Hi everyone. This will be two to three chapters tops, then I should really get back to my other stories. Jarly is just so over the top. One minute I'm laughing at how serious they're trying to make it, yet it's just not… and the next I'm just annoyed lol. This short story will be in both Jake and Danny's POVs. I won't be focusing on Sam and Elizabeth, though they might make appearances or be mentioned. So, this isn't going to lean towards Liason or Jasam. It's not about those pairings just their sons, but fans of both couples might enjoy it. This is anti-Jason and anti-Carly. Though they might still end up together in this, I haven't decided yet, but it most certainly won't show them in a good light, so technically it will be anti-Jarly too. Sonny won't appear in it, so he will remain presumed dead, it's not about him either, but he might be mentioned. It takes place a few weeks after Jarly told Michael and Joss about the engagement. I'm just pretending that Jarly took the kids (meaning Sonny and Carly's kids, NOT Jake and Danny) away for a few weeks to protect them from the latest mob threat, that way Joss hasn't told Cam about the engagement yet. We'll also pretend Sam never found out, this way she wasn't keeping it from Danny. I want to show both Jake and Danny's reactions and how they find out, so I hope this makes sense. Also, they find out just days before the wedding.
I think one of two things will happen on the show… either Jake and Danny will be completely forgotten, and neither will even learn of this wedding. OR they'll magically come out of the attic for the ceremony and sing praises to their loving stepmommy, and I'm sure Carly will set her sights on them when she decides she doesn't have enough and will want her new stepsons under her roof… and we all know if that happens, the writers will justify her motives and actions… Sam and Elizabeth better find good lawyers, but I'm sure that won't be enough. Anyway… enjoy and don't forget to review!
Chapter 1- Finding Out
It had been a long summer and Danny was actually looking forward to going back to school. While he saw some of his friends at Lila's Kids, he would get to see them every day again, plus it would be a good distraction. Camp was fun and Mom and Dante took him, Scout, Rocco, and Charlotte to the beach a few times (one time even Leo joined).
But his mind was on one thing: Dad.
He'd only seen Dad twice since he moved out. The first time was by chance when Danny and Scout were at Grandma Monica's house and Dad came over to see Grandma and Michael. The second, Mom took Danny to see Dad in the hospital after he got hurt in prison.
Neither time did Dad seek out Danny.
He knew Dad had been out of jail for months now and whenever he asked about him, Mom told him he was with Carly or Joss or Michael or even Donna or Avery. And the past few weeks, Dad took Carly and the girls out of town. Danny secretly wished he was invited. If he and Jake joined, maybe Dad would show them how to shoot a gun (something he'd never tell Grandma Alexis about!).
Danny never doubted Dad's innocence with Franco's murder. He wouldn't kill someone… or would he? Nah, only if it were to protect someone.
Yet, Danny wondered what he did so wrong. Did he annoy Dad too much when he always wanted Team Night? Dad always left halfway through. Maybe Danny was too old for that now and Dad was frustrated with him. Perhaps if Danny took more interest in what Dad was interested in then he'd want to spend more time with him. Danny needed to take up hobbies Dad liked and then he'd make him proud. Even if he didn't care for guns, Dad did, so Danny would force himself to like them. They both liked motorcycles, so Danny could talk about them too and ask to ride Dad's. No more kid stuff. He needed to be more like Dad, so he'll come hang out with him more.
When Danny arrived at school, the other kids whispering and staring at him on the playground. This wasn't new. His classmates always tended to fear Dad, but he thought since he moved out things had gotten somewhat better, especially at camp.
"Hey!" Danny walked over to a few of his old buddies, but their eyes grew wide, and they backed away.
Danny's shoulders sank and he glanced around the yard. Georgie sat on a bench reading a book by herself.
"Whatcha reading?" He sat beside her and shifted his feet awkwardly.
"Algorithms to Live By," she said as she lowered her book.
Danny chuckled. "You're just like your dad."
Her gaze motioned to his old friends. "They were talking about our dads."
"I wondered if they were."
"They're scared. Especially now that your dad and Carly took over the business."
His heart sped up and he swallowed hard. "I guess that makes sense since Uncle Sonny died. I just never thought about it… Seems you know more about it than I do."
"You didn't know?"
He shook his head.
"I guess Carly took over when Jason wasn't available. Then the plan was for her to pass it on to him. But that's why they decided to get married—"
Danny's mouth dropped slightly, and he felt his chest go heavy.
"—to keep a united front," Georgie continued. "At least that's what my dad told me."
"They—they're—they're… Dad is marrying Carly?"
She nodded but squinted her eyes. "You didn't know that either?"
"No."
"But the ceremony is on Friday. Dad's the best man. Don't you need to get fitted for your suit?"
He shrugged. "I don't even know if I'm invited."
The bell suddenly rang, and Georgie smiled sadly at him. "I'm sorry, Danny. He should've told you."
GHGHGH
After a long day at school, Jake wanted to go right to bed and binge-watch the Avengers until he drifted off to sleep. He was officially a freshman, something that was surreal to him, and Mom had a good cry before she dropped him off.
Grade 8 grad felt weird a few months ago. Mom, Gran, Cam, Aiden, and Grandma Laura attended. Franco would've been there if he were still with them. They invited Lucky and even Dad, but neither could make it. He even received the art and science awards, something he should've felt proud about. Mom certainly was proud and didn't hide it. She kissed his cheeks dozens of times and took several pictures of him with his awards.
But all Jake felt was empty and disappointed inside like a hollow shell.
He knew he was very lucky to have his mom, grandmothers, and brothers there. Yet, it was just further proof that he didn't matter to Dad. He thought by visiting him in jail and declaring he knew his innocence would make him want to spend more time with Jake. He even painted him a picture in memory of the ball game he went to with Dad and Uncle Drew three years ago. He didn't even know how much Jake defended him to Cam. But when the charges were dropped against Dad, he never heard from him. Not a word.
Jake should've been used to it by now, and they did have fun during the summer. Between camping trips with Mom, Finn, Cam, Aiden, Violet, and Chase to his art lessons, the summer went by pretty quick. But he couldn't stop thinking of his grad and how he wished Dad had the time to attend.
After dropping Cam and Jake off at home, Mom took Aiden to go get some take-out. Jake plopped down in his bed and started the movie.
"The tesseract has awakened…"
It wasn't long before he heard the front door and Cam and Joss' voices.
"Hey! You're back!" Cam said gleefully. "I missed you at school today. Well, I missed you the past few weeks…"
Jake rolled his eyes.
"We just got back this afternoon," Joss said. "Mom and Jason talked to my profs. I'm exempt until next week."
"Wow! And it won't affect your grades?"
"Nope."
"So, how was the trip?"
"Oh, it was amazing," Joss said. "You know, Jason is so sweet with Donna and Avery. Donna's even started calling him Daddy."
Jake scrunched his face and lowered the volume on the movie.
"That's um… different," Cam said.
"He really makes us feel safe," Joss continued. "After that guy approached me at Kelly's, Jason has been non-stop trying to protect me. All of us, really. He said he won't let anyone hurt his family."
It felt like a knife to Jake's gut.
"So, uh… how come you got exempt from your classes this week?" Cam asked.
"That's why I came over!" Joss said with excitement. "I want you to be my date on Friday."
"What's Friday?"
"Mom and Jason are getting married!"
Jake felt tears spring to his eyes, but he blinked them away.
"What?" Cam said appalled. "I didn't even know they were dating!"
"They've always loved each other," Joss said. "It's to show a united front and it's really best for everybody."
"Who is everybody?"
"Mom, me, Michael, Wiley, Avery, Donna… you know, the family. Jason was adorable, he was so concerned about how this would affect me and Michael. But we think it's great! It'll be so cute. Donna and Avery as flower girls. Wiley the ring bearer. Michael and Spinelli the best men. Me and Olivia the bridesmaids. And of course, Grandma is going to walk her down the aisle."
"I wonder if Jake knows," Cam said. "He hasn't mentioned it."
"No idea… The wedding is going to be beautiful!"
Jake switched off the movie and buried his face into his pillow and wept.