Breaking Away Chapters 17 - 18     Chapter 17     Wyndam's. Carly heaved a sigh "What I wouldn't give for a shot at the reserved fitting room." She cast a longing glance at the elegant gold curtains. "Have you ever been in there?" "On a nurse's salary?" Bobbie wrinkled her nose. "Not a chance." She adjusted the weight of her garment bag. The dress she'd selected was absolutely perfect. The kind of dress that would have Jerry on his knees before the night was out. And once he was on his knees he might discover what item 13-J page 119 of the Victoria's Seceret Catalog was used for. Carly still hadn't found a dress she liked on the budget she had. Yes, she and Carly had actually sat down, and hammered out a budget for Carly with the small amount of money that Virginia Benson had left her. It wasn't much, but with a little careful planning, Bobbie was sure her daughter could live fairly comfortablely. "Oh! Look Bobbie!" Carly's hand whipped out and she caught a hanger and tugged it off the rack. "It's beautiful!" Holding up to herself Carly gasped happily. It was as if the dress was made solely for her. It was a swirl of blues and greens that clung and draped in all the right places. She lifted the price tag and said a little prayer. "Please, please God let this be in the budget that my mean ol' Mama set for me." Opening her eyes she let out a delighted squeal. "And I'll have enough left to buy Michael a Furby!" "Go! Go try it on!" Bobbie urged, knowing already the dress would be spectacular. She leaned against the door of the dressing room. "I do NOT want one of those Furby's in that Brownstone." She griped. "They're ugly and obnoxious and. . . ." "You were already married to it?" Carly called from inside the dressing room. "Ha ha! And more importantly Lucas will be after me to get him one and I won't have them! got me Caroline?" Carly smoothed the dress over her hips, and did a little spin in front of the mirror. "Mama, this dress is MINE!" She exclaimed opening the dressing room door. She loved it. The silky, cool feel of the chiffon brushing just against the back of her knees, the demure neckline, and the plunging back, she felt beautiful. "Hubba hubba!" Bobbie smiled. "A real mean killer of a dress." "Now if only I had a man to appreciate it." Carly lamented, then fluffed her hair. "But then with this dress I won't be alone for long!" "You never are Carly." Robin stepped out of the racks a dress in her hands. "You're never alone for more than five minutes." "Robin." Bobbie stepped deliberately betweent the two bristling young women. Then she reconsidered. If Carly threw the first punch the last place on earth she wanted to be was between the two of them. She discreetly stepped aside. Of course at this point she could have gotten buck nekkid and done pirrouettes across the floor, and neither one would notice. "I'll be over looking at shoes Carly." Bobbie informed her daughter before walking away. It took everything inside of her not to caution Carly about making a scene in a public place but she had to believe that Carly could handle herself. She closed her eyes and said a quick prayer to Spencer, The Patron Saint of All Trouble Makers. "See Carly? Here's a perfect example." Robin sneered hatefully. "Your mother just left you, for the second time I might add, I bet in ten minutes some other woman will come to you and you can start calling HER 'Mama'." "Go away little girl. Why not try the red eye to Paris?" Carly snapped. "You turned Jason and Sonny against me!" "Hello! Robin! You betrayed Jason! What did you think he was gonna do? Hold your hand and say everything is okay? You could have cost him Michael!" Carly counts to ten, then twenty, then thirty. She couldn't lose it. Not here in public. Maybe she could lure Robin out to the parking lot, get her to lie down on the pavement and let a Mack truck back over her. "But it is alright now Carly." Robin replied smugly. "Jason knows now that it was wrong to keep Michael from A.J and he's even letting Michael and A.J see one another. It's only a matter of time before Michael is where he belongs, with A.J." Carly crossed her arms over her chest and gaped at Robin in disbelief. "You honestly believe that don't you Robin? You think that Jason just woke up and said, 'Hey! Michael's real father isn't me. After all I just saved his life, and diapered him, and fed him and changed him, and read to him and loved him every single moment of his very life. A.J the guy that got liquored up and knocked up some stranger in a bar is the real father! And let me guess, this is the part where Jason gives Michael up and turns him over to A.J and everyone lives happily ever after?" "That's the way it should be! That's what's RIGHT Carly." She was gonna have to kill her. How does someone kill a rabid troll? "But that's not the way it is. Jason IS Michael's father. And yes, so is A.J, and yes A.J has visitation rights but he will never have custody." Carly took several steps closer, and leaned in. "You wanna know why Robin? Why none of your little delusions ever work out? Why Jason isn't just gonna roll over and crawl back into your lap because Sain Robin's decided it? It's the same thing that's been pissing you off forever . . . .Me. I'm the reason this little scenario didn't go down the way you wanted. Because I came back for my son. Because I will ALWAYS come back for my son. You can't handle the fact that once I was locked in Ferncliffe that I just didn't stay. " On a roll, Carly decided not to let this opportunity pass her by. "And you saw that. You finally opened your big brown eyes and thought 'She's not gonna go away'. You and Jason could move, change his career, cut your hair, put him in suits, run like hell wherever you wanted. And I STILL CAME HOME! No matter what you did, I was still Michael's mother and Jason was never whipped enough by you to forget it!" "You never came home for Michael! You came back for Jason! You've never cared about your son. You sold him to the highest bidder. And Jason loved Michael on sight and you used that! And you used your son! Jason is brain damaged Carly. It's a simple fact of life. And even if he doesn't see it that way his disability clouds his judgement! It's the same as him going out without his coat! He just doesn't think! He's brain damaged! What's your excuse?" "Oh, you are so stupid Robin! You don't know Jason at all. You looked through him and you saw someone that you might possiblely love if they were a little more like you. Hair a little longer, slicked back, nice suits, a couple of ties, respectable, but not so respectable that you'd lose that 'Naughty girl' rush when you were between the sheets." Carly could feel her blood pressure rising. "Oh JESUS! You turned him into Sonny!" She accused. "The hair, the suits. . . .ugh! What sort of sick little Freudian nightmare are you living in?" "You wanna talk about Freudian nightmares?" Robin spat. "You came to town to sleep with your mother's husband." "And you defended him for kidnapping my son!" Carly accused. "Jason's not here, there's no one that knows you. Admit it you selfish twit! Admit that you didn't give a damn about Michael. That you wouldn't care of Tony Jones kidnapped my son every day of the week as long as Jason picked you up in his big strong arms. Hell you probably wished that Tony HAD gotten away with it! So that Jason would be free." Her face flushed, Robin railed at Carly, letting loose a years worth of resentment and hatered. "You're a filthy whore! You oozed into bed with Jason, slithered up to A.J, and ruined Tony's life! Michael would have been better off with A.J. He knows what love is!" She took a step forward. "And even Tony wanted to do the right thing. And seeing how it's turned out? You having A.J and Jason wrapped around your little finger? How you're the misunderstood heroine? I do wish every night that Tony had gotten away with it!" Before she could stop herself Carly lifted her hand. She would slap the stupid out of Robin if it took every ounce of strength she ever had. Someone intercepted the blow. "Carly. Don't bother." Sonny's voice dripped contempt. "Robin, I have loved you like a sister for so long. I never thought that the very sight of you would turn my stomach." His eyes were sad. He squinted, hoping to catch sight of the girl he'd once known behind the bitter, hateful, vengful eyes peering back at him. "You need to let Jason go." He advised. "You're only hurting him. I know you don't want to, but it is." "Jason loves me." Robin sobbed. "He loves me and he always will! I can't believe that you let HER manipulate you Sonny! After everything that happened with Stone you would take her word against mine!" Sonny saw red. Pure, undiluted, unfiltered red. Here she was trying to excuse her betrayal by dragging Stone into the argument. Everytime she was fighting a losing battle she'd bring up Stone, or his death, or her disease. "Enough! I am sick of that Robin! Don't you dare use Stone's death to excuse your pitiful life! Do you think that if Stone saw what you've done he would be proud? Do you think that he would love you knowing that you helped someone get away with kidnapping?" "Stone loved me no matter what!" Robin proclaimed loudly. "He was the unconditional love of my life!" "Then why can't you be the same for Jason?" Sonny asked curiously. "You started to change him. You couldn't leave him alone! And I heard that brain damaged crap you were spouting. It's funny how he was never any different from anyone else until he snapped the short leash you kept him on. Then as soon as he chose Michael over you, you couldn't wait to betray him and to make it worse rub his nose in something that he can't help, and even if he could you know he wouldn't want to!" "He didn't pick his son over me! Michael isn't his son! He picked her over me! that stupid, trashy, lazy, no good slut! How long did it take her to worm her way back into Jason's wallet?" Robin hissed, feeling backed into a corner. "What Carly, does Jason still pay you in $50's?" Carly advanced on Robin only to have Sonny blocking her. "No you little bitch he pays me in gold bullion!" "See Sonny? She's nothing but Michael's brood mare, and Jason's blow up doll! What kind of mother could she be? Michael belongs with A.J and Jason belongs with me!" "Look Robin I don't like Carly, but whatever stupid stuff she did, she did it in the past. She's the one that's letting Junior see Michael. So if you're telling me that Michael being with A.J is the right thing, and Carly's putting Michael with A.J, and still letting him keep his life with Jason. And Jason's happy, A.J's, well, who cares about A.J? And Michael's happy, then Carly can't be a bad mother. She's doing what's best for Michael, A.J and even for Jason." "You want to defend her?" Robin sniffled pitifully. "She ruined my life." "No. You're ruining it." Carly interrupted. "Can't you take a hint little girl? I'm not in your life. . . . you are standing in the middle of MY life. And if you get in the way, or come near my son again I will drop kick your boney ass back to France." She whirled to go back into the dressing room and tossed over her shoulder. "Thanks Corinthos, but I'm not Robin. I can fight my own battles." ~*~*~*~*~*~ Laura's room. She stood studying her closet. The shoes had to be in the bottom of it somewhere. She felt a bit foolish a woman her age turning her house upside down for a pair of shoes to wear on a date. Her first real date with Stefan. They were attending Scott and Alexis' open house. She'd invited Stefan to accompany her first to the reception, and then on to an evening at the opera. On one of her lunch hours she'd strolled down the older section of town and saw her dress in the window of a vintage shop. It was breathtaking ivory hand crotcheted. It normally wasn't the kind of thing that she would wear, or even try on. She didn't have the body of a 19 year old anymore, three children and 18 years took its toll. But once she'd worked up the courage to look at her reflection in the mirror she was amazed. The woman looking back was confident, secure, and wholly sexual. The dress clung in all the most flattering places, and fairly shimmered alongside her blond hair. "Hey Mom?" Lucky stuck his head in the door and was surpised to see clothed flung all over. "You know, unless you clean your room young lady you can't have dessert!" He mock scolded before flopping onto her bed. "I'm glad you're here Lucky. There's something that I wanted to tell you about." Laura abandoned the search for the missing shoes. "I wanted to tell you because I think that you've had enough unpleasent surprises lately." She took a seat next to him. "Tomorrow night I'm going to the opening of Alexis Davis and Scott Baldwin's Law Offices. I'm attending with Stefan as my date." Ugh. For the first time in two years Lucky wished she had kept him in the dark. He didn't want to know this stuff. He made a face. "Lucky?" "I'm sorry Mom. I don't know what I'm supposed to say when my mother tells me that she's dating my brother's father just a few weeks after she and my father signed the divorce papers." Lucky combed his hair with his fingers. "Cassadine doesn't wait for the corpse to get cold does he?" He asked. Laura was taken aback. Not that he'd ask the question, but that he was so bitter about it. "I invited Stefan. As for the corpses, there aren't any. This isn't a battlefield Lucky, this is my life." "This part is wrong Mom. Dating Stefan is wrong." Lucky shook his head at her. Laura sighed. She didn't want Lucky unhappy, but at some point she was going to have to stand up for her own rights. For too long she'd answered to everyone but herself. "I'm sorry you feel that way Lucky. But part of the conditions of your moving back into the house was that we treat each other with respect. I've respected your decision to continue to work for Sonny and Jason even though I hate it. I know that you can take care of yourself. I would like that same kind of courtesy. I'm not looking for permission, I just know how much the truth means to you, I don't want to lie to you ever again." "He broke up your marriage!" Lucky bit his lip. He meant to keep his mouth shut. That's what his brain was telling him. . . . 'shut your big mouth' do you hate Dad that much?" "Lucky, I want you to think about that question for a while. Think about what you know about the 18 years I've spent married to Luke. Think about what you know about me, and your father. I'll bet you come up with that answer on your own." "I don't trust him." Lucky replied, side stepping Laura's question. Stefan dating his mother was a bad idea. But he could tell he couldn't change her mind. He'd learned slowly that there were times when his mother was stubborn. "Then it's a good thing you're not going out with him." Laura smiled gently. To cover up his discomfort at the notion of his mother dating Count Dracula, Lucky teased. "I'll want you home at a decent hour. I'll wait up if you're after 11:00." Returning to the search for her elusive shoes, Laura smiled. "You do that Dad." ~*~*~*~*~*~ Lucy's house. "Ugh!" She curled on her side on her sofa and nibbled at soda crackers. "You okay cuz?" Renee asked slipping onto the sofa and propping Lucy's feet on her lap. "You got the flu?" "Not quite." Lucy answered. She had to remember her baby. A sweet bouncing baby. Someone she could give all her love to. Those thoughts chase away the worst of the nasuea, and dizzy spells. What happy thoughts don't chase away, a nap and a few saltines might. "You gonna be up to that shindig tomorrow?" Renee asked. She didn't really want to go and spend the night hobnobbing with the Port Charles elite, but it was a good chance to get a feel for the city and which way the wind was blowing with Corinthos, Morgan and the mysterious Luke Spencer. "Sure." Lucy set aside her package of crackers. She really ought to tell Renee. "Actually Renee, there's something I need to tell you." She began, only to be cut off. "I wondered when you were going to tell me you were pregnant." Renee sighed in relief. "Jeesh! You're getting good at holding on to a secret. It lasted what a whole month?" "How did you know?" Lucy demanded. "Did Luke tell you? I swear he's got the biggest mouth I have ever seen. He never shuts up! I mean it! You tell him something and he keeps yammering and yammering. He told Sonny and Jason too. Can you believe it? It's like he never once promised that it would be our little secret!" "Luke? As in Luke Spencer?" Renee felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Please tell me that you and Luke Spencer aren't lovers!" She rolled her eyes. If Spencer got Lucy pregnant out of carelessness she'd call up Colton and Decker to come and chat with him. She relished the idea of Spencer going toe to toe with her 6'3 260 pound ex-Marine cousin. Colton had always been super protective of the two girls in the family. Colton would rip Spencer's lungs out and stuff them back up his. . . . .before she can finish the pleasent thought, Lucy laughed. "Lovers? me and Luke? No! He's just the father of my baby." A smile broke out across her face as she thought of her child. "I asked, he said yes and we went to Switzerland. Now I'm gonna be a Mommy." Renee caught Lucy's arm and tugged her into an upright position and just hugged her. "A Mommy? That's great news babe. So tell me, why are you spending eight hours a day in your office? Why are you eating crackers instead of real food? How come you're on your feet all the time?" She fussed. "You need your rest. . . . ." "Or else I'll miscarry." Lucy said flatly, seeing Renee's horrified expression she took a deep breath. "It's okay Renee. I know, I know my history. And that my mother had nine miscarriages. I know all that and so does Dr. Newman. I have a checkup every week, I'm taking all my vitamins, eating pretty well, and believe it or not I'm getting enough sleep. This is so different Renee. I can tell. I've never been at a better place in my life. This baby may not have a normal family to grow up in but he won't ever be alone or unloved." "What about Spencer? Where does he fit into this picture?" Renee asked seriously. "You gonna get a guard to watch you? A bullet proof maternity vest?" "Renee Carson! You'd best stop it right there. No one knows about this. For all anyone knows Luke is just my friend. He'll be the baby's godfather." "In more ways than one. Lucy, if I know, and Sonny and Jason know and the doctors in Switzerland all know, then that's the same as taking a page out in the New York Times." She nudged Lucy's shoulder. "I'm not trying to scare you Cuz. I just wanna make sure that you know you've got me to watch your back. Whatever you need it's yours." "Actually. . . ." Lucy drawled, her slight southern accent coming out to match Renee's. "If you'd be a little NICER to Luke I'd appreciate it. It would cut down on stress." "Lucy, I don't like him. I think that he's endangering your life." Renee asserted. "Just cut him some slack. Like I used to cut all your boyfriends slack." Lucy wheedled sweetly. "Slack? When Mark Wilson took me to Make Out Point and pawed me in the front seat of his truck who came knocking with a shotgun in one hand?" "Umm. . . Colton?" "Yeah! But you were holding the flashlight!" Renee smiled. "If you really want me to treat Mr. Spencer like that. . . ."       Chapter 18     "You've done a marvelous job Carly. Thank you." Alexis beamed. "Not only is it turning out to be a wonderful party, but it kept me from going insane this past few weeks planning it, you have a true gift. Speaking of gifts." She passed Carly several small white cards. "These are the names and phone numbers of everyone that's been pestering me for my party planner's number. I've told them all that you were very exclusive and that if oyu decided to accept their business you would call them." "Wow! This is great Alexis." Carly grinned. "You know, this was the first time when real work didn't bore me to tears. I could get used to doing this." She admitted. The names of people requesting her services made her feel wonderful. If she could get a few clients like Amanda Barrington, then she'd be on her way to having a new career. "If you'll excuse me for a minute, I want to call Michael before Leticia puts him down for bed." At the bank of phones in the corner of the lobby, Carly bumps smack into Jason. "Hey! Lemme guess, calling Michael?" "Yeah." Jason frowns as he takes in the glamorous Carly. "I thought you were working here?" "I am, but luckily for me, I was also invited as a guest." She took a step away from him, and straightened his tie. "You look pretty dashing yourself Mr. Morgan." "You okay?" "Why wouldn't I be?" Carly sighed. "Lemme guess, Sonny told you I attacked Robin in Wyndam's. I bet by the time he was done telling it I had her on the ground and pummeled the living CRAP out of her." "Actually he told me that she was spewing her garbage and you were pretty calm about it." Jason replied. "I'm just glad you're okay. That's all." "I'm fine. I just want to be left alone you know Jase? Robin's like a red flag, she keeps waving in my face I'm gonna run right into the point of a sword." "Nah. . .you're cooler now than you were when you shot Tony. Smarter too." He reached in his pocket for his cell phone. "Let's call Michael." ~*~*~ "Victor, I really don't want to be here." Kevin grumbled. "Celebrating a milestone in Scott Baldwin's life is hardly my idea of a fun evening." "Son, get over it already. Scott invited you because he is the godfather of your child. Now the least you can do is eat a few cannapes, have a glass of champagne, and make nice." Victor adjusted his tie and scanned the room. Ah. . . .there was his quarry. "Look Monk! There's Lucy! Lucy! Enchante!" He propelled a reluctant Kevin across the floor like a runaway train. "My dear! You look ravishing!" Victor complimented as he bowed low over her hand. "Victor! Kevin! I didn't know that you were going to be here!" Lucy exclaimed. She'd been waiting for Renee and Luke to join her. She allowed herself a small smile at their reactions when Luke arrived to pick them both up only to find Renee waiting for him. She loved playing matchmaker. "Hello Lucy." Kevin shifted uncomfortably. She looked radiant. He could only assume that her relationship with Luke was going well. For some reason he couldn't get around the fact that she was with Luke Spencer. Although he should have known. Seeing the reluctance to being in her presence, Lucy bristled. How dare he be a jerk to her? Sensing the rising discomfort, Victor plucked Lucy from her seat, and shoved Kevin into a chair. "I'm sorry Monk but I must claim the right of old age. This dance is mine. You may have the next." He dragged Lucy out onto the dancefloor in the courtyard. "You look lovely Lucy." He complimented as he effortlessly swung her into a waltz. "Listen Yenta! Quit playing matchmaker with me and Kevin. It's over Victor." "Is not!" Victor protested hotly. "You two still love one another. I can tell. Now stop being so stupid, apologize to one another and we can go back to being a family." He sighed pathetically. "I miss having a daughter in law." "Victor Kevin and I were never married. So I was never really your daughter in law." Lucy explained. "Harrumpf! That's a lousy thing to tell a man Lucy! All the psychology books I've ever read say that the daughter in law-father in law bond is the most important in the nuclear family." He let out a small sniff. "Having you, just ripped suddenly from my life was quite traumatic." "Victor." It was so hard to be mad at him. "It's true. And all my friends have daughter in laws!" Victor observed wistfully. "Lee Baldwin's had a bunch of daughter in laws. Mike Corbin's had a few. Even Edward Quartermaine has a GREAT daughter in law!" "Victor Collins! I do not want you being pals with Edward Quartermaine! He's older and runs with a bad crowd! Heaven only knows what you'd pick up with them!" When Victor made a face, she shook her finger at him. "I mena it! What's wrong with that nice Lee Baldwin?" Victor made another face and drew a shape in the air with his fingers mouthing the word "square" "And, it's none of your business WHO I run with cause you're never at home! Mike says that a good daughter in law ought to at least call you over for dinner with your son. When's the last time that oyu and Monk had a nice dinner at the lighthouse? He's always busy with Abby or the radio station. There's no one to go over my equations with." She hadn't thought about how Abby's introduction into the lighthouse might effect Victor. "Victor. You know that no matter what happens between me and Kevin we both love you very much." "Then get married and give me a name." Victor teased as he watched his son brood across the courtyard. ~*~*~*~*~ Lucy's house. "Come on, I'm gonna be late." Renee checked her watch one more time. Lucy had left while she was in the shower, promising that she'd called a taxi for her to arrive at 7:00. When a horn honked she rushed right out, only to be met by the ugliest dinsouar she'd ever encountered. A pink cadilac. She didn't even have to look at the driver's side to know who was behind the wheel. Such an ugly eyesore could only belong to one man. "Where's Luce?" Luke got out of the car, and came around to open the door. "She went ahead." Renee brushed past him, and climbed in. "She set us up." "Well I've been busy all day. What's your excuse for not catching it sooner?" Luke climbed in and slammed the door. "I had no idea that Lucy would be so stupid as to lock trap me in a car with you knowing what I know about you!" Renee snapped. "She told you?" Luke had visions of being gutted like a fish. "Yeah, she told me." Renee answered calmly. "And my only question for you." She began as Luke pulled out of the driveway and manuvered his way down the road. "Is ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FREAKING MIND?" ~*~*~*~*~*~ The docks. Laura smiled at Stefan's expression. "I can't believe it. It must be a miracle!" Stunned out of his silence, Stefan met her amused gaze. "And what is that?" "The ever vocal Stefan Cassadine struck speechless!" She felt light, and completely free. Stefan's reaction told her that she had nothing to worry about regarding her appearence. "I am quite often at a loss of words when I am with you Laura." Stefan responded quietly. She was a vision in pale cream, and golden moonlight. "You are looking very handsome yourself." Laura complimented taking in his dark suit and snowy white shirt. "Shall we?" Stefan extended his hand to her, feeling a current of electricity rush course through his as her fingertips met his. She always had this effect on him. Awakening senses and feelings he'd long since abandoned. "Yes." Laura took his hand, and twining her fingers through his, she fell in step with him as they walked along the docks. ~*~*~*~*~*~ Carly's jaw dropped. "What in the hell is he doing here?" She asked Jason as Tony walked in. He was dressed quite stylishly and was escorting Helena Cassadine on his arm. Ugh, that was a mental picture she could have lived her entire life without having. Next came Robin on Mac's arm. She looked up for guidance. "It's like you're BEGGING me to kill them!" She thought. Without another word Jason stepped up to Tony. "What are you doing here?" "I got an invitation Anger-Boy." Tony answered smugly. "As a client of Alexis'." Carly slapped her hand to her forehead. Damn. She'd just sent one to everyone on the list of clients Alexis gave her. For all she knew Charles Manson and the Menendez brothers might have invitations as well. She was going to ignore them. Ignore Robin and Tony. Which appearently was going to be harder than she thought. Spotting A.J, Tony warned. "If I were you I'd be careful of drinking the water around Carly. I mean look at what happened last time." A.J took a step forward. "You're disgusting. Close your mouth and get the hell out." A.J stood next to Jason. "Oh come on A.J, the slut stole your kid made you a drunk again and you're defending her?" From across the room Bobbie tensed and could feel Jerry's hand on her waist keeping her from launching herself at Tony and ripping his head off. Carly tapped Jason and A.J on the shoulders, and stepped between them. "Tony, this is a party. Either stay and suck down some free champagne, or go. No one much cares what you do, least of all me. So if you're not in a festive mood, or at least as festive as the walking dead get, then go away." Bobbie knew it was all over when Tony grabbed Carly. But instead of the slap she'd expected to ring out through the crowd, it was Carly's laughter that rang out clear like a bell. "Oh Tony! You're just so cute when you're miffed!" She laughed in his face. "What are you going to do? Glare at me? Maybe skulk around in the bushes with a baseball bat? You don't scare me Tony. Now go away." She whirled on her heel, grabbing Jason by one arm, and A.J by the other. "Carly, I need to deal with Dr. Jones." Jason glowered. He was torn between deciding who he wanted to hit more. Tony, or A.J for stepping into the middle of something that was none of his business. He could take care of Carly and he didn't need any help. "Jason, I don't want you to do anything with Tony. I want this party to go over well, and Martha Stewart frowns upon chalk outlines." ~*~*~*~*~*~ Luke's car. He'd ignored her. That was all her could do. Ignore her till she ran out of obscene things to call him. Of course, given her very creative vocabulary, and sheer lung capacity, he didn't think she would run out any time soon. "And another thing. If you think that you can use this baby to get a foot hold in my cousin's life then you are sorrily mistaken! She's too smart for you!" Renee fumed venting all her frustration on Luke. God! The man was an intellectual midget! Dragging his sorry life into Lucy's! Luke cursed as the car rolled to a stop. "What happened? Why are we stopping?" Renee demanded. "We aren't. The car is. The mechanics said they'd fixed the gas leak." He popped the hood and got out of the car. "Guess not." Renee's head dropped against the head rest. "Please tell me that you aren't saying that we've run out of gas." Luke grabbed the keys from the ignition, opened the trunk and snatched the gas can. "Fine. I won't." He answered the short leash on his temper snapping. "Try not to get killed before I get back." Scrambling out of the car, Renee rushed after him. "I don't think so Bub! For all I know you wouldn't come back!" She kept pace with his long legs. "Besides. . .a nice stroll might be nice." She said just as the first, fat round raindrop hit her nose. ~*~*~*~*~*~ Victor returned Lucy to where Kevin sat patiently. He wanted to go home. "Ah! There's Mike! I'll just dash over and say hello and we can be on our way." Victor smiled. "I told Lucy that we could give her a lift home since her ride has yet to show." Victor sauntered away confidently. Lucy smiled at Kevin cheerfully inspite of her rolling stomach. "I really appreciate this Kevin. I don't know where Luke and Renee are." At the obvious reluctance on his face, Lucy feels her patience snap. "Fine! Don't give me a ride home! I can't believe that you are being such a jerk Kevin. I thought that forgiving someone meant that you stopped treating them like lepers!" She rose on shakey legs. "If you can't even pretend to have any manners or common courtesy then I'll get another ride home! Because right now I would just as soon WALK as be trapped in a car with an egomaniacal, rigid, unforgiving, ill mannered PINHEAD like you!" She grabbed her purse and wrap and stormed outside. Victor stalked over to Kevin and tapped him on the shoulder. "You are my son and I love you. But if you let that woman walk home without offering her not only a ride, but a sincere apology as well I will knock your block off!" He handed his son the car keys. "Take the car, pick up Abby from Mary's and take Lucy home like the gentleman I expect you to be." Rejoining Mike Victor shrugged his shoulders. "Kids." Mike looked over to where Sonny sat alone drinking and watching Carly, and nodded sympathetically. "Tell me about it!" ~*~*~*~*~*~ "This party was nice Carly." A.J sipped his mineral water. "Have you done this before?" "No, but it actually came easy." She replied. And the party had gone off pretty well. She had collected 10 cards of people that wanted her to plan events for them. "In fact I'm thinking I could go into business." "That's what I wanted to talk to you about." A.J nodded. "I'm looking for a business to invest in and I thought we could be partners." He had no idea where the notion came from, or if it would go anywhere. But it was obvious that she had a talent for throwing parties, and if she wanted to go into business, he could handle the business end while she had creative control. He tried to tell himself that it was more than just gratitude that she hadn't held the incident at the Brownstone against him, but in reality that's what it was mostly. She gave him the benefit of the doubt when no one else was interested. Plus, he was a Quartermaine. He knew a good investment when he saw one. "I don't know. I hadn't thought about a partner A.J." Carly answered as a crack of thunder split the air. "Wow! that was serious. I heard we were supposed to get one heck of a storm tonight." Returning to his question, Carly thought about it. She wasn't sure that going into business with A.J was that terrific of an idea. But he did have the money, and she wouldn't go to Jason for it. She wanted to earn her own living. Jason would go into partnership with her, and then just let her do what she wanted without really being a part of it. She wanted a real partner. . .someone to work with. "Can I have a day or so to think about it?" "Sure. But when you make up your mind, let me know." A.J grabbed his coat and braved the storm. ~*~*~*~*~*~ "Lucy!" Kevin's car slowed to a crawl. "Lucy wait. Please." He stopped the car, and opened the door. "It's raining. Get in. I'm sorry." Her feet and back already aching, and the rain beginning to fall harder, Lucy gave a delicate sniff and decided that she'd made her point. "Fine. But you are still a jerk." Kevin hid a small smile. "I know." ~*~*~*~*~*~ Wyndemere. "I don't think that we'll make the opera tonight." Laura sighed in disappointment. After stopping by the party, they had reached the auditorium only to realize Stefan had left his tickets at home. Once they'd returned to Wyndemere, the storm was in full swing. "Neither do I. But there will be other nights." Stefan replied stoking the fire once more. "Mr. Cassadine?" Mrs. Lansbury knocked. "I've just had word from Jennings. The water is too dangerous. The launch will not be returning to the island." ~*~*~*~*~*~ A cabin in the woods. "Good thing we aren't lost." Luke carefully picked the lock. "Good thing you have an infallible sense of direction." Opening the door he waved a soaking wet Renee inside. Her teeth were chattering. "I hate you." "Feelings mutual baby." Luke entered the cabin with firewood stacked in his arms. "How'd you know about this place? Is this where you wise guys buried Jimmy Hoffa's body?" "No, this is where we bury the bodies of nosey reporters." Luke snapped. He was never a Boy Scout, and he was pretty positive that Renee wasn't a Girl Scout. So they'd gotten fairly lost trying to get back to the car once the rain had started to come down in sheets. They were trapped. ~*~*~*~*~*~ The Brownstone. She'd just barely made it home before the streets flooded. Now snugly dressed in leggings and soft, worn sweatshirt, Carly felt much better. When the knock at the door came, she had a feeling in the pit of her stomach that things had gone too well so far. She didn't even ask who it was. "Hi Sonny." ~*~*~*~*~*~ The Lighthouse. Lucy silently cursed herself a fool. But when Kevin had mentioned a package that was delivered to the lighthouse for her, she'd asked him to go to the Lighthouse so she could retrieve it. So here she was, in the middle of a horrible spring storm rocking Kevin's daughter in his house. Kevin closed the door behind himself. "The car's not going anywhere. The mud's sucked the bridge down a few feet, everything's covered. I guess you'll have to stay here for the night."