Family Secrets

Unknown Location

Ben Reed quietly stared at his friend from across the desk. "Are you sure--"

"Yes," came the interrupted reply. "Do as I say. Ben, please, you're aware that the doctors have told me I have less than a year. Please, just complete the will as I've requested. Don't fight me on this one, old friend, consider it my last request."

"Don’t -- don't talk like that. Doctors are constantly misdiagnosing. You can get a third--"

"Ben, please. I'll be by tomorrow to sign the final forms."

And with that last comment, Ben Reed carefully watched his oldest friend slowly and painfully walk out of his office. He sighed deeply as he once again looked over the information. He rubbed his face with his hands and closed the file, hoping it would be a long time coming before he had to follow through.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Port Charles, New York

Carly looked at the stick once more and bit her bottom lip as a huge smile crossed her face.

"Oh my god," she said happily.

She got up from the toilet seat and headed downstairs.

"Oh my god," she breathed again.

She grabbed her purse from the dining room table and ran into the living room. She walked towards the television and stood in front of the screen, effectively blocking the view.

"Carly, come on, move your ass!" the man cried.

She smiled at him and shook her head. "Let's roll!" she said excitedly.

"No way in hell, Carly," he said as he stood up and walked over to her.

She began to frown at him. "Come on, Manny! Are we gonna have to do this the hard way or the easy way."

"No way in hell, Carly," he repeated.

"Fine. Be that way, Manny. I can get to where I'm going on my own. I'll just be an open target to whoever is trying to kill---"

He shook his head slowly and sighed. "Santo niño," he whispered. "Fine. Where to?"

"To the warehouse of course."

"Great, Carly, that way he can kill me now instead of later."

She patted his check. "Don’t worry, I got your back."

He chuckled softly. "That makes me feel so much better."

"I know," she laughed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Johnny shook his head and smiled as he saw Carly and Manny walk into the warehouse. He slapped Manny on the back when they reached him.

"It was nice knowing you, Manny."

"Shut up, puta. You know how she gets."

He chuckled softly. "Yeah I know. What'd she do? Threaten to leave without you and get killed in the process."

Manny shook his head slowly. "I always fall for that one."

"I know, man, I know."

She walked up to Johnny and kissed his cheek. "I promised Manny he wouldn't die today. Don't make me break my promise, Johnny."

"Anything for you, doll."

She smiled brightly at him. "So where is he?"

He tilted his head to the side. "Do I look like a sucker?"

"Yep," she grinned.

He shook his head. "You are something else, Carly."

"Doesn't mean you don't love me. He's in the office, huh?" She took his non-response as a yes. "Thanks, Johnny!" she called over her shoulder.

"Double funeral," Manny mumbled.

"He'll kill you before he kills me."

"Shut up, asshole."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey," she said as she walked into the office.

He noticed the enormous smile on her face and couldn't help but smile back. "Hey, Carly," he started.

"Now, before you start to yell and tell me to go home, I have to tell you something. And before you say it could have waited till you got home it couldn't. And before you say I could have called, I couldn't."

He chuckled softly at her rambling. "Carly, okay, what's up?"

"You should sit down."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm already sitting."

"Okay, then I'll sit down." She sat in the chair in front of him. "Okay, I -- I'm just gonna come out and say this."

She paused for a few seconds, but remained silent.

"Carly?"

Carly stood and walked over to him, ringing her hands as she did. She sat on his desk and looked at him for a few seconds. She handed him the small white stick she was clutching in her hand. "Here."

He looked at it curiously and then back at her. "What is this and why are you giving it to me?"

"It's a pregnancy test. I took it a bit ago and it's um, it's positive."

He looked at the stick once more and then up at her, a wide smile crossing his face. "You're pregnant?" he whispered.

Carly opened her mouth to answer, but couldn’t find her voice so she simply nodded quickly.

"You're pregnant?" he asked again.

"Yes!!" she cried happily.

He stood up quickly and hugged her. "Are you sure?" he asked as they pulled back.

"Well the box said it's 98% accurate, so I'm pretty sure. But I'm gonna go to GH and get a blood test done to make it official."

"Wow," he whispered.

"I know!" she exclaimed happily.

"We're gonna have a baby," he said in awe as he looked at the small stick again.

He looked back at her and Carly could tell that his eyes had become misty. Her own tears began to fall as well and he pushed them back with his thumbs. He kissed her softly a few times and finally pulled his head back. He stroked her cheek with his thumb and smiled lovingly at her.

"I love you, Carly."

"I love you too, Jase," she whispered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Llanview, Pennsylvania

Reverend Andrew Carpenter looked around the small gathering of people in front of him. His ex-wife Cassie Carpenter, her cousin Kelly Cramer and their aunts, Dorian and Addie Cramer were gathered to his right. Lou O'Connor, a young woman he had known for years stood with them. On his left, his former stepmother, Viki Davidson, and her husband Ben stood by expectantly. Viki's daughter Jessica quickly glanced at Steve Anton and bit her lip as her eyes raked over the handsome man. Andrew looked ahead and grinned at Starr Manning who had her own smile plastered on her face as she held onto Jack's hand. All persons gathered beamed proudly at the couple in front of Andrew.

"We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments," Andrew began with his kind and gentle voice, "to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall re-unite Todd and Blair in marriage."

"Hold on," Todd broke in. Everyone sighed as the last wedding was recalled by all.

"Would you like to add something, Todd?" Andrew asked with a smile.

Todd looked over at Blair and grinned at her. "Yeah . . . yeah, I do."

Blair let out a small chuckle, knowing that Todd always had to put his own spin to their vows.

"We've been through a lot this past year, Blair. I almost lost you again and I -- well, you know . . . I hate the thought of you not being in my life. I hate the thought of you not being by my side. I don't know how the hell it happened, but I love you more right now than I ever have and I didn't think that was possible. You know that I can be a bastard to you and to everyone, but you love me anyway. You're the only who can do that, Blair. I told you last time that I would probably lie to you every chance that I got and you knew that I was telling you the truth. I'm telling you the truth again. I love you. I'll always love you, Blair. I mean -- nothing means more to me than you do. Look, you know if we can get past this mess, we can get through anything. I told you once that there was one downfall in having it all."

"You can lose it all," Blair whispered.

"Yeah. I don't -- I don't want to lose it all, Blair. I like having it all. I like being happy. I like having a family. And I love you more than I thought I could love anyone. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and our kids."

Blair smiled at him as she touched his cheek with her gloved hand. "You know, Todd, some people probably think I belong in St. Anne's for staying with you, but I don't care. I don't care what anyone thinks about you, about me, or about us. I know that you love me and I love you too. You've hurt me," she said as she turned to look at Jack. "And you've lied to me about the worst things possible." She turned back to him. "You're right, you almost did lose me, but you fought, Todd. You proved to me that you love me and that you love our kids more than anything in this world. All these years that I've known you, my love for you has never stopped, not once, no matter where we were - together or apart. And my love for you will never end." She wiped away a tear that had fallen. "I want it all too, Todd. And I want it to last for forever."

Todd smiled in return and closed his eyes briefly realizing that yet again he came close to losing everything that ever mattered to him.

Andrew looked between the two of them and continued on with the ceremony after neither of them continued to speak.

"As always, you two never cease to amaze me with your commitment for one another or your love. A marriage ceremony represents one of life’s greatest commitments. But it is also a declaration of love. I wish to read to you what Paul wrote of love in a letter to the Corinthians."

"Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud. Love is never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable or touchy. Love does not hold grudges and will hardly notice when others do it wrong. Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to them no matter what the costs. You will always believe in them, always expect the best of them, and will always stand your ground in defending them."

Blair squeezed Todd's hand as Andrew finished speaking. He tilted his head to the side and looked at her. "No rules, Blair," he whispered.

"Just one," she whispered as well. "All love." Todd smiled at that, remembering the opposite vow so many years ago.

"Todd, Blair, if you're ready--" Andrew began.

"Yeah, yeah, let's get this rolling," Todd sighed as he looked lustfully as his wife.

"All right," Andrew smiled. "It's your ball, Todd."

Blair quickly turned and gave her bouquet to Cassie as she slipped the glove off of her arm.

Todd never took his eyes off of Blair as he spoke the vows she had made him memorize. "Once before I have stood with you before family and friends; once again I take your hand as my partner. Blair, I take you this day and for all days as my wife." He slipped the familiar ring on her finger as his eyes traveled back to her face.

Blair blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall and spoke the same vows as well. "Once before I have stood with you before family and friends; once again I take your hand as my partner. Todd, I take you this day and for all days as my husband." Blair mimicked his move and placed the ring on his finger.

"Todd and Blair, inasmuch as the two of you have reaffirmed your wedding vows before these witnesses, have promised your love for each other, and joined your hands in the giving of rings, I now declare you to be Husband and Wife. Congratulations! Todd, you may kiss your bride," Andrew finished with a small laugh.

Todd smiled as he leaned in for a kiss and everyone in the room began to clap. They pulled apart and Blair began to laugh as her arms snaked around Todd's neck and his traveled to her waist.

"I love you, Todd, always," she told him happily.

"Ditto, babe," he replied before he kissed her again.