Lila hurried out of the hospital and down the street toward the pier. She needed someplace to think, to figure out her next move. Everything was different now—now that Elizabeth Morgan knew of the baby she carried.

She hadn't planned to keep the baby a secret; she was simply waiting until she had finally come to terms with it. But now that her baby's grandmother knew of it existence, all of her plans seemed irrelevant.

Dropping to the wooden bench, she stared out over the harbor. Laying a hand on her stomach, she tried to imagine herself as a mother. Would she be one of those neurotic mothers who worried if their child played dirt or ate bugs? Or would she be an easy-going mother who let her baby become black and grubby all day until bath time? She had difficulty seeing herself as either.

On top of that, how would Cameron be as a father? Would he be a little league coach or a ready participant in dress-up and tea party? She hoped that he would be an involved father and knew that if Cameron's father was any example, he would do everything and more to be in this baby's life.

She sighed and sat back. A glance at her watch told her that she should probably be getting back to the courthouse. She figured that if she put in a few more hours, she could still get out in time for Cameron to come over. She hoped that it would happen that way because she knew that they needed to talk. They needed to sit down and calmly discuss what would happen in the next few months.

Lila rose to her feet and trudged up the stairs toward High Street. She still had a lot of work to do before she went home tonight and she might as well get started.

GH*GH*GH*GH*GH

Elizabeth worked on autopilot for the remainder of her shift. When it was finally over, she raced to the nurse's locker room. She stripped off her scrubs and replaced them with street clothes in moments. Without even a glance in the mirror, she raced out of the room toward the elevator. As the elevator opened and she stepped inside, she whipped out her cell phone. She punched out her son's number and tapped her foot impatiently as the ringing filled her ear.

"Hello?"

"Cameron, it's your mother," she said quickly as the door opened to the first floor of the hospital. She hurried out toward the parking lot where she had parked her car.

"Hi Mom. How are you?" Cameron replied slowly. Elizabeth fumbled with her keys as she attempted to balance her cell phone and open her door at the same time.

"Oh I'm good. I was better, but then I learned that my son is making me a grandma and he didn't even tell me." The car door finally gave and she shoved it open. Sliding inside her white Honda—a last testament to her life before marriage to Jason—she waited for her son's answer. "Cameron."

"Ugh, well, Mom."

She smirked slightly. "I thought so. Do you want to tell me why I had to find out because I was filing Lila Rae Alcazar's chart?" she pushed the key into the hole and started the engine.

"Mom, I only found out about the baby this morning. Lila's only known for a few days. It's new to everyone. I haven't even really talked to her about it. We're meeting tonight."

"How do you feel about it?" She put the car into drive and backed out of the parking spot. Easing her car out of the garage and onto the street, she waited for Cameron's answer.

Cam truthfully didn't know how to answer. "Mom. It's all so new right now. I mean, I only found out this morning because I watched Lila nearly faint. I was going to demand that she go to the hospital, but then she told me. She's just as surprised as I am. In fact, I think she's a little freaked."

"That's perfectly normal. Neither of you planned to have a child now," she said, shifting the phone to secure it between her ear and her shoulder.

"I love her, Mom. I truly do. And I want this baby," Cameron replied. He glanced at the clock. It was almost six. He needed to get the Chinese and get over to Lila's.

Elizabeth smiled. "That's wonderful Sweetheart. I think that she complements you very well and she would make the perfect daughter-in-law."

"Whoa, Mom. Hold up. She and I have a lot to talk about before we get to marriage."

She smiled wider. "I know, I know. But you do love her and you are expecting a child with her and you are an honorable man. I know that you will do the right thing. I just wanted to congratulate you, Son. I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks Mom. Try not to bombard Lila the next time you see her. She may be tough in the courtroom, but she's pretty shaken up by the whole pregnancy thing," Cameron replied.

"I won't attack her, Cameron," Elizabeth said, as if he were crazy to even suggest a thing. "But I would like to have lunch with her or something."

"I don't think that she would object to lunch. Also, if you could just keep it to yourself for a while. Lila wants to wait to tell people until we decide what happens next."

"I understand. I was the same way when I was pregnant. But, again, congratulations. Bye now Cam. Talk to you later." She closed the phone and dropped it into the center console.

Smiling to herself, she was practically giddy with the knowledge of her future grandchild. She had always hoped that one of her children would fall in love, marry and begin a family. Even though it wasn't exactly in that order, she was thrilled.

She chuckled out loud. Well, the order was irrelevant because she herself hadn't exactly followed that rule either.

Life was a funny thing. She couldn't wait to tell Jason that he was going to be a grandfather.

GH*GH*GH*GH*GH

Anya leaned against the wall of the elevator as she waited for it to deposit her at the door of her and Mikhail's penthouse. She'd just finished a long and tiring shift at the hospital. Granted, it had been an interesting shift.

From what she'd heard outside the hall of Ric Lansing's room, she knew that Mikhail would be interested. Although her brother wouldn't tell her why he was so interested in him, she assumed that he would want to know that the police had been talking to Lansing.

When the door opened, she passed by one of Mikhail's goons, gave a nod and slipped inside the penthouse. Mikhail stood by the window, as he had when she'd left that morning.

He turned when she dropped her big bag on a chair and hung her jacket in the hall closet. "Anya, I would have sent the car. You don't need to be out alone at night."

She groaned, tired of his overprotection. "I'm fine. It was a 10 minute walk and I am perfectly safe to be alone outside. I am a grown woman, Mikhail—the same age as you. There is no need to be so protective."

"Still you are my baby sister—"

"By ten minutes," she interjected, stomping to the kitchen for some food. She was always starving after a busy day.

"And those ten minutes—however measly—still makes me your big brother. And I am only doing what Granpapa asked me to do." He followed her to the kitchen. She stood in front of the sink, staring out at the light snow that was starting to fall.

"Well I'd appreciate if you'd try to do it a little less," she replied. Then she smiled to herself. Turning around, she raised an eyebrow. "Mikhail, I don't suppose you'd like to know that the cops were interviewing Ric Lansing today."

He frowned, his mouth setting into a straight line. "Really. Well. I have work to do." He walked quickly out of the kitchen and reached for his cell phone.

"Jorge! I need an update on Lansing," he barked into the cell phone causing Anya to wince. Mikhail frowned and moved to the window. He looked out over the bay toward the hospital. As if he could look in on Ric Lansing from the penthouse.

Anya shook her head and stomped upstairs. Her brother needed to get his priorities into order. She was annoyed and peeved at his belief that she couldn't protect herself. As if. She snorted and walked into her bedroom, shutting the door and stepping out of her clothes. She pulled on a velour sweat suit and sat down on the bed with a book.

She needed space from Mikhail before she blew up at him. It wasn't that she hated her brother. It was just that she needed space from his constant worrying. Sighing, she settled back into the pillows and into her book

Another chapter done! I'm sorry for not updating sooner. I've been super busy. But I should be able to update more often from now on. I've also been debating on where this story will go from here. As it stands, it will continue indefinitely. I would love reviews!! Thanks in advance.