Chapter 49


Carly and Margo are escorted into the conference room by Adrian Stuart's receptionist. "Mr Stuart and Mr Quartermaine will be with you shortly. Would either of you like a cup of coffee while you're waiting? Or water?"

At Carly's shake of the head, Margo smiles up at the secretary. "No thank you, Mary, we'll just wait."

Margo notices how rigidly Carly is sitting in her seat and puts a hand on top of Carly's. "You don't have to do this. I can handle the details while you spend time with your son."

"No, I need to see this all the way through. I need to face AJ this last time. Then I never have to think about him again." Carly bites her lip nervously before glancing up at Margo. "I want some time alone with him. Can you arrange that?"

"We're in the driver's seat, anything we ask, we get." Margo searches Carly's pensive face. "Are you sure you're up for this?"

Carly's eyes get a determined glint in them when the conference room door opens. "Oh yeah, I'm ready."

Adrian walks in alone and takes a seat across the table from Carly and Margo. "Good morning Ms Benson, Ms Renfield. My client has authorized me to act in his place. I trust we are ready to get down to business?"

"Where's AJ?" Carly's demands. Damn, she's ready for this. She has everything worked out. She wants this confrontation with AJ, to blast him out of the water, to make him pay for ruining her life. To make him squirm like a worm on a hook. "Margo, you said he was going to be here."

"Ms Benson, there is nothing to be concerned about," Adrian cuts in smoothly. "Mr Quartermaine is willing to accept any terms you ask for."

Margo puts a reassuring hand on Carly's shoulder. "We can do this, Carly. He doesn't need to be here to finish this."

"Wait, you said any demand?" Carly asks Adrian, incredulous. "Even if I demand he turn himself in? Even if I decide to go to the police right now and turn him in?"

Adrian groans inwardly. This isn't going at all like he hoped. When AJ arrived in his office first thing this morning, he had been floored at AJ's about-face and pleased at his decision to be absent from the final negotiations.

By all rights, working solo with Carly Benson and her lawyer would make the whole process go more smoothly, with less chance of a breakdown in negotiations. But he was quickly learning that nothing went according to plan with this case.

"No one can stop you from going to the police, Ms Benson," Adrian answers with as much patience as he can muster. "You always have that prerogative. Shall we proceed?"

"What if I don't want to?" Carly is hot as she stands up. "Forget it. You either get your client here, or I'm walking."

Margo rises. "Adrian, give me a moment with my client?"

"Of course. Have Mary ring me when you're done." Adrian gathers his things and exits.

When Margo reaches out to try to calm Carly, Carly puts her hand up to stop her. "Don't tell me it's okay, Margo. Damn him! He was supposed to be here!"

Margo turns so she's facing Carly and leaning against the table. "I know you wanted to have a chance to confront him, Carly, but maybe it's better this way."

"How could this be better?"

Margo raises her eyebrows. "Did you really want an ugly knock down drag out fight with him?"

Carly's eyes glitter with unshed tears. "Yes Damn it! I did!"

"And what did you imagine he would do? Apologize? Beg for mercy? What?"

"I don't know!" Carly crosses her arms over her chest protectively. "Maybe I wanted him to apologize... or Maybe I wanted him to beg. Maybe I wanted to see him scared. He took so much away from me, Margo, and he isn't even going to pay for it. No jail, nothing. Now I don't even get a chance to see him squirm."

"Has this fight been about making AJ pay, or getting custody of Michael?"

Carly slumps into her chair defeated. "Getting Michael back." She puts head down on the table and breathes in deeply to clear her head. "Okay, okay. I'm ready. Get that weasel lawyer back in here. Let's make it quick."



Maybe this isn't what his father meant when he said he should face what he'd done, but AJ knew in his heart it was right thing to do. It was like the 12 steps said, he had to take a moral inventory and make amends to those he'd harmed.

It hasn't been easy, he had to get past all the bitterness, the anger, the profound sadness of what he'd lost. But he was getting there. The events of last night and his talk with his father this morning had brought him a long way. Nothing like losing everything to make you rethink your priorities.

It would have been easy to blame others for what's happening, Hell, he'd done it all his life. He blamed others for his drinking, for his screw ups. His father for not caring enough, his mother for not understanding. Ned, Grandfather, and lately Carly. But thinking about picking up a drink last night had brought everything into focus. It had been like a splash of ice cold water in his face. And he realized If he kept blaming others for his mistakes, he was on the slippery slope to drinking again. And he couldn't do that to Michael. He couldn't use his son as an excuse to drink. So he'd taken a long hard look at the big blue book in hopes of making some sense out of the mess that was his life.

The fourth step was always the hardest, it always tripped him up. One of the hardest things he had to accept is that it didn't matter what Carly or anyone else had done to him. He was responsible for his actions. And he was ashamed of what he'd done in the name of his son.

The person he harmed most was Michael. Ripping him away from the only parents and home he'd ever known. Depriving him of part of his family... His mother, Bobbie, the rest of the Spencers. Even Jason. He had played judge and juror when he had no right. And his list of people he wronged went on to cover his parents, Bobbie, Jason, Sonny, and last of all, Carly.

So here he was, standing on the stoop of the Brownstone, gathering his courage to face Bobbie Spencer. A woman he's known since he was a child, who had a generous heart and had done nothing to deserve what he'd done to her. He closes his eyes for a moment and takes a deep breath, then rings the door bell.

Bobbie opens the door, at first amazed to see him there, then furious.

"Bobbie, I'm---" AJ's are cut off when Bobbie back hands him full force, causing him to take a half step back to keep his balance.

"You Bastard!" Bobbie hisses.

AJ rubs his sore cheek. "Yeah, I deserved that one."

"You deserve a lot more than that, you bottom feeding snake!" Bobbie shoves his backwards and slams the door shut. AJ stands there dumbfounded for a moment before Bobbie opens the door again. "What are you here for anyway? Trying to get sympathy? Think again."

"I'm trying to apologize!"

"Apologize?" Bobbie is incredulous. "You think apologizing is going to make this okay? Just say your sorry and it'll fix what you've done to my family?"

"No, of course not. I'm just..." AJ looks around at the curious passersbys who slow down to gawk at their argument. "Listen, people are starting to stare, can I come in and do this?"

"You have exactly two minutes to tell me what you want." Bobbie steps aside to let him in. "And I reserve the right to throw you out on your ass anytime."

"Fine." Once they are in the living room, AJ turns to face her. "I'm not here to make excuses for what I've done. I know that's not going to help. I just wanted you to know, that I realize now what I did to you and your family. I thought I was justified because I wanted to protect Michael..." AJ shakes himself. "No, that's not what I meant. Whatever reasons I had, they don't excuse what I did. I'm sorry for what I did to you, Bobbie."

Bobbie crosses her arms in front of her, still seething. "You made me believe that Carly, the girl I've come to love with all my heart wasn't my daughter. You made me believe that my biological daughter was dead. You ripped my heart out, AJ!"

"I know, Bobbie." AJ answers quietly

"You made me believe I didn't have a grandson. Do you have any idea how much l loved that boy? Still love that boy? I'll be lucky if Carly lets me see him at all." Bobbie blinks back angry tears. "Because you are a nasty vindictive lying weasel, I spent the last two and a half months crying myself to sleep!"

AJ looks down, ashamed. "I'm sorry, Bobbie."

"Sorry doesn't cut it, AJ. You are a coward. A waste of good air. " Bobbie swipes at the angry tears that won't stop coming. "And you know what else I've lost? My friendship with your mother. She was my best friend, and now it'll never be the same."

AJ looks up at Bobbie in shock. "She had no idea, Bobbie! I swear it. It was all my doing. No one else was involved except Peyser and me."

Bobble glowers at AJ. "It doesn't really matter what part she played or didn't play. Whenever I see her , no matter how hard I try not to, I'm going to remember what you did."

AJ swallows the lump in his throat. "I don't know what to say, except I'm sorry."

"I don't really care how sorry you are, AJ. I want you to get out of my house." Bobbie walks to her door and opens it, motioning him to leave. "Up until today I always believed the mistakes you made, the damage you've done wasn't really intentional. I believed it even when you almost killed Jason. I don't know how your parents can even stand to look at you. I know I can't look at you without wanting to rip your face off." As AJ walks through the door, Bobbie lobs her parting shot. "Stay clear of me, stay clear of my family." Her last words are punctuated with the loud slamming of the door.

AJ stands at the stoop of the Brownstone and sighs heavily. "Well, that went well."



Wyndemere Study

Stefan slides his reading glasses off and looks at the flushed beauty who just appeared front of him. "Well, this is unexpected. I thought I was going to have to survive another dull afternoon without you."

Carly shrugs off her full length leather coat and lays it over the back of a chair. "So did I. But I've been granted a reprieve."

Stefan rises from behind his desk and walks around the front of it to greet Carly with a kiss. "How much of a reprieve?"

Inhaling his scent, Carly sighs with contentment. "A couple hours at least. I checked with Leticia before I jumped on the launch. Michael just went down for a nap." Carly unbuttons his suitcoat and threads her arms around his waist. "Can you stand to spend some time with me?"

"Hmmm, Can I...." Stefan tips back Carly's head, tasting her lips, savoring them before breaking away. "Dreary quarterly reports or a scintillating interlude with you? A difficult choice, but I think I can sacrifice the reports." His tongue delves into her mouth, feasting on her. His lips then lead a hot trail down her throat to the base of her neck while his fingers find the zipper of her dress.

Carly's eyes close under the sensual onslaught, forgetting all her troubles for the simple exquisiteness of the moment. She hadn't come here to escape anything, but it was inevitable whenever they came together. The feel of his hands undressing her, the feel of his lips and tongue worshiping her. She could feel her body melting from her center outward. Magic, pure and simple.

"Stefan--" Carly breathes in a brief second of sanity as his jacket is thrown aside and his dress shirt quickly follows.

Stefan lifts her off the ground and sits her on the edge of his desk. His mouth captures hers for another searing kiss. "What?" With a free hand he brushes her hair off her face so he can look into her eyes clouded with desire.

Carly grabs his belt buckle while raining kisses on his chest. "The.... door ... isn't... locked--"

Stefan pulls away long enough to flip the lock on the door. "Remedied." Returning to her, he stands a step away from her so his eyes can feast on erotic vision in front of him. "I prefer to keep your delectable body to myself."

Aching, Carly grabs his belt buckle again and hauls him to her. "Shut up and make love to me."

"Crude or not, I love the way your mind works."



Stefan's bedroom

With Carly dozing and their bodies spooned together, Stefan props himself up on his elbow to watch her sleep. He was thankful for the moment, as he was thankful for all his moments with her. He's still reeling from her shocking confession the night before, that she loved him.

Looking down at her peaceful face, Stefan's stomach clenches. The responsibility of receiving her love was daunting. He could hurt her easily. But the question it brought to mind was even more unnerving: Did he love her? And more importantly, was he capable of loving anyone? After a twenty year obsession with Laura, he'd woken up to the realization that he hadn't really been in love with Laura. He'd loved what she represented. And with that came the realization that he had never really been in love in his life.

However confusing, at least his feelings for Carly were based in reality. When he'd begun the affair with her, he'd rationalized that his lust for her was like a drug he was trying to work out of his system. He was sure his interest in her would quickly wane, just like all his other romantic liaisons. He predicted by the time she was ready to stand on her own two feet, he would be relieved to be free of her.

But if the last few weeks away from her were any indication, his desire, dare he say NEED, for her was stronger than ever. It was pretty simple actually. When he was with her, the world was full of bright colors and sounds... laughter, contentment, even anger. Without her, it was depressingly gray and dull. He had admit to himself that he cared for Carly, deeply. More than was wise.

Up until the moment she moved into the cottage, he'd felt that he had more to offer her than she had to offer him. He'd relished being in control, calling the shots. It was comfortable. But her absence made him acutely aware of the dead silence at Wyndemere. She didn't fit into a neat little compartment in his life. Even more disturbing was the reality that her life didn't revolve entirely around him anymore. She may love him, but she didn't need him nearly as much as she believed.

Carly stirs next to Stefan, looking up sleepily to see an inscrutable look on his face. "You look serious. Something happen?"

Stefan's face softens into a slight small smile. He kisses her bare shoulder. "I was just realizing you hadn't told me about your meeting with AJ and the lawyers."

Carly stretches like a cat. "Oh that. It was anticlimactic. AJ didn't show. Just had his lawyer show up."

Stefan pulls her more snugly against him. "He is a coward. Were you disappointed?"

"Yeah, at first I was, but Margo pointed out that this really was about getting custody of Michael. I hate when she's right." Suddenly Carly bolts upright. "Oh Jeez, how long did I sleep?" She grabs her watch on the nightstand and groans. "Oh, Man. I wanted to be home when he woke up. Why did you let me sleep?"

Stefan watches her quickly dress with a deepening frown. "Because you obviously needed to. And personally, I was enjoying watching you sleep."

Carly combs her fingers through her tangled hair, then glances over at Stefan's scowl. She leans over and gives him a quick hard kiss. "Come over for dinner tonight. I know it won't be Mrs Lansbury's cooking or as quiet as here..."

"I would be honored," Stefan cuts in before she can retract the invitation. "I will even bring the dessert."

Carly chuckles deep in her throat. "Perfect. Dessert is my favorite meal of the day. Just make sure it's sinful and chocolate."

"That can be arranged." Stefan draws her down to the bed again, kissing her thoroughly with the express purpose of delaying her departure.

Coming to her senses, Carly pushes him off. Leaping to her feet she heads for the door. "You are too good at that. I'm leaving before I lose what little self control I have. I'll see you tonight."

Stefan leans back against the pillows. "Go, Caroline, I will see you tonight."

Carly slips through the door, but a minute later peeks her head back in with a goofy smile of happiness on her face. "I love you, Stefan."

.

Chapter 50

 

Bobbie opens the door to the Brownstone to find Nikolas on her doorstep. "Nikolas!" She exclaims, pulling him into a hug. "I didn't know you were in town!"

Nikolas returns the embrace and lets her pull him into her home. "Well, since I'm home for a visit, I thought I should stop by."

"Any chance you might be sticking around Port Charles for a while?" Bobbie invites him to sit on the couch. "Would you like some lemonade? I just made some."

"Sure, that'd be great." Nikolas makes himself comfortable while he waits for her to return. He notices a picture of Carly and Michael featured prominently on her fireplace mantel. He rises to take a look at it.

"Here we are..." Bobbie announces as she returns with lemonade. "Isn't that a beautiful picture of them? I just dug it out of the back of my closet. I'm so glad I didn't throw it out along with the other pictures."

Nikolas picks up the picture and runs his finger over Michael's face. "He sure is handsome. The last few months must have been difficult for you. First thinking Carly isn't your daughter, then finding out she is."

"It's been horrible," Bobbie agrees. "Worse than horrible actually. I felt like someone ripped my heart out when I found out she wasn't my daughter, and worse, that she knew and was scamming all along. I've had plenty of dark times in my life, but I think that was one of my blackest."

"And now you find out she is your daughter..." Nikolas looks up at Bobbie. "It's true, she is your daughter?"

"Yes, and I have Stefan to thank for that," Bobbie says with a rueful smile. "And yes, I'm absolutely certain she's my daughter. How I ever doubted it to begin with, I'll never know. And now I have the near impossible task of trying to repair my relationship with her. Every time I try to call her she slams the phone down. I can't say I blame her."

"If anyone can do it, you can Bobbie," Nikolas assures her, joining her on the couch. "You're a wonderful mother. She's lucky to have you."

"She doesn't see it that way. She's never really forgiven me for giving her up to begin with." Bobbie takes a sip of her lemonade. "My turning my back on her this time, that's just added insult to injury."

"You gave her up for adoption, right?" Nikolas asks. "Because you couldn't take care of her?"

"Yeah." Bobbie looks at the floor. "The way Carly was conceived isn't something I'm proud of. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret having her, even though I had to give her up. But the circumstances.... They were so desperate. I told you some of it, about the way my mom died."

"You don't have to talk about it, if you're uncomfortable," Nikolas says gently. "But it might help me understand why she has a hard time forgiving you."

"For starters, I don't even know who her biological father is. Luke and I were basically living on the streets, in the gutter, as it were." Bobbie is so involved in her tale, she doesn't see Nikolas blanch. "I was only a kid.... I saw and did things no person should have to see or do. But I loved her with all my heart, even before she was born, and I wanted a better life for her." Bobbie straightens her shoulders and puts her head up high. "Like I always say, whatever doesn't kill you is your life."

Remembering their talk many years ago by Laura's grave, Nikolas takes her hand and squeezes it. "Have I told you lately how much I admire you? You're one of the strongest women I know. But I still don't understand why she can't forgive you."

"She's ashamed, Nikolas," Bobbie explains. "She's ashamed, because in her mind she was conceived in some seedy alley. She didn't find out she was adopted until she was a teenager, and even then it was by accident. By the time she found me, she had all these romantic notions about me and the circumstances of her conception. And when she found out the truth, she was devastated." She takes the picture from Nikolas' hands and puts it back on the mantel. "She's afraid to trust me. All she's ever had are lies. To trust me again means she opens herself to get hurt again. And after AJ's latest stunt, I'll be lucky if she ever talks to me again."

"You weren't the one who lied, Bobbie," Nikolas argues, recalling that terrible moment when he realized Laura faked her death and left him to grieve for her. How different this situation was. "How can she hold that against you?"

"You haven't really seen me when I'm angry, I can be darn right vicious. I'm ashamed at the things I said to her. My God, when I think about how cruel I was when my little girl was in tears begging for me to listen---" Bobbie covers her face with her hands as the anguish becomes too much. "What can I possibly do to make up for that?"

"I know you, you won't give up." Nikolas wraps his arm around her shoulder to comfort her. "And she would be a fool to turn her back on you."

.


"So you'll talk to Benny about the shipments?" Sonny asks Jason as they wrap up their business.

"Yeah, I'm planning on seeing him this afternoon." Jason looks at his watch. "I better get going, I'm on a tight schedule."

"Is this your night to see Michael?" Sonny asks. "How's he doing?"

"It's hard to tell, you know? He's different than he used to be." Jason swallows the lump in his throat. "It almost killed me to hear Michael scream when I picked him up for the first time. He was terrified of me."

"I'm sorry, Jason. That sounds bad."

"That was the worst of it. By the time my visit with him was over, he seemed okay. Quiet and all, and he wasn't walking. But he wasn't screaming or clinging to Leticia either. It's a start." Jason shakes his head unhappily. "Maybe it would be less confusing for him if I was out of the picture. It's not good for him to be afraid like that."

"It can't be good for him to wonder why his Daddy isn't around anymore. Give it time, he'll settle down."

"Well, hopefully Carly can give him some stability." Jason rolls his eyes. "As if she's capable of that."

"She has to be better than the Quartermaines..." Sonny's thoughts are sidetracked by the sound of raised voices outside the penthouse door.

"You can't go in there, you either leave under your own steam or you'll leave under mine."

They hear AJ's answer loud and clear. "Listen, I know my brother's in there, and once he knows what this is about, I think he'll want to talk to me. If it turns out he doesn't, I'll leave peacefully. Let him decide."

Sonny looks at Jason for an answer and Jason shrugs. Sonny opens the door. "It's okay, Johnny, we'll take it from here."

AJ pushes past Johnny to enter the penthouse. "Jason, I need to talk to you. I actually need to talk to both of you."

Jason looks to the ceiling to keep from smashing AJ's face in. "Say what you want, AJ, then leave."

"I just came here to set the record straight," AJ begins, speaking fast so he doesn't lose his nerve. "I want you to know it was me who set Carly up to get you two arrested. I preyed on her fears. I convinced her she would lose custody if she didn't do what I wanted. She got scared. And we all know Carly does crazy things when she's scared. I took advantage of that."

Lowering his eyes, Jason pins AJ with a piercing glare while his hands itch at his side to let the seething rage take over. "Why are you telling me this now? What does it matter?"

"Because I need to clear the slate," AJ explains earnestly. "I don't want Carly blamed for things I did, that's all. She would never have turned on you if she thought there was another way to hold onto Michael. Setting you up to be arrested and lose custody of Michael was wrong. It took losing Michael to make me realize I didn't just hurt you, I hurt everyone, most of all Michael..."

Not able to stand hearing any more of AJ's droning voice, Jason cuts him off. "Get the hell out of here AJ."

AJ's heart beats faster. Jason isn't getting this, why isn't he getting this? "Jason, I'm telling you..."

Jason loses it. All the rage he's locked up inside him since Michael was taken away from him, all the helplessness he felt at seeing his terror-struck child sobbing, boils over. The next moment, Jason grabs AJ and throws up against the wall, knocking the breath out of him. He holds AJ up against the wall by the front of his shirt. "You honestly don't think I know exactly how this went down? I knew it was you from the beginning. It's classic AJ. Lying, manipulating, taking advantage of Carly's vulnerabilities. Only the fact that you were Michael's biological father kept me from killing you on the spot. Now get out of here before I wrap my hands around your throat and strangle you."

Jason lets AJ go just as suddenly and turns his back, breathing deeply to try to regain some control. AJ stands there shaking. Finally Sonny breaks the eerie silence. "You wanna find out if Jason is serious, AJ? Scram, or I'll break your neck myself."




"Boy, aren't you a mess, Michael!" Carly exclaims as she walks through the back door into the kitchen with Michael and Leticia. Leticia and Carly were the lucky ones, only their shoes were covered in mud. Michael, however, has mud caked all over him. Carly reaches over and tousles his filthy hair. "You liked that big ole mud puddle didn't ya?"

Michael, held fast by Leticia, claps his crusted up hands in delight. Leticia laughs as she slips off her shoes. "It was more like a mud pond! I swear he gained 5 pounds from the mud he's got on him. He needs a bath before dinner. I'll meet you upstairs."

As Leticia and Michael disappear upstairs, Carly slips off her hiking boots and jeans jacket. She breathes in deeply and smiles, savoring the moment. She can't remember the last time she felt so free. Nothing hanging over her head, no looking over her shoulder or waiting for the shoe to drop. The feeling is incredible.

The knock on the door interrupts her thoughts. Entering the living room, she calls up to Leticia. "You get started with Michael's bath, and I'll be right up to help."

Carly swings the front door open and immediately regrets not looking through the peep hole. Her eyes narrow with suspicion at the young man in front of her. "Nikolas. This is a surprise. I didn't think we had anything more to say to each other."

Standing on her stoop, Nikolas wonders for the hundredth time why he felt compelled to come here. "May I come in?"

"You aren't going go away until you've had your say, are you?" At Nikolas' steady look, Carly stands aside to let him in. "Just make it quick, okay? My son is waiting for me upstairs."

"You won custody of Michael? Congratulations." Nikolas rubs his hands together anxiously. What could he possibly say that she'd listen to?

Carly crosses her arms protectively over her chest. "I'd say thanks if I thought you meant it, but you made it crystal clear last time what you thought of me."

"I do mean it." Nikolas stresses sincerely. "No child should have to live without knowing his mother's love. I know that more than most."

"Thanks." Carly answers. "Why are you really here? By now you know you don't have to worry about me running to Stefan, so what's the point?"

Nikolas sighs, she wasn't going to make this easy. He knew that coming in. "I wanted to apologize. I was unfair in some of the things I said to you, I hit below the belt..."

Carly raises one eyebrow. "Did you now? Tell me, are you changing your position on Stefan and me? Am I to be trusted now?"

"I... I didn't come here to talk about you and my father," Nikolas studders, flustered at being cornered. "I just wanted you to know, I realize things aren't as black and white they looked at first glance. I had no right coming into your house and insulting you."

"It sucks having to eat crow, doesn't it?" Carly smiles grimly. "Here you thought you had me all figured out. That I was a lying tramp who would stoop so low as to con some poor woman into believing she was my mother? So I'm still a lying tramp out to get your father, but at least I didn't lie about Bobbie. Does that about sum it up?"

Nikolas studies the carpet in an attempt to hold his irritation in check . "For what it's worth, I won't interfere in your relationship with my father anymore."

"Well good. Your father will be very happy to hear that." Remembering her son in the bath, Carly heads for the front door to escort him out. When she speaks, her voice is laced with mock sincerity. "I'd love to sit and chat with you some more, but my son is expecting me upstairs. Give my love to Emily and Robin when you see them."

Nikolas follows her to the door. In the split second he has, he decides to blurt out what's on his mind. "I'm sure you don't want to hear this from me of all people, but I'm going to say it anyway. Give your mother a chance to make things right. As a child who's been faced with forgiving his mother for the unforgivable, Bobbie is one mother who is worth it. I would do just about anything to have a mother like her."

"You're right, I didn't want to hear it. If you love my mother that much, you can keep her for yourself," Carly retorts, seething as Nikolas walks through her front door. "Next time you have the urge to visit me, think again. You aren't welcome. I'll be polite to you in public for Stefan's sake, but otherwise steer clear of me."

Nikolas shakes his head sadly as he walks away.




Last stop for the night. Standing on the front steps of the Quartermaine mansion, AJ rolls his shoulders back a few times to loosen the tension of the day. All but the worst of it was over. By now his lawyer would have dropped off the agreement signing all of his rights to his son away. He'd been slapped by Bobbie and almost strangled by Jason. Then he'd stopped by the corporate offices at ELQ to pick up his small box of personal effects. As a final insult, he'd been barred from even entering his former office.

Working the program and facing the consequences of what he'd done might be the right thing to do, but the whole day still sucked. Who's to say how ugly this last visit was going to get?

Squaring his shoulders, AJ opens the front door, pleased to see his belongings neatly stacked in the corner. Just as he glances up the steps, he sees Reginald coming down with the last box of stuff. "Thanks, Reginald. This will make the move much easier."

"You are going to talk to Miss Lila?" Reginald presses. Much as he was relieved that AJ was moving, he knew Lila would be hurt if AJ didn't say goodbye.

"I was going to go see her now. By any chance is she in the Rose Garden?" AJ asks hopefully. The less time spent in the house, the better.

Reginald nods as he shifts the awkward load in his arms. "Yeah, she's enjoying the sunset. Shall I pack your car?"

"Thanks, that would be great. I'll take a suitcase on my way around the house." Snagging one of the larger suitcases, AJ walks with Reginald down to his car and opens the trunk. Once the things are stowed, AJ hands a card to Reginald. "Can you make sure that both my parents and Emily get this in case they need to get in touch with me?"

"Yeah, they'll appreciate that. Good luck." Reginald shakes AJ's hand.

"Thanks Reginald. I'll catch you later." AJ walks around the house towards the Rose Garden and smiles when he finds his Grandmother sitting quietly in her chair with her eyes closed and a rose in her hand.

"Hello, Grandmother," AJ says quietly, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Enjoying the sunset?"

Lila puts a frail hand on AJ's and squeezes his meaningfully. "Yes, this is my favorite time of the day, when sky turns orange and pink. It's lovely, don't you think?"

"It is, Grandmother."

"Tell me, AJ. How are you doing? Such distressing news about Michael. I'm sorry that's he's gone. How are you managing?"

AJ's chests tightens. Somehow his grandmother's sincere concern had a way of cutting through his defenses, straight to the core. "I'm sad, but I'm holding my own. You don't need to worry about me, Grandmother." He grabs a nearby seat and drags it over to sit by Lila.

Lila smiles at him sadly. "I'm so sorry about this nasty business at ELQ. You were doing a fine job, My Dear. But I have every confidence that once you put your mind to whatever you decide to do, you can do anything you want."

"Thanks, Grandmother. Your belief in me is something I've always been able to count on." AJ folds one her hands between his. "I've made an important decision today, and I hope I can have your support."

"What's that, Darling?"

"I'm moving out. I found a little apartment downtown and I'm moving in there tonight."

Sad. Lila's voice quivers more than usual. "Oh AJ. Is this what you really want?"

"Yes, Grandmother. It is. I don't think it's good for anyone if I stay, especially for you and Emily," He explains "This house would become a war zone and I just don't want to spend the energy fighting when I need to focus on getting my life in order."

"I'm going to miss you terribly, you know." Lila's eyes mist. "But more than anything I want you to be happy, Dear. I'm not blind to how cruel this family can be at times. You must do what is right for you." Lila puts her free hand on top, so their hands are sandwiched together. "Be happy, AJ. That's what will make me happy. As for your sister, Emily is a strong girl. She will understand."

AJ kisses her smooth cheek. "Thanks, Grandmother. I promise to visit."

Lila smiles brightly. "Of course you will!"

"What in tarnation are you doing AJ?" Edward blusters. "Do you have no shame, upsetting your Grandmother like this!"

AJ rises to a stand and holds a steady gaze with his Grandfather, feeling freer than he's felt in months, years even. "Hello, Grandfather. Jumping to conclusions, as usual." AJ smiles at Lila one more time before turning to leave. "Thank you again, Grandmother. I better go before things turn ugly."

"Where do you think you're going, Boy?" Edward demands.

AJ doesn't stop as he says over his shoulder. "I'm leaving."

Feeling provoked, Edward tries to follow. Lila speaks sharply to gain his attention. "Edward! Leave him alone! I need you to take me to my room. It's time I rested."

"Very well. Don't think I don't know what you're doing, Lila," Edward grumbles as he maneuvers her wheelchair towards the house. "Coddling him isn't going to help, you know. He needs a firm hand..."

"Put a sock in it, Edward."




AJ flicks the light on in his new apartment and drops his suitcase just inside the door. The rest could wait until morning, he's beat. Dropping the keys on the kitchen counter, AJ walks down the hallway into the still dark living room and switches on the table lamp next to the couch. At the sight of the menacing man dressed in black on his couch, AJ yelps. "What the hell?!"

Luke smiles charmingly at AJ. "Hiya, Junior. It's time you and I had a little chat, so I decided to drop in. Hope you don't mind."

"How the hell did you get in here?" AJ asks after he stops gaping. "How the hell did you know where to find me? I just moved in!!"

"Oh, I have my ways. It's amazing what you can find out when you grease a few palms." Luke pulls a revolver out of his pocket runs his hand down the barrel of the gun. Guns were messy, but in this case, it would do the trick.

AJ's heart drops into his stomach. "Listen, Luke..." Luke looks up at him with the coldest deadest eyes AJ has ever seen. The rest of what he wants to say dies in his throat. The man in front of him could kill him without blinking an eye.

"Actually, Junior. I think it's time you listened to Carly's Uncle Luke." Luke's voice is soft and calm as he spins the gun chamber around and around, making AJ's heart race faster. "You thought Caroline was nuts when she dumped you in the laundry cart? Son, she's a pussy cat in comparison to me when my family is crossed. Bobbie's too sweet and honest to do what needs to be done, and Caroline... well she has her son to think about first. So that leaves the business of handling you to Uncle Luke."

Satisfied that AJ is terrified into silence, Luke smiles evilly. "I can understand you wanting to see your son, even wanting custody. But you tried to steal a part of my family and you almost got Caroline killed, and those facts I can't forgive."

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