"Dr. Winters." Lulu ran into Lainey in the hall. "Can I have a moment?"

"Sure, just one. I have an appointment waiting for me." Lainey responded.

"Can I get a refill on the tranquilizer? I know it's not up until Friday, but a couple fell out as I was juggling coffee at work today."

"Do you feel you still need them?" Lainey questioned her.

"Work was hard enough as it was with them; I can't imagine…" She explained.

"Okay; I'll write out a prescription for the rest of the week, but I want you to schedule an appointment with me before I can write out any more."

"Thank you." Lulu replied as Lainey scribbled on her prescription pad. As soon as Lainey left Lulu went to the nurse's station to get pointed in the direction of Sam's room.

"Lulu." She heard from behind her. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to check on my brother before picking up my nephews from daycare." She replied as she saw her boyfriend.

"How was your first day back?" Matt questioned her in a hug.

Lulu shook her head. "I think Maxie should put an ad out for my replacement."

"She wouldn't do that." He told her.

"I know, but that's because we're friends and she knew how she felt after losing Georgie not because it's the best thing for the magazine. I feel like all Maxie is doing is defending me to Benoit."

"I'm sure it's not as bad as you think."

"I didn't even want that job; I hated fashion, but Carly convinced me…" Lulu started to explain. "Okay, I can't do this. Do you know where Sam's room is?"

"It's that way." He pointed down the hall.

"Are you any closer to finding the cure?"

"We're working on it." Matt responded. "Which means I should keep cracking; are you going to be all right?"

"Yes; it's easier with the boys around." She replied as Matt walked her towards the room. Lulu peered through the window to find Lucky, Alexis, and Jax in conversation. "It looks a little crowded."

"It's not a fire hazard, yet." He smirked.

She slowly cracked the door open and listening as discussion ceased. "Don't stop on my account."

"Actually I need to go pick up Britni." Jax stood up. He had told Bobbie that it was only going to be an hour or so. He kissed Alexis before backing away. "Let me know if you need anything."

"Let us know if you hear…" Lucky requested.

"I will." Jax assured him.

"What was that about?" Lulu asked her brother.

"Nothing really."

"I know that's not true. What information would Jax be privy to that you would be interested in knowing?"

"Kristina has been talking to Damon Katsaros. We figure that if Galen comes up with anything he'd tell Nikolas, but we're checking all bases just in case." Alexis explained.

"Oh, well, Matt says they're working on it. How is she doing?" Lulu asked watching Sam's chest rise and fall rhythmically.

"She's hanging on." Lucky replied still clutching on to her hand.

"I came to see if there was anything you needed before picking up the boys?"

Lucky shook his head no. "You're doing it by taking care of them. Just promise me that you're looking out for yourself, too."

Lulu nodded; she didn't want to admit that part of taking care of herself was lying to her doctor to get a prescription she told her mother she wouldn't refill. "Lucky, it's going to work out, it has to."

XXXXXX

"Do you know what I realized about Disney movies?" Bobbie asked cradling Britni.

"Not the slightest idea." Robert replied handing her the bottle.

"The princesses never get to grow up with their mother. Snow White had the wicked witch, Aura was sent to live with the fairies, Cinderella lost both parents and was brought up the horrible step-mom; Ariel, Belle, and Jasmine all only had a father."

"According to the story they all lived happily ever after." Robert attempted to console her.

"How?" She questioned with so many thoughts in her head that she couldn't put into words. She had known what it was like to grow up without a mother and the harm that was done. "How do you learn what it feels like to experience unconditional love; that bond between a mother and her child…?"

"I think your relationship with BJ proved that it about more than genetics." Robert interrupted her. "One way or another, this girl is going to know unconditional, unrelenting love and she's going to get her happily ever after."

"She misses Carly." Bobbie observed.

"Of course she does, but have you already given up on your promise to BJ?"

"You don't think I'm crazy for believing?"

"For believing you spoke to BJ or that you believe Carly may be out there somewhere?" He questioned.

"Both." She replied.

He shook his head no. "My boat exploded and here I am."

"I just wish there was some kind of sign." Bobbie started to tear up.

"I thought that was what BJ showing up was."

"Maybe I just need something a little more concrete."

XXXXXX

"You know, I kind of feel like Jax gets the short end of the stick here." Dante teased Michael and Kristina.

"He has a point." Kristina looked to Michael.

"Yeah; I mean, he's really the only one that stuck around which has been great for Morgan… and you too, of course." Michael praised Dante. "Yet, I still can't help but believe we wouldn't be in this mess if Jax hadn't continually put his brother first."

"I would do the same for you or Morgan." Dante defended him. "Not that I can imagine either one of you turning into a Jerry Jacks, but I don't think I could ever turn my back on you, and we didn't grow up together."

"As much as I appreciate that can I put a request out there that if I ever do get crazy enough to hold a hotel hostage and randomly shoot people, or strap a woman to a boat rigged to blow up, or become obsessive enough to take a woman from her family and make them believe she's dead will one of you put me out of my misery?"

"Sorry." Kristina shrugged. "I'll drive you to counseling, though."

"Oh, gee, thanks." He snickered as his phone starting ringing.

"Michael, who is it?" She asked noticing his face go pale.

"It's Jason's number."

"Answer it!" Dante replied.

"I can't, what if…" Michael started. Dante stole the phone to pick up the call and place it next to his brother's ear.

"Michael?" Carly replied over the receiver.

"Mom?" Michael started to cry. "Mom, is that really you?"

"Yes, Mr. Man, who else would it be?"

"You're okay, right? I mean, you're going to be okay? This isn't…"

"I'm okay. Dr. Drake did a good job of fixing me up. Dr. Brown wants to keep me a couple days for recovery and observation but then I'm coming home." She assured him. As Michael was talking to his mom Kristina ran off to find Morgan. Morgan was in the middle of a level but left immediately as soon as he heard Carly was on the phone.

"You're coming home, for good?"

"Or until Jason and I figure out what we're doing for a honeymoon, but yes, no treatments to dart off to, no obsessed brother-in-laws to worry about. I can't wait to see you, I've missed you."

"I've missed you, too." He replied wiping away the last of his tears. "So, honeymoon, does that mean Jason finally found the kahonas to propose to you?"

"It's about time, right?" Carly teased as she winked to Jason.

"Only about eighteen years past due." Michael kidded back. "Mom, I really don't want to get off the phone right now, but I think Morgan is about 2 seconds away from tackling me for it."

She laughed at the image. "Let me talk to your brother."

"I love you, mom."

"I love you, too." She replied before Michael handed the phone over to Morgan. As soon as he did Kristina wrapped her arms around her brother.

"Mama, I knew you were going to be okay. Dante brought us to the sanctuary today and we all lit candles and I prayed extra hard!"

"I felt it." Carly admitted.

"You did?" Morgan pressed.

"Yeah; I did, and Morgan, I am so proud of your strength. Don't ever lose that unrelenting faith you have inside of yourself, do you hear me?"

"Yes mama."

"Good; sweetie, I love you, but I have a couple more calls I need to make. I promise, though, I'll be home as soon as I can."

"Okay, I love you, too." Morgan replied before hanging up.

XXXXX

"No; I got this." Zander said pulling the check away from her.

"Thank you." Caitlyn replied gracefully.

"No; thank you for agreeing to meet me on such late notice. I'm sure there's more interesting things to do than hang out with your big brother."

"Well, I did get an enticing invitation to Chuck-e-Cheese." She smirked. "But I think it worked out better this way. Zander, I missed out on 24-years with you because my mother got her feelings hurt."

"And our father refused to believe her." He added. Ever since meeting Caitlyn he wondered how things would have been different had she always been a part of his life. After Peter died he felt alone in the world; he got involved with some shady characters that eventually got him tripped up in drug dealing.

"I moved here to find him, and all I got was a tombstone with his name carved on it. I couldn't help to wonder if there was more, and the more a dug the worse it got. Peter was gone, you were gone… I really did start to believe there was no one."

"Well, kiddo, you don't have to worry about that anymore. You're not getting rid of me." He promised.

"Kiddo?" She laughed.

"Yeah, you got a problem with that?"

"No." Caitlyn shook her head. "How long have you and Alexis been close?"

"A while, I don't know. Besides Emily she was one of the first in town to really notice the good in me. She helped me out of a few rough spots. Believe it or not she also started dating dad for a bit."

"Oh really?" Caitlyn questioned.

"Yeah, personally, I think the reason it didn't work was that he wasn't dangerous enough for her."

"Well, wasn't Helena like a mother figure to her?"

"I guess, kind of, more the evil step-mom, why?" He inquired what that had to do with anything.

"When you grow with a certain level of insanity it's hard to picture yourself living without it."

"Is that why you gravitate towards John Zacchara?" Zander prodded realizing that although his teenage and early adult life was problematic his parents did a good job of ensuring that his early years were as nurturing as possible.

She nodded as she finished the last bite of her dessert. "It could be."

"You do know that you deserve more than that, right? You definitely deserve better than getting yourself shot at."

"He's not a bad person." Caitlyn argued.

"No; maybe not, and I wouldn't have a problem with you being friends with the guy if he wasn't involved in a business where innocent people get hurt; where you have already gotten hurt."

"Would you be here right now if that hadn't happened?"

"I don't know; that was up to Ric's discretion. I didn't say it didn't work out this time, but we may not be so lucky the next."

"I was going to stand by Dante's decision no matter what it was. It seems kind of hypocritical to say that I can't retain a friendship with Johnny because he's involved in the same business."

"Then don't let that be your reason. Let the reason be that you don't want him blowing a good thing you have going for yourself."

"Okay, thank you for dinner, but I think we should probably let the conversation go now." She replied realizing both were stubborn enough to not relent.

"Fine, I will let it go." Zander held her hand as she stood up realizing it was a lesson she would have to learn by herself.

XXXXXX

After Johnny, Stella, and Ric left Sonny carried Claudia up to the bedroom to shower her with attention.

"That thing can get wet, right?" He asked staring down at the ankle bracelet.

Claudia nodded. "Why, what did you have in mind?"

"I thought we could start with a bubble bath." Sonny replied he had already gotten the water ready to a comfortably warm temperature not was assured to not hurt the baby.

"Only if you join me." Claudia stated pulling off his shirt as they stood in the master bath.

"That was the idea." Sonny smirked allowing her to finish undressing him. Once she had Claudia pulled him into her bare chest and passionately kissed him. She realized that this was the first time she could be with him without some looming threat over her, and it was liberating. Still in his embrace Sonny cradled his wife and brought her into the Jacuzzi tub, and allowed them both in sink into the water in wild abandon.

XXXXXX

Bobbie had finished Britni's bottle, burped, and changed the little girl and for some reason she was still not satisfied. She held her close and bounced attempting to coerce the infant to sleep.

"Not a moment too soon." Robert allowed Jax entrance to the Brownstone.

"How's my princess?" Jax asked.

Bobbie shook her head as she recalled the previous conversation with Robert over the Disney Princess curse. "She's tired, but she's fighting it." Bobbie explained.

"Maybe a car ride is just what the doctor ordered then." Jax suggested. Bobbie reached Britni out to transfer her over to her daddy's grasp.

"Would you like me to get that?" Robert asked of the ringing phone.

"No; I got it." She assured him and raced over. The voicemail had just picked up.

"Mama, oh God, this isn't how I wanted to do this." Bobbie heard from the machine. Recognizing her daughter's voice Bobbie looked back at Robert and Jax to clarify she wasn't imagining it.

"Pick it up." Jax urged her with an overwhelming sigh of relief.

"Carly; Carly are you there?" Bobbie asked once she turned off the voicemail.

"Yeah, mama, I'm here." Carly replied. "Mama, don't cry please. I don't think I can handle that right now."

"I won't." Bobbie promised attempting to swallow down tears of joy. "Where are you, honey? What happened? Do you remember?"

"I'm at the Royal Hobert Hospital in Tasmania, Australia. Jason is here with me right now; I'm actually using his cell phone. I lost my memory after the shipwreck; apparently the trauma caused an aneurysm in my lateral ventricle and the swelling affected my hippocampus, or something. Jerry made me believe I was someone else, but that doesn't matter now. I'm okay; Patrick made sure of that."

"Patrick Drake?" Bobbie clarified.

"Yeah; he did the surgery to bind the aneurysm." Carly explained. "Mama, is that my girl I hear in the background?"

"Her daddy was just coming to pick her up." Bobbie confirmed. "Here let me put the receiver to her ear."

"Britni, it's your mommy." Carly stated once Bobbie gave the okay. "I miss you so much honey, I can't wait to come home and see how much you've grown. Have you been good for daddy?"

Britni cooed at the sound of her mother's voice. "Carly?" Jax picked up.

"Jax." She confirmed.

"I am so sorry…" He attempted to apologize.

"You have nothing to be sorry for. Jax, you are not responsible for your brother's actions, and I know you have shouldered all of the responsibility of looking after my children and I can't tell you how grateful I am for that."

"Have you spoken with Michael?" Jax questioned.

"Yes; I've talked to both Michael and Morgan."

"Carly, are you okay, you sound weak?"

"I'm… getting tired." She admitted feeling light headed. "I'd like to finish up with mama and then call Lulu. Do you think you could reach the rest of the Spencer's, and Olivia… and… Sonny, I think Sonny should probably know?"

"Yeah, don't worry about. Carly, just tell me everything's okay."

"I'm fine; I should be home in a couple days."

Jax nodded and handed the phone back to Bobbie. "Carly, how long have you been awake?" Bobbie asked wondering the strain she was putting on herself.

"About an hour, maybe a little less, Jason told me that everyone assumed I was dead after the accident. I just needed you to know that's not true."

"I appreciate that honey, but take it easy, relax, and when you're ready you have Jason bring you home."

"That's the plan." Carly chuckled. "And then I can show you the ring he put on my finger."

"Well he certainly didn't waste any time."

"I disagree and think he wasted way too much time with that one." Carly laughed.

"I suppose if you look at it that way. Carly, I love you!"

"I love you, too, mama. I'll call you tomorrow."