*~*What Could Have Been*~*

Carly leaned against the couch, "What's your favorite thing about me?"

Sonny looked up from his desk and grinned, "I know you didn't just ask me that."

She shrugged, "I did. Now, tell me, or I'll just annoy it out of you."

"But you don't annoy me."

She walked over behind him, and wrapped her arms around his neck, "Yes, but I used to. And I could remember how to. Just think about that...."

He stood and, in doing so, lifted Carly off of her feet, "I don't think you could."

"Don't second guess me, Corinthos." She warned.

"Or what?" He asked, turning her in his arms.

"Hmmm." She thought, "I'll withhold kisses."

"You wouldn't."

Carly nodded, "I have nerves of steel."

He leaned in close, and just barley brushed his lips against hers. Carly felt her heart flutter in her chest. Sonny tightened his hold
around her waist, and continued kissing her, not deepening the kiss, and not quickening his pace. He broke off in mid-kiss, leaving Carly breathless, "Really?"

She nodded, "Of course." She lied. "From this moment on, no more kisses."

He smiled, "Sound's fair." He let go of her, and sat back down at his desk, "And since we're finished here, I'd appreciate you leaving, I have work to do."

"Oh Corinthos!"

"It's Sonny dear, now, run along."

She grabbed a pillow from the couch, and tossed it at him, making direct contact with his head, "I hate you."

He didn't bother looking up, "I love you to. Now, you better go before you break your no kissing rule."

She walked over to the steps, "Fine, I'll just go play with my son. He loves me."

"I do love you."

She stuck her tongue out at the back of his head, "Whatever!"

"Don't whatever me Benson. This rule was all your idea!"

"It's your fault! You wouldn't answer a simple question!"

Sonny sighed, and finally turned around, "Alright, I'll answer it. What was the question?"

She smiled sweetly, and walked back to him, "What's your favorite thing about me?"

He stood, and wrapped his arms around her. He leaned his mouth close to hers, "You're nerves of steel. Now, get out of here!"

"AHH!" She half screamed, "You drive me crazy."

"But there's no place you'd rather be."

She smiled, "Okay, you have me there. Go back to work, I'm going to play with Michael."

Sonny watched her walk up the stairs, "Carly?"

She turned, "Can't go without my kisses any longer?"

He laughed, "No, that's not it."

She crossed her arms, "I believe I've just been insulted." She laughed, "What?"

"I do love you."

A gentle warmth spread throughout Carly's body. She smiled, content for the moment, "That means more than anything Sonny. I love you to."

Sonny turned back to his desk, and Carly ran up the steps to her son, taking them two at a time, "Michael?"

"In your room!" Her son called back.

She rubbed her hands over her face, and sighed, "Michael," She said, walking down the hallway. "You know you aren't allowed in Mom and Sonny's room..." She broke off, "Michael, what are you doing?"

He had thrown all the covers off the bed, and pulled desk chairs from all the bedrooms in to make a fort, "Playing Mom."

She sighed, "Well, as long as it's already a mess, can I play to?"

He squealed with delight, and lifted an edge of the covers, "Sure, come on in."

Carly knelt down on all fours, and carefully crawled under the blanket, "You know Michael, you could have kept the mess in your play room."

"It's not as much fun in there." He explained, "Besides, this bed is better to bounce on."

She reached for her son, and pulled him into her lap, "You've been jumping on my bed? Have you Michael?" She tickled his stomach, "Have you?"

"YES!" He screamed in laughter, "I did!"

She stopped tickling him, and joined him in laughing, "I love you Michael."

He placed a hand carefully on her face, "I know. I love you to Mommy."

Carly's eyes filled with tears. After everything she had put her son through, after giving him countless "daddies" and houses, and moving back and forth between homes, her son still loved her, "Oh Michael, that means more than anything." She hugged him to her tightly.

Michael looked up and saw that his mom was crying, "Mom, are you okay? Do you want me to go get Sonny? He'll make everything better. He can make anything better."

Carly shook her head, "No, that's okay." She pulled Michael as close to her as possible, "Nothing could be better then being here with you."

****

Michael tiptoed down the stairs, "Sonny?" He closed his mouth tightly when he saw a guest, "I'm sorry." He turned to go back upstairs when the stranger called out to him:

"Michael, oh my. I haven't seen you since you were a little baby."

He smiled, not sure what to say, "Sonny, I need help when you get a chance."

Sonny pinched the bridge of his nose, "I'll be free in a second. Why don't you come down here, I'm sure you'd like to meet him."

"Are you sure?"

Sonny knelt down, and opened his arms for Michael. The 5 year old hurried down the steps, and laughed as he was picked up into Sonny's arms. "Michael, this is an old partner of mine and Jason's. Meet Benny."

Michael smiled, suddenly shy, "Hi."

Benny grinned, "You look just like Bobbie."

"Doesn't he?" Sonny walked over to the door, and opened it, "I think we're finished here..."

"And you're answer?" Benny asked.

"The same as it was last week. I'm not in the business, you need to find someone else to help you."

"But your the best."

"Then find the person who's second best."

Benny sighed, and walked out the door, "At least think about it."

Sonny pointed to Michael with his free hand, "This is what I think about. And because of him, I won't help you. Now, don't come back, because Johnny now has orders not to let you in."

Benny crossed his arms, "If you're out, free and clear, why the bodyguard?"

"He makes Carly feel safe, and I think having him around. I like hearing about his girlfriend and her kids. Now, please, leave."

"This is far from over Sonny."

Sonny placed on hand on the door, "No, it's more over than you think." He closed the door in Benny's face, and placed Michael on the floor, "Now, champ, what do you need help with?"

"Mom and I were playing, and she fell asleep, and now I can't play anymore."

Sonny laughed, "Come on, let's go move your mom."

Michael led Sonny up into the bedroom, and pointed to the covers, "She's under there."

"What were you doing?"

Michael laughed, "That's what Mommy wanted to know!"

"Then your mom's a smart woman." Sonny walked over, and pulled the chairs from under the blanket and let them drop to the floor, bulging where Carly lay, "I think I found her."

"Yea!"

Sonny leaned over, and pulled the covers one by one, until Carly was revealed. Even after being together for so long, seeing her lay there, so innocent, and peaceful, took his breath away. "Wow." He barely whispered.

Michael came up behind him, and looked down, "My mom's really pretty, isn't she?"

Sonny nodded, "The prettiest."

"Are we going to wake her up?"

Sonny smiled, "I don't know. Let's see if we can pick her up, and if she wakes up, she can always go back to bed."

"That sounds good."

Sonny lifted Carly up from under her arms, and Michael carefully grabbed her feet, "On the bed, okay Michael, and gently."

They were laying her down again when her eyelids fluttered open, "Hey."

Michael hopped up onto the bed with his mother, "You feel asleep in the fort! I had to get Sonny to move you."

Sonny sat down with them, "And he helped to get rid of Benny."

Carly sighed, "He's still bothering you?"

Sonny nodded, "I hope he gets the picture soon."

"I like pictures." Michael said.

Carly laughed, "So do I." She opened her arms to her son, "Why don't you come lay with me before dinner?"

Michael nodded, "Okay, but can Sonny lay to?"

Carly smiled, "I'd like that."

"So would I." Sonny said, wrapping his arms around Carly, and pulling Michael close to him to.

****

"Mama! It's me." Carly called into Wyndermere, later that day.

Stefan walked slowly down the steps, "Barbara is getting Lucas ready to go to his father's. She'll be down in a minute."

Carly nodded, suddenly uncomfortable, "How are you Stefan?"

"I'm fine. And you?"

"Just peachy."

They stood, staring at each other, until Bobbie came down the steps, "Sorry Carly."

"It's okay. We were just - umm...."

Bobbie laughed, "It's okay."

Stefan turned to leave, "It was nice seeing you, Carly."

She nodded, "Nice isn't even the word."

Bobbie laughed as her husband left, "Carly! Can't you even be nice?"

"I have a lot on my mind Mama."

Bobbie led Carly to the couch, "What's up?"

Carly nervously fidgeted with her hands, "I'm not really sure how to ask this, I mean, it's not something that comes up in everyday
conversation..."

Bobbie smiled, "You can ask me anything, sweetie."

Carly nodded, "I don't know any other way to say this, without just coming out and saying it, so don't be mad if this sounds harsh, okay?"

Bobbie nodded, "You're making me worried. What is it Carly?"

When Carly looked up, her eyes were filled with tears, "I need to know who my father is. And I need you to help me. You have to know! Or at least have an idea! Please Bobbie, if you can't help me with anything else, help me with this. I have a right to know my father!"