AN-hey everybody, thanks for the replies here, but there were few then last time, but I guess that's ok. Here is your next update hope you enjoy.

Chapter 9: Santa María, Madre de Dios

"Sofia...Sofia...." Manny talked in a baby voice to her daughter. She was the only one in the ICU at the moment.

It was now April 12, two days after the baby was born. Manny was back better then ever, she had a bit of a struggle walking but was fine as a matter of fact she was to be discharged this afternoon. And Baby Sofia was getting better soon. She was now awake alert and breathing on her own, but right now she was sleeping.

"Mrs. Brooks?" Manny turned around to face the nurse. She noticed the somber look on her face but couldn't read it. "The doctor would like to speak to you in your room"

"Thanks" Manny nodded she kissed her pointer finger and trailed it across Sofia's cheek, much like Jimmy had. She was dressed in her sweats and ready to be discharged. But when she entered her room she saw Paige and Spinner sitting with the doctor. She smiled even though they weren't.

Since Jimmy hadn't been to the hospital since his argument with Manny, Spinner and Paige had been at her side the whole time. She took her seat in between him.

"What's up?" she asked

"Well, Manny we have a problem" the doctor spoke softly

"Ok" her voice quavered

"As you know, your health is impeccable and you are ready for discharge"

"Yep" Manny smiled. She felt Paige's grip on her hand tighten.

"But Sofia, is not. Today she has a slight fever, and what seems to be the ammonia."

"How bad is it?" Manny couldn't take any more of this, she just wanted to go home, to where ever that was, with her baby and forget this whole thing ever happened.

"Pretty bad" Spinner told her. Then Manny realized the doctor had informed them first

"How bad is pretty bad?" Manny felt the tears welling up in her eyes.

"Well, at this point, we usually suggest the families bring in their local minister or preacher to baptize the baby." He said quietly Manny covered her face. She refused to loose the love of her life

"It can't be she was awake and fine last night," she cried

"But she's not now" the doctor told her slowly

"So your telling me my baby is going to die?" she asked abruptly

"Well, anything is possible, but the odds aren't good" he put his arm on her shoulder and Spinner and Paige tried to comfort her.

"I'm sorry to leave like this, but I have to see another patient, will you be all right?" he asked and all three nodded. The doctor left but they stayed seated.

"Sweetie, do you want me to call the priest from your church?" Paige whispered in her ear. Manny nodded. Paige gave her a tight hug and kissed Spinner on the cheek. She grabbed her cell and walked out of the hospital.

She called the first person she knew she had to.

"Hello?" a groggy voice echoed as it answered her call

"Its 12 in the afternoon just getting up?" she retorted

"Paige is that you?" he asked

"Yea, I hope Ash, isn't with you" she said slickly

"Paige its not-"

"I don't care Jimmy, but there is something you should know" she said quietly

"What's wrong?"

Jimmy had been friends with Paige just about his entire life, and the only time she had ever seemed more scared was when she couldn't schedule her nail appointment, and right after Terri went to the hospital. He knew it had to be Manny and the baby. Thought he hadn't the nerve to go to the hospital after his outburst, he had been getting secret reports from Spinner. Then last he heard they were doing fine.

"Sofia is sick" Paige whispered

"How?" Jimmy asked. He was already out of bed pulling clothes on over his naked body.

"She caught the ammonia, their really isn't anything they can do" Paige sounded near tears

"How's Manny?"

"She's a mess, she needs you" Paige was begging him to be their

"How bad is it, I mean Sofia?" he slipped his shoes on.

"Well, after I hang up with you, I'm supposed to call a priest."

"I'm on my way" he clicked his phone off.

"Where are you going?" he directed his attention back to Ashley, who had his sheets wrapped around her body. He looked away. He had never felt guiltier in his life. Last night had been a mistake, and she should know that.

"Sofia is sick," he said as he got his wallet and slipped his watch on.

"I'm coming with you" she scrambled from the bed Jimmy nodded.

"About last night...." He really couldn't look her in the eyes

"It was incredible" Ashley tried to wrap her arms around his body but he stepped back.

Now she was confused. At first she had wanted Jimmy then she had wanted Craig. Then she didn't want either of them. But then last night Jimmy had made a move and things escalated from their. She thought maybe Jimmy had feelings for her again, but after she pulled away, she knew what was coming next.

"It was a mistake," he told her and she nodded

"I understand"

"Friends?" he asked

"Of course" that wouldn't be too bad

"And um...lets just keep this as our little secret, nobody needs to know, since it was a one time thing" he laughed uncomfortably.

"Well, if memory serves correctly you lasted a lot longer then once, but If you say so" she laughed playfully as she left the room to get dressed. Jimmy sighed. He really messed up this time.

"Lock the door when you leave" he called as he slammed the door behind him.

He finally reached the hospital and hurried up to Manny's room. On the way he passed Dr. Smith. "Jimmy where have you been?"

"That's not important, what's going on?" he was exasperated

"Sofia is sick with ammonia she might not make it" he shook his head.

Jimmy refused to believe it. He bolted for the elevator. An of course none of them were moving fast enough for him so he ran up the 4 flights of stairs. Finally he burst into Manny's room, just as she was about to fill out the birth certificate, they had been pushing her to.

'Right on time' spinner sighed.

Jimmy didn't want for her to ask, or to hold out her arms. He just walked over to her and pulled her into their tightest and closest hug ever. But this time their roles were reversed.

"I'm scared," he whispered

"Me to" she wept. They pulled away and stared into each other's eyes. Spinner slipped from the room.

"How come you never came back?" she released him

"I thought you would be mad at me" he said as he followed her to the bed where she had been sitting.

"I was" she tried to laugh and they sat down. She leaned her head on his shoulder and showed him the certificate; everything was filled out except for the name.

"You should do whatever you want." He whispered

"I don't know what I want" she let the tears slip from her eyes. Jimmy turned and pulled Manny against him, she ended up cradled in his lap, crying her eyes out.

As if being pregnant at 15 hadn't been bad enough, now she had to deal with possibly loosing her baby. Jimmy to let the tears fall. He didn't want to loose Sofia either. But at the same time, even if Sofia did recover, he could still loose her. And that was what scared him the most. He cupped her face and turned her to face him.

"No matter what you choose, I will always be there for you, and you will always have a place with me" he whispered and Manny smiled.

This was how it was supposed to be, and she finally knew what she wanted. She pulled away and grabbed the pen.

Brooks, Sofia Carmen she sprawled and she handed it to Jimmy. Ironically there was a place for a surrogate father to fill his name out, kind of like a guardian. But that wasn't what he was focusing on; he was focusing on the Brooks, Sofia Carmen part. He smiled brightly. He pulled Manny against him.

"Thank you so much" he rocked the back and forth

"Thank You" she whispered in his ear. He finally pulled away and began to fill out his area.

The nurse came in and took the birth certificate and handed Manny her signd release forms. Manny gathered her things, Spinner took them and Manny and Jimmy walked to the ICU unit.

Manny went and sat with Sofia. Jimmy watched her for a distance.

"You should take her home to get some rest" Jimmy turned to see Dr. Smith at his side.

"I don't think she will leave" he shook his head

"Its for the best, will call you if anything changes." He told him

"I'll try" Jimmy answered

"I'm being serious, its better if she's not here incase, incase something happens" Jimmy looked at Dr. Smith he nodded and walked over to Manny. He stood behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. It wasn't till he focused in, that he heard that she was talking.

She had her hands folded and propped against the basinet and her head bowed and she spoke softly:

"Dios te salve, María, llena eres de gracia, el Señor es contigo. Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres, y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros, pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amen" she was crying which made it hard to understand, but at the end Jimmy realized she was praying in Spanish, the Hail Mary. Jimmy kneeled down next to her and recited the same prayer, but in the only language he knew.

"Hail Mary, full of grace, our Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and in the hour of our death. Amen." He finished and Manny still had her head buried in her hands. Jimmy wrapped an arm around her.

"I think we should go home and get some rest." He whispered

"You have to be kidding," she said through her tears

"No, the doctor said you need it"

"I'm not leaving my sick baby here alone in the hospital" she said angrily.

"Manny, please if-"

"No Jimmy I-"

"He's right, we will stay here with Sofia, just go home and rest" they both turned to see Spinner and Paige. Manny shook her head. She didn't know what to do; it wasn't like she had ever done any of this. By now, the top of Sofia's basinet had been removed, so the doctors could have easy access to her. Manny leaned over and whispered in her daughter's ear.

"I love you" she choked as a single tear fell to Sofia's forehead. Manny leaned forward and left a kiss on that very spot. She felt the warmth of her fever and it broke her heart. She stood up straight and held on to her daughter's finger as Jimmy kissed her forehead to and ran his hand down the side of her small face. Finally they both managed to walk away from the crib. Spinner handed Jimmy the bags and Paige and Manny hugged tightly.

As Manny and Jimmy left the hospital, Jimmy wrapped his free hand around her waist to help her walk. He went to hail a cap but Manny stopped him

"I want to walk," she whispered

"Its to strenuous" he told her

"I don't want to go home yet, come on" she pulled him in the other direction and he followed.

After a short walk they made their way up the steps of St. Mary's church. Jimmy pulled the large door open and they walked slowly down the isle. Jimmy didn't know much about churches so he mimicked Manny's movements.

They walked slowly and bowed and did the sign of the cross when they came to the front of the church. He followed her to the back where there was a statue of Mary. And a table underneath it filled with candles some lit, others not. They both kneeled down in the front of the table. Manny took a small stick and lit it from another candle and lit one of her own.

"What do I do?" Jimmy whispered as he watched Manny's face be illuminated by the flickering candlelight she turned to him

"Just pray" she nodded. He to lit a candle and clasped his hands.

He wasn't sure what to pray for. But he thanked god for giving him Manny. He prayed that Sofia would get better and come on to them. He prayed that Manny never found out about him and Ashley's one nightstand. He prayed that he could be strong incase Sofia didn't come home and he prayed that he would always have Manny at his side.

'Amen' he thought.

Manny had done this so many times before. For her own cousins in childbirth, for sick family members and other things. But this time it was more important. She recited both the Hail Mary and our father. She prayed for a miracle. She prayed for her baby to get better and come home, she prayed that Jimmy would never leave her, and always protect her. She prayed for strength and wisdom, all the things she lacked. She prayed for Jimmy, and asked God to always protect him and keep him safe. And lastly she prayed for her family, that even though they had wronged her that they would be protected as well.

'Amen' she thought.

They both sat up at the same time. Jimmy helped her stand up and they made their way out of the church. Bowing once again at the front of the church. This time when they walked out they got into a cab and went home.

They walked out of the elevator hand in hand and into the apartment. Jimmy unlocked the door and they walked into the quite apartment. He put her bags down by the door and they walked to the hallway. They both leaned against one of the sides of the doorframe. Just staring in at the empty baby room.

Jimmy reached over and pulled the door closed, so they now came face to the wooden door. They both stepped back and walked into Manny's Room. He took a seat on her bed and she stood facing him. All at once she leaned forward and hugged him tight. She never wanted to let go. He was her everything, and she needed him to go on.

Jimmy loved her more then ever. And she needed to know that. He just didn't know how to express it. So he did the only thing he knew how. And he didn't do it cause he felt like he should, or he felt guilty, or out of pity. He loved Manny Santos, and that was just the way it was. He pulled back their foreheads touching. He inched closer and finally their lips touched in a sweet kiss. She surprised him when she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned in closer. He wasn't sure she would kiss him back, but she had.

Manny had waited for this for so long, she had needed it. She had prayed at night a couple of times, that he would come into her room and profess his need to be with her, but he never did. Until now. And his lips against hers felt so right.

Jimmy let his hands slide down the sides of Manny's body, landing at her hips and pulling her down on top of him as they laid back on the bed. As soon as his back made contact he gently flipped them over.

Neither of them really realized what was going on, they just knew what they wanted, and from whom.

Jimmy kissed down her neck and over her collarbone. Manny arched her back in enjoyment as his hands roamed her body. She pushed her pelvis into his and he pushed back. Manny kissed the side of his neck and nipped here and their her hands roamed down the front of his chest and to the bottom of his shirt and she slowly lifted it up over his head. For a moment their eyes were locked. Manny took his hands and put them at the bottom of her shirt. Together they lifted the shirt over her head.

"I want you," he whispered against her stomach as he trailed kisses all the way up. When he was in reaching distance she unbuttoned the front of his jeans.

"I need you," he murmured this time. An every time his lips opened he just aroused Manny more. By now her swollen lips were trailing down his neck and her hands were scraping the back of his neck.

Suddenly Jimmy realized how heated things were, and what happened last night. It wouldn't be right to sleep with Ashley one night and Manny the next even if it didn't mean anything. And second he didn't even know if Manny could. He pulled away and stared into her eyes.

"We cant" me whispered

Well she wasn't aroused that time. She was just plain old confused. Things had been going perfect. And she thought they were well on their way to consummating their relationship.

"Why not?" she whispered as she brought her hands back down his chest "I want to" she said

"I know so do I, But are you even allowed to?" he asked Manny turned her head to the side with a slight laugh

"I don't know, but lets find out" she nudged him a bit

"I think we should wait and find out" he told her. She sighed

"Always thinking about me" she smiled

"Always" he rubbed his nose against hers.

"What does this mean?" she asked him as he pulled back the comforter and got under the sheets. He watched Manny walk to her dresser and pull out a shirt and shorts. She changed in front of him and watched Jimmy struggle for an answer.

"I.... I think I love you," he said as he sat up on his elbows "is that crazy?"

"Not at all, cause I think I love you to" she said as she climbed in next to him. He wrapped his arms around her. Manny was mentally and physically exhausted, so she had no trouble falling a sleep.

But Jimmy's mind was buzzing back in forth. He was so happy. They were going to be together. A family. He knew it, they had to be. Everything would work out. It had to.