JR had been floating around the hospital for days now, his life suddenly in a strange limbo. People still greeted him with a smile and a pat on the back, the press hailed him as a hero and his father had welcomed him home like the prodigal son, all wrongs forgiven. Yet the only thing JR could see was Marissa's face swimming before his eyes. He couldn't sleep, he couldn't eat. She was still alive and yet like a ghost she haunted his every moment. It was no longer a mask of fear he saw on her face but a look of blame.

As he drifted through the hospital corridors he told himself he was waiting for news of Marissa. News that she was dead and then he could celebrate – 'Ding dong the witch is dead…'

That is what he kept telling himself.

Even as she was now, in a coma, there was no one to stop AJ being his again. He had to pull it together and focus on the plan. He was a hero now and there was no one left to argue against him taking his son home where he belonged.

AJ was in the hospital today, he had seen him arrive with Opal. JR waited for a sight of him. He would ignore Marissa's accusing eyes that in his head followed his every move and he would stick to the plan. He would take back his son and then he would take back his life.

JR watched as AJ walked out of his mother's hospital room with his head bowed, talking quietly to Gabby, one hand on her shoulder. Both children froze when they saw him. Opal appeared a moment later with Miranda.

JR gave her a cautious smile.

"I wonder if I could have a moment with my son."

Opal sighed and tousled AJ's hair.

"Do you want to talk to your daddy, AJ?"

The little boy nodded.

"We'll be just over here." said Opal gesturing to a nearby break room.

JR knelt down beside his son and AJ threw his arms around his father's neck letting out great sobs of pain.

"There, there." said JR, patting his son's back. "It's going to be alright."

He was smiling, he couldn't stop himself. The plan had worked after all. It was so great to have his son in his arms again. So great to get him away from Marissa's clutches and back where he belonged.

"I miss my mommy." cried AJ and JR's back suddenly stiffened.

"I've got an idea that will make this all better." JR said. He gave his son what he hoped was a consolatory smile, his mind still reeling from his son's exclamation.

AJ pulled out of the hug, sniffing and wiping the tears from his eyes.

"What daddy?"

"What do you say to moving back to the mansion? We could be a family again - Father and son, like it should be."

AJ sighed and suddenly looked down at his shoes.

"I don't want to." he said quietly. "Miranda, Gabby and me have got a plan to make Bianca feel better. We are going to start it tonight"

"You can do that any time." said JR. His son mentioning Bianca's name was like him sticking in a knife. This was not how this was meant to go. "Come on AJ, you and me, just like before. What do you say?"

"I don't want to." said AJ again, a little more forcefully.

"Why not?" demanded JR.

AJ thought for a moment, measuring up what to say.

"I don't want you to be mad, daddy. I miss you, but you made my mommy cry and I can't forgive you."

"AJ, Marissa is not your mother. You're not her biological child, you're mine. You're my son. You belong to me."

He hadn't meant to shout, he really hadn't, but he couldn't stop the hate as the words spilt from his lips.

AJ just starred at his father for the longest moment, his eyes wide, and then he simply turned and ran after Opal.

"AJ!" JR shouted.

AJ didn't look back.

"Well that didn't go to plan did it?"

JR turned to see Marissa standing beside the nurse's station a smug smile on her face. She was still in her long brown party dress, a trickle of red blood marring her forehead.

"You!" he gasped, almost choking on the word.

"Oh don't worry JR." she said, "I'm not really here. This is all just in your head." She leant forward and whispered in a mocking tone. "You must just have a very guilty conscious."

...