Time: 23 Years Prior

Location: Sydney, Australia.

Monique spent many a sleepless night worrying about Amelia and how she was going to break the news to her daughter that she was pregnant.

It was a week since Peter had been whisked off to Melbourne. He'd settled in okay at the seminary. His guitar and calls to and from home had kept him sane. Don told Monique that he was doing okay and that he thought it was all going to turn out for the best in the long run. He told her that it was nearing time to attempt to wake Amelia up before she lost too much muscle tone from inactivity. He advised that she should plan what she was going to tell Amelia when she woke up and how she was going to break the news that she was pregnant. He warned her that it was important for her recovery that she not get too stressed as that could put too much stress on her already compromised liver.

After spending some time with an unconscious Amelia she left the hospital and rang Michelle.

"Hi Michelle, I've just left the hospital. Can I come around to your place? Is Tony at work? . . . good . . . We need to talk about what and how we are going to explain everything that's gone on, to Amelia. Yes, Don is going to attempt to wake her tomorrow. He's reasonably confident it will all work out fine. He's worried by her muscle wastage though and doesn't want to leave it much longer. He thinks her liver can handle it now, but we can't put too much emotional stress on her. It's going to be tricky . . . okay I'll come right over. Thanks Sis."

The sisters discussed their options over a cup of coffee and home made banana cake. Michelle was an excellent cook, much better at desserts and cakes than Monique.

"The thing I can't get my head around is what we are going to tell her about Peter once she finds out she is pregnant and he is the father," said Michelle.

"As much as I like Peter, I believe we have to take him out of the equation somehow. It is already complicated and stressful enough of a situation without him. Jean doesn't want him involved at all. He is still very hurt and angry despite Don saving Amelia's life," Monique said.

"Yes, I hate to think how he would have been if he hadn't," Michelle agreed.

"So this is what we do, we tell Amelia that Peter has gone back to Melbourne. If she insists on seeing him or contacting him we tell her that he discovered that a girl he was dating in his music class was pregnant by him and they are getting married. That he doesn't know Amelia is also pregnant and best that he doesn't because it could complicate things even more. Also that her uncle Tony is really angry with Peter and has told him that if he comes back to Sydney or tries to contact Amelia, or any member of her family he has an extradition order waiting and he'll be returned to the lock up in Sydney to await trial for rape."

Michelle added, "I'll tell Margot to send back to you any letters from Peter or the Margates that turn up addressed to Amelia in Paris. We'll tell Amelia that Peter and his family are moving around a lot in Melbourne and she should address any letters to you so you can forward them on. That should cover all the bases and ensure they don't contact each other and find out the real story."

Their combined scheming was interrupted by a phone call from Don. Monique answered, "Yes, okay, but Jean's at work, I'll ring him in . . , I'm sure he'd like to be there too. Yes as soon as we can, bye." As she hung up she turned to Michelle and said, "That was Don, he wants to wake Amelia this afternoon. He thinks she's ready and he doesn't want to delay it unnecessarily. I'll ring Jean and see if he is able to meet us at the hospital. Can you bring the car around . . . thanks." She flipped the keys to Michelle from behind her back, just like they used to do in netball. It used to confound the opposition, as Michelle took the catch with ease. It was no different despite their age, the keys were safely and expertly caught without a step.

Jean was at the hospital waiting for them when they arrived." I asked the judge for an adjournment in my case for personal reasons. He's aware of the situation and adjourned it till Monday morning," Jean explained.

"That's nice of him honey, we need to talk before we go in and see Don, and before he wakes Amelia," Monique said. The two sisters explained their plan to Jean excitedly.

Jean agreed reluctantly. He had some reservations about lying to his daughter. He had seen enough as a lawyer of the consequences when a lie came undone, and the bigger the lie, the bigger the fall out, and the more likely that it would eventually be overtaken by the truth. But he guessed that they needed time to sort this mess out. Time that the truth wasn't going to afford them right now, he knew how headstrong his daughter could be.

Don stuck his head out the door of Amelia's room,"Ready? Here we go, better come in now," he suggested. Jean was shocked to see that his daughter was already off the ventilator. Don anticipated the questioning look Jean gave him, "I took her off the ventilator last night, and we've monitored her all night, just to make sure she could breathe on her own. She's doing fine. She hasn't been in any pain the last week so we started weaning her off the pain killers a few days ago. So she should be relatively okay when she wakes. Probably a fair bit disoriented but she shouldn't be violent or unduly upset which otherwise might have been the case if she had just come off the drugs," Don explained.

Don was right again, they were lucky to have such a great doctor looking after Amelia and both Jean and Monique felt a great debt to Don for saving their daughter's life. They may even be able to forgive Peter, in time maybe, but now Amelia needed their full love and attention.

Don reached over and removed the tape from Amelia's eyes. He gestured for the family to come in around him. Monique and Amanda went to each side with Michelle and Jean staying back behind them. Don said, "Ready, now remember what I told you she may be confused. May not even recognise you immediately, may have lost some memory, may not even know why she's here. So go easy on her. Let her come to slowly, at her own pace, okay?" They all nodded agreement.

Don moved the sleeve up on Amelia's right arm and gave her a sharp pinch. "Amelia. . . Amelia . . , wake up, Amelia!" Amelia's eyes fluttered briefly. Don pinched her again.

"Ouch!" Stop it!" Amelia said drowsily. The family all laughed, then cried with relief as Amelia opened her eyes her face lit up with half a smile.

Chapter 22 - Amelia Wakes.

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