Steve laughed as he swung Stephanie high over his head. Stephanie's wide smile and giggles told him that she was enjoying this little game as much as he was. It was hard to believe that just a few short weeks ago he had been barely able to lift her up at all. His strength had not returned completely, but the constant stream of food supplied by Worthington and the rest Kayla had insisted he get had him feeling, and looking, much more like the Steve Johnson who had left Salem 10 months before.

The walks he had taken frequently around the estate had grown longer with each day and he had even started jogging a bit. Over the last week, those walks and runs had always ended in the same place - the bench by the pond where Kim was waiting for him. He could not say he enjoyed those conversations, but he was trying to take that first step. Yet each conversation was an internal battle between his desire to get better and his desire to bury everything that had happened. He could tell that Kim was often frustrated, but she remained patient and Steve appreciated her willingness to keep trying.

Kayla had asked him about those conversations a few times, but he had quickly changed the subject. He knew she was hurt that he would not confide in her, but he could not help that - not yet. He knew how hard it would be on her to know the details of what he had been through. He could barely face those memories and he could not imagine what it might do to Kayla. Someday he would explain it to her, but not now.

Stephanie's giggles again interrupted his thoughts. Steve gently set her down and watched as she toddled around the lawn. It amazed him to see how much she had changed and grown just in the weeks they had been at Donovan Manor. She was not exactly talking just yet, but she was definitely trying. She called Kayla "Mama" and he had heard a "bankie" or two. Kayla had told him it was just a matter of time before she called him "Papa" and Steve couldn't wait for that moment.

Steve knew that it would not be long before they would be heading back to Salem. There was no timetable just yet, but with Shane leaving for some mission soon, he knew that their time at Donovan Manor was drawing to a close. In fact, he suspected Shane would be leaving very soon. In the distance, Steve could hear the crack of a gun being firing; Shane doing some target practice in preparation for his mission.

As much as Steve was looking forward to being back in Salem and seeing the rest of his friends and family, he also knew he would miss the quiet time he had experienced here with Stephanie and Kayla. He could only imagine the reactions from the rest of the family when they heard the news, and he was sure there would be very little quiet time when they finally returned home. But watching Stephanie play, he vowed that he would always find time for these moments with his little girl.

Walking over to where Stephanie sat, Steve plopped down on the grass beside her and was rewarded with the smile that melted his heart. He remembered the day she was born and how he had felt a love stronger than anything he thought possible. He remembered the fear when she had been kidnapped and the joy when he and Kayla had found her and brought her home. He had thought that the bad times were over then - that they had survived everything that had been thrown at them - and there were only good times and a long future of love and happiness before them. He had been wrong.

But now he had a second chance. He could no longer take the future for granted. He had to treasure every moment he had with his family, always knowing that it could all be taken away in a heartbeat. Steve also knew that he could not sit back and wait for the next bad thing to happen. He had to be ever vigilant for threats to his family's happiness.

The first thing he would do when he returned to Salem was find out more about Lawrence Alamain. He had no idea why Alamain would have taken him. From what Kayla and Kim had told him, the bomb on the boat had been intended for Bo, not for Steve. So why had Alamain gone to the trouble of faking his death? Once he was home, he would get Bo and Roman to help him figure out the answer to that question.

A little voice in the back of his mind told him that Shane would probably be the best person to help him, but Steve ignored the thought. He was not ready to ask Mr. ISA for help. Roman and Bo would have access to everything he needed and, if they did not, then he would face the issue of asking Shane for assistance.

A noise caught Steve's attention and he looked up to see Kayla walking towards he and Stephanie. Even from a distance her beauty could take his breath away. Steve got up, picked up Stephanie, and began walking to meet Kayla. In his arms, Stephanie saw Kayla. Pointing towards her, Stephanie said, "Mama!"

"That's right, little Sweetness, there's Mama." Steve smile matched his daughter's perfectly.

When they reached Kayla, Steve leaned in and gave her a kiss. Kayla returned the kiss, then said, "So what have you two been up to? Looking for mischief?"

"Who us?" Steve asked with mock innocence.

"Yes you," Kayla responded in a teasing tone. "Don't give me that innocent look. It doesn't work with me."

"Oh it doesn't huh?" Steve looked at Stephanie and said, "I guess Papa better remember that in the future."

Stephanie looked up at Steve and smiled. She reached for his cheek and, touching it, said, "Papa." Then she giggled.

Steve thought his heart would burst when he heard those words. He stared at Stephanie for a moment, then looked over at Kayla who was smiling broadly. Looking back at Stephanie, he said, "That's right, baby girl, I'm your Papa."

"Papa," Stephanie repeated.

"Watch out, Steve," Kayla said. "Now she has a new word, it's all you are going to hear for a while."

"That's fine by me," Steve said. "I don't think I could ever hear that enough."

Steve thought back to those moments in hell when he thought he would never live to hear those words. But here he was holding his daughter, listening to her babble and giggle as Kayla tickled her.

This was all he had ever wanted and the one thing he had believed for so long he could never have, could never deserve - a loving wife, a beautiful daughter, a family. Looking at the two people he loved most in this world, Steve knew it was time to try and put the past behind them and start moving forward. And that meant there was something he had to do and he knew he had to do it today.

Steve handed Stephanie to Kayla. "Why don't you take her in and see if Mrs. Batson has her lunch ready?"

Kayla looked at him, clearly puzzled. "Aren't you coming in with us?"

"Not yet. There's something I need to take care of first." He leaned down, kissed his daughter, and then kissed his wife. "Don't worry, Sweetness, it's a good thing. I'll catch up with you two in a little while."

Kayla gave him a curious look, but didn't question him further. She leaned up and kissed him again and then turned and headed back to the house with Stephanie. Steve watched them for a moment, then turned and set out on his mission.