I realize I am a over a week late. But I had to get my thoughts together so that I could try and accurately describe what made this pairing the most explosive, romantic and endearing non-couple to grace GH, and perhaps daytime.

Boy On The Side and Other Hijinks

Jason and Carly were a very non-traditional pairing. They were lovers before they ever knew each other's names. But like they were drawn to each other from the first time they laid eyes on each other at Jake's. Two people with no pasts, at least none Jason could remember, and none Carly wanted to remember.

Carly: I don't take favors. Why don't we lag for it?

The game was pool, but it was a metaphor for where Carly was at this point in her life. She was distrustful and wary. She was looking to have a good time, but she wasn't about owing anyone. She knew how to make it on her own, and was proud to do it that way.

From the beginning they were forthcoming about what they wanted.

Jason: I don't like games.
Carly: Then let's not play any.
Jason: My room's upstairs.
Carly: Good.
Jason: Let's go.

And so it began. Passion laden sex between two people who had it bad for the other on a purely physical level. That's all it was ever supposed to be. Jason didn't need any complications. He wanted things simple. And Carly, with her dubious past, was fine with that. The less questions asked, the better for her.

Carly: The only way I want to know you is in the biblical sense. I've got this really complicated life and a boy on the side is pretty much all I can handle.

Jason: A boy on the side? Is that what I am? Is that like a side order of fries?

And so it began... Keeping sweet girlfriend, Robin, in the dark, Jason and Carly spent their time enjoying the pleasures of sex. Despite what Robin said later, Jason knew it was wrong. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so adamant about keeping it a secret. But for awhile there, he couldn't help himself when it came to Carly. He wanted her.

Carly: I think this is the most we've ever said to each other with, um, our clothes on.

Jason: Well we could do something to change that.

Carly: I don't know. I kinda like it.

Jason: I know something you like more.

Blackmail and the Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

All good things must come to an end, and so it was with Jason and Carly's uncomplicated sexual liasion. Carly's growing jealousy over Robin, and Jason's growing feelings for Robin began to clash more and more. And then Carly did, what has become a trademark move for her. She tried to manipulate the situation. She tried to get the upper hand.

Carly: How do you think your precious little Robin's gonna feel about what you and I have been doing up here? All those times after you dropped her off? After you got done holding hands with her and whispering sweet nothings in her ear,you got up and you got down and dirty with me?

But in typical Jason fashion, he wasn't having any of it. He let her know in no uncertain terms he wasn't to be played with.

Jason: You don't want to make me angry.

It was a threat at that time, Jason would have no problem following through on. And so it ended for Jason and Carly. Or so we thought, until Luke moved in on Carly. And then Carly needed a friend. She needed a place to hide out, and she went to Jason. They hadn't been on the best of terms, but he took her in. He even went and retrieved her clothes from Kelly's. This was the start of a pattern for them. Jason coming to Carly's rescue. Getting her out of messy situations.

But it wasn't just one sided. When Sonny was shot up full of heroin it was to Carly, Jason turned.

Jason: Now it's your turn. I need a friend.

And Carly was there for him. He could tell her the ugly side of his business. Things he couldn't tell Robin for fear it would upset her. Carly understood. She could handle it, and not think less of him about it. Jason could seek solace in her without fear of reprimand or guilt.

And now they had a level of trust between them. A comfort zone. Carly could tell him about Tony, and her feelings of jealousy toward Bobbie. And Jason would listen, and offer advice, but he wouldn't tell her what to do. He was just there. And she could now do the same for him regarding Robin. They respected the oher's relationship, without it compromising their ever growing friendship.

Jason: I was, uh, I was pretty wrecked when I showed up here. If you hadn't talked me down, I probably would have done something stupid.

Carly: I don't think so...you know what, though? I'm really glad you came. This is gonna sound stupid, but, I like you, Jason. I mean, you're the best friend I've had in a long time

They were becoming best friends. They sought each other's company. If Tony was busy, Jason offered to spend time with Carly. And once again, when Carly was in trouble outside of Jake's, it was Jason who came to her rescue, beating the guys who attacked her senseless.

Jason: The idea is to make sure they don't get up.

Carly: He's not gonna get up.

She wasn't afraid of him. And even though she was more trouble than he had bargained for, it didn't dissuade him.

Carly: You are the best friend anybody could ever ask for. I hope I'm not driving you crazy with my crises!

Jason: Would you rather be boring?

Complete and total acceptance. They had that in spades.

The Big Favor

When Carly showed up on Jason's doorstep the night in the rain, she was desperate and afraid. She had lost Tony and everything else she had always thought she valued. All she had was her baby. And she wasn't about to let anyone take him away from her.

Jason was alone. He and Robin had split by now. And Sonny had split town, leaving him the business. The Organziation was all Jason had. And then Carly asked him for the biggest favor, something that would forever change his life.

Carly: Okay, if I say you're my baby's father and nobody asks you if it's true, would you have to deny it?

Jason never denied it. Even after hearing every sordid detail about Carly's past, and her true intentions for coming to Port Charles, he didn't kick her out. He took her in. He let her say her baby was his. He gave her money (which at the time, Carly refused, wanting to have her own). He gave her a home, and he gave her security. He stood up for her against Tony (''Hold on. Carly said that she was in love with you. She wanted to have this baby and to be your wife. But it turns out that you don't love her, you don't want her, so she left. I don't see why you think you get to keep the kid''), AJ (''If someone were bleeding on the ground, would you help them right away? Or do you first find out if everything they've done over the last few months met with your approval? That's what it's like for me and Carly. She needs help and I'm gonna give it to her.''), and anyone else. He got rid of all evidence of her drugging AJ. And it was Jason who had carried a comatose Carly into the hospital to deliver her baby. And it was Jason who made the tough decisions regarding both her medical situation and her baby's. And when she was mired in postpartum depression, it was Jason who understood, and didn't hold it against her. He helped her get away for awhile, because he knew she needed it. And, unlike everyone else, he knew she was coming back.

And come back she did. Things were different. Robin was back. But as soon as Carly showed up at the church for Michael's christening, Jason was solely focused on her and Michael. He took Michael to Carly, and walked out without even a backwards glance to Robin, a sign of things to come.

The Downfall of an Angel and What Almost Was

Carly returned softer at first. She felt out of sorts, and Jason understood. It would take time, and he gave her that, without making her feel guilty about it. On that first day back, Carly tried to make nice with Robin, but it was spat on. And from that moment, the battle lines were drawn between the two, with Jason caught in the middle.

Carly: You can't stand the fact that I make Jason happy! That me, low-life, you know, dirt-shoveling Carly, makes your boyfriend happy! And so does my son! The truth is, he doesn't miss you at all, Robin. And that makes you plain, old-fashioned jealous!

But it didn't stop with Robin. Carly put Brenda on notice in their one confrontation that she wasn't going to let anyone walk all over Jason.

Carly: Well, why don't you look? If, if you go back to shopping? And you try really hard? I'm sure you can find yourself a nice, fashionable straightjacket your size...

Jason: Carly, it's not worth it.

Carly: Jason, I don't know what you think you owe her, but I don't owe her anything...except what she has coming.

Jason would tell himself and others he stood by Carly because she was Michael's mother. That was his standard party line. But often times, he would smile somewhat, and talk about how he admired the way she fought for what she wanted. That she wouldn't let anyone break her spirit. And he refused to abandon her.

Carly pulled crazy stunt after crazy stunt, and yet he was still there for her. She shot Tony in open court. She was sent to Shady Brooke. And the night he was about to get her released, she lost faith. She became scared, and took matters into her own hands, and that cost her months of her life. Months of her son's life. But Jason was still there. He took pictures of Michael every single day, so that Carly could look back and see the gradual growth he would make.

He got her out of Ferncliffe, much to Robin's chagrin. He refused to kick her out, though Robin would have liked nothing better. And in the end, it was Robin who betrayed him over Michael, not Carly. Jason dismissed Robin from his life, and went to see about his family. Because that is what they had become.

Jason, Carly, and Michael were a family despite the whole town being against them. Sonny joined the ranks of dissenters when he returned as well. At first, Jason tried to play both sides. He didn't want to out and out disrespect Sonny. He tried asking nicely for Sonny to leave it alone. Even when Carly ran to the Q's. Sonny wanted Jason to stay out of the country with Michael. But Jason refused. He knew Carly had a deeper reason than the obvious. He got that about her. That she was scared, and had messed up again. And he was going to stand by her. If it had been all about Michael, he would have left then.

So despite protests about Carly from Bobbie and Sonny, Jason continued to defend her. He continued to be there for her. He would tell Bobbie that Carly had been there as much for him as he'd been there for her. He flat out told Sonny to not say anything negative against Carly to him at all. And the day he came in and saw Sonny manhandling Carly, he immediately shoved him off and set him straight.

Jason: You run this business, not the world. Carly's going to be where she's going to be.

Jason was falling for Carly, and not even realizing it. He didn't want to. His life would be simpler if he didn't, and he knew that. He was scared of giving her his heart, because he saw the pain she could cause. And she meant to much to him to risk losing. Still, he let her know that he wasn't going anywhere.

Jason: Look, I am in this for the long haul.

And so he was. Through her marriage to AJ, when he begged and pleaded with her to come home. Through the custody battle for Michael. Through her mugging attempt. He was there. And she was there for him as well. Through the guilt of Lucky's death. Through a raid on his coffee house. Through figuring out the truth about Hannah. They were the one constant in the other's life. And it was getting harder for Jason to deny his feelings.

Jason: I can't do it, Carly. I can't turn around and wonder if you're gonna be there. Here…, at the warehouse, with no warning.

Carly: Aren't you ever glad to see me?

Jason: Yes. But, then I have to let you go again. Until you show up the next time. Then, I have to let you go all over again. I can't…I can't do it.

But he did. In one beautiful moment, he let his guard down. Told her that he could trust her, that he could count on her. And he kissed her. A lingering kiss, where he cupped her face, enjoying what he had denied himself for so long.

The End and a New Beginning

It was short lived, as Carly saw him dancing with Liz and overreacted. She slept with Sonny. With his best friend. The pain on Jason's face when he came through the door to see them together was heartwrenching. The two people he trusted most in the world had just sent his world reeling.

The one thing he'd always been scared of had happened. And he couldn't do it. He closed himself off again. He told Carly he loved her, but that it was over, because he she would hurt him again if he let her, and he wasn't going to.

Carly: No one is ever going to love you like I do.

And that is true. It wasn't always pretty. They never had the chance to really get out of the starting gate. But for over five years, they've been a constant presence. Jason forgave, and Carly found happiness with Sonny. But from time to time, they look back, and it still hurts.

Jason: It's hard to lose something you didn't even know you were hoping for.

That it is.

Steve and Sarah are gone, and in that sense, so are Jason and Carly. Because no one could capture their beauty the way these two could. Maybe it was off screen tension, but on-screen, they sizzled.

And I will definitely miss them.

Here's the slideshow. The song is ''I Shall Believe'' by Sheryl Crow, and hopefully it'll have greater meaning than the crappy way JFP used it last week:

J&C SlideShow

Terri
a J&C fan for life