Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with All My Children or ABC. I am not making money off of this story.

Kendall, who had come up to visit Ethan, left with Zach close to midnight.

Simone and Ethan were alone in the room. Ethan had managed to sit up and was propped against some pillows. Simone held his hand tightly. "I still can't believe you're really alive."

Ethan smiled broadly at her. "Believe it."

"Alive and with me," Simone continued.

"Alive and with you." Ethan pulled her into a kiss and when their lips parted they held each other tightly.

Ethan rubbed his face, "Thanks for the shave."

Simone just smiled. "I figured you'd like it. I hope I didn't miss a spot."

"'Doesn't look like you did."

"Is there anything else I can do?"

Ethan tilted his head back and looked up at the ceiling. The expression on his face changed. "If you can go back in time and make it so I didn't let Alex manipulate me I'll take it."

Simone stopped smiling. "That, I cannot do."

He looked straight at her. "I am so sorry…"

Simone didn't let him finish. "Don't do this to yourself."

"How can I not? This is my fault. Alex nearly destroyed all of our lives because I let him…"

"You came around in the end. You knew Alex was crazy but he put a bullet in you before you could do anything to stop him."

Ethan sighed, trying to think of something to say. "I love you," he simply stated.

Simone held his hand. "I love you, too."

Ethan managed to smile at her. "What did I do to deserve you? You're too good for me."

Simone smiled right back at him. "Let me decide that." They kissed again. "Seriously, is there anything I can do for you? Can I get you anything?"

He held her hand. "Just stay here."

"That's what I was planning on doing anyway." They shared another kiss.

Another moment of silence passed. "I can't wait to get out of here," Ethan declared. I just want to go home and put all of this behind me."

"That's fine by me. I just want to hold you forever and never let you go."

Ethan pulled his fiancé closer and she rested her head on his chest. "Once I get out of here I'm going to hold you to that." They both smiled.

Simone sat up. "What's the first thing you're going to do when you go home?"

Ethan sighed, thinking. "Take a shower," he answered. "No, forget that. The moment I can get out of this bed, I'm taking a shower. A bath would feel good right now."

Simone thought for a second, then said "I can help with that." She stood up and walked to the bathroom.

"What are you doing?"

From the bathroom she called "I'll be right back!"

A moment later, Simone came out of the bathroom with a bowl of water and a washcloth. "You said a bath would feel good right now."

Ethan smiled, then laughed. "Oh man." He shook his head. "I love you."

Simone sat at edge of Ethan's bed. "I love you, too." She helped him out of his hospital gown and after dipping the washcloth in the water starting washing his back. Ethan closed his eyes, taking it all in. The lukewarm water and Simone's touch had never felt so good.

"Feel's good, hmm?" Simone asked, dipping the cloth in the water and washing Ethan's shoulder.

"Yeah." He sighed. "Gd you have no idea how much I missed you."

Simone's smile disappeared. "I think I do."

Ethan winced in self-reproach. "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. If anything, you suffered more." He looked over at Simone and saw she was clearly shaken. "Hey," he hugged her, "I'm sorry, I'm an idiot."

She shook her head, separating herself from him. "It's not that. Well…it got me thinking." She paused, then put on a clearly fake smile and resumed bathing him. "I almost forgot how handsome you were."

Ethan reached for her hand. "Look at me. What's wrong?"

Simone blinked back tears as she answered him. "I missed you, I thought I lost you." Her voice started to choke. "I didn't want to live without you. But you're here. You came back to me…I thought you were dead, but you weren't…"

Ethan hugged her again, beginning to understand. Simone hadn't fully dealt with his death and now he was back alive. It was a lot to take in. "I'm here and I'm not leaving you again." He wiped the tears from her eyes and stared deeply into them. "I'm here," he repeated strongly.

Simone smiled briefly, then she took a deep breath. "Ethan, there's something I need to tell you."

He caressed her hair and smiled at her. "What is it?"

She didn't answer him for a second. "I'm pregnant."

Now it was Ethan's turn to not answer for a second. "You're…pregnant?" His smile started to expand but soon turned into a frown as it dawned on him why Simone wasn't happy about that. He slowly asked "It's Alex's, isn't it?" She nodded, solemnly. Ethan's eyes widened. After a brief moment of stunned silence he asked, "How long have you known?"

"I took a home pregnancy test not even five minutes before Aidan called and told me you were alive."

"Oh god." Ethan realized Simone hadn't even had time to deal with this news either.

"What do you want to do?"

Ethan blinked in confusion. He hadn't expected Simone to ask him what he wanted to do. "What do you mean?"

Simone looked down and took another deep breath. "When I found out I was pregnant, I thought…I had something of you left…" She closed her eyes. "If Bianca can get past what Michael did to her, I can get past this."

Ethan immediately pulled her to him, holding her close. "I'm so sorry," he choked out, stunned but relieved when she melted into his embrace. "I'm so sorry." How could she not hate him? It was his fault Alex was able to take advantage of her. He violated you and it's all my fault.

Simone had to be more shaken by what Alex did to her - by what Alex and he did to her - than she was letting on. He vowed to help her get through it, to do everything he possibly could to make it up to her.

The baby. Simone was pregnant. And she wanted to keep the baby. Well then he would raise the child alongside her. "I know you wanted this baby the moment you found out you were pregnant. Well I do too. As far as I'm concerned, it's my child." He glanced down at Simone, who lifted her head to meet his gaze. "This baby is a blessing."

Simone sat up. "I'm so happy you feel that way." She smiled at him.

"We're going to be parents." He smiled at her in return. "And I've got my life back."

They kissed again and Simone stayed wrapped in Ethan's arms. "So have I."

Author's Note: As I was touching up this chapter and writing Chapter 6, I went to Thorsten Kaye's website and downloaded the Zach clips from April 13th – the episode where Zach comforts Simone. Even though I had watched it before on the day it aired, I seriously cried when I watched it again just now. I guess I just miss what could have been with Sethan and what could have and should have been between Ethan and Zach.