Baby Now That I've Found You
by aprilhope

Ch. 7 - When Did That Happen?

The moonlight filtered in through the balcony window of the bridal suite and cast a glow upon their tangled, sweat-drenched bodies… and the matching wedding bands that adorned their fingers. Their first night as husband and wife. They lay in each other's arms, sated, exhausted from hours of making love. He would whisper in her ear in English all the things he wanted to do to her… and in Spanish all the things it was harder for him to say, like how he felt about her. She didn't speak Spanish, but still somehow she understood. He told her she made his life better. He told her he needed her. He told her he thought he was falling…

"Mama, wake up!"

Carly was in the guest room at Bobbie's, doing her best to remain asleep with a fired-up toddler nearly jumping on her head. Still mostly out of it, she tightened her hold on the pillow she'd been cuddling all night and softly moaned, "Sonny."

A laughing snort from the doorway finally awoke Carly fully. She sat up, opened her eyes and saw Leticia.

"Just what is so funny, Let?"

"Hmm? Oh, nothing." Leticia chuckled silently. Yup, she's got it bad. "I was just picturing you walking down the aisle with that bed hair."

"Cute, real cute." Carly stuck her tongue out at the nanny before turning to her son, who had situated himself on her lap. "How does mommy look, Mr. Man?"

Michael reached out a little hand to clumsily smooth her hair down and answered, "Booful, mama."

She hugged him tightly. "Thank you, sweetie. Now why don't you go on downstairs with Leticia, 'cause it smells to me like Grandma's cooking something yummy. I guess I didn't oversleep breakfast after all?"

"Nah, your mom was waiting for you to wake up. But I think she decided wafting aromas might provide some incentive for your…" Leticia covered Michael's ears, who she was now holding. "… lazy butt to get out of bed. Like you should need any more incentive than the fact that you're marrying a positively drop-dead gorgeous man in about seven hours!"

"Leticia!!" First she insults my hair and now she's drooling over my man? Tell me why I… well, why Sonny pays her again??

"Carly, calm down!" Leticia laughed at Carly's shocked and jealous face. "You know I'm dating Reggie. And at this point I think of Mr. Corinthos as somewhere between an employer and a big brother. But I've got to tell you, the first time I saw the man I nearly fainted."

Carly burst out laughing. "I guess I can understand that. That's how all women react to Sonny… even Lila!"

"Yes, but he doesn't notice any woman but you."

Right. Carly continued in what she thought was the same lighthearted tone, but a barely hidden sadness pulled at her voice. "Well, that's because… God willing… I'm the only one carrying his child." She put on a goofy grin and struck a pose. "Plus, how could he resist bed hair like this?"

Leticia sighed. "You just have no clue, do you?"

"No clue about what?"

"Nothing, nothing. I'm hoping you guys will figure it out for yourselves soon enough. Now Michael and I are going downstairs 'cause we're starving. And don't take an hour to get ready 'cause whatever primping you do to yourself will just have to be redone later!"

"Yes, Miss Bossy! Sheesh! You're lucky my son loves you!!" Carly called out teasingly as Leticia and Michael disappeared from the doorway.

Carly sat cross-legged on the bed and just sat for a moment. She breathed in and slowly exhaled. This is my wedding day. And it's not part of some big stupid plan. And it's not to the man I thought it would be, but he is the man I want… When did that happen? She didn't even know if she was surprised by her thoughts. Maybe she didn't know exactly when it happened, but it wasn't as recent as she liked to pretend. She played with her engagement ring, caressing the band, centering the diamond perfectly and gazing at it. Then she turned to the nightstand and lovingly picked up her other most precious possession, also a gift from Sonny… his mother's pin. She still couldn't believe he had done that. She knew how much he loved his mother and how sacred her memory was. He couldn't give the pin to Lily, but to her he could? He said that I make his house a home. That's where I am, finally… home.

Now
I can trust you now
As I feel at ease
How lost in you
Should I be

She set the pin delicately back atop the dresser, then rested her hands on the slight convex of her stomach… her and Sonny's truly most precious gift. She talked to the baby.

"Hey you in there. It's your mama. But you know that, don't ya? Well, do you know what today is? Today is the day I marry your daddy and become happier than I have any right to be. Happier than I even want anybody to know I am. So if you could not tell anybody how silly I'm being I'd really appreciate it. I know, that's bad. You're not even born yet and I've got you keeping secrets for me. But, I'm just not used to this, ya know? How your daddy makes me feel. I can't really explain it either. I've told you about his eyes, right? They're so dark and deep, but when the light hits them… there's no words to describe it. And when he smiles… which once upon a time I didn't even think he was capable of, but now he actually does fairly often… he's got these amazing dimples that just take over his whole face. I bet you'll have 'em too. And you'll flash 'em to get away with stuff just like your daddy," Carly laughed.

"Anyway, I'm not sure what to tell you about your daddy and me. We started out really badly. The night you came to us, we were at our worst and our best. I didn't realize what a blessing you were at first, but you are, for so many reasons. Mostly just because you're my baby, and I can't wait to hold you when you're born, the way I didn't with your brother. But you've done so much for your daddy and me. Because I think he knew before that maybe there was more to me than he'd originally thought, but he'd never have admitted it. He needed you to give him a reason to allow himself to get to know me, and then inevitably to like me. And now… he really does care for me, I can tell.

"And you… oh my God, he loves you so much. I'm sure he's gonna spoil you like crazy. He is so excited for you to get here. I can tell what a great father he's gonna be from how he is with your brother Michael. You made us see that we could be a family, as crazy as that should have been. It was the last thing we… well, I know it was the last thing I expected. But your daddy is… special. And I get to marry him today. And I would be honored for you to give me away."

Now
I can see you clear
As the day begins
How lost in this
Should we be

Just then, Carly felt the baby kick. "I'll take that as a yes."

xxxxxxxxxx

Sonny was in his kitchen, making lunch for himself and Mike, who was on his way over. Since the wedding was taking place late in the day, Mike had convinced his son they should have a nice leisurely lunch before busying themselves with getting ready for the big event. That was good for Sonny, because cooking gave him something to concentrate on, and a way to keep up his calm exterior, when inside he was anything but calm. He was sure of what he was doing… happy and excited even… but he was still nervous. He had NOT expected to be nervous. But things had changed a little each time she had said yes to marrying him. Each time they were a little closer. Before he had wanted to marry the mother of his child. Now he wanted to marry Carly… When did that happen?

Cooking also reminded him of his mother, as she… admittedly, along with Mike… had taught him how to cook. He knew she would be happy that he finally found the woman her pin belonged to. Quietly, he began to talk to her.

"Mamá, I'm marrying a hurricane today."

He laughed softly. "A beautiful hurricane named Carly Benson. Months ago, if anybody had told me this would be happening, no way I would've believed them. She was everything I hated, or at least that's what I told myself. I had made my mind up about her before I even met her, and all I would see in her were the worst parts of myself. I treated her like dirt but she never backed down from me.

"When she found me broken… about ready to join you… she stayed with me and cared for me even though I'd never given her reason to do anything but hate me. She fought to expose Hannah and kept me out of prison even though I just yelled at her more every time she tried to help me. We betrayed Jason when we were together, but… I don't know. I don't want to say I'm happy about it, because I hurt my best friend. But I can't regret anything that led to what I have now, because Carly and the kids mean too much to me to wish away.

"She's a great mother, much better than I ever gave her credit for. I see it every day with her and Michael, and I know she'll be a great mother to our child. I knew I was gonna marry her when I first moved her in with me. Of course I didn't tell her that." He laughed again. "But I just thought I was doing what was right for my child. Now I really feel like… I dunno, I can see my future in Carly. I'll admit that scares me a little. She likes to call me a control freak all the time, and she's right, I know that. The thing is, she can make me feel out of control… and I like it. She's kinda crazy, but so am I, so it works.

"Bottom line, she makes me happy. The last person I would have expected. She gave up the dream she'd held onto for so long and let herself become a family with me. And she's marrying me today. I really wish you could be there, mamá. I hope you will be."

Now
As I touch you here
As the day begins
How lost in this
Should I be

Mike stood just outside the kitchen, having caught much of Sonny's talk with his mother. He knew better than to make his presence known, but he was deeply affected, both by his son's obvious missing of his mother and by his words about Carly. Mike had no doubt left now that Sonny was doing what was best not just for the baby, but for him. After Sonny had stopped talking and wiped his eyes, Mike gave it another minute and then stepped inside.

"Smells good, Michael… So, you got anything planned for today?"

Sonny turned around and rolled his eyes at his father, then laughed in spite of himself. "Yeah, I thought I might go to church later. Grab a plate, old man."

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And say you'll bring
To me deep love
You can't say that it's too soon
To say how you feel

(Lyrics - "Deep Love," Mandalay)