Sonny opened his eyes and smiled as he saw Karen curled up in his arms. He gently brushed her hair away from her angelic face and lightly kissed her forehead.
“Mm, good morning,” Karen said opening her eyes, “How did we end up here?”
“Together, or in the bedroom?”
“Both,” Karen replied cuddling up close to Sonny.
“Well, you just couldn’t resist my alluring charm any longer, so I let you have your way with me,” Sonny laughed as Karen playfully hit him, “As for getting to the bedroom, your guess is as good as mine!”
“So, I take it this means we’ve built more then a friendship, huh? Not that I’m complaining or anything!”
“As much as I want to be with you, I need for you to understand what you’re getting yourself into,” Sonny said seriously.
“You mean because of the organization? I know it’s dangerous, but…”
“Karen, there can’t be any buts. Now, I’m not going to lie to you and make things sound simple. If you are involved with me, you need to know that you could be putting your life in danger. You could be used so that they can get to me. I want to be totally straight with you so that you can seriously think about this.
You know that your family is not going to support you on this one. Your father’s already given his stamp of disapproval.”
“I’m a grown woman, Sonny, I’m perfectly capable of making my choices and nothing my parents say will make me change my mind. I love you, Sonny, and I realized that those feelings aren’t just going to go away because someone tells me that I can’t love you. I know that people are going to have a negative reaction to us being together, but I can handle it.
I know there are risks to being involved with you, but I am willing to take those risks if it means ending up in your arms every night.”
Sonny pulled her closer and held her tightly.
“I hate to do this, but I have to go. I need to go home and shower and talk to my mother before work.”
“Are you going to tell her about us?”
“Well, it’s either tell her the truth about why I didn’t come home last night, or lie like a kid that did something wrong and say that I got stuck at work. Seeing as how I did nothing wrong, and I just freaked out on her for lying to me since I was a child, for me to lie to her about this would make me a hypocrite.”
“Were you arguing about Scott?”
“No, but I did throw that in her face. Remember Kellie Chase, the woman who found me after I wrapped my car around the poll,” sonny nodded, “Well, she lied about her name. Her real name is Kellie Wexler, she’s my aunt.”
Karen explained everything to Sonny as she got dressed.
“I can understand why you’d be mad. Are you going to make an effort to get to know Kellie?”
“Yeah, I’ve never had an aunt before and now that I have a chance to get to know her, I’m not going to give it up. I have always wanted a big family, and mine just seems to keep growing!”
“Well, I’m willing to help you make it even bigger,” Sonny said kissing her.
“Gee, nothing like taking things slow!” Karen exclaimed putting on her coat as they stepped into the hallway.
“Francis, take Ms. Wexler home and wait for her until she’s ready to go to the hospital.”
“Sonny, I can just have my mother drop me off.”
“Francis can take you, he’s got nothing better to do anyway. Right Francis?” Sonny joked lightly slapping his arm as Francis nodded, “Will I see you tonight?”
“I can’t, I have to get the rest of my stuff out of my old apartment so I can move in tomorrow afternoon.”
“Karen, I don’t want you going over there alone. I’ll pick you up at the hospital and go with you.”
“That’s probably not a good idea, Sonny. Joe and I just broke up and it’s…”
“I’m not going to let him hurt you again. You want to go and get your stuff, then I’m going with you. Dr. Joe’s just going to have to deal with the fact that he messed up and you’ve moved on.”
“Okay, okay, you can come with me. I really would feel safer with you there. Joe has gotten so unpredictable, I guess I was just afraid of how he’d react to seeing us together, and so soon.”
“Well, don’t worry about it, I’ll be there with you. Good luck with your mother,” Sonny said kissing her, “I love you.”
“I love you, too Sonny,” Karen said getting on the elevator.
Karen was relieved that Rhonda was already gone so she could avoid an argument. For the first time in a long time she could honestly say that she was happy and she didn’t want anything, or anyone, to ruin that. She showered and headed to the hospital. Francis opened the car door to let her out just as Frank was walking to his car.
“Karen, hey how are you doing?”
“Thank you Francis,” Karen said as he got back in the car and left, “Pretty much recovered. I get my stitches out in about a week.”
“That’s not what I meant, but I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better.”
“Frank, I really don’t want to argue about Joe with you.”
“I don’t want to argue with you, I just want to talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. I left him and I’m moving on with my life.”
“Moving on? Does that have anything to do with why one of Sonny Corinthos’s bodyguards is driving you around?” 

Jason, will you be around here for a while?'' Sonny asked.
''I will be if you need me to be.''
''Benny’s coming by to discuss some business but I have to meet Karen at the hospital when her shift ends.''
''Don’t worry about it, I can handle it. Is everything okay with Karen?''
''Yeah, she just needs to get her stuff out of her old apartment and I’m going with her incase that insolent ex-fiancee of hers shows up.''
''Should you be getting involved in this?''
''I’m already involved, Jason. From the day that she ended up on my doorstep after he hit her, I’ve been involved. Now that she’s seeing someone else, she’s afraid of how he’s going to react when he finds out. I will not let that man lay another hand on Karen,'' Sonny said defensively.
''You and Karen are together? Did I miss something?'' Jason asked.
''I love her, she loves me, we’re together and that’s about it. Now, I have a few things to take care of before I meet Karen, so I’ll meet up with you tonight to find out what happened with Benny,'' Sonny said walking out the door of the warehouse.

''Hey Matt, is Joe still on?''
''Nope, he left about an hour ago. Hey, I heard about the engagement, I’m sorry.''
''Thanks, Matt. Um, do you know where he was going after work?'' Karen asked nervously.
''I don’t know. Is everything okay, Karen? You look a little on edge.''
''Everything’s fine, I just had a long day and I’m moving into my new apartment tomorrow so I’m getting the rest of my stuff out of our…Joe’s apartment. I just didn’t know if he’d be there, or not.''
''I take it you’re afraid of running into him, huh? I don’t know the whole story behind the break-up, but from the way he’s been moping around here, I’d guess things ended badly.''
''Um, yeah they did,'' Karen replied sadly.
''Karen, are you ready to go?'' Sonny asked stepping off the elevator.
''As ready as I’ll ever be. Bye Matt.''
`They headed for the elevator leaving Matt puzzled at the Nurse’s Station. When they got to Joe’s apartment, Karen cautiously walked up the stairs. Joe’s car was parked outside, so she knew he was there. She hesitated, and then carefully knocked on the door.
''Karen! Are you hear to'' Joe stopped when he saw Sonny standing next to her, ''What’s going on here? What are you doing with him?'' 

Black eyes, I don’t need ‘em
Blue tears, gimme freedom 

Positively never goin’ back
I wont live where things are so out of whack
No more rollin’ with the punches
No more usin’ or abusin’ 

I’d rather die standing
Then live on my knees
Begging please-no more
Black eyes- I don’t need ‘em
Blue tears- gimme freedom
Black eyes- all behind me
Blue tears’ll never find me now

The words hit all too close to home as the song played softly. Karen couldn’t believe how things had turned out. Never would she have imagined that she would be leaving Joe because their relationship had turned abusive. Even harder to believe was the fact that she had found happiness and was in love with Sonny. 

Definitely found my self-esteem
Finally- I’m forever free to dream
No more cryin’ in the corner
No excuses- no more bruises 

I’d rather die standing
Then live on my knees
Beggin’ please…
Black eyes- I don’t need ‘em
Blue tears- gimme freedom 

It’s all behind me now, they’ll never find me now
Find your self-esteem and be forever free to dream

The more she listened to the lyrics, the more Karen realized that her relationship with Joe was completely over, no looking back, and a future with Sonny had endless possibilities.

“Joe, you’re right on time, come in and have a seat,” Kevin said as Joe appeared in his doorway.
“I can’t stay too long, I promised Neil I’d take him to the park.”
“Alright then, why don’t you tell me how things have been going since we last met.”
“Well, I told Frank what happened and he said that he will support me as long as I continue to get help. He talked me into telling our mother. She was so angry and disappointed and she just got me so mad that I…I don’t know what I was thinking, it was like a reflex…” Joe attempted to explain as his eyes filled with tears, “I could never hit my mother, but there I was raising my hand to her! How could I do something that horrible, Kevin?”
“You stopped yourself from hitting her, right?” Joe nodded, “Well, that shows that you’re learning to control your anger.”
“She was so scared, she called me Frank and I like snapped back into reality and realized what I was about to do. Of all the qualities my father could give me, I get this one! It’s like a disease and I have to cure it before I lose my family. I’ve already lost Karen…and to Sonny Corinthos of all people! She’d rather be with a dangerous criminal then me! I told her that I’m trying to change and I asked her for another chance and she told me she’s in love with Corinthos! Can you believe that?”
“Wow, Karen and Sonny? I can’t believe it,” Kevin said shocked.
“It’s true, she was willing to give him another chance because he’s different and more mature now and whatever. The man gets people killed! How can she be in love with him?”
“How did you handle things when she told you all of this?”
“I threw a picture of Karen and I across the room and left before I totally lost it. I just took a long drive to cool off.”
“You’re definitely making a big improvement in realizing when to take yourself out of a situation before doing something you’d regret.”
“Well, it was either punch out Sonny and knock that smug smile off his face, or get out of there. Karen was going on about not being able to be with a man that hits her, and I was trying to get her to see that I’m trying to change, so I couldn’t stay there and lose control.”
“I know it’s hard for you to hear the woman you love tell you that she’s in love with someone else, I’ve been there, but it’s something you need to learn to accept. It’s not going to be easy, but you’re making so much progress, I think that you can do it. We’ll just keep taking things one step at a time.”
“I just don’t understand how she can move on so quickly and with him. After all he did to her she can just forgive him, but she wont even give me the time of day.”
“She needs time, Joe, you have to look at this from her point of view. Now, I’m not saying Sonny’s an upstanding citizen or anything, but both him and Karen were a lot younger back then and they made a lot of bad choices. It’s not like Karen made this decision over night, it’s been years. She’s just now able to forgive him. That doesn’t mean she’s going to be able to forget. With what happened between the two of you, she’s going to need time to learn to trust you again.”
“I know, it’s just so hard to accept. I should get going, Neil’s waiting. Thank you, Kevin, I could not have made it without you.”
“Just know that I’m just a phone call away if you need me,” Kevin told him putting his hand on Joe’s shoulder.
Joe nodded and left.

Karen stood outside Scott’s front door running over what she was going to tell her parents in her head. She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. Scott opened the door.
“Well, you’re looking much better. I take it that glow in your eyes has something to do with what you have to tell us?” Scott observed as Karen sat on the couch.
“I’ve totally ended things between Joe and I. I moved the rest of my stuff out last night and I’m moving into a room above Kelly’s tomorrow after work. Joe wasn’t too happy because…”
“He didn’t hurt you again, did he? ‘Cause I’ll break his neck!” Scott said angrily.
“No, I already told Mom, it’s nothing like that. In fact, if anyone hurt someone, it’s me. Last night I told Joe the same thing I’m about to tell you. Joe and I are over and I’ve fallen in love with someone else,” Karen started.
“Already? Who?” Rhonda wondered.
“I’m in love with…Sonny Corinthos. We’re, um…together…”

“Hey Detective, mind if I join you?” Frank asked.
“Not at all, have a seat. I was just grabbing some lunch before I have to get back to the station. Are you on duty?”
“No, my shift just ended, but I always stop in here for a cup of coffee after work. My Mom’s the co-owner.”
“This place remind me of my favorite restaurant in Manhattan. It’s probably the only thing I miss about living there. It got pretty lonely sometimes.”
“Well, now you’ve got the Recovery Room and your family so you must be pretty happy.”
“I am. Rhonda and I have been getting along so well you’d think that nothing had happened between us.”
“I can only imagine what it was like without having your sister to turn to. Even through all our differences, Joe and I have been there for each other and I think I’d be lost without him.”
“It must be hard to be on both sides of what happened between Joe and Karen. I overheard you saying that Karen is a close friend, and you’re Joe’s brother so to defend one, it’s like taking sides.”
“No, it’s not easy, but I’m doing my best to support my brother getting help and Karen’s choice to leave him. I think they both know that no matter what happens, I’m not going to abandon either of them.”
“They’re really lucky to have you, Frank.”
“Thanks,” Frank said, blushing, “I should get going, I need to go pick up my daughter.”
“Daughter?”
“Yeah, I have an eighteen-year-old adopted daughter, Lark. Um, would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night at The Outback?”
“Sure…I mean, yes, I’d love to,” Kellie replied, surprised.
“Great, I’ll pick you up at seven,” Frank said smiling as he walked out the door.

“Karen, stop, please don’t go,” Rhonda pleaded, “We’re trying to understand this, but you have to realize why we’re so concerned.”
“Mom, I know why you don’t like Sonny and I don’t expect you to agree with our relationship, but I do expect you to trust my judgment. I’ve put some serious thought into this and being with Sonny is what I want.”
“You’re right, I don’t like him and I hate that you’re taking this risk, but I can’t stop you. All I can do is ask you to promise me that you’ll be careful.”
“I will, Mom, I promise,” Karen agreed hugging her mother.
“I’m not going along with this, I can’t just let it go. I’ve already missed out on so much of your life and now I have the chance to be a father to my daughter. Just the thought of what could happen to you because of Sonny and his mob connections makes me feel sick to my stomach. Knowing that I could lose you if Sonny crosses the wrong people kills me inside. It’s like going into my chest and ripping out my heart. I just can’t do it, Karen,” Scott told her, his eyes misting over.
Shocked by Scott’s confession, Karen was frozen. She looked up at her father with tear-filled eyes and let him finish.
“You deserve so much better, Karen. I want nothing more then for you to be happy, but I just can’t believe that you’ll find happiness with him. I just want the best for my daughter because I love you more then I ever thought possible.”
“I…I love you too…Dad,” Karen managed to get out as Scott pulled her in close and wrapped his arms tight around her.