***2 Years Ago***

"Kim, hi," Max said lamely. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to you."

Max nodded. "Okay. I'm sorry you had to find out this way."

"It's just a rebound thing. He doesn't love you, and he isn't going to marry you. He just wanted sex after Mom left," Kim cried. "That's all!"

"Kim, I know that you're hurting. If I could take back everything that happened, I would. I wish I could. Your father and me . . . it had a lot of repercussions that we weren't ready for," Max trailed off. "You're right though. It was a rebound thing."

"I am?" Kim asked, a bit taken back. "It is?"

Max paused. "It is, and it's complicated. Both of us just ended something, and it happened. I don't know what is going to happen next. Whatever does . . . I don't know. We have a lot to work out. Separately."

"What is going to happen? Are you two still together?"

Max shook her head. "It's complicated. I don't know. The four of you need to be together, and I need to figure out how to be a Mom. I need to tell Kenny too. Shit."

"What?"

"The surgery."

***Present***

"You never told me why Max was in the hospital, or in a coma," Kenny said, as Skeeter paused. "You care to clue me in?"

"Not yet," Skeeter said, not sure it was his place to tell him that he was a father. "It'll come into play later. Trust me. You won't want to listen to the rest of this if I tell you now."

***2 Years Ago***

"Carol?" Max asked, after Kim left. "I meant to call earlier."

"Well why didn't you? We left you at least 10 messages. Do you just not care?"

"Of course I care," Max countered, as her gaze traveled to her sleeping baby. "Some things came up, and this was the first chance I got. How is he? Did the surgery work?"

"He's in a coma, and the doctors aren't sure when he's going to wake up. There is brain activity though, and its good sign. Are you going to be coming out here?"

"I want to," Max replied. "You don't know how much. I have to tell you something though, and I probably should have the last time I talked to you. I told Kenny, but I'm not sure he understood. I wanted to give him something to fight for."

"What is it?"

Max paused. "I just had a baby. Kenny's baby. A girl."

"A baby?"

"A baby," Max verified, as Jimmy came in. "She's beautiful, perfect. I'd like you to meet her, all of you."

"I'm a grandmother," Carol said softly. "Are you okay? Will you bring her when you come?"

"I promise, but I have to go right now," Max replied, feeling Jimmy's gaze on her. "I'll call you with my plans. You're all in my thoughts. Bye."

"Who was that?" Jimmy asked, as she hung up the phone. "And how are you? You look a lot more awake than you did awhile ago."

"I'm good," Max said with a small smile. "I've been getting to know this girl here."

"Who was on the phone?"

Max paused. "Um ,Carol. Kenny's Mom. He hasn't woken up yet, but there is brain activity. So it's something at least."

"Did you tell her?"

Max gazed down at her daughter. "Yeah. They're her grandparents after all. I'm going to Philadelphia to see them soon."

"You mean to see Kenny."

"That too," Max admitted. "I know it isn't what you want to hear Jimmy, but I need to get out of here for a while. You need time alone with your family, to repair the damage that's happened. Kim came to see me earlier, and she needs you. Whether she wants to admit it or not."

"You want me to go? Just like that?"

"I need to figure out what I want, and how to do this. Can you just give me some space?"

"I love you. Why isn't that enough?"

"Are you sure?"

"No! When you woke up you were calling out for Kenny! After everything he put you through!"

"I was?" Max asked.

"You're still in love with him," Jimmy finished. "Admit it."

"I am," Max said softly. "Jimmy, I'm sorry. I don't know what I would have done without you the last few months."

"And now that you found your boyfriend, and we're done. Thanks, Max. Good luck with all of that. Bye."

"Jimmy! Wait!"

***Present***

"So they split up?" Kenny asked.

"Er, sort of," Skeeter replied. "Jimmy really loved her, Kenny, and he wasn't the same person afterward. And Max, well people like to talk. She kept a low profile for a while, but then something else happened. Which we'll get to later."

"Did she come to Philadelphia? I don't remember, and my parents never said anything."

"She did, and I'm not surprised."

***2 Years Ago***

"Max. It's so good to see you," Carol cried, throwing her arms around the younger woman. "We're so glad that you came, and Kenny will be too. Oh, she's beautiful."

"Has he woken up?" Max asked, juggling the baby carrier and diaper bag.

"His brain waves are more active," Carol replied, looking at her granddaughter. "And you being here will make a difference, I know that. And this little angel. Did you decide on a name yet?"

"It did take awhile," Max admitted. "There was a lot going on, but I did. Kaylee."

"Oh, I like that," Carol sighed, as they walked down the hall. "Can I hold her? Unless you want to bring her in with you?"

"Maybe not the first time," Max replied slowly, not sure she wanted to relinquish her one month old child to anyone. "You wouldn't mind?"

"No, go on now," Carol prodded, as Max handed her the baby carrier. "I know that you've waited a long time for this."

Max merely nodded, as she walked slowly into the dim room. Oh Kenny, she thought, as she came to the bed, I was so worried about you. As pissed as I was and still am, you have to wake up. Maybe not for us anymore, but for Kaylee.

"Hi," she finally said, carefully sitting on the side of the bed and taking his limp hand in hers. "It's Max. I know that you're still in there Kenny, so come on. Open your eyes, look at me. Even if it's to tell me to go away again. I can handle that if I know that you're going to okay. Just tell me. Anything."

She lapsed into silence, and squeezed his hand in hers. Tracing her fingers over his bald and scarred scalp, Max wanted to weep for all that had happened in the last few months.

"I have to tell you something," she whispered instead. "I hope that you can hear me. We have a daughter, Kenny, a beautiful little girl. She has your eyes, and I want you to meet her. So you have to wake up. Not for me, but for her."

***Present***

"Max wasn't there when I woke up," Kenny said quietly. "Why? What happened? Did something happen to her?"

"Max is fine," Skeeter replied. "Alive and kicking as far as I know. We're not done yet, so shut up and listen."

***2 Years Ago***

"I'm afraid that you might have to start looking for a long term care facility," Dr. Chalmers said. "I know it isn't what you want to hear, but he isn't waking up. That's not to say that it isn't still a possibility, but it's been almost two months."

"There isn't anything that you can do?" Max asked, as she shifted Kaylee to her other hip. "There isn't a way to shock him out of it?"

"We've explored every option," Chalmers replied. "I am sorry for this, but you can make him comfortable."

"How long can he stay like this?" Tom asked.

"Months, years," Chalmers said. "It depends. I have some pamphlets if you'd like to look at some places. I know you live in Chicago, and there are some fine facilities there. I'm here if you have any questions."

"Thank you," Carol replied. "We know that you did everything that you could."

"He has to wake up," Max said softly, as Chalmers left.

"I want to believe that too," Carol said, as she joined her on the couch. "Ssh, don't cry. He's not in any pain, and he isn't suffering. He loved you Max, more then he ever thought possible. Hold onto that."

"I loved him too. I'm a terrible person."

"No, you're not," she replied. "You flew all the way out here after a very difficult birth, and spent your maternity leave here with us. I know you had to have been furious with the way we left, and you still came."

Max shook her head. "You don't understand."

"Understand what Max?" Jimmy said from behind them. "I've been trying to call you, but you've gotten really good at dodging calls. I finally decided to come out and join you. See if we could work this out."

"You were Kenny's boss," Tom said. "What are you doing here?"

"Max didn't tell you?"

"Tell us what?" Carol asked.

Jimmy shot her a look before replying. "Do you want to or should I?"

"Don't do this," Max whispered. "Can we talk in private?"

"Do you know that I'm the laughing stock of the town? I stepped down as Sheriff? My kids won't forgive me. All because I fell for a tramp like you. Don't buy her vulnerable act. She's a viper."

"What are you talking about?"

"We had an affair," Max said softly. "After Kenny left."

"How could you?" Carol gasped. "And Kaylee. How do we know that she is Kenny's? How many people were you sleeping with while you claimed to love my son?"

"Kaylee is Kenny's child," Max replied, fighting back her tears, "And I would have never cheated on him. He left! This just happened!"

"I love you," Jimmy stated. "You know that Max. Don't give up all of that to play martyr."

"And I told you that I needed time," she retorted. "So did everyone else."

"I've given it to you!"

"Go with him," Carol spat. "You obviously want to, and I don't want you around Kenny anymore. He'd be ashamed by all of this. I doubt that Kaylee is even his. I can't stand the sight of you."

"Carol, Tom," Max begged, her heart shattering. "Please."

"Just go," Tom said coldly. "Take your bastard child with you."

"Okay," Max said carefully. "You know where I'm staying. Kaylee is his. Hate me if you want, but she is your grandchild."

***Present***

"I guess my parents didn't take that news to well," Kenny commented.

"Nope," Skeeter replied. "Let's take a break from that though. The department was in an uproar after the Jimmy Max thing came out. Jimmy started drinking a lot after Max told him that she was going to see you and that she needed some space."

"Wait a second. Where was Jill when all of this was going?"

"Did I forget to mention that Jill had already run off with her lover? They're out in California together. Do you know who it is?" Skeeter asked, as Kenny shook his head. "Rachel Harris. Jill is a lesbian. How about that?"

Kenny stared at him dumbfounded, as Skeeter picked up his story.

***2 Years Ago***

"Max! Wait!" Jimmy called, jogging down the hall after her. "Wait! I need to talk to you!"

"Talk? Just leave me alone," Max spat, as he reached out for her. "Don't even think about touching me."

"Would you just listen?"

"Oh, I think that you've said enough for the day. Just get the hell away from me!"

"Listen! You wouldn't take my calls for almost a month. What was I supposed to do?"

"Give me some space! Work things out with your family! Jimmy, we don't have a future together. Your kids, the town, they'll never accept it. I don't think I can either. It was wonderful while it lasted, but we're done. Go home."

"So what? You're just going to sit by his bedside forever?"

"I needed to say goodbye," Max replied. "He isn't going to wake up."

"So what is holding you here? Come home with me. I love you, Max."

"Don't," she whispered, as he grabbed onto her. "Let go of me!"

"Would you listen to me?"

"I'll scream."

"Let's run away together. My family hates me, so let's start over."

Max shook her head, as she pulled away from him. "No. Don't even think of walking out on your children Jimmy. Now or ever. I'm leaving. Good-bye."

***Present***

"That's all I know that happened in Philly," Skeeter said. "Max walked away from him, and Jimmy came back to Rome. Heartbroken. I still wonder how much of that had to with Jill and how much with Max."

"My parents never told me she was there."

"Oh, they didn't tell you a lot of things."

***2 Years Ago***

"Jimmy?" Littleton said cautiously, shooting a concerned Skeeter a look. "Do you think that you've had enough?"

"No," Jimmy stated, as he downed another scotch. "What do you two want?"

"Just to check up on you," Skeeter offered. "I know that you've been through a lot lately, and still are."

"You don't know anything," Jimmy growled. "Just go away."

"Let me bring you home," Littleton offered. "We can get your car in the morning."

"Go away," Jimmy said, pushing away from the bar. "Go back to your perfect little lives, and stay the hell out of mine."

"Follow him," Skeeter said, as they chased Jimmy out into the parking lot. "Shit! He shouldn't be driving. Come on."

"Shit!" Littleton yelled, as they saw the Blazer crash into the phone poll.