I'm really sorry for the long wait but I actually have an excuse. My computer has totally crashed and I lost two new chapters on the way. It's very annoying and I had to rewrite them. Here's one. Please review!

Chapter 29 Life -Steps back

A week had passed and the Cohen family had spent it in Minneapolis with Francesca. They'd been at the hospital every day and even though Francesca was happy when they came, she wasn't getting better. On the contrary she was getting worse. That made Summer want to spend even more time with her and Seth, Ava and Casey seemed to enjoy getting to know her as well.

A long day left the Cohen family with a huge tiredness. The kids had fallen asleep as they'd watched a cartoon and the adults went for bed just after tucking their small ones in. It had been a requiring day for everyone. Even though they all had a great time, school was starting soon and Seth and Summer had to get back to work. They couldn't stay much longer and unfortunately Francesca was too weak to be transferred to California. Summer was still trying to figure out what to do about the situation.

A ring from the phone disturbed Seth's sleep. He put the pillow over his head and tried to fall back into his deep slur. Though it kept ringing. Annoyed, he sat up and lit the lamp on the bedside table. His hair was all messy and he had to squint to the light. As he tried to open his tired eyes properly Summer began to stir. As she saw Seth and heard the phone she slowly made her way to sit up, rubbing her eyes. She couldn't sit fully though and ended up lying on Seth's lap drifting back to sleep again.

Seth, tired of the phone finally answered it with an irritated hello. After a short while he put the phone down as he had a worried look on his face. He poked Summer's back as she still lay in his lap with her legs on the bed. She'd fallen back to sleep and Seth hated to wake her up though he knew that she would kill him if he didn't.

"Summer? You have to wake up baby." He gently pushed her shoulder and she muttered something he wasn't able to hear. Summer began to move but kept her head on his leg.

"Sweetie, I got a phone call. From the hospital." As soon as he said the word hospital Summer sat up looking him straight in his eyes. "I don't think it's something life threatening but they told us to hurry and they wouldn't give us a call in the middle of the night it wasn't serious."

Summer stared at him, obviously shocked. She'd just woke up and wasn't fully clear in her mind yet.

"What!"

"We have to go to the hospital. Look I know you're tired and all but…"

"Seth, I don't care if I'm tired; my mother's in a hospital; she might not be okay." She said it like she'd just realised it at that exact second. Her mother might not be okay.

"It's probably just a necessarily, safe thing." Summer suddenly swept her legs out of the bed and stood up. She had her clothes for the next day ready so she thought about just taking them on. Without saying a word or giving Seth a look she walked into the bathroom and closed the door after her.

Seth was still on their bed, in the same position he'd had when he'd answered the phone. He just looked at the closed door. What was she doing? He sighed and got out of bed too.

"Summer? Can I come in?" He actually knocked this time, which was something he didn't usually do, but he didn't wait for a response but opened the door and walked inside. Summer stood by the mirror and had just washed her face very quickly. She had no makeup and Seth suspected that she didn't have the intension to.

"Summer..." Seth started but he had no idea what to say to her. He knew that she had to go to the hospital and she was going to.

"What?" she walked pass him and into the bedroom again to get dressed. As she did that as fast as she could Seth just stood watching her; he knew he couldn't come with her but he wanted to. He didn't want her to be alone if anything would happen. As Summer was dressed she walked up to Seth and for the first time giving him a little attention.

"Seth, I have to go. I'll call you." She pecked him on the lips and turned to get her purse.

"Sum, wait! I want to come with you." He ran the few steps she'd taken and she turned around to look at him. Seth's eyes looked so sad; like he wanted to help so eagerly. Summer cupped his face.

"Cohen, you have to stay with the kids. I'll be okay and I promise to call you as soon as I know anything, okay?" She seemed so calm, like she had everything under control. Seth sighed but nodded; he knew that he couldn't come.

"I love you Summer." He had the most vulnerable of voices, almost like a little child.

"And I love you baby." They hugged and before Summer left Seth gave her a sweet kiss. She waved goodbye and then went out of the door leaving Seth to stand in the middle of the living room, only in his boxers.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

At the hospital Summer immediately went to her mother's room. She'd taken a cab and was now walking as fast as she could through the corridors. As she reached the right room she saw no sign of her mother. The cards, flowers and drawings the kids had made were still there along with pictures but no Francesca. Summer hurried out of the room and down to the reception. The short way felt like miles in dust and when she finally got there she was all dizzy.

"Excuse me, I'm here to see Francesca Roberts but she wasn't in her room."

"Yeah right. Are you the daughter?" the receptionist friendly said as she bent over the disc a bit. She was old and had old fashioned glasses.

"Yes, I'm Summer Roberts Cohen. Where is she?"

"She had been moved to another room because her condition is worse but I'll let you talk to the doctor. George here can show you the room. George!" the woman called for a male nurse, a tall, red haired man. He made his way over to them and smiled widely; almost like a grin.

"Hello, what can I do for you ladies?"

"Can you show Mrs. Cohen Francesca's room, please?" the receptionist nodded and went back to her work leaving Summer and the male nurse standing there.

"So, what make's a girl like you come to a place like this?" he asked and smiled that awful smile again.

"Excuse me!" Summer said with disguise; he wasn't appropriate.

"Oh, my mistake. Jokes are no good here. What about a coffee later, hone?"

"Huh?" He showed no sign of being sorry or knowing what he'd said wasn't what he was supposed to do.

"I just thought that we could have some coffee later."

"You do know that I'm here to see my sick mother and that I'm a married woman." She held her left hand up and showed her big diamond, proudly showing him that she was already taken. He just shrugged and took her hand while beginning to walk to the corridor.

"Excuse me mister, but can I have my hand back? Please!" he let go of it and she quickly held it close to her body, not ever wanting to touch him again. He mumbled something that she wasn't able to hear but finally guided her into a room; her mother's room.

"Thank you." Summer said with a little sarcasm and went inside being happy to getting rid of the male nurse George.

The room was entirely white it seemed. The doctor stood in the corner talking to a nurse while another nurse did something with Francesca. Summer couldn't really tell what; she had never been good at these kinds of things. She cleared her throat and the three people in hospital clothes looked up at her. Francesca seemed to be asleep on the bed.

"Hi there Mrs. Cohen!" the doctor politely said. He was really nice though right now all people seemed unfriendly and every one was a stranger to Summer. She greeted them with a tiny smile before her gaze went to her mother.

"What happened?"

"Her condition is quickly getting worse and we fear the worst. She's very weak Mrs. Cohen and I won't lie to you; she might not make it to the morning." His words felt like an arrow pressing through her heart, slowly.

"We're having her under watch all the time but her heart is very tired and she might not be able to fight any more. I'm very sorry." Summer looked at her mother, lying in the bed so near death.

"Do you want some time alone with her?" Summer shook her head and swallowed.

"I need to call someone first, but I would like to later."

"Of course, just let us know. There are phones in the end of the corridor, dear." She knew that but thanked him and left the room as fast as she could. She felt like she couldn't breathe; like she was trapped. Everyone around her made her want to start running and every sound made her want to scream.

Summer went to the payphone and dialled the number to Seth's cell phone; she didn't know the hotel number.

"Summer?" Seth seemed to have waited for her call.

"Hi Seth!"

"You want to tell me sweetie?" Summer had thought that talking to Seth would be uncomfortable and that he would say the complete wrong words, but he didn't. Stranger's had called her pet names and that had disguised her; the thought of another person had disguised her. But Seth had chosen the right words. You want to tell me sweetie?

"The doctor said she might not make it through the night." Her words made her sad and maybe she'd sounded that way too because Seth seemed to notice.

"I'm coming there." He said determined.

"You can't, what about the kids? I don't want you to wake them in the middle of the night."

"I'll find a babysitter."

"Who? We don't know anyone here."

"I'll find someone, don't worry. I'll be there soon, okay? Just stay there and I'll come Summer."

"Okay. Give the kids a kiss from me."

"Sure. You're gonna be okay?"

"Yeah, thanks. I love you."

"I love you too. And I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

To be continued…

Please review!