Chapter: Diamond dreams

Courtney sighed letting her eyes close for a moment enjoying the momentary calm that enveloped the penthouse. The sound of little feet jumping down the stairs caught her attention, drawing her eyes back open. The blonde toddler stood In front of her clutching a teddy bear to her chest tightly, her hair was tied back to reveal her chubby cheeks. Courtney smiled down at her lifting the little girl onto the couch and into her arms.

"Sweetie you should be asleep" Courtney stated brushing strands of hair away from the child's eyes. The toddler looked up at her with those baby blues that reminded her so much of her fathers' and Courtney could not help but smile.

"Where's daddy?" The little girl asked quietly.

"He went over to visit Uncle Sonny, but he'll be back in a bit"

" Why don't we get you to bed because the sooner you go to sleep the sooner you can wake up and see daddy, okay?" Courtney asked smiling down at the little girl in her lap.

"Okay" The toddler said jumping into her mothers arms as she carried her upstairs.

Courtney pulled the covers up tightly around the toddler watching as they made her seem so small. Smiling she placed a kiss on her fore head.

"Mommy can you tell me a story?" The child's request caught Courtney off guard, as she stood in the doorway ready to leave. She walked back in lying down next to her daughter on the bed.

"What story would you like to hear Cinderella, snow white…."Courtney asked going through the rolodex in her head of the story's she had memorized in the past four years since Belle's birth. The little girl shook her head placing her thumb in her mouth not needing to answer the question, Belle knew her mother would know the story she wanted to hear.

"So you want to hear mommy and daddy's story, huh, I wonder if I memorized that one or not" Courtney said tickling the little girl lightly, earning giggles in response before she settled against her shoulder, looking up at her mother expectantly.

"Well it was Christmas eve the year before you were born….

Courtney descended the penthouse stairs observing the empty living room with a look of surprise, glancing at her watch, she remembered Jason said he would be home before 9:30 to take her to the club. Adjusting the blue strapless dress she wore, she took one last look at herself in the mirror, her hair was half up while the rest lay in loose curls. Brushing on a coat of lip-gloss she made her way towards the door. It opened slowly taking the blonde by surprise, only to reveal her very beautiful and pissed off sister in law. Carly attempted a smile as her eyes swept over Courtney's outfit a look of approval crossing over her features only to be replaced by the scowl she had walked in with.

"Carly what's wrong or do I even want to know?" Courtney asked watching the dark blonde as she paced the length of the carpet.

"Sweetie Jason was called out of town for the evening, I tried to get sonny to reconsider but he wouldn't" Carly stated softly watching a flicker of disappointment cross her sister in law's face.

"Its okay, I mean Jason has responsibilities, I understand that, even though it is our first Christmas together where he is not on trial for murder or married" Courtney could hear the sadness in her own  voice and tried to push it away. Carly enveloped her in a hug, catching Courtney a little off guard but she wrapped her arms tighter around her sister.

Pulling back, Courtney smiled at Carly trying to avoid meeting the dark blonde's gaze in hopes of pushing back the unshed tears that began to well up.

"I guess I'll just go change" Courtney stated attempting to make her way back upstairs when Carly grabbed her.

"Nope your still coming to the club with me and Sonny, and before you can say no, you must know I' am not asking you to come I'm  telling you" Carly smiled at Courtney watching her hesitation fade as she  nodded  in silent agreement.

"Good now I'm going to run across the hall and grab my purse and my husband and I will be right back" Carly made her way out the penthouse door towards her own.

She walked into her own penthouse looking towards Sonny and Jason with disgust. The two gave her large smiles in response.

"You owe me Jase, I just lied to my sister in law, your girlfriend, Sonny's sister, my best friend" Carly ranted her anger bubbling up to the surface as she watched the men in front of her remain calm and collected.

"Carly do I need to show you the ring to remind you why you had to lie?" Jason asked from his place on the couch. The blonde-haired woman shook her head grabbing her purse and accepting Sonny's outstretched arm.

"I'll see you later, Jase, you better be at the club on time" Carly stated kissing his cheek before her and Sonny walked out the door. He watched from the penthouse as the couple met up with Courtney in front of the elevator. Jason's eyes swept over Courtney's form and he once again marveled at her beauty, even after a year together, she was still surprising him. She walked onto the elevator and out of his view and he couldn't help counting the minutes until he would see her again.

Carly's Club

Carly beamed as she entered her club, people stared as she made her entrance, some envious and some just marveling at her beauty. Courtney walked behind her brother and his wife the feeling of being out of place growing stronger, as people's gazes fell on her. She could sense the women's sympathetic gazes as she walked further into the club without a man on her arm. The club was beautiful as always. Silver snowflakes hung directly overhead and every thing seemed to sparkle, even the people. Grabbing a table Courtney watched as Sonny fetched some drinks, before whisking Carly into his arms and onto the dance floor.

11:55pm

Courtney sighed shifting to get more comfortable in the booth she had been sitting in for nearly two hours. Sipping her third martini of the night, she watched the happy couples sway across the crowded dance floor. Every so often Carly would glance up over Sonny's shoulder and Courtney would smile trying to convince her she was having fun. The blonde was not though and began contemplating just leaving a note and making it back to the penthouse in hopes Jason would get home shortly after. Courtney knew she would never make it to the door, Carly would probably see her out of the corner of her eye or smell her perfume as she walked. Letting out another sigh, she settled back against the booth, eyes trained on the dance floor when a tap on her shoulder drew her attention.

"Miss Morgan?" The waitress asked in hesitation.

"Umm no, I'm Miss. Matthews" Courtney corrected eyeing the woman suspiciously. The server only nodded placing a piece of paper into her hand, before leaving to wait on more tables. Courtney read the note a puzzled look crossing her features, she looked up catching Carly's eyes on her, before the dark blonde quickly ducked her head into the crook of Sonny's neck. Courtney rose from the booth obeying the instructions to go outside the club all the while butterflies beginning to form in her stomach. Courtney felt the cold night air hit her sending shivers up her spine and she drew her coat closer. The pathway towards the road was deserted the endless sound of the wind encircling her. She glanced down at her feet and noticed the rose petal path leading into the woods, a single rose lay by a candle on the bench beside her. Follow was all it read. Courtney picked the red rose up following the cryptic notes instructions and the red roses that lay scattered amongst the falling snow. Every step filled her with a mixture of excitement and fear as she went further into the woods the moon lighting her way. She watched in surprise as Rosie bounded towards her stopping to sit in front of her. Courtney removed the rose from the dog's mouth and watched as she ran back the same way she came. Taking the hint Courtney followed clutching the notes and roses in her hands. As she reached the clearing her breath caught in her throat, Candles lit the entire way and Rosie sat diligently at Jason's side. Courtney could feel the tears brimming in her eyes as she took in the beauty, as the snow fell and candle flames flickered in the wind all surrounded by rose petals. Jason took her hands and she smiled at him brightly watching him tense slightly before leading her towards a bench. Courtney sat watching the man in front of her hesitate before getting down on one knee.

"Courtney I'm not good with words… that's why I did this to show you how much I love you, cause I don't really know how to tell you how much you mean to me" Jason stated finally meeting her gaze. He reached into his pocket removing a black velvet box and Courtney's smile grew so wide it began to hurt. It was the moment she had dreamed of as a little girl. At one timeshe thought the dream had passed her by.

"Courtney Matthews will you marry me?" Jason's eyes filled with hope as he finally unveiled the ring he had been holding. The small pear shaped diamond shone in the moon light and Courtney couldn't speak, her words seemed caught in her throat as the whole scene overwhelmed her. A few tears slid down her cheeks and she looked into Jason's eyes nodding and mouthing, yes. Slipping the ring on her finger she noticed the joy in his eyes and knew it mirrored her own .He brushed his thumb against her cheek wiping away the stray tears before finally letting his mouth descend upon hers. Rosie barked beside them, wanting attention and Courtney laughed brushing more tears from her cheeks.

"Were going to be a family" She stated quietly looking into Jason's eyes as he pulled her up into his arms.

"Ya we are" Jason said pulling his fiancé closer as the snow continued to fall on the darkened scenery.

"Merry Christmas Ms. Morgan" He whispered, smiling as he pulled her into another passionate kiss.

"And that's how me and you're daddy celebrated Christmas that year" Courtney stated smiling as she glanced down at the sleeping angel beside her. Slowly she got up placing a kiss on the toddlers forehead, before making her way out of the room. As she went to close the door, strong arms wrapped around her waist and she yelped in surprise.

"You just love telling that story don't you Mrs. Morgan" Jason whispered in her ear.

Courtney leaned against Jason as they watched their daughter sleep soundly from their places in the doorway. Smiling Jason placed a kiss on his wife's temple, Rosie walked over to lye beside them. They were a family just as he promised.

Next up is Chap.2 : the wedding told by Jason. Please review!