Sonny's car had just pulled up to the Brownstone. The ride over from the airport had been filled with Carly's inane chatter. She talked to Bobbie and Johnny about the flight from the island and she pointedly ignored Sonny. Sonny sat quietly in the back trying to figure out Carly's change in attitude. He couldn't understand her reaction to him that morning. After last night why would she suddenly want to rush off the island and get as far away from him as possible? He couldn't come up with a plausible answer.
He didn't say anything until Carly and Bobbie were out of the car and Johnny had placed their bags inside of the house. He got out of the car and called out to Carly who stood on the steps handing Johnny his gift. He took his one shot. "Carly."
"What is it?" She huffed, looking everywhere but at him.
"You know you and Michael don't have to stay with Bobbie if you don't want to, no offense Bobbie."
"None taken." She murmured as she watched the drama unfold.
"You could, ah, there's always room at the Penthouse for you and Michael." He said softly.
"Why would I go back there?" She frowned.
He shrugged. "It was just an idea, Carly, nothing more."
"Well, Michael and I are fine where we are."
"All right." He nodded. He turned to go.
Bobbie looked at the two of them. There was obviously something between them. It couldn't end like this. "Sonny, would you like to come in for a drink?"
"No." He got into the car and Carly slowly walked into the house. Bobbie rushed over to the car.
"I don't know why Carly is acting like this." Bobbie said. "But I'm sorry."
"You don't have to apologize for her, Bobbie." He said softly. He glanced up to see Carly look out the door. His eyes met hers for a second and then she ducked back inside and slammed the door behind her. Sonny closed his eyes.
"Carly!" Bobbie whirled around.
Sonny touched her hand and shook his head. "Forget it."
"I'll go see what her problem is." Bobbie frowned. "And thank you."
Bobbie came into the house just as Carly was greeting Leticia and Michael. Carly swooped Michael out of Leticia's arms. "Hey Mr. Man! Mommy missed you, did you miss me?" She hugged the little boy to her.
"What was that?" Bobbie demanded as she closed the door behind her.
Carly turned with Michael in her arms. "What are you talking about?"
"That thing with Sonny. Out there, at the airport. Where is it with this tension between you two?"
"Tension?" Carly repeated innocently. "I didn't sense any tension."
Bobbie narrowed her eyes. "Did something happen on the island?"
Carly shrugged. "We came to terms with Angel, I guess. Bring my bags with you please? I want to give you guys the stuff I brought back with me."
She started for the living room and tossed over her shoulder. "And fill me in on what I've missed while I was away. Did some other person mess up big time and become the town pariah giving me a break?"
"Carly," Bobbie said softly, "A.J.'s missing."
Carly stopped short. "What?"
"No one's seen him since the day he was released." Bobbie told her.
A small smile appeared on her face and she chuckled a little. "Good. I hope he got what he deserved."
"What does that mean?" Bobbie asked suspiciously.
"It means that Sonny took care of everything. Like he said he would." Carly carried Michael into the living room.
~*~*~
Sonny stood by the big window of the penthouse with one hand shoved in his pocket and the other braced against the window. In his pants pocket he had his hand wrapped around the outlandish tie Carly had given him. It'd been two weeks since he left Carly at the Brownstone. They'd had no contact but he knew that Johnny saw her often. He never questioned the guard about his visits with Carly. He couldn't her or their brief time on the island out of his mind. He had no answer for why she would suddenly turn so cold. They made no promises to each other but after that night he'd actually started to wonder, started to hope.
Sonny thrust his hand into his hair and turned around sharply. What was he thinking? Getting involved with Carly Benson would be suicide…or would it? They laughed and had a good time on the beach and were there when the one needed the other. She wasn't the viper he thought she was. She could be sweet and caring…
This was crazy, just thinking about the possibility. He didn't want to marry the woman he just…missed her. Really missed her. He could say that he got used to her on the island but it was more than that. She got under his skin. And the only reason she was still there was because they didn't get any real closure. They had the one night and then they jumped up and were gone
He should have forced her to stay at the penthouse with him. Why did he let her slip through his fingers so easily? He should have gotten whatever was wrong out of her. But he knew he couldn't force Carly into anything. It would only end up backfiring on him. She was going to have to come to him. And for the past two weeks she'd been doing the opposite.
He had to get out of here. He grabbed his jacket and stormed out of the penthouse. He passed by Johnny who was on door duty. He punched angrily at the elevator button. He didn't know why he was suddenly so angry. He paced impatiently in front of the elevator doors. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Johnny giving him a curious look.
Sonny turned and nodded towards Johnny. "That one of the ties Carly gave you?"
Johnny's eyes widened slightly. He and Sonny didn't speak about Carly. It seemed to him that Sonny wanted to forget about Carly so he made a point not to talk about her around him. He nodded slowly. "Yes."
Sonny narrowed his eyes. "You've seen her." It wasn't a question but a statement.
Again Johnny nodded. Sonny asked. "How is she? Is she okay? What about Michael?"
"They're both fine." Johnny assured him. "Carly's almost like her old self. She's actually thinking about getting a job."
Sonny stroked his chin while thinking this over. This what he wanted, wasn't it? For Carly to get back on with her life? Or to completely break down without him? Finally he said. "That's good."
The elevator doors opened behind him and he turned to go. Johnny called out behind him. "Do you want me to tell Carly you asked about her?"
"No." Sonny said sharply, holding his hand up. "You don't have to tell her anything. It's better this way."
Better for whom, Johnny wondered to himself. He asked Sonny, "Are you going to see her?"
Sonny looked at him strangely. "No."
~*~*~
Two weeks later Carly was coming out of Kelly's when she came face to face with A.J. A week earlier Bobbie gave her hand and offered her the vacant waitress job at Kelly's. At first Carly couldn't see herself waiting on people for a living. Also working side by side with Elizabeth Webber was a huge downside but Bobbie reminded her that not too many people would hire her and she should take what she could get. Though it was still humiliating to have to answer to Tammy. Carly was bitching to herself about the woman when she saw A.J. for the first time since that day at the lawyers.
"Damn curly-haired busybody." Carly was muttering to herself.
"Should I even ask who you're talking about?" A.J.'s voice floating out to her and Carly whipped around. His appearance disappointed her. He actually looked good. His suit fit him well, his hair was neatly shorn, his eyes were clear and the ever present smell of alcohol was gone. Hate and anger filled her. This was the man who tried to kill him and took away her baby and he looked perfect.
She narrowed her eyes and spat out. "A.J."
"It's been a long time, Carly." He smiled broadly at her.
"I'd hoped it be a lot longer." She said. "I thought you were dead. I hoped you were. Everybody town thinks you are."
"I went to a rehab clinic. Got myself clean and sober." He told her proudly. "I didn't tell anyone because they wouldn't have believed me. I had to hit rock bottom before I actually got help I guess."
"What do you want from me A.J.? You want me to happy that the death of my child got you sober again?" Carly sneered. She had to get out of there before she completely lost it. The sight of his smile made her ill. "I can't stay here and listen to this."
She started to brush pass him but he caught her arm. "Don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you."
She jerked her arm away. "I'm not your wife anymore. I don't to listen to you yap anymore. Cause that's what you do, A.J., you yap. Like one of those little annoying Chihuahua dogs. Yap, yap, yap. I hate dogs like that. They make me want to kick them."
A.J. tossed his head back and laughed. "That's the Carly I love. You know now that the kid's out of the way, why don't you pack up your stuff and come home. I mean it, Carly, I'm willing to overlook that thing with Sonny and take you back providing you act like my sweet loving wife." He trailed the back of his hand across her cheek.
Carly knocked his hand away. "You jerk!" She slapped him across the face. His head snapped back from the blow. He'd raised his own hand and was about to retaliate when a stronger hand grabbed his shoulder and jerked him backwards.
Carly smiled at Johnny. "Thanks but I can handle this."
He shrugged. "I have this thing about seeing weasels attacking women."
A.J. struggled against him. "She hit me first. Let me go."
" 'She hit me first.' " Johnny repeated and made a face. "Is this guy for real?"
"God A.J., you go from a dog to a first grader." Carly shook her head. "Let him go."
A.J. adjusted his jacket and glared at Johnny. He turned his gaze to Carly. "I see you're still whoring yourself to Corinthos? I don't want that kind of filth around *my* son."
"That's why *you* aren't allowed to see him, ever." She sneered.
"I think it's time you left." Johnny told him, his anger evident in his tone.
A.J. looked at him curiously and started to laugh. "Don't tell me, you're doing the bodyguard too? I guess even Corinthos got tired of you."
"Johnny, don't!" Carly jumped between them before Johnny was able to punch A.J. like he wanted. A.J. took the opportunity to slither away. He looked at Carly disappointed. "Why didn't you let me hit him?"
"Because it's just what he wanted." Carly told him.
"You hit him also." He frowned.
"Yeah but that made me feel better." She said with a crooked smile before hugging him. She buried her face in his wide chest. Her voice was smothered when she mumbled, "Thank you."
He'd been stroking the back of her head. "What?"
She pulled back and looked at him. "I said thank you. God, from the moment I saw him I hated his guts. I had to leave before I did something drastic but he grabbed me. If you'd hadn't come along when you did…"
"He would have hit you."
"No, I would have kicked his ass." Carly laughed. "I'm not scared of him. I hate him for what he did to my baby."
"Then maybe I should have kept him around longer then." Johnny suggested, happy to hear her laugh again. The first couple of time he visited her after the return from the island she seemed so down. The only time he heard her laugh was with Michael. At first he believed it had to do with the baby but he soon came to realize that it was about Sonny. Sonny was someone she didn't want to talk about though Johnny kept trying to think of ways to bring him into the conversation so he could find out how Carly really felt about the man. He wondered what happened on the island. Both Sonny and Carly came back different.
"Johnny, do me a favor." She said almost desperately.
"Anything." He vowed.
"Don't tell Sonny about this." She said.
He frowned. "Why would I say anything about this to Sonny?"
Carly hugged him again, taking his confused question as an affirmation. "Thanks again. Sonny doesn't need to know what happened. I don't want to bother him with this."
"I won't say anything." Johnny told her. Already he was keeping one conversation from her, what was wrong with keeping one from Sonny?
Carly glanced away from him. "How's Sonny by the way?"
Miserable, Johnny thought. And this was making him miserable too. Playing go-between for two people who obviously wanted to be together but were too stubborn to admit it. He already knew he was out of the game but having to watch Carly long for Sonny was killing him.
Out loud he said, "Fine. Sonny's fine."
"Oh." She sounded almost disappointed. "That's…good."
"Why don't you drop by the penthouse and see him?" Johnny suggested. "He might like to see you."
"You think?" Carly said hopefully. Then she shook her head and said firmly. "No, I don't need to see Sonny."
Johnny sighed and wrapped his arm around her. "How about I walk you home then?"
Carly leaned her head on his shoulder. "That'll be nice, thanks."
~*~*~
A few days later Sonny met Mike at the Recovery Room. He was avoiding Kelly's after he found out that Carly was working there. He was on his way in the other day and he saw Carly taking an order. The sight of her with her pulled up in a ponytail, wearing an apron and sneering at a customer cause him to laugh. Carly, working? He thought he'd never live to see the day. But there she was, working and getting on with her life. He quickly left before she had a chance to spot him. He had a feeling that she wouldn't want him to see her that way.
Sonny slid into the chair across from Mike. Mike stared at him worriedly. "You look awful."
"Thanks Mike, I can always trust you to say something to lift my spirits." Sonny rubbed the back of his neck. But if Mike was right he looked as awful as he felt.
"Is this about the baby?" Mike said. "Are you still beating yourself up about that Michael? Because you know there was nothing you could do."
"I know that." Sonny muttered. "This has nothing to do with my daughter."
"Then what is it?" Mike demanded. When Sonny didn't say anything and just stared at the floor Mike figured it out. He sat back and sighed. "Don't tell me it's Carly."
"I can't get her out of my mind, Mike."
"Don't do it. She's nothing but trouble."
"No, she's not." He jumped to her defense. "Yes, she can be difficult at times but Mike, you don't know her."
"And you do?"
"I know enough." He fiddled with the salt shaker.
"Enough to want her in your life…permanently?" Mike questioned him softly.
Sonny stared intently at the shaker. This was the same question that he'd been asking himself for the past couple of days. Every night he tossed and turned. Carly invaded his sleep. The memories played over and over in his mind. He saw her crying in the middle of the nursery, asking him to stay with her while she slept, arguing the merits of sequels, falling in the sand, holding him and telling him it was 'his turn', dancing with him at the café and finally dropping the towel for him in her room. God, he missed her. He admitted it. He missed having her around. And he wanted her back.
He put down the salt shaker and sat up straight. "I know that she hates sequels, that she abhors fish, that she won't back down when she thinks she's right, that she hates being laughed at, that when she smiles her whole body smiles. I'm talking her eyes sparkle, she gets a glow around her and she has this laugh, this great little laugh. And when she sleeps…she snores. Delicately of course. And if she likes you, she gets you some nice ties." He smiled.
Mike shook his head. Sonny had already made up his mind without knowing it. "If you know all of this why are you here wasting time with me when you should be with her?"
"You know Mike, don't ever tell anyone I said this but you're right." Sonny stood up abruptly. He started for the door.
"Where are you going?" Mike called out.
"Where I should have gone a long time ago." Sonny said over his shoulder.
~*~*~
Carly was curled up on the couch rubbing her tired feet. It was bad enough that the pay at Kelly's was lousy but now she was losing the feeling in her feet from standing on them all day. She didn't know how waitresses did it but she couldn't stand it. She needed a new job and fast.
Lucas sat next to her channel surfing and trying to keep away from his big sister's feet. He made a face. "Could you put those away?"
"Why? You don't want to rub them for me?" Carly laughed as she waved her bare feet in his face and he scrambled away from her.
"Mom!" Lucas called out.
Bobbie stuck her head into the room. "You two play nice."
"Big baby." Carly muttered. She grabbed the remote from him. "Let me have it. You're never going to find anything the way you rush through. Typical male thing."
"I was watching that." He complained.
"And now you're not." Carly changed the channel. Her breath caught when she saw the movie she landed on. Weekend at Bernie's part two. A smile came to her face as she remembered her heated debate with Sonny about sequels. She'd been fighting so hard not to think of her time on the island. She knew if she opened her heart to Sonny that he would only walk all over it. Wasn't that what happened every time she fell in love? Not that she was in love with Sonny Corinthos of course. Falling in love with him would be a big mistake. A mistake she was afraid she already made.
She shook her head to clear that thought. She couldn't help but smile as she remembered the argument. Though the other times weren't as happy she still smiled. Sonny stood by her when any other man would have left her alone. Even when she fought him, he stayed. He even stayed with her the night she first dreamed of Angel. She closed her eyes as she remembered the warm feeling she got waking up to him. That feeling was absent the morning after they'd slept together.
"Hey, I don't want to watch this stupid movie." Lucas's voice broke into her thoughts. He snatched the remote out of her hand and started switching the channels again.
Carly ran her hands through her hair and groaned. The morning after she was so afraid so she ran. She was afraid to want more, afraid that he would laugh in her face, afraid that he would actually take her up on it.
Lucas looked at her. She had a weird look on her face. He nudged her. "Are you okay?"
"What?" She glanced over. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine."
"Mom!" Lucas ignored her and called out. "Carly's zoning out again."
"Carly?" Bobbie said worried. She rushed into the living room. "What happened?"
"Nothing." Carly insisted. "His rapid clicking put me in a trance is all."
Bobbie frowned at him. "Don't scare me like that, Lucas. Carly, are you sure you're okay?" Carly's behavior had been bothering her. She worried about her daughter.
"I'm fine, really." Carly swore.
Bobbie hesitated before nodding and said, "Okay. Lucas, find a show and stay there. You're going to wear out the batteries." She left the room.
Carly tossed a pillow at her little brother. "Thanks a lot."
"You're welcome." He stuck his tongue out at her and continued clicking through the channels.
She went back to her thoughts. Getting involved with a man like Sonny would only end up getting her hurt. She knew that but why did she miss him so much? Why did she wake up at night with his name on her lips? Why was she sitting here thinking about him and wanting to be with him?
"You got the same look on your face that Mom gets when she has to make a big decision." Lucas muttered. "What are you thinking about?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Nothing's on TV. So what is it?"
"I'm not confiding in *you*." She sneered.
"I don't care." He shrugged and turned back to the television. "But just do what Mom always says."
"And what's that?" She said suspiciously.
"Do whatever your heart is telling you." He mumbled.
Carly repeated the words silently to herself. What was her heart telling her to do? She suddenly put her shoes back on and scrambled off the couch. She called out to Bobbie as she rushed out the door. "Michael's still down for his nap, could you watch him for me? Thanks!"
Bobbie hurried after her. "What? Where are you going?"
"There's somebody I need to see." Carly said simply and slammed the door behind her.
Bobbie looked at Lucas. "What did you do to her?"
"Nothing." He shrugged.
~*~*~
They met each other the docks. They were both taking the shortcut, using the fastest way to get to each other. Carly was coming down the stairs just as Sonny was crossing across the walkway. They both stopped short and stared at each other for a long time.
For Carly it was the first time since he left her at the Brownstone that she'd saw him. She drank in the sight of him. He looked tired and her heart ached for him. Sonny's eyes roved over her. He only had a quick glimpse of her at Kelly's and that hadn't been enough for him. She'd lost weight, he noticed.
She suddenly she went into motion, running down the stairs towards him. He simply held open his arms and closed them around her when she ran into them. He bent his head and kissed her. It was slow, thorough kiss. The kiss said everything they couldn't. For Sonny it says that he wants her and this time he means to keep her. For Carly it apologized for acting a like a fool and running away from him. The kiss was their way of starting over, of making things right.
He lifted his head slightly and ran his fingers through her hair. Carly leaned back and looked in his eyes. His eyes reflected the same emotions she felt inside. She didn't know how it happened but love must have snuck up on them. She ran her tongue over her lips and smiled. He smiled back. Carly would have been content to stand there and stare at him all day but Sonny had other plans.
"So…" He began.
"So…" She repeated. "Where do we go now?"
"I don't know." He answered truthfully. "I know that I can't be without you."
"This month has been hell." She admitted.
"Same for me." He stroked her arms. He couldn't stop himself from touching her.
She played with the top button of his shirt. "I got scared, Sonny. I was afraid of getting hurt. I shouldn't have wasted all that time."
"I should have come for you." He said.
She shook her head. "We're wasting time with regrets. So from this point on, no more regrets."
"No regrets." He murmured before kissing her softly. She leaned into him and accepted his sweet kiss.
He rubbed his thumb across her lip. His voice was husky as he said, "I want to be with you, Carly. Always."
"I think I want the same thing."
"Be certain, Carly." He warned her. "I don't want you to think you to be with me, I want you to know it. I'm serious Carly, I will leave you right now if you don't know for sure."
Carly twined her arms around his neck and said softly. "I know it, Sonny. I just had a moment's hesitation. It won't happen again."
He leaned back and studied her. "Are you sure?"
She kissed him lightly and murmured. "I'm sure. Now what do we do?"
He shrugged. "We go home."
"Home." She whispered. "I can't wait to go home. And after that?"
He smiled slowly. "I don't know. We'll think of something."
"I'm sure we will." She smiled at him. She took his hand and they walked off together.
He didn't say anything until Carly and Bobbie were out of the car and Johnny had placed their bags inside of the house. He got out of the car and called out to Carly who stood on the steps handing Johnny his gift. He took his one shot. "Carly."
"What is it?" She huffed, looking everywhere but at him.
"You know you and Michael don't have to stay with Bobbie if you don't want to, no offense Bobbie."
"None taken." She murmured as she watched the drama unfold.
"You could, ah, there's always room at the Penthouse for you and Michael." He said softly.
"Why would I go back there?" She frowned.
He shrugged. "It was just an idea, Carly, nothing more."
"Well, Michael and I are fine where we are."
"All right." He nodded. He turned to go.
Bobbie looked at the two of them. There was obviously something between them. It couldn't end like this. "Sonny, would you like to come in for a drink?"
"No." He got into the car and Carly slowly walked into the house. Bobbie rushed over to the car.
"I don't know why Carly is acting like this." Bobbie said. "But I'm sorry."
"You don't have to apologize for her, Bobbie." He said softly. He glanced up to see Carly look out the door. His eyes met hers for a second and then she ducked back inside and slammed the door behind her. Sonny closed his eyes.
"Carly!" Bobbie whirled around.
Sonny touched her hand and shook his head. "Forget it."
"I'll go see what her problem is." Bobbie frowned. "And thank you."
Bobbie came into the house just as Carly was greeting Leticia and Michael. Carly swooped Michael out of Leticia's arms. "Hey Mr. Man! Mommy missed you, did you miss me?" She hugged the little boy to her.
"What was that?" Bobbie demanded as she closed the door behind her.
Carly turned with Michael in her arms. "What are you talking about?"
"That thing with Sonny. Out there, at the airport. Where is it with this tension between you two?"
"Tension?" Carly repeated innocently. "I didn't sense any tension."
Bobbie narrowed her eyes. "Did something happen on the island?"
Carly shrugged. "We came to terms with Angel, I guess. Bring my bags with you please? I want to give you guys the stuff I brought back with me."
She started for the living room and tossed over her shoulder. "And fill me in on what I've missed while I was away. Did some other person mess up big time and become the town pariah giving me a break?"
"Carly," Bobbie said softly, "A.J.'s missing."
Carly stopped short. "What?"
"No one's seen him since the day he was released." Bobbie told her.
A small smile appeared on her face and she chuckled a little. "Good. I hope he got what he deserved."
"What does that mean?" Bobbie asked suspiciously.
"It means that Sonny took care of everything. Like he said he would." Carly carried Michael into the living room.
~*~*~
Sonny stood by the big window of the penthouse with one hand shoved in his pocket and the other braced against the window. In his pants pocket he had his hand wrapped around the outlandish tie Carly had given him. It'd been two weeks since he left Carly at the Brownstone. They'd had no contact but he knew that Johnny saw her often. He never questioned the guard about his visits with Carly. He couldn't her or their brief time on the island out of his mind. He had no answer for why she would suddenly turn so cold. They made no promises to each other but after that night he'd actually started to wonder, started to hope.
Sonny thrust his hand into his hair and turned around sharply. What was he thinking? Getting involved with Carly Benson would be suicide…or would it? They laughed and had a good time on the beach and were there when the one needed the other. She wasn't the viper he thought she was. She could be sweet and caring…
This was crazy, just thinking about the possibility. He didn't want to marry the woman he just…missed her. Really missed her. He could say that he got used to her on the island but it was more than that. She got under his skin. And the only reason she was still there was because they didn't get any real closure. They had the one night and then they jumped up and were gone
He should have forced her to stay at the penthouse with him. Why did he let her slip through his fingers so easily? He should have gotten whatever was wrong out of her. But he knew he couldn't force Carly into anything. It would only end up backfiring on him. She was going to have to come to him. And for the past two weeks she'd been doing the opposite.
He had to get out of here. He grabbed his jacket and stormed out of the penthouse. He passed by Johnny who was on door duty. He punched angrily at the elevator button. He didn't know why he was suddenly so angry. He paced impatiently in front of the elevator doors. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Johnny giving him a curious look.
Sonny turned and nodded towards Johnny. "That one of the ties Carly gave you?"
Johnny's eyes widened slightly. He and Sonny didn't speak about Carly. It seemed to him that Sonny wanted to forget about Carly so he made a point not to talk about her around him. He nodded slowly. "Yes."
Sonny narrowed his eyes. "You've seen her." It wasn't a question but a statement.
Again Johnny nodded. Sonny asked. "How is she? Is she okay? What about Michael?"
"They're both fine." Johnny assured him. "Carly's almost like her old self. She's actually thinking about getting a job."
Sonny stroked his chin while thinking this over. This what he wanted, wasn't it? For Carly to get back on with her life? Or to completely break down without him? Finally he said. "That's good."
The elevator doors opened behind him and he turned to go. Johnny called out behind him. "Do you want me to tell Carly you asked about her?"
"No." Sonny said sharply, holding his hand up. "You don't have to tell her anything. It's better this way."
Better for whom, Johnny wondered to himself. He asked Sonny, "Are you going to see her?"
Sonny looked at him strangely. "No."
~*~*~
Two weeks later Carly was coming out of Kelly's when she came face to face with A.J. A week earlier Bobbie gave her hand and offered her the vacant waitress job at Kelly's. At first Carly couldn't see herself waiting on people for a living. Also working side by side with Elizabeth Webber was a huge downside but Bobbie reminded her that not too many people would hire her and she should take what she could get. Though it was still humiliating to have to answer to Tammy. Carly was bitching to herself about the woman when she saw A.J. for the first time since that day at the lawyers.
"Damn curly-haired busybody." Carly was muttering to herself.
"Should I even ask who you're talking about?" A.J.'s voice floating out to her and Carly whipped around. His appearance disappointed her. He actually looked good. His suit fit him well, his hair was neatly shorn, his eyes were clear and the ever present smell of alcohol was gone. Hate and anger filled her. This was the man who tried to kill him and took away her baby and he looked perfect.
She narrowed her eyes and spat out. "A.J."
"It's been a long time, Carly." He smiled broadly at her.
"I'd hoped it be a lot longer." She said. "I thought you were dead. I hoped you were. Everybody town thinks you are."
"I went to a rehab clinic. Got myself clean and sober." He told her proudly. "I didn't tell anyone because they wouldn't have believed me. I had to hit rock bottom before I actually got help I guess."
"What do you want from me A.J.? You want me to happy that the death of my child got you sober again?" Carly sneered. She had to get out of there before she completely lost it. The sight of his smile made her ill. "I can't stay here and listen to this."
She started to brush pass him but he caught her arm. "Don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you."
She jerked her arm away. "I'm not your wife anymore. I don't to listen to you yap anymore. Cause that's what you do, A.J., you yap. Like one of those little annoying Chihuahua dogs. Yap, yap, yap. I hate dogs like that. They make me want to kick them."
A.J. tossed his head back and laughed. "That's the Carly I love. You know now that the kid's out of the way, why don't you pack up your stuff and come home. I mean it, Carly, I'm willing to overlook that thing with Sonny and take you back providing you act like my sweet loving wife." He trailed the back of his hand across her cheek.
Carly knocked his hand away. "You jerk!" She slapped him across the face. His head snapped back from the blow. He'd raised his own hand and was about to retaliate when a stronger hand grabbed his shoulder and jerked him backwards.
Carly smiled at Johnny. "Thanks but I can handle this."
He shrugged. "I have this thing about seeing weasels attacking women."
A.J. struggled against him. "She hit me first. Let me go."
" 'She hit me first.' " Johnny repeated and made a face. "Is this guy for real?"
"God A.J., you go from a dog to a first grader." Carly shook her head. "Let him go."
A.J. adjusted his jacket and glared at Johnny. He turned his gaze to Carly. "I see you're still whoring yourself to Corinthos? I don't want that kind of filth around *my* son."
"That's why *you* aren't allowed to see him, ever." She sneered.
"I think it's time you left." Johnny told him, his anger evident in his tone.
A.J. looked at him curiously and started to laugh. "Don't tell me, you're doing the bodyguard too? I guess even Corinthos got tired of you."
"Johnny, don't!" Carly jumped between them before Johnny was able to punch A.J. like he wanted. A.J. took the opportunity to slither away. He looked at Carly disappointed. "Why didn't you let me hit him?"
"Because it's just what he wanted." Carly told him.
"You hit him also." He frowned.
"Yeah but that made me feel better." She said with a crooked smile before hugging him. She buried her face in his wide chest. Her voice was smothered when she mumbled, "Thank you."
He'd been stroking the back of her head. "What?"
She pulled back and looked at him. "I said thank you. God, from the moment I saw him I hated his guts. I had to leave before I did something drastic but he grabbed me. If you'd hadn't come along when you did…"
"He would have hit you."
"No, I would have kicked his ass." Carly laughed. "I'm not scared of him. I hate him for what he did to my baby."
"Then maybe I should have kept him around longer then." Johnny suggested, happy to hear her laugh again. The first couple of time he visited her after the return from the island she seemed so down. The only time he heard her laugh was with Michael. At first he believed it had to do with the baby but he soon came to realize that it was about Sonny. Sonny was someone she didn't want to talk about though Johnny kept trying to think of ways to bring him into the conversation so he could find out how Carly really felt about the man. He wondered what happened on the island. Both Sonny and Carly came back different.
"Johnny, do me a favor." She said almost desperately.
"Anything." He vowed.
"Don't tell Sonny about this." She said.
He frowned. "Why would I say anything about this to Sonny?"
Carly hugged him again, taking his confused question as an affirmation. "Thanks again. Sonny doesn't need to know what happened. I don't want to bother him with this."
"I won't say anything." Johnny told her. Already he was keeping one conversation from her, what was wrong with keeping one from Sonny?
Carly glanced away from him. "How's Sonny by the way?"
Miserable, Johnny thought. And this was making him miserable too. Playing go-between for two people who obviously wanted to be together but were too stubborn to admit it. He already knew he was out of the game but having to watch Carly long for Sonny was killing him.
Out loud he said, "Fine. Sonny's fine."
"Oh." She sounded almost disappointed. "That's…good."
"Why don't you drop by the penthouse and see him?" Johnny suggested. "He might like to see you."
"You think?" Carly said hopefully. Then she shook her head and said firmly. "No, I don't need to see Sonny."
Johnny sighed and wrapped his arm around her. "How about I walk you home then?"
Carly leaned her head on his shoulder. "That'll be nice, thanks."
~*~*~
A few days later Sonny met Mike at the Recovery Room. He was avoiding Kelly's after he found out that Carly was working there. He was on his way in the other day and he saw Carly taking an order. The sight of her with her pulled up in a ponytail, wearing an apron and sneering at a customer cause him to laugh. Carly, working? He thought he'd never live to see the day. But there she was, working and getting on with her life. He quickly left before she had a chance to spot him. He had a feeling that she wouldn't want him to see her that way.
Sonny slid into the chair across from Mike. Mike stared at him worriedly. "You look awful."
"Thanks Mike, I can always trust you to say something to lift my spirits." Sonny rubbed the back of his neck. But if Mike was right he looked as awful as he felt.
"Is this about the baby?" Mike said. "Are you still beating yourself up about that Michael? Because you know there was nothing you could do."
"I know that." Sonny muttered. "This has nothing to do with my daughter."
"Then what is it?" Mike demanded. When Sonny didn't say anything and just stared at the floor Mike figured it out. He sat back and sighed. "Don't tell me it's Carly."
"I can't get her out of my mind, Mike."
"Don't do it. She's nothing but trouble."
"No, she's not." He jumped to her defense. "Yes, she can be difficult at times but Mike, you don't know her."
"And you do?"
"I know enough." He fiddled with the salt shaker.
"Enough to want her in your life…permanently?" Mike questioned him softly.
Sonny stared intently at the shaker. This was the same question that he'd been asking himself for the past couple of days. Every night he tossed and turned. Carly invaded his sleep. The memories played over and over in his mind. He saw her crying in the middle of the nursery, asking him to stay with her while she slept, arguing the merits of sequels, falling in the sand, holding him and telling him it was 'his turn', dancing with him at the café and finally dropping the towel for him in her room. God, he missed her. He admitted it. He missed having her around. And he wanted her back.
He put down the salt shaker and sat up straight. "I know that she hates sequels, that she abhors fish, that she won't back down when she thinks she's right, that she hates being laughed at, that when she smiles her whole body smiles. I'm talking her eyes sparkle, she gets a glow around her and she has this laugh, this great little laugh. And when she sleeps…she snores. Delicately of course. And if she likes you, she gets you some nice ties." He smiled.
Mike shook his head. Sonny had already made up his mind without knowing it. "If you know all of this why are you here wasting time with me when you should be with her?"
"You know Mike, don't ever tell anyone I said this but you're right." Sonny stood up abruptly. He started for the door.
"Where are you going?" Mike called out.
"Where I should have gone a long time ago." Sonny said over his shoulder.
~*~*~
Carly was curled up on the couch rubbing her tired feet. It was bad enough that the pay at Kelly's was lousy but now she was losing the feeling in her feet from standing on them all day. She didn't know how waitresses did it but she couldn't stand it. She needed a new job and fast.
Lucas sat next to her channel surfing and trying to keep away from his big sister's feet. He made a face. "Could you put those away?"
"Why? You don't want to rub them for me?" Carly laughed as she waved her bare feet in his face and he scrambled away from her.
"Mom!" Lucas called out.
Bobbie stuck her head into the room. "You two play nice."
"Big baby." Carly muttered. She grabbed the remote from him. "Let me have it. You're never going to find anything the way you rush through. Typical male thing."
"I was watching that." He complained.
"And now you're not." Carly changed the channel. Her breath caught when she saw the movie she landed on. Weekend at Bernie's part two. A smile came to her face as she remembered her heated debate with Sonny about sequels. She'd been fighting so hard not to think of her time on the island. She knew if she opened her heart to Sonny that he would only walk all over it. Wasn't that what happened every time she fell in love? Not that she was in love with Sonny Corinthos of course. Falling in love with him would be a big mistake. A mistake she was afraid she already made.
She shook her head to clear that thought. She couldn't help but smile as she remembered the argument. Though the other times weren't as happy she still smiled. Sonny stood by her when any other man would have left her alone. Even when she fought him, he stayed. He even stayed with her the night she first dreamed of Angel. She closed her eyes as she remembered the warm feeling she got waking up to him. That feeling was absent the morning after they'd slept together.
"Hey, I don't want to watch this stupid movie." Lucas's voice broke into her thoughts. He snatched the remote out of her hand and started switching the channels again.
Carly ran her hands through her hair and groaned. The morning after she was so afraid so she ran. She was afraid to want more, afraid that he would laugh in her face, afraid that he would actually take her up on it.
Lucas looked at her. She had a weird look on her face. He nudged her. "Are you okay?"
"What?" She glanced over. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine."
"Mom!" Lucas ignored her and called out. "Carly's zoning out again."
"Carly?" Bobbie said worried. She rushed into the living room. "What happened?"
"Nothing." Carly insisted. "His rapid clicking put me in a trance is all."
Bobbie frowned at him. "Don't scare me like that, Lucas. Carly, are you sure you're okay?" Carly's behavior had been bothering her. She worried about her daughter.
"I'm fine, really." Carly swore.
Bobbie hesitated before nodding and said, "Okay. Lucas, find a show and stay there. You're going to wear out the batteries." She left the room.
Carly tossed a pillow at her little brother. "Thanks a lot."
"You're welcome." He stuck his tongue out at her and continued clicking through the channels.
She went back to her thoughts. Getting involved with a man like Sonny would only end up getting her hurt. She knew that but why did she miss him so much? Why did she wake up at night with his name on her lips? Why was she sitting here thinking about him and wanting to be with him?
"You got the same look on your face that Mom gets when she has to make a big decision." Lucas muttered. "What are you thinking about?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Nothing's on TV. So what is it?"
"I'm not confiding in *you*." She sneered.
"I don't care." He shrugged and turned back to the television. "But just do what Mom always says."
"And what's that?" She said suspiciously.
"Do whatever your heart is telling you." He mumbled.
Carly repeated the words silently to herself. What was her heart telling her to do? She suddenly put her shoes back on and scrambled off the couch. She called out to Bobbie as she rushed out the door. "Michael's still down for his nap, could you watch him for me? Thanks!"
Bobbie hurried after her. "What? Where are you going?"
"There's somebody I need to see." Carly said simply and slammed the door behind her.
Bobbie looked at Lucas. "What did you do to her?"
"Nothing." He shrugged.
~*~*~
They met each other the docks. They were both taking the shortcut, using the fastest way to get to each other. Carly was coming down the stairs just as Sonny was crossing across the walkway. They both stopped short and stared at each other for a long time.
For Carly it was the first time since he left her at the Brownstone that she'd saw him. She drank in the sight of him. He looked tired and her heart ached for him. Sonny's eyes roved over her. He only had a quick glimpse of her at Kelly's and that hadn't been enough for him. She'd lost weight, he noticed.
She suddenly she went into motion, running down the stairs towards him. He simply held open his arms and closed them around her when she ran into them. He bent his head and kissed her. It was slow, thorough kiss. The kiss said everything they couldn't. For Sonny it says that he wants her and this time he means to keep her. For Carly it apologized for acting a like a fool and running away from him. The kiss was their way of starting over, of making things right.
He lifted his head slightly and ran his fingers through her hair. Carly leaned back and looked in his eyes. His eyes reflected the same emotions she felt inside. She didn't know how it happened but love must have snuck up on them. She ran her tongue over her lips and smiled. He smiled back. Carly would have been content to stand there and stare at him all day but Sonny had other plans.
"So…" He began.
"So…" She repeated. "Where do we go now?"
"I don't know." He answered truthfully. "I know that I can't be without you."
"This month has been hell." She admitted.
"Same for me." He stroked her arms. He couldn't stop himself from touching her.
She played with the top button of his shirt. "I got scared, Sonny. I was afraid of getting hurt. I shouldn't have wasted all that time."
"I should have come for you." He said.
She shook her head. "We're wasting time with regrets. So from this point on, no more regrets."
"No regrets." He murmured before kissing her softly. She leaned into him and accepted his sweet kiss.
He rubbed his thumb across her lip. His voice was husky as he said, "I want to be with you, Carly. Always."
"I think I want the same thing."
"Be certain, Carly." He warned her. "I don't want you to think you to be with me, I want you to know it. I'm serious Carly, I will leave you right now if you don't know for sure."
Carly twined her arms around his neck and said softly. "I know it, Sonny. I just had a moment's hesitation. It won't happen again."
He leaned back and studied her. "Are you sure?"
She kissed him lightly and murmured. "I'm sure. Now what do we do?"
He shrugged. "We go home."
"Home." She whispered. "I can't wait to go home. And after that?"
He smiled slowly. "I don't know. We'll think of something."
"I'm sure we will." She smiled at him. She took his hand and they walked off together.