Sonny woke up to find the other side of the bed empty. He shot up in a panic until hearing something from the restroom. Standing up, he walked over and knocked on the door. "Claudia, are you in there?"

"I'll be out a minute." She promised in a huff.

"I'm coming in." He warned her.

"No." She pleaded as he opened the door to find her hunched over the toilet. Sonny found a hair binder on the sink and combed through her damp locks to tie them back while kneeling down beside her. "You don't have to do this."

"Yeah, I do." He nodded. It was bad enough that she had to go through this and all he could do was rub her back as she emptied her stomach. Between the waves of nausea Sonny offered his chest for her to rest against. "Was it this bad with Gianna?" Sonny asked realizing that he had missed the entire pregnancy experience. Claudia had been living under his roof, but he was so consumed with suspecting her that he had no clue what she was going through.

"The morning sickness didn't arrive as soon; but there was a good month I spent the first hour of my day hunched over the porcelain goddess." She explained before purging again. Sonny grabbed a damp cloth to wipe away the sweat beading.

"I'm sorry." He apologized for his careless treatment of her.

"It's not your fault. I did everything you accused me of." Claudia replied. She was responsible for his son getting shot, and she did get herself pregnant on purpose.

"It still doesn't excuse me being a jerk to my wife, and the mother of my child, but I swear if it's the last thing I do I'm going to make it up to you."

"You have. Sonny, you forgave me, you stood behind me, and you opened your heart and your home to the both of us." She said rubbing her stomach. Feeling her strength return and the nausea subside Claudia stood up to brush her teeth.

"It doesn't seem like enough." He commented standing behind her checking out her perfect glow in the mirror in front of them.

"It's everything." She replied and turned around to kiss him. "It's everything."

With that they heard a knock on the door. "Boss, Michael is here to see you."

Sonny looked at the time wondering what his son could possibly want at that hour in the morning. "Tell him I'll be right down." He instructed Max, and then turned to his wife. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah, it's passed. I'm going to freshen up; go ahead, go see what he wants."

Sonny slipped on a pair of slacks and a dress shirt before heading down the stairs. Max had already offered the eighteen-year-old a mug of coffee that he was sipping on. "Are you feeling all right? You don't look like you've gotten much sleep?"

"I've had a lot on my mind." Michael replied. "Dante told me about the decision; congratulations, both of you."

"Thanks." Sonny replied as they sat awkwardly in the living room. "Michael, I'm happy to see you, always, I couldn't help but wonder…"

"What I'm doing here at seven am? Like I said, I couldn't sleep and Jax thought it was best if I told you and I didn't want to do it over the phone."

Sonny waited for him to come out with 'what' he meant to tell him.

"Jax found out early this week that both Jerry and mom survived the shipwreck. Mom was injured and Jerry used that to control her until Jason showed up. Mom had a seizure and was hospitalized needing immediate surgery. Jax didn't want to say anything until he knew her condition was clear."

Sonny took a breath as he attempted to comprehend what Michael was telling him. "Carly is alive?" He finally uttered.

"She called last night." Michael confirmed. "They are keeping in Australia for a couple days of recovery, but yeah, she's alive."

"Michael, I'm sorry for not believing you." Sonny replied remembering the conversation he had before the memorial about Michael not wanting his father to give up on the search for his mother.

Michael shook his head. "It doesn't matter; she's found, she's safe, and she's coming home."

"You haven't told her about…?"

"No, not yet. Dad, you know I love you right?"

"Of course."

"There's only one way that mom is going to accept this arrangement." Michael explained.

Sonny wasn't sure what he meant by that. He couldn't think of anything that would keep his ex-wife from flying off the handle from the news Claudia was free. "How is that?"

"I can't come here anymore." He replied.

"I don't think I understand. Michael, you're an adult. You can do anything you want." Sonny argued.

"I know, and she would never ask, but this is the way it has to be. It's the only way I know…"

"It's not your job to fix this." Sonny replied realizing that's exactly what he was attempting to do.

"Mom wanted Claudia in jail to get her away from me. She doesn't trust that I'm safe around either one of you!"

"What do you think?"

"I think that I want both you and mom to be happy. Claudia deserves a second chance. I got mine, but if you're asking for complete honesty, no, I don't think anyone is completely safe around you. I would never want Britni around you without me and some other form of security around."

His son's words cut him like a razor's edge, but he couldn't blame him. Michael was shot because he stood to close to him and after all this time that message was sinking in. "Will you at least call?" Sonny requested.

Michael nodded his head. He hoped in time things would be different and he would be able to know the sibling Claudia was carrying.

XXXXXX

Matt came back to the house long enough for a quick nap before he needed to shower and change for his next shift at the hospital; Lulu appeared sound asleep as he crept into the kitchen attempting not to wake her.

"Matt, is that you?" Lulu called down the stairs. As quiet as he tried to be the sound of Cam, Jake, and Spencer getting ready to go to daycare with Granny Laura woke her up.

"I'm in here." He told her while preparing a fresh pot of coffee. Lulu walked into the room with a certain glow. "Is that a smile I see? An actual, genuine, smile?"

"It is." Lulu nodded.

"Okay… you're not…?" He wasn't sure why his first guess was pregnancy.

"No, no, nuh uh, no. No, no, no."

"Wow! Seven. I had no idea you so adamant against the possibility." Matt replied.

"Why, do you want me to be pregnant?" She questioned. Lulu hadn't realized until that moment that the discussion of her abortion had yet to come up. "'Cause I'm really not ready right now, and I'll like to married before we even talk about…"

"I agree." Matt said coming up to her. "When you walked through the door with that grin I just jumped to the wrong conclusion. That's all. So why don't you tell me what inspired that beautiful grin?"

"I got a call last night; a nice reminder that although we don't see them our guardian angels are out there looking out for us." Lulu replied.

"That's quite the call; who was it from?"

"Carly." As she said it Matt dropped his coffee mug on the floor. Cam and Spencer came running to the sound of the crash.

"Oopsie daisy." Jake grinned as he saw the spilt coffee.

"Yep; oopsie daisy." Laura confirmed. "Cam, can you get me the paper towels?"

"Mom, I got that." Lulu replied taking the role of toweling from Cameron.

"What do you mean Carly?" Matt asked still in shock.

"Experts were wrong; she didn't die in that crash." Lulu replied as she looked up at him.

"Honey, are you sure?" Laura questioned her. She too was taken back by the development and feared for her daughter's reasoning.

"Yes; I'm sure. I heard Carly's voice. She called me last night. She was hurt in the crash; and it almost… but BJ brought her back."

"BJ?" Laura inquired.

"Okay, I know what this might sound like." Lulu stepped back.

"It sounds like had a really good dream…" Matt stated.

"She's telling the truth." Luke said coming through the back door. "I came to see if the news had gotten to you." He explained giving his daughter a hug.

Lulu shook her head. "She called me. How did you find out?"

"When I went over for my casual visit to see how my sister was doing she told me. I didn't believe her either until she played the recording of Caroline's voice on the answering machine."

"So she…?"

"Alive." Luke confirmed. "I'm thinking about sending her up against Helena once she gets back."

"Luke!" Laura back handed her ex.

"Granny!" Spencer scolded Laura.

"He deserves that." She whispered to the boys, who then joined in on the assault.

"What? It's worth a shot; seems like they're both invisible. At least Caroline is on our side."

"That's great!" Matt said hugging Lulu as they both ignored Luke's commentary. "But I should get back to the hospital to perform another medical marvel."

"You do that and I promise you an extra special evening." She caught him in a kiss. Nobody wanted to say it, but they knew they were on day three and the sand was running dry in the hour glass.

"Well, if saving a life wasn't enough incentive." He joked as he brought her in for another display of affection.

"Okay, okay, you with the life saving; now!" Luke demanded just about dragging him away from her daughter.

XXXXXX

"Well don't you have a certain pep to your step this morning?" Ric observed of Olivia during breakfast at the Metro Grill.

"I'm in a good mood that not even you can destroy." She jabbed back.

"Why do you feel like I would want to?" Ric posed wondering where the blind hatred came from. "Olivia, what have I ever done to you?"

"It's not what you've done to me, Ric."

"I have a questionable history…"

"Is that what you're calling it?" Olivia sneered back.

"Who, is this town, doesn't? Don't tell me that there's no skeleton's in your closet."

"Skeleton's maybe, but I can guarantee you won't find any pregnant women."

"Ooh, ouch." He reacted to the apparent jab to his panic room days. "I spent a good decade trying to apologize to Carly for what I put her through, and if I could I'd attempt another one…"

"Sounds like you may just get your wish."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean put on those knee pads, Carly's coming home."

XXXXXX

"Ms. Stephens, your order arrived." Alfred announced by placing a box inside her door. Holding up a pair of box cutters he proposed. "Would you care for me to get that?"

Mischa shrugged. "Sure. Any idea when the furniture and paint will get here?"

"They should be arriving this afternoon. Master Nikolas has offered you the use of his study while the movers are present."

"That's very nice of Master Nikolas, any idea if I'm going to see Master Nikolas?" She questioned as condescendingly as it came across to her.

"He should be coming in from his morning ride shortly and breakfast will be served in the dinning hall."

"Thank you." She released him. "Wait, Alfred."

"Yes, Ms. Stephen's." He turned back to face her.

"Has there been any word on Ms. McCall's condition?"

"No change has been reported, ma'am."

"Okay, thank you." She replied still hopeful. "You hear that, little one, your mama's hanging on strong. It's going to be okay."

Mischa drug the box to the walk in closet and started hanging the designer clothes she had ordered. As time ticked for Sam she wondered how long she would be there. Nikolas was quite sure that it would be for the duration of the pregnancy, but she couldn't imagine being anywhere near the same city as Lucky and Alexis if Sam died.

"How was your ride?" Mischa questioned Nikolas as she heard someone approach her door.

"It's a bit crisp out there." Nikolas admitted. "Are you ready for breakfast?"

She came out of her closet in one of the new outfits. "What do you think?"

"I think it was made for you." He admitted. Nikolas almost had turn himself away to how beautiful she looked. She finally had some hair products and make-up to work with.

"Shall we?" Nikolas offered his arm to escort her to the hall.

"When do I get to go on one of these rides of yours?" Mischa posed as they maneuvered through the castle.

"I didn't think that was a good idea in your… condition."

"Condition? It's called pregnancy, maybe, and I happen to know that woman have been riding horses while pregnant for several centuries. Now, I'm not saying I try some competition jumping in my third trimester, but a little ride around the grounds isn't going to hurt me."

"I have an appointment set for you with Dr. Kelly Lee next week. I know it's soon but pregnancy tests are getting more accurate by the hour." Nikolas replied. "If we get the doctor's permission than I would be more than happy to take you out for a tour of the Island."

"And when do I get to meet your son?" Mischa questioned.

"My mother and grandmother have discussed bringing him by this weekend."

"Grandmother?" Mischa questioned wearily.

"Leslie Webber, my maternal grandmother. I would invite the rest of my family, but that's assuming everything goes well today." Nikolas replied.

"Any news from Greece?"

"Helena's men are keeping a tight lip, although General Katsaros is following a possible lead to her location." Nikolas noticed the morose expression. "What is it?"

"Fourteen hours; it takes nine to get from here to Greece. Even if we left now there would be no way to bring me there and the antidote back." Mischa explained as she did the math in her head.

"True, but bringing you back has never been and will never be part of the plan. It still means we have five hours to find it the antidote and ship it here or fourteen for Robin to come up with the solution."

XXXXXX

Carly fought the weight on her eyelids to wake herself up from a deep slumber as she did she smiled to see Jason, her fiancé, sitting next to her with his hand on hers in a much needed nap.

"Mrs. Jacks, how are you feeling this morning?" Dr. Sophia Brown whispered to her.

"I'm okay; I'm still feeling a little foggy." She admitted.

"That's to be expected. We had to chance around your medications a little bit."

"But they are working, right? I'm not going to have to take off for another two weeks for more treatment?" Carly feared.

"No. They're working. You are in remarkably good heath; someone special must really be looking out for you."

"I can't argue with that; in this life and the one hereafter." Carly confirmed.

"I have to admit I was anxious to meet the woman that stole that man's heart away." Sophia pointed towards Jason. "Mrs. Jacks, I doubt he would ever tell you, but he's the reason you're alive. He risked his own beating heart to keep yours going."

Carly snickered. "That's because he knows I'd do the same. I always thought that I needed him, but I think I finally realized just how much he needs me, too."

"There is no doubt in my mind how true that is. I'll have nurse come in a little later to check on your vitals, and breakfast should be served shortly. Mrs. Jacks, it's a pleasure meeting you."

"Please, call me Carly. Nice meeting you, too, and thank you for putting up with him."

"No problem." The doctor snickered.

XXXXXX

"Hello?" Patrick called out to a seemingly empty house after keying in the front entrance. He went directly to the bedroom to see the comforter untouched and then to the nursery to find his baby girl fast asleep.

"Hey Princess, did you miss me?" He questioned as he touched her silky hair.

Startled by the footsteps Ethan got up to see what was going on with a baseball bat in hand. "Get away from the baby!" He demanded until Patrick turned around to show himself. "Oh, sorry man, I didn't know you were home."

"Apparently not." Patrick rolled his eyes. "Although, nice work! Very threatening. What are you doing here?"

"I'm helping Mercedes with her nanny duties." He explained.

"Oh?"

"She's in the guestroom."

"Where's my wife?" Patrick questioned.

"You haven't heard?" Ethan inquired.

"Obviously not." Patrick pressed.

Ethan could tell Patrick's jet-lag wasn't something he wanted to mess with. "Helena made her move. She poisoned Sam and brought her to Greece because apparently Sam is the heir of Valentin Cassadine even though Valentin isn't actually a Cassadine…"

"Yeah, I know that much already. What does that have to do with my wife? Has Helena gone after her?"

"No; Nikolas and I went to find her and in the process ran into a woman who claims to have been implanted with Sam's eggs. The plan was to artificially inseminate her and raise the heir, but we got her instead, and proposed a trade that didn't work out so well."

Patrick impatiently waited for him to get to the part where he explained Robin's whereabouts.

"Helena stuck Sam with some kind of narcotic or toxin or something that is supposed to stop her heart in 72 hours, and your wife has been camped out at the hospital to figure out the solution."

"She's at work?" Patrick reverberated. "You couldn't have started with that?"

"I suppose I could have." Ethan nodded.

"How much time does Sam have left?" Patrick asked a bit calmer now that he knew his wife was okay.

Ethan looked at the clock on the wall behind him. "About 13 hours, 27 minutes, give or take. Where are you going?" He asked watching Patrick dart off.

"To see if I can help. Watch Emma, please?"

"Sure thing." Ethan replied standing in the nursery by himself.