Megan groaned as she awakened. There was a dull ache in her lower abdomen, probably from the stitches of her C-section. With everything going on with her daughter, at times she almost forgot the she herself was recovering from major surgery. The physical discomfort was an unwelcome reminder.

She slowly moved to a sitting position, flinching when she realized Nathan had pulled a chair up to her bed. His head was buried in the covers at her side and his hand was placed protectively over hers. In the sofa by the door of the private room, Brooke and Lucas lay curled up napping.

"You okay?" Nathan stirred, awake instantly the second his wife moved.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just these damned stitches…"

"Are you in pain? You want me to call a nurse?"

Megan shook her head.

"No, no. It's okay. I'm fine."

He yawned and stretched.

"You want some water or something?"

"No", she looked over at the two trying to sleep nearby. "They're still here?"

"Yeah. Everyone else is kind of camped out in the lobby. Mom and Dad, Keith and Jules, Karen and Peyton."

"They all came?"

"Yeah."

Megan felt like crying.

"That's so sweet of them."

"I know", he sighed. "Um, your parents are on their way, too. They called a couple of hours ago."

She rolled her eyes.

"I really don't want to deal with them right now but I suppose I should be grateful. I need all the family support I can get."

"I know…me too. I never thought about it like that but it's nice that everybody is here. Our families can be total pains in the ass sometimes but when it counts, everybody does band together."

Meg nodded in agreement.

"Have you seen Yoanna lately?"

"Yeah. Uh, a few hours ago."

"How is she?"

Nathan managed a tired but sad smile.

"Still hanging in there. She's a tough one."

"I need to see her…"

"You should try to rest more. I'll go back up in a minute and the nurses promised to come get us if anything changes."

"How can I?" Megan asked simply. "How can I sleep not knowing if my baby is going to be okay?"

"I know. I know how you feel. I was up there for hours just looking at her."

"She has to be okay, Nate. Yoanna has to make it."

"She will", he sighed.

"I'm scared, Nathan. Oh my God, I am so scared."

He rubbed her hand.

"Me too but we have to hang in there, too. Yoanna is trying to be strong for us so we have to be strong for her."

"This is so hard…"

"I know. I know, Meg. But we're in this together, okay? No matter what."

"Nathan…"

"I know I've said it a million times but I really mean it this time around. Seeing our daughter really put things into perspective. I know I've been screwing up. I've made so many mistakes. I kept apologizing, kept promising to do better but nothing ever really changed. It just got worse and that was my fault. But no more. I promise."

"Look, Nate…"

"For what it's worth, I want you to know I have not touched a sip of alcohol since the accident. I don't even want to. I hurt my mom and nearly killed an innocent man. That was a wake up. I know you and I have a lot of stuff to work out and I'm not even sure if we have anything left to save but I am gonna do better. I promise you that, Meg. I'm going to be a better person. Even if we can't work it out and I suck as a husband, I'm going to do my damnest to be a good father to our little girl…and a better friend to you. I can't say I'm sorry enough but I am."

She wiped a tear away.

"I'm sorry, too. I've been sitting here trying to figure out where we went so wrong and how to even fix it…if we even can. Nathan, honestly I don't know what we're doing and if it's even worth it. Obviously your heart is somewhere else."

"Megan, can we…can we just talk about this later?"

"We can talk about it now or later or whenever you decide but it still won't change the fact that you slept with Haley…and the fact that you're still in love with her."

"Meg…"

"Don't deny it now. You've already admitted it and that's not something you can just take back. You have to face it, Nathan. We have to face it.

"We have a lot to decide. We have a lot to talk about. I know that and we will. Soon, I promise. But for now, let's just get through this. Let's just take care of Yoanna and get her home safe and sound and we'll deal with the other stuff later."

Megan nodded.

"I love her so much. It's unreal, Nate. I never thought I could love another human being so much. She's our perfect little angel. Just the thought of losing her…"

"Don't say that. We won't okay? Megan, we can't think like that."

"I'm just so scared. I really want to see her…"

Megan tried to get out of bed but it was harder than she thought. She grabbed her middle and winced. Nathan was immediately on his feet, gently helping her back down.

"We'll see her together in a little bit, okay?"

"No. Nathan…"

She gave way to tears of love, worry and fear. Nathan sighed as he climbed in bed beside her.

"Just calm down. I'm right here, okay? I promise I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay with you until you feel better then we'll go see Yoanna."

Megan cried softly into her pillow.

"Nathan…"

"Just relax. I'm here."

"Why us?" she cried. "Why is this happening to us?"

It was a question he had been asking himself all along. Yet he still had no answers for it.

"I don't know, Meg. I don't know."

She continued to sob softly and he wrapped an arm around her. She recoiled at his touch, flashbacks of the last few months playing over and over in her mind. Imagining him having sex with Haley. Haley at their wedding. All the times he had yelled at her or ignored her. All the drama with her father and Dan. The confrontations with Brooke, the humiliation, the accident, and the final incident of fury on New Year's.

Part of her hated him. She wanted to slap him. It was his fault and his apologies were of little consolation. But the minute she looked in his face, she saw the hurt and desperation in his blue eyes. They shared a common concern and unconditional love for Yoanna. If she did hate him, she would have to hate him later. For now there was no time for that. The only thing that mattered was the baby and like it or not, Nathan Scott was the father of her child…and her husband. Together they did and would always share that common bond.