“Mrs. Morgan?” Carly repeated. “Did I miss the ceremony?”

“Yeah, it was lovely, Carly,” Elizabeth panted. “Flowers, cake–best of all, you weren’t there. Can we concentrate on this right now?”

Jason glared at Carly and belatedly, the blonde remembered that this was supposed to be a hideout for Elizabeth and of course the locals would think he was her husband with all the time he was spending here.

“Sorry, I just can’t believe you got married and didn’t invite me,” Carly grumbled. “Is she close?”

“Another push should do it,” Paige remarked.

---

Michael hopped from foot to foot outside Elizabeth’s bedroom door. At first, he’d been worried about the sounds coming from the room but Jason had come out briefly to assure him that all was well.

He sure hoped so, anyway. He liked having Elizabeth around and it was going to be so cool when his cousin was born. He’d have both Morgan and Andi to look after, to boss around when they got older.

After what seemed like his whole life, the door finally opened and his mother stood there with a funny smile on her face. “Michael, there’s someone you can meet now.”

He dashed into the room and found Elizabeth propped up against the headboard, exhausted but smiling. A bundle was perched in her arms and Jason was at her side, his hand around her shoulders as if to keep her propped up.

“Michael, meet Alexandria Audrey,” Elizabeth said quietly. Michael went to the other side of the bed and climbed up beside her. “Andi, this is your cousin Michael.”

“Wow, I can’t believe how tiny she is,” Michael said. “I mean, Morgan’s small, but she’s really small.”

Paige packed up her things and hoisted her bag over her shoulder. “They make a nice picture, don’t they?” she asked Carly.

“I suppose,” Carly sighed. “She’s not good enough for him.”

“No one ever thinks anyone is good enough for their brother,” Paige remarked. “I know that from experience. I’m gonna go. I’ll be back tomorrow to check on them both but Mr. Morgan has all the instructions for care.”

“Thanks for everything,” Carly said. “We’ll call if we need anything.”

“Her fingers are so small, too,” Michael said. “Look at her little fingernails.” He looked up at Elizabeth. “Why’s she so red?”

Elizabeth laughed shakily and closed her eyes, feeling the adrenaline start to fade from her body. Jason took Andi in his arms and gestured for Michael to follow him. “Let’s let get Andi cleaned up and put her down for a nap. Then we can come in here and help Elizabeth to another bed so she can sleep.”

“A nap?” Michael wrinkled his nose. “She just got here, why’s she wanna sleep more?”

“Because babies like to get all the energy they can so they can grow up to be kids that never have to sleep,” Carly directed as she hustled the three out of the room. She turned to Elizabeth. “Is there anything I can get you?”

“She just assumed we were married, Carly,” Elizabeth murmured. “He’s here so much and I’m pregnant and it was easier than explaining why I was really here.”

“It’s okay,” Carly sighed. She perched on the edge of the bed. “I might as well get used to the idea now. Whether I like it or not, you’re part of this family now. You and your daughter. You matter to Jason, which means you matter to me. I never liked you, Elizabeth,” she said bluntly. “I’m not entirely sure that’ll ever change.”

“Well, I never liked you either Carly,” Elizabeth said with a faint smile. “I’m not entirely sure that’ll change.”

“But I respect Jason and I respect his choices. I didn’t always, but I do now. He has been the best friend a girl could ask for and I know you and I just want the best for him. He seems to think that’s you.” Carly shrugged. “So, I just want you to know that I’m going to work on accepting that.”

“Carly…” Elizabeth shook her head. “Jason and I haven’t made any decisions…”

“Maybe not officially, but you know better. You might need the words to define it and I can understand that but in Jason’s heart and his head, the decisions have been made and I don’t even need to ask you if that’s true for you, too.”

Elizabeth bit her lip. “No, I guess you don’t.”

“I always wanted a little girl,” Carly confessed quietly. She looked at Elizabeth. “I love my boys, but I wanted a daughter so I could give her all the things I never had growing up. So I could teach her love and compassion so she wouldn’t have to go searching for it.”

“Well, it’s not like it won’t ever happen for you,” Elizabeth said. “But in the meantime, I’m sure that Michael would love if you felt like Andi was your niece.” Her lips twisted in a wry smile. “I think every kid needs someone who loves like you do–without any boundaries or regards for polite behavior.”

“Well, that’s certainly true,” Carly stood. “I think we’ve just had a whole day of and night of civilized conversation. I don’t know about you but I think that’s more than enough for me.”

“Carly…I love Jason just as much as you do and I’ll do my best to make him happy.”

“You’d better,” Carly nodded, “or there won’t be a place on this planet you can hide from me.”

“Carly,” Jason scowled as he returned to the room, sans the baby and Michael. “I thought you were going to be nice.”

“Relax,” Carly patted his shoulder. “The muffin and I came to an understanding.” She straightened her shoulders. “Now, I think I’ll go check in on Morgan and then go see my niece.”

“Niece?” Jason questioned but Carly waved him off and disappeared towards the nursery. “Niece?” he repeated to Elizabeth.

“You don’t think Andi deserves an Aunt Carly?” Elizabeth asked as she started to get out of the bed. Jason stopped her and then lifted her into his arms.

“I don’t think anyone deserves an Aunt Carly,” Jason remarked dryly. “Let’s get you settled in the other room.”

“You don’t have to carry me,” Elizabeth mumbled, clasping her hands around his neck.

“You’re tired and this is faster.”

---

“Does she look like anyone?” Michael questioned. He looked up at his mother than back into the bassinet at his new cousin. “They’re always saying Morgan looks like you and I look like Grandma Bobbie.”

“She has Elizabeth’s features, I guess,” Carly said. “That hair color, I think it’s Zander’s though.” She tucked the little lacy blanket in more tightly around Andi’s body. “She and Morgan are going to grow up together. It’s a little weird to think about.”

“It’s awesome,” Michael said enthusiastically. “I can’t wait until they’re old to do the stuff I tell them to.”

Carly rolled her eyes. “Yeah, there’s no doubt you’re my kid. I remember when you were this small.” She looked away. “You were sick when you were born, I was so scared we’d lose you.”

“But I’m here, so it’s okay.” Michael slid onto the bed in the room and looked up at his mother. “Sonny said he regretted adopting me. Do you ever regret having me, Mom?”

“Never,” Carly promised. “You are my everything.” She sat next to him on the bed. “I did a lot of stupid things before you were born and maybe one day I’ll tell you about them but of all things I’ve done in my life, having you and Morgan will always be the best.” She hugged and kissed the top of his head.

---

Back in Port Charles, DA Ric Lansing was working on a case and trying to avoid thinking about the impending divorce. He would fight it, he already knew that but it was offensive to him that Elizabeth would divorce him for doing exactly what they’d agreed on. And besides, she would have understood about Sam.

“We’ve had a break on the Smith case,” Mac Scorpio strode in without knocking. “We found a pipe in the wreckage of the hotel–it has dried blood and brain matter–it’s down at the lab for testing but I think we’ve found our murder weapon.”

← Chapter Eleven | Chapter Thirteen →