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Sonny sat in the penthouse staring at his half-full glass of whiskey. He was consumed with such conflicting feelings. He loved Carly, he could admit that now to himself but it was too late. She was gone with Michael and he lost his chance with her.
He remembered everything about her. The way her hair fell across her shoulder. The light in her eyes when she spoke about Michael. The anger and the passion that filled her, but her passion was for Jason and never really for him. She was always Jason’s.
“I love him Sonny,” she said with tears rolling down her cheeks.
“But you’ll marry me,” he said. He tried to believe it was all about the baby, but he couldn’t help the feelings he had for her.
“What kind of marriage will it be? You hate me,” she exclaimed.
“I don’t hate you Carly.”
“Well you don’t love me either.”
Of course she had been wrong. He loved her with everything he was; like he did with Brenda he gave Carly his entire being.
Emily stood in the elevator with tears rolling down her cheeks. Another fight had broken out at the Quartermaines, it was getting worse with AJ and now with Alan and Monica trying to have another baby...she didn’t want to be anywhere near the house. What she wanted most was Jason, but he was gone for good.
“You can’t leave again Jason,” she cried.
“I have too, Emily it’s the only way to keep Sonny out of jail” he informed her.
“But he could marry Carly,” she replied desperately.
“I love Carly. Em we’re a family, Carly Michael and I. I can’t let that go.”
“Jason you’re my rock. My safe place. My sanity. I need you.”
Jason’s eyes clouded. There were three people in this world he loved more than anything…Carly, Michael and Emily. He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. “I need you too but I have to go.” She began to shake in his arms. “I talked to Sonny and I’ve made arrangements.” He pulled her away from him and handed her a cell phone. “The bills are handled. I’ll call you once a week and if you need me you can reach me on it anytime.”
She looked at the phone it was a link to him, but it wasn’t the same as him being there. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“You can go to Sonny’s place like you cam to mine.”
“I don’t think so.”
“It’s all right Em. You can trust him and he’ll listen to you. If you need anything ask him and he’ll handle it, like I would,“ Jason promised.
“It won’t be the same,” she said sadly. “I love you Jason. AJ is right I love you best. I never meant for it to happen but it did.”
“Emily…”
“It’s all right.” She walked back into his embrace. “I will see you again.”
“Its a promise. I love you.”
It had been three weeks since he left but it felt more like three years. She hoped he was right about Sonny’s offer, because she really needed a place to chill for a while.
Emily stepped off the elevator and smiled at Johnny. “Hi Johnny I’m here to see Sonny.”
“I’m sorry Emily, he hasn’t wanted to see anyone in a few days.”
“Look Johnny it’s really important,” she insisted.
“Sorry.”
Emily frowned. Why wouldn’t Sonny want to see anyone? She turned to leave and heard the sound of glass shattering. She turned around quickly and burst through the door before Johnny could stop her.
He remembered the last conversation he had with her.
“Carly are you sure you want to leave your mother, your brother and the rest of your family behind,” he asked hoping to get her to stay.
Fresh tears came to her eyes. “Sonny this is the chance to have my family. It was always suppose to be me; Jason and Michael and now I have that chance. I won’t give it up for anything. Bobbie understands that, she knows and values love. And that’s what we have.” She smiled. “I love him, he’s my soul mate.”
Sonny nodded. “Goodbye Carly.”
“Bye,” she said quietly and kissed him on his cheek.
He let her leave without a fight. Not that he had the right to fight for her in the first place. Jason had forgiven him. Sonny knew that if he would have fought he’d lose Jason for good and there was no guarantee that Carly would have chosen him. Anger and regret filled him, that seemed to be the only thing that he was left with…first Karen, then Brenda, Lily, Brenda again, Hannah and now Carly. He would never be happy. He didn’t deserve to be. At that thought he threw his glass against the fireplace.
Emily shut the door behind her and locked it. Johnny probably had the key, but it would slow him down. She looked about the room and saw Sonny. He was sitting on the couch; he hadn’t shaved in days by the look of him.
“Sonny,” she said softly.
It didn’t register. He just sat there quietly. It was like she wasn’t even in the room.
She saw the glass shattered by the fireplace and went to the kitchen and got a broom, dustpan and a dishrag. Quietly she brushed up the shards of glass. Surprisingly Johnny hadn’t opened the door. After she put everything back she came back into the room and sat next to Sonny. She gently placed her hand on his shoulder.
Startled Sonny turned to her. “Emily?”
“Hi.”
“Johnny let you in?”
No, she thought. I had to race past him. “Yeah he did.”
“Good.” He looked down to find his drink. At his perplexed look she asked him what was the matter. “I can’t find my drink,” he replied.
“That’s because you threw it against the fireplace. I cleaned it up.”
Sonny didn’t remember that, he hoped he didn’t throw it while Emily was in the room. Pull yourself together Corinthos, he told himself. “Are you all right,” he asked.
Doing better than you, Emily thought to herself. “I guess, you know same old Quartermaine stuff. Are you all right?”
“I’m good,” he lied.
Sure, Emily thought to herself, that’s why you haven’t shaved. “Well you look like a man in need of a grape snow cone.”
“A what?”
Emily smiled. “It’s a purple tongue thing.”
“Emily are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yes. Come on,” she said tugging on his arm.
Sonny didn’t really want to go but he promised Jason that he would watch out for her. “Okay, but let me grab my jacket.”
Later in the park they were sitting and laughing. For the first time in three weeks Sonny felt somewhat normal. “Thanks for dragging me out kiddo.”
“Ugh. You’ve got to stop calling me that, I’m seventeen.”
Sonny looked over at her. She was still young, but her eyes held things that most people never knew at that age. Her hair was up in a knot and some stray strands fell across her face. Such a delicate face he thought, her skin looked like porcelain. But he knew that she didn’t break easily. Sonny reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I will if you promise not to call me old man.”
Emily laughed at that, Sonny was far from old. “It’s deal.” She stuck out her hand and he took it to shake. Emily felt a jolt as Sonny slid his hand into hers.
Sonny was surprised to feel the same shock of awareness. He shook her hand quickly and let go. He wasn’t thinking clearly. He just lost Carly, Emily was so young and she was Jason’s sister. It was a fluke. He looked at her side profile. God, he hoped it was just a fluke.
Emily looked down at her bedroom clock and back at the cell phone Jason gave her. “Come on and ring you stupid thing,” Emily demanded. After the first shrill ringing Emily stabbed the send button. “Jason.”
“Hi Em,” he said in a happy tone.
Emily calmed some. Hearing Jason’s voice, knowing he was happy and safe some how made her feel the same. “Still enjoying life with Carly,” she asked jokingly.
“It gets better and better. Besides now that she done decorating the place we’ll have some peace.”
Emily laughed. “Does Carly ever really finish decorating?”
“I hope so. So how are you?”
“Besides missing you and Michael I’m all right.”
“Em?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re lying.”
“Dang, I thought you could only do that in person.”
“So you want to tell me what’s going on?”
Emily sighed. She couldn’t tell him about AJ, how angry he’d gotten and what he had being saying to her. She thought of Sonny, the other day had been nice, but she was still worried about him. He didn’t leave the penthouse unless she dragged him out. “I’m worried about Sonny.”
Jason frowned when he heard this, he knew that Sonny’s feelings for Carly went deeper but he hadn’t been willing to give up the woman he loved or their family. He had needed time to forgive them both and he did. “What’s going on with him?”
“Well he doesn’t shave a lot, so I can at least be happy that he showers.” Emily heard silence over the phone. “The shower thing was a joke Jas.”
“You’ve got a sick sense of humor.”
“Sorry its just I really am worried. He doesn’t want visitors and I have to drag him out of the penthouse.”
Jason sighed. Sonny didn’t get like that often, but when he did. He felt an overwhelming urge to go to Port Charles and help his friend. “How long has he been like that?”
“I’m not sure. I went over there the other day and Johnny said he didn’t want to see anyone.”
“But he saw you,” he asked hopefully.
“I had to out maneuver Johnny.”
“So he didn’t see you on his own.”
“Technically no, but I’m sure if Johnny would have bothered to let him know that I was there that he would have.”
“I think that’s wishful thinking.”
“It’s not. I stopped by again today. I brought him some dinner from Kelly’s.”
“Did he eat it?”
“I stayed until he did.”
“Good,” he said. “Maybe I should come back for a little while.”
“Jason you can’t.”
“I guess you don’t miss me that much then.”
“Now is not the time to be cute. I do miss you, but Jas you just left and if you came back only to leave again…it would only be harder.”
“I’m worried about him.”
“Don’t be.”
“Em, you haven’t seen Sonny like this. It can be hard.”
“Trust me after living with the Quartermaines I can handle Sonny’s bad days.”
Jason smiled. “If it gets too bad you have to tell me.”
“Promise. So how’s my godson?”
Jason hung the phone up. He was worried about Sonny and his sister; he knew there was more going on then she let on. She was trying to protect him. He loved her for it, but he would feel better if he knew everything. He knew it would be hard to be away from Port Charles for good, but he hadn’t realized the ache he would have from not being able to help Emily.
Jason looked over as Carly came into their bedroom. He wouldn’t change it though. He loved Carly and Michael. They were his family, he wished that they could be in Port Charles, but they couldn’t be. To be together they had to be away. And he wanted that more than anything else.
“I love you Carly.”
She smiled at him. “What’s wrong?”
“Something has to be wrong for me to tell you that I love you?”
“Sorry,” she replied. “I guess I’m still not use to it you know. It's still strange to hear you say it.”
“Well you’re going to be hearing for the rest of you’re life.”
“There’s nothing I want more,” she said as she kissed him.
The next day Emily stood outside Sonny’s door in jeans and a t-shirt. She smiled as the door opened. “Hi Sonny.”
“Hi kid…Emily.” Thank God, he thought to himself that today she did look like the seventeen-year-old sister of his best friend.
She shot him a dirty look. “Well those clothes won’t do old man,” she shot back.
“You promised!”
“So did you. Now change,” she ordered.
“Uh?”
“You’re clothes. Jeans would be best. Do you even own a pairs of jeans?”
“Yes,” he said exaggeratedly, “Miss Emily I do own a pair of jeans.”
“Really one pair?”
He rolled his eyes at her. “When did you grow that mouth?”
“Quite procrastinating Sonny and change.”
“Why do I feel like I should be afraid?”
“Because I’m driving.”
“Do you even know how to?”
“I’m seventeen of course I know how to drive.”
“The beach,” he asked. “It’s it a bit cold for being here considering its late September?”
“Only if you were going into the water.”
“What else do you do at the beach,” he asked.
“Simple,” she said pulling a bag out of her trunk. “Build sandcastles!”
Sonny gave her a perplexed look. “Sandcastles,” he said a bit disbelieving.
“Yes, come on,” she said taking his hand and dragging him out onto the sand.
“Sonny don’t,” Emily screeched.
Sonny was holding Emily above the oncoming waves threatening to drop her in. “You demolished my castle.”
“Sonny it was falling apart. I was doing you a favor. Would you really want to get the reputation for not being able to build a sandcastle.”
“Again with the mouth,” he said before throwing her into the water. Emily came up sputtering. She reached out her hand so that he could help her up. Not really thinking about it Sonny grasped her hand. Instead of him helping her out of the water she helped in him into it. An epic water fight started that left them breathless. Finally after they were both soaked and windless they called a ceasefire and dragged themselves from the cold ocean water.
Emily lay beside Sonny on the beach panting. He turned to face to her and was caught by her beauty. Gently he wiped a wet strand from her face and for a moment he thought about kissing her until she smiled up at him innocently, trustingly. Feeling like a heel he moved away from her and sat up.
For a moment Emily felt the same tension. The urge to kiss to Sonny. God, what was the matter with her? Standing up she turned to him. “So do you need assistance,” she asked with cockiness in her voice.
Falling back into the earlier mood of the day Sonny smiled up at her. “Do you really want to end up in the water again,” he asked as he stood up without her assistance afraid to touch and feel the spark again, it would be harder to believe it was fluke if it happened yet again.
Emily smiled sheepishly at him. “No,” she exclaimed. Sonny helped her pick up the sandcastle making tools and place them in the bag. In companionable silence they walked back to the car.
Sonny was walking through the park when he saw Emily sitting on a bench. He was happy to see her. She looked so beautiful sitting there reading a book. Beautiful, where had that come from? He really had to get those ideas out of his head; she wasn’t beautiful, no he took that back she was beautiful in the sense of being his best friend’s seventeen-year-old sister. Enough analyzing, Corinthos, he thought.
“Shouldn’t you be in school,” he asked as he approached her.
“Its after three Sonny, school’s over,” she replied.
“Oh, I hadn’t realized at it was that late in the afternoon.”
Emily frowned when she heard this, but still this was the first time she saw Sonny outside the penthouse voluntarily. That had to be progress. “So what brings you to the park,” she asked.
“Juan wanted to speak with me.”
Now Emily scowled. “Well then I’ll be leaving,” she said with anger in her voice.
“What’s the matter,” Sonny asked concerned. Why wouldn’t a girl want to see her boyfriend?
“I guess you don’t know.”
“Know what?”
Emily sighed; she really didn’t want to rehash it. “Juan and I broke up,” she said flatly.
Sonny was surprised to hear that, especially after all they did to be with each other and Emily coming to him to help Juan singing career. “What happened?”
“Well lets see there was Amanda and then Sherry,” she said sourly.
“He cheated on you, twice,” he said with shock and amazement in his voice.
“Yep, really great boyfriend material don’t you think,” she asked sarcastically.
“I’m sorry Emily.”
“Thanks, but I just wish he stop trying to justify himself and leave me alone.”
“I can talk to him about it…”
“Don’t Sonny. Juan really wants a relationship with you. You’re a tie to Lily and he needs that.”
“So I take it you don’t hate him.” He almost wished she did.
Emily sighed. “I don’t hate him…he’s…well he’s still my friend. He wants more, but I can’t trust him, so we’re friends and I’m not going back down that road with him.”
“Give it some time you might change your mind,” he said, though secretly hoping she wouldn’t.
Emily laughed. “I don’t think so. I should go.”
“Wait, how about I cook you dinner tonight?” What the hell had he just done, he thought to himself.
Emily was taken aback. Sonny cooking her dinner it was too strange almost like a date…whoa; Emily stopped herself that was ridiculous. Sonny was just being her friend, looking out for her like Jason would. Of course if he were Jason they’d be ordering Chinese or something. “That sounds really nice, but I already have plans.”
Sonny couldn’t help but be disappointed. “Hot date?”
“I wish, dinner with Lucky, Liz, Nikolas and his mystery girl.”
“Sounds nice. Maybe another night then,” he asked.
“Sure,” she said uncertainty. “That would be nice.”
Sonny watched her carefully as she left the park. She looked and acted the same as ever so whatever the matter was it was on his end. It wasn’t possible to see her as a kid one day and the next as…God; he didn’t want to go there. The problem was that he already did and now he couldn’t get it out of his mind. He was going to burn in hell, he was sure of it.
Liz stood behind the counter of Kelly’s cleaning up. Life was great. Lucky was back, Emily had finally seen what a jerk Juan was and Nikolas had finally got over whatever feelings he had for her, of course life would be perfect if Emily would let her set her up with someone. If she wanted to get over Juan, she had to at least go on a date. Maybe if she did the boy would give up on them getting back together. Oh well she thought, she wouldn’t push. Liz was glad that Tammy had given them permission to have the place to themselves again; she really loved the dinners they had here. They all did and tonight was special, they’d be meeting Nikolas mystery girl, finally. He had definitely inherited his family’s talent for keeping secrets.
“Hey Liz,” Emily called as she walked through the doors.
“You’re here early,” Liz remarked.
“Self preservation.”
“What?”
“I saw Sonny at the park and he was there to meet Juan.”
“How is Sonny?”
“Pretty good. It’s been hard on him…Jason, Carly and Michael leaving.”
“I can understand Jas and Michael, but Carly?”
“Liz…”
“I know, now that she’s practically your sister-in-law again you want to be nice about her.”
“Thanks…but I know what you mean.” They began to laugh and moved into the kitchen to get plates and silverware. “So what’s on the menu for tonight?”
“What you guys didn’t order food,” she asked worriedly.
Emily laughed some more at her friend’s panicked looked. “I meant desert.”
“Thank God, you had me worried,” at Emily’s continued laughter, “hey, I didn’t see you offer to cook,” she said defensively.
“At least I know how to.”
“Not that you’ve ever proved it,” Liz replied.
“Name the day and time,” she said slamming the plate down.
“I told you guys not to fight over me,” Lucky said as he came into the restaurant.
Both of them shot him disgusted looks and threw napkins at him. “Get over yourself Spencer,” Emily said.
“Impossible, I’m irresistible.”
“Ha!”
“You wound my ego Em.”
Emily rolled her eyes at him. Liz smiled and walked over to him giving him kiss. “All better,” she asked.
“Can I ask you something,” Juan said to Sonny.
“Sure.”
“How did you win my mother back?”
Sonny looked distressed. “What do you mean?”
“The night…I know that…well you guys had problems, but you worked them out.”
Sonny sighed. “I did love Lily, I just didn’t show her it enough while she was alive.”
“You regret that?”
“More than anything. I just wished she’d had the chance to know that she had my heart completely.”
“She knew.”
Sonny smiled weakly at him. “Why do you ask?”
“I screwed up with Emily.”
More liked screwed around, Sonny thought. But if Emily were with Juan he wouldn’t think about her like that, so maybe it would be better for her in the long run. “How can I help?”
“Jas,” Carly yelled from the kitchen, “what do you want for dinner?”
Jason smiled from the living room where he was holding Michael. Who knew Carly would be so domestic. It was probably because he betted her she wouldn’t last two months without help. So far it had been a month and she was showing signs of cracking. “How about Michael,” he asked.
“Fried toast,” Michael said happily.
Jason ran his hand through Michael’s hair and kissed his forehead. Fired toasted translated into French toast. Holding Michael against him Jason got up and headed to the kitchen. “Michael wants French toast.”
Carly laughed. “Aren’t you getting tired of that Mr. Man? We’ve had it for three days in a row now, besides its dinner time.”
“Fried toast,” Michael yelled happily.
Carly rolled her eyes. “He’s just like you,” Jason said.
“Handsome, intelligent, sparking personality…”
“And always has to get their way,” Jason finished. Carly batted at him playful. Jason leaned down and kissed her passionately.
“Yuck,” Michael yelled.
Carly rubbed his cheek. “Trust me Mr. Man you won’t always feel that way.”
“Why don’t you go play with him and I’ll make dinner?”
“Do I look that bad,” she asked.
“Ah…I…ah…”
“Okay you win,” she said letting him off the hook. “We’ll place an ad or call an agency tomorrow.” Jason smiled and kissed her again before turning to start breakfast. “You know Michael nothing is better than having someone who knows you, I mean really knows you,” she said wistfully. “So what shall we play?”
“Dump trucks!”
“Okay will play dump trucks but tomorrow we’re having real food,” Carly took him as they went to get the trucks.
“What if they don’t like me?”
“Gia that’s impossible, they’ll love you.”
She rolled her eyes. Somehow she couldn’t picture Nikolas friends liking her. They probably think she wasn’t good enough for him. But then again would anyone be good enough for a prince. “All right Princy but if things get ugly we cut and run.”
Nikolas laughed at her nickname for him. He wasn’t worried; he knew she fit right in. “Fine.”
They walked through the doors to Kelly’s. Music was playing but no one was around. The table was set for five, which meant Emily decided to come. Emily walked out of the kitchen with a large platter of Eli’s ribs. She smiled when she saw Nikolas. Lucky was right this girl had a huge effect on him; he seemed lighter some how. Emily looked over the girl before setting the platter down. She was tall, slim and very beautiful.
"Hi Nikolas,” she said and hugged him. Nikolas returned the hug and greeting and then introduced the two girls. “It’s nice to meet you Gia.”
“Thanks, its nice to meet you too,” Gia replied.
Emily smiled awkwardly at her. “I love your braids.”
“They’re nice but it takes forever. I hate sitting around to get them done.”
“Hey bro,” Lucky’s boisterous voice broke the awkward conversation. “So this is the pretty lady that’s turned your head. I’m glad to see she not blonde.”
“Spencer,” Emily scolded.
“What,” he asked innocently.
“I think,” Elizabeth said from behind him, “that Emily was trying to point out that the past is indeed the past and we should be here enjoying the present.”
“I think I like the less wordy version better,” he said playfully. Liz punched him and Emily smiled at their mating ritual.
“Yes they’re always like that,” she said answering Gia’s questioned before she had asked it.
Gia turned towards Nikolas. “If we ever get like that I hope someone takes us outside and puts us out of our misery.”
Emily laughed and Nikolas looked perplexed said, “she kidding Nikolas.”
“What a thing to joke about, I think I’m offend,” Lucky stated.
“Get over it,” Nikolas replied.
“I see how it is, chose a skirt over your brother.”
“Just following you’re footsteps,” Nikolas shot back.
“Time out,” Liz called. “Step into your neutral corners and behave.”
Lucky skulked and Nikolas laughed at him. “I guess we know who wears that pants in your relationship,” Nikolas teased.
“Careful there Princy,” Gia warned.
Emily rolled her eyes; she was getting tired of their bantering. “Listen guys if I wanted family insanity and bickering I could have stayed home,” Emily said.
“You’d miss out on the ribs though,” Lucky remarked.
“And the sterling conversation with your best friends,” Liz added.
“And the chance to see if Lucky breaks the world record for the most ribs eaten in an hour,” Nikolas said.
Catching on Gia add, “besides its easier to walkout of here than your house, feel free to run any time, but let me know first I might join you.”
Emily smiled. “Welcome to our world.”
Two evenings later Emily was standing in front of Sonny’s penthouse door for dinner. She couldn’t help it she was excited. She knew that it was a dinner with Jason’s best friend, but she couldn’t help that it was also a dinner with her friend. She and Sonny had been having fun together and she’d always liked him before, now it just seemed as if they were on more equal terms. He didn’t look at her like she was a kid anymore, but a regular person and that’s the way he treated her. Emily smiled slightly remembering the conversation they had the day before.
She had gone over to the penthouse in hopes of seeing Johnny, when she’d lived with Jason he had helped her with her math homework. Emily was so lost in Trigonometry that she would never understand it without some help. Johnny was at the door, but before she got the chance to talk to him Sonny had come out. He was heading to the warehouse, but had been meaning to speak with Emily since his conversation with Juan. He smiled warmly at her.
“Miss Emily, what can I do for you today,” he asked pleasantly.
Emily looked at him and her lighter brown eyes meet his darker ones. Instead of telling the truth she told him she was here about the dinner he promised. “You could have called, but come on in.” Sonny nodded at Johnny and closed the door.
“I’ll remember that next time,” she replied.
“I don’t mind you dropping by, in fact it’s a bright spot in my day.” Emily smiled at him and he was again hit with her beauty. Cool it Corinthos, he told himself, remember you’re trying to help Juan.
“Thanks Sonny,” she said slightly embarrassed.
“So how was dinner the other night?”
“Great. Gia, Nikolas’ girlfriend is really nice and we had a lot of fun.”
“Good.”
“So how was your visit with Juan,” she ask hesitantly.
“It was all right, he misses you.”
Emily sighed. “Sonny I don’t want to hear it.”
“I just want to help him out.”
“I understand that, but you can’t fix it. I don’t want it to be fixed. So can you just leave it alone?”
“No problem. So dinner?”
“Dinner,” asked slightly confused.
“You came over to talk about the dinner I promised you.”
“Right. Um…I have homework and you were heading out so…”
“Tomorrow,” he asked. God, why was he so eager to be alone with her?
“Sure. Can I bring anything?"
“That’s not necessary.”
The conversation ended quickly after that and she had been stuck doing her math homework on her own.
Still musing about the night before Emily didn’t notice Sonny opening the door. He saw that she was lost in her thoughts and took the time to look at her. Try as he might he couldn’t see her as a little girl anymore. She was a young lady. A beautiful young lady with expressive brown eyes and whenever he was with her lately everything felt lighter. Since Carly and Michael had left he had felt like he lost a part of himself. Anger and sorrow filled him to a point that he wanted to break everything to be left alone with his misery. But whenever Emily was around there was this light, it came from her. It made him feel better, more normal.
It was wrong he knew thing about her in this way, as a way to help him. But it went beyond that it was more then just that. He cared about her. But, most disturbing of all he desired her. A seventeen-year-old woman-child and to boot the sister of his best friend. It was wrong but he was losing the fight. He had told himself that he wouldn’t spend as much time with her and here he was cooking her dinner. He resigned himself to wanting to have her round, to being her friend and being there for her like Jason wanted, but he wouldn’t allow it to go any further. For her sake and his. Setting his resolve he finally pulled her out of reverie.
“Emily.”
“Huh?”
“Earth to Emily,” he said waving his hand in front of her face.
“What?” Emily shook herself out of her thoughts and smiled sheepishly at Sonny. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t worry about it. I take it by the smile on your face it was happy thoughts.”
Emily blushed. After thinking about their conversation she couldn’t help but to let her mind wander on about Sonny. She was worried about him but he seemed better and she was happy about that. She really enjoyed their time together, but she it was more than that. She liked him as more than a friend. God, it was crazy. She knew that little sisters often get crushes on their older brother’s friends, but this was insane. Sonny was too old and she was way to young, besides he would never look at her in that way.
“You could say that.” Then catching the smell wafting from the penthouse house her stomach grumbled. Emily’s eyes widened. “I guess I’m hungry,” she said slightly embarrassed.
“Good. Its almost ready,” Sonny said and let Emily in.
Elizabeth watched from behind the counter as Emily stirred her chocolate milkshake. It had been fifteen minutes and she had yet to take a sip and Elizabeth was worried. Ever since Jason left and she broke up with Juan, Emily seemed distant. Elizabeth knew that she hated the idea of a blind date, but she was determined to get her to agree. Her resolved set Elizabeth headed towards Emily.
Emily was deep in thought about her dinner last night with Sonny. He had been so sweet and funny, who knew that Sonny could show his softer side? It had been so nice being with him and if she imagined hard enough she could remember a look or that he had given her that she could only describe as desire. In her dreams, Emily thought. Sonny would never see her as anything but a child, heck the only guy who had seen her as dateable person was Juan and Emily had no intention of getting back together with him.
“Hey Em its time for my break mind if I join you,” Elizabeth asked bringing Emily out of her thoughts.
Emily smiled up at her friend. “That be great. So what did you and Lucky do last night,” Emily asked as Elizabeth sat down.
“Who said we did anything,” Elizabeth asked.
Emily laughed, “When aren’t you and Lucky together?”
"Right now for one,” Elizabeth remarked. “When I’m at school or L&B,” she continued.
“Elizabeth I was joking. I think its great what you and Lucky have,” Emily admitted.
“You’ll have it to one day,” Elizabeth assured her friend.
“Not likely by the looks of it,” Emily commented.
Elizabeth smiled, “Well if you took up my offer to fix you up…”
“I’m not going on a blind date,” Emily exclaimed.
“Come on Em I know the perfect guy,” Elizabeth insisted.
"No!”
“If you do this I won’t ever bother you about it again,” Elizabeth promised.
“Never?”
“Cross my heart,” Elizabeth said as she drew and ‘X’ over her heart with her finger.
“Before I agree what’s he like,” Emily asked wearily.
“His name is Zander Smith he’s in my art history class,” Elizabeth started. “He’s really hot.”
“Elizabeth,” Emily said in mock shock.
“What! I’m allowed to look,” Elizabeth argued. “Anyways I mention you before…”
“What,” Emily asked annoyed.
“Not like that Em. When we talk before or after class I’d talk about my friend Emily or my boyfriend Lucky,” Elizabeth elaborated.
“How do you know he’s not psycho killer or something,” Emily asked.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes at her friend. “Emily please.” At Emily’s instant look she add, “Fine we’ll make it a triple date.”
“You want to explain that to me,” Emily asked.
“Well the fall festival starts this weekend,” Elizabeth reminded her. “Lucky, Nikolas, Gia and I can come along and protect you,” she joked.
“Cute Webber,” Emily replied. “You’ve definitely been spending to much time with Lucky.”
“Is that a yes,” Elizabeth asked.
“Fine it’s a yes,” Emily said giving in.
“There might be away for Carly and Jason to come back,” Alexis informed Sonny.
“What, I thought that was impossible,” Sonny remarked.
“Well up until know it was, but…”
“But what,” Sonny asked.
“Sorel’s up for some bigger charges. The PCPD got a witness to testify against him,” Alexis informed him.
“What does that have to do with me,” Sonny asked.
“Mac is having some problems with corruption in the department and the witness isn’t safe. They offered a deal. They’ll drop the charges and look the other way when Jason and Carly come back if you protect the witness,” Alexis informed him.
“Like Mac or Taggart would go for that,” Sonny said.
“It not their choice it’s the DA’s and Justus has agreed,” Alexis stated.
“It’s a trap,” Sonny told her.
“No I checked it out. It's all legal and above board.”
“Just the way you like it,” Sonny remarked.
“Think about it Sonny they need to know by Monday,” Alexis replied.
“I will. Thank you counselor,” Sonny said as he showed Alexis out.
As much as he wanted Jason, Carly and Michael home Sonny wasn’t sure if he could handle seeing her on a daily basis. Happy in love with another man. Emily however would be ecstatic to have Jason home. But with Jason back would she still come to him? Either way he was being selfish, Sonny thought.
Carly answered the phone on the third ring, “Morgan residence,” she said her voice filled with merriment.
“Carly,” Sonny said barely audible.
“Sonny,” Carly said unable to hide her surprise.
Carly knew she loved Jason but there was something about Sonny, she was drawn to him. They had always been a tension, a heat between them. “Is everything all right,” she asked.
“I need to talk to Jason,” Sonny told her ignoring her question.
Carly scowled into the phone. That’s one thing she hated about Sonny the way he shut people out. Jason would always talk to her, he might not give her all the details but he trusted her. “Hang on a minute,” she replied and set down the phone. “Jas,” she called out.
Sonny could hear Jason’s muffed voice calling back to her. Sonny hadn’t prepared himself for Carly to answer the phone. When he heard her voice saying Morgan residence his heart stopped and he realized that not matter what Carly was lost to him.
“Sonny,” Jason said picking up the phone. “Its everything all right? You? Emily,” he asked his voice carrying a worried tone.
“Everything is fine. I’m fine and Emily is good,” Sonny assured him.
Jason sighed in relief. “Good. Did you need something?”
"Actually I have good news. I was offered a deal. No prison time and you and Carly can come back no questions asked if I take it,” Sonny informed him.
“We could come home,” Jason asked.
“Yep.”
“What’s the deal?”
“The police are trying to keep a witness alive to testify against Sorel and they need my help,” Sonny explained.
“It sounds like a set up,” Jason replied.
“Alexis has looked over it and its completely legit,” Sonny answered. “They need to know by Monday.”
“I would love to come home,” Jason admitted. “But I’ve got to talk to Carly.”
“I understand. Call me Sunday night with your decision,” Sonny said.
“I will. Sonny?”
“Yeah Jas?”
“Thank you.”
“It’s the other way around I should be thanking you,” Sonny replied.
“Maybe family doesn’t need to say thank you, maybe they just know,” Jason commented.
“You’re right. Talk to you Sunday,” Sonny said and hung up the phone.
“We could go home,” Carly asked somewhat excited after Jason hung up the phone.
“Yeah we could,” Jason said smiling just thinking about it. Looking at Carly he could she the mixed emotions…happiness and fear. “You know Carly going home won’t change what we have. We’ll still be a family. I’ll still love you.”
“I know that…well I think I do. Its just it never seemed to work in Port Charles,” Carly commented.
“So we’ll make it work,” Jason told her. Carly sighed. “If you don’t want to go we don’t have too.”
“That’s the problem. Half me wants to go home, to be near my mother. The other half wants to stay here and protect what we built,” Carly told him.
“What we built here Carly will stay with us. Being in Port Charles won’t change the fact that I love you. That I want to be with you and be a family,” Jason said as he pulled her close. “We don’t have to decide now.”
“When does Sonny have to know,” Carly asked.
“Sunday.”
“But today is Thursday, that’s two days to decide,” Carly pointed out.
“It only took you a second to decide to leave with me,” Jason reminded her.
“That was because I knew we’d always be together when we left,” Carly admitted.
“And we always will,” Jason promised.
“I always wreck things Jas,” Carly told him.
Jason kissed her. “I know you’re worried but no matter what we’ll be fine and we’ll be together,” Jason promised.
Carly bit her lip, rarely was she vulnerable. “Would you marry me?”
Jason cupped Carly’s face. “I promised you forever Carly and I mean it. I would be honored to call you my wife.”
“I take it that’s a yes,” Carly asked.
“Yes,” Jason said and kissed her.
After a few moments Carly pulled away from him slightly. “When we get home you’ll have buy me a ring and Bobbi and I will have to start planning it and who will be in the bridal party and who to invite…”
Jason silenced Carly with a kiss and picked her up. Cradling her in his arms he carried her up stairs. Breaking the kiss for a moment, “That can wait, this can’t,” he said before kissing her again and laying her down on the bed.
“Hello,” Bobbie Spencer answered her phone in a happy tone.
“Bobbie,” Sonny said in greeting.
“Sonny is everything all right? Carly? Michael? Jason,” Bobbi asked in quick secession not giving Sonny a chance to get a word in.
“Bobbie calm down everyone is fine,” Sonny assured her.
Bobbie breathed a sigh of relief. “Sorry.”
“For what,” Sonny asked. “You’re being a good mother and grandmother.”
“Thanks Sonny,” Bobbie said with appreciation in her voice. “What can I do for you?”
“I was hopping we could get together and talk. Tonight if possible,” Sonny replied.
“Ah, sure. How about Kelly’s,” Bobbie suggested.
“Fine,” Sonny answered.
Emily looked at herself in Elizabeth’s mirror. Her hair was up with some tendrils framing her face. Emily and Elizabeth were both dressed in jeans and wool sweaters, Elizabeth’s was gray and she was wearing blue.
“Why is it that I feel like a plain Jane,” Emily asked when Elizabeth came to stand beside her to check her hair.
“What are you talking about Em? You’re the one who was the model,” Elizabeth reminded her.
“But you’re the one with the boyfriend,” Emily pointed out. “The really amazing boyfriend.”
“You only say that because you don’t have to deal with him on that level,” Elizabeth remarked.
Emily laughed, “I suppose Spencers aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.”
“Most of the time they are but when they're not,” Elizabeth said rolling her eyes at the very thought.
“You’re so bad,” Emily commented.
“At least I’m not the one trying to stall going downstairs,” Elizabeth retorted.
“Guilty,” Emily replied. “So I look okay?”
Elizabeth could see her friend’s insecurity and smiled at her. “You look great.”
“Does she always take this long,” Nikolas asked his brother.
“How am I suppose to know how long it takes Em to get ready for a date,” Lucky asked.
“Have some sympathy guys,” Gia said. “It’s a blind date after all.”
“So,” Nikolas asked.
“Men,” Gia muttered.
Lucky was laughing at this when Elizabeth and Emily came down the steps. “What’s so funny,” Elizabeth asked him as snuggled up to his side.
“I never realized how naive my brother was,” Lucky replied.
“I really don’t see what the big deal is about a blind date,” Nikolas said.
“You’re joking right,” Emily asked as Sonny walked into Kelly’s.
“No,” Nikolas responded.
Emily groaned. Seeing her distress Sonny came over. “Emily.”
“Hey Sonny,” Emily said smiling up at him.
“Is everything all right,” Sonny asked.
“Nothing a long walk off a short pier won’t cure,” Emily replied.
“Let me translate that for you,” Lucky said. “Two words…blind date.”
“Really,” Sonny asked feeling a slight twinge of…he refused to admit the possibility of jealousy.
“Elizabeth twisted my arm,” Emily told him.
“Only after I promised we’d come along to protect her,” Elizabeth told him.
Gia had watched the interplay between them all. Nikolas seemed uncomfortable while Lucky and Elizabeth seem okay but only Emily seemed to be completely at ease in this guy's presence. “Hi I’m Gia,” she said extending her hand.
“Oh I’m sorry. Gia this is Sonny Corinthos. Sonny this is Gia Campbell,” Emily introduced.
“It’s a pleasure,” Sonny replied taking Gia’s hand and shaking it.
“Elizabeth,” a man’s voice called out. Emily turned and got her first look at her date Zander. He was tall and lean with brown hair and eyes. He had an unsure smile on his face that put her fears at ease.
“Hey Zander,” Elizabeth called and waved him over.
Zander walked over and examined the two girls standing with Elizabeth. He had agreed to the date because he liked Elizabeth and wanted to spend some more time with her. Zander also wanted to scope out her boyfriend and see what the competition would be like. Zander quickly looked at the other girls. By the way the one girl was holding on to the dark hair guy, Nikolas if he remembered correctly, hand she was wasn’t Emily. So he focused his attention the other one. She was wearing jeans and blue sweater. Her brown hair was up but what caught Zander’s attention were her eyes, they were very expressive. She looked as nervous as he felt.
“Emily,” he asked.
“Yeah…its nice to meet you,” Emily replied smiling shyly at Zander.
“Well it seems like you’re all ready to go,” Sonny said feeling like the odd and old man out. “Have fun tonight Emily.”
“Thanks Sonny,” Emily said and gave him a quick hug. “I’ll see you later.”
“I look forward to it,” Sonny said pulling away from her. He watch as Zander helped her on with her coat and as they young group left the diner.
Once they were outside Zander pulled Elizabeth aside. “Was that Sonny Corinthos Emily just hugged,” he asked. Zander had read the newspapers and the repeated stories about the supposed crime lord.
“Yes,” Elizabeth answered.
“Anything else I should know about my date besides the fact that she’s buddy-buddy with Port Charles answer to Anthony Carlone,” Zander asked.
“She’s also a Quartermaine,” Elizabeth confided.
“Why do I feel like I’m in above my head,” Zander groaned.
Elizabeth smiled reassuringly at him. “Trust me Em’s not like the rest of her family. Just give it a chance Zander,” Elizabeth asked.
Zander glanced over at Emily who was talking animatedly with Gia and Nikolas. He knew two things about her; she was Elizabeth best friend and had the most expressive face he’d ever seen. And while he had a crush on Elizabeth, Zander knew the chances where slim with her. Emily could turn out to be someone that he could build a relationship with,
“Well what are we waiting for then?” Elizabeth smiled at him and joined the others so they could be on their way to the festival.
“Thanks for coming Bobbie,” Sonny said as he got up to help her with her coat.
“No problem,” she answered as Sonny held out a chair for her. “So what did you need to talk about,” Bobbie asked.
“Carly,” Sonny said as he sat back down.
“I thought you said they were fine,” Bobbie asked with worry in her voice.
“They are,” Sonny assured her.
“Then what is there to talk about,” Bobbie asked.
“I got offered a deal…no jail time and they can come home no question asked,” Sonny told her.
“Sonny that’s so great,” Bobbie, said excited by the prospect of her daughter and grandson coming home.
“Well the decision is up to them…”
“It hasn’t been made yet then,” Bobbie asked feeling some of her excitement fade.
“Jason is going to call me tomorrow with their answer. I know he wants to come home,” Sonny said.
“But Carly wouldn’t,” Bobbie asked her ire rising.
“Bobbie I don’t mean to upset you, but things haven’t worked out well for the two of them when they were here,” Sonny pointed out.
Bobbie sighed, how was it she wondered that Sonny could know so well how Carly would think. He had seemed so sad when she first left, was it possible that he loved her? Bobbie felt bad for him because she knew Carly’s heart would also belong to Jason.
“I don’t understand Sonny why tell me this if it isn’t a done deal?”
“Because I think it is,” Sonny told her. “I wanted to get things ready for them.”
“What things,” Bobbie asked.
“Well all of Jason’s furniture is in storage. I know you still have one of the apartments at the brownstone free I hoping you could get it ready for them,” Sonny said.
“I don’t think Carly would like that,” Bobbie said. “It was Hannah who picked that stuff out after all.”
“You don’t have to remind me of the fit she had,” Sonny told Bobbie. “I just want a place that’s ready for them when they get back. Carly can change it all she wants once they’re settle in.”
“It’s very sweet of you to think head and do this for them,” Bobbie commented.
“Is that a yes,” Sonny asked.
“Yes it is,” Bobbie replied.
“Good. I have movers arranged to come on Monday if you could be there to help tell them where to put everything otherwise it could be rescheduled.”
“Monday is fine Sonny. Does Jason realize what a good friend he has,” Bobbie asked.
“More like I realized how good a friend he is,” Sonny replied.
Bobbie smiled at him. “You’re a good man Sonny. One of the best I’ve ever met.”
“So,” Elizabeth asked as she, Emily and Gia waited in line to use the restrooms.
“So what,” Emily asked innocently.
“Come on girl spill,” Gia ordered.
Emily laughed. “What I’ve barely spent five minutes alone with him.”
“Em,” Elizabeth pleaded.
“Okay, okay! He’s a nice guy,” Emily replied.
“And,” Gia asked.
Emily rolled her eyes at her friends. “And he’s cute.”
“Are you having fun,” Elizabeth wanted to know.
“Yes, okay I admitted it. I’m having fun on my blind date,” Emily said exasperated.
Elizabeth smiled in triumph, Emily groaned and Gia laughed.
“How long do you think we’ll have to wait,” Nikolas asked impatient.
“By the look of that line we’ll be lucky to see them before midnight,” Lucky cracked.
“God I hope your kidding,” Nikolas replied.
“I’ll bet you five bucks that they’ll be out in twenty minutes,” Zander said.
“From now,” Lucky asked. Though he had given up playing cards for money he still had trouble giving up on a sure thing.
“Yep,” Zander responded.
“What time is it Nikolas,” Lucky asked.
“Nine twenty-five,” Nikolas answered.
“You’ve got yourself a bet,” Lucky said holding out his hand.
“It will be the easiest five bucks I’ve ever made,” Zander said shaking his hand.
“I never thought I meet anyone cockier then you,” Nikolas told his brother. “And while it lasted it was interesting but we still have nothing to do.”
Lucky heard the sound of a bell and a girl’s excited scream. “We could always win our dates a bear,” Lucky said as he nodded over at the game booth.
“Looks like I win the bet,” Zander said holding a purple bear as he watched the girls walk out of the restrooms.
“You said twenty minutes not fifteen,” Lucky, counter. He was holding a pink bear.
“Now wait a minute…”
“Look at it this way neither of you lose five bucks and I’ll give you each ten if you don’t tell Gia I had to pay for the bear,” Nikolas cut in. He was holding a blue bear.
“Ten,” Zander asked.
“I think we can get twenty,” Lucky told him.
“That’s highway robbery,” Nikolas groaned.
“You’ve got about five seconds to make up your mind,” Lucky told him.
“Fine,” Nikolas said only slightly angry.
The girls where delighted when they each got a bear. They were talking excitedly and none of them noticed that young man who approached them.
“I’m so glad to see your having fun,” AJ said sarcastically.
The group turned to AJ in surprised and Emily looked startled.
“AJ,” Emily said softly.
“Back off AJ you’re drunk,” Lucky said.
“I have every right to talk to my sister,” AJ slurred.
“Come on let's go,” Nikolas said.
“Running away Em. I guess its one step up from kidnapping,” AJ said angrily.
Emily sighed, “Would you guys mind waiting for me, I’d like to speak to my brother in private?”
“Are you sure,” Lucky asked.
“How sweet,” AJ said. “And here I thought Lucky gave up his protector duties.”
“Yeah,” Emily replied ignoring AJ.
“Are you sure this is a good idea,” Zander asked as they walked away.
“He is drunk after all,” Gia pointed out.
“That seems to be his permanent state these days,” Nikolas commented.
“Em said she could handle it,” Elizabeth reminded them. “Besides he’ll just do his usually you helped kidnap my son speech.”
“What,” Zander asked confused but he kept his attention on the heated argument.
“Long story,” Lucky answered. “AJ has a way of twisting everything so it fits the way he wants to see it.”
“AJ I’m so tired of this! No one stole Michael from you. You don’t have custody of him,” Emily reminded her brother.
“Because of Sonny, but I guess since Jason isn’t here you’ll take is side now,” AJ said bitterly.
“This isn’t about Sonny,” Emily told him
"He stole my son,” AJ repeated.
“God,” Emily yelled at him. “Michael isn’t a thing he’s a little boy. Before you found out he was your son the only reason you wanted him was so you could gain ELQ…”
“That’s not true,” AJ cut in.
“Maybe not now,” Emily replied. “My you do love him, but he wasn’t stolen. You gave him up AJ. You chose the bottle over your son.”
“Wrong Carly took him,” AJ said.
“No! You could have gained custody but you chose to drown yourself in Vodka. Michael is better off without you in this condition,” Emily said.
Without thinking AJ raised his hand and slapped Emily across her face. He watched it happen almost like an out of body experience. Tears stung Emily’s eyes and she held her cheek. “Em…oh God Em I’m so sorry. I didn’t…I’m sorry,” AJ stammered as he looked at his hand in shock.
“Sorry doesn’t always fix things,” Emily said sadly and walked away. She heard her friends calling after her so she started to run. She didn’t want to talk to anyone; she just wanted to be alone.
“Are you sure you’re okay,” Sonny asked as he removed the ice from her cheek.
“No, but I’m here right,” Emily said.
“Yeah you’re here,” Sonny replied.
Sonny was so angry he almost could see straight. After all AJ had done, all that he had cost the people he cared about Sonny didn’t understand why he was still walking around. Then again AJ was like him, it was always the innocents around them that got hurt. “I think I have a way of cheering you up.”
“I doubt that,” Emily said staring down at the floor.
“There is a chance Jason, Michael and Carly can come home for good,” Sonny said.
Emily’s head shot up and happiness filled her eyes. “Really?”
“I would have told you sooner but I didn’t want to get you’re hopes up,” Sonny informed her.
“They could home,” Emily asked.
"Yep. Jason’s calling me tomorrow to let me know,” Sonny replied.
“When,” Emily asked excitedly.
“I don’t know.”
“Sonny…can I. Can I stay here until he calls,” Emily asked.
“Ah, I thought you were going to spend the night at Elizabeth’s,” Sonny said. With all his confused feelings about Emily he wasn’t sure having her under the same roof would be a good thing.
“I can just call and let her know I’m staying here, if it’s not a problem,” Emily said.
“No its not a problem,” Sonny told her.
“Why hasn’t he called yet,” Emily asked feeling antsy. She hadn’t been thinking clearly last night otherwise she never would have asked Sonny if she could stay. Not only would her parents flip if they found out but spending the night in the home of older guy you have crush on made it difficult to sleep.
“If you keep asking that he’ll never call,” Sonny told her.
“That sounds like the old wives’ tale about the pot and boiling water,” Emily said.
“Well its true,” Sonny told her.
“How would I know Cook never lets anyone into the kitchen,” Emily remarked.
Sonny was laughing at her comment when the phone rang. Emily’s eyes shot to the phone and Sonny got a kick out of the excitement that leapt into her eyes. “Corinthos,” he answered on the third ring.
“Hey Sonny,” Jason voice carried over the phone.
“Is it him,” Emily asked.
“Whose that,” Jason asked.
“Yes,” Sonny answered. “Wait a minute and I’ll let you talk to him.”
“Sonny who are you talking too,” Jason asked.
“Emily,” Sonny said turning his attention back to Jason.
“You told her about the deal,” Jason asked surprised.
“Yeah last night. It’s a long story,” Sonny informed him. “She needed some cheering up. She wanted to be here when you called.”
“What if my answer would have been no,” Jason asked. Sonny laughed, “Then I take it you’re coming home?”
“Yeah we are,” Jason said when he heard Emily’s squeal of excitement. “Can I talk to her?”
“Sure,” Sonny said and handed Emily the phone. Sonny could feel Emily’s excitement rubbing off on him.
“You’re really coming home,” Emily asked.
“Yep,” Jason replied.
“When,” Emily asked not wanting to wait another moment to see her brother and Michael.
“We’ll be coming in on flight 1152 on Wednesday night at seven,” Jason told her.
“That’s not soon enough,” Emily complained.
“I feel the same way,” Jason said. “Listen Em I need to talk to Sonny.”
“Okay but I’m going to be at the airport when you come in,” Emily told him.
“I look forward to it,” Jason told her.
Emily bounced around the apartment as Sonny and Jason got the details in order. As Sonny talked to Jason he watched Emily with an amused smile. She looked ten times happier and lighter. “All right we’ll see you Wednesday,” Sonny said ending the conversation.
“Can you believe it,” Emily asked.
“It’s really happening so yes,” Sonny answered standing up.
“Thank you so much Sonny,” Emily said she danced over to him. “I don’t know how but thank you,” she said embracing him.
Sonny held he in his arms gently. “Its no big deal,” he protested.
Emily pulled back and smiled up at him. “There’s where you’re wrong. This is the most amazing thing! Jason and Michael are coming home! I’m even happy that Carly’s coming too,” Emily exclaimed.
Sonny laughed, whatever truce Carly and Emily had worked out Emily had still blamed Carly some for Jason leaving. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“I feel like celebrating, we should be celebrating,” Emily said as she moved out of Sonny’s embrace.
“Okay we’ll celebrate,” Sonny told her. “Name it.”
Emily looked over at Sonny and blushed, her heart beating rapidly at the thought of kissing him. He had said anything and one quick celebration kiss between friends would be fine. Without thinking anymore about it Emily stepped closer to Sonny and placed a soft kiss on his lips.
Sonny was shocked when he felt Emily’s lips on his. After days of denying to himself that he thought about it he was having trouble believing it was happening. When he felt Emily start to pull away, he brought his arms around her and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss.
Emily’s heart was racing and her mind couldn’t comprehend the reality. Sonny Corinthos was kissing her back. Emily felt Sonny’s tongue slide into her mouth and she close her eyes and sighed in pleasure.
It was Emily’s sigh that brought Sonny back to reality. He was kissing his best friend’s underage sister. Sonny pulled back Emily looked up at him in surprise and could see his self-disgust.
“Emily…”
“I have to go,” Emily said quickly not wanting to hear Sonny’s apology. “Elizabeth will want to know. It’s all right that I tell her,” Emily asked as she put on her coat.
“Ah, that’s fine,” Sonny replied. He didn’t know how to handle this situation. “I’ll pick you up at five on Wednesday.”
“At Kelly’s,” Emily told him.
“Fine. Johnny can drive you,” Sonny suggested.
“That’s okay fresh air sounds wonderful. I’ll see you Wednesday then,” Emily asked unsure.
“Wednesday,” Sonny promised.
“I can’t believe that Zander wants to see me again,” Emily told Elizabeth as she waited for Sonny.
She had done her best to forget Sunday afternoon and the kiss. She hadn’t seen Sonny since then; Emily wished she had because the ride to the airport would be as awkward.
“Well I do,” Elizabeth told her friend. “What I can’t believe is that Jason is coming home."
Emily smiled contently at Elizabeth, “Finally,” she said softly.
“So do you want to tell me what’s been bugging you now,” Elizabeth asked.
Emily shook her head, “Are you sure want to be an artist?”
“Why?”
“Because you make a great lawyer,” Emily commented.
Elizabeth’s laughter filled the diner, “That’s rich.”
“More like you’d be,” Emily remarked.
“Nice evasion are you sure you don’t want to be a lawyer,” Elizabeth asked.
“Nah, it would thrill Grandfather too much. Next thing I’d know I be Corporate Counsel for ELQ,” Emily replied.
“Ex-model turned lawyer. Sounds kind of nice,” Elizabeth told her.
“Maybe you should be a writer instead dreaming up all these things,” Emily told her.
Elizabeth’s eyes widen, “Better yet. You write them and I illustrate. A whole children stories line of our own!”
Emily bit her lip. “Kind of a twisted Disney-like fables.”
“I can picture it now,” Elizabeth told her friend.
“Elizabeth are we being serious about this or...”
“Yes! Come on Em we could do it,” Elizabeth assured her.
“I have some old stories my mom told me and that I told Michael,” Emily informed her.
“Okay, write them out or even an outline and I can get started on pictures,” Elizabeth told her.
“Do you think we can really do this,” Emily asked.
“Please the two of us together can do anything,” Elizabeth said proudly.
Emily and Elizabeth where smiling idiotically at each other when Sonny came into Kelly’s. “Emily,” Sonny said as he approached the two.
“Hey Sonny,” Emily said beginning to feel nervous.
“Hi,” Elizabeth greeted Sonny. “I’ll let you guys get going. Get them to me soon Em and think about Zander,” Elizabeth said giving her a quick hug goodbye.
“I will,” Emily promised.
“I didn’t interrupt anything did I,” Sonny asked trying to stay normal.
He didn’t know how to act around Emily any more. Before the kiss he could be her friend, but now things were awkward between them. Even though it was Emily that initiated the kiss Sonny blamed himself because he was the one to turn from a simple celebration peck into a full-blown kiss.
“Not really,” Emily said as the exited Kelly’s.
Sonny clenched and unclenched his hands as he stared out the wide windows of the airport. Since he and Emily had left Kelly’s they barely said a word to each other. The silence had been deafening. Sonny was sure Jason would be able to see something was wrong and the last thing he wanted to do was admit to his best friend that he kissed his kid sister. Not that he had been able to look at Emily as a kid lately.
“We have to talk about Sunday,” Sonny finally said.
“I rather not,” Emily told him meeting his eyes in their reflection off the windows. “I don’t need to hear how sorry you are Sonny.”
“It’s not like that Emily,” Sonny told her truthfully. He didn’t have the time to handle it any other way.
“Please,” Emily said turning to face him, “it was written all over your face.”
Sonny sighed, “Emily you caught me off guard.”
“Sonny,” Emily interrupted. “It was a kiss can’t we please leave it at that?”
“No. Emily you feel awkward around me, I don’t want that,” Sonny told her.
“Neither do I,” Emily said brushing some of her hair behind her ear. “I like having you as my friend.”
“Announcing the arrival of flight 1152,” a crackly female voice came over the intercom.
“The same goes” Sonny get up and offering her his hand.
Emily smiled up at him. “Good,” she replied taking his hand and standing up. They walked slowly over to the door Jason, Carly and Michael would be coming out of. “No more feeling awkward,” Emily promised.
“Deal,” Sonny replied.
Emily nodded and the two watched the door in anticipation.
“Gosh Mr. Man you’re getting heavy,” Carly told her son. “Momma’s boy is growing up,” she continued and placed a kiss on his forehead.
“I can take Michael if you want,” Jason offered.
Carly eyed Michael’s diaper bag that they had carried on; it was definitely lighter. “You’ve got a deal,” she replied.
Jason smiled at her. When they moved closer to make the swap he gave her a quick kiss. “Welcome home Carly.”
“Your Daddy's the sweetest,” Carly told Michael smiling. “Welcome home Jason.”
Emily watched impatiently as other people filed out of the door. Joy leapt into her eyes when she spotted them. “Jason,” Emily called out and ran up to them. Seeing Emily come towards them Carly took Michael from Jason. Jason sent her a grateful glance before sweeping Emily up in her arms.
“Finally,” Emily said loud enough for only Jason to hear. “I’m so glad your home.”
“Me too. I’ve missed you,” Jason told her.
“Uncle Sonny,” Michael cried out happily as Sonny approached. Michael leaned towards him and Sonny took the boy into is arms.
“It's good to see you,” Sonny whispered to him as he held him close. “Carly, I’m glad your back.”
“It’s good to be home and to see you,” Carly told him squeezing his hand quickly.
Emily pulled back from Jason. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before she turned to Carly. “I’m glad you guys are home.”
“Me too,” Carly said feeling slight ill at ease. She and Emily hardly ever got along.
“So can we bury the hatchet for good,” Emily asked.
“I’d like that,” Carly replied. What the hell Carly thought and hugged Emily who hugged her back.
“It’s good to see you Jason,” Sonny said and shook his friend hand.
“I’m glad to be home,” Jason replied. “Thanks for making that possible.”
“That’s what friends are for,” Sonny reminded him.
“Aunt Em,” Michael called squirming in Sonny’s arms.
“Hey there Michael,” Emily said happily taking the boy into her arms. “Are you ready to go home and see your Grandma Bobbie?”
“Grandma,” Michael said happily.
“We’ll take that as a yes,” Emily said.
“Rick’s handling the luggage,” Sonny told them. “Why don’t we head to the car?”
“Do you want me to carry him,” Jason asked his sister.
“It’s been months I’m not giving him up yet,” Emily told them.
Jason nodded and took the diaper bag from Carly. Hand in hand he and Carly walked through the airport.
“Momma,” Carly called excitedly as she entered the Brownstone.
“Carly,” Bobbie cried out happily and rushed to her daughter.
Both Jason and Sonny looked on the reunion with filled hearts. They both loved her and were able to reunited Carly with her mother.
“Hey Carly,” Lucas said joining.
“Lucas it’s so great to see you,” Carly said leaning down to hug her brother.
“Your place is all ready but I should warn you that all the furniture is from Jason’s old place,” Bobbie told her daughter as they put the coffee on in the kitchen.
“What,” Carly asked filling her anger rise. That was the furniture that Hannah the banana had picked out.
“Honey, its temporary. You needed furniture,” Bobbie told her.
“Momma its bad luck,” Carly told her.
“You don’t believe in that,” Bobbie reminded her daughter. “You have couch, a bed and some tables. They’re replaceable. You can redecorate.”
“How am I suppose to redecorate when I’m planning a wedding,” Carly asked.
“What,” Bobbie exclaimed.
“Jas and I are getting married,” Carly told her mother.
“Oh, honey that’s great,” Bobbie said hugging her daughter.
Sonny wasn’t sure what he felt. He watched content as Emily, Jason and Michael sat on the floor playing. But throughout dinner he watched Carly and seen the loving looks passed between her and Jason and felt his heart ache. And if that wasn’t bad enough he was lying to Jason by not telling him about the kiss.
“Em,” Jason said softly.
“Yeah,” Emily asked turning her attention away from Michael.
“I wanted to tell you that Carly and I are getting married. I know that you guys don’t get along all that well but…”
“Does she make you happy,” Emily asked interrupting him.
“Yes,” Jason replied.
“You love her?”
“Very much,” Jason told her.
Emily smiled at her brother and hugged him. “That’s what I want for you. To be happy and loved. To have a family. Carly and I might not be the best of friends, but we can get along.”
“I’m lucky to you for my sister,” Jason told her.
“Not as lucky as I am to have you,” Emily said.
“I have champagne,” Bobbie said as and Carly bounced out of the kitchen.
“What are we celebrating,” Sonny asked.
“Carly and I are getting married,” Jason told him as he rose off the floor with Michael in his arms.
Sonny felt the world fall out underneath him. Jason and Carly being together was one thing, but them married! Sonny knew Carly was lost to him but marriage made it much more real and permanent. Emily was the only one to catch Sonny’s stricken look. It was then that she realized Sonny’s feelings for Carly went deep. It went beyond caring about her as the woman who had carried his child, as the woman who his best friend loved, as a friend to him…Sonny loved Carly. Why did that realization hurt so much?
“Congratulations,” Sonny said standing up to join the toast.
“To Jason and Carly. May you have long, happy life together. You deserve it,” Bobbie toasted.
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