Title: A Mother's Love

Author: anlyn

Email: jtcjustacrush@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Summary: A quiet moment between old rivals.

She felt the breeze coming off the lake, bringing with it the promise of fall. Time, as usual, was moving far too fast for her liking.

Please God, she begged, I can't do this. Not again. No one should have to do this more than once. I'm asking for a miracle, I think I deserve at least one. She believed in miracles, as a doctor she had witnessed many first hand. She knew, however, that miracles all most always came with a price. She didn't need to look any further than her best friend and Maxie Jones to prove that.

She was prepared to pay that price.

She listened intently, as if at any moment God Himself would speak, answering her prayer. All she heard were the birds and the wind and the stairwell door opening.

"Monica! I didn't know anyone was up here. I was volunteering and thought I could use some fresh air, I can go somewhere else if you want."

Monica took a minute to answer her old … friend? Rival? Colleague? She was no longer sure how to define her relationship with Lesley Webber. She just knew Lesley was the last person she wanted to talk to at this moment.

"It's alright, you can stay." Did she say that?

It wasn't that she didn't like Lesley. She let go of her hatred and petty jealousies a long time ago. Lesley just happens to remind her of all her failures and wrong doings. She couldn't help thinking if she had been more like the woman standing next to her, a good wife, a good mother, and all-around decent human being, God wouldn't keep punishing her this way.

"Nikolas told me about Emily. I'm sorry," Lesley offered after a long silence.

"Thank you."

"If there's anything I can do…"

"Pray."

"I will." They fall back into silence. "He's in love with her, you know."

"Nikolas?"

"Nikolas. It's odd to think about, my grandson, your daughter."

"One of life's strange little quirks. He's not the only one who's in love with her."

"Well, I couldn't really believe she was your daughter unless half the town of Port Charles fell for her," Lesley laughed. After a moment, "that was meant as a compliment," she added.

"It was taken as one."

They stood for a while, not speaking, both lost in their own thoughts of the past. Monica felt the temperature begin to lower and excused herself so she could return to Emily.

"I'll pray for you," Lesley promised. "Both of you. There a some things a mother shouldn't have to endure."

For the first time that night, Monica looked at Lesley. And for the first time, possibly ever, she saw they had more in common than their chosen profession and Rick Webber.

"Yes. Yes there are."