For a while, Alex did nothing but stroke Annalise's back in long soothing motions, her cheek resting on top of her head. She didn't know how long they'd been sitting there, but eventually, she noticed her cries had turned to sniffles, after everything had finally left her.

"All cried out?" Alex asked, softly.

Annalise nodded.

"No more tears to shed?"

"No…" came a muffled answer.

"Are you sure?" Alex asked, playful this time. She was trying to ease the tension and get Annalise distracted.

"Yeah!" Annalise chuckled a little.

"Good… Good…" Alex murmured, patting her back.

Several more moments passed before Annalise finally moved, pulling herself back.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice husky from crying, "I didn't mean to fall apart like this. I'm so sorry."

Alex lifted her hand to stop Annalise.

"You don't need to apologise to me. I mean it!" Alex's face was deadly serious and highly concerned.

"No…No…" Annalise protested, shaking her head bashfully, "You souldn't have seen me like this. But… but it's just… so overwhelming that you're here now. I'm sorry you had to see this."

"Well," Alex smiled profoundly, "I'm glad I was the one to see this. Now, come on, stop eating your heart out and let me put you to bed, okay? Your hands are getting cold already." She gently helped Annalise up to her feet and guided her to the bedroom.

When they reached the bedroom, she stood her beside the bed and helped her out of her shirt and skirt. Reaching to the foot of the bed for her robe, Alex gently put it on her shoulders. Annalise slipped into it and sat on the edge of the bed, curling the soft fabric aroud herself.

After that Annalise instinctively reached for her wig, but then changed her mind hesitantly.

"Do you mind if I helped you with that too?" Alex asked with a genuine, understanding smile on her pale face.

Annalise dropped her eyes, giving her head the tiniest shake. So Alex gladly pulled the wig off and helped her get into bed, delicately tucking her in.

"Remember I used to call you mom?" she smiled nervously as she sat at the edge of the bed and started playing with the comforter. She scrunched it beneath her palms then smoothed it down.

"And I used to love it." came the answer right away. It was exhausted but yet mischievous.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Can I… I mean… Would you still like that?" Alex's eyes suddenly filled with tears.

"Yeah. I'd love that." Annalise replied, whispering.

"So can I still call you mom?"

"Yes."

Alex sighed letting all the tension flow from her body. Her eyes shone with gratitude and joy.

"Mom?" she vocalized, giving it a try. It felt just right.

"Yeah?"

"I missed you!" Her tears finally fell.

"I missed you too, baby." Annalise replied, scooting closer to Alex, her hand reaching out and touching her cheek as she continued to speak. "But I knew you had your reasons."

"Mom?"

"Yes, baby?"

"Do you mind if I stay?"

"I don't mind at all," Annalise smiled again, "I want you to." She patted on the other side of the bed. "Come on, hop in."

Alex gladly kicked off her shoes and climbed into bed next to her mother.

**FLASHBACK**

TEN YEARS AGO IN ANNALISE'S BEDROOM

It had been a week now, without her baby boy and now Sam had left too. She was slowly falling apart. She was staring at the ceiling from her bed when her soft cries gradually turned into violent sobs. That was when her daughter knocked softly on the other side of the door.

"Mom?" nineteen-year-old Alex was standing by the door, worried. "Can I come in? Are you alright?"

Annalise forced herself to stop crying, but didn't bother to wipe her damp cheeks.

"Yeah, you can come in." she replied, her voice was raw from the aching sobs that had been shaking from her throat only moments before.

Slowly cracking the door open, Alex walked in the room and sat on the edge of the bed. Taking her mother's hand in hers, she stroked it softly and without saying anything, she just looked into her eyes.

"What is it?" Annalise asked.

"I'm really worried, mom. Talk to me? Please?"

"I killed him. It's my fault." Annalise whispered faintly.

"Mom, of course it's not your fault. It was an accident!"

Loud, racking sobs rocked her body, and Annalise wailed loudly into her daughter's hands. Alex was quick to move. Laying down beside her, she slide her arms around her mother, trying to soothe her. She had never seen Annalise like this before. It kind of broke her heart to see her mother struggle and carry the burden alone.

"It's going to be alright," she whispered against Annalise's hair before kissing the top of her head as she kept sobbing quietly.

**END OF FLASHBACK**

"Won't you ask me if I did it?" Annalise asked, rolling over to face Alex.

"Nah. I know you didn't." Alex replied, shaking her head, snuggling a little.

"How?"

"Hello, I know you. You are not capable of something like that."

"What if I was?"

"No, you're not. Don't play me!"

"Don't you want to know what happened?"

"Mom, he was already dead to me. I don't care if he is... dead again... now."

For a long moment there was a silence between them during which Alex heard Annalise's heavy breathing.

"But..." Annalise finally decided to talk, "...what if I want to tell you what happened?"

Alex raised herself a little on the bed, putting her elbow on the bed, supporting her head with her hand. Without breaking eye contact, she moved her hand and held her mother's hand. A quick squeeze and then a release. It was a brief gesture but it was enough. With a serious and certain expression on her face, she answered:

"Then I'll listen to you."

tbc...