Erica was startled from her thoughts by the sound of an extremely familiar voice.

"Erica…Snap out of it!"

Erica's head shot up and she smiled, slightly embarrassed. Getting to her feet she embraced Aunt Rachel.

Just then a small, slightly haughty voice broke the silence once again.

"What about me!"

The indignant remark was voiced by a young toddler, Alyssa. Rachel's second child with Ross, there could be no doubt of her parentage.

Alyssa picked out her own clothes in the morning and they had to match perfectly with the chosen hair scrunchie for the day or she would throw a fit. Erica knew this quite well as the one time she had violated the rule and picked out Alyssa's clothes for her the opinionated girl had walked out the door naked and had to be dragged back inside kicking and screaming.

Shaking her head and smiling as if trying to dislodge something ticklish, Erica picked up her cousin and swung her so her head just barely brushed the low white ceiling. Erica laughed aloud at the young girl's excited squeal and set her down.

"If only happiness was always that easy."

Rachel nodded her head in agreement, but was distracted by the entrance of the doctor. Following her aunt's gaze, Erica too listened closely.

"Erica, I'm sorry to inform you that your parents have both taken a turn for the worse and are in a severe state of shock. We are doing all we can for them. Be assured that there is hope."

Erica didn't want to hear anymore. Breaking her aunt's steel grip on her hand, she ran off, the choked sound of heart broken sobs trailing behind her.

She ran blindly, knowing she had to get out of there. Her vision blurred by tears, she ran through hallway after hallway, finally reaching the main entrance.

She collapsed on the steps, exhausted. She felt like all the life was drained from her body. The world she had thought to be perfect now laid in a shambles at her feet.

But before she had a chance to sink into full despair, the gentle touch of a child brought Erica back to harsh reality.

"Ewica, why sad?" Erica realized that no one had bothered to tell Alyssa what was going on.

"Because my Mom and Dad are really sick, Alyssa…I don't know what I'll do without them."

Alyssa crawled into her older cousin's lap. Putting her arms around Erica's neck, Alyssa kissed her wetly and whispered,

"Me wuv you, Ewica."

Erica smiled sadly and hugged her back.

" I love you too Lyssa, I love you too."

More than you know, Erica thought.

And they cried and rocked and cried.