First, I want to thank everyone who has read, reviewed, faved, and followed this story. I honestly didn't expect that.

To the reviewer who asked if I can make this a Dream story, I'm flattered that you are interested in my work but seeing as Jasam is the pairing who inspired the scene this story spawned from, I really don't think I can do that. Of course, they will be part of the narrative, but I cannot guarantee the ending you desire.

Sam smiled awkwardly, guiding Danny through the open door of the Corinthos home.

There was a time Carly would have slammed that door in her face, several times actually, but over the last few years they had managed to bury the hatchet and even become friends. But Jason's return had changed that too. No matter how close they'd gotten, there was no one in the world Carly wouldn't sacrifice for the sake of her friendship with him. By choosing to stand by Drew, she'd once again pitted them against one another, and she wasn't sure their bond was strong enough to withstand such differences.

Carly ushered Sam and Danny into the house, all the while her mind reeling. Five years ago, her first thought would have been of Jason, and the joy he would feel learning of their presence. Instead, she froze in front of the woman who, in Jason's absence, had inexplicably become her closest friend.

"Sam," she scratched at the palm of her hand with her thumbnail, "I know things have been strained between us lately since," her gaze flickered to her hands and back up again. "I know you probably won't believe me when I say this, but-"

Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes, refusing to fall.

"I'm really glad you're here."

She rushed forward suddenly, draping her arms around Sam's shoulders, earning an amused chuckle from her unexpected guest.

"Me too," Danny chirped, never one to be left out.

Both women looked down lovingly at the little boy as Carly ruffled his hair.

"Of course, you too!"

Her crystal gaze landed on the box in his hands which she recognized instantly.

"What have you got there?"

Danny shrugged, gently shaking it.

"Don't know, mommy won't let people open gifts until tomorrow," he looked up at Sam as though she'd committed an unforgivable crime.

The brunette bent down, helping with the buttons of his coat.

"Actually Danny, this gift is special. It came from someone who loves you very much, who never got to spend Christmas with you before, so I thought we could come over here so he can see you open it, and you can thank him personally. Are you okay with that?"

His grinned happily.

"I get to open one tonight?!"

Both women laughed at his response as he stared up at them bewildered. Apparently, he'd missed the joke.

Sam hovered by the door, slowly reaching for the buttons of her own coat.

She hadn't thought this through. Her decision had been made on impulse and whatever resolve she'd shown in the face of Drew's concerns was now dwindling.

Sensing her hesitation, Carly acted quickly.

"How about Danny and I head into the kitchen and find him a Christmas cookie?" She looked to his mother for her approval, who nodded numbly.

"We're all in the living room, so just, come in whenever you're ready."

She took Danny's hand and lead him toward the kitchen, leaving Sam alone with her thoughts.

There were so many memories trapped within those walls; first with Jason, and later with Drew. There was no telling which ones were waiting to pounce beyond that doorway. Her eyes fluttered closed, shutting out the phantoms of her younger self, and the voice inside her whispering that she'd once again gone seeking him out, despite the promise she'd made herself.

Danny was Jason's too, and he'd missed too much already. She refused to feel guilty for uniting them.

Jason was in the middle of a conversation with Michael and Sonny when he felt the air in the room change. Suddenly it was thicker and charged with the energy of potential. That shift could only mean one thing. Sam was near.

He turned just in time to see her enter the room, hands clasped at her front, anxiously fidgeting with her fingers.

Sonny smiled, observing the two. "Speaking of family," he said, sitting down his drink and walking over to welcome her with a hug.

"I knew you couldn't stay away," he whispered conspiratorially, releasing her and stepping out of the way.

Jason wanted nothing more than to run to her side, but he kept his distance. She was someone else's wife now, and worse than that, she was afraid of him.

"Sam," he breathed her name with the reverence of a prayer. "What are you, what are you doing here?"

Just as she opened her mouth to speak Danny came bounding in, a cookie in his hand, while Carly trailed behind, holding his present. To everyone's surprise, he walked straight up to Jason, studying him with those expressive blue eyes.

His head cocked to side, examining him.

"You're mommy's friend from the hospital. The one who knew me when I was a baby."

The corner of Jason's mouth rose into a half grin.

"Yeah, that's right. I am."

Danny took a bite of his cookie, puzzling it out in his mind.

"Are you the one who gave me the special gift? The one mommy said I could open?"

Jason looked over at Sam, who offered a watery smile.

She'd felt this before, the first time Danny had run into Drew's arms after the disastrous almost wedding to Elizabeth. But it was different this time. This time it was really Jason standing there with their son.

"Yeah, I brought it over for you this afternoon."

His throat constricted and he could barely get the words out.

Danny nodded, as though coming to some important conclusion.

"Does that mean you love me? Mommy said the person who gave it to me loves me very much."

Again he lifted his gaze to Sam, his eyes brimming with tears, then back to Danny.

"That's right. I've loved you since you were born, and I wanted to be here and see you grow up, but I wasn't able to. Someone took me away from here," he explained.

Danny smiled, looking up into the strangers face. He knew it from somewhere.

"That's what mommy used to say about my daddy, before he came back and we became a family again."

Carly sprung into action, eager to diffuse the tension. She bent down next to Danny and raised the box up to him.

"You ready to open this?

The little boy's eyes lit up, glancing back toward his mom one last time for permission, before taking the box and tearing wildly into the wrapping paper. His mouth hung open as he stared at the contents in the box.

"Cool," he shouted, lifting the battery operated motorcycle up over his head.

Sam shook her head with a smile, thinking back to one of the few happy memories of her pregnancy with Danny. When they'd first been told that she was carrying Jason's child.

He looked up at Jason hopefully.

"Can you show me how to work it?"

She watched from the sidelines as Jason helped extract the vehicle and remote from their packaging, and crawled into the floor to play with their son. Together they took turns working the controls, zooming the bike around the room. Danny wasn't content with the open space of the living room. He preferred the challenge of weaving under feet and around objects.

'Just like his dad,' she thought.

They played for the better part of an hour, all the while Sam fought to remain present.

Wandering into the what if's and should have's was painful and counterproductive. If Jason had come home that night, he and Danny could have spent the last five years together. But then she and Drew never would have met, never fallen in love. Emily Scout would never have been born, or even thought of. Granted, she wouldn't have known any of that. All she would have known was that she and Jason finally had the family they had dreamed of, and perhaps they would have had a daughter of their own. But that child wouldn't be the one sleeping at home in her crib.

It was a vicious cycle with no right answers and no resolutions.

Jason hadn't come home that night. Drew was her husband now, and she had two beautiful children, both of which had loving and doting fathers. That was the reality.

"I know exactly what you're doing," Carly whispered next to her.

Sam crossed her arms with a sigh.

She could appreciate Carly's loyalty to Jason, she just wished there were some left over for her other friends as well.

"And what's that?"

Both women turned back to the sight of father and son together.

"You're trying not to enjoy this too much. Because if you let yourself admit how happy this makes you, then you'll think you betrayed Drew and feel guilty about it."

The brunette's expression gave nothing away, but everything about her seemed to sink inward, confirming the accusation.

"It's not as simple as you make it out to be," she mumbled, sliding her hand up her arm and under her chin.

Carly huffed defiantly.

"I never said it was simple. It's complicated and messy, and no matter who you choose someone is going to end up getting hurt."

Sam scoffed, shaking her head, her hand falling back to her elbow.

"And you would rather that person be Drew," she snapped angrily.

She couldn't blame Sam or Drew for questioning her motives. One had memories of her selfishness implanted in their head, and the other had been there to witness it first-hand. Still, it hurt to hear.

"I would rather he hurt a little now, than a lot more down the road when you realize you can't keep the promises you're making."

Her chocolate orbs flickered with rage.

"I stood in this house and promised to love and honor my husband for the rest of my life, and believe it or not, I'm having no problem doing either one," she spat defensively.

They had stood in that same living room, raising their glasses, toasting to their friendship. The best of friends, Sam had called them, and they had been. Drew may not have been Jason, but he'd been there to pick her up numerous times over the last few years, and that did count for something. It just didn't make him the man he believed he was.

She leaned in further, wishing there were some way to undo the pain she knew would inevitably follow.

"Maybe so, but you also promised him your whole heart. Can you honestly say that vow wasn't broken the second you saw Jason's face?"

Neither felt the need to say another word on the subject. They both knew the truth, even if Sam couldn't speak it.

Instead Sam excused herself to the terrace, hoping the cold would numb her. Though she'd never admit it, Carly was right when she'd accused her of keeping a strangle hold on her emotions.

Jason sensed her anguish from the other room and called Michael over to distract Danny while he went to check on her. Knowing Carly, she'd pushed too hard and made Sam regret coming at all.

He found her standing outside, staring at the stars. A smile crept over her lips as she felt him approach. Without a word, he placed his leather jacket around her shoulders and stood beside her, looking up to admire the night sky.

"I'm sorry about Carly," his gaze shifted back down to the woman standing next to him and the way her eyes shone in the starlight. "She means well."

Sam nodded, pulling his jacket closed at the collar.

"I know…she just doesn't understand."

Jason glanced down at the ground, and then back up at the stars. He knew technically they were nothing more than old light reflecting through the atmosphere. They were marveling at something that was already gone, but he'd never had the heart to tell her that. For her they were a sign of hope and home, and he would not be the one to rob her of that.

Finally, he dared to meet her eyes again, knowing he'd fall under her spell the minute he did.

"Thank you for coming tonight, bringing Danny. I can't even tell you what that means to me."

She lifted her hand as though she were going to touch his face, but then she remembered why she couldn't and moved it to her lips instead.

Maybe he couldn't say it with his words, but the sheen of unshed tears in his eyes told her everything she needed to know.

"I think he recognizes you," angled her head to watch his reaction. "I used to show him your picture. I told him all about you."

Jason stepped closer, forcing his hands into his pockets.

"What'd you tell him?"

Her expression grew wistful.

"You know, just…how you were the greatest man I'd ever known, how much you loved him, how much we all loved each other…"

Her words hung in the air, a heavy silence between them.

"I still do…" He watched her pull her bottom lip between her teeth. "No matter what happens, I always will."

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words would come. Even if they had, she wouldn't have been able to hear them over the sound of her own heart beating. No matter how hard she fought against it, he sparked something within her.

Jason shifted uncomfortably in place.

"You don't have to say it back, I just needed you to know."

She wanted to reach out, to take his pain away, but the truth wouldn't do that. Telling him he had half her heart while his brother held the other would only hurt him more, and she couldn't bring herself to do that to him.

Sam slipped his jacket off her shoulders, needing the cold, needing distance. She handed it back to him, ignoring the jolt than shot through her when their fingers brushed.

Drew was right, she shouldn't have come. She had a husband waiting at home who loved her dearly, and they were celebrating their first Christmas with Scout in the morning. She loved Jason, but she was committed to her marriage, to her family. She didn't know if she could ever truly make peace with the past, but she would keep the vows she'd made.

"Merry Christmas Jason," she said, smiling weakly.

He watched as she opened the door and began gathering their son and his things. And just like that, the spell was broken. He once again remembered that it had been five long years since he'd disappeared from their lives, and that no matter how familiar she might feel in their shared moments, at the end of the day she would return home to his brother because he was the one she loved.