CHAPTER TWELVE

"Jason, how are you?" Bobbie opens the door to the Brownstone with a look of concern. As much as she's missed her daughter, she knows Jason has suffered worse. She's tried to discover what caused the rift between the dynamic duo but as usual Jason revealed nothing.

Jason shifts his weight. "May I come in?"

She steps to the side so he can enter. Once he's in she pounces. "Have you heard anything? I have a new list of care facilities she may have taken Michael. Let me get my purse."

"Bobbie, that's not necessary. I found her. Well she called me but I've seen her. She's okay."

"She called you?" Bobbie sits on the end of the couch. "Where is she? Did you tell her how worried and scared she's had me? You have her call me as soon as you can."

Jason sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "She had her reason for leaving and much as I hated it, I understand. We've talked about it and worked it out."

"So where is she?" Bobbie stands. "Is she back?"

Jason shakes his head. "She can't fly right now but she'll be home soon."

"She can't fly right now?" Bobbie eyes him. "You don't seem overly concerned about it. Is she, is Carly pregnant?"

Jason smiles softly. "Very."

"Judging by that smile," Bobbie laughs, "I'd say I owe you congratulations."

Jason nods. "We're a family again. In the way we were meant to be. If Michael were here things would be perfect." He sighs and sits on the couch.

"Michael would want you to continue living, Jason and if he were able to he'd tell you how happy he is you're both finally back where you belong." Bobbie takes a seat next to him. "You never stopped being the person he depends on most. He never stopped thinking of you as his dad. He loves Sonny, I know that, but we've had enough conversations to where I know who he viewed as his father."

Jason eyes brim with tears. "I feel so much regret. I don't usually let myself feel anything but I keep thinking if I'd just let go earlier; If I'd let myself admit how much I still loved her and wanted to be with her this never would have happened."

"You know better than anyone the past can't be changed." Bobbie pats his hand. "All you can do is move forward and pray we get our miracle and our boy wakes up." She lifts his hand as hers comes in contact with something cold. "Jason?" She gives a pointed look at the wedding ring.

Jason gives a boyish smile. "Yesterday."

Bobbie hugs him. "I guess it goes without saying but welcome to the family Jason."

"Where is he?" Carly wails as she paces.

Gia tries to get her to sit. "He'll be back as soon as he can. You have to sit down, Lee."

"I can't believe this is happening." She grits her teeth as another contraction hits. "We had three more weeks. She can't come now."

Gia changes tactics. "Well walking back and forth sure isn't helping things. Doesn't walking induce labor?"

Carly promptly stops pacing and takes a seat. "Maybe its false labor. I mean the contractions aren't that bad. How far apart are they now?"

Gia checks her watch. "Fourteen minutes."

"Okay so maybe this is just like the previews you know?" Carly chews her lip. "The main attraction may not happen until scheduled."

Gia frowns. "Carly you've done this twice before. Shouldn't you know if it's real or not?"

"This is the first time I've gone according to whatever book there is on this kinda thing." She calls Jason on his cell but again no answer.

Gia sighs, "He's probably on his way back." She checks her watch. "Well so far so good. You haven't had another one have you?"

Carly shakes her head. "No, not yet but maybe we should tell Johnny just in case."

"Okay." Gia walks to the back door and yells for Johnny. He joins them a moment later.

"What's wrong?" Johnny frowns as he enters the kitchen.

Gia rubs his arm. "Don't freak out. She's in labor."

"Whoa, not in labor; I'm having contractions and that's it." Carly protests. "No labor here. This baby is not coming for another three weeks with Jason by my side."

Johnny nods as he grabs her keys from the counter. "Let's go."

"We're not going anywhere." Carly insists. "The contractions are way far apart. I just wanted to tell you in case…"

Johnny shakes his head. "No in case. I know your history with pregnancies Carly and I'm not taking any chances. Now get your hospital bag because you're going."

Carly grumbles as she gets up. Truth is she's scared of what could happen too but she wants Jason there for the big day so she'll stall as long as she has to even if it means trying to control her own body.

Halfway out of the kitchen she feels a whoosh as her water breaks. Gia and Johnny rush to her side.

Carly groans. "This so sucks. Why'd I tell him it was okay to leave? He's going to miss it."

"No he won't." Johnny reassures her.

Gia rubs her back. "She's tried to call him since this started but he's not answering. He has no idea what's going on."

"He's on his way back." Johnny informs them. "I talked to him an hour ago. He probably didn't have reception when you tried." He pulls out his cell and calls.

"What's wrong?" Jason asks immediately.

"She's in labor. Meet us at the hospital." Johnny replies rapidly.

Carly reaches for the phone. "Jase? Where are you?"

"Almost there." Jason reassures her. "We're landing now. Don't worry about me okay? Get to the hospital."

Carly smiles, "Okay just hurry. I love you."

"I love you too."

"Caroline Morgan?" Jason skids to a halt by the nurses' station.

Johnny flags him over. "She's in here."

Jason rushes over. "Is she okay? Has the baby…"

"Whoa slow down." Johnny slaps him on the back. "She's doing fine; can cuss like a sailor but doing fine."

Jason opens the door and the sight of Carly curled up in pain makes his heart skip a beat.

"You made it." She tries to smile but it comes out as a grimace.

He strokes her hair. "How is it?"

"It sucks." Carly admits as tears slip from her eyes.

He bends down to kiss her. "Why don't you get something for the pain?"

"I want to but…" She trails off as another contraction hits and she cries out.

Gia explains, "She was scared it'd speed up her labor."

"That sounds like a good thing." Jason raises a brow. He rubs her back as another contraction takes hold.

Carly grips his hand tightly. "I didn't want you to miss it."

"Well I'm here now." He reassures her. "Tell the nurse to get her something." He instructs Gia.

Carly adds, "Please."

Once she's gone Jason moves into her spot. "It's going to be okay. She's going to be strong and healthy just like her parents. We're going to bring her home and you're going to rock her and sing to her like you did Michael and Morgan."

"She needs a name." Carly reminds him.

Jason smiles, "Whatever you want is okay with me."

"No. We have to choose together." Carly is firm.

He sighs and tries to think. "Carly, you know I'm not good at this."

"You named Michael." She protests.

He nods. "I named him after Sonny. I didn't really think about it."

"Speaking of Sonny; how was your trip?" Carly lets out a breath as another contraction hits.

Jason strokes her hair. "Don't worry about anything else right now. I don't want the business to be a part of this moment. This is about you, me and our kids."

Carly tears up again and this time not just from the pain. "I'm scared, Jase. She's coming so early. Peter says it's okay but what if its not?"

"If it's not we'll get through it." He says confidently though part of him is scared too. "We're not going to lose her. If she has to stay a couple of extra days then we'll be here and we'll get her through it."

Peter walks in with Gia. "We're getting the epidural ready but first I want to check you."

"Okay." Carly turns from her side to her back.

Gia takes her other hand. "Everything is going to be fine, Lee."

"Carly, are you feeling the urge to push?" Peter asks.

Carly frowns. "No, not yet. Why?"

"You're fully dilated." He reveals. "We're ready to have a baby." He calls for the rest of the team and starts to give instructions.

Gia leans down. "I'm going to go wait with Johnny and Morgan."

"No. I want you here." Carly grips her hand.

Gia looks at Jason. "I don't want to intrude, Carly. It's okay."

"You've gone through this entire ride with me, G. I want you to be here when your goddaughter takes her first breath." Carly squeezes her hand. "Jason, do you mind if Gia stays?"

Jason frowns. "Why would I mind?"

"See?" Carly rolls her eyes.

Peter focuses her. "Okay Carly I want you to take a deep breath and hold it as you push for a ten count."

Carly does as instructed as Jason and Gia support her. Over and over again she pushes until finally a little cry fills the air around them. Carly looks down in wonder as the tiny body is placed on her chest. Her hand strokes the light hair on the head as Jason gazes down completely entranced.

"Congratulations, it's a boy." Peter announces.

Gia covers her mouth. "Are you serious?"

"Are you sure?" Carly looks at Peter in astonishment.

Jason looks down at his son. "He's perfect."

The nurse takes him so they can assess him. Gia leaves to tell Johnny and Morgan the news. Carly and Jason continue to stare at their new son. Once mother and son are done they're moved into a recovery room.

Jason takes him from the bassinet and sits next to Carly on the bed. She strokes her son's puffy cheeks with one finger.

"He's beautiful Jase." Carly awes.

Jason kisses him lightly. "He looks like you."

"No, he looks like you."

Jason shifts him. "He has your mouth."

"He has your nose and chin." She points out. "When he wakes up I bet he'll have your eyes."

Jason shakes his head. "He's going to have your eyes."

"Gia and I have a lot of returns to make." Carly groans as she takes him from Jason.

Jason shakes his head. "Save it."

"For?" Carly smiles down at their son.

Jason kisses the top of her head. "We'll have a girl one day."

Johnny, Gia and Morgan walk into the room after a light knock. Morgan rushes to the bed. Jason helps him settle next to his mom and brother.

"Hi baby brother." Morgan kisses his cheek. "What's his name?"

Jason and Carly look at each other. "We don't know yet. What would you name him?"

"Turtle." Morgan throws out promptly.

Carly and Gia exchange looks. Morgan has been dropping not so subtle hints that he wants a turtle.

"Well if you name your brother turtle and you get a turtle that would be confusing." Gia explains. "Why don't we think of a different name for the baby?"

Morgan shrugs. "Okay. Can I have a turtle?"

"We'll see." Jason says as the adults laugh.

Carly eyes Johnny, "What's your middle name?"

"Mateo."

Carly turns to Jason. "Well it would keep with the M theme."

"Mateo is a form of Matthew." Gia interjects. "What about Matthew Morgan?"

Jason nods. "I like it."

"Matthew Jason Morgan." Carly mulls it around. "What do you think Morgan?"

Morgan makes faces at the baby. "I like Jason Mateo Morgan. So am I Morgan Morgan now?"

The adults in the room look at each other. Jason gives a subtle nod towards the door and Gia and Johnny leave. Jason takes a seat in the chair next to the bed.

"Well buddy you know that Sonny is your dad." Jason starts to explain.

Morgan nods. "But now you're married to mama and you're the baby dad. Does that mean you're my dad now? Or you're still Uncle Jason?"

Carly and Jason exchange looks. How do you begin to explain this to a child?

"Well that's up to you Morgan." Carly rubs his head lightly. "Your dad will always be your dad but Jason can be a dad to you too if you want."

Morgan thinks about it and goes back to his original question. "So I am Morgan Morgan?"

Jason lifts him up and sits him on his lap. "Kinda strange to have two of the same names huh?"

"Yeah." Morgan chews his lip in perfect Carly imitation. "Can I be Lucas Morgan? Like Uncle Lucas?"

Carly looks at Jason. "Let me and Jason talk about this for a minute okay baby?"

"Okay."

Jason calls Johnny to take Morgan to the cafeteria. Once he's gone they look at each other and sigh.

"What are we going to do?" Carly wonders.

Jason takes her hand. "I love Morgan like he's my own. Legally I can adopt him since Sonny gave up his rights. Is that what you want?"

"You know I've always wanted you to be the father of my children." Carly sighs. "Sonny is going to flip out."

Jason sits on the edge of the bed and takes his son. "I know but he gave up his rights willingly. He has no control over what happens now."

"Lucas Morgan?" Carly puts a hand to her head. "That kid scares me sometime. It's like it's no big deal to change your name."

Jason laughs. "Well think about it; nobody around him goes by the name they were born with; Caroline Benson, Jason Quartermaine, Michael Corinthos."

"I know but…"

Jason kisses her. "His given name is Morgan Lucas Corinthos. We'll just shuffle the names around. We can still call him Morgan if he wants us too."

"You make it sound so simple." Carly leans over to kiss him as she swipes the baby from him. "Have Diane draw up the papers."

Jason pulls her into another kiss. "Have we decided on a name for this one?"

"Yes." Carly decides. She smiles down at the sleeping baby. "Welcome to the world Jason Mateo Morgan."