Charlotte sat down in the small bay window in her office. "I swear, they gave me this place to torment me," she mumbled bitterly.

Josh stood up suddenly, knocking his chair backward. "Oh my god," he whispered. "Char. Charlotte, I did it!"

"Hm?"

"I traced the origin of the hacker!"

Charlotte gave a small sigh. "You probably just traced an old man who buys tuna in bulk."

"No, look! I followed it back to France, right?...I think I can get access to the webcam. We can see who's been behind all this. Uploading nuclear plans? What kind of-" Josh's face fell emotionless. "That's- that's Matt."

"Mel married a weird dude, that's for sure," Charlotte chuckled, getting up. "Move over and let me do this right."

"No, no, no, wait a minute," Josh stammered, looking intently at the screen.

Matt walked past, holding a cup of coffee and browsing on his phone.

Lizzy's face appeared on the camera and Josh couldn't help but smile. "See the kid? That's Liz."

Lizzy pushed the space bar and whole bunch of buttons multiple times, and a red iight flashed on Josh's console.

"No way," he laughed, running his fingers through his hair. "It's my old laptop I gave them. My old subroutines must still be on there. Liz. It was Lizzy, all along. We're all saved!"

Charlotte stared at the screen. "That's Lizzy?"

"Yeah," Josh nodded. "Cath's kid."

"Oh my god," Charlotte whispered, tears welling in her eyes.

"Man, she's grown," Josh stammered. "It's been about a year since I saw her last. Gosh, she's big."

"I guess Catherine's not the young girl I left," Charlotte chuckled sadly. "Wow, she's a mother. In my wildest dreams, I never- wow. Just wow. I have two nieces and a nephew. I'm an aunt. And she- she has a husband. I need to sit down."

Josh quickly got out of his chair and offered it to her. "I never thought I'd be married. Especially after Mel," he sighed. "And Amy-" He shuddered visibly. "Char, I think they'd let you go now...since the world isn't dying."

"What about you?"

Josh's face filled with anguish as he shut the laptop. "I go back to working alone."

"What about your wife?" Charlotte frowned.

"I don't think I can face her," Josh said shamefully. "I can barely look at a picture of her...after losing Amy, everything's...she must hate me."

"Josh, if you lost your daughter, then losing you is the last thing your wife needs right now. Go to her. They're never going to let me go. I'm doomed. Catherine will never know that I'm alive and I'm cursed to sit here and die slowly. But you...you have a choice. You can leave and go back home, see your wife, have twenty more kids. Just don't make the mistake I did. Get out while you have the chance."

"I-I don't think she could possibly love me anymore," Josh said with tears in his eyes. "Come back with me, Char. I'll pull a few strings. Just say you'll come."

Charlotte nodded eagerly. "I'll do it."

—————

"Good job, Hon," Catherine nodded. "Keep going."

"God, Cath, it hurts," Mari moaned through another contraction, holding her friend's hand tightly. "It really, really hurts."

"I know," Catherine said softly.

"Just a couple more," Jack nodded. "You've got this, Mari."

Mari felt pressure build up and gave a hard push. "God, I wish Josh was here," she whimpered.

"I know," Catherine nodded. "Come on. Just one more, Honey. You've got this. You're doing amazing."

Mari pushed again and Jack placed her son on her chest. "William Isaac Taylor," she said decidedly, tears running down her cheeks.

"That's adorable," Catherine grinned, kissing Mari's forehead. "You did it, Hon. I'm so proud of you."

—————

Amy hurriedly ran into the opera house and headed below to her fathers apartment.

She had told her mom she had reading help today. Again.

She reached the apartment and gave a sigh as she sat down on the couch.

"Hiya, jelly bean," came a man's voice from the other side of the room.

Amy nearly fell backward. Who was there? In her and her father's place?

She peered to the other side of the room where a tall, skinny man was gently touching a photo of her.

"It's been awhile kid," he laughed sadly. "Too long. Far too long. But I'm going to see Mommy and we're gonna fix this, alright? I love you, jelly bean."

Amy's voice caught in her throat and she dropped her book bag to the floor.

Its contents spilled out and Josh turned around at the sudden noise, fists clenched and ready to fight.

Both stared in silent shock for a few precious seconds.

"Daddy?!" Amy whimpered as tears immediately spilled down her cheeks.

"Amy?!" Josh's voice cracked, his face going white. "Oh my god, Amy!"

"It is you!" Amy sobbed, running over to him.

Josh knelt down and put a calloused hand to her cheek, wiping away her tears before holding her tight to his chest. "Amy, you can't be here!"

"They said you died," Amy said through hyperventilated sobs.

"What?!" Josh frowned, pulling her away in horror.

"They- they said you were gone," Amy cried.

"Amy, they told me you died," Josh sobbed, clenching her hand.

Amy pulled her father in close. "I missed you."

"I love you so much, Sweetheart. I'm never leaving again, I promise."

"Don't leave me," Amy whimpered brokenly.

"No, baby. Never." Josh's eyes looked frantically around the room. "Amy, where's your mother?! Where's Mari?"

"Mommy's at home," Amy said hurriedly.

"Have fun," Charlotte called after them. "I'll wait here."

Josh nodded and climbed the stairs slowly. "Stay here," he whispered to Amy who was still sniffling. "Mari?" He called softly.

Mari took a deep breath and continued scrolling through old pictures on her phone.

God, what she wouldn't give to go back.

"Mari?" Josh called a bit louder.

Mari looked up from her phone and frowned. "Amy, Honey, is that you?"

"No," Josh smiled sadly, opening the door, "it's your husband."

Mari felt her breath being knocked from her chest. She clenched her phone until her hand felt tingly. She stared in horror, in complete and utter shock. Tears welled in her eyes and she rushed to the bedroom door, closing it firmly. "We've only got so much time before I wake up, so I have to talk quick, alright? You understand? Oh god, Isaac, you have no idea. Amy's dying without you. She won't eat anything. Matt can barely look at her without crying. I nearly killed myself, trying to cut down a tree branch. I shouldn't have fought with you. I should have treated you better. I should have told you how much you meant to me, but I was stupid and blind and ignorant."

Josh gently touched a hand to her cheek. "Mari, Honey, I'm here. I'm really here."

Mari tensed and recoiled at his touch. Her eyes were heavy and dark. Without hope. "You're dead. Isaac. I have to accept that," she scolded herself, taking a step away from him. "I can't keep playing these stupid fantasies out in my head and expecting things to change."

"Mari," Josh laughed, grasping her hand firmly, "you aren't dreaming. I'm not dead. Jack told me that Amy died and- and oh god, Mari, I missed you like crazy."

Mari's eyes flickered with hope.

It usually didn't go like this.

"J-J-Jack told you?" She stammered, backing herself against the wall. "Amy- Josh, There's no way you can possibly be here."

"Honey, I'm here," Josh said with tears in his eyes, planting a firm kiss to her lips.

Mari placed one hand to his chest, her breathing heavy and ragged as a panic set in. "Isaac?!" She asked, almost in horror as her legs began to go weak.

Josh lifted her into his arms. "I love you, Mari. I'm never leaving again."

Mari grabbed his shirt collar and pulled his lips into hers in a panicked attempt to eliminate any space between them. "Isaac, you can't be here," she sobbed.

"I am, Darling. I'm here and I'm staying." Josh gently set her down, his arms still wrapped tightly around her waist.

Mari leaned in to kiss him again, when a small wail from William cut her short. She pushed Josh away, and hurriedly walked over to the small bassinet. "It's okay," she laughed through heavy tears, trying to compose herself. "You're okay."

"What's this?" Josh frowned in confusion.

"This is your son William," Mari beamed proudly.

"You mean that I missed your entire pregnancy?"

Mari nodded.

Josh gave a little sound of discontent noise and pulled her into a hug. "I'm so sorry."

"Josh, what happened?"

"The government- they asked me to help them with a job and then Charlotte...oh god, Char. Mari, I met Cath's sister," Josh stammered. "She helped me with the job. She never really died; the accident was staged. Char's been wanting to tell Cath that she's alive but they wouldn't let her and she was upset but they let her go, and Mari you've gotta meet her. She's really nice and just like Cath."

William wailed a bit louder and Josh stared at him with wide scared eyes.

Mari's eyes flooded with tears. "Charlotte's alive?!"

"Yeah," Josh nodded.

"We have to tell Cath," Mari said, reaching for the phone, "as soon as possible." She stumbled a bit backward, her legs feeling like jello. "I should sit down," she mumbled.

"Charlotte wants to tell her herself. I gave her the address and I think she's heading over at some point today."

—————

"Matt, have you seen my phone?" Catherine sighed.

Matt stared at the wall silently.

"Hon, what's wrong?"

"Do you think he was scared?"

"Josh? Nah."

"I hope it was quick," Matt sighed, getting up off the couch. "I hope he didn't suffer."

"I hope so too," Catherine nodded.

There was a knock on the door and she went to answer it.

"No. You can't- no."

"Hi, Cath," Charlotte smiled sadly.

"Lotte?" Catherine breathed, tears running down her cheeks. "Oh my god. How are you here? Y-y-you- you- you died."

"It's a long story," Charlotte sighed, her own tears falling. "I'm so sorry, Cath."

Catherine wrapped her arms tightly around her older sister. "God, I missed you."

"I missed you too," Charlotte cried. After a moment, she quickly explained what had happened and why the accident had to be faked. "Do you hate me?"

"No, not at all," Catherine laughed through tears. "Never."

"Good," Charlotte smiled, attempting to dry her cheeks. "So, you and Matt?"

"Yeah," Cath nodded.

"Are you happy?"

"Ridiculously."

"I have to meet him again. Properly this time. And your kids," Charlotte nodded.

"Matt! Come here!"

"What's up, Cath?" Matt sighed, coming over. "Rose?"

"Charlotte, actually," she chuckled. "Rose was the pseudonym I used outside the agency, since I was supposed to be dead."

"What does that even mean?" Matt asked slowly.

"Matt," Catherine laughed, "this is my sister."

Matt's brow furrowed. "No...this is Mel's friend. Rose Anderson."

Charlotte looked to her sister. "He's not getting it, is he?" She chuckled.

"Hon, Char never died. The accident was staged. She was recruited by Whitney's son but became friends with Mel."

Matt's face fell dark. "Whitney?!"

"I didn't know that they were up to no good until it was too late," Charlotte sighed. "Mel helped me get away and I work for the government now. Well, I used to."

"But you worked for them," Matt said angrily, pointing an accusing finger. "You worked for morons who killed everyone I loved."

"I worked with them for a month," Charlotte clarified. "I didn't have a choice. They were holding the lives of my family members over my head and I was only sixteen. What what else would I have done?"

"It was nice to see you, Rose," Matt mumbled, turning back toward the couch.

"Josh told me all about the twins and Lizzy," Charlotte smiled, turning her attention back to her sister. "I'd love to meet them."

"Josh? He's alive?" Catherine gasped.

"He's with his family now," Charlotte nodded. "Now, can I meet your kids?"

"Sure," Catherine chuckled.

Matt sat criss-cross on the floor, playing chess with Logan while Lotte attempted to do her homework.

"Lotte, come here," Catherine smiled.

The small girl quickly complied. "Who's that?"

"This is your aunt Charlotte. You were named after her."

"Hi, kid," Charlotte grinned with tears in her eyes.

"She doesn't look like you," Lotte frowned, crinkling her little nose.

"N-not all siblings l-l-look alike," Logan noted, moving his king.

"Me and Lotte look alike," Lizzy mumbled.

Catherine stood next to her sister, wrapping an arm around her.

"I s-see it," Logan shrugged. "Mommy's t-t-taller."

"It's only an inch," Catherine chuckled.

"So, Lizzy...Elizabeth?" Charlotte guessed.

"After Mom," Catherine nodded. "And Logan after Carlos, since that's his middle name."

"Awe, that's sweet. Hey...is there an open apartment? I'm kind of homeless at the moment," Charlotte chuckled.

"We have an extra room. You'll stay with us."

"Are you sure?"

"It's a done deal," Catherine nodded.

"How are you going to tell him about Josh?" Charlotte asked nervously.

Catherine looked at her husband and whispered back, "Very carefully. And slowly."

"That's definitely smart. How do you think he'll react?"

"Oh, he'll be mad as heck," Catherine chuckled. "That, or he'll be relived. Or both. It's hard to tell with him sometimes."