Carly was on her way downstairs when she'd heard the doorbell ring, pausing she waited for Reginald's voice, but instead was met with the joyous sound of her son's voice, which stopped her dead in her tracks.

"JASON!"

For the first time in ages Carly was without a plan, with everyone else in her life it was easy to manipulate those that didn't want to see the truth… but Jason had always been the one person in her life that saw past her flaws , who accepted and loved her for who she really was… he'd come back like he always did, he'd forgive her and everything would be good again.

You don't have to do anything anymore, Carly.

Just promise me, you'll wait for us, no matter how long it takes... Promise you'll wait?

You're my family. What else am I gonna do?

"Hey Michael, I want you to meet someone, this is Brenda, she's a friend of mine and your Uncle Sonny's."

OR NOT… Carly's eyes narrowed, and she stepped around the corner so she wasn't in view, listening to the pathetically sweet voice of Brenda Barrett trying to win over her son… that would happen over Carly's dead body.

They're voices became murmurs as Reginald led them into the study, straightening her shoulders Carly made her way downstairs, her mind filled with ugly thoughts. It would take some time, but she was sure she could convince Jason that Brenda was no better than any of theself righteous back stabbers he'd aligned himself with in the past.

How had it come to this, they'd started out as bed fellows and ended up being best of friends, there would always be a part of Carly that loved Jason… it had taken every ounce of courage she had to let him go in the end, she'd lied to him and herself… but in the deepest recesses of her heart and soul she'd known that she wasn't worthy of a love like his, and so she'd freed him of his obligation.

Okay. I understand that now, I really do. You didn't want to hurt us, and... I know that if you hadn't come back... I don't know, Jase. I just get scared, man. And I- I do stupid things.

Yeah, no kidding.

But it's always for you. I mean, it's always for us, even now. Look at us. You left to protect Michael. And I married somebody else so I could be with you. Kind of makes sense, doesn't it? And except for Michael, you're the most important person in my whole life. You're the only one who's never lied to me. You're the only one who doesn't want to change me into something, anything. I can just be myself with you.

You know, when you showed up that night, it was raining. You were so scared. You needed me. You asked me to take care of Michael, and that's... That's when my life started. A life I thought I could never have. More than anything I could ever imagine... It was all because of you. It's true, Carly, you are a lot of trouble. You make things more complicated than they are. But... You showed me new things. You gave me a year and a half that no one can take away. Nothing will change that.

The door was ajar to the study, standing away from it, she listened as Michael talked endlessly, he'd always adored Jason from the time he was born, biological or not, he was Michael's father in ever way that mattered, a jab of guilt pierced through her already heavy conscience, life certainly hadn't turned out like she'd expected… she watched her boys with quiet appreciation, and that's exactly who they were, her boys, if she'd done things right the first time, they'd be a real family.

Leticia appeared from the back entrance, " Michael, your lunch is ready."

The boy frowned and looked to Jason with apprehension, as if knowing Jason kneeled down and cocked his head to the side to meet the boys downcast eyes, "hey little man, remember what I told you okay?"

Michael nodded, starting to walk away, turning suddenlyheran back to Jason and locked his arms around him in a possessive hold, one that caused the older man to embrace the boy tightly, his heart long since tattered from the wars of the heart, was torn once again by the son he'd lost. The boy pulled away from him and ran from the room, leaving Jason once again alone.

But he wasn't really alone; he'd felt her presence the minute he'd stepped into the Quartermaine mansion, Jason could feel her scrutinizing him; there was a part of him that hated that she still had that affect on him… the other half realized being one step ahead of Carly was the best thing for everyone… including her.

"Are you going to stand there watching me all day, or are you going to actually say something?"

Carly came out of hiding, sashaying into the room as if she owned it, " what exactly did you tell my son, I hope it has nothing to do with Sonny, because Michael isn't allowed within ten feet of him as long as he's with that witch of an attorney."

"Straight to the point as always."

"Why the hell shouldn't I be? I can see now this isn't a social call, did Sonny send you to reason with me?"

"Is that what your hoping for?"

"And why would I hope for that?"

"Maybe your thinking Sonny's had a change of heart…that he'd give you another chance."

"A chance, I was never given a fair chance with Sonny…there was always something or someone that came before our marriage."

"There were two of you Carly, you both made your fair share of mistakes."

Carly's eyes brimmed with tears, "the only mistake I ever made was trusting Sonny Corinthos with my heart."

"Quit playing the victim Carly, your not blameless."

Carly's eyes snapped up, and he held up his hand, " I know your hurt and angry and I get that, but this isn't your style Carly, quit blaming everyone else, face up to your mistakes… that's the woman I used to know."

Carly sniffed loudly and walked toward the wet bar, " you want a drink?"

"Why are you here, Carly?"

"The million dollar question, which is probably the real reason you came here… forget friendship, or long ago promises to each other, just cut Carly Benson straight out of your life… nice and clean, expect when it comes to me nothing is nice and clean, she always has an agenda, there's always an ulterior motive… Am, I getting warm Jason is that the reason you came here today?"

"Actually I drove Brenda over."

Carly slammed down the glass decanter, " I should've know, so where is the happy little home wrecker?"

"She's with Lila in the garden, she wanted to see her."

"And what, she needed you to hold her hand?" Carly snapped sarcastically, "I see what's she's trying to pull on you Jason's, she's manipulating you into visiting the Quartermaine's, like you owe them anything after the way they've treated you!"

"Brenda asked for a ride, and soIgave her one, end of story." Jason replied, leaning against the doorframe, "whatever you're thinking, do us both a favor and stop it."

Carly looked down, and glanced at him," I was just thinking how sorry I am that you had the unfortunate inconvenience of running into Michael and myself, why don't you go visit the saints of Port Charles and leave the trash where it belongs… in the garbage!"

"I didn't know that you were living with the Quartermaine's… what are you doing Carly?"

"You wouldn't know, because you haven't picked up a phone or ever tried to make contact with me since that day in the hospital, how could you do it Jason… how could you turn against me and take those sanctimonious bastards words over mine!"

"You crossed the line Carly one to many times."

Carly started to take a swig of her drink, only to have Jason take it away, " are you going to answer me?

She lurched her hand away from Jason's and strode toward the terrace doors, "what do you think the queen of all angels would think about you cozying up to her best friend?"

Jason shook his head in frustration, "Robin has nothing to do with this, so why are you bringing her up?"

"I thought you and Brenda hated each other?"

"Why do you keep avoiding my question?"

"I'm just curious that's all… how do you think you'll feel when you know that you've come between two best friends?"

The words struck Jason like a knife to his gut, " I don't know Carly, why don't you tell me."

Harbor View Towers

Alexis walked toward the bodyguard's quarters, ready go give Brenda a good razzing for what she'd just pulled off, and for once Alexis wasn't angry, she just wanted her friend to sweat a bit before she told she'd accomplished a major feat.

She heard laughter coming from inside the room, just as she was about to know Johnny opened the door, she stepped back surprised, " what are you doing here?"

Johnny gave her a lop sided grin, and made room for her to come in, "beating Max at poker."

Alexis smiled and sank down into the sofa, "where's Ms. Barrett?

"She and Jason took off to the Quartermaine's, she wanted to see Lila."

Quirking her brow Alexis accepted the bottle of waterMax handed her, "She's just full of surprises."

"I guess, " Johnny shrugged, "you seem happy."

"That I am… and I scared to death because of it."

"What's to be scared of, you love each other that should be enough."

"No… no, it can't be enough… Johnny you don' t know me, I'm a lunatic when it comes to giving my heart to someone… or committing, oh my gosh just saying the words makes me break out in a cold sweat… that's why I don't understand what just took place, that wasn't me talking… that was my heart, not my mind!"

Well, Alexis I don't mean to sound rude… but I actually think that might be a good thing."

"You think?" Alexis asked, " I just agreed to move back to my penthouse, to live across the hall from Sonny… to be his what… gun moll, his attorney, his neurotic best friend… I'm a mess trying to figure it out… where do the boundaries begin and end?"

"Did you say any of this to Sonny?"

"That's something Sonny would ask… in fact he did ask me that when I was freaking out about Ned… but you know something Johnny, I won't runaway from him again, I can't… because with him I'm whole."

"Sooo?"

Alexis shook her head, looked down and then back up again with a confused grin," I'm happy?"

"Why do have such a hard time believing that?"

"Because for the first time since I was a girl… I want it to last forever."

Johnny smiled sympathetically, his eye suddenly catching the monitors, "looks like we have company."

"Who?"

"Mr. Jax."Max said, as he opened the side door and stepped out, Alexis and Johnny following behind.

"Jax, what are you doing here?" Alexis asked, reaching up to place a kiss on his cheek.

"I was supposed to meet Brenda out front, do you know where she's at?"

Johnny and Alexis glanced at each other and then back to Jax, who looked at them expectedly.