Chapter 22

Stefan cleared his throat and began. “I do not think that I can explain my 
reasons in such a short amount of time…”

Carly tapped her watch. “Tick-tock, Dad, you’re wasting time.”

Stefan resisted the urge to frown at her. The nerve of her to put a time limit 
on him. He rubbed his temple. “What is it that you want to know exactly?”

“I want to know when you knew I was your daughter. Or at least could be.” Carly 
said through clenched teeth. She had had a lot of time to think about this on 
the ride over to the island and she didn’t like what she came up with.

This was the question he looked the least forward to answering. He knew her 
reaction would not be good at all. He cleared his throat again and Carly saw it 
as a delaying tactic. She jumped up from her seat. “Just answer the damn 
question! Was it all my life? Was it when I first came to Port Charles? When?”

Stefan spoke quietly. “I have known, ” He paused and looked down at the floor, 
“all your life.”

Carly gaped at him. He had known all this time? He had known and he had done 
nothing? I should have known. What did I expect? The tears began to well up in 
Carly’s eyes and she walked around the desk, her back to his. She bit back the 
tears.

“So you knew and you didn’t care until some other guy decided he was my father, 
right? And you just couldn’t have that, you couldn’t have some other guy come 
around and say he’s my father. That’s the only reason you decided to *now* claim 
the daughter you never wanted.”

Stefan turned and looked at her back. Carly was hunched over. He reached over 
and touched her shoulder. “I have—”

She shrugged away from Stefan and finally turned around to face him. Stefan 
could tell that she was trying hard to hide the hurt he had caused with his 
admission.

She laughed bitterly. “You know what? It’s no big deal. I decided a long time 
ago that I wasn’t the father sort of person. I don’t do the father thing well. 
Me and a father just don’t click. I accept that. So I don’t need this. I don’t 
need you and I don’t need this Victor guy. I don’t need a father. I’ve done fine 
without one.”

Carly started for the door but Stefan’s urgent voice stopped her. “Carly, wait 
please.” He couldn’t let her leave his office thinking he didn’t care about her.

“What? I won’t say a thing to anyone if you’re worried about that. You never had 
a daughter and you never will, you’re off the hook.” Carly said. “Don’t worry.”

“If you permit me to, I would like to explain my actions.” Stefan said.

What would it hurt to listen to his reasons? Who was she fooling, she already 
knew it could hurt a lot. To hear why he would just leave her with the Bensons. 
After all these years she could finally understand what drove Bobbie to put her 
up for adoption but Stefan…he’s a Cassadine for goodness’ sake! Rich and 
powerful as he is, he could have saved her. That is if he wanted to.

She flopped down in the chair she had vacated. “Alright, explain away.”

“Where do I start?” Stefan said more to himself than to her.

“How about at the beginning.” She suggested sarcastically.

He nodded. “Fine. I assume Barbara has already told you the…”

“She told me about the ‘party’.” Carly grimaced. “Go on.”

Stefan breathed a sigh of relief at not having to explain how he met her mother. 
“Afterwards…I was regretful about how my family had treated Barbara and I began 
to worry about her. So I had her watched.”

“You had her watched?” Carly asked incredulously. “You just sat back and watched 
the life she lived and did nothing?”

“You do not comprehend the circumstances I was under at the time. I was still a 
youth and had no real power in my family. My family was very powerful and very 
controlling.”

Carly rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You were keeping tabs on Bobbie…”

He resumed his tale. “I was informed of her pregnancy and since I had been kept 
aware of her activities I knew that either myself or Victor could be the father 
of her baby.”

“And this is when you decided to ignore my existence?” She interjected sharply.

He frowned. “No that is not how it happened. I would have brought Barbara to 
Greece if I could have but my family—”

Carly jumped out of her chair again. “Could have, would have, should have but 
didn’t. Okay, you didn’t do anything all right. And stop blaming it on your 
‘family’. You make them out to be all-powerful. They can’t be that bad.”

“You do not know my family…your family.” Stefan said deadly serious. He stared 
into her eyes. “You do not know what they were capable of. Ask Alexis about how 
my mother, your grandmother, killed her mother. Ask how she described in detail 
how she slit her throat. There is no way to know how they would have reacted to 
me bringing illegitimate child home.”

Carly stared back into his eyes. “Look stop with the scare tactics alright? Okay 
so you had a big bad evil family would have eliminated a teen-age prostitute and 
her trick baby. Right, like they would have cared. Finish the story already.”

“As I was saying I was prepared to at least provide for you and your mother 
until I learned that she was having you adopted. I did not step in stop the 
proceedings because I believed it was the right thing to do. The Bensons seemed 
to be good people.” Stefan told her.

“You thought the Bensons were good people?” Carly asked dumbfounded. She held 
back the hysterical laughter that was bubbling up in her. “You actually thought 
this?”

Stefan nodded. “Yes, I did. I had them watched the first few years of your life 
and they seemed like a perfectly good couple. They treated you well.”

“You should have fired those people you had watching us cause they sure didn’t 
give you the real story. There is a reason I turned out the way I did. Did you 
know what happened in that house?” Carly answered her own question. “Of course 
not or else I would be Carly Cassadine by now. But then again you might not have 
cared at all.”

Stefan tried to soothe her. “I have no idea what you are talking about. If I 
were aware of something bad happening to you I would have not left you with 
them. I would have come for you no matter what.”

She snorted. “Yeah right. How long was we watched? Did you know when Frank ran 
out on Virginia and me and left us hanging on by a thread?”

“I was aware of that.”

“And still nothing from you!” Carly couldn’t believe this. “Wasn’t I worth you 
sending over a little cash to help us out? We didn’t need much, just a little 
help.”

“I thought it would best if I stayed out of your life and not confused things. 
By then I already had a few other obligations to take care of. I was left to 
raise Nikolas after his father was killed and his mother had left us.”

“Yeah and taking care of another kid would have been too much. I know how you 
Cassadines have to count every penny and make them stretch.” Carly sneered. She 
folded her arms and walked around the room “Okay let’s fast forward a few years. 
To when I came to Port Charles. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“What was I to say? You had spent your whole life believing that the Bensons 
were your real family and how was I to know that you were aware of the truth?” 
Stefan said calmly. Meanwhile Carly seemed to grow agitated.

“You sat back and watched me mess up my mother’s family and didn’t say a word 
because you thought I would turn around and take my anger out on you?” Carly 
guessed. “You shouldn’t have worried so much…Dad. My problem was with Mama and 
not you. I never thought about having a real father cause like I said father’s 
are too much trouble.”

“I did not say anything because I thought it was in everyone’s best interests 
that you not know. I am not sure that I am your father and I did not want to 
bring up Barbara’s horrible past.”

“Guess what, I’m walking talking reminder of that past, okay. Every time she 
looks at me she’s looking dead at her past. So I think she could have handled 
you dropping this bomb on her. She’s withstood everything I’ve thrown at her.”

“Upsetting you was not what I set out to do. I assumed you were better off not 
knowing.”

“Well you know what they say about assuming.” Carly cocked her eyebrow. She 
shook her head. “I thought this was going to help but it didn’t. I should go. I 
have to get back to my family.”

“I would like for us to take a paternity test to show that I am your father.” 
Stefan said quietly.

“Why? So some test says you’re my father. What are you going to do after that? 
Continue to ignore me?”

“I want to get to know you better. You and Michael. I regret not doing that in 
the past.”

“Right and what if I turn out to not be your daughter? What then?”

“I would still like to get to know you. You will still be family. It is past 
time for you to be acknowledged as such.”

“I don’t know about acknowledging you. I have to think about taking the test.” 
She opened the study door and ran smack into Layla. “Sorry.” She mumbled.

“No, no it was my fault.” Layla said as she dusted off her dark blue suit. After 
leaving Melinda alone to do her own thing she had called up Stefan and suggested 
dinner. He had readily accepted. “Steffie, darling, am I early?”

Carly couldn’t hold back her laughter. “Steffie?” She giggled. “Oh that is rich. 
I have to tell Luke about that. Steffie!”

Layla cocked her head and smile politely at Carly. “Who is this… person?”

Stefan cleared his throat. “This is Carly Spencer.”

“Long lost Cassadine. Could be a cousin, could be a daughter. You never know.” 
Carly smiled falsely and stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Layla shook it, as she looked her up and down. So this was Luke Spencer’s niece. 
After her two run-ins with Spencer she had decided to she needed to know as much 
about the guy as possible. She had gone through his file and read all about his 
escapades and his family life. “I’m Layla.”

“Layla, hi.” Carly looked over her shoulder at Stefan. “Is she about to become 
my new stepmother? Cause I was really holding onto the belief that you and Mama 
would get back together.”

Layla arched her eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“Don’t worry about it. I was just messing around with dear old Dad. I have to go 
now. I have a little boy to take care of. Because that’s what parents do you 
know, they take care of their children.” Carly sent a pointed look in Stefan’s 
direction before leaving.

“Should I even ask what that was?” Layla said.

Stefan rubbed the back of his neck. “I would rather you wouldn’t. We were going 
to have dinner?”

Layla nodded. “Correct. You didn’t forget did you?”

Stefan shook his head. “No, I just had some other things on my mind. Have Mrs. 
Landsbury take you to the table. I need to make a phone call.”

Layla nodded and walked out. Stefan closed the door behind her and quickly 
dialed up a number. “I need some information about the childhood of Caroline 
Benson. Yes, the same one. I need to know about her early years. Up until Frank 
Benson left her and her mother. I also want to know where Benson went.”

~*~*~

Carly paused before stepping out of the elevator. This was going to be hard she 
could tell. She was more anxious about telling Sonny that she was leaving then 
she had been when she went to confront Stefan. She nodded at Johnny, who was 
wearing a silly smile on his face. He opened the door for her and Carly was 
shocked at the image that lay before her.

The penthouse was dark; the only light coming from candles scattered throughout 
the room. A small dinner was set up on the dining table and music played softly 
in the background. Carly groaned as she recognized the song. “No, it can’t be.”

I, I'm so in love with you
Whatever you want to do
Is all right with me
'Cause you make me feel so brand new
And I want to spend my life with you

“It is.” Sonny stated confidently from the top of the stairs. He strolled down 
the stairs. He looked at his watch. “You are very late. I was afraid I was going 
to have to reheat dinner. And you know how much I hate reheated my food.”

Carly licked her lips. “Sonny, we have to talk.”

“No we don’t.” Sonny quickly dodged her answer. He already knew what she was 
going to say and he wasn’t going to give her a chance to. “We have to eat before 
the food gets cold. Don’t worry about Michael, he’s with Bobbie and Jerry so 
it’s just the two of us.”

He took her by the arm and started to lead her to the table but she stopped him. 
“No, I don’t want to eat, I’m not hungry.”

“You want to dance then? Fine.” Sonny took her into his arms and he slowly began 
to rock her to the beat of the music.

“We have to talk.” Carly insisted as she let herself dance with him.

“No.” Sonny denied again.

“This song… why did you have to play this song?” Carly asked softly.

“Because…” Sonny leaned back and cupped her face in his hands. He stroked his 
thumb across her lips. “Because…”

Sonny’s mind flashed backed to that night: It was just a few months after their 
first kiss on the couch. Their relationship had changed dramatically after that. 
They still had fights but now there was more. They were nicer to each other, 
Carly would make an effort to not antagonize Sonny, and Sonny would show up with 
gifts or do something silly just to make her smile. Things were different now.

It was late and Sonny had just put Michael down to sleep when he noticed that 
one song was being played over and over. The music was blasting from Carly’s 
room. Curious, he went over to see what was happening. His heart stopped at what 
he saw.

Since, since we've been together
Loving you forever
Is what I need
Let me be the one you come running to
I'll never be untrue

Carly was in her room singing loudly to the song as she threw clothes into an 
open suitcase that sat in an armchair. He leaned against the door and tried to 
sound nonchalant. “Al Green? Sounds like your taste is improving.”

Carly dropped the shirt she had been folding. “Sonny.”

“Could you, ah, could you turn that down? I know Michael is a sound sleeper but 
this might wake him up.” Sonny requested while scratching behind his ear.

“Uh, sorry, I wasn’t thinking. This song always puts me in a good mood.” Carly 
went over to her radio and turned down the music. She grabbed up the shirt she’d 
dropped and carefully refolded it. She avoided looking at Sonny.

“Mind if I ask what you’re doing?” Sonny said causally.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” Carly snapped. She placed the shirt in the 
suitcase and turned to get another.

“It looks like your packing.”

“Ding! Ding! You are correct!” Carly said sarcastically. “Your prize is me 
leaving.”

“Where are you going?” Sonny asked quietly.

“Bobbie has an empty apartment at the Brownstone and Michael and I are going to 
live there.” Carly stated matter-of-factly. “It’s where I should have gone in 
the beginning. Michael and I should have never come here. This was wrong.”

Sonny finally stepped into the room. “I want you to stay here. Why are you 
leaving?”

“What is with the Twenty Questions?” Carly exploded. “Michael and I are leaving. 
End of story.”

“I said I want you to stay here.” Sonny stated. He moved towards her.

“And I’m not going to! I shouldn’t be here. This was a stupid idea. It was okay 
for a few days but it’s time to face reality and I can’t do it here with you.” 
Carly backed up as he advanced on her.

“I don’t think it’s such a stupid idea. You’re being here, it…”

“I shouldn’t have come.” She insisted. “What have done here? Hide from reality; 
argue with you…kiss you. Is that the way the rest of my life’s going to be?”

“Are you trying to say you don’t like living here?” Sonny finally caught up to 
her.

Carly shook her head. “That’s not it, I actually love it here. But the thing is… 
I’m stuck in this limbo. All we do is fight and kiss, kiss and fight. I can’t 
tell if you like me half the time and I need more than this.”

“Oh, I like you.” Sonny murmured. “When you say you need more what do you mean?”

“I don’t know!” Carly whispered furiously and trembled. “I need to get out of 
this penthouse. I need to go out there and get my life back. I can’t do that 
here, I need more than this.”

Sonny pushed her hair out of her face and stroked her cheek softly. “You can 
have a life here.”

“Why do you want me to stay here so badly? Michael and I just in the way.” She 
wondered.

Sonny shrugged. “ I don’t know why. I just like having you here and I don’t want 
you to go. I…I would miss you if you left.”

Carly bit her bottom lip. Sonny gently tugged it free from her teeth with his 
thumb. “Don’t do that.” He said softly.

“Do you really want me to stay?” Carly whispered unsure.

He took her face in his hands and stared into her eyes. “We wouldn’t even be 
having this conversation if I didn’t.”

She looked down at the floor. “I don’t know if I should…”

Sonny leaned in and brushed his lips across hers. “Stay.” He whispered hoarsely. 
He kissed her again, this time more forcefully. He backed up against the bed. 
When the back of her knees hit the bed she fell back. “At least stay the night.”

Let's, let's stay together
Lovin' you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad

Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad

Carly closed her eyes tightly and rested her head on his shoulder. She bit her 
bottom lip as memories of that night washed over her. She had stayed that night 
and the night after that and the night after that. While the song had repeated 
over and over, they had made love. Sonny had made a point of playing it whenever 
there was a special occasion. To this day Carly couldn’t hear the song without 
thinking about Sonny and that night.

“You don’t play fair.” She whispered.

“No, I don’t.” Sonny stated matter-of-factly. He trailed his hands down her back 
leaving a path of tingles. “I play to win. You’re not leaving me again, Carly. 
Stay with me.”

“Sonny, please…”

“Stay with me.” He repeated. “I love you.”

“I can’t. Sonny, this was nice for a few days but it’s not real life.” Carly 
dropped her arms and stepped back.

“This is real. Damn it Carly!” Sonny exploded. He was tired of this game. He was 
tired of going back and forth about this. He grasped her by the shoulders and 
held her away from him. His eyes bore into hers. “You love me, I love you, You 
don’t love Garcia. So you stay with me and you forget about him. It’s as simple 
as that.”

“It’s not that simple!” Carly cried. “Just like when I was going to leave all 
those years ago, I still don’t belong here. I’ve moved on with my life and it’s 
time you did too.”

“Are you trying to say you don’t love me?” Sonny asked skeptically. Carly stayed 
quiet and looked away. He shook her gently. “Answer me.”

She sighed. “You know I would be lying if I said I didn’t love you.”

Sonny’s eyes glittered triumphantly. Carly tried to put a stop to his joy. “But, 
*but*, I—”

He cut her off by taking her into his arms again. “No buts, Carly. You just 
admitted that you still love me and there’s no way in hell I’m going to let you 
leave after that.”

She shook her head and tried to protest. “But—”

Sonny silenced her by kissing her hard. When he finally came up for air, he 
gazed down at her with passion filled eyes. He repeated those words from long 
ago.

“Stay.” He licked at her lips and murmured. “At least the night.”

Carly felt her knees go week as she knew she couldn’t resist him. Not now, 
probably not ever. She was hopeless. She trailed her fingers behind his ear 
knowing that he loved having that spot touch. She smiled seductively as she 
watched him shiver slightly. He cocked his eyebrow as he waited for her answer.

“Yes.” She finally said before kissing him deeply.

Why, why some people break up
Then turn around and make up
I just can't see
You'd never do that to me (would you, baby)
Staying around you is all I see
(Here's what I want us to do)

Let's, we oughta stay together
Loving you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad

~*~*~

The Next Morning

Sonny rolled over and reached for Carly. He frowned when he realized that the 
space beside him was empty. He was surprised to see that she was already out of 
bed. Carly, an early riser. Who would have thought it? He scratched his chest 
lazily and grinned broadly. Things were certainly changing. Carly was back in 
his arms like she should have been long ago. And know she was getting up before 
noon.

He wondered where she was. She could be in the bathroom getting the shower ready 
for him but he didn’t hear the shower running. Maybe she was in the kitchen 
trying to make breakfast? His poor kitchen. He could only wonder about the state 
of his kitchen after she was through with it. He chuckled about the memory of 
when she tried to make him a gourmet meal. He ended up banning her from the 
kitchen for at least a week. She hadn’t minded though.

Sonny threw back the covers and decided to go in search of her. “Carly?” His 
voice echoed loudly. His stomach turned as he noticed how quiet it was in the 
penthouse. He grabbed his robe and slipped it on. He belted it as he strode out 
of his room.

“Carly? Carly!” He called again, his voice urgent and worried. “Not again.” He 
murmured as he got a sick feeling. “She couldn’t have done it again. Not after 
last night.”

He walked quickly through the penthouse searching for her. He came back to his 
room and finally noticed the sheet of paper propped up against his mirror. He 
reached for it with trembling hands. He didn’t want to read it, he could already 
tell what it said. But he couldn’t help it and he read it anyway.

“Sonny, I’m sorry but you know this can’t work out. Michael and I are going 
home. To Alex. Where we belong. I’m sorry, I really am. Last night was a mistake 
and it should just be considered a goodbye. This is the way it has to be. 
Carly.”

Sonny crumpled the paper in his hands. He laughed bitterly. “At least this time 
she said she was sorry.”

Let's, we oughta stay together
Loving you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad


*Song credit* Al Green, “Let’s Stay Together” (I loooooooooooooove this song!)