After a few moments of silence, Jason spoke up.

Grabbing her hand and looking deeply into her baby blues he smiled and said. "Courtney I promise you, everything will be alright." "I'm never gonna let anything happen to you."

"Jason I know you'd never let anything or anyone hurt me, but this could hurt 'us,' and that's what I don't want."

"What do you mean?" He asked worriedly.

"Well if for some reason this baby turns out to be A.J.'s he'll fight for custody. I'll lose my baby, Jason." She said as tears began to spill down her cheeks.

"Courtney," he said turning her chin so that she was looking in his eyes. "I will NOT let that happen, ever." Jason said with conviction as he leaned forward and took her in his arms holding her as if she'd fly away if he let go.

"Jason?" Courtney questioned.

"Yeah?"

"Will you just sit here with me until I fall asleep?"

"There's nothing else I'd rather do." He stated lovingly.


Twenty minutes later Courtney was snoring softly and Jason decided to leave and let her be for a while. After all, he had something he needed to do.

After leaving Courtney he found himself staring at the office door of his mother, Monica Quartermaine. Sighing heavily he knocked once. At first receiving no response he turned to leave when he heard a muffled "Come in."

Upon entering he noticed she was buried in paperwork. "Oh, I'm sorry." "I didn't realize you were busy, I'll come back later."

"Jason, wait!" Monica practically screamed. "What did you need to see me about?"

"It's about Courtney." Jason stated reluctantly.

"Courtney. What about her?"

"There's something that you need to know." Jason said. Now, more afraid then before of what she'd think of him as well as Courtney.

Noticing that she was listening intently he continued.

"I don't know how to say this because I'm not too good with words so I'll just come out and say it." "Courtney and I are together."

Shaking her head slightly she repeated. "Together?"

"Yes, look I won't get into the details of what happened but she and A.J. haven't been living together for a while now and Courtney has filed for divorce."

Monica was in shock but managed to find her voice.

"Well how did the two of you end up seeing each other, and why would you tell me?"

The part of this conversation Jason had been dreading was quickly surfacing. Boy was he gonna catch hell for this he thought.

"Because the baby Courtney is carrying may be mine."

Monica stared at her son in total disbelief.

"Wow, Jason." I don't know how to react to all of this. I mean if she makes you happy and this is what you want, I'll help in any way I can."

"I'm glad because I need to know if it is mine."

"Courtney mentioned wanting a paternity test done immediately and I was hoping you could arrange that for her."

Monica thought for a second before saying with enthusiasm. "Of course I'll do it." "We've still got blood samples from Courtney all I need now is one from both potential fathers."

"Well you can take mine now." Jason insisted.

"Okay well let's go down to the lab then."

"Okay." Jason stated anxiously.


*********Back at the Penthouse**********



Carly and Sonny are arguing yet again about the comment early concerning Jason.

"Tell me now Carly!" "

"Oh what Sonny, what do you wanna hear?"

"I want to know why the hell you wanted Jason to be there with Courtney!" He yelled.

"It's just like I told you Sonny, I wanted her family to be there and Jason is a concerned friend!"

"Yeah, yeah that's what you say but I don't buy it!" Sonny stated adamantly.

"Sonny if you're that upset then ask Jason why he was really there but do NOT and I repeat, do NOT make this MY fault!" Carly screamed so loud all of Port Charles probably heard her.

"Fine I will!" Sonny yelled back just as loud.


********Meanwhile back at General Hospital********


"There you go, all done." Monica said looking at Jason with concern. She noticed Jason staring off into nowhere and decided to question him.

"Jason, are you alright?" She asked fearing he may have been feeling the effects of the loss of blood.

"What?" "Oh, I'm fine. I was just thinking that's all."

"Would you like to talk about it?"

Jason scratched his head in thought before answering, "I just don't know what I'll do if this baby isn't mine."

Monica listened with interest as Jason continued.

"What I mean is, I really love Courtney, mom." Jason looked up to see Monica's eyes brimming with unshed tears.

"You called me mom." Monica whispered crying slightly.

"Yeah, yeah, I guess I did." "I want us to be closer, I know I do things that you and Allan don't agree with and you don't like my lifestyle but I can't change who I am or what I do." Jason said looking almost ashamed that he'd pushed his family away.

"I know Jason." "But all that doesn't matter to me as long as you're a part of my life again."

"Do you really mean that?" Jason asked with a look of confusion.

"Yes Jason, I do, with all my heart."

Then Jason did something totally unexpected even to himself, he reached forward and for the first time in a long time, hugged his mother. Finding her voice she said, "I'll get a rush on these test results okay?"

"Thank you, Mom." Jason said with real sincerity.

"You're welcome Jason." Monica said with a smile. "I'll try to have them back before Courtney is released."

"Okay, well, thanks again." "I guess I'll see you around." "Bye mom." Jason said as he turned and walked out of the office.

"Bye Jason." "I love you, son." She said silently.


********Courtney's Room Thirty minutes later******

When Jason returned he found Courtney sitting up on the telephone with someone laughing and joking. He caught the tail end of their conversation and instantly knew who she had been talking to. Carly.

Courtney noticed Jason watching her and quickly ended her conversation with Carly.

"Jason, where have you been?"

As she waited for a response from him she noticed the bandage on his arm.

"Oh my god Jason, You're hurt!" "What happened???" She asked nervously.

"Courtney, calm down." "It's nothing."

"Don't tell me it's nothing Jason, I see the blood."

"Courtney, please calm down and let me explain, okay?"

"I'm listening." She scoffed as she crossed her arms and sighed in frustration waiting for his explanation.

"I went to see Monica about having the paternity test done." "So, before you start in on me, just know that I only did it for you."

Jason looked curiously at his black shoes and then back at Courtney half expecting to get a scolding from her, but instead was met with her teary blue eyes.

"Jason, my god, you are so sweet to have done that for me….I…don't know what to say, I mean no one has ever done anything that thoughtful for me before."

"Courtney," he said now sitting by her side and taking her hand in his, "I want to know the truth just as much as you do….I wanted you to be happy."

"Oh, Jason." She said softly, "You make me happy no matter what, don't you know that?"

"Yeah, yeah, I think I do." He smiled brightly.

"So, when will the test results be done?" She questioned.

"Well, my mother is having them processed right now so with any luck they'll be in by tomorrow."

Courtney couldn't believe her ears. 'Had he really used the word 'mother' referring to Monica?'

Jason knowing what Courtney was thinking snapped his fingers as if to bring her back to reality, "yes I did say mother". He smiled.

"Well, Courtney said with mock exasperation, we'll discuss that later." "For now, I just want to talk about what we'll do if this baby turns out to be yours after all."

"Don't you mean ours?" He asked worriedly.

"Yes Jason you know what I meant."

"Well, if it is mine, you will move into the penthouse with me…once we tell Sonny about us." Suddenly Courtney's face fell at the mention of Sonny.

"He'll be furious with you, you know that right?" Courtney asked in a hushed tone.

"Yes, but I'll handle it." "Nothing is going to keep me from taking care of you, or my child."

Courtney couldn't help but smile at Jason's protective nature. It was one of the things she loved most about him. She knew that he meant what he said. She hoped with all her heart this baby was in fact his. He would make a wonderful father to their baby…their baby….it sounded so right to her. It fit somehow.

Jason could tell that Courtney was happy. He knew what she was thinking and it was the same thing he was…he hoped this baby was his. He hoped he'd have a son someday, and now he might have that chance. Michael had been like a son to him, but it wasn't the same. He wanted a son of his own to care for and love and teach things to. Then again it could be a girl. A beautiful little girl,with Courtney's eyes and beautiful smile. Of course he knew if this baby were a girl, she wouldn't be dating until she was at least 40.

Both lost in there own thoughts about the baby were caught off guard when the phone rang.

Courtney answered quickly. "Hello?" The voice on the other end sounded cold, and she knew instantly who it was.

END CHAPTER 3

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