With a flourish, the beautiful software designer tapped out the final codes of the formula then closed her laptop. Now that ‘business’ was out of the way it was time to give her undivided attention to that which was most important to her. Family.

“So, tell me, dear heart,” Faith began softly, “when do you plan to start?”

“Plan to start-”

Sabrina’s words all but tripped over her tongue. No doubt due to the knowing smile—in tandem with a mocking but stern arched brow—Faith now aimed her way. Almost self-consciously, the stunning surgeon gently pressed a hand against her flat, toned abdomen.

“How did you know?” she marveled. “Jack and I only discussed it the other night. Did he mention anything?”

To everybody else Sabrina’s behavior over the past few days would have seemed nothing more than that of a somewhat preoccupied yet frazzled mother. After all, having four children under the age of seven—her and Jack’s son Aleksandr, Alexis and Marcus’ son Jakob, and Stefan and Faith’s twins Katya and Mischa—all under the same roof would prove daunting to even the most well-organized homemaker. But as part of the pact the two women had made nearly a decade ago when their friendship began to form, first and foremost they would neither consider the other to be—nor, more importantly, treat her as if she were—‘everybody else.’ As a result, Faith was keenly aware that the past three days the sister of her heart had spent with young Katya and Mischa had awakened a maternal desire in Sabrina so strong it at times frightened her.

And sometimes a frightened Sabrina, especially if ruled by her emotions, could easily become a reckless Sabrina, heeding no one’s counsel, even her own.

“I know, dear heart,” Faith’s smile like her voice was a mixture of indulgence, wisdom, and protectiveness, “because I know you.”

“We haven’t decided when we’ll try,” Sabrina said softly, shrugging her shoulders, “we just know we will.” A saucy smile tugging at the corners of her lips, Sabrina then wiggled her brows suggestively. “Who knows,” she quipped, “if we can get Jake and Aleks down to bed early enough, maybe tonight…”

Faith joined Sabrina in laughter. “I know all too well the wonder and awe you feel when you hold my little ones, Sabrina. You no doubt still remember it from the very first moment you held Aleksandr,” she smiled. “And I do not seek to discourage within you the desire—maybe even need—to feel it again. That said, try as often and as vigorously as your heart, and most importantly,” she intoned, “your body will allow.”

“This isn't good,” Sabrina cracked as they journeyed down the hallway. “There’s not a chair in sight, and I’m starting to get the feeling that I might need to sit down, no?” she half-joked. The emotional ‘shorthand’ that had been cultivated between she and Faith over the years was such that oftentimes either could tell the mood of the other by way of a glance, the arch of a brow, or as in this case, the subtle yet unmistakable shift in tone of the other’s voice.

Like now.

“There is nothing neither your brother nor I would not do for you, Sabrina. You know this. And though it is rarely shown, and spoken of even less, you know that love extends to Jack as well,” she added her tone mockingly grudging. Moments later, all traces of humor were gone. “But should the time come to make…difficult decisions, that love may be tested.”

“Faith,” Sabrina began to protest, “you’re getting way ahead of this. I know my pregnancy with Aleks was difficult, but-”

“I know you, Sabrina. And I know how badly you want another child. Not just to be able to give Jack another son or a daughter. But you want it for yourself, dear heart. And there is nothing wrong with that. I both admire and applaud you for it, sister dear. But remember, it is one thing to lose your life to save a child, Sabrina. It is a whole other matter to do so in the pursuit of attempting to have one.” Although teeming with love, the next words Faith spoke were as piercing as her unwavering gaze. “Know this, dear heart, neither I nor my Dear Heart, your brother, are prepared to stand by and watch you be lost to us.”

In silence, Faith Ward Cassadine watched as realization quickly dawned upon the young wife and mother.

“How…when…how?" Sabrina sputtered. Taking a calming breath, she attempted to speak once more. “You reviewed…my…medical records?!”

She was beyond shocked. Hell, shocked didn’t even reside on the same continent where she now was. For the first time, in so long she truly had difficulty remembering, Sabrina DeLane Cassadine Bauer was caught off-guard. Forget about stunned. She was still somewhere among the Anger and Denial phases of the five stages of death. The whole thing was beyond unbelievable.

On so many levels.

One, Naomi Bennett kept such a choke-hold on her patient files it practically took an act of Congress on the part of the patient to view them. Two, there were details in her Obstetrics history regarding her pregnancy with Aleks that—by her choice, with Naomi in agreement—even Jack was not privy to. Three, this was classic Stefan…when the hell did her girl go all Machiavellian on her?! And four…this was her girl!

The moment was at once stinging and yet strangely comforting. She had spent a lifetime of having her ‘brother’ Stefan both intrude upon and impose his will in her life, sometimes even its most intimate details. Why this moment should come as a surprise to her she was truly at a loss to say why.

Mere moments later it struck her with the force of a thunderbolt.

The vision standing before her, although Sabrina knew the love the woman felt for her had not changed one iota, was not the same woman she had grown accustomed to.

The same woman whose role in your life, perhaps, a tiny voice conceded, you have taken for granted.

No, the force she now beheld was the Cassadine Matriarch, draped in a power, determination, and fury as real as the elegantly crafted Prada couture, Christian Louboutin stilettos, and custom-crafted diamonds that adorned her exquisite frame.

“Do you understand me, Sabryn?”

Not Sabrina.

Or even ‘dear heart.’

Sabryn.

Although an affectionate ‘nickname’ of sorts when uttered by Sabrina’s nephews, Nikolas and Andresj’, Faith had used the name deliberately, and in the tone conveying the context she knew the headstrong surgeon was all-too familiar with adhering to—the unspoken commands it carried when uttered by either Stefan or Sabrina’s father, Viktor. Deference and respect.

“Yes, Faith,” Sabrina nodded. She practically bit out her next words. “I understand.” She did not trust herself to say much more.

Why is it, Sabrina wondered silently as she watched Faith depart, do I feel as if I've gone toe-to-toe with my father Viktor?

More mystifying to her than that query was the next that followed.

And why is it that if given a choice between the two, I would rather take my chances with him?