STELLA

"Can you play with me, Stella?" Lola asks me sweetly.

"I need to meet with JP," I tell her. The corners of her mouth droop down into a frown.

"But guess what? Miles and Kai are experts at tea parties. They'd love to play with you."

"Really?" Lola squeals and smiles excitedly at Miles and Kai; they both scowl at me but quickly transform their frowns into smiles. I laugh as I walk out of the room and head to the kitchen, where Lucy talks with the girls.

"Hey, mom, do you think it's okay if I make some cookies for the kids?" She springs off of the stool she was sitting to walk towards me.

"I'm sure it's fine. Just don't make a big mess like you usually do." I smile at her.

"Can I help?"

We look towards the kitchen entry and see Marco walking in with JP.

JP is wearing a fitted black shirt and black suit with no tie. He glances at me briefly before turning his attention to Lucy and greets her.

Lucy smiles at them and shrugs, "Sure, Marco, the more, the merrier!" She pulls Marco with her towards the pantry to get the ingredients she needs.

"Damn, those clothes would look better on my bedroom floor." Letty attempts to whisper to Jessica as she stares at JP walking towards the fridge. Jessica snorts in response, and I shake my head at her.

"No, seriously, I know what I want for my birthday," Letty tells her as she keeps undressing JP with her eyes. "I could seriously watch him all day. And the way he walks with the shoulder swag; so hot!"

"Letty, you seriously need to get laid, girl." Jessica teases. "But I will say, it's hard to focus on anything else when John Paul is in the room. How in the world did you ever leave the bed when you guys were together?" She asks me, and I laugh at the serious look on her face.

But then memories of when JP and I would take our time getting out of bed in the mornings flash in my mind.

"You ready?" JP's startles me out of images I had going through my head.

I nod before I turn back to tell Lucy and the girls I'll see them later. Letty grins and wiggles her eyebrows at me while and Jessica shoves her off the stool playfully.

I follow JP out of the kitchen and down a long hallway; his shoes echo as he walks slightly ahead of me.

"Did you have a good time last night?" I immediately mentally facepalm myself for asking such a dumb question. But I can't stand the awkward silence and said the first thing that popped in my head.

"The best," He mutters without looking at me, and I frown, knowing his sarcastic tone.

"You and Sean have a good night?"

"The best," I repeat.

He mutters something under his breath and then stops to open the door to what I assume is his office.

To be honest, Sean and I left the club arguing; he thought I talked to JP about his dad's meeting with Cristian, and then the argument restarted earlier this morning when I asked again if I could go to his meeting with Cristian.

I walk through the office door and am impressed by its open layout, but I gasp when I look towards his desk. Hanging on the wall is an enlarged photo of me.

I vividly remember we drove to the clearing on his bike, and I was looking out into the sunset at the beautiful colors that were painting the sky that evening. There was a slight breeze, and I was tucking my hair behind my ear when he said my name, and I had looked over my shoulder at him when he took my picture.

And now I'm staring back at myself.

The smile I have on my face in the picture is shy. I almost don't recognize the innocence in my own eyes. So much has happened since that day, and it feels like it was another life.

"Stella, it's good to see you again." I turn at the familiar voice. Dean Esposito smiles as he extends his arms out to hug me.

"Dean? What are you doing here?" I look over at JP who's eyes are observing Dean.

"I'm here as legal council as JP's lawyer. Well, one of them, and he asked me to be here to go over Melanie's will and other paperwork," Dean smiles and gestures for me to have a seat on the leather couch.

"Your hair has grown out long," Dean tells me. "You look beautiful." I thank him, smiling as I do.

JP clears his throat loudly. Dean slightly rolls his eyes before he gives me a small smile and looks over at JP, who's narrowing his eyes at us.

Dean chuckles, "Well, let's get started. As you both are aware, Melanie has no other family that she can leave her kids in the care of and named both of you as legal guardians when she passes."

"Just out of curiosity, but aren't we supposed to give consent beforehand?" Not knowing how that works, legally.

"In some cases, yes, but not always. You can refuse or decline if you so choose. But in speaking with Melanie..."

"She knew I wouldn't," I state, knowing the answer.

"She knew you both wouldn't," Dean points out, and I look over at JP, but his eyes are on the paperwork. I watch as he brings his hand up to his beard and rubs it absentmindedly. I don't know how I haven't noticed until now, but he has a lion face tattoo on the back of his left hand.

"What we need to discuss today is who wants sole legal guardianship? If you both do, then we can work out custody arrangements since you live in Miami now." Dean looks at me.

"I'm moving back to New York. I just have to settle a few things in Miami, but I will be moving back."

JP looks over at me.

"I wouldn't pull Mel's kids away from everything they've known after everything they've been through with Tobias and now with Mel." I look back at him, folding my arms.

"I never thought you would." JP states simply.

"Okay, well. That simplifies things significantly. However, we need to agree on the living arrangements. Are you looking at buying a home nearby?" Dean asks me.

I hadn't thought of that yet. But I suppose it would only be logical. It would need to be large enough to house Mel's kids and Lucy, Miles, and Kai.

"The kids have a home already." JP states.

"I know they've been staying here since your accident, but they're not living here, in the middle of everything you have going on, John Paul."

"I wasn't talking about this one, but thanks for pointing out the obvious." JP snaps back at me with a glare. "And despite your reservations, they are kept out of everything that goes on within the business."

"Good," I sit back, crossing my arms.

"Well, that still doesn't clear up the living arrangements." Dean points out.

"Stella can live in the other home with the kids during the week; I'll move my things out and live here. I'm here most of the time as it is." JP informs us.

"So, they'll stay with you on the weekends?" I question, still not liking the idea, but maybe the weekends won't be too bad.

"Well, I can go there for the weekends, and you can go somewhere else if you don't want them here," JP states cooly.

I scoff, "So what, me Lucy, Kai, and Miles go hang out at a hotel on the weekends?"

"I didn't say anything about Kai, Lucy, and Miles. I said you could go somewhere else. I'm sure Sean would love to have you visit for the weekends." JP says sarcastically with a smile. "He sure as hell isn't staying there during the week." He adds.

I narrow my eyes at him. "You know what, you're right, he would love that. Great idea, thanks." I say happily. His fake smile drops instantly, and I smile wider at him. "And as long as we're making demands, I would prefer if you keep any of your whores somewhere else."

JP laughs, "I don't have any whores at this house. But you think you can tell me what I can or can't do in my own home?"

"Well, you seem hellbent on telling me Sean can't stay with us during the week, so why not? If that's the case, I'll just get a different house. Problem solved." I tell him angrily.

"Okay...so...is that really the plan, or are you guys just trying to get under each other's skin because I'm picking up on some hostility here," Dean interjects.

JP and I keep glaring at each other.

"Guys?" Dean asks.

"What?" We both snap at him.

"The kids are what should be at the forefront, here. Not whatever else is going on with you two. If you can't keep your personal feelings out of the picture, then maybe this isn't a good idea."

"You're right." JP states standing up, abruptly. "What's best for them is the only thing that matters. I'm in too deep now. Give Stella sole guardianship. The house is under her name already; it's better this way. "

What the hell is he saying? And why do I feel a sense of panic rise within me?

"I'll be the one to tell them, after Mel...after she goes." JP swallows thickly and turns away.

He walks to his desk, opens a drawer, pulls out an envelope, and then walks to a bookcase; the shelving moves. A safe is exposed, and he enters in a passcode, and it makes a clicking sound before he pulls open the door.

JP pulls out another envelope and closes the door, and the shelving moves back, disguising the hidden safe. He walks towards me and holds out both envelopes.

"This is from Timo; information on offshore accounts he had set up for you." He holds out the smaller envelope to me and then the other one. "This is for the kids; they each have a bank account set up for emergency's when they go to school or get married. So you can decide what to do with them."

I stand as I look up at him. "Stop it, JP. If you do this, it will hurt the kids more than you think. Don't do this because you're mad at me."

"This isn't about you or me. We both know you're the better guardian, Stella. Kai, Miles, and Lucy are proof of that."

"But you've taken care of them since Tobias died. You're the only father figure Tobin has known. Those kids worship you, JP. Don't walk away from them. Don't choose this over them. Please." I urge him. He takes a step closer to me and brushes a tear away from my face.

"You of all people should know, it was never a choice, princess. It was and is always about what's best for you--them." He corrects himself quickly. "I'm not choosing this over them; I'm choosing them by giving them what they truly need."

The underlying message in his words is not lost on me, and I know he's referring to what happened with us when he chose to push me away all those years ago. But it wasn't the right choice then, and it sure as hell isn't the right choice with the kids now either.

"You know that's not how they'll see it."

"I know. At least not at first, but they will with time. It's not like I'll never see them again," He says, and my face feels cold as he moves his hand away.

Dean clears his throat, reminding me of his presence in the room. "How about we table this for today? Let's meet by next Wednesday. I know with Annalisa's and Joey's wedding next week, things will be busy, but it shouldn't be put off considering Melanie's health is declining each day."

"That's fine; I have another meeting, anyhow," JP informs us.

Dean shakes JP's hand and smiles at me as he picks up his briefcase and walks out of the office, leaving JP and me alone.

Frustration, confusion, and everything else you can think of are brewing within me. Finally, I turn to JP, who's looking out the window with his arms crossed.

"Can I use your gym?"

He looks at me, raising an eyebrow, "Sure."

"Thanks." I turn and walk out of the office, but I quickly realize I have no idea where it is or even begin looking. So I turn back and open the door to his office again and slam into him. "Oomph!"

JP holds on to me as I teeter back, losing my balance after I crashed into him and helped me stand upright, "I got you," He says, smiling, "still as graceful as ever, I see."

I frown as I thank him. "So, I realized I have no idea where your gym is and came back to ask."

A warmth comes over me at the handsome smile he gives me. Why does he still have this effect on me? But then I feel the guilt seep in because I shouldn't be feeling this way around him.

JP laughs, and I look up at him. "What?"

"The look on your face."

"I'm glad you find my looks funny," I mutter.

"That's not what I meant; stop being so damn sensitive. The gym is on this floor. Instead of heading to the kitchen, head towards the family room. Down that hall, you'll take a left, then a right, and you'll find the game room, too. If you hit the indoor pool, then you went too far."

"You have an indoor pool?"

"Yeah, the kids loved using this last winter." He tells me. "But I was going to ask if you wanted to stay for the next meeting I have?"

"Stay? Why?" I ask him, confused.

JP shrugs, "I just thought you'd want to see how a meeting goes, and it's a legitimate business meeting, not what you think." He eyes me curiously as I look back at him.

"Thank you for considering me, but I need to blow off some steam."

He nods as he puts his hands in his pockets.

I thank him again and make my way down the hall, but I turn around when I realize I'm headed towards a dead end. I hear him chuckling as he's still standing outside his office, watching me as I walk past him again.

As I come near the foyer, I stop when the door opens, and Charlotte walks in with Adonis. She's dressed in a cream-colored pantsuit and is carrying a small briefcase.

I don't miss the slight alarm on Adonis' face when he sees me while Charlotte glares at me with contempt before she masks it with a courteous smile.

"Stella, right?" Charlotte fakes her sincere confusion as usual.

"Yes." I return her fake smile.

"Charlotte, don't keep Johnny waiting." Adonis urges. I curse myself for not taking JP on his offer now, but then again, what was his plan, to blindside me?

"Oh, Donny, don't be such a sourpuss. You go on ahead; I'll only be a minute." She tells him. Adonis looks at me, and I nod at him to go ahead.

"Are you here visiting Melody?"

I clench my jaw together at her coldness and superiority act. "Her name is Melanie. And yes, I came to see her and her kids, and I just had a meeting with Johnny as well."

"Oh, isn't that nice? I'm about to have a meeting with Johnny myself." She looks around before she takes a step towards me. "You may think you have the upper hand here, sweetie, but you have no idea who you are dealing with."

I look back at her, confused. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Don't play stupid. I know you are the reason why Johnny's pushing me out. But I'm not going out so easily. It's going to cost him a hell of a lot more money to get rid of me rather than keep me on. Everything was going well until you showed up out of nowhere." She inhales deeply in an attempt to control herself; she brushes her short blonde locks back before she continues.

"I just have to remind Johnny how good we are together, that's all," Charlotte smirks.

I smile at her. "The person you know as Johnny isn't real. Your time with him was a facade, a pretense. And if Johnny doesn't want you, that's on him. So don't put that shit on me."

Charlotte scoffs, "We'll see about that. And trust me, our time together was very real, raw, and hot."

This time I step closer to her; even though my blood is boiling, I continue to plaster a smile on my face. "If you think you can threaten me, you've got another thing coming, Charlotte. You have no idea who I am and what I'm capable of." I tilt my head to the side as I observe her, "you know, it's been a long time since I've fed a certain appetite I've had a craving for, one I didn't think I missed. But being around you has awakened it fiercely."

Her eyes widen as she steps away from me as I give her a sweet smile.

I turn away, screaming on the inside while I try to focus on finding the damn gym before I commit murder. 

~~~~~~

I don't know about you guys, but I wouldn't mind seeing the bad*ss assassin Stella come out again...

**Don't forget to comment, vote and share please!

XxOo

LJRae