The party planning was still in full force. Claudia, Izzie, and even Dominica had been roped into it. Kristina was even at our house helping the effort, it was her party, too. Heels were also soon going to be a distant memory for Claudia, she could barely see her feet still. Oh and how could I forget Izzie had started calling me dad.
"Are you girls hungry?" I asked the four of them. "Yes!" They all yelled. "Okay, I'll call when it's ready." I turned and walked into the kitchen. I started to pull out random ingredients, listening to all the girls talk. Their voices carried pretty far.
Then all their voices stopped, maybe they had lowered them I went on and turned on the stove. Then Izzie, Kristina, and Dominica ran into the kitchen. "Dad, there's a man, he's pointing a gun at mom." Izzie told me, starting to cry. Dominica walked over to me as Kristina hugged her sister.
"It's Anthony." Dominica whispered in my ear, and with that I ran out of the kitchen. I stayed behind a plant, pulling out my gun. She was trying to have a conversation with him. "Dad, give me the gun." She said. She was trying to turn him around, so his back was facing me, making it easier for me to pull my gun on him.
"No Claudia let me just see your mother." He said, turning along with Claudia, he was playing into her hand. "No! I won't let you hurt her, not again." She yelled. "Well you see Claudia I have a dilemma, because if I shoot you to get to her, my grandchild might not survive, but if its not a boy it doesn't matter." "Well I don't know, so there's another dilemma for you." She wrapped her arms around the baby, trying to protect it.
"Claudia don't get smart or I may just shoot for the fun of it." He laughed at her. She kept moving and finally his back was turned. I stepped out of the shadows and pulled the gun on him. "Corinthos, I wondered how long it would take for you to come to the rescue." "Claudia go!" I told her.
"I don't think so Claudia." Anthony yelled. "If she moves I shoot." As he said that she grasped onto the couch. Her blood pressure was rising again. I shot at him, I didn't care if he lived or dies I needed to get to my wife and child. Max and Milo ran in, they usually do have great timing, I pointed at Anthony and they took him away.
"Mom!" Izzie yelled running into the room, followed by Kristina and Dominica. I got to Claudia and grabbed her arm. "You okay?" I asked. She shook her and fell into my arms. "Mom!" Izzie yelled again. "Claudia!" Kristina and Dominica yelled in unison. I picked her up, balancing her head and ran towards the doors, everyone followed.
Max and Milo were already preoccupied so Dominica drove to General Hospital. "You guys go, I'll park." She said. Kristina opened the door and I ran to the emergency room entrance. A gurney was waiting along with Dr. Lee and several nurses. Dr. Lee looked at me questionably as they rolled her into the hospital.
They wouldn't let any of us in the room. So I stood with Izzie and Kristina, who were both in tears. "Daddy, is mom gonna be okay?" Izzie asked me looking into my eyes. "I don't know Iz, I don't." My own eyes welling up. I went up and held my daughter. She was mine whether she liked it or not. Kristina just sat there, trying to process everything.
"Dad, that was Anthony Zacchara, wasn't it?" Kristina finally said. I wanted to breakdown and cry, but both girls looked at me critically. "Yes, that was Claudia's father." I finally answered. "How could a man do that to his daughter?" Kristina asked in disbelief. "Anthony is a very sick and twisted man." Just as I said that Dominica walked up.
"How is she?" She asked immediately. "We don't know they won't let us in the room." Izzie cried, Dominica grabbed her and held her in her arms. I grabbed Kristina who had started to cry again. "This is all my fault." She sobbed. "Why is it your fault?" I asked. "He wanted me and Dominica, but Claudia told us all to run and now the stress, something's wrong, and I could be responsible for another one of my siblings death." She said through her tears. Izzie walked over and motioned for me to give Kristina to her.
"Sis, it's gonna me okay. Mom's strong and I'm sure the baby is, too. This isn't your fault Krissy." Izzie told her. "You think?" Kristina looked up at her. Izzie gave a reassuring nod and smile. Dr. Lee walked out of Claudia's room. Izzie jumped off the chair. "Is my mom okay?" She asked.
Dr. Lee shook her head. "Sonny I need to speak to you alone." She looked right at me. "Oh no! That's my mom in there and I demand to know what's going on." Izzie yelled. I went to her and put her in my arms. "I'll tell you once I know." She nodded and sat back down.
Me and Kelly walked several feet away. "Did not you both promise to keep he stress level low." I nodded. "That didn't happen and now she is in the range for a stroke or heart failure." My resolve crumbled and tears started to pour from my eyes. "How's the baby?" I asked, it distracted me from the fact that again my wife could die.
"It would be a whole lot better if its mother wasn't at such a high risk." She said harshly. "Can we see her?" She nodded and left. I walked back towards our family. Izzie walked towards me, quickly. "What's wrong with my mom?" She asked starting to cry again. "Shh, it's okay. Her blood pressure is too high, they're gonna try to bring it down." "What about the baby?" Kristina asked, she had already caused the death of her un-born baby brother months ago, in her own mind she didn't want to be the cause again.
"It's okay for now. Do you guys want to go see her?" I asked. Izzie and Kristina both nodded. Dominica just sat there. "Dominica?" "I'll stay out here for now." She said looking up and smiling. I nodded and walked with the girls into her room. I walked to her side and grabbed her hand. Izzie climbed into the bed with her and Kristina stood at the foot of the bed.
"You gotta be okay mommy, please." Izzie begged. She laid her head in Claudia's neck and cried a little. Kristina walked to her sister's side and put her hand on Izzie's shoulder. "I can't lose you, mom, I can't." She begged some more, it obliviously did something, because Claudia's eyes opened.
"What am I doing in here, again?" She asked, this made me laugh, because she add the word 'again' to the end of her question. "You got too stressed out, again." I told her. She stuck her tongue out. Then she realized that Izzie was right by her side. She ran her hand through her daughter's hair. "It's okay baby girl, I'm right here." She told Izzie. "But momma, you……….you.." She trailed off. "I'm okay now. Me and your baby sibling are fine."
Claudia looked at Kristina. "What's wrong, Krissy?" She asked. "I caused this, I did this to you and my little sister or brother." Her voice trembled. Claudia shook her head. "This isn't your fault, he would've hurt you and I will never let that happen to any of you." She looked at me. "Girls, why don't you go wait outside for a few minutes." Both girls nodded and gave Claudia a hug before leaving.
I climbed into bed with her and put my hand on her stomach. I felt the baby kick and she smiled. "Sonny if I d…….die-" I cut her off. "Don't you dare talk like that, don't you dare give up." "No listen to me, if I do you have to tell Izzie that you're her father, or else she'll have to go back to Milan and she loves it here." "Okay, also you can be released, so I'll go get the papers." I told her, kissing her and leaving.
I ran back to the room after getting the papers signed. All three girls had helped Claudia get dressed, and gotten her into the wheelchair. "Let's go! Please." She begged then smiled.
I carried her up the steps to our bedroom. I placed her gently on the bed and laid next to her. "You really scared me today." I told her. "I'm sorry, I was scared too. He was so close to my mother, my daughter, and my step-daughter all at the same time. I had to protect them before anything else. I would like my reward, thank you." She said, looking into my eyes. "Oh no, not tonight you need rest not sex."
"No I'm pretty sure I know what I need and I need you." She said pulling me into a kiss. After we released I was inches away from her face. "If you need me, you have me." I told her kissing her again. So in the end she did get her reward.
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Okay I know it was really fast paced in the beginning, but that was to show how everything was moving. I might have to change the rating to M, because I feel so limited with just saying they rewarded each other so we will see.