A/N: Hi everyone! Thank you to everyone who reading and reviewing this. I have to say that my life is getting in the way and I'm not writing as much as I was before. I'm going to try to stay motivated for updates, the reviews always help with that.

This chapter gave me a little inspiration for a title change... so I did just that. I hope it wasn't too confusing for anyone! :)

Here is the next chapter... :) (quick edit... don't judge. LOL)

Chapter Eighteen

"And when you come home I think we will all have a little movie night and watch all of your favorites… and eat popcorn," Alexis brightened her eyes as Daniel looked up at her from where he was snuggled in her lap, "Doesn't that sound fun?" She smiled at his nod before kissing his head and continuing their back and forth motion in the rocking chair.

It had been a long day during and after Danny's transfusion treatment. He slept through most of it and once the process was over, was actually interested in eating and drinking a small amount. Sam had been by his side through the whole process and after… as the doctors, of course, monitored him closely. They were clear to note that he was still not out of the woods, but he appeared to be improving.

Alexis had, again, convinced Sam to take some time away. It was getting late and she could tell her daughter was growing weary. Danny was perking up a little… while everyone else was wearing down. Now that the transfusion was done, the doctor was allowing Danny to get out of bed and be held and it was helping, as that was really all that the little boy had wanted.

She couldn't help but smile as she watched his eyes wander around the room, holding tightly to her hand and rubbing his thumb against her manicured one; a soothing habit he always did when he was tired or not feeling well.

"I know you don't like it here, honey," She soothed as she rested her cheek against his light brown waves, "But it won't be long before you are all better and you can go home and sleep in your own little bed." She lifted her head when he turned to look at her, "You know… I hate hospitals too. The doctors are always poking at you and trying to take your blood and asking you silly questions." She chuckled slightly when he promptly rested his head back against her shoulder. She adjusted the stuffed "Nemo" so that it wouldn't fall off of their laps, prompting Danny to hug it close, "You love that Nemo that Papa gave you, huh?"

"Neeemoh," Danny nods.

"Yes, Nemo." Alexis laughed. "You know, Daniel, you are one lucky little boy. On top of having so much love from your mommy and your aunts… and me…your Papa loves you so much." She once again rested her cheek atop his head as she gazed into space, "And he's pretty calming in a crisis… thank God, because, well, you know me." She quipped, meeting Danny's wide blue eyes, "I guess we're all pretty lucky aren't we? Maybe I should stop worrying so much, huh? Anything could happen at any time… I mean, look at what we've been through in the past week. We should all just enjoy the time that we have together."

Alexis broke her gaze when Danny squirmed, turning to face her with his arms outstretched, "What's the matter, baby?"

"Up, Gumma," He prodded, "'tand up!"

"Yes, sir. Aye, aye, captain!" Alexis rolled her eyes with a small laugh as she lifted him into her arms and stood from the chair, rolling the tall I.V. cart beside them to stand by the window where the late afternoon dusk was settling in. She swayed from side to side as Danny curiously looked out the window while he continued to grip tightly to the stuffed animal at his side. The return of his bossy attitude was a good sign; she studied him intently, brushing his hair back with her free hand. "I don't know about breaking down these walls though, Danny. I think I do pretty well in my safe place… surrounded by my morals. Sounds exciting, right?" She sighs, "But the only time I get into trouble is when I step out of that safe place, so what lesson is that teaching me?"

"Buh-dee!" Danny points with a smile from behind his pacifier, "See buh-dee, Gumma!"

"Yes! I see the birdies," Alexis kisses his cheek, "are you feeling better, pumpkin?" She couldn't hide her relief when he nodded, hoping that he was right. As she continued to sway back and forth, she began rubbing circles in Danny's back once he had rested his head against her shoulder with a yawn. It wasn't long before she found herself yawning and they both headed back to the rocking chair while Danny drifted to sleep and Alexis drifted into her own thoughts.

"Lex, please… please come back…"

"Why, Garrett?" Alexis turned on her heels and folded her arms across her midsection, "Why, so that you can tell me more lies about your life? What? Do you have other girlfriends that you keep on the side?"

"No, Lex…" Garrett sighed, he was still too weak to fully protest and wanted nothing more than for her to sit down for a moment so that he could try to explain. "Please, just sit here for just a few minutes. Give me a few minutes and then you can get up, walk out of that door, and never give me another minute again."

Still with her arms crossed, she complied, taking a seat on the stool beside his bed. Now that she was closer he could see her eyes glassy with tears and the weariness in her face. "Why? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm so sorry… I never meant to hurt you…"

"Oh, well," She quipped, "That just makes it all better than, right? Because you didn't mean to?"

"No… I just want you to know that. I never expected this to happen."

"Right!" A sarcastic smile crossed her face and she tried to mask the tears as she swiftly rose from the seat, "You never expected that I would find out… you just thought, what? What did you think, Garrett? That you could live a double life? Have me over here with your new little family in Port Charles and then go home once and a while to appease your wife?"

"Alexis… it's not like that at all!"

"I'm sorry… I don't have time to sit here and listen to your stupid excuses. My daughter needs me."

"Alexis!" He watches her stop and turn just her head in his direction, "Please, at least tell her that I'm glad she's okay."

"Mom?" Sam stood in front of her mother, smiling at the sight of Danny snuggled peacefully in her arms, "Mom?"

"Hmm?" Alexis looked up to find Sam standing in front of her with two coffees in hand and a small paper bag, "I'm sorry, honey, I didn't see you there."

"I know." Sam chuckles, setting the coffee and the bag on the bedside table, "I brought you coffee and a cookie."

"Thank you," Alexis smiled as her daughter ran a hand along Danny's head that was buried in her shoulder.

"How is he?" She whispered.

"I think he's doing better." Alexis smiled, "He just fell asleep… but before he was very alert and ordering me around just like normal."

"Oh, well that's a good sign," Sam laughed as she sat on the edge of the bed, "I can take him and put him back in bed…"

"No…" Her mother protested, hugging Danny close, "He's comfortable here, I think."

"He looks it. Thank you, mom."

"For what, honey?"

"Just for being here and helping me out. Forcing me to take a walk and eat and get some air, even when I don't want to."

"Well thank you for letting me help." Alexis grasped her daughter's hand, "I love you… both of you, so much."

"I love you…" Sam smiled, shifting her eyes to her son, "and my little boy certainly loves you too." She watches her mother's face soften while she continues to hold Danny close, "Um… Garrett's outside. He said he can drive you home when you're ready."

"Oh," Alexis paused, "Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"

"Yeah… I'm sure." Sam smiled, "Looks like Danny's doing much better tonight and I'm sure that your back would really appreciate a reprieve from that hard window seat over there…"

"You're probably right…" Alexis looked down at the peaceful toddler sleeping soundly in her arms, she cast her now teary eyes back to her daughter, "You know how many times I look at him sleeping like this… and I wonder if that's what you looked like when you were his age?"

"Yeah?"

"And then I start thinking about what might have happened if you never came to Port Charles… if we never found each other… I would have never gotten this chance."

"Mom…" She sighed, taking her mom's hand.

"But we did find each other." Alexis smiled through her tears, "It's really amazing when you think about it, isn't it?"

"It is…" Sam nods, "So amazing."

"Some things are just meant to be. Life has a way of working itself out, I guess."

"I think so."

"How do you know, though? I mean… how do you know when something will just work itself out and you should go with the flow? What if you think that's the case… because fate has brought you just so far… but really you end up making the wrong choice?"

Sam met her mother's weary and confused eyes before leaning over to plant a kiss to her cheek, "Follow your heart." She advised, as she carefully lifted Danny from her arms to which he squirmed before Sam calmed him in her own. "That's all that you can do."

"Yeah…" Alexis sighed as she stood, grabbing her purse and her coffee from the table, "I'll leave the cookie for a little midnight snack for you two."

"Okay," Sam smiled as she observed her mother kiss Danny's head.

"I love you, sweet boy. I'll see you in the morning." She smiled, turning to Sam for another kiss, "I love you, too. Thanks for the advice."

"Anytime…" Sam answered with a wink, cuddling her son close as her mother left the room.