BRADY HOME
Aiden finished coming down the stairs, and stood next to Hope.
AIDEN: Aiden Jennings. And, who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?
Aiden held out his hand. Bo ignored him. Sensing that he would get no handshake, Aiden put his hand back down.
BO: I'm Bo Brady, Hope's husband.
AIDEN: Ah, I see. Well, I hate to tell you this, Bo...may I call you Bo?
BO: No.
AIDEN: Either way, I'm Hope's husband.
BO: Which is impossible.
HOPE: No, it isn't. We got divorced, Brady.
BO: We can't have. I never got any papers, and I certainly didn't sign any.
HOPE: There was a long enough period to where you didn't have to.
BO: And another thing, why would you divorce me?
HOPE: Oh, let's think for a moment, maybe because you abandoned me and Ciara.
BO: Fancy Face, this really isn't what it seems to be. I assumed that I'd be gone a few weeks, a month at most.
HOPE: And somehow, that month turned into three years. Three years where we had no idea where you were. Three years where I had to try to explain to our daughter why her daddy wouldn't be home to tuck her in at night. Three years.
BO: Look, you think I don't know that? You think I don't regret every single second that I had to be away from you two?
HOPE: Look, I can't deal with this right now. We will talk about this, all three of us. But, not tonight. Aiden and I just got married. I think it's best that you go.
DIMERA MANSION
André sat in his Zen Room, meditating. His meditation was disturbed by a knock on the door. He got up and opened it to reveal Harold.
ANDRE: I trust you know how to read. Did you not see the sign on the door?
HAROLD: Of course I did, Mr. DiMera. I must sincerely apologize for disturbing you. However, you did request that I alert you when I am preparing Stefano's evening tea.
André looked down and saw that Harold was carrying a tray with tea on it.
ANDRE: Very good. Set it down. I shall deliver it in person.
HAROLD: As you wish, sir.
Harold set down the tray, bowed, and left the room. André quickly changed into a three piece suit, picked up the tray, examined it, and went into the main room of the mansion, where Stefano sat in his wheelchair.
ANDRE: Here we are, father. Your evening tea.
STEFANO: Tea, tea. Always tea. Whatever happened to having a nice brandy or Merlow in the evening hours, hm?
André shook his head as he put the tray down.
ANDRE: No, I'm sorry, father. But, you know what the doctors said. It's tea until you get your strength back.
STEFANO: Doctors, ha! What do those quacks know, anyway?
ANDRE: Ordinarily, I'd agree. But, in this case, I can see their point. You do seem to be growing weaker. Which, after all, is why you asked me back here. To take care of you, as well as the business.
STEFANO: Yes, yes. You are a good son. Even though for years we thought you were my nephew, I have always wanted a son like you, André.
ANDRE: And I have always looked up to you as a father. You taught me everything I know.
André took Stefano's hand in his and patted it.
STEFANO: Now, where is Chad? I have not seen him here lately.
ANDRE: Oh, I assume he's off with Abigail Deveraux, working on part of the plan. I shouldn't worry about him.
André, who had been preparing Stefano's tea for the last minute, handed Stefano a cup.
ANDRE: There we are. Now, if you'll excuse me, father, I'm off to continue with my meditations.
STEFANO: Yes, quite. I shall have Harold take this when I've finished.
André kissed Stefano on the forehead, went back to the Zen Room, and changed back into his robes. He walked to a part of the room that had a secret door, which he opened revealing Chad, also in robes, lying on the floor.
ANDRE: Get up.
André nudged Chad.
ANDRE: Get up.
Chad woke up. André handed him a sword, and then unsheathed his own.
ANDRE: Are you ready to continue your training?
CHAD: André...I've been training for 12 hours straight. I can barely stand.
ANDRE: Death does not wait for you to be ready.
Chad attempts to stand, but André quickly has him on the ground again.
ANDRE: Death knows no kindness or patience. And make no mistake, little brother, when you train with me, you face death.
GRAVEYARD
J.J. walked along in a graveyard, his guitar on his back and a small bouquet of flowers in his hand. He walked up to a stone, and stopped.
J.J.: Hey. It's me. Sorry I haven't visited in a while.
He put the flowers down on Paige's grave.
J.J.: I was thinking...about music, ya know. And about us. I loved that we had such similar tastes in music. I loved everything about you, Paige. And...I'm doing my best here to survive. Anyway, there was one song I never got to play for you that I wish I had. So, I guess there's no time like the present.
J.J. pulled the guitar over his shoulder and began strumming.
J.J. (singing): You gave your life for me, you gave your life for love. The feelings still remain, though you're on a different plane. Your world is full of angels, you've become one. With God above, you're free...
As J.J. was singing, a flood of memories comes to him.
J.J. and Paige first meeting.
J.J. (singing): You were so beautiful. You are so beautiful. The love you left behind will carry on. You gave your heart and soul to everyone.
J.J. and Paige at the beach, going for a late night swim.
J.J. (singing): You never lived a lie. You showed me how to cry. The life that you embraced always let you down.
Paige and J.J.'s first kiss.
J.J. (singing): Yet you're the only one That stood your ground. No matter what they say...
J.J. playing music for Paige.
J.J. (singing): You were so beautiful. You are so beautiful. The love you left behind will carry on. You gave your heart and soul to everyone.
Paige and J.J. on the couch at the Horton home, cuddling.
J.J. (singing): You were so beautiful. You are so beautiful. The love you left behind will carry on. You gave your heart and soul to everyone.
Their last kiss.
J.J.'s thoughts returned to the present. Unbeknownst to him, Daniel has been standing behind him for the last few minutes.
J.J. (singing): You were so beautiful. You are so beautiful. The love you left behind will carry on. (voice breaking) You gave your heart and soul to everyone...
J.J. took a deep breath.
J.J. (voice breaking): You gave your life for love...I know you're...safe above...
J.J. stopped strumming and put down the guitar.
DANIEL: That was beautiful, man.
J.J. turned around suddenly.
BRADY HOME
Hope led Bo to the door.
BO: Are you sure about this, Fancy Face?
Aiden stepped forward.
AIDEN: Look, Bo, you seem like a nice guy. And, I'm sure that there's no reason that tomorrow, the three of us can sit down and discuss this reasonably like three mature adults...
BO: You stay out of this, Jenner!
HOPE: Don't talk to my husband like that!
Bo looked away from Aiden.
HOPE: Aiden, I've got this.
AIDEN: Right. Sorry.
Aiden stepped back.
HOPE: We will talk. But, not right now.
BO: Okay. If you need me, I'll be at the Pub. I'm sure ma's got a spare room there.
Bo looked like he was going to go in for a kiss, but stopped himself when he saw Hope opening the door.
BO: Right. Well, I guess that's my cue to leave. Night.
Bo walked out the door.
GRAVEYARD
J.J. wiped his eyes.
J.J.: Yeah. You, um...you know it?
DANIEL: I've heard it before. Julian Lennon, if I recall correctly.
J.J. nodded.
J.J.: Yeah. You got it. That's him.
J.J. cleared his throat.
J.J.: So...how are you?
DANIEL: Oh, I'm fine. I think the better question is, how are you?
J.J.: You know...I'm...surviving.
Daniel nodded.
DANIEL: The flowers are nice.
J.J.: Thanks. Yeah, they were Paige's favorites.
J.J. looked away from Daniel, to the flowers he had set on Paige's grave.
DANIEL: Hey, man. I miss her, too.
J.J.: It's just...it's so unfair. It should've been me, not her.
Daniel put a hand on J.J.'s shoulder.
DANIEL: Hey, never, J.J., never think like that.
J.J.: It's the truth, though. Her death, that's on me. If I hadn't been arrogant enough to believe that we could work things out, she wouldn't have been here. Paige had so much she could give the world. She could've been amazing. She already was amazing. And, because of me, she's gone.
DANIEL: Dude, Paige's death is nothing to do with you. You are not the one who strangled her in the shower. Her death, that's not on you. That's on the Necktie Killer, whoever that person may be. But you, J.J., you are not responsible for that.
J.J. wanted to say something else, but he couldn't. Instead, he looked down at the ground, hoping to hide the tears in his eyes. Daniel stepped forward and put his arms around J.J.
BRADY HOME
It is now the next morning. Hope and Aiden were still in bed.
HOPE: Good morning, Mr. Jennings.
AIDEN: Good morning, Detective Brady.
Hope and Aiden kissed.
AIDEN: You know, I had a great dream last night.
HOPE: Yeah?
AIDEN: Yeah. I dreamt that I married the most wonderful, beautiful, intelligent woman in the world. And she just happened to be you.
HOPE: Hm. Interesting. Because I dreamed that I married the most amazing, fantastic man in the universe, who happened to be you. Except, I don't think it was a dream.
AIDEN: Hm, well, now that I think about it, it seemed too real and too good to be a dream.
Hope and Aiden kissed again.
BRADY PUB
Ciara and Chase had stopped by the Pub to grab breakfast before making their way to school.
CIARA: Look, all I'm saying is that I wouldn't be surprised if we had a brother or sister come one of these days.
CHASE: No way. Our parents already have their hands full.
CIARA: Oh, please. I'm not like I was when I was a kid.
CHASE: Seriously? I lost 20 bucks to you bowling a few days ago.
CIARA: Only because you didn't take my advice and go for the center pin.
CHASE: Going from an angle usually works.
As they were talking, Bo came down the stairs.
CIARA: In your dreams.
BO: Oh my.
Ciara turned her head when she heard the voice.
BO: Well, I expected that you would have grown, but I didn't think it would be this much.
Chase turned, and looked from Ciara to Bo, then back to Ciara.
CHASE: Ciara, who is this?
CIARA: He's...he's my dad.
BO: Hey, little one. I'm home.
DIMERA MANSION
André was in the den, on the phone.
ANDRE: You're absolutely sure?
Pause.
ANDRE: I see.
Andre sighed.
ANDRE: Well, this certainly makes things interesting.
Pause.
ANDRE: Yes, you certainly will.
Pause.
ANDRE: Yes. Good day.
André hung up the phone and sighed again. He walked into the main room, where Stefano sat.
STEFANO: I take it that that was either Aiden Jennings or our informant?
ANDRE: Informant. For whatever reason, Aiden Jennings didn't carry through with our plan, which means we'll have to make..other arrangements. But, worse than that, Bo Brady is back in town.
STEFANO: Bo Brady?! How in God's name did he escape?
ANDRE: No idea, but somehow, he has. Don't worry, father. I shall take care of this.
STEFANO: Very good. You are a good son, André.
ANDRE: Yes. And now, for your morning tea.
Stefano sighed and rolled his eyes as André went out to get a tray.
BRADY PUB
BO: It's good to see you, kid.
Bo goes in for a hug, but Ciara backs up.
BO: Okay, then.
Bo turns to Chase.
BO: Hi. I'm Bo Brady, Ciara's father. Who are you?
CHASE: Chase Jennings. I'm one of Ciara's...
CIARA: He's my step-brother.
Before hearing Chase's last name, he and Bo had shaken hands.
BO: Jennings? You mean, like that lawyer guy?
CIARA: His name is Aiden, and yes. Chase is Aiden's son.
BO: I see.
CIARA: What are you doing here, dad?
BO: Well, like I said, I'm home. Your Uncle Steve found me a few days ago. It took the better part of three days to get here once he found me.
CIARA: And where have you been, exactly?
BO: I was in South America, being held by some of Stefano DiMera's thugs. It's a long story.
CIARA: One that I don't have time for right now. Chase and I have to get to school. Come on, Chase.
Ciara and Chase turned to leave.
BO: Wait, Ciara.
Ciara turned back.
CIARA: What?
BO: We will talk, though. At some point. I need to tell you and your mother what happened.
CIARA: Yeah, okay.
Ciara turned, and she and Chase walked away.
BO (to himself): Well, I guess things really have changed around here.
A moment later, Shawn-D walked in the door.
SHAWN-D: Dad?
Shawn-D smiled, ran over to Bo and hugged him.
BO: Shawn, it is so good to see you!
SHAWN-D: You too! When did you get home? Last I heard, you had gone AWOL.
BO: Just last night. It's a long story. Your Uncle Steve found me and brought me home. That's the important part. I'll fill you, Ciara and your mother in on the details later.
The two took a seat.
BO: What about you, though? What are you doing back here? Last I heard, you and Belle were still out sailing around the world.
SHAWN-D: Well, that was a few years ago. Shortly after you disappeared, we found a place in Maine, and Belle started going to law school.
BO: Wow. That's a big change.
SHAWN-D: Yeah, and there's gonna be more big changes coming in the near future.
BO: Oh, yeah?
SHAWN-D: Yeah. I came to town about a week ago. Partly for mom and Aiden's wedding...sorry about that, by the way.
BO: Hey, it's unavoidable. It happened. Can't pretend it didn't.
SHAWN-D: Anyway, the other reason I came to Salem, is that I'm looking for a house.
BO: A house?
SHAWN-D: You know, it usually has four walls and a roof, it's where people live.
BO: Yeah, yeah, smartie.
Bo and Shawn-D laughed.
BO: So, this house?
SHAWN-D: Yeah. Well, I think I've found the perfect one. As soon as I send the pictures to Belle, she and Claire and coming out here. Long story short, we're moving back to Salem.