Hey guys sorry for the long overdue update. The show is not inspiring me at all. I hate what they've done with Johnny and Claudia. Anyway, thank you for all of the reviews they make me soooo happy! I am really glad you are all enjoying this story. Please let me know what you think of this chapter. Enjoy!

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Robin and Doctor Lee entered Claudia's room and stopped when they saw the empty bed. Dr Lee picked up her chart and shook her head. Robin rolled her eyes and yelled out to Epiphany to let her know what was going on. Johnny jolted awake and looked at the empty bed.

"Where is she?" he asked them.

"We were just going to ask you the same question," Robin said.

"How the hell could she have gotten out of here? You just let patients wander around wherever they like? If something happens to her-"

"Don't worry Johnny we'll find her," Robin said laying a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Find who?" Claudia asked coming into the room with Michael supporting her. Johnny ran over to his sister and gently pulled her into a hug, careful of her injuries.

"Where the hell were you?" he asked.

"Settling some debts," she answered looking at Michael. Michael nodded and smiled before leaving the room.

"What does that mean?" Johnny asked worry washing over him.

"Did you leave the hospital?" Robin asked.

"Back off Doc I'm back now," Claudia said.

"Claudia it's not just your life you're playing with anymore," Kelly blurted without thinking.

"I'm…" Claudia's hand moved to her stomach. "Oh my God is it ok!? I didn't know John I…" Johnny shot Dr Lee a disapproving glare as his sister started to freak out again. He lifted her up and put her back in the bed.

"No Claudia your baby is fine. Perfectly fine," Dr Lee reassured her. Claudia nodded a few tears slipping down her face. Johnny brushed them away. He looked at his sister and remembered a conversation he had had with Olivia not too long ago…

"She was so different when she came back. She was still Claudia and sometimes I could see the sister I remembered, but other times it was like this cold, hard, bitch took her place. After the baby died the bitch seemed to take control and I didn't want to deal with that side of Claudia."…

All he could see now was the sister he remembered tucking him in at night, telling him stories, and chasing away his fears. For the first time in a long time John saw hope in her eyes and that made him smile.

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Jason left Sonny's after telling him what happened on the docks. Claudia was safe for now, at least from Jason. Ric on the other hand could become a problem. Sonny's cell phone rang and he grimaced, he really didn't want to talk to anyone.

"Yea?"

"Sonny."

"Claudia? Are you alright?" he asked surprisingly happy that it was her.

"I'm pregnant Sonny, I didn't know until like 20 minutes ago. I never would have done what I did if I had known you have to believe me."

"I know Claudia its ok" Sonny said hearing her get more and more upset. "How is the baby?"

"That's definitely not the first question I thought you'd be asking." Claudia said accusingly. Sonny closed his eyes, but knew he deserved that. "The baby is fine Dr Lee just did an ultrasound. I'm only a couple weeks pregnant."

"Claudia I know this baby is mine and I promise you things are going to be different this time."

"They better Sonny I can't lose another baby, I won't survive it."

"I know."

"I've gotta go, goodbye Sonny."

"Goodbye Claudia," Sonny hung up the phone and felt a smile spreading across his face. He shouldn't be excited about this. The last thing he should be doing is bringing another baby into his screwed up life. Then again Claudia was already pregnant, so why not be happy about it? Sonny looked over at the frames with his three children in them. He smiled thinking of how he was going to need a bigger frame.

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Claudia looked at the phone for a long time after she hung up. She was so confused. Sonny was a hard man to read. The only thing she wasn't confused about was her baby. This baby was going to live and it was going to have a great life. No matter what it took.

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Olivia came back from the cafeteria and saw Johnny pacing outside Claudia's room.

"Hey what's the matter?" she asked.

"Claudia's in there on the phone with Sonny. She's pregnant and she left the hospital can you believe that?" Johnny said looking at Olivia. Her eyes slipped to the floor guiltily.

"Johnny I…"

"You have a terrible poker face," Johnny said without humor in his voice. "How could you just let my sister leave?"

"I didn't know she was pregnant."

"You knew she had just shot herself and that two men, at least, were out for her blood. You just…I can't believe you," he said turning away from her.

"Johnny she said Sonny threatened you and that she could fix it. I am so sorry; I thought I was protecting you."

"At the expense of my sister? I thought I could trust you."

"You can Johnny please don't do this," Olivia cried trying to touch his face. He moved away from her.

"You need to go, now."

"Johnny."

"I can't do this with you right now," Johnny went into Claudia's room leaving a very distraught Olivia outside. She wiped away her tears and looked into the room. Johnny was hugging his sister and Claudia was looking at Olivia with a strange look in her eyes. Olivia turned and left the hospital heartbroken and worried she had just ruined the best relationship she would ever have.

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"Where's Olivia going?" Claudia asked.

"I think that is the first time you have ever actually called her by her name," Johnny said smirking.

"Nice try at a diversion, but babe I taught you how to do that so spill."

"She knew you left and let you go."

"John I begged her, Sonny told me he couldn't kill me, but he would have no problem visiting my sins on you. I had to stop him."

"Neither of you need to protect me. I'm a big boy. If something were to happen to either of you I don't think I could handle it."

"Johnny you have no idea what true evil is. I've seen it, I've been it and my whole life I have worked my ass off trying to keep you away from it. Just because you older doesn't mean I'm going to stop protecting you."

"Then let me protect you too."

"You love me John that's all I need from you," Claudia said smiling and squeezing his hand.

"Claudia you tried to goad Sonny into shooting you and when he wouldn't do it you did it yourself. You went after him after you had been shot and now you're pregnant with the child of a man who wants you dead. My love for you couldn't stop those things from happening. Did Sonny hurt you when you went to see him tonight?"

"No I never made it there. Jason tried to kill me in the docks, but Michael talked him down and then brought me back here. He doesn't want me dead John," Her hand slipped to her stomach. "He's going to be a great big brother," she stroked Johnny's hair. "And you are going to be an amazing uncle."

"I am going to make sure nothing happens to you or this baby" Johnny said gathering her in his arms. "I promise."

"Thank you John."

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Three weeks later and Claudia was finally starting to feel like everything could be ok. She and Johnny had gotten an apartment a lot like the one they had when Jason had burned down their house. Jason had made no contact with her or Johnny and Sonny only came by when she had an ultrasound. Today was one of those days. He was sitting on the couch waiting for Claudia to be ready. She finally came out of the bedroom.

"You finally ready?"

"Hey I have had to pee twice since you've been here. Lay off," Claudia said failing to look annoyed.

"You are loving every minute of it."

"Yea I am. Come on lets go," Claudia said opening the door. Olivia was on the other side her hand raised as if she had been about to knock. Olivia had not been able to get Johnny to talk to her since the fight they had at the hospital. Claudia looked pissed at first and Olivia expected her to lay into her, but instead she moved aside.

"Thank you," Olivia said.

"I always repay my debts," Claudia said leaving. Sonny followed shooting Olivia a wary look. Johnny came out of one of the bedrooms a minute later and stopped in his tracks when he saw her.

"Johnny I know you don't want to see me, but I can't leave things like we did."

"Olivia you betrayed my trust. My sister could have died."

"I know and I'm sorry I was just trying to protect you."

"God what is it with the two of you? I don't need the people I love getting hurt because they were protecting me."

"Johnny I love you too that's why I couldn't just sit back and watch you get yourself killed," Olivia said tears running down her face. "I know what I did was stupid and wrong and I promise you I won't listen to Claudia anymore."

"Easier said than done trust me," Johnny said smiling. He walked over to Olivia and wrapped his arms around her. "I love you Liv, but I need to be able to trust you."

"Give me a chance to earn your trust back, please."

"Ok," Johnny said kissing her hair. Olivia sighed in relief.

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Sonny and Claudia waited for Dr Lee in the waiting room. Claudia was flipping through a magazine and Sonny was brooding by the window.

"Claudia I love this baby," he said suddenly.

"I know," she replied not looking up from her magazine.

"Do you? I want you to really know that I love this baby."

"Sonny what is this about?" she asked putting down the magazine. Sonny sat next to her and hesitantly took her hands. He was glad when she didn't tense or pull her hands away.

"I need you to know that even after this baby is born you aren't in danger. And neither is your brother."

"Thank you Sonny. Not that I'm not grateful, but why? You told me if you ever found out that I was responsible for Michael's shooting you would kill me."

"A lot of things have changed since then."

"Like what?" Claudia asked. Before Sonny could answer Dr Lee called them in. Claudia glanced at Sonny before following the Doctor into the exam room. Sonny sighed and followed.

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Claudia and Sonny left the hospital and were stopped by Ric on the docks. Sonny stepped in front of Claudia.

"Anyone ever tell you you aren't very smart?" Sonny asked. Ric smiled.

"Well, look at the two of you. I hear congratulations are in order Claudia. Let's hope this pregnancy goes a lot better than the last one."

"You bastard," Claudia said taking a step towards him. Sonny put his arm out stopping her.

"If you come anywhere near my wife and child I will kill you. I'm starting to think I've let you live for too long. I should've killed you after what you tried to do to Carly," Sonny said dangerously. Ric smiled and looked at Claudia.

"Now there's an idea," he said before Sonny punched him. Sonny wrapped his hands around Ric's throat and squeezed, choking the life out of him.

Sonny stop!!" Claudia shouted trying to get him off of Ric. "He's not worth you going to jail Sonny. I am not going into that delivery room without you."

"I really don't think anyone is going to care if I kill this bastard," Sonny said not letting go.

"I would," Alexis Davis said coming up behind them. "Sonny let him go or I will have you arrested for murder."

"Sonny please," Claudia pleaded. Sonny finally let Ric go and Ric coughed trying to catch his breath. Sonny gave Ric a dangerous look and walked away with Claudia.

"Thank you," Ric said to Alexis.

"I can't sit by and watch Sonny kill anyone. As for you stay away from me and my daughters. All three of them."

"One of them is mine."

"And yet you only seem to care about that when it means sticking it to me," Alexis left the docks and Ric pulled out his cell phone.

"I have news Anthony, wonderful news."