Breaking Away Chapters 15 - 16     Chapter 15     Carly finished fuming in her apartment to Jason. "You know it's not his fault. Not completely." She rolled her shoulders, trying to shake the tenseness out of them. At Jason's disgusted look she rolled her eyes and sank onto the couch. "It's not. Look, you've seen how Edward operates, he pushes people's buttons till they can't see straight. He sure did with me, and he's not even my grandfather." She pulled a pillow onto her lap. "Think about it Jason. Think about being raised in that house. You've seen what being there did to Ned. He's bitter, and brittle and angry. Do you know one time when I was at the mansion I caught Ned staring at a picture of his daughter? He was just staring at her face, his fingers tracing her face over and over again. He's sad but covers it up. And Emily. Don't tell me you don't notice how she's hardly ever at home? She'd rather be anywhere than in that house. Edward bullies A.J and tries to pit him against Ned. That's why the fight for sole custody. A.J would have been fine with join custody, or even visitation, but not with Edward dangling E.L.Q over his head. No wonder A.J's got a spine like a jelly-fish. Anytime he gets a clue the Quartermaines beat it out of him." "Carly why do you care why A.J did it?" "Because Jason. I remember being in Ferncliffe. All I could do was let those doctors tell me what to do, and what to say, and what to think. I had NO control over my life, and the only thing that kept me from losing it for real, from slipping through that crack between reality, and insanity was Michael. He was my anchor. I knew that nothing else I could ever do was as important as seeing my baby." She fiddled with the trim on her pillow. "So maybe I know where A.J is coming from. Maybe Michael is A.J's anchor too. And I don't want to be the one that takes that away from him." "Carly! He's the one that helped PUT you in Ferncliffe!" "But I got out Jase. YOU got me out! A.J's still trapped. There's nobody to rescue him. He doesn't have you on his side. And now he doesn't have Michael. What's he got?" "You want to give him another chance?" He couldn't believe she was saying this. Carly shook her head. "I don't know what I'm saying. But Jase did you see the look on his face? He looked like someone hit him. And to make things worse he has to go back HOME with those people! You wouldn't wish that on Michael, how can you wish it on A.J?" Jason shook his head. "If you want A.J to see Michael, that's fine Carly. But I want Johnny here, and Laeticia too." "I don't know Jason. I want to talk to A.J first." Carly replied getting to her feet and filling a glass with water. "I'm a lot more calm. I want to meet him on neutral ground to talk." Jason put a hand on her shoulder. "Carly, the Q's don't fight fair. Whatever you do, don't turn your back on A.J." ~*~*~*~*~ Sonny and Luke walked along the docks. "Man, and I didn't even get to hit Edward." Luke grumbled. "I don't know Spencer, the old man may not be a spring chicken anymore, but he's a mean one." As they rounded the corner, Luke placed his hand on Sonny's arm. "And there's our little Lois Lane." Luke pointed to Renee. "Not bad." Sonny smiled wolfishly. "Wanna trade? I'll deal with Ms. Carson, you deal with the dock workers?" "Hah. I'd rather deal with a room full of skittish cobras." Luke approached Renee. "Hey there Ms. Renee. What ya listening to?" Renee cringed. . .the man was everywhere! She flashed a brillant smile. "Well hello Mr. Spencer! What a pleasure to see you again!" She pushed the earpones off her head. "Where on earth are your manners? Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" She held out her hand to Sonny. "Renee, Renee Cason. A true pleasure to make your aquaintance." "Corinthos. Sonny Corinthos." Sonny placed a kiss on her fingers and gave his most sauve smile. "I've heard a lot about you." "All of it good I hope." Renee flirted outrageously. "I heard that you were injured on your first night in our fair city. I'm sorry to hear that. I don't suppose that you would allow Luke and I to buy you lunch?" When Luke didn't second the invitation, Sonny glared at him. "Actually, I've got lunch plans with my cousin." Renee gestured towards Lucy who was coming towards them. "Unless you gentlemen would like to join us?" She wanted information and hwo better to give it to her than the horse's mouth? Well, a little south of there, but who was keeping track? "Hey Luke, Sonny. Funny meeting you here." Lucy could hear everyone's gerbils running on their little tracks. "Would you boys like to join us for lunch? We were just going to grab a bite at the Outback." She knew that she shouldn't force Luke and Renee into the same place at the same time, but she couldn't resist. It was like adding vinegar to baking soda. . . .you knew what the reaction would be, but it was a lot of fun anyway. Luke's phone rang sparing him from making excuses to Lucy and her nosey cousin. "Yeah. We'll be there." He told Sonny. "Guess we're skipping lunch Sonny, shipping problem at the warehouse." Sonny sighed plaintively. "It's a good thing that lattes are my life. Otherwise I'd be tired." After Luke and Sonny make their excuses and leave, Lucy and Renee make their way to the Outback. Once they're seated Lucy grinned. "Okay, fire away. You may as well ask me Renee before your head explodes." She encouraged. "My first question Lucy is how come I can walk up to the biggest lowlifes in any town you've ever lived in and know automatically that they're your best friends?" Lucy shrugged. "Lucky guess?" She perused the familar menu. "You know what sounds tasty? Bagels and lox. Besides, Luke and Sonny are NOT low lifes. . . .they're . . . . ." She searched for a better way to define them "Creative entrepueners unencumbered by the traditional norms and mores governing our society." Renee gaped at her cousin. "Oh God, lemme guess, you've written their P.R?" "Hello Lucy." Kevin approached the table smiling. "Hello Kevin." Lucy waved. "Dr. Kevin Collins, I'd like you to meet my cousin Renee Carson. Renee, Kevin Collins." Renee nodded thoughtfully. So this was the jerk? Okay, so Lucy hadn't called him a jerk, but he'd broken her heart and by the code of the Simpson family that not only made him a jerk, but also a pinhead. But man was he a CUTE pinhead! "Nice to meet you." "Lucy I just wanted to thank you for helping Victor pick out the new nanny. Zoe's working out wonderfully." "I'm glad." Lucy replied, ignoring Renee's glares that told her to ask him to sit down. "Dr. Collins, why don't you pull up a chair and join us?" Renee offered seeing that no invitation was forthcoming from Lucy. Her interrogation could wait. "I wouldn't want to intrude." Kevin demurred. "No, please stay Doc." Lucy slipped. Darn it all! She thought she'd broken herself of the habit of calling him Doc. It was such a personal thing between them. One that died when their relationship had. And he wasn't her Doc anymore. "I'd like that." Kevin ruthlessly crushed the joy he felt at hearing her call him Doc. It was probably just reflex. They'd had their fair share of lapus linguae in the past. But that's all they were was the past. He had a new job, a new daughter and new responsibilities. Lucy seemed to be moving on with her life as well. As the three of them dined, Renee kept Kevin entertained with stories about Lucy's childhood and some of her adventures while working on stories. Interspresed with Lucy's commentary and ellaboration, Kevin was soon laughing harder than he had in weeks. "Victor is throwing a party tomorrow night to welcome Abby officially to the Lighthouse." Kevin told them. "And he and I would both like you there." He addressed the invitation to Lucy. She bit her lip. Her first instinct was to accept. But that would be pretty silly. She told herself harshly. No, the best thing for her would be to stay away from Kevin Collins. "Actually Kevin, I'm sorry, but Renee and I have other plans." Lucy winced when her cousin sharply kicked her in the shins. "Thank you for the invitation though." "Another time then." Kevin rose to his feet. "Thank you for the wonderful company, and Renee, I hope to see you again soon." ~*~*~*~*~*~ Lucy's House "Have you lost your MIND?" Renee flipped her hair over her shoulder and gaped at Lucy. "You just passed up a date with that hunka-hunka burnin' love to stay home and watch me read a book?" "It was NOT a date!" Lucy protested. "He felt obligated to invite me. Besides. I am not getting involved in Kevin Collin's life. Not ever again. He's got his own life. I've got mine and never shall the twain meet." "You're lying Lucille." Renee's dark eyes flashed. "Don't lie. At least not to me." Lucy felt her face flush. She never could lie to Renee. "Fine. He's got his life, I've got mine and ya know what Cuz? It SUCKS!! It was not supposed to be like this. It wasn't supposed to turn out like this and I hate it way more than I can ever tell you." Lucy rose to her feet and paced relentlessly. "I loved him. For God's sake Renee, I was with him for seven years! We almost had a child together. I had a family, and a home and the life I wanted more than anything in this world. And in one fell swoop it was all gone. I did something stupid, and Kevin vanished. Now here I am. I've accepted that we both moved on. He's got his daughter, and his own life and I'm here. I have my house, and my life, and a strong, happy relationship with Serena and Scott. I'm standing on my own two feet and when I see those big brown eyes, the only thing I want to do is to fall into his arms again." "And your pride won't let you?" Renee guessed. When they were growing up, they'd only had each other and their pride. She remembered the other children teasing them for having clothes from the local charity drives. Clothes rich kids tossed out ended up on the poor Simpson kids. It wasn't easy to keep your chin up when everyone around you had more of everything. But Charlene never once apologized, and so neither had her kids. And even though they'd all grown up, and accomplished a lot,when times got tough her first instinct was to jut her chin out, head held high and keep walking. Lucy was the same way. Lucy sank onto the sofa. "Yeah, that too. But the truth is, I'm kind of liking this independant thing I've got going on. I mean here I am in this great house. Jacks Cosmetics is going pretty well. You're here and I'm not constantly worried what Kevin thinks, or Scott is doing. I can focus on what makes me happy and not hurt anyone." "See? We're exchanging personalities." Renee observed. "You're finally stretching your wings, just as I've decided I want to settle somewhere. I want a white picket fence, and a hubby, and a dog." "Make sure he's housebroken." Lucy advised wisely. "Which one? The hubby or the dog?" Renee asked, her brow furrowed. "Either one." Lucy studied Renee carefully. Outwardly she looked the same, reddish brown hair pulled back into a loose ponytail, dark eyes. But there was something different. "Settle somewhere? You, Miss. I Can Take Care Of Myself Thank You Very Much?" "Yup. The story I'm working on now is my last piece of investigative journalism. Once it's done I am hanging up my trenchcoat and fedora, and writing a daily column. Something I can do from home, something where I don't get shot, beaten up, threatened, or run out of the country for." "Why Port Charles?" "You're here. And I've got boxes and boxes of letters from you telling me how much you love it here. I want to try it. I can always go back to doing the big time journalist thing. But for now I want some peace and quiet." Lucy wisely remained silent, not wanting to ruin Renee's self delusion. Peace and quiet? After 10 minutes she'd be climbing the walls. But it wasn't her place to lecture or push. . . .aww, who was she kidding? "Are you nuts? Peace and quiet? Why don't you just find a nice headstone and be done with it?" She asked impatiently. Sometimes Renee had a tendancy towards pinheadedness. "Very nice Lucy. It took you 10 whole seconds before picking on me." Renee grumbled. "Okay, so maybe Ozzie and Harriet isn't in my near future. But I sure as heck wouldn't mind not getting shot at." Lucy patted Renee's hand. "It's good to have goals." ~*~*~*~*~ The Park. Carly approached A.J wearily. "A.J?" "Why did you call Carly? You could have just had Alexis deliver the papers revoking my right to see Michael. Or did you want to see my face for yourself?" Carly's back was up immediately. God, he was a jerk. But she forced herself to remember everything she'd told Jason. "A.J. I'm bummed. I thought that this whole arrangement was gonna work out. Michael is pretty comfortable with you now. He doesn't cry when you're around.and that's a big thing." Carly leeaned forward. "But I won't have that old man near my son. I know that he thinks because he's rich he can have anything he wants. But he will only take my son over my dead body. So now we have a problem.What Michael needs, and what Edward wants. You've got to make a choice." "That's easy for you Carly." A.J replied. "He's my grandfather, he expects a lot from me." "I know that A.J." Carly snapped. "But so does your son. And that's why I'm here. I don't want Michael to lose you yet. But like I said, Michael is not a bargaining chip for you and Edward. So no more group visits." "I'm sorry about that Carly. Believe it or not it started out as me asking Emily to come so that she could see her God son. Monica overheard, then Grandfather, and then Dad. and it snowballed from there. I never meant for Laeticia to get locked out of the house. I thought that they would come in, see that Michael is fine and then I'd toss them out. Then Michael started screaming." A.J looked dejected. "And I couldn't make him stop." "He doesn't scream around YOU A.J. He's so much more comfortable with you than he's ever been. But he was out numbered." Carly explains. "More strangers than familiar faces. He won't cry when you see him next time." "You mean you're going to let me keep seeing him?" A.J couldn't believe his ears. He was certain that after the family's stunt that morning Carly and Jason would never let him near Michael again. "Yeah, the reasons I gave Jason are still true. You haven't proven you're not a good parent." She bit her lip. "And even though you didn't ask for my advice, I'm going to give you some anyway. Move out of that house A.J. I remember when you were living in your own apartment, you were so much happier, and I blew that for you. I'm sorry. It doesn't make what I did all better, but I'm sorry anyway. Move out of the mansion. Don't let Edward and Ned control your life, you do a pretty good job on your own."       Chapter 16   "This was a wonderful idea Nikolas." Laura hugged him happily. Nikolas, Lucky, and LuLu had descended upon her at the office, declaring it a national holiday had spirited her to the park for lunch. And even though the air had a chill to it, the sun was shining and all of her children were together. "Lucky and I thought that you deserved a treat after the way we've been lately." Nikolas explained watching as Lucky and LuLu let out some string on the beautiful kite Lucky bought for their little sister. Laura cupped his face. "You and Lucky have both had such a hard time lately. You don't have a reason to apologize." She plucked a strawberry from their picnic basket and munched on it. "How are you really doing Nikolas?" "I'll survive." He replied looking off into the distance. Feeling her worried gaze, he faces her and smiles. "I will. I wasn't fool enough to believe that Katherine loved me Mother. My heart's not bruised, my pride is. I've always considered myself to have excellent defenses." "And you do Nikolas. I'm not proud of the fact that I've given you a lot of those. You have to know no matter what's happened in the past, I am here for you now and I couldn't be prouder of you, or love you more." Nikolas nodded. "Sometimes I think that it's a dream. And I'll wake up back in some cold, lonely house with no one but servents." His eyes cloud over. "They were good and kind, but I always knew they weren't family." "And look how far we've all come since you've been in Port Charles. You've got BOTH your mother and your father with you. And a baby sister who thinks you hung the moon and stars. And even a younger brother that. . . . " "Knows *HE* hung the moon and stars." Lucky flopped down onto the blanket with Lu. "Mommy's being mushy." Lucky explained. "LuLu, can you say mushy?" "Mushy!" LuLu screwed up her face into a perfect replica of Lucky's. "I knew that you could." Lucky laughed and grabbed some grapes, feeding them to a giggling Lu. "You know, it's a pretty good thing we don't spoil Lu." "We don't?" Laura gave him a mock frown. "And what would you call feeding her grapes?" Lucky shrugged, "Well, it's not like I'm peeling them!" Nikolas laughed. "See? Isn't this better than an afternoon spent in your office?" "Infinitely." Laura sighed contentedly. "This is better than an afternoon spent anywhere." She leaned back on one elbow and listened to her sons banter back and forth. She never once thought that she would live to see the day Nikolas and Lucky became true brothers in every sense of the word. Despite their father's influences, and her own weaknesses, they were very close. "So Emily's graduating this year?" Nikolas asked Lucky. "Why?" Lucky shrugged. "She hates highschool. It's sucked for her since Matt died, some kids just don't let that stuff go. Besides, she's too smart for the highschool classes. Sure, I'm brilliant in some things, but Em just kicks butt in any subject. She's bored. I bet she'll have a blast at PCU in the fall." Nikolas considered it for a moment. "You don't think that the Quartermaines are going to let her live on campus?" "Probably. What's the point of her living at home?" Nikolas grimaced. He'd been on PCU's campus, and while not as much of a party school as Llanview University it had more than it's fair share of troublemakers, and partiers. Just a few months ago there was a drinking death at one of the frat parties. An 18 year old girl had fallen out a window. He made a mental note to broach the topic with Emily. "I just don't think it's a wise idea. She's much younger than the average freshman." "Emily can take care of herself." Laura smiled remembering the young girl pushing Katherine off the docks. Nikolas nodded absently, and then asked Lucky. "Have you heard from Liz?" "Yeah. Got a letter from her today. She's fine. Misses me, misses Port Charles, but she doesn't mind the new school. And she's in the art program there." He fished the letter out of his pocket, and selected one of the ten pages. "She did this sketch of the view from her window. Isn't it great?" It hurt that she was doing so well. He knows that it is selfish of him to want her to be as miserable as he is, but he can't help it. It helped being at home again. To not be constantly surrounded by memories of Liz. And, even though he would never admit it, having Nikolas to call up and go do nothing with was a big help. He hadn't realized how completely isolated he was from everyone else till recently. "She's extremely talented." Laura agreed marvelling at the strength of both her sons. Lucky's heart may be dented, but he would survive. LuLu pushed her new kite at Nikolas. "Fly with me Nikky!" Both Lucky and Nik sighed and rose in unison, Nikolas carrying the kite, Lucky carrying Lu. "If you'll excuse us, duty calls." Nikolas smiled at Laura. Laura watched them and soaked up the warmth of the suns rays. Her thoughts turned to her conversation with Felicia. She had been unable to answer Felicia's question as to what she was afraid of because, in truth she wasn't sure. She enjoyed Stefan, his company and his delightful sense of humor. He was still such a novice in American culture it was easy to suprise, or shock, or amuse him. There was an ease to their friendship. But she couldn't possiblely ignore that there was much more than friendship between them. Many times it was as though she were a teenager again. Unsure of herself, and faltering in the world. Except that this time, she thought, she was armed with more knowledge of herself than ever and a strong desire to make her own place. ~*~*~*~*~ The Quartermaine Mansion. A.J took another bag to his car. He wasn't moving out because Carly told him to. He was moving out because she was right. He could either stay in the house, and the business and let his grandfather control him till the day he died, or he could stand up for himself, walk out and find some other way to live. A way to live where he didn't feel his sobriety was on the line every waking moment. He was still sober, but another crisis, another round of 'Who's the C.E.O?' could send him spiraling out of control. So he was leaving, and in spite of the fear there was a sense of relief. He could live on his trust fund for the rest of his life if that's what he wanted. But he didn't, he would have to find a job. Something that he could do to prove to himself, and his son that he was a man worthy of being a father. Fatherhood came easy for Jason. He had the chance to do it, and as a result Jason didn't have to prove anything to Michael, but he felt that he did. Michael should be able to see that BOTH his fathers were strong and reliable. Once he was back in the foyer he was confronted by Emily. "Look A.J, I know that I've been a bitch." She began. "I've been thinking about so much stuff lately, and I know that you understand why I've been so hard on you for wanting Michael with you, and that you forgive me, but I have to make sure I say this. I'm sorry. I am so sorry for everything I said about you not being Michael's father." "No Em, frankly I don't understand." A.J sank to the bottom step of the stairs, and patted the seat next to him. "If you'd been torn, I would have understood. But oyu came out swinging for me to not even be a part of my own son's life." Emily sank down next to him. "Don't you see A.J? It's not cause I didn't want you with Michael. I didn't want Michael HERE." She waved her arm. "In this house. If when you went after custody of Michael you'd said 'I love him I want him in my life' and moved out of here, and away from Grandfather I wouldn't have been so terrible. I just didn't want to see Michael growing up in this house, I didn't want him to end up like me." A.J placed an arm around her shoulders and hugged her tight. "Emily. You haven't ended up like anything other than one of the bravest, smartest, strongest people I know. And of course I forgive you. You're my baby sister." He kissed her forehead. "When it's too much for you, and you just want to get out, you're always welcome wherever I am." "Thanks A.J. I'll make it up to you." She promised smiling brightly. It felt good to be okay with him. "If you need anything call me." A.J smiled. She was a great kid sister, even at her brattiest. "I will. And you'll do the same?" "You bet." Emily leaned her forehead against his. "You know A.J, you are SOOO my hero. Always were. Even when I was too stupid to know it." ~*~*~*~*~*~ The Corinthos-Morgan Warehouse. Luke leaned back in his chair. "So does this partnership mean I get my name on the warehouse too?" He asked. "You'll have to fight with Sonny. He didn't even want MY name on it!" Jason answered. There's a knock at the door. "Hey, I'd like a decaf-mochacino, frappe grande with a skin milk foam, 1/2 cinnamon and 1/2 chocolate sprinkles on top. And make it snappy." "Would you like a low fat blueberry muffin with that?" Luke asked winking at Lucy. "So, where's your charming cousin?" "I fit her with cement shoes." Lucy replied. She smiled at Jason and Sonny. "Guys, that was a joke, quit looking like I made a fashion suggestion." She was in a wonderful mood. She'd slipped out on Renee and had a check up with Dr. Newman and she and the baby were doing wonderfully. She was just begining to gain some weight and have bouts with morning sickness. Despite the naseua she couldn't be happier. "So pal you ready?" "You boys want to join me and Lucy for lunch?" Luke offered. "Can't." Jason scowled. "Carly and I are taking Michael to see A.J." He looked at his watch. "I need to get going." Sonny grinned. "Sure I'll join you two for lunch. Luke's buying right?" He twined Lucy's arm around his own. "Ha! I'm not buying JACK till I get my name on the warehouse." Luke objected hotly. "Besides that you're horning in on my date!" "Date schmate." Lucy scoffed. "I don't care which one of you feeds me!" "Feed her?" Sonny shook his head. "Hasn't she ever heard of the Women's movement? Doesn't she know that men and woman are equal? That we men are no longer just pieces of meat to satisfy their every whim!" "Shut up Cortinthos. I don't mind being a piece of meat!" Luke laughed. "It just seems that every woman I meet these days is a vegetarian!" ~*~*~*~*~*~ A.J's new house. Carly rang the front door bell. "Be nice." She hissed in warning to Jason. "I won't kill him, but that's all you're getting from me." He answered, his eyes flat. Caryl could lecture him all she wanted but he hated A.J and always would. A.J opened the door dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. "Hey. Come on in. Hey Michael." A.J led them into his house. It was sunny and comfortable looking in spite of the boxes lining the floor. "I really hustled to get the bare bones unpacked." A.J announced, then touched Carly's hand. "Thanks for what you said. I knew that I had to move out sooner or later. But your words helped give me a kick in the pants." He took his son. "Come on Michael, I want to give you the grand tour." Watching A.J, Carly nodded in satisfaction. "Nice place huh Jase?" Jason only grunted and looked out the window. "You know Jason, your version of pouting is REALLY starting to get on my nerves." Carly elbowed him in the back. "You're only ticked cause I'm right, and you are what we ladies like to refer to as WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. Look how serious A.J is about being a father to Michael. Three weeks ago I bet you never would have thought he could move out of the mansion and quit E.L.Q." She glanced around the house and shuddered at the sight of the ugly couch. "And even though he has NO taste and I'm sure this place will look like every guy's bachelor pad. . . . " She grinned. "An empty fridge, a few choice pieces of disassembled electronics, at least two out of date calenders with blonde bimbos in teeny tiny bikinis posing like this," She mussed her hair, and struck a seductive pose, pouting her lips. "And a table where one leg is way shorter than the other. Tos in a few handweights and a subscription to Sport Illustrated and VOILA!" Teased out of his foul humor temporarily a smile tugged at the corners of Jason's mouth. "How do you know so much about bachelor pads?" Carly smiled innocently. "From what I HEAR about bachelor pads. . . " She swiftly changed the subject. "So you gonna give A.J a chance, or just keep scowling, frowning, stomping, muttering, and being a jerk?" Crossing his arms over his chest, Jason considers his options. "What was my second choice again?" "Hardy har har." "Look Carly, I'll make you a deal." Jason offers. "You and Sonny control yourselves, and I'll try not to frown." Carly started at the mention of Sonny. She still couldn't believe that he'd kissed her. And in Jason's kitchen no less. And what a kiss, the soles of her shoes had melted away and she'd found that her toes were curled. Control themselves? Jason could bet his sweet bippy that she'd control herself. As in never being alone in the same room with Sonny Corinthos as long as she lived. "Deal." A.J returned carrying a smiling Michael. "I think he likes his room." "His room?" Jason's voice was flat. "Yeah, I figured if he was going to be visiting me, I should have a room set up where he could take naps, plus a place where I can keep some toys for him." "That's a good idea A.J." Carly responded as she made her way around the boxes on the floor and kissed Michael. "How'd you find such a great house on such short notice?" Carly asked. Deep down she was sort of envious. As great as the Brownstone was, she wanted her own house. Besides the cramped quarters, the floors were VERY thin, and with Bobbie's bedroom directly above, well to put it delicately she now knew more about Jerry Jacks than she ever needed to. "Grandmother." A.J set Michael down on the floor with a couple of stuffed animals. "You guys want some iced tea?" He offered. "Sure." Carly began to explore the house, wishing she'd brought sample books. She touched the corner of a piece of wallpaper that was peeling, tugging it back just a fraction of an inch. "A.J? Did the real estate agent mention anything about the walls?" "What's wrong with them?" A.J asked emerging with three glasses of iced tea. Carly dropped to her knees and pried up the edge of carpeting. Then using her nail scaped a bit of paint of the sideboard. "Oh nothing. Just that behind this ugly paper, and under this ugly carpet and painting is some of the nicest oak panneling and flooring that I've ever seen." She answers rising to her feet. "You need to strip whole place." A.J shoved a glass into Jason's hand and joined Carly. "What do you mean?" "Look at this." She said getting more and more enthused. She pulled back another inch of wall paper. "You'd need to get a professional in here to do it, cause the paper's so old it's got paper on paper. But this house has got some beautiful wood in it. It should be a crime to cover it up." Seeing the natural wood beneath the wall paper, A.J considered it for a moment. "I could start in my room, and do it slowly piece by piece." Carly reached for her purse and pulled out a small white card. "Call these decorators." "You still reccomending them?" Jason asked as Michael pulled himself up on the legs of his pants. "I thought you fired them last time you decorated the penthouse." "Nahh, they quit cause my ideas were better than theirs!" Carly retorted. "We may not see eye to eye, but they're very good." Uncomfortable with just how cozy the situation had suddenly gotten Jason changes the subject. "So what does Edward think about your move?" A.J smiled. "When I told him I was moving out, and quitting E.L.Q he faked another stroke." Jason shook his head. "Does anyone ever go for that?" "Newcomers to the family usually fall for it once." A.J replied. "And I'd swear I saw Ned doing a little jig on the roof of the house as I pulled out of the driveway." "Why'd you leave E.LQ?" Jason asked. He still didn't trust this new and improved A.J. A.J sat on the couch and took a drink of iced tea. "I'm sick of being the whipping boy for Grandfather and Ned. It's hard to keep your mind on work when you're always wondering who's got the knife and what part of you they're going to stick it in next. Though the back is always a safe bet. So I'm looking at small area businesses to invest in where I can be hands on. My chances of getting to be C.E.O of E.L.Q and STAYING CEO were two fold. Slim, and none. I think I'm ready to do something where I can succeed." ~*~*~*~*~ The No-Name. "Oh! I am full!" Lucy exclaimed happily. "I think the second creme brulee did me in!" She pushed aside the empty dish. "I've got to eat with you guys more often. "I've never been here before." "Well, stick with us sweetheart." Luke does a terrible Bogey imitiation. "Besides Lucy you're eating for two, you should come here twice a day." Sonny smiled. Lucy's expression was shocked. "Lucas Lorenzo Big Mouth Gossipy Spencer! I thought we'd agreed not to tell anyone!" She cried. "And they say WOMEN are the gossips!" "Luce. Darlin'. It just slipped out. I was explaining to Sonny why we can't kill Renee." He decided on the diversion tactic. It wasn't nice to drag Sonny into this, but it was him or Sonny. He hoped Sonny would forgive him. "It just - - wait a minute buddy!" She poked Sonny's arm with a sharp finger. "Kill Renee? I don't think so! Now the two of you listen here! And one of you might wanna take notes and relay them to Jason. If anything happens to Renee. If she gets a hang nail, a stubbed toe, or just plain has a bad hair day I will hold the three of you completely responsible and accountable. Got me?" When the two men nodded she leaned back in her seat. "And back to you Luke 'Town Crier' Spencer, don't think that you're off the hook. I am perfectly capable of being mad at two people at the same time. I'm excellent at multi-tasking. I would appreciate it if this was kept just between us, and the people you've already told. So please cancel the full page ad in the New York Times!" God! Men! Can't live with 'em and they just don't seem to stay dead in Port Charles. Lucy sighed inwardly She should have known better. It was a well known fact among women that men were the worst gossips. And she was really enjoying having this pregnancy all to herself. It was her own special, amazing secret. Course with Luke's big mouth it wasn't destined to stay a secret for long.