Taylor and Chris bounded through the double doors of the ER. Her eyes darted across the room until finally she saw Karen. The woman was hunched over, her head in her hands.

"Oh my God", Taylor whispered out loud.

She then searched the room and saw her little sister coming from the room that warehoused the vending machines. She was holding a cup of coffee in her hand. She looked stunned and dazed as usual.

"Where's the baby?" Chris asked.

Taylor's eyes stung with tears. Her heart sank as she feared the worse. Feeling a deep rooted fury, she charged at Haley right there in front of everyone.

"You bitch! You stupid bitch! How could you! I hate you! Why did you do it? Why?"

Haley went crashing into the wall coffee and all.

"Hey! Taylor, stop it! What are you doing? Get off me…"

Taylor met her request with a Crystal and Alexis Carrington like slap.

"My God, Taylor", Karen grabbed her. "Get a hold of yourself! What on earth has gotten into you?"

"How could you defend her when she killed her baby? And how could you leave my helpless little niece alone with her? You know she's crazy!"

"Killed her baby?" Karen repeated. "Taylor, what are you talking about?"

Taylor was so upset she could barely speak.

"Ms. Rowe, you left a note at the apartment saying you had to take Jamma to the hospital…" Chris stepped in.

"Yes because her fever got worse."

"So she's here because of a fever?"

"Yes."

"And she's alive?" Taylor asked.

"Of course!"

"Then what is she doing here?" she pointed to Haley.

"Because I am her mother, you freaking psycho!"

Karen stepped in between the battling sisters.

"It was Haley's idea to come. The sessions with the doctor are helping. She held her baby for the first time."

Chris and Taylor looked at each other.

"Oh."

"Now who's the dumb ass, dumb ass?" Chris smirked.

She smiled at Haley.

"So you're not crazy anymore? Baby sis, that's great! Congratulations! I am so proud of you!"

"Get the hell away from me", Haley scowled when Taylor tried to hug her.

"Don't be mad! Geez, I was just concerned about Jamma."

"Go to hell, Tay!"

"Does this mean I can't live with you anymore?"

Haley rolled her eyes as she walked away.

"Karen, you deal with Dumb and Dumber over here. I am going to get a new cup of coffee after I try to clean up what was just spilled all over me. And then I'm going to check on Lillian."

Taylor plopped down beside Karen.

"Sorry about all that. I guess I overreacted and Haley gets so testy sometimes."

Karen just shook her head.

"What am I going to do with you two?"

"What? This is all your fault anyway."

"My fault?" Karen laughed.

"Uh…yeah. You didn't clarify the situation on your little post it note and when Keller and I got here you had your head down like you were crying."

"I'm not crying, Taylor, I'm just exhausted."

"Oh. No hard feelings, then?"

Karen sighed.

"No, Taylor."

"Good…can I bum a dollar then? They have those honey bun things in the machine and I just love those."

Karen was silent as she gave Taylor the buck and the girl went skipping off practically. If they weren't in the hospital with a sick baby, the situation would have been rather comical.

"So, Ms. Rowe, you really think Haley is gonna be okay?" Chris asked as he took a seat beside Karen.

"We're getting there", the woman smiled faintly. "It's a long process but this is a huge step. I think Haley is going to be just fine."

"Yeah, I hope so. I…I was really worried about her."

Karen studied the concerned solemn expression on the young man's face. Despite the arrogance and attitude she remembered years ago and the fact that most everyone blamed him for Nathan and Haley's breakup, it was more than obvious he was really a loving and caring friend. He had been there for both Haley and Jamarah.

"I know you were, Chris."

"It's hard, seeing her like that. She's been through a lot but Haley always managed to keep it together. Even when she was spazzing out, she never really lost total control, you know? I tried to be there. I always have, whether you believe it or not. I just don't know how much good I did."

"A lot I'd say. Let me tell you something I've learned over the years. Life is one big test. And there are always going to be obstacles that we have to overcome. It's not so much what you go through, but how you handle it…and how it turns out in the end. Haley's a good girl. She's had to make a lot of choices and like we all do, she has made some mistakes along the way. To err is human, they say. But she has also done a lot of things right and she's handled everything thrown at her like a champ. Maybe it's not the way we wanted or planned or expected but something tells me this little story might have a happy ending after all."

Chris nodded.

"I hope so. Haley deserves a happy ending…and so does Jamma."

"Yes, they do."

"Um, one more thing…I know I have no right to ask you but…how, how is Nathan doing? I mean, I heard about his baby and everything."

Karen's eyes widened. The last thing she expected was for Chris to ask about his chief rival. Mr. Keller was just full of surprises.

"He's coping. It's been hard on him."

"Yeah…you're looking at me right now like I have three heads or something. I guess you'd be the last person to ask about him. Look, I know you're Lucas' mom and you've been in North Carolina all this time with them so you saw things differently. I'm sure you already have your opinions and stuff but it wasn't my fault. I never wanted to hurt Haley…or Nathan either when it really comes down to it. I think he brings a lot of his problems on himself. The guy can be a dick sometimes and we weren't exactly best friends or anything but I never wished anything bad on him, especially what he's had to go through."

Karen nodded, impressed by his honesty and sincerity.

"The doctors are still with Lillian", Haley sighed, rejoining them. "I just hope she's okay."

"She will be", Karen put her arm around her. "They're probably breaking her fever as we speak. Happens all the time with babies."

"Then you think I jumped the gun bringing her here?"

"No, no. Better safe than sorry. Besides, you should have seen me with Lucas. I was a nervous nelly. Keith and I had him at the doctor for every sniffle, cough and scrape."

"I'm just really scared right now. I feel bad that I wasn't there for her before. And I can't help but think I'm not very good at this mothering thing yet."

"It takes time."

"What if I don't get it? You know, I look at my own mom and as wacky as she is, she has been a great mother and I love her. And look at you. You went through so much with Lucas. I mean, you had every reason in the world not to want or love him or keep him but you did. Even with the struggles and the sacrifices, you were always there for him and you did an amazing job. Karen, you're an incredible mother. I admire you so much. It's like you know everything."

"And you will, too. You'll learn, Haley", she smiled and hugged her.

"I am looking for a Haley James?" a doctor in scrubs came out, clipboard in hand as he looked around.

Haley readily jumped to her feet.

"That's me. I'm Haley."

"You're Jamarah's mother?"

"Lillian but yes. I'm her mother. Is she okay? Can we see her now?"

The doctor let out a huge sigh.

"Have a seat, Ms. James. We need to talk?"

Haley's heart raced.

"Talk? Talk about what?"

"Ms. James…"

"I don't want to have a seat so just tell me what's going on. Please. Is my daughter okay?"

He looked her right in the eyes.

"No", he said softly. "No, Ms. James, I'm afraid not."