Betrayals
Part Two
When Lucas came home, it was to an empty house. One of Brad's shirts still hung over the back of his couch and a pair of his boots were still by the door. He wouldn't need those things in prison. As Lucas walked farther into the living room, he saw the stuffed bunny on the floor. A favorite of Wi-of Jonah's. He'd have to bring it over for Michael tomorrow. His fingers rubbed the ear of the toy bunny as he took a seat. As tears stung his eyes, he wondered how he'd lost so much in one evening. The boy he believed to be his son was actually his nephew's and the son his nephew had buried was his. And he'd lost his husband. Silently, he cursed Brad under his breath, wondering if the man realized how he'd destroyed his life.
Michael couldn't take his eyes off of his son, he felt that if he did, the baby would just disappear on him. He supposed it was a normal feeling after their months of separation. Briefly, he wondered if Jonah realized how his life had changed, if his son had ever felt something missing like Michael had.
He jumped at the feeling of a hand on his shoulder and turned his head to look at Josslyn.
"Michael? Shouldn't you be getting some sleep?" She asked him tiredly.
Michael nodded. "Probably. But I'm afraid if I stop looking, he'll be gone."
Josslyn frowned sadly and squeezed his arm, resting her forehead against him. "He won't Michael. Your son is real and he's here. That's not going to change."
He sighs and turns to face her fully. "Part of me realizes that. But part of me...still thinks I'll wake up and this will all just be a dream."
His sister chews on her lip thoughtfully. "What if we bring Jonah down to the living room? We can get Avery's old bassinet and set it up down there."
Michael nodded at that and reached down to pick up his son while Josslyn went to find the bassinet.
When Carly walked down the stairs the next morning, it was to both her kids curled up on the sofa, Jonah between them. She gasped quietly and slowly moved farther into the room. Jonah was still sleeping peacefully, one hand curled in Michael's night shirt and the other grasping Josslyn's finger.
Josslyn's eyes fluttered open and she blinked blearily up at her mother. "Mom?" She groaned, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"Hey." Her mother said softly as she leaned down next to the sofa. "I didn't mean to wake you. Why are you guys sleeping down here?"
The teen got up as carefully she could, being sure not to wake her brother and nephew and followed her mother into the kitchen. As she began to prepare some coffeee, she turned. "Michael was afraid to take his eyes off of Jonah. I woke up in the middle night and found Michael in the nursery, staring down at him. I got him to finally rest by convincing him that we could sleep downstairs."
Carly sighed sadly as she poured herself a mug of coffee. "I figure it will take him awhile to realize he's not going to lose Jonah."
Josslyn nodded. "I feel bad for Uncle Lucas, though." She stated seriously. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely ecstatic Michael has his son back. But I can't believe what Brad did. Lucas just lost his son and never even got to bury him."
"Oh honey." Carly pulled her daughter to her, running a hand through her silky blonde hair. "We'll help Lucas get through all of this."
Chase walked to the door of Willow's apartment and hesitated slightly just as he was about to knock, trying to steel himself for what he had to do. He and Willow were supposed to go out tonight to a movie they both wanted to see. He was unsure if that would happen once she knew about her child.
The door swung open and Willow's blue eyes lit up when she saw him. "Chase! Come on in." She said, beaming. Her delicate hand wrapped around his wrist and pulled him into the room. "I'll be ready in a few minutes, just make yourself comfortable." She was about to head back to her bedroom when Chase stopped her with a hand on her bare forearm. When she turned around, she saw the series look in his brown eyes and swallowed hard. "What's wrong?"
His head lowered and he rubbed her shoulders softly. "It's about your son." He said, clearing his throat. "I know you thought your son was happy and healthy with Brad and Lucas. But...Brad came in last night and admitted something."
Willow's eyes widened as she stared at him and her nails dug into his hands. "What are you talking about?"
Chase swallowed hard and shook his head. "Wiley died hours after Brad brought him home. Lucas was busy in surgery so he wasn't there. Apparently, Brad freaked out when he found Wiley dead and he was driving to the hospital. He ended up running into Nelle Benson. Nelle...she convinced him to take Jonah and pretend Jonah was Wiley. And she took Wiley and pretended her and Michael's baby had died. Lucas never knew until this woman, Obrecht said something and he confronted Brad about it and demanded Brad confess."
Willow felt her knees collapse under her and she gripped Chase tightly, leaning into him. Tears stung her eyes as she thought of the child she'd only held for a few moments. She wanted so badly to believe this all was an awful lie, but she knew Chase would never do such a thing. Her son was dead and she didn't know what to do. She'd been handling not having him in her life with the knowledge that he had two loving fathers, but now she knew that wasn't even true. Now all over again, she was mourning her little boy.