Andreas was watching his mother with worry who was sitting on a chair silently staring at his sister lying on the bed as she was holding her hand. The operation had ended and she was returned to her usual hospital room where all her belongings were. It was a change to see her without life support... She was sleeping peacefully and the O'Leary ok was a success... She was going to recover slowly. His mother was clutching a report that Dr O'Connor had given her to read about how she was going to recover.

Just then Pietro came inside " How is she? Has she woken up yet? It's been hours..."

Anna shook her head " No. not yet... But she is stable and has no health problems... All is clear." She then wiped a tear from her cheek " How is Arturo?"

Pietro sighed " He has surrounded my home with his men... He has given me an ultimatum to surrender and to hand my weapons."

Anna froze. So did Andreas who was sitting on a chair across his mother...

Anna spoke urgently " You have to surrender.. Do it... If you do that then Francesco can protect you... If you attack back then Francesco can't do much. You have to give up... He won't hurt you or your men and the doctors unless ..." Her tears then escaped from her eyes as her voice shook " Unless..."

Andreas spoke " Mum... She will pull through... I know she will. She won't die..."

Anna smiled at her son and then at Pietro " Hand in your weapons and give up..."

Then a voice was heard from behind them at the door " I will go down there and speak to him... I will tell him about the success of operation and what needs to be done..."

Pietro shook his head " Are you mad? Do you want to be the first one he gets his hands on once he enters?"

Dr O'Connor shook his head " I had a near brush with death years ago... I decided that was my gifted life... My life is not mine... It's for my patients.. I have no family... If he kills me, I have no widow to mourn me and no children. It's my responsibility. I shouldn't have performed this operation that's so risky without his consent. I am st fault. I take full responsibility as the head of the team of doctors ..,"

Anna spoke "It's my responsibility Michael..."

Pietro turned to Anna " You didn't perform the operation. He did alongside his team. He needed consent from both living parents but he didn't wait for that. It's him responsible Anna. Not you... And of course I am responsible for protecting this hospital ... He then turned to O'Connor stated "Are you sure about this? He may calm down if he comes here first. He would get you either way but if he is calmer it would be less painful for you to encounter him."

Dr O'Connor spoke " I prefer I take the hit first before my nurses do... From how I know these families they won't take much joy in on the spot killing. He would take us captive as you said and Arturo will wait for his daughter to recover and then he would make decision..."

Pietro spoke "If Amethyst is healthy you have nothing to worry about. This would be published in the medical journals across the world that you are a doctor who saved a patient from a coma ... But if Amethyst is hurt in any way, you can kiss goodbye your career and your life... Arturo has back up and those reports you want to show him means nothing. He would come in here and would check if his daughter is alive then he would get her checked.... He would check her state with some doctors he has lined up outside just in the past few hours. I assured him Amethyst is alive but he wants her taken to his home and wants every soul in this place locked up in his basement."

Just then a guard came in " Sir... Mr Agostini wants to see you now... Your time is up..."

Pietro turned to O'Connor " Let's go..."

Pietro left and O'Connor followed.

Anna stood up and walked to the window looking on worriedly and Andreas approached his mother and stood next to her. They watched as the gate opened and the Rosarios surrendered to the Agostini.., Then they watched as Arturo kicked and punched Dr O'Connor and three his report to the side. He then shouted orders to his men to restrain everyone and take them away as he made his way to the hospital entrance.

Anna turned to Andreas " You should go next door... I would speak to him..."

Andreas shook his head " No mum ... you are the one in danger.,. You must go hide..."

There was commotion outside and they heard Arturo's voice shouting orders to capture every one on site. The door to the hospital room opened and both Arturo and Anna jumped as they saw Arturo's rageful state that gave them a furious look. But of course his expression softened as he saw his daughter on the hospital bed. He walked to bed and looked at his daughter. He leant closer and planted a kiss on her cheek gently " Princess you will pull through... I know you will..." He then turned to his wife and son as he ordered " Andreas .., Out... I need to speak to your mother in private..."

Andreas gulped and instinctively stepped in front of his mother protectively. It was what his father didn't say that scared him. His father gave nothing away. What was he going to do to his mother for this crime?

Arturo narrowed his eyes and walked around the bed getting closer " Andreas... Out... That's an order... Your mother and I will have a talk and we will go home... Don't worry son ... I won't hurt your mother..."

Andreas was visibly shaking with fear now and his father had picked on that. His words didn't put his mind at ease... Nothing his father said made him move.,. Even his mother was silent and knew not to say anything. His father didn't take kindly to people who questioned him and when he was angry at you then you had to stay quiet unless you wanted to die.

Arturo was now standing right in front of his son who was shielding his mother protectively. Artiro looked into his wife's eyes who was looking at him with a pleading look. He knew that look well. He knew she was begging him silently that whatever he wanted to do he shouldn't have done it in front of their son. He wasn't intending to hurt his wife but she was going to get the reprimanding of her life. He was going to make her beg for forgiveness. How could she play with their daughter's life? Their little girl could die because of her..."

Anna whispered to their son " Darling... listen to your father... Leave the room..."

Andreas was shaking still with fear. He shook his head " No ... I am not leaving you."

Arturo raised an eyebrow " I won't hurt your mother son. Leave ..."

He then walked to the door and shouted for doctors to come in and take Amethyst away.

Anna spoke " Wait... Let her stay until she wakes up..."

Arturo demanded " Don't dare speak." He then turned to the door and ordered the doctors to wait. He shut the door soundly and turned "Andreas ... Now ,.., Leave..,"

Andreas braced himself. He was no match for his father. He knew he couldn't do anything but it didn't mean he was going to leave his mother defenceless when his father was so rageful. His father was boiling with anger underneath his calm exterior and Andreas knew that well. That was how his father acted. Always calm and never displayed how much danger those who are dealing with him were going to be in. He stood his ground and responded " Please,., No ... Don't hurt mother.,."

Arturo walked slowly towards his wife and son " Are you refusing to follow my order? Say it son. Are you or are you not refusing to act on a direct order I am giving you..."

Anna tried to sidestep her son but Andreas blocked her.. Anna whispered " Andreas ... Leave..."

Andreas looked at his father and didn't waver " Mother didn't mean to hurt Amethyst... She is alive ... She will live... You shouldnt punish mother ...."

Arturo was impressed with his son. He protected his mother just like how he had taught him to. If this was any other situation he would have rewarded his son and would have complimented him... But this was different.. Anna had risked their daughter's life... Amethyst was still breathing but Anna had dared decide their daughter's fate without thinking about him. What if his child died in the operation room and he never had the chance to say goodbye and hold her warm fragile body in his embrace for the last time? What if he was never there to hold her if she was to take her last breath? Amethyst was his daughter. His flesh and blood... Yet Anna had played with her life. Anna had been gambling with the life of their daughter. Arturo felt betrayed. Anna deserved punishment but of course he never had the heart to hurt her. The only one on this planet who could pull a stunt like this and live was Anna. Arturo blamed Anna and held her responsible and then the doctor for what had happened. No matter what Dr O'Connor said, Arturo knew what a persuasive character Anna was. The doctor wouldn't have touched their daughter without her full support and consent. No one dared defy him and betray him but Anna did.

Arturo stated " Son... I need to speak to your mother. Leave ... This is the last time I ask. I will remove you forcefully if you refuse. You will leave now and wait outside until your mother and I finish speaking... I am not asking you again..."

Andreas knew his father was going to remove him forcefully. But he just couldn't bring himself to move. His father was daring him to defy him with his eyes ... Andreas hesitated and swallowed hard but as he was about to respond, he froze at her voice. Amethyst's voice made the time stop " Mum... Dad... Andy ...Where am I? .... What's happened?"

Arturo lost his breath. He turned around and looked into a pair of angelic blue eyes that resembled his wife's. " Princess?..."

Anna cried and walked past Andreas towards her daughter and took her hand in hers whispering " I missed you sweetheart." Her voice broke as she sobbed hard. Her daughter was confused but sat up and held her arms open to hug her to which Anna responded with more sobs as she sat down on the edge of the bed as she hugged her daughter.

Arturo slowly sat on the opposite edge of the bed " Are you hurt darling... Can I get a hug."

Amethyst smiled her sweetest smile that she reserved for her father and let go of her mother and hugged her father.

Andreas took a deep sigh of relief... His sister was awake and she seemed healthy. ... That meant his father had to try to forgive his mother...