Right, hopefully this will be the second last chapter before the new year, although with me who knows.

Enjoy.

She looks pale as she lies sleeping upon the bed, her stillness scares them. Guinevere is never one for staying still. She could stare off into the distance, her mind busy creating a story and still her hands would be moving. Writing, tearing paper, something but no in this sleep she doesn't toss and turn. Or curl into a ball. She just lays there. Still and unmoving.

Alexis is the first to approach, her steps hesitant and lost in the sounds of the machines beside her sister. She reaches out a shaking hand to grasp the one lying limp upon the bed, almost recoiling at the cold touch of it. She won't stay long, she knows. It had been hard enough to stay by the side of a boy she barely knew but to see Gwen like this hurt. She speaks softly to her, unaware of whether or not she could be heard.

"Hey, you scared us but the guy say's you'll be ok. Dad just has to make us his brilliant ice cream sundaes and maybe buy Lanie something. She really showed the mean guy what for. You know all those jokes about Ryan being whipped well I think that they apply to Esposito now too. He's like a puppy following her. A rather protective puppy.

"I'm going now. We can't all stay and if I don't who will look after the parents. We're lucky see, our dad's great we just have to look after him sometimes. I'll be back tomorrow; the others say they'll be here too. We all love you so you've got to wake up soon otherwise the ice cream'll melt and we won't get sundaes but funny drinks. I'll see you later, bye."

With that she leaves, unable to look at the prone figure any longer. Everyone understands, most are fighting similar feelings. Martha approaches next, desperate for a chance with her granddaughter.

"Hey Kiddo, Alexis is right, your Dad's sundaes are worth waking up for. And he's going to make us all one once you're out of here. He just doesn't know it yet. I've got to go now too. Someone has to help Alexis and besides a strong girl like you doesn't need all of us here. That and we still have to tidy up your room from the ball. I'll keep an eye on her too, don't you worry"

With that Martha sweeps out of the room stopping only when a hand reaches out for her. She looks up into the eyes of Jim Beckett, and sees a good man; she nods in response to his offer of a lift home.

His words are brief, full of pain. He not only sees his grandchild laying there but his wife and daughter too. These moments will haunt him; he knows that but deep in his heart he also knows that within the sleeping girl there is Johanna. He sees his wife in her smile and knows that Guinevere has a mighty powerful guardian angel.

"Hey, I've missed you. They say it'll be a while before you wake and as long as you do I'm fine with that. God you must be going crazy listening to us, but I'll tell you what, when you wake up if you can repeat the words I'm about to say to you, then I promise I'll convince your mom to let you get a bike. I'll convince your dad too. So here goes, listen carefully. I told you so."

Kate smiles at the words. She knows full well that she may just have to teach her daughter how to drive but she doesn't care, if that's what it takes to keep her. Hugging the leaving people the pair walk them out giving Ant a private moment before they return to address their daughter.

"Hey Angel. I bet you never want to hear that word again. Hey. We all keep saying it, don't we? This is going to sound strange but Angel don't become an angel. Be the wild passionate devil you really are. We're in New York, I can finally buy you a bike and it's all good.

"Now I don't mean to be selfish or anything but I really need you right now. Your family have accepted me and it's great but I need to deal with what remains of my own. He betrayed us, I want to hate him but like you said I still love him or rather who he once was. Everyone else has faced him and he's suffering, I bet even criminals hate him but I'll need to face him. Don't I? I need you for that.

"You light up my life, without you I'm lost in a world of money and corruption. You are my everything, the person who has kept me, me. Who else would wait for hours for a book I could easily pull strings to get early for you. And then make me read it to you. These past few days, this past week in fact, I've never felt so lost and scared. All I want is to see those big blue eyes of yours and hear you laugh at me. I will wait for you whether you sleep for minutes or hours. I will be here when you wake. Unless I'm in the bathroom but you'll forgive me for that, right?"

He kisses her forehead as he sits, holding her hand in his and there he stays. Kate can't bring herself to speak, Rick for all his talent cannot either. Instead they sit together facing Ant across the bed as he slowly falls asleep.

Soon exhaustion creeps over Kate and she sleeps too, even then she faces her child as she dreams of her awakening. Sometime into the night Rick is startled from his thoughts by a pair of eyes staring at him. They smile at him, making him smile but they don't sparkle like they should, something clouds them.

The sparkle nearly appears as they take in the other occupants of the room. Kate curled up in his lap sleeping peacefully for the first time in days and Ant stretched out onto the bed his hand still holding Gwen's tightly. She smiles at him as she lifts her other hand to stroke a stray hair from his face, she remembers spiking the hair once, using so much gel and getting it half way down his face. He'd made pancakes afterwards, the gel still dripping down his features until she sent him to clean up while she finished the food.

Smiles flicker across her face as she remembers, her gentle touch reaching into his dreams and soothing them. Shifting she stretches forward, ignoring Rick's warnings and places a soft kiss upon Ant's forehead. Settling back she turns to her dad, still unaware of how true that statement is. Her first words surprise him. They are spoken softly but the confidence and strength within them amaze him and then he remembers who her mother is.

"So I'm getting a motorbike. What's your thoughts on that?"

He chuckles slightly, not yet moving to wake the sleeper upon his lap.

"Well, that depends on whether your mother is willing to teach you. But as long as you are safe I am fine with it. Just don't quote me on that, we're blaming your granddad."

"I heard, I heard them all. You never spoke, nor did Mum. But I knew you were here. This was really hard for her wasn't it? Especially after Gran. But she has you now and I'm still here so I think she'll come out of this pretty good. Now important question. How long before we get the sundaes?"

She laughs at his expression, her voice sounding like soft chimes in the breeze. It flows like music into Kate's dreams and so she begins to wake, helped by Rick gently calling her name. To her it's like waking into another dream but the as the laughter ends she can hear the machines and the truth hits her.

She's off him in a moment, holding her daughter as if she could disappear at any moment. The two are crying at the reunion. Their brief connection earlier not enough for them. When Rick finally manages to peel them apart the sparkle is still missing. Just. It's close to returning but he fears that it will take time before he has his daughter fully back.

As he finishes his own hug with her he speaks, suddenly desperate to tell her the good news. His eyes light up as Kate nods at him and he seems to bounce with excitement.

"We found out who your biological dad is."

He pauses as Gwen stares at him, shock and confusion covering her face. Laughing he continues.

"Me! Isn't it great, sure I feel so dumb for not realising, I mean those eyes, how could I have forgotten those eyes? So yeah, you're my daughter so like now your mom is totally stuck with me. But we'll have so much fun. Alexis is so happy."

"You're my real dad, seriously, you were Excalibur! Omg this is unbelievable I didn't think things like this actually happened in real life. I wow it's hard to believe."

Kate watches Gwen struggle to digest the news and says the one sentence that would end the disbelief.

"He kept the mask, I saw it this morning."

She practically jumps out the bed and into her parents' arms. Realising too late that her body was not really up for the action. Rick realised before she did and was already setting her back upon the bed when the pain hit.

"Urgh, pain. What's the damage?"

"Sides ok, concussion needs monitored, bruises and cuts'll bother you for a while. There's a nasty one all down your leg, which will probably scar honey. You also need to keep off your foot for a while the ankle is spirant. How do you feel?"

"Like I fell out a first floor window, but my head doesn't really hurt it just buzzes. I'll be fine in no time. I heal quickly. So will it be a cool scar or a nasty scar?"

Kate laughs at the Castle comment that makes her wonder why she hadn't seen the similarities sooner. Putting such thoughts aside she replies before Rick can make another remark.

"Don't know but we can probably figure out what the one on your side will be like. Your quick healing stopped it from getting much worse and it's still well on its way to being healed."

Pulling back the covers she pulls at her gown until she can see her side. Ignoring everyone's protests she takes off the bandaging to look at the wound. With a shaking finger she traces it. Tears beginning to fall.

It's not just a physical scar but a reminder of the betrayal. Her eyes are dim with pain as she begins to let her emotions out. No one speaks as she stares at it her finger lingering over the site. Another hand takes hers, a finger joining her in tracing it. After a moment it stops and its owner speaks. His other hand reaching up to wipe away her tears.

"Don't remember the reason it's there, remember how you grew from it. Sure it caused pain but you are here now, with your family. You are stronger than ever now. This makes you even more beautiful, it shows you."

She doesn't reply, she just buries herself in his arms as more tears fall. Rick holds her saddened mother as pent up emotions are released.

So, Tell me what you think.

I'll post tomorrow, if I have time. My mum will probably want me to tidy my room but I'll find some time.