Title- Bend in Our Path

Author- Stacie

Summary- Three years after leaving Port Charles, NY Carly comes back to escape her problems.

Rating- R to be on the safe side.

Disclaimer: GH belongs to someone who isn't me. I only own my own made-up characters.

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Part One-

Familiar buildings, streets, and landmarks forced their way in Caroline Fascinelli's muddled mind. This place was once her home. It hurt that it still didn't feel that way. Her arm throbbed with pain and she wished she had brought some aspirin. Caroline closed her eyes as they passed the Harborview Towers. Her old home. Idly, she wondered if her ex still lived here.

"Of course he does." She muttered to herself. "He'd die before he left this place."

Caroline knew that her fire red Jaguar turned heads of the small town. She was grateful for the tinted windows, so no one would see her. Yet. Instinctively, she checked her rearview mirror and sighed.

Old habits die hard.

She was scared her soon-to-be ex-husband was following her. But, he didn't know a thing of her past. He couldn't follow her if he didn't know where she was going.

Or, at least that's what she kept telling herself.

At 28, Caroline still had her whole life ahead if her. She was too young to be running from her past. Yet, here she was. Caroline parker her Jag in front of a small diner.

Kelly's.

She smiled wistfully at the place. This was where she had had her first real job. This was where she had found her mother. This was where she had met him.

Sonny.

Caroline closed her eyes and sighed. Now was not the time to think about him. She didn't need another man, let alone him, in her life. She was perfectly fine by herself. She would make it. She had too.

Caroline stepped out of the car and listened to the click of her heels as she walked in. She knew she turned heads in her smart black skirt and white dress shirt with her long back coat over it. Her hair was piled into a messy bun and she wore dark black sunglasses. Her left arm was in a cast and itched like crazy, but with careful tolerance, she ignored it.

She saw her mothers' bright red hair and smiled, heading toward her. Bobbie Spencer did not look up as Caroline approached her.

"Working hard?" Caroline asked, startling her mother.

"Excuse me?" Bobbie asked, looking up as Caroline took off her sunglasses. "Oh my…" Bobbie gasped. "Carly!" She exclaimed, hugged her estranged daughter. "Baby, it's been so long!"

"I know Ma." Caroline whispered, felling a rush of warm love as her mother held her. It had been a long time since she had been called 'Carly'. It was something she'd need to get used to again. "How've you been?" She asked.

"Me? Fine. Everything's great." Bobbie answered hurriedly, wanting to talk about her daughter. She noticed the cast on her arm. "What happened?"

Caroline looked away, shame and anger filling her features. "Long story, Momma. I really don't want to get into it now."

Bobbie wanted to press her daughter for information, but decided now was not the time. She had not seen her for almost a year!

"Where's Marcus?" Bobbie asked politely, trying hard not to show her disdain for her daughter's current husband.

"In California, where I left him. I'm getting an annulment." Caroline told her mother.

"Why?" Bobbie asked.

"Irreconcilable differences." Caroline answered, her attention caught to outside the window.

She couldn't believe who she saw.

"Damn. It's just my luck." She muttered.

The door rang, announcing the arrival of someone. And, that someone just happened to be her ex-husband.

Sonny Corinthos.

*

Sonny's attention had been caught by the Jaguar in the parking lot of Kelly's. He wondered briefly who it belonged too. Someone with a lot of money, he knew. A new enemy, he wondered?

Johnny followed his boss into the diner and caught eyes with an attractive blonde. He didn't a double take when he realized who it was. Carly. She smiled at him and turned her attention back to Bobbie.

"Boss?" Johnny asked Sonny.

"Yeah?" Sonny asked, turning toward his employee.

"Uh, it looks like someone's in town." Johnny said.

"Who?" Sonny asked, turning his full attention on Johnny.

Johnny was about to answer him when Carly stood up. She caught his attention and was shaking her head vehemently. She kissed her mother on the check and hurried into the back. Where, Johnny assumed, she left out the back door.

Sonny sighed and turned his head to look into the diner. He saw no one. He turned back to Johnny who looked a little sheepish.

"What are you talking about?" Sonny asked as they walked into the diner.

"Uh, nothing boss." Johnny said as he stood post near the door.

"Bobbie." Sonny said with a smile as he greeted his former mother-in-law.

"Hey Sonny." Bobbie answered as she stood up to hug him.

Sonny noticed Bobbie looked very happy today. She wore a big smile on her face and her eyes sparkled.

"You seem happy today." Sonny mused as he sat with her.

Bobbie nodded. "Oh, I am." Bobbie answered. "I got word from Carly today. She's coming home." She answered, wanting Sonny to know, but not telling him everything.

"Really?" Sonny asked as he got a faraway look in his eyes. "Is she bringing California boy?" Sonny asked mockingly.

Bobbie had told him of her new husband. She had showed him a picture too. Carly's new husband was younger than Sonny, he had called him a punk. In his opinion, Carly didn't look very happy.

"I…don't think so…" Bobbie said slowly, not telling Sonny about Carly's imminent annulment.

"Huh." Sonny grunted. "Good riddance."

"Sonny, if you see her, don't make this hard for her." Bobbie warned.

"Bobbie, I never make anything hard." Sonny countered as he leaned back.

"She was heartbroken when she left. I highly doubt she's going to be forgiving and kind when you two meet." Bobbie said.

"It was her own fault. She betrayed me." Sonny argued, his expression hard.

"Sonny, it might not be the way you think. Did you ever talk about it with her, or did you just yell and jump to conclusions?" Bobbie asked. When Sonny didn't answer, she went on. "You thought the worst of her and ordered her to leave. Do you even know how that made her feel?" Bobbie asked him.

"Does she know how she crazy me feel?" Sonny asked instead of answering.

Bobbie just sighed and shook her head. "You two are just so stubborn! You both think your way is the only way. And, that's why you two are and always will be perfect for each other."

Sonny just shook his head. "Bobbie, it's over. It has been for awhile."

"Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?" Bobbie asked her former son-in-law.

Sonny didn't answer.

He had no answer.

He still loved his ex-wife, even if he wouldn't admit it.

*

Carly was thanking God as she drove away from the diner. Sonny hadn't seen her. That was good. It meant she wouldn't have to deal with facing him for a little while longer. Of course, he would be curious and a little jealous. He would want to know why she wasn't with her husband and why she was back.

Caroline wasn't ready to tell anyone her story. She didn't want to admit that she had screwed up. She didn't want to admit what her once loving husband was doing to her.

Not yet.

The proverbial wounds were still open and raw. As well as her real ones. Caroline steered her car into the parking lot of the PC Hotel. She had rented as pent house on the top floor. She didn't know how long she'd be staying and wanted her privacy. Caroline hefted her bags best she could with one arm and walked inside. Teenage bellhops rushed to her aide. They smiled and flirted with her, all wanted to woo her with their help.

Carly smiled tolerantly and walked up to the desk. She pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head and smiled at the receptionist.

"Do you have a reservation?" The girl asked her.

"Yes, I do." Carly said politely. "Under the name C. Benson-Spencer."

Carly hadn't used her married name in case Marcus decided to look for her. It was safer this way.

"Do you have any ID with you?" The girl asked.

Carly sighed, the pain in her arm making her touchy. She thrust her driver's license at the girl and tapped her foot.

"Carly Corinthos?" The girl asked, her eyes wide.

"Caroline." Carly automatically corrected and cursed silently to herself. All those years of Marcus making her be Caroline instead of Carly was taking its toll on her.

"I didn't know you where back in Port Charles, Mrs. Corinthos." The girl said.

Carly recognized her to be Elizabeth Webber and smiled politely. "It's not Corinthos, anymore. We've been divorced for more than two years." Carly reminded her tiredly.

"Huh. Well, I'm not sure Sonny would see it that way." Elizabeth said in a smarmy voice.

"Well, what Sonny thinks is none of your concern." Carly snapped, then sighed. "Now, may I please have the key to my room?"

"Of course." Elizabeth said, her smile fake as she thrust the key into Carly's good hand.

Carly gave a tight smile and walked off, her smitten bellhops in tow.

"Well, well, well. Look who dragged her ass back into town." A sardonic voice called from across the lobby.

Caroline whipped around, prepared to glare death upon the speaker. Instead, she saw AJ Quartermain smirking at her from across the lobby. She pursed her lips amusedly as he strutted over to her.

"Boy!" An old, angry voice yelled. "You will treat this woman with respect!"

It was Edward, staggering over to them, glaring at them.

His eyes warmed when he lay eyes on Carly.

"Caroline, my dear. How are you?" He asked warmly.

He had always taken a liking to her. Why, Carly did not know.

Carly smiled and hugged the old man. "I'm just fine Edward. And, you?"

Edward laughed. "I'm still alive."

AJ scoffed. "Not for long."

"How is Lila?" Carly asked of his wife.

"Perfectly well."

"What brings you back to our corner of the world?" AJ asked, his eyes dark.

"I decided it was time to come home, if you must know." Carly answered.

Carly and AJ had shared one drunken night together years ago, before she married Sonny. When they had sobered up, Carly had told him it meant nothing. He had never taken that well.

"And, we are glad to have you back, my dear." Edward said as he left, to go take care of some business.

Carly smiled after him, then turned her gaze on AJ.

"It's been awhile." She said softly.

He nodded. "How are you?"

"I'm alive." She answered sadly.

"Does Corinthos know you're back?" AJ asked.

"I'm sure by now, my mother has told him. Not that it really matters." Carly shrugged as she walked to the elevators.

AJ followed her. "Would you like to go out tonight, for dinner?" AJ asked, his voice slightly hopeful.

Carly didn't answer right away. She always knew that AJ felt something for her. He had been so angry when she had married Sonny. But, had been almost ecstatic when she divorced him. She didn't want to lead him on.

"AJ, I just need to be alone for a little while. I can't let anyone in right now." She said sadly, as she touched his arm, then went into the elevator, and watched his expression crack as the doors closed.

*

Sonny had watched the exchange between his ex-wife and AJ. His eyes narrowed on the man. All the while he had been married to Carly, he had known that the rich little brat had wanted his wife. He had known by the way his eyes would follow Carly and glare at him.

If that boy thought that he would get his hands on her, then he had another thing coming.

Sonny would make sure of that.