind, Kelsey?"
Grabbing a pillow and joining Ally on the couch, "You know what's on my mind," Kelsey answered. "What happened between you and Jack last night? You're being awfully tightlipped."

"I'm not being tightlipped. I told you what happened."

"No, what you said was you had an amazing time," Kelsey informed her friend. "I don't want a description of the event, I want details. What happened?" she practically pleaded. "I could tell when you called last night you wanted to say more but you didn't. C'mon Ally spill."

Ally gave Kelsey a long stare as she considered her request. "Look if I say anything you have to promise not to tell another soul."

"You're my best friend who else would I tell?"

"Hmm, let's see." Counting off on her fingers, "Well there's Alec, your mother--" Ally was in the middle of adding more names to the list when Kelsey stopped her.

"Okay, okay, it was a rhetorical question. Alec is my boyfriend and you know how Mom can get things out of me. But be fair, you know I would never divulge anything you tell me in confidence, no matter what."

Ally nodded her head. "Yeah I know that." Taking a deep breath, "This is big, Kel," she admitted.

"I can already see that, spare me the buildup please," she anxiously urged.  "What is it? Did you and he… Ally, did you guys sleep together?" Kelsey wondered.

"No, we didn't," she answered.

"No?"

"Uh-uh."

Kelsey was at a loss. "What can be bigger than that?"

Taking her friends hands in hers, "Jack asked me to marry him," Ally shared.

Shock registered on Kelsey's face. "What?!" she yelped. "Are you kidding?"

"No, I'm not kidding," Ally replied shaking her head. "Last night was just like I said, it was amazing. Jack was so sweet. We talked, we danced, and he held me so close," she sighed softly as she remembered the moments of the previous evening. "It was incredible and we both wanted to make love."

"But you said you didn't," Kelsey remarked.

"No we didn't. We talked about it though, and how much we wanted to be with each other. I told him I had never been with anyone before and he admitted that neither had he. He told me he wanted our first time to be absolutely perfect and right in every way. The next thing I know I'm sitting on the
picnic blanket and he's down on one knee proposing marriage."

"Oh, my gosh," Kelsey said still trying to take it all in. "What did you tell him?"

"What do you think?" Ally returned. "Of course, I said yes. I knew from the moment I saw him I wanted to spend my life with him and now it's going to happen."

"I know how much you love him," Kelsey smiled. "Congratulations, Ally.  I'm so happy for you," she said giving her friend a heartfelt embrace.

"Thanks." Ally beamed happily after the hug ended.

"So I guess you guys will be having the big day right after you finish med school huh?"

"No," Ally answered. "It's going to be before that."

"Oh, so after college then? I guess waiting until after you've finished med school is a bit of a stretch."

"Yeah, it is," she agreed, "but no less of a stretch than waiting until after college." Fiddling uneasily with a few tendrils of her hair, "We don't plan to wait that long," Ally informed her.

"Just how long do you plan to wait?" Kelsey wondered, pulling Ally's fingers
from her hair. "Ally?"

"Two weeks," she mumbled.

Silence filled the room as Kelsey allowed what was said to sink in. "What was that?"

"I said two weeks," Ally repeated more clearly. "Technically 13 days."

"Ally you can't be serious. You've only known him for two weeks. I know you love him but you can't. Your parents will go ballistic. They'll never let you do this."

"Of course they won't," she readily agreed, "which is why they're not going
to know about it until after it's done."

Kelsey's jaw dropped. "You're going to elope?"

"That's the plan," Ally said standing from the couch and walking in the direction of the kitchen.

"Wait a second," Kelsey said, catching up to her and dragging her back to the couch. "Ally, you can't just drop something that heavy on me and not elaborate on it."

"There's nothing else to explain. You know what's going to happen and you have to," holding up her forefinger for emphasis, "you absolutely have to keep it to yourself," she insisted. "If your mother finds out she'll tell my mother and Mom will definitely tell Daddy."

"I'm not going to tell anyone, but, Ally, can you keep this from your parents?"

"I don't have a choice. I want to marry Jack and I'm going to and if my parents knew they would do everything they could to stop me."

"Would that be so bad?" Kelsey remarked. "Ally, you're only eighteen years old and marriage is serious business. Where do you plan to live? Jack only has a summer job and you don't work at all." Kelsey holds up her hand. "And before you say it volunteering at the hospital does not count."

Ally rolled her eyes. Well, there goes the work experience argument she had prepared.

"You said you're not telling your parents because they would try to talk you out of it. Could they talk you out of it?"

Pausing for a moment she shook her head. "No, they couldn't. A herd of wild elephants couldn't stop me from marrying him. You've brought up some valid points. Jack and I have discussed them and we have everything worked out. We're going to get married."

Reading the 'You've lost your mind' expression on her friend's face, Ally attempted to make things more clear. "Kel, I wish I could explain all that I'm feeling right now, but I barely understand it myself. All I know is I love him and I want to spend my life with him."

"You can do that, Ally, but what's the rush? If you really believe your folks can't stop you why not tell them what's going on?"

"The rush is I want to be with him now." God knows that was the truth. "I want to spend every day and every night with him, and I'm not telling my parents because they would dog me and tell me what a big mistake I was making," she said reaching for the framed family portrait that rested on the
table behind the couch. Stroking the picture of herself with her smiling family, "I want to tell them," she explained, the longing in her voice unmistakable. "I want them to share this wonderful day with me, but what I don't want is the aggravation they'll give me right before what's going to be
the happiest day of my life." Ally placed the picture back on the table. "Daddy is being nicer to Jack, but he has his limits. I want this day to be perfect, or as perfect as it can be without my family there, and it will be. I'll graduate from high school that morning and have my wedding night with
Jack that evening."

"Yes, and your funeral the next day because your father is going to kill you,
and Jack, too," Kelsey said only half jokingly. Placing her arm around Ally's shoulder. "Oh goodness girl, you do like to live on the edge don't you, but if this is what you want and Jack makes you as happy as I think he does, your secret is safe with me."

"It is, and he does. Thanks, Kel, this means a lot to me."

"Think nothing of it. The fireworks that are going to happen two weeks from now are going to make the ones that are probably going on at my house right now pale in comparison."

Ally's face scrunched in confusion. "Your house? Why would it be fireworks there? It's just a dinner party with our parents and Felicia."

"And the Scorpios as in Felicia's ex-husband and his current wife," Kelsey shared.

"I met Mrs. Scorpio this morning. She seems really nice."

"I'm sure she is, but Felicia doesn't think so. She feels like Mrs. Scorpio got Mr. Scorpio on the rebound. Forget they've been married longer than we've been alive, she feels it's only a matter of time before he's back with her where he belongs."

"And they're all having dinner together tonight?"

"Yep," she nodded. " And if my parents' thoughts on how this party will go is any indication, I can imagine they are having a grand old time right about now."

~~*~~

"Glad you guys could make it, come on in," Kevin said cheerfully as he welcomed Mac and Dara.

"So you invited Felicia, too?" Mac asked dourly as he and Dara entered the home.

"I'm sorry about that," he sincerely offered. "Trust me it wasn't our idea."

"I figured as much, although Felicia couldn't wait to tell us otherwise," Dara told him.

"I noticed another car in the driveway," Mac mentioned as he placed his arm around Dara's waist.

"Yes, Matt and Ellen are joining us too," Kevin informed them.

"That's great," Dara smiled. "See, Mac, this is going to be a fun evening despite Felicia's presence."

"Well that's our hope anyway," Kevin added.  "Everyone in the living room, let's go in."

"Okay," Mac breathed, "here goes nothing." Taking Dara's hand in his they followed Kevin into the room.

The couple shared warm greetings with Matt, Ellen and Lucy while Felicia shot venomous daggers Dara's way. Afterward the group adjourned to the dining room.

Much to Kevin and Lucy's delight and Mac and Dara's surprise the evening had gone relatively smoothly. Perhaps, that was do in large part to the fact that Felicia sat quietly and listened as the couples exchanged scintillating conversation while she stole longing glances at Mac and downed glass after glass of wine. Listening to her ex and Dara share stories of their life in Australia while they exchanged private smiles and loving looks was driving Felicia over the edge. By the time the main course of the meal had been consumed and dessert was being discussed the wine had made her extremely chatty, and she had no desire to hold her tongue.

"So, Mac, tell me," Felicia slurred, "when are you going to stop punishing me for making a mistake and come home where you belong?"

Dara rolled her eyes in disgust. It was too good to last.

Mac crushed the linen napkin so tightly in his hands his knuckles became chalk white. Seeing the anger growing in her husband, Dara covered his hand with hers. "Mac, don't let her upset you," she implored. "She's drunk, she doesn't know what she's saying."

"I am not drunk," Felicia garbled as she stood from her seat, which by no small surprise was on the opposite side and end of the table from the Scorpios. "What I am is tired of seeing you," she said pointing a wobbly finger at Dara, "touching and hanging all over my husband."

Mac was easing up from his chair when Dara grabbed his hand and with a subtle shake of her head urged him to stay seated.

Feeling things becoming a bit thick, "You know, I think we ought to skip dessert Matt," Ellen suggested as she tapped him on the hand. "I have an early day at the hospital tomorrow and since it's on our way we can give Felicia a lift, too. I think she's a little tired," she said staring at the
belligerent woman.

"That's fine with me," Matt replied pushing away from the table, more than ready to keep the scene brewing from escalating any further.

"Yeah, I'm tired all right. I'm tired of her," Felicia spoke indignantly as she continued to point at Dara.  "You know, Mac is only with you to get back at me. It's obvious you trapped him into marriage by getting pregnant and now you're using your feminine wiles to keep him.  It's sad Dara, I thought you had more respect for yourself."

"Dammit!" Mac swore as he pounded his right fist angrily against the table, while rising to his feet. "You know, Felicia, I have tried to be civil, and God knows Dara has been more gracious to you than you deserve but you have gone too far!"

"Mac," Dara whispered as she stood beside him, stroking his arm to soothe his boiling rage.

"No, sweetheart, this has to be said," he softly explained, slinking his arm around her waist. "There are some things Felicia needs to made aware of once and for all," he said giving his ex a chilling glare.

"I don't think you guys need an audience for this so the rest of us are going to
retire to the living room," Lucy said, motioning for the uninvolved parties to prepare to retreat."

The others swiftly followed her lead and moved away from the table.

"Yes, and please take as much time as you need," Kevin said, pulling the sliding doors of the dining room closed, leaving the Scorpios and Felicia alone.

Once they were settled in the living room, Lucy was quick to remark on Felicia's behavior.

"I told you didn't I? I told all of you that Felicia would ruin this party and was I wrong? Noooo," she sang. "She just had to destroy it. If I were Dara I would have dropped her on her drunk butt."

"Well, to be honest, aside from the drunken tirade the evening went great,"
Matt offered. "The pasta was delicious."

"That's my husband, always able to see the bright side," Ellen quipped.  "Felicia really did go too far. Dara handled that a lot better than I would have, and Mac, I thought he was going to explode."

"He still might," Kevin asserted as he looked in the direction of the dining room.

~*~

"Does 'she' have to be in here when we talk?" Felicia asked pointedly as she stared at Dara from across the table.

"Yeah as a matter of fact" Mac began angrily before Dara stopped him by placing her hand on his chest.

"You know, Felicia, you've been baiting me every chance you got from the moment you saw me, but I'm not going to bite the hook because then I'll be stooping to your level. You can't get to me. If you could, that would mean what you say affects me, and it doesn't.  It's just a bunch of gibberish from
a pathetic, lonely woman."

The derisive laughter that followed Dara's statement only angered Felicia more.

"I feel sorry for you," she admitted. "You asked if I had to stay here when you talked with Mac, the answer is no, I don't.  I could stay, but I don't want to," looking into her husband's sea-green eyes and seeing all his love for her, "and I don't have to.  I'm going to join the others in the living room," she told him.

With his arm wrapped securely around her waist Mac kept her close to him.  "Dara you don't have to.  I want you to stay here with me."

"I know that, but I think you need to do this alone. She'll be more apt to listen to you if I wasn't around. Besides, I wouldn't want my feminine wiles to distract you."  Giggling softly she gave him a little kiss.  "You know where I'll be."

Mac nodded his head and after grazing her cheek with his hand watched her leave the room.

"Finally, I thought she'd never leave," Felicia said, stumbling from the other side of the table and over to Mac. Wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, "I missed you so much," she murmured as she attempted to kiss him.

Mac released the viselike grip she had around his neck and pushed her away. "I know you've had too much to drink tonight but you were still way out of line!"

"Mac, are you angry?" she asked not understanding his behavior.

"Angry? No, Felicia, I'm not angry, I'm incensed!" he railed. "Just who the hell do you think you are?"

Easing closer to him, "Mac, I'm the woman you love," she answered. "The woman you had a family with."

"The woman I love and have a family with is in the living room with my friends," he informed her. "But you don't seem to get that."

Her arm linked around his, she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Mac, you don't love Dara," she whispered confidently. "You're just saying that to hurt me."

Retaining possession of his arm, he walked away from the clingy woman. "Felicia, my life does not revolve around hurting you. I'm with Dara for one reason and one reason only.  I'm in love with her.  I am crazy, madly, passionately in love with her.  She is my life mate and my soul mate and I
love her with all my heart."

Tears clouded her eyes. "Mac, don't--don't say that," she stammered. "Dara's not in here.  You don't have to put on this act for me."

"The only act happening in here right now is my appearance of being calm.  Trust me, it is only out of respect for our former relationship and the fact I'm a gentleman that I haven't throttled you for speaking to my wife the way you did."

"Mac, I--" she choked out.

"No," he broke in. "You just be quiet and listen," he forcefully demanded as
he walked the length of the floor. "There was a time when I would have done almost anything to keep us together but that time has long since passed.  I even tried to be your friend during and after the divorce, but all you wanted was to sleep with Luke Spencer."

"I'm sorry, that was a mistake. I know that now," she replied extremely remorseful.

"Save the apologies, Felicia, I don't need them, just let me finish what I'm saying. Your single-minded behavior went off the chart when you were chasing after Spencer, and that was your life, but when you dragged the girls away from the only stable father figure they knew," placing his hand on his
chest, "away from me, that was the worst,” Mac said.   “I can't tell you how much that hurt me.  The one thing that kept me sane through that was Dara's calming influence and her friendship."

"See Mac, see," she crowed. "You all but admitted it's gratitude you feel for her. You were still upset over losing the girls and me and she was there so you latched on to her. You married her on the
rebound."

"Oh for God's sake would you drop that!" he spat. "There was no rebound, Felicia. It's been a lot of years so you might not remember but I divorced you, not the other way around."

Walking up to his ex-wife he looked her squarely in the eye. "I don't love you," Mac said unflinching. "I stopped loving you a long time ago. Dara, my wife, is the woman I love. She is the mother of my children, my lover and my life, not you.  Now if it helps you to believe that I married her and stayed married to her for over twenty years just to spite you, then think it. Just know that if you do you will be feeling that way for many years to come. I suggest you learn to accept the truth. Dara makes me incredibly happy and nothing short of death or my being brainwashed would make me leave her for you or any other woman."

"No," she said shaking her head, "I'll never believe that."

Releasing an exasperated breath, "Suit yourself," he said walking toward the door. "But you're going to be very disappointed."

"It's you and Dara who will be disappointed if you think I'll just sit back and accept this," she mumbled.

"What does that mean? Mac asked walking back towards her and stopping within
inches of her face. "Was that a threat, Felicia?!" his tone daring her to
answer in the affirmative.

Her jaw was set and her stance defiant. "Take it for whatever you will.  You're home now, and things between us won't be over until I say so."  Brushing past him she ran into Lucy who was about to come in.

"Good you're done," Lucy said to the infuriating woman. "There's a taxi
waiting for you outside." Shoving Felicia her purse, "You can leave through the kitchen."

"Fine," Felicia said taking the purse. Speaking over her shoulder as she walked out the room, "I'll see you around Mac," she said.

"You better hope not," he grumbled under his breath.

Mac managed to keep a rein on his emotions as he joined the others and insisted they proceed with dessert. Intentionally leaving Felicia out of any and all other conversation the couples were able to enjoy the rest of the evening. After dessert and promising to get together again soon, everyone said their good-byes and the Harmons and Scorpios headed for their homes.

~~*~~

"That was an interesting dinner party," Ellen said as Matt drove down the sparsely trafficked road.

"It's good to keep things interesting, it makes life exciting," Matt replied with a chuckle.

"Funny you should say that. Our daughter falling in love with Chris Ramsey's nephew would qualify as something interesting and it certainly makes our life exciting." Stroking the hair at the back of his head, "I can't tell you again how happy I am that you have managed to find a way to be accepting
of Jack," she told him.

"Well, the kid's not so bad. We had a long talk today and from that I know Allison could have done a lot worse. He's smart, has a sense of humor, he likes sports and he loves our daughter, but I'd be lying if I said I'm happy about this relationship of theirs."

"Matt," she groaned.

"Babe it's the truth. I know he loves her and I know Ally loves him. I think I knew that from the first night, I just didn't want to believe it. I still don't want to believe it."

"But you have accepted it and the fact that they are together."

"Well," he grumbled, "yes and no."

Still raking her fingers through his silver-streaked mane, "Explain that," she asked.

"Putting my foot down about her seeing him backfired big time; they couldn't stay away from each other. You kept insisting I talk to him and get to know him. Now that it's done, I'm glad I did it. He really isn't a bad kid and I don't mind her seeing him."

"When does the 'but' come in?" Ellen asked.

"Now," he answered. "But, I'm not crazy about this closeness of theirs. They're too close and she's way too young, they both are. I won't even go into how fast this all happened or what we almost walked in on today or the fact that I'm still dealing with the Ramsey angle.  I don't know when if ever
I'll get over that one."

"With the exception of the Ramsey part, I'm in agreement with you."

"You are?" Matt said glancing at her for just a moment before turning his eyes back to the road.

"Yes, I am. I've even told them both that, but they can't hear me or see what I'm saying. The stars in their eyes are blinding them and the birds singing in their heads are keeping them from thinking clearly. All one knows is the other."

"Maybe my warming up to him will somehow cause their need to be together so much to wane. There's a thrill to doing things you're not supposed to. I'm okay with them dating now; maybe they will grow tired of each other. It wouldn't devastate me that's for sure."

"That's a lot of maybes, I think you're reaching," Ellen said bursting his hopeful bubble.

"Aw, Ellen," he groaned. "Couldn't you have said, 'Matt, you're right. This fling they have will be over before the summer is.' I would have liked that response a lot better."

"I don't like lying to you sweetie," she said giving him a peck on the cheek.  "So I don't. I'll say this much, either this relationship will end as quickly as it started or Jack Ramsey will be a part of our lives for a long time to come."

~~*~~

Jack rested his arm along the back of the sofa where Ally sat. "Kelsey and Alec didn't stay very long did they? Not that I'm complaining or anything," he said nuzzling her neck.

"Mmm," she softly moaned. "I think Kelsey is still in shock."

Pulling away from her neck he turned his attention to her face. "What is she in shock about?"

"I told her about our plans."

"And she was in shock?"

"Well, extremely surprised wouldn't be accurate so yeah, I'd say shocked. She was really happy for us when I told her we were getting married, it was when we're getting married that threw her."  She laced her fingers with his. "She thinks we're too young and we're rushing things, and that I should tell my parents."

"She might have a point."

"Huh?" Ally frowned. "Are you having second thoughts?"

"Only about the telling your parents part. Trust me, I'm counting the minutes until I'm your husband."

"Are you?" she asked, a smile forming at the corners of her lips.

"Oh yeah," he answered looking down at his watch. "As of this moment it is 141, 096."  He caressed her cheek. "I would never have second thought about marrying you."

"Me either."

"I think it might be okay to tell your parents though. What do you think?" he asked, wrapping his right forefinger around a lock of her curly hair. "Your dad likes me now."  He smiled.

"Jack, Daddy being more pleasant to you is one thing, but telling him and my mother you want to marry me in just under two weeks is something altogether different. They would freak. I mean totally lose it. Take my word for it, we need to keep this to ourselves.  I only told Kelsey because I was
dying to tell someone and because I almost told her last night. She's like a bulldog when she wants something so she pulled it out of me tonight, but telling my parents would be a bad idea." Shaking her head at the very thought of it, "Very bad,” she repeated.

"Alright then we definitely won't tell them."

"Good, because I would hate to become a widow before I became a wife. Wife," she sighed. "I can't wait to be your wife, for so many reasons.  One in particular."

"Let me guess. Unlimited access to my grilled cheeseburgers," he teased, bringing her into his arms.

Giggling. "Okay, two," Ally returned.

After sharing a kiss they cuddled in each other arms.

"You know that was a close call earlier today," Jack winced as he remembered his fright.

"Yeah, our agreement to wait until we were married to make love all but flew out the window," Ally added.

"I'm 99.999% sure that if your parents hadn't shown up when they did our first time would have taken place on this couch. Not that it wouldn't have been incredible, it's just not what I had in mind for our first time."

"Me either, but…"

"I know, these next two weeks are going to be hard."

"Interesting choice of words," Ally laughed, "but yeah, they're gonna be difficult."

Shaking his head he joined in her laughter. "I love you so much, Allison."

"Say it again," she whispered.

"I love you," he repeated.

Giving him a brief kiss, "I love you too," she murmured.

They didn't say anything for several moments but the look in their eyes was saying plenty.

"I think it's time for me to go," Jack said ending the sexually charged moment as he rose from the couch.

"Do you have to?" she purred coquettishly, staring innocently at him.

The look she wore was becoming his undoing. "Be strong Jack, be strong," he repeated to himself. "Yes I do." Leaning forward he gave her a kiss. "You're bad Allison, really bad."

Wearing a 'who me' expression she shrugged her shoulders as she followed him to the door.

"I'll call you when I get home," he said giving her another kiss. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," she returned. After watching him drive away she closed the door and floated to her room on a wave of pure happiness.

~~*~~

Kicking off her shoes as she entered the hotel room, "You've been pretty quiet since we left Kevin and Lucy's, you want to tell me what's on your mind?" Dara asked Mac.

"I'm sorry I wasn't very talkative on the drive home, sweetheart," Mac said giving her a quick kiss. "I was rehashing the scene I had with Felicia."

"I figured as much. You put on a good front when you came out of the dining room but I know you too well. I could tell something was wrong."

"Something's wrong alright. Felicia has turned into a crazy bitch," he said tossing his car keys and the hotel's key card onto the dresser.

"Oh really," Dara chuckled. "What else is new?"

"I'm serious Dara. I don't know what's wrong with her but she's practically delusional. She will not accept the fact that I love you and not her and she intimated that things would not go well for you and me if we continued with this pretense of a happy life."

"She threatened us?"

"Yes she did."

She scoffs. "I'm not afraid of Felicia or her petty threats. She can't do anything to us."

"Sweetheart, she can't come between us, but it doesn't mean she can't hurt us, or more importantly hurt you." Wrapping one arm around her waist he brought her closer to him as he stroked her cheek with his free hand. "We don't know what she's capable of now, but I do know if something happened to you I'd lose it. I'm not willing to take the chance."

"So, I'm supposed to run when I see Felicia coming? Mac I'm not going to give her that kind of power over me. We left Australia because we didn't want the mob to control our lives with fear of retaliation anymore. Now I'll be damned if I'm going to let that skank of an ex-wife of yours do it to us now that we're back in Port Charles. I've been on my best behavior where she's concerned so far, but I have no problem with forgetting I'm a lady for a minute and kicking her scrawny ass from here to Australia if need be."

"You mean that don't you?"

"Absolutely."

"You handled yourself incredibly well with her tonight. You are the epitome of class and graciousness."

Dara laughed. "I wouldn't go that far. I just didn't want bruised knuckles tonight. If I see her tomorrow it might be a different story." Walking over to the dressing table she removed her earrings and the necklace and placed them in her jewelry box. "The nerve of her to say I got pregnant to trap you and I'm using sex to keep you, oooh," she groaned. "I wanted to scratch her eyes out."

"If it's any consolation, so did I," Mac offered as he came over and massaged her shoulders.

"Nah, that doesn't help much."

"There's a lot of pent up aggression there," he surmised. "I tell you what, I'm willing to sacrifice my body for the cause." Removing all his clothing he lay back on the bed with his arms outstretched. "Do with it as you will, but please, be gentle," he smirked, his eyes dancing with mischief.

Shedding everything but her smile, Dara joined him on the bed. "Mr. Scorpio I do believe your latest suggestion is just what I need." Straddling his aroused body, they worked all the day's tensions away.

Their lovemaking was frenzied and passionate. Lying in each other's arms they descended back to earth.

Kissing the top of her head, "How do you feel now?" Mac asked his wife.

"Tired," she answered with a satisfied grin, "but loads better. You were just what I needed."

"You're always what I need." His fingers lost in her dark hair, he brought her lips to his in a toe-curling kiss.

"Before we succumb to exhaustion or something else," Dara said feeling a familiar stirring, "I think we need to figure out what we're going to tell to Jensyn tomorrow."

"Maybe we won't have to tell her anything," Mac answered.

"Why do you think that?"

"Maybe she won't ask."

"Did you bump your head on the headboard, honey? Of course she's gonna ask. She asks every time she sees us."

"If she does we'll just insist that what we've told her is the truth. It is really; we are worried about her. She doesn't have to know any specifics, especially after what Taggert told us tonight."

"The men we put away have something in the works. I can't imagine what they could be planning."

"I don't know either, but whatever it is we have to stop it before it starts.  Maybe we should ask Taggert to give Jenny more to do."

"You mean keep her so busy and involved with other things she won't have time to get involved with this."

"That's what she's been asking for all along right, more responsibility. He could satisfy her desire to be involved in grittier things while we find out what these mobsters have up their sleeve."

"That would work for a while, but eventually Jen is going to get back to asking her questions."

"Well then, we'll just have to make sure we found out what Corinthos, Moreno, and Sorel have planned before that happens."

~~*~~

Lena was so impressed with MJ's new celebrity status she insisted he let her take him out. After dinner which was slightly less painful for him than having a cavity filled without novocaine, MJ was chauffeured to the second part of the less than thrilling date; back to her penthouse. Lena was a very
attractive woman, and luckily for her the daughter of very wealthy parents.

Usually he would have no trouble with taking full advantage of the attention she was showing him, even at that exact moment, but tonight he just wasn't interested.  He blamed is father for his inability to have a good time. It never bothered him before going out with women whose I.Q.s were less than the price of a candy bar, but now it did. Matt suggesting he ask out Jensyn Scorpio and then calling Lena and the other women he dated bubble-headed chicks had messed with his head. Then when he followed his father's advice and asked Jensyn out she all but laughed in his face. Jensyn Scorpio. That
woman infuriated him, but he couldn't stop thinking about her. She was sharp, kept him on his toes, and she was beautiful, she was so beautiful.

"MJ, MJ, Lena is feeling a little ignored," the woman cooed as she ended the stream of kisses to his chest.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I have a lot on my mind."

"I never have that problem," Lena shared. "Nothing is ever on my mind."

I can believe that. "I think I'm going to go home," he said buttoning his shirt and grabbing his tie and jacket that were on the other side of the couch.

"Home," she whined, pushing out her bottom lip. "But you haven't seen the surprise I have for you."

I'm pretty sure I have. "I guess I'll have to see it the next time. Goodnight Lena." Before she could say any more MJ was off the couch and out the door.

Once outside MJ caught a glimpse of Jensyn in the elevator, reading a file as the doors closed on her. What was she doing here? She was in her uniform, but if it were business wouldn't there have been more commotion? Moments later he saw Anna's husband Zach and an older, distinguished looking
gentleman walking toward the elevator. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help overhearing their conversation.

Their backs turned to MJ who was also partially blocked by a huge rubber tree plant, they never noted his presence.

"Scorpio is very gung-ho, but she's green, you sure she's not in over her head?" Zach asked the gentleman.

"No, not at all. We pursued her. She's young but she's a professional. You've seen her file."

"Yes I've seen it Riley. Top of her class in the academy, joined the Northern Territory Police Service, quickly advanced in the ranks."

"Not to mention she graduated Cairns State, the best secondary high school in Australia at sixteen, and from the University of Melbourne at nineteen."

MJ couldn't believe what he was hearing. That girl was smarter than he was. He continued to listen intently as the men talked.

"That's all well and good Riley, but this isn't about brains or what goes on in Northern Australia. This is the WSB and we're dealing with dangerous criminals."

"WSB," MJ mouthed, this girl has been keeping big secrets.

"I have confidence in her abilities. It was her parents who put these mobsters we're focused on away. Her uncle, Robert Scorpio was one of the bureau's best.  She finished ahead of everyone that came out of training with her. Law enforcement is in her blood. Your experience combined with her connections and no how makes this case tailor made for you two. In no time it will be over and you can finally retire and make the little woman happy. "

"So we're looking at about two weeks that they make their move?"

"That's the way it seems. Things are coming to a head, I can say pretty safely that a month from now you'll be an ex-agent and Jensyn Scorpio will quickly become the little darling of the WSB.  Come on, I wouldn't have put her on the case if she wasn't right for it."

"No you wouldn't have. Okay I'm sold," Zach told him.

"Good, let's go," Riley said following Zach into the elevator.

Once the doors had closed MJ made his way from around the plant. He was blown away. Jensyn was a WSB agent and she was working on a major case, a Mafia related case with Zach Grayson. Now it makes sense she would know that the Mancusis were the mob and it also explained why she was so
interested in his researching them. Well, if she could be nosey, so could he.

~~*~~

The next morning MJ was waiting outside Kelly's Diner for Jensyn to arrive.  When he spotted her he quickly made his way over.

"Good morning Ms. Scorpio," he smiled broadly.

Well if it wasn't God's greatest gift. "It started out that way, I'm hoping the potential still exists," she remarked snidely.  "I'm tired Harmon so please don't start with me," she said making her way around him.

"I imagine you are extremely tired. Living a double life can be extremely exhausting, Agent Scorpio."

Her head snapped as she turned to face him. "What did you say?"

"I know your little secret Jensyn, and I think you and I need to talk."