It had taken some degree of investigating, but he was at last successful. Cruz had found the seemingly only set of chairs on this floor that didn't look like they were straight out of a hospital set from the Brady Bunch. Did any of the Brady's actually go to the hospital, he briefly wondered. Or was it like the one bathroom for six children phenomena? He shook his head, realizing yet again that stress caused him to ponder the strangest points imaginable.

Cruz had stole away during the Spencer family's run for food and coffee, wanting just a few minutes without having to deal with Luke's all knowing, completely amused smirk, Laura's hopeful smile, Lulu's completely confused and defeated body language, or the simultaneous comfort and tension he was picking up between Robin and Patrick. Tony and Lisa's presence didn't help much either, with the waves of hatred and grief rolling off the older man. He had wandered the halls looking for some place to sit and gather his thoughts. He had just about managed to actually find the most comfortable position possible when he realized he was not alone in the hallway.

Cruz would never be able to explain it fully in his entire life, but he knew he was witnessing something special. The other man appeared to be Cruz's age or maybe a little older. He wore his dark brown hair just barely below his ears, a length that would have started Laura in on a series of well-meaning hints about him needing a haircut had she known him any length of time. His body slumped exhaustedly but there was an indefinable aura of excitement around him. In his arms, he held a small bundle wrapped in a pink blanket. Cruz wasn't close enough to hear the words he could see being mouthed, but he could imagine the loving words of a father speaking to his daughter for the first time.

It wasn't as if this was the first time he had seen such a moment. He had been in the hospital when Cameron had been born. But this was the first time he had felt his heart clench in both understanding, anticipation, and nerves. Sooner than he wanted to think about, that could very well be him.

"There you are. You disappeared on me there." Bobbie's voice called out to him from the left side of the hallway. Stopping when she reached his spot in the corner, she smiled as she sat down in the open chair. "Trying to find something resembling comfort are you?"

"Something like that." Cruz quickly slid his purchase from the gift shop back further into the side of the chair, praying Bobbie hadn't noticed the plain brown bag or heard the noise it made. "Is there any change?"

"No..." Bobbie shook her head slowly her eyes catching a familiar line of words. "Did you buy me a present?"

Of course she had seen it. Cruz could almost hear Luke's mocking voice now. "She's a Spencer. We notice everything." Attempting to play it off, he rolled his eyes. "No. Unlike Bryan Adams, everything I do is not for you." He tried to joke.

"I do declare you are full of it." Bobbie teased in her best southern accent.

"I'm telling you the truth, it's not for you." She may be the only reason he had bought it but it wasn't for her. "It's nothing," Cruz protested, trying to move the bag out of her reach.

Bobbie pouted. "Cruz, darling..." She moved to sit on his lap making sure that he no longer had a hold of the bag.

His woman was evil. There was no doubt about it. Of course two could play at that game. Seeing the new father still down the hall, he pointed the pair out to Bobbie. "Look. I think that little one was just born."

Bobbie's eyes widened as she followed his finger. "Ever wonder what we're going to have? I mean, as far as a boy or a girl?"

"I'm still stuck on the whole concept of baby."

"Do you have a preference?"

He hadn't thought about it to this exact second. The idea of a little girl scared him to death but Cruz was willing to bet she'd be as beautiful as her mother was. And if they had a boy, he at least had Lucky to rely on for guidance. Once they were back on full speaking terms that was. They had cleared some of the air, but Cruz realized they still had a long way to go. "Honestly no. As long as Cubby here is healthy I'll be fine."

"Cubby?" Bobbie couldn't help but smile and lean into him. "Is that what you think his name will be? Because I'm here to tell you--" She wanted to work up the real rant, wanted even more to know what was in that bag, but he managed to distract her effectively with a soft, somewhat lingering kiss.

"I can't very well call our son or daughter 'it' for the next seven months now can I?" He winked at her. "So I'm guessing you're thinking a boy then?"

"Just a feeling." Bobbie told him barely able to suppress a giggle when she watched his hand move to her stomach.

"This is just so unbelievable." He lowered his voice to a whisper in awe at the reality that was crashing over him. Their child was underneath his hand at this very second. It wasn't a scenario he had ever imagined happening and here it was, the latest chapter to an already unexpectedly amazing story.

Bobbie reveled in the feel of his open palm against her stomach and had to fight back the urge to shiver at his protective touch. "Tell me about it. He started moving around last night. If you're really patient, he might do it again."

"Does it hurt?"

Bobbie smiled brightly. "No. It's a long forgotten feeling. Sort of like having butterflies but more intense. Oh, I'm not explaining it right."

"No I think I understand." He really didn't but he was a guy and Cruz supposed he really wasn't supposed to fully understand this.

"Any time you're ready to switch roles, let me know." Further proving her point, she massaged the back of her neck.

"Hmmm," Cruz paused pretending to consider her offer. "I'll take it up after the morning sickness. You know I have issues with being sick." he teased her.

"Just like a man. Lord knows you're probably one of those whiny men when you're sick." Bobbie pondered.

"Laura even refuses to come near me then."

"That is bad." Bobbie nodded solemnly. "What's that?" She exclaimed, grabbing his wrist and keeping it pressed to her stomach. Watching confusion settle across his features, she managed to extract one of Cruz's secret books from the sack. "Oh Cruz..."

Too late he realized her trick. He tried in vain to break her grasp and retrieve his possession without dropping her on the floor. "Give it back."

"What To Expect When You're Expecting? Oh, this is too good." Bobbie laughed holding the book behind her back.

He could feel himself blushing and Cruz wished with all his heart that a hole would open up right now in the floor and suck only him down the vortex to his own special hell. "I just wanted some information," he muttered.

Seeing that he was embarrassed, Bobbie grabbed his hand and kissed each of his knuckles. "That's the most adorable thing..."

"Stop that. I'm busy being mad at you."

"Stop what?" Bobbie feigned confusion.

"Stop being cute. It's annoying."

"I don't have to try." Bobbie countered sliding her arms around his waist. "Kiss me." She goaded.

"Nope."

"Don't you think it's a little late to be shy?" Bobbie drawled pressing her palms into his spine. "Come on..."

"Who ever said I was shy?" he challenged moving just a fraction closer to her. "I'm not the one who wanted to hide you know."

He was only teasing, but his words hit a nerve. Bobbie refused to meet his eyes. "Have it your way." She said handing him the book.

Too late he realized his joke had hurt her. Tossing the book to the floor, he pulled her closer to him. "Come on, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

"They aren't mad anymore, and the rest of the family has been so supportive. I guess I'm just overwhelmed, you know." Bobbie stared at his shoulder.

"I am familiar with the feeling." He teased. "But the worst is over now. Everyone knows and no one ended up in jail. We're still here, together."

"I'm worried about Lucky." Bobbie admitted finally meeting his eyes.

"Me too." Cruz sighed. "But no matter how many times Laura sends Elizabeth innocently down to that room, he's not going to leave till Cameron is better."

"I know. You're right. How far have you gotten in the book?" She threw in the last comment hoping he might respond without thinking.

"Cute. Very cute." Cruz began to tickle her sides, causing her to giggle. "What will it cost me to keep you from telling the entire Spencer family this when we go back?"

"You in a hurry to get back?" Bobbie asked in what she believed to be a sultry tone.

"Never." Giving in to what they both wanted, he finally relented and pulled her close enough for a slow lingering kiss.

On most days Lucky never second-guessed his decision to work in the music business. He loved his job and was damn good at it. The money was a nice bonus and he couldn't have asked for a better mentor than Ned. But there came days like today and he was forced to wonder if maybe he had made the wrong choice. Maybe if he had studied medicine, then he would have some idea of how to help Cameron right now.

The doctor's voice was still ringing in his ears. He had gone into that meeting hoping for not exactly good news but at least not complete devastation. Dr. Karen Wexler had least tried to soften the blow, but he couldn't condemn her honesty. "I'm afraid Cameron is starting to slip into a deeper coma. To be frank Mr. Spencer, if he doesn't wake up soon, I doubt he will ever wake up at all."

Somehow he had made it back here and ushered out his mother and Lisa without telling them. He had shrugged off Elizabeth's questioning look when he stepped away from that discussion. If any of his family even suspected what Dr. Wexler had told him, Lucky knew they would be back here in less time than it would take his father to blame Helena Cassadine for everything. But he didn't want their concern and false cheer right now. He was hanging on by a thread and right now what he wanted was to be alone with his son.

With a shaking hand, he traced the lines of Cameron's face. His eyes had always reminded him of Jess. The same deep brown, the same shape, the same sparkle when either laughed. He prayed with whatever faith he had left that she had also passed on her fight. No matter what the issue, no matter how serious or mundane, Jess had never backed down from a fight in her life. Didn't matter who or where. Lucky could admit he was stubborn but he had nothing on Jessalyn Grimes when she was worked up.

Cameron had to wake up. It was that simple and Jess needed to help him. They were supposed to go to Chuck E. Cheese again. Lucky had to prove to Elizabeth he was right and Cameron didn't hate her like she thought. There were sleepovers with Lance and Morgan. Trips to the park. Lois had been promising to go with them to for Cameron's first trip to F.A.O. Schwartz the next time they were in New York for longer than one night. It was going to be a surprise for Cameron. He wouldn't sleep between now and the trip if he knew that was planned. Maybe, Lucky thought, he should tell Cameron all about the plan. That may work.

All the money he had ever earned, all the access he had to the top doctors and specialists, and there was nothing to do but wait.

The door opened softly, but in the silence of the room, it echoed as if the visitor had slammed his way in. Lucky didn't even glance in the intruder's direction, focusing all his attention to the small form that lay still in the bed. He stood stiffly, gripping the bed rails, searching his heart for any solution that it could possibly come up and despairing as he realized there was nothing he could do.

Patrick didn't look directly at Cameron; his eyes were unable to take in what had been inflicted upon his little cousin. He would work himself up to it. Right now, he was thankful he had made it to the room in one piece. Robin hadn't gone into details from when she had seen him and suddenly he wished she had. He was about to see for himself, but he desperately wanted to be prepared first.

Lucky looked like a stiff wind might knock him over. Patrick had never seen his cousin in such bad shape. He wasn't the most confident person in the world, but he put up a tough front in almost every aspect of his life, had done the same with Elizabeth until he realized she saw through it completely, even from their first meeting. Stress and sleepless nights had caused Lucky's eyes to turn a nasty shade of red and his hair sat atop his head in a greasy, tangled mess. Patrick could even make out tiny wrinkles working their way past the numerous layers of skin in his face.

Just the fact that Lucky hadn't started talking the moment he came in put Patrick on edge. Lucky was almost as talkative as his little boy; it wasn't natural for both of them to be silent at the same time. Cameron should be jabbering away about playing on the swings at the park or begging his dad for that puppy he saw every morning on their walk to school. He should be experimenting with finger-paints and white walls, getting into everything the kitchen tried to conceal, anything but lying there, quiet and still. It wasn't natural. It wasn't right. He didn't like it one bit.

What am I even doing in here? Patrick asked himself silently. He was terrible at comforting people, family especially. He didn't know what he should say, had no way of knowing if his cousin would snap at him as he had every reason to do. Having stayed away as long as he had, Patrick began to worry that Lucky was angry with him. He should have been in here the second it happened, the second visitors were given the green light. But he hadn't. He had hidden like a scared little kid; hospitals were something he was just going to have to get over and used to. Especially, a cruel voice added, if you plan on staying with Robin. He wanted to attack the voice, wanted to shut it up, but he couldn't ignore the facts. Whether or not his results came back positive or not, there would come a time when Robin…

Patrick shook his head, startling Lucky. Chagrinned, he hoped his weak attempt at a smile brought the younger man some sort of comfort. Would he have to reach for something too, as Lucky had been forced to do? Would his knees give out on him? Would he fall into a heap on the floor? His breath sounded far too quick; he couldn't suck in enough oxygen. I'm about ready for Ashton to come out and tell me I've been Punk'd, Patrick thought wryly. Even the stupid thought did nothing in the way of relaxing him. How was he supposed to relax?! How, when Cameron was in this condition? His eyes started to move toward the tiny three-year-old, his fingers fisting unconsciously.

Memories of his early childhood flashed through his mind. He wasn't sure what brought it on, certainly not the sight of Cameron's battered face. Though it was hard to believe, even for him sometimes, he had been a very quiet little boy. It wasn't until middle school that he had gotten a mouth on him, or so his father estimated. Despite Logan following him around like a shadow, Patrick had felt very alone, very alienated from the rest of the world. He didn't want to think that Cameron might have experienced that feeling at one time or another in his young life. He had a litter of cousins to play with all the time, but what about when they were out of town or it was a school night? What about the nights when Lucky couldn't be with him because of work or some other conflict? Did Cameron sit by the window and wait for his father to come home?

Patrick could barely recall what it was to need his father as desperately as Cameron needed Lucky. He could almost determine that he hadn't ever needed Noah Drake, but he couldn't erase the memories he had shared with his father back when they had been a real family. He had tried, but there was always one thing that stopped him: his mother. Blocking out the time he had spent with Noah meant that he was forgetting her too, and he didn't want to do that. There was nothing after her death, nothing for the Drake men to use to forge a relationship with. Noah had found comfort in a bottle, Logan in his rebellious lifestyle, and Patrick in his seclusion.

One of his eyes was fused shut with a circle of purple bruises surrounding it while the other eye was merely closed and the bruises there formed a half crescent shape. His lip was busted, but the blood had long since dried and been washed away. His nose hadn't been hurt though Patrick had expected, imagined, that the damn horse would have broken it in his haste to terrify this little boy. It wasn't often that Patrick saw anyone besides Lucky when he looked at Cameron, but right now he could almost see the boy's mother. It was the curly hair, Patrick noticed. And the full bottom lip. Or it could be the deep brown eyes that were hidden behind the swollen eyelids. It was the confidence that radiated from the child when he sat down to play.

Lucky tried his best to pretend Patrick's silence wasn't unnerving him. On one hand, it was exactly what he wanted. On the other hand, some part of him craved for his cousin to make a dumb joke. At least then this situation could start to feel somewhat normal. If the silence from Cameron was unnerving, the silence from Patrick made the situation seem worse. Patrick may not be the easiest person in the world to open up about how he was feeling, but he always had a need to talk. And to ignore whatever it was Lucky said he wanted. The fact that Patrick was respecting his wish for silence almost scared him more than the doctor's prognosis.

The hum of the machines had been a constant rhythm since the moment Cameron was settled into the room. The beeps and the blips never varied in their pitch and tone. Except for now.

Twisting their heads quickly, Patrick and Lucky both stared at the monitors as the noises that indicated Cameron's breathing and heart rate began to fluctuate wildly. For a split second Lucky thought his own heart was going to give out as he tried to make sense of the lines, numbers, and graphics that were swimming before his eyes. What was going on? What was happening to his son?

Lucky stared in confusion as the frantic beeping suddenly began to fall into a more steady rhythm. He blinked back tears as he tried to figure out what had just happened when he felt a tapping on his hand.

"Knock it off Patrick," he grumbled gruffly. "Did we out grow the poking game years ago?"

Patrick couldn't respond, at least not intelligently. He was still halfway across the room. The hand that touched Lucky's didn't belong to him. "Lucky..." He attempted in a strangled voice.

Realizing for the first time exactly where Patrick was standing, Lucky looked down at his son's bed and felt tears start to roll down his face. Cameron's eyes looked back at him, with the same sleepy eyed expression he wore when he woke up every morning for school.

"Hi Daddy." He managed drowsily.

bDID I MENTION THAT THIS WAS THE LAST CHAPTER TO THE FIRST SWEEPS?!/b