Sorry about the lack of updates. I had a massive amount of finals that are finally over! Here's the next chapter y'all!

Sam let out a slight laugh as she wiped her hands over her face. "So sorry about that little outburst back there." This was nothing like the Sam she used to be. The old Sam would have sucked it up and moved on with her life, not have a total breakdown for being insecure. "I'm so embarrassed." She added.

"No, it's ok." He kept his hands on her shoulders and led her inside his house. "Everyone needs a breakdown once in a while." He sat her down on the couch gently. "Can I get you anything? Tea? Coffee?" She put her hand up in refusal.

"No thanks." The room fell into an awkward silence as Johnny and Sam stayed at their respective spots on the couch. Something suddenly sprang into Sam's mind and she jumped over to Johnny's side of the couch. "You never told me how the meeting went today." Johnny turned his face towards her but said nothing. "So?" His face still showed nothing and her hands moved over her mouth. "Oh no."

"Well…we got the pier." She moved her hands away from her face.

"Shut up. Are you serious?"

"Wouldn't you have figured me out by now if I lied? Of course we got the pier. That fake cop bit really worked on these people. They all thought I could blow their covers…"

"…when in reality, you could never do it in the first place." She wrapped her arms around him in a big hug. "I'm so happy for you Johnny."

"You mean you're happy for us Sam."

"No Johnny, I mean I'm happy for you." She got up from the couch and made her way to the window. There seemed to be an almost distant look in her eyes from what Johnny could see. "You, Johnny, you had the right idea in mind when you went to take over Sonny and Jason. Protection for your family. I on the other hand saw this as an opportunity for revenge and instead of learning from my last mistake, I went ahead and made another one. All of this made me realize that everyone was right, I have become a monster."

"Sam, you're not a monster."

"Johnny please." She scoffed. "Have you heard of the things I've in my life?"

He crossed his arms over his chest. "Before the scamming married men bit or after you hired men to threaten Liz?"

"Geez, you sure know how to make a girl feel better."

"Well, isn't this what you want to hear? That you are an insane maniac who only cares for herself?"

"Johnny, you think I want to hear that I'm a screw up?"

"Well, that's what you keep mentioning so, why don't I mention it too? You got your ex-fiancé's kid kidnapped; you threatened the mother of an innocent child…"

"Johnny…" Sam said quietly, hoping he would stop. But, Johnny got increasingly louder.

"You slept with your stepdad and conned married men out of their own money."

"Stop it!" Sam yelled as she threw a glass vase at his head. The vase missed his ear by a couple of inches.

"What do you want me to do Sam? Tell you that you're a monster? That you're some sick freak that needs help?" His tone softened as he continued. "I can't do that Sam because you're none of these things. You have no idea what a true monster is unless you've known one like I have." He sat down on the couch and tried to regain his composure before another outburst escaped him. He hated yelling at her like that but, why couldn't Sam see that she was the victim in all of this? Not the fugitive?

"You mean your father, right?"

"Yes I mean my father. He beat, shot, and killed whatever came in his way, including my own mother. The sad thing is that he doesn't regret it one bit. That is what a monster looks like." He got up from the couch and grabbed her shoulders. "But you are different Sam. You have regrets. You have sympathy for those you hurt. You want to pay for your actions."

"Yeah but I still did those things."

"So you just slept with all those men and conned them out of money just for yourself, right?" He saw her fingers clench up into a fist, so much her knuckles turned white. Then she shoved Johnny's arms off her and punched him in the face.

"I thought you said you weren't going to mention that?! You know I only did that to support my brother and his condition!" he touched the side of his face where her fist made contact. She could probably knockout the whole Vicenza family if she wanted to. But, he needed her to be angry in order for him to get his point across.

"And this whole thing with Jason, Elizabeth and Lucky. That was just you getting your own need for revenge, right?"

"Are you listening to yourself right now?!" She yelled. "I told you before I did those things out of anger and out of hurt. What the hell don't you…"

"…Understand about it? Sam, I know you didn't do all of this just for yourself. I know you weren't selfish but, in fact, you were hurt and you did all of those things out of that hurt. Your mother can see it, your cousin can see it, and I can see it. You regret all of it, and you want to make it right but, bringing up again and again will not do anything." He took a pause and eyed the mirror hanging in his office. "Come with me." He then grabbed her arm and dragged her into his office. He positioned her in front of the mirror. "Tell me, what do you see?"

"Johnny, are you serious right now?"

"Yes I am. Now, tell me what do you see in the mirror?"

"I see me." She said flatly. She then ran her finger around her eye. "I see that my mascara's been running and you need a shave." Johnny rolled his eyes.

"How 'bout I tell you what I see? Maybe that will be easier…and quicker."

"Go ahead." He wrapped his arms around her body and placed his head on her shoulder.

"I see a human being that has made a mistake. And now that mistake is taking over her life. This woman needs to be able to forgive herself."

"Johnny, I have forgiven myself." He took his arms off of her and crossed them over his chest.

"Oh really? Because just a minute ago, you brought up the past against yourself. If you really do forgive yourself, then say it in the mirror right now." He waited for her to say something to mirror in order to redeem herself but, there was not a sound from her. He noticed her trembling in place. "Sam?"

"Th…thank you Johnny."

"For what?"

"Getting this load of my shoulders." She turned to face him, tears streaming down her face. "I don't think I could've done this without you." She turned back to the mirror. "I forgive myself. I didn't mean to do all of that. I just act like a mad woman when I become angry. I'm sorry. I'm…sorry." Johnny picked up her petite body and headed up the stairs.

"C'mon, it's bedtime right now." He said with a smile. All she could do was laugh and cry at the same time.

"Johnny?"

"Hmm?"

"Is it ok if I say I've fallen for you?"

"Of course." He smiled at her. "I did that a long time ago Sam."

--

"Mr. Corinthos. I'm afraid I have some disturbing news." Max said. He wasn't sure if Sonny was angry or disturbed by his sudden entrance.

"What is it Max?" Sonny didn't lift his head from the desk.

"I was checking up on the piers like you told me to and there were some unknown security guards there. They said, you didn't own the piers anymore." Sonny's head shot up.

"What?!"

"They said someone took it over today."

"Who did they say took it over Max?"

"Sir, I don't think you like it…"

"Max, who did they say took over the piers?" Max shielded his face before revealing the culprit.

"Johnny Zacchara." Sonny's face turned a shade of red Max had never seen before. Before he knew it, there was a paper weight being pitched at his head.

"Get my gun and Jason now Max. We are going to settle this family feud once and for all."