Carly sits in front of a mirror in a room off the entrance of the chapel she is about to get married in. With wide eyes that have an air of disbelief, she takes in the ivory lace wedding dress she's wearing. It is the most beautiful thing she has ever worn, with delicate white lace detailing and beading covering the entire dress from the plunging neckline to the flair at the bottom of the mermaid skirt. It hugs every curve, and she's happy it's too early in her pregnancy to show. She isn't sure she could handle the humiliation of her pregnant belly leading her way down the aisle.
Her hair is up in a sophisticated updo with a couple curly tendrils framing her face, showcasing the diamond necklace around her neck and the matching earrings hanging down to the bottom of her jaw. The diamonds are in a floral design, with a choker style around her throat and a dangling teardrop ruby resting at the top of her cleavage. There is also a matching ruby and diamond tiara that is attached to her veil. Jason had given them to her last night as a wedding present, telling her that a queen has to be adorned in beautiful jewelry. She keeps pinching herself that this is her life, and not just the fancy jewelry and beautiful dress, but that in just a few minutes she gets to marry Jason.
Every day, she believes he truly loves her a little more. Not only does he make a point of giving her the words, but he shows her in all the big and small ways that she is his priority, and that his feelings for her hit him as deeply as they do her. Whether it's making time for her in his busy schedule or just sincerely caring about how she feels, he goes out of his way to show her she's cherished.
The past month has been a whirlwind that started the morning after Jason's proposal when they told Sonny and Brenda the good news. She had been a nervous wreck about telling everyone, but especially Sonny. She wasn't the kind of girl parents hope their sons bring home. And from what she can tell, Sonny is the closest thing Jason has to a father figure. He plays such a complex and completely encompassing role in Jason's life, as father, brother, mentor, and boss. In truth, Carly thinks that more than any other person, if Sonny were to disapprove, she's not sure Jason would go through with marrying her.
When Jason announced with a huge grin, "Carly agreed to marry me," Brenda had gotten a huge grin on her face.
Doing a little happy dance, she practically sang to her new friend, "I told you so! I told you he loves you!"
Carly rolled her eyes, but the wide grin on her face negated their effectiveness. "Yes, wise friend, you were right."
"Oh my God, do you know what this means? We get to plan our weddings together. You will be so much more helpful than Sonny! No offense, honey." Brenda was practically bouncing in her excitement.
"None taken, Cara Mia." Sonny gave her a soft look with a hint of a smirk, then turned his attention to Carly and Jason. "Before she drags you off to plan, let me offer my congratulations. I'm happy for you both."
Carly had given him a relieved smile, "Thank you. Though, I don't think we'll have much to plan. We talked about just going up to the justice of the peace to do it."
"No." Brenda said with force, startling everyone in the room. "Jason, that doesn't work. She's getting a wedding."
"Brenda…" came from two voices, both Carly and Sonny cautioning her.
She shook her head, "No, Jason, she deserves a dress and flowers, to feel beautiful and special. It's her wedding. I refuse to let her accept the bare minimum from you."
Jason glared at the brunette, but his eyes shifted to Carly. Did she want those things? He had never thought of any of that stuff. With determination, he thought that if she wanted it, he'd make sure she got it.
Carly shook her head, "Brenda, I don't need…"
"But you do. I don't know if you think you don't deserve it or some nonsense, but you deserve to feel like a princess on your wedding day. You are getting a wedding." Her voice is commanding, determined to give her new friend the day she should have.
"Who would even come? I don't have a boatload of friends and family in the wings just waiting for an invitation." It was clear Brenda was swaying her. Her voice was suddenly softer and unsure.
"Sonny and I will be there. I bet Lila and Emily would love to be there. Jason's guard buddies will unfortunately show up. Maybe you could invite your mom." She watched with concern as Carly flinched at this. Moving forward to distract her, she pleaded, "That's not what's important anyway. Don't you want to shine like a freaking queen on your special day? To feel beautiful and special? To rub it in everyone's noses that you got the guy?"
Jason watched her face soften imagining the picture Brenda's painting. He could see that she wanted it. Jason gave a decisive nod. "We will have a wedding." His hand linked with hers, "You want that stuff, so you will get it."
"Jase, I don't…"
Brenda interrupted her, "Stop fighting it, it's happening. Now come with me and tell me everything about his proposal. I'm surprised he didn't fuck it up, honestly. And I'll show you my bridal magazines. I saw a dress that will be perfect for you."
She had dragged her away to what had been a whirlwind of dress fittings, cake tasting, and making what felt like a thousand choices. With the limited guest list, she had thought it would be a simple, easy thing to plan, but it felt like she was asked a hundred questions a day. And Jason was no help, simply telling her that whatever she wanted was fine. If it hadn't been for Brenda's help, she would have scrapped the whole thing and ended up at the courthouse. But, just like decorating the apartment, somehow doing it with her new friend was fun.
Brenda had determined that they had to send out invitations and make a registry, though Carly had been convinced it was a waste of time. However, they already had over forty people RSVP, mostly guards with their girlfriends or wives and families, as well as an apartment full of wedding presents.
It was these details that finally made her feel like a bride. At first, her main focus was on the purpose, on being married to her best friend. And that was enough. But this feeling, like she's special and worthy, it squeezes her heart every time. It's both everything she's ever dreamed of and more than she ever knew to want.
Jason had asked Sonny to be his best man, and Carly had asked Brenda to be her maid of honor, with Emily as a bridesmaid. Brenda had smiled, with misty eyes, but had joked, "Of course, bitch. Like I wasn't going to muscle my way in if you made the wrong choice for the job. I can take Emily."
Emily had squealed with joy and thrown her arms around Carly when she had asked, speaking a mile a minute as she shared ideas for the wedding. She had joined Carly and Brenda in a lot of the planning, and it was clear the young girl was lonely at the Quartermaine's. Her time with Jason and Carly and her friendship with Lucky were the only things keeping the teen sane living in that madhouse. She had taken to showing up at their apartment almost every day.
Lucky had shown up at the penthouse with Emily a few times. The first time had been tense, Lucky taking issue with the woman who had broken up his aunt's marriage. When he had made a snarky comment, Jason had set him straight, "This is her home. If you come into this house, you show Carly respect or you leave. You don't have the whole story about Carly and Tony, so you don't get to talk about it. Do you understand?"
Lucky had grumbled, but Emily's hurt expression changed his tone. "Fine. I'll leave it alone." He had looked directly at Carly, saying, "As long as you don't hurt my family again."
It was clear Jason liked the kid, and as much as his father pissed her off, her cousin was actually a pretty cool kid. She liked the way he could make Emily smile and laugh. Jason had told her about how the young girl lost her mother to cancer. Whenever pain would flicker in Emily's eyes, Lucky was able to chase it away and have her laughing instead. So, Carly had given him a nod, telling him, "Agreed." With the truce in place, Lucky and Carly got along well, both having a rebellious, outcast personality, leading with sarcasm and snark.
A couple days after the invitations had been sent, Luke had shown up at the penthouse. He walked right in without knocking, sitting on the opposite piece of the sectional from where Carly and Jason were cuddled up together. He chewed on an unlit cigar as he eyed them for a moment.
Paying no attention to his niece's scowl, he drawled, "I hear you're getting hitched. My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail."
"No. We didn't invite you." She ground out through clenched teeth.
"And here I was dreaming of walking you down the aisle." He snarked with a smirk on his face.
Carly rolled her eyes at him, her fingers digging into Jason's arm. He let out a sigh, "Luke, what do you want?"
"I just thought I'd congratulate my viper of a niece for getting her claws into such a rich mark." He looked pointedly at her grip on Jason's arm, before looking Carly directly in the eye. "Knocked up with the next Quartermaine heir. That's good work, Caroline."
"Shut it, Luke! Either get to the point or leave." Carly practically growled
Luke leaned forward, and Jason read a hint of caring under his sarcastic, gruff exterior, "I just wanted you to know that your dear Uncle Luke will be in attendance. I might even bring the family to watch the show." He stood up to leave, then with a twinkle in his eyes, "Someone is sure to stand up and object. Maybe I'll place bets." Carly watched him leave with a glare, though there was also a question in her eyes.
The chapel door behind her opens and closes, showing Brenda entering in her red silk bridesmaid dress. It has off the shoulder short sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. "How are you doing? Stand up and let me see you in your dress."
When she stands, Brenda walks around her, adjusting here and there. Finally, standing in front of her again, she gives her a big grin, "You look beautiful. It's almost perfect."
As Carly looks down at herself, trying to figure out what is missing, Brenda pulls a bag out from behind her. I know you have your jewelry Jason gave you as something new, but you are still missing something old, borrowed, and blue. So, I got you something."
Carly gets teary eyed as she starts pulling out the tissue paper, touched that her friend had done something so sweet for her. The first thing in the bag is a set with a lacy blue garter and a white hanky with pretty blue embroidery. "That's your something blue."
"Thank you so much!" Carly says, fanning her eyes to stop herself from crying and messing up her makeup.
A little more shy, Brenda brings out an antique looking diamond bracelet with intricately designed silver. She tells Carly, "This was my mother's, and works for something old and something borrowed." She gives an awkward shrug, with a cheeky grin. "I figure if you are marrying Jason, you need to have all the luck you can get. We have to follow at least some of the traditions. Especially since you already broke the big rule of seeing the groom before the wedding."
Jason had been adamant that Carly slept beside him last night. An ensuing battle between Brenda and Jason had left Sonny and Carly sitting on the sidelines with heads turning back and forth like they were watching a tennis match. Jason had won when Carly had admitted that she would prefer to sleep beside Jason as well. Brenda had finally relented with a pout, but couldn't stay mad at her new friend.
It wasn't surprising since the friendship between Brenda and Carly had strengthened over the past month. When Carly wasn't with Jason, she was usually with Brenda. Thankfully a friendship had developed since they were kind of stuck together on their floor. Brenda said they were like princesses locked away in the tower, only this time by Prince Charming instead of the evil witch.
Carly had more freedom than Brenda, but after a lifetime of probably too much freedom, even she felt claustrophobic at times. Leaving whenever she wanted was no longer an option. Her destinations had to be cleared, and she didn't leave the apartment without a guard or two shadowing her every move.
But she never complained because she had seen the fear in Sonny anytime they actually had to step outside the penthouse. He was almost unreasonable in his anxiety, paranoid that his love or another pregnant woman under his protection would be hurt. Usually he made sure the vendors came to them. At first, it made her feel special, like she was one of those fancy society women she had looked up to as a girl. However, there's only so many times you can look at the same walls with feeling hemmed in.
The day they had looked at venues, and had to leave the apartment, they took enough security that you'd think the president was with them. And while Carly had expected Jason to come along with her, she hadn't expected Sonny to join them. They were meticulous in analyzing every detail, looking for any potential dangers, and once deemed unsafe, no amount of arguing changed their minds. Many of the venues were discarded entirely due to safety concerns Sonny or Jason pointed out.
When they had come across the small Catholic chapel, Sonny had decided it was the safest option. And, honestly, Carly loved it. It was small, but it was clear a great deal of work had gone into the intricately carved woodwork and the beautiful stained glass windows. And small worked perfectly for Carly and Jason.
Carly had worried that the fact that she wasn't Catholic would be a problem, but Sonny had given the church an extremely generous donation, and all concerns had been swept away. They had promised to do a couple sessions of marital counseling and had been instructed on the teachings of the church, especially on the topic of marriage. Both Carly and Jason had felt the weight of the commitment they are making as he spoke about the sacrament and covenant of marriage, the lifelong, and according to the church, indissoluble vow they would be making before God.
Emily bursts into the room, drawing Carly back into the present. She is dressed in a similar red silk bridesmaid dress to Brenda's, though hers was a little more innocent and modest for the younger girl. When she sees Carly, she stops in her tracks. "Oh, you look beautiful, like a princess. I hope I'm that beautiful on my wedding day," she says with a sigh.
"Thank you," Carly says with a bright smile. Her hands hover over her curves, scared to touch the dress and mess it up.
The younger girl smiles dreamily. Then with an excited bounce, "Jason told me to tell you they are ready."
Carly takes a deep breath, filled with equal parts excitement and anxiety. She has said prayers all day that nothing would mess up her wedding. She has the sinking feeling that someone will try to ruin her and Jase's special day, she just hopes they're unsuccessful. Please Lord, let her marry Jason.
Brenda brings her the bouquet, a mix of white, red, and pink flowers that cascade down. Brenda and Emily have smaller versions. Brenda pokes her head out into the foyer, making sure the groom is nowhere in sight. Seeing that the coast is clear, she leads the way to the chapel doors. One of the guards is standing in front of the door, ready to open it for the women.
Carly feels her hands shaking, ready to get the show on the road before some catastrophe stops her from marrying the best man she knows. Brenda looks her over, when she sees the jitters just under the surface. She asks, "Are we doing this? If you want out…"
Emily protests as Carly shakes her head, "Jason is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I'm just nervous someone is going to… I don't know, mess it up somehow. I'm ready to get the show started."
With a grin, Brenda tells the guard, "You heard her. Let's get this party started."
He gives a nod, then opens the double doors leading into the sanctuary. As music swells, Emily walks out first, smiling widely at her brother as she walks towards him. As Brenda walks forward, Carly gets her first good look at the guests. The small chapel is full of people. She had expected a bunch of empty seats, but it is full enough that she can see people standing on the side of the sanctuary, against the wall.
Standing at the door, she feels shaky. What do they all think of her? Does she look as much of a fraud as she feels? Are they laughing at her behind their smiles? Because she feels very much like a poor little girl playing dress up, not the queen Jason and Brenda say she is.
The guard standing beside her asks, "Are you okay? Can I do anything for you?"
She glances over at him, giving him a nervous smile, "Will you shoot anyone who stands up to object?"
He lets out a laugh, but Carly only vaguely hears it because Brenda has finally gotten to the altar, and suddenly she locks eyes with Jason. He looks her up and down, and she smiles when she sees awe and desire on his face. As though from a distance, she hears the wedding march begin and seemingly of no volition of her own, her body begins to move towards Jason. The rest of the room disappears as she floats down the aisle, like they are the only two people in the universe.
Before she knows it, she's standing in front of Jason. Handing her flowers to Brenda, Jason takes her hand. She is peripherally aware of Sonny and Brenda standing beside them, of the priest reading Biblical scriptures to the congregation, of instructing them on the duties of marriage. However, she is lost in the way Jason is looking at her. There's so much love and happiness shining through that it takes her breath away. Even after a month of I love you's and being wrapped up in his arms every night, it doesn't feel real that he is actually in love with her. But, the look in his eyes doesn't lie.
As usual, Jason has more awareness than her. The priest speaks and Jason turns his eyes away. It's like waking abruptly from a dream. It takes her a second to focus on what the priest is saying.
"…marriage is a holy partnership in which you are bound to use your strength to complement your partner's weakness, in which you work every day for your partner's good. From this moment forward, you are two people who walk one path. What is victory for one is a victory for both; what is the failure of one is the failure of both. So, support and build each other up, make the other's success and happiness your purpose for when one of you succeeds it's the success of both. And remember to treat each other with the gentleness and grace that Christ shows to us." He turns his attention to the audience, "As friends and family of the couple, it is the community's duty to be their support in times of trouble, to hold them accountable to each other and to God, and to respect the vow they are about to make and never put asunder what God is joining together. Should anyone present know of any reason that this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."
Carly holds her breath until he continues, "Jason and Carly, to proceed, make your intentions clear before your family and friends. Have you come here to enter into marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?"
"I have," both answer.
"Are you prepared, as you follow the path of marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?"
"I am."
"Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?"
"I am."
The priest gives them a smile, "Since it is your intention to enter into the covenant of Holy Matrimony, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church."
When the priest turns his eyes to Jason, he looks down at his bride with misty eyes, promising her, "I, Jason, take you, Carly, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life."
Carly has to take a moment to get her emotions under control before she can speak her vows. She is hoping her mascara is holding up under the avalanche of tears, though she's doubtful. With a wobbly voice, she pledges, "I, Carly, take you, Jason, to be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you all the days of my life."
The Priest continues, "Do you have the rings?"
Sonny steps forward, handing both rings over. The priest continues, "Please take the ring and repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed. I give you this ring as a sign of our covenant, and as a symbol of my love and commitment. Just like my promise to you today, this ring is a circle unbroken, a token of my everlasting trust and devotion. With all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you."
As Jason slips the ring on her finger, he repeats the words looking deeply into Carly's eyes. He feels a sense of profound joy, joining his life to the most passionate and captivating woman on the planet. She has this charisma and magnetism that leaves him wondering what she sees in him. She could have any guy she wanted, and it baffles him that she's chosen him. What captivates her about an often cold and silent man awkwardly making his way through life will always be a mystery. And yet, as she repeats her vows to him, slipping his wedding band on, it's like all she sees is him. Jason sends up a prayer of gratitude for sending him this beautiful, passionate woman.
The priest makes the sign of the cross and places his hand over the couple's joined hands. "Let us pray. May Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior, always be at the center of the new lives you are now starting to build together, that you may know the ways of true love and kindness. May the Lord bless you both all the days of your lives and fill you with His joy. Amen."
After the congregation's response, he looks at the couple with a warm smile, "Those whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder. In so much as Jason and Carly have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this congregation, having given and pledged their faith, each to the other, and having declared same by the giving and receiving of rings, I pronounce that you are husband and wife. I ask you now to seal the promises you have made with each other this day with a kiss."
With a big grin, Jason pulls Carly up against him. Cupping her cheek, he tells her softly, "I love you." Then, he kisses her deeply, uncaring of their audience. Only when Sonny slaps him on the back in congratulation does Jason pull back. With satisfaction, he sees Carly still lost in the kiss, her face tilted up towards him.
Suddenly from the back of the chapel, the door slams open. All eyes turn to the back of the chapel, with a few guards' hands dropping to their guns. Jason scowls as Robin yells from the back of the sanctuary, "I object. The groom is in love with me."
Carly flinches as the room grows silent. She sees Luke smirking at her with an 'I told you so' expression. The priest finally stutters out, "Miss, I… I'm afraid… Well, it's too late. The ceremony is over. The couple is married…"
Jason cradles Carly close to him, turning them so his body shields her. His eyes turn to flint as he feels her shaking against him. She had been beaming a moment before, filled with joy, and now she is moments away from breaking down. If he could kill Robin in this moment, he thinks he'd be able to do it.
When Robin screams out a horrified no, both Brenda and Sonny react. As Sonny moves to her side, Brenda stands in front of the couple, asking Robin, "What are you doing? How did you…"
"Find out?" Robin snarls at Brenda. "Not from my best friend, you traitor. According to Sonny, you are friends with the tramp. You're her maid of freaking honor. I guess I know who my true friends are!"
"Robin…" Sonny cautions, a scowl on his face at the way she's talking to the woman he loves.
Robin barrels on, not letting Sonny speak. Her eyes focus on Jason, "Don't you see that she's just a gold digging tramp who's trying to trap you into marriage by passing off Tony's baby…"
With a voice so chilling it stops Robin's tirade in its tracks, "You need to stop, now." Robin has never been scared of Jason until this moment. And she's not afraid, it's just that the hatred and violence in his eyes gives her pause. He's never looked at her as though he wants to do her real harm. She shivers as he demands in an arctic tone. "Don't you dare come to my wedding and disrespect my wife, question the paternity of my child. You need to leave before I do something you're going to regret."
"Jason," she gives him a patronizing smile, "She can't be your wife, Jason. There's no way you could ever love her. You love me. You are supposed to be with me, not someone like…"
Brenda yells out, "Robin, stop! I get that you're upset, but you don't get to mess with Jason and Carly's wedding, and you don't get to talk to either of them like that!"
Robin turns her rage onto Brenda, "I thought you were my friend. That you would have my back. But apparently Carly is your new best friend. So, why don't you leave me alone and just go…"
"That's rich," Brenda challenges, the hurt clear in her voice. "When was the last time you called me? You don't know anything about what's going on in my life. You left, and didn't look back. Well, guess what, Carly is my friend. And she's a better friend than you've been in a long time. Besides which, anyone who thinks Jason loves you after spending even a minute with him and Carly is either blind or delusional. You need to let Jason go and leave."
"How can you say that? After everything Jason and I have been through, we are the loves of each other's lives. I don't know how she conned you into believing these lies, but…"
"Enough!" Jason roars. Everyone in the chapel, including Robin, freezes. With a voice that promises violence, he tells his ex, "I only love Carly. She is my wife, the mother of my child, and I will strike down anyone who messes with her in any way." He takes a menacing step forward, and in a chilling tone continues, "I do not love you. In fact, I feel absolutely nothing for you. If you continue treating my wife with disrespect, you are really not going to like how I feel about you."
"She's lying. It's not your baby. You promised me you would never sleep with her again. You don't break your promises." Robin pleads desperately.
"For her, I do. For her, the real love of my life, I would do anything. And the next time you imply my child is not mine, you aren't going to like the consequences." Jason turns his back on the brunette, focusing on his wife's face. He curses as he notices that her bottom lip is quivering and tears are falling from her eyes. He pulls her back into his arms, rubbing his thumb soothingly on the small of her back.
He pays no attention to Robin's scream of denial or the tears streaming down her face as he pulls Carly from the room, walking her to the front doors and out to the waiting limo.
Still in the chapel, Sonny and Brenda glare down at Robin. The mafioso shakes his head in disapproval, "How could you do that to him on his wedding day? I told you about the wedding so you wouldn't be blindsided, and this is what you choose to do? I never thought you could be this cruel. What would Stone say if he saw you acting like this?"
"He loves me!" Robin wails.
Trying to be gentle, Brenda argues, "He loves Carly, his wife. If you ask Jason, that's what he will say. And you know he doesn't lie."
Robin shakes her head, tears streaming down her face, "She is just conning you all. And I'm going to prove it. I'm going to show Jason that he belongs with me, not that slut. Jason would never cheat on me." Then, she runs out of the chapel, her eyes shooting daggers at the bride getting into the limo.
When Jason and Carly are curled up together in the limo, she brushes her hand against his cheek, bringing his worried gaze to hers. His eyebrows shoot up when she asks, "Are you okay?"
"Me? I'm so sorry she did that, I'm so…"
Leaning forward until she's right in his face, she tells him, "You have nothing to apologize for. That pixie is going to get hers, but you have done nothing wrong." She gives him a cheeky smile, "Except for having horrible taste in women before you met me." Her face gets serious, "What she said was just as hurtful to you, and I never had feelings for her or expected her to be nice to me. I hate how she treats you and talks to you, like you don't have a brain in your head. You are smarter than that little holier than thou…"
He smiles at her, thankful he found someone who makes him feel like he can conquer the world. He leans forward to kiss her ending her tirade. It's a deep, slow kiss that leaves them both breathless. When he pulls back, he brushes tendrils away from her face, "I don't want to talk about her anymore. I have a surprise for you wife."
Her eyes light up. Leaning forward eagerly, her hand unconsciously rubbing his chest, "What kind of surprise?"
He nuzzles into her neck, giving nibbles and kisses that have her whimpering in no time. Against her skin, he says, "We aren't going home."
She pulls him back reluctantly so she can look at his face, her brow furrowed in confusion, "What do you mean?"
"Sonny's wedding present is a honeymoon on his private island. The jet is ready, Brenda packed you a bag. For the next two weeks, we don't have to think about anything having to do with this city. It will just be the two of us." He places a soft kiss on her lips, "No interruptions or distractions. Just the two of us wearing as little clothes as possible." He rubs his nose against hers, his eyes dark and stormy with desire. Against her lips, he promises, "I plan to focus all my attention on my beautiful new wife."
She lets out a sound somewhere between a moan and a sigh, her breathing getting fast. "That's… that sounds nice."
Pulling her into his lap, he looks at her with such love it brings tears to her eyes. He tells her tenderly, "I love you, Mrs. Morgan."
"I love you too, husband."