Alexis buckled her seatbelt, smiling coyly," you realize we haven't been on a trip together since AJ and Courtney's wedding?"

Grimacing, Sonny moved to sit next to her, " You had to remind me?"

Alexis smiled sympathetically and patted his arm, " you have to admit he seems to be trying, and if I'm not mistaken… and I rarely am, I think he really does care for her."

"Until he screws it up, and we both know he will." Sonny replied, taking her hand in his, " and with Carly in the picture that should be sooner rather than later."

"I was so sure she'd back down."

"I always knew there was that side to Carly, I just never thought she'd use it against me," Sonny said even temperedly, " when she gets scared, she just reacts on instinct."

"And to think a few short months ago, she was where I am now."

Sonny lowered his head and cast his eyes on hers, " I never forgot."

"I know that now."

"You know…the day Jason told me he'd come across your pregnancy results… I was scared, not because I didn't want our child, that never even crossed my mind… but I knew to keep our child safe, I'd be losing you both, and the only thing that kept me from breaking down completely was knowing you'd both be alive and that made it worth the sacrifice."

Alexis looked away, she reluctantly looked at him, " I never wanted to keep her from you… I just…I just couldn't lose…"

"I know Alexis, I know it's okay." Sonny said reassuringly.

"There were so many times I imagined telling you… then I wrote you that letter."

"What letter, you wrote me a letter?"

"You never got a chance to see it because I threw them into the fireplace… that's where Kristina found them…" Alexis faltered, and then continued, " that's why she was at the warehouse, she was going there to confront you."

"Hey, Hey, Hey, it's okay," Sonny said softly gathering her into his arms, " What's making you think about all this?"

Alexis pulled back searching his eyes, " Sonny promise me one thing, okay?"

He smiled down at her, " Anything, Alexis."

"No more secrets."

Looking Through the Past

Jake stared out the small picture window about his kitchen sink, his eyes transfixed on the afternoon sun reflecting off the blue waters of the Port Charles river, never in his life would be have chosen to come back to this place, but here he was carrying secrets, secrets that had haunted him like a very bad dream he was unable to wake from.

"If you stay you'll destroy her."

"I can't say goodbye… not again."

"Are you that selfish? You aren't the man she speaks of then."

"She'll be alone!"

"She'll be another casualty if you stay."

Jake's eyes reflected with grief, he shook his head trying to erase the memories bombarding him.

"I never knew I'd feel like this."

"How do you feel?"

"I feel… love."

Jake had held back the joyous laughter then, but now he held back the silent tears, the memory of her rosy cheeks flushing with embarrassment, the way her voice had trembled, and her dark eyes haunted with both beauty and desperation, he recalled how'd she'd gasped as his finger had hooked under her chin.

"Don't look anywhere but here," He'd said, pointing to his own eyes.

"I feel so… so…silly."

"There's nothing to feel silly about… you just told me how you felt about me… and honey just so you know, I love you too."

Jake smiled bitter-sweetly, flicking a tear away, he recalled that last night they'd spent together, the way they'd held onto one another, and how he'd left her that night, sleeping contently, only to realize the grief he'd caused her in the morning.

Luke woke to confusion and a raging headache; the smell of coffee caused his stomach to roll and his head to pound. Last-night had marked and all-time low in his miserable life and he'd had plenty of them to know… vision blurred, he tried focusing in on his surroundings, across from him sat black leather couch, cardboard boxes lay stacked throughout the room, wherever he was, it was either moving in or moving out day. Reaching back into his memory, he started to remember the events that had led him here.

"Hey Pal, did you see the sign, we're closed… Well, Son of a Gun!" Jake had pulled Luke into the bar, " How the heck are you?"

"I'll tell you how I am!"

What happened next caused Luke to grab his head in regret, he'd swung out and clocked Jake.

Jake entered the dining room, glancing over Luke's way, " Lunch's ready."

Narrowing his eyes, Luke asked suspiciously, " did I or didn't I try to rearrange your face last-night?"

"You did."

"And your serving me Lunch…. You sure there isn't cyanide in that egg salad?"

Jake chuckled, " you never liked my profile anyway, something's never change… now get over here before I eat your lunch."

"Still the mother hen."

"With friends like you and Mikey can you blame me?"

Raking a hand through his mussed hair, Luke stumbled over to the dining room table and sat down, " where've you been the last twenty years… polishing your nails?"

"Unlike you, I've been trying to stay out of trouble."

Luke accepted the cup of coffee Jake offered him, " You just might wish you'd stayed where you were, before getting tangled in Corinthos' web."

"Look at what I would've missed," Jake grinned, pointing to his bruised chin.

Luke sobered, "I'm dead serious O'Brien, it's not good."

"I'm aware of the problems, they're being remedied."

"You see him yet?"

"We haven't met face to face, just a few brief conversations over the phone."

"And buying Jake's, what's that… just a front?"

"I like to think of it as a sound investment."

"Sure." Luke replied, taking a swig of his coffee.

Jake grinned and slid a plate across the table to Luke, " you were pretty out of it last-night."

"Yeah, well… after a few drinks, I'm a regular Joe Kidd." Luke said dryly.

"It wasn't more than that? You mentioned Laura's name more than once… you want to talk about it?"

"I lost her that's all… my angel is gone, all I ever wanted to do was protect her from the past, only I caused her the worst of it."

"How's that?"

"I helped her remember."

Apartment Bound

Brenda smiled groggily turning to glance at the clock, rolling back over she began to go back to sleep, only to spring out of bed in the next instant, she'd called Jax on her way home and asked to meet him at Kelly's at two…she had less than twenty minutes to get ready.

Running from the bedroom to the kitchen, she was headed back to the bedroom when she stubbed her toe on the coffee table, cursing she fell back on the couch, only to scream when the seat moved below her.

"What are you trying to do kill me?"

"What the…Oh, you!" Brenda shouted, " I forgot you were here."

"Obviously, " Jason said groggily giving her the once over, " you ever heard of a robe?"

"Have you ever heard of manners…oops, forgot that part of your memory was destroyed when you met Carly. " Brenda shot back, running back to the bedroom, only to reappear in a short kimono robe.

"Don't start okay,"Jason, said, rubbing his head, " what's got you in such a hurry?"

"I'm having lunch with Jax, remember?"

"Yeah, that was right after you told me you needed me to stay in Port Charles."

Brenda grimaced, " Don't flatter yourself Morgan."

"You said it I didn't," Jason, replied, " I'm still waiting for the punch-line."

Jason watched Brenda carefully, as she nervously tugged at her robe, which left a lasting impression on his imagination, she was beautiful there was no getting past that, the silk pressed across her soft taut skin, her legs peeking out from underneath the robe as she stood legs apart, arms crossed in defensiveness.

Brenda was a combination of woman and child, she strove to be the epitome of confidence around him, he'd only seen the cracks of her reserve when it had come to losing Sonny. Jason found himself wondering what their relationship had been like before his accident, and it bothered him for caring.

"So why the big secret? Are you going to tell me or should I take a wild guess?"

"Get your mind out of the gutter." Brenda said, tapping her foot on the ground.

Jason shook his head," I figure you're in some kind of trouble and you need me to bail you out before Sonny and Jax find out."

"UGH!" Brenda threw up her hands, " why is it you think every woman is patterned after you beloved Carly? That we're incapable of taking care of ourselves… I'm here to tell you Jason, I'm not Carly, nor will I ever be!" Storming across the room, she opened the drawer and pulled out an envelope, slamming it shut she walked up to him and pointed a finger at him, " And another thing…"

Jason stopped her abruptly by getting up off the couch, he put his hands up in protest, "Then what is it Brenda, we don't like each other, so why the hell do I need to stick around Port Charles."

"Simple…I need your Money."

Harrison Manor

Emily shut the bedroom door tightly behind her, in a few hours her family would be aware of her deception, she only hoped they'd find it in their hearts to forgive her once the truth was out.

Skye's arrival had acted as a welcome distraction, with her parent's suspicions arisen by her sister's motives, it had acted as a buffer to her parent's incessant questioning.

Stepping away from the door, Emily walked toward the gown that hung off the door, floor length and glamorous, she smiled in spite of the protests she'd made before purchasing it, she's never worn such a dress before, as she fingered the material, she thought of her parent's and how they'd innocently come to celebrate this night with her. Emily vowed that nothing would get in the way of their celebration tonight, even though she felt a foreboding sense of dread.

The tap at the door, brought Emily to her senses, planting a smile on her face, she called out, " Come in."

Skye entered the room cautiously, her eyes bouncing around the room, looking for any signs that would signify Emily's unhappiness, " I thought I'd come up and see if you needed anything."

"I'm fine… but what about you Skye?" Emily asked sympathetically, "Father told me about Jax, I'm very sorry."

Skye looked away uncomfortably and then waved a hand in dismissal, " It wasn't meant to be that's all."

"You seemed so perfect for each other."

"Perfection is overrated… word of advice, if it looks to perfect that's the warning bell, that something's wrong in paradise."

Emily gave a small smile and turned away, leaving Skye with an open invitation to butt in.

"Take you and Daniel for instance… your relationship should be ripe with conflict."

Emily swung around, "Why… why would you say something like that?

"The age difference alone would be controversial," Skye replied innocently, smoothing her skirt.

Emily shook her head, " you sound like Grandfather."

"He's not always wrong."

"Wow, things really have changed… I thought you of all people would support my decision."

Skye softened her voice, but not her inquisition, " You have to admit it's a big leap for many of us to believe you went from loving Zander, to falling for someone like Daniel…their personalities alone are worlds apart."

"I'm aware of that, " Emily retorted defensively," Maybe, I decided I needed someone who was… who…"

"Who's safe?" Skye interjected, "who isn't a hot head, who respects his elders, and minds his P's and Q's?"

Emily was aggravated, storming across the room, she wanted this conversation to stop, "Can't you see that I'm happy?"

"Em"

Emily shook her head, " Because Mom and Dad do… Daniel gives me that… and yeah, maybe part of that is because he's not impulsive, he thinks before he reacts, and he wants what's best for me."

Skye sat on the edge of the bed, " Zander lacked a few of those traits for sure… but he wanted the best for you… he always did."

"What are you gaining by dredging up my relationship with Zander… and how can you sit there and defend him after what he did to AJ…our own brother!"

"I'm not defending him… I'm just trying to point out the differences in the two of them."

"Well, don't okay?"

"Em, why didn't you share the news with the entire family?"

"I didn't want to put Daniel through the families inquisition, case in point." Emily said, pointing at Skye.

"See right there that tell me something's wrong, because the Emily I know and love would be up for the challenge, she'd fight the family tooth and nail for a person she cared about."

"When are you going to get it Skye… that Emily Quartermaine doesn't exist anymore, " Emily said matter-of-factly, " Zander saw to that when he forced me out of his life… I could fight for him, but when it came down to it, he couldn't fight for us."

Skye stood up shocked, " that's how you see it?"

Emily turned and looked at her dress, " do you know how many nights I laid awake crying, waiting for the day Zander would come rescue me… when he didn't I just gave up… I'm sure Mom and Dad didn't share that with the rest of the family, but it's true… for months after, I let my grades slip and my rehabilitation was non-existent, and then one day AJ called, maybe he called out of brotherly concern…maybe not, but he told me what Zander had done… Ned confirmed it and then I became angry, why was I mourning a man who cared so little about me… about himself?

So I started to fight, fight the feelings of loss, fight the memories and I did it… I began to focus on healing my myself both physically and mentally… and then I met Daniel."

"In Arizona?"

"Yes… we met in a library if that's your next question."

"Does he know about Zander?"

"Gosh, you just don't let up do you? Yes to answer your question, he does and he doesn't care about my past, he cares about me."

"Do you love him?"

"What have I been talking about for the last twenty minutes? You know Skye I don't need this, you come here saying you're here to support me, but I'm beginning to wonder if Mother was right… maybe you don't want me to be happy."

"Em…that's not true… I'm only asking because I care."

"Well, then care enough to leave it alone… my future is with Daniel." Emily said forcefully, storming into the master bathroom and shutting the door soundly behind her."

"That's what you think little sister."