If Things Started This Way
Description: Carly comes into town with her month old son Michael. She is looking for her mother when she reaches Port Charles. She sees Bobbie in Kelly’s, but has no idea she is her mother. Since it is a cold night, when Sonny sees this woman with a small child, he invites her to stay at his penthouse since every place is booked solid. Carly and Sonny are snowed in together. Will they develop a love?
Carly Benson came into Port Charles looking for her mother Bobbie Spencer.
She carried her baby boy into town with her. She had named him Michael Benson. He was born a month before from a one-night stand with a complete stranger. Michael started to cry, and Carly pulled out a bottle from the diaper bag. She fed Michael his bottle and cradled him in her arms. She walked down the street.
Michael fell asleep, and Carly lay him down in his stroller and covered him with a security blanket.
Sonny Corinthos sat at his desk in his penthouse.
"Jason we have to make this shipment by the end of the month." He said into the cellphone.
"Okay." Jason said. He beeped off his cellphone. He stared out over the Port Charles Lake. He thought about Carly. He had met her a year earlier and their relationship had been purely sexual. He had slept with Carly because he couldn’t with his girlfriend Robin who was HIV positive. Carly did love Jason and now Jason loved Carly but she was out of the picture.
Sonny put on his coat and walked out into the freezing January night. He walked down the streets through Port Charles.
It was cold. Carly had a few thousand dollars. She needed to get herself and Michael out of the freezing wind. It started snowing and Carly hurried down the sidewalk and into the Port Charles Hotel. She walked up to the desk.
"I need a room." Carly said.
"I’m sorry. We have no vacancies." The woman said. Carly scowled.
She walked back out to the streets. Michael started to cry. Carly picked him up bundled in his blankets. She held him close to her. She hurried up the streets into Kelly’s Diner.
"Hello." Carly said as she walked in.
"Hi." The woman greeted warmly. She had red hair and big blue eyes.
"Hi." Carly repeated. "I need a room."
"I’m sorry. All of the rooms are occupied. Every room in Port Charles is." The woman said.
"Damn." Carly said. She put Michael back into his stroller.
Sonny walked into Kelly’s. He saw a woman with a bunch of bags, and a baby. He also saw Bobbie.
"Hey Sonny." Bobbie greeted.
"Hey." Sonny replied. He looked at Carly and the baby.
"Sonny. This is…" Bobbie started.
"Carly." Carly said.
"Hi Carly." Sonny said.
"Hi Sonny." Carly said shaking his hand.
"What are you doing out in this weather with a baby?"
"Trying to find a place to stay." Carly said.
"Everything’s rented out?" Sonny asked.
"Yeah." Carly said rocking the stroller back and forth.
Sonny hated to see women suffer.
"I have a place to stay if you need somewhere to stay." Sonny said. Carly looked at Bobbie.
"Don’t worry." She said. "You can trust him."
"Thank you." Carly said. Sonny helped Carly and Michael out the door.
Jason went to his home above JAKES Bar. He called the coffee warehouse to tell them about the shipment. He hung up and went to bed thinking of Carly.
Sonny’s bodyguard Johnny opened the door to Penthouse 4. Sonny carried in Carly’s bags and Carly pushed Michael in his stroller. Johnny shut the door behind them.
"Thank you Mr…" Carly started.
"Corinthos." Sonny said.
"Right." Carly said. "I’m Carly Benson."
"Ms. Benson." Sonny said
"Please…Call me Carly." She said.
"You can call me Sonny." Sonny said.
"Okay." Carly said. She fidgeted nervously.
"You can have the guestroom next to the bathroom." Sonny said.
"Okay. Thank you." Carly said.
"It’s no problem. You needed a place to stay."
Michael started to cry. Carly picked him up and he stopped.
"What’s his name?" Sonny asked?
"Michael." Carly said.
"Really?" Sonny asked.
"Really." Carly said.
"That’s my name. People just call me Sonny."
"Why?" Carly asked.
"I have no clue." Sonny said. He looked at Michael. "How old is he?"
"A month." Carly said cradling her son.
"He’s small." Sonny said.
"He was premature and he had a heart problem. He was released from the hospital 2 weeks ago." She explained.
"Oh." Sonny said.
"But he’s healthy now. Aren’t you Mikey?" Carly asked her baby boy.
"It’s late, and you and your baby have probably had a
long day." Sonny said. He picked up the stroller. He carried it upstairs. Carly followed him. He opened the door to one of the rooms. He sat the stroller down and turned around.
"If you need anything, I’m in the room at the end of the hall." Sonny said.
"Thank you." Carly said. Sonny left and shut the door behind him.
Carly changed Michael’s diaper, and lay him down in his stroller. He kicked around a little and then went to sleep. Carly covered him in a blanket.
Sonny lay in his bed dreaming. He saw his pregnant wife. She walked to the car and started it. It blew up. He saw it over and over and over again.
"Nooooo!" he screamed. Carly woke up and ran down the hall. Sonny was still screaming. Carly tried to wake him.
"Sonny." She said softly. She lightly shook him.
"No!" Sonny screamed. He sat up quickly. He pulled Carly to him.
"It’s okay." Carly said. They sat like that for a minute.
"I’m sorry." Sonny said.
"It’s okay." Carly said. "What was your dream about?"
"My wife. She was pregnant and she died because of me. She was blown up in an explosion meant for me." Sonny said.
"That’s terrible." Carly said. They talked for a long time, then Michael started to cry and Carly went to take care of him and then went to bed.
Before Carly fell asleep, she thought of Sonny. A complete stranger. He didn’t judge her. Usually people thought of her as a tramp. Rumors spread fast. Even false rumors. She thought of the pain he must’ve gone through in his life. There were so many mysteries of this man. Carly wanted to figure him out.
Sonny lay in bed. He thought of how a stranger he brought into his home could be so caring. Not just quiet. She liked to talk. He knew from then on that they could form a friendship.
All night, Jason thought of Carly, when at the same time Carly was thinking of Jason’s bestfriend.
The next morning Michael started to cry, and Carly got up to feed him, change him and dress him. She got dressed and then went downstairs. She walked around with Michael. She looked out the window over Port Charles. All Carly could see was a thick blandet of snow covering the town below.
"We’re snowed in." Carly said quietly. Michael looked up at her and cooed. Carly smiled at him.
Sonny had already washed, and he came downstairs dressed.
"Morning." He said to Carly.
"Morning." Carly said. She cradled Michael. "We’re snowed in."
"What?" Sonny asked.
"Take a look." Carly said. Sonny walked over to the window.
"You’re right." He said. He called someone on his cellphone, and a few minutes later, he turned it off. Carly sat on the couch with Michael.
"What are we gonna do?" Carly asked.
"Wait out the storm." Sonny said.
"Okay."
"Do you want some tea or coffee?" Sonny asked.
"Coffee would be nice." Cary replied. Sonny went into the kitchen and a few minutes later he appeared with a cup for Carly and one for himself.
"This is great coffee." Carly said.
"Thank you." Sonny said.
"No, I’m serious!" Carly exclaimed. "It’s the best coffee I’ve ever had."
"Well, if I do say so myself, I’m somewhat of a chef." Sonny said.
"You?" Carly asked smiling.
"Yeah." He said. "Why not?"
"Do you get that from your mother or father?" she asked curiously. Sonny’s face kind of went white.
"Bad subject?" Carly asked.
"Yeah." Sonny said.
"I’m sorry." Carly said.
"No, it’s okay." Sonny said. My father left when I was eight. My mother fell in love with a cop. He’d beat me and her." He told Carly all about it as a tear slid down her cheek.
"I’m sorry for making you upset." Sonny said.
"It’s okay." Carly said. She lay Michael down on the couch.
"Why are you in Port Charles?" Sonny asked.
"I’m looking for my mother. She gave me up for adoption when she was sixteen. She was a hooker." Carly said. Another tear slid down her cheek..
"What’s her name?" Sonny asked. Maybe I can help."
"Bobbie Spencer." Carly stated.
"Bobbie Spencer?" Sonny asked.
"Yeah. You know her?" Carly asked.
"I know where you son gets his red hair from." Sonny implied.
"The woman at the Diner?" Carly asked.
"Yeah." Sonny said.
"Oh my god." Carly said. "I spoke to her. My mother!" She hugged Sonny to both of their surprises. "I can’t believe this! I don’t even hate her. I thought I would, but I don’t." Carly said.
"That’s kinda the same for me." Sonny said. "My father is trying to be part of my life again, but I don’t hate him for leaving. I’m still angry, but I don’t hate him."
Carly picked up Michael again because he was getting fussy. Carly and Sonny talked for most of the morning.
Sonny couldn’t believe that he was opening himself up to a complete stranger. A mystery woman he had never met before. Carly couldn’t believe a stranger would care about her life and what she had to say.
At noon, Carly was sitting at the table feeding Michael and Sonny was fixing lunch. Sonny served lunch and Carly put Michael down on the couch to sleep.
"Wow." Carly said as she ate. "This is great."
"Thanks." Sonny said.
A month had passed and the blizzard was still going strong. All of the phone lines were down, and cell phones didn’t work.
Carly and Sonny knew each other well now.
"Sonny!" Carly called from upstairs.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"Could you give Michael his bottle?" she asked.
"Sure!" Sonny called up. He got the bottle off the table and walked over to the couch. Michael was squirming around. Sonny picked him up.
"Okay Mikey. Time for you bottle." Sonny said. He fed him the bottle. All of a sudden the lights went out.
"Michael started to cry, and Sonny rocked him to sleep.
"Sonny?" Carly asked coming down the stairs. "What happened?"
"The power went out. Probably in the whole building." Sonny said. Johnny knocked on the door.
"Mr. Corinthos. All of the power is out." He said.
"Yeah." Sonny said. Johny went back outside the door. Carly found her way to Sonny in the dark. Sonny handed Michael to her, and built a fire in the fireplace. Carly lay down on the couch and put Michael on her chest. Sonny sat in the chair across from the couch. He watched the little boy rise and fall as Carly breathed in and out.
He watched as a strand of hair draped over Carly’s eye. She had a smile on her face.
Later, Sonny awoke and it was midnight according to his watch.
"Carly." He whispered. She opened an eye and smiled. Sonny grinned. "It’s midnight."
"Okay." Carly said sitting up as Sonny carefully picked up Michael. "I’m going to go get a shower." She said.
"Okay." Sonny said. They walked upstairs. Sonny built a fire in Carly’s fireplace and in his own as well. He put Michael in his stroller, and then went to his own room.
Carly stepped out of the shower and got dresses. She walked down the hallway and saw Sonny’s door open. She crept in his room and saw him sleeping. Her brain told her to turn around and leave, but when she tried, she couldn’t. She watched him for a few minutes and turned to leave. She silently shut the door and remembered that the fire was still going downstairs. She crept down the stairs to put the fire out.
Sonny had heard his door shut. He woke up and walked into the hallway. He saw someone moving around downstairs. He walked down the steps to find Carly.
"Hey." He said tiredly.
"Oh. Hi Sonny." Carly said. "I was just gonna put the fire out."
"Okay." Sonny said. He sat down on the couch. Carly sat down beside him.
"Were you in my room a few minutes ago?" Sonny asked.
"I’m sorry." Carly said.
"No. It’s okay. I was watching you sleep earlier." Sonny said.
"Really?" Carly asked.
"Yeah. You had this smile on your face like you were dreaming about something good." Sonny said.
"You wanna know something?" Carly asked.
"What?" Sonny asked.
"I was dreaming that I was walking down this long never-ending road. But I finally reached the end. And when I did, there was a door. I opened it and you were standing there with Michael." Carly said. She stared into the fire. Sonny looked at Carly wanting to meet her gaze.
Carly looked into Sonny’s eyes. Both were silent. Sonny leaned forward, and Carly closed her eyes. She felt Sonny’s soft lips press against hers. He pulled back, and Carly opened her eyes. Sonny kissed her again, this time longer. He didn’t pull away. He put his hands around Carly’s waist. They stood up, and Carly wrapped her arms around Sonny’s neck. They continued kissing as they fell to the floor. Sonny undid Carly nightgown and she removed his pants. She ran her hands along Sonny naked chest and kissed it softly. The next thing they knew, they were naked under a blanket together. They made love right then. Sonny looked into Carly’s eyes and she gave him a reassuring look.
Carly awoke tangled in the sheets. She got up off the floor wrapped in the blanket. She walked upstairs and before she opened the door to her room, she heard Sonny’s voice. She peered into the door and saw Sonny feeding Michael his bottle.
"Hey Michael. You’re a great kid." Sonny said. "It’s strange. After my wife died, I didn’t think I could ever take care of a child. She was carrying my child when she died. I didn’t think I could ever take care of a child again. But when your mom brought you here, it changed my life completely." Sonny said. Carly smiled, and went to take a bath.
Carly drew a hot bubble bath and she stepped in and sat down.
Sonny came into the bathroom.
"I’m sorry." He said. "I didn’t know you were in here." He started to leave.
"Wait." Carly said. She smiled. "Please stay." Sonny removed his bathrobe and stepped into the bath. Carly grinned at him. "Thank you." She said.
"For what?" Sonny asked.
"For last night." Carly said.
"Oh. Well, it was my pleasure." Sonny laughed. Carly grinned.
"But seriously…I think there’s something good happening." She said.
"I agree." Sonny said. Carly turned in the tub so she was leaning against Sonny.
Jason had been snowed in at Jake’s all this time. He played pool and had a couple of beers. He could only think of Carly. Little did he know that she had his brother’s child and little did he know that she was with Sonny.
All the whle, Carly and Sonny found ways to entertain themselves. Carly couldn’t stop thinking about how she had talked to her mother.
Carly woke up. She and Michael had been snowed in at Sonny’s penthouse for two months now. She was asleep on the couch in Sonny’s arms. Carly walked over to the window and saw that the snow had melted a lot. Carly picked Michael up out of the stroller. Thankfully, she had brought plenty of diapers with her when she came to Port Charles. She put Michael in a new diaper and put him in a different outfit. She got dressed and put Michael in the stroller. Johnny wasn’t outside the door. Carly took the elevator and headed for Kelly’s.
She opened the doors of the big building, and for the first time in two months, she felt the cold air hit her.
Sonny woke upand couldn’t feel Carly near him. He got up and saw that the stroller and the diaper bag were gone. He went upstairs and saw Carly’s bags were still here. He breathed a sigh of relief.
He went back downstairs and looked out the window. He saw the snow melting. He almost wished it wasn’t so Carly would still be in his arms.
Carly opened the door to Kelly’s and saw Bobbie in the same outfit she had seen her in two months ago. Bobbie looked up. She smiled.
"So, how was life with Sonny?" Bobbie asked laughing.
"Good." Carly said smiling nervously. She picked Michael up out of his stroller.
"He’s getting big." Bobbie said.
"Yeah." Carly said.
"So, why did you come to Port Charles anyway?" Bobbie asked.
"I came to find my mother." Carly said looking at Bobbie.
"Oh?" Bobbie asked.
"Yeah. She gave me up for adoption when she was sixteen." Carly said. Bobbie’s eyes widened. "I finally found her."
"Caroline?" Bobbie asked with tears in her eyes.
"Yeah." Carly said crying.
"Oh. Caroline. I had no idea." Bobbie said hugging her daughter. "I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry."
"I know. I’ve started to realize that you had no other choice. I’ve forgiven you, mom." Carly said.
"I’m so happy to hear that." Bobbie said crying.
"Mom, would you like to hold your grandson?" Carly asked.
"Would I?" Bobbie asked taking Micahel into her arms. "How old is he?"
"Three months." Carly said. "I have to go back to Florida and get his things." Carly said. "I’m going to move here."
"You are?" Bobbie asked, her eyes lighting up.
"Yeah. I think it would be best if Michael grew up near his family. Virginia died, and I don’t think I could handle living there by myself." Carly explained.
"I understand." Bobbie said.
Sonny was alone in his penthouse. He hoped Carly would be back soon. He realized he was falling in love with her. And he didn’t mind. He liked having Carly and Michael in his home. They made it a home. To Sonny, the penthouse was just a place to live until Carly and Michael came into his life.
Two hours later, Carly came back to the penthouse with her baby boy in his stroller. Sonny stood up off the couch.
"Hey." He said.
"Hi!" Carly said happily.
"You sound happy." He said.
"I just talked to my mother. She is so amazing! She held Michael and we got along so well!" Carly gushed.
"I’m happy for you." Sonny said. He was hoping Carly wouldn’t leave now because the snow was melting.
"So, I need get back to Florida to get Michael’s things." Carly said.
"You’re coming back?" Sonny asked.
"Yeah. I’m moving here." Carly said. "I just don’t know where I’m going to stay."
"You can stay here." Sonny said. Carly grinned.
"I was hoping you’d say that!" she exclaimed. She ran to him, and kissed him. "Thank you." She said.
"You’re welcome." Sonny said.
The End
This is telling what would have happened if Carly had come into town early. I know that Jason wasn’t in this story except for mentioning him a little. But Carly and Sonny talked about him and A.J. and they worked things out. Jason found out about Sonny and Carly being together. He wasn’t happy, but he accepted it for what it was. Carly and Sonny admitted their love for each other after a couple more months. They married and had a son.