I'm fine if I can fool myself tonight

Jasper finished getting dressed and waited a few minutes before leaving the room, heading to the gym.

Mikey smiled as he pulled away, wrapping his arms tighter around Zane's neck.

Artemis was already up, painting a picture of Alyssa, who was sitting in a chair, drawing.

Dante went to his room and went back to bed.

Zane smiled, "Should we share the news?"

Alex smiled as he watched, but he teared up thinking of Dante.

"Um...I don't know..." Mikey said.

"Papa!" Alyssa said when she saw Alex awake, grinning.
Artemis stopped and turned around to look, frowning when he saw Alex's face and went over to him. "Lexie..."

Zane kissed his forehead.

Alex looked up at Arty, close to crying. "A-Arty......"

Mikey smiled up at Zane, leaning against him.

Artemis sighed sadly and sat beside Alex, hugging him close.

Zane led him to sit on the bed.

Alex curled close.

Mikey laid down, his head on Zane's lap.

"...did Jasper ever come back from that job?" Artemis asked quietly after a few minutes.

Zane played with his hair.

"Yes.... But he was hurt.... then he went after Dante....."

Mikey smiled up at Zane, slowly relaxing.

"Oh..." Artemis said. "Has anyone heard from him since?"

Alex shook his head, "No....." He teared up again.

Brett knocked on the door to the Westmore house.

Artemis frowned, wrapping his arms tighter around Alex.
"Papa...?" Alyssa said, pouting as she climbed up onto the bed, crawling over to them.

Carmen got up from where she was sitting in the living room with Morgan and went to answer the door. "Hello?"

Alex hugged her tightly, "Hey little one...."

"Is Jacen Westmore in? I really need to talk to him...."

"Why papa sad...?" Alyssa asked, pouting more as she looked up at him.
"No, actually he's not..." Carmen said. "But until he returns, I'm in charge."

"Papa..... Misses your brother....." Alex said softly.
"I need your help.... For my family...." Brett begged.

Aly made an upset noise and curled up in Alex's arms. "When big brother and Kari and cole come back?"

Carmen nodded and moved out of the way to let Brett in. "Arty mentioned something about that..."

"I don't know......" Alex said softly.

"Brett started to tell her the whole story. "And now Julian and Remy are hidding to protect the baby...." He ended.

Aly whined and buried her face against Alex's chest, bursting into tears. "Want them back."
Artemis bit his lip and hugged Alex and Aly tightly, burying his face in Alex's hair.

"Oh..." Carmen said, frowning.

Alex started crying as well.

"Can you help us?" Brett asked.

Artemis held them close, trying not to sound upset as he started humming.

"Hopefully." Carmen said.

Alex relaxed against him sadly.

Brett nodded, though he still looked worried.

Artemis hummed quietly, stroking Aly's hair with one hand.

"Where are the others?" Carmen asked.

Alex hugged her tighter, scared to lose her too.

"Remy and Julian are in Seth's old house and the others are bad at the main house."

"Papa, no squish." Aly said, pulling a face.

"Oh, are they okay back at the house?" Carmen asked.

"Sorry baby..." Alex said letting go a little.

"Cody is..... But Jay isn't....." Brett answered.

Aly gave a small smile and wrapped her arms around Alex's neck, hugging him.
Artemis leaned closer and kissed Alex's head.

"Why isn't Jay?" Carmen asked.