"Carly wait up, come on slow down" Courtney called to the older woman who showed no sign of slowing not until she had safely reached her penthouse door.
"Momma!" A little girl screamed, holding her chubby arms out to be picked up, much to Carly's pleasure. Something inside her calmed a little once the little brown haired toddler was safely within her arms, Courtney noticed this and immediately set her bag down prepared to get an explanation.
"Courtney, this is my daughter Kristina" Carly's smile grew a little wider as her little girl turned to survey the other woman, before snuggling back into her mothers shoulder.
"I thought Michael was your only child"
"Michael is my only biological, child, just like Kristina is Sonny's" Carly spoke lightheartedly, reminding Courtney how full of surprises the woman before her could be.
"Kristina is precious to me, she's mine in all the ways it really matters… I don't know if you can understand that or not"
"I can"
Carly stopped flattening Kristina's hair to look at Courtney, who instead of taking a seat began to pace as she spoke.
"My dad died when I was little and then my mom gave me away to her sister"
"Why?"
"I had just turned eight, I got my first vision and it became too much for her to handle, having kids was never something she really wanted. It didn't matter though my aunt raised me like her own, she was all the mother I needed and more "
Courtney stopped mid step, to stroke Kristina's' cheek, in awe of how beautiful she looked at that moment, opening her sleepy eyes to sigh, that lighthearted sound that could only be followed by more sleep.
"I couldn't imagine not being a mother, it's everything to me" Something in Carly's eyes grew bright, so much so that there was the smallest of twinkles embedded within her hazel orbs.
Courtney stayed silent watching Carly, hum of key to her baby girl, occasionally kissing the top of her head or cheek, Courtney always wanted to be a mother but never more so then in this moment.
"Jason loves kids" There Carly went again reading Courtney's mind like an open book, am I that obvious, she found herself thinking, wishing she could easily let the emotion slide from her face, she wished being emotionless were easy.
"Is he Michaels godfather?"
"Yep at one point he was actually Michaels father" Pausing to see Courtney's reaction, Carly just shrugged "It's a long story, but Michael only knows Sonny as his father"
"Do you want kids?" Carly asked good-naturedly, smiling while she glanced down at Kristina fast asleep and sucking her thumb. She didn't see Courtney's eyes suddenly fill with tears, before she managed a shaky 'someday'. Her face fell visibly and instead of sticking around to be interrogated, she managed a watery smile and a shaky goodbye. Carly nodded waving like nothing had happened, she couldn't see the silent agony her friend was experiencing and Courtney thanked god for that as she crept back into Jason's penthouse.
"Baby you should come upstairs all this work is going to make you sick" She managed to walk down a few more steps until she reached his side.
"You shouldn't be out of bed" He looked so tired, but managed a smile for her sake his hand dropping the pen it held to stroke her flushed cheek. She smiled so wide he swore it could have hurt but she showed no signs of pain.
"I can't sleep without you, you know that" Her hand fell to his shoulders, massaging the tension away with the lightest touch he'd ever felt.
"Let's get you back to bed you don't want to get sick again"
She nodded yawning in exhaustion but attempting to smother it with the back of her hand. He noticed and stopped her from continuing towards the staircase. Lifting her from the ground with ease he listened to her giggle in amusement, her laugh could be so addictive and that smile. Stroking a lock of golden brown hair from her forehead, he heard her let out a sigh, her breathing evening out slightly. He could swear she was asleep before he even got up the first step.
"My princess" He whispered placing her softly against the silk bed sheets, she didn't even stir and he found himself listening intently for the sound of her steady breathing. He had been doing that a lot lately staying up and watching her, it was all he could do, no one could help her not even him, that would not stop him from making her time left peaceful.
Courtney couldn't sleep, so she paced, up the stairs back down across the living room she was almost waiting for whoever lived below to bang on their ceiling. She knew that could never happen no one would dare anger Jason or Sonny. Something inside her had awoken with Carly's question. Having kids meant so much to Courtney, almost enough to make her physically sick, that's how badly she wanted to be a mother. She rung her hands hoping to rid the tension creeping slowly into her body, exhaustion mixed with fear began to override any will she had to rest. Kristina's little face kept popping into her mind, she was so innocent and young nothing could touch her, Courtney wished she could almost be the same way.
"Who am I kidding, I lost my innocence I long time ago and I paid for it too" She couldn't help but realize the truth in the words tumbling from her mouth so freely. No one was there to hear them though or see the tear that slid ever so slowly down her pale cheek.
Carly hoped that reading would help; she even managed to get passed the first page before thoughts of him came creeping into her head. Sonny, it caused her knees to weaken and heart to beat faster in her chest, but where was he? No one knew or rather the guards wouldn't tell, he had been gone for nearly two weeks and not even one word to Carly. Sometimes she couldn't help but think the worst, being the wife of a mobster came with the knowledge that one day he may not come home. Dropping the book to the side, Carly curled deeper beneath her blanket. Kristina and Michael were safe in their beds fast asleep why couldn't that be enough, why did Sonny's smiling face have to haunt her every thoughts. 'What if he's hurt, what if he's dea…' she couldn't even think the rest, her stomach was already upset enough thinking about death wouldn't help. Casting a tired look on the penthouse door, she finally got up to turn of the lights, half way to the switch she stopped. The brass handle on the door began to move and with it, Carly's heart began to beat like a jackhammer.
Sonny came into view a patch of light illuminating the hallway and Carly felt her knees almost buckle.
"I'm home" His voice was still so soft that smile with those dimples it almost weakened her into running into his arms.
"Congratulations" Carly's lips evened out into a thin line, severe for her young face but it forced Sonny to realize she was not pleased.
"Carly…"
Her name from his lips it caused the urge to smile grow but she again resisted her arms falling loosely to her side.
"I am glad your home, but for know I want you to stay the hell away from me" Sonny wanted to protest but she bounded up the stairs so fast he didn't have a chance. Shrugging the duffle bag from his shoulders he glanced at the couch, as inviting as it looked a bed would be better.
"Carly? Carly? Okay I'll be over at Jason's" He wasn't even sure if she had heard him either way he knew there would be no chance of her caring, not at the moment anyway.
Courtney took another sip of her steaming coffee, it wouldn't keep her up she knew eventually she would have to dream and that's what scared her.
"Who the hell are you?" She spun around knocking the glass from her hands and onto the floor where it shattered into pieces, liquid streaming out beneath her feet. Courtney didn't seem to notice she was too focused on the older man standing within the doorjamb looking at her as if trying to find a name tag.
"Marco!" She screamed, what other choice did she have it was the middle of the night.
"Yes Ms. Matthews"
"Who is he and why is he in this penthouse" Her voice shook the tiniest bit as she pointed towards the stranger, something darkened in his eyes and he turned to the body guard who looked more amused then anything.
"This is Mr. Corinthos" Then he left, knowing that would be enough and it was, Courtney shut her mouth and stared at Sonny for a few seconds.
"I'm Courtney, a friend of Jason's" She offered her hand to him but he just walked by dropping his suitcase in the middle of the living room.
"Jason would have mentioned you to me"
"You weren't here the first time I met him, which by the way was just a few days ago"
"Where are you from?"
"Nevada"
"How old are you, how did you meet Jason" He said more questions in one sentence then she dared to process so instead she let out a tired sigh.
"Look Carly trusts me, do you trust your wife?"
There was a long pause something Courtney had not expected.
"Yes I do trust her but"
"No buts you want to do the Spanish inquisition thing do it in the morning I'm tired" She grabbed the fallen bag from the floor and placed it back around his shoulder, opening the door with her free hand.
"Go see your wife, by the way it was nice to meet you Sonny" With a quick shove one of the most feared men in Port Charles disappeared back into the dark hallway.
Coleman wiped the old counter of Jakes down; in some ways, it was the only way to keep busy. There was never really a crowd just a few pool players or cheap tippers, but then again he knew the money would not be great coming in.
"Shouldn't you slow down, that's your fifth of the night" He watched her down another shot easily, bloodshed eyes observing him with nothing more then a vacant stare.
She banged the glass down again waiting for more, her mind was numb she didn't have to think about loosing Kristina it was just numbness, the way she liked it.
"Look didn't he tell you, you have to keep it together so the plan will work" Coleman inched closer to Alexis's ear eying the door and cleaning a glass distractedly.
"Ya well, it's taking longer then it's supposed to Jason's supposed to go down so I can get Kristina back and then…" He muffled anymore talking with his hand, causing her eyes to go wide in surprise.
"Not here, Alexis, you know that" He slowly moved his hand away hanging in the space between and waiting for something more to be said.
"Just give me another shot" Coleman nodded pouring the drink and watching while she gulped it down, somewhere deep inside he almost felt sorry for Alexis but then again she could land him in jail if she blabbed. Sometimes sympathy is outweighed by reality.
I know, I know no Journey but I had to introduce Sonny into the story, which made this one of those in between chappies, I promise some good Journey moments are coming up! Wondering who that mystery couple mentioned was? You will find out soon. Ahh, it feels so good to have the power (Cue the evil cackle).