Joey

"So he knows?" Rob asked.

Rob stood in the kitchen, after I just told him everything.

"Yeah, but I'm not sure he has really absorbed it yet." I said.

"That's a lot for anyone to learn in one night. I got a call from Jason Engle, and he told me how exactly he plans to kill Beaumont. He is on a warpath." He said.

"The kids don't deserve that kind of grief. Would you want to have to tell yours, their mother is dead?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No, but their mother would never hurt anyone the way that man hurt you. Plus, he isn't their father." He said.

"He hasn't hurt them, Rob."

"When he hurt you, he hurt those children. I want you to do me a favor." He said.

"What's that?"

"Go to D.C. with Hudson, and do not, under any circumstances, answer Beaumont's calls." He said.

"I'm not setting up a trap for him, Rob." I said.

"I won't kill him, Joey, just bring him to justice. Do you even understand how many lives he has taken? Selling illegal firearms to this country's enemies? Soldiers, like Hudson, never got to come home to their families. These are the same people that took thousands of lives on 911, and you want to protect him?" He asked.

"I want to protect my children." I said.

"Joey, I can control what happens to him if he comes here, but if he doesn't, he won't stand a chance in London. There's already a hit on him. The CIA is going to go to London." He said.

Dammit, Jackson.

"So, you're saying no matter what I do, my kids are going to lose their father?" I asked.

"He is not their father, Joey. Hudson is, and that's the man they deserve to know. Not some monster, that has beaten and raped their mom." He snarled.

"I've had enough for today, so I'm going to bed. This is all just too much." I said.

"Sorry sis. Get some rest, and I'll see you tomorrow." He said.

"Good night."

"Good night, Joey."

I was exhausted, and for some reason, I slept better last night, than I have in years. I went down for breakfast, and the kids came down groaning at the sun. "That's the price you pay for staying out too late," I told them.

"We have plans today to visit with my old friend Hudson." I said.

"A guy?" Serenity asked in a disgusted tone.

"Yeah, also I wanted to see if the two of you would want to visit Washington D.C. Hudson has to take his son back to his mother, and I thought it would be a great opportunity, since Hudson can give us a tour." I said.

"I'm up for a trip." Mason jumped on the opportunity.

"It sounds boring, and why are you suddenly hanging out with some strange man?" She asked.

"He isn't just some strange man, he is an old friend. Before you get any crazy ideas, he really is a friend." I assured her.

"Father would not approve." Serenity said.

"Who said Dad has to know? It's not like he doesn't keep secrets from us." Mason said.

"I really don't have a choice do I, Mom?" She asked.

I shook my head no.

"Fine, whatever Josephine wants, she gets. Excuse me while I get a shower." She stood, and so did Mason.

"Mason, could we have a word?"

"Sure"

"Not here, come with me to the library." I said.

We walked into the room, and I shut the door.

"Your uncle says you're unhappy in London," I stated.

He cleared his throat. "London is fine, but I want to live here in the States." He said.

"What about your father? Wouldn't you miss him?" I asked.

It looks like his wheels are turning.

"Dad is not as good of a man like he makes us think, Mom. He is involved in things that put us all at risk." He said.

"Tell me what all you know, and just to make myself very clear, I will not tell your father." I said.

"That man isn't my father." He said.

I gasped.

"Mason, I don't...."

"I'm fine, Mom. I overheard Dad in his office making deals with bad men. Then he mentioned the name, Hudson Engle. Then one day in science, we did a project about blood types, and mine didn't match you or Dad. I got curious, and I found your shoebox. Inside it was everything about Mr. Engle and a pregnancy test. What I don't understand, is why you married Dad." He asked.

Holy shit...

"So you know Hudson is your father?" I asked.

"Yeah, and I researched him online, why did you leave him for Dad?" He asked.

I sat down with him on the sofa.

"Mason, I'm so sorry you had to learn in that way. I was traded off for a business deal by my father. I never wanted to leave Hudson, and he also never knew about you. When I found out I was pregnant, I rushed the marriage to your dad up, and finished school in France. I passed you off as his, so they wouldn't kill Hudson or his family." I explained.

"Does he know I'm his son, now?" He asked.

"I told him last night. He's still trying to absorb all of it, and I'm sure it's overwhelming." I said.

"I understand, it's actually a relief Jackson Beaumont isn't my father." He said.

"Would it be okay if I told Hudson you know the truth? Maybe the two of you can have a talk." I said.

"Sure, I will be nervous, but we have to talk about it. Do you know if he wants to be my dad?" He asked.

"He does, but he was just taken by surprise." I said.