Later, after Michael was asleep for the night and Jason had called Alexis to begin the process, he sat down with Elizabeth in the kitchen while she ate one of her late-night craving snacks–pickle and peanut butter sandwiches.

“Michael’s been making noises about wanting Carly to visit,” he told her.

Elizabeth frowned and set her sandwich on her plate. “Is that…a good idea?” she asked. “I mean, you know Carly more than I do but I just…with everything she’s going through with Sonny…”

“It’s part of the reason I’m bring it up,” Jason remarked quietly. “Losing custody of Michael was hard even when she saw how much it meant to him. She’s been scared of losing him since the day he was born and now it’s almost as if she has.”

Elizabeth peeled the crust from her sandwich and nibbled on it absently. Since the day she’d arrived in Port Charles, she’d heard about Caroline Benson Corinthos. She’d heard stories of how the blonde had ruined Bobbie’s life, stories of her feud with Robin Scorpio, tales of her many plans that had gone awry. Carly had always been someone on the peripheral edges of Elizabeth’s life but since the birth of her friendship with Jason, the two women had been thrown into each other’s spheres more often than they would like.

Elizabeth would never understand why Jason put up with Carly but she was Michael’s mother and Michael always spoke highly of his mother and if there was one thing Elizabeth could say about Carly with any certainty–it was that she loved her boys. Her agreement not to fight Jason for custody spoke volumes.

This trip to Spain was to have been her escape from Port Charles but she realized this house was turning into more. This place was no longer just her haven but Jason and Michael’s too. They came here when life back home became too stressful. They came here when they wanted some time to just be.

This place had healed something in Elizabeth that she hadn’t even realized was still wounded. How could she deny Carly that opportunity?

“If you think that Carly spending part of the summer here is a good idea, then I trust your judgment,” Elizabeth answered. “I think it would be good for Michael to spend some time with his mother away from Port Charles and the stress of the custody battle and the divorce.”

Jason exhaled slowly. “Thank you,” he replied. “I don’t know how long she’d be here but it’s good…it’s good that you’re okay with this. It means a lot to me.”

Elizabeth reached out and covered Jason’s hand. “Michael is important to me,” she told him. “You are important to me. I want to do anything I can to help you. To support you.” Her smile twisted. “Even if it is asking Carly to visit on purpose.”

Jason sat back and resolved to call Carly in the morning. “Michael got straight A’s for the year,” he said after a moment, unable to control the smile that stretched across his face. “He wanted to surprise you with his report card.”

“That’s wonderful but I’m not surprised you know. He’s so smart.” Elizabeth bit into her sandwich. ”

“There was this conference at the end of the year,” Jason continued, “and his teacher wanted to tell me that she’d never seen a student improve so fast. Michael missed so much time during the beginning of the year that he almost failed but once he came to live with me, his work turned around, his attendance was up, he was behaving perfectly–she told me that he was one of the brightest and most well-adjusted boy she’d ever taught and that living with me was the best thing that could have happened to him.”

Elizabeth grinned. “I could have told you that,” she teased. “In fact, I think I did.”

“I know…” Jason shrugged and looked away. “It’s different hearing that from someone who had real contact with Michael before the divorce and saw him everyday, someone who can really see the difference. It’s like…” he hesitated. “Validation.”

Elizabeth nodded. “I think that I’ve never seen Michael as happy as he’s been these last few months. When he used to come into Kelly’s with Leticia, he’d be kind of withdrawn and silent but he’s just bursting with energy and enthusiasm and he’s starting to really act like every other eight year old I know. He’s talked about being an archaeologist one week and a circus performer the next.” She propped her chin on her fist and smiled at him. “You’re a wonderful father, Jason, but I’ve always–” she stopped abruptly and set her hand on her abdomen. “Whoa.”

“What’s wrong?” Jason stiffened and then stood. “Is it the baby? Elizabeth–”

She reached for his hand to press it against her tummy. “Can you feel her?” she asked. “She’s kicking like a soccer player tonight and she just delivered a solid one to my ribs, that’s all.”

He felt the press of something against his hand, almost like a bubble. Almost in awe, he knelt down and waited for the movement again. “Does she do this often?”

“More often now than before,” Elizabeth answered. She closed her eyes and smiled. “It’s getting close, Jason. I can just…I can just feel it. It’s going to happen soon. I can’t wait to hold her.”

“It’s hard to believe that this time next year, she’ll be here.” Jason shook his head. “I’ve never…I’ve never felt this before. Carly wasn’t around during this stage and things were just tense at that point. And when she was pregnant with Michael, she wasn’t…really into the motherhood thing. She just knew she didn’t want anyone taking her baby away.” He stared at Elizabeth’s tummy, fascinated by the kicking. “It’s just…incredible to me that there’s this whole life waiting to start.”

“I’m glad you’re here,” Elizabeth said softly. “I’m so happy that I get to share this with you, that you’ll be one of the first people to meet my daughter.” Her eyes were soft and wet with tears as she touched his cheek, caressing the skin with her fingertips.

Jason covered her hand with his and closed his eyes. “So am I,” he murmured. His eyes opened and met hers. Almost in slow motion, he drew closer to her, never breaking the contact.

Her lips were softer than he remembered, her breath tickled his lips just before he kissed her. And he heard the small gasp of surprise before she melted under his mouth. She curled her fingers in his hair and pressed closer.

When Jason pulled away moments later, her cheeks were flushed and her still closed–a smile on her face. “Should I apologize?” he asked softly.

Her eyes opened, revealing the slightly dazed look in them. “No.” Elizabeth licked her lips and shook her head, a smile spreading across her face. “No.”

---

Carly was lukewarm about the idea of visiting the house in Spain. She still had her reservations about spending time with Elizabeth or the amount of time that Elizabeth spent with her son but she wanted to be with Michael and she wanted her boys to be together so she agreed to fly in.

Jason was glad she’d decided to come. The atmosphere in the house had changed since that early June night when he’d kissed Elizabeth in the kitchen. It was tense somehow–not in a bad way but in a way that made Jason all too aware of the fact that she was pregnant and not in the position to really pursue anything.

Their discussions were different–they no longer had the tone of tentative friendship and support but of something…more. She spoke about the night she’d left the penthouse and the reasons she’d remarried Ric. He told her about Courtney and the way things really were at home living across from Sonny.

“Why don’t you just move?” Elizabeth asked towards the end of June as they sat on the back porch and kept an eye on Michael building a sand castle on the beach.

“Because it’s familiar,” Jason replied. “I don’t want to push Michael into making any more changes than he has to right now.” He stared at his hands for a moment before meeting her eyes. “But if I’m honest with myself, I want Sonny to be the guy he used to be.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Elizabeth murmured. “Maybe he just needs time and space away from…” she stopped and flushed.

“Carly?” Jason finished. “Maybe. I wish Michael hadn’t had had to go through this.” He focused on Michael in the distance. “Spending time with his mother and Morgan will be good for him.”

“I suppose.” Elizabeth leaned her head on Jason’s shoulder and closed her eyes. “It might be okay having Carly around. I mean, with my due date approaching so quickly, I suppose it would be helpful to have someone around who’s been through it twice.”

“Are you scared?” Jason asked, squeezing her shoulder.

“A little,” Elizabeth admitted. “I want this so much but I think about what I know Carly went through with Morgan and with Michael…” she sighed. “And when Alexis had Kristina…when I think about those things, I do get scared.” She bit her lip and looked up at him. “There’s a hospital nearby isn’t there?”

“It’s a twenty minute drive to one,” Jason said hesitantly. “When I arranged for this place, I didn’t realize you’d be here so long. We can move somewhere closer–”

“No, no–” Elizabeth shook her head. “No, I shouldn’t be worried. Everything has been normal, there’s no reason to panic and move house. I want Lexie born here. I just…I’m looking on the bright side of Carly’s visit,” she said, followed by weak laughter.

“I’ll leave it up to you,” Jason said. “But if you’d feel better closer to the hospital, just let me know.”

“I will.” Elizabeth squeezed his knee and struggled to her feet. “I’m going to go take a nap–what time do you have to pick Carly up at the airport tomorrow?”

“Early.” Jason stood and crossed to railing, leaning against it as he kept one eye on Michael and the other on Elizabeth. “I’m leaving Michael here so you’re not alone, okay?”

“Mm…okay.” Elizabeth kissed his cheek before disappearing inside.

—

Carly stepped out of the customs, pushing Morgan in his stroller. Max was behind her with her luggage cart. She stopped in front of Jason and slid her sunglasses over her eyes. “Where’s Michael?” she asked immediately.

“Hey, Carly,” Jason greeted. He nodded at Max “Michael’s at home with Elizabeth. She’s too close to her due date to be left completely alone. Besides, I thought it would be better if we…talked before you and Elizabeth saw each other.”

Carly sighed impatiently and pushed the stroller towards the ext. “I’m going to play nice with her, you don’t have to worry.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about…though that is a good point,” Jason said as he followed her. “Look, Elizabeth is close to her due date and the most recent pregnancies she’s been around haven’t always ended well–including her first one.”

Carly sighed and slid her sunglasses back up. “So she’s a little scared, huh?” She pursed her lips and nodded. “Can’t blame her. I had two really bad experiences, we’ve both had miscarriages…” she sighed. “So I guess you want me to play more than nice with her, huh?”

“I would appreciate it if you could possibly be more than nice to her,” Jason confirmed. “I might even go as far as to suggest that you be supportive. She’s having her baby without any of her family or friends present and I don’t want her to be scared.” He stopped at the car and unlocked the trunk. “She means a lot to Michael and you know what she means to me. This is important to me, Carly.”

“Okay,” Carly agreed. “I mean, it’s not going to be easy because the muffin and I don’t get along living in the same town. I can’t guarantee things won’t be any easier in the same house but I will give it my best shot.” She held out her hand, her pinky finger sticking out. “I pinky swear.”

Jason looked at her oddly but wrapped his own pinky around hers. Whatever it took.

After Carly had waved goodbye to Max–who was headed back to Port Charles–and she’d strapped into Jason’s car, she asked, “Did you tell her?”

Jason started the engine. “No.” He backed out of the parking lot.

“Why not?” Carly asked. “She’s emotionally vulnerable right now, you know. It’s perfect.”

Jason glanced at her, annoyed. “It’s exactly why I’m not telling her. She just filed for divorce, Carly. And she’s got enough going on without me…telling her that.” He shifted in his seat. “Anyway, it’s too soon for that. We’re…we’re getting back on track, Carly. Don’t try to help, okay?”

“But–”

“Don’t try to help,” Jason repeated firmly. “I know you. You’d want to make it better faster and you’d concoct a plan–and you’d mean well, I know you would. But it never ends well, Carly and you know why?”

“Because I don’t think my plans out,” Carly muttered. She folded her arms and glared at him. “I’ll have you know that I can make them work when it counts.”

“Uh huh.” Jason glanced at her again. “Name one time.”

“I wanted to seduce Tony away from my mother and ruin her life,” Carly pointed out. She frowned. “I suppose one could argue my plans work when I’m actually setting out to ruin someone’s life.”

“Yeah, so don’t help.”

“Fine,” Carly slumped back in her seat. “But if I have to watch you two tip toe around each other for another five years, so help me God…”

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