2001: Paul returned to support his emotionally unstable mother, who had been burned in a boat-house explosion after suffering a humiliating marriage to money-grubbing Craig. After mistaking Rose for Lily upon arrival at the airport, he fell head-over-heels in love, despite the fact that Barbara hated the unpolished former showgirl. He also reconnected with half siblings Jennifer and Will and shrewdly took over operations at BRO, where he hired Carly as a designer because nutty Barbara's work didn't pass muster. When Babs rejected Jennifer and Will, Paul tried to keep his family together, but later encouraged Jen to pursue her modeling career so she could avoid Barbara's smothering. Blaming Carly, Emily and Rose for all her troubles, Barbara plotted with James (who was again back from the dead) to get rid of the women.