I wake up with Carly curled up on my good side. Her hand is softly tracing the bandage on my other shoulder. I watch a tear slide down her cheek. She had simply looked at my bandage last night with a sad expression. I was sure she was going to demand every detail, but she had just placed a gentle kiss on the bandage and climbed into bed.

With a voice gruff from sleep, I reassure her, "I'm okay. It's just a graze."

She gives me a winsome smile, barely lifting the corners of her lips. Then, her expression falls, and she is burying her face against my chest. I hold her through her tears, running my fingers soothingly through her hair. She keeps giving me hiccuping apologies. I tell her, again and again, "It's okay. Let it out."

Once she begins calming down, I tell her to breathe, and watch closely as she gets her emotions under control.

Wiping her eyes, she says shakily, "You have been shot twice since I got you back. I hate it!" She looks at me through her wet lashes, "Was it Sonny who shot you?"

She looks braced for the answer and lets out a breath when I shake my head. "Valentine did."

She looks at me with a question in her eyes, but must see the reserve in mine because all she asks is, "Is he dead?"

When I nod, she says, "Good. I never trusted the man."

Studying her face, I ask, "How are you doing with everything?"

Her shoulder ticks up, "Depends on the moment. I'm glad you and my kids are safe. Where Sonny's concerned, I go between fury and wanting to kill him again for going after Michael, and sadness that his disease led to this destruction and that my kids lost their father. And then, there's the dread of telling Donna and especially Avery what has happened. It's going to break their hearts. I would do anything to take away their pain."

I watch anguish fill her eyes thinking of the young children. Tears drip down her face and her voice breaks as she continues, "I don't even know what to say. How do I explain why their father and Ava are gone? And how do I tell Avery that her father killed her mother? Should I tell them? I can't bear for those little girls to know that their father did what he did. Oh God, but will they ever be able to escape it? I don't want them to get blindsided by it because I didn't prepare them!" Her body is tensing, her breath getting shorter, and I can feel the anxiety strumming through her.

"Just breathe, Carly. Count your breaths. One…" I slowly count until she begins to relax. Then, I tell her, "We will figure it out. We will tell them that their dad was sick and it led him to make some bad decisions. We tell them that no matter what the world says about him, they can remember the good times and the way he loved them. And most of all, we tell them they have us and all their family to help them through it. We will get all of our kids through this." I say this last sentence as a vow, promising my support and presence.

"You're right," she says softly, giving me a watery smile filled with love and gratitude.

"I think I need to mark this down in a calendar. Did you just say I'm right?" I tease her.

One side of her lips tilts up in a smirk, "Don't get used to it. It's extraordinary circumstances."

I tug on a strand of her hair, happy to see a smile make it to her eyes. "Copy that." I tell her with a grin, leaning forward to kiss her forehead.

As we lie there, curled around each other, I enjoy the quiet of the moment, knowing that the world is going to pull me in a thousand directions when I get out of this bed. I run my fingers through Carly's hair and over her skin, watching goosebumps pop up in my trail. Her fingers continue to trace patterns on my chest, as her eyes are miles away. It's a comfortable silence, both of us lost in thoughts about the day ahead.

She breaks the quiet, asking, "When are you meeting Anna?"

"This afternoon at some point. First, I am going to be here to help you talk to the kids. And, I need to get you back home. I will go up to the station after that. Anna will understand that my family comes first." She nods, clearly listening, but distracted. I ask her, "What are you thinking so hard about?"

Her eyes focus on mine. "Making a list of everything that needs to be done. I need to call Diane and get her working on guardianship of Avery. I need to get in touch with Olivia because I know we're going to have to deal with everything that happened at the hotel. And I have to make sure everything is covered at Bobbie's for a couple days." She lets out a weary sigh. "The day hasn't even started yet, and I'm exhausted. I just want to stay in this bed with you and pretend the world and all its problems don't exist."

She places feathery kisses on my chest. I pull her up, so our faces align. I lean forward, not kissing her yet, just looking at her. Our noses lightly brush, giving unconscious butterfly kisses. I feel the familiar emotion well up in me as I look in her eyes, overwhelming in its intensity. It's a sense of rightness, that in her arms is where I am supposed to be. It's knowing that the chance to love her and be by her side for the rest of my life would make me the luckiest man on the planet. I place a soft, brief kiss on her lips, then confide in a whisper, "When this is finally over, when I'm out of the FBI's reach, I want to marry you again. For only the right reasons this time. I know it's not the best moment to ask, but I don't want to wait to build our life together. And I don't want to go any longer without you by my side every day. I love you, I have always loved you and I want to be your husband more than anything. But I know it's not only what I…"

With tears in her eyes, she cuts me off, "Yes! Of course, yes! I would marry you this second if I could. I love you so much, Jason and being your wife will be the sweetest and most treasured gift I will always say yes to." I pull her to me and kiss her. It's a hard kiss, a kiss that claims her as mine, and feel her making the same claim of me. It deepens as passion takes hold. I kiss her again and again, but it's never enough. I'm dying of thirst, and this fiery woman is the only thing that will quench it. Rolling her so she's under me, we are soon lost to everything but the heaven found in each other's arms.

I walk into the PCPD precinct, to see Dante and Kristina talking to Anna. Agent Cates stands back watching them talk. When I walk in, they turn to look at me. Kristina is staring daggers at me, clearly blaming me for her father's death. Dante just looks grief stricken and exhausted.

With her hand on her baby bump, Kristina yells out, "This is your fault, Jason! My dad told me you betrayed him, that you are working for whoever has been trying to kill him, and now he's dead because of you!"

I don't respond, seeing the tremor in her hands and the anguish in her eyes. However, both Anna and Dante speak up.

"Kristina, that's not fair," warns Dante.

"How is Jason responsible for your father's actions? This is because of choices Sonny made, Kristina." Anna tells her.

"It's fine," I tell them. "She has just lost her father. And in her delicate condition, she doesn't need any additional stress. I will just wait in the interrogation room."

I turn to go in that direction, and see Cates push off the wall he's leaning against.

Anna's voice stops me, "I'm sorry, but no, it's not fine. Kristina, your father murdered Nina and Ava. We have evidence he went to the Metro Court to kill Carly," she pauses, then with intensity, "Sonny was killed outside Michael's home, creeping around with a gun. So, Kristina, I'm sorry you have lost your father, I really am. But blaming Jason is something I find completely unacceptable."

Kristina's eyes shoot to mine. Her voice quivers as she asks, "Michael? He was going to hurt Michael?"

I give a nod. She pales and her hands shake on her stomach. I move closer, but Dante is quicker when her knees give out. "I can't believe my dad would…"

I bring a chair over, and Dante gently lowers her into it. She is shaking her head, not wanting to believe it.

Quietly, I confirm, "He told me Michael and Carly were his to destroy and end. He was clear about why he was there."

"He was hurt and felt betrayed, but he loves Michael. Loved. This doesn't make sense." She looks at me, her eyes pleading, "You know my dad, probably better than anyone. He would never hurt women or his kids. After his stepfather, he prided himself on that. But yesterday…"

To reassure her, I say, "I did know him, and in his right mind, he would never hurt his kids, or physically hurt a woman. But I will tell you what we told your little sisters; your dad was sick. He wasn't thinking straight. The bipolar disorder had him paranoid and seeing enemies where there were none."

She shakes her head, "That doesn't make sense. He takes his meds. Did they stop working?"

Anna speaks up, "We can't go into detail right now, but there were issues with his medication. But, no matter what he has done, Kristina, Dante," her voice cracks slightly when she says the detective's name, "Jason, I am sorry for your loss. And please pass my condolences on to his other children and Carly." I give a nod. "How are they?"

"It's been a rough morning. Carly and I broke it to Donna and Avery before I came here. They are confused and heartbroken. They couldn't understand why this happened. But Carly and the family are circling around, making sure they are safe and loved. Right now, that's all we can do for them." I turn my attention to Dante and Kristina, "I'm sure they would love to see their brother and sister."

"Of course," Kristina says, distracted.

Anna tells them, "I am sorry, but I need to speak with Jason privately. So, if you will excuse us."

"One more thing," I cut in, directing my attention to Sonny's children, "I am not sure if anyone has told you yet, but your brother, Morgan, is alive. He should be at Carly's for most of the day, and I know he is looking forward to seeing you."

Both look at me in shock, though this time of a happier kind.

"Morgan is alive?" Dante asks. "Did my dad know?"

I nod, "He went to tell Sonny when he got to town a week ago."

Kristina smiles tremulously, her hand reaching for her brother's.

When I walk into the interrogation room, Cates is already sitting at the table with his back to the door. I walk around and take a seat. Anna is the last to enter, closing the door behind her.

She starts a device on the table, stating, "This is a recording of a conversation with Jason Morgan about the events of May twenty eighth. Mr. Morgan, please tell us the events that led to Sonny Corinthos and Valentine Cassadine's death."

For the next two hours, I tell them everything that happened, going into as much detail as possible. Anna and Cates stop me to ask questions and to clarify, making me backtrack again and again.

Once I've gone through everything for the third time, Anna says, "Thank you, Jason. That is everything for me. Agent Cates, do you have any additional questions?"

I look at the man who holds Carly's future in his hands. He's leaning back in his chair, eyeing me as well. I tense as he lets the moment drag out. He's trying to mask his expression, but I see the calculation in his gaze.

I sit forward, recognizing his intent before he speaks, "Mr. Morgan, I know you think this wipes the slate, but…"

Anna stands up, coming to stand behind me. Her voice is loud and accusing as she tells Cates, "Hold on, Agent Cates. From my understanding, he was supposed to help you figure out who was in charge of Pikeman, and then help bring them down. With the evidence found in Valentine's records, we have the blueprint for their arms dealing, including records of payments, inventory of goods and where they were stolen from. We have all the evidence needed to take apart the entire company and all the major players behind it. He has done what you asked, more than you asked. Honestly, with your grudge against Sonny, I'm surprised you aren't shaking his hand. So, whatever hold you have over Carly, needs to end now. Jason deserves you keeping your word since he kept his."

Agent Cates sits forward, "Look Commissioner, I get that you have warm and fuzzy feelings about Mr. Morgan because he was nice to your kid…"

"Excuse me?!" Anna erupts. "That is entirely uncalled for! My job is to make sure the law is upheld and corruption doesn't happen on my watch. And quite frankly, this is beginning to feel a bit corrupt, Agent Cates."

He stands up and shrugs, "Your opinion is noted. It doesn't change the fact that Morgan has more to do." He stands up and walks to the door. Opening it halfway, he turns back to say, "I will be in touch." And then he's gone.

I feel rage fill me until my vision is hazy and my ears are ringing. I hate feeling helpless, knowing that I will do whatever he tells me in order to keep Carly safe. I want to tear him apart, limb by limb for threatening the woman I love. I curse and slam my hand on the table.

Anna walks around the table to sit directly in front of me. She leans back, giving me a contemplative look. "Jason, I think it's time you tell me everything. I'm going to help you get Carly out of this mess."