Part Two

Carly had fallen asleep early into the evening and didn't awake until almost noon the next morning. The events of the past months and weeks had taken its toll on her. She was physically and emotionally exhausted. Her body ached in places where multicolored bruises lay. Her arm itched and throbbed. But, Carly awoke feeling better that she had in weeks.

Months.

Carly got out of bed and opened her drapes. The mid-morning sun poured inside and felt almost healing on her skin. Carly started her morning ritual. She took a shower, washed her face, moisturized, put on makeup, and then got dressed. All the while, a small smile was on her face. She felt so much better than she had in the past few weeks.

She felt hopeful.

She felt safe.

It was a nice feeling.

It was 12:30 by the time Carly got downstairs. She was going to look for a job today. She did have quite a lot saved in her account, but it never hurt to be safe. Again, she turned heads in the lobby. Today, she had chosen to wear her black dress pants that slightly flared at the bottom. She wore a red peasant shirt that had fluttery sleeves. Though, she had chosen to wear her sling today, she thought she looked pretty good. Amusingly, so did the male population of the town. She could feel the hungry eyes of men and boys upon her as she walked through the lobby.

But, she ignored them. She wasn't looking for a relationship.

Not now.

But, before she went job hunting, she had to stop at the hospital. She needed to set up some things with her doctor and make arrangements to get her arm looked at soon.

Deciding it was too nice of a day to take her car, she walked to the hospital, all the way hearing her heels click behind her.

Her mother greeted her with a smile when she walked in.

"Hey, honey."

"Hey Momma. I need to make an appointment to have someone look at my arm. " Carly said, motioning to her cast.

"Oh, sure. Actually, Melissa has an opening right now, if you want to see her." Bobbie said, checking the computer.

"Sure. I'd rather get it out of the way." Carly said, smiling as her mother led her to an empty room.

"Here are your forms to fill out and Melissa should be here soon." Bobbie said, handing Carly a clipboard and leaving her alone.

Carly started to fill it out. She had a bit of trouble with her name. Should she use Benson-Spencer or her married name? With a bitter taste in her mouth, Carly wrote down 'Fascinelli'. She hoped to God that she would be able to file the annulment before Marcus got back on his feet. It was only a matter of time…

Carly sighed and filled the rest of the papers out, concentrating so hard, she never noticed Sonny come in and lean against the doorframe.

"Well." He announced, making her jump. "If it isn't Port Charles' little runaway. Carly Benson-Spencer."

"Caroline." Carly absentmindedly corrected, the cursed herself. "And, it's Mrs. Fascinelli, to you." Carly added, just to spite him.

"Since, when do you go by 'Caroline'?" Sonny asked her, ignoring the last part.

Carly ignored his question in turn. "What are you doing here, Sonny?"

"I could ask the same of you." He said back.

Carly rolled her eyes and sighed. "So, we're back to playing games with each other. If you don't have anything productive to say to me, then I suggest you leave."

"Look." Sonny started, not wanting to make her mad. "I heard you were back, and just wanted to know why."

"God!" Carly exploded. "Everyone wants to know why I'm back! I have my reasons and don't owe anyone an explanation."

It was then Melissa chose to walk in. She looked between the two and smiled slightly.

"Am I interrupting?" She asked coyly.

"Not at all." Carly said, turning from her ex. "He was just leaving."

Sonny just stared at her, wanting to wring her neck and kiss her at the same time. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and shook his head.

"I'll be seeing you, Carly."

*

Sonny walked out of the hospital, his mood down. He didn't know this bitter woman that he had just seen. That wasn't the Carly he remembered. But, then, of course Carly wouldn't be sweet and loving to him. He had basically told her to get out of town before he ran her out. It was his fault that she was miserable.

It was always his fault.

But, he knew something was wrong with her. She wouldn't have come all of the way back here if there wasn't. Sonny suspected that it had something to do with her new husband. He bristled at that thought. He had never cared enough to find out who that bastard was.

Maybe he should now.

He walked up to the Nurses' Station and smiled at one of the young girls. She smiled back, her eyes glowing.

"Hey, uh." Sonny read her name. "Clarissa, right?"

"Yeah."

"Did receive my wife's papers?" Sonny asked.

"Sir, I really can't-"

"You see, she hasn't been feeling very well late and came here for a check up. She told me that she put her maiden name down on the paper, instead of her married one. She felt too embarrassed to come up here, so she asked me too." The girl didn't look too convinced, so Sonny went on. "I mean, we just got married. She's still adjusting, you know?" Sonny flashed a suggestive smile and the girl blushed.

"Um, of course sir." She girl lowered her head, typing fast. She didn't even have to ask for his supposed wife's name. She just quickly printed out the papers.

Sonny smiled in thanks and walked to the lobby and sat down.

He read it, but nothing caught his attention more than her name.

Caroline Leigh Fascinelli.

It stung him deep to read this. True, that it was he who had agreed to and signed the divorce papers she had sent him. True, it was he who had kicked her out and ordered her never to return. True, it was he who had vowed never to forgive her.

But, somewhere down the line, he had.

Sonny had forgiven her.

Sonny missed her.

*

An hour later, Caroline walked out of the hospital feeling light and happy. Nothing was wrong with her at all. She had a new and lighter cast on her arm. She felt like a new person again. She walked around the park, a smile pasted on her face.

She was home again.

After so long, she was home.

Caroline's steps slowed as she passed the cemetery. She stopped completely and looked inside. A wave of sadness passed her and she quickly bought flowers from the vendor and stepped inside of the gates.

She walked down a path she knew well and sat on the cool ground. She set the flowers against the tombstone and smiled.

"Hey darlin'." She whispered softly. "Long time, no see, huh?"

The stone read;

Lily Elena Rivera

1972-1996

Querida

Lily had been Sonny's fiancée, once upon a time. They had been high school on-again, off-again sweethearts. After high school, Sonny had begun to get involved with the mob. Lily wanted no part of it. But, it had turned out she was pregnant with his son. Sonny had proposed to her, and she said yes. Two weeks after that, Lily had been killed in a car-bomb meant for Sonny.

Carly remembered that night well. Sonny and Lily had invited her to join them in celebrating. Carly had, happily. Lily had been her closest friend. When Carly had first arrived in town, Lily had taken her under her wing. It had been a fun night. Full of laughter and dancing. But, Lily had wanted to go home early because she had started to get tired and nauseous. Sony was going to send her home and join her later. Sonny and Carly had both stood outside of the club, waving goodbye to Lily. Carly had shouted to call her later. Lily closed the door and right as the car started to roll away, it burst into flames and exploded. The impact had knocked Carly to the ground. Sonny had fallen to his knees. She remembers how Sonny had started to run to the car.

*

Carly looked up to see the car that held her friend in pieces and engulfed in flames.

"Lily…?" She heard Sonny muttered as he staggered to his feet.

"Sonny, no." Carly called when he started towards the burning car.

"Lily!" He yelled, disbelievingly starting to run.

Carly had tackled him, sending them both to the ground.

"Sonny, don't!"

"Get off!" He had screamed at her. "Let go of me, damn it!"

"No! Sonny!" She cried. "There's nothing you can do! There's nothing you can do!" She shrieked over and over.

Sony had struggled, screamed, and even tried to hit her. Ambulances had come and still she wouldn't let him go. His screams had turned to sobs. He had buried his head in Carly's shoulder and just cried.

"Lily…" He had murmured. "My baby…"

Carly just held him, not letting him go, not letting him get hurt. Her own tears ran rivers down her face.

*

Carly remembered the days after the explosion vividly. She had gone home with Sonny. She had been there when she went crazy and trashed his apartment. She had been there with him, crying, when he had held a broken mirror to his wrists. She remembered being there with him, pleading to put it down. To live. Carly had unofficially lived with Sonny for one month, making sure he grieved and let Lily go.

She had done all of this, barely twenty years old herself.

Caroline swallowed her tears and laughed sullenly.

"You wouldn't believe the mess I've gotten myself into this time, Lily." She scoffed. "Sonny told me to leave PC. I did. And ran right into the arms of a lunatic. Damn it. Lily, I don't know what to do." She moaned. "Marcus was everything Sonny wasn't. And, I thought that was a good thing. I was wrong. Once again, I've managed to turn my life into one big pile of shit." Caroline paused. "Sonny is a better man than Marcus will ever be. I just wish I had seen that sooner…"