"Jax!" Jane Jacks hugged her youngest child tightly. "I haven't seen you for so long...where is she?"

"Keesha is working late," Jax lied. "But she'll be here in time for dinner....that gives us time to talk."

Jerry came downstairs, greeting his brother. "Dad's over by the pool." Jax, Jerry and Jane headed in that direction.

Keesha frowned as the line continued to ring. Even Mrs. Sellers answering machine didn't come on. With a sigh she shook her head of the bad thoughts invading them. She was worrying over nothing, she decided, slipping on her shoes and walking out the apartment.

Jerry looked back and forth between Jax and John. John stared at Jax. Finally Jax glanced down to the floor. Jerry sighed softly. This was not going to be good. Already John was trying to intimidate Jax. "So where is she?" John finally spoke.

"Work. But she'll be here on time."

"Good. That gives us time to talk."

Jane smiled. "That's what Jax said. You two are a lot alike."

Jax looked at his father once more, waiting.

"I hear Keesha's gotten past your brother."

"I like her," Jerry stated. "So will you if you give her a chance." "Maybe. Or maybe Jax just wore you down."

Jax continued to remain quiet.

"Do you know about her mother?"

"Yes. I know all about her mother. More than you do." Jax finally spoke.

"And?"

"And what? She's her mother. But Keesha has never asked me for anything...."

"Yet. And if she does."

"I will give it to her." Jax admitted.

"That's what worries me..."

"If Keesha asks for something, trust me, she really needs it. Keesha doesn't like to ask for anything."

"She's already living in your place."

Jerry looked over at Jax.

"And."

"And, you two barely know each other."

"I know Keesha better than I've known anyone. Besides, it was my idea, not hers."

"And I bet she jumped at the chance."

"No she didn't. But that's beside the point...here is a point though. I never told you that Keesha moved in. We just decided last night...how do you know?"

John stood, walking over to the edge of the pool.

"Dad?"

"You had things moved out of her place, she put in an ad to sublet her place for the rest of her lease..."

"I repeat. How do you know?"

"I'm having her watched. I have been for awhile now. For instance right now she's in your apartment..."

"You're...what?" Jax's eyes flashed with anger as he stood.

"Jax..." Jerry warned.

"You don't have the right to do that...."

"I have every right. If you won't think about yourself, the least you can do is think about your family..."

"My family?"

"John..." Jane interrupted him. "Why don't we have dinner and talk with the girl..."

"I've worked hard for what you have, what we all have, and I'm not going to lose it because you think you're in love."

"What I have? I worked damn hard to get where I am..."

"With a start from me....without me you would be..."

"JOHN!" Jane ordered. "We will have dinner, and then if necessary have a discussion about Jax's choices..."

"You hear that? My choice." Jax stated deeply.

"We all have choices Jasper. You aren't the only one who gets to make them." John started back to the main house.

"What does that mean?!" Jax called.

"Come on. Drop it." Jerry placed his hand on Jax's shoulder as Jane followed John.

"What did he mean?" Jax turned, looking at Jerry.

"It won't get that far....now let's drop it."

John stared across the table at Keesha. "So, Ms. Ward..." "Yes Sir?" Keesha answered respectfully as Jax pulled her chair out for her. She sat down.

"Jax and I were having a discussion today, about choices."

Jax cut his eyes at his father, remaining behind Keesha's chair.

"John..." Jane began.

"What would you do, if...let's say..I told you to leave my son alone, or I was going to disown him?" John finished, staring straight at Jax. "Dad!" Jerry's mouth literally dropped.

"What?" Jax and Keesha said in unison.

"You heard me. This relationship ends now. I am too old to deal with this. I've been through this already and I am not going through this again."

"John, you don't even know the girl..." Jane begged.

"I know her type. I've been with her type. Jerry has been with her type. There is only one type of...common woman who weasels her way into a rich man's life. Now if Jax wants to waste his time and money, that is fine. He's made his choice. But I refuse to sit by and watch. Now, this girl leaves...either alone or taking Jax with her I don't care. But I don't want her in my house."

Keesha looked up at Jax, in complete shock. Her heart stopped as she watched a look of anger grow on his face that she had never witnessed "Jax..."

Jax's jaw continued to twitch.

"I'm...going to go." Keesha stood. "You stay and talk to your father."

"I don't have a father." Jax finished. "Let's go."

"Jax you don't..."

"You heard him, go." John bit back tears as he continued to glare at Jax.

Jax led Keesha through the house, ignoring his mother and brother as they called after him.

"Jax...you need to go back in there..."

"I am not going back in there....what?!" he answered his cellular.

"Yes...yes..." Jax's voice dropped. "I'm on my way....no she's with me."

Jax hung up, speeding out of the driveway.

"Who was that?"

"Mrs. Sellers is in the hospital..."

"Oh my God...."

Keesha watched as Jax went into Mrs. Sellers room. She sat down in the waiting area next to Chantel. "Thanks for calling."

"Her daughter is coming. She'll be here soon."

Keesha nodded. "How bad is it?"

"She broke her leg, and had a slight concussion. It was quite a fall. But she's fine. She's in a lot better shape than the doctors said she should be."

"Why don't you let me call my doctor?"

"Because I don't need your doctor Jax." Mrs. Sellers patted the space next to her on the bed. Jax walked over and sat down. "But I'm glad you're here," she admitted.

"Of course I'm here. And Keesha's right out in the waiting room. Next time you want to see us though, why don't you just call." Jax smiled softly.

"Okay...what happened?"

"What?"

"What happened?"

Jax laughed. "Other than being worried about you, I'm fine."

"You are a liar. Haven't you figured out you can't lie to me. I can read you like a book."

Jax looked down taking a deep breath. "Another time. When you get out of here."

"Well, it can't be Keesha, because she's here...so I'm gathering that means it's...what's his name again?"

"Jerry? No, it's not Jerry. But as I said, another time...."

"Jax...we're alike, you and me. We live our lives, looking for something, looking for a connection of some type and when we find one, we hold on to it...because we know how rare it is. Now, I feel a connection with you...you're like the son I never had..."

"Thank you. That means the world coming from you." Jax whispered honestly.

"And like all parents, I can see when my child is hurting. And I want to know who did it."

"Another time." Jax tried to stand, but Mrs. Sellers touched his arm. She looked into his eyes. "Who are you missing?"



Keesha watched as Chantel hugged Mrs. Sellers' daughter, Stacey. She stood, walking over to Mrs. Sellers' door.

"My father...though he doesn't deserve it." "Why are you missing your father?"

"Because tonight I learned I don't have one...anymore."

"What happened Jax..."

"He...he decided that he didn't want to be a part of my life anymore, because of the choices that I make."

"Keesha?"

"Yes."

"He'll get over that..."

"No he won't. You don't know my father, once his mind is made up, it's made up. I don't have a father anymore."



Keesha closed the door.

"You know what the scariest thing is though? In my head, I can already imagine something worse. A part of me still wonders if I have Keesha...if I will have Keesha. Part of me is waiting for the day that she just wakes up and changes her mind or something...and leaves."

"Why would she do that?"

Jax shrugged. "I don't know...but that's what I'm scared of. A life with Keesha, without my father...it will hurt, I'm not going to lie. But my life without Keesha...even if I had my father...that scares me more than anything...."

Keesha took a deep breath and walked back to the door.

"Yes?" Jax turned to the door at the knock.

Keesha opened the door. "Hi." She smiled at Mrs. Sellers. "I have someone for you..."

Stacey moved from behind Keesha, running over to her mother.

"Jax?"

Jax turned from his car door, looking at Keesha. She closed the space between them, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tghtly. Jax returned her hug, his eyes closing as he exhaled.

"I'm going to fix this," she promised.

Jax didn't answer.

"No matter what I have to do...you'll have your father back...."



No matter what she had to do.