Alexis sat beside her daughter’s hospital bed and debated on the best way to present the situation. She had goal in mind–she needed Sonny and his children to be tested for donors. She wondered if there was a way to do so without Sonny finding that Christina was his daughter.

Casting a look at her daughter’s tanned complexion and dark hair, she often wondered why no one else had seen it. Christie didn’t look like the rest of the family and she sometimes acted just as selfish as her father–but Alexis adored the little girl who kept her going after Kristina’s death.

Christie’s dark brown eyes opened and she smiled, seeing her mother at her side. Alexis wanted to cry–Christie had the same dimples as her father. Good lord. She’d never looked so much like Sonny.

“Mama?” Christie yawned. “Where’s Daddy?”

“He went into work,” Alexis said, patting her daughter’s hand. “He’ll be here in a little while.”

Christie shifted on the bed. “You were wearing those clothes yesterday. You didn’t go home again.”

Alexis smiled. “Guilty as charged, baby.”

Christie returned her mother’s smile. “Mama, go home. Get a shower and some sleep. I’ll be all right.”

“I don’t want to leave you,” Alexis said. “Your father will be here soon–I’ll go then.”

Christie shook her head stubbornly. “No, Mama. You need some sleep. Go now.”

Alexis briefly thought about arguing with her daughter but realized that she did need a shower and a change of clothes before she started wrestling with this latest problem.

She stood up. “All right. But call me if you need me, all right, kid?”

Christie nodded. “I promise.”

“I love you sweetheart,” Alexis said softly, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek.

“I love you, too.”

—-

Michael pushed his eggs around on his plate and stared at the Morgan children sitting across from him. Delilah Morgan was currently trying to wipe the ketchup out of her blonde hair while David was picking up a piece of toast and stuffing the entire thing into his mouth.

“Davie!” Carly scolded. “Chew your food.”

The two-year-old didn’t really understand Carly’s command and promptly burst into tears. Delilah, always the protective one, put her ketchup stained napkin down and hugged her brother. “S’okay, Davie-gravy. Dee-Dee’s here.”

“Stupid baby,” Amanda Corinthos said, disdainfully. At age seven, Amanda looked exactly like Carly–from the blonde hair to the stylish clothes to the attitude. Her twin, Andrew, was more like Sonny–sullen and withdrawn half the time. Michael had a hard time remembering some times that these were his siblings.

“Leave him alone, Mandy,” Michael said absently.

“I want my mommy,” Davie said, wiping his eyes.

Michael and Carly traded looks as Carly stirred her coffee. “I told you last night, Davie. Your mommy’s sick and she’s in the hospital.”

Delilah’s big blue eyes turned to her aunt. “Aunt Carly, is Mommy gonna be okay? Where’s Daddy?”

“Your daddy’s with your Mommy,” Carly said, “and she’s gonna be just fine.” Her bright smile was fake–but only Michael caught it. Sonny emerged from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a dishtowel.

“I’m heading by the hospital before I go to the warehouse,” he said. “Michael, you want to come with?”

“I want to come!” Andrew announced.

“Take Drew, Dad,” Michael said, finishing his orange juice. “I’m meeting Lu anyway.”

“I don’t want Drew at the hospital,” Carly said. “He’s just getting over the chicken pox.”

“Aww, come on, Mom,” Andrew grumbled.

“Your mother’s right, kiddo,” Sonny said, pulling his suit jacket on. “You need a ride to the Spencers?”

Michael shook his head. “Nah. I’m meeting her at Luke’s.”

Carly stood up and to give Sonny a kiss. “Tell Liz and Jase I’m thinking of them and that the kids are fine,” she said.

“I will, baby. I’ll call you when I get to the warehouse.” Sonny pecked her on the lips and left.

Carly sat back down at the breakfast table. She was trying to control the four children still eating, but her mind kept wondering to Alexis Ashton and her daughter stricken with leukemia that only a bone marrow transplant could take care of.

She cast a look at her blonde haired twins and realized with a start that Amanda, Andrew and Christina all looked alike–that if anyone took the time to look, you could tell they had a parent in common.

She wondered if the time had come for this particular secret to be revealed.

—-

Michael leaned over the pool table and lined up his shot. “So you went straight to Lucky’s.”

Lu smirked. “Yep.” She leaned on her pool stick. “I think Lucky’s still in love with her.”

“What about Emily?” Michael asked, concerned for his aunt.

Lu shrugged. “Look, Emily knew what she was getting into when they began dating–I think that’s why she refuses to marry him.”

“Probably,” Michael murmured. He angled his shot and took it, sending three balls down the corner pocket.

Lu leaned over to take her shot. “How are Dee and Davie?”

“They’re upset,” Michael replied. “Mom didn’t tell them what’s going on, but they’re smart kids–they know something’s wrong.”

“Poor Liz,” Lu said. “She must be devastated.”

“You should have seen Jase last night,” Michael said watching Lu sink the black ball, ending the game. “I thought he was going mess up the doctors if they didn’t tell him anything.”

“Yeah, he tends to be a little high strung,” Lu replied. She tossed her pool stick down and headed to the bar. “You want a soda?”

“Sure.” Michael followed his cousin and took a seat on the stool. “So they’re gonna stay with us until Liz is discharged.”

“Hey, did you hear about Alexis Ashton’s daughter?” Lu asked. “Lucky was telling me about this morning–you know since it’s Emily’s niece and all.”

“What about her?” Michael asked, flipping the tap of his soda open. He took a healthy swig.

“She’s got leukemia,” Lu replied. She grimaced. “She needs a bone marrow transplant, and Eddie, Alexis and Ned aren’t matches.”

“Isn’t her best bet usually a sibling?”

Lu nodded. “Yeah, like Nik was for me. So I don’t know what’s gonna happen to Christina. Unless a sibling comes creeping out of the woodwork, she’s screwed. She’s a good kid though.”

—-

Sonny found Jason leaning against the wall outside of Elizabeth’s room. He stopped for a second–wondering why Jason wasn’t inside. Jason never left Elizabeth’s side–not since the day she’d come home to the penthouse all those years ago. The only time they were ever separated were the days Jason was away on business.

“Jason.”

Jason looked up and crumpled the paper cup that had been in his hand. “I hope that’s real coffee,” he said, nodding towards the steaming cups in Sonny’s hands.

Sonny handed him one. “Black, just the way you like it.” He nodded his head towards the closed door. “Why aren’t you in there?”

Jason sipped his coffee and rubbed his eyes. “She had me thrown out.”

Sonny raised his eyebrows. “Thrown out? How? Why?”

“She called security,” Jason replied. “Apparently, what the patient wants, the patient gets.” He frowned and looked down at his coffee. “She’s shutting me out.”

“I’m sorry, Jase. I wish there was something I could do,” Sonny replied.

“Yeah?” Jason said. “Me, too. I used to know what to say to her, you know? Back when we were first friends…I never stuttered, never fumbled, I just spoke and it always seemed to be what she needed to hear. Now? I can’t say anything right.” He looked Sonny. “Why is that?”

“The stakes are higher,” Sonny replied. “You’re in love with her–you’re married.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Jason was silent for a while before asking, “Are Dee and Davie okay?”

“Yeah. They’re a little upset–you know, ’cause they don’t really understand what’s going on. But they’re going to be okay–Carly’s with them.”

“When Carly lost the baby,” Jason said, “how did…how did you deal with that?”

“We pulled away from each other for a while but we eventually bonded over it–I can tell you this–what happened with Carly is different. We were able to deal with it because we knew why it happened–you don’t. And Elizabeth is going to be blaming herself. There’s no where else she can put the blame. So don’t let her shut you out.”

“I never knew how it felt,” Jason said quietly. “You know…during the months we were apart after that Alcazar thing…and I was shutting her out so that I didn’t have to feel her pain–I never knew how it made her feel.” He looked up at his friend. “Now I know.”

—-

Alexis emerged from the bathroom of the bedroom she shared with Ned. She stopped dead in her tracks. “Ned! I didn’t expect you home!”

Ned finished buttoning his dress shirt. “I’m just changing. I thought you were at the hospital.”

“Christie convinced me to come home and shower and take a nap,” Alexis replied. “Is Eddie still with Monica and Alan?”

Ned nodded. “Yeah. They send their prayers.”

Alexis sank onto the bed and stared down at the plush white carpet. “I don’t know what to do,” she whispered. “How am I supposed to go to him and tell him the truth after all these years? How am I supposed to convince him to let Amanda and Andrew be tested?”

Ned sat next to her. “I don’t know–but Alexis, we have to do it soon.”

“I know.” Alexis scrubbed her hands over her face. “I never dreamed this day would come. We’ve been happy–haven’t we Ned? I mean, we’ve been good up until now.”

“We have been,” Ned agreed. “You, Christie, Eddie and Brooke are my whole life.” His expression darkened. “Lois called. She wants to get Brooke tested.”

Alexis sighed. “I don’t want to put Brooke through the test. It’s painful.”

“I know. I told Lois I’d discuss it with you. We need to make a decision and we need to make it now, Alexis.”

“I know, I know,” Alexis murmured. “So, do I tell Carly she’s got the go ahead or do I tell Sonny?”

“As easy as it would to let Carly field this…” Ned stopped and shook his head sadly, “it wouldn’t be fair to her. It’s bad enough we have to do this–but I don’t see why Sonny has to know Carly knew all along.”

“You’re right,” Alexis agreed. “Because even though she’s been good to him for ten years, and they have a family, he’d leave her. He’d see it as a betrayal and it’s not fair to her. She was only keeping my secret.”

“So you’re going to tell Sonny,” Ned said.

Alexis nodded. “Yes. But I have so many people to think about…oh, God, what is Christie going to think of me?”

“It won’t matter,” Ned replied. “Christie loves you. She’ll love you no matter what.”

“She’s nine years old–she won’t understand my decisions.”

“She’s a mature nine and she’s heard of Sonny. She might surprise you.”

“I don’t want her to surprise me,” Alexis said softly. “I want her to stay nine and innocent for the rest–” she broke off, naked fear filling her eyes. “Oh, god! She is going to stay nine and innocent the rest of her life! She’s going to die!”

“Alexis–” Ned took her by the shoulders and gave her a little shake. “Breathe.”

Alexis took a deep shuddering breath. “I don’t know if I can do this, Ned…I don’t know if I can walk up to my baby girl and tell her you’re not her father.”

Ned looked away. “Alexis–”

Alexis gasped. “Oh, God, that’s not fair. I’m so sorry–you’re her father, she loves you and I know you love her–I’m sorry–”

“Alexis,” Ned cut in. “Please…calm down. We need to discuss this–how we’re going to handle this situation.”

Alexis ran a hand through her hair. “I know.” She stood. “Let’s head back to the hospital. I don’t want Christie there too long by herself.”

—

Emily Quartermaine strode briskly down the hall, a long tan leather jacket slung over her left arm. Her dark brown hair was highlighted blonde and worn long. She reached Elizabeth’s hospital room and was about to push it open when her brother stopped her.

“Em–”

“Oh, Jason!” Emily said, throwing her arms around him. “I am so sorry! Is Liz okay? Is there anything I can do?”

Jason extracted himself from his sister’s arm and led her away from the door. “Actually, yeah. I need you to not visit Elizabeth right now.”

Emily sank into a chair, wounded. “Why?” she asked, straightening her black skirt. She set her jacket on the chair next to her and watched as Jason sat next to her. “Why aren’t you in there with her?”

“Elizabeth–she’s taking this very hard,” Jason began. “I don’t blame her–but I don’t think it would be good for her to see you.”

Emily sat back, her hands absently going her slightly bulging abdomen. “Because we were both pregnant.”

Jason nodded. “I don’t want to upset her any further.”

Emily nodded. “All right. I’ll respect that.” Her brown eyes softened. “Mom wants to know if there’s anything she can do.”

Jason shook his head. “No. But tell her thanks.” His eyes darted around the corridor as if expecting Edward Quartermaine to jump out of the shadows. But Edward was dead–and had been for a few years.
“Dad’s keeping his distance,” Emily said, breaking into Jason’s thoughts. “But he sends his prayers. Things are so tense around the house with what’s happening to Christie.”

Jason frowned. “What’s happening?”

“She has leukemia,” Emily answered. “A bone marrow transplant is her only hope.”

“I’m sorry,” Jason said. “I know–I know that must be hard.”

“Yeah,” Emily said. She straightened. “Why aren’t you in the room with Liz?”

Jason shifted. “She had me…removed.”

Emily’s left eyebrow quirked up. “Removed?” she echoed. “Why?”

Jason rubbed the back of his neck. “She’s trying to shut me out. But I’m not leaving this hospital until she does. Whether I’m sleeping on a chair in the hall or in the room, I’m going to be there.”

Emily leaned forward and patted her brother on the hand. “Liz–she’s going through a difficult time and I know it means a lot to her to have you. It’ll be okay.”

“Yeah…” Jason sat back and stared ahead at the white walls. “Yeah, I hope so.”

—-

After leaving her brother outside of his wife’s hospital room, Emily headed for the physical therapy room where she knew AJ was working that day. AJ had gotten his license to work as a physical therapist a few years ago, shortly after Jocelyn was born. He and Courtney had been able to move out of their small apartment into a larger cottage on the outskirts of town.

She entered the gym and leaned against the wall for a few minutes, watching her eldest brother work with a patient. AJ had really gotten his life together after his marriage to Sonny’s sister. Emily wasn’t particularly fond of her sister-in-law, but after ten years of sobriety on AJ’s part–she figured something had to be going well in his life.

AJ looked up after about ten minutes and smiled at the sight of his baby sister–though nearing the age of thirty, she was far from a baby. Her brown hair was hanging over her shoulder and her black power suit made her look older than she normally did. He couldn’t help but picture the day he’d first met Emily Bowen–she’d grown up so fast.

“I think that’s enough for today, Kyle,” AJ said to the teenager sitting on the bench, lifting weights with his ankle. AJ marked something off on his clipboard and helped the blonde to a standing position. He handed Kyle the crutches. “Just remember to do your exercises and I’ll see you in a few days.”

After Kyle had left, AJ embraced his sister. “Hey, kid, what brings you by?”

“I came to see Liz and Christie,” Emily said. She checked her watch. “I still have about twenty minutes before I have to head back to the office. Do you have time for some coffee?”

AJ nodded and pulled the gym door open. He followed Emily out and the two headed for the vending machines. “Edward knew what he was doing leaving ELQ to you.”

Emily flashed him a bright smile. “That means a lot to me.”

AJ put some coins in the machine and punched the necessary buttons. As coffee filtered down to his cup, he looked at her. “What’s Liz doing here?”

Emily’s eyebrows knitted together. “You mean you don’t know?” she asked.

“Know what?” AJ asked, pulling his cup out of the machine, letting Emily get her own drink.

“Liz had a miscarriage last night,” Emily replied, removing her coffee. She and AJ headed for a grouping of chairs. “I thought most of the family knew.”

AJ sat down and sipped his coffee. With a rueful smile, he remarked, “I don’t think Jase considers me family.”

Emily smiled at him. “Liz does–and you know that.”

“Yeah.” AJ shifted in his chair. “Liz has been good about that. I’m sorry this happened to her. I don’t know what I’d do if I were Jason.”

Emily sipped her coffee and sighed. “I had another fight with Lucky.”

AJ eyed her. “The marriage thing again?”

“Yep.” Emily shook her head. “He just can’t understand why I don’t want to get married.”

AJ leaned forward. “Do you understand why?”

Emily glared at him. “Yes. I don’t think that just because I’m pregnant that I should have to get married. This is a new century–a new millennium–”

“Emily.”

She sighed and looked into the dark thick liquid in her paper cup. “I’m scared, AJ,” she said softly.

He patted her shoulder. “Yeah, that’s what I thought, kid. What’s got you running?”

Emily looked up, her eyes lush with tears. “I think I’m his second choice.”

AJ let a long slow breath out. “His second choice?”

Emily shoved a piece of hair behind her ear. “I know that whatever he and Liz shared–that’s it been over physically from the second she went back to Jason. But…she led him on, AJ. She let him believe there was a chance. And he fell in love with her all over again. Then she left him. I think…I think he’s still in love with her.”

“Have you said anything to him about this?” AJ asked.

Emily shook her head. “No. What if I’m wrong? You know and he leaves me because I’m stupid?”

“Emily, you are not stupid,” AJ said firmly. “I was around during that time–because Courtney and Liz were so close. I know how he felt about her–and it was a long time before he got over her. But I know that Lucky loves you–and I think you should sit down and talk to him about this. Get it into the open. He’ll never understand why you keep rejecting his proposal until he knows the whole story.”

Emily smiled. “When did you get so smart?”

AJ grinned. “Years and years of screwing up.”

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