Sheridan leaned back and cupped her mother's face. "Mother, I still can't believe you're really here."

Katherine smiled softly and stroked her daughter's cheeks. "I am, Sheridan. I am."

"But how?" Sheridan asked, turning to Julian and Eve.

"Your brother and Eve rescued me." Katherine looked over at them. "I can't thank them enough. I owe them everything."

Julian bowed his head and smiled. "I'm just grateful that we were able to find the island where Father was keeping you prisoner."

"Is that where you've been all this time?" Sheridan asked. "What did he do to you?"

Katherine took Sheridan's hands into her own. "That doesn't matter now. What matters is that I'm back with you. Sheridan, I want you to know that I did try to escape several times over the course of the years—to get back to you and Julian. However, each time I did, Alistair threatened you or your brother—and I just couldn't keep taking that chance."

"Oh, Mother," Sheridan cried. "You gave up so much for us."

"I would do anything for you two." Katherine pulled Sheridan and Julian into an embrace. "I love you both so much."

Luis looked at Eve. "Sheridan's waited so long for this day."

"So has Julian," Eve smiled. "And now with Alistair under FBI custody, maybe we'll all finally get a real chance at happiness."

"Alistair was captured by the FBI?" Luis raised one eyebrow.

"He was," Eve said. "He's in critical condition—in a coma—right now, but the FBI has his hospital room under heavy guard. As soon as he comes to and the doctors give their clearance, he's going to go straight to prison."

Luis folded his arms in front of his chest. "I never thought I'd ever see this day."

"Neither did I." Her eyes glistening, Eve's face lit up with hope. "But this day has finally come. Maybe now we can all finally find some peace."


Gwen picked up her glass of wine for the third time in less than two minutes and took another sip from it.

Her father, Jonathan, peered over his glasses and put down his menu. "You seem anxious about something. What's on your mind, Gwen?"

Gwen bit down on her lip. "Oh, Daddy, I don't know if I should even be telling you this right now. I mean, things are only just starting . . ."

Jonathan covered Gwen's hands with his own. "Gwen, you can tell me anything, dear. No matter what you say to me, you'll always be my little girl."

"You . . . you mean you're not angry with me for everything that's been going on with Mother?" Gwen stammered.

"You mean the fact that she's in jail?" Jonathan chuckled and adjusted his glasses. "She's had that coming for a long time now. I'm just glad she was put away before she could seriously hurt herself or anyone else."

Gwen's eyes dropped to the table. "Daddy, did you ever love her?"

Jonathan smiled sadly. "Of course I did, Gwen."

"The way she carried on with Julian Crane . . . that must have been very hard for you."

"I learned a long time ago to accept your mother for the person she is. That's the only way I could stay married to her." Jonathan frowned and took a sip of his wine.

"Oh, Daddy, I had no idea you were so miserable with her."

"It's okay, darling. I'm fine." Jonathan smiled softly at his daughter and squeezed her hand. "It became very apparent to me over the years that what I felt for her was diminishing, but I thought it was best to stay with her because of you. I may regret many things in my life, but raising you is not one of them. I couldn't be prouder of the woman you've become."

"Even if I'm ready to break out on my own . . ." Gwen bit down on her lip again.

"Gwen, what do you mean?"

"I'm looking for another job," Gwen blurted out. "I just need to try to be my own person—to prove to myself that I can be."

Jonathan smiled sadly and sat back in his chair.

Gwen leaned forward. "Daddy, I'm not trying to abandon you."

"I didn't think you were, Gwen." Jonathan cleared his throat. Blinking back tears, he folded his napkin in his lap. "You'll have to excuse me—this is a little emotional for me."

"Oh, Daddy . . ." Gwen covered his hand with her own.

"Gwen, I couldn't be prouder of you," Jonathan said softly, regaining his composure. "And given everything that's happened over the last few months, I can certainly understand your need to break out on your own."

"It doesn't mean that we'll never see each other," Gwen said.

"I know that, Gwen. I know." Jonathan leaned forward and looked his daughter in the eye. "You never have to justify anything to me. As long as you know in your heart that what you're doing is right, then that's all you'll ever need to know."

"I do feel like this is right," Gwen said. "I feel like I need this."

"Then, by all means, go ahead and do it." Jonathan smiled at her. "I just want you to be happy."

"Thank you, Daddy. Thank you!" Gwen gasped, tears coming to her eyes.

Leaping up from her seat, Gwen pulled her father into a hug.

"Just remember," he said softly, "there will always be a place for you at Hotchkiss Industries if you change your mind."

Gwen leaned back and smiled at her father. "Thank you for being so understanding of me—and for keeping the door open."

"Like I said, Gwen," Jonathan smiled, "I just want you to be happy." Jonathan picked up a napkin and wiped his chin. "Now enough about work. Let's talk about more exciting things—like when I'm going to get to meet this new young man of yours."


Katherine snuggled up on the couch in between Julian and Sheridan. To have her children next to her after all these years—it was more than she had ever dared to hope for. Putting one arm up around each of them, she squeezed them tightly against her shoulders.

"Okay, smile!" Luis said, holding a camera in front of him.

Sheridan and Julian leaned their heads in and snuggled up against their mother.

"Oh, Mother, I still can't believe you're really here," Sheridan said, covering her mother's hand with her own.

"I can't quite believe I'm here, either, darling." Katherine smiled at her. "I'm so glad I made it back in time to meet my new granddaughter."

"I am, too, Mother," Sheridan smiled, tears coming to her eyes. "I didn't want to imagine her life without you in it."

"Sheridan, that won't happen," Katherine reassured her.

Julian leaned forward and looked over at his sister. "Mother's right, you know? Father's really going to pay for what he's done this time."

Luis sat down on a nearby armchair and raised his eyebrows. "I still can't believe that he's finally been apprehended."

"Yes, well, you should have seen the way Julian stood up to him," Eve smiled. "Alistair barely knew what hit him."

"Thank you, Eve." Julian smiled softly and bowed his head. "But I'm not sure I deserve all of this praise. After all, it's high time I stood up to Father."

Sheridan reached over Katherine and squeezed Julian's hand. "Julian, that's over now."

Katherine smiled, her eyes glistening. "It's all over now. It's time for all of us to be happy."

Sheridan smiled, a tear slipping down her cheek. "It really and truly is."