The next morning, Paula woke up next to Franzi in bed. She slowly moved to a seating position and watched Franzi sleep. Her mind played Eva Cassidy's "Fields of Gold" while Franzi layed down with a glow on her. As if nothing happened last night, Paula slipped her hand under Franzi's, kissed the backside, and said 'Good morning' and Franzi held still.

After receiving word of Franzi's "Midnight Awakening", Daniel made it appoint to show up everyday. He didn't care about the money Franzi stole. All Daniel wanted was for her to get out of the hospital and on with her life. At 3:00, with Philip and Marie working the rush hour at Mocca, Daniel came over and got to talking with Franzi and Paula.

Paula said, 'Thanks for coming over. It's nice to have someone to talk to.'

Daniel said, 'It's no problem. Anything I can do to help, it's yours.'

Then Franzi remembered the money she stole and told Daniel, 'You know I'm going to pay you back the money I stole.'

Daniel stood up, help up his hand to say "halt" and said, 'No. Now, don't worry about the money. It's all forgotten. The only thing important now is that you get better.'

Franzi told Daniel that she was serious about settling things out but he only cared about her well-being.

Daniel asked, 'Is there anything I can bring you; some tea or candles?'

Paula said, 'No, Daniel. Hospital rules say no candles. But I'm sure we can handle the tea. Maybe ginger or green leaf.'

Franzi agreed, 'Yeah. But not too hot. Matter of fact, make mine a simple iced tea.'

Daniel said, 'Done.' He asked Paula to call him if there were any changes and then left.

Franzi's doctor gave her a checkup for scarring on her chest and a physical. Her breathing was a little labored and her reflexes were slow. But that was to be expected after lying in bed for a week. Finally she was moved to a regular ward out of the ICU and she was privileged to regular visitors. Her parents came over one day and Paula tried to explain the situation. Her mother, Gertrud, was unaware of Franzi and Paula's history so she regarded Paula as though she were a stray pal from off the streets. Her father, Andreas, was a little bit more flexible and kind. And he wasn't looking for a head to chop off. Paula sat with them in the waiting room while Franzi underwent some chest X-rays.

Paula said, 'Franzi was in the fire at The Fasan. She suffered 2nd degree burns.' Seeing how this made Gertrud felt, Paula continued but slower. 'The doctors had to operate on her heart to emply out the smoke poisoning.'

Andreas slowly said, 'And umm...how did you come to be the one who found our daughter?'

Paula looked at Andreas holding his crying wife and answered, 'We, my husband and my brother in law, were looking for his sister. He got a call from inside The Fasan.'

Andreas asked, 'But what does your husband's sister have to do with Franzi?'

Paula was nervous about bringing this to light. A daughter could never do wrong by her parents. A mistake could be forgiven and time could heal all wounds. Paula answered, 'Franzi...was drawn into a bad position. She became an addict.' Then Paula lowered her head ashamed of herself for hurting Franzi a second time and for being the one to tell her parents.

Gertrud was ready to walk away cursing Paula but all she got out was, 'Shut up. I won't listen to you spreading lies about my daughter. She wasn't a junkie!' Andreas told Paula to continue.

Paula said, 'It's not what you think.' Paula looked at them and said, 'Franzi and me, we wanted to be together. We loved each other.'

Gertrud said, 'Stop it! Franzeska is not a lesbian. And I won't have you spreading lies about her.' But Paula kept going.

'We wanted to be together and we loved each other. And then I screwed it all up and now she's in here. She thought I was lying and then everything was destroyed.'

Franzi's mother was ready to shove Paula to the floor and burst out the door when Dr. Burke came into the waiting room and told Franzi's parents that she was ready to see them. Paula knew to keep quiet and lt them go. She understood how Franzi's mother felt about being told secondhand about the cocaine. But what about Paula wanting to be with Franzi?