Seven days after Horatio and Arianna's wedding

Jessica quietly opened the door to the guest bedroom in her condo. She could hear Carli's quiet sobs from where she sat on the bed. Jessica walked in and gently sat on the edge of the bed.

"Carli, what's wrong?" she inquired as she turned on the bedside lamp.

Carli looked up at her with a tear streaked face, clutching the stuffed kangaroo Jessica and Ryan had bought her in Australia to her chest. "I miss my Mommy and Daddy," she whispered.

Jessica carefully wrapped her arms around Carli and pulled her onto her lap. "Don't worry, Horatio and Arianna will be back. They're just taking a long trip to Italy to celebrate their marriage."

"No, I mean my real Mommy and Daddy," Carli whispered, "And my big brother and baby brother, too."

Jessica felt her heart sink. She held Carli closer to her chest and kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry Carli," she whispered.

"Why did that man kill them?" Carli continued to cry.

"I don't know Carli," Jessica whispered. "People just do bad things sometimes."

"Do you ever miss your real parents?" Carli quietly asked.

Jessica looked down at her pain filled eyes. "Yes, I miss them a lot."

"How old were you when they died?"

"I was four when my Momma died from cancer and I was fourteen when my Dad died while working as a cop to save me." Jessica hesitated for a moment but decided to continue. "I was almost fifteen when my sister died."

"You had a sister?" Carli quietly asked.

"Yes, Elizabeth, we were twins," Jessica explained.

"I didn't know you had a sister," Carli said. "Daddy H never mentioned you having a sister."

Jessica thought about telling Carli the truth; explaining to her that her name used to be Elizabeth, but feared Carli wouldn't understand. "It's not something we like to talk about," Jessica quietly said. "Izzy wasn't a very good child. She died in prison."

"She went to prison?" Carli asked surprised.

Jessica nodded her head. "Yeah, she bought drugs and got caught so the police put her in jail. Then someone killed her while she was in jail."

"I'm sorry Jessie," Carli whispered, "I wish your family didn't die."

Jessica looked at her and smiled. "You know I wish that too sometimes. And sometimes when the memories are really painful I just remember that if my parents hadn't died then Horatio would have never adopted me and I wouldn't have the family I have today."

Carli smiled weakly and nuzzled against Jessica's chest. "That's the same thing for me," she whispered. "Mommy wouldn't have adopted me if that bad man hadn't killed my family."

"How did you survive?" Jessica asked.

"I hid under my bed under the loose floorboard." Carli explained, "Mommy and Daddy didn't know it was broken and when the bad men came into our house my big brother told me to run away. So I ran to my room and hid inside the floor."

Jessica held Carli a little tighter and felt tears form in her eyes. "You're so smart Carli," she whispered, "I'm so glad you're ok."

Carli wiped a tear from Jessica's cheek. "Don't cry Jessie, it's not that sad of a story."

"No I'm not really sad Carli," Jessica quietly explained, "I'm just so happy that you knew to hide there. I can't imagine what life would be like without you and Arianna."

Jessica stood from the bed and carried Carli in her arms up the stairs. Ryan was already asleep in their bed as Jessica gingerly placed Carli on the bed between them. She crawled into bed and pulled Carli against her chest and smiled into her hair. "Just like when I was a kid and Daddy and I would share a bed," she whispered.

Carli leaned into her and smiled. "What was your last name before Horatio adopted you?" she asked.

"Johnson," Jessica quietly answered. She felt Carli smile against her shoulder as she slowly drifted towards sleep. "That was my last name, too," she sleepily answered. "It's like we were already sisters."

Jessica smiled and chuckled lightly. "Yeah, I guess so."

"I love you Jessie," Carli whispered, "You're the best big sister I could ask for."

"I love you, too, Calleigh Anne," Jessica whispered. "I'm glad you're my baby sister."

Eight days after Horatio and Arianna's wedding

Ryan stretched his arms above his head as he slowly woke up. He rolled onto his left side and looked towards his wife's half of the bed. He smiled to himself at the sight of Jessica sleeping with Carli Anne in her arms. He leaned over and gently kissed her. Jessica's eyes fluttered open and she smiled at Ryan.

"Good morning handsome," she whispered, shifting Carli Anne in her arms.

"And good morning to you wonderful," Ryan smiled back. He gently stroked Carli's cheek and smiled. "Did she have a rough night?"

"Yeah," Jessica whispered, "She was really upset last night."

"What about?" Ryan inquired.

"She said she misses her birthparents," Jessica explained. "We talked for awhile and she calmed down and felt better. I told her a little about my birthparents and Izzy and she felt better."

"What did you tell her about Izzy?" Ryan inquired.

"I told her Izzy was my sister." Jessica quietly explained, "I didn't know if she could handle the truth just yet. I think it would be better to tell her when she's older."

"You're going to tell her?" Ryan asked, a little surprised.

Jessica nodded her head. "I told Arianna and your mother, it's only fair that I tell my little sister."

Ryan smiled and gently kissed her again. "You're so amazing, you know that?"

Jessica smiled and reached out to hold his hand. "Thanks, I like you, too."

Ryan chuckled and squeezed her hand. "You're going to make a wonderful mother," he quietly said.

"Thanks," she smiled, "And you're going to be just about the greatest Dad ever."

Ryan smiled and chuckled up close to her. "Too bad Carli Anne's here," he whispered, "Otherwise we could try to make a baby of our own right now."

Jessica giggled and smiled at him. "Yeah, I guess we'll just have to wait for attempt five hundred and fifty-two."