Haley buried her tired head in her hands. The waiting was already killing her and it had just begun. Dan's part of the procedure had been the easy part. He was resting and recovering, meanwhile Lillian's little body was being prepped for the surgery. It was a mass confusion of doctors, nurses, tubes and drugs. Haley wasn't allowed in the sterilized atmosphere and that was probably for the best. She didn't know if she could take seeing one more person poking and prodding at her little girl.

"Turkey or ham?"

Haley looked up and was surprised to see Deb.

"What?"

"You looked like you could use something to eat. There's a tasty little deli down the block so I picked something up. Let's see, I have ham and cheese plain on toasted wheat and turkey on rye with lettuce and mustard. Chips for a snack and Diet Coke. I was craving iced tea but it seems you can't get sweetened tea past northern Virginia these days. Must be a southern thing."

Haley just looked at her.

"Mrs. Scott, what are you doing?"

"Please…call me Deb."

Haley took a deep breath.

"Listen, I appreciate everything that you've done for Lillian. I really thank you and Mr. Scott for coming up here and getting tested and him donating the marrow but…you don't have to stick around."

"I know that but we want to. I want to."

"Why?"

"Lillian is my granddaughter."

"Yeah and I'm sure you were just thrilled to find that one out", she rolled her eyes sarcastically.

"Yes, I was", Deb sighed. "It's Nathan's daughter. You know by now that I already lost one grandchild a few months ago. Finding out about Lillian was a blessing."

"Please."

"Haley, I'm being sincere. Look, I know you must have your doubts about Dan and me. I'm sorry about that. We did get off on the wrong foot…"

"No. Actually we hit it off just perfect. We were friends once. I liked you a lot. I looked up to you. I trusted you. And I thought you felt the same way about me. Then everything changed in a matter of seconds."

"Yes, it did."

"You totally turned on me after Nathan and I got married. I saw another side of you and it was spiteful and hateful. I tried so hard to make it up to you and get back in your good graces. I mean, Nathan and I expected crap from his dad but you? You had always been so supportive of our relationship…"

"Yes, when you were dating. Haley, my God, you guys were 16. You were in high school. You were still babies yourselves. I know I overreacted a bit back then and I did treat you harshly. I'm sorry for that. I know apologizing now won't make it better but I honestly feel bad about that. I've felt guilty for years now."

"I'm sorry. I just can't do this right now. Please…"

"Haley, I know you're under stress and you're overwhelmed right now. I know you're worried about your child. That's what being a mother is all about. I'm a mother, too. God knows how much I worry about Nathan. He's been in a bad way lately."

Haley closed her eyes. It had been a tough year for everyone.

"I know. And I'm sorry for that. Nathan is a good person. He has a good heart. He lost his way somehow and it opened up the door for a lot of bad things."

"He lost his way when you left, Haley eight years ago."

"Don't you think I know that, Deb? I'm not blind or stupid. And I think about it everyday. I've thought about it everyday since then. I feel guilty enough so trust me, you can't possibly make me feel any worse."

"That isn't my intention. I was sorry to see you go."

Haley laughed out loud in spite of herself.

"Yeah right."

"I mean it. It hurt me to see my son hurt so much."

Haley closed her eyes.

"I was out chasing a dream", she said quietly.

"There's nothing wrong with that."

"Even when it destroyed my marriage?"

"That was my biggest fear for you", Deb sighed. "For both of you. That's what I always told Nathan. The reason I flipped out on you when you first told me you were married was because you were 16. I was just being a mom, Haley, and now that you are, you'll understand where I was coming from. And secondly, my husband had just had a heart attack and was in a coma and we didn't know if he was going to live or die. Dan and I had been through so much that year and I felt like it was my fault. I didn't know about the HCM at the time so I thought I had caused him to almost die. Trust me when I say I know a few things about a wife's guilt. Anyway, combine all that and hearing that my only child eloped before his 17th birthday…well, it was too much. It sent me over the edge."

"Look, I know I messed up. I know I hurt Nathan. And I know it probably doesn't matter now but for what it's worth, I want you to know that I loved your son. What we had was real."

"I know that. I never doubted it. Sure on my part there was jealousy that another woman had stolen my boy away from me but it was more than that. Don't forget that I was a teenage bride too and a mother. And as much as I loved Dan and Nathan, I still felt there were things I missed out on. You have to change a lot of selfish behavior when you get married and start having kids. At times I felt the best years of my life were passing me by. Over time it built up and eventually I ran away and had an affair. I was wrong and I have tried ever since to redeem myself but my point is, I didn't get to do all the living I wanted to do before I settled down."

"I never had sex with Chris. It wasn't about cheating on Nathan."

"I know. I never thought it was like that. You were just a kid. A good kid with a big heart and even bigger dreams and you jumped on the opportunity of a lifetime. You went out and found Haley. I respect that, I just wish you'd had the chance to do all that before marriage to anyone."

Haley stared at the tiles on the floor.

"I just can't help but think maybe I made a big mistake back then."

"Don't ever apologize for what you want. You have to live life for yourself and make yourself happy. It's one thing to disappoint the people around you but there's nothing worse than disappointing yourself. You did what you had to do then. You went after what you wanted and you weren't afraid. Life is about risks and gambles. You have to have that same attitude now. If there's something you want now, you have to just go for it."

"Okay, I must be really tired. Are you telling me to go after Nathan?"

"Is that what you want?"

"No…I don't know. I can't even think about that. The time…it's not right. We just can't now. We've both been through so much and right now my main priority is my daughter."

"And it should be. But you're a strong person, Haley. You were strong back then and I've watched you from afar as you've grown over the years. You've led a remarkable life and even with the uncertainty and sometimes misery this past year brought us all, you survived and managed to come out of it smelling like a rose. There's a lot to be said for that."

"Deb…"

"I'm proud of you. It's probably too late for hugs and giggles but I am proud of the woman you are. And I'm proud to say that you were my daughter in law. Look, Haley, I don't know what the future holds for any of us but I wish you peace and happiness…with or without my son. I mean that. And I hope you accept my apologies and we can somehow move forward. When this is all over, I'd like nothing more than to be apart of Lillian's life…and yours."

Haley just looked at Deb. She believed her and it was a fresh start, so to speak, but there would be a long road ahead to full reconciliation.

"Thank you", she whispered.

Deb smiled.

"Turkey or ham? Come on, you have to eat."

Haley nodded. Her stomach was rumbling.

"Turkey, please."

The two women ate in content, easygoing silence. Just as they were finishing up, the door opened. It was an exhausted and worried looking Nathan with red, puffy eyes. He was shocked to see his mother and former wife sitting side by side and actually looking comfortable but he had much larger issues to contend with.

"Is everything alright, honey?" Deb stood.

Nathan took a deep breath as he looked at Haley then his mother again.

"Mom…we have to talk."