Just FYI, this is no disrespect for the Queen. I admire her very much. I just think that it's something Helena would do.

The last part is for you Foxy! Something you've been wanting lol. Enjoy!

Chapter 9- Worth Living For

When Julian could finally have visitors, Ava said that Lucas and Sam could go in first since only two visitors were allowed at a time. Helena/Alexis still hovered but wouldn't come too close to them.

Sam and Lucas sat on either side of Julian's bed. Sam held Julian's hand in hers as tears spilled down her cheeks. It has apparently been raining outside because the window was as wet as her face was.

"Dad…" Lucas said. "Sam and I are here. Ava's just outside. So is Alexis… please wake up."

"Please, Dad…" Sam said. "We need you. Mom needs you…"

Lucas stood and began looking at his IV and the screen next to his bed. Then went to the door and grabbed his chart. "It's been a few hours. He should be awake now."

Sam swallowed hard. "And if he doesn't wake soon?"

Lucas cleared his throat. "I'm going to get Patrick."

Sam's stomach went hollow as Lucas zoomed out of the room. She turned back to Julian. "Dad, please, you have to fight. Come back to us."

When Lucas returned with Patrick and Elizabeth, Sam was asked to wait outside with Ava. Ava was chewing her fingernails and her mascara was messy from crying.

"What's going on?" Ava asked.

"Dad hasn't woken up yet. Lucas said he should have by now."

Ava exhaled deeply.

The door opened and they wheeled Julian outside.

"Where are you taking him?" Ava asked.

"For some tests," Patrick said. "The hemorrhaging has stopped he should be awake now."

"So, he's in a coma?" Ava asked.

"Not exactly," Lucas said. "It's as if he's lost the will to live."

Sam's mouth dropped slightly. "What?"

Patrick and Elizabeth took Julian down the hallway.

"Lost the will to live?" Sam asked. "He has Leo."

"And us," Lucas added.

Sam rubbed her eyes. "But not Mom…"

Ring. Ring.

Sam pulled her phone from her pocket. "It's Kristina…" She pressed her phone to her ear. "Krissy? Everything okay?"

"Not really… How's your dad doing?"

"He pulled through surgery, but he hasn't woken up… What's going on?"

"I hate to do this. But you and Lucas need to come home right now."

"Why? Are the kids okay?"

"Yeah… well kind of. A social worker is here and insists on talking to both of you."

Sam scrunched her face. "Why?"

"Apparently there was a complaint against you…"

"Ugh… Carly…"

"I offered to call you, I thought Molly would talk to her more calmly. But the kids are really hyped up because we had just taken them for ice cream and they played outside in the mud… it's a mess."

Sam placed a hand on her forehead. "Okay, we'll be right there." She slipped her phone away.

"What's going on?" Lucas asked.

"Carly sent a social worker over to our house! I could kill her!"

"Oh gawl…"

"I'll join you in killing her," Ava said. "She's trying to revoke my visitation rights with Avery!"

Lucas shook his head. "Will she ever stop?"

"Okay, you kids go," Ava said. "I'll call you if there's any change."

As they headed out, they passed the waiting area. Helena/Alexis sat there looking through Majesty magazine ripping the pages out and crumpling them up into balls. "Russian royals far exceed the British…"

GHGHGH

When Sam and Lucas arrived home, it was as if walking into a zoo. Scout was dancing on the coffee table in Helena's tomato stained and now mud-stained dress singing Baby Shark. Wiley, also covered in mud, climbed up beside her giggling and knocked some magazines to the floor as he started doing the actions with her. The social worker wrote in a notebook as she sat on the couch talking to Danny who looked annoyed, while Leo stood off to the side talking to Molly.

Danny groaned. "I have homework to do…"

"Scout, do you want to read a book with me?" Kristina asked.

"No!" Scout clapped her right hand on top of her left. "Grandpa Shark doo doo doo doo doo! Grandpa Shark!"

"Gampa! Gampa Sark!" Wiley clapped his hands and giggled.

"Okay!" Lucas zoomed into the living room and lifted Wiley and Scout off the coffee table. He set Scout down but settled Wiley on his hip. He shook hands with the social worker. "Hi there, I'm Dr. Lucas Jones."

Sam finally got a good look at her. She had long black hair and wore a dress suit. But she had seen her before wearing a cocktail dress. "Hello, I'm Stacy Valentine. I'm from family services. And this must be Samantha McCall?" She extended a hand to Sam.

Sam squinted her eyes but shook her hand.

"It's getting close to your bedtime, kids," Lucas said. "How about Aunt Krissy and Aunt Molly take you upstairs and give Scout and Wiley a bath so we can talk to the nice lady?"

Sam clenched her jaw.

"I'm not sleepy!" Scout ran around in a circle and Kristina tried to catch her.

Danny moved to the staircase. "Finally. I have an important assignment to do."

Leo frowned. "Where's Daddy and Lexie? Are they still sick?"

Sam stared at the social worker.

Lucas kissed Wiley's cheek and handed him to Molly, then he squeezed Leo's shoulders. "They are still sick, bud. But the doctors are trying to help them get better. In the meantime, you're going to stay with us. Is that okay with you?"

He shrugged. "I really like it here. But I miss Dad and Lexie."

Danny turned around and put an arm around Leo. "We'll see them soon. Let's go have a sleepover like we used to."

Leo smiled and went with Danny up the stairs.

Kristina finally caught up to Scout and scooped her up in her arms. "Come on, Scout."

"I'm not sleepy!" Scout shouted as Kristina carried her up the stairs and Molly followed with Wiley.

Lucas sat next to Stacy on the couch. "You received a complaint?"

Sam saw on the lazy boy chair across from them.

Stacy nodded. "We received a phone call earlier today concerned that your children have been neglected, exposed to too much violence, and that they've even started becoming violent themselves."

"Oh, come on!" Sam huffed. "I suppose Carly failed to mention how she left her infant and five-year-old alone in the car yesterday and her infant ended up choking on a Starburst?"

Stacy wrote something down. "If you have a complaint, please call—"

"Yes, I have a complaint!" Sam interrupted. "Carly's too concerned about taking other people's children that she's neglecting her own children!"

"Sam…" Lucas said, then smiled at the co-worker. "They have been exposed to some violence, but they are in therapy and are moving past it."

"I was also informed, Ms. McCall, that you are involved with a mobster—"

"Oh, seriously?" Sam balled her hands into fists. "She's married to the head of it all! And Jason and I are over. I've been working to build a life with my kids…"

"She says there are a lot of men in and out of your life and that it confuses your children. How many men have you brought home these past few months Ms. McCall?"

Sam scrunched her face. "Well, we've only lived here about a week and the only men that have been over are our dad, my brother-in-law, and my sister's boyfriend."

She wrote something else down. "But you haven't had Mr. Morgan over?"

"No. And I don't plan to."

"But he is a danger to your children and also the father of your eldest."

Sam rolled her eyes. "He's not. I just found out his brother is Danny's father."

She wrote something down again and muttered. "Been with two brothers."

"And you were recently out of prison—"

"That was proved self-defense."

"And your son Daniel was abducted recently due to your connection with Mr. Morgan."

"As was Carly's daughter!"

"I want to talk a little more about the violence…" she said. "Do either of you consider your children to be violent?"

"Absolutely not," Lucas said.

"She's just exaggerating," Sam said. "She came over last night and tried to rip Wiley from Lucas' arms, so Scout kicked her trying to stop her from taking her cousin."

"And do you advocate your children responding in violent ways?" she asked.

"When they're defending themselves or others. Yeah. Yeah I do."

Lucas face palmed.

She jotted something else down and smiled. "I think that will be all for tonight. We'll likely do a follow-up." She rose.

"Oh no, we're not finished here." Sam rose as well.

"I'm sorry?"

"Sam, please…" Lucas looked at her.

"Are you working for the Marchesis or just sleeping with them?" Sam asked.

Lucas scrunched his face.

"You think I don't recognize you?" Sam laughed. "You were on that island making eyes at one of the Marchesis. Can't remember which. Doesn't matter, they're both pathetic low-lifes!"

She smiled. "I don't know what you're talking about. Have a good night." She left.

Sam fumed and paced the room.

Lucas groaned. "You really think she's in cahoots with the Marchesis?"

"Probably…"

He shook his head. "I can't believe Carly…"

Sam charged to the front door.

"Wait…" Lucas said. "Where are you going?"

"To give Carly a piece of my mind!"

"No, don't! Please… I beg you. Just stay away from her. Don't give her something to use against us. Besides, we should get back to the hospital."

GHGHGH

When they arrived back at the hospital, they decided to stop by the waiting area to check on Helena/Alexis, but they only found crumpled pictures of Queen Elizabeth sitting on the floor next to the Majesty magazine. She was nowhere to be found in the hallways either. So, they headed to Julian's room. Ava was fast asleep, snoring on the bench outside of his room. When they walked inside, Helena/Alexis was walking back and forth, arms crossed, next to his bed.

"I must admit you do have a certain exquisite equanimity about yourself." She stopped and stared down at him. "Not to mention a stunning physique. Though you don't have good judgment when it comes to women." She grinned. "Perhaps I could change that. A little deception is good for a man." She sat at the edge of the bed. She placed her hands on his shoulders and leaned forward whispering in his ear, but loud enough for Sam and Lucas to hear. "Wake up."

Julian's index finger on his right hand moved. Then his arms lifted, and he placed both hands on her cheeks. "Lex…"

Sam gasped and she and Lucas smiled at each other. They walked closer.

Julian pulled Helena/Alexis closer and pressed his lips to hers. Her eyes grew wide, then she closed them and relaxed.