Disclaimer: I don't own them no matter how much I wish as said in Chapter 1

A/N : Sorry it took so long to update didn't know anyone was reading it! Glad you like it and will try to update soon.

Chapter 3: The Truth Comes Out

Nick walked into the hospital room where Brenna resided. He was surprised at how dark it was and how the lonely lamp at the bedside table gave Brenna a beautiful glow. He went over to the chair by her bed and was surprised to see a girl of about sixteen sleeping half in the chair and half on the bed. He walked around to the other side of the bed and gently caressed Brenna's face with his thumb, as he had when they were going out.

"Mmmm... who's there? Erin is that you?" Brenna called softly.

"No, it's me. Nicholas. I came as soon as I heard." Nick said quietly as he silently took her hand in his.

"Nicholas. I ... I ... didn't expect you to come. I figured Sister Mary-Catherine might call you, she's the only one who knew the truth." Brenna slowly spoke.

Nick handed her a glass of water and held it for her as she began to cough. He set the glass down and pulled up a second chair on the other side of the bed. He took her hand in his as he pondered her last statement.

"Brenna, what are you talking about? What truth?" Nick asked.

"Who fathered my daughter." Brenna whispered. Her breathing was becoming labored, as she struggled with each breath.

"So, it's true Sister wasn't lying. Is this her sleeping next to you?" Nick asked.

"Yes, that's my daughter Erin Nicola O'Connor -Newman." Brenna rasped out as she strained even harder to speak.

"Wait, Brenna are you saying that's my daughter?" Nick asked quietly.

"Yes, the night before you left for home due to the fact your sister was missing, we made love. Erin was the result. You never called, wrote, or got in touch with again. After that I knew I wasn't what you wanted, and I figured it wasn't fair to saddle you with baby. Then I heard you were getting married, I knew then it was the last nail driven in on the coffin. We would never be meant to be, I finally answered Erin's question's about which is half of what caused this mess." Brenna weased out as a nurse came in and began to check levels.

The nurse put Brenna on oxygen to try and help her breathing. As the nurse walked out, Erin slowly began to wake up. She was disoriented after finally getting some much deserved sleep.

"Mom? Are you okay, who's this guy?" Erin asked angrily as she looked at Nick.

"Don't you know this is a private room? I want you out of here, you upset my mom!" Erin said icily to Nick before Brenna could explain.

Nick looked shocked that such a young girl could harbor such anger and venom at someone she didn't even know. Nick looked at Brenna for help, as for what to do.

Brenna saw his look and took a deep breath before she tried to speak.

"Erin, don't worry its okay. He's cool. He's Nicolas Newman, your father. Now before you say a word I want you to know," Brenna started violently coughing. After a few minutes she had stopped. "When I die he will have custody of you until your 21st birthday, he's a good man my little Nicola, I know I promised you I would never leave you, but as corny as this sounds I will always live on in your heart and in your memories. I love you and I hope someday you both will be able to forgive my actions sixteen years ago but I did what I thought was best."

Erin leaned down and gave her mom a kiss and whispered, " I love you too mom."

Brenna started coughing badly and this time blood came out as she coughed. Erin hit the call button for the nurses; Nick begged and pleaded to Brenna not to die on him now that he had just found her again. The nurses and doctors came running in just as Brenna's heart stopped. Erin and Nick were forced out of the room and into the waiting room where the Sister's silently sat.

Erin ran to Sister Mary-Catherine in tears. Nick sat in a chair and said every prayer he knew. A few hours later A Doctor walked in "Family of Brenna O'Connor?" he asked.

They all stood and gathered around the doctor who was obviously covered in Brenna's blood. "I'm so sorr..." was all he got out before Erin ran at him hitting him in the chest calling him a liar, and other such names. Nick pulled her off of him and held her tight in his embrace for the first time as father and daughter. Together they silently stood crying tears of sadness as the nuns offered up silent prayers.