The Penthouse --

Emily came down the back stairs with her bags in hand and dropped them on the floor at the bottom of the stairs. She noticed he was in deep thought about something and went to him.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?" she asked as she stood there next to him caressing his back with her hand.

"I just got reamed out by my older brother." he said with a blank face.

"Well did you deserve it?" she giggled, not knowing why he was given the third degree by Ric.

"I don't know if I deserved it or not but it surely gave me something to think about while we're away." he replied as he reached up with his hand and rubbed it against his scruffy chin.

"While we're away? I thought just Devon and I were going?" she questioned.

"No, I think it best we all go together, I'm going to make arrangements to stay at the safe house till all this blows over. Besides, I'm suppose to take it easy, remember?" he smiled at her and pulled her into his arms. She sighed against him relieved that he was coming with them.

"Why don't we get Marcus to put the bags in the car, we'll go pick up Devon at the estate and we'll leave town right away." A big smile came to her face when she heard that from him.

"Okay." She went and picked up the bags from the floor and took them out to the living room and set them by the door.

Emily opened the door to find Cord standing guard and asked him to call up Marcus to take the bags down to the car, they'd be leaving in a few minutes to go pick up Devon, as soon as Zander got dressed and ready to go. As Zander walked up the back stairs to the bedroom all that was on his mind was what his brother said to him. After thinking about it a little while, he realized Ric was right. This was too much of a risk for him to take with his wife and child. He had to find another way to bring Sonny down and to hold on to the territory he had inherited from his family. He reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He flipped it open and dialed one of his contacts.

"Hey, it's Zander. Listen I want you to call off everything we talked about. Why? Just do it!" he flipped close the phone and stuck it back in his pocket.

He grabbed a few extra things from his dresser that he needed and headed down the stairs to meet Emily who was waiting.

"All set?" he asked and she nodded. "Marcus is bringing the car around." she replied as Cord stood with Emily just outside the doorway.

"Cord, I need you here all the time, 24/7 .. if not you then someone else. I don't want this place left alone for one second. Got that?" Cord nodded in agreement with his boss as the elevator doors opened and Marcus appeared.

"Car is waiting for you, sir." Marcus said as he approached the penthouse.

"We'll be at the safe house till all this blows over, I will call you with any more instructions." Zander filled his guards in as the elevator waited for them. Marcus followed and boarded the elevator with his boss and Emily.

"We're going to the estate to pick up Devon, then we're going to the safe house .... the mountain cabin." Marcus nodded in acknowledgement as the elevator came to a stop and they all got off on the parking garage floor of the hotel. Zander didn't want anyone to know that he and his family had left town, it was business as usual.

Zander and Emily climbed into the car and Marcus climbed into the drivers seat. Marcus started the car and drove out onto the street, heading the car towards the Quartermaine estate. It didn't take them but a few minutes to get there and soon they were driving up the long maple lined drive towards the house. Once stopped Emily got out of the car and went inside to get Devon.

The Quartermaine's --

Reginald met her at the door and she went inside.

"Hi Reginald. I came to get Devon. Can you go see if he's ready for me?" Reginald said he would and went up the staircase to the nursery, while Emily stood and waited for him in the foyer.

The house was quite, she assumed everyone was either at work or not home, till it erupted in the living room. Shouting, yelling and anger could be heard from the living room close by. She knew she didn't want to get into that argument, so she stayed put in the foyer and waited for Reginald to return with her son.

She looked up at the top of the stairs and saw Reginald carrying Devon down in his arms. She met him half way and took Devon from him.

"He was just put down for a nap, and I see he's still sleeping for you." Reginald said as he handed Emily her son.

"Thanks Reginald. Tell mom and dad that I'll be gone for a while. I'll get word to them when I'll be back, cause right now I'm not sure." she whispered hoping not to wake Devon who looked so peaceful.

"I'll tell them. We'll miss you." Reginald replied with sentiment as he opened the door for her and saw a limo waiting to whisk them away.

The family heard the front door and hurried out to the foyer to see who came to visit. Reginald closed the door and went about his business, not telling them that Emily had just left.

"Reginald?! Who was just here?" Alan said as he watched Reginald head for the staircase.

"Emily, she came and picked up Devon. And she left a message for you. She said she was going away for a while, and that she'd get word to you when she'd be returning, she wasn't sure right now." Monica and Alan knew things were getting dangerous if Zander had taken Emily and Devon out of town. Worry and concern for them set in and Monica turned to Alan for comfort.

"Don't worry, Zander's with her, he'll keep her and Devon safe." Alan said trying to soothe Monica's fears.

"That deviant has never kept that poor child safe, in all the years they have known each other!" Edward bellowed.

The family returned a unanimous "Shut up, Grandfather!" .. he stomped off in a huff.

Alan looked down at Monica in his arms and said .... "Don't listen to him, they'll be alright, I'm sure Zander has a plan."

The safe house --

Zander and his family reached the safe house which was set deep into the forests someplace in New York state. Marcus drove the car up the longest drive Emily had ever seen and then stopped in front the most quaint log cabin with a wrap around front porch. Marcus got out of the car and went to open up the door for Zander and his wife. Emily unbuckled Devon and scooped him up in her arms as Zander and Marcus unloaded the trunk of their bags.

Emily's eyes widened as she looked over the cabin from the car. "Wait till you see the inside." Zander teased as he and Marcus led the way to the front door. Emily gawked at the landscape that welcomed her and her family.

"Zander, it's breathtaking." she remarked as he opened the front door with the key from his pocket. He pushed the old wooden door open and stepped inside. He dropped the bags he was carrying and went to enjoy the reaction from Emily as she stepped inside the log cabin.

Her eyes widened even further as she walked into the the quaintly decorated cabin, with Devon in her arms. "Welcome to you home for as long as you'd like to stay." Zander said as he took Devon from her so she could go explore the house she so anxiously wanted to see. It was like letting loose a child in the a candy store. She was in awe of everything that decorated the cabin.

Zander had Marcus take the bags up stairs to the master bedroom while, he tried to follow Emily from room to room as she explored every inch of the place. She ended the tour of the house in the living room area, as she entered the room, the large stone fireplace drew her attention.

"Oh Zander, it's beautiful." she remarked about the fireplace as she went up to it and her fingers glided across the stone.

She overjoyed with the accommodations Zander provided for her, she took a seat on the overly stuffed sofa and invited him and Devon to join her. Marcus came down the stairs had taken the bags upstairs to the master suite, Emily then realized there was an upstairs she hadn't seen yet. She jumped up from her seat with a smile on her face and rushed past Marcus as Zander laughed at her enthusiasm.

"Thanks Marcus. I'll be in touch." Zander said as he walked Marcus out to the front porch. He turned and came back into the cabin, Devon still in his arms, he closed the wooden door behind him and then peered up the steps to hear if Emily was still exploring.

"Oh my God, Zander! This is just wonderful." she said as she came down the stairs towards him.

"Well I'm glad you like it." he said as he followed her into the living room once more.

"Like it? I love it! How long can we stay here?" she giggled.

"As long as you want, sweetheart." he replied and pulled her in for a kiss.

All their worries had seemed to disappear the minute they stepped foot in the cabin. No more stress, no more worries about who was coming after them next, all the danger concerns were gone.

Devon sat on Zander's lap and Emily noticed a little yawn and his droopy eyelids as he began to drift off to sleep. "I think someone has had too much excitement for one day." she giggled as she brushed her finger against his chubby cheek.

Zander picked him up in his arms and turned Devon into his chest, holding him against his shoulder. Devon relaxed against his dad's shoulder as Zander took him up the stairs to the extra bedroom. A crib sat waiting for the sleeping toddler, as Zander laid down Devon gently. He laid his son on his back and gently rubbed his fingers in circles on Devon's tummy. Emily stood in the door way of the room and watched on, bringing a smile to her face as she was witness to the most beautiful moment between a father and a child. Zander leaned on the railing and watched as Devon fell to sleep.