Jade took Dillon and Georgie to the hospital and as soon as they stepped off the elevator, the Quartermaines saw them.
�Dillon, darling, we�ve been so worried about you.� Lila�s kind voice was the first they heard. Georgie hung back behind Jade, hoping that they wouldn�t see her right away.
Monica glanced at him for a long second. �We really have been concerned about you.�
�I bet.� Dillon said. �How�s Emily?�
�How do you know about Emily? Why are you so concerned��
�Because it was all my fault!� Georgie said, knowing she had to face them. �Emily and Zander were going to adopt our baby, but I changed my mind. She was mad at me!�
Alan and Monica exchanged a look, �Emily knew where you were?�
�No, but I did.� Jade said. �They came to me for help, and that�s what I was doing. Zander and Emily came to me, saw their file, and although they didn�t know who the couple was, they were drawn to them and wouldn�t give up. If anyone is to blame, it�s me��
�Georgie!� Maxie ran to her sister and hugged her, at first not realizing the huge round beach ball that had become her sister�s stomach. When she noticed that Georgie was pregnant, her eyes widened and she looked behind her. �Dad�s with me. Hurry, get out of here and I�ll find you later.�
�No, I�m not running away anymore. Dillon and I are back, we�re getting married��
�Georgie! Oh, Honey, I�ve been so worried about you.� Mac said nothing about her current physical condition, and only hugged her. �I didn�t think you were coming back so soon. I thought you said it�d be a few more months��
�We decided to come back early.� Georgie said, wiping her tears. �I know I have a lot of explaining to do, and I will, but I want to make sure Emily is okay. She was really upset and it�s my fault��
�You don�t have to explain anything,� Mac said, looking at Dillon and then back at his daughter. �I knew.�
�How?� Georgie asked, worried that Jade or Ned had told him even after their promise not to.
�You didn�t hide the test very well.� Mac said with a smile. He looked at Dillon and extended his hand. �I think we need to have a long talk. All three of us.�
�Can we please make sure that Emily is alright?� Georgie looked at Monica and Alan and started crying again. �I�m so sorry. I was planning on giving them the baby, and then I saw the ultrasound��
�Emily�s stronger than you think. She�s gotten through worse, and I�m sure that she�s not going to give up the idea of adopting.�
�They should never have trusted a Cassadine to help them. Jade�s already had Zander�s daughter and there�s no way of knowing if they�ve been carrying on behind Emily�s back��
Jade sat down, away from the crowd, to wait for news. Georgie blamed herself, but Jade knew better. Emily would never have gotten as upset and angry if it weren�t for her. She listened to the bickering and reunions, hoping that Emily would be able to join her family.
At the same moment, Emily and Zander were waiting for the doctor to return with the test results. Emily hadn�t had a fainting spell since her chemotherapy treatments ended, and Zander had cooked a big breakfast for her, so there was real concern as they waited.
�The cancers back,� Emily said, clinging to Zander. �We didn�t get it all and now it�s back��
�No, Emily. The cancer is gone. We both know that.� Zander said, hoping that her emotional state at the moment she fell was all they had to be concerned about.
Slowly the door opened, and Bobbie walked in. �Hey, Emily. Tony was called into surgery, so he asked me to inform you of the tests results.�
�Did the cancer come back?� Emily asked, not wanting to hear what she feared most.
�No! Emily, no, the cancer isn�t back. Honey, look!� Bobbie handed her a piece of paper and watched Emily�s expression. Zander grabbed it and checked it twice.
�We have to tell the others.� Zander said, referring to his in-laws lurking in the hall.
�Stay with me for a few minutes and then go tell them,� Emily looked at him with disbelief. Zander kissed her cheek and watched her look out the window, knowing that this was not exactly what she�d been hoping for.
Chapter 17
Everyone watched in silence as Zander walked to the now large group of people waiting for news about Emily.
�Is she alright?� Monica asked.
Edward didn�t waste a minute blaming him. �This is all your fault, Zander. If you hadn�t pushed her into this, she never would have gotten upset��
�Emily�s fine, and we have good and bad news.� Zander took a deep breath and couldn�t believe it had come down to this.
�Well?� Ned asked.
�Tony did a blood test and she�s pregnant�.�
�Oh, she must be thrilled!� Alan said with a smile.
�We�re going to have another baby!� Monica�s eyes filled with tears.
�Another Quartermaine baby that will be reared in the most unsuitable environment��
�Emily and I filed for divorce this morning.� Zander said, shocking everyone. Jade felt all eyes move to her and wished Zander would continue. When he finally did, it was strange to think of how concerned he�d been about her when she fell, knowing that they had set their divorce in motion.
�The last few months have been really hard on us. Even after we decided to adopt, we still had a lot of unresolved issues��
�That Cassadine girl! I knew she was nothing but trouble!� Edward started but Zander stopped his rant.
�No! Jade has nothing to do with this.�
�But with the baby�� Monica said, and then looked at Alan.
�There�s no question about the baby�s paternity is there?� Ned asked.
Zander didn�t answer, but Jade knew more about that than she�d let on. Emily mentioned her one night with someone else, but refused to name any names. She saw Zander finally shake his head, determined to protect Emily even now. �Of course not. Emily and I love each other and always will, but we can�t pretend to be happy. Our relationship started to rely on a baby that we never really had. Emily and I know that this is best for us.� He didn�t believe that, and it was obvious. �Emily�s getting dressed. She�s going to stay at our place and I�ll get my things next week��
Lila took his hands and he kneeled for her to whisper something to him. He smiled and kissed her hands before Edward pulled him away from her.
Alan and Monica took him aside to talk to him, Jade watched the scene, wishing that things had not gone this way, and from the corner of the group, there was a little cry. Jade heard it and stood up to see Georgie grabbing the counter at the nurses station.
�Honey?� Jade ran to her side, as did Dillon and Mac.
�My water broke!� Her face was pale. �I�m not due for a few weeks�I can�t be� Ow!�
Jade motioned for a nurse and within moments, Georgie was being wheeled into a room. She was calling for Jade and Mac asked her to come with them. As she followed them, Zander grabbed her arm.
�Is she going to be alright? I thought she wasn�t quite thirty seven weeks yet.� Zander lowered his voice, not wanting to get the Quartermaines started, but Alan and Monica were already asking questions.
�Most doctors would want her to be a little farther along��
Dillon ran out. �Dr. Meadow�s is going to do an ultrasound��
�I�m coming,� Jade said and then turned to Zander. �Alyssa is with Lucky��
�I�ll go get her. Call me if something happens.� Zander touched her cheek before she ran off and Emily saw this. It was the final nail in the coffin containing her marriage, but she knew that Jade could make Zander happy. It didn�t matter that she was pregnant. It didn�t matter that she was sure Zander was the father. All that mattered was his happiness and she truly believed Jade and Alyssa were the ones that would make him happiest.
Chapter 18
The ultrasound had shocking results. Georgie wasn�t quite as far along as they�d thought, and although her waist had measured by what the doctors believed it should, suddenly, everything seemed to back up as Dr. Meadows explained that she was two weeks behind where she thought she was.
�Normally, something like this would have been discovered before, but I understand that you�ve only had two ultrasounds and the second was because of pre-term labors symptoms. I don�t understand why they said nothing to you�� She keep making notes and then looked at Georgie. �I can�t stop your labor, Georgie. You�re going to have to deliver the baby. You�re dilating too fast for an epidural��
�What?� Georgie asked, looking at the doctor, looking terrified. �You want me to push�� She ended the sentence with a scream.
Dillon was pale and Mac excused himself to tell Maxie what was going on and to call Felicia. Jade saw how scared the young woman laying in the bed was and moved to her side. �Georgie, I had to do this too. Without drugs. It sounds terrifying, but you can do it��
�No, I can�t!� Georgie said. �Oh my God! I�m suppose to be hanging out with�..Damn it Dillon!�
�What did I do?� He obviously had never been near a delivery room.
�You did this!� Georgie said, pointing to her stomach.
�I didn�t do it alone!� He said, trying to get her to smile.
�Dillon, go ask Bobbie for some ice chips.� Jade said, trying to avoid a fight. After he left, Jade whispered something to Georgie, and when Dillon came back, Georgie apologized. Mac returned, and before they knew it, Dr. meadows was ready for Georgie to start pushing.
�Take a deep breath�don�t make a sound. Push! Come on!� Jade said. Dr. Meadows smiled at her, relived that the two men weren�t telling Georgie what to do. Women did not like to hear men give advice about birth.
�I see the head, Georgie. Come on, let�s meet your baby!� Dr. Meadows said.
�Come on, Georgie, you can do it.� Dillon said, fascinated by what he was seeing.
Georgie pushed for a couple of minutes and then fell back on the bed. �I need a break��
�No, you don�t.� Jade said. �I don�t have to tell you how that baby got in there, but you know which way the child has to come out, now get with the program!�
�Jade!� Mac looked at her, but Georgie seemed to take what she was saying seriously. Suddenly, she seemed to gain the strength of a thousand men and gave one more push, a push that welcome her baby into the world.
�Congratulations! You have a beautiful baby girl.� Dr. Meadows continued working on Georgie and several people were gathered around the baby.
�What�s going on?� Dillon asked. �Can I see my daughter?�
�Not now, Mr. Quartermaine..�
�Why not?� He asked, but Mac held him back, allowing the neonatal doctor into the room to examine the baby.
�We need to get this baby downstairs immediately.� Someone said.
�Dillon, what�s wrong with the baby?� A frightened Georgie asked from the bed, feeling helpless.
�Nothing, baby, absolutely nothing. They just want to monitor her.� Dillon said bravely, but feared the worse.
�I�ll go with them,� Mac told the younger man. �I�ll tell the Quartermaines and have them call your mother. Stay with Georgie and help Jade keep her calm.�
Dillon walked to the bed and was shocked by how pale Georgie was. �Hey, she�s beautiful. She�s the most beautiful baby I�ve ever seen.� Dillon told her.
�She�s slipping!� Dr. Meadows said suddenly and then rattled off instructions that meant nothing to Dillon, but Jade remembered the night she had Alyssa.
�Dillon, just talk to her.� Jade said, remembering the people that had talked her through that terrifying night. �Talk to her about anything, everything. Suggest names.�
Ten minutes later, Bobbie and Amy pulled them from the bed. �You have to leave.�
�We�re losing her!� was the last thing they heard before the door slammed.
Chapter 19
Mac ran over to them as soon as he saw them pushed from the room. �What�s going on?�
�They said�� Dillon couldn�t speak. Part of his heart was downstairs in the neonatal unit, while the other part was separated from him by a door.
Jade filled him in, and told him to wait with Dillon and she�d go watch the baby. Mac nodded and Jade rushed downstairs. She was shocked to see Emily staring through the glass.
�Emily��
�I had to see her. She was suppose to be mine.� Emily said, watching as the doctor�s rushed around the room. Little baby Quartermaine, as Mac had insisted be put on her card, was having trouble breathing and only weighed a little over three pounds, which was a surprise because of how big Georgie had gotten the last few weeks. �She�s so tiny. I remember Alyssa was that small��
�And she made it. So will this one.� Jade said, reaching out to touch the hand Emily was resting on the glass. �Why don�t you go lie down for a little while. Zander told us about the baby and you shouldn�t push yourself��
�You know there�s a chance that the baby isn�t Zander�s.� Emily said, but she knew in her heart that Zander was the father.
�Do you love the other man?� Jade asked.
�In my own way, I do.� Emily said, sighing. �And I still love Zander, but there�s a point when you have to say enough is enough and move on. Unfortunately, it�s come.� But she didn�t believe the words.
�You and Zander are going to be back together within a week.� Jade said, trying to divert Emily�s attention from the chaos behind the glass they were staring into. Apparently something was seriously wrong, and more doctors, including Alan and Monica, ran in.
�What�s going on? Jade, you wouldn�t know it, but this happened with Alyssa. They said she stopped breathing..�
�It�s alright, Emily.� Jade saw Maxie watching from the doors, Lucas right behind her. �Maxie can watch out for us�� The curtains to the window were closed then, �Come and get something to drink at least.�
�No! I have to know the baby is alright.� Emily once again was feeling something she couldn�t reveal, especially to Jade. �I have to! Dillon is my cousin��
�And you almost adopted that baby.� Jade understood. �Please, Emily. Take a quick break, come back, and I�m sure that Alan or Monica might have some news for us.�
Maxie walked over, and it was hard to believe that this was the �little girl� with the huge crush on Lucky. She stood before them, now a woman, and stated very bravely, �She�s my niece. I�ll wait here.�
Emily saw that the three standing around her were going to keep insisting that she get something to eat or drink, and she finally gave in, hoping that by the time she returned, there would be good news.
Jade walked her to the cafeteria and made her sit while Jade went to get some food. Smiling apologetically, Jade handed her a salad. �I know it�s not the best, but you need something in your stomach. How�s your head?� There was a knot and a bruise from where she�d hit it earlier that day.
�It�s much better,� Emily said, and then looked at Jade. �Why are you doing this?�
�I feel like maybe we�ve become friends. You are a major person in my daughter�s life, and over the last few months, I�ve started to really care about you.� Jade said honestly. �Maybe you hate me, maybe you don�t, but you are pregnant and someone needs to make sure you and your baby are alright.�
�Is it because I�m possibly having Zander�s baby?� Emily was curious.
�No, I think of you as a friend now, and friends look out for each other.�
Emily nodded and took a sip from the bottle of water Jade set next to her salad. �What about Zander?�
�What about him?� Jade looked at the woman across from her.
�Are you two going to get back together?� Emily asked.
Jade shook her head. �Em, the ink on the papers isn�t dry yet. You�re divorce hasn�t really even begun. Plus, I don�t think you�ll be getting divorced��
�Yes, we are.� Emily said. �It�s something we have to do.�
Jade watched her for several minutes and quietly ate her salad. She didn�t notice that Zander had entered the cafeteria with Alyssa, but Emily had. She smiled at him as he walked over with the baby. Jade smiled when she saw her daughter and said, �Thanks for bringing her,� but was too busy playing with Alyssa to hear anything Zander said.
After a few minutes, Emily stood up and thanked Jade for the dinner and company. �I�ll give you a call later to check on the baby.� She said goodbye to Zander and kissed Alyssa�s cheeks before rushing out of the room. She turned back for a second and saw the three laughing at something and again knew in her heart she was doing the right thing. As she turned away from the door, she was shocked to see the man behind her, and pulled out of sight.
�What are you doing here?� she asked, worried someone would see him.
�Are you pregnant?� His voice was low, almost too low for her to hear, but she nodded slowly. It had been one night and comfort for both of them, but she knew that he really loved her.
�Mine or his?�
�I don�t know!� Emily said, moving to walk away, but he stopped her. �I need to go��
�Not until you tell me if the baby is mine or Zander�s!� His eyes were like ice, and she knew that he was angry that she hadn�t called.
�Come home with me,� Emily said. �We have a lot to talk about.�
Neither saw Jade standing in the hall as they left the hospital. It wasn�t a huge surprise to her, but one she didn�t want Zander to know. All he knew was that Emily had spent one night with another man, and Jade didn�t have the heart to tell him that it was his best friend.
Chapter 20
Georgie was barely conscious, but she understood some of what was going on. The baby was having trouble breathing, because her lungs weren�t completely developed. Georgie knew that she was bleeding heavy and her blood pressure was very low, but she could hear Dillon whispering to her, singing soft ballads that he normally wouldn�t listen to, and touching her hair. Mac was there too, every few minutes, checking in and giving reports on the baby. Dillon talked to her for a few minutes about names, but Georgie didn�t have the energy to move her lips or shake her head.
�Is she going to be alright?� Dillon asked Bobbie when she came to check the IV.
�I think so. She�s lost a lot of blood, and gave her a scare, but she�s young and strong. You need to understand a few things��
�What? I need to know because I�m going to help her��
�She�s going to be depressed.� Bobbie said, thinking about the most severe cases of post-partum depression she�d dealt with; Carly and then Jade. �She had a rough delivery, the baby is in the NICU, and a lost a lot of blood. My daughter�s own PPD was pretty bad. Jade�s was severe, but not to the point where she would have hurt anyone or herself.� Bobbie stopped talking. Alyssa had been as close to death as a baby could get, and Zander refused to see Jade. It was hard on Jade knowing that Zander and his wife were the ones making decisions for her daughter. �I�m sure with the right support, very good friends, and all the love you have for her, she�ll pull out of it.�
�What�s going on with the baby?� Dillon still didn�t understand.
�Her lungs weren�t as developed as we�d have liked. We�re doing everything we can to help her along. She was actually three pounds, five ounces, and,� Bobbie smiled, �She�s going to be a runway model. She was almost sixteen inches long, which is great considering she wasn�t due for a few more weeks.�
�Is she going to make it?� Dillon asked.
Bobbie sat down next to him and took a deep breath. �I don�t know, Dillon. Honestly, it didn�t look too good down there, but Dr. Jackson is a fantastic doctor, and he�s not going to leave until she�s stable. I can promise you that.�
�Was there anything else wrong? Any other problems?� Dillon asked.
�Monica is assisting and she�s called for every possible test she can. Your daughter is in good hands..� Georgie started moaning and Bobbie walked to her side.
�Honey? Georgie?� Bobbie said very gently.
�Where�s the baby? Where�s Dillon?� her voice was scratchy and Bobbie poured a small amount of water for her.
�I�m right here, Georgie.� Dillon reached for her hand.
�Where�s the baby?� she asked, looking around, hoping to see her little girl in the room.
�The doctors are checking her out.� Dillon said.
�Is she alright?� Georgie asked.
Dillon saw Bobbie leave the room and he knew that she was given him the chance to tell Georgie in peace. �She�s having trouble breathing. She�s over three pounds and sixteen inches long. I saw her for a second and she�s beautiful��
�Can we see her?� Georgie asked.
Dillon promised to ask, and then kissed her cheek. �I love you. Watching you give birth was the most amazing thing I�ve ever seen in my life.�
�I love you, and I�m sorry I yelled at you.� She remembered that, and also that Jade had been there. �Where�s Jade?
�She went downstairs with the baby so that Mac and I could be here with you.� Dillon smiled. �She�s been fantastic through everything.�
�Ekaterina.�
�What?� Dillon asked, confused.
�After Jade. Jade�s name is Ekaterina Jade Natalya Cassadine. We can call her Kat.� Georgie smiled.
�Ekaterina Quartermaine�� Dillon smiled. �I like it.�
�Ekaterina Dylan�with a Y and one L.� Georgie was looking a little better than moments before. �Now that she�s named, I want to see her!�
�So do I!� Dillon agreed and they pushed the button calling for a nurse. Bobbie came in and smiled at them. �You�re looking a lot better, Georgie.�
�We want to go see Kat.� She said with a huge smile.
�Kat?� Bobbie asked.
�Ekaterina Dylan Quartermaine.� Dillon said proudly.
�That�s a big name for a little girl,� Mac smiled from the door and walked in with flowers. �Your sister is downstairs, but they haven�t had any news..�
�We�re going down there too.� Georgie said. �I guess I need a wheelchair.�
Bobbie looked at Mac and then sat on the bed. �Honey, you need to stay in bed for awhile��
�No, I want to see my baby!� Georgie looked at Dillon and he was ready to use the Quartermaine name, but something stopped him.
�What happened?� he asked Bobbie.
�I wanted to wait, but since you�re insisting on going down there�� She took Georgie�s hands and was very gentle. �Monica found a heart defect��
�What?�
�We don�t know that it�s serious��
�But Maxie��
�I know, honey, but this is different, we�ve caught it very quickly, and there�s been some tremendous breakthroughs��
�I want to see her!� Georgie said. �Now!�
�I�ll call Monica,� Bobbie said as she left the room, but a few seconds later, an intern in scrubs came in, motioned to the wheelchair and then assisted Georgie into it. After leaving Mac at the elevator, Dillon turned and laughed. �Zander, man, you are so obvious!�
�Jade remembered how she felt after Alyssa, so I figured that I�d make sure Georgie didn�t have to go through that.� Zander touched Georgie�s shoulder. �She�s a cutie��
�Kat, her name is Kat.� Georgie said, smiling. She wanted to tell Jade her full name before anyone else. She was feeling much better until the elevator stopped and Zander wheeled her into the hall, and then she realized where they were and why.
�Where is she?� Georgie asked.
�Through that window,� Zander said. Dillon helped Georgie stand and together they saw their daughter in a small incubator. Monica was still running tests, but she smiled at them and shook her head, knowing that Georgie hadn�t cleared it with anyone.
All of a sudden, there was a beeping sound from the room and Monica turned and looked at Kat with concern. They couldn�t hear her, but she was calling something out to the nurses and they ran in.
�What�s going on? What�s wrong with Kat?� Georgie asked, her body as pressed against the glass as possible. �Where are they taking my baby?�
Monica walked out quickly and tried to sound calm. �Her heart is giving out and we have to do surgery��
�She too little!� Georgie said.
�Will she make it through the surgery?� Dillon asked.
�She won�t make it if we don�t do the surgery.� Monica said honestly. �There�s a chance she won�t make it at all.�