When Jason takes the child upstairs, Robin fills Sonny in on a few more things--like Brenda's nervous breakdown. Sonny reacts with disbelief and guilt. Robin tells him that he must never go back to her--Sonny swears that is not his intesnt. She tells him that Brenda is better now, and that she's Malibu now with Jax. They're in love and happy at last. Later, Jason tell Sonny how he's REALLY Michael's father even though he had nothing to do with the conception. Sonny says even more reason to take care--their enemy, Carlos, plans to move against them. Jason swears that he told Brenda nothing about Sonny's reasons for deserting her, despite her repeated questions. Good, Sonny answers, it's over. After hearing about Katherine's accident, Brenda rushes to the phone to check in with Robin.

Sonny picks up the phone, but once he hears Brenda's voice he says nothing. Brenda feels that Sonny is back and makes a visit to the Penthouse, where she finds Sonny. Sonny answers all of Brenda's questions about his departure. Brenda informs Sonny about her new home and about her breakdown. She tells him that he hurt her worse than anyone ever had, but he replies that he did it to save her life. Brenda thanks him and tells him that she has let him go. Sonny and Brenda share a kiss and say goodbye. Later, Sonny tells Jason that he will love Brenda forever, and die thinking of her. Jax has a surprise for Brenda - the Isabella - a yacht with some significance to their almost-wedding two years ago....it's a celebration of their un-anniversary. Brenda wakes up to breakfast in bed - and he's bringing the breakfast.

At the Outback: Brenda tells Robin about her trip with Jax. Robin asks about Sonny and Brenda announces that the situation is resolved.

In Sonny's tropical hideaway, Jason visits. Sonny's Angels (Lenore, Cindy, Maria) babysit Michael while Jason calls Carly. Sonny tells Jason that Carlos loaned out a lot of money 6 months ago, and now he's in the process of tracing it to the borrower.Sonny wistfully tells Jason that this was his dream: to live in a house by an ocean and to have the pick of any woman he wanted. "I make it..." he says, "exceptfor the woman part... and it's my own damn fault. It's a good life," he adds, "but I'm still waiting to enjoy it." "You hate it here," Jason observes. "No.... sometimes," says Sonny. "Then come back," advises Jason, and adds that Brenda's out of danger now that they're no longer an item. Sonny says Jason can't give up his position now. It'd cost him his respect, which he worked hard to earn. Jason insists that it wouldn't matter.

Sonny plays his trump card: "I'd want her back," he says, and insists that it's impossible for him to live in the same city as Brenda. They'd just fall back into old patterns and destroy each other. Sonny receives a phone call: it's his informant about the loan...Jerry Jax was the one who borrowed the money from Carlos...At the Outback

Brenda has a photo shoot opportunity in Paris but since she is afraid to fly because of the plane crash she gets them to do a double shoot in NY instead. Brenda has brought Robin and Emily to a photoshoot in New York City. Brenda thinks it would be cool to make Emily up, and then she suggests the photographer shoot some shots. Emily is embarrassed, but loves it."

Jax appears in Brenda's hotel rooom and jumps in bed with her. They talk about the photo shoot. He's back from London. He has tickets for the theater. The bellhop brings in a present for Brenda from Jax, a lovely white gown. They discuss Emily's pictures. Brenda observes that Emily reminds her of herself when she started modeling. (this is the primetime epi last June) Jax and Brenda walk into a theatre. It is empty. Brenda is confused why there are no other people there and Jax plays along. Just as they are about to leave, Jax yells out "table for 2".

All of a sudden the curtain rises to reveal a dinner for two on stage. Jax tells Brenda: "dinner and the theatre, you said you liked that sort of thing." After dinner, Brenda looks as if she is a million miles away and Jax asks her what she is thinking about. She tells him that she is remembering back to when she was little girl, how she was so self-conscious and she always thought that it was because there was something really wrong with her. She admits that she now knows it was because her dad was so disapproving of her and having a gorgeous sister didn't help. So she would "borrow" someone else's skin - like a character from a movie or play or from a book. She tells how she would sit in her room and memorize monologues and shine a flashlight on herself like a spotlight and she would practice and practice.

When she felt like she had the character down, she should take her downstairs with her to breakfast or to school or to her father's study - that way everyone would be looking at the character and not at her. She could stay safe and invisible this way. Jax takes Brenda's hand and walks her to the center of the stage. She is now standing under a spotlight and Jax asks her to do one of the speeches she had memorized as a child. She tells him she can't remember any, that it has been years, but Jax knows that she hasn't really forgotten them. He wants to meet the lonely little girl that he keeps hearing about. She agrees to do one, as long as Jax promises not to watch her.

She starts telling a story about a woman [she tells it in the first person] who is going to leave her home, take a bus or a plane and ends up in a house by the ocean, that no one will miss her, for days probably, and it won't matter because she'll be all alone in the house on the beach and she'll be free of everything, disappointment and years will pass and she won't even notice. There will be no pain to mark the time, only the books that she will read and the characters will be her only acquaintances. The woman's hair will have turned white and she will have lines on her face. The townspeople won't notice that she has become an old woman. Brenda touches her face and tears are welling up in Jax's eyes.

Brenda continues, saying that one day the woman will wake up and won't even remember why she left, won't remember if she took a bus or a plane - she'll wake up and believe that she has always been there and that will be the day [Brenda starts crying] when she'll walk out onto the sand and step into the water and the waves will just boil around her, the water will be warm and they'll carry her and she'll leave again and this time it will be forever. As soon as she finishes her "performance", she starts laughing and Jax applauds. Brenda is still sitting on stage and Jax tells her she is in the wrong career. J&B dance, then they kiss.

J&B on the train returning home. Over lunch, Brenda tells Jax what she knows about her mother. Which isn't much - she went barefoot in designer gowns, took milkbaths in a jade tub, dug Wagner, BB King, Cognac, and her fondness for cigarettes caused a fire in which "someone maybe was hurt." After abandoning the family, her mother was seen in the African mountains, complete with worshipping cult, and was said to have died on some stretch of the Riviera. Brenda arrived at the hospital gym as L & L2 were wrapping up their biz, and ran into Robin, who was still looking for Alan, and wasn't feeling all that confident about Jason's absence after all, either. Brenda: Been there, done that.

Day 1 at the Nurses' Ball. go into a musical montage, showing off the various outfits the Ball-goers will be wearing. The song is "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang. The couples we see are: Brenda and Jax, Lucky and Liz, Justus and Robin Taggert and Dara, Nik and Alexis Mac, Felicia and Georgie and then, a solo Luke and Jerry At the Ball: Lucy makes her opening speech, as Brenda asks Robin about Jason. Robin appears worried about the fact that he isn't there. Back to the speech, Lucy says the theme for this year's ball is 'hope'. It's a celebration of everything they've achieved, yet they need to remain mindful of all the work that still needs to be done.  Ned takes over emcee position and invites those who can't afford a raffle ticket to give cash donations into the hats on the tables.

He segues into introducing the next number: "Big Spender" with Brenda, Karen, Lucy and Dara. At the end of their number, the women hold out their hats.... and Sonny walks in, with Jason in tow. Sonny drops a wad of cash into a hat and mouths to a stunned Brenda to 'come and get it'. Dara rescues her and collects the hat herself. Karen, Jax and Mac take turns glaring at Sonny while Robin embraces him and Jason. Sonny plants himself at Jason's table with Jason and Robin.

Day 2 -Luke welcomes Sonny back and tells him that Jason has been doing a great job as Sonny's replacement. Luke asks him if he is staying a while. Sonny tells him he is not. Lucy asks everyone to be seated and tells them that the show must go on, with or without electricity. She tells the audience that candlelight is more appropriate for the next part of the program - the reading of witness statements. She likens the candlelight to people - that one candle by itself give off a little light, but a whole group of candles can light up a whole room. That collectively, we can find a cure for AIDS/HIV.

Then several people read witness statements: Edward, Bobbie, Jax, Ellen, Audrey, Nikolas, Monica and finally Robin. Lucy then thanks Jax, Stefan and Scott for funding the NB this year. Lucy tells everyone that even though Stone is gone, he still touchesmany people's lives. She announces the new Stone Cates Memorial AIDS Wing, donated by Sonny. As Lucy is about to annouce the next part of the program, Tony comes on stage and shocks everyone by says: "Thank heaven for hypocrites!" and proceeds to blast most of PC. After listening to his tirade, Robin finally speaks up and tells Tony to sit down. Robin tries to make Tony understand that they are all there at the NB for a common goal - to help fight AIDS. Then she tells him to take his hatred and leave. Tony steps off the stage and heads for the door.

Brenda knows why Tony has attacked Jason (for finding him in the cabin with Michael and Robin, as well as smashing his hand), but wonders what Jax has ever done to Tony. Jax tells her he doesn't care about Tony and that he plans to double any donations the ball may have lost because of Tony's little tirade. He tells her that he has been contributing to AIDS charities for a long time, but now that he knows Robin, he has a personal stake in the matter. Touching scenes as Mike goes to Brenda's looking for Sonny. He and Brenda talk. He is hurt that Sonny came to town and no one told him, nor did Sonny look him up.

Many reunions for Sonny. First he goes to The Recover to see Mike, who was a bit brusk, speaking of racehorses as having "turned on him like family." When Sonny offered to help bail out his dad's debt, Mike gave him more atittude and reamed him for the non-contact, comparing it to the situation when he left Sonny as a child. Finally, Mike admitted that he wanted his son to stay in town this time, but Sonny said that was out of the question.Unwilling to hold back any longer, Taggert broke up the family scene. He stood in the doorway. Sonny sat at the bar. Their eyes met and locked. Sonny played it cool. Down at the PD, Mac pulled Sonny away to the interrogation room. Mac and Sonny discuss Robin and how she was endangered by theJason's business. Sonny pledged that not a hair on her head would be harmed.

Jax is on the phone, checking out brother Jerry's finances. Brenda shows up bearing take-out-- "I couldn't decide between French and Chinese, so we have THAI." She realizes something is amiss and he tells her of his concerns for Jerry. Jax tells Brenda about the ways that Jerry takes risks. Jax goes over the present situation and asks if Brenda has heard of Carlos. She associates the name with Sonny Jax tells her he learned about Jerry from Sonny. He says Jerry has to repay Carlos by getting rid of Jason. There's a knock on the door, and of course it's Jerry.

Sonny, Robin, and Jason are walking on the docks. They encounter a couple kissing on a bench, who turn out to be Dr. Joe Scanlon, a doctor from PC and his girlfriend, Karen, also a PC doctor but once a stripper at Sonny's club. Sonny recognizes "Kari" and speaks toher. Sonny and his friends, Joe is bristling. He knows who Sonny is and he wants him far away from Karen. He lashes out at Sonny, asks Robin is she strips for him, too. That makes Sonny mad, and he tells Joe to back off. Joe doesn't.

When he lunges at Sonny, Jason gets in the middle, literally. Jason reaches into his jacket to get his gun, or perhaps just to scratch his chest, saying," Back off or your surgical career will be over real fast, doctor." Sonny feels Joe may be jumping to conclusions. "it's her life. How do you know that I wrecked it? Karen rehashes her past with Sonny, not laying all the blame for her actions on him, as Joe had done. "He gave me the drugs to stay awake in class" and cut her off when she went too far, she says, but he did try to get her to keep stripping after she wanted to quit. Sonny whitewashes his role in her past, saying that he offered her the only job he could. It's an uneasy balancing act, as he says that he's not proud of what he did but he isn't apologizing, either.

Jason interjects that Karen should not blame Sonny for her choices. She counters, "He's done it to you, too." She reminds Jason of who he used to be-- Jason Q, the boy she knew, and how odd she feels when she hears talk of who he is now-- a man who carries a gun. Whoever Jason is now, she says, Sonny taught him to be. He didn't wake up wanting to carry a gun. She says Sonny "helped" Jason the same way he "helped" her and Stone, that Sonny "helped you become a criminal," and says the difference between her life and Jason's is "you don't have anyone to help pull you out." While she and Jason face each other, Robin watches, uncomfortable. Then Karen turns to Robin and asks how SHE can stay loyal to Sonny and pretend he never did the things she knows he did to Karen and to Brenda.

Robin and Karen continue to preach at one another. Robin says Sonny is good because he watched Stone die, and that had to change a person. "I don't say he's perfect, I don't even say he's right. But I love him, and I am not going to apologize for that. He shouldn't have seduced you. But it's over, and it's been over for a long time, and maybe it's time for you to let it go."Karen says she thought she had let it go, until tonight, but disagrees with Robin's diagnosis that Sonny has changed. "Sonny has not changed, or he would not have done what he's done to Jason." Jason steps in again, says he's made his own choices. "Don't speak for me. I chose to what what I wanted to do. Sonny is not in charge of my life, and he wasn't in charge of yours, either."

Joe decides this is enough, and tries to get Karen to leave. She wants a final word with Sonny. She admits she was responsible for her own choices. Still, she says, "I never understood how you could be so good and so terrible at the same time." Sonny apologizes, sort of. "The only conscience I have was given to me by other people, " he explains. "My mom gave me some, Robin and Stone..."

Karen is apparently moved by that, and makes an abrupt shift. She "introduces" herself all over again. "I'm a doctor now." She wishes Sonny luck, they part with smiles, although Joe stilll seems upset. Sonny is quiet after having confronted his past.

Jerry, Jax, and Brenda eat the Thai food. Jax tries to give Jerry a chance to confess to his mob involvement, but he avoids taking it. Brenda leaves the room, then sits on the steps listening as Jax tells Jerry he had a conversation with Sonny about business. "You've never dealt with the Organization?" he asks his big brother. "Fools and desperate men get involved with the Organization. I'm neither." Sonny is pensive. Robin tells him how much she'll miss him when he goes. He points out that they are standing where he met Brenda. "She was carrying a suitcase." He shakes his head. "Wow." Next scene is a musical montage, set to "Iris" by the Goo-Goo Dolls.

Jason is getting ready to take Michael to the park. Sonny and Jason briefly discuss the Carlos situation. Then Luke drops by, to talk with Sonny. Luke is curious as to Sonny's reason for returning to PC. Sonny tells him he is back because of business. Sonny is thinking about all of the things he gave up, maybe he should have left sooner, but he stayed because he wanted to be with Brenda. He tells Luke that he gave up a lot trying to save Brenda and he'll be damned if it'll be for nothing.

Brenda tells Jax that they shouldn't get ever married, just be engaged forever and live together like those famous couples. Jax tells her that he wants her to be his wife. They start to kiss, then Brenda breaks away reluctantly, telling him that she has to leave for a meeting. She asks him is he's worried about Jerry. Jax tells her he is driving him crazy. She then tells Jax to solve the problem by buying him a one-way ticket home. Jax tells her that he will take care of Jerry today, that he won't let Jerry get in the way of anything.

Luke asks Sonny why he feels responsible for Brenda. Sonny tells him that he took what he wanted, he wanted Brenda, so he wants to her to have happiness and safety, even if it with Jax. Luke thinks that he is crazy to throw it all away on an Australian. Sonny asks Luke how many years he and Laura were on the run. Luke's response is: "too many, not enough.." Sonny inquires about Laura and Luke tells him that she is home, he should ask her. Luke tells Sonny that she's in the house - he should've burned it down long ago. Lulu is with Laura; he "visits" and Lucky lives on the street. Sonny asks him what happened - Luke's reply is: "the past.."

Sonny asks Luke if the "past" he is referring to has anything to do with the Cassadines. Luke tells him that they took something that he did, that should've been dead and buried, and they used it to "nuke" his son's life apart. Luke tells him that they wanted to hurt him and they used Lucky and the reason they could hurt him was because of the weapon they used -- the truth. Sonny asks Luke if Lucky thinks he hates Luke now. Sonny tells Luke about his father, that he hated him and what he hated most was the chance that he'd be like him. Luke tells him that is what Lucky is afraid of. Luke can understand Lucky's anger and can even be proud of his rage. He tells him Lucky will be OK; he's cut him loose, but Laura wants him back. Luke explains that there is nothing left for Lucky in their house - just what Lucky calls the lies that he and Laura tell each other in order to stay together.

Sonny comments that "love is a bitch" and tells Luke about what is was like growing up for him, watching his mom get beaten up by his dad. He reassures Luke that at least Lucky won't have to see his mother hiding in the corner or crying out for mercy. Whatever truths the Cassadines told Lucky, they can't erase the life he lived with his parents. Luke explains that it already has been erased - that Lucky hates Laura as much as he hates Luke, because she stayed with him. Sonny reveals to Luke that some things that you give up, you can't get back and that regret will eat a person alive. He tells Luke that he threw his life away, but it's not too late for Luke. Sonny tells him that he will be leaving again soon and they exchange good-byes. WAREHOUSE -The bomb is ticking away - 27 minutes and counting...

JASON'S PLACE Stefan shows up at the penthouse, looking first for Robin, then Jason. Sonny tells him neither is there and he decides to tell Sonny why he came over. He explains to Sonny about Nikolas being shot at Luke's and that Robin helped him during his recovery and they became friends. Stefan informs Sonny that Robin and Nik's friendship cannot continue, because she publicly allied herself with him and Jason and he will not permit Nikolas to be exposed to anymore carnage which would inevitably occur within Sonny and Jason's circle. Sonny tells Stefan that he will not be able to give the message to Robin. Stefan tells him that he will find some other occasion to speak to her, but Sonny informs Stefan that he isn't to talk to her.

Then Sonny tells him: "I'm not Luke Spencer - whatever is keeping him from killing you, it doesn't apply to me." Stefan tells Sonny that he doesn't want to stand around and exchange threats, and he mentions the fact that killing him may be more difficult than Sonny thinks. At this comment, Sonny laughs (loudly). He tells Stefan that if he doesn't want Nik and Robin to spend time together, he should tell Nik, not involve Jason or himself, since he is in enough trouble with the Spencers. Stefan's final words to Sonny are: "Violence is borne of desperation; often it does the most damage to the one who perpetrates it."

WAREHOUSE Sonny is at the warehouse with a bodyguard and another associate. There is a close-up shot of the bomb - 9 minutes and counting. Jax finds Sonny in the warehouse. Sonny sends his associates to check on their shipments and then asks Jax why he is there. Jax admits to Sonny that he was right about Jerry and he asks Sonny to help him settle the situation with Carlos - with a suitcase full of money - enough to pay Jerry's debt as well as for Sonny's help in the matter. Sonny tells Jax that Jerry doesn't owe him the money and that he's come to the wrong place.

Jax tells Sonny that he knows he can get the money to Carlos. Sonny replies that with Jax's connections, he could just as easily do it himself. Sonny tells Jax to help his brother - let Carlos take him off your hands. Jax retorts: "This isn't about Carlos or Jerry - it's payback because I'm going to marry Brenda." Sonny just stands there and smiles at him. The bomb goes off, igniting the dropcloths surrounding it. The fire spreads very slowly throughout the warehouse. Mac, and other PCers - Robin, Jason, gather and wait for info on Jax and Sonny. Robin calls Brenda and tells her that Jax can't be found and they think he was trapped in the fire.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath, Robin and Jason are hovering the crime scene as Brenda sits forlorn on a crate. They attempt to convince Ms. Barrett to go back to the penthouse; even though firefighters pronounce that no one could live through the inferno, she refuses to accept it and just as she's about the leave with J & R, Jax and Sonny emerge from what's left of the structure. Brenda races towards the men, who both look hopeful that he'll be the one she embraces; we see Sonny's head turn to follow her progress to Jax.

Mac rounds up the usual suspects for questioning and they go to PD, Justus announces himself to protect the innocent. Jax explains to Jerry that he escaped the blaze by following Sonny through a convenient trap door; Robin takes the opportunity to place laurels over Sonny's head for getting both men out. When Mac starts to question Jason and Sonny about the fire and the contents of the warehouse, Corinthos points a finger at Taggert as the culprit. Marcus rebuts. Back at the penthouse, on the white-sheeted bed, Jax and Brenda spend a few scenes re-affirming their happiness at being alive and together. She asked if it was Jerry who set the fire, and got put out at Jasper's.

At Sonny's penthouse, he and Jason confab a reaction; Sonny warns Jason that to retaliate against Jerry would bring more trouble than it would be worth. Carlos' involvement, OTOH, was quite vengeable. Brenda getting ready to take off for a photo shoot in Utah, she's saving money for her next business venture (buying back L&B). Jason is getting Michael ready for Carly. Sonny's leaving tomorrow night through Canada. They talk about Carlos and what happened. Mike shows up to see his godson. Jason and Michael leave to see Carly. He reminds Mike that he is welcome to see Michael any time. Mike is upset that he didn't know when Sonny was back. He asks if this time he'll tell him when he's leaving and Sonny tells him it's tomorrow night. Mike doesn't get to know where he's going. Mike thinks Sonny doesn't trust him. He thinks he has a right to know where Sonny is.

He wants to know if Sonny is safe and happy and Sonny assures him he's "The happiest man you may never see again." He came back for Jason. Mike wants to know why there is no place for Mike in Sonny's life. He got a taste of what it was like to have a son and suddenly he was gone without a warning. It was the way it had to be. Sonny didn't want to run but in his line of work, you either go away or you die. He can't tell Mike anything, and he should live with it. Sonny has to go but Mike isn't done. Mike thinks Sonny doesn't trust him enough to let him know where he is. He doesn't know when to back off, and that makes it dangerous Sonny says.

Sonny wants to know what would happen if he were to tell Mike where he was, and some unfriendly people came and beat Mike to tell them. What would he do then with baseball bats and broken fingers? Mike wouldn't tell, he says. That's why Sonny can't live with knowing Mike would go down protecting him. Sonny tells Mike he does trust him and loves him and that's why he can't put his life in jeopardy. Do something to keep him in his life, Mike says, to prove his trust. No, Sonny says, not like Mike wants it. Mike can't hold on to something that doesn't exist. Is that what he wants? Sonny wants to know. Mike says it isn't, but at least he has the guts to say goodbye. He tells Sonny to enjoy life and as he closed the door, Sonny says "You too, Pop."

Robin arrives at Brenda's. Robin is worried about Carly's return. Brenda wonders if Jason has feelings for Carly. Robin says that no, he doesn't, but he also doesn't care that Carly uses him because he loves Michael so much. She's afraid that if Jason has to choose, he'll choose Michael.

Sonny puts the briefcase at Jerry's feet. Jax says that if it's his cue to leave it's not going to work. Jerry's debts have been paid by Sonny but he still owes money to a criminal (Sonny takes this opportunity to remind Jax that arson isn't a very honourable thing to do) Jerry asks Jax to leave and to trust him just once more.

Jax threatens Sonny should anything happen to Jerry. Jerry wants to know what Sonny wants. "He doesn't know" Sonny says. "About what?" Jerry asks. "Come on," says Sonny, "I know.." Brenda thinks that Robin shouldn't worry. But Jason will always do what's best for Michael. And if he did choose Robin, Carly would make sure he'd never see Michael again. Brenda says he could sue for joint custody, but Robin says he wouldn't do that because it wouldn't be best for Michael. Brenda says Robin has to be prepared for a battle by beat smarter and stronger and meaner. Robin thinks she has the first two covered, but not the third. If Jason loses Michael because of Robin, it'll change everything between them and she can't let that happen.

Jerry and Sonny talk business. Sonny tells Jerry to stay away from Jax. Jerry's surprised that Sonny paid off his debt but his repayment has to be for him to stay away from Jax. Jerry says no. Sonny says it wasn't a request. Jerry gets it. Sonny still loves Brenda. Sonny tells Jerry to leave, to go home and don't come back. Jerry says he's met a lot of people that do crazy things in love, but he's the first one he's met that doesn't even want the girl. Jerry leaves, taking the money with him.

At the Q's: Brenda enters looking for Ned to discuss buying L&B, but he's been delayed. While they wait, AJ decides to unburden his troubled soul and tells Brenda about Alan's drug addiction. AJ has just told Brenda about Alan's addiction. Brenda doesn't seem very surprised. Brenda has been noticing his strange behavior - at the NB, the fact that Robin got a letter about Alan taking a leave of absenc, etc. She also knew he was taking hydrocodone a lot longer than necessary after his surgery.

At the grille - Brenda is peering over her menu at Jerry and Bobbie's table. Bobbie sees her and waves, then asks Jerry what they are staring at. Jerry replies: "Poor, scrawny thing. Maybe she's never seen anyone eat before." They both laugh. Brenda and Jax order room service and Brenda tells Jax that she is surprised that Bobbie isn't running from Jerry and asks him if Jerry has any hidden talents she wasn't aware of. Jax admits that he does. Jax asks Brenda to help him with business. He needs to talk with Jason, and Robin too. Brenda asks him jokingly if he needs her to protect him from Jason. They talk about their wedding plans. Brenda wants an evening ceremony by candlelight. Jax is willing - as long as they get married......

Later, Brenda told Robin that she might be pregnant and was worried about how Jax would take the news. Robin encourages her to tell Jax.

Jax returns home, finds Brenda distant and distracted. She tells him she thinks she's pregnant. He is pleased. Brenda is scared. She's worried about her own mother abandoning her. Robin and Brenda meet up at Jake's; Brenda came in all jazzed about a band she wants to sign to L & B, kept quiet about her feelings of Robin's new living arrangement, and confided that she wasn't pregnant after all.

The ladies ran to the bar's back room when the band started, and were spied by a couple of skanky dudes in the process. Coming back from the show, Robin opined "They should change their name to 'We Suck.'" Brenda countered that she was really more interested in the guitar player, who she wanted to reinvent .When the two headed for the backstage door, they were followed by the aforementioned skanky dudes. Waiting at the back door, the two ambled up and claimed to be friends with the guitar player; also, they recognized Brenda and invited the gals to join them at an after-party in their room.

Back inside the bar, the Jax Bros are there playing pool when they overhear the skanky dudes talking about the pathetic groupies hanging out at the backstage door, and the one who was the Genie model. The bros follow the dudes outside to find them all over the gals; and to scare them off, they give a song and dance about how could they leave their six children which scares off the skanks.

Later at the penthouse,Brenda is interested in taking Luther and turning him into a singer for the L&B label. Robin advised Brenda that trying to repeat the Eddie Maine affair like Lois might not be a good idea. Jax opened a courier envelope what's contents contained a photo of he and Brenda torn in half.

At the Grille, a mysterious, dark-haired, big-cheekboned woman ran up and begged Tony's help, claiming she was being followed. She pointed out another who was talking to a hotel employee, and then planted one of Dr. Jones lips. When Mr. X appeared to be leaving, she thanked Tony and ran off.

Next she is chatting up Jax, telling him she can see how a woman could fall for him - her daughter that is...She tells Jax that she is the Veronica Barrett - Brenda's mom. Jax looks at her shocked. He thinks she is lying - she tells him that she disappeared when Brenda was 4 years old. Her prize for the right answer: a seat and 20 minutes with Jax.

Veronica tells Jax the story of her life - that she was groupie in the 60's, led a charmed life, that her only asset was her beauty. She only married Harlan Barrett for money. She didn't want to be a mom to Julia or Brenda. Jax isn't impressed. Tells her that Brenda was only 4 years old, she doesn't remember her mother. Anything Brenda heard after the fact, Veronica could have found out as well.

Veronica accuses Jax of being just a pretty boy - he looks a bit peeved. Veronica is convinced that Brenda will believe she is her mother. Jax wonders what Veronica wants with Brenda after all this time. Veronica says she has realized that the one true connection she has is to her daughter - someone she doesn't know. Jax wonders if it would comfort Brenda to know that death didn't separate her from her mother - selfishness did. Jax wants to know what's in it for Brenda - she is happy for the first time in her life. Veronica accuses Jax of being just like Brenda's father - he is none too pleased by the comparison. Jax agrees to lead her to Brenda if she agrees to a background check. He tells her he can be her biggest ally or her biggest enemy. Veronica reluctantly agrees and kisses Jax on the cheek and Brenda happens to see this.

Brenda comes up to them. Veronica tells Brenda that she was just congratulating Jax on their engagement, that she works for a cosmetics company in France. After Veronica leaves, Brenda tells Jax that she signed her first band of L&B Records. Brenda meets up with Nikolas and Robin, she looks cute holding Michael. Veronica is in her room at PC Hotel when Jax arrives. He tells her that so far, she's checking out but she reminds him it could takes months to fully check her out. He says he knows and asks her how much she likes money. He offers her $500,000 to leave the country until he's done but she says she's been bought off before and it won't happen again. He warns her that she'll regret it if she hurts Brenda. Men with a bathtub she ordered arrive and in the end, she goes absolutely nuts because they are missing something. They leave rather quickly and leave her almost hysterical.

Jax wants a report about Veronica. He gets confirmation when he sees a picture, no doubt Veronica is Brenda's mother. He calls and wants to see her, he wants to know what she wants from Brenda.

Brenda and Robin meet, they talk L&B and Brenda's wedding. Robin wonders if Jason will be invited. Brenda assures her of course, he did after all save her life. Brenda is surprisingly accepting of J&R, saying she knows he makes Robin happy. Meanwhile, Brenda quite literally runs into "Veronique". The older woman invites her to tea. Veronica starts to tell about herself and Jax comes in. Brenda leaves. Jax tells Veronique to SIT! He's angry. If she approaches Brenda again, she'll be dealt with. She flirts with Jax. "I'm half in love with you." Jax tells her to go and stay gone till he finds out who she is. Jax gets the information. Veronica IS Brenda's mother. He hides it from Brenda.

She is all excited because she has signed Luther to L&B." Jax is satisfied that the mystery woman is indeed Veronica Barrett, as she claims. Jax, in the penthouse, calling Veronica, who is still in bed. He orders her to meet him in the lobby in 15 minutes. Jax and Veronica are talking there. She flirts, he confirms that her identity claim checked out, but he wants to know what her agenda is.

Meanwhile, Robin shows up at Brenda's house, and they talk L&B business. Seems Brenda is keeping L&B afloat with income from her modelling. Robin is quiet as the talk segues into wedding-talk. She asks Brenda if Jason is invited to the wedding. Brenda is surprised by the question. "Of course he is."

Veronica and Jax, still in the lobby, talk about Brenda. Jax warns that Brenda will be disappointed when she learns about her mother. Veronica feigns hurt: Neither of them see Brenda as she enters from the side door and goes up to Jax's apartment in the elevator. Jax tells Veronica he didn't like her opening number, the torn photo. she makes a face that makes the updater wonder if she is indeed the one who sent the photo at all. She grins at him. Jax asks Veronica if she's just there for money, since she approached him first, not Brenda. He won't pay her off to disappear-- he wants Brenda to know what her mother is like. Upstairs, Brenda is at his desk, and while looking for a pen, finds the file folder about her mom. We see her stunned face. Jax and Veronica are still arguing in the lobby when Brenda comes downstairs in tears. "Veronica Wilding Barrett? You're my mother?" Veronica sighs.

Brenda confronts her mother and says that she can't believe she's alive. Veronica says she's sorry to surprise her like this. Jax excuses himself after telling Brenda that he knew about her for a while. Brenda questions her mother as to why she would come back, and why she left int he first place. She tells Veronica not to give her any sob stories because regardless, there is no way that Brenda will ever feel sorry for her. Veronica tries to explain that she didn't leave Brenda, she left her father. Actually, he pretty much paid her to divorce him and then told everyone she was dead after the fact because murder IS illegal.
Veronica admits that had she been able to fight him for Brenda she probably wouldn't have because she had no mothering instincts then. Veronica says that if she wants her to leave she will, but Brenda tells her not to play games. She won't get rid of her own mother as fast as her mother got rid of her. Brenda wants to make it clear though, that she only wants Veronica to stay purely to answer questions. Brenda then tells her that she thought she was pregnant, and she was afraid she would be a bad mother, but now she knows she would have been ok, because she's nothing like Veronica. She says she's not her daughter and walks away.
Brenda goes back upstairs to Jax, who apologizes for keeping the truth from her. She says it's alright, she understands why he did it. She's glad that she went thru all of that knowing that she wasn't lying. Jax says she might still be lying, just not about being her mother. Jax asks her what she wants to do but she doesn't know. She had this image of her mother as a child where her mother would try to come back to her, and now it's all crushed.

While this is happening, Veronica is wandering around downstairs unable to remember her room number. One of the hotel guys offers to help her, and she asks if it's on the room card. He says it's not for security reasons. "916" she says..she suddenly remembers her room number. She asks him to come and open the door and turn on the lights for her while she runs a bath. She says that sometimes it's scary in a new city. He obliges.

Robin is talking to Brenda on the phone and she says that she'll ask him. Jason walks in then and knows that she's talking about him. He wants to know what she needs. Brenda wants Jason's help to book Luther (that guitarist they signed) at Luke's Place so he can get some exposure. Brenda's been trying to get ahold of Luke but she can't find him. Jason says sure, and Robin is thankful that he's so sweet. Jason says he has to go out but he's leaving Michael there. He says he'll rush back for her.
Robin is working on L&B business. Brenda is distracted. Her mother is alive. Brenda is shaken. Why has Veronica come now? Robin draws her out. Veronica comes to see Jax. Brenda comes to Jax at the bar, telling him Luther is booked. She hopes he doesn't trash his suite. It seems he'd had a fight with his girlfriend. Jax tells her about Veronica's visit. Veronica comes up. She tells Brenda that Jax had told her there was a gulf between them: they should discuss music. Brenda tells her about her new act. She changed Luther from grungy to a cool blues singer. Veronica is not invited to the opening. Brenda and Jax leave, and Veronica asks a hotel employee for Luther's room.

Most of Port Charles was at Luke's for the party, Brenda booked her very first L&B performance, who is supposed to perform at Luke's. But Luther never showed, instead he was busy with Brenda's mother in the shower. So Brenda begged Ned to fill in for Luther, and after a few minutes of hesitation, he agreed to sing. And what a performance it was, everyone was enjoying Ned back up on stage again, it has been awhile.As Robin walked towards the car, it was a total remake of the Lily go boom episode. The same music, everything wa in slow motion, Jason looked towards Robin, he then ran towards her, as he noticed something was wrong, he grabbed her, picks her up and starts running, and then fell to the ground as the car exploded - Robin in Jason's arms.

Mac comes running toward them; Jax, Brenda, Ned and Alexis come out of the club after hearing the explosion; Em is screaming for Jason; Brenda is freaking out. Jason carries Robin over to the front of Luke’s. He is visibly shaken; she is still unconscious, but is breathing. She comes to, Brenda tells Robin that she will stop by the penthouse tomorrow.
Jax and Brenda are the last ones at the club and Brenda wants to know where Jerry went when he left the club earlier. She thinks he could be responsible for the explosion, since he has targeted Jason before. Jax agrees that Jerry could be responsible, but wants to still give him the benefit of the doubt. Brenda is afraid she is right about Jerry. Jax feels partially responsible for what happened to Robin, since he did bring her back to Port Charles. He tells Brenda that he realizes that he doesn’t know Jerry as well as he thought and if Jerry is the one responsible for the bombing, he will turn Jerry in to the police himself.

Another day, Brenda & Robin are having lunch at the PC Grill. Veronica enters - Brenda confronts her by throwing a glass of water in her face. Veronica responds in kind. Robin leaves. Brenda asks why Veronica sabotaged her showcase by sleeping with Luther. Veronica plays dumb. Brenda calls her a slut and a liar. Veronica admits she made a mistake, she was just trying to connect with Brenda. Brenda calls Veronica demented and tells her she should go back to where she came from. Veronica tries to seduce Jerry at the PC Grill. Jerry declines - he has other plans. Veronica becomes unhinged. She tells Jerry she knows he is following her on Harlan Barrett’s orders. She leaves. Jerry looks very confused.

Jax and Jerry meeting for a working lunch at the Grill. Brenda is there, and then Veronica strolls in looking a little more sedate than usual and requests a moment with her daughter. Brenda rebuffs her. At the other table, Brenda is on her feet, along with the brothers Jacks, and asking Veronica what she wants. Veronica states she has to apologize and request she not have to do it in front of strangers.
Brenda takes the hint and introduces Jerry, who says he's already met the other Ms. Barrett. Veronica looks at him like he is out of his mind and repeatedly states that he's wrong. Jerry retraces the whole conversation and Veronica insists she's never seen him before. Jerry concedes defeat and they depart, leaving Brenda and Mommy Dearest alone.

Veronica is losing sleep over that water-in-the-face thing. She then spills her guts about the Luthur thing. She tells Brenda that she seduced him on purpose, knowing it would cause trouble, basically so Brenda would notice her . Brenda accepts the apology, most likely because she recognizes this kind of behavior. She announces that she'll listen.
Veronica is very pleased when Brenda asks her to tell her about her life. Veronica starts to talk about the British Invasion. Once Veronica is done impressing Brenda with her stories of sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll, Jax appears and whisks his fiance away. Jerry sits down and tells her that he won't blow her cover. Veronica insists again that she has no clue what he's talking about and she doesn't much want to see him again anyway, then stalks off.

Brenda is sitting on the overstuffed sofa and asks Jax questions about floral arrangements for the wedding. She wonders aloud if Lois will show up for the wedding and muses over whether they should invite Veronica. Do they really want a stranger, particularly one as strange as Veronica, at the wedding? What if she causes trouble? Jax suggests that they postpone deicding, since there's plenty of time to see how things develop with Veronica. Brenda agrees and gets up to go and meet Robin for an L & B Records pow-wow).
Jerry knocks and enters, Brenda kisses Jax goodbye, and leaves. Jerry informs Jax that, after they all met up with Veronica and she denied having met him before, he went back to the bar. She again denied to him that she had ever met him, and he is concerned. He knows a con when he sees one and her doesn't think she is a con. He thinks it's more serious than that. Jax asks him to go and find out all he can on Veronica. Jerry leaves, and Jax picks up the phone to call Veronica and ask her to come over.

Back in Jax's apartment, Verobnica breezes in and tells Jax what a coincidence it was that he called her; she has been trying to think of ways top get close to Brenda and she could use his imput. He tells her that Jerry thinks she is having some kind of trouble, based upon the way she has accused Jerry of stalking her. Veroninca flies into a snit, railing against Jerry, then lights upon an idea...Jax is tricking her! He and Jerry are in on it together, trying to make Brenda hate her and keep mother and daughter apart. It won't work!

The scene changes to the Port Charles Grill, where Brenda looks up from her table to see Jason. He sits down and tells Brenda that Robin can't meet her--she has to stay in the penthouse until it's safe to come out. Brenda wonders how long Robin has to stay in the glass house, and she reminds Jason that Robin will never be safe as long as she's with him.
Jax's apartment where Veronica is having a fit. She accuses Jax of acting under the control of the dead Harlon and starts talking to Harlon, telling him that he can't control her, that she should have known that he would try to control who Brenda loved...then she suddenly snaps out of it. She smiles vaguely and tells Jax that she lost her train of thought. Jax quietly reminds her that they were discussing Jerry. Oh yes, Veronica smiles broadly, he is a bit of a rogue but very dashing. She starts acting coquetishly and asks for champagne.

Back at the PC Grill, Brenda tells Jason she's glad he is okay after the bombing. She hated him for helping Sonny leave her, but she's had a hard time hating him after they went through the plane crash together. You're scared now, after the bomobing, Jason notes. Brenda admits that she is and just wants Robin to be safe.
Jason assures her that Robin's life as a prisoner in the penthouse is temporary and that he will take care of it. Brenda asks if he's killed Moreno and, if so, who will come to kill Jason. jason brushes her off, reminding her that he can't discuss business with her. Brenda doesn't want to know anyway, she just wants everything to be alright with Robin. (last scene between Steve & Vanessa?)

Back in Jax's apartment, he and Veronica are chatting about nothing as she blithely drinks champagne. Jerry knocks and breezes in, annoucning that he's found something out about the matter they were discussing and needs to talk to Jax about it asap. He greets Veronica cordially, but she takes her cue to leave. She thinks that she'll call her maid in France to tell her to send over some of Veronica's albums to give to Brenda.
She leaves and Jerry tells Jax that he found out that Veronica has been in and out of mental institutions for the past three years. Jax asks Jerry to fly to Switzerland to find out what the problem was...drugs or mental illness? Jerry is on his way. Breanda comes in and she and Jax rehash their day. Jax tells her that Veronica was in and is sending her albums.Brenda tells him about her encounter with Jason and muses that you can't keep a loved one safe from bad things by hiding them away.

Jax meets with Veronica's Swiss shrink in Monica's office, who tells him everything he needs to know about her mental condition. Meanwhile, Brenda is setting the table for a romantic evening with Jax when she opens the door to find Veronica, who sincerely loves Brenda's house and what she's done with it. She gives her daughter an expensive piece of silk and they bond over memories of life with Harlan. The show ends with Mary Mae singing, Edward thinking and Jax coming to Brenda's house. He's got the full goods on Veronica and know's he has to break it to Brenda. Brenda knows it's bad and steals herself for the worst...

Jax has just told Brenda that she has a 50% chance of inheriting the mental illness that her mother has.]They are hugging. Brenda wonders how Jax felt when she was in the psych ward - he admits he was frantic and desperate to help her. If he stays with her, he’d feel that way all the time, she tells him. He tells her she is not crazy, just scared. She doesn' t want him to waste his life on her. He reminds her of the promise they made to each other - nobody leaves. She tells him that was before they found out she could be mentally ill.

**The End**