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The Triumph Of AJ Quartermaine
Love's Bitch
Luke finds another song and puts it on the player. Jerry grabs Bobbie and pulls her close. Even Alan and Monica can't resist the pull of the music. AJ is walking Edward and Lila out to their car as Lila was getting tired by all the excitement. Michael laughed when Lila made kissy noises at him as part of her goodbye. But as soon as Edward neared Michael he leaned into AJ and tucked his head into AJ's shoulder. "I'll see you at the office tomorrow, Grandfather." AJ pats Michael on the back. Edward grumps in disappointment but joins Lila in the car. AJ goes back in the house and starts swaying to the music seeing the two couples dancing. Even Ned decided to join 'em as beating them seemed out of reach at the time and offered an arm to Emily. AJ notices that the Judge has joined Luke at the stereo and are critiquing the collection. Taggert is nowhere to be seen and neither are Carly or Jason.
Girl,you're lookin' fine tonight
And every guy has got you in his sight
What' ya doin' with a clown like me
It's surely one of life's little mysteries
Jerry's hands circle Bobbie's waist as he draws her close and moves slow. Bobbie wraps her arms around his neck and her head rests against his chest. Her eyes close as they move slowly in time with the music rocking back and forth.
So tonight I lie, stars above
How did I ever win your love
What did I do, what did I say
To turn your angel eyes my way
Alan gathers Monica close with the ease of long practice. Ups or Downs, West wing or East-- this was something that brought them together. Like the Prince in a fairy tale, he'd offered her his arm and escorted her onto the floor. Their steps appear professional, their trust implicit as they move smoothly around the floor. Monica looks up to Alan, his eyes are clear and see only her. She sighs. Alan gathers her closer, his hand pressed the middle of her back, and her arm slides up around his shoulders.
While I'm the guy who never learned to dance
Never even got one second glance
Across the clouded room was close enough
I could look but I could never touch
So tonight I lie, stars above
How did I ever win your love
What did I do, what did I say
To turn your angel eyes my way
"Carly, we have to talk." Jason demands his hand on her arm. "You can't keep avoiding me."
"Let go of my arm." Carly insists trying to pull away. "I have guests. I have to take care of the party."
"They can wait, this can't" Jason insists pulling her back into the study. The muted strains of the music are piped into the study (it is sound proof after all). Jason pulls Carly to him takes her in his arms and insists. "Dance with me. Be with me."
Don't anyone wake me if it's just a dream
Cause she's the best thing that ever happened to me
All you fellows you can look all you like
But this girl you see is leaving here with me tonight
"Jason, we can't keep doing this. It isn't going to change anything." Carly tries to pull away. "Everything is different now, but we're making it work, don't you see? Don't spoil it."
"Spoil what, Carly? What aren't you telling me? Why are you avoiding me? What is AJ holding over you? Why won't you come home?"
There's just one more thing that I need to know
If this is love why does it scare me so
There must be something only you can see
Cause girl I feel it when you look at me
So tonight I lie, stars above
How did I ever win your love
What did I do, what did I say
To turn your angel eyes my way
Carly's eyes fill with tears. "Nothing. AJ isn't holding anything over me. This is my home, Jase. Mine with our son. And we're safe here and normal or at least as normal as can be having the Quartermaines around. You were a pipedream, just a stupid pipedream. You never saw me. You never loved me-- someone was always there first. I just got tired of pretending okay? Let me make a life-- let me have something real that isn't a lie." Carly pulls away and brushing away the tears leaves the study.
So tonight I lie, stars above
How did I ever win your love...
"But you're lying now." Jason stares after Carly. He walks over to the fire and stares into it and tries to figure out what just happened.
Out in the living room, Emily has taken over the turn table which sets Luke and the Judge to wincing. Luke suggests to the Judge that they head down to the basement. "I've already been put on notice that it's the only place I'm allowed to have a cigar." Luke admits grudgingly.
"Ms. Benson said something about a pool table down there." The Judge allows himself to be tempted.
Carly makes her way over to Lucas who is playing with Michael and rattling the feathered gourds. Michael makes a grab for one. "Mister Man, I thought you gave up on rattles?" Carly smiles and smooches on her son. "Lucas, where is AJ?"
"He came back in from taking Miss Lila out to the car and then he was looking for you I think."
"Oh please it's not like this is the mansion." Carly plops down into the chair next to Lucas. "I figure it's like the woods right. I'll just sit here until he finds me. Will you look at those two?"
"Mom and Jerry? I try not to-- I'm serious, Carly. Mushy stuff constantly. The music isn't even playing yet."
"Well little brother, I get the feeling that once you're allowed to grow up you might just discover that you like the mushy stuff constantly with the right girl. And when Mama isn't ready for her little man to be all grown up you can remind her of this."
Lucas rolls his eyes. "Right. Sure. When are we going riding again?"
"I'll tag along on your next lesson, if you want. At least until I learn how to drive then we can go whenever we can, if that makes any sense. OH I LOVE this song." Carly gives Emily a thumbs up. "All 4 one. I can love you like that." Carly murmurs.
"Great-- another chick song." Lucas sneers.
"That's it. Whatever amount of time you are spending with Uncle Luke is TOO much." Carly puts Lucas in a headlock and gives him a headnoogie. Lucas starts laughing and Michael laughs too.
They read you Cinderella
You hoped it would come true
That one day your prince charming
Would come rescue you
You like romantic movies
And you never will forget
The way it felt when Romeo kissed Juliet
And all this time that you've been waiting
You don't have to wait no more
"Well Bro, You're looking a little confused. Something that I can clarify for you?" AJ says from the doorway of the study. Jason looks over from the fire.
"What are you holding over her head?"
"You heard her-- nothing. I can give her everything that she wants, everything that she needs. Carly is my priority. You treated her like a doormat and then wonder why she doesn't come running back to you. Why should she?"
I can love you like that
I would make you my world
Move heaven and earth if you were my girl
I would give you my heart
Be all that you need
Show you you're everything
That's precious to me
If you give me a chance
I can love you like that
I'd love you like that
I could love you like that
"I never treated her like a doormat. She's my friend. Michael's mother."
"Right, am I going to have to draw you a picture? She was my friend too. And she'll always be Michael's mother. And believe me-- you treated her like a doormat. You decided when she could see our son. You decided when she could get released from Ferncliffe. You decided for her to stay with you and Robin in the little gingerbread cottage in the woods. You didn't care what she did, said or thought as long as she didn't raise her voice around Michael, or badmouth your little princess. And she put up with it. Then I took her away from all that. And I gave her power. Do you remember what it was like to be powerless, Jase?"
I never make a promise that
I don't intend to keep
So when I say forever,
Forever's what I mean
Well, I'm no Casanova but
I swear this much is true
I'll be holding nothing back
When it comes to you
"Carly sets the rules. Carly designed the custody agreement. Believe me it wasn't what I had in mind. I didn't want you anywhere near Michael. She's the one that coined the phrase--our son, and had it mean the three of us. That wasn't something that either of us were willing to do. Carly makes things work. I couldn't have gotten through what happened in Jakarta without her. And she knows that. She is my partner-- equal partner. Is that a concept that you can grasp? This is our home. The home that we put together without the baggage of Robin, Sonny or the Quartermaines. This is where we parent our son together equally not asking the others permission if it's okay to go up to see if the baby is asleep." AJ sneers. "And you know what-- I love her and I have for a long time."
You dream of love that's everlasting
Well, baby open up your eyes
I can love you like that
I would make you my world
Move heaven and earth if you were my girl
I would give you my heart
Be all that you need
Show you you're everything
That's precious to me
If you give me a chance
I can love you like that
"You don't watch television as a rule I know, but there was a show that I watched with Emily. Maybe she can explain it to you. To quote the character. "I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it." And that brother, is why Carly is with me."