WHEN JASON ARRIVED HOME LATER THAT NIGHT, CARLY HAD ALREADY LEFT THE PENT HOUSE, BUT COURTNEY REMAINED WAITING FOR HIS RETURN.
"HEY." JASON GREETED COURTNEY AS HE REMOVED HIS LEATHER COAT AND PLACED IT NICELY ON THE COUCH WHERE COURTNEY WAS SITTING.
"JASON," COURTNEY SAID AS SHE MOVED TO MAKE ROOM FOR JASON ON THE COUCH ASIDE FROM HER. "THERE'S SOMETHING I NEED TO TELL YOU." COURTNEY SAID AS SHE GESTURED TO JASON TO SIT DOWN WITH A SLIGHT TAP ON THE COUCH NEXT TO HER. SHE COULD FEEL AN UNCOUNTABLE AMOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES FLYING FREELY ALONG IN HER STOMACH. SHE BREATHED A SIGH OF NERVOUSNESS AS HE FOLLOWED HER INSTRUCTIONS AND SAT NEXT TO HER.
"DID SOMETHING HAPPEN?" JASON QUESTIONED IN CONCERN AS HE RUBBED HER LEG WITH HIS HAND.
"UM…I GUESS YOU COULD SAY THAT." COURTNEY SAID AS SHE TURNED AND POSITIONED HERSELF SO SHE WAS FACING JASON COMPLELTY. SHE RESTED HER HANDS NERVOUSELY ATOP HER LAP AND STARRED DEEPLY INTO THE DEEP BLUE EYES SHE HAD OFTEN FOUND HERSELF GETTING LOST IN. "WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT CARLY AND SONNY HAVING A BABY?"
"I THINK IT'S GREAT." JASON ANSWERED UNSURE WHERE SHE WAS LEADING HIM. "WHY? YOU DON'T AGREE WITH IT? IS THAT WHAT'S GOING ON?" JASON INQUIRED. HE NARROWED HIS EYES SLIGHTLY WHEN REPSONDING TO COURTNEY'S QUESTION.
"NO. NOT AT ALL. I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL THAT THEY ARE FINALLY GOING TO HAVE A BABY OF THEIR OWN." COURTNEY QUICKLY ANSWERED, REALIZING SHE WAS GETTING AWAY FROM THE PURPOSE OF THEIR DISCUSSION. "WHAT I MEAN IS WHAT WOULD YOU THINK IF I WAS-"COURTNEY BEGAN, BUT STOPPED SUDDENLY WHEN SHE HEARD JASON'S CELL PHONE RINGING FROM HIS COAT. JASON STARRED AT COURTNEY FOR A FEW MORE SECONDS AS IF HE DIDN'T HEAR IT.
"I'M SORRY." HE FINALLY SAID AS HE REACHED IN THE POCKET OF HIS COAT AND REACHED IN FOR HIS ACTIVE PHONE.
"YEAH?" JASON ANSWERED WITH A SLIGHT SIGH OF AGGRIVATION. COURTNEY FIDDLED WITH HER FINGERS AND STARRED AT JASON AS HE RUBBED HIS FACE IN FRUSTERATION. "RIGHT NOW? I'M KIND OF- ALRIGHT, I'LL BE RIGHT THERE." JASON ANSWERED AS HE FLIPPED HIS PHONE TO END THE CALL AND STARRED HELPLESSLY AT COURTNEY.
"I'M SORRY, I HAVE TO TAKE THIS. IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO TELL ME?" JASON INQUIRED AS HE BEGAN TO REPLACE HIS JACKET ATOP HIMSELF.
"IT CAN WAIT. JUST COME BACK AS SOON AS YOU CAN." COURTNEY PLEADED. JASON GAVE HER HIS WORD BY SIMPLY SMILING AND KISSING HER GENTLY ON THE FOREHEAD. COURTNEY WATCHED IN DISSAPOITMENT AS JASON HEADED OUT THE DOOR LEAVING HER ALONE; LEAVING HIS FAMILY ALONE.
COURTNEY STILL AWAITED FOR JASON'S RETURN AN HOUR AFTER HE LEFT, HOLDING THE PREGNANCY RESULTS IN HER HAND. SHE WISHED SHE WOULD HAVE JUST TOLD HIM WHEN SHE HAD THE CHANCE; MAYBE HE WOULDN'T HAVE LEFT WHEN HE DID. COURTNEY'S THOUGHTS WERE DISTURBED WHEN SHE HEARD A TAP ON THE DOOR. COURTNEY ROSE QUICKLY FROM THE COUCH AND SPRINTED TO THE DOOR.
"JASON, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO-" BUT WHEN COURTNEY OPENED THE DOOR, IT WASN'T JASON WHOM WAS STANDING THERE.
"RIC, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? HOW DID YOU GET PASSED THE GUARDS?" COURTNEY ASKED IN ANGER AS SHE WATCHED AS RIC INVITED HIMSELF INTO THEIR PENT HOUSE. COURTNEY RECHECKED ONCE MORE OUT THE DOOR, AND THEN CLOSED IT BEHIND HER. "WHAT DO YOU WANT, RIC?"
RIC SMILED SWEETLY AS HE PICKED UP THE RESULTS FROM HER PREGNANCY TEST. HE GLANCED BACK AT COURTNEY, WHO WAS NOW RUSHING OVER TO RETRIEVE IT FROM HIM. "GET OUT!" SHE SCREAMED AS SHE SNATCHED THE TEST FROM WITHIN HIS GRASP AND HEADED TOWARDS THE EXIT.
"WELL, NOW, IS THAT ANYWAY TO TREAT YOUR GUEST? I THINK YOU WILL ACTUALLY BE QUITE INTERESTED IN WHAT I HAVE TO SAY." RIC SAID WITH SMUGNESS IN HIS VOICE.
"WHY WOULD I BE INTERESTED IN SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO SAY? YOU'RE SLIME, RIC, AND JASON WILL BE HOME SOON AND WHEN HE FINDS YOU HERE THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT HE WON'T KILL YOU." COURTNEY SCREAMED, BUT HER WARNING ONLY SET A SMIRK ACROSS RIC'S FACE.
"OH, I DOUBT THAT. SONNY DOESN'T WANT HIS BROTHER DEAD, AND JASON LISTENS TO SONN'YS EVERY DEMAND. I HIGHLY DOUBT JASON WOULD GO AGAINST SONNY'S WISHES." RIC ADMITTED.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT, RIC," COURTNEY DEMANED ONCE AGAIN.
"I ONLY SIMPLY WANT PEACE." RIC VOICED OUT AS IF HE WAS DESPERATE FOR HER ACCEPTANCE.
"WELL, YOU'RE TALKING TO THE WRONG PERSON." COURTNEY SHOT BACK, AS SHE WALKED OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM AND THEN BACK, ONCE AGAIN, TO THE DOOR.
"WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT," RIC SAID. "IN FACT, I THINK YOU'RE THE ONE PERSON WHO CAN HELP ME GET WHAT I WANT."
"AND WHY WOULD I DO THAT, RIC?" COURTNEY QUESTIONED IMPATIENTLY.
"WELL," RIC BEGAN. "YOU'RE SONNY'S SISTER, AND NOTHING MEANS MORE TO SONNY THEN FAMILY. YOU ALSO HAPPEN TO BE MORGAN'S GIRLFRIEND. YOU'RE IN A PERFECT POSITION TO HELP ME. COURTNEY, I KNOW I MADE MY MISTAKES, BUT I'M REALLY NOT A BAD GUY. IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE ME A CHANCE TO PROVE IT, MAYBE IT WOULD PROVE TO SONNY, AS WELL-" RIC BEGAN, AS HE PLACED HIS HAND FERMLY ON COURTNEY'S SHOULDER AND DREW IN CLOSER TO HER FACE. COURTNEY THREW INSTANTLY BACKED AWAY AND RUSHED QUICKLY TO OPEN THE DOOR.
"YOU THINK YOU'RE SO SMART, RIC. YOU KNOW WHAT? IF YOU WERE SMART, YOU WOULD REALIZE THAT SONNY LIVES RIGHT ACROSS THE HALL, ALL IT TAKES IS ONE SCREAM, RIC, JUST ONE FOR HIM TO COME RUNNING OVER HERE TO FIND YOU HARRASSING ME." COURTNEY HISSED ANGRILY AND OPENED THE DOOR WIDE FOR HIM TO LEAVE.
"FINE," RIC FINALLY AGREED. "BUT THINK ABOUT WHAT I SAID. I'M REALLY NOT AS BAD AS YOU MAY THINK. I KNOW I MADE STUPID DECISIONS, BUT I PROMISE YOU, I'M PUTTING A STOP TO THIS WAR BETWEEN ME AND SONNY." RIC SAID AS HE WALKED OUT THE DOOR. COURTNEY SLAMMED IT HARD BEHIND HIM AND WALKED SLOWLY TO THE COUCH. WHEN A HALF AN HOUR PASSED AND JASON STILL HADN'T RETURNED HOME, COURTNEY BEGAN TO GET CONCERNED. AS SHE BEGAN TO HEAD TOWARDS THE PHONE, THE DOOR HAD OPENED.
"HEY. SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG." JASON APOLOGIZED AS HE HEADED TOWARDS THE COUCH AND, ONCE AGAIN, SAT DOWN COMFORTABLY.
"IT'S ALRIGHT," COURTNEY RESPONDED, AND SHE, TOO, SAT DOWN ON THE COUCH NEXT TO JASON.
"NOW, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANTED TO TELL ME?" JASON ASKED AS HE TOOK OFF HIS COAT, AND THIS TIME, TOSSING IT CARELESSLY ATOP THE ARMREST
"OKAY." COURTNEY SIGHED. "WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT BECOMING A FAMILY? YOU KNOW, ME, YOU, AND A BABY." COURTNEY ASKED AS SHE HELD JASON'S HAND TIGHTLY IN HERS.
"I THINK IT SOUNDS GREAT." JASON REPSONDED. "I COULDN'T IMAGINE MYSELF WITH ANYONE ELSE BUT YOU, COURTNEY. I WOULDN'T BE ALIVE IF I DIDN'T HAVE YOU TO LIVE FOR." HE ADDED.
"WELL, NOW YOU HAVE SOMEONE ELSE TO LIVE FOR." COURTNEY SAID AS SHE SMILED WIDELY AT JASON.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" JASON ASKED WITH A CONFUSED EXPRESSION ACROSS HIS FACE.
"JASON, THERE'S A LOVE INSIDE MY HEART THAT CONTINUES TO GROW FOR YOU. IT GROWS STRONGER EVERYDAY. WELL, NOW I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS GROWING STRONGER EVERYDAY AS WELL." COURTNEY SAID. JASON DIDN'T SAY A WORD FOR A COUPLE SECONDS; INSTEAD HE STARRED DEEPLY INTO COURTNEY'S EYES.
"WHAT'S THAT?" JASON FINALLY ASKED.
COURTNEY TOOK IN A DEEP BREATH AND SMILED, "OUR BABY."
"HEY." JASON GREETED COURTNEY AS HE REMOVED HIS LEATHER COAT AND PLACED IT NICELY ON THE COUCH WHERE COURTNEY WAS SITTING.
"JASON," COURTNEY SAID AS SHE MOVED TO MAKE ROOM FOR JASON ON THE COUCH ASIDE FROM HER. "THERE'S SOMETHING I NEED TO TELL YOU." COURTNEY SAID AS SHE GESTURED TO JASON TO SIT DOWN WITH A SLIGHT TAP ON THE COUCH NEXT TO HER. SHE COULD FEEL AN UNCOUNTABLE AMOUNT OF BUTTERFLIES FLYING FREELY ALONG IN HER STOMACH. SHE BREATHED A SIGH OF NERVOUSNESS AS HE FOLLOWED HER INSTRUCTIONS AND SAT NEXT TO HER.
"DID SOMETHING HAPPEN?" JASON QUESTIONED IN CONCERN AS HE RUBBED HER LEG WITH HIS HAND.
"UM…I GUESS YOU COULD SAY THAT." COURTNEY SAID AS SHE TURNED AND POSITIONED HERSELF SO SHE WAS FACING JASON COMPLELTY. SHE RESTED HER HANDS NERVOUSELY ATOP HER LAP AND STARRED DEEPLY INTO THE DEEP BLUE EYES SHE HAD OFTEN FOUND HERSELF GETTING LOST IN. "WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT CARLY AND SONNY HAVING A BABY?"
"I THINK IT'S GREAT." JASON ANSWERED UNSURE WHERE SHE WAS LEADING HIM. "WHY? YOU DON'T AGREE WITH IT? IS THAT WHAT'S GOING ON?" JASON INQUIRED. HE NARROWED HIS EYES SLIGHTLY WHEN REPSONDING TO COURTNEY'S QUESTION.
"NO. NOT AT ALL. I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL THAT THEY ARE FINALLY GOING TO HAVE A BABY OF THEIR OWN." COURTNEY QUICKLY ANSWERED, REALIZING SHE WAS GETTING AWAY FROM THE PURPOSE OF THEIR DISCUSSION. "WHAT I MEAN IS WHAT WOULD YOU THINK IF I WAS-"COURTNEY BEGAN, BUT STOPPED SUDDENLY WHEN SHE HEARD JASON'S CELL PHONE RINGING FROM HIS COAT. JASON STARRED AT COURTNEY FOR A FEW MORE SECONDS AS IF HE DIDN'T HEAR IT.
"I'M SORRY." HE FINALLY SAID AS HE REACHED IN THE POCKET OF HIS COAT AND REACHED IN FOR HIS ACTIVE PHONE.
"YEAH?" JASON ANSWERED WITH A SLIGHT SIGH OF AGGRIVATION. COURTNEY FIDDLED WITH HER FINGERS AND STARRED AT JASON AS HE RUBBED HIS FACE IN FRUSTERATION. "RIGHT NOW? I'M KIND OF- ALRIGHT, I'LL BE RIGHT THERE." JASON ANSWERED AS HE FLIPPED HIS PHONE TO END THE CALL AND STARRED HELPLESSLY AT COURTNEY.
"I'M SORRY, I HAVE TO TAKE THIS. IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO TELL ME?" JASON INQUIRED AS HE BEGAN TO REPLACE HIS JACKET ATOP HIMSELF.
"IT CAN WAIT. JUST COME BACK AS SOON AS YOU CAN." COURTNEY PLEADED. JASON GAVE HER HIS WORD BY SIMPLY SMILING AND KISSING HER GENTLY ON THE FOREHEAD. COURTNEY WATCHED IN DISSAPOITMENT AS JASON HEADED OUT THE DOOR LEAVING HER ALONE; LEAVING HIS FAMILY ALONE.
COURTNEY STILL AWAITED FOR JASON'S RETURN AN HOUR AFTER HE LEFT, HOLDING THE PREGNANCY RESULTS IN HER HAND. SHE WISHED SHE WOULD HAVE JUST TOLD HIM WHEN SHE HAD THE CHANCE; MAYBE HE WOULDN'T HAVE LEFT WHEN HE DID. COURTNEY'S THOUGHTS WERE DISTURBED WHEN SHE HEARD A TAP ON THE DOOR. COURTNEY ROSE QUICKLY FROM THE COUCH AND SPRINTED TO THE DOOR.
"JASON, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO-" BUT WHEN COURTNEY OPENED THE DOOR, IT WASN'T JASON WHOM WAS STANDING THERE.
"RIC, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? HOW DID YOU GET PASSED THE GUARDS?" COURTNEY ASKED IN ANGER AS SHE WATCHED AS RIC INVITED HIMSELF INTO THEIR PENT HOUSE. COURTNEY RECHECKED ONCE MORE OUT THE DOOR, AND THEN CLOSED IT BEHIND HER. "WHAT DO YOU WANT, RIC?"
RIC SMILED SWEETLY AS HE PICKED UP THE RESULTS FROM HER PREGNANCY TEST. HE GLANCED BACK AT COURTNEY, WHO WAS NOW RUSHING OVER TO RETRIEVE IT FROM HIM. "GET OUT!" SHE SCREAMED AS SHE SNATCHED THE TEST FROM WITHIN HIS GRASP AND HEADED TOWARDS THE EXIT.
"WELL, NOW, IS THAT ANYWAY TO TREAT YOUR GUEST? I THINK YOU WILL ACTUALLY BE QUITE INTERESTED IN WHAT I HAVE TO SAY." RIC SAID WITH SMUGNESS IN HIS VOICE.
"WHY WOULD I BE INTERESTED IN SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO SAY? YOU'RE SLIME, RIC, AND JASON WILL BE HOME SOON AND WHEN HE FINDS YOU HERE THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT HE WON'T KILL YOU." COURTNEY SCREAMED, BUT HER WARNING ONLY SET A SMIRK ACROSS RIC'S FACE.
"OH, I DOUBT THAT. SONNY DOESN'T WANT HIS BROTHER DEAD, AND JASON LISTENS TO SONN'YS EVERY DEMAND. I HIGHLY DOUBT JASON WOULD GO AGAINST SONNY'S WISHES." RIC ADMITTED.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT, RIC," COURTNEY DEMANED ONCE AGAIN.
"I ONLY SIMPLY WANT PEACE." RIC VOICED OUT AS IF HE WAS DESPERATE FOR HER ACCEPTANCE.
"WELL, YOU'RE TALKING TO THE WRONG PERSON." COURTNEY SHOT BACK, AS SHE WALKED OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM AND THEN BACK, ONCE AGAIN, TO THE DOOR.
"WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT," RIC SAID. "IN FACT, I THINK YOU'RE THE ONE PERSON WHO CAN HELP ME GET WHAT I WANT."
"AND WHY WOULD I DO THAT, RIC?" COURTNEY QUESTIONED IMPATIENTLY.
"WELL," RIC BEGAN. "YOU'RE SONNY'S SISTER, AND NOTHING MEANS MORE TO SONNY THEN FAMILY. YOU ALSO HAPPEN TO BE MORGAN'S GIRLFRIEND. YOU'RE IN A PERFECT POSITION TO HELP ME. COURTNEY, I KNOW I MADE MY MISTAKES, BUT I'M REALLY NOT A BAD GUY. IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE ME A CHANCE TO PROVE IT, MAYBE IT WOULD PROVE TO SONNY, AS WELL-" RIC BEGAN, AS HE PLACED HIS HAND FERMLY ON COURTNEY'S SHOULDER AND DREW IN CLOSER TO HER FACE. COURTNEY THREW INSTANTLY BACKED AWAY AND RUSHED QUICKLY TO OPEN THE DOOR.
"YOU THINK YOU'RE SO SMART, RIC. YOU KNOW WHAT? IF YOU WERE SMART, YOU WOULD REALIZE THAT SONNY LIVES RIGHT ACROSS THE HALL, ALL IT TAKES IS ONE SCREAM, RIC, JUST ONE FOR HIM TO COME RUNNING OVER HERE TO FIND YOU HARRASSING ME." COURTNEY HISSED ANGRILY AND OPENED THE DOOR WIDE FOR HIM TO LEAVE.
"FINE," RIC FINALLY AGREED. "BUT THINK ABOUT WHAT I SAID. I'M REALLY NOT AS BAD AS YOU MAY THINK. I KNOW I MADE STUPID DECISIONS, BUT I PROMISE YOU, I'M PUTTING A STOP TO THIS WAR BETWEEN ME AND SONNY." RIC SAID AS HE WALKED OUT THE DOOR. COURTNEY SLAMMED IT HARD BEHIND HIM AND WALKED SLOWLY TO THE COUCH. WHEN A HALF AN HOUR PASSED AND JASON STILL HADN'T RETURNED HOME, COURTNEY BEGAN TO GET CONCERNED. AS SHE BEGAN TO HEAD TOWARDS THE PHONE, THE DOOR HAD OPENED.
"HEY. SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG." JASON APOLOGIZED AS HE HEADED TOWARDS THE COUCH AND, ONCE AGAIN, SAT DOWN COMFORTABLY.
"IT'S ALRIGHT," COURTNEY RESPONDED, AND SHE, TOO, SAT DOWN ON THE COUCH NEXT TO JASON.
"NOW, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANTED TO TELL ME?" JASON ASKED AS HE TOOK OFF HIS COAT, AND THIS TIME, TOSSING IT CARELESSLY ATOP THE ARMREST
"OKAY." COURTNEY SIGHED. "WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT BECOMING A FAMILY? YOU KNOW, ME, YOU, AND A BABY." COURTNEY ASKED AS SHE HELD JASON'S HAND TIGHTLY IN HERS.
"I THINK IT SOUNDS GREAT." JASON REPSONDED. "I COULDN'T IMAGINE MYSELF WITH ANYONE ELSE BUT YOU, COURTNEY. I WOULDN'T BE ALIVE IF I DIDN'T HAVE YOU TO LIVE FOR." HE ADDED.
"WELL, NOW YOU HAVE SOMEONE ELSE TO LIVE FOR." COURTNEY SAID AS SHE SMILED WIDELY AT JASON.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" JASON ASKED WITH A CONFUSED EXPRESSION ACROSS HIS FACE.
"JASON, THERE'S A LOVE INSIDE MY HEART THAT CONTINUES TO GROW FOR YOU. IT GROWS STRONGER EVERYDAY. WELL, NOW I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS GROWING STRONGER EVERYDAY AS WELL." COURTNEY SAID. JASON DIDN'T SAY A WORD FOR A COUPLE SECONDS; INSTEAD HE STARRED DEEPLY INTO COURTNEY'S EYES.
"WHAT'S THAT?" JASON FINALLY ASKED.
COURTNEY TOOK IN A DEEP BREATH AND SMILED, "OUR BABY."
