Steve paced nervously in the hallway outside the visitor's room at Bayview Sanitarium. Jack, Jennifer, and Kayla had just gone into the visitor's room to tell Jo the news of his return from the not-quite dead. It had taken an hour of meetings with the administrator and staff therapist before they had even been allowed to meet with Jo. The administrator had protested the number of visitors and the staff therapist had worried that giving Jo the news without "proper preparation" might cause a setback in her recovery.

Steve had scoffed at that comment. What exactly was "proper preparation" for the news that you son was not actually dead? Eventually, the combination of Kayla's earnestness, Jack and Jennifer's veiled threats of bad publicity, and Steve's less-veiled threats of something even more unpleasant had convinced the administrator and therapist that an exception to procedure and policy could be made because of "exceptional circumstances."

So . . . now he would wait. Steve hated waiting. But this time, he knew it was truly necessary. It would be unfair to Jo to spring this on her without some explanation. As he paced around the room, he thought back to the drive to Bayview. Jack had taken the opportunity to explain, in his halting and stammering manner, the full events surrounding Jo's killing of Nick, the ultimate discovery that she was the killer, and her placement in Bayview. Kayla had told him most of the story, but even she had not been aware that it was Jack's search for the killer in the hopes of finding evidence to use against Lawrence that had led to the identification of Jo as Nick's killer. Steve had seen the guilt on Jack's face and heard it in his voice, as he explained the full story. Steve understood that guilt all too well. But he knew that what happened to Jo was not Jack's fault. She was just one more victim to be laid at the feet of Lawrence Alamain.

For a man he had never met, Lawrence was rapidly becoming the man Steve hated like no other. The more he learned about all that had happened while he was gone, the more it all seemed to tie back to Alamain. His disappearance, Jennifer's rape - Steve's blood had boiled when Kayla had told him about that - the near death of so many of his friends and family in Alamainia - all of that was due to Lawrence. And that did not count the collateral damage done to Kayla, Stephanie, Kim and, as much as Steve might not want to admit it, Shane. Steve again vowed to make sure Alamain could never hurt anyone he cared about again.

As he finished that thought, the door to the visitor's room opened and Kayla softly said, "You can come in now."

Taking a deep breath, Steve walked in the door. He immediately saw Jo holding onto Jack's arm and watched as her hand flew to her mouth and her eyes widened in shock. Tears sprang to her eyes as he continued to walk towards her. When he was standing in front of her, he gave a small smile and said simply, "Hi, Mama."

Jo left out a soft cry and then threw herself into Steve's arms, crying inconsolably. Steve held her closely, saying over and over, "It's all right, mama." Finally, he felt Jo take a deep breath and ease herself from his arms. She looked up at his face and laughed through her tears.

"It's really you. I can't believe my son is really here."

"I'm really here, Mama," Steve replied.

"Oh son!" Jo exclaimed. "I've missed you so much. We've all missed you so much."

"I know Mama. I missed you too," Steve said, his own emotions breaking through.

Jo embraced him again, and Steve looked over her shoulder to Kayla, whose own eyes were damp with tears. Even Jack looked a bit emotional, something Steve had never really seen.

Pulling away again, Jo suddenly asked, "Does Adrienne know that you're back home?"

"Yeah she does. Kayla called her last night and we had a nice talk. She and Justin promised to come for a visit real soon," Steve said.

"Oh that would be wonderful," Jo said, smiling broadly. "All my kids back together again."

Steve smiled in return, knowing how much having all of her children together had always meant to Jo. Maybe, this year, they could actually have that Johnson-family Christmas she had always wanted.

Moving to the small couch in the room, Steve sat down and patted the spot next to him. "Come sit here and tell me how things are going in this place."

Jo sat down beside him, and Steve listened as she told him about her daily routine. It amazed Steve that she could make being stuck in an institution sound so pleasant, but he figured she was probably putting a good face on it for his sake. When she had finished, she asked him a few questions, mainly how he felt what it was like to be home, and about Stephanie. She seemed to be avoiding any questions related to his time away, and he supposed that Kayla had told her that he did not remember anything and Jack had probably suggested that Jo not ask him any questions about it.

Gradually, the conversation became more casual and Jo talked about Jack and Jennifer's wedding and how lucky she was to be allowed to attend. Jennifer told stories about their recently completed honeymoon, mostly involving the myriad of ways that Jack had made a fool of himself.

Watching Jo laugh at Jennifer's stories and Jack's antics, and hearing Kayla pitch in with little stories about Stephanie, Steve marveled at the fact that his family really was a family now. For so many years, he had accepted the fact that it could never happen. There was too much history and hurt - first, between him and Jo; second, between him and Jack; and, most importantly, between Jack and Kayla. Things had finally begun to come together before his disappearance, but it was clear that the healing had continued even after he was gone. He again gave thanks for second chances.

Before long, the door opened and the staff therapist announced that it was time for Jo's therapy session and the visit would have to end.

Steve stood back as Jack, Jennifer, and Kayla said their goodbyes. He smiled inwardly at Jack's discomfort as Jo fussed over him. Then it was Steve's turn, and he pulled Jo into another hug. He could feel her cling to him as if reassuring herself yet again that he was really there. Finally pulling away, he smiled down at Jo and said, "Don't worry, Mama, I'm real. Kayla and I'll be back soon to see you. Maybe they'll even let us bring Stephanie for a visit."

"That would be wonderful, son," Jo replied. Looking closely at him, she continued, "You take care of yourself now, you hear me."

"Yes, Mama," Steve replied.

"Don't worry, Jo. I'll make sure he stays out of trouble," Kayla said, with a smile.

Jo laughed. "Good luck with that."

"Hey! Why does everything think I'm always getting into trouble?" Steve asked in mock protest.

"Because you are," Jo replied. "But it's just one of the reasons we love you."

Jo reached up and hugged him again then softly said, "I love you, son."

Steve's voice caught as the emotion hit him. "I love you too, Mama."

Smiling and waving, Jo left the room with the therapist, leaving Jack, Jennifer, Steve, and Kayla alone. Kayla walked over and put her arms around Steve, asking "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Sweetness," Steve replied, pulling her into his embrace. Looking over at Jack, Steve continued, "I've got my family back again and that's all I need."

Pulling away from Kayla, he looked down at her smiled. "How about we go home and take Stephanie to the park?"

"Sounds good," Kayla said.

Steve smiled and headed for the door with his arm around Kayla, as Jack and Jennifer followed.