Chapter 2 

As soon as Caroline returned to her room, she immediately started throwing her 
clothes inside her suitcase. The last thing she packed was her framed picture of 
Jason and Michael. Caroline smiled at the thought of holding Michael herself. 
She couldn't wait to get back to the Penthouse where there was a comfortable 
bed, a stereo, good food, and a bathtub… Robin. It suddenly occurred to her that 
she would have to face Robin everyday. Caroline sighed and sat down on the bed 
and thought about Robin. It wasn't that she hated Robin's guts. The girl could 
actually be likeable if she wasn't so preachy and perfect. Hell, the little 
evangelist would even be more appealing if she went back to Paris. 

Caroline looked at the picture once more, then closed her suitcase. She knocked 
on the door, to have the guard open it. "Well, looks like a future with my son 
and the best looking mobster may finally be a reality," she thought. She was 
finally leaving, and in a few hours, she would be with her son. 

*************** 

As Caroline stepped out of the elevator, she saw Renaldo and Johnny by the door. 
She rushed up to them, and gave them each a hug. They both looked embarrassed, 
but didn't make any movement to end the embrace. 

"Caroline, Michael's waiting," Jason interrupted with an amused look on his 
face. 

"Oh Jason I know that. But I have to say hello to these wonderful men who 
sacrifice their lives to protect us." 

"You could send them a card", Jason said with a smirk. 

Caroline just gave his a look, as she opened the door. As soon as Caroline 
entered, she saw Robin holding her son. In one swift movement, Caroline scooped 
up Michael, without even looking at Robin's face. 

"Hello baby. How ya doing honey? You've gotten so big. Ah, and you have more 
beautiful silky hair. Oh my lord, you have a tooth. Oh sweetie I have missed you 
so much. Michael I swear, I will never leave you again. Never," Caroline said 
with hot tear streaming down her face. 

Michael gave a little squeal of delight as he tugged on his mother's golden 
hair, which had grown quite long. "He missed you," Jason said with a soft smile. 

Caroline looked around the Penthouse. On the table were a dozen red roses, a box 
of imported chocolates, a photo album, and a huge wooden crate. She looked at 
Jason, and he motioned her to come to the table. 

"Are these for me?" 

"Who else would they be for?" 

Caroline picked up a rose, inhaled the sweet scent, then handed it to Jason. 
Jason took the rose and watched as Caroline took a chocolate and opened the 
photo album. As she turned the pages, she saw pictures of Michael, with dates 
underneath them. Jason had kept a record of Michael for each day that she was 
gone. She looked up at Jason, and couldn't help but start to cry all over again. 

"Oh Jase, you really are the best. You are so good to me," Caroline said. 

"Hey, you still got one more present," Jason said softly while wiping away her 
tears. 

Caroline looked at the crate, and lifted the lid. Inside was a sight more 
magnificent than gold, money or lost treasure. She was standing before one of 
life's most fulfilling rewards: Florida oranges. 

"Jason you didn't! But you did. They're beautiful!" 

"I can't believe that you're getting excited over fruit," Jason said while 
trying to conceal his laughter. 

"You knew that I would go crazy when I saw it, or you wouldn't have given it to 
me." Caroline grabbed a few oranges and threw one to Jason, and one to Robin. 
She didn't really feel like sharing with Robin, but hell, the girl needed to eat 
something. She then grabbed a few more and went outside to give to Renaldo and 
Johnny. She then rushed back inside and started peeling one for herself. 

"Mmm… this reminds me so much of Florida. I remember when Shane and I used to go 
on orange farms and eat oranges until we were full," Caroline said between 
bites. 

Jason looked up. "Shane?" 

Caroline started to feel uncomfortable. "Yeah, Shane. He was… um… well he was my 
boyfriend back in Florida." She didn't understand why she was feeling this way. 
She had thought that she could tell Jason anything, but somehow she didn't want 
to elaborate on her relationship with Shane. It probably was just because Robin 
was there. 

Jason noticed the change in her behavior, and studied her face. "Carly… I mean 
Caroline, is something wrong?" he asked concerned. 

"No, I guess I'm just a little tired," Caroline quickly responded. 

"Well maybe you should go to bed. And why did Jason call you Caroline?" Robin 
asked with a guarded expression on her face. 

"Caroline is my real name, and I want to use it". 

"Well I guess its time you stopped pretending to be someone you're not. I'm sure 
the dead girl whose name you've been using is eternally grateful," Robin said 
sarcastically. 

Caroline felt her claws sharpen, then immediately let them retract. She rolled 
her eyes and picked up Michael. She wouldn't scratch the smile off Robin's face 
today, and cause a scene to ruin her homecoming. She would do it tomorrow. 

********************* 

That night, Caroline had another dream about a man in her life. This time, it 
wasn't about Shane, but about Jason.