Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh FD's.
Carly was discharged from the hospital 4 days later. She was put into a wheelchair, pushed by Austin while she held her baby boy.
"He's so cute." Louise cooed. She smiled up at her husband. "I can't wait until our baby is born."
"Hopefully, without the near-death experience and sudden appearance of the deadbeat dad." Carly quipped bluntly, making Austin laugh.
Louise didn't smile at the joke.
When the three went through the exit, a fancy car pulled up in front of them. The last person Carly thought to even see stepped out of the vehicle.
"Jack?"
Jack approached Carly but stopped to stare at the baby he and Carly made.
His little boy had a tuff of blonde hair, big blue eyes, and his hot pink skin cooled down to a fair shade.
He was so perfect…
"Jack?"
Carly's voice snapped him out of his daze.
"What are you doing here?"
"Get in. I'm taking you."
Carly leaned back. "I don't think so."
"Come on, Carly." Jack begged. Yes, he begged.
"You don't even know where I live."
"There's somewhere I needed you to see."
"I need to go home."
"Carly, I know I demand a lot from you, but I need you to come with me. Please."
"…Fine."
"We're coming too." Louise answered firmly.
Carly got into the couple's car and followed Jack's car to a fancy hotel. Jack practically yanked Carly's wheelchair out of Austin's grip and wheeled her in himself, bringing her into the hotel's ballroom. The room was dark until the lights suddenly switched on.
"SURPRISE!"
Everyone's conjoined screams sprung the baby out of his sleep, making him cry.
"You idiots! You woke him up!" Jack scolded.
"Whoops."
Carly shushed her baby, calming him down. Once her baby stopped crying, she looked around, confused.
"What is going on? What are you doing here?"
"This is a baby shower!" Luna explained. "For you! And the little guy!"
Everyone was there. Aki. Yusei. Crow. Leo. Luna. Stephanie. Mina. Misty. Kalin. They were all crowded around Carly and Jack, looking at their newborn. Stephanie, Mina, and Misty fawned over the baby especially.
"Aw…"
"He's so cute!"
"He looks just like Jack!"
"What's his name?" Luna asked, gently stroking the baby's chubby cheek.
Carly gazed down on her son, smiling happily.
"Eric. Eric Mason Carmine."
"Shouldn't that be Eric Mason Atlas?" Leo questioned. "Ow!"
Luna stomped on his foot, glaring at him.
"Carmine sounds better." He added weakly.
In the corner of the ballroom was a massive pile of gifts, all for Eric. Crow plucked one from the pile and handed it to Carly with a big grin.
"Open this one first! It's from Martha!"
Carly just stared at the offering gift.
"Come on! Open it!"
But Carly was reluctant to let go of Eric, so Jack snatched the present, tore off the wrapping and pulled out a soft, fluffy pink blanket.
"Pink?" Jack gawked.
Crow shrugged. "They were out of blue."
Jack slapped his forehead. "My kid's a boy, not a girl, you nit!"
But then Eric reached out with his tiny arms and gripped the pink blanket in his little hands. Jack tugged gently, but little Eric made fussing noises, refusing to let go, and had a scowl on his angelic face.
"I think he prefers pink over blue." Aki said, smiling.
"Actually, pink was originally used for boys because it's a lighter shade of red for blood." Luna added.
Carly blinked. Then sighed.
"I need to sit down."
"Sit over here." Louise said, guiding Carly to a table. As soon as the two women sat down, Mina, Misty and Stephanie sat down as well.
"Do you want anything? Drink? Food? Presents? Anything you want, you name it!" Mina asked in a rushed tone, leaning over from her seat across Carly, eyes locked on the new mother.
"No thanks, I'm fine." Carly said, a little taken aback by Mina's behaviour.
Misty made Mina sit down. "Take it easy, Mina."
Mina nodded but kept her eyes on Carly. Misty and Stephanie had their eyes on little Eric, all wrapped up in his new pink blanket. The feminine colour suited him much better than his mother.
"So, uh, Carly?" Mina spoke again.
"Yes?"
"Uh…"
"Why didn't you tell Jack you were pregnant?" Stephanie interrupted.
"Stephanie!" Mina and Misty exclaimed.
Louise jumped to Carly's defence. "I don't think this discussion is real-"
"It's ok, Louise." Carly spoke up bravely. "I can answer her. He didn't want to listen. To me, telling the father was most important. I wasn't comfortable with doing anything or telling anyone but him. And he won't let me tell him."
"Carly, I don't blame you for ignoring Jack." Stephanie was saying. "He-"
"I ignored Jack?" Carly shot up from her seat like a rocket, angry with Stephanie's words. Eric remained asleep in her grip, undisturbed.
"Carly, calm down. She didn't mean it like that." Louise said, gently guiding her back down to her seat.
"Did I say something wrong?" Stephanie asked timidly.
Misty slapped her on the head. "You dumb bimbo! Carly didn't ignore Jack! He ignored her!"
"Oh…sorry."
"It's just that you disappeared out of the blue." Mina quickly covered up, smiling at Carly. "Jack misses you like crazy."
"He missed the reporter he tolerated." Carly said blankly, stunning the three women of her past. "Just because I had his son doesn't mean Jack has to give me special treatment."
"He's always giving you special treatment."
"By ignoring me? How sweet. It's nice that he acknowledges Eric, but he doesn't have to acknowledge me. We're just…acquaintances."
"Acquaintances who sleep together and have a baby together." Misty pointed out.
"We slept together once." Carly countered back.
"But you had his baby, his love child." Stephanie mentioned.
"Eric is not a love child. He's loved, yes, by me. Jack doesn't love him or me."
"Uh, Carly? Jack can hear you." Misty said meekly, pointing to the blonde man listening in and watching from a few feet away.
Carly scoffed. "Good."
"She gave birth and almost died." Louise explained dryly. "That gives her the right to be blunt."
Carly was on a roll. After her ordeal of nine months, she became blunter with her hurt feelings and not afraid of letting others know.
Especially the one responsible for her ordeal.
Jack.
Jack frowned at each stab at his ego, yet he knew he deserved it. And more.
"Jack, just go over and talk to her." Yusei urged.
"Why aren't you with her?" Jack retorted, masking his pain. "She probably wants anyone but me."
"She's needs you more than she lets on. Just do it."
Encouraged by his friend, Jack was about to go over to Carly when Crow got there first, peering over Carly's shoulder at baby Eric.
"Are you sure Jack is even the father?" He inquired.
Carly glared up at him. "I think I would know who impregnated me. I only been with one guy. That's enough for me."
Then Crow extended his arms out, reaching for the baby. "Let me hold Emmett."
But Carly shifted in her seat, moving her baby from Crow's grabbing hands.
"Eric. His name is Eric."
"Just let me hold him. Please?"
"You are not holding my son before me!"
In a flash, Jack swooped in and snatched Eric from Carly before Crow did. It was only a minute later when he finally realised, he was holding a baby. A small, fragile, delicate baby. He froze, paralysed of fear while holding Eric awkwardly.
Carly couldn't help but laugh. It was rather funny seeing the mighty Jack Atlas out of his element of confidence.
"Jack, you're acting like he's a bomb." She teased.
"Babies are bombs. He could explode any minute."
Jack was practically sweating with fear. The sight delighted her.
"Here."
Carly got up and walked over to Jack, helping him position their child better in his arms.
"Support his head. There we go."
Once Eric was properly settled, his father gazed in amazement at his child. Eric's little head fitting perfectly in his big hand, baby soft skin against rough skin.
But what amazed Carly was that Jack smiled. As if he was…happy. She had never saw him so happy.
"He's perfect." Jack said, soft with the emotions he was feeling.
Carly could not help but smile. "He is."
This scene was perfect. Not a sense of regret or anger. They were not wannabe lovers and their unplanned baby. They were parents of a wonderful child.
Maybe they could fix this…
And then Jack glanced to her.
"Don't worry. Everything's gonna be fine."
Carly looked up at him, confused. "Oh, really?"
"Yes. As soon as we get back to Neo Domino."
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"What?"
"We'll get you back to Neo Domino so everyone can see our little Prince. The paparazzi is gonna go nuts. Everyone will love him. No doubt about it."
Jack was so focused on his little boy, he didn't even notice that the mother of his firstborn child had gone into shock.
He wanted her to come back to Neo Domino and act as if nothing had happened. Be his loyal fan again while he parades their son around like a trophy.
He didn't want her.
"Ok, you got him first, Jacky. Let me hold the kid now!"
Crow swooped in and took Eric right from under Jack's nose.
"Crow, gimme back my boy!"
"Hey, buddy! It's your uncle Crow!"
The baby blinked up at Crow and immediately burst out crying.
Crow gulped. "Why is he crying?"
"Babies cry."
"He didn't cry when you had him!"
"I'm his father!"
"Just calm down. Babies can smell fear."
Eric kept crying.
"Man, you're really scared."
"I am not!"
"You're shaking in your boots."
"I'm cold!"
"You tell yourself that."
"Please stop crying!"
Eric wailed even louder.
"Jack! Shut your kid up!"
"I would, but I'm enjoying this first."
"That's it!"
With that, Crow turned the baby upside down, instantly causing everyone to freak out.
"Crow!"
"The baby!"
"I got him!"
Yusei quickly and gently grabbed Eric out of Crow's hands.
"What? That's how you shut them up." Crow defended.
"On what planet? Moronica?" Misty retorted.
"I don't recall Martha ever holding any of us upside down when we cry." Yusei commented.
"You're never touching my son again, ever!" Jack roared.
Yusei cradled Jack's son in his arms, rocking the baby back and forth, just as Martha had done to him and every single infant in the orphanage. The baby had stopped crying and immediately went to sleep, laying his head against the man's chest.
"How did you do that?" Crow asked, as if his friend performed a miracle.
Yusei shrugged. "He likes me."
"He's so cute!" Luna gushed, hands on her cheeks. "I want one!"
"You don't even have a boyfriend!" Leo scoffed, making his twin sister glare at him. "The more important question is who's gonna be the godfather?"
"It should be me!" Crow hollered. "The fun uncle is always the godfather!"
Jack scoffed. "As if I'm gonna let you be the godfather of my child! It's Yusei. Even my boy agrees."
It was true. Eric slept peacefully in Yusei's embrace.
"Can I be the godmother?" Misty asked.
"No way! It should be me!" Stephanie argued.
"Me!" Luna cried.
"Sorry, ladies, but Aki is the godmother." Jack decided firmly.
The girls groaned in disappointment. Aki, on the other hand, wasn't pleased with the decision.
"Jack, I don't think this is a decision you should make now." She said.
"I agree, Carly-" Mina tried to say but Jack cut her off.
"Yes, Carly will agree."
"But-"
But then Crow cut her off, explaining in excitement. "I still can't believe Jack reproduced! A mini Jackson!"
"His name is Eric." Yusei corrected.
"Fine, just name the next one Jackson."
"No, we're having a girl next!" Jack proclaimed, shocking everyone.
"A girl?"
"Yeah. Carly and I have a son, so we'll have a girl next, so Eric won't feel too competitive. I grew up with Yusei and Jack, and that was no picnic."
"Growing up with you was no picnic!" Crow retorted.
"Jack, seriously, shut up!" Mina snapped. "You're upsetting Carly!"
"No, I'm not! Tell them, Carly!"
All eyes set on Carly. But the new mother was silent. Her mouth was open but not a sound was made.
"Alright, that is enough." Austin said. "We're getting out of here."
"No!" Jack roared. "You're not taking Carly away from me."
"Don't you see you're upsetting her?" Louise retorted.
"I'm making things easier for her! Tell them, Carly!"
Carly finally made a sound. A cry.
She cried.
"Carly!"
Jack reached out for her, but she pushed him away.
"What the? What are you doing, woman?" He demanded.
She glared at him, eyes watering.
"That's your plan, isn't it? To guilt trip me? You want to show everyone how wonderful of a father you can be and blame me for not telling you I was pregnant when you weren't even listening? Well, congratulations, it's working! Everyone is treating me like if I'm the bad guy and giving you all the sympathy, as if you went through 9 months of carrying a human being!"
"Carly-" He tried to say, but she cut him off.
"Where were you when I needed a partner for my Lamaze class? Where were you when I waited in the restaurant for you? Where were you when I found out I was pregnant? Where were you when I needed you the most? I'll tell you where you were all this time! You were playing with your cards and partying with supermodels!"
"Car-"
"Are you trying to humiliate me even more? Blame me for something you've done? Good job, it's working!"
"No, Carly, I-"
"I don't want to hear it! I'm leaving! Yusei, give me back my baby!"
Carly practically snatched her child away from the man.
"Carly, please!" Jack pleaded.
"I'm not gonna stand here and get blamed for what you did!" She shouted as she sat in her wheelchair. "Austen, get me out of here before I have a heart attack."
"With pleasure."
Austen and Louise wheeled her out of the ballroom, out of the hotel and out of Jack's life.
No one in the hall spoke a single word.
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Until Leo spoke.
"We messed up. Bad."
"Mostly Jack messed up." Crow pointed out.
"You!" Aki shouted, rounding on Jack with so much anger.
"What?"
"You sprung everything on Carly! The baby shower, the future plans, picking Eric's godparents. It's too much for her. But you kept bombarding her!"
"I am not!"
"You are! You made her cry! God damnit! What were you thinking, Jack? You're planning your future and you never asked Carly!"
"She's part of it! Her and Eric!"
"What you're doing to Carly isn't healthy. All this pressure you're putting on her. You're practically putting her through post-natal depression. You need to give her space."
"Not gonna happen. No way am I leaving her again."
"You're the source of the problem. Carly could've told any of us about her pregnancy, but she wanted to tell you first because you're the father."
"If you care so much for Carly, then why did you ghost her?" Kalin asked.
Jack crossed his arms and frowned but answered anyway. "I didn't want to be distracted."
"Seriously?" Yusei gawked.
Jack flew into a rage. "You don't know how much Carly means to me! If I talk to her or even see her for a second, I would've broken down. She makes me feel weak. The great Jack Atlas is not weak!"
"Well, the great Jack Atlas just proved he's a greater jackass." Crow remarked.
Jack growled menacingly.
"Don't look at me like that. You know it's true."
"I know, ok! I drove her away! The whole reason she left without telling anyone is because I left her! I didn't listen to her when she needed me the most!"
For the last three days, Jack read the texts, emails and letters Carly sent him. Telling him that she had something important to tell him.
She wanted to tell him she was pregnant in person. And he refused to meet her.
Never in his life had he felt guilty. Not even when he turned his back on his past.
Now he turned his back on his future.
"I just thought I should do everything for her, to make it up to her."
Yusei looked at his childhood friend. Never had he seen the ever-confident Jack Atlas so defeated.
"If you want to make it up to her, do it gently." He said. "No audience, no backup, no peer pressure. Just you. It's what she wanted for the last 9 months."
Yusei was right.
If there was any chance of getting Carly and their baby back, Jack had to do things solo.
Let go whatever anger and embarrassment he felt to focus on proving himself to her.
So, he held his hand out to Aki.
"Give me your phone."
Aki glared at him.
"…Please."
After Austin and Louise brought her home, Carly managed to calm down. She had just put Eric down for his first nap in his new home when the phone rang. Luckily, Eric was already fast asleep and undisturbed by the shrill ranging.
On the phone, Carly saw Aki's name, assuming her friend was calling to check up on her. But when she answered, it wasn't Aki who greeted her.
"Carly!"
"Jack? What you want now?"
"I just need to talk to you. I'm sorry for stressing you out at the hotel."
"You did more than stress me out. You practically ruined my life. I'm not letting you ruin it again."
"I know and I am so sorry."
"Sorry won't fix your mess."
"I know, God Carly, I know saying sorry won't be enough. But I want to do more than say sorry. I want to make up for everything I have done to you. I want to be in Eric's life. No, I need to be in his life. He's my son."
"No, you just need an heir. A little prince. You can any bimbo for your queen."
"Please, Carly. I'm on my knees here."
"Are you?"
She immediately got a text containing a picture of the great Jack Atlas begging on his knees.
Her jaw dropped.
He was serious.
So, she gave him her address via text.
10 minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Carly opened the door and sure enough, Jack-ass Atlas was on the other side.
She stepped aside, allowing him to walk inside.
"Carly, I-" He stopped talking as soon as he started. "This is where you're living?"
"Yes."
"With my son?
"…yes."
His face creased up with disgust. "Unbelievable. This apartment is too small for the three of us."
"It's fine for me and Eric."
"My hotel room is bigger than this dump."
"Your hotel is, like, 10 stars with a private beach. Josephville doesn't even live on the coast."
"You can't be serious, raising our son in this pit?"
"This pit is the best I can afford."
"I can afford a better house with five bedrooms-"
"You suggest moving in one more time and I'm sticking this dummy in your eye!" She burst out, waving her baby's pacifier threateningly.
He looked sheepish.
"Sorry."
He got more sheepish.
"I'm sorry again for everything. I just lost control with myself, I just got so excited.
We have a future together. Our son is our future."
"Jack, you planned our so-called future when we have barely been together for a day!"
"C'mon. Don't you think about the future?"
"I only think about the future when I'm in it! I think about do I have enough baby food for Eric, do I have enough rent money, am I able to get Eric into school-"
"What school? There's no duel academy here."
"He doesn't need to learn how to use duel cards before he learn his ABCs!"
"You went ahead and named our son! You didn't even give him my last name!"
"I am raising him, so I think he should take my surname. The only reason I named Eric was to honour my dad. For a long time, I wanted to name my children after my parents. My mother died bringing me into this world and my father raised me until he died."
Jack looked sheepish again, this time turning around from her.
"You already pick out names, haven't you?"
"No, no, no! I, uh, I'd read this book and there was a girl named Elizabeth and I really liked the name. It's fit for a princess, even a queen."
"What's the book?"
"…The big book of baby's names."
"On my God!"
Carly couldn't believe it. He even thought of baby names!
"Look, I know I got carried away-"
"Why would you plan my future when you didn't want me in the past?"
"Of course I want you in my future!"
"Yeah, after I had your child!"
I thought I should plan the next stage in our lives, you know? I'm sorry I didn't think straight. All my life, even as a kid, I did everything on my own. I relied on my gut."
"Well, your gut has wind."
"Just come back home! Neo Domino is your home! I'll help you pack. Where's your suitcase?"
Jack moved forward, but Carly pushed him back.
"Josephville is my home now! I made a life for myself here, a real life. I have friends, a job to pay the bills, rent and food, not to mention Eric. I am not moving out of Josephville. I am not going to uproot my life again for you. It's not worth the risk."
Jack stared her long and hard, challenging her. She didn't flinch.
"If you don't want to come back, I'll stay here."
"…What?"
"I'm moving to Josephville."
"You're moving? Here? But what about your career back in Neo Domino?"
"I can commute."
"It's a two-hour drive!"
"I don't care what I have to do. I'll do whatever it takes to prove myself to you and our son."
It sounded too good to be true. Carly suspected he had an agenda.
"Where's the cameras?" She demanded.
He raised a fair-haired eyebrow. "What?"
"The cameras hidden for a shot of the great Jack Atlas proclaiming his dedication to his secret family!"
"There are no cameras!"
"I was a reporter. I know a publicity stunt when I see it!"
"Carly, stop it!"
He grabbed her by the shoulders, jerking her out of her fury and making her focus all of her attention on him.
"I am not using you for publicity. Other than our friends, nobody else knows about us. About Eric."
She glanced to the side, unconvinced.
"I am not giving up on you or Eric."
Eventually, she glanced to him, narrowing her eyes.
"It's gonna take a lot of grovelling from you for me to even consider forgiving you."
Jack nodded.
He understood that he had to fight to win the right to be in her life. To be in his son's life.
Winning over Carly was his toughest duel yet.