Author's Note: For the purpose of this story, Michael did not wake up. Patrick didn't perform the surgery to wake him up and Carly and Sonny eventually decided to take him off life support. Obviously I began this story prior to the current storyline on the show and already wrote that Michael had died in previous chapters. Enjoy!!
Carly Jax replaced the phone and sat back in her chair. Her plush office at the Metrocourt suited her to a tee. The walls were a tan with gold accents that carried into the background of the couch and chairs clustered in the corner. The tidy desk was a deep, rich mahogany and carried a variety of technical gadgets from a computer to her blackberry.
After all, Jax always said that if she didn't love being the hotel manager so much she could always become an interior decorator.
She grinned as she thought of the conversation she'd just had with her husband. Jax had called to tell her the good news that Rachel's dream was finally coming true. Her daughter who was such a compliment of both herself and Jax was a business woman of her own.
Carly didn't know how she'd lucked out so well. Despite many mishaps in her life, she'd made the best choice when she married Jax. He was the best husband and father she could have asked for.
But not only that, Carly didn't know how she'd managed to raise such successful children when her own life had been unsteady for so long. Reaching for a framed photograph of her youngest son she smiled, thinking of Morgan. Despite his difficult childhood, he had turned out to be a wonderful, generous man who was successful in his own way. It was, she thought, ironic how he'd become a police officer when his father had been one of the town's most notorious crime bosses. But regardless of his paternity, Morgan had made something of himself. To add to his success, Morgan was engaged to the town sweetheart.
The fact that her son was engaged to the daughter of the woman she'd despised for years was something that amused Carly to no end. Mattie Drake was the product of Robin Scorpio and Patrick Drake, but she didn't have her mother's brownnosing nature. Either way, she couldn't be happier that Morgan had finally found the woman of his dreams.
Replacing the frame, she picked up a photograph of Rachel. Carly was proud of Morgan and what he became, but she was even more tickled over Rachel because she was the product of the only healthy relationship that Carly had ever had. Rachel was a unique combination of both herself and Jax, which made her daughter a very formidable woman. And Carly was thrilled that Rachel was following her dream of being a business woman. She was glad that Rachel had found her own niche that didn't come with prior influence. It was hard, Carly realized, to be you own self with both of your parents were so influential. But Rachel had managed to carve out her own success.
And then there was her youngest daughter. After the difficult pregnancy that resulted in the birth of Rachel, she and Jax had resigned themselves to the fact that there wouldn't be any more babies. But then she'd began being dizzy and nauseous. At first, she wondered if her medical condition was getting worse. At a doctor's appointment, she'd gotten the most wonderful news she'd ever received in her life: she was pregnant again. Like her pregnancy with Rachel, Kelly had advised against it. But Carly was determined to have the baby so she'd done everything possible for a healthy pregnancy. And her hard work, healthy diet, and bed rest had paid off in spades when she'd delivered her second little girl right on time.
Carly grinned and reached for her youngest daughter's photograph. Of all her children, Victoria Caroline Jax was a carbon copy of her. Victoria always gave them a laugh with her talents and her schemes. Despite her intention to be disapproving of her daughter's actions, Carly rarely was able to keep a straight face when Victoria was around. At sixteen, she was successful in her own right. She had skipped a grade in elementary school so she was a junior in high school and despite her scheming actions, she was a straight A student. Outside of school she volunteered at the hospital and was a national champion for gymnastics.
She replaced the photograph of her grinning daughter. The last photograph of her desk was more than twenty years old. She smiled sadly at the son she'd been forced to bid farewell far too soon. Michael Corinthos III. Her baby boy, the product of an unstable relationship between herself and A.J. Quartermaine and raised by the man who'd eventually killed him. It wasn't that she blamed Sonny for what had happened—God knew that Sonny already blamed himself more than anyone else could—but she regretted that she hadn't been able to protect him, to tell her little boy that he couldn't go to the warehouse that night.
Carly sighed and smiled at the happy little boy her son had once been. No matter how much Sonny had tried to protect him, Michael was doomed from birth. No one was safe in Sonny Corinthos' world. And it had taken tragedy for her to realize that fact. And over the years, Carly had realized that maybe Alexis Davis was right in keeping her own daughter away from Sonny. At least Kristina Davis was alive today.
Carly shook herself out of the sadness and pushed back her chair. Standing, she walked to the closet and used the mirror was attached to the inside of the door. Making certain that the tears hadn't marred her makeup, she calmed herself down. Even after all these years, thinking of Michael and how his life had been a waste made her tear up. But she had moved on and was ready to focus on the future.
And right now, the future was settled on the shoulders of her three remaining children and their successes.
GH*GH*GH*GH*GH
After watching the door close, Lila turned back to the waiting room of the fifth floor. She was hoping that Mattie could fit her appointment in now instead of later that afternoon. As she walked toward the nurse's station, she spied Elizabeth coming around the corner. Lila came to a sudden halt, unsure of where to go when Elizabeth saw her and smiled.
"Hello Lila!"
Lila walked hesitantly up to the desk and smile slowly. "Hi Elizabeth. How are you?"
"Oh I'm great. You?"
"Wonderful. It's been busy today, but I'm off in a couple of hours. I heard that you and Cameron are together," Elizabeth replied, eyeing the fiery-haired woman.
Lila's eyes widened. "Ooh, we're great. In fact, he's coming to my apartment tonight for dinner." She eyed the hallway and hoped that Mattie would simply appear out of nowhere. Anything to get her out of the line of fire. Because she was definitely not ready to tell Elizabeth that she was carrying her grandchild.
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. "Oh. Well, that's wonderful. I really think that you and Cameron are good for each other. We need to have lunch and talk."
Lila nodded. "That'd be nice. Call me sometime and we'll set up a date." She hesitated, unsure if she really wanted to get into this with Cameron's mother. "Umm, Elizabeth, do you know if Mattie is busy?"
Elizabeth turned away and looked at the board. "Well, she's out of surgery. Do you want me to page her?"
"That'd be great. Thanks. I'll just wait over here." She moved over to the circle of chairs that was considered that waiting room. Elizabeth picked up the phone and made the overhead call. Paging Dr. Mattie Drake to the fifth floor nurses' station.
It was several uncomfortable minutes before Mattie came around the corner. Lila had spent those few minutes chewing over her guilt. She didn't like not telling Elizabeth, but didn't want anything to change between her and Cameron just yet. Lila stood up when she saw her friend coming towards her.
"Hey, what are you doing here? I wasn't supposed to see you until later," Mattie asked, concerned. Then she moved closer to her friend. "Are you all right?"
Lila gasped. She frowned and pulled Mattie towards the hallway. "Not here!" she hissed.
Mattie glanced behind her and met Elizabeth's quizzical glance. Shrugging, she turned to focus on Lila's problem. "Okay, but you didn't answer my question. What are you doing here? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm here because I am acting as Ric Lansing's lawyer and I was interviewing him. And I was hoping that you could fit me in now, rather than later. Then I don't have to come back."
Mattie brightened. "Well as a matter of fact, I do have an opening. A patient cancelled on me, so I'm free until next hour. Follow me." She led them down the hall to an empty exam room. Entering the room, she handed Lila a gown and a plastic cup. "Put this on and pee in the cup. Bathroom's through that door."
Lila raised her eyebrows. "You want me to pee in that little cup? I do have some modesty." But she grudgingly took the offering.
Mattie smiled knowingly and shook her head. "Oh sweetie, you are in for a big surprise. Modesty goes out the window with motherhood. After all, how to do think that baby comes out of you? I'll be back in a few minutes. A nurse will be into take the sample and to take blood." She turned and slipped out of the room. Lila was left alone to consider her friend's words. Sighing, she dropped her coat and purse on the chair, unbuttoned her pants and pulled her sweater over her head.
She slipped the flimsy gown on, frowning at the lack of polite covering. But she sighed, thinking what Mattie had said as she walked into the bathroom. Turning the water on for good measure, she peed into the little plastic cup, putting a sticky tape with her name on it and slipping it in the little window. Washing her hands, she walked back into the exam room and hopped up on the table to wait for the nurse.
When the nurse finally came in and drew her blood, she was beginning to get nervous. Even though she had come to terms with the fact that she was pregnant, she realized that a doctor's appointment would cement that fact. Lila closed her eyes and tried to imagine herself as a mother. She had a difficult time seeing it because it wasn't something she'd planned on.
Some time later, the door opened and Mattie slipped inside, jarring Lila from her daydream. "Thinking of booties and bottles, darling?" Mattie asked her friend quietly. She put a hand on Lila's shoulder.
Lila sighed and shook her head. "Not in the slightest. It hasn't really set in yet." She put a hand on her stomach. "—that I'm pregnant."
"I know, but it will soon enough. Lie back on the table."
Lila shifted so that she lay on her back on the table. Mattie drew the ultrasound machine and situated the blanket over Lila's legs when she opened the gown. "This will be a little cold," she said, squirting the clear gel on Lila's stomach.
"I've always seen that in the movies, but I always thought that it was just an effect," Lila said, cringing slightly when she saw that Mattie was right.
Mattie chuckled. "It's something that we doctors don't tell women until they are already pregnant." She moved the wand over Lila's stomach, watching the screen. Then she smiled and pointed to the screen. "Look it's your baby."
Lila turned her head and followed Mattie's finger. All she saw was a little gray blob but she trusted her friend so if Mattie said that the blob was her baby, then she believed her.
"Everything looks healthy. The heart sounds and looks good. You can see tiny features beginning to develop. In another couple of week, you'll see fingers and toes."
Lila smiled now. she reached out and put a hand on Mattie. Mattie looked at her, worried. "Are you alright, Sweetie?"
She nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you Mattie. Thank you for being my friend and for being there when I'm freaking out."
"Oh Lila, you're so welcome. And it just lucks out that I'm an OBGYN when you needed me. You and your baby are so disgustingly healthy that I don't want to see you until next month," she replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh that's what I plan." Lila sat up when Mattie patted her shoulder and finished wiping off the gel.
"I want to take your weight while we are waiting for your blood test results. But seriously, everything looks great. Hop off the table and walk to the scale in the corner."
Lila complied and walked across the room, stepping onto the scale. Mattie came beside her and took her weight. "Perfect weight, but don't get too used to it. 115 is good for now. But I'd guess that if you don't completely let yourself go, you'll gain about 25 pounds."
Lila grimaced. "Really? 25 pounds?"
"Oh yes, and it will go on fast. I do recommend that you keep up with Pilates and yoga though. It's good exercise and you will be glad when it comes to delivery. Speaking of which…" Mattie broke off, turning to Lila's chart. "You said that the first day of your last period was when?"
"Um…Halloween?"
"Okay…so I'd put your due date as June 12," Mattie replied. She stood up and walked to the door. "Good luck. I'll see you for your appointment next month. You can make the date today if you want. Come find me when you've dressed and I'll walk you out."
Lila nodded and waited until Mattie had exited the room. She quickly dressed and fixed her hair and makeup. It was several minutes later until she was ready to leave the room. Exiting the room, she walked toward the nurse's station in search of her friend.
Mattie stood next to Elizabeth who was updating charts. Lila made her way to the counter, an orderly came up to them and handed Elizabeth a stack of folder. She took them and after dividing the stack into two, gave one to Mattie and stuck the others behind the desk for another doctor.
Mattie smiled at Lila. "All set?"
Lila nodded, impatient to leave the desk before discussing any other appointments. She and Cameron weren't even used to the idea that they were going to be parents and she wasn't ready to tell the soon to be grandma. "Yes, I really have to get back to the office. I'll just call your office to make an appointment later."
Mattie nodded. As she did, the files shifted and several fell to the floor. Lila was horrified to see that it was her own file that lay spread across the floor. Elizabeth bent down to pick up and reorganize the files.
"Oh! I didn't mean to do that. Thanks Elizabeth," Mattie gasped, not even thinking about the drastic results if Elizabeth saw Lila's file. But it was too late to consider. Elizabeth frowned and stood up slowly with a bundle of ultrasound pictures in her hand.
She cocked her head and glanced between both Mattie who looked angry at herself for the breach of confidentiality and Lila who wore a look of pure horror on her face. She held out the images to Lila who took them numbly. "I believe these are yours." Saying nothing, she turned and walked away from them, down the hall and out of sight.
Mattie turned around to her friend. "Lila! I'm so sorry. I didn't even realize that your pictures were in there. I'm so, so sorry. I don't even know how to make it up."
Lila shook her head. "It's alright. She'd have to find out eventually. I just didn't plan it this way. I-I, ah, I need to get out of here. I'll call you later or something." She turned and practically ran to the elevator which was opening as she did so. Stepping inside, she was gone a moment later.
Mattie closed her eyes as she recalled Lila's horror. She didn't know how to make it better. She could only hope that Lila would use her sharp mind and some quick thinking to find her way out of the mess she'd placed herself in.
Okay, so how is it so far? I was thinking about how this story doesn't really having an exact end so it will probably just keep going until I'm tired of writing it. I thank all my readers…and reviewers! Please keep reading and please, please review! If you have any suggestions for characters or storylines that you'd like to read more about, let me know! Thanks and Enjoy!