Nikolas woke up early the next morning, his back stiff from a long night on the couch. Elizabeth had offered to share her bed again, but he had declined. So much had happened in the past two days that he knew they both needed time for it to process. A few hours apart might just give them the perspective they needed. He had had a lot of time to think, failing to fall asleep until somewhere near two. As he stretched his entire body and touched his toes, he was ready to not only start the day but to also begin his life with Liz.

Creeping up the stairs quietly, he padded past Elizabeth's room and toward Cameron's room. The little boy was awake and dressed, slightly mismatched with a striped sweater and plaid pants. Chuckling to himself, he scooped him up in his arms and peered over the edge of Spencer's crib. He was just stirring from full night's sleep. Setting a squirming Cam back down, he lifted up his son. "Well, boys, what do you say we do something nice for Elizabeth?"

Cameron grinned up at the tall man, nodding eagerly. "Let's surprise Mommy!" he cried, grabbing Nikolas' hand and pulling him toward the staircase.

Nikolas pressed a finger to his lips, reminding the toddler that his mother was still asleep. Heading downstairs, the three boys headed into the kitchen. Spencer was deposited into a highchair while Cameron climbed up onto a high stool Audrey left near the counter for him. Pulling ingredients from the pantry and fridge, Nikolas and Cameron set to making breakfast while Spencer munched on a handful of Cheerios. A half-hour later, a stack of fluffy pancakes were completed and set on a tray along with orange juice and hot turkey sausage.

Leaning against the sink, Nikolas looked out at Audrey's huge backyard. When he was younger, he had yearned for so many "normal" childhood things, such as making a snowman with his friends. Growing up in Greece, he hadn't seen much snow at his palatial home on the ocean. When they were to the mountains, it was always for a specific reason, so his schedule was usually too packed to have any leisure time. Not wanting his son to miss out on the same thing, he grinned as another idea popped into his brain. "Let's take these up, Cam," Nikolas said, balancing Spencer on one arm and the tray on the other.

"Mommy!" Cameron yelled, plunging onto the mattress to shower his mother with kisses. Nikolas watched as she squirmed beneath her son, giggling sleepily as she struggled to sit up. "We made you breakfast."

"You did?" she asked, smiling at her son before looking up at Nikolas. "Well, the baby and I are definitely hungry."

Nikolas laid the tray over her lap and shifted Spencer to the other hip. Cameron snuggled beneath the fluffy comforter next to his mother while Nikolas tucked in with his son on the other side. All four of them were cozy under the blankets as Elizabeth ate, periodically spooning a bite into Cam's mouth. "Well, what do you think?" Nikolas asked finally.

Liz sighed happily in response. "I had no idea you knew how to cook anything," she admitted. "I always thought you had someone to take care of that for you."

"I do," he smiled, "but my uncle believed in a well-rounded education. I had a cooking tutor for a year or two. Stefan thought it was important that I learn to appreciate domestic work."

"Does that mean you do laundry?" she teased

"Not on your life," he replied. "If you will excuse us, I actually have something else planned with the boys. You stay here and enjoy your breakfast, we'll be back in a few minutes."

Elizabeth arched her eyebrow quizzically but received no sort of explanation as Nikolas disappeared with the boys out of the room. Popping another bite of steaming flapjack into her mouth, she tried to figure out what he could be up to. Down the hall, she could hear Nikolas' deep voice speaking with Cameron chirping in response. Laughter drifted toward her as they made their way back down the hall. "What is this?" she asked, smiling widely as Cameron came bursting back into the room. Wrapped in his snowsuit, stocking cap and thick boots, he looked like he was ready for a blizzard.

"We're going to build a snowman!"

"You are?"

"Yes, we are," Nikolas retorted, adjusting the fleece hat on Spencer's head. The little boy was also wrapped in a snowsuit, his adorned with blue cartoon dogs. Nikolas was dressed warmly as well with a down parka, knit skullcap and matching gloves. "What do you say? Do you want to join us?"

A few minutes later, Elizabeth joined Nikolas and the boys downstairs. She was dressed warmly, her rounded stomach well hidden beneath her long, plush coat. A striped scarf was wrapped around her neck with a matching hat and gloves over her ears and fingers. Her snow boots clicked on the kitchen floor as she followed them outside. Cameron was clutching a bag full of accessories for the snowman.

"I've never done this before," Nikolas admitted as Elizabeth helped him mold a large base.

Packing the snow together, she looked up at him in shock. "Are you serious?"

He shrugged as he went to work on the next level. Spencer was packed securely into his carrier on Nikolas stomach, laughing as his father held up a bit of snow to his lips. Elizabeth stopped to admire the sight, reminded once again what a good father he was. Cameron was finished with the head, which Liz plopped on top. The three of them quickly finished decorating the face and then stood back to admire their work.

"It's perfect," Liz decided aloud, resting her hands on each of Cameron's shoulders. Nikolas wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her head to his shoulder. The perfect moment was broken by Audrey's voice behind them.

"How about some hot cocoa for Cameron and a warm bottle for Spencer?" she asked happily, stepping out onto the porch.

"Can I please, Mommy?" Cam pleaded.

"Sure," Elizabeth obliged, transferring Spencer from Nikolas to her grandmother. "We'll be inside in a minute to help you."

"Take your time, Sweetheart."

"Your grandmother is a Godsend," Nikolas murmured as she rejoined him in front of their snowman.

"That she is," Liz agreed. "I don't know what I would do without her."

"I don't know what I would do with you."

She smiled warmly and stood in front of him, slipping her arms around his waist. "This was the perfect way to start our morning. Thank you for this. I have a feeling it is something I am always going to remember." Nikolas didn't say anything in return. He simply tipped her chin up toward him, dipped his head and kissed her with all the love his body could muster.

Too many hours to count had passed since Robin had lost consciousness. The surgical team had been able to repair some damage and assess the extent of the infection. While it was serious, it wasn't life threatening thankfully. Electing to put her in a medicinal coma to keep her from the excruciating pain, she had slept through the night.

Mac had stood watch for the first couple hours before taking the girls home. He hadn't had any sleep since before the hostage situation started, and it had started to take a significant toll on him. Noah had taken a shift as well, convincing Patrick that he should get some sleep while Robin did. He had tried to argue, saying that he wanted to be with her at all times, but his father had prevailed. Eventually, too tired to fight anymore, Patrick had slept while his father watched over Robin.

Finally, just before dawn, Noah had shaken him awake to tell him that they were stopping her medication. She was expected to wake up within the hour, so Patrick had moved himself to her bedside. He was determined to hold vigil until she was awake, ignoring the constant melody of his pager and cell phone. While a few of the senior staff had been by to remind him that he was still on call, most knew that he wasn't going to be any good to anyone until Robin was stronger.

"P-p-atrick?" Robin sputtered, her voice hoarse from the tube down her throat. She had had trouble breathing just after the surgery. "Am I okay?"

"You're better than okay," he murmured ecstatically, reaching immediately for her hand. Brushing his thumb across her wedding ring, he couldn't help but grin at her. "You're awake, you're alive."

"How long was I out? What happened?"

"You have an infection. Your immune system was too weak to fight it off."

"I guess that would explain why I feel like this," she tried to joke. Patrick reached up to stroke her hair. "I don't remember much of anything. I think you asked me to marry you, right?"

He nodded and held up her hand for her to see. Lacing his fingers through hers, Robin's face lit up as she recognized the rings. "We're already married."

"That's right," she remembered. "I passed out right as you kissed me. I always knew you had that kind of effect on me."

"I'd say the feeling is mutual."

"How are Uncle Mac and the girls? I know they must be worried."

"Georgie managed to convince him to go home and sleep. I'll call him in a few minutes to tell him that you're awake. He'll be mad that I didn't do it right away."

"It'll be our little secret," she whispered, still clutching his hand fiercely. She searched his eyes momentarily, knowing that something was off. "What aren't you telling me, Dr. Drake?"

"I took the test," he replied simply.

"You did?"

"I was wrong, Robin," he said. "I told you that I needed to do this in my own time, and that was selfish of me. I started to realize how I would feel if you pushed me out of your life, determined to handle this all on your own. I couldn't bare it. If we are going to share our lives together, I have to be able to let you all the way in. This is just as much about you as it is about me."

"Thank you, Patrick."

"I'll find out by the end of the day. I had the lab put a huge rush on it, and they're going to push it through before they process anything else. I know it usually takes longer, but I guess there is a slight advantage to being one of the hospital's most gifted surgeons."

"Glad to know that you're still so modest."

"I've always been honest," he reminded her jokingly. "Seriously though, Robin,

"So what do we do now?"

"We wait," he said. "We wait and we dream and we plan a future, a future I am determined to share with you no matter what the outcome of all this is."

Above Kelly's, still tucked into the bed she had shared with Lucky for the night, Emily woke up with a smile on her face. Lucky was next to her, his head propped on his fist as he watched her affectionately. His blue eyes danced across her body, settling back on her beautiful face. Leaning down to kiss her, Emily didn't even mind that she still had morning breath as his mouth met hers. "Good morning," she mused happily.

"Good morning," he replied. "If my nose is telling me right, I believe that Mike is downstairs and that cinnamon rolls and coffee are already making the rounds. What do you say to having breakfast with me, Dr. Quartermaine?"

"I'd be honored to, Officer Spencer," she answered. "But I think that I still need to get dressed. I'm not sure these clothes are appropriate for a public viewing."

"Who said anything about a public viewing?" Lucky asked as he pulled his jeans back on. "You stay here and I'll run down to get us something. I plan on keeping you in my bed as long as I can."

Emily giggled to herself as Lucky jogged out of the room, shutting the door softly behind him. Leaping from the bed, she shuffled through her purse for her compact. Flipping it open, she looked at herself in the mirror. Smoothing her hair, she popped a mint and spread a thin layer of gloss over her lips. She jumped back into bed just as Lucky came back in the room.

"Breakfast for two," he announced. Emily took the paper carton from him and unpacked the two cinnamon rolls on her lap. Lucky stirred the coffee to her liking and exchanged it for a pastry. Taking a bite, he growled appreciatively.

"So good," Emily managed between bites, delighting in the sugary goodness. Icing dotted her bottom lip as she broke another piece and bit into it.

Lucky smiled over at her and knew that he had to kiss her again. Cupping the back of her head, he brought her toward him. He could taste the sugar on her mouth as he invaded her lips, a soft moan escaping from her mouth. Her kiss was slow and deliberate, a perfect combination of passion and depth. They enjoyed each other for a few more minutes before returning to their breakfast.

"Well, what do you want to do today?" Emily asked between sips of coffee.

"Help you."

"Help me?"

"You were there for me yesterday when I needed you, Em, and today, I am going to be there for you. I want to go with you to see your family. They're probably worried about you right now, and I know that you want to be with them. I also know that you're going to try to be strong for me, wanting to be the beacon of strength that Lila always was."

She nodded. "I will be because that's what they expect. It's what they need."

"And I know that you're going to need to actually let yourself feel this eventually, and I want to be there when you do," he said. "You don't have to be strong for me. I want to be there to support you, to lift you up if you feel like you're starting to slip."

"I don't want you to see me like that, Lucky. I'm scared of what it's going to be like when it finally really hits me."

He noticed how watery her eyes had become as he laid his hand over hers. "Let me do this for you. Let me take care of you."

Nodding, Emily felt like a small child as Lucky gathered her in his arms. "He was my idol, Lucky. He was the most important man in my life. He was my father in every sense of the word. I don't know what I am going to do without him."

"You're going to carry on his name proudly and become a brilliant doctor, Emily. He might have inspired you to become a doctor, but it's your heart and determination that is going to get you through."

"Are we talking about medical school here?"

"We're talking about life, Em, we're talking about life."