Just a note when reading this particular fanfic,
Rose - AJ/Kristin's housekeeper (all references to this character)

Jaremy - Skye's unborn son (all references to this character)

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This epic fanfic picks up where my fanfic entitled "Ghosts of a Quartermaine Christmas Past" leaves off.

After the accident, AJ's life is hanging in the balance.

~in the ambulance~

Jason - "Come on AJ, don't do this. Not now. Not when we were just beginning to be close again"

Ambulance attendant - "Sir, you have to stay out of the way and let us do our job."

Jason - "What about the woman? The driver of the other car; she's his ex-wife."

Ambulance attendant - "We're doing the best we can. I cant say she'll make it though. She has a lot of alcohol in her system and she wasn't wearing a seat belt."

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~in the Quartermaine mansion~

Edward - "Confound it! Where are those two?"

Lila - "Edward dear, do try to be patient."

Ned - "Grandfather, I'm sure they'll be here any minute. They probably got sidetracked. They do, after all, have 4 children."

Alans cell phone rings.

Alan - "Hello --- Jason? Son, where are you?"

There was a brief pause as Jason explained what happened. The look on Alans face told Monica everything she needed to know.

Monica - "Alan, what's wrong? Is it AJ?" the fear starting to mount in her voice

Alan - "That was Jason. He and AJ were in an accident and they're on their way to GH."

Monica - "Don't explain anymore. Let's just go. Now!"

Everyone scrambled to leave.

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~at AJ/Kristina's home~

the phone rings

Kristina - "Alright AJ, you better have a --- she pauses when she realizes It's Skye and not AJ

Skye told her about the accident and before Skye could finish Kristina hung up the phone and called for Rose.

Kristina - "Rose, listen, AJ's been in an accident. I need you to stay with the children and don't let them watch television. I don't want them to hear about their father until I have a chance to tell them myself. Besides, this might not be as bad as it seems and if it's not, I don't want to upset them."

Rose agreed and Kristina left in the direction of GH.

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~at GH~

The Quartermaines and Kristina rushed into the hospital just as the doctor exited AJ's room.

Alan - "Doctor Crammer, how is AJ?"

Dr. Crammer - "He's not very good Alan. He's suffered multiple organ damage, internal bleeding, and he's in a coma."

Monica collapsed against Alan. Skye curled against Jax sobbing. Ned & Alexis held onto each other in silence.

Ned - "What are the chances of him coming out of the coma?"

Dr. Crammer - "I'll be honest with you. If Mr. Quartermaine doesn't come out of the coma in the next 48 hours, then my best advice to you would be to start making funeral arrangements." he said quite matter of factly

This caused Kristina to start a verbal tyrade that if Jason had been smart, he would've run like the hounds of he** were chasing him.

Kristina - "I hope you're happy Jason. You're brother's probably in there dying." she hissed

Jason - "He's my brother and I love him. How can you possibly think I'd want any harm to come to him?" he fired back

Kristina - "It should be you in there Jason! You should be in there dying, not my AJ!" she said through venomous tears

Jason - "Well, give it 6 months! You might just get your wish!" he spat out before he could think better of it

Monica - "Jason, what do you mean, give it 6 months? Give what 6 months?" she asked with the fear only a mother can have

Jason - "I have leukemia. If I don't get a bone marrow transplant soon, the doctors say that within 6 months I'll be dead."

Monica - "Oh dear GOD Alan! Not both of my babies." she said as she sobbed against Alan's chest

Kristina - "So that's it! You treat AJ like he's lower than dirt for years, then all of a sudden you get sick and you need AJ, so now it's good ol' AJ to the rescue. Is that it? Hmmm?" she said, spitting the words like poison darts

Jason - "That's not it at all, and has it occurred to you that Michael's father may be dying but his mother is dead. Did that occur to you at all Kristina?" he shouted

Kristina - "You're right on one count. Michael's father is probably dying, but his mother is alive and well and standing right here." she said with fire in her eyes

Jason - "I meant his real mother, not his step-mother." he said with icy coldness

That was absolutely the wrong thing to say at that moment. Kristina slapped Jason so hard, she had to wonder if the pain in his face was anything compared to the pain in her hand, she had to wonder if she hadn't perhaps broken his jaw.

Kristina - "Let's get one thing straight, you colossal son of a b****! It's true, I didn't give birth to Michael, but I couldn't love that boy any more that if I had. Furthermore, the only steps in my home are the ones that lead from upstairs to downstairs, so you may want to think about that the next time you refer to me as a step anything in regards to Michael."

Before the verbal assault could continue, Ned suggested that everyone spend a few moments alone with AJ.

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~in AJ's room

Edward (standing with Lila by AJ's bedside, both of them sobbing) - "AJ, I know we haven't always seen eye to eye on a lot of things. OK, we haven't seen eye to eye on much of anything in as long as I can remember, but that doesn't mean that I didn't or that I don't love you. I'm hard on you, I know that, but it's just that I know you have the potential to be something great. That's why you have to wake up. There's so many people who love you and so many things that you still have to accomplish."

Lila - "AJ dear, what your grandfather is trying to say is that we love you and we need you. You have a beautiful wife and children who need you. Please come back to us dear."

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Monica (taking AJ's hand and sobbing) - "Oh GOD Alan, look at all these machines. The doctor in me knows that they're supposed to help him, but all the mother in me can see is my baby lying there helpless and the machines that I know are supposed to help him suddenly start looking like mechanical monsters. All I want to so right now is hold my baby and take away all of the pain he's in."

Alan - "Monica, listen to me. AJ's a lot stronger than you give him credit for. Think about it, he survived us as parents all these years, didn't he? And before you say anything about Jason, let me just say this. I'll turn this world inside out and upside down until a match for him falls out. I'll also do everything I can for AJ as well. I'm Chief of Staff at this hospital and if I had to break every rule in this hospital, AJ will get the best of care."

Monica - "I can't help but think that what's happening is my punishment for all the times I failed as a mother. I can't lose both of my sons, I just can't."

Alan - "We've both made mistakes as parents but I'm going to do everything possible to make sure we don't lose either of our sons. I promise you that." he said as he held her

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Ned - "Why is it, people always say what they mean when it's too late? I haven't always been your best supporter. In fact, there've been times when I should've supported you and instead I turned my back on you. Come on AJ, fight with me. Open your eyes and argue with me like we always do. Right now I'd even settle for you making one of your smart a$$ remarks to me. Don't you dare die on me AJ, you're not allowed because the truth of the matter is, no matter how much we fight, I still prefer fighting with you any day over seeing you like this."

Alexis - "I'll admit I haven't always been your biggest fan and then when you married my sister, well let's just say that I was really none too pleased about it. OK, I was completely livid about it. Then I would notice the look on Kristina's face when you'd walk into a room or when someone would mention your name and I decided to give you the benefit of the doubt. I can safely say I haven't regretted that decision. Except for the horrible things that you've both suffered, which I can't hold you responsible for, seeing as they were acts of GOD, you've made my sister the happiest woman alive, so that's why you can't leave her now. AJ, she needs you, so you can't die on us, OK."

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~at AJ/Kristina's home~

Kristin Lila was removing presents from under the tree.

Rose - "Kristin, what are you doing?"

Kristin Lila - "Nothing" she said, sounding depressed

Rose - "It looks like you're packing up your presents to me." she said, noticing the child's tears and kneeling down to her level

Kristin Lila - "Rose, do you know the address of the North Pole?"

Rose - "Why, did Santa forget to bring you something?"

Kristin Lila - "No, I just don't want my presents."

Rose - "Why wouldn't you want your presents?"

Kristin Lila - "I was listening to the radio in my room and it said that my daddy was hurt really bad, so I want to give back all my presents and ask Santa if he'll just give me my daddy back instead." she said starting to sob uncontrollably

Rose - "Kristin, sweetheart, that's very sweet of you to want to do that, but I think your daddy would want you to have your presents, and if I know your daddy, I think he'll be just fine." she said trying to comfort Kristin Lila

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~in AJ's room~

Jax - "AJ. I've never been able to say that I had much use for you. I always thought you were more like some little pi$$ ant, always out to get what you want for yourself and never giving any thought to anyone else. Then, when you met Kristina it seemed you made an almost overnight change. I can respect the person you've become and so for her sake as well as for those children that obviously adore you, I'm hoping that if you can hear me, you'll come back."

Skye - "Hey little brother. Now, you answer me a question, what am I supposed to do without you? I need you AJ, after all, who's going to be in the delivery room with me helping me bring Jeremy into this world. Certainly not Jax. He may be a whiz in the board room but the delivery room, well, that's another story altogether. I need you AJ. I need you to run interference with grandfather when he tries to make Jeremy like himself. I need you to talk to when no one else understands me, not even Jax. I need you to get me out of all the trouble I get myself into. See AJ, you're just too vital around here to leave now, so just ope your eyes and come back to us, alright."

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Jason - "AJ, man, I'm sorry I got you into this. You have to know I never meant any harm to come to you. We've had our differences but I was hoping that when I came back that we could start over. I'll admit that a very big part of my coming back was to try to find a donor and maybe somewhere deep inside I thought you could help, but I never would've come back if I knew it would end up like this. If you wake up and never forgive me, I'll understand, but if my coming back costs you your life, I'll never forgive myself."

Kristina - "AJ, you have to come back to me. I need you and our children need you. I know sometimes I can make you crazy but I love you more than anything on Earth aside of our children. Call me selfish, but 6 years with you just isn't enough time. Talk to me in 50 years or so, I might've changed my mind by then. Truth be known, the real reason I don't want to let you go is because I'm scared. I'm scared of having to raise our children alone. I'm scared that if you die I'll forget what you look like and the sound of your voice, but mostly I'm scared of the idea of waking up everyday for the rest of my life and not having you there."

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She took his hand in hers, being careful of the IV. He seemed to squeeze her hand and then the unthinkable happened.

AJ's life support monitors flatlined. For all intents and purposes, AJ Quartermaine was dying. Kristina thought surely this wasn't happening. Then the intercom calling for "code blue" and doctors racing into the room with more machines to bring AJ back told her this was real and it was happening. Kristina had to be carried from his room by Ned. The shrill, painful screams emitting from Kristina were more that of a mortally wounded animal than that of anything human. She and Monica were so hysterical that both had to be sedated, but not before Monica made a shambles of the waiting room. Alan stayed with Monica, as did Jason, watching over her protectively. Ned & Alexis watched over Kristina. Skye on the other hand, even though she was as hysterical as the others, was forced to face this hideous nightmare head on, not being able to be sedated because that would mean running the risk of losing her unborn child and she was already having a problem pregnancy to begin with. All that could be done for Skye was for Jax to hold her and try to keep her calm. Edward held onto Lila, both staring at the scene before them in horrifying disbelief.

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~somewhere in limbo~

Time seemed to stand still, frozen somehow, as AJ's soul entered the blinding white light.

AJ looked around thinking to himself 'Where am I'?, thinking better of that, he thoguht, 'Forget where here is, how do I get back to where I was'? Then AJ saw someone who appeared to be Robin Scorpio.

AJ - "Robin, is that you?"

Robin - "Yes AJ, it's me."

AJ - "I thought you were --- wait, are you saying, I'm dead? I can't be dead. You gotta send me back, I can't stay here. I don't want to be dead."

Robin - "AJ, whether or not you stay here or go back still remains to be seen. There's a lot of things that need to be resolved before that decision can be made."

AJ - What is this Robin, a case of 'It's a Wonderful Life', because I'm not interested."

Robin - "AJ, for once in your life, will you just be quiet and listen? There's someone that you need to talk to that could change your mind about everything."

AJ - "Fine! Let's just get this over with so I can go back already."

She led him to where there stood one of the most beautiful angels he thought could exist. As he looked at her he wondered why it seemed Kristina's eyes were staring back at him. He was about to find out.

AJ - "Forgive me for staring, you just look familiar somehow."

Heaven Ly - "I should look familiar. If I'd lived, I would've been your daughter."

Typical AJ, he never quite got it until it was right in his face.

AJ - "I'm sorry." he said, his eyes glassy with tears

Heaven Ly - "For what, daddy?"

AJ - "For losing you."

Heaven Ly - "Is that what you think daddy, that it's your fault somehow that I wasn't born?"

AJ - "Isn't it?"

Heaven Ly - "I wasn't meant to be born daddy, and no matter what you think, you can't change that."

AJ - "If I'd just been there ---" she put her hand to his lips to stop his speech

Heaven Ly - "If you'd been there the results still would've been the same. Daddy, I died, but you were the one that stopped living. Please don't do that to yourself. I'm alright daddy, so it's alright to stop blaming yourself."

AJ - "Robin said that the decision of whether or not I go back or stay here had yet to be decided. What does that mean? Who makes that decision?"

Heaven Ly - "Only you can ultimately make that decision daddy."

AJ - "Great! Even in the afterlife I can't catch a break! On the one hand, if I stay here, I leave behind a wife and 4 children who need me and if I go back I never see you again. That's no choice at all."

Heaven Ly - "Haven't you heard a word I've said daddy?"

AJ - I've heard every word you've said."

Heaven Ly - "No daddy, don't just listen with your ears, listen with your heart also. It's never goodbye daddy, it's merely until we meet again."

AJ now did what he hadn't dared to do before. He put his arms around his daughter and held her for what seemed an eternity. Then he pulled away with tears running down his face.

AJ - "If Heaven is half as beautiful as the angel who now bares its name, then I can't wait to come back. So, until we meet again."

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~in AJ's room~

AJ was suddenly back in his body. He was out of the coma and the doctors said that if all went well that within a few weeks he'd be as good as new.

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~Epilogue~

AJ came back home 6 weeks later. As for Jason, his match was found and Alan was able to keep his word to Monica. After everyone in the family was tested and found not to be a match, things looked very bleak. Then AJ was tested and he couldn't have been a more perfect match for Jason than if they'd shared the same parents.

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~at AJ/Kristina's home~

Although the tree had long since been done away with, the gifts were still stacked neatly just waiting for the time when AJ could be home and their family could open them together.

AJ, Kristina, and the children sat by the fire opening belated Christmas gifts. Outside a gentle breeze blew through the wind chimes on the porch, and on the breeze the voice of Heaven Ly Quartermaine whispered... "I love you, daddy."