Everything around Dixie was fuzzy. Everything except for Tad. She could see him perfectly. "I knew you'd be here," Dixie said.

"I couldn't leave you alone in this place," Tad said to her. "I know how much you hate it here."

"I want to go home, Tad. Can't we go home now?"

Tad's hands caressed Dixie's face. "Soon, baby," he said. "It's not time yet."

"But."

Tad put his finger up to his mouth. "It's not worth arguing, Dix. We'd both get upset and I'd end up winning anyway."

Dixie smiled weakly. "That's not true."

"Nice try." Tad smiled back.

"It was worth a shot," Dixie said.

"What, you want to start an argument with me?"

"I don't like the arguing," Dixie said. "It's the making up afterwards that I look forward to."

"Oh. so that's what all those pointless arguments were about."

"You never complained."

"And I'm not now."

"So then when can we go home?"

As soon as the doctors say we can go home."

"Oh, Tad." Dixie whined.

"Don't 'Oh Tad' me." He shook his head, smiling. "You need to rest." Dixie put on a pout that a child of five might have. "Close your eyes. Go on." Dixie reluctantly gave in. Automatically, she felt herself grow tired. As she began to drift into sleep, Tad whispered in her ear. "I love you, Dix. Know that I love you."

"Here she is, she's coming back to us. Dixie? Dixie, can you hear me?"

Dixie couldn't quite focus. "Tad?" she said.

"No, it's Jake." he said as the surroundings came into focus. "Do you know where you are?"

Dixie looked around the room. "Where's Tad?" she asked. "He was here, Jake."

"We've been here with you the whole time, Dixie. Tad is still in his room. Remember?"

"We were in Lacy's," Maria said. "You passed out."

Dixie nodded faintly. "The baby," she looked at Jake. "Is the baby..."

"Easy, Dixie," Jake said. "Maria told me. The baby is fine."

There was silence for a moment as Maria looked at Jake. "Can I talk to her alone for a minute?" Maria asked.

"Yeah," Jake said. "Page me if you need anything, OK?" Maria nodded. "Get some rest, Dixie, alright?"

Jake left the room and Maria sat down beside Dixie. "I saw your labs," Maria said. "You didn't say anything about stress being an issue."

"Jake said that as long as I took it easy I would be fine," Dixie said.

"That's not what he told me. Dixie, listen, I know you're worried about Tad. But you're putting your life at risk. You're going to really hurt yourself."

"I'm fine, Maria. Really."

"You shouldn't worry about convincing me. JR was in the mall today."

"Junior knows about this?"

"We had him bring Colby home." she paused. "This is a lot for a teenager to handle. First Tad, and now you. You're important to him." Dixie stared up at the ceiling. "He said he'd be back after Colby was home."

"I feel terrible," Dixie said. "How could I do this to him?"

"Hold on now. I never said that you did anything to him."

"But I did. He has to stay with Adam now that both me and Tad are in the hospital. We did everything to keep Junior away from Adam..."

"Dixie... Dixie..." Maria tried to calm her. "JR can stay at Wildwind for the next few days. Edmund and I would be glad to have him."

"I can't ask you to do that."

"You didn't ask. I offered. You can't say no."

Dixie smiled. "Thank you. Thank you for doing this for him." Maria was silent. "Can I ask you a favor?"

"Sure."

"I want you to look at Tad for me. If there's anyone who's perfect to check him, it's you."

Maria nodded. "I'll see if Jake will let me take a look. I'm sure he won't mind."

"How am I ever going to repay you for this?" Dixie asked.

"Just get better," Maria told her. "We'll worry about everything else after we're sure that you and the baby are OK. Now... I'd better get out of here and let you rest before JR comes back."

"Could you send him right in when he does?"

Maria nodded. "Now try to relax. I'll see you later."

Maria left the room. Dixie turned her head to the side and looked out the window. It was still bright outside as Dixie laid there. the room was silent. Too silent. She could hear the wall clock ticking and couldn't blank the sound out of her mind.

As Dixie turned her head back and stared at the ceiling again, she put her hand on her belly. "I love you too, Tad," she said, moving her hand in a circular motion. "I love you too."