Carly eyed her Mother carefully, hoping she could avoid a disaster. "Mama, what's wrong?"
Bobbie's expression became amused as she crossed her arms in front of her,"oh come on now Carly, don't play those games with me."
Carly rose from her seat and wandered to the bar and hastily poured herself a drink before turning to face Bobbie, "what games? What are you talking about?"
Bobbie rolled her eyes and gave a bitter laugh, "Carly, do you realize that it's been almost twenty years since you first scammed me? To think after all that time, you'd still be pulling those tricks on me. To think after all that time, I'd still fall for them."
Bobbie strode to the couch and sat down, crossing one slim leg over the other. She stared at Carly for a moment before speaking, "come on, out with the long story. Tell me how justified and right you were to protect Michael against the *evil* Quartermaines for all those years," Bobbie asked expectantly.
Carly's expression soured at Bobbie's remark,"so who blabbed to you about this? Amy? Or your good friend Monica?"
"Both, Amy got the ball rolling but Monica laid the whole thing out in about 30 seconds. Quite impressive, 17 years of lying reduced to a half minute summary," Bobbie shot back. "I'm still waiting."
Carly threw up her hands in mock defeat,"well, looks like you don't need a story from me! You made up your mind before you walked in the front door!"
"Stop it Carly, just stop it!" Bobbie snapped angrily. "You know, for years, I waited for another bomb to explode around you once you told me you were my daughter and there were a few fires after that moment but the day you married Jason, I sighed, relieved because you had finally gotten what you had wanted. You had your son, your family and a man who loved you despite your rather impulsive and selfish behavior. Spencer, to me, was icing on the cake of your life." Bobbie's face darkened as she continued, "I should have known better."
Carly shrugged indiferently as she gulped her brandy,"so you know Michael is A.J. Quartermaine's biological son and you know Jason and I kept this secret since Michael was born. What can I say Bobbie? A leopard can't change his spots."
Bobbie winced inwardly as Carly switched to calling her by her first name, but she continued, "you're no leopard Carly, the way you lie is no disease or birthmark that you can't get rid of or be cured of." Bobbie shook her head, "why? Why did you do this?"
"I was *protecting Michael* Bobbie! I wasn't going to let them take my baby from me!" Carly hurled as she slammed her drink down on the dining room table, causing the brandy to splash violently inside the glass.
"Fine, okay, I understand that part but why did you let it go on? Why did you continue to lie, even after telling me about you being my daughter? Didn't it ever occur to you at *some* point that the more you let the lie continue, the more it would hurt Michael in the end?" Bobbie asked.
"What I was always thinking about was keeping my son with me. Besides, when I went to the mental hospital and to Ferncliffe for shooting Tony, I couldn't tell anyone and Jason--"
Carly stopped at the mention of her husband. Her face softened and her eyes filled with tears, "I didn't even realize it, but Jason was falling in love with my son right before my eyes. He was so protective, so caring and so loving. After everything he was doing for me and had already done, I couldn't take Michael from him."
Bobbie could hardly believe her ears. "So Michael turned into a REWARD for Jason helping you? A gift for all the work he'd done for you?"
"NO!" Carly shouted, "it was the one good thing in my son's life and I wasn't going to screw it up!"
"What about you, where did you fit into this scheme of things?," Bobbie asked, her voice dropping its angry tone.
"I don't know, it was a long time ago," Carly answered a little too quickly and Bobbie's head turned, picking up the hastiness in her daughter's voice.
"Oh, well I think you remember very well," she replied curtly and with that Carly turned her back on Bobbie and grabbed the dining room chair in front of her for support. The emotion welled inside her far too quickly and she bit her lower lip to stop herself from crying out.
"Carly?" Bobbie asked cautiously, noticing the change in Carly's body language.
"I never *fit in*" Carly bit out finally. Tilting her head to the ceiling, Carly let out a shaky sigh, "God I hate talking about this."
"Well I'm sorry my dear, but we are going to get through this whether you like it or not."
********************************
Port Charles Grille
Jason's eyes rose and narrowed as he saw the movement of someone entering the restaurant, but quickly dropped with disapointment. Spencer sipped his drink, observing his Father's actions from across the table. This was the fourth time in 30 minutes and it was obvious who he was looking for. Michael. Spencer gave a small sigh, he wasn't jealous because his Father was obviously thinking of something else while with him, he was also concerned for his brother's whereabouts. More so, he was still wondering about *why* Michael had left home a few days ago. Both his parents had indirectly refused to discuss the situation with him and it was getting to near breaking point.
"Spencer?" Jason's soft voice broke Spencer's thoughts. Spencer shook his head, pulling himself out of the fog as he focused on his Father's gentle smile.
"Your desert is melting," Jason noted to the ice cream in front of of Spencer.
Spencer looked down, suddenly surprised, he hadn't realized how absorbed he'd become in his thinking. "Oh," he said, his expression still blank. Carefully, he picked up the spoon and dipped it into the vanilla mush. Feeling his Father's eyes on him, he bit into the desert and let it roll around his mouth before swallowing it. He smiled at Jason, "are you going to have some?"
Jason shook his head, "no no, I'll just finish my coffee," he said. He quickly chastized himself for not paying attention, but it was hard, with Michael, God knows where doing God knows what, still furious with him and Carly. Shutting his eyes brieftly, a fierce determination overcame him to resolve his family problems, even if it killed him, he'd get it done.
"Boss!" Renaldo's voice was low but urgent. Jason snapped his eyes opened and looked to Renaldo who motioned to the entrance. Jason felt his stomach drop as he locked eyes with the person.
Jerry Jacks.
"Oh my God," he whispered, half horrified that he was with his son and had only one escape route through the kitchen, half in awe that Jerry Jacks had dared return after all these years. Quickly he rose as Renaldo, with his eyes, motioned for the other guards to discreetly get into position.
"Spencer," Jason said, his voice tight and controlled but authorative, "leave your desert and get behind Francis."
Spencer's heart lept with fear, he knew exactly what was going on and he immediately dropped his spoon and moved behind Francis, who was closest to the kitchen. Another guard, Richard, moved in front of Francis for better protection as Lenny and Paul moved up behind Spencer and Jason respectively. Jason was greatful that the restaurant was full of diners, not even Moreno would risk this kind of scenario just to get him. Scanning the room for the most effective battle plan, Jason was slightly relieved that Jerry had so far, not noticed the movement going on inside the restaurant as he turned his back on Jason to chat with a member of the staff. Jason turned to Francis and nodded. Francis turned to Spencer, "you stay with me and do exactly what I tell you." It was a direct order and Spencer knew better than to request staying at his Father's side. He wordlessly nodded as the group moved towards the entrance. Richard quickly secured the outside of the restaurant entrance as Francis kept Spencer to his left side, sheltering him as Lenny brought up the rear. Jason led the group with Renaldo by his side. To any bystander, it looked like a mob of men but to Jason, it was the most effective way to move his children and wife in public.
Jerry thanked the staff member before turning his attention to Dade and Jewel who were waiting patiently in the lobby. Jewel let out a delighted shriek as Dade produced the quarter from behind her ear and Jerry smiled. Jewel adored Dade's magic tricks. "Come on you two," he ushered them both as he turned around to find Jason Morgan standing in front of him.
"Jason Morgan," he said coldly, his face dropping its ease as his stood rigid in his place.
Jason eyed Jerry for a moment, not much had changed since their last explosive encounter. "You lost Jacks?" he goaded Jerry, his expression hollow. His curiosity was high, what the hell was Jerry Jacks doing in Port Charles?
"No, just visiting an old friend," Jerry responded, his voice cold but contained and dripping with contempt. His alarm grew as he felt Jewel's small hand grab his as she peered around him to look at the group of stone faced men. "Daddy?" she asked curiously, her expression timid but sunny. Dade too caught sight of Jason and immediately moved his hand to his holster causing several of Jason's men to grab theirs but Jason raised his hand to halt them. His eyes darted to the young girl and unexpectedly softened.
"Jewel," he said softly, and Jerry immediately tensed up, pushing Jewel backward, towards Dade, who possessively clutched her to him as he eyed the men uneasily.
Spencer, having grown curious with the standstill, peered around Francis just as Jewel peered back around Jerry. The two locked eyes and instinctively, Spencer smiled at her. Jewel's face warmed immediately and she grinned back at him. She mouthed 'Hi' to him and Spencer nearly giggled and mouthed 'Hi' back to her.
"Take him to the car," Jason ordered and Spencer's shoulders were grabbed by Francis as he was jerked forward towards the restaurant's main doors. Once he had almost reached the doors, Spencer twisted around Lenny and craned for a final look at the young girl. He finally saw her as she appeared to be looking for him too. He gaved a wave and she caught sight of him and waved back, giving him a bright smile. Spencer's heart soared as he was taken to the waiting car, elated by the encounter.
Jewel nearly toppled over as she pulled from Dade's firm grasp. Finally Dade released her to the Cassadine guards who had finally emerged from the outside.
Jerry relaxed slightly when Dade returned to his side and gave a slight nod indicating Jewel's safety.
"She's beautiful," Jason remarked, forgetting for the briefest moment everything else, "she looks like Deanna."
"Shut your face!" Jerry hissed angrily, "how dare you talk about Deanna, how dare you mention her name after killing my child's Mother!"
Jason's face tightened once again, "you're amazing Jacks, you acting outraged while it was you who orchestrated the drive by that nearly killed my entire family. My wife miscarried with our daughter and then you have the nerve to send your sympathies!" Jason growled.
"You're still blaming me for that? You assume I set up a drive by, you don't even get PROOF and then you murder my wife and nearly take our child?" Jerry shook his head with disgust, "I was warned about working with you, but I never listened and my wife is dead and my child is without a Mother. Her blood is on your hands," Jerry warned fiercely.
Jason tilted his head, "you come ANYWHERE near my family, and I'll make her an orphan!" he threatened.
Jerry lunged for Jason but was stopped by Dade. He struggled as Jason and his bodyguards left the building. "Dammit Dade! I had him!"
Dade turned Jerry around to face him, "you didn't have ANYTHING! No protection, no back up plan, nothing! He means what he says Jerry, he'll take you out if you become a threat."
"I am a threat, and *I* mean what *I* say," Jerry stated, his face twisted with rage. "Him or me Dade, it's him or me."
*****************
Collins Home
Michael stroked the inside of Andrea's forearm gently as the two sat quietly, watching the ducks swim around in the backyard pond Kevin had built, at Lucy's insistance, years ago.
"What are you thinking?" Andrea asked as she cuddled up next to Michael.
Michael turned his head and smiled at her tenderly, "would you believe me if I said I was thinking about how much I loved you and how lucky I am to have you?"
Andrea smiled as she took Michael's free hand in hers and kissed each finger gently, letting her tongue trail down each slowly, illiciting a gutteral groan from Michael as he closed his eyes and clutched her forearm ever so slightly. "Yeah, I believe you," she said after finishing.
Michael brushed aside her hair gently from her eyes and let his fingers trail down the side of her face. "Ever think about marriage?"
"Maybe when I'm pregnant," Andrea retorted slyly before seizing back in horror at realizing what her statement meant. "Oh Michael, I'm sorr-", she began before Michael shushed her gently.
"It's okay, I'm not as fragile anymore."
Andrea nodded, although chastized herself quietly, vowing silently to choose her words a little more carefully from now on.
"So what do you think about marriage?" Michael asked Andrea.
"And children?" Andrea asked carefully. Michael nodded.
Andrea thought for a moment before responding, "it's a good thing, sometimes, it can be a great thing. I know I want it. How about you?"
"Yeah, sometimes it's the best of things," Michael answered, his voice thick with emotion. He remembered the last Christmas he'd had at the Penthouse with his family. His family. It didn't sting as much as it used to, but did it still feel real? Michael closed his eyes as the pictures of happiness washed over him and he smiled.
Yes, it had been real. He was part of a family. Through all the rough times with Jason's business, they had been a tight unit, the four of them. Michael opened his eyes, sadened by how real it had been, but also, how wrong it had been for it to grow the way it had.
"Michael?" Andrea's soft voice interrupted his thoughts.
Michael brought his focus back to Andrea and he cupped her the side of her face in his left hand and pulled her close, kissing her lips softly at first, before opening his mouth to deepen it, allowing her soft tongue to stroke his, in an almost soothing fashion. The two finally pulled apart, wrapping one arm around the other's waist while lacing their free hands together, playing gently as they enjoyed each other presence, blocking the world out, just for awhile.
"I love you Michael."
"I love you too, Andrea."
******************
The Penthouse
"What do you mean, you never fit in?" Bobbie asked.
Carly sighed a restless breath, "I mean when I came back from Ferncliffe, I couldn't do anything right, I couldn't even take care of my own son. Do you know what it was like watching Jason, Robin and Michael together, one happy little family?"
"So you were jealous."
"NO! Well, yes but not really about the family bit, it was the fact that Robin was so comfortable with Michael and not me. She knew his schedule, his personality, his likes and dislikes, everything a Mother should know." Carly bit her lower lip, to stop it's trembling, "but I didn't. When Jason and Robin broke up and I started to really bond with Michael, the idea of telling A.J. was insane."
"You didn't tell so you wouldn't lose Michael," Bobbie remarked blandly.
Carly whirled around angrily, "don't give me that! You *know* that the Quartermaines would have taken Michael from me and kept it that way! Geez Bobbie, that's one thing I *know* you know about them!"
"But A.J. is not like that Carly," Bobbie emphasized.
"Not *anymore*, he was controlled by his family back then, we all know that's true. Bobbie, I KNOW I have made the biggest mistake of my life! Don't you think I know this? Do you see Michael here at all!" Carly cried in frustration, sweeping her hand across the room. "He is NEVER coming back here! I don't know if I'll ever be able to see him or hold him or even tell him how sorry I am to him without him spitting it back in my face in disgust!"
"What do you regret more Carly, keeping the secret all these years or the fact that Michael found out?"
Carly stood, stunned for a moment at Bobbie's question. All she could think about for the past few days was how horrible she felt and how she knew Michael was suffering more and how *that* knowledge was killing both her and Jason. Did she really regret keeping the secret for so long? Well, would she have the family she had up until a few days ago if she hadn't kept it? Would she and Jason be married? Would they have Spencer? Or was the regret in that Michael had simply discovered the truth? Would she and Jason had ever told him? They'd never discussed the idea nor had they even approached it in the years they were married. Carly couldn't deny it, she knew, deep down that she and Jason would have never told Michael the truth. It was horrible to think, but she knew it was the truth. But also, a great deal of her wished that she could take back those years and make Michael's life the way it should have gone. With A.J. in it.
Maybe her regret, was in both. One on a purely selfish level and the other on a selfless one.
"Both,"she finally said, "all I know, is that I did wrong and all I can think about now, is making it right for Michael."
Bobbie stood for a moment before walking slowly to Carly and carefully, put her arms around her daughter, squeezing her tightly. "I love you Carly, I always have and I always will,"she whispered hoarsely.
Carly blinked, her tears freeing themselves as she wrapped her arms around her Mother tightly. "Oh God Mama,"she whispered, her voice barely able to make out the words as she began to sob.
"Shhhh, it's okay baby, Mama's here, Mama's here," Bobbie soothed softly as Carly's body shook with grief. The enormous guilt and pain came flooding out as her sobs increased and Bobbie's arms tightened, pulling her child even closer as Carly continued to weep.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry,"Carly wailed over and over as Bobbie stroked the back of her head. "That's it, let it all out, I'm not leaving you," Bobie said softly. After a few minutes, Carly pulled herself from Bobbie's grasp, still trembling, her eyes watery.
"Look at me," she gently chided herself, blowing her nose on a tissue as Bobbie looked at Carly, her eyes now serious.
"I want you to know that whatever happens, I will ALWAYS love you, with every bit of me. That will never die, or grow old or weaken. Okay?"
Carly nodded as the front door opened.
Jason and Spencer stepped inside and instantly, Jason's face was filled with worry at seeing Carly. "Baby? What's wrong?" he queried softly, his eyes roving from Carly to Bobbie and back to Carly.
Carly's tears welled up upon seeing Jason and Spencer. "Spencer, would you go with Grandma Bobbie for a bit, Dad and I need to talk."
Spencer nodded quickly before rushing past Jason and throwing his arms around his Mother. "I love you Mom, I haven't told you that in awhile, so I thought I should tell you again," he said as he gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Carly gave Spencer a brave smile, "oh honey, you make my heart sing you know that?"
Spencer smiled shyly before leaving with Bobbie. As soon as the door closed, Jason enveloped Carly in his strong arms and held her against him tightly. Carly fought desperately to keep her emotions from spilling over as she closed her eyes, feeling the security of being with Jason.
"What happened baby?" he asked softly.
"We had a long talk," Carly said simply. It was the truth, vague but nevertheless, the truth. "Jason, take me upstairs, to our bed."
Jason pulled away, surprised, "Carly?"
Carly smiled gently, "no, not that, I just, I need you to hold me, safe in your arms, okay?"
Jason kissed her forehead gently before picking her up easily and carrying her up the staircase to their room. This, he could do.