After weeks, Carly had grown to tolerate Jason. She still couldn't stand the sight of him, but now she wasn't as resentful. She still felt immense hatred toward him. But she had learned to keep it inside for Marisa and Michael's sake. Jason was with Marisa right now in his room. Carly and Jason had decided to set Marisa's room up in the place where Jason used to sleep. It wasn't complete yet, so Marisa continued to stay in Jason's room. Jason and Carly got into a few arguments and Jason knew it would take him a while before he could get his promise to Marisa & Michael taken care of. Jason was with Michael right now, Marisa was asleep, and Carly was in the front room waiting for Bobbie. The phone rang and Carly picked it up "Bobbie?""No. Guess again." The voice laughed.
Carly grinned when she heard the laugh, "A.J.?"
Jason came down from Michael's room just in time to hear Carly say his brother's name.
"That would be me," A.J. responded.
"My God! Where are you?!" Carly asked, half of her happy to hear him and the other half of her really mad.
"I'm coming back, don't worry. I should be there within the next couple of hours." A.J. looked out the jet's window. "I wanted to know how you were."
"Better now that I've heard from you." Carly flattered him. She was so relieved to hear his voice.
"Would you meet me at the docks later?" A.J. asked.
"Of course. Just tell me when." Carly was more than happy to meet with him.
"Ok. I should be there in a bit. Um...meet me at three at the docks, ok?" A.J. suggested.
"I can't wait to see you," Carly said without even thinking. She bit her lip, waiting for him to say something.
"I can't wait to see you either. Goodbye," A.J. said and hung up.
Jason was so mad at A.J. Did he actually think he and Carly were going to get together? Jason's insides filled with jealousy. Sonny was right. A.J. was the other guy going after Carly. Well he isn't going to win, Jason thought. He approached Carly. "Who was on the phone?"
"Bobbie." Carly shrugged. Jason didn't have to know who she talked to. It was none of his business.
"Bobbie called? What about?"
"None of your business," Carly snapped and walked past him.
Jason wanted to be the better guy here. "Carly, I was thinking maybe I could watch the kids today."
Carly was suspicious of his actions. "Yeah?"
"Yeah. I mean you could use a break for whatever." Jason felt a little insecure about doing this. It was like he was inviting A.J. into her heart, but he had to do something.
"Thanks." Carly smiled at Jason.
Jason's heart started to beat faster. It was the first smile he had gotten from her since he had gotten back. "I just have something and then I'll be back."
"Ok. Well, Bobbie's here in a bit so I might leave when she's here," Carly arranged with Jason. Carly was happy that he had made such a suggestion. She was going to try and be a little nicer.
"Ok." Jason grabbed his coat and exited.
Carly crossed her arms and squinted her eyes a little. She wasn't sure what Jason was up to, but she wasn't falling for it or him ever again.
**********Carly felt a little guilty just dumping Michael and Marisa on Bobbie, but Bobbie insisted it was ok. Bobbie knew Carly was going to meet A.J. and she knew how much it meant to Carly. Bobbie was happy to take care of her grandchildren. Carly bit fingernail tips waiting for A.J. She couldn't stand still. She paced the dock, waiting for him. A year ago she would have never thought she and A.J. would get along, but now here she was waiting happily for him. What was it about him? Why did the thought of him overwhelm her with happy thoughts? She often tried but couldn't figure out why. She just felt. She had missed him so much. She ran her hands halfway through her hair and held on tightly to her golden strands. She closed her eyes and breathed in the salt water smell. A.J. watched Carly do all of this and he realized just how much he had missed her. She was wearing white jeans and a light purple t-shirt. She had a sweater over her shirt and a small charm necklace on. She let go of her hair and began to mess around with her necklace. A.J. just looked at her for a few moments, not sure what he was going to say. She looked so beautiful. The sun was peeking out of the gray clouds and hitting Carly perfectly. She looked like an angel waiting for him. Of all people she was waiting for him. Carly finally turned around and saw him. Her face lit up and she ran to him, "A.J.!" She squealed as she jumped into his arms.
A.J. spinned a little while holding her. He loved the way she felt in his arms. "Hi."
Carly let herself down and looked into his eyes, "Hi!" She was so happy to see him.
"You ok?" A.J. held onto her hands and backed up a little, looking at her from head to toe, "Did you really have a baby?"
"Yes, I did." Carly held onto his hands and guided him over to the bench. They sat and she continued to explain, "I had a little girl. Her name is Marisa."
"Marisa?" A.J. repeated; he liked the way it sounded. "It's a nice name."
"You think? I wasn't sure." Carly sat back and still held on to his hands. She noticed that A.J. looked down at their hand holding. She quickly released him, "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. You're probably still mad at me."
A.J. tried to stop her ramble. "Carly, that isn't the reason."
Carly continued anyway. "It's just we were talking like nothing had ever happened. And I forgot that--" Carly stopped when A.J. put his finger over her mouth.
A.J. grinned at how her warm lips felt against his finger, "We should probably talk about that."
"What do you want to say about it?" Carly said, not wanting to hear his answer.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know how."
"Is it because you don't trust me? Did you think I'd go tell Edward or something?!" A.J.'s tone grew louder and he had to stand and walk away. He walked to the end of the dock.
"No! That isn't why!"Carly had never thought such a thing.
"Then what is it?" A.J.'s tone lowered again.
"I just--," Carly rubbed her forehead and put her hand on her hip, "What would you have thought if I told you I was pregnant with Jason's baby?"
"I don't know!" A.J. had no control over his voice.
"That's why! I didn't tell you for that reason."
"Why do you think that is, Carly?" A.J. asked unclearly.
"Why do I think what is?"
"Why do you think you were so nervous about telling me that you were pregnant with his baby?"
"I don't know," Carly answered.
A.J. stepped over to her. She could feel his breath on her skin. He put his finger under her chin forcing her to look at him, "Do you think it's because were more than friends?"
Carly just continued to look at him no response.
"I think it is," A.J. told her.
"But--" Carly choked out but didn't know what to say.
"But nothing. That has to be it," A.J. spoke softly into her ear, taking a deep breath of the flowery smell her hair gave.
"I don't know if the us being more than friends is such a good idea." Carly cleared her throat and took a step back.
A.J. gently pulled her back, "It's ok to feel like this for each other."
"No, it isn't." Carly shook off any thoughts of kissing him or reacting the way she wanted to.
"Carly," A.J. stepped back and looked at her, "Do you love Jason?"
"What?" Carly managed to let out.
"Do you? Yes or no? I have to know." A.J. was serious.
Carly laughed, thinking he wasn't. "You're joking, right?" Carly continued to laugh, but A.J. didn't seem in the least amused. "You're serious."
"Yes. I am."
"I don't know." Carly shrugged, scared of something she might say.
"Don't think, Carly. Just answer. Tell me if you love him or not." A.J. stopped asking for an answer; now he was demanding.
Carly turned away from him and tears began to fall.
A.J. walked up behind her and gripped her upper forearms, "Carly, don't think. Just say what you're feeling. Don't think."
Carly closed her eyes as her tears continued to run. She had to think. The answer she gave would change their lives forever. Whatever her answer, it would change them. She faced him again and as much as she hated to say it she whispered, "Yes. I do."
A.J. was definitely hurt. He stepped away from her. And Carly wanted so bad to make his pain go away, but she had to tell him the truth. Lies are what ruined them so many times before. Carly covered her face, trying to get his hurt image out of her mind. A.J. nodded his head. "That's ok."
Carly let her hands down. "It is?"
"Yeah." A.J. smiled. "Just means I have to try harder."
Carly was incredibly confused. "What?"
"I haven't tried hard enough. Or else you would have said you loved me." A.J. didn't seem sad anymore--he was sort of glowing.
"I don't understand."
"You will in time." A.J. grinned, "Do you think Jason's the only one who had to go away to make a decision? He's not. I made one my own."
"What?"
"I decided that if I have to I'll fight for you." A.J. again stepped close to her. He wasn't even an inch away.
"Fight for me?" Carly was still confused, "Why would you do that?"
"Because you're worth fighting for," A.J. told her.
Before Carly could say something more, A.J. kissed her. It wasn't open mouth but it was very passionate. Carly ended up placing her hands on his face and pulled away a few seconds later.
A.J. flashed her another sexy smile, "See? I just have to try harder." He gave her another brief kiss. "I'll talk to you later." A.J. walked past her and left.
Carly stood there with her jaw open. What was she going to do?
**********Robin fluffed the pillows on the couch again. She was so nervous about Jason coming to see her. She was so happy to hear his voice. He sounded a little sad, but it was probably because he had told Carly he wanted Robin. Robin was sure he chose her. Then she thought to herself, 'What if it's you he doesn't want?' Robin hit her forehead lightly. "No!" she said aloud. "He wouldn't."
There was a knock at the door, "Robin!" Jason yelled. He was determined to tell her.
Robin ran to the door. She was staying with Brenda. Brenda was usually with Jax, so Robin had the place pretty much to herself.
"Jason." Robin jumped up to hug him as she opened the door.
Jason was going to try and be cruel to her at first so she'd hate him, but when she hugged him he couldn't bring himself to do such a thing. It wasn't human.
"Robin, I wish a good one but it isn't." Jason let go of her and stayed outside of the house.
"Jason, why wouldn't this be good? You came back today and you're here to see me!"
"Robin, I've been in Port Charles for weeks. I just haven't come to see you," Jason confessed.
"Weeks?" Robin wasn't going to let that stop her. "It's just because of your daughter."
"Daughter? How'd you know?" Jason got mad. Had Robin been stalking Carly?
"I just did." Robin looked away.
"Stay away from Carly, Robin!" Jason warned Robin.
"Or what? What?" Robin smiled. She was sick of being the good girl everyone expected. She loved Jason and Carly wasn't going to win this. "What do you think Carly would think if I told A.J. who Michael's father was? Or if it just slipped out to the Quartermaines?"
"You wouldn't do that," Jason sighed.
"Oh of course not!" Robin laughed like a maniac and Jason knew she had lost it. "Jason, I got nothing to lose if your decision is Carly. I have absolutely nothing to lose! If I don't have you, nothing matters." Robin cried.
"Robin, I am picking Carly because of Marisa, Michael, and a family that I have a responsibility to." Jason explained, "Carly means a lot to me and before that trip I had no idea I swear!"
"I don't care if you love her now, you never loved me!"
"That's not true!" Jason yelled.
"Yes it is! And if it wasn't for her we would still be together. "Robin took a deep breath, "Get out."
Jason nodded, "Ok, Robin. Goodbye." Jason closed the door softly and walked away.
"Goodbye, Jason," she whispered. She looked around and just started throwing stuff around. She broke things and screamed, "Damn you, Carly!" After she was done she coughed and whispered, "That's ok. You won't get away with it. I'll take care of you myself. If that island couldn't take care of you maybe I can." Robin wasn't being rational; she just needed Jason so badly.