Days passed since Katia's run in with Olivia. She hasn't been back to see her. Katia hasn't asked about her. I thought maybe this tragedy would mend whatever was broken between them but it hasn't. Kandace has been here every day just to sit and talk with her sister. She's been doing Katia's makeup and making sure her nails were pretty. Mostly just to past the time. Elaine has been here too. Along with Lindsey and Eve. Everyone is so happy to see she's going to be just fine. Especially me. I feel like I can breathe again. Katia even has complete feeling back in her feet and legs. The doctor says that's a really good sign. Her blood tests aren't showing any abnormalities and if we're lucky we'll be going home today. Fingers crossed. I can't wait to sleep in our bed next to my wife. The fantasy of a peaceful sleep has gotten me through the long nights here.

"Mama." Katia mumbles in her sleep, her thumb lazily lodged between her lips.

I smile at her and gently stroke the hair from her face. She looks so peaceful when she's sleeping. Her lashes start to flutter and the grays of her eyes come to life. She gives me a small sleepy smile. "What are you doing out of bed?" She asks.

"I'm sorry. Was I supposed to stay put until you awoke your majesty?"

"Yes." She answers groggily. She rubs her eyes with the back of her hand. "What time is it?"

"A little after nine." I answer. I kiss her forehead. "I think we'll be able to go home today. What do you think?"

"Oh my god. I hope so. I would love to sleep in your bed." She yawns and stretches. "Without nurses checking on me all night and machines making weird noises."

I laugh a bit before correcting her. "OUR bed, babe. Everything in our house belongs to you and and me."

She smiles. "Oh yeah. And maybe I can watch you dance? I really really miss it."

I scoff. "I don't know if I still can."

That makes her giggle. "Yes you can! Don't be silly."

"I don't know. Sleeping in that chair might have broken something." I joke.

She laughs and rolls her eyes. "Whatever."

Hearing her laugh makes me smile. "Are you ready for a shower?" I ask.

She nods. This time in the bathroom goes a lot smoother. We still make a mess but a smaller one. Also, she doesn't get as sad about it this time. I think she even sprayed me in the face on purpose once. Just as we get dried off and dressed someone walks in as always.

It's her doctor and a nurse. A different nurse than last visit. I guess they had a shift switch already. I'm starting to memorize their schedules at this point. We've been here too long.

"Good morning!" The doctor says cheerfully.

"How good of a morning?" Katia asks. The hope is almost pouring out of her eyes.

"Oh. Believe me, a very good morning." He nods and gives his most reassuring smile.

"Someone's going home." The nurse chirps

"Really?" Katia ask. "Seriously? Please don't joke around."

The doctor chuckles and shows her his clipboard. "No joking. You're out of here today. Of course you'll be back for physical therapy and check ins and all that good stuff but you get to home."

Katia looks at me with a wide grin on her face. She reaches out her arms and I hug her tight. We're both so excited. It's already been a long hard journey but here's some light and I'm going to bask in it. The doctor goes over some things with Katia and I pertaining to her physical therapy before he leaves. The nurse is joined by her colleague and they do a few more tests on her just to be safe. She does wonderfully. Soon after, we're discharged and on the way home. Liz came to pick us up.

"Liz! I'm so happy to see you!" Katia says after we get her in the car.

"I'm twice as happy to see you." Liz tells her.

I let Katia sit in the front seat while I make myself comfortable in the back. The entire trip home I look out the window and watch the trees. I think about how different this car ride home from the hospital could have been if my worse nightmares came true. I'm overcome with emotion and thankfulness that Katia made it out alive and perfectly fine. I know she can't walk yet, but that doesn't matter to me. She's perfect in my eyes. I don't mean to but I start crying. Something I haven't allowed myself to do much of while we were at the hospital. I was so preoccupied with being positive and staying strong. I couldn't let myself feel weak too much. I thought it would rub off on Katia somehow and I needed her to be strong and come back to me the way she did. Even if she was a little less than sunny when she first came out of her coma.

"Babe?" Katia says as she turns around to see me sobbing in the backseat. "Hey. What's wrong?" She asks. She reaches out and hands me a few tissues from the glove compartment.

I wipe my tears and shake my head. "Nothing is wrong. I'm just really happy and I love you."

She smiles at me. "My memory could be failing me again but I don't remember you being such a crybaby before."

Liz laughs and I roll my eyes. "Shut up." I say but I smile a little too. It's so good to have her back.

As we pull into the long narrow road that leads to my house, I realize there is a problem I had not considered. The stairs. The ones outside and inside. Oh fuck. How could I be so stupid? Internal panic starts to flood my entire being.

Okay. I could definitely pick her up, but how much would she absolutely hate that? I don't want her to feel any worse than I know she does. I'll call someone first thing tomorrow to get a ramp put in place. Until then she'll have to hate me for picking her up I guess. I really dropped the ball with this one. I'll move our bedroom downstairs into her old bedroom. I don't know how long Katia will be in a wheelchair but it doesn't matter. I want her to be comfortable in her own home at least. Ugh.

My internal meltdown comes to a halt when we get to our house. Greg and Clay are outside working on something while Kandace watches. A ramp! They've already installed one for us. Oh my God. I'm so happy I could cry again. Maybe Katia is right. Perhaps I am a crybaby now or maybe I've always been one and this traumatic experience had just brought it to the forefront.

I help Katia out of the car and she's greeted with with hugs and head pats from her father which she seems to hate but tolerate.

"I would hug you, Kat, but I'm all sweaty. Mr. Galanos made me do all the work." Clay says with his ever charming smile.

"You need to get your hands dirty some time, son. Look at them. You haven't done a day of work in your life." Gregory grabs Clays hand and holds it up to prove his point. The man does have pretty hands.

"Well I like his soft hands." Kandace says as she kisses Clay on the cheek.

Her dad frowns and turns his head. To be fair, he does the same thing any time anyone shows affection to anyone. I think its safe to say he disapproves of PDA.

"You guys made this for me?" Katia asks as she points to the ramp.

"No. For the stray cats." Kandace says sarcastically.

Katia flicks her off.

"Cut it out, Kat" Mr. Galanos says.

"Me??" Katia whines.

Kandace sticks her tongue out at her sister and smirks. Clearly Kandace and Greg have done some daughter father bonding.

We get inside and Katia's mother and little brother are in the kitchen putting things away. She smiles brightly when she sees her daughter. "Oh, Katia!" She wraps her arms around her for a hug. "It's so good to see you. When Christine told us that you would be coming home today, I immediately went to the grocery store and picked up everything you guys would need for a while so you didn't have to worry about it."

"Yeah!" Kristopher says as he climbs up into Katia's lap. "I picked out snacks for you. Do you like donuts?" He asks. He seems so proud of himself. I've never once seen Katia eat a donut though.

"Oh yeah. Definitely. I love donuts." She says but I can tell she's lying.

He smiles really big.

"Get off of her, Kristopher." Katherine says gently but Katia wraps her arms around him.

"He's okay. I swear." Katia says.

"Can this chair go fast?" He asks.

Katia laughs. "Well, I haven't tried it downhill yet."

"And you won't." I say. Both her and Kristopher frown at me.

We talk with everyone for a bit while they put the finishing touches on their little projects around the house for Katia's comfort. When everyone is gone, Katia and I sit on the couch. I close my eyes and I rest my head on hers.

"I've missed this." I say softly.

"The complete silence or air that doesn't smell like hospital?" She asks.

I laugh. "That too but I meant being home with you. Alone. Knowing you'll be okay."

"Oh." She says. "Me too."

We sit a little longer, sharing silence. Just holding and feeling each other's body against the other.

"Do you think physical therapy is going to be hard?" Katia asks.

I sigh. "Unfortunately, yes."

"I'm scared." She whispers.

I kiss the top of her head and stroke her hair. "I know you're scared and it might be really hard some days, but you'll never be alone. Okay?"

She nods. "I love you, Chris."

"I love you more, Katia."

She sits up. "I know its early, but can we go to bed? The excitement of the day has really worn me down."

I chuckle and nod. "Yeah. You and me both, kid."

She giggles as I get her chair.

"Noooo!" She whines and pushes the chair away.

"What's wrong?"

She holds her arms out and makes grabby hands. "Up!"

"You like when I carry you?"

She nods. "That's when I feel safest."

I smile so big its partly embarrassing. "Okay." I carefully pick her up and carry her to her old bedroom. I lay her on the bed while I pick out her pajamas. Luckily she still has a few items down here. I search through the drawers to find the perfect pair for her first day home. Something cozy and comfortable. "Okay. Mickey or Minnie?" I ask as I turn around. Only to discover Katia has taken her clothes off. Mostly. She's struggling with her shorts.

"Help me?" She asks.

"Oh. Yeah." I jump into action after staring like deer caught in the headlights. I take her shorts off for her.

"And my panties." She says.

"Why do you need to take those off?" I ask.

She simply smirks at me.

"Katia, no." I giggle. "You just came home."

"Exactly." She says.

"But...." I hesitate. I can't. What if I hurt her or she hits her head on something. The doctor said to be on the lookout for seizures. Anything could go wrong and I don't want it to be because of me.

Katia blinks and starts to pull the blanket over her body. "Unless you don't want me."

"No. No. No. Baby, I absolutely want you. More than you know." I sit down beside her. "I'm just scared."

"Of what?" She asks.

"Hurting you. Something happening while we're having sex. Everything really." I confess.

She chews on her lip for a while but then she nods. "I'm okay but I understand."

"You do?"

She nods again. "I've been experiencing it from my side but I can't imagine being in your shoes. I'd be a wreck if this was the other way around."

"A wreck is the nice way to describe me." I say.

She leans over and kisses my lips. "I can wait until you're comfortable."

"Thank you."

She smiles at me. "Minnie!"

I grab the Minnie Mouse nightgown and pull it over her head before getting my own pajamas on. We lie down together and I hold her as close as I can. I'd never let go of her if it was an option. I feel her relax against me and I smile.

"This is soooo much better than the hospital bed." She says.

I laugh. "It really is."