Emily tossed aside another magazine and rubbed her forehead, slightly exhausted. Nikolas just smirked. “I knew I should have just taken you home.”

Emily glared at him. “And I repeat–I am parking my butt in this seat until Elizabeth wakes up,” she told him. “I have a headache, okay? She gave birth to a premature baby, lost her husband and nearly died. I think I can deal.”

“Hey, I’m not saying anything. I’m just saying you could have gone home until she woke up,” Nikolas pointed out.

“I want my face to be the first she sees,” Emily said stubbornly. “If not mine, then Audrey’s.”

“At least she was reasonable enough to go home last night,” Nikolas said. He sighed and leaned back in his chair. “That little girl looked so tiny,” he said almost absently. “I hope–I really hope Liz gets a miracle.”

“She of all people deserves it,” Emily murmured. She took Elizabeth’s hand in hers and studied the slightly battered face of her still unconscious best friend. “After everything she’s done for everyone else…she deserves to have her little girl live.”

“Any idea what she’ll name her?” Nikolas asked.

Emily smiled at him brightly, her love for him shining in her eyes. “Do you know how wonderful you are?”

He frowned. “What did I say?”

“One of the doctors last night–I overheard them saying the baby doesn’t have more an a thirty percent chance at survival–that naming the baby would be a waste.” Emily pressed her lips together firmly. “Jackass.”

“Every child deserves a name,” Nikolas retorted hotly. He stood. “What’s that doctor’s name?”

“Sit, Tarzan,” Emily remarked dryly. “And I don’t know what she’ll name her.” A shadow of guilt passed over her face. “We haven’t talked a lot lately. She’s been busy with Ric and me with you and my family…”

“Hey, it happens sometimes. Doesn’t mean you love each other any less,” Nikolas told her. “When she’s ready to come home–I was thinking of suggesting she stay at Wyndemere.”

“She’ll probably stay at Audrey’s but I’m selfish, I want her close all the time now.” Emily traced a pattern on the back of Elizabeth’s hand. “I’ll come with her every day to the hospital to see the baby and sit with her during any kind of treatments and I’ll make up for being such a crappy friend to her.”

Elizabeth made a little sound and wrinkled her nose. “Emily?” she murmured, her voice hoarse, the words a bit a sluggish. She forced her eyes open and frowned. “Where am I?”

“The hospital, sweetie,” Emily said, unable to stop the tears from springing to her eyes.

“The hospital,” Elizabeth repeated dully. Gradually, her eyes focused and when the drugs wore off, Emily saw recognition slam into her. “Oh…no…”

“Hey, hey, look at me, honey,” Emily urged. “You are okay, and your baby–your daughter is, too.”

Elizabeth blinked and Emily saw the hope in her eyes. “Daughter? She…but she’s so early–”

“She’s strong though,” Nikolas leaned forward. “Very strong. I talked to Alexis–the guru of premature babies and she said the fact that the baby made it through the caesarian and the night–it speaks volumes.”

“And Ric?” Elizabeth asked. “Is he really…?” She couldn’t even say the word.

Emily swallowed hard. “Yeah. He saved your life though, sweetheart. I know that’s the way he’d have wanted to go.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes and fought the tears. “What happened?” she asked softly.

“When the second boat explosion hit, it knocked all kinds of things loose,” Nikolas told her. “And some of it came crashing towards you. Ric pushed you out of the way and took the brunt of the hit.”

“The fall sent you in premature labor,” Emily told her regretfully. “Brian Beck was there and he got you to an ambulance in time to get you to get to the hospital. But Ric was killed instantly. I’m so sorry, baby.”

Elizabeth cleared her throat and started to cough. Nikolas grabbed one of the plastic cups at her bedside and filled it in the bathroom and then brought it to her lips. She drank it greedily.

When she spoke again, her voice sounded a lot better and Nikolas helped her to a seated position. “I want–I want to see my daughter.”

“I don’t think you’re supposed to move,” Emily said, regretfully. She looked at Nikolas. “Go get my mother and see if we can’t work something out.”

Nikolas nodded and exited the room. Emily squeezed Elizabeth’s hand tightly. “You feeling okay otherwise?”

Elizabeth nodded slowly. “I feel numb,” she admitted. “Empty. I don’t–Ric is dead because I’m alive. How can I be okay with that?”

“Because if you’d been in his place, you’d have done the same thing,” Emily told her. “He loved you, Elizabeth. You know that, right?”

She nodded. “Yeah…have you seen her?” Elizabeth asked.

Emily nodded. “She’s very tiny,” she admitted. “Very. But she’s beautiful.” She kissed Elizabeth’s forehead. “I’m just so glad you’re okay.” Her voice broke. “When they couldn’t find you–I was so scared.”

Elizabeth frowned. “You’re bruised. Are you okay?” she asked, touching Emily’s tender cheek.

“Slight concussion and I had to have some stitches in my arm.” Emily held it out. “I don’t even know what hit me.”

“And Nikolas? He looked okay–”

“He’s fine, too. Everyone’s okay–Ric and a some people we didn’t know were the only people who didn’t…” Emily hesitated. “Zander hasn’t been found yet. We think he might have just left town. Right now–the explosions look intentional and he might have set them.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes. “He told me I had to leave,” she remembered. “He wouldn’t say why–but he kept saying it.”

“Anyone on deck was seriously injured. The first explosion just startled everyone–I was standing under shelves–I think that’s what hit me. And almost everyone was evacuated before the second one which was designed to sink the ship.”

“Zander would never intentionally hurt people like that. I have to believe he thought everyone would be out,” Elizabeth said.

Emily nodded, her eyes filled tears. “Me, too.” Her breath hitched again. “They couldn’t find you, Liz. They couldn’t–and I was scared they’d call off the search. I was half awake and I just kept screaming your name. Nikolas was about to go back in to look–Jason, too. I think Lucky was already searching.” Emily kissed Elizabeth’s hand. “But then Brian came off the ship, bloody and battered and he had you in his arms. I have never been so happy to see anyone in my life as I was to see him.”

“I’m so glad you’re all right,” Elizabeth said. “You, Nikolas, and Lucky–Luke’s okay, too right?”

“Just some bumps and bruises. He and Skye were so wonderful together,” Emily told her. “As soon as the first one hit, they were organizing people and getting them off the ship. Lucky said that if they hadn’t quelled panic, so many more people might have died.”

“Luke always was good in a crisis.” Elizabeth sighed and rested her head against the pillow. “I was fighting with Ric before the explosion. He’d…he’d assigned Brian to get close to Courtney so they could get evidence on Sonny and Jason.”

“Oh, no,” Emily said softly. “Poor Courtney, I know how much she cares for Brian.”

“Brian was there–he’d been drinking and arguing with Ric. I came up to them and Brian just blurted out to me.”

“Well, he was upset,” Emily said, with sympathy. “He probably didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”

“Yeah, I know. I just wish Ric and I hadn’t been arguing.”

—

Nikolas stopped at the nurse’s station. “Hey, Maxie, could you page Dr. Monica Quartermaine and tell her to come here?”

“Sure,” Maxie put the page through. “Elizabeth awake?”

“Yeah, she wants to see her baby,” Nikolas replied.

“Oh…I hope the baby is going to be okay. I think it’s so sad,” Maxie sighed.

Nikolas nodded. He saw Brian Beck exiting the elevator. “Hey, Brian,” he called.

“Hey…Nikolas, right?” Brian asked.

“Yeah…I just want to thank you again for saving Elizabeth,” Nikolas told him. “She’s like a sister to me and my fiancée…I don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t.”

Brian shrugged. “I found her–I brought her out. I’m glad she’s okay. Is her baby going to be okay?”

“They’re not sure yet but she lived through the night and that’s a good sign.” Nikolas rubbed the back of her neck. “I think in a few days–Elizabeth will probably want to thank you herself. Once everything sinks in for her. You should go see her.”

Brian shook his head. “I doubt it–I’m the reason she and her husband weren’t in the main room with everyone else. I told her something that he’d done and she was angry with him.”

“That’s not your fault–Ric…he loved her but he was always making mistakes and giving her reasons not to trust him. If you hadn’t told her, she would have found out from someone else.”

“Nikolas, you paged me?” Monica asked, stepping up to them. “Hello, Detective Beck, nice work last night.”

“Thank you, Dr. Quartermaine. Do you know which room Calvin Fuller is in?” he asked. “I need to question him about last night.”

“No, but I’m sure Maxie can help you.”

Brian thanked her and moved towards the young blonde volunteer. “Nikolas?” Monica prompted.

“Elizabeth is awake and she wants to see her daughter,” Nikolas told her. “I wasn’t sure if that was okay or not but I thought you might at least like to check on her.”

“She really shouldn’t be getting out of bed,” Monica sighed as they started down the hallway towards Elizabeth’s room.

“She’s just lost so much–I think she wants to see for her own eyes that her daughter’s okay,” Nikolas replied.

“Oh, I completely understand. I am going to let her make a very short trip to the neonatal unit just to see her. But after that, she’s got to be on bed rest for at least two days to give the stitches some time to heal.”

“If she’s anything like Alexis–she’ll end up living in the neonatal unit,” Nikolas said, stopping in front of Elizabeth’s room.

“Wouldn’t surprise me,” Monica laughed. She pushed the door open. “Hey, Em, Elizabeth. How are we?”

“Anxious to see my daughter,” Elizabeth said firmly. “I know–I just had surgery…but I really want to see her.”

Monica nodded. “I understand.” She looked at Nikolas. “There’s a wheelchair over there–why don’t we get Elizabeth all ready to go?”

“Really?” Emily said. She squeezed her friend’s hand. “That’s great news.”

“Thank you so much,” Elizabeth said gratefully. Nikolas wheeled the chair towards her and then lifted her into it with ease.

—-

Elizabeth stood in front of the glass, leaning heavily on Nikolas. She touched the window. “She’s so small,” she murmured.

“Well, you’re not a giant yourself,” Emily teased. “So, what are we going to name this future beauty queen?”

“Monica?” Elizabeth asked, looking at her friend’s mother. “If…if Detective Beck hadn’t found me–I’d be dead right now, wouldn’t I?”

Monica sighed. “By the time one of the search crews had found you, you might have bled to death, yes.”

“And I definitely would have lost her,” Elizabeth said softly.

“Without a doubt,” Monica confirmed, trading a concerned look with her daughter.

“Then I’m naming her for him,” Elizabeth informed them. “Brianna.”

“That’s a beautiful name,” Emily said, clearly delighted. “Don’t you think so Nikolas?”

“Brian will be really honored,” Nikolas said, kissing Elizabeth’s forehead. “I think it’s a wonderful thing.”

“Brianna Audrey Lansing,” Elizabeth tested it. “How does that sound?”

“Sounds like it was made for her.” Monica smiled. “Speaking of Audrey, did anyone call her to tell her you were awake?”

Emily flushed. “We’ll do it when we get back to the room.”

“Which you should do now,” Monica suggested. Nikolas helped Elizabeth sit back down before wheeling her back towards the room.

Emily dawdled and traced a pattern on the glass. “Brianna Audrey Lansing,” she repeated to herself. “You’d better be okay because your mother really needs you,” she said softly.

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