Chapter 14

Emily took a deep breath before opening the door to the apartment she shared 
with Elizabeth.  She'd had the whole car ride over to come up something, 
anything, to say to Sly about where she'd been all night and of course, how 
she'd gotten a hickey.  The only thing she could come up with was to tell him 
the truth, something she didn't want to do but didn't know how to avoid it.  

She walked cautiously into the apartment expecting for Sly to be waiting for 
her. The apartment was suspiciously quiet.

"Hello? Sly are you here?" She called out.

She hoped he was there, she was anxious to get the confrontation over with.

"Sly's not here, he had to leave." Said a voice behind here.

Emily whirled around, her hand covering her mouth.  It was Elizabeth!  She'd 
completely forgotten about Elizabeth.  The whole morning she'd been worrying 
about Sly and about betraying Sly. Not once did she stop and think about the 
fact not only did she betray Sly but she'd betrayed her friend.

"Uh, Elizabeth, um…" Emily mumbled while looking down at her shoes. She couldn't 
bring herself to look her in the face.

"Sly looked upset when he left but he wouldn't talk to me about it. Did you two 
have another fight?"  Elizabeth asked with concern.

Emily felt sick.  Here she was sneaking in after a one-night stand with her 
friend's boyfriend and Elizabeth was concerned about *her*. "Something like 
that. Did Sly say where he was going?" Emily asked hopefully.

Elizabeth shook her head.  "No, sorry. He just took a bunch of his things and 
left."

"Oh." Emily said quietly.  So he took his stuff, it didn't mean he was leaving 
her or something.  He just probably needed some time to himself.

Elizabeth cleared her throat. "Uh, Em, I need to talk to you. About Nikolas."

Emily jumped slightly.  She knew!  Elizabeth knew but how could she?  There is 
no way she could have found out.  "Yes?" Emily croaked out.

Elizabeth started slowly.  "Nikolas and I…we, uh, we broke up last night. 
Actually I just wanted some time off from 'us', you know? But Nikolas, he… he 
just broke it off completely."

Emily bit her lip.  There was nothing she could say.  She couldn't comfort her 
or give her advice. "I…"

Elizabeth went on.  "I called myself every sort of fool I could think of last 
night. What's wrong with me? Nikolas is a great guy.  He's smart, sweet, sexy, 
and sensitive. So why am I just letting him get away like this? But you know 
what? I think this break or break up is going to be good for us because if, no 
*when* we get back together I will undoubtedly be more willing to commit to him.  
Maybe even marry him."  Elizabeth flashed a bright smile.

Emily smiled grimly.  "Great.  Good for you. Will you excuse me, I have to go 
take a shower so I'll just…"

"Yeah, I have an art class to get to.  I'll see you later then. Since Sly won't 
be here maybe we'll do a girls only sort of thing?  I'll call Samantha and Lark 
and see if they're up for it."

"Fine with me."  Emily hurried to the bathroom.

~*~*~

Later That Day

"V?"  Carly called out. She gathered up her purse and coat.   "I'm going to 
lunch now.  See you in an hour."  

There was no response.  Carly hadn't expected one after noticing that a half-
hour ago Jax had disappeared into his wife's office and she'd heard not a peep 
out of them other than to hold all their calls. Carly shook her head and smiled. 
Those two never stopped.  

Sonny told her he would send the car for her.  She spotted it just as she exited 
the building.  Carly climbed through the door one of Sonny's guards held open 
for her.

She wasn't very shocked to see Sonny lounging in the backseat smiling lazily at 
her. 

"I should have known."  She muttered.  "Couldn't wait to see me?"

Sonny chuckled lowly.  "There's something about you.  I just can't stay away."

"No matter how many times I ask you to."  Carly muttered.  "Where are we going 
for lunch?  The Grille?  The No Name?  Someplace new?"

Sonny gestured to a picnic basket in the corner.  "Anywhere you want.  I thought 
it would be better if we went somewhere private.  You tend to ah, make a scene."

Carly swept a lock of hair back.  "I don't make scenes, they just…happen."

Sonny nodded.  "Right, right."

"You wanted to talk?  So talk."  Carly crossed her arms and leaned back in her 
seat. "What are we going to talk about anyway?"

"I thought maybe we'd take a little stroll down memory lane."

Carly groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sonny, you just don't have 
anything to do anymore, is that?  Things just too quiet on the import-export 
front?  Nobody out there has any legs begging to be broken?"

"Carly, I'm being serious here."

"Okay, okay, we're strolling… where we going?"

"When I returned to Port Charles after Jason died…"

"Sonny, no."  Carly shook her head.

"After Jason died," Sonny said firmly.

"I hope there's alcohol in that basket over there."  Carly muttered.

"Carly will you listen to me!"  Sonny snapped.

"Alright," Carly closed her eyes and leaned back, "You were saying?"

"After Jason died, I was a wreak.  It was too soon after Brenda's death, I 
didn't know what to do.  I pushed everyone out of my life.  I didn't talk to 
Mike, to Luke, not even to Robin who was feeling the same things I had to be 
feeling.  The thing was, I didn't want to hear the 'I'm sorrys' and the 'It's 
all going to be okay' because at the time it wasn't okay and I knew, I thought, 
it would never be.  I wouldn't allow myself to feel anything but the pain and 
the hate I had for Moreno. That's all I wanted to feel and that's all I wanted 
to deal with. But then all of a sudden I had this baby and his just released 
from the nuthouse mother that I had to deal with.  You demanded that I help take 
care of Jason's son, that Jason would have wanted that."

"You hated me as soon as I walked through the door, possibly even before that."  
Carly murmured.

"I didn't hate you."  Sonny said softly.  "I resented the hell out of you, yes, 
but I didn't hate you.  Your being there and your not going away no matter what 
I said meant that I had to crawl out my hole and face the world."

"Back then when I came to you all I wanted was to go someplace quiet, someplace 
safe, and someplace that Jason had been and just go quietly insane.  I didn't 
give a damn about your feelings or Robin's and no matter how many times Bobbie 
and plenty of others told me I was being selfish, I didn't care.  I needed to be 
with someone who would take care of my son and keep him safe while I took a 
little vacation from realty.  I knew that Jason trusted you and I knew I could 
trust you with his son."

"But I wouldn't let you.  There was no way I was about to leave my hell just so 
you could float around the penthouse in a daze thinking about Jason all the 
time. I was determined to get you to leave me alone but you wouldn't leave. I 
remember the fights we had.  No one I've ever met fights like you do, you get 
down and dirty." Sonny laughed softly. "And then it was like I didn't want you 
to leave, I enjoyed fighting with you."

"I think all the fighting between us in the beginning helped. It gave both us 
something to do besides wallowing around.  Every morning I would wake up already 
thinking of something to argue with you about and every night I would go to bed 
going over what you said and what I could have said. Bobbie would ask me 'Why on 
earth are you still there?  You can't stand the man, this can't be good for 
Michael at all!'  I knew told her how good it was for *me*."

"People thought we were crazy.  I think a few people thought we would end up 
killing each other. If I hadn't kissed you that night, I think you might have 
tried."  Sonny murmured.

Carly remembered that night.  It was right after she had put Michael down for 
the night.  She and Sonny were in the middle of a fight about something trivial 
like moving the furniture or something and Sonny had just called her something 
in Spanish that she didn't understand.

'What did you just say?  Speak English, damn you, or so help me!' Carly reached 
down and grabbed the first thing she saw: a paperback she'd been reading 
earlier.

'What are you going to do? Brain me with a romance novel?'  Sonny laughed, 
suddenly seeing how ridiculous they had become.

'Maybe I will!'  Carly raised the book over her head.

Sonny rolled his eyes. 'Carly put the book down. Now, you're just being silly.'

'Silly?  Silly?' Carly repeated.  'Oh, I'll show you silly!'  Carly swung the 
book at Sonny, who managed to jump out of the way before it connected with his 
head.

'Damn it, Carly!  Give me the book!'  Sonny reached for paperback. 

'No!'  She ran towards the couch.  Sonny followed.  He lunged at her throwing 
his body against hers.  They landed sprawled out on the couch, their faces just 
inches away from each other.

Breathing heavily, Sonny murmured. 'You're a madwoman.'

'It's my best trait.' She shrugged.

'I know.  That's why I like you.'  He whispered before bending his head and 
kissing her softly on the lips.  He raised his head to see Carly staring up at 
him, wide-eyed. 'Surprised?'

'Very.  Why'd you do that for?'  She asked.

'Carly, Carly, Carly, if you couldn't tell from that kiss then I'll just have to 
better won't I?' Sonny laughed before bending again and capturing her lips in 
another kiss.'"

Carly stared out the limousine window.  "So it was kiss me or be killed, huh? We 
went from using arguments as a way to stay alive to sex. Once again Carly 
Spencer gets used for sex."

Sonny reached over and grasped her chin, turning her face towards him.  "I never 
once used you for sex, it wasn't like that with me."

"So maybe it was that way with me, how about that?"  Carly cocked her eyebrow. 
"It had been awhile for me and men weren't exactly lining up to be with me.  
Things like my stay in Ferncliff and the fact that I lived with a known Mafia 
boss tended to turn a guy off."

"Carly, you haven't figured out that I can see through you?"  Sonny smiled, not 
even taking into consideration what she was saying.

"Look, can we wrap this up?  My lunch break is almost over and all we've done is 
drive around and relive our first kiss.  Was there a point to all of this?"  
Carly demanded.

"Why did you agree to come to lunch with me?"  Sonny asked suddenly.

Carly tried to think hard but the answers she came up with she didn't want to 
voice out loud. Carly shrugged.  "I don't know… I just… Why did you ask me to 
come to lunch?" She turned the question around to make up for her not having an 
answer.

"Carly you already know why.  I want you back.  I still love you and I know that 
you still love me."

"You never loved me."  Carly scoffed.  "You never said the words once to me and 
who said I ever loved you?"

"You want the words?  Here they are: I love you."  Sonny said each word slowly.  

He waited patiently as Carly said back in her seat chewing on her lower lip 
saying nothing.  He gently reached out and touched her lips with his finger. 
"Don't do that.  Carly, I'm waiting."

"For what?  For me to say the words back to you.  Oh, I'm supposed to just 
forget all of a sudden that I'm a building a future with Alex and go running 
back to you just because well hey, you said the magic words.  Words you've never 
said to me before.  Is that it?"

"If you love me, you would."  Sonny said confidently.

"Damn, I wish I had the confidence you have.  You never doubt yourself do you?  
Well, if you loved me, then you should have told me years ago."

"Would that have made you stay with me?"  Sonny asked quietly. When Carly didn't 
answer he nodded.  "I knew it.  The thing is…I didn't even knew that I had let 
you into my heart until that day I came home and you and Michael were gone."

Carly laughed bitterly.  "Don't try that old 'I didn't know I loved you till you 
were gone' crap.  I can see right through that like you think you can see right 
through me."

"Carly…"

"Okay, maybe I need some time by myself."  Carly folded her arms. "I really need 
to get back to the office. V and Jax are probably wondering where I am."  She 
lied.

"I can't believe you work for that pompous jerk."  Sonny muttered.

"Hey, you're still friends with Robin and I don't give you grief over it.  If I 
want to work for my…step-uncle then I will go ahead and do it okay?"  Carly 
latched onto the subject like a lifeline.

"Okay, no Jax bashing for today.  So you want time?  You'll have some time.  
I'll give you until Thanksgiving."  

"Oh thank you kind sir."  Carly said snidely. "So does this mean, I don't see 
you until next week?"  She asked hopefully.

"No, it just means I won't bring up the subject until next week." Sonny gave her 
a half smile.  "I'll just tell Johnny to turn the car around."

~*~*~

There was a quick knock on Victor's hotel room door.  Knowing whom it was, 
Victor shouted, "Enter!"

Victor flipped through the Port Charles Herald and barely looked up when Higgins 
slipped into the room.  "Everything is a go?" He murmured as he reached for his 
coffee.

"Yes sir."  Higgins assured him.  

"Nothing is going to go wrong, is it?"  Victor looked directly at Higgins, who 
backed up a step.

"N-no sir."  Higgins shook his adamantly. 

"Good. Everything needs to go as scheduled.  I want no unexpected surprises."

Higgins whipped out his notepad and read aloud.  "Carly, Michael, and barring no 
emergencies at the hospital, Barbara will all be in the Brownstone at 5:30 p.m."  

Victor smiled slightly.  "Perfect, I want the family reunion to go as smoothly 
as possible."

~*~*~

PC Grille

Stefan stood up at his table as Nikolas and Alexis approached. "You are both 
late."  He said with a frown.

Alexis shrugged, nonchalantly. "I had a meeting that ran late." She gracefully 
slid into her seat and shook out her napkin.

Stefan turned his frown to Nikolas.  "And what about you?"

Nikolas rubbed his forehead.  "I'm sorry, Uncle, I slept in."

"You slept in?  Are you feeling alright?"  Stefan's frown changed to a look of 
concern.  "You don't like well."

That's because I have a hangover, Nikolas thought to himself.  "No, no, I'm 
fine.  I was just…up late last night. That's all." 

Stefan narrowed his eyes as he looked at his son.  Something was wrong but he 
could tell that Nikolas wasn't in the mood to talk about it. He turned to other 
matters instead.  "In case you haven't heard by now, Alexis, it seems that…"

"Carly Spencer's your daughter?"  Alexis interrupted.  She laughed at the 
slightly surprised look on Stefan's face.   "Wondering how I know?  I had a 
source tell me about Carly."

Stefan frowned.  "Luke Spencer, I assume."

"Of course.  Who else will tell me what's going on around here.  I can't even 
trust my own brother to tell me that I have a niece.  Where you ever going to 
tell me?"  Alexis demanded.

"In time, Alexis, in time."  Stefan said smoothly.

"Wait, you never told Alexis?"  Nikolas interjected.

"And why am I not surprised to see that Nikolas already knows." Alexis scowled.

"I just happened to be there when all this came out.  Why didn't you tell 
Alexis?"  Nikolas asked.

"Doesn't trust me, maybe?  Why?  I have no idea.  He also tends to forget that 
I'm family not just some useless relation."  

"Alexis, why do you insist on saying those things?"  Stefan asked. "We both know 
it's not true.  What has Ashton been filling your head with?"

"Ned?  You're bringing Ned into this?  This has nothing to do with Ned." Alexis 
raised her voice.

"Lower your voice, we are in a public place."  Stefan commanded.

Alexis lowered her voice and leaned into the table.  "Why don't you just tell us 
what you were about to say so I can go home to my family?"

"Family?  You have a child, Lexi?"  Alexis groaned inwardly as she recognized 
the voice behind her back.  

Alexis closed her eyes and said wearily.  "Layla. I do not have a child. And 
don't call me Lexi!"

Stefan stood and opened his arms.  "Layla, what are you doing here?"

Layla went over and hugged him.  "I was in the neighborhood and I was told this 
place was simply delicious."

Actually Layla had spotted Higgins and followed him into the Port Charles Hotel.  
However, she lost him in the crowded hotel lobby. Not giving up hope, at least 
she knew a possible location for Victor to hide at, she decided to grab some 
lunch.  How fortunate for her, Stefan and family were sitting inside.

Layla turned to Alexis and pouted prettily.  "Aw, Lexi, no children?  I'm so 
sorry."

Nikolas stood up and smiled at Layla.  "Layla, wow, I had no idea you were in 
town. Uncle did you know and not tell me?"

"Don't blame your dear uncle."  Layla admonished.  "I flitted in and out of his 
office so quickly, I bet he thought I wasn't really there. My, my, Nikolas, you 
have grown into a handsome young man."

"And you Layla, every time I see, you seem to get younger and younger."

"I'll tell you my secret, Nikki, it's all because of… my cheekbones. I have 
excellent bone structure." Layla grinned.

"And an excellent plastic surgeon."  Alexis muttered. She stood up. "Stefan, if 
this…meeting is over, I'll be on my way now."

"But Lexi, I just got here and we have so much catching up to do."

"Stefan will fill me in on it…and don't call me Lexi." Alexis stood and walked 
away.

"Such a rude, cold woman."  Layla remarked.  She sat in Alexis' abandoned chair. 
"Glad to see that some things never changed.  But you Nikolas, I didn't 
recognize you at first. Steffie, you have done a wonderful job."

Stefan allowed his chest to swell with pride.  "Thank you Layla, but I didn't 
have much to do with it.  I just let him grown on his own."

"But why are you so tired looking?"  Layla reached across the table and touched 
his forehead.  "Are you getting enough sleep? Are you ill?"

"I had a late night, that's all."  Nikolas said again.

"Doing what, I wonder?"  Layla murmured.

Nikolas' mind flashed to soft wet lips, teasing fingers, salty skin and 
intertwining legs. To delicate caresses, deep hot kisses and muffled moans. 
To…He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "Uh…I was…"

Layla laughed softly.  "Am I embarrassing you? Were you doing something…bad?"

Stefan smiled slightly.  "Layla, I think you are truly embarrassing him now."

"Okay, okay, I'll leave it alone for now.  But we have some catching up to do.  
Tell me all that I've missed these past 12 years.  Either of you seeing someone 
special?" She folded her arms on the table and leaned in.

"At the moment Nikolas has been seeing a young woman by the name of Elizabeth 
Webber, a cousin of his mother's, and while I," Stefan leaned in towards Layla, 
"I have been saving myself for you." 

"You always say the sweetest things."  Layla grinned.  She reached out and 
caressed his jaw.

"Actually," Nikolas interrupted.  "Elizabeth and I have…we're not seeing each 
other any more."

Stefan frowned.  "Is that true?  Did something transpire between the two of you?  
A fight perhaps?"

Nikolas shook his head.  "No, there was no fight.  It was a…mutual decision.  
So, Layla, we haven't seen you in 12 years?"  Nikolas quickly latched onto the 
subject.

"It feels like only yesterday doesn't it?"  Layla sat back.  

"So why are you here?"  Nikolas asked.

"To see my two favorite men, of course."  Layla shrugged.  

"Actually she's out to find Victor. Something to do with the eye patch she now 
wears."  Stefan told him.  Layla shot him a harsh look. "Why shouldn't he know?  
He is a man; he is the Cassadine.  He should know what's going on in his 
family."

"Well, that was my business."  Layla grumbled.  "I didn't know that you would 
betray a personal confidence like that."

"Layla, please, Uncle was just…being Uncle."  Nikolas said soothingly. He 
reached over and patted her hand.  "He-"

"Nikki, you don't have to explain your Uncle to me, I know what kind of a man he 
is."  Layla nodded.  She licked her lips and gazed at Stefan. Stefan gazed back. 
"I know all about your Uncle."
 
Nikolas rolled his eyes.  They were doing it again.  He could remember from 
Layla's stay with them that from time to time Layla and his Uncle would just 
look at each other and not say a word for at least ten minutes or more.  Nikolas 
took his napkin off his lap and placed it on the table.

"If you two well excuse me, I just remembered I have somewhere else to be."  He 
began to stand.

"But Nikki, I just got here."  Layla protested.

"What about lunch?"  Stefan asked.

"We'll just have to do it another time.  Why don't you two just stay and have 
lunch together.  I doubt I'll be missed."

"Yes, you will be. But, if you have to go…" Layla shrugged. "Give me a kiss 
goodbye.  I'll try to come out to Spoon Island to see you before I go.  We'll 
talk about this Webber girl and how we can fix you two."

Nikolas brushed his lips across her cheek.  "There isn't much to fix."  He 
smiled sadly.  "We can't be fixed."