Kristen walked into the house and found her parents in the kitchen with coffee, sitting in silence at the island, holding hands. She had to believe last night put things in perspective and brought them together. They always came together for the three of them. Always. It was just a matter of how long it would last, settling ELQ. That could help them. "How's Addie? Did she tell you what happened?" Kristen asked as she entered the room and her parents looked up at her.

"She did." Alexis stated.

"And?" She needed to know what they knew.

"She was almost raped, Krissy. Someone at that party turned a light on, stopped it from happening and she got away." Ned told her.

"Thank God." She said, realizing that it had to have been Joss. "Did she say who it was? Are you filing a police report?" She wanted her sister to use her voice. She wanted her sister to say something. She wanted her own decision to have been made for her.

"She's not there yet, Krissy. She doesn't want to report it right now and your dad and I, we're giving her some space to process. It's still pretty raw." Alexis explained.

"Which is why she should be talking to the police right now. Before she forgets anything." It didn't make sense. She knew her parents. She knew they'd both want justice for Addison.

"She deserves at least 24 hours before anyone starts pushing her to do something she's not ready for. Promise me you're not going to upstairs and try to convince her to change her mind right now." Alexis tried to reason with her oldest before things escalated.

"Mom, you can't let her stay silent. Dad, tell her." She wanted her parents to make her say something because Michael's offer was tempting and if she spoke up she wouldn't need to make this choice.

"I agree with your mother, Krissy. We're a united front on this. Trust me, we want justice for her just as badly as you do."

She sighed. "I guess it's your call, but…"

"It is our call; we're her parents. I know she's your sister and you love her, but the best thing you can do for her right now is follow her lead on this. Let her know you're there for her." Alexis said, standing up and trying not to grow frustrated.

"I will, but maybe I should just ask her why she doesn't want to say anything. Maybe I can help convince her it's the wrong decision."

"Kristen, this happened to her. Your sister needs our compassion right now, not our judgment."

"But she has the power to stop this from happening to someone else! Why are you letting her stay silent?!" She didn't mean to snap at her mother, but the pressure of wanting it out there so she wouldn't use her sister as a means to an end weighed on her.

"Because it's her story to tell and I'm not going to force her to say anything she isn't ready to face. It wasn't some stranger. It was someone she knows. She has to see this boy everyday."

"All the more reason to get her to speak up. And why are you going along with it, Dad?"

"Because your mother and I agreed this is what we need to do."

"Just drop this, Kristen. Please, for your sister's sake drop it. You don't know what this feels like. Pushing her is only going to cause her to pull away from us. She needs our support and yours, too."

"Why does it sound like you're speaking from experience, Mom?"

Ned watched her freeze and as he watched his wife he couldn't help but feel that their daughter was right. It would explain so much.

"Bug, all I'm saying is that if she wants to talk to you, great, be there for her, but don't push her to do anything she's not ready for. Please."

She could read her mom. There was definitely history she didn't know about. "Yeah, I got it. I'm going to go see if she needs anything."

"That would be great, Krissy. She's been holed up in her room all morning reading." Ned waited for his daughter to leave the room and then walked over to his wife and placed his hand on her back. "Is Kristen right? Is there something you've never told me about?"

She turned to him, her eyes pleading with him to drop it, as she changed the subject. She had worked too long and too hard to bury what had happened on that island. "You know, I think you should talk to Owen. I know you've had that conversation with him, but considering…just remind him."

He knew what she was doing and no coaxing would change that, so he let her be her. "Do you think we should tell him about Addie? I don't want to betray her confidence, but he's her family, and he goes to that school…"

Alexis nodded. "He needs to know. Addison will understand that."

"When's her next session with Dr. Winters? We should probably call and tell her what happened."

"Uh, next week I think. I need to check, but I can call her while you talk to Owen. That's a good idea." Alexis said as she placed her hands on his chest, she paused, looked into his eyes and hesitated before continuing. "Ned, Before I take care of that…I want you to know that our kids come first, always. I don't want you to question that because I'm going to have to return those calls eventually."

"I know you are and I know they do. Go call Dr. Winters. We'll deal with that later. I love you."

"I love you." Alexis said as she took his hand, squeezed it and then left the kitchen.

Ned sat back down at the island and went back to the article he had been reading earlier that morning. The stock price for ELQ had fallen and he knew the company was going to need a solution, soon. Ned looked up from the article in the paper he was reading as his son entered the kitchen. "How are you feeling, buddy?"

Owen stopped by the fridge and looked at his Dad. He looked tired, both his parents looked tired. "It doesn't hurt as bad, but I get dizzy sometimes when I stand up too quickly."

"You need rest, O."

"I know, I just came to get some water and then I was going to watch something downstairs."

"Can you hang here for a few minutes? I need to talk to you."

"Is this about the party?" He said closing the fridge and walking over to the island.

"It is. I get the feeling you left out some pretty important details last night…"

Owen looked at his dad and said nothing. He wasn't wrong.

"Owen…"

"I may not have told you everything…that's true, but I also feel like it's Addison's story to tell. I was outside. Joss came to get me when she saw her run off and I went after her, but I didn't see anything…is she ok, Dad, honestly?

"Someone at the party, a senior boy, assaulted your sister last night."

"Was she…" He needed to know if what he inferred was correct and walked closer to where his Dad was sitting.

"She says no, but from what she described she was dangerously close, and this boy absolutely forced himself on her."

"Who?" He needed to know what his parents knew. It was risky enough dropping Joss' name.

"She won't say, buddy."

"That's crazy. She has to say something." He didn't understand why she'd stay silent.

"She's not crazy, and I don't disagree, but it happened to her and she needs time to process it before she's ready to face it head on. She needs our support."

"Yeah, of course. Can I do anything?"

"She's dealing with a lot right now, but if there is, we'll let you know."

"Ok." He replied.

"How are you doing after last night aside from your concussion? That crash had to be upsetting. Are you sure you're ok?"

"I mean it's nothing compared to what happened to Addie. How does this happen, Dad?"

"I wish I had an answer for you."

"Maybe if I had said something sooner. Maybe it wouldn't have gotten so out of control online and led to this."

"This isn't your fault." Ned assured his son, who nodded in response. "Owen, I know we've talked, but I want to be clear. Before you do anything with a girl, you need to get consent. If she says no, she absolutely means no. And even if she doesn't, even if she initially says it's ok, if there is even the slightest bit of hesitation, you stop, you check-in, you get consent again. She can change her mind. Do you understand?"

"Yes. I see the way you are with Mom. I have three sisters. I know and I would never do that to someone."

"I know. I know. But, after what happened, I just needed to tell you again, remind you. I'm your dad."

"I understand." Owen said. He felt guilty for not giving his dad more details, but he needed to talk to his sister himself. If he told their dad everything they'd know who it was and now that he knew Addison wanted to keep quiet. He needed to know why. He told his dad he was heading back up to his room to rest, and then stopped outside his sister's room and knocked. "Addie?"

"Owen? You can come in." She put her book down and sat up, leaning against the headboard. He walked in and sat on the window seat. "How's your head? I heard you had a concussion."

"It still hurts, and I'm going insane with the limited screen time but it's nothing compared to what happened to you."

"You got in a car accident. Don't minimize it for my sake. I'm glad you're ok. Why were you out anyway? I thought you and Will came to the party together. You were having fun. Why'd you leave?"

"Joss came to find me after you ran…I went to look for you. I was afraid you were hurt or having a panic attack or both and needed help."

"She did? How did she even know?" Addison was surprised. They hadn't been getting along, they exchanged words that night. But then she remembered Joss was concerned about her initially. She thought it was fake, maybe she was wrong.

"Morgan's her brother…" Owen explained.

"So you know?" Addison sighed.

"What he did? I think so…Dad said you weren't…but Addie why won't you tell anyone it was him?"

"I can barely even think about it, Owen. Please don't tell anyone. It's better this way. Trust me."

"I'm not going to say anything. It happened to you, and you should get to decide what people know. What you're comfortable with sharing…but I'm here if you need anything. Or if you ever do want to come forward…I've got your back. I was there and I'm in your corner."

"Thanks. I can't even imagine the hell that Joss must be facing. To know what he did."

"You're compassionate to even be thinking about her right now."

"I can't help it. I feel so lucky that I have you as a brother. You sure you're ok?"

"I'm fine, But I feel like you should know I called the police last night. Morgan was driving drunk and I wanted him stopped before he hurt someone else. I reported the party."

"Did he cause your accident? Are you sure you're ok?"

"I don't know. I hit my head, there was a glare from the snow, but there were police lights heading towards the party. The next thing I remember I was at GH."

"Do Mom or Dad know you did that?"

"No. I didn't tell anyone, just you. And now I feel like if I do… people will piece together who did this to you, so I've got to keep quiet, too."

"I appreciate it. I know what being honest means to you Owen…"

"You're my little sister. I'd do anything for you. I love you, Addie."

"Love you, too Owen…I don't say it much…but I do."

After talking with their son, Ned walked into the office where he found Alexis sitting at her desk, staring at her phone. She was contemplating returning the calls, he knew her.

She felt his concerned stare, "How'd it go?" She asked as she made eye contact with her husband.

"Fine. He's a good kid, he gets it. I'm still worried he's not telling us everything though."

"Me too. Come sit with me." She said, making the conscious choice to not return any of the missed calls today. Their kids needed her. Her family needed her full attention. She stood and took his hand and led him into the living room. He sat down and she sat leaning up against him. He wrapped his arms around her as they sat in the silence taking comfort in each other.

He kissed the top of her head and then asked, "So, are you calling Sonny back?"

"I didn't say it was Sonny," She said as she sat up and turned to face him, drawing one leg underneath her and leaning up against the back of the sofa.

"I know it was Sonny." He said quietly.

She draped her arm along the back of the sofa and placed her hand at the nape of his neck, ran her fingers through his hair. , "Morgan's case is not important today. Being here for Addison. For Owen. That's what's important to me. Sonny and Carly can wait. I won't put my own children's trauma second. If that means they go hire another lawyer then so be it."

"I'm sorry for doubting you." He said sincerely.

"You didn't." She was not going to fight with him today.

"This weekend didn't exactly start how either of us hoped," Ned stated.

"We go from crisis to crisis recently." She acknowledged what felt like their lived reality.

"We're good in a crisis."

"We're good together, period." She said as he pulled her closer and wrapped his arm around her again and she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Tomorrow, let's go have that dinner we were supposed to have last night, but never did."

"We can't go away now."

"Not away. Not overnight. Just dinner. We forget to take care of ourselves in crisis mode and we're already holding on by a thread." He knew they still needed to try. What happened to their daughter was going to be hard on all of them. They needed to be solid on ground.

"Dinner it is." She tilted her head towards him and he kissed her before they settled in again. They laid there, eyes closed, resting after what had been a long night and an emotionally draining morning. They hadn't been resting for more than five minutes when there was a knock at the door.

"Are you expecting anyone?" Alexis asked Ned as she got up.

"No," he said as he followed.

She opened the door to reveal Carly. "What the hell is wrong with you? Don't you answer your phone anymore? Sonny and I have been calling you all morning." She said as she barged into their foyer.

Addison was just about to come downstairs but she stopped as she overheard Carly talking to her parents. This was either about Joss or Morgan and she never thought she'd see a day where she'd prefer her drama with Joss and the heartbreak she felt when she saw her kiss Cam. But it wasn't and her mother was Morgan's attorney. A decision that caused friction with her parents and now if they knew, she thought it would divide her parents even more. Her mom had ethics. She took his case. She couldn't ask her not to do it anymore. Her dad would be furious. He'd say he knew there was danger and he'd be even more upset that getting him out on bail impacted her. If she wasn't certain earlier, she was now. She had to stay silent. She had to keep her parents together.

"We're kind of in the middle of something, Carly," Alexis stated. The last thing she expected was for her to show up there, but then again it was Carly.

"Well it needs to wait because Morgan's bail has been revoked. You're his attorney, you need to answer your phone. He's in crisis and Sonny can't see clearly what's going on. He'll listen to you."

"What do you mean he's in crisis?"

"Don't you check your messages? He's not thinking clearly, he's going on about something he did last night. Something that's so awful he doesn't deserve to live. That he's some damaged screw up, who only hurts people. Alexis we disagree, we aren't friends, but I need your help. As a mother, I'm asking you to help my son. He needs to be hospitalized, not in prison."

Alexis looked at Ned, "He's my client." She was torn between knowing the right thing to do was to stay here with her daughter right now and her professional obligation.

"I told you not to take this case," Ned said plainly.

"It's ok, Mom. Go." Addison said as she walked downstairs. She could feel the fight coming. She wanted to prevent it, despite hating the fact that her mom was about to go defend the person who assaulted her. She needed her parents to get through what happened to her and she needed them together.

"Hi Addison," Carly said.

"Hi," she replied and then turned to her mother. "I'll be ok."

"You're sure?" She stepped towards her daughter, "I can stay. "

"You can't stay. You're his attorney! What is so hard for you to understand about that today?" Carly interjected, as Alexis turned and glared at her.

Addison stepped closer to her mother, "You don't have to coddle me. Dad's here if I need anything. I'll be ok." She tried to assure her mom, speak steady, calmly.

Carly watched the scene playing out in front of her. Something more was going on. Addison looked exhausted, both Ned and Alexis were on alert, concerned. But, Addison had both her parents' support and seemed ok. Morgan was in custody again, falling apart and needed help, now.

Hearing his baby girl refer to him as Dad instead of Daddy took the wind out of him momentarily as it hit him once again what happened to her last night. "You heard her. Go." Ned stated quietly as he placed his hand at his wife's shoulder.

"I shouldn't be more than a couple hours at most." Alexis said to both her husband and her daughter.

"We'll be fine. I love you, stay safe." Ned assured her.

"I will. Love you both." Alexis stated quietly, touched her daughter's arm gently and then quickly kissed Ned goodbye before running up the stairs to change and leaving for the station.

Meanwhile, Kristen texted Michael. "I don't like it, but it appears your secret is safe. I'm getting a vote called for after the New Year. You will vote first and you will hold up your end otherwise all bets are off and I tell everyone what I know."

"Done."