Author's Note: Dear reader, I beg of you to remember the old adage: It's always darkest before the dawn. It will make reading this MUCH more bareable! I thank you for your trust and your continued interest in my humble series and other fics!

Story #5: Who Knew?

You took my hand
You showed me how
You promised me you'd be around
Uh huh
That's right
I took your words
And I believed
In everything
You said to me
Yeah huh
That's right

She woke up all alone clutching his pillow as the last of his warmth faded. With so many conflicting emotions swarming her, it was overwhelming. She shifted carefully until she was sitting up in bed with the sheet and his pillow gripped to her chest. The aches and pains of being loved by a man as sexually extreme as Jason Morgan came with repercussions. It was a real head rush to experience the emotional rollercoaster running through her head—the joy of making love with the man she loved, the despair of waking up alone, and everything in between.

If someone said three years from now
You'd be long gone
I'd stand up and punch them out
Cause they're all wrong
I know better
Cause you said forever
And ever
Who knew

Looking around the dank little room, she tried to remember why it had once seemed so special to her. It was a cold, dark, lifeless room. He was the only person who could do this to her. Make her feel special and loved with a look or a touch and leave her feeling dirty and worthless with his absence. She was almost afraid to look for a note. He was in love and engaged and she had messed with that. He was too honest to try to hide that and his fiancé would forgive him and demand those boundaries become even stricter.

Remember when we were such fools
And so convinced and just too cool
Oh no
No, no
I wish I could touch you again
I wish I could still call you friend
I'd give anything

Anyone looking at Carly in those moments of reflection would see a broken version of the woman everyone loved to hate. She had gone too far and now when he mended things with Sam, she would really lose him. Carly was sure she would be blamed. After all, she was a homewrecker and a slut. Sonny would hear about it and probably sue to regain parental rights and custody of Morgan. And without Jason there to stop it, she would lose. But this wasn't her fault, was it? At least not all her fault. She had tried to stop, but when could she ever say no to Jason? And now it would cost her everything.

When someone said count your blessings now
'fore they're long gone
I guess I just didn't know how
I was all wrong
They knew better
Still you said forever
And ever
Who knew

Yeah. Yeah.
I'll keep you locked in my head
Until we meet again
Until we
Until we meet again
And I won't forget you my friend
What happened

As she thought of all of the good times that would forever be in the past now, she started to cry. She sat naked and alone, curled up in a ball as despair threatened to break her all the way down. How could she live without games of pool, slow dances to the jukebox, and heart-to-hearts that proved their bond without words ever being spoken? Who would she be without Jason in her life?

At first, she didn't hear the ringing of her cell phone through the sound of her own crying. Thinking of her kids and afraid to hope it was him, she followed the sound of her phone's ring and reached over the side of the bed for it. It must have fallen there when we…

"Hello?" she chirped trying to swallow her pain and her tears. "Hey, Shawn."

If someone said three years from now
You'd be long gone
I'd stand up and punch them out
Cause they're all wrong and
That last kiss
I'll cherish
Until we meet again
And time makes
It harder.
I wish I could remember.
But I keep
Your memory.
You visit me in my sleep.
My darling
Who knew?

"Yeah, I should be heading that way soon," Carly answered feeling a smile fighting its way free. "See you there." Maybe I won't be completely alone, she thought.

She rubbed a hand over her face and got out of the bed. She looked down and noticed a slip of paper beside the bed: We'll talk later. She stared at the slip of paper until the words blurred. Lifting it to her lips, Carly pressed a gentle kiss on it until she realized she was treating a crumpled piece of paper with a total of three words on it like a Shakespearean sonnet that detailed his eternal love for her. So stupid. Her hand tightened into a fist and she threw it as far away from her as she could. Carly's eyes hardened as she worked to rebuild her resolve not to let him do it again. She ran her hands through the tousled weight of her hair and headed to the bathroom—to wash away his scent and every other reminder of their night together.

My darling, my darling
Who knew
My darling
I miss you
My darling
Who knew
Who knew
~Who Knew, Pink

She wrapped one towel around her snuggly. Then, while running the other towel over her hair, she exited the bathroom. She felt him before she saw him. But when Carly finally looked up, she was as careful to conceal her emotions as he was.

"I'm back," Jason replied stoically watching her for any sign of reaction.

"Yes," she replied simply. "You are."