A/N: I'm thinking this fanfic won't be too much longer. I feel the end coming….:p. Anyways, let me know what you think. Hope you're still enjoying it!

PART A

Brenda entered Sonny's penthouse with a little trepidation. Something had been nagging at her since Sonny had asked her out, and she was just beginning to put her finger on it. Sonny took her coat from her shoulders and gently kissed her neck, but she quickly walked away before he could put his arms around her. Undeterred, Sonny joined her on the couch.

"Would you like something to drink?"

"No, I'm fine. But you go ahead."

"Look, Brenda, you've been acting strangely all night. If there's something on your mind, let's just talk about it"

Brenda sighed. "No, I'm just a little distracted. We had a problem at the boutique today with shipping, and I'm just all over the place now"

Sonny nodded and decided to accept her answer. There were things he would rather be doing than talking this evening. He leaned in closer and brushed his lips against hers, trying to take things in a different direction. Brenda allowed him to deepen the kiss as she relaxed slightly. A sudden thought struck her and she pulled away quickly.

"No, this isn't right"

Sonny pulled back as well and looked at her in confusion. "What? What's wrong?"

"There is something on my mind. And we do need to discuss it."

Sonny nodded and allowed Brenda to continue.

"Ever since you asked me out…" Brenda sighed, "it feels like you're trying to take us back in time" Brenda looked at Sonny as he stared at his feet.

"Our dates have been fun…but they're full of memories. We talk about the old times. You take me to our old haunts. Everything is about the past. And the more I think about it, the more I realize we are not the same as we used to be. It's been 15 years since we first started dating. And so much has changed. We're completely different people. But all we seem able to do with each other is try to recreate that past that we can't go back to" Brenda looked at Sonny and waited for a response.

Sonny sighed and looked back at her. "It's something that I've been trying to ignore. We were so happy for awhile Brenda. Especially in the beginning, before Miguel and Lily and Jax. It was just us, and we were so happy. I had never before that imagined that it was possible. And frankly, aside from my children, I haven't been so happy since. I guess I just wanted that back." They sat and looked at each other for a moment before Sonny spoke again. "I guess you can't bring back the past, can you?"

Brenda smiled as a tear fell down her cheek. She gently shook her head and looked at Sonny. "We were happy. And I loved you so much. I still do, but it's not the same anymore. But I know that you also realize, it wasn't those other people who broke us up. It was us, and our relationship that we couldn't get to work. We both wanted us to work. And maybe if we had fixed things back then, it would have worked out. But it's too late now" Brenda sighed again and stared at the table.

"You're right, I know you are. I wish you weren't right though" Sonny laughed slightly. "I want so badly for both of us to be happy again. I should have been at that wedding. We were happy then too, we could have made it work."

"As much as I hate to say this, you did the right thing. But I've told you that before." Brenda smiled. "And maybe it would have worked out in the past, but since my "death" I've been different. I don't know if I blame Luis or not, but it happened. It changed me. In some ways, I think it's the same reason Jax and I couldn't hold it together when I came back."

"That's just because Candyboy's a total ass. But even if you haven't changed, I think I may have. All the things that happened with Carly and Alexis and the business…they've all affected me. At least I can be grateful I finally have my children."

Brenda smiled at his words. "Yeah, you've been very busy these last few years" Brenda teased. Her statement caused Sonny to laugh and they sat smiling at each other. "So I guess that's it." Brenda said sadly.

"No, we'll always be friends. We'll always love each other in some way. It's too late to get rid of that."

PART B

Sonny waited impatiently in the elevator as his anger reached a boiling point. He stormed out and headed left towards Jason's penthouse, receiving strange and frightened looks from the guards as he pounded on the door.

"Jason! Open this door NOW!"

The door swung open a moment later, and Jason stood looking at Sonny in utter bewilderment. "What's wrong?"

"You know God Damn Well what's wrong! Let me in. We have some things to discuss"

Jason stepped aside and nodded his assurance to Marco before closing the door again. "So what's going on?"

"The thing is, I always thought I could trust you. I think it's pretty obvious that I can't" Sonny fumed.

"Wait. You're questioning my loyalty? I have never done anything to allow that to happen."

"You've never done anything to allow that in business, but your personal choices are another matter altogether."

"Why don't you just explain what has happened, because I have no idea what's going on" Jason said still looking completely baffled.

"BRENDA!"

"What about Brenda?"

"Oh, I don't know…MAYBE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE DATING HER!!!"

"Whoa, hold up! I am not dating Brenda! I'm not even interested in her like that. We're friends Sonny. I believe in my friendship with you, but I will not let you decide who I'm friends with."

Sonny paused and stared at Jason for a moment. "So you and Brenda…"

"Are very good friends." Jason replied.

"Then why did she say…" Sonny sat down feeling a little drained.

"What exactly did she tell you?"

"That she was too busy to date anyone else because the two of you were seeing each other." Sonny rubbed his face. "Why would she lie like that. It's not like her."

"It is when she's trying to protect herself. Maybe she's not ready to date, Sonny. Or maybe she's just afraid of getting hurt again." Jason replied, sitting down next to Sonny.

Sonny sighed and looked at his feet. "You're probably right. I think I've hurt her more than anyone else. But I love her. I always will. What am I supposed to do?" Sonny turned to face Jason.

"Wow, this is a new one: Sonny Corinthos asking me for advice on his sex life." Jason grinned at Sonny.

"I'm serious. You've come to know Brenda really well, as a friend, and I really could use the advice."

"Well my advice would be to take it slow, but you've never been a patient man, Sonny. Tell her you understand that she's scared, but that you're not going anywhere this time. I know how much you love her, and I think she knows it too. But she needs reassurance Sonny. This isn't going to be easy for her. She has survived a lot, but there's still a lot of pain there."

Sonny nodded. "Thanks Jason. I really appreciate this. And I'm sorry about earlier. Things have been strange between us lately, and I think it's my fault."

"What do you mean?"

"I've been thinking for a while now that you and Brenda were together, and it was driving me nuts. It was getting in the way of our friendship. I saw you guys kiss…"

"You were there? Look, it was just an impulse and we both quickly realized it was the wrong one. We've both been a little vulnerable and we reacted in that way to each other. Brenda has become one of my best friends, and I think that's why I can't look at Brenda as anything more than a friend."

Sonny smiled. "I guess I should get going. I have to figure out how I'm going to get Brenda back"

"Good luck. You guys will be fine." Jason let him out the door and finally felt that the air was clear.