The days began to blend together. Carly's medicines took effect, helping to improve her mood, as did her daily sessions with Kevin. He helped her work through her difficult childhood, and the negative thinking and impulsive behavior that came from it. He helped her learn some coping techniques, so that she was better able to handle the stress of Michael's health issues. She had not told him about Bobbie yet, but with every session, she trusted him more.

And everyday Michael got stronger. His lungs developed so he could breathe without the machine. His heart and surgical wounds healed. And finally, he was big enough to get out of the incubator. Carly or Jason were with him almost all the time, taking shifts when the other had to rest. And Bobbie would come to sit with him, sometimes when Jason and Carly were there. While it never was truly comfortable with Carly and Bobbie, there was too much bad history for that, the tension had eased dramatically. Even though Carly was released after they had stabilized her medications, she was rarely at the penthouse. Instead, Bobbie would find her an empty room or a doctor's lounge for her to rest in, though Jason usually had to force her to take the time to rest. Most of her time was spent with Michael. She would help the nurses bathe him, and after several weeks, Carly was able to breast feed him. Day by day, Carly got more comfortable in her role as mother, and Jason watched in awe the way she bloomed. The doctors and nurses sang her praises, even the Quartermaines began to see her in a different light.

And Jason and Carly's relationship blossomed as well. They learned to depend on and take care of each other. No one questioned their marriage, all doubts were erased as they observed their relationship in action. There was a comfortable intimacy between them; they would hold hands and give each other soft kisses or gentle touches. It was clear there was love and trust between them. The only two people who still questioned the relationship were the two people in it.

Walking into the NICU, the doctor smiled at Carly and Jason. "Hello. I have some good news. Michael is finally ready to go home."

Holding Michael close, Carly beamed at the doctor. "Really? Do you hear that Mr. Man? We get to blow this joint. Are you ready to go home? Mommy is definitely ready for you to go home."

Jason wrapped his arm around Carly, and rubbed the baby's back, asking the doctor, "Is there anything we need to watch out for or any special instructions?"

The doctor nodded, "Yes, I will send home some instructions for you. But, I don't think you have anything to worry about. This is a healthy baby. We will have more check ups than we normally would require just to play it safe. And if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me."

"Thank you for everything, doctor!" Carly said.

"It was my pleasure, Mrs. Morgan. Now, I am going to get to work on his discharge papers."

Carly turned into Jason's arms where he cradled both her and Michael in his arms.. With happy tears in her eyes, she told him, "We get to take our boy home."

Smiling, he leaned down to kiss her on the forehead and Michael on the back of his head. "I know you are ready to be done with this hospital, aren't you son?'

Michael gurgled up at Jason, his arm waving up and down.

"I think that's a yes, Daddy." Carly laughed.

Bobbie walked over to them, and smiling, she congratulated, "I just heard the great news!" She was quiet for a moment, and then, unsure, she continued, "I was wondering… I have just grown so fond of this little guy. I was hoping you would let me come visit from time to time."

Jason looked down at Carly. She nodded. "Yes. I think that would be okay."

Happy, but slightly uncomfortable, "Thank you."

Carly's shoulder ticked up. "Michael likes you. I know we aren't best friends or anything, but you have helped us so much through all of this. I just wanted you to know we are grateful." She paused, then shyly said, "You can stop by anytime."

Bobbie gave her a soft smile, accepting the olive branch for what it was. "Carly, you are a good mother." Then looking at both Carly and Jason, she amended, "You are good parents. That is a lucky little boy."

Carly looked down to hide the tears the words of praise brought to the surface. Jason rubbed her back. "Thank you, Bobbie. We appreciate that."

Bobbie nodded again and then walked quickly away.

Carly turned into Jason's arms, resting her forehead against his chest. Softly, she said, "She thinks I am a good mother."

Kissing the top of her head, he said, "You are. Look at how happy Michael is. He knows he is loved, that he is safe. You give him that."

She shook her head, "No, we give him that."

Jason smiled and nodded. "We make a great team." Leaning down, he gave her a soft kiss. The intimacy that had developed between them, with constant touches and soft kisses, felt natural at this point. The marriage that was supposed to be in name only, felt more and more real. And Jason fell a little more in love with Carly and their family everyday. It was something he never even knew he wanted, something he could have never imagined for himself. But, more and more, being around Carly and Michael brought him a sense of peace and contentment that had been missing from his life.

Two hours later, Carly and Jason brought Michael into the penthouse. "Welcome home, Mr. Man."

Carly looked around their home, noting the baby furniture and toys the guards and their wives had given the couple. Apparently, Jason must have put them together. "It looks like your daddy has been busy, Michael." Looking up at Jason, she asked, "When did you do all this?"

He shrugged, "The guards and I have been working on it for a couple weeks, which you would know if you were ever home."

Smiling up at his teasing, she said, "You did a good job. Didn't he, Michael?"

Michael pumped his arms and cooed. Carly laughed, then asked, "Are you ready for dinner, Mr. Man?

Jason went to the kitchen to get a beer for himself, and a juice for Carly. When he walked back into the room, Carly had Michael nursing at her breast, a nursing blanket thrown over her shoulder. She sat staring down at the baby with a soft, content smile on her face. He stood watching the scene for a moment. Seeing Carly and Michael together was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen, more beautiful than the sunsets and sunrises that mesmerized him when he first woke up from the coma. It made the choice to be Michael's father, to give Carly the chance to be his mother, feel right, like it was what was meant to happen.

Carly glanced up, catching him staring. "Would you rather I feed him in the nursery?"

Clearing his throat, he said, "No. I was just thinking how beautiful this sight is."

Her eyes softened, "It's because of you. If you hadn't let me in that night, or stood by me and helped me through everything, who knows what would have happened. Definitely nothing as special as this."

He sat down beside her, placing her juice on the table in front of her. "I don't know. I somehow think you would have figured everything out on your own. But, you don't have to worry about that. No matter what happens, I will always be here for you and Michael."

Her free hand reached out and intertwined their fingers for a moment. She wanted so desperately to tell him she loved him, that she was in love with him. But she was scared it would mess up the great thing they had. Sometimes she was so sure he felt it too, she would feel it in the way he touched her or the way he looked at her. But this was too important to mess up. And her ever-present insecurities always won over. Pulling her hand back, her finger softly skimmed over Michael's face. The best way to protect him and give him the family he deserved was to keep these words inside. She wouldn't do anything to take Jason away from her son.

Smiling down at Michael, she said, "He is so beautiful. I know every mother thinks her child is beautiful, but isn't he the most beautiful baby you have ever seen."

He chuckled, "I haven't really been around alot of babies to judge." When she gave him a look, he held his hands up in surrender. "Yes, he is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen."

Satisfied, she went back to watching Michael eat. When he finished, they put him in a bassinet while they ate. Carly was scared to let him out of her sight. In the hospital, he had been closely monitored at all times. Now that he was home, she didn't trust that another shoe wasn't going to drop. She had been given too much, a beautiful son who had beaten the odds, a marriage to the man she was in love with, and no one trying to take her baby from her. Dr. Collins would say it was negative thinking, but based on past experience, Carly knew this sense of peace couldn't last long.

A little after midnight, Jason woke up to Carly carrying a screaming Michael into his room. There were tears in her eyes as she told him, "Jase, I'm so sorry. I have tried everything. I fed him, I changed him, and I have been rocking him for half an hour, but I can't get him to stop crying."

Seeing her fear and frustration, he got up and took Michael in his arms. "Hey, Michael. Are you having a hard time going to sleep? It is probably a little scary sleeping in a new place. Don't worry, you will get used to it. And your mother and I are right here."

Carly watched in awe as the baby's crying stopped. He studied Jason, listening intently to his father's voice. Walking to stand next to Jason, she put her arm around his waist and asked her son, "Were you missing your daddy? Is that why you are so upset?"

The baby waved his arms around, content. Looking up at Jason, she said, "Maybe I should move the bassinet in here. You can just come and wake me when he needs to eat."

Jason nodded, but when Carly went to leave to get the bassinet, Michael started fussing again. "Oh, so you want both of us, huh?" Carly asked.

His crying stopped again, as he looked between Jason and Carly. Laughing, Carly said, "I hate to break it to you, Mr. Man, but you need to let Mommy and Daddy get some sleep if you want us to take care of you."

Jason looked at the bags under Carly's eyes. "You need some rest. It is okay. I can handle this. You go to bed."

Exhausted, Carly nodded, then went to the other room to get the bassinet. By the time she got back, Michael was inconsolable. At the sound of her son's cries, tears entered her eyes as well.

"Michael, Mommy is back." She took him from Jason, bouncing lightly to try to calm him. "I'm so sorry, baby. Mommy is here."

Finally, his tears eased, and tired from his crying, and happy in his mother and father's presence, he started to doze off. However, as soon as Carly went to lay him in his bassinet, he started to fuss again.

Finding a pillow like thing that one of the guards and his wife had sworn he had to have, so that the baby could safely sleep in the bed with you, Jason brought it over laying it in the center of the bed.

Turning to Carly, he said, "Just stay in here. It is the only way we are going to get any sleep." Seeing her hesitation, he added, "Carly, we have slept in a bed together before."

She gave him a sexy smirk, "Jason, we have never slept in a bed together before. What we did in a bed would be very inappropriate for our son to witness."

At her words, Jason felt his body reacting to the memories of their time spent in bed together, and against a wall, and even once in the shower. He looked her over, his eyes heating up as he skimmed over her silky, slinky nightie, just barely covered by an equally thin robe. It did nothing to hide her sumptuous curves, made even more lush by motherhood. He wanted desperately to relearn her body, to find all the ways she had changed. Hoping she wouldn't notice his obvious reaction to her comment, he grumbled, "Just get in the bed."

In a mock salute, Carly teased, "Yes, sir."

Laying Michael in the center of the pillow, Carly got under the covers beside him. The baby watched his parents with interest. When Jason got into bed as well, on the opposite side of him, he was satisfied, and finally succumbed to sleep.

Jason shook his head, and, in a low voice so as not to wake Michael, he told Carly, "He is as stubborn as you are when you want something. You both won't take no for an answer."

Laughing, Carly said, "Goodnight, Jason."

Jason watched her snuggle into the bed, not at all unhappy having her sleeping with him. Finally, he softly said, "Goodnight."