"What is it Charley?" Nick asked as his voice cracked.
"Nick, that was Yas." Simon began "Something's happened to Olivia and an ambulance is taking her to the hospital."
"What?......I've gotta go." Nick yelled as he ran for the door.
"Nick! You're in no shape to drive, let's go in my car." Simon said.
Nick, John and Simon got in the car and headed to the hospital. Nick remained quiet as the colour drained from his face. They reached the hospital and found Yasmin crying.
"Nick." she sobbed as she hugged him.
"Yas....what's going on? What happened to Olivia?" Nick asked.
"Well." she began as she sobbed "I was over at your house to see Liv. We were chatting, she said she had to go to the ladies.....I sat for several minutes and she didn't come back. I called her name and when she didn't answer, I opened the door and found her unconscious and covered in blood."
"Where is she?" Nick managed to say as the tears filled his eyes.
"She's on maternity." Yas cried. "The doctor is with her right now."
"C'mon mate. Let's go up." John said as he put his hands on Nick's shoulders.
The four of them quietly walked up to the maternity floor.
"Mr. Rhodes?"
"Yes?" Nick replied as he turned to see Dr. Shamblin.
"Can we talk?" Dr. Shamblin asked.
"Of course." Nick whispered.
"Would you like to go somewhere private?"
"That would be fine." he replied as he turned to Yas. "Yas...will you come with me?" Nick asked.
"Of course I will." she replied.
Nick and Yas walked into a room with Dr. Shamblin. They remained in there for quite awhile before they came out. Nick and Yasmin clung to each other crying.
"Nick, what's wrong?" John asked softly.
"Olivia......" Nick sobbed.
"Calm down Nick. Tell me what's going on." John said.
"Olivia will be fine.....the baby is gone." Nick managed.
"What?" Simon asked.
"We lost the baby." Nick said as he hung his head down.
"I'm sorry Nick. I'm so sorry." Simon said.
"I'm sorry, mate. Does Olivia know yet?" John asked as he hugged his friend.
Nick pulled away. "I'm going to go see her......I have to see her, she doesn't know yet."
"C'mon, we'll go with you." John said as they very slowly walked to Olivia's room.
They stood around her bed, comforting Nick as he held and kissed her hand.
"You guys don't have to stay if you don't want to.....I'm going to be here for awhile." Nick said.
"We're here as long as you need us." Yas replied.
"Thanks Yas.....for everything."
"Nick?" Olivia's voice whispered.
"Sweetheart...you're awake."
"What's going on?" she asked.
"You're fine, Liv." Nick replied as Dr. Shamblin walked in.
"How do you feel, Olivia?" Dr. Shamblin asked.
"Tired." she replied. "Why am I here?" she asked.
"Do you remember anything from earlier today?" he asked.
"I just remember feeling tired and sick."
"Anything else?"
"No....why? Nick, what's going on?"
"Liv." he began "When Yas came to visit you, she said you were pale and you looked tired. She said you two were chatting over tea and that you went into the bathroom and stayed gone for a long time. She found you unconscious....Yas also saved your life." Nick said softly.
"What?" Olivia asked, confused.
"Olivia..." Dr. Shamblin began "You had a miscarriage and you hemmoraged, causing you to lose a lot of blood."
Olivia's eyes filled with tears as Nick held her.
"I'm sorry Liv." Nick whispered in her ear over and over as he let his tears flow freely.
"Nick...." she said as she broke into heavy sobs.
"Shhhh....I'm so sorry sweetheart." he said, holding her.
Yasmin went to her friend and held her as they sobbed together.
Simon placed a gentle hand on Nick's shoulder, his eyes filling with tears.
"We're going to step out so you can be alone." Yas said.
"Thank you, Yas. Thank you for being with her today." Nick said, hugging her tight.
"I'm going with them." John said, with tears filling his eyes.
"Thanks, John." Nick replied.
Everyone left the room, leaving Nick and Olivia alone. They had no words for their grief, they just held each other and cried over their loss.

Nick took Olivia home from the hospital. Her health was perfect, but she became very emotional. Sometimes she would talk and laugh, other times she was quiet and sullen or crying. Nick continued to blame himself for not being there the day Olivia collapsed as he went through his own personal hell. He tried to comfort Olivia, but nothing seemed to help.

Nick knocked on the bed room door.
"Liv, are you hungry?" he asked.
"No...go away." she said in a small voice.
"Liv, sweetie...you haven't eaten since yesterday."
"I'm not hungry." she said, this time a bit louder. "Alright." Nick said as he shut the door.He made his way to the kitchen and put on the kettle for tea.
Just as he was getting a cup from the cabinet the phone rang causing him to jump, the cup shattered to the floor.
"Damn it!" he exclaimed as he reached for the phone.
"What?" he shouted into the hand set.
"Nick? It's Mum. You ok, luv?"
"Sorry, Mum. No...I'm not alright." he said as he let out a heavy sigh.
"How is Liv?" Sylvia asked sadly.
"Not too good, Mum. She won't eat.She hasn't been out of the bed since yesterday. She's been home for a week and I think I am going crazy." Nick confessed as tears rolled down his cheeks. "It's ok. You are just going to have to give her time.She just lost her baby."
"It was MY baby too!" he shouted.
"I know it was, luv. I'm sorry. Just give her time." his mother soothed, in the way only a mother knows how.

"I'm sorry mum, I didn't meant to yell. It's just very tense around here right now."
"Maybe you two should get out of the house for awhile." Sylvia suggested.
"Liv won't even come near me, she's been holed up in the bedroom pretty much since she came home." he replied.
"Why don't you suggest a trip? You and Olivia had such a lovely time in Paris. It's worth a try."
"I suppose I could." he sighed.
"It can't hurt, luv."
"Thanks, mum."
"I'm here if you or Olivia need anything."
"I know." he replied.
"I love you, Nick."
"Love you too, mum."
Nick hung up with his mum and began picking up the broken china cup. He put the pieces in the trash. He sat at the table, lowering his head to his hands as his tears continued to flow. Tears for Olivia, tears for their baby, tears for their shattered lives.

The weeks slowly passed by, it had been well over a month since Olivia came home from the hospital. Nick had remained home with her the entire time, never leaving her. Nick walked into the kitchen and found Olivia nursing a cup of tea.
"Hi, sweetheart. How are you feeling?" he asked.
"I'm fine." she answered.
"Liv, I'm going into the studio for awhile today. Are you going to be alright?"
"I'll be fine. I'm sure you have a lot of catching up to do." she replied.
"I hate to ask again, but have you changed your mind about going away for a few days? We'll go to Paris, or anywhere you want."
"I'm not ready, Nick."
"I'm sorry if it seems like I'm pressuring you, luv. I just miss you."
Nick walked over to Olivia and gently kissed her forehead. He lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes.
"I love you, Olivia. I've told you before that NOTHING will ever change that and I meant it. Call me if you need anything." he said.
Nick closed the door behind him. Olivia remained seated at the table, tears flooded her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
"Dammit." she mumbled as she wiped the tears from her face. "What the hell is wrong with me?"
She stood up and ran up the stairs.
"I've gotta get out of here before I go crazy." she said changed clothes. Olivia took a look in the mirror. She was much thinner than before, her colour pale, but not deathly so.
"Your not out to impress anyone." she said to her reflection as she ran a brush through her long brown hair.
She passed by the nursery on her way to the stairs. Pain shot through her heart and tears stung her eyes. She reached in and closed the door before she moved away quickly and descended the stairs. Olivia collected her coat and keys from the foyer. She stepped out into the bright, cold day and started walking. She breathed the cold air into her lungs as she made her way into town. She opted to peruse the window displays instead of going into the shops.
"Liv?" a voice called.
Olivia turned to see John. She'd passed him and hadn't even noticed.
"Hi John." she replied.
"It's good to see you, luv."
"Thanks...good to see you too."
"Do you have plans for today?" he asked.
"No. I just had to get out for awhile. Why?" she asked.
"I just thought we could grab a bite to eat and catch up."
"Thanks, John..but I'm not hungry."
"Ok then, how about we just talk and catch up?"
"Where?" she asked, looking around.
"We can go to a cafe if you'd like, or we could go to my house." he offered.
"I don't want to be in public....I'm sure mine and Nick's private life is all over the papers. I feel like everybody's looking at me."
"C'mon, I'm getting you out of here. My car's parked nearby." he said.

CHAPTER 44