Chapter 15

Six weeks later.

Carly loved talking to Jason on the phone everyday. She would take the kids down to the beach and call him on her cell. As Michael and Morgan chased each other around, built sand castles, and splashed near the shore she gabbed with Jason.

Normally, Jason would never spend so much time talking to anyone on the phone but now he seemed glad to indulge her. And he knew if he didn't she would track him down so fast.

Only hearing his voice stopped her from going to see him in person. He said he needed time to recover and deal with Diego and David.

Carly didn't ask how. She didn't want to know.

But Jason hadn't picked up the phone when she called today.

Carly tried calling Luke but he didn't answer either. Her stomach clenched. She tried to put on a happy face for her boys while they played on the beach but inside she was filled with worry about Jason.

After a few hours she said, "Alright, kids, time for Leticia to tutor you. Gather up your stuff so we can head back to the hotel."

They grumbled but complied. When the walked into the hotel room Jason was sitting at the table in their room.

Michael and Morgan jumped all over him, hugging him and kissing his cheeks. Carly had told them weeks ago about Jason being alive and Uncle Ric being dead. And unlike Jason, Ric would not being coming back from his grave.

Carly could barely see through her tears but she kept her eyes on Jason, soaking in the beautiful sight of him.

Leticia said, "Good to see you, Jason. Now, boys, let your uncle breathe, please. Come on into the other room. It's time for your lessons."

Carly said softly, "Thanks."

When they were gone Jason stood up and opened his arms. Carly flew across the room and into them.

For long moments neither said anything. They both cried and held each other.

Finally Jason said, "You were the one to save me this time, Carly."

She titled her head up to look in his eyes and said, " Luke really came through for us. I didn't expect that but I'm so grateful he found you."

"He was only there because you refused to believe I was gone."

Carly told him, "I would know if you stopped breathing. Because I seriously think I would too."

Jason was awed by her. He smiled at her. Though he had planned so much to say he now felt speechless and only wanted to hold her and treasure this moment.

She winked at him, "You owe me like a year of catching up time. So don't even think of leaving this island for a good" she drug out the word "long while."

Jason cupped her cheek and said, "You don't know how I missed this face. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon."

Carly buried her face into his chest and hugged him tight. She whispered fiercely, "God, you feel good. I love you, Jase. And I hated being me without you."

He brushed her hair away from her ear and whispered "You never will be again."

She pulled away slightly, meeting his eyes. "Promise?"

"The one person I couldn't stop thinking about... all those months...it was you, Carly. It's you. And I don't want to waste time pretending it's not...okay?"

"Jase?" She wanted to believe she understood what he was saying, but so many times before she had misunderstood.

He told her, "I'm in love with you...still. And I know there is no reason why I should expect you to give a damn about that anymore but..."

She placed her hand on his cheek. He stilled. His mouth moved to kiss her palm. A tear slid from his eye.

"I got you back." she whispered hoarsely "I always knew I would."

And then he was kissing her and they were both thankful for this moment, this second of time where nothing separated them and there was nothing to fight against, there was only time stretching in front of them. Time to love, time to hold each other, and time to never take each other for granted again.

Epilogue

The repercussions of Jason Morgan going missing reverberated through Port Charles for months to come.

It had led some couples together: Milo and Lulu grew closer everyday, Ned remarried Lois, Alexis protected Sonny and covered up the death of Ric, Lucky and Liz had their baby daughter, and Nikolas and Emily started to plan for a second wedding ceremony. No one wanted to waste anymore time.

It also led Jason back to his family. On the first day that Jason, Carly, Leticia and the kids arrived back in Port Charles, Max, Milo, Lulu, Sonny, Alexis and Sam were waiting at the airport.

The happy shouts could be heard echoing through the place. Jason spotted a engagement ring on Sam's finger. Their eyes met. She said, "I thought I'd never see you again."

He said, "You almost didn't."

Jason smiled at Carly. He would find out who Sam had given her heart to later, and maybe even one day end up at their wedding. For now there were other people he needed to see and things he needed to say.

When the limo pulled up in front of the Quatermaine mansion, Carly said "This is a day I never thought I would see. Even all my plans didn't account for this scenario."

Michael asked, "But this is a good thing right?"

Morgan watched his brother and then the adults, looking for the answer on how he was supposed to feel about this place, and the people inside.

Jason looked at Carly, for reassurance.

She took his hand and whispered, "This is a very good thing."

The family was waiting in the living room. Edward paced. Alan and Monica clutched each other hands, as they sat side by side on the couch. Tracy and Luke knocked back drinks and snarked at each other. Dillon whispered with Brooklyn in the corner, where she revealed that Lois was pregnant again. Ned and his wife tried to get Edward to sit down. Emily held Spencer, while Nikolas stood next to them.

Michael and Morgan walked in, followed by Jason, who was holding hands with Carly.

Monica slowly rose, shaking, her eyes filled with tears. "I thought we lost you..."

Jason said, "I'm sorry I worried you."

They hugged.

Alan walked over and held out his hand, "It's good to see you...son."

"You too, Dad."

The room gasped at the use of that word. Alan's eyes were moist when Jason gave him a quick hug.

Jason looked around the room, meeting each person's eyes and then finally settling on Edward.

His grandfather said, "I have to say that we all we convinced you'd never come back to us. But that one," he pointed and smiled at Carly "just wouldn't believe it."

Speaking to Carly, Edward added, "Thank you for not giving up on him."

"I never would," she said.

Dillon came over and said, "It's great to see you, man. Welcome back."

Slipping his hand into Carly's again, Jason said "It's good to be back."

"Well, enough of the mush, lets eat some dinner!" Luke cried

"Classy as always, husband."

Everyone stood up and started to move to the dining room.

"I'm starving!" said Michael "What are we eating?"

In unison the adults answered, "Pizza."

And just like that, after years of doing all he could to stay away from these people, and months of begging God to let him come back to them, Jason Morgan was home to stay.

XXXXX

Late that night, Jason and Carly sat on her couch.

"So I guess I need to look for a place to live?" he asked.

She slowly turned her head and studied him. "Why?"

"You said Sonny sold both Penthouses."

"Yes, but...you have a place to live...always, Jase...with me." Softly she asked "If that is what you want?"

Though they had been close in the last few days, sharing kisses and teary conversations about how they couldn't stand to live apart from each other, their futures plans were left unspoken.

Jason smiled at her, then raised his hand to stroke her cheek. "If, Carly?"

"If," she whispered as she started to smile too.

"Don't you know there is no where else on this planet I want to be? I just wanted to make sure that is what you want too."

"You're all I ever wanted, Jase, and all I will ever want."

When his lips touched hers, Carly scooted her body as close to him as possible, needing to feel his skin and warmth and know that he was really here and never leaving her again.

Carly pulled back an inch, and staring into the blue eyes that stole her heart at first sight, she told him, "You know I am no good at being me without you."

Jason replied back, his words low and intimate and 100 percent true, "I don't think there is any me without you."

When his lips touched hers this time, there wasn't anything he held back. Time was short, and this time Jason was the one with a plan. A plan to never be without his love again.

THE END

I wrote this story a while ago but held off on posting it since it didn't have many happy moments in it. Still I hope it was an enjoyable read all the same. I loved showing Carly fighting for Jason even though all logic seemed to dictate her cause was hopeless.

Thanks for taking the time to read,

Sara