DVD #12A7/13 In Kayla’s hospital room, Jo asks Steve sign to Kayla for her. She tells her that she is the most beautiful gift, and will be a wonderful wife to her son. She has made her very happy with their announcement that they are getting married the following week (at the end of the #11B). Mike interrupts the festivities. Outside the room, Jo realizes that Steve has a few tricks up his sleeve when he says he has an idea for their wedding to surprise Kayla. He goes back in her room and promises again to make all of her dreams come true.

7/18 After Kayla gets out of the hospital, she and Steve go to see Shawn and Caroline. Steve tells them that the surgery went well but they don’t know if Kayla will hear again. Caroline is surprised as Kayla seems so happy and they share the news of their wedding. They congratulate them. Caroline can’t believe they are getting married in four days. She doesn’t think there is enough time to prepare a big wedding. Kayla tells them she wants to keep it small. They will have it at the Fish Market, and Shawn wants a priest, of course. The girls run off to look for a veil. Shawn gives Steve his approval as they have a nice chat. Shawn more than welcomes Steve into the family and tells him he is happy to see that Kayla will be with a man who truly loves her. Steve hints to Shawn that he has a surprise for Kayla’s wedding and wants to make all of her dreams come true. Steve and Shawn leave while Kayla plays with Caroline's veil.

Later, Steve stops by the speech therapy room at the hospital and has a flashback. Then he makes friends with a little girl named Sara. Jo runs into Steve and tells him how very proud she is of him and she has waited for this day her whole life. Steve pulls her aside to secretly tell her his plans to give Kayla a big surprise for their wedding. Next, Kayla goes to the learning room with Shawn, and has some flashbacks of her own. Kayla invites Peggy and the kiddies to the wedding. Steve and Kayla run into Shane and Kim on the pier. Kayla asks Kim to be her Matron of Honor, of course she happily says yes. Later, Steve finally gives Kayla the necklace back.

7/20 Steve and Kayla go over the final arrangements for the wedding. Marcus and Vanessa arrive, ready to whisk their friends away for some big surprises. Kayla gets scared when she realizes that she and Steve will be separated tonight but she goes with Vanessa anyway. Steve gives Marcus a pep talk as he worries about finding his person. Steve encourages him that now he is settled down in Salem, he will soon to be sweating it out for his own wedding. Steve asks him to be his Best Man and tells him if he wasn’t for him, that he and Kayla wouldn’t be getting married. He will always be grateful to him for helping Kayla. Marcus has gathered the guys for a surprise Bachelor Party at “The Cheatin' Heart” and he is touched to see Shane, Roman, Shawn, Abe, Justin all there to celebrate with him. Shawn welcomes him into the Brady family with an official toast. Steve asks Frankie to be one of his groomsmen. Max runs in to say hi to Steve and he asks him to be the ring bearer!

Kayla is given a surprise Bridal Shower at Blondie’s with all the ladies, Kim, Eve, Melissa, Jennifer, Caliope, Alice, Maggie, Diana, Jo, Adrienne, Caroline, and Carrie. Kayla asks Kim to help her say something to the guests. She admits she was afraid to come that she wouldn’t be able to communicate but with friends they will always be able to understand. They sign “We Love You” to her and she is touched. With Peggy’s, Kayla asks Diana to be a bridesmaid. Later, Justin suggests that the guys decide to go and invade the ladies shower. Kayla is opening her presents when the boys crash the girls' party. Back home, Kayla tells Steve that she is happy she went. She could feel all the love without hearing it. As he is holding her and kissing her, she grabs her ear in pain. He urgently asks her what is wrong? She tells him to call Mike. Steve is desperately trying to reach Mike. Once he does, he asks Mike to come to the loft now as something is wrong with Kayla!

7/21 Steve is holding Kayla and reassuring her. She tells him it doesn’t hurt as much but her ears are still ringing. Mike arrives at the loft and examines Kayla. He tells them Kayla's hearing is returning and everything looks normal. Kayla asks Mike why she still can't speak? Mike tells her she'll talk once she's ready, and Kayla gets frustrated. Thankfully, Steve's giddiness is enough to lift her spirits. Kayla wants to go to the Fish Market to help decorate, but Steve comes up with some silly excuse not to. That's okay, because Kayla gets a better idea anyway and they get comfy together on the couch for some alone time. She does kick him out that night and tells him she will be thinking of him, as he will be thinking of her. Later, we see Jack with the incriminating photos of Steve and Kayla, and a crying Jack rips them up.

7/22 Finally, the big day is here! On the morning of their wedding, Steve leaves a toy boat next to Kayla as a symbol. Kayla asks Kim if she knows anything about it, and she covers. Jack is walking along the pier, which is all decorated for the wedding, totally heartbroken. He sadly looks at his wedding ring. Marcus and Steve talk on the pier as Steve tells him dreams do come true. We get the first glimpse of the beautiful yacht decorated for the wedding. On board, Steve is clearly nervous as he goes over a last minute mental check list. Then he can’t find the ring, but Marcus reassures him that he asked him to hold it. He confides that he and Kayla got off to such a shaky start as he was afraid of love and if it wasn’t for her, they would never be getting married. He remembers that Kayla never gave up on them and is just about the happiest man of earth!

Kim and Caroline walk with Kayla on the pier. She asks why they are there? Kim laughs and tells her she isn’t getting married at the Fish Market! Kim shows her the beautiful yacht. Kayla remembers wanting this from when she was a little girl. We see a flashback of young Kayla seeing a similarly beautifully decorated white yacht docked outside the Fish Market and the bride and groom looked like angels. She thought this was the most beautiful romantic wedding she ever saw. Caroline tells her that Steve wanted to give her the wedding of her dreams. Kayla wants a few minutes on deck alone, and she practices signing her vows to Steve. He is secretly watching her as she rehearses. Steve thanks the Big Dude for Kayla and says he is starting to feel like he deserves to be happy. Frankie, Max, and Marcus are getting ready with Steve. Adrienne and Justin come in next and Justin congratulates him and knows how lucky Kayla is to be marrying a Johnson. Jo visits Steve next, while Kayla is being primped by Calliope and Kim. Caroline and Shawn come in, and she thanks her mother for her wedding veil.

Later, Jack visits Kayla in the bride’s room. She can now hear and he notices she is alone and realizes she heard him knock. He is thrilled and asks how it happened? She points to her mouth, indicating she still can't talk. Jack apologizes for everything that Harper did, and also for what he did. He remembers the day they got married and how happy he was, and he thought she was happy too. He thought she loved him and that's why she wanted to marry him. He tells her he never meant to hurt her, but he was so in love with her, he couldn't believe she didn't love him too. But no more excuses, he hurt her, and in doing so he hurt himself. He asks her again if she's really going to marry his brother. She nods, and he's crushed, and says "my worst enemy." She writes on a notepad, "What do you want?" He says, 'Nothing you can give me'. All he ever wanted was her but she's the one thing he can never have and he leaves.

Jo and Steve have a touchy-feely moment. Monty interrupts with news about his latest card reading, and this time it is good news, Happiness! Kim is worried because Kayla doesn't have something borrowed. Kayla reminds her sister that she is lending her voice. The bridal party begins their procession: Roman, Shane, Marcus, Jo (on the arm of Neil Curtis), Caroline being escorted by Frankie, Steve, (exchanging a loving look with Mama) Carrie, doing her flower girl thing, Adrienne, Diana (who Roman leers at), Max the ring bearer, Kimberly, and finally, Kayla on her father's arm. Grab your hankies everyone.

7/25 Shawn walks Kayla down the aisle. Justin sings "Hopeless Romantic" and we get a nice flashback montage. The wedding begins, with a few words from the minister. We see a heartbroken Jack watching the ceremony from above. Steve says his vows to Kayla. It's time for Kayla's vows, and Kimberly steps forward to sign for her. However Kayla seems to be struggling with something. There's an awkward pause, as Steve encourages her by signing the word "courage." Finally, Kayla speaks, and she emotionally says her vows as Steve gets teary eyed. They exchange rings, and the minister announces that Steve & Kayla have some personal vows they want to make. Steve and Kayla emotionally exchange their personal vows. The ceremony ends, with everyone proclaiming it the most beautiful wedding ever. Steve and Kayla seal the deal with a kiss or two. Angel Steve decided to drop in and Steve gives his guardian angel a happy nod. Melissa looks up and sees Jack watching everything from his hidden spot, he runs off after she spots him.

The reception begins, and everyone is feeling warm and fuzzy. The happy couple share their first dance as man and wife. Steve starts making out with his bride when Marcus cuts in. Steve settles for dancing with his mama. Everyone congratulates Steve and Kayla. The dancing begins as the sun starts to set. Kayla talks to Peggy and the children. Then Kayla and Kim have a nice heart-to-heart.

Marcus and Roman make toasts. The evening dancing begins to twinkly lights as Shawn and Kayla dance, and Steve invites Caroline to dance. Jo is happily dancing with Neil until his beeper goes off and then a very handsome Monty steps up and invites her to dance as April and Mike watch. The wedding guests dance. The cake is cut, Diana catches the bouquet and Roman catches her garter. Roman and Marlena kiss as as the crowd cheers. Steve is jumping up and down and tells his guests that he is ready to leave and have his wife to himself. She asks where they are going and how they are getting there? He shows her that he hbut first he has a few surprises for Kayla. Steve and Kayla surprises her with a a decorated gondola waiting. They kiss as they share the romantic moment alone. They descend the stairs from the boat as their guests cheer them on and head off on their romantic gondola. Kayla tells him he reached inside of her soul to pull out her dreams and give them to her. They enjoy these first private moments as husband and wife as he calls her Mrs. Johnson.

7/26 Steve has surprises for Kayla. They arrive at the airport and he next surprises her with a private jet and her passport! She loves it and the pilot comes out and lets them know they won’t see him or the crew until they land so they can start their honeymoon! There’s lots of sexy canoodling, as he withholds their final destination as she tries to kiss it out of him. Then they eat a catered dinner from Blondie’s as she raves that today was perfect but he thought of everything. Steve talks about his feelings and then he gives Sweetness a gold anchor necklace. She declares it is a perfect reminder of their wedding day. He tells her it is to remind her that she is his anchor.

Steve and Kayla enjoy the private bedroom and she is surprisingly nervous, and he admits his heart is pounding as well. “Desiree” plays as they sink into the luxurious bed. He can’t believe they are making love in the clouds. Steve tells her that if the surgery didn’t work that it wouldn’t make any difference as he would still love her and would still want her to be his wife. She realizes that now, she had no idea when they met that their love would be tested so many times. Steve tells her the love they have is infinite, they are so much in love, like they were always a part of each other and he believes they will always be together, forever. They start kissing again and soon they are waking up in each other’s arms which of course leads to more kissing. He makes a promise to his Sweetness that her future will be happy, will have hope, and will be bright, as bright as the sun.

7/28 More honeymoon fun as they have arrived at their hotel. Steve carries Kayla over the threshold of their suite and she tells him this is the most beautiful hotel she has ever seen. He welcomes her to "The Orient". They are served tea, and she asks how he found this place. He tells her that he and Bo had lunch across the street and he declared that some day he would bring his bride here. Steve has yet another surprise for her, it is a jacuzzi size bubble bath! They get a chance to giggle and be silly in the tub. After a lot more kissing, Kayla begs hunger and says she needs to keep her strength up, so Steve takes her out to dinner. A mysterious man is watching them and then reports in that he is keeping a close on on them and that he thinks it is time. When they return to their suite, they go back to the gorgeous bed with the beautiful red silk sheets for more kissing.

8/1 Our newlyweds are enjoying their honeymoon as they wake up in bed together. He greets her, “Good morning Mrs. Johnson”. Steve wants to stay in bed all day, but Kayla wants to go sightseeing. She negotiates they can take a bath together and then go sightseeing. After their bath, they laugh and tease each other as he tosses her hair. She says that she wouldn’t care where they spent their honeymoon. She didn’t realize she would feel so different being married, she feels so secure and content and she is proud to be married to him. He declares he is the one who is proud! He watched her as she slept this morning and thanked the Big Dude for her love. He asks her to never leave him and she promises she won’t. While they are out on the town, Steve and Kayla find a scared little boy. Kayla signs to him and realizes that he is deaf. Poor little Benjy is lost and doesn't know where his mother is. Steve asks Benjy to draw a picture of the last place he was at with his mother. Benjy has drawn a picture of a pagoda. Steve and Kayla meet with Mr. Kramer. He lets Steve and Kayla keep Benjy at the hotel with them until his parents can be found. Later, Steve tells Benjy a bedtime story. Kayla thinks that she was meant to experience being deaf so that she could help Benjy.

8/3 Benjy isn't all that gung ho about being left behind with Mr. Kramer. Benjy runs away from Mr. Kramer and begs Steve and Kayla not to leave him. Mr. Kramer suggests that Benjy can be sent to an orphanage. Steve and Kayla want to take Benjy with them. Steve calls Roman and asks him for a favor. Roman's got some mighty powerful connections, because Benjy is going home with Steve and Kayla.

8/5 Steve and Kayla return to the loft with Benji and he carries her over the threshold. They find flowers from Kim and Shane for “Mr. & Mrs. Johnson”. Benjy tells them that he wants to go home. Steve and Kayla promise Benji to get him back home. Kayla and Steve decide that Benjy should go meet Kimberly. Kim tells Kayla that she has reservations about her taking care of Benjy. Kim receives a postcard from Bo and Hope, explaining their new lifestyle in Asia. Incidentally, the postcard has a pagoda on the front. Benji acts strangely when he sees it. He tells Steve and Kayla that the pagoda is where he had last seen his mother. Back at the loft, they put the boy to bed.

8/8 Kayla and Steve talk about what he has learned about Benji's mother. Benji runs off in the park, as Steve and Kayla catch him and he tells them he saw his mother. Steve and Kayla play with Benjy in the park. Steve tells Kayla that the pagoda is a Buddhist monastery, but Benjy's mother seems to have completely disappeared. They decide to go visit Roman to see if he can do some more string-pulling. Steve and Kayla arrive at the station and give Roman the pagoda postcard. Back in the park, Steve buys ice cream for everybody. Benjy throws his ice cream down and takes off running. Benjy tells Steve and Kayla that he saw his mother. Steve and Kayla search around, but to no avail. Benjy takes a nap on Steve's lap, while Steve reminisces about his days at the orphanage.

8/10 A State Department official tells Steve and Kayla they have found Benji's mother in Salem, and she is there to take him to her. They are skeptical, since she ran away from Benjy in the park. Oh and she abandoned her son in a foreign country. Steve and Kayla take Benjy to meet the mother. When the woman arrives, Benjy tells them it's not his mother! The lady has some lame story as to how she lost her son, so Steve and Kayla aren't going to let her take him. Kayla starts signing and the lady is clearly a fraud. The lady feigns indignation and storms out, but really she runs away. Steve and Kayla take Benjy home, and Benjy's real mom is introduced to us.

8/12 Steve is putting a word out on the woman who was masquerading as Benjy's mom. Roman can't remember finding Mr. Brown's body. Kayla is feeling reluctant about finding Benjy's mother, but Steve convinces her that they have to do it. Peggy arrives at the loft and meets Benjy. Kayla wants to enroll Benjy in Peggy's classes. Steve shows up at a bar (wearing a purple bandana), and snoops around for information about the mystery woman. Well what luck, because there she is! Steve chases the fraud mom down and threatens her. Fake mom confesses the truth, that the real mother hired her to play her part. Meanwhile, poor Benjy is missing his mama. Kayla reassures Benjy, then puts him to bed. Steve comes home and tells her what happened. Kayla muses over the Benjy dilemma while Steve plays with his trains.

8/16 Steve, Kayla, and Benjy are playing ball in the park as his mom watches from behind a bush. Kayla's intuition is kicking in, and Benjy's mom (Ellen) is caught by O’Ryan in the park. He insists that Ellen needs to let Benjy stay with the Johnsons. Steve and Kayla show up at the station to ask for protection for Benjy. Steve and Kayla give Roman the low-down on the most recent Benjy drama. Roman tells them that he can't do anything without hard evidence. Benjy sees a sketch of O’Ryan on Roman’s bulletin board and takes it. When they get home, Steve and Kayla see the sketch but don't really worry about it. Music montage.

8/18 The newspaper has a nasty headline about Jack being the son of a serial killer. Jo has gone to the loft to ask Steve to help his brother, but Steve tries to make her see that Jack doesn't consider himself a Johnson. But Jo is determined to help Billy. Despite Steve's objections, she leaves to head over to see Jack. Steve knows that Jack is just using Jo for political gain.

Dvd #12B Jo arrives at the Deveraux home and is greeted rather ungraciously by Jack. Anjelica interrupts them and ask Jo for a moment with Jack. She privately reasons with Jack and convinces him that his political image needs Jo Johnson as the blue collar dock workers will connect with that background. Anjelica convinces Jack to publicly renounce the Deveraux name and admit that the rumors about him being Billy Johnson are true in order to save his political career. Jack agrees to use Jo to further his career. Jack invites Jo in and she's thrilled to hear that Jack is ready to embrace his Johnson roots. A short time later, the press arrives, and Jack makes a statement about never feeling comfortable as a Deveraux, never felt comfortable living in all this wealth, and the reason for that is because he is not really a Deveraux, he is William Earl Johnson. Jo is tickled to death.

Steve and Kayla watch everything on T.V. and feel nauseated. Steve is livid as he knows Jack is using Jo for his political gain. He worries what will happen to Jo after Jack has done using her and tosses her to the curb. He and Kayla head over there. The press conference has wrapped up when Steve barges in and pulls Jo aside. He tells her that Billy is using her, but she insists that she is not deserting Billy. Steve starts to give a statement to the press of his own but Jack quickly deflects Steve's statements and turns it around to make himself look good. Steve grabs Jack's face and warns him to stay away from his mother and his sister. Anjelica marches in indignant, that Steve would treat Jack this way. She sings Jack's praises. Anjelica asks Steve to leave, and when he asks Jo to come with them, she refuses. She is staying with Billy.

Steve and Kayla head out for a bite to eat, and continue the discussion about Jo and Jack. Jo finds Steve and Kayla dining at Shenanigans. They exchange pleasantries. Steve asks her why she is not with Billy, and she tells him that Billy had a lot of important things to do. At that moment, Jack and Anjelica walk in together, and Jo is crushed. At a separate table, Anjelica tells Jack that they can leave if he is uncomfortable, but he declines. He insists the Johnsons don't interest him in the least but his face says otherwise.

8/19 Benji looks at the sketch of O'Ryan he took from the police station. Roman remembers when the Patch man rescued him from the side of the road and goes to see Steve about the time he was "The Pawn” to see if Roman gave him any clues as to where he came from before Steve found him. Steve remembers his early days with the Pawn and we get some Patch and Pawn flashbacks (from before Kayla arrives on the show). Steve tells him about first seeing him in Miami. He tells him how badly that Victor wanted to get his hands on Roman, and that was why Steve kept Roman hidden. Kayla and Benji meet with Kim in the park as there is a carnival atmosphere. Kayla tells her that she wants to legally adopt Benji. Meanwhile, Benji’s grandfather is dressed as a clown and he kneels down and removes his mask so Benji can see his face. He rushes into his grandfather’s arms, thrilled to see him. Benji's mother, Ellen, calls Kayla and tells her she wants him back now.

8/24 Kayla is shocked to hear Ellen’s demand to be with her son now but suddenly hangs up. Ellen has hung up as O’Ryan came into the room. He reports that he went to see Benji and he seems to be happy with the Johnsons. She claims she needs to rest to get time alone, as soon as he leaves, she calls back. Steve answers and Ellen begs to meet with him. He tells her to call back to set up a time. Kayla is upset that he agreed to meet with her. She tells him there is something wrong here, that something isn’t right. Steve talks her into the meeting. When they arrive at Ellen’s hotel room, she accuses them of setting her up since they didn’t bring the boy with them. They have to check out her story first. She shows them a picture of her with the boy as Kayla gets tears in her eyes. Steve takes the picture with him so he can at least show Benji that is mom is here.

Back at home, Kayla reassures him after the boy has a bad dream. When they are alone at home, Steve points out that he thinks that Ellen is his mother. He tells her they have to give him back. He holds her in his arms as he tells her it is the right thing to do. She knows it is but will be the hardest thing she has ever had to do. They are getting ready to leave for their meeting with Ellen. Kayla doesn’t want to give Benji back if she can’t provide a good home for him. Steve reminds her that he knows what it is like to loose his mother, it will stay with him the rest of his life. Kayla reminds him that Ellen left Benji completely alone. Steve argues that they made a promise to the boy to try to find his mother. Kayla agrees to show Benji the picture. He tells them this is his mother. Kayla asks him questions about if she is nice to him and takes care ‘pp[[p’ him. He answers very definitely yes.

Ellen calls back and arranges to meet them on the pier in an hour. O’Ryan comes in and overhears her call and tells her she just made a very big mistake. He warns her that she is not only endangering her life but Benji’s life. She tells him she can’t go on with this. He drugs her so she can’t make the meeting. Kayla is furious when she doesn’t show again, and doesn’t even want to consider returning the child to his flaky other. When Ellen wakes up, she can’t believe that he stooped to drugging her. He tells her again that he needed more time to convince her that Benji is safe with the Johnson’s and it is best to leave him there.

8/29 Ellen *Benji’s mother” begs O’Ryan that she needs her son back. He tells her how dangerous it is for her and for her son. He tells her if Steve and Kayla knew who his father is and what he has planned, that they would never allow him to go back to Ellen. He finally agrees and returns telling her that he found a place they can hide out together. Steve & Kayla make a quick appearance at Roman’s surprise birthday party. Benji leaves that night for sleep away summer camp with Peggy Steve and Kayla talk about giving Benji back. Steve tells her that the last few weeks of being with Benji has helped him see that maybe he could have a family of his own, before Benji he didn’t believe he could be a parent. Kayla has never doubted Steve’s ability to be a parent and gets him back on track by pointing out she doesn’t think Ellen can keep him safe.

Ellen meets with Steve and Kayla, and tells them the whole "story". Steve and Kayla don't buy Ellen's story about being mugged and knocked out in the Ladies’ Room. She insists she reported him missing to the US Embassy, and they call her out on all the wholes in her story and her lies about reporting his disappearance. Kayla warns her that she can’t have her son back until she proves to them she isn’t in trouble and being with her would be safe. The recognize that she loves her son but don’t believe he is safe with her. They tell her that they love Benji and offer to help keep him out of danger and beg her to tell them the truth. She doesn’t cooperate with their demands. Kayla tells Steve that she is obviously in some sort of trouble and she refuses to give Benji back to her if it would put him in danger. Steve asks to talk to her alone and asks Ellen to tell him the truth about what really happened when Benji was lost. Steve offers her and Benji his protection if she will confide in him what is really going on. He assures her he isn’t trying to take her son from her. She tells him that telling him the truth will only make matters worse for everyone. He tells her then he has to assume Benji would be in trouble with her so he can’t go back to her.

Later, he tells Kayla that he doesn’t know what she is hiding but Benji can’t go back to her until it is safe. Steve tells her that Ellen loves her son. Kayla doesn’t understand why he trusts Ellen. He believes that he gave Benji up to protect him and is in the same position Jo was in when she gave up Steve and Billy. Steve is sure there is something else going on here and they are involved now and have to find out what is going on. When Ellen and O’Ryan meet, he gives her a threatening note that her husband has left for her. So her dangerous husband knows exactly where she is and can get to her and to Benji if he is with her at any time.

9/1 Kayla and Steve talk about missing Benji, who's away at camp. Ellen arrives to talk to them. Kayla and Steve tell her they want to know what she is hiding as she continues to insist that Benji will be safe with her. Steve asks her what about his father, why isn’t he here? She finally confesses that she has been on the run from his father, who is a dangerous man. He is very powerful, above the authorities and would find her wherever she went. She thought they were safe at the monastery but when she was tracked there, a trusted friend took Benji to the hotel and that is when Steve and Kayla found him. They aren’t sure whether to believe her now, and Kayla asks for some time alone with Steve to discuss this. Kayla doesn’t think it is fair to Benji to be on the run from his father, and she does not want to give Benji back. Later when Kayla is home alone, Ellen returns to plead her case to Kayla. Initially Kayla refuses as she thinks this would put Benji in danger. Ellen asks her how dare she think she can make decisions for Benji’s future that she has no right to do so. Eventually Kayla agrees as long as Ellen will allow Kayla to arrange a safe place for her and Benji to go to be together and deal with his father legally.

Meanwhile, Steve meets Jo at Shenanigan’s and tells Jo about Benji’s father. He tells her that they have to give the boy back to his mother, but he knows it is going to break Kayla’s heart. When Steve gets home, Kayla tells him about Ellen’s visit and that she agreed to give Benji back to her. Kayla tells him that she has no right to keep Benji from his mother. Kayla reports that she got in touch with Peggy to let her know that they will be picking him up tomorrow.

9/2 Kayla stares at a picture of Benji as Steve comes downstairs and tells her that the boy belongs with his mother. Steve wants to tell the boy that he will be reunited with his mother. Kayla is against telling him just in case if she doesn’t show up. She points out if Ellen shows up, Benji will be happy. Steve agrees that they can just wait till she shows up and surprises him. Steve assures Kayla that Ellen loves that boy and will show up. Peggy brings Benji home from camp. Kayla tells Steve saying goodbye to Benji is going to be one of the hardest things she has ever had to do, but she agrees Benji belongs with his mother. Kayla is emotional as she knows she has to say goodbye to him today. They worry when Ellen doesn’t show up, and Steve heads out to look for her. Steve sees someone laying on the pier and races over to find it is Ellen and she is dead. Abe soon arrives to begin investigating.

9/5 Steve calls to let Kayla know that Ellen will not be coming to pick up her son, she is dead! Steve heads home and he and Kayla have to tell Benji about his mother’s death. Steve tells Benji as Kayla signs the sad news. Kayla cries as she holds and tries to reassure him. Later, Steve vows to Kayla that they will protect a sleeping Benji and will not let his father get anywhere near him. He promises they will raise Benji as their own. O’Ryan kneels over Ellen’s crime scene and cries why wouldn't she listen to him! Scenes end with a montage of scenes, Steve takes Kayla’s hand as they go up to bed together.

9/8 Kayla comes in feeling more positive as it is a beautiful day and the sun is shining. Steve complains about waking up and finding her gone. He teases her that she knows what he likes to do in the morning, he wants to go back to bed. She tells Steve that she wants to go to the far east. She tells Steve that she went to see a lawyer about what they need to do to adopt Benji. They have to prove his father isn’t able to care for him. Steve tries to slow her down that they don’t know enough information about Benji yet to proceed with adoption. He doesn’t want to rush into this. He feels Benji needs time to adjust to being there with them and to his mother’s death. He tells her that Bangkok is a lot more than the pretty city he showed her and has a seedy underbelly. If Benji’s father is dangerous, no way is Steve going to put Kayla and Benji in that kind of danger. Steve also points out there could be a grandparent or an aunt or uncle and the boy should be with family if there is someone who would want to raise him. The idea of giving Benji up to someone else upsets Kayla and she rushes out. While she is gone, Jo comes in having heard about Ellen’s death. Steve fills her in on Kayla wanting to adopt and points out that adoption didn’t work out to well for Billy.

9/9 Kayla tells Steve how Benji just stares at the flyer he took from Roman’s office. Steve realizes the man means something to Benji and he suggests they figure out who it is. Benji refuses to tell them but does indicate that the man never hurt him. They go over to Roman’s and to try to find information about Benji’s connection to this man. When they arrive at Roman’s, he invites them to join them on a picnic in the park. Kayla thinks it is a good idea and will be nice for Benji as he hasn’t anything to smile about in a long time.

At the park, Kayla tells Roman that they want to adopt Benji but they don’t know if he has any other family. They show Roman the flyer of O’Ryan and tells him about Benji taking it off his bulletin board and how Benji just stares at the photo. Roman shares that O’Ryan was connected to Benji’s mom but he doesn’t know how they are connected. He is watching from the bushes as they talk. Kayla and Benji are grabbed by two goons and O’Ryan comes out to try to fight them off. They are able to get Benji into the car as Steve and Roman hear Kayla screaming! As Steve runs to her, she shakily tells him that they took Benji!

9/12 Kayla tells them that O’Ryan was there during the kidnapping and tried to help them. Kayla blames herself when Benji is taken. Roman and Abe assure her that they will find the boy. O’Ryan approaches and tells them that Benji is gone and they won’t be getting him back. He tells them that the man in the car was Benji’s father. He confirms that he is a very dangerous man and Benji shouldn’t be subjected to a life like that. Roman demands to know what O’Ryan has to do with all of this. He admits that Ellen was his daughter, Benji is his grandson. He declares that he knows how to find Benji and his father and when he does, he will be in touch.

9/14 Kayla and Carrie talk about finding Benji. Diana shows Roman the newspaper article with Benji's picture, as Steve comes in and argues with Roman about him letting O'Ryan go. Benji calls Kayla and yells into the phone to help him, before it is snatched from him. Kayla hears a fog horn in the distance, and asks Shawn about it. He tells her where the location is, an old house near the docks. Kayla goes to find Benji. Once she finds him, she sneaks into the cabin and hides as goons come in. They discuss they have to take the kid to the airport to meet his father. Steve is worried when he can’t get ahold of Kayla. Steve wants to go to the cabin to find Benji. As the goon grabs Benji, he bites him and gets away, finds Kayla and hides with her. Steve has come across the cabin as Kayla and Benji hide inside as the goons with guns search for them.

9/15 Diana goes to the door and babbles to distract them. One of the goons with a gun finds Kayla and Benji and grabs the boy who screams. Steve and Roman burst in but Benji and Kayla are being held at gunpoint. Roman has to let them leave with Kayla and Benji, though they follow them in their car. O’Ryan shows up at the Salem Police Department, asking to see Roman. He leaves information with Abe that Benjy is to be abducted tonight by his father. O’Ryan is attacked and drugged while he's on a pay phone. The car carrying the thugs, Benjy and Kayla wrecks and the latter two escape as one of the goons is knocked out. Realizing that the leverage of having Kayla hostage is gone, so they take Diana hostage when Roman and crew happen upon the crash. Roman is able to get the wrecked car running to continue his pursuit. Kayla cries out Steve’s name and her and Benji run into his arms. Roman takes off after Diana promising to call a car for Steve and Kayla. Steve and Kayla reassure Benjy, who wants to see his father.

9/20 Steve and Kayla picnic on the roof, complete with wine and fried chicken. He tells her they are allowed to act like newlyweds for the first year and he plans to take advantage of it. Since Benji is on a field trip with Peggy, he wanted to take advantage of them being alone together. Jack breaks up the picnic/love fest on the roof. Jack visits Harper in jail and finds him with a black eye. He is concerned about Harper's treatment while he's imprisoned. He goes to Steve and Kayla to ask Kayla for her help. Neither Steve nor Kayla are amused, though Jack tries to play the family sympathy card in two different directions (as Harper's stepson and also as Steve's brother). He says Harper needs psychiatric help and needs Kayla's help in getting him transferred to a different facility. If she would testify on his behalf, as one of his victims, it would carry a lot of weight. Kayla refuses. At the prison we see Harper wiping off the makeup, it was all a ruse. Steve and Kayla discuss Jack's upbringing.

9/22 Steve gets interrupted with loving on his mind. The interruption is a man who has come to take Benjy and he has a court order. Steve calls Roman to tell him about the court order and to come over to the loft to try to fix the situation. It comes down to the wire for Roman to try to help Steve and Kayla. Kayla fantasizes about Benjy staying with them. Steve wants to make a run for it with the kid. Roman is unable to get the order reversed in the hour, but Diana mutters to Kayla she has a plan to hide Benji and then lets Steve in on it.

9/23 Steve and Kayla worry about keeping Benjy as agents are staked outside the loft. Benjy senses the danger and Kayla tries to ease his mind. Roman calls up Steve to ask about the ring and Patch invites he and Diana over, provided they use the roof entrance. Steve says Roman did have a ring like Jeremiah's when he was the Pawn, but that a broke Steve pawned it. The Pawn wore no jewelry. Amazingly, Steve still has the pawn ticket. Roman gets the shop owner on the first ring and arranges to meet that night. But Steve isn't happy. He and Kayla still have government goons looking for them and Benjy.

Diana suggests that she and Roman go argue in front of the agents to create a diversion so Steve, Kayla and Benjy can leave via the roof. Roman is okay with this, "What do you want to argue about this time?" Steve and Kayla agree and it's settled. Diversion attempt begins, but looks like a failure when the agents realize it's a trick. After a warning from Roman and Diana, the trio takes off in the other direction, through a block party featuring about half of the residents of Salem. Perhaps for the first time in daytime history, a conga line is used to keep bad guys from catching good guys. Kayla says she has a plan to get them out of Salem. She thinks they should go back to Bangkok.

10/4 Steve and Kayla take Benjy to the monastery to see if he remembers anything further. Everyone is curious about who his father is, though Kayla is worried that something isn't quite about this. Embassy official Kramer, who they encountered on their honeymoon, spots them and is curious about Benjy's whereabouts. They doubly cover as Benjy has gone missing. A monk takes the two of them to a hidden room, where they find Benjy. The monks tell them that they took them there to keep them safe from the official. Steve and Kayla demand answers about his father, but no dice. Otherwise, all are promised a peaceful existence and rooms for the night.

10/6 One of the monks at the monastery brings Benji in to see Steve and Kayla. They then ask the man about what he knows about Benji and his father, as he recalls Ellen left a trunk there from her stay. Steve and Kayla wake up at the monastery and Kayla is eager to talk to the monks. A monk briefly brings Benjy by to see them on the way to breakfast. They ask about his father and the monk asks about Benjy's mother and Steve tells him she was murdered. The monk says he knows little of the father, but Ellen (Benjy’s mother) left a trunk at the monastery. They get the trunk and empty it out and notice a hidden compartment.

The trunk's compartment reveals a marriage license, but the groom's name has been scratched out. There is enough information to give Steve and Kayla a lead and conveniently, they won't have to travel far from the monastery to track it. Benjy worries about being alone when learning that Kayla and Steve are leaving, but feels better when he learns they are searching for his father. Kayla worries about never finding answers; Steve seems to think they will and they will able to decide what Benjy's future should be and who it should be with. Steve and Kayla take a private little boat to their destination. It is very private, filled with cozy pillows and is very romantic. Steve tells her it reminds her of their honeymoon night on the gondola. Steve tells her that once they find Benji’s father, then they can decide where it would be best for him to live. He reminds her that right now Benji is safe and they are alone together on this boat. They tell each other they love each other and start kissing (again!)

10/7 Steve and Kayla have finished their boat journey to the mission. Kayla tells Steve that last night was the most beautiful night of her life. He asks what about their wedding night? Their honeymoon? She tells him every night with him is beautiful, but last night making love while floating down the river was a night she will never forget. He tells her that now they have to get back to reality and find Benji!

**The End**