Mari came back into the room. "Your dad will be here tomorrow."

She wanted him now but at least Cole was here. Everything the doctors were saying confused Anna. She had a needle in her hand that had a long tube hooked to it. The medicine was dripping into her through her hand. Meanwhile, her cousin was unaware of the trouble she was in because she was busy dancing and kicking her ribs.

After her decision, she found out that the baby was a girl because Amy wanted to know. Anna was just as glad since she didn't want her cousin to look like Dustin. She secretly hoped that Uncle Tim would call her baby girl even when she was sixteen.

After Mari left Alison drove Bryan home because he had to work. She promised to come back with things Anna needed which meant underwear and her phone. Cole stayed behind.

The nurse kept checking on her. She told her she was fine but Anna felt uncomfortable in an odd way. She felt restless. She couldn't stay still but they wouldn't let her get up. She had to pee while in bed. Thank goodness, Cole stepped out of the room for that.

When they were finally alone, Cole said, "I'm sorry. I can't believe she did that."

"She's mad because you're finally staying away from her."

"She wasn't wrong because you're the reason I started staying away from her. You and the fact that Sam was ready to kill me."

Anna and Cole had spent hours talking. She knew about all the ways Cassie had hurt him. He knew how she had fallen for the charms of her teacher. Cole confessed that it was Cassie that pushed them to have sex and he knew Bryan did not approve. He told her how his own father may spoil him and Kiera but wasn't happy when he found out that Cole and Cassie were doing it.

Anna's parents were the opposite of Cole's as her mother was the one that spoiled her. Cole's father was adamant that Cole should work towards a future that meant college. He warned that screwing with girls would ruin it just like psycho Shelby had warned Anna about sex. Cole thought his father was hypocritical, because he dated a lot after the divorce. Anna's mother had dated far more than her father ever had. She only knew about gross Nadine. She wished he was dating Mari.

Anna felt warm and was certain her face was bright red. She still felt weird, and the nurse told her it was from the medicine. She was a new nurse and thought Cole was the baby's father.

Feeling irritated, Anna replied, "Make a note so no one screws up. That guy isn't coming. This baby's father is Tim and her mother is Amy. I am her cousin. So my baby cousin doesn't need to be confused by you people calling me her mother!"

"An, it will be okay," Cole whispered. "You're gonna take good care of your cousin."

He kissed her on the cheek and she wanted a real kiss, but the nurse was there. She had just smiled at Anna's outburst as if it were comical. Anna didn't think it was funny.

Once they were alone again, Anna said, "I'm afraid once she's born I'll have to go home. I thought I'd have longer with you."

"Don't talk about it. Maybe you can stay as long as your little cousin is in the hospital."

Anna couldn't even remember why she was leary of Cole when she first came. He was her best friend, and they cared about each other. No one knew how much they confided in each other. Sam suspected and Alison knew that Cole was looking out for her.

As much as she was glad that Cole was there she still wanted her dad. She couldn't rest or sleep and the night seemed to never end. Every time she fell asleep someone would come into her room, although they tried to be quiet.

She was finally asleep when her own doctor came in to see her early in the morning.

"Things look good. Your contractions have stopped for now. Monday is our target. We'd like to get you to then. You're doing a good job, Anna."

Anna didn't feel like she was doing a good job. She was tired and irritable. She complained to her doctor that nobody let her sleep. In her mind she kept repeating, daddy will be here today as she fell back to sleep.

Mike made good time but was feeling the fatigue taking over. He had made plenty of short stops to stretch his legs and refuel both the truck and his caffeine level. Eventually he had to switch to just water because the caffeine was making him more irritable than Bryan. He smiled thinking of the way both he and Alison would tease him. He was easy to tease but wasn't anyone if you really knew their weaknesses. Mike would never tease Mari on her weaknesses because they ran too deep.

It was almost five-thirty when he drove past The Landing towards Mari's house. Somewhere in Massachusetts after he called the hospital he decided that he would climb in bed with Mari. The nurse said that Anna was stable and sleeping although she had a restless night. He probably needed a shower, but he was much too tired. He grabbed a few things from the cab including his guitar. He had packed more than usual not knowing how long he would be staying. He checked with the hospital again and the nurse told him Anna was still asleep. Her doctor had put a do not disturb order so she could sleep in like a teenager.

Mari still slept with the glow of the nightlight and the low light was just enough for him to see. She looked peaceful. If she'd had a nightmare, it was over. He dropped his shorts and slid in next to her. She smelled feminine and as he put his arm around her to pull her close she sighed.

He woke to the sun streaming in with a boner in an empty bed. He was almost certain he had been dreaming of Mari. He needed to get up to go to Anna, but he'd only slept for three hours and his fatigue was winning.

Then as if in a dream she was sitting next to him holding two cups of coffee. Her smile was exactly as he remembered during his weeks away.

"Hi."

He just smiled and took the cup from her. After a sip he realized he had been drinking cups of swill compared to Rick's coffee.

"I may go through withdrawals like an addict. I drank more coffee last night, and it was all horrible. Any word on Anna?"

Mari shook her head. "I texted her a few minutes ago. She just asked when you'd be there."

He sighed and reached for Mari's hand. "I'll quickly shower. Do you want to come with me?"

She shook her head. "I need to get the house ready. My father and stepmother are coming later. What about Tim and Amy?"

"They're flying in tomorrow. Hopefully she'll hold off."

"Hopefully for a lot of reasons from what the doctor said. Who knew a day or two could make a difference?"

"My brother's looking into a hotel in Portland. They want to be close to the hospital."

"So they won't stay here?"

Mari seemed a little disappointed. "You need to enjoy your visit with your father."

He didn't kiss her because he felt too disgusting. He hadn't even brushed his teeth when he climbed into her bed. After he showered, he found her in the kitchen making a shopping list. He leaned over and kissed her head and she stood up looking for more.

When they pulled apart he rested his forehead on hers. "So how are we playing this with your father?"

She blushed. "Your mother and sister-in-law saw right through us. Who knows what Heidi has told them."

"So I'm what? Your friend?"

She smiled. "Friend is a broad term."

Friend could mean anything from an acquaintance to a best friend to boyfriend to friends with benefits. The last one while ill advised was tempting. He had to go or he might never leave.

Mari interrupted his lusting. "Go! She's waiting for you. Send me an update."

He nodded and kissed her cheek. He had a flashback to Alison kissing Bryan as he left for work. He wanted that.

Seeing his little girl in a hospital bed was shocking. The baby had grown too. She had tears in her eyes as he leaned down and kissed her.

"Hey, baby girl!" He couldn't keep the emotion out of his voice.

Studying her, she looked flushed and if possible less rested than him.

"Dad, I hate it here." She complained like a five-year-old who hated her dinner.

He sat with her, but neither talked very much since the small talk they took care of on the phone. Finally he said, "Baby girl, how did you fall?"

She rolled her eyes. "The bitch pushed me."

Mike sat up as if poised to fight. "What?"

"Just this girl who went out with Cole. She cheated on him, but she thinks things that aren't true. Cole and Sam were standing up to her, and I tried to sneak past. I just wanted to leave. She reached out and next thing I knew I was falling into the pool."

He felt anger and rage and stood up and started pacing.

"Dad, Dad! Don't worry. The doctor thinks I was already in labor. Sam said that Ryan will talk to her parents. Everyone looks out for me here."

Unlike Turner where no one cared about her - not no one but so many didn't. Could she survive two more years in that school after what they'd been through?