Nikolas comes downstairs to find Alison feeding Spencer and Elizabeth playing with Cameron. “Good morning.” He said as he reached for the morning paper, “How is everyone?”

Cameron pipes up, “Breakfast yummy Uncle Nik.”

“I’m sure it was.” Nikolas ruffled Cameron’s hair, “Elizabeth you must be glad to be on maternity leave now. Yesterday must have been awful, but at least you got to see Sarah.”

Elizabeth looked up and smiled, “Yeah it was great to see her, she has changed so much. We caught up on a lot. She and AJ are going to be staying in Port Charles for a while, which makes me happy. Alison, has Jason heard anything about Alan?”

Alison looks up from feeding Spencer, “When I left, Jason had just called the hospital. He is in ICU and is in a light coma. Jason is going to stop by the hospital later today.” Alison wiped Spencer’s mouth with his spoon, “He is very concerned.”

Nikolas looks to Elizabeth, “I know you are going to be having your baby soon and Jason is your coach. If he can’t because he needs to be with Alan, I will be happy to help you out.”

Elizabeth smiled, “Thank you Nikolas. I want to ask Lucky first obviously then if Lucky won’t, I was going to ask Sarah.”

“Do you know if it’s going to be a girl or a boy? Do you have any names yet?” asked Alison.

“Not sure if it’s a girl or a boy. I do have some names that I want to run by Jason first.” Elizabeth said.

Nikolas commented as he picked up the paper, “Well Liz, the offer still stands if you need a coach.”

No one had noticed that Emily had walked into the room, “You what? You are going to be her coach? That is it Nikolas, I will not tolerate this!” An irate Emily yelled.

Nikolas stood up and walked towards Emily, “You won’t tolerate this Emily? What has happened to you? Jealousy is eating you up inside for no reason.”

“Am I the only one here that doesn’t realize what Elizabeth is about?” Emily asked rhetorically, “She has no man to rely on so she is going to move in on Nikolas. I know how she works. She always needs a man.”

“Oh shut up Emily!” Elizabeth interjected, “What you are saying is simply not true. You are turning into a jealous shrew and you are not the same Emily you were months ago. Is it because I slept with your brother? So what?”

“So what? You have lied to me and to Lucky for”

Nikolas cut her off, “Stop it Emily, I don’t want any fighting in front of the boys. Stop playing the ‘You lied to us’ card, it is getting old. No one seems to mind except for you and you have no right to.”

Emily points a finger at her chest, “I have no right to? You are my fiancé and she is making a play for you. Can’t you see that? I have seen you holding her in your arms while she cries her crocodile tears.” Emily grew angrier as she continued, “Don’t deny it Nikolas. I saw it with my own eyes.”

Frustrated, Nikolas threw up his arms, “Emily, Elizabeth is my sister in law and I was comforting her. You keep pointing out to me that I am your fiancé yet you seem to forget what trust is. Next thing I know I will find out you bugged the place.”

Silence settled in the room as Emily stared at Alison. Alison stared back. “He’s going to find out Emily, I already told Jason.”

“Why don’t I like the sound of this?” Nikolas asked cautiously.

Emily sighed heavily and pushed her hair back before speaking. She spoke in a whisper, “I asked Alison to watch Elizabeth to make sure Elizabeth wasn’t coming on to you.”

Alison said quickly, “There’s more.”

“I offered to pay her.”

Elizabeth and Nikolas yelled in unison, “What?” Nikolas quickly recovered and said, “Alison, can you bring the boys in the other room while we talk to Emily.” Alison and the boys quickly left the room. “Emily how could you do this?”

“I told you.” Emily stared Nikolas down, “I don’t trust Elizabeth.”

Nikolas looked at Emily in disbelief, “But you are also saying you don’t trust me. Emily, I want you to get out. I think we need to take a break from each other.”

Shocked, Emily stammered, “You don’t mean that Nikolas. I love you.”

“Your actions speak otherwise Emily. I suggest you leave.” Nikolas said coldly.

Emily flounced from the room, “I hope you both rot in hell!”

Ned’s cell phone rings the next morning startling him from a deep, yet troubled sleep. “Hello, Brenda?” He mumbled. “Is James all right?”

“Ned it’s me Lucy. How is Alan?” Lucy’s fretful voice rang through the line.

Ned wiped the sleep from his eyes, “He made it through the night but it is critical. Sorry Lucy, he is in ICU. Family members only.”

“I understand. I was married to him so I wanted to find out if he was ok.” Lucy walked around her apartment in MetroCourt. “I am just so afraid that he will die. I don’t want to lose him.”

“I know. None of us do.” Ned paused, “Lucy, do you want to meet me for breakfast?” He groped for the alarm clock, “I know it’s a little late for breakfast and too early for lunch but I could meet you there. Brenda is staying there as well and I was going to drop in to see her..”

Lucy stopped, “I was just downstairs and I haven’t seen her. In fact, I didn’t see her yesterday either. Maybe she is at Sonny’s.”

Ned said quizzically, “Why would she be at Sonny’s?”

Lucy said, “Ned, they are together. I heard her tell Robin.”

Ned shot up straight up in bed and yelled, “They are what?”

Brenda lay in Sonny’s arms after a night of lovemaking. She sighed in happiness as she watched Sonny’s chest raise up and down in sleep. She giggled to herself as she remembered how quickly he had fallen asleep after their last lovemaking session. She leaned over and kissed his chest up to his mouth. When she reached his mouth, she dragged her tongue lightly over his lips in an effort to wake him up.

Sonny’s eyes fluttered opened and he captured her tongue. They share an intimate kiss. “Morning Bren.”

“Morning. Thanks for letting us stay here last night.”

Sonny kissed her forehead. “I love waking up with you next to me. There is nothing I would want more than having this everyday.”

“It’s too soon Sonny.” Brenda snuggled deeper into the covers, “Although I like the sound of that. I am actually thinking of talking to Ned and moving out of the mansion. I would like a place of my own to raise James.”

Sonny smiled down at her, “Well you know, you have a place here with me always. I would love that. But I can see that you would want a place to call home.” He kissed her. “Just think, if you lived with me how much sex we would have? We have a lot to catch up on.”

“You would think of that.” Brenda stood up and put a bathrobe on. “I need to check on James. I will be right back.”

Sonny leaned back on to the pillows and his phone rang. He picked it up, thinking it might be Carly. Needless to say he was very surprised to hear Ned’s voice on the line. “Sonny? Is Brenda there?”

Sonny sighed and rubbed his forehead, “Yes Ned, she is.”

“I would like to talk to her.” Sonny covered the phone and called out to Brenda. She came back and he whispered that it was Ned. A look of dismay crossed her face as she took the phone from Sonny. She listened to Ned and agreed to meet him at the Quartermaines in a half hour.

“I have to go Sonny. Ned is really angry that I stayed here. If I had told him about us, he would have understood.” Brenda sighed. “I just need to straighten things out and then I am going to look for a place to live.”

Sonny pushed her hair out of her eyes, “I know Bren. We knew that this could happen. Promise me something ok?”

“Sure.”

“I want you to talk to Scott Baldwin as soon as possible.”

Mac was sitting on his hotel bed when Bobbie emerged from the bathroom. “Mac, are you ready to go?”

Mac hung his head. “Yes.” He said in defeat, “I know I have to go back there and get the help I need. Will you come visit next week?”

Bobbie nodded, “Of course I will. On your first visit I will come up.” She looked around the room and gathered the last of her things and put them in her bag. “I will come up with Robert next week.”

“I don’t know if I want to face him yet. So for right now, just you. He will understand.” Mac confided. “I knew you would understand what I have been been going through. I just want to get rid of the images and the desire to drink.”

“And you will Mac. It just takes time.” Bobbie sat down next to him. “The demons go away. You know I am here for you anytime.”

“I know Bobbie and I thank you so much. Let’s go.” Mac stood up and with that, headed towards recovery.