Chapter 37 Jason was sitting at the dining table flipping through the morning newspaper. He ignored most of the breakfast the cook had set out for them and just sipped on a cup of coffee. He checked his watch; Carly should be up soon. A minute later he heard her call, “Jase?” “Down here.” He called up to her. Carly padded down the staircase. She was wearing one of Jason’s old T-shirts and a pair of raggedy shorts. In one hand she carried her shoes from the last night, in the other she ran through her hair. She greeted him with a smile and a kiss. “Good morning.” She flopped down in the chair across from his. She poured herself a glass of orange juice as she nibbled on a muffin. “I love blueberry.’ Jason looked at her over the top of his newspaper. “Are those… weren’t those my sweatpants?” Carly looked down at her outfit and giggled. She raised her leg and placed her bare foot in his lap. “They were. You like?” Jason reached down and absentmindedly caressed her leg. “What did you do to them?” Carly started to explain. “I didn’t feel like putting back on the clothes I slept in so I swiped these. I knew you wouldn’t mind because they were so old looking. Oh, and I cut them cause they were too long.” Carly smiled slyly. “I think I cut them too high? What do you think?” He shrugged. “They’re fine.” Carly blew out an exasperated breath of air and rolled her eyes. She changed the subject instead. “How did you sleep last night?” Jason nodded. “Good, I slept good.” “And don’t you feel all better and refreshed?” Carly asked. “I told you a little sleep would do you good. I just hope that Nikolas slept some last night. He was probably up all night worried. What time are visiting hours?” “In a couple of hours.” Jason said as his hand drifted higher. Carly started planning out her day. “Okay, good because I need for you to run me over to Wyndemere so I can let Michael know that his Auntie Em is going to be okay. Then I have to have time to pack a few essentials for Michael and me, at least enough for a week. You know how much I love to shop and Michael has so many things…” Jason raised his hand to halt her steady flow. “Hold on. Why are you packing? Where are you going?” “Me and Michael? We’re coming home, silly.” Carly shook her head and smiled. “Or did you change your mind about us moving back in?” “No, I just thought you wanted more time to do whatever it is you think you have to do.” “Well, last night showed me that I don’t want to be away from you any longer than necessary. I’m ready to come home; Michael is ready to come home. I’ve missed you and frankly, I love you so why shouldn’t I be with you?” “I love you too.” Jason said. Carly got out of her chair and slipped into his lap. She slid her arms around his neck. She leaned her forehead against his. “Oh, I love it when you say that. Tell me again.” Jason wrapped his arms around her. “I love you.” He said as he stared into her eyes. He slowly kissed her. Carly returned the kiss wholeheartedly. He tilted her backwards and ran his hand up her shirt. Things were just getting good when there was a knock on the door. Carly sighed in frustration and Jason growled at the door. “What is it!” Renaldo opened the door and started to say, “Miss Scorpio is…” but Robin brushed past him and rushed into the penthouse. “Jason, I heard about Emily…” She stopped short at the sight of Jason and Carly entangled. “Jason?” Carly couldn’t help but grin at the way Robin’s jaw dropped. She was slightly annoyed that Robin obviously thought she could barge in any time she felt like. “Hiya Robin, beautiful day isn’t it?” Robin didn’t answer as she glared at the two of them. Jason straightened up as Carly started to get up. He helped her off his lap. Carly smiled him her thanks. She slipped on her shoes and turned to Jason. “You two probably have some things she thinks you need to talk about so I’m going to take the car and head over to Wyndemere. Just think, by the end of the day Michael and I will be home… where we belong.” She slid a look over to Robin. “I’ll be back in time to go to the hospital with you.” She bent and gave him a kiss. It was as much for Robin’s benefit as hers. She smirked at Robin. “Next time you should wait before barging in…you never know what you might be interrupting.” She picked up her discarded muffin. “I’ll just take this since my… breakfast was interrupted.” She sauntered out of the penthouse without a care. She felt no concern for leaving the two of them alone. She was confident that they were over and there was nothing Robin could do to change that. She grinned at Renaldo. “Hey, I need a car to take me to Spoon Island and I need one, no two guys to help me with some boxes.” “Uh… sure.” He stammered as he pulled a cell phone out of his suit pocket. First Miss Scorpio moves out and now Miss Spencer was moving in. Carly winked. “Don’t look so shocked, Naldo. The times, they are a-changin’.” She patted on the shoulder and headed for elevators whistling softly. Inside of the penthouse Robin finally spoke. “Don’t tell me she’s moving in here already?” “What do you want?” Jason asked coldly. He rose and walked over to the window. He had a lot to do before he could go see Emily and he needed for Robin to state her business and go. Robin followed him. “She can’t be moving in, we aren’t over yet. That’s just like that slut!” Jason turned around furiously. “Do not talk about Carly like that. What did you want?” “I got back into town this morning and I heard about Emily. I just wanted to know if she was alright.” Robin said sweetly as she changed tactics. “You could have went to the hospital or asked Monica.” Jason ignored her excuse. “What did you really come here for?” Robin lowered hers eyes and ran her hand down his chest. She stepped closer to him. “Okay so that was an excuse…I came to see if maybe we could… we could just ignore the past couple of days and get back together? It was just a silly fight and it’s all because of your attachment to that… to AJ’s son.” Jason removed her hand. “Robin’s, it over between us. I don’t love you anymore, understand? Don’t come by the penthouse anymore.” He walked away from her. Robin glared at him. “It’s because of that child. How many times have I said that *I* could give you a child? There are ways.” Jason turned and frowned at her as he remembered something. “Robin, do you know someone named Stella?” “What?” Robin’s jaw dropped. Her mind raced. How did Jason know about Stella? How did he find out? She quickly recovered and shook her head. “No, I don’t know anyone named Stella. Why do you ask?” Jason eyed her suspiciously. “No reason. If you’re finished, I have some things to take care of.” Robin slowly walked over to the door. She needed to get out of here and get to Stella. “We aren’t over. I haven’t given up on us.” Jason waited until he was sure that she was in the elevator. He talked to Renaldo. “I need you to put someone on Robin. I need to know if she goes to see a pregnant blond and I need to know what happens between the two of them.” ~*~*~ Nikolas walked up to the Nurses Station. He nodded curtly at his aunt. Amy in turn, beamed at him. “Nikolas, hi! You’re just in time. Visiting hours start in exactly one minute.” “Is there anyone in with her?” He asked. He wasn’t in the mood to chitchat with Amy. “Nope, you’re the first. I was just in there checking up on her. She’s sleeping but it’s okay for you to go in.” “Thanks.” Nikolas nodded again. He headed for Emily’s room. He opened the hospital door and peered inside. Emily was lying on her back, still sleeping. He had hoped she would be awake by now but he could wait her to wake up. He quietly slipped into the chair next to her bed and took her hand in his. He rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. “Emily? It’s me.” He whispered. Emily slowly smiled and turned her head. She stared up at him. “Hi.” She murmured. Nikolas smiled broadly as waves of relief washed over him. She was awake! She was awake and she was talking to him and everything was going to be okay. “Emily…” “Could you…could you pass me that glass of water? My throat hurts.” Emily asked softly. Nikolas did as she asked. “Here you go. I thought you were sleeping. I didn’t mean to wake you.” Emily raised her head as she sipped at the water. “Thank you. I wasn’t sleeping. When Amy came in she started gossiping and the only way to shut her up was to pretend to be asleep. I thought you were her so I didn’t open my eyes until I knew it was you…I heard what you did last night.” “What?” Nikolas had forgotten about last night. All that mattered was that Emily was all right. “You and Tino?” Emily prompted. “Actually you and Jason and Tino. You guys didn’t have to beat him up. It wasn’t his fault.” Nikolas gritted his teeth as he listened to her defend Tino. “He admitted that he was driving drunk. He could have killed you. He’s lucky I didn’t kill him. Now I don’t want to talk him and I don’t want you to ever talk to him again.” Emily arched her eyebrow. “Are you trying to tell me what to do, Nikolas?” Her expression softened as she looked at him. She brought her hand up to trace the bags under his eyes. “You look horrible, did you get any sleep last night?” “No, I was too worried about you. I just laid in bed wishing I could be here with you.” “I’m so sorry I worried you like that. I didn’t mean to.” Emily said softly. She frowned. “It was an accident. You weren’t responsible for it.” He said soothingly. “I didn’t have to get drunk, okay. I didn’t have to get into that car with a drunk driver. I was responsible for that much!” Emily said angrily. “Shh.” Nikolas stroked the side of her face. “Let’s not talk about that anymore, all right?” Emily nodded. “So how do you feel?” “You mean other than the fact that I flew out of a car last night? Pretty good. When I was younger I used to want a cast so all my friends could sign it.” She grimaced at her right arm. “I don’t know what I was thinking. This really sucks. And there’s the fact that I look like a swami in this thing.” She touched the bandage on her head. “And then there’s my face.” Emily touched the bandage on her cheek. “I think there may be some scarring.” She said quietly. Nikolas could see the fear in her eyes. “Even if there is, there has to be a plastic surgeon who can correct it. Don’t worry.” “But what if it can’t be and I’m stuck like this?” Emily asked. “Would you…” “Would I still love you if you were scarred?” Nikolas said, shocked that she would even ask him a question like that. “Emily, of course I would still love you! I don’t care what you look like; you’ll always be beautiful to me. I said that I love you, Emily, and I meant it.” Emily looked down. “I just…I didn’t know if…” “Don’t worry about it.” He stated firmly. Nikolas reached into his pocket and pulled out the medallion. “I have something of yours.” Emily’s eyes brightened and she grabbed for it. “My medallion!” She blushed. “I mean, your medallion.” Nikolas smiled. “No, it’s yours. I gave it to you.” She ran the chain through her fingers. “I thought it had gotten lost. I was so scared when I woke up and I realized it wasn’t here.” “Bobbie had it.” Nikolas told her. “Could you please put it back on me?” She passed it back to him. Nikolas nodded and Emily leaned forward. He quickly clasped it around her neck. Emily lay back and arranged it so that the medallion was right in the middle of the chain. “That feels much better.” “Don’t ever take it off again and don’t ever scare me like that again.” “Never.” Emily’s lips curved into a smile. She leaned forward again and kissed him. “I love you.” “I love you too.” Nikolas said after returning the kiss. Emily sighed. She was content. She scooted over and she patted the bed. “You didn’t sleep last night. Come here.” Nikolas climbed in on her left side and gathered her into his arms. He was careful not to bump her right arm. He tucked her head under his chin. He could relax now that he had her in his arms. “I want you to promise me something.” He said before yawning loudly. “What is that?” She asked as she fingered the medallion. “Never end up in the hospital again.” He closed his eyes. Emily laughed. “I promise.” “Good because I don’t think my nerves can take it.” He said sleepily. “Are you falling asleep on me?” Emily asked with mock-outrage. “I think I am.” He answered. “Do you mind?” “Not really.” She said as her eyes began to droop also. “I think you deserve a little nap.” “Thank you. You are so kind.” He teased. Emily giggled. She moved her head back and kissed his chin. He tucked her head back under. “I love you…” He trailed off as he drifted off to sleep. “Love you too.” Emily whispered as she finally closed her eyes and went to sleep too. ~*~*~ A few minutes later, Carly lightly knocked on Emily’s door. She opened it and started to walk in when she saw Nikolas and Emily sleeping soundly. She smiled. That is so cute, she thought. She backed out and turned to Jason. “We can’t go in right now.” She said as she quietly shut the door behind her. “Why? Is there something wrong in there?” Jason said as he tried to go past her. Carly placed her hand on his chest and pushed him back. “No everything’s fine. Nicky is in there with her and they need…a little privacy.” “Oh.” Jason nodded. “So why don’t we go over to the waiting room and you tell me what Robin wanted?” Carly suggested as she linked her arm through his. Jason groaned. “Let’s not talk about what Robin wanted, all right?” He sat down and Carly sat next to him. She laughed. “Oh you think I can’t handle it? If I couldn’t handle it I wouldn’t have left you two alone today. Let me guess, she wants to get back together?” She nodded at the look on Jason’s face. She didn’t know why people called Jason “Stone face”. It was pretty easier to read him once you got to know him. “Bingo! You of course told her she was crazy.” “I made it clear that it was over.” “I hope she got the message because if she tries it again, I’ll be the one to let her know.” Carly grinned malevolently. “How is the move coming along?” Jason asked in the hopes of changing the subject. Carly latched onto the new subject. “Pretty good. Bobbie’s glad that I’m leaving, I think. She’s happy that Michael and I are no longer going to be underfoot. First Lucas in boarding school, now me in the penthouse… all she has to do is ship Nicky off somewhere and she and Stefan will have Wyndemere all to themselves. Speaking of Stefan, I think he’s sad to see me go. He’s gotten used to having me around. He said he’s going to miss me and he meant it!” “He probably did mean it.” Jason said. “I missed you when you weren’t with me.” “Stop being so sweet or you’ll make me blush.” Carly slapped his shoulder. “Bobbie and Stefan are spending the day with Michael since it’s his last day there and she has some people packing for us. So we should be all moved in by tomorrow night.” “Good. How is Michael taking it? Emily and the move?” “I told him that Emily was in the hospital again and that she was going to be okay. I also said that he wouldn’t be able to see her until she gets out. I don’t want him seeing her all bandaged up. And he’s very excited about the move. He misses you.” Jason nodded. He checked his watch. “Is it possible for us to go see Emily any time soon?” “Hold on, I’m going to get a cup of coffee and check.” Carly patted his knee. “I’ll be right back.” Carly headed for the coffee machine and stopped short when she saw AJ. She silently groaned. She knew exactly what he was going to say and she didn’t want to hear it. She ignored him and slid in a few coins into the machine. She nibbled on her bottom lip as she perused the choices. AJ leaned against the machine and folded his arms. “You’re not going to speak to me or something?” He asked. Carly sighed loudly and rolled her eyes. She punched in her selection. “You here to see Emily? She’s busy with a visitor at the moment.” “So you *are* going to talk to me then?” Carly turned around. “What is it, AJ? Going to rail on about Jason and me again? Going to get at me about our breaking poor Wittle Wobbin’s heart? Going to do the usual “Jason going to get Michael hurt” speech again?” AJ shook his head. “No, okay, I used to want to but…not anymore.” Carly grabbed the coffee and gave him a surprised look. “Wow, isn’t that something.” She sipped her coffee and made a face. “Oh, ew!” She looked around for a place to dump it. She chucked it into a nearby garbage can. She turned back to AJ. “You were finishing up with your apology…” “My apology?” AJ touched his chest and laughed. “I have nothing to apologize for.” “You have plenty to apologize for and talk to me when you realize what it is.” Carly started to walk away. “Carly! Wait a second, I’m sorry.” He called after her. She didn’t turn around. “Sorry AJ, too late. Come back when you have a real apology.”