Sorry for the long time that it took for me to update this story and once again reviews are shiny and made out of love. BTW the Carly that is in this, is the Carly Sarah Brown portrayed, not the Laura Wright version since my Carly is more conniving and manipulating then she is shrieking and obsessing.

Show Me Your Love

CHAPTER 4

"How's Ned? I didn't think you cared. You skipped town without saying a word to anyone, just left signed divorce papers waiting for him. You broke Ned's heart and you stole his son." Alexis accused. She had initially hoped Chloe and Ned would reunite, but now that idea was obviously shot to hell.

"Please Alexis. You're a mother, you'll understand that I needed to protect my child. Tracy is like poison, she finds a way to slowly kill you on the inside with her lies and bitterness. I was not going to let that happen to my baby." Chloe retorted and sent a fiercely protective gaze to her son.

"There was a time when the simple mention of your name caused him physical pain, a time when all he did was watch your wedding video and drink himself into stupor. But now, he's moved on and is getting married in a few weeks time," Alexis said thoughtfully and it amazed her that she actually preferred Ned to marry Carly then to be with Chloe. Alexis had never thought that the soft-spoken, sweet blonde could do something as evil as she had done and it sickened her.

"He's getting married?" Chloe asked almost silently, a deep sense of guilt and longing washing over her.

"He and Carly are getting married at St. Timothy's two Saturday's from now. When he was at his most desperate, Carly and her boys were able to bring back his smile and happiness. And then Brooke Lynn moved back to Port Charles and today they all live together at the gatehouse."

"I - I'm happy for him. There is obviously no place for me here anymore and I have accepted that. I'm sorry Alexis, but I think I should start packing our things," Chloe said fiddling her medium length blonde hair nervously.

"You're not running away again with Ned's son, I won't let you. He needs to know he has a son and if you don't tell him, I will." Alexis said her brown eyes fixed on the blonde with the look of steely determination in them.

"You have no right telling Ned anything. Nate is my son and it's my decision whether or not I tell Ned about him," Chloe angrily retorted, not intimidated by the smart lawyer.

"If you really loved Ned, you would let him get to know his son. He's a great dad and a great friend. He's the godfather for both of my girls and no one loves kids more than he does. Ned treats Carly's kids just like they were his own flesh and blood and he deserves to be there for Nate," Alexis argued.

"I can't just drop in on him and say, 'hey, this is your son by the way'. It wouldn't be fair for Nate. And it wouldn't be fair for me either. I have built a life for myself in Los Angeles and that's where my support network is," Chloe said, trying again to get Alexis to understand why Ned shouldn't know about Nate.

"Just hear me out. You have me, Jax and the Quatermaines if you want to do what's right for your son. "

--

"Where the hell are they? This is unacceptable. Ned ought to show up here tonight, after all the time and effort Brenda has put into celebrating his latest marriage. What is this, his seventh?" Edward complained loudly with a drink in his hand.

"Edward, I'm sure they will here soon. Have some more asparagus guacamole dip and carrot sticks while we wait," Courtney perkily said offering the older man some of the finger food that was sitting at the table next to them.

"Father, you know that tramp won't miss any opportunity to weasel herself into our family. This is her golden opportunity to sink her hooks deeper onto my son," Tracy injected from the other side of the room where she was currently shooting disgusted looks in Courtney's direction.

"Don't talk about Carly like that. She and Ned are really in love," Courtney rebutted with a huff.

"What are you, 13? Carly doesn't love anyone, she is unable to do that. Ms Benson Quartermaine Jacks soon-to-be-Ashton-over-my-cold-dead-body is looking for her next meal ticket. She tricked AJ, but that isn't exactly hard since AJ here is the poster boy for dummies everywhere. She conned Jerry Jacks into marrying her so she could steal his money. Now she's trying the same thing with my son," Tracy replied with a dangerous look in her eyes.

"Now, I hate to contradict my beautiful wife, but Neddy is old enough to make his own decisions. Now have some more shrimp cocktail Pookie," Luke Spencer said with a wink while shoving some food into his mouth.

"Ned and Carly love each other I know that. Just because you Tracy, have lost the ability to love, it doesn't mean everyone else has," Courtney said surely and dismissively.

"Ned's my son. I love him more than you can understand in that empty little head of yours. Carly has wrapped her finger or should I say her legs around him, clouding his better judgment, " Tracy argued, finding it hysterical that suddenly the whole entire room seemed too focused on the food to take part in this discussion. Even Edward was too busy jugging down his third drink of the night to comment.

"For someone who says they love their son so much, you seem to put him down a lot. No wonder he hates you, just like everyone else in this town," Courtney said sneering at the older woman, but still remaining close to her husband clasping his hand tightly.

--

"Ready to face the hyenas?" Ned asked wiping lipstick from his lips as they were standing outside of the Morgan penthouse.

"Your mother is more like a piranha. But when it comes to being a bitch, she should take lessons from me. I pretty much invented the genre," Carly winked mischievously and kissed her fiancé before knocking on the door.

"Carly, I never thought I'd say this, but I'm glad that you're here," Brenda said opening the door with a slightly thankful expression on her face. Tracy and Courtney bickering was causing her to get a massive headache.

"Brenda, always a pleasure. You gaining weight?" Carly sniped and stepped inside the penthouse.

"Yeah, one dead weight just walked him," Brenda snarked back and then proceeded to give Ned a bone crushing hug.

"Brenda!" Jason said giving Brenda a warning look, a look that his wife liked to call the blink of doom which wasn't nearly as intimidating as her husband seemed to think it was. She gave her best apologetic smile while taking Ned's coat.

"Where the hell were you Ned? You have the manners of a servant boy. You are a Quartermaine, act like it!" Edward bellowed, pouring himself a fourth drink.

"Zip it Edward. Ned, Carly, glad you can make it. Now let's eat before the food gets cold," Jason ordered, all hints of pleasantness evaporated from his voice. He wanted the people out of his home as fast as possible.

Brenda had intended to say something, but instead she locked arms with Ned guiding him into the long table that had been set up just for this dinner party. She had spent a good hour thinking about the seating arrangement and she hoped that she had gotten it right.

As everyone had been seated, Brenda clinked on her glass and stood up, saying a Hail Mary beforehand internally, she was now going to utter so many lies in a few short sentences that she deemed it prudent.

"I want to thank you for coming tonight to celebrate Ned and Carly's engagement. I'm so ecstatic for Ned and Carly and I hope they have a happy, lasting marriage filled with love, trust and friendship." Brenda said raising her glass and toasting a marriage she wished didn't happen at all.

--

"So what do you want Princess?" Sonny asked his daughter as they were standing at the grocery store picking up ice cream with Max and Milo standing near them looking out of place in dark suits, sunglasses and frowns. Savannah had practically dragged her father out of the penthouse to get her ice cream and Sonny was too smitten with his only daughter to refuse her.

"I want the Chunkey Monkey ice cream daddy," Savannah said jumping impatiently and pointing to a carton of her favorite Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Then suddenly she noticed something that attracted her attention and the seven-year old took off running towards something.

"Uncle Ric." The girl shouted as both Max and Milo took off after her, both knowing full well that if they let Sonny's daughter get lost or worse, kidnapped, they would be counting fishes under the Port Charles pier in no time.

"Monkey Princess, what are you doing here by your lonesome?" Ric Lansing asked scooping the running girl into his arms. A second later Max ran to them breathing deeply.

"Lansing, let go of the girl," Max growled, to the amusement of the DA.

"Daddy, I saw uncle Ric. What are you doing here uncle Ric?" Savannah said waiving to her father as he run to her with Milo right behind him.

"Well, I'm on a ice cream pick up trip. You see your auntie Sam is craving some Cherries Jubilee ice cream and tomatoes so I promised to get them for her. And then I promised to get some popcorn for Molly and Kristina as well." Ric explained putting the girl down when Sonny shot a disgruntled look in his direction.

"Daddy, can we go to uncle Ric's? I wanna play with Kristina, I wanna show her my new Bratz doll. Please daddy," Savannah said in her best pleading, puppy-god face that usually worked for her father.

To Be Continued…

Next Chapter: Sonny & Ric at a playdate? Carly and Tracy fight, Jax finds out about Nate.