**Some Chapters in this fic contain NC-17 content**

Through It All…Love Remains

~2004~

She sits in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection, as she fastens her earring. She reaches up and fixes her hair for what seemed like the hundredth time. She tucks a few strands behind her ear, picking up her makeup brush and running it across her cheeks one last time. She turns when she hears the door open. She looks back over at her reflection then up at her daughter who stands behind her. Rachel kneels down beside her and kisses her cheek, “So…you ready…?”

With those three simple words she is taken back to that fateful night…the night her whole world started spinning out of control...

~1999~

Bo stands at the door, "So...you ready?" 

He waits as she grabs her purse and wrap. He holds out his arm to her, taking in the sight of her as she walks towards him. She smiles as she slips her arm through his. He looks at her for a moment, pausing just inside their front door, "We don't have to go tonight if you're not feeling up to it."

"I'm fine, Bo. Just a little tired is all." She leans in and kisses him gently, "Come on, we'll be late for the party."

Fifteen minutes later they arrive at Asa and Renee's. Bo runs around the side of the car and holds his hand out. She carefully slides out of the car and together they walk up the drive hand in hand. He sneaks a quick kiss before knocking on the door, a moment later the door opens, "Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan, your father and the other Mrs. Buchanan are waiting for you in the parlor."

Nigel took her wrap as she takes Bo's hand and together they walk into the parlor. Asa looks up from his bourbon and branch, a huge smile quickly coming to his face, "Ahh..,there’s the parents to be," he glances down at his watch, "And on time too." He walks over and kisses Nora on the cheek.

Nora smiles up at her father in law. As infuriating as Asa could be at times, she couldn't help but love him, "Happy Birthday, Asa."

"Yeah, Pa. Happy Birthday."

The two men quickly embrace as Nora makes her way over to where Viki, Renee, and Clint are standing, "Nora, darlin' you look wonderful. How have you been feeling?"

Nora lovingly places her hand on her stomach, a smile coming to her face as she thinks about the life growing inside her, "I'm doing great, Renee. Tired...but I guess that's to be expected. I was a lot younger the last time around."

Bo looks over at Nora and winks, "Nora looks good, boy. Having the next Buchanan heir really agrees with her."

"Pa," Bo scolds, "This child is more than just the next Buchanan heir."

"I know that, son, but you can't begrudge an old man the joys of impending grand- fatherhood. All of Clint and Viki's kids are grown and have lives of their own. It'll be nice to hear the sounds of a little one again. I even had Nigel set up one of the rooms as a nursery…for when you and Nora feel the need to spend the night alone. It's just Renee and I banging around this big ole' house."

Bo rolls his eyes, "Pa, please don't start spoiling our daughter before she's even born."

"Boy, that little girl is going to be treated like a princess, whether her parents like it or not."

Bo just rolls his eyes again and walks over to Nora, "Let's dance, Red." He takes her hand and leads her out onto the terrace.

The mid spring night air was warm, carrying on it the scent of the wildflowers growing all around the estate. The sky was filled with a million stars. Bo looked up at the sky, smiling when he found the gumdrop. He pulled her as close as he could, taking in her scent as they danced.

The party began to wind down and Bo could tell Nora was ready to leave. He retrieved her wrap from Nigel and lovingly wrapped it around her shoulders. They said their goodbyes and made their way to the car.

Halfway down the driveway she dropped his hand, causing him to stop walking and turn back to see why she stopped. She had her hands wrapped around her stomach, her eyes wide with fear as she looked up at Bo, "Bo...Oh God, Bo...I think there's something wrong with the baby."

Without saying another word Bo picked her up and carried her to the car. He threw his bubble light up on the top of the car and peeled out of the driveway. Ten minutes later they were pulling up in front of the ER of Llanview Hospital. He had called ahead and Dr. Conklin was in the ER waiting for them.

She rushed over to them when she saw them walk through the doors, “What happened, Bo?” following him into the trauma room.

“I’m not sure,” he said as he laid Nora down on the bed, “We were at my father’s house for a party. We were walking back to the car when she suddenly stopped, and doubled over in pain. Halfway here she passed out.”

Dr. Conklin rushed around the room, shouting out orders while Bo stood off to the side, fear clutching his heart. Dr. Conklin looked over at him and then back at the nurse, giving silent orders with her eyes. The nurse walked up to him and laid her hand gently on his arm, “Mr. Buchanan, why don’t we wait out here.”

“No,” he shakes his head, “I want to be here with Nora.”

“Dr. Conklin is doing every thing she can for your wife and baby. We really need for you to wait outside.”

Bo reluctantly agrees, he walks towards the door, pushing it halfway open before turning and looking back at Nora, “Love you, Red,” he says to himself before walking out into the hallway.

Bo paced back and forth in front of the trauma room door. He would pause for a moment and watch through the small window, as they talked and wrote, pricked and prodded. She was still unconscious, and he couldn’t stop his heart from racing. He glanced at the clock on the wall, ‘Has it really been just 10 minutes,’ he thought to himself.

Bo turns when he hears the door click closed. He walks over, the panic and fear evident in his voice and face, “How are they, doc? How are my wife and daughter?”

“Nora’s resting comfortably. I’m going to be keeping her here over night. Her blood pressure dropped significantly and she began to have contractions. We’ve got both under control and like I said she’s resting comfortably. She’s been asking for you. I’m going to go check on a patient that’s in labor and I’ll be back in to talk with you both.”

“Thank you, Dr. Conklin. Thank you so much.” Bo walks over to the door and slowly pushes it open. The light from the hallway plays across her face, and she slowly opens her eyes, “Hey there, beautiful,” he says with a smile.

“Hi ya, handsome.” She pulls herself up higher on the bed, “Are you here to spring me?”

“No can do, Red, you’re here til’ morning.”

“Well since I’m stuck here all night, you wouldn’t happen to have a Rodi’s cheeseburger hiding under that jacket?”

“Nora, it’s just after midnight.”

“So, the baby and I are hungry.”

He motions towards the IV’s dangling beside her bed, “I think that’s about as exotic as you’re gonna get until tomorrow.”

She crosses her arms in front of her and pouts, “You’re no fun.”

He leans in closer and whispers in her ear, “You just wait till we get home, and I’ll show you what fun is.” She smiles, and raises her eyebrows, as he continues to whisper in her ear, reminding her how fun he can be.

Nora was released from the hospital the following afternoon. Dr. Conklin, instructed her to take it easy and reduce the stress in her life as much as possible. Things slowly but surely got back to normal around the old converted barn, until the phone rang one night, just before nine.

She reluctantly removes herself from the couch and walks over to the desk. She picks up the phone, “Hello…”, she answers with disgust. “Okay…okay…yeah I’ll be down as soon as I can.”

She quickly walked up the stairs, never turning off the movie she was watching. She quietly walks into their bedroom, trying not to disturb him. She turns the bathroom light on and quickly closes the door. She emerges a few minutes later and notices that he’s awake, “I’m sorry, sweetheart did I wake you?”

“No, I was already awake.” He notices that she’s now dressed, “Where are you going? It’s after nine.”

“I have to go down to the station, Max has been arrested.”

“For what? We weren’t looking at him for anything.”

“I’m not sure; I don’t have all the details yet.” She notices Bo throwing back the covers, “What do you think you’re doing, Bo. You’re sick, get back in bed.”

“I’m going to drive you to the station. You really shouldn’t be driving this late at night.”

“I’ll be fine, Bo. Beside’s I’m only pregnant…I’m not the one with a 103* fever.”

“Nora…”

“Bo…please, just get back in bed. I’ll be fine. I’ll be back before you know it.”

Bo reluctantly climbs back under the covers. He watches her finish getting ready to leave. She walks over to the door and turns back around, blowing him a kiss, “Loving you.”

“Love you too, Red.”

Nora threw her briefcase on the passenger seat and slowly slid behind the wheel of her car. She pushed a CD into the player as she backed out of their driveway. She pulled out onto the main road, humming along to the song; never noticing the headlights coming at her…

Bo rolls over reaching for the phone as it pulls him from his fevered slumber, “Buchanan…”

“Bo…its Larry…”

TBC…