Chapter Twenty-Four:
Broken

This time, Carly had really done it.

Bobbie repeated that sentence in her head, trying on new and exciting pronunciations in her head, as she moved across the room to close the door that separated the living room from the hall.

No. It wasn't working. Maybe she should try 'What is the meaning of this?', or 'What has gotten into you?' -- Those would probably work too. If she was, indeed, going the anger route.

Anger seemed like a reasonable reaction. She'd spent the day worrying herself to death over Carly. She'd half convinced herself the girl was dead in a ditch some place. She'd been sure that something awful had happened.

Had something awful happened?

Excellent question. Bobbie turned around to face the room, and was met again with the sight of her daughter and Nikolas Cassadine. Together.

She was going to need another drink.

"Maybe," Bobbie waved a hand around helplessly. "We should all sit down."

Brilliant! First rate strategy, Barbara Jean. When in doubt, make everyone sit.

Carly, of course, just stared at her mother. She had an expression on her face that Bobbie knew she should be wary of. Like she hadn't quite decided yet what she was going to do -- stay, or go. Play nice, or open the gates to hell.

Nikolas's hand lightly brushed Carly's arm, and she turned her head towards him. Bobbie watched as Nikolas's hand slid down her daughter's arm to take her hand, and nearly gaped when Carly acquiesced to his silent suggestion, and followed her apparent husband over to the couch.

Something very strange was going on here. Bobbie walked, eyes fixed on the couple, over to the chair that faced the couch. The couple had settled together, their hands intertwined. They were exchanging looks, and both appeared to be struggling against the urge to smile, laugh.

"Oh, God," Bobbie murmured to herself, the full reality of this beginning to hit home. This pulled the newlywed's attention away from each other and back to her and both looked at her with confusion. Bobbie just stared at them with increasing alarm, then turned and started to pace the length of the room, her hand holding her stomach.

"Bobbie..." The voice was Nikolas's. I'm scaring them, Bobbie thought. Oh -- I'm scaring THEM. That's wonderful. She let out a sharp laugh, and turned on her heel.

"You know, they don't have a book for this," Bobbie finally managed. "I've never seen the movie-of-the-week. Dr. Phil's never tackled this on a Very Special Oprah. And amazingly enough, none of my friends have ever confided with me over coffee about the time their daughter eloped with their ex-stepson and surprise nephew-in-law," she paused for breath, "So you're going to have to bear with me."

Carly sunk back into the pillows, and slid her hand more firmly into Nikolas's grip. His thumb was absently stroking the inside of her wrist, and Carly clenched her other hand, digging her nails into her palm to stop herself from turning towards him, seeking out other affections. This really wasn't fair. Why were they doing this TODAY?

Oh, right. Because she screwed up. Why else?

Carly stole a quick look over at Nikolas. He was staring down at her hand like it held the secrets to every question humanity had ever asked. She frowned. Someone was going to have to figure out what to say. She was becoming increasingly alarmed that it was going to be her.

"There's not a lot to say," Nikolas finally spoke up, not taking his eyes from the back of his wife's hand. "Outside of what I assume you've already heard."

"That's just it," Bobbie, grateful for the entry point, walked back over to the chair and sat down. "I haven't been told much of anything. Apart that, presumably, there's been a wedding. And you two have known each other more than twenty-four hours."

Nikolas pulled in a long breath. "We've known each other--"

"It doesn't matter how long we've known each other," Carly cut in, her voice giving away more than a little panic. "I mean... Why should we have to explain this? It happened. And I'm sorry if it bothers you, but it's not going to change any time soon. I don't get why the rest of it matters."

Nikolas looked over at Carly. Any time soon?

"What MATTERS --" Bobbie cut herself off, as her voice raised in volume. She dropped her head and stared down at the carpet. "I'm lost, alright?" She let out a long breath. "I just don't understand. I don't understand how or why this happened, and I have no idea what I'm supposed to think about it."

Nikolas felt a twinge of guilt. He wasn't sure how to proceed either -- though he suspected that asking just who 'Dr. Phil' was wouldn't be the best start. Carly, also, didn't seem too comfortable with the situation. Her grip on his hand had increased tenfold in the short time since her mother had taken a seat.

"We met at Jason and Robin's wedding," Nikolas spoke softly. Besides him, Carly's head did an exorcist-snap turn in his direction Nikolas. "We don't have anything to hide, Carly."

Carly stared at him. Was he serious? Man, no wonder Luke kept kicking this family's ass. They were unbelievably naive. Her response was cut off by her mother letting out a long breath.

"You both left early..." Bobbie sat back in her chair. She could almost hear the pieces collide in her head.

"Yeah," Carly pulled her hand out of Nikolas's, allowing her to cross her arms protectively across her chest. "You should have come up with that one sooner, huh? I leave early, any guest of the male persuasion leaves early, I must be luring them into some kind of den of iniquity, setting them on the path to corruption. Right?"

Nikolas blinked. Well... That cleared up one mystery. Carly did not reserve this kind of 'tis pity I'm a whore' behavior for him. Somehow, that wasn't a big relief at the moment.

"Carly," Bobbie put her hand to her forehead. "Please, don't."

Nikolas cleared his throat. He was gong to have to head this off at the pass if he was going to get them out of here alive.

"We... had a meeting of the minds."

"That's one way of putting it," Carly's voice shook, betraying her. She fixed her eyes on the opposite wall and told herself to shut up. Just stop talking. Every time someone started in with some kind of judgment, something in Carly just took over -- made sure she made all the cheap shots before anyone else had a chance.

In her chair, Bobbie was still doing math. "That morning when I came to ask you to have breakfast --"

"He went out the window."

Nikolas straightened up in his seat at those words. This, he decided, had to stop. Carly was starting to shake next to him, without that much obvious provocation. Bobbie honestly looked like the stress of figuring this out was going to make her head explode. And... There was a limit to how much of this story he was willing to share with other people -- When he and Carly met -- yes. How much time they'd spent together? Maybe. What they'd done with that time? No way.

"I don't think we have to get into details."

Carly laughed bitterly at his words, "Oh, come on, Nikolas. That's what she wants."

"It's not what I want," Nikolas spoke softly. Carly dropped her head to stare down at her own lap. She was shaking now, her arms wrapped around her like they were all that was holding her together. Nikolas leaned closer to her, and murmured against her ear. "It's not what you want, either."

Carly closed her eyes. She was going to cry. Damn him. She pulled away quickly, and stood up. Her legs weren't doing a stellar job of supporting her, but at least they'd get her out of here.

"You're right," she directed her words at Nikolas. "What I want is to go home."

Bobbie, who had been watching this scene in front of her with horrified fascination, snapped to attention at her words.

"Wait. Home?"

Carly's eyes were on Nikolas's, and he got the message loud and clear: Get me some place that is not here.

"We have a place to stay," he cleared his throat looking at Bobbie. "I think maybe, we all need a break."

Bobbie was on her feet in an instant. "So that's IT?" She looked back and forth between them incredulously. "You just dropped by with this bombshell, and now you're taking off?" she shook her firmly. "No. You do not get to hit me with a Mack Truck this big and then not give me the license number. You can't do that --" her voice started to move into the hysterical range. "I have to GO TO WORK tomorrow, and I need to have some idea of--" her voice faltered. "Of... what... GOD, please." Bobbie looked at her daughter desperately. "Just... help me understand."

Carly looked at her mother, tears now collecting in her eyes. "Why? So we can yell at each other some more? Oh, sign me up!"

Bobbie's eyes popped, and Nikolas saw her hands tighten into fists as she opened her mouth to respond to her daughter. He had to do something now, or none of them were going to make it out of here alive.

"Carly --" he cut Bobbie off, stepping between them. "There's some stuff I should probably say to Bobbie."

Carly blinked. "Like what."

Nikolas winced. Now came the hard part. "I... Think... Maybe --"

Carly took a step back from him. "I'm not leaving you alone with her!"

"What," Bobbie looked at her daughter in bewilderment, "do you think I'm going to do to him?"

Carly shot her mother a look. "You want a list?"

"Ok," Nikolas reached out and took Carly's arm, and pulled her away from Bobbie, towards the corner of the room. Bobbie, checking herself, turned away and retreated to the other side of the room, giving them at least the appearance of privacy. Nikolas leaned close to Carly, speaking in hushed tones. "You have to trust me."

Carly looked at Nikolas urgently. "To do what?"

Nikolas shifted his weight. "To get us out of here."

Carly shook her head. "She's my mother, Nikolas."

"Yes," Nikolas spoke quietly. "And she's not mine."

Carly searched his eyes with hers. That, apparently, was the entirety of his point. Not a bad one, actually. And God, she was tired.... She shook her head. "You're insane."

Nikolas stepped closer to her and cupped her face in his hands and forced her to look at him. "Give me ten minutes, I'll be good, I swear it."

She smiled weakly. "Will you tell me where home is?"

"Just pack what you need. The rest is taken care of."

Carly let out a long breath, her eyes fluttering closed.

"I shouldn't let you do this."

Nikolas, taking no chances of being overheard, dropped his voice to a whisper. "It's the quickest way out right now."

Carly let out a sharp laugh, and stepped away from him.

"That's what it's all about." She looked across the room to see her mother had turned and was looking at them, looking a little psychologically bruised. She turned her face away.

"I'm leaving."

Bobbie said nothing, just looked at her. Carly could feel her eyes without turning towards her. She swallowed hard, gave Nikolas's hand a quick squeeze, then turned and walks out of the room quickly. Once the door was shut, Nikolas turned to look at his new mother-in-law. She was staring at the door, hard.

"She..." Nikolas tried to find the right words. "Does that."

Bobbie shook herself, and turned to him. "What?"

"That..." He made a stabbing gesture in the air with his hand. "Lashes out like that. When she's scared, or mad at herself, or... hurt."

Bobbie stared at him.

"You've known her a week," she said, finally, her voice quiet.

"Well. She does it a lot."

Bobbie let out a long breath.

"Alright, Nikolas," she said, finally. "What else do you know about my daughter?"

Carly's legs gave out the second she closed the door to her apartment. She slid down the door and landed in a heap on the floor. Her whole body was shaking so badly she wondered how the hell she'd made it down the hall.

Fucking reality.

Twenty-four hours ago -- not even that -- she had been going on a date. With a guy who sparked butterflies in her stomach and made her feel like she was being turned inside out, in the best possible ways. Everything with Nikolas was just this side of not real. For the first few hours of their marriage, that had been what she'd felt -- flocks of butterflies, and beautiful, sweet non-reality. Even if she'd had moments of being scared, of feeling like she was cheating something, inviting disaster.... But in the end, he'd won, and she'd melted into him, into the world he wanted her to join him in.

Then, at the mansion, with Michael... things had been really wonderful for a little while. Yeah, Ok. Rocky moments. Couple of miscommunications... But Nikolas and Michael had connected, and that was everything. It made it all make sense. They all fit together. And for the first time in God knows how long, Carly had felt a glimmer of hope -- for herself, for her son, and for her life.

Then this. People. Yelling. Asking questions. Needing to "understand", to "figure this out." This was what the next few weeks were going to be filled with. Not butterflies and honey-sweet togetherness. No -- it'd all be about THEM. The people who weren't informed. Who hadn't been a part of this decision -- or her LIFE for the most part -- and were now going to be passing judgment.

No one was going to think she was good enough for him. No one was going to think they were together for reasons that had any validity. And... WHAT was Nikolas going to say to her mother? What reasons was he going to give her that Carly couldn't be there to hear? God, what if Uncle Luke was right? What if Nikolas was just... confused. Acting under the influence of seduction. God, he'd been in love with Robin for HOW long?

Carly choked, suddenly feeling like the room was devoid of oxygen. Breathe, she told herself sternly. Just breathe. He... He said he was falling in love with you. He was amazing with Michael. There is no reason for him to do this other than an actual desire to be with you. YOU'RE the one with the questionable motives. If anything, Bobbie was going to remind Nikolas about everything that she'd done to her -- to everyone. Give him reasons why he'd made a mistake. Tell him all the reasons she didn't deserve this.

Carly buried her face in her hands. She was losing her mind. Attacked by some paranoia bug that Luke had probably brought into the house with him. It was going to be Ok. At least for tonight, it was. Just hard to shake that feeling that the roof was about to come down on her. She was so USED to that feeling. At least this one time there wasn't anything that Nikolas could be told that he didn't already know. At least, by some miracle of his influence, she'd be able to be kind of honest with him.

Right. Ok. So everything was fine.... For now. She just had to get out of here.

Carly managed to pull herself back to her feet, and weaved down the short hallway to her bedroom. It looked, despite mother-invasion, just how she'd left it. Clothes piled on the bed, closet ransacked, bed unslept in. The night before she'd been sorting through those clothes in desperation, trying to figure out what to wear on a date that she hadn't anticipated being dressed for all that much of. Now she was supposed to go through the same pile of clothes she'd rejected the night before, wondering just what she should wear for... the rest of her life with Nikolas.

HOW did she get herself into this stuff?

Pack a bag, she told herself, irritably. Just get some clothes and get out of here. Rescue the husband from the clutches of her INSANE and brother-siccing Maternal Figure. Get out of here and start remembering that she was actually having a GOOD day.

She pulled a bag out from under the bed and threw it on top of the pile of clothes. Ok. So what did Cassadine wives wear?

Nothing she owned.

Fine. So she'd just go with what she had. Oh -- and get OUT of this stupid dress.

Carly pulled the sundress over her head and threw it over the chair in the corner. She kicked off her shoes and pulled open the middle drawer. She pulled out a pair of jeans -- comfort clothes -- and jumped into them. She started to pack, moving efficiently around the room in her jeans and bra, grabbing stuff as they occurred to her. She opened the drawer above to grab some T-shirts. She was about to pull the red shirt that lay on top over her head, when she paused, and remembered something.

The gold band, held against her breast bone by her bra, was surprisingly warm. She pulled it out and stared at it. It was simple and unmarred by extra decoration. There wasn't even an inscription. Just that plain gold band that pronounced to the world "Look! I'm married!"

Well. No point in hiding it now. She slipped the ring back onto her finger. Yeah, she was in it for the long haul, now. Disaster, or not. She was going to make this damn ring mean something to people if it killed her trying.

She was just pulling a T-shirt over her head when she heard the door to the apartment close. She froze. Oh, come on! There was NO way they'd finished up that fast. She moved towards the bedroom door, about to confront whoever was in her living room.

"What --" Carly stopped dead as her visitor came around the corner. It wasn't Bobbie. It wasn't Nikolas.

"Hey," Lucas half-grunted his greeting and entered the room without invitation. He surveyed the chaos, and smirked. "And mom gives me a hard time about MY room."

"You could try knocking, kiddo."

Lucas ignored her, instead strolling across the room towards her. He stopped in front of his sister, bringing both hands up and displaying a ten dollar bill. Carly glanced at it and frowned.

"What? Are you trying to bribe me?"

Lucas smiled and started to fold the bill carefully.

"Mom gave it to me when I asked her about dinner -- before you got home. She said she didn't have time to cook tonight. I'm supposed to go and 'grab myself some take out.'"

"So?"

"So? The food police take a day off, Lucas gets to eat what he wants..." He narrowed his eyes at her. "What did you do this time?"

"Lucas," Carly's voice took on a warning tone. "Don't be stupid."

"Gee, as much fun as insulin shock is..." he grinned at her "Don't change the subject."

"You didn't hear the yelling?"

Lucas shrugged. "I had my Walkman on."

Carly sat down heavily. Hey, she'd already done this how many times? What's one more.

"I got married."

"Cool." Lucas didn't miss a beat. "Mom's wigging?"

Carly looked up at him. "Aren't you?"

Lucas rolled his eyes. "I gave up 'wigging' around the time my stepmom became my sister."

"I was never your stepmom."

"Technicality". Lucas shrugged and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Just tell me it's not one of Mom's ex's, I'll live."

Carly laughed a high and hysterical sound, and rolled over on her side, collapsing into a fit of giggles. Lucas stared at his sister's shaking back, beginning to feel concerned.

"Man," he deadpanned. "It's Jerry, isn't it?"

Carly rolled over onto her back and exhaled, pushing her hair off her face and closing her eyes. Her face was red and streaked with tears. Her brother frowned uncertain if she'd been laughing or crying.

"Nikolas..."

"Nicholas?" Lucas furrowed his brow, until the answer dawned on him and his jaw dropped. "Nikolas CASSADINE? Like my... My..." He stopped, fumbling. "Nikolas?"

"Yeah, your..." she sat up. "Brother-in-law".

"You're serious. I mean... This isn't a joke? You got MARRIED?"

"You're wigging."

"Uncle Luke is going to flip out!"

"Thanks for the tip."

"And Stefan's your FATHER-IN-LAW!" Lucas had abandoned all appearance of preteen cool, and was now counting off the ramifications on his fingers. "And Lucky and Lulu are you brother and sister-in-law, And that makes Nikolas their..." Lucas shook his head. "Wow."

"I know."

"You're nuts."

"Yep."

They sat in silence.

"Really for real. You got married."

"Really." She held up her hand, displaying the replaced wedding band. "See?"

Lucas held his breath a long moment, while this all sunk in.

"Well," he sighed, finally. "At least he's a nice guy."

Carly looked over at her brother. He was frowning a little, like he was giving this a lot of thought, while he stared at the wall. She smiled a little.

"Lucas."

"What?"

"You're a really good brother."

"Do you take milk?"

Bobbie had moved the conversation into the kitchen, feeling that something along the lines of a serious discussion was called for, and that serious discussions needed tea. Ok, so discussing the intentions of Nikolas Cassadine towards his daughter over a cup of tea -- AFTER he had married her -- was a bizarre way to round out her day, but she was determined to keep this as calm as possible. Calm wasn't something she was able to do around Carly at the moment.

Nikolas turned from the window where he'd been examining the back garden. "Actually, I'm a little on edge as it is. Caffeine won't help."

Bobbie nodded. She threw a tea bag into a single cup and poured the boiling water over it. "Well," she tried to sound lighthearted. "I should offer you something. Are you sure you're not thirsty? I'm sure I could find you something else to drink, if you'd like."

Nikolas looked pained. "You don't have to do this."

"Oh, I think I do," Bobbie's voice wavered a little. Doing something with her hands, she decided, was definitely a start. She swished the bag around in her mug. She laughed slightly. "I... I know I'm handling this badly, but I can't seem to make the transition to a reasonable reaction."

"If it means anything, my father didn't take it very well, either."

Bobbie glanced over at her son-in-law. He was standing, hands in pockets, looking at the tiles of the kitchen floor. She picked up the mug, and leaned back against the counter. "You told him?"

Nikolas didn't look up. "That's where I was before I came here."

"Please tell me I didn't take this as badly as he did."

Nikolas raised his eyes. He managed a wane smile.

"Damn," Bobbie swore under her breath. She closed her eyes and took a fortifying breathe. "Nikolas..." it came out as a plea.

Nikolas sighed. "Bobbie --"

"I want you to know something." She looked at him, her eyes snapping open. "I want you to know that I don't think any of this is about all this Spencer/Cassadine crap. Carly could really care less, and you aren't that calculating. I know you aren't doing anything to hurt anyone -- I'm not thinking along the same lines as my brother."

"You rarely are."

"But I'm still..." Bobbie waved her hand. "Working on this."

"I know it's a shock."

"That's the understatement of the century," Bobbie gave a wry smirk, though her heart wasn't in it. "Let's sit, alright?"

Nikolas gave it a moment before he moved dutifully to the kitchen table, and pulled out a chair, offering it to Bobbie. She stopped short at the gesture, then smiled slightly.

"You're still a gentleman."

"Despite absconding with your daughter..." Nikolas sat down across from her. "I try."

"Absconding..." Bobbie frowned, staring into her mug. Best to get right to the heart of the matter. She looked across the table at him, trying to catch his eye. Nikolas was intent on avoiding direct contact, though. She sighed. "How... Nikolas, how much do you know about Carly?"

Nikolas studied the top of the table intently. "Enough."

"And you did this... yesterday?"

"Very early this morning." He saw Bobbie frown. "We went to Nevada."

"Oh, of course," there was a trace of irony in her voice. "I should have thought of that."

"Bobbie --"

"I think what's stopping me cold here, is... That..." Bobbie frowned. "I thought I understood what was going on with my daughter right now. I thought I had a bit of a handle on it. And... Um." She winced. "I didn't see this coming."

"Neither did Carly or I," Nikolas spoke softly. Bobbie glanced up at him. He was still staring at the table top. So controlled, she thought. It occasionally threw her, how much like Stefan Nikolas could be. "We didn't start out thinking this was going to happen. I'm sure she intended quite the opposite. But she's..." Nikolas stopped, suddenly acutely aware that he was talking both to Carly's mother and to the woman who's husband Carly had stolen. Well. This couldn't get much more uncomfortable. He cleared his throat. "I didn't want to let go." He glanced up at Bobbie, checking in with her. The only thing he could read on her face was that same look of concern she'd worn throughout this conversation. "That's what I wanted to say. Carly didn't go after this. It's not what she wanted. It's... Me. I did this, I talked her into it -- don't hold it against her."

Bobbie cringed. "It does sound like I'm holding it against her, doesn't it?"

Nikolas shrugged slightly, trying to ignore how tense he was feeling. "Maybe Luke's the person I really want to say that to. But it's important to me that you know... That no matter what anyone says -- this was my idea. People accuse Carly of a lot of things... I don't agree with that. I don't think they know her. And I want to make sure that they can't accuse her of tricking me. I know what I'm doing."

Bobbie let this sink in as she watched the line of steam that swirled off the top of her tea. He sounded so certain. So determined.

"You don't think they know her..."

"Not like I do."

Bobbie looked up. Nikolas wasn't prepared to see tears pooling in her eyes. "What do you think you know about her?"

Nikolas didn't answer. It was coming off like a test, and he knew that he wasn't going to gain anything by going there with her. Bobbie tisked her tongue and moved her eyes to stare up at the ceiling. "Nikolas..." She looked back at him. "I've been married..." She frowned, trying to add up the numbers. "Ok. I've been married a lot. I've been engaged a few more times than that -- " Bobbie pushed out her breath. "Marriage is hard. That's the real truth of it. It's work. And it's compromise. And to make that work, you need to have a solid foundation --"

"We're working on that part."

"Nikolas, with Carly there IS no solid foundation," Bobbie leaned across the table, her eyes grabbing his. "She is my daughter... and I love her. But I know who she is, and -- There are so many things going on with her right now --"

"I know."

Bobbie pressed her lips together. "I don't think you do."

Nikolas clenched one hand into a fist. He willed himself not to surrender to the incredible tension that was trying to claim his whole being.

"You might," he managed, finally. "be surprised."

Bobbie sat back and buried her face in her hand. There had to be some simple and easy way to talk about this. She dropped her hands into her lap and looked back at Nikolas. "This last year's been very hard on Carly."

"Since she lost Michael."

Bobbie nodded slightly. "Yes... and before that. The trial, and everything with..." She shook her head. Jason. She wanted to scream it. Since JASON -- the man my daughter's been in love with for the last three years! The man who turned messing with her mind into a spectator sport. The man she was grieving the loss of a WEEK ago, in this very kitchen, after apparently sending Nikolas out her window. And while they were on the topic... "Nikolas. I was under the impression that you... were... You had feelings for Robin --"

"That has nothing to do with this." Nikolas's voice was sharper than he meant it to be. Bobbie's grip on calm, however tentative it had been, shattered, and she dropped her hands onto the top of the table with a smack.

"She's my daughter, Nikolas!" the words ripped out of her. "I've spent the last year taking care of her. Now you both come in here and ... she's married? She's moving out? I ... " she let out a quick laugh. "Carly is a handful. Alright? She is moody, and difficult -- she's angry, she's suspicious, she is a MASTER at self-sabotage, and so help me GOD, Nikolas, if you hurt her --" Bobbie stopped, her brain finally catching up to her mouth. "Ohhhhh," she moaned and dropped her head into her hands. Nikolas watched her, without any idea of what he should do. He opted to do nothing, just watched, and waited for her to say something to him that he could come up with a response to. Finally Bobbie looked up at him, the tears that had been threatening before, now wetting her cheeks. "Nikolas... I love Carly like nothing on this earth. I had let go of her, but when she came back... " Bobbie shook her head. "Nothing she's done changes how I feel. I get angry, and I get irrational, and I even get mean... But I'm her mother. The love is just THERE. It's the way God meant it."

Nikolas struggled not to look away. People kept saying things like this to him, and he never had any idea what he was supposed to do about it. Believe them? They were talking to someone who could prove, he was convinced, that God meant no such thing.

"She..." Nikolas stopped. He wasn't going to get through the sentence.

"Nikolas..." Bobbie's hand brushed across the back of Nikolas's hand, and he turned to look at her, his eyes bright. She took his hand in hers and squeezed it tightly. "When I gave my baby away, I gave her to people who couldn't take care of her the way I wanted them to. Who couldn't make up for what I had to do. I prayed I was sending her into a house where she was going to be loved like she was a gift from God. And... Her father walked out on her. Her mother kept her adoption a secret. And..." Bobbie shook her head. "God knows, she won't talk to me about the Bensons. She probably thinks I don't have a right to know. Maybe I don't. But I have eyes, and I can see that... She was hurt. She was hurt so badly that..." Bobbie let go of Nikolas's hand, and pushed her hair out of her eyes. "Something in my daughter is broken. Do you know what I mean? Nothing I do can fix it. I try to love her... and I try to keep her out of trouble. I've been doing that for a year, Nikolas. And there's nothing I can do to put the pieces together."

Nikolas studied Bobbie's face -- the desperation, the fear -- and the belief in what she was saying. He swallowed hard.

"Bobbie," Nikolas looked her dead in the eye. "What's broken in Carly is broken in me."

Bobbie looked at Nikolas carefully, trying to appraise what he was saying. "Nikolas.. You've had --"

"No," Nikolas let out his breath. "I don't wear it on my sleeve like Carly does. I do the opposite -- I hide it. I bury it. So maybe it manifested differently, but it's the same thing. It's the same wound. And when we look at each other... We both see it." Nikolas was losing his grip on this conversation -- he could feel it. The emotions he was trying so hard to keep quiet were swirling around in his head, and taking over his power of speech. He looked at Bobbie desperately. "That's why I don't CARE about anything Carly did before we met! She's told me all about it, and -- It doesn't matter. Because... Something happens to me when we're together. I can't explain it, but... I just feel like everything makes sense." He ran a hand through his hair. "So yes. I did the only thing I could think of to hang onto her: I married her. Because I know this place has been hard on her. And I just... She needed me to do something big. She needed to know I was serious. This was the only way to show her."

"Oh my God," Bobbie breathed, leaning back in her chair. "You're in love with her."

Nikolas laughed slightly, but didn't confirm this for Bobbie. Funny how long it took everyone to come to the obvious answer. Why did he marry her? Why did anyone get married to anyone? He knew he was too idealistic for it to be anything else.

"Nikolas," Bobbie was leaning forward, "God, Nikolas -- this isn't going to be easy."

"I know."

"No," Bobbie shook her head. "Nikolas, the list of things --"

"I know what's been going on, Bobbie." Nikolas took a breath. "She told me. I know that losing Michael tore her apart. I know she's in therapy. I know that she was diagnosed as bipolar during the trial. I know the diagnosis was wrong. I know that they've since decided she's clinically depressed. I know she won't take medication for it. It doesn't matter." Nikolas stood up. Just repeating the list was making him feel like he was in the wrong place. "She's my wife. I'm going to take care of her. And right now, I think that taking her some place where she's not going to have to explain herself is the best thing I can do for her."

"Wait, wait, wait..." Bobbie stood up, reached out to grab the sleeve of Nikolas's shirt. He stopped, but didn't look at her. "Nikolas, give me a second, alright?" She looked at him pleadingly. After a moment, he nodded slightly. "You... She TOLD you. All of that."

"Yes."

"I..." Bobbie looked, quite honestly stunned. "The last year, we've gone out of our way to keep that quiet. The Quartermaines --"

"Might think twice before they mess with her now."

The dark look on Nikolas's face wasn't lost on Bobbie. "Oh... boy." She sat back in her chair. "Alright... Nikolas? I need to adjust to this. I think I need... I..." her voice broke and tears pricked in her eyes again "Oh, God... See, you're taking my daughter away. And I love you, Nikolas, but... " She wiped at her eyes, impatiently. "But. It's not you. I'm a mother, I worry. It's my job."

"I don't think anyone wants you to give that up."

Bobbie laughed. "This is absurd. It IS! I've always felt very maternal towards you, too. I just..." she threw up her hands. "I think maybe you're right. Maybe we all just need to sleep on this. In the morning, I'll probably be thrilled."

Nikolas looked at Bobbie carefully. He wasn't sure just what he felt right now... The way she said the end of that last sentence lacked conviction. She wasn't happy... But she wasn't furious either. She sure as hell wasn't telling him he'd underestimated Carly or that he wasn't going to get her to love him -- that was a step up from his father.

"We'll work it out," he said finally. "You and I usually do. And Carly doesn't stay mad long."

Bobbie smiled wanly, opting not to comment. "I suppose I should welcome you to the family."

Nikolas wasn't prepared for that. He took a step back, looking more than a little uncomfortable. "Oh. Ah..."

"Do you mean that?"

Bobbie and Nikolas both turned to see Carly standing in the doorway. She was holding her bag in both hands, and looking at them with more than a little apprehension.

Bobbie stood up. "Come here."

Carly didn't move. Bobbie cast a quick look at Nikolas, and headed over to Carly. Carly shied away from her mother, taking a step back, but Bobbie persisted and pulled her daughter close to her for a hug. Carly looked at Nikolas over her mother's shoulder, and mouthed "What did you do?" to him. He shook his head by way of answering. Bobbie squeezed Carly tighter. "I don't want to leave things badly." She pulled back. "Let's just say for right now..." Bobbie smiled. "You could have done a lot worse."

Carly just looked at her mother guardedly. "Do you mean husband-wise, or just generally?"

Bobbie answered by kissing her daughter's cheek before stepping away from her. "Call me tomorrow," she manages, her voice wobbling. She started from the room without looking back. "Good-bye, Nikolas."

"Good-bye." Nikolas looked at Carly as Bobbie left the room. They both listened to the sound of her crossing the foyer, and starting up the stairs quickly -- running. Nikolas was certain she was going to cry. That made it awfully hard to feel defensive. He let out his breath when he heard a door close at the top of the stairs.

"Alone at last," Carly shifted her weight, and swung the bag into one hand. Nikolas nodded, feeling inexplicably awkward to find himself alone with his wife again. He cleared his throat.

"Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

"Ok," Nikolas's brain prodded him into motion, and he crossed the room, taking Carly's bag from her automatically. "Then let's go."