Chapter 4

Jason had been watching the scene for a while, taking in the sight of his sister 
smiling again. And Carly. `She looks beautiful today.' he thought. She was only 
wearing a pair of jeans and a white shirt. Her hair was pulled into a high 
ponytail that made her look like a teenager. Michael had ruined it by playing in 
her hair but to Jason she'd never looked better. There was a huge smile on her 
face and a twinkle in her eye that was like a breath of fresh air to Jason. 

All last night and this morning, Robin had kept pestering him about not seeing 
Carly anymore. Not see Carly anymore? How could he? She was his best friend. She 
let him be himself. When he tried to explain to Robin she'd slammed out of the 
penthouse in a huff. 

“Hey Jason.” Emily noticed him by the door. 

“Hi Emily. If you're busy I can come back later.” Jason turned to go. 

“No! No, the more the merrier, right Em?” Carly motioned for him to come in. 

“Yeah, sure.” `It's not like I can stop everybody from coming in and out 
whenever they want.' Emily thought sullenly. 

Jason moved to stand behind Carly. `Don't we look like the perfect family? I 
wish.' Carly sighed inward. 

"So, how are you today, Em?” Jason hopefully asked. 

"Same as yesterday."

"I hope you don't mean that." Carly said while trying to keep Michael still. 
Ever since Jason walked into the room he'd started squirming around. "You were 
looking pretty happy when Nik was here.” 

Jason grabbed Michael off of Carly's lap. Carly tensed as his hands grazed her 
slightly. “Nikolas was here?” 

“Yeah. We talked for a while.” Emily mumbled. 

“Hi, Daddy!” Michael cried. 

Carly blushed. “No, honey, that's Uncle Jason. AJ's Daddy.” 

Michael continued anyway. “Daddy, Daddy.” 

“It's alright, Carly.” It's been months since he was allowed to think of himself 
as Michael's father. It felt good. “I don't mind.” 

“Well, if you say…” Carly trailed off as Jason smiled down on her. 

“I say so.” Jason stared at her. 

Emily looked from Carly to Jason and back again. They'd totally forgotten about 
her. Which was a good thing. But how to get them out of the room. They were 
making her feel like a third wheel. 

“Knock, knock!” Amy cheerfully called out as she stuck her head through the 
doorway. The sound of Amy's voice jolted Jason and Carly out of their daze. 

“Everybody out! Visiting hours are o-ver.” Amy sang out. “Hey, how'd that little 
boy get in here?” 

Carly looked around. “What little boy? Jase, do you see a little boy?” 

Jason, for once, played along. “I don't see a little boy. Em?” 

Emily joined in. “No little boy here.” 

Amy took the hint. “Uh-huh. Well why don't you two take the invisible little boy 
and get outta here?” 

“Come on, Carly, let's go.” Jason shifted Michael in his arms and waited as 
Carly stood up. “I'll come back tomorrow, Em.” 

“Don't!” Emily cried. “This place is a zoo all ready. I've had tons of visitors. 
I'm going home the day after tomorrow. If you want, we can talk then?” Please, 
please say yes. 

“Yeah, sure.” 

“Get some rest, Em.” They moved to leave. 

“Carly? Um, could you tell Nik thanks for me?” Emily looked down at her covers. 

Carly smiled knowingly. “Yup.” 

“Thanks.” 

Carly closed the door behind them and looked over at Jason. “She's going to be 
all right.” She tried to reassure him. 

“That's what everyone keeps saying but…” But Jason obviously didn't believe 
them. 

"Jason." Carly reached over and hugged Jason and Michael. Just then a voice 
screeched, "What going on here!?!"

Robin stood there with a frown of severe displeasure on her face.