Chapter 19
Carly held Morgan in her lap and looked into Mark's eyes, searching for a way to tell him exactly how she felt about Sonny. She shook her head and she looked at Morgan for a moment.
"Carly, look at me and tell me the truth," Mark began. "All I want is for you to be happy."
"I am happy with you," Carly began.
"I want you to be Cadence's mother," Mark replied, "but I don't want to be married to a woman whose heart belongs to another man. I can't live like that anymore. I need you all to myself or not with me at all."
"I don't know what I want. I know you want me . . ."
"I want you to be happy above everything else," he replied. Carly sighed and she stood with Morgan in her arms.
"I am so confused, Mark."
"Just answer me this . . . do you love me?" Mark asked.
"I do," Carly replied with a nod.
"Are you in love with me?" Mark asked. "You love me but I don't think you're in love with me." Carly looked down.
"I'm sorry, Mark," she replied quietly.
"There's your answer. Go back to Sonny. He's who you want to be with." Mark's pager went off.
"That's the hospital. I have to go," he replied. Mark left and Carly sat down on the couch. Cadence walked into the room.
"I heard everything," she began.
"You did?" Carly asked.
"Yeah," Cadence replied. "You should be with Michael's daddy. I know you love him and he loves you. Daddy and I will be okay as long as I can still be your daughter."
"Of course you can be my daughter," Carly replied with tears in her eyes. She sniffled. "Sweetheart, I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll be happy and go back to Michael's daddy." Carly hugged Cadence.
"I can't believe how mature you're being about this."
"Hey, I know what it's like to not be happy and I don't want my mother to be unhappy. I want you happy."
"And I want you happy."
"Daddy and I will be okay," Cadence promised. She kissed Carly's cheek and ran off to play. Carly was so amazed at her daughter's words. She looked at Morgan and held him up in the air. Morgan giggled and Carly danced around the living room with him. She saw the phone and she had the sudden urge to call Sonny. She picked up the phone and lightly touched the numbers to dial Sonny's penthouse.
**
Sonny woke from his place on the couch with a jolt of awareness and he heard the phone ringing. He stumbled over to the phone to pick it up.
"Hello?" he mumbled.
"Sonny, it's me," Carly said softly.
"Hey," Sonny replied slowly.
"I have some news," Carly began.
"Yeah?"
"Do you still want me to come back home?"
"What?" Sonny asked with an almost boyish giddiness. Carly chuckled a little.
"Mark told me that we're divorcing," Carly replied. "He wants me to be with the man I love. That man is you, Sonny."
"Are you serious?" Sonny asked. "This isn't some kind of a joke?"
"Baby, this is for real," Carly whispered. "The boys and I are going to come live with you. Mark and I are going to discuss things when he gets home from the hospital."
"I can't believe this," Sonny said happily. Carly smiled.
"Sonny, this is how it's supposed to be. We're meant to be together forever. We're soul mates." Carly sighed heavily and she bit her bottom lip. "I love you."
"I love you," Sonny replied.
"I'll see you soon." Carly hung up and Sonny hung up as well. It was then that he realized that he was standing up. He had walked over to the phone and he hadn't even realized it. His eyes went wide with wonder. He could walk! He couldn't believe it, but he could walk.
Baby Kristina started to cry over in the playpen. Sonny hurried over to pick up his daughter to soothe her tears.
"It's alright Kris," he whispered. "Daddy's here now." He held Kristina close and realized that he had never got to walk her upstairs before. He had never gotten to take her or Stone to the park. Sonny was on cloud nine. "Want to go to the park?" Kristina rubbed her eyes and nodded. Sonny picked up Stone and Stone giggled with excitement as Sonny made a funny face and blew raspberries on his tummy. He put them in their jackets and loaded them into a stroller and headed toward the park.
**
Jason and Faith were just walking out of their penthouse when they saw Sonny standing at the elevator with the kids in a stroller. They both stopped, wide-eyed, and stared.
"You're . . . you're walking!" Faith exclaimed.
"Yeah," Sonny replied.
"Since when?" Sonny asked.
"Since five minutes ago. I woke up to the phone and I felt so aware. I didn't realize till a few minutes later than I had actually walked over to the phone."
"Oh my God," Faith said. "That's so amazing!"
"Congratulations, man," Jason replied. Sonny nodded.
"I'm not sure if I ever congratulated you on your pregnancy," Sonny replied. "If I didn't, well, congrats." Faith laughed.
"Thanks. That means a lot."
"Where are you on your way to?" Jason asked.
"I'm going to the park with my kids and then I'm going to go shopping. I've got to get ready to bring my daughter home. I also have to get ready to bring Carly, Michael, and Morgan home."
"What?!" Faith asked.
"Carly's coming back," Sonny replied. "She and Mark decided to get a divorce."
"Oh Sonny, that's good news!" Faith exclaimed.
"How'd Mark take it?"
"He told her he wanted to be happy. She's coming home. I swear I won't be stupid this time."
"Don't make those promises to us," Jason replied. "Make that promise to Carly."
**
A few hours later, Mark came home to find Cadence, Michael, and Carly sitting on the couch together. Morgan was sitting in Carly's lap.
"Did you tell them?" Mark asked.
"Yes," Carly replied.
"We're okay with it, daddy," Cadence replied.
"Good," Mark replied. "That's good. I already found a place to stay before I came home."
"What? You're not going to stay here?"
"Carly, you bought this house. You should live in it," Mark replied. "The boys need a big back yard. They need a place to play. They don't need to be cooped up in some penthouse all day long."
"I don't know what Sonny will say."
"It doesn't matter. If he loves you and the kids half as much as I love you, he'll do what's best for you guys." Bianca came through the door with Miranda in her arms.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" she asked.
"No, actually you being here is good," Carly replied.
"What's going on?"
"Mark and I are getting a divorce," Carly replied.
"Oh wow," Bianca stated with wide-eyes.
"Daddy and I are moving away and Michael's daddy is moving in."
"Really?" Bianca asked. "Is this really what you guys want?"
"This will be fine," Mark said. "Come on Cady. Let's start packing." Mark and Cadence went upstairs.
"This is a big deal," Bianca replied. "I guess you don't want to hear another bunch of news tonight."
"What is it?" Carly asked.
"Miranda and I are moving in with Natalie."
"That's good news. I'm happy for you," Carly said, hugging her friend.
"I'm glad you're okay with it. Natalie and I are happy. It'll be easier on you and Sonny too." Carly smiled.
"You're always welcome in my home."
"Thank you," Bianca replied with a grin. She went upstairs to start packing and Michael looked at Carly.
"There are a lot of changes going on," he began, "but I'm just glad we're getting daddy back."
"You know what, Mr. Man?" Carly asked. "So am I."
"Mommy, I want to the park."
"Well, let's go see him then," Carly replied happily. "Go get your jacket." Michael hurried to the closet and put on his jacket. He grabbed Morgan's jacket and Carly put it on him. She put him in his stroller. Carly grinned at her kids. "Everything is going to be fine." They headed out the door and started off toward the park.
**
Sonny was watching his kids play in the sandbox. He was standing beside it, watching them toss sand at each other playfully. He saw Jasper Jax walking by with some strange woman. Sonny knew that he needed to tell Jax about Stone.
"Hey Candyboy," he called. Jax glared at Sonny and excused himself from the woman he was with. He walked over.
"What do you want, Corinthos?" he asked. Something about Jax had changed. His eyes were cold and dark. Sonny pulled some custody papers out of his pocket.
"This boy," Sonny began, pointing to Stone, "is your son."
"What?" Jax asked.
"Brenda is the mother and you are the father. But I have been raising him as my own. I need you to sign these papers to give up any legal rights you have on him." Jax scoffed.
"That kid can't be mine," he said, shaking his head. "He looks just like you."
"Well he's yours."
"Whatever, Corinthos."
"Would you sign the damned papers?"
"I don't see a reason to. He's yours, but if you insist. Even if he was my son, I wouldn't want him. I don't want to be reminded of Brenda. She was a lying, betraying tramp. Jax signed the papers and Sonny put them in his pocket.
"If you ever talk about the mother of my son like that again, I'll kill you," he whispered. Jax walked off and Sonny looked down at his kids.
"We'll be happy," he promised. A few minutes later, Michael and Carly came walking through the park.
"Mommy! Look!" Michael exclaimed, pointing to Sonny. "Daddy's not in his chair!" Michael ran over to hug Sonny and Carly stood there looking dumbfounded for a moment. "Daddy!" Sonny scooped Michael up into his arms and held him. "You're walking again!"
"That's right buddy." Carly walked over slowly with the stroller.
"Since when?" she asked.
"Since you called me. I got up to answer the phone," Sonny replied. He hugged Michael and put him down. Carly grinned and hurried into Sonny's arms. Sonny held her close and whispered into her ear. "Te amo."
"Te amo," she whispered back with a grin, happy to at last be in the arms of the man she truly loved.
Carly held Morgan in her lap and looked into Mark's eyes, searching for a way to tell him exactly how she felt about Sonny. She shook her head and she looked at Morgan for a moment.
"Carly, look at me and tell me the truth," Mark began. "All I want is for you to be happy."
"I am happy with you," Carly began.
"I want you to be Cadence's mother," Mark replied, "but I don't want to be married to a woman whose heart belongs to another man. I can't live like that anymore. I need you all to myself or not with me at all."
"I don't know what I want. I know you want me . . ."
"I want you to be happy above everything else," he replied. Carly sighed and she stood with Morgan in her arms.
"I am so confused, Mark."
"Just answer me this . . . do you love me?" Mark asked.
"I do," Carly replied with a nod.
"Are you in love with me?" Mark asked. "You love me but I don't think you're in love with me." Carly looked down.
"I'm sorry, Mark," she replied quietly.
"There's your answer. Go back to Sonny. He's who you want to be with." Mark's pager went off.
"That's the hospital. I have to go," he replied. Mark left and Carly sat down on the couch. Cadence walked into the room.
"I heard everything," she began.
"You did?" Carly asked.
"Yeah," Cadence replied. "You should be with Michael's daddy. I know you love him and he loves you. Daddy and I will be okay as long as I can still be your daughter."
"Of course you can be my daughter," Carly replied with tears in her eyes. She sniffled. "Sweetheart, I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll be happy and go back to Michael's daddy." Carly hugged Cadence.
"I can't believe how mature you're being about this."
"Hey, I know what it's like to not be happy and I don't want my mother to be unhappy. I want you happy."
"And I want you happy."
"Daddy and I will be okay," Cadence promised. She kissed Carly's cheek and ran off to play. Carly was so amazed at her daughter's words. She looked at Morgan and held him up in the air. Morgan giggled and Carly danced around the living room with him. She saw the phone and she had the sudden urge to call Sonny. She picked up the phone and lightly touched the numbers to dial Sonny's penthouse.
**
Sonny woke from his place on the couch with a jolt of awareness and he heard the phone ringing. He stumbled over to the phone to pick it up.
"Hello?" he mumbled.
"Sonny, it's me," Carly said softly.
"Hey," Sonny replied slowly.
"I have some news," Carly began.
"Yeah?"
"Do you still want me to come back home?"
"What?" Sonny asked with an almost boyish giddiness. Carly chuckled a little.
"Mark told me that we're divorcing," Carly replied. "He wants me to be with the man I love. That man is you, Sonny."
"Are you serious?" Sonny asked. "This isn't some kind of a joke?"
"Baby, this is for real," Carly whispered. "The boys and I are going to come live with you. Mark and I are going to discuss things when he gets home from the hospital."
"I can't believe this," Sonny said happily. Carly smiled.
"Sonny, this is how it's supposed to be. We're meant to be together forever. We're soul mates." Carly sighed heavily and she bit her bottom lip. "I love you."
"I love you," Sonny replied.
"I'll see you soon." Carly hung up and Sonny hung up as well. It was then that he realized that he was standing up. He had walked over to the phone and he hadn't even realized it. His eyes went wide with wonder. He could walk! He couldn't believe it, but he could walk.
Baby Kristina started to cry over in the playpen. Sonny hurried over to pick up his daughter to soothe her tears.
"It's alright Kris," he whispered. "Daddy's here now." He held Kristina close and realized that he had never got to walk her upstairs before. He had never gotten to take her or Stone to the park. Sonny was on cloud nine. "Want to go to the park?" Kristina rubbed her eyes and nodded. Sonny picked up Stone and Stone giggled with excitement as Sonny made a funny face and blew raspberries on his tummy. He put them in their jackets and loaded them into a stroller and headed toward the park.
**
Jason and Faith were just walking out of their penthouse when they saw Sonny standing at the elevator with the kids in a stroller. They both stopped, wide-eyed, and stared.
"You're . . . you're walking!" Faith exclaimed.
"Yeah," Sonny replied.
"Since when?" Sonny asked.
"Since five minutes ago. I woke up to the phone and I felt so aware. I didn't realize till a few minutes later than I had actually walked over to the phone."
"Oh my God," Faith said. "That's so amazing!"
"Congratulations, man," Jason replied. Sonny nodded.
"I'm not sure if I ever congratulated you on your pregnancy," Sonny replied. "If I didn't, well, congrats." Faith laughed.
"Thanks. That means a lot."
"Where are you on your way to?" Jason asked.
"I'm going to the park with my kids and then I'm going to go shopping. I've got to get ready to bring my daughter home. I also have to get ready to bring Carly, Michael, and Morgan home."
"What?!" Faith asked.
"Carly's coming back," Sonny replied. "She and Mark decided to get a divorce."
"Oh Sonny, that's good news!" Faith exclaimed.
"How'd Mark take it?"
"He told her he wanted to be happy. She's coming home. I swear I won't be stupid this time."
"Don't make those promises to us," Jason replied. "Make that promise to Carly."
**
A few hours later, Mark came home to find Cadence, Michael, and Carly sitting on the couch together. Morgan was sitting in Carly's lap.
"Did you tell them?" Mark asked.
"Yes," Carly replied.
"We're okay with it, daddy," Cadence replied.
"Good," Mark replied. "That's good. I already found a place to stay before I came home."
"What? You're not going to stay here?"
"Carly, you bought this house. You should live in it," Mark replied. "The boys need a big back yard. They need a place to play. They don't need to be cooped up in some penthouse all day long."
"I don't know what Sonny will say."
"It doesn't matter. If he loves you and the kids half as much as I love you, he'll do what's best for you guys." Bianca came through the door with Miranda in her arms.
"Oh, am I interrupting?" she asked.
"No, actually you being here is good," Carly replied.
"What's going on?"
"Mark and I are getting a divorce," Carly replied.
"Oh wow," Bianca stated with wide-eyes.
"Daddy and I are moving away and Michael's daddy is moving in."
"Really?" Bianca asked. "Is this really what you guys want?"
"This will be fine," Mark said. "Come on Cady. Let's start packing." Mark and Cadence went upstairs.
"This is a big deal," Bianca replied. "I guess you don't want to hear another bunch of news tonight."
"What is it?" Carly asked.
"Miranda and I are moving in with Natalie."
"That's good news. I'm happy for you," Carly said, hugging her friend.
"I'm glad you're okay with it. Natalie and I are happy. It'll be easier on you and Sonny too." Carly smiled.
"You're always welcome in my home."
"Thank you," Bianca replied with a grin. She went upstairs to start packing and Michael looked at Carly.
"There are a lot of changes going on," he began, "but I'm just glad we're getting daddy back."
"You know what, Mr. Man?" Carly asked. "So am I."
"Mommy, I want to the park."
"Well, let's go see him then," Carly replied happily. "Go get your jacket." Michael hurried to the closet and put on his jacket. He grabbed Morgan's jacket and Carly put it on him. She put him in his stroller. Carly grinned at her kids. "Everything is going to be fine." They headed out the door and started off toward the park.
**
Sonny was watching his kids play in the sandbox. He was standing beside it, watching them toss sand at each other playfully. He saw Jasper Jax walking by with some strange woman. Sonny knew that he needed to tell Jax about Stone.
"Hey Candyboy," he called. Jax glared at Sonny and excused himself from the woman he was with. He walked over.
"What do you want, Corinthos?" he asked. Something about Jax had changed. His eyes were cold and dark. Sonny pulled some custody papers out of his pocket.
"This boy," Sonny began, pointing to Stone, "is your son."
"What?" Jax asked.
"Brenda is the mother and you are the father. But I have been raising him as my own. I need you to sign these papers to give up any legal rights you have on him." Jax scoffed.
"That kid can't be mine," he said, shaking his head. "He looks just like you."
"Well he's yours."
"Whatever, Corinthos."
"Would you sign the damned papers?"
"I don't see a reason to. He's yours, but if you insist. Even if he was my son, I wouldn't want him. I don't want to be reminded of Brenda. She was a lying, betraying tramp. Jax signed the papers and Sonny put them in his pocket.
"If you ever talk about the mother of my son like that again, I'll kill you," he whispered. Jax walked off and Sonny looked down at his kids.
"We'll be happy," he promised. A few minutes later, Michael and Carly came walking through the park.
"Mommy! Look!" Michael exclaimed, pointing to Sonny. "Daddy's not in his chair!" Michael ran over to hug Sonny and Carly stood there looking dumbfounded for a moment. "Daddy!" Sonny scooped Michael up into his arms and held him. "You're walking again!"
"That's right buddy." Carly walked over slowly with the stroller.
"Since when?" she asked.
"Since you called me. I got up to answer the phone," Sonny replied. He hugged Michael and put him down. Carly grinned and hurried into Sonny's arms. Sonny held her close and whispered into her ear. "Te amo."
"Te amo," she whispered back with a grin, happy to at last be in the arms of the man she truly loved.