Kayla walked quietly down the hall toward Shane's hospital room. Having talked to Kim daily over the past several days, she knew that Shane was recovering slowly, but surely. However, Kayla had deliberately stayed away to allow Shane time to rest and reconnect with Kim.

But now that things seemed to have settled down, she knew she needed to talk to him. So much had happened, and she could not forget that her last words to him before the shooting were begging him to go and save Steve.

Approaching the door to Shane's room, Kayla paused as she heard laughter from inside. Looking in the tiny window in the door, she saw Shane, his arm wrapped around Jeannie, with Andrew seated on the edge of the bed.

Kayla watched the scene for a moment, feeling a tear in her eyes. She knew how much this must mean to Shane to hold Jeannie, finally knowing she was his daughter. She could see the emotion in his eyes, even from the distance. But more than that, she saw a peace in his eyes that she had not seen in a very long time, if ever.

Knowing she did not want to disturb the family moment, Kayla turned away from the door and suddenly came face-to-face with Eve.

"Eve!" she said in surprise. "I . . . I didn't see you there."

Eve did not acknowledge Kayla at first. Instead, she looked in through the window. Then she turned back to Kayla. "Quite the little family scene, isn't it?"

Kayla's eyes narrowed slightly at Eve's sarcastic tone. "It's your family too, you know?"

Eve scoffed and walked away from the door. "No. . . . That's Kimberly's family, not mine."

Kayla followed. "Eve," she said softly, as they came to a stop a few steps away from the door. "Your father loves you. You know that."

Eve rolled her eyes, but Kayla caught the emotion in them anyway. "Sure, my father loves me. But that doesn't mean I fit into that pretty picture in that room." Kayla heard Eve's voice break slightly. "Just look at them, Kayla. It's the perfect, complete, little family."

Kayla's heart caught at Eve's words. She knew that Eve had caused a lot of problems for Shane and Kim over the years. And she knew that since her recent return, Eve had caused even more for Kim. But Kayla also knew what it felt like to be on the outside. Maybe not in the same way, but she knew.

"You're wrong about that, you know." Kayla placed a hand on Eve's shoulder.

Eve just shrugged. "So you say. You, my dad, Kimberly. . . . You all say the same thing, but it's not like they've even noticed I left the room."

Kayla wondered how she could reach the insecure, defensive young woman. Kayla had never really had to deal with Eve like this. During the time that Kayla had been with Shane, Eve had mostly accepted their relationship and generally had been too busy with her own crazy life to interfere with Shane's.

"I wish I knew what to say to convince you that you are a part of this family," Kayla said quietly. "And a part of the family in that room."

Eve smiled, genuinely this time. "There's nothing you can say, Kayla." Eve paused. "I just wish . . ." Her voice trailed away.

"What?" Kayla asked, pushing the girl to open up. "What do you wish?"

"Do you really want to know?" Eve's voice took on a harsher tone.

Kayla nodded.

"I wish that Kimberly had never come back from L.A., okay?" Eve nearly snarled. "I know she's your sister, but things were so much easier when she was gone and when you and my dad. . . ." She stopped again.

Kayla closed her eyes for a moment to gather her strength. Then they popped open. Maybe she finally had her opening.

"Why was it easier when Shane and I were together?" she asked.

Eve looked surprised at Kayla's question. "I don't know," she slowly answered. "It just was."

"Did you feel like part of the family then?" Kayla pressed. "Did you resent me like you do Kim?"

Eve shook her head vigorously. "Of course not. You were great. When you and Stephanie were there, it was like a real family."

"So why was it so easy for you to accept me and Stephanie in your father's life, but so hard for you to accept Kim . . . and Jeannie?" Kayla decided she was not going to give up on this.

"Because Kimberly is always hurting my dad," Eve exclaimed. "Come on, Kayla. You've seen it. How many times has she lied to him or left him? You didn't do that."

"No," Kayla agreed. "I didn't hurt him like that." She looked directly in Eve's eyes. "Because I couldn't. In order to be hurt that much, you have to love somebody that much. I could never have hurt your father like Kim did, simply because he could never love me like he loves her." Kayla paused and then continued, "And I think, somehow, you knew that too."

Eve turned away and waved her hand dismissively. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"Yeah, I think you do." Kayla was undeterred. "You didn't mind me being around because you knew I was no threat to your place in your father's life. But, for some reason, you've always viewed Kim as a threat."

Eve scoffed again. "Really, Kayla. I think you're being a little over-dramatic."

"No, I'm not." Kayla's voice was soft, but confident. "That's really what this has always been about, isn't it?" She approached Eve again. "Can't you see that Kim loves you, even with all the problems the two of you have had? She's not a threat to you. She never has been."

Eve just shook her head. "I know you're trying to help, Kayla, but you really have it all wrong."

Kayla took a deep breath. She hated to give up, but Eve was obviously not going to listen right now. "Okay," she said, putting up her hands. "You win." She turned to leave and then stopped, not being able to leave without one more try.

"Just remember one thing," she said, turning back to face Eve. "Your father, your brother, and Kimberly love you. And so will Jeannie if you give her a chance. A lot of people never know that kind of love from their family. And the only person keeping you from knowing it . . . is you."