Serena Returns to Port Charles, While a Mysterious Stranger Unnerves Ethan — Plus, Dr. Tristan Is Really [Spoiler]!

At Portia’s, she’s resting as Curtis and Trina look after baby Dez. The doorbell rings, and, surprise, it’s Marshall. Marshall catches up with his family and is proud of Trina for signing a record deal.

Later, Marshall talks to Curtis in private about his trial and considering the plea deal. Curtis won’t let Isaiah get away with this and raise his son. Marshall thinks it might be better to sacrifice eight months rather than years away from his family. Also, a not guilty verdict won’t remove Isaiah from Dez’s life.

Will Ethan and Ava Become an Item?

Ava and Ethan are lounging at the pool. Brook Lynn, Chase, and Phoebe arrive, and Ethan notes that if not for them, they wouldn’t be together. Ava thinks he’s jumping the gun a bit calling them “together.”  He says last night was more than a fling for him, and he feels a connection between them that he’s willing to explore.  Ethan says it was her caring about Phoebe, and letting her be happy with Brook Lynn and Chase that really caused him to see her in a new light.

Ethan notes it’s Ava’s turn to tell him how she feels. She would be open to finding out if there is something between them. As they lean into a kiss, that’s when Trina shows up and says her timing is officially terrible.  Ethan excuses himself to get a drink, and Trina gives Ava a smile.

Bad News for Brook Lynn!

Michael shows up to talk a little business with Brook Lynn. He explains he was late as he had to speak to Willow about Drew’s miraculous recovery and divorce. Brook Lynn says the newly single Willow will get her claws into Chase over her cold dead body.

Brook Lynn returns to Chase and tells him the news about Drew and Willow, which stuns him. However, Chase is happy for Willow as she can get on with her life, and they can get on with theirs. They kiss, and Ethan interrupts and talks about how cute Phoebe is.

What Has Happened to Serena?

At the Metro Court Gardens, Felicia meets with Lucy and tells her that Maxie and family are settling into their new home. Lucy doesn’t hide her bitterness about Maxie up and leaving her with a mess, but admits she can’t stay mad at Maxie for long. She also knows how hard this must be for Felicia with her daughter on the other side of the world, which makes what’s about to happen worse. That’s when Serena (played by Kelly Kruger) arrives.

 Serena hugs her mom and Aunt Felicia, and explains she got a little burnt out from saving the whales, so her mom called and suggested a visit. Lucy feels this is exactly what Serena needs.

They sit down, and Felicia asks Serena about her dad. She says Scott’s living his best life in Key West. Serena is also excited to meet her brother Cody (Oh yeah, forgot about that! Dominique is both their bio moms!). Felicia eventually leaves so Lucy and her daughter can spend time alone.

Once alone, Serena opens up to her mom that she’s blown her entire trust fund. She made bad choices and trusted the wrong people. Lucy says she is here to listen when she wants to talk, but it makes what she’s about to ask her much easier.

Stella Fears For Curtis

At the Quartermaines’, over tea, Tracy vents to Stella about Maxie selling her Deception shares to Michael, who has formed an alliance with Brook Lynn. She and Brook Lynn were supposed to be working together. Stella points out the Quartermaines still hold the upper hand over Lucy.

Tracy says they aren’t here to talk about her problems but to celebrate Stella’s promotion and grandnephew. Tracy immediately senses a problem. Stella says she loves her nephew, but Isaiah is her colleague, and the man she knows bears no resemblance to the man Curtis describes. She fears Curtis will never admit that his assaulting Isaiah was a mistake, and so is not taking the plea deal.

Michael returns home later, and Stella is gone. He tells Tracy he went to see Willow, and it turns out she and Drew are getting a divorce. Tracy cackles and says Yuri owes her fifty bucks, as they had a bet going as to whether the marriage would last a year. Michael says, unfortunately, with Willow single, she’ll make a beeline for Chase.

Meanwhile, Stella heads to Portia’s to see Dez, and gives Marshall a hug. Stella and Marshall say Dez has Irene’s eyes.

Britt Has Another Friend?

At the hospital, Isaiah tells Tristan, as he shows him around, that he’ll be out for at least a week. He then chats with Britt, who wonders if he’s going on a vacation, and tells her the time off is to go to court and fight Curtis. He’s sick of walking around eggshells around Curtis, so he wants to nail him in court. Britt warns him that if he comes off this aggressive in court, then Curtis will walk.

Isaiah assures her he won’t talk like that in court; he was talking to her as a friend. She jokes she has so few friends she didn’t pick up on that’s what they were. Just then, Jack shows up, and Britt asks what he wants from her now, as she’s holding onto this job by a thread. Jack reveals he’s not here to see her.

Who Is Dr. Tristan Roberts Really?

Tristan heads to an exam room and is shocked to see Jack there. He says he’ll get another physician, but Jack says he just wanted to see how he’s settling in to Port Charles. Tristan says he’s settling in and focused on building a career at GH, and visits from him aren’t helpful. He doesn’t want him or anyone from the WSB showing up to see him, and he’ll report to them when he has something to report. Jack says he doesn’t get to set those terms. (It would seem that Tristan is undercover WSB, which is why he escorted Jason home!)

The Haunting of Anna Devane

At Anna’s, Peter is taunting her, asking how much more evidence she needs. It’s clear Cassius and Britt are responsible for what happened to her. Anna says she knows, but she has to be certain. He says they are Faisons and will never stop coming for her.

The haunting is interrupted when Jason stops by. Anna says she just learned what happened to him, and he says the same to her. Jason tells her about being left in a cell alone, with no sense of time, and focused on people and events to hold onto his sanity. Anna says she certainly didn’t hold onto hers.

Jason feels bad he didn’t look into what happened to her sooner, but he was caught up helping Britt escape Cullum and Sidwell. Anna is still trying to figure out how they made her believe Faison was alive. While his voice could have been a deepfake, the things he knew about her could only be recreated by someone who knew Faison, like his offspring.

 Jason can’t vouch for Cassius, but he did save someone close to him. As for Britt, Cullum blackmailed her and made her think she had Huntington’s and dangled a fake experimental serum in front of her for her cooperation. He also says Cullum had the resources to study Faison, and that maybe Cassius was involved, but Britt wasn’t.

Before he leaves, Jason tells Anna he’s glad she’s back, and he’s here if she needs him. Peter resurfaces and says Jason is lying about Britt and everything else.