Kendall hurried to the hospital as soon as Bianca told her the news about Erica. She had to make sure her mom was really alright. On the journey there all Kendall could see was her mother as she was before, lying in a hospital bed looking so frail and so near to death… How much would this traumatic experience have changed her, would she still be Erica Kane?

…

"I don't care about deadlines – my point is I wasn't dead!"

Kendall stood stunned as she got to Erica's room, only to find her mother screaming down the phone.

"No. Kit this is your problem… Because I'm making it your problem..! You fix it or the whole movie deal is off…"

Kendall could hear the tinny response through the phone speaker.

"The premier is a month away. And there are two further movies planned. You can't do that…"

"I can and I will… unless I am completely satisfied! Fix it!"

Angrily Erica turned off her phone and threw it on the bed.

Kendall had to fight the smile that was pulling at her lips.

"Whoa, it's nice to see you back to your old self again." she said, "Only should you be getting worked up like that."

"Kendall." said Erica, happy to see her eldest daughter. "You know that felt oddly refreshing."

She opened her arms for a hug which Kendall gratefully accepted.

"I'm so sorry about Zack." said Erica pulling her daughter close. "I wish I could have been there. I wish there was something I could have done."

"It was hard mom; hard to say goodbye all over again. But I got through it thanks to support from Bianca, Jackson and my boys – and of course the distraction of worrying about you."

"I'm still so very sorry." said Erica, stroking her daughter's cheek. "I know how happy you were to have him back."

Kendall smiled at her mother's concern.

"Well now I'm happy to have you back. You have been sorely missed."

"I'm beginning to see that." said Erica, an edge to her voice.

Kendall knew her mother well enough to know that Erica was referring to something very specific by her tone.

"Who were you yelling at before?" Kendall asked, although she could already guess.

"Kit Sterling. Can you believe he cashed in on me? Published my book before it was finished, and as for the film."

"You can't put all the blame on him." said Kendall.

"What do you mean – that book was published almost the instant I was shot!"

"It was over a month later, mom; a long month of publicist meetings and soul searching before they decided to publish. And in the end I was the one who said yes."

"You!"

"I was a wreck after Zack died. A total wreck. I tried to be strong but here you were in the hospital, in a coma and you were dying in stages. Bianca was trapped in a bed, paralysed. Zack was dead and I was so sure you were dying. When they approached me I said yes."

"But why?"

"I wanted the whole world to know what an amazing woman my mother was. And I didn't want it to become some fuel for the morbid publicity vultures when you died. I wanted it to be an inspiration now... while you were still alive."

"But the chapters you wanted to change?"

"It didn't matter, not anymore. I am a part of your amazing life and I should be proud of that not embarrassed."

"But Bianca..?" Erica asked

"When I told her what I had done, she said yes quicker than I did…" said Kendall with a grin. "So I guess you owe Kit an apology."

Erica still looked unhappy. Her next words made the real reason for her anger very clear.

"So did you green-light the film as well?"

"No." said Kendall quickly. "You signed a legally binding contract. You sold them the rights, anything else was a courtesy. We had no way of protesting the film. They have kept us involved and up to date with the proceedings. I don't think you need to worry, I believe this film is going to more than do you justice!"

Erica's mouth became a thin line. She was still upset.

"They said I would play myself!" said Erica.

"You think you would do a better job than Meryl Streep? She's just won another Oscar you know."

"It's the principal of the thing." said Erica curtly.

"Mom, if the hype is to be believed this film trilogy is going to make you immortal. What more could you possible want? Reporters are already surrounding the hospital, now word of your return has gotten out. International reporters! You are global news, mom, thanks to this film."

Erica blinked as Kendall's words sank in.

"Immortal." she said slowly trying the word out for size. "I hadn't thought of it like that."

…