A/N: Thanks for reviewing you guys. I love this chapter, lighten things up a bit, although makes them more complicated.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

I have a love,
And it's all that I have,
Right or wrong,
What else can I do? – Maria, West Side Story, Act II, Scene III

"Does he ever go home?" A nurse asked Cassie one morning as she checked Bella's vitals. Gordon was sleeping in a chair in the corner.

"No," Cassie shook her head. "We've been trying to get him to at least go home and shower but,"

"She's well loved your daughter," the nurse said. Cassie smiled. "A lucky girl."

"Yeah," she whispered and sat down. "She's supposed to go to Georgetown next year. I don't know if I'll let her now." The nurse laughed. "It just seems strange, since she was a baby nothing's ever been able to stop Bella. She's like a force of nature. Her brother and sister used to joke that a demon ate the baby and that's where Bella came from." The nurse laughed. "How is she?"

"Stable," she shrugged. "Honestly, it's just a matter of time before she wakes up." Cassie smiled. "She's very lucky not to have brain damage." Gordon stretched in his seat and woke up.

"Good morning Gordon," Cassie said, putting some fresh flowers in a vase.

"Morning," he said. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"You could go home," Cassie said. "Sleep in a bed, take a shower. See your parents." Gordon shook his head.

"Is there any change?" He asked eagerly.

"She might wake up today," Cassie said. "She might smell you and go back to sleep." Gordon laughed.

"Where's Mr. Riley?" Gordon asked. He and Rick had come to a quiet tense truce over the past week. He knew the minute Bella was better that truce was over.

"He had to go back to work today," Cassie whispered. "He didn't want to." Gordon nodded and she rearranged his blankets again. "Eddie's coming to visit after school today, with his parents."

"Oh," Gordon said softly. "So, I guess I could go home and shower then." Cassie nodded. "Do you want some coffee or something?"

"That would be nice," Cassie nodded. "Thank you." Gordon nodded and walked out into the hallway. "Oh Baby," Cassie sighed at her daughter, who looked like she was sleeping soundly. "You found a good one there." Then she noticed for the first time the ring that Gordon had placed on her finger. Her eyes got big.

Anne rolled over and giggled as Kevin pulled away from her after they'd finished making love.

"Don't you normally have chem right now?" She asked. He frowned. "What?"

"Oh nothing," he said, "it's just when your lab partner is in a coma no one really expects you to show for class."

"Oh, Kevin!" She whispered and kissed him. "I'm sorry, I didn't even think." He shrugged and sat up. "You know, I'm glad we're back together, but we didn't really talk about it."

"Anne, can we just put it behind us?" He shrugged.

"You don't have any questions?" She asked He looked at her.

"Did you ever have sex with him?" He asked. "Like, this summer or before we were together?"

"No," she said. "I mean, not really." He looked at her. "I mean, we've done stuff, but we've never had sex, I've only had sex with you. My body is all yours, it always has been." She went to kiss him.

"And the rest of you?" He asked pulling back gently.

"The important parts are yours," she whispered. He kissed her again.

Elisa lay on Eddie's bed with him, her head on his chest. He smiled sadly, he hated himself for asking her to come, but her presence was so soothing. She was still so much a little girl.

"I wish Ponyboy was here," she whispered. He looked at her.

"Who?" He said. She sat up.

"Ponyboy," she said. "My dad's old dog. He'd dead now, but her was the best for snuggling."

"The dog was named Ponyboy?" He said. She nodded. "Did it look like a horse?"

"No, it's from The Outsiders," she laughed. He looked blankly at her. "'Stay gold Ponyboy?'" He shook his head. "God, crack a book every once in a while Cole."

"Oh," he nodded. "He was a good snuggler?" She nodded. "I don't compare?"

"You're not as fuzzy," she shrugged. He laughed and pushed her hair off her face. She looked at him. "Have you been to the hospital?" She pulled back.

"I'm going with my parents later," he said. She nodded and stood up and started rearranging things on his dresser. "Ellie, you don't have to come over here if you feel weird." She turned and looked at him.

"Why would I feel weird?" She frowned. He shrugged. She sighed, he looked so hopelessly dreamy, probably stoned and lazy looking relaxed on the bed. She hadn't wanted him in so long, but looking at him now she did. He stood up and walked over. "Eddie," she whispered as he got closer. "What about Erica?"

"It's not like that with her," he said. He kissed her. She closed her eyes and wrapped her hands around his neck. If he needed this right now she would be here for him. They landed back against the bed. It didn't progress very far before he stopped. "Sorry."

"It's OK," she whispered and they kissed again. This time it went further. She whimpered as his hand pressed against her lower back and he started nibbling behind her ears.

"What about Hunter?" He asked. She stopped and pulled back.

"I can't do this to him," she said. He nodded. "Not right now, with his parents and," he kissed her. She pushed away. "I have to go." She grabbed her coat and ran off.

Denise sat at the piano in the Rileys house, carefully plunking notes out.

"Hey blondie," David popped in. She smiled. "What are you doing here?"

"Mike and Eva are at the hospital," she shrugged. "I couldn't be there anymore." He nodded and sat down.

"What are you working on?" He said.

"I'm not," she said. "Just trying to get happy." He nodded. She kept plunking notes.

"I recognize that," he said.

"Good morning Starshine," she sang softly, "the Earth says hello." He laughed. "Hair."

"Yeah," he nodded. "Dooby dooby dada, dooby dooby dada, la la la la la," he sang, picking up the melody.

"You skipped the verse," she said. He smiled.

"There was this jazz club in Paris that Eva and I used to go to," he said. "There was this crazy German singer, she used to sing that song. But she went like heavy on the unstructured part."

"I always sang it when I was little," she said. "Talent shows, and a couple of the times I was in pageants, it was my talent." He laughed. "My mom was a theatre teacher, she used to call those the 'Krupke' songs." He looked at her. "In Broadway shows, the second act tends to be heavier and so they throw in these peppy songs in the middle to keep the audience from cutting their wrists. The prime example is 'Officer Krupke' in West Side Story."

"That makes sense," he said and then started playing the chords to "Officer Krupke," she started laughing. "I did the pit orchestra thing to pay for food while I was at Julliard." He dropped off. "I didn't know you did the Broadway thing."

"Josh wants me to try actually being in a show," she said. "But I don't want to be that girl, I hated those girls when I was really into it. Maybe if Mike had decided to go to grad school back east." He looked at her. "What have you been doing?"

"Teaching mostly," he shrugged. "Eva really wants to live here, near her family, and I'm auditioning for the symphony next season, but there are bills to pay." He sighed. "I don't know what's going to happen though if Bella doesn't," he shook his head. "She won't be able to deal with it. And I can't lose her." Denise hugged him.

"Trina, can you hand me that pasta," Julie said, seeing Trina sitting spaced out at the kitchen table. Trina looked at her.

"What are you making now?" Trina asked.

"Lasagna," Julie said. "I'm trying to make things that can be reheated easily, that way everyone can eat." Trina nodded. "Are you alright sweetie?"

"I don't understand why Dean's not here," she choked. Julie looked at her. "He said he was coming, but then he didn't. And he's not here and she's his best friend."

"I'm sure he'll be here as soon as he can," Kelly said walking in and hugging her daughter from behind. "You're cooking again?"

"It soothes me," Julie said. Trina smiled, listening to her mother and her aunt bicker was soothing to her.

Dean practically ran from his car towards the hospital. It had taken him a week to get it together, and he hated himself a little for not going to see Trina first, but he needed to be with Bella. He got inside the hospital and up to her room. Cassie was sitting next to her.

"Hi," he said breathlessly.

"Hi," she looked at him. He could tell she was exhausted. "I'm glad you're here. Gordon finally went home, so I haven't wanted to get up in case she woke up, and I really have to use the bathroom."

"I came right here." He said. "I had to. Is she alright?" Cassie nodded. "You can go ahead, I'll sit with her." Cassie smiled and stood up and hugged him. He sighed and sat down. After a few minutes he heard squeaking and noticed Bella start to squirm. "Cass," he called excitedly as her eyes blinked opened.

"What," Bella said, her voice scratchy.

"Oh God, can you drink water?" Dean said, fumbling over to the sink. He filled a paper cup and helped her drink it down.

"What happened?" She said. "The car," she realized, "Dean, where's Gordon? Is he alright?"

"Yeah, baby, he's fine," he said smoothing her hair and kissing her forehead. The nurse came sprinting in, followed by Cassie. "I gave her water, is that OK?"

"That's fine," the nurse said. Cassie started crying.

"I'm confused," Bella said. "What happened?"

"You don't remember?" The nurse said, taking a flashlight and checking her pupils.

"I, well," Bella said. "Gordon lost control of the car, but after that no."

"You were knocked out," Cassie explained, "you've been unconscious for a week."

"And Gordon's OK?" Bella said. She looked at Cassie. "Mommy, is he alright?"

"He's fine," Cassie assured her, "he went home to get some sleep and take a shower. I'll call him right after you father OK?" Bella nodded. She was shocked when her body ached as her mother hugged her. "I love you so much, oh God, I was so worried."

"I'll go get the doctor," the nurse said with a smile. Cassie nodded and wiped her eyes.

"I can sit with her while you make those calls Cass," Dean said. Cassie nodded and kissed Bella again.

"I love you," Cassie whispered.

"I love you too," Bella said and her mom walked out. She looked at Dean. "When did you get here?"

"Like five minutes ago," he smirked. "I guess you were waiting for me." She smiled as he settled in. "Are you going to tell me about that rock on your finger?" She looked at her hand and then at him.

"I have no idea!" She said. "Dean, am I engaged?"

Elisa ran into Cal and Hunter's room and kissed Hunter pulling him to his feet, her hand around his face. He was taken off guard at first, but then accepted her softly wrapping his arms around her and crushing her tightly to him. When they finally came up for air he smiled at her.

"That was quite the hello," he whispered.

"I love you," she said. "I love you so much." They kissed again. "And I forgive you." He looked at her.

"For what?" He asked. She looked at him. "You know about Anne."

"Carmen sort of let it slip," she said. "I don't mind, I know you love me. You picked me, didn't you?" He smiled.

"Yeah," he whispered. "I did."

"Then it's OK," she said. "Plus, I kind of just got even." He looked at her.

"Eddie?" He tried. She nodded. "So clean slate?"

"Clean slate," she nodded. They kissed again, this time he walked her over to the bed. She stepped back from him and started unbuttoning her blouse.

"Elisa," he said taking her hand. "I don't want to do this." She looked at him. "I mean, I do, I really do, but I don't want it to be about proving something." She smiled and lay down and he lay down on top of her. She crossed her wrists at his neck. "I love you."

"I love you too," she whispered and kissed him.

Keep The Reviews Coming!