Next Day:
Jason is sitting on the plane thinking of the house. Their house. He remembers building it when he first came back to Port Charles. He had wanted to reclaim his family, and surprise her with the house, but when he came back and found that Sonny and Carly seemed happy, he left again to try to let them build a life together. He hopes that she is happy in the house, and he couldn't wait to see her reaction. He now knew that what he thought he felt for Liz was nothing more than a substitute for what he wanted with Carly. He wanted his best friend, his lover, his partner back, and more than anything he wanted to raise a family with her in their house. Now he just had to figure out how to go about that. The last thing he wanted to do was push Carly away by moving to fast. She needed time to heal from this last year with Sonny. He hoped she would let him help make her whole again, and that it wasn't too late for them. His thoughts are broken into with the pilot's voice saying that they would be landing soon. Well he would know soon enough.
BEACH HOUSE:
Carly gets up early with a new found determination to get on with her life. She decides to get dressed for an early morning run, she figured what the hell. She had a gorgeous beach all to herself, why not make the most of it and watch the sun come up. She goes in and checks on Michael who is still sleeping. She heads downstairs to find Reginald making breakfast and Leticia helping him.
C: Hey guys, good morning.
L: Morning Carly, you look like you slept well. Michael is still sleeping.
C: I know I just peeked in on him. I am gonna go for a run on the beach.
L: Johnny just left for a run himself, maybe you can catch up with him.
C: Thanks - I'll try. She heads out and spots Johnny on the beach stretching. She runs over to him. "Hey mind if I join you?"
J: Carly? What are you doing up so early?
C: Hey, a person can change can't they? He gives her a weird look. Well I can try to change at least, she says with a giggle. Come on Johnny - I promise to keep up with you.
J: Okay let's go.
They head off down the beach running.
Meanwhile Jason's plane has landed and he is on his way over to the beach house.
Carly and Johnny are running when his watch beeps indicating they had completed 5 miles. They stop and are cooling off by walking back toward the house. Carly playfully slaps him. C: See I told you I could keep up!
J: I admit you surprised me, you did great. This couldn't have been the first time you've been running?
C: I used to run all the time on the beach when I lived in Florida. I loved the quite time it gave me to think. Thank you for letting me join you. I didn't want to go alone.
J: No problem, I run every morning. You are welcome to join me anytime. So what is on the agenda for today?
C: Well first off I want to sit and watch the sunrise, care to join me?
J: Sure let's walk back to the house first though.
C: Okay.
Carly and Johnny continue their walk back to the house talking all the way getting to really know each other for the first time.
Jason meanwhile has arrived at the house at talks briefly with Renaldo who is stationed outside. He enters the house and can hear voices coming from the kitchen. He can see Reginald and Leticia cooking.
J: Hey guys.
L: Mr. Morgan I didn't realize you would be coming sir.
J: Neither did I till last minute. Are Carly and Michael still sleeping?
L: Michael is, but Carly was up early and went running on the beach with Johnny.
Jason scrunches his eyes trying to comprehend what Leticia just said. J: Carly went running this early?
L: Yes sir, they left about an hour ago.
J: Okay, well I am going to go check on Michael and wait for her. He heads upstairs to Michael's room wondering why Carly was up so early and why on earth did she go running. At least Johnny was with her so she would be safe. He slowly opened the door to Michael's room to find him standing in his crib with a big smile on his face.
J: Hey buddy. He picks up Michael and sits down with him in the rocking chair by the window.
M: Daddy you here. Michael throws his arms around him and gives him a big hug.
J: That's right kiddo, daddy's here. He begins rocking Michael talking to him.
J: I've missed you and your mama so much. I really messed things up Michael. I should have never walked away from you and your mama. But daddy's going to try really hard to make us a family again.
M: Mama sad.
J: I now kiddo, but were gonna make her happy again aren't we?
M: Yeah, mama - daddy happy.
J: I hope so Michael, I hope so. As he rocks Michael he sees Carly and Johnny walking back toward the house. He inches closer to the window and watches them sit down on the beach. He gets up and takes Michael downstairs.
J: Hey Leticia, can you get Michael some breakfast.
L: Sure thing Mr. Morgan. She takes Michael who says "daddy"
J: I'll be right back buddy, I am going to go get your mama.
He kisses Michael's head and walks out onto the back deck. He watches as Carly and Johnny seem to be in deep discussion. He wonders what they are talking about, they seem so engrossed in their conversation all the while they are laughing and smiling. Jason decides to break this up by calling Johnny's pager. He hears it go off and watches as Johnny starts walking back leaving Carly still sitting on the beach. Johnny knows something is up when he sees Jason standing with his arms crossed on the deck.Johnny: Hey boss.
Jason: What's going on here Johnny?
Johnny: Nothing, Carly just joined me for a run and she wanted to see the sun come up.
Jason: You two seemed awfully chummy sitting out there.
Johnny: We were just talking, it is not what it looked like. She was telling me stories about when she used to live in Florida. She will be glad to see you.
Jason: Why don't you go get a shower and relieve Renaldo.
Johnny: Yes sir. He wanted to tell Jason that Carly still loved him but decided to keep his mouth shut and be grateful Jason didn't put him on garbage duty or something.
Jason starts walking out to see Carly. He approaches her tentatively, not sure how she is going react. She looked so beautiful sitting in the sand with her hair up and the sun illuminating it.
J: Hey you.
She turns to see Jason standing in front of her.
C: Hey yourself. (okay, now what she thinks to herself, just play it cool Carly, maybe he won't remember that kiss yesterday)
J: Can I join you?
C: Of course. She turns and looks into his eyes. Jase, it's so beautiful here. Why didn't you tell me about the house?
J: I wanted to but the time was never right, until now. Do you like it?
C: Are you kidding me, it is exactly what we had talked about. I just can't believe you remembered everything!
He leans in close to her and whispers "I remember EVERYTHING". She finds herself blushing. She tries to change the subject quickly. "Is Michael up yet?"
J: Yes, I just saw him. Leticia is getting him breakfast. He said you were sad. Are you still upset about Sonny?
C: No, not about Sonny. Surprisingly I just feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. You would think I would be upset about Sonny, I mean I just left my husband an d yet the only one I am upset with is myself, for wasting a whole year of my life with a man I didn't love and who didn't love me.
J: Carly, I have to ask you something.
C: Go ahead Jase, anything.
J: Why did you kiss me yesterday?
C: Oh, god. Jase I am sorry, I don't want to ruin our friendship. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I just.....
J: Carly, what I felt was far from being uncomfortable. (He thinks to himself it was more like fantastic) Why did you kiss me?
C: Jase, please I said I was sorry!
J: Carly, why? Simple question, just give me a simple truthful answer.
C: Cause I LOVE YOU Alright! She lowers her voice to a whisper.... I love you. I am in love with you, I never stopped loving you. You have always been it for me, the one who could always read my like a book and didn't try to change me and accepted me for myself.
Jason moves to sit in front of her. He takes his hands and cups her face. He can feel his eyes start to fill up with tears of joy.
J: Say it AGAIN!
C: I love you Jase.
He leans in and gently brings his lips to hers. He started to deepen the kiss as she ran her tongue along his bottom lip. He parted his mouth to let her in. The kiss was a welcome home, a promise. He felt millions of shock waves running through his body. He knew he was home! He pulls away slowly and whispers "I love you Carly, I never stopped. I may have pushed my feelings aside but that kiss yesterday brought all of those feelings rushing back." She looks into his eyes and sees what she has been dreaming of seeing for so long. The man she fell in love with, the father of her child, her best friend, and the man of her dreams.
C: What are we doing Jase?
J: What we should have done over a year ago. We are home baby! You, me and Michael. We are a family. We belong together. I love you both so much. When I came back a year ago. I had this house built, OUR HOUSE. I wanted to surprise you with it and reclaim my family. I had come back to get you and Michael. Then I saw you and Sonny and thought you were happy with him and thought that you didn't love me anymore, so I gave you both up. I am so sorry I didn't fight for us back then. But if you will have me, I will never let you go again.
Carly wraps her arms around Jason's neck and gives him a big hug, and whispers in his ear, I've wanted to hear those words from you so many times. I was just about gave up on us ever being a family again. I am so glad I kissed you yesterday, she says with a laugh.
J: Me too, baby! That kiss was electric, it made me realize I still loved you and needed you back in my life.
They stay wrapped in each other's arms sitting on the beach watching the sunrise and just enjoying being together again.