A/N:Went a little "lighter" in this chapter. But I needed someone to start bringing Erica around. This isn't the end of her demons, but she's finally ready to start healing. Hope you like, and understand why I chose Maggie.

Chapter 15

They'd kept her here over night. Hooked up to monitors and IV's. Her blood pressure was too high. Her heart rate through the roof.

They told her with smiles and joy that her baby was fine. Strong and healthy. Growing and developing normally. No matter what she did. Tried. Drank. This child was determined to come into her word. And at well into her sixth month of pregnancy, it was more and more likely that this child would come into their world, after all.

Jack said it was a blessing. A gift that they would forever thank God for. Jack thought he was the father. That this was going to be their happy ending. That this little boy or girl would come kick and screaming into their world, and mend their broken hearts.

She wondered how he would react if this child came out with jet black hair and a bronze complexion?

He would probably hurt the way she did. Probably feel the stabbing, piecing, gnawing pain of having his heart ripped out by the person he loved the most the in the world. He would ache and grieve. He would have the same broken pieces in his soul. The same pieces of his broken heart scattered in his chest.

It was an inviting thought.

She sighed and leaned back against the pillows. Joe and Dr. Clader were taking their time in signing her release forms, probably because they didn't think it was a good idea to send her home. They all wanted her admitted. Checked into an inpatient program that they thought would help her through her demons.

She wondered if they would ever realize that they were her demons? And the only way she was ever going to be free was when they left her alone. Let her take the bottle of vodka she had stashed in her bedroom, and drink herself into oblivion.

The door to her room opened slowly.

"Oh Joe, thank god…" She blew out before she had a chance to realize who was actually in her room.

"Just me," Maggie smiled, "But I would spring you if I could."

She nodded deftly. She didn't care why Maggie was here or what she had to say. But she wouldn't get worked up. The last thing she wanted was to give the doctors a reason to keep her any longer.

"How are you?' She asked, taking a few steps toward Erica.

Erica nodded and offered her a placating smile. "Better, thank you."

Maggie nodded. "We were worried about you. Gave us all a scare. Is the baby okay?"

Erica nodded again. Why was she here?

"Bianca is worried about you," Maggie started, watching Erica's eyes flash at her. There was no life in her eyes. No emotion. No pain. There was nothing. And it made her want to run screaming, get a doctor. Get someone who could help her.

"I wouldn't have thought she could pull herself from her demon spawn to think of anyone else."

Maggie winced at the hatred in Erica's words. "Bianca loves you."

Erica scoffed and shook her head. "She has a strange way of showing it."

Maggie took another step toward her. "I can't even begin to imagine what you and Bianca have been through…" Her voice was soft, and her words slow and heartfelt. When she decided to come here, to do this, she had decided that he had to tread lightly. Delicately. That she wasn't going to get anywhere with Erica if she gave her what she wanted. "You're two of the strongest women I've ever met.

"What do you want?" Erica deadpanned, done with her. Done with whatever the hell this was.

"I want you and Bianca to be mother and daughter again," She offered quickly, "She misses you, Erica and I know you miss her."

"She didn't think about any of that when she decided to lie to me. Stab my in the heart."

"She was trying to protect you. Trying to protect herself. It wasn't an easy decision she made."

"How can you stand there and tell me that she was right to bring that monsters child into the world? How can you want that kind of pain for her?"

"Miranda isn't Michael's child, she's Bianca's. She looks just like her. Just like you," Maggie pushed out on a hard breath, as her eyes met Erica's. "She is so gorgeous and so perfect. And she is already surrounded by more love than Michael Cambias ever even knew."

"And what happens when she stops being a cute, innocent baby? What happens when she realizes who her father is? What Bianca chose to do?"

"What happens if when your baby realizes that David Hayward is its father?" Maggie challenged, the words jumping out before she had a chance to think them through.

Bianca had told her in confidence a few weeks earlier, and begged her not to tell. Jack had no idea and David was keeping quiet in hopes of reducing Erica's stress, trying to keep her sober.

"Get out," Erica hissed, turning her head, and refusing to dignify Maggie with any further response.

"I'm sorry, I…." Maggie scrambled, trying to get back the little progress she made. "I promised Bianca I wouldn't say anything, and I won't. I just thought…"

"Jackson is this child's father," Erica offered, head still turned to her left. "You can leave now."

"And what if he's not?" She asked, "What if that's David's child you're carrying? What if that's David's child you're going to bring into this world? What is everything going to say? Going to think?"

Erica shook her head, but still refused to look at Maggie. "David is no angel, but he is certainly no Michael Cambias. And a child isn't defined who his or her father is."

"No, of course not. David is a good man," Maggie confirmed. "I just meant…well, most people in this town aren't too fond of him. And they would question why someone would choose to bare his child."

"What are you saying, Maggie?" She asked, turning her head quickly so her eyes could bare into Maggie's. "If I expect people to accept this child if it's David, then I should learn to accept Miranda."

Maggie shrugged. "You said yourself that a child isn't defined by who his or father is."

She turned away at that. She didn't want to hear this. This didn't want those thoughts racing through her brain. She didn't want Maggie to have a point that was already beating against the edges of her heart.

"Bianca loves you. Bianca needs you. And Miranda," She paused, letting a smile tilt her lips. "Miranda is the most gorgeous child I have ever seen. And she has already brought so much joy to everyone who is in her life. She is already more good and peace than Michael Cambias ever was," She watched Erica's eyes flutter closed as she drew in a shaky breath. She couldn't be sure, but she thought her words might be sinking in. "You need Bianca too. And you need Miranda too, you just don't know it yet."

Joe Martin opened the door before either of them could continue, Erica's discharge papers in his hands. "I'm sorry, I didn't know I was interrupting. I can come back."

"No, no," Maggie said, offering him a smile over her shoulder. "I was just leaving." Her eyes went back to Erica, and she offered her a soft smile. "I hope you feel better, Erica."

She left quickly, stopping just in the doorway to look back at Erica. Joe was already explaining her discharge orders, and Erica wasn't paying her any more attention, but she seemed lighter somehow. Like their might be life creeping back into her soul. Like maybe the next time they met, it might be at Bianca's as they all fawned over Miranda.

Maybe there was hope they would all make it through this.

To be continued