Chapter 6
AJ looked at Jason directly in the eye. “Now tell me… HONESTLY… are you positive
that you're Michael's father? Or am I the man Michael should call “daddy”?”
Jason stared at his brother by blood, coldly and silently.
Caroline looked at the two men in front of her, feeling sick. “Oh God, just this
once. Just this once, make Jason lie”, she thought to herself.
“I believe that you didn't hear me the first time. Is Michael my son? IS HE?
You've raised him for almost a year, and I want to know if it should have been
ME raising him. I never asked for a paternity test before, because I thought
that Michael couldn't be my son because we had different blood types. I now know
that it is possible. The biological father has rights, and I want to know if
those rights belong to me. Answer me!”
“What gives you the right to come into my house and yell at two people who live
here? Not to mention your rudeness and lack of concern about the fact that it is
past midnight and MY son is sleeping”, Jason said, his eyes flashing.
“Is he really yours Jason? Or is he mine?” AJ said, his voice lowering a bit.
“I am his father”.
AJ laughed bitterly. “Now I know that the blond over there tried to convince you
that there is no way that I could ever be a good influence on Michael and that
he is only safe with you. I also believe that regardless of paternity, you love
Michael as if he were your own. But I want to know if he really is yours. Are
you Michael's biological father? Because if you aren't then you…”
“I am Michael's father. If you want to know if we share DNA, then the answer is
yes.” Jason interrupted.
“Oh don't give me that crap! If Michael were my son, you and he would still
share DNA! I want to know if you're Michael's biological father!”
“Yes”.
Caroline turned around and blinked back tears, which were forming. Jason had
just lied for her and Michael. Jason had always maintained that he would never
lie, and he had compromised his integrity for her and Michael.
“Are you sure? If you were so positive about Michael's paternity, why did it
take you so long to answer”, AJ retorted, not wanting to believe Jason's word.
“AJ! What the hell is your problem? Of course Jason is sure that Michael is his
son! HE”S NOT YOURS!” Caroline said angrily, facing AJ.
“You know what? I'd like to believe you, but I can't. Anyway, it doesn't matter,
because you're going to stay out of this”, AJ said speaking over Caroline.
“STAY OUT OF THIS? Are you implying that this conversation is none of my
business? Do you really think that? I AM HIS MOTHER and ANYTHING that concerns
him is MY business! Now you asked your question, and you got your answer, so GET
OUT!”
“I'm not leaving”, AJ said, crossing is arms.
“The hell you aren't! Now get out before I have you thrown out!” Jason
threatened.
“Oh that's right! You're the Crime Messiah with your own suit and tie clothed
angels guarding your bullet proof glass kingdom…” AJ stopped when he saw
Caroline open the door, and have Renaldo come in.
“Oh hello Angel Armani! Are you here to escort me out? Well don't bother! I
won't stay longer and listen to these two lying criminals,” AJ said, holding up
his hands. He then turned to Jason and Caroline.” I will however get a court
order for a paternity test, so don't think that this is over!”
Caroline stared at the closed door, and bit her lip. “Jason, if he gets a court
order for a paternity test…”
“Blood tests can be fixed. Caroline, don't worry. Nothing and nobody is going to
take Michael away from us. He's ours. Ours forever,” Jason said facing her, with
his hands on her shoulders.
Caroline smiled at him, then leaned closer to hug him.
Jason put his arms around her, and stroked her hair. “Remember what you said to
me when we were visiting your mother's grave? You said that biology doesn't make
a family, love does. That's true. Most of the people I love and care about are
not related by blood, but I still feel as if they are part of me. Don't worry
about anything. I made a promise to you and Michael, and I plan on keeping it”
Caroline smiled happily in Jason's embrace. He would take care of everything. He
always did. There was no way he was going to let her lose another child.
***********************
Shane awoke to the sound of the phone ringing next to him.
“Hello”, he mumbled sleepily.
“Good morning. This is the registration desk at the Port Charles Hotel. I
believe you requested a wake up call?”
“Um, yes. Thank you.”
A Shane hung up the phone, his eyes made contact with Caroline's engagement
ring, which he had placed on the nightstand. He picked it up, and stared at it.
The ring was supposed to have symbolized their new life as husband and wife.
They had never gotten a chance to get married since their relationship started
to disintegrate after Eleyna's death. Shane closed his eyes as he thought about
Eleyna, his beautiful daughter. He remembered the day Caroline had told him that
she was pregnant:
It was a week after Caroline and Shane had gotten engaged. They were outside at
Greenland Pastures, enjoying the Florida sunshine. Caroline was sitting on the
grass, watching her fiancé ride Cinnamon, the horse Shane's father used to own.
Cinnamon had been Carly's horse, but after the accident, he had sold it to
Greenland Pastures.
As Shane and Cinnamon came closer to her, Caroline used her hand as a visor to
block out the sun.
“Caroline, honey, I'm sure that Cinnamon wants to spend some quality time with
you. She was really more your horse than she was Carly's. C'mon, climb up and
ride her.”
“Well, I'd be happy to brush Cinnamon, and feed her, but I won't be able to ride
her for a while.”
“Why not? I don't think that there is anything in this world that would stop you
from riding”.
“Well, my doctor said that I shouldn't really be riding, because there's always
the chance that I might fall off. He recommends that I don't take the risk,
considering the delicate state I'm in. The baby comes first,” Caroline said
smiling.
Shane stared at her. She couldn't have said what he thought she said. But
Caroline just sat there smiling, waiting for his reply. Shane dismounted
Cinnamon and sat down next to Caroline. “You're pregnant?” he asked, his eyes
shining.
“Yes… Daddy”.
Shane picked up Caroline and twirled her around. They stood facing each other.
“I can't believe that we're going to have a baby”, Shane whispered.
“Well, believe it. I'm two months “, Caroline said, then kissed Shane.
Shane smiled at her. “We were going to get married a year from now. Do you want
to push up the wedding date?”
Caroline thought about it for a moment, and bit her lip. “Would it be incredibly
selfish of me if I said that I wanted to get married as we planned. I just want
our wedding to be perfect. I mean, we are already engaged, so we don't have to
try and justify the consequences of our love. This baby will be born with two
loving parents, who will be married a few months later”, Caroline said, not
knowing what Shane would say. “But if you want to get married earlier its okay”.
Shane kissed her hand, then held it in his. “You're right. It doesn't matter
when we get married. This baby will be loved, no matter what. It may be a little
unusual, considering that most people get married, then have a baby, but, hey,
our love and relationship are both special and unique”.
“You got that right”, Caroline murmured, then leaned forward to kiss him.
Five months later, Eleyna Grace Roberts was born. She was born two months early,
and was born with many complications. She stayed in the hospital for two weeks
and fought like hell to survive. Her parents stayed with her, talking to her,
and holding her, while praying over and over again. Sadly, after fourteen days
of struggling for life, Eleyna Grace Roberts was laid to rest.
Caroline and Shane had dealt with their daughter's death differently. Shane went
out often trying to get his mind off Eleyna's death. Caroline stayed at home,
trying to deal with life's unfairness. They may have gotten through the terrible
ordeal, but one night Shane tried to drown his sorrows with whiskey, and ended
up in another woman's bed. He tried to explain what had happened to Caroline,
and even though she forgave him, she felt that their love wouldn't be able to
make it. Caroline had given up hope of having the life she had always dreamed
of, and wanted to leave and start over.
Shane got up, and started to get ready. He was going to see Caroline in the
morning, and find out where things stood between them. He only hoped that Jason
hadn't taken his place in her heart.
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