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The Triumph Of AJ Quartermaine
A Boy's Toys
AJ lifts up his head breaking the kiss.
"AJ, " Carly murmurs her eyes open slowly.
"That's me." Suddenly AJ recoils and shivers. Emily has nailed him in the back with a snowball.
"Watch your back."
"Now you tell me." Laughing together AJ gives Carly a hand up.
"I think it's hot chocolate time."
"Cease fire!" AJ calls out.
Just then Bobbie squeals and starts, jumping away from Jerry pulling the back of her shirt away from her body and tries to shimmy free the packed ice that Jerry dropped down her neck. "Oh I'm going to get you for that! Just you wait."
The laughing group makes its way inside and sheds their coats and boots in the entryway. Reggie having heard the group return is putting the finishing touches on the hot chocolate. Carly comes in shaking her wet hair. "Reggie, what do you think... I have popcorn or we could have some cinnamon rolls?"
Reggie shrugs. "Both?"
"I like the way you think." Carly pops a bag of popcorn in the microwave. "Is it true that Edward blew up the microwave?"
"I didn't actually see it; I was picketing at the time, but I was the one that installed the replacement."
"I know I got spoiled with Jason; but please to not know how to cook even the basics? My mother, Virginia, had me cooking when I was a child. Is that just a southern thing or are the Quartermaines strange?"
Emily comes in running her fingers through her soaked hair that has settled into rattails. "The Q's are strange. I feel like I've regressed living in the mansion. Forgot all the things that my mom taught me; we used to have a blast in the kitchen making cookies and things."
Carly takes in Emily's appearance. "I think it's time for you to turn back into a proper young church lady; I have a blow dryer up in my room, and your other clothes are up there too, right? I need to get changed; these pants are soaked thanks to AJ." Carly sticks a pull apart pan of cinnamon rolls in the oven set on a low heat to just warm them up. She sets the timer for fifteen minutes before turning to Reg. "If I'm not back in time..."
"I'll pull them out."
"Thanks. Come on Mister Man you can hang out with us girls." Carly swings Michael to her hip as she and Emily leave the kitchen running into Bobbie. "Mama, I'm going to go change into some dry clothes if you want to borrow a shirt?"
Bobbie glares at Jerry. "Yeah, that would be great."
"Ahh don't be mad at me, luv. You just look so darn... perky."
Emily and Carly smother a chuckle. "Come on, Mama." Carly drags Bobbie away as it appears that Bobbie is ready to smack him a good one.
AJ and Lucas are the last from the entryway. Both walk around in their stocking feet. Sliding on the polished hardwood floor Lucas gives the floor a considering look. "Don't even think of it." AJ advises. "Too many witnesses."
"What smells so good?" Lucas asks changing the subject but already planning on using the hallway as a slippery slide.
"Lets check it out." AJ and Lucas enter the kitchen where Jerry is already chowing down on popcorn and hot chocolate. Reggie is also having a cup. AJ and Lucas help themselves and the men sit around shooting the um... stuff waiting for the women to get back.
Upstairs in Carly's room--
"Here you go, Bobbie." Carly stands at the doorway of a walk in closet and hands Bobbie a top that still has the tags on it. "I know it's not your normal style but it should be okay."
"It's fine. I can't believe that Jerry did that!" Bobbie slips out of her wet top and taking the other bites the tags off it before sliding it on over her head.
"I can. He's a guy. Are you listening to this, Emily?" Carly selects what she is going to wear and quickly changes into a form fitting wrap top, black skirt and her black boots
"Yeah," Emily comes out of the bathroom dressed in her church clothes again; she is toweling her hair dry.
"No matter how old they get they're still little boys." Carly pontificates in a confident tone.
"Now Carly, isn't that a generalization?" Bobbie contradicts in a Pollyanna voice.
"Oh I have proof. If today wasn't enough, I have two words for you-- Model Trains." Carly quirks a brow knowing that she's won.
Bobbie considers for a moment before admitting. "You're right. So how did you learn about the model trains?"
"First stop we made in New York -- FAO Schwartz..." Carly begins.
"And you didn't see AJ after he saw the trains." Emily laughs knowing her brother. All the women join her. Even Michael laughs not knowing that one day he too will be the butt of such jokes.
The penthouse--
Jason gets back after being gone for hours. Sonny had been concerned but camouflages his relief when Jason walks in shrugging out of his jacket and gloves. "Well, How did it go?"
"She's sleeping with him." Jason walks over to the bar and pours himself a stiff drink downing it in a long pull.
"Says who?" Sonny demands.
"AJ, but he wasn't lying." Jason crosses to the window and stares out not seeing the lights of the city beneath him. "And she kissed him. I saw her. They were all there: Bobbie, Emily, Michael-- all laughing and having a great time."
Sonny crosses over and puts a hand on Jason's shoulder in sympathetic support. He is shocked at how cold Jason is. "How long were you watching?"
"I don't know."
"Do you remember what hypothermia is? Frostbite?! Let me see your hands." Sonny demands. He grabs one of Jason's hands and is worried at the white flesh with the bluish tinge that hasn't changed despite the time in the penthouse. "We have to get you warmed up."
"Why?" Jason's voice is distant and distracted.
"You need to snap out of this now! Go take a shower, warm not hot, and put on some dry clothes. If your hands haven't pinked up after that then we're going to GH."
"I'm fine."
"Don't tell me you're fine! That's bull. Now either hit the showers or we can go to GH now."
"Back off, Sonny." Jason's voice is suddenly tired.
"I won't back off. I'm trying real hard here to not go off on Carly, trying to remember everything that you told me about her and to blow off all I've heard from Robin or anyone else. But man, how can I, when she is killing you and you haven't even talked to her yet? You know what you saw but still have no idea what she's thinking."
Jason turns around suddenly. His eyes narrow as he considers Sonny's words then he nods. "You're right; I have to talk to her." Jason starts to put back on his jacket.
"Tomorrow man, take care of the hands now." Sonny blocks the door. "You know she isn't going anywhere. Besides I want to hear exactly what AJ said. He knows you can tell when he lies so what he didn't say is as important as what he did."