True Love Waits

'After she wakes up, I'll help her glow like a mother-to-be again, 'Wesley mused.

Gifford Li crawled forward towards Blair and sat on her leg, looking at the woman who was asleep every time he saw her. She wasn't very interesting to him.

Wesley thought Gifford Li might call Blair "Mama." That was doable, but the child made no sound. So Wesley patted him on his bottom and urged, "Mama."

"Mama," Gifford Li called, reaching out his tiny hand to grab Blair's. Blair's hair had grown much longer. A few strands had fallen loose, covering her forehead. Wesley tenderly tucked it behind her ear. "Honey, our son's here to see you. You've been sleeping a long time. Could you open your eyes and hold him?"

There was no change. She still had her eyes shut, her breathing regular.

"Honey, the Spring Festival is just around the corner. What are you wanting? Tell me. I'll buy it for you. You said you wanted to buy me a down jacket. You always said I wasn't wearing enough. If you get up, we can go shopping with our son."

Gifford Li held Blair's finger and shook it. "Mama," he called lightly.

Wesley stroked his head and said, "Attaboy. Keep saying it. When your mom hears you, she'll wake up."

Later, after placing Gifford Li on the sofa, he fetched a basin of water, grabbed a towel and started cleaning Blair's body. Meanwhile, he kept an eye on his son.

Two hours later, carrying Gifford Li, Wesley walked out of the ward and into the attending physician's office.

"I want to take my wife home," he said simply.

The doctor thought about it and then replied, "I know. But you don't have the necessary medical equipment at home."

"My brother's a surgeon. He's going to be living with me for some time after his wedding. Tell me what kind of equipment we need, and I'll buy it. He knows med-techs, and they can set it up." Niles and Irene were getting married. At Cecelia's request, he transferred to a hospital up in his hometown so he could be closer.

"Okay. Let's go over instructions for outpatient care and get her discharged."

"Thank you, doctor."

was home now, Wesley came home every day as soon as he got off work. He also hired a family physician and

celebrate. Wesley was there, too. He wouldn't miss it for the world. Afterwards, the old gang-Debbie, Curtis, Colleen, Damon, and Adriana-and the new item-Dixon and Garnet-all flew to

had just visited her, so they didn't come along this

Soon, Gifford Li was a tender

Cecelia and the little guy came upstairs for Wesley. They opened the door to his bedroom and saw that he was cleaning Blair's face with a

ran to Blair's bed and called out, "Mama." Wesley had told him to call Blair "Mama" every morning, every night before he

about putting off the wedding

Wesley up short. "Okay," he said. 'She'll wake

ever since Blair got shot. "This wouldn't have happened if I had

time she closed her eyes, she could see Blair, covered in

and shame ate at him. For more than ten years, he was known as a hero. Yet, in the end, he couldn't even

cheeks. Wesley continued washing Blair's face. Keeping an eye on her grandson, Cecelia rose from her chair and complained, "I hate the Zhuges. They keep trying to fix

eyes, and then out of the blue, he said,

Cecelia thought there must be something wrong with her ears. "Wesley, if you're

towel into the basin and looked at his son ponderously.

at him and then

you want a new mommy?" he asked the little

Li wasn't quite articulate yet. "Yes. We need a new one. This one

a new, more beautiful

hit Wesley in the back of

Li didn't understand what Wesley meant. "Why?"

sleeping and doesn't even open her eyes to look at you. We don't want her anymore." Then a smug smile stole over Wesley's face. He

Li responded,