CHAPTER 10

Morgan and AJ went back to Carly's, but her son really didn't want to talk to his mother upon his return. He headed up to his room for a shower and a change of clothes. When he was gone, Carly turned to AJ, eyes burning with rage. "What the hell did you say to him?"

AJ was about to tell her, but changed his mind. "I don't think I have the right to say. If Morgan wants to tell you, ask him."

"AJ, I swear to God, if you don't tell me!"

"No, Carly, it was said in confidence," AJ replied defensively. Then, to tweak her a little bit, he decided to throw in, "Though I did tell him he was named after my grandmother."

"He was named after Jason!" Carly retorted.

"Who took our grandmother's last name after the accident," AJ reminded her. "Kind of funny. You named my son after Sonny, and Sonny's son after my grandmother." She was about to stalk out of the room in a rage, when AJ grabbed her wrist. "Look, Carly, wait." She stopped. "Morgan needed to talk to someone who has had a similar experience. The battle I fight every day with the bottle is like what he's going through with gambling. Do you have any wisdom to impart on addiction?"

Carly closed her eyes, his words getting through to her. "No."

"And while I know that Sonny's gone through this with his father, I don't remember him handling it particularly well. Morgan can go to the two of you if he wants. I won't feel insulted if he does. You are his parents. But sometimes, you need a neutral party in a situation like this," AJ told her. "Look, I have to get to the office. If you need anything, let me know." He then realized he was he was still holding her wrist. He let it go and left.

Carly took a deep breath and headed towards Morgan's room. He had just gotten out of the shower and was just in jeans. She winced at the black eye he sported, doing a bad job of trying to hide it in the process. Morgan noticed. "That bad?"

"No, it's not…" she began. But when Morgan gave her a look, she backtracked. "Well, that's what they have makeup for." She sat on the bed and patted the space next to her. He sat down after putting his shirt on. "How you doing, baby?"

"Besides feeling stupid?" he asked.

"Morgan, you're not…"

"Come on, knowing about Grandpa Mike? And, I mean, I know Grandma Bobbie doesn't talk about her parents much, but wasn't her father an alcoholic? That was why she and Luke went to live with Ruby, if I remember the story right," Morgan reasoned. "And, I mean, your Uncle Luke, he was drunk when…"

Carly felt tears spring to her eyes. She reasoned that, between the hormones because of the baby, and the reiteration of family history, she was having this reaction. "Yeah, I see your point. But that shouldn't make you feel stupid. You made bad choices. But trust me, that's a good thing, because you learn from them."

"Like all the mistakes you've made that you've learned from?" Morgan asked, an eyebrow raised as he looked to her belly.

She let out a short laugh. "Yeah, okay, you got me there."

"All the same, I'm glad I talked to someone," he replied. "Seriously, still not seeing where this guy was so bad."

Carly saw her opening and decided to try for it. "What did you and AJ talk about?"

"He told me about what it was like to have a problem with the bottle. How he always thought he had it under control, but he never did," Morgan answered. "Everyone tried to get him help, but he didn't listen. And maybe…" He stopped there, unsure if he should say the next thing.

"Maybe what, Morgan?"

He thought it through. "Do you love Mikey more than me?" Morgan asked.

Carly was shocked by the question. "Why would you even think that? What did AJ say to make you think that?"

"He thought there were some similarities between the two of us," Morgan began. "First, we both have half-brothers who seem to do no wrong in our parents' eyes. And yet, AJ and I, both our parents' common child, seem to be pushed to the side." Carly was about to open her mouth to defend herself, but Morgan stopped her. "You sent me away to school to keep me protected from Dad. Don't try to put it any other way. I mean, I was registered under Benson. You were always so scared that AJ would take Mikey but from what I've seen, he wanted time with his son. You never sent him away to keep him safe from Sonny Corinthos' business. Even after he was shot in the head. And you never sent Joss away to Jax to keep her safe either."

Carle didn't know what to say. She saw her son's point, but was loathed to admit it. Finally, she said, "I love all my kids equally, Morgan. I just…I don't know."

"Including the one you're carrying?"

Unconsciously, she put her hand on her stomach. "Yeah, including this one." She looked over at him. "Morgan, I want to help you." Then, taking a deep breath, she added, "I don't know what to say to you to tell you how much I love you and want to help you through this. Do you really want AJ to help you? Do you think he can?"

"He already has, at least a little bit. I can't explain it, but I think he understands me, more than you or Dad. I haven't felt that since Jax left."

That was when Carly saw the issue. "Jax was going to adopt you and then…"

"And then you two broke up and he had to fake his death to get away from Dad," Morgan concluded.

"And you two were so close," she said. "Oh, Morgan, I am so sorry!"

"Look, I get it. You two weren't really right for each other, if you asked me. He's way too much of a white knight. And you're not exactly the damsel in distress type that needs that," Morgan told her. "You need a little bit of the bad boy."

Carly wasn't so sure she like that assessment. She decided to steer the conversation in a different direction. "Funny you mentioned Jax. I was going to Skype with Joss to him tonight. Want to talk to him?"

Morgan knew his mother well and saw the tactic. He let it slide, not wanting to get in too deep with her issues. He knew AJ was right. He had his own to deal with. "Sure, that sounds great."

Carly nodded. "He should be available now. Let me go grab Joss and then will give him a call."

She left to get her daughter as Morgan grabbed his laptop and made the connection. With his mother and sister sitting next to him, Jax's face appeared. "Well, look who it is! My little ball of sunshine! Hello Joss," Jax said.

"Daddy!" the little girl called.

Jax then noticed Morgan. "Hey there buddy. You're back in town?"

"Yeah, I decided I wanted to be closer to home, so I transferred out of Vanderbilt. I start at PCU soon," Morgan replied.

"Good to hear. I'm sure your father will be pleased by that," Jax replied, seemingly not noticing the look that passed between Carly and Morgan. "And how are you doing. Everything okay with the MetroCourt?" he asked his ex-wife.

"Um, yeah, everything is fine. Business is good. In fact, the Nurses Ball was so successful that they're already planning for next year and book the ballroom," she replied.

"Good to hear," was Jax's polite reply.

"Daddy, guess what? I'm going to be a big sister!" Joss announced, surprising her mother.

Jax's gaze moved from his daughter to her mother. "Um, wow, uh, that's wonderful, Carly. You and that publisher. I gather?"

"What? No! Not…not him. I haven't heard from him in months," Carly sputtered out.

"Then you went back to Sonny?" Jax asked, a critical eye raised.

"No, not Sonny," she answered. Before Jax ran through all the men in Port Charles, she decided to admit it. "It's AJ…AJ's baby."

"AJ Quartermaine?" came the response, a whole lot calmer than she would have expected. "The same man you wouldn't allow near Michael for most of his childhood? That AJ Quartermaine?"

"Yes, that one," she said, her eyes narrowed. She saw Jax let out a laugh. Putting her hands over Joss' ears, she said, "It was one night."

"Well, once is all it takes," he ex said. "How is Michael handling it? And you, Morgan, how are you with it?"

"I'm cool. AJ's really not half bad. And Mikey's a little stunned, but he's dealing," Morgan said.

"What about your father? I mean, he did hang AJ on a meat hook to get him to sign away custody of Michael," Jax asked.

"Sonny knows about it," Carly answered, not wanting to get into it further with him.

"Well, it just so happens that I have some time off. And, since its winter down here-"

"Are you getting snow?" Joss asked enthusiastically.

"No, no snow, sweetheart," Jax answered, "I think I may take a trip up to visit you all."

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Carly asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Well, I do want to have a chat with the father to be. And I haven't seen Joss is a while. Why can't that be enough?" He smiled at her from the computer monitor. "Look, Carly, the important thing is, are you alright? Are you taking care of yourself?"

After a pause, Carly said, "Yes, I am. I'm making sure I eat healthy and all that."

"We're all keeping an eye on her; AJ, Mikey, Joss and I. And grandma and Uncle Lucas are back in town too. We had a family dinner to announce the happy news," Morgan said, earning his own glare from his mother.

"Well, that is good to hear. I have a meeting to get to, but I'll let be in touch with my travel arrangements. Until there," Jax said.

"We'll talk to you soon," Carly said, as Jax blinked off.

Morgan stared at the screen for a minute and then looked to his mother. "So, Jax will be back soon."

She turned to her son. "Yes, it looks that way."

"How did Jax and AJ get along in the past?"

Carly thought for a minute. "I really don't remember. He was at my wedding to AJ, years ago. He was married to Alexis at the time. And they were at least cordial to each other. Not like your father and AJ."

Morgan nodded. "Am I the only one who thinks this will be fun when he gets to town?"

"I do Morgan!" Joss said as she raised her hand. "I can't wait to see Daddy!"

"Then, yup, this will be fun" Morgan answered, a wicked gleam in his eye.