It's later on in the morning. Jessi has just finished her breakfast. Jessi and Sonny have talked about everything from the weather to their favorite colors, food, hobbies, what she does at school, who her friends are, and everything else that Jessi could think of to chatter about. Sonny was in heaven. He could listen to her chatter forever. She would get so excited about things and her eyes would glow. Sonny could tell she would have him wrapped around her finger soon, if she didn't already. Sonny laughed quietly. All she had to do was smile and ask for the moon and he would get it for her. It was a great feeling. He already loved her more than he thought was possible. Jason was right, she was a great kid and she was his. His thoughts were interrupted by a question from her.
S: "I'm sorry, Jessi what did you say? I didn't hear you."
J: "Why did you go away, Daddy? Don't you like Mom anymore?"
He knew this was coming. He just wasn't prepared for it. What was he going to say? The truth wouldn't hurt. Lies were what got them here in the first place.
S: "Of course I like your Mom. I love her." He's quiet for a minute and Jessi looks at him with questions in her eyes. They're so trusting of him, he can't bear to lie to them. He would give her the truth , not all of it, but enough of it so that she would understand. "Jessi, I didn't leave. Someone took me and wouldn't let me go home."
J: She doesn't like the sound of this. "What do you mean took you? Why?"
S: "Some people were mad at me for some of the things I've done in my past and wanted to teach me a lesson."
J: "They took you because you were in the mob?"
S: "Yeah, something like that."
J: "They wouldn't let you go?"
S: "No, honey they wouldn't."
J: "They had you all this time?"
S: "No. When I got out I had to help some people and it just took me awhile to get back home. I'm glad I got to come home."
J: "I'm glad you came home. Are they going to take you again? I don't want you to go away."
S: Sees the fear in her eyes. He wants to make it all go away. He pulls her into a hug and rubs her back. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to stay right here with you and mom." He feels tears in his eyes as he makes a promise he doesn't know if he can keep. He feels her tears on his chest as she whispers, "Don't go Daddy, please." He answers. "Shh Jessi , I'm not going anywhere. I love you."

They don't hear Brenda come into the room. She wasn't sure what had been said, but the scene looked heartbreaking. She wasn't sure if she interupt or not, so she turned around and headed for the door. Sonny sees her.
S: "Brenda?" She turns around.
B: "I didn't want to interrupt."
S: "Your not. Is she Jessi?" Jessi nods her head no.
B: "Jessi, Lu and Brooke are outside waiting to talk to you." She perks up a little bit at this.
J: "Can they come in?"
B: "Yeah. I'll get them." She leaves and comes back with Brooke and Lu in tow. The girls immediately get into a conversation. Brenda motions for Sonny to follow her outside. He gets up and leaves the girls with their chatter.

***

Outside the room.
B: Turns to Sonny. "What did you say to her to make the both of you cry."
S: "The same thing I'm about to say to you."
B: "And that would be?"
S: "I love you, Brenda."
B: Turns away from Sonny, but can feel him come up behind her. "I love you too, I don't know if it is enough. You still can't open up to me to tell me the truth. Sonny did you know I thought it was my fault that you were dead. I've carried that guilt with me for a long time."
S: "Baby, you weren't to blame for anything. It wasn't your fault that I got shot."
B: Notices he doesn't seem too surprised about what she said. "You knew they were shooting at me and not you?"
S: "Yeah. They tortured me with that information. They didn't hurt you did they? I'll kill them if they did."
B: Starts to cry. She turns around and falls into his open arms. He just holds her. "No he didn't hurt me, but he tried. Don't worry, Jason already killed him."
S: "I wish I could have been there, sweetie."
B: Queitly through tears. "Where the h*ll were you?"
S: "All over the place. The first thing I remember after I was shot was a dirty old hospital where I got infection after infection….." He went on to tell her everything. Every last detail even about how much danger he could be and their plans to stay safe. As they were talking, they had found themselves a bench to sit at. Sonny had his arm around Brenda who was curled up next to him.
B: Looks up at him. "I don't think this has ever happened?"
S: "What's ever happened?"
B: "You telling me the truth all at once. I didn't have to pry too much." S: "You probably wouldn't had to have to pry at all if I hadn't had to talk things out with Clive and Jason. I was ready to tell you the first time you asked me."
B: "This might get some getting used to. You actually telling me the truth when I ask."
S: "You better get used to it, because no more lying."
B: "I like that. Lying has caused us too much pain."
S: "I agree Baby, I agree."
B: "You really think that we can stay safe?"
S: "God, I hope so."