"Jason, how nice to see you. What can I do for you today?" Justus asks as his young cousin enters his office.

"I need your help with Edward. I need you to keep him away from my kid." Jason gets straight to the point with an intensity that surprises the lawyer. Though Justus remembers the young man struggling with his anger when he first woke from the accident, Jason has since seemingly mastered the cold, emotionless facade. Seeing any emotion from him these days is unusual, and he doesn't look remotely emotionless now.

Justus leans back in his chair, raising an eyebrow, "Your kid? I wasn't aware you had any children. I know this town is rife with long lost children popping up, but I hadn't heard of you having any."

Jason tilts his head, studying the distinguished lawyer, "I'm surprised the family hasn't told you. I'm having a baby with Carly. I just found out a couple days ago. Now, the Quartermaines are up to their usual interfering behavior. When I went to tell Grandmother and Emily, Edward said he was going to go to a judge to force us to allow him access to our kid, something about our kid's birthright. And you know how he is, you give him an inch and he takes the whole damn continent. I need you to protect my child from that family."

"First of all, congratulations. A child is always a blessing." He leans forward so his elbows are resting on his desk, his hands clasped with his fingers interlocking. "Don't worry, I will help you. From my perspective, there are a few considerations here. Legally speaking, there are cases where grandparents have petitioned for visitation and won. Though, a strong argument can be made for why regular contact with our family could be harmful to a young child." He sighs, leaning back in his chair, running his fingers distractedly together. "However, the bigger problem is that Edward bends and breaks the law to fit his whims. We can't trust any fair proceedings."

"So, what do we do to stop him?" Jason asks, leaning forward. Anytime he thinks of the way Jason Q's family treated him, the way they made him feel, the more resolved he is to never give them the chance to do that to his child. He's willing to do whatever it takes to protect that innocent life. Even if that means he has to fight dirty.

Justus hedges, his eyes intent, "Let me ask a few questions first. What is the situation with the mother? Are you together? Her name is Carly? I don't remember hearing about you with anyone other than Robin."

"Yes, we're together. We live together in the penthouse across from Sonny. Her name is Carly…" He pauses, assessing Justus, then deeming him trustworthy, he confesses, "Um, her legal name is Caroline Benson, but everyone knows her as Carly Roberts. You need to know because of legal paperwork, but it's not common knowledge, so I would like you to be discreet," When Justus raises his eyebrows at this, Jason explains, "It's complicated, and not my story to tell, but it's not for any reason that should impact the case."

"Fair enough, for the moment. Are you able to present a legal front to your criminal activities? Is there any way your chosen profession can be proven?" Justus asks frankly.

"Nothing can be proven. My finances will pass a thorough audit, and I have never been convicted of any crime." Jason answers, equally matter of fact.

Justus leans back again, lost in contemplation for a moment. When he finally brings his eyes to Jason's, he tells him, "First of all, marry your girl. If you aren't married, Edward is going to use it as an excuse to try to divide and conquer. He'll try it anyway, but it tends to be more of a concerted effort if there's any appearance of weak spots in the relationship. However, if you go into the situation as a legally bound couple, he has less room to insert himself. It also shows the courts that you are committed and stable if it ever goes to trial." Justus pauses to gauge Jason's reaction. When he just nods, the lawyer continues, "Then, to counter our grandfather's less legal means, we're going to get to Edward's judges first. I can get you the list of his usual suspects. I assume you can take care of that on your end, since it will require some… actions outside of what is legal in the strictest sense. Just let me know if you need my assistance, but only if it's legal, please."

Jason nods as he considers the advice. Since Emily had suggested marriage earlier, he hadn't been able to get it out of his mind. Marriage was something he had never even considered before. In truth, the thought of spending the rest of his life with Robin had always felt exhausting, a never ending cycle of teaching and arguing. But with Carly, the idea of spending every day with her is exciting. It feels right, bringing only joy and hope to his heart. The fact that it can help keep their child safe makes the idea even sweeter.

Wrenching his focus back on what Justus is telling him and the problem of Edward and the Qs, he agrees, "I can get us the judges, and I'll spare you the details. Is there something we can do to keep them away from our child? And Carly as well if possible. I can already tell Monica is going to be a nightmare."

"I can file for you and Carly to have joint physical and legal custody of the child. If you want to go as far as a restraining order, I would have to have some evidence of harmful behavior… We could possibly get enough testimony and evidence of Edward's behavior toward his family that could show a negative environment for a child. Let me look into it." He jots down a note on a notepad beside him, then focuses his attention on Jason again, his tone reassuring, "But, as the child's legal and biological parents, without any intervention from the courts, you will have the right to keep your child out of any situation you deem unfit." Justus tilts his head, a slight frown marring his face, "As for Carly, I would need cause to get a restraining order. I would need some proof that the Quartermaines are harmful to her physical or mental safety. And I don't think we have that at the moment. However, if anything happens that would give us cause, let me know, and I'll file one for you."

Standing up, Jason puts out his hand, reaching to shake his cousin's, telling him, "I appreciate it. Let me know when you need us to sign the paperwork. And send over the list of judges, and I'll get their cooperation."

"I'm happy to help. I know what a nightmare our family can be." Justus says in an empathetic tone.

As he leaves, Jason heads in the direction of his boss. Sonny will help him figure out how to convince Carly. Right now, she thinks he only wants to marry her because she's pregnant. And he's worried Justus's advice might make her doubt his intentions even more. He has to convince her it means more than that to him, that he thinks it might mean everything.

Knocking on Sonny's penthouse door for the second day in a row, Carly waits for Brenda's, "Come in," before walking into the room. The brunette sits up from her place on the couch at the sight of her new friend. Her eyes focus when she sees Carly's face.

"You had sex," she accuses.

Carly laughs, and gets a big grin on her face, but doesn't say anything. Brenda physically shudders, "Let me get over the nauseating thought of Jason having sex." She gives a dramatic gag that pulls a laugh out of Carly. Then, with a twinkle, "Good for you. While I personally don't see the appeal, like at all, you needed to get you some. How was your doctor's appointment?"

Carly beams, pulling out a picture from her back pocket. "It was great. Look at my little peanut!"

Brenda looks at it for a moment, turning it one way and then another, "I don't get it. What am I supposed to see here?" Carly laughs and points out the tiny little shape in the picture. Brenda gives a sardonic grin, "Peanut is pretty accurate. It's a cute peanut, I guess. Oh, that reminds me!"

Brenda jumps up, running into one of the rooms off the main, coming back out with a medium white gift bag with black letters saying congratulations and a big black bow on top. "I got something for the baby. I saw it and knew you had to have it. And it works for either a girl or a boy."

Carly feels tears threatening at the fact that Brenda bought something for the baby. It's something other women would take for granted, having friends to celebrate her pregnancy with, but there was a real chance that the only people who were going to be happy about this baby would be Carly and Jason. She certainly wasn't expecting any baby gifts. With a smile, she tears into the bag, laughing as she pulls out a tiny black leather jacket. "Oh my God, I love it! The baby is going to be adorable in this!" She turns to Brenda, shyly telling her, "Thank you so much. And not just for the jacket, but for all your help, for being nice to me. Being Robin's best friend, you'd be justified in hating me just on principle. I just…" one shoulder rises in a shrug, "I want you to know I appreciate how nice you're being."

Brenda gives her a bright smile, "It's been fun. As for Robin, I like to make up my own mind. Just because the two of you have rotten taste in men is no reason for us not to be friends."

"Thanks," Carly gives her a sincere smile, then getting awkward with the emotion, she changes the topic. "I would have been here earlier, but we went to tell Lila and Emily about my pregnancy. Though, I guess AJ had already told everyone."

"Wait," Brenda questions, "how does AJ know?"

Carly lets out an annoyed sigh, "He lived next to me and Tony. He was there when I broke the news to Tony, which wasn't a pretty scene. My ex did not take it well. I think I was called both a gold digger and a slut, so lord knows what AJ told the Qs. Probably nothing flattering to me. I was terrified Lila was going to think the worst, but she and Emily were great."

"I love Lila," Brenda enthuses. "She is truly the best. I'm glad it went well."

Carly cringes, "I wouldn't say that. When we were leaving, we ran into Monica and AJ, and then everyone else came out. Monica was a witch and called me a tramp, and then Edward threatened us with legal action. I have never seen Jason so angry." Carly begins wringing her hands and frowning, "And honestly, the idea of it is terrifying. The thought of anyone taking my child, or being forced to let people near him who may hurt him… I just can't."

When a tear drips down her cheek, Brenda scoots closer, wrapping her arm around her. "Hey, it'll be okay. Look, Edward tends to be more bluster than actual bite, but we'll get Lila on our side. She loves me, and she adores Jason. Nothing can make Edward back down quicker than a sharp word from his saint of a wife." She gives her a mischievous, sideways look, "And worst case scenario, there are benefits to being loved by dangerous mobsters. Edward might be able to pay someone off or blackmail them, but our men will kill them. You'd be amazed at how persuasive the threat of death can be."

Carly laughs, but does feel better. Then, hesitantly she confides, "Speaking of the threat of death, I guess Sonny put guards on me."

Brenda looks down, a flash of sadness crossing her face. "Welcome to the club. It sucks."

"Jason told me that Sonny is being extra cautious because of…" Carly hesitates, not sure how to say it.

"Because of Lily. He's paranoid because of what happened to her. It's why I'm stuck in this penthouse all the time, feeling like I'm stuck in a gilded cage. He…" She shakes her head, closing her mouth tightly for a moment, as though scared of letting the words out. "It weighs heavy on him that he couldn't save them, that they died because someone was coming after him. So, now he's hyper vigilant. And I… I'm going crazy sitting in this penthouse. I love him so much, but…"

"I'm sorry. That's hard. Do you think it's just paranoia or caution, or should I be worried?" Carly asks, anxiety in her tone.

"What our men do, it's dangerous. The first time Sonny and I were together, I got shot while I was taking a shower by someone who was looking to hurt Sonny. The security here in the fortress is much better than where he was living when I was shot, but it only keeps us safe when we're inside. This life is… well, it's not for the weak. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but you and your baby are in danger because of Jason. There are people who will come after you just because you're important to him. Robin couldn't handle it. It was too much for her." She gives a little shrug, "I'm not going to lie, even though I love Sonny with my entire soul, there are times when it's too much for me too. But every time I run from this life and Sonny, I always run right back." Her eyes focus on Carly, filled with compassion as she informs her new friend, "And truthfully, there's nothing you can really do about it at this point. Considering you're pregnant with his baby, you can't really bow out."

Carly looks down at her lap for a moment, then with conviction, she declares, "Jason's worth it."

Brenda smiles a little at this, "Sonny too. If it was anyone else… but no one makes me feel the way he does. I love him so much it hurts."

"Yeah," Carly says, though it comes out more as a sigh. Then, looking at her new friend, "I'm just next door if it's ever too overwhelming. If it helps, we can go crazy together."

Brenda bumps her shoulder into Carly's. "Thanks. It does help."

"Good," Carly says, bumping her shoulder back.

"So, you had sex; tell me everything that happened with you and Jason." Wrinkling her nose she amends, "No, not everything. Are you beginning to believe yet that he has feelings for you?" Brenda shifts focus, an eager grin on her face.

Carly gets a dreamy smile, her eyes losing focus, "It was… perfect. He was perfect." She focuses back on the brunette, her brows pulling together in a frown, "And I know you think it means something more, and I want it to so much, but I lost him before because I expected more from him, because I schemed to have something real with him. I can't lose him, whatever it is that we have, because the thought of doing this alone, of being a single mother… it's absolutely terrifying. Jason and this baby are my entire world. I won't do anything, expect anything that could mess that up. Truthfully, what I have… what we have is far more than I was expecting with him."

"You deserve more than just what you can get, you know. From what I can tell, you're pretty awesome. You shouldn't have to accept the bare minimum." Brenda argues, getting worked up on her friend's behalf.

Carly looks down at her hands, shrugging one shoulder, "Even the bare minimum with Jason is so much better than the best with anyone else. And even with the danger, I really do believe I got the best father for my child." She focuses on Brenda confessing, "The baby could have been AJ's." Her friend's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. Carly shakes her head, "I was feeling so awful, and he was at the bar drunk and getting drunker. So, I drank with him, and it started to lead to more. Thank God Jason showed up when he did. When I think about having a kid with AJ or Tony …" she frowns, shuddering a little, "I'm so grateful this baby is Jason's, that I get to do all this with someone who treats me with respect and is my friend. That's enough for me." She gets a smirk, "Plus I get mind-blowing sex, I'm definitely not complaining." Both women laugh.

"Well, I think you're wrong about how Jason feels, and you definitely deserve to be someone's everything. We all do. But I see I'm not going to change your mind, so I guess I'll just sit here with your delusional self." She takes one of the throw pillows and playfully hits her on the side with it.

Carly smiles brightly. Just a few days ago, she had been stuck in a situation slowly spiraling out of control, and now she has Jason, a baby growing inside her that she loves more and more every day, and a new friend. Her life may not be the stuff of fairytales, but it fills her with a sense of excitement and hope, and the most beautiful sparks of joy.

Jason knocks on Sonny's office door at the warehouse. The smell of coffee and the bustle of men working are only vaguely registered. His mind is fully focused on his mission, and no one gives him better advice than his boss. The mafioso raises his head as his second in command enters, giving the younger man a smile.

"Did the appointment go well?" Sonny asks. Jason notes how engaged his boss is with Carly's pregnancy. As much as he would like to believe it's simply out of concern for him, Jason senses the sadness lying underneath his focus. At times, it feels like Sonny is using his situation with Carly to right wrongs in his own past. Whatever the reason, Jason is grateful for the support from the man he considers far more a brother than AJ will ever be.

"Yes," Jason says with a big smile. Reaching for his wallet, he pulls out the sonogram picture, and shows it to his boss. "The doctor said everything looks good. Thank you for letting me have the morning off. We went and told my grandmother and sister after the appointment."

Sonny smiles at the picture, though his eyes show a flash of pain. "How did it go with your grandmother?"

Sonny hands the picture back to his right hand man, and Jason sits in the chair across from his boss. He gets a soft smile, "Carly won them over. And I could tell how much it meant to Carly that they accepted her and us. She was worried about it. I could tell when we were going in." Jason looks concerned, like he's trying to solve the world's problems. Then, he focuses on the mafioso and tilts his head, "I need your advice actually. My sister asked if we were getting married."

Sonny lets out a grunt. "What did you tell her?"

Jason shakes his head, "Grandmother diverted her attention. But, it got me thinking… I think I want to marry Carly. The thought of marrying her and us being a real family…" he breaks off, a love struck smile on his face, his eyes lost somewhere inside. Shaking his head to focus, he continues, "And then I went to Justus to get some help with the rest of the Qs, especially Edward. This morning the old man threatened to get judges involved to get his hands on my kid. Justus told me that if Edward comes after us, it's better if we get married, makes us look stable and committed."

Sonny sits back at this, surprised. "That's big, kid. And really quick. Are you sure you're ready for marriage?"

Jason asks, "What do you mean?"

Sonny leans forward, resting his arms on his desk. His tone is serious and earnest as he councils his second in command, "Marriage is a huge commitment. It is promising her and God that you will be hers for the rest of your life. You are promising to love and protect her, to build a life and family that always places her as your priority. Can you make that commitment, and more importantly, do you want to? I'm the perfect example of why getting married for the wrong reasons is a mistake. My advice: make sure you are doing it for the right reasons."

Jason takes only a moment to consider, then he tells his boss passionately, "I love her. I love the way she looks at me and treats me, and just how it feels being around her. I can't imagine the future or how I'll feel then, but I know she feels like my family, like the most important person in the world to me. She feels like home. I don't know if…"

Sonny stops him by raising his hand. With a smile and a chuckle, he tells the younger man, "No, that's good, kid. Well, if your lawyer cousin says get married and you want to, what's the problem? It seems like you're all in agreement."

"When I talked to her about it, or tried to, she said she doesn't want to get married just because she's pregnant, that she wants it to mean more if it's with me." The words have been on repeat since she said them. They bring joy, knowing that he's special in her heart. It shows him that she cares about him even if she doesn't feel how he feels yet. The emotions are there; he can see them every time she looks at him, in the small everyday ways and the deep soul moving ways. He knows they could have something beautiful if he can just get her to believe in him, believe in them. "How do I convince her it does mean more to me? How do I show her that I want to marry her, and not just because she's pregnant?"

"Have you told her how you feel, that you love her?" Sonny asks.

"No, I… sigh… it's been such a whirlwind, and the moment hasn't felt right. Her past made it hard for her to trust anything good. I don't want her to ever have a reason to doubt how I feel." He pinches the bridge of his nose, shaking his head, "That's not… I'm scared of messing it up. I don't know how to do the emotional stuff. What if I say the wrong thing and hurt her, or make her realize I'm not as special as she thinks I am?"

"You have done this with Robin. What did you do with her that worked?" Sonny questions, hoping to reassure him. Instead, Jason's answer has him reevaluating everything he thought he knew about his lieutenant's relationship with Robin.

"Usually, she told me what to do. We got in the habit of her teaching me things and it just naturally happened in our relationship. But the things she taught me about what to do, wouldn't really work with Carly. Carly wouldn't like going to the symphony or reading poetry. And I don't like them either, so I'd rather not do them."

Sonny shakes his head, "Smart man. Look, I don't know what Robin taught you, but there's no rule book. The two of you will figure out what's right for you." He taps his knuckle against the desk, "Jason, if you want to convince Carly it's real, you tell her what you just told me, that you love her, that she feels like home, and she will see that you want it for the right reasons. But, you gotta tell her how you feel."

"Do you think I'm making the right choice?" Jason asks, hoping for reassurance from his friend.

"Kid, as long as you are following your heart, you can't go wrong. If that's how you feel about her, and you plan on treating her right, marrying the mother of your child is definitely the right thing to do." Sonny's dimples flash as he advises, "And for a little extra advice, no proposal was ever hurt by a big diamond. Go to my jewelers and get her a pretty engagement ring, cook her a nice dinner, and tell her how you feel. From the way she looks at you, I doubt you will have too hard a sell." Then, as the father he's beginning to feel like with his protégé, he approves, "Just so you know, you have my blessing."