Steve glanced up as Kim returned to the living room. He gave her a quick smile then turned back to Kayla who was dialing the phone. After a moment, he heard her speak and listened to her half of the conversation.

"Hello. Jennifer? It's Kayla."

"Yeah. We just got back tonight."

"She's fine. We're all fine."

"Listen Jennifer. I know it's kind of late, but I was wondering if you and Jack could come over to my parents' house?"

"No, really, we're all fine. I can't really get into it over the phone. Can you two just come over?"

"Great. We'll see you in a few minutes. Thanks, Jennifer. Goodbye."

Steve watched as Kayla hung up the phone and turned to him. "They're on their way over," she said with a small smile.

"Thanks, baby," Steve said, kissing her forehead. He was excited to see his brother, but was also very mindful of the history between Jack and Kayla. Before he had disappeared, the three of them had found a way to make a tentative peace and, from what Kayla had told him, that had continued while he was gone. But he knew that did not make any of it easy for Kayla.

"It looks like we're going to be here awhile, so I'm going to go get Stephanie settled in the bedroom." Kayla reached up to give Steve a quick kiss. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

Steve watched as Kayla took a sleepy Stephanie from her doting grandfather and headed into the hallway. He felt a slap on his shoulder as Bo said, "Can't keep your eyes off of them, can you?"

Steve chuckled. "I don't plan on letting them out of my sight for a long, long time."

"I can't say I blame you. I bet Kayla feels the same way."

"Yeah," Steve said, thinking back to all the time he and Kayla had spent together at Donovan Manor. Reminding himself that that topic was off limits, Steve gave Bo a smile and said, "All I know is that it is good to be home again."

"It's good to have you home again . . . as unbelievable as it is." Bo shook his head. "You really have no idea where you've been all this time?"

"Not a clue, dude. Kim says the memories may come back in time, but right now I just want to focus on the future, not the past."

Bo gave Steve a curious look, then shrugged his shoulders and said, "Whatever you say, man."

Steve leaned in, keeping his voice low, "That doesn't mean that I'm not ready to go after this Alamain dude. Maybe there's no proof, but I'm sure he's the one responsible . . . and I might need a little help."

A grin broke out on Bo's face. "There's nothing I'd like better than to nail that guy."

Steve stuck out his hand and said, "Just like old times."

Bo shook his hand and repeated, "Just like old times."

As they shared a grin, Kayla walked up. "Uh oh. What are you two up to?"

Before either could answer, there was a knock on the door. Kayla glanced at Steve and then walked quickly to answer it. Steve watched as she opened the door and welcomed Jack and Jennifer into the house.

From his spot in the corner of the kitchen, Steve could not hear exactly what Kayla was saying to Jack and Jennifer, but he watched as their eyes widened in shock. He saw Jack's eyes scan the room until they landed on Steve. Steve moved from the corner and walked towards where Jack and Jennifer were standing.

Jennifer was the first to react as she threw her arms around Steve and gave him a big hug, as she said "Oh my god, Steve. I can't believe you're here."

Steve chuckled as he disengaged himself saying, "And I can't believe you are finally Mrs. Deveraux." Glancing at Jack who had remained frozen to the spot, Steve added, "Sorry, I missed the wedding. I hear it was quite the event."

Jennifer glanced at Jack and smiled. "It was wonderful. But all that matters right now is that you're back, right, Jack?"

"Uhh . . . right." Jack said, finally breaking his silence. "How . . . why . . . what . . ."

"What Jack is trying to say is how did this happen?" Jennifer said, rolling her eyes at her husband.

Steve listened as Kayla repeated the cover story. He could see the wheels turning in Jack's mind and knew that, unlike everybody else, Jack wasn't going to buy it quite so easily. When Kayla finished, she turned to Jennifer and said, "Why don't we go see if we can find something to drink in the kitchen?"

Jennifer nodded and the two women walked off, leaving Jack and Steve alone. After a moment's silence, Jack finally stuck out his hand and said, "Welcome home."

Steve gave a sardonic smile and shook Jack's hand. "Thanks. It's good to be back."

"So . . . you really don't know where you've been the last 10 months," Jack said, trying and failing to sound innocent.

"That's right." Steve said forcefully, eyeing Jack, daring him to ask any more questions.

"Well . . . um . . . I guess all that matters is that you're back. Jo is going to be beside herself." Jack spoke quickly, clearly having received Steve's message.

Steve frowned slightly at the mention of their mother. She had killed Nick believing she was avenging Steve's death, and now he was home and she was in Bayview. Looking at Jack, Steve quietly asked, "How is she doing? Is she okay?"

Jack gave a little smile and said, "She's fine. Bayview isn't the Ritz, but she's doing well. Hopefully, she'll be out in just a few months, ready to cook another green noodle tuna casserole."

Steve chuckled. One of the few things he and Jack had in common was their dislike of their mother's signature dish. Turning serious, Steve said, "Thanks for looking out for her, Jack."

"I . . . uh . . . I didn't really do anything," Jack said self-consciously.

"Yeah, you did," Steve said. "You helped our mother when she was in trouble. You took care of your family. That's a lot."

Jack nodded, but didn't say anything, as Steve continued to speak. "Kayla and I are planning on going to Bayview tomorrow to see Jo. Maybe you and Jennifer could come along?"

"Yeah . . . maybe . . . I mean, I don't know what Jennifer has planned or anything," Jack stammered.

Steve rolled his eyes. Some things would never change. "Okay Jack. You talk it over with the wife and let me know," Steve said. "Meanwhile, I'm going to go find that drink my wife went in search of."

"Wait," Jack said suddenly.

Steve turned back to Jack. "Yeah?"

Jack was silent for a moment, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Steve was about to give up waiting for him when Jack reached into his jacket and pulled out his wallet. "I . . . I have something . . . that is you kind of gave me this. . . . I, uh, I thought you might want it back."

Steve looked down as Jack pulled a picture from his wallet. It was a faded black-and-white photo of a small boy and a baby, the picture of Steve and Billy that Steve had carried for so many years. Steve did not remember giving it to Jack, but supposed it must have happened in the hospital.

Taking the picture from Jack, Steve stared at it for a moment. There was so much history - good and bad - wrapped up in that picture. Steve had loved and missed that baby his entire life. And when he had found him, he had nearly destroyed all their lives with his attempt to play God. Yet, somehow, that love for his brother had never died. They would never be those two little boys in that picture again, but they would always be brothers.

Steve shook himself from his memories and handed the picture back to Jack. "I gave that to you for a reason, I imagine. So, I think you better keep it."

Again, Jack just nodded and put the picture back into his wallet. "Now, how about that drink?" Steve asked, giving Jack a smile. "You look like you could use one."

Jack smiled back. "Sounds good." Together they headed off to rejoin the party.