Disclaimer: Don't own One Life to Live background or its characters...

I got such good responses from my story 2022 that I decided to write the full story so I hope you all enjoy. More to come.


Gifts: 2011

It was Thanksgiving night, 2011. Bo and Nora had just finished their visit with Matthew. He was still in the hospital in Philadelphia in a coma but they still had faith. They had faith that one day their baby would wake up and hopefully it would be soon.

"Beeeeeppp." Bo and Nora heard as they were walking out of Matthew's hospital room. He flat lined. They instantly became panicked.

"Doctor!" Bo called as Nora ran to Matthew's side.

The doctors quickly ran into the room to resuscitate him. A few minutes later Matthew's heart began to beat again but there was no change in his condition. Bo and Nora were trying to stop their hearts from racing. They had never been so afraid in their lives. Amazing how one can go from hope to despair so quickly.

-v-

Meanwhile at the Evans' house, dinner was over, they were enjoying Phylicia Evans' amazing pies and Destiny was talking to Shaun.

"I'm going to Philly to see Matthew. Maybe it's because of the baby but I really feel like I need to be with him today."

"Do you need me to drive you?"

"No. You enjoy your Thanksgiving. I have the train schedule. I think his parents will still be there. I'll probably get a ride back with them."

Destiny gazed at the beautiful sky as she rode the train to Philadelphia. The sun had just went down and the colors were amazing. It made her think about the beauty in the world, the beauty of life and the beauty of the life growing inside her. She was eight months pregnant now. The pregnancy had been a pretty easy one but the closer she got to her due date, the more uncomfortable she was beginning to feel. There was still a few weeks left and in a sense she was ready to have the baby already but in another sense she was really scared so every moment counted. Bo and Nora offered to raise the baby for her and she considered it but after all this time of carrying her and Matthew's baby inside of her and feeling it move, hearing its heartbeat, she grew a bond and just couldn't imagine not raising him or her. She wanted to wait to find out the sex, everything else had been a surprise, why not this? Meanwhile, the pie she was holding for Bo and Nora smelled so good she needed to get there quickly before she took a bite.

When Destiny arrived at Matthew's hospital room, Bo and Nora were by his bedside. Nora was stroking Matthew's hair while Bo held his hand. There was a cold feeling in the air, the room was completely silent.

"Hi Mr. and Mrs. B." Destiny said, softly.

"Hello Destiny." They replied. They both appeared to have cried earlier. Destiny became worried.

"Is everything alright?" Destiny asked.

Bo and Nora looked at each other wondering what they should say.

"Uh... Matthew... flat lined earlier today. They were able to save him, thankfully. Now he's just back where he started." Bo explained.

Destiny's right hand instantly went to her heart while the other held on to the pie her mother sent for Bo and Nora. Tears instantly fell from her eyes without even thinking about it. Her heart had sunken to the floor. To know that she had come so close to losing Matthew, the father of her unborn child, her best friend, her first love, it was unreal and scary.

"What do you have there?" Nora asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Oh... my mom sent apple pie for you both." Destiny handed it to Nora.

"That was nice of her. Tell Phylicia we send our thanks. We appreciate it." Nora said.

"I will." Destiny said.

"How are you?" Bo asked.

"Fine."

"Would you like to talk to Matthew alone?" Bo asked.

"I don't want to intrude on your time." Destiny replied.

"No, you're not intruding. We just wanted to make sure he was ok before we left. We've had our time. We'll wait for you and take you home." Nora said then Bo and Nora left Destiny alone with Matthew. She went to sit by his bed and hold his hand but kissed his forehead first.

"Don't you dare give me a scare like that again! Don't try to check out on all of us now. What you need to do is stop playing and wake your ass up. It's Thanksgiving, you give us that!" Destiny just looked at Matthew for a moment. "Didn't work, huh? Darn, you usually listen better when I'm aggressive. Come on Matt! We miss you. We need you! We're having a baby. Our baby needs his daddy." Destiny felt the baby kick then put Matthew's hand on her belly to feel. "That's our baby, Matt. Can you feel that? I wish I knew but I'll try to believe that you do." She just held his hand and put her head down for a moment. "I love you Matt. I know you know that and I hope you feel the same. My entire family prayed for you tonight. I pray for you every night. There's a reason for everything and you haven't woken up yet, I have to believe there's a good reason for it. I hope I learn that reason soon. These past few months haven't always been easy but I'm damn sure going to make it worth it. Goodnight Matthew."

The long ride home with Bo and Nora was quiet aside from the music on the radio, everyone had Matthew on their minds. Destiny hoped they would at least change the CD playing, if she heard Little Richard one more time! She had to admit though, they had cooler taste in music than she would expect.

When Destiny got home she told her parents all about how close Matthew came to dying. They had really been there for her the past few months. She deeply regretted her doubt in them after she found out they were actually her grandparents. She was hurt by the lies more than anything and it clouded her judgment.

A few weeks later, Destiny and Dani went shopping at the Llanview Mall for Christmas.

"Des, do you know what you're going to get?" Dani asked.

"Not really." Destiny replied then noticed some girls from school staring and talking about her as she and Dani walked by. Is it fun for them?

"Looks like Density has gotten Denser." One of the boney blonds said.

Destiny rolled her eyes and stopped to look the girl in the eyes.

"Not as dense as that watermelon you call a brain. It's amazing that a watermelon could be held up by a toothpick. I'm surprised you haven't tipped over already. It's a wonder you can even think with no real brain, scarecrow." Destiny insulted. The girl's mouth dropped. She couldn't think of a retort fast enough. "My work here is done." Destiny walked away with Dani.

"Wow, good comeback." Dani said.

"Yeah well, I won't hear from her again." Destiny said.

"I was wondering... should I get a gift for Todd or not?" Todd had been in Dani's life for a few months now and she was starting to take to him but she still wasn't sure and Victor had been dead for months as well.

"Awwwww! This is so cute!" Destiny exclaimed as they walked past a baby store. There was a purple tutu dress in the window. "We have to look in here." The two went in. "I'm sorry I was distracted... So gift for Todd... If you want to get him a gift, get him a gift and if you don't then don't"

"But I'm not sure. What do you think?"

"I can't tell you what to do."

"But what would you do?"

"If it were me, this wouldn't be a conversation."

"Why not?"

"You don't want my opinion." Destiny picked up a fluffy brown teddy bear. "Isn't he cute?"

"Sure." Dani replied quickly then went back to her topic. "I do want to know your opinion."

"Fine. Just remember you asked for it. I wouldn't be so quick to believe that Todd didn't murder Victor and I wouldn't be so quick to write off your mom because she doesn't believe him. I'm sure she has reasons other than the fact that she's grieving. Plus, she knows him a lot better than you do."

"Starr knows him better than my mom."

"No. Starr has an idealized version of her daddy that she was left with as a child and since she didn't have the best relationship with Victor and she thought he was her father, she wants to believe that her father wouldn't have done all those things. Let's be honest, Todd had the easy years. He didn't have to deal with the teenage drama. Who's to say he wouldn't have reacted the same way as Victor? Do you really think that he wouldn't have beaten Cole's ass if he caught him in bed with his teenaged daughter, his baby girl? Look at his rep. If my dad or Shaun had caught Matt and I together they would have snapped. The difference is, they would've restrained themselves from ripping him apart. Your mom went through a lot with Todd, put aside her grief. She's a lawyer, she usually thinks logically and with facts."

"Blair believes him."

"Didn't Blair date a murderer who almost got Victor killed once?"

"Destiny!"

"Just making a point."

"Don't be so hard on your mom. What if she knows something you don't know?"

"Then why doesn't she tell me?"

"She can't always tell you everything. What if it's dangerous or whatever? It wouldn't be the first time."

"What if she's wrong?"

"Better to be wrong now and have to apologize than be wrong later and let the murderer get away with killing her husband and father of her unborn child, if he killed her husband. I'm not accusing him. I wasn't there, I don't know and I just want you to consider that you weren't there either."

"So what about Matthew? Do you think he should get away with what he's done?"

"Punishment can come in more ways than one. He took a life and everyday he's losing a little more of his own... I'm going to buy this stuff I picked out in here then we can shop for our moms. I think I know what I want to get my mom now."

"Yeah me too."

Christmas Eve...

It was early in the day. Destiny spent the night at Dani's and they were baking chocolate cookies together.

"Now it wouldn't be the D girls special cookies without..." Dani started.

"Hershey's with almonds!" Destiny finished. They laughed then both put Hershey's with almonds in the mix.

"What made us decide to put Hershey's in the mix?"

"The last time we baked cookies we were eating Hershey's while we were baking and simultaneously had an ah ha moment."

"Kaboom!" The girls heard a noise in the living room and ran in to see what happened. Tea had collapsed on the floor.

"Oh my gosh! Mom!" Dani exclaimed, then ran and kneeled next to her.

"I'm fine." Tea said.

"Not falling out on the floor, you're not. What happened?" Dani helped Tea up off the floor and to the couch.

"I just felt light-headed and dizzy."

"We should get you to the hospital."

"No. I don't need to go to the hospital. I haven't eaten, I should have."

"Mom, you have to eat. You and my little brother or sister are not starving on my watch. I'll cook you something."

"You can't cook."

"No but I can. Come on, Dani." Destiny said.

"You girls are too sweet, you don't have to do that."

"We're doing it, end of discussion. Don't move." Dani said as she and Destiny headed to the kitchen.

"You know, I can cook a little bit." Dani said.

"Yes, very little... You know a couple things." Destiny replied. "Mr. and Mrs. B are going to pick me up in a couple hours to go see Matthew just so you know."

"Ok... Do you think my mom will be ok?"

"Yeah but I think she should see a doctor. I know she's been keen on avoiding them since the whole thing with...Greg."

-v-

At Bo and Nora's, they looked around at the Holiday decorations. There was a combination of Christmas and Hanukkah decorations, it looked wonderful and festive but it just felt empty without Matthew. They thought about him as a little boy, how excited he would be about the holidays and how much he looked up to them. They sure did miss him.

They went to get Destiny from Tea's then headed to Philly. When they got there, there was still no change, they still hoped For a miracle.

Bo and Nora had alone time with him first.

"Matthew honey, we miss you. The holidays just aren't the same without you. We just want our family back. We want you back." Nora said.

"We love you son. We need you to keep fighting to come back to us." Bo added.

When they finished, Destiny talked to him.

"I am so close to having our baby, it's not even funny, any day now. I'm a little scared but Shaun has been going to my Lamaze classes with me. I wish you'd wake up but when you do you're going to have a hell of shock. You know, through all of this I still come see you about three times a week. If that isn't love, I don't know what is."

Afterward, Destiny went home to her family and they spent quality time together. Christmas day was all about family in the Evans household.

After getting dressed, Destiny came downstairs to join the family.

"Christmas just ain't Christmas without the one you love. New Years just ain't New Years without the one you love." Destiny heard the song playing from the radio. The family was getting ready for breakfast so she joined them at the table but the longer the song was on the more it was depressing her. Yeah it was a Christmas song, it's supposed to make you happy but it was reminding her she didn't have the one she loved, therefore, it was depressing. Finally, it went off and the next song that played was "Please Come Home for Christmas."

"You have got to be kidding me. What is this, Christmas blues?" Destiny asked. After that song came Mariah Carey's, "Oh Santa." This song, she could deal with. It was fun, bubbly and happy.

Later, they exchanged gifts. They invited Bo and Nora over, maybe it would help take their minds off of Matthew for a while. Everyone got more gifts for the baby. The baby was going to have everything he or she needed. Destiny got something special for everyone, in particular, she got her mother an angel necklace.

"Oh Destiny, this is beautiful!" Phylicia exclaimed.

"You've been an angel to me my entire life and I just hope that I will be as good to my baby as you have been to me." Destiny said and Phylicia hugged her.

"Thank you, sweetheart." Phylicia said.

"But we're still going to raise the baby, right?" Nora suddenly felt the need to ask.

"...Well... No. I'm going to raise the baby... I guess that hasn't been clear but essentially, we all need to work together." Destiny said. Nora looked highly disappointed. "I'm sorry but after all this time and bonding, I can't just give the baby to you and I don't want them to be in my situation, not that it's so horrible. I don't want to have any regrets and my baby has to know that I tried and I tried hard."

"I understand." Nora said but not really meaning it though she tried to sound like she meant it. The moment became awkward.

"We're all one big family now anyway. God bless us, everyone." Shaun said, trying to break the ice.

Destiny, Bo and Nora visited Matthew a couple times more before New Years Eve but not together.

Bo and Nora spent New Years Eve with Rex, GiGi and Shane at the Buchanan mansion.

"Uncle Bo, I'm glad you're here. That's so cool, you being my uncle. If I can't have you as a father, uncle is the next best thing but you're the closest to a father I've ever had." Rex said.

"You know I feel the same about you." Bo said before David walked in the room.

"Hey Pa, step Nora!" David exclaimed then hugged them. "I just came from seeing Matthew. I miss the little nugget."

"We miss him too, son." Bo replied.

"Son. You called me son. Oh pa! I love you!" David hugged Bo tightly and didn't let go.

"Ok, David, you can let go now." Bo said.

"Never!" David exclaimed.

-v-

The Evans' were invited to spend New Years Eve with Tea and Dani. There had been tension between Tea, Blair, Todd and Starr so Tea thought Dani may not mind not going over to the Cramers if her best friend was there. Plus, Tea and Shaun had become pretty close friends and she was developing a good relationship with Phylicia as well.

On the car ride over, Destiny was beginning to feel small contractions but didn't say anything. They were far apart and seemed like Braxton Hicks contractions. She had them once before.

Phylicia brought a chocolate cake for the occasion. Tea loved the cake and happened to be craving chocolate anyway.

"Destiny told us you weren't feeling too well when she spent the night last. How are you doing?" Phylicia asked Tea.

"I'm a lot better. Thank you."

"You call us if you need anything! You know I mean that." Shaun said.

"I will and the invitation goes both ways... I'm really glad the girls are such good friends. They get each other through a lot and in result of their friendship, we've all come together."

"Ahhhh!" They heard Destiny scream from the living room so they all went to check on her.

"I'm definitely in labor. This is the real thing." Destiny said. Vivian went over to check her out.

"She's right. This baby is coming today." Vivian said.

"Let's get you to a hospital." Shaun said.

"Uh-oh. My water just broke."

"She's not going to make it to the hospital." Vivian said.

"Please, call the Buchanan's. They should be here." Destiny said.

Richard called Bo so he, Nora and David got there about fifteen minutes later. Tea let them in once they were there. By then Vivian had everything prepped for the delivery.

"Did we miss it?" Nora asked.

"You're just in time." Vivian replied. "Ok Destiny, push!" Shaun coached her after he got off the floor from fainting.

It wasn't long before Destiny delivered a beautiful baby boy. He had brown curly hair, light brown eyes, was Phylicia's complexion and had Matthew's cheek bones.

"He's beautiful, reminds me of Matthew." Nora said.

"Do you have a name yet?" Dani asked. Destiny looked at her bundle of joy and nodded her head.

"Evan, for one side of his family that loves him. Charley, for the grandmother he'll never know but I want to include her some way and Buchanan, for the other side of his loving family. Evan Charley Buchanan."

"It's perfect. A child born on the eve of a new year marks the beginning of something special." Phylicia said.

"I was kind of hoping you'd name him after me." David said, causing them all to laugh.


This story might move kind of fast so let me know if it's moving too fast at any point.