~~~~~~
Thanksgiving day...
Rex, Maria, Gerald and the babies all went to spent thanksgiving at the hospital with Cherry. Even though she was still in coma and unable to communicate they didn't want to leave her side, but Rex to be precise made everyone stay and celebrate the occasion with his sleeping girlfriend.
"Hey baby, I know you can hear me in there. It's thanksgiving and guess who I brought along!... It's Mia, Gerald and Jerry." He points at the trio stand at the foot of the bed.
"Hey Cherry...I hope you miss us because we missed you." Maria touches her foot lightly then shifts the baby in her arms.
"Really, I wanted this day to be for us... so we can celebrate thanksgiving together but..." He drawls and takes her right hand. "Just get well for us, so we can finally be happy."
"She will..." Mia promised.
They all stayed longer in the ward, talking and playing with the babies until evening. When it got late Jerry excused himself and Gerald announced his parting but offered to take Maria home. She refused politely claiming to stay overnight with the babies.
Gerald tried to hug Maria before leaving, and hopefully to give her a kiss but Rex gave him an urgent task to do at the office. Not only that, he physically threatened to strike him if he got any closer to Maria. Maria observed this but could not fight Rex in the ward.
"Are you happy now?" She ask with a slight annoyance in her voice.
"I am." He replied with boldness.
"You got to loosen that leash of possessiveness you have on me before I bite it off." She half-threaten.
"I am only protecting you from having a serious heartbreak." He claims.
"I am not you, and you shouldn't be acting like you are my father. Even my father isn't so vile to other guys around me." She spoke in a vexed manner and Rex frowns weirdly at her. "And let me tell you, Gerald is a great guy."
"Then why does he act like a creep around you?"
"Maybe because you are such a jerk and an idiot to him." She spit out.
"Mia, just be careful with the people you hang with."
"Do you need six more months to be sure he is not a serial killer?" She challenged. "I don't think so..." She rolled her eyes and walks to the door.
"Where are you going?" He ask.
"I'm out of here... you watch Cherry tonight!"
"You can't-"
Before he finishes his statement, Maria was out, and she was careful not to bother Cherry or the babies with the sound of the door.
"Such a stubborn girl... don't you agree Cherry?" Rex chuckles under his breath and takes her hand again. "I am always here, remember that. Just get better, and wake up. Return to me my cherry blossom." He says and kisses her knuckles.
~~~~~
A few weeks later...
Maria and nurse Rosa where just stepping in to prepare the babies for their afternoon meal when Cherry's fingers began to twitch. Neither of them noticed her twitching movement and continue as usual to prepare her for breastfeeding.
"I already set the pillows before, we just need to place them on it." Maria tells Rosa.
"Thanks Miss Santos-"
"I have told you several weeks ago, it is Maria. Just call me by name."
"Alright, Maria... thank you very much. You've made things easy fro me."
"Anytime."
Rosa was about placing the baby in her arms when Cherry opened one of her eyes. Rosa didn't notice it but Maria thought she saw it but in a glance. Skeptical and curious she freezes putting the baby and turn her head for a better look.
"Wait a..."
"What is it?" Nurse Rosa ask with a furrowed eyebrow.
"Cherry... she's awake!" Maria exclaims when seeing Cherry's second eye open and staring around.
"Oh my goodness! I'll go get the doctor." Rosa announced and placed the baby in her arms into the strolling crib they brought along.
"Yeah... go on... oh... Cherry." Maria whispers and comes closer to her. "I am so glad you are awake. Do you feel tired or hungry?" Maria asked too quickly but Cherry is unable to make out words yet. She hasn't grasped everything around her.
"What happened?" Jerry asked once he was inside.
"She woke!"
"Really? That's fantastic!" He comes closer to inspect her condition.
"Where's Kelly?" Maria asked.
"She had to run some errands. I will be taking over for now."
"Wh-wha...wha.... what happened?" Cherry croaks out tiredly.
"You were in coma, but... you... are... fine!" Jerry yelps with delight.
"What... what day is it?" She asked.
"It' the fifteenth of December. You've been out for sometime sister." Maria said.
"How long?" Cherry's voice began to clear out.
"Almost a month."
"A month!" She exclaims in shock.
"Girl, you needed that break after everything that happened." Maria waves off the worry.
"And..." Cherry's words were interrupted by the cries of her babies and her eyes automatically searched the room for the sound.
"Oh- they must really want to eat." Maria informs her.
"Two babies?" Cherry ask in surprise.
"Yes,... you have two baby girls. Don't you remember?" Maria cocks her head to the side.
"Two..." Cherry stares at the cribs in shock and starts to hyperventilate.
"Jerry, do something!" Maria urges.
"I'm working on it." He says but Cherry already passed out quickly before he can do anything.
A few moments later...
"I thought you said she was awake?"
"She was but she freaked out and passed out."
"Why didn't you call me immediately when she woke?"
"I tried but you weren't answering."
"Both of you should knock it off! Cherry is awake!"
"What?!" Both Rex and Jerry exclaimed.
"Hmmm..." Cherry hummed and moves her head from side to side.
"Baby, I'm here. Please open your eyes..." Rex pleads softly in her face while pampering her cheeks and face.
"Rex?" Cherry mumbles out.
"Yes, it's me love. It's me."
She gradually open her eyes and a big smile etched on his face.
"Rex?" She calls out again.
"Yes, I'm here."
"I'm sorry..." She said and he frowns worriedly.
"Sorry for what? You did nothing wrong. It is I that needs your forgiveness. I caused you so much pain."
"Hmm..." She smiles shakes her head. "I'm so hungry."
Rex stifle a laughter but could not conceal it for long and he burst out laughing making Cherry to laugh along. Maria let out a relieved breath and a prayer to God, then hugs Jerry. "Of course you are."
"Mia? Are you there?" Cherry called.
"Yes I am..." Maria comes to meet her on the bed and they shared a friendly reconciliation.
"Now that you are awake, I will let you all have some privacy then you can go home." Jerry informs Cherry.
"I can leave?" Cherry ask in surprise.
"Yes you can. There is nothing stopping you now, but you have to feed the babies. They are so hungry and I can't handle another round of crying." Jerry huffs playfully and leaves.
"I hope you won't faint like the first time?" Maria ask cautiously and they all laugh.
"Why did you faint babe?" Rex asked.
"Faint?... I don't know. I thought having two babies was all my dream."
"You thought your babies were your imagination?" Maria ask in surprise.
"I thought I had only one but the second... not in my memory." Cherry answered.
"You are one strange woman."
"Mia..."
"Well, ladies... I don't want to ruin the moment but my ears are bleeding from the cries." Rex voiced out.
"Oh, my little angels... mama is here to feed you both, don't worry. NURSE ROSA!" Maria screams, startling Cherry and Rex for a second.
"What the hell Mia-" Rex scolds.
"Just a second... Rosa, get me a bowl of noodles, a medium-size bowl of potato soup, a bucket of yogurt, oat biscuits, and some cereal."
Rosa nods her head repeatedly without an understanding of why Maria would order such food in a hospital.
"Th-thi-this- is a hospital miss, we don't serve that-"
"I wasn't asking for hospital damn food! Go get me what I asked now!" Maria shoves her lightly from the room and turns to face both Rex and Cherry who had questioning looks. "What?"
"You just ordered for non-hospital food?" Rex spoke carefully.
"It's not for her... it is for me." Cherry answers on Maria's behalf.
"I always know what she wants whenever she's famished." Maria shrugs.
Rex glances at both women in wonder. He was annoyed he doesn't have an idea of what Cherry likes but he didn't make a deal of it. "Women..." He mumbles and scratched under his nose.
"What did you say?" Cherry asked.
"Nothing! The babies need feeding..." He quickly say.
"Yes, they do... but I don't know how to feed them." She confessed.
"You have been feeding them all along! Just-" Maria hails.
"Wha- what do you mean I have been feeding them?" Cherry stare a Rex and Maria confused by her words.
"Maybe Rex should explain that..." Maria said through gritted teeth and went to rock the crying babies. In their cribs.
Cherry then look at Rex and he visibly tensed.
"I suggested the babies be fed directly from you since baby food wasn't doing any good." He spoke expecting her to rant but she was still and quiet.
"Why?" She finally ask.
"I can't watch my babies eat from another woman's breast! And more importantly, I wanted you to have a chance to be near your children. It's the least I could do..."
Upon hearing his genuine words Cherry felt touched and convinced she can trust this man for the second time.
"Thank you..." Those were the only words Cherry could say.
"I should be thankful to you... for coming back." He takes her hands and kisses it lovely as they stare intently at one another.
"Are you both done with your romancing? We can't keep them hungry for another minute." Maria cuts the short-lived loving moment.
"Of course, help me." She tells them and they help position the babies in the right order on the pillow, with Cherry's arms supporting their heads and necks. Rex goes to place the cribs in a corner while Maria helps the babies find the source to their meal.
"Finally! PEACE!" Maria sighs in contentment and crashes on a chair beside the bed.
"Mia... you are being too dramatic." Cherry rolls her eyes at her friend.
"I know, but don't worry about feeling faint. Rosa should be here with your make up meal." Maria assures her.
"She better hurry before I get drained from my babies." She joked.
"So funny... I'll let you bond with them, alright?" Maria pats her leg and gets up. "Dude!-" She secretly call Rex and they walk out the door.
"What's wrong?" He ask.
"You need to tell her."
"Now? She just woke up and trying to understand she has two kids and not one." He complains.
"Brother, the court case has been sped up and will be held in a few days. She needs to be prepared to testify."
"I will tell her but now now." Rex insisted.
"Then she hears it from another person and hates you?" Maria intensifies.
"Mia-"
"Look- I understand what you mean, but now is the perfect time. Who knows what will happen next?"
He thinks about it and doesn't get to disagree. "I hope you are right about it..." He tells her and enters the room again.
"Cherry..." He called lovingly.
"Hmm?" She gave a bright smile and look up at Rex.
"There are something you need to know."
"What is it?" She ask with the smile still on her face.
"It is a long story but it's nothing you should be worried about, and you don't need to think about it..." He says nervously and sits on the bed.
"I.. am not getting where this is going. Rex, tell me, what is it?" Cherry requested questioningly.
"It's about Susanna and what she did." He spoke and her happy mood turns sour.