By the time Ethan had managed to get her calmed down and Alexis had helped her with her trip to the bathroom, Kristina was feeling like she had just ran the New York Marathon. To say that her body was exhausted was an understatement, to say the least. She had already been through so much in the handful of hours since she had regained consciousness. Her mother was already insisting that they get her therapist to come in so that they could talk about the incident before. Kristina wasn't entirely sure that she was ready to talk about it, and even when she was, she didn't really know if she wanted to talk to her therapist about it.

For now, she was content to sit in the quietness of her room, holding Ethan's hand and just soaking in the way that he was looking at her. He didn't watch her as if she was a fragile little girl that could be broken by the slightest difficulty. He looked at her as if she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, even when she now knew what she looked like. She believed the words that he had said earlier. His wedding band on her table was proof of that. He loved her as much as she loved him. It was kind of an amazing feeling.

"Does my dad know?" she asked suddenly. Her father was terribly protective of his kids but perhaps most of his only daughter. He knew what she went through last year and would do everything in his power to make sure that it was not repeated. While he knew Ethan and was close friends with his father, it didn't mean that he would approve any easier. "My dad is going to kill you and then he is going to kill me for putting him that situation."

Ethan smiled fondly as he watched her freak out just a little. It was one of the most age-appropriate things she had done since she woke up. It comforted him a little to see her worrying about what her dad thought because it let him know that she wasn't in the same dark place she had been in a bit ago. He knew that they would have to deal with the ramifications of her physical appearance. For a girl like Kristina, it was going to be a big thing.

"Your dad knows that I was spending time with you and that we clearly have feelings for each other. I think that while things were going on, he was going to be more open to whatever helped," he explained. "I don't really know how he feels about the rest of it. We don't need to worry about that right now, either. When you're strong enough, we will talk to both of your parents. I am not going to be part of breaking up your family, but I am also willing to do the hard work that it might take to convince them that this is real. I know that things are different right now since you're here. I can be patient for as long as it takes."

A knock at the door broke the intimate conversation up, but Kristina was thrilled to see her favorite cousin peaking through the partially opened door. Nikolas came into the room with Spencer at his side, the little boy running full speed ahead when he spotted her sitting up in bed. "Kristina!" Spencer squealed, running as quickly as his little legs could carry him. Ethan quickly darted out of the way just in time for the little boy to launch himself at Kristina's bedside. She laughed as Ethan helped him up into the chair so that he could see Kristina at eye level.

"Hey, little guy," she laughed. She barely heard Ethan make an excuse to go and promise to leave later. She was already focused on the piece of construction paper Spencer had handed over. Apparently Alfred had helped him make get-well cards for her and Brook Lynn. "If you two aren't some of the most handsome company I've had all day."

"What happened to your face?" Spencer asked innocently. He was far too young to understand what a question like that meant. Kristina shook it off gracefully and shrugged at him. She wasn't sure what Nikolas had told him about Brook. "Does it hurt?"

"Just a little bit," she assured him, even if it felt like someone was punching her from the inside out of her skull. "I was in a little bit of an accident earlier. Thankfully, I have the best doctors, and they have helped me get the best kind of medicine to help me feel better. This card made me feel even better than that, though. Thank you, Spencer, it's beautiful."

Spencer smiled proudly over his shoulder at his father. "See, Daddy! Kristina loves the card just like I told you that she would," he boasted. His hair was dark like Nikolas' but he had the same light eyes of his mother. Nikolas missed Courtney just a little bit every time his son smiled at him. He did his best to tell Spencer about his mom, but he knew that it would never be the same. Even if Nikolas had Laura in his life now, he had grown up with the same kind of ghost for a maternal figure. Unfortunately, Spencer would never get to have his mother. He was glad that his son had Brook to be there for him for now. "I hope Brook likes hers as much as you did!"

Kristina exchanged a concerned look with Nikolas. "I am sure that she will, sweetie," she confirmed, reaching up absently to ruffle his dark locks. The conversation was again interrupted when Jax came in with Molly. Kristina laughed happily when she saw her youngest sister, opening her arms wide to embrace a still-shaken Molly. She had stopped off to see Brook briefly before coming in to visit her sister. Although Nikolas had brought her to the hospital, she had ran into her mother's best friend in the hallway.

"Where's Alexis?" Nikolas asked as he watched the girls talk animatedly with Spencer. He looked up at the Aussie and saw that he had a soft and fond look on his face as he watched Kristina and Molly interact. Although the words had not been said, Nikolas sensed that a wedding was certainly possible for his aunt in the near future. After years of settling at being second-best, he was looking forward to a man who loved her as fully as Jax had for years.

"Diane brought her computer by so that she could check emails. They're getting a quick cup of coffee to give Kristina a little space. I think she's worried about hovering too much," Jax explained without ever taking his eyes off the girls. "I think it's probably a good idea that she's aware that is a distinct possibility. I love your aunt, but we both know how she can be."

"Speaking of Alexis, can you do me a favor?" Nikolas asked. "I'd like to talk to Kristina for a few moments alone. Do you think you can take Molly and Spencer down to see Alexis. It will just be a few minutes."

"Sure," Jax agreed. He came over and kissed Kristina's forehead hello in greeting. "If you don't mind, I am going to take Spencer down to visit his Aunt Alexis. I hear that she has a cookie down in the cafeteria with your name on it."

"Daddy, may I go with Mr. Jacks, please?" he pleaded. Sugar was Spencer's one true weakness. Being polite was one of his many strengths. "I promise that I will have only one and that I will behave."

'You may go," Nikolas permitted. "Molly, can you go with Jax to help keep an eye on him? I want to talk to your sister alone."

Molly looked between her cousin and her sister before noting the sense of urgency in Nikolas' tone. "Sure, come on, Spencer," she announced, reaching for her cousin's hand. Jax followed behind the duo, pulling the door to Kristina's room shut behind him.

Only when they were finally alone did Kristina start to ask questions. It was clear that she didn't know a lot of details about the accident and that she remembered even fewer on her own. Nikolas wasn't sure what had happened exactly and didn't k now what Alexis or her doctors wanted her to know as of yet. However, he knew that his cousin would be dying to know about Brook, and he wanted her to hear the news from him and not some other source. He felt a duty to protect even the gossip that was out there about Brook Lynn, and that needed to start with Kristina, the last person to talk to her while she was still conscious.

"Mom and Ethan won't tell me much," Kristina said once they were alone. "How is Brook doing?"

Nikolas frowned a little as he slipped into the chair by her bedside. "She's still not awake, which is a little worrisome, but everything looks to be okay. They are concerned about her voice. I flew in two specialists who are at the top of their field. It's just a waiting game right now."

"And how are you?"

"I miss my girlfriend," he answered honestly. "But I am glad to have my cousin back."

The two of them visited for awhile longer until Alexis returned with Spencer, Molly and Jax. Nikolas saw Ethan waiting outside and asked his aunt to watch his son so that he could go talk to the youngest Spencer son. "Hey, mate," Ethan greeted him. "How's my step niece?" Ethan was always teasing Brook Lynn about his hiarchial rank, despite their close age. "Any improvement?"

"Not yet," he sighed. Nikolas was tired of having to say that. He wanted a change. "We're still waiting for her to wake up. Man, I am tired of waiting."

"I can only imagine. Well, that's not true. I can actually relate," Ethan commiserated before looking back through the observation window at Kristina. She was giggling with her sister and Spencer while Alexis and Jax watched on happily. He had been in Nikolas' position twenty-four hours. "How are you holding up? I mean, really? Not just the polite answer you give everyone else."

"Really?" Nikolas contemplated aloud. "I am terrified. I am scared out of my mind. I keep wondering how I am going to be strong enough to be the man that she needs me to be when she wakes up. I don't want to have to wipe away her tears when she opens her mouth and finds out that she can't sing. I'm hoping for a miracle but expecting total devastation because I feel like I have to be prepared for this. Music is Brook's everything. It is her life's passion. If she can't sing, God, I don't even want to imagine what that would look like."

Ethan nodded sympathetically. "I knew that there was going to be this moment where Kristina looked in the mirror and saw the bruises. I knew that she was going to have a flashback of being in this hospital for a very different reason, and I was absolutely terrified that she was going to fall apart. My fears were realized," he explained. "But there was one thing that I didn't count on. I didn't factor in the fact that Kristina is strong enough to handle this. It's hard, but she will not let it define her. Have a little faith in your girl, mate. She comes from a pretty hearty stock."

Nikolas knew that Ethan was right. "Thank you," he retorted. "Sincerely, I mean it. You said exactly what I needed to hear right now."

"Anytime," Ethan shrugged. "I'm going to go see Kristina now. She's been watching us out here for the past few minutes. She probably thinks you're grilling me about my intentions."

"Just treat her well. That's all I can ask," Nikolas said. "Well, that and to ask Alexis to hang onto Spencer for a few more minutes. I want to go check on Brook."

"You got it," Ethan said with a wave before heading into Kristina's room.

Nikolas turned on his heal and headed down the hallway. He was surprised when he came into the room to see Brook Lynn not only awake but sitting up. Patrick Drake was at her side, flashing a light in her eyes. Brook became uncooperative when Nikolas came into the room, moving to see around Patrick so that she could see him. Patrick turned around and saw her distraction. "She just woke up moments ago. I was going to come find you."

"You woke up," Nikolas exhaled, covering his mouth for a second before quickly closing the distance between them. Patrick moved to the side as Nikolas wrapped her as best as he could in his arms. Kissing the top of her head, Nikolas allowed the tears to come. Brook smiled at him silently, reaching up with her thumbs to wipe away the wet trail making its way down his cheek. It was then he realized that she hadn't a peep. "Can you talk?"

Brook's eyes went wide before she looked at Patrick. She opened her mouth but no sound came out. Taking a deep breath, she tried again. Finally, a very hoarse whisper came out. "A little," she told him. "Patrick said tube.."

"I explained that the breathing tube would make it hard for her to talk for awhile," Patrick lied. Nikolas looked up at him and grimaced. "She is supposed to save her voice."

Nikolas looked back at Brook's beautiful smiling face and tried to swallow the heartbreak. He leaned down and kissed her fully. Only when they were out of breath did he pull back, only to press his forehead to hers. "Love you, Songbird," he whispered softly so that only she could hear.

Even though it was barely a whisper, Nikolas finally heard the words he had been yearning for since this whole disaster began. "Love you, too."