The gathering around the fire broke up early after Allan's stunt. Jules and Jack went to bed. Craig finished the movie with Marissa and then they too retired early. Carly sat in her room on a chair staring at Allan's as he slept on the bed, trying to remember one good time in the last six years that she could really use to build on and say her marriage wasn't over, that it was worth fighting for, but nothing came to mind. He had stumbled in and laid down barely acknowledging her. He had tried to start a fight about Steve but was too drunk. She let the moment run its course knowing he would be asleep in a matter of minutes. She began to feel trapped in the room, even though he was passed out. It wasn't a physical threat but she felt an emotional one that she just wanted to escape from.

Steve sat on the edge of his bed phone in hand. He stared down at Danny's number, needing that bit of normalcy and reality that was eluding him. He was getting too close to Carly and things were getting out of control in his head. He needed someone to real him back in. He pushed send.

Danny muted the TV, "Hey, it's after one there and you're still up? This isn't a drunk call telling me how much you miss me is it?"

Steve smiled, already feeling the tension ease, "You wish."

"So how's it going?"

Steve sighed heavily into the phone. "It's going."

He sensed it immediately in his voice and clicked the TV off, "Ok, I think I know why you called."

"Yea, why's that?"

"One, you really miss me. Two, you're bored to death and had nothing else to do. Or three, it's about the girl. I'm guessing three."

Steve was silent, resting his head in his hand.

Danny scooted to the end of his chair, "If you called then you must have something to say." He could hear him on the other end and just waited patiently. He knew Steve hated being pushed. It was one o'clock in the morning; he called for a reason.

"I like being around her too much," he finally admitted.

Danny nodded, knowing very well that's what it was. "Then don't be."

"I can't help it."

"Then come home early."

"I can't."

"Yes you can, just change your flight."

"No Danny, you don't get it. I can't. I don't want to leave her again."

"Well then, you have a problem. She hasn't got a divorce since I talked to you two days ago has she?"

Steve sensed the warning in his voice. "No, but her husband's an asshole! You'd hate him more than I do. "He stood up and walked over to the window, looking down on the yard and boat dock.

"Is that the excuse you're giving yourself?"

"I'm not making excuses," he snapped, "I'm just trying to paint you a picture of what's happening."

"I don't need a picture to know that this bothers you only because she's married. Did you call me hoping I'd give you the green light to ease your conscience?"

"My conscience is clear, nothing's happened between us."

Danny laughed, "Yes it has, maybe not physically, but it's happened, otherwise you wouldn't be calling me."

He caught a glimpse of movement on the deck, seeing Carly make her way across the yard to the boat dock. He didn't hear Danny's voice any longer; he was too focused on the angel in the long T-shirt and jacket that appeared from nowhere. She stood on the end of the dock, staring out at the dark water and then climbed on the pontoon boat. He couldn't see her anymore. "I got to go."

"Don't do anything you're going to regret." Danny offered that quick piece of advice before he was cut-off.

Steve heard that loud and clear. "I won't."

"Ah huh, right," he huffed, "You say that now."

Steve walked toward the bedroom door; "I'll talk to you later." He hung up before Danny could get another word in, setting his phone on the dresser.

He made his way quietly out of the house and down the dock. As he got closer he could see her leaning against the ladder that led to the upper deck of the boat.

His first concern was that Allan might have hurt her, either physically or emotionally, they were both going to be upsetting too him. But if he had physically hurt her, 'if she has a mark on her,' he thought rabidly, he'd rip his head off.

The wood dock gave away his presence and she turned around, still holding on to the ladder with one had. She smiled slightly at him as he stepped down into the boat. "Are you ok?" he asked keeping a relatively good distance from her.

She nodded and turned her head, wiping her eyes, trying to hide it from him.

"What are you doing out here all by yourself?"

"I just wanted to be alone," she sighed.

All she had on was a nightshirt that came about mid thigh with a V-neck that showed off her perfect cleavage and a light jacket over it. "Do you want me to go?"

She stared at him for a second before shaking her head, "No."

He thought about Danny's last words as he walked toward her, but before he could contemplate his warning her face came into view as she leaned her head against the ladder looking at him. His heart skipped and then began to race. She looked so completely innocent and beautiful he could hardly breathe. He felt like he did that night standing on her porch sixteen years earlier.

"How did you know I was down here?"

"I was standing at my window and I saw you. It can be slippery down here."

There it was again, that concern for her well-being that touched her in so many ways. She hadn't had that in so long. She reached out and took his hand, "So you came down to check on me."

He only nodded as she squeezed his hand. 'Regret,' he said to himself, 'don't do anything you'll regret.'

She didn't know why at that second, but she started to cry again.

He didn't move toward like he wanted too. He kept his distance feeling his vulnerability around her.

"Always the protector. I know you would do the same for anyone, but it makes me feel special anyway." She looked up at him, "It's nice to feel special sometimes." She put her hand over her mouth, feeling embarrassed, "I'm like a blubbering little girl tonight."

It hurt him that a small gesture like that could make her cry. He could tell she was craving attention and that hurt even more. "You're special all the time. Don't you know that?" He lifted the back of her hand up to his mouth and kissed it. "If you ever need anything Carly, ever, you know you can call me, right? No matter where I am or what's going on in my life," he kissed her hand again, "you know I'll come."

She stared at him, completely taken back by his words, but more so that she knew he meant every word. "You really would, wouldn't you?"

"Of course I would." He removed a piece of hair from her shoulder, hoping that call would come someday.

"I'm so glad you came on this trip. I see so much of my old myself when I'm with you." She smiled up at him through her tears, "You bring out the best part of me."

His expression saddened, "Allan doesn't do that?"

She practically laughed at that statement. "No, I don't think he knows how, or even cares to try."

"You know Carly; marriage shouldn't have to be so hard all the time." He contradicted himself, grinning at her. "Coming from the guy who's never been married."

She smiled, hanging her head down, holding on to the ladder, "Sometimes I feel like, you know, I made my bed. I should try to make it work, but lately," she sighed, "it is getting hard."

"Then change beds." It was as if it spilled out of his mouth before he could stop it. It's what he'd wanted to say all along anyway. He thought about that word again; regret, but he didn't feel any of it.

Carly looked up at him. For just a split second she wondered if he was referring to his bed or not. She didn't have to wonder for long, her answer was staring back at her. It not only showed in the admiring way he looked at her, but also in the way he made her feel about her herself, and the genuine way in which he cared for her. He had done more for her in the last three days than Allan had done in the last six years. His outward appearance was undeniably attractive, borderline hypnotic and she was well aware of both of those qualities, as she stood there alone with him. "I'm married Steve," she reminded him, feeling his words and the moment becoming dangerously close to a place they may not be able to turn back from.

He reached up, pointing at her chest, "Are you married here," he then pointed at her forehead, "or only here?"

She had to think about that question, which in turn answered it for her.

"It's possible to have both Carly."

"From the guy that's never been married," she teased.

"I've just been waiting a long time for the right girl."

"What's she like," she whispered to him, "this girl?"

He had waited sixteen years to be this close to her again. She was asking who as if she didn't know. He didn't tell her it was her he wanted to show her.

Her heart began to race as she gripped the ladder trying to hold herself up. She was the one he'd been waiting for, and he was the one she had let get away. She had been fighting that awareness since that first day, but it was so crystal clear now she couldn't deny it any longer.

He wanted it so bad, it was right there, this beautiful, exotic woman who had captivated his thoughts and fantasies for sixteen years. All he had to do was take it.

"Carly!" They both heard Craig call out from the lawn and turned toward the voice.

Steve backed up getting a glimpse of Allan as he came off the deck.

"Carly!" he called out too, only his voice was raspy and not as eager.

She looked up at him, "I have to go. Stay here," she said almost as if she were begging him not to interfere.

He nodded, telling her he understood but stared down at her, wondering if this opportunity wouldn't surface again for another sixteen years.

She backed away from him, feeling herself being pulled in the opposite direction as they called for her out of concern, but it was difficult to leave him. She was torn and he sensed that, making her choice for her.

"Go," he let go of her hand and backed up into a dark shadow so they wouldn't see him.

He waited until they were inside and the lights were off in her room before making his way back to the house. He wasn't sure he was going to get any sleep that night. He glanced up at her room, wondering if she was lying awake as well. He thought about Allan's hands on her and a wave of anger, mixed with pain shot through him wrapping around his heart and squeezing until he had to put his hand on his chest to rub it away.

He was in trouble. He was in deep, serious trouble because he was in love and she belonged to someone else. He carefully closed the door behind him and went upstairs, not noticing Craig standing in the dark kitchen.

The next day was quiet. The weather turned on them and the low hanging clouds prevented any outside activities. Jules and Carly went shopping in town while the boy's hung out watching TV or reading and surfing the net. Allan spent most of the day upstairs, claiming he had some business calls to make. No one really believed him and no one really cared either.

Steve slept in most of the morning trying to recover from a restless night. He got up and went for a run, again trying to shake off the reason for the restless sleep. As he made his way back up the driveway, Carly and Jules were just leaving.

"Good Morning," Jules waved.

Carly stood by the passenger side door biting her bottom lip at the anticipation of him approaching. "My god!" she thought, "he is so…" she couldn't even justify what she was seeing with the right word, so many were possible. Trickles of sweat ran down the side of his face. His hair was wet from the rain and looked like he had just run his fingers through it, shaping it perfectly. His shirt was soaked and clung to his body, revealing the eight-pack abs and pecks that flexed all on their own. His legs were long and tanned from living in paradise.

He stopped in front of the car and smiled at her, seeing her for the first time that day. He'd just done maybe six miles but felt like he could run another ten just from the energy he got from being this close to her. "Hey."

"Good morning." The second she looked into those blue eyes she felt warm, feeling her face flush.

"Where are you ladies headed?" He put his hands on his hips, taking in a deep breath.

Jules spoke for the both of them. "Shopping in town. Do you want us to bring you back anything?"

He walked by Carly, grinning at her, "Nope, just be safe."

Jules got an irritated look on her face as she got in the car, "Jack told me not to spend too much money. Why can't he ever say something like that?"

Carly didn't reply as she got in, but watched him until he was all the way in the house. It was then that she let out the breath she didn't even realize she had been holding. She smiled and looked over at Jules who was staring at her like she could read her mind.

"Oh my god," she said to Carly.

"What?"

She shook her head and started the car, "You still have a crush on Steve."

Carly tried to laugh her off, "I do not."

"Yes you do," she argued, driving down the driveway and pulling out on to the main road. "Senior year. The New Years Eve party at Jessie Lyles' house."

"What are you talking about?"

"Right after he kissed you at New Years. You had that same look on your face." Jules laughed at the memory of she and Karen watching her, "Karen and I thought you were going to pass out. You just stood there staring at him as he walked off, the same way you just did."

She wanted to tell her about the night before but was afraid she would be angry with her. She had been up most of the night thinking about it and him. She had convinced Allan and Craig that she hadn't felt well and just needed some fresh air. Allan went right back to sleep and she lay there asking herself questions she had been avoiding the last few years. The one that bothered her most was the one that Steve had asked her; was she married to Allan with her heart or just her head? He had rolled over at that second and put his arm over her, something he hadn't done in a long time. It made her sad rather than happy. All it did was complicate things. She didn't want Steve to be the reason she was leaving him, if she did. She had only been re-acquainted with him for four days; she had a life with Allan for almost seven years. What if she jumped out of one marriage and landed in another relationship with someone she really barely knew. But even as she tried to convince herself of that, she knew it was wrong. She knew Steve. In many ways she knew him better than she knew her own husband, and vice versa. Her heart was pulling her toward him, but her loyalty was keeping her at bay with Allan. She started to convince herself that it was this place they were at. It was like an escape from reality and all her problems, and Steve, the gallant knight who shows up with all the qualities she wants. Her heart felt heavy at the thought of that. Something shifted the night before in their relationship. It was undeniable. But what if he was only caught up in the moment, reliving the past? He could have any woman he wanted. Why her, why now? She wasn't sure if he said those things because he was falling love with her, or the idea of her. It was a fine line between the two and she wondered the same thing about herself. How do you know after only four days? She felt something strong for him, there was no doubt about that, but was it reality or fantasy?

"Earth to Carly?" Jules said.

"What? Sorry," she chuckled. "Where should we start?"

"That's what I just asked you."

She smiled over at her friend, wishing she could tell her everything she was feeling, but what would she tell her? That she was thinking of walking out on her husband of six years to be with a man she's only been re-acquainted with for four days? "You're driving, whatever you want."

"Good thing I'm driving," Jules replied, "because you're over there in la la land." She glanced over at her, "There's nothing wrong with having a crush you know. It's perfectly natural, and Steve is defiantly the type of guy to have a crush on."

"You never had a crush on him, " she pointed out. "Did you?"

"No, I was always in love with Jack. Steve is more like my big brother. Karen had a crush on him. Only for about five minutes though."

"She did?" Carly looked at her shocked. "She never told me that."

"Of course not; she knew you liked him so Steve became like a big brother to her too."

It was surreal sometimes talking about Karen. The people in her everyday life never knew her so she kept her only in her thoughts. She very rarely ever got to talk about her. She loved that Jules told her that. Anything new she could learn about her sister was like a gift.

"You know sometimes," Carly began, "I think about how differently my life might have turned out if Karen hadn't died."

Jules parked the car in the mini mall lot and turned in her seat, "How so?" She knew she was talking about Steve but didn't want to open that up unless she did first.

"You know, college, marriage, my job."

"You don't think you would have married Allan?"

Carly stared out the windshield, "I don't know," she turned to her, "maybe I would have already been married if our paths crossed."

Jules smiled, "You mean to a Navy Seal?"
She grinned and shrugged, "I don't know, maybe."

"I think you two would have been good for each other. Like Jack and I."

"You still love Jack just as much as you did in high school, don't you?" Carly asked.

"He's my best friend, my right arm. I don't know what I would do if I ever lost him. It would kill me."

Carly nodded her understanding, but also wanted to cry. She didn't now, nor did she ever remember feeling that way about Allan.

Jules reached out taking her hand; "I want you to know that I think of you as a sister, and that means that I will love you and support you no matter what. But I want to ask you a question and I want you to be honest with yourself."

"Ok," she replied, a little nervous over the nature of the question due to Jules intensity.

"When you picture yourself old and your children grown, sitting on that bench," she squeezed her hand, "who is sitting beside you?"

The first image that popped up in her mind made her cry. She turned toward the passenger window, wiping her fingers under her eyes. "What am I going to do Jules?"

"It was Steve wasn't it?"

"It's all happening so fast. I didn't know this was gong to happen." She turned to her, "I swear Jules I didn't come here to rekindle anything. I don't think he did either."

"I know that Carly. You don't have to convince me."

"I really wanted Allan to see you and Jack together and see how happy you are and how much fun you can have together." She laughed at how ridiculous it sounded now, "I hoped that somehow it would open his eyes to what we needed."

"Has anything happened between you and Steve?"

She looked her directly in the eyes, "No!" she bent her head, "but…"

"But what?" Jules asked.

"Last night we ended up down on the dock together. It was late and we were alone. I'm not sure now if it was even an accident. I think we might have crossed that line if Craig and Allan hadn't come out looking for me."

Jules jaw dropped, "Wow! What happened then?"

"Nothing, they didn't see him. But it was so hard to tear myself away to go to Allan. What am I doing Jules? I think I'm setting myself up for failure."

Jules sat back in her seat, cupping her hands over her mouth. She wanted to hug her and tell her to pack her bags and get on the first flight to Hawaii, but knew that's not what Carly needed. She needed to deal with Allan, no matter how much she wanted her out of that marriage it wasn't her life and it wasn't her place to encourage something so life changing.

"What am I going to do Jules?"

"Ok, first off you need to define your feelings for Steve and for Allan. Is whatever you're feeling for Steve worth changing your life? Or do you love Allan enough to work it out with him?"

"Allan is my husband."

"That's not what I asked you Carly. You have to get off this loyalty struggle you have going. I understand you take your vows seriously and you should, but if that other person doesn't meet you half way, then you can't live your life trying to make them, it will only get worse and worse."

She looked over at her, "I'm not happy with Allan right now."

"Then you need to tell him and you need to let him know what you need. Do you know what that its?"

"Yes," Carly bit her bottom lip as the tears returned, "It's what I have with Steve."

Jules heart went out to her. She looked so torn, "Oh honey." She took both of her hands, "Listen to me. You follow your heart Carly, no matter what your head is telling you, you follow your heart and you'll end up on the right side. I promise."

Steve sat down at the counter bar in the kitchen, drinking from a bottled water, "I was thinking about doing dinner tonight, what do you guys want?"

Jack turned around on the couch, looking at him. "You're going to cook?"

"Yes. I'm a bachelor, I had to learn to cook."

"That's what frightens me," Jack laughed looking over at Craig. "I have a feeling the main course is going to be Mac and Cheese with cut up pieces of hot dog."

"Hot dogs!" Steve protested, "That's disgusting. You have to use sausage, the juice mixes with the cheese and mmm." He put his fingers to his lips and kissed, imitating perfection.

"Or Spam?"

Steve made a face, "Have you ever had Spam? I just can't do it." He looked over at Craig. "What do you want? A nice big steak?"

Craig looked up from his laptop and shrugged, "Whatever man." He closed it a little too hard, picking it up and left the room.

Steve and Jack looked at each other confused.

"What's with him?" Jack asked.

"I don't know. Maybe he and Marissa had a fight."

"Why don't you blow off cooking and we'll go to that bar and grill again. That was pretty good."

Steve nodded, "I like that. I'll pick up the tab." He held his hands out as if mission accomplished, "no shopping, no cooking. I like it!"

They sat at the same table as last time. All pairs this time except for Steve. He sat at the head on the opposite end of Allan and Carly on purpose. He thought it best to avoid Allan and after the previous nights encounter at the dock, he wasn't sure how Carly was feeling about him either. His run in with her and Jules earlier that day had been pleasant but he still felt uneasy about what had almost happened between them. He worried maybe he had damaged their relationship by revealing too much of how he felt. He began to feel guilty for putting her in that position. He wasn't even sure she felt that way about him. Maybe it was all one-sided and she was just unhappy in her marriage and here he came along saying things he should have kept to himself. He glanced down the table at her and right on cue, she did the same. It lasted only seconds, but he thought he saw more sadness in her eyes than anything else. That didn't sit well with him.

Steve stood at the bar, paying the tab as the others left the restaurant. They all waited for him out front before walking back to the house. Carly watched from across the parking lot as the same intoxicated man from the previous visit approached them. He was unsteady on his feet and clearly drunk already.

'Geez,' she thought, 'poor guy needs to lay off.'

As he made his way closer he recognized her too. "Hey! Itsh you again," he slurred.

Carly smiled uneasily as Allan observed from behind her.

"I swears you gets prettier every time I see you."

Carly chuckled at his compliment, remembering he was harmless, "Thank you."

Allan came up and put an arm around her, "Hey, that's my wife."

"Allan," Carly rolled her eyes at his attempt to warn the guy off when he was pretty close to being in the same state. "He's drunk," she whispered.

The man looked confusingly at Allan, "You're not her husband."

"Excuse me," Allan huffed.

Steve came out at that moment and the guy pointed at him, "That's your husband."

Allan turned and Carly could feel the mood change in a split second.

"What!" Allan snapped. He backed away glaring at her, "Why would he think he's your husband?"

Carly tried to calm the situation before it got out of hand, even though her insides were churning the chicken sandwich she just ate. "We were here the other night for dinner and he must have got the wrong impression."

"Seriously Allan," Jack jumped in, "it was nothing. The guy was hitting on Carly and Steve stepped in. The word husband never came up. The guy must have just assumed."

Steve walked up in the middle of the conversation, passing the drunken guy as he headed to the entrance realizing the mistake he had made and not wanting to be involved any further.

"That's exactly what happened," Carly said calmly.

Allan glared at Steve as he came up and then turned and began walking toward home. Carly caught up with him.

Steve held his hands out, "What? Did he not like his steak?"

Jack let out a deep, exhausted breath; patting him on the back, "Don't worry about it. He's being Allan again."

Jack got the group moving to the path that led down by the lake, avoiding the road that Carly and Allan took back. Craig took Marissa's hand and quickly moved ahead of them. Jack, Jules and Steve followed about twenty feet behind.

"You really can't blame him," Craig said out of the blue after five minutes of walking, he turned back to Steve, "Allan had a valid point to be angry."

"Well yea," Jack said, "if there was a point to be made, but there wasn't."

"How do you know?" Craig went on, his voice becoming more vocal.

"Because he was there," Steve jumped in. "and so were you and you saw what happened, nothing."

Craig stopped, "Yea, well I was there last night too." They all stopped as Craig let go of Marissa's hand and walked back to them, "Are you going to tell me nothing happened then either Steve?"

He knew exactly what he was talking about, even though no one else did, or so he thought. He didn't think anyone had seen him come back from the dock, but obviously Craig had. "Yes, I'm going to tell you that nothing happened last night."

"Bullshit!" Craig yelled. "You were out there at one in the morning alone with her and you're going to stand there and tell me you weren't fucking around?"

Jules walked up to Marissa who was staring at the two of them. She took her by the arm and pulled her down the path. "Let's go."

"Wait," she said, wanting to hear the gossip.

Jules pulled her again, "Marissa please!" she said, not wanting her to hear the conversation she knew was going to be the same one Carly had told her earlier that day. It was none of Marissa's business.

Marissa jerked her arm away but followed her anyway, glancing back every few seconds.

Steve kept his cool knowing that Craig was emotional about any subject that involved cheating. He looked right at him, "Yes, I'm telling you again, nothing happened last night." He cursed himself not wanting to lie to him and potentially ruin their friendship. "I'm not going to lie and tell you that I didn't want something to happen though."

"I fucking knew it!" Craig growled.

"This isn't like you and Mary!" Steve defended.

"It's exactly like that!" he pointed a finger accusingly at him, "You're sniffing around a married woman."

"You make it sound like I'm just out to get laid!"

"Isn't that what you were hoping for last night?"

"Fuck you, Craig! It's not my fault Mary left you to hook up with some younger guy from work! What's happening between Carly and I didn't just surface. It's been there for sixteen years. So don't put me in the same category of the chump that fucked your wife!"

"Fuck you Steve!" he lunged at him as Jack jumped between the two of them.

"Knock it off!" He put a hand on both of their chests and pushed them away. "What are you guys doing?" He shoved Steve back, "That was a low blow!" He turned to Craig, "You know their history as well as I do, and you also know Carly's. How can you stand there, seeing how Carly's been since Steve got here and knowing what we do about her pregnancy and still say she's better off with Allan?"

Steve looked back and forth between the two of them "Her pregnancy? What happened with her pregnancy?"

Craig's expression became pained rather than angry. He looked back at Jack as if contemplating whether or not they should tell him.

"Tell me!" he said, shoving Jack on the arm.

"Carly didn't actually have a miscarriage naturally."

He felt a shiver run down his back, "What do you mean?" he looked over at Craig, forgetting the confrontation. His concern turned to Carly.

"Allan accidentally," Craig sighed heavily, "so he says. He accidentally gave her a drug that he thought was an aspirin. It caused her to miscarriage."

Steve felt like he'd been punched in the gut. His expression mirrored the pain.

"Yea," Jack sighed, "I know. Jules doesn't know about this. We promised Carly we wouldn't tell her."

"How did you find out? Did anyone investigate it? That could have been attempted murder!"

"The ER doctor reported it as an overdose. The authorities investigated but nothing ever went to trial."

"How did you two find out?"

"I did," Craig said, "Allan hired a lawyer from the same firm that I use. I ran into him there. I called Jack and told him and we both decided to confront Carly on it. We were worried about her. She had told Jules that she had a miscarriage and then begged us not to tell her."

Steve shook his head in disbelief over what he was hearing, "What did Carly say about it?"

Jack shrugged, "She said it was an accident and that Allan was sick with grief over it." He looked over at Craig and both of their expressions showed doubt.

"What?" Steve said. "You don't believe her?"

"No," Craig said, "we believe her, we just don't believe Allan. When I saw him at the lawyer's office," he shook his head, "he didn't seem all that broken up over it. He explained it too me as if he was talking about some one else completely indifferent."

"Damn it Craig," Steve said bitterly, "why didn't you tell me this when you were with me in Hawaii?" He looked over at Jack, "Either one of you. I'm a police officer for Christ sake!"

"It happened six years ago Steve." Jack explained, "You were in the Seals at the time. Carly didn't want anyone to know anyway. Like I said it never went to trial and they never pressed charges. So the law believed him too. I don't know, maybe it was a legitimate accident. That was just our theory."

Steve closed his eyes shaking his head in disbelief, "I don't get it. Why does she stay? Why did she ever marry him in the first place? He is so wrong for her."

"She was pregnant," Jack reminded him, "You know Carly, she's loyal."

"Ever since Allan got here, she's become this…other person," Steve said still shaking his head.

Jack and Craig exchanged glances.

"Damn it you guys, will you knock that shit off or tell me what you're thinking."

"You've been away for sixteen years," Jack reminded him, "you don't know Carly like we do."

"What do mean?"

"Karen's death took a serious toll on her. It changed who she was. The person who has you baffled right now, that's Carly."

Steve chuckled like he was crazy, "What are you talking about? That's not Carly from the first couple of days before Allan got here. That's Carly!"

Craig stepped forward, "That's what we're trying to tell you. That Carly that you were with for the first three days, we haven't seen that side of her for sixteen years."

"What?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Jack shrugged, "I think it was because you're here. You two fell right into step from where you left off. It was really good to see her having that much fun." Jack spoke to Craig but pointed at Steve, "It's because of him and you know it. You can't tell me he's not good for her."

Craig hesitated but knew he was right. Carly was like her old self around Steve, no one had been able to accomplish that for sixteen years and all he had to do was just show up. He nodded in agreement, "You're right." He turned to Steve, "And you're right too, this isn't like Mary. I'm sorry man."

Steve shook it off, "I owe you an apology. I shouldn't have said what I did. I was just pissed off."

Jack put a hand on each of their backs, "Ok, why don't you two just kiss and make up. C'mon, give each other a smooch."

Steve laughed, "You'd like to see that wouldn't you Jack?"

Craig joined in, "Yea, would that do something for ya buddy, because I'm seeing a whole new side of you."

Jack backed away from them with an annoyed look on his face, "Bite me!"

"Bite you?" Steve teased, "Wow, now it's getting a little kinky."

Craig burst out laughing as Jack walked away, holding his middle finger up over his head at them.

"Allan wait," Carly said, trying to catch up with him.

"What for? I don't even know why you had me come on this trip."

"Because you're my husband and I wanted you here." She ran and stood in front of him. "I was hoping that it might bring us closer together. It's no secret Allan that things haven't been going well for us."

"You mean for you," he snapped. "I don't know what you want from me Carly?"

"I want you to hear me when I tell you I'm not happy."

He rolled his eyes, "No wait, don't tell me, a baby would cure all your sadness, right?"

His reply couldn't have been more condescending and right. She did want a baby, but as she looked at him she wasn't sure if it was her conversation with Steve the night before or the one with Jules, but she didn't want one with him anymore. His attitude toward it now gave her an image of her pregnancy and life after. He would be no more supportive then than he was at this moment. It was as if a light came on illuminating the darkness she had been living in for sixteen years. She let herself fall into this place and become this person that she didn't even recognize. She didn't even know how bad it had become until she was able to step back and be around people who let her be that person again. One in particular who seemed to know just how to make her laugh and feel good about herself with little effort. She wanted to feel that way all the time and knew she wouldn't find that happiness with the man standing in front of her.

"No Allan, a baby won't cure it. I used to think it's what I needed to be happy. What we needed to fill the gap in our marriage, but I realize now it's not a baby."

"Then what?" he practically yelled, "What is it that you want?"
"I want to be happy Allan! I want to laugh! I want you to look at me the same way that Jack looks at Jules!"

He moved closer to her, "Or the way that Steve looks at you? That's what you mean isn't it?"

"That would make it easy for you wouldn't it? Put the blame on someone else."

"I don't hear you denying it."

"You know what Allan," she glared back at him refusing to back down like she always had before, "I do like the way he looks at me, but not for the reasons you would like to think. He's been out of my life for sixteen years, yet he knows me better than you do. That's what I need." She went to move past him when he grabbed her by the arm.

"What's gotten in to you? Ever since I got here you've either been acting like a complete bitch or avoiding me all together. Maybe I'll just go home," he warned.

"Then go! I'm tired of trying to cater to your needs when you don't give a shit about mine!"

He gripped her tighter, jerking her arm, "You'd like for me to leave wouldn't you? That would give you and Steve ample opportunity."

She narrowed her eyes at him, "You don't get it Allan. I don't have to have a physical relationship with Steve for him to make me feel better about myself, unlike you, he genuinely cares about me and wants me to be happy." She tried to pull her arm away.

"Don't push me Carly."

"Let go of me!" She pulled away at the same time he released her.

"We're going home tomorrow!" he announced.

She walked backwards away from him, "You can go if you want. I'm staying the whole two weeks."

"If I'm leaving, you're coming with me!" he ordered.

She shook her head, "No Allan, I'm not. I'm staying right here." She turned and walked ahead of him. She could hear him behind her, following. She didn't have to see him to know he was fuming, but she didn't care. A smile slowly emerged on her face, feeling triumphant. She really couldn't care less if he stayed or not. She wanted to enjoy herself and refused from that moment on to make any more excuses for him. He was on his own.