She opened her eyes and collided with a pair of silver eyes that looked at her with concern. No, she wasn't dreaming. It was Jaxon, and he was looming over her.

"Sophie, I'm so glad you are awake my angel." His voice sounded a little worried, and a little raspy.

"Jaxon?!" She looked confused.

"Yes! Is there anything I can do?"

"What are you....." Sophie tried to ask, but the thunder in her head intensified, and her beautiful face frowned. The pain in her right arm was bearable, but still there.

"Shhh, don't talk. Just rest." It was a gentle request, and that was something she wasn't used to from Jaxon.

"Dallin?" She managed to groan.

"He's with his nanny at my house. I will bring him to see you tomorrow, and as soon as you are a little better will move you there."

"Why?" 

"So you can rest and recover, but for now you have to stay here. We want to be sure you are well enough to travel, even if it is a short distance." His hand reached the strand of hair from her cheek and gently tucked it behind her ear. The touch of his hand sent shivers down her spine. 

To distract herself, she shifted her eyes past him to Eric, who stood by the door and held the door knob ready to depart. He decided it was safe to leave them alone. Eric was more than happy for Sophie. He matured beyond his age and was always sorry about how he treated her in the past. Back then he was young and foolish, but hard work and dedication to his profession was to his credit. The certain blond, young nurse had her share in the transformation.

"Eric!" Sophie wanted to thank him for staying with her, but in the process she coughed a little. Eric at once strode to her side, and concerned Jaxon stepped aside to let him check her out.

After he listened for any sign of congestion in her chest, he was content with what he heard.

"Your lungs are clear. Don't strain yourself, but I'll send the doctor to check you as well, but I'm sure you are on the way to recovery."


Jaxon's face relaxed. He couldn't imagine losing her now. Eric left in search of Dr. Tadman and they were alone in the room. Jaxon took her hand in his.

"You two.... worry... too much..... I'll be fine." 

"You are tired now, but when you are a little better you and I will talk." It sounded serious, but Sophie noticed the warmth in his eyes that stared down at her, with the incredible affection she never saw before, open and unhidden for her to see. 

She got tired, her body in conflict with her wishes to stay awake. Her eyes were closing, but her last thoughts before she slept were happy ones. The feeling of security and love; Jaxon. She somehow knew when she wakes up next he'll be here beside her.

Eric came back with Dr. Tadman, but Sophie was already sleeping.

"She'll probably sleep until morning. Will observe her tomorrow and then I expect the day after that she'll be ready to go home."

Eric turned to Jaxon.

"I'm working tonight. I'll be here all night, and if there are any changes I'll send for you, but we don't expect anything unpredictable at this point."

"I'll be back tomorrow morning with Dallin. I know Sophie misses him, and she's eager to see him." With a last loving look at sleeping Sophie he left.

The next morning as promised he came back with their son. Dallin stood by the door and held Jaxon's hand. 

"Mommy...papa said I have to be quiet because you are very tired, and you have a headache." His voice was almost a whisper.

"Come here my sweet boy...mommy missed you." Dallin against his lively nature came slowly, and carefully closer to the bed. Sophie took his little hand and kissed it.

"How are the puppies?" The question about puppies sprang Dallin back into being himself and he started chatting telling her about four pups in Jaxon's stables. He informed her about what colour they are, how soft they are and how they look in their sleep with all the enthusiasm of a five years old boy.

"Oh, baby, I'm so happy to see you, and very glad you have fun at papa's house."

Jaxon stood quietly aside, smiling, not wanting to take their moment, but he was worried about Sophie, especially being aware of Dallin's everlasting energy pool. Jaxon got closer and picked him up kissing his forehead.

"It's time to go, mommy needs rest so she can come home tomorrow." 

"Thank you for bringing him here." She thanked Jaxon then looked at her son."Be a good boy for your papa." Dallin nodded his head and leaned against his father's broad shoulders obviously feeling very content and secure. 

"I'll come back tomorrow morning."

"Jaxon, you don't need to bother yourself with me, I can go back to my house. Eric is there and I will be fine." She couldn't be too ungrateful, but didn't want to burden him with her presence. Knowing Jaxon would do anything to make Dallin happy.

"Eric is scarcely there, and you are not a burden Sophie. You can't stay by yourself. Dr. Tadman will never release you with no one to look after you. We will take care of you. Won't we, son?" 

"Yes, papa, we will take care of mommy." He declared in a serious voice. Her sweet natured son.

Sophie had to smile at that.


She looked at the two people she loved. Father and son, so much alike. Sophie had to admit that it was a miracle how Jaxon was able to bond with his son in such a short time. The most surprising of all was his open affection for Dallin. Jaxon wasn't afraid to show it to the world how much he loved his son. She knew there must be talk about Dallin's birth in society, not that Jaxon was the first man with an illegitimate child.It was also a fact no one would there criticize him openly, Jaxon was just way too influential and powerful for that. Around Dallin he was a changed man, the man she loved with all of her heart. For some time she convinced herself she hated him, but deep down, she never could. Sophie couldn't argue with him, the fact was that she wouldn't be able to leave the clinic to be on her own just yet. She'll stay at his house only until she's well enough to go home. Sophie knew she wasn't in a position to take care of Dallin even if she could manage to take care of herself. If she goes back home she'll miss Dallin. At the end she had to admit she'd missed Jaxon as well.

"Bye mommy." Dallin blew her a kiss before they disappeared out of her view.

The pain was lessened but she was still tired and she fell asleep. When she woke up the daylight just started to appear through the windows, and she found herself anxious to see Jaxon. She hoped she would be able to leave the clinic soon. Eric came also to check on her before he went home.

"Good morning Sophie. How are you feeling?"


"Better, my headache is barely noticeable. I'm just restless, and missing Dallin." 

"Jaxon will be here before noon, by that time the doctor will check on you, and you'll be probably ready to go home. Jaxon insists you are to go to his house." 

Eric wanted to say more about his love for her, but he left that for the two of them to find out from each other.

He squeezed Sophie's hand, "I'll stop and see you tonight."

"You worked all night, and you do look tired. Go home and rest, I'll be fine." She assured him. When Eric left, shortly after the nurse showed up, and helped her with the washing and brought her breakfast. Refreshed Sophie felt better and when the old doctor came in she looked at him with a smile.

"How is your headache?" He asked kindly. 

"It is considerably better, but there is still a slight pain behind my eyes."

"I think young lady you are looking fine this morning, but I would like to keep you just one more night for observations. Your headache is something we don't want to overlook."

While unhappily listening to the doctor Sophie was a little disappointed, she got a little restless and was anticipated to go home. When Jaxon walked in, her sullen expression told him something was wrong. The worry grabbed at his heart.

"Sophie, why a long face?" He asked while he crossed the room and took the chair sitting in the corner, he placed it right by the bed and took a seat.

"I can't go home yet, they are keeping me for one more night. How is Dallin?"

"He is fine, and very busy with trying to help around puppies. He misses you, but your welfare comes first."

She chuckled at that, totally she could picture Dallin doing that.

"Thank you for being there for him. You are an incredible father, and he loves you." She looked into his eyes with all the love for him. Her eyes spoke for her, they were a mirror to her soul. Nothing was hidden in them. Her open display of feelings evoked the flash in her cheeks, and made her look irresistible. Sophie was beautiful inside and out.

Jaxon felt the heat rising inside of him. She accomplished that just with one look. He realized he loved her from the first moment he saw her. The mistakes he made taught him a very valuable lesson: not to repeat them.

The medical clinic wasn't the place to declare his love, and ask for her forgiveness. He wasn't sure he deserved it, but their happiness depended on it. Her praises gave him hope he scarcely allowed himself to hope. The warm look in her eyes just strengthens the feel of it. Maybe there was a chance for them to find each other, to be happy. The thought of holding her in his arms again got his heart to work a little faster. She was all he dreamed of for long, lonely years, even when he denied himself to be aware of it. Jaxon knew given a chance he'll never let her go away from him again.

"You did a good job with him. I know I'll always regret not being there for the first years of his life." There was an honest regret in his voice.

"I'm glad you think so, he is a very good child. We are lucky." 

Sophie wanted to stay awake a little longer, but the tiredness won. Jaxon noticed that, and had to remind himself that she wasn't healed completely. 

"I've tired you. Sleep now, and tomorrow I'll be here to take you home." 

"Yes... tomorrow..", and she was sleeping, but her words echoed in his mind, after all she said,

"We!"