As usual my thoughts are taking off into a new direction so I may stop writing from Carly's POV and start a more third person storyline. Just a heads up. Please read and review. :)

CHAPTER EIGHT

"Morgan please." I implore as he once again wanders too close to the pool.

He steps away and pokes his lip out in perfect imitation of a younger me. "But mom," he whines, "I want to go swimming. You promised."

"I know I did baby but mommy is tired." I explain. "Let's rest for a while and then I'll take you in, okay?"

"But mom…" He begins again.

"Come on Morgan." My source of relief suddenly appears on the scene. "I'll take you in while we let your mama get some sleep. What do you say?"

"Yes!" Morgan pumps his tiny fist in the air.

I rub my swollen belly and look at my best friend with gratitude. "I don't know why this pregnancy has me so tired but it's like I can't go more than five minutes without a nap."

"Well only three more weeks to go then it's bye-bye sleep; hello crying and diapers." She laughs.

I flip her off as she laughs and jumps into the water with Morgan. Looking down at my humongous belly, I smile lovingly. "Don't worry about it little girl. I will gladly change diapers if it means I get to have you in my life." I feel a pang of guilt as I talk to my daughter because I know despite what happened with Jason he would have been thrilled to share in the duties of raising our beautiful baby girl.

It's funny. No matter how much I run or how far I get I cannot shake Jason from my thoughts. What he did is always pressing to the forefront of my mind. At first I was devastated, then I was angry and now I'm just…numb.

Okay I'm lying. I'm not numb. I'm pissed off and I'm bursting at the seams to make Kate Howard pay. The only reason she's had an eight month reprieve is because I refuse to let anything harm this pregnancy…even my thirst for revenge. At first I wanted to kill her or have her killed. I fantasized over the ways I'd have it done but it just seemed to kind. I want her to suffer. Everyday that my son spends trapped in his own body; Kate Howard will spend in a living hell. Of that I promise.

"Chill." Gia instructs as she and Morgan climb out the pool.

"I'm trying." I protest.

Gia laughs as she dries Morgan off. "Sure you are Lee. I can see the wheels turning from here."

"Do you blame me?" I finally give up trying to hide it.

Gia shakes her head solemnly. "No, she has to pay. I just don't want my goddaughter being polluted with negative energy. We plot once she's here, agreed?"

"Agreed." I grumble.

"So did you?" Gia looks at me expectantly.

I roll my eyes. "No and I'm not going too."

"He gets out tomorrow Carly." She reminds me. "There's no way he's going to hide you from Jason. It's going to be world war four when he finds out I've been helping you hide and I didn't tell him."

"Don't worry about him." I reassure her. "He never could stay mad at me for long. I'll just explain what happened and I'm sure he'll agree that I made the right call."

Gia arches a brow. "Are we talking about the same man? Cause I know my husband and there is no way in the world he's gonna be cool with you running off on Jason while you're pregnant with his kid. He owes Jason his life Carly."

"I know." I look at the water and try to fight back the tears. "I'm just so sick of running G. I'm tired of uprooting Morgan and transferring Michael every couple months. When I ran into you it just seemed like I'd finally found home, you know?"

Gia touches my hand lightly. "I know and I don't want you to leave either but you have to call Jason and tell him where you are. I'm not saying go back to Port Chuck. Morgan loves it here and selfishly I would like for you and the kids to be in the same city as me. All I'm saying is he has a right to know you're okay and the baby is okay."

"I know he does but…" I trail off. She's just voicing what I've been thinking every day for the last three months when my mood swing turns me sentimental. No matter what Jason did he has a right to know the pregnancy has been a success.

"He's been punished long enough Lee." She says softly. "He damn near went crazy by all accounts. You wanted to punish him and you have."

"Would you be saying this if Johnny wasn't getting out the Pen tomorrow?" I arch a brow at her in annoyance. I don't need anyone making me feel guilty about Jason. I gave him exactly what he deserved for lying to me again. First it was the Sam baby lie and now this lie for Kate. Always protecting Sonny's women at my expense; fuck Jason.

"Probably not." She admits with a shrug. "These last few months would have been lonely for me if not for you and Morgan. Maybe I was being selfish but I'm a selfish person." We exchange looks and it says a lot.

Morgan and I had been living in Houston for a few days when a chance encounter with fellow Port Charles Alumni Gia Campbell had me ready to run for the Swiss Alps. When I first saw her my thoughts immediately turned to Jason. I knew from Jason that Gia and my once upon a time bodyguard and longtime friend Johnny Mancini were married but I thought he said they lived in California. What in the hell is she doing here? And what if Johnny's with her? He'd call Jason in a New York minute. I grabbed Morgan and was about to jet from the store when she yelled out my name.

"Carly? Carly!" She navigated through the crowd and grabbed my shoulder.

I gripped Morgan's hand tighter. "It's been a long time Gia."

"Yeah it has." She flicked her trademark braids behind her shoulder. "What brings you out this way?"

"I could ask you the same thing." I evaded the question. "Where's Johnny?"

Her smile disappeared and her eyes turned sad. "I thought you knew? Johnny's in prison. He got five years with no time off. They transferred him out this way so I moved to be closer to him."

"What?" I asked in shock. "Jason never…" I abruptly cut it off not wanting to bring he who should remain nameless into the conversation.

"Six more months to go." She says wistfully. "Needless to say Marcus is furious I followed after he was transferred but I've learned nothing I do is good enough for my family so why bother, you know? Johnny's all I need."

I couldn't help it. I squeezed her hand. "I know what it feels like to have the man you love behind bars. While Jason was in Pentonville I was literally losing my mind."

"Is Jason here?" She looked around for him.

I chewed my lip. "No. I left Jason and if you wouldn't tell him or Johnny you saw me I'd consider it a personal favor. I know you don't owe me anything but…"

"Why?" She asked simply.

We sat down to talk and from there the entire story spilled out. Gia sympathized with my anger and even became enraged with Sonny, Jason, Jax and especially Kate on my behalf. We renewed a tentative friendship and from there it grew to a sisterhood. It's amazing to me how things can change when you remove the elements of one small self righteous town. In Port Charles Gia and I were both labeled bad girls, town Pariahs, but here we were simply Gia and Carly and not having the extra stress made for a helluva friendship.

"What the hell?" An unexpected voice busts in on our conversation.

I look up slowly as Gia squeals in delight. She gives no thought to me or Morgan as she throws herself into Johnny's muscular arms and wraps her legs around his waist.

"What? I thought I was picking you up tomorrow?" She questions in between kisses.

He laughs as she knocks him to the ground. "Damn girl, miss me much?"

"I'd say so." I laugh as I struggle to stand up. "We'll let you guys have some privacy to uh…catch up."

"Not so fast Carly." Johnny stops my escape. I send Morgan into the house. Johnny waits until the patio door is closed before he starts in. "What are you doing here and why didn't you," he turns to Gia, "tell me about it?"

"She left Jason." Gia explains. "But she had a very good reason and before you get mad remember you just got home and I'm sure you wanna get laid tonight."

Johnny gives her a look like yeah right. "I know she left Jason. Everyone knows. The business is falling apart. We've lost eight good men so far from outside attacks on the organization because Jason has been distracted; the man has been slowly losing his mind for the last seven months. He's searched every inch of every continent he suspected she could be on. How did you end up here of all places?"

"It's a great care facility for Michael nearby." I say quietly. I knew leaving would upset Jason but I didn't think he'd let the business fall. That's not like Jason.

His eyes soften at the mention of a little boy he thinks of as a surrogate son. Michael's birth and childhood was seen more as a joint effort amongst all the adults in his life. Johnny was no exception. "What happened, Carly? I didn't believe it when I first heard it. I never thought anything could make you leave Jason."

I tell him. I tell him everything. Gia stands next to him resting her chin on his shoulder as he takes it all in. Once I'm done I stand and wait to hear what his take is on the situation.

"You have to talk to Jason." Johnny says quietly. "Whatever his reason for not handling Kate and not telling you, I know he put your best interest first and foremost."

"No, he put Sonny's best interest first." I state bitterly. "All along he knew. He knew that witch tried to help the man who shot our son. He knew and he did nothing. There's nothing he can say to justify it."

"I'm sorry Carly." Johnny shakes his head. "I know you're hurting but he's hurting too and the business is hurting. He's going to get himself killed. Can you just call him, for me?"

I look at him with controlled anger. "Don't try to guilt me back to him. It use to work with Sonny but Jason is different. He's different than Sonny ever was and he doesn't need me to run the Organization."

"I use to believe that too." He says quietly. "But the things I've been hearing tell me he's not as different as we thought. He has a weakness and that weakness is going to get him killed. He's been shot once already."

"WHAT?" My legs get weak and I grab the back of my chair for support. "When? Is he okay? What happened?"

Johnny gives me a look of exasperation. "Are you listening? He's been screwing up. He's distracted because all he cares about is finding you. You know how much focus it takes to keep the business running smooth Carly, you know!"

"Is he okay?" I ask again.

"Call him and find out." He orders.

"Fuck you Mancini." I say between clenched teeth. The baby kicks my rib causing me to flinch. It's like she knows we're talking about her daddy and she's voicing her opinion.

Gia rubs his back. "Let's give her time to think about it John."

"She's had months to think about it and don't think you're off the hook for keeping this from me sweetheart." He warns.

Gia gives me a glare. "I told you he'd be pissed."

"Carly, call Jason or I will." He throws Gia over his shoulder and carries her into the house.

I sit at the patio table and start to cry. Much as I'm disappointed in Jason and as angry as I am with him I don't want anything to happen to him. I can't imagine the world without him in it. He was shot. I don't know where, when, what damage he suffered. A stray thought flits across my mind causing instant jealousy. What if little Lizzie Webber is trying to worm her way back into his life by playing nurse?

"Don't cry mommy." Morgan's small hand pats my back lightly. "You're not fat." He's overheard the crying spells I've had about my weight gain and innocently assumes that's the source of my tears.

I take his hand and kiss it lightly. "Thank you baby."

"I'm not a baby." He smiles at me and points to my stomach. "That's the baby now. I'm a big boy."

I hug him and rest my cheek on his forehead. "I keep forgetting how big you're getting Morgan but you know what? You'll always be my baby." I kiss his hair affectionately and he snuggles closer to me.

I try to reason it out in my mind. Obviously he's alive or Johnny would have told me. I don't need to see for myself. I don't have to do anything when it comes to Jason. My only priorities are my three kids.

"Morgan, bring me the phone please."

Port Charles

Diane places another document on the desk. "Last one. Sign here and here."

"Jason." Diane clears her throat again. Jason's been staring out the window for the last ten minutes oblivious to everything around him. Heaven knows she has no use for Carly Quartermaine Corinthos Alcazar Jax Spencer or whatever the hell she's calling herself these days but at this moment she would gladly track the woman down and drag her back by the hair to Jason if need be.

Jason turns around and walks over to the desk scribbling his name on the documents she's placed there. "Anything else?" It's been a very hard day. Sonny marrying Claudia Zacchara as a way to take control of his organization has caused a long drawn out war with either man reluctant to make the move that will end it.

"No. That's all." She gathers the documents and her briefcase. "I suppose I shouldn't ask but has there been any word on Carly?"

"No." His eyes are cold and his answer is clipped.

Diane coughs lightly. "Okay then I will be going now."

He doesn't bother to say a goodbye as she lets herself out. He returns to the window which overlooks Port Charles. His cell vibrates in his pocket. He answers with a curt. "Morgan."

"Hey Stranger, remember me?"

"Carly." His grip tightens around the phone.

I twist a strand of hair nervously around my finger. "How've you been?"

"How am I?" He repeats slowly.

I clear my throat trying to talk around the lump that suddenly forms in it. "Yes. I heard you…are you okay Jase?"

He struggles with what to say. So many thoughts are running through his mind he doesn't know where to begin. He chooses a simple, "No, I'm not."

Gawd, why did he have to say the one thing that I can't ignore? "I'm too far along to fly. Can you come here? Are you able?"

"Tell me where you are." He writes down the address then grabs his jacket from the hook and just like that he's heading to the airport.

Well there's nothing left to do but wait. I get Morgan and together we head over to our house next door. I order dinner for Morgan. It's impossible for me to eat. I feel like tossing my cookies every few minutes and I know it's not because of the baby. I do not want to face Jason. Guilt is starting to hit me hard even though I don't have anything to feel guilty about. He lied to me. I never lied to him. We agreed. Lie to the world but never each other. He broke his promise and I left. That's it. There is nothing to feel guilty about damn it.

I decide to busy myself by washing and folding the clothes Gia and I have wracked up for the baby. She has to be a girl with all this yellow and pink. Technically I never found out the sex of the baby. I know it's a girl though. I just have a feeling.

Jason looks at her door for a long time. A million emotions are hitting him at once; something that only Carly can accomplish. Deciding enough time has been wasted he knocks sharply on the door.

When she opens he takes it all in. The pregnancy has her face full, her stomach is huge and her hands are obviously swollen. He's never seen a woman more beautiful…or sadder.

"I'm sorry." He reaches out to touch my face and I find myself leaning into his touch involuntary.

I retreat. "You should be. How could you Jason?"

"If you'd known; what would you have done?" He asks quietly.

I give him a look like duh. "Kill the bitch."

"I know." He leans against the door. "You'd have reacted and I would have lost you both. I couldn't Carly. I can't."

I eye him. "And you didn't kill her because….?"

"I left it to Sonny." He admits as he meets my eyes. "I know you don't want to hear this but I understand why she did it."

I feel the wind literally knocked out of me. "She helped the man who shot our son, Jason. How can you understand that?"

"Because you would have done the same thing for me." He holds my face between his hands and holds me captive with those blue eyes I'm such a sucker for. "Ian Devlin threatened to kill Sonny unless she helped him. She was dumb and she did it but the place she was coming from Carly…I understand that place. She wanted to protect the man she loves at all costs. I don't like the fact she did it but the person to blame was Ian Devlin and I killed him Carly. Once I find who hired him I promise you I will make them pay."

"I'm sorry Jason." I turn away. "I can't muster any understanding for Kate Howard. Michael wouldn't have been in the warehouse if it wasn't for Kate. Sonny wouldn't have gotten rid of the guards if he wasn't trying to prove to Kate he could go straight. All roads lead back to that bitch and when that fuck who shot my son went to her for money or whatever; she paid him. She didn't go to Sonny, she didn't go to you, and she didn't go to Jax. She didn't give a damn about Michael and justice for him. All she cared about was protecting what Kate Howard wants."

"What do you want me to do Carly?" He turns me back towards him. I see him wince and know the pain in my eyes must be visible. He hangs his head. "Tell me how to make it right."

"Kill her." I shrug.

"Carly."

I glare at him. "Either kill her or get out of my way when I go after her Jason. I mean it."

"And that will make things right between us?" He eyes me. "Carly, you've been gone for months. You let me think I'd never see you, or our family again. I was wrong for what I did but you're wrong too and I need to know how we fix this…not just the Kate situation….all of it because this, man, this has caused a lot of damage."

"Really?" I can feel my inner bitch gearing up and I'm helpless to stop it. "Did I wreck you Jason? Is that what you're saying? That we've finally wrecked each other? Kind of a self fulfilling prophecy don't you think considering I told you how we'd stay solid with each other. Don't ever lie to me. For you I thought it'd be a no brainer. Don't lie. You hate to lie anyway. How could you not do that for me?"

"I COULDN'T LOSE YOU TOO!" He shouts. "Can't you see that? We'd already lost so much…losing you would have broken me. It has broken me."

"Jason…."

His hand shoots out and cups the back of my neck as he kisses me. The pace of his kisses is almost frantic. I can't help but respond in kind as I press closer to him. His hands tangle in my hair and he yanks hard. I give a sharp cry into his mouth. He tries to release me but I press closer and hold his neck in place with the gentle force of my hands.

"Carly." His voice is ragged and a shade desperate.

I've never heard or seen desperate on Jason and I'd be lying if I said it didn't unnerve me a bit. I see Jason as unshakeable, unbreakable, to know I've caused such emotion in him is both elating and terrifying because if Jason falls apart…who'd be there to put me back together again?

"Jase…I…" We both jump a little as our daughter suddenly starts kicking her heart out.

He smiles for the first time since I opened the door. "Is she always this active?"

"She huh?" I can't help but smile.

He nods as he places both hands on my belly. "It's a girl. I just know." The baby kicks again hard and he leans down to talk to her. "Hey baby girl…its daddy."

She gives two sharp kicks to my side and I take a breath. "Okay somebody is excited. I think we should take this to the couch."

Once we're seated he turns to me and immediately places his hand back on my stomach. "Has it been difficult? Are you seeing a good doctor? Do you..."

"Whoa Jase." I laugh a little. "We're fine. Better than fine actually. This pregnancy has been picture perfect despite all my fears and medical history. As you can see I've gained all the weight I was supposed to plus some."

"You're beautiful."

"You have to say that cause you did it." I can't help but tease.

He takes his eyes away from my stomach long enough to look me in the eyes. "I say it because you are. You're always beautiful when you're pregnant but this time…there's just something extraordinary about you."

Damn it. I blush. I can't help it. I've been feeling so damn ugly and fat lately and to hear the hottest man on the planet say I'm beautiful…ugh Jason sucks.

"I just want to check on her." I hear Gia saying loudly as she marches up my front steps.

We can hear Johnny's voice right behind her, "Give them some time to work it out. Jason won't do anything to…"

"Jason won't do anything to what?" Jason asks as he throws open the door just as Gia's knocking. She ends up hitting against his chest instead and he brushes her hand aside. "What are you two doing here?"

"For the record…I just got out of prison today." Johnny informs him. "I had no idea what these two was up to until I walked into my backyard and saw the two of them lounging by the pool."

Gia nods. "It's true. I didn't tell him because I knew he'd have to tell you." She bounces past him over to the couch. She gives me a look of concern. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." I reassure her. "You didn't need to come check on me G. I'm a big girl and I'm sure Johnny had other plans for tonight."

"We've had other plans all over the house twice already." She laughs. "I need a five minute break."

Jason and Johnny exchange looks and laugh. Johnny shrugs. "As I keep reminding her…I just got out of prison."

"I feel so sorry for you." I roll my eyes as I look at Gia. "The whole time you were waiting for him to get home all you could think about was the great sex you'd be having and now you're wimping out? Tsk tsk tsk. I expected more from ya, G."

Gia tosses a pillow at me. "I'd like to see you go twelve rounds and then twelve more without a break in between and tell me how easy it is Mrs. Morgan." She winces as she realizes what she said.

"What?" Jason stops talking to Johnny and turns back to us.

Gia smiles nervously as I glare at her. "Nothing."

"You're using my last name?" He asks quietly.

I try to act indifferent. "This baby is a Morgan and I just want to have the same last name at my doctor appointments and delivery. I know its probably not that big a deal to most people but it is to me. If you don't want me to have it that's just too damn bad."

"I never said I don't want you to have it." He snaps. "I don't hope, I don't wish, and I rarely want anything for myself, Carly; but if you'd stuck around you'd have known I wanted to marry you more than I've ever wanted anything."

Johnny makes a motion. "Gia, let's go."

"No, you don't have to leave." I insist as I struggle to stand up to no avail. Gia finally rolls her eyes and pulls me up from the couch. I glare at Jason and Johnny as I see them barely able to suppress their laughter. Tears immediately spring into my eyes. "Don't laugh at me. I can't help it I'm a freaking whale." I rush from the room in tears.

Gia glares at them. "You are so dumb."

"Babe you saw her…."Johnny can't help but laugh again.

Gia punches him. "I'm telling you if you EVER laugh at me when I'm too pregnant to get off the couch I will cut your balls off." She turns on Jason. "You better go apologize and tell her she's still the most beautiful woman you've ever had the privilege to lay eyes on. Her room is the first door on the left. Make it good Jason."

"In the morning we need to talk." Jason tells Johnny then jogs lightly up the stairs.

Gia looks at him suspiciously, "What do you need to talk about? You're not thinking about…"

"Let's talk about this at home." He takes her hand.

Gia refuses to budge. "Johnny you said…"

"I know what I said but things are different now Gia." He drops her hand.

She folds her arms across her chest. "How long have you known you're going back in?"

"When things started falling apart I figured he'd need my help." He admits. "I owe him Gia."

She looks away. "You owe me too."

"Without him there never could've been us." He reminds her quietly.

Her lower lip starts to tremble and she tries to push back the tears threatening to spill over. "I can't do another five years without you Johnny. I just can't."

"Can we talk about this at home? Please Gigi." He kisses her softly. She nods and they leave.