Chapter Five

NOTE- I started a C2 for JARLY. If you have a story you want included, please PM me. I will try to add the ones I spot about Jarly when I can. Bye, Sara

Six months later

March 2008

Jason sent flowers to The Metro Court for Carly. She smiled when she read the card,

Happy Anniversary Wife

Wanna get a drink after work? Meet me at Jake's at 7.

Jason

Carly got there before him and said to Coleman. "How much does it cost to rent this place out for the night?"

"$5,000."

She gave him a hard look. "Highway robbery."

Coleman's mouth curved into a smile. "Want to make it $6000?"

She pulled out her credit card, one that Jason gave her, and said "$3000 and not a penny more."

Coleman announced the rest of the patrons "Down 'em people. The bar is closing for a private party."

The crowd was streaming out when Jason walked in. "Where is everyone going?"

"Your little missus just bought the use of this place for one night." Coleman said

"She did, huh?" asked Jason

He sat next to her at the bar.

Smiling he said, "Another 'charge it!' moment?

"How did you guess? I just thought that a night as big as our first anniversary should be private. Even if it cost a few thousand."

She gave Coleman a pointed look and he went into the storage room.

Jason whispered, "It's only money. It's not like I have to kill to get it."

Carly burst out laughing. "Oh my god, you made a joke."

Jason pretended he was offended " I joke all the time."

"Yeah, once every century."

Jason reached behind the bar and grabbed a beer. "So, now that you emptied the place out what do you have in mind?"

She gave him a flirty look.

He just shook his head at her.

She said, "I can not believe I have been your wife for a whole year and you have not even kissed me. You are not living up to your husbandly duties."

"I don't see you doing much cooking and cleaning."

"That's not the same!" she said, laughing.

He took a drink of his beer. "You've been great, Car. Thanks for doing this to keep me out of prison."

"I did it for me as much as you. You know I can't live without my boy on the side."

He turned his head and looked at her.

Jason had to admit to himself that the last year had been one of the best of his life. He hadn't been this content since...he thought back, since the days when he was raising Michael. But then that all ended when he didn't give Carly what she wanted - he had moved too slow and lost her. But now she wasn't expecting any life changing announcements of love from him so neither of them would be hurt this time around. Unless, she wasn't satisfied with their marriage as is.

He asked, "You miss dating?"

She was surprised by the question. "There are only two kinds of dates. Ones that don't mean anything and ones with someone you love. I don't miss the former and I don't have any other man in mind for the latter."

"I don't want to stand in your way. Make you miss out on something you want."

Carly gave him a confused look"Who is it you think I want?" her voice took on a jealous tone and she added. "Or is this about someone you want to date?"

"Like who?"

"Robin."

"She's in love with that doctor, you know that."

"Hmmm. Lainey? Kelly? Leticia?"

"Married. Barely know her. And don't be ridiculous."

"Lainey got married?"

"Sonny was a guest at the ceremony last month."

"Oh." Carly said unable to think of another available woman in town he might want.

Jason took a drink of his beer.

Carly said "So is it Liz you want to leave me for?"

Jason choked on his beer. He grabbed a napkin.

When he stopped coughing he said, "Come on, Carly. I never said I wanted out. We have another year left on this thing. Right?"

"You make our marriage sound like a car loan. Yeah, in one more year you will be free."

"And so will you."

"Great." she said without enthusiasm

"Let's dance." he said to change the subject.

"You must be drunk."

"After one beer I don't think so." Jason stood and went to the jukebox. He had wanted this night to be nice because he was grateful to Carly for marrying him and hated that they were fighting. "What do you feel like hearing?"

"You choose." Carly said softly

He looked over his shoulder and saw that her face had softened.

Good, she's not upset anymore he thought.

He slid a dollar into the machine and played the Edwin McCain song I'll Be.

Jason walked over to her and took her into his arms. She sighed and looked into his eyes.

The strands in your eyes

that color them wonderful

Stop me and steal my breath

And emeralds from mountains

thrust towards the sky

Never revealing their depth

He didn't know why he choose this song except that Carly was his biggest fan. And though he didn't tell her often, he was hers.

She was the most stand up girl he ever met. Carly looked down death and soul crushing pain and the breakdown of her own mind and walked out of it all stronger. She vowed to never give up on him and he believed her. He counted on that.

And tell me

that we belong together

Dress it up with the trappings of love

I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips

Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above

Carly felt blissful. This was a perfect moment in a pretty great life, at least these days. Jason was doing his best to make this night special and she loved him for that, for just being him.

She told him silently, while gazing up into his eyes of blue, God, I love loving you and I hate it. Because every high like this comes before another fall.

But she wouldn't think of the inevitable crash right now..

Tonight she would just hold him and pretend this was marriage going to last forever.

And I'll be your crying shoulder

I'll be loves suicide

And I'll be better when I'm older

I'll be the greatest fan of your life

Carly laid her hand on his shoulder and let herself get lost in this moment. To feel the heat of him next to her. To be glad that after all these years Jason was still in her life. And as the song played on, she fell and feel deeper in love with him. Just as she had every day of her life since they met.

Jason turned of f the part of his brain that said "Don't let her too close if you want to survive. Another heart break from her and you are finished, buddy." and let himself, for at least this one song, just love her.

Love her without boundaries.

I'll be your crying shoulder

I'll be loves suicide

And I'll be better when I'm older

I'll be the greatest fan of your life

The greatest fan

of

your life

Edwin McCain lyrics