** DISCLAIMER I do not own any character appearing on "General Hospital".

*words* = thoughts "words" = talking/speaking ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHAPTER 6: Zander Can't Believe "It"

"Well "it" is a "she" and yes she is yours, not your brother Pete's. We did a DNA test after she was born.", said Beth with a sigh of relief.

Zander's jaw dropped. Just as she has said that to him he had a spoonful of JELL-O in his mouth, he started to cough and try to swallow that JELL-O. Part of him wished that she hadn't have said that, but the other part of him was relieved that "it" or "she" (for that matter) was his.

"Alexander are you alright? I'll go get you some water.", offered Cameron. Cameron got up and left the table to get water and left Beth and Zander together.

"I know it's a big shock Zander.", said Beth to a still coughing Zander, "But you really had to know. "

Dr. Lewis came back with some water, he saw Zander with a very shocked expression on his face. Cameron then looked at Beth with disapproval, he had wished that she had told Zander in a more gentle manner.

"Here Alexander, have some water.", offered Cameron.

As Zander was drinking his water all he could think about was the fact he was a father and has been for seven years! He put the glass down and put his head in his hands, all he could think of now was Emily. *How is she going to react when she hears that I have a daughter? She wants to have children but will she not like the fact that I already have a child? Why couldn't this girl have been my brother's? I wished I have never bumped into Beth in the first place, and I wish I never had slept with her all those years ago, who knows what might have been.*

"Zander, please say something. You're scaring me. Please, Zander say something.", pleaded Beth as she reached across the table to him.

"What do you want me to say Beth?!", Zander snapped back, "Huh? That I somehow knew that this is what you were going to tell me? And then what Beth? And then what?"

Beth knew that Zander would be hostile, but it was a big shock to her too when they found out that Erin was his. If it wasn't for Zander's mother saying that Erin looked more like Zander than Pete when they were a baby then Beth wouldn't have to have had a paternity test done.

"Zander, I know you're married, but you have to know about your daughter Erin.", started Beth, "I had thought for sure that Erin was Pete's, you know someone/something that everyone can remember him by. Zander I don't know what else to say except that you had to know about her. I felt guilty that you didn't know and when your father told me where you were I was shocked because I was offered a job here at General Hospital and had decided to take it a month before I found out where you were. Zander I'm not pressuring you to see her or anything I just wanted you to know, here have a picture of her."

Beth reached into the shirt pocket of her scrubs and pulled out a current school photo of Erin. She handed it to Zander, he slowly grabbed for it, he looked at it as it was there in his hand. She had the same straight dark hair that Zander had, the same cleft in the chin, although it wasn't as prominent it was still there. She had Beth's smile and the same round shaped face. Zander still couldn't believe it, he has this proof right here in front of him, this was his daughter.

"She is a pretty girl isn't she?", asked Dr. Lewis, "You know she is named after your mother."

Just as Dr. Lewis said that, Beth's beeper went off, plus her coffee break was over.

"Sorry about that.", said Beth as she was turning off her beeper, "I've got to go. Zander I really hope we can talk again. I'm not looking for a commitment or anything Zander and if you are mad at me, you have every right to be. I'll see you around. Thanks for being here too Dr. Lewis."

"No problem Bethany, tell Erin that her grandpa says hello.", replied Cameron.

"Don't worry, I will. Bye.", said Beth as she walked down the corridor and out the cafeteria.