At the Quartermaines, Alexis tells Chase and Brook Lynn that they’ll have to start the adoption process from scratch, unfortunately, but she notes they are kind and loving, have a stable home, and that she doesn’t know two people more deserving than them to adopt. (Hold that thought, Alexis!) Alexis decides to get back to the office and start the process and paperwork.

The PCPD’s Case Falls Apart

At the station, Ric tells Dante and Justine that Wiley saw Chase with Michael’s keys, which upsets Michael as he doesn’t want his son involved. Ric really hopes Chase wasn’t part of this latest fishing expedition, as it would look really bad for the PCPD on top of the missing traffic cam footage from Willow’s trial. Justine informs Michael that he’s free to go.

Alone, Dante tells Justine that they both know looking for the key was Chase’s idea. Justine orders Dante to get his department in order. One more mistake and heads will roll, starting with theirs.

In the squad room, Ric advises Michael steer clear of Chase, as who knows what else the demoted detective is capable of.

Hanging Out at The Brown Dog

Sonny and Gio spend time catching up at The Brown Dog, as Sonny knows his grandson is lonely with Emma out of town. Gio fears the longer she’s gone, the more difficult it will be for her to come back. Sonny asks what he’d do if she stayed in California?

Gio is unsure. Sonny says he’d understand if he followed his heart out West, but Olivia, probably not so much. Gio gets a text from Joss, so Sonny decides to head out, as he and Joss probably shouldn’t be around one another right now. (I have lost track of what the issue between them is this time around)

Joss soon joins Gio, and she explains that she came to see Emma the day before she left because of the book she found. She shows him a copy of Faison’s book and tells him about it. Gio asks her to drop this, as Emma has enough on her plate as is. Joss says, “Consider it dropped. But if Emma doesn’t come home soon, you should go see her.”

As Sonny is about to head out, Justine stomps in, needing a drink, given the day she’s had. He joins her, and she eventually opens up that she’s suffered two big losses in court: Ava and Willow’s trials. She is certain Willow is guilty, and now her failure has put the spotlight on his son. She ends up storming out.

Ric Brings News to Alexis

Ric stops by Alexis’ office with news on Drew’s attempted murder case. He tells of Chase’s latest mistake in trying to prove Michael is guilty, which will likely keep Michael from being charged.

Their conversation shifts as Alexis is surprised he’s helping the son of the brother he hates. Ric explains he’s had time to think, and if he were to fall off the face of the earth, the only person who would care is Molly. Like it or not, Sonny and his kids are the closest thing he has to a real family.

Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!

Back at the Qs’, Chase and Brook Lynn are blissfully happy, which is when Michael enters and yells, “You son of a bitch!” Brook Lynn tries to calm things down and asks Michael what is wrong. Michael yells that the PCPD served him a warrant for his keyring, which had a key to Drew’s house. The problem is he didn’t put it on there, Chase did!

A full-fledged fight breaks out, and Dante arrives in time to break it up. Michael yells he’s sick of Chase trying to pin Drew’s shooting on him, and his son saw him with his keys. He yells, “You’re dirty, and now they know too!”

Willey Has a Nightmare

At Drew’s, Wiley had a nightmare (Get used to them with Willow as your mom!). The boy tells his mom he doesn’t like this place and wants his bed at Daddy’s house. Willow understands he’s afraid, as he hasn’t slept here in a long time. She suggests they read until he falls asleep, and she is sure this house will feel like home again soon.

Spinelli and Lulu Discuss Heroes

At Maxie’s, Lulu finds Spinelli lost in thought. They discuss Maxie and Nathan, and Spinelli doesn’t doubt that Maxie loves him; it’s just not as deep as the love she has for Nathan.

Lulu tells Spinelli that Maxie loves him and Nathan in different ways, but he knew Georgie, and he was her first love, so that counts for a lot. Spinelli still notes they broke up, and Nathan became Maxie’s hero. Lulu agrees, and it’s hard to stand in the middle of a love like that. Spinelli notes she’s been giving this a lot of thought, too.

Spinelli says the only thing that would destroy him more than Maxie choosing her hero, Nathan, over him is her staying with him out of obligation. He wants her to be happy, even if it’s not with him. Lulu tells him that makes him the hero.

Maxie’s Choice

In the cemetery, Maxie embraces Nathan. She finds this entire situation surreal and asks what happened. Nathan remembers the day Faison shot him, and then they were at GH when it all went dark. We see a flashback of Nathan’s death. The next thing he knew, Nathan says woke up at GH with Nina next to him and seven years were just gone. He is sorry he left her, but she says he was taken and would never leave her or James.

Maxie talks about the grief she experienced after his death, which is likely why she didn’t see Peter for who he was, but she got Bailey Lu out of that. Then she found love with Spinelli again.

They realize they have to figure out what comes next. Nathan tells her to take her time in deciding what is right, but she doesn’t want to drag this out. She’s made a choice; she loves him and always will.

Maxie returns home to find Spinelli looking at a family photo…

In the Show’s Final Moments

Maxie tells Spinelli that she just saw Nathan. Spinelli is happy for her. She tells him that she told Nathan that she’ll always love him, but she’s in love with Spinelli and chooses to be with him.

Lulu heads to The Brown Dog to drink away her sorrows, and of course, Nathan walks in.

At their home, Spinelli is shocked and doesn’t want her to stay with him out of obligation. Maxie says this isn’t about obligation, it’s about love. She tells Spinelli that he is her person, she chooses him, and pulls him into a kiss.

In the Q kitchen, Brook Lynn says Wiley must have misunderstood what he saw, and Michael taking his anger out on Chase is unacceptable. Chase storms out, and Brook Lynn follows.

Michael swears to Dante that he never had a key to Drew’s. Dante believes his brother, but also notes that if Chase did this, he did him a huge favor, as the evidence is tainted and they can’t move forward with a case against him.

Wiley falls asleep on Willow’s lap, and she recalls putting the key on Michael’s ring. (Oh, Willow, you have a lot of bad news coming to you, and once again, you did it to yourself!)

In Alexis’ office, the lawyer is having a hard time believing her basement inspired Ric to become a better person. Ric swears he has no more agendas and has wasted too much of his life on vendettas.

Finally, Sonny runs down the street after Justine, saying, “Anyone tell you that you are too hard on yourself?” She doesn’t want his sympathy, but he says that’s not what he feels for her. They lean in and kiss!

On the next General Hospital, Sidwell questions Marco if Lucas knows something he shouldn’t, as Lucas tells Britt that he knows everything that’s going on.