Chapter 30
Sonny's Penthouse
Sonny and Skye made it back to Port Charles in one piece. They were so glad to be home that they spent the next several days in the penthouse, reveling in each other. Eventually Skye pried herself from Sonny's arms, insisting that she had to do some serious Christmas shopping. She had a marvelous time. Rae joined her on several occasions, and they continued to get closer as mother and daughter. Skye called Adam, and made arrangements for her and Sonny to come to Pine Valley for New Years. Adam didn't think it would be a problem to get invitations to the Crystal Ball. Skye was thrilled that the holidays would be full of cheer this year. Maybe she would even get along with all of the Quartermaines. She could only hope.
On Christmas Eve morning, Skye was wrapping presents while Sonny was at the warehouse dealing with an unexpected crisis. She was having a great time – Mocha kept thwarting her efforts, making her laugh. Finally she remembered a trick she had learned off the internet. She put a piece of tape on Mocha's forehead, which occupied him so that he couldn't make mischief. Max knocked on the door and announced that AJ was here to see her. She made sure none of his gifts were visible, and called him in. Mocha, sensing an undesirable presence, forgot the tape on his forehead and went scurrying out of the room. She laughed and then looked at AJ. The laughter died when she saw the expression on his face. He had the look of doom, and the pain in his eyes filled her with dread. She stood up and went over to him. "What happened?" AJ stared at her for a moment, then swallowed. "Courtney left me last night." She stared at him wide-eyed. He went on. "She finally found out about how I had used her in the beginning to get back at Sonny. She was horrified, and…and said that she never knew me and that….she doesn't ever want to see me again. She plans to file for a divorce." Skye drew her brother into her arms. "Oh, AJ, I'm so sorry." Then she drew back. "How did she find out about this?" A look of pure hatred crossed his features. "It was Sonny, of course." Skye shook her head. "It couldn't have been. Why would he do such a thing? Now of all times?"
AJ threw up his hands. "How the hell should I know? I've never understood that man. Maybe he planned to tell her all along and was waiting until the moment when I was happiest and the most confident that everything was going to turn out okay. He'll probably make sure I never see Michael again also." Skye sat down. "No, that can't happen. He signed a contract." AJ glared at her. "With Alexis as his lawyer, he can do anything he damn well pleases. Face facts, Skye. Sonny is nothing but a lying scumbag with all the power. And I was the stupid little worm that thought I could actually take him on and win." Skye stood up again. "This can't be right, I refuse to believe that this happened like you think. What made you think that Sonny was the one who told Courtney?" AJ looked exasperated. "Because she told me, of course. Besides, who else knows or gives a damn?" Skye shook her head in bewilderment. "But how did he convince her? I mean, when you were dating he told her a thousand times not to trust you. Why would she believe him now?" AJ shrugged. "How should I know? At this point I don't care. The only thing I care about is that I've lost the only woman I've ever loved." He slumped down on the couch, dejected. A horrible thought struck Skye. Had Sonny made a copy of the tape before giving it to her? Had he kept it all this time, waiting for the right moment to play it for Courtney? Skye began to pace. "You may not care, but I do. We're talking about the man I love possibly being responsible for destroying my brother's life. AJ, I think you should go back to the townhouse and wait for me. I'm going to get to the bottom of this."
Sonny's Warehouse
Skye barged into Sonny's office, ignoring Johnny's protests. "We really, really need to talk." Sonny looked at her in surprise, then said his goodbyes to the person he had been talking to on the phone. He sat down. "What's up?" Skye slowly sat down across the desk from him, trying to reign in her emotions. "AJ told me that Courtney has left him. She apparently found out about how he tried to use her to get back at you. She told him that you were the one who spilled the beans." Skye took a deep breath. "Were you really the one who told her?" There was a long pause. Finally Sonny shook his head. "No, I haven't said a word to her about AJ since last spring." They stared at each other for another few minutes. Skye's shoulders slumped. "I believe you. Which means that Courtney lied." Sonny stood up. "No way! Why would Courtney lie about something like that? AJ is the one who is lying to you." Skye stood up also. "For what possible reason?" Sonny smiled coldly. "Because he blames me for everything. Courtney left him, now he wants to get revenge by driving a wedge between the two of us." Skye folded her arms. "That is not true! He wouldn't hurt me like that. I know when AJ is lying, and he wasn't lying." Sonny waved his hand. "I've known AJ a lot longer than you have, and considering the circumstances, I think he's the one."
Skye gathered her purse and coat. "Well there's just one way to find out the truth, isn't there?" Sonny frowned. "Where are you going?" She raised one eyebrow. "To talk to Courtney. She's the only one who really knows what happened, and I'm going to get it out of her." Sonny held up his hands. "No no no no no. Courtney is my sister, I will talk to her." Skye shook her head. "She is my sister-in-law, I have every right to speak with her if I want." Sonny came around the desk. "You aren't going anywhere near Courtney with your venom. She's hurting enough already." Skye looked at him in shock. "Venom?" Sonny folded his arms. "Yes, venom. I know you, Skye. You're going to go rake her over the coals for hurting your precious brother's feelings. And then you're going to grill her to find out who let the cat out of the bag, and I have a feeling I know who it is. Then you'll probably go after that person too. You won't stop until you've made everyone else just as miserable as your brother. Well, I'm not going to let you do that to my family." Skye was stunned. "You asshole! I will do whatever I damned well please, and you can't stop me!" She turned around to leave and he tried to block her. She flipped him over her shoulder, knocking him breathless. Without saying another word she walked away.
Mike's house
Mike answered his door and Skye asked to see Courtney. He shook his head. "I don't think she would want to see you right now." Skye held up a wrapped gift. "But I brought her Christmas present. I wanted to see her open it." It was a lie, of course. The gift was something an employee had given her that had still been in the car. Mike wavered. "Okay, you can come in. But only for a few minutes." She smiled sweetly at him, then walked through the door. He indicated that Courtney was in the kitchen, then sat down to read a magazine. Courtney was putting the dirty breakfast dishes in the sink. She was startled to see Skye. "I don't want to talk to you." Skye put the gift down on the kitchen table and took off her coat. "Too bad, because we're going to have it out." Courtney folded her arms. "I know what this is about and I'm not going to listen to you. You can save your breath." Skye smiled coldly. "What are you going to do, put your fingers in your ears? Throw a tantrum? Its time to grow up, Courtney. You aren't a child anymore, you are a married woman." Courtney narrowed her eyes. "Not for much longer. I plan to get a divorce as soon as possible." Skye sat down in a seemingly casual gesture. "I suppose you're consistent. You rushed into marriage and now you're going to rush right out of it. But we'll get into that later. There's something I want to know first. When you told AJ you knew about his schemes, who was it you told him had spilled the beans?"
Courtney seemed surprised by this question, but she lifted her chin in defiance. "I said that Sonny told me." Skye supressed a smile of triumph. Score one for her – AJ hadn't lied to her. "Okay, so tell me, who did actually tell you the truth about AJ?" Courtney was genuinely puzzled. "Like I said, it was Sonny." Skye scrutinized the young woman like she was analyzing her through a microscope. "Never lie to a liar, Courtney. Especially when you're a rank amatuer. I'm asking you again, who spilled the beans?" A voice from the doorway interrupted them. "It was me." Courtney looked horrified. "Daddy, I had this under control. Don't listen to him, Skye. It was actually Janine who told me the truth." Mike shook his head. "Janine just confirmed the facts, I was the one who brought it up." He glared at Skye. "And I don't regret it. I never wanted them to be together. AJ was using her and I hated him for it. I was hoping that either Sonny would break them up, or they would fall apart on their own. It killed me when they eloped, but I still had hope that it would end. Then Courtney comes to me yesterday, talking about how she wants to have a baby. I flipped. Marriages can end without much of a fuss. But involving a child in this whole sick and twisted affair is unacceptable. So I told her everything. Courtney didn't believe me, of course, so I told her to ask Janine. I knew that Janine would be able to clear up a few things."
Mike looked at Courtney. She nodded. "I called Janine, and forced her to tell me the truth. She told me about how AJ suckered her into believing that he was in love with me and wanted to marry me and make me happy. In return she helped him with his plan, and accepted monetary payoffs. I knew that she had to be telling the truth, since she has been in favor of me being with AJ from the start." Skye digested all this. "Why did you tell AJ that Sonny was the one who revealed the truth?" Courtney folded her arms. "Because I was afraid for my dad. I figured if AJ was despicable enough to do what he did to get back at Sonny, no telling what he would do to dad in retaliation. Plus I figured it might facilitate a break up between you and Sonny. Janine did tell me that you knew about AJ's plan from the start." Skye stared at her a moment, then laughed. "And here I was calling you an amateur. Only a real pro would achieve two different goals with one lie. Congratulations, Courtney. You've stooped to mine and AJ's level." Courtney looked mutinous. "I don't give a damn what you think about me." Skye smiled coldly. "The feeling is mutual. I do, however, give a damn about what you think of AJ. I'm going to say what I came to say whether you like it or not." Courtney opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by yet another voice in the doorway. "You don't have to listen to a word she says, Courtney."
Everyone looked over to see Sonny standing there. He stared at Skye, pale with rage. "I think you've harrassed her long enough." Skye set her jaw. "I am not finished, Sonny." Sonny looked up at the ceiling, fighting for control. "You will walk out of here right now, or the engagement is off." Skye stared at him for a long time. Then she took a deep breath. "If it's a matter of choosing between saving an engagement and saving a marriage, I think the decision is clear. I'm not leaving." The other three gaped at her in stunned silence. Finally Courtney spoke. "Look guys, if she wants to talk to me that badly, let her. Contrary to popular belief, I am an adult and I can take care of myself. Just go, so we can get this over with." Mike shook his head and left the room. With one last unreadable look, Sonny followed him.
Sonny's Penthouse
Sonny and Skye made it back to Port Charles in one piece. They were so glad to be home that they spent the next several days in the penthouse, reveling in each other. Eventually Skye pried herself from Sonny's arms, insisting that she had to do some serious Christmas shopping. She had a marvelous time. Rae joined her on several occasions, and they continued to get closer as mother and daughter. Skye called Adam, and made arrangements for her and Sonny to come to Pine Valley for New Years. Adam didn't think it would be a problem to get invitations to the Crystal Ball. Skye was thrilled that the holidays would be full of cheer this year. Maybe she would even get along with all of the Quartermaines. She could only hope.
On Christmas Eve morning, Skye was wrapping presents while Sonny was at the warehouse dealing with an unexpected crisis. She was having a great time – Mocha kept thwarting her efforts, making her laugh. Finally she remembered a trick she had learned off the internet. She put a piece of tape on Mocha's forehead, which occupied him so that he couldn't make mischief. Max knocked on the door and announced that AJ was here to see her. She made sure none of his gifts were visible, and called him in. Mocha, sensing an undesirable presence, forgot the tape on his forehead and went scurrying out of the room. She laughed and then looked at AJ. The laughter died when she saw the expression on his face. He had the look of doom, and the pain in his eyes filled her with dread. She stood up and went over to him. "What happened?" AJ stared at her for a moment, then swallowed. "Courtney left me last night." She stared at him wide-eyed. He went on. "She finally found out about how I had used her in the beginning to get back at Sonny. She was horrified, and…and said that she never knew me and that….she doesn't ever want to see me again. She plans to file for a divorce." Skye drew her brother into her arms. "Oh, AJ, I'm so sorry." Then she drew back. "How did she find out about this?" A look of pure hatred crossed his features. "It was Sonny, of course." Skye shook her head. "It couldn't have been. Why would he do such a thing? Now of all times?"
AJ threw up his hands. "How the hell should I know? I've never understood that man. Maybe he planned to tell her all along and was waiting until the moment when I was happiest and the most confident that everything was going to turn out okay. He'll probably make sure I never see Michael again also." Skye sat down. "No, that can't happen. He signed a contract." AJ glared at her. "With Alexis as his lawyer, he can do anything he damn well pleases. Face facts, Skye. Sonny is nothing but a lying scumbag with all the power. And I was the stupid little worm that thought I could actually take him on and win." Skye stood up again. "This can't be right, I refuse to believe that this happened like you think. What made you think that Sonny was the one who told Courtney?" AJ looked exasperated. "Because she told me, of course. Besides, who else knows or gives a damn?" Skye shook her head in bewilderment. "But how did he convince her? I mean, when you were dating he told her a thousand times not to trust you. Why would she believe him now?" AJ shrugged. "How should I know? At this point I don't care. The only thing I care about is that I've lost the only woman I've ever loved." He slumped down on the couch, dejected. A horrible thought struck Skye. Had Sonny made a copy of the tape before giving it to her? Had he kept it all this time, waiting for the right moment to play it for Courtney? Skye began to pace. "You may not care, but I do. We're talking about the man I love possibly being responsible for destroying my brother's life. AJ, I think you should go back to the townhouse and wait for me. I'm going to get to the bottom of this."
Sonny's Warehouse
Skye barged into Sonny's office, ignoring Johnny's protests. "We really, really need to talk." Sonny looked at her in surprise, then said his goodbyes to the person he had been talking to on the phone. He sat down. "What's up?" Skye slowly sat down across the desk from him, trying to reign in her emotions. "AJ told me that Courtney has left him. She apparently found out about how he tried to use her to get back at you. She told him that you were the one who spilled the beans." Skye took a deep breath. "Were you really the one who told her?" There was a long pause. Finally Sonny shook his head. "No, I haven't said a word to her about AJ since last spring." They stared at each other for another few minutes. Skye's shoulders slumped. "I believe you. Which means that Courtney lied." Sonny stood up. "No way! Why would Courtney lie about something like that? AJ is the one who is lying to you." Skye stood up also. "For what possible reason?" Sonny smiled coldly. "Because he blames me for everything. Courtney left him, now he wants to get revenge by driving a wedge between the two of us." Skye folded her arms. "That is not true! He wouldn't hurt me like that. I know when AJ is lying, and he wasn't lying." Sonny waved his hand. "I've known AJ a lot longer than you have, and considering the circumstances, I think he's the one."
Skye gathered her purse and coat. "Well there's just one way to find out the truth, isn't there?" Sonny frowned. "Where are you going?" She raised one eyebrow. "To talk to Courtney. She's the only one who really knows what happened, and I'm going to get it out of her." Sonny held up his hands. "No no no no no. Courtney is my sister, I will talk to her." Skye shook her head. "She is my sister-in-law, I have every right to speak with her if I want." Sonny came around the desk. "You aren't going anywhere near Courtney with your venom. She's hurting enough already." Skye looked at him in shock. "Venom?" Sonny folded his arms. "Yes, venom. I know you, Skye. You're going to go rake her over the coals for hurting your precious brother's feelings. And then you're going to grill her to find out who let the cat out of the bag, and I have a feeling I know who it is. Then you'll probably go after that person too. You won't stop until you've made everyone else just as miserable as your brother. Well, I'm not going to let you do that to my family." Skye was stunned. "You asshole! I will do whatever I damned well please, and you can't stop me!" She turned around to leave and he tried to block her. She flipped him over her shoulder, knocking him breathless. Without saying another word she walked away.
Mike's house
Mike answered his door and Skye asked to see Courtney. He shook his head. "I don't think she would want to see you right now." Skye held up a wrapped gift. "But I brought her Christmas present. I wanted to see her open it." It was a lie, of course. The gift was something an employee had given her that had still been in the car. Mike wavered. "Okay, you can come in. But only for a few minutes." She smiled sweetly at him, then walked through the door. He indicated that Courtney was in the kitchen, then sat down to read a magazine. Courtney was putting the dirty breakfast dishes in the sink. She was startled to see Skye. "I don't want to talk to you." Skye put the gift down on the kitchen table and took off her coat. "Too bad, because we're going to have it out." Courtney folded her arms. "I know what this is about and I'm not going to listen to you. You can save your breath." Skye smiled coldly. "What are you going to do, put your fingers in your ears? Throw a tantrum? Its time to grow up, Courtney. You aren't a child anymore, you are a married woman." Courtney narrowed her eyes. "Not for much longer. I plan to get a divorce as soon as possible." Skye sat down in a seemingly casual gesture. "I suppose you're consistent. You rushed into marriage and now you're going to rush right out of it. But we'll get into that later. There's something I want to know first. When you told AJ you knew about his schemes, who was it you told him had spilled the beans?"
Courtney seemed surprised by this question, but she lifted her chin in defiance. "I said that Sonny told me." Skye supressed a smile of triumph. Score one for her – AJ hadn't lied to her. "Okay, so tell me, who did actually tell you the truth about AJ?" Courtney was genuinely puzzled. "Like I said, it was Sonny." Skye scrutinized the young woman like she was analyzing her through a microscope. "Never lie to a liar, Courtney. Especially when you're a rank amatuer. I'm asking you again, who spilled the beans?" A voice from the doorway interrupted them. "It was me." Courtney looked horrified. "Daddy, I had this under control. Don't listen to him, Skye. It was actually Janine who told me the truth." Mike shook his head. "Janine just confirmed the facts, I was the one who brought it up." He glared at Skye. "And I don't regret it. I never wanted them to be together. AJ was using her and I hated him for it. I was hoping that either Sonny would break them up, or they would fall apart on their own. It killed me when they eloped, but I still had hope that it would end. Then Courtney comes to me yesterday, talking about how she wants to have a baby. I flipped. Marriages can end without much of a fuss. But involving a child in this whole sick and twisted affair is unacceptable. So I told her everything. Courtney didn't believe me, of course, so I told her to ask Janine. I knew that Janine would be able to clear up a few things."
Mike looked at Courtney. She nodded. "I called Janine, and forced her to tell me the truth. She told me about how AJ suckered her into believing that he was in love with me and wanted to marry me and make me happy. In return she helped him with his plan, and accepted monetary payoffs. I knew that she had to be telling the truth, since she has been in favor of me being with AJ from the start." Skye digested all this. "Why did you tell AJ that Sonny was the one who revealed the truth?" Courtney folded her arms. "Because I was afraid for my dad. I figured if AJ was despicable enough to do what he did to get back at Sonny, no telling what he would do to dad in retaliation. Plus I figured it might facilitate a break up between you and Sonny. Janine did tell me that you knew about AJ's plan from the start." Skye stared at her a moment, then laughed. "And here I was calling you an amateur. Only a real pro would achieve two different goals with one lie. Congratulations, Courtney. You've stooped to mine and AJ's level." Courtney looked mutinous. "I don't give a damn what you think about me." Skye smiled coldly. "The feeling is mutual. I do, however, give a damn about what you think of AJ. I'm going to say what I came to say whether you like it or not." Courtney opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by yet another voice in the doorway. "You don't have to listen to a word she says, Courtney."
Everyone looked over to see Sonny standing there. He stared at Skye, pale with rage. "I think you've harrassed her long enough." Skye set her jaw. "I am not finished, Sonny." Sonny looked up at the ceiling, fighting for control. "You will walk out of here right now, or the engagement is off." Skye stared at him for a long time. Then she took a deep breath. "If it's a matter of choosing between saving an engagement and saving a marriage, I think the decision is clear. I'm not leaving." The other three gaped at her in stunned silence. Finally Courtney spoke. "Look guys, if she wants to talk to me that badly, let her. Contrary to popular belief, I am an adult and I can take care of myself. Just go, so we can get this over with." Mike shook his head and left the room. With one last unreadable look, Sonny followed him.
