Sam walked out her office a little tired but it was a good tired. A feeling of accomplishment and embarking on the was so preoccupied that she didn't notice the guy coming toward her and walked right into him. She was startled as she looked up into the face of the man she had loved more than anything once.

"Hi Sam" said Jason.

"Jason, hi how are you?"

"I'm good what are you doing out here? he asked

Sam arched one eyebrow at the question, but thought better about making a big deal out of it.

" I opened my own PI agency and I am on my way home from my first day at work".

"Congratulations!" Sam if you have a moment there is something I want to talk to you, could we sit and talk for a minute?"

Sam contemplated whether she wanted to ruin her day with talk about with what would most assuredly be the not she thought, as one chapter opens, it's time to put another to rest.

"Sure" Sam said a little warily.

They walked for awhile in brief silence, then came upon the docks and sat down upon the bench. Sam thought about the time when she was pregnant and Jason defended her against a woman who belittled her about being pregnant without being married. She remembered when they sat here and he told her he wanted her in his life even if the baby that ended up being his was indeed his. She remembered standing here also while it felt her life was being torn apart by a lie he had willingly told her. She laughed ironically to herself. This is the best place to put to rest this part of my life as any.

"Sam " Jason tapped her shoulder gently trying to get her attention.

"Oh I am sorry" , I was a million miles away. she laughed ruefully.

"Sam I know you must hate me?". Jason asked almost questioningly

Sam held up her hand to stop him before he could say more.

"Jason I don't have it in me to hate you. It is such a wasted emotion. I can't let ANYONE have that much power over me and my life ever again.I can never allow such an emotion to overtake me. Not anymore. I am a stronger person than that. I have more respect for myself".

"It's just that I know I hurt you". I am sorry that I caused you pain.I am sorry that I lied to you. I was wrong and I just needed you to know that.

" Thank you for that Jason". Yes you hurt me, but I have healed from that and my life is more full than it has ever been. I know now that sometimes things happen for a reason. It may be the most painful experience that has ever occurred but it needs to happen.. When I found out about Jake, I waited for you to be honest with me, to tell ME the woman you said you loved the truth. Maybe I should have confronted you, but I made a choice not to. It killed me that you had a part of your life you didn't want to share with me. However more than anything it hurt me. I came to you with everything.I shared my child with you, the good, the bad and the ugly. In the end you wouldn't do that for me.

Sam I was trying to protect your feelings. I knew you would never have my child, how could I tell you another woman was going to?

"Jason how could you NOT?!. That is what people who love each other do. They tell the truth because a lie festers waiting to destroy everything in it's path. YES it would have hurt. However what hurt the most is that for months you had a secret with another woman. You had this expectation of bringing your first child into the world, but with another woman. All those times I was so stupid believing your pain was about your father's death, I had no clue it was anything but that and yes, I felt like such a fool when I recognized I was wrong and very much so.

"There is another thing. About Jake. I never understood even if you were angry at me Sam , how you could come after my child? I loved your child. I loved her as if she were my own. I cared for your brother the way I thought you would. How could you do that to me?

"I honestly don't know Jason. I won't offer any excuses to cover what I did. I was angry, I was in fact enraged and hurt. I wanted you to know how it felt. Both you and Liz. I wanted you both to feel the mind-numbing sadness and despair I felt as I lived with the lie I had heard. I wanted you both to suffer. It may not be pretty, in fact it is ugly as sin, but I still did it. At the time how I accomplished it didn't matter. I am not proud about what I did.I will live with that forever. Not proud about how I allowed all of what happened to take me to a place I never thought I would you threatened my life something died in me. It was every dream I ever held for us snuffed out like a candle.

Sam I didn't....... Jason began shaking his head in the negative.

"Oh !but Jason you DID mean it. I know you did. I even understood somewhat. That day served like no other to wake me up and see what I kept refusing to see. It led me on the path I am on now. I am sorry once again for what I did regarding the kids. I can't take it back. I undertsand if you don't want to forgive me I have no control over that, but I needed to say that to you."

"What do we do now?" Jason asked.

"We say goodbye". Sam whispered. I forgive you for everything that has happened. I wish you well with everything you plan to do with the rest of your life. I carry the good memories of what you brought to my life and I always will. You taught me real love, trust and gave me my first taste of romantic love. I will never forget that. I can never hate you for those reasons, but I know I can't hold on to the past anymore. The hating, regretting and lashing out it is not in me to do anymore. Regarding anyone. That is not the woman I want to be. I am not the woman who loved you anymore. . So I forgive you for the lies, deceit, emotional cheating. All of it. For your sake, but also for MINE..... Goodbye Jason. She stood, took his face in hers and kissed him softly on the lips.

While Sam walked away, she realized something amazing. It doesn't hurt anymore she thought and smiled softly to herself.