Daniel held Paula crying her heart out and he tried to be strong for her. 'I'm sorry, Daniel. I'm so sorry you had to be here for this.' Paula pulled herself out of Daniel's shoulder and turned around slowly to face Franzi's mother. After a minute of looking at her in silence, Paula let out a low voice request.

Paula said, 'I think it might be a good idea for you to leave now.'

Gertrud said, 'Excuse me? We came here to be with our daughter.'

Paula tried to calm herself and said, 'No, I really think you should go now.'

Gertrud replied, 'I beg your pardon but that is my daughter in there and I will not be told to leave her when she needs me the most.'

Paula looked at Gertrud and said, 'You really don't get it. Do you? Franzi just told you how we came to be together and all you could ask was how she got into stealing.'

Daniel saw Paula was building up and said, 'Paula. Maybe we...'

Paula interrupted, 'No Daniel. I promised Franzi that I was going to stay here for her.'

Gertrud said, 'That's not necessary. WE are her family and  WE can take care of her.'

Paula broke and said, 'From what I've just seen, all you can do is sit still and then break someone's heart when they're starting to remember happier times. And you think that makes YOU her family?' This was the most outrageous and righteous statement Paula had ever said to anyone. Then Paula leaned her head over to Andreas and said, 'No offence meant to you, sir' then got back to Gertrud's face.

Paula crossed her arms over her chest and said, 'Now you leave us alone. I have a suddenly sad girlfriend to look after.' With that being said, Gertrud and Andreas left the hospital.

Andreas wasn't upset or offended by Paula. As a matter of fact, he respected her restraint and her determination. When Franzi was growing up, Andreas promised he'd keep her safe with a father's love. He was firm, fair, and Franzi could do no wrong in his eyes nor in his heart. Atleast he was capable of listening and showing signs of life.

Daniel could see Paula was hurting. Paula and Franzi had laid down the first part of their history and the only question her mother had was about Franzi stealing from Mocca.

Paula and Daniel left Gertrud and Andreas to go to Franzi.

Daniel said, 'Come on, Paula. You don't want Franzi to see you like this.'

After 2 minutes of Daniel talking and Paula listening, Paula replied, 'I know, Daniel. Just give me some time with Franzi.'

Daniel agreed, 'Alright, Paula. But give her some time. She just got hurt by her own mother.' Paula said, 'I understand. That's not the kind of thing that's easy to get over. But listen, thank you for being here for us. We need all the support we can get.'

Daniel said, 'Anytime, Paula' and kised Paula's forehead as he left to go back to Mocca.

Paula knocked on Franzi's door but Franzi didn't respond. Paula knocked again and said, 'Franzi?'

Sitting in the far corner of the room, Franzi said, 'I'm not really in the mood right now, Paula.'

Paula could feel the hurt in Franzi's voice. Paula put her palm to the door and said, 'Franzi. I'm not going to push you or anything. I just want to come in and sit down.'

Franzi resisted and said, 'This isn't a good time to see me, Paula.'

Paula said, 'Franzi. I know you're hurting. I know. I didn't expect her to be that way.'

Franzi responded, ' "That way"? She didn't hear a thing we had to say and the only question she had was about me stealing?'

Paula replied, 'I know and I agree that her approach could have done with a little more...tact.'

Franzi asked, 'And you want to be with me after knowing where I come from?'

Paula dropped her head, dug into her soul and said, 'Franzi. It doesn't matter to me where you come from.' Then Paula paused and said, 'It's who you are that I want to be with. Please....just let me in.'

Franzi got up and paced her bed. Meanwhile Paula stood outside, with her ear to the door, waiting for a response. A minute passed and Franzi said, 'Give me a minute, Paula.'

Paula said, 'Okay. Take your time. I'll be right here.' Franzi went to the lavatory to get cleaned up. She didn't want Paula to see her with tear residue on her cheeks, or her makeup a mess. While Franzi was cleaning, Paula was running a scenario through her head. It was like a daydream deathmatch with Paula vs. Gertrud.

In Paula's mind: Franzi wasn't in the mood for any more visitors, least of all her mother. 'It's just me, Franzi. I'm out her by myself.' But standing at the end of the hallway were Franzi's parents. Paula looked at them and said, 'Franzi...I'm going to back off and give you some space. I understand how you must be feeling now. But I won't be gone for long.'

Inside her room, Franzi sat in a thinking position but she was crying on the inside. Standing in the hallway like she was in a Texas shootout, Paula's eyes were bright red like the Terminator, and she was ready to say 'Hasta La Vista, Mommy.' With her open hands beside her waist, Paula stared at Gertrud. Then, suddenly, Daniel appeared. He came back to get his coat. When he saw Paula standing in the hallway, looking angry at Gertrud, Daniel tried to calm her down. Standing beside Paula, Daniel said, 'Paula. Don't do this.'