Sonny stood in the trees a good distance from his first wife's grave

Sonny stood in the trees a good distance from his first wife's grave. He watched as his daughter poured her heart out to her mother. Ironically, Sonny realized, both he and Emily needed Paige on the same night so many years after her death. How many other things did they share? He wondered silently.

Sonny fondly remembered time he spent with his children when they were babies. He studied their features, trying to decide which received from him and their mother. Emily's hair, long and straight like her mothers, was dark and silky like his own. Her eyes were the exact same shape as his, but not her nose. Emily had her mother's smile and contagious optimism, or so he had always thought. Sonny's heart skipped a beat with fear that maybe she had inherited the darkness from him, after all.

She was one of the few people who could bring him through the dark periods. No matter how much he hurt, just seeing her lifted his spirits from their depths. There were times when he lived for the stolen moments he spent talking to his daughter, and when he couldn't be with her he paid people to watch her, to keep her safe. Now as he watched her crying, he worried that it hadn't been enough. "What is wrong with her, Paige?" He whispered.

Sonny smiled sadly. Paige couldn't tell him anything. Sonny breathed in deeply and started towards her. As he closed the distance between them he finally began making out her words.

"I know you can't answer me." Emily whispered as she dried the tears off her face. "I do know that, but how can I ask him?"

"Ask who what?" Carly inquired as she stepped out of the shadows. She thought she recognized the look on Emily's face, but needed confirmation.
--
"Yippee!" Brooke exclaimed, moving off her father's lap she took a leap off the couch and into V's arms. "You can stay!!!!" Brooke announced excitedly.

"I….I…" V mumbled. Why is it that this child always left her lost for words? V wondered as she held Brooke.

"I know you are excited, Sweetie, but it is bedtime." Ned announced, more to give V a break, than to get rid of his daughter.

"Can V sing to me?" Brooke asked curiously.

"I…I don't really sing." V explained softly. She searched Brooke's expression for disappointment. She hated hurting the little girl.

"Really? Maybe Daddy can teach you." Brooke giggled. "He is the bestest singer."

V smiled broadly. She remembered a time when she was that proud of her father. "Maybe I can read you a story instead. Would you like that?"

"Uh hu." Brooke nodded vigorously. "Can I pick?" She asked hopefully. Ned had gotten tired of reading her favorite story; she hoped V would have some patients for it.

V nodded. "Anything you would like."

Ned rolled his eyes. V had no idea what she was in for. He had read the same book forty-two times since Brooke had arrived. He loved his daughter and tried to be cheery every time she asked for it, but he could handle only so much Frog and Toad.

Brooke ran upstairs happily as she went to search for her favorite story.

"We will talk when you get back." Ned flashed a dimpled grin as V turned to go upstairs. For the first time since Lois died Ned felt like maybe things would be okay.
--
"Excuse me? I fail to see how this is any of your business." Emily spun around to confront Carly.

"Emily, please." Carly tried to remain calm. "I can help." She didn't know how she could be calm and rational with Emily yelling at her. However, she had to try. No matter how much she wanted to change it, Emily was her stepdaughter.

"Oh get off it." Emily yelled. "You don't know. You don't know anything." Emily lowered her head as it occurred to her that maybe Sonny had told Carly everything. The idea that he might have told Carly, angered Emily even more.

"I know more than you think." Carly sighed under her breath.

Emily rolled her eyes as she tried to keep herself from slapping Carly. If Carly didn't leave soon she would be unable to control herself. "I don't see what business you could possibly have with my mother. And you don't have any other friends, so I suggest you go."

"You can not send me away." Carly sneered. All she was trying to do was help and Emily would have nothing to do with her.

"You aren't my mother. Go away." Emily yelled.

"I…" Carly started to spill the beans but was interrupted by a shout.

"Don't even think about it." Sonny roared as he stepped in between them.