Jason & Carly #13  May 26 - September 1, 1999 - 8 hr original edit

At their honeymoon suite, Carly doesn't want AJ to carry her over the threshhold. AJ pours her some champagne, makes a toast and talks about the rest of the evening. Carly looks worried and uncomfortable. When AJ takes a shower, Carly pours half the bottle in a flower arrangement and lies down on the bed, pretending to be asleep. Then it dawns on her that AJ may try to undress her. She looks in the bag that AJ had the maid pack for her and she discovers a sexy nightgown. She writes a note and leaves it for AJ and slips out of the room. AJ comes out of the shower and finds Carly's note. It says: AJ Don't hate me. I'll explain later. Carly. Carly knocks at Jason's door. No answer. She lets herself in and calls out Jason's name. She picks up the framed photo of Jason, Michael and herself and gets all misty. She goes to the sofa, puts on Jason's jacket and lies down.

Carly flashes back to the night of her engagement party and an argument she had with Jason in which she threatened him by saying that she'll just wait for the next time he gets thrown in jail, and she and AJ will sue for full custody of Michael.Jason just looks bored. Back in the present, she curls up on the sofa (in his jacket) and falls asleep. Carly wakes up to a banging at the door. Surprise! Surprise! It's AJ, and not too thrilled to have found his bride in his brother's apartment. "Let me explain, AJ." He says, "...I come out of the shower to find my wife gone, what do you call that? Foreplay?" Carly claims she didn't feel well and Jason has these pills from Europe. AJ surprisingly doesn't buy this. He claims he has figured out her plan, even if Carly hasn't (yet). Marry him, drive him back to the bottle, divorce him, get a huge settlement, take Michael and go back to Jason. AJ throws Hannah at Carly and then makes a dig about the new decor. AJ says he still wants Carly and grabs her. She pushes him away. He starts threatening and then dredges up what she was like before she moved in with Tony. Within seconds, AJ is in his bathrobe and she is naked before him. She says, "Would you like to have sex with me?" and he says, "In Jason's apartment? Ooooo, yeah..." She says, "On the couch, the rug?" "Both."

Open in the Q's foyer. Carly comes downstairs in a Lady Diana type suit and a pillbox hat. Emily is already there, sporting a skimpy outfit and a fur coat. Carly demands she remove the coat, as it is hers. Emily says not any more, since you left it at Jason's, he decided to give it to me. (Emily's promise to be "nice" not withstanding). Before long, they are sniping at each other. Emily makes a comment about the way Carly is dressed and Carly says she's dressed that way for AJ. Then Carly begs Emily to take her with her, Emily just leaves. Carly can hear Monica and Alan fighting from the living room. The subject of course, is AJ's marriage to Carly. Alan says it is Monica's fault AJ married Carly, because, as everyone knows, men marry women who remind them of their mothers . Monica demands a divorce and Carly bursts in and says they are nothing alike because, unlike Monica, she is a devoted mother. Monica's reply: "Put a sock in it!" Carly flounces out of the room and runs into AJ, who looks her up and down then hauls out a tape measure to gauge the distance from floor to hemline, and proclaims her skirt 1/2" too short. After a discussion about her "great" legs (only for him..) she complains of queasiness and says she'll feel better if she takes Michael for a walk. AJ says she's only allowed to wave at him twice a day, because she's a psychopath, it's in the Prenup. Then Edward comes in with The Prenup, quoting chapter and verse and claiming she signed it. Carly protests that it must have been a forgery, and in rolls Lila and says that Edward forged HER name on their Prenup. After laughing at Carly for a while, AJ says, "If my wife was any dumber, we'd have to water her." Then Dr. Smithson comes out of the hall closet and says she and her husband have been waiting for an excuse to send Carly back to Ferncliff. AJ hands her a wad of cash and says, "Don't take her now, but don't go far away!" Fade to Commercial. Carly comes downstairs in another hat and dowdier suit. Emily and some Jason-type hunk are playing pool in the foyer. Emily is playing the old Carly to the hilt, i.e., hasn't told Mr. Studly her name. Emily makes a comment about Carly's taste and they depart for Jake's. Carly picks up a pool cue and starts to play, when a 7-ish redheaded child comes into the room and tells her off. "Michael?" He says she must be mistaken. Then AJ walks in and says it IS Michael, they've just changed his name to AJ III (Trey). The kid is a dyed-in-the-wool brat. Edward enters and waxes poetic about the imminent arrival of Jason. Trey says, "Excuse me, I want nothing to do with that brain damaged thug who kept me away from my father for over a year." AJ beams and offers the kid $1000. Trey asks if he can buy another tie for his collection, and by the way, has he mentioned lately that it's a privilege to bear his father's name? Carly is dismayed. The doorbell rings and Edwards answers (as Reginald and Letitia have eloped!). Jason and Hannah enter, warmly welcomed by Edward. Hannah offers to slap that stupid hat off Carly's head. She and Jason start kissing in front of everyone, then Jason introduces her as "Hannah, my fiancee." Again, Carly is dismayed, and Edwards starts drooling. Carly and Hannah begin another slagging match. Carly says, "Jason may marry you, but he'll never father your children!" (a really stupid line, IMHO). Voilà ! Hannah is 9 months preggers. Edward is still fawning. Jason says the baby will be called Michael and throws Carly's motives back at her.

Ned arrives and announces that there's no more Q fortune to fight about, and that when AJ became CEO of ELQ he pulled his money out of the company and invested elsewhere. The doorbell rings, it's a collection agency, two burly men try to pry Carly's diamond rings off her fingers. Fade to commercial.

Everyone's at Kelly's. Carly is hauling in the bags. Kelly's is under new management, and no one knows who the new management is. Edward reminds everyone that it's traditional for the Q's to take up residence at Kelly's every time they lose their fortune. AJ plants a big wet one on Carly and tells her to rest up, it's going to be a LONG night (wink wink nudge nudge). The new owner walks in. It's Sonny "the smarmy hoodlum" (Edward's words). He throws them out. Carly whines, "My mom would never sell this place..." and right on cue, in walks Bobbie. Bobbie announces that she has no time to run the place since she wants to spend every moment with her grandson. Carly is thrilled! Edward comments that AJ III is depriving some village out there of an idiot. In walka Hannah and Jason with their own Michael. Bobbie exclaims, "There's my newest and favorite grandson!" As she and Hannah have gotten so close, Bobbie has adopted her. Hannah is more interesting, prettier, more fun to spend time with, AND they never argue!!! Carly begs Jason to step in and convince Sonny to let them stay, he begins listing all the people who are more important to him than her. Sonny caves, on the condition that the whole family works for room and board. Edward suggests Carly does the work for everyone.

Carly is scrubbing floors to pay off the food being eaten by Edward + his son Alan and the other son, Alan. They are picking on Carly when a 12-ish redheaded kid (Trey) arrives, whining about how a violet anti-social damaged criminal beat him up. Carly says, "Jason beat you up??" In walks the other Michael, all done up like his daddy. Everyone agrees that everything wrong is Carly's fault. Trey wouldn't be a spineless weasel if only Carly had brought him back to Jason as planned. Then Bobbie and Hannah (dressed in mother-daughter outfits) haul in a giant cocktail shaker full of money to bail the Q's out of their mis-fortune. Edward comes out of the kitchen saying, "Is that money I smell?" Hannah hands bunches of it out to everyone except Carly. Bobbie and Hannah go off for amother-daughter facial at Deception and Monica begs Jason to take her with him. He agrees if she promises not to speak to him (Carly has given him a headache). Monica is just grateful tobe in Jason's presence. Everyone leaves to count the money and divide it "equally". Sonny orders Carly to scrub the floors and get the gum out from under the counter. Fade to commercial.

Back in the foyer. Another staid suit, in comes Emily, on her way to Las Vegas. Carly wants to go with her. She says, "You're living MY live and I want it back!" Gum cracking, Emily says, "Even if I wanted to, those clothes..." Carly offers to put on some of her old clothes. "Can't", cracks Emily. "It's in the Prenup!" She departs. Carly enters the living room, thinking she sees AJ slumped on the floor drinking. It's a "grown up" Trey, chugging Vodka straight from the bottle. AJ arrives with a full case, claiming Michael's first year with Jason ruined him. AJ offers to make new babies and grabs Carly. She runs from the room, and can't get the front door open. Finally it comes free, but the force fells her and she looks up to see Jason and the "real" baby Michael. Jason holds his hand out to her to help her up (symbolism....). Carly wakes up to find Jason with her; she hugs him for all he's worth in her happiness that it was all a dream. She says well, it's worked, she has AJ but she doesn't want him. Jason thinks that she never went through with the wedding and wants to know what she said to AJ. She says I left him a note saying that she'd explain later. He said, "AJ's ok with that?" Eventually she gets through to him that she actually did marry him, sans Prenup. The final scene is her standing there in that way she does, smirk firmly placed..."Well, what are we going to do now?"

Carly turned to Jason for support and admitted she might not be able to go through with her plan. Carly returned to AJ expecting the worst and made up a story about her whereabouts. Carly was then greatly relieved when AJ said he would give her some space and maintained that they needed to get to know each other better before becoming intimate.

Jason goes to the penthouse, Sonny tells him to go to a public place tonight. Jason has figured out that Moreno dies tonight. He tells Sonny he hates this; Sonny says he does too but it's the way it's gotta be. Jason leaves and goes to Luke's with paper work. Hannah immediately waits on him, telling him she thinks she'll surprise Sonny with dinner at the penthouse. Jason tells her not tonight. Luke overhears and looks menacing. He comes over to Jason and tells him it's okay to use the club as a cover, but he wants to know whether Sonny is taking care of the Moreno problem tonight. Luke says he is tired of being "a spud standing in the middle of the street with his pants down" in the middle of a turf war.

At the Q's, Carly is getting Michael ready for bed. She asks Michael if he could maybe call for his Mommy in the middle of the night. She tries to explain, like a one year old could really understand, that when she married AJ she knew she would have to do certain things she didn't want to do. She asks Michael if he could help her out.

At Luke's, Luke notices that Jason has a stack of paperwork and tells Jason that it is a poor excuse for an alibi. He wants to know what is going on. Jason says that Sonny is just taking precautions. Sonny wouldn't tell him, but that is his guess. Luke refuses to believe that Jason doesn't really know. Sonny might not have told him directly, but Jason knows. Jason admits that Sonny is taking back his territory from Moreno. Luke's only comment is "at last". Luke tells Jason that he knew it would happen. He isn't surprised that Sonny didn't trust him with the details. Jason says that that is how Sonny operates. As they continue to talk, Hannah walks up to the table and asks Luke if she can leave. When Luke tells her it's OK to go, she asks Jason if he is sure that Sonny is busy. Jason assures her that Sonny is busy and she leaves saying that she can always leave him a message. After Hannah is gone, Luke tells Jason that the first thing the police are going to ask him is if he didn't know what was going on, why did he spend the evening at Luke's doing paperwork. Luke asks Jason if Sonny will be successful without Jason's help. Jason says that he isn't sure. He wanted to help, but Sonny wouldn't let him. Luke tells Jason that the problem is that Sonny and Jason are too close. Jason is trying to tail Sonny and Sonny is trying to keep Jason away so he looks respectable. Jason says that Sonny is his best friend and he doesn't want him to die if there is a way to stop it. Luke tells Jason that he may have to face the fact that he can't stop it. Jason's kind of blind loyalty can be suicide.

At the Q's, Carly walks into the study and sees AJ. She cheerfully greets him with a hi honey, you're home. Carly asks AJ if he wants to say goodnight to Michael, but AJ says that he will check on him when he and Carly go to bed. Carly tells AJ that Michael is still settling in and they need to make him feel like the mansion is a home. AJ says that Carly must feel the same way. AJ tells Carly that it is really nice to have something to come home too. Carly acts delighted at the nicety and smiles as AJ leans in to kiss her. AJ tells her that that doesn't mean that they have to stay home. Carly is delighted at the prospect of going out and thanks AJ with another kiss. AJ starts to get a little more passionate when Chloe and V appear unexpectedly and apologize for interrupting the intimate moment. Carly is a little too ecstatic when she tells them that it is really not a problem. She encourages everyone to go to Luke's with her. Luke leaves just as Chloe, V, AJ and Carly arrive. They walk past Jason on their way to a table, but Chloe stops to introduce herself. She tells Jason that she is happy to finally meet him. She has heard so many wonderful things about him from Emily. She politely invites Jason to join them, but he just as politely declines. Chloe starts to leave but stops to ask Jason if he has an opinion on the land sea crane issue. Jason tells her that when in doubt, she should vote with Sonny. If Sonny isn't available then she should vote with Ned. Jax and AJ aren't trustworthy. Chloe laughs and thanks Jason for advice then goes to join the others. The group chats for a bit then AJ invites Carly to dance. Carly happily agrees but looks at Jason over AJ's shoulder while they dance. Carly pulls AJ closer to her while they dance as Jason stands at the bar drinking a beer and watching. The diamond on her finger glitters magnificently in the light as she strokes the back of AJ's neck.

AJ and Carly are looking mighty cozy, and Jason isn't impressed. Carly looks like she wants to jump out of her skin every time he touches her. Bobbie drops by Jason and thanks him for everything he's done and given up for Carly and little Michael. Hannah runs to Luke's and tells Jason that Sonny has been arrested. At the police station, Alexis' way out the door, she tells Jason to get out of there and don't look back. Jason goes to Sonny offering to help,and Sonny refuses.

AJ gets Carly home alone and they start to talk and relax a bit, joking about their somewhat wild pasts. The phone rings and Ned asks for some ELQ papers right away.

Jason, Carly, and Michael are playing on a swingset in the park. Jason mocks Carly's plan. Carly ends up tickling Jason, then suddenly runs and leaps over the bushes to hide when she hears AJ's voice. He chastises Jason for putting Michael in a swing that's too large, then whines to Jason about how today is the first meeting of "Toddler Time with Daddy," and can he pretty please have Michael for the afternoon? "Let me get this straight: You signed up for a class to learn how to play with Michael?" Jasons asks. AJ whines some more, and Jason gives him Michael for the afteroon. Much later, after it is already dark, Jason and Carly are still in the park, talking by the swings. Jason ends up pushing Carly on the swing.

Emily convinces Jason to go to the Nurses Ball with her afterunsuccessfully trying to get him to discuss his relationship with Robin on camera.

A.J. shows Carly a sketch of the dress Chloe is working on for their entrance into Port Charles society...The Nurses Ball. They kiss a lot and it's obvious that Carly is really not enjoying it. She then heads over to Jason's to get the diamonds that he gave her in order to wear them with her new dress.

Carly makes her entrance dressed for the Nurse's Ball. AJ notices the diamonds that Jason gave her and demands she take them off. He then gives Carly diamond jewelry he bought for her. The Q's just stand around and watch in amazement. There's a whole segment done with "Rock this Town" playing throughout. We see all the couples already mentioned plus Mac and Felicia, Emily and Jason, and Nik and Liz, all the Q's. Most of the women spin around to showcase their gowns.

After Lucy announces Amanda's generous contribution, she speaks about an anonymous contribution made in Robin's name. The camera shows Felicia looking at a choked-up Mac and Emily looking at Jason. Lucy introduces the Q men (AJ, Edward, Alan and Ned) who do "I Feel Good" accompanied by four female dancers. The men all wear sunglasses and blue satin shirts.During a break in the entertainment, Edward has his own announcement. AJ is now CEO of ELQ. Carly is thrilled. Mike expresses concern to Jason that Sonny is out in public without a bodyguard. Jason tells him not to worry.

Carly tells Bobbie about AJ's CEO appointment. Amanda asks Carly if she can recommend her name for the Charity Guild. Tthe crowd is a little in shock as they see Bobbie and Jerry in all their glory during Emily's video. Then,most people start to snicker as they watch, especially when Amy hits the FF button and Bobbie and Jerry get undressed at a record speed. Carly and Amanda are horrified. When Bobbie and Jerry return, everyone stares at them silently. Carly takes Bobbie back outside . We don't hear Carly telling Bobbie what happened, but we pick up when she is telling Bobbie that she has to get out of there. Bobbie says she's not leaving as she is performing next.

The next musical number is "Jump, Jive and Wail". Performing are Tony, Mac, Felicia, Bobbie, Mike, Eve and Chris along with about eight dancers. The crowd gets a big kick out of this number. They all looked like they were having a lot of fun and it was a kick to see Bobbie dancing again. Jason lets Sonny and Hannah know they should use the service entrance to leave.

Emily and Ned sing "Forever Young" while we see quilts of many AIDS victims. Jason looks sad and pensive during their song. Ned encourages the audience to join them and they all sing along. It was a sweet, sad number.

Outside, Carly is humiliated and crying. Jason tries to comfort her. When he hears AJ calling Carly's name, he hides. AJ takes Carly back to the Ball. Carly is relieved that Amanda spoke to her after the tape was shown.

When Emily tells Jason that she told someone how Sonny was leaving through the kitchen, Jason goes running off. Sonny and Hannah are walking through the kitchen, talking and laughing, unaware that they are being followed by Juan. Jason charges through a door and attacks Juan. Juan asks what he's doing and says "my business is with him," indicating Sonny. Sonny notices the necklace Juan is wearing. Sonny says it belonged to his wife and asks how Juan got it. Juan answers "you gave it to me." Jason brings Emily home and she is telling him how awful she is feeling. That she cause so many problems tonight. Jason gives her some money to go buy Carly a nice present that girls would like. Emily asks if she should buy Sonny a present too since she feels bad about him as well. He smiles and tells her no, that he would speak to Sonny.

Alan, Edward, AJ & Carly get home from the Nurses' ball and talk to Lila for a bit before heading to bed. Carly apologizes to Lila, thinking that people are going to laugh at the Quartermaines because of the tape of Bobby that was played at the Nurses' Ball. Upstairs Carly is taking off her jewelry as AJ comes in. She supports him about tomorrow being the first day as CEO of the company. AJ thinks she is wonderful to be thinking of him when she is so upset. AJ tells Carly that from the first time he saw her he saw himself, someone that didn't fit in no matter how hard she tried. Says that even when she was scheming against him he was cheering for her, that he has the wife that he wants, he says when he say his future he saw what they have now. He tells her that together they can do anything. AJ and Carly kiss and he starts to undress her, asks if she wants him to stop and she says no. Jason is watching them from the window. Carly gets up, leaving AJ in her bed and goes and sits on a chair. She looks at AJ then at a picture of her and Jason. AJ tries his best to comfort Carly which leads to them making love. Jason goes up to Carly's room thinking to console her, only to see that his brother is doing just fine.

Jason visits Sonny at his penthouse and tells him about seeing Carly and AJ together and that it bothered him. Later, Carly visits Jason at the warehouse. Carly teases him about sounding so authoritative. Jason asks Carly why she is there. Carly replies that she just wanted to say thank you. Carly thanks Jason for coming to find her at the nurse's ball. It was really nice. She tells Jason that AJ was surprisingly nice also. He was really trying to help. She has every reason to hate AJ, but sometimes he can be really nice. Like he cares. It can be sort of confusing. Jason says that he understands. He knows this girl who blackmailed him and than asked him for help and then did everything she could to stand in his way. She even went behind his back and told the cops he was a kidnapper. Carly feigns shock and asks if he ever hated her. Jason smiles and asks if she really wants him to think about that. Carly says that she really did hate AJ, but since they've been married, he's been really nice. She then blurts out that she slept with him. She assures Jason that it meant nothing.

Jason is initially non-committal about Carly's news. Carly wants more from Jason about his feelings. Jason - "Why now?" Carly discovers that Jason came by to check on her that night as saw her with AJ. Carly still wants Jason to stop her from being with AJ. She says that after the fiasco of the Nurses Ball, she just wanted some comfort, but once the deed was done, that was all it felt like, not like it would be with Jason. Jason says Carly doesn't need his opinion, "What do you want from me?!" She wants to keep her friend. They have the usual agreement about goals and methods. Jason says the only way to fix things is to just get out now. Carly says it's gone to far. Carly stumbles on her way out, Jason catches her: she's crying, they hold each other, touch each other's face, but Jason ends up pulling away and gently sending Carly home. Later, we see Jason remembering himself comforting Carly at the Nurses Ball, and we see Carly sitting sadly in a garden somewhere.

In the coffee warehouse, Sonny & Jason discussing how to keep Hannah safe and how to get rid of Juan. Suddenly a guard shouted that there was an intruder in the warehouse. Juan ran out, and Jason tackled him. Juan bragged to Sonny about how easily he managed to avert the guards' attention, how he is equally good at dealing with the cops, etc., all in hopes of proving to Sonny that Sonny should hire him. Sonny, basically, threw a fit, and told Juan that he would never work for him. Later on the docks, Juan bragged about his wallet-stealing skills. To make his point, he had Emily walk away from him, and he demonstrated on her how quickly & unnoticeably he could steal her wallet. Unfortunately, Sonny & Jason saw the end of the game & assumed that Juan really was stealing her wallet. Everyone started yelling - Emily told them that she told Juan to steal her wallet - Jason told Juan never to mess with his sister again - and the fight ended with Sonny giving shame-faced Juan money and forcing him to live at Kelly's.

At the Q's, Chloe is having trouble concentrating on sketching. When Carly comes in, Chloe tells her that Jason is at the boat house with Michael. They talk briefly about doing charity work. Chloe regards most young women who join charity guilds as social climbers. Carly leaves and the phone rings for Chloe. Jax enters, talking on his cell phone. They both continue to talk business on their respective phones and they realize their business philosophies are the same. Carly joins Jason and Baby Michael at the boat house. While Michael is napping, Jason rubs sunscreen on Carly. Surprise surprise - AJ arrives and says "well isn't this cozy." AJ and Jason argue about Jason being with Michael on an unscheduled day. As they start to hurl insults, Carly takes Michael back to the house. Later, as Jason is having a bit of a fit, Carly brings Michael back. Jason doesn't want Michael to see him like that so he calms down and leaves. After sunset, Carly is alone at the boat house. AJ comes along and suggests they go for a swim. He starts to take his clothes off.

Jason comes in to Kellys and tells Bobbie about how he got upset and Michael saw his behavior. Before, he didn't have any feelings about AJ. Now he can't stand him. Jason has flashbacks of Michael and himself since Michael was a newborn.

At Sonny's penthouse, Jason wants to know why Sonny threw someone through a window. Sonny tells him the whole story including the fact that Juan came along at the end of the confrontation. Sonny still thinks it's best for Juan if they don't get involved in each other's lives.

In the Q's garden, Carly is trying to learn from Lila about the different flowers. When she realizes that Lila is daydreaming, she asks her if she's thinking of Felicia's memoirs. Yes, her mind is thinking of fifty years ago but she is also worried about Ned and Chloe. Carly reminds her that not everyone approved of her and Edward. Lila replies: "Edward was the only man who ever loved me exactly the way I am."

Jason is shooting pool at Jake's. Carly challenges him. Jason grins. He won't go upstairs with her. She wants to dance with him if she wins. Jason wins even though Carly does everything she can to distract him. He decides to dance with her. As they dance and temperatures start to rise, Jake interrupts them. She doesn't understand why Jason would want his teenage sister and her friends there for the concert, but she'll make sure they are not served any alcohol. Jason is confused. He never talked to Emily about this. He tells Jake he'll take full responsibility for Emily and her friends. Carly decides she had better leave before Emily sees her there. She wants Jason to dance with her again. He says later. Emily, Liz, Nik and Juan are stopped at the door by the bouncer, but Jake says to let them in. Liz notices Jason at the bar drinking beer and is worried. Emily goes to talk with him. He says he knows what happened. When he sees Juan at the table, he asks her whose idea this was. She claims it was all her idea. Jason pretends to believe her. She goes back to the table and Juan and Jason stare at each other. Jason goes out and starts to get on his bike. He has a flashback of when he told Carly he was committed to her and Michael and they kissed. Then we see Carly sitting in the garden smelling a rose and having the same flashback. Inside Jake's, 98 degrees sing a song, and yes they sang the whole song.

Carly is talking to Jason about how he never made any promises to her to break. The only one she can remember him making is that he'd wait for her and Michael. Carly asks who put this idea in Jason's head that he would ever hurt Michael. Jason says that he has done a wrong thing. What? Let's discuss this, she says. Jason takes a deep breath. He says that he's giving him up. He will not have shared custody etc, not see him at all. Carly asks why he is doing this. Is this Sonny's doing? Jason asks how many homes Michael has. None! Not two! He isn't happy in either place. He loves me, but he doesn't' know why he has to get used to the mansion if Jason will be there to save him. Jason says that it has to end. Someone has to quit this, and the logical person is ME, NOW! Carly says that she just has to be married a bit longer, then she can leave AJ and be a family. You, Michael me, the way we planned. Jason says that she did good, called all the shots, but AJ didn't play along. He will be Michael's family forever. Carly tells Jason that he has it all wrong. She will figure it out. She will take care of him there till she can shake loose of AJ. Jason says that AJ has a legal right to his son, and the courts will always let him have his son, no matter what. Carly starts to cry, saying that Jason is doing this to punish *her*. Jason says that he doesn't want Michael to learn that his mother caused his father's downfall. Jason says that it's the only way, for him to leave them. Carly says that Jason is Michael's father, the only father he has. She pulls herself together and says that she will tell Michael that his "father" will be back tomorrow to see him. Carly is back in the mansion. Edward is talking to Chloe. The doorbell rings. Edward opens it to find Jason. Jason says that he is there to say good bye to Michael.

At the Quartermaine mansion, Carly weeps as Jason goes to say goodbye to Michael. A.J. returns home to find his distraught wife. When he tries to follow Jason to the rose garden to confront his brother, Carly screams at him to leave Jason and Michael alone. Meanwhile, in the rose garden, Jason tells his son goodbye. He assures Michael that he will always be his father and Michael responds by saying "dada." Jason then explains that he is leaving his son only because he does not wish to hurt him. Carly begs A.J. to stay with her as Jason enters the room with Michael. After Letitia takes Michael upstairs to bed, Jason hands A.J. a court order relinquishing all rights to his son. When A.J. expresses disbelief, Jason leaves. Carly pleads with her husband to leave well enough alone as A.J. delights in his new "real" family.

Bobbie returns to the Q mansion to see Carly. Carly is surprised to see her. Bobbie says that she just wanted to make sure that Carly was all right. Carly says that she has a son to take care of so she has to be all right. When Carly gets a little choked up, Bobbie asks her again what is wrong. Carly tearfully tells Bobbie that she married AJ for love. Love for Jason and Michael. AJ was threatening to take Michael away and send her back to Ferncliffe. He's a Quartermaine. He has power and she doesn't. She had to believe him. Bobbie tells Carly that in the U.S. people just can't take babies away from their parents. Carly points out that it happened to Bobbie. Bobbie finally understands why Carly did everything when Jason was out of town. Accusing him of kidnapping, cozying up to the Q's, all of it. Bobbie wants to know how Carly thought it was going to end. Carly says that you never know.

Chloe's Wedding Shower to Ned
Monica passes around champagne like she's going to propose a toast, but Carly steps up to the plate, doing a decent job: "Chloe, on behalf of Lila and the rest of the Quartermaines, welcome to the family." Monica looks annoyed at being displaced. Chloe thanks her for a lovely shower and they have a big hug. AJ comes in and asks to steal his wife away. AJ is busting with good news: he fired someone and everyone else fell into line.

Carly is sitting outside in the rose garden and A.J. startles her He tells her it's nice to see her at peace and that they should call this Carly's Corner. He suggests they claim it for Michael's christening. Carly reminds him that Michael was christened at four weeks old. A.J. tells her that was invalid because Jason christened Michael as his own son. He wants to name him James Alan or Edward Alan. Carly gets upset and reminds him of all the changes that Michael has had to endure. He already knows his name so why should he have one more change? They decide to change it to Michael Alan Quartermaine and they hug and Carly thanks him. Carly goes to Bobbie who is talking to Hannah about painting the apartment, and after exchanging insults with Hannah (the best one was, isn't there a smoky back room you're supposed to be in?) Carly asks Bobbie what she should do. Bobbie asks her what the real problem is and Carly admits that it is that A.J. is trying to erase Jason from Michael's entire early childhood. Bobbie tells her the story of a girl who loves to dance and gets magic red dancing shoes that won't let her stop dancing until a kind woodsman saves her. Carly misses the entire point of the story and tells Bobbie she's not in the mood.

Sonny is sitting in his trashed apartment thinking of when he told Lily that he chose a life. He sees her holding a little boy and then it turns to Hannah holding Michael and a beat up Juan in the hospital. The bodyguard is worried and calls Benny. Benny goes in and see the whole place trashed and gets worried. He starts to go up the stairs but Sonny is sitting on them with what looks like a broken vase and threatens him. He tells him to go. Benny goes outside and tells the bodyguard to find Jason fast and not let anyone find out what went on in there. Sonny takes the picture of him and Lily out of the fireplace and takes a shard of glass from it and looks at it intently.

Carly sees Mike and asks him to come by to see Michael and then she goes to Sonny's. She convinces the guard to let her in and she sees Sonny and the trashed apartment and is totally shocked. She says his name and he looks at her.

Jason is throwing poker chips onto the beach and Maria asks why is here alone. He says he has to get used to being alone. Later, Jason comes back from diving off the cliffs and Maria chides him for being too reckless. He tells her that he needs the rush to feel alive. He also mentions that he doesn't have a little boy anymore and they kiss.

Carly keeps trying to talk to an almost comatose Sonny. He isn't responding to anything she says.When Carly asks to see the picture Sonny is holding, the one with the broken glass, Sonny ignores her, until she gently tries to take the picture away. Sonny grabs on to the picture tighterand has the look of a wounded animal in his eyes. Carly explains to Sonny that he could hurt himself on the broken glass and she doesn't want that. Defeated, Sonny lets Carly take the broken picture away. She tells Sonny that she will be right back. She goes outside and tells the bodyguard to find Benny or Johnny. She demands that he not come back until he has found one of them. The bodyguard reluctantly leaves after Carly threatens to tell Jason that he gave her a hard time. Back inside the penthouse, Sonny is nowhere to be seen. Carly calls his name and then says that she is going to open the drapes to let in a little light. As she starts to open them, Sonny shields his eyes from the light and demands to know what she is doing.

Sonny angrily closes the curtains and goes to find one of his bodyguard. He is furious when Carly tells him that she sent him away. He demands that she leave, but she doesn't want to go until one of the bodyguards returns. Sonny tries to pay Carly to leave saying that that is what she always wants. Carly does not take the money and calmly picks up the phone. Carly looks terrified when Sonny grabs the phone from her and throws it on the ground. He demands that she leave again, but Carly just turns and stares at him defiantly. Carly explains that she was calling Bobbie. Sonny angrily tells Carly that Bobbie can't help. He tells her that she is even dumber than he though. Carly says that she doesn't care if Sonny hates her. She knows he would never hurt her. Jason loves her and even if Sonny doesn't understand that, he respects it. Carly tells Sonny that he needs help. She wants to call Bobbie. Carly is in tears when she starts to straighten up. Sonny tells her not to bother. He already redecorated. Lily would have done a better job, but its' better this way. When you open up the door you see the truth. Everything Sonny Corinthos touches gets destroyed. Carly tries to stop Sonny from drinking more, but he tells her he can do whatever he wants. She asks how long it has been since he has eaten or slept. Sonny says that eating and sleeping are overrated. Sonny tells Carly that the people she loves may be bleeding and broken when she is done with them, but at least they are alive. He can't say that. Carly tells Sonny that she doesn't care who he is, he doesn't have the power of life and death. People don't drop dead because of something he does. She tells him how her adopted mother died of a stroke while they are arguing. She knows that it wasn't her fault. God doesn't think that way. And neither do the people who love Sonny. They wouldn't blame him. Sonny tells her not to explain his sickness to him. If she can explain things to herself fine. He is not afraid to look the devil in the eye. As he says this he smashes the half-full bottle of liquor he is holding against the table. The bottle shatters and the alcohol splashes everywhere, including onto Carly. Carly tries to get Sonny to let her look at his hand. He cut it when he smashed the bottle. Sonny looks at the hand and says that the blood isn't his. It's Lily's. Jason apologizes to Maria for what happened earlier. He explains that he needed to get away from Port Charles and somehow he ended up there. He tells Maria that he and Carly started out as lovers. It wasn't supposed to be anything more, but than she changed his life. She was crazy, butshe loved him. And he misses her. Jason explains that he used to always take care of things. This time he left. It was good that he left because now he knows that leaving only makes things worse. If he returns, it won't matter because Carly is married to someone else. She and Michael may never need him, but he should be there just in case. He decides to return to Port Charles immediately. Maria offers to repair Jason's heart, should he ever need repair. He smiles before he departs for Port Charles.

When Jason returns to Port Charles, he heads to Kelly's for a cup of coffee. Tammy tells him that Johnny is looking for both him and Sonny, prompting Jason to race to the penthouse. Carly helps Sonny tend to his wounded hand. He keeps repeating "I did it". Carly asks what he is talking about. It was a reference to the deaths of Lily and the baby. Sonny told her every detail of the night Lily died, though he didn't mention that the reason he wasn't driving was because he had been drinking. He told Carly how beautiful Lily was, what she was wearing, how he finally realized that he loved this woman who adored him. Later, Carly told Sonny that she always thought he was a cold, empty shell of a person but now she knew why and understood. They shared a very tender, though not romantic, moment which Jason walked in on. They rise. Sonny tells Jason that Carly was there looking for Jason and would not leave. Sonny goes in search of a drink. Carly tells Jason what happened. Jason and Carly hug and he thanks her for being there. Jason asks and Carly says that Sonny did not hurt her, just scared her. She tells Jason that she understands Sonny and his behavior better. Jason tells her that Sonny did not mean the hurtful things he said. Carly has had a revelation - someone does hurt more that her. The people she loves are still alive, but Sonny's loved ones are dead. Carly tells Jason that Benny and Johnny were out looking for him; he tells her Johnny is outside. He says she did the best anyone could do when Sonny gets that way. Carly says she just kept telling herself to hold on till Jason returned. Jason tells her he came back because his life is in PC. Jason tells Carly to go home, but she first wants him to promise that he does not hate her or think she betrayed him. She drags out the tired line about doing everything for him, Michael, and herself. They embrace. Sonny comes downstairs and is still surly. He wants Carly to leave. Jason walks her out. They talk in front of the elevator. Carly says she understands how Sonny feels knowing that she saw him that way - his did not mean to trust her. Jason says he knows that Carly will not betray that trust by telling anyone what happened. Jason says he owes her one for being there when it counted. She reminds him that she owes him far more that one and that she did not do it as a payback. Jason says he admires Carly for getting through the time with Sonny. Carly leaves. Jason goes back in and starts to clean up. Sonny tells him to leave it. Sonny tells Jason about what happened with Juan. Jason tells him he is not to blame for Juan's condition. Jason reminds Sonny of all the ways he made Jason's life what it is. Jason tells Sonny that Lily would not want him to live his live like this and reminds him that Lily forgave him. Sonny tells Jason that he was right about Carly being brave. Jason offers to call Mike and Hanna to tell them that Sonny is okay. Sonny does not want Hannah to know what happened. Mike answers the phone at Kelly's and Jason gives him the report. Mike gets ready to put Hanna on the phone and Jason asks that Mike just tell her that Sonny is fine. Carly returns to the Q's and goes to the gazebo. AJ finds her and wants to know where she's been. She apologizes and tells him she can't explain it right now. He accepts that answer and asks if she's okay. She says she just needs sleep and rushes off.

Carly tries to convince Bobbie to cover for her. She tells Bobbie that she was helping a friend during Ned and Chloe's wedding. She refuses to tell Bobbie the name of the friend but tells her it's very important to her because she was actually being nice to someone. AJ comes in and wants to know where Carly was during the wedding. Carly tells AJ she was helping a friend but can't betray them by revealing their name. Bobbie and Carly leave.

Hannah arrives at Sonny's penthouse and tells Johnny she wants to see Sonny. Jason comes out into the hallway and blocks the door when Hannah moves toward it. She becomes angry and leaves. Inside, Sonny asks Jason if he told Hannah to leave. Sonny is still in a daze. Later, when Carly arrives, Sonny is upstairs. She and Jason discuss Sonny. Carly assures Jason that he is not in this alone. He has her. Carly comes home and tries to assure AJ that she is where she wants to be.

Sonny tries to convince Jason that he is trying to protect Hannah from seeing him like this since he scared her so bad that night that guy grabbed her. Jason tries to point out that Sonny's strategy didn't work in the past with Brenda so why do it again. Benny comes over and says Carlos is in town and Sonny has to go to this important meeting, Sonny doesn't want to go so they talk about it and Jason decides to go. Sonny is against this as it will draw Jason back into the business. Jason says no one ever really believed he was out.

Jason returns from the meeting with Carlos. The meeting went well. Sonny does not understand why he wants back in when he was able to escape it. Jason says it's where he belongs, it's what he knows and there's no longer anything to lose. They shake on it. Sonny and Jason are eating. Sonny tells him about Hannah's visit. He tells Jason that he kept telling her to leave, but wanted her back as soon as she left. Sonny asks Jason to go check on Hannah and Juan. Jason returns from his mission. He reports that Juan was faking the leg problem in an effort to stay in PC with Emily.

Emily sneaks into the hospital and is caught by Jason. Emily tells Jason about what happened to Juan. Jason tells her that Sonny said she was very brave. She tells Jason that she cannot see Juan and about how important Juan has become to her. They go into Juan's room.Jason tells Juan he came for Sonny, but Juan is not terribly impressed.

Michael has been officially named Michael Alan Quartermaine. Michael is getting fussy, so Carly takes him up for a nap. When she returns, AJ proposes a toast that clearly upsets Carly, saying, “As of today, my son begins his new life. All of the mistakes of the past are over. Edward talks about setting up Michael's trust fund. Amanda Barrington makes some comments to Carly that clearly offend Carly's sensibilities: how it's important to have a last name to show who you belong to, and that Carly must be proud of Michael now. Carly points out she always has been proud of Michael. Lila steps in and privately tells Carly she's very brave and Carly responds cheerfully, "Like mother, like daughter." and then turns around and is cruel to Bobbie.

Carly goes to Jason to tell him about Michael's name change and it's clearly hard for her. They have a long talk about how things could have been different and how Carly appreciates Jason being around. Jason is clearly falling for her.

Carly tells Jason she'd do anything to be with him. He asks, "Even leave AJ?" She nods. He points out, "And drag Michael through another custody battle?" Carly tells Jason she loves him, and that she knows that he loves her too, and she will always love him. She's crying hard, and he holds her close and almost kisses her, they lean into each other for a moment, then back off into a big hug. The moment is lost, Jason tries to calm her down andsends her home.. In the hallway outside Sonny's apartment, she asks him to loan her money for a cab, while the tears are streaming down her face. He puts the money in her hand, kisses it. She leans in to kiss him, still crying, he strokes her arm, as the elevator doors open behind her, and AJ comes out not looking very happy to see his wife almost kissing his brother. AJ tells Jason that Carly is *his* wife and warns him to stay away from her. Carly says she's there to tell Jason about Michael being christened. Jason and AJ quarrel and go after each other physically. Jason lets go of AJ, tells him to go home to his family and be glad he's alive. Jason goes back into the penthouse and tells Sonny what happened with AJ. Jason now realizes all the times he could have turned things around with Carly. Sonny says he broke things off for all the right reasons.