Sonny & Carly #35  April 18 - June 8, 2005 – 8 hr edit

Carly (now being portrayed by Jennifer Bransford) is shocked to find Sonny and Reese in bed together about to make love. She turns and leaves before she is discovered. Upset, she stumbles down the stairs and into the living room. She looks at a family picture on a nearby coffee table before fleeing out the veranda doors, which sets off the alarms.

Upstairs, Sonny hears the alarms and fears the worst. He quickly gets dressed and goes downstairs to ask Max what triggered the alarms. Max tells Sonny that Carly had just been at the house and must have left through the veranda doors, setting off the alarms. Sonny is not happy to hear that Carly had been in the house.

He goes back upstairs where he finds Reese shrugging into her robe. He asks her what she is doing. Reese responds 'Running for my life'. Sonny quickly realizes that Reese believes her enemies have found her. He explains that it was Carly who had set off the alarms. Reese is at first perplexed then realizes that Carly must have seen her in bed with Sonny. She asks Sonny whether he's upset that his wife saw them together. Sonny corrects her, making it clear that Carly is his ex-wife and then tells her that surprisingly he is not upset. Reese is rather dubious about the claim.  Sonny explains to her that they co-parent Morgan but that fidelity is no longer an issue.

Reese seems satisfied with his assurances but has a new concern. She feels that maybe Sonny is attempting to seduce her so that she would not be able to credibly testify against him in court. Despite Sonny's denials, Reese tells him that she has no intention of sleeping with him that night or any other night. Later, Sonny tells Reese that he's going to find Carly because he's worried about what Carly will do after seeing him in bed with Reese. Before he leaves, Sonny admits to Reese that while he was with her upstairs, that the pain that has been a part of him since losing Michael was temporarily gone.

 Carly enters Kelly's, thanking Lorenzo for agreeing to meet her. She gets right to the point. She wants Lorenzo to use all of his considerable resources to help her find Michael. In return, Carly promises Lorenzo not to keep him in the dark about anything and to go to him with everything she knows. Lorenzo agrees to help her and then asks her what has her so upset. Carly is a bit surprised that Lorenzo knows her well enough that he can figure out she is upset about something else. He quickly surmises that it's about Sonny and then deduces that Sonny still refuses to believe that Michael is alive.

Carly tells him that she never had the chance to tell him about Michael because Sonny was too busy having sex with Reese. Lorenzo questions her about how she feels about finding Sonny with another woman. Carly stresses, she could care less whom Sonny sleeps with but that she isn't thrilled that he's doing it with a Fed who can put him away. She goes on to explain that despite Sonny's poor choice of lovers, she needs to stay focused on finding and bringing her son home. Once she achieves that goal she intends to concentrate on her own happiness starting with Lorenzo.

Lorenzo is a bit cautious. He senses that Carly might be trying to repeat history by using him to get Sonny jealous. Lorenzo refuses to go down that path with her again. He warns her that if she wants to be with him, it can't be because she wants revenge against Sonny. Carly admits that it did hurt her to see Sonny in bed with another woman but at the same time it was also liberating. Lorenzo is somewhat reassured. Carly then decides to go to Jason. When Lorenzo questions her about her reasons she explains that Jason has the right to know that Sonny is sleeping with a Fed, which endangers Jason and is therefore very much his business.

Sonny finds Carly at Jason's penthouse. When he asks her why she's there, she lets him know that she's there to warn Jason that Sonny has started sleeping with a Fed. Sonny tries to impress on Carly that Reese is no longer a threat to him because their relationship compromises her credibility. He also makes the suggestion that what is really bothering Carly is jealous that he was with another woman. Carly laughs. She lets him know that she is not the least bit threatened by Reese. Carly then tells Sonny that the reason she was at his house in the first place was to let him know that Michael is alive. Sonny refuses to believe her. He is furious at Jason for raising false hopes and worried that Carly will have her heart broken.

Carly ignores his concerns; instead relentlessly trying to impress upon him that Michael is really alive. Sonny decides to humor Carly and asks her what proof she has to support her claim. She tells him about the picture and what they discovered when they enlarged the photo that revealed that Michael was not dead but drugged because of his dilated pupils. She goes on to tell Sonny about Rachel and her claims that she helped AJ to fake his death. Sonny is shocked as he slowly realizes that Michael is alive. They continue to discuss what Jason has uncovered and slowly a picture of what occurred unfolds.

It becomes obvious that AJ hired Faith to kidnap the children and fake Michael's death so that AJ, who also is believed to be dead, could take Michael and disappear with him without raising any suspicions. Sonny then asks Carly when she first realized the truth, that Michael was alive. She tells him about the incident in the park with Sam. When Sonny wonders why she didn't immediately tell him, Carly explains because she didn't think Sonny would believe her. Sonny concedes that she was probably right. Sonny's anger mounts as the extent of what AJ did sinks in but he makes a point of thanking Carly for following through on her instincts regarding Michael.

A short while later Carly checks her messages after realizing she had inadvertently turned her phone off. She discovers that Jason had tried to reach her and left her a message updating her on their progress in the Bahamas. She shares the information with Sonny including the definitive proof that Michael is alive, the picture of Michael and AJ. Rather than meet up with Jason and Sam in Italy, where they believe AJ has taken Michael, Sonny decides on a different course of action to locate Michael. Carly follows Sonny as he leaves the penthouse.

Alan pours himself a drink and then steps out onto the veranda. AJ steps out of the shadows with Michael and says hello. Alan is overjoyed as he embraces AJ and Michael. AJ tells Alan, as Michael stands by him, that he had rescued Michael from his kidnappers and that both Sonny and Carly no longer wanted Michael so they asked AJ to take care of Michael. Alan says nothing, despite seemingly to recognize AJ's lies for what they were. Their happy reunion is cut short when Monica calls out for Alan. Realizing that she is about to discover them, AJ pleads with Alan to keep his confidence and not let Monica know that he's on the estate.

Sonny and Carly walk into the Quartermaine living room to confront Alan and Monica. They tell them that they know that AJ stole Michael and that they are there to take their son back.

Jason and Samantha meet with Carly at Jason's Penthouse and Jason reports that they found AJ's pilot, whom Jason successfully coerced into admitting that the pilot took A.J. to Port Charles, then laid a false trail to Italy. After Jason leave, Carly is surprised when Samantha confides that Jason has shared some of the details of his past life with Sam. In spite of Sam's warnings not to get Lorenzo Alcazar involved in the search for Michael, Carly orders Sam to mind her own business and storms away.

Carly meets with Lorenzo and brings Alcazar up to date on the latest developments in the search for Michael. Carly goes to the playground and thinks about Michael. Lorenzo soon joins Carly. As they speak about Michael, Carly suddenly looks up and sees Michael on the swings! Lorenzo assures Carly that he also sees Michael, which must mean that they are not both seeing the same vision at the same time!

Reese goes to Sonny's mansion to let him know that they got an audiotape of Sonny's voice from AJ's house in the Bahamas. Sonny is surprised to see she is all dressed up and that she left the protection of his house. She tells him she came to let him know that Michael may not be happy to see him and that A.J. is turning him against him. Sonny refuses to believe that Michael would believe anything A.J. said to him. Reese tells him that he needs to understand that Michael may think he doesn't want him. She plays the tape of his voice to him. Sonny tells her Michael wouldn't believe he didn't love and want him. Reese tells him that Michael is fragile right now and may start believing anything right now and that he will be a different boy than before he was kidnapped.

Carly and Alcazar see Michael swinging on a swing at the park. He turns around when Carly calls his name. Michael doesn't look happy to see her. She tells him she missed him and is so happy to see he is alive. Michael calls her a liar and tells her to stop calling him "little man." Carly tries to explain that she and Sonny always loved him and never wanted him to go away. Michael tells her that she just wants her real son, Morgan. Carly tells him he is also her real son and Sonny is his real father. Michael tells her it isn't true and runs off.

Carly wants to go after him but A.J. stops her when he comes out of the woods and points a gun at her and Alcazar. Alcazar tries to shield her as best he can. A.J. tells her that what he did isn't any worse than when she and Sonny made Michael believe he didn't want him and left him. Carly lunges at AJ but AJ runs off and Alcazar stops her from going after him.

Carly shows up at Sonny's to tell him what happened. Reese leaves them alone to talk. Carly tells Sonny that A.J. pulled a gun on her and Alcazar and that Alcazar is going to get his men to help them find Michael. Sonny doesn't seem pleased at first but tells her he doesn't care who helps as long as they find Michael. Leticia comes in the room with Morgan in her arms to tell them that Morgan has a tooth coming in now. Carly and Sonny take a look at his new tooth and show him a lot of affection without being aware that Michael is outside the window watching them with Morgan. Morgan seems to notice Michael out the window and starts pointing out the window with his finger.

Carly suggests they look outside since she has a feeling Michael may have been out there. Sonny goes outside on the balcony and calls Michael's name but no one appears or answers. Sonny and Carly agree that once they get Michael back and he lives with them awhile, he will realize how much they love him. Jason goes over to Sonny's and tells Carly and Sonny that promised to help them after she found out what A.J. did to Michael. Carly tells Sonny she plans to be there with them when they catch A.J.

Carly tells Sonny she's going with him to the airport, and Sonny says no way. She tells Sonny she started this when she got drunk and slept with AJ. Carly tells Sonny that Michael will be traumatized if he sees Sonny and Jason kill AJ. She wants to be there to protect Michael from that. Sonny says he's afraid that AJ will take the mindset of "If I can't have Michael you won't either."

Jason confronts AJ at the Quartermaine mansion, the wrestle at the top of the stairs. Everyone has entered the foyer, Sonny, Carly, Michael, Alan and Monica and they watch in fear as AJ holds a gun on Jason. Jason tells him to go ahead and shoot that it would be worth dying to know that AJ would never have access to Michael again.

Jason and AJ wrestle over the control of a gun at the top of the stairs of the Quartermaine mansion. As the struggle, the gun goes off and both men end up crashing through the banister and plummeting to the ground below. Jason lands on top of AJ and seems unhurt after momentarily being stunned by the fall. Michael runs out of the house, confused and scared.

Carly and Sonny follow Michael out to the boathouse; a distraught Michael accuses Sonny of ordering Jason to kill his father. Sonny denies the accusation. Michael doesn't believe him. Instead he goes on to accuse Sonny of hanging AJ on a meat hook and forcing him to give up his rights to Michael. Sonny tells him that there is more to the story than that but Michael doesn't seem to want to have any part with his explanation.

They try to convince him that they didn't want to give him away and they've been looking for him. He tells them they are liars and he knows they love Morgan more than him. Carly tells him that isn't true and if he'd hug her he'd feel the love she had for him. He comes closer to her then bolts off.

Reese joins them and is able to calm Michael down by informing him of whom she is and letting him know how AJ is doing. When Michael demands to see AJ, Reese offers to drive Michael to the hospital. Michael accepts wanting nothing more than to put some distance between himself and Sonny and Carly. Sonny and Carly can do no more than watch. When they arrive at the hospital, Dr. O'Donnell, a pediatric physician, checks out a somewhat reluctant Michael. Reese explains to Sonny and Carly that Michael is going to need some time and space from them.

Dr. O'Donnell updates Sonny and Carly on Michael's condition. He explains that he is physically fine but that he's in shock. He cautions them that Michael will need time. Reese sits alone with Michael in a private room at the hospital. She tells Michael what they've discovered in the course of their investigation, gives him an outline of AJ's lies and shows him the tape that AJ used to convince Michael that Sonny did not want him. She plays the tape for him and then gently breaks it to him that AJ had manipulated the tape to make it appear as if Michael had been talking to Sonny. Michael seems overwhelmed with what he's being told and appears to shut down.

Carly is frustrated as she and Sonny are forced to watch the proceedings from the hallway. She feels that they should be the ones talking to Michael. Just then Liz walks up and informs Ric that AJ has survived the fall and is conscious much to Sonny's regret. When Reese exits the room and talks to Carly who is waiting, Michael listens in on their conversation. He hears Carly rant about how much she despises AJ and the things that he has done. Reese cautions her against going into the room to talk to Michael, fearing he's not ready to face Carly.

Ric tells Sonny, Sam and Jason that AJ is going to try an insanity defense. When it's suggested that Michael might have to testify against AJ, Sonny puts his foot down. He refuses to consider letting Michael go through such a thing.

             Courtney joins Carly outside of Michael's room. She encourages Carly to go into the room and talk to Michael, claiming that Carly has the best maternal instincts that she has ever seen. Carly needs no further encouragement. She goes into the room but things don't go well. Michael keeps his back to her, refusing to even look at her, much less talk to her. Sonny soon joins them. He too attempts to get through to Michael but to no avail. He reassures Michael that they both love him and when he's ready to talk that both he and Carly will be there for him.

Sonny walks into AJ's room. Expecting him, AJ wastes no time taunting Sonny. He makes a point of telling Sonny over and over that Michael is his son not Sonny's and that Michael no longer loves or believes anything that Sonny says. He asks him how it feels to have his son turned against him. AJ then dares Sonny to kill him, assuring him that if he does it will result in pushing Michael further away. The entire time, Sonny's face remains neutral, revealing nothing of his turbulent thoughts. When AJ is finished, Sonny quietly promises on his mother's soul that AJ will never see Michael again.

Carly walks into AJ's room a short while later. She is happy that AJ didn't die of the fall because it gives her the opportunity to kill him herself. AJ isn't intimidated. He reminds Carly that Michael is his son and that he has every intention of taking her to court to get custody of him. Carly accuses him of being a child abuser and refuses to acknowledge him as AJ's son. She claims that the only man who is Michael's father is Sonny.

Just then Liz walks in. AJ makes certain that Liz knows Carly has threatened his life. Carly counters, claiming she was just there to thank AJ for changing his mind and returning Michael home. Liz seems to have no interest in being a part of their games. She informs Carly that she has to leave because it was time to give AJ a tranquilizer. AJ is alarmed and orders Liz not to give him a tranquilizer. She explains that she has no choice, its doctor's orders. Carly exits the room with a smile on her face, and waits around the corner until she sees Liz exits the room.

Sonny and Reese discuss Michael. She assures Sonny that they will put AJ away for what he has done despite his insanity defense. Sonny seems preoccupied. He lets her know he's grateful for her help as he walks away. AJ is lying in his bed. Someone enters his room. AJ smiles when he sees who has walked in and says, "I've got something I want to say," just as the person raises a pillow over AJ's face.

A montage of what everyone is doing is shown. Monica leaves Alan's room as he sleeps. Emily is seen walking quickly along a corridor with a determined expression. Jason looks over his shoulder as he goes around a corner. Sonny abandons his post by Michael's room. Courtney enters the elevator. Elsewhere, Durant is shown exiting an elevator. Carly stops mid-stride and decides to turn back around. AJ opens his eyes as someone enters his room. He smiles and says, "I've got something I want to say" just as the person lifts the pillow to smother him.

Carly pulls the pillow away from AJ's face. In what appears to be a state of shock, Carly turns and flees the room, dropping the pillow. Durant comes around a corner and sees Carly leave AJ's room and rush down another corridor. He walks to AJ's room and stands in the doorway looking at AJ who is lying still on his bed.

 Sonny returns to Michael's room. Before he can enter, Reese sees him. She comments that she was rather surprised that he had left Michael's side. Sonny explains his brief absence, claiming he needed a moment alone to clear his head. As Sonny and Reese are talking, Carly approaches. Clearly in no mood to talk, Carly exchanges the briefest of words and enters Michael's room. Sonny seems to sense that Carly is spooked.

Steven checks on AJ, taking his pulse. He immediately calls a Code Blue and begins chest compressions as a medical team wheels in equipment and charge the paddles.  Ric finds Sonny and Reese in the hallway outside of Michael's room and lets them know that AJ has died. Sonny feels its justice. When Carly learns of the death, she isn't brokenhearted either.

Sonny and Carly are surprised that an autopsy has been ordered. They feel that it doesn't matter given the kind of man AJ was. Upset at the news Carly leaves, claiming she needs to see Bobbie. She ends up in the hospital chapel where Durant finds her. He flashes back to seeing her leaving AJ's room earlier then joins her in the pew. He tells her that he suspects that she finally needs his help. Carly declines the offer, feeling it comes with too high a price.

She leaves the chapel in search of Jason whom she finds with Sam about to leave the hospital. She demands to have a private word with Jason much to Sam's annoyance. Jason isn't happy with the way Carly has behaved and tells her as much. She ignores him, instead reluctantly admitting that he's not going to be happy with her once he learns of what she's done. Jason listens as Carly recounts her meeting with AJ in his room and leaving when Liz entered to give him a sedative. Sensing there is more, Jason asks her if she returned to AJ's room. Carly admits that yes, she did.

 Sonny breaks the news of AJ's death to Michael who is still catatonic. As Sonny is talking about AJ and his death, Michael slowly begins to quietly cry. Deciding to leave Michael alone for a bit, Sonny steps out into the hallway. He is frustrated that Michael is still rejecting him. Reese tries to comfort Sonny, explaining that Michael needs time and constant reassurance that he's loved and wanted. When she tries to explain to him what Michael endured psychologically, Sonny interrupts her. He shares with her the abuse he endured at the hands of his stepfather, Deke. He is happy that AJ is dead. Just then Reese is paged with the update that AJ's autopsy results are ready.

As everyone gathers in the reception area, Steven hands Monica a copy of the autopsy report. He shares with her the findings; AJ did not die of natural causes. He was murdered. Upon hearing the news, Sonny immediately walks away while everyone else stands in a state of suspicious disbelief looking at each other.

Steven reports that A.J. was smothered with a pillow. Elsewhere in the Hospital, Carly reports to Jason that she went to AJ’s room with the intention of getting rid of Michael's father permanently. However, Carly explains that after she picked up the pillow on the floor, Carly realized that A.J. was already dead!

Jason hustles Carly out of the hospital right away. Later, Jason delivers Carly to Sonny's estate and warns Carly that if she left behind any evidence in AJ’s room, Carly will almost surely become a prime suspect in her ex-husband's death. Jason becomes alarmed when Carly admits that Carly threatened A.J. while they were alone together and that A.J. later reported Carly's threats to Elizabeth when Liz arrived to give A.J. a sedative, just as Carly was leaving. Carly asks Jason if he was the one who killed A.J. Jason evades her question but admits that Carly has laid down the kind of track that could make it impossible for Jason to protect Carly from prosecution this time!

Jason delivers a silent Michael home to Carly. Sam arrives shortly afterward. Carly tries to get an unresponsive Michael to speak to her or to Morgan. Mac orders Steven to request DNA samples from Ric, Alexis, Courtney, Jason, Monica, Rachel, Sonny and Carly. Reese has discovered Carly with Michael and Morgan and watches them through the window.

Carly makes up a tray of snacks for Michael up in his room. Sonny stops her from going upstairs. She tells him she has some snacks on the tray Michael bought for Sonny for his birthday. She hopes Michael will recognize the tray and make a connection to the past when he felt loved by Sonny. Sonny likes the idea but thinks she has more to worry about and suggests she leave the country since she is going to end up being a prime suspect in AJ’s murder. Carly tells him she didn't kill A.J. and Sonny believes her.

Jason tells Carly that Michael is still withdrawn; Carly starts to lose patience with giving Michael space and wants to go up and try to reach him. Sonny and Jason think it is a bad idea right now and ask her to give Michael his space and try to talk her into leaving the country before the police show up and arrest her. Carly refuses to leave the country when Michael needs her. Sonny gets angry when she won't listen to him. He tells her that she isn't going to do Michael any good if she ends up arrested and put in prison. Carly insists on going upstairs with the tray of food. She brings the food up for Michael. Michael throws the tray of food across the floor in anger but doesn't talk to her.

Carly comes back downstairs and tells them what happened. Carly decides to bring Morgan upstairs to play with Michael. Jason thinks bringing Morgan up to see Michael is a good idea but doesn't think she should bring Morgan up herself. Sam shows up and offers to bring Morgan upstairs to see Michael since Michael won't be as threatened by her presence than he would be if he saw Carly, Sonny, or Jason. Carly reluctantly hands Morgan over to Sam. Sam brings him upstairs. Michael doesn't pay any attention to Sam but smiles at Morgan and rolls the ball to him to play. Morgan rolls the ball back to Michael and stops fussing.

Reese shows up at Sonny's to warn him the police are on their way to arrest Carly. Sonny asks her what they have on Carly to be able to arrest her. Reese tells him that Elizabeth testified that she saw Carly threaten A.J. and then saw her come out of AJ’s room not long afterwards. She tells them that they also found DNA evidence that proves Carly touched the pillow that was used to kill A.J. Jason and Sonny don't like that evidence.

Jason goes upstairs where Carly is trying to reach out to Michael. Jason tells her she needs to leave the country right now. Carly refuses to leave Michael's side. The cops show up and Mac hands Sonny the warrant for Carly's arrest. Reese tells Mac that Carly isn't there. Mac and Ric don't believe her since Sonny is trying to stop them from searching upstairs for her. Sonny tries to stop Mac and the cops from going upstairs and arresting Carly since Michael is in the same room.

Mac tells one of the officers to hold Sonny off while he goes upstairs. Sonny asks Mac not to do this since his son is upstairs and is in no condition to see his mother arrested. Mac doesn't believe that is the real reason and heads upstairs. Sonny calls out to Ric, in a warning not to do this. Ric is torn about doing his job and about how Michael may react. Jason tries again to get Carly to go with him immediately since he knows the cops are on their way up to arrest her. Carly refuses to leave Michael to go out of the country.

Jason won't be swayed by Carly. Carly insists to Jason she needs to be with Michael and Sam agrees. Sonny refuses to cooperate with Ric. When Michael is catatonic he is taken back to the hospital. Carly risks her freedom to go to see her son. The police show up to arrest her and as they are taking her away, Michael responds and cries out for his mother. Carly begs to be allowed to embrace her son, Sonny demands that the police not arrest Carly in front of her son.

Michael is upset by seeing his mother arrested. As the adults argue with each other over how the arrest is being carried out, Michael breaks away during the commotion and runs to Carly. Clinging tightly to her, he speaks his first words, calling her "Mommy." Carly kneels down to reassure him that everything will be okay and that she loves him. She goes on to let him know that Sonny will take care of everything. P            Michael turns to look at Sonny and utters his second word "Daddy" as he runs to the safety of his arms while the police take Carly away. Unfortunately the breakthrough is short lived; Michael almost immediately regresses back to his silence and begins rocking himself quietly. Reese and Sonny discuss what has transpired with a psychologist. The psychologist agrees with Reese's assessment that Michael is showing clear signs of repressing a traumatic memory.

Worried, Sonny returns to Michael's side and tries to talk to him, hoping Michael will open up but it's to no avail. Michael remains silent. Frustrated, Sonny reaches for his hand and begs him to talk to him. Reese, seeing Sonny's loss of control, walks into the room and calmly suggests to him that he go to the police station to check on Carly. Sonny realizes that Reese is merely trying to help him and leaves without argument after she assures him she will stay with Michael.

After Sonny leaves, Reese talks to Michael about what the psychologist told them in the hopes of getting Michael to talk but Michael continues to be silent. Reese tucks Michael in as she gently sings him the lullaby "Hush Little Baby". As Reese sings, Carly is shown being fingerprinted and photographed as she's processed.

When Carly sees Liz at the PD, she immediately presumes she is there to make certain that Carly is charged with AJ's murder. Liz says nothing as Jason tries to rein in Carly's temper in. In the interrogation room, Ric tries to talk to Carly but she isn't in the mood to listen or cooperate. She lets Ric know what a low opinion she has of him and insists on being released so that she can return to Michael.

Lorenzo arrives at the PD and reassures Carly that he will take care of things for her. Grateful for his help, Carly hugs him. Just then Sonny walks in and doesn't seem happy to see Carly in Lorenzo's arms, but he remains silent. Justus and Ric walk into the interrogation room to take Carly for processing a short while later. Before she is taken out, Carly turns to Lorenzo and mouths the words, "Thank you". Sonny asks to speak to Ric alone. Once everyone has filed out, Sonny tells Ric to let Carly go. Ric feels his hands are tied because the evidence against Carly is overwhelming. Sonny doesn't care. He blackmails Ric, telling him to let Carly go or he will take action against Alexis who has left the country with Kristina and is now in London. Ric is shocked that Sonny knows where Alexis is.

Justus meets with Carly and lays out the case the police have against her. She admits that she would have killed AJ but insists that AJ was dead when she got there. Justus advises Carly not to use that as a defense! She admits to touching the pillow, but insists she did not kill AJ. He suggests that if she did kill AJ that she should plead guilty and take a plea, as the judge will be sympathetic because of AJ kidnapping Michael. Carly refuses to consider the idea, proclaiming her innocence. Sonny walks into the interrogation room to talk to Carly but is almost immediately interrupted by a phone call from Reese. She tells him that she and Jason are taking Michael back to Sonny's home but refuses to give him any more details than that.

Concerned, Sonny starts to leave without telling Carly what the phone call was about. Frustrated and sensing something is happening to Michael; Carly demands to know what is going on. Sonny warns her not to do anything stupid and then walks out of the room. Lorenzo enters and cautions Carly about entrusting her welfare to Sonny and Jason in regards to the case. He insists that Jason is protecting the two most likely suspects, Emily and Monica. He also feels that Sonny, who is no longer emotionally invested in Carly, will believe anything Jason says even if it means Carly being found guilty of a murder that she did not commit. Lorenzo assures Carly that the only person who doesn't have a conflicting agenda is himself and that he will do whatever it takes to see her free. Jason arrives awhile later to tell Carly what is going on with Michael. She is shocked to hear that Michael thinks she killed AJ.

Ric believes that the only reason Sonny is threatening him with notifying the authorities that Alexis has fled the country with Kristina if Ric doesn't get Carly freed is because Sonny believes Carly is guilty. Sonny says he wants to do what's best for all of his children and therefore will give Alexis some leeway but in return he wants Ric to release Carly that very night.

Michael dreams of hiding in AJ’s room and of seeing Carly smothering AJ. He wakes up frightened and blurts out to Reese that he saw his mom in AJ's room. Sam overhears Reese ask Michael if he's trying to tell her that he saw Carly hurt AJ. Michael confirms that, yes, he did.

Jason advises Sonny to talk to Reese about what is going on with Michael. Sonny agrees and sends Jason to the police station to keep an eye on Carly. Reese talks to Sonny, explaining to him what is going on with Michael. She tells him that she believes that Michael saw something that has traumatized him and it manifested itself in Michael's dream. She's not entirely convinced though that Michael did in fact see Carly smother AJ. She goes on to suggest to him that Michael get some professional help to sort things out but she warns him that if he tells a psychologist what he confided to Reese then the doctor might be obligated to report it to the police.

Sonny questions whether a professional might be bound by doctor/patient confidentiality but Reese is quick to inform him that it does not apply when the doctor has knowledge of a capital crime. Ultimately, Michael might be forced to testify against his own mother. Sonny asks Reese if she believes Carly killed AJ, she admits that it's certainly a possibility. He decides that he'll get help for Michael when Carly is safe but Reese warns him that the longer he waits the more damage it may do to Michael.

Ric enters and requests to have a word in private with Sonny. The moment Reese walks out, Ric lets Sonny know that he was not able to convince the judge to drop the charges against Carly. Sonny takes the news calmly then tells Ric that he's going to take action against Alexis. Ric is furious that Sonny is willing to hurt Kristina in order to see Carly cleared of charges.

Ric is interrupted when his cell phone rings. It's Alexis calling to tell him that she had decided to come home. As she's speaking, two London police officers approach Alexis and Kristina in the park. Ric listens as they inform her that Kristina is being taken into custody and returned home immediately to her father while she is being charged with kidnapping. Alexis is outraged as she is Kristina's mother. Ric is livid when he disconnects the call.

He realizes immediately that Sonny must have called the authorities before he even talked to the judge. Sonny is unfazed. He admits that he had little faith in Ric's ability to convince the judge to dismiss the charges. Sonny then tells Ric that Alexis will see Kristina again after Carly is found not guilty of AJ's murder. At the courthouse, Alexis informs Ric that the new judge assigned to Kristina's custody case is now a judge in Sonny's back pocket and sole custody of Kristina has been awarded to Sonny.

At the Port Charles Police Department, Carly meets with Lorenzo and begs Lorenzo to help Carly get out of jail today. Lorenzo assures Carly that he has all of his bases covered for Carly's immediate release and is confident that Carly could be free by noon!  Jason is appalled when he discovers that Carly has already allowed Lorenzo to pull some strings in order to get Carly released! Jason explains Sonny's plan for forcing Ric into throwing the case against Carly, and warns Carly that if Lorenzo made some kind of illegal deal to get Carly released so soon after her arrest, that illegal activity could backfire on them and make it impossible for Ric to throw the case, as planned. Although Jason tries to convince Carly that she is safer if she remains behind bars, Carly declares that she must be with her children. Jason tries to convince Carly to at least stay away from Michael, but Carly adamantly refuses to listen to Jason. Carly leaves the jail with Lorenzo.

Carly and Lorenzo arrive at Sonny's and Carly asks Lorenzo to make himself scarce while Carly meets with Michael and Lorenzo agrees to Carly's plan. When Carly walks into the living room and announces to Reese and Michael that she has returned, Michael suddenly becomes hysterical, runs away and hides from Carly. When Carly attempts to run after Michael, Reese steps in front of Carly and argues that Carly needs to avoid pressuring her son at this time. After Michael is out of earshot, Carly angrily accuses Reese of being eager to railroad Carly into jail so Reese can have a clear pathway into Sonny's bed!

Sonny breaks up the argument between Carly and Reese. Carly slaps Reese after accusing her of trying to get her convicted by using Michael so she can have Sonny all to herself. Sonny defends Reese and tells Carly she is out of line accusing Reese of manipulating Michael when she is the only person Michael completely trusts right now. He tells Carly that she should be grateful to Reese for helping with Michael. Carly insists on talking to Michael and tells Sonny no one will stop her. She goes upstairs to see Michael.

Reese tells Sonny that Carly is wrong about her wanting to get close to him romantically. Reese tells Sonny that they are from two very different worlds and couldn't make a relationship work. Sonny surprises her by leaning in close and kissing her quickly and tells her to think about that kiss.

Hiding alone in his room, Michael remembers going into his father's hospital room and seeing Carly take a pillow and push the pillow down over AJ’s face. When Carly goes upstairs Michael is holding onto a pillowcase and doesn't give Carly any eye contact. She tries to explain that she didn't kill A.J. Michael tells her to leave him alone and starts to put his hands over his ears. Reese comes upstairs with Sonny to see what is going on. Reese takes over and hugs Michael to her and calms him down with a poem about the ocean. Sonny grabs Carly and pulls her out of the room. Carly sees how Michael trusts Reese. Jason and Sam show up and tell Sonny that all bets are off concerning Ric helping them and that he has a feeling that Alexis is going to help him.

Later, Carly apologizes to Reese for hitting her and making accusations against her about using Michael to get close to Sonny. Reese accepts her apology and tells her she used the poem with her son to calm him down years ago. Carly tells her that Michael also loves the ocean. Sam arrives and asks Reese if it would be all right if she went upstairs and saw Michael. Reese suggests she find that ball that seems to calm Michael and maybe play with it with him. Sam goes upstairs and finds no sign of Michael in his room. She does see a pillowcase shredded into pieces on Michael's bed.

Jason finds him as he is running out of the house toward the gate. He grabs Michael before he can leave and asks him what is wrong. Michael at first fights with Jason to leave him alone but then runs into Jason's arms. Michael tells Jason that he saw Carly kill A.J. Alexis happens to be there and overhears the conversation. She calls Ric on his cell phone after they leave the area. Ric shows up while Alexis is trying to leave a message to him. She tells him that Michael was an eyewitness to AJ’s murder.

Jason brings Michael back into the house. Carly tries to talk to him but he grabs Jason as if he is scared of Carly and Jason tells her to back off and let him bring Michael upstairs. Jason tells Sonny that they should get Carly out of the country. Sonny doesn't think that will work well because Carly insists on being close to Michael.

Alexis tells Ric that there is a witness to Carly murdering AJ and that the witness is Michael. Ric is shocked. He is resistant to the idea of putting him on the stand to testify against his mother despite the fact that he is a witness to a crime. Ric feels that given everything that Michael has been through, a trial may be too much for him. Alexis counters that maybe telling the truth would help Michael. They return to the courthouse where Ric has arranged to see a judge to subpoena Michael.

Carly questions Sonny about his feelings for Reese. She points out that when she was crying on his shoulder, he had pulled immediately away when Reese had entered the room. Sonny explains to Carly that Reese has shown herself to be trustworthy, having withheld evidence that could have caused him legal problems. He goes on to remind Carly that at the moment Reese is the only person whom Michael seems to connect with and for that he is grateful.

Later, when Carly is alone with Jason, she tells him about the conversation she had with Sonny. She admits that she is somewhat upset about Sonny's obvious feelings for Reese, indicating that he has moved on. Jason points out that she too has moved on so he doesn't understand why Carly is having a problem with Sonny doing the same. Carly confesses that its selfishness. She wants Reese to be a liar and someone untrustworthy so that Sonny will turn to Carly and admit that no one can take her place. Jason asks Carly if that's how she feels about Sonny. That no one can take his place. Carly hopes that such isn't the case then changes the topic, having no desire to dwell on it any longer.

A short while later, Carly and Jason go upstairs to tuck Michael into bed. Michael turns his back on Carly as she tries to reassure him that she did not kill AJ. As Jason and Carly come back downstairs, Ric arrives to see Sonny. He hands Sonny a subpoena for Michael. When Reese asks him why Michael is being subpoenaed, Ric informs them all that he has reason to believe that Michael witnessed Carly murdering AJ.

Michael dreams of walking through General Hospital's corridor and entering AJ's room. He picks up a pillow from the floor and walks over to AJ and smothers him while AJ struggles.

Sonny suggests to Reese that she go to Michael's room while they discuss the subpoena. Carly doesn't hold back. She calls Ric a sick freak, believing that the subpoena is a response to Sonny gaining custody of Kristina. She goes off on Ric, ranting and yelling until Jason is able to usher her out of the room, worried she was going to say something that will make matters worse. The moment they are out of the room, Sam picks up where Carly left off but Sonny stops her and asks Sam to leave the room so that he may speak to Ric in private.

When they are alone, Sonny makes an emotional plea for Ric to rip up the subpoena. Ric is understanding and lets Sonny know that he does not relish forcing Michael to testify. He offers to plead Carly's case down to a lesser charge of manslaughter, which carries a sentence of 10 years. With good behavior, he assures Sonny that Carly will only have to serve 5 years. Sonny refuses to consider it. He tries to throw Ric's past crimes against Carly in his face, but Ric remains steadfast. He has no choice but to go forward with the subpoena and the case for that matter despite Sonny's objections.

Jason tries to clam Carly down. He questions whether Carly still trusts him to which Carly replies that she trusts him only if he trusts her. Carly then begs Jason to help convince Sonny that she needs to be with Michael. After they return to the mansion, Carly starts to go upstairs to see Michael. Reese is compelled to caution Carly about pushing Michael. It's the last straw for Carly. She points out to Reese that she is not a psychologist but a Fed. Before things can get uglier between the two women, Sonny speaks up. He supports Reese, which further infuriates Carly.

Carly suggests that Reese may be working with Ric, which has Reese immediately defending herself. Carly then switches tactics and pleads with Sonny to stop fighting her on the issue of seeing Michael. Sonny relents much to Reese's dismay and Carly's elation. Victorious, Carly goes to see Michael. When she walks into the room, Michael doesn't draw away from her. She talks of her love for him, reassuring him that it has never faltered. Eventually they share several poignant hugs.

Downstairs, Jason receives a call from Monica. Sonny is hopeful that Monica is eager to see Jason in order to confess. Jason is doubtful which prompts Sonny to question Jason's loyalty. He asks Jason if he would be willing to let Carly take the fall if it turned out his mother or sister killed AJ. Jason is very clear. Regardless of who killed AJ, he will not let Carly be convicted of the crime. Sonny is satisfied with Jason's answer. After Jason leaves, Reese confesses that as much as she hates to say the words, she suspects AJ's real killer is Michael. Stunned, Sonny demands to know what lead her to such an outrageous conclusion.

Monica tells Jason that the night AJ died, she went to his room, she from the doorway she saw Michael standing over AJ's bed with a pillow. She believed that AJ was already dead. When a staff member approached her, Monica panicked, afraid he would see Michael so she quickly closed the door and led him away from AJ's room. Later, she went to Michael's room and watched him sleep. She couldn't bring herself to tell anyone what she had seen, convinced that AJ would not want Michael's life ruined over his death.

Carly and Michael continue to bond. Michael apologizes to Carly for pushing her away and then tells her that he loves her. Carly is quick to reassure him that she understands why he behaved the way that he did and once again tells him that she did not kill AJ. When she asks him if he believes her, Michael smiles and tells her yes, he believes her. When Jason joins them, Carly quickly excuses herself. She's eager to tell Sonny about Michael's breakthrough.

Reese explains to Sonny why she's concluded that Michael is the one responsible for AJ's death but Sonny refuses to accept her theory, despite her compelling argument. He can't believe that Michael would be capable of such a thing regardless of the circumstances. Reese tries to make him understand that Michael was traumatized and believed that Morgan and Kristina were still in danger from AJ. He would do anything to keep his brother and sister safe including killing AJ. Sonny remains unconvinced even when Reese tells him that the reason Michael has shutdown is because of the horrible secret he's hiding.

Carly comes down the stairs announcing that Michael has had a breakthrough. She doesn't appreciate Reese questioning her about it and dismisses her to focus her attention on Sonny. After she gives him the details of Michael's breakthrough, Sonny asks her if Michael mentioned who did kill AJ. A question Carly finds rather odd. Before she can pursue it with Sonny, she is interrupted by a phone call from Justus who says that he needs to see her immediately.

After Carly leaves, Jason joins Reese and Sonny. He asks to speak to Sonny in private but Sonny refuses. Instead he insists on Jason telling Reese that Michael could not possibly have killed AJ. Jason makes several attempts to talk to Sonny privately but to no avail. Given no other alternative, he shocks Sonny by dropping a bombshell. Monica saw Michael kill AJ. Reese is visibly upset at the news while Sonny is momentarily dumbfounded. Reese turns to Sonny and tries to comfort him with the news that given the circumstances and Michael's age there's a very good case for him to be found innocent due to diminished mental capacity. It's too much for Sonny to handle at the moment. He makes it clear that he has no intention of going to the authorities with the truth and then excuses himself so that he can go up to see Michael.

Sonny enters Michael's room. After they share a loving hug, Sonny tells Michael that the worst day of his life is the day that he believed Michael had died. The best day was the day that Sonny learned that Michael was alive. Michael believes him and admits to him that his mother did not kill AJ. When he wonders aloud who did kill AJ, Sonny tells him not to worry about it.

A few minutes later Sonny returns downstairs to the living room where Reese and Jason are still talking. Sonny is more determined than ever not to have the truth come out. He yells at Reese, suggesting that having Michael talk to a psychiatrist will only make him relive killing AJ over and over again. As far as Sonny is concerned that would be more harmful than helping Michael to forget. He challenges Reese to go upstairs to Michael's room and see for herself how much better he's doing and then still insist on him dealing with the truth.

Carly meets Justus at the courthouse. He wastes no time letting her know that he tried talking to Dr. Winters in the hopes that she would help them get Michael out of testifying but Michael's best bet lies with Carly. If she were to accept a plea, she would spare Michael having to testify. Carly has no intention of accepting a plea. She receives support when Lorenzo approaches them and suggests that she at least be given the opportunity to think things over. Carly leaves with Lorenzo, promising Justus that she will consider his suggestion.

Lorenzo brings Carly to his penthouse and surprises her with paperwork that gives her a new identity. He asks her to run away with him but Carly is reluctant. She doesn't want to separate her sons from their father. Lorenzo assures her that once things die down, Sonny would be free to visit his sons any time he wished. Carly remains uncertain despite Lorenzo's declaration of love.

When Jason tries to convince Sonny that it is AJ’s fault that Michael turned into a murderer, Sonny insists that it was Sonny who taught the young boy to be a killer! Jason hastens to assure his boss that Sonny and Carly have been great parents, and then Jason reminds Sonny that Jason also failed to provide a good role model for Michael. Sonny refuses to be consoled. Sonny insists they will need to find another way to protect both Carly and Michael!

Lorenzo admits that he is disappointed after Carly gently explains that she believes that she can not take Lorenzo up on his offer to skip the country with Carly and her sons until AJ’s killer can be uncovered. As Lorenzo tries to persuade Carly to go away with him, Carly receives a call from Sonny and hurries away to meet Sonny. Once Carly arrives at Sonny's, she is surprised when Sonny treats her to a romantic dinner, and then he tells Carly how important her presence in his life has been to him.

After Carly leaves, Sonny goes upstairs, kisses a sleeping Michael goodnight. An agitated Carly stops by Jason's and is dismayed when she finds Sam alone. Carly then blurts out that she believes that Sonny has been acting weird and Carly needs to speak to Jason about that state of affairs right away. After Carly and Sam compare notes about their romantic evenings, the women conclude that it was as if Jason and Sonny were saying goodbye.

Jason arrives at the Port Charles Police Department and demands to speak with Mac right away. Jason is stunned when he learns that Sonny is already in Mac's office. Sonny confesses to Mac that it was he who murdered A.J. Quartermaine!

Carly wants to keep Sonny from confessing and thinks that Michael will do fine testifying in court if he has to. Jason tells her that the worst thing they can do is allow Michael to testify. Carly still doesn't see the problem until Jason tells her that Michael is the one who killed A.J. Carly doesn't believe that Michael is capable of it but Jason tells her what Monica saw when she went to check on A.J. that night and that she protected Michael and only told him what she saw. He also tells her that Michael just did what he and Sonny would have done and that he did it thinking he was protecting his baby brother and sister from A.J.

Carly goes up to see Michael after he wakes up from a bad dream. He tells her that he had a dream that someone was chasing him. She tells him no one will ever hurt him and his family will protect him. Carly comes downstairs and tells Reese that Michael will not be seeing a psychiatrist and that he doesn't know he killed A.J. and probably never remember what he did. Reese worries that Michael could remember months and years from now and that he will be devastated if Sonny goes to prison for life. Jason tells Carly that Reese made some good points but he is afraid for Michael being on the stand as well.

Alexis shows up at Sonny's to bring Kristina home. Carly accuses her of telling Ric about what she overheard Michael telling Jason so that Ric would subpoena him and get Sonny to confess. Alexis doesn't admit it or deny it. She suggests that Carly should go to the cops and tell them she killed A.J. if she is that worried about Michael testifying and Sonny going to prison to protect them. Carly wakes Kristina up and brings her downstairs. Michael is awake and asks her why Alexis is taking Kristina home in the middle of the night. Carly tells him that Alexis missed her so much she couldn't wait until tomorrow to bring her home. Michael is disappointed and asks Alexis when Kristina will come back for a visit. Alexis tells him she doesn't know when but she can come back another time to play with him in the tree house out back. Michael asks Carly where Sonny is? She tells him he is taking care of things.

Carly tells Sonny that she has a plan. She intends to take the boys and leave the country. Once they are safely gone, Justus will deliver letters to Mac and Ric. The letters will explain what really happened to AJ. Sonny refuses to even consider the idea. He orders Carly to drop the matter and let things play out as they are now. Frustrated, Carly leaves but not without first pointing out to Sonny that she doesn't believe he is putting Michael first. He is denying him of the father that he desperately needs right now. Sonny remains stubborn. Carly storms out just as John Durant is demanding to interrogate Sonny immediately. Carly cautions Mac not to let John go anywhere near Sonny. Mac assures her that she has nothing to worry about as he hands John some papers he had just received from Washington.

Reese goes in to talk to Sonny. She turns on a tape recorder and asks him to give his official statement. Sonny refuses. He suspects that Reese will try to trip him up so that he lets it slip that Michael is the one who smothered AJ. Reese turns off the recorder and tries to reason with Sonny. She explains that taking the responsibility for Michael's crime is not helping him. He needs to deal with the truth if he is ever going to get past the trauma of it. Sonny remains stubborn. He tells Reese that if she really cares about Michael, she would let the matter drop and allow him to confess to the crime. Reese asks him what if it's him that she cares about. Ric's untimely entrance keeps Sonny from responding. Ric insists on sitting in during the confession.

Sonny makes his official statement. He tells them that he was talking to Jason at the hospital. When he was done, he took the elevator to the 7th floor and walked to AJ's room. He didn't encounter anyone along the way. Once in AJ's room he took a pillow and held it over AJ's face until he was dead. Reese asks him why they did not find any of his DNA at the crime scene. Sonny tells him that he wore gloves. When they ask where the gloves are, he answers that he tossed them after he killed AJ. Ric doesn't believe a word of his confession. Justus arrives and demands to talk to Sonny alone. Justus is unable to convince Sonny to take a different course.

Carly returns to Sonny's to talk to Jason. She shares her plan with him and asks for his help. Jason decides to set the plan in motion and starts to leave the room but Carly stalls him. She wants to know if he will stay with her and the boys until they are settled in. Jason is noncommittal, assuring her that he or someone else will be with her. Carly is a bit taken aback by his response. Sam tries to explain to Carly that Jason has a life outside of her and the boys. Carly listens to Sam and shrewdly concludes that Sam is pregnant. Sam doesn't immediately deny or confirm the pregnancy, which Carly concludes, is because she is still trying to hold onto the dream of being pregnant with Jason's child because she isn't ready yet to find out that she may not be pregnant.

Sam is uncomfortable with Carly's observations. Carly tells Sam that she and the boys will always be a part of Jason's life and then warns her not to force Jason into a situation where he has to choose because it's going to tear him apart. Sam counters by suggesting to Carly that she learns to accept that Sam is also a part of Jason's life. Jason comes down from Michael's room to let Carly know that Michael refuses to leave. As they discuss, they discuss the necessity of leaving town, Michael sits on the top step and listens in. He overhears Carly say that Michael is the one who killed AJ.

Ric goes into the interrogation room in the hopes of reasoning with Sonny. When Ric confronts Sonny that it was really Michael who had killed AJ, Sonny stubbornly sticks to his story, insisting that he is the one who killed AJ. Under the mistaken belief that Reese told Ric about Michael, Sonny switches tactics when he is unable to convince Ric to drop the matter. Sonny confides to Ric that he and Reese have been lovers for months and that she is desperate to see Sonny released and returned to her bed. So desperate that she is making up the story about Michael. Reese walks in at the tail end of Sonny's claims.

Unfazed at seeing Reese standing in the doorway in a state of disbelief, Sonny steadfastly continues with his lies going so far as to enlist Reese cooperation by asking her to confirm everything to Ric. Reese tells Sonny that she refuses to lie then turns and leaves the room. Ric refuses to accept anything that Sonny says. When Ric tries to reason with him, Sonny decides to switch tactics once again. This time he brings up their mother and how Sonny had no recollection of pushing her down the stairs when she was pregnant with Ric. Sonny tries to explain to Ric that Michael is in a similar situation, having no memory of killing AJ. He implores Ric to help him, reminding him that they are brothers who share blood and that it should count for something.

While Ric and Sonny talk, Carly arrives at the police station. Reese tries to warn her that Ric knows about Michael. Assuming that Reese is the one who told Ric, Carly tells Reese off then barges into the interrogation room demanding to speak with Sonny privately. Ric walks out and joins Reese. He's torn between stopping Sonny from serving a prison sentence for a crime that he did not commit and sparing his nephew from the trauma of being forced to remember smothering AJ. When Reese suggests to Ric throwing the case, Ric reminds her that it's not an option. Since Sonny confessed there won't be a trial, only a sentence hearing. The most he can do for Sonny at his sentencing is to ask for leniency.

Inside the interrogation room, Carly tells Sonny about Michael running away after overhearing her and Jason talk. She suspects that Michael overheard her say that he killed AJ. Sonny has a change of heart regarding her plan. He tells her to go ahead and leave town as she planned and then once they are safely settled in to send the letter explaining about Michael. Just then Jason arrives at the police station with Michael. Carly tries to immediately rush him out of the station before Ric can talk to him. Jason stops her. He insists to her to allow Michael to see Sonny. Reluctantly, Carly stops struggling with Jason and permits Michael to go into the interrogation room. When Michael sees Sonny he tells him that he knows that Sonny did not kill AJ because he's the one who did it. Sonny tries to convince Michael to drop the matter and not worry about things, assuring Michael that he will take care of matters.

Michael asks Sonny if he confessed to murdering AJ to cover for him. Michael doesn't feel it's right for Sonny to go to jail for something that Michael did. He tries to leave the room so that he can confess but Carly and Sonny stop him. Sonny is able to convince Michael to leave with Carly and Jason without saying anything to the police.

After they leave, Ric enters the interrogation room to talk to Sonny. He tries to convince Sonny to allow Michael to deal with his role in AJ's death; promising Sonny that he will do everything in his power to ensure Michael doesn't suffer further. He also assures Sonny that everything will be taken care of in closed hearings, which will further protect Michael. Sonny refuses to consider it. It's his way and that's it. Frustrated, Ric leaves.

Alexis walks in a few minutes later and informs Sonny that Kristina is back in her custody. They discuss Alexis's role in having Michael subpoenaed. Sonny asks her how she can live with herself after using and hurting Michael to get what she wants. He promises her that one way or another Kristina will live with him. Alexis points out that he's in no position to make threads having just confessed to murder. Ric returns just then to let Sonny and Alexis know that Sonny will not be going directly to jail. It seems the judge has rejected his confession and Sonny will be tried for AJ's murder.

Once they are alone, Sonny asks Reese if she had anything to do with the trial. She explains to him that the trial is a win/win situation because Michael can't be called to testify, as he isn't a witness against Sonny. Also Sonny will now be given a chance to explain to the courts why he confessed to a crime that he did not commit.

Jason, Carly and Michael return to Sonny's compound. Michael makes it clear that he isn't going to leave town willingly and he would like to confess to the police so Sonny doesn't go to jail. Sam follows Michael when he runs upstairs to his room, leaving Carly and Jason to talk. Carly is speechless when Jason suggests that Michael be permitted to go to the police to confess. Carly feels Jason is supporting Reese instead of her. She asks Jason to trust her to know what's best for her son, not Reese. Jason explains that things are different now that Michael remembers smothering AJ but Carly refuses to change her mind. She is determined to leave town with Michael and Morgan.

Michael goes downstairs to tell Carly about his change of heart and the plans are set into motion. Mac informs Carly that she's been subpoenaed to appear in court when Sonny is tried for AJ's murder. He orders her to turn over her passport, as she will not be permitted to leave the country until she has testified.

When Reese arrives at Sonny's, Carly coldly demands that the Reese just come right out and declare what it is that Reese really wants! Reese insists that Justus asked her to get Carly ready for her testimony at Sonny's trial. Carly coldly warns Reese that Reese can not depend on Ric to throw the case and then accuses Reese of planning to implicate Carly for AJ’s murder so Reese can have a clear path into Sonny's bed.

Later, when Jason arrives, Jason tries to convince Carly that she must not boil over in court if Carly wants to help Sonny, However Carly ignores all of Jason's cautions and continues to insist that Jason should not trust Reese's advice, because Reese's only objective is to land in bed with Sonny. As Jason and Carly argue, Ric suddenly arrives. Just as Ric begins to assure Jason and Carly that they are all on the same side, Durant barges in and shocks everyone when John announces that the Federal Prosecutor has been named to the prosecution team handling Sonny's case.

Carly is angry when her father declares that John plans to put Sonny in prison which is where the mob boss belongs! But John pleads with his daughter to just be happy that Carly has been given an opportunity to finally get free of her career criminal husband. Jason finally intervenes in the argument and orders Ric and John to leave.

Sonny shows up at the courthouse. Ric arrives there as well and informs him that Durant managed to get the job of co-counsel to make sure he doesn't throw the case. Durant approaches Sonny's table to tell him that he is going to make sure that Ric does his job and gets a conviction.

Reese shows up and defends Sonny and reminds Durant that it wouldn't look good if he was seen harassing the defendant in court before trial. Durant backs off but acts cocky and tells Sonny he is going down for murder. Sonny tells Durant that if he puts Carly on the stand and questions her she will have nothing more to do with him. Sonny thanks Reese for defending him. Reese tells him he needs someone to be in his corner.

 Sam disagrees with Carly about her approach to taking the stand. Sam thinks that she is going to hurt Sonny's case if she gets on the stand and tells everyone how much she hated A.J. and wanted him dead. Carly thinks that if she isn't honest about how she felt about A.J. the jury won't believe her. Carly gets dressed for court. She is wearing a sleeveless black dress and high heels. Sam thinks the outfit will distract the jury from taking her testimony seriously since it will distract them. Jason agrees with Sam that she should let Sam help her pick out another outfit to wear.

When Carly arrives at the courtroom, Alexis is there. She purposely tries to upset Carly by accusing her of being a bad mother to let her own children be in danger by being near Sonny to get her to lose her temper so she will look bad to the press and to the jury. Jason restrains Carly to keep her from taking a swing at Alexis.

The trial begins. Durant stands up and keeps Ric from starting the prosecution's case. Durant calls Carly to the stand. He starts to grandstand to the jury, which Justus objects to several times. The judge sustains the objection and asks Durant to ask Carly questions and wait for her to answer. Durant tells the judge that he would like to treat Carly like a hostile witness. He asks her about how she felt about A.J. and if Sonny was angry with A.J. enough to kill him. Carly almost loses her temper but holds back and sits down and calmly tells the court that A.J. was a disturbed man who wanted revenge on Sonny and even married Courtney to get back at him. Durant asks her why Sonny would suddenly confess to murder. She tells him that he did it to protect her when the evidence started to point to her as the prime suspect.

Durant focuses on the evidence that the police got on her and he asks her if she killed A.J. after all. Michael runs into the courtroom and tells everyone that his parents didn't kill A.J. Durant asks the judge if he could put Michael on the witness stand since they were originally going to subpoena him to testify but since he seemed so traumatized then they changed their minds but now Michael appears to be better. The judge reluctantly allows him to put Michael on the stand. Carly is asked to step down. Carly gets upset and tells Michael that everything is going to be o.k. Michael gets on the stand. Reese, Ric, and Alexis can't believe Michael is going to have to take the stand. Sonny shakes his head in disapproval but can't stop it from happening.

Michael takes the stand at Sonny's trial much to his family's dismay. Everyone objects when John Durant asks Michael if he saw anyone kill AJ. The judge calls order to the court and rules that Michael has to answer the question. Michael tells Durant that he did not see anyone kill AJ. Again pandemonium breaks out when John asks Michael another question relating to AJ's murder. During the chaos, Carly races to the witness box and hustles Michael off. She doesn't get very far before John Durant brings it to the judge's attention. Carly lets everyone know that she doesn't care if they arrest her; she will not allow her son to testify. She intends to take him home.

The judge admonishes her, finding her behavior unacceptable in her courtroom. Ric keeps the situation from deteriorating by informing the judge that the prosecution is finished questioning Michael. The judge permits Carly to leave the courtroom with Michael and calls for a brief recess. In the hallway, Mike and Bobbie arrive to take Michael home.

Sonny seeks John Durant out to tell him that he's a dead man. John isn't threatened and once again tries to pressure Sonny into rescinding his recanted confession. Elsewhere in the courtroom, Ric takes a moment to talk to Alexis. She is furious with the way things are going, especially Sonny's recanted confession. She reminds Ric to do his job. When the trial resumes, Ric calls his next witness, Steven Webber who discusses the forensic findings. He is followed by a nurse who says she overheard Sonny threatening AJ that he will never get near Michael again.

Then Alan testifies about Sonny hanging AJ on a meat hook and forcing him to sign over his rights to Michael, then Elizabeth Webber who testifies to giving AJ a sedative after he was restrained to protect his spinal injuries and who was helpless to defend himself when he was smothered. Finally Dr. O'Donnell, Michael's pediatrician who saw that Michael was alone and asleep in his bed when he checked on him.

Mac takes the stand and tells the jury that Sonny came into the police station to confess to the murder. Justus immediately objects since the confession has been recanted. The judge instructs the jury to disregard the comments about his confession but Sonny realizes that it's too late. He tells Justus that he feels everyone on the jury wants to see him convicted. For the defense, Reese, Sam and Jason testify but Justus is reluctant but feels he has no other alternative but to put Sonny on the stand. Sonny reassures Justus that he can handle anything that Durant fires at him. Justus isn't so certain.

On the stand, Sonny is sympathetic as he talks about what he went through. Durant pulls out all stops as he goes after Sonny. First he asks him about the confession. Sonny doesn't deny confessing to AJ's murder. He claims he did so in order to protect his son from testifying about something that ultimately was only a dream. Durant then asks Sonny if he has ever killed anyone? Sonny admits that he killed a man named Joe Scully but that it was ruled self defense. The door opened, John Durant then questions Sonny about other men who crossed his path and turned up dead or missing. Sonny doesn't admit to anything but things don't look well. Carly is worried that the jury sees Sonny as a murderer.

During closing arguments, Durant gives a convincing speech about why Sonny should be convicted of murder, painting him as a ruthless, cold-blooded gangster and murderer. After Durant concludes, Ric stands and asks the court to address the jury himself. The judge agrees. Ric tells the jury that he's Sonny's half brother and that John Durant was brought on to ensure there was no conflict of interest. Ric goes on to tell them that much of what they heard about Sonny was true but that he did not kill AJ. Everyone is shocked. Sonny tries to stop Ric from proceeding with his closing speech but Ric tells him that the truth must come out.

Worried that Ric is about to reveal Michael's role in AJ's death, Sonny desperately tries to stop Ric from addressing the jury. Ric is determined. He shocks everyone when he tells the jury that the state has not met its burden to prove Sonny is guilty of murdering AJ and therefore he should not be found guilty. After a brief round of objections on John Durant's part, Ric is given the opportunity to finish addressing the jury. Ric explains that Sonny was forced to confess in order to protect Michael who was in the throes of posttraumatic stress after spending an extended period of time with his kidnappers.

Ric goes on to tell the jury that John Durant was so determined to put Sonny away that he used Michael's dreams to railroad Carly for a murder she did not commit and threatened to put Michael on the stand to testify against his mother. Seeing no other alternative, Sonny confessed. Ric concludes, that given the lack of any real evidence, the jury doesn't have any choice but to come back with a not guilty verdict. After the judge instructs the jury and sends them off to deliberate she calls a recess. Sonny makes his way to Ric to thank him. John Durant is livid and tells Ric that the jury is going to see him as nothing but a corrupt DA.

John Durant vows to retry the case should the jury end up deadlocked. He also promises that he will not hesitate to put Michael on the stand. Overhearing the threat, Carly warns John that she will not allow him to hurt her family. She also tells John that she regrets ever seeking him out. Just then it's announced that the jury has reached a verdict. When all parties return to the courtroom, the verdict is read. Sonny is found not guilty.

Sonny and Carly go home to give Michael the news. Michael is thrilled. When Jason and Sam join them, Michael insists on making plans to celebrate Sonny's victory. While everyone is deciding what to do, Sonny slips out when he sees Reese standing quietly to the side in the hall. He thanks her for everything that she did and credits her for saving his life, explaining that it would have killed him to have gone to jail. They end up kissing passionately and going up to Sonny's bedroom.

Downstairs, Carly sends Michael off with Jason and Sam, promising to find Sonny and joining them in a short while. Carly ends up going to Sonny's bedroom and slowly opening the door where she sees Sonny and Reese half dressed on his bed and kissing. Carly hesitates a moment before she swings the door as she says something about Michael. Pretending she has no idea what Sonny and Reese were doing, Carly acts shocked upon seeing them but shows no remorse for interrupting them.

Carly has no remorse for interrupting Sonny and Reese. Sonny is annoyed with Carly's antics and calls her out on them, asking her if she couldn't have knocked instead of barging into his room. He suggests that she knew that he and Reese were together. Carly doesn't deny it. She is outraged that Sonny chose spending time with Reese over spending time with his family. Sonny doesn't see it that way and lets her know that he did no such thing. Carly isn't satisfied with his answer. She tells Reese that she means nothing to Sonny and that he's only using her to get back at Carly. Sonny is finally forced to yell "Enough!" to end Carly's tirade but only momentarily.

Carly switches tactics and asks Sonny what their recent intimate dinner was all about. Reese clearly knew nothing of it and seems a bit surprised. Sonny gently explains to Carly that the dinner was to say goodbye and that he never intended to lead her on. Carly counters, claiming that Sonny wants her; he knows it and now Reese knows it as well. On that note, Carly walks out of the room, claiming that she is through with Sonny.

As soon as Carly is gone, Sonny apologizes to Reese for Carly's behavior. Reese, herself on her way out of the bedroom, tells Sonny that while Carly was out of line they both know that she was right. Sonny follows Reese downstairs in the hopes of getting her to change her mind about leaving. Sonny tries to convince Reese that he wants her for her and that he and Carly are better off apart than together. He tells her about how he first met Carly and how much they despised each other but Reese isn't swayed. She confides to Sonny that while him and Carly were arguing in his bedroom, Reese had felt embarrassed to be there in the room with them because the passion between them was so strong that it felt as if they were making love. She also informs him that she intends to return to Washington and be reassigned to another case. Just then Michael, Jason, Sam and Morgan return from their outing. While Sonny greets his family, Reese quietly slips away.

Carly runs into Courtney outside of Kelly's. She tells Courtney about finding Sonny in bed with Reese, which prompts Courtney to admit that she too is upset having just found Jax and Rachel sharing a table at Metro Court. Carly smiles and suggests that Courtney cancel her wedding to Jax and reunite with Jason. Courtney tells Carly that it's time for her to let go of her hope that Jason and Courtney will reconcile

As Sam and Jason kiss, Carly walks into the penthouse demanding Jason's attention, she complains about finding Sonny in bed with Reese. An exasperated Samantha blasts Carly for monopolizing Jason's time. Sam walks over to the front door and opens it before ordering Carly to leave. When Carly turns to Jason for support, he remains silent. Jason promises Carly that he will call her tomorrow. After Carly leaves, Sam apologizes to Jason, but Jason reassures Sam that she was right to draw the line with Carly.

Carly calls Rachel and makes an appointment to meet with Rachel. Jason comes outside and warns Carly not to get some new scheme in the works to try to get Sonny back, but Carly insists that she does not have any new scheme in the works, and flounces away.

Alexis is upset when she finds an angry Sonny on her doorstep and Sonny declares that he is there to make sure the Alexis pays for trying to maneuver Michael into testifying during the trial for AJ’s murder. As they argue, Alexis lets slip that she now realizes that it was Michael who killed A.J. and that Sonny was trying to protect Michael from having to face the consequences. Although Alexis tries to apologize for her hasty actions, Sonny remains unimpressed. Alexis argues that Sonny has succeeded in turning Michael into a duplicate of Sonny, a killer!

Alexis again tries to convince Sonny that what Alexis is trying to do is to spare Kristina from being rushed headlong into a similar fate. Sonny merely accuses Alexis of keeping Kristina away from Sonny because Alexis is still jealous that Sonny chose to reconcile with Carly, following Sonny's brief fling with Alexis. After threatening again that he will make Alexis pay for her mistakes, Sonny slams out of the apartment. Meanwhile, a tipsy Ric helps an equally tipsy Reese to her hotel room and then the two of them fall into bed together.

Carly meets at Kelly's with Rachel and suggests that the two of them work together to break up Courtney and Jax so that Jason can dump Sam and reunite with Courtney. Carly explains that it then should be easy for Rachel to grab Jax on the rebound. Rachel eventually agrees with Carly's plan to make Jax believe that Courtney has hopped back into bed with Courtney's ex-husband, Jason!

Sonny arrives on Reese's doorstep and, when Ric hears Sonny banging on the door, Ric scrambles in to hiding. As Sonny comes inside the room, Ric's cell phone on the nightstand begins to ring. Reese quickly grabs the phone and turns it off, telling Sonny that it is a call she will be able to take care of later. Sonny then surprises Reese by declaring that he would like to keep Reese in his life and asks the F.B.I. agent to reconsider her decision to return to Washington! Reese reluctantly agrees.

After Reese hustles Sonny away before Sonny notices some of Ric's clothes on the couch, Reese tries to explain her feelings for Sonny to Ric. Ric assures Reese that he understands her conflicting feelings, but warns Reese that Sonny can never learn about the night that Ric and Reese spent together. Reese agrees that Ric is right about Sonny interpreting such an event as a betrayal and they decide they will both stay mum about their romp in the sack.

 Sonny returns to his home and is informed by Jason about Michael's nightmare. However, when Jason suggests that, perhaps, Michael needs some psychological counseling and therapy, Sonny coldly vetoes the idea, without giving the suggestion a second thought. Then Sonny explains why Sonny felt he needed to go after Reese and persuade the F.B.I. agent to stay in Port Charles. Just as Sonny explains that he simply cannot get involved in the same destructive merry-go-round with Carly again, Carly arrives and overhears Sonny's declaration!

Carly shows up at the Metro Court Hotel and meets with Rachel, who is still reluctant to go along with Carly's crazy scheme to break up Courtney and Jax. Courtney and Jax are sitting at a table in the hotel restaurant, drinking champagne and planning their wedding and honeymoon, which is, suppose to happen in eight days. Rachel points out to Carly that they seem really in love and happy. Carly tells her that Jax is all wrong for Courtney and she is her best friend and is doing what is best for Courtney. Carly approaches Courtney and Jax at their table. Carly tells Courtney she has a surprise gift for her. She tells Courtney she booked her to spend the day at the spa in the hotel to pamper herself. Jax leaves so they can talk alone.

Courtney leans over and asks Carly what she is up to since she didn't even know when they were getting married until ten minutes ago. Carly tells her that she had booked the spa appointment awhile ago as a consolation gift in case Courtney and Jax did end up breaking up and that if they didn't it would be a wedding gift instead. Carly tells her she booked a hotel room for her to use in between spa treatments.

Carly shows Courtney the hotel room she booked for her and gives her something to change into. While Courtney is getting ready for her spa treatment, Carly goes outside her hotel room and tells Rachel it is time to put her plan in motion. Carly calls Jason at home and tells him she is in trouble and needs his help.

Rachel follows through with her role in Carly's scheme to break up Jax and Courtney. She deliberately runs into Jax and then pretends to be surprised that Jax and Courtney are going through with the marriage and then lets it slip that she just witnessed Courtney alone with Jason going into a hotel room. She tells him that she remembered the room number, 614, because it was her birthday. Jax decides to see for himself and leaves. After he is gone, Rachel calls the room to leaves a message “incoming”.

Carly steps out of the room while Courtney changes and calls Jason to tell him to meet her in room 614, claiming that she did something awful, is in trouble, and desperately needs his help. Once she's off the phone with Jason and Courtney leaves the room, Carly starts scattering Courtney's clothes around the room as well as some rose petals in an attempt to make it look like a lover's tryst had taken place there. Jason walks in though and asks her what she is doing.

Carly is momentarily at a loss for words but then quickly comes up with the lie that she's attempting to lure Sonny there in the hopes of seducing him. When she looks over at the phone and notes the blinking red light she realizes that Jax is on his way to the room. She starts yelling "YES! YES! YES!" and making all kinds of noise so that Jax, who is by now on the other side of the door, overhears her and mistakenly believes that he is overhearing Courtney and Jason making love. Her plan is successful. Jax is visibly shaken by what he overhears but does not go into the room. Just then Courtney walks up from behind and asks him what he is doing in the hall. He quickly realizes that he's been duped.

After Jason, who by now is tired with Carly's antics, leaves, Courtney goes into the room and tells Carly that she has decided to call an end to her spa treatments because she has a bad feeling. Carly sees it as an opportunity to try and talk Courtney out of marrying Jax. She tells Courtney that the bad feeling is her subconscious telling Courtney to call off the wedding. She goes on to inform Courtney that she had just seen Jax kissing and pawing Rachel. Courtney storms out of the hotel room upon hearing that.

In Metro Court, Jax rejoins Rachel. He tells Rachel that the wedding is off after having just confirmed that Courtney was with Jason. Rachel is sympathetic and comforts him by reaching for his hand. Jax then surprises Rachel when he tries to seduce her, pointing out that she is obviously attracted to him and admitting he is to her. When they kiss, Courtney walks into Metro Court seemingly furious. Angry words are exchanged between Courtney and Jax before Courtney reaches for a knife and turns on Jax.

Just then Carly arrives and yells for Courtney to stop. Carly is forced to confess that the entire incident had been a set up in the hopes of keeping Courtney from marrying Jax. Courtney is furious with Carly for trying to sabotage her wedding to Jax. She vows that nothing will stop her from marrying Jax. She tells Carly that she is no longer invited to her wedding. Carly is shocked and hurt but leaves without further argument.

Reese visits Sonny. She can't help but remember her intimate encounter with Ric the previous night. When Sonny goes to kiss Reese, she pulls away telling him that she needs to talk to him before things go any further between them. It seems she is about to tell him about Ric but at the last moment she doesn't. Instead she talks about her intentions when she first came to town. As the discussion progresses, Reese admits that her career with the FBI is over because John Durant will have contacted her superiors by now and it will only be a matter of time before they decide to fire her. Sonny offers to stop things between them right then and there if she feels it's going to cost her career but Reese declines the offer. Her heart, she tells him, made the decision for her long ago.

Before they can act on their attraction, Michael comes downstairs after having a nightmare. Sonny momentarily excuses himself to take Michael back to bed, leaving Reese alone in the living room but not for long. Ric walks in much to her surprise. They talk about their night together. Ric advises her that if she has a chance at happiness with Sonny she should grab it and not share their secret with Sonny. Ric has no intention of telling anyone either. Sonny is surprised to see Ric when he returns to the living room. Ric tells both Reese and Sonny that he's been relieved of his position as DA. Sonny, grateful for all that Ric has done for him, goes to his desk and pulls out several bundles of cash, which he offers to Ric to help him out until he gets back on his feet. Ric declines the offer of money, explaining that what he did in court was for Michael, not anyone else. After he leaves, Sonny admits to Reese that Ric is full of surprises. Reese too admits that she's surprised and has clearly misjudged Ric. Sonny smiles and tells her that he knows what happened between Reese and Ric.

Sam is distraught over the news that she has to wait a year to get pregnant. She insists that she feels better than ever and thinks that Dr. Meadows is wrong with her diagnosis. Sam tells Jason that she doesn't want to wait a year to have a baby and doesn't care about the risks. Jason doesn't agree. He does care about the risks and feels that they should wait. As he is comforting Sam on the sofa, Carly barges into the penthouse. Sam is furious and orders her out. Carly ignores Sam as she tells Jason that it is urgent she speaks with him. Disgusted at Carly's lack of respect for their privacy, Sam storms out of the penthouse.

Carly doesn't seem the least bit bothered by Sam's exit. She makes it clear to Jason that she would not appreciate him following Sam and is thrilled when he tells her that he has no intention of chasing after Sam. Her satisfaction is short lived. Jason is furious with Carly. He tells her that she is out of control and he's getting tired of it. Things go from bad to worse as Carly gives Jason the details about her failed plans to break up Courtney and Jax, insisting that she did it for Jason and Courtney whom she feels belong together. Carly goes on to beg Jason to leave Sam, telling him that he is nothing but a back up after Sonny dumped her. Jason warns Carly to not make him chose between her and Sam because she will not like the answer that he gives. Carly is shocked and leaves the penthouse in a huff.

Reese lets Sonny know that she does not regret anything that has happened between them and goes on to explain why she keeps coming back to him. In part because of his loyalty and conviction. Sonny reciprocates, admitting that her intelligence, the way she stands up to him and her beautiful smile are some of the reasons that he's drawn to her. They share a tender kiss but are interrupted by Michael when he runs down the stairs and yells "Stop it!". Sonny and Reese are both shocked. Sonny asks Michael what he's doing downstairs but Michael ignores the question and instead demands to know why Sonny was kissing her. Sensing it as her cue to exit, Reese leaves after a quick goodbye.

Sonny sits down to talk to Michael. He wants an explanation from Michael for his behavior. Michael instead starts talking about Carly and Sonny's feelings for her. Realizing that Michael is hoping that his parents will reconcile, Sonny is quick to set Michael straight. He explains that while they care for each other they are not going to reunite. Later, after Sonny returns Michael to bed, Jason visits Sonny. He warns Sonny that Carly is out of control and tells him what happened earlier in the evening. Sonny wants nothing to do with Carly's problems or her antics much to Jason's frustration. He does admit though that Carly could have gotten the wrong message over recent weeks. Just then Sonny receives a phone call from Coleman with disturbing news.

Carly walks into Jakes to find Sam sitting at the bar and drinking. Carly joins her. She doesn't bother exchanging pleasantries before she tells Sam the story of how she met Jason in Jakes and ended up in bed with him that very same night. Sam tries to ignore her but Carly is persistent. She offers Sam $5,000,000.00 to leave town. Sam walks away and sits at a nearby table. Carly follows her and starts talking about Robin and how in the end she went to Paris and Jason didn't follow her. Getting little reaction from Sam, Carly switches tactics and threatens to run her "skanky butt out of town." Sam finally reacts. She punches Carly in the face, knocking her backwards off her chair, sending her sprawling onto the floor. Carly is quick to recover and proceeds to attack Sam. As the women trade blows Coleman and patron are forced to pull the women apart. After Carly leaves, Coleman calls Sonny to warn him that Carly is on a rampage.

Sonny tracks Carly down to her apartment. When he tries to talk to her about her recent behavior Carly admits that she tried to pay Sam off with $5,000,000.00 if she would leave town. Sonny tells Carly that it isn't about Sam. It's about Reese. Carly doesn't want to get rid of Jason's girlfriend; she wants to get rid of Sonny's girlfriend. Carly is momentarily speechless to hear Sonny refer to Reese as his girlfriend. She quickly recovers. She denies that she wants Sonny but when he kisses her it's clear she isn't immune to him. The kiss turns passionate and they end up stretched out on the sofa but before their kiss goes any further, Sonny brings a halt to things. Carly is confused and a bit upset that Sonny pulled away. She insists that he loves her, which Sonny doesn't deny. The problem, he says, is that despite their best efforts and their feelings a relationship would never work between them. It hasn't in the past. Eventually they would drive each other crazy. Carly reluctantly agrees but reminds Sonny that no matter who he is with, she will always love him more than anyone else.

When Sonny returns home, Mike shares with him the details of the conversation that Michael had with Reese. Sonny explains to Mike that he has no intention of reconciling with Carly. Sonny asks Mike to stay a while longer while he goes to talk to Reese to straighten things out. Michael, who is sitting at the top of the stairs, overhears their conversation and quickly calls Carly. Carly, feeling a bit melancholy as she looks at her divorce papers, answers the phone. Michael insists that she come over to Sonny's immediately because it's urgent. Carly rushes over to Sonny's. She sends Mike home and sits down to talk to Michael about what was so important that she had to come over right away. Michael tells her that Sonny is on his way over to Reese's place. Carly doesn't see the importance in that and says as much. Michael explains that Carly needs to stop him since they still love each other. Finally understanding what Michael is so upset about, Carly gently tells him that their marriage is over and that they are moving on with their lives.

Sonny arrives at Reese's hotel room. She is clearly upset, thinking that he and Carly are planning on reconciling. Sonny immediately sets her straight. He explains why he went to see Carly and then tells her that he's not ready to let Reese go. He asks her if she's willing to give their relationship a try and then kisses her. He abruptly pulls away from the kiss when it seems like it is going to go further. He tries to make her understand that he needs to take things slowly because he's been burned before. Reese is upset as she watches him leave.

On Courtney’s wedding day, she answers the door to her hotel room to find Carly and Sonny there. Carly pleads with her to not slam the door in her face and hear her out first. Carly tells her she wants to be there for her wedding even if she doesn't believe Jax is right for her. Courtney thinks Sonny is there with Carly to try and stop her from marrying Jax. Sonny tells her he just came to see her to give her a gift and tell her he isn't coming to the wedding. Courtney asks him to come to the wedding since it would mean so much to her. He reluctantly agrees to come. Carly apologizes for scheming against her and puts her hand up and swears to behave at the wedding and not to object at the ceremony. Sonny gives her a lovely gift of beautiful earrings and necklace that match her wedding gown. Courtney is touched by the gift and thanks him for being so supportive even though he hates Jax. He tells her that he just wants her to be happy even if he thinks she deserves someone better than Jax.

Courtney forgives Carly and asks her to be her maid of honor. Carly accepts that position. Sonny leaves her with Carly. Jason meets with Sam at the park. Sam asks him it is weird for him being there at the park watching them get ready for Courtney's wedding to Jax. Jason tells her he is fine with it and that he loves her now. He tells her he has to do a few things right now and will see her later. Jason shows up at Courtney's hotel room. He sees Carly there and asks her what she is up to now. Carly tells him that she promised to behave and is going to be her maid of honor. Jason is pleased. After Carly heads out, Jason tells Courtney that he is happy for her if Jax makes her happy and is good to her. Courtney hugs him and thanks him for his support. However, Jane sees them embracing through the partially opened door and gets the wrong idea.

Carly finds Jax downstairs in the hotel bar. She tells Jax that she will help organize the rest of the wedding and that she will be the maid of honor. Jax lets her help out and tells her he is going to go up and see his bride. Carly lets him go at first knowing Jason is up there with her but has a change of heart and runs over to stop him from going up to see Courtney. Jax asks her what she is up to now. Carly tells him that it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony and that Courtney doesn't need to see him when she is busy getting ready. Jax accepts her explanation. Carly leaves the hotel to head to the park later. Jane shows up at the bar and finds Jax there still. She tells him that she came over to stop the wedding. Jax tells her he is not listening to her anymore. She tells him that she was right about Courtney and that she just saw her in the arms of Jason.

Sonny goes home to change for the wedding. Reese is there waiting for him. He asks her to be his date at Courtney and Jax's wedding. She is uncomfortable about going there with him to a public event considering what each of them does for a living and she also thinks he is taking her to some how get back at Carly. Sonny tells her that no everything they do revolves around Carly and that he wants his family to get use to the idea that they are seeing each other. Reese doesn't buy that. Sonny admits that he also wants her to go because he wants her to be there in case he has the urge to slug the groom. Reese thinks that is funny and agrees to go with him. Mike shows up with a box at Courtney's hotel room.

Carly is furious when she sees Sonny arrive at Courtney's wedding with Reese. She accuses Sonny of only inviting Reese to hurt her and starts venting her anger at Reese. Sonny cautions her to calm down, reminding Carly that she had promised Courtney that she would not ruin her wedding day. Privately, Sonny tells Carly that he did not bring Reese to hurt her but Carly is unconvinced.

Courtney tells Carly what Jane oversaw and told Jax. Carly sees it as a sign that the wedding should be called off. Courtney refuses to consider it. Vowing to find Jax and convince him to marry her, Courtney starts to leave but stops short when she sees Jax arrive at the other end of the park. She is thrilled beyond measure. She turns to a rather surprised Carly and tells her "That's the way love works. You show up for the one you love". Carly smiles when she sees Jason standing nearby.

(Jason has pretty much dragged Jax along).

The wedding begins with minister asking if anyone objects to Courtney and Jax marrying. A moment of humor occurs when everyone turns to Carly. Jax and Courtney then exchange vows. The theme is trust as they both pledge to trust each other. As they begin exchanging rings, Carly is compelled to object by declaring that it's wrong of them to marry and everyone gathered knows it. Courtney does her best to convince Carly that Jax is the right man for her but to no avail. Carly walks away from the wedding. Undaunted, Courtney returns to Jax and the wedding continues until they are pronounced man and wife.

At the reception, Sonny apologizes to Reese for pressuring her into attending the wedding with him. She notes that her room is in the hotel close by and leaves. Later at the park, Carly is sitting on the steps of the gazebo, clearly feeling down. Lorenzo joins her and tries to give her support. She admits that Courtney was right when she said that one had to let go in order to see what is right in front of them. She then turns to Lorenzo. She tells him that through everything, he has always stood by her side, believing in her and loving her. Carly then proposes marriage to Lorenzo. Unbeknownst to either, Sonny returned to the park and overheard the conversation and proposal.

Sonny is standing nearby when he hears Carly propose to Lorenzo. When Lorenzo asks about Sonny, Carly assures him that she will always love Sonny as the father of her children but that Sonny is not the man she wants. Lorenzo is that man. Sonny walks away upon hearing those words. Lorenzo surprises Carly when he tells her that he can't marry her. He feels that Carly is only proposing to get back at Sonny for Reese. He loves her but he refuses to take advantage of her pain, nor is he willing to let her do that to their love.

Emily goes to see Carly. Carly isn't in the mood to talk to Emily. Emily ignores her and gets right to the point. She warns Carly to stay out of Jason's love life and to keep running to him with all of her problems. Carly fires back, telling Emily that she would love to accommodate her but she doesn't know how to get over Sonny as fast as he's seemingly gotten over her. She then drops the bombshell that she asked Lorenzo to marry her. Emily is taken aback and asks if he has accepted. Carly points out that it's none of Emily's business. Emily agrees. She once more warns Carly to leave Jason and Sam alone before she departs.

Sonny leaves the park and ends up at Reese's door. She is less than happy to see him, suspecting he is there to discuss his complex feelings for Carly. Before he can do little more than ask her to give him a chance and hear him out, Jason tracks him down. Jason insists on talking to Sonny privately. Sonny steps out into the hallway where Jason outlines his concerns for Michael and brings up his need for therapy. Sonny agrees to have Jason discuss it further when Carly gets back from marrying Alcazar. Jason is shocked to learn of Carly's wedding plans. He questions why Sonny isn't taking steps to prevent the wedding. Sonny points out that he has no reason to since Lorenzo has decided to retire and go legitimate. He is no longer a threat to Sonny. Jason isn't pleased. He watches Sonny return to Reese's room.

Reese, having overheard the exchange isn't happy either. She tells Sonny that she is thankful that Jason interrupted them because he stopped her from doing something she would have regretted. She is more convinced than ever that Sonny really wants Carly, not her. She asks Sonny if he would have shown up at her door if he hadn't overheard Carly proposing to Alcazar. Sonny admits that he doesn't know but it shouldn't matter. Both he and Carly are making choices and his choices have led him to her. He offers to walk away but before he can open the door, Reese stops him. He asks her if she is certain she wants him to stay before he kisses her. They make love.

Carly ends up at home, crying over pizza, while looking at pictures until a knock sounds at her door. It's Lorenzo. Lorenzo wants to discuss her marriage proposal. He explains that he initially rejected her proposal because he was worried that Carly was only using him and would end up regretting her decision. Carly disagrees. She meant what she said to him at the park. Lorenzo admits that he's old fashioned about certain things and gets down on one knee and proposes to Carly. Carly gladly accepts.

Lorenzo is anxious to marry Carly immediately. He suggests eloping that night. Carly agrees but she wants her sons to join them. Lorenzo has reservations. He feels that Sonny is going to be resistant to the idea if she should show up and eventually talk her out of marrying him. Carly reassures him that Sonny will not be successful should he try.

Reese and Sonny make love. Afterwards they talk about their first impressions of each other and how they feel about each other now. Reese confides to him that she is thinking of getting out of the law enforcement field because she feels that there are too many people like Durant. She wants to help people but she hasn't yet decided in what capacity. Sonny then prepares to leave, apologizing and explaining that until things settle down it is best he not stay the night away from home. Reese is understanding.

Carly walks in, intending to take Michael and Morgan with her on her wedding trip. Jason flatly refuses to let her leave with the boys. He explains to her that Michael is much too upset to accept a marriage between Carly and Lorenzo. Carly counters, reminding Jason that he doesn't have the right to tell her what to do with her sons and assuring him that Lorenzo is a good person who would do everything possible to help Michael. Michael then runs into the room, sweeping his toys off a table and shouting that Carly cannot marry Alcazar.

Sonny walks in and Michael demands that Sonny stop Carly from going through with her marriage. Much to Michael's dismay, Sonny tries to explain that he can't stop Carly from marrying anyone. Michael runs out of the room with Jason and Sam following close behind. Left alone with Carly, Sonny tries to impress upon her the necessity of postponing her marriage. He admits that he overheard what she said to Lorenzo at the park. He also tells her that she is free to sleep with Lorenzo just as he if free to continue sleeping with Reese but that for Michael's sake they should keep it private. Carly insists that Lorenzo makes her happy and she refuses to allow Michael to control her life. She feels it would send him the wrong message.

Jason and Sam are talking to Michael when Sonny and Carly join them. When Jason mentions to Michael, the possibility of seeing a doctor, Sonny stops him and says they will discuss it the following day. In the meantime, he and Carly plan to take Michael up to bed. Upstairs, Carly reassures Michael that she loves him. When she steps out of the room, Sonny offers to turn on the nightlight. Michael scoffs at the idea. He feels they are silly and nothing to be afraid of. Sonny admits to Michael his own problems with nightmares and how he handles them, letting Michael know that he is not alone. He goes on to tell Michael that if he's ever afraid, all he has to do is call Sonny. After saying goodnight to Michael, Sonny returns to the living room where Jason is waiting. Jason insists that Michael is in pain and desperately needs a therapist.

Carly returns to her apartment to find Lorenzo waiting for her there. She tells him that she can't marry tonight. Lorenzo is upset. He suspected she would have a change of heart after going over to Sonny's. He asks her if her postponing the wedding is about Michael or if it's really about Sonny. (Note: this episode ends here, and the next day he shows back up at her apartment with a whole new episode. It felt like something was missing here the way the two episodes were edited so I went back and checked the complete original episodes and this is the sequence that the scenes aired.)

Carly is surprised when Lorenzo returns to her apartment. He asks if they can forget about last night. He tells her that his resolve not to marry her lasted only 30 minutes! On his knees, he asks her to marry him! Carly is impressed when she realizes that the engagement ring that Lorenzo is presenting to her is an Alcazar family heirloom. Lorenzo explains that his grandfather had the ring specially made for his grandmother and the couple was married for more than fifty years! Agreeing not to rush into anything for Michael's sake, Carly agrees to the marriage and they make love sheets. Later, Jason and Michael arrive at Carly's apartment; they walk in on Carly and Lorenzo still in bed.