Chapter 30 

"You love me?" Carly asked with a small laugh.  "Right.  Yesterday you loved 
Robin with all your heart and now you love *me*."  Carly started to laugh 
harder.

Jason frowned.  "I realize that I haven't been in love with Robin for a very 
long time."

"You just thought you were?"  Carly shook her head and laugh some more.  "I feel 
for Robin."

Jason slammed his hand down on the pool table.  "Can we stop talking about 
Robin? This is not about Robin; it's about you and me.  Carly, I mean it, I love 
you." It hurt him that Carly would throw his vows of love back in his face with 
laughter.  He thought that this was what she wanted.

"Sure you do."  Carly sobered up.  "Look, we have this great sexual thing going 
on between us, I can't deny that.  And it has always been my dream that you 
would tell me that you love me because I love you."

Jason started to grin but Carly's next words wiped the smile off his face. 
"However, I don't believe you Jason, I really don't."

Jason dragged his hands through his short hair.  "Okay, how can I convince you 
that I mean this?"

Carly shrugged and said simply. "Proof.  I want proof.  Is Robin out of the 
penthouse yet?"

"I didn't tell her it was over yet." Jason looked down at the floor.  He knew 
what he did was wrong but he had been so anxious to get out of the penthouse and 
to get to Carly.

"What!"  Carly exploded.  "Jason, you didn't!  Jase, h-how stupid can you be!  
How dare you come to me, claiming you love me, trying to get my hopes and you 
haven't even *broken up* with Robin yet!  So what would have happened if I 
actually believed you and then you went home and change your mind about the 
whole thing?"

Jason placed his hands on her arms and looked deep into her eyes. "I'm not going 
to change my mind.  You know yourself that when I set out to do something, I do 
it.  And what I'm going to do now is tell Robin we're over and make you believe 
in me." 

"Well, you can try."  Carly had decided in that split second that she wasn't 
going to make this easy for Jason at all.  Since the beginning of their 
relationship, she had done the chasing and now it was her turn to get chased a 
little.  Carly tried to hide the small smile that crept up on her face.  Oh, 
boy, Jason is going to have work very hard for me, she thought. "Jase, tell her 
today.  Actually right now."

Jason nodded.  For the first time in his short life, he was letting someone else 
tell him what to do.  "So does that mean we're…"

Carly shook her head.  "Nope, not right away, I'm not going to fall into your 
arms that easily."  Both Jason and Carly had to laugh a little as they both 
remembered how easily she fell into his arms just minutes ago.  "Okay, what I 
meant was I'm believing you that easily, you have to do something to get me to."

"What?  Anything."  Jason vowed.

"Woo me." Carly said with a silly smile on her lips.

~*~*~

Emily fidgeted in her seat next to Tino.  They were on their way to the movies. 
She wanted to bring up Tino's behavior back at Kelly's but she didn't know how.  
Emily fiddled with her bracelet and then reached up for the medallion before 
realizing it wasn't there. Tino noticed her motion and said casually, "I see 
you're not wearing that necklace anymore."

"I gave it back to Nikolas." Emily said simply.

"Good. I don't want my girl wearing some other guy's stuff when she's out with 
me."

Emily didn't know what to say to that other than.  "Nikolas is just my friend."

"And he better stay that way."  Tino said.

Emily gaped.  "What do you mean by that!"

Tino ignored her and asked instead.  "Who gave you that bracelet?"

Emily immoderately covered the bracelet with her hand.  "My mom." She lied.  She 
didn't know why she was lying to him but the way he'd been acting, she knew that 
he shouldn't know the truth.  

Tino nodded, accepting her word.  "It's pretty." He smiled at her, flashing his 
dimples.

"Thanks."  Emily decided to bring up the subject of Kelly's. "Tino, what was 
wrong with you today?"

"Today?" Tino frowned.  "What about today?"

"You know what I've talking about.  You attitude at Kelly's.  You acted like you 
wanted to kill Andres."

Tino shrugged.  "I don't like guys touching my girl, is all."  

"Tino, he was just joking!"

"You looked like you were taking him pretty seriously."  Tino narrowed his eyes 
at her.

Emily threw her hands up in the air. "I barely know the guy!  I was just playing 
along!"

Tino pulled up at a stop sign and quickly kissed her full on the lips. "Let's 
not fight, okay?  I just want to enjoy our time together."

Emily was completely confused. First Tino's this great guy, and then he's this 
obnoxious territorial guy and then he's back to being sweet. What is up?
 
~*~*~

Nikolas took another sharp turn and continued to drive around aimlessly through 
town trying his hardest not to think about anything, especially Emily. Last 
night after Emily had thrown her ultimatum and the Cassadine Medallion into his 
face, he didn't know what to say or think. Nikolas lightly fingered the 
medallion that he'd been holding onto ever since last night.

He had drove around all night thinking about how to fix things between him and 
Emily.  He had tried to deny the attraction he had felt for Emily but all the 
excuses he came up with, she's too young, it wouldn't work out, they were better 
off as friends, were just that, excuses.

He tried to say that he didn't want to change things, that he was happy just 
having her as a friend, that getting involved would damage their friendship 
beyond repair but that first kiss by the pool already changed everything.  Emily 
knew it and so did Nikolas no matter how many times he tried to deny it.

So even though driving all night had cleared his head on things, he was still 
unsure on how what to do.  And he knew that time was running out. How long could 
Emily wait before turning to Tino? 

Nikolas had returned to Wyndemere late at night with no real decision made other 
than going to see Emily in the morning.  However a somewhat frantic call from 
Sarah early that morning had derailed his plans.  After discovering that all she  
wanted was a quick ride to the mall, which had made him incredibly mad.  After 
dropping Sarah and a talkative Deenie off, Nikolas took the time to drive around 
town, trying cool down from the argument he and Sarah had when he dropped her 
off.

'Next time you need a ride, call a cab!' He sneered.

Sarah gasped.  'What?  Jeez, Nicky, I thought we were becoming friends.'

'Don't call me Nicky!  And we are not friends.  I've never wanted to be friends 
with you.  You just pushed yourself onto me without even wondering about my 
feelings.' Nikolas sped off leaving behind an incensed Sarah and a giggling 
Deenie.

So now he was driving around Port Charles, just like the night I found Emily, he 
suddenly realized.  What would have happened to Emily if I hadn't gotten lost?  
Would she have been strong enough to stop herself from jumping off the bridge?  
Nikolas didn't think so, remembering how desperate she had been, how she had 
tried to cut her wrists a few days later.  

If I hadn't been there, Emily wouldn't be around today.  I wouldn't be worrying 
about all these feelings that I have for her.  Oh God, I was so close to losing 
her and I don't even know it.   Well, I'm not letting that happen again.  
Nikolas let the realization slowly dawn on him.  He wanted to be more than "just 
friends" with Emily.  He wasn't about to take the chance of losing her.  Nikolas 
picked up his car phone and quickly dialed Emily's private number but all it did 
was ring.

"Damn."  He swore softly.  He dialed the Quartermaines' number and was greeted 
by the answering machine.  Nikolas hated talking to machine and besides he 
wanted to talk to Emily face to face. There was so much he wanted to say and he 
wanted to place the medallion on her neck again. But where was she?

~*~*~

Jason strode out of Luke's with a look of determination on his face.  Luke 
watched him go then glanced back to see Carly come strolling out of the back 
room with her hair in disarray and a look of pure satisfaction. 

Luke frowned.  "Good God! What did you do to the poor boy?"

Carly ran her fingers through her hair and then shook it out. She leaned up 
against the bar. She was still glowing from the passionate kiss Jason had laid 
on her before going off to do her bidding.  Her bidding, Carly started to laugh 
at that.  She fixed her face and told her Uncle Luke, "It's not what *I've* 
done, it's what *he's* going to do."
 
Luke narrowed his eyes. "What's going on here?"

Carly smiled.  "Poor Uncle Luke, out of the loop for once.  Lonely place to be 
isn't?  Is my mother here yet?"

"Yeah, yeah, Barbara Jean's in the booth over there." Luke gestured. Trying to 
get information out of Carly was like pulling teeth.  I'll just ask my sister 
afterwards, he thought.

Carly pushed herself away from the bar and walked away with a little smile and 
wave.  “See you later, Uncle Luke." She walked over to where Bobbie sat.

Bobbie was a little anxious about this lunch with Carly. Bobbie started to twist 
her medallion as she waited for Carly to show up. Something was bothering her 
daughter and she knew it had to do with Jason Morgan.  Bobbie heard Carly's 
voice and glanced up.  She was dumbfounded by the silly grin on Carly's face.

"Carly?"  She said hesitantly.

Carly threw herself into her mother's arms.  "Momma!  Today is the best day, 
ever!"

Surprised, all Bobbie could do was hug her back.  "I'm so… glad? What's going 
on?  You've been moping around Wyndemere all this time and now all of a sudden 
you're happy?"

Carly sat down.  "I just talked to Jason.  And Momma, he loves me! He loves me!"

Bobbie looked a little doubtful.  "Really?"

"Well, I didn't exactly believe him either at first.  I'm not making it easy for 
him though.  I told him he has to work hard."  Carly grinned.

Bobbie reached out and squeezed her hand. "Good girl."

"But it's over between him and Robin.  He's on his way to break up with her 
right now."

Bobbie gasped. "He had the nerve to go to you before even breaking up with her?"

Carly nodded.  "I had the same reaction. I told him he was wrong and I sent him 
home to break things off."  Carly looked worriedly at the door that Jason had 
exited through. "I hope things go okay."

~*~*~

Jason hesitated outside the penthouse door and glanced at Johnny who stood 
stone-faced.  "Is Robin still here?"

Johnny nodded. Jason blew out a quick breath of air.  Good, now to get this over 
with.  He strode into the penthouse and called out. "Robin? Robin!"

Robin came out of the kitchen looking apprehensive. Robin was aware that 
something was wrong. She didn't like the look in Jason's eyes. They were cold, 
harsh, and determined.  Jason's never looked at her in that way. "J-Jason?"

"Robin, sit down.  We need to talk."  He said coldly.

Robin got a knot of fear in her stomach as she sat down.  She had a feeling what 
was coming up and she was going to fight it as much as she could. "What is it, 
Jason?"

Jason sat across from her and looked down at the floor.  He didn't know how to 
begin. "Robin… you and I… you and I aren't working anymore."

Robin stared at him with big eyes, trying to play on his sympathy. There was no 
way in hell he was going to drop her. "Jason, I don't understand."

Jason sighed.  He knew she was going to make this hard for him. After all 
they've been through he didn't want to hurt her. "Robin, we're over."

Robin sat back.  She had been expecting this but it still hurt. "You don't mean 
that."

Jason stood and started pacing around.  "Don't tell me what to do, Robin, and 
yes, I mean it.  This, us, we've grown apart.  We're not the same people 
anymore."

Robin started to fume on the inside. This was all Carly's fault, she thought, 
Carly and her little bastard.  "Jason, let's talk about this.  We can change.  I 
can change."  God, I sound pathetic, she thought to herself, but I'm not letting 
Carly get her hands on him.

Jason stopped pacing.  "We're over.  There's nothing we can do."

Robin decided to break out the tears.  She sniffled a bit.  "Don't you love me?"

Jason knelt down by the couch and took Robin's small hand in his. "Robin, you 
are my first love and you're always be special to me but…"

Robin snatched her hand away.  "But you don't love me anymore. You love Carly, 
right? I know why you're doing this.  It's because of Michael!"

Jason sat back, not understanding where she was coming from. Robin continued on. 
"Do you want a child that badly, Jason?  That you would leave me and go to that 
whore and her bastard?"

Jason jumped up.  "Robin!  What the hell is the matter with you?"

Robin stood also.  " 'What's the matter with me?' What's the matter with you? Do 
you really feel you have to be stuck with that life-sucking money grubbing leach 
just so you can have access to a child? You want a child?  I can get you a 
child!"  Robin grabbed Jason's hands and placed them on her stomach.  "Jason, 
there are ways!  I *can* give you a child. I am going to give you a child."

Jason snatched his hands away and stared at Robin with disbelieving eyes. He 
didn't know this girl anymore.  He didn't know what happened but Robin was no 
longer the women he used to love.  Jason ran a hand through his hair as he 
realized just how much they had changed. "Robin…I…"

Robin sat down and buried her face in her hands.  What's wrong with me? Why am I 
trying to hold onto him so badly?  I'm just like Carly. Robin looked up at him 
and knew exactly why.  Because I love him and there's no way in hell I'm letting 
go.

"Robin, I'm going out and when I get back, could you please not be here?"

Robin stood again and sneered.  "The Royal Bitch must want me out really badly, 
huh? What she do, Jason?  Say no sex until Robin's gone. Is that? Are you that 
hot to get into her pants that you'd kicked me out into the cold?"

Jason couldn't believe the words that were coming out of Robin's mouth. He'd 
never heard her talk like that before.  He opened his mouth to speak when Robin 
held up her hand to halt him.  "No, don't say anything. You've said enough. Get 
out so I can pack."

Jason strode out of the penthouse leaving Robin alone.  He was glad to get out 
of there because Robin's behavior was worrying him. 

Robin watched as Johnny smiled apologetically at her before closing the door 
behind Jason.  Pity, just what I needed.  Even more pity for the Pity Princess 
of Port Charles, Robin thought bitterly.  Well, no more. No one is going to feel 
sorry for me ever again.

Robin crossed over to Jason's desk and rummaged through his drawers. She knew he 
had picture of him, Carly, and Michael at a picnic. "Aha!" She said.  "Found 
it."

She held up the picture and stared.  "This is all your fault. If it weren't for 
you, Jason would still be with me.  Now I'm going to get rid of you." Robin said 
directly to the smiling face of Michael Robert Spencer-Quartermaine.  She smiled 
to herself as she proceeded to rip the photo up into little pieces.

~*~*~

Nikolas bounded into Kelly's, interrupting a kiss between Liz and Lucky. 
"Where's Emily?"  He asked breathlessly. He was holding the Cassadine medallion 
in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other.

Lucky sat back.  "Still don't have any manners, Cassadine?  But the flowers 
might make up for it though."  He playfully reached out for them. "What a 
thoughtful brother!"

Nikolas held them out of reach.  Liz tried to smother a giggle. "Who're the 
flowers for?"

"Emily."  Nikolas said with a smile.  "I have something very important to tell 
her. Have you seen her, I've been looking all over for her."

Liz looked to Lucky before answering. "She's with Tino today."

"Oh, right, right."  Nikolas remembered. He dropped down into a chair. "Do you 
have any idea when she'll get home? I really need to talk to her."

"Have you tried calling her?"  Lucky suggested with just a hint of sarcasm.

"I've tried! I call her line and no one picks up.  I call the Q line and all I
get is that Reginald guy saying he doesn't know where she is." Nikolas said 
disappointedly. 

"Try again."  Liz encouraged.  "Maybe she's home by now." 

"What the hell?" With a sigh, Nikolas reached into his pocket and pulled out his 
cell phone. He quickly put in Emily's phone number and was treated to long, 
unanswered rings.  He shot Liz a knowing look before dialing up the Quartermaine 
number. The phone was answered on the first ring.

"Nikolas Cassadine, if that's you, yes, Emily is home.  She just pulled up in 
the drive."  Reginald said dryly.

"Thanks, Reggie!"  Nikolas said happily.

"It's Reginald!"  Reginald shot back before hanging up. Nikolas stood up and 
grabbed the flowers.

"I gotta go!" Nikolas rushed out of Kelly's leaving behind an amused Liz and 
Lucky.

~*~*~ 

Emily and Tino were sitting quietly and comfortably while listening to the radio 
in his car when Emily glanced up at the door and noticed that Reginald was 
staring out at them.  He looked like he was waving at her and she had no idea 
why.  Emily sighed, probably some sort of emergency.  Maybe Dad's coming home.

Emily turned to Tino.  "I have to go in."

Tino nodded.  Ever since that slight outburst, Tino had gone back to acting more 
like himself and he only ended up confusing Emily even more. "I'll walk you to 
your door."

Tino and Emily walked along and just as they got to the door, Reginald was 
called away by Lila.  Emily guessed whatever it was, wasn't that urgent after 
all.  

Out of the corner of his eye, Tino spotted Nikolas coming up the drive, holding 
a bouquet of flowers.  Deciding to show Nikolas that he had no chance with 
Emily, Tino took her into his arms and kissed her.

Not knowing what he was up to and thoroughly enjoying the kiss, Emily threw her 
arms around his neck and kissed him back.

Nikolas saw this and couldn't believe.  She'd made her choice without even 
waiting for him.  I guess I made her wait too long, he thought sadly. He dropped 
the flowers down on the ground and turned away.  He climbed back into his car 
and headed for the docks.

Tino watched him go with a triumphant smile.