The Best is yet to Come, Chapter 10:The Only Way to Have a Friend is to be One

Disclaimer: see previous chapters...

A/N: I would like to thank everyone for their reviews. Other than that please R/R.

Lucy stared blankly at the clock mounted on the waiting room wall. She watched as the second-hand made its way slowly around the numbers, 12, 3,6, and nine. Each second that passed seemed like hours in Lucy's mind, each marking another terrible event about to happen in her life. Kevin walked over to Lucy and sat down next to her. He put his warm, trembling hands on her face and kissed her on the forehead.

"Have you heard anything yet?" He questioned.

Lucy shook her head, " Nothing yet, the doctor came out a little while ago and called mom back," She pause and took a breathe, "But the rest of us haven't heard anything."

Kevin looked at her and gave her another kiss, "It will be ok sweetie, it will be ok."

Just then Matt walked in with Sarah, Eliot in is his arms. "So how is he?" Matt said running over and sitting down next to Kevin and Lucy.

Lucy shrugged, "I don't know yet, mom's back there with him."

"I'm so sorry about the baby, "Sarah said taking Lucy's hand.

"It's ok. It was probably for the best, I don't think that Kevin and I are quiet ready to be parents yet."

Matt nodded, "So where's Mary?"

"She's in the cafeteria, she took Ruthie and the boys for something to eat."

Just then Annie walked through the double doors, her eyes red from crying. Lucy and Matt stood up and walked over to their crying mother, "So?"

Annie wiped her eyes, "He's fine."

"Thank God!" Matt rejoiced hugging his mother and sister.

Mary sat quietly listening to her brothers and sister talk. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

"Mary!" A familiar voice called.

Mary immediately opened her eyes and turned around to see a tall man with a very muscular profile walking towards her. Mary wiped her eyes to make sure she was seeing strait.

"Wilson!" Mary questioned practically jumping out of her seat.

"Mary, it's been so long." Wilson said giving her a friendly hug, "How are you?"

"Good, and you?"

"Pretty good."

"So how's Billy?"

"He's doing great. He's going to be 14 this year."

"No kidding."

"So why are you here?" Wilson looked down to see Mary's stomach, "I should have known," he said with a giggle.

Mary giggled a little too and shook her head, "My father's is in the hospital, he had another heart attack."

"I'm so sorry is her ok?'

"To be perfectly honest I don't know. So why are you here?" she questioned changing the subject, "My mom was diagnosed with cancer 3 years ago, and it looks as if this is going to be one of her last days."

"I'm so sorry."

"It's ok, I just hope it's soon she's been suffering long enough."

Mary nodded.

"So who's the lucky guy?"

"Me," Carlos said walking over to the table, "And you are?"

"Wilson," Wilson said extending his hand.

Carlos brushed his hand away and turned to Mary, "Your mother's gotten back."

Mary nodded and Ruthie helped the twins up and they all started to leave.

"Mary!"

"Yeah?"

"When are you due?"

"I was due last week."

"How is he?" Mary questioned walking towards the rest of her family members.

"He's doing just fine," Annie said motioning for her to sit down.

Mary took her invitation gratefully and sat down.

"So when is my grandbaby going to make her entrance into the world?" Annie questioned breaking a long silence.

"Hopefully today or someday soon, defiantly by Saturday though."

Annie nodded.

"Mrs. Camden?" A nurse questioned walking over to the large family.

"Yes?" Annie replied.

"Your husband is asking for you."

Annie made her way down the hall to a large white room separated by a curtain. There Eric lay his body limp against the white sheets of the bed and his skin as white as snow, the perfect camouflage. Annie put her hand on Eric's cold cheek, his skin was very cold compared to hers. He looked lifeless, nothing compared to how rosy his cheeks normally were.

Annie bent down next to him and kissed him on the nose, "You're gonna make it Eric, you just have to."

Eric sat up a little and looked into Annie's tear-filled eyes, "I'll hold on for a while Annie, I swear I will." And with that he closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.

Annie stood up and prepared to exit the room. She kissed him one final time and left.

Mary wandered the halls of the hospital looking for where Wilson's mother might be. She paused in front of a door of and elderly women lying limp on the bed. She entered and sat down next to the bed.

"How may I help you child?" The woman questioned.

"I'm looking for a Mrs. West."

"I'm afraid that I'm all that I can offer."

Mary nodded, "Your Wilson's mother."

The woman nodded with all her might., she put her hands on Mary's flush face,

"Child you're warm."

Mary nodded pretending not to hear what the woman had said and began to stand up, "I'm so sorry Mrs. West to hear of your condition."

"It's my time," she said sitting up a little, "Tell Wilson I'm looking for him, it does get very lonely being here all alone all day."

Mary nodded, "I can stay a while if you like."

"Yes child, I would like that."

Matt, Lucy, Ruthie, Sam and David, and now Simon because Matt had called him and Brianna sat in the waiting room as Annie visited Eric. As Annie passed through the double doors everyone stood up waiting for Annie to say something.

"He's very weak," she told them all, "She turned when she saw Simon and Brianna standing there, "Simon! Brianna! I'm so glad you came."

"I'm so glad I came too, "Simon said wrapping his arms around his mother.

"Can we see him?" Lucy questioned.

"He needs his rest, maybe later."

"Please mother, all I'm asking is to see my father."

"I don't think it's a good idea Luce."

Lucy nodded and sat back down signifying defeat.

Mary sat there for hours talking to Mrs. West, but then Mary went silent, so silent that you could hear a pin hitting the ground, the kind of silent that you don't hear very often.

"Miss!" Mrs. West said sitting up and looking to Mary's motionless body.

"Hey mom," Wilson said entering the room.

"Wilson the woman!"

A/N: Ha Ha! Another cliffhanger. I hope you enjoyed this chapter because I find it to be one of my better chapters. So, you get to know that Eric is ok in exchange for Mary, how does that sound. Is Mary ok? Find out in the next chapter, coming soon. Please Review.