Author's note- I was going to post a story called A Million Years Gone By next. But since Jax and Carly have now set a date for their wedding I decided to post this short six chapter story about my take on the night before Jax and Carly's wedding and how that might affect Jason.

Chapter One

Midnight- 12 hours before Carly and Jax's wedding

Carly started the night in high spirits. The Metro Court was beautifully decorated for the rehearsal dinner. But as the night went on her mood deflated.

And when Luke raised his glass for a final toast it was all she could do to smile.

Looking at Jax, Luke said simply, "Good luck, you'll need it."

Everyone laughed.

Carly chuckled but her mind, and eyes, were on Jason. Something was different about him and Sam tonight. They kept sharing secret looks and her hands constantly reached from him anytime he moved away from her. They had been having problems lately but Carly could see they must have worked it out.

Good for them, Carly thought. Her teeth clenched.

She wanted to be happy for Jason, happy for herself. She wanted to be... but she wasn't.

When the party broke up she made her way over to Jason. "Can you come up to the hotel suite I'm staying in tonight. I have a present for you. A little thank you for being my best person."

She could have given it to him tomorrow, before the ceremony. But she

needed, as much as she needed her next breath, to spend more time with him tonight.

Jason could easily read the look in her eye. She was thinking of not going through with this wedding.

Good, he thought

"You get the elevator," he told Carly "I'll tell Sam I'll be back in a few minutes."

Carly turned so she wouldn't have to watch him go over and talk to her.

Jax snuck up and wrapped his arm around her waist, "Ready for bed, my soon to be wife?"

She moved out of his arms. In a flat voice she told him, "We can't be together tonight. It's bad luck."

The elevator door opened and she stepped inside, Jason brushed past Jax and joined her.

"See you at the alter," Carly told her fiancee, without enthusiasm, as the door slid closed.

Jax turned and looked at Sam, the only other person left in the room, "I think we were just ditched."

Sam said, "Let her have her last few moments with Jason. You get to become her husband tomorrow. You won, Jax."

"Did I?" Jax asked, his voice filled with concern.

On the elevator, Jason said to Carly "You can still back out."

Carly gave him a pointed look. "That's no way for my best person to talk. How would you like if I said that to you the night before you were set to marry Sam? If you were still engaged to her, that is."

Jason looked away and that is all it took for her to know. Carly felt her whole body react to the words she knew were coming.

"What? Are you engaged again, Jason? Don't keep secrets from me."

He said, " Sam and I have decided to fly to Hawaii after your ceremony tomorrow. We'll be married on the beach a few days from now."

Her world went dark and she stumbled. Carly reached for Jason.

It took a moment for her to realize it was the elevator jerking to a stop and the lights going out and not her own turbulent emotions that flung her into Jason's arms.

In the dining room of the Metro Court, Jax said to Sam "The storm must have caused a blackout. We have emergency generators but it's not safe to use the elevators. We should wait it out here."

"Carly is going to get plenty of alone time with Jason now." Sam pouted

"Jealous?"

"He could be with her if he wanted to. He doesn't."

"You hope."

Jason said, "You okay, Car?" He could feel her breath on his ear, her heart pounding against her chest, and where her hand rested on his shoulder radiated heat. There was no better feeling in the world to Jason than protecting this woman.

She moved away. "Congrats."

"What?" he asked, already missing the feel of her against him.

"You're marrying the love of your life, right?"

"Oh, that. Listen, we should call for help. You have your phone?"

"Where would I put it? This ball gown doesn't have pockets."

He groaned."My cell wouldn't even fit in these pockets You just had to make me wear this monkey suit, didn't you? My phone is in Sam's purse."

"Jax will get us out soon."

Jason made a hmpf sound that clearly said "yeah right!"

He told her, "You can count on Jax to save you if you want. But there is no way in hell I ever will." Jason started feeling around for a emergency phone. He picked it up but there was no dial tone.

"It's broken." Carly said

"Figures. Jax spends all day drinking champagne while this place falls apart piece by piece."

"I thought you liked Jax!"

"What gave you that idea?"

Carly plopped down on the floor. "Just sit down and relax. This gives us time to chat."

Jason sat down. "About?"

"How did you propose to Sam?"

"I don't want to talk about that."

"Sam asked you, didn't she?"

Jason didn't answer so Carly said, "Thought so!"

She wondered if Jason had truly moved on from seeing Sam with Ric or was he just trying to make Sam happy by marrying her. He always put others before himself.

A moment passed, Carly tried not to hate Sam for getting her guy. But she did. She really hated her, despised her totally.

Jason said, "I should thank you. We wouldn't have gotten back together if not for your encouragement."

That didn't make Carly feel any better. Everything felt wrong about this.

She was marrying Jax in hours and Jax was not Jason. Simple as that.

Jax was not even her second choice, Sonny had been that, then Lorenzo came next. And yet, Carly figured, she could find some measure of happiness with Jax. That would be enough, she had told herself before tonight. Now it felt like a cruel joke she was about to play on herself.

Carly said, in a rush of words, not thinking but only speaking from her heart. "Don't marry Sam."

"Carly..."

"Marry me." she said