Hey readers! So, unfortunately, I have been out of town for the last couple days and in an area without Wi-Fi access. Just coming into town for a quick moment to upload before heading back. Hope you're enjoying the story thus far. Some twists and turns are provided in this next chapter so I hope you're not disappointed. Thank you so much for your continued support. Please review as it is quite inspiring, even if its criticism. All types are fine. :) Enjoy.

-Jess

Hours later, a revelation hit Elizabeth as she and Jason watched The Notebook. "Jason?"

"Hmm?" he asked, looking down at her.

"You and Sam are married. I'm pretty sure we can't get married if you are still married to her."

Jason shook his head solemnly. "We're currently discussing the legal stuff such as property management and such. I know this, though. I love you, Elizabeth and I want you forever."

Elizabeth smiled and rested her head back against Jason's bare chest. "That sounds perfect to me." She whispered and kissed his sternum.

Jason bent down to kiss her hair and his arm around her tightened.

Meanwhile Ric was pacing in his cell, wracking his brain for answers as to what could have possibly possessed him to do what he did.

"Think Lansing, think." Ric commanded himself as he vigorously ran his hands through his hair. The memories came back to him in flashes and then all at once.

Flashback

"Mr. Lansing?" Ric turned around to see an unfamiliar man striding towards him.

"I'm sorry, I think you have the wrong person." Ric said, desperate to get away. He had to stay away. Stay away to keep Molly and Elizabeth safe.

The man shook his head, his black wavy hair bouncing with the movement as he chuckled. "No, I don't think I do."

Ric pulled the man aside, out of the public eye. "What do you want?"

"I know you want to return to your family. I have a way for you to do just that and everyone stays safe."

Ric's eyes brightened at the possibility of seeing his loved ones again. "How? Have the police found Jerome's head guy? I haven't heard anything new.

The man shook his head. "No, nothing new has occurred. You're going to have to trust me."

"Trust you? Why the hell would I trust you? I don't even know you."

"Would a stranger know your true identity?"

"No, but someone who was sent to find me would." Ric said, pulling the man by the lapels of his jacket. "Now, you're going to give me some damn answers. How do you know who I am? Who sent you? What are your intentions?"

"Unhand me." The man said with a razor edge to his tone and shoved Ric off of him. "I'm here to help you. Nobody sent me. My intention is to help you get back to your family and keep them safe. I intend to teach you."

"Teach me what?"

"Have you ever heard the name Jason Morgan?" the man asked suddenly.

Ric stiffened at the name. "I have, but he's dead. What does he have to do with anything?"

"So you know what he did for a living? Unofficially, of course."

"Of course." Ric answered. Ric knew Jason's reputation.

"I'm going to teach you some of the skills that he had."

Ric suddenly understood. "You're going to train me to kill?"

"I'm going to train you to protect." The man countered. Little did Ric know that the man had other plans as well?

Ric considered it. "I'm interested. Is there somewhere we can meet to discuss this further?"

The man smiled and pulled out a business card. "Meet me at this address. There's a phone number as well. Does ten a.m. tomorrow work?"

"It does." Ric answered. "Thank you."

Ric checked to see if anyone was near and then scurried away.

Ric was snapped out his reverie when he heard the guard announce that he had a visitor.

Ric looked up to see Sonny walking in, his hands on his hips.

"Why are you here?" Ric asked.

"Why do you think I'm here?" Sonny asked, his eyes incredulous. "I'm here to see what the hell happened. Michael thinks that this isn't entirely your fault."

Ric grimaced and sat down on the mattress behind him. "It was like this terrible out of body experience. I could see and feel everything I was doing, but I no matter how hard I tried I couldn't make myself stop. It was almost like I had no control.

Sonny's brow furrowed as he sauntered forward. "What do you mean you had no control?"

"Exactly how it sounds." Ric answered, shaking his head. "I'm sure Michael told you what I told him?"

Sonny nodded. "I'm more interested in finding more information on this mystery man. What exactly happened to you when you were in hiding?"

Ric chuckled grimly. "Funny you should mention that. I was actually having a bit of a flashback when you walked in."

"Well." Sonny said, clapping his hands and leaning against the wall. "I'll wait. Think Ric."

Ric nodded and went back to pacing. Soon enough, his flashback returned.

Ric cautiously strode up to the building.

"Smith, Bryson, and Ales…" Ric muttered to himself. "I'm here. It's ten, but where is…"

"I'm here." Said the familiar voice, exiting the building. "I was actually beginning to wonder as to if you were actually going to show."

"I almost didn't."

The man nodded. "I understand your hesitancy, but now that you're here we can commence training."

Ric was then lead to a black town car, he was ushered in too quickly to get a good look it at it, but he got the last three numbers of the license plate: XD9

"I hope you don't mind. Security reasons, you know." The man said, snapping Ric back to attention. He held up a black blindfold.

"I feel like I'm being kidnapped." Ric muttered as the black velvet covered his eyes.

The man chuckled. "No, no, nothing like that. We will promptly return you to your safe house after your training for the day has ceased."

The driver seemed to know exactly where to go as he didn't hear the mystery man give any instruction.

"Since you know my name, would you mind letting me know yours?" Ric asked, desperate to unravel at least part of the mystery

"Call me…Mr. C." the man eventually decided. "When we get further into your training, I will divulge my true identity. Until then, I'd like to play it safe."

After several long minutes, the car slowed to a permanent halt and Ric was cautiously removed from the car. Once inside, the blindfold was removed.

Ric looked around and was impressed by what he saw. State of the art technology lined the walls. Upstairs, there was a lounge. In another room, there was all kinds of equipment. Exercise equipment, firearms, etc.

"What is this place?" Ric asked in awe as he took in his surroundings.

"This is the place where you will be trained." Mr. C. said, a smile gracing his lips as he, too, took a second to admire his abode.

Over the next hour, Ric was given an extensive tour of the headquarters as Mr. C. liked to call it. There were certain areas that weren't shown, for security reasons of course, but otherwise Ric was suddenly well versed in his surroundings.

"So, let's begin."

"Okay," Ric said cautiously. "What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to sit down and talk to me."

"Really?" Ric asked, taken aback.

"Not all of the training will be this simple of course, but in order for me to train you, you need to trust me, and I you. Please, sit."

Ric did as he was told and chose a plush brown sofa, while Mr. C. chose a puffy black recliner.

"Now, I know the basics like your family, where you live, your occupation, but tell me more about what makes you, you."

Ric rubbed his hands together and leaned his head back against the cushion. Where would he start? Inspiration hit him like a flash.

"There's a woman that I love. She thinks I'm dead." Ric began. "Our road hasn't been the easiest, a lot of mistakes have been made. Mostly on my end, but for some reason, she's chosen to love me."

"Does this woman have a name?" Mr. C. (aka Gideon, but Ric doesn't know this yet) asked.

Ric smiled a genuine smile. "Her name is Elizabeth. She has the most beautiful auburn hair, hazel eyes, and perfect porcelain skin. She's a nurse."

"You said you've made mistakes…would you mind explaining?"

"That's going to require a bit of background information."

"Please, I'd love to hear it." Mr. C. said, gesturing for him to continue.

"My mother, Adella, I didn't know her well. She was out of my life when I was just a boy. She had another son, Michael, but most people call him Sonny."

"I know about him." Mr. C. informed him. "What does he have do with anything?"

"I'm getting to it. Growing up, I was always jealous of Sonny, as he was the one whom my mother chose so to speak. I never knew her, but Sonny got to be with her until her untimely passing."

"It sounds like you harbor a bit of resentment toward your brother."

"I did, for the longest time. I always wondered what was so special about him and not me. At the time, I wasn't aware that my mother had married a harsh, cruel man. A corrupt police officer, Deke Woods, captured her heart and then shattered it. It's because of him that Sonny has so many issues. Because I didn't know the horrible life that Sonny and my mother endured, I always was jealous of Sonny. When I finally did meet him, it was under false pretenses. I tried to be the perfect brother, always there, always devoted."

"It sounds like you had him fooled."

"For a while yes, and then I made the mistake of showing my cards. Elizabeth and I were having fertility problems, and I wanted to give her a child in the worst way. So, I did the only thing that seemed rational at the time. It seems so stupid to me now. I kidnapped Sonny's wife and held her hostage in a panic room hidden in the house that I shared with Elizabeth."

"And Elizabeth wasn't aware?" Mr. C. asked, amused.

Ric shook his head. "Not for the longest time. She actually found out by accident."

"Really, do tell."

"She was doing a bit of cleaning, and found the button that opened the door to the panic room, but then she got woozy."

"Woozy?"

"I may have been drugging her."

"You drugged the woman you love?"

Ric held his hands up. "I didn't say it was right or that it made sense. Anyway, it wasn't long after that the truth came out. Carly was rescued and my brother hated me."

"OF course, you kidnapped his wife. I couldn't tell you what I would do if my brother kidnapped my wife."

"You're married?"

"No, I was speaking in hypotheticals. I also don't have siblings, none that I know of anyway." Mr. C. lied smoothly. "So, that's your biggest mistake?"

"Among others." Ric admitted sheepishly. "More about me? Hmm…I eventually was able to convince my brother to not kill me. Then, I moved to Los Angeles. I didn't want to risk causing any more heartache."

"Well that was rather noble of you."

"That and I didn't want Sonny to change his mind and have Jason kill me."

"Ah Jason." Mr. C. said, rubbing his chin. "He truly was a piece of art. So cold, calculating, and oh so efficient."

"Do I need to give you a minute?" Ric asked jokingly.

Mr. C. chuckled and shook his head. "Just admiring your late acquaintance's skills."

After that, Ric filled him in about everything else important and then got to questioning. "What about you? I know absolutely nothing about you and yet I'm supposed to trust you with my life."

Mr. C. stroked his chin. "What to say, what not to say. Ah, I come from a very complicated family life. The females in my life tend to be the ones I'm closest to."

"Isn't that the truth?" Ric said, rubbing his hand through his hair.

"Oh, I wasn't talking from a romantic perspective, but definitely in that avenue as well. I'm close to my grandmother and my mother, but my relationship with father is strained at best, and my grandfather is dead."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

"I'm not." Mr. C. said abruptly. "He was a bitter, cold man. My grandmother on the other hand is a delightful woman. She's taught me to be everything I am."

"Is that a good thing?" Ric thought to himself. "And your mother?" he asked aloud.

"She's delightful as well, but I'm afraid she and my grandmother don't get along."

"She would be your maternal or paternal grandmother?"

"Paternal. My grandfather groomed my father against my grandmother. Because of his poisonous lies, my father thinks the worst of my grandmother. Because of that I can't stand to be around him, much like his father before him."

"Is he aware of what your grandfather did?"

"Yes, now he is, but my grandmother has made some regretful choices in her time, and because of what she's done, my father has only slightly changed his opinion of her. Not enough for me, unfortunately. Alright now, we should get to training."

"Ric." Sonny said, snapping his fingers to get Ric's attention. "You were so quiet I thought you had fallen asleep.

Ric shook his head. "No, but that was the most vivid flashback I've ever had."

"Can you tell me anything?"

Ric felt the training pushing against his instinct to tell Sonny what he remembered. Mr. C. had engrained it in his head that all aspects of the training were to be kept secret, including Mr. C.'s true identity. It was crucial that that stay under wraps.

"Ric?"

The pain in his head was excruciating. Ric clutched the sides of his head.

"Jason, I think I need your assistance." Sonny called.

Jason stepped out from behind the corner. Ric had been so immersed in the flashback that he hadn't seen Jason enter.

"Ric, look at me." Jason said, his hard eyes focused on Ric's. "I know how you feel."

"How can you possibly know?" Ric spit, feeling like throwing up.

"You're warring with yourself aren't you? You want to tell us everything, but some seemingly unknown force is demanding that you don't?"

Ric eyed Jason speculatively through the pain. How he could possibly know? Oh god, the pain was getting worse.

Unable to speak, Ric nodded, his teeth gritted.

"Do you want to help us?" Jason asked. He seemed to take a deep breath before asking his next question. "Do you want to help Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth. That's who he had done the training for. Her and Molly. Ric nodded again. Ric focused his thoughts against the force.

"When I was in hiding, I was approached by a man whom I was instructed to call Mr. C. He told me he was going to help me get back to my family and keep them safe."

"How?" Sonny pressed beside Jason.

"He offered to train me, train me to protect. He knew of your reputation, Jason. He often spoke admirably about you."

Jason's brow furrowed. He knew this man?

"He knew me?"

Ric shook his head. "No, but he knew of you."

"So, he trained you to protect. To kill if necessary." Jason said slowly. Whoever was behind this was Cassadine. This level of conditioning could only have been done by one of them.

"Ric, I need you to focus. Is this man a Cassadine?" Jason asked.

A flare of pain shot through Ric's skull at the question. He took that as confirmation. Ric nodded. "I think so. Considering the last name just made my skull split in half, I'm going to take it as confirmation."

"So another Cassadine?" Sonny mused. "What is with these people?"

"Another one of Helena's spawn?" Jason questioned.

Another flare of pain hit Ric, and it nearly crippled him, but the training required him to stay still. Not draw attention.

"Do you have an actual name?" Jason asked.

Ric shook his head, shaking off the pain. "No. I'll try to recall more, but right now my head is killing me."

Jason nodded, understanding and stood up. "We'll be in touch."

Sonny patted Ric on the shoulder. "We'll find out what's happening."

Jason sauntered over to the guard. "Can you get him some pain medication?"

"What do I look like?"

"Then get someone else to get it." Dante commanded from where he was standing against the wall.

The officer did as he was asked as Sonny and Jason walked toward him.

"Did you get it all?" Sonny asked.

Dante nodded, playing the tape as they walked away.

"Good. We'll be in touch." Jason said.

"Don't do something you're going to regret." Dante cautioned.

"I won't."

Two months later, Gideon signed the lease to a penthouse apartment in a luxurious building.

"I hope you like it here." The realtor said with a smirk.

"I'm sure I will." Gideon said agreeably. "Thank you." He said as she handed him the keys. He was having all of the furniture in his previous apartment transferred into this space. The more personal items were in a storage shed that he himself would retrieve.

With one backward glance, he made his way to work.

He was just leaving a patient's room when he smelled a familiar scent of perfume.

Two tanned hands wrapped over his eyes as someone salaciously whispered in his ear.

"Guess who?" Sam greeted him seductively.

Gideon grinned. "Sam. What have I done to deserve the pleasure of your company?"

Sam grinned back at him with a twinkle in her brown eyes. "You left so suddenly this morning I didn't have the chance to properly greet you good morning."

"Oh?" Gideon asked, amused as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "And what does a proper good morning entail, pray tell?" Gideon inquired as he nuzzled her neck.

Sam closed her eyes at the sensation. "I'm sure you know." Sam said, stifling a moan.

"I'm afraid I don't." Gideon countered, cocking an eyebrow.

Sam winked at him and pulled him away from the room he had just come from.

"Where are we going, Mrs. Morgan?" Gideon asked as Sam poked her head into a room and upon finding it empty, hurriedly ushered Gideon in.

"To show you a proper good morning." Sam said before reaching behind Gideon to lock the door and then close the blinds.

Gideon grinned, pushing back his lab coat as he placed his hands on his hips. Sam sauntered back to him, a salacious smile gracing her lips.

Abruptly, she took a tight hold of Gideon's cock. It responded almost instantaneously.

"Sam," Gideon groaned.

Not allowing Gideon to finish his thought, Sam took hold of Gideon's pants and boxers and pulled them down harshly.

Gideon's cock sprung free, stone hard and enormous. Before Gideon could disrobe her, Sam took his throbbing member into her waiting mouth.

Gideon groaned as she sucked and nipped her way forward. He was almost worried that she would gag, but then amazingly she hit the base.

Holy fuck.

Gideon placed a hand tenderly over the back of her head as she expertly sucked him. Her tongue doing amazing things as it flicked and teased.

Gideon's hips involuntarily thrust into her mouth. She held onto his hips tighter as she bobs her head harder and faster.

Before he could warn her, Gideon reached a glorious orgasm, his hot cum shooting down her throat. Amazingly, she swallowed all of it. She pulled back, licking her lips as she did so.

She grinned at him, looking satisfied with herself.

"My god, Sam, you amaze me more and more." Gideon murmured, rubbing his hands through his hair. "That was the best head I've ever had."

"I doubt that." Sam said modestly.

He was being entirely truthful. The past blow jobs he had received hadn't been nearly as good. They were usually inexperienced and didn't know what they were doing.

"Don't doubt yourself." Gideon commanded with a grin of his own as he pulled Sam towards him. "But what kind of man would I be if I didn't return the favor?"
Sam's pupils dilated as she realized what he meant. Without warning, Gideon hooked his fingers through the belt loops of her jeans and pulled down, ignoring the zipper.

Gideon put a hand between her legs and grinned. "You're so ready."

Sam moaned as he massaged her clit. "That's right baby." Gideon murmured to her before dropping to his knees and tearing the lacy panties off.

Sam was so hot and bothered that she didn't care.

Gideon ran his tongue along the length of her. Sam moaned loudly, her hands clenching in Gideon's hair.

Gideon nipped eliciting another moan. He thrusted his tongue into her wet, dripping sex, nipping at the edge.

Sam pulled at his hair as he did so. Good god did she taste good.

"Sam," Gideon grunted. "You taste so good."

Finally, Gideon sucked, hard, on Sam's clit, eliciting a guttural groan from Sam. He sucked harder and harder until her juices flooded into his mouth as she came.

Gideon licked his lips as he stood up.

"My god, you're good at that." Sam whispered, still dazed by her mind blowing orgasm. "And I do believe you're hard again." Sam said as she took hold of his naked cock.

Gideon groaned. "You keep doing that and I may have to take you right here, right now."

"Then do it." Sam whispered seductively, grinding her hips against his.

Gideon didn't hesitate. He slammed Sam against the wall and entered her in one full thrust, filling her.

Sam moaned as she felt him expand her walls. "Good god, Gideon, yes. Please,"

Gideon quickly worked through the buttons of her shirt and sighed when she shrugged it off. He could stare at her breasts all day.

He braced his hands against the wall as he thrust harder into her hot, wet, throbbing pussy.

Gideon unclasped the bra quickly and sucked on her bare nipples.

Sam moaned and tangled her hands in Gideon's hair. "Gideon, yes. God, yes."

Gideon moved his mouth to the other nipple and his one hand massaged the other breast as his other hand grasped her ass as he thrusted into her mercilessly.

"Please, Sam, come for me baby." Gideon whispered to her. In the short time they had been together, Gideon had found himself falling for her. Actually, he had fallen for her, plain and simple.

Sam moaned and pulled Gideon's lips to hers as she climaxed around him. Their tongues battled for dominance, with Gideon winning quickly.

Seconds later, with one final thrust, Gideon came gloriously inside her, leaning his head back as he cried her name.

"I love you Gideon." She whispered without thinking about it. She stiffened immediately. "I'm sorry. You don't have to answer…"

Gideon shut her mouth with a quick kiss. "Don't be ashamed, Sam. I love you, too."

"You do?" Sam asked, her brown eyes hopeful.

Gideon nodded fervently. "Of course I do. How could I not? You've made me so happy."

"You've made me happy." Sam countered with a grin.

Gideon grinned and pulled his pants back up while Sam did the same. He helped her put her shirt and bra back on. He moved her hair aside to plant a hickey on her neck, in plain view, letting everyone know that she was taken.

"I suppose that's appropriate given that I gave you one, too." Sam said, looking at it in a mirror.

"You did?" Gideon asked.

Sam giggled and showed him.

He should have been angry but he was delighted. His woman had marked him. "So you did."

"Now everyone knows you're taken."

"And that you're mine." Gideon said, smiling at her hickey. "I have good news."

"Oh?"

"I've moved into a penthouse this morning." Gideon said, gauging her reacting.

Sam embraced him fiercely. This meant he was planning on sticking around.

"You're happy?" Gideon asked, delighted. "I'm so happy that you're happy."

"This means you're staying." She explained.

"That was never up for debate." Gideon informed her, stroking the back of his hand over her face.

Sam grinned and rested her head against his chest. Gideon wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on the top of her head.

Gideon sighed contently as his arms tightened.

Meanwhile, Carly was entertaining baby Avery as Sonny worked out a business dealing over the phone in his office.

"Can you say mama?" Carly cooed to the infant as Avery laughed an adorable giggle.

"How about dada?" Sonny asked, a smile in his voice as he put his arms around Carly's waist from behind.

"Well hello there." Carly greeted him, twisting her neck to meet his waiting kiss.

Sonny's hold tightened as he kissed the back of her neck when she turned her attention back to Avery.

"Knock, knock." Michael said, walking through the door with a grin, his injury all but forgotten.

Sonny moved to stand next to Carly rather than behind her and both of them turned.

When Michael saw Avery his face lit up. "May I?"

"Of course." Carly said with a smile. "We've been trying to get her to say…"

"Mika." Avery said, trying to pronounce Michael's name.

"Did she just say?" Michael asked, bouncing his baby sister in his arms.

"Mika." She said again, clapping her hands.

Carly laughed while Sonny shook his head. "So her first word is Mika. Sonny, write that down."

Michael grinned when Avery said her next word. "Av-ry love Mika."

"I love you, too, little one." He said bending down to press a kiss to her forehead.

Avery turned to Carly and said one word that broke Carly's heart. "Mama." Avery reached out for Carly and Carly gladly took her into her arms. "Av-ry love Mama."

Tears of joy escaped Carly's eyes as Avery wrapped her little arms around Carly's neck.

Sonny watched the scene with an unerring sense of glee. "Can you say dada?"

"Son-eee." Avery said, trying to pronounce Sonny's name.

Sonny chuckled and shook his head. He pointed to himself. "Dada."

"Dah-Dah." Avery said, her little face screwing up.

"There you go." Sonny said, flashing his dimples as he pulled his little girl into his arms.

"She sure is a firecracker." Said an eerily familiar voice from the doorway.

Sonny whirled, Avery in his arms. "Ava." He sneered, his voice razor sharp, his dark brown eyes glaring daggers. "What are you doing here?"

"You're supposed to be dead." Michael murmured, reaching for Avery. Sonny handed Avery to him immediately.

"Michael, get her out of here."

Michael nodded and walked out the back door, making sure to steer clear of Ava.

"Now, how the hell did you manage to come back from the dead?" Carly asked, her expression similar to Sonny's.

Ava laughed. "Oh, Carly, it's not all that difficult. I'm sure you've heard of several people that have happened to come back. Your ex-husband for example, A.J."

Sonny's lip curled as he sauntered towards her, his eyes deadly. "You don't bring up his name, you bloodsucking whore."

"Ouch. That would actually hurt if your opinion actually meant anything." Ava responded, her eyes glittering. "Why did you take our daughter out of the room? I have just as much a right to see her as you do."

"Not when you're a murderous bitch." Carly said before Sonny could. "I'm calling the police."

"Do it, it won't do you any good." Ava said cockily. "Not when I have the single piece of evidence implicating me."

"Not necessarily. Connie wrote your initials in her own blood." Sonny said, flinching as he remembered the heartbreaking moment.

"That could just as easily been A.J."

Carly got in her face then. "A.J. may not have been innocent, far from perfect actually, but he didn't kill Connie and you know it."

Carly then went to the dining room to call the police, leaving Sonny alone with Ava.

"You let your own daughter think that you were dead simply because you didn't want to go to jail? Do you even care about her or Avery at all?"

Ava's eyes sparked with fury. "Of course I love my daughters. How dare you make such an accusation?"

Sonny laughed. "You can fool them, Ava, but you can't fool me. I've had the displeasure of seeing your true colors one too many times."

"The police are on their way, Sonny." Carly informed them just as Ava slapped him. "Whoa, whoa." Carly said, pulling Ava away. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"He accused me of not loving my daughters." Ava attempted to explain.

"Do you blame him?" Carly asked, her eyebrows raised. "You've done a terrible job of showing that you hold any affection for your daughters, especially Kiki."

"I love Kiki." Ava protested.

"Didn't seem that way when you were seducing my son."

Ava smiled. "I did, and he loved it."

Carly had to count to ten to make sure she didn't follow Ava's example.

"He was confused. He was your son-in-law before he was your lover." Sonny said, seeming to gag over the last part.

"Police." They heard outside the door. Max opened the door and they funneled in.

Dante's eyes zeroed in on Ava and he immediately took out his handcuffs.

"Ava Jerome, you are under arrest for the murder of Connie Falconeri. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand these rights as I've explained them to you?"

Ava rolled her eyes and cooperated. "Yes, I understand them, detective. You're making a mistake."

Dante shook his head and hauled her out the door.

Meanwhile, Michael was just arriving at Silas's apartment. He held Avery in one arm while he knocked on the door with the other.

Kiki answered and smiled when she saw little Avery. "Avery, oh I've missed you." She gushed as she took Avery into her arms.

Michael ran a hand down his face, and put a hand on his hip as he entered the apartment. He kicked the door closed with his foot and Kiki looked up to see his confused, angry eyes.

"Michael, what's wrong?" Kiki asked, settling Avery on her knee.

Michael took a deep breath and sat on Kiki's other side. "Kiki, I don't know how to tell you this." Michael said, clutching his hands together.

"What is it?" Kiki asked, worry etched on her features.

"Your mother is alive. She showed up at my dad's place a few minutes ago. My dad told me to take Avery out."

"Oh my god, my mom's alive. Are you sure?"

"Either that, or it's a very convincing clone." Michael answered. "It was definitely her."

Kiki's eyes were wide and she ran both of her hands through her dark brown hair. "I can't believe she's alive. Why would she let all of us, let me think that she was dead?"

Michael shook his head. "I don't know, but then again, your mother was always into self-preservation."

Kiki nodded. "That she was. I need to see her."

"I'll drive you to the police station."

"The police station?" Kiki asked.

"Of course. Before I left, my mom said she was going to call them."

"Why?" Kiki asked, not thinking.

Michael looked at her incredulously. "Why? Did you forget that she killed an innocent woman or that she framed my father for murder?"

Kiki closed her eyes. "I'm sorry. I was so caught up in the fact that she was back that I didn't think of what she had done to make her stay away. Let's go."