"Ah hum." Zander coughed as he found his sister in Johnny's arms.
"We were just talking." She backed away defensively.
"Really? Funny, I can't seem to recall when talking required physical contact." Zander mused. "Look, I am not your warden. What you do is your business, but Caity, there's a great guy in there that really cares about you and I don't want to see you screw that up."
"Oh, now you approve of Dante?" She questioned.
"I can respect a guy willing to change his life around for the sake of his loved ones."
"Somehow I knew that was going to be your answer."
"He's right. I shouldn't be here. Thank you for all of your help." Johnny backed away.
"What is he? Some kind of addiction?" Zander asked him once he was out of view.
"I don't know; maybe."
"But you love Dante, right?"
"Yes, absolutely." She stressed.
"Then, for the love of God, stay away from Zacchara!" He shouted at her causing her to turn away from him. "I don't mean to yell at you, but I know what happens when you let two people into your heart and it doesn't end well. Don't be mad at me."
"I'm not; it's just been an emotional day for everyone."
"You want to go inside and have a drink?" Zander suggested.
"Sure, in just a minute. Zander, how are you? When you were on the pulpit today I saw a side of you I never knew before. It was that guy that lived and loved here before I knew he existed. You loved her, didn't you?" She questioned.
Zander nodded. "Yeah, I did. It wasn't the same kind of love I had for Emily, but she was a part of my life when we both needed each other."
"I'm sorry." She offered him a hug.
"Is that a tear I see?" Coleman asked opening the front door. "That's it both of you in here, pick your poison."
"Oh God, what is it, 'lick it, slam it, suck it'?" Caitlyn questioned.
"Tequila, good choice. Who's in?" Coleman posed the room.
"I think that's our cue." Liz looked over to Robin, Kelly, and Lainey. Maxie and Sam also decided to get in on the fun.
"Are you holding up okay?" Matt squeezed Lulu's shoulders.
She snickered. "Yep; Lainey gave me permission to take two about an hour ago. I get the same high without the headache tomorrow morning. Besides, massacring you guys in pool was a lot of fun."
"We were just going easy on you." Matt smiled.
"Sure you were." Lucas clumsily ambled over.
"I think it's about time that we cut you off." Joey told him.
"No. Nuh uh, I ain't leaving this bar until I feel nothing."
"Are you sure that's good for your blood sugars?" Lulu asked in concern.
"I'm fairly certain it's really not." Lucas replied. "But I think I'm going to try the sick it, sup it, something or other."
"No; no, no, no." Joey stopped him. "I think it's time we take you home."
"No." Lucas pushed him away. "We're here to celebrate this life of…" He pointed towards the framed photo that was brought over. "Of my sister."
"Okay, but this isn't celebrating, Lucas." Nikolas stepped in to help. "Nobody here blames you for hurting, but I happen to know for a fact that your mother would not be able to handle it if something happened to you tonight. Please, just let us take you home."
"Fine." He conceded.
"Here, give me a hug." Lulu stood up from the stool in order to say goodbye and then looked towards Joey. "Take care of him."
"Whether he wants me to or not." Joey assured her.
************
"So, I have to know, you and Limbo, am I picking up on something?" Claudia asked Stella while they were out hiking around.
"I have no clue what you are talking about." Stella replied.
"Huh, me thinks the lady doth protest too much." Claudia teased. "I don't know; I think he's a decent guy who really wants to do the right thing."
"He's a mobster." She objected.
"And? Do you know who you are talking to?"
"Yes, I didn't mean to imply that. Oh, come on, you know what I mean."
"All I am saying is that not all mobsters are, well, my father. Some of them will surprise you with just how amazing they can be."
"I suppose we are just going to have to wait and see." Stella responded, as she did Claudia seemed to stumble. "Whoa, are you okay?" She asked stabilizing her.
Claudia nodded. "Yeah, just a dizzy spell."
"That's it; we are taking a break." She urged Claudia to sit down and drink some water. "Here; I brought you a granola bar."
"I'm fine, really."
"I don't care, it is my job to take care of you and him and that is precisely what I am going to do even if it means a battle between me and your father."
"I really hope it doesn't come down to that." Claudia admitted. "But I honestly don't know how I would have done this without you here. Stella, when we get back…"
"Do you really think I would ditch your phone number after this?"
"I hope not; especially since I'm going to ask you to be my baby's Godmother."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm really not good at making female friends, and we're sisters, remember?"
"Yeah sisters, of course you're trying to hook my up with your 'husband'." Stella giggled.
"So what if I want to get my sister laid, would you rather it be with Beefy Brutus?"
"Oh hell no; at least Joey passes for what most of us call human. I had no idea that Brutus was a mobster's yes man. There is nothing even remotely sexy about him anymore."
"Anymore?" Claudia questioned.
"Well, you know, it's been awhile since I've done anything not battery operated."
Claudia laughed. "Okay, that's not funny, but… how long?"
"Two years." She admitted coyly to which Claudia's jaw dropped.
"Okay, now I know I have to hook you up with Joseph."
"Claudia, don't…"
"Oh no, it's a necessity." She smirked.
***********
"How is our patient doing?" The doctor asked Jerry.
"She woke up, briefly." Jerry replied.
"Well, that's good I starting to fear it might not happen. The damage done from the shipwreck was…"
"I know, and as you predicted she has no memory of anything. I couldn't have planned it better if I tried."
"What did you tell her?" Dr. Seth Walker asked.
"The same thing we talked about. Anymore news from the State's side? Did Dr. Drake call you back?"
"No; he has no idea. Everyone there thinks she's dead. You're just lucky I got here in the nick of time or else she would be."
"What do you think the long term effects are going to be?" Jerry asked him.
"I don't know; without a CT scan I really am going blind here."
"We can't bring her into any of the hospitals; each one of them are on high alert, and she'd figure out soon enough that this isn't a brain tumor. Even without her memories this is Carly we're talking about." Jerry argued.
"Yes, but Mr. Jacks..."
"Phoenix; we both need to get used to using the correct names."
"Right, Victor. All I am saying is that there could be some serious problems without knowing what kind of damage was done."
"She's going to be okay; she's a survivor."
"I agree; it's a miracle she made this far. I'm surprised she made the trip to shore."
