Carly and the boys walk into the penthouse, as she tries to appear happy despite the fact that she has just become homeless. Jason follows behind protectively, noting the strain his best friend is trying to hide. He had promised her mother that he was going to give Carly a stress-free pregnancy, and he was failing already.
Spinelli pops his head out from the kitchen at the sound of movement in the living room. "Stone Cold? Have you returned to your domicile?"
"What's a dommy seal?" Morgan asks.
"Young prince! I did not foresee you bringing home the lovely Valkyrie and her young princes. I can vacate the premises if…" he says, the words tripping over themselves.
"Spinelli!" Jason barks, getting a headache. "I don't want you to leave. There's something we have to talk to Michael and Morgan about, and since you live here and it'll impact you, we would like you to be here as well."
"What are you going to talk to us about, Mommy?" Morgan asks, looking up innocently at his mom.
She runs her fingers down his face, then leads him to the sofa. Carly takes a seat with her son cuddled up beside her. Looking up, she reaches her hand to Michael until he comes and sits on the other side of her. She gives them a bright smile, "Your Uncle Jason and I have some news that we think is pretty wonderful, and we're hoping you will think so too." Joy radiates from her as she explains, "We are going to have a baby, and you will get a new brother or sister."
"You and Jason are having a baby?" Michael asks, looking between the two. "Is that why Jax was saying all that awful stuff?"
"What awful stuff?" Morgan asks, looking between his mother and uncle.
"Never you mind what he was saying. It's not worth repeating. And, yes, that's why, Mr. Man. He is hurt, so he is trying to hurt the people around him. But we know it's not true, so we are just going to ignore it." She runs her fingers soothingly through their hair. "Putting Jax aside, how do you feel about having a new sister or brother?"
"I'll be a big brother," Morgan yells out. "I won't be the baby anymore."
"That's true. You will have to watch out for her and teach her things. Do you think you can do that?" She asks him gently.
"Yes! I can do that. I will be a good big brother, Mommy. I'll be the bestest big brother ever." He bounces in his excitement.
"I know you will." She kisses him on the head. Then, she turns her attention to Michael, who's looking more reserved than his little brother. "You are being awfully quiet over there. What do you think? How are you feeling about being a big brother again?"
He shrugs, then looking at his mother and uncle, he says, "That's fine, I guess." Anxiety comes through as he asks, "But, what are we going to do? We don't have anywhere to live and…"
Jason steps forward at this, "If it's okay with you and your brother, Michael, you guys are going to live here. You always have a home here, no matter what."
Carly tells him, "Jason has asked us to live here with him, so he can be there for you and your brother, and Mommy and the new baby. Personally, I think it will be fun living here with Uncle Jason. You know, you used to live here when you were a baby."
"I did?" Michael asks.
"Did I live here too?" Morgan jumps in, wanting to be included.
"Nope. This is a whole new adventure for you. Are you up for the challenge?" Carly teases, tickling him.
"Yes…I am, I am!" he yells out around his giggles.
Turning the tickling onto Michael, she questions, "And you, are you up for the challenge?"
"Yes!" He giggle-screams.
Jason is amazed at how easily Carly is able to put smiles on everyone's face. Michael has gone from anxious to smiling and laughing in a matter of seconds. He has a soft smile as he watches her weave her magic.
Carly looks at Spinelli, who's standing apart from the other people in the room. "I hope it's okay with you, too."
He jumps, then begins stuttering, "Oh, um… it doesn't, I mean, you don't have to…"
"You are an important person in Jason's life, and you have a say. You are part of this family too." Carly cuts in.
He gives her a bashful smile, his cheeks turning pink. "Yes, it's okay with me."
"Well, I think it's settled, then. We're going to stay here and take care of each other." She looks at her two boys, then looks at Jason. "I don't know about you, but I'm excited. I get to live with my favorite people."
Smiling, Jason tells the boys, "How about you go check out your bedroom? You need to help me figure out what you need to make the room perfect. Spinelli, can you show them the room next to yours?"
The computer whiz nods his agreement. Michael and Morgan take off in a run upstairs, with Spinelli calling after them as he follows at a slower pace, "Not so fast, young squires. A speed reduction is definitely in order."
Holding her hand out to Jason, she pulls him down to sit beside her. Laying her head on his shoulder, she gloats, "I told you so. I told you they would be happy to live with you."
With a chuckle, he admits, "You did. You were right."
She does a little happy dance in her seat, then gives him a kiss on his cheek. "I need to mark this down in a calendar, maybe take out one of those skywriting thingys. Carly was right. That might be the first time you've ever said that."
"Keep it up, and it'll be the last." He teases her.
"Yeah, yeah," she dismisses.
Jason begins running his fingers up and down her arm, looking more serious. "How are you feeling?"
She looks at him confused, "Do you mean am I nauseous or dizzy? Because I physically feel fine. Emotionally?" She lets out a sigh, laying her head on his shoulder again, "I don't even know. One more marriage that ends in disaster, and one more time dragging my kids somewhere new and starting all over again. Once again, I have failed at providing my kids with a safe, stable home."
"Carly, you are their safe and stable home. It has nothing to do with the particular walls surrounding you. As long as you are there, they have what they need." He's quiet for a second, then he softly tells her, his heart in his throat, "We can make a safe and stable home here for them. I can be a safe place for all three," he shakes his head, putting his hand on her flat belly, "for all four of you, if you want."
A tear falls down her cheek, "Jason… you already are. When we're in trouble, you are who we run to. You are our safe place."
He pulls her in tighter, with tears misting his eyes, he whispers in an unsteady voice, "You're my safe place too. And I hope you and the boys know I will always be there for you. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."
She rests her hand on his chest, feeling his heart beating against her fingertips. "We know. I don't know what I would do without you."
"You never have to find out." He promises her.
Their quiet moment is broken by Morgan bounding down the stairs and yelling, "Mom, Michael said I have to sleep on the floor cause there's only one bed."
Standing up, Carly pulls her agitated son into a hug. "How about we buy some bunk beds for your room? That way you both have a bed."
"Yes! I want bunk beds!" Morgan yells in his excitement. He races back upstairs, yelling at the top of his lungs, "Michael, we're getting bunk beds!"
Carly looks at Jason with a smirk, "You realize I'm going to redecorate the whole place, right?"
With emotion making his voice tight, he assures her, "This is your home now too. Do whatever makes you and the boys comfortable."
As she stands over him, she reaches down giving his shoulder a squeeze in gratitude. He leans his head back against the couch, focusing on her. Looking in his eyes, she sees happiness shining through. For a moment, she gets lost in the tenderness in his gaze. She feels love filling her heart to the point of bursting for this amazing man who has welcomed her and her children into his home and his heart. Her life may be a wreck, but her rock is standing strong.