There's a tap on the door, and it's opened by Ryan to let Wanda in with the tea tray, which she sets on the table. I get up and head over as Ana speaks to her.

"Thank you so much, Wanda."

Wanda walks over to Ana and takes her extended hand, she then leans down and hugs her.

"You're more than welcome Miss Ana. I'm so glad you're feeling better! It does my heart good to see it, especially since you were so miserable there for awhile."

I gather Ana's things and carry them over to her table as she and Wanda continue to chat.

"Well, you had something to do with that, you know!"

I move the table closer to Ana.

"Thanks, baby."

Wanda heads out, but tells us Robert will be Ana's nurse again tonight. Good. We enjoy a little quiet time sipping tea while we wait for Nanny's call. Ana looks over at me and tilts her head before speaking.

"We haven't really talked about what happened this afternoon. Are you OK? I mean all this worry; about me, about the press, then there are the kids, and your business. That's a lot. I'm worried it's too much for you."

I look at her, surprised.

"Have I given you any indication it's too much?"

Ana is still staring intently in to my eyes, the way that always makes me feel she can see straight into my soul. Has it been too much? I continue to gaze at her as I ponder the thought.

"No, not really. But, I know you can internalize things, and I've been feeling so crappy recently that I haven't been very attuned to you and your needs lately. I'm afraid I haven't been much of a wife and helpmate. I'm so sorry."

She caresses my face as I sit on the bed next to her.

"And the children. My poor babies. Listen, why don't you have Taylor come get you and go home so you can be with the children. I'm really doing OK. I can manage without you tonight."

Ana, Ana, Ana! Always worried of others more than her! I take her hand and kiss her palm.

"Ana Grey, I don't know what it's going to take for me to convince you that I'm fine? You have been going through hell recently, and no one, especially me, expects anything from you except to work on getting well. As for going home tonight, the children will be asleep by the time I would get there. I know it's been rare, but we have gone away and left the children for other reasons before. We both know they are well cared for and safe. Like you said when was it, yesterday? This entire episode will be just a blip in their memories.

"Besides, you have to understand Ana, I HAVE to be here. I just do! If I was home I'd go mad with worry! I realize I'm not really DOING anything, but I need to be here, just to make sure you're OK. So, please don't spend another second worrying about me. As long as I'm here with you, and you're doing well, I'm more than OK. Believe me."

I stare into her eyes and still see a hint of doubt in them, so I intensify my stare to drive home my point until, at last, she smiles and nods,"OK."

My phone suddenly rings, showing Nanny's number. I answer, placing it on hands free.

Ana leans towards the phone, "Hello?"

"MOM…MEE!"

Ana has a broad grin on her face.

"Hi, Ted! Did you get your bath, baby?"

"Yes, Mommy! I clean! But, I no baby! Fee-bee baby! Me big boy!"

I look at Ana, then chime in.

"Hi, Ted!"

"Hi! DAD…DEE! You wif Mommy? Yes?"

I'm grinning like a fool. There's no better medicine in the world than talking to our son!

"Yes, I'm here with Mommy!"

"Mommy! Is your tummy better? It no hurt no more?"

Ana is still smiling, but I see sorrow in her eyes as well.

"Yes, Teddy, it's better. Tell me! What did you do today?"

She bites her lip as she throws me a glance.

"We play inside 'cause Nanny and Miss Gail say it too wet outside. I say I wear my boots, but Nanny say No! I tell Nanny we go out to play in the w'ain before. I tell Nanny before her and Fee-bee come, we go play in the w'ain. 'member, Mommy? We put on the slippery coats and go out to splash in puddles in our boots! She say no today! When you come home can we go out in the w'ain in boots and slippery coats, Mommy?"

Slippery coats? I look at Ana confused. She grins at me, giggling before she answers.

"We'll see about that Teddy. And, remember, we wore rain SLICKERS, not slippery coats!"

Oh! I think I like slippery coats better. Nanny pipes up.

"Teddy, remember why you couldn't go out? What made Phoebe cry?"

Silence. Nanny prompts.

"What made us all jump when we heard it? It was so loud it woke baby Phoebe up and made her cry…. Come now, I know you remember!"

"Oh! it was making ton-der."

"And what always comes with thun-der?"

"Ton-der and light-ting."

"Ligh-ten-ing."

Nanny carefully enunciates.

"Light…te…ting."

Ana holds her hand over her mouth to stifle her giggle. We hear Nanny audibly sigh. I decide to stick up for our son.

"Close enough, son! So, Nanny said you couldn't go out because of the lightning? Well, Ted, you know she's right."

Softly, with a hint of a pout inflected, Teddy replies.

"I know, Daddy."

"Ted?" Ana calls," The thunder made Phoebe cry? What happened?"

"OH! Mommy! Oh! The ton-der come really loud, Mommy! It was, it was… a…a…big BOOM! Really, really loud! The lights, they, they blinked! And…And... Fee-bee, she got woked up and she cry! But, Nanny pick her up an' she stop. There was lots more ton-der, but not as loud, so Fee-bee no cry at them.

"OH! And, Mommy, Daddy! Guess what?! Grandma Grace! She come, and she and Fee-bee go bye-bye. I say I go too, but Grandma Grace say they do girl stuff I no want to do. I say Fee-bee just a baby! I wanna know what girl stuff you do wif baby Fee-bee? Then, Grandma Grace say, 'Baby girl stuff'. I no baby, so I no go!"

I see tears threatening in Ana's eye's, but she's still smiling broadly.

"That's OK, Ted. I'm sure Grandma Grace will take you someplace special to do boy stuff soon. Is Phoebe there?"

"No. Fee-bee sleep. She was fuss'ín. Nanny say she extra tired, so she go nite-nite quick. But, Nanny promise we call an' talk to you and Daddy, but baf' first."

Ana nods, "Yes, bath first."

"Mommy?"

"Yes, Ted?"

"When you and Daddy come home?"

He sounds so sad. I look at Ana, tears are threatening, but she puts a brave face on for Teddy.

"Soon, baby boy. You sleep tonite, and sleep tomorrow night, and the next day we should be home. OK? You promise to mind Nanny and Miss Gail?"

"Yes, Mommy."

"I love you Teddy, so much. I'm going to ask Nanny to give you a big kiss that's from me. OK? I'll be home to give you lots of kisses, and hugs in a couple of days. OK?"

"I love you too, Ted. I want Nanny to give you a kiss from me as well. But, she also has to give you a tickle you for me!"

Teddy giggles, it sounds so much like Ana, only in a Munchkin voice.

"Tickles? Oh, no, Daddy! I wait for you. Nanny no good at tickles. So, tell her just a kiss. OK?"

He sounds so serious! I grin like the fool I am.

"OK. But, I'll owe you some tickles!"

"Teddy," Ana says, "Tomorrow, when your sister gets up, will you give her a kiss from me?"

"Yes, Mommy. Daddy? You want me to kiss Fee-bee for you too?"

I feel myself tearing up a bit; he's such a sweet child.

"Yes, please. I'd appreciate it."

I look at Ana and she's beaming.

"Good night Teddy. Sleep well, baby boy. I love and miss you SO much."

"Nite, Mommy. I wuv you, too."

"Good night Ted. I love you too. We'll be home soon. Sleep well."

"Nite, Daddy. I wuv you, too."

We hear Nanny lay the phone down as she gets Teddy settled in his bed. Then, we hear 2 very pronounced smacks, obviously giving him our kisses. I look at Ana and she has a wistful look on her face, tears threatening. A minute later, Nanny picks up the phone and obviously has left Teddy's room because she begins to speak in a normal tone of voice.

"He was out before his head hit the pillow. He's been full tilt all day!"

Ana asks, worried, "Nanny. Did the storm really distress Phoebe?"

"Oh no, I don't think so, Mrs. Grey. She was in the swing and had dozed off. It was very sudden and extremely loud, and I think she was just startled awake, which started her crying. The storms have been going on most of last night and today, and that really was the only time she's cried. A few times, if the thunder was really loud or prolonged, she'd frown, but that's all. Don't worry, she's fine. Now, your Teddy usually doesn't even bother to look up when it storms."

"Oh, that's good, I was worried."

"Dr. Grace told me that you had a wonderful visit with her today. I'm so happy that worked out. It was obvious to me that it was good for Phoebe as well because she was so alert and happy when she came back. Only problem, she didn't go down for much of a nap. I decided to skip her bath tonight and put her down early. And, despite Teddy raising all sorts of Cain this evening, I haven't heard a peep from her since. I'll go check on her shortly. You know she usually sleeps through the night, but I suspect she may wake and want a bottle because she didn't take much cereal this evening. One thing I'll say about your children, they're grand little eaters!"

I throw Ana a look, but she's focusing on the phone. She bites her lip before she answers.

"Yes, it was so good to see her! We both napped, but obviously not long enough. Thank you for taking such good care of them, and I'm sorry you are missing your day off this week because of me. I promise we'll make it up to you."

"Oh, Mrs. Grey; Ana, please don't worry about it. The weeks you have chemo I pretty much plan on being here the entire time because I don't want you to spend a single moment worrying about your babies. There's really nothing I can do for you, but I can be here for the children so you won't have to worry. That way you can worry only about yourself. And, just as we discussed when you were 1st diagnosed, when you're through with all of this, I'll take some time off. Right now, I need to be here with the children, just as Mr. Grey needs to be there with you. It's all good! Promise not to fret about them, please."

"Thank you Nanny, you're so kind. I don't know how we would have managed without you!"

I add my thanks as well.

"Yes, thank you, Nanny. I've had a hard enough time convincing my wife to stop worrying about everyone else and to focus on herself, but you know it's against her nature to do so. At least she knows you are taking good care of the children."

"My pleasure, Ana, Mr. Grey. I'm going to fix a bottle and go check on Phoebe. You both have a good night."

With that she ends the call.

Ana murmurs, "I don't how we would manage right now without that woman. God bless her.

I couldn't agree more.