Shamira- My thanks for your kind words. I hope that when you find the time to read this thoroughly you will find it engrossing. As for the grammar thing. it is evil, very evil, but it must be done.

Fair Warning: This chapter has Courtney, who isn't exactly a favorite from what I've read. I like her, though.

Story-

Corinthos Household-

Sonny and Carly walked into their home hand in hand, constantly glancing at one another with wide smiles. Courtney saw them and was taken in by their happiness. It was not long ago that they would rarely smile at one another. She was happy for her brother and her best friend. "You're home early."

"We took a rain-check," Sonny said as he removed Carly's coat and put it on the rack.

"We don't need a fancy dinner and a dance floor to be happy," Carly added. "But, Courtney, why are you here?"

"Morgan was being kind of fussy," She said, "Leticia knows to call me in case neither of you are here and she needs some help."

"Is he okay?" Carly asked, concerned for the welfare of her infant son.

"Yeah, he's fine. It wasn't much, I just rocked him a bit while he ate and everything was fine a few seconds later."

"Is Michael still up?" Sonny asked.

"The way Morgan was crying?" Courtney remarked, "There really wouldn't be any way for him to get any sleep."

"Was he that bad?" Carly wasn't enjoying the way her best friend was making her child seem like she had a serious problem.

Courtney smiled as she looked at Sonny, "Let's just say that Morgan has a way of being heard when he wants something just like his father."

"Sonny, I'm going to go."

Sonny nodded, "Just go, Carly. Michael can wait a few extra minutes." Brother and sister watched as Carly hurried up the stairs. "Even though I'd rather see her feel happy about Morgan."

"I know," Courtney had the same thought, "It's just nice to know that she cares about him again. I didn't mean to worry her that much, though."

"All mother's are like that with their babies," Sonny saw Courtney's eyes turn away from him when she heard him say that. He silently cursed at himself for his insensitivity. "Courtney," His voice was filled with his sorrow for his little sister and her dilemma. Like many things that had happened to those that were close to him, Sonny was in part responsible for Courtney's miscarriage and subsequent botched up surgery that left her almost barren.

She waved her hand, "Its okay, Sonny. I know you didn't mean it."

"Still, I shouldn't have said it."

"It's easier for me to deal with if people would stop treating it like it didn't happen! I made a mistake and cost me the baby that Jason and I should have had. That is something that I am going to live with for the rest of my life, I don't want everyone ignoring it. It happened, and I'll always remember that it happened."

"Come here," Sonny opened his arms wide and Courtney went into them, a gentle sob coming from her mouth. "You'll find a way to be a mom, I know you will."

"Thanks," She said as she pushed herself away from her brother and wiped away the tears from her eyes, "I should still give you some time to be with your wife and the boys."

"You don't have to leave, Courtney. You're as much a part of Michael and Morgan's life as we are."

She smiled, "Thanks, Sonny. I needed that. Still, this is a moment where you should be with them. I'll just be down the hall if you need me."

Sonny watched the door close in front of him and shook his head, softly muttering, "Some big brother you turned out to be."

Courtney walked over to her door and leaned her head against it. She didn't want to forget what had happened. She didn't feel that she deserved to have the biggest mistake of her life just taken away like nothing had happened at all. Still, she wished more than anything that it never happened. That she never went to Argentina, that she never jumped out of that boat. So many mistakes. all made because she was selfish and wasn't thinking about the needs of her child.

Upstairs Carly was holding her baby in her arms, "Aunt Courtney says that you like to cry a lot. But you're a good baby, aren't you?"

"I'll never get tired of seeing you hold our son," Sonny said as he walked into the nursery.

Carly smiled as she kissed Morgan on the forehead, "Did Courtney leave?" Sonny turned his eyes away, hoping that Carly wouldn't notice. He was wrong, she knew, "What's wrong?"

"I just said some things that I shouldn't have. I wasn't being respectful of everything that she's been through. She tries to act like it isn't hurting her as much as it does."

"She just doesn't want to bother you with her problems. She knows how much you go through every day and how much it takes out of you. Besides, she's a strong willed woman, she always has been."

Sonny tickled his son's stomach, "Still, it would have been nice for Morgan to have a cousin to play with and grow up with."

Carly nodded her head, eyes filled with the sadness she felt for her best friend's plight, "Yeah, it would have." She noticed that her baby had fallen asleep in her arms. Carly placed Morgan back in his crib and kissed him. "One down, one to go. Goodnight, Morgan." With one last look she followed Sonny out of the room and into Michael's.

He was sitting on his bed, not under the covers, looking around at the various adornments that lined his walls. He heard the door open and his eyes lit up when he saw both of his parents peak their heads in, "Mommy, Daddy!"

"You should be asleep," Carly surmised.

"I couldn't sleep, the baby was crying so much."

"Don't feel too bad about it, Mike," Sonny began, "He keeps us up sometimes, too."

"It's okay, I know that he's just a baby. He doesn't know how to do anything by himself yet."

Carly sat at the seat of her son's bed, "He'll be a big boy, going to school, wrestling with you and doing all kinds of other things before you know it. Still, I want you to know that I'm very proud of you, you're taking this a lot better than a lot of other kids would in the same situation."

"I don't know if words are enough, Carly." He walked up and looked at his son, "How about a piece of pie from Kelly's, just for being such a great big brother?"

"Can I, Mommy?" Michael asked, his hopes already high but knowing full well that his mother could bring those down with one simple word.

Carly contemplated the suggestion for a moment, "You're already in your pajamas, and it's late. I'd hate for you to catch a cold." She saw Michael frown, "I'm not finished yet, sweetie. I was going to say that you and I will wait here while your daddy goes and gets some pie and brings it back." She looked at Sonny, "That sound like a plan to you?"

"Yeah, sure. Be back in a few." Sonny left the room and walked out of the house.

Kelly's-

Whoever that strange man was, he was right. Damian wasn't exactly having the best day of his life. To say that he had blown it would be an understatement on so many levels that it wasn't even funny. Being caught by one of those men wasn't unexpected, he wasn't used to sneaking around in the shadows, he was only looking for information. The place was almost empty aside from those that were just finishing their meals or desserts. Most would glance at the boy in the corner, silently stewing to himself. Being in a place where you had no friends and no one even knew who you were sure didn't work well when the comfort of another person just being there for you was needed. Damian was beginning to think that maybe he had bitten off more than he could chew. He overestimated himself in a big way, thinking that he could come to this town and confront his father. He thought about cutting his loses now and just leaving. Sonny seemed like he was a very complicated and dangerous individual. Damian didn't really feel like getting involved in a life where he could possibly be taken away in a body bag. He had goals in life. He wanted to be a doctor. Save some other child from watching their mother whittle away in front of their eyes without any way of stopping it. He wanted to become a father and be the father he never had. He wanted. a relationship with his father. He shook his head. There was no denying that he wanted that. If not for himself than for the memory of his mother. Why would she have given him a letter telling him who his father was unless she wanted him to someday meet Sonny and possibly forge a relationship?

He watched, awestruck, as the person in question walked through the door. Sonny walked to the counter, paying no mind to anyone that was in Kelly's with the exception of the person behind the counter. "Could I have three slices of pie: Cherry, Peach and Apple to go?" The cashier quickly pulled a slice from each pie out and placed them in a separate box and bagging them together. Sonny paid for the pie and gave the chance to her as a tip before walking out of the building.

"Now or never," Damian said to himself softly as he got up and followed Sonny out the door. He looked around and saw Sonny turning the corner. Damian ran behind him and called out, "Hold on!"

Sonny head the voice and turned around. He jerked his head back as he noticed that it was the same person that was at the docks earlier in the day. "What, are you following me or something?" "Something like that."

"Who are you, kid?" Sonny wondered.

"Damian. Damian Zuniga."

Sonny didn't have time for games with a stranger. He was quick to the point, "Should that name mean anything to me at all?"

"Mine might not," Damian said, trying to not lose his voice or fall onto the ground, "But maybe my mother's does. Ana-Maria Zuniga."

"I'm still drawing up a blank here. Look, I've got a family back home waiting for me."

Damian dug into his wallet and pulled out a picture that was taken when his mother was 30. "This is her. If you can't remember her name then maybe you can remember her face."

Sonny rolled his eyes and looked at the picture, if only to appease this odd kid with nothing better to do than pester him. Seeing the picture made his memory flood back. He remembered her after seeing it. Sonny gave the picture back and looked at Damian, "Why are you here?"