A Christmas Memory

by Jules

Chapter 13

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Courtney walked back into the penthouse after she and Caroline had finished eating breakfast at Kelly's.  Jason wasn't home, so she figured he was out on business.  She put Caroline down for her nap, made a few calls to get a nanny for her, and made herself lunch.  She had just sat down on the couch when the door opened and Jason walked in.

"Hey, where have you been?"  Courtney asked Jason as he gave her a kiss and sat next to her on the couch.

"I went to see Emily - and I asked her if she and Nikolas could take Caroline on New Year's Eve."  He stole a chip from Courtney's plate.

"Ooh, where are we going?"  Courtney slid closer to him and looked up at him with pleading eyes, but it didn't work.

"You'll just have to wait and see."  Jason picked up her sandwich and took an enormous bite.  Courtney got off the couch and walked into the kitchen.

"I'll make you one, already!"

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Courtney and Jason were laying on the couch later that night watching TV after they had put Caroline down to sleep.  The door knocked and immediately after was opened by Sonny.  "Jason," he started.  "Can we - uh, talk a little business?"

"Sure," Jason said as he got up.  He looked back at Courtney.  "I'll send Carly over."

Courtney didn't take her eyes off the television.  "No, that's fine."  Sonny and Jason looked at each other. This wasn't usual behavior for a Morgan or Corinthos woman; they always had something to talk or gossip about.

"Is everything OK?"  Sonny asked.  

Courtney stood up and grabbed her empty water glass.  Before stomping into the kitchen, she said, "Why don't you ask Carly?  She seems to know everything, and she'll give you the truth, because she's always right."

Puzzled, the two men walked into penthouse 4, where Carly was rearranging magazines on the coffee table.  She looked up quickly when they walked in, then went back to what she was doing.

"Carly, what's going on between you and Courtney?" Sonny asked.  Carly stared at him icily.

"We just had a little disagreement.  I'll let you two talk business."  She walked upstairs.  This was the first time this had ever happened between the two women, and the men weren't sure how to deal with it.

When Jason walked back into penthouse 2, Courtney was 'sleeping' on the couch - but Jason knew her too well.  "What's going on with you and Carly?"  He stood in front of her with his arms crossed over his chest.

Courtney opened her eyes, knowing that he knew she wasn't really asleep, and looked up at him.  "I don't want to talk about it, please-I, I just want to go to bed."

"You can sleep down here if you don't tell me.  Then I'll have that big, comfy bed all to myself,"  Jason said, kneeling down beside her.

"Jase, please - I am so tired.  Can I tell you tomorrow?  It's no fair you get to sleep in that comfy bed by yourself.  Plus, you might get lonely."  Jason smiled at that.  It was funny, but it was also the truth.  He loved falling asleep right next to Courtney, holding her in his arms.  He loved making her feel safe and protected, and he loved her.

Courtney lie in bed that night after Jason had fallen asleep.  She was thinking about the days' events and about Carly.  She had hoped that this wouldn't put a huge dent in their relationship.  After all, Carly was her best friend.  She couldn't just simply stop speaking to her.  No, the silent treatment wouldn't work - they had to talk it out.  But she knew Carly would be a stiff about it.  There was no way in hell she'd approach Courtney about it, so Courtney decided she'd have to do it.  She just hoped that there was a way they could work it out, a way that they could talk about the issue without bringing up Elizabeth.  It was hard enough for Courtney just thinking about the time she had walked in on her and Jason in the chapel - no matter how innocent it had been.  Just seeing him in the presence of another woman would make her go crazy - as it would any other woman.  Jason Morgan was one tough fish to catch, and Courtney wasn't going to throw him back into the river anytime.

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New Year's Eve

Courtney still hadn't talked to Carly.  She just decided they should wait for a bit, let each other cool off.  It's not like they were planning on doing anything on New Year's Eve anyway, so they didn't have to make up by a certain time.  Courtney was getting ready in her closet when Jason came in.

"Caroline's all set to go to Em's--" he stopped short when he saw Courtney.  Every time he saw her, she took his breath away, but this time she was stunning.  She was wearing a tight sparkly black dress that had a low-cut but not too slutty V-neck front and an opening in the back that dipped down to the top of her hip.  The dress fell just above her knees, and for someone who had just given birth, she fit into it beautifully.  Her hair was swept up and curls of it were coming down around her neck, and the strappy shoes she was wearing made the outfit irresistible.  "You look gorgeous," Jason said. 

"Thank you."  Courtney was completely oblivious that Jason couldn't take his eyes off her, she was still looking for her coat.  Her closet was becoming Carly's Closet more and more each day, Carly had gotten her into way too much shopping.  Little did she know that Jason was holding the coat, and she repeated a Thank You when he handed it to her and helped her into it. 

"I'm looking forward to tonight, Jase, but where are we going?  Please, tell me!"  She put her arms around his neck.  "You know you can't resist."

"Oh, I bet I can."  He leaned down to kiss her, but he knew he still had to give her the surprise soon, or else she would find something irresistible to do to him, and he knew he'd never be able to resist.

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"Thanks again you guys, so much, for taking her tonight!  We'll be back before 12, and she is pretty sleepy so she probably won't give you guys any trouble."  Courtney finished up getting Caroline all settled in at Emily and Nikolas's house, then she started out the door with Jason.

"It's no problem," said Nikolas as he opened the door for them.

"Yeah, and have fun!"  Emily added as she watched them walk back to their car.  Anyone could see how in love they were, and Emily was most happy for them because she could tell that Jason really had found his one true love.

Jason helped Courtney into the car and got in himself.  He hadn't even pulled out of the driveway at Wyndemere when Courtney was all over him about the surprise.

"Ooh, you know I can't handle surprises," Courtney whispered in his ear seductively.  "Come on, baby, you can tell me," she continued in a husky voice as she started kissing his neck, but he wouldn't give in.  She kissed his cheek.  "Please," she purred as she stared into his eyes with her big soft blue ones.  "Just give me a clue."  She started playing with his hair, and she could tell it was starting to get to him.

"Courtney, I am not telling.  So give it up."  Jason kept his eyes staring intently at the road, knowing he couldn't hold back for much longer.  The more she touched him, the more he just wanted to touch her.  However, his reply to her seemed to shut her up for a few minutes.

"Whatever."

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Hmm...I guess I'll call these Scenes from the Next Chapter of ACM...haha!

-Jason & Courtney revisit their past during their date

-Something happens that both J&C can't forget

-Courtney goes over the edge after a terrible accident