Author's Note: I am posting CH3 for my faithful reader Sarah8 ;p...if anyone else happens to glance at this story...enjoy

Also, this is not even close to the end, even though it seems like it...

In the almost 8 ½ months that followed, a routine was established. Rio and Kimber alternately sat in with Jerrica as much as possible since her movement out of the ICU, accompanied by Aja, Shana, and occasionally Stormer. Rio almost never left, unless one of the girls forced him, or hospital security threatened him. He and Kimber rarely spoke to one another, only to Jerrica, since the doctor had told them that familiar voices might help encourage her to regain conciousness. The Starlight girls were still recovering from the initial shock and sadness of the accident, Jerrica being the only mother most of them had ever known. Kimber, Aja, and Shana were each helping to run Starlight Music, take care of the girls (with Mrs. Bailey's help), and sit with Jerrica as much as they could. Many people had sent outpourings of condolence, and Jerrica's room at Bethesda as well as the kitchen at Starlight Mansion were filled with flowers and get well wishes. It was all beginning to take a toll on everyone, and little by little, day by day, hope that Jerrica would come out of her coma was beginning to wane. A devastating sadness had taken over, and everyone was beginning to lose hope.

Before they knew it, Christmas was just around the corner. The Holograms tried to make it festive for the girls, but they missed Jerrica too, and it made Christmas all the more empty for them. Christmas shopping was done with much speed and little joy, and if Jerrica didn't wake up soon, nobody was going to get what they really wanted.

On Christmas Eve, Rio sat in Jerrica's hospital room with a letter in his hands. Even though he wasn't very savvy when it came to this kind of thing, Aja and Shana had encouraged him to write it, Stormer even helped; and he read it to Jerrica, if not for her, for him; to try and alleviate the perpetual feeling of guilt that still washed over him like high tide. He unfolded the paper and took a deep breath, surprised yet again by the tears that threatened to blur his vision. 'Just when I thought I didn't have any left.' Rio took her left hand in his and held it up to his face, kissing her fingers and beginning to read.

"Jerrica," he began "it's hard for me to even begin to say what you mean to me. For years you have been my touchstone, my everything. I can't believe that I was ever lucky enough to have you, my best friend and the love of my life. I have been here every day and every night hoping that you will open those beautiful eyes and give me that smile I love so much. Everything that happened that day breaks my heart each time I think about it. I can't believe you have been taken from us like this. The people who love you so much have been deprived of you for so long, and we miss you more than anything in the world. I know lately things were not the way they used to be before you father died. I just want you to know that I know your secret. Everything seems so petty now, and most days I still can't believe that something so insignificant could cause all of this damage. I know that you and Jem are the same person, and at least I think I know why you hid it from me. I think in my heart I knew all along, and that's why I told myself it was okay to love both of you. But there was no reason for me not to hear you out that day. I should have let you come to me, the way I always promised you that you could; because if I had, you wouldn't be in this bed right now, fighting for your life" as he read, Rio started to choke up, and this time, he couldn't hold back anymore. He read on, tears freely flowing down his face "I am sorry for not loving you the way that I promised, I am sorry I couldn't save you that day. I let you down, and no matter what happens now I will never forgive myself if you don't make it."

Rio was sobbing now, still holding Jerrica's hand to his cheek, when he felt the slightest brush against his skin. It was feather light, almost completely unnoticeable, so much so he thought he was hallucinating. What he heard next almost knocked him out of his chair.

"Rio?" It was so faint, but when he opened his eyes, there she was, sleepily gazing at him and calling his name.

"Jerrica?" He had been sitting on the side of her bed, and he moved to instinctively embrace her as tears of joy washed away the previous anguish. He held her for what seemed like merely seconds, when in reality it was closer to fifteen minutes.

"Rio" she said, barely above a whisper "what happened, where am I?"

"You don't remember?" he said incredulously "Oh Jerrica"; instantly he began worrying about what to tell her.

"Well..." Jerrica started slowly "I remember Kimber's dates breaking my window" with a mock stern voice hidden behind a slight smile, "and then I remember our fight...Rio are you crying?"

Her look suddenly turned hesitant, and her big brown eyes filled with tears. 'If Rio is crying something awful must have happened.'

"What happened to me Rio, why does my chest hurt?" Jerrica surveyed her surroundings and came to a terrifying conclusion.

I'm in the hospital aren't I? Rio now I'm starting to get really confused. Please Rio tell me" she begged, a stray tear coursing down her rosy cheek, panic making her heart beat like crazy.

"Jerrica, if I tell you what happened, you have to promise me something" he said, knowing full well she would, and also that she shouldn't.

"Of course Rio, anything you know that!" She said tearfully, her energy already sapped.

"Promise me you won't say anything until I finish" was all he said, pleading with his eyes for her to understand everything he didn't say.

"Okay" she said, "let's hear it."

She couldn't believe the story Rio had just relayed to her. She was trying her hardest not to look completely shocked, but she couldn't help it. 'I've been in a coma for over eight months because Pizazz ran me down?' she was admittedly appalled; she didn't think that The Misfits head honcho had it in her. Rio explained gently to her that no it was not intentional, just a random traffic accident, and that the Misfits had already publicly apologized for the accident, if only to cease the negative publicity they received after the accident. He told her everything the doctor had told him and Kimber, and said that he would have to tell him of her awakened state, as the doctors were also anxiously waiting for her regain consciousness. She nodded, telling Rio that he should notify the hospital staff as soon as possible, and could he please call the Holograms and get them down there? She missed everyone so much, and all she wanted to do was be with them.

When Rio left Jerrica's room, he heaved a sigh of relief, heading straight for the nurse's station. He couldn't get the ridiculous smile off of his face.

"Hi Rio," said Nurse Callahan gently "what can I do for you sweetheart?"

"It's Jerrica, SHE'S AWAKE! The doctor has to be called immediately!" he shouted, bursting with the exuberance of a six year old on Christmas, which by now, it was.

"Oh Rio! This is WONDERFUL! How is she doing?" exclaimed the nurse, thrilled that one of the hospital's most destitute patients had made a startling recovery.

"She's just...I can't even...it's Christmas" stuttered Rio, running a hand through his hair because he was beginning to hyperventilate and he was probably going to cry again.

"Yes, and what a MERRY CHRISTMAS this turned out to be! I am going to go in and check on Ms. Benton right away!"

"Can I use your phone? I have to call her sister" said Rio remembering his promise to them to call as soon as anything happened.

"OF COURSE! You know where it is" said Nurse Callahan exclaiming "wonderful!" as she speedily made her way to Jerrica's door.

The phone rang at Starlight Mansion, and all of the girls raced for it, with Mrs. Bailey shouting at their backs not to run in the house.

"Starlight Mansion, BaNee speaking" said the little voice on the other end, holding her breath for some word of happiness on this special night.

"Hey kiddo" said Rio affectionately, recognizing the girl's voice instantly "are any of the Holograms home, I need to talk to them" he said with baited breath.

"They're out getting us a late dinner, because Mrs. Bailey said we were all too tired to cook this year" she said, a little hitch in her voice.

"Well, since you're there, I'm gonna tell you the news and you can tell the rest of the girls and Mrs. Bailey- Jerrica is awake!" said Rio triumphantly, as if a war had finally been won. Little did Rio know, (as most men don't) that the girls had put him on speaker phone so that they could all hear his news. The next sounds he heard were-

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH JERRICA'S AWAKE AAAAAAHHHHH OH MY GOD AHHHHHHHH!"

As the girls proceeded to scream right into Rio's ear, he winced, because his ear drums were now permanently damaged for sure.

"Girls!" he said, trying to settle them down, "I need you to get Mrs. Bailey for me right away."

Mrs. Bailey was overjoyed to hear the news from BaNee and the other girls, and when she picked up the receiver that had been left on the kitchen counter, she could barely hold back.

"Rio! Is it true? What the girls told me? She came back to us!" She rushed, afraid that if she took a pause he would interrupt her to tell her that it was all a dream.

"Yes Mrs. Bailey, Jerrica woke up today, and she is with the doctor as we speak, trying to wheedle her way home to the girls" said Rio, a smile playing on his lips, because he knew the girls were listening, and that they would be so thrilled to hear how much Jerrica missed them.

"I need you to send The Holograms to Bethesda as soon as you see them, Jerrica is asking for them."

"Of course Rio, of course" said Mrs. Bailey, the smile eminent in the sound of her voice "oh Rio, how rude of me, I didn't even ask you how you're doing!"

"Me Mrs. Bailey?" Said Rio, now smiling "I'll be just fine."