The maitre'd scrutinized Keesha carefully as she approached, turning to
another suited gentleman and
whispering something.  When the second man shook his head, the maitre'd
stepped forward, blocking most
of the restaurant from Keesha's view.

"This is a private club Miss."

Keesha nodded her head quickly, trying desperately to appear 'in the know.'
She gave a sweet smile to both
gentlemen and tossed her hair back.   "Of course.  I am here as a guest of
Sonny Corinthos and Jason
Morgan.  Your employee, Carly Roberts, is a friend of mine and asked me to
stop in and say hello."

Keesha took a deep breath once she'd finished, holding it in nervous suspense.
She'd thrown in as many
names as she could in hopes of convincing them that she had a legitimate right
to be there.

"Are you meeting Mr. Corinthos and Mr. Morgan for dinner?  I was under the
impression they were here for
a business meeting, Miss...?"

"Ward," Keesha allowed, almost instantly regretting giving her real name.  For
one, it was one of the most
respected names in Port Charles, and a Ward was as likely to be seen at the No
Name as a Quartermaine
was.  She should have said Spencer.  For two, if these goons went and checked
with Carly, Jason or Sonny,
she'd be busted for sure.

"Actually,  I just thought I'd come say hi to Carly," Keesha continued, hoping
they'd quickly forget about her
name.  "I know Sonny and Jason are in a business meeting.  I don't plan on
disturbing them."

The two men looked at each other, then back at Keesha.  Deciding she looked
harmless enough, one of them
men held his arms out.

"Very well Miss Ward.  I just have to pat you down first."

Keesha looked shocked, but recovered quickly and gave an exaggerated shrug.
She stepped forward into
the mans outstretched arms and giggled as he patted down her sides, then
snaked his arm back around her
waist.  He was quick and professional, stepping back as soon as he'd found her
clean.

He smiled nervously.  "I apologize for that, but normally we require a name to
be left at the front door, and
when it's not, we must take extra precautions."

Keesha smiled graciously at both men.  "I completely understand, gentlemen."
She stepped inside and
surveyed the dimly lit room.  It was pretty crowded, and Keesha was glad.  She
noticed Jason, Sonny, and
their associate at a table in the far corner.  It was one of the farthest
tables from the bar and Keesha was
grateful for this as well.  Things were definitely going her way.  She spotted
Carly at the bar immediately,
chatting with several of the patrons.

Keesha sauntered over to it, running a hand along the polished wood as she
surveyed the empty barstools,
carefully choosing one far enough, but not too far, from anyone else.  She
wanted to be far enough for
privacy, but close enough so Carly wouldn't be compelled to cause a scene.
Not that Keesha figured Carly
was ever *not* compelled to cause a scene.  But this was her place of
business.  And loverboy Jason, who
hated scenes, was in the room.  Keesha hoped Carly would keep these factors in
mind as they talked.

Carly noticed Keesha as soon as she sat down.  A scowl immediately crossed her
face.  What the hell was
she doing here?  How did she find the place, much less get in?  Carly glanced
over at Sonny and Jason, who
were deep in discussion, serious discussion from the looks of it, and figured
they wouldn't notice if Moreno
himself walked in, much less someone as unnoticeable as Keesha.

She threw her bar rag on the counter and wiped her hands against the apron
tied at her waist.  A look of
determination settled on her face as she strode purposely over to her nemesis.
Carly was only a few feet
from Keesha when her boss Peety appeared from the back room and grabbed her by
the arm.

"Carly, let me talk to you a minute."

Carly sighed in exaggerated annoyance.  "Not right now, Peety.  I've got
customers."  She gestured vaguely
toward Keesha who sneered at her.

"That's who we need to discuss.  Now I understand she's your friend but I need
you to understand our policy
on privacy here.  That means you don't tell anyone where this place is--"

"My friend?!"   Carly exploded, laughing incredulously.  "Who told you she was
my friend?"

Peety allowed a confused look to pass over his face for a mere second before
ridding himself of it.  "She told
Angelo at the door that she was here compliments of you, Corinthos and Morgan.
Now, I know they take
the greatest discretion in inviting people here, so that I can excuse, but you
don't get the same latitude."

Carly sighed loudly, rolling her eyes.  "I *didn't* invite her here, Peety.  I
*hate* her.  Matter of fact, so
does Jason, so I don't know what kind of lines she's been feeding you but--"

Peety glanced over Carly's shoulder at Keesha who suddenly looked nervous.
"I'll get her out of here."

Carly grabbed Peety's arm as a wicked grin passed over her face.  "No, Peety,
let me talk to her.   I mean,
she came all this way...it's the least I could do."

Peety looked at Carly with uncertainty, then broke into a rare grin as she
smiled at him, raising her eyebrows
and wiggling them.  "You are too much little girl, you know that?"

Carly nodded, grinning triumphantly and clapping her hands together like an
excited child.  Her eyes
sparkled as she squeezed Peety's arm with reassurance.  "Too much or not
enough, depending on how you
look at it."

Keesha folded her arms across the bar as Carly finally approached.  "You are
*the* worst bartender I've ever
seen," she complained, checking her watch as if she was on a tight schedule.

Carly laughed, putting her hands on her hips.  "Pretty demanding considering I
had to convince the owner of
this place not to drag you out of here and shoot you...execution style."

Keesha rolled her eyes.  "Whatever.  I got in, didn't I?  They didn't seem to
have a problem with me at the
door,"  she said smugly, pursing her lips together and smiling at Carly.

Carly tapped her foot, glancing over Keesha's shoulder at Jason and Sonny, who
were still oblivious to
everything around them.  She wasn't sure if she hoped they noticed Keesha was
there or if it would be better
that they never found out.

"Since you said you were here compliments of invitations from me, Sonny *and*
Jason, they would have
rolled out the red carpet at the door.  Now, once they find out we *despise*
you, they may have a different
reaction,"  Carly sneered, flipping her hair over her shoulder.  "Now, I
*saved* you from Peety cause I
wanted to make this point myself.  You are not welcome here, Keesha.  Or
anywhere else around me or
Jason.  You are annoying,  petty, and pathetic.  What the hell do you want?"

Keesha sat back, crossing her arms over her chest, her eyes shooting daggers
at Carly.  "I *know* what you
did with AJ.  I know you kissed him the night before last and I wonder how
Jason would feel about that?"

Carly began to laugh and had to cover her mouth with her hand so it didn't
turn  into a howl.  "You are too
pathetic, do you know that?  Jason *knows* what happened with AJ the other
night.  He also knows it
didn't mean anything.  Do you think that just cause it comes out of your
virtuous mouth he's gonna believe it
over me?  Didn't work so much when you tried to tell him AJ and I slept
together did it?  Why don't you
take off the rose colored glasses and see Jason for what he really is:   A
*man*, not a boy, in love with
*me*, not you.  Maybe Jason Quartermaine loved you.  And that's great Keesha,
I'm happy for you.  Go
look at some pictures and have a stroll down memory lane.  Cause that's all
you're gonna get honey.   You
couldn't handle Jason Morgan.  He would tear you in half, and I mean that in
more ways than one."

Keesha shot a disgusted look toward Carly.  "You are sick.  Jason deserves
better and you know it.  You've
never had someone so good in your life and that's why you're fighting tooth
and nail to keep him."

Carly nodded, leaning forward against the bar and placing her face just inches
from Keesha's.  "You're right
about one thing, Jason *Morgan* is the best thing to ever happen to me.  But I
don't have to fight for him,
and you know it.  And it kills you.  But you gotta know, that even if I had
to, I would."

Keesha nodded, pushing herself even farther away from Carly. "Oh I know you
would Carly.  I know you'd
fight for him.  You may not want to admit it, but you better put on your
dancing shoes cause Jason's gonna
come around.  And when he does, I'll be there.  He'll remember everything we
had, and you're gonna have
your work cut out for you."
 

"He's gonna come around?"  Carly laughed loudly at this, tossing her head back
and shaking it.  She looked
over at the table Jason and Sonny were at and saw that their associate had
left.  "You people are pathetic!"
Her voice was suddenly too loud for comfort, and it carried across the room.
Several patrons turned to look
at them.  Keesha put a finger to her lips and shushed Carly harshly.

"No!"  Carly bellowed, on a rampage now, as unstoppable as a freight train.
"YOU shut up.  You shut your
stupid pathetic mouth!  I am so sick and tired of everyone thinking Jason's
all of a sudden going to regain his
memory.  Do you even *know* what happened to him?  It's physically impossible
for him to *ever*
remember who he was.  And that's just fine with me, you know?!  And maybe,
just maybe, if it was fine with
you too, you could be his friend!  But NO, not the saintly Keesha Ward.  She
could never accept Jason
Morgan.  It's Jason Quartermaine all the way isn't it?  You'll hold out till
you die!"

Carly saw Jason and Sonny approaching but she didn't stop.  She turned her
voice up an octave and mocked
Keesha.    "'He'll remember, he'll remember, if I could just show him.  If I
could just sleep with him one time
and work my saintly purified powers on him he'll remember.'  Give me a break!
Get over yourself!  Who's
the whore huh?  Who's trying to use sex to make Jason love them?  Not me!
Not--"

"That's enough, Carly."  Jason's voice cut through her tirade.  It was calm,
but angry.  Every person in the
entire room was looking their way.  Carly's breath was coming in short, quick
gasps.  She hadn't been so
mad in...she couldn't remember how long.

Keesha smirked at her, leaning forward and dipping her head.  Her voice came
out in a low, hoarse whisper.
"You may think I'm trying to use sex to make Jason love me, but you know full
well that sex is the only
reason Jason *thinks* he loves you."

Carly's jaw dropped open as the words Keesha had just said registered in her
brain.  She hesitated only a
split second before bringing her hand back and settling her palm against
Keesha's cheek in a loud slap.  Most
people in the room gasped.  Jason immediately made his way around the bar and
pushed Carly into the back
room.  Keesha was sitting, stunned, her hand slowly making it's way to her
already red cheek.  Sonny
stepped toward her, grasping her roughly by the arm and pulling her off the
barstool, leading her outside.
 

Innocence Lost Chapter 27

Bobbie came up behind Carly and tapped her on the shoulder.  "Hey."

Carly whirled around, her hand poised over her heart.  "Jesus Christ, Bobbie,
don't do that!"  She quickly
looked down at her shopping basket and shoved it behind her back.

Bobbie narrowed her eyes, trying desperately to see what Carly was hiding.
She looked around at the other
shoppers in the aisle, then focused back on Carly.  "I'm sorry for startling
you, but I haven't seen you in a
while.  What's going on?"  Her question seemed more of an accusation than an
inquiry, and Carly scowled at
her.

"Nothing," she snapped, gripping the basket tighter behind her back.  She
could feel her resolve slipping. She
was scared.  Things had been going so well in the last few weeks.  Ever since
she'd given the key to her
apartment to Jason, things had been running smoothly.  They were getting along
better than they ever had.
Keesha barely bothered her anymore, other than the fact that the little wench
breathed her precious air.
Carly had actually managed to forge some sort of friendship with Karen.  It
was the first time in a long time
she had a genuine girlfriend.  Even she and AJ were getting along.

Bobbie tilted her head, the way she did when she knew something was up.  Carly
bit down hard on her lower
lip and tried desperately to keep from crying.

"What is it Carly?"  Bobbie asked, her voice soft, unobtrusive.

Carly looked down at her feet.  She swung the basket slowly from side to side
behind her.  Without much
more thought, she pulled it out from behind her and showed Bobbie what was
inside.

"I need your help, Momma."

*~*~*

Jason poured himself a glass of water from the tumbler on the bar and watched
Sonny as he took a long sip.

Sonny leaned forward from where he was sitting on the couch and watched Jason
was curious eyes.  "You
want to what?"

"I want to ask her to marry me,"  Jason repeated, more strength in his voice
when he said it this time.  It was
something that had been rattling around in his mind for weeks now.  He just
had never been able to
formulate it into one simple thought or desire until today.  It was painfully
clear now.  He wanted Carly to
be his wife.  He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.  He'd known it
all along, somewhere deep
inside, but marriage was a foreign concept to him.  It was meaningless for so
long, and only now did it make
sense.  It was the next step, one he wanted -- needed -- to take.  Carly was
his life, his love...she was
everything to him.

Sonny was nodding now, his eyes boring holes into Jason.  "Are you sure?"

The question was harmless, but it infuriated Jason.  He wasn't sure why, or
even if he wanted to react to it.
But he knew it was a futile one.  A question not even worth answering.
Sonny knew once he asked it,
there was no need to.  If he could take it back, he would have.  But he tried
to do the next best thing.

"Of course you are.  I'm sorry."

Jason nodded, relaxing a bit as he sat down.  He was on his guard, and he had
no idea why.  No, he did.  It
was because he knew this proposal would be accepted by few people.  And Sonny
had to be one of them.
Or he'd seriously reconsider doing it.  It probably wouldn't stop him, but
he'd seriously reconsider it.  For
some reason, he needed Sonny's support.  Even his blessing.  Jason didn't know
hwy.  But he did.

As though reading his mind, Sonny laughed and clapped a hand on Jason's back.
"So what do you need me
to do?  Help you pick out a ring?  Stand up for you?  What?"

Jason smiled, pulling a small velvet box out of his pocket.  "I got a ring."
He opened it up and revealed a
diamond solitaire, beautifully set on a thin gold band.  "It's three karats."

Sonny nodded, whistling under his breath.  "I don't doubt that.  It's big.
But Carly wouldn't expect anything
less now would she?"

Jason laughed at this, and snapped the box shut, putting it back in his
pocket.  "She makes me really happy
Sonny," he said, for no reason in particular other than needing him to
understand.

"I know."

"She's amazingly beautiful, smart, funny..."

"I know."

"I love her."

"I know."

*~*~*

Jason fiddled with the velvet box in his pocket as he stepped into Carly's
apartment later that night.  "Carly?
You here?"

Carly stepped out of the bathroom, her face ashen.  "Hey,"  she muttered,
trying to keep her voice steady.

Jason smiled, not realizing her mood.  "Hey," he murmured, pulling Carly into
his arms and nuzzling her
neck.  Carly stiffened against him, tension easing it's way into her
shoulders.  She pushed herself away and
cleared her throat.

"Listen, Jase, I gotta tell you something."

"Me too," Jason said, following her further into the apartment and patting the
small bulge in his pocket.  He
couldn't keep the grin off of his face.  He thought he'd be more nervous, but
for some reason, he was
excited.

"Do you love me?"  The question was out of his mouth before Jason even
realized he was going to ask it.
Maybe it was some sort of insurance, before he put his heart out there on the
table for Carly to do with what
she wanted.  Jason wasn't sure, but it was out there, hanging between them.

Carly looked at Jason incredulously.  "Jason you know I do."

Jason smiled, reaching into his pocket.  He pulled out the velvet box, but
hesitated when he realized Carly
had disappeared into the bathroom.  She came back out momentarily, holding
something in her hand.

"Jason I need to tell you something."

Jason nodded and put his free hand against her arm.  "Okay, but I need to ask
you something first."

Then -- silence.  It wasn't awkward, really, but sort of refreshing.  Carly
took in a large breath and held the
item in her hand out.  Jason looked at it, confused, then held the velvet box
out.

Both took a deep breath, and spoke at the same time.

"I'm pregnant."

"Marry me."

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