Every hour that Carrie sat on the plane, she felt like she was finally going home from a long nightmare. She was a faithful and true fiancée to Mike Horton for years. They never fought. No one tried to break them up. Her life with Mike was comfortable, but the second that she discovered Mike's infidelity she couldn't explain why she felt relieved. It was like the part that she was playing ended, and she was free to go home.

Carrie walked off her long flight and saw Marlena and John waiting for her. Marlena opened her arms and hugged her saying, "You're here. I'm so glad you're home."

She hugged the only woman that she ever thought of as her mother as she replied, "My life is such a mess right now."

Marlena replied, "We'll figure everything out together. We're family."

Carrie heard the word family and asked, "Speaking of family. Is it true Sami married Lucas?"

John put his hand on her back and answered, "That's a fact. If you can guess why and prove your answer, you can win the till at the Brady pub. Entry costs $10."

Carrie laughed like John was joking, but he looked so serious. Carrie finally replied, "They hurt each other so much because they really wanted the other to love them and stay in their lives. If Sami listened to me years ago, she and Lucas would be celebrating an anniversary by now."

Marlena fixed Carrie's hair and replied, "It's always easier to see other's mistakes rather than our own. I'm really good at that myself. However if it was love, why wasn't anyone invited to the wedding?"

John carried Carrie's luggage and they walked towards the car as Carrie replied, "They'd probably feel silly inviting everyone after all their scheming. But I told Sami that if she wanted to be happy she should focus on Lucas instead of Austin."

She stopped talking the moment she said Austin's name. Austin Reed was an idiot, and to keep her sanity she never said his name aloud or allowed herself to dwell on him. But being home must have changed her, and she hadn't even left the airport yet, and she already broke her rule. Thankfully Marlena didn't press her for any more conversation. ~*~

Sami woke up feeling a strong arm wrapped around hers. She snuggled next to him somewhere during the night. Course now that she was awake, she could appreciate her situation. How could she have not known that she should have focused on Lucas years ago? In her head she started comparing Lucas to Austin, Brandon and even Franco, and Lucas easily won the comparisons. Austin was a handsome do gooder who never faced reality. Lucas was a handsome man who liked to do the right thing without taking credit. Lucas was humble and sometimes even ashamed of himself when he did a good deed. Next was Brandon. Brandon was a handsome man so in love with himself that he only saw in her what he wanted to see. Lucas was a handsome man who saw the real her and never ran away. She was more herself around Lucas than she ever was with Brandon. Lastly, she tried not to think about Franco ever, but this morning she needed to finish off her self reflection and face facts. Franco used her for sex and a green card, and she fell for his lines. Franco was a schemer and a manipulator. Lucas was always a schemer himself, but he was her partner in crime and he always thought about how the scheme might affect others. When Lucas wanted nothing else to do with her after Will's paternity was revealed, she fell for Franco's lies.

But now she had a man so designed just for her sleeping right next to her. She needed to make him to love her, but she also couldn't tell him how she felt just yet. Maybe someone good and pure could wear her heart on her sleeve without fear, but that just wasn't her. He needed to tell her that he loved her, and she needed to prove to herself that she was capable of loving him. What if she took one look at Austin and Carrie and felt the same nauseous jealousy? She needed to prove to herself that she wasn't the same person.

The first part of her plan hadn't worked last night. He was too tired, and according to that email, he wasn't sleeping regularly. Now that she was up and thinking about things, she wasn't too fond of Lucas telling another woman that sort of intimate detail. She was his best friend, lover and now his wife! She turned her head when she realized that she was jealous to look at him, and that's when she realized that he was awake.

She smiled up at him before he replied, "Morning."

She automatically answered, "Morning. Did you have a good night sleep?"

He told her truthfully, "I don't think I've slept this well since before the fire."

She answered without thinking about anything, "You haven't felt secure since your home burned down, almost killing you."

He froze in place. She saw too much sometimes for his own liking.

She saw his withdrawal, and hated it. She continued on, "Was I not supposed to know why you don't sleep? Or was that Greta's job when she's on another continent!"

Fighting with Sami was way too easy for him because he just retorted, "Greta is a sweet girl who deserved better than your sorry excuse of a brother who cheated on her with my wife."

She was ready to duel and commented, "I'm your wife or do you still want the $5 million dollar lie?"

He looked shocked at the accusation. She bolted out of bed. It took him less than 30 seconds to follow her and yell, "Nicole was there because you weren't!"

It was her turn to turn around and looked shocked. She took a deep breathe before asking, "What does that mean?"

His instinct was to cover up what he said and make an excuse. But he decided that the truth would be better. So he told her, "I wanted that bitch to replace you. In case you've forgotten, we weren't friends then."

She blinked and then told him, "Franco and Brandon were your replacements."

They were both awkward with each other for a moment, unsure how the announcements would change things. But a moment later he laughed and said, "Let's make breakfast. We'll find something else to argue about after we eat."

She quirked her head like she was going to stop herself from laughing before she asked, "Eggs, pancakes, toast?"

He told her, "Waffles and cereal."

She answered him, "I can't make waffles."

He shrugged and said, "I'll be right back. I have a waffle maker at my apartment."

She watched him walk out in his boxers. ~*~

Carrie left Israel with no baggage, but she had some clothes boxed away at Sami's. She refused to bother Sami the day after the wedding, so she went to the pub with John and Marlena for breakfast.

Will joined them, and told Carrie, "I left my football uniform at home."

Carrie asked him, "What time do you need it for?"

Will answered, "In less than an hour, but it's ok. I'll miss my game."

Carrie asked him, "Why?"

He told his aunt, "I don't want to screw up mom and dad's morning."

She told him, "I'll go with you and the first sign of causing trouble, we'll leave."

Will really wanted his football uniform. He needed to impress the school nerd Meredith, who was going to write up today's game in the school newspaper. Will jumped out of his seat and said, "Let's go!"

Carrie and Will walked up the stairs and saw a scantily dressed Lucas walking in the hallway carrying a cooking utensil.

Lucas smiled when he saw his son and sister-in-law before he hugged her and loudly said, "Carrie! You're back!"

Sami walked into the hallway and said, "Lucas, honey, go get dressed NOW!"

Will walked with his dad into the apartment, leaving Carrie and Sami alone. Carrie smiled and said, "Congratulations! I'm very happy for you."

Sami asked skeptically, "Why?"

Carrie raised her eye brows and said, "Why? You finally listened to your older sister and married a man who you love!"

Sami smiled and replied, "Shh! Last thing I need is for Lucas or you to get big heads." Sami then surprised herself when she leaned over and hugged Carrie to say, "Welcome home."

Lucas came back into the hallway dressed and interrupted the hug saying, "I came out to break up a catfight. What happened?"

Sami took his hand in hers before saying, "What happened is that we are adults not teens! Besides we made up before Carrie left."

Will came out with his uniform and Carrie said, "I didn't want to interrupt you, but when you get a chance can you tell me where you stored my boxes of clothes? I didn't pack anything."

Sami replied, "Come in for a minute. Lucas, go into the hallway closet and pull out the smaller box that says Carrie #12. The bigger boxes are in my storage area down in the basement. Will honey, can you get the key for your aunt? It's in the dresser, third drawer from the bottom."

Carrie commented, "My God you're organized."

Sami shrugged and said, "I'm a mom."

Lucas returned with the box and asked her, "Are you staying in Salem for a while?"

Carrie answered, "I'm moving home, yeah."

Lucas gave Sami a gleam, like he was plotting something before he said, "I was living in Austin's old apartment. I haven't packed up anything yet, but you're welcome to stay there and keep the place once I clear my things out."

Sami nodded her head trying to figure out what Lucas was planning before she added, "Carrie, that's a great idea! You should definitely think about it."

Will returned with the key and he was getting impatient and said, "I have to get to my game already."

Carrie answered, "Well thanks for the offer. Oh and Lucas, welcome to the family."

Carrie and Will left together. When the door closed Sami asked, "What was that about?"

Lucas smirked as he said, "Didn't I mention that Austin was spending the night at my apartment next week before the trip to Paris?"

She caught on and said rhetorically, "And we're not telling Carrie that she'll be getting a roommate?"

Lucas had a smile on his face, the smile that came from scheming. She didn't realize it but she had the same smile. ~*~

It is still the dead of night in a small country village in France. Eric Brady had an almost close encounter with Greta, the girl that he flew to find. She was whisked off before he had the chance to say anything to her. But he promised himself that he wasn't giving up."

He was half asleep when he heard a knock on his door. He stepped out of bed and answered the door to a woman so hidden in shadows that he had no idea who it was. She pushed past him and into the hotel room. He asked, "Who are you?"

She closed the door, and walked around pulling down the shades before she took off her hat and jacket, revealing Greta's face. He pulled her in and hugged her saying, "I've been trying to get to you."

She pulled back a little and put her hand on his mouth to silence him. She whispered, "Don't speak."

He quieted down when she kissed him. He kissed her back.