First, let us give a moment of silence for all those that have been let go
by the powers that be in charge of our Soap. For those that don't know,
said people include: Edward, Lila, Cameron, Zander, Lydia, Gia, AJ, Scott,
and most depressing for me, Lucky (weep). It makes me very sad that these
people are gone, either by their own choice because they don't have time in
the Sonny and Carly hour, or because they were part of a cast cut. While
not all these characters will be involved in this story while it reaches
the conclusion (which is still some time away, I think) they will be
missed. Now I'm pretty much putting Lucky in, just because. Now that I've
vented my distaste for the executive decisions that have been taken lately
I must say that I posted the end of chapter 12 as the start of chapter 13,
my fault entirely, but I'm too lazy to go back and change it.
Shadow- As much as I would love to write Dillon's attempts at cooking, they will remain forever a mystery. I figure it's more funny thinking about what he would have done than it would have been writing him in the act (of cooking, of course). I am happy that you did not feel that the situation was corny and agree with me on Sonny's fast actions. Thank you for continuing to read, I hope you will still enjoy.
Shamira- Writing is my life, I wouldn't be an English major if it weren't, but that's enough about me. Wait, no it isn't. Let's just say that being able to stare at Courtney for an extended period of time was a core reason in me falling for GH during the panic room/yacht kidnapping thing. Plus, I grew up on Dynasty and then watched 90210 and Melrose Place in my tweens and teens, so I'm more than a bit adjusted to the ways of convoluted plotlines. There was also that period when I was a wee one where I watched One Life to Live for the sheer purpose of Andrea Evans, or, as I called her back then, "Pretty Tina." I will keep your secret of your brother's to my grave, or until I get a substantial amount of money to tell someone. Whichever comes first. Carly is letting her emotions run wild and her need to protect her marriage and family is clouding her judgment, I think it's understandable. I mean, I wouldn't be all that happy if the situation happened to me. We can all hope that Carly will realize these things before the situation gets too out of hand, but in true soap fashion, that probably won't happen. At the moment only Lorenzo knows that Damian is in town. Faith is currently oblivious to Sonny's new son, but that will eventually change as she will become all too aware. Please keep up the wonderful reviews, all of you!
Now that the technical stuff is taken care of, let's get on with it, shall we?
Story-
Sonny and Damian had returned to the living room downstairs after spending some time and allowing Morgan to get acquainted with Damian. Damian himself was still feeling the glee of not dropping a child, he'd never held or dropped a baby in his life, but he always feared that he would. Michael was playing with some of his trucks, pushing them around the room. He almost ran into Damian, but stopped himself and laughed. Damian couldn't help but smile. Michael was infectious, it was obvious that he was a good factor in Sonny and Carly's life. It was likely impossible for them to not be happy as long as Michael was around to make them laugh and smile. Michael continued on his way. Damian leaned against the back of the couch, "Where does he get all that energy?"
"He's a kid," Sonny replied, "They all seem to have an infinite amount of energy in them."
"I didn't," Damian informed his father, "I was quiet and reclusive, didn't really have that many friends."
"Michael doesn't either," Sonny said, "We try and keep him as safe as possible. Sometimes I think that we might be doing something wrong with him. But he's always happy, and that's all Carly and I want."
"I used to get teased a lot. It's funny," He said with a soft chuckle, "Even growing up in Los Angeles I'd still get picked on for living in a broken home. Some of the kids' parent's barely had a penny to their name, but at least they were together. At first it hurt, you know? The name calling, constantly being told that I wasn't worth having the love of a father, the way they would flaunt their parents every chance they got. After awhile I just couldn't cry about it anymore, I had gone numb on feeling pity for myself and anger for them. I remember I used to run home right after school and never come out to play. I didn't have a lot of toys, but there was an old piano in the dining room. Half of the keys didn't work and it had gathered up so much junk on top of it that I never even noticed it until I tripped over it. I started to play it one day, I wasn't very good at it, but it helped me do something that would let me forget what had happened during the day. My Nana heard someone playing it and came in. She said that it was an anniversary present that she got one year a long time ago. She used to love playing the piano, but one day she just stopped. I learned how to expel my grief on that thing. Most people would have thought it was a piece of junk, but it was the most precious thing in the house to me. I'd spend hours on it all the time, even played on the working piano at school during break and lunch when they'd let me. Mom was so proud of me for finding something that I loved."
"Do you still play?" Sonny asked, enthralled at his son's story.
"No," Damian said sadly and quietly, "I stopped playing after she died. Before she did I wanted to play piano for the rest of my life, but then she got sick and I was with her all the time. When she died I knew that I had to become a doctor. I couldn't even bring myself to look at the piano in the house. Every time I'd look at it I would break down, it reminded me of her so much. My grandparents saw how hard it was for me, so they took it to the dump." He stopped himself, "I'm sorry, Sonny, I shouldn't be boring you to death with stupid stories about me."
Sonny sat next to Damian, "I don't think it was stupid at all, and I'm glad you told me."
Carly opened the door and walked in, alone. She saw the boy talking with Sonny, "You're living here now?"
"Yes, Carly," Sonny answered for his son, "He is."
"Daddy," Michael tugged on his father's shirt, "I want to go for a walk!"
Sonny looked down at Michael, "I can't do it right now, buddy. Mommy and I have to talk about something very important."
"I could take him," Damian said.
"No!" Carly rejected the offer almost instantly.
"I think it's a good idea," Sonny said, "You'll get to spend some time together and Mike can show you around, if you don't mind having a kid tag along."
"I wouldn't have made the offer if I cared about going somewhere with a kid, Sonny. But it really is up to Michael and not me." He tilted his head forward and looked at the boy, "How about you and me go for a walk instead of going with your daddy? That way your parents and talk about whatever it is they need to talk about." There was no hiding it from the adults that Sonny and Carly were going to talk about Damian living there, but they all wanted to protect Michael from the animosity.
"Yeah!" Michael answered, enthused. He grabbed his brother's hand, "Come on, I'll show you the park!"
Carly watched as her son rushed past her, barely acknowledging that she was there. When the door closed she almost went ballistic, "I can't believe that you would just let our son go somewhere with him!"
"They like each other already and they'll need to start building a relationship. I already let him hold Morgan."
"Sonny, he cannot live with us! I won't let him."
"I will not allow one of my children to feel like they are exiled from my life, Carly." He walked over and put his hands on her shoulders, "You know how much I love you and the kids. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think it was the right thing to do. Please don't take this away from me. I need to see if we can get along together as a family, all of us."
"You're not in the least bit worried that he could be here to do something horrible to you or our family?" Carly asked, "You barely know the kid!"
"I trust him, Carly. I don't know why I feel so comfortable around him, but I do."
"Well I don't!" Carly quickly snapped back.
"I'm asking you to give this some time. Please don't try and fight with Damian every second of every day. If you're afraid of him somehow getting me to stop loving you that will never happen." Sonny hugged his wife, "I love you now and forever. I could end up having a thousand other children around the world and they will never mean as much to me as you do."
Carly was still reluctant, but regardless of how she felt about the boy she couldn't let her husband be unhappy because of herself. "Okay, Sonny, we'll give this a try."
"Thank you."
Park-
"You didn't have to run so fast, Michael." Damian said in between panting, "The park isn't going anywhere."
"Are you?" Michael wondered.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I know that you and mommy don't get along right now," Michael said, "But that's okay because sometimes mommy and daddy don't get along. They still love each other though."
"I can't make you any promises," Damian said honestly, "But I want to become friends with your mom and get along with her, too. It might not ever happen, though."
"Will you leave again if it does?"
"I might not live in the house anymore, but I'll probably still be here. I'm going to school at the college here, and that will take me a few years to complete. You won't be able to get rid of me for awhile."
Michael was happy with the news, "Come on, I want to show you my favorite spot!" He hurried deeper into the park. Damian shook his head and chased behind the boy.
Elsewhere in the park-
"Yeah, I'm telling you, my plan totally worked!" Kyle proclaimed proudly into his cell phone, "I just picked up some girl from the city and brought her back. We walked around Maxie's neighborhood until we bumped into her, and when she saw me she lost it! Yeah, I know it's going to be harder to get uppers without her, but it isn't impossible! We have enough money to buy some from the dealers in the city if it comes to that."
Michael had lead Damian to the place he wanted, in front of a small gazebo. It was where they often had their Fourth of July celebration in Port Charles. Michael loved the fireworks. Damian saw Kyle inside the gazebo. He noticed that it was the boy from yesterday who was yelling at the blond haired girl. Kyle had quickly turned around and didn't bother thinking about the guy who was looking at him.
"Damian?" Michael asked, "What are you doing?"
Damian snapped back from his concentration on Kyle, "Nothing, Michael, just thinking about something. You have anywhere else you want to show me?"
"Just one more place," Michael said.
"How about we walk there instead of running? I don't think I can keep up with you again."
They walked, Michael telling him things about the park and pointing out little things that would interest a small child. Damian listened, walking a few steps behind. Michael was unusually and blissfully calm until he saw someone that he recognized. "Maxie!" He rushed over to one of the benches, sitting there was the same person that the boy he saw a few minutes ago was fighting with yesterday.
Maxie had gotten out of the house after Dillon's breakfast disaster. They all needed some fresh air, the kitchen didn't smell all that great and there was a lot of smoke coming out of the windows. Dillon and Georgie stayed close by in order to air out the house and clean it up before Mac came home and blew a fuse. They told Maxie not to worry about it and enjoy the day. It was one of the few days off she had in some time. She didn't know that Kyle was nearby, and it was probably a good thing. She heard the voice of the little boy that she had seen in the hospital a few times. He would visit a lot when Carly was in the hospital. His face wasn't one that most people would easily forget, "Hi, Michael!" She exclaimed with a wide smile, "Are you here with your parents?"
Michael shook his head, "Nope, they're at home."
Maxie knew that Sonny and Carly were more than a bit overprotective of their darling child, and wouldn't just let him run around the park unsupervised. Bobbie was more than likely at work, which begged the question, "Who are you here with?"
Michael pointed behind him to Damian, "My new big brother!"
Maxie looked up and saw the guy from yesterday, "Hello," She said politely, "I wasn't aware that his parents put him in a big brother program."
"They didn't," Damian stated, "I'm Sonny's son." He walked a few steps closer and put his hand out, "I don't believe we had proper introductions yesterday, my name is Damian."
"Maxie," She replied as she shook his hand.
"You seem to be feeling better. Yesterday didn't appear to be one of your better days."
"It wasn't," Maxie said as she took her hand away from his, "But I want to thank you for trying to help me yesterday."
"You're quite welcome. I only wish I could have done more."
"Are you here for a visit with your father?" Maxie asked, "I've never seen you around Port Charles before."
"I'll be starting medical classes at PCU when school starts up again," Damian left out the parts about coming there to find his father. No need to bog Maxie down with the needless information.
"You want to be a doctor?" Maxie asked.
"I do."
"I'm a candy stripper at the hospital," Maxie stated, "I have been for a few years. It makes me feel like I'm doing something worthwhile, you know? Helping the doctors and nurses help save lives and keep people healthy."
"That's why I want to become a doctor," Damian wasn't expecting them to have something in common. Based on the company she kept, he didn't expect her to be a hospital volunteer. "It'll be a long road, but I hope I can make it."
"I think you can."
Damian almost blushed, "Thank you."
Kyle came from around the corner. He didn't expect to run into Maxie, but now that he had he could use it to his advantage. "Hey, Maxie!" He yelled, "Spend all night crying?"
Shadow- As much as I would love to write Dillon's attempts at cooking, they will remain forever a mystery. I figure it's more funny thinking about what he would have done than it would have been writing him in the act (of cooking, of course). I am happy that you did not feel that the situation was corny and agree with me on Sonny's fast actions. Thank you for continuing to read, I hope you will still enjoy.
Shamira- Writing is my life, I wouldn't be an English major if it weren't, but that's enough about me. Wait, no it isn't. Let's just say that being able to stare at Courtney for an extended period of time was a core reason in me falling for GH during the panic room/yacht kidnapping thing. Plus, I grew up on Dynasty and then watched 90210 and Melrose Place in my tweens and teens, so I'm more than a bit adjusted to the ways of convoluted plotlines. There was also that period when I was a wee one where I watched One Life to Live for the sheer purpose of Andrea Evans, or, as I called her back then, "Pretty Tina." I will keep your secret of your brother's to my grave, or until I get a substantial amount of money to tell someone. Whichever comes first. Carly is letting her emotions run wild and her need to protect her marriage and family is clouding her judgment, I think it's understandable. I mean, I wouldn't be all that happy if the situation happened to me. We can all hope that Carly will realize these things before the situation gets too out of hand, but in true soap fashion, that probably won't happen. At the moment only Lorenzo knows that Damian is in town. Faith is currently oblivious to Sonny's new son, but that will eventually change as she will become all too aware. Please keep up the wonderful reviews, all of you!
Now that the technical stuff is taken care of, let's get on with it, shall we?
Story-
Sonny and Damian had returned to the living room downstairs after spending some time and allowing Morgan to get acquainted with Damian. Damian himself was still feeling the glee of not dropping a child, he'd never held or dropped a baby in his life, but he always feared that he would. Michael was playing with some of his trucks, pushing them around the room. He almost ran into Damian, but stopped himself and laughed. Damian couldn't help but smile. Michael was infectious, it was obvious that he was a good factor in Sonny and Carly's life. It was likely impossible for them to not be happy as long as Michael was around to make them laugh and smile. Michael continued on his way. Damian leaned against the back of the couch, "Where does he get all that energy?"
"He's a kid," Sonny replied, "They all seem to have an infinite amount of energy in them."
"I didn't," Damian informed his father, "I was quiet and reclusive, didn't really have that many friends."
"Michael doesn't either," Sonny said, "We try and keep him as safe as possible. Sometimes I think that we might be doing something wrong with him. But he's always happy, and that's all Carly and I want."
"I used to get teased a lot. It's funny," He said with a soft chuckle, "Even growing up in Los Angeles I'd still get picked on for living in a broken home. Some of the kids' parent's barely had a penny to their name, but at least they were together. At first it hurt, you know? The name calling, constantly being told that I wasn't worth having the love of a father, the way they would flaunt their parents every chance they got. After awhile I just couldn't cry about it anymore, I had gone numb on feeling pity for myself and anger for them. I remember I used to run home right after school and never come out to play. I didn't have a lot of toys, but there was an old piano in the dining room. Half of the keys didn't work and it had gathered up so much junk on top of it that I never even noticed it until I tripped over it. I started to play it one day, I wasn't very good at it, but it helped me do something that would let me forget what had happened during the day. My Nana heard someone playing it and came in. She said that it was an anniversary present that she got one year a long time ago. She used to love playing the piano, but one day she just stopped. I learned how to expel my grief on that thing. Most people would have thought it was a piece of junk, but it was the most precious thing in the house to me. I'd spend hours on it all the time, even played on the working piano at school during break and lunch when they'd let me. Mom was so proud of me for finding something that I loved."
"Do you still play?" Sonny asked, enthralled at his son's story.
"No," Damian said sadly and quietly, "I stopped playing after she died. Before she did I wanted to play piano for the rest of my life, but then she got sick and I was with her all the time. When she died I knew that I had to become a doctor. I couldn't even bring myself to look at the piano in the house. Every time I'd look at it I would break down, it reminded me of her so much. My grandparents saw how hard it was for me, so they took it to the dump." He stopped himself, "I'm sorry, Sonny, I shouldn't be boring you to death with stupid stories about me."
Sonny sat next to Damian, "I don't think it was stupid at all, and I'm glad you told me."
Carly opened the door and walked in, alone. She saw the boy talking with Sonny, "You're living here now?"
"Yes, Carly," Sonny answered for his son, "He is."
"Daddy," Michael tugged on his father's shirt, "I want to go for a walk!"
Sonny looked down at Michael, "I can't do it right now, buddy. Mommy and I have to talk about something very important."
"I could take him," Damian said.
"No!" Carly rejected the offer almost instantly.
"I think it's a good idea," Sonny said, "You'll get to spend some time together and Mike can show you around, if you don't mind having a kid tag along."
"I wouldn't have made the offer if I cared about going somewhere with a kid, Sonny. But it really is up to Michael and not me." He tilted his head forward and looked at the boy, "How about you and me go for a walk instead of going with your daddy? That way your parents and talk about whatever it is they need to talk about." There was no hiding it from the adults that Sonny and Carly were going to talk about Damian living there, but they all wanted to protect Michael from the animosity.
"Yeah!" Michael answered, enthused. He grabbed his brother's hand, "Come on, I'll show you the park!"
Carly watched as her son rushed past her, barely acknowledging that she was there. When the door closed she almost went ballistic, "I can't believe that you would just let our son go somewhere with him!"
"They like each other already and they'll need to start building a relationship. I already let him hold Morgan."
"Sonny, he cannot live with us! I won't let him."
"I will not allow one of my children to feel like they are exiled from my life, Carly." He walked over and put his hands on her shoulders, "You know how much I love you and the kids. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think it was the right thing to do. Please don't take this away from me. I need to see if we can get along together as a family, all of us."
"You're not in the least bit worried that he could be here to do something horrible to you or our family?" Carly asked, "You barely know the kid!"
"I trust him, Carly. I don't know why I feel so comfortable around him, but I do."
"Well I don't!" Carly quickly snapped back.
"I'm asking you to give this some time. Please don't try and fight with Damian every second of every day. If you're afraid of him somehow getting me to stop loving you that will never happen." Sonny hugged his wife, "I love you now and forever. I could end up having a thousand other children around the world and they will never mean as much to me as you do."
Carly was still reluctant, but regardless of how she felt about the boy she couldn't let her husband be unhappy because of herself. "Okay, Sonny, we'll give this a try."
"Thank you."
Park-
"You didn't have to run so fast, Michael." Damian said in between panting, "The park isn't going anywhere."
"Are you?" Michael wondered.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I know that you and mommy don't get along right now," Michael said, "But that's okay because sometimes mommy and daddy don't get along. They still love each other though."
"I can't make you any promises," Damian said honestly, "But I want to become friends with your mom and get along with her, too. It might not ever happen, though."
"Will you leave again if it does?"
"I might not live in the house anymore, but I'll probably still be here. I'm going to school at the college here, and that will take me a few years to complete. You won't be able to get rid of me for awhile."
Michael was happy with the news, "Come on, I want to show you my favorite spot!" He hurried deeper into the park. Damian shook his head and chased behind the boy.
Elsewhere in the park-
"Yeah, I'm telling you, my plan totally worked!" Kyle proclaimed proudly into his cell phone, "I just picked up some girl from the city and brought her back. We walked around Maxie's neighborhood until we bumped into her, and when she saw me she lost it! Yeah, I know it's going to be harder to get uppers without her, but it isn't impossible! We have enough money to buy some from the dealers in the city if it comes to that."
Michael had lead Damian to the place he wanted, in front of a small gazebo. It was where they often had their Fourth of July celebration in Port Charles. Michael loved the fireworks. Damian saw Kyle inside the gazebo. He noticed that it was the boy from yesterday who was yelling at the blond haired girl. Kyle had quickly turned around and didn't bother thinking about the guy who was looking at him.
"Damian?" Michael asked, "What are you doing?"
Damian snapped back from his concentration on Kyle, "Nothing, Michael, just thinking about something. You have anywhere else you want to show me?"
"Just one more place," Michael said.
"How about we walk there instead of running? I don't think I can keep up with you again."
They walked, Michael telling him things about the park and pointing out little things that would interest a small child. Damian listened, walking a few steps behind. Michael was unusually and blissfully calm until he saw someone that he recognized. "Maxie!" He rushed over to one of the benches, sitting there was the same person that the boy he saw a few minutes ago was fighting with yesterday.
Maxie had gotten out of the house after Dillon's breakfast disaster. They all needed some fresh air, the kitchen didn't smell all that great and there was a lot of smoke coming out of the windows. Dillon and Georgie stayed close by in order to air out the house and clean it up before Mac came home and blew a fuse. They told Maxie not to worry about it and enjoy the day. It was one of the few days off she had in some time. She didn't know that Kyle was nearby, and it was probably a good thing. She heard the voice of the little boy that she had seen in the hospital a few times. He would visit a lot when Carly was in the hospital. His face wasn't one that most people would easily forget, "Hi, Michael!" She exclaimed with a wide smile, "Are you here with your parents?"
Michael shook his head, "Nope, they're at home."
Maxie knew that Sonny and Carly were more than a bit overprotective of their darling child, and wouldn't just let him run around the park unsupervised. Bobbie was more than likely at work, which begged the question, "Who are you here with?"
Michael pointed behind him to Damian, "My new big brother!"
Maxie looked up and saw the guy from yesterday, "Hello," She said politely, "I wasn't aware that his parents put him in a big brother program."
"They didn't," Damian stated, "I'm Sonny's son." He walked a few steps closer and put his hand out, "I don't believe we had proper introductions yesterday, my name is Damian."
"Maxie," She replied as she shook his hand.
"You seem to be feeling better. Yesterday didn't appear to be one of your better days."
"It wasn't," Maxie said as she took her hand away from his, "But I want to thank you for trying to help me yesterday."
"You're quite welcome. I only wish I could have done more."
"Are you here for a visit with your father?" Maxie asked, "I've never seen you around Port Charles before."
"I'll be starting medical classes at PCU when school starts up again," Damian left out the parts about coming there to find his father. No need to bog Maxie down with the needless information.
"You want to be a doctor?" Maxie asked.
"I do."
"I'm a candy stripper at the hospital," Maxie stated, "I have been for a few years. It makes me feel like I'm doing something worthwhile, you know? Helping the doctors and nurses help save lives and keep people healthy."
"That's why I want to become a doctor," Damian wasn't expecting them to have something in common. Based on the company she kept, he didn't expect her to be a hospital volunteer. "It'll be a long road, but I hope I can make it."
"I think you can."
Damian almost blushed, "Thank you."
Kyle came from around the corner. He didn't expect to run into Maxie, but now that he had he could use it to his advantage. "Hey, Maxie!" He yelled, "Spend all night crying?"