Sins of the Soul

Disclaimer: I do not own any GH characters –not that I would want to. Okay, maybe Jason … oh, ahem. No. I do not own any GH characters.

Chapter 1

She was seated at her usual spot in Kelly's. It had been so long since she worked there. But it seemed like just yesterday when she was handed a check for a 10 million dollars –all for saving some little dog. She smiled at the thought. 10 million dollars had provided her with a lot. Expensive suits, spontaneous trips to Monte Carlo and most of all, respect. But one thing was for sure: dollars couldn't wrap their arms around you and keep you warm at night. Her thoughts were broken when she watched them walk in. His arm was protectively wrapped around her waist –and they were laughing as they entered. The man walked toward the counter as his spouse caught eye contact with the blonde and walked over.

"Hi Courtney," she said pulling out a chair and sitting down. Courtney forced a smile and greeted her back. She had no idea when this woman and her became friendly. She noticed the thin diamond tennis bracelet on the brunette's wrist. It was beautiful. It was from him.

"So, um, how's the baby, Sam?" Courtney asked. She watched as a smile spread across Sam's face. She put her hands up in delight.

"Perfectly healthy," she reported. "Oh, I'm so excited Courtney! I can't wait to find out the sex of the baby. I'm praying for a little girl. Jason wants a boy of course. But then again, he'll be happy as long as the baby is happy."

A light shut off in Courtney as Sam continued to go on about the newest addition to the Morgan household.

"You ready?" Jason asked Sam, walking up to their table. Courtney noticed how he avoided eye contact with her.

"Hi Jason," she said. Courtney watched as he tensed up. He acknowledged her with a nod and proceeded to walk same out of the diner.

Courtney sighed and closed her eyes and wondered about her relationship with Jason. When did he suddenly ignore her? Suddenly dismiss her presence in the room? Act as if she didn't exist? And when did Sam suddenly decide to come down from her high and mighty throne and turn friendly? It was as if him and Sam traded personalities. She threw a twenty-dollar bill on the table for the waitress and walked out.

Carly's Apartment

"Where did we take a wrong turn, Carly?" asked Courtney holding her drink. She and her best friend were on the comfortable suede couch. Their shoes kicked off, legs curled up, completely and totally comfortable. It had sort of become a type of ritual whenever they visited one another. Sit up, complain, bitch, whatever –it was a time to put everything on the table.

A look of confusion fell on Carly's face. "What do you mean?"

Courtney rubbed her forehead. "Well, you know … how did we end up like this? You know … sitting and gossiping and totally alone –"

"Wait a minute!" Carly laughed cutting her off. "I am inot/i alone. I'm single … I'm a single mother … I'm a single mother living by herself … okay, so maybe I am alone but, Jesus, you don't have to rub it in my face. Gee, thanks, friend."

Courtney giggled. She was serious though. Maybe Carly didn't act lonely but deep down Courtney knew she was –and she herself could definitely relate.

"But don't you ever wish you were in love?" asked Courtney. "Don't you wish you had someone to come home to? To laugh with? To even argue with? Silence can be deafening sometimes, you know?"

Carly smirked. "Yeah, well, sometimes … but I don't obsess over it. If something is meant to be then … it'll happen. But, come on, you have to admit that its fun not having to constantly look over our shoulders in fear that we may get kidnapped or blown to pieces in some car bomb. Or, God forbid, we ask a simple question and receive that old infamous lecture about 'The Code'. We don't have to have guards follow us to retrieve the damn mail. You know, it's … peaceful. Its sort of fun proving that we can make it on our own, that we don't need men to get us through the day or the week."

"But it gets awful lonely sometimes," replied Courtney in a low voice. She clutched her drink. "Sometimes … I see Jason and Sam and I just …"

"You just want something you can't have," finished Carly. And the crazy thing was –Carly was right.