Alexis maneuvered Sonny into the library and shut the doors, "I know your upset, but now is not the time to pick a fight with Skye."

"The woman is going after Zander, I won't let that happen… he's been through enough."

Her eyes softened, " this has nothing to do with Skye, as much as it does that you feel guilty for what happened in the past."

"I've made some bad choices Alexis, and he's suffered the brunt of it… I don't want to see him hurt again, and if I can help stop it I will."

Alexis stared at the man before her, the regret registered in his dark eyes, her heart expanded, when she said nothing he gave her a peculiar look, " what's going on up there in that head of yours?"

"You sound just like Ricky Ricardo."

Sonny shook his head," what's up Alexis?"

"You… us… this, " Alexis held up her hands, " I feel like at any moment I'm going to wake up from a dream… don't you see it?"

"What am I supposed to be seeing?"

"We've become domesticated!" Alexis exclaimed.

Sonny grinned at the panicked look on her face, "And this is bad?"

"Well, it's certainly not good… I'm waiting for the bottom to fall out."

Sonny wrapped his arm around her waist, " with our guardian angel looking out for us, how can that happen?"

Alexis smiled as Sonny leaned in for kiss only to be struck in the stomach, " hey little one, feeling left out?" Placing a hand on Alexis belly, he grinned when she kicked again, " I think she's going to be strong like her Mama."

"I think she's going to be beautiful like you."

Skye shut the door to her hotel room, threw her keys on the dresser, kicked off her shoes, and sat down on the bed and proceeded to cry.

Once again she'd managed to bungle up someone's life, and this time it had been done with the best of intentions… Sonny's accusations cut to the quick, not that he'd distrusted her, but that everyone else had once again thought the worst of her.

The hotel phone ringing jarred her from her thoughts, glancing toward it she ignored it and eventually it stopped it's clanging, approaching the bathroom; she stopped when it began to ring again.

"Hello?"

"Skye?"

Skye took the receiver away from her ear and then brought it back, "Who is this?"

"Jake O'Brien."

"I don't take kindly to be checked up on Mr. O'Brien, especially from known felons."

"I've never served a day in prison." Jake said, "Besides I wasn't calling to check up on you, I wanted to know how the boy was."

Skye paused, "Well, you'll have to ask him, I haven't seen him."

"But you know where he's at."

"Yes, Yes I do know… and if you start throwing accusations so help me…"

"You sound upset, something happen?"

"Mr. O'Brien, may I remind you that you've been in Port Charles for less than a month."

"That's right, what of it?"

"Well, it's rather odd that you come blowing into town with who knows what kind of agenda and you've repeatedly tried to get into my good graces… and why is that? Is it to satisfy Sonny's inane attempts at revenge?"

"I thought it was called trying to make a friend."

"You expect me to be your friend, when you work for a man like Sonny Corinthos?" Skye asked appalled, " I won't nor will I ever be your friend Mr. O'Brien."

"Is that all?"

"No!" Skye shouted, " I'm tired of being treated like a walking piranha! I want you to tell Sonny that if he wants a fight he'll get one!"

"What does Sonny have to do with my checking up on Zander Smith?"

Skye rolled her eyes, " Oh come now, you didn't think I wouldn't find out that you work for the kingpin of the Eastern Seaboard?"

" I don't work for him."

"Oh pardon me, you work with him… I don't even know why I continue to talk to you."

"Because you've been hurt, and you need someone to listen."

"I am no such thing and if I was, you'd be the last person I'd talk too!"

"Well before you hang up on me, can you at least tell me hows the kid's doing, is he okay?"

Skye sank down on the bed defeated, " he won't be… and that's because of me… it's my fault, there you go just what you wanted to hear!"

"Quit feeling sorry for yourself for one minute and tell me what happened."

Skye jumped off the bed, " if you think I'm going to listen to your insults, you've got another thing coming!"

"You got someone else in mind?"

Skye knew what he was referring too, she sat back down, " I don't trust you O'Brien."

"Feeling mutual, now you wanna talk?"

Skye looked around the room, her eyes still puffy from crying, "Well, it starts like this…"

Ned slid out of bed, pulling on his shirt and pants and looked down at Carly's sleeping form, even in REM she looked vindictive, exiting the bedroom, he stepped into the living room, and sat down at the piano, tinkling the keys he reflected back to the times he'd spend with Kristina in this very room, making love, laughing, arguing, just being together.

"Your lost Ned."

Ned looked around the room, shaking his head to clear the cobwebs of his mind, getting up he reached into the drawer and pulled out a framed picture.

"You don't want to do this."

Ned took the picture and sank down onto the couch, " you were such a good person."

"So are you."

Ned gripped the frame, "why'd I do it… why did I hurt you like that?"

"Because you loved her too."

Ned jumped off the couch, " what's happening, why can't I get your voice out of my head."

"You need me."

Ned angrily looked down at the picture, " I don't need you, and I certainly don't need love…"

Dropping the picture into the wastebasket, he left the room, the only remnants of the past broken in two.

They stood face to face, but a world apart, he was the first to step forward, but she edged back.

Zander halted and stepped back, the last thing he wanted was to scare her, he nervously held out a package, "I got you this."

Emily accepted the brown paper bag, and peeked inside, she smiled, " Pixie sticks."

"I…I remembered how much you like them."

Emily nodded, still not able to look up, " how've you been?"

That was a loaded question, one that Zander didn't know how to respond too, " Okay, I guess… and you?"

Emily folded the package and walked over to the patio table, "this is awkward."

Zander sighed, "No doubt about that."

Emily glanced his way and smiled softly, " you haven't changed," she saw his eyes light up, "still the rebel."

Zander looked away obviously hurt, clearing his throat he motioned toward her, "you on the other hand, you've grown up… you look beautiful Em."

"Thank you."

Zander remained silent, and then blurted out, "how exactly are we supposed to do this?"

Emily placed the package on the table and gripped the sides for strength, " you came here to say something Zander… so say it?"

Empty spaces fill me up with holes
Distant faces with no place left to go
Without you within me I can't find no rest
Where I'm going is anybody's guess

Zander approached her, "Can't you even look at me?"

Emily walked away before he could touch her, " what do you want from me Zander, I'm here and I'm willing to hear what you have to say."

I've tried to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I'm going to be is incomplete

"I came her tonight to ask for a second chance."

Emily hesitated," I can't" turning away she jumped when he turned her to face him.

"Even though I still love you… more than I ever did."

Emily lowered her eyes, " Please Zander… don't do this."

""We could start fresh, I'm even thinking of going back to school… we could live here if you wanted…"

"Zander please…"

"We could get married, I'd do anything for you Em…"

"I can't marry you Zander."

"We could get a house by the ocean, I'd get two, three jobs if I had too… anything to make you happy."

"I married him Zander."

Zander shook his head, " What ever you want Em… just tell me…"

"Did you hear me Zander?"

"NO!" Zander shouted, then quieted," it's not true… Skye said you just got engaged…that's what this party was about."

Emily turned away; only to have Zander turn her back, " tell me your lying… that you didn't marry him."

"We were married a month ago," Emily, whispered gently, " I thought the party would lessen the blow, when the truth came out."

Voices tell me I should carry on
But I am swimming in an ocean all alone
Baby, my baby
It's written on your face
You still wonder if we made a big mistake

Zander touched his forehead and then pointed at her, " this isn't making sense Emily… what are you hiding?"

"Why does it always come to this?" Emily asked, " we're married Zander, it's time to let go."

"Your lying… your pushing me away for a reason… just tell me!"

Emily began to cry, " don't make me say it… don't make me hurt you anymore than I already have."

Zander reached out for her again, but she pulled away, he looked down at his empty hands.

I've tried to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I'm going to be is incomplete

"This is what I have without you Em… nothing, please don't do this."

Emily wiped away the tears and took a breath, " This is goodbye."

Voices tell me I should carry on
But I am swimming in an ocean all alone
Baby, my baby
It's written on your face
You still wonder if we made a big mistake

"You still love me I know you do!" Zander pleaded, " You said you'd love me forever!"

Emily shook her head and turned so her back was facing him, " we were kids and it was beautiful while it lasted… but I grew up and I found a future with someone else why can't you accept that?"

"Because you never said goodbye!"

Emily turned toward him," how can you say goodbye to someone that never existed."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You weren't the person I thought you were."

I don't mean to drag it on, but I can't seem to let you go
I don't wanna make you face this world alone
I wanna let you go (alone)

"I'm exactly who I've always been!" Zander said defensively, " did you ever think to call and ask me Emily…no you chose to believe what they told you without hearing me out!"

"Because I already knew the truth… I knew it was true, you idolized Sonny and no matter if you meant it or not, not matter how guilty you felt, you still went through with it and for that I couldn't forgive you!"

"And now?"

"Nothings changed, your still the same person."

"Did you ever once think to ask Em… what my life was like without you? Don't stand there judging me like the rest of your family… you used to believe in me."

"That was before you sold out to become one of Sonny's enforcers Zander, there was so much more to you than that… I thought you wanted to change, but I was wrong."

Zander fought the tears, " You know I never thought I'd see the day that you'd turn against me… that you'd hate me, but here it is and I'm still having through processing it."

Emily was fighting her own tears, " It's not about hate Zander, it's about choices, " she felt her heart breaking as she continued, " I had to choose what was best for me and this is it."

Zander nodded, "I can see that now… I would've never been able to give you this life, " he remained silent for a moment, with tears in his eyes, his mouth began to tremble, " I'm glad you found somebody that could."

"Money has nothing to do with this Zander… this is about normalcy… I need a normal life, a life without gunfire, bar-fight's and a life without looking over my shoulder."

"Yeah, yeah I get it you don't have to say anymore, " Zander was overcome with grief, reaching into his pocket he retrieved a small packed, extending his hand, he was barely able to look at her," consider it a wedding present."

Emily hesitated before accepting the package, her hand momentarily touched his, their eyes interlocked, and then he pulled it away, " have a good life Emily…that's all I ever wanted for you."

I've tried to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I'm going to be is incomplete

With that she was alone in the garden, untying the string the paper fell to the ground, and she caught her breath, with trembling hands she opened the lid of the jewelry box and began to cry all over again.

(The Song is: Incomplete, by the BackStreet Boys)