Previously:

Miles started work at the Highwind Pro Shop after being fired from the X-Limit by his sister. When he returned home from work after his first day, he found Dominick waiting for him in his apartment.

Kerrigan learned she was pregnant. After an argument with Beau about her kidnapping and his defense of Miles, she couldn't bring herself to share the news with her fiancé.

Elisabeth was depressed after learning the truth about her sister -- that Erin had skipped town and was thought to be responsible for murdering Monique and Misty. Erin's current whereabouts remained a mystery, one Elisabeth and Charlie were desperate to get to the bottom of...

 

Highwind Crossings - Miles's Apartment

All Miles wanted was quiet relaxation after arriving home from his first, horrendous day at his new job at the Highwind Pro Shop. The moment he walked through the door, he knew it wasn't to be. Dominick D'Amato stood in the center of his apartment, and all his hopes for a peaceful evening to himself came crashing down like a satellite pulled from orbit.

"I had nowhere else to go," Dominick said, as if that was supposed to make it all right for him to drop in, no, break in, to Miles's home unexpectedly.

"Nowhere else to go? Shouldn't you be back in Aruba by now?" Miles glared at him.

"That was the plan. But I should have known better than to count on Ava's help. She wasn't too happy with the way things went down, even with the money in her hands. As soon as we were on the water, she cold-cocked me and dumped me over the side of the boat. I'm just thankful I regained consciousness when I hit the water."

"Jesus. She left you to die?" Miles asked, though it was hardly a stretch to believe. Ava had never exactly been the poster child of sanity.

"I'm sure she's been wanting to do it for a while now. She's always been one to hold a grudge. You should know as well as I do," Dominick said. "It's her nature, I guess. But I suppose we're even now -- I mean, for the whole eye thing."

"You accidentally shot her with a slingshot when you were eight years old! Is she ever going to get over that?"

"Not likely. She's despised me ever since. I maim her, she clubs me over the head and tries to drown me. That's just how it works with us."

"And I thought my sister hated me," Miles said, scratching his head and deciding he was grateful to have Kerri, when someone like Ava could be the alternative.

"She's pretty bent up about the whole kidnapping thing, then?" Dom guessed. "Look, I'm sorry for all of that. I knew it was a bad idea to let Ava take control of things, but I never thought she'd take it as far as she did. Then when she did ... I tried my best to stop her."

"Whatever," Miles said, swiping away Dominick's apology with a brush of his hand. "It doesn't matter. She still hates me, and she probably will for quite some time. So thanks for that."

"Miles, I said I'm sorry..."

"Save it," he snapped. "You can't stay. You already ruined everything I had going for me here. There's nothing left to take, so why don't you just pack up and get the hell out."

"Because. I can't go back, Miles. My dad ... Ava ... I betrayed them when I let Kerri go ... when I tried to protect you from my sister. Loyalty is everything to my father. He's not going to forget this."

"Not my problem," Miles said.

Dominick ignored his remark and continued, "So, if I can't go back ... then I guess there's only one option." He stepped closer, and Miles felt himself backing away. What was Dominick talking about? What was he going to do to him now?

 

The Guthrie Home

Kerrigan sat at the kitchen table across from Martine, who was sitting in front of her laptop. She read from the screen to Kerri. Her latest column for Wonder Magazine was a guide to hosting the perfect baby shower. "Does this sound like something the average woman could handle?" she asked, finishing the article.

"Are you trying to drop a hint or something?" Kerri asked her quite pregnant pal. "If a baby shower is what you want, just say the word and I'll make it happen."

"Hell no! That's not what I was implying at all. A celebration for my swollen feet and an aching back? I don't think so. Sure, I make it sound all nice and sweet in my column, but that's just part of my talent."

Kerri was more than a little concerned, given that she would soon be in the same boat. "I guess I should know what I'm getting myself into ... I just found out I'm pregnant," she said, coming clean with her friend. Enjoying the shock on Martine's face, she followed up with a half-hearted, "Surprise!"

"Kerri!" Martine's jaw dropped. "Oh! I'm so happy for you!" she clutched her friend's hands across the table, practically bouncing in her seat with excitement.

"What?" Kerri's face wrinkled in puzzlement. "Just a second ago, you were decrying all things motherhood, and now this?"

Martine shrugged. "As a pregnant woman, I reserve the right to change my opinion at the drop of a hat. It's the hormonal imbalance. You get used to it."

Kerri looked at her like she was deranged.

"Look, I know I've said some harsh things about my pregnancy, but it was mostly for show. I've had my ups and downs with it, but I'm happy I'm pregnant again. Really, I am. This is my chance to do it right. Or better than last time, at least. It's not as bad as I make it sound, and it will be even better for you. You're more nurturing and patient than me. And you've got Beau, who's only, like, the second-most decent guy I've ever heard of after Tyson. You guys will make a great family!"

"Maybe," she said, her voice heavy with doubt. After their fight that afternoon, she wasn't so sure it was the best time to be taking such a huge step forward in their relationship. They were barely engaged as it was.

"Kerri, what's wrong?" Martine asked, reading her friend's worry. "Come on. Spill."

 

24 Hour Fitness

After nearly two hours of cardio, Elisabeth Emery finally made herself call it quits. Well, her body decided for her. Her legs were going rubbery and they burned from overuse, but she didn't want to stop, even as she turned off the elliptical machine. The aching, the burning ... it was the only thing that distracted her these days. It was the only thing that cleared her mind, that made her not want to cry or curl up in her bed all day.

The rest of the time, she thought about Erin. Sometimes she wondered where Erin was or what she was doing. Other times she thought about the murders, trying to convince herself that Erin couldn't have been responsible. And then, there was the loneliness.

The two of them shared that loneliness now. Erin was off on her own, with nobody to protect her or watch over her. So was Elisabeth.

No matter what Elisabeth went through with the men she dated, her agents, whoever -- Erin was always there for her. But not anymore.

Elisabeth stepped off the cardio machine, her knees threatening to buckle beneath her. She was lightheaded as she wiped down the handles of the elliptical.

She knew she hadn't been taking very good care of herself -- other than working out incessantly -- since Erin's disappearance, but it didn't seem to matter. She had no desire -- not for food, entertainment, sex ... not for anything, really. She only wanted her sister back. Even when they had arguments, they'd always taken care of each other.

Elisabeth stopped at the door, stepping on the scale by the entrance. She frowned at the result and continued on out of the gym.

In the parking lot, her cell phone rang. She dropped her gym bag to the pavement to retrieve it.

"Hello?" There was no answer, just silence. "Hello?" she repeated.

"Elisabeth, it's me," a hushed voice said over the line.

Elisabeth's eyes darted around the parking lot, half expecting to see her standing here, watching...

"Erin?"

 

Miles's Apartment

Miles watched with caution as Dominick stepped closer to him. He backed away, but Dominick stopped in his tracks, meeting Miles's suspicious gaze. "I'm turning myself in."

"Huh?" Miles said, completely confused.

"To the police. For my crimes, and all that?" Dom clarified. "I'm going to tell them what I've done."

"You can't!" Miles said, springing forward. "Dominick, you can't do that. You'll go to jail."

"I know. But it's not like I'm not a deserving candidate for that," he smiled sardonically. "Besides, I thought you didn't care?"

Miles's cheeks grew hot, a combination of embarrassment and anger. "I don't," he protested. "But ... it's not fair for you to take all of the blame for this."

Or maybe it was. Certainly, Kerri deserved some justice for what happened to her. If she knew someone was paying for the crime committed against her, maybe she would be able to move past it. Maybe she would be able to forgive Miles.

"I've already decided to take responsibility, but ... maybe it won't be so bad, you know?"

"What do you mean?"

Dominick had thought this through. "I doubt the police would be as interested in taking down a lowlife like me as they would going after the real power behind the operation. If I give up Ava, my father ... they could take down his entire crime ring. Maybe I'll get a plea deal or something."

"You're not a lowlife. You're better than them. You're better than that life, you always have been," Miles said.

Now it was Dominick's turn to flush with embarrassment. He quickly recovered from it. "That's why I want to bring them down with me. Finally be rid of them for good. I've wasted my entire life trying to impress my family and look how they've treated me. Well, fuck them."

They stood in stalemate for a moment, considering the options. A part of Miles knew it was the right thing to do -- for Dominick, for Kerri, for what the D'Amatos had done -- but another part of him was saddened, broken by the thought of Dominick, an otherwise decent guy, behind bars for a stupid mistake.

Miles hung his head. "I know I should want this after everything you've put us through, but--"

"My decision's made. I just wanted to tell you first. I had to see you one last time," he said earnestly. "It may be a while before I get another opportunity, you know?"

Miles had to fight himself to hold back, to stay in control, while Dominick gave him one last, lingering look. He wondered if this was the last they'd see of each other.

"I'd better go," Dominick said, starting for the door. "Before I lose my nerve." His hand was on the door. It was the last chance, Miles's last opportunity to stop him.

"I don't want you to go to jail," he said, unable to stop it from spilling out of his mouth. "I know you have to ... but I don't want you to go."

Dom sighed. "I told you, I already--"

Miles pushed him against the door, interrupting his protests with an urgent, crushing kiss. He'd tried to fight the urge ever since he walked through the door, ever since he discovered Dominick there, but there was no resisting anymore.

Dominick responded immedately, his hands moving to the back of Miles's neck, his fingers working their way through his sandy hair, then grabbing on to it and pulling his face closer, an even deeper kiss.

"You can't leave. Not yet," Miles said, his eyes fixed on Dominick's curled lips once they finally broke apart.

"No, I suppose I can't," he said between heavy breaths. "This whole police thing ... it can wait until morning, right?"

"Morning's good," Miles grinned, before Dominick grappled him around the waist and tackled him back into the apartment.

 

The Guthrie Home

"Beau wasn't happy with the news?" Martine guessed, trying to determine the reason for Kerri's uncertainty. "Sometimes it takes a little time for these things to ... become real?"

"That's not it," Kerri said, shaking her head. "He doesn't even know. I tried to tell him earlier, but ... I couldn't."

"Why not?"

Kerri struggled with that question herself. She knew in her heart that Beau would be thrilled. He had no reason not to be. But was she? Maybe she was being a vindictive brat, but keeping it to herself felt empowering at the time. It felt good having something of her own. She could sense a distance between the two of them since her blowup with Miles, and it felt good to know something they didn't know, to be the one in on the secret for a change.

"I don't know why I haven't told him," Kerri lied. "I've just been shaken up since that cruise. I've been questioning everything I thought I knew," she admitted.

Martine was sympathetic. "That must have been a nightmare." So far, Martine had avoided directly talking to her about her kidnapping, and for that Kerri was grateful. By now, most of the town must have heard about it from the papers and news reports, but the actual details were scarce and Kerri wasn't up for sharing.

"It wasn't my best moment, but I'll get over it. I have to focus on the future. I've got a business starting up, and ... and I'm going to be a mom," Kerri looked to Martine, seeing the reality of her new situation and what she could anticipate in the coming months.

"It really hits you over the head when you say it out loud, doesn't it?" Martine smiled. "You're going to be a mom. And so am I. Our kids can have playdates and be best friends!" she enthused, transforming again into a giggling ray of sunshine.

With the way she was acting, maybe there was something to Martine's hormonal imbalance/temporary insanity theory, after all.

 

24 Hour Fitness - Parking Lot

"Erin! I was just thinking about you, and then you called! It's like you knew!" Elisabeth gasped, hardly able to believe this was for real. "Where are you?"

There was rapid breathing from the other side of the line, then a voice choked with tears. "I'm so sorry," Erin said. "I never meant--" she choked on her sobs, unable to continue.

"You don't have to say it," Elisabeth said protectively, lovingly. Hot tears burned at her eyes. "I miss you so much."

"I didn't want to hurt them. I don't know why ... everything went wrong," Erin said.

"It's not your fault."

"I didn't want to," she repeated. "I didn't want to leave you, but I had to go. I did something bad."

"No! Whatever you did, you're still a good person. Please come back. I need you!" Elisabeth begged. "You can come back and we'll figure this out. Bring Summer back, and we'll figure out how to make it better."

"I can't," she said, pained.

"Yes, you can! I'll help you."

"I killed someone! If I come back, they'll take my daughter away from me. I can't lose her!"

"You won't! We'll tell them what happened. We'll make them see this was all a big mistake! You can get help here." Elisabeth was worried she was only upsetting Erin more, but she couldn't keep the edge of desperation out of her voice. If she didn't get through to Erin now, she might never hear from her sister again.

"That's why I called you," Erin said, still sobbing. "I need your help."

"What--what can I do?" she asked, her hands trembling. "Where are you?"

"I'll tell you where I am," she said, "but you have to promise to come help me. They're after us. They're going to hurt Summer, I know it! I can't let them hurt us."

Elisabeth's breath caught in her chest.

"Who are you talking about? Erin, just tell me where you are."

"Lizzie, you have to help me," she said, soft and scared now. "I don't want to be bad again."