Kendall defends Zach's actions to Erica; Zach and Zoe come to an understanding at the cemetery. Josh proposes a daring plan to Babe!
At her home, Kendall wonders where Zach may have gone. Erica can't believe that he would just leave Kendall alone! Kendall leaves to check on Spike and Erica tries to sing Ryan's praises while running down Zach's deficiencies to Binks. Bianca doesn't want to hear it but Erica keeps digging at Zach. Kendall returns, telling Erica that she doesn't know what she is talking about. Kendall explains that Zach is doing what he needs to do to come to terms with what Alexander did. "If he needs a little time alone, I think he's entitled to it," she says. Erica can't believe how well Kendall is adjusting to what has happened; Kendall tells her it is because of Erica. She taught her girls how to fight and that fighting instinct is what helped her survive. Erica hugs both of her daughters, but she isn't through with Kendall yet. Erica tells Kendall that Zach has brought nothing but mess and heartache to her. Kendall can't believe where Erica is headed and wonders why she can't see that Zach's trials are just like Kendall's own problems. It took years and a lot of mistakes before Kendall to come to terms the kind of man her father was. She doesn't know how Erica can just forget the heartache that Kendall caused! Now that she has overcome her demons, Kendall is determined to give Zach the support he needs so that he can comes to terms with his own demons. Seeing that she isn't getting anywhere, Erica calms a little. The women open a bottle of wine and toast to the future.
At the cemetery, Zach approaches the graves of the dead women. Seeing Zoe there, he stops. Startled, Zoe turns and Zach immediately offers an apology to her. "I treated you badly and I shouldn't have done that," Zach says as Zoe offers her own apology. When the attacks began she took the credit to cover her own fears, she explains, so it is no one elses fault that she ultimately was blamed. Zach sits next to Dixie's grave and Zoe sees another side of the man. She sees a man who hates who he is! Zoe understands that kind of hatred, she explains, because she has struggled with it her entire life. "You can never cure who you really are," she tells him. Agreeing, Zach wonders if he can ever separate what he wants from what his father wanted for him. Zoe isn't sure. She has hope for both of them, but, "You're not going to give up the guilt, are you?" she asks. Zoe prepares to leave as Zach kneels before Dixie's grave, telling her he is sorry. Rather than leave, Zoe hugs Zach and holds him close for a few moments.
At Wildwind, Annie is shocked to hear Ryan propose again and again. "Will you marry me?" he asks over and over. Confused, she tries to figure out where this question is coming from and before she can answer yes or no, Jonathan comes outside, inviting them in. Before Annie can head to the relative safety of a house filled with people, Ryan picks her up and carries her away! He drives to a secluded spot and stops the car. Annie isn't thrilled. She still thinks that any involvement, other than friendship, between them is a bad idea. Ryan disagrees. He wants to give things a try, but Annie can't ignore what might happen with Emma if things don't work out. "Emma's not going to get hurt because we're not going to break up," Ryan says, promising her forever. Annie can't get past the fact that before he left for Las Vegas they had agreed to a friendship. She wants to know if what happened in Vegas with Kendall has anything to do with his proposal. Ryan is quiet for a few moments, then says, "Yes. It has a lot to do with Kendall." Ryan explains that Alexander killing four women and then threatening Kendall and Zach's lives made him think about his own future. It made him want a life - with Annie! "Tell me I don't have a chance," Ryan says. When Annie doesn't tell him that, he kisses her passionately!
At the Chandler mansion, JR becomes angry when he overhears Krystal telling little A that they are going to see Babe. He hugs the boy and sends him off to the kitchen. Krystal tries to cover what she said by telling JR that she was taking little A to Babe's grave. JR can't believe what he is hearing. There is no way, JR exclaims, that little A should go to a grave site when he hasn't even been told about his mother's death! Adam enters, and JR tells him about Krystal's plans. Before Adam can react, she apologizes. She tells them both that she just wanted to help the boy. When JR agrees to tell little A about Babe's death right then, Krystal becomes a little frantic. She doesn't want either man to tell the boy anything! Her change of heart confuses JR, and Adam suggests it's just the pregnancy. He believes that the stress over Babe's death and her own preganancy are causing Krystal to not make sense. Flustered, Krystal agrees that she hasn't been making much sense lately. Winifred brings little A back with cookies. JR gathers him close, and tries to tell him that Babe is dead but he can't go through with it. JR breaks down and Krystal leads little A away.
In the sub-basement, Josh tells Babe that her only chance at happiness is to take little A and run! He promises to stand by her and help her start a new life - away from JR! "I'm done with JR but that doesn't mean I want to run off with you," she says. Josh implores her to think about it. He tells her he will back off as soon as she is settled. "You're happiness is the only thing that matters to me," he says. Babe thinks the plan is too extreme as Josh continues trying to convince her to run. Babe doesn't want a life on the run, though, she wants to fight for her future. Josh isn't ready to give up his plan but Krystal's arrival with little A interrupts them. Excited to see her son, Babe holds him close and explains that she has been sick, but that she will be fine. The nurse takes little A outside so the adults can talk. Krystal tells them about the close call with JR and asks about their plan. She didn't hear everything, but what she heard has her worried! Reluctantly, Babe tells Krystal about the plan to run away and start over somewhere new. Krystal promises that whatever decision Babe makes, she will help. Babe fears that if she stays JR will take little A from her; still she doesn't want to take little A from JR. The nurse brings little A back and Babe makes her decision. "I'm staying here - for now," she says and sends them home. Babe asks Josh to leave as well. He holds her hand for a moment and then quickly leaves.
Back at the Chandler manse, Adam tells JR that when the time is right he will find a way to tell little A the truth about Dixie and Babe. "How do I even start?" JR asks. Adam isn't sure but promises to stand by JR and help him through whatever comes next. Thinking about what he did to Zoe, JR sees that he needs to make some changes or he will ruin little A's life. "I want to teach little A compassion, not hate," he says and decides to raise the boy the way Babe would have rather than the way Chandler men have been raised in the past. Adam talks about his own mistakes and promises to help JR make those changes; he also promises to make changes in the way that Charlotte will be raised. "Maybe you and I can help each other be better fathers," he says. JR smiles at the thought. Upstairs, Krystal manages to get little A back into bed without being seen. JR comes into little A's room to tell him goodnight. As he is falling asleep, little A tells JR that he saw Babe!
Next on All My Children:
Zoe makes a decision about hormone therapy. JR demands to know where Krystal took little A!
