Ok everyone here is another chapter for you. LOL! Thanks again for all the great response to this story. I've got a final due Monday and my Mom-in-law broke 2 ribs this morning so I will be a little busy the next couple of days. I'll try to post again as soon as I can. Hope you enjoy. EM

Chapter 15

Jason and Sam stayed another hour after dinner before heading to the guesthouse. Emily had taken the boys up right after deciding to call it an early night herself; leaving Sonny alone to make some business calls and go over paperwork. It was late when he finally did decide to go up. He stopped to check on the boys before heading down to his room. He passed the guestroom where Emily was sleeping and stopped. It took everything he had not to open the door and look in on her, his hand hesitating on the doorknob. Sonny let his hand drop and was about to move on but was stopped by the faint sound of sobbing coming from within. Afraid that she was having a bad dream he opened the door. It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, the only light coming from outside, before noticing her silhouette sitting curled on the ledge up against the bay window.

Sonny didn't want to startle her. "Emily?" He walked closer not sure if she had heard him the first time. "Em?"

She sniffed. "It's really over."

"What is Emily?" He knelt beside her and touched her shoulder. "You're freezing. You need to come away from this window. How long have you been sitting here?"

"Alexis sent me this." She said holding up a piece of paper for him to see. "She filed our divorce papers."

He didn't know what else to say. "I'm sorry."

She kept looking out the window.

Sonny knew she wasn't going to budge so he decided to do something else. He lit a couple of candles picked up the thick throw at the bottom of her bed and slid in behind her wrapping it around her shoulders. She allowed him to pull her back against him.

"You know it's ok to feel like this. You and Nikolas had a lot of history between you."

Emily wiped her eyes. "You know I promised myself that I wouldn't act like this. After all we tried for so long to make it work and I couldn't get over the rape. I was a fool to expect Nikolas to stay after what had happened and by the time I had finally decided on counseling he couldn't handle it. He deserves to be happy."

He used his fingertips to turn her face to look at him. "What about you? What about what you deserve Emily? I'm sorry but I don't see this as your fault. You put yourself out there for your husband. True what happened shouldn't have happened and if it's anybody's fault it's Luke Spencer's for coming up with the stupid idea anyway to use you as bait to catch Helena. You were willing to sacrifice yourself for him and if he couldn't see that then it's his loss not yours." He ran his hand through her hair and along the right side of her face. "Promise me that you will stop blaming yourself for this. You've paid the price long enough. Now it's time to just let it go."

She stood up and turned to face him. "I want to. I'm so tired of holding it all in but I'm afraid Sonny. I'm afraid that if I finally let it all out I won't know how to handle it. Sometimes I am so angry that I want to lash out and when I want to cry I'm afraid I won't stop."

He went to stand in front of her and put is hands on her shoulders. "You don't have to be afraid anymore. Every emotion you're feeling right now is natural."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Hit me Emily."

"What?"

"I said hit me." He put his fingers to his chest and pointed to himself. "Just think of me as whatever it is you want to let have it and go for it."

She shook her head. "I don't want to hit you. I…"

"Come on Emily. Let me have it."

She hit him lightly with her fist and tried to laugh. "You are so crazy."

But Sonny remained focused. "Is that all you got? Jason taught you how to play checkers but he didn't teach you how to fight?"

"You'd be surprised at what I can do."

"Show me."

Emily hit him harder. "There. Is that what you wanted." She hit him with the other fist. "Or what about this." Before she knew it she was letting him have it full force as Sonny stood there and took it all till finally her anger turned to tears and she started to collapsed against him.

Sonny held her to tightly to him. "That's it. Let it go." He didn't know exactly how long they stood there he didn't care he just wanted to be there for her.

She looked up at him. "You must think I'm an idiot."

Sonny took her face in his hands. "No," he shook his head, "never. You are one of the smartest, strongest women I know. You're a survivor Emily. You follow your heart and you put yourself out there for everybody else and you never expect any of us to do the same for you. You don't deserve to short change yourself."

She smiled and lowered her head in embarrassment. "Thanks. It did feel good to ummm…."

He lowered his head to look at her and finish her sentence. "to hit me.."

"Yeah."

"Well let's keep that between us ok. I have a reputation to protect you know and besides that it's a good thing you're a doctor because I don't want to have to explain all those bruises to just anybody. You do throw a mean punch."

"Oh Sonny I didn't think. Did I hurt you?"

"I'm kidding Em. I just want you to be ok. You should probably get some sleep, the rest will do you good."

She nodded in agreement. "You're right. I've kept you long enough as is."

"No. I'll always be here for you. Come on let's get you tucked in."

Emily laughed as she walked over to get in the bed. "I'm not one of your kids Sonny. I think I can manage this."

He helped pull the covers over her. "No but you're just as important." Sonny bent down to kiss her forehead. "Sweet dreams Em."

She didn't know what to say. His actions were so gentle it left her speechless. He was at the door before she called out to him. "Sonny?"

"Same to you…sweet dreams I mean."

He nodded back at her before leaving the room. "Goodnight."

"Nite."