Prologue:

Carly Manning tried very hard to move on with her life after the painful breakup with Bo but each day brought more sadness and misery to her. After losing a young patient and witnessing Bo and Hope kissing at the pier, it was the last straw. She began having nightmares, terrible headaches and visions of her dead husband taunting and laughing at her. In despair, she began taking anti depressants and fell into deeper depression, with no one having a clue of her inner strife.

Finally deciding to help herself and save her medical career, she took a long leave of absence and flew to Washington D.C where her brother Frankie checked her into a rehab clinic under their family name, where she stayed under treatment for two months.

Chapter 1

Carly Manning a.k.a Lady Katarina Von Leuschner and Frankie Brady a.k.a Lord François Von Leuschner sat on the steps of the Thomas Jefferson memorial, watching the sunset over the river, the sweet smell of the cherry trees enveloping them.

'So when are you leaving?' Frankie asked quietly.

'Day after tomorrow.' Carly glanced at him. He didn't have to express his views; the look on his averted face said it all. And she knew why. If she hadn't been such a mess when she first arrived at his doorstep, she wouldn't have revealed half of the things she told him. But once she'd felt her brother's comforting arms round her, all the pain and misery she'd suffered for so long came tumbling out in an endless stream of words punctuated by wracking sobs; Bo leaving her, their breakup, the family's hostility, Lawrence's abuse, the drug use, the nightmares and hallucinations. And like he'd done when they were children, Frankie held her tight in his arms; listening to her tale and soothing her quietly before leading her to the guest room and tucked her into bed, driving her to the expensive, private rehab clinic the next day and checking on her progress often. When she was finally discharged, he'd gone out of his way to dispel any lingering sadness by being her tour guide; taking her to many of the city's historical places, escorting her to the movies, plays, taking her to dinner and lunches and bonding with her like of old. While she was more than grateful to him for taking such good care of her, she felt now was the time to pick up the pieces by going back to Salem.

'I'm sorry you're not happy with my decision.'

Frankie grunted, turning to look at her. He looked very much like their father; handsome with soulful blue-black eyes. 'You can hardly expect me to be thrilled about it. Considering all you went through there... at the hands of those people, especially him.'

Carly winced at the bitter tone of his voice. 'They are your family- he's still your brother.'

'Not anymore they're not!' he spat, eyes now flashing with anger. 'Not anymore! And tell me something Carly, why didn't you call me when things got really bad? How could you just bear all that?'

'I don't know why...' Carly hung her head. 'There were just so many things to process,' she looked up, 'and you are more of a Brady than I am, I couldn't let you get caught in the middle...'

'Carly!' Frankie exclaimed angrily, 'you're my flesh and blood; like I don't know where my loyalties lie! I still can't believe they all treated you like an outcast; you had nothing to do with Bo and Hope's marital problems and it wouldn't be the first time they had problems! And Bo, I'll never forgive him for using you.'

'Bo didn't use me...'

'Like hell he didn't!' Frankie snarled. 'He didn't want that divorce in the first place, just someone to hold his hand and then some until his precious Hope came back to him.'

Which was more or less the conclusion Carly had drawn when Bo returned with Hope. 'It's just the classic case of some ties always remaining connected. That's the main reason why I needed to get back on my feet, what was the point of crying over someone who doesn't love me, at least not the way he loved me so many years ago.' Carly shook her head sadly. 'Now I know the answer to the question that bothered me for so long... what would have happened if Hope came back when Bo and I were married. I would be in this same position now.'

Frankie slipped his arm round Carly, hugging her close. She sounded resigned but he sensed she was still hurting.

'I still don't understand why you still want to go back.'

'I went back to Salem in the first place because of Melanie...'

'Melanie's a grown woman and she has Daniel, you told me they're pretty close. Don't go... stay here and live with me, I have connections- you'll get a job here in no time at all. We've spent so many years apart from each other, even Audra agrees with me.'

Audra was Frankie's girlfriend, a sweet, beautiful woman whom he'd met at a country club where she worked as a masseuse. Carly liked her very much and hoped the relationship would eventually lead to marriage.

'It's best for me to go back, Frankie. The whole time during rehab I did a lot of thinking; how I allowed what happened to weaken me and turn me into an addict. I guess I want to show everyone, especially Vivian and Victor that I'm a survivor... that nothing can break me. And I really need to be around my daughter, Daniel or not.'

'And Bo?' asked Frankie. 'I can't imagine you remaining friends and pretending nothing happened.'

For a brief, bitter moment Carly flashed back to the day she'd seen Bo kissing Hope at the same spot he'd kissed her... where he'd vowed he would never let anyone take her away from him again. The whole time she'd been living a lie; she'd been nothing but a stand-in.

'No we can't, especially since I have no place in his life now- his main priority's Hope and Ciara. But now I can bear it, I still have Melanie... maybe Nicky afterwards.'

Frankie didn't feel any warmth towards his nephew whom he regarded as a spoilt, unreasonable punk but for his sister's sake hoped the young man would eventually come to his senses and ask his mother's forgiveness.

He stroked Carly's hair, kissing her brow. 'What about you and Daniel... any hopes there?'

'Match making now?'

'He sounds like an okay guy and I can't stand the thought of you alone.'

'Daniel and I don't feel that way for each other. That one night we spent years ago, we were lonely and had too much to drink... it never went deeper than that emotionally. Besides, he and Jennifer are an item now.'

Frankie's eyes widened. 'Jennifer? What happened between her and Deveraux?'

Carly explained Jack's out of the blue "walkabout", making her brother snort in disgust. After Jennifer had chosen Jack over him, he'd truly hoped that she would be happy but apparently Jack Deveraux simply couldn't get rid of his overgrown school boy ways; he was the complete opposite of his half brother Steve Johnson. At least Daniel Jonas sounded more dependable; Carly had described him as a good man and a very good friend. If only she would have her own happy ending.

'I'm still not thrilled with the idea of you going back to Salem, especially with that old bitch still there.'

'You don't have to worry about that; these days she couldn't care less about me or Melanie; all she's been doing is throw zingers at me whenever we run into each other. Really Frankie, I'm going to be alright. I have Mel, my work... I'm going to buy a small cottage on the beach, somewhere to hide out on weekends and during my days off- where I can relax and probably do some fishing; you know I've always loved the sea, it will do me a lot of good.'

Frankie sighed. 'Okay, if it's really what you want. But no more keeping things to yourself Carly; if you need me you call me or better yet, come back here to live. It's my fault; half of the things you went through wouldn't have happened if I'd been there for you more...'

'Don't talk crazy- you're not to blame for anything. And I'm cured now because of you, you really took care of me and I can never thank you enough.'

'Don't even bother trying. You're my sister and I love you.' Frankie held her tight. 'Just remember I'm always here for you.'

'I know. And I love you too.'

Frankie kissed her again, thinking how absurd it was that he'd finally found love yet his beautiful, amazing sister was still alone. Much as he hoped she would eventually find someone else, he couldn't imagine her loving another man as much as she still loves Bo.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Melanie Kiriakis gripped her cell phone tightly. 'Mum, is that you?' Since Carly's leave of absence she hadn't heard from her at all and she'd grown very worried. Carly told no one where she was going and Melanie had gotten the sinking feeling that maybe she'd left Salem for good to nurse her broken heart.

'Yes, honey- it's me.' was the reply.

'Where have you been?' Melanie burst out. 'No call, not even a postcard... I've been worried sick!'

Carly sighed. 'I'm so sorry about that, Mel. I was going through a very rough time and I just needed some time alone, I had to get away for a while.'

'I can understand that, but I thought you would at least tell me where you were going. But I'm glad you're okay, where are you?'

'In D.C but please don't tell anyone that's where I am.'

'Why not?'

'Because I've been staying with Frankie.'

'What's that got to do with... oh.' Melanie knew that her uncle, along with Max, had been adopted by the Bradys long before Carly moved to Salem. Frankie probably now knew all that happened to Carly since her return, if word got out the Bradys would probably turn on her again, accusing her of deliberately turning Frankie against them.

'Did you... does he know about...?'

'About what?'

Melanie swallowed uncomfortably, shame at her former attitude towards her mother hitting her with full force. 'You know... the mean way I acted, what an ungrateful brat I was...'

'I never described you to Frankie like that.'

'I'm surprised you didn't because that was exactly what I was for a long time. I'd give anything to turn back the clock, Mum.'

'Mel, I love you. I never thought of you as anything but the little girl I was forced to give up, I'd give anything to be able to turn back the clock too. I hold no grudge whatsoever.'

Melanie brushed back her tears, deeply touched. 'Well...are you coming back to Salem anytime soon?' she asked as Jennifer walked up to her. Jennifer caught the tail end of the sentence and her face lit up. Carly? She mouthed and Melanie nodded.

'I'm flying back day after tomorrow so please let Lexie know, okay?'

'I will. I can't wait to see you.'

'Me too, honey... me too. See you then.'

'Okay, bye. Love you Mum.'

'Where is she? Did she tell you why she didn't call at all?' Jennifer demanded as Melanie hung up.

'She's in Connecticut.' Melanie lied swiftly.

Before Carly left, she'd been acting very strangely and Jennifer couldn't help the nagging feeling that she'd resented her and Daniel being a couple, considering he was the father of her daughter. 'Did she happen to say why she left in the first place for so long?'

'She just said she needed some time to herself.' Melanie detected the tone in Jennifer's voice. 'Did you think it had something to do with you and Dad?'

'I just felt she wasn't okay about us, she acted so jumpy and snappy around us.'

Melanie thought that for an intelligent woman, Jennifer Deveraux could be very stupid sometimes. 'The same lady who asked you to back off when you tried matchmaking her with Dad, you actually thought she was jealous? If she was upset over someone, I really doubt that person was Dad.'

Jennifer was silent, face going a deep red. Melanie was suddenly furious. How could she actually think her mother had been jealous of her and Daniel when it was obvious to all who really held her heart? Only Daniel's restraining arm had stopped her from marching to the station house to scratch Bo's eyes out. During the time he had accused her of killing Trent, Mel had disliked Bo immensely. Now she really hated him.

'Why don't you stop pretending you don't know who Mum's been hurting over, Jennifer?' she snapped. 'Everyone in town knows the love of my Mum's life is Bo; that son-of – a- bitch who isn't fit to wipe her shoes!'

'Don't talk about Bo that way!' Jennifer admonished, shocked.

'I'll say what I want to say about him!' Melanie fired back, infuriated. 'But of course you'll defend him because you didn't like the fact he was dating her!'

Jennifer 's face flushed again. 'I admit I didn't. But understand, their relationship put me in a very difficult position; Hope's my cousin.'

'Who walked out on her husband...' Melanie laid heavy emphasis on each word, 'who took his daughter away from him, threatened him with sole custody, even tried to kill him... what exactly do you want me to understand? Is that why you kept trying to fix her with Dad, to show you're her friend by handing her over to another man as compensation?'

'You have the totally wrong idea about me, Mel. Bo and Hope have been married for a very long time- and then Carly suddenly came back. If I didn't approve, it's because I didn't want her to get hurt.' Jennifer protested.

'Okay... I'll buy that. What I don't buy is how the hell do you think setting her up with Daniel could make up for the great love she just lost.'

'He's your father.'

'What the hell's your point?'

Jennifer bit her lip and turned away.

'Yeah, that's what I thought.' Melanie said bitterly. 'You would think after living with a man like Lawrence Alamain, Mum would finally be happy but...' she shook her head, pent up rage finally erupting. 'everybody in town treated my Mum like trash; including me but that was because I didn't know her- they did, and still they all ganged up blaming her for something that wasn't her fault to begin with! And Bo... He promised, he promised to always be there for her and the first chance he got he left her standing there! I hope you're happy now, Jennifer... your undeserving cousin got her puppet back! Keep pretending that's not the real reason Mum's been so miserable... some friend you turned out to be!'

Melanie stalked away, ignoring Jennifer's voice calling her. She'd never believed the story about those stupid sleeping pills; Hope knocking D.A Woods, Abe, E.J, Justin, Brady and Roman out cold but then choosing to burn her husband alive didn't sound like a medical side effect to her; it was the pent up rage of a woman scorned. Hope had set out to punish Bo for falling in love with Carly and took it out on the rest of the men in Salem. And then ended up back with Bo and her Mum out in the cold. And to think she had accused Carly of ruining Hope's life and called her a horrible person after Hope's public outburst at Mickey's wake... despite Carly's assurances, she could never live down the shame. But Carly had sounded much better over the phone; being with Frankie must have done her a whole lot of good and probably healed her broken heart. She couldn't wait to have her back; she was going to do her own part at being there for her from now on.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Carly did some shopping on her last day in D.C; some perfume and Hermes silk scarves for Melanie, Jennifer and Adrienne, some books for Daniel, a watch for Maxine whose birthday was coming up and several new clothes for herself before going to a beauty salon to get her hair done. Part of her was still hurting but no sign of the deep, heavy despair she'd felt for a long time and no more nightmares or hallucinations of Lawrence. She was human but also strong and no drug was ever going to make her prisoner again.