Jason looks down at Carly, resting against him. They are sitting in the back of the limo that had been sent to pick them up from the airport, with her curled into his side, her head resting on his shoulder. Since they woke up this morning, he's seen a change in her, a quietness and a tenseness at the thought of coming home. She is staring out the window with a pensive look as she watches the familiar scenery pass by. He wishes he could ease all the anxiety Port Charles and its residents create in her.

"What are you thinking about so hard down there?" He asks, running his fingers down her arm.

"That I wish we could have stayed in paradise forever," she looks up at him with a wistful smile. "I wish we didn't have to deal with all the people in this town… my family, your family… sigh… Robin. Why can't this town just let us be happy?"

"Hey, I'll deal with Robin and my family. I won't let them near you." His voice is hard and determined. She gives him a smile, though her eyes remain troubled.

"You already got Luke to stop threatening to kill me," she strokes her hand down his arm, an intimate touch of possession and gratitude. With a hint of awe in her voice, she praises, "My hero."

"I'm not…" He argues.

"Don't do that, Jason. Don't act like the way you step up for me and defend me and protect me…" with misty eyes, "and love me isn't everything. Because to me… Jase, to me, the way you treat me is everything. Don't ever doubt it."

He gives her soft, emotional kisses, filled with joy that she is feeling secure in his love, that he is doing at least that much right. It's so different from his relationship with Robin. He never felt like he did anything right with her, and everything she taught him love was supposed to be left him feeling uncomfortable and like he was trying to fit into the wrong life. With Carly, everything feels natural. He just does what feels right, and she looks at him like he has the answer to all of life's problems. It shows him so clearly that he's exactly where he needs to be.

When he pulls back, he rests his forehead against hers, "It's easy to treat you like that, to love you the way I do because I'm pretty sure we were meant for each other. I don't know how to explain it, but it's like my heart and body already know how to love you. It just feels… I don't know, natural or right."

He brushes away the tear that falls down her cheek. The joy that fills her at his words squeezes her heart. Her eyes have such tentative hope shining through, it's almost painful to see her insecurities and doubt at war within her. He wishes he could fight the battle for her, that he could do something more to help her believe, but he knows it's a battle that she has to fight on her own. All he can do is prove to her over and over again that she can believe in his love, that she can depend on his commitment to her.

"How do you do that? Say the most incredible things to me?" With wonder, she studies his eyes, "You feel too good to be true. I swear with any other guy, I'd know it was a lie, that you had some agenda. But you don't lie to anyone, and especially to me." She shakes her head, her eyes filling with tears. "I'm sorry I keep crying on you, but it's like a dream. I went from having nobody and nothing to having the most incredible husband and best friend, to having a family. It's… I keep expecting to wake up back in that awful apartment with Tony, feeling like my world is caving in on me. You're too incredible to love someone like me." She places her hand on his cheek. "But if it's a dream, I don't ever want to wake up. I love you. I love you more than anyone or anything, except this baby."

He unclicks her seatbelt, then pulls her into his lap. He puts one hand in her hair, pulling her head gently back so she's looking up at him and the other wrapped around her neck, not putting pressure, but staking possession. "You are mine. If Tony ever comes near you again, I'll kill him. If anyone or anything tries to take you away from me, I'll end them. This is no dream, you are my wife, my family. It can't be more real than that." He lets out a sigh of frustration, but softens when he sees his words are reaching her. "I will be here everyday loving you, proving to you that what we have is the most real thing I have felt since waking up. I can believe it enough for both of us until you get there. But don't doubt my commitment, and never doubt my love."

His hands tighten, guiding her lips to his. His kiss is hard and deep. It's a possessive kiss, meant to remove any doubt in her mind about his feelings for her, his commitment to their family. It's also something entirely primal, a need to claim her so completely that she never leaves his side. He already knows that he couldn't bear it. Losing her would break him like nothing else ever could. It adds a hint of desperation to his kiss. When he finally pulls back, she chases his lips. He's so pleased, he kisses her again. Only when he's in danger of taking her in the back of the limo does he pull back. His chest puffs up and a smile breaks across his face as he notes her face flushed with arousal, and a happy, bemused smile lighting her up. He brushes her hair back, kissing her forehead as she melts into him.

When she finally comes back to her senses, she gives him an apologetic look, "Jason, I hope you know, I'm trying to believe. It's just… I'm more used to people leaving or throwing me away. It's hard to believe that good things…" she gives him a look of such aching love his breath catches for a moment, "that the most wonderful, beautiful things that have ever been mine are going to stick around. I'm really trying, but I'm fighting a lot of bad history."

"Take your time. I'm not going anywhere." She wraps her arms around him, giving him a tight hug. He looks down at her, and she sees some hesitation in his eyes. "Carly… I don't ever want you to feel alone. I swear to you that you will never be alone again. I…" he pinches the bridge of his nose, letting out a sigh, "…have you considered telling Bobbie…"

"No!" She jerks back, with a voice that's forceful and desperate, "I can't tell her, Jase. I mean… God, can you imagine her reaction? I'm the last person she'd want to be related to. It's better she thinks I'm dead."

"She might be upset at first, but she will end up loving you as much as I do once she gets to know you." He pulls her back against his side.

"You are biased, and I never slept with your husband." Carly's eyes soften as she counters.

"True." He says, giving her a dry look. "But she is your mom. That counts for something. And Bobbie seems like a good person from what I can tell."

"Jase…" she looks away, but not before he sees the longing in her gaze.

Reassuring her, he tells her, "Whatever you decide, I have your back. I just… I know deep down you want a relationship with your mom. I see how much it hurts that you don't have her in your life. And I hate when anything hurts you. I get that you're scared of how she'll react, but I think you might miss something great out of fear."

She gives him a soft smile, wondering if she'll ever get used to his concern for her. And yet… "I can't, Jase. I'm sorry, I'm just not brave enough."

"You're the bravest person I know." He counters.

"Jase…" her voice is wobbly with emotion.

"It's your choice. I won't ever force you to do anything… unless it's something to do with your safety or the safety of our family. But, I know what it feels like, people trying to force their decisions on you. I won't ever do that to you." His hand tenderly cups her cheek, "I just want you to have everything you want, everything you deserve. You deserve to have your family, all of it. But whatever you decide, I'm your family, and you will always have me."

Leaning forward, she cups his cheeks tenderly and gives him a soft kiss, "I love you, Jason Morgan."

"I love you, Carly Morgan." He gives her one more brief peck, then asks, "Are you ready?"

They had gotten to Harborview Towers without her noticing. Taking a deep breath, she gives him a nod, "I guess so. But, before we do, thank you for the last two weeks. It was the most incredible two weeks of my life. You made it perfect."

"Sonny…"

"Gave us spectacular lodging. But, Jase, you are the one who made it so wonderful. It's the way you love me, the way you see me and treat me. No one has ever treated me the way you do. I didn't really believe there were guys like you out there." Leaning her forehead against his, she tells him earnestly, "Thank you for being such a good man who loves me really damn well."

As always, he feels a tightness in his chest at her view of him. There are times when he worries that she is going to realize that he's not everything she thinks he is. He certainly doesn't feel as heroic and confident as she thinks he is. For some reason, she sees a man who is able to conquer the world. And the crazy thing is, for her, he thinks he could do it. There's nothing he wouldn't do for the fiery woman sitting beside him.

Stepping out of the car, he reaches his hand in to help her out, and then he wraps an arm around her waist, guiding her towards the elevators. Her hands tighten on his arm as Robin's grating voice calls from a dark corner of the parking garage, "Jason! I have to talk to you. You have to listen to me; you don't understand, she's a liar and a con artist. She's…"

Jason continues walking, paying no attention to his ex. Instead, he turns to Carly's guard, "Get rid of her. She's not allowed anywhere near Carly under any circumstances." When the guard nods, heading to intercept the small brunette, Jason yells after him, "Spread the word."

Carly turns her head, watching as Francis stops the girl. When she resists, he picks her up, a little too gently for Carly's taste, and carries her out of the garage. She yells for Jason the whole time, calling the new Mrs. Morgan every dirty name in the book and declaring her love for her ex-boyfriend. Other than a tightening of his jaw, he shows no other reaction to Robin's ranting. When they get in the elevator, Carly looks up at him with wide eyes. He lets out a growl, "Fucking Robin. I'll talk to Sonny and security." Looking her over, he asks, "Are you okay?"

With a soft look and a shake of her head, she tells him, "I'm fine, annoyed but fine. How are you?" She looks at him hesitantly, "We didn't talk about it before really, but that's the second time now that you've seen her since the breakup. That has to be hard. I know you love…" she takes a quick, shaky breath, looking down, "…loved her. It must bring up feelings when you see her."

His thumb brushes against her jaw, drawing her eyes back to his. He considers what she is asking, then shaking his head, he disagrees, "The only things I feel when I look at Robin are betrayed and angry. The things she did, going behind my back with Sonny, showing up at our wedding and attacking my wife, just shows me I can't trust her and that I don't want her anywhere near me or mine." He runs his fingers absentmindedly through her hair, "I've been doing a lot of thinking since I realized I was in love with you. I'm not sure I ever really loved her. When I was talking to Sonny, his reaction to something I told him about me and Robin, about how our relationship worked, it made me consider some things I hadn't before. The way I feel about you, how intense it feels, how right it feels, I never felt that with her. I think she told me it was love, and I didn't know any better. I cared about her, but what I feel for you is so undeniable. I don't really have the words to explain it, but it's like my heart and my entire body knows that you are the most important person in this world for me. I think no matter what circumstances this world put us in, I would always protect you and put you first. It feels like it's in my DNA somehow."

A wave of such overpowering love causes Carly to turn her body into his, wrapping her arms around his neck. Leaning into him, she kisses him, pouring out her love into the kiss. He puts his hands on her hips, turning her to press her against the elevator wall, deepening the kiss. When the elevator doors open, they are quickly broken apart by Brenda's annoyed voice, "Do you have to do that here? You had two weeks to suck face out of my sight. I love you, girl, but seeing you and Satan mack on each other is going to make me lose my breakfast."

With a groan, Jason grumbles, "So close your eyes. Or leave."

"You have had her all to yourself for two weeks. Clearly, you don't understand the concept of sharing." She grabs Carly's hand, pulling her towards the married couple's penthouse. She has been lonely without her friend, so she's almost spastic when she questions, "How did you like the island? It's gorgeous isn't it? You look amazing, by the way, all tan and happy."

Carly gives her a bright smile, "It was amazing, perfect. I didn't want to leave."

Brenda gives her a dry look, "If you'd been gone for any longer and I would have come down there and dragged you back."

Walking into the penthouse, Jason turns on the light and his hand automatically reaches for his gun when he sees someone sitting on their sofa. When he recognizes Luke, chewing on the end of a cigar and using one of their tumblers to drink what he guesses is some of the bourbon Luke had given them as a wedding present, he growls out, "Dammit, Luke. How the hell did you get in here?"

Brenda and Carly come in slightly behind Jason. Brenda gives her a curious look, as the blonde growls, "I don't care how. Get out! You aren't welcome in our home."

"Now, Caroline, is that any way to talk to your dear old uncle?" He drawls.

Carly gives a concerned look to Brenda, whose eyes had widened comically at Luke's question. Turning her glare back to her uncle, she growls out, "What do you want, Luke?"

"Since you are apparently going to stick around… unless I can convince you to leave?" He gives her a hopeful look.

Jason's the one who responds with a hard voice, "Over my dead body. She's not leaving."

"I figured you'd feel that way, though why is beyond me. More trouble than she's worth, if you ask me."

"Luke!" Jason barks.

"No one asked you, old man!" Brenda yells at the same time, getting a raised eyebrow from Luke.

"You're just gathering allies left and right, aren't ya, sweet Caroline? Since you're sticking around, I think it's time we tell your mother the truth. Secrets don't stay hidden in this town, so it's better to get out in front of it. Plus, she might want to be part of her grandchild's life even if she wants nothing to do with you."

Carly looks down at her hands as the hit lands. Her lips tilt up the slightest bit as Jason growls, "I swear to God, Luke. I will bury your body where no one will find you."

"Bring it on, my boy. Many have tried, none have succeeded." When Jason takes a step toward him, he raises his hands in supplication. Then, as though it's being tortured out of him. "She won't, though. She didn't want to give you up, and she never stopped loving you. Just for the record. It might take her a minute to get over the whole stealing her husband thing, not that he's much of a loss if you ask me, but she'll want to be part of your life."

Carly simply looks at him for a moment. Her face is a mixture of suspicion and longing. She doesn't know if she can trust what Luke is saying, but they cause an ache in her chest at the thought of her mother loving her. The way she feels for this new life growing inside her has made her consider how Bobbie might have felt about her. She's wondered whether her mother would talk to her when she was pregnant the way she talks to her baby, and whether she felt the same overpowering love and protectiveness that Carly feels. But everytime she thinks those thoughts, she reminds herself that she must not have felt it too intensely if she could throw her away like trash.

"What happened to wanting her to believe I'm dead? Aren't you the one who said everyone would be better off if I was actually dead?" She feels Jason turn to granite beside her, letting out a growl. Brenda mutters under her breath, "Bastard."

He smirks, "I'm not completely convinced it wouldn't be better." Jason crosses his arms and glowers so fiercely at Luke, she's surprised he doesn't catch fire. "But since your loyal guard dog of a husband seems to take issue with that plan, the plan has changed." He leans forward, and more seriously tells her, "She deserves to know. So, you tell her or I will. But, one way or another, she's finding out."

"You can't just come in here and threaten me!" Carly challenges.

He stands up to leave, shrugging, "Not a threat. I'm just giving you the lay of the land. What you choose to do is up to you."

As he leaves, Carly turns into Jason's arms. "What am I going to do? He can't tell her! God, can you imagine how much she'll hate me when she finds out that not only am I the tramp who stole her husband, but surprise, I'm her daughter too."

As she breaks down into tears, Jason meets Brenda's eyes. He is nervous that she'll do something to make Carly feel worse. However, other than a surprised look on her face, she just looks concerned about her friend. He'd also noticed her defense of Carly to her uncle. When his eyes meet Brenda's, she raises an eyebrow, then turns and sits on the sectional. With only a hint of her interest creeping through, she asks, "Bobbie Spencer is your mother? Welcome to the dysfunctional family club. We're all members on this floor. I mean, you've met the Quartermaines, and man, can I tell you some crazy stories about my sister, and Sonny…" she looks down with sadness in her eyes, "…definitely not the stuff of family bliss. So, you're in excellent company, plus Jason."

Carly sniffles, causing Brenda to look around quickly for a tissue box, before grabbing it for her friend. "Falling down on the job again, Satan."

Wiping her eyes, she looks Brenda over, momentarily distracted by her reaction. It's unexpected. She had honestly been certain her new friend would turn away from her if she found out what she had done and who she was. Instead, she's acting like it's mildly interesting at best.

Stepping out of Jason's arms, and turning to face Brenda fully, she questions with a stubborn tilt of her chin, as though bracing for a blow, "I don't understand. Why are you… I don't know… so cool about the information your bestie would use to conclude that I am in fact a tramp, that I'm no good? Why don't you think that?"

"Because I'm not a hypocrite. I should tell you about this guy Jagger, all the stunts I pulled trying to break up him and his saint of a girlfriend." More seriously, she tells her, "Everybody has regrets, things that maybe weren't the best choice. I hope you won't judge me for mine, or Sonny for his. Feel free to judge the hell out of Satan."

"I won't. Never." Carly vows. It's true, her loyalty to all three of them is fierce. They have stood up for her both figuratively and even literally, standing up with her at her wedding. She will stand up for them just as fiercely.

Brenda just tilts her head, "Ditto." When Carly gives her a smile, she leans forward eagerly, "Now, tell me everything."