Chapter 43


Carly watches Jason leave Luke's and finds herself smiling. To think she had been convinced she was in love with him not just three months ago. Now she feels nothing. Although to be completely honest, what she actually feels is relief. Relief that she succeeded in having a relatively civilized conversation with him, relief that she was free of her obsession for him.

After taking a small sip from her glass, Carly dons her leather jacket and grabs her purse. Just as she's passing the bar on the way to the exit, Luke calls out to her, "You come back soon, Pumpkin! And give little Michael a kiss from his great-uncle Luke."

Carly rolls her eyes goodnaturedly. In spite of the fact that most days she loathed Luke, when he poured on the charm like now, she couldn't resist him. "If I do that, I'm likely to scare him so bad he'll have nightmares."

Luke grabs his chest dramatically. "You wound me."

Carly chuckles and is ready to grab for the door handle, when it swings open to reveal Robin Scorpio and Nikolas Cassadine. Carly rolls back on her heels. "Well, if it isn't my two favorite people! Y'all have a nice night now, and watch out for the cheese fries, they're lethal. I hear the grease clogs the arteries instantaneously. Oh, forget I said that. They're delicious, one basket is never enough!"

Robin's face turns to granite at the sight of Carly. First Jason blew by her like she didn't exist, and now she has to face this ... this... she can't bite her tongue, she just can't. "You're shameless, Carly. You always have been. Seeing you now, it's like I never left. You run about your business of wrecking peoples lives without a care in the world! Stay out of my way, and I'll stay out of yours."

Carly shines her brightest and most fake smile. "And so the Great and Wise Princess Robin speaks. Do you really think I want to have anything to do with a puny sanctimonious twit like you? Why did you come back, anyway? Not enough lowly subjects in Paris bowing to your great moral wisdom? You weren't satisfied with ruining my life once, so you thought you'd come back for another try?"

Robin feels her fury burn hot and fast. Forget it, she wasn't going to stand by and watch. Not again. "Someone has to stop you, Carly. And if no one else will see you for the lying tramping bitch you are, then I'm up for the challenge! My love and respect for Jason stopped me from taking you on before, but not this time."

"Robin..." Nikolas has never seen this side of Robin, so angry, so full of bitterness. It isn't a pretty sight. This argument with Carly is quickly getting to the point of no return. "Robin, Carly isn't worth it, come on. Let's go get a table."

"You're right, Nikolas, she isn't worth it." Robin's hatred is flowing so strong, there is no stopping it now. "She's nothing but a two-bit slut that sleeps her way into getting what she wants. It's no wonder Michael is nothing but a vegetable. With a psyho-mother like Carly, what could anyone expect?"

An eyeblink later, Carly is on top of Robin, swinging and scratching."You miserable little bitch! Don't you dare say those things about my son! You have no right!" She gets ahold of Robin's hair and pulls hard. Robin screams in pain.

Luke grabs Carly from around the waist, and using all his strength, pulls her off while Nikolas takes ahold of Robin and does the same. Robin is flailing her arms and kicking, missing all targets except Nikolas' shins and gut.

Luke barely holds onto Carly who is still swinging. His words come out in pants from the exhertion of holding back a wild animal "Nikky, you better get your date out of here before I let my niece finish her off. I'm only holding Carly off out of respect for her daddy Robert Scorpio; that bitter little witch isn't allowed back in my club."

"Let me at her!" Carly bellows. "She deserves every broken bone I'm going to give her. I swear, let me at her!" Nikolas quickly pulls Robin out the front exit of Luke's.

Luke glances around at the customers who have gathered to watch the floorshow. "Okay Everyone, back to your seats, show's over. Claude, next round of drinks are on the house." Once everyone disperses, Luke whispers in Carly's ear. "Darlin', Robin's not worth it. She did that to get to you, can't you see that? Don't give her that power."

With Robin gone, the fight goes out of Carly. "She can say whatever she wants about me, but not Michael! He's just a little boy. I can't let her get away with that!"

"But she did her own reputation more harm than yours or Michael's," Luke reasons. "She showed herself as a small-minded bitter little girl with no shred of common decency. She shamed herself and her family with how she acted tonight."

Carly straightens up and pulls away from Luke. "What? You being all nice to me now.. is this you trying to butter me up for Bobbie? You can forget it. I'm won't have nothing to do with her."

Luke winks at her. "Aw, Sweetheart, you're already melting. No Spencer woman can resist a Spencer man's charm."

Carly can't help but laugh, and with her laughter the last vestige of anger dissipates. Damn it if he didn't help her. "Oh, Please spare me. I think I'm going to choke on the size of your ego."

Luke grins flirtatiously. "Ya can't help but love me."

Carly makes a gagging sound and heads for the door. "You'll never stop! Seriously, if that little bitch is in the parking lot, I'm taking her apart. No amount of sweet talking from you is going to stop me."

"If Robin is stupid enough to still be in the parking lot, she's all yours."



Much later at Carly's cottage

Content in the silent aftermath of lovemaking, Carly and Stefan lay in a tangle of sheets on her bed. Carly's head nestles comfortably into a curved spot on Stefan's chest while her forefinger draws an intricate pattern on his lightly furred chest. She loves how he feels under her fingers, the firmness of his body, lean and angular, not a trace of fat. He is truly beautiful; men half his age would be lucky to have his physique.

Earlier, her heart had skipped when she spied him out of the corner of her eye as she fumbled with her keys in the door lock. He'd been sitting on her porch swing in the dark, waiting for her. Her thoughts had been racing, frantic to find ways to explain her absence, to explain why she felt it necessary to go see Jason, and why she didn't tell him what she had planned. He would be angry, she was sure. But before she could say more than "Stefan--" he had opened his arms and enveloped her in a warm embrace.

Words hadn't been necessary. Their mouths had found their way to each other by habit, lips joining, soft and tentative at first, then deep drugging kisses that had Stefan maneuvering her through the front door and upstairs to her bedroom. At one point during their ascent, her foot had slipped and she thought they would make love right there on the steps. Then he had put an arm under her legs and around her back and carried her to the bedroom.

In retrospect she realizes her fevered response to his touch had been rooted in the fear of losing him. If he believed she betrayed him by meeting with Jason, then he would turn his back on her without a second thought. To lose him now, to lose him when she had just realized how madly in love she was, was unthinkable. So all her fear had been transformed into a searing passion, as the only way for her to show him how important he was to her.

Carly swallows the lump of dread in her throat. She has to tell Stefan about Jason now, explain to him why she sought Jason out. She knows from experience that Stefan would find out everything eventually, and with Jason due to come to her house to see Michael, Stefan would learn about it sooner rather than later. Time is her enemy in this; it would be better to tell him now, before he could misunderstand it.

"Stefan----" The words get stuck in Carly's throat. Why can't she just say what she needs to say?

Stefan lazily strokes Carly's hair. It is in these rare moments with her that he can truly relax, let himself languish a bit and be at ease, to savor the present, not think of the concerns of the future or the agonies of the past. It is one of many wonderful aspects of their relationship.

Stefan hears the hint of anxiety in her voice when she says his name. Reality is invading, threatening to shatter the fragile tranquility of the moment. With a reluctant sigh, he lets it go. "What is it, Caroline?"

"I... I saw Jason tonight." Carly closes her eyes and steels herself for his inevitable withdrawal. Whenever Stefan was furious with her he pulled away from her, withheld his approval and affection. Why, why did she see Jason without talking with Stefan first? She brought this on herself.

There is a momentary pause in the lazy stroking of her hair as he assimilates the information. Then he closes his eyes and resumes the caress. "I suspected as much."

Completely baffled by his calm response, Carly lifts her head and stares into Stefan's peaceful face. "You're not upset?! I don't understand, I was sure you would be angry."

"It was inevitable that you and Morgan would speak again," Stefan answers mildly. "If only for Michael's welfare. I assume that was your reason for making contact with him tonight?"

"Yes, but... I guess I expected you would be more upset than this. I know how you feel about me keeping secrets..."

Stefan's eyes pop open. "Is that was this is? Is it a secret you kept from me?" His tone is soft, but Carly senses the threat behind it.

"NO! I just don't want to lose your trust, and I went to go see him without telling you what I was doing..."

"And why is that?"

Carly looks away in shame. "I was afraid you'd be angry... and try and stop me, and I had to go see him. Michael will be going through some difficult transitions again and he's going to need Jason to help him through it."

"Have I ever successfully stopped you from doing anything you were intent on doing?" Stefan presses. "Could I ever have that much power over you?"

More shame swamps Carly. She hadn't trusted him, she sees that now. "No."

"Your lack of trust is more disturbing to me than your decision to go see Morgan. How am I to trust you if you keep secrets from me, or fail to tell me vital information because of how you think I will react?"

Tears fill Carly's eyes. "I'm sorry, Stefan. I let you down."

"Yes, you did. And what is perhaps worse, you let yourself down." Satisfied that he made his point, Stefan pulls her back against his chest. "If you lack faith in me and yourself, how can we function effectively as a team?"

"You're right, I know you're right." Carly fights hard to keep her tumultuous emotions from bubbling over by squeezing her eyes shut and biting her lip. Once she's certain that she can speak without her voice breaking, she says, "I won't let you down again, I promise." A few tears slip out, despite her best efforts.

"All I ask is for you to try." Feeling dampness on his chest, Stefan sets Carly away from him into a sitting position. He takes note of her wet cheeks and trembling mouth. "You're crying! Have I been too harsh?" Cupping her face, he wipes the falling tears with the pads of his thumbs.

Her face still in his hands, she shakes her head. "No, No! I deserved everything you said. I... I thought you might give up on me. You given me everything, and I've kept secrets from you. You said yourself you can't trust me! How can you still want to be with me?"

"Caroline..." Stefan's heart swells with an unfamiliar warmth. Warmth for the happiness he feels when he's with her, and a pang at the thought of being without her. "Of one thing you can be certain, I very much want to be with you. It will take much more than this harmless secret for me to send you away."

 

Chapter 44

Outside the Scorpio residence Nikolas kills the engine to his jaguar, leaving the car eerily quiet. Feeling awkward, Robin coughs."I'm sorry, Nikolas. I'm sorry I let Carly ruin our night."

Nikolas stares out the driver's side window trying to gather the remains of his patience. It had been an excruciating night after their run-in with Carly. Robin had ranted about Carly for a solid hour during their dinner, hardly noticing that he wasn't participating. It was hard to watch his good friend be so bitter, so consumed by hatred for another person. And while he understood her reasons, he was tired of hearing it. If she said Carly's name one more time he was likely to scream. The sooner they parted company the better. "I'll walk you to the door."

Nikolas' cold tone isn't lost on Robin, who looks over at him with a hurt expression. "You're mad."

Nikolas sighs heavily. He really doesn't want to get into this and she wasn't going to let it go. "No, I'm not angry. I'm just tired of hearing about how Carly has lied and cheated and ruined everyone's life. It's an oversimplification and you're too smart to miss that. I'm hoping soon you'll realize what this is really about."

Robin head snaps up. "Has Carly fooled you too? I thought you were immune to her."

Nikolas meets her blazing eyes with calm. "No, I'm not fooled. I know what she's done and who she is, but I also know that you were out of line with her tonight."

Robin is outraged. "She attacked me! How can you say it was my fault?!"

"What you said about Michael was outright cruel," Nikolas retorts. "It was below the belt and you know it. Having taken care of him when he was a baby, how could you say what you did?"

"I can't believe you're taking her side!" Robin is so angry she tries to open her car door, but it jams. "You were one of the few left who understood how it's been for me after losing Jason, how can turn on me now?"

Nikolas takes hold of one her flailing hands and squeezes it. "I'm not turning on you, Robin. But I'm not going to let you lie about what's going on here. This isn't about Carly. Deep down you know that."

"How could he just walk by me like I didn't exist?" Robin breaks down and cries in earnest. "I love Jason, and he loves me! How could I mean nothing to him after everything we've been through?!"



Before dawn.

He's running frantically, desperate to get away, his legs pumping at top speed as his heart pounds in his chest. He's running through brush and over fallen logs, through swamps and creeks without pause. The wild brush gets denser the farther he runs until the path he's running on disappears. But he still hears his pursuers closing in on him. The more he struggles through the brush and vines, the more they hold him back, grabbing at his clothes like long fleshy tentacles, grasping and ensnaring him. Overpowered, Stefan feels himself being pulled down to the ground, panting for air. The last sound he hears is a woman's triumphant laughter.

Just as everything goes black, Stefan wakes with a start.

Still deeply asleep, Carly feels the bed jerk suddenly. Rousing slightly, she reflexively reaches an arm out for Stefan and encounters his perspiring back. "Stefan--?" She queries groggily.

Stefan breathes in deeply before answering. "There is nothing for you to be concerned about, Caroline. I didn't intend to wake you." Wearily he stands and pulls on his slacks and reaches for his sweater.

Carly blinks several times. "Don't tell me you're leaving?"

Stefan gives her a small tense smile as he reaches for his shoes. "Alright, I won't."

Carly sits upright. "Stefan!" Seeing the strain in his eyes, she reaches her hand out to him. "You don't have to go.. stay, with me. Please."

Stefan takes her hand in his and kisses her knuckles tenderly. "I must. You do not need me here in the morning distracting you from preparing for Michael's arrival."

Carly rises to her knees and leans over to kiss him softly on his bearded chin, then cheeks, then the slightest brush against his lips. "Which is exactly why I need you to stay, to distract me..." Her lips graze his closed eyelids then forehead as her hands frame his face. The caress is tender and devastatingly seductive. "Stay..." Her voice is husky and soft as she pleads. "I'm going to miss being with you tomorrow night, don't make me do without you before I have to."

"With a convincing argument like that...." Dismissing his nightmare, his green eyes follow his hand's trail as he reaches to slip the sheer negligee off her shoulders into a pool around her waist. "How can I say no?"



Morning

The foyer of the Quartermaine Mansion, in full chaos.

"How can you let this travesty happen!?" Edward demands indignantly. True to form, the more helpless Edward feels, the more belligerent he becomes. "For God's sake, AJ, why didn't you get a stay on the judge's order? Or appeal the decision? You should have done something! Anything but let this happen!"

"Father, will you please be quiet?" Alan retorts, finding it hard to remain patient. "Can't you see what this is doing to AJ and Michael?"

AJ stands in front of Michael, who is being held up by Leticia. It takes every last bit of willpower to keep the tears at bay. He doesn't want to upset Michael by letting him see how upset he is. It would be better if Michael thought of this as a wonderful adventure. "Michael, you're going to your Mommy's for a couple days. She'll take good care of you because she loves you just as much as I do..."

Monica rolls her eyes dramatically. "Oh please."

AJ throws her a warning glance. "Mom, we don't need this right now."

"I need to go, Mr. Quartermaine, the driver is waiting," Leticia pleads in a whisper. "This isn't good for Michael. He knows everyone is upset."

Edward shakes his finger threateningly at Leticia. "If you walk out that door with Michael, you're fired!"

"Don't be ridiculous, Father," Alan cuts in. "She's the only one Michael will let hold him. Besides, she has to follow the judge's orders. Let them go in peace."

AJ touches the side of Michael's face, only to feel him flinch away. "Good bye, Buddy. I'll see you in a couple days, I promise. I love you, always." He nods to Leticia. "Take good care of him."

Leticia gives AJ a sympathetic smile. "You know I will. Goodbye, Mr. Quartermaine."

They slips through the front door. There is a long moment of silence as everyone in the room grieves the loss of Michael.

Edward is the first to speak up. "Well, I for one am glad Lila wasn't present for this tragedy! AJ, how could you let this happen?!"

Alan jumps to AJ's defense. "Father, will you leave AJ alone? Can't you see how upset he is?"

"I don't give a damn how upset AJ is," Edward blusters. "I want Michael back in this house immediately!"

AJ shakes his head bitterly as he starts for the steps. "I can't deal with this right now. I'm out of here."

"Don't you dare take another step, Young Man!" Edward protests. "I'm not through with you. I want to know what you're going to do to keep Michael in this house and away from Carly. Have you located Peyser?"

"Nope." AJ puts his hands in his pockets and keeps walking.

"Why the hell not?! I'm telling you AJ, if you lose Michael, you can kiss ELQ's CEO position good bye."

AJ loses his temper. "Do you honestly think I haven't done everything humanly possible to keep Michael with me? Do you really think I want his slut of a mother anywhere near him? Trust me when I say everything I've done is for Michael. Everything. Even putting up with your daily abuse."

The argument is interrupted by the doorbell, and with Alan closest to the door, he answers it. The messenger hands him several envelopes and quickly exits. Alan passes them out to the family . "Looks like there is one for each of us...." He open his up and reads it aloud:

"Your presence as an ELQ Board Member is
required for an emergency meeting in the Port
Charles Grille Private Dining Room at 8pm
this Sunday Evening."
--- SC


"What in tarnation?!" Edward tears his envelope open and mutters the instructions under his breath. "SC...Sonny Corinthos is calling an emergency meeting? That hoodlum has a lot of gall!"

Meanwhile Monica studies her invitation, which is identical to the others. "What possible reason could he have for calling a meeting?"

Alan shrugs his shoulders. "I guess we'll find out Sunday night."




Carly's cottage

Carly opens the door to allow Leticia and Michael in. "Hi Mr. Man, hi Leticia!" She welcomes in a cheerful tone. She stifles the urge to hug and kiss her son, knowing he wouldn't welcome it.

During her last visit with him., she impulsively kissed him on the cheek when she left. Other than to pick him up when he crawled away on the Quartermaine lawn, it was the only other time she touched him since her visitation started. Both times were upsetting. He didn't cry or scream, but he arched his back and leaned away from her. It hurt not to touch him, when all she longed to do was wrap her arms around him and hold onto him forever, and it crushed her to see him dislike affection. Leticia tried to reassure her not to take it personally, that with anyone besides herself or Emily, he screamed and wriggled furiously to get away.

With each visit, Michael spent more time studying her... and more time throwing toys at her head. He seemed to be testing her, to see if she would yell or walk out the door, which she never did. She always sent the toy back in his direction with a smile, waiting for the day he would throw it right back again. Carly decided that it was progress, and certainly better than being ignored.

The court psychiatrist who evaluated them together agreed. Then when the psychiatrist heard Carly was now living in a house that Michael knew and lived in, she was so pleased she recommended unsupervised visitation, saying she thought it was time to see how Michael did away from the Quartermaine estate. That and Peyser's testimony admitting to perjury had been enough to get the judge to grant weekend visitation unsupervised. Hopefully by the beginning of next week she would have full custody of Michael.

Leticia sits Michael down on the living room floor and gives her coat to Carly who has her hands outstretched to take it. The Cassadine driver puts their bags in the foyer and says goodbye.

"I'm so glad you could come with him," Carly says finally. "The Quartermaines didn't give you too much trouble I hope?"

"Well, you know the Quartermaines. It helped that you had a driver pick me up, otherwise it would have taken hours to get out of the house. They all made such a scene." Leticia sighs. "The older Mr. Quartermaine threatened to fire me."

"They wouldn't dare!"

"Probably not, but it doesn't stop him from threatening it whenever things don't go his way." Leticia waves her hand dismissively. "Believe me, I'm used to it by now. It hardly phases me anymore."

Carly sits Indian style on the floor a few feet away from Michael, watching him take in his new surroundings. She can't tell if he recognizes it or not. She'd been careful to arrange the furniture in much the same way Robin had, and to use the same colors, hoping that it would be reassuring.

Carly reaches her fingers out on the floor and walks them toward Michael to get his attention. "Welcome home, Mr. Man. If I have anything to do with it, you'll be spending most of you're time here with me." Michael stares at her a moment and then goes back to studying the carpeting. She looks over at Leticia. "You think he remembers this place?"

"I think so," Leticia replies. "His eyes were really wide when we came up the drive and he was looking at the tops of the trees when I carried him in. Usually he's kind of fretful when I first sit him down in a new place... it's hard to tell though. He's not exactly predictable."

Carly gives Michael her brightest smile. "Well, Mr. Man. How about we go outside and look at the creek, huh? Would you like that?"

 


Chapter 45


Carly's Cottage

Tired but in good spirits, Carly, Leticia and Michael come from the outside into the kitchen."You hungry, Mr Man?" Carly asks.

Leticia shifts Michael's weight from one hip to the other. "What do you think, Michael? Do you want a sandwich?" Michael reaches his chubby arms towards the back door, protesting the change of venue. Leticia grins as she slides him into the high chair. "Yeah, it was fun watching the horsies, wasn't it?"

The peace of the room is broken by the shrill ringing of the telephone. Carly reaches for it automatically. "Hello."

"Carly, finally!"

Carly's smile disappears. "I'm not talking to you, Bobbie," She answers in the coldest voice possible. Just as she's about to hang up the phone Bobbie calls out.

"Don't hang up, Carly! I have to talk to you! I'll be right over..."

"NO!" Carly shouts, then realizing her audience, moves away from Leticia and Michael and lowers her voice. "Don't you DARE, Bobbie. Don't you DARE come to my house and ruin my visit with my son."

"Carly, I have to talk to you. We can't just leave it like this!" Bobbie pleads.

"You come here now, and I'll have you arrested," Carly hisses. "Michael or not, I'll have you thrown in jail for trespassing!"

"Then promise me that you'll see me when your visit with Michael is over. PLEASE."

"I'm not going to promise you anything, Bobbie," Carly insists, her voice hard and unyielding. "Don't call me, don't try and see me. When are you going to get it? I'm not interested in anything you have to say." Before Bobbie can say anything else, Carly hangs up the phone. She turns quickly towards Michael, who is batting some crackers around on his high chair. She gives him her brightest smile. "Hey, Mr Man! You like those crackers, huh? Leticia told me they were your favorite...."



Evening at Carly's Cottage.

"She had the audacity to call and threaten to invade your home while Michael was visiting? She lacks common decency."

"In all honesty, Stefan, I don't think she knew I had Michael with me." The phone crooked against her shoulder, Carly leans back against the pillows in her bed. With Michael settled in for the night, she could finally relax. Putting him to bed hadn't been easy in the unfamiliar surroundings. "Well, I've talked your ear off for over half an hour, are you still glad I called?"

Stefan sets his long-discarded book on his bedside table and removes his glasses. "How could you have any doubt of that? The only regret I have is not having you in my bed tonight. The phone is cold comfort."

"I know," Carly's voice goes wistful. "I wish I could be there too. It's been less than 24 hours and I miss you."

Stefan smiles. "There will be a present delivered to your doorstep tomorrow morning. I trust you will be pleased."

Carly's smile turns huge. "A present?! Ooooh, when have you ever given me a present I didn't like?"

"This present has a purpose. I want you to wear it to the ELQ Board Meeting tomorrow night. Shall I pick you up for the meeting?" Stefan suggests.

"I'd like that. That way you can meet Michael before he goes to bed."



Sunday afternoon

"How's he doing?" They are the first words out of Jason's mouth when he enters the cottage. He pulls off his gloves and coat and sets them over the back of a chair.

"Hi." Carly closes the door behind him. "Michael's taking a short nap right now, but he should be up anytime. He seems to be doing okay, considering."

"What do you mean, considering?"

Carly stifles her irritation at his suspicious attitude. "Well, he had to brave the Quartermaine insanity to get here, and his routine is out of whack. He cried a bit when we put him down last night. Otherwise, he's like he always is. Remote, withdrawn."

"Can I go see him?" Jason looks up the steps, as if expecting to get a glimpse of Michael.

"Yeah, go ahead." Before he can climb the stairs, Carly grabs his sleeve. Her voice carries a gentle warning. "But don't expect him to run into your arms, Jason. He's not the same boy he was three months ago."

Jason shrugs off her hand and takes the steps two at a time until he's at the nursery room door. He stands there a moment, fighting the tears that threaten. Then, after taking a deep breath he opens the door.

He finds Michael laying in the crib, staring at the cheerful wallpaper, in that semi-conscious state between waking and sleeping. For a moment, Jason just gazes at Michael, drinking in the sight of his precious boy who he hasn't seen for months, overwhelmed with so many emotions at once. He feels profound joy at seeing his baby boy that it's actually painful to look at him; aching grief at so much time lost; and deep sadness of what he can only guess Michael's been through since he was cut out of his life. As if propelled by a force outside himself, Jason approaches the crib without intending to.

At the sound of Jason's presence beside his crib, Michael's eyes open wider and he stares into Jason's eyes. Then Michael's eyes shut tight and he lets out a blood curdling wail as if hot boiling water had been spilled on him. Without a second thought, Jason scoops Michael up and cradles him in his arms, crowing to him. "Daddy loves you, Michael. Daddy's here.. I'm here. Everything's going to be okay. There's no need to be afraid."

But Jason isn't prepared for Michael's violent reaction to being handled. Michael's whole body goes stiff as his screech hits a higher pitch that has Jason's heart racing with fear. Then Michael fights desperately to get away from Jason.

Jason reacts instinctively, holding Michael securely to his body and riding out the tantrum, the kicking, the screaming, the flailing arms. Carly and Leticia arrive at the door to the nursery in a rush, catching the spectacle of Michael struggling for dear life to get away while Jason holds him in a firm bear hug, both man and child looking absolutely terrified. Neither woman dares upset the balance, sensing that they need to heal this themselves.

After a several minutes, Michael's body suddenly goes limp and his screams lapse into choking sobs. The worst of the storm apparently over, Jason's grief-stricken face becomes damp as he rocks Michael in his arms, soothing him with incoherent murmurings.

A tear streaked Leticia places her hand on Carly's shoulder as Carly's face crumples and she starts to cry herself, sticking a hand over her mouth to keep herself from openly sobbing. "Michael's going to be okay, Leticia. He's going to be okay."




Luke hands Bobbie the file on Carly's blood tests. "It's looks legit, Darlin'."

"You're sure?"

"As much as you can be on these things," Luke confirms. "Not only did Dr Vader run the set of tests himself twice, he sent the blood samples anonymously to a lab. It looks like the good doc didn't take a kickback either, his bank records are clean, and no large unexplained purchases. The guy is so clean, his shoes squeak." He takes a seat at the kitchen table. "But the only way to be absolutely sure is to ask Carly to submit to another blood test. One that you have control over."

Bobbie shakes her head. "No, I won't do that to her. I won't add insult to injury and put her through another test. Besides, I know she's my daughter. You believe it too, don't you?"

"Yeah, Baby Sister, I do. Everything about her screams Spencer. Even her spectacularly stupid schemes."

Bobbie looks at her hands as she continues to speak. "Even before you confirmed it, the truth has always been in my heart. How I ever doubted it in the first place, I haven't a clue." Throwing her hands up in the air in a helpless gesture, Bobbie plops down in a kitchen chair. "Luke, she is SO like me when I was her age, it's frightening. Now I just have to find a way to make amends, to show her that I love her." Straightening her spine, Bobbie gets a determined look on her face. "But first, I need to go get some answers from my snake of an ex-husband."

Luke sighs heavily, temporarily looking his age. "Be careful, Barbara Jean. I know you feel you have talk to him, but he's just going to mess with your head. Don't go there expecting any straight answers."




"Leticia, can you get the door?" Carly calls from upstairs. "That's probably Stefan. I'll be down in a minute."

Leticia opens the door and steps aside to allow Stefan inside. "Carly will be down in a minute." Stefan holds a brightly colored gift bag in his hand.

Carly descends the stairs wearing an expensively tailored red skirt suit. Her suit jacket is buttoned so that just a hint of her black camisole top shows. Her skirt is straight and short with a kick pleat in back. Presenting herself to Stefan with a playful twirl, Carly looks the picture of a confident business woman who isn't afraid to show her sensuality.

A smile spreads across Stefan's face as he watches the vision in front of him flirt. "Just as I imagined you would look. Radiant, professional, and alluring."

Carly stands on her tiptoes to kiss Stefan lightly on the lips. "Thanks to you. The outfit is stunning."

Stefan can feel the jittery energy radiating from Carly. "There is nothing to worry about, Caroline. We have all the advantages in this drama. Michael will be yours, ELQ will be mine, and Port Charles will not be the same after tonight."

Carly shivers involuntarily. "I know."

Stefan brushes his free hand along her cheek to soothe her. "There is nothing to be afraid of. Everything will move smoothly tonight. You know your part?" He asks.

Carly nods. "Yes, I know my part. I'm ready. I just don't know what I'll do once I get everything I want."

Stefan kisses the top of her head. "You will sit back and enjoy it."

Carly notices the bag in his other hand. "Is that for me?"

Stefan smothers a small smile. "No, Caroline. This gift is for a young man."

"Oh!" She takes Stefan by the hand and leads him down the steps into the living room where Leticia and Michael are playing on the floor with a dump truck. "Come in and meet Michael... Hey Mr Man! I have someone I want you to meet."

Michael stares up at Stefan with wary curiosity as his mother makes the introductions. Stefan crouches to the floor so his eyes are closer to Michael's level. He puts the bag down beside him. His voice is soft and his words slow and reassuring. "Hello, Michael. I'm very excited to finally meet you." He points to the truck in front of Michael. "That is a very nice truck. Could I see it?"

Michael's eyes, which are now large, don't waver from Stefan's and he makes no move to share his truck. Carly, awkward in the silence and not wanting to interrupt, stays off to the side.

"What's this..." Stefan notices another smaller truck next to his foot and rolls it towards Michael. "Could this be another truck?"

Frowning suspiciously, Michael pulls his own truck into his lap. Despite his distrust, he can't keep his eyes off what Stefan is doing, which is to drive the truck up to but just out of Michael's immediate reach. Michael reaches his hand out for the toy. "You want this little truck? Are you sure?" Stefan asks in an amazed voice. When Michael reaches his hand out again, Stefan places the truck in Michael's hand. "Here you are, Michael."

Carly lets out the breath she's been holding. Could it be that Michael is getting better?

Sitting Indian Style on the floor, Stefan places the brightly colored gift bag in his lap. When he's certain he has Michael's attention, he speaks. "Do you think there might be something interesting in this bag, Michael? Should I look inside?"

Michael stares at the bag, and then at Stefan's expectant expression, and then back at the bag. Even so, he doesn't move from his safe spot near Leticia. Stefan sticks his hand in the bag and feels around, rattling the bag and the tissue paper noisily as he does, causing Leticia to chuckle. "Oh my, Oh my. What could it be?" Stefan tips the bag towards Michael so the boy can see inside. More and more curious by the moment, Michael peers into the bag.

Stefan pulls the object out of the bag part way, so that a furry horse's head sticks out. "Could it be... could it be... a pony?" Stefan asks in wonder. "Someone told me you like ponies. A beautiful young lady told me so. Is it true?"

Michael's eyes are now huge and riveted to Stefan's playful face. Carly can't keep quiet. She's so touched that Stefan would make such a concerted effort to play with her child, and to take note of an offhand comment she made last night. "What do you think Michael?"

Stefan pulls the pony out of the bag and gallops the stuffed animal across the floor until it is in front of Michael and within his reach. Stefan then studies the stuffed pony seriously, as if he expects it to do something. "I think he likes you, Michael. Do you think he can stay?"

Leticia reaches over to the stuffed pony and strokes his chestnut-colored fur. "Ohhh, he's very soft and sooo pretty, Michael. Don't you think?"

Stefan smiles at Michael as he starts to rise. "There is nothing I would like more than to stay and play, but I'm afraid I have a very tedious but very important meeting to attend. It was nice to meet you, Michael. Would it be alright if I came to play again?"

 

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