''Don't ever scare me like that again!'' Frank screeched at Joe as he leaned down to help him up.

''Sorry,'' Joe said with a grin. ''Where's...'' he started to ask his dad, but Fenton headed him off.

''Officer Tomlinson took her down head to headquarters to file a report with her help,'' Fenton told Joe.

Four more Officers came into the room behind Chief Peterson. They took the now semi-conscious thugs into custody. Three officers drove with them to the station while one remained behind with Chief Peterson to help nab Blevins. Soon everyone was in position. Not much later, Officer Ashley contacted Chief Peterson. Blevins had arrived. Frank and Joe positioned themselves on each side of the doorway. Fenton and Chief Peterson were each stationed at a corner inside the room, guns drawn and ready.

Blevins walked into the room, looking at his watch. ''An hour's up,'' he said, looking up for the first time. He froze in shock for a fraction of a second then turned around to run out the door only to find his way blocked by Joe.

''But you're my son,'' Blevins said to Joe.

''Not even,'' Joe responded stonily, and decked him.

A couple of hours later, Fenton, Frank, and Joe were settled in the hotel room, this time all in the same room.

''I'd better call your Mother,'' Fenton said, rising from the floor where the three had been sitting and bonding.

''Let me speak to Joe,'' she said after hearing Fenton's voice. Fenton handed the phone to Joe.

''Hi Mom. I'm okay,'' he said when he took the receiver.

''I know,'' Laura said. ''Jeff called to let me know. About your father...'' she started.

''This isn't the time,'' Joe said, interrupting her. ''I think you really need to talk to Dad first,'' Joe said.

''You do know,'' she said softly.

''Not exactly,'' Joe said slowly. ''Blevins said something that really didn't jive. You've got some explaining to do,'' he added. ''But I have the feeling it's not really me who you need to forgive you.''

Frank and Fenton were staring at Joe. They didn't understand what he was talking about but they knew by Joe's half of the conversation that although things were beginning to be alright between the three of them, the Hardy family still had a major obstacle to cross.

Joe said goodbye and hung up the phone. Fenton and Frank tried to find out what Joe knew but he refused to say anything else.

''I can't,'' he said, when pressed. ''I don't really know. Only Mom does.'' So the three of them prepared for bed. They slept late and arrived in Bayport just shortly after two p.m.

''Welcome home,'' Joe and Frank's mother greeted her sons, giving each of them a big hug and a kiss. She looked at Fenton. ''I love you,'' she told Fenton softly. He looked at her quizzically. ''Come on inside,'' she said, taking Fenton's hand and leading him and Frank and Joe into the living room.

''Should we go upstairs?'' Joe asked Frank.

''No,'' Laura answered, hearing him. ''Let's get this horrible mess over with now once and for all,'' she said.

After Frank, Joe, and Fenton had sat down, she looked at her two sons. ''Joe wasn't adopted," she said. Then she turned to look at Fenton and she said, ''And I wasn't raped. I...I had an affair.''