Emily took a deep breath before opening the door to the apartment she
shared with Elizabeth. She'd had the whole car ride over to come up
something, anything, to say to Sly about where she'd been all night and of
course, how she'd gotten a hickey. The only thing she could come up with
was to tell him the truth, something she didn't want to do but didn't know
how to avoid it.
She walked cautiously into the apartment expecting for Sly to be waiting
for her. The apartment was suspiciously quiet.
"Hello? Sly are you here?" She called out.
She hoped he was there, she was anxious to get the confrontation over with.
"Sly's not here, he had to leave." Said a voice behind here.
Emily whirled around, her hand covering her mouth. It was Elizabeth! She'd
completely forgotten about Elizabeth. The whole morning she'd been worrying
about Sly and about betraying Sly. Not once did she stop and think about
the fact not only did she betray Sly but she'd betrayed her friend.
"Uh, Elizabeth, um…" Emily mumbled while looking down at her shoes. She
couldn't bring herself to look her in the face.
"Sly looked upset when he left but he wouldn't talk to me about it. Did you
two have another fight?" Elizabeth asked with concern.
Emily felt sick. Here she was sneaking in after a one-night stand with her
friend's boyfriend and Elizabeth was concerned about *her*. "Something like
that. Did Sly say where he was going?" Emily asked hopefully.
Elizabeth shook her head. "No, sorry. He just took a bunch of his things
and left."
"Oh." Emily said quietly. So he took his stuff, it didn't mean he was
leaving her or something. He just probably needed some time to himself.
Elizabeth cleared her throat. "Uh, Em, I need to talk to you. About
Nikolas."
Emily jumped slightly. She knew! Elizabeth knew but how could she? There is
no way she could have found out. "Yes?" Emily croaked out.
Elizabeth started slowly. "Nikolas and I…we, uh, we broke up last night.
Actually I just wanted some time off from 'us', you know? But Nikolas, he…
he just broke it off completely."
Emily bit her lip. There was nothing she could say. She couldn't comfort
her or give her advice. "I…"
Elizabeth went on. "I called myself every sort of fool I could think of
last night. What's wrong with me? Nikolas is a great guy. He's smart,
sweet, sexy, and sensitive. So why am I just letting him get away like
this? But you know what? I think this break or break up is going to be good
for us because if, no *when* we get back together I will undoubtedly be
more willing to commit to him. Maybe even marry him." Elizabeth flashed a
bright smile.
Emily smiled grimly. "Great. Good for you. Will you excuse me, I have to go
take a shower so I'll just…"
"Yeah, I have an art class to get to. I'll see you later then. Since Sly
won't be here maybe we'll do a girls only sort of thing? I'll call Samantha
and Lark and see if they're up for it."
"Fine with me." Emily hurried to the bathroom.
~*~*~
Later That Day
"V?" Carly called out. She gathered up her purse and coat. "I'm going to
lunch now. See you in an hour."
There was no response. Carly hadn't expected one after noticing that a
half-hour ago Jax had disappeared into his wife's office and she'd heard
not a peep out of them other than to hold all their calls. Carly shook her
head and smiled. Those two never stopped.
Sonny told her he would send the car for her. She spotted it just as she
exited the building. Carly climbed through the door one of Sonny's guards
held open for her.
She wasn't very shocked to see Sonny lounging in the backseat smiling
lazily at her.
"I should have known." She muttered. "Couldn't wait to see me?"
Sonny chuckled lowly. "There's something about you. I just can't stay
away."
"No matter how many times I ask you to." Carly muttered. "Where are we
going for lunch? The Grille? The No Name? Someplace new?"
Sonny gestured to a picnic basket in the corner. "Anywhere you want. I
thought it would be better if we went somewhere private. You tend to ah,
make a scene."
Carly swept a lock of hair back. "I don't make scenes, they just…happen."
Sonny nodded. "Right, right."
"You wanted to talk? So talk." Carly crossed her arms and leaned back in
her seat. "What are we going to talk about anyway?"
"I thought maybe we'd take a little stroll down memory lane."
Carly groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sonny, you just don't
have anything to do anymore, is that? Things just too quiet on the
import-export front? Nobody out there has any legs begging to be broken?"
"Carly, I'm being serious here."
"Okay, okay, we're strolling… where we going?"
"When I returned to Port Charles after Jason died…"
"Sonny, no." Carly shook her head.
"After Jason died," Sonny said firmly.
"I hope there's alcohol in that basket over there." Carly muttered.
"Carly will you listen to me!" Sonny snapped.
"Alright," Carly closed her eyes and leaned back, "You were saying?"
"After Jason died, I was a wreak. It was too soon after Brenda's death, I
didn't know what to do. I pushed everyone out of my life. I didn't talk to
Mike, to Luke, not even to Robin who was feeling the same things I had to
be feeling. The thing was, I didn't want to hear the 'I'm sorrys' and the
'It's all going to be okay' because at the time it wasn't okay and I knew,
I thought, it would never be. I wouldn't allow myself to feel anything but
the pain and the hate I had for Moreno. That's all I wanted to feel and
that's all I wanted to deal with. But then all of a sudden I had this baby
and his just released from the nuthouse mother that I had to deal with. You
demanded that I help take
care of Jason's son, that Jason would have wanted that."
"You hated me as soon as I walked through the door, possibly even before
that." Carly murmured.
"I didn't hate you." Sonny said softly. "I resented the hell out of you,
yes, but I didn't hate you. Your being there and your not going away no
matter what I said meant that I had to crawl out my hole and face the
world."
"Back then when I came to you all I wanted was to go someplace quiet,
someplace safe, and someplace that Jason had been and just go quietly
insane. I didn't give a damn about your feelings or Robin's and no matter
how many times Bobbie and plenty of others told me I was being selfish, I
didn't care. I needed to be with someone who would take care of my son and
keep him safe while I took a little vacation from realty. I knew that Jason
trusted you and I knew I could trust you with his son."
"But I wouldn't let you. There was no way I was about to leave my hell just
so you could float around the penthouse in a daze thinking about Jason all
the time. I was determined to get you to leave me alone but you wouldn't
leave. I remember the fights we had. No one I've ever met fights like you
do, you get down and dirty." Sonny laughed softly. "And then it was like I
didn't want you to leave, I enjoyed fighting with you."
"I think all the fighting between us in the beginning helped. It gave both
us something to do besides wallowing around. Every morning I would wake up
already thinking of something to argue with you about and every night I
would go to bed going over what you said and what I could have said. Bobbie
would ask me 'Why on earth are you still there? You can't stand the man,
this can't be good for Michael at all!' I knew told her how good it was for
*me*."
"People thought we were crazy. I think a few people thought we would end up
killing each other. If I hadn't kissed you that night, I think you might
have tried." Sonny murmured.
Carly remembered that night. It was right after she had put Michael down
for the night. She and Sonny were in the middle of a fight about something
trivial like moving the furniture or something and Sonny had just called
her something in Spanish that she didn't understand.
'What did you just say? Speak English, damn you, or so help me!' Carly
reached down and grabbed the first thing she saw: a paperback she'd been
reading earlier.
'What are you going to do? Brain me with a romance novel?' Sonny laughed,
suddenly seeing how ridiculous they had become.
'Maybe I will!' Carly raised the book over her head.
Sonny rolled his eyes. 'Carly put the book down. Now, you're just being
silly.'
'Silly? Silly?' Carly repeated. 'Oh, I'll show you silly!' Carly swung the
book at Sonny, who managed to jump out of the way before it connected with
his head.
'Damn it, Carly! Give me the book!' Sonny reached for paperback.
'No!' She ran towards the couch. Sonny followed. He lunged at her throwing
his body against hers. They landed sprawled out on the couch, their faces
just inches away from each other.
Breathing heavily, Sonny murmured. 'You're a madwoman.'
'It's my best trait.' She shrugged.
'I know. That's why I like you.' He whispered before bending his head and
kissing her softly on the lips. He raised his head to see Carly staring up
at him, wide-eyed. 'Surprised?'
'Very. Why'd you do that for?' She asked.
'Carly, Carly, Carly, if you couldn't tell from that kiss then I'll just
have to better won't I?' Sonny laughed before bending again and capturing
her lips in another kiss.'"
Carly stared out the limousine window. "So it was kiss me or be killed,
huh? We went from using arguments as a way to stay alive to sex. Once again
Carly Spencer gets used for sex."
Sonny reached over and grasped her chin, turning her face towards him. "I
never once used you for sex, it wasn't like that with me."
"So maybe it was that way with me, how about that?" Carly cocked her
eyebrow. "It had been awhile for me and men weren't exactly lining up to be
with me. Things like my stay in Ferncliff and the fact that I lived with a
known Mafia boss tended to turn a guy off."
"Carly, you haven't figured out that I can see through you?" Sonny smiled,
not even taking into consideration what she was saying.
"Look, can we wrap this up? My lunch break is almost over and all we've
done is drive around and relive our first kiss. Was there a point to all of
this?" Carly demanded.
"Why did you agree to come to lunch with me?" Sonny asked suddenly.
Carly tried to think hard but the answers she came up with she didn't want
to voice out loud. Carly shrugged. "I don't know… I just… Why did you ask
me to come to lunch?" She turned the question around to make up for her not
having an answer.
"Carly you already know why. I want you back. I still love you and I know
that you still love me."
"You never loved me." Carly scoffed. "You never said the words once to me
and who said I ever loved you?"
"You want the words? Here they are: I love you." Sonny said each word
slowly.
He waited patiently as Carly said back in her seat chewing on her lower lip
saying nothing. He gently reached out and touched her lips with his finger.
"Don't do that. Carly, I'm waiting."
"For what? For me to say the words back to you. Oh, I'm supposed to just
forget all of a sudden that I'm a building a future with Alex and go
running back to you just because well hey, you said the magic words. Words
you've never said to me before. Is that it?"
"If you love me, you would." Sonny said confidently.
"Damn, I wish I had the confidence you have. You never doubt yourself do
you? Well, if you loved me, then you should have told me years ago."
"Would that have made you stay with me?" Sonny asked quietly. When Carly
didn't answer he nodded. "I knew it. The thing is…I didn't even knew that I
had let you into my heart until that day I came home and you and Michael
were gone."
Carly laughed bitterly. "Don't try that old 'I didn't know I loved you till
you were gone' crap. I can see right through that like you think you can
see right through me."
"Carly…"
"Okay, maybe I need some time by myself." Carly folded her arms. "I really
need to get back to the office. V and Jax are probably wondering where I
am." She lied.
"I can't believe you work for that pompous jerk." Sonny muttered.
"Hey, you're still friends with Robin and I don't give you grief over it.
If I want to work for my…step-uncle then I will go ahead and do it okay?"
Carly latched onto the subject like a lifeline.
"Okay, no Jax bashing for today. So you want time? You'll have some time.
I'll give you until Thanksgiving."
"Oh thank you kind sir." Carly said snidely. "So does this mean, I don't
see you until next week?" She asked hopefully.
"No, it just means I won't bring up the subject until next week." Sonny
gave her a half smile. "I'll just tell Johnny to turn the car around."
~*~*~
There was a quick knock on Victor's hotel room door. Knowing whom it was,
Victor shouted, "Enter!"
Victor flipped through the Port Charles Herald and barely looked up when
Higgins slipped into the room. "Everything is a go?" He murmured as he
reached for his coffee.
"Yes sir." Higgins assured him.
"Nothing is going to go wrong, is it?" Victor looked directly at Higgins,
who backed up a step.
"N-no sir." Higgins shook his adamantly.
"Good. Everything needs to go as scheduled. I want no unexpected
surprises."
Higgins whipped out his notepad and read aloud. "Carly, Michael, and
barring no emergencies at the hospital, Barbara will all be in the
Brownstone at 5:30 p.m."
Victor smiled slightly. "Perfect, I want the family reunion to go as
smoothly as possible."
~*~*~
PC Grille
Stefan stood up at his table as Nikolas and Alexis approached. "You are
both late." He said with a frown.
Alexis shrugged, nonchalantly. "I had a meeting that ran late." She
gracefully slid into her seat and shook out her napkin.
Stefan turned his frown to Nikolas. "And what about you?"
Nikolas rubbed his forehead. "I'm sorry, Uncle, I slept in."
"You slept in? Are you feeling alright?" Stefan's frown changed to a look
of concern. "You don't like well."
That's because I have a hangover, Nikolas thought to himself. "No, no, I'm
fine. I was just…up late last night. That's all."
Stefan narrowed his eyes as he looked at his son. Something was wrong but
he could tell that Nikolas wasn't in the mood to talk about it. He turned
to other matters instead. "In case you haven't heard by now, Alexis, it
seems that…"
"Carly Spencer's your daughter?" Alexis interrupted. She laughed at the
slightly surprised look on Stefan's face. "Wondering how I know? I had a
source tell me about Carly."
Stefan frowned. "Luke Spencer, I assume."
"Of course. Who else will tell me what's going on around here. I can't even
trust my own brother to tell me that I have a niece. Where you ever going
to tell me?" Alexis demanded.
"In time, Alexis, in time." Stefan said smoothly.
"Wait, you never told Alexis?" Nikolas interjected.
"And why am I not surprised to see that Nikolas already knows." Alexis
scowled.
"I just happened to be there when all this came out. Why didn't you tell
Alexis?" Nikolas asked.
"Doesn't trust me, maybe? Why? I have no idea. He also tends to forget that
I'm family not just some useless relation."
"Alexis, why do you insist on saying those things?" Stefan asked. "We both
know it's not true. What has Ashton been filling your head with?"
"Ned? You're bringing Ned into this? This has nothing to do with Ned."
Alexis raised her voice.
"Lower your voice, we are in a public place." Stefan commanded.
Alexis lowered her voice and leaned into the table. "Why don't you just
tell us what you were about to say so I can go home to my family?"
"Family? You have a child, Lexi?" Alexis groaned inwardly as she recognized
the voice behind her back.
Alexis closed her eyes and said wearily. "Layla. I do not have a child. And
don't call me Lexi!"
Stefan stood and opened his arms. "Layla, what are you doing here?"
Layla went over and hugged him. "I was in the neighborhood and I was told
this place was simply delicious."
Actually Layla had spotted Higgins and followed him into the Port Charles
Hotel. However, she lost him in the crowded hotel lobby. Not giving up
hope, at least she knew a possible location for Victor to hide at, she
decided to grab some lunch. How fortunate for her, Stefan and family were
sitting inside.
Layla turned to Alexis and pouted prettily. "Aw, Lexi, no children? I'm so
sorry."
Nikolas stood up and smiled at Layla. "Layla, wow, I had no idea you were
in town. Uncle did you know and not tell me?"
"Don't blame your dear uncle." Layla admonished. "I flitted in and out of
his office so quickly, I bet he thought I wasn't really there. My, my,
Nikolas, you have grown into a handsome young man."
"And you Layla, every time I see, you seem to get younger and younger."
"I'll tell you my secret, Nikki, it's all because of… my cheekbones. I have
excellent bone structure." Layla grinned.
"And an excellent plastic surgeon." Alexis muttered. She stood up. "Stefan,
if this…meeting is over, I'll be on my way now."
"But Lexi, I just got here and we have so much catching up to do."
"Stefan will fill me in on it…and don't call me Lexi." Alexis stood and
walked away.
"Such a rude, cold woman." Layla remarked. She sat in Alexis' abandoned
chair. "Glad to see that some things never changed. But you Nikolas, I
didn't recognize you at first. Steffie, you have done a wonderful job."
Stefan allowed his chest to swell with pride. "Thank you Layla, but I
didn't have much to do with it. I just let him grown on his own."
"But why are you so tired looking?" Layla reached across the table and
touched his forehead. "Are you getting enough sleep? Are you ill?"
"I had a late night, that's all." Nikolas said again.
"Doing what, I wonder?" Layla murmured.
Nikolas' mind flashed to soft wet lips, teasing fingers, salty skin and
intertwining legs. To delicate caresses, deep hot kisses and muffled moans.
To…He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "Uh…I was…"
Layla laughed softly. "Am I embarrassing you? Were you doing
something…bad?"
Stefan smiled slightly. "Layla, I think you are truly embarrassing him
now."
"Okay, okay, I'll leave it alone for now. But we have some catching up to
do. Tell me all that I've missed these past 12 years. Either of you seeing
someone special?" She folded her arms on the table and leaned in.
"At the moment Nikolas has been seeing a young woman by the name of
Elizabeth Webber, a cousin of his mother's, and while I," Stefan leaned in
towards Layla, "I have been saving myself for you."
"You always say the sweetest things." Layla grinned. She reached out and
caressed his jaw.
"Actually," Nikolas interrupted. "Elizabeth and I have…we're not seeing
each other any more."
Stefan frowned. "Is that true? Did something transpire between the two of
you? A fight perhaps?"
Nikolas shook his head. "No, there was no fight. It was a…mutual decision.
So, Layla, we haven't seen you in 12 years?" Nikolas quickly latched onto
the subject.
"It feels like only yesterday doesn't it?" Layla sat back.
"So why are you here?" Nikolas asked.
"To see my two favorite men, of course." Layla shrugged.
"Actually she's out to find Victor. Something to do with the eye patch she
now wears." Stefan told him. Layla shot him a harsh look. "Why shouldn't he
know? He is a man; he is the Cassadine. He should know what's going on in
his family."
"Well, that was my business." Layla grumbled. "I didn't know that you would
betray a personal confidence like that."
"Layla, please, Uncle was just…being Uncle." Nikolas said soothingly. He
reached over and patted her hand. "He-"
"Nikki, you don't have to explain your Uncle to me, I know what kind of a
man he is." Layla nodded. She licked her lips and gazed at Stefan. Stefan
gazed back. "I know all about your Uncle."
Nikolas rolled his eyes. They were doing it again. He could remember from
Layla's stay with them that from time to time Layla and his Uncle would
just look at each other and not say a word for at least ten minutes or
more. Nikolas took his napkin off his lap and placed it on the table.
"If you two will excuse me, I just remembered I have somewhere else to be."
He began to stand.
"But Nikki, I just got here." Layla protested.
"What about lunch?" Stefan asked.
"We'll just have to do it another time. Why don't you two just stay and
have lunch together. I doubt I'll be missed."
"Yes, you will be. But, if you have to go…" Layla shrugged. "Give me a kiss
goodbye. I'll try to come out to Spoon Island to see you before I go. We'll
talk about this Webber girl and how we can fix you two."
Nikolas brushed his lips across her cheek. "There isn't much to fix." He
smiled sadly. "We can't be fixed."
shared with Elizabeth. She'd had the whole car ride over to come up
something, anything, to say to Sly about where she'd been all night and of
course, how she'd gotten a hickey. The only thing she could come up with
was to tell him the truth, something she didn't want to do but didn't know
how to avoid it.
She walked cautiously into the apartment expecting for Sly to be waiting
for her. The apartment was suspiciously quiet.
"Hello? Sly are you here?" She called out.
She hoped he was there, she was anxious to get the confrontation over with.
"Sly's not here, he had to leave." Said a voice behind here.
Emily whirled around, her hand covering her mouth. It was Elizabeth! She'd
completely forgotten about Elizabeth. The whole morning she'd been worrying
about Sly and about betraying Sly. Not once did she stop and think about
the fact not only did she betray Sly but she'd betrayed her friend.
"Uh, Elizabeth, um…" Emily mumbled while looking down at her shoes. She
couldn't bring herself to look her in the face.
"Sly looked upset when he left but he wouldn't talk to me about it. Did you
two have another fight?" Elizabeth asked with concern.
Emily felt sick. Here she was sneaking in after a one-night stand with her
friend's boyfriend and Elizabeth was concerned about *her*. "Something like
that. Did Sly say where he was going?" Emily asked hopefully.
Elizabeth shook her head. "No, sorry. He just took a bunch of his things
and left."
"Oh." Emily said quietly. So he took his stuff, it didn't mean he was
leaving her or something. He just probably needed some time to himself.
Elizabeth cleared her throat. "Uh, Em, I need to talk to you. About
Nikolas."
Emily jumped slightly. She knew! Elizabeth knew but how could she? There is
no way she could have found out. "Yes?" Emily croaked out.
Elizabeth started slowly. "Nikolas and I…we, uh, we broke up last night.
Actually I just wanted some time off from 'us', you know? But Nikolas, he…
he just broke it off completely."
Emily bit her lip. There was nothing she could say. She couldn't comfort
her or give her advice. "I…"
Elizabeth went on. "I called myself every sort of fool I could think of
last night. What's wrong with me? Nikolas is a great guy. He's smart,
sweet, sexy, and sensitive. So why am I just letting him get away like
this? But you know what? I think this break or break up is going to be good
for us because if, no *when* we get back together I will undoubtedly be
more willing to commit to him. Maybe even marry him." Elizabeth flashed a
bright smile.
Emily smiled grimly. "Great. Good for you. Will you excuse me, I have to go
take a shower so I'll just…"
"Yeah, I have an art class to get to. I'll see you later then. Since Sly
won't be here maybe we'll do a girls only sort of thing? I'll call Samantha
and Lark and see if they're up for it."
"Fine with me." Emily hurried to the bathroom.
~*~*~
Later That Day
"V?" Carly called out. She gathered up her purse and coat. "I'm going to
lunch now. See you in an hour."
There was no response. Carly hadn't expected one after noticing that a
half-hour ago Jax had disappeared into his wife's office and she'd heard
not a peep out of them other than to hold all their calls. Carly shook her
head and smiled. Those two never stopped.
Sonny told her he would send the car for her. She spotted it just as she
exited the building. Carly climbed through the door one of Sonny's guards
held open for her.
She wasn't very shocked to see Sonny lounging in the backseat smiling
lazily at her.
"I should have known." She muttered. "Couldn't wait to see me?"
Sonny chuckled lowly. "There's something about you. I just can't stay
away."
"No matter how many times I ask you to." Carly muttered. "Where are we
going for lunch? The Grille? The No Name? Someplace new?"
Sonny gestured to a picnic basket in the corner. "Anywhere you want. I
thought it would be better if we went somewhere private. You tend to ah,
make a scene."
Carly swept a lock of hair back. "I don't make scenes, they just…happen."
Sonny nodded. "Right, right."
"You wanted to talk? So talk." Carly crossed her arms and leaned back in
her seat. "What are we going to talk about anyway?"
"I thought maybe we'd take a little stroll down memory lane."
Carly groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sonny, you just don't
have anything to do anymore, is that? Things just too quiet on the
import-export front? Nobody out there has any legs begging to be broken?"
"Carly, I'm being serious here."
"Okay, okay, we're strolling… where we going?"
"When I returned to Port Charles after Jason died…"
"Sonny, no." Carly shook her head.
"After Jason died," Sonny said firmly.
"I hope there's alcohol in that basket over there." Carly muttered.
"Carly will you listen to me!" Sonny snapped.
"Alright," Carly closed her eyes and leaned back, "You were saying?"
"After Jason died, I was a wreak. It was too soon after Brenda's death, I
didn't know what to do. I pushed everyone out of my life. I didn't talk to
Mike, to Luke, not even to Robin who was feeling the same things I had to
be feeling. The thing was, I didn't want to hear the 'I'm sorrys' and the
'It's all going to be okay' because at the time it wasn't okay and I knew,
I thought, it would never be. I wouldn't allow myself to feel anything but
the pain and the hate I had for Moreno. That's all I wanted to feel and
that's all I wanted to deal with. But then all of a sudden I had this baby
and his just released from the nuthouse mother that I had to deal with. You
demanded that I help take
care of Jason's son, that Jason would have wanted that."
"You hated me as soon as I walked through the door, possibly even before
that." Carly murmured.
"I didn't hate you." Sonny said softly. "I resented the hell out of you,
yes, but I didn't hate you. Your being there and your not going away no
matter what I said meant that I had to crawl out my hole and face the
world."
"Back then when I came to you all I wanted was to go someplace quiet,
someplace safe, and someplace that Jason had been and just go quietly
insane. I didn't give a damn about your feelings or Robin's and no matter
how many times Bobbie and plenty of others told me I was being selfish, I
didn't care. I needed to be with someone who would take care of my son and
keep him safe while I took a little vacation from realty. I knew that Jason
trusted you and I knew I could trust you with his son."
"But I wouldn't let you. There was no way I was about to leave my hell just
so you could float around the penthouse in a daze thinking about Jason all
the time. I was determined to get you to leave me alone but you wouldn't
leave. I remember the fights we had. No one I've ever met fights like you
do, you get down and dirty." Sonny laughed softly. "And then it was like I
didn't want you to leave, I enjoyed fighting with you."
"I think all the fighting between us in the beginning helped. It gave both
us something to do besides wallowing around. Every morning I would wake up
already thinking of something to argue with you about and every night I
would go to bed going over what you said and what I could have said. Bobbie
would ask me 'Why on earth are you still there? You can't stand the man,
this can't be good for Michael at all!' I knew told her how good it was for
*me*."
"People thought we were crazy. I think a few people thought we would end up
killing each other. If I hadn't kissed you that night, I think you might
have tried." Sonny murmured.
Carly remembered that night. It was right after she had put Michael down
for the night. She and Sonny were in the middle of a fight about something
trivial like moving the furniture or something and Sonny had just called
her something in Spanish that she didn't understand.
'What did you just say? Speak English, damn you, or so help me!' Carly
reached down and grabbed the first thing she saw: a paperback she'd been
reading earlier.
'What are you going to do? Brain me with a romance novel?' Sonny laughed,
suddenly seeing how ridiculous they had become.
'Maybe I will!' Carly raised the book over her head.
Sonny rolled his eyes. 'Carly put the book down. Now, you're just being
silly.'
'Silly? Silly?' Carly repeated. 'Oh, I'll show you silly!' Carly swung the
book at Sonny, who managed to jump out of the way before it connected with
his head.
'Damn it, Carly! Give me the book!' Sonny reached for paperback.
'No!' She ran towards the couch. Sonny followed. He lunged at her throwing
his body against hers. They landed sprawled out on the couch, their faces
just inches away from each other.
Breathing heavily, Sonny murmured. 'You're a madwoman.'
'It's my best trait.' She shrugged.
'I know. That's why I like you.' He whispered before bending his head and
kissing her softly on the lips. He raised his head to see Carly staring up
at him, wide-eyed. 'Surprised?'
'Very. Why'd you do that for?' She asked.
'Carly, Carly, Carly, if you couldn't tell from that kiss then I'll just
have to better won't I?' Sonny laughed before bending again and capturing
her lips in another kiss.'"
Carly stared out the limousine window. "So it was kiss me or be killed,
huh? We went from using arguments as a way to stay alive to sex. Once again
Carly Spencer gets used for sex."
Sonny reached over and grasped her chin, turning her face towards him. "I
never once used you for sex, it wasn't like that with me."
"So maybe it was that way with me, how about that?" Carly cocked her
eyebrow. "It had been awhile for me and men weren't exactly lining up to be
with me. Things like my stay in Ferncliff and the fact that I lived with a
known Mafia boss tended to turn a guy off."
"Carly, you haven't figured out that I can see through you?" Sonny smiled,
not even taking into consideration what she was saying.
"Look, can we wrap this up? My lunch break is almost over and all we've
done is drive around and relive our first kiss. Was there a point to all of
this?" Carly demanded.
"Why did you agree to come to lunch with me?" Sonny asked suddenly.
Carly tried to think hard but the answers she came up with she didn't want
to voice out loud. Carly shrugged. "I don't know… I just… Why did you ask
me to come to lunch?" She turned the question around to make up for her not
having an answer.
"Carly you already know why. I want you back. I still love you and I know
that you still love me."
"You never loved me." Carly scoffed. "You never said the words once to me
and who said I ever loved you?"
"You want the words? Here they are: I love you." Sonny said each word
slowly.
He waited patiently as Carly said back in her seat chewing on her lower lip
saying nothing. He gently reached out and touched her lips with his finger.
"Don't do that. Carly, I'm waiting."
"For what? For me to say the words back to you. Oh, I'm supposed to just
forget all of a sudden that I'm a building a future with Alex and go
running back to you just because well hey, you said the magic words. Words
you've never said to me before. Is that it?"
"If you love me, you would." Sonny said confidently.
"Damn, I wish I had the confidence you have. You never doubt yourself do
you? Well, if you loved me, then you should have told me years ago."
"Would that have made you stay with me?" Sonny asked quietly. When Carly
didn't answer he nodded. "I knew it. The thing is…I didn't even knew that I
had let you into my heart until that day I came home and you and Michael
were gone."
Carly laughed bitterly. "Don't try that old 'I didn't know I loved you till
you were gone' crap. I can see right through that like you think you can
see right through me."
"Carly…"
"Okay, maybe I need some time by myself." Carly folded her arms. "I really
need to get back to the office. V and Jax are probably wondering where I
am." She lied.
"I can't believe you work for that pompous jerk." Sonny muttered.
"Hey, you're still friends with Robin and I don't give you grief over it.
If I want to work for my…step-uncle then I will go ahead and do it okay?"
Carly latched onto the subject like a lifeline.
"Okay, no Jax bashing for today. So you want time? You'll have some time.
I'll give you until Thanksgiving."
"Oh thank you kind sir." Carly said snidely. "So does this mean, I don't
see you until next week?" She asked hopefully.
"No, it just means I won't bring up the subject until next week." Sonny
gave her a half smile. "I'll just tell Johnny to turn the car around."
~*~*~
There was a quick knock on Victor's hotel room door. Knowing whom it was,
Victor shouted, "Enter!"
Victor flipped through the Port Charles Herald and barely looked up when
Higgins slipped into the room. "Everything is a go?" He murmured as he
reached for his coffee.
"Yes sir." Higgins assured him.
"Nothing is going to go wrong, is it?" Victor looked directly at Higgins,
who backed up a step.
"N-no sir." Higgins shook his adamantly.
"Good. Everything needs to go as scheduled. I want no unexpected
surprises."
Higgins whipped out his notepad and read aloud. "Carly, Michael, and
barring no emergencies at the hospital, Barbara will all be in the
Brownstone at 5:30 p.m."
Victor smiled slightly. "Perfect, I want the family reunion to go as
smoothly as possible."
~*~*~
PC Grille
Stefan stood up at his table as Nikolas and Alexis approached. "You are
both late." He said with a frown.
Alexis shrugged, nonchalantly. "I had a meeting that ran late." She
gracefully slid into her seat and shook out her napkin.
Stefan turned his frown to Nikolas. "And what about you?"
Nikolas rubbed his forehead. "I'm sorry, Uncle, I slept in."
"You slept in? Are you feeling alright?" Stefan's frown changed to a look
of concern. "You don't like well."
That's because I have a hangover, Nikolas thought to himself. "No, no, I'm
fine. I was just…up late last night. That's all."
Stefan narrowed his eyes as he looked at his son. Something was wrong but
he could tell that Nikolas wasn't in the mood to talk about it. He turned
to other matters instead. "In case you haven't heard by now, Alexis, it
seems that…"
"Carly Spencer's your daughter?" Alexis interrupted. She laughed at the
slightly surprised look on Stefan's face. "Wondering how I know? I had a
source tell me about Carly."
Stefan frowned. "Luke Spencer, I assume."
"Of course. Who else will tell me what's going on around here. I can't even
trust my own brother to tell me that I have a niece. Where you ever going
to tell me?" Alexis demanded.
"In time, Alexis, in time." Stefan said smoothly.
"Wait, you never told Alexis?" Nikolas interjected.
"And why am I not surprised to see that Nikolas already knows." Alexis
scowled.
"I just happened to be there when all this came out. Why didn't you tell
Alexis?" Nikolas asked.
"Doesn't trust me, maybe? Why? I have no idea. He also tends to forget that
I'm family not just some useless relation."
"Alexis, why do you insist on saying those things?" Stefan asked. "We both
know it's not true. What has Ashton been filling your head with?"
"Ned? You're bringing Ned into this? This has nothing to do with Ned."
Alexis raised her voice.
"Lower your voice, we are in a public place." Stefan commanded.
Alexis lowered her voice and leaned into the table. "Why don't you just
tell us what you were about to say so I can go home to my family?"
"Family? You have a child, Lexi?" Alexis groaned inwardly as she recognized
the voice behind her back.
Alexis closed her eyes and said wearily. "Layla. I do not have a child. And
don't call me Lexi!"
Stefan stood and opened his arms. "Layla, what are you doing here?"
Layla went over and hugged him. "I was in the neighborhood and I was told
this place was simply delicious."
Actually Layla had spotted Higgins and followed him into the Port Charles
Hotel. However, she lost him in the crowded hotel lobby. Not giving up
hope, at least she knew a possible location for Victor to hide at, she
decided to grab some lunch. How fortunate for her, Stefan and family were
sitting inside.
Layla turned to Alexis and pouted prettily. "Aw, Lexi, no children? I'm so
sorry."
Nikolas stood up and smiled at Layla. "Layla, wow, I had no idea you were
in town. Uncle did you know and not tell me?"
"Don't blame your dear uncle." Layla admonished. "I flitted in and out of
his office so quickly, I bet he thought I wasn't really there. My, my,
Nikolas, you have grown into a handsome young man."
"And you Layla, every time I see, you seem to get younger and younger."
"I'll tell you my secret, Nikki, it's all because of… my cheekbones. I have
excellent bone structure." Layla grinned.
"And an excellent plastic surgeon." Alexis muttered. She stood up. "Stefan,
if this…meeting is over, I'll be on my way now."
"But Lexi, I just got here and we have so much catching up to do."
"Stefan will fill me in on it…and don't call me Lexi." Alexis stood and
walked away.
"Such a rude, cold woman." Layla remarked. She sat in Alexis' abandoned
chair. "Glad to see that some things never changed. But you Nikolas, I
didn't recognize you at first. Steffie, you have done a wonderful job."
Stefan allowed his chest to swell with pride. "Thank you Layla, but I
didn't have much to do with it. I just let him grown on his own."
"But why are you so tired looking?" Layla reached across the table and
touched his forehead. "Are you getting enough sleep? Are you ill?"
"I had a late night, that's all." Nikolas said again.
"Doing what, I wonder?" Layla murmured.
Nikolas' mind flashed to soft wet lips, teasing fingers, salty skin and
intertwining legs. To delicate caresses, deep hot kisses and muffled moans.
To…He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "Uh…I was…"
Layla laughed softly. "Am I embarrassing you? Were you doing
something…bad?"
Stefan smiled slightly. "Layla, I think you are truly embarrassing him
now."
"Okay, okay, I'll leave it alone for now. But we have some catching up to
do. Tell me all that I've missed these past 12 years. Either of you seeing
someone special?" She folded her arms on the table and leaned in.
"At the moment Nikolas has been seeing a young woman by the name of
Elizabeth Webber, a cousin of his mother's, and while I," Stefan leaned in
towards Layla, "I have been saving myself for you."
"You always say the sweetest things." Layla grinned. She reached out and
caressed his jaw.
"Actually," Nikolas interrupted. "Elizabeth and I have…we're not seeing
each other any more."
Stefan frowned. "Is that true? Did something transpire between the two of
you? A fight perhaps?"
Nikolas shook his head. "No, there was no fight. It was a…mutual decision.
So, Layla, we haven't seen you in 12 years?" Nikolas quickly latched onto
the subject.
"It feels like only yesterday doesn't it?" Layla sat back.
"So why are you here?" Nikolas asked.
"To see my two favorite men, of course." Layla shrugged.
"Actually she's out to find Victor. Something to do with the eye patch she
now wears." Stefan told him. Layla shot him a harsh look. "Why shouldn't he
know? He is a man; he is the Cassadine. He should know what's going on in
his family."
"Well, that was my business." Layla grumbled. "I didn't know that you would
betray a personal confidence like that."
"Layla, please, Uncle was just…being Uncle." Nikolas said soothingly. He
reached over and patted her hand. "He-"
"Nikki, you don't have to explain your Uncle to me, I know what kind of a
man he is." Layla nodded. She licked her lips and gazed at Stefan. Stefan
gazed back. "I know all about your Uncle."
Nikolas rolled his eyes. They were doing it again. He could remember from
Layla's stay with them that from time to time Layla and his Uncle would
just look at each other and not say a word for at least ten minutes or
more. Nikolas took his napkin off his lap and placed it on the table.
"If you two will excuse me, I just remembered I have somewhere else to be."
He began to stand.
"But Nikki, I just got here." Layla protested.
"What about lunch?" Stefan asked.
"We'll just have to do it another time. Why don't you two just stay and
have lunch together. I doubt I'll be missed."
"Yes, you will be. But, if you have to go…" Layla shrugged. "Give me a kiss
goodbye. I'll try to come out to Spoon Island to see you before I go. We'll
talk about this Webber girl and how we can fix you two."
Nikolas brushed his lips across her cheek. "There isn't much to fix." He
smiled sadly. "We can't be fixed."