As she hurried out of her grandmother's house, Elizabeth secretly wiped away the tears flowing down her cheeks, not wanting her grams to realize anything was amiss. Checking her purse, she noticed she had almost forty dollars since her grams hadn't let her pay for anything while getting done up for the dance tonight.
Catching the bus, ignoring the long looks as people saw the red party dress sticking out from underneath her coat, she hurried downtown. Deciding to get off when she saw the movie theater, Elizabeth was looking at the marque and grimaced. Either that Drew Barrymore film that Emily Quartermaine had been wanting to see or the Borrowers, a kids movie.
Buying her ticket and along with a drink and a tub of popcorn, she slipped to the back of the theater, not intending to actually watch the film, just really killing time until she could go home and lie to her grams about having a good time.
As the movie started, it didn't keep her attention as she thought about her sister taking over her date especially since Sarah knew she had a crush on Lucky or rather had had a crush on Lucky. The way the jerks eye's had shifted away when he had told her he was there to pick up her sister told her everything she needed to know and more.
Turns out the boys in Port Charles could be as big of jerks as the boys back in Colorado. Sighing heavily, she looked around the theater, seeing the many couples in the room, she considered leaving until she realized she didn't have anyplace else she could go. Forcing herself to watch the movie, she regretted it as at the end Drew's character found happiness with Adam Sandler's.
Then thinking on it, took that as a life lesson. Julia had been planning on a life with Glenn, thinking he was the perfect man for her when in fact he had been the worst, while Robby had had equally bad luck in the love department. Maybe instead of cowering here, licking her wounds she should go home and deal with this.
Standing as everyone left, she was at the bus stop planning on heading home, eager to confront her sister, to tell her grams what had happened then thought about how Sarah was thought the perfect child and then whether or not her grams would believe her about Lucky and went over to the park.
Sitting on the bench, her mind wandering, she heard something then felt a hand covering her mouth. "Not a word." she heard as she saw the knife. Freezing, she felt him tearing at the buttons on her coat, then reaching for her breasts as in the distances she heard footsteps.
Biting his hand still covering her mouth, she felt the knife cutting her shoulder as she took a chance and screamed. Feeling a burning sensation, she then could almost smell the blood as she started to scream and scream and scream just as the footsteps came closer.
"Here, let me help you." said the distant voice as she was lifted like she weighted no more than a doll and was placed gently on the bench. "Here, can you hold this to your wound while I call for help?"
Jason looked at the small beautiful girl and realized he knew her from someplace as the medics finally arrive. "I found her on the ground, behind the bench. Her dress has been ripped."
Nodding the medics rushed the young girl to the hospital, leaving the blond with blood on his hands as he exhaustively walked back to the emergency entrance to the hospital.
Seeing his mother, he hesitated then stopped her saying. "I think that Emily's friend, the small dark haired one was just brought in. I found a girl that I think is her after she screamed in the park. She had been stabbed and there was a lot of blood."
Monica was shocked, this was the most emotion and words he had spoken to her since awakening from the coma. "Thank you, I will find out. Jason... thanks, if it is Elizabeth... well, never mind."
Wondering what that was about, he went up to check on Michael. Carly's son had been born with a heart problem and was just about ready to leave the hospital. He had debated what to do about it, he knew that there was a lot to take care of when it came to a baby but he had promised the little boy's mother he would take care of him.
Hearing the sound of Dr. Jones arguing with someone, he slipped into the room where Michael was already asleep and thought about the young girl. When he heard someone talking to the nurse outside, he hurried to the door when his name was mentioned. Seeing Monica, he asked. "How is she?"
"Her grams is on her way here but it is Elizabeth. She is going to need stitched but luckily your showing up prevented her from being raped." she stated then seeing his eyes narrowing wondering what was up with that even while nervously adding. "I know you don't remember, but I used to be married to Elizabeth's father."
"Did you call him?" he asked.
"I uh, I tried but they are in Bosnia, working the relief camps."
"If you reach him and he wants to come, let me know. We can arrange for his transport." Jason said shaking his head as his mind once again went back to the small girl he had helped.
Down in the ER, Audrey rushed in and urgently asked Alan where her granddaughter was. "Follow me. It might be a few minutes, Detective Taggert just went in to see her."
Audrey positioned herself near the door, listening as Taggert asked her youngest granddaughter to tell him about her day. "Why?"
"Because I need to figure out if this man was stalking you or if this was random." he said as gently as possible. "Do you want someone in here, like your Grandmother."
"No, because I know you need the truth and I still have to tell my grams that." she said her voice low but clear. Outside, Audrey frowned as Elizabeth talked about being excited about the dance, about getting her hair done, about Audrey offering her the bracelet her grandfather had bought her years before. Then her voice changed to sadness.
"I uh, went downstairs and saw Sarah, she looked pretty and was smiling at me." she said. "Then well she said that she couldn't wait for me to see her date. See she was finally going out with Nik Cassadine, at least that was what I had heard from her earlier that week."
Audrey was confused, then why did Sarah go with Lucky?
"Okay, what happened next?" asked the bald man gently prodding her to continue.
"The doorbell rang, my sister asked me to get it saying she had to fix her lipstick. When I opened it, Lucky was standing there and I held my hand out for what I assumed was my carnation like we had discussed earlier that day but it was a white rose instead."
Elizabeth's voice broke as she continued. "Lucky then said he was there to pick up Sarah. I was too stunned to say anything but I saw the look on Sarah's face and knew that something had happened in regards to Nik so Lucky must have asked her out, forgetting about me."
The policeman could hear the confusion and sadness in her voice while outside Audrey frowned even deeper. "Anyhow, I watched them leave then made it seem like I forgot I was to meet my date at the dance. Grams said any man that didn't pick his date up wasn't worth it but I just wanted to get out of there."
"Why didn't you say something to Lucky, to your grams."
"Because don't you know, I am the bad child." she said bitterly. "I didn't think my grams would believe me. Not that it matters, Sarah decided she wanted Lucky to make Nik jealous and he stood there in the entrance way to my grams house and let him get away with it, I even lied to cover for what he had done to me."
"Where did you go after that." asked Taggert as she explained about the movie, then her brainstorm of confronting Lucky and Sarah but how she knew she couldn't just attack them that her grams would blame her. "So I went to my favorite thinking bench. It wasn't very smart considering it was that late at night. Then I felt someone behind me."
Going into what had almost happened, she ended with "Some man, I didn't really see him, just heard his voice saved me then I was taken away in an ambulance. I woke up here and was told I have twenty four stitches. All because I was too chicken to confront the jerk who stood me up to go out with my sister."
Looking at the cop, she said. "Stupid huh?"
"You were a victim, Ms. Webber, that man had no right to try to hurt you and if it wasn't for your fast action and foresight to scream, this could have been a lot worse." he said gently. "Now, I know that with who your grams is, consulting a councilor is a given but I would also recommend you consider taking a self defense class."
"Thank you, I wish I had more that could help you catch this guy." she said as she closed her eyes.
In the hallway, Audrey was talking to Bobbie, telling her all that she had overheard. The red head started to say that Elizabeth must have misunderstood Lucky when she recalled hearing them talk about the dance at Kelly's and shook her head as she remembered Emily telling her mother that Elizabeth was going with Lucky and Sarah with Nik.
"I am so sorry, Audrey. I hate to point this out, but Sarah isn't blameless in this either." Walking away, Bobbie went to check on her grandson, needing to think about all of this.
Slipping into her granddaughter's room, Audrey sat down and held Elizabeth's hand crying for her little angel when she heard footsteps.
Seeing Taggert back, she stood, swaying a bit when he asked. "Mrs. Hardy, I have to take her clothes and this bracelet." he said showing her the bag. "Mac called, he is going to stop by later, but he said to tell you that this will be given the utmost priority."
Wanting to snap, sure until the next big case comes along, she just nodded and sat down thinking on what to do next. Picking up the room phone, she called Gail Baldwin and told her all. "I think she is going to need some help."
Over the next couple of weeks, Audrey really paid attention to her granddaughters instead of putting them in the well trod spots of good girl and wild child and didn't like what she saw and her part in what had lead to her youngest grandchild almost being raped in the park.
First she had informed Sarah that she needed to do more around the house since Lizzie couldn't right then, when the blond had agreed without complaint, she had been relieved until while coming home planning on checking on Lizzie one day she had heard what the blond was telling her sister.
"This is stupid, grams might not see it yet, but how long before she figures out that you stabbed yourself in the park, just to get attention. I mean, really who would want to rape you?" she said scornfully. "Flat chested, tiny little you. You look like a child after all."
Hearing nothing from Lizzie, Audrey listened as Sarah went on and on about how little Lizzie was a burden and if it had been her their parents would have rushed to town, after all they knew she didn't lie.
Stepping into the living room, Audrey coolly looked at the two who didn't see her as Sarah started to bring up the grand time she had at the dance with her date and now boyfriend. "I would be careful with that one, Sarah."
Spinning, Sarah put a smile on then asked in a confused tone of voice "What do you mean Grams?"
"Well if a boy stands up one girl because someone he thinks is better comes along, what is to prevent him from doing it to that girl as well. Now, I didn't say anything about this before, but I am well aware that Lucky had asked your sister to the dance then when he found out you were free asked you to spite Nikolas but what if Nik had been taking Elizabeth? See I am quite certain that your sister wouldn't have accepted Lucky's date out of a need to protect you, but for some reason you don't feel the same way about her? And I have to wonder why?"
"That isn't true, he was only going to the dance with Lizzie as friends." she shrilled.
"Strange, his aunt, that cook down at Kelly's and Monica Quartermaine all heard differently and if I had known about it the night of the dance, neither one of you would have gone. Now I want you to consider something, either you straighten up and treat your sister with respect or I am going to ship you to your brother."
"But grams-" Sarah started to talk then glaring at Lizzie said. "You are going to pay for this."
Audrey sighed and called Monica. "Would you mind a guest for a few days, I have something to deal with here."
After a few minutes, Audrey went back to the great room and announced. "Lizzie, I have to deal with your sister and I am worried about your injury so I have arranged for you to stay with the Quartermaines for a few days. When you come home, things are going to be very different."
Gently hugging the brunette, she kissed her forehead and saw her fear. "I am also aware that you haven't left this house other than school since this happened, I think being at the Q's is going to be the shot in the arm you need to start feeling better about yourself. Sarah, cancel that date tonight with Lucky, you and I are going to be busy."
Meanwhile Jason was dealing with a mess all of his own. Robin his ex-girlfriend was back to help her friend Brenda deal with getting stood up by Sonny on their wedding day. She was aware that he wasn't the father of Carly's baby even if at this point she didn't know who the real father was yet.
When she stopped over to visit him, he felt a small tug on his heartstrings but soon realized it was more for the way she had made him feel than the feelings themselves. A bit astonished to figure that out, he had reacted with stunned shock when she told him he was the other reason she had come home. "Robin, I am sorry, but I just don't feel like that anymore."
The college student had fled, returning to Brenda's cottage as they cried themselves sick with ice cream and bad chick flicks on the VCR. "Why me?"
"Well in your case, it's because Sonny is dealing with his baby's death, whereas Jason is caught up in making a mistake courtesy of Carly Benson." said Robin darkly. "One I will not let him make."
Leaving the cottage, she went to Harbor Towers determined to make Jason see reason.
Jason meanwhile had informed Leticia, the woman who was working as Michael's nanny that he had just had a bottle. "I will be home in the morning."
When he arrived at his nightly sentry he was furious to hear a message that the guard he had assigned was gone. Calling around, he listened to what Johnny had to say then said. "Fine, stay off the grounds but if she leaves be sure to protect her."
As he drove down Maple he saw the car following him and grimacing at how bad the PCPD was doing about tailing him, he drove out the cliff roads, his mind on the young girl he had heard was having a tough time dealing with getting stabbed and the aftermath.
Calling his police contact, he was frowning even more when they told him all they had was a bit of leather glove and that the knife had been more than likely a common household kitchen knife. When he yet again, saw his tail, he pulled over at the old bridge and waited for them to drive by. When instead they pulled in, he was shaking his head when he saw Robin getting out of the car. "What are you doing here?"
With a soft smile, she said. "I just knew I would find you here, after all this is where we met. Jason, I know why you are doing this, but I can help you. That little boy, he needs a mother, someone to help you with him. Let me be that person."
"Robin, he has a mother. Carly Benson. And I am not going to put another woman in that spot, it wouldn't be right." he stated. "And I have help, I have a nanny and Emily is always offering to babysit if I need her. Besides, you hate Carly, I don't think it is such a good idea for you to be around her child when you don't like his mother."
"Fine, Jason. I can see that." she conceded as he felt relief that he had finally gotten through to her. "But that doesn't mean we can't still be together. We can just do so when the nanny has the little boy or take Emily up on her offer."
When she went to hug him, Jason gently stopped her then said. "Robin, I meant what I said, I don't feel that way about you any more. I just... I don't get it, but when you were gone... when I was dealing with helping Carly, when I was taking care of Michael... you were there but it was more the idea of someone to talk to then you actually."
"You don't mean that." she insisted.
"Yes and it would be wrong of me to lie and say yes, we can go back to what we were when I am not in the same place and don't have the same feelings."
"Well feelings are meant to change, to grow. That is part of gaining life experience, Jason." she said trying to teach him still. "See, that is the way things should be. Just give it time. Soon, we will be back to where we were before Carly pushed her way in."
Jason knew what he had to do and regretted it but said it anyhow. "But the reason Carly was able to be there, was because I didn't know better. Now I do and Robin, you are not the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. Neither is Carly, despite what you may think."
"Then who is she?" snapped the young woman. "Who is stealing you away from me?"
"Now you sound like the Quartermaines. I am a human being, not something that can be claimed, or owned or stolen." he snapped.
"Yet I don't hear you denying there is another woman you have feelings for." she retorted.
"Robin, we are over so it is none of your business if I have feelings for someone else." he pointed out quietly. "I am sorry you came back wanting more but I don't have anything else to give you."
Robin left town soon afterwords, taking Brenda back to Paris with her. Sonny came home and took the business back while Jason concentrated on Michael and finding out who had attacked a certain young woman who wouldn't leave his mind.
Elizabeth looked up from behind the counter at Kelly's and smiled as her best friend entered the diner. "Thank goodness, I thought I was going to have to go shopping on my own."
When Emily weakly returned the smile, Elizabeth glared at her and said. "Oh no, this was your idea Quartermaine."
"We are still going shopping but do you mind if we have someone else going with us?" she asked. "A very smelly someone else."
A bit confused, Elizabeth saw the man bringing in the stroller and smiled. "If it's Michael, sure I don't mind."
"Thanks, I just agreed to babysit for Jason here and didn't think about our plans." she said pointing to her brother who was quiet even for him. "Uh, Jase, you don't mind if we take Michael with us, do you?"
Swallowing the need he found himself feeling whenever he was in the same room as the young girl he had saved over a year before, he said. "No, I have no problems with that at all. How are you Elizabeth?"
"I'm fine." she said wishing she knew where she had heard that voice before then asked. "How are you doing, I mean, I know that the Spencers have been giving you a rough time for what happened to Lucky."
"I am fine, I feel for them, they lost their son. I just wish I knew why he was at the garage." he said then asked. "I know he was dating your sister, how is she doing?" Sarah had flown into a rage, attacking both Sonny and him that night until Bobbie had taken the sedated girl to the hospital.
"She is leaving for Europe, to join our parents." she said. "Look, like Grams said.. no one, not even you were aware that Lucky was hiding out in your old garage."
Her grams was certain that Sarah knew, but the blond denied it. When the fire marshal had declared the fire started with a candle burning in the small area above the garage, then igniting the entire building, Luke hadn't believed it, instead blaming Jason and Sonny, claiming it had to be a mob war.
Instead it had soon became public knowledge why Lucky had fled, that he had been living on the docks for months. Even more importantly, the candle had been one that Audrey Hardy had purchased while chaperoning Elizabeth's class trip to Williamsburg, but Sarah had stated that Lucky had to have stolen in, quickly tossing her boyfriend under the proverbial bus to protect herself.
The Spencers had soon turned on her sister, blaming her for their son not being at home, blindly ignoring that the truth about Luke raping Laura had anything to do with it. The younger Spencer had been put through the ringer by the police and the press when Elizabeth's attacker had been arrested then quickly brought in front of a trial judge.
The truth about the entire night had come out when the attacker, Tom Baker had tried to put the blame on Elizabeth for being in the park. The press had soon roasted Lucky as well as Tom. Tom was now serving 20 to life after he had been caught not only with attempted rape but blackmailing young women he had photographed at the changing stations in Wyndham's where he had worked as a photographer and where he had seen Elizabeth that day.
Sarah had stood by her boyfriend to the point that Elizabeth had once again fled to the Quartermaines to get away from her sister and where she had been staying again since. When the Spencers and Nik had begun attacking her, she had tried to blame Elizabeth, even going so far as to call her parents. Now she was on her way to stay with them.
Jason handed the diaper bag over to the two girls then went to deal with the blond who was waiting for him. "Jake, what is it?"
"Her." she said her thumb pointing to the other blond in the room. When Carly looked at Jason, he saw the tears in her eyes and felt bad for her.
"Jason, where is my little boy?" she said wiping the tears. "How is he?"
"He is fine, I didn't know if you had a name picked out, but I named him Michael." he said hugging the confused blond. "He is doing well. Now where have you been?"
Lying, Carly said. "I was wandering around, trying to get my head on straight. Then one day... one day I saw this little blond boy and I knew, I knew I had to come home, that I was ready to be a mother to our little boy."
Jason had a tingling down his spine, the one he usually got when there was danger nearby but this time he was aware that it was from Carly. He had hoped he was wrong, but the moment he heard the phrase our little boy, he knew he wasn't. "Well, I was preparing for this day. I have set you up in an apartment in the Towers, you just need to move in. Then we will start getting Michael used to you but Carly, you need to understand that that is going to take time. He doesn't recall you right now."
Smiling, she said. "Yes, I get that. I am sure that eventually things will be the way they were meant to be."
"Well, Michael right now is with Emily and her friend, they took him to the mall, so why don't I show you your apartment. Have you any thought about what you want to do for a job?"
Stunned, she looked at him and said. "I was for now, planning on getting used to my son. That was going to be my job."
"Carly, I get that, but I think it might be good for you to well, have a job. What about working at the hospital. You did get your nurses training." he said getting why Sonny had said what he had now.
"No, my mother won't let that happen." she said almost certain of it. "Besides, I only took the training to get close to Tony, you know that."
"But Carly, you are going to need to get a job, eventually and nursing at least pays well enough for you to be able to support Michael and you." he said not wanting to just point out that he would be glad to help but that he wasn't going to do it all.
Robin while she might have not gotten what she wanted, then together had at least given him something to chew on when she pointed out the Carly was going to want him to support her and be the man in her life.
After some long talks with Sonny as well as a few of the senior guards, they had gotten through to him about how Carly had acted before and how she was not going to want to let him go. They had even suggested a fake girlfriend to keep the blond at bay.
When they arrived at the towers, Carly was triumphant when they went up the elevators until they stopped on the floor below Jason's. "Wait, what are we doing here. You live on the penthouse level."
"I used to. I don't anymore. Alexis Davis just moved into my old place." he said not telling her that had been Sonny's idea. He was now thinking that the Cuban had been right about that.
Relieved to know that Jason was really taking her to their place, she saw him take out the keys on the ring and remove them before handing them to her. "Here, you check it out."
Entering, Carly looked around, "Well this isn't half bad, but Jason it really doesn't have much in it. I am going to need to go shopping."
"Oh, well the rest of the furniture should be delivered later today. Sonny's girlfriend Hannah picked it out with Alexis." Leading her in, he showed her the desk and said. "I set up an account to cover Michael's needs when he is with you. There is a limit on the account. Benny said it was one thousand dollars and will be paid monthly so that you know not to go over that amount. Any groceries can be charges at Weston's on fifth."
"That isn't nearly enough, you know that Jason." she entreated. "I mean, I spent half that much alone on one outfit."
Knowing what he had to do, Jason closed his eyes then said when he had reopened them "Carly this money is for Michael. You should find all the clothes you bought before in the closets in the bedroom. If you remember right, you already purchased clothes for after Michael was born. Shoes and all that other stuff as well. Now, I have to go but if you need any help in regards to that job, Alexis said she would be glad to help you find one."
When he was at the door, Carly thought about it then with narrowed eyes decided she had to use her little boy to get him back. "Jason, I want to see my son. Remember, I can tell the truth about his parentage at any moment."
Turning, he looked at her and took pleasure in giving her the bad news. "Carly, if that is what you want, fine but you might want to think twice about it. AJ is married and I am sure that the judge might consider that a happily married couple are better suited to raise Michael then you."
Shocked, she felt her jaw drop. Looking at her, he continued. "Carly a lot has changed and you need to face up to that. Now, I suggest you get that job so that when the custody case does come, because secrets have a way of coming out, you look good to the courts."
"But we can just get married, that way he doesn't have a claim..." she said frantically. "Yes, that is the perfect solution, we can get married and with all your money, there is no way the judge will take Michael away from us."
Looking at her, sad to find out that Sonny was yet again correct, he said. "Carly, I have kept your secret for your sake. So that you can have the time to bond with your son, but I have known since the moment you left... since the moment you left that eventually AJ was going to find out he is his son."
"But if we get married, it won't make a difference, this way you don't lose your little boy, the little boy you have grown attached to." she said wondering where her plan had gone wrong. "After all, Jason. AJ is a drunk."
"No, not anymore he isn't. He left town, came back sober and with a wife." he said looking at her, making her see that her plan, the one that Francis had proven to him she had concocted wouldn't work. "Carly, his wife, she is above reproach. Whereas you and I well, neither one of us would look good."
"But you raised him. How can you not fight for him." she asked heatedly.
"I am the only person in this mess who has his best interests at heart." he said quietly. "You certainly don't. You look at your son and see a credit card."
"How dare you?" she hissed.
Leaving he said. "I will set it up for you and I to go and get Michael at the end of his time with his Aunt Emily. Now, I suggest you sit down and face reality."
Jason soon got the flaw in his plan when Carly called asking yet again about seeing Michael. When they arrived at Kelly's the late spring day was warm and there were many people in the courtyard sitting at the outside tables.
Approaching his sister, he saw her with the stroller and felt Carly's breath catch, maybe just maybe the blond would be happy to be a mother and not expect that dream family she seemed to think she should have. Seeing the empty stroller, Carly looked around, her eyes frosty as she clearly wanted to say something to Emily but didn't because he was there.
"Michael is inside with his girlfriend." she announced less than happy to see the blond return. "How are you Carly?"
"Where is my son?" she asked looking in the window. She could see the red headed kid being held by a small girl that looked she was still in junior high school and talking to Bobbie. Shuddering and glad that that kid wasn't hers, she kept looking annoyed when she finally saw the woman coming from the bathrooms holding a little boy with bright blond hair like Jason's.
"Oh, he is so perfect." she cooed, happy to see how perfect her little boy was, there was no way that Jason would be able to resist making a family with them. After all, her little boy looked just like his daddy.
When the blond came out of the diner, she moved over in front of her just as the younger girl came out with the red head. "Give me my little man."
The dark haired woman looked around then tentatively smiled at Jason while the other girl felt her brows furrow then smiled. "Oh, your Carly Benson. Here." she said trying to hand her the red headed toddler.
The seventeen year old looked at her in shock then with astonishment as the blond went over and tried to pry that blond boy out of the other woman's hands ignoring her.
"Carly what are you doing?" asked Jason as he saw what she was up to. "I thought you wanted to meet Michael?"
"I do, why do you think I am trying to hold him?" she snapped as she yet again tried to pry the baby away from the woman who was now glaring at her and then at Jason.
"Look, get her away from me." announced the mother of the little boy. "I know what you did to my husband if I wasn't holding our son, I would kick your rear."
"Husband, who are you married to?" she asked rudely.
"AJ Quartermaine and you are that tramp Carly Benson who slept with your mother's husband. Then knocked AJ out and poured liquor on him to make him look like a drunk to his brother."
"That may be how AJ tells it but it isn't true. He is nothing but a cheat and a liar." she said hotly. "Now give me my son." Bobbie who had come out when she heard the commotion stood there shaking her head in disgust with her daughter.
Jason's hands were shaking as he pried her off of the dark haired women. "Claire, I am sorry about this. Carly, that is her little boy, hers and AJ's."
"Then where is my son?" she snapped. "And how could she have a child the same age as my little boy?"
Turning her, Jason saw Elizabeth was keeping Michael occupied with his plush car. "Carly, that is Michael."
"That's not possible. My little boy wouldn't have red hair or freckles and he is still a baby." she insisted while Jason knew that Claire could have a field day with this when it came out in court.
"Yes, he does." Jason said as he bent down to pick up the toddler and to smile at Elizabeth in thanks. "Carly, I would like you to meet Michael, Michael I would like you to meet your mother."
When the blond rejected taking the baby, all saw the storm clouds grow on his face including Jason who quickly handed him back to Elizabeth when he saw Emily start to go into attack mode. Stopping his sister, he whispered "Not here." in her ears.
Backing away, she looked at the blond with disgust then asked. "Do you want us to take Michael back home?"
A bit annoyed, he said yes please while Claire nodded at Bobbie then told Jason. "I think that I should go."
"Yes, leave and take that brat with you." sneered Carly as she then turned to Jason. "Jason, someone stole my baby, you have to find my real child. Please, go find my real baby."
"Why are you still doing this?" he asked a bit annoyed. "That little boy who left was the child you gave birth to a year and a half ago. Now I get that you didn't realize how much time had passed, but he is your child."
"No, like I said, my child wouldn't have red hair or freckles." she retorted rebelliously. "Someone stole my real child, you here about this all the time but don't believe it can happen to you."
"Carly, your mother has red hair." he pointed out. "Luke's has a tint of red and from what Bobbie told me the Eckherts, Michael's cousins are all red heads. Now, I am going home and tomorrow, we can do this again or you can leave, Either way, that little boy is your son."
Walking away, he missed her spectacular temper tantrum as she destroyed Kelly's and screamed that nothing was falling into place the way she had hoped. That she knew that that red headed freak wasn't her child and that someone had stolen her real son and that Jason was supposed to be so happy to see her that he asked her to marry him on the spot.
To the man entering the courtyard with his daughters, he wished he could turn a blind eyes but looked at Bobbie and asked. "Do you want to press charges?"
Seeing her nodding, he walked over and said "Caroline Benson, you are under arrest for disturbing the peace and defacement of private property. You have the right to remain silent..."
When she chose not to, Mac got an earful as he slapped the cuffs on while Bobbie took the two girls inside and fed them. When she heard them giggling, she couldn't help joining them when Georgie looked outside in awe and said. "Wow, Maxie, she throws a better temper tantrum than you ever thought of."
"I know, do you think I could take some lessons?" asked the older sister. "Wow, dad looked mad."
Jason arrived at the cottage he was renting and heard the sound of off key singing and Michael giggling. Sighing heavily, he waited for Emily to return while he sat down and faced that the day was coming now that Carly had returned. He was going to have to give up Michael, he was going to have to let that little boy go for his own sake.
Hearing footsteps, without opening his eyes, he said. "Thanks Emily. I know that you had plans with Elizabeth, tell her I'm sorry about this."
"Emily had to go home, I stayed with Michael." Standing and turning quickly, Jason caught his breath as he saw the young girl holding a now clean Michael and his bottle. "Something came up at the Q's and I was hoping to avoid returning there for as long as possible so I volunteered to stay here. Not that I don't appreciate what Monica has done for me, but they can be a bit overwhelming at times, kind of like you are, I mean..." Elizabeth shut up, feeling miserable as she insulted Michael's dad. "Uh, I will stop talking now."
With a hidden grin, he reached for the baby who seemed determined to hold onto Elizabeth's hair, then said, "thank you but what about Emily and your plans?"
"We were planning on trying on my new outfits." she said slightly embarrassed, "That's all, along with pizza, ice cream and boy band music."
Seeing her sigh, he asked "What is it?"
Not wanting to admit the problem, she scrambled and then heard his chuckle. "I can see your mind racing, so I will let it go."
"No, it's okay. See prom is next week and I was looking for dress. Since it is the first big dance I have attended since what happened last year, I wanted to look spectacular but I can't find a dress I like and then I realized I was going to need very high heels since my date is really tall." she said sighing. "I just want to cancel but poor Eddie doesn't deserve that. I mean he stuttered when he asked me."
Not sure what one had to do with the other, he just let her talk. "I mean, why are all the dresses strapless this year, I don't have that much to hold them up to begin with then to hide the scar will take work. I was going to wear this old dress that I found but Emily refuses to give up."
"What old dress?" he asked wanting to keep her talking as the rain started.
"This old dress we found in the attic at the mansion. Lila said it was one of hers when she was younger and it fits perfectly." she said. "Em just thinks that I need to get a new one, but I mean it's weird to pay that much for a dress I am only going to wear once. I mean, isn't it?"
Seeing her uncertainty, he said. "Well if the dress looks good and you want to wear it, tell my sister to butt out."
"But she is looking forward to this dance." she said. "Since only seniors get to go, she has to live vicariously through me, so I want to make it fun for her."
Hearing a knock on the door, Jason opened it to see Sonny standing there looking like a thundercloud. "Elizabeth, I need to speak to Jason alone. Can I have my driver give you a ride to the Quartermaines?"
Nodding, she couldn't help wondering how he knew where she lived as she leaned over and kissed Michael's cheek to Jason's shock as the little boy was now asleep against his chest. As he inhaled her scent, he saw Sonny's eyes narrowing then the older man hide his smile as the girl grinned at him then left.
Once she was gone, he got down to business. "Moreno is on the move and I have more bad news. Hannah has been recalled for not getting the goods on me. So the FBI is going to be up in our business for the next few weeks."
"How did Moreno find out?" snapped Jason when he had come back downstairs after laying Michael down in his crib. "And even better news, Carly has returned."
Swearing, Sonny said. "That couldn't happen at a worse time."
"You were right about her, by the way. I wish I could say you are wrong." he stated as he sat down.
"You deal with that, I have a way of spiking the FBI, I didn't want to use it just yet, but I will. As for what I just walked in on, Jason you need to realize she is too young, at least for another year or two." he warned. "Plus if Carly figures it out, that could bring trouble down on that young girl who doesn't deserve it."
With a sigh, he said. "I know,. That is why I avoid her unless Emily is around, usually. Have our men dealt with Baker?"
"They are taking bits and pieces, this summer should be the end of that." said Sonny as he walked to the door. "What about AJ?"
Looking at the stairs, deep in thought, Jason said. "I will tell him, I didn't want to but you were right about Carly.":
"I wish you would stop saying that." grumbled the dark haired man. "I really didn't want to be."
As summer started and then headed towards a close, things slowly started to fall into place. Sonny was dealing with Moreno who now had the FBI up his rear, while Alexis continued dating Ned, even after canceling their wedding.
Emily started to date a new singer named Juan Santiago, who was the son of Lily, Sonny's late wife. It lasted only until she saw him kissing a fan girl then letting her into his hotel room. Meanwhile Elizabeth had gone to prom with Eddie who had made her ego feel good when he told her that he really thought she was beautiful and a great artist.
A month later, he left for college early, telling her that she was a really good friend. Emily and she had spent the summer wondering what was wrong with them. Neither one of them had had serious boyfriends yet. "The only regular men in our lives are the guards we are supposed to pretend not to see and Michael."
"Well Jason, but he is my brother and I guess yours too since we decided we are sisters." said a laughing Emily.
"True. I just want to go to the movies, go bowling do normal things." said Elizabeth sighing. "With someone other than you."
Pretending offense, Emily picked up the throw pillow and hit her friend while they ran around the room. Lila rolled her wheelchair into the living room, then was used by Elizabeth as she stood behind the elderly woman. "You wouldn't hit someone hiding behind an old lady in a wheelchair, now would you?"
Glaring, Lila took the pillow and smacked Elizabeth herself to the amazement of Emily. "That is for calling me old."
Giggling, the high school graduate turned to run out the french doors and ran smack dab into a wall. "OUCH! Why didn't I open the door?"
"You did." said Jason in amusement. "That was why I was entering."
Glaring at the blond while she held her nose, Elizabeth announced. "I have to go see Dr. Quartermaine, I think your chest caused my nose to break. Lay off on the working out, will you?"
Emily grinned at her brother as she followed her best friend to the door never seeing her brother's eyes helplessly following them. Lila did thought and said "Oh Jason..."
Turning, he looked at her and said. "I know, I know."
"I assume you are hear to tell me that you are marrying Carly, I heard it when she made the announcement yesterday." she said keeping her opinion on this sudden marriage to herself. When Tony Jones had lost it and kidnapped Michael, she had seen the way the blond depended on Jason and knew this day would come in spite of the damage it would do to her grandson and great grandson.
"No, actually that isn't true. I am not marrying Carly." he said then sat down. "Is AJ around?"
Wheeling herself to the doorway, she asked Reginald to get her grandson then looking back into the room went to take the elevator upstairs.
Entering the room, AJ looked at his brother, while Jason normally didn't show emotion it was clear that something was bothering him. "What do you need?"
"Sit down, I have to tell you something." he said then started off with "I am sorry for this only coming out now, but before I didn't think you were ready. You were crawling around in a bottle desperate for Edward's approval."
"That was almost two years ago." said AJ.
"Then when you came home last year, married and happy... I was not sure... I was a bit worried my news would ruin your marriage. I didn't want to do that, I had learned the truth by then, that you weren't drunk that night. That Carly had set you up."
AJ got a sinking feeling in his stomach that worsened when Jason announced. "I guess the best way to do this is to just say it. Michael isn't my child, he is your son."
TBC