Choices the third of four in the Shattered Series, (Shattered, Forgiven, Choices, and The After,with)

The knock on the door brought her back to reality, she cursed as she lifted her legs from the bed, the pins and needles had returned and she wanted to scream.

She checked the peephole, "this should be fun" she said to herself before opening the door, "Mother" she greeted her as she stepped inside.

"This is lovely, seems you are more like me than I had previously thought" her eyes scanning the spacious suite, "what I don't understand is why you are here alone, where's that handsome husband of yours"

Kim finally made it to the couch, "I sent him away, which if you're not careful I will do to you as well" she took a cookie from the tray the hotel staff had sent up, "why are you here?" She wiped the crumbs from her hands, "Phil send you?"

"First off, I'd like to see you try and send me away, in case you haven't figured it out I'm not going anywhere" Elizabeth smiled warmly, "and yes your brother sent me, what's this 'I don't want to be a burden' mess all about?" she sat on the couch beside her, "my dear you are anything but a burden"

"Hey Adam, come meet your nephew" Amy said as she came up beside him, "your dad filled us in, don't sit out here alone. Please come in the room"

He looked up from his hands, "I don't know, Annie should be happy not concerned about me"

"Too late, and you're only making it worse by sitting in the corner" she pointed to where he had put himself, "you're like a little kid in time out, come on, do it for me, come see my grandson" she rubbed his shoulder, "she loves you Adam, she isn't thinking straight, she'll be home"

He stood up and wrapped his arm around her, "I love you, you know that" he smiled kissing the top of her head, "thanks for not giving up on me when I was a kid"

Annie held the sleeping infant in her arms, Derek sat beside her on the bed, "who does he look like to you?" She asked him, he had a full head of thick dark brown hair, and his eyes seemed to be blue, the nurse already warning them that his eyes could still change.

"I don't know he kinda looks like an old man, but he's a beautiful old man" Derek smiled holding the little boy's hand in his, "he's got big hands, he'll be a kick ass football player" he smiled.

"Adam!" Annie was relieved to see him, "come see my son" she smiled.

Adam nodded at Derek, "Little sister, you did good" he kissed her forehead, "what's his name?"

Everyone in the room laughed, "what?"

Derek stood up, "he doesn't have one yet, we can't agree on one"

"Just go with whatever she says" Adam pointed at Annie, "it's safer that way, though you'll learn that soon enough" he extended his hand "Congratulations Derek" he smiled as he and Derek shook hands.

He could see Annie wipe her eyes, "thank you" she mouthed, he smiled in return.

"I didn't say I was a burden" Kim told her, "listen, Adam has a stressful job, right? Do you realize he's up most mornings by four, he gets the kids up feeds them, bathes them and dresses them" she paused, "after that or while he's doing that he has to help me do all those things" her tears falling freely, "he leaves for work, spends all day at work and comes home only to have to start the process all over again, he's exhausted"

"And?" Elizabeth asked, she would allow Kim to come the conclusion on her own, she knew telling her wouldn't work.

"And, what?" Kim asked wiping her eyes, "damn it he shouldn't have to do all of those things. I want to be able to give my children a bath, cook for them, dress them! I want to take care of my husband, he deserves someone who can take care of him. I'm not that person anymore"