Carly's apartment

Courtney stretched her legs as the credits faded to black, pointing her toes until her knees cracked. She turned her head and looked over at Carly and LuLu on the couch with a lifted eyebrow. "Well, for a movie about a talking pig," Courtney followed Carly's quick glance to the small, dark-haired bundle curled up at her feet, and lowered her voice, "it wasn't that bad."

Emily spoke up from the floor, where she was laying on her stomach beside Lucky, their hands entwined sweetly. "You're lucky you didn't come to movie night last week," she said. "It was Lucky's turn; we watched a four hour movie about a submarine. In German. With subtitles." She mock-groaned, rolling away from Lucky with a laugh as he lifted his head to give her a look.

Carly continued running her fingers through Lu's hair as she looked at her cousin, shaking her head sadly. "It's a sad, sad thing when your baby sister has better taste in movies than yours, cousin mine." She caught the pillow he tossed at her face deftly, laughing down at him.

"It was a classic!" Lucky protested, his voice long-suffering. "Das Boot -- a C-L-A-S-S-I-C. Far superior to a movie about a sheep-herding pig." Lucky glanced at his sister. "Sorry, Lu." He sighed, piteously. "This is my curse -- to be surrounded by vastly inferior brains who can't possibly understand the genius that is me." Lucky yelped and covered his head, as pillows were thrown at him from four different directions.

"Okay, genius boy," Emily tugged at his arm as she stood up. "Time to get you and your super-inflated head home. Before, you know, the massacre begins."

Lucky used Emily's hand as leverage to pull himself up, sliding his arm around her waist as he stood. He flashed a sad puppy-dog look first in her direction, then in Courtney and Carly's. "I can tell when the glory that is me is not appreciated," he said mournfully. He walked over to the couch, bending over his small sister. "C'mon Lady Lu, time to make a strategic retreat."

Lesley Lu's eyes were scrunched tight; from her lips, a loud, patentedly false snore erupted. The adults in the room exchanged knowing grins.

Carly spoke up first, deliberately marinating her voice in sugar-sweetness. "Aw, Lucky, she's asleep; let her just camp out here tonight. Besides, tomorrow's cleaning day. I could use an extra pair of hands. I've been promising Bobbie for weeks that I'd help her clean out the basement. Lu can scrub down in those slimy, dark corners where I can't reach."

"Oo, and then maybe you could bring her to the office," Courtney chimed in. "We just got that new fabric shipment; I can teach LuLu to steam-iron in ten minutes flat. She can spend all day ironing, and ironing, and ironing--"

LuLu sat up, blinking her eyes. "Not sleeping," she asserted, forcefully. "I wanna go home, Lucky."

Lucky chuckled, sliding his arm away from Em and crouching down beside the couch. "C'mon, kiddo; hop on." He stood up, as LuLu wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs clamping around his back as she perched, piggy back, against him. Lucky turned his head to look at her over his shoulder. "Remind me to tell Dad you need some more poker lessons, Lu. Gotta learn to recognize a bluff."

"That's my cousin," Carly said mock-proudly, looking at Courtney, "corrupting the youth already. We're all so proud. Luke especially." She rolled her eyes, grinning.

Lucky bent down. "Give cousin Carly a kiss, LuLu. She needs it; she's getting bitter and boring in her old age." Lu leaned over, bussing Carly on the cheek, giggling as the older woman blew a raspberry against her cheek in return.

Carly reached up, tugging at a lock of Lucky's hair as he started to straighten up. "Bitter and boring, huh?" She narrowed her eyes, pulling his hair harder until he yelped. "You just wait, Lucky Spencer. I will get you back, when you least expect it. Live in fear, buddy boy." She tugged his head down, kissing him lightly on the tip of his nose, before releasing him, with a slight shove towards the door, where Emily was waiting and grinning.

"'Night Carly, Courtney," she called from the doorway. "'Bye all," Emily called, pitching her voice louder for the other occupants of Carly's apartment. Various replies answered her, and she turned back to Courtney. "Hey Courtney, if you talk to Lark before I do, tell her she better answer my last email with more than a four word sentence, or I'll start calling her bright and early every single solitary morning 'til she does."

Courtney laughed. "Man, remind me never to cross you. I'll pass on the message."

"Thanks," Emily spun around, her long hair dancing around her shoulders as she just managed to dance away from Lucky, coming up behind her. "Unh-uh, Lucky. Keep your hands where I can see 'em." She laughed, and then reached out, tagging him lightly in the middle of the forehead. "You're it," Emily sing-songed, racing out of the Brownstone, her laughter echoing after her.

"'Night you two," Carly called as Lucky, his sister giggling on his back, raced after her. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

"Which pretty much leaves the floor wide open," came her cousin's fading response from the street. Carly and Courtney watched out the window as he caught up with Em, managing to spin her in his arms, even with the burden on his back, and kiss her soundly.

Both women settled back down, and Courtney looked over at Carly. "God. Were we ever that young?" she asked, a small smile playing across her lips.

"I was. But, I don't think I was ever that innocent," Carly answered, slightly wistfully.

"Good," murmured a silky-smooth voice in her ear, as strong arms caught her about her neck. "I don't want you innocent," Sonny Corinthos' lips trailed down her neck, making Carly gasp slightly, before he lifted his head to look at Courtney, his hands still wound possessively around Carly. "You still here?" he demanded.

"Why, Sonny, I forgot you were here," Courtney said, syrupy-sweet. "And, it was such a nice evening. Damn. What, run out of things to be obsessive-compulsive over in the kitchen already?"

Sonny grinned, baring his teeth. "Looks like you managed to scare everyone away with your, uh, unique brand of charm and sweetness." He looked at her, lifting an eyebrow. "You ever think there may be a reason I stayed in the kitchen so damn long?"

"Hey, hey, play nice," Carly spoke up. "Anyone would think you two didn't like each other." She stifled whatever Sonny was about to say as she turned in his arms, pressing her lips firmly to his, demanding with her mouth and fingers and body that he turn his attention back to her.

"And that's my signal to head on out of here," Courtney murmured, wryly, a small smile on her lips in spite of herself. She might not be able to stand Sonny, but for whatever psychotic reason, he made Carly happy. And, that was enough. "Neil," she called, standing up. "Time to jet, pal!"

Lucas came pelting into the living room from the downstairs apartment, followed closely by Neil. Carly and Sonny separated hastily, but not before both boys could let out loud groans. Carly turned in Sonny's arms, as he settled beside her on the couch, and stuck out her tongue at the kids, flushing slightly.

"Carly," Lucas ran over to his sister, determined to take advantage of her momentary flusteredness, "can I spend the night over at Neil's? Please," he begged.

"One, did you ask Mama?" Carly held up her fingers, ticking off items. "And, two, did you ask Neil's mom?"

"Mom's in a surgery; I called," Lucas said, at the exact same moment as Neil turned to Courtney. "C'mon, Carly, please; you're in charge, when Mom's not here. Pleeeeease."

"Please, Mom," Neil begged. "Dad won't mind, I know it. And, I'll be on Chrissy diaper duty for all the rest of the weekend," he bargained.

Courtney laughed. "How can I refuse such an offer?" she tousled her son's hair. Lucas and Neil both cheered, and Courtney held up a hand. "But, you both go to Mass tomorrow with Grandma Mary. And, no frogs, lizards, or other living things go with you. Deal?" The boys both nodded, reluctantly.

"Go grab a bag, Lucas," Carly patted her brother lightly on the rear. "And, don't forget your toothbrush!" she called, as he darted down the stairs.

He was back up in less than thirty seconds, holding a stuffed bag, slung over one shoulder. "Bye Carly, bye Sonny, love you," Lucas called, starting for the door, Neil fast behind him.

"Wait!" Carly demanded. "Freeze, Lucas Jones. Turn around and march back in here." She heard her small brother groan, and stood up from the couch, her hands on her hips, Sonny chuckling as he watched her. As Lucas came back around the corner, Carly held her hand out for his bag which he reluctantly handed to her. She unzipped it, pulling out three bags of 'popper' fireworks, three video games, two of which she confiscated, and a giant-sized bag of sugar-free candy. Carly handed the bag back to a visibly deflated Lucas, without the contraband, and then pulled Lucas towards her, kissing him on his cheeks. "Be good, say please and thank you, and don't break anything," she ordered, before letting him pull out of her grip, and finally race down the sidewalk with Neil.

Courtney looked at Carly before following them. "You so owe me; you know that right?" she said, shaking her head. "Frank is gonna just love this one." Courtney sighed, then started for the door. "See you at the office tomorrow afternoon. And, Sonny?" Courtney grinned evilly, one hand on the doorknob, ready to disappear out the door. "Your pasta sauce didn't have near enough basil," she called, slipping out into the night.

Sonny stood up, starting after her, as Carly held laughingly onto the back of his shirt. "Let Courtney go," she said as he turned around, his eyes murderous. "You realize what she's done, right? She's taken my little brother off our hands, which means, after Michael and Ginia are tucked in, you and I have the whole apartment to ourselves."

Sonny slid his arms around Carly. "Mmmm," he murmured, consideringly, pulling Carly hard against him. "Maybe she's not so bad, after all." Sonny bent his head, his lips tracing a path born of fire against the hollow of Carly's throat.

Carly allowed herself to close her eyes, her fingers tightening in the springy curls at the back of his neck for a long moment, before reluctantly breaking away. "I'm gonna go check on the kids," she said, one finger against his mouth. "Hold that thought; I'll be right back." She slipped away, looking back to toss him a burning gaze, before slipping down the hall.

Sonny watched her walk away, enjoying the view, before settling down on the couch. He could wait. He could even -- enjoy it. Especially since he was damn near close to having everything he'd ever wanted.