Carly opens the door. Michael walks in and straight into her arms. Her arms tighten around her first born and she isn't sure but she thinks she hears a sniffle come from him. Michael, what's wrong? As he pulls from her, his head is down. She places her index finger under his chin and tilts his face upward to look at her. There are tears in his eyes. That's all Carly needs and she feels tears forming in her own eyes as well. What is it sweetheart? Oh no, she gasps, it isn't Starrs stepmother is it, she didn't... Before Carly can say that awful word, Michael speaks. No, no mom, Mrs. Manning is alive. She lets out a sigh of relief, then what is it? I just wanted to see you and tell you how much I love you, he says. She takes him into her arms again, oh my baby, I love you too. Then pulling away, she takes him by the shoulders, oh I just called you my baby, I know how much you hate that. But you will always be that to me, no matter how old you are. Michael smiles, it's okay mom. You can call me that, just not in front of my friends. Carly laughs, and especially not in front of Starr right? Well if anybody understands what it's like to be called a baby, it's Starr, says Michael. Mr. Manning never lets her forget that she is just that to him and to anyone who is in her orbit, especially me. Carly smiles, well it seems Todd and I have one thing in common and that is that we love our children to no end and we would do anything for them. C'mon, she takes Michael by the hand into her kitchen. There on the kitchen island is a bounty of food. Michael looks at it. Mom, what is all this? I thought you and I would have a long lunch and just hang out for a little while. Sit, sit she motions to him and gets him a plate, dig in. I know your appetite, so here are all of your favorites. Did you make all of this? Of course I did, answers Carly. Michael looks at his mother. Mom you don't cook. Carly rolls her eyes, okay you got me, I ordered everything from the kitchen at The Metro Court. I figured you wouldn't want my specialty, frozen pizza. Frozen pizza defrosted with your own hands would have been just perfect, smiles Michael. Now you tell me, laughs Carly. But all of this looks great, says Michael, as he starts piling food on his plate. C'mon mom, dig in too. Carly grabs a plate and the two sit talking, eating and laughing. Mom, says Michael. Yes my love, answers Carly. Can we do this like maybe once a week? I know you're busy with the hotel, but I miss you. Carly looks at her handsome son. Placing her hand on his cheek, she replies, yes Michael, I would so love that and I miss you too. With that they hug again and then continue with their food fest.

Starr and her father arrive at the penthouse. Starr leads him upstairs and to our bedroom. Dad, I want you to take a shower and get into bed. I'll be back up later to check on you, okay? Todd sleepily nods yes. Starr shuts the bedroom door behind her, leaving Todd standing in the middle of the room. He moves in slow motion to the dresser and pulls out boxer briefs, then to the closet, where he pulls out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. He walks into the bathroom and flips on the light. He turns and catches a look at himself in the mirror. There he stands, his hair a total mess. His beard, grown in. His eyes red with circles underneath. He scans down and sees his clothes. They are covered in my blood. He runs his hand over his shirt and over the stains. He rips them off angrily and steps into the shower. The water feels like heaven washing over him. After a few minutes, he leans back against the shower wall and brings his hands to his face. With the sound of the water, he lets out a muffled scream into his hands. He feels weak as he lays his head back against the wall. Finally done, he steps out, dries off and dresses. He steps over the bloody clothes leaving them in a heap on the bathroom floor. Back in our bedroom, he sits on the edge of the bed. He breathes deeply and glances over at the nightstand. He sees a paper of some kind on it. He reaches for it and begins to read. They are my test results. The ones I had faxed. There the words are in black and white. The news I wanted to tell Todd. Test for pregnancy-POSITIVE. His hands tighten on the paper and they begin to shake in anger. He rips the paper to shreds as he stands and yells at the top of his lungs in all his heartbreak and fury. Starr has just walked up with a tray of food for her father and has opened the door slightly when she hears him scream. Her first impulse is to rush in but something holds her back. She stands there frozen listening to her father. He knocks over the lamp on the night stand and then swipes everything off of the dresser. He picks up a chair and throws it at the mirror over the vanity. You son of a bitch, when I find you I'll kill you just like you killed our baby. I'll take care of all of you. You will all pay. Starr can't stand anymore and sets the tray down on the floor and bursts through the door. Dad, please stop. Todd turns to face his daughter. The look on his face frightens her. She sees the broken glass, dad, come with me, you can't be in here, you can sleep in another bedroom. Todds breathing is hard and heavy, he shakes his head, no Starr, this is our bedroom and I'm staying here. But dad, you could hurt yourself, and... I don't care Starr, just go and leave me alone. No I won't, she says. I said go, shouts Todd so loudly that Starr jumps. He is so filled with anger that he doesn't notice that his daughter is almost in tears as she runs out of the room. He looks around the bedroom and then at the glass on the floor and at what remains on the wall. He sees his reflection in the broken mirror. Just like the mirror, he sees himself shattered and broken into a million pieces. He walks over to the bed and crawls under the covers. He reaches over and pulls my pillow to him, clutching it to his body tightly. Still breathing heavily, he begins to speak, this time in a lower voice, filled with anger and hate. Johnny Zacchara, you killed my granddaughter, Sonny Corinthos, you used my wife and tried to rape her, John McBain, you dragged your heels and didn't care to find my would be killer, and now my baby is dead and my wife could die. And you, you son of a fucking bitch, you're out there and when I find you, I will make you curse the day you were born for destroying my family. I promise. I promise to make you all pay. He closes his eyes and ever so slowly slides over to my side of the bed, turning onto his side and curling into a fetal position. Sleep finally comes over him. A sleep so deep, that not even his worst nightmares can find him.

Aren't you going to invite us in? John is speechless. He steps aside as Natalie walks past him and into his small motel room. He closes the door and still does not speak in all his shock. Natalie looks around the small room and then turns to John. Nice diggs, she says. Yeah, is all John can say for a moment. Natalie smiles, John I know you are a man of few words, but this is ridiculous. What are you doing here, how did you know where I live, asks a confused John. You forgot already, I'm a CSI, I find things for a living besides, Liam wanted to see his daddy, and so did his mommy, she answers. So I'm a thing now, says John as he walks towards her and he smiles at Liam. To his surprise, his son reaches for him and John takes him in his arms. He is three years old now and has grown so much. John holds him close, closing his eyes. It seems like a lifetime since he had felt this wonderful feeling. Natalie watches them with a smile. John then looks at Natalie, I don't understand, I thought Clint wouldn't let you out of his sight and wanted you both away from me. He did, answers Natalie. But let's just say my dad won't be a problem any longer. What, how, asks John. Natalie turns away from John and walks around the small room. John, do we really have to talk about any of that, Liam and I are here, isn't that all that matters? I would like to know, says John. I don't want to open the door any time soon and I find myself looking down the barrel of your dads shotgun. Okay then, says Natalie, then let's start at the beginning. Alright he says, but first. John sets Liam down and quickly goes to the nightstand, he picks up his gun, opens the closet and puts it on the top shelf. He grabs the empty bourbon bottle and places it in the closet as well. He then goes and sits and watches as Liam plops on his bed playing with his action figures. He looks at Natalie and says, I'm all ears. John, let me first say that I wanted to come to you when I found out you had been shot. I had to read it in the Llanview edition of The Sun, buried on a back page. I'm sure my uncle did it on purpose. I called to see how you were but no one would tell me anything. My Uncle Bo was able to find out that you were fine, so I decided to stay away. I'm sorry for that now, she says. John looks at her, there's nothing to be sorry about, he says, you were still angry. Yes, says Natalie, so let me start again. You came to Port Charles to bring my Uncle Todd back after he skipped bail in Llanview. Then you came back to deal with Sonny Corinthos, staying in this town longer and longer. I was doing my job, says John. I know that, says Natalie and I wanted to come be with you, but you wouldn't let us because you believed Sonny would harm us. It seemed we were drifting further apart until I wouldn't hear from you as much. So I just told you not to come back because living apart was not going to work and your work was coming before Liam and me. By then, my Uncle was already living here in Port Charles and one day I get an envelope mailed from him. And inside was that photo and a note, signed, Love, your Uncle Todd. I was devastated John. I was angry and heartbroken. When my dad found out about it, he set the whole thing in motion. The restraining order not allowing you to see Liam, I didn't know anything about it. I couldn't see past my anger, but I would never keep you from seeing our son. But I missed you, and my mom made me see how out of control everything had become over a kiss. She saw how miserable I was and so did my father and he let it slip about the restraining order. Needless to say that both my mother and I were livid. We both railed into him and I even begged him to drop the whole thing, but he wouldn't. Pure Buchanan stubbornness and pride. I hired an attorney to help me. Then a couple of months ago, Jack was in a car accident and Todd of course came to town. He stopped at Llanfair. We talked and I asked him to give the photo of Liam to you. And I see he did, says Natalie as she sees it sitting on the night stand by Johns bed. Yeah, says John, he gave it to me after we went a few rounds verbally. Natalie laughs, that's my Uncle Todd, he had to make you suffer before letting you have the picture. Yeah, says John, but you still haven't told me how you got away from Clint. I just straight out threatened to leave and he would never see me or his grandson again. He threatened to cut me out of his will and to take away Liams trust fund, but I told him I didn't care. I was bluffing at the time and put on the Buchanan poker face and he bought it. But I then realized that I really meant it, because I wanted to see you again, no matter what. I don't know why I just didn't do it sooner, says Natalie. Anyway, that's the story and here we are, tadahhh! John smiles, I haven't been so happy in such a long time. Me either, says Natalie. Hey, do you want to get out of here, I'm staying at The Metro Court Hotel. Mom and I both have suites and it's a lot roomier. You're here with your mom, asks John. Yes, Starr called her and told us what happened to Todds wife. It's so awful. I only met her briefly in Llanview but I liked her immediately. Starr said my Uncle was a wreck and that her step mom might not survive. So my mom announced she was headed to Port Charles on the Buchanan private plane and Liam and I decided to come as well. I'll see my Uncle and cousin tomorrow, but for now I want to see you. So what do you say, Lt. McBain, will you join us at the Metro Court? John smiles, I would love nothing more.

Starr runs to her room, and shuts her door. Her fathers rage has her frightened. She is tired. When did she become her father's parent, she thinks. She wants to scream herself, just as her father had. But she holds back. She walks to her dresser and picks up the framed photo of herself, Hope and Cole. She traces their faces with her finger. She doesn't cry. She feels she no longer has any tears left. Their looking for me, she whispers. She sets the picture down and looks into the mirror. Did you hear that, they are looking for me. You took them from me Connie and you're going to pay. I had someone that loved me and took care of me and my baby. Now, I'm here alone taking care of everyone else. She raises her hand and points her finger at her reflection as if holding a gun. She pretends she is about to shoot when she hears a voice, what about Michael, he loves you and wants to take care of you. Starr turns as if another person is in the room speaking to her, but no one is there. Michael, she says, I need Michael. She dials him. Hi Starr, are you alright, how is your step mom? My step mom is the same, no change, but I'm a mess, I need you. Can you come to the penthouse? I'll let security know so that you can pass. Sure, he answers, I'm on my way. Thank you, Michael. Starr decides to take a quick shower before he arrives. As she walks past her mirror, she glances at herself and whispers, soon Connie, soon.

John, Natalie and Liam enter the suite. John looks around, wow he exclaims, pretty fancy stuff. Yes, says Natalie, it's nice, but it doesn't compare in any way to The Palace Hotel back home. Liam runs in and immediately starts playing on the rug in the center of the room where there are already toys waiting for him. He reaches for his toy drum and starts to bang on it. John squats down and picks up a toy guitar and starts to strum the strings. Liam looks up at him and smiles. Hey look at us, says John, we can start a rock n roll band. What do you say mom, want to be our lead singer? Sure, says Natalie, what shall we call ourselves? How about the McBain Trio, suggests John. That would be great, replies Natalie, but you're forgetting that I am not a McBain. John turns and looks at her. For a few moments they just look at one another. Twice Natalie had come so close to becoming a McBain, but fate, lies and truths were exposed, and the union was not to be. Liam begins to rub his eyes and begins to fuss. I think I better get him to bed, says Natalie. Want to help? You know I do, answers John. John follows them into the bedroom. Should we change his diaper? Natalie looks at him, John, he's three already and he's potty trained. What, he exclaims, wow, I can't believe how much I have missed. At that moment, Natalie wants so much to remark, yeah well who's fault is that John, but she refrains. Natalie lays Liam in the middle of the king size bed and before she and John know it, he is out like a light. She turns out the light, but leaves his night light on and leaves the door to the room ajar, so she may hear him if he calls for her. He's grown so much, says John as they walk to the living room. John turns to face her. Can I get you anything, she asks. Are you hungry, I can order room service? No says, John, I'm good. Okay, she says, but I need something to drink, how about something cold. I think you need it too, I noticed the empty bourbon bottle back in your room. It was less than half full, but yeah, something cold would be nice, he says. Iced tea, asks Natalie. John nods yes. She goes into the small kitchen and returns with a pitcher of tea and two glasses. They sit on the couch. There is a small awkward silence between them, as if without Liam in the room, there isn't much to say. Natalie breaks the silence, John, back in your room you asked me about everything and I told you. He looks at her, seeming to know what is coming next. Now I want to ask you what happened here in Port Charles, with that woman. Don't worry, she says, I'm not going to go all psycho, I've already done that. I just want to hear it from you and not from my Uncle Todd. John takes a big gulp of his iced tea and sets the glass down. First of all, says John, let me start by saying that you were right. About what, asks Natalie. About me staying away longer with each visit I made to this town. First to get Manning back to Llanview, then coming back to get Sonny Corinthos. I was sure he was the one who killed my sister and proving him guilty and taking him down became my obsession. I put him before you and Liam and I'm sorry for that. Natalie is silent. Then you said we should end our relationship, if we couldn't be together and you stopped taking my calls even though I wasn't calling too often. I missed you and I missed our son. Needless to say, I was out of sorts. I had met this woman, she had just been separated from her husband and she had lost her baby. Natalie frowns, she lost her baby? That's awful, she says softly. Yes, it was. Anyway, on the fourth of July, I went down to the pier and sat there, I had just tried to call you, but I got your voice mail over and over again. I was sitting there, drowning my sorrows in a bottle and she walked up. Her name is Sam. I know, says Natalie, I know her name is Samantha, my dad had her checked out. She looks at John, and then he continues. She told me she had just argued with her husband, I told her I couldn't get a hold of you. She sat down and we shared drinks from my bottle and watched the fireworks. Then it just happened, we kissed. Right away, we knew it was wrong. I don't know how your uncle took those pictures, he must have had me followed, I don't know. But that was what he sent you. Can I ask you something, says Natalie. John nods yes. If Todd had not sent me that photo, would you have told me the truth? I mean, I know we were not officially broken up yet, but would you have told me? Manning asked me that same question, says John. What was the answer, asks Natalie. I told him that I was going to tell you, but he didn't believe me, do you? Yes, I do, she answers. It's been a long while since the fourth of July, says Natalie, you continued to see her? Yes, says John, after I found out that Manning had sent you that photo and you ended it. I got the court order to keep away from you and Liam. Sam's husband, disappeared and was presumed dead and we turned to each other for comfort, as friends. Natalie raises her eyebrows, as friends? Friends with benefits? John shoots Natalie a stark look. She shakes her head, I'm sorry for that John, I have no right to judge you after what I put you through a few years ago. Forget I said that. But you said it, replies John, and I know you want to ask, so just ask. Did you sleep with her, asks Natalie. No, answers John, but I won't lie, we came very close to it, but I got called away to work. Did you want to, she asks, not really wanting to know his answer. John is silent for a moment, yes Natalie, I did. Natalie looks down, well then there it is, all that happened in wonderful Port Charles. Is this Samantha still in your life? The night Mannings wife was shot, we were together having dinner, says John. Later at the hospital, I said I would be a mess if something happened to Liam, but before I could say your name too, she knew I was going to say it. She told me to call you both. We actually spoke last night and she ended our friendship as if she knew you were going to show up. She's known all along how I truly feel. How do you feel, John, asks Natalie. He looks into her blue eyes, I love you Natalie, I always have. Natalie returns his gaze, I love you too John. Always have and always will. He takes her hand and they sit together, smiles across their faces. Smiling, something neither had done in what seems like an eternity.