Maxie shut the door behind Mattie, but stayed where she was. She needed a moment to reconvene, to figure out how to proceed. After Georgie's words of love lost proved to Maxie just how much time she'd lost with her sister. After all, no matter how much she didn't want to believe it, thirty years was a very long time.

She sighed and turned around, heading for her seat. Georgie stayed where she was sitting on the couch and with her eyes closed, said nothing. She too knew what was coming.

Finally Maxie couldn't handle the silence anymore. But before she could say anything, Georgie jumped up from the couch and bolted from the room. Maxie closed her eyes as Georgie raced blindly up the stairs.

There was nothing she could do to retrieve those lost years, Maxie knew. But some part of her wished that her sister would at least open up and tell her of the last three decades.

Upstairs, behind the privacy of her closed door, Georgie threw herself on the bed, burying her face in the cool cotton. There was no way that she would be able to tell her sister of the tragedy that had cost her a chance at love. Not now anyway. Not when it was so fresh.

Georgie let the tears fall as she pulled herself up into a half-sitting position. Pushing her hair out of her face, she drew herself to her feet and shuffled across the hardwood floor to the dresser. Opening the top drawer, she pulled out a small fabric covered box. As far as she was concerned, her whole life could fit in this one tiny box.

She opened it and pulled out the first paper. It was a picture, a grainy photograph that was as precious to her as any gemstone she'd ever held. In the photo, a child grinned and waved at the camera as she held tight to the chains of a swing. The man in front of her was pushing the swing higher and higher. Everyone looked so happy.

Georgie's tears fell harder now, making the picture wet and foggy as tiny drops rained down over the joyous faces. She pressed the photograph to her lips, kissing it before casting it aside.

The next photograph was a shiny professional one. Under the rose covered arbor, a happy couple stood, hands gripped, golden wedding bands glistening in the soft summer sun. The bride, a tall brunette, looked happy dressed in a long white gown that billowed out in the small Hawaiian breeze. Her new husband, a dark and broody Italian, smiled as if he'd just received the sun and the stars on a silver platter. Nothing could have dampened their wreaths of smiles.

As she placed the photo aside, Georgie briefly wished for a chance to relive that happy day.

She picked out another photo. It was of an older girl, a tall olive-skinned brunette, with her mother's blue eyes. Even though she was nearly grown, some part of her still resembled that happy child on the swing. The girl stood in a leotard next to a row of mirrors. She leaned gracefully against a barre, her eyes dancing as she raised her hands above her head. Even though it wasn't in the photo, Georgie knew exactly what came next. In her mind's eye, she replayed that scene over and over again. The girl would glide away from the barre, her hands in a circle over her head, jumping and twirling in an intricate pattern. Georgie could hear the music, a ballet by Tchaikovsky—the girl's favorite.

But she knew that life didn't give re-dos. Love truly was once in a lifetime. She had taken it for granted and before she'd known it, her happiness had been stolen right out from under her. If there was one thing that life had taught her, it was that happiness can't be taken lightly.

Georgie gently replaced the photos, except for the one of the graceful dancer. No, that photo deserved a place of honor, she thought, placing the photo on her nightstand. Now the girl, her angel could keep watch over her. Georgie stood up and put the box away in her dresser—to be taken out at another time.

She walked to the bathroom, splashing water on her face to eradicate the signs of tears. If life had taught her another very important lesson, it was that you can't get rid of the evitable by avoiding it; you just had to look the problems in the face, even when it was one of the hardest things you'd ever done.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

No, no. it can't be. I can't be p-pregnant, Lila thought as she ran toward the docks. The words continued through her head, even as she wished that Molly could take them back. There was no way, was there?

Lila dropped to the bench and covered her face with her hands as Molly rounded the corner.

"Lila!"

Lila looked up at her friend, shame blooming in her face. "Go away, Molly."

Molly skidded to a stop and stared at Lila Rae. "Go away? Why?"

"I don't really want to face the truth," Lila murmured, covering her face again.

Molly gave a small smile and sat down next to her friend. "So, could it be true?"

"Yes," Lila said, her voice muffled making it sound far away.

Molly's eyes widened. She hadn't expected Lila to give in so easily. "Are you pregnant?"

Lila raised her head. "I don't know for sure, but it could be true. Cameron and I have slept together several times."

"Oh Lila," Molly said sympathetically. She pulled her friend close. "Is it a good or bad thing?"

Lila closed her eyes. Truthfully she didn't know how to feel about it. Was the possibility of a baby with Cameron good or bad? She laid a hand on her stomach, wondering what kind of mother she would be.

Molly pulled away and got to her feet, pulling Lila with her. "Well, we can't be kept in the dark. You might as well know if there is a possibility or not."

"I don't know if I can go buy a test and actually take it," Lila said. She already felt nauseous. If this was how she felt now, what was the next nine months going to feel like?

Molly smiled. "I know. That's why you have me. Come on. We'll go buy a test." She gripped Lila's arm and led her away from the docks and toward the drug store."

Twenty minutes later, Molly had purchased the test, led a submissive Lila back to the courthouse and waited while she peed on the plastic stick. Now they had to wait another three minutes. Molly sat on the counter in the women's restroom while Lila paced back and forth.

I can't be pregnant, I can't be pregnant, Lila thought as she paced. The words ran through her head again, even though she knew that there was a distinct possibility of the latter.

"Lila!" Molly barked, wincing when the woman's head snapped up wildly. She hadn't meant to sound so forceful. "Sorry, but your pacing is making me sick."

Lila stopped and leaned against the wall. Aimlessly, she glanced at her watch. Her eyes widened. "Oh my god, I'm supposed to meet Alexis right now." She reached for the door, but Molly pushed it shut before she could open it.

"No, Lila. You can't go until we find out if you are pregnant or not," she pulled Lila back into the restroom.

Lila sighed and allowed herself to be pulled to the sink. "Fine," she mumbled.

"It will be okay, you know. Even if you are pregnant," Molly said, glancing at her watch. They had, by her calculations, forty-five seconds before the test was ready.

Lila shook her head. "It won't be okay. I'm a workaholic. I'm in an off and on relationship, which by the way, seems more off than on." She pulled away from Molly and began pacing again.

"It will be okay. You would be an excellent mother and with time, Cameron will be a good father."

Lila shrugged and felt her stomach clutch as Molly eyed her watch again. "I can't look at it. You do it."

Molly took a deep breath, nodding as she reached for the stick. Lila turned away, unable…or unwilling to look at the results. "Okay," Molly replied, holding the test up and squinting at the results.

For the first time in her life, Lila felt the need to pray. She didn't know who she was praying to, but by mumbling some random words, she felt that someone or something was listening.

When Molly was silent for several long seconds, Lila turned around and stared at her. "Well?"

Molly looked up at Lila. "It's positive."

Lila's breath came out in a whoosh. "Wow." She reached for the stick and stared at it, as if hoping that Molly's eyesight was off.

Molly bit her lip. "Oh Lila." She reached over and put her arms around her friend. "Should I be sorry?"

"I don't know," Lila replied truthfully. She put a hand on her stomach. "I don't know how to feel. I can't believe that I'm actually pregnant."

"What are you going to do now?" Molly whispered. She gently kissed Lila's temple.

Lila took a deep breath. "Well, right now I'm going to go to my meeting. As for this baby, I can't deal with it right now. Thanks for helping me. I'll call you later," she said, hugging Molly and picking up her bag. With a wave, she pulled open the door and calmly walked out of the bathroom.

Molly stared after her friend in disbelief. How could Lila be so calm? She'd just found out that she was pregnant and she was worried about a business meeting with the DA? Then it occurred to her. Lila was avoiding the fact that she was pregnant. As long as she didn't think about it, then it wouldn't be true, Molly realized. Well, she clearly needed help and Molly knew that she couldn't do it alone.

She picked up her bag and coat. She needed to get back to Crimson. As she walked out of the restroom and made her way toward the front door, she dialed Mattie's number.

"Mattie? It's Molly. I need your help…"

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mattie pushed back her hair as she hauled the vacuum cleaner out of the hall closet. She'd been home for only two hours, but was already more than half done with her cleaning spree. Sarah would be pleased; Mattie thought as she plugged the cord into the wall and pushed the power button.

She pushed and pulled the vacuum throughout the apartment. Because she and Sarah split cleaning duty, they had both agreed that their own rooms weren't to be cleaned by the other person. Mattie kept her own room very clean, considering she spent next to no time in it. Being a doctor meant that she had virtually signed away her life to the hospital.

On the other hand, Sarah's room was very unkempt. It wasn't dirty or trash-filled—even Sarah had to draw the line somewhere—but it had clothes thrown haphazardly and a usually unmade bed. But it was all Sarah. And Mattie didn't care how her personal room looked as long as she kept up her end of the bargain with cleaning the rest of the apartment.

Mattie finished vacuuming the bedroom and flipped off the power switch. As she did, the sound of fists pounding on the door rang through the apartment. She sighed and tucked her hair behind her ear. Glancing in the mirror to check her appearance, she made her way into the foyer to answer it.

"Okay, okay," she murmured, turning the lock and pulling the door open. She was surprised to see Carly Corinthos Jax standing outside.

"Carly?" she frowned and leaned again the doorjamb. "What do you want?"

Carly hesitated, something that Mattie had never seen before. "Hi Mattie."

Mattie raised an eyebrow, mentally preparing herself for a verbal lashing from Carly. "Hi Carly. Can I help you with something? Morgan's not here."

Carly shook her head. "No, no. I just wanted to talk to you. C-can I come in?"

"Sure," Mattie replied, skeptically. She stepped aside so Carly could enter. Carly walked around the short wall to the living area. She sat on the couch while Mattie took the arm chair.

"I had lunch with Morgan today," Carly began. She looked down at her clasped hands, but then realized how out of character she sounded. Finally she knew that she just had to get to the point.

"Okay…"

"Morgan told me that you two are engaged. I was very surprise and said a few rude things about you. Morgan became understandably agree and stormed out. I realized how disappointed he was in me and that I couldn't live with that. So that it why I'm here—to tell you that I will not give you any more lip. While your mother and I had a strenuous relationship, it isn't your fault. I hope that you will forgive me." Carly replied briskly, getting to her feet. She walked to the door but turned back to a very surprised Mattie.

"I love my son and I always told myself that I would love whomever my son fell in love with. Obviously you make him happy, so I will get to know you," Carly said, opening the door and shutting it behind her.

Mattie stayed where she was and stared. She couldn't believe what she had just witnessed. If she hadn't seen it with her very own eyes, she wouldn't have believed it. Carly had just admitted that she had been very rude to Mattie for the last nine years.

What was this world coming to?

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Okay, so how was this chapter? I gave you a little hint as to Georgie's past in the first section. Kudos to the first person who can guess the man in the second picture. Please review. I love to read my reader's reactions to my story. By my calculations, there will be at least ten more chapters. My goal is to make it to forty chapters. Please review, but above all ENJOY!