Chapter Two

When Jason got home from talking to Carly, he found Sam waiting for him. He glanced at her, his eyes stony. Dropping his keys on the desk, Jason walked towards her and folded his arms, not saying a word and waiting.

"I see Amelia told you," Sam said, her eyes downcast as she noted Jason's body language. With his arms folded, he was obviously holding himself away from her.

"For you to assume that, you have to have known she was planning to tell me," Jason answered, his voice calm but firm. "You've been lying to me for ... well, that's just it, isn't it, Sam? You've never been completely honest with me. You've been lying to me, and everyone else, since the day you came to Port Charles."

Sam's eyes welled up with tears. "Jason, let me explain," she said, holding up her hand to try and stop him from talking.

"Explain what, Sam?" Jason walked away from her, around the couch and over to the pool table. He couldn't watch her cry. Her big doe eyes had always affected him - especially when she was sad. Picking up a cue, he began pacing the table. "I know I'm not another conquest to you. I know you're not going to marry me and take all my money. Ironically? I'm not even that mad about your past. I'm mad, but not excessively mad. We've both got pasts, things we can't take back."

Confusion filled Sam's eyes as the tears began streaming down her cheeks. "Well, if you're not mad about that, then what are you mad at? You're obviously mad. Unless," she stopped suddenly as realization dawned. "You're mad about Jake," Sam concluded. Her eyes rose to meet Jason's, looking defiant.

Jason expelled a sigh and set the pool cue down as he once again faced Sam, all the fight blown out of him. "I'm angry and hurt that you didn't tell me you knew. Probably not as angry and hurt as you are that I didn't tell you to start with," he admitted. "How long were you planning to keep quiet, Sam? What do you expect to happen now?"

"I was keeping quiet until you told me yourself," Sam said quietly. "I'm your girlfriend, your fiancée, your lover and your friend. If there was one person in this world you should have told besides Elizabeth, it was me. Instead you tell Spinelli?" The hurt she had been keeping inside suddenly burst out from her. "To answer your second question, what do you think I want you to do? I want you to claim your son. We can help Elizabeth raise him."

"Do you think Lucky knows the truth, Sam?"

Sam stared at Jason, his quiet question resonating through her. "No, I would assume he doesn't or he wouldn't be walking around town bragging about having a son," she answered.

"Elizabeth and I intended to keep the secret from everyone," Jason emphasized. "Spinelli found out by accident when he was trying to prove himself to Lulu. He used the hospital mainframe to locate information no one else knew about and stumbled upon a paternity test."

"A paternity test that listed you as Jake's biological father," Sam interjected.

"Yes." Jason frowned slightly at her as he picked up the pool cue again and leaned over the table. Taking careful aim, he shot and the balls went flying. "Spinelli & Lulu have been sworn to secrecy and that is the end of it. I'm not claiming Jake, Sam. He's Lucky & Elizabeth's son, now and forever."

"But why, Jason? We could get married and - "

"And be a happy little family?" Jason cut Sam off as fast as her sentence had started. "You can't use my son to fulfill your fantasy, Sam. I'm sorry you can't get pregnant, and I know how badly you want to be a mother. But my son will not be the answer to your problems. I've made my decision and I'm standing by it, end of story."

"If I don't agree?" Sam asked, her heart breaking at his words. She knew her own were of no point - if she went against Jason she'd lose him.

"You don't have to agree. You just need to accept it," Jason stated. "But Sam, if you go against my wishes and tell Lucky or anyone else the truth, our relationship is over."

Sam wrapped her arms around her waist and shuddered at the look in his eyes, the emptiness as he stared at the pool table, intent on his own thoughts. She said not another word, just turned and ran up the stairs to her own room to be alone with her own thoughts.

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Carly was walking home to her house, trying to clear her mind before having to focus on her sons. She didn't want to concern them by being upset. They were precocious in that respect; especially Michael. Carly was taking a short cut through the park when she stopped cold. In front of her, sitting on a blanket enjoying a picnic, was Elizabeth with her children. A small gasp emitted from her as her eyes locked on the baby seat where Jason's son lay. Involuntarily, Carly approached them, completely forgetting how little she even liked Elizabeth.

Elizabeth finished settling Cameron in and was about to turn her attention onto Jake when she noticed Carly coming towards them. She groaned inwardly and steeled herself for the attack she was sure was coming. The only time Carly ever seemed to want to talk was when she was in attack mode. Elizabeth just prayed she wouldn't go overboard with the kids around. As Carly got closer to them, Elizabeth noticed the look in her eyes and felt her gut clench.

"I need to see the baby," Carly whispered, kneeling down at the edge of the blanket. She tore her gaze away from Jake and glanced at Elizabeth brokenly. "Please, Elizabeth. Let me see Jason's son."

Even though Carly had said the words very quietly, Elizabeth's heart pounded at her words. She opened her mouth to argue that Jake was Lucky's son, but the look on Carly's face stopped her. It was obvious Jason had told Carly the truth, for whatever reason. "Please just call him Jake, Carly," Elizabeth said softly. She turned Jake's seat towards Carly.

Carly nodded and offered a weak smile at Cameron, who was looking at her inquisitively. Then she looked at Jake. His big blue eyes stared back at her, causing tears to fill Carly's eyes. "Hi, Jake," Carly said softly, reaching out to stroke his soft cheek. She offered him her finger, which he grabbed tightly before blowing bubbles at her. Carly chuckled as a
few tears escaped her eyes and slid down her cheeks. Jake, hearing Carly's laugh, smiled widely at her. "Can I hold him?" Carly asked suddenly, raising her eyes to Elizabeth's face.

Elizabeth was watching Carly with a pained look on her face. It didn't escape her that her son's features were becoming more defined day by day. The more defined they grew, the more Jake began to look like Jason. "Of course," Elizabeth said quietly in answer to Carly's question.

Carly unbuckled the baby from his car seat and lifted him into her arms. "My name is Carly," she told Jake. "I have two little boys who are as handsome as you. They're older than you, but they love kids and I'm sure they'd love to play with you & Cameron when you're a bit bigger." Jake's eyes were wide as Carly spoke to him, focusing on her and smiling at her tone. "You're going to be a heart breaker when you get bigger, Jake."

Elizabeth watched her son in Carly's arms quietly. She didn't react when Carly made mention of her their sons playing together. Elizabeth had no idea why Jason had told Carly the truth, or what either of them expected, but nothing had changed in Elizabeth's eyes. When Jake began to fuss suddenly, Elizabeth held out her arms for him. "He probably needs to be changed."

Carly rocked Jake in her arms, looking at Elizabeth reluctantly. Exhaling a soft sigh, Carly bent and kissed Jake's cheek gently. "It was nice to meet you, Jake." Carly placed him in Elizabeth's arms.

Elizabeth rocked Jake as she watched Carly stand up and brush herself off. Jake's cries quieted, allowing Elizabeth a moment to think. "Carly," Elizabeth stopped her from walking away.

"What?" Carly looked Elizabeth in the eye, some of her usual hardness returning.

"I don't know what Jason told you," Elizabeth began. "But you knowing the truth about Jake ... well, it doesn't change anything. Lucky is still going to raise him as his son."

Carly's eyes flashed with anger as she took a step towards Elizabeth. "You see, Elizabeth, this is where I get confused. I know you've always loved Jason. And I know you've always wanted him. Sleeping with him last summer wasn't as much of an accident as you want everyone to believe. So what I don't understand is how you can take Jason's only child away from him so heartlessly when you claim to love him. Because not being able to be a part of Jake's life is killing him. And if that's how you love someone ... " Carly trailed off, a small hiss escaping her. "Then I feel sorry for your sons. Mark my words: when the truth comes out, the only ones that will be left by your side will be Cameron & Jake." Not giving Elizabeth the chance to respond, Carly walked away quickly, trying to force her anger down a notch.

Pain sliced through Elizabeth's heart at Carly's words as tears involuntarily filled her eyes. She lifted Jake to her shoulder after Carly walked away, whispering, "It's okay, Jake" as she rubbed her son's back to keep him calm. Looking over at her other son, sitting her so innocently playing and eating his lunch, Elizabeth prayed that Carly's warning would never come true and praying that Jason would never hate her for asking him to give Jake up.