I don't like this chapter. Was really hoping to write the Carly reunion in more detail but it wasn't flowing well. That being said, I think there'll be just a few more chapters (one being where Sam tells Jason everything important that happened to her while he was gone) and an epilogue.
They had all sat and chat for hours, until after supper. Jason had discovered that Maxie could cook rather well, unlike Sam who had yet to learn how to cook, according to Danny. He didn't care though, he was just glad to be back. However, it was odd to go to bed in the guest room alone and wake up with Sam on one side of him and Danny on the other. He didn't actually remember them joining him, nor did he expect it, but it was a welcome surprise. Now, he had one arm wrapped around Sam, who was curled into his side, as his fingertips brushed her back lightly. His other arm was twisted somewhat uncomfortably so he could rub his son's back as well. It all felt so right, like he had never left, except for the fact that they were in the guest bedroom.
His thoughts were broken when he felt Danny stir beneath his hand. Before long, the boy had rolled over so he was on his back and his blue eyes were staring up at his dad's. He smiled somewhat shyly, and Jason smiled back, more reassuringly.
"Morning, Buddy" he whispered, trying not to wake Sam.
"Good morning, dad" Danny whispered back. He felt so juvenile, climbing into his dad's bed in the middle of the night, but it did reassure him to see his dad smile and his mom curled into his side. He had to try not to laugh at the fact that his mom sneaked into the bedroom in the middle of the night too. He saw his mom rock a bit in her sleep and realized she was close to waking up. Smiling at his dad, he leaned over and kissed his mom's head softly, noticing his dad's smile as he did so. They were a family. For the first time in his ten years, he had a mom and a dad who both loved him. In his mind, nothing could be more perfect.
Sam's eyes fluttered open a few seconds after feeling her son's familiar soft lips against her head. They had always reminded her of a smaller version of Jason's. Well, Danny's everything reminded her of Jason. She looked up to see her son kneeling over her husband, and it all felt right. Suddenly, though, she realized that she had sneaked into Jason's bed in the middle of the night just to know he would still be there in the morning. It had also prevented her from having another nightmare, since he was pressed against her. She also remembered coming in to see Danny sound asleep next to him and wondering his motives. She'd have to ask later. She saw him smile and realized she was blushing. Well, this is embarrassing, she thought before giggling it off.
"Good morning, mommy" said Danny, causing Jason to smile even wider. Since he'd been back, he had only heard Danny refer to Sam as 'mom', never 'mommy'. It was cute.
"Morning, sweetheart" she said to her son. "And to you too" she said, looking up at Jason.
"Morning, Sam" he said, running his hand over her hair. "Sleep well?" She nodded.
"Better than I have in years" she admitted softly, just loud enough for him to catch.
About an hour later, Jason was cooking breakfast, since Sam had announced that she still couldn't make much. She had added, however, that she learnt how to use a toaster, making him laugh. He remembered, twelve years ago, when she had served him a burnt, soggy BLT to close off their last day together before he went to prison for a few months. Oddly, those four months were worst for him than the ten years he had spent there this time. He was trying not to think about that, though. Only two days since his release, and here he was waking up with his son and wife in his arms. He had fully expected her to be shocked for longer, to send him to a hotel, to break it to Danny carefully, but she hadn't. It was almost as if, like him, she was trying to forget they had missed ten years, but for a completely different reason. That was it. She was trying to forget and he needed to talk to her about it, because he didn't want her rushing into anything she wasn't ready for.
Meanwhile, in the master bedroom, Sam had just gotten changed out of her flannel PJs. That morning, everything felt right, again. It was perfect, so perfect. Jason was there. Danny was there. Both were alive, both things had told was a lie at one point, actually, two times each. She remembered the train wreck, which Jason had magically survived. She remembered the first months of Danny's life, when people had convinced her, her baby was dead. How could she forget? Of course, she remembered the past ten years. And then there was the time she found out her aunt and boyfriend had betrayed her, by convincing her that Danny's leukemia had returned, which it hadn't, and then that he had died overnight. Bet you can guess how that relationship ended. The damn 'honest' oncologist, Silas Clay, had convinced her she had not only lost her husband, but her son only so she'd be heartbroken and collapse into his arms. She still wasn't sure, however, why Ava had gone through with it. She had been told it was because Ava believed that, with Danny out of the way, Julian would return to his criminal ways. No success came from that, though. Julian was actually working as Alexis' assistant, as her husband. Never had she imagined her biological parents being happily married. Either way, both Ava and Silas' plan backfired on them and last she had heard, they had gotten married right after being released of the mental facility they were put in after being caught. Not that she cared, for all she knew, those two deserved each other and could rot in hell together for what they did to her and her son.
That was another story she had to tell Jason, another reminder that Jason had missed ten years. She knew, had he been there, she would've gotten Danny back with forty-eight hours or so. Instead, she had to wait nearly a month to find out her son was alive and that her boyfriend and aunt were crazy, obsessed and criminals. The only thing that could've made her reunion with Danny better, would've been for Jason to be there. While she thought their son was dead, she had continuously apologized to Jason, in heaven, for letting their son die and asked him over and over again to look after Danny when, in reality, neither had been dead. It had be one of the most heart wrenching realizations of her life. As she had sat around and cried for her son, her husband, herself. Self-pity and grief had sent her into the arms of the man she had dated, pushed away, dated, broke up with, all because she wasn't ready to move on. Sadness blinded her to reality, which was that she was in fact claiming to love - when she was really distracting herself - the kidnapper of her son, the only person who had been truly important to her in the ten years without Jason.
She sighed, pushing those horrible thoughts back. She had been in such a good mood before, until the reminder of the pain she had been through crept up on her. There was so much Jason needed to know. So fucking much. But, how could you ever initiate such a conversation. Just casually mention your son was kidnapped? Just suddenly bring up a miscarriage your partner forced upon you? Just bring up your son's near death experience with leukemia? No. Once again, though, her thoughts were broken. This time by a loud knock on the door. She quickly threw a shirt over her head, knowing that Danny would answer if Jason was uncomfortable with it. She heard the door open and instantly, one sentence and one voice that almost made her panic.
"Hey, aunt Carly" said Danny, sweetly.
"Is your mom here, Danny?" asked Carly softly, shocking me since I expected her to barge in to find Jason.
"Mom's getting dressed, but my dad's here" he said innocently. Instantly, panic set in. She did not want Carly going in there and bombarding Jason with hugs, questions and her problems. She quickly shimmied into her skinny jeans. She sprinted down the stairs to find Carly still standing at the door, a smile spread across her face. Sam had no idea when Carly became patient, but she was certainly grateful for it.
"Hi, Carly" she greeted. "What brings you over?" She flashed a smile.
"Michael told me" Carly mouthed, knowing Sam would get it but Danny wouldn't. Sam nodded. Carly came over from time to time, to see Danny, but the timing was just too perfect this time. By that time, Danny had gotten bored and had scampered back into the kitchen. "I didn't want to just barge in. I didn't know how he was doing or anything" she explained.
That's a first, thought Sam, but, knowing that response wouldn't be ideal, she smiled sweetly. "Thanks" she said. It really was considerate of Carly to wait. "He's doing great" she added.
"He is?" asked Carly, looking for confirmation. Jason had been her best friend for years, until he disappeared. The last thing she wanted was for him to come back hurt or dying to traumatized.
Sam was about to answer when she heard footsteps in the kitchen. Before she could open her mouth, Danny came running in, closely followed by Jason. As if she had been doubting it, and had been looking for confirmation, Carly's jaw dropped. Once again, Sam was left to wonder what her face looked like when she had come face to face with the love of her life again.
"Jason?" she asked. He nodded. In a flash, Carly was in his arms, hugging him like Sam knew she had so many times before. Comforted by the arms of her friend. "You're really back" she whispered against his chest. After a few minutes, literally, she pulled away. "Michael told me, but I wasn't sure. Everyone said you were gone" she whispered. Sam knew the feeling. When she first saw Jason, she had convinced herself Dante and Lucky were playing some cruel trick on her. Now, she knew that wasn't true though. This was Jason. Her Jason. She could tell by the way he looked at her, at her son, the way he held Carly tightly against him, like she had seen him do before, the way his chest felt against her cheek, the sound of his heartbeat in her ear.
"I'm back" he confirmed. "And I'm never leaving again"
Carly had sat around and talked for hours. She had stayed for lunch and only left the afternoon because Josslyn needed a ride home from school. She had babbled on and on about how amazing Michael had become, how great Kiki was - not forgetting to add how much she hated her in the beginning or her suspicions about Kiki being pregnant. Along with those suspicions came her ranting about how she wasn't ready to be a grandma, even though Michael was like thirty-eight. Then she explained the Morgan situation better than Sam ever could've. She talked about his drinking and other issues with a clearly heavy heart. She only perked up when she started talking about who he was now, strong since he overcame his addictions to alcohol and gambling. Then she spoke of Josslyn, her brilliant High School Student who was dedicated to her studies. Sam knew that was true. She had once been over at Carly's to help her out with decorating for Christmas when Joss came in to tell them to keep it down 'cause she was studying. Then came the topic Sam dreaded. Jason knew Franco was alive, but he didn't know he was married to Carly. Just like Michael and Kiki, Carly and Franco had had a rocky relationship, but it seemed to be good now. They even had a baby together, a girl, Taylor. So yeah, not only did he have a sister-in-law, he had a niece. He seemed surprised, shocked actually, that Carly had married the man that once tried to kidnap her and her daughter, but Carly assured him Franco had changed and that he was nothing but loving. She then told him all about Taylor, her eight year old daughter conceived right after a fight between her and Franco. Taylor was a sweetheart, much like her older sister Josslyn. Jason seemed excited to meet her, and I had no doubt he was.