“What do you mean she has an infection? She was perfectly…she was fine this morning,” Luis said, his anger at Taylor’s apparent abandonment of his daughter seeping into his voice as he talked to Dr. Matthews. “What does this mean for her transplant?” “We’ll have to fight the infection before Ali can undergo the transplant, Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald. She’s not strong enough…The infection can become very serious if we are not able to get it under control and treat it,” Dr. Matthews told him regretfully.

Luis rest his forehead against Ali’s hospital door wearily, his arms braced on either side of his head. Just this morning…He shook his head. Ali’s energy and hope had seemed to wane as the day progressed, and Luis couldn’t help but feel partly responsible. “Have you been able to reach Taylor?” Luis grit out, staring at Dr. Matthews with intense dark eyes. “I’ve called the number he left repeatedly, but there hasn’t been an answer. We’re doing everything we can for your daughter, Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald. Ali’s a favorite around here. We all want to see her happy and healthy again.” “I know you do, Dr. Matthews. I’m sorry…I’m not doubting you’re doing the best you can. Thank you,” Luis said sincerely, “I need to…” “Go to your daughter, Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald. I’ll keep trying Dr. Taylor.” Luis nodded and stepped inside Ali’s room, leaving Dr. Matthews alone.

“You just rest, Sweetie, and let this medicine do all the work,” Katie told Ali softly, brushing a gentle hand across his daughter’s forehead. “Look who’s back,” Katie smiled at him over her shoulder, “It’s your daddy, Doll.” “Daddy,” Ali’s blue eyes shone with love as Luis took her little hand between both of his larger ones and brought it to his cheek. “C’mere, AliCat,” he whispered, carefully scooping her tiny frame up into his arms as he slid onto the bed beside her, “is this okay?” Katie gave him a quick nod, momentarily unable to speak she was so touched by the scene. She blinked back the sting of tears and cleared her throat, “If you need anything…” She wasn’t going anywhere. She was staying until she knew Ali’s infection was gone, and she knew Noah would understand. “Thanks, Katie,” Luis answered her gratefully, “Could you…” “I’ll find her, Luis,” Katie promised, pulling the door shut behind her. Luis pressed his warm lips against Ali’s temple, cradling her even closer. He felt his heart swell to bursting with Ali’s whisper. “I love holding you like this, Daddy.” “Me too, AliCat. Me too.”

The candles in the chapel flickered, casting eerie shadows around the room and Sheridan’s upturned face. Her blue eyes were wet and pleading, much like her voice as she prayed to a God she no longer understood. “Why? I don’t understand. Help me understand why. You gave me more than I ever thought I deserved when you gave me Ali, and now you’re trying to take her away from me. I know life isn’t supposed to be fair, and maybe I’m being selfish because I haven’t had enough time with her, but this…this isn’t right. It doesn’t make sense to me why you would give her back to me only to take her away again.”

The accident. She’d missed Ali’s baby years, and the pictures were there, but it wasn’t the same. She wasn’t in any of them. She wasn’t holding her baby. She hadn’t existed. For three long years she hadn’t existed. Ali’s baby years had been taken away from her. Then there was the kidnapping. Ali’s kidnapping. It seemed that every time they started to really be happy, to really enjoy being a family, something always tried to rip away what she loved most. Her sweet little daughter. And this cancer…it was the cruelest method of all because she was losing her baby little by little and try as she might, there was nothing she could physically do to stop it. She felt so helpless. She felt so angry, she realized, and the emotion seeped into her tired bones, taking over as she climbed to her feet and turned to meet Katie halfway. “I’m not going to let you have her,” she vowed, resisting the desire to wince at the dull, throb of pain in her lower back in front of Katie. She really shouldn’t let her stubbornness blind her to the fact that Luis WAS right sometimes. Those stairs HADN’T been such a good idea.

“I guess that explains why she’s not answering her phone,” Shane sighed, turning his sister’s ringing cell phone off and putting it back on the kitchen counter where he and Ivy had found it. “Ethan’d forget his own head if it weren’t attached,” Ivy smirked, handing his cell phone back to him as her blue-green eyes perused their surroundings. “Nice place.” “Yeah, it is,” Shane answered her, hazel eyes twinkling at her comment about Ethan, “I think this is more of a case of my kid sister avoiding my nagging than it is a case of forgetfulness. Ivy, do you mind waiting a little longer? I’m going to check the disaster-zone that’s Abby’s room for clues to where she’s gone. If you’re thirsty, I’m sure there’s something in the fridge. Oh, and Abby keeps the alcohol well-stocked if you…” Shane trailed off, grinning at Ivy’s amused smile. “I won’t be long.”

“Don’t worry about me,” Ivy called after him, arching a brow at the scattered photographs all over the sofa, “I’m sure I can find something interesting to do.” She picked up a photo of a teen-aged Shane and a very young, completely adorable Abby in blond pigtails and smiled at the protective arm Shane had wrapped around his sister’s tiny shoulders. Another picture, Abby all decked out as a clown, struck her as so appropriate she burst into helpless laughter. “Runt was born a clown,” Shane chuckled, startling Ivy enough to make her drop all the photos in her hands. “She didn’t take her suitcase so she must not be planning to be gone long. Are you ready? We can still make our reservation if we hurry.” “Just a minute,” Ivy smiled, “let me straighten things up a bit.” “Are you kidding?” Shane teased, kneeling on the floor beside her to help, “Abby’s going to know I broke into her apartment like the worried, overprotective big brother I am if we don’t leave it in the mess we found it. Ivy?” Ivy’s fingers curled around the picture in her hand, and she shook off the momentary shock of recognition that had coursed through her with the first glance at the dark, piercing eyes and somber, handsome face. “Then we should leave it a mess,” she agreed, slipping the picture inside her purse when Shane wasn’t looking. “What are we waiting for? I’m starving.”

Chapter 79

“She’s interested, but not in moving to Harmony? Chad, what are you going to do? I know she was your first choice…But this is your dream…You can’t give up so easily,” Theresa sighed, moving the receiver to her other ear as she scribbled Chad’s flight information down on a sheet of paper and tacked it on the fridge with a magnet “Yes…it’s right beside Cristian’s wonderful rendition of Smoky…No, it wasn’t a blissful family reunion…Let’s just say I’m gaining a whole new understanding of Luis’s name for her…Well, yeah. She HAS been a pain in the…Chad, if you don’t come home soon, Smoky’s going to forget what you look like…All right,” Theresa giggled, “she’s NOT going to forget, but she DOES miss you. Not as much as **I** miss you, but still…I love you. You’re my fiance, and I want to see you now. Not two days from now…I was working on the guest list for the wedding today, and Chad, I was thinking…yes, I do that sometimes,” Theresa huffed into the receiver as she made her way into the living room and turned on the television, channel-surfing until she found an old romantic comedy. She curled up on the sofa, pulling Cristian’s favorite quilt over her knees and endured Chad’s teasing with a smile and a roll of her dark eyes.

“How do you know I’m rolling my eyes? You can’t see me…Oh, you know me, do you? What am I doing right now?” she inquired between bites of ice cream. “No, I’m not eating ice cream…it’s too cold out, and besides…that’s Sheridan’s and Luis’s MO, not mine. Fuuuunnnyyy…Well, then…you’ll just have to come home before I start looking suspiciously like the Goodyear blimp…You’re going to help me with the guest list…Yes, you are, and that’s that. You know you can’t say no to me…Why? Because you love me. That’s why…You’re going to have to do it yourself, Chad, ‘cause I’m not hanging up…Love you. Bye…Two days is too long,” Theresa whined as her spoon clinked against the bottom of her empty bowl, and the phone disconnected with Chad’s amused laughter ringing in her ears. So she hadn’t told him about Ali’s infection. He would have dropped everything to come home, and Sheridan hadn’t wanted him to do that. Neither did she, Theresa realized. No matter how much she missed him. She placed her bowl on the coffee table, promising herself she’d take it to the kitchen later, and pulled the quilt up over her shoulders as she settled deeper into the mountain of pillows for maximum enjoyment of Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant at their best, her eyelids already drooping with fatigue. The fire crackled in the fireplace a few feet away, and Max curled up in front of her, resting his golden head on his front paws as his brown eyes watched Miss Priss lap greedily from the abandoned bowl unnoticed.

Katie wrapped her arms tighter around herself, letting her tears fall freely as she walked aimlessly down the main hall of the pediatric oncology ward. There were times when she hated her job and questioned her commitment to it. Tonight was definitely one of those times, she thought numbly, passing Ellie without acknowledging her expression of pity. The death of a child was something NO mother should have to live through, yet it happened every day, and Katie had witnessed the death of too many innocents to expect life to be fair anymore. Her own hope was at its lowest point, and she didn’t know what to do about it. She didn’t know how to grasp onto faith any harder. She tried to steel herself to the anguished cries echoing in the halls, but it was impossible, and she couldn’t fight the urge to run away any longer. So she turned and ran. Straight into a pair of strong arms.

Katie sobbed against Noah’s broad chest, wrapping her arms around his waist and letting him hold her up when her knees felt weak and useless. She concentrated on the way his breath stirred her hair, and the way his heart thumped reassuringly inside his chest. The clean, masculine scent of him, the feel of him around her comforted her, and her fingers dug into his back as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. When she felt the gentle brush of tiny fingers through her hair and kisses of the faintest pressure on her cheek, her green eyes blinked open, and she found herself staring into Kendall’s guileless green eyes. Kendall whimpered in protest when she crushed him to her, but Katie just held him tighter, needing, for the moment, to have him as close to her as she could. “Thank you,” she cried, cupping Noah’s strong jaw with one hand as the other cradled Kendall’s sandy blond head, her lips pressed against his temple. “Not necessary,” Noah whispered, taking her hand and pulling her and Kendall back into his arms without another word.

It’d been hours since she’d heard the sound of his voice, Abby realized as the car slowed to a stop in front of an old Colonial. Molly’s Colonial, Abby guessed. Nick’s now. Molly’s daughter and her family lived someplace warm and sunny. The memories and the cold in Massachusetts were more than they could handle. Abby joined Nick on the front steps, hands stuffed into the pockets of her jacket, as she waited for him to find the right key. Rain and sleet fell around them, and Abby felt a painful flutter in her chest as she watched Nick’s unsteady hands struggle with the key. She felt his gray eyes on her as her hands covered his, and they turned the key in the lock together. “See?” she forced a note of lightness into her voice, “I’m good for something. How do you like the sound of ‘Wonder Abby’?” Nick’s hand warmed her cheek almost as much as the gratitude and fleeting sparkle of humor in his gray eyes, and Abby was on the verge of spilling the contents of her heart to him when she heard his soft whisper. “Inside. You’re freezing.”

“Geez…it feels like the mor…” Abby’s words froze awkwardly in her throat, and she whirled around in embarrassment, hoping Nick hadn’t heard her. Dammit. Feels like the morgue in here, Abby? Open mouth. Jam foot WAY back. Choke to death on own stupidity. She winced. Rotten choice of words. “Okay…I’m not some helpless little maiden,” she grumbled in mock-offense as she watched Nick coax the logs in the fireplace to actually burn, filling the open living room with a soft orange glow, “Mr. Scout Leader. What can I do?” Nick stood up slowly and crossed the short distance to her with a small smile on his lips—his first smile of the night, “Candles. It’s getting worse outside, and I don’t think we’ll have electricity much longer. Think you can handle it, Wonder Abby?” Abby rolled her hazel eyes at his gentle teasing, and she turned, ready to set out on her mission when he caught her hand in his own. “I’m sorry I was such a jerk at the hospital earlier. I made a big deal about you coming when I asked you not to, but the truth is I’m glad you’re here. Thank you for coming,” Nick punctuated his words with a squeeze of her hand. “Admit it. You weren’t surprised to see me at all, were you?” Abby asked him with sparkling hazel eyes. “Uh huh,” she smiled as she backed away, reluctant to let go of his hand, “I knew it. Look for me in a little while if you don’t hear anymore of my inane babbling, okay?”

“To think I was actually worried…” Abby’s hazel eyes fluttered open, and she wore a sheepish smile as she shifted to a sitting position in the old clawfoot tub. “What can I say?” she shrugged her shoulders, making bubbles splash over the porcelain sides onto the cold tile floor below. “I wandered in here looking for candles. Calgon moment waiting to happen if you ask me. Besides…not that I’ve seen any, but I don’t think frostbitten asses are too attractive, do you?” Nick shook his head at her unique sense of humor as he stepped further into the room, his hands going to the row of buttons down the front of his shirt. Abby eyed each newly revealed patch of golden skin appreciatively, opening her arms to welcome him when he stood completely naked before her with stormy gray eyes. Oh, Gray Eyes, Abby thought silently. She wanted to hug him and make the pain go away. The water and bubbles surged upward with his additional weight, spilling over the sides of the tub and further soaking the floor. Nick settled back against the soft pillow of Abby’s breasts, his dark head resting on her shoulder as her arms snaked around his neck, hugging him close to her. “Molly must have been something special,” she murmured, each word brushing her lips against his earlobe. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet her,” Abby told him sincerely, nuzzling his cheek and placing a tender kiss there, her lips following the invisible trail of his salty tears. “Shh…just hold onto me, Gray Eyes…I won’t let go.”

His wife’s blue eyes glittered in the darkness, and Luis saw the reflection of his own pain in them. The cries of anguish were haunting. Almost too familiar. They replayed over and over again in his nightmares each night when he could no longer fight to keep his eyes open to watch every breath Ali takes. He wanted to reach out, take Sheridan’s hand in his, and make pretty promises he couldn’t possibly keep, but he didn’t. His dark eyes shifted to the still figure on the hospital bed, and he pushed the heel of hand against his lips to stifle his own rising sob, fumbling with his other hand for the tiny radio he knows is on the small table beside the bed. A half-empty glass and his keychain topple to the floor below when the pitiful wails reach his ears again, and a frightened gasp tells him he has woken her. Soft music fills the room, but its melancholy melody still sounds like tears to his ears. “Daddy?” “Sleep, AliCat,” he whispers to her as he holds her little hand tightly, “Go back to sleep.”

Chapter 80

“So Molly was your first Katie,” Abby speculated. “Your first favorite nurse,” she explained when Nick looked at her with confused gray eyes and the hint of an amused smirk on his lips as he watched her fork wave in the air with each unconscious hand gesture. “I’ve never actually thought of it that way, but yes,” Nick answered her, his fingers closing around her wrist and bringing her fork to his mouth. Abby’s mouth fell open in protest as he ate her last bite of cheesecake.

“Cheesecake’s fattening, and you had more of my sandwich than I did. And you stole my clothes,” Nick told her, chuckling in surprise when he suddenly found his arms full of live, breathing, ultimately crazy woman. He swept his hands up and down her back gently, unconsciously counting each breath she took as her arms wound tightly around his neck, and they held each other for several long minutes. Her hazel eyes were soft with compassion as she stroked her fingers through the dark hair at the nape of his neck, and Nick felt his heart twist inside his chest at the unexpected rush of affection he experienced just looking into her eyes. “Tell me about her,” Abby whispered, turning around in his embrace and covering his arms with her own.

“I met Molly when I was twelve years old,” Nick revealed as he watched Abby’s smaller fingers slide through his, “My mother had just died, and my new foster parents lived next door to Molly and her family.” “Do they still live next door?” Abby questioned, “Maybe they have some food. And a generator,” she added. Nick didn’t have to see her eyes to know they were twinkling. He smiled, rubbing his cheek against her silky tawny hair before continuing, “Mr. Prescott ran off with his secretary two days before my fourteenth birthday. Mrs. Prescott tried to keep things the same after he’d gone, but over time she just fell apart. That Christmas, I woke up to an empty house. Instead of presents under the tree, I got a letter and worthless check.”

“What a bitch,” Abby muttered indignantly, nuzzling his arm with her cheek, “Molly took you in, didn’t she?” “And she was my favorite nurse after med school,” Nick told her with a smile in his voice, “My first Katie.” The flames flickered low in the fireplace, their shadows dancing across Abby’s face, and Nick tucked her more firmly in his arms when she shivered against him. “Cold?” “I can’t feel my little toe,” Abby complained, “First it’s the little toe. Then the whole foot. Before you know it, I won’t be able to feel my own ass.” Nick dropped his chin to her shoulder and laughed, slipping his arms from her waist and climbing to his feet to add another log to the fire. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a true original?”

“Once or twice,” Abby smirked, pounding her pillow into a desirable shape. She stretched out along the mattress she’d helped him bring in from one of the downstairs bedrooms, raising up on one elbow to gaze at him unnoticed as he crouched in front of the glowing fire. She sucked in a deep, startled breath when their eyes connected across the short distance, and she felt the remaining wall around her heart start to crumble to dust. Dammit, she thought with an inward sigh. She loved those gray eyes, and God help her, she loved the man they belonged to. How the hell had she let this happen, she wondered as Nick slipped beneath the blankets with her and rest his dark head next to hers against the snowy white pillow. She really was crazy.

Luis was slumped in the chair beside Ali’s bed, long legs sprawled in front of him and his left arm dangling over the chair’s side when Katie made her second trip to Ali’s room sometime in the early morning hours. Luis’s elbow rest on the edge of Ali’s mattress, and his chin was propped in his right palm as he finally slept, exhausted from the strain of constantly worrying about Ali and his family. Katie reached around him carefully to turn the radio off, the mournful crying of earlier only an echoing memory, and touched the backs of her fingers against Ali’s forehead, careful not wake the little girl as she checked her temperature and her vitals. Katie jumped, nearly bumping Luis when Sheridan’s soft voice startled her in stillness of room. “I think the medicine’s working. She seems more peaceful.”

“Sheridan,” Katie admonished gently, walking around the foot of Ali’s bed, “it’s almost three in the morning. You should be…” “Katie…” Even in the pale shaft of moonlight shining in through the lone window in the room, Sheridan’s indulgent smile was still visible. “Not you, too. Sleep’s an impossibility these days,” she murmured, rubbing her hands over her rounded belly, “With the baby, and Ali…Sometimes I can’t bring myself to close my eyes. I don’t want to…just in case…” Katie reached out and covered Sheridan’s restless hands with her own, hoping Sheridan could see the understanding in her own eyes, “Working with children like Ali has taught me to appreciate every moment I have with Kendall. I know it’s not really the same, but…” “Thank you, Katie,” Sheridan whispered, giving Katie’s hand a grateful squeeze, “The crying? Earlier…”

“We lost Patrick,” Katie told her, tears in her voice, “He was just so tired, and his mother...she refused to let him go. It’s always hard. Not as hard as it is for the families, but you grow attached to these beautiful little people. And it’s hard to understand how God could put them through so much and take them from us so early.” Tears glistened on Sheridan’s cheeks, and Katie swallowed past the lump rising in her own throat to offer Sheridan some words of comfort, “But you never stop fighting or loving. Someone told me there’s no joy in a life without hope, and I really believe that to be true. There’s hope everywhere. In Ali’s beautiful smile and Luis’s love for you and your children. And this baby, Sheridan,” Katie smiled as she rest her hand over the restless baby girl in Sheridan’s womb, “well, she may just be the greatest hope of all.”

Pale ribbons of light—not quite moonlight, not quite sunlight—filtered in through the frosted windows, casting an almost otherworldly glow on Nick’s peaceful face, and Abby smiled as she traced the features of that handsome face with the pads of her fingers reflectively. She followed the line of one dark brow, letting her fingers comb through the sprinkling of gray at his temple. His jaw was smooth and strong, and she felt laughter bubbling up within herself as she traced the lines of his sleepy grin with the nail of her index finger down to his mouth. His voice was deep and rumbling, sexy and rough from sleep, and her thumb played over his full bottom lip as he spoke. “Katie says the gray is so George Clooney…”

“Katie says, does she?” Abby leaned down to press a tiny kiss to the corner of his mouth, making his gray eyes blink open, “Should I be jealous?” Nick slid his hand around the back of her neck when she tried to pull away, and his face started the swim out of focus, his intense gray eyes suddenly the only thing Abby could see as their mouths hovered inches apart. “You’re here,” Nick murmured, letting his lips linger on the mole on her upper lip before trailing them across her cheek to her ear. “Not Katie,” he smirked as he slid one muscular thigh between her legs and rolled them both over, “Or anyone else.”

Abby’s hazel eyes fluttered shut at the first gentle touch of his fingertips to the tiny butterfly bandages on her forehead and the hollow of her cheek, and she sighed when his lips followed the same path of his fingertips a moment later. Her brow, eyelids, nose, and chin got the same tender treatment, but Nick avoided kissing her on the mouth, and Abby wanted to groan with frustration until she felt Nick’s hands at her waist, slowly inching the bulky material of her confiscated sweatshirt up her body.

Nick sat back on his heels, bringing Abby with him, and the heat of his hand at the small of her back burned her even as he swept the sweatshirt over her tawny head and exposed her bare skin to the chilly morning air. Nick’s shirt added to the growing pile of clothes, and Abby could feel the thrumming of Nick’s heart and the increasingly rapid rise and fall of his chest beneath her mouth, and she raised her head to meet his eyes when he softly whispered her name in question. Their hands met and clasped, and Abby lay back, never breaking the intense gaze.

There was a difference, Abby realized, between giving your heart to someone and giving them your body. It was a feeling much more frightening than facing forty, millions of teen-aged NASCAR wannabes, and endless years of Britney on the radio. As Nick mapped out the planes and valleys of her body with his hands and lips, making her tremble with need and cry out in pleasure, Abby felt like she was free-falling. Nick’s strong arms held her close as they danced the fine line between sex and love, and Abby knew she was fighting a losing battle when he brushed her damp, tawny hair away from her face and kissed her mouth sweetly and thoroughly. Gray Eyes had finally rendered her speechless.

Chapter 81

“Hank,” Gwen gripped her husband’s shoulder, shaking it gently. “Wake up, Bennett,” she hissed into his ear, cinching her robe tighter around her waist. One of Gus’s chew toys squeaked beneath her bare feet, and she cursed under her breath when the noise made her jump. “Time’s it?” Hank mumbled sleepily, stretching out underneath Emily’s pink comforter. His socked feet dangled off the edge of the small twin bed, and Emmy’s ancient rag doll served as his pillow. Across from them in Sara’s twin bed, Gus snuffled quietly, and Gwen groaned softly. That dog had to be the world’s biggest manufacturer of drool… “It’s early,” she told him, giving his shoulder another less patient shake.

“Where’s your compassion, Babe?” Hank grumbled, rubbing his eyes with his fists tiredly, “You didn’t get kicked out of your own bed at two in the morning.” Gwen rolled her brown eyes at him, tugging his forearm forcefully and throwing the covers back, “Don’t waste that speech on me, Bennett. You didn’t spend the night in bed with three kicking children. It’s all your fault for letting Emmy watch the Wizard of Oz again. Those flying monkeys scare the golly out of her every time.” “Hey,” Hank admonished mockingly, “Watch your language. Young ears, remember?”

The infuriating man, Gwen thought, running her fingers through his unruly cap of hair roughly then giving his forehead an affectionate if exasperated shove at the slow-forming grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “It’s early, Babe. The kids are still asleep…if you catch my drift,” Hank wiggled his dark brows at her suggestively as his arms slipped beneath the robe she wore and wound around her waist, pulling her down onto the bed beside him. Gwen dodged his kiss good morning, ignoring the hurt puppy dog face he was giving her, “We don’t have time for this, Hank. I need you to wake Joshua and the girls and take them to Sam and Grace’s…” Hank threw his legs over the edge of the bed, snarling at the still-sleeping, slobbering mutt across from him, “Sure. Fine. Later, Babe.” “Not later. NOW,” Gwen snapped, softening her tone and expression when she saw the confusion written plainly all over his face, “Luis just called. He said the doctors are trying to stop it, but they’re not sure they can. Sheridan’s in labor.”

“Something didn’t happen to Ali, did it?” Jake inquired worriedly as Martin led him and a very groggy MJ and Cristian into Uncle Luis’s old bedroom. “You’d tell me, wouldn’t you?” Martin tucked the covers around his two young grandsons’ shoulders, waiting to make sure they were fast asleep before giving Jake an answer. “I’d tell you,” Martin whispered, steering Jake back into the hall. “If it’s not Ali…” Jake began, “Wait a minute…The baby’s coming, isn’t it? She’s too early…that p-word…Is she going to be okay?”

“Mijo,” Pilar appeared beside them with a sigh on her lips, pulling her winter coat on and slipping her purse over her shoulder, “You mustn’t say anything to Cristian to worry him. Do you understand? The baby’s going to be fine, and Sheridan’s going to be fine.” “I want to go with you,” Jake said, starting down the hall after his own jacket, “Who’ll stay with Ali if everybody’s worried about her mom and the baby?”

“Papa’s going to stay with Ali,” Theresa explained, stilling Jake’s agitated movements and replacing his jacket in the closet, “and I’m going to stay here with you. At least for a little while.” Jake frowned, reaching for his jacket again, “But I want to go. I want to see Ali. I’m not some little kid.” “We know you’re not,” Miguel placated, and Jake bristled at his unintentionally condescending tone of voice. “Ali’s too sick right now. The doctors probably won’t even let you in to see her, Jake,” Theresa said, grimacing as soon as she heard the words coming out of her mouth and realized how they sounded. “Mija,” Pilar scolded gently with a shake of her head, “Martin, are you coming?” “Mr. Fitzgerald?” Jake entreated Martin, his brown eyes uncharacteristically serious, “I got to go. I got to. Even if I don’t get to see Ali.”

“Wait a minute…what the hell are you giving her?” Luis demanded as he watched a young nurse empty the syringe in her hands. “You need to relax, Luis,” Eve soothed even as the monitors anticipated another contraction and Sheridan cried out softly in pain, “Sheridan’s doctor is just trying to stop the contractions.” “Luis? Who’s with Ali? She’s all alone,” Sheridan fretted. “She’s not alone, Baby. Katie’s with her. I called Gwen and Mama and Papa. They’re on their way. Ali’s in good hands. We have to worry about you and the baby right now. You just had to be stubborn and take those stairs, didn’t you? You should have told me you were hurting,” Luis chastised her gently, stroking her blond hair back from her forehead.

“I’m sorry, Luis,” Sheridan apologized, the tears collecting in her blue eyes making Luis’s own eyes shine with concern, “I didn’t want to worry you when I didn’t know for sure.” He’d hoped for one of her snappy retorts, and even a little show of the mule-headedness that’d gotten them into this mess in the first place. Her tears made him feel guilty for giving her a reason to climb those stairs all over again. “Shh. Don’t cry. I know you didn’t mean for this to happen. It’s not your fault.”

“Listen to Luis, Sheridan,” Eve murmured, “This isn’t your fault. It isn’t anybody’s really. Your daughter’s just anxious to meet you, and we’re having a tough time trying to convince her to wait a little longer. That’s all. What else do you expect from the daughter of two of the most stubborn people in Harmony? Probably in the world?” Sheridan’s tears turned to laughter against Luis’s shoulder, and Eve offered them a wavering smile even as her own concern grew. If this baby was anything like either of her parents, they all were fighting a losing battle.

Chapter 82

“Ethan! I’m so glad you’re here!” Theresa exclaimed as she opened the front door, flinging her arms around Ethan’s neck gratefully. Ethan glanced apprehensively at Beth beside him, and his arms rose to wrap around Theresa’s slight waist when he found nothing but understanding in his wife’s eyes. “It’s so awful. This is the last thing Luis and Sheridan needed to have happen,” Theresa sniffled, loosening her stranglehold on Ethan’s neck and stepping back from him awkwardly when she saw that he hadn’t come alone. “Beth…Ivy…I…I needed…Chad changed his flight. He’s coming home tonight instead of tomorrow, but I needed someone…I needed a friend,” Theresa finally finished, attempting a smile even as tears started to blur her vision again. “I’m supposed to keep Cristian calm and not let on to him that anything’s wrong, but I can’t. I can’t do that by myself. Not this time when I…”

Ivy cleared her throat, masking her own worry with a bright smile as she greeted the little boy, still clad in his dark blue pajamas as he twiddled his thumbs nervously directly behind Theresa. “Hi, Cristian,” Beth said cheerily, nudging past Theresa and kneeling at Cristian’s feet, “Are you hungry?” Cristian’s big brown eyes left Theresa’s figure to focus on Beth’s smiling face and kind eyes, and he nodded slowly, rubbing at his eyes sleepily with his fists. “Uh huh.” “Okay then,” Beth said, grunting softly as she lifted Cristian up and into her arms, “I think we should surprise MJ with breakfast, don’t you? That way he won’t be grumpy when we wake him up early.” Cristian’s arms twined loosely around Beth’s neck, and his heels hooked around her waist as he lay his dark head against her shoulder, allowing himself to be held. His big brown eyes were still riddled with unasked questions though as Beth carried him into the kitchen.

Ivy was surprised by her sudden clear understanding of Theresa’s motivations for making the call that had made all of their hearts beat a little faster, and she felt a little guilty for her nonsensical relapse of suspicion where Theresa was concerned. ‘Take her to the hospital, Ethan. Beth and I will stay with the boys.” “Mother? Are you sure?” Ethan asked, already helping Theresa don her coat. “Call us with any news,” Ivy murmured as she brushed a quick kiss to Ethan’s cheek before gently pushing him out the door. “Ivy? Thank you,” Theresa called as Ivy acknowledged her with a brief nod. “I’ve missed spending time with Cristian lately,” Ivy revealed. “ We’ll be okay, Theresa. Give Sheridan and Luis my love, and don’t forget to call us with any news.” “We won’t,” Theresa promised as Ethan helped her into the passenger seat of his car. Ivy stood at the door, arms wrapped tightly about her waist to ward off the chill, until the car disappeared down the street out of view. She closed the door and leaned against it with a heavy sigh. She hoped for good news. They’d had too much of the bad variety as of late.

“I don’t know why I can’t just go in,” Jake grumbled, swinging his feet back and forth as he perched on the edge of a chair in the waiting room. Miguel shifted beside Jake, uncomfortable in the stiff chair and groggy from his sleepless night with the not-quite lethal trio. He figured Cristian’s lack of true deviousness had probably saved his sanity last night. Jake eyed him warily out of the corner of his brown eyes, wishing he’d just go ahead and fall asleep already so he could sneak down the hall and into Ali’s hospital room with Mr. Fitzgerald. He watched Miguel’s eyelids droop drowsily, and silently counted to ten, ready to execute his escape as soon as they closed completely. His feet stopped their swinging motion, and he leaned forward carefully, praying the chair wouldn’t creak. He hit the ground running, not even bothering to chance a glance over his shoulder as he scampered around the hall corner.

“Took him longer than I thought,” Miguel laughed when his brown eyes snapped open a minute later and encountered Katie’s sweet smile and sparkling green eyes, “You sure it’s okay for him to just…” Katie waved him off as she dropped tiredly into the seat across from him, slipping her shoes from her feet and curling her legs underneath her, “She’s always so happy to see him. I won’t tell if you don’t.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Miguel grinned, leaning his head back against the wall and letting his eyes flutter shut. Katie watched his face go slack with sleep, his dark lashes resting prettily against his smooth cheeks, and smiled at him softly, thankful to see that the sharpness of grief was slowly fading from his countenance. “You sleep,” she murmured, draping her arm across her chair and propping her chin upon the palm of her hand as she gazed in the opposite direction. “I’ll keep watch.”

“Is she sleeping?” Martin’s eyes softened at Jake’s timidly asked question, and he nodded silently, a slight smile caressing his lips as he watched the young boy’s face as he gazed upon the slumbering angel in the bed. He saw so many things in the child’s normally lively brown eyes, but shining clear in the midst of the sadness and tenderness and concern was a feeling he was sure the boy didn’t know how to name yet. A feeling he wouldn’t be able to recognize or aptly name for years to come. Jake’s fingers twisted in the blankets at Ali’s waist, and his little boy voice cracked slightly as he spoke, his words barely more than a whisper. “It’s not fair that she’s sick, Mr. Fitzgerald. What’d she ever do to anybody but be nice and sweet? She was just Ali. She’s got to get better. She’s just got to.”

Martin watched Jake’s small fingers hover over Ali’s sweet face uncertainly, and he watched the boy release a shuddering, resolved breath, dropping his hand to gently thread his fingers through Ali’s own. Martin stood up, moving behind Jake and grasping his slim shoulders with firm, comforting hands as the two of them watched the reassuring rise and fall of Ali’s chest. “Don’t you worry, young Bennett. Our Ali’s going to win this fight, and she’ll grow lovelier each year until just looking at her makes your heart feel like it’s going to burst inside your chest. Other pretty girls are going to turn your head, Jake…” Jake’s utterly Hank-like features scrunched up in disgust at Martin’s words, but it was only half-hearted disgust at best. “But none of them will ever mean as much to you as her. Ali’s always going to be your special girl,” Martin finished with a low whisper, smiling openly when Jake shrugged away from his hold. “Geez, would you stop it with the lovey-dovey crap? It’s not like I want to marry her or anything. I just want her to get better so it can be like old times,” Jake protested, rolling his brown eyes at Martin even as he carefully crawled into the bed beside Ali and rest his rumpled brown head on the pillow beside hers. Martin’s eyes twinkled as he regarded them in silence. That’s where you’re wrong, young Bennett. That’s where you’re wrong. You’ll love Ali because you already do. You’ll love her forever.

“Sheridan, you know I hate to do this,” Eve said apologetically as her eyes flitted over Luis, Gwen, and Pilar, “but this room is only big enough for so many people. I’m sorry.” “It’s all right, Eve,” Gwen flashed the older woman a brief smile as she grasped Luis’s fingers with her own and gave them an insistent tug, “Treat me to a cup of coffee? I left my purse in the car with Bennett.” “Gwen, I don’t want to…,” Luis started to object. “Just down the hall, Luis. Just a short break. Pilar will be with Sheridan,” Gwen reassured him. “Go, Mijo,” Pilar urged him, taking his vacated seat at Sheridan’s bedside, “Sheridan and I will be fine.” Gwen leaned over Luis’s shoulder, whispering into his ear, “We need to talk.”

“Gwen, what is this about?” Luis demanded, his stride long and impatient as he followed her down the hall and stepped into the lounge area. Gwen filled a styrofoam cup with coffee and offered it to Luis. When he declined, she lifted the cup to her lips, grimacing at its tepid temperature. She tossed the cup and its contents into the trash and turned to him, arms crossed across her middle and brown eyes shining. “This is about that baby in there. And what she could do for Ali.” “Gwen…” Luis faltered, shaking his head. “No, Luis. Listen to me,” Gwen pleaded softly, grabbing Luis’s forearm when he started to back away from her, “I’ve never had a strong belief in fate, but I DO think some things happen for a reason. I think that baby is the best chance Ali has. Cristian’s not a perfect match. She MAY be.” “What are you saying, Gwen?” Luis asked slowly, wrapping his brain around her words. “I’m saying I don’t think you should fight so hard against this. I’m saying you should let what happens happen and run its course. Within reason,” she hastily added. “She’s saying trust Fate,” a voice spoke softly behind them, and Gwen smiled slightly at Theresa and the irony of the situation, her brown eyes bright as she corrected Theresa’s statement. “I was going to say God, but Theresa’s Fate may have just as big a hand in this.”

Chapter 83

“Cristian,” Ivy beckoned the little boy from his stance, staring outside the window expectantly, “Come sit by me, Darling, and help MJ tell me who the people in the pictures are.” Ivy patted the empty space to her left with a bright smile. On her right, MJ sat, a fairly worn-looking photo album in his lap and a beseeching expression on his young face. Always reluctant to accept any woman’s attentions—except maybe Abby’s—MJ begged Cristian with his brown eyes to bail him out or at least be ‘tortured’ along with him. “Okay,” Cristian relented softly, crossing the room and climbing into place beside her. No protests left his mouth as Ivy gently pulled him into her lap and stroked her fingers through his dark hair as they watched MJ slowly open the album.

“Look Cristian,” Ivy smiled at the picture of youth and happiness Pilar and Martin made, “there’s your grandpa and nana on their wedding day.” MJ looked up at Ivy and rolled his dark eyes dramatically. “You don’t need our help,” he huffed, “You already know everybody.” “Not everybody,” Ivy smiled down at him, laughing at his scowl when she reached down to ruffle his cap of dark hair playfully. “Oh that’s right,” MJ grinned wickedly, his dark eyes twinkling wildly with mischief, “You’re getting old, and old people don’t always remember too good. My dad told me.” I’m sure your dad’s told you lots of things,” Ivy shot back, “but you seemed to have forgotten the MOST important thing. NEVER discuss a lady’s age in front of her.” “You’re not a lady,” MJ snickered, “You’re just Cristian’s aunt Ivy.”

Beth stepped back into the kitchen, a slight smile gracing her lips at the scene she’d just left. “They’re in the living room looking at pictures with your mother…MJ’s trading insults with Ivy…No. They’re having fun…I think so. He seems…The poor little guy…He just really misses them…It’s so unfair…I know Sheridan and Luis are doing the best they can in a terrible, complicated situation, Ethan, but he’s just a little boy. A sweet little boy who has every reason to complain, but he doesn’t…”

Beth took a seat at the kitchen table, releasing a sigh as she listened to Ethan defend his aunt on the other end. “Ethan, I’m not attacking Sheridan…Good. It’s good to know you know that…I’ll tell Cristian…I won’t forget…How IS Sheridan?…They decided not to…Luis agreed?…At least 85%…Did Sheridan’s doctor tell you that or did Eve?…She’s not an OB-GYN, Ethan…What if she’s not a match? Will all this be worth it?…Dr. Taylor seems to think so…Did he say where the hell he’s been?…Luis is NOT going to be happy to see him…No, he’ll just wait and kill him AFTER he’s saved Ali’s life…Bye, Ethan…Call us with any news.” Beth removed the phone from her ear and punched the off button, rising from her chair and walking back into the living room.

“Beth,” Ivy looked up from a childhood photo of Sheridan she’d found tucked away in the album’s overflowing pages, “Was that Ethan on the phone? What did he say?” Beth crouched down in front of the sofa and looked into Cristian’s trusting dark eyes for several seconds, searching for the right words to let him know what was going on with his mother and his sisters without scaring him. The picture in Cristian’s little hands caught her eye, and she held her hand out to him. “May I?” Cristian handed the photo to her without hesitation. “That’s your mommy, isn’t it?” Beth asked, tracing the image of the tearful little blond, maybe three years old, sitting on some steps with the skirt of her soft pink summer dress pulled up to reveal a skinned knee. Cristian nodded affirmatively and pointed to the dark-haired little boy holding Sheridan’s hand tightly, “That’s Daddy.” “He’s always taken care of her, hasn’t he?” Beth breathed. “And he always will, Darling,” Ivy added, giving her little nephew a smile of reassurance. “We know something’s wrong,” MJ blurted suddenly, “Just because I’m in the first grade doesn’t mean I’m stupid. Neither is he. Tell them, Cristian.”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Beth spoke up, giving MJ a look of warning when he started to interrupt her, “MJ, let me finish, okay?” MJ crossed his arms over his chest and complied reluctantly. “Cristian, there’s no reason to worry about your mommy. Your daddy’s with her, and he’s taking the best care of her…” “But she missed it,” Cristian frowned. “She promised to always call me when I wake up, and she didn’t today. She promised, and she forgot.” “She didn’t forget, Cristian,” Beth told him, “She gave Ethan a message for you, and Ethan told it to me just a few minutes ago. She said she loves you, and she’s so sorry she missed your date, but she’s been very busy. How do you feel about becoming a big brother today, Cristian?” “The baby? Mommy’s having our baby?” Cristian asked, big brown eyes wide with surprise. Beth smiled at his expression and his use of ‘our’ and nodded. “Yes, Cristian. Your little sister’s on her way.” “But we’re not ready yet,” Cristian worried, “Me and Aunt Theresa don’t have her nursery finished, and Ali’s not home. Ali was supposed to be home before the baby came.”

“We’ll all help finish the nursery, and Ali…Ali will be home, Kiddo,” Beth said, taking a leap of faith. “Your baby sister’s early, Cristian, and she’s going to be very small,” Ivy interjected, “Much smaller than you or Ali or MJ were when you were babies. She’s going to have to stay in the hospital for a while so the doctors and nurses can watch over her and take care of her.” “Is she even going to look like a baby?” MJ muttered, fidgeting uncomfortably at Ivy’s side. “Of course she is,” Beth answered him, “She’ll be beautiful if she looks anything like you, Cristian, or Ali.” The compliment made Cristian blush, and MJ scoffed. “I’m not chopped liver. I’m the cousin, and if she looks anything like ME, she’s going to be the most beautifulest baby in the world.” Both women laughed, and Ivy shook her head as she cast another glance down at MJ. “Such modesty…you’re going to be a real lady killer when you grow up.”

MJ frowned. He wasn’t sure what Mrs. Crane meant, but it sure didn’t sound good. And those blue eyes of hers were laughing at him. “I’m going to tell my dad what you said.” “Go ahead, Dear,” Ivy smirked, “I don’t mind.” MJ glared back at her in response. “Beth,” Cristian questioned in soft uncertainty, “Will you take me to the hospital so I can see Mommy? Please.” Beth cupped her palm against Cristian’s silky cheek before speaking, “You can’t visit her yet, Sweetie, but Ethan’s going to call us when you can. In the meantime I want you to go help MJ pack up his stuff. His grandma’s coming by to pick him up for Joshua’s therapy session…” MJ slid off the sofa and tugged Cristian along with him before Beth had a chance to say anything else, but not before one last parting shot at Ivy. “It’s not polite to stick your tongue out at ladies, MJ!” Ivy called after him, “Especially OLD ladies like me!”

Beth stood up and dropped gracelessly onto the sofa beside Ivy. “That went better than expected. At least he’s not in tears.” “Nonsense,” Ivy gave Beth’s knee a friendly pat, “You’re good with children, Beth. You and Ethan should consider having one of your own.” Beth plucked the forgotten photograph of Sheridan and Luis as children from Ivy’s hands and studied it intently, avoiding her mother-in-law’s inquisitive blue green gaze. “If only I’d seen this years ago…I spent years pining after Luis, when his heart was probably hers all along. If they knew each other as children, why didn’t they recognize each other when Sheridan returned to Harmony?” Ivy contemplated Beth’s question. “Sheridan only has vague memories of her childhood before Alistair sent her to Paris. The majority of it was so unhappy. The other boy in the picture,” Ivy changed the subject with a soft sigh, “The older one, kneeling in front of Sheridan…” “That’s Antonio. You remember him, don’t you? There should be some more pictures in here somewhere…some you’ll recognize…” Beth murmured, flipping through the album to look for more pictures of Antonio. A horn sounded outside, and she transferred the album to Ivy and got up. “MJ! Your grandma’s outside! You better hurry!” Beth said as she shooed him out the front door, chafing her hands over the legs of her jeans before she walked back to the sofa and peered over Ivy’s shoulder. “That one,” Beth pointed to a photo in the top right corner, “That picture was taken the day before Antonio disappeared. He always looked so serious in pictures. I don’t think he ever smiled for the camera…” Beth’s voice, and then Cristian’s, faded to the background as the sound of Ivy’s accelerated heartbeat filled her ears, and her mind raced with questions. The pair of piercing dark eyes, now achingly familiar, stared at her unblinkingly.

“I want someone on standby to collect the blood as soon as that baby’s born…There’s a nurse…Katie…Yes, that’s her…Tell her to prepare Ali for the procedure, answer any questions she has and reassure her that this procedure is nothing to be scared about…Are there anymore signs of infection?…Run some more tests. Double check. Triple check…I want you to make damned sure her body’s not going to…Yes, Matthews…I trust your capabilities as a physician…Maybe I AM a little too personally involved, but I don’t give a damn. That little girl deserves every chance to live a long, happy life, and my desire to give her that life has nothing to do with whatever feelings, as you say, I may have for her mother. It has EVERYTHING to do with Ali herself. She’s a very special little girl…We’re about 45 minutes out of Harmony. Another 5 or 10 minutes to stop for gasoline…I’m there now…I’m trusting you, Matthews. Don’t let me down,” Nick’s last words to his colleague held a bit of warning as he ended their conversation. He cursed under his breath as his cell phone slipped from his fingers, sliding back and forth across the floorboard as he swerved into the turning lane that led to the gas station at the last minute. He pulled the SUV up to the nearest available pump and parked it.

“Abby? We’re at the gas station, Abby, do you need anything?” Nick asked as he cracked open the driver’s side door and prepared to get out. “Abby?” he repeated, reaching a hand out to gently cup her jaw. Abby didn’t stir, the smallest whimper, barely audible, escaping her lips at the tender brush of his knuckles across her cheek. Nick smiled and leaned across the distance separating them to press his lips against her smooth temple. “Has anybody ever told you you’re beautiful when you’re sleeping?” The words slipped out before he could stop them, but he didn’t negate them. He was surprised to find he didn’t want to do anything of the sort. “Don’t go anywhere…I’ll be right back,” he promised, opening and closing his door quietly.

“Once,” Abby whispered softly into the silence created by his exit. Her hazel eyes fluttered open as she shifted in the passenger seat, and one look into the rear-view mirror confirmed what she already knew. They were brimming with unshed tears, put there by a dream, a nightmare, that had been visiting her dreams with increasing frequency the past few weeks. It’d been ten years, and she could still see the rage in his eyes and the hard clench of jaw as he confronted her that fateful night. She closed her eyes, and a single crystal tear tracked down her cheek as she remembered. His breath smelled like whiskey when he grabbed her and kissed her, forcefully and hard…

“Vincent!” Abby’s palms, pushing against his lean, muscled chest, were as ineffectual as an ant trying to push a boulder up a hill. Vincent’s hands gripped and pawed at the heavy winter jacket she’d worn for her walk, and his mouth was hard, bruising, on her lips as he crushed it to hers repeatedly, cutting off her protests. “Vin…Vincent, stop…” Abby cried, tears of pain springing to her hazel eyes as she felt Vincent’s long fingers clench in her long tawny hair and yank her head back. His eyes were wild and crazed, but it wasn’t just the effects of the drugs and alcohol she knew to be in his system driving his madness. He knew. She could see it in his eyes, and the lecherous expression twisting his lips into ugliness made her heart sink. “You mean you’re not happy to see me, Sweetheart? Come on, now. I’m your husband. You haven’t seen me for months, and this is the welcome I get.”

Abby winced as his fingers tightened in her hair, and he shoved her body harder against the wall, pinning her there and not allowing her to move. “Vincent, I’m tired. I don’t feel like making love. Please, let go of me. You’re hurting me.” “I’m hurting you? I’m sorry, Sweetheart. A husband should never lay a hand on his wife,” Vincent said, as his fingers slipped from her hair, and he trailed his lips down her jawline, his fingers slipping the buttons of her black winter jacket free.

“Vincent, no,” Abby sobbed as he jerked the material from her shoulders, and his wild eyes grew even wilder as they gave her body a brief once-over, his fingers digging painfully into the tender skin of her upper arm. “But he can do whatever the hell he wants to a cheating whore like you,” he growled, his eyes going cold and dead as he raised his fist in the air. She felt the metal tang of blood on her tongue as the world shifted on its axis, and she fell to the floor, Vincent’s heavy body straddling her waist as he raised his fists again and again until she felt consciousness begin to slip away from her. His breath reeked of whiskey as he pressed his cheek against hers and whispered into her ear. “You’ve always been so beautiful when you sleep, Sweetheart.”

“Abby? Abby, are you okay?” Nick’s voice was filled with concern as he took her in his arms and gently stroked her tawny hair. “Abby, talk to me,” Nick pleaded, burying his nose into her sweet-smelling hair and wrapping his arms around her protectively as she sobbed against his shoulder. “You were fine when I left. You were sleeping. What happened? If you’re upset about Ali, don’t be. I’m going to do everything within my power to make her better. There’s an excellent chance that the baby’s a perfect match. It’s all coming together, Abby. I can feel it. This isn’t going to be Josh all over again. I’m going to save her, Abby, and Sheridan and Luis are going to have two of the most beautiful little girls to hold and love for the rest of their lives…Do you believe me, Abby?” Abby pulled back slowly, her hazel eyes glittering as her fingers lovingly traced his handsome features, and she nodded her tawny head. “I believe you, Gray Eyes.” She poured her whole heart into the kiss she bestowed upon his lips, lingering and sweet, so much different than any kiss she’d ever given or received before. And her words were spoken with raw honesty because her heart loved him, even if the crazy little voice inside her head pleaded with her not to make the frightening leap again. But it was different this time. Different than Vincent. Different than anybody else. “You have all my trust and my faith.” “Why?” Nick asked simply, his gray eyes clouding with confusion, “Abby, I don’t think…” Abby hushed him with a finger to his lips and answered him with a tearful smile. “I love you, Gray Eyes. It’s as simple as that.”

Chapter 84

“If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to ask,” Katie smiled as she bent to kiss Ali’s cheek. Ali’s blue eyes sparkled as she slid her arms around Katie’s neck and offered her a sweet smile. “Thank you, Katie.” Katie cradled Ali close, and she pressed her lips against Ali’s forehead. “No ‘thank you’s’ necessary, Sweetie. I love you. Like you were my own little girl. Do you think your mommy and daddy would let me adopt you?” she teased. “No,” Ali giggled as Katie carefully lay her back against the pillows and tapped the tip of her nose with her index finger. “But they’d let me adopt you. ‘Cause I love you bunches.” Katie laughed softly and laced her fingers through Ali’s, resting their hands on her lap. “Are you excited about the new baby?” Katie asked, watching Ali’s pretty little features blossom into a beautiful smile. “Uh huh. I had a dream about her last night.” Katie’s green eyes widened in surprise, “You did? What happened in your dream, Sweetie?” Ali’s voice was soft and wistful as she described her dream to the last detail.

Martin gently eased the door shut on his young granddaughter and Katie and looked down at the young boy shuffling his sneakered feet anxiously beside him. “I think we should come back later.” “But Mr. Fitzgerald,” Jake protested. “Ali’s not going anywhere, Young Bennett,” Martin gave the boy a twinkling smile. “Join me for a cup of hot cocoa. I think Miguel needs a break from those sisters of yours anyway.” “Okay,” Jake muttered, “but I’m going in and seeing her as soon as we get back.” Martin chuckled at Jake’s single-mindedness as he placed a firm, guiding hand on his shoulder. “I think it’s about time for us to have a little talk about your intentions toward my granddaughter, don’t you?” Jake’s brown eyes grew round, and he gulped hard before shooting Martin an annoyed glare and shrugging away from his touch. Miguel’s expression of ultimate relief when Jake told Emily and Sara about his invitation only made Martin laugh harder.

Emmy slid her little hand in Martin’s, her favorite doll tucked beneath her other arm, and gazed up at him with curious brown eyes as they trekked down the hall toward the elevators, “What does Miguel mean, Mr. Fitz? Does he owe you money?” Jake snickered at his sister’s innocent question, and Sara echoed his naughty laughter even though she was just as confused as Emily. Martin sidestepped the child’s question with a question of his own, “How many marshmallows do you want in your cocoa, Miss Emily?” “The whole bag!” Emmy exclaimed with a giggle as Martin swept her up in his arms and stepped inside the open elevator. “I get to push the buttons!” Sara cried triumphantly, hurriedly pushing the buttons to various floors before Jake could stop her. “Great, Sara,” Jake grumbled, crossing his arms and rolling his brown eyes at her childishness, “We’ll make it to the moon before we ever get to the cafeteria. You’re such a baby sometimes.” “Take it back,” Sara demanded with an angry pout. “No way,” Jake shot back stubbornly. Emmy patted Martin’s cheek, anxiety making her brown eyes well, “Mr. Fitz? Are we really going to the moon?” Martin sighed when the elevator doors opened at the first of the many floors they would be visiting before hot cocoa ever became a reality and wondered for the first time if this had been such a great idea after all.

“Here, Babe,” Hank said softly as he handed Gwen one of the steaming cups of coffee he’d picked up from the Book Café on his way over, “I figured you needed the real stuff.” Gwen smiled up at him as she wrapped her hands around the cup, absorbing the warmth it emitted. “Bennett? Where are the girls?” A slow grin tugged at the corners of Hank’s mouth, “Oh, they’re around.” “Oh God,” Gwen groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. “You brought them with you, didn’t you? And you actually let them out of your sight? Hank, do you have any idea how much trouble Sara can get herself into inside this hospital? She’ll probably beg an orderly to re-enact that commercial. You know…the old one with the York peppermint patties…” Hank chuckled, “You know that does look like fun. They’re downstairs harassing Miguel. Does that make you feel better?” “No,” Gwen said, unable to resist returning his smile. She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his gently. “Thanks, Bennett.” “For the coffee? Sure, Babe,” Hank said, sliding his fingers through hers and giving her hand a small squeeze. “For impregnating me with the world’s first clone, and doing it a second and…and doing it a second time,” she laughed as she twined her arms around his neck.

“They’re really happy,” Ethan murmured, and Theresa slowly turned back to look at him. “Yes, they are,” she agreed. “I think it’s great that they found each other. Fate couldn’t have brought two more different people together, but they’re perfect for each other.” Ethan’s blue eyes danced as he studied her face, and he smiled. “I thought you didn’t believe in Fate anymore, Theresa. What changed your mind?” Theresa wore a thoughtful expression as she pondered his question. “I don’t know really. I just feel I’m where I’m supposed to be in my life now, with the person I’m supposed to be with. Does that make sense?” “Perfect Theresa sense,” Ethan teased, watching her brown eyes and face light up with happiness as she looked ahead of her, and the sound of steady, approaching footsteps reached his consciousness at the exact moment that he realized there was only one person who could make her smile like that. Theresa was out of her chair and wrapped around Chad in the blink of an eye. “Chad! I’m so glad you’re here!” Chad let his suitcase slip to the floor and wrapped his arms more firmly around her, nuzzling her dark hair. “You know I’d do anything for my girls, T-girl. And you and Auntie and Squirt are my girls. How is she, Girl?” Theresa reached down for Chad’s hand and waited for him to retrieve his suitcase before she led him toward the stretch of vacant chairs to Ethan’s right. “She’s good. She seems a little scared, but she’s got Mama and Luis in there with her talking her through it.” “What about Squirt?” Theresa smiled at the old nickname. “Papa said Katie talked to Ali and told her how the baby’s cord blood was going to give her the same cells she would have gotten from Cristian’s bone marrow, and she was fine with it as soon as Katie assured her it wouldn’t scare or hurt the baby.” ‘That’s my girl,” Chad grinned proudly, “So Auntie’s been at this how long?” “Since last night,” Theresa told him, “but she only told Luis about it this morning.” “Stubborn,” Chad shook his head. “I’m surrounded by stubborn women.”

“Dammit, Sheridan,” Luis swore softly as he felt her fingers tighten around his hand as another, more intense contraction struck, “You always have to do things the hard way, don’t you?” Pilar watched the monitors with a small smile on her lips. “I think this is another…pot…and kettle…moment,” Sheridan panted, relaxing her hold on both Luis’s and Pilar’s hands as the contraction ended. “We have those pretty regular, don’t we?” Luis teased, brushing her damp blond hair back from her forehead, and Sheridan’s blue eyes sparkled at the knowing smirk Pilar failed to hide. “How much fun would it be if we agreed all the time?” Sheridan leaned into Luis’s touch. She winced as she felt the tightening begin again in her abdomen and another contraction started to creep up on her. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she was left gasping at the unexpected intensity of the pain. “Eve?” Pilar looked up when Eve entered the room, along with Sheridan’s doctor and a nurse. “Sheridan,” Eve spoke soothingly, staring unflinchingly into Sheridan’s blue eyes, “before you ask, your baby’s doing fine. Her heart rate’s normal, and everything we know at this point is encouraging, but…” “Sheridan,” the woman beside Eve interrupted, “She’s coming. We know that. It’s too late to stop her now. But she’s taking a long time to get here, and…” “We want to perform a C-section, Sheridan,” Eve jumped in, “ Get the baby out, start strengthening her lungs…she’s got a long road ahead of her. It’s up to you. I can tell you, though, that at the first sign of distress, an emergency C-section will be performed anyway…” Sheridan searched Luis’s dark eyes and found her answer. “Do it.” “Lisa,” the OB-GYN turned to the young nurse, “Get Sheridan prepped and ready. Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald…I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” Pilar bent at the waist to press cool lips against Sheridan’s forehead in a motherly kiss, and gave Luis a reassuring smile as she followed Eve outside. “Mijo…Mija…everything’s going to be fine.” Sheridan closed her eyes with a tired sigh. All they could do was hope.

Chapter 85

“There,” Nick murmured, placing the newly fluffed pillow back behind Ali’s head, “that should do it. All comfy now, Ali?” Ali tucked her bunny close to her heart and nodded her head slowly, a bit worn out by the events of the long day. Excitement and hope still shone brightly in her pretty blue eyes though, and those emotions made Nick’s heart swell to capacity. He lifted a hand to Ali’s smooth cheek, and the corners of Ali’s pink mouth curved upward gently with his softly spoken whisper. “You’re very important to me, Ali. Do you know that?”

Ali’s blue eyes sparkled in the dimly lit hospital room as she nuzzled one of her bunny’s long pink ears, hiding the flash of her pearly teeth at his comment. “Ali, I’m sorry for not being here. I’m sorry for leaving and…” Ali laced her small fingers through Nick’s much larger ones. “It’s okay, Dr. Nick. I’m not scared. Not anymore. Really,” she told him reassuringly as he pressed his lips to the palm of the tiny hand cradled in his and offered her a smile of disbelief as he felt some of the weight of his guilt slowly start to lift off of his shoulders.

She was so brave. Much braver than he, Nick ruminated silently, remembering Abby’s shocking disclosure more than an hour earlier and his reaction. His lack of reaction really. He’d made a mistake. A really big mistake, and he wasn’t sure how to fix it. “Are you sad about Molly, Dr. Nick?” Ali questioned innocently. “She was a very nice lady. She took care of my mommy and loved her when me and Daddy thought she was in Heaven just like you did. And she always hugged me like I was a teddy bear,” Ali revealed with twinkling blue eyes. Missing Molly was only partly to blame, Nick answered the little girl in his mind, but he nodded anyway. “I still miss Aunt Kay,” Ali whispered softly.

“I’m sure you do,” Nick sighed, stroking the baby soft skin at Ali’s wrists with the pads of his thumbs. “Your aunt Kay was a crazy, wonderful lady,” he said with a chuckle. “I wish I’d had the chance to get to know her better.” Ali’s blue eyes were understanding and full of compassion, and it struck Nick in that precise moment that the little girl in front of him had already lived a more tumultuous life in her short nine years than many people three times her age. “Aunt Kay’s my guardian angel,” Ali divulged quietly. “I dream about her all the time, and she shows me the most wonderful things.” “What are these wonderful things she shows you, Ali?” Nick prodded gently. “Last night she showed me the future,” Ali smiled brightly. “Last night she showed me Hope.”

Theresa paced the halls restlessly while Chad looked on, his expression a hybrid of an amused smirk and his own worry. “Theresa…Girl, you’re makin’ my head spin. Come sit down. Talk to me. All that walkin’ ain’t gonna make that baby come any faster.” Theresa plopped heavily down beside him with an exasperated sigh, glowering when his amused laughter rang in her ears a second later.

“Don’t, Chad. Don’t say it. I can’t help it. Neither could you. You know you’ll be ten times worse when it’s me in there!” Theresa blurted, brown eyes going comically wide when she realized exactly what she’d said. Her hands flapped frantically in the air as she tried to form two sensible words, and Chad’s dark brow only inched higher on his forehead, his smirk oddly infuriating to her. “I mean…I mean…oh, Chad, you know what I mean,” Theresa groaned, covering her face with her hands in embarrassment.

Chad gently pried Theresa’s hands from her face, forcing her to meet his eyes with a finger to her chin. His dark eyes danced happily as he teasingly asked her, “What DO you mean, T-girl? You sayin’ you want to have babies with me?” Theresa huffed in irritation and rolled her big brown eyes at his annoying teasing. “You don’t think I’ve grown up enough to be a mother, do you?” Chad grinned, obviously deciding silence on the matter was his best bet. “If Hank can do it,” Theresa began, only to be cut off by Chad’s helpless laughter. “If Hank can do it, I KNOW I can,” Theresa grumbled as Chad pulled her into his arms and smoothed her hair back from her face. “Yeah, but he’s got Gwen to keep him in line,” Chad chuckled. “I have you,” Theresa retorted, triumph glistening in her brown eyes. “When do we start?” Chad smirked. “Well,” Theresa said somewhat shyly, her fingers playing with his collar, “We should get married first…”

“What’s the matter, Babe?” Hank grinned as he watched his wife shake her golden blond head, first at Theresa and Chad in the far corner then at Beth and Ethan stepping onto the elevator down the hall, “Having another ‘Twilight Zone’ moment?” Cristian looked up to Hank curiously. “Harmony’s not like other towns,” Hank said simply, chuckling when he realized the confusion hadn’t left the youngster’s enormous brown eyes. “You like Beth, don’t you?” Hank changed the subject.

“Yeah,” Cristian answered softly. “She’s nice.” “Really nice,” Hank agreed, “Did you know she’s been friends with me and your dad since before we knew how to tie our shoestrings? Well, your dad knew how to, but he always was ahead of the game…guess that’s why he always got the girl. What, Babe?” Hank demanded of his wife when she failed to hide the roll of her brown eyes from him.

“As I was saying,” Hank turned back to Cristian, “I’ve known Beth a long time. It’s not such a big surprise you like her. Now, as for those ‘Twilight Zone’ moments we were discussing earlier…” “Bennett,” Gwen interrupted. “You realize we haven’t heard from Martin or the kids in over an hour, don’t you? I’m worried about Martin.” “Don’t worry, Babe,” Hank quipped. “This place isn’t exactly swarming with brown uniforms yet.”

“You’re not going to find her Mr. Fitz,” Emmy worried. “Sara always wins Hide and Seek.” Martin glanced down at Jake, and the young boy hurriedly wiped the smirk off of his face. “She’s telling the truth, Mr. Fitzgerald. Dad had to call Uncle Sam one time because he lost her. She was hiding in the laundry room underneath a pile of Dad’s smelly clothes,” Jake grinned wickedly. “It was the perfect hiding place. Dad hates to do laundry. Maybe we should call Uncle Sam now,” Jake suggested.

“I think we can manage fine on our own, Young Bennett,” Martin declined, setting Emmy on her feet with a groan. “Don’t let go of my hand, Lass. We’ll find your sister, and when we do…” Jake rolled his brown eyes good-naturedly. Mr. Fitzgerald reminded him an awful lot of Uncle Luis when he refused to call Uncle Sam. What was that word Mom was always calling Ali’s mom and dad? The word escaped him at the moment, but Jake was sure his mom would call Mr. Fitzgerald the same thing if she were here right now. Grown-ups were more mixed-up than kids if you asked him. He followed Martin and Emmy, her favorite doll trailing behind her forlornly, to the thousandth nurses’ desk they’d visited in the last hour and tried to hold his laughter in when the nurse told them about a doctor’s missing lab coat. Wherever Sara was, he bet she was having WAY more fun than he was.

Sara giggled mischievously as she scampered through the hall, brown eyes darting back and forth and keeping a look-out for the mean-looking man from the picture attached to the long white coat she had borrowed. Her mouth fell open in surprise when she saw Abby standing at the end of the long hallway, looking into some kind of window. Sara frowned when she realized Abby seemed sad, and she started to creep forward in concern when she heard a noise behind her. She gasped and scrambled behind a row of chairs when a woman she recognized as Ivy Crane strode purposefully past her, heading straight for Abby. Thoughts of the trouble she’d be in if Ivy or Abby caught her had Sara fleeing down the hall as soon as she knew neither woman was watching.

Abby lifted a shaky hand to the clear window, pressing her forehead against the glass as her hazel eyes flitted over the row of bassinets holding the tiny, precious lives. The corners of her mouth quirked upward in a wistful smile as she watched one baby in particular. With its head full of dark hair and long black lashes resting against skin of perfect olive tones, the squirming child was a picture of hauntingly familiar beauty. Unshed tears clung to her pale lashes when she whipped her head around at the sound of Ivy’s approaching footsteps, and she rubbed at her hazel eyes with the back of her hand in slight embarrassment.

Abby laughed awkwardly as Ivy’s penetrating stare went on and on, wrapping her arms around her waist protectively. “One of the horrors of PMS. Brings out my inner emotional sap. They’re all so beautiful. That one…that one there,” she pointed toward the now squalling infant that’d captured her attention earlier. “She’s somewhat what I imagine the new baby to look like…Ivy?” Abby’s hazel eyes snapped back to Ivy’s disconcertingly calm face in astonishment as she took the picture Ivy held out to her. “Where did you…what are you doing with this? It’s mine. What are you doing with my picture?” Ivy’s blue-green eyes were suddenly cold and the tone of her voice sent chills of apprehension down Abby’s spine. “How do you know this man? How long have you known Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald?”

Chapter 86

“…and the doctor said Joshua was a real fast learner, Dad, and that she bet he got that from his big brother,” MJ finished with a proud grin. Miguel’s dark eyes twinkled up at Grace, and the smile on his face stretched even wider when his mother-in-law confirmed what MJ said to be true. “Dr. Sampson’s impressed with how helpful MJ is to his little brother, Miguel.” “Yeah, Dad,” MJ gave his father his best smile “And since I’m SO helpful, I deserve a raise in my allowance.” “Dr. Sampson said that?” Miguel smirked. “Actually,” MJ admitted reluctantly after a quick glance at his grandma, “**I** said it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true, Dad. Grandpa, help me out here.”

Sam chuckled without looking up from Kendall and Joshua playing with Noah’s old childhood collection of trucks in the floor. He reached down and helped Kendall push his fire truck over a hump in the blanket, ruffling the child’s sandy blond locks when he flashed him a shy, grateful smile, then lifted his blue eyes to his eldest grandson. “I think the kid definitely deserves a raise, Miguel,” Sam declared slyly, biting back a grin at MJ’s triumphant, almost giddy expression. “I don’t think a quarter more a week will put too much strain on your wallet.” MJ’s mouth fell open in horror. “GRANDPA!”

Katie giggled girlishly at the scene, turning back to Noah with a sweet smile. “Your family are wonderful, Noah.” “We have our moments,” Noah agreed, reaching up a gentle hand and tucking an errant strand of Katie’s soft hair behind her ear. He frowned slightly at the dark circles beneath her tired green eyes. “Katie, you’re…” “Noah Bennett,” Katie chided him teasingly, “Don’t say it. Don’t even bring it up again. I’m not going anywhere. I made a promise to Luis and Sheridan, Ali, and myself that I was going to be here until the end, and I keep my promises so you see…you’re not going to change my mind.” Noah’s smile lit up his silver-blue eyes. “Are you sure? I’d be more than happy to hold you while you took a short nap. Just a tiny one.”

“Katie’s good for him,” Grace commented with a small smile as she and Miguel watched Noah take a seat a few feet away and reach up to pull Katie into his arms. Miguel crossed his arms about his middle and nodded his silent agreement. “Noah’s never been this serious about ANY woman. I think he’s finally met the one,” Grace lowered her voice to a confidential whisper. Miguel shifted uneasily in his chair at the personal, delicate turn the conversation had taken, fixing his gaze on the NO SMOKING sign across the hall, and he sighed guilty when he heard the apologetic tone of Grace’s voice as realization struck her moments later. “Miguel, I’m sorry…”

Miguel tucked his chin against his chest and let his eyes rest on his two boys, his and Kay’s two boys, getting along better than they ever had. Sure, he had his own heartaches and regrets. He didn’t think there’d ever come a point in time when missing her wasn’t an every day occurrence. But, more than anything, he hated that she wouldn’t be around when their boys grew into men—his biggest source of hurt. He swallowed painfully when he felt Grace’s gentle touch on his forearm, and his brown eyes were bright with emotion as he let her fold him into her arms. “It’s going to get better, Miguel. You have to believe that. WE have to believe that. No one will ever take her place, but, as painful and unbelievable as it sounds now, you WILL move on. We all will.”

Shane chuckled at the squirming little brunette trapped in his strong embrace. “Something tells me this,” he commented on the long, flowing white lab coat Sara sported, “doesn’t belong to you. Unless, of course, the Harmony witch I keep hearing about transformed Dr. Joseph Edmonds into a Munchkin.” Sara bristled indignantly, completely missing the teasing quality of Shane’s voice. “Hey! Don’t call me that. That’s…that’s disc…discr…disgusting. Yeah, it’s disgusting,” she grumbled, pushing against Shane’s broad shoulders and launching into another valiant effort to get down and loose. Shane continued to chuckle in amusement, tightening his arms around Sara’s ever-wiggling body as he strode further down the hallway where he’d first discovered her. More aptly, the hallway where their hit-and-run had occurred, and the ball of Bennett energy had nearly knocked him flat on his ass. He was on a mission to restore the child in his arms to her rightful caregiver, and maybe find his wayward baby sister in the process.

“How long have I…I don’t understand,” Abby sputtered as Ivy snatched the photograph back from her hands. “Give me that,” she ordered. “It’s mine.” Abby’s mind whirled as she tried to process what Ivy had said just moments before. Dammit to hell, as if she needed any more stress and tension. It already felt like a bongo drum was pounding inside her head as it were. Ivy refused Abby’s demand, pointing her finger at her accusingly. “You know where he is. Tell me.” Incensed and confused at Ivy’s icy tone, Abby struggled to keep her voice even and low under her unflinching glare. “I don’t know where he is. It’s been ten years…Even if I did know, it’s none of your damn business, Ivy. You don’t have all your facts straight so BACK…OFF. I don’t know what kind of high-dollar narcotic you’re high on, but the man in that picture is NOT Antonio Lopez-Fitzgerald. His name is…you know what? I don’t have to take anymore of this golly . It’s been a very long and upsetting day. I’m leaving before either of us says or does something we can’t take back. For Shane’s sake, I hope you don’t follow me. Keep the damned picture,” Abby muttered tiredly, raking her fingers through her messy tawny hair as she stalked toward the emergency stairwell. Watching her leave, Ivy couldn’t help but think she was telling the truth as she knew it. A more twisted truth than ever, she realized, mustering up a smile when Shane emerged at the end of the hallway, toting Gwen’s recovered daughter. Pushing all thoughts of Abby’s murky connection to Pilar’s long-lost son away, Ivy met him halfway. There WAS a baby being born, after all.

“She’s going to be fine,” Eve smiled gently at Sheridan as she helped her don the light blue surgical cap. “Babies are born early every day, and they make it.” “Not all of them,” Sheridan murmured softly, lines of worry and fatigue around her eyes and mouth. “Not all of them,” Eve said honestly, “but most of them.” The expression in Eve’s brown eyes was soft and hopeful, and Sheridan sent a grateful smile the older woman’s way when she gave her hand a friendly, reassuring squeeze. “No thanks needed, Sheridan. Maggie told you what to expect during and after the delivery?” Sheridan nodded, her blue eyes straying from Eve’s face as more hospital personnel began to fill the delivery room.

“Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald,” a warm, honey-smooth voice greeted from the head of the operating table, “I’m Sela, your anesthesiologist. It’s my job to make sure you’ll be comfortable during the delivery. Are you having a girl or boy?” “Girl,” Sheridan answered softly, thankful for the distraction from the swirl of activity as the team hurriedly readied for the operation that would usher her baby daughter into the world. “A mighty beautiful little baby girl from the looks of things if that gorgeous man Nancy’s helping get ready outside is your husband. Some women have all the luck,” Sela teased, giving Eve a wink as she turned back to the various monitors and machines that recorded Sheridan’s vitals and those of the baby. “Yes, they do,” Eve agreed, looking up and meeting Luis’s worried dark eyes as he entered the room and rushed to Sheridan’s side. “It’s time for me to go now. You’ll be fine, Sheridan. You, the baby, Ali…all of you.” “She’s right, Baby,” Luis echoed Eve’s words, taking Sheridan’s cold, clammy hand in both of his and clasping it tightly. “Everything’s going to be all right, and soon, we’re going to meet our little angel.”

“Very soon, Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald,” Maggie’s blue eyes sparkled kindly behind the glasses perched on the end of her nose. “He won’t be so ready for their teenage-years, will he, Sheridan? You’ll have young men lined up for miles for your little beauties, Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald. Miles. At least the girls are pretty far apart in age. Consider yourself lucky. Mine are sixteen and fourteen, and they make life a wonderful living hell,” the OB-GYN revealed jovially. “Once we get in, this is going to go fairly quickly,” she warned. Sheridan smiled softly at Luis’s stricken expression and knew it was the visions of their future as parents of teenagers making him appear green and not the incision into the first layer of tissue of her rounded abdomen that Eve and her doctor had prepared him for. “Ali’s not going to date ‘til she’s forty, is she?” “Fifty,” Luis corrected her after a few more seconds of stunned silence. “Sheridan,” he whispered in breathless awe as a tiny cry filled the room, “She’s here. She’s so….”

“Exquisite, Mrs. Lopez-Fitzgerald,” Sela picked up where Luis left off, keeping one eye on the monitors to her right, and the other on the tiny infant being attended to by a team of medical experts . “Precious and petite with a head full of black hair. Mr. Lopez-Fitzgerald, that baby’s got you written all over her.” Luis grinned proudly, too choked up with emotion to say anything as one of the nurses paused at the head of the operating table, giving them the briefest of glances of their newborn daughter before sweeping her out of the room. Though both Maggie and Eve had warned her it would happen, Sheridan still wasn’t prepared for the feelings that coursed through her when one nurse left, taking her daughter with her to the NICU, and another left, carrying Ali’s hope for the future. Helpless tears pricked at her blue eyes, and she leaned into Luis as he offered what comfort he could. “Shh, Baby. We’re going to make it through this. Stronger than ever.”

Ali awakened with a soft gasp, bringing Nick and Pilar to her side instantly. “Mija,” Pilar whispered softly with a tender caress to Ali’s silky cheek. Her fingers fluttered across her granddaughter’s pretty features, pausing as they traced Ali’s sweet smile. “Mija?” Pilar’s voice rose in question as she searched the brilliance of Ali’s blue eyes for answers. “Ali?” Nick wondered quietly, his gray eyes scanning over Ali’s small form in worry as he enfolded her tiny hand between his larger ones. “What is it?” “Nana,” the endearment left Ali’s lips on a soft sigh. “Tell Dr. Nick it’s going to be okay now. She’s here. Hope’s here.” “Hope?” Nick asked. Slowly, her own smile blossoming, Pilar raised joyful brown eyes to Nick’s disbelieving gray eyes. “The baby. She’s talking about her sister.” “How could she…” Nick trailed off as a nurse appeared outside Ali’s hospital door holding up an IV bag. Nick’s smile transformed his handsome face, and he sprang into action, ushering the nurse inside. “It’s a match, Dr. Taylor. A perfect match,” the young woman announced. “Are you ready, Ali? It’s past damn time we got you better.”

Chapter 87

“I’m sure the entire staff of Harmony Hospital joins us, Shane, in thanking you for returning our dear, sweet, grounded daughter to us safely,” Gwen punctuated her words of thanks by giving a scowling Sara a firm squeeze. “Grounded! But Mom…” Sara grumbled, casting an annoyed glance in Shane’s direction, “I was only having fun. I didn’t hurt nobody.” “Anybody,” Gwen automatically corrected, regarding her young daughter skeptically. “Maybe not, Sara, but you worried us, and sometimes not knowing what’s happening is as bad as actually hurting someone. Understand?” Sara crossed her arms across her middle stubbornly and huffed at the bothersome tangle of brown hair falling across her brown eyes. “But grounded? Why?” Sara whined as Gwen gently grasped her by the elbow and led her to the row of chairs occupied by the rest of her assembled family. Disgusted, Sara plopped down in the seat beside Jake, continuing to shoot Shane mean looks whenever she thought her mother wasn’t looking.

“Dear Lord,” Ivy uttered softly beside him, “I just realized…Rebecca’s given me that exact look hundreds of times. It’s positively lethal.” Shane turned to Ivy sporting an amused smirk. “You’re still breathing so I guess that’s not entirely true. Ivy? You mentioned you saw Abby earlier. Did she seem okay to you?” Ivy remembered the photograph tucked safely in her purse and Abby’s strange reaction when she’d confronted her about it earlier. She decided honesty, even if it were only partial honesty, would work best in this situation. “I didn’t want to worry you,” Ivy sighed regretfully. “She DID seem upset about something. She wouldn’t say what.” Shane raised a hand to his chin thoughtfully then leaned down to give Ivy a quick kiss on the cheek. “Shane?” Ivy questioned as he moved past her, heading straight for the elevators. “I’ll be back. Give my best wishes, okay?”

“Mother?” Ethan queried softly as Ivy settled in the chair beside him. “What was that about?” “Nothing serious, Darling,” Ivy smiled and patted her son’s arm fondly. “Shane just went to find Abby and tell her the news about the baby.” Beth appeared before them and handed Ethan one of the cups of coffee in her hands. “Ivy, I’m so sorry. You can have mine if you want,” Beth offered. “The last thing I need is more caffeine. I won’t get a wink of sleep as it is.” “Are you sure? I can get my own if you…” Beth grabbed Ivy’s hand and placed the cup in it, waiting until Ivy’s fingers curled around the cup before dropping her hand back to her side. “Positive,” Beth laughed lightly, taking the empty seat at Ivy’s side. The trio sat in silence for several seconds, contemplating the long day’s events, until the hush was ended with Beth’s simple, softly uttered question. “Do you think it worked?” Ethan sprang from his chair and started to pace in a restless circle. “I don’t know,” Ivy murmured. “It’s early yet, but I’m sure Luis will be back soon with encouraging news.”

“She’s beautiful. Beautiful and tiny. So tiny, Katie, she could almost fit in the palm of my hand,” Luis revealed, his brown eyes misty as he clutched Katie’s trim body close in a tight hug. “She’s so tiny,” he continued to whisper as Katie pulled back and gave him a gentle smile. “But strong,” Katie reminded him encouragingly, “with an iron will. I know everything’s not free and clear yet, but I think it’s time we all paused and took a breath. Look at your daughter in there, Luis,” Katie suggested, and Luis followed her suggestion, breathing deeply for the first time in many long months at the sight that met his deep brown eyes. He knew it was probably foolish to think he could actually see positive results so early, but his little AliCat had a sense of serenity about her as she lay there in her hospital bed, patiently receiving the gift her new baby sister had given her.

“Breathe, Luis. It’s not going to be smooth sailing,” Katie said honestly, sweeping a gentle but firm hand over Luis’s back as she spoke, “but the worst of the storm has passed. It’s okay to breathe now.” Luis turned his head to the side, hiding his tearful brown eyes and face, and Katie could literally see the worry and tension of the past several months start to drain out of his tired body as he let down his guard and crumpled before her. When it was over, a catharsis she realized they’d both needed terribly, Luis turned around and wrapped Katie in a brotherly hug, repeating Ali’s earlier words and making Katie laugh happily amidst her own tears. “I’d love to become an honorary member of the Lopez-Fitzgerald family. Where do I sign up?”

“More rooftop musings, Baby Girl?” Shane teased lightly as he emerged from the shadows, shrugging off his own heavy winter coat and wrapping it around Abby’s slim shoulders. He kissed the crown of her tousled tawny head affectionately as she leaned back against his chest, no protestations leaving her mouth about his use of the hated nickname. His whole demeanor changed then, and his worry showed in the extra tight hold of his arms around her as he hugged her as close as humanly possibly, his quiet words ruffling her silky hair and making it tickle his chin. “Something happened.” Abby bowed her head against the cold, wintery wind as it whipped around them, and Shane had to strain his ears to hear her softly spoken words of defeat. “He didn’t say it back. I spilled everything to him. It was a crazy, bloody mess. I told him that I loved him, and he didn’t say a word. And I’m not up to hearing any more of your damned ‘I told you so’s’ so save ‘em, okay?” Abby muttered, pulling herself from his arms and stalking closer to the building’s edge.

“You haven’t told him everything, have you?” Shane surmised, noting the look of surprise that flashed across her delicate features. “Don’t worry, Runt,” he laughed shortly, steering the subject back to something only a little less dangerous—his sister’s feelings for a certain doctor. “No ‘I told you so’s’ from these lips. I’m not sure Taylor even knows what’s in his heart, but trust me…you’re in there. He just hasn’t figured out why or what the hell it means.” “Oh, thank you, wise Yoda,” Abby cracked, rolling her hazel eyes at him and returning her gaze back to the soft shine of the lights of Harmony. “Or would Obi Wan be more appropriate? Stop going all Dr. Phil on my ass, Shane. It’s the last thing I need right now.” Shane chuckled. “Yoda, Obi Wan, and Dr. Phil. Which one is it? Personally, I think I’ve got them all beat in the looks department.”

“Smartass. And a modest one at that,” Abby grumbled, trying without succeeding to hide the twinkle in her hazel eyes at his silliness. She felt herself dissolving into a warm mush of affection for him, and inexplicably, the tears from earlier started to flow again. She knew he would have been wonderful, just what they needed, and the regrets were too much. Maybe if she hadn’t shut him out…maybe things wouldn’t have happened the way they did. If she’d never met Tony in the first place, Vincent wouldn’t have…. Abby felt the world she’d created for herself since he’d left so suddenly closing in on her as the realization sank in, and it was like she was back in that horrible, dark place in her past again, waking up alone and terrified in a hospital bed. Her Tony and Pilar’s long-lost Antonio were one in the same. She let her big brother wipe away her tears and make a fool out of himself trying to make her smile again, but his efforts, no matter how appreciated, only served to make the tears come faster and harder. “Ten, Shane. Ten,” she sobbed. “It hurts. Oh God, it still hurts.” Shane folded her in his strong embrace and lay his smooth-shaven cheek back against the crown of her tawny head, murmuring quiet words of little comfort.

A gentle knock sounded at the door, and Sheridan answered it without opening her heavy-lidded eyes. “Come in.” She heard the soft, hesitant shuffle of little feet across the small distance and Pilar’s hushed words of encouragement and a tiny, loving smile caressed her lips as she held out a welcoming hand. “Mommy!” Her eyes flew open, bright, beautiful, and blue as she found her arms full with her sweet little son. Cristian cupped his small hands around her face, looking into her eyes solemnly. Satisfied, he nestled closer to her on the bed, resting his dark head against her shoulder with a soft sigh. “You’re back.”

Sheridan tenderly fingered the soft hair at the nape of his neck, laughing though she felt the most awful urge to cry as she teased him about needing a haircut. “He refused to let me touch it, Mija,” Pilar’s dark eyes sparkled with humor. “He feared I would give him a haircut like MJ’s.” “No,” Cristian replied, adorably flustered. “I want Porky Pine hair like Daddy’s, and Nana doesn’t know how to do spikes. Jake said she’d make me look like…” Sheridan cupped a hand over Cristian’s mouth before he could utter anything further incriminating against himself and found herself sharing a smile with Pilar, her mood already a bit lighter. “That child’s mouth,” Pilar mused. “Always getting him in trouble.”

“Mr. Fitz,” Jake said, adopting Emmy’s name for Ali’s grandpa. “Why are grown-ups so gross?” Martin glanced over Jake’s shoulder and spied his daughter and Chad sharing a happy, loving embrace. “Where’s your sense of romance, young Bennett?” Martin asked, keeping a straight face despite Jake’s disgusted expression. “Romance?” Jake pretended to gag. “I’m never going to be romantic. It makes you do stupid things like kiss all the time. Like THEM,” he pointed to Theresa and Chad with an exaggerated shudder. “Sheridan and Uncle Luis are worse though. Nobody can beat them. Romance stinks.”

Martin chuckled. “That’s what you think now, but I’m willing to bet you’ll change your mind one day. She’s young, but Ali’s already a romantic at heart, you know,” Martin divulged, the corners of his mouth twitching while his eyes twinkled merrily at the youth as he digested the helpful little tidbit. Martin laughed out loud when he realized how wrong he was. “If I bet you $5 right now that you’re wrong, adding a dollar for every year that I PROVE you wrong, I’ll end up rich. Sounds like a pretty good deal, Mr. Fitz. Wanna shake on it?” Jake grinned, extending a hand to Martin.

“What do I get in return if you lose this bet of ours?” Martin wondered. “Who says I’ll lose? Love and romance, “Jake cringed. “Double YUCK. And I’m never getting married either. Dad says bachelors have the good life…oh man,” Jake muttered when he saw his mom gave his dad what could only be described as the death glare. “Your father looks like he could use a little help,” Martin made the obvious suggestion, still chuckling as he closed the distance between himself and Eve, who approached them with a hopeful smile.

“Thank them for me, Noah, for taking such wonderful care of Kendall,” Katie said sincerely as they watched Grace and Sam walk toward the elevators, each holding a sleepy toddler. Joshua twirled strands of Grace’s auburn hair around his little fingers, his legs twined high around her waist while Kendall slumped like a sack of potatoes against Sam’s broad shoulder, sucking absently at his thumb. “They love that kid more than they do me,” Noah stated, “and you’re just part of the family.”

Katie gave Miguel a friendly wave as he steered a stumbling, barely awake MJ in the same direction and turned back to Noah with a smile on her face. “Part of the family? Really?” Katie beamed at him in pleasure. “You know how much I love your family. It’s what I want for me and Kendall…with someone special,” Katie’s voice dropped to a whisper as she gazed directly at him, “…someday.”

A slow, easy grin blossomed on Noah’s handsome face in return, and he felt himself falling even more in love with her at that moment. Her pretty, embarrassed smile and green eyes still aglow with happiness even now when the preliminary results from Ali’s tests were more than an hour old. “Why not make someday come sooner?” Noah suggested, his voice equally teasing and filled with nervous hope as he prepared to ask her the most important question of his life. “Will you marry me, Katie?”

Nick pushed the door to Sheridan’s room open slowly, stepping in carefully and quietly in an attempt to avoid waking her only to discover her wide awake and, apparently, expecting him even though the news about Ali was already old news at this point. “I hear she’s the most beautiful baby in the NICU. I don’t know why everyone’s so surprised considering who her mother is,” he murmured as he took a seat in the empty chair at her bedside. Sheridan bowed her head, studying her own hands intently as she twisted the rings on her finger. Nick recognized the nervous gesture and felt the first pangs of guilt creeping up on him for adding to the already awkward atmosphere that always seemed to surround them whenever they found themselves alone in a room together. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

He looked up at the feeling of Sheridan’s hand covering his own, and he released a relieved sigh when he saw the understanding in her blue eyes. “You’re not even mine to let go, are you?” Nick said sadly. “There was no Jenny. You were always Sheridan. Always married to another man, but still I loved you. Or at least I thought I did,” Nick trailed off, closing his gray eyes as he remembered another face. Eyes of a different color watching him so intently, waiting for his reaction to a declaration of love. “Maybe,” Sheridan whispered, giving his hand a compassionate squeeze, “maybe you and Jenny never had a proper goodbye. She’s gone forever, Nick. Let her go and move on.”

Nick nodded slowly, raising a hand to cup Sheridan’s jaw gently as he leaned closer, his thumb absently caressing her cheek. “Just once,” Nick breathed, mere seconds before his lips met and brushed lightly against hers in their first and only kiss. His gray eyes stared at her in wonder as he pulled back. It was as if he were seeing her, Sheridan, for the very first time, and his heart filled with gratitude for the understanding still present in her thoughtful blue gaze. “Thank you,” he said simply. “Friends?” “You’ve saved my life AND my baby girl’s. What do you think?” Sheridan offered him an amiable smile. She patted his cheek affectionately as he kissed her quickly on the cheek and headed for the door. On his way to find Abby she knew. “Friends,” Sheridan agreed. “If you see Luis, send him my way. I can’t rest without him by my side,” she told him sheepishly, “Silly I know.” Nick smiled knowingly. “Not silly at all.”

“Tink! Tink, wait up!” Hank lunged after Abby as she fled down the hall, away from the scene the three of them had just left in open-mouthed astonishment. “Bennett,” Gwen warned, laying a restraining hand on Hank’s arm. “Let her go.” “Let her go?” Hank said incredulously. “You saw her earlier. She was obviously upset before she saw whatever the hell THAT was,” he swore angrily. “Visiting hours were over hours ago. We shouldn’t have seen what we did.” “Damn right,” Hank agreed, jerking his arm from Gwen’s hold when he saw Nick emerge from Sheridan’s hospital room several feet down the hall. “It shouldn’t have happened in the first place.” “Bennett,” Gwen hissed as her husband stalked toward ‘Don’t do anything…STUPID,” she winced when Hank’s punch took Nick off-guard, and he stumbled back against the wall, clutching his jaw in surprise.

“You dirty bastard!” Hank got up in Nick’s face, with Gwen hurrying to his side to try to pull him away. “How dare you kiss another man’s wife?!” Nick’s gray eyes widened, and he started to explain. One look into Gwen’s own accusing brown eyes, though, told him none of his explanations would make any sense or account for committing such a wrong in their eyes so he shut his mouth, perhaps wisely so. He was just glad he didn’t have to explain the delicate situation to Abby. He doubted she’d understand in one night what took him years to figure out.

“You’re lucky Luis didn’t see what we did. You’d be dead meat, Pal. For taking advantage of the gratitude Sheridan feels toward you for saving Ali’s life not to mention breaking his friend’s heart.” Nick’s gray eyes snapped to Gwen’s face in alarm. “Sheridan and Luis are unbreakable, but Tink,” Hank continued, “Abby deserves a helluva lot better than you…wait, where the hell do you think you’re going?” Hank called after Nick’s form. “You stay away from her. You’ve done enough damage for one night. TAYLOR!” “Stay out of it, Bennett,” Gwen muttered wearily, massaging her aching head “Nick and Abby are grown-ups. Obviously, they have enough problems without your interference.” “But Babe,” Hank protested. “No but’s,” Gwen declared decisively, leaving him fuming in the hall. “I know the kids are tired and cranky, but we’re not leaving this hospital until I’ve told Sheridan goodnight.”

“Women,” Jake muttered as Abby raced past them all in the waiting room, seemingly without seeing any of them. Martin raised a brow at his young friend’s comment, and Jake felt the need to explain himself further. “They’re always upset about something. And they’re usually PMSing.” Theresa giggled beside them, pausing in her efforts to button up Cristian’s coat and protect him from the blustery cold outside. Pilar tugged Cristian’s hat down over his ears and shifted the dead weight of his sleeping body to her other hip before giving Jake a reproachful look. “Mijo,” she scolded. “What?” Jake shrugged. “It’s true. I bet you’re PMSing too. You got that mean look on your face. Kinda like a fire-breathing dragon,” Jake snickered. Pilar’s mouth fell open in mortified astonishment. “No, Jake,” Sara corrected him in a stage whisper, “Uncle Luis’s Mom’s not PMSing. She had THE CHANGE like Grandma.”

Theresa giggled helplessly at her mother’s expression while Chad tried futilely to hide his tickled smirk from his future mother-in-law. “It’s not polite to discuss such matters, Dears,” Ivy told the two unrepentant children as she moved to help Pilar finish buttoning up Cristian’s coat, keeping a concerned eye on Shane when Nick hurried by them moments after Abby as she did so. “I bet you had THE CHANGE too,” Sara announced gleefully, pushing Emmy aside in annoyance when she tried to snuggle closer to her in her sleep. “And THAT,” Ivy frowned as she finished wrapping Cristian’s striped scarf around his neck, “was even LESS polite.” “Hey! Don’t look at me,” Jake scowled when both Ivy and Pilar looked to him. “I only take credit for the good stuff. Besides…I heard somewhere that you should always kids to tell the truth, and the truth…well, it ain’t always what you wanna hear,” Jake finished astutely. “Young Bennett,” Martin divulged with a sly whisper, “And a smart man—such as yourself—knows exactly the time to be quiet. Understand?” “Not really, but if you say so,” Jake sighed. “Women.”

“Abby! Abby, wait!” Nick shouted as his feet clattered down the stairs after her. “Abby, hear me out. It wasn’t what you think…” Abby stopped mid-flight, shoulders straightening proudly as she whirled around to face him, white-hot anger making her hazel eyes burn with the flecks of gold always present when Nick thought he’d die from wanting her. “Listen to me, Abby,” he pleaded as he carefully descended the stairs, one by one. “Hear me, Abby, when I say this…” he said softly, dropping his hand back to his side in resignation when she flinched away from his touch. “Abby,” he breathed, pinning her in with his arms braced against the concrete wall on either side of her head. “I never meant to hurt you. Please, look at me,” he whispered, grasping her chin in his fingers gently when she tried to look away from his intense gray gaze.

“I trusted you…not to make a fool out of me, and you did,” Abby’s voice came out in a hurt-filled whisper. “You don’t love me because you’re afraid to. Admit it. I scare the hell out of you. I’m sorry, but I have more self-respect than to stay with a man who doesn’t want me even if I didn’t have enough intelligence to not go after him in the first place…” “Abby, no,” Nick protested, curling his fingers around her cheek, “I want you. I do. I’ve wanted you from the beginning, otherwise I wouldn’t have given you a second look. I…I care for you very much. You make me happy, Abby. Few people have ever done that for me, but one look from you has the power to make me smile. Always. You’re important to me. Don’t you see? Dammit, Abby!” Nick cried out, slapping his palm against the wall behind her and startling her. “I want you in my life,” Her hazel eyes melted and shimmered wet and bright. “But I don’t think I’m capable of loving you the way you deserve to be loved,” Nick waited for her reaction, and his gray eyes slammed shut when Abby slipped beneath his arms and he heard the click of her heels against the concrete floor and then her quiet answer. “It’s not enough. Call me when you actually grow a pair. In the meantime, I don’t think we should see much of each other.”

“Just a few more minutes, Sir. I know you’re the Chief of Police, but…I really shouldn’t be doing this…” Luis raised a hand up and nodded his head without looking up from his newborn daughter. “I know. Just another minute, okay?” The nurse’s brown eyes melted at the love plainly exuding from the man before her as he whispered goodnight to his daughter, and knew one thing to be true…Hope Lopez-Fitzgerald was one lucky baby. In more ways than one.

The End (Look for Believe to come soon!)