There was only one man that Carly would wake up at daybreak for. He had made her promise that she would go home, rest, kiss their boys…she figured two out of three wasn't necessarily going back on her promise. The truth was she couldn't rest…not when she knew he was at home torturing himself. So after a couple hours tossing and turning she decided she was done waiting. He needed her.

He couldn't explain the flood of relief upon opening the door and seeing her face. Her hair was still wet from the shower, her face freshly scrubbed, not a hint of makeup marring it…and he wondered how he had ignored it for so long…how beautiful she was.

"Car"

"Yeah, yeah I went home, kissed our boys, laid down and I'm back…and I'm not going anywhere. My mom is with the boys, and you need me here" she said pushing her way past him into the living room.

Usually he would argue, tell her he was strong enough to handle whatever…but not this time, this time he would let her stay with him…let her be his strength. He knew an outsider would laugh at the idea of Carly Corinthos being someone's saving grace…but she was his…and she always would be.

"Do you want me to make you some breakfast?"



Jason blinked a couple of times at her and she rolled her eyes, "I mean, can I order some breakfast for you?"

"I'm fine"

"No you're not...but if you don't want to eat right now…okay, but don't think I am just going to keep accepting it" she said turning to him with her hands on her hips.

The look in his eyes softened her, "Jase" she said her voice hoarse with emotion.

Walking towards him she cupped his cheeks in her palms before wrapping her arms around him. His arms snaked around her pulling her close to him, close enough that she could feel his heart thumping steadily against hers. He had always been her strength…and she would be his now.

It could have been minutes or hours that they stood there intertwined, she could feel the warm wet tears on her shoulder…and she bit back those of her own. He pulled away slowly their blue eyes locked onto each other.

"There is something I have to tell you" he said rubbing the blonde stubble on his chin.

There is a certain tone in his voice that makes her nervous, "You can tell me anything Jase"



She trusts him…implicitly…and to know that he is going to disappoint her hurts him…but he can't keep a secret like this…not from her. He has lied to her twice, and it tore a hole in their friendship…he wouldn't do that again, not to her.

They sat on the couch, "Elizabeth came and talked to me in the chapel last night"

"Don't tell me she was trying to monopolize on your grief and steal you away from Sam… not that I like that girl much either but I figure lesser of two evils"

"Carly…the baby, it's mine"

OoOoOoOoO

Lucky looked out on the ocean where the sun was just beginning to rise. They had set sail last night, and by the break of dawn were somewhere out in the Atlantic, the sun and the crisp air hitting his face. He had hoped that it would help him clear his mind…in one night he had lost so much, he didn't know how to go back, and he didn't know how to move forward.

"Black with two sugars" came from a voice from behind.

When he turned Sam stood there with a steaming mug of coffee.



He couldn't help but smile, "How'd you know"

"About your coffee, or that you would be out here?" she asked taking a seat next to him.

"Both" he asked turning to look at her.

She stared out into the swirls of blue on the sea…and they reminded her of his eyes, "Well the coffee I remember from my short stint at the PCPD…how you would be out here…let's just say I've spent plenty of nights out on this deck staring out at the ocean…yelling at God, yelling at myself" she told him her voice laden with emotion from the past.

Instead of speaking they both sat there and stared…each wondering how for the first time in ages they didn't feel alone.

OoOoOoOoO

This wasn't the first time he watched chestnut hair splayed over his pillow…but it was the first time he had slept on the couch while a beautiful woman occupied his bed. She hadn't wanted to go home after the hospital…hadn't wanted to face the 

memories of a father that was larger then life. He could echo the sentiment…burying your idol. It made him feel akin to her...like it was his duty to help her not fall apart.

That was his classic role, White Knight…galloping in to save a damsel in distress…but Emily Quartermaine was no damsel…she was a woman that had just had her heart ripped out…and even when she put it back in, there would always be a part missing…Jax knew all about that part…the part he had buried in the ground not too long ago.

He wouldn't be able to save her like he had done women in the past…but he would do better this time…he would simply just be there for her.

OoOoOoOoO

Her head lie on his chest, his arms wrapped protectively around her, like if his strength could protect her from the pain the morning would bring. She had fallen asleep like that, too exhausted to remember that he was dangerous, or that they 

had broken each other's hearts a millions times…that getting this close to him was a risk...a risk of losing her heart.

Holding her was dangerous…holding her reminded him of the past…of popcorn and cappuccino…paper bags and big words…of times when he remembered smiling the most. He had become accustomed to not having her in his life…to being her enemy, to flirtatious smiles replaced by bitter words. But there in that moment…in the moment he saw those toffee eyes staring at him outside the Metro Court he knew there was no going back…he could no longer act like he didn't care about her…like seeing her sick wasn't gnawing at him. He could lose her to another man…to watch her be happy and loved…but he would not let cancer take her away from him.

OoOoOoOoO

"What are you doing here?"

Elizabeth smiled with Cameron holding one hand and Spencer holding the other, "I heard you were getting sprung today...and that you need a nurse" she told him arching an eyebrow.



Nikolas glared at Lesley who walked in after, "Oh, boys why don't we see if the cafeteria has any cookies" she asked the two little boys before making a quick exit.

"No, no, I can hire a nurse"

"Or you can just let me take care of you"

Her cornflower blue eyes challenged him from across the room, "Liz, you have a life to live…a job, I can't ask you to do that"

"One, I'm pregnant, how much of a life do you think I have…second they gave all the people in the Metro Court three weeks off…third…I told Lucky…and Jason…Lucky's gone…he came to say goodbye to Cam last night…you need a nurse, I need a friend" she said coming to sit by him the tears threatening to fall.

The urge to touch her overwhelmed him as he tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, "As long as I'm here…you have me"

She leaned into his hand; the silk of his skin upon hers was like tasting heaven, "Always the Prince"

He smiled almost shyly, "Come on, let's get the boys and go home"

Home…it was a word she never let herself get use to…but she liked the sound of it.