Title: Silver Lining
Author: SouthernBurn
Rating: This chapter is PG-13

Disclaimer: All Days of Our Lives characters are copyrighted by NBC and Sony, and are used without permission. This story is my own, thanks to the inspiration of the new writers.

Chapter 1

"I don't know how she could have done this to you." She whispers, her voice ever so slowly lulling the roar of emotions in my brain until they are only a dull mumble. I turn my head to look at her, she uncharacteristically looks like hell.

"Lucas, I'm so sorry." She stares at me, her eyes pleading permission to comfort me. A tear slowly trickles down her cheek, my trapped heartbreak escaping and expressing its pain through her. She has always known me better than I have known myself, and now is no different. Between Will being missing and this Carrie mess, she is the only one who could possibly understand.

"Sami, this isn't your fault." I try to get up but her grasp on my forearm tightens, and I look down at her slender fingers, not even realizing she had been touching me. When did I become so numb that I hadn't felt her soft skin press against mine? That twinge of confusion washes over my soul and I close my eyes.

"Lucas..." her voice quickens a little, and I know what she is thinking but trying to hide. She is second guessing me, wondering if there is a bottle stashed somewhere for emergencies. God knows if there was one, this would have been the time to break it out. All the bottles in the world won't find him for me, and I had promised myself, my son and Sami years ago that I wouldn't drink again. Even though I am tempted, deep down I know it's not the answer. I am a man of my word, unlike so many people today….unlike "her".

I try to steady my voice for her sake, to alleviate one less worry. "It's okay; I just need a glass of water. Do you want one?"

She chews on her lip, while averting her eyes, an embarrassed flush sweeping across her face. "No, I'm fine."

"Sami, you are far from fine." And I take two glasses down from the cabinet, filling them with water from the fridge. I can't even remember the last time I saw her eat or drink anything.

The water tremors in the glass when she takes it from me; quickly placing it back on the table, probably hoping I hadn't noticed. Her hand isn't empty for long as she trades the glass for the cordless phone that hasn't been out of arm's reach since Will disappeared.

I sat back down on the couch beside her and watched her stare at the phone willing it to ring. That has been the hardest part, not knowing anything. If he was kidnapped why haven't they called? There isn't much we can do, but wait, and hope.

I adjust myself into the corner of the couch, and stretch my hand out to her. "Come here."

She stares up at me, and without question crawls up into the space I had made. Her face tucks into the hollow of my neck, while her hand clutches at my shirt, a slight shiver resonates from her body and I pull the blanket off the back of the couch to cover us.

Maybe she can make me stronger than I was without her in my arms. I wrap them around her pulling her close, letting my head rest against hers. I know it's a selfish act, using her love for our son as the glue to bind together the pieces of my shattered self. Does she know that my actions are just as much for my sanity as hers? It isn't the alcohol that I crave anymore, it's her.

I curse her sister and my brother for doing this to me; to us. If they hadn't come back, we wouldn't be in this situation. Their return started the spiral of where we ended up tonight, all of us alone and separated. I look down at Sami's haunted face, knowing that we could never really be separate. Our lives would forever be tangled, if not only by Will, but by the deep connection that has withstood the sands of time. In the end, it will always be the two of us against the world. I close my eyes for the first time in days, and am comforted by the one constant in my life.

The realization comes cloaked in darkness, maybe in a twisted way fate has intervened for us. When there is no place else to turn to, we always find our ways back to each other. But this time we are both free from the enchantments of ghosts that had once been haunting us, we can finally close the door on childish love stories. Sami has let go of Austin, and I have finally realized the Carrie wasn't the person I thought she was. In essence the slate has been cleaned between us, all secrets have been exposed and no more complications exist. Now we just need to get Will back and heal.