It was late afternoon about a week later when a surprise visitor showed up at their door. Jason was focused on doing paperwork at his desk, while Carly was sitting beside Michael playing on a blanket on the floor. It was a moment both had come to cherish, the quiet moments with their family.

Johnny knocked, then stuck his head in the apartment. With annoyance clear in his voice, he said, "Boss, Robin Scorpio is here to see you."

Jason signed, then looked over at Carly. She stood up with her arms crossed around her in comfort at the sound of Robin's name. She wore an anxious look on her face, the joy she was feeling a moment ago was gone. Jason ran a hand over his face, then told Johnny, "Ask her to wait a moment."

Johnny nodded, then closed the door behind him. Jason walked over to Carly. He took her hand, saying, "It will be okay. You have nothing to worry about."

"But, Jason…" Her voice quivered.

"She can't do anything to us. I promise." He pulled her into his arms, soothingly rubbing her back. "She means nothing to us."

Carly looked up into his face. She gave him a small smile, and asked, "Do you want to talk to her alone?"

He grinned at how hard it was for her to offer to do that for him. "That was painful, wasn't it?"

She gave a disgruntled expression, and grumbled, "You have no idea."

Chuckling, he said, "There is nothing she could say that you can't hear. I'm not going to send you to your room…"

"Don't you mean our room?" She smirked up at him. Michael had been stubborn, refusing to sleep unless both of his parents were near. Consequently, they had given up the battle, choosing to sleep together every night since their son had gotten home.

With a grin, he continued, "I'm not going to send you up to our room just because she shows up. Honestly, I have no idea what she thinks we need to talk about."

Laying her head against his chest again, she took a deep breath, then said, "I can guess. She wants you back."

He shrugged. "It doesn't matter. I don't want that. I'm a married man."

A smile lit up her face. In a soft voice, she said, "Yes, you are."

He held her for a moment longer, then groaned as he stepped back just a bit. Still standing close to Carly, he called to Johnny, "Okay. Let her in."

He placed his hand on Carly's arm in comfort as Robin came into the penthouse with a hurt expression on her face. Noticing the intimacy of this family moment, she shot a glare at Carly, then turned pleading eyes onto Jason.

"Please tell me this isn't true. You cheated on me with her? You married her and have a child with her? This is all some lie, right?" She shot a nasty look at Carly, her voice turning mean, "She always could manipulate you into doing her dirty work."

Jason's eyes narrowed. It was Carly's turn to offer comfort as his body went rigid with anger. In an icy voice, he said, "You need to watch what you say about my wife. You don't have a right to know anything about my life."

"Jason," Robin whined, "We love each other. And you are saying you betrayed me with her? I don't believe that, you promised me you would never sleep with her again. Are you really saying you had sex with her, and that Michael is your son?"

Jason looked her straight in the eyes, "Not that it is any of your business, but I had sex with Carly and Michael is my son."

Robin looked wounded. "You love me. How could you sleep with that slut?!" Turning her eyes to Carly, she said, "You are just a manipulative little tramp who wormed your way into Jason's life. He loves me, and he will wake up soon to your skanky ways, and then he will come back to me."

With fire in her eyes, Carly sniped back, "You don't get to talk to me like that in my home. And after what you did to Jason, you have no right to accuse him of betraying you. You never appreciated Jason for the man he is, all you could do was try to change him at every turn. That isn't love. If you had really loved him, you would love the man he is. So, why don't you get your fake, hypocritical self out of our home."

"Jason, are you going to let her talk to me like that?" Robin whined.

Jason's eyes were cold as he looked at the woman he had been so sure he had loved. The longer he was around Carly, the more he questioned it. The feelings that were developing for his wife were so overpowering and undeniable, it made his feelings for Robin pale in comparison. And Carly gave him so much, she let him really be seen and appreciated for who he was, more than that, she looked at him as though he was her protector. With Robin he had always felt like someone who was brain damaged and depended on others to teach him. He always felt like he wasn't enough. But with Carly, he not only felt like he was enough for her, but like he was her hero. She needed him, and wanted him exactly as he was. The thought of giving that up for Robin was untenable.

"Robin, I think you need to leave. You can't come into our home and say those things. Carly deserves respect in her own home. How dare you call her names in front of our son! You used to preach to me about good manners, and then you disrespect my wife like that! Just leave, and don't bother coming back!"

Tears poured down Robin's face, "You don't mean that. She just has you blinded. You love me!"

"No. I don't." Jason's eyes were glacial.

A sob escaped Robin's lips as she turned and ran out of the penthouse. Jason stood as still as stone until Carly softly said, "I'm sorry."

His eyes shot to hers. In her eyes, he saw a mixture of gratitude and sympathy. His heart was still pounding in anger. He could tell she thought that Robin still had the power to hurt him, that she still had some hold on his heart. But all he felt was a burning anger at how she had treated Carly. He realized he had completely let Robin go, all of the softness he used to feel for her had disappeared with her betrayal. Or maybe they had disappeared due to the way he felt in his relationship with Carly. This was what people in healthy relationships should have: respect, friendship, trust, and acceptance. It had taken Carly to help him understand that.

Feeling the tension in the room, Michael started to fuss. Carly picked him up, bouncing and patting his back to comfort him. Jason took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax.

Finally, he told Carly, "No. I am sorry. She had no right to talk to you that way. I feel like a fool for having ever believed in her." He shook his head. "I can see now that she was always trying to turn me into someone else."

He walked to stand right in front of her. His hand came up to tenderly smooth her hair behind her ear, then rest along her neck and jaw. "You show me all the time how I want to be treated. I don't love her; I'm not sure I ever did."

Carly looked down. "I feel like I am always taking from you. Above just about everything else, I want you to be happy. I don't want to get in the way of your chance to be happy."

Tipping her face up, he rested his forehead against hers. They were so close their breath puffed across each other's lips. "Carly, I am happy. And you give me more than you take. You have given me a life, more than work. You have given me unconditional understanding and friendship. I am excited to come home to you and Michael everyday. Before, all I had was work and a place I came to for sleep. You have given me a family and a home."

He leaned up to place a kiss on her forehead. His lips stayed there for a long time. Both of their breathing was uneven, caught up in the emotion of the moment, in a longing they were scared to act on. The moment was broken when Michael began fussing. They took a step back, looking at the baby cradled in Carly's arms. His little face was scrunched up, his face turning red, a sure sign he was about to melt down. Carly gratefully took the reprieve, sure that she had almost messed up the great thing she had going.

"What's the matter, Mr. Man? Does Mommy needs to change your diaper? And then, I bet you are ready for some supper. Huh?" Carly focused all her attention on Michael, trying to sooth the baby. She looked apologetically up at Jason. "I am just going to take him upstairs to change him." She paused, and looked down for a moment, then looking back up she said, "Jase, thank you for defending me."

With a tender look, Jason nodded. "Always."

Carly gave him a smile, love shining from her eyes, before turning and walking upstairs.

Across town, Robin walked into General Hospital looking for Tony Jones. She refused to believe that Jason had cheated on her, especially with Carly. No, she was determined to keep that woman away from Jason. She would not lose Jason to Carly.

Seeing Tony, Robin hurried over, yelling his name to get his attention. Tony smiled at her, slowing so she could catch up. "Robin, I didn't know you were back in town. How lovely to see you!"

She managed to look angelic despite the rage and twisted motives that had brought her to the hospital. Her face turned sympathetic as she told him, "Tony, I was sorry to hear about what Carly did to you. It is just shameful. Are you sure the baby isn't yours? I can't believe that Jason would do that to me. Carly is probably just twisting up the men in this town with her lies."

"It has been hard. But, I am sure. They did a DNA test when the baby was born. And even before that, my blood type is completely incompatible with the baby's. I can't be the father. I am sorry. I know this has to hurt you as well." Tony said in a sad tone.

Robin's vicious words sounded heartbroken as she replied, "That poor child deserves better than Carly. And, I love Jason, but he can't be responsible for a child. He still has so much to learn. Plus the danger his job puts that baby in. It just isn't fair to that little boy."

Tony looked down, mulling over what she was telling him. Distractedly, Tony said, "Yes, that's true. Jason's brain injury makes him unable to have meaningful, loving connections. How will that affect the baby's ability to emotionally grow?" Then, bringing his attention back to Robin, he said, "Robin, I'm sorry. I have an appointment. I'm glad you are back. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to find me." He reached out, squeezing her arm.

Robin gave him a grateful smile, "Thank you, Tony."

After he had walked away, a twisted grin lit up her face. She wasn't giving up Jason without a fight.