Preparing for the trip to Nova Scotia had taken Sean far longer than he had anticipated. It had been his intention to take the shuttle flight to New York, then to Nova Scotia, but Robert insisted that WBS resources and agents be established first. With so much on the line, he could not allow his urge to be reckless to interfere. Seeing Tiffany's blue eyes fill with sadness when he told her he was leaving was painful. A hand rubs the back of his neck as he tries to pack up the last of his belongings. 'Tiffany', he thinks.

"How long till your flight leaves?" She asks, taking her hand off the back of his next. She picks up his shaving kit and places it in the suitcase and then picks up one of his sweaters, refolds it, and puts it back down. He allows her a few moments of fussing before he stops her;

"Not for another few hours. Tiffany, I will only be gone for a week, two at the most."

"Still — " she says

"I know. I hate it when we are apart too," he replies. She is tense, he can tell. It makes him love her even more because she is trying so hard to be brave and not beg him to stay.

"Why don't you sit down? OK?" As soon as he pushes his suitcase over, Tiffany lowers herself onto the bed and smooths out her dress over her baby bump.

"You're staring." Tiffany says.

"I just want to remember this moment-"

"Mmm…you want to remember your wife hugely pregnant and worried out of her mind about her husband leaving her."

"I won't be away for long. It won't seem like I'm gone. When I get back, we can put this nightmare behind us and focus fully on Fletcher's birth." he says, zipping up his suitcase and moving it.

'Fletcher' again? I don't think so, Sean." She scrunches up her nose in disgust before he lets out a laugh and sits on the bed with her.

"I knew it," she says as she swats his arm. She studies his face for a moment, then wraps her hand around his tie and gently tugs at it, bringing him closer for a kiss. He would miss her kisses, and he presses harder against hers before they break apart.

Taking a deep breath, she says, "I love you." Her face changes; all traces of happiness vanish, she looks down and then back up and her eyes are wide and watery.

"I don't want you to leave Sean. Let Robert take your place. "Please." She pleads.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I don't want to go either. I just have to do this." He wipes the tears that have fallen on her cheek before she turns away from him and opens her nightstand. Before facing him, she tapped the envelope against her hand with hearts of different colors.

"I wanted you to have this before you left. I couldn't decide whether to tuck it in your luggage or-" Her fingers tremble as she holds it out. He takes it but not without steadying her hand and squeezing it.

"What is this? It's not from Faison? You would have told me before tonight if you had received anything else from him." He rambles before Tiffany hushes him. There is a softness in her face and eyes.

"It's from me and the baby. Actually, it's about the baby, whether we're having a girl or a boy. Dr. Morgan asked me at my last ultrasound if we wanted to know its gender —" She draws a deep breath.

"But with everything that happened, we never got around to discussing it. She wrote it down and put it in an envelope. I had forgotten about it until Robin pulled it out of my purse yesterday when she was looking for chapstick. I think she peeked because it was unsealed and she decorated it before giving it back to me. She told me she would have another present for you tonight. If you want to know, open it up."

His nerves grow as he stares at the envelope. Before now, he hadn't given much thought to whether the baby was a girl or a boy. His focus was on finding Faison. He would worry about Tiffany and the baby even more if he knew the gender. He can't deny them this because he sees such a hopeful look on her face. Hope was all they had. His heart warmed when he saw Tiffany let herself hope that their love couldn't be destroyed by Faison. He rips open the envelope;

"Emerald Mae."

"What?" Tiffany asks.

"It means we are expecting a girl. And the name I always picked was Emerald Mae. I know you hate being called Elsie Mae, but Emerald Mae would be a tribute to my heritage and you. Perhaps we will come up with a nickname or just call her Mae. What do you think?"

"As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I hoped it would be a girl, but I also knew it could be a boy, but I just had a feeling it would be a girl. Oh Sean, I'm so happy we're having a baby girl." She beams brightly at him.

In thought, she mutters "Emerald. Mer. Mera. No, not Mera. Mae? Maybe. Em." "Emmie? Emmie Mae. Emmie Mae. It might grow on me." He laughs and pulls her to him. Despite their small moment of happiness, they cling to each other whispering, "I love you" and "I will miss you," before the doorbell interrupts them.

"That will be Anna and Robert and Robin." He says.

"Maybe we should let them in." Tiffany replies, trying to untangle herself from his embrace, but he holds on tighter.

"We should. But before we do, I just want to sit here for a while. I want to take it all in. I can't believe it. We are going to have a little girl. As soon as you told me you were pregnant, I was filled with a flood of thoughts. I wondered how I got so lucky to have this woman in my life. That she wants to have my baby? There are days when you have to count your blessings. And today is one of those days. "God, we're so lucky."

As a couple, they had been through so much together-highs, lows, and everything in between. Now a baby girl would complete their family in April. Tiffany had changed his life in ways he never thought possible. After seeing through his bravado, and his mystery, she was able to free him to truly love. In spite of his inability to fully express his love and protect her, he would work every day to deserve it.

After kissing her one final time, he helps her off their bed and down the stairs.

"Both of you seem happy about being separated for a while. Did you promise to buy Tiff another yacht?" Robert asks, sitting down and removing his jacket. "Ah Roberto, it's better than a yacht."

"Better or bigger?"

"About the size of a bread box if not a little smaller at the moment."

"It's about the baby, right?" Robin interjects, breaking up the banter between them.

"Is that so?" Robert asks Tiffany as she speaks to Anna.

"Yes, it is." she replies before returning to her conversation.

"And?"

"And what?" Sean asks, pouring a drink for them.

"The two of you look like the cat that ate the canary, way too happy to be facing parting ways. That means you either decided to let me go on this caper with Anna, leaving you with my beautiful daughter and your equally beautiful wife, or-"

"Or they know the gender of the baby." Robin grinned before running up the stairs with her duffle bag.

"Is that it?" Robert asks Sean as he hands him his glass. Sean takes a sip, shrugs, and sits down.

Enquiring, Robert asks, "Is it a little Tiffany or Sean?"

Instead of blurting out that they were having a little Emmie Mae, Sean glances at Tiffany and notes her soft expression as she stares at him. Her eyes never leave his as she tells him;

"We're expecting a girl." Her words are gentle and filled with wonder. Her eyes are sparkling and she has the biggest smile on her face as Anna pulls her in a sideways hug.

I hope she'll be just as wonderful as my daughter." Robert says. "I guess I'll be surrounded by yards and yards of pink fabric while you're gone and I'll be left with the womenfolk." He asks Sean. A smile spreads across his face when he pictures his oldest friend holding curtain samples, and he laughs.

"Actually, Cheryl asked me if she could help with the nursery, and I accepted, so we'll be going shopping for samples and discussing plans at her office. I'm expecting to see you there with an update on her case." Tiffany tells Robert as she and Anna sit opposite him.

"You'll get sick of seeing my mug every day love. I should stick to my own office." Robert states.

"But you'll tell us if you find anything at all?" Tiffany inquires leaning forward slightly and fluffing a pillow behind her back. This is just another thing she will worry about Sean thinks, another thing he was having to depend on Robert to help her deal with.

"The very moment I have any information I will let you and Cheryl know." Robert says, placing his glass back down on the coffee table.

"Would you like another?" He asks his friend who nods his head no.

"Ok," Sean gets up and walks back over to the bar cart pouring himself another drink and takes a sip of his. In silence, Sean watches as his wife and two of his closest friends chat idly before saying,

"Thanks for letting Robin stay here with Tiff and keeping her company Robert"

"Yes, thank you Anna for letting her stay. I love having her here and you too Robert." Tiffany says in agreement.

Sean puts his glass down and says, "Ah, I see how fast I can be replaced. You won't miss me at all."

As Tiffany tilts her head towards him, she studies his face intently.

He looks at her, silently, wondering what she will say.

"No one can replace you," she finally admits, touching her bump with her hand. "But the company will keep me from worrying."

"I know. I wish you didn't have to worry at all. This will be over," Sean says calmly, his eyes meeting Tiffany's who frowns despite his words."Then we can focus on the arrival of our little girl."

"It will be so fun to go dress shopping with you, Aunt Tiffany," Robin says as she emerges from upstairs. "I'm going to get a snack before you leave, Mom. Anyone else want something to eat?"

"I will take you and Tiff to Kelly's after they leave. Give your mom a kiss and Uncle Sean a hug." Robert suggests.

"Ok, Dad." She hugs her mom and then moves to give Sean one, and then flops down on the wingback chair and picks up a magazine from the coffee table that Tiffany had disregarded the other day. Sean wonders if Robin has grown accustomed to her parents going into danger so much that it doesn't bother her anymore. God, he didn't want that for his daughter's future. Always coming and going, never knowing if he would make it back to her.

He cannot bear the thought of leaving Tiffany alone to raise their child. The last thing he wanted was to see that happen. On learning of Tiff's pregnancy, he had quickly agreed that Robert and Anna would be the baby's godparents, but now he realized they were in just as much danger as he was. If something happened to all three of them, would Tiff want to care for Robin as well?

"Earth to Sean — "

"Huh?"

"Would you like some privacy to say goodbye to your wife? " He looks at him strangely as he helps Tiffany up from the couch.

"That won't be necessary, Robert. "We said goodbye earlier." Tiffany comes to stand in front of him. As she places her hand on his cheek, he smiles.

"Be careful."

"I will. Keep an eye on yourself too." he says, kissing her tenderly. The thought of leaving her is tearing him apart. How was he going to be able to do this? Taking his hands, she places them on her bump. It is these hands that will hold their daughter one day, tying her shoes, wiping away her tears, and comforting her to sleep. She kicks at them as if she can feel their determination to keep her safe in the womb. A smile spreads across his face as he kisses Tiffany once more before turning to face Anna and Robert.

"I'm ready. Anna?" She nods yes and starts toward the door when Robert places a hand on her upper arm.

"Sean and I will take this to the car together." Robert says, picking up some of the luggage and leaving.

Robin looks up from her magazine when she hears the door closing.

"Oh no, I forgot to give Uncle Sean his gift. Mom, please wait while I grab it."

"Alright, but be quick. Your Uncle Sean and I are going to miss our connecting flight if you're not back down here in two minutes." Anna shouts up the stairs at her daughter's back before turning and facing Tiffany as she lowers herself back onto the couch.

"Honestly, Tiffany, are you absolutely sure you want Robin to stay with you?"

"Yes, I am. She's just excited, she'll come down in a few minutes," she says, patting the seat beside her. Anna comes and sits down beside her.

"Umm... while we are waiting for her. I wondered if umm.. I would like to talk to you about something kinda serious if that's ok?"

"Yeah, sure." Anna shifts so that she is face-to-face with her.

"Well you know I've tried very hard to imagine what I would do if I lost Sean, how I would go on… or if something were to happen to me, what would happen with our little girl. And well-"

"Tiffany — " Anna starts.

"Anna, just let me say this. If anything should happen to me, someone is going to need to be there for Sean, and I want that person to be you. I know Sean is used to saving the day but I need to be a realist. I need to make sure that if-" She looks at Anna and takes a breath, exhales long and slow. She was not going to cry again.

"If Faison can't be stopped, our little girl is protected. Sean and I want you and Robert to be godparents and her legal guardians." She looks at the shock on Anna's face and then watches it disappear and a much more contemplative look appears. She reaches out and rubs Tiffany's arm.

"Oh, Tiffany. I'm honored. If anything happens, I promise to be there for Sean, for you, and for your little girl. But I'm also promising you that we're going to find Faison and Sean will be back with you unharmed in time for Valentine's Day."

A weak smile spreads across her face as she says, "I hope so. I do." Even though promises can be broken, she is confident in their baby's care should anything go wrong.

"Ok, mom. Here it is. Don't let him open it until after you get to your hotel?" she asks. Robin hands her the package, and she places it in her handbag before they hug.

"Anna, Sean is waiting." Robert says coming back into the penthouse.

"Ok. Bye," she says, leaving quickly.

Tiffany can't imagine how hard it must be to have to say goodbye to your daughter when danger awaits you and she hopes she will never know.

"So what now?" Robin asks them.

"Well, I'll take you two beautiful women out to Kelly's for a bite to eat. And then we'll try not to drive Tiff crazy for the next two weeks. Right Tiff?"

"Right!" she replies. He'll be back before you know it. He will be back. She repeats in her head over and over as the three of them gather their coats and leave the penthouse.

It's the break we've been waiting for," Sean says as he pulls the car down the street in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. He and Anna had spent the majority of their time trying to locate any and all information they could on Faison in the small port town about sixty miles north of Halifax. A positive sighting of the man entering Blomidon Inn and not returning was a breakthrough in the case last night.

After parking, Anna leans over Sean and points out the stately Victorian home. "Our contact said Faison checked in a few days ago. Would you like to go in first or do we want to do this together?" she asks.

Sean stares at the inn knowing he couldn't ask Anna to go in alone. Not with Faison's obsession with her. No, they would have to do this together and pray that no innocent civilians got hurt in the process.

"We'll go inside together. Ask the desk person for the room number. Make this as clean as possible." They get out and put their guns in their holsters.

Sean and Anna stand outside room 15 after Anna speaks with the desk person. Before knocking, Anna motions for Sean to step into the hallway's shadow. Her three knocks go unanswered. Sean steps out of the shadows of the hall and gestures at Anna to move aside before smashing his body against the closed door.

When it's opened, two large boxes tied with dark blue ribbons are revealed in the middle of the bed. As Sean approaches them, he notices that one is addressed to him and the other to Tiffany. Dread curls in his toes as he stares at Faison's handwriting. He knows that he should open the boxes, but he can't bring himself to do it. While Anna rummages around on a desk behind him, he finds himself unable to lift the lids despite her angry noises.

"He's not here. I can't believe he's not here." Anna exclaimed in frustration, coming to stand by him.

"Sean," She says, touching his hand and releasing it from the tag. He looks up at her face and sees nothing but concern playing her features.

"No, he's not. He left Tiffany another gift and I've also received one." He runs his hands through his hair, unsure of what to do. He thought the mind games would end here.

"I know this is hard for you, so let me open these and then you go look at the desk again. Maybe something there will give us a clue to his whereabouts this time." Anna suggests. He nods as he walks over to the desk. As the ribbon is removed from one box and the lid lifted off, he tells himself not to think about what is in them. He looks at the items on the desk; newspapers, brochures, and stationery. What are we missing?

A small key dangling off the library light catches his eye.

He pulls it off and looks down at the various drawers. He can tell the outer ones are fake, which means the key will only fit the drawer directly under the desk. He puts it in, feels it click, and pulls it out.

There is a neat stack of pictures waiting for him. He takes them out. Tiffany- They show Tiffany arriving at the penthouse, Tiffany leaving the doctor's office, and Tiffany shopping for baby clothes. As he gets deeper into the stack, Tiffany's stomach grows bigger and bigger. The final pictures he sees are Tiffany, Robert, and Robin exiting Kelly's and him holding a pair of baby booties. He opened the gift from Robin almost two weeks ago to find white booties embroidered with the initials AD. After that, he called Tiffany and spent most of the conversation guessing what the A stood for.

"Aster and Emerald. Sean, Aster. That's the name Tiffany told you on the phone, isn't it?" Anna asks.

It was. Emerald. He shifts the stack of pictures back together, he had only told Tiffany about the name Emerald. He was certain she hadn't told anyone else. He turns around to face her and says, "Emerald is the name I want for the baby." Two identical baby blankets with their names embroidered on the hems are in Anna's arms.

"I don't understand. How did Faison know that?" Anna asks.

"He knows because someone has been feeding him information all this time." He says, finally putting all the pieces together. He throws the pictures on the bed. Anna folds the blankets back down and picks them up.

Seeing the pictures, Anna says, "God, Sean. They date back to September." She pauses and stares at him. There is fear and confusion in her eyes.

There were obvious signs of betrayal the past seven months, but he had missed them. It was no longer a secret. A traitor was amongst them.

"They go back to September because Faison hasn't been working alone. The entire time we spent chasing down leads, he's been steps ahead of us. He had someone helping him. Someone close to Tiffany has been feeding him information and taking these pictures. This whole thing has been a wild goose chase." He spits out. They were back to square one and he had no idea how he could protect Tiffany or the baby there was no denying it.

"I think we should go. Our best bet is to leave this place as soon as possible. The sooner we can return to Port Charles, the better. Regroup. The two of us will catch him before Tiffany has the baby. It's a promise." Anna says, gathering up the new evidence and ushering Sean toward the door.