‘Hey, baby, I’m ok now,’ said Helena, trying to back up for her faux pas.

‘I know you are, at least you will be with me to take care of you.’

Helena smiled and then cursed.  ‘This wasn’t how I had planned to spend our reunion night.’

Alexa tweaked her nose cutely.  ‘Those plans can wait until you have all your strength back.  You need all the rest you can get right now.’

‘Can we come in?’ asked Alice from the doorway.

‘Yes’ Helena called out her voice still a little croaky.

Alexa looked around.  ‘Hey come in guys, she’s fine in fact I’m starting to think she was faking it.’

Helena laughed and wished she could kiss Alexa.  With all the trauma of the day she wondered again if she was delirious or she was really this happy.  She’d just had life saving surgery, she was drained and almost every part of her that wasn’t numb hurt but all she could think was that Alexa was back, she was staying and they were together again. 

Dana, Bette, Alice, Shane and Tina crowded around the bed.  ‘Hey, how you doing?’ asked Tina warmly.

‘Good,’ Helena replied.  ‘Thanks all of you for being here.  You should get home it’s 1:00am,’ she said noticing the clock on the wall.

‘Ok, as long as you’re alright.  You need anything from home Hel?  I can drop by and bring it in for you but I guess you’ll be staying at the beach house Alexa anyway?’ said Bette.

‘Um, yeah I guess so.  But I think I’m going to stick around here tonight,’ said Alexa.

‘You sure?’ asked Bette.  ‘Helena’s getting the best care here and you must be tired, you can stay with me and T tonight if you want and we’ll bring you back in the morning or we could drop you off at Helena’s place.’

Alexa took a look at Helena wondering what she wanted her to do, she couldn’t read her expression but she remembered seeing half the life drained out of her earlier in the day and all the nights she’d spent just wishing she could watch her sleep.

‘Thanks Bette but I want to be here, just for tonight.’

‘Ok,’ said Bette, sort of understanding.  ‘I think the rest of us should let this drama queen get some rest.  I’ll be in after work tomorrow Helena.  Call and let me know if I need to bring you anything.’